Tag Archives: benitez productions

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Rust Belt

Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #2 (DC Comics) – If you’ve seen our review of the first issue, you know why this is on the list. Just so much fun and out there ideas. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

Black Cat #1 (Marvel) – She’s had a lot on her plate in recent years taking a bigger role in Marvel’s criminal underground. We want to see what she does in a solo series and where they take her character now.

Criminal #5 (Image Comics) – One, if not the, best comic out there right now. This is a perfect hopping on point so take advantage and find out why we praise it so much. A must for fans of crime/noir comics.

DCeased #2 (DC Comics) – The first issue had a nice zombie/horror vibe to it, though we’ve seen a lot of what was inside before. But, it hit the right beats and we want to see how it differentiates itself.

Ignited #1 (Humanoids/H1 Comics) – A whole new comic universe from a hell of a list of creators. Can’t wait to dive in and see what they’ve put together.

Lady Mechanika: Sangre #1

Lady Mechanika: Sangre #1 (Benitez Productions) – We’re fans of this steampunk-ish series. This new volume has her heading to the Spanish countryside to hunt a demonic creature.

Rust Belt (Secret Acres) – A look at the underemployed, the working poor, the dreamers of America’s post-industrial cities.

Thumbs #1 (Image Comics) – Tech-obsessed teens are directed to take on the government from the creative team of The Few. Yeah, we’re in.

The Walking Dead #192 (Image Comics/Skybound) – Did you read the last issue? You know why we want to read this one. We’re not spoiling it.

War of the Realms #5 (Marvel) – The event is up and down but we’ve come this far.

Review: Lady Mechanika Vol. 2

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When stories are set in the steampunk genre, they usually take place in some major metropolis. Blade Runner, took place, in Los Angeles, in in what Philip K Dick believed 2019 was going to look like. In Hugo, the movie is set in 1930s Paris, where he invention of automaton is centerpiece to the story.  The recent Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events, has a Neo- Gothic feel which screams steampunk.

Anime studio have been working in the genre for years. Take the aptly named and brilliant Steamboy, taking place in 1860s Britain, an inventive young man is caught up in a huge conflict in an advance in steam power. The glaring omission amongst all these examples, are anything involving satires taking place in Third World or barely having people of color. These omissions are not lost on the creative team behind Lady Mechanika, as they venture into Africa in Lady Mechanika Volume 2: Tablet of Destinies.

In this storyline, Mechanika, is visited by an old friend, whose Grandfather, gets himself into a bit of trouble. They go throughout London, try to find out clues as to what happened to him, and find themselves in a globetrotting adventure. They soon end up in Africa, where her grandfather has been kidnapped so he can find an ancient artifact which holds secrets to an prehistoric race. By book’s end, Mechanika has rescued her friend (a few times) and her friend’s grandfather, while saving the world from impending doom.

Overall an excellent story arc, which thrills and addresses subjects which other writers would otherwise bypass. The story by M.M. Chen shines as it reminds me of those swashbuckling serial adventures of yesteryear, and the fact it takes place in Africa, is a major plus, as the characters introduced especially Akina, are fully fleshed out and well developed, as lesser writers would just make them background characters, instead of integral to the plot as Chen does here. The art By Benítez, Montiel, Garcia and Heisler, is lush, detailed, and remarkable. Altogether, another excellent story arc, in this ongoing series, which most come for the art, but will stay for the well-developed stories and characters.

Story: M.M. Chen Art: Joe Benitez, Martin Montiel, Mike Garcia and Michael Heisler
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy Now!!

Review: Lady Mechanika Vol. 1

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There are many things that come to mind, when one hears the word” steampunk”. Some people may think of the leather clad individuals you would see at comic book conventions wearing goggles and top hats. One may think of movies like Blade Runner and Buckaroo Bonzai. Then there are the inspirations found in the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells.

I know for me, when I think of steampunk I think of 80s cartoons. Of course, there is Brave Starr, which combined westerns future technology much like Wild Wild West with James Garner. Then there is the definite steampunk influences that can found all throughout Firefly, which in my opinion is the definitive steampunk western. Then here is the world of Joe Benitez’s Lady Mechanika, which is one of the more well written examples of how steampunk should be done.

In this first volume of Lady Mechanika, the reader gets a quick and dirty introduction of who she is in The Demon of Satan’s Alley, where the reader finds a tortured private investigator who is more than meets the eye. In the first collected arc, The Mystery of The Mechanical Corpse, the corpse of a young lady with mechanical limbs are found in the city, Lady Mechanika springs into action to not only find her but also find out if she has anything to do with her own mysterious past. Along the way, Commander Winters, and bevy of villains stand in her way. By book’s end, she has destroyed a longtime foe but she may have been colluding with the person who is behind all her troubles.

Overall, an excellent story, which feels more like an action film, than anything I have read in a while. The story by Benitez is engaging, fast paced, and has all the trappings of an excellent action adventure. The art by Benitez is in line with the best Steampunk artists but has a beauty all its own. Altogether, an excellent book, which will leave thirsting for the next chapter.

Story: Joe Benitez Art: Joe Benitez
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy NOW!!!!!

Diamond Comic Distributors and Diamond Book Distributors Announce a New Agreement with Benitez Productions

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Diamond Comic Distributors has signed a multi-year deal with Benitez Productions to be the exclusive distributor of the publisher’s comics and graphic novels. The agreement includes worldwide distribution rights into comic book specialty stores, and into bookstores, libraries, mass-market chains, and other specialty outlets under the banner of Diamond’s book market division, Diamond Book Distributors.

As publisher of some of the best-selling independent creator-owned comics in the industry, Joe Benitez has been self-publishing with Benitez Productions since 2014. Lady Mechanika and Wraithborn have been the publisher’s flagship titles, meeting with both critical and commercial success. Last month saw the release of Lady Mechanika: La Dama De La Muerte #1, which ranked as the #5 best-selling small press title for September.

In the October PREVIEWS catalog, retailers and fans can pre-order The Lady Mechanika Steampunk Coloring Book, an all ages coloring book featuring goggles, gears, and of course the elegantly dressed half-human half-machine Victorian heroine herself.

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Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Avengers_Standoff_Welcome_to_Pleasant_Hill_1_CoverWednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Alex

Top Pick: Wrath Of The Eternal Warrior #4 (Valiant) – I’ve been enjoying this series so far, and while it hasn’t captured me like some other Valiant books (or Old Man Logan), it’s still a damn fine series that’s got a very interesting take on immortality,and the Earth’s Fist an Steel.

Wraithborn #1 (Benitez Productions) – I know nothing about this series, but the cover looks awesome. I’m picking it up for that reason alone.

 

Paul

Top Pick: Extraordinary X-Men #7 (Marvel) – This book has been delivering with every issue; lots of action, a kick ass team line up and Humberto Ramos’ art is just icing on the cake.  Plus I’m looking forward to finding out what made Nightcrawler’s trolley jump the tracks.

Avengers Standoff Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1 (Marvel) – I am very curious about this title; a quiet, run of the mill town where everyone knows everyone, but there’s something hiding beneath the façade.  And is that a cosmic cube on the cover?  The upcoming ‘Standoff’ event starts here.

Uncanny Inhumans #5 (Marvel) – A new story arc “The Quiet Room” starts in this issue, and that alone has me curious when it involves a character whose slightest whisper can shatter a mountain.  Brandon Peterson is taking on the art duties for this book, and I am looking forward to seeing his take on the characters.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Power Man and Iron Fist #1 (Marvel) – Written by David Walker with art by Sanford Greene, this classic team-u is back! This is a comic I’ve been excited for, and waiting for, since it was announced and I can’t wait to see how these two creators handle them.

Race For the Moon (Canton Street Press) – This is a reprint that features sci-fi stories with artwork by Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Al Williamson, and Bob Powell. I honestly didn’t know about it until I looked a this week’s releases, but it sounds awesome.

Revenger Vol. 1 (Bergen Street Press) – Collecting Charles Forsman’s self-published series. If you haven’t read it in individual issues, now’s your chance to pick it up and see what you’ve been missing. When all hope is lost, and those who meant the most have been ripped away, there is only revenge.

Snowfall #1 (Image Comics) – Joe Harris and Martin Morazzo’s new sci-fi ongoing series kicks off with an oversized debut. It’s 2045, the climate is messed up, a new corporate government is in charge and one man wages a weather war against the system. Sounds awesome.

Wraithborn #1 (Benitez Productions) – A new series from artist Joe Benitez and writer Marcia Chen. I love Benitez’s Lady Mechanika, so really want to check this one out.

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1 (Marvel) – So of the big two Marvel has been the one handling it better with their event books. Secret Wars was stellar. I know Civil War 2 is a coming but I hope we are not in for another retread. Honestly I’m just giving this one the benefit of the doubt. That and Mark Bagley.

Amazing Spider-Man #8 (Marvel) – This comic has just been fun since go. I like the whole Zodiac storyline and really been enjoying how Slott writes Peter, him and the Parker Industry staff are the highlights of the book. Nothing grand or spectacular but a very reliable book every month. It’s nice.

Poison Ivy: Circle of Life and Death #2 (DC Comics) – She’s sultry, she’s sexy and she’s wanted for murder. It is high time Ms. Ivy has gotten her own monthly. I’m not the biggest supporter of this title but I will in the hopes she gets her own monthly. Scott Snyder please… fingers crossed.

 

Madison

Top Pick: Bitch Planet #7 (Image Comics) – Bitch Planet finally seems to be back on a regular publishing schedule, which is exciting because the story is really getting good. A must-read for feminists, not only for the story, but also for the backmatter, which contains feminist essays.

Sex Criminals #14 (Image Comics) – Sex Criminals is a hilarious comic about time-stopping orgasms (literally time-stopping). I’m not sure if my favorite thing about it is that Fraction and Zdarsky manage a humorous but at times sensitive and relatable story, or trying to describe to people why they should read it.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #5 (Marvel) – Doreen is still stuck in the sixties, but this issue features an old lady Squirrel Girl to give her a hand. Surely, more hilarity and butt-kicking will ensue.