Tag Archives: amala’s blade

Review: Akaneiro #3, Amala’s Blade #4

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If you’re a Dark Horse fan, it’s a pretty sad week, witnessing the end of three incredible mini-series that are testament to a great publisher supporting some of the best comics art in the business. Throw some Eisners and Harveys at these creative teams!

 Akaneiro #3

22676Justin Aclin’s American McGee video game adaptation finds its awesome end this week with Akaneiro #3. After journeying to a Yokai (demon) infested village, protagonist Kani takes to her own and becomes a red hunter—clearly a special ‘chosen’ one, since she uses the powers without training. This final issue includes a dramatic end, with battle after battle, and the ultimate resolution of Kani and her many personal identities.

Aclin, as I’ve noted before, is rather new to comics, having mostly written Star Wars comics, but he has yet to disappoint (with the exception of the rather novice line used on the last page: “And suddenly it’s months later, and my destiny has been fulfilled.” This line, however, speaks to the quickness with which the series presents itself and ends—abruptly. Not many writers could adapt such a complex world to just three issues, but Aclin has succeeded; it’s the narrative itself, with its complexity, that yearns for at least one more issue (an intermediate one, really). But I’m entirely satisfied with the little bit we got.

Lolos and Atiyeh make one of the best artistic teams I’ve seen all year. Lolos’ art is so unique as to be hardly comparable to other artists with books by major companies, and Atiyeh’s talented coloring puts life in his art, mastering the vibrant end of the color spectrum. Lolos has strayed away from sexualizing what, in the comics industry, would be a perfect target: a young, sword-fighting Japanese girl, with the exception of the third panel on the third page, which is your typical knock-the-character-down-and-show-her-butt shot. Aside from this, Lolos’ work begs no complaints.

In summary: Dear Dark Horse, please make more Akaneiro, and congratulate Aclin, Lolos, and Atiyeh on an incredible series.

Story: Justin Aclin  Art: Vasilis Lolos, Michael Atiyeh
Story: 8  Art: 9  Overall: 8  Recommendation: Buy

Amala’s Blade #4

22082If there could be a better mini-series than Akaneiro, it would have to be Amala’s Blade, a gritty, steampunk, sci-fi, fantasy, swashbuckling, haunted assassin’s story that makes a hero out of the most powerful and least sexualized WoC to grace mainstream comics in a long time (sure, a number of powerful WoC, but how many have been without sexualization?). This small story, four issues total, packs a mega-sized punch, and has blown me away both narratively and artistically.

As with Akaneiro #3, it appears that Amala’s Blade #4 is suffering from too-short-a-series syndrome. Steve Horton has managed in the previous three issues (and zero-issue) to pack quite a punch with each one, telling a succinct story that introduces all of the characters and ideas and builds a fascinating world. But this final issue wavers on the edge of the plotting quality of previous issues, with somewhat awkward turns of events in the space of a page, which create the false illusion that Horton is not a skilled writer. Amala starts a war, just as quickly ends it, wants to kill her mother, just as quickly doesn’t, then ghosts force her to do so, and then she banishes the ghosts. All of this narrative splendor is packed into the second half of the comic—that’s a bit much for some twelve pages.

Yet while Amala’s Blade #4 was a departure from the near-perfect narrative development of previous issues, Michael Dialynas’s pages are bursting with art that demands to be made into a paragon of fantasy/sci-fi comics art. I haven’t seen anything else by Dialynas, but I imagine it’s all of the same caliber, and I wouldn’t mind seeing his work on some of the more ‘mainstream’ books in order to give the general comic-reading public an idea of how diverse their books can become.

Amala’s Blade #4, like Akaneiro #3, suffers slightly from crunched plotting. But does that means it’s bad? Hell no! Go buy a copy for yourself, open in up, and be blown away by the best mini-series I’ve read this year! I’ve gotta get my hands on this TPB!

Story: Steve Horton  Art: Michael Dialynas
Story: 7  Art: 9  Overall: 8.5  Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review

Pick(s) of the Week: Collider #1 and a Whole Bunch More

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COLLID_Cv1_PRINT_3pncuy4wjo_Normally, I’d choose the “Pick of the Week” by which comic was on the most of our lists, but out of the slim choices this week, there was actually only one comic on more than one list. So, I’m going with executive privilege and choosing this week’s pick, Collider #1 by Vertigo.

It started small: temporary gravity failures, time reversal loops, entropy reversals. With much fanfare a new government agency was formed with a mandate “to prevent and protect.” Its official title: The Federal Bureau of Physics. Humans, if nothing else, adapt to the changing parameters of their existence. What was extraordinary soon became ordinary, a part of people’s daily lives. They move on and do what people have always done: survive. But even that new status quo is now under threat. Things are getting worse, and it falls to Special Agent Adam Hardy and his FBP team to figure out what’s going on, before it’s too late…

Um, how can you not get this? Vertigo has been kicking as as a publisher, and this latest release I’m sure will be just as solid.

Check out below for the full list from some of the members of the Graphic Policy team.

Andrew:

Batman Annual #2 (DC) – Of all of the various Batman comics out there I read Snyder’s religiously. He’s got huge shoes to fill and Zero Year hasn’t let down.

Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray #5 (Image) – If you’re not reading this series…you’re wrong. It’s phenomenal.

King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon #3 (Dark Horse) – The plot of this latest run pays homage to earlier Conan storylines and includes fantastic artwork by Tomás Giorello.

The Wake #3 (Vertigo) – Snyder’s deep sea thriller is exceptional. I want to know what the creature is, where it came from, and whether there are more.

Brett:

Top Pick: Collider #1 (Vertigo) – see above. This series just sounds too cool to not choose.

Ghost Town #2 (Action Lab: Danger Zone) – The first issue of the Action Lab: Danger Zone series was awesome. Mixing time travel and terrorism, it truly was a series that you had no idea what was coming. The second issue, more of the same when it comes to that.

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (Marvel) – Angela makes her first comic since Age of Ultron. Want to find out what Marvel’s plans with her are? Well, here you go. Expect this one to sell out.

Liberator #2 (Black Mask Studios) – Politics + comics = awesome! The series that follows animal liberators is a unique voice in the comic industry right now.

Skyward #1 (Action Lab) – Kick ass women in a kids comic is a specialty from Action Lab. This series adds to their varied and family friendly releases. A great comic the whole family can enjoy.

The Wake #3 (Vertigo) – Scott Snyder and Sean Phillips’ series has been amazing so far.

TPB of the Week: 39 Minutes – A winner of Top Cow’s Pilot Series, and one I really dug. ROBBING A BANK IS EASY, IT’S THE GETAWAY THAT’S HARD. The bank is surrounded by police officers, alarms are blaring, customers and employees are screaming, and the streets are blocked off. So what’s the solution? Kill everyone in town!

Sean:

Top Pick: Captain Midnight #1 (Dark Horse) – after a look at Captain Midnight #0, which utterly blew me away, I can’t see how the ‘first’ issue of this pulp hero rival could be anything but incredible. They’ve sure been marketing the hell out of it, so are you in? $2.99.

Akaneiro #3 – last of this Brian Wood mini-series based on American McGee’s game; let’s see what happens with Kani and those demons! $3.99.

Amala’s Blade #4 – this series by Horton and Dialynas is in my opinion Dark Horse’s best mini-series of the year; the ending is a must have! $3.50.

Batman, Incorporated #13 – Morrison’s titanic series comes to a crashing end as Batman “saves the world and loses everything.” Morrison’s been building this series for years, and now we’re getting it’s conlusion…or are we? $2.99.

Daredevil #29 – Waid and Samnee’s Daredevil is not only my favorite DD run, but also Marvel’s top series right now (followed by Hawkeye and Superior Spidey). And Samnee’s back on the art after a short hiatus. Woohoo! $2.99.

TPB of the Week: No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics (Fantagraphics Books)—the wonderful reprint collectors over at Fantagraphics are putting out an anthology that promises to be a collection of the worlds greatest LGBTQ comics. It’s definitely worth a look if you want to explore a little more about the social issues driving and driven by our favorite medium here at Graphic Policy. $35.00 (but 20% off online retailers like TFAW.com or Amazon.com).

Around the Tubes

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The weekend is almost here and I wish I could use it to recover from San Diego Comic-Con, but alas, life….

Around the Tubes

Latino Review – Exclusive: Who Disney Is Looking At For ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ – Interesting.

Spinoff Online – Fox’s ‘X-Force’ Movie Will Feature Five-Person Team, Millar Teases – Guesses on the team?

Bleeding Cool – Could Marvel Take Away ComiXology’s Guided View? – We’re asking patent experts.

Bleeding Cool – Nineteen San Diego Comic Con Panels In Audio As Well As The Eisner Awards – For those who couldn’t make it.
Around the Tubes Reviews

The Mary Sue – Amala’s Blade #1

Comic Vine – Aquaman #22

Comic Vine – Batman/Superman #2

Comic Vine – Bloodshot #13

Comic Vine – Clone #9

Comic Vine – Hawkeye Annual #1

Comic Vine – Hunger #1

Comic Vine – Journey into Mystery #654

Comic Vine – Justice League Dark #22

Comic Vine – Lazarus #2

Comic Vine – New Avengers #8

Comic Vine – Red Hood and the Outlaws #22

Comic Vine – Scarlet Spider #19

Comic Vine – Superior Spider-Man #14

Comic Vine – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #24

Comic Vine – Uncanny Avengers #10

Comic Vine – Wolverine #7

Review: Amala’s Blade #3

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Amala 3Steve Horton and illustrator Michael Dialynas bring readers the third installment in the Dark Horse mini-series Amala’s Blade, available this week. This series is great fun, the same caliber, excitement, and creativity as books like Akaneiro (also available this week) and Image’s Saga (a TPB is available for the second volume this week, too), and reminds me a lot of Lionhead Studios’ Fable.

Horton and Dialynas provide a world of magic and steampunk, sword fighting and ghosts, assassins and a religious war. It’s about being haunted (in Amala’s case, literally) by the ghosts of one’s past, and recognizing that they can help you kill people—or if you want to be non-violent and metaphorical, it’s about recognizing that past mistakes, triumphs, or failures are constant lessons.

Like Vaugh with Saga, Horton’s narrative always keeps me guessing, with ever more fantastic events and beings around the corner. It’s an original story mixed-and-matched from stories all across Nerdom, and reads a bit like something from Terry Pratchett. What’s even greater is that, despite a final lead, gender really is not an issue, and I haven’t found a single even semi-sexist or gender biased comment in the books. Now that’s a feat, especially when in female-centric books like Wonder Woman the eponymous Amazon can’t get away from Orion’s nickname “Legs.” Yes, Amala is a woman. And yes, she’s the most bad-ass assassin whose fate the balance of factional war hinges upon.  No one turns a head (except when they’re getting killed).

Dialynas wonderfully illustrates this issue relying on a new color for the ghosts that has them standing out far better and looking more ghastly, though I really did like the bluish hue from earlier issues. I bring up color because Dialynas uses color to contrast the two opposing forces in this land: the Modifiers are typified by colors in shades of purple and black, while the Purifiers are more naturally colored. This contrast speaks to the artificial weirdness of the magically cyborg Modifiers, best exemplified in the canine cyborg wyrm which Amala fights and then commandeers.

Moreover, however, this issue is pivotal in moving the plot forward, and Horton easily weaves humor, emotional personal stories, and the fate of the land across the pages. I didn’t want Amala’s Blade #3 to end, but by the book’s close I was greatly satisfied to just soak up the art and get giddy for the next issue!

And I’m hoping that Amala’s Blade is not the last we’ll see of Horton and Dialynas’ wild world.

Story: Steve Horton  Art: Michael Dialynas
Story: 8.5  Art: 9  Overall: 9  Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Amala’s Blade #1, The Answer #4, The Massive #11, Mind MGMT #10

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Amala’s Blade #1

Amala's Blade #1 CoverThe kingdom of Naamaron is bitterly divided into warring factions: the low-tech Purifiers and the high-tech Modifiers. Both fear the great vizier’s deadliest assassin, Amala. But for all her lethal skills, Amala’s drawing too much attention for the vizier’s taste. So what better way to deal with a troublesome cutthroat than to send her on a suicide mission?

I’m always up for a new female kick-ass lead character and Amala’s Blade features just such a character. I read the zero issue and like the first I was entertained. It’s a fun read and the world presented seems interesting.

But, like the first issue, I wanted more. We get glimpses as to the kingdom of Naamaron, it seems a bit steampunk-ish, but there’s not a lot of detail to it. That frustrated me a little as a reader.

I’d think my issues with this first issue will go away as the series progresses. It seems like a lot of fun and will be a nice read each month. But, as far as first issues goes, it was good, but didn’t suck me back in to be super excited for the second issue.

Story: Steve Horton Art: Michael Dialynas
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

The Answer #4

The Answer #4 CoverA mind is a terrible thing to waste. Can Devin and the Answer think their way free of the Brain Trust before CHEMICAL X breaks their brains for good? The explosive conclusion of this superhero mystery!

This is it for the four issue limited series and overall it’s been fun. There was something entertaining about it all, but after four issues there’s still so many questions that I don’t have answered. The series in a way promises “the answer” and it just wasn’t there.

It’s been a fun series. Mindless entertainment where you really can’t think too hard about what’s going on. But, as far as stories, this feels like a second or third story arc for me.

The story is about a secret organization that wants a Librarian and we find out what in this issue, but what that would accomplish and the why isn’t really there. Then there’s the main character of the Answer himself.

Overall, for a series that’s been called The Answer, there’s a lot of questions left. Here’s hoping we get some more issues and get some actual answers.

Story: Mike Norton, Dennis Hopeless Art: Mike Norton
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

The Massive #11

The Massive #11Following a mutiny, the crew of the Kapital are in a race against time to catch their increasingly elusive sister ship, The Massive, when a school of aggressive great white sharks cross their path!

I named this the best non-super hero series of  last year. Overall, I felt it was the best series period. The Massive so far has kept that up and is making a case for repeating this year.

This issue is a prime example of why it’s so good. We get the continuation of the ramifications of the previous issue, a bit of a lesson about the environment and a lot of tense moments.

There’s also the subtle theme of this issue, legacy. While discussing the history of the shark, we get an allegory about one’s greater picture in the eco-system and how things can carry on even in the face of disaster. It’s a commentary on Callum Israel’s legacy and that of the Ninth Wave and it’s crew.

The issue just shows how amazing of a series this is, one I can’t recommend enough. It is the best comic on the market, hands down.

Story: Brian Wood Art: Declan Shalvey
Story: 9 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Mind MGMT #10

Mind MGMT #10 CoverOnly the Futurist can help Lyme and Meru find Mind Management’s hidden training ground, Shangri-la. But how can they track a man who knows their every move before they do?

I really should spend this review yelling at folks for not reading this brilliant series. It’s one of the few comics on the market that is a complete package from the front cover to the back cover.

The attention to detail on every page is amazing. There’s a side story along the edges, fakes ads, hidden messages, it’s just amazing. There really is no other comic like it on the market, for that alone it’s a must buy.

But then there’s Kindt’s story and art. The story itself is crazy. It follows a shady organization who uses people with special abilities to shape the world. The series is now preparing for a battle to take down that organization as sides are being taken.

The art is Kindt’s usual, which is to say unique and distinctive. If you see his work, you know it’s his. I personally love the style myself.

The series is consistently solid, one of my favorites each and every issue. It’s not too late to get reading and find out what you’ve been missing.

Story and Art: Matt Kindt
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review

Amala’s Blade Comes to Dark Horse Presents in February 2012!

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Official Press Release

AMALA’S BLADE COMES TO DARK HORSE PRESENTS IN FEBRUARY 2012! 

November 1st, MILWAUKIE, OR – Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce a brand new three-part story from Steve Horton (DC Holiday Special, Superman 80-Page Giant) and Michael Dialynas (Popgun, Trinkets) appearing in Dark Horse Presents #9 – Amala’s Blade.

Amala was once chosen as a child to be the spiritual leader for her country, to unite the Purifiers and Modifiers and prevent war. She fled into the night. Twenty years of war later, she makes a living as an assassin, but her past is ever ready to catch up to her. Aboard a massive pirate ship, Amala stalks the fearsome pirate captain Cha’Kooh … but the voices in her head, manifesting as ghosts, keep getting in the way!

Amala’s Blade will be featured in issues #9, #10 & #11 of Dark Horse Presents.

“Amala’s Blade is the steam punk-with-swords epic that I’ve been dying to tell,” says Steve Horton, writer and letterer. “Thanks to the extraordinary and talented artist Michael Dialynas, we’ve brought Amala to life. Thanks to Dark Horse Comics, we’ve found an amazing and supportive publisher for our three-issue run in Dark Horse Presents. This story has heart, sword fighting, sarcasm, revenge, pirates, technologically modified villains, a girl steam punk heroine, and a robotic pirate monkey. What more do you need?” says Horton.

Dark Horse Presents #9 is out February 22nd, 2012!