Tag Archives: rahsan ekedel

Top Cow Review: Teen Wolf #1, Teen Wolf #2, Pilot Season: The Test #1

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Teen Wolf #1

Teen Wolf #1The three issue Teen Wolf comic book series from Top Cow and MTV Comics is based on the new MTV series, not the campy movies.  There’s a lot I like in the first issue, but also a bunch I shrugged.  The story is ok in that tween sort of way and seems to take a lot of influence from Buffy the Vampire Slayer as to the themes and characters.  The similarity being, you have a teen in high school who has to deal with this power and ability.  But, unlike Buffy, the main character Scott is hunted and not the hunter.  The entertaining twist is that the hunter is Scott’s girlfriend’s father, a nice spin that you know will set up conflict in that Scott doesn’t want to hurt him to protect himself, but he might have to.

Where the first issue drops for me is the art.  It’s not up to snuff for other Top Cow comics.  The character consistency just isn’t there and there’s some outright nasty panels.

The ending though was enough to make me want to read the second issue, where I might have dismissed it were different.  I’m not a Buffy fan, and this being in a similar vein it’s not surprising I can’t quite recommend the series, but if you enjoy the television show or Buffy, it might be for you.

Writer: David Tischman Artist: Stephen Mooney Publisher: Top Cow and MTV Comics

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Teen Wolf #2

Teen Wolf #2The second issue of the three issue limited series is much like the first.  The story is ok, and the art is shaky.  It picks up where the first left off with Scott needing to figure out why he’s still in werewolf form.  For some reason he’s stuck and needs to find help.  Issues compound because it’s not like he can go to school like it and he has a lacrosse game to play in and a girlfriend he has to juggle.

The series I think would have done well to focus more on the drama and relationship angle, and Scott’s struggle with having this creature inside of him.  Instead it bounces around between that and wanting to be Buffy.  It doesn’t quite pull it off

Again, the art isn’t what I’d expect from a Top Cow comic.  Like the first, it suffers inconsistent design of the characters.

My thoughts on the second issue are pretty much the same as the first.

Writer: David Tischman Artist: Stephen Mooney Publisher: Top Cow and MTV Comics

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Pilot Season: The Test #1

The Test #1I’m pretty much ready to declare it Joshua Hale Fialkov month.  In this comic, which he co-created with Matt Hawkins, Fialkov teams up with his Echoes artist Rahsan Ekedal.  The issue is the first of Top Cow’s latest Pilot Season which allows comic book readers to pick up a bunch of number one issues, and then vote as to which they want to see become a limited series.  It’s Kickstarter meets American Idol.  The first issue is all creepy and mystery, which I’d expect from Fialkov and Ekedal.  Both are masters at it.

A group of individuals wake up in a biodome with little memory as to who they are or how they got there.  All that’s given to them is what’s told through a giant video screen at the top of the dome.  How much of this is real?  Is this a game?  Is this a giant experiment?  We have no idea but the first issue sets it all up and keeps us wondering.

There’s a lot of nice touches here with the main characters not being able to talk for a while and all we get is the pre-programmed computer feeding them information.  The set up is solid, art is good and enough mystery to make me want to find out more.  Hopefully, we get a chance to see where it all goes from here.

Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov Artist: Rahsan Ekedal Publisher: Top Cow

Story: 8.25 Art: 8 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Top Cow and Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review

Preview – Pilot Season: The Test #1

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Pilot Season: The Test #1

story JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV, art RAHSAN EKEDAL, cover BAGUS HUTOMO of IFS

PILOT SEASON RETURNS! TAKE CONTROL!
The Harvey nominated creative team of ECHOES, JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (I’Vampire) and RAHSAN EKEDAL (Solomon Kane) reunite to kick off 2011’s PILOT SEASON competition with TEST. A group of ten strangers wake up in a mysterious town with no memory of who they are and how they got there.  They are the lone survivors of an apocalyptic event, chosen to repopulate the Earth. But what is the true nature of their fate?

TEST offers a fresh take on survivalist horror and psychological thriller in the way only FIALKOV and EKEDAL can!

Three Signing Events headline Grand Opening of Collector’s Pardaise Pasadena

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Official Press Release

Collector’s paradise CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF THE COMPLETELY REMODELED PASADENA STORE WITH 3 SIGNINGS and a grand sale! 

San Fernando Valley’s Leading Retail Comic Book Store Welcomes Industry Creators to help promote Grand Opening of the new location in style! 

PASADENA, Calif., July 23, 2011 – Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery, is proud to announce that the new Pasadena store has been completely remodeled to fulfill our vision of a modern comic book store, and will have a Grand Opening Celebration starting July 27th with a big sale and a series of signings.

“Taking over an existing store is not easy, and we wanted to make sure to turn it into what we feel (and our customers enjoy) as a modern vision of a Comic Book store.” said Edward Greenberg, managing partner of Collector’s Paradise, adding:  “We believe people who enjoy reading comics these days are a far cry from the typical stereotype of a comic book reader, and our stores should reflect that. Modern, sleek bookstore look with professional signage and easy-to-find merchandise should be the goal of anyone who tries to create an “experience” for their patrons.”

To help promote the Grand Opening event, Collector’s Paradise reached out to some of the store’s best supporters, publishers Top Cow Productions, Aspen Comics, and jack of all trades, owner of Comicraft and creator/writer of Elephantmen, Richard Starkings.  Three signing events, throughout the Grand Opening week, will help to celebrate three very different genres of comics, from espionage fantasy, to beautiful futuristic SCI-FI to chilling psychological horror.

 

Wednesday, July 27th, 5pm-8pm. Collector’s Paradise is excited to help Aspen Comics launch their HIT LIST AGENDA Crossover Event, which stems from creator David Wohl’s sequel to the critically acclaimed Executive Assistant Iris series. The event includes the second volume of Executive Assistant Iris, and a set of 3 mini-series, Lotus, Violet, and Orchid. Illustrated by an array of Aspen’s awesome artists, including Oliver Nome, with stunning covers that include superstar artist Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika), HIT LIST is a hard-hitting, super-sexy, sword-wielding event.  Collector’s Paradise will host creator/writer David Wohl, writers Scott Lobdell, Vince Hernandez and Marc Andreyko, plus artists Joe Benitez and Oliver Nome.

Friday, July 29th, 7pm-10pm.  Collector’s Paradise is proud to announce our first adult-only night-time event at the Pasadena store, that will feature music, free Alcohol Drinks, and an awesome release party with some of our favorite creators,  Joshua Hale Fialkov (TUMOR, Elk’s Run, Superman/Batman, Echoes) and Rahsan Ekedal (Echoes, DH Solomon Kane, Warhammer).  We will be EXCLUSIVELY Pre-Releasing the limited San Diego Comic Con edition (300 made) of the ECHOES Hardcover, the only place to find it until the regular edition is released in August.  The event starts at 7pm with a Q&A Session with Josh and Rahsan, hosted by Andrew Leigl of ComicAttack.net, with the signing / party to follow.

Saturday, July 30th, 12pm-3pm.  On Saturday, Collector’s Paradise is proud to host again, for the first time in Pasadena,  one of the store best friends, Richard Starkings, fantastic letterer for many comics published, as well as writer/creator of the fantastic Sci-Fi series, ELEPHANTMEN.  Richard is going to be joined by Boo Cook, one of the artists on the ELEPHANTMEN series. Attendees to the signing will have an opportunity to receive a free J. Scott Campbell ELEPHANTMEN Poster with any Elephantmen purchase during the signing, while supplies last. The poster is very rare, only available at San Diego Comic Con and our event.

In addition to the signings, Collector’s Paradise will have a great sale at the store, starting on Wednesday.  For sale details, please visit the store’s website, ComicsAndCards.net.

Collector’s Paradise Comics & Gallery has been a mainstay in the Southern California Comic Book scene since 1994. In recent years, the store has focused on offering their customers an exceptional experience that goes beyond collecting comic books, from creator appearances, to  proprietary online subscription manager software, and an Art Gallery. The store’s future plans include many new and very different ways to experience the comic book culture. The store recently opened its second branch, in Old Town Pasadena.