C’est Gronk is the random comic review feature at Lost Toast of dubious timing. Much like the title, there is little rhyme or reason to when the reviews show up, or what length they will be. Onwards!

Criminal Vol. 2 #1 (Icon/Marvel)
by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Val Staples.

And so finally, a new issue of Criminal arrives. I haven’t talked about Criminal on the site before - this is because an issue hasn’t come out since I started dropping my love of comics into the blog-space on this site. In my opinion, that is a terrible thing. After all, comics like Criminal are far too few. In fact, I can’t think of a single thing out there like it on the stands. Brian Michael Bendis’ Powers comes close - but it’s not as grounded as Criminal is. Warren Ellis’ fell also toes closer to the style, but there is still a lingering sense of the fantastic in the pages that it just narrowly misses the genre.

Criminal takes place in a world where reality is a rule, more than anything. The punches hurt and the emotions grind and nothing about it screams with the bombastic. It’s a nasty, gritty little thing that cracks you in the teeth with the combined might of Brubaker’s word and Phillips’ pics, and makes you beg for more. And then, unlike other comics on the stands, it gives you more, with a back section filled with various interviews and essays on the genre the book is soaked in. Everyone that’s into a good crime story should definitely be reading this book. Look for it at your local comic shop now.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #12 (Dark Horse Comics) - Is it in poor taste to make a Muffy joke? Yeah? Right then. Moving on.

Casanova #12 (Image Comics) - Greatest, balls-out death ever. In my dreams, I write a comic like this. Don’t judge me - it is better than masturbating furiously.

Green Lantern #28 (DC) -Behold, the wonder twin powers of Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison. Shape of bat-shit insane, form of a comic book! Which is to say, it’s good.

I love the name of this feature, so it might be around for more than 5 installments. Stay tuned.

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