Tag Archives: nvrlnd

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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doom-patrol-1Wednesdays 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.

Alex

Top Pick: Faith #3 (Valiant) – I love this series. There’s a fun, infectious energy here that just grabs you and pulls you in for one fantastically uplifting ride. Plus, Faith heads to a comicon with Archer – and that’s going to be fantastic.

Action Comics #963 (DC Comics) – It’s a Superman comic, and the Man Of Steel has grown on me considerably since Rebirth. I’m looking forward to finding out who the depowered Clark Kent is, and how Metropolis reacts to a different Superman. Should be fun.

All-Star Batman #2 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder is, at least for me, one of the best writers to take on the Dark Knight in some time. Any time I see his name attached to a bat-project I’ll be reading it.

Dark Souls: Legends Of The Flame #1 (Titan Comics) – I am a huge fan of the Dark Soulsworld and it’s incredibly deep lore (especially because it’s not spoon fed to you throughout the games), so getting a chance to explore that world’s stories through this two part story makes me a little excited.

Old Man Logan #11 (Marvel) – Old Man Logan is the tormented Wolverine that comic fans remember, without the near immortality his healing factor had become. It’s that vulnerability that makes the promised scrap between Logan and a whole whack of ninjas so enticing – Jeff Lemire hasn’t been shy about the old man having his hairy arse handed to to him, so there’s a legitimate chance that Logan will loose the fight this issue (well…maybe). Either way, it’s gonna be bloody.

 

Shay

Top Pick: Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Katana (DC Comics) – Katana was underused in the movie and she’s really an interesting character with a really dope backstory. So, here’s a chance to get to know almost everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Katana but, the movie refused to show.

Black Monday Murders #1 – 2nd Printing (Image Comics) This reprint is coming out the same day as Issue #2 which means you can play catch up and see what you missed before going in for round 2. There’s occultism, money cartels and,  evil magical banks that might be running things shadow government style. Who doesn’t like a good conspiracy theory?

Lady Killer 2 #2 (Dark Horse) – Hit squads, hitman mash-ups and lady hitwomen. Making murder for hire as normal as ordering a pizza or going grocery shopping.

Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #2 (DC Comics) – The “Who is Oracle” Story arc is almost over and you don’t want to miss a thing!

Throwaways #3 (Image) – I’ve got some high hopes for this issue of Throwaways. When I reviewed issue #2 last month I was like warm on it, mostly because I expected more. It looks like this issue is going to deliver and give a bit more the the story itself, the Abby & Dean and the plot is going to get thick and juicy enough to make it feel like you’re reading through split pea soup.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Detective Comics #940 (DC Comics) – Something major is happening… is this the end of Tim Drake!? DC has been tight lipped with this one, and teasing out something major will happen, so get this issue and the Teen Titans.

Doom Patrol #1 (DC’s Young Animal/DC Comics) – So much hype and I’m beyond intrigued to see what this new imprint within DC is like. I checked out the panel at San Diego Comic-Con and they sold me with what’s planned and the look of it all. The vibe I’m getting is superhero meets Vertigo, something I’m totally on board with.

Hadrian’s Wall #1 (Image Comics) – A murder mystery in space! I’ve read the first four issues of the series and it’s really good.

NVRLND #2 (451 Media Group) – A spin on the story of Peter Pan, but the comic takes place in modern LA and Peter’s the head of a rock band and Hook is a drug dealer. The two issues have been solid and well worth checking out if you want a more adult take on Pan.

Raina Telgemeier’s Ghosts (Graphix) – A family moves due to the illness of a daughter and wind up in an area with lots of ghosts. The concept sounds touching and fun, but really it’s Raina Telgemeier and this will be one of the top-selling comics and graphic novels of the year. Find out why Telgemeier’s graphic novels crush the competition and outsells the spandex crowd!

451 Media Teams Up with The Raveonettes for a NVRLND Music Video

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Just in time for the launch of NVRLND #1, 451 Media Group has launched a music video to help promote the comic. Directed by Dylan Mulick, who together with Stephanie Salyers created and wrote the series, features a host of rising social media stars and a new original song from veteran indie rock band The Raveonettes, written specifically for NVRLND.

NVRLND is a reimagining of the Peter Pan myth set in modern Hollywood. In this telling, Peter Pan is the lead singer of rock band The Lost Boys, who play at a secret underground club called NVRLND. Wendy Darling, the new girl in school, naturally falls for the brooding, bad boy. But in this heightened reality, kids are falling victim to a club drug called “pixie dust” being pedaled by tattooed, biker nemesis James Hook, which makes them feel like they can fly.

Adding to the video’s authenticity, NVRLND was filmed at The Smell, a notorious punk rock club in LA that has been set for demolition some time after the filming of the video.

Review: NVRLND #1

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NVRLND #1The story of Peter Pan is a classic having been adapted numerous times and who knows how many “alternate takes” exist at this point. Enter NVRLND, a new (and original) take on the classic tale.

Written by Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulick, the setting is now present-day Hollywood. Peter is the lead singer of the band The Lost Boys, Wendy Darling befriends Tiger Lily in high school, and there’s a new designer drug called Pixie Dust which kids are dying from using. James Hook is present too, this version a tattoo artist who preys on those who flock to Peter and his band.

The story is entertaining with fantastic pacing for a first issue. It drops you right into the action building this new, yet familiar world. Everything is there and how it all comes together is interesting and feels like it’s a rock and fantasy version of Law & Order: SVU. How it comes together is the fun and interesting part. Seeing how each character is depicted is not only fascinating, but also what really sets the series apart from other takes. Even with so many iterations of the characters and story, Salyers and Mulick still find a unique spin to it all. And it’s a spin that has me wanting to come back to see more and where it goes.

Salyers and Mulick also give each character a very unique personality. Each feels like their own person with their own habits, quirks, and how they act. You can see why some act the way they do and each character’s actions make complete sense considering age and setting. While it’s a fantasy, it still feels natural.

Helping that unique spin is artist Leila Leiz who gives us a style that has a Western look infused a bit with manga. The design and style pops on the page creating a look that matches the pop and rock sensibility of it all. Though it’s set in the “real world,” the design and look still feels like it fits the classic story that we know.

The first issue of NVRLND does an excellent job of setting things up with all of the familiar characters we know, but at the same time giving each enough of a unique spin to make it all feel original. I’ll admit I rolled my eyes when I heard that it was another take on Peter Pan, but having read the first issue, I’m looking forward to see what comes next.

Story: Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulick Art: Leila Leiz
Story: 8.1 Art: 8.1 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

451 Media Group provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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All Star Batman #1 CoverWednesdays 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.

Jason

Top Pick: The Vision #10 (Marvel) – Delivering emotional gut punches and shocking moments, King and Walta’s and heart-achingly tale of family, conformity and identity hit’s it’s sure to be devastating endgame. The Visions mission for normality and a place in the world falls apart and promises the violence and inevitable confrontation with his fellow avengers that has been lurking in plain sight since the very first issue. Continually gripping and equally shocking, I can only imagine what the last three issues of what is sure to be known as a classic will bring for the Vision and his family.

Spidey: First Day (Marvel) – Marvel hasn’t exactly left fans desperate for Spider-man related titles in the last few years with readers able to get their arachnid fix in Infamous, Amazing, 2099, Silk and Gwen flavors to name just a handful. Hearing about this new title I was skeptical at first especially in the high school setting the films still obsess over even now. The truth is despite the enduring Image of Peter, he only spent about thirty or so issues actually in High school, which makes it the perfect place to get some old school, no nonsense webslinger stories. This first volume collects writer Robbie Thompson (already a Spider-vetron having written Silk and Venom: Space Knight) and Wolverine and the X-Men artist Nick Bradshaw. With Peter back in high school and his early career as the wallcrawler, the pair have been creating an essential re-tweaking of this time in our hero’s life. Even within the confines of a soft re-imagining they succeed in thrilling at every turn with the mix of high school drama and updated canonical appearances of classic Spidey villains like Doc Oc. The super detailed work on Bradshaw gives a much needed youthful energy to the book as he did with Wolverine and the X-Men.

While I’m thrilled with the major character development and changes Peter Parker has had over the last few years it’s still great to see a book out there for an audience who wants fun, exciting old school Spidey tales. With Peter back in high school and his early career as the wallcrawler, the pair have been creating an essential re-tweaking of this time in our hero’s life. Even within the confines of a soft re-imagining they succeed in thrilling at every turn with the mix of high school drama and updated canonical appearances of classic Spidey villains like Doc Oc. The super detailed work on Bradshaw gives a much needed youthful energy to the book as he did with Wolverine and the X-men.

While I’m thrilled with the major character development and changes Peter Parker has had over the last few years it’s still great to see a book out there for an audience who wants fun, exciting old school Spidey tales.

 

Alex

Top Pick: A&A: The Adventures of Archer And Armstrong #6 (Valiant) – I always enjoy reading the adventures of these two, in what is easily one of Valiant’s most entertaining comics. And from arguably the best publisher around, that’s saying something (or it should be). This issue kicks off a new arc, and Valiant are pretty good at easing new readers into their comics at the start of each arc, so this is an ideal issue to start with if you’re not already reading this series.

All-Star Batman #1 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder returns to Batman with a new monthly comic. As one of my favourite Batman writers in recent times, I’m looking forward to getting my hands on this comic and seeing how it compare to his earlier work, and also the current writers of Detective Comics and Batman.

Old Man Logan #10 (Marvel) – I have wanted to love this series since it launched, but I’ve found it a little hit and miss as the issues have ticked by – more hit than miss, in all honesty, though. The art has been consistently brilliant, however, and the series has been worth reading for that alone, but the new arc seems to be taking Old Man Logan into an intriguing story line.

Red Hood And The Outlaws #1 (DC Comics) – I’m just curious to see if it’s just Red Hood here, or if the Outlaws from the New 52 series will join him.

Ninjak #18 (Valiant) – One of my favourite tie-ins to Book Of Death involved both of the characters featured in this new story: Ninjak and the Eternal Warrior, from around this time period in Valiant’s continuity. I’m excited to see the pair of them back together again.

 

Mr. H

All-Star Batman # 1 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder back on Batman? What more is there to say but Hell Bleepin’ Yes! Suicide Squad this past weekend gave me a little shot of Batman and now I need a full dose! I am very excited for the premise as Snyder always finds a way to reinvent the classic foes and throw new and exciting challenges at the Dark Knight. Plus I heard Batman with a chainsaw on a road trip? Sign me up!!! Not even packing a bag for this one, it’s just get up and GO!

 

Paul

Top Pick: A-Force #8 (Marvel) – While the Civil War II event has been ho-hum at best, I’m looking forward to seeing which side of the battle the members of A-Force will take.  Will they stand with their teammate Captain Marvel?  Medusa for sure, but the rest?  Hard to say, but I’m looking forward to it.  I’ve enjoyed this book from the start, and things look like they’re going to get a lot more interesting.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 (DC Comics) – Red Hood, Artemis and Bizarro. This has to be one of the oddest team-ups I’ve seen, but I am interested.  I’ve been enjoying a few of the Rebirth books and getting reacquainted with characters I haven’t really been following for a while.  Red Hood has always been an interesting character (to me) so I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets teamed up  with an amazon and Bizarro.

Scarlet Witch #9 (Marvel) – This title, sadly, has not been the fantastic journey for Wanda I was hoping it would be.  It’s been pretty bland to be honest. But, Quicksilver is visiting his sister (I think they’re still related, not too sure after the awful decision to rewrite their history) but I am looking forward to seeing them reunite and take their sides in the civil war.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Black Monday Murders #1 (Image Comics) – The fact that Jonathan Hickman is writing this should be enough to get you to want to get it, it does for me. The concept sounds amazing as well. It’s a new take on magic and occultism where schools of magic are actually clandestine banking cartels who control society. Magical conspiracy theories from Hickman? I’m sold.

All-Star Batman #1 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder continues with Batman in an all new series that focuses more on the villains and anyone that knows Snyder, knows his take on villains is amazing. Add in a rotating who’s who of artists and you have a series that’ll be a must get.

Deathstroke: Rebirth #1 (DC Comics) –  Writer Christopher Priest returns, nuff said.

Superwoman #1 (DC Comics) – Phil Jimenez takes on a super-powered Lois Lane in this new series which feels like a real heir to the Superman mantle. A positive take and some great twists make this a comic a must get.

NVRLND #1 (451 Media Group) – A new twisted take on Peter Pan. It’s a solid first issue that has me wanting more. You can read my review.

Early Review: NVRLND #1

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NVRLND #1The story of Peter Pan is a classic having been adapted numerous times and who knows how many “alternate takes” exist at this point. Enter NVRLND, a new (and original) take on the classic tale.

Written by Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulick, the setting is now present-day Hollywood. Peter is the lead singer of the band The Lost Boys, Wendy Darling befriends Tiger Lily in high school, and there’s a new designer drug called Pixie Dust which kids are dying from using. James Hook is present too, this version a tattoo artist who preys on those who flock to Peter and his band.

The story is entertaining with fantastic pacing for a first issue. It drops you right into the action building this new, yet familiar world. Everything is there and how it all comes together is interesting and feels like it’s a rock and fantasy version of Law & Order: SVU. How it comes together is the fun and interesting part. Seeing how each character is depicted is not only fascinating, but also what really sets the series apart from other takes. Even with so many iterations of the characters and story, Salyers and Mulick still find a unique spin to it all. And it’s a spin that has me wanting to come back to see more and where it goes.

Salyers and Mulick also give each character a very unique personality. Each feels like their own person with their own habits, quirks, and how they act. You can see why some act the way they do and each character’s actions make complete sense considering age and setting. While it’s a fantasy, it still feels natural.

Helping that unique spin is artist Leila Leiz who gives us a style that has a Western look infused a bit with manga. The design and style pops on the page creating a look that matches the pop and rock sensibility of it all. Though it’s set in the “real world,” the design and look still feels like it fits the classic story that we know.

The first issue of NVRLND does an excellent job of setting things up with all of the familiar characters we know, but at the same time giving each enough of a unique spin to make it all feel original. I’ll admit I rolled my eyes when I heard that it was another take on Peter Pan, but having read the first issue, I’m looking forward to see what comes next.

Story: Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulick Art: Leila Leiz
Story: 8.1 Art: 8.1 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

451 Media Group provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

451’s NVRLND Gets a Trailer

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NVRLND is a dark and magical retelling of Peter Pan set in the present-day landscape of Hollywood. Wallflower turned wild-child Wendy Darling befriends the fierce Tiger Lily and falls into the music rave scene of the underground club NVRLND. Intoxicated by the music, Wendy falls for the enigmatic Peter, lead singer of the band The Lost Boys. Peter is everything a girl could desire: handsome, daring, and reckless. Wendy discovers Peter is mixed up with the mysterious tattoo artist James Hook, who preys upon the young who flock to Peter, “hooking” them on the new designer drug, Pixie Dust. You think you may know the truth about NVRLND, but the truth is, you know nothing. NVRLND is a story for anyone who never wants to give up, but may not live long enough to have a chance.

NVRLD comes out August 16 from 451 Media Group, written by Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulick with art by Leila Leiz.