Things are still a bit slower post holiday but we’ve got some reviews for you to check out as you wait for the week day to end and last weekend of the year to begin!
Reviews
Newsarama – Fantastic Four #5
CBR – Livewire #1
The Outhousers – Maestros Vol. 1
ICv2 – Your Name. Another Side: Earthbound Vol. 1
Steve Skroce will release Maestros Vol. 1—collecting the first seven issues of his dark fantasy series—this October from Image Comics. Nominated for an Eisner Award in the Best New Series category, Maestros is richly layered and deeply irreverent.
The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King’s throne—along with a spell that turns its user into God. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom?
Maestros, Vol. 1 TP (Diamond code: AUG180164, ISBN: 978-1-5343-0673-8) will be available in comic book stores on Wednesday, October 31st. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, September 17th. It will be available in bookstores on Tuesday, November 6th.
Image Comics has revealed the first seven of 14 exclusive virgin wraparound covers in celebration of artists and the importance and impact they have in defining the comics medium. We Believe in Artists will be the first of many initiatives throughout Image’s planned #WeBelieve 2018 campaign highlighting the important, lately overlooked components of the comics industry.
Comics is a visual storytelling medium with artwork as the driving force behind the narrative, tone, and spirit of a comic book’s sequential narrative. Image Comics hopes to cast a spotlight for fans and members of the comic book community on the momentous significance a piece of artwork can have to sell these stories to readers.
Without titles, endorsement quotes, names, logos, or jacket copy, these wraparound covers feature solely the masterpiece artwork that fans won’t want to miss out on experiencing.
The following bestselling series will feature one of these exclusive, undressed, breathtaking collectors’ covers.
Available on Wednesday, March 7th, final order cutoff deadline on Monday, February 12th:
Available on Wednesday, March 14th, final order cutoff deadline on Monday, February 19th:
Available on Wednesday, March 21st, final order cutoff deadline on Monday, February 26th:
Available on Wednesday, March 28th, final order cutoff deadline on Monday, March 5th:
Image Comics has announced that the third issue of Maestros, the darkly irreverent fantasy series from Steve Skroce, is being rushed back to print in order to keep up with customer demand.
Skroce’s reputation for jaw-dropping worldbuilding technique extends beyond just the comics industry with his storyboarding credits on such Hollywood blockbusters as the The Matrix Trilogy and I, Robot. He also co-created Doc Frankenstein with Geof Darrow and the Wachowskis.
In the series Maestros, protagonist Willy Little has been granted an unlimited and ultimate power by sheer happenstance when his god-like wizard-king father is murdered, along with the rest of the royal family.
With the all-powerful Book of Remaking stolen by cutthroat thieves—and with Willy being the only one who can open it—it’s starting to look like his reign might be a short one.
Maestros #3, 2nd printing (Diamond code: NOV178105) and Maestros #4 (Diamond Code NOV170774) will both be available on Wednesday, January 24th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, January 1st.
It’s a new week and Thor: Ragnarok has opened or will be opening for a lot of us! Who’s seen it? What’d you think? Sound off int he comments below! While you wait for our review tomorrow, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.
Kotaku – How The UFC’s Best Fighter Thinks He’d Beat Batman, Thor, And Goku – Don’t think this would happen. They’re not real for one…
Reviews
Talking Comics – Maestros #1
How to Love Comics – No. 1 With a Bullet #1
ICv2 – Santania
Image Comics has announced that the first issue of Maestros, the new irreverent fantasy series from The Matrix storyboard artist Steve Skroce, will be rushed back to print in order to keep up with customer demand.
The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered, and his banished son from Earth suddenly inherits the Wizard King’s throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom?
Maestros #1, 2nd printing (Diamond code: SEP178184) and Maestros #2 (Diamond code: SEP170750) arrive in comic book shops Wednesday, November 15th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, October 23rd.
*MINOR SPOILERS BELOW*
If I had to describe Maestros #1, and I should since you took the time to read this review, I would say it’s part Tarantino, part Big Trouble in Little China, and part fantasy story. That is simplifying what is essentially one of the craziest, and prettiest comics I have read and looked at in recent memory. The only book I can think of that rivals the beautiful art married with a ridiculousness fun story of this level is Head Lopper.
The story starts off with the murder of Maestro, and the rest of the royal family. All signs point to the evil wizard, Mardok, who kind of looks like a Shaman and a flying Monkey from Wizard of Oz combined. We meet Margaret, who is told the news by a talking flower person who lets her know that since she had divorced Maestro, her and her son, Willy were spared. She then realizes she must go to her son to protect him. It’s a fun set up, and from here we see things start to go off the rails from a traditional fantasy plot.
We then meet her son, Willy, who is a wizard who is using his magic powers to enlarge the genitals of an oil salesmen in a seedy bar. He admits to a few of the ladies that he is speaking with that he could use his powers for more, but this is just temporary. Chaos breaks out and the mother and son are on the run from the evil forces of Mardok. It happens very quickly, and it is a lot of fun. The dialogue by Steve Skroce is witty, edgy, and works within the craziness of this world. They actually speak like real people, even though they are inside of a wacky fantasy tale.
I couldn’t finish talking about this book without discussing the beautiful art, which was drawn by Steve Skroce as well, and it is really something to see. Even with some graphic scenes of violence in the beginning, I found myself taking in all of the little details. Skroce is a heck of an artist, as he showed on the Brian K. Vaughn book, We Stand on Guard, and he does a stellar job again here while pulling double duty as the writer. The colors are also masterfully done by Dave Stewart, and really help this awesome book come to life. What would a good fantasy or sci-if story be without an awesome palette? Not very good or full of imagination, and thankfully that isn’t the case here. All bets are off as we see a wide array of color, and it is beautiful.
I recommend this book, as long as you do not mind a little swearing, a little violence, a little nudity, and a lot of craziness. If you like books like Head Lopper, or other out there original stories that are trying to do their own thing, and incredible art, then give Maestros a shot. It’s insane, in all the right ways.
Story: Steve Skroce Art: Steve Skroce Colors: Dave Stewart Lettering: Fonografiks
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Image Comics has revealed a special limited variant cover of Maestros #1 by Y: The Last Man co-creator and series artist Pia Guerra.
In Maestros, Willy Little is granted an unlimited and ultimate power by sheer force of luck when his god-like wizard-king father is murdered—along with the rest of the royal family. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom? And will he still be a nice guy when nobody ever says no to him anymore?
Limited quantities of Maestros #1 Cover B by Pia Guerra (Diamond code: AUG178206) will be available Wednesday, October 18th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, September 25th.
Superstar comics and storyboard artist Steve Skroce will take on both writing and art duties in his all-new, totally irreverent and fantastical action-comedy Maestros this October from Image Comics.
The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King’s throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom?
Maestros #1 (Diamond code: AUG170542) arrives in comic book stores Wednesday, October 18th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, September 25th.
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