Comic Reviews Shawn Warner Comic Reviews Shawn Warner

Review: Cave Carson has a Cybernetic Eye #9

By Shawn Warner

Cave Carson has a Cybernetic Eye is possibly the best comic book on the racks today, the only problem is that it is most likely one of the most consistently overlooked offerings from DC. Now to be fair it is part of their Young Animal group of more eclectic books, however unlike the Vertigo titles that came before them and dominated the 90’s pre-hipster comic book era with such series as the legendary Sandman by Neil Gaimen, The Preacher by Garth Ennis and countless mind-blowing mini-series by the great Grant Morrison, Young Animal and its leader the uber-cool Gerard Way seem to be stumbling in the dark to find its target audience. In fact, the flagship title, Doom Patrol also penned by Way has just recently been all but officially cancelled. Things seem bleak indeed for Way and his Young Animal cohorts, but that’s the ironic thing here, these books are darn good reads, all of them. However, we are here to speak of Cave Carson so, shall we begin?

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Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards

Review: Plastic #3

By Jonathan Edwards

Ever since initially glimpsing the preview pages at the end of the last issue, I've been both excited for as well as a little apprehensive about this one. Why? Because, I knew going in that the first scene (or at the very least, one of the first scenes) would involve sexual assault. It's a very serious subject matter that can very easily be mishandled and used exploitatively, even when the creator doesn't intend it, simply by way of not being familiar enough with how to responsibly look at and talk about it. Now with that being said, how does Plastic #3 handle it? Well, first let me note that I am by no means an expert on this, so everything I'm saying should be taken with a grain of salt. Anyway, while I'm honestly not convinced that its inclusion was entirely necessary to tell this story, I do see why Wagner did it. Furthermore, I personally found something quite powerful about how Edwyn reacts to and talks about it throughout the issue. To me, it's the final proof that this book is earnestly exploring themes of love, good, and evil through a lens that is so commonly associated with the perversion of, or in some cases the outright disagreement with, those same themes. What we're ultimately left with is a story that's romantic in the same way that Palahniuk is romantic. And, I love it.

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Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1

By Dustin Cabeal

The punctuation for Shirtless Bear-Fighter is very important. I could just type examples over and over, but that would probably only amuse myself since no one that’s read a comic book for joy has every thought about grammar. If they did, then they would see the abysmal state of the English language in comics. We’re not here to talk about that or how I contribute to that statement weekly, but rather we’re here to take an early look at Shirtless Bear-Fighter from Image Comics.

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Comic Reviews Wes Jones Comic Reviews Wes Jones

Review: Condo Heartbreak Disco

By Wes Jones

Eric Kostiuk Williams’ Condo Heartbreak Disco is a superhero book that feels very little like a superhero book. We’re introduced to our amorphous, genderfluid, ancient deity heroes Komio and The Willendorf Braid in a near future Toronto. The bizarre couple attempts to save their city from very real and timely villainous force: gentrification, unaffordable housing, and an increasing class divide.

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Comic Reviews Patrick Wolf Comic Reviews Patrick Wolf

Review: The Girl in the Midnight Gown

By Patrick Wolf

Years ago I watched M. Night Shyamalan’s first bad movie: The Village. What’s interesting about The Village is that the film isn’t terrible in-itself. Had the movie been marketed honestly, I’m sure it would’ve received better reviews. The problem was The Village was advertised as a horror when really it was a romance, and that sat poorly with viewers. In many ways, The Girl in the Midnight Gown suffers from a similar fate.

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Comic Reviews Patrick Wolf Comic Reviews Patrick Wolf

Review: Untold # 1

By Patrick Wolf

There are two kinds of horror stories: masterworks that move us and filth that sickens us. While Untold doesn’t fit smoothly into any of these categories, it definitely leans more towards the latter. So, if you’re into smut stories like The Human Centipede or I Spit on your Grave, this is probably right up your lane. If you’re looking for something more akin to The Shinning or Aliens, however, I’d keep looking. 

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Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards

Review: Justice League of America #8

By Jonathan Edwards

No, this book still isn't any good, and no, I won't leave it alone. This issue feels like a whole new low in the perpetual suck that is this series. On top of characters being dumb, inconsistent, and poorly written, loads of development happening offpanel, a shitton of sloppy exposition telling us about said development, as well as an entirely artificial and manufactured conflict regarding the "hypocrisy" of Batman, Justice League of America #8 has the most convoluted train wreck of a story to date. Makson is a shit-tier villain, an even worse character, and the "twist" is flimsy and contrived at best. The fact that DC currently lists five more issues of JLA, all still written by Orlando, is insanity and could be used as proof for us living in an unfair world.

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Comic Reviews Shawn Warner Comic Reviews Shawn Warner

Review: Briggs Land: Lone Wolves #1

By Shawn Warner

Brian Wood has always been one of those writers that all I needed to see was his name on the cover and that particular book would not only ended on the counter with that week's new books, but inevitably on my pull list. Briggs Land was no different, I grabbed the first issue and raced home to read it as I had done with his Star Wars, DV8 and so many other great series, but Briggs Land was different and not at all in a bad way. Woods, for as good as he already was, was growing into an even better writer/ storyteller with this series.

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Comic Reviews Ashley Gibbs Comic Reviews Ashley Gibbs

Review: Heavenly Blues #1

By Ashley Gibbs

Heavenly Blues #1 is the start of a new series focusing on an unlikely pair of misfits as they deal with the trials and tribulations of the afterlife. I first heard about this series at a local convention where I met the creator, Ben Kahn. A cheerful fellow, he sold me on what this work. I fully admit this isn’t my usual cup of tea, however the story is unique to me and I also enjoyed the humorous dialogue for a story literally set in hell. I do warn readers that there is some violence and crude language present here, however, this first issue does a good job of setting up the adventure that’s about to unfold and draw you in for the next book.

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Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Normandy Gold #1

By Daniel Vlasaty

Hard Case Crime is one of my favorite publishers. They put out some great classic crime novels as well as modern day pulps. Recently, they have teamed up with Titan to release comic books, pairing crime writers with artists. I think this is awesome. And when I saw Megan Abbott’s name attached to this book, I was immediately pumped. I’ve read a few of her novels and think she’s a great writer. And I was interested to see her try her hand at writing a comic. Normandy Gold is co-written with Alison Gaylin, another crime writer. Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with her work, but will most likely be checking it out now after reading this comic book.

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