Dustin Cabeal 3/14/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/14/18

Review: Hockey Karma

By Dustin Cabeal

Having read The Hockey Saint, I was curious about this sequel which picks up towards the end of Jeremiah Jacobson’s hockey career. It also seemed to be a sequel to Stereotypical Freaks, but unlike the two hockey books, I couldn’t get into that story having started and stopped it four separate times. If you’re curious about all three, I would advise you to read Hockey Karma last, as it takes place after aforementioned stories.

Cat Wyatt 3/14/18 Cat Wyatt 3/14/18

Review: Wonder Woman #42

By Cat Wyatt

Diana has been through a lot lately, and it doesn’t seem like the universe is willing to let up anytime soon. Recently Diana found, and then lost, her twin brother Jason. In the last issue he arrived (again), only changed somehow. Perhaps he can help her with the impending battle against Darkseid?

Dustin Cabeal 3/14/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/14/18

Review: Chinatown Bus

By Dustin Cabeal

Chinatown Bus is the type of book I used to love discovering at comic conventions. I’ve stopped going to comic conventions mostly because it stopped being a place of discovery for me. Often I would actually avoid artist alley because I had comics sitting in my inbox waiting to review. I know, that’s pretty lame, but I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to disappoint others even if it’s giving them a negative review.

Cat Wyatt 3/14/18 Cat Wyatt 3/14/18

Review: No. 1 With A Bullet #5

By Cat Wyatt

The pace for No. 1 With a Bullet has picked up pretty significantly in the last two issues. When we left off the last issue, we saw the instigator for all of Nash’s pain and trouble driving off a cliff (courtesy of his car not working properly) as well as a couple of other attacks (one on an online pervert harassing Nash and another on the investigator following her). I’ll admit I was a bit worried that Nash would take the blame for this if nothing else than in the media’s eye (which has been the problem all along, hasn’t it?).

Kelly Gaines 3/14/18 Kelly Gaines 3/14/18

Review: Eternity Girl #1

By Kelly Gaines

DC’s Young Animal imprint has added a new hero to their roster with the mysterious, nihilistic, and clinically depressed Eternity Girl #1. Once an overachieving student, Caroline Sharp is recruited by an agency known as Alpha 13. Her devoted service royally screws Caroline when her accidentally obtained superpowers go haywire and destroy the Alpha 13 home office. Caroline, horribly disfigured and struggling with her new abilities, is placed on indefinite leave and forced into psychiatric treatment. What do you do when you’re suspended from work, can’t maintain your human form, and can’t die no matter how hard you try? Drink. Drink a lot. Fortunately for Caroline, there must be a God, because her superhuman imperviousness left her with one crucial human component- the ability to get fucked up.

Cat Wyatt 3/14/18 Cat Wyatt 3/14/18

Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #40

By Cat Wyatt

It’s only been two weeks since the last issue of Hal Jordan, and the Green Lantern Corps came out, but it feels like it has been months. I’ve been so anxious to see what was going to happen next, and leaving Hal all alone in Zod’s control has not been comforting to me. There are a lot of things in motion right now, from Zod officially making a move to the Guardians interfering with the way John Stewart runs the Green Lantern Corps. I’ve been looking forward to seeing where it was going to go next.

Kelly Gaines 3/9/18 Kelly Gaines 3/9/18

Review: Rick and Morty Presents: The Vindicators #1

By Kelly Gaines

Fans of the animated hit Rick and Morty know the gig- a hilarious, grim, and consistent deconstruction of genre after genre, trope after trope, and narrative after narrative. Rick and Morty is part comedy TV program, and part societal framing device fashioned in the style of Deconstructive criticism- the literary critique style so complex that my Sophomore Seminar chose to skip that chapter of critical theory. Rick and Morty creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon have put that decision to shame.

Cat Wyatt 3/7/18 Cat Wyatt 3/7/18

Review: Harley Quinn #39

By Cat Wyatt

In the last issue of Harley Quinn we witnessed Penguin make his next move into Coney Island. Without Harley around to help defend it, things have not been going well for the friends she left behind. Issue #39 of Harley Quinn continues the story of Penguin’s escapades and maneuvers.

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Skinned

By Dustin Cabeal

Skinned received a beautiful hardcover recently from Insight Comics, and they were kind enough to send me a copy for review. It sat on my desk in a sea of reviews just waiting for me to get to it. Originally when I saw the art and read about the series, during its digital premiere, I was curious about the concept since it seemed to take a note from Non-Player, but unlike that series, it actually concluded and didn’t take a bunch of people’s money for a long ride.

Benjamin Snyder 3/7/18 Benjamin Snyder 3/7/18

Review: Assassin's Creed: Origins #1

By Ben Snyder

While last year’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins proved to be a fantastically enjoyable video game, the first issue of its comic book counterpart Assassin’s Creed: Origins fails to meet the former's standards. Focusing on the character Aya in Rome around the time of Caesar’s assassination sounds like a fascinating concept in theory being that Aya was such a strong character in the game. But in Assassin’s Creed: Origins #1 Aya is simply given little to do and little space to do it in making her feel like a spectator in her own story.

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Out of Nothing

By Dustin Cabeal

Out of the titles from Nobrow that I’ve read I’ve enjoyed them. That’s typically the case I find when I dig into a new publisher, but there’s an inevitable wall that’s hit. Not everything can be fantastic and amazing. There are going to be stories that don’t hit with readers and reviewers, and for me, that story is Out of Nothing.

Cat Wyatt 3/7/18 Cat Wyatt 3/7/18

Review: Batman #42

By Cat Wyatt

Issue #42 of Batman has one of the more dramatic titles I’ve seen lately, ‘Hunted by the Justice League.’ It reminds me of the Injustice series, even though I know that isn’t the case here. Based on the cover it isn’t hard to get a good idea of who is behind the fight of Batman versus the Justice League (hint: how many Batman villains do you know of that love plants, are frequently represented by the color green, and have been known to hypnotize people via toxins?).

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Renegade: Martin Luther – The Graphic Biography

By Dustin Cabeal

Well, this is a first for me. I think the idea of a graphic biography about a religious figure seemed different enough to me that I wanted to give it a read. I’m not opposed to graphic biographies, but I do find myself enjoying them less and less. A lot of that has to do with the presentation, which is definitely one of the things that Renegade: Martin Luther has going against it.

Benjamin Snyder 3/7/18 Benjamin Snyder 3/7/18

Review: Batman: White Knight #6

By Ben Snyder

Batman: White Knight #6 largely serves as the mini-series’ “I told you so” moment in which everyone realizes they may have needed Batman all along. After everyone from Jack to Commissioner Gordon to even Nightwing plot on capturing the Batman, all hell breaks loose, and his services are needed more than ever, especially with the issue ending with a surprise appearance from The Joker. While Sean Murphy has done a heroic job with the series so far, this issue feels like a bit of a letdown.

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Geis vol. 2 – A Game Without Rules

By Dustin Cabeal

Having enjoyed the first volume of Geis, pronounced “Gesh,” I was looking forward to this second volume. The incredible thing that creator Alexis Deacon has done with this story is created a layered world, filled with unique and relatable characters. It’s also full of magic and mystery which in why the first volume stood out so much.

Cat Wyatt 3/7/18 Cat Wyatt 3/7/18

Review: Green Lanterns #42

By Cat Wyatt

Issue #42 of Green Lanterns continues the saga that the last few issues have carried us on. Simon and Jess have figured out that thanks to an online dating app superheroes (usually of a lower level) have been getting abducted. In the last issue, they were able to get an idea of where the heroes were being held captive. Meanwhile, the cause for all of this distress (Night Pilot), has been moved to a secondary location for reasons unknown.

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Coffin Crushers #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Sometimes when I support Kickstarters, I fall in love with the art before I read what the story is about. In this case, I didn’t pay any attention to what the story for Coffin Crushers was because I thought it was about the two dudes on the cover, and it is not.

That’s a good thing though because I was pleased to find it was about a squad of women in mech suits fighting vampires! This first issue sets the stage as one of the dudes from the cover comes riding in on a badass motorcycle, beats down a mech and takes its power supply. It’s quickly revealed that they’re running out of power supplies for their mechs and without the mech’s the stalemate between the human city and the vampires will come to an end as they’ll be overpowered and crushed.

Smrithi S 3/7/18 Smrithi S 3/7/18

Review: The Book of Silent Sky #1

By Thea Srinivasan

Here is a quick list of attributes I characterize with ninjas: violence, death, and teachers. If these three attributes aren’t somehow involved in a story about ninjas, I’m usually surprised and shocked. But thankfully, this tale has all three just in the first volume itself. Yet the story doesn’t twist it into one giant cliché thankfully. Please note: this story is ONLY for people 16 and up. If blood and gore are too much for you, do NOT read this story.

Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18 Dustin Cabeal 3/7/18

Review: Kingdom of Skulls

By Dustin Cabeal

Kingdom of Skulls is part King Conan and part Mignolaverse, and that’s not only a very difficult thing to accomplish but also enjoyable to read. This one-shot from Ray Wegner introduces the lineage of the Kingdom of Skulls as the current king and last king in the bloodline, prepares for a battle outside his gates.

Smrithi S 3/7/18 Smrithi S 3/7/18

Review: The Tales of Reverie #1 & 2

By Thea Srinivasan

While the mind is considered the greatest source of creativity, I consider one the greatest tools to create adventures we could never experience in reality. Some of the greatest stories end up becoming dream catchers for some people. But unlike dream catchers, the author chooses what they want their readers to see. When I think about it, books are like dream catchers for the author. With their intent in mind, they create tales that give experiences to other people around the world, regardless of how the story is told.