The reinvention of Vertigo Comics continues apace!
Earlier this month, the mature and sophisticated publishing arm of DC Comics turned a new leaf, and began releasing the first of twelve new titles over the Autumn season. You can read about one of those comics, written about in this very column, right here.
The reason for the fairly major re-launch by the publisher?
Relevancy, of course.
In a world where smaller, but still significant publishers like Dark Horse Comics and Image Comics are regularly releasing comics by established high profile, as well as up and coming, talent, and basically eating the lunch you helped make in the late nineteen eighties and early nineteen nineties, a publisher needs to re-make themselves.
It must be said: for Vertigo Comics in the month of October, so far, so good.
And today gives us the release of the eagerly anticipated punk rock, NYC-fashion, art-world inspired, madness of Art Ops #1.
Follow me after the jump for the art history lesson!
ART OPS #1
Written by: Shaun Simon
Illustrated by: Mike Allred
Published by: Vertigo Comics
Written by Shaun Simon (The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys) and illustrated by industry icon Mike Allred (Madman, iZombie, FF, Silver Surfer), Art Ops is unlike anything you’ve come across.
Check that.
If you’re old enough, it’ll actually remind you of what made you fall in love with Vertigo Comics all those decades ago. Only with art history at its core. How very Vertigo!
Art Ops tells the story of Reggie Riot and the agents of Art Operatives. He’s the beleaguered, and uninterested son of the woman who founded the mysterious organization, years ago. Their job: track down the rogue figures of famous works of art that come to life, escape their frames, and wreak havoc on the public!
This is where surrealism becomes an appendage. Where Mona Lisa comes to life on the mic in a New York City punk music club. And where we began to ask if man controls art or art controls man.
This is the stuff of early Vertigo and the brave writing of Morrison and Milligan asked questions about art, madness and reality.
And, you know, it’s got Mike Allred drawing the figures in the panels. Here’s a series with meaning.
Make the run to your local comic book shop today and pick up Art Ops #1. Art History class will never, ever be the same.
