Rick and Morty: Infinity Hour #3
(W) Mags Visaggio (A) Marc Ellerby, Leonardo Ito, Crank!
Deep behind enemy lines, our heroes prepare for a valiant escape attempt, while the fate of entire galaxy hangs in the balance.
Rick, Birdperson, Wubbo, and co. need to make it back to the rebel base, armed with new information that could tip the scales of the war. Plus…just who is Dr. Infinity?
When you see the names Charles Soule and Ryan Browne on the cover of the comic, you can be pretty sure you’re going to be in for a treat. The duo have a long list of great reads under their names separately and together. Eight Billion Genies #1 kicks off their latest collaboration that explores an interesting “what if?” scenario. In this story, everyone on earth at the same time gets a genie with 1 wish. What would happen? What’s the impact? How insane would things get?
Written by Soule, Eight Billion Genies #1 is a solid start. Soule does what he does best, focus on the characters and then builds a story around them. The actual main concept of the story doesn’t begin for quite a while. Instead, the first issue sets up the initial characters we’ll focus on. We get their conflicts, their issues, a good sense of who they are. Mixed in with the comics’ overall concept, it gets the ideas of the reader going as far as what this opportunity means for each of them. We get to get to know these characters a little before things drop and get insane.
And it’s insane.
Soule and Browne deliver an over the top result as the wishes start flying. We get subtle things within the bar the story takes place but it’s like being hit in the face as the door to the bar opens and we see the impact of how much things have gotten out of hand. What’s also interesting is another visual Soule and Browne have included, a “body count”. We see the world’s population and the genie population and then the impact to that number as the wishes begin to flow. It’s an interesting concept that further challenges the reader as you begin to ponder what happened to all of these people.
Browne’s art style is perfect for this comic. With lettering by Chris Crank and color assists by Kevin Knipstein, the comic’s visuals go from 0 to 10 in the visual crazy quickly. As I said, the majority of the comic takes place in a bar with a few people. It’s calm, it’s “realistic”, it’s centered on a setting that anyone can experience. There’s nothing remarkable about all of that and the art keeps things grounded in a way. It helps focus on the characters. There’s some details here and there but it’s the characters that are center stage. But, once the wishing begins things spiral visually. You wait to see where the crazy is and it hits you. Browne easily shifts the comic from that grounded, every day feel, to Looney Tunes and back easily. It’ll be interesting to see how that’s handled as the comic progresses and the wishes get more out of hand.
Eight Billion Genies #1 is a great start to the series. It opens up a literal world of possibilities as we see how wishes from genies can get out of hand. While the world as a whole spirals, its focus on a few individuals keeps the comic focused and something the reader can relate to. As expected, it’s a great read and an absolute “buy”.
Story: Charles Soule Art: Ryan Browne
Color: Ryan Browne Letterer: Chris Crank Color Assists: Kevin Knipstein
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW
This Saturday, Oni Press is celebrating Free Comic Book Day 2022 with a special edition reprint of the first issue of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, the all-ages hit co-written and drawn by Eisner Award-winner Chris Samnee and co-written by Laura Samnee, with colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by crank!
Rainbow has been searching for her sister, Jonna, for a year. The last time she saw Jonna was also the first time she saw one of the monsters that now roam the planet. They’re big, ugly, and dangerous creatures driving humanity to the brink of extinction. Though there isn’t much hope for survival out in the wild, Rainbow knows that her sister is out there somewhere-and she’ll do anything to find her.
Readers who enjoy this FCBD intro to the action-packed series can also check out the newly released Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2, which collects issues #5–8 of Rainbow and Jonna’s journey, and Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #9, which begins the third and final arc of the kaiju-filled adventure.
Support your local comic book store and pick up a copy of FCBD 2022 Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters using the Free Comic Book Day Store Locator.
Rick and Morty: Infinity Hour #2
(W) Magdalene Visaggio (A) Marc Ellerby, Leonardo Ito, Crank!
After a crash, Rick, Birdperson, and Wubbo are stranded in space. When a mysterious ship approaches, will they find friend or foe?! Meanwhile, the Gromflomite Federation continues its path of destruction, far too powerful for our ragtag group of heroes to stop.
Dark Horse Books presents Into Radness, an original action-packed sci-fi romp written by Kyle Strahm, with art by Jake Smith, and letters by Crank!.
Dylan, Trixie, and their friends want to be Internet famous, but their show, INTO RADNESS, has 12 subscribers and it’s terrible. Blowing up old VHS tapes and setting slime on fire just doesn’t bring in the views.
But freaky things are starting to happen in the city of Back Alley. When the teens are filmed defending themselves from an oozing ZONKED creature, they become overnight celebrities. Oh, and that creature? There are a lot more of those roaming the streets!
Friendships are strained and battle plans drawn as six teens descend INTO RADNESS!!
Into Radness will be available at comic stores June 15, 2022 and in bookstores June 28, 2022. It is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore. Into Radness will retail for $19.99.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #9
(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!
A new arc begins! After the incredible cliffhanger reveal from last issue, Rainbow and Jonna are reeling—what does it all mean?! The two sisters have come so very far in their search for their father, only to be met with lots of questions…and, as always, giant monsters! Can the girls escape the strange goopy tunnels they are in and find their dad? Plus: The secret origin of Gor and Nomi!
Tiny Fox and Great Boar Vol. 1: There
Berenika Kołomycka, Crank!
One beautiful fall day, as Tiny Fox relaxes under his favorite tree, he meets a new friend: Great Boar! Great Boar loves to explore the beauty of nature and the changing seasons, but Tiny Fox thinks adventuring can be scary…but so is the idea of being without his new pal! What will Tiny Fox do?
See how two friends help each other and learn to be brave in this beautiful watercolor book for children by award-winning Polish artist Berenika Kołomycka.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2
(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!
Jonna and Rainbow are sisters, but that doesn’t mean they’re all that similar: Rainbow’s the bookish one, Jonna is the whirlwind. Jonna’s also incredibly strong and nearly invulnerable—which will come in handy as they search the ruined, monster-infested wasteland that was once their home while looking for their missing father. Their world, once lush and bountiful, has been overrun by giant monsters and prickly, unnatural vines that strangle the life from the natural flora and fauna. The girls thought that they had found a place of calm and security—a notion proved false when a huge beast literally crashed through the walls.
With their safe haven destroyed, the girls set out again, this time following a lead to a hidden city of humans that have built a home in the shattered remnants of a mighty redwood forest. Lured by heartwarming tales of community, Rainbow and Jonna find that life in the big city can be a little confusing! Jonna finds celebrity in the monster-fighting arena, while Rainbow explores their new surroundings, searching for a bit of human kindness and not liking what she sees. Can the two keep their spirits up and their skin on as they outpunch unpossible monsters and outwit not-so-nice humans that stand in their way?
Vault has announced that West of Sundown #1 has sold out and is going back to press for a second printing. The second print will feature a striking new colorway of Jim Terry‘s issue #1 cover art, and it will hit shelves on May 11th, the same day as issue #2.
West of Sundown is co-created by writers Tim Seeley and Aaron Campbell and artist Jim Terry, with colors by Triona Farrell, letters by Crank!, and design by Tim Daniel. .
A beautiful ancient vampire must flee monster slayers in New York City, and reclaim the ancestral soil that restores her undead flesh. But things have changed since she was reborn in the New Mexico desert, and now Constance Der Abend and her loyal ex-Confederate assistant Dooley must adapt to life in the rough frontier town of Sangre De Moro. A Western tale of survival starring a cast of literary horrors.
West of Sundown #1
Writers: Tim Seeley & Aaron Campbell
Artist: Jim Terry
Colorist: Triona Farrell
Letterer: Crank!
Designer: Tim Daniel
Cover A: Aaron Campbell
Cover B: Jim Terry
On Sale 4/6/2022
A beautiful vampire must flee monster slayers in New York City and reclaim the ancestral soil that restores her undead flesh. But the world has changed since she was reborn in the New Mexico desert, and now Constance der Abend and her loyal assistant Dooley must adapt to life in the rough frontier town of Sangre de Moro, where all sorts of monsters have settled.
A western tale of survival starring a cast of literary horrors from the diabolical minds of Tim Seeley, Aaron Campbell, and Jim Terry.
