Tag Archives: big tree comics

Review: Joshuan Somewhere #1

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When the Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 1 movie hit theaters back in 2014, it made the world nostalgic and believe in superhero films all at once. As the Guardians were not necessarily the most well-known superhero group within the Marvel canon, it is almost miracle that it made fans of everyone. As a comic book fan, I did not know anything of these characters or their storyline except for Adam Warlock. As a result, the movie has breathed new life into these characters as they have more than one ongoing comic and solo comics for each of their characters.

There were many great elements to the movie, and the most prominent one being, its heart. The storyline of Peter Quill AKA Starlord, being a prime example, as we instantly connect to him, because of the loss of his mother. A hero borne out of tragedy is nothing new, but one we instantly feel for, is even harder to find. This what I felt when I read Joshuan Somewhere, a character whose destiny is greater than he ever imagined.

In the opening pages, we are introduced to Joshuan, a young man constantly tormented by bullies and grieving the loss of his brother. Eventually, the bracelet passed to him by his brother, is more than what it seems, it unlocks the powers he was born with, and connects with out all people, his father, who he thought was dead. Suddenly he is transported to a portal, where he must find a weapon, which will reunite him with his Dad and maybe his brother. By issue’s end, the reader and Joshuan finds out the full force of his powers.

Overall, . The story by Dennis Nancarrow is relatable, at times funny and entertaining. The art by Larry Haines is beautiful. Altogether, a book that has heart and that family is everything.

Story: Dennis Nancarrow Art: Larry Haines
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Whyte and Wong #1

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One of the most addictive subgenres on television and in the movies are buddy action movies. Who wouldn’t want to go on an adventure with their best friend, and if it involves getting in some trouble, so be it. The best ones are usually when you actually see the main characters get to know each other, and you see how their bond gets created. One of my favorite movies of recent memory, just so happens to do this, which was Pineapple Express, which was a coupling of different genres, but at its heart, it was a buddy action movie.

Then there the most frequent ones that are portrayed, the buddy cop movies. Of course, the one movie series, that has infiltrated popular culture, Lethal Weapon, which is looking to spawn a new movie and is its second season as a television show. The series has had its imitators over the years, not one as successful, and not for a lack of trying. So, when I heard about Whyte & Wong, I was game to see if these creators could imitate that feeling those movies had.

In the opening pages we Wong, a young police officer, who is more of a slapstick comedian than a police officer, who has to go through a psychological evaluation. He is in line for a promotion, going from patrol to detective and gets assigned to a veteran detective named Whyte. As the wo get to know each other, Whyte increasingly gets annoyed at Wong, but finds his instincts invaluable. By issue’s end, Whyte ends up trusting Wong, to let him know that the department is crooked.

Overall, an interesting attempt at the buddy cop genre. The story by Ricky Eaddy is average at best, as he goes straight for the joke, and tells none of the story. The art by Eaddy and Dennis Nancarrow complements the story. Altogether, there are better cop stories in comics,and this is far from one of the best.

Story: Ricky Eaddy Art: Ricky Eaddy and Dennis Nancarrow
Story: 5.0 Art: 5.0 Overall: 5.0 Recommendation: Read

Review: Shaman’s Destiny #1

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Dystopian fiction, is one of those genres that seems to be popular right now. No one can dispute the fame of the Hunger Games, as the class wars displayed in the series mirrored a lot of what has been going on in most societies. Then there is the understated pedagogy within the themes of Snowpiercer, a definitive examination of class both allegorically and literally. Both of these movies, play on humanity’s worst fears and makes us confront the world’s issues no matter how seemingly insurmountable it may appear.

Then there is the more audacious but realistic takes on dystopian fiction, such as Warren Ellis’s Ruins, where instead of experiments and extinction level events creating new superheroes, it creates nasty abnormalities and painful fatalities.  I also must mention Y: The Last Man, where all the male mammals in the world have perished, except a young man named Yorick. As different as these takes are, and as many more they are, very few with the exceptions of Zombieland and Shaun Of the Dead, ever really infuse humor into it alongside the grim realities of living in a world, a shadow of its former self. This what I appreciated in Shaman’s Destiny, a tale of a dystopian future, who can find the absurdity in a grim future.

In the first few pages, we meet Malik, a high school football player, who has been chosen by Gaea, the protector of the Earth, to destroy demos and monsters. He is traveling by foot across the New Mexico desert, with his “sensei” Jeph where they come across a town, which at first, it seems is desolate, but soon finds out, it is a town of zombies. He also meets shaman like himself, named Dominic, who is trying to figure out why Gaea has chosen Malik, as the new shaman. By issue’s end, a betrayal of a new acquaintance, leads to many questions, and upends any preconceived notions that the reader may have where the story was going.

Overall, a gripping and uproariously funny story that is both exciting and well developed. The story by Kyrun Silva is masterful, as he writes internal monologue not like anyone I have read before. The art By Silva complements the story well. Altogether, a story that takes everyone’s expectations of zombies and heroes, and subverts them in a very entertaining and refreshing take.

Story: Kyrun Silva Art: Kyrun Silva
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 9.2 Recommendation: Buy