Tag Archives: Comics

Preview: 2000 AD Prog 2450

Posted on by

2000 AD Prog 2450

UK and DIGITAL: 17 September £4.99
NORTH AMERICA: 29 October $28.99 (Prog Pack)
DIAMOND: JUL250841
COVER: MARK SEXTON

In This Issue:
JUDGE DREDD // AND TO THE SEA RETURN by Rob Williams (w) Henry Flint (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
BRASS SUN // PAVANE by Ian Edginton (w) INJ Culbard (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ANDERSON, PSI-DIVISION // FLOWERS OF EVIL by Alex de Campi (w) Rob Richardson (a) Simon Bowland (l)
THISTLEBONE // THE VOICE IN THE HOLLOW by T.C. Eglington (w) Simon Davis (a)
VOID RUNNERS // BOOK TWO by David Hine (w) Boo Cook (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
ROGUE TROOPER // GHOST PATROL by Alex de Campi (w) Neil Edwards (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campbell (l)

2000 AD Prog 2450

Preview: My Little Pony: The Sweetest Collection

Posted on by

My Little Pony: The Sweetest Collection

Writer: Christina Rice, Barbara Randall Kesel, Thom Zahler
Artist: Brenda Hickey, Agnes Garbowska, Jay P. Fosgitt

A boycott against sweets? A long-lost pie recipe? Suspiciously delicious snacks? And even a royal birthday party?! I guess that’s just how the cookie crumbles in Canterlot!
The proof is in the pudding—this is the most sugartastic, sprinkle-filled, candy-wrapped collection of all! If you’ve ever wanted to see the greatest confection events in comics, this will be your bread and butter!
Collects My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic #63 and #72 and My Little Pony: Friends Forever #12 and #22 by the sweetest talent around, including Christina Rice, Thom Zahler, Barbara Randall Kesel, Brenda Hickey, Agnes Garbowska, and Jay Fosgitt! This should be the greatest thing since sliced bread…or pie!

My Little Pony: The Sweetest Collection

Preview: Blade Runner: Black Lotus – Las Vegas #1

Posted on by

Blade Runner: Black Lotus – Las Vegas #1

(W) Nancy A. Collins (A) Jesús Hervás

This all-new series sees the deadly Replicant combat model Elle — aka The Black Lotus Killer — continue searching for answers about her mysterious past. Elle’s quest takes her to the irradiated city of Las Vegas (later seen in Blade Runner 2049), a sand-choked ghost-town of forgotten memories following the detonation of a dirty bomb. There she finds a community of role-playing Replicants, abandoned hospitality models from the old casinos now living as embodiments of ancient Egyptian and Roman royalty. Meanwhile, Niander Wallace, smarting from his last encounter with Elle, has dispatched a seasoned kill team to bring back her head.

Blade Runner: Black Lotus – Las Vegas #1

Preview: The Cold Witch: A Tale of the Shrouded College #5

Posted on by

The Cold Witch: A Tale of the Shrouded College #5

(W) Charles Soule (A) Will Sliney

You want a supernaturally fueled bloodbath of revenge… you’ve got one! The final installment of the latest story from the Shrouded College universe closes this chapter as the Cold Witch takes her due but opens the scope of the larger story with huge reveals and a special preview of the next tale in the cycle. Not to be missed!

The Cold Witch: A Tale of the Shrouded College #5

Preview: The Seasons #8

Posted on by

The Seasons #8

(W) Rick Remender (A) Paul Azaceta

Spring unlocks a weapon that might finally turn the tide — but saving the world means teaming up with the last person she wants by her side. Meanwhile, Winter is lured into a fantasy where her work is celebrated and her pain erased… at a cost she won’t see until it’s too late.

The Seasons #8

Flow #1 Explores the Torture of Adolescence and the Trauma that Hangs Into Adulthood

Posted on by
Flow #1

When blood began to run down Dara Lund’s legs at Nature Camp, she thought she was dying. Homeschooled by a protective dad after her mom’s mysterious death, Dara wasn’t told the facts of life. “It’s the Curse,” her bunkmates said, not revealing it was her period. “But we can lift it…if you do everything we say.” So began their week of torment, making naive Dara do torturous tasks for their amusement. But now, 10 years later, as they embark on their careers, the three tormentors find themselves cursed—so they reunite to track down the likely source: a vengeful Dara. And they’ll pursue her to the bloody end. Flow #1 spins horror out of childhood bullying.

Written by Paula Sevenbergen, Flow #1 is an interesting comic. While it focuses on an experience of women, the underlying concept is universal. Much like Carrie, Flow is a story about trauma, gender oppression, and vengeance over the humiliation experienced as a kid. While I am a guy and haven’t experienced this, I have been teased and made fun of for other bodily issues. Kids can be cruel and being bullied is a universal experience that knows no bounds. It makes the comic relatable no matter your age or gender.

Sevenbergen bounces back and forth between the past and present, introducing us to Dara and taking us through the trauma of her time at camp. We see the abuse directed at her not just due to her first period, but also her mother and her mother’s death. It also comes together to paint a picture of a child who had a traumatic upbringing in multiple ways and also tie into the experiences of her tormentors as adults.

In the present, strange occurrences are happening to Dara’s camp tormentors that tease they have something to do with Dara. Going into the comic, I wondered how these individuals would know it has something to do with her, but each experience perfectly ties back to camp and the torture they inflicted on the young girl. But, it’s also clear there’s more to these individuals’ current lives and they each have their own issues they’re going through beyond the strange happenings. It’s an interesting comic teasing the abusers are also abused as well and we’ll see if that’s explored more.

The art by Claudia Balboni is pretty solid with the characters showing some nice emotion and there being a tinge of horror in the every day life. The few instances of real strange experiences is so extreme, it shows a nice visual build towards the moment that really emphasizes the “scare.” The color by Fabi Marques and lettering by Jodie Troutman all combine to create a comic that feels like a slice of life comic but there’s a bit of unease about it all as well. The rather benign day to day leads to scares and a building of tension.

Flow #1 is an intriguing comic. It starts as a solid horror tale that feels like it is inspired by the classic Carrie. And, in today’s environment, it also feels like it has a lot of potential to entertain and scare while also having something to say underneath it all. It’s start is a solid example that horror can be about the scares as well as something deeper.

Story: Paula Sevenbergen Art: Claudia Balboni
Color: Fabi Marques Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 is Entertaining But Nothing New

Posted on by
Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1

It was the most important space flight in the history of the Marvel Universe – four intrepid heroes took off into the unknown and returned changed, gifted with great abilities…and hungering for human flesh! Travel back to the birth of a Marvel Universe parallel to our own but chock-full of horror since its very inception! Which heroes will rise to become the champions we know and love? Which will be torn limb from limb? And which will devour the scraps? Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 reboots the property with a “Red Band” label but overall feels like much of what we’ve seen already.

Marvel Zombies are back in time for the upcoming animated series, and this time they have the “Red Band” label with Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1. Written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, the comic feels like a retread of the concept that launched nearly 20 years ago. With the “Red Band” label, one would expect a comic that was a bit more mature, a bit more R-rated but the end result feels like what we’ve seen before, and not even with that much more gore.

Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 is a perfectly fine reboot of the series with the Fantastic Four, now dubbed the Frightful Four returning from their space mission that gave them their powers with powers but also zombies. None of that is explained here, nor why they still have their intelligence when others don’t, but the comic does have a solid initial chaos as they return and immediately go on the attack. With a setting in the early days of the Marvel Universe, Iron Man is in his original armor, Hulk is untrusted, Spider-Man is untested, and Thor still has his mortal alter-ego. It’s a nice take on it all and it’s an entertaining start in a B-movie, turn your brain off sort of way.

But, there’s that “Red Band” aspect, and for the comics labeled as such so far, none really come off as all that mature. Yes, there’s a bit more violence and gore, but the classic Max line felt much more extreme in that way. Where those comics were often hard-R, these feel PG-13 or barely R at best. The art by Jan Bazaldua does a good job of capturing the chaos and the rotted look of the Fantastic Four is nice. The dispatching of Thor is visually more of what might be expected and is what really feels like this could be a “Red Band” comic. With color by Erick Arciniega, the comic has a look much like the Marvel Zombie volumes of years past. Travis Lanham‘s lettering really adds a lot giving the zombified versions of our heroes a very distinct “voice.”

Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 is an ok start. It doesn’t deliver much new that really jumps out but ends on an intriguing tease. It’s a reboot of the property with a new label that teases an edgier take but overall doesn’t feel that much different. It feels a little more hyped up than what’s delivered. But still, going into the spooky season, it could be fun entertainment.

Story: Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan Art: Jan Bazaldua
Color: Erick Arciniega Letterer: Travis Lanham
Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics

Deadpool/Batman #1 is a Clunker That Doesn’t Match the Hype and Lacks Fun

Posted on by
Deadpool/Batman #1

The crossover you’ve pined for but never thought possible: DEADPOOL and BATMAN cross swords and batarangs as MARVEL and DC unite for the first time in decades! WADE WILSON has been hired for a job in GOTHAM CITY, but will the WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE help him or destroy him? After decades of waiting, Marvel and DC have once again teamed for Deadpool/Batman #1 and it is not worth the wait.

I’ll admit, I was very excited to see Marvel and DC once again bringing their characters together for what feels like a once in a lifetime event (really it’s been like 3 or 4 times in mine). Batman and Deadpool, the rather serious and the not so serious characters teaming up for whatever mission. Written by Zeb Wells, would the comic fall into the usual tropes of heroes battling it out before teaming up? Would it deliver something new and different?

Generally, Wells delivers something different and the comic doesn’t fall into the usual patterns we’ve seen far too many times. Deadpool is hired to take on Batman. Not knowing who Bruce Wayne really is, he crashes through his window wondering if Wayne would like to hire him while he’s in town. It makes absolutely no sense at all and that might be the highlight of this particular story. The overarching issue is that the Joker has stolen materials to dump Joker Venom into the city and Batman has to stop him.

The dialogue is painful, the setup is meh, the resolution is ok. Overall, the comic offers no fun, no excitement and leans far to heavy into Batman being the serious one while Deadpool rants on and on. The comic takes itself too seriously forgetting Batman has shown a comedic side at times and cracked jokes and instead feels like a tour of Gotham from the perspective of Deadpool where he points things out and makes fun of them. There’s completely bizarre choices by Batman and Deadpool feels like a more annoying version of himself. Let’s forget it’s different universes which opens up how Deadpool would even get paid, there’s just an odd interaction between every character. The only one that feels like it makes sense is the Joker being irritated at Deadpool that Deadpool is stealing his crazy character bit.

Greg Capullo‘s art, along with ink from Tim Townsend, color by Alex Sinclair, and lettering by Clayton Cowles looks just ok. Capullo can do some amazing art but here it ranges from forgettable to just nice. There’s little that gets you to linger and stay on the page. Entire sequences feel like they have no life to them and that’s from the start where Deadpool crashes into Wayne Manor and beyond one panel, Bruce Wayne just stands there… and talks… Visually there’s some odd choices and little that really feels like the level this high profile comic should have.

Where the comic has some life is the numerous other stories packed within. Some are truly great. The Captain America and Wonder Woman story by Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, and Joe Caramagna, the Jeff! and Krypto story by Kelly Thompson, Gurihiru, and Caramagna, Daredevil and Green Arrow story by Kevin Smith, Adam Kubert, Frank Martin, and Caramagna, and Rocket Raccoon and Green Lantern story by Al Ewing, Dike Ruan, Moreno Dinisio, and Caramagna all stand out. All of those I’d love to have seen more of or been one-shots on their own. Old Man Logan and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns from Frank Miller, Alex Sinclair, and Caramagna, and Logo by Ryan North, Ryan Stegman, Martin, and Caramagna are both clunky in different ways.

For all of the hype, all of the build up, all of the excitement, Deadpool/Batman #1 is a bit of a letdown. It missed the fun of the opportunity of it all, which the back-up stories seem to have gotten. If anything, it could have been a greater success focusing on a series of shorts, forgoing a main story and instead just let creators cut loose with what they’ve had. It’s an odd release overall that’s more for the nostalgia of the concept than the final product to read.

Story: Zeb Wells, Chip Zdarsky, Kelly Thompson, Kevin Smith, Al Ewing, Frank Miller, Ryan North
Art: Greg Capullo, Terry Dodson, Gurihiru, Adam Kubert, Dike Ruan, Ryan Stegman
Ink: Tim Townsend, Rachel Dodson Color: Alex Sinclair, Frank Martin, Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Clayton Cowles, Joe Caramagna
Story: 6.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics

Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Elspeth #1 is One for the Diehards

Posted on by
Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Elspeth #1

Elspeth is dead. But her story is not yet over. The sun god Heliod, having grown envious of his champion, struck her down to the underworld. There, she is forced to relive the worst moments of her life for all eternity. But Elspeth does not submit to despair—she emerges from each conflict a greater hero than before. And for a great hero like Elspeth, what is death but another challenge to overcome? Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Elspeth #1 is an interesting debut but unless you’re completely into Magic: The Gathering‘s lore, it’s one that that might go over your head.

I played Magic: The Gathering for many years. From the early days of Revised to… not sure when, I ripped packs, tapped cards, and spun my life counter up and down. You pieced together the world and its characters through snippets of text on the cards which weaved the grander narrative. The lore existed then but never felt the main focus, more the basic concept and ideas drove the gameplay and card mechanics. With each subsequent set came a theme and more of a focus on the world and battles between Planeswalkers. At this point, I could tell you the story or characters, just general concepts. Reading the recent comics was “spot the reference” for me as opposed to being completely in on what happened to the characters or what gaps those comics filled. And lets face it, the original comic releases were all about getting the cards that came with them.

So, I dove into Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Elspeth #1 expecting it to be much more focused on the lore, characters and a setting I knew nothing about, and I came out of it confused, bewildered, and most of it over my head. Unlike the most recent BOOM! Studios comic run, this Dark Horse debut written by Dan Watters feels like it dives into the deep end, with a story already in progress and for new readers like they missed the previous seasons with vital information. I got the general idea of gods and their champions and one god wanting a bit too much as far as worship, but the specific characters, who they are, why they’re dead, it never quite felt explained. Watters introduces Elspeth with her death and a “this is your life” tour for us to get to know her. It’s an interesting introduction but it misses a connection where I should care about the character.

Owen Gieni‘s art is good. The layouts, especially the “this is your life” pages are intriguing and visually engaging. The depiction of the gods gives us a feel of their grand scale as they look upon as to what’s going on. Hilary Jenkins‘ color gives the comic a look that makes it feel like it takes inspiration more from Wonder Woman than Magic: The Gathering and Clayton Cowles‘ lettering adds personality to the characters. The comic overall feels like it’d fit more in the world of Wonder Woman and Greek influence than what I’d expect for the classic card game. I’m not familiar with this release so that might have been what it went with to start.

Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Elspeth #1 isn’t a bad debut and there’s a lot of interesting aspects but the real interest and connection will be from those already bought into the characters and storyline. For those new, there might not be enough to really hook the reader. Unlike the previous series at that other publisher, this one feels like it dives deep into the lore instead of going for a general reader interest that anyone can pick up and really enjoy. It’s one for the diehard Magic: The Gathering fans who will get much more out of it than the average comic reader.

Story: Dan Watters Art: Owen Gieni
Color: Hilary Jenkins Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Good as Dead #1 Has an X-Files Conspiracy Tinge to It

Posted on by
Good as Dead #1

The Emissary Bridge has always connected the citizens of Port Lindon to hope and opportunity.? But when one man shockingly sets himself on fire, the bridge now brings something else to the town:? CERTAIN DEATH.? Good as Dead #1 kicks off a haunting story of crime, justice, death, and how far a small town will go to keep its secrets.?

Good as Dead #1 is an interesting start to the series packing a lot into the debut issue. The basic story is a town controlled by a corrupt family, a bridge that can break their hold, and a sheriff and a deputy with issues of their own. It’s a series where it feels like everyone has a secret and everyone is in on something. There’s also teases about aliens and conspiracies, a murder, and a whole lot more. Written by David Lapham and Maria Lapham from a concept by Chris Black and David Alpert, the debut issue is dense with details which helps and hurts the comic.

There’s a lot to like about Good as Dead #1. The town feels small with the crime ripped from classic films like Walking Tall. The characters often rely a bit too much on tropes with some fleshed out a great ton with others not so much, the latter being rather cookie cutter. Still, the comic is packed with reveals and twists that adds complication after complication to the story and an aspect which creates a ticking clock as to when it all has to be resolved.

The art by David Lapham is good with color by Dee Cunniffe. Lapham also handles the lettering though there’s at least one issue with it that stands out. The look of the comic is in Lapham’s style which fits the narrative and matches its rather frenetic pacing. I said it’s overall good as there’s a few page turns that don’t quite work where panels that have to do with the following page are at the bottom of the previous. It creates an odd flow at times.

Good as Dead #1 is an issue where there’s a lot to keep track of. The comic is packed with characters, twists, reveals, conspiracies, it feels like an X-Files episode but the cast is multiplied by 10. It’s a debut you need to pay close attention to so you can keep track of everything going on and everything laid out. It’s also an issue that actually surprises, it goes in unexpected directions and delivers a concept that’ll appeal to folks who like a good conspiracy.

Story: David Lapham, Maria Lapham Art: David Lapham
Color: Dee Cunniffe Letterer: David Lapham Created by: Chris Black and David Alpert
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

« Older Entries Recent Entries »