Tag Archives: comichaus

Review: Comichaus #6

Posted on by

I remember the very first time I picked up Epic Illustrated and how cool I thought it was. My Dad did not want me to read Heavy Metal magazine, because he thought it was crazy like the movie, and looking back he was right to some respect. This is where I first read Silver Surfer before he went on his galaxy trotting adventures in the Marvel Universe. He was a completely different character then, a much more serious figure that felt more like X-O Manowar of Valiant Universe, than his current incarnation.

There was something beautiful about how all thee creators brought their A game, and wrote stories like they had nothing to lose at the same time. In the sixth issue of their anthology, each creator reminds me of those writers/illustrators in Epic Illustrated, as thy thrive to write stories to evoke emotion. In the new installment, of Chalk, we get to see Jacqueline utilizing her full powers and up to no good, kind of like in the TV show, Angel, when he was Angelus. In the latest installment of Feather, Doug makes a promise to Sally, as each finds peace in their purpose and their eternal separation.

In Mandy the Monster Hunter, we get to see Mandy in action, as her training and instincts kick in full gear, as she destroys one monsters and recruit help to fight another. In MIA, a new story, a pair of hired guns, breakup an arms deal, which goes sideways quickly. In Cold, as our couple struggles to find a way out, the spirits within, leave a scary surprise, one that leaves them scarred. In Tipples I Time, a family gets transported back in time to the Old West but gets a little more, not only cowboys but also giant aliens.

Overall, all the new stories introduced has made this anthology series more than one to watch. The stories contained within, continue to get better. The art makes black and white panels look beautiful. Altogether, a great issue, where the reader finds a new reason to buy the next issue.

Story: Steven Horry, Dave Cook, Matt Warner, Chris Robertson, Simon Birks, Jimmy Furlong
Art: Catia Fantini, Norrie Millar, Ed Bickford, Vincent Hunt, Richard MacRae, Lyndon White, Andrew Hartmann
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Comichaus #5

Posted on by

When it comes to creating something new, creators have hard time letting go of their influences completely. Most cannot, as this is the very reason they get into comic books in the first place, as what they enjoy is usually what they write/draw. So, to ask a creator to be completely free of their inspirations, is truly impossible. The creators at ComicHaus, have created some powerful evocative stories, that only get better with each issue.

These creators, prove to the reader, that they can be challenged on a range of emotions. In the fifth issue of their anthology, three new stories begin, while the others propel forward. In the new installment, of Chalk, Jacqueline’s promise years ago comes back to find her in a precocious position. In the latest installment of Feather, Doug finds himself in between who he has become and saving his family who is part of the resistance against the Paradiso army, an army of angels.

In Mandy the Monster Hunter, a new story, we meet a strong female protagonist, who follows clues to recent sighting only to meet the couple who reported it. In Troubleshooters, our heroes try to reason with Sergio’s daughter, who has her own vendetta, against the bandit who killed her fiancée.  In Cold, a new story, a couple wonders a house, and receives a rather frosty surprise. In The Plague, a new story, a child mistakenly writes a science fiction story when he should have written a research paper.

Overall, an outstanding issue in this marvelous anthology. The stories all get better while the new stories carry the spirit, while adding different spices. The art is always appealing. Altogether, a great issue, where the reader finds some new characters in the playground.

Story: Steven Horry, Dave Cook, Matt Warner, Simon Banks, Aaron Walther, Tom Ward, James Andrew Clark
Art: Catia Fantini, Norrie Millar, Ed Bickford, Vincent Hunt, Lyndon White, Enzo Pertile
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Comichaus #4

Posted on by

Stories comes in all shapes and forms, and they cross so many genres, that some genres have their own genres. That is why when anthologies are put together, rarely do they work in more than one genre. The reason for this is that they rarely go together, but Comichaus has found a way. They are what you expect from an indie publisher in comics, producing high quality comics that tell good stories.

They tell the stories comics readers want to read versus what they think; their audience wants to read. In this fourth issue of their anthology, each story gets better, and simply exceed expectations. In the new installment, of Chalk, Jacqueline’s history comes full circle as her past and her present collide in such a bloody way. In the latest installment of Feather, a war between the infected and angels? erupts in a crazy twist to this engaging story.

In Suited & Booted, Moses steps into a suit which might spell doom for all involved. In Troubleshooters, our heroes find out their new job probably is a fraud when they find out about Buzz. In Mortality, our hero makes the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter, as his past sins catch up with him. In The Cave, our protagonists find themselves beneath the earth’s crust, not knowing what awaits.

Overall, an excellent issue in this ever-evolving anthology. The stories all get stronger and more complex. The art is always engaging. Altogether, if you grab any issue in this anthology, this is the one you must have.

Story: Steven Horry, James McCulloch, Dave Cook, Jon Laight, Aaron Walther, Luke Cooper, Tom Ward, James Calderbank
Art: Jessica L. Byrne, Norrie Millar, Ed Bickford, Luke Cooper, Iain Laurie, Colin Bell, James Calderbank
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Comichaus #3

Posted on by

British comics are full of great creators, and because of it the comics world has evolved and even stepped up their game. The influence of Alan Moore looms over any writer/artist who writes anything dealing with superheroes or the occult. The way he deals with hard subjects and his mastery of the inner conflicts of characters more than proves he is a master storyteller. His influence on the medium can be felt everywhere not only on British creators but also here in America.

Another creator that gets into those hard subjects and leaves feeling more than uncomfortable is the “master of suspense,” Stephen King. The stories he tells in Nightmares and Dreamscapes, leaves the reader more than uneasy, and for some of those stories, a little disturbed. The creators at Comic Haus, are more than fans of these two asters, they are most certainly disciples. In the third issue of Comichaus, each creator turns in another masterful installment.

In this installment, of “Chalk,” our heroine gets visited by an old friend, who warns of an “endless plague of sorrow,” which ends the life of someone close to her. In the third installment of “Karyn Shade,” she finally rescues all the prisoners but one of villains are in the wind, waiting to exact revenge on her. In this installment of “Feather,” the reader soon finds out what mass extermination looks like. In “Suited and Booted,” the beginning of the final race begins, and soon someone will finally die. In this installment of the “Troubleshooters,” our protagonists see something they would never see, a dragon. In this next installment of “Mortality,” our hero may have lost his daughter to the Reaper, as he finds out how powerful his influence can be. Lastly, in the newest story to be added, “Return,” the reader is introduced to a pair of astronauts about to go up into space on Apollo 12, with the tragedy of the last space mission still looming.

Overall, an entertaining installment to these evolving stories. The stories written here are masterfully told and brilliantly gets character development right. The art by all creators is gorgeous. Altogether, a worthy installment to an already great book.

Story: James McCulloch, Dave Cook, Jon Laight, Aaron Walther, Luke Cooper, Tom Ward, James Calderbank
Art: Jessica L. Byrne, Norrie Millar, Ed Bickford, Luke Cooper, Iain Laurie, Colin Bell, James Calderbank
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10

Review: Comichaus #2

Posted on by

The first time I remember hearing about Heavy Metal magazine, was when one of my friends just finished watching the movie, and was hoping it would be the same as the movie. I was curious as well, so I went watched the movie and had my mind blown, even though the stories seemed hokey, it was still quite interesting. So, when I picked up my first copy of the magazine, I was little disappointed at first, but that is until I got into the stories. Each story had its own flavor and tapped into a piece of the human psyche that comics had not done until then.

Needless to say, the bar had been raised then and every anthology magazine, even if they don’t say, have attempted to emulate the magic, that Heavy Metal did in those days. Comichaus, is one magazine, that understands how that magic, and doe sit well, as evidenced in this second issue of their ongoing series, In the first story, we catch up with “Karyn Shade”, as in the last issue she was going to that scary house, where she takes out the cult’s leader’s soldiers and is just in time for dinner. In the second installment of “Feather”, Bernie’s sickness has gotten worse, as the widespread news of how the epidemic takes over people’s bodies has streamed into public consciousness, just when he can no longer hide it.

In the second part of “Suited and Booted”, Moses get whim of a suit which can change the game not only for him but all at stake. In this next installment of “The Troubleshooters”, we catch up with our cantankerous duo, as they find out this town, has more surprises than they first thought, as they soon realize a war is coming. In the continuation of “Mortality”, our hero gets to a guided tour of the Underworld, as he still is search of his daughter. In this second installment of “Keyhole”, things fall apart for this family, and our narrator must now deal with a new family, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Overall, a great second installment to all ongoing stories contained within, as each creator does no miss a beat. Each story has only gotten better with this installment. The art is still amazing. Altogether, a great second issue, that I can only see exceeding expectations from the last issue.

Story: James McCulloch, Dave Cook, Jon Laight, Aaron Walther, Luke Cooper, Chris Welsh
Art: Jessica Byrne, Norrie Millar, Dan Butcher, Grant Richards, Ed Bickford, Luke Cooper, Micah Myers, David Pavol
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation:Buy

Review: Comichaus #1

Posted on by

Anthologies are great showcases for artists/writers to show off their work, especially when they are starting off. What one finds in these collections, are sometimes duds, and sometimes gems. When it comes to book anthologies, depending on the editor, you might try to slog through a few, to get to a good one, and sometimes you don’t have too deep into, as sometimes these anthologies are nothing but gems. In the comics real, the same issue exists, as the editor dictates the tone and quality of the project.

So, when I heard about the new indie publisher out of the UK, Comic Haus, I was a little bit excited, because when I usually think anthology comics from that part of the world, 2000 AD usually comes to mind. I was more than to excited to finally read their first publication, which more than surprised me. In the first story, “Beyond Forth” we meet Karyn Shade, a loner at first, who gets stranded when her car gets a flat in a town called Forth, where there is more than what seems to be a sleepy town. In the second story entitled “Feather,” we are introduced to a dystopian world, where a new strain of the bird flu, has disrupted civilization, and the reader gets to see firsthand how it changes one man’s life forever.

In “Suited and Booted”, the theory of life on Mars is played to horrific results, where humans are invaded by faceless villains known as the Breakers. In “The Troubleshooters”, we ae introduced to a neo-western world , where some rough riders , ride on dragons instead of horses,  and find a mysterious named New Port. In “Mortality Part One”, we meet a man in search of his daughter, who gets into a car crash, where the bookkeeper of the Grim Reaper finds, and who he kills anyway. In “Mum & Dad”, a seemingly normal tale of a child eavesdropping on his parents takes a horrid turn, which the reader cannot unseen.

Overall, a great book which covers many genres and yet becomes stronger because of the diversity of the storytelling. The stories in this anthology, are all masterfully told as each story gives a new meaning to “cliffhanger”. The art in this anthology, is simply beautiful, as I never thought I would enjoy black and white comics as much as I do here. Altogether, a great book, which will keep this reviewer enthralled until the next issue.

Story: James McCulloch, Dave Cook, Jon Laight, Aaron Walther, Luke Cooper, Tom Ward
Art: Jessica L. Byrne, Norrie Millar, Ed Bickford, Luke Cooper, Iain Laurie, Colin Bell
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Recent Entries »