CLiNT #1

I was hesitant to pick this magazine up.  I know its a Mark Millar stunt and he is known to abandon what does not make money: Chosen and War Heroes to name a few.  At the same time I like the British flavor this magazine will infuse into the lives of his fans.  What I mean by that is that this comic is very much an Anthology.  The British have a good track record with anthologies, unlike the American Market.  But an anthology can be ground breaking like Warrior for Alan Moore and 2000ad for many of the top British Talent.  CLiNT could be the next big anthology magazine and with Millar's loyal fan support he may actually keep it around long enough to matter.
 
I do want to address the name.  I don't know if it was ever admitted by him or if it was every written about, but the name CLiNT is not cool man. Besides the obvious horrid sound I made asking for it at a comic shop, it just doesn't have that pop.... well unless you look at the possibility that he has chosen this name because of the classic Printing Taboo ( Taboo being another good anthology btw) that words that have an "L" and "I" side by side should not be used in capitals because of the possibility of the printer bleeding them to make a "U".  The best known example of this Taboo is the word Flick... it is never suppose to be put in capitals because it looks wrong as FLICK and if the "L" and "I" do bleed.... it spells......  This could be the same reason for CLiNT... or CLINT as the chosen name.  Millar seems to admit the kind of guy he is.
 

Kick-Ass 2, Part 1

 by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  
 
The second arc to the life of Kick-Ass begins in this anthology.  Kick-Ass 2 would also be published at Marvel's Icon imprint.  You don't have to have read the series before to jump into this, you can jump in with only movie knowledge and be fine.
 
The story is not long at all.  It opens with Hit-Girl making a man out of Kick-Ass and when Mindy (Hit-Girl in civvies) gets home Marcus greats her to the secrets he has found. 

Turf Part 1: The Fangs of New York!

by Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards.  
 
If Vertigo's American Vampire is your thing, keep Turf on your radar.  Primarily set in a similar era, with a very classic crime style, this series has similar bite to American Vampire. The major difference is this one has Aliens in it, which worries me a little and American Vampire does not have aliens. If Aliens are your thing, then give Turf the edge.
 
Like American Vampire there is a "turf" war.  In American Vampire, it is classic Vampires Vs. Skinner Sweet.  In Turf it is clear the Vampires are the big dogs and are claiming turf.  Will the aliens be the ones fighting the Vampires?  That is not answered in this issue.
 
What I did like about this comic was Tommy Lee Edwards art, he is likely best know for illustrating Mark Millar's 1985.  His art really works with the noir crime tone Jonathan Ross lays out in this comic.  

Rex Royd Part 1

by Frankie Boyle, Jim Muir and Michael Dowling.  

I think Frankie Boyle has either taken a page from Mark Millar's book or Millar is ghost writing a little.  Frankie Boyle is a virtual no namer on the American side of the pond.  In Britain he is a controversial Comedian.  In Rex Royd, I felt a flavor of what Millar was trying to do with Wanted.  Set the series in a horrible world where the Bad Guys run the show.  This premise is not new and there were writers to explore this before Millar. Take Crisis on Infinite Earths for example, it was written in 1985 and that series is dependent on Earth 3.  Earth 3 being a place where villains rule the world and Alexander "Luthor" Sr. is actually the hero.
 
Rex and Lex rhyme so I wonder if this is a mesh of Lex Luthor stories.  Stories when a genius like Lex... I mean Rex can run the world and no one can stop him.  This story I would say is the most mature of all the stories in this comic.  This story tries to mess with you.  There is a lot of drug use and mind control with the characters. It takes till the end of the issue to understand what is really happening.  There was a lot of sex and a violence so if that is up your alley then this story many be for you.
 
The art team of Jim Muir and Michael Dowling create a visual look much similar to Jock on The Losers. It works very well with that this story is trying to do.

Nemesis Part 1

by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. 
 
The Reprint of Nemesis is 23 pages long and since I didn't pick up the series monthly, I can't confirm that this was all of issue #1 of the Icon Printing.  I think its safe to assume, but welcome anyone to verify. 
 
As for Nemesis, the premise I don't think I have to say, since this was the most talked about comic of 2010.  But the Premise is "What if Batman was the Joker?"  and like how Heath Ledger's Joker wanted to burn the world down in chaos, so does Nemesis.  I think that is why I was not floored by this premise.  I enjoyed Heath's Joker, but it is not my definitive Joker.  Nemesis is that street-level master mind, not the unpredictable killer the Joker is to me.
 
In a calculated criminal mastermind hellbent on bringing disorder is your kind of story, I can imagine you liking Nemesis. There is a lot of redeeming irony which I did appreciate, such as how Batman wears black, Nemesis wears white.  Nemesis is far from the White Knight in classic heroic tales and that is where the irony is great, since that is what drives him.  Nemesis is driven by the hypocrisies in society.  I understand the "lessons" this series has, but the over the top violence I think takes away from it.  It is the extreme methods of murder that most people will see.

Huw Edwards' Space Oddities: The Diner

by Manuel Bracchi.  
 
This story is a nice way to end this anthology, it was a silly light hearted story.  There was some heavy stuff within this issue, like  the article of Charles Manson's hit list.  There were fun articles as well like "odd things said during sex" and a yummy mommies section. If anything there was not enough lighter and easier to digest things in this magazine.  So it is a nice easy story on the mind.
 

Verdict:

This would be the only way I would spend my money to read Millar's antics.  He is a good writer, but I honestly think he is best when he doesn't write for the masses.  Chosen for example, it has so much care and love written in it.  Sure Kick-Ass and Nemesis are fun reads, but if CLiNT reprints them and has other fun stuff, I think this format is better on my budget.  Plus its over-sized compared to the average comic.  I tend to enjoy bigger pages. This was a fun read while on the bog.
 
Cheers
- Silkcuts