Benjamin Snyder 6/27/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/27/18

Review: Kill or Be Killed #20

By Ben Snyder

No matter what, reading the last issue of Kill or Be Killed was always going leave me disappointed because I’ve loved the entire series so much. Seeing it end, although it inevitably had to, was always going to leave a bad taste in my mouth. But Kill or Be Killed #20, disappointed me in a different way all-together. After such a stellar run from Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Elizabeth Breitweiser, the ending felt almost mean spirited with several instances of the rug being pulled out from underneath the reader for no purposeful reason besides to fill an entire chapter. Or perhaps I’m just jaded, because despite it’s faults Kill or Be Killed #20 is still better than most finales.

Benjamin Snyder 6/27/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/27/18

Review: Descender #31

By Ben Snyder

Descender has come a very far ways from where it started. At first, the series was quiet, beautiful, almost meditative on the existence of A.I and the repercussions of its abuse. For a while, I thought that’s how the story would stay, but as the story unfolded it was clear that Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen were telling a sprawling and expansive space epic something on a massive scale. While it hasn’t hit the highs its creators have set out for it; Descender has been a success for most of its issue. Descender #31 is no exception, providing a bombastic and explosive entry before the series finale. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.

Benjamin Snyder 6/20/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/20/18

Review: Unnatural #1

Using personified animals has been a very lucrative and productive method throughout the history of animation and cartoons. Disney consistently makes a hit movie every couple of years with this premise, and Fables used this idea to some extent as well. We could even go back to Animal Farm for instance. But that would be the only way that a book such as Unnatural could be mentioned within the same breath of said institutions. Unnatural #1 is one of the most heavy-handed, low grabbing, and uncomfortable stories I’ve read in a long time if not ever. I’d recommend anyone steers clear of this story unless they’re interested in low quality furry fan-fiction.

Benjamin Snyder 6/20/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/20/18

Review: Days of Hate #6

By Ben Snyder

Media depends on and reflects or draws inspiration from whatever goes in the outside world around it. What is currently happening in America right now only adds to the power and sheer brilliance that is Days of Hate. Days ago news reports came that ICE and border control were separating children from their parents at the Mexican border and placing these children in crates. Some outlets compared them to internment camps. I only mention this because these real-world struggles are literally only small steps away from the hellhole that Aleš Kot, Danijel Žeželj, and Jordie Bellaire depict in their harrowing, bone-chilling saga that is Days of Hate. Days of Hate #6 ends the first half of the tale with a bang, placing all of our “heroes” in dire and dangerous territory.

Benjamin Snyder 6/13/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/13/18

Review: The Dead Hand #3

By Ben Snyder

Slowly the iron curtain is starting to be pulled back ever so slightly in The Dead Hand #3. In the third chapter we are introduced to the smooth-talking counterpart of Carter Carlson, who is simply known as Ellis (people sound much cooler when they only go by one name). Kyle Higgins, Stephen Mooney, and Jordie Bellaire continue their triumphant run with another stellar entry into the fledging series. While the other two entries relied on superb endings (this one does too), the third chapter succeeds more so for it’s subtlety as it introduces new characters and agendas, while hinting that it may not be as it seems.

Benjamin Snyder 6/13/18 Benjamin Snyder 6/13/18

Review: By Night #1

Following his landmark success Giant Days, John Allison begins his new mini-series, By Night and while it may seem a bit too similar to his other works at first, By Night #1 does enough by the end of the chapter to set itself apart. Allison shows a remarkable wealth of knowledge and talent in writing dialogue that could conceivably be spoken in real life, and it’s a highlight of the chapter for sure. It is not a perfect chapter as some of Christine Larsen’s illustrations are a bit lacking, Sarah Stern’s colors can be a little to bland, and Allison’s overall story tends to be so-so; By Night #1 is still a more than respectable story.

Benjamin Snyder 5/30/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/30/18

Review: Royal City #11

By Ben Snyder

Royal City #11 picks up exactly where it left off prior to its flashback arc; with Patrick and his recently discovered niece awaiting his estranged wife Greta as she joins him in the titular Royal City. It’s hard to give this entry a positive review when it leaves the reader in a state of perpetual malaise. But one hallucinatory character says it best near the end of the chapter, “That’s what this place does to you… leaves you in between.” That is why this chapter is successful; Jeff Lemire is totally in control of the story and flexing his artistic muscles by forcing the reader to join the characters in this semi-purgatorial rotting steel town.

Benjamin Snyder 5/30/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/30/18

Review: Kill or Be Killed #19

By Ben Snyder

Although, I have been an avid fan of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s Kill or Be Killed so far, there hasn’t quite been an issue that left me saying “what?” until this chapter. Kill or Be Killed #19 obviously signals the eventual series ending with a final page that will leave readers feeling and saying similarly, but it shouldn’t detract or distract from a thoroughly intense albeit dialogue heavy chapter. If there’s one complaint to Ed Brubaker’s style is that he can be a bit too dialogue-heavy and that is very prevalent in this chapter. Despite this, I think teamed up with Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser, this complaint is soothed a bit, as each cog works together harmoniously to produce another solid issue of Kill or Be Killed.

Benjamin Snyder 5/23/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/23/18

Review: Days of Hate #5

By Ben Snyder

Although a mostly quiet chapter, Days of Hate #5 is a stellar addition to an amazing comic. It’s a quiet chapter simply because there are so few actual words spoken, but boy does it end with a literal bang. It all centers on Huang’s decision to reveal Amanda’s location to Freeman. And having it all focus on each of their actions spoke larger volumes about their character than any amount of dialogue could have. Aleš Kot and Danijel Žeželj continue to produce Eisner-worthy content at a steady rate with Days of Hate. Couple that with Jordie Bellaire’s harrowing colors and you have what is shaping to be a classic.

Benjamin Snyder 5/23/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/23/18

Review: Skyward #2

By Ben Snyder

While the zero gravity makes common-place earth and its dynamics interesting, the rest of Skywards #2’s script is anything but. Writer Joe Henderson and Artist Lee Garbett attempt to forge forward and examine how no gravity would affect our world and it’s inhabitants, the result is simply not that unique. It feels like a story repeatedly told with so little to differentiate it from the crowd. It’s not unreadable, and it’s not boring, I think the Zero-gravity is more than enough of a hook for right now, but something else will need to change, specifically its main character.

Benjamin Snyder 5/16/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/16/18

Review: Xerxes: The Fall of The House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #2

By Ben Snyder

Despite the disappointment I felt last month after reading Xerxes #1, I couldn’t help but feel hopeful for the follow up issue Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #2. Unfortunately, I am left feeling as thought his series is entirely unnecessary and disappointing. Frank Miller’s script continues to be a slog due to his overused narration and reliance on Greek prayers and feels half finished. Miller’s art however takes it to another level, an extremely poor one. It all collides to create a feeling that this entire endeavor was rushed and unfinished.

Benjamin Snyder 5/16/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/16/18

Review: The Dead Hand #2

By Ben Snyder

Once again I find myself hooked by another twist so cleverly placed at the end of The Dead Hand #2. Each chapter, I feel as if I understand the world of Mountain View and am fairly knowledgeable of its rules only for the end to upheave me. Writer Kyle Higgins, artist Stephen Mooney, and Colorist Jordie Bellaire continue to contort tropes and subvert expectations in the latest issue of The Dead Hand resulting in another standout chapter for the fledgling series.

Benjamin Snyder 5/9/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/9/18

Review: Batman: White Knight #8

By Ben Snyder

Batman: White Knight: has been a wild and somewhat inconsistent ride. It has never reached the apex of other Batman mini series, but it never was a miserable slog. Perhaps that is why I have been so meh about the series, it rarely if ever moved any needle of excitement despite the amazing talent behind it. The mini-series finale follows suit with the rest of the series and in doing so leaves me a little disappointed. Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth are a present-day dream team of talent, which also raised the expectations a little too high. But perhaps my biggest gripe with Batman: White Knight #8 is that it wrapped up the entire mini-series too neatly.

Benjamin Snyder 5/9/18 Benjamin Snyder 5/9/18

Review: Analog #2

By Ben Snyder

It says a lot that I’m continually left fascinated by Analog’s world despite writer Gerry Duggan’s hit or miss script. The post-internet world is so captivating that it feels as if there are endless possibilities. With the new addition of government intervention in private affairs, it seems as though Analog is on a more set path than previously thought which definitely helps, and Duggan’s humor is a much appreciated counter-balance to the heavy noir elements present in the story. Despite some initial trepidation due to an unnecessarily long fight scene, Analog #2 adjusts itself and delivers a solid issue to continue the story.

Benjamin Snyder 4/25/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/25/18

Review: Kill or Be Killed #18

By Ben Snyder

Kill or Be Killed #18 is unfortunately somewhat of a letdown. Most of Kill or Be Killed’s success has been based off of Ed Brubaker’s characterization of Dylan, Brubaker’s toying with the supernatural/mental illness, and/or Sean Phillips’s predictably stellar art. But issue #18 is missing on most of these qualities. It’s still a solid entry in the series, especially as it is rapidly approaching its endgame. However, Kill or Be Killed #18 mostly feels like a catch-up issue, whose only purpose is to sort out details rather than make them feel purposeful.

Benjamin Snyder 4/25/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/25/18

Review: Days of Hate #4

By Ben Snyder

Days of Hate #4 continues the series’ hot streak. Writer Aleš Kot and artists Danijel Žeželj and Jordie Bellaire continue to pump out one of the more harrowing and thought-provoking stories this year. Kot has made it stupidly obvious how politically driven this entire tale is as it preys on the fear many United States citizens had after the most recent presidential election. However, this series has succeeded more so due to Kot’s characterization of its core protagonists/antagonists and Žeželj’s art style that makes everything seems not quite right.

Benjamin Snyder 4/18/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/18/18

Review: Descender #29

By Ben Snyder

Often times Descender has felt plodding and been too wrapped up in it’s own convoluted mythos for it’s own good. But Descender #29 is a desperately needed change of pace. As Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen begin ramping up to this heavily anticipated endgame, the script and plot both begin to feel much faster and carry a greater sense of urgency. This is also one of the first issues of Descender where I didn’t feel as lost or bored at certain points as I felt in prior issues. It is fitting that with only a couple of issues left, Descender is pumping out some of the best issues since it’s beginning.

Benjamin Snyder 4/18/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/18/18

Review: Antar: The Black Knight #1

By Ben Snyder

Antar #1 is an exceptionally adequate comic. Nothing is particularly amazing or noteworthy but it aspires to do, it achieves in moderation. Retelling the legend of Antar, a pre-Islamic warrior poet from Arabia, writer Nnedi Okorafor hits all the necessary beats needed. There is some issue with him using the flashback narrative to tell his story as often times details can be left out, but often times you can piece together the important stuff. However the art and colors by Eric Battle and Jason Scott Jones respectively are simply not on the same level of the writing, which really isn’t saying much considering the overall meh-ness of the former.

Benjamin Snyder 4/12/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/12/18

Review: Xerxes: The Fall of The House of Darius and The Rise of Alexander #1

By Ben Snyder

After years upon years of fruitless waiting, Frank Miller finally released his companion to 300. Unfortunately Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #1 doesn’t reach anywhere near the same lofty heights as its predecessor. Miller delivers a surprisingly predictable and seemingly unnecessary companion to his original masterpiece. But it also continues a trend of Miller returning to his earlier works with noticeable less success, as he did with the Dark Knight III. Similarly to the Dark Knight III, Xerxes just doesn’t seem to add much to the landmark graphic novel.

Benjamin Snyder 4/11/18 Benjamin Snyder 4/11/18

Review: The Dead Hand #1

By Ben Snyder

While initially skeptical of its heavy use of narration, story, and characters the last few pages of The Dead Hand #1 throw everything prior in a new light creating fascinating new dynamics on typical cliché tropes. Writer Kyle Higgins, artist Stephen Mooney, and colorist Jordie Bellaire piece together an incredibly suspenseful and thought-provoking tale that holds immense promise for future issues.