I'm game! I hope that it receives some kind of North American release, but if not there's always the home release. Check out the trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KP5gZmNk8s
Review: Revival #21
I couldn’t wait for this book to come out since it’s the first time we get to see life outside of Wisconsin as a main setting. There’s a ton going on, and reading through this issue almost made me want to take out a pen and paper to jot down notes to keep everything straight, which is a compliment. I love books that actually give you the price of admission and more. I think of Revival as a prime example of a “thinking man’s horror”, and this issue is no exception. Upon Dana entering the big city of New York, her first task is to aid the FBI in a murder case which has ties to the Check brothers. The murder victim was an owner of a meat distributor. They also think that he was involved in distributing reviver parts, and may even be a reviver himself. Another noteworthy find is the fact that he’s Polish, which happens to be the majority of people in-you guessed it, Wasau.
Lester is back to pestering Wayne, and Em and Rhodey’s relationship is progressing. Whether or not Rhodey is actually good for Em or not is questionable. However, it seems that the more destruction she does to herself with Rhodey, the less she bleeds like she was randomly at earlier points in the story. Also, Ibrahaim gets more info on John Doe, the very first reviver who was unfortunately revived during his cremation. They have him in a facility in Marathon City where he is kept in a water chamber due to his state of perpetual burning.
There aren’t any other books like this out there and Revival continues to bring the thrills and chills in its own flavor of a great horror/noir story. Like usual, there’s more layers to this issue than I’m letting on, but everyone should be following this book so I don’t want to give up too much.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Tim Seeley Artist: Mike Norton Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: Skullkickers #28
I’ll be the first to tell you that this new story arc for Skullkickers has been rough. I’ve stuck with it because the last arc was too good to bail on. This issue is a return to form and delivered in all departments. The story pacing is perfect, the dialogue isn’t overkill and the jokes are perfectly timed. Better yet the balance between the characters has finally been reached which gives the art enough space to shine on its own. It’s a 180 degree turn compared to the last issue. The first thing to point out is that a lot of what works here is because of the buildup of the previous issues. I’m not discrediting that by any means, but the previous issues where clunky and stumbled to get to this point. Now that we’re here though its smooth sailing and that’s great for readers like myself.
As for the story it picks up right where it left off with Dead Rolf… smashed. Don’t worry though he’s already dead. Hilarity ensues with the rest of this scene until they discover that the Glacier Giants are attacking the city and doing quite the number on it.
Jim Zub really delivers with this issue. What’s improved is the back and forth with the dialogue, rather than everyone taking a turn at talking it’s limited to when it’s important. This allows the comedy to shine and no longer are jokes stepped on by other jokes. This issue is leaps and bounds better than the last few and had me laughing quite a bit.
Edwin Huang has been as consistent as ever on the series, but as I stated in my last review the art never stood out. You want a comic to be consistent with the art, but you don’t want it to be so consistent that it’s dull or just going through the motions. Here Huang contributes to the humor and the action and with the dialogue toned down the panels and layouts really stand out.
I know a lot of this review has come across as my preference for how Skullkickers should be, but that stems from what the creators delivered in previous arcs and so this arc forced a lot of comparisons. Even with all the stumbles, it’s been a great arc. Any other series would have sent me packing, but with Skullkickers an average issue is better than most and a great issue, like this one, is way fucking better than the rest.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Jim Zub Artist: Edwin Huang Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: King Conan the Conqueror #5
It’s been a real hit and miss with me regarding Dark Horse’s adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s The Hour of the Dragon. There have been some hits… the art is incredible, some decent action, classic Conan feel, etc. But man oh man have there been some misses too… the story just isn’t so good. The flow is choppy, the plot is kind of predictable, etc. For most of this story, which now has entered into Issue #5 of a 6 issue series, it has been more miss than hit. My expectations had been lowered earlier on, but I have had just enough interest in Timothy Truman’s story, that I wanted to finish it to completeness. And I am glad that I have made that decision. Issue #5 is quite good hitting all the high notes and not lacking in anything bad that I can find. This is a first for the series to date. If anyone knows their Conan lore, there is a very simple flow of his tales… he gets started on an adventure, he gets beat down, he returns, and he meets his enemies in a final glorious battle looking to redeem all defeats, all while maintaining the same tough guy demeanor that we know and love. Issue #5 is the pre issue to the finale where Conan is returning to reclaim the kingdom that was lost to him and it works perfectly.
After a rather surprising acquisition of the Heart of Ahriman, Conan must leave the dark tombs of the Temple of Set in which he entered in search of the Heart. He has help and soon he is returning back to his kingdom, hell-bent on reestablishing himself from those who took it away from him. Those who did are taking notice, especially the one who set all of these events in motion in the first place. It all spells out for some good build up fun that makes the reader very anxious to reach the conclusion.
I always felt that Truman was writing reasonably well, but that he just was really tied into a mediocre story making for some real blah reading. He has shown some glimpses however and I think that those glimpses kind of come into full view here during this issue. There is a wonderful scene at the beginning where Conan is pondering his next move as he is facing down a very dead and old creature who wields the Heart. As he ponders what to do, the action goes on that creates the solution. After this, and in excellent writing form, Conan returns to his bold and brash self once again having his moment of contemplation wiped away. It was a nice touch and excellent writing.
Giorello continues to blow up the art ushering in a truly legendary look for a legendary warrior. He is the right man for the job as this art renders Conan in his purest and rawest form. It is stoic, strong and powerful, never cheesy, and definitely in the style you would imagine Howard had envisioned when he wrote his original story.
It has been not the smoothest ride for Truman, Giorello, and company in making this series, but I am happy to say that they are starting to pull things together now that we have reached the conclusion. The interest is piqued and I am sincerely hoping that they can unleash the fury that is worthy of the title in the wrap up. .
Score: 4/5
Writer: Tim Truman Artist: Tomas Giorello Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital
Review: Conan The Avenger #3
I’m slowly finding my way through the Cimmerian jungle of Conan the Avenger and it’s starting to reveal more of itself to me. I said early on that I’m not much of a swords and sandals guy; however, it’s turning out that I might be a “cynical badass in the desert” guy. We pick up this issue with the political prisoner of Princess Tanada being murdered by a giant pig-man, which is honestly a really good place to start. Any time a giant pig-man gets to murder someone viciously, I’m in. We pick back up with Agara the Witch Finder, who recruited Conan into a partnership at the end of last issue, and now he’s being manipulated by forces that are far from supernatural: turns out he’s not a great political maneuverer. Conan is haunted by the ghost of Belit, his pirate lady friend, while he wakes up in the arms of two Kush prostitutes, and he eventually comes to the aid of an unexpected target. His loyalties are divided, but there’s some flashback evidence to show that he may never have been comfortable as or in the company of a Witch Finder anyways.
I think a lot of what threw me off from Conan in the beginning is the same thing that always comes up against new readers in the comic book industry; backstory. Continuity can be your best friend or your worst enemy as a writer, but as a reader, you have to be able to jump in and get hooked on the story and then want to go delve back into previous stories. I’m sure there’re only a scattered handful of people who have been reading Avengers for 50 years, y’know? Part of what I’m up against with Conan the Avenger is that this was issue 3 of that arc, but issue 115 of the continuing Conan series. It’s an enjoyable story, but it didn’t have the immediate hook that would make the Casual Reader version of me sit still and pay attention.
Having sat still and paid attention as the Professional Reviewer version of myself, though, I’m continuing to dig what this series is about. Each issue there’s some fresh new horror for the characters to face, and Van Lente and Ching are doing a great job of building the anticipation for the inevitable moment when Conan gets to put a sword through those horrors. I’m not sure if I’ve made this comparison before, but Ching’s artwork reminds me of Tony Moore/Charlie Adlard, and their sort of sketchy humans and gorgeously rendered monster and gore. It’s growing on me issue by issue.
Van Lente is building a good story here from what I can only assume are source materials that are somewhat lacking, being an unfinished short story from early on in Robert E. Howard’s career. My only issue is that it still feels like I’m supposed to be familiar with all the previous Conan work to jump into this one, as there is not a whole lot of character building for him going on. It’s largely a book about political intrigue, which is fine and good, but in a political intrigue, you have to know who the protagonist is and where they land on the issues they’re faced with.
This series is guaranteed fun every month. Last month, we got a zombie infestation and a secret graveyard; this month, we get a locked-door mystery with a gigantic pig-monster. I can only hope Van Lente and Ching up the stakes next month, because I’m having a lot of fun riding up this roller coaster, waiting for it to plummet down on Conan’s head.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Fred Van Lente Artist: Brian Ching Colorist: Michael Atiyeh Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: Ordinary #2
You probably just caught my review for the first issue this past weekend and here we are already talking about the second issue. Well isn’t that better? You don’t have to wait to hear me talk about one of Titan’s breakout series of the year. Ever since Titan started publishing single issues they’ve managed to release comics that really have never been seen on the market before and Ordinary is included in that statement. The story opens with the U.S. Government deciding what they’re going to do about the entire populace having super powers. We meet the Vice President and let’s just say he’s a god fearing, warmonger. They bring in Dr. Tara McDonald and she says that they need to find a cure before the world goes nuclear. She tells VP of crazy that it hinges on finding one person unaffected by outbreak that has already spread around the world.
Back in New York, Michael is still trying to get to his son. It’s his mission and though he seems like the type of guy that would quit at the first sign of difficulty he continues to push through. Currently though he’s fucked because they’re not letting people into Manhattan.
Michael’s cosmic Taxi driver offers to create a distraction for him and it works, even if he loses control of it. Michael runs for the tramway and barely gets a shoulder on. One of the passenger’s attempts to help him, but then his arm breaks off and Michael nearly falls. A different passenger helps him and we discover our first kind citizen was actually a zombie. The tram offers a terrific scene and tests Michael’s humanity and how he is under crisis situations. He’s tested again after he gets off the tramway and this is again an important test. I won’t say what happens, but I will say that it made the story deeper emotionally and developed Michael’s character significantly.
With the first issue I didn’t personally care one way or another about Michael. You kind of assume since he’s the star of the book he’s going to at least make it through to the end, but I didn’t need to root for him. After this issue and seeing his determination to get to his son, I’m rooting for him. He constantly says he’s quitting, but it’s all talk. It’s what you say when you’re up against a task that you can’t fathom finishing, but you keep plugging away and you manage it in the end. Rob Williams continues to write terrific dialogue that is humorous, heartfelt and more importantly believable.
If there is one thing I can definitively say about this series, it’s that it’s beautiful. D’Israeli’s artwork is clean, detailed and captures the imagination. Seeing all the powers that he’s drawing and seeing that no two are alike is incredible. There’s a person with snails for hair and it’s disgusting looking, but I stared at that panel like a dead body in a coming of age tale. In particular the Zombie guy was awesome as D’Israeli’s artwork brought out the humor of Williams’ dialogue. The entire tram scene was intense and extremely well executed by D’Israeli.
The cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more, but I want to point out that the series does their cliffhangers differently as they actually give you a preview of the next issue after the cliffhanger. This is very rewarding as it serves to wet ones whistle. This is shaping up to be a great series. It’s perfect for fans of the superhero genre, but it offers them something completely different from what they’re used to. Give it a shot if you haven’t already, the balance of story and humor, paired with great art is worth the purchase.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Rob Williams Artist: D’Israeli Publisher: Titan Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital
Review: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #6
This arc just continues to pick up momentum, even when I'm thinking there is a resolution in sight, Zack Whedon throws another curve ball that Browncoat fans crave. I've mentioned before that Serenity's story line flows so well that each issue is the perfect balance of dialogue and content while leaving you wanting more.
As each issue goes on more and more obstacles seem to pile up against Malcom and his crew. It’s really starting to feel like they just can’t catch a break, but I guess that’s what adds to the suspense. Although, I love the drama in the series and how well it’s written, I felt that this issue rushed some important scenes. Also, I usually can get a sense of the character's personalities but I didn’t really connect with the crew this time. I mean, there was a little bit more humor in this issue 
and I think there was an attempt at a heartfelt conservation between Malcom and Bea but it felt a little weak, for me.
That’s not to say it didn’t have its redeemable qualities but I'm sure the fandom will love this issue. I don't want to tell you too much about what happens this month but it’s big! Like huge! So much adventure and betrayal lays ahead for our beloved crew.
I think that Georges Jeanty is becoming one of my favorite illustrators; I am always thoroughly impressed with how he captures facial expressions and creates this beautiful world that is Serenity. Laura Martin also does the coloring for this series which I definitely appreciate as it just adds to the whole galactic feel.
Score: 3/5
Writer: Zack Whedon Pencils: Georges Jeanty Colors: Laura Martin Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital
Red Letter Media Watches All Three Transformer Films At The Same Time And It's Brilliant!
I've only seen the first Transformers film and it was under strong protest. Nothing like returning to your home state and being guilted into seeing it with a friend, thanks for nothing Eric! The guys at Red Letter Media came up with the incredible idea of watching the first three films at the same time. It's brilliant and incredible so invest the twelve minutes and watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rfup0XKx7o
And thanks to Justin Wood for sharing!
Trailer Time: The Last of Robin Hood
This movie looks great! Admittedly I'm a sucker for the Golden Age era of Hollywood, but Kevin Kline is acting his chops off! Dakota Fanning I'll have to wait and see I didn't get a strong impression from her performance, but Susan Sarandon was killing it too! I'm actually looking forward to this one so check out the trailer and poster then tell us what you think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk2xxZwKgQM&feature=youtu.be
Dan Abnett Returns To Marvel To Launch Ongoing Guardians 3000 Series
Dan Abnett you're a bad, bad man. I'm a total mark for this shit and Gerardo Sandoval's artwork only makes me want to check this series out all the more. Here's the details, no sarcasm on this one since I'm foaming at the mouth to read it, but have to wait until October to do so. From Marvel:
Because YOU demanded it! This October, blast off into the far unknown and the future of the Marvel Universe for GUARDIANS 3000 – an explosive new series starring the original Guardians of the Galaxy! From the mind of critically acclaimed writer and iconic Guardians of the Galaxy scribe Dan Abnett and fan-favorite artist Gerardo Sandoval comes a high-octane new series starring the team that started it all!
Perfect for new and old readers alike, GUARDIANS 3000 is set to reintroduce the original team to the Marvel Universe in a big way! With a new mission, Vance Astro, Yondu, Starhawk, Martinex and Charlie-27 are back and better than ever. Follow this cast of bombastic freedom fighters as they battle to gain control of the galaxy back from the hostile alien armies of the Badoon!
“Guardians 3000 is truly a case of you asked for it, we delivered!,” says Marvel Executive Editor Mike Marts. “Readers have been begging for the return of the original Guardians team for a long time…and we’re happy to debut this series right in the midst of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie excitement!”
But the Brotherhood of the Badoon are just the tip of the iceberg. The Marvel Universe of the 31st Century is a hostile and unforgiving place – with both new & classic foes from throughout Marvel history. A new threat has emerged disrupting the timestream in the past and the present, and it’s up to the original Guardians of the Galaxy to prevent the collapse of all reality! But to save the future, one must look to the past – and the discovery of a mysterious young girl named Geena Drake could hold the key to saving all reality…or destroying it!
What does the future hold? When the dust clears, will there still be a future worth fighting for? Find out as Dan Abnett and the original Guardians of the Galaxy make their triumphant return to the Marvel fold this October when the senses shattering first issue of GUARDIANS 3000 hits comic shops and digital devices!
GUARDIANS 3000 #1 Written by DAN ABNETT Art & Cover by GERARDO SANDOVAL Coming in October!
Buzz on Boom Episode 4 Is Up
By now you get what this right? It's Boom letting you know what they released this week and offer some bonus behind the scenes type of deals. Check it out. http://youtu.be/dZJXESRtb6c
Review: Black of Heart #3
Black of Heart reminds me of the Black Dahlia murder. It takes place in roughly the same era and deals with the murder of women, but the key difference is that in the case of Black of Heart there’s a serial killer and their identity is known to the reader. Each issue seems to crank the intensity, but also the magnitude of the killer’s sickness and this issue is no different. Because each issue is amped up more than the last you can’t help but be left on the edge of your seat. Our detectives discovered that their killer is posing as a taxi driver and picking up women that way. It’s clever especially because of the era it’s based in. What they don’t know is his identity or license plate number and since he’s just posing they’re no dispatch records to check or anything of the sort. The chief wants them to wrap the case up as quickly as possible because they need the win and that only adds to our struggling detectives headaches. They do know one thing, the killer is ramping up his attacks and if you know anything about serial killers then you know that it means they’re more likely to make a mistake.
Meanwhile our killer is already on the prowl. He attempts to pick up a woman, but when she says she’s waiting for her boyfriend he kicks her out of the taxi. He speeds away and nearly hits a cop. He gears up to shoot the officer, but clearly this flatfoot doesn’t know he should be on the lookout for suspicious cabbies and sends him on his way.
The thing that’s great and aggravating about this story is that we know who the killer is and so does the detective. He just doesn’t know it. Events in this issue may drive the two together at a rapid pace which will be very interesting.
Chris Charlton is killing it on this story. His look at the serial killer is the most interesting because at times it does seem like he wants to be caught or that he’s so eager to kill that he’s becoming extremely sloppy. Either way it makes his character very believable.
Charlton’s dialogue is interesting. It’s realistic, but it’s almost too realistic. It gets to the point that the conversations at the police station are like a snapshot of a real police station in that era and it’s not always interesting to read. Still it’s impressive that it comes off that realistic so I’m not going to complain too much.
The aesthetics of this series comes from artist David Hollenbach. I would describe it as a digitally composited, but I could be wrong. It has picture esque qualities to it which makes the setting and era believable. Usually I’m not a fan of this style, but Hollenbach makes it work with this story and maybe it’s the plot that allows it to be successful.
There’s a lot of comics out this week and I mean a lot. Take a break from something on your pull list and give this indie comic a chance. It’s a grounded murder mystery with a classic serial killer twist. Particularly check it out if you have an obsession with the forties and want to take a trip back to an era in which cops went out drinking every night and always wore a hat.
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Black of Heart #3 Writer: Chris Charlton Artist: David Hollenbach Publisher: Assailant Comics Price: $4.99 Website: AssailantComics.com
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Review: Letter 44 #7
I like this issue, but I also dislike this issue. It’s clearly a filler issue so that regular series artist Alberto Jimenez Alburqurque can perhaps get ahead on future issues? It’s not a bad issue, in fact it’s actually really good, but with every filler issue it breaks the flow of the story. You have to remind your audience what was going on two months ago rather than one month ago unless the filler issue somehow feeds into the story arc that will begin. I don’t particularly see how this issue can feed into the next arc since it’s an origin issue. Joelle Jones joins as the guest illustrator on this issue and that’s honestly enough of a reason for anyone to check it out. I’m very familiar with Jones’ style, but I wondered if she’d be a good fit for the series. She’s actually pretty amazing. Her style on this issue is different from anything else I’ve seen from her and showed that she’s a versatile illustrator. I actually forgot that she was the illustrator after the initial shock because it was so different. I don’t know if it was the addition of colorist Dan Jackson that gave it that extra flair, but it works and works well. I really just wanted to soak in Jones’ artwork, but unfortunately I don’t think she’ll be back for another issue unless there’s a follow-up to this chapter.
Well what is this issue about? It’s a flashback issue of sorts as it introduces two character’s lives before they joined the one-way space trip to spy on the aliens waiting just outside the range of our planet. The first character we meet is Charlotte. She’s in the Amazon Basin with her husband (lover?) and another colleague and about to be attacked by natives. She scans the tribe with her eyes to figure out what they’ve done to offend them and quickly deduces the problem based on observations. It’s pretty clever so I’ll leave it for you to read.
The flip side of the story introduces Cary Rowan and I have to admit I couldn’t remember his character. He’s in Russia looking for diamonds in a crater with his grad student… illegally I might add. Eventually both characters are approached by a government man and given zero details on the job, but asked to consider. As time passes both characters are put in a situation where they say yes of course, but what’s changed that drives them into a one-way space trip?
The quality in the writing doesn’t take a dip or anything; it’s just that at this earlier stage in the story this background info on our astronauts isn’t needed. Really the part that’s interesting to know about is the seven years that the trip took, but even that seems unnecessary due to the way the story was started and has progressed. Unfortunately with this back story it does leave the possibility of visiting that timeline open for future issues.
Again don’t get me wrong this is a good issue, even slightly better than good with the art and story pacing, but I have to wonder how it will affect the overall progress of the series? Just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s necessary and with the high level of storytelling this series has had it really comes off as taking the easy road. Thinking about it some more, it seems like something a TV show would do in order to fill episodes.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Charles Soule Artist: Joelle Jones Colorist: Dan Jackson Publisher: Oni Press Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Trailer Time: Fury
Well the movie looks good, but I think the overall message is "war is hell." Check out the trailer below. http://youtu.be/VLntLl2-uUM
Review: Sex #14
In spite of all the weirdness, close up phalluses, and in your face boldness, I have found Joe Casey’s little exploration into the realm of inhibition to be quite interesting as underneath all the controversy, that there is a very deep, intertwining and complete story that is being worked out. And the interesting thing about it all is that it continues to flow kind of like a puzzle revealing a piece here and a piece there until we have the full idea. That full idea, we still are not sure of. But with Issue #14, things are beginning to propel themselves into something pretty big with the whole of Saturn City as the price. You see, Saturn City used to be protected by a hero called the Armored Saint. The Saint waged war on the baddies and thugs of Saturn City for many years. But all of sudden, he retired with no real reason. It has become evident that the Saint, or that is the Saint’s alter ego, wealthy patron of the city Simon Cooke, grew tired of the thankless job of crime fighting and he wanted a life of his own where he could experience all those things that he thought he was missing. What he has discovered is that life is pretty interesting to say the least, much more complicated than hauling in bad guys. Also, while the Saint has been away, elements on both the good side and bad side have been at work trying to secure the city to whatever their vision of it is, turning it into a powder keg that could blow at any time. Pretty damned deep for a comic entitled Sex huh?
But that is something I have started to expect when reading this title. There is a hell of a whole lot more to it than meets the initial eye. Several stories are working at once that seem to be pushing to a conclusion, but it is anybody’s guess as to when it will all connect. Here in this issue, Cooke, after stumbling across his lawyer in a rather compromising position while trying to stave off a full blown scandal, is in need of some serious cover up work as a potential business partner has died rather gruesomely to the hands of several prostitutes. Elsewhere, Keenan, Wade, once the Saint’s sidekick, but now an independent, has been healing from his wounds after infiltrating the notorious street gang, The Breaks. He has a plan ready to be unleashed that he believes will bring balance back to the city. Add in the sadistic Alpha Brothers Cha Cha and Dolph and their bid to secure power, a little back story of this rather peculiar duo, and a nosy reporter who wants to get the goods on Simon Cooke. And well, you get yet another very well thought out story that rises well above its humble shock value origins.
Joe Casey has some intense design in this sordid tale of sex and crime in the big city. It is kind of a kinky noir, that has a strong understory working behind the scenes. When you add Pioter Kowalski’s framing with special; guest artist Chris Peterson’s brand of sinister brutality (Note: It is brutal), well you have a nicely laid out issue that has become the norm with this title as of late.
This is a hard title to love. It has been up and down on the review scale. And I for one am one of those that didn’t quite get where the story was going. But somewhere around issue #9 or so, things began to churn forward and really become an interesting cutting edge comic for surpassing what expectations might have been. It is good, and it has been good for the last several issues. Only time will tell when this keg of decadence will explode. I know I am ready to see it.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Joe Casey Artists: Chris Peterson, Piotr Kowalski Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: Vandroid #5
Hey remember when I thought Vandroid wasn’t worth another read after its first issue? I was so innocent back then. But here we are, the full five issues in, and while I maintain that its first wasn’t a great start for the series, what a fun kick in the pants this miniseries has ended up being! I’m very happy I decided to stick around for another issue, because from #2, I was hooked. Seriously, go back through my reviews and watch the rise of Vandroid; nobody has been more pleasantly surprised than me. Now, I still openly concede that this wasn’t what I was expecting from the original solicits, but if any Dark Horse title sums up the name of its publisher, it’s definitely Vandroid.
Okay, I know conventional logic dictates that you can’t build an entire story around a be-mulleted cyborg doing battle against an army of android commandos, sassy lady junkie-bots and gang crews so colorfully cast they rival The Warriors for diversity, but the thing is ... yes you totally can. That’s exactly what Vandroid #5 does, and it is, to borrow some 1980s parlance, pretty rad.
To be fair, there is a bit more going on in this book, and Tommy Lee Edwards and Noah Smith do an admirable job of wrapping things up here - at least as much as you could with a story this bonkers. Our wily Vandroid finally delivers some white-hot comeuppance on those that built and then sought to destroy him in the final issue, and the conflagration that ensues is as grand as you would expect.
Seriously, you should buy this book for the elevator fight scene alone. (Pro Tip: Any time anyone tells you to watch or read something with “an elevator scene,” it’s a good idea to at least consider it.) I’ve often said that Vandroid as a whole doesn’t tap into its raison d'être - that being a loving homage to ludicrous 1980s science fiction movies - nearly as much as it possibly could, but this issue makes up for it; at least in the level-by-level brouhaha that ensues halfway through.
After all, nothing quite says 80s action like an inanely bloody scuffle between robots and themed gangs, which here include everyone from your classic punks to professional wrestlers to insane asylum patients and even disco samurai swordsmen on roller skates. The dialogue consists of painfully cheesy hero lines and woefully cliched villainous grandstanding, all amidst buttloads of blood (there’s a mental image) and even a triumphantly lingering bro-bot high five. That’s what you call “something for everybody,” kids. And that’s not even yet mentioning the art.
Dan McDaid and colorist Melissa Edwards destroy these pages. I honestly can’t recall a book as furiously kinetic and vibrant as Vandroid #5, which says a lot. McDaid’s stuff here is billowy and wet with explosion, and as laden his layouts are with a blur of wanton destruction, it’s crystal clear that he’s having a ball in this action-packed issue. Whether he’s melting androids in perfume or using the lead character to amputate, disembowel or decapitate his foes, everything this issue sings with gristly gusto; just like any good action star.
Like I said in a review before for Vandroid, I love being wrong. The entire crew here - up to and including the lettering of under-sung talent John Workman, who again proves his name valid here - does a great job of fleshing out this story with a shiny veneer of hype and mania, with this issue particularly standing out for sheer explosiveness. It may not be exactly the 80s robot adventure you were expecting, but this is damn good, unfettered fun in comic book form, and I’m glad as hell I saw it through to its neon-grid-framed end. Vandroid #5 (out of 5) gets 5 (out of 5) from me.
Score: 5/5
Writers: Tommy Lee Edwards & Noah Smith Artist: Dan McDaid Colorist: Melissa Edwards Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital
Review: Trees #2
I gave Trees an average review for the first issue. When I saw that #2 was coming, I wasn’t excited but honestly the other Bastards’ reviews of the comic made me think there was something that I missed in the series. The art was cool, the concept seems interesting, and there were lots of overlapping stories, so I thought I could give Trees another chance. As always, let’s start out with the positives. Trees offers a cool new take on the whole alien invasion thing. Instead of green humanoids coming down to Earth, trees have been planted. These trees are part of the intelligent life outside of Earth. What part they play is unclear. We now know of life outside of our Earth, but it seems these trees couldn’t care less about us. They haven’t done much which allows for Warren Ellis to do damn near anything he wants with these aliens. It has been a decade since these trees have landed and like any human, they are all worried. Again, I think Ellis has set up a perfect introduction to the plot because there really isn’t one. The trees have all the power. The plot can go anywhere with the drop of a hat. The characters, although trying their best to stay in control, have no real power either.
Jason Howard’s art for the series is spot on. The trees are enormous and powerful looking, but yet beautiful. The characters are all unique and with so many stories happening at once the bouncing around of lands makes for some cool art too. It is hard to grasp so many different landscapes and make them all look real, but Howard keeps it together in this twisting story.
With so many stories going on it is difficult to completely understand really anything. And that is where this comic takes a dive. I got about one thing from the plot. I half followed the Arctic Island story where this one dude is investigating black poppies. The other stories were hard to grasp and even the arctic one which was the easiest. I hate having to be so confused and incompetent during a comic. Not only are the aliens slow to invade, but the whole story is slow. All of the time is spent talking in each new place but nothing is really happening. So when the story isn’t clear and then the comic is paced so slow, I didn’t want to keep up with the plot.
I think some basic plot points needs to be faced soon. And I also think this comic would benefit from some sort of character chart or recap from last issue at the beginning. It sucks that I couldn’t stay longer on with this comic, but I don’t think I have the stamina or patience. Although the story has great potential, it needs some ironing. I don’t see myself jumping onto the series until I head otherwise.
Score: 3/5
Writer: Warren Ellis Artist: Jason Howard Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: Mind MGMT #23
One of my favorite authors, a Scottish writer by the name of Alasdair Gray, once said of his incredible novel Lanark that, "I want [it] to be read in one order but eventually thought of in another." I always liked that concept of a measured authorial/reader/subject relationship, and I think it’s part of why I enjoy reading Mind MGMT so much. Perhaps because of Gray, each month, I approach reading Dark Horse Comics’ standout series in the same way; which is to say, by degree. I begin by flipping through the first few pages, taking in whatever visual flow writer and artist Matt Kindt chooses to assail us with that given issue. After that taster, I flip back and give it the thorough, focused read it deserves ... nay, demands. Then, like one might do in aid of digestion after a rich and complex meal, I set it down and walk away, only to repeat the process - sometimes days later - just before I write the review, this time capping it all off by reading the liner notes written up and down the book’s inner gutters. And I have to say that after my regimented initial reading, I was not a fan of Mind MGMT #23.
Or was I?
This issue sees the end of the “Magician” arc, one that has brought many paradigm shifts to the series, not least of which are the (temporary?) deaths of quite a few key Mind MGMT players. In it, The Eraser’s team is gaining ground against Meru’s, with the latter captured and her team all but completely decimated. While Duncan and Perrier facilitate a “tactical retreat” from the assorted immortals, magicians and mystic monks playing hypnotic records of naked ladies reading mind-bending poetry (as you do), Lyme and Dusty are provided the means of their own “escape.”
Meanwhile, Meru is trapped in the heart of the beast with her beloved Bill, both captives of The Eraser and subject to her mind-puncturing powers. Along the way, a couple of people die and any hope of victory for our heroes (or really the lesser of two supposed evils) is left dead and wet with blood, tears and that indefinable liquid that collects at the bottom of back alley dumpsters.
What I didn’t like about this book in that first reading was that it felt jumpy, or overly disjointed, and not in the way Mind MGMT usually (and quite pleasantly) jumbles your noodle. I knew that much of this could be attributed to a visual representation of The Eraser’s powers of forgetting, but the rest of it was cluttered with gaps, not to mention a five-page recap flourish that may be the first one of its kind from Kindt I didn’t love.
The story of Meru and Bill is one of the series’ emotional highlights for me, but this setup felt weak, rushed and visually unfinished, and the almost too choreographed defining moment it was weakening us for - while brutal and, especially after reading the issue’s epilogue, extremely sad - lacked the payoff that it should have had. Any retaliation certainly wasn’t handled with adequate fury from the wronged party, I thought.
However, my second, longer reading brought this issue back up for me. I still have a problem with some of its jumpiness and I maintain that the splash pages simply were not up to standard, but taking into account the entirety of this arc, as well as the revelatory and teasingly hopeful interview with Dusty along the inner spine (not to mention the corresponding scene at the end, wherein his true power is about to be revealed to the world), I found a renewed appreciation for this issue.
As such, this turned out to be a much more holistic reading of Mind MGMT, even more so than I’m used to with my regimented routine of approach. It is disjointed, yes, but for good reason, and it forces that Alasdair Gray analysis in a way that I really enjoy, particularly in Dusty and Bill’s stories, which weigh on this particular issue’s narrative well.
The art this issue from Kindt - apart from the questionable rose pedal spreads I mentioned earlier - was the classic yet ephemeral watercolor fluidity I’ve come to love about this series, with the black panel gaps a necessary evil to the storytelling process. I’ve said before that his style is an acquired taste, but just like coffee or cigarettes, it’s one that I find uniquely addictive.
Mind MGMT #23 wasn’t the best issue of this incredible Dark Horse book, and it took more time than usual to get me to appreciate its underpinnings. As always, though, it did get there in the end, albeit in the slightly more predictable and forgettable way that someone like The Eraser would approve of wholeheartedly.
Score: 4/5
Writer/Artist/Creator: Matt Kindt Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital
Review: Goon #45 – One For The Road
The best comparison for this issue of The Goon would be the epic poem The Odyssey. As Odysseus ventures to return home to his beloved wife, the sailor encounters monsters, magicians, and madmen on the quest. A hapless sailor from Atlanta, Georgia wants to find his compatriot, Harvey, so the two could return back to their vessel before getting in trouble. Before the sailor can do that he must encounter a Giant, Man-Eating Gorilla, a witch and two wizards, and shell-shocked soldiers.
Luckily, the sailor has The Goon and Franky there to guide him through all the treacherous domains—and by that I mean bars—on the way to finding Harvey.
Powell’s art, a bastard love child resulting from a three-way between Norman Rockwell, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, and Robert Crumb, outshines nearly all of the dedicated illustrators filling their days with penning books.
The only element of the comic to exceed the art is the writing. Great in-jokes, satirical jabs at celebrities, and punchy asides coalesce into an ongoing story (that hits an occasional delay every now and then) of The Goon doing his best to defend Lonely Street from every macabre beast and voodoo priest that comes along.
Okay, I acknowledge that a seven-month delay exists between the release of issue #44 and the current offering. However, I am willing to concede some time because Powell runs the show himself. Because of the unparalleled quality in every aspect of this book, I will always give The Goon slack. I, like everyone else, would love to have monthly installments of the book. It’s that damn good. I will be patient, though. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; I am very fond of this book.
Score: 4/5
Writer/Artist/Creator: Eric Powell Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Print/Digital
Review: Chew #42
Well then… did you read the last issue? Yes? Good… so where would you imagine this series goes after this? Let me tell you I didn’t have a clue either, but I sure as shit didn’t think it would open with the death of a seal… a naval seal. Let me tell you right now if you have word play like that in a comic book I will love your comic book. Every. Time. Tony is at the seal funeral and about to head to his next assignment, but Colby is nowhere to be found. Tony calls him asking him what the fucks up and all we see is Colby in a suit. It seems that Tony is unaware of Colby’s new marital status. Colby doesn’t let him know, but as we cut to his side of the conversation we see him being welcomed into the Applebee family… why the hell he didn’t get it annulled is beyond me. Caesar is there and he’s a bit confused as to why Chu isn’t there which pings Applebee’s radar which sends him over to inform Caesar that Colby was allowed to invite anyone in the world but Chu. Let’s just say that the wedding reception is a great scene that’s touched on a few times.
On Chu’s side of the story he goes undercover in a Sealab style underwater base to solve the murder of the naval seal. This is the department responsible for Poyo and all the other left eyed cybernetic animals as well. Keep in mind that Chu is also a newlywed and so going under cover is less than thrilling. After meeting the likely candidates he also learns that he’s has three weeks to solve the case. Upon hearing that Chu breaks disguise and begins licking things until the killer reveals them self.
Chew is one of those books that you expect to be good and frankly that’s probably why so few people bother to review it or even talk about it. They just expect that they’ll enjoy the story and laugh and that John Layman will introduce some new food related power and they’ll feel justified spending their three bucks. But do you know how much harder it is for creators to consistently deliver issues of this caliber, especially with that expectation? I don’t know how this creative team has done it, buy Layman and Rob Guillory are one of the best creative duos in the history of comics. How can you even question that at this point? This is two guys that make a comic book that beats the vast majority of all other comics being published and they do it themselves… amazing. If you’re not reading it, you’re likely wasting your money on something else.
Score: 5/5
Writer: John Layman Artist: Rob Guillory Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/25/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital