Fat Pants is a monthly Comic Pants feature in which we mull over the last month’s trades and graphic novels in order to let you know which ones we feel are most worth your attention. It is far from a comprehensive list of all the good reads published in the past month, so please feel free let us know in the comments which trades and graphic novels came out in the last month that you, the reader, feel are most worth our attention. So, without further ado, here are the books we think really stood out this month.

In addition to these books, Nick wrote a full review of Last Call Vol. 1 (which Randy also recommends) and Randy wrote full reviews of Incredible Change-Bots and Black Metal Vol. 1 (which Nick also recommends).

Annotated Northwest Passage
Writer/Artist: Scott Chantler
Company: Oni Press

Nick:Before getting into why this book rocks so hard, let me tell you that when I first heard about Northwest Passage (from fellow Panteon member Dave F.), I wasn’t sure if this was a book that I was going to enjoy. The idea of a Canadian Frontiersman tale was intriguing, but to have it done in comic book format? Could it be done? Yes, it can and color me surprised then, because Scott Chantler does it with gusto and completely immerses the reader in a story that is equal parts historical narrative and adrenaline fueled action adventure. It’s a great combo that’s filled with tension, three dimensional characters and some truly astonishing art.

Randy: Absolutely. Whenever someone publishes a hardcover, the question in my mind is, “Does this deserve the format?” When it comes to Chantler’s masterful cartooning, unusual subject matter and engaging writing, the answer is an easy yes. Especially when it’s a beautifully designed hardcover for only $20, and contained within is a tale of adventure and memorable characters, wrapped around a history the reader probably didn’t even know. The half-joking pitch at the Oni Press table this year was that Northwest Passage is the “best Canadian western comic ever published,” and it is that, but it’s also one of my favorite adventure comics of the last year, period.

Nick: There’s no way for me to argue with a single thing you just said. It’s all true, especially the bit about the price tag. $20 for this immaculately designed hardcover is…What’s the word I’m looking for? Oh, yeah, it’s a steal. Not only are you getting three volumes of reading material to lose yourself in, you’re also getting a huge chunk of annotations as well. Those annotations (think of them as a director’s commentary, as that’s essentially what they are) further the experience of the story and give you the ins and outs of the complexities of the story. You don’t often find this kind of exquisite extra in a trade these days, as more often than not you’re apt to only get a couple of character sketches and that’s it. I guess what I’m saying is that with Northwest Passage, not only are you getting a story that can be read over and over again, each time finding something new to enjoy, but you’re also getting a ton of bang for your buck.

Randy: In addition to being done up in a great format, Northwest Passage is also just an example of great cartooning. Chantler’s art has the clean lines, deep character expressions and storytelling clarity of animation, but with detailed backdrops and panel-to-panel flow of great comic book art as well. It’s not hard to make a comparison to Jeff Smith’s Bone in terms of pure cartooning bliss. Then there’s the story, which is a perfect mix of Canadian history tidbits (trust me, you won’t mind accidentally learning something), father and son interactions, long-lived rivalries and friendships and tales of survival and combat. The story, about a Canadian adventurer in the twilight years longing once more for a life of carefree adventure but trying to live up to his more mature responsibilities, is self-contained, but there’s plenty of room, both in his richly-imagined past and his uncertain future, for more tales. With any luck, we’ll be seeing plenty more of Northwest Adventure in a few years. Even if we don’t, this is a terrific standalone tale, and it’s a strong contender for best graphic novel of 2007.

Godland Celestial Edition Vol. 1
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: Tom Scioli
Company: Image Comics

Randy: With Godland, Joe Casey and Tom Scioli have crafted a book that is one part philosophy of the universe, one part kickass action and about twelve parts Jack Kirby. Filtered through the viewpoint of Mars astronaut turned cosmic messiah/superhero Adam Archer and his three sisters, not to mention his space dog/mentor Maxim, the story in these 12 issues shows the origins of Archer’s powers and his first encounters with several of his memorable villains, including an alien invasion of New York that turns into a world-threatening danger. It’s big, unashamed superhero storytelling with a nod and a wink to modern pop culture, and it seems only fitting that it gets a big, splashy hardcover package.

Nick:You had me at Jack Kirby, Randy. Really though, for me, Godland is one of those books that brings out the kid in me. Not literally or anything like that, it’s just simply a fun book to read. There’s over the top action, great characters, superheroes fighting supervillains and witty comedy that sincerely makes you laugh. Casey’s story is not dumbed down in any way, nor is it too overwrought with continuity or over-complex stories. It’s the absolute recipe, all of the right amounts of those always important ingredients of what makes a comic book great. And the greatness of the story is only compounded by Tom Scioli’s energy laden and eye-popping art. Seeing his work magnified and put on a superior quality of paper somehow seems right, like it was meant to be that way in the first place. Stunning stuff.

Randy: What struck me in re-reading Godland in this Celestial Edition was not only how great Scioli’s work, masterfully colored by Bill Crabtree and Nick Filardi, looked in this oversized format, but how Casey’s single-issue enjoyable scripts are also clearly building to a larger story. We’re told several times that Adam has a destiny, and his transformation into a superhero isn’t just a reason for him to kick the hell out of a demented torture freak and an alien death cult, it’s also a step in the evolution of all mankind. Heck, about halfway through the book we get a story telling the true cosmic origin of the universe. Casey doesn’t think small, and it’s clear that he’s thinking long-term. There’s plenty of action and memorable villains and visuals throughout, but there’s also clearly a bigger story at work.

Nick: Yeah, the pacing of Godland is a big draw. It has a lot in common with a great television show, like say Heroes or Buffy, as there are a multitude of “done in one” tales that are all equally entertaining, but there’s also nice over-arcing storyline that is always continued in those stories as well. To do that isn’t an easy feat and Casey not only does it well, he does it with a certain amount of flair that few people have. Honestly, just his uncanny ability to come up with unique and flamboyant characters is impressive. Basil Cronus, one of Adam Archer’s rogues gallery, will forever be classified as one of those characters that is classic. Speaking of great Basil Cronus moments, this volume reprints one of the best, a four page story that has him infiltrating Santa’s workshop. It’s not only a humorous little aside that causes side-splitting bouts of laughter, but it also perfectly sums the character up.

Randy: The villains do have a tendency to steal the show a bit in Godland. Casey creates some of the most memorable, off-beat villains in comics with the substance-abusing, floating head Cronus, the dapper and diabolical Friedrich Nickelhead, the torture-riffic father and daughter Discordia and The Tormentor being probably the most notable. But there’s plenty of fun to be had with the good guys as well, from the dynamics between Adam and his three very different sisters to the Ralph Macchio-Mister Miyagi type relationship between Maxim and Adam Archer. In addition to offering up laughs and a heaping helping of awesome, Godland features interesting character arcs and plots that recall the classic storytelling of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as well. It’s a throwback in some ways, a post-modern book in some others, and it’s definitely unlike anything else on the stands.

Invincible Ultimate Collection Vol. 3
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Company: Image Comics

Randy: While I love reading Invincible in single issues, and the trades are certainly good, for my money, the best way to read Kirkman and Ottley’s ongoing superhero epic is in these hardcover editions. Not just because the oversized format really shows off Ottley’s art (though it does), not just because of the tons of extras (over 50 pages this time out), not just because I’m a hardcover-lovin’ format whore (though I am) but because it gives a big, huge satisfying chunk of story. In addition to the Kirkman-penned issue of The Pact, Image’s limited series team book that featured Invincible, this book features #25-35 of the Invincible series. Which, in addition to advancing numerous long-brewing subplots, features the return of Invincible’s father, an inter-dimensional struggle with Invincible’s self-appointed nemesis and a lot of advances in the promise of conflict with the alien Viltrumites. Like I said… big satisfying chunks of story.

Nick:You mean sitting in a prison that’s surrounded by flesh eating zombies isn’t the perfect way to read Invincible? Man, have I been doing that wrong for a while, huh? Okay…Wait a minute, completely wrong book. What was I thinking? Anyways, the Invincible hardcovers really are some of the best put together editions that you can get your hands on. Yes, they have a ton of extras but what draws my eye are the oversized pages of Ryan Ottley’s art. The guy is one of those super-talented artists who’s obviously loves his job as he draws superheroes like there’s no tomorrow.

Randy: Ottley’s impressive, no doubt. He gets to show off his inner George Perez quite a bit in this one, with a big team up of the various heroes of the “Kirkmanverse” against a Masters of the Universe-looking inter-dimensional invader, and again as Mark and his father face off with the Viltrumites on an alien world. There’s plenty of room for pathos, as well, with the gory and emotionally affecting threat of a villain who knows Mark’s secret identity and uses it against him, not to mention the relationship issues developing between Mark, Amber and Eve. Ottley also gets to show off in the copious extras, with design sketches, con sketches (like Allen as a zombie) and plenty of looks at his process of panel layout to completed page.

Nick:Getting to see all of those types of things, especially the artistic process and the multitude of con sketches, is always an attention grabber, and really does warrant the notion of paying an extra amount of money if you need a reason beyond just being a format whore like Randy and I. Flipping through it though, included in this volume is probably one of the best Invincible stories. Basically, the notion of the story is that Mark’s mother has been taken hostage by a villain who sends Mark to alternate dimensions and times. It’s a dark story in a lot of ways but Kirkman weaves some moments of levity as well, with Mark having a comical discussion about Batman’s costume and beating up on Doctor Octopus. It’s this type of layered storytelling that really keeps you coming back and makes Invincible one of the best superhero books on the market.

Manhunter Vol. 3: Origins
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Artists: Javier Pina, Rags Morales & Sean Phillips
Company: DC Comics

Nick:Easily one of the best titles that DC has to offer, this third volume of Manhunter is jam-packed with goodness and contains one of the books high notes, the story in which we learn the origins of Kate Spencer’s arsenal and superhero attire. Andreyko is all about the interesting stories and character usages, but this one in particular is a humdinger of a story and gives the reader an interesting look at some off the beaten path DC history and what exactly happens to those wonderful toys that superheroes lose or misplace during their careers. It’s a unique story that’s told in vignettes that are beautifully drawn by people like Sean Phillips, Rags Morales and series artist Javier Pina. The whole volume is perfect but I’d almost say that this single issue is worth the price of admission all on its own.

Randy: It’s definitely a strong story to start on, and honestly I think it would have been better to deliver this issue, one of the best in the run, in the early going instead of later on, as it ties the character deeper into the DC Universe. In a cool, Easter Egg for fans who want more way, not a lame, have to read six other books to understand this Countdown kind of way. The same is true of Andreyko’s use of Justice Society continuity in the story that makes up most of the rest of the book, focusing on Kate’s parentage and how it’s related to a member of the Justice Society. Although really, that’s only part of the story. Andreyko does not skimp on story in Manhunter, and he offers up plenty of different plots and subplots, including Kate’s run-in with government agency D.E.O. (via her former college pal Cameron Chase) and an interesting One Year Later flip where Kate goes from prosecutor to defense attorney, and winds up defending Dr. Psycho. Honestly, this is a little too similar to Daredevil for me, and I think we never quite got a real answer as to why on Earth a vigilante who started killing because of frustration with sleazy defense attorneys would decide to become one, but it is an interesting flip. The most interesting aspect of One Year Later, though, was what it did to Kate’s supporting cast, which is one of the best supporting casts in comics.

Nick: One of the best? Only one of the best supporting casts, Randy? That’s as far as you’ll go? Not the best supporting cast in comics? Okay, I might not go that far either, but they’re clearly one of the stronger ones in comics these days. Andreyko has gathered together a great group of characters from everywhere in the DCU. Having Cameron Chase alone wins big points with me, as her limited series a while back ruled, but also having Mr. Bones, Dylan Battles (her tech guy), Kate’s son and her ex-husband fleshes out the character of Kate Spencer while at the same time adding to the overall appeal of the book. Also, I’ll agree that Andreyko gives you a ton of engaging material that ranges from your more traditional superhero action, to a Law and Order type to more personal and down to earth stories that focus one a particular characters love life or family issues. That’s a wide array of genres to cover but Andreyko does it seamlessly and presents it in a way that makes it entertaining and enjoyable.

Randy: The downside, of course, is that low sales have forced the book to refocus and re-jigger several times, and while the stories generally read stronger in trade, that sort of plot and character juggling is also more evident. There’s definitely a feeling when the “One Year Later” stuff hits of “Hey, what about all that setup?,” especially since there’s no indication whatsoever of one year passing in the trade, unless you happen to remember the “OYL” logos on the single issue covers. And there’s definitely a bit of a rushed feeling as intriguing plots and subplots are tied up in the rush to what was then the final issue (#25), only it turned out it wasn’t. One would hope that when this series returns (hopefully soon, and hopefully with a new number one), it will get a little more room to breathe and allow Andreyko his space in terms of pacing. But really, my complaint boils down to “I wanted to see more of this,” which is hardly the worst thing to say about a book.

For A Few Dollars More:

Randy: Alan Moore The Complete Wildcats (Wildstorm) I have to admit, this is not as strong as you’d expect, either from Alan Moore or from Wildcats. If you’re looking for the best Wildcats stories, you’re better off picking up Joe Casey’s run on the book, and if you want great Moore superhero tales, I’d suggest Top 10. That said, there’s a lot to like in this collection, including Travis Charest starting out as a Jim Lee clone and quickly evolving into the masterful (if slow) artist he’s become today, the introduction of Sleeper villain Tao, an interesting sci-fi dystopia version of Khera (the homeworld of half the team, sort of) and plenty of other fun ideas. The constant re-booting of the Wildstorm universe has made it something of a useless artifact, continuity-wise, and the constant fill-in art, often by weaker artists or solid artists working on deadlines that didn’t help their work, waters it down considerably. However, the book features creative touches like the first church of robots, a robotic spree killer with a dirty mouth and an unrequited crush on a teammate, a bar called Clark’s where the heroes hang out and the proprietor has a familiar, some might say super, face… it’s Moore in Morrison mode, dropping wild ideas in the midst of a somewhat traditional superhero yarn.

Randy: Narcoleptic Sunday (Oni Press) Artist Jeremy Haun takes his first at-bat as a writer, and the results are pretty entertaining. Narcoleptic Sunday is a noir tale of a new romance cut short by murder and intrigue, and it calls to mind everything from Frank Miller’s first Sin City story to Steve Rolston’s underrated slacker noir tale One Bad Day. Haun’s protagonist Jack Larch suffers from a form of narcolepsy, and every time he goes to sleep at an inconvenient time, he seems to wake up at an even more inopportune moment. The story races through Jack’s encounters with masked men, beautiful girls and trans-gendered drug dealers at breakneck speed, full of violence and suspense and punctuated by some very real, human moments along the way. Haun is joined by new artistic find Brian Koschak, whose sharp-edged, pencil sketch style is very effective at selling mood and moment, as well as creating memorable characters with distinctive features, such as Larch’s stubbly goatee, the sad eyes that define femme fatale (and damsel in distress) Gwen or the cruel, shark-like grin of antagonist Oleander White. Together, the two have crafted a story that neatly fits the mold of noir, but breaks out in key moments thanks to interesting characters and a pace that keeps the reader turning pages in the tradition of the best kind of suspense stories.

Randy: Ultimate Spider-Man 100 Project (HERO Initiative) A $10 sketchbook to benefit the HERO Initiative, based on the 100 sketches done by 100 artists for Ultimate Spider-Man #100. Got that? If not, don’t worry about it, the basics are this: Over a hundred pages of art by a veritable who’s who of artists, all gracing the cover of Ultimate Spider-Man #100, some black and white, some full color. Highlights include a whimsical piece by J. Bone, a full color Gwen/MJ piece by Mark Brooks, a couple involved and inventive pieces by old pros like Ron Frenz and Al Milgrom, a beautiful action shot by Michael Lark and tons more. Any fan of Spidey or good art should pick this up, it’s a steal at $10, and the money goes to a good cause.

Nick: Tellos Colossal HC (Image Comics) Every once in awhile, a person’s body just craves a good fantasy story. Because of that craving, I personally was excited to see the release of this super-oversized edition (close to the size of DC’s Absolute series) of Tellos, which is a story that riffs on the notion that fantasy, for all of its doom and gloom and hack and slash action, can be fun and lighthearted too. Todd Dezago’s story is a solid one, made buoyant by interesting characters and funky dialogue. Seriously though, the biggest draw is Mike Wieringo’s art, which is brilliant to say the least. Seeing it biggie-sized is even better as that aspect makes it all the more robust and full of life and energy. His character creation and splash pages are so commanding that you can’t help but be entertained by them. Then there’s the copious amount of bonus material that you get, which among other things includes a sketchbook and an epilogue to the main story. All in all, a truly fun experience that’s extremely worth the price tag.