Tag Archives: hassan otsmane-elhaou

Preview: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

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Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

(W) Patrick Horvath (A/CA) Patrick Horvath
In Shops: Oct 18, 2023
SRP: $3.99

Don’t. Murder. The locals. This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm décor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace. So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise-and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree. Live, laugh, shed blood. Dexter meets Richard Scarry’s Busy Town in writer-artist Patrick Horvath’s twisted debut of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees!

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

Preview: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

Posted on by

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

(W) Patrick Horvath (A/CA) Patrick Horvath
In Shops: Oct 18, 2023
SRP: $3.99

Don’t. Murder. The locals. This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm décor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace. So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise-and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree. Live, laugh, shed blood. Dexter meets Richard Scarry’s Busy Town in writer-artist Patrick Horvath’s twisted debut of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees!

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees #1

NYCC 2023: Kid Cudi teams with Kyle Higgins for Moon Man

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Grammy Award winning musician Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi will make his comics debut alongside Eisner Award-nominated co-writer and Massive-Verse architect Kyle Higgins, breakout artists Marco Locati and Igor Monti, Eisner Award-winning letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and editor Michael Busuttil in the forthcoming Moon Man. This all-new, ongoing series will launch in January 2024 from Image Comics, Black Market Narrative, and Mad Solar, kicking off the new year with an extra-length first issue and an accompanying mixtape from the Grammy Award-winning recording artist.

Moon Man follows Ramon Townsend, a man ready for a quiet life after gaining unexpected celebrity status for steering his ship and crew safely home from a near-disastrous moon mission. Whatever went wrong on that failed moon mission, whatever happened in the missing minutes the cameras didn’t capture, all Ramon really wants is to settle down back home in Cleveland. But those missing minutes hold an Earth-shattering secret—and, with all eyes turned to him, Ramon will soon find himself becoming something the world has never seen before.

Moon Man touches down with a truly out-of-this-world variant cover lineup, including superstars such as Rod Reis and Matt Taylor; Eisner Award winners Sanford Greene and Christian Ward; along with industry legends Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Moon Man #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 31.

Moon Man #1 

Batman: City of Madness #1 delivers some amazing art with an interesting concept

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Batman: City of Madness #1

Buried deep beneath Gotham City there exists another Gotham. This Gotham Below is a living nightmare, populated by twisted mirrors of our Gotham’s denizens, fueled by the fear and hatred flowing down from above. For decades, the doorway between the cities has been sealed and heavily guarded by the Court of Owls. But now the door swings wide, and the twisted version of the Dark Knight has escaped…to trap and train a Robin of his own. Batman must form an uneasy alliance with the Court and its deadly allies to stop him-and to hold back the wave of twisted super-villains, nightmarish versions of his own nemeses, each one worse than the last, that’s spilling into his streets! Batman: City of Madness #1 unleashes a new nightmare on Gotham in a comic that delivers haunting visuals to match its ethereal storytelling.

Batman: City of Madness #1 is a solid debut showing off Christian Ward‘s strengths as a writer and artist. A DC Black Label release, it features a story that feels like it’s outside of Batman’s continuity but at the same time could completely fit in. Split into three focused plots, everything flows one into another with dialogue and storytelling that has a dreamlike quality about it. Really nightmare quality. That matches Ward’s artistic style which here looks like a beautiful dream that edges on turning into scares.

Batman is being warned about something coming as he’s sucked into the latest mystery that whispers to him and Harvey Dent from beyond. The Court of Owls is dealing with divisions within its own ranks as they must deal with a creature that may or may not exist from beyond. Then, there’s a young boy dealing with the violence of Gotham as he seeks his own revenge. All three stories begin to come together in the end for that feels like it might be a modern classic Batman miniseries in the making.

Ward’s art is of course beautiful. Like the writing itself, there’s an ethereal style to it that’s almost poetic and would fit right in with a story in the Sandman Universe. It’s hauntingly beautiful and borders on dream and nightmare. The art being so good isn’t a surprise at all.

Batman: City of Madness #1 is good. It’s really good. There’s so much going for it from the story, to the dialogue, and then how the art brings it all together. It’s the perfect Batman story for the spooky season and one to absolutely pick up for fans of Batman or horror.

Story: Christian Ward Art: Christian Ward Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1 kicks off a hero for Gen X

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Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1

Ruben Kwan is a 50-year-old firefighter who’s been afraid of fire his whole life. Instead of running into burning buildings, he pushes papers, living in the shadow of his father—who died a hero on the job. After 25 years in the LAFD, he’s firmly in the middle of an unremarkable life. That is until his new wife gets pregnant and a random act of courage reveals that Ruben is FIREPROOF! Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1 kicks off a new superhero adventure. But, this is one for the Gen X generation and hits really close to home.

Written by Brian Buccellato, Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1 is a solid opening chapter. But, it’s not the heroics or the potential of what might come as far as that, that stands out. It’s Ruben and his life in general. Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1 delivers a comic that’s so easy to relate to. It features a main character we don’t aspire to be, it’s a main character may of us are.

Buccellato mines his own life and those around him for the series and in doing so just nails the Gen X/Lost Generation/Unsung Generation perfectly. Ruben is a person who seems to be a decent guy. His life hasn’t gone as he pictured it or wanted and he’s now turning 50 and not just looking back at what was but trying to figure out what’s to come. In my mid-40s, I can say I’m doing the same. Unlike Ruben, I have no intention or need to start things fresh but there’s a point you reflect on your life and it’s Gen X’s turn to figure out their latchkey upbringing. For those around my age, it’s easy to connect with Ruben and through that the comic delivers a grounded start that sucks you in. Because you can relate, you can then imagine and go with the possibilities to come.

Buccellato also makes Ruben a bit more interesting based on what’s revealed. It’s not really a spoiler since it’s everywhere but we find out that he’s fireproof. Out of all the powers, that and invulnerability feel like they’d be the most appropriate for Gen X. We’re a generation who were on our own and figured things out. We patched ourselves up and generally are just a hardened group in a lot of ways. To not have fire hurt Ruben feels appropriate because as the world burns, we’re the generation just plodding along doing our thing as we always have.

The art by Stefano Simeone is solid. The emotion delivered by the characters feels real and the lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou emphasizes every bit of dialogue. From the facial expressions to the body language, you really get a sense of how each character is feeling. Whether it’s a bit worked up about something, angry, or just depressed, the physical body language tells so much of the details. It’s great work that helps connect readers to the characters.

I love Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1. It’s a hell of a debut that delivers a hero we can relate to and at 50, a hero we don’t see often enough. Gen X might have grown up on comics, but Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1 is one that might just be “our” comic.

Story: Brian Buccellato Art: Stefano Simeone
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Designer: Tim Daniel
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Kindle

Vault Makes Beyond Real #1 Free For Retailers

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Vault has announced they will make Beyond Real #1 completely free to retailers. Beyond Real sees Zack Kaplan return to Vault after his recent celebrated series Mindset, joined by a slate of phenomenal artists including Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Vincenzo Riccardi, Dennis Menheere, Jorge Corona, Luana Vecchio, and Liana Kangas. Each issue of this ambitious series will see these artists working in tandem, handing off scenes back and forth to each other as part of the narrative structure of this mind-bending story about simulation theory, the creative spirit, and the struggle for self-determination.

In September Vault offered Christopher Yost and Val Rodrigues’ comic Unnatural Order#1 using the free-to-retailer model and the smash-hit book received over 137,000 orders, making it one of the highest-ordered comics of the past ten years.   

Much of Beyond Real will be colored by the legendary Eisner-winning artist Jordie Bellaire alongside series artists who will color their own work. The series’ lettering will be crafted by Eisner-winner Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and every issue will be designed by the inimitable Tim Daniel. Each issue will have a main cover painted by Mindset co-creator and Eisner-winning artist John J. Pearson.      

The series follows the struggling artist June after a severe accident leaves her boyfriend in a coma and causes her to experience bizarre visual phenomena. When she discovers that the world she considers “reality” may in fact be a computer simulation, she must set out on a perilous journey through metaphysical layers of the simulation to reach the true creator and save her love from death.

The standard cover of Beyond Real #1 will be offered to retailers in free bundles of 25 copies. The issue will retain its $4.99 SRP, and retailers will be free to sell, discount, or freely distribute copies to their customers. In addition to the standard cover, Vault will offer net-priced, open order premium variants from Jorge Corona, Luana Vecchio, and Fabiana Mascolo.

Beyond Real #1 will hit store shelves on December 13th, 2023. 

Feel the Slow Burn from Ollie Masters, Pierluigi Minotti, Alessandro Santoro, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and BOOM!

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Slow Burn #1, the first issue of the brand new series from acclaimed noir crime writer Ollie Masters, rising star artist Pierluigi Minotti, colorist Alessandro Santoro, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, a tale about dirty deeds in a town on fire, available October 25, 2023.

Hell is a place on Earth.

Fleeing from a botched robbery in New York City, a junkie, her dying partner, and a dementia-ridden old man pull into a mining ghost town in central Pennsylvania. Obscured by the caustic vapors spewed forth from a still burning coal-seam fire from the 1960s, Trier seems like the perfect place for the trio to lay low, maybe score a fix, and potentially take a hostage. But this ghost town might prove more lively than any of them think.

Slow Burn #1 features a main cover by Matt Taylor with variants by acclaimed artists Paul Azaceta, Tyler Jenkins,and Cliff Chiang.

Slow Burn #1

The Flash #1 delivers a new entry point as it shakes things up

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The Flash #1

Wally West has never been quicker, more fulfilled, more heroic. His loving family is around him. And yet something is off. Very off. His evolving understanding of his powers has opened Wally to new avenues of sci-fi adventure and attuned his senses to strange new ideas. Something whispers from the dark vibrations beyond the Speed Force, and as Wally experiments with creative new approaches to his powers he encounters new realms, mysterious allies, and mind-shattering terrors. The Flash #1 kicks off a new volume and new creative team and is a solid jumping on point for new readers.

Written by Si Spurrier, The Flash #1 has Wally west somewhat settled. He’s attempted to balance his life as a superhero and husband and father. No longer the sidekick, the comic feels like Wally standing on his own attempting to find his place and get everything in line. At work, he’s helping with scientific discoveries that seem to due with the Speed Force, though the specifics never quite explained. At home, he has a wife and kids with the frustrations that come with that. It’s those small moments that stand out in Spurrier’s writing. While the superheroics are interesting, it’s Wally and Linda Park-West’s relationship that stands out.

Spurrier teases the ups and downs in that relationship. Linda’s previously having powers. Her having to deal with a family who experience things so differently than her. While their lives move at mach speeds, she’s left sitting on a couch feeding a newborn. As a father still learning, it’s a segment and focus that stands out to me. For mothers who read it, I’m sure their connection and experiences will be much different. But, the domestic focus stands out and a domestic focus that plays to the frustrations that can come with life and the roles we have within the family.

Overall, Spurrier delivers a comic whose tone isn’t quite the playful Flash of the past. Instead there’s a bit edgier of a style that feels much more like a mix of sci-fi and horror. Some of that is due to Mike Deodato Jr.’s art which stands out. Deodato is joined by Trish Mulvihill on color and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou on lettering and the result is amazing. Gone is the motion we’ve seen with other artists and instead there’s a use of panels that creates a whirlwind feel. The page layout captures the hectic nature of Wally’s life and presents the Flash’s unique speed in an interesting way. It’s stunning visually.

I’m not sure if I’m totally sold on The Flash #1 but it’s a very entertaining start that feels like a new beginning. There’s a vibe like we’re walking into an expansion of The Flash’s world, much like the growth Green Lantern saw many years ago. No matter, the art alone is more than enough to check out the issue.

Story: Si Spurrier Art: Mike Deodato Jr.
Color: Trish Mulvihill Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.0 Art: 10 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Fitz’s journey continues in The Assassin’s Apprentice II #1

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The Assassin’s Apprentice continues with The Assassin’s Apprentice II #1! The comics adaptation of Robin Hobb’s epic fantasy adventure continues after the success of Series I (six issues, now collected in The Assassin’s Apprentice Volume 1 TPB). Now, we see Fitz take his first true steps into life as an Assassin. The legendary world of the Farseer Trilogy is brought to the comics page by an A-list creative team including writer Jody Houser, interior artist Ryan Kelly, colorist Jordie Bellaire and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, with cover art provided by Anna Steinbauer.

Spring comes to the Six Duchies, and with it, the fearsome menace of the Red-Ship Raiders. As the danger creeps ever closer to Buckkeep, Fitz is given his first true mission from Chade, to infiltrate the estate of a nobleman and look for any signs of treason. But an assassin’s job is far from simple, and the fate of the realm may depend on if Fitz can take a life, or spare one instead.

The Assassin’s Apprentice II #1 (of 6) will be in comic shops December 13, 2023 and is available for pre-order now at your local comic shop for $3.99. 

The Assassin’s Apprentice II #1
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