Ok, let’s roll it again! Here’s part three of With Further Ado’s Holiday Gift Guide. I think you might like some of these!

Kraken
by Shannon Eric Denton (writer) and David Hartman (illustrator)

The pitch for this one is very straightforward. It’s a little bit Indiana Jones, and little bit of Lovecraft, and even a little bit of Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus. It’s a brisk adventure that hurtles along at top speed, dragging the reader right into a web of urgency. Shannon Eric Denton’s been at this long enough that he knows how to craft a story and how to create memorable characters quickly and efficiently.

Hartman’s art is cartoony and loose. I think this story might have worked better with a more realistic artist. But I do think Hartman’s art is probably spot on for younger readers. And by “younger” I mean the under forty-five years old set.

You can’t help but say “phew” out loud after this adventure ends, but I think most readers (myself included) will be hoping to reach more adventures of Captain Kraken (and all the fascinating supporting characters) soon!

Kraken
by: Shannon Eric Denton (writer) and David Hartman (illustrator)
Publisher: ‎Titan Books
Softcover/TPB: 112 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1787745360

The Atlas Comics Library No. 7: Girl Comics
(The Fantagraphics Atlas Comics Library)
edited by: Dr. Michael Vassallo

The other night, I was watching a band, and the lead guitarist was my old comic book dealer, Kim Draheim. I ended up talking to another one of his old customers, Mark Fenessy. As usual, we started talking about comics. We both laughed at how much we are enjoying the new DC Wonder Woman series, especially given that in the old days, we wouldn’t be caught dead reading a “girl comic”.

Imagine how surprised my nine year-old self would be if I could tell him how much I LOVE Fantagraphics’ new GIRL Comics. This one is a big volume, number #7 in the wonderful Atlas Comics Library series.

Michael Vassallo has done it again. In this oversized volume, he collects GIRL Comics #1 – 12, published by Atlas (which would soon morph into Marvel Comics) in the 1950s. Some of your favorite creators contributed to this collection, including Russ Heath, John Buscema, Joe Maneely, Bill Everett and more.

As usual, Vassallo’s comics history, in the introduction, is one of the most fascinating parts. He’s and expert at putting it all into a historical context and drawing well-informed conclusions based on this extensive research and deep knowledge of this era. I was especially interested in the background detailing publisher Martin Goodman’s early alliances with Louis Silberkleit (who would soon after co-found Archie Comics).

The Atlas Comics Library No. 7: Girl Comics
edited by: Dr. Michael Vassallo
Publisher: ‎Fantagraphics
Hard Cover: 336 pages
ISBN-13:‎ 979-8875001079 Continue reading “With Further Ado #375: The 2025 Annual Gift Guide – Part 3” →