THE BUNKER #6
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Drawn, Colored, and Lettered by Joe Infurnari
He came from the future to save the world, but, is the only way to save it to destroy it? Young and Old Grady meet, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Battle lines are being drawn, as Grady begins his ascent, and truth of his actions hits the other friends. But, can they confront him and change his path?
For four issues into The Bunker, and I’ve wondered quite a few things, some of which begins to be answered here. And that’s part of what makes The Bunker so engrossing, that slow reveal that forces us to piece things together. But, writer Joshua Hale Fialkov knows that if you give too little, it leaves readers frustrated, so with each issue he drops just enough of a nugget to satisfy us. And those reveals often challenge our perceptions or what we thought of something.
Fialkov is joined by artist Joe Infurnari whose style fits the tone and vibe of the series, especially the gritty future, that we get to see a little bit more of in this issue. It’s a fantastic match of writer and artist.
The issue has future Grady sitting down to chat with his friends in the past, and at the same time we’re given some insight into the time travel device itself. Again though, the most interesting thing is all those interactions and how everyone deals with various situations and revelations. The time travel mechanism is just a device about the human story of it all. But, Fialkov has some fun with that mechanism too, playing with what knowledge folks would have, and some debate on the mechanics of time travel itself.
And even after you get through all of that, the end has a hell of a twist that again makes you rethink everyone’s motivation, and what’s really going on. Fialkov as usual pulls off a masterful issue that only makes you want to come back for more.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 9.25 Art: 9.25 Overall: 9.25 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
On their way to bury a time capsule, five friends – Grady, Heidi, Natasha, Daniel, and Billy – uncover a metal bunker buried deep in the woods. Inside, they find letters addressed to each of them… from their future selves. Told they will destroy the world in the very near future, the friends find, over the next few days, growing further and further apart. Though they’ve been warned against making the wrong choices, how do they know what the right ones are? Can the future really be changed, or will an even darker fate engulf the world?
Collecting the first four issues of the ongoing series, The Bunker is one of the best print debuts of 2014. Some of the early issues were available in 2013, but since their release by Oni Press in print, we’ve gotten new material from the masterful Joshua Hale Fialkov as writer and Joe Infurnari on art. The Bunker is a sci-fi thriller, that uses time travel to explore the ideas of destiny and fate. If these first four issues don’t suck you in, I’d be shocked.
Fialkov is an amazing writer who has mastery of so many genres. Here he mixes the mystery of the television series Lost of an impending apocalyptic meltdown. The most difficult thing is to talk about why this comic is so good without spoiling any of the discoveries throughout. And that’s a lot of the enjoyment, that slow reveal as to what’s going on, and the piecing of everything together.
But, what I can reveal and truly sticks out is Fialkov’s portrayal of the individuals who stumble upon the mysterious bunker. Their reactions, and interactions are fantastic and very realistic. You feel like this is how college age people would talk and interact in this extraordinary situation. Motivations play out intelligently and realistically, so that even when horrible decisions are made, we can’t help but understand why they do they way they do.
Fialkov’s writing is enhanced by Infurnari’s art which has a distinctive style and look. It fits the time bending series, both the frantic present and the gritty future.
This first volume is perfect for those who want to catch up, and if you’re not already reading this series, you should be. It delivers with each and every issue, and I fully expect it to be on numerous “best of” lists when the year wraps up.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
I don’t know how many different ways I can say that this series should be on everyone’s reading list, but, let me try with this review to do so…. again.
The fourth issue of The Bunker runs sort of parallel in story with the previous issue, following more of the crew, as they deal with the revelation about their roles in the future. But even with a time travel mind trip of a story, writer Joshua Hale Fialkov continues to make that the back seat to the very real and human interactions, and reactions by everyone involved.
Whether it’s the fallout of individuals cheating on each other, or the a terrorist attack, each issue is really about this group of individuals, and that’s very present here. The time travel bit really is a device to explore everyone’s character. It’s quite brilliant in this way. And with each small sliver of new information, how everyone reacts becomes very interesting. This series is to time travel, as The Walking Dead is to zombies. It involves it, but the individuals are what really matters. But, even with that said, the plot is pretty damn cool, especially how it slowly plays out, and sucks us in.
Along with Fialkov’s fantastic writing is artist Joe Infurnari’s art which captures the chaos of it all. The drawing itself, the use of color, it’s all carefully thought out and combines with a story to create one of the best comics on the market.
Really this review should just be “go buy this book.” But the reality is, this series should be a part of everyone’s pull list. It’s that good. It’s not too late to make it happen, before you need a time device to go fix that mistake.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This third issue of the series continues much of the set up from the shocking second issue. Grady, set upon his journey acts as the hero, pushed by his future self. At the same time we learn about Heidi and her journey. That includes her dealing with her abusive past, and deciding if justice should be meted out.
Writer Joshua Hale Fialkov brilliantly delivers the third issue of The Bunker, his gripping series that explores fate and pre-destination versus choice. In this issue, he not only moves the story in modern times along, he deftly weaves in the past, where Grady and Heidi first meet. And through those simple moments, we learn more about these characters than many series take dozens of issues to reveal. We learn their history. We learn their personalities. We learn their deepest thoughts and fears. It’s all impressive, entertaining, and thrilling.
Along with Fialkov’s writing we’re treated to Joe Infurnari‘s art which adds a style that matches the story, especially in this issue. Grady, thrown into a terrorist act, must save lives and Infurnari’s rough style fits the chaos of that moment. It also does well in the flashback parts with Heidi recalling her childhood and the abuse she suffered during it. Overall, the rough style matches a series built on memories, past, present, and future that are chaotic.
Overall, three issues in, and this series is easily making its case as to why it should be on many “best of” lists when 2015 arrives. Get to your store early, I expect this issue to sell out and believe me, The Bunker is only going to get more popular as people discover it’s excellence.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Each of the friends must decide their fates, as they’re faced with the first day of the rest of their lives. By the end, lines are drawn between the Believers and the Skeptics, while another shadowy figure from the future is watching them to make sure they all decide ‘correctly.’
Ever since The Bunker launched as a digital comic, I’ve been excited to read each installment of writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Joe Infurnari‘s time-warping, mind bending series. The digital installments were just enough to tease and have me salivating for more. Now, teaming up with Oni Press, the series is being released as physical copies, and with complete material none of us have seen previously as a digital release. And with just this second issue, everything is twisted around, and what we thought we knew, we clearly were wrong.
The Bunker in simplest terms is about free will, destiny, and how much of our life we’re in control of. Some friends receive notes from their future selves found in a mysterious bunker explaining how their lives will generally play out and how they cause the apocalypse. After reading the first issue, I had a general sense of what was going on, and where things were. Of course there were tons of mysteries still left out there, but you had an idea of the basis of the story and some ideas as to what these individuals “missions” were, if they so choose. Will they continue their path, and lead to death and destruction? Can they change the future?
So here we are in the second issue, and with just but a few pages at the end, and so much of the above for me is torn away. Fialkov has taken what we suspected, and upended that (at least for me, maybe you’re smarter in that department). Before he does that though, he focuses more on what exactly these letters say, the future world, the idea of destiny, and the type of tasks they need to do. The philosophical debates throughout the issue are impressive and gets the reader to think themselves.
But, writing isn’t everything. Infurnari’s art adds a gritty style that adds to the storyline. Each individual, whether the present or future, is unique in their look, and matching the characters Fialkov has created. The style is wonderful and enhances the experience.
This is a comic I can give to a non-comic reader and know they’ll be coming back for more and asking me what else is like it. We not only have a hit, if sales are any indication, but we have a series I expect to see on many “best of 2014” lists come next year. Make sure to put this one on your pull list, because you don’t want to miss out on the series everyone will be talking about. So far this series is one of my favorites of 2014 (though not a shock since it was up their with last year’s digital releases) and this issue is my favorite issue of any comic so far in 2014. This is only the second issue, so get a copy before you’re left behind what’s shaping up to be a hell of a ride.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 10 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.75 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
When five friends go to bury a time capsule before going their separate ways, they find a mysterious bunker stamped with their names and containing artifacts from a time that has yet to come. Will their discovery save the world or doom it? Writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Joe Infurnari have created a new ongoing series that proves outrunning your future is no easier than escaping your past.
One of the best debuts of 2013 is now in print for the first time with a double-sized issue that’ll show why so many have been buzzing about it. To say this series is good, is an understatement. When each chapter was released digitally last year, I immediately hopped on my computer to download each chapter. Now that it’s collected, I’ve been giddy that others might be more open to checking it out.
Fialkov is an amazing writer who has mastery of so many genres. Here he mixes the mystery of the television series Lost of an impending apocalyptic meltdown. The most difficult thing is to talk about why this comic is so good without spoiling any of the discoveries throughout.
But, what I can reveal and truly sticks out is Fialkov’s portrayal of the individuals who stumble upon the mysterious bunker. Their reactions, and interactions is fantastic and very realistic. You feel like this is how college age people would talk and interact in this extraordinary situation.
Fialkov’s writing is enhanced by Infurnari’s art which has a distinctive style and look. It fits the time bending series, both the frantic present and the gritty future.
Rereading the comic, I found myself digging at small details, trying to discern what’s up and trying to find clues as to the story. This is a mystery that sucks you in, a comic that I expect to transcend the comics medium.
Story: Joshua Hale Fialkov Art: Joe Infurnari
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
“One thing caused the end of the world. You.” So reads the first letter extracted from The Bunker. A group of friends on the verge of starting their adult lives get a shocking glimpse of what they may cause. This is the gripping question posed in the critically-acclaimed, smash hit digital series The Bunker.
Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari’s creator-owned series burned up the ComiXology charts as one of the most successful titles of their fledgling Submit program earlier this year. Pairing an epic sci-fi scope with the grounding of a tight, personal drama, The Bunker offered fans a fresh, new perspective and an instantly engrossing plot from two comics veterans.
Oni Press has announced that their pioneering work will see a new release in print beginning in February of 2014.
The Bunker #1 will collect the first five chapters of Fialkov and Infurnari’s digital series, reformatted and remastered for a traditional comic book size and clocking in at 48 pages for $3.99.
After this perfect introductory issue, The Bunker’s twisting, mysterious tale will continue on as an ongoing series. In addition to portions of the existing pages being updated and redrawn to share new secrets of the Bunker, Infurnari is also enhancing the color palette to the previously single toned pages.
Simply put, The Bunker is one of the most engrossing and original series to hit comics in recent memory, and Oni Press is lucky to have it join the ranks of their rich library of creator-owned comics.
In February of 2014, the future ends here.
Occupy Comics #2
The Kickstarter phenomenon is in it’s second issue and it shows no sign of diminishing in quality. Occupy Comics #2 continues the thought provoking anthology with more strips, prose and in general contributions that actually makes you think. The second issue continues to show that comics and politics do mix. The comics boast an impressive line-up of creators like Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Charlie Adlard, Art Spiegelman, Molly Crabapple, Matt Bors, Mike Allred, Ben Templesmith, J.M. DeMatteis, Tyler Crook, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joe Infurnari, Ales Kot, Dean Haspiel, Joshua Dysart and Matt Pizzolo.
This issue continues to impress with thought-provoking contributions. Again, it’s pretty non-partisan and numerous entries border on graphic journalism, and might be creating a whole new genre of graphic social commentary. This is a perfect marriage of comics and politics, of course I dug it. Continue to ignore that word “occupy” and don’t let it taint your willingness to give this series a chance. You’ll be surprised, though shouldn’t be considering the talent behind it.
But on top of the political message and commentary, the series continues to be entertaining. The stories contained within are smartly written and beautifully illustrated, making this a package that has depth in message as well as presentation, an awesome combination. It’s a perfect connection between emotion, facts and art. The stories have depth and are well thought out, their intelligence shows.
Despite some pretty heavy hitter names, Matt Miner’s contribution about his experience with Occupy Sandy during Hurricane Sandy is especially emotional. It really opens up your eyes as to what occurred during that storm and clean up after and the travesty that was relief efforts by the government.
I’m a political nerd. I’m a comic geek. Lets occupy some comics!
Story and art: Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Charlie Adlard, Art Spiegelman, Molly Crabapple, Matt Bors, Mike Allred, Ben Templesmith, J.M. DeMatteis, Tyler Crook, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joe Infurnari, Ales Kot, Dean Haspiel, Joshua Dysart and Matt Pizzolo
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
12 Reasons to Die #2
This horror-crime hybrid is the latest comic book from the legendary Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Ghostface Killah. A brutal tale of gangsters, betrayal, and one vengeful soul hunting the 12 most powerful crimelords in the world.
Two issues in and I’m still pretty entertained by the series which mixes horror and crime. Overall though, this second issue isn’t quite as polished as the first and I wonder if the limited series might be better read in one sitting or as a trade paperback.
Again the comic comes off as disjointed stories, with an attempt to weave them together. That weaving isn’t quite as tight as the first one, and that might be where my issue comes into this. The stories don’t fit as quite nicely together as that first issue, jumping around in the subjects and characters and the art at times differing either too much or not much causing delineation between the chapters to be more difficult.
And that’s where I struggle with the comic. Take each of the stories by themselves and they’d be great. But, together there’s an issue for me and the flow between them is part of it. Breaking each section up, even with a page that just says “chapter 1,” etc. might have helped. It could also be the fact I’m reading it digitally, which makes that more difficult.
I’m also at the point I’d like more information about these records and the bigger picture around them. If they’re just a story device, that’s fine, but I’d like that a bit more clearer.
The series is an example of a multi-platform, transmedia concept project with a storyline that spans from the comic book to the new Ghostface Killah album released simultaneously by RZA’s Soul Temple Records. So, you have a soundtrack to check out while reading the comic.
Overall, this is an entertaining example of cross-media entertainment, but the series needs to pick up a bit for me.
Story: Adrian Younge, Ce Garcia, Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon Art: Breno Tamura, Gus Storms, Tim Seeley, Nate Powell, Brian Level, Dave Murdoch
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read
Ballistic #1
Welcome to Repo City State, where everyone’s an asshole… even the air conditioners.
Darick Robertson and Adam Egypt Mortimer’s madcap, psychedelic, transreal, utterly-wacko buddy adventure about Butch and his best friend Gun, a drug-addicted, genetically-modified, foul-mouthed firearm, as they attempt to elevate Butch from air conditioner repairman to master criminal in the twisted, post-eco-apocalyptic Repo City State, a reclaimed trash island built entirely from DNA-based, living technology with bad attitudes.
Ballistic marks Darick Robertson’s return to the hard sci-fi worldbuilding of his classic Transmetropolitan but mixed with The Boys’ ultra-violence and the lunacy of Happy. Mortimer’s mix of speculative science, pulpy noire, and drug-addled adventure cooks up a strange brew of Lethal Weapon by way of Cronenberg meets Dr. Who if written by Odd Future.
If you’re a fan of 80s British comics, then you need to do yourself a favor and pick up this debut issue of a series that I’m sure will be making “best of” lists at the end of the year. The story is a mad rush full of adrenaline in a world so far out there and crazy, it’s hard not to be entertained.
Though it might have that “80s British” vibe, the story also feels fresh and innovative. That package also has a main character that has the snappy banter of coolness of Ash from Army of Darkness. You can take your pick as to which character I’m referring to with that one.
On top of the fun story, there’s visuals that’ll blow you away. The world can’t be described, it can only be seen and you’ll find yourself lingering on pages to catch everything and coming back to do that some more once you’re done reading.
The comic lives up to it’s name and blew me away. This one might be a sleeper, but do yourself a favor and go grab a copy!
Story: Adam Egypt Mortimer Art: Darick Robertson
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Black Mask Studios provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
Occupy Comics #1
Started off in what seems forever ago, Occupy Comics initially started off as a Kickstarter project, it is now seeing print thanks to Black Mask Studios. An anthology, the comic was as political as they come and channeled the dissatisfaction with the status-quo represented by the Occupy Movement. The comics boast an impressive line-up of creators like Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Charlie Adlard, Art Spiegelman, Molly Crabapple, Matt Bors, Mike Allred, Ben Templesmith, J.M. DeMatteis, Tyler Crook, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joe Infurnari, Ales Kot, Dean Haspiel, Joshua Dysart and Matt Pizzolo.
Each contribution is thought-provoking and entertaining and shockingly non-partisan. This is a perfect marriage of comics and politics. While many will see that word “occupy” how the stories presented are pretty non-partisan, reflecting the realistic economic times and the political world in which we live.
But on top of that political message, the comic is also entertaining. The stories contained within are smartly written and beautifully illustrated, making this a package that has depth in message as well as presentation, an awesome combination. It’s a perfect connection between emotion, facts and art.
The stories within vary too. They’re not all straight comics, and some mix it up with different forms of storytelling. This is an anthology with a theme first and foremost, not necessarily a “comic.” But it’s all golden. Everything I read had depth and was intelligent. It just grabbed me and I wanted to read more. It made we want more of this type of voice in the more mainstream comics many of these folks write.
On top of the solid stories and art, all revenue received by organizers/creators (past hard costs) will be donated to various Occupy-related initiatives.
This is a perfect example of the marriage of comics and politics. An awesome comic that I can’t wait to see more of.
Story and art: Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Charlie Adlard, Art Spiegelman, Molly Crabapple, Matt Bors, Mike Allred, Ben Templesmith, J.M. DeMatteis, Tyler Crook, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Joe Infurnari, Ales Kot, Dean Haspiel, Joshua Dysart and Matt Pizzolo
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
12 Reasons to Die #1
This horror-crime hybrid is the latest comic book from the legendary Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Ghostface Killah.
A brutal tale of gangsters, betrayal, and one vengeful soul hunting the 12 most powerful crimelords in the world.
I’m a fan of crime comics. The idea of gangsters and crimelords is just entertaining to me. I tend to gravitate to those stories so this comic was right up my way. But what makes this comic and this “gangster” tale stand out is the horror part of it all. It’s a nice change to the straight up gangster story I was expecting and the type of story I was expecting when I saw that RZA and Ghostface Killah were involved.
There’s a lot going on in the comic, making it not the straightforward crime comic you’d expect. There’s different perspectives and intertwining storylines that’ll be interesting to see how they come together. This is a mystery/horror story with a gangster veneer and the first issue teases that mystery just enough to get me to want to come back and check out more.
You can tell this is a story being told the way they want to be told. It’s a high concept blending story, art and music together. Each section of the first issues is paired with the talents of an artist who does it justice and enhances the story.
What’s even cooler is this is an example of a multi-platform, transmedia concept project with a storyline that spans from the comic book to the new Ghostface Killah album released simultaneously by RZA’s Soul Temple Records. So, you have a soundtrack to check out while reading the comic.
Overall, this is an entertaining example of
Story: Adrian Younge, Ce Garcia, Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon Art: Breno Tamura, Gus Storms, Kyle Strahm, Joe Infurnari
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy
Black Mask Studios provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
