Strange Academy #9
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T+
In Shops: Mar 10, 2021
SRP: $3.99
• It’s PARENTS’ DAY at Strange Academy!
• For most students, it’s a joyous day, but for Calvin Morse, an orphan…not so much.
• So while the rest of the parents go on a scavenger hunt around campus, Calvin and an unlikely friend face something truly scary.
Strange Academy #8
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T+
In Shops: Feb 03, 2021
SRP: $3.99
• Students of Strange Academy go on a perfectly normal field trip… to space… uncovering a magical artifact… with Rocket and Groot.
• Yep, perfectly normal.
• Meanwhile, WHAT IS THE RING OF DREAD?!
Strange Academy #7
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T+
In Shops: Jan 27, 2021
SRP: $3.99
• The first arc ended in loss, but teeters on the edge of tragedy.
• There are some that Strange cannot save, but can he minimize the graves they’ll have to dig on campus?
• All this and a huge secret of the Strange Academy is revealed!
Strange Academy #6
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T+
In Shops: Dec 09, 2020
SRP: $3.99
BATTLE IN THE BAYOU!
• What happens when the students of Strange Academy face the ancient evil order called THE HOLLOW in the swamps of New Orleans?
• Nothing good, that’s for sure!
• The students have stepped too far out of their element – now what price must they pay?
Strange Academy #5
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
32 PGS./Rated T+
In Shops: Nov 11, 2020
SRP: $3.99
The founding of the Strange Academy came with some gigantic risks. So far the students and teachers haven’t felt the sting of those risks. That changes this issue.
Something horrible is bubbling up in the bayous outside New Orleans and the students of Strange Academy are going to have to wade in and uncover an evil that they are not ready to handle.
What does a game of tag look like at the Strange Academy? After a trip to the French Quarter of New Orleans, the students are still in having fun mode taking the classic game and giving it a magical spin. While chasing each other, we get to jump through worlds through magical doors allowing for an instant change of scenery and new challenges. Strange Academy #4 continues to deliver some fun before the oncoming storm.
Writer Skottie Young continues to set up the world of Strange Academy. The characters and settings are new. And with that, Young has focused on worldbuilding than throwing our characters directly into conflict. With that, the first four issues have delivered more fun than fights. That’s not a bad thing at all. We’ve gotten to know the characters and their personalities a bit more that way. It also is clear this is the set up before characters start getting off. Young is creating an attachment between the reader and the characters. With their fun personalities, we care about them more which makes upcoming threats more ominous and more likely we’ll experience greater tragedy.
Young delivers a kinetic issue full of world jumping and youthful fun. We know the shit will hit the fan soon but we can also sit back and just enjoy the fun the characters are having. And it’s chaotic. Beyond the game of tag, the issue also deals with a library run amok in a way that’s unexpected. Strange Academy #4 seems to have a goal and that’s to remind us that there’s danger everywhere and it’ll come from unexpected locations and at unexpected times.
Humberto Ramos provides the art with Edgar Delgado on color and Clayton Cowles lettering. There’s a lot to pack into the issue and it’s impressive with what’s done. Between the library setting and the different worlds presented the issue literally hops around. It delivers so many locations and “looks” but at the same time it all feels coherent and of the same world. That’s helped by the eye-popping coloring. The team also emphasizes the fun. We can see the joy so many of the kids are experiencing as they chase each other and wind up in new locations. There’s an enthusiasm mixed with energetic fun.
Strange Academy #4 is another fun issue of the series. It’s clear what the team is going for and what’s coming. The issue is the calm before the storm. That’s not a bad thing as the slow build has been a great way to introduce the characters and world. I care about these characters a bit more this way and it also hasn’t relied on shocks to keep us coming. Instead, much like the students with each other, we’re getting to know everyone and familiarize ourselves with the school. For those interested in kids attending a school for magicians, this is the one you should attend.
Story: Skottie Young Art: Humberto Ramos
Color: Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics
Strange Academy #4
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T+
In Shops: Oct 28, 2020
SRP: $3.99
TAG, YOU’RE IT! The students at the Strange Academy blow off their homework for the craziest game of tag ever.
• Every door of Strange Academy holds a surprise – one takes you to Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, another to Weirdworld, another to Asgard; and some doors’ destinations are unknown even to Strange himself.
• The students plan on stepping through every door, and at least one of the students will bear some significant consequences of their actions.
Take part in the 1st annual Baltimore Comic-Con Live, a FREE ONLINE EVENT streaming the weekend of October 23-25, 2020! Come check out retailers, exhibitors, artists alley, programming, and the Ringo Awards live! The programming for the virtual event is jam-packed with comic book excellence!
THE JUSTICE LEAGUE: Bwa-Ha-Ha
Panelists: JM DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, and Kevin Maguire
Host: John Siuntres
Friday, October 23, 2020 – 6pm ET / 3pm PT
The men behind the comedy classic of the 80s and 90s return for a victory lap in a discussion of this comedy classic take on the world’s greatest heroes.
BENDIS & CONWAY
Panelists: Brian Michael Bendis and Gerry Conway
Friday, October 23, 2020 – 7pm ET / 4pm PT
A one-on-one conversation between two of the most important writers at the Big Two, representing nearly 50 years of comics. Join Brian Michael Bendis (Superman, Ultimate Spider-Man) and Gerry Conway (Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man) in a no-holds-barred discussion.
STRANGE ACADEMY
Panelists: Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos
Host: Chuck Lindsey
Sunday, October 25, 2020 – 12pm ET / 9am PT
Sit down with the creators of the new Marvel hit series, Strange Academy.
For those looking for alternatives to that other school for kid wizards, then look no further than Strange Academy. For three issues the series has introduced to this crazy world full of magic and a new generation of characters all of whom are full of energy and personality. It’s a fun, fresh series, and Strange Academy #3 continues every bit of that while setting up what’s to come.
Written by Skottie Young, the issue mainly has the students heading out into the French Quarter for some much needed fun. Of course things don’t go smoothly, though it’s not quite the over the top action one might expect. Young takes the issue in a much different route.
Strange Academy #3 is an interesting comic in that the premise could have easily had the students fighting “big bads” in a one-off issue but instead the stakes are fairly low. Instead, Young focuses on the students and their interactions. Yes, this is an issue that drops them in crap so that we can learn more about them and see them bond and interact in an environment that’s not the school. It’s all about the personalities and friendships here.
And Young nails the issue.
Every student featured feels like they get their moment, no matter how brief, that adds to the character and lets us know a little more about them. On top of all of that, the issue does some foreshadowing for what’s to come and sets up what’s clearly the first major bad for the series. It’s an issue that might feel like a throwaway in some ways but in reality it’s all about the setup and adding depth to make us know more about, and maybe care for, these characters.
Humberto Ramos‘ art with Edgar Delgado‘s colors is absolutely amazing as expected. Fantastic writing and fantastic art are the name of this series and the issue does not disappoint. Each character and moment is full of so much personality and energy as is Ramos’ style and the exaggerated nature of it all just adds to the youthful feel of the series. The lettering by Clayton Cowles is amazing as well. There’s some subtle things done depending who’s talking where the font style might change but unless you really pay attention you might not notice. It’s a small detail that adds so much to the series and characters.
Strange Academy #3 is another home run for the series and team. This is just a fun series with some great characters showing so much potential. It’s a series I look forward to with every release and a comic I can sit back and enjoy with a smile on my face. If you haven’t been reading it, you’ve been missing out.
Story: Skottie Young Art: Humberto Ramos
Color: Edgar Delgado Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.45 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics
Strange Academy #3
(W) Skottie Young (A/CA) Humberto Ramos
Rated T
In Shops: Sep 30, 2020
SRP: $3.99
DOYLE DORMAMMU, HEAD OF THE CLASS?
• Anyone who has been to New Orleans knows that it’s a magical place, but the students of STRANGE ACADEMY are about to see it firsthand.
• Their first field trip as a class shows them a city (and the stakes of what they’re living) in ways that light a fuse that is going to blow up in a big way.
