Author Archives: Brett

Weekly Roundup

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It was a short week for us as we took a much needed vacation.  But that made us think, do super heroes (or villains) take vacations?  And if they do, where do they go?  When we got back we quickly caught up with a lot of previews and reviews.  Here’s the week that was.

batman and robin on vacation

Weekly Reviews

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A pretty light week for books.  Here’s the reviews for this weeks comics.

Monthly Comics

Avengers Prime #1 – It’s moments after the end of Siege and Thor, Iron Man, and Steve Rogers must deal with the aftermath.  But before they can get to that they’re dragged through a portal to one of the nine realms.  This has potential for being a great series that focuses on the heart of the Avengers.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Brightest Day #3 – DC continues to up the mystery of the returned heroes and villains as all the various story lines continue to move forward.  So far so good.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of Our Fathers #3 – The four issue mini series continues as the Nazis mount their offensive against Wakanda and the Howling Commandos attack the Nazis.  A fantastic mini series that you should definitely pick up.  It throws off the pc shackles and says what needs to be said in a great piece of retro Marvel history.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

Demo #5 – Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan continue their slice of life story telling involving people with different abilities.  The limited series has been nothing but top notch and this issue is no exception.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.5

Frankencastle #17 – We’re in transition to the next chapter of Frank Castle’s life as an undead version of the Punisher.  He’s looking to take revenge on those who’ve wronged him bringing the series more in line with the Punisher we know and love.  The Monster Squad is still part of the picture and we can expect for the classic Punisher to be coming along at some point, but for now this will do, even though it feels like a goofy knock off.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.25

Irredeemable #14 – The team is captured as this issue focuses on Gil and a bit more about his past.  Mark Waid continues to brilliantly deconstruct the super hero mythos.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8 Overall: 8

iZombie #2 – When this series debuted I felt it was quirky, odd and fun.  The second issue keeps that up as the vampire killer mystery continues and Gwen must deal with the memories flooding to her from her latest meal.  This is a very entertaining series that has a great sense of what it is.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

The Thanos Imperative #1 – Realm of Kings was overall pretty blah.  However, we needed it to get where we’re at for The Thanos Imperative.  The cancerverse has started to inch into our world and it’s first mission is to snuff out Death’s avatar.  It’s a great concept and brings back the epic feel of previous Marvel cosmic epics.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #9 – This is definitely the weakest issue in a while as Moon Knight teams up with Spider-Man to take on Sandman.  The art seems off, the dialogue, just everything.  I feel like they just through something together to just hold us over until the next issue where Moon Knight’s role with the Secret Avengers is explored.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

“Comic Book Literacy” Wins “Best Documentary” At The Phoenix Comicon Film Festival

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Official Press Release

“COMIC BOOK LITERACY” WINS “BEST DOCUMENTARY” AT THE PHOENIX COMICON FILM FESTIVAL
Film Festival helps spread the word about comics and reading

PHOENIX, AZ – The independent feature film “Comic Book Literacy” won the “Best Documentary” award at the Phoenix Comicon Film Festival over Memorial Day weekend.  The film features interviews with comic book creators, educators and scholars and delves into the topic of using comic books to promote literacy and education.

The film screened early in the festival, which was a part of the tenth annual Phoenix Comicon, and helped to set the stage for one of the convention’s primary themes.  The convention partnered with “Kids Need to Read,” a non-profit organization that works to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books to under-funded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States.  Together the two groups produced multiple events throughout the convention to raise funds for the charity.

“We’re very pleased to have been honored by the festival with the ‘Best Documentary’ award,” said Todd Kent, the film’s director, “But we’re even more excited to have been a part of an event like this that promotes literacy and the idea that comics can play a big part in getting kids excited about reading.”

In addition to the Phoenix Comicon, the film premiered earlier this year at Chicago’s C2E2, was an official selection of the Karibukai Animation Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico and there are plans to screen throughout 2010 & 2011 at film festivals, comic book conventions and other events.  Kent said, “We’re continuing to work towards our goal of having comic books accepted in schools, libraries and lesson plans across the country and events like these are a big part of raising awareness about the positive aspects of the medium.”

For more information about the film, upcoming screenings, and updates go to: www.ComicBookLiteracy.com

Comic Books a Children’s Interest?

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Public defender John Spurling needed to ask a judge if comic books count as a children’s interest in arguing against a vague condition for a 36 year old man who pleaded guilty to sexting a teen.

Michael Anthony Nielsen must follow several special conditions that are tied to his probation.  These include that he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, he has to stay 100 yards away from an area where children congregate, he is prohibited from living within a quarter mile of any elementary school, he is subject to search and seizure at any time by law officials and he can’t possess materials related to children’s interests.

His lawyer Spurling felt that last condition was a bit too vague stating:

“I think I noted my objection to (the conditions),” Spurling said outside of the courtroom. “I’m not sure how people are expected to comply with probation terms when they are rather on the vague side.”

“So if you possess comic books, are you in violation of probation?” Nielsen asked.

I’m going to speak for the rest of the comic community to say yes, just so this creep isn’t found in one our stores….

Holy Busted Batman

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If you walk down Hollywood Boulevard you’d come across a bevy of costumed characters.  Complaints have increased about these street performers soliciting money from tourists.  Legally they can accept tips, but not ask for them.

Batman, alias Tony Tomey, was singled out and taken away in handcuffs after police monitored a group of six superheroes on Wednesday afternoon.

Joe McQueen who dresses as the Incredible Hulk was dismayed over the arrest.

I knew this day was going to come, eventually.

Elmo, Mr Incredible and Chewbacca have all been arrested for various legal infringements in recent years.  In 2007 another Batman impersonator was arrested for disorderly conduct after demanding to use a portable lavatory union workers had for a picket.  In 2009 Spider-Man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a man on the boulevard.

In 2007 and 2009 there wasn’t a Batman or Spider-Man movie forcing the crime fighters to take to the streets to make money and adding to their bitterness.

Review – Sparta U.S.A. #4

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Sparta U.S.A. has been the fantastic series that came out of nowhere.  I’ve been waiting for a crack in it’s excellence and the fourth issue seems to deliver that, though only so slightly.

Sparta U.S.A. #4, written by David Lapham and art by Johnny Timmons, is a mix of politics, philosophy and football and the fourth issue shifts it’s focus from Godfrey McLaine to football star Johnny Franks.  And most of the issue seems to rush numerous plot points in an effort to move the story along.  In a six issue series there’s a lot to move in and I can’t help but think it might of helped to expand it a few issues to allow better pacing for some of the crucial events that occur here.

I’m still not quite sure what to expect in the final two issues, but I’m hooked.  This is a very unique series and I can’t wait to see where it ends up.  I’ve enjoyed what’s come so far, let’s see if it scores a touchdown in the end.

Plot: As I said above the series is pretty dense and the pacing so far has been excellent, up to this issue.  There’s just so many plot developments and little time given to some of them, that the issue comes off as choppy.  But, it’s a key issue moving those plots forward.  Overall, I imagine that read as a trade paperback this issue will make a lot more sense, but in of itself, it’s a bit hard to make sense of everything.  Rating: 7

Art: Timmons’ art is still solid and fitting of the various different plot’s needs.  It’s consistent and hasn’t wavered one way or another for all four issues.  Rating: 8

Overall Rating: Definitely the weakest issue of the series but a vital one.  There’s only two more issues to go and where I thought it was going is definitely not what reality is.  I’m on the edge of my seat in anticipation to see the end game.  Overall rating: 7.5

Recommendation: Read

Page count: 22 pages of story    Price: $2.99     Release: Wednesday 6/3/2010

DC and Wildstorm provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.

Preview – Get Your First Taste of Death Of Dracula

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Official Press Release

Get Your First Taste of DEATH OF DRACULA

Marvel is proud to present your first look at the extra-sized Death of Dracula #1, beginning the biggest changes in the Marvel Universe since Civil War! Acclaimed writer Victor Gischler and rising star artist Giuseppe Camuncoli enter the Heroic Age by killing one of the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous villains. But just why does this put the future of the Marvel Universe at stake? Find out in Death of Dracula #1!

DEATH OF DRACULA #1 (MAY100586)

Written by VICTOR GISCHLER

Penciled by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI

Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI & MARKO DJURDJERVIC

Parental Advisory …$3.99

FOC—6/10/10, On-Sale—6/30/10

Read more

Mohawk Media to Publish Tough Guy

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Comic book publisher Mohawk Media has released news and a teaser image of their upcoming comic covering the adventures of Tough Guy.  The series will be written by Chris Bunting and art provided by Steve Beckett.  The British publisher is best known for their graphic novels based on Mr. T.

Tough Guy

Below is the official release.

THE TOUGH GETS GOING WITH MOHAWK MEDIA

Publisher Mohawk Media has today released a teaser image following its acquisition of the license to produce original adventures of Tough Guy.

Tough Guy, the British publisher’s first title since the top-selling official Mr. T graphic novels, is written by Chris Bunting (Mr. T; Action Man) and illustrated by Steve Beckett (Beano Annual; General Jumbo).

Bunting describes Tough Guy as a “real throwback action hero, a punch in the eye of two major opponents: terrorism and rampant political correctness. He’s A-Team meets Bond and Indiana Jones, with the hard edge of Dirty Harry.”

Bunting continues: “Boys, both young and middle-aged, are bound to identity with Tough Guy, as he’s anything but yet another bland, demasculinised hero.”

Further details are due to be announced by Mohawk Media soon.

Preview – Radical Presents Shrapnel: Hubris

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Official Press Release

RADICAL PRESENTS SHRAPNEL: HUBRIS

SHRAPNEL: HUBRIS #1 (1 of 3)
Creator MARK LONG & NICK SAGAN
Writer NICK SAGAN & CLINNETTE MINNIS
Artist CONCEPT ART HOUSE
Cover Artist STEPHAN MARTINIERE
64 pages, FC, $4.99

Mark Long and Nick Sagan return to take a planetary revolution across the solar system in the sequel to Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising.

The last free colony in the Solar System has yet to fall, but how long can it withstand the siege? Under constant barrage from orbit and kept from replenishing much-needed supplies by a planetary blockade, the colonists of Venus find themselves in desperate circumstances. But unwilling to let their stand be in vain, the surprise hero of the war—notorious ex-marine Vijaya “Sam” Narayan—must reverse their fortunes before time runs out once and for all.

Invincible Iron Man Annual Debuts In Stores & On Marvel Comics App

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Official Press Release

Invincible Iron Man Annual Debuts In Stores & On Marvel Comics App

What is the true story behind Iron Man’s greatest enemy, the Mandarin? Find out in the double-sized Invincible Iron Man Annual #1, from award-winning superstar writer Matt Fraction and fan favorite artist Carmine Di Giandomenico, available in both comic shops and through the Marvel Comics app on

the same day! Fans can purchase the entire 80 page issue at their local comic retailer or purchase it on the Marvel Comics app, with all three chapters available the day the issue hits stores.

“We’re pleased to offer readers two options to experience Matt Fraction’s absolutely thrilling work on Invincible Iron Man,” said David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Circulation. “Fans going to their local comic store can pick up the entire Invincible Iron Man Annual at a low price that day or all three chapters through the Marvel Comics app.”

The true story of the Mandarin is finally revealed and Iron Man’s world will never be the same! Don’t miss Invincible Iron Man Annual #1, on-sale in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app on June 30th!Invincible Iron Man Annual #1 Cover

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