Tag Archives: charlie kirchoff

Review: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma #1

Posted on by
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma #1

When it comes to Star Trek, I consider myself a fan. I’m definitely a more casual fan, having seen all of the films multiple times but when it comes to television shows, it’s more catching things here and there. It was never must-see tv for me. When it comes to the comics, that’s much of the same as well. I’ve enjoyed some here and there but it was never part of my regular reading. Having decided to roll the dice with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma #1, not only am I hooked on this series but might need to go back and see what I’ve been missing with the television series as well.

With Una accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet, Captain Pike sets out in search of evidence that could prove his first officer’s innocence.

Written by Kristin Beyer and Mike Johnson, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma #1 keeps things simple in a lot of way. It has a laser focus. It does an excellent job of laying out the situation and giving us an idea as to who the important characters are for this story. But it does so in a solid way where things aren’t “explained” directly to the reader in long winded speeches that are out of place, instead it all flows organically as characters discuss things with each other.

The situation also gets at what makes Star Trek works so well. The social and political themes the series dives into have always been part of its core and this is no exception. At the center of the story is the fear of the unknown and prejudice against others. It’s simple yet very effective. The parallels to the real world are clear and simple taking on prejudice without much subtlety.

With just a cursory knowledge of the characters, mostly through trailers and promotional images, I could easily recognize the cast. Megan Levens‘ art captures the actors well making them all quite easy to figure out who’s who. Charlie Kirchoff provides the color and Neil Uyetake handles the lettering. The action is limited in the issue but the various debate between the characters is presented in an interesting and engaging way and you get a sense of the emotional charge of it all.

It’s not that hard to recommend Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Illyrian Enigma #1 for those that have already been watching the television series. It feels like a solid extension of it and that’s from someone who has never watched an episode. But, even for those that have never seen Strange New Worlds, the story is excellent with the socio-political underpinnings that makes Star Trek great.

Story: Kristin Beyer, Mike Johnson Art: Megan Levens
Color: Charlie Kirchoff Letterer: Neil Uyetake
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.35 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Review: Star Trek: The Mirror War – Troi #1

Posted on by
Star Trek: The Mirror War – Troi #1

As we strive on in our journey of life, people often don’t take a chance to reflect.  We get swept up in our everyday troubles and never really take a chance to smell the flowers. We’re always looking for our next ship to arrive, rather than enjoy the current destination. We never really ruminate on how we got where we are.

It’s not until you get older that you start to see it’s the journey that makes you. It is what makes you resilient. It’s what prepares you for the road ahead. In Star Trek: The Mirror War – Troi #1, we find a fan favorite’s voyage thus far, in the Mirror Universe.

We find Troi back on Earth as she reflects on what got her here, and exactly what she had to sacrifice, as we begin back on Betazed, where we find her giving up her people as a pawn piece to the Empire. We soon find out just how skilled a mind she is, as she meticulously manipulates Picard and the crew of the Stargazer to take out the insurrectionists defying her rule as administrator. The final stroke that imbued her to Picard is her betrayal of her closest advisor, showing that she would do anything for power. By the issue’s end, this version of Troi will do anything to grab power, including murder.

Overall, Star Trek: The Mirror War – Troi #1 is an intriguing take on my personal favorite from the Star Trek: The Next Generation, one that proves that sometimes a mind is more dangerous than any man made weapon. The story by Nijkamp is intractably woven. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, this issue shows what a missed opportunity it was for this series to have never gotten a chance to play in this universe.

Story: Marieke Nijkamp Art: Megan Levens
Color: Charlie Kirchoff Letterer: Neil Uyetake
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Amazon

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds comes to comics in December

Posted on by

Following the successful launch of the fan-favorite Paramount+ original series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in May, IDW Publishing and Paramount Consumer Products have announced an all-new tie-in comic book miniseries, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Illyrian Enigma, debuting in December and set between the show’s first season and its eagerly anticipated second season.

The four-issue Illyrian Enigma reunites the acclaimed co-executive producer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Kirsten Beyer and prolific Star Trek author Mike Johnson. Fan-favorite artist Megan Levens and colorist Charlie Kirchoff also join the creative team, bringing this far-flung space adventure to vibrant life on the comic page.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Ilyrian Enigma, Commander Una Chin-Riley—first officer and helmsman of the U.S.S. Enterprise— stands accused of unlawful genetic modification by Starfleet. Sparing no time, Captain Pike and his crew set out in search of evidence to prove her innocence!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds–The Ilyrian Enigma #1 will be available with four cover variants, including Cover A by Megan Levens, Cover B by Jake Bartok, and two retailer incentive editions by Liana Kangas and Malachi Ward, respectively.

Review: Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookies

Posted on by
Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookies

As a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, I was more than happy to find out that there was a film adaptation. I remember the first time I read the books that took me to Middle Earth. I was 8 years old and was enraptured in that world and those characters. Of course, the film adaptation I found at that age was the Ralph Bakshi film of 1970s which left much to be desired. It wasn’t until 2001, that I got to see something that resembled the books.

Peter Jackson imbued the love all we fans had for the series. 20 years later, and I am still in love with those movies, and have even more hope for the new Amazon series. My favorite of Peter Jackson’s movies from that series was The Two Towers as we see our heroes defend the people of Rohan against Sauran’s forces. In the 11th volume of Star Wars Adventures, we get Rise Of  The Wookies, where we see Chewie defend his home planet much like the Fellowship and Riders of Rohan.

In “Ghosts of Kashyyyk”, we find Chewie in the Millennium Falcon leading a Resistance squadron back to his home planet, Kashyyyk, where The First Order has set up a base. Chewbacca goes on a solo recon mission where he finds that First Order has some Wookies as captives which leads to him jailbreaking them and taking Storm Troopers as a prisoner. In our second story, ”Secret Agent Droids”,  our favorite droids, C-3PO, R2D2, and BB-8, thwart the First Order’s plans to block all communications from a desolate planet. In our third story, “Tales From Wild Space”, we meet a young upstart, Emil, who discovers a long lost library, who ends up getting mind-controlled, but not before he is rescued by his droid. In “Loyalty Test”, the First Order arrives on the planet, Vaddexa, where Hux and Kylo Ren, get to test each other’s loyalty. In “Squad Goals”, Poe and Rey, go on a training drill, one that tests Rey’s piloting skills. In The last story,” The Battle for Horizon Base”, Finn leads the charge against the First Order, who is trying to take over an important focal point, and eventually recruits more to the Resistance.

Overall, a fun romp throughout the Star War universe. The stories by John Barber and Michael Moreci are compelling. The art by the creative team is enchanting. Altogether, a set of stories that reminds you why you fell in love with these characters in the first place.

Story: John Barber and Michael Moreci
Art: Derek Charm, Jake M. Wood, Tom B. Long, Matt Herms, David Buisan, Arianna Florean, Charlie Kirchoff, Mario Del Pennino, Valentina Taddeo, and Tony Fleecs
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Reccomendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

RPM, Sherwood Texas, Black Birch, and McBain are Coming Soon to Macroverse.

Posted on by

Macroverse is a digital comics platform app designed to read comics on mobile devices. Comics are formated using “Tapstory” which creates an experience built for that reading experience.

With a flurry of new additions to the platform, there’s even more coming soon and debuting in the coming months. Check out what you can be reading soon.

RPM

(W) Mick Foley, Shane Riches (A) Jose Holder (C) Michael Wiggam
Coming Soon

Revere Windsor, a direct descendant of the legendary Paul Revere, is hired by a mysterious corporation to safely move a priceless package from Boston to Miami. Born with hyper-kinetic depth perception, Revere sees and reacts to the world faster than anyone, making him the best at what he does. Partnered with the corporation’s beautiful liaison, Revere pushes head-on against international criminals and shadowy government agencies.

From the mind of Mick Foley, multiple New York Times #1 bestselling author and 4-time World Heavyweight Champion, this high-octane midnight ride is a fuel-injected package of unflinching speed and unrelenting action.

TapStory and Letters by Steven Perkins and Macroverse Creative. Edited by Keven Gardner. 

RPM

Sherwood Texas

(W) Shane Berryhill (A) Daniel Hillyard (C) Charlie Kirchoff
November 19

Re-imagining the legend of Robin Hood as a modern day Spaghetti Western, Sherwood, TX, is set inside the world of biker gangs, drug wars, and human trafficking.

After the same biker gang who murdered his father leaves ROB HOOD for dead, he returns seeking his own brand of justice and revenge. Hood is joined on his quest by Padre Elvin Tuck, Will Scarlet, and Little John, as they take on the crooked Sheriff of Nottingham, Texas and his partners in crime, The Nobles biker gang and their leader John Prince.

Key Art by Andrew Robinson. Edited by Keven Gardner. TapStory and Letters by Steven Perkins and Macroverse Creative.

Sherwood Texas

Black Birch

(W) Eduardo Cintron (A) Juan Doe
December 2020

For generations, the families in the small town of Black Birch have bred children for economic gain. The community thrives until rules are broken and traditions come undone. A bloody sequence of events ensue, giving Hazel Hooke the opportunity to determine their future. After all, it’s a family business.

TapStory and Letters by Adam Martin, Eben Matthews, and Macroverse Creative.

Black Birch

McBain

(W) David Tischman (A) Kody Chamberlain, Brian Stelfreeze
Coming Soon

Country music superstar Trace Adkins is LUKE MCBAIN, a man who returns to his small Southern hometown after 14 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Luke’s brother, Paul, is running the McBain family business that controls the town. Paul’s made himself rich, but local shops have closed and jobs are gone; people are angry and scared.  And no one can do anything to stop it.  Except Luke, the only one who knows Paul’s secret.  Reunited with his beautiful ex-love, Callie, Luke McBain does what he’s always done–make the hard choices and fight for what’s right.  Even if it means he may go back to prison.  Starring an action hero who won’t stop until the job gets done, Luke McBain pits brother against brother for the soul of an American small town.

Trace Adkins has sold over 10 million albums.  He competed on Celebrity Apprentice.  You’ve seen him in The Lincoln Lawyer.  Now Trace Adkins is Luke McBain– an American hero for our times, in a story of right and wrong in the tradition of Billy Jack and Walking Tall.

TapStory and Letters by Steven Perkins and Macroverse Creative. Edited by Keven Gardner.

McBain

Never Show Weakness: Trump in Power Explores Key Events that Have Defined Trump’s Term

Posted on by
Never Show Weakness: Trump in Power

Insider.com has released a new comic exploring Donald Trump‘s first term, Never Show Weakness: Trump in Power.

Written by Anthony Del Col, art by Josh Adams with Nik Virella, colors by Charlie Kirchoff and Irma Kniivila, and lettering by Taylor Esposito, the comic is a two-part look at two key events that have defined who he is as a leader. The comic takes a look at Charlottesville and then the George Floyd protests in June of this year focusing on some of the factors leading to his actions and reactions.

This is the fourth comic Del Col has created with Insider. Previous releaes have included a look at Trump’s impeachment, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the Royal Family, and Trump’s response to COVID-19.

The newest comic is available as a traditional comic and motion comic.

Review: Anti #1

Posted on by
Anti #1

The newest Terminator movie was a nice bookend for a journey which started almost 35 years ago. It ended a journey while maybe jumpstarting a new franchise, one guided by the original architect, James Cameron. What I took from the movie is how at the core of the story was heart and the greater good. The story of how one person can change humanity is immense and how our very survival depends on this one human being.

The story, though not original in the formula, is very much different in execution. Each iteration of the franchise, though distinct in reception and quality, still had what made the story so magnetic, the need to save the world. Who can’t root for the reluctant hero, one who eventually accepts their journey? In Peter Calloway’s Anti, we find a hero much like Sarah Connor, whose destiny is more complicated than they would ever know.

We’re taken to a motel where we meet a demon hunter by the name of Jordan, who has taken out several demons posing as humans. We also meet Zachary, a man who feels life has let him down, and that he is cursed in the process. Suddenly his life turns upside down when Jordan finds him hunted down by an army of demons, as she has questions as to why and he has questions of why all of a sudden everyone is interested in him. By issue’s end, just when he looks like he has met his fate, is when he finds out just what powers lie within him, which comes as no surprise to Jordan and the demons.

Overall, an excellent first issue to a story that feels like a powder keg looking to blow wide open. The story by Calloway is intense and well characterized. The art by the creative team is beautiful. Altogether, an excellent story that gives a whole new take on the savior genre.

Story: Peter Calloway
Art: Daniel Hillyard, Charlie Kirchoff, and Brian Stelfreeze
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Preview: Back to the Future: Tales from the Time Train #4

Posted on by

Back to the Future: Tales from the Time Train #4

Story: Bob Gale, John Barber
Script: John Barber
Art: Megan Levens
Color: Charlie Kirchoff
Cover A: Megan Levens, Charlie Kirchoff
Cover B: Philip Murphy
Incentive Cover: Alan Robinson, Charlie Kirchoff
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Editor: Denton J. Tipton
Editorial Assistant: Chase Marotz

Doc and the Brown family venture ever deeper into the 1939 World’s Fair as a case of mistaken identity puts Jules and Verne in the crosshairs of German spies!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Preview: Back to the Future: Tales from the Time Train #3

Posted on by

Back to the Future: Tales from the Time Train #3

Story: Bob Gale, John Barber Art: Megan Levens
Color: Charlie Kirchoff Letterer: Shawn Lee
Editor: Denton J. Tipton Editorial Assistant: Chase Marotz

Doc and family venture deeper into the 1939 World’s Fair as a case of mistaken identity leads one member of the Brown clan to unexpected luxury. Meanwhile, a pair of German spies have their sights set on Doc—but will he realize the danger in time?!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Review: Hard Place #1

Posted on by

After five years in prison, AJ Gurney, a legendary wheelman in Detroit, has decided it’s time to go straight. He returns home to work in his father’s garage and disappear into anonymity.

But during a visit to the bank, AJ is recognized by two violent bank robbers, and they demand AJ be their getaway driver. To ensure his compliance, they take a young female hostage; unfortunately, she happens to be the daughter of a Russian crime lord. AJ now finds himself pursued by a bitter police department and hunted by every asset of the Russian mob. Without a doubt, he’s in a very hard place.

I’m a sucker for this story. If there were a target audience, it’d absolutely be me. So, it’s not surprising how much I enjoyed Hard Place #1 a new noir/crime comic that feels like it’s well timed with the release of the movie Baby Driver not too long ago.

Written by Doug Wagner, the story is a solid addition to the genre as we’re introduced to AJ, a criminal whose release from jail gives him an opportunity to start over. Unfortunately stories like this aren’t built on happiness. Wagner spends the issue setting up AJ taking us into his world and intelligently takes his time getting to the real action. Wagner knows this type of story’s success hinges not on the action, but us readers caring about AJ and by taking us through his acclimation back into society we’re given numerous reasons to find sympathy and begin to cheer for him. This is someone I want to see succeed and not get sucked back into a life of crime. We all know that’s not going to be the case.

The art by Nic Rummel and Charlie Kirchoff is solid taking us into the world and helping to build an atmosphere that when the action eventually goes down, it’s shocking in a way. Their art helps perpetuate the calm before the storm and each character is delivered in a style all their own that creates a uniqueness about them all. It’s a great mix of storytelling and art.

I loved the first issue to the point I’m already wanting a big screen adaptation. Wagner and the team create a sympathetic main character who I really feel like is being dragged into a crappy situation. That also has me actually caring about what happens to him and also the ability to enjoy more than just the action. A solid debut that understands action isn’t everything.

Story: Doug Wagner Art: Nic Rummel, Charlie Kirchoff Cover Art: Brian Stelfreeze
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.50 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

« Older Entries