Press Release 1/18/18 Press Release 1/18/18

NEW AfterShock Title HER INFERNAL DESCENT #1 Announced

Press Release

A tale of loss told in five parts. Any good mom would march through the inferno of HELL to get her family back.

Unable to cope with the burden of grief, a middle-aged mom descends the nine circles of hell to retrieve her forsaken family. Guided by the ghosts of William Blake and Agatha Christie, this no-nonsense mother journeys deep into a bizarre underworld filled with celebrity sinners, surreal landscapes, and absurd tasks. HER INFERNAL DESCENT is a retelling of Dante’s Inferno that updates the themes for a modern audience.

Press Release 1/18/18 Press Release 1/18/18

Kodansha Comics announces Fairy Tail Final Volume Celebration

Press Release

The iconic manga series Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima, one of North America’s—and the world’s— all-time best-selling comics, will be releasing its final volume—Volume 63—on January 23. To mark the event, Fairy Tailpublisher Kodansha Comics will commence an interactive online countdown starting January 18, followed by #FairyTailDay celebrations at participating bookstores across the country onJanuary 27.

Press Release 1/18/18 Press Release 1/18/18

Gabriel Hardman Pens a Terrifying Examination of Why We Fear The Xenomorphs

Press Release

For those who grew up on James Cameron’s 1986 blockbuster Aliens, it’s impossible to forget the intensity and terror as Newt and Ripley fought an infestation of xenomorphs and the emotional rollercoaster of the motherly feelings Ripley develops for the terrified little girl. Now, writer and artist Gabriel Hardman (storyboard artist for Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, Logan, Dawn of Planet of the Apes) weaves an Aliens story harkening back to the classic film with the terrifying coming-of-age story Aliens: Dust to Dust. The spine-tingling variant cover is by artist Carlos D’Anda (Star Wars).

Press Release 1/18/18 Press Release 1/18/18

No One is Above the Law of RoboCop -- The Pop Culture Phenomenon Returns with A New Series in April 2018

Press Release

BOOM! Studios today announced ROBOCOP: CITIZENS ARREST, an all-new comic book series premiering in April 2018. Visionary writer Brian Wood (DMZ, Briggs Land) and fan-favorite artist Jorge Coelho (Venom) present a chilling view of the future where justice is crowdsourced, set 30 years after the events of the landmark original RoboCop film.

In the decades since the RoboCop program first began, corporations have taken over public services and the government—and law enforcement is the biggest private contract of all. Traditional police forces no longer exist as all citizens are encouraged—and rewarded—to spy on their neighbors.

Press Release 1/18/18 Press Release 1/18/18

Pacific Rim Aftermath Comic Series Cues Up The Monster vs. Mech Action Ahead of Pacific Rim Uprising Film Release

Press Release

As the excitement builds for the premiere of Legendary and Universal Pictures’ Pacific Rim Uprising, in theaters March 23rd, fans will get an early glimpse at this captivating action universe once again in a new comic series entitledPacific Rim Aftermath, launching in comic stores and online today from Legendary Comics. Building off the global success of 2013’s Pacific Rim, this new comic series delves into what happened after Stacker Pentecost and the heroes of the PPDC “canceled the apocalypse.”

Kelly Gaines 1/18/18 Kelly Gaines 1/18/18

Review: Wonder Woman/Conan #5

By Kelly Gaines

Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman/ Conan title has taken us back into the original age of heroes, one full of bloody battles, mythical creatures, and ancient prophecies. Issue 5 continues the journey of The Amazon princess and her unlikely companion, Conan the Barbarian. On the surface, both are dark-haired and muscular pictures of strength, but their personal codes of honor could not be more divided. The title’s fifth installment solidifies the stark contrast of Diana and Conan. Diana, a believer in truth, honesty, and loyalty dumbfounds Conan by her interactions with the world around her. Something as simple as dismounting their horses for the night draws a clear line between Diana’s faith and Conan’s hardened worldview.

Benjamin Snyder 1/17/18 Benjamin Snyder 1/17/18

Review: Bingo Love

By Ben Snyder

In the fewest words possible, Bingo Love is sweet which is perfectly all right. It’s a romantic, real, and brisk retelling of queer love. But that’s pretty much all it is. It’s so sweet that it’s saccharine. It’s so sweet that all obstacles feel inconsequential, if even obstacles at all. This is refreshing and love is great and all that jazz, but it ended up being a pretty boring read.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Harley Quinn #35

By Cat Wyatt

When I first saw the cover for issue 35, I thought it would be one of two things; a short story where Batwoman cameos, or a quick, light-hearted one-shot. I was wrong on both counts. Let’s just say that while Harley is back at home safe and sound, she still isn’t acting like her normal, devil-may-care self, and it’s actually pretty heartbreaking to see (especially for her friends).

Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18

Review: Ice Cream Man #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Listen… I have no idea what I read, but I enjoyed it. By that I mean, it’s unclear to me what’s going on in this story and where it’s going to go from here, but what I read was enjoyable. It really boiled down to one line of dialogue, which I won’t spoil, but basically, I was like, “yeah, I agree.” There was probably a swear word and something else that I said attached to that sentence, but that was the gist.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Evolution #3

By Cat Wyatt

If the cover is any indication, it looks like Evolution #3 is going to be a bit more graphic than the previous two, or at least more confrontational (I don’t think you can top the implied vivisection that occurred). The cast remains the same, with no newly introduced characters, which is good. I feel like the plot is complicated enough without adding more people to the mix.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Batwoman #11

By Cat Wyatt

After the conclusion of the previous plot, Batwoman number 11 starts up another one, this one focusing on Professor Pyg and his minions (yes, you read that right, and no this isn’t his first appearance in the DC universe). I feel like Professor Pyg is going to regret having picked a fight with Batwoman, don’t you?

Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18

Review: Go West #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Listen, for $1.50 no matter what I say; you should just check out this issue. No that said, this isn’t the best first issue. There’s a lot of effort put into this issue, and there are some decent action sequences to enjoy. It's just unfortunate that so much of the issue is spent narrating something that the artwork is able to convey in only a few pages.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Batman #39

By Cat Wyatt

Issue number 39 of Batman kicks off a new plot arc, and Wonder Woman fans will be pleased to see she is included (as is made obvious by the cover of this issue). I’ll confess that I didn’t think much of the title when I first saw it, the Secret of the Eternal Vow, but having fully read the issue I realize it carries a lot more weight than I would have originally assumed. I’m anxious to see the next issue, as not only do I want to see the conclusion, but I want to see the repercussions to said vow.

Benjamin Snyder 1/17/18 Benjamin Snyder 1/17/18

Review: Days of Hate #1

By Ben Snyder

After the election in 2016, it wasn’t much of a surprise that storytellers and artists would craft tales that reflect their fears and anxieties regarding its outcome. Many of these stories would indirectly comment on the political climate, substituting President Trump for a cartoonified, easily digestible version. Some even tackled the sex and gender politics through allegory that would inevitably be affected by the new president-elect. It is a surprise, however, that it has taken this long for one story to come that is so direct, haunting, and tangible. For this reason, Days of Hate #1 is certainly not for everyone- especially if you voted for Trump. And while not perfect, Days of Hate deserves to be applauded for the courage from both its contributors and Image Comics.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Green Lanterns #39

By Cat Wyatt

Fans will likely remember the dramatic turn that occurred in issue 38; where Liseth Vok killed Kesh Cur, attacked the Green Lanterns (and her mother) and turned an alien DNA machine on herself. Yikes, when you put it like that it seems like the shit hit the fan in the last issue, which isn’t inaccurate. This issue starts with the battle being over already, but as many generals would say, the war hasn’t been won (or lost) yet.

Kelly Gaines 1/17/18 Kelly Gaines 1/17/18

Review: Assassinistas #2

By Kelly Gaines

Assassinistas #2 turns bringing your child to work on its head in a well-paced and hilarious way. For anyone who missed issue one, #2 starts out with a brief recap, laying the groundwork for the bizarre spy adventure ahead. The premise is simply stated, but nonetheless unique. A college guy and his boyfriend (Dominic and Taylor) tag along with his ex-bounty hunter mother (Octavia) to solve the kidnapping of a little boy. The catch? The little boy is the son of one of her former teammates- one currently too pregnant to take the case herself. The other catch? The case may bring the former “Assassinistas” a little closer to home than they expected.

Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18

Review: Belle #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Belle isn’t unlike most monster of the week TV shows. That’s by no mean a slam because I enjoy shows like that, even if it’s only for a few seasons. There was something in particular that Belle reminds me of, but for the life of me, I couldn’t place it. Perhaps a reader of this comic and review will think of it and leave a comment.

Cat Wyatt 1/17/18 Cat Wyatt 1/17/18

Review: Dark Fang #3

By Cat Wyatt

Dark Fang #3 starts off a bit different than the first two did (can I say that when the series is still so new?). We see the earth, dead or dying, with Valla desperately trying to conserve all her resources (i.e., blood) before it’s too late. It isn’t enough though, not for an immortal being. Eventually, her lifespan outruns that of her food source, and when that inevitably happens, she’s doomed to a slow death (or if she prefers to take action, a quick one). And that’s when she wakes up.

Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/17/18

Review: Damage #1

By Dustin Cabeal

There is one unfortunate comparison that every comic reviewer is going to make when reviewing Damage. It would almost be criminal not to mention it, and that’s why I doubt you’ll read a single review that doesn’t mention the fact that Damage is a lot like Marvel’s Red Hulk from USAvengers. He has a time limit for his powers, he transformers and there’s a cooldown period. Now granted, that is just his power set, and the actual story is very different… mostly because it’s not complete and total ass (side note: should have put USAvengers on my worst of list).

Dustin Cabeal 1/16/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/16/18

Comic Bastards Podcast - 026

By Dustin Cabeal

Click to listen!

025 - This week on the show it's all about the first issues again. Yeah, there were just too many first issues to ignore and not enough returning crap that I read. There's also a manga pick so enjoy that one person who listens and likes both comics and manga. You know who you are, I don't, but you do.

Titles covered in this episode: