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Review: Taskmaster #1

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Taskmaster #1

Taskmaster is one of those characters that deserves such a spotlight and generally has been underused through the years. Whenever he’s be used, he’s stood out and weirdly never became a huge hit. Even as a background character he’s stood out over the years and become even better in recent decades. From a generic villain with some cool powers to a smart-ass super villain with cool powers, it’s his personality that has been the focus. Taskmaster #1 nails the character down, mixing action, humor, and some intrigue.

Written by Jed MacKay, Taskmaster #1 has the character on the run after he’s possibly framed for the murder of Maria Hill. There’s now a price on his head and he’ll have to prove his innocence.

The comic is beyond fun with a great mix of action and humor. It kicks off with Taskmaster as a partner during a golf tournament to raise money for mobsters. It’s the kind of set-up that sets the tone so well. The duo he’s facing features Bullseye promising a gold game even I’d watch. But, what it really does is set the tone. The comments between the two are great and really let you know what type of character Taskmaster is. From there’s action, some more laughs, and a focus on what we can expect going forward.

It’s a solid opening that has such a firm grasp on its voice and tone. There’s little doubt as to what you’re going to get with the issue and now the series. It’s a comic that establishes itself and makes you ask why it’s taken so long to get something like this.

The art by Alessandro Vitti is great. Though Taskmaster features a skull mask, you’re still able to get a full feel as to what’s going on when it comes to emotions. The comic has an exaggerated aspect to it with the action having an almost Looney Tunes aspect of it. It’s just over the top as Taskmaster must deal with his would-be assassin having to use what he can to fire back and ducking the bullets flying at him. Guru-eFX provides colors while Joe Caramagna does the lettering and the art team just nails it all down.

Taskmaster #1 is a hell of a lot of fun. Not sure what else to really say. There’s a mix of action and humor and anyone can pick up the comic and enjoy it. It’s not deep. There’s no deeper themes. It’s a simple frame job that has the main character in the crosshairs of others who want him dead in revenge. It’s a simple concept but executed so well. I was hoping the comic would be entertaining and it exceeded my expectations getting me to laugh out loud and leaving me with a smile.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Alessandro Vitti
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1

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Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1

I’m a fan of anthologies. You get a chance to see numerous creators all have fun in the same pool or give their spin on the same character. To see how different creators handle the same character is always interesting in that you can get such varied takes really showing how different voices and perspectives can be. Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1 kicks off a new anthology mini-series from Marvel focused on Wolverine from a varied group of writers, artists, and colorists.

Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1 features three stories each of which vary a lot in tone and style. They all have one thing in common, they’re bloody. These aren’t Wolverine comics for the kids, the stories are adult, mature, and use their limited color palette really well.

“The Beast Within Them” explores Wolverine’s time in the Weapon X program. It’s an appropriate start taking us back to the early days of the character preceding the other two stories within this first issue. Written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Adam Kubert, and color by Frank Martin, the story is interesting as it explores the ongoing struggle within the character. Still known as Experiment-X, Wolverine is sent on tests to see how he reacts and how much he can be controlled. He’s a loose beast fighting other beasts for survival, running on instinct. But, underneath there’s a man. Duggan explores why the program may have had so many issues with Logan. The art is fierce and guttural at times finely depicting the rage and brutal nature of the fights.

“I Shall Be a Wolf” is by writer Matthew Rosenberg, artist Joshua Cassara, and colors by Guru-eFX. Focused more on the spy side of Wolverine, he’s capture by Hydra who wants to use him to get to Nick Fury. It’s a brutal story with the bodies piling up and some twists and turns that are unexpected. While it at times feels like a familiar spy story we’ve seen before, where the story goes is unexpected. The end really pays off, though the entire story is a solid back and forth. I gasped with an “oh shit” towards the end as the story wraps up and the exclamation point is delivered.

Declan Shalvey handles writing and art with “Cabin Fever,” the final story. Wolverine comes across a murdered couple and crying baby in a cabin and then must deal with those who killed the couple. It’s a bloody and violent story filled with body parts launched from a simple story.

Clayton Cowles provides the lettering for each story and each has their own subtle differences. It’s interesting to see how each story varies and Cowles handles the lettering for such different stories. You can see the thought given to each, especially in “Cabin Fever”. With that story the lettering shifts to reflect Wolverine’s rage going from white to orange to red and back to orange and then white. It’s subtle but smart.

Each story is different and each creative team delivers. There’s not a stinker in the bunch. Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1 shows us such different sides of the same character, the beast, the patriot and soldier, and the man. Each has a common theme of someone struggling with their mission and to find peace. But, that person is driven to do what’s right. Each story is bloody and brutal though. Despite the very human person at the center of it all, there’s a level of violence that’s inhuman.

Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #1 is a hell of a start for the series. It’s a solid read whether you like Wolverine or not. Each story is full of violent, brutal, action, but also has more than enough to have you pause and think. A solid start to the series that makes the case for more of these types of releases.

Story: Gerry Duggan, Matthew Rosenberg, Declan Shalvey
Art: Adam Kubert, Joshua Cassara, Declan Shalvey
Color: Frank Martin, Guru-eFX, Declan Shalvey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXoloy – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Dawn of X Vol. 3

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Want to get into Marvel’s X-Men relaunch? They’ve made it easy with Dawn of X collections that package all of the comics of the same number!

Dawn of X Vol. 3 includes the third issue for X-Men, Marauders, Excalibur, New Mutants, X-Force, and Fallen Angels.

Story: Jonathan Hickman, Gerry Duggan, Tini Howard, Ed Brisson, Benjamin Percy, Bryan Edward Hill
Art: Leinil Francis Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Michele Bandini, Elisabetta D’Amico, Marcus To, Flaviano, Joshua Cassara, Szymon Kudranski
Color: Sunny Gho, Federico Blee, Erick Arciniega, Carlos Lopez, Guru-eFX, Frank D’Armata
Letterer: Clayton Cowles, Cory Petit, Travis Lanham, Joe Caramagna, Joe Sabino

Get your copy in comic shops now and bookstores on March 24! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Kindle/comiXology
TFAW
Zeus Comics

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
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Review: X-Force #6

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Benjamin Percy and Stephen Segovia transpose cloak and dagger American interventionism to gain a sphere of influence in Latin American countries to the key of mutantdom and Warren Ellis-style high concept-meets-absolutely bonkers. plotting in X-Force #6. The issue starts in a beautiful way with Beast conducting his “symphony” of X-Force operatives with Segovia’s very direct artwork working in tandem with Percy’s descriptive prose for each member’s role on the team. (Wolverine is percussion, and Percy takes a page out of early Claremont X-Men and uses him for action and gruffness instead of the star of the show.)

X-Force #6

Beast is the POV character throughout X-Force #6, and what follows is a peek behind the curtain of the mutant CIA. Hank McCoy is his more recently characterized master manipulator self (No timelines were harmed in the making of this issue.) rather than the affable, occasionally flirty fuzzball that was tailor made to be played Kelsey Grammer. Throughout the issue, he doesn’t doubt or waver once immediately giving kill orders for the “telefloronic” organisms created by the country of Terra Verde that could rival Krakoa, its products, and taking away the current mutant leverage on the world. There’s only room for one plant-based tech producing country, and Percy and Segovia craft immediate uncertainty when Black Tom Cassidy, who can manipulate the plant matter of Krakoa, is assaulted by similar plant manner.

And what made X-Force such an interesting read other than its continued use of the body horror aesthetic (Segovia has a much smoother art style than Joshua Cassara though.) is that Beast is sugarcoated to become some kind of heroic or anti-heroic figure. He’s just a powerful mutant, who uses his intellect and occasionally, brute strength and athletic ability to protect Krakoa’s interest. He’s a wetwork operation or a secret war wrapped up in blue fur and glasses.

Beast is as skilled with words and metaphors as he is with positioning operatives and mutant abilities as he compares the telefloronic organisms to Omega sentinels to assuage Jean Grey’s ethical dilemma. There’s a great contrast between the innocence of the classic “Marvel Girl” costume and the dark implications of her action as Stephen Segovia draws her in intense profile with some shading. Also, it’s cathartic when she gets to give Beast a piece of her mind. She’s the most traditionally heroic of the X-Force team, but the dark palette used by Guru e-FX undercuts every “good thing” she seems to do. For example, when she rescues Terra Verde’s president Cocom from the telefloronic organisms, Stephen Segovia and Guru e-FX frame her as an angel of death, not a helping hand.

Since the establishment of Krakoa in House of X/Powers of X, Jonathan Hickman and his fellow X-scribes have couched what would be usual superhero team action into the visual and verbal language of warfare. Marauders is naval conflict, Excalibur is a wild and woolly border dispute with a side of a state-sanctioned puppet ruler, New Mutants is a diplomatic mission gone wrong, X-Men is literally a summit, and X-Force, as I’ve mentioned earlier and keeping with its black ops team roots, is off the books warfare. Throughout the issue, Beast makes sure there are no witnesses to his and his team’s actions so Krakoa keeps its leverage on human nations via the pharmaceutical market and is positioned as the victim, not aggressor. (See the amazing text piece on how he set up Professor X as a martyr figure.)

Benjamin Percy’s choice to filter the story through Beast’s POV and showing behind the hood of his orchestration of the “mutant CIA” gives X-Force #6 incredible narrative focus to go with Stephen Segovia and Guru e-FX’s precise, powerful visuals. It’s a memorable addition to the Dawn of X books’ ongoing saga of a presumably utopian society uses decidedly non-utopian methods to maintain it with X-Force definitely getting to explore the non-utopian part in a creative way with a fantastic ensemble cast.

Story: Benjamin Percy Art: Stephen Segovia
Colors: Guru e-FX Letters: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Venom: The End

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Venom: The End

Venom: The End starts off in the very distant future where people are looking back on Venom’s life. If you’re new to comics, the Spidey-verse, or Venom, this is a way to introduce yourself.

Writer Adam Warren serves up a perfect primer to bring readers into the Venom fold. He lays out everything from what a symbiote is to everyone who has ever been merged with the beloved Venom. Venom: The End gives us an easy to digest history lesson. There’s more than enough for long-time fans, like me, and people who dabble in the comic arts to appreciate.

Jeffery “Chamba” Cruz provides some very sleek artwork. It looks like a stylized version of the old school originals making Venom: The End a beautiful issue for your collection. Guru-eFX ‘s color choices are as dark as the story being told and add a clinical view of the world. He uses pops of color around the archivist characters that serve as narrators in what is essentially a break down of the beautiful and compelling story of Venom.

If you’re the type of person whose friends look at you like a mad scientist when you’re trying to explain to them everything that’s a bit off about the Tom Hardy Venom movie, or who gets into spirited debates about every person that Venom has come in contact with, then this issue is for you. If you’re the type of person who has one of those overly enthusiastic persons in your life, who has very real feelings about imaginary characters, then this will go a long way in deciphering the ramblings of your Marvel obsessed friends. It’ll at least give you enough footing to stand your ground.

While this issue isn’t a full history of Venom’s lives, loves, and hosts, it’s a good starting point. It may get you on board with every awesome storyline that Venom has had, and some of the bad ones. That makes it a first-rate introduction and a must-have in your collection. It’s also a fitting tribute to one of the most liked symbiotes in the galaxy. Venom: The End gives us diehards a lovely goodbye if this is really the end. While we didn’t get what would be considered a traditional comic, or one-off, Warren delivers one hell of a story. It’s definitely worth a trip to your local comic book store to grab a copy.

Story: Adam Warren Art: Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz and Guru-eFX
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Doctor Doom #3

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Doctor Doom #3

Three issues and three amazing reads. Doctor Doom #3 three-peats with an issue full of tragedy, some action, and political intrigue. Doom has been assassinated and sent to Hell in what’s clearly a play to “nation-build” Latveria.

Writer Christopher Cantwell has mixed socio-political machinations with superheroics and the result is amazing. In Hell, Doom must escape and to do that, a deal with Mephisto must be made.

Cantwell does an impressive job of tying in Doom’s sins of the past with his visions of the future. It’s an interesting juxtaposition that has a poetry about it. We’re still not quite sure what Doom is seeing but it’s driving him not to just survive but to do better. We’re presented with someone we can cheer for in an odd way. A tyrant who wants to do good. A toxic individual who wants to grow and change.

Cantwell also delivers us intrigue as it’s clear whomever is behind Doom’s framing and assassination is also likely behind the threats Latveria are seeing in his absence. The name check of the UN and NATO adds a real-world tint to the situation. It’s a political thriller masked in armor.

The art by Salvador Larroca is fantastic. With color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Cory Petit, the look of the comic is fantastic and the flow from Hell to the real world and Latveria all works. Nothing seems out of place and the shift from the dreamlike Hell to the real world is an interesting one. There’s a visual flair that adds to the story and its transition of scenes.

Doctor Doom #3 is a fantastic issue delivering a nice mix of tragedy and action. There’s so much packed in, this is a prime example of what comics can be. It also keeps you on your toes as to what might happen next delivering a healthy mix of mystery and reveals. This issue continues what might be the best series of the year.

Story: Christopher Cantwell Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Conan Heads Into Strange Territory with Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown

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Announced at MCM Comic Con London, Conan will be starring in a new series that will take the barbarian to places he’s never gone before! Conan made his grand return to the Marvel Comics earlier this year and now, Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown will have the legendary Robert E. Howard character diving deeper into the Marvel Universe meeting a wide variety of Marvel heroes and daring to go up against Marvel’s most iconic villains, including the devilish Mephisto! A far cry from the Hyborian Age, Conan will take his relentless strength and savage sword to Las Vegas on an epic quest to find the Serpent Crown of Atlantis. Guiding him on his journey to Sin City and beyond will be writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Luke Ross.

CONAN: BATTLE FOR THE SERPENT CROWN #1 (OF 5)

Written by SALADIN AHMED
Penciled by LUKE ROSS
Cover by GURU-eFX

A DEADLY QUEST AND A DARING HEIST…IN THE AGE OF MARVELS!

CONAN wanders the desert, and as he reaches the city, no Stygian temple nor Vendyhan fortress greets him.  No, something far stranger: the lights of Fabulous Las Vegas!  Conan is far from home, and it’s time for him to tread the thrones of the Marvel Universe under his sandaled feet!

The City of Sin is just the beginning for Conan’s solo jaunt by Saladin Ahmed (BLACK BOLT, MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN) and Luke Ross (STAR WARS: ALLEGIANCE, SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN), as the barbarian finds himself on a quest for a relic that predates even his Hyborian Age: the Serpent Crown of Atlantis!  But will his battle for this crown earn Conan his own kingdom, or doom him to a nefarious trap set forth by MEPHISTO?  Featuring a wide array of Marvel heroes and villains, this is an adventure you can’t afford to miss!

CONAN: BATTLE FOR THE SERPENT CROWN #1 (OF 5)

Review: Uncanny X-Men #21

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Uncanny X-Men #21

Uncanny X-Men #21 continues to bring things together as the finale of writer Matthew Rosenberg‘s run looms closer. That impending end, and the relaunch to follow, is both good and bad.

It’s clear whatever is to come has allowed Rosenberg to do whatever he wants with his time on the franchise. Not only is he closing up recent plot threads but he’s also killing characters left and right. At this point it feels like most of the issues have featured the death of at least one character. There’s good in that no one feels safe. That’s also bad in that it gets a little “been there done that.” Still, there’s a frenetic pace to it all which makes the comic entertaining.

And that’s the bad thing.

Uncanny X-Men #21 feels rushed as far as pacing. Scenes which should play out longer feel a bit shortened and stunted in some ways. It feels like shortened scenes instead of a more flowing narrative. There’s a “time limit” that’s working against Rosenberg’s storytelling.

The issue though features the shocks and twists we’ve come to expect in this run. Though it’s not 100% clear what O.N.E. is up to and why what is clear is that it’s a horror show and needs to be stopped. Add in major characters being changed even more and it’s another issue where anything can and does happen.

The art by Salvador Larroca is fantastic. Along with color from Guru-eFX and lettering from Joe Caramagna, the comic’s art matches the pacing of the writing. There’s an energy about it all and you can “hear” the X-Men yelling to each other to hold the line. There’s something about the art that just matches the intensity of the story.

While not perfect, the comic is a fun addition to the current run. It continues to really shake things up and throw in a lot while dealing with lingering stories.

Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Guru-eFX Letters: Joe Caramagna
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.15 Overall: 7.65 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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