Hunter Patrick 6/20/18 Hunter Patrick 6/20/18

Review: Ice Cream Man Volume 1: Rainbow Sprinkles

By Hunter T. Patrick

What a feel-good time for everyone but the characters. Ice Cream Man is an anthology series. Each issue is its own one-shot, all being connected by the titular Ice Cream Man. This volume features four different issues and four different stories. Music, drugs, and various other main themes become present. Nothing is scarier than humanity. This is horror, pure delicious horror. The scares are all brief in the pages, but like all good horror, the more thought in this psychological terror, the more fear, and despair that will come to the reader. The horror sticks with you for the four different plots, each different than the last. If you want anything from trouble with couples to trouble with the self and isolation, go on and give it a try. Everything is sprinkled, delicious, terrifying sprinkles.

Sam King 6/20/18 Sam King 6/20/18

Review: Tomb Raider Inferno #1

By Sam King

Tomb Raider: Inferno is a new four issue miniseries from Dark Horse. It pits Laura against a group called Trinity, which was most recently introduced in the 2013 video game, as well as the newest film. It is touted as a great entry for old and new fans, but so far not a lot is going on.

Kelly Gaines 6/15/18 Kelly Gaines 6/15/18

Review: Mister Miracle #9

By Kelly Gaines

Mister Miracle continues a streak of comic excellence in issue #9 as Scott and Barda’s new parenthood and intergalactic mission collide. We’re coming to the end of the Mister Miracle miniseries, and the next three issues promise to wrap up what has been an emotional and vividly told story. The golden couple of the DC universe has a critical choice to make, one that will decide the future of thousands.

Daniel Traeger 6/15/18 Daniel Traeger 6/15/18

Review: Mage: The Hero Denied #9

By Dan Traeger

Now kids, did I ever tell you the story of how Matt Wagner’s wonderful semi-autobiographical fantasy series changed my life? No? Well it really didn’t… well actually it did. Sort of. Better sit down, let me explain. No, no take the comfy chair. Here’s some nice hot tea. Don’t worry, I put a little spiced rum in it. Don’t tell mom. You see I’ve always had this theory that most of what makes up the kind of person you are can be gleaned from three things. Everything else will work itself out in the wash, but your core is really what music you listen to, what movies you watch, and most importantly, what books you read. Ridiculous? Kind of. Shallow? Most definitely. Like I said it’s a theory.

Kelly Gaines 6/13/18 Kelly Gaines 6/13/18

Review: Eternity Girl #4

By Kelly Gaines

Disclaimer: I’m going to get weird in this review. Not ‘unsettling distant relative at a family reunion’ weird, but definitely ‘weird guy rambling about god on the subway’ weird. If that’s not your thing, I’m sorry.

Cat Wyatt 6/13/18 Cat Wyatt 6/13/18

Review: Suicide Squad #43

By Cat Wyatt

Suicide Squad #43 continues the plot a few issues ago, where Deadshot’s daughter has been kidnapped by Kobra. Thanks to Batman, Deadshot actually has a chance to do something about it and save her, but that’s assuming that these two unlikely allies can get along long enough to get there in time…

Garrett Hanneken 6/13/18 Garrett Hanneken 6/13/18

Review: The Immortal Men #3

By Garrett Hanneken

Familiarizing the audience with characters is an important factor in a story. It gives the readers a reason to care about the story and to care about the actions by the characters. Issue #3 of The Immortal Men focuses on this factor, but I am not sure if I am entirely sold on this somewhat late introduction.

Cat Wyatt 6/13/18 Cat Wyatt 6/13/18

Review: Wonder Woman #48

By Cat Wyatt

After the Wonder Woman Annual it’s hard not to get hyped about the Dark Gods plot that’s been started in Wonder Woman. This issue picks up where the last left off, only of course first we have to learn what happened on Earth once Diana was swept away.

Sam King 6/13/18 Sam King 6/13/18

Review: DuckTales #9

By Sam King

Duck Tales #9 is another generally stand-alone issue containing two episodic stories. It is based on the new animated series reboot that is being aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD. While not creating any long-term stories thus far, it is still a fun one for general fans of the show and characters. At some point, I would like to see at least one longer arc or some more tie-ins to the actual show, but this is not that point. The series is very good for casual readers to pick up and dig into with just curiosity since it is not fully reliant on having watched every episode to date.

Cat Wyatt 6/13/18 Cat Wyatt 6/13/18

Review: Death of Love #5

By Cat Wyatt

The conclusion for Death of Love is finally here, and it’s a bittersweet moment to be sure. The last time we saw our characters, they were facing off against Eros. Eros, as a gentle reminder is the god of love and is almost literally designed to look like Jason Mamoa in bondage. So this isn’t something you want to be missing.

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.

Damien Becton 6/13/18 Damien Becton 6/13/18

Review: Hawkman #1

By Damien Becton

Hawkman #1 is everything you would expect from a new relaunch - a recap of the protagonists’ origin, action scenes, and a bunch of set up. Often, when a new #1 comes along, these procedures are followed to a T, and that can make highly predictable, if not boring issues. With this in mind and all of the new number ones being published around this time, I still came into Hawkman #1 with high expectations. After reading it, I asked myself, “Does Hawkman #1 separate itself from the rest of the pack?” For the most part, yeah, it does.

Hunter Patrick 6/13/18 Hunter Patrick 6/13/18

Review: Plastic Man #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

Always liked Plastic Man, now it is a love. Instantly the story takes you to the origins of Plastic Man. If you do not know who he is, you will now. The origin is organic in the story and not at all forced. It fits the flow. Eel O’Brian is transformed from small-time crook to, well, Plastic Man. He digs into a mystery, one that haunts him at his core. This mystery ties into his origin. The more shocking aspect is the reveal at the end of the issue of who else is in this mystery, someone against Plastic Man. He may be in the Terrifics, but it is time for the world to meet and love Plastic Man thanks to the creative team.

Damien Becton 6/13/18 Damien Becton 6/13/18

Review: It Came Out On A Wednesday #1

By Damien Becton

Newsprint is back! Alterna Comics is an indie comic book publishing company that prints their books in newsprint. And because of this, their regular books are only $1.50 - this book; It Came Out On A Wednesday, is $1.99 because it is a bi-monthly double-sized anthology book. It highlights up-and-coming creative writers and artists. This book is filled with tons of ideas and set pieces, ranging from the galactic space aliens playing cricket to a horror-inspired supernatural short story about voodoo and witchcraft. So, is this inaugural issue of the ongoing anthology worth your hard-earned $1.99? Of course, it is.

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.

Garrett Hanneken 6/13/18 Garrett Hanneken 6/13/18

Review: The Man of Steel #3

By Garrett Hanneken

A midpoint of a 6 issue miniseries needs to pick up the pace because after issue #3 we should be headed towards the main conflict. Luckily, the end of issue #3 tells us that the next issue will make good on that conflict.

Cat Wyatt 6/13/18 Cat Wyatt 6/13/18

Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #46

By Cat Wyatt

After the big revelation in the last issue, it’s safe to say that it’s been a long two weeks waiting for Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #46 to drop. It’s finally here, and it comes with the title Darkstars Rising Part Three Death Sentence. If that title makes you worried, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Sam King 6/13/18 Sam King 6/13/18

Review: Scooby Apocalypse #26

By Sam King

Scooby Apocalypse is a series I have been following for a while. For me, it has simply become a guilty pleasure. Last issue we saw the death of Fred Jones (no spoilers really, since DC plastered everywhere that it was going to happen). This issue covers the aftermath of his loss and seems to start taking the series in a new direction.

Hunter Patrick 6/13/18 Hunter Patrick 6/13/18

Review: Titans Special #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

Misleading name featuring Titans, still exciting nonetheless. There is no need to have read what followed, this is a perfect starting point, even if not having read Metal or No Justice/ The end of Metal happened as did the end of No Justice. The source wall has been destroyed. Before No Justice, the Titans also disbanded. The world is ending, and the threats have never been bigger. How do the Titans continue? Well, a new team of course. The Titans were not an ordinary team, they were formed over friendship. This new team will be different, an actual team. With the new threats, the DC Trinity asks Nightwing to lead a new team of his choice. Nightwing, Donna Troy, Raven, Beast Boy, Steel (Natasha Irons), and their ‘chaperone’, Miss Martian. Team members now have their abilities being altered thanks to the source wall broken and people need to be saved. This issue brings together this new team for the first time and also sets up the new era of Titans, with a team trying to be different than what came before. Welcome to the new unknown.

Hunter Patrick 6/12/18 Hunter Patrick 6/12/18

Review: About Betty's Boob

By Hunter T. Patrick

Such a lovely message. Elisabeth is a woman who just lost her breast and hair after fighting a disease. She begins to be shunned by society, and even worse her significant other. He tries, he really does for her, but he cannot get over her having a single breast. She begins to have everyone turn against her and all values of beauty cause her to spiral worse and worse into loneliness and despair in society. Yep. Sounds pretty depressing. But as with all great tragedies there should be a little hope. This plays into hope. The metaphors are strong, and the social commentary is stronger. This is a book that unashamedly plays into femininity and beauty, it is all the stronger for not being afraid to put it all into its art.