Tag Archives: john barber

Around the Tubes

Batgirls #1

It’s a new week as we barrel into the end of the year. What stands out for you when it comes to comics in 2021? Sound off in the comments below. While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

Indiewire – Netflix Chief Teases Fincher’s ‘The Killer’: ‘Really Fun, Big Movie’ with Career-Best Fassbender – Can’t wait for this! The graphic novels are amazing.

ICv2 – John Barber Out as IDW EIC – 2022 is looking like it’s going to be rough for IDW.

The Mary Sue – Things We Saw Today: DC’s ‘Blue Beetle’ Jumps From HBO Max to Theaters – It going to theaters is a pretty big deal and sign of Warner Bros. expectations for it.

The Mary Sue – Robert Pattinson Modeled His Bruce Wayne After Kurt Cobain in ‘The Batman’ – Uh. He wears a lot of flannel?

Screenrant – Shaloman: The Jewish Superhero Nobody Remembers – Yeah, can’t say we remember this one.

Reviews

Blog Critics – Animal Stories
Talking Comics – Batgirls #1
AIPT – Reign of X Vol. 7

Preview: Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three Vol. 1

Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three Vol. 1

Written by John Barber, Cullen Bunn, Mairghread Scott
Art by Fico Ossio, Sara Pitre-Durocher

Presenting the final phase of IDW’s Transformers universe in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series! The Revolution begins here! Explosions rip across Earth—and all signs of blame point to OPTIMUS PRIME and the TRANSFORMERS! G.I. JOE refuses to go quietly however—and they assemble heroes big enough to stop the invaders! ACTION MAN and M.A.S.K. fight for humanity as well, but where do ROM and the MICRONAUTS stand? Plus, a wave of undead TITANS threatens Cybertron! Starscream will need more than secret police to stop the oncoming horde, but the Fearless Leader finds himself short on friends and firepower. Who can be called upon, and why aren’t they stepping up to the plate? Collects Revolution issues #0–5; the Transformers: Till All Are One, Transformers, Action Man, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Revolution one-shots; Transformers: Till All Are One issues #5–8; and Revolutionaries issues #1–4.

Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three Vol. 1

Preview: Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 12

Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 12

(W) John Barber, James Roberts, Mairghread Scott (A) Sara Pitre-Durocher, Andrew Griffith, Livio Ramondelli, Priscilla Tramontano (CA) Marcelo Matere
In Shops: Feb 10, 2021
SRP: $59.99

Presenting IDW’s Transformers comics in recommended reading order!

All Hail Optimus! Backed by an army of zealous followers, Optimus Prime declares Earth to be a part of Cybertron’s Council of Worlds-but the Decepticons and the people of Earth won’t take it lying down! Meanwhile, on Cybertron, Starscream rules. He and Windblade vie for control of the Council of Worlds, each aligning themselves with as many long-lost colonies as they can. But Starscream’s secret police keep increasing the tension and destabilizing the fragile peace that has been established. All of this leads to one momentous event-Titans Return!

Collects Transformers #51-57, Transformers: Till All Are One #1-4, Titans Return #1, and Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #56-57.

Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 12

Review: Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookies

Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookies

As a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, I was more than happy to find out that there was a film adaptation. I remember the first time I read the books that took me to Middle Earth. I was 8 years old and was enraptured in that world and those characters. Of course, the film adaptation I found at that age was the Ralph Bakshi film of 1970s which left much to be desired. It wasn’t until 2001, that I got to see something that resembled the books.

Peter Jackson imbued the love all we fans had for the series. 20 years later, and I am still in love with those movies, and have even more hope for the new Amazon series. My favorite of Peter Jackson’s movies from that series was The Two Towers as we see our heroes defend the people of Rohan against Sauran’s forces. In the 11th volume of Star Wars Adventures, we get Rise Of  The Wookies, where we see Chewie defend his home planet much like the Fellowship and Riders of Rohan.

In “Ghosts of Kashyyyk”, we find Chewie in the Millennium Falcon leading a Resistance squadron back to his home planet, Kashyyyk, where The First Order has set up a base. Chewbacca goes on a solo recon mission where he finds that First Order has some Wookies as captives which leads to him jailbreaking them and taking Storm Troopers as a prisoner. In our second story, ”Secret Agent Droids”,  our favorite droids, C-3PO, R2D2, and BB-8, thwart the First Order’s plans to block all communications from a desolate planet. In our third story, “Tales From Wild Space”, we meet a young upstart, Emil, who discovers a long lost library, who ends up getting mind-controlled, but not before he is rescued by his droid. In “Loyalty Test”, the First Order arrives on the planet, Vaddexa, where Hux and Kylo Ren, get to test each other’s loyalty. In “Squad Goals”, Poe and Rey, go on a training drill, one that tests Rey’s piloting skills. In The last story,” The Battle for Horizon Base”, Finn leads the charge against the First Order, who is trying to take over an important focal point, and eventually recruits more to the Resistance.

Overall, a fun romp throughout the Star War universe. The stories by John Barber and Michael Moreci are compelling. The art by the creative team is enchanting. Altogether, a set of stories that reminds you why you fell in love with these characters in the first place.

Story: John Barber and Michael Moreci
Art: Derek Charm, Jake M. Wood, Tom B. Long, Matt Herms, David Buisan, Arianna Florean, Charlie Kirchoff, Mario Del Pennino, Valentina Taddeo,
and Tony Fleecs
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Reccomendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: comiXologyAmazonKindleZeus ComicsTFAW

Review: Transformers vs. The Terminator

Transformers vs. The Terminator

As a child of the 1980s, I can truly say that television was in its heyday. We got to enjoy some of the best programming that many of us still revel in. It has gotten to the point where many of these shows are coming back in some form. You can look at the past few months, for evidence of this.

One of the best things about those television shows, especially the ones on ABC, was the crossover episodes. Usually, a crossover between similar shows made sense, which is why NBC’s Chicago franchises enjoy this flexibility. This is also why the Avengers movies are so enjoyable, seeing a cast of literally thousands come together after years of build-up. In Transformers vs. The Terminator, a crossover between two iconic franchises makes for an interesting story.

We’re taken to Los Angeles in 2029, where the war between humans and Skynet has taken a cease-fire, as the Decepticons are waging a war on Planet Earth, looking to conquer by any means necessary.  Skynet sends a Terminator back to 1984, a T-800, where he meets a young Sarah Connor, and who in this timeline, still is the key to defeating the enemy, the Decepticons. As he searches for the Autobot Base, it seems like he may be too late, as Megatron stands over his lifeless body, which is when the T-800 surprises them with suppression fire. This gives Bumblebee a chance to rescue Optimus, and give the Autobots an upper hand. Meanwhile, we find out Megatron is in search of Energon on earth, something he finds in multitudes at the Cyberdyne Systems plant, which leads to a standoff between the T-800 and the Autobots against the Decepticons.  By the book’s end, one villain falls while one hero looks for all Transformers to live peacefully, while T-800 accomplishes its mission.

Transformers vs. The Terminator is a fun story that meshes the best parts of both franchises. The story by the creative team is thrilling and relatable. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that asks the question of why there are not more stories like this.

Story: David Mariotte, John Barber, Tom Waltz
Art: Alex Milne , David Garcia Cruz, Jake Wood and Gavin Fullerton
Story: 9.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: comiXologyAmazonKindleZeus ComicsTFAW

Preview: Transformers vs. Terminator

Transformers vs. Terminator

(W) David Mariotte, John Barber, Tom Waltz (A) Alex Milne (CA) Gavin Fullerton
In Shops: Feb 03, 2021
SRP: $15.99

It’s Skynet vs. Cybertron in a crossover for the ages!

1984: When a deadly race of machines emerge from another time, will a robotic guardian be able to protect the Earth from a dire future… or will the T-800 fail in his mission to prevent the world from becoming a plaything to the Decepticons? It’s up to one Terminator to save the future, and nothing’s gonna stand in his way!

Transformers vs. Terminator

Preview: Transformers vs. The Terminator #4 (of 4)

Transformers vs. The Terminator #4 (of 4)

(W) David Mariotte, John Barber, Tom Waltz (A) Alex Milne (CA) Gavin Fullerton
In Shops: Sep 30, 2020
SRP: $3.99

Up against an army of Decepticons, the T-800 must rely on his Autobot allies to even the odds. And, with luck, both sides will thin each other out for his last gambit to eliminate all Cybertronians. The fate of the future will be determined in this final battle, but will the ultimate victors be robotic… or human?

Transformers vs. The Terminator #4 (of 4)

Preview: Transformers vs. Terminator #3 (of 4)

Transformers vs. Terminator #3 (of 4)

(W) David Mariotte, John Barber, Tom Waltz (A) Alex Milne (CA) Gavin Fullerton
In Shops: Aug 19, 2020
SRP: $3.99

The T-800’s mission is simple: Exterminate the Cybertronians and ensure the future belongs to SKYNET. When Optimus Prime offers his aid, suggesting they go after Megatron together, the T-800 faces his toughest decision yet. Is the enemy of his enemy his friend, or just another threat to the mission?

Transformers vs. Terminator #3 (of 4)

Preview: Transformers vs. Terminator #2 (of 4)

Transformers vs. Terminator #2 (of 4)

(W) David Mariotte, John Barber, & Tom Waltz (A) Alex Milne (CA) Gavin Fullerton
In Shops: Jun 24, 2020
SRP: $3.99

The T-800, last hope of his kind, has travelled back to 1984 to destroy the Cybertronians before they can awaken and subjugate his future. But when the Ark systems start to bring the Autobots and Decepticons back online, what will he do against two armies? It’s up to one Terminator to save the future and nothing’s gonna stand in his way!

Transformers vs. Terminator #2 (of 4)

Preview: Transformers IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 11

Transformers IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 11

(W) John Barber, James Roberts (A) Sara Pitre-Durocher, Andrew Griffith, Alex Milne (CA) Marcelo Matere
In Shops: Jun 17, 2020
SRP: $49.99

Presenting IDW’s Transformers comics in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series! OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to find his place on CYBERTRON where half the population hates him and the other half worships him. Meanwhile, on Earth, GALVATRON doesn’t care what anybody thinks. And, although Megatron has rejected his past, that doesn’t keep him safe from the Decepticon Justice Division. Plus, Getaway is staging a mutiny on the Lost Light, all leading to a climactic showdown, and not everyone will come out the other side.

In the one-shot special, the Dinobots battle for Redemption! Cybertron is dead. No new life has been created in millions of years. But when the Dinobots make a brutal play for a briefcase full of cash, they find something else: a chance for a better future… for their world, and for themselves.

Transformers IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 11
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