Hunter Patrick 5/30/18 Hunter Patrick 5/30/18

Review: The Edge Off

By Hunter T. Patrick

Just how a one-shot should be. In a very simplified premise to this comic, a ‘fixer’’ has his daughter kidnapped, and he tries to save her. For a living, he does dangerous, obviously illegal work for his higher-ups and once his daughter has gotten involved, he decides to spring into a very violent persona to make sure no matter what he can get her back. The premise is one that has been shown before, and as has the huge twist of an ending. Luckily both are extremely strong and worth the huge ride showed here. If somehow spoilers are presented to you, avoid them. The ending is well earned. This is a one-shot that takes the short length of a comic book and has so much on this issue that is neither too much or too little. It is beyond just right.

Hunter Patrick 5/23/18 Hunter Patrick 5/23/18

Review: Rugrats #8

By Hunter T. Patrick

Those dumb babies. Rugrats #8 is a comic that continues to feature independent stories in each issue, resembling the classic cartoon series. This issue has a plot about Angelica wanting money for a Cynthia video game. To make the money she uses Phil and Lil’s abilities to make the grossest, ickiest mud pies around to sell for the pretty high price of a quarter. Angelica just wants all the quarters while the twins just want the highest quality of mud possible for their pies. Chaos ensues. This is indeed classic Rugrats.

Hunter Patrick 5/23/18 Hunter Patrick 5/23/18

Review: Vampironica #2

By Hunter T. Patrick

Archie horror is an imprint that is known for some of the highest quality in comics… believe it or not. Jughead: The Hunger is a cool concept, and the execution leaves some to be desired. Does Vampironica live up to the other two Archie titles? Nearly impossible not. Does it deserve to be in Archie Horror? Absolutely. Vampironica has been such a strong title thus far in art, plotting, writing, and fun. The thing that most makes it belong to Archie horror is the delays, which will be minor compared to the other titles (Jughead: The Hunger wins in being on schedule). Archie Horror has some of, if not the best horror comics I have ever read, and Vampironica is on there.

Hunter Patrick 5/18/18 Hunter Patrick 5/18/18

Review: Deadpool 2

By Hunter T. Patrick

The biggest question asked is how this movie compares to the first. The first Deadpool was phenomenal and was a thing of beauty of the cinematography and wonderful directing. From the opening moments of Deadpool 2 did I feel this isn’t better, but worse. That thought did not last long as after a few minutes in full of jokes and typical Deadpool fun did the movie take a huge turn right before the opening credits. The first Deadpool lacked something I felt that defines the character, and after that scene in Deadpool 2, I knew they cracked what makes Deadpool Deadpool. Deadpool 1 is a phenomenal movie, but in comparison, Deadpool 2 is a phenomenal Deadpool movie. Deadpool 1 is better, but Deadpool 2 is better for the character and that makes it special.

Hunter Patrick 5/16/18 Hunter Patrick 5/16/18

Review: Justice League: No Justice #2

By Hunter T. Patrick

The biggest thing I was looking forward to about the series (and what fascinated me the most) was the unique team-ups. Issue one spent the whole time setting everything up, and we got to see all the heroes (and villains) together. Awesome enough. Halfway through the issue did we finally get to see the characters split up and form the teams we have been promised. The series is finally underway, and just like the DC Nation story, it is very chaotic to see these groups.

Hunter Patrick 5/16/18 Hunter Patrick 5/16/18

Review: Garfield: Vacation Time Blues #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

Let’s start this review with the conclusion. Do not buy this comic. Price should not be a factor in most reviews, but if you are reading this and wondering, it is not worth the 7.99 price point. For the length it is (double sized comic) it should be 5.99 max, yet it is not. It contains two stories, the first average, the second poor. Garfield is a character who typically works best in small doses and one-liner (comic strips), not a comic of this size. They can only do the same jokes so many times. There are some good jokes in there, but those are few in between.

Hunter Patrick 5/16/18 Hunter Patrick 5/16/18

Review: Harley Loves Joker #2

By Hunter T. Patrick

For a comic that is meant to be cartoony, this hits hard. Some themes lightly touched upon in the past installments are at full play here. This is a wonderful celebration of Harley in the time she was dating Joker. Her past, present (at the time) and future (current Harley) all appear and helps make this a must-read for Harley fans. This finishes off very strongly which is a delight after the last issue focus too much on The Grison, a weird Cheetah rip off. If she was not so physically resembling Cheetah and if her somewhat interesting origin did not weigh down the last issue, then maybe she could live on, but I struggle to see this character return, except in maybe a cameo or a one-off return then disappearance.

Hunter Patrick 5/16/18 Hunter Patrick 5/16/18

Review: The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman #4

By Hunter T. Patrick

Wonder Woman is probably one of the most overlooked characters in comics. As the greatest female superhero hands down (sorry Gwenpool) she is rarely spoken of in the same way as Batman or Superman are. The movie helped Wonder Woman in being a character who deserves the spotlight. I am guilty of always overlooking Wonder Woman, but it is hard not to when Superman and Batman have so many adaptions between them, and even Iron Man has more than Wondy. People can even name more quotes from Groot then Wonder Woman. I began to appreciate Wonder Woman thanks to her epic rebirth run, and Liam Sharp has helped tremendously for my love for Diana.

Hunter Patrick 5/11/18 Hunter Patrick 5/11/18

Review: Angelic vol. 1

By Hunter T. Patrick

Never judge a book by its cover. I read this going off of how wonderful the cover was. After reading, I had one word I could not wait to type. Finally. I finally finished this godawful book. The art looks cool, and it is not the best. The story is intriguing enough. The writing was groan-inducing. The dialogue is from animals such as monkey, so you would expect monkeys to say all this, but it went overboard, and I had to endure the word ‘poop’ about twice every other page. The easy part of this review is what went wrong, so let me state what worked first.

Hunter Patrick 5/10/18 Hunter Patrick 5/10/18

Review: Proxima Centauri #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

First and foremost, this artwork is great… Okay great is an understatement, it is phenomenal. This is a book where there is no need to buy this for the writing, but just to look at all the very unique art. It looks straight out of a children’s book, but with a more mature tone. The artwork fits the story and setting perfectly with a more fantasy book with issues of childhood. I am not familiar with the creator (Farel Dalrymple), and I hope this book has the creator be more well known in the comic community after this.

Hunter Patrick 5/10/18 Hunter Patrick 5/10/18

Review: The Couch #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

The Couch is something special to me as it is my very first truly Indie comic ever read. When I came aboard Comic Bastards, this comics name kept attracting me, and I finally decided to try this title. I am very glad I did. There are several things that make this issue work, and the first is diversity. Diversity is an interesting word and in comics is controversial when looking at mainstream books. You cannot help but notice how white everyone is, and there has been a lot of times (especially in recent years) where white characters are replaced by minorities. Neither makes everyone happy as when everyone is white is was natural for the time, but not anymore, and when a white character is forced out for diversity, there is nothing natural about it. This book firmly places diversity in a natural way, not everyone is coincidently white, or coincidently not-white. It seemed like a minor background thing, and whether on purpose or not, the diversity that was included felt natural right from the first issue.

Hunter Patrick 5/9/18 Hunter Patrick 5/9/18

Review: The Flash #46

By Hunter T. Patrick

Flash War has not even started yet, and because of this issue my current favorite Flash arc of this run (Button fallowed by Running Scared) might soon be getting replaced. This issue made me giddier than most all the issues of The Flash thus far. It felt like getting a wish list for everything wanted in a story and seeing it all come true and working as well as it does. Joshua Williamson’s Flash has always seemed to be a somewhat average comic with such greatness ready to spring out, and now it has and makes me eager for what is coming next.

Hunter Patrick 5/9/18 Hunter Patrick 5/9/18

Review: Detective Comics #980

By Hunter T. Patrick

Welcome to the penultimate issue of Tynion IV’s Detective Comics run. Has it been incredible? Eh. Has it been bad? Eh. Now we are ending this run the only way this run knows how with an eh. The problem with the run that also is a huge problem with this issue is that there are so many great characters at play, but not enough time to see them do anything but be in the middle of the action. Like most issues, this is another one jam-packed with action. It refuses to take a breather as we go from scene to scene, its a wonder how this run of twice monthly, two-year comic run is supposed to wrap this arc up in the next issue. If it can be pulled off, then I salute Tynion, but as of this issue, I feel any ending would be way too rushed.

Hunter Patrick 5/4/18 Hunter Patrick 5/4/18

Review: Archie vol. 5

By Hunter T. Patrick

Following the fallout of the last Archie story arc, Archie #23-27 deals directly with the percussions of “Over the Edge”. Mark Waid began his run stronger, and it seemed that the last arc was the best, now (re)reading all the issues in here does this prove that his run keeps getting better and better. Being a huge Riverdale fan, and a proud fan of the current Archie comics (from New Riverdale to Archie Horror), this is a great example why everyone should be proud to collect and follow everyone’s favorite redhead (take that Ron Weasley).

Hunter Patrick 5/2/18 Hunter Patrick 5/2/18

Review: Sex Criminals #24

By Hunter T. Patrick

For Sex Criminals, as for all comics, you should always give credit for everyone involved, at least for the writer and the artist, not just one (unless this person is freakishly talented, lucky S.O.B). Fraction and Zdarsky’s compliments for one another are astonishing. Issue 24 does not have many hidden background jokes (at first inspection) like the other comics, but man does that opening scene look great as the artwork always does. The writing and art from the first few pages might be some of my favorite for this entire arc. It is nice, quiet, insightful, and surprisingly not too sexual. Darn.

Hunter Patrick 5/2/18 Hunter Patrick 5/2/18

Review: Harley Loves Joker #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

After binge reading the Harley Loves Joker backup stories in Harley Quinn’s solo title did I feel sufficiently prepared for this. I figured those were optional, but they most definitely were not optional to understand as this issue takes very little time catching people up after roughly a year since these backups were released. No holding back (except for the quick recap as stated) makes this issue all the stronger for it. Things ended with a cliffhanger, and this feels identical to the backups, just in a full-length format now. Seeing this as a two-issue miniseries as marketed is wrong, this issue is a full epilogue/continuation to the story previously as it should be.

Hunter Patrick 5/2/18 Hunter Patrick 5/2/18

Review: Oz - The Wizard #1

By Hunter T. Patrick

[Insert overused Wizard of Oz quote in a slightly new way here]. Being a really big fan of the Wizard of Oz movie was I excited to read this, not realizing that this is a continuation of a previous story. Do not worry, this issue sums everything up in the first few pages where you do not need any background. If you desperately want to know more and if you have not read anything else, please go on and google image Zenescope Oz like I did and enjoy all the comic cleavage anyone could possibly want for a character originally younger than 18, but do not worry, I am assuming this version of the character is at least 18.

Hunter Patrick 5/2/18 Hunter Patrick 5/2/18

Review: DC Nation #0

By Hunter T. Patrick

Finally. This is a word to describe the first story in DC’s anthology sampler in time for free comic book day. The trouble with this book though is it is a luxury item if you try to get it during free comic book day as it is the very large cost of 25 cents. Is it worth it? Beyond a doubt. If this review factored in price, then this will easily be a perfect score. This review does not, and instead will look at all three stories and grade them individually before the big reveal for the score of this issue!! (spoiler this issue is a 4/5).

Hunter Patrick 4/28/18 Hunter Patrick 4/28/18

Review: Avengers: Infinity War

By Hunter T. Patrick

This review For Avengers: Infinity War contains minimal spoilers if you do not want to find out that Batman saves the day at the end of this movie then read another review or see the movie.

Ten years in the making indeed. The 19th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally been released. No one would have ever thought the first Avengers movie would ever be made, or even succeed. Avengers brings together six superheroes, four with their own franchise, all for an epic movie. Infinity War’s marketing campaign mentions how there are 23 heroes in this movie. Is that a little too much? Some will say yes. Luckily the movie manages them all with ease (but do not expect all of them to play an equal role).

Hunter Patrick 4/26/18 Hunter Patrick 4/26/18

Review: The Flash #45

By Hunter T. Patrick

Perfect Storm is over. The last several issues which all seemed to tie up several elements of Williamson’s story has ended. We all know it is leading up to the epic Flash War. This issue is all about lead up, nothing epic about it. Flash War still has yet to start, and Perfect Storm ended so now we are dealing with the aftermath as we catch up with a few characters. One character, in particular, is mainly there just to lead into yet another title (for more information, instead of getting the review promised here, go see Teen Titans Special #1 in June). This is comics, and there are several lead-ins to various other lead-ins. That’s fine, but this is all this issue is. If it was a chessboard, it is just moving pawns up a spot or two. Luckily the later the issue goes we see a tiny bit more stuff happen, inevitable stuff, but still really glad for it too.