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

Review: Go West #1

By Dustin Cabeal

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

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

Review: Batman #39

By Cat Wyatt

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

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

Review: Days of Hate #1

By Ben Snyder

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

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

Review: Green Lanterns #39

By Cat Wyatt

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

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

Review: Assassinistas #2

By Kelly Gaines

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

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

Review: Belle #1

By Dustin Cabeal

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

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

Review: Dark Fang #3

By Cat Wyatt

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

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

Review: Damage #1

By Dustin Cabeal

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

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

Comic Bastards Podcast - 026

By Dustin Cabeal

Click to listen!

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

Titles covered in this episode:

James Bond: The Body #1
Damage #1
Go West #1
Belle #1
Ice Cream Man #1
Children of the Whales vol. 1

Press Release 1/16/18 Press Release 1/16/18

Return to Earth! Matt Kindt & Ariel Olivetti Begin a New Era in X-O MANOWAR #14

Press Release

Valiant is proud to announce X-O MANOWAR (2017) #14 – a STAGGERING STANDALONE MILESTONE and ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT that will return Aric of Dacia to his home world after a year of cosmic conquest...and finally answer the monumental questions that have shadowed Earth's most powerful hero at every turn! On April 25th, the heart-wrenching revelation at the center of New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt's relentless sci-fi epic will be laid bare, as veteran artist Ariel Olivetti (Incredible Hulk) comes aboard for a blockbuster finale to X-O Manowar's blistering first year...and a new chapter begins as HARBINGER WARS 2 looms beyond the horizon!

Press Release 1/16/18 Press Release 1/16/18

Junior Library Guild 2018 Selection ‘Archival Quality’ Coming This March

Press Release

Former librarians and members of The Valkyries, Ivy Noelle Weir and Christina “Steenz” Stewart, have joined forces to create their debut Oni Press graphic novel, Archival Quality, which was recently named a Junior Library Guild selection.

Press Release 1/16/18 Press Release 1/16/18

Dark Horse Proud to Release “Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander” in April 2018

Press Release

Dark Horse is proud to reveal art from Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander, the highly anticipated companion to Frank Miller’s award-winning series 300. Comics legend Frank Miller, creator of Sin City and 300, writes and draws this sprawling historical epic, twenty years in the making. Alex Sinclair, the colorist for Miller's Dark Knight III: The Master Race, provides his stunning colors to Miller’s latest comics conquest.

Smrithi S 1/15/18 Smrithi S 1/15/18

Review: Any One of Us #1

By Thea Srinivasan

The amount of internal dialogue in this comic makes me want to burst into tears of happiness. “Any One of Us” by Killian McKellen and Nikita Vasilchuk is a piece that’s got enough art, mystery, and bloodthirstiness to make me satisfied for the next three months. There really isn’t much to say about this piece. Rather, it’s more about the growth of one character only compared to one character interacting with several others. Unfortunately, this story is violent enough that anyone under the age of 13 SHOULD NOT read this book without the consent of a legal guardian. So for any young readers, ask your elders for permission before reading this book.

Press Release 1/15/18 Press Release 1/15/18

Silver Sprocket Announces 12 New Titles in Full Spring/Summer '18 Lineup

Press Release

Silver Sprocket kicked off the new year by announcing their complete publishing slate for the spring and summer of 2018. The twelve title lineup includes projects from Carolyn Nowack (Lumberjanes), Tom Neely (Image Comics’ The Humans), Ben Passmore (Your Black Friend), Rachel Dukes (Steven Universe) and many more.

Smrithi S 1/15/18 Smrithi S 1/15/18

Review: The Resurrected #1

By Thea Srinivasan

Clean, crisp and quiet. The three words that I use, to sum up, “The Resurrected” by Christian Carnouche. The tale is compacted into 24 pages and unfortunately does not give everything to be classified as a “book.” Instead, I consider this beginning to be chapter one of a potential long-standing sci-fi thriller that just makes you want to keep exploring the creator’s mind. But in any case, I’m glad the author let his imagination create an alternative future that wasn’t globally post-apocalyptic nor was entirely technologically realistic. The way Carnouche created his world reminded me of a combination between “The Fifth Element” and “Ben 10” with the use of futuristic and sci-fi elements. But I must digress in the fact that the story does live it up to the three words.

Press Release 1/13/18 Press Release 1/13/18

Steve Orlando and Garry Brown team up for CRUDE

Press Release

GLAAD Media Award-nominated writer Steve Orlando (VIRGIL, Midnighter) and acclaimed artist Garry Brown (BLACK ROAD) will launch the gritty revenge thriller CRUDE this April from Image Comics/Skybound Entertainment.

Killers once feared Piotr Petrovich. Now, they’ve sent his son home to him—in a body bag.

Press Release 1/13/18 Press Release 1/13/18

WWE & BOOM! Studios Announce Wrestlemania 2018!

Press Release

BOOM! Studios and WWE today announced WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2018 SPECIAL #1, celebrating WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza. This oversized one-shot features WWE Superstars John Cena, The Miz, Jeff Hardy and more, including the untold story of the legendary WrestleMania III match between “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat! Writers Ryan Ferrier (Kong on The Planet of The Apes), Tini Howard (Assasinistas), Lan Pitts (WWE) and Julian May (WWE Survivor Series 2017 Special) are joined by artists Kendall Goode (Maze Runner: The Death Cure) and Rodrigo Lorenzo (WWE) for the biggest WWE comic of the season!

Press Release 1/13/18 Press Release 1/13/18

MAZINGER Z: INFINITY Anime Theatrical Premiere Happens NEXT Month At 450 Theatres

Press Release

Toei Animation Inc. and VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing have jointly announced the acquisition of the MAZINGER Z: INFINITY feature film.

MAZINGER Z is one of Japan’s most revered sci-fi properties. The new film, which was produced by Toei Animation, takes place ten years after the conclusion of the famed Mazinger Z TV series. VIZ Media has secured the theatrical, broadcast, digital streaming, EST, and home video rights for the U.S. and Canada from Toei Animation.

Dustin Cabeal 1/13/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/13/18

John Ridley Explores The Other History of the DC Universe in New Prestige Comic Book Mini-Series

Press Release

Today, DC announces Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Let It Fall) will examine the DC mythology with a compelling new literary comics miniseries, THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE. The story will analyze iconic DC moments and chart sociopolitical gains through the perspectives of DC Super Heroes who come from traditionally disenfranchised groups, including John Stewart, Extraño, Vixen, Supergirl, Katana and Rene Montoya among others. At its core, the series focuses on the lives of those behind the costumes, and their endeavors to overcome real-world issues.

Erika Suarez 1/13/18 Erika Suarez 1/13/18

Review: Dragon Ball Super E.121-122

By Erika Suarez

After a few disappointing episodes, it finally led to some to great ones that we’ve been waiting for. Episode 121 gives a perfect set up for the showdown between the last remaining universes, 7 and 11. Universe 3 releases their trump card that was surprisingly acceptable and a worthwhile fight against universe 7’s warriors. For the latest episode, Vegeta intervenes in Goku’s fight between Jiren and delivers some intense Saiyan action that leaves us on the edge.