Review: Karate Prom
Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Karate Prom

By Dustin Cabeal

Having been a fan of Kyle Stark since Sex Castle an original graphic novel published by Image Comics; I have loosely followed about anything Kyle Starks has made. Style and humor are something that resonates with me as a reader and the places Starks takes stories to be original, interesting, and always very humorous. It is hard to find consistent writers in comics that are funny and that produce consistently funny works. That is not to say that they can never do anything other than comedic writing, but finding someone who is willing and does produce consistently funny things is a creative catch. It is something that makes you want to follow that creator more.

Seeing the words “karate” and “prom,” by Kyle Starks instantly filled me with anticipation and joy for this new graphic novel, from First Second. At its core it is shooting for a younger audience. This is not a book that is necessarily reaching out and grabbing 40-year-olds and saying read me you will find infinite amount of humor and relatable references. Instead, it is more of a story/graphic novel for tweens and teenagers. Young readers. That is the prime demographic of First Second.

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Review: Rock Candy Mountain #5
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Rock Candy Mountain #5

By Daniel Vlasaty

Rock Candy Mountain has been one of my favorite books of the year. In it, Kyle Starks has created a world that is weird and full of history and life – and hobos, bums, tramps, and Satan. He’s decided to focus the attention of the book on a population and community that is never really looked at favorably, either in fiction or in the real world. I don’t really know where I’m going with this, other than to say Rock Candy Mountain with issue #5 is back, my dudes, and I am super freaking excited about that.

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Review: Kill Them All
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Kill Them All

By Daniel Vlasaty

Kyle Starks is the best thing ever! And he has a new book out and it is called Kill Them All. I have basically loved everything he has done since I first read Sexcastle a few years back. Kyle Starks' books are silly and weird and totally fucking intense. And Kill Them All is no different. This book is great. It is everything I have come to love from both Kyle Starks and the medium of comic books in general. 

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Review: Dead of Winter #1
Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards

Review: Dead of Winter #1

By Jonathan Edwards

Apparently, this is based on a tabletop game. I mention this first because I didn't realize that when I initially signed up for Dead of Winter #1, and finally learning it is what made some things make more sense. Well, one thing made more sense: the title. Because, while the book does technically take place in Winter, it doesn't really drive home the whole "endless Winter" thing that's supposed to be accompanying the zombie apocalypse. In fact, I only know that that's supposed to be a thing because I read the plot synopsis inside the front cover. Seriously, I can't remember a single point where anyone even made a passing reference to it being anything other than a normal old Winter. Furthermore, there's not really anything showing why the Winter makes this scenario particularly more problematic than any other zombie apocalypse. Sure, we can infer that it's really cold, and that probably sucks. But, wouldn't reduced temperatures also negatively impact the zombies as well? For example, literally freezing them if and when it gets cold enough? That seems like a pretty even break to me in the grand scheme of things. Anyway, my point is, I presume the Winter setting plays a bigger part as a mechanic in the tabletop game, and since this is an adaptation, I have no further issues with the title. The issue itself on the other hand...   

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Review: Rock Candy Mountain #4
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Rock Candy Mountain #4

By Daniel Vlasaty

I know what you’re thinking. Here’s me giving Kyle Starks a verbal blowjob in the form of another glowing review for a book I clearly love that is super fucking awesome and blah blah blah. Okay. Well here it is. I guess. I don’t know. But Rock Candy Mountain #4 is out and it’s the last issue in the first story arc. And, yes, I’ll just come out and say it. It’s great, like the rest of the issues. And here is my review of it.

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Review: Rock Candy Mountain #3
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Rock Candy Mountain #3

By Daniel Vlasaty

Living in Chicago, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with hobos. (Although, by Kyle Starks’s definition they would technically be bums, since they neither work nor travel). I’ve worked in social services for years, specifically in the treatment of substance abuse, and I’ve even come to know some hobos, or bums, or tramps, or whatever the hell you want to call them. (I just call them people, but that’s besides the point). I’ve helped them get sober, and get jobs, and get housing. And while I think that is important work, it is in no way as fun or funny or amazing as Rock Candy Mountain. But this isn’t a book about homeless junkies that frequent one of Chicago’s many methadone clinics. It’s a book about hobos riding the rails and running from the devil and looking for a mythological Rock Candy Mountain. And this is my review of the third issue, I guess.

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Review: Rock Candy Mountain #2
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Rock Candy Mountain #2

By Daniel Vlasaty

Rock Candy Mountain is back in all it’s awesome punch diarrhea goodness. Issue #2 takes us back into the hobo camps and rail cars with our boys, Jackson and Slim. They are still making their way to the mythical Rock Candy Mountain, and really, Slim is realizing that he is in over his head out in the world like this. He doesn’t understand hobo-speak, he’s traveling with a man who is probably a little crazy. And there’s still the thing with Satan, whatever it is. I’m going to get this out of the way early on in my review so I can forgo all formalities. I loved this issue. I loved the first issue too. Rock Mountain Candy is great and fun and I just love it.

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Review: Rock Candy Mountain #1
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Rock Candy Mountain #1

By Daniel Vlasaty

I know of Kyle Stark through his amazing and ridiculous and fantastic Sexcastle. That book hit me out of nowhere. I had never even heard of it until I saw it on the shelf in the shop I was working in at the time. Just seeing the title on the spine, I knew I was buying that thing immediately. And I finished it in like an hour. It was so good. An homage to all the so-bad-they’re-actually-kind-of-good action/comedy movies of the 80s. I loved it. Anyway, what I mean to say is that Kyle Starks has a new book! And this is my review of the first issue!

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