Laramie Martinez 10/18/16 Laramie Martinez 10/18/16

Review: From Under Mountains

By Laramie Martinez

I’m a sucker for fantasy comics. But I think the genre tends to be limited by the expectations placed upon it. Some of the best short stories I’ve read recently use fantasy as a tool to explore interesting ideas. From Under Mountains is a great example of this. More of a political thriller than a rip-roaring adventure, the book tells a quieter story where personal conflicts between parents, fathers and daughters set the stage for a larger narrative. This comic feels very much like an intro arch, giving characters’ personal reasons which will inform their future decisions.

Laramie Martinez 10/18/16 Laramie Martinez 10/18/16

Review: Warhammer 40,000 #1

By Laramie Martinez

Earlier this year I got really into games. I’m not talking about Shoots and Ladders, or Candyland, I’m talking about the big names like Chess, Mah Jong, and of course Go. My interest peaked around the same time that AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol and I will admit the results discouraged me from learning more about these classics. I realized that perfect information games or games where all the information can be seen on the board were actually limited. I wanted something that would mimic a tactical real life battle, and strangely it was this need for something more realistic that took me to probably one of the most outrageous and unrealistic wargames on the market, Warhammer 40k.

Press Release 10/18/16 Press Release 10/18/16

Zenescope Teams Up For Live-Action Projects

Press Release

Zenescope Entertainment has partnered with Director/Producer Jack Heller and his newly formed ASSEMBLE MEDIA, to bring some of the company’s most beloved titles to film, TV, and the ever-growing new media landscape. Last Saturday, Heller joined Zenescope founders Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco at Zenescope’s New York Comic Con panel where they gave the crowd a sneak peek at their first collaboration, a short film based on the company’s best selling comic book ROBYN HOOD.

Press Release 10/18/16 Press Release 10/18/16

Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw's "God Country" Lands At Image

Press Release

Fan-favorite writer Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw (Buzzkill, The Paybacks) team up for an all-new series GOD COUNTRY, set to launch from Image Comics in January 2017.

In GOD COUNTRY readers meet Emmett Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn't just a problem for his children—his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home—as well as the surrounding West Texas town—a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage. The enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He's now the only man who can face these otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State…

Laramie Martinez 10/17/16 Laramie Martinez 10/17/16

Review: The Killer Inside Me #2

By Laramie Martinez

The Killer Inside Me #2 is a decent step up from the previous issue. While the issue succeeds in tackling the story’s harsh subject matter with style and menace, it remains a little inconsistent. The writing also slows down considerably in this issue, so the pace of the previous issue is not a problem here. Check out below for the details.

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

CBMFP 256: Self-Sharping Machette

By Dustin Cabeal

It's been a long weekend. You may have noticed that ComicBastards.com was down for most of that weekend so while this was recorded not that long ago, everything we talked about has since left my brain. There's movie news with Mera and Logan, not together, but you know... that would be a killer crossover. Also the Harvey Awards and Killer Clowns.

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

Review: Shin Godzilla

By Dustin Cabeal

Take a journey with me. Back in 1998, the American film industry launched its first attempt at Godzilla. The producers of such blockbusters as Independence Day were behind the production and a soundtrack that remains as one of the best, was produced to support the film. The film was going to be huge, and I’m sure they meant every pun they said when promoting it. The film released, and it was terrible. Godzilla looked like a dickhead, he couldn’t catch a cab, and everyone overlooked the fact that the French were A) running secret operation in New York City and that B) the French were the ones to be following Godzilla’s birth? It was just a piss poor way to explain Jean Reno’s thick French accent and “military” training.

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

Super S with Cherry Blossom Girl, Hikikomori & The Heir to the Dojo – E.13

By Dustin Cabeal

We're on to our #4's of our Top Five list. In case you forgot, we're doing a top five list one episode at a time. That doesn't stop us from talking about a lot of new anime as the fall season has started. Find out what we're talking about by reading below!

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

Monster & Wine: Episode 99 - Chris Cornell Is Not A Cowboy

By Jason Beckham

At least, I don't think he is. Anyway, this episode has a lot to do with television. In case you haven't heard, there's a lot of good shows out there right now. Designated Survivor, Gotham, Supergirl, American Horror Story, Westworld and Empire are discussed and believe you me, not all of the talk is positive. Monster gives a review for the DC film, "Suicide Squad," and the duo discuss the Resident Evil film franchise, as well as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Patrick Larose 10/17/16 Patrick Larose 10/17/16

Review: Luke Cage E.04 – “Step in the Arena”

By Patrick Larose

Luke Cage’s history of a comic book character was born from the popularization of the Blaxploitation film genre during the 1970s. A bunch of white dudes caught on by how popular these action movies made by black people and starring black people were getting that they saw a new market to, well, exploit.

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

Review: Black Lotus Empire #1

By Dustin Cabeal

We as comic book readers have a general understand and acceptance that not every first issue is going to be a polished diamond. Some are going to be rough around the edges and actually that’s not a bad thing. I have read too many great first issues only to be disappointed by everything that followed. I’ll take a rough diamond any day. That said, Black Lotus Empire isn’t perfect, but it’s very enjoyable.

Shanel Kamara 10/17/16 Shanel Kamara 10/17/16

Review: Fune wo Amu E.01

By Shanel Kamara

Okay, so the artwork is not what drew me in at first, what did it for me was the novel and compelling storyline. There have been several types of anime under various genres, such as slice of life, comedy, shonen, etc. that have mainly dealt with professions including the police, detective agencies, espionage, manga and anime production, but never till now has there been one about publishing or more specifically about the editing and publishing of dictionaries. To be honest, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of editing is the editing of news, magazines, books, films, and shows. I have never once considered the intricate procedure involved in editing dictionaries.

Robert Ramos 10/17/16 Robert Ramos 10/17/16

Review: Drifters E.01

By Robert Ramos

It’s October and you know what that means: fall season of anime is upon us. With that comes something that I’ve read a couple chapters of and wanted to check out after hearing it was being animated. I’m talking about none other than Drifters. It’s from the creator of Hellsing so how bad could it possibly be? Well...

Shanel Kamara 10/17/16 Shanel Kamara 10/17/16

Review: Yuri!! On Ice E.02

By Shanel Kamara

I definitely intend on seeing this show through to the end. The prospect of watching characters develop, grow, and transform completely is not only exciting but also inspiring. The third episode airs next week and I already feel, as though the primary message that this anime is conveying is that change is only possible for those who strive for it.

Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/17/16

We... Still... Function...

Patrick Larose 10/13/16 Patrick Larose 10/13/16

Review: Luke Cage E.03 - "Who's Gonna Take the Weight"

By Patrick Larose

If the first two episodes of Luke Cage were like watching superhero Shakespeare, then "Who’s Gonna Take the Weight” is all about becoming an emotional catharsis to answer our pent-up frustration with tragedy. When people talk about Shakespeare or when they call something Shakespearean, they’re usually talking about dudes in puffy shirts, star-crossed characters, and big speeches. You won't catch me doing that, though. I'd offer up , rather, that at the core of every Shakespeare play are characters who are driven by complex needs and forced to navigate their complex social and political hierarchies. They’re a realm of emotional politicking and that description is what the first two episodes of Luke Cage felt like.

Justin Wood 10/12/16 Justin Wood 10/12/16

Review: All-Star Batman #3

By Justin Wood

Before the release of Jordan Claes' All-Star Batman #2 review, I'd heard through the editorial grapevine that he'd made my less than pleasant review of #1 look like a pull quote for the series. Consider my interest having been piqued, but come that Wednesday, having read the comic for myself as prep, I was honestly surprised that the review hadn't been harsher. All-Star Batman #2 was one of the worst comics I've read all year, maybe the worst from the Big Two, though Aquaman #2 definitely stands in the running. I don't have a lingering curiosity for what DC has to do next, once Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love is done I can go back to fucking off in the dust collecting indie section at my local failing comic shop. That said, with recent events, both related and not related to All-Star Batman,; I now feel it is some sort of meager duty to cover this book specifically until this terrible storyline ends. I'll pay for it if I have to.

Mike Badilla 10/12/16 Mike Badilla 10/12/16

Review: Fight Club 2: Library Edition HC

By Mike Badilla

Fight Club: You've probably seen the movie, you've possibly read the book, you can definitely quote that line about what not to talk about. Here is the sequel to that story. The original was obviously well received and is a cult classic, so making a part 2 in a comic book format is odd. However, if you've read or watched anything from Chuck Palahniuk, you know that's the kind of thing you should come to expect from him and his work: odd, violent, funny, philosophical, odd. Whatever happened to everyone's favorite nobody with the split personality and his kooky love life? Find out here.

Dustin Cabeal 10/12/16 Dustin Cabeal 10/12/16

Review: Doom Patrol #2

By Dustin Cabeal

Everything I want from Young Animal continues to be on full display here in Doom Patrol #2. I’m not going to pretend that I actually know what’s going on in this story or where it’s going. I will say that it’s still interesting, weird and full of fantastic art. Granted, I’m a first-time reader of Doom Patrol, so my love for it comes from a long time reader of comics that’s enjoying a weird and strange story. And before someone says it in the comments, I will never read the old Doom Patrol material or for that matter any of the material that Young Animal is based on. Frankly, I don’t read old comics often, and I rarely bother with beloved/hyped to the point of no return titles. Judge me if you want, but I just don’t find the same enjoyment in reading something that the majority of the reader base hasn’t already jazzed all over… verbally. Verbal jizz. It’s a thing.

Mike Badilla 10/12/16 Mike Badilla 10/12/16

Review: Peepland #1

By Mike Badilla

Anytime I see a book description selling itself as "noir," I'm instantly more interested. Probably one of my favorite genres. That's not to say, however, that there isn't a metric ton of garbage out there labeled in this way. This book, in my opinion, is far from garbage. Dirty? Yes. Trash? No. Let's start from the very beginning; I love the cover. It looks exactly like those pulp noir novels, even down to the classic looking "Hard Case Crime" banner at the top. This looks like a book that would have been on a spinner rack 40 or so years ago, which hooked me instantly. Not only the classic look but the art on the cover is fantastic and makes you feel like you're right there in grimy [enter your favorite grimy city] on a rainy night in the shady part of town. Let's get to the story.