The Marvel Cinematic Universe has mastered the art of storytelling. Granted, most of it has been culled from decades of creators expanding this vast universe in comics. This doesn’t take away from what they created on the screen within the dozens of movies that have already captured the public’s imagination. The films have molded these characters into what the world now considers the standard template of the superhero.

One of the heroes that has been introduced within these live-action films is Thor. His comics have been some of the best to come from the House of Ideas and the movies show why. In Thor: Ragnarok, Odin is dying, and in a bittersweet moment, gives a solemn goodbye. In Acursian Chapter 9, one matron looks for serenity in her last moments much like Odin.

We find Ceillech’s mother, slowly fading away, and looking for her husband before it is too late. We also catch up with Charlie and Corra in Hoover’s America, where everything is not what it used to be and Nate has been captured by the authorities. They soon are reunited and we find out Nate is not exactly who he seems to be. By the issue’s end, we find out Bregon might bring about the end of the Isle of Shadows by killing his parents.

Overall, Acursian Chapter 9 is a brilliant entry that gives the reader a closer view of the stakes. The story by John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis is satisfying. The art by the creative team is amazing. Altogether, it’s a story that delivers the readers the buy-in they need.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

As a fan Of Back to the Future movies, I definitely have my favorite ones. Each of the movies had its own appeal and its memorable scenes. Each of them shows the range of each actor in the ensemble. The darkest of three movies to me was Back To The Future II.

That movie showed the dark consequences of changing just one thing from the past, the “butterfly effect”. The things Marty McFly did at the beginning of the second movie causes a ripple effect through the timeline. Good intentions sometimes have dire penalties. In Acursian Chapter 8, Charlie finds out how dagger changes the direction of life much as Marty did.

We find Charlie now on the run, as every magical being in the vicinity is hunting him down. As we soon find out that when they lost the dagger that America became a totalitarian government, becoming completely unrecognizable to Charlie and his friends, causing them to hide until the morning in a basement, where they figure out the next steps. By issue’s end, Charlie finds out his family’s dark secrets through a memory recall by one of the witches, and possible fatality changes the stakes.

Overall, Acursian Chapter 8 is an excellent entry that finally tells the whole story. The story by John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis is rewarding. The art by the creative team is dazzling. Altogether, a story which gives readers the parts of the story that has alluded them.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and  Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

As a fan of Back to the Future, I’ve watched the trilogy way too many times. It’s one of those films that still stands up to time. Michael J Fox is at his best while Christopher Lloyd shines. Director Robert Zemeckis also solidifies his position as a visual storyteller with the films.

As the movies became a staple of modern American cinema, they also became an earmark in popular culture. What I enjoyed about the movies was how it was written for everyone to watch without saying outright that it was made for the family. I also enjoyed how it insisted on real-world stakes if one thing changes. In Acursian Chapter 7, Charlie finds out the hard way just how much things changed when a certain chess piece is moved.

We find Charlie dealing with the fallout of Jock’s death, as he loses the dagger of time in the process. We are also taken back in time to see how the dagger gained it power where one Scottish ruler uses it in a Blood oath to ensure his victory on the battlefield. Charlie is told of how the loss of the dagger may mean the difference between life and death. By the issue’s end, we find exactly how it has changed his life by the loss of it, realizing now he has made a colossal mistake.

Overal, Acursian Chapter 7 is an immense entry that has our heroes with their back to the wall. The story by John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis is gratifying. The art by the creative team is stunning. Altogether, a story that shows our heroes as they suffer their first great loss.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art:9.0 Overall:9.0 Recommendation: Buy

There is always that point of the story where everything changes. Most writers call it the “turning point”, where life is is no longer as simple for the characters. This is where usually things get more interesting. Sometimes it can be dangerous. Usually, that includes what writers call a “catalyst”.

These catalysts are often disturbances that no one saw coming and most of the time don’t want to be there. Sometimes they get there in the nick of time, often saving our protagonist. Either way, their entrance is always interesting. In Acursian Chapter 6, a certain progenitor helps our protagonist find his way

Alison shows up with his son right about the time Corra arrives, leading to more confusion between the couple as Charlie tries told on to what is left of his family. We also find Jock, stabbed by the same dagger he stole all those years ago, which the only thing is keeping him alive. We find out how Bregon broke from his sisters and how Jock got hold of the dagger in the first place. By the issue’s end, a skirmish between Charlie and Steve over the dagger changes events in ways they don’t even know how bad.

Overall, Acursian Chapter 6 is a great entry that gives a bunch of twists and turns. The story by John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis is satisfying. The art by the creative team is dazzling. Altogether, an issue that pushes the foot on the accelerator for the story.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

There is something so interesting about omens. As most people who think logically cannot fathom the existence of anything that does not belong to the natural world. This is most interesting when you take into account, most people believe in a religion also. As scientists dismiss most myths are fairytales. The truth is, most myths are based on facts, with some skewed details.

As we usually believe most myths until cynicism enters our thought process as adults. So when I started to research some famous myths, the stories behind them made them even more rapturous. As sometimes the reason for the myth provides a more fascinating story than what is told. In Acursian Chapter 5, the reader finds out exactly how Jock ends up as the titleholder

We’re taken back to 1746 Scotland, where Prince Bregon is trying to usurp his sisters, who just happens to be the three witches, from taking back the crown. We soon find out how the witches hid their source of power away from Bregon but had an unknown observer. We also find how Jock became as wealthy as he and Charlie are. By the issue’s end, it’s up to Charlie to set things straight.

Overall, Acursian Chapter 5 entertains. The story by John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis is pleasurable. The art by Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards is bright. Altogether, a story that gives the reader some very much needed context.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

50 Cent is one of those actors who has translated his music career into a profitable career as a TV producer. Many rappers go the route of actor instead. Method Man carved a very nice recurring role in The Wire when it was on. Common had an even more successful run in Hell On Wheels. 50 Cent even had his own turn as an actor on a movie based on his own life.

He really came into his own in the creation of Power, a show he helped create and would eventually star in. He has had his hand in a few other shows but his most prominent after the Power franchise was For Life. The show was about the true story of a man who was wrongfully imprisoned and how he fought to get out. In Acursian Chapter 4, Charlie has been wrongly imprisoned and we find out why everything was set in motion so that would be.

We find Charlie in processing into county lockup and on the phone trying t convince Allison that he did not do what he has been accused of. We are also taken to the Isle Of Shadows, where a young prince sits imprisoned and he just has been informed that Jock has found the dagger. Nate eventually bails out Charlie but not before being visited by someone looking for Jock. By the chapter’s end, we start to see just how the prince became imprisoned.

Overall, an excellent episode that adds another protagonist. The story by the creative team is fun. The art by the creative team is incandescent. Altogether, a chapter which adds another storyline, one that upends the stakes.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, and Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and  Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

In the movies when characters conspire against either the protagonist or antagonist, it is something to watch. Avengers: Endgame gave a satisfying if not tear heavy end to this chapter of the MCU. We found our heroes defeating Thanos in what had to feel like a thousand actors on one set. It would move most people to defeat someone who was both evil and tragic.

Then are those stories where the protagonist gets attacked from all corners. Like in the recently concluded Sticks and Stones, which revolves around workplace racist harassment. The story gave a sobering if not painful look at how being “black” can also be seen as otherism. In the third issue of Acursian Chapter 3, John gets strategically attacked much like Thomas in Sticks and Stones.

We find Charlie starting to realize the birds following him are the witches, but before he can fully put it together, they distract him by inducing a childhood memory which causes him to cry. They would eventually follow him and his father, who is now a baby because of them, and unleash the rest of the curse, which means certain doom for him. Then the police discover some illegal activities the day before his court case. By Acursian Chapter 3‘s end, the witches have left his life in ruins, unleashing this ancient knell of doom.

Overall, Acursian Chapter 3 is an excellent chapter that propels the story along. The story by the creative team is action-packed The art by the creative team is luminous. Altogether, a story that doesn’t let up on what makes this story so great.

Story: John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman, Erika Lewis Art: Beni Lobel and Tommy Lee Edwards
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy