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Peter Milligan and Robert Gill Go to War in Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #1 – On Sale July 25th!

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Valiant has released a first look at Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #1, the incendiary opening salvo of an ALL-NEW EPIC SERIES and BLOODSTAINED JUMPING-ON POINT from Peter Milligan and Robert Gill! On July 25th, prepare yourselves for a perilous journey into the barbarian age as history’s first detective takes on another challenging case at the crossroads of magic, mystery, and monsters!

The Roman standard – the eagle borne at the front of each Roman legion – was more than just a symbol of the soldiers that carried it… It was a symbol of Rome itself, the ultimate embodiment of the empire’s power…

But now, in the mist-shrouded Germanic forest of Tottenwald, the unthinkable has happened: A rampaging barbarian horde has crushed three of Rome’s most highly skilled detachments in battle… and captured their mighty Roman eagles.

His authority threatened by this all-too-public shame, the mad emperor Nero has dispatched Antonius Axia, the empire’s finest “detectioner” and hero of Britannia, and Achillia, the sword-wielding champion of the gladiatorial arena, to reclaim his stolen relics at any cost.

But what began as a simple mission will soon become a terrifying journey into the dark heart of belief itself as the isolated woodlands of Rome’s enemies reveal unseen dimensions…and the true power of the legion’s lost eagles threatens to consume any who would pursue them…

Featuring covers from Cary Nord, Brian Thies, and David Mack!

Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome Returns to the Ancient World with Peter Milligan & Robert Gill in July!

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Valiant has announced Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome, the beginning of an ALL-NEW EPIC SERIES retreading the courageous steps of history’s first detective! On July 25th, Valiant’s sold-out descent into the horrors of the ancient world returns with A BLOODSTAINED JUMPING-ON POINT from legendary comics master Peter Milligan and Harvey Award-nominated artist Robert Gill as “detectioner” Antonius Axius launches into an otherworldly mystery of monsters, magic, and conspiracy at the boundaries of human understanding…

The Roman standard – the eagle borne at the front of each Roman legion – was more than just a symbol of the soldiers that carried it… It was a symbol of Rome itself, the ultimate embodiment of the empire’s power…

But now, in the mist-shrouded Germanic forest of Tottenwald, the unthinkable has happened: A rampaging barbarian horde has crushed three of Rome’s most highly skilled detachments in battle… and captured their mighty Roman eagles.

His authority threatened by this all-too-public shame, the mad emperor Nero has dispatched Antonius Axia, the empire’s finest “detectioner” and hero of Britannia, and Achillia, the sword-wielding champion of the gladiatorial arena, to reclaim his stolen relics at any cost.

But what began as a simple mission will soon become a terrifying journey into the dark heart of belief itself as the isolated woodlands of Rome’s enemies reveal unseen dimensions…and the true power of the legion’s lost eagles threatens to consume any who would pursue them…

Featuring covers from Cary Nord , Brian Thies, and David Mack!

Review: Faith And The Future Force #4

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FFF_004_VARIANT_CHEUNG“Bloodshot was a bust… Divinity didn’t work… Ninjak was nixed… No matter which of the Valiant Universe’s greatest heroes she recruits to her aid, Faith still can’t save the time stream! With time literally running out all around her, does L.A.’s sky-soaring superhero have what it takes to defend the entire universe…or will the secret key to saving existence itself come from the most darkest and most unexplored avenue of all?”

Well  this was an unexpected conclusion. When the combined might of the Valiant universe fails to save history, Faith, Neela Sethi and Ank try one last hail Mary – and it’s not exactly what you’d expect.

Faith And The Future Force has been a subtly intelligent series that subverts the industry established conventions that bigger and stronger heroes are needed as things get worse and the damage worsens. By having three comics in the four issue miniseries essentially tell the same story Jody Houser both pokes a little fun at the yearly summer events from the “Big Two” publishers while providing her own unique solution in the fourth issue; at some point we’ve got to learn that doing the same damn thing all the time just doesn’t work. To borrow a famous slogan, sometimes we need to think different.

To drive home the shift in thinking from the first three issues to the fourth, the art of Cary Nord (with Brian Thies) brings a different style to the story that is a little noticeable after the relative consistency of the first three issues, but that’s the entire point isn’t it? Although there is a scrappy feeling to the  artwork, it’s still very easy to follow the story –  it won’t leave your jaw on the floor, but there’s nothing inherently bad about the visuals this issue.

Where the comic does stumble is actually in some of the believability of the characters actions as they seem to just accept things without thinking too much about the whys. Granted this could be Houser making a clever point that I’m too dense to follow.

Ultimately the comic, and series as a whole, triumphs over the flaws in this issue – and while this could have easily been another arc within the ongoing Faith series, you’re not going to be lost if you’ve never touched the previous material as Faith And The Future Force stands alone as an entertaining story with a meta message.

Story: Jody Houser Art: Cary Nord with Brian Thies Colourist: Ulises Arreola
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy (the trade)

Valiant provided Graphic Policy a FREE copy for review – but I’m still buying this.

Review: Faith And The Future Force #3

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FAITH_FF_003_COVER-A_MOCK“Faith Herbert and Neela Sethi, the newest Timewalker, Neela Sethi’s first attempt at saving time from being unwritten has failed…which means it’s time to rewind the clocks and star— Wait, didn’t this happen already? No matter which heroes she recruits, Faith’s attempts at saving the time stream keep ending in disaster, throwing her in an endless loop of doomed missions! To break the cycle, Faith and Timewalker will have to call upon their strangest recruit yet for a last ditch effort to save the universe!”

As this story is all about time travel, why don’t we hop into the timestream ourselves, dear reader?

Full disclosure: if you didn’t read the last issue, you’ll be lost here. Don’t expect any of the following to make sense (and expect a few spoilers).

In the first issue of Faith And The Future Force, Jody Houser wove an intuitive story about time travel and effortlessly explains how Time Walking works within the Valiant Universe without spending pages and pages dedicated to something that could easily lose readers with its complexity.

Although the last few issues of the ongoing Faith failed to deliver on the promise shown earlier in the series, Jody Houser returns to the promise of those early issues. We’re also seeing Faith face an enemy that feels like a genuine threat, whilst simultaneously being light enough to not feel out of place in the series. It’s an odd dichotomy, but one that works very well.FFF_003_003

Diego Bernard with Juan Castro and Cary Nord with Brian Thies are on art duties here, and neither they nor colourist Ulises Arreola disappoint – indeed my only complaint is the watermark on the review copy kept me from being able to really appreciate the vibrancy of their work. Especially around the time doors.

Faith and the Future Force #3 is an interesting beast. If you read and enjoyed the first issues then this one is almost more of the same, so you should know exactly what to expect when you crack the cover.

As far as time travel style comics go, this is an enjoyable diversion from your daily life for however long it takes you to read it. If you’re in you’re LCS in the next couple of days and you see this and the first two issues there then take a chance on the series. Faith and the Future Force is a fun story that explores the intricacies of time travel and a hero’s willingness to save the world at any cost.

Story: Jody Houser
Art: Diego Bernard with Juan Castro and Cary Nord with Brian Thies
Colours: Ulises Arreola Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Review: Alien vs Predator: Life and Death #4

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On LV-223, it’s the last stand for the Colonial Marines—and their Predator allies—against an overwhelming army of Alien warriors determined to protect their new queen. Only one thing can stop them . . . and it’s the last thing anybody wants!

Alien vs Predator: Life and Death #4 gives us an explosive climax that ends this part of the massive “Life and Death” story arc. The cover slightly spoils things a little, but not all of it. Now that the aliens and predators have fled, will the remaining humans survive the wait for rescue, or will they die? With only one issue remaining, I can’t wait to see what happens at the end as writer Dan Abnett has delivered with this series.

Like previous issues, the art by Brian Thies is polished and desolate in ways. Thies’ art feels like it focuses on more Chris’s actions including some interesting speeches about the power of love. I’m curious to see how the art will amplify the ending of the story arc.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Brian Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Alien vs Predator: Life and Death #3

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The Alien hordes descend in a desperate attempt to repossess their fetus queen from the escaping Colonial Marines. Even with the help of the Predator clan, survival for the humans doesn’t look likely.

Writer Dan Abnett gives us a situation that’s growing desperate for both sides in Alien vs Predator: Life and Death #3. Chris’ alien queen wants out of her, as both her human and Predator protectors attempt to keep the Xenomorphs from getting to her. The colonial marines haves yet to arrive, which leads to Chris something suicidal to attempt to save everyone. Will her plan work?

There is a lot of action going on, and a lot of fire- power and all of it is beautifully rendered by Brian Thies. The predator group is doing a lot of up close fighting with both their trademark spears and claws and Thies captures the awesome detail. In contrast to this, the humans are using a more modern version of firepower. Despite the contrasting forms of combat, Thies’ art shows off that neither side are to be trifled with.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Brian Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Alien vs. Predator: Life and Death #2

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The Alien horde is coming, but before they face that enemy, the Colonial Marines and Ahab, their Predator ally, have to win the help of a newly arrived Predator clan. Acceptance by the tribe means Ahab must fight their champion—to the death!

The arrival of the Predator clan in Alien vs. Predator: Life and Death #2 is a clear shift in what the story can do. Yet at the same time, it raises a lot of questions. Will the USMC and the Predator clan forge an alliance against their common enemy? How will they strike? Will reinforcements for either group arrive? Dan Abnett entertains as this new factor is introduced and leaves things up in the air as to what it’ll all lead to.

The hand to hand combat scene is a clear standout for this issue. While it flows well, it does show the combative nature of the Predator species. Yet I imagine the upcoming issues will be filled with fire-fights and action. Artist Brian Thies continues to nail it as far as the art in the series bringing Abnett’s story to life and full of action.

Story: Dan Abnett  Art: Brian Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Alien vs. Predator: Life and Death #1

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Battle Lines Are Drawn!

The Predators arrive on LV-223! The question is: are they here to finish the fight with the Colonial Marines, or will they join the marines in the battle against the Aliens? And who will Ahab—the Predator from the Fire and Stone story cycle—side with?

Things get interesting as the final part of the “Life and Death” story arc begins in Alien vs. Predator: Life and Death #1 written by Dan Abnett. The issue brings in a large amount of Predators with tensions already high from the previous parts of the story arc. I sense things will get worse before things conclude. Who will survive till the end?

The art by Brian Thies takes a violent turn as things escalate in the issue. The issue brings back the strange energy weapons, the Predators are well known and Thies depicts them fantastically. Both in story and art it creates a great contrast to the weapons used by USMC, in both color and lethality.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Brian Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Predator: Life and Death #4

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The battle between the Colonial Marines and the Predators opens on two fronts as the humans attempt to split the enemy’s force and take possession of the mysterious horseshoe-shaped alien spaceship! Getting their hands on the alien technology will be a huge victory for the humans . . . or will it?

The spoils of victory go to humanity, but at what cost? In Predator: Life and Death #4, while the Predators are distracted, the USCM seizes the Xenomorph ship. Since this is only one part of the Life and Death story arc, I’m curious to see how it continues in the other series. Does humanity manage to reverse engineer the Xenomorph ship technology? How does the strange tomb aboard the ship factor in? We’ll find out!

The art by Brian Albert Thies is jammed pack with action, gunfire, and violence. I will admit you can see the influence of the late artist H.R. Giger, in the interior of the Xenomorph ship, just as you should in this world. The subtle almost rib-like build of the ship is interesting and evokes whats come before.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Brian Albert Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Predator: Life and Death #3

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The Colonial Marines discover the corporate claim jumpers they’re protecting have been hiding what they know about the massive, horseshoe-shaped alien spaceship. Meanwhile, the Predators go on the offensive!

Predators may be one of the few fictional species of aliens better at killing humanity than themselves. In Predator: Life and Death both humanity and the Predators seem to be after the mysterious ship they found on the planet. It’s revealed in the issue that the ship is not built by the Predators as the corporation originally thought. Which does beg the question, who built the thing in the first place? Why was it left behind? Any good Aliens/Predator story is steeped in this type of mystery and a whole lot of tension and scares mixed in.

The firefight that starts the issue is gorgeous and violent. Even if there is death on both sides it does reveal the more hunter based aspect of the Predator race. I will admit despite the short, and cut off firefight in the end, I’m curious to see how it ends.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Brian Thies
Story: 8.5 Art: 9 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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