Tag Archives: jorge zaffino

Review: Karnak #1

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Karnak #1 CoverTHE FLAW IN ALL THINGS “My curse is that I see the flaw in all things. Systems. Philosophies. Structures. People. Everything. Never forget who I am. I am Karnak of the Inhumans.” You may not know who Karnak is now, but you will when Warren Ellis and Gerardo Zaffino are done with you. Phil Coulson goes to Karnak to help with a SHIELD case with Inhuman implications and what he’s going to find will terrify you.

Out of the numerous announced comics as part of Marvel‘s All-New, All-Different relaunch, Karnak with Ellis writing was one I was more intrigued about. I enjoyed Ellis run on Moon Knight, and that’s impressive for me, as I generally find him to be one of the more overrated writers out there.

For a high-profile writer, and a rather anticipated comic, I’d say this debut comic was a disappointment in that I expected better, but it’s not a bad first issue. Ellis isn’t giving us something new as much as it’s a redux of what he did with Moon Knight, a focus on the character, quirks and all. That’s not a bad thing at all, it just feels like we’ve been here and done this before. Not so all-new, all-different. Add in the fact that so far you could replace Karnak with numerous other characters (Shang-Chi or Iron First could be similar comics) and it definitely doesn’t feel like anything special or exciting.

The art by Zaffino is interesting and I found myself both liking and disliking it at the same time. Particularly what bothered me was a weird pattern we see throughout the issue that feels like a boot imprint. It’s a pattern and choice I don’t quite understand I found it rather distracting.

The issue isn’t bad at all, and I want to see what the second issue is like, despite a weird stopping point. There’s absolutely some potential in the fist issue and where it all goes is key, but the comic overall doesn’t feel like it’s special or new. Hype has definitely hurt the comic, but expectations are what they are. In this case, the comic didn’t meet them, and feels like something I’ve seen before.

Story: Warren Ellis Art: Jorge Zaffino
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Review: Winterworld #1

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Winterworld-01-pr-1-edb47Post-apocalyptic story lines, like zombies, are starting to oversaturate the film and literature market. But, like anything, there are always exceptions to the rule. Afterlife with Archie is a prime example. Winterworld is another. The re-emergence of Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino‘s 80s frozen earth tale brings a welcomed drop in temperature to an already hot summer. The story pairs a grizzled wanderer, Scully, with Wynn, a young woman looking to reunite with her family. As they traverse the barren, icy wasteland it’s apparent they aren’t the only ones out there.

I’m glad Dixon picked up his story again. Years have passed since it was first published and you can tell there’s an entire world he wants to expand on. He starts small, with the core duo, but leaves plenty of room to grow in characters and depth. Like the jungle in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Dixon’s wintry world has the opportunity to become a feared and respected antagonist in its own right.

In what is being reported as a slate of talented artists, Butch Guice picks up the pencils first to create a gorgeously bleak world. He hooks you with the cover (seriously, how cool is that cover) and doesn’t let up.  My only concern is the bad guys introduced at the end of story. Right now they look like Mad Max riders, but they are on the verge of looking like smokers from Waterworld. You can have similar titles, just don’t use similar villains.

IDW takes readers back to its bleak 30 Days of Night origins. Where it lacks in horror, it makes up in dreary, freezing cold. Put your wool cap on and get some hot chocolate, this Winterworld isn’t going anywhere.

Story: Chuck Dixon Art: Butch Guice
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

IDW and Xbox Team Up for Winterworld Limited Event Series

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Xbox Entertainment Studio, the Microsoft division that produces original programming for the Xbox brand, announced today that they are co-developing with IDW Entertainment, Winterworld as a limited event live-action series based on the acclaimed comic series created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Jorge Zaffino. Winterworld joins an impressive line-up of dramas, documentaries, and reality television shows being developed by Xbox Entertainment Studios to be debuted and aired on the Xbox platform.

Executive producing the series with Xbox Entertainment Studios are Ted Adams and David Ozer from IDW Entertainment, and Rick Jacobs and Dave Alpert from Circle of Confusion.

“Xbox is recognized globally for their groundbreaking creativity. IDW Entertainment could not ask for a better partner to bring Winterworld to life,” said David Ozer, President of IDW Entertainment, “We are thrilled to be working with them during this exciting time in their growth.”

Winterworld takes place in an apocalyptic future where our world has been encased in ice from pole-to-pole. The surviving humans have formed tribes that war, enslave and trade with one another in an effort to survive the infinite winter.

“To see my stories and Jorge’s powerful images brought to life will be a serious thrill,” said writer Chuck Dixon, “We have the right partners and the right format to really make this something special. It’s an exciting time in comics and in entertainment overall and I am very pleased that Winterworld will be a part of it.”

The comic book series was originally published in the late 1980’s. This June, IDW Publishing is bringing Mr. Dixon back to continue this brutal tale with comic industry favorite, Butch Guice on art.

Winter Comics This Summer With the Return of Chuck Dixon’s Winterworld

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This summer, IDW’s slated blockbuster releases are going to make it hotter than ever or, in this case, so cold it hurts. Second in the line of IDW’s eagerly anticipated summer titles, Winterworld, Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino’s critically acclaimed tale of a future planet Earth frozen from pole to pole, will make its return with an all new ongoing series this June.

Joining Dixon on this series will be one of the most recognized and respected artists in the industry, Butch Guice. Guice is known for his amazing work on DC and Marvel characters ranging from Superman to Captain America with a style that is both dynamic and beautiful.

Winterworld #1 picks up the story of a savvy trade rider, Scully, and Wynn, a young woman long separated from her family. Together they move through a bleak and frozen future in search of Wynn’s parents encountering the brutality of a world where the coldest place on Earth is the human heart.