The weekend is almost here! We’ll be using it to read some new comics and attempt to enjoy the improving weather. What geeky things will you all be doing? Sound off in the comments.
Newsarama – Sony Prepping SPIDER-MAN Spin-Off Movie JACKPOT – Report – Interesting choice of character.
The Beat – Play it again, Dex: STUMPTOWN renewed for season 2 – Yes please more!
Reviews
The Beat – An Embarrassment of Witches
Newsarama – Ludocrats #1
Ludocrats #1 is a wild, decadent comic. Many years in the making, it’s from writers Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol, artist Jeff Stokely, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Clayton Cowles, who gives the book a definite “Euro” vibe. The story follows the misadventures of Otto and Hades. They’re a part of an aristocratic group dedicated to having a good time. It is an utter paean to the art of hedonism: the comic book equivalent of Dionysus giving Apollo a spanking.
First up, there’s a wedding between Elaina and Lord Pulderwart, a “boring” person. It’s a wondrous occasion for a first issue and turns the classic comedy structure of ending with a wedding on its head reflecting the topsy turvy world order of Ludocrats. Gillen and Rossignol indulge in their most florid and absurd prose. Especially through the character of Otto, who is introduced completely nude, covered in blood, and with his penis out. Otto is pure id and gets the best lines as he is the arbiter of all things “ludicrous”. He is the offspring of Shakespeare’s Falstaff. More so the Merry Wives of Windsor Falstaff than the Henry IV duology Falstaff. Otto is the physical representation of this comic’s themes and attitudes.
Jeff Stokely’s artwork in Ludocrats is Asterix and Obelix by way of Brandon Graham. It features all kinds of fun and hilarious background details that are expanded upon in the issue’s back-matter. Stokely and Tamra Bonvillain’s double-page spread of a wedding set the tone and almost singlehandedly build the world of Ludocrats. It’s like the Mos Eisley cantina on acid. You’re introduced to a world where knights read the newspaper, some folks have goldfish bowls for heads, and a bag of wheat gets a seat all to themselves for some reason or another.
Everything in Stokely’s artwork is exaggerated. It fits the tone of Ludocrats #1 from the aforementioned nude and bloody Otto taking up an entire full-page spread. There’s no room for deadpan (Except for the cool Dr. Hades.), everything is ham in this comic. Even though Ludocrats has the clear structure of a wedding, Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol are liberated to write some of the strangest dialogue I’ve seen, especially when Otto tries to flirt with one of the party guests. Who knows that a satire of heteronormativity could be so damn funny, especially when Stokely adds cartoon physics to the mix?
Although its characters behave in unrestrained manners and constantly try to outdo each other in the matters of eccentricity, Ludocrats #1 is a comic that’s fairly easy to follow. Its focus is two main characters and a variety of visual and verbal jokes. Instead of relying on boring exposition (This is actually a plot point), Gillen, Rossignol, Stokely, and Bonvillain throw you straight in the middle of the world without a life vest. This is an admirable storytelling point, and Ludocrats #1 is a true party of a comic that you should safely try to acquire when it’s released.
Story: Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol Art: Jeff Stokely
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Bookshop – Zeus Comics
Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday. It’s been almost two months since the last time we’ve done this and we’re excited to be able to start again!
Disaster, Inc. #1 (AfterShock) – A new series from writer Joe Harris and artist Sebastian Piriz takes us on a tour of some of the worst places on earth while digging up trouble. The concept of disaster tourism is a new one for comics and we’re excited to check this one out. – Check out our exclusive preview.
The Goon #10 (Albatross Funnybooks) – Consistently one of the funniest and fun comics out there. It’s a spooky take on Popeye that’s beyond entertaining and a must for us each month.
In Vitro (Humanoids/Life Drawn) – A sweet, funny French graphic memoir by cartoonist William Roy about him and his wife’s quest to have a child via in vitro fertilization. – Read our review
Ludocrats #1 (Image Comics) – Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol, Tamra Bonvillain, and Jeff Stokely is a murderer’s row of creators. The series is described as “A collision of the ornate fantasy of Dune and an M-rated Asterix & Obelix! Baron Otto Von Hades and Professor Hades Zero-K are here, and they’re going to save us all have a nice time.” We already have a very positive review. – Read our review
Plunge #3 (DC Comics/DC Black Label/Hill House Comics) – Amazing horror from writer Joe Hill and artist Stuart Immonen. The third issue is beyond creepy.
Star Wars Adventures: Clone Wars #1 (IDW Publishing) – We’ll take more Clone Wars!
Superman Smashes the Klan (DC Comics) – Writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Gurihiru’s amazing series is collected and is beyond amazing. This is “best of the year” material that has Superman fighting the Klan in a story that riffs off of the classic radio serial.
Year Zero #1 (AWA Studios) – AWA has been a publisher to keep an eye on and this zombie series feels a bit weird to read considering the world but we’re still a sucker for the genre.
Digital Releases
DCeased: Hope at World’s End #1 (DC Comics) – DC surprised everyone with this digital-first release. It was unannounced and unexpected. Another zombie genre riff but DCeased so far has been a fantastic take on the genre and we want more.
Youth #2 (comiXology Original) – A new take on the superhero genre with a LGBT spin on it all. The first issue was solid and we want to read more and even more intrigued as it’s being worked on as a show from Amazon Studios.
Things are a bit crazy right now but it’s still new comic book day tomorrow! What are folks getting? Will you be buying digital comics? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
CBLDF – How The CARES Act Helps Retailers, Creators & Other Comics Businesses – Some very important info that might be helpful to comic shops and creators.
Newsarama – Every DC Comics Issue from 1935 – 2014 to be Auctioned as Complete Set by Sotheby’s – Maybe if we all pooled the change from our couches together.
The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: Meet Benny Beck: Vampire Killer, not your average hunter of the undead – Free comics!
The Beat – Locke & Key renewed for season 2 on Netflix – Not too surprising. The show seems to have gone over well.
Reviews
Comic Attack – Blackwood: The Mourning After #1
The Beat – Blue Flag
Comic Attack – Ludocrats #1
AIPT – X-Men/Fantastic Four #3
Ludocrats #1 is a wild, decadent comic. Many years in the making, it’s from writers Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol, artist Jeff Stokely, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Clayton Cowles, who gives the book a definite “Euro” vibe. The story follows the misadventures of Otto and Hades. They’re a part of an aristocratic group dedicated to having a good time. It is an utter paean to the art of hedonism: the comic book equivalent of Dionysus giving Apollo a spanking.
First up, there’s a wedding between Elaina and Lord Pulderwart, a “boring” person. It’s a wondrous occasion for a first issue and turns the classic comedy structure of ending with a wedding on its head reflecting the topsy turvy world order of Ludocrats. Gillen and Rossignol indulge in their most florid and absurd prose. Especially through the character of Otto, who is introduced completely nude, covered in blood, and with his penis out. Otto is pure id and gets the best lines as he is the arbiter of all things “ludicrous”. He is the offspring of Shakespeare’s Falstaff. More so the Merry Wives of Windsor Falstaff than the Henry IV duology Falstaff. Otto is the physical representation of this comic’s themes and attitudes.
Jeff Stokely’s artwork in Ludocrats is Asterix and Obelix by way of Brandon Graham. It features all kinds of fun and hilarious background details that are expanded upon in the issue’s back-matter. Stokely and Tamra Bonvillain’s double-page spread of a wedding set the tone and almost singlehandedly build the world of Ludocrats. It’s like the Mos Eisley cantina on acid. You’re introduced to a world where knights read the newspaper, some folks have goldfish bowls for heads, and a bag of wheat gets a seat all to themselves for some reason or another.
Everything in Stokely’s artwork is exaggerated. It fits the tone of Ludocrats #1 from the aforementioned nude and bloody Otto taking up an entire full-page spread. There’s no room for deadpan (Except for the cool Dr. Hades.), everything is ham in this comic. Even though Ludocrats has the clear structure of a wedding, Kieron Gillen and Jim Rossignol are liberated to write some of the strangest dialogue I’ve seen, especially when Otto tries to flirt with one of the party guests. Who knows that a satire of heteronormativity could be so damn funny, especially when Stokely adds cartoon physics to the mix?
Although its characters behave in unrestrained manners and constantly try to outdo each other in the matters of eccentricity, Ludocrats #1 is a comic that’s fairly easy to follow. Its focus is two main characters and a variety of visual and verbal jokes. Instead of relying on boring exposition (This is actually a plot point), Gillen, Rossignol, Stokely, and Bonvillain throw you straight in the middle of the world without a life vest. This is an admirable storytelling point, and Ludocrats #1 is a true party of a comic that you should safely try to acquire when it’s released.
Story: Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol Art: Jeff Stokely
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Image Comics has revealed the Ludocrats #1 cover B featuring reality-warping artwork from Jamie McKelvie, which will be available with the series launch this April.
Ludocrats #1 by bestselling writer Kieron Gillen, writer Jim Rossignol, and artist Jeff Stokely with colorist Tamra Bonvillain is a gleefully bizarre five issue, fantasy miniseries that thinks there’s more gold in the hills mined by I Hate Fairyland and they can uncover it with illegally acquired Python-infused explosives.
In short: The Ludocrats! The aristocrats of ludicrous! A collision of the ornate fantasy of Dune and an M-rated Asterix & Obelix! Baron Otto Von Subertan and Professor Hades Zero-K are here, and they’re going to save us all have a nice time.
Ludocrats #1 Cover A by Stokely (Diamond Code FEB200052) and Ludocrats #1 Cover B by McKelvie (Diamond Code JAN208731) will be available at comic book shops on April Fool’s Day—Wednesday, April 1. Not joking.
Bestselling writer Kieron Gillen will team up with writer Jim Rossignol, and artist Jeff Stokely with colorist Tamra Bonvillain for Ludocrats. This five-issue, gonzo-weird fantasy miniseries will launch from Image Comics on April Fools’ Day.
In short: The Ludocrats! The aristocrats of ludicrous! A collision of the ornate fantasy of Dune and an M-rated Asterix & Obelix! Baron Otto Von Subertan and Professor Hades Zero-K are here, and they’re going save us all have a nice time.
Ludocrats #1 (Diamond Code FEB200052) will be available at comic book shops on April Fool’s Day—Wednesday, April 1. Not joking.
