The Crow #4

I’ve never been a huge fan of the Crow as a character, but then again I never really got into a black or make-up phase too. Maybe that’s why IDW’s relaunch of the series hasn’t gotten me as excited as so many of their other comics.

The story shifts the story to Japan where a western boy is attempting to take revenge against a corporation that’s stealing bodies and transferring their minds into them. Maybe that plot alone is the reason I’m not gung-ho about this series, there’s just something a bit goofy about it.

This issue is a lot of the scenes from horror movies where the killer gets closer and closer, ie the Crow keeps moving towards his targets even though he’s shot a bunch. Add those action scenes with odd quieter scenes of dialogue and the two together is a comic that just doesn’t speak to me.

Story: John Shirley Art: Kevin Colden

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Pass

Doctor Who Season 3 #1

I’m new to Who really only starting to watch the television series and learning about it in the past 6 months or so. But, I consider myself a fan now and it seems only appropriate that after this past Sunday’s Angels Take Manhattan episode we get to continue the adventures of the good Doctor and the Ponds in this new comic.

The comic is decent and covers the characters well, sending them to Victorian England. The mystery set up is fun and fits the pacing of the show in how it’s laid out and things come about.

That being said, there’s some pacing with the dialogue that I miss compared to the television show. It’s the delivery of the lines as much as the lines themselves and that’s what’s missing here. But, it’s really unfair to compare the comic and television series, as each is their own medium.

Overall, for those that love the Ponds, this might console you a bit as they continue their fun with the Doctor on the pages of this new series.

Story: Andy Diggle Art: Mark Buckingham

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Love and Capes: What to Expect #3

I’ve never read Love and Capes before. I am an idiot. Three issues in and I’m in love with this comic series which blends super heroes with situational comedies done in a style that’d you expect in Sunday papers, sort of like comic strips, but full page.

This volume of the series has The Crusader and his wife Abby expecting their first child. Now, take all of the things you’d need to do while expecting a child, but with super heroes. A baby crying with super hearing anyone? What happens when the baby, who may have super powers, kicks in the womb? Yeah, it gets pretty entertaining.

But what’s weirder is that creator Thomas Zahler has actually affected my thoughts about fatherhood. I’m getting to that point in my age where this might happen in a few years, and how Zahler deals with the topic and humor he brings about it has gotten me to smile about a situation I used to hyperventilate about. Pretty impressive for a comic book.

Love and Capes is on my must read pile and now I’m off to get the earlier volumes to get caught up.

Story: Thomas F. Zahler Art: Thomas F. Zahler

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review