Son of Merlin #1

Simon Ambrose is a brilliant young professor at MIT. Always somewhat out of sync with the rest of the world, Simon is a man of science and does not put much stock in faith. When he discovers that he is the bastard son of the world’s greatest wizard Merlin, he is forced to put his skepticism aside and embrace a world of magic and the mayhem it embodies. Science and magic collide in this introductory priced first issue!

I enjoyed the first issue of this series. There’s some cool action, some nice art, but can’t say it’s anything that feels really new or different. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. It’s entertaining and for $1 there’s no excuse to not pick up this first issue.

There’s some nice twists in the first issue, at least one thing I haven’t seen before. But, the idea of taking Merlin and placing him in modern days or having him have some descendent in modern times that has to learn magic seems like something I’ve seen before.

But this issue is all about the set up. And it does that well. It’s a fun read, again $1, there’s no excuse to not get it. I think the series will have to be judge as a whole and when that’s done, this first issue will rise up a bit in it’s standing.

Story: Robert Napton Art: Zid

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Buy

Think Tank #5

Genius slacker Dr. David Loren outsmart the government, the military, and the all of the brightest minds in science to escape the think tank he used to call his home and his job. But his tropical retreat isn’t as secluded as he would hope!

I loved the first volume of this series and the fact it went from a mini-series to an ongoing makes me so happy. How much did I like it? I bought two pages of original art. So yeah, I’m coming to this from a fan perspective. This first issue of the second arc though blew me away. I thought the first four issues were good? Yeah, just wait until you read this one.

David is back working for “the man” and how he wound up doing that is teased in flashbacks, but even then we don’t get the full story. In the present though, he presents a new weapon idea that had me saying “holy shit.” It’s something I didn’t think of.

And that leads to the theme of this second story arc, race and genetics. It’s prevalent in this first issue with a lot of discussion as to what makes us, us. Some pretty heady stuff for a comic book. Plus a weapon, which is possible, is discussed that will make you cringe.

The first story arc really focused on David Loren the person and his being a slacker. It had some mentions about the ethics of what he was doing, but that wasn’t the focus. Here though, it’s thrust to us and a hell of a topic for a comic to take on.

Writer Matt Hawkins has a great chance to really put forth an excellent discussion about war, weapons, technology, invention, ethics and more. Here’s hoping he goes where I think he does and discusses it all, while still giving us an entertaining read, just like he has with this issue.

Story: Matt Hawkins Art: Rahsan Ekedal

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review