Tag Archives: sharlene kindt

Dark Horse presents the World of Black Hammer Omnibus Volume 2

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Dark Horse Books presents a new collection of the Black Hammer saga in the World of Black Hammer Omnibus Volume 2! The latest Black Hammer omnibus collects The Quantum Age and Black Hammer ’45 together in one affordable omnibus volume. These stories are written by Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes, with interior art by Wilfredo Torres and Matt Kindt, colors by Dave Stewart and Sharlene Kindt, and cover art by Dean Ormston. 

In The Quantum Age: Far in the future of Black Hammer, a collection of superheroes inspired by the legendary heroes of Black Hammer Farm must band together to save the planet from an authoritarian regime.

And in Black Hammer ‘45: During the Golden Age of superheroes, an elite Air Force crew called the Black Hammer Squadron bands together to combat the Nazis, a host of occult threats, and their ultimate aerial warrior the Ghost Hunter.

The World of Black Hammer Omnibus Volume 2 trade paperback will be available in bookstores November 7, 2023 and in comic shops November 8, 2023. It is available for pre-order and will retail for $24.99.

World of Black Hammer Omnibus Volume 2

Spy Superb #3 leaves us wanting more

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Spy Superb #3

For three issues, Spy Superb has delivered fantastic action comedy. And now that Spy Superb #3 is here, I’m left wanting more of it. The concept is rather simple, Jay is the perfect spy. A spy so perfect he doesn’t even realize he is a spy and that he’s on a mission. Jay is a useful idiot. And now he’s on the run being hunted and protected by spies who know what they’re doing.

Matt Kindt delivers the art and story for a series that has delivered with every issue. It has left me laughing. It has had me appreciating the dance of action. And I’ve lingered on the art. It’s the usual Matt Kindt story in that way. But here, he’s taken the cool spy vibe he’s mastered and mixed it with humor. A lot of humor. Every issue has been packed with absurd moments that’ll leave readers laughing but also lingering on how exactly everything has gone down. Spy Superb #3 is no different in that way.

But even more impressively is what Kindt packs into the issue. While the mysterious spy Lucky has been in the series from early on, we know little about her. Kindt uses the third issue to fix that delivering a fantastic origin story that in some ways leaves us questioning exactly who the Spy Superb really is. Is it Jay? Or, is it Lucky?

Kindt’s art continues to amaze. Joined by Sharlene Kindt on color, the style has an almost watercolor look to it at times but it’s the motion and perspective of it all that’s impressive. There’s a distinct style to Kindt’s work, you know it instantly when you see it. And part of that style is packing small details that add to the world, and in this case how good Lucky is. There’s one particular spread that’ll leave readers lingering, mapping out the possible action to come. It’s the usual fantastic visuals I’d expect from one of their comics.

Spy Superb #3 wraps up this trilogy of issues and leaves me wanting more. There’s so much more that can be done and where this series can go, here’s hoping we get exactly that.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Matt Kindt
Color: Sharlene Kindt Letterer: Matt Kindt
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase – TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Spy Superb #2 ups the action and comedy in this spy thriller

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Spy Superb #2

The Spy Superb is a useful idiot. An average person recruited to be the ultimate spy and carry out a mission, which they might not know about. The latest is a failed writer, full of himself, and narcissistic. It’s a combination that makes the character not just a useful idiot but just a plain irritant too. Spy Superb #2 ups the action as China and Russia want to capture the Spy Superb for their own reasons.

Written by and art by Matt Kindt, Spy Superb #2 continues the comedy spy action as Jay must deal with the fact there’s a dead hit squad in his apartment. He’s decided to seek out the woman on the phone he has while not understanding what’s going on around him. At the same time, Russia and China are convinced there’s a new Spy Superb who must be stopped and each dispatches a top agent to bring him in.

All of this is done with a wink and a smile as Kindt continues to deliver a comic that’s part love letter to spy action but also a bit of a spoof of the genre as well. It does a great job of mixing up the action but also having fun with it all. Jay is an idiot. He both thinks he’s amazing, displaying his not deserved confidence on his adventure. At the same time, those around him are unsure of what they’re dealing with. Is this the greatest spy ever or a complete moron?

This is a genre we’ve seen before many times but it’s done here with such fun delivery it’s hard to not enjoy the ride. We want to see Jay get slapped in reality but at the same time, how he’ll get out of the situation is a fun puzzle to sit back and enjoy.

Kindt’s art is his signature style with color by Sharlene Kindt. The comic has the watercolor like look the Kindt comics are known for and each character has such personality in their depiction. There’s an awkwardness in everyone here but like the over the top situations, there’s a fun aspect to it all.

Spy Superb #2 in the end is action comedy and it does it so well. You can see the comic play out as if it were on the screen with a great delivery of the lines and exasperation of so many of the characters as they get dragged into Jay’s adventure. It’s popcorn fun in comic form and a ride I want to sit back and enjoy.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Matt Kindt
Color: Sharlene Kindt Letterer: Matt Kindt
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Spy Superb #1 kicks off more Kindt magic

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Spy Superb #1

When Matt Kindt‘s name is on a comic, it’s well worth a look. Not only does he deliver fun, off-beat stories but the art features a unique style you can’t find anywhere else. It feels like so many of what Kindt has put out before falls into the “cool spy” genre, but always with a spin on it. Spy Superb #1 kicks off the latest in that space delivering a fantastic concept and a lot of laughs.

Spy Superb is the greatest spy ever. They’re a master of everything that other nations have spent billions trying to find the secret of. Spy Superb also doesn’t exist, it’s an idea. What started out as a legit program morphed into a myth and a project where every day people are used to carry out spy missions.

It’s spy meets useful idiot.

Yes, the concept has been done before and even the fantastic action scene has been done been done before, but Kindt delivers a take that’s fun and entertaining. It comes off as both serious as well as a goof on the spy genre. It’s popcorn entertainment in every way that you can imagine being on the big screen.

The fun is delivered in Kindt’s unique art style with colors provided by Sharlene Kindt. The water color meets “rough sketch” look has become a signature of Kindt’s comics and here it works so well adding to the almost dreamlike concept of the comic. It also emphasizes the humor as utterly ridiculous moments are highlighted. The characters themselves tell a story in their look where you know exactly where they’re coming from in life and adds to their personality.

Spy Superb #1 is another winning debut for Kindt that keeps up his streak of fun spy action comics with great spins. It’s a fantastic start to the year and first week of new comics delivering what should be a fun ride to come.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Matt Kindt
Color: Sharlene Kindt Letterer: Matt Kindt
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Preview: Lower Your Sights

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Lower Your Sights

(W) Various, Matt Kindt, Jim Zub, Rich Douek, Ennun Ana Iurov (A) Various, Richard Pace, Liana Kangas, Dave Chisolm, Sharlene Kindt (CA) Yev Haidamaka
In Shops: Sep 14, 2022
SRP: $17.99

Lower Your Sights is an anthology that focuses on the consequences of war, the peace/relief effort, and mental health. In addition to tales from today’s hottest creators, the collection includes art pieces and write-ups from numerous Ukrainian illustrators. All proceeds are being donated to the Ukrainian-based Voices of Children to provide psychological and psychosocial support to children affected by war.

Lower Your Sights

Spy Superb from Matt Kindt and Sharlene Kindt comes to Flux House and Dark Horse Comics

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Who is the perfect spy? That question may be best answered by bestselling cartoonist Matt Kindt, who has been writing and illustrating espionage and action-fueled comics like for the last two decades. Next January, Kindt and the acclaimed colorist Sharlene Kindt will release Spy Superb their latest collaboration, an offbeat mystery-thriller about a secret organization that has developed the perfect spy. And just who is that perfect spy? Someone who doesn’t even realize they are a spy. 

In Spy Superb, a secret organization identifies the ultimate asset: a man named Jay, who is what they call a “useful idiot.”  Jay is sent on missions without even realizing he’s on a mission. Until he picks up the wrong phone with the wrong secret intel and now Russian hit-squads and elite assassins are after him. But Jay believes he was a sleeper agent—and really is the “spy superb”. His complete obliviousness and lack of survival skills may be the only thing that saves him in this globe-trotting espionage tale …where nothing is what it seems…but also…kind of actually is what it seems.

Spy Superb is the second release from Flux House, a new boutique imprint that will feature the writing (and sometimes) art of Matt Kindt, with crime, science fiction, and humor stories, all told and presented in startling and untraditional ways, following the release of Mind MGMT: Bootleg. Spy Superb #1 will feature a main cover by Matt Kindt and incentive variant covers by Martin Simmonds, Tula Lotay, and Christian Ward.

Comics Deserve Better Episode 15: Dept. H, Volume 1 “Pressure” by Matt Kindt and Sharlene Kindt

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On this episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan take a little undersea voyage and discuss the gorgeous visuals, complex characters, and clever storytelling of Matt Kindt and Sharlene Kindt‘s Dept. H from Dark Horse Comics. Seriously, this is a beautiful book with one hell of a mystery plot. They also discuss this week’s comics news, including Grant Morrison coming out as non-binary, the announcement of the Luther Strode and Henchgirl TV shows, the podcast Bubble becoming comic, and new books from Steve Skroce (Post Americana) and Mike Mignola (Young Hellboy: The Hidden Land) Other comics mentioned on the show include Wynd, Origins, Red Atlantis, Planet Paradise, Spice & Wolf, and Ablaze‘s The Cimmerian. (Episode art by Matt Kindt)

Review: Dept. H #8

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29985

Trapped in a flooding undersea base, Mia and the crew stumble upon a scientific discovery as their time is running out. They begin to fight among themselves about what to do with this valuable information, until one Dept. H crew member decides to take matters into his own hands.

As pressure mounts from both the inside and outside, Bob’s story is told in Dept. H #8. Bob is much more than his appearance would suggest and this issue really makes that apparent. The tale is a curious one considering Mia and Roger sit in a flooding chamber. But, writer Matt Kindt delivers a distraction from that.

The art by Kindt and Sharlene Kindt is much darker and contributes well to the mounting pressure in the story. It manages to do a superb job keeping things as grim as the situation appears. Yet there still seems to be a contrast in the atmosphere as the view switches from inside the chamber to outside of the chamber.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Sharlene Kindt, Matt Kindt
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Dept H #7

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29984

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

As the water rises inside their base, tensions rise among the Dept. H crew. They desperately try to stop the flooding of the headquarters, but a sacrifice hardly buys them any more time. They’ve got twelve hours to stem the tide.

With only three issues left of Dept. H, the crew seems to be facing imminent catastrophe from every angle. Writer Matt Kindt has made sure that the upcoming issues will make an interesting read as the series comes to a close. I’m curious to see if Mia can solve her father’s murder before everything goes wrong. Will the crew reach the surface alive or will they perish under the sea?

Compared to the colorful previous issues, this issue has a much darker tone. Matt Kindt and Sharlene Kindt use shades of black, and green mostly instead of the more vibrant color scheme we’ve seen in the past. Which, given the shift in the story, is a good move I think.

Story: Matt Kindt  Art: Sharlene Kindt and Matt Kindt
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Dept. H #7

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dept-h-7-coverMatt Kindt is a massive talent.  He is one of the few people in the industry where I feel his art matches his writing.  I think the best thing I can call someone in this industry is original, and Matt Kindt is just that.  Dept. H may not be his first, or even his most recognized work, but it is one of my favorites.

The story follows Mia, a special investigator hired to uncover a possible sabotage taking place at a deep-sea research station.  The series is a “whodunit” featuring a cast of characters with outward traits ranging from kind and helpful to cold and suspicious.  Like any good mystery, it is becoming apparent that things aren’t always what they seem.  The book does a good job at playing with your preconceived notions, and keeping you distracted.  Just when I feel like I have something figured out, disaster rears its ugly head again.  This is what Mia is constantly dealing with in Dept. H.  The closer she is to solving the murder of her father, the closer she is to death.  She is not only fighting to solve the case, she is fighting for her life.

I like this book for many reasons, but one of my favorite things is that it reminds us that people are grey.  There isn’t always a cut and dry suspect.  Things like our own prejudices, paranoia, and other variables can skew our views on someone.  Each issue does a good job of taking a look at why each of the crew members in Dept. H would kill Mia’s father, further messing with the reader.

This issue focuses on Mia, Roger, Aaron, and Jerome.  Mia is with Roger as the crew is trying to stop the base from flooding, while Aaron went to go get Jerome who has been seemingly losing his mind.  Things take a turn here, and we get some fantastic character development into Aaron’s history with Mia’s father, Hari.  I am starting to feel the same claustrophobia and panic as the crew members.

The art is incredible, and I am not just referencing the brilliant work we usually see from Matt, but in the colors from Sharlene Kindt as well.  The watercolors take this book over the top, and are such a beautiful contrast to the dark and dreary underwater setting.  I probably looked at the jellyfish on the first page for a few minutes before I even read the story.  You are truly getting art here, and I have to get some prints of this work to hang on my wall.  The little sketches and notes in the beginning and ending of the book are nice touches and let us in the minds of the two talented Kindts if only for brief moments.

I highly recommend this book, and it is only getting better.  If you have been reading the series, I probably don’t have to tell you to keep going.  If you haven’t been, get caught up on the issues or get it in trade when the first volume drops in January.  This is one of the best comics coming out this week, and one of the best comics coming out period.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Matt Kindt Color: Sharlene Kindt
Story: 9 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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