Returning to your hometown is never easy, but for Heather Hutchens, it’s a nightmare… Babylon Coveis a five-issue horror romantic comedy series from Mad Cave Studios, written by Rafer Roberts with art by Joe Eisma, colors by Marissa Louise, and lettering by Crank!, featuring a variant cover by Eric Powell.
This is a story about Heather, a no-nonsense career-gal who returns to her picturesque New England hometown for the first time in a decade to attend a family funeral; Dennis, the all-American dreamboat who broke Heather’s heart in high school; Charlie, the late-blooming shy boy who Heather never gave the time of day, and Karthon, the ancient demon with plans to feast on the flesh of everyone in town.
If you ever wondered what would happen if Stephen King were allowed to write one of those Hallmark holiday movies…Welcome to BABYLON COVE.
Blending sharp romantic comedy instincts with straight-up horror, Babylon Cove gleefully dismantles the love triangle, replacing polite small-town tension with monsters, mayhem, and emotional reckoning.
Babylon Cove is about avoidance, self-sabotage, and the desperate need to be loved—where the real danger isn’t just the demon stalking the town, but the damage we do when we refuse to confront who we were, the harm we caused, and who we might still become.
Babylon Cove #1 (of 5) hits comic shop shelves May 20, 2026, with FOC on April 27.
Next week is the Baltimore Comic-Con on October 17-19, 2025 at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center. Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the addition of Chris Campana, Jeph Loeb, Brandon Peterson, Rob Retiano, Rafer Roberts, and Stephanie Williams to the 2025 event. Don’t wait in additional lines when you arrive — purchase your tickets online!
Chris Campana has worked with Marvel, DC, Hasbro, IDW, Image, Dynamite, and many others. His work can be seen in Amazing Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 2099, Red Goblin, Daredevil, Masters of the Universe, Green Lantern, GI Joe, TMNT, and many others.
A multi-Ringo Award-nominated writer/artist for his work on the indie comic hit The Adventures of Parker Reef, Chris continues to strive to be a great storyteller in the medium he grew to love as a kid.
Jeph Loeb is known for Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman For All Seasons, Spider-Man Blue, Batman Hush, Red Hulk, and Superman/Batman, as well as many others. In TV, he has written for Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Agents of SHIELD as well as Lost, Smallville, Heroes, and more. In film, he worked on Teen Wolf and Commando, among others.
Brandon Peterson has worked as an illustrator in comics professionally over twenty-five years. He currently works primarily at DC Comics on such titles as Superman, Trinity, Green Lantern, Titans, Flash, and Shazam. He’s previously worked on Marvel books like Inhumans, Age of Ultron, Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimates, Ultimate Vision, Ultimate Extinction, Strange, Ultimate X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, Magneto Rex, X-Men, and Uncanny X-Men. And he was also VP of Special Projects and Art Director of the now-defunct CrossGen Comics, where he worked on titles like Mystic and Chimera. He spent a very long time working for Top Cow Productions, where he did runs on comics like Codename: Strykeforce, Cyberforce, Ripclaw, Medieval Spawn/Witchblade, and his own book, Arcanum.
Rob Retiano is an all around artist with a love for comics and works in various creative avenues. Always working to achieve new milestones as a creative and artist, he has worked on various projects as the initial character designer and penciler of Junior High Horrors, as well as a cover artist for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Nightwatcher, Vampirella: Year One, Good Boy, Do You Pooh, Rise of Dracula, Reign of Dracula, Tragedy, Cos & Effect, Upper Deck, musicians, and more.
Rob has been a part of the comic scene for the past 10+ years and continues to work on and pursue working with other creatives, projects, and publishers. You can follow his work on instagram (www.instagram.com/robretiano) and contact him at robretiano@gmail.com.
Rafer Roberts is the writer and co-creator of The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee and Grumble (both with Mike Norton) and Modern Fantasy (with Kristen Gudsnuk). He’s written young-adult comics for Minecraft anthologies, mature-reader comics for heavy metal anthologies, and the occasional Rick & Morty comic for everyone. Rafer has worked for Image, Oni, Valiant, Dark Horse, and a few dozen others. Rafer’s artwork appeared in the Eisner- and Harvey-winning anthology Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream, and he was founding editor of the Washington, D.C. comics newspaper, Magic Bullet. His self-published works include Plastic Farm and Nightmare the Rat, both recently concluded. Rafer lives in Baltimore as far as you know.
Stephanie Williams‘ journey from a University of Illinois at Chicago alum to a trailblazing force in the comic book world is nothing short of inspiring. Ditching the lab coat for a pen, this mom-turned-comic-book-creator has been dazzling readers with her imaginative storytelling. Her portfolio boasts an impressive array of titles, including the empowering Nubia and the Amazons, the regal Nubia: Queen of the Amazon, and the action-packed Wakanda #1. She’s also lent her voice to Marvel’s Voices, The Family Snikt, and Moon Girl, delved into the mystical world with Magic: Planeswalkers Noble #1, and put her research skills to use in her latest book, Strange and Unsung All-Stars of the DC Universe. Stephanie is done, though; she has upcoming eagerly awaited releases: a middle-grade graphic novel, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck N’ Roll, Alien: Red, White, & Blood #2, and her first light novel Apple Black: Origins. With every page, Stephanie continues to redefine the comic book landscape.
This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Arthur Adams (Longshot), Joel Adams (Ms. Mystic), Zeea Adams (Deadman), Kaare Andrews (Spider-Man: REIGN 2), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), John Beatty (Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars), Rose Besch (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Josh Blaylock (Mercy Sparx, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Russ Braun (The Boys), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jacen Burrows (Crossed), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Donny Cates (Venom), Keith Champagne (Stranger Things), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jo Chen (Runaways), Sean Chen (Evermind), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Mark Chiarello (Wednesday Comics), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Michael Cho (The Avengers and the Veracity Trap), Amy Chu (Emma Frost: The White Queen), Chris Claremont (X-Men), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Becky Cloonan (Somna), Michael W. Conrad (Manowar: Invictus), Denys Cowan (The Question), Paris Cullins (Blue Beetle), Dani (Sensational Wonder Woman), Alan Davis (Excalibur), Deans Family Productions (Crass Fed), Jeff Dekal (Something is Killing the Children), Francine Delgado (Gatchaman), Kevin Delgado (Tuff Stuff, courtesy of Comics and Collectibles R Us), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Ryan Dunlavey (Action Philosophers), Garth Ennis (The Boys, Saturday and Sunday only), Viktor Farro (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), David Finch (Moon Knight), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), Trish Forstner (Feral), Franco (Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales), Barbara Friedlander (Swing with Scooter), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BRZRKR), Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels), Dan Goldman (Unfinished Business), Randy Green (Witchblade). Mike Grell (Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters), Torunn Grønbekk (Catwoman), Gavin Guidry (Action Comics), Brian Haberlin (Spawn, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook), Jeremy Haun (The Red Mother, courtesy of Ignition Press), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Jamal Igle (Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Nikkol Jelenic (Dreadstar), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Incredible Hulk), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Chip Kidd (The Avengers in the Veracity Trap), Derek Kirk Kim (The Last Mermaid), Tom King (Wonder Woman), Adam Kubert (Wolverine), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Rick Leonardi (Spider-Man 2099), Rachta Lin (Justice League Unlimited), Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween), Tula Lotay (Barnstormers), Nate Lovett (Dungeons & Dragons), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Alex Maleev (Star Wars: Boba Fett – Black White and Red), Anthony Marques (The Green Hornet), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Shawn Martinbrough (Red Hood: The Hill), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jose Marzan Jr. (Y: The Last Man), Justin Mason (Spider-Punk), Charlie McElvy (Spider-Squirrel), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Josh Middleton (Aquaman), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Mark Morales (Thor), Trevor Mueller (Albert the Alien), Sarah Myers (TMNT Saturday Morning Adventures), Tom Nguyen (The Switch), Mike Norton (Battlepug, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Sword of Azrael), Patrick Olliffe (Untold Tales of Spider-Man), Dan Parent (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), John J. Pearson (In Bloom), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), Barbara Perez Marquez (The Cardboard Kingdom), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Rafer Roberts (Grumble), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Paul Pope (THB), Joe Pruett (Savage Sword of Conan), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Amy Reeder (Power Girl), Rod Reis (COWL), Rob Retiano (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Nightwatcher), Esad Ribic (Conan the Barbarian), Afua Richardson (Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds), Andrew Robinson (Halo), James Robinson (Starman), Craig Rousseau (Herculoids), Stephane Roux (Void Rivals), Jim Rugg (Street Angel), Andy Runton (Owly), Stuart Sayger (Conan the Barbarian), Joseph Schmalke (Seven Years in Darkness, courtesy of Groundbreaking Comics), Bart Sears (Deathstroke), Declan Shalvey (Old Dog), Asia Simone (Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Don Simpson (Megaton Man), Jeff Smith (Bone), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Mark Sparacio (Chelsea Dagger and the Women of Excalibur), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul D. Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Karl Story (The Mandalorian), Zoe Thorogood (It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Universe), John Timms (Superman: Son of Kal-El), Peter Tomasi (The Rocketfellers), Billy Tucci (Shi), Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers), Brian K. Vaughan (Spectators, Friday and Saturday only), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Charles Vess (Stardust), Wade Von Grawbadger (Justice League), Mark Waid (Justice League Unlimited), David F. Walker (Big Jim and the White Boy, Saturday and Sunday only), Dan Watters (Nightwing), Lee Weeks (Batman/Catwoman Special), Mark Wheatley (Breathtaker), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Keith Williams (Web of Spider-Man), Stephanie Williams (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, courtesy of Ignition Press), Ron Wilson (Marvel Two-In-One), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), John Workman (Wild Things), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
Dark Horse Comics will be exhibiting at the 2023 American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition. If you are attending ALA Annual you can visit them and say hello to some of the talented authors and artists appearing at the booth.
SATURDAY – 06/24
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ZACK KAPLANBreak Out
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CHAD CORRIEThe Shadow Regent; Sons of Ashgard: Ill Met in Elmgard
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM AMY CHUCarmilla: The First Vampire
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CECIL CASTELLUCCIShifting Earth; Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Volume 1 – Rebels and Resistance
SUNDAY – 06/25
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CHAD CORRIEThe Shadow Regent; Sons of Ashgard: Ill Met in Elmgard
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CECIL CASTELLUCCI Shifting Earth; Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Volume 1 – Rebels and Resistance
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM ZACK KAPLANBreak Out
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM RAFER ROBERTS AND MIKE NORTONThe Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee
Dark Horse Books presents a rockin’ new tale in The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee! This legendary new graphic novel combines elements of action, adventure, horror, and humor packed in one epic trade paperback book. Rock Gods is created by writer Rafer Roberts artist Mike Norton colorist Allen Passalaqua, and letterer Crank!.
It’s 1989 and Jackson, Tennessee’s number one juvenile delinquent, Marty Ward, never wanted to join the Rock Gods. After all, who wants to be in a band with nerds like Jonny, Lenny, and Doug? But after the high schoolers stumble into the gig of a lifetime—opening for local rock legend Tommi Tungstun—the four outcasts must put aside their differences and play together if they want to achieve their dreams of fame, freedom, and popularity.
Standing in these future superstars’ way are: their parents, their teachers, a school full of jerks and bullies, a town full of bad bosses, sanctimonious preachers, and corrupt politicians, each other, and a rampaging horde of mutated monsters tearing through Jackson and eating everything in their path.
The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennesseewill be available in bookstores June 6, 2023 and comic shops June 7, 2023. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and at your local comic book shop and book store. It will retail for $19.99.
When the forces of good and evil are hunting you down, the only logical thing to do is disguise yourself as a dog and go on the run!Eddie is a low-rent hustler who got magically turned into a pug during a con gone wrong. Tala is the part-demon daughter of Eddie’s ex-partner. When Tala finds herself the target of powerful interdimensional forces, she goes to Eddie for help-setting off a chain reaction of chaos and destruction that could threaten the very fabric of existence.
Can Eddie and Tala put aside their differences long enough to survive the magical mayhem and madness that they started, or will they kill each other first?
Writer Rafer Roberts will be at Floating World Comics on Wednesday Sept. 11, from 5-7pm to sign copies of this new collection from Albatross Books!
Illustrated by Mike Norton (Revival, Battlepug), Marissa Louise (Hex Wives, Justice League) and Crank (who letters everything).
WHO: Rafer Roberts WHAT: GRUMBLE book signing WHEN: Wednesday Sept. 11, 5-7pm WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.
Rafer Roberts has been making comics professionally for over two decades. He is the writer and co-creator of Modern Fantasy, published by Dark Horse Comics, and Grumble, published by Eric Powell’s Albatross Funnybooks. Rafer was the writer on A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong and Harbinger: Renegade for Valiant Comics. His work on X-O Manowar #38 received two Harvey Award nominations for the Special Award for Humor in Comics and Best Cartoonist. His artwork has appeared in the Eisner Award winning anthology Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream from Locust moon Press. His self-published work includes the long running Plastic Farm, Nightmare the Rat, and the Tumblr famous Thanos and Darkseid: Carpool Buddies of Doom which he co-created with Justin Jordan.
2019 marks the return of the Baltimore Comic-Con to the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on October 18th, 19th, and 20th. The Baltimore Comic-Con welcomes back comic superstars Marty Baumann, Steve Conley, Justin Jordan, Rafer Roberts, and Billy Tucci. Tickets are available now for purchase online.
Marty Baumann is an illustrator, graphic artist, and production designer. He has contributed to some of the most popular, Oscar-winning animated films of all time. Marty has worked as an artist at Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios as an illustrator, graphic artist, and production designer on such films as Toy Story 3, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Cars 2, Planes, Wreck-It Ralph 2, and many others. He also helped develop theme park installations, toy packaging, and Pixar corporate branding. Marty has rendered illustrations and developed characters for toy manufacturers, magazines, and newspapers, and illustrated children’s books, created logos, info-graphics, broadcast promotions, and presentation art for Hasbro, Universal Studios, National Geographic, Scholastic Books, Nickelodeon, and many others. Recent projects include his role as concept artist for the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the visual development of Sir Paul McCartney’s feature film, High in the Clouds.
Long-time friend of the show, Harvey and Eisner Award nominee, and guest since our inception in 2000 (!), artist and writer Steve Conley has contributed to numerous comic titles, both printed and on-line. His Astounding Space Thrills was self-published, published by Image Comics, and collected as a trade paperback by IDW. He has been featured in titles such as JLA-Z from DC Comics, Star Trek: Year Four from IDW, and Michael Chabon’s Amazing Adventures of the Escapist from Dark Horse Comics. His self-published Bloop is available through his online store in print or soft copy editions, and you can find his Ringo and Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Middle Age on his website, tapas.io, Line Webtoon, and GoComics, and hard copies and digital collections can be purchased from his online store.
Justin Jordan broke into comics with the Image series The Strange Talent of Luther Strode. Since no one threw him back out after said break in, he has gone on to work on for nearly every major comics publisher. He’s writer on The Family Trade, Death of Love, and Spread at Image Comics, and is currently writing Reaver for Skybound and Urban Animal at Webtoons, along with numerous other things he can’t actually talk about yet. But they’re awesome. He is owned by a cat named Miss Thomas Waits.
Rafer Roberts first made a name for himself with his self-published, underground title Plastic Farm, published since 2001. More recently, he has found increasing mainstream exposure, with stories in the Dark Horse anthology, the Harvey-nominated Once Upon a Time Machine, the New York Times best-selling FUBAR anthology from FUBAR Press, and back-up stories in Valiant’s X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong, and Unity. His work has see print in IDW’s Imaginary Drugs and Locust Moon’s Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream anthologies. He is currently writing Grumble for Albatross Funny Books, and penned the same publisher’s Free Comic Book Day issue, Grumble vs. The Goon.
Founder of Crusade Fine Arts, Billy Tucci is most widely known for his creator-owned, Eisner Award-nominated work on his modern-day samurai fable, Shi. Both a writer and an artist, he has worked for nearly every major publisher including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and IDW. More recently, Tucci has provided the cover and interior art for DC’s Birds of Prey, Harley’s Little Black Book, Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, written Appalachian Apocalypse! for Cave Pictures Publishing, and did covers for Dynamite Entertainment’sVampirella: Roses for the Dead, DC Comics’ Archie Meets Batman ’66, and Zenescope Entertainment’s Grimm Fairy Tales Presents… titles. 2019 celebrates Shi‘s 25th Anniversary with the release of the Shi – Return of the Warrior” and Shi – Hotaru graphic novels accompanied by new Shi action figures, statues, and reprints. Billy’s also bringing about the return of Golden Age Icon Miss Fury for Dynamite Entertainment and the new creator-owned Zombie-Sama!, as well as Wonder Woman for DC Comics.
In addition to on-site CGC grading, this year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Neal Adams (Detective Comics), Arantza (fantasy artist), Brian Azzarello (Batman: Damned), Marty Baumann (Disney/Pixar), Mark Buckingham (Justice League Dark), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Castillo Studios, Howard Chaykin (Hey Kids! Comics!), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Matthew Clark (Injustice: Ground Zero), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Kristina Deak-Linsner (Vampirella: Roses for the Dead), Garth Ennis (The Boys, Friday and Saturday only), Ramona Fradon (The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute), Julie Fujii Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Juanjo Guarnido (Blacksad), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Batman Beyond), Greg Hildebrandt (Old Man Logan), Adam Hughes (Superman), Jamal Igle (Wrong Earth), Klaus Janson (New Challengers), Justin Jordan (Reaver), Matt Kindt (X-O Manowar), Sharlene Kindt (Dept. H), Tom King (Batman), Greg Land (Hulkverines, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer), Joe Linsner (Red Sonja), Ron Marz (Turok), John McCrea (Hitman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Twisted Romance), Pop Mhan (Raven, Daughter of Darkness), Mark Morales (Justice League), Sean Murphy (Batman: White Knight), Kevin Nowlan (Black Widow, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Greg Pak (Star Wars), Mike Perkins (Swamp Thing), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Afua Richardson (Run), Rafer Roberts (Grumble), Andy Runton (Owly), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Bob Schreck (Batman: Hush), Erica Schultz (Xena: Warrior Princess), Bart Sears (Turok), Louise Simonson (Death of Superman), Walter Simonson (Ragnarok), Andy Smith (Demi-God), Allison Sohn (The Art of Red Sonja, Volume 2), Brian Stelfreeze (Rise of the Black Panther), William Stout (Fantastic Worlds – The Art of William Stout), Ty Templeton (Marvel Super-Hero Adventures, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Billy Tucci (Shi), Robert Venditti (Hawkman), Mark Waid (Avengers: No Road Home), Adam Warren (Empowered And Sistah Spooky’s High School Hell), Lee Weeks (Batman), Marv Wolfman (Raven: Daughter of Darkness, courtesy of Hero Initiative), John Workman (Riverdale), and Kelly Yates (Torchwood).
What the Hell are we doing in New Jersey? Eddie and Tala barrel full-force into the Garden State in search of the one man who can turn Eddie human again. But standing in their way are some small-time mobsters, a crew of inter-dimensional bounty hunters, and an army of toothless grannies! Oh, and Eddie summons The Devil! New arc! A perfect jumping on point!
It’s rare that I find a comic I enjoy as much as Grumble, and yet have so little to say about it. The series stays on the fantasy side of things, in a world where the supernatural and interdimensional could easily be one and the same, where talking dogs aren’t as out of the ordinary as you’d think (though in fairness this could be because Tala is making people forget/not notice that Eddie is a bipedal pug). Regardless of the reasoning, it makes for a fantastic comic.
Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton have created a comic that is effortlessly entertaining and funny without sacrificing the strength of the story. More importantly, they’re very consistent with each comic – there’s something with each issue that hooks you in and pulls you further into the world as one of the main characters does something that leaves the other speechless (usually Eddie) that hasn’t failed to leave me entertained.
After the revelations of the previous issue, Grumble #6 eases up a little and allows you to digest what you know, and allows you to adjust your perspectives a little as the comic goes on. The pacing of this issue after the last is perfect – Roberts allows you to breath and digest the emotional impact of issue five while keeping the story moving with his customary wit and charm. Norton, once again, is also brilliant. His page construction, the facial expressions and body language often made me smile as much as the words upon the page.
Truly one of my favourite series on the racks right now… one could easily say it’s a magical experience.
…I’ll stop talking now.
Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Mike Norton Colours: Marissa Louise Letters: Crank Story: 9.4 Art: 8.9 Overall: 9.2 Recommendation: Buy
Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Eddie and Tala have narrowly escaped the forces of good and evil, but now they face the ultimate danger: each other!
“Grumble #3is what far too few comics are lately; fun. And funny, without ever coming off as forced; nor is it the main focus of the comic as Grumble is naturally funny whilst telling a really enjoyable story.” I quote that paragraph because aside from updating the issue number, the same can be said quite perfectly about Grumble #5. Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton have created a comic that is remarkably entertaining and funny without sacrificing the strength of the story.
That probably sounds familiar, right? It should. It’s the opening from my last review of Grumble #4, and the same is just as true now as it was. Roberts and Norton are nothing if not consistent, which is great news for fans of this series.
This issue sees us taking a bit of a look back at the events leading up to the first issue as we learn a little about Tala and her back story – and the revelation in this issue will hit you harder than a freight train. I’m not going to tell you want it is, but you will go back and reread the previous four issues in an entirely new light.
I’m not going to lie to you friends, there’s really not a lot I can talk about here without revealing too much of the comic itself; Roberts does reveal a little more about the world at large, hinting toward a conflict in the recent past and revealing more about the force driving Tala in the series that until now we really haven’t seen or read much of (unless… well, maybe we have and I didn’t notice it initially). Grumble #5 will change your perceptions on the series, and while we now have a bit more light shed on the tale’s direction, we’ve also got a lot of questions that need answers.
No, I won’t ask them here. Spoilers, and all.
I’ve praised the series before, and rightly so, but this issue is a huge payoff for those having read the previous ones. It’s a brilliant comic because of how Roberts and Norton build upon everything in the series so far and present a fully formed story that we’re only now beginning to figure out.
I need the sixth issue now.
Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Mike Norton Colours: Marissa Louise Letters: Crank Story: 9.4 Art: 8.9 Overall: 9.2 Recommendation: Buy
Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
From blocks to panels, Minecraft returns to comics in this wonderful new anthology collection, Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld! Dark Horse, Mojang AB, and Microsoft have revealed the newest addition in their publishing partnership with more stories to come!
With tales of Witch and Pillager rivals finding common ground, a heartless griefer who bit off more than they could chew, and valiant heroes new (or not!) to the Overworld, Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld tells tales that span the world of the beloved game. Featuring stories from star writers Hope Larson, Kevin Panetta, Rafer Roberts, and Ryan North and exciting artists Meredith Gran, Jenn St-Onge, Stephen McCranie and more, this collection brings together stories from all Realms, leaving no block unturned!
Minecraft: Stories from the Overworld is set to go on sale October 15, 2019. The 88-page anthology retails for $14.99.
Dark Horse, Mojang AB, and Microsoft will also release a Free Comic Book Day offering with a Minecraft story on May 4, 2019. On June 4, 2019, the partners will release Minecraft Volume One by Sfé R. Monster, Sarah Graley, and John J. Hill.
Eddie and Tala are getting the hell out of Baltimore, but Baltimore isn’t through with them yet! Can our heroes survive a breakneck car chase through the city, pursued by fascist inter-dimensional warlocks, gun-toting maniac mobsters, and a trio of mystical bounty hunters? Buckle up, Grumble fans, and get ready for the most magically destructive ride of your life!
“Grumble #3is what far too few comics are lately; fun. And funny, without ever coming off as forced; nor is it the main focus of the comic as Grumble is naturally funny whilst telling a really enjoyable story.” I quote that paragraph because aside from updating the issue number, the same can be said quite perfectly about Grumble #4. Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton have created a comic that is remarkably entertaining and funny without sacrificing the strength of the story.
At this point I should probably talk a little about the actual contents of the book, but there’s a recap up above that gives you the gist of the book, and unless I start diving too deeply into spoiler territory there’s not much else I want to reveal just now (especially if you haven’t read the first three issues). What I will say, however, is that there’s no forced chemistry between the two leads, nor any illusions about the cowardly and near criminal nature of one; there’s an effortless connection between the two, and Roberts’ dialogue is utterly captivating. The characters are neither overtly good nor evil, but live in the moral grey areas that all great comics tend to touch on every once in awhile. That they are the protagonists means we’re cheering for them, but Roberts has developed the world in such a way that if the focus of the comic were on the mysterious bounty hunter and not her prey, then the two leads could easily be seen as the antagonists.
Hot damn, but do I love this series. The writing and the art combine to give you the perfect blend of Hellblazer and Howard the Duck with a side of the Dresden Files, making Grumble one of the series to keep your eye on as the year progresses. If your shop didn’t get this series in, then correct that; it’s still available from Diamond (or it was when my LCS ordered a couple copies in), and it’s such a good read.
Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Mike Norton Colours: Marissa Louise Letters: Crank Story: 8.8 Art: 8.9 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy
Albatross Funnybooks provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
