Tag Archives: tko studios

TKO Studios to Send 50% of Every Purchase on their Site to Comic Shops

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TKO Studios

Comic Book Shops are the lifeblood of our industry, and Coronavirus is threatening their existence. Decreased foot traffic, a hesitation to spend money, product being delayed are all some of the issues being faced. TKO Studios wants to help shops.

Over the last couple days, we’ve seen empty comic book shops, mandatory shut-downs, and shop owners worried about the future of their business during this pandemic.

Until the end of the Coronavirus threat, when any customer chooses their store during checkout at www.TKOpresents.com, TKO will send that store 50% of the purchase price, the exact same amount the store would have made selling the book via their brick-and-mortar store.

Review: The Banks

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The Banks

White Collar was one of those shows that USA Network had on for a few years which both charmed and beguiled viewers. It followed a unique relationship between an FBI agent and a former grifter as they investigate white-collar crimes. Its starred Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen, and the immortal Diahann Carroll, in a show which explored both sides of the line of the law, often referring to Bomer’s character’s past and previous proclivities. It really elevated the buddy comedy genre in ways that many shows have tried to imitate since.

What was fascinating was how the show delved deep into the criminal underworld and gave viewers a deep dive into con artist tradecraft. As a writer I often wondered about the roads not taken in stories, and one of those within the show was the backstory of Carroll’s husband, who was also a con man. I felt it would have been better to show this story than to allude to it as the show did through its entire run. The idea of a family of thieves was something I wished W.E.B. Griffin would have tackled in his prolific career. Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle’s beautifully woven The Banks gives us a family whose business is about the next big score and they live by one code, don’t get caught and don’t get greedy.

We’re taken to 1972 Evanston, Illinois, where we meet Clara Banks, a shrewd robber whose skill set as a safecracker has made one of the best in all of Chicago. She develops a family business which is far from your typical. The story weaves through the past to the present delivering an interesting family of thieves and eventually leading to a score and revenge.

Overall, an excellent and intricately told story about a family whose business is more than ill-gotten gains, as love and legacy is paramount to everything. The story by Gay is immense, heartfelt, and harrowing. The art by the creative team is beautiful. Altogether, a story that does more than add sepia tones to the crime noir genre but elevates it a new standard of storytelling.

Story: Roxane Gay
Art: Ming Doyle, Jordie Bellaire, Ariana Maher, Jared K Fletcher, and Jeff Powell
Story: 10 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.9 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Eve of Extinction

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Eve of Extinction

The toxic culture of masculinity has lead to society swiftly blaming the victim. Media pundits and social media always focus on the “extenuating circumstances.” The sheer ignorance and closed-mindedness show how severe the degree of devaluation of women, and even more so female victims, that society at large has accepted. What makes it worse is that many of the detractors are also women. This blind devotion to the patriarchy is distressing. As was illustrated in 2016 in politics, it’s  chronically symptomatic of a societal attitude, as many women voters during the last presidential election questioned whether Hillary Clinton was fit to be President. Many voters cited an outdated reason, “She would let emotions rule her decisions” as a reason to not support her.

This philosophy only aggregates the belief that women should not speak up. Progress much like the arc of justice that Dr. King spoke about is slow but sure. Platforms such as social media have continued to spotlight these atrocities. Men like Matt Lauer and Harvey Weinstein are being exposed while the actions and behaviors like those of Louis CK and Kevin Spacey are now being pronounced as unacceptable. Genre fiction like Handmaid’s Tale shows the effects of ugly patriarchal beliefs. The Twilight Zone‘s recent “Not All Men” took a horror take on how evil this behavior is. In the Simeone Brothers’ Eve Of Extinction, they make a similar take, but this time the ugliness of toxic masculinity turns men into actual monsters.

The story leans into some horror tropes as women are pursued by monsters, in this case men who turn into them. It’s an extinction type event as every man has changed attacking those around them. It’s a fight for survival in this allegorical and timely tale. It’s familiar but has a nice layered spin to it.

Overall, an outstanding entry in the dystopian horror genre, one that is unique and compelling than any in recent memory. The story by the Simeone Brothers is pulse-pounding and well developed. The art by the creative team is awe-inspiring and kudos to them for drawing a realistic description of Vitiligo, a common condition that is rarely depicted in comics. Altogether, a timely and exciting story that gives readers protagonists they would fight alongside any day.

Story: Salvatore A. Simeone and Steve Simeone
Art: Isaac Goodheart, Nik Virella, Ruth Redmond, Maria Nguyen, and Ariana Maher
Story: 9.7 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.6 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Sentient

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Sentient

As powerful a behemoth the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, it cannot be understated how much it has changed the way we look at heroes. The mere reverberations that Avengers: Endgame has had on our collective consciousness is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. The movie showed the world that heroes may be superpowered but mortal. The movie killed three of the most impactful entities of the MCU to that point, leaving audiences in a gasp and many in tears.

This was not the first time the MCU had fans in tears and it probably won’t be the last. It’s the first time I remember seeing a heartfelt story onscreen was Next Avengers: Heroes Of Tomorrow.  The movie centers around the children of the Avengers in a dystopian future. It’s a world where Ultron has killed all their parents. The movie asks a very important question, “Have you prepared your children for a life without you?” Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Walta’s thought-provoking Sentient is a similar premise to that animated movie and explores that very question.

We’re taken to the USS Montgomery a ship that houses a crew and their family along with artificial intelligence, Valeria, that watches over them. Separatists dissent on the Earth colony has the Space Navy and the Montgomery sees betrayal among its own. Post tragedy, the story shifts to one of survival as the surviving children of the Montgomery must learn to function in a ship without their parents and adapt to their new situation. It’s a story of survival in the physical and emotional sense.

Sentient is a truly original science fiction story that borrows traces of Lord of the Flies and Bicentennial Man infused with the human journey to beat insurmountable odds. The story by Lemire is heartfelt, harrowing, and redemptive. The art by Walta, Wands, Fletcher, and Powell is superb. Altogether, a story that shows the answer to the question, that if you can ever prepare your children for the unthinkable and to trust that you that your nurture leads to their better natures.

Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Gabriel Walta, Steve Wands, Jared K Fletcher, and Jeff Powell
Story: 10 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Pound for Pound

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Pound for Pound

Syfy is one of those networks which has gradually become a one-stop-shop for genre fans. The network has had its share of so-so fair like the inconsistent but ultimately becoming better than its source material, Dominion. Then there are those shows that found that sweet balance between comedy and fantasy like Warehouse 13 and Eureka. Then there are those shows that last one season and leave a hefty impression on viewers like The Dresden Files.

Much like the Paul Blackthorn lead series, the other show on the network that felt like it was gone too son, is the one and done Blood Drive Which was a show which surrounded a televised race where the cars thrived on blood and a cop and woman searching for her sister gets pulled into the competition for different reasons. The most intriguing part of the show was the melodrama between the female racer and her search for her sister, which we find out by series end, is more complicated than we had come to believe. In Natalie Chaidez’s, Andy Belanger’s and Daniela Miwa’s Pound For Pound, we find one protagonist much like the SyFy show, whose love for family will see her go to the ends of the earth to save them.

We meet Dani Libra, an underground MMA fighter in the midst of a heated fight that doesn’t go as planned and she inadvertently wins. This angers the local crime lord whose money shot lost and whose debt she now finds herself. From there, the story turns into a grindhouse tale of revenge and pure action as Dani must figure out what to do when her sister is kidnapped as insurance due to the money she owes.

Overall, a story that is a gritty story that combines elements of Drive Angry and Lucha Underground. The story by Chaidez is action-packed contemplative, and well characterized. The art by the creative team is breathtaking. Altogether, a story that shows that family is always what matters most.

Story: Natalie Chaidez
Art: Andy Belanger, Daniela Miwa, and Serge LaPointe
Story: 9.7 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy

TKO’s Second Wave of Comics is Now Available

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TKO Studios burst upon the comic book scene last December with a bold new strategy to binge-release entire miniseries in both collectors box sets and trade paperbacks. Their first wave of books included series by some of comics’ best writers and artists.

TKO has released their second wave of books. The titles include:

SENTIENT

Written by Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer) and drawn by Gabriel Walta (The Vision)

When a separatist attack kills every adult on board a colony ship in deep space, it is up to VALERIE, the on-board A.I., to help the ship’s children survive. But as they are pursued by dangerous forces, can Valerie become more than what she was programmed to be — a savior to these children? 

SENTIENT

THE BANKS

Written by Roxane Gay (Black Panther: World of Wakanda), drawn by Ming Doyle (The Kitchen), and colored by Jordie Bellaire (Redlands)

Chicago, Southside. For fifty years the women of the Banks family have been the most successful thieves in the city by following one simple rule: Get in. Get away. Get paid. Never get greedy.

THE BANKS

POUND FOR POUND

Written by Natalie Chaidez (Queen of the South), drawn by Andy Belanger (Southern Cross), and Daniela Miwa (The Fearsome Doctor Fang)

MMA fighter Dani Libra fears nothing… except for her recurring blackouts and fractured memories that obscure a bloody past. When her sister is kidnapped, Dani must shine a light on the darkness in her own mind. But can she keep her own demons at bay for long enough to save her sister?

POUND FOR POUND

EVE OF EXTINCTION

Written by Sal and Steven Simeone, drawn by Nik Virella (Deadpool) and Isaac Goodhart (Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale), and Ruth Redmond (Amazing Spider-Man)

The rain brought something. Something that changed the men. In order to reach their stranded daughter, two mothers must survive the hurricane, and the horrors it unleashed. But can they work together long enough to save their daughter in a world where all men have become monsters?

EVE OF EXTINCTION

 Each first issue of every mini-series is free to read at TKOpresents.com.

Review: Goodnight Paradise

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VENICE BEACH, CALIFORNIA
SUN. SURF. SEX. MONEY. MURDER.

After finding the body of a murdered teenage runaway, a homeless man vows to bring her killer to justice.

Writer: Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier, B.P.R.D.)
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli (The Dark Knight, Unknown Soldier)
Color Artist: Giulia Brusco (Django Unchained, Scalped)
Letterer: Steve Wands (Batman, Descender)

Order yours now!

Review: Sara

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NAZI OCCUPIED RUSSIA, 1942.

FIGHT HARD.
SHOOT STRAIGHT.
DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU ALIVE.

A team of female Russian snipers beat back the Nazi invaders on the WW2 Eastern Front.

Writer: Garth Ennis (Punisher, Preacher, The Boys)
Artist: Steve Epting (Captain America, Velvet)
Color Artist: Elizabeth Breitweiser (Batman, Outcast, Kill or Be Killed)
Letterer: Rob Steen (Punisher, Nick Fury)

Order yours now https://tkopresents.com/

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