Review: So... Buttons #1

So, there is exactly one reason why I picked up this book from Comixology Submit: my dad. See, during my formative youth, “So buttons” was the beginning of one of my old man’s favorite phrases. It went a little something like this... Dad: That grass out there looks like it’s getting pretty long.

Me: Yup. So?

Dad: So buttons on ice cream! Get out there and mow the lawn!

I still have no idea what the hell it means - something to do with “sewing” ice cream. Look, I dunno, this is a guy who, whenever I asked what was for dinner, would tell me either “great big greasy gorilla ribs smothered in bubble gum” or “cat pee and pepper.” So my dad’s a bit of a quirky dude, and I guess I was hoping for a similar idiosyncrasy in this book. But while some of So...Buttons is endearing and even ... I guess I wanna say “cute” ... I found this collection of short stories at best hard to relate to, and at worst, not very interesting.

The book starts off by unleashing the lion’s share of its charm. In “So...My Dad got Drafted,” a quickie surrounding the theme of familial discovery (and promising shared Dad stories), Baylis finds out more about his otherwise predictable pops while getting some lunch one day, ironically, at a BBQ pork place. I say “ironically” because, as we are very quickly, and very oftentold, Baylis’ family is Jewish. And hey, that’s great! Mozel tov, you know?

But unfortunately, what begins between a couple of parentheses in a small but striking aside of (we’re Jewish...), continues with that simultaneous self-effacing / self-aggrandizing culture comedy that touches on and exploits pretty much every given stereotype, in this case regarding the Jewish community. And that’s fine, but unless you’re part of that culture, you can’t really get in on the joke completely ... not that Baylis doesn’t try in the very next story, to a kind of off-putting effect.

“So ... Racist?” is a story about the author realizing that he might not be as racially sensitive as he thought, after coming across (no pun intended) an interracial adult movie called Black Dicks in White Chicks, which is actually a pretty decent film. Its sequel, Black Dicks in White Chicks II: Electric Boobie Glue, was derivative and hackneyed by comparison.

This has probably the best humor of the collection, and offers an honestly funny premise ... but there’s a point near the end where Baylis sort of sounds like he’s saying, “It’s okay, you guys, some of my best friends are black,” which made me shudder. I think it would have worked had this been done (not to sound like a hipster) ironically, but it wasn’t, so it didn’t. At the same time, he throws down the Jewish card with all his might here in a decisive “this is not racist” way. And it’s not racist, really, just poorly executed.

After that, in rapid-fire succession, we see pleasant enough, shorter stories about his ill-fated attempt to impress his elementary school chums with his knowledge of the musical Annie, his ongoing relationship with a comedian and what it’s like to have breakfast at a diner ... none of which tickled my brand of fancy.

To close his book, Baylis hits us with “So...Only Nixon Could’ve Gone to China.” Ostensibly, this one’s about how he left NYU to study abroad ... making sure that his readers damn well know how much tuition costs there, for some reason. Most of his trip around Europe consists of drinking in London, smoking pot in Amsterdam and listening to tapes on a train (starring Samuel L. Jackson). Right on, but these stories don’t really lead to any point other than, “Hey, look what I did!”

In the midst of all this globetrotting, we get to what is meant to be a poignant pinpoint: his visit of Dachau, Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp. However, for what should be an emotional topic, this part feels forced. I’m sure he didn’t man to write it this way, but the 3/4 of a page it takes to tell this part serves only to remind us that the holocaust was really fucking bad, rather than focusing on telling us what he personally took from the experience. I see what he starts to do near the end of the story, somewhat cleverly comparing the worth of human structures, but this feels shoehorned and uncomfortably engineered to elicit an emotional response, while failing to do so in any meaningful way.

The art of So...Buttons changes hands from story to story between three collaborators, and I quite like the way it leaps between styles, from a sketchpad sort of visual diary to an almost Archie Digest kind of innocence to a nostalgic strip from the funny papers. Even though I didn’t appreciate the story as much, the art of “Only Nixon...” was stellar, particularly that last page. Each style in its own way feels cozy enough to contain what is a self-centric comic.

So...Buttons isn’t for everyone, and unfortunately, I don’t think it’s for me. If, however, you are interested in getting a little slice from the life of Jonathan Michael Baylis, then this one is definitely for you.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Jonathan Michael Baylis Artists: T.J. Kirsch, Mr. Alan, David Beyer Jr. Available from Comixology Submit (although most stories were originally published in other magazines) Price: $1.99 Release Date: 5/22/13

Pretty Rad! Street Fighter Motion Sculpture

Animator dantheadman was teaching himself a new program and decided to make some pretty interesting Street Fighter 3-D models. I think its pretty rad so check out his nice homage. https://vimeo.com/66115264

Episode 83: They Didn't Make it off The Island

Hey dawgs, this week we chat about DC’s Wrath and Scorn and their possibility to be a new team along the lines of Batman and Robin but cooler! Avatar and Hickman team up for God is Dead. Apple bans some more comics on the iOS. We talk about the fan-made Kingdom Cometrailer. Everyone wants Quicksilver in their Marvel movie. Books this week: High Crimes #3, Bikini Cowboy, The Children's Vampire Hunting Brigade #1, The Green Team #1. CBMFP is GO!

Conan Didn't Like That New Man of Steel Trailer

Conan doesn't like the beard. That's basically the gist, but his rant about it is funny. Now, in order to find this funny you'll have to resist that fanboy side of your brain that will logically explain how he shaves because you've watched the animated show. So turn that off and just laugh for a few seconds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ5DwzVdbWE

Little Girl Knows A Lot About Marvel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cZSpMqXpmk The thing is... little kids are like sponges and from the sounds of it her father has spoon fed her information about Marvel Comics until it's been absorbed. She does bust out some info on the Soul Gem all on her own, but for the most part her dad walks her through everything. Is it cute? I guess, maybe for like thirty seconds. It's four and a half minutes long in case you were wondering.

Do Want: Reversible Mask Batman Tee

I like the idea of the reversible T-Shirt, but up until now I've never found one I would actually spend money on. For only $20 bucks you can get this bad boy and walk around and photo bomb people's pictures or entertain kids that would run up to you and ask you to prove that you are in fact Batman. Or, you could rob a bank or something... I'm just giving you options. Source

First Iron Man Movie Retold Mega Man Style

I'm not one to enjoy a movie and then five years later realize all of its flaws and suddenly change my mind. I liked the first Iron Man, flaws and all. This is still better though. It's the movie retold as Mega Man levels in an 8-bit style. It's fucking awesome so watch it and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q82j-7WIZy8

Trailer For The Final WB Premiere Movie Hits - Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

I enjoy Geoff Johns' comic work as much as the next die-hard comic reader, but I don't think these last two Premiere series movies were the best choices. Once again, it looks like a lot of the original Flashpoint story has been stripped away or altered to make it work as a standalone story. Check out the trailer and see for yourself, but maybe it's good that this line is coming to an end after all. Now, much like with the comics, they can just tell new 52 stories.... or those rejected scripts of movies their never going to produce. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe0JiobQ98o

Superman Nut Shot Rules!

I'm not even going to set the stage for that photo, just watch the video. It was found by our newest writer of The Spandex Retrospective Justin Wood. Check it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desb0W6u80Y

5 Questions With James Asmus about Quantum & Woody

The "Summer of Valiant" continues this year with Quantum & Woody coming in July. We've already told you a lot about it including posting previews, a QR voice variant and a whole lot more. Today we have an interview with James Asmus the writer of the series. First though, a big congrats to James who just had a baby... I mean, not physically, but his wife did. Anyways congrats! If you stick around after the interview you'll also get an exclusive look at some new pages from the first issue and a gang of covers!

Dustin Cabeal)  Is Quantum and Woody going to follow suit with the rest of the Valiant relaunch, making it easily approachable for new readers?

James Asmus)  Definitely. The first issue is our modernized origin story, kicking off the new series with everything you need to know.

DC)  What are you looking to do differently this time around with the characters that might not have been done the last time?

JA)  The first series only put out twenty-odd issues. So there's tons of new ground to explore with the guys. The opposite ends of the spectrum most notably include their father/abandonment issues and their very modern desire to try and cash in on their accidental celebrity.

DC)  With you writing so many other comics with a variety of companies, how long do you plan to stay with the series and how big is your idea for it?

JA)  When Valiant first approached me, it was about doing a miniseries. My time was stretched thin, but I was such a fan of the original series I couldn't pass up the chance to pitch for it. Ultimately, we've found such a good groove that I've tried to make room to keep doing the series for a lot longer than that. I've got a lot of ideas for what I want to put these guys through— but I'm also looking forward to synching up with the larger Valiant Universe, so I'm keeping how we get to those things flexible for now.

DC)  What brand of comedy are you bringing to the series and will the series overall still have a serious vibe to it?

JA)  For me, the way to maximize the humor and the heart of the series is to root everything in character. The comedy and the pathos both come from the flaws, anxieties, and failures of our guys. I pretty much made my comedy career writing people you both laugh at and feel for at the same time. Between that and my love of superhero comics, I'm not kidding when I say it feels like this is the culmination of my disparate career.

And fortunately, our editor Jody LeHeup was able to net the ridiculously talented Tom Fowler to draw this craziness. If you're not familiar with his work, the balance Tom strikes between high-energy and real emotion in his characters is pitch-perfect and inspiring for the series' tone.

DC)  What’s up with that goat and why is it already my favorite character?

JA)  Because you have good taste! In the original series, the goat was originally meant as a throw-away gag, but the editors wouldn't let it go. It quickly snowballed into the crazy mascot for the book. We're teasing his introduction, but he'll make a BIG impression by the end of the first arc.  And we've got even bigger plans for him from there! (You'll love it. So just call your retailer right now and tell them to start ordering copies for you.) -- We'd like to thank James for taking the time to chat with us and also Valiant for helping set everything up. Quantum & Woody is out on July 10th, so begin pre-ordering today!

Review: Skyward #1

Oh Skyward, why you gotta do me like that? Here’s the thing, this first chapter will be very familiar to those that enjoy the fantasy genre (or the superhero genre as well). You’ll feel like you’ve read it a million times before, but it’s quite effective in the genre which is why it’s used. It’s the perfect catalyst for the plot and it will definitely keep you coming back for more. Also if you read the FCBD edition then you’re only going to recognize one character from that story, but I’m sure the other characters will come into play later in the series. The issue starts with Quinn and his father Corin fishing. Quinn’s a young boy and so he’s pretty excited when he gets a bit on his line, but not so excited when the fish breaks his pole to get loose. They share a father and son moment as they walk back, but as Quinn in complaining about breaking the pole his father’s hand reaches out and stops his movement. In their path is a wild boar that has a crazy look in its eye… it’s also eating a rabbit, which is pretty gross. Corin is forced to kill the boar as it charges at them and does so with one punch. Quinn thinks that it’s cool, but his dad cuts him off quickly saying that taking a life is never an easy matter to deal with. They make it home and we met Taryn: beautiful wife and mother.

Dinner is interrupted when an old friend of Corin’s comes calling. Herod arrives with two small… goblin looking things riding some monsters of their own. He asks to discuss things with him about the “old times” and Corin stupidly agrees to talk to him away from his family. You can probably figure out the rest, but I will say that it’s not good for the Corin/Taryan/Quinn family trio.

Even though the story was predictable, it was still really good. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s a bummer, but like I said the events of this issue are the catalyst of the series. The writing was solid; the plot was well-paced and the dialog was for the most part was very believable and genuine sounding. Herod is kind of douche; I don’t know if that was intentional, but everything out of his mouth was kind of pointless. He might have been more believable if he had just shown up and said, “I’m the bad guy”, but every character has their role to play and I can only hope that he becomes a fuller character as the story continues.

With fantasy based stories you have to nail the art and Skyward nails it hard. I love experimental styles and thick gritty lines as much as the next indie reader, but for my fantasy I like it clean and dynamic. The art and coloring are vibrant and make the world look alive and beautiful. The setting looks like a world that’s mostly untouched by man and that means it’s ripe for adventure. As great as the art is, Jack the dog had moments of inconsistency. At times his head was too big or he just looked a bit goofy. I probably only noticed because I was going back through the book a few times, but it caught my eye. Otherwise the art was a nice treat and the right fit for the story.

If you like fantasy adventure then this story is definitely for you. Quinn has a long way to go before he’s an interesting character, but I have the feeling that once he’s mixed with our FCBD characters he’ll get there sooner rather than later. Now, I had an advanced look at this issue which is not out yet. If you’re interested then I encourage you to download the FCBD edition (here) and then be sure to pre-order the book. Action Lab has announced a price drop meaning all of their titles are going to be at the competitive price of $2.99, but what helps keep the price there is the pre-orders. The more they know to print the better the price (there are other factors as well of course). This first issue is $3.99 to begin with, but after that it drops to $2.99, so do not miss out on what has started off as an entertaining fantasy story about a boy and his dog.

Score: 4/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Jeremy Dale

Colorist: Steve Downer

Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 7/31/13

Review: Magic of Myths – Vol. 1

Magic of Myths is an interesting balance of action and adventure, mixed with a deeply personal back story for the main character. She’s a displaced hero given tasks in order to return to her home, having no other options she goes along with it. The thing is that while she’s on this physical journey of danger against a variety of creatures, she thinks about her life and how she got to where she is now. The story introduces us to Eve… and Eve. On one side of the page we can see Eve dressed in a glowing purple outfit and looking vaguely transparent and getting ready to fight some monster looking people. On the other side we see Eve dressed in normal clothing and teaching at a school. From there the story stays in the fantasy based world with our transparent, purple glowing Eve as she creates a light staff to kick some monster ass. After scaring off the monsters that she didn’t kill, a fairy looking creature arrives to talk to her. Eve calls him Tink, but he insists that it’s not his name. Strangely enough there is a metal collar around his neck with two chains coming out that are attached to a book that he’s carrying. Through their conversation we learn that this is not the first trip to this land for Eve and that she’s being put through her first advanced assessment. She must complete five tasks and retrieve a relevant artifact in order to return to her world.

From there Eve continues her tasks completing them one by one, but at the same time relating a part of the task to her own life experiences. That’s where the balance of action and character comes in as we learn a lot about Eve and her life. I wouldn’t say that she has the worst life ever, but it’s definitely not the best. From her upbringing to her dating life, it all ends poorly for her. As the story continues we discover that people are pulling Eve’s strings and other parties are aware of this and begin pulling them as well. We meet a sorcerer who isn’t happy about the appearance of a human in “his lands”, but even he doesn’t know who the ringmaster is.

What honestly saves this volume is Eve’s back story. Without that it would just be a displaced hero story to which it follows the formula closely. Eve’s character development is the key and really the driving force behind everything. The tasks aren’t that interesting or even that dangerous and a few of them felt like a B.S. video game level where you have no option other than failure to begin with. The dialog is very strong and again, Eve is a well-rounded fleshed out character, but the plot is a bit average. I wasn’t excited to see any of the challenges and the big reveals were just ho-hum because of it. I think the fact that Eve could only walk down one path from challenge to challenge really took the thrill of the adventure away.

The art is actually very cool. Eve is there, but she isn’t. I described her as transparent because she’s literally not in her body and yet can take damage in her current state. The line work is very thick and stylized. It has a storybook quality to it where there are just enough details to the art, but it doesn’t go overboard. It reminds me of something, but I can’t for the life of me think of what to compare it to. Some of the coloring was a bit blown out for me personally. Purple is a huge theme for the book, but at times there’s just too much on the page and making everything purple looking as if the hue on your TV was adjust to much in one direction. It doesn’t ruin the art or the book, but if it was toned back it would have had a better effect.

I’m interested in this story because of Eve and if it wants to keep my attention than it needs to amplify the other characters to make them interesting enough to be involved with her. She’s definitely the star of the show, but she shines so bright that no one else can touch her. If you’re into fantasy based stories with strong female leads then this is definitely for you.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Corey Brotherson Artist: Sergio Calvet Price: $14.00 in print or $2.25 digital (rough U.S. conversion) Website

Review: Monster on the Hill (OGN)

Monster on the Hill is everything you want from an all-ages title. It’s humorous, it has great characters and there is of course a moral lesson. What makes this story different and charming is the world that it’s set in. At its core it’s a story about not comparing yourself to others, using your own talents and having confidence. The story opens in Billingwood, England in 1867 with a family visiting the town and taking in the sites. As they visit a candy shop the ground suddenly begins to rumble. The father brings them all back inside as a giant monster begins to walk through the streets. The children cower in fear as they hope the monster doesn’t see them. Suddenly though he smashes in through the window and a chase begins. The family continues to run until a man invites them into his cellar to wait for the coast to clear. As the family begins to breathe again something strange happens, they actually enjoyed being chased by the monster. The thing that’s different about this world is that each town has a monsters and each monster serves two purposes: protect the town from the Murk and attack the town. The attacks generate tourism as people travel around to be frightened by the different monsters and create a strange harmony. All accept one town that is.

The monster of Stoker-on-Avon has gone 536 days without an attack and it’s killing the town. Dr. Charles Nathaniel Wilkie is summoned to the town hall to meet with the Town Fathers. He’s uncertain to what the meeting is about, but the scrappy young newspaper boy standing outside doubts that it’s good. The Town Fathers have asked Dr. Wilkie to fix their monster and in exchange they’ll give him his medical license back; which they revoked due to his experiments being annoying and dangerous. Wilkie takes the job since he can’t do anything he wants without the license, upon leaving the newspaper boy asks to come with him and is subsequently rejected.

Wilkie sets out right away to the Monsters home on the hill overlooking the town. Once he’s climbed up he calls out to the monster who tells him to go away… because he’s sulking. Wilkie sits outside the monster’s cave until he comes out and finally the beast gives in. Wilkie breaks down why he’s there and the monster begins to moan and groan in agreement of how terrible of a monster he is. Wilkie tells him that he’ll help him and heads to his trunk to get his supplies, but when he opens it out pops Timothy our scrappy young newspaper boy. The monster invites them all in for the night after alerting them to the onset of rain and they decide that the best course of action is to build the monster’s confidence. Growing tired of calling him monster they finally ask his name… its Rayburn. It’s going to be a long road to recovery for this monster.

This is an extremely well thought-out world and plot. There are a ton of little details to the story like monster playing card, monster school and the villain of the story as well. Younger readers are sure to catch these elements and find them humorous, but an older audience can really appreciate just how rich the world of Monster on the Hill truly is. Harrell has thought of everything to ensure that this world is very believable and while teaching moral lessons throws out the smallest of social commentary. After all, aren’t moral lessons just commentary on our society’s habits? It’s a fantastically written story with great characters populating a rich world.

You’ve probably seen Harrell’s art before and never even knew it; I sure as hell didn’t. He’s currently drawing Adam@Home which appears as a daily newspaper comic strip (and yes I do feel like a tool having to explain what a daily comic strip is). His style here is far more detailed and stylized. The monsters are interesting and very different looking from what usually populates the genre. They’re very cool looking and you can kind of understand why people would collect trading cards for them. The coloring has a storybook feel to it and really was a walk down memory lane for me.

I was very impressed by this story. It has a ton of imagination; it’s funny from beginning to end and is just charming. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be shipping in July, but you can read a preview for it on Top Shelf’s site. Really good all-age titles are hard to come by since that’s usually code for “kid’s book”, but Monster on the Hill is a true all-ages title for everyone to enjoy.

Score: 5/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Rob Harrell Publisher: Top Shelf Comix Price: $19.99 Release Date: 7/24/13 comic shops and 8/6/13 book stores Website

Review: High Crimes #3

I’m going to start by saying that this is one of the top five comics currently being published. I feel embarrassed for any of you that are reading this review trying to decide if you should spend three dollars to buy all the issues of this series and read one of the greatest things to happen to comics in the past decade. Seriously, I’m not joking, this book is that damn good. I enjoyed the first issue immensely; then I began to have strong feelings for the second issue, but with this third issue its full-blown love. The thing about this issue that’s different from the rest is that the opening pages are a mixture of the past, recent past and present and while reading it you’re never once confused; explaining it is a different matter altogether. I’ll start with Zan on the run since that’s basically where the last issue left us. Currently three men with guns and a will to use them are chasing her down the street during traffic. Zan puts her athletic abilities into play and begins jumping cars to get out their line of sight. She comes to a big open market area with a ton of pigeons and sends them flying blocking their view. Unfortunately there weren’t a lot of places to hide and so she finds herself lying behind a cow. She pops up to see if the men have left and they open fire on the sacred beast killing it and stirring up the locals. She takes this opportunity to flee and begins thinking of what she needs to do when she gets back to her place. She repeats it over and over to herself in an attempt to keep her head together, so much so that she drops her guard.

That’s all I’m giving you, but damn I wish I could ramble on and on about this book. This issue is intense from beginning to end and the emotional journey that Zan on is deep. Her character basically ran away from life because she couldn’t deal with the media and world looking upon her at all hours of the day. She’s not good at dealing with things be they emotional or situations that arise in life and in this issues she’s facing one of each.

The writing is phenomenal on this issue and the series in general. Zan’s narration for this issue is spot on and while everything is frantic and fast paced, the narration is the exact opposite. It’s calm and collected which is the perfect balance to the visuals. Zan is a great female character and never plays the damsel in distress. In fact, she’s pretty hardcore and if she wasn’t so messed up with drugs and shit, I would say that she’s a good role model… I’m mean alsmost.The crazy agents are fantastic characters as they truly don’t give a shit about anything. One of them basically says much, but to see them shoot at Zan and blow through pigeons and then shoot up a cow is awesome. And I mean they shoot the fuck out of that cow.

The art keeps up with the story and compliments it 100%. As I said, the narration intentionally works against what the art is showing making the visuals even more important. It’s a fantastic looking book and Moustafa’s the range is a credit to the medium. Zan’s look goes through a lot of changes in this issue, but she’s always recognizable as a character and that’s the biggest testament to the art. Also the violence is awesome and I don’t care if that makes me sound like a sicko. How can anyone not enjoy a pigeon getting a hole blown through it?!

I really don’t know why you read this review; you should have just gone over to Comixiology and bought it from the Monkey Brain Comics section. If you’ve yet to check it out then buy all three. This issue is sixteen pages long (not including bonus material) and I believe that’s about the same as the others as well; meaning for the price of a normal print issue you’re getting a ton of content. It’s well worth it and you definitely don’t want to be the last person to check this book out. I wish the story could go on forever, but I know that it has to end… doesn’t mean that I don’t still wish it though.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Christopher Sebela Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa Publisher: Monkey Brain Comics Price: $.99 Release Date: 5/15/13 Comixology Link

Review: Ehmm Theory #2

If you haven’t started to show some interest in this comic do so now. Tagline: Boy owns talking cat and travels through different dimensions. See told you. Larkin Ford captures some awesome art for this series. I know I am only two issues in but his drawings are so perfect. Mr. Whispers may be the cutest cat ever (besides for my own). My littlest cat loves to tea bag me when waking up in the morning. Yes, I said tea bag. It is an amazing experience. It is his way of telling me “Hey you cut my balls off but I will still tea bag you when I am hungry.” Mr. Whispers reminds me of that same I-cough-up-hair-balls-respectively personality.

We start the second issue with Alyona explaining some back history on she met Gabriel’s father. Alyona is trying to help him through these dimensions in order to learn of his father’s past. Suddenly we realize that Gabriel has a mild case of crabs. And by mild I mean one cybernetic crab chasing after him. Alyona is one badass grandmother and tries to protect her crew the best way she knows how, cursin’ and shootin’. What I love about this comic is that it is so funny but asks a lot of questions too. You will be laughing but then stop to think woah so what is really going on here? It is the best of both worlds or all 11 dimensions (whichever saying you like better and look up M Theory if you don’t get that).

We meet a slew of new characters in this issue. I have a feeling Gabriel will be meeting lots of new creatures and people throughout his journey. It always makes me excited when comics deal with sci-fi because then they can literally do anything, especially with characters. It is all about honing that bend of reality into something spectacular. We meet a group who is trying to help Gabe but the more interesting character that meet has to do with Saint Peter. This guy sketches me out. And I don’t mean he gives me new light up shoes but rather that he is plotting against Gabe and Mr. Whispers. In the first issue he really gives me the creeps with his pimped out suit.

If I haven’t sold you on this comic then still just start reading it. The whole Action Lab: Danger Zone is a pretty interesting line. Brockton McKinney’s story has some great elements and each issue will ensure an amusing action packed fight between Gabe and all the dimensional mutants. But don’t be fooled by Ehmm Theory’s perceived cover because there is a real story under all the fun which makes your mind explode into an all-out enjoyment factory.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Brockton McKinney

Artist: Larkin Ford

Publisher: Danger Zone and Action Lab

Price: $2.99

Release Date: 7/31/13

Review: Sex #3

Review by: Ed Allen I suppose you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth paying for Sex #3, the latest offering in Joe Casey and Piotr Kowalski’s unusually erotic take on the superhero concept, and lucky for you I’m here to dish the dirt on what I found between the sheets (of paper).

For those of you haven’t already tried Sex, it’s essentially a superhero comic where much (but not all) of the violence has been replaced with some fairly graphic sex scenes. In the story so far, we’ve been introduced to Simon Cooke, a retired parallel of Batman who’s life spent fighting crime in the futuristic Saturn City has left him with a personal life in tatters and a whole host of psychological complexes on top of some crippling sexual repression, alongside a small supporting cast which includes an ex-Robin type, a Catwoman-alike, a handful of brutal villains and a whole bunch of naked people.

The plot has moved fairly slowly in the first couple of issues but fortunately Casey’s plot has started to pick up pace now that he has introduced us to the core cast and the setting. In this issue Simon finds himself increasingly detached from his family’s corporation and his few remaining friends, coming to the realisation that his single-minded dedication to “saving” Saturn City has left him wholly alienated from anything that could be thought of as an ordinary life, while his former sidekick has kicked up a hornet’s nest of furious (and beauty-obsessed) gangsters. Also: there’s sex and unlike a lot of the sex in previous issues it looks like all of the participants inissue #3 are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

As I mentioned in previous reviews, Kowalski’s artwork is absolutely superb and brilliantly brought to life by Brad Simpson’s searing, high-contrast colors; an effective partnership with Kowalski’s lines being very realistic and Simpson’s colors abandoning the confines of strict realism with the intention of creating moody atmospheres to suit each moment. Kowalski’s cityscapes are nothing short of stunning and his characters are rendered with a smooth precision and level of detail that’s remarkably impressive for a monthly comic. Certain panels, particularly during the final sex scene and earlier when a gun is fired, really show what this partnership can achieve together when they really cut loose and since the first issue of Sex I’ve been genuinely excited to see what the pair can come up with in each new installment.

I still find myself curiously unsatisfied by Sex #3, which is particularly odd given that all of the individual jigsaw pieces necessary to put together an excellent comic are in place. The artwork and colors are nothing short of superb, the concept is perfectly workable and quite original compared to most of the variations on the superhero theme that are regularly introduced into the marketplace, there’s nothing wrong with Casey’s dialogue and any comic that tries to push the boundaries of its genre is worthy of praise. Yet still I find that Sex leaves me cold, without the emotional involvement or self-insertion that might come from being able to identify (however closely or vaguely) with at least one of the characters. While the slight acceleration in plot pacing for each of the issues so far suggests that my longstanding concern about Sex moving too slowly for many readers to enjoy in a monthly format will soon be unfounded, the other troubles I mentioned in previous reviews have not yet been removed.

It’s possible that Casey wants us to feel this way, that he’s playing a long game where Simon Cooke’s social alienation and inability to discover the joys of sex is mirrored our own feelings of alienation towards Sex and its cast of characters, but if that’s true then he’s taking a considerably greater risk with his comic than he has in his languid pacing or the risque choice of subject matter. For me, it’s difficult to feel empathy towards a protagonist with stratospheric wealth and peak physical conditioning whose response to the loss of a loved one and depression is to systematically deny himself every opportunity to start a recovery that he’s given.

Regardless of my complaints, Sex is something that I would urge you all to try at least once, especially if you’re looking for something different from the typical superhero experience. It’s only possible for talented creators like Casey and Kowalski to fall short when they aim high and I think it’s fair to say that they’re aiming high with Sex. I’m very curious to see how the series will develop from here and given that there’s a lot of people who I think will enjoy this comic, particularly its artwork, I would hate to think that my personal tastes have turned you off.

Score: 3/5 (but it’s a strong 3)

Writer: Joe Casey

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $2.99

Release Date: 5/22/13

Review: Clockwork Watch: The Arrival

It’s taken me a while to put the pieces together on this issue. I enjoyed the hell out of it, but trying to describe it in a way that doesn’t put people off has been challenging. It’s a story with many layers and I would even go as far to say that it borders on all-ages, but not quite due to the maturity of the material. The story is set in London in the 1800’s in a steampunk inspired era, meaning that technology has surpassed culture. The Ranbir family has just arrived from India. It follows Janav the little boy of the family as he narrates his experience. He sees hate on the faces of everyone they meet and wishes that he could have said a proper goodbye to his friends back home. Janav becomes excited after seeing the city, but it’s quickly snuffed by his stick in the mud father. His father seems to only care that he’s disciplined and behaves in public, while his mother is very caring and loving and would see her son be a little boy. Janav’s narration tells us that he secretly hates his father as he says it multiple times.

That night Janav wakes up to a bad dream and as his mother comforts him by showing him what his father is working on... a robotic man called a clockwork. The next morning Janav is full of questions about the man with the hole in his chest as he doesn’t understand that it was an artificial life form that he saw.

The story is about the size of a double-sized issue and is very unique. Everyone seems to expect Janav to grow up and surpass his father, but they’d already like for him to get a start on it. His mother is the only one that wants him to decide things for himself, but it’s all beyond his comprehension. The Clockwork’s or really the only Clockwork introduced is an interesting bunch. Janav has this fear in his eyes when he hears the gears turning and yet he’s not afraid when he official meets the one his father completed earlier.

The mother really steals the show. She’s the balance between the cold in-humanity that the other characters display in their quest for technological advancement. Janav is much like the reader; thrown into this strange world and only given half the facts. He’s expected to act like an adult, but treated like a child which makes him act upon his emotions more than usual. The writing was very good and the dialog was genuine and at times very moving.

The art style actually reminded me a lot of Return of the Dapper Men, but in my opinion better. It has a storybook quality to it that could potentially fool people into thinking this is an all-ages title, but I think the story is a geared towards an older audience. I particularly enjoyed the coloring as it had a watercolor look to it and very well may be water colored, I don’t know for certain.

Overall it’s an interesting story, but it’s only getting started. I like the ending because it leaves a huge question mark on where the story will pick up again. Will it be directly after the events of this chapter or will it jump ahead to the future? It’s a very good read and anyone that’s a fan of retro androids and a world that’s on the verge of full-blown steampunk is sure to enjoy it.

Score: 4/5

Story: Yomi Ayeni Writer: Corey Brotherson Artist: Jennie Gyllblad Price: $15.00 in print and $4.50 digital Webstore http://www.comicsy.co.uk/clockworkwatch/

Review: Sleepless #1

Sleepless is a collection of horror-esc themed stories and is frankly… pretty awesome. Each tale has its own theme that it deals with and while the four stories are all very different in tone and execution, they find the perfect balance with each other within the issue. In some ways it reminded me of the Outer Limits, but with a heavy focus on the ending of the story. The first story Empty has a twist ending that I will not give away. I can set the stage for you though as a man spends his day alone thinking about all of the good times he had with his wife. We’re not sure what’s happened to her, but it’s clear from this man’s pain that he misses her a lot. In a lot of ways the story comes across as tale about a widower, but as I said… twists! This was a great first story to open to and was definitely my favorite of the issue. The emotions that man shares are very real and moving which makes the ending all the more affective. The art was also very enjoyable as it switches from the past which is depicted as bright and vibrant, to the present which is gray and desolate. It was a very strong story and perfect for anyone that’s felt the pains of love.

Keeping with the twist ending theme is Three Years. It’s also a bit tragic as we find a man talking about the Apocalypse as he sits in his camper away from the rest of the world. He basically walks us through his day and how he’s slowly running out of supplies and car batteries. It’s pretty dark and when you get to the last two or three pages you’ll see the twist and it’s a good one. Really without the twist you wouldn’t care about the story, but with it, it becomes a great short tale. The art is interesting as it has a collage look to it. There are real pieces of photos mixed in with the pencil and painted work on the page giving it a photo-esc quality to it. It works for the story and I wouldn’t mind seeing that style applied to something else in the future as well.

Since there are only four stories I’m going to cut this review short. The third story is funny and quite different from the rest of the shorts in terms of tone and art style, but again it fits in with the issue. The last story is probably the most demented of the issue, but definitely worth reading.

What I find interesting about this issue was the fact that all of the stories had the same writer. This is essentially an anthology style comic, but the only other comic I’ve personally read like this is from Nix Comics. Writer Chris Charlton manages to tell four very different stories and gives each of them their own unique voice. Since I always skip the credit page until after I’ve read the issue, I had no idea it was the same writer. That’s very cool because a lot of times the writer’s voice comes through and the characters begin talking the same, but that wasn’t the case here.

I liked this book and it really did remind me of Outer Limits, though I’m sure some would say The Twilight Zone. I tend to lean towards the former of the two because the stories were geared towards tragic events and didn’t attempt any social commentary. Instead they had a bit of a sci-fi/horror feel and a focus on humanity. If that sounds like something for you then I would recommend checking it out.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Chris Charlton Artists: Greg Woronchak, David Hollenbach, Joe Badon, Rowel Roque Colorists: Vasco Sobral (1^st story) and Heather Brekckel (4^th Story) Publisher: Assailant Comics Price: $5.99 Website: Assailantcomics.com

Review: Outre Anthology #1 - Responsibility

I love anthologies. Getting a little taste of different creators and stories keeps reading comics interesting. While I tend to prefer Dark Horse’s approach of larger stories spread throughout several issues, Outre has a very different and cool approach to the anthology style. It has stories, interviews and stand-alone illustrations. It’s a very different compilation of creative styles and while some of it works incredibly well together, other aspects fell short. I’m not going to talk about all of the stories and definitely not the art pieces or interviews since that would be shitty of me, but I will talk about two of the stories. The first tale Taras and the Monolith was a great way to kick off the book. It begins with a father telling his son about Chumy, an ancient god that ticked off all the other gods by trying to turn people against them. His sister Burya begged for her brother to be spared and so Chumy was buried deep below the earth. This saddened Burya and so she was placed at the top of a monolith to teach responsibility to mortals. The next part is where the story gets interesting as father explains their families duty. Each day they must siphon Burya’s tears and take them away from Chumy because her tears would give him power. The son doesn’t really buy into the responsibility, but goes along with it because his father is all he has. That is until his father becomes bedridden and death approaches; he tells his son he must prevail and continue the task and so the question becomes, will he?

The story was very cool and the way it ties the world was intelligent to say the least. The son’s anger of his youth is spot on and even though you know he’s wrong, you can easily see where he’s coming from with his rage. The art is an intricate part of the storytelling; the ancient story is drawn in an ancient Greek style that fits perfectly, while the modern side is very stylized. Creators: Dan Hill & Kim Holm

The next story My Universe Expands Until I Have No Center is the shit! It follows the life of Mari, from a young age all the way until her golden years and it’s an incredible journey. It begins with her at a friend’s house for dinner and thanking them for having her over. It’s clear that she’s having some problems at home, but her friend’s mom talks to her in a condescending tone which results in her telling them fuck off and leaving. From there is continues to follow her life as she gets older and goes through a very rebellious stage. What’s different is that this is set in the future so the inclusion of futuristic tech is weaved throughout the story. Eventually she joins the army and it only gets more interesting from there.

The story chunks are short, but they work very effectively towards painting a complete picture of Mari’s personality and journey through life. The story actually opens with a quote from Einstein and it perfectly describes what the author is going for with the story. The second half is really where it shines and gets a bit crazy which was great. The art is in all black and white with great tones and looks like it was left in its natural form which was perfect for the amount of details that it has. This was a really good story and honestly worth the price of admission on its own, meaning the rest is just bonus. If the story was expanded upon I would definitely check it out. Creators: Alex Wilson and Ben Garriga

There’s an interesting interview with Fiona Staples in the book as well and while I didn’t really show up for the interviews, they made for a good read and a change of pace from the normal anthology. What really didn’t work for me were the random pieces of art work. They not only received their own title page, but there was no connection between the pieces to each other or the stories. It was like, “Okay I looked at it… now what?” It’s not that they were bad, in fact they’re very good pieces of art, but they really broke up the flow of the book and didn’t enrich the experience at all.

In general I really liked this anthology and would definitely check out more issues in the future. Other than the standalone art pieces I loved the layout and the cohesive title pages that the stories and interviews shared. If you dig anthologies and don’t care what the stories are about then definitely check this out.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Various Artists: Various Publisher: Outre Press Price: Free Website