Review of New & Re-tooled CLiNT 2.1 Magazine
CLiNT #2.1 is available from all good magazine retailers and comic stores from May 23rd.
Launched in September 2010, CLiNT was creator Mark Millar's attempt to give comic books a more mainstream audience, filling the book with not just his own content, but comics written by well known British celebrities Jonathan Ross and Frankie Boyle, and interviews with Jimmy Carr, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost amongst others. In its early issues it was a strange beast, feeling like something along the lines of Zoo or Nuts, a lads mag with comics instead of.... y'know the other thing. Over the last year and a half, the books mission began to change as it found its readership, which ironically enough was mostly made up of those who picked the magazine in comic book shops. CliNT began to mutate into something different, dropping the ladish humor and concentrating more on the comic book industry (and by extension comic book movies), with comic strips including lesser known books like Graveyard Of Empires, and interviews with creators such as Robert Kirkman and Garth Ennis. Now CLiNT is relaunching with a second volume, completely embracing it's new attitude with four new strips (including the first issues of Millar's Supercrooks and The Secret Service, both on their second issues) and a host of interviews and features covering the comics industry. 
Lets start with the meat of the book: the comics. The lead strip is Millar's Supercrooks, a heist story about a group of super villains pulling off a job in a super hero-less Spain. This opening installment is mostly set up, and pretty tame by Millar's standards. Not that this is a bad thing. The plot is basically "Oceans Twelve" but the cons have superpowers. Most of the time is spent getting to know and like the characters, a good thing since we are basically asked to root for the bad guys. Lenil Francis Yu's art is amazing as usual, and altogether the strip works to have me coming back for the rest of the story. Millar's second strip, The Secret Service, is one that is coming off a lot of hype, with art duties being filled by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, and the story co-plotted by "Kick Ass" director Matthew Vaughn. The story is How someone becomes James Bond with super spy Jack London enrolling his dead beat nephew Gary in spy school. Like Supercrooks, it's all set up, but unlike the earlier strip I wasn't immediately sold on it. It felt generic, and save for a sub plot about actors and crew from famous science fiction properties being kidnapped, it was like I've seen it all before (I know Supercrook's plot has been done before, but, for me, the characters made it feel unique). Gibbon's art was dependable as always, but I would have to read a few more issues before I make my mind up. Of the four strips in the book, Frankie Boyle's Rex Royd: Kid Detective is the only continuation from volume one of CliNT. I will admit to not knowing much about the character, having only read one or two installments before this. There was a handy recap of the character, a Lex Luthor type super villain trying to save the world from the power hungry Proteoman, before the strip, but I was still quite lost. The story was enjoyable enough, but it suffered from a mixed up chronology I found hard to follow. Boyle's writing feels like a mix of Grant Morrison and Alan Moore, and just as crazy and messed up as you would expect from the controversial comedian. Artist Mike Dowling pulls double duty on Rex Royd and the last strip of the magazine, Death Sentence. From newcomer Montynero, it tells the tale of three people tested positive for the G+ virus, a sexually transmitted disease that grants those infected with super powers. It's an extremely intriguing concept, and a nice side swipe at celebrity culture, pulled off quite well. Elsewhere in the magazine, Millar talks about the upcoming movie productions of Supercrooks and American Jesus, and also sheds light on volumes two and three of his unique take on the bible he started with Chosen. Also the magazine celebrates 20 years of Roman Dirge's Lenore, what the L.A. Times calls an unholy union between Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss. Those of you haven't read the grotesque and cutesy adventures of the titular zombie girl, you are truly missing out. I know Mark Millar isn't everybody's cup of tea, but CliNT fares well from it's new change in attitude, and promises the best in movie and comic book news every month. CLiNT #2.1 is available from all good magazine retailers and comic stores from May 23rd.
Lets start with the meat of the book: the comics. The lead strip is Millar's Supercrooks, a heist story about a group of super villains pulling off a job in a super hero-less Spain. This opening installment is mostly set up, and pretty tame by Millar's standards. Not that this is a bad thing. The plot is basically "Oceans Twelve" but the cons have superpowers. Most of the time is spent getting to know and like the characters, a good thing since we are basically asked to root for the bad guys. Lenil Francis Yu's art is amazing as usual, and altogether the strip works to have me coming back for the rest of the story. Millar's second strip, The Secret Service, is one that is coming off a lot of hype, with art duties being filled by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, and the story co-plotted by "Kick Ass" director Matthew Vaughn. The story is How someone becomes James Bond with super spy Jack London enrolling his dead beat nephew Gary in spy school. Like Supercrooks, it's all set up, but unlike the earlier strip I wasn't immediately sold on it. It felt generic, and save for a sub plot about actors and crew from famous science fiction properties being kidnapped, it was like I've seen it all before (I know Supercrook's plot has been done before, but, for me, the characters made it feel unique). Gibbon's art was dependable as always, but I would have to read a few more issues before I make my mind up. Of the four strips in the book, Frankie Boyle's Rex Royd: Kid Detective is the only continuation from volume one of CliNT. I will admit to not knowing much about the character, having only read one or two installments before this. There was a handy recap of the character, a Lex Luthor type super villain trying to save the world from the power hungry Proteoman, before the strip, but I was still quite lost. The story was enjoyable enough, but it suffered from a mixed up chronology I found hard to follow. Boyle's writing feels like a mix of Grant Morrison and Alan Moore, and just as crazy and messed up as you would expect from the controversial comedian. Artist Mike Dowling pulls double duty on Rex Royd and the last strip of the magazine, Death Sentence. From newcomer Montynero, it tells the tale of three people tested positive for the G+ virus, a sexually transmitted disease that grants those infected with super powers. It's an extremely intriguing concept, and a nice side swipe at celebrity culture, pulled off quite well. Elsewhere in the magazine, Millar talks about the upcoming movie productions of Supercrooks and American Jesus, and also sheds light on volumes two and three of his unique take on the bible he started with Chosen. Also the magazine celebrates 20 years of Roman Dirge's Lenore, what the L.A. Times calls an unholy union between Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss. Those of you haven't read the grotesque and cutesy adventures of the titular zombie girl, you are truly missing out. I know Mark Millar isn't everybody's cup of tea, but CliNT fares well from it's new change in attitude, and promises the best in movie and comic book news every month. CLiNT #2.1 is available from all good magazine retailers and comic stores from May 23rd. Special Subscription Offer! Get 9 issues of CLiNT - saving 20%, plus a FREE signed Dave Gibbons 'The Secret Service' Art Card! Hurry, only 200 signed Dave Gibbons Art Cards available! To subscribe click here: