Review: White Ash #2
By Oliver Gerlach
It’s not often that I get to review the second issue of something; usually, I can’t say more than “a promising start,” or something like that. Seeing a series continue and getting to comment on whether or not it lives up to that potential is something of a rarity in the world of indie comics review. White Ash #1 was one of those books; I liked it, but had concerns about certain aspects and wasn’t sure it would address them. Fortunately, White Ash #2 very much fixes the flaws of the first issue. Just note that this is a spoiler-free review; I’m not going to talk about anything more specific and plot-relevant than general tone and concepts.
Review: Audrey’s Magic Nine vol. 1
By Oliver Gerlach
Audrey’s Magic Nine is a charming all-ages fantasy adventure that’s genuinely worth checking out for anyone, adults and children alike. It’s clearly targeted at kids, but there’s a lot of excellent craft and endearing adventure in here for adults too.
Best Comic Books of 2017 - #1
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #1 picks for Best of 2017.
Click here to read #2 on the list!
Click here to read #3 on the list!
Worst Comic Books of 2017 - #1
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #1 picks for Worst of 2017.
Click here to read #2 on the list!
Click here to read #3 on the list!
Worst Comic Books of 2017 - #2
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #2 picks for Worst of 2017.
Click here to read #3 on the list!
Best Comic Books of 2017 - #3
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #3 picks for Best of 2017.
Worst Comic Books of 2017 - #3
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #3 picks for Worst of 2017.
Best Comic Books of 2017 - #4
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #4 picks for Best of 2017.
Worst Comic Books of 2017 - #4
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #4 picks for Worst of 2017.
Best Comic Books of 2017 - #5
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #5 picks for Best of 2017.
Worst Comic Books of 2017 - #5
Welcome to the Comic Bastards end of the year list. Similar to our group reviews, each of the participating writers will be giving their picks for their best and also worst comics of 2017. Without further ado, here are our #5 picks for Worst of 2017.
Review: Pussycats – Foxglove #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Pussycats – Foxglove #1 is the first issue of a planned 2 issue miniseries. It is, as far as I can tell, a part of e-comix’s Pussycats series, which appear to be cheap titillation with what might be the most unappealing covers around. Using a photo of a “sexy model” for your covers feels like a spectacularly regressive approach to comics marketing. So, is the interior of Foxglove #1 any better than you might expect from this?
Review: Penumbra #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Johnathan Lewis and Chalk Yeso’s Penumbra #1 feels like a bizarre throwback. Everything about it feels oddly familiar, but not in any particularly positive way.
This is a story about a lady secret agent with an inexplicably constantly-changing costume. There isn’t very much plot, and what there is, is as simple as “she has to steal a thing.” There’s not much going on in this at all, and none of it is outstanding and interesting. This is, to put it bluntly, a very bland comic. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth talking about at all, just that there is nothing exceptional about it.
Review: Red Echo #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Red Echo #1, written and drawn by E.S. Brophy, is a sci-fi action book with some pretty great cybernetic panthers and a lot of guns. It’s almost entirely action, with very little breathing space for the characters.
Brophy’s cover is genuinely lovely. It’s a striking red, white and black image reminiscent of David Aja’s cover work, which can never be a bad thing. Genuinely very eye-catching, it immediately makes the book look intriguing and different.
Review: Whisper Wilds #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Whisper Wilds #1, currently funding (very successfully) on Kickstarter, is the brainchild of Brent Nelson and Emanuele Arnaldi. It’s the story of a woman and her dinosaur-like partner attempting to prevent monsters from escaping an extra-dimensional wasteland and slipping into 1940s Australia. If that sounds like a weird premise, don’t worry! It’s very well-handled, and the end result is far more delightful than the simple plot and concept summary might indicate.
Review: Clonsters #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Clonsters #1, written by Amy and Pat Shand and illustrated by Vanessa Cardinali, is an odd creation. The title is short for Clay Monsters, and the book itself is based on the clay creatures made by Amy Shand, creator of the concept. A comic based on somebody’s Etsy store is not something I ever expected to read, but this is one that clearly has an enormous amount of affection put into it.
Review: Blood of Gods #1
By Oliver Gerlach
Blood of Gods #1, by Erick Dominguez and Jake Bilbao, is a big loud fantasy comic about a world where demigods (or, in this case, “divine breed”) walk the earth and have magical powers. It’s got swords and dragons and large muscular bearded men who yell a lot. So far, so generic fantasy.
Review: Stain the Seas Scarlet
By Oliver Gerlach
Ryan K Lindsay and Alex Cormack’s Stain the Seas Scarlet, coming soon to Kickstarter, is an efficient 22 page oneshot tale of space resistance and revenge. It’s nice to see something so self-contained and confident in its brevity, and for the most part everything attempted here is handled deftly.
Review: The Ghost Butterfly
By Oliver Gerlach
The Ghost Butterfly is the latest project from Rick Quinn, the writer of the beautiful and highly enjoyable Saltwater. This is a completely different project, but one with a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses as Saltwater; Quinn seems to have a very well-defined style, and whether or not it works is up to the reader.
Review: Audrey’s Magic Nine vol. 1
By Oliver Gerlach
Audrey’s Magic Nine is a charming all-ages fantasy adventure that’s genuinely worth checking out for anyone, adults and children alike. It’s clearly targeted at kids, but there’s a lot of excellent craft and endearing adventure in here for adults too.
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