Another fat anthology (96 pages!) showcasing some of
Vertigos current crop of comics. The framing sequences were courtesy of The Minx
by Peter Milligan, Sean Phillips and Kent Willaims and was probably the weakest part of
the package. I remember reading a preview of this comic in the last Winters Edge
and was unimpressed. Time and more of a story havent changed my feelings any.
Noteworthy contributions include: "All Those Little Girls and Boys" (Hellblazer) by Garth Ennis and Glyn Dillon; "New Years Demolition" (Nevada) by Steve Gerber & Phil Winslade; "We Three Things" (Books of Magic) by Peter Gross & Jason Lutes; and "Edgy Winter" (Transmetropolitan) by Warren Ellis & Darick Robertson. The Transmet story has to be one of the sickest Christmas themed stories Ive ever had the privilege to read.
Winters Edge 2 also includes a Sandman Mystery Theatre tale written by Steven T. Seagle and illustrated by Paul Rivoche. Not as satisfying as an ongoing SMT series would be but Ill take my Wesley Dodds stories where I can get em.
The surprise in the bunch was "God and Sinners" a Scene of the Crime story written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Michael Lark. It was a surprise because I wasnt expecting to like it so much. After reading this though Im definitely going to pick up the mini-series when it comes out.
And just so I cant be accused of leaving anyone out, for your bucks you also get a new Neil Gaiman Death story,"A Winters Tale"; a tale of The Dreaming by the new series writer Caitlin R. Kiernan; hilarious Invisibles paper dolls and an interview with Paul Pope. All in all a comic worth the price.
For more information on Vertigo Comics visit the DC Comics web site at www.dccomics.com.