Tag Archives: laura allred

Review: Bug The Adventures of Forager #1

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The DC’s Young Animal enters the realm of Jack Kirby and his New Gods in Bug: The Adventures of Forager #1. Forager is a Bug aka the bottom of the bottom of New Genesis’ caste system, but he’s saved the universe, met Batman, and might be a New God himself. However, Bug #1 is less cosmic space epic than twisted dream logic in comic book form as storytellers Lee Allred and Mike Allred and colorist Laura Allred immediately question the nature of Forager’s reality as he dies and comes back to life multiple times, encounters the Jack Kirby Sandman (Laura Allred nails his garish red and yellow costume.), and talks to a teddy bear about Albert Camus.

Above all, Mike Allred channels the pure energy of the King of Comics’ pencils in Bug #1 with Forager bounding, punching, and vaulting his way through the issue. His poses are athletic and pop off the page as Forager is in constant discomfort and trying to come to grips with the reality around him. When the enigmatic enemies of the comic show up in the last third, Allred gets playful with his layouts arranging them in spirals as Forager dips and dodges. Most of the comic takes place in Forager’s dream, but there is something very solid about his art. Solid doesn’t mean though as Allred uses pop art spirals to make superheroes punching each other fresh again before he and Lee Allred joke about how tacky they are. This also connects to Sandman’s ability to make dreams “real”. (But what is reality.)  However, Allred uses some forced perspective tricks early on that remind me of his work on the underrated Vertigo series Art Ops, and his use of archetypical imagery like dominoes and creepy insects contribute to the surreal feel of the comic before the not-so-Goth Dream King shows up.

However, Bug #1 isn’t just a showcase for great art and colors. Lee and Mike Allred have a very playful writing style with puns, wordplay, and slapdash references to literature, DC Comics, and Jack Kirby lore. The protagonist of the comic may be a corpse, but Bug #1 is loaded with some quirky humor like Forager making fun of the overseriousness of the New God Metron or thinking about milking a camel when the teddy bear mentions Albert Camus. Even though they mention the restrictiveness of New Genesis culture and the nature of free will and existence, the Allreds don’t take themselves too seriously throughout Bug #1. I mean there’s a reference to Brute and Glob, er, Pinky and the Brain buried in here somewhere.

Even though it’s a lot like digging through fragments of someone else’s dream, Bug: The Adventures of Forager #1 is an excellent tribute to Jack Kirby’s vibrant imagination by the talented family trio of Lee Allred, Mike Allred, and Laura Allred. Mike Allred’s figures bounce off the page, yet have a human beauty to them, and there is something primal, almost Pixar-esque about his and Lee Allred’s plotting as Forager/Bug tries to make sense of his place in the world. Is he an insect servant of Highfather, an adventurer, a god, or just a dead guy? The next five issues should hopefully unravel this colorful existential crisis.

Story: Lee Allred and Mike Allred Art: Mike Allred Colors: Laura Allred
Story: 8 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics/Young Animal provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

The Green Hornet ’66 Meets The Spirit from Fred Van Lente and Bob Q

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Dynamite Entertainment has announced that classic television’s incarnation of The Green Hornet is set to make his return with an unexpected new partner in the pulp character’s latest cross-over miniseries, The Green Hornet ’66 Meets The Spirit, featuring revered comic writer/artist Will Eisner’s famous two-fisted crimefighter. Written by Fred Van Lente, with art by Bob Q, The Green Hornet ’66 Meets The Spirit #1 arrives in stores this July!

The Green Hornet is back and on the case! With his aide Kato and their rolling arsenal, The Black Beauty, by his side, The Green Hornet is ready to face the toughest of challenges! On police records a wanted criminal, The Green Hornet is secretly Britt Reid, owner/publisher of The Daily Sentinel. Reid and Kato have traveled to Central City to participate in the futuristic World’s Fair, and to get the skinny on the new and potentially dangerous “Newspaper of Tomorrow”, a device capable of predicting headlines before events happen.

The debut issue of The Green Hornet ’66 Meets the Spirit features a wide selection of cover variants, providing fans and retailers with the freedom of choice! The cover artwork features the talents of the award-winning team, Mike and Laura Allred, Ty Templeton, and Javier Pulido, respectively. Limited variant editions in “Black & White” and “Virgin Art” formats are also available as retailer incentives for comic shops that support the launch issue by achieving stocking thresholds.

The Green Hornet ’66 Meets the Spirit #1 is slated for release in July.

Preview: Josie and the Pussycats #6

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JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS #6

Script: Marguerite Bennett, Cameron DeOrdio
Art: Audrey Mok, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jack Morelli
Cover: Audrey Mok
Variant Covers: Michael Allred with Laura Allred, Ben Caldwell
On Sale Date: 4/19
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

With the Pussycats arrested for plagiarism, Alexander Cabot is determined to put the band on trial! The girls are shipped to the Cabot family’s sovereign patch of Antarctica, where the Cabots’ word is law! How will the girls get out of this one? (Spoilers: Probably friendship.)

Review: Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The New Adventures HC (Second Edition)

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WILL EISNER'S THE SPIRIT THE NEW ADVENTURES HC (SECOND EDITION)The Spirit is one of those enduring characters that not only have outlasted its creator which is a feat in and of itself but inspired tens of thousands of characters made from the same ilk. The fact that Will Eisner’s name carries so much love and respect throughout the industry, is truly unprecedented. I have heard other writers compare him to Jack Kirby and Bob Kane, but no one was quite like Mr. Eisner, as his feel for story and character are very much different than those icons. In all honesty, it truly is a travesty that The Spirit has not been translated into other mediums like the lesser characters it inspired.

After its initial publication, in 1939, it had a long and storied history, some involving controversy with the introduction of the character of Ebony White and some very depressing lows, with the publication, of The Spirit’s adventures involving John Law. The fact that he has appeared in print in just about every decade of the 20th century, speaks to infamy of the character, and how well written it as by Eisner. I really got into the character not from the original archived comic that DC Comics collected back in 2007, but from Jeph Loeb’s and Darwyn Cooke’s highly entertaining one shot involving his encounter with the Dark Knight. Then Dynamite enlisted Matt Wagner for a whole new series which definitely stayed true to Eisner’s original vision.

In this collection, a who’s who of the comic world showed up to tell their interpretations of the character to include Paul Chadwick, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Mike Allred, Jay Stephens and many more. Every story is each creator at their peak talents, especially Gaiman’s “The Return of Mink Stole”, which he is particularly adept at, and I wish he wrote more of. Another standout is Chadwick’s” Cursed Beauty”, which definitely reminds of Brubaker’s recently concluded Fade Out and some elements of his Fatale. Moore has contributed various stories to this collection, but the one that stands as my favorite is “Last Night I Dreamed of Dr.Cobra”, which now reading it again has definite influences over his ongoing Providence.

Overall, a strong collection, as it seemed as though every creator stepped knowing who each other was, and how important Eisner’s legacy is. The stories are iconic Spirit at their best, definitely some twists and turns , but always staying true. The art by the varius artists , is a nice contrast in various hues and styles that makes this a must buy. Altogether, if you love crime noir , if you love your heroes dark and brooding, then you will love The Spirit, as well as these creators.

Story: Paul Chadwick, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman , Mike Allred, Jay Stephens, Denis Kitchen, John Wagner, Mark Kneece, Kurt Busiek, Matt Brundage, Michael Avon Oeming, John Ostrander, Scott Hampton, Dennis Eichorn, Eddie Campbell, Jay Stephens, Joe Lansdale, James Vance, Gary Chaloner
Art: Dave Gibbons, Dan Burr, Daniel Torres, Bo Hampton, Brent Anderson, Laura Allred, David Lloyd, Tom Mandrake, Scott Hampton, Gene Fama, Eddie Campbell, Paul Pope, John Lucas, Gary Chaloner
Story: 10 Art:10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Silver Surfer #1

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Silver_Surfer_1_Cover“Fantastic Planet” The Surfer has taken Dawn Greenwood to the end of the universe, and now he’s going to show her the most fantastic planet of them all: Earth! It’s your homeworld like you’ve never seen it before: with monsters, magic and…a secret that will change everything!

Where many series in All-New, All-Different Marvel have used their number one issues as a fresh restart to head in a new direction, Silver Surfer #1 feels like it might as well been the next number in the previous volume. Written by Dan Slott, with Mike and Laura Allred on art, the issue is a continuation. Surfer and Dawn head back to Earth to deal with a threat that’s rather fun and a bit different.

The comic has a lighthearted feel to it all, feeling more like the more fun days of Doctor Who. The comic references a lot, playing off of other creations like Who, Wizard of Oz, Madman, The Matrix and more including Art Ops, a Vertigo comic Allred is a part of. Some of the most fun is playing “name the pop culture reference.”

The comic is a good jumping on point, and is entertaining though not deep. It did leave me with some questions like the role of Alpha Flight in the Marvel Universe. Radd and Dawn deal with an alien threat to Earth and they’re nowhere to be seen.

The art by the Allreds is the draw for me. Their style gives the comic its fun feel and takes it from a bit of a throwaway to entertaining. The coloring, the style, it’s distinctive and full of so many pop culture references you’ll find yourself staring at pages to get all of the jokes. What’s best in the comic isn’t what’s written, but what’s drawn. Just look at the cover to get what I’m talking about.

For fans of the previous volume, little has changed. This first issue picks up where things left off with the same characters, similar status, and same look. This isn’t All-New, All-Different, it’s a continuation of what’s come before. And that’s quite ok as that worked really well. For those who missed the previous volume, this is a solid jumping on point.

Story: Dan Slott Art: Mike Allred, Laura Allred
Story: 7.6 Art: 8.4 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Hold On and Hang Tight With a First Look at Silver Surfer #1!

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Anywhere and Everywhere! This January, the sentinel of the starry space ways returns from the edge of the universe for the start of a thrilling new adventure in Silver Surfer #1! Comic superstars and fan-favorite creative team of Dan Slott, Mike Allred and Laura Allred are back to chronicle the next chapter for Norrin Radd and Dawn Greenwood!

The Silver Surfer has shown his companion Dawn Greenwood the cosmos. Taking her to the end of the universe and back, together they’ve experienced the weird, the strange and the fantastic. But now, the time has come to show her the most fantastic planet of all – Earth! Only she (and you!) have never seen it like this before. Monsters, magic, monumental moments and more! Plus – a secret that will change everything! Now is your chance to hop on BOARD the series that has the industry talking!

Catch a cosmic wave this January!

SILVER SURFER #1 (NOV150763)
Written by DAN SLOTT
Art & Cover by MIKE ALLRED & LAURA ALLRED
Variant Cover by MARCO RUDY (NOV150764)
Hip-Hop Variant by CLIFF CHIANG (NOV150765)
Baby Hip-Hop Variant by CLIFF CHIANG (NOV150766)
Deadpool Variant by WILL SLINEY (NOV150767)
FOC – 12/14/15, On-Sale – 01/13/16

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Marvel Announces Silver Surfer, Moon Knight, The Infinity Entity, Mockingbird, and X-Men ’92

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At the Diamond Summit taking place before this weekend’s Baltimore Comic Con, Marvel announced a bunch of new series coming out in 2016 as part of their All-New, All-Different reboot/relaunch (and blowing that past the promised 55-60 new comics we were told would be a part of it).

Dan Slott, Laura Allred, and Mike Allred will return on Silver Surfer in 2016. Marvel said they would release more details tomorrow.

Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood will be taking over creative duties for Moon Knight, which will return in 2016.

Jim Starlin and Alan Davis will be returning to their Infinity epic with The Infinity Entity. The four issue miniseries will focus on Adam Warlock. The third part of their epic begins in April 2016.

Chelsea Cain will be writing Mockingbird in a new ongoing series. An artist has not been announced. The character has been a part of the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and her on again/off again spin-off series is back on again last I heard. So, another character from the live action universe getting a comic tie-in.

Spinning out of Secret Wars: Battleworld, artist Alti Firmansyah will team up with Chris Sims and Chad Bowers for an X-Men ’92 series. The series sees the team return to their world to open a new Xavier School with Cassandra Nova’s students enrolling too. The comic launches spring 2016.

Exclusive Preview: Batman ’66 #66

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Batman ’66 #66 hist digital shelves this Wednesday and it’s introducing a modern villain into the ’66 mythos, BANE! In fact, Bane and Batman strike the classic fighting pose, between the two of them, where Bane cracks Batman’s back over his knee.

Batman  pursues The Riddler to a wrestling arena, where the Prince of Puzzles is backing a powerful masked wrestler by the name of Bane! Will the Caped Crusader meet his match in the ring?

The chapter will be available for download tomorrow via the DC Comics App, Readdcentertainment.com, iBooks, comiXology.com, Google Play, Kindle Store, Nook Store, and iVerse ComicsPlus.

The comic is written by Jeff Parker with pencils, inks, and colors by Scott Kowalchuk. The cover is by Laura Allred and Mike Allred.

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Preview: Sinergy #2

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Sinergy #2

Story By: Michael Avon Oeming
Story By: Taki Soma
Art By: Michael Avon Oeming
Cover By: Michael Avon Oeming
Variant Cover By: Michael Allred
Variant Cover By: Laura Allred
Cover Price: $3.50
Digital Price: $2.99
Diamond ID: OCT140764
Published: December 10, 2014

Monster hunting is tough on families, especially when it’s a secret! Jess can’t believe her boyfriend may be the same monster her father warned her about! Also in this issue, a back-up story about monster men written and drawn by TAKI SOMA!

Sinergy02_CoverA

Preview: Lady Killer #1

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Dark Horse has released a preview for Lady Killer #1 by Joëlle Jones, Jamie S. Rich, and Laura Allred.

Betty Draper meets Hannibal!

Josie Schuller is a picture-perfect homemaker, wife, and mother—but she’s also a ruthless, efficient killer for hire! A brand-new original comedy series that combines the wholesome imagery of early 1960s domestic bliss with a tightening web of murder, paranoia, and cold-blooded survival.

On sale January 7th.

LADY KILLER #1

 

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