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Author: The Hernandez Brothers 

Format: Softcover 

Pages: 100 

Dimensions: 6.625″ x 9″ 

Colors: black & white 

Year: 2008 

Publisher Fantagraphics 

ISBN-13: 978-1-56097-951-7   

Price: $14.99  [US]/£9.95 [UK]

It’s been a wait but the first new look volume is here.  Almost missed it because,though I put it on standing order at Forbidden Planet two months ago they never kept aside a copy and had to check the shelves.  Wonderful.  But the book made up for the hassle.

Can it be so long ago since the original L&R series?  But what’s in this book,and it does count as a graphic novel as opposed to a typical L&R comic.  Well,let Fantagraphics tell you:

Love and Rockets: New Stories #1 reboots the beloved ongoing “Love and Rockets” comic into a fat, all-new annual graphic novel length package.Jaime launches the new format with a story that’s unusual even for him… A full-on, pulse-pounding super-hero yarn! Maggie’s longtime friend Penny Century has finally realized her longtime dream of acquiring super-powers, but at a terrible personal cost. Now she rampages through the galaxy, half mad with grief, and a motley group of super-heroes assembles to try to stop her — led by Maggie’s girlfriend Angel and her mysterious neighbor Alarma, and involving a number of characters longtime Love and Rockets fans will delight in recognizing.The epic-length 50-page story (only the first half of the saga!) combines Jaime’s razor sharp characterization and superlative art with wildly inventive, Kirby-style slam-bang super-hero action.Then Gilbert Hernandez explodes with a similarly generous helping of his fantastically creative one-shot short stories: “Tamanny” (rookie cop vs. demonic drug users); “Papa” (a turn-of-the-century story involving a traveling businessman); “The New Adventures of Duke and Sammy” (super-powered Martin and Lewis impostors in outer space); “The Tender Room” (Into the Wild as re-imagined by Beto); “Chiro el Indio” (written by third brother Mario Hernandez); and “Never Say Never” (a kangaroo gets lucky in Las Vegas).One hundred pages of Jaime, Gilbert and Mario Hernandez at the peak of their powers: this is a major graphic-novel event! 

What I found annoying was the “to be continued next issue” –but when is the next issue?  I’ll check with FB.

Is it any good?  Oh come on!  Jaime is brilliant and if you are a long term fan you will be saying “oh that’s –! And she was in—“ I had fun. 

The art was up to Jaime’s usual high standards and I do know a few internet pundits were shouting:”Jaime is drawing super heroes –sell out!” way back when the contents of this book was announced.  Idiots.

What remains a mystery to me after all these years is that Jaime was never snapped up by DC or Marvel –two[?] illoes in the 1980s DC Who’s Who and that was it.  The man has style and an imagination and could chew up and spit out the majority of “Big Two” artists..ah,see:style and imagination –that’s why they never snapped him up!

Beto produces his usual weirdness and I’m sure there are going to be a few raised eye-brows –for instance “The New Adventures Of Duke & Sammy”! I like Beto’s style and he’s on form here.

I’d give my right arm to work with either!

And Mario is there.  Oh yes,working with Beto on “Chiro el Indio” which was very enjoyable.

Personally,I’d say that this is L&R on very high form and the only thing that concerned me was the price –it might not encourage new readers as a lower price comic format book might.  I’m just hoping that the quality shines through. 

Is it only me who feels that,after following L&R for so long,it’s like being a rock band groupie?  Hey,I’d throw my knickers on stage..well,maybe not.  But if I had to give this new book marks out of 10? A resounding 12!!

T