Tag Archives: midnighter and apollo

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My Friend DahmerEmerald City Comicon has wrapped up and a lot came out of one of the first major conventions of the year. What stood out to you?

While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth – Texas Man Convicted of Stealing Comic Books Held as Evidence – Busted!

CBC – Graphic novel puts spotlight on violence against immigrant women – Great use of the graphic medium to highlight a serious issue.

Cleveland Scene Weekly – ‘My Friend Dahmer,’ a Film Based on Local Cartoonist Derf’s Graphic Novel, to Debut at Tribeca Film Fest – Fantastic graphic novel!

Marvel – Remaining Cast Set for Key Roles in ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ on ABC – That’s a pretty packed cast.

The Comichron – Darth Maul, Marvel top February comics orders; more than 750,000 25-cent Walking Deads ship – The best roundup of February’s reported sales.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

The Mary Sue – Animosity Vol. 1

ICv2 – The Lighthouse

Talking Comics – Midnighter & Apollo #6

Herts Advertiser – Spider-Gwen: Weapon of Choice

Comic Attack – Stained #1

Preview: Midnighter and Apollo #6

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Midnighter and Apollo #6

(W) Steve Orlando (A) Fernando Blanco (CA) Aco
In Shops: Mar 01, 2017
SRP: $3.99

Midnighter always knew it wouldn’t be easy to fight his way out of Hell… but did he ever consider that it might be impossible? Even with Apollo’s strength by his side, some wars just can’t be won… is this never-ending battle finally over?

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Review: Midnighter and Apollo #6

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midnighterapollo6coverMidnighter and Apollo #6 concludes the miniseries in breathtaking, double page spreading, and smooching as fashion as Apollo rescues Midnighter from hell and shines a little life into his life. Steve Orlando, Fernando Blanco, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and John Rauch go for broke in showing the bond between Midnighter in creative and epic ways. The plot is  simple: escape from the creepy hell place, but the creative team pours all their efforts into letting Midnighter and Apollo go full badass and team up together against the hordes of Neron before having some much needed alone time.

Fernando Blanco’s layouts have been a consistent highlight of this series , and he tops himself in Midnighter and Apollo #6 beginning on the second and third pages. Blanco plays with symmetry with an opposing set of panels juxtaposing Apollo flying through Hell with Neron torturing Midnighter about how he’s going to die here because he’s a murder, and evil always wins. Except Neron’s words are empty air because the panels featuring Apollo get bigger and bigger as Fajardo’s yellows seeping in culminating in a full page splash of Apollo cold cocking Neron. It’s just lines on the page, but you can feel the rage and love behind Apollo’s solar powered fists as he goes flying. For most of Midnighter and Apollo, Midnighter has been trying to save Apollo, but its time for superpowered boyfriend to return the favor.

Through their quick dialogue during the action scenes and an extended epilogue, Orlando and Blanco dig into why Midnighter and Apollo work as a couple in a sweet, violent way. There’s nothing like exploding your scarecrow-looking demon doppelganger to show that your man really cares for you. But Midnighter gets really honest too as he’s in excruciating pain after returning from Hell with his body and fight computer healing all over the place. He doesn’t come back with some big no killing plan after having a near death experience, but is going to continue to kill the really bad guys to stop the pervasive spread of evil. It’s a dark duty that Blanco shows with the bodies of his victims

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When it comes to stories or songs about rescuing your lover from the Underworld, most writers and artists allude to Orpheus and Eurydice. But Steve Orlando should be applauded for a little deeper into Ovid’s Metamorphoses and referencing Apollo and Hyacinth as the god couldn’t rescue the man he loved, but did create a beautiful flower out of his death. He riffs on this myth and gives it a much needed happy ending (In more ways than one.) even though both Midnighter and Apollo have been put through the wringer throughout the miniseries. Apollo didn’t pick out his superhero name because of his solar power, but because he was inspired by the story a man, who went to the realm of the dead to plead for his dead lover’s life. And he’ll keep fighting for Midnighter to the end. It’s nice to see them as a happy couple at the end, talking out their issues, and sharing the strangest of dinner parties with Extrano, his husband, and some friends from the Midnighter ongoing series.

Yes, queer characters occasionally get happy endings, and Midnighter and Apollo #6 is a wonderful story of two men, whose love was so strong that they would fight Hell and all its demons just to be in each other’s arms. The comic also is a technical marvel with Fernando Blanco’s clever layouts and Romulo Fajardo’s play of light and darkness showing the contrasts between Apollo and Midnighter while also showing that their differences make them great. Midnighter’s determination and Apollo’s sense of hope definitely makes them the true power couple of the DC Universe, and hopefully there will be many more adventures featuring them in years to come.

Story: Steve Orlando Art: Fernando Blanco Colors: Romulo Fajardo Jr. with John Rauch
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Midnighter and Apollo #5

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midnighterapollo5coverMidnighter punches out and spits on the DC Universe’s equivalent of the devil (The nefarious Neron.) in Midnighter and Apollo #5. If that doesn’t get you excited for this comic, you should really exit this plane of reality and chill out in Limbo, or the world with no shrimp. In all seriousness, writer Steve Orlando, artist Fernando Blanco, and colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr push Midnighter to his absolute breaking point in this issue as he takes a special spell from Extrano that basically turns him into a badass angel of light for seven minutes and gets to whale on Neron while looking for Apollo.

With its sturdy grids and double page spreads for the big finishing move, Blanco and Fajardo go into overload as Midnighter puts every ounce of strength, training, and of course, love into his physical battle with Neron even though he’s more of a concept. Blanco is truly an architect of pain and uses these grids to show the gradual battering of his body. While this is going on, Fajardo blends the angelic and demonic in his use of yellow for the spell that Midnighter uses to shield his body while fighting Neron to go with his usual black and dark grey palette for our protagonist. The yellow begins in the margins of a scene where Midnighter talks some trash to Neron about him being the ultimate enemy, and that all he needs are his fists to win. But he’s really buying time to activate the spell in the rush of giant, golden angel and Hebrew letters. One of the fighting video games should really rip off this “angel punch” move as a finisher for one of their characters.

But, underneath its reverse theodicies and musings about the nature of evil and the afterlife, midnighterapollointeriorMidnighter and Apollo #5 is one big street brawl. Midnighter gets some amazing licks in an almost silent set of pages filled with back hands, kicks, and just sheer punishment. But this is all an illusion, and Midnighter almost becomes incorporeal with his body crumbling in Apollo’s arm after his seven minutes is up. Midnighter would get in a fist fight with the devil to save the man he loves, but defeating a concept on his home turf is a tall order. Without the special spell, he is putty in Neron’s hand, a crumbling mass of red, black, and grey as the soulless Apollo flutters aimlessly like the souls who did neither good nor bad (Or anything out of the blue.) in Dante’s Inferno. Apollo can speak and move and has his usual yellow coloring from Fajardo, but seems like he can’t do anything to get him and Midnighter out of this situation.

To make Midnighter and Apollo even more emotionally unbearable, Steve Orlando pulls a twist on the old Sandman quote, “What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven?” except it’s not Morpheus not besting a demon, but Midnighter being utterly unable to save the soul of Apollo. But there is still hope with a sliver of yellow on the final page. I really have no idea how DC Comics’ power couple are going to get out of this trap. Deus ex Extrano, perhaps?

In Midnighter and Apollo #5, Steve Orlando, Fernando Blanco, and Romulo Fajardo toss out the philosophizing and fancy fight computer enhanced panels for a blunt instrument of a reading experience. Midnighter and Neron beat each other bloody in what turns out to be a pointless battle for best boyfriend in the universe as evil isn’t something you can’t best in hand to hand combat.

But I hope that Midnighter and Apollo can beat it because the cliffhanger at the end of Midnighter and Apollo #5 is pretty bleak even for a series that has mostly been set in a place where weeping and gnashing of teeth are an hourly occurrence.

Story: Steve Orlando Art: Fernando Blanco Colors: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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old-man-logan-17Wednesdays 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!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Joe

Top Pick: Old Man Logan #17 (Marvel) – I am sad that Lemire is leaving the book after issue #24, but what a run he has had. Along with Sorrentino (who sadly hasn’t been doing the interiors on every issue lately), these creators have taken Logan through the ringer. Now we get an Aliens-like feel where Logan is in space against the Brood. I loved the last issue and cannot wait!

Batman #16 (DC Comics) – Tom King’s slow burn continues with the beginning of the “I Am Bane” arc. It looks like the muscle-bound villain is back on venom and bringing menace to Gotham once again as he seeks revenge on the dark knight. How far will Bane go? And who will he hurt that Batman loves? Hopefully, there will be no more broken backs this time around.

Blood Blister #1 (Aftershock) – This series is intriguing and Aftershock has been hitting it out of the park lately with Animosity, and more. I am excited to see what this series is really about and where it goes.

Moon Knight #11 (Marvel) – Another sad moment for me as Lemire announced the book will end at #14. You can see I’m a big Lemire fan, and along with Old Man Logan, this is another favorite of mine. Much like OML, he is really giving one hell of a run on this book and I want to see what happens or what is really going on with Marc Spector.

Star Wars: Darth Maul #1 (Marvel) – So far the Star Wars miniseries have been really good. From Leia to Lando to Chewbacca and Han Solo. I have enjoyed them all. Now we get a miniseries with a badass character who didn’t get enough screen time.

 

Alex

Top Pick: A&A: The Adventures Of Archer And Armstrong #12 (Valiant) – And so another unsung and underrated comic series comes to a close. I’ve heard some people say they preferred Fred Van Lente’s Archer & Armstrong to Rafer Roberts much lengthier titled run, but I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite; they’re different beasts, and my collection is all the stronger for having them both in it. That said, this is a very bittersweet issue for me as I really don’t want to see the series end. C’est la vie, though, I suppose.

Aquaman #16 (DC Comics) – If you’d have told me a year ago that I’d become such a fan of Aquaman – bloody fish talking, almost useless bloody Aquaman – then I’d have laughed until I was blue in the face. Imagine my surprise when the series turned out to be one of the best ongoings (and certainly the best bi-weekly series) DC are putting out post-Rebirth.

Faith #8 (Valiant) – Quite possibly one of the most entertaining series being published right now. You need to be reading this.

Midnighter and Apollo #5 (DC Comics) – I came to this series entirely because of Graphic Policy’s Rebirth Review feature, and it’s discovering comics such as this that’s one of the reasons I’m happy to read past some of the other… less than enjoyable comics. This is a brutally entertaining story about a man who’d walk through hell for the man he loves. There’s not enough comics like this.

Old Man Logan #17 (Marvel) – The old man is in space, and there’s a distinctly Alien feel to the story so far. I’m loving what Jeff Lemire is doing here. Absolutely loving it.

 

Paul

Top Pick: Champions #5 (Marvel) – This as been a fun book from the start, and I am really enjoying it.  This book lets superheroes be superheroes.  It’s nice to see the optimism and determination of these kids, and it really comes through in the colors of the art and the dialogue between them.  These kids are going to change the world, and they believe they can.

All-New X-Men #18 (Marvel) – Inhumans vs. X-Men has been a great event and has delivered in the main issues, but these tie-ins have really been weaving into the story so well  (something not often seen with tie-ins).  This issue says that young Cyclops will learn the truth about the adult Cyclops’ mission to take down the Inhumans, and I don’t think young Scott is going to take it very well.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Hawkeye #3 (Marvel) – The first two issues were fantastic and this new series is a perfect successor to the Matt Fraction/David Aja run. This issue packs in so much, amazing writing, amazing art. Just beyond entertaining and a must get (plus the first two issues if you haven’t).

Baltimore: The Red Kingdom #1 (Dark Horse) – What if evil won? Sound familiar?

The Flintstones #8 (DC Comics) – The women are away so Fred and Barney have to take care of the kids. This comic has been amazing as to how much it takes on real world issues and this release does that in volumes. One of the most subversive and politically astute comics on the market.

The Unstoppable Wasp #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was absolutely fantastic with a fun story and a feminist message that was in your face. I expect more of that with this second issue and so much more awesomeness. This comic was fun with a positive message. More please!

The Walking Dead #163 (Image Comics/Skybound) – This is it… the 25 cents issue! I’m fascinated by this to see what is in store for a comic that’s sure to fly off of shelves for the price alone. This is a big opportunity and I’m fascinated to see what is done with it.

GLAAD Announces their Media Awards Nominees. Check out the 10 Comics Nominated

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GLAAD has announced the nominees for the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Comics were well represented with ten nominations that vary quite a lot in their content, creators, and publishers.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and the issues that affect their lives.

There’s two events, one held in Los Angeles on April 1 and another in New York City on May 6.

This year’s nominees include:

  • All-New X-Men (Marvel) – by Dennis Hopeless, Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy, Paco Diaz, Nolan Woodard, Rachelle Rosenberg, Cory Petit
  • Black Panther (Marvel) – Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze, Chris Sprouse, Walden Wong, Karl C. Story, Laura Martin, Matt Milla, Joe Sabino, Clayton Cowles
  • DC Comics Bombshells (DC Comics) – Marguerite Bennett, Laura Braga, Sandy Jarrell, Maria Laura Sanapo, Mirka Andolfo, Pasquale Qualano, Marguerite Sauvage, Juan Albarran, Kelly Diane Fitzpatrick, J. Nanjan, Jeremy Lawson, Wendy Broome, Wes Abbott
  • Kim & Kim (Black Mask Studios) – Magdalene Visaggio, Eva Cabrera, Claudia Aguirre, Zakk Saam, Taylor Esposito
  • Love is Love (IDW Publishing/DC Comics) – anthology originated by Marc Andreyko
  • Lumberjanes (BOOM! Studios) – Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Carey Pietsch, Ayme Sotuyo, Carolyn Nowak, Maarta Laiho, Aubrey Aiese
  • Midnighter / Midnighter and Apollo (DC Comics) – Steve Orlando, David Messina, Aco, Hugo Petrus, Fernando Blanco, Gaetano Carlucci, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., Jeremy Cox, Tom Napolitano, Josh Reed
  • Patsy Walker, A.K.A Hellcat! (Marvel) – Kate Leth, Brittney L. Williams, Natasha Allegri, Megan Wilson, Rachelle Rosenberg, Clayton Cowles
  • Saga (Image Comics) – Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples, Fonografiks
  • The Woods (BOOM! Studios) – James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas, Josan Gonzalez, Ed Dukeshire

Congrats to all of the nominees and you can watch the full announcement below.

Preview: Midnighter and Apollo #4

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Midnighter and Apollo #4

(W) Steve Orlando (A) Fernando Blanco (CA) Aco
RATED T+
In Shops: Jan 04, 2017
SRP: $3.99

Apollo’s in Hell, and the only weapon that can kill his captor has been destroyed! Does
Midnighter have a plan? Why are you even asking that question?

midnapo_cv4

Review: Midnighter and Apollo #4

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midnighterapollo4coverWatching a fight scene in a Steve Orlando scripted Midnighter comic is a lot like watching Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder get a triple double. He gets one almost every night, but the ride is just as thrilling as he dunks on and corrals rebounds from taller opponents, hits high degree of difficulty jump shots, and makes his teammates look good too. Likewise, Orlando, artist Fernando Blanco, and colorist Romulo Fajardo team up to show the thrilling battle between Midnighter and the Mawzir, the head of the demon gang Lords of the Gun, who sent his boyfriend Apollo to Hell. Foolishly or not so foolishly, Midnighter has decided to bring a single bullet to some kind of quadruple-wielding, first person shooter on steroids gun fight. Apollo also has to bargain for his soul from Neron, and it doesn’t go the greatest, but Orlando continues to bring insight to his past. Fajardo also gives him a golden glow

Exciting layouts has been the bread and butter of Blanco on Midnighter and Apollo, and issue 4 is no exception with three fascinating sequences to watch unfold. The board game theme of the previous issue returns, but Midnighter is more of a Candyland than a Carcassone man and instead of juxtaposing images and dialogue, Blanco just shows him bludgeoning demons up and down and around the sides of Neron’s winding castle. However, the fight between Midnighter and Mawzir is Midnighter and Apollo as directed by John Woo without the doves unfortunately. It’s a battle to the death with guns, fists, slow-mo, and Blanco drawing Midnighter dodging bullets in silhouette is an exciting touch too. He is also an artist of the body and shows how Midnighter and Apollo are physically and mentally drained by the end of the issue although they cling onto some kind of hope. And Fajardo is there with plenty of red as Midnighter wreaks havoc on the Mawzir and the other denizens of Hell.

The Apollo scenes provide a lighter in color palette, yet just as heavy in tone counterbalance to the mayhem of midnighterapollo4interiorMidnighter versus the Lords of the Gun and also show his pure soul even if Neron continues to taunt him about his violent methods as a superhero and “sins”. Except this purity means that pulling a John Constantine or Morpheus and trying to bargain and talk his way out of losing his soul is a bad idea. Apollo is way too good for his place, and this is why it takes his more hellish boyfriend, who gets headhunted by one of Hell’s deadliest demon gangs after killing their leader, to save him.

I do feel like I understand Apollo better as a person after Midnighter and Apollo #4 as Blanco dials down the insane layouts, but ups the defiance in his drawing of Apollo. He’s not just a damsel in distress with the powers of Superman that doesn’t work thanks to the abundance of darkness and hellfire. No, Apollo is a survivor beginning with his homophobic father, who went away and continuing with the aliens who abducted and experimented on him. And hopefully, he’ll make it out of this situation if Midnighter has anything to say about it.

Creative fighting, deep introspection, and variety in panel layouts that show comics is the perfect medium for intense action sequences ensure that Apollo and Midnighter #4 continues the series’ momentum into 2017. This issue reads like a great tie-in for a long lost Vertigo/Wildstorm crossover, and Midnighter bathing in the blood in demons just to save his man inspires me so much.

Story: Steve Orlando Art: Fernando Blanco Colors: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Around the Tubes

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the_unworthy_thor__2The weekend is almost here! What geeky things will everyone be doing? Sound off in the comments below!

While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

The Beat – Kate McKinnon to star in graphic novel adaptation The Lunch Witch – Very interesting.

Newsarama – LINE WEBTOON Creators Earning $100k A Month From Patreon – Wow, that’s impressive!

The Beat – The story of Karl Kesel and Art Adams’ long missing Challengers of the Unkown Art – Some interesting comic history.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

Talking Comics – Avengers #2

Talking Comics – Batman Annual #1

Newsarama – Midnighter and Apollo #3

Comic Attack – Motor Crush #1

ICv2 – One Week in the Library

Newsarama – The Unworthy Thor #2

Preview: Midnighter and Apollo #3

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Midnighter and Apollo #3

(W) Steve Orlando (A) Fernando Blanco (CA) Aco
In Shops: Dec 07, 2016
SRP: $3.99

With Henry Bendix’s trap sprung, it’ll be a long road for Midnighter to be reunited with Apollo-and the path will take him straight through the gates of Hell itself!

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