Luke Anderson, Author at GeeksHaveGame

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020

X-O MANOWAR / ROAD TO EMPYRE – THE KREE v SKRULL WAR / JUDGE DREDD – FALSE WITNESS [Reviews]: Comics Quaran-Time, Part Deux.

Luke “Hierophant” Anderson
IG @LUKEPOISONER

XO-Manowar #1 is a surprising comic. Firstly, being Valiant’s flagship character, they don’t reboot and change volumes as often as with Archer and Armstrong, Quantum and Woody, or the Harbinger characters, so an issue 1 is worth remarking upon in itself; but secondly, I haven’t read a Valiant comic in a couple of years, so I could have expected a dip in quality in line with Marvel and DC’s comics output, riven with auteur creators having their way, and editorial interference forcing far-from-complimentary changes and crossovers. I’m happy to report that a new Valiant comic is as good as it ever was.

We meet up Prince Aric in orbit, as he saves the city below from a plummeting alien spacecraft, causing millions in damage. When not superheroing about, Aric appears to be riffing on mid-90s Spawn and just hanging out with the homeless. His barbarian instincts and crazy demeanor aren’t winning him any friends though, whilst he and his suit Shanhara are walking blindly into a trap, but is it set by a friend or foe?

The yet to be released XO-Manowar #2 keeps up the action intensity and intrigue, as Aric learns that his approach to international relations could use some finesse – luckily, a rich industrialist has taken an interest in him and his public image. People familiar with comics might guess that doesn’t sound that lucky at all.

Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum (Avengers Arena, Spider-Woman) is at home here, giving this tent-pole comic an indie feel, and with neither a dumb nor a brilliant story conceit to kick things off, it all feels very natural and realistic. Couple this with the stellar splash pages of space fights and warfare mixed with downbeat street scenes and dialogue panels, it all could be jarring to read…

But, when presented by the fluid and detailed art of Emilio Laiso (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Spider-Man: Velocity), it plays seamlessly and takes you for the ride. Valiant Comics have rarely put a bad book out, and the new volume of XO-Manowar is as well done as one could expect. It pulls no punches, panders to no-one, keeps it simple, limits the meta-commentary, and just fucking rocks.

XO-Manowar #2 also comes in a cool black-and-white variant artwork issue, with an almost Sin City crossed with the David Aja Hawkeye issues aesthetic, which is also worth looking out for

1# and 2# = 5/5 Holy Books.

-Luke Anderson

**ROAD TO EMPYRE: THE KREE/SKRULL WAR #1** – Marvel Comics

For those devoid of their inalienable rites of carnage, Marvel’s Road To Empyre: The Kree/Skrull War #1, might prove to be an extra-special primer of the terrestrial kind. Robbie Thompson (Silk, Venom: Space Knight) brilliantly wordsmiths an 11th hour Skrull Family mission that’s genetically-spliced within the historical framework of the Kree/Skrull space/time continuum, as though he’s surgically transposed laser-cut vivisections of dueling, celestial stranger flesh pilfered straight from Area 51.

Mattia De Iulis’ (Invisible Woman, Jessica Jones) artwork delivers near-photo-realistic depth and such relatable vulnerability to the Skrulls-in-disguise Warner Family as they move to track down their mortal Kree enemies who are trying to expose them to Earth’s meta-human heroes, that you can’t help but hope they kill ‘em all; and Javier Rodriguez’ (Daredevil, Fantastic Four) and Alvaro Lopez’ (Catwoman, Breach) flashback passages drop Jack Kirby-inspired liquid psychedelica pupil’s-deep into your eyeballs while revealing forbidden acts of interspecies procreation from the recent past that may bring about cosmological cataclysm in the immediate future.

If you suddenly found yourskrullf made by your own mortal enekree within the confines of what you thought was your latest safehouse, and the mega-detonator on the wall was about to strike 0:00 seconds, would you eat your own flesh and blood to save them??? And what if they didn’t taste so good going down??? Could you push them bowels-deep and hold them there??? Or might everything come up in a horrific blast of gamma-green-looking chunk spew??? And who’s gonna be left standing to clean up this gawddammd mess, anyway??? What a Mar-Vell it may be… 4.5/5 Kree-Dense Skrullwater Survivalists.

-Jason Bud

**JUDGE DREDD: FALSE WITNESS #1** – IDW Press

“They say our world is a fascist’s paradise of Draconian laws enforced by unthinking executioners.” With that line, Eisner nominated writer Brandon Easton held a mirror up to today’s society and crafted a tale that had more relevance in a sci-fi tale than any non-fiction book I’ve read in quite a while.

The story of False Witness #1 focuses on a courier who has equal part street smarts and tactical mind who could have been fellow Judge had he not washed out of the Academy. He’s carrying something valuable through a riot that erupts between anti-immigrant protesters, and innocent poor folks trying to survive. However, once Dredd gets involved, it hits the fan. Easton’s deft pen weaves the political subtext in without slowing down the breakneck pace of what is a hellacious chase throughout the book. His Dredd sounds pitch perfect, and his sparse usage in the first issue left me wanting more.

Death’s Head, and Transformers artist Kei Zama brought a grimy animated style that felt right at home with this franchise. Facial expressions all felt real and pulled you in. A few panels did rely a bit too much on shadows and it made for a few confusing scenes but overall the pencils were strong. Colorist Eva De La Cruz walked the fine line between the dark and shadowy sewers of Mega City One with the bright and gaudy lights of some of its more affluent sectors with aplomb.

It has been at least a decade since I was this pleased with reading the tales of Judge Dredd. I am on this crazy ride until the bitter end. 4.75/5 Bibles.

-Gene Selassie

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019

AGENTS OF ATLAS / ABSOLUTE CARNAGE / MAJOR X [Comics Reviews]: Absolute Marvel.

It’s a mid-week gander at some of the upcoming comics this week, geeks and geekettes! This time out, we’re looking at the House of Ideas, and looking at some of their upcoming new premiere issues! We’re still in the comics business here at GodHatesGeeks, so let’s just get right to it and see what’s what!

“El Sacerdote” J.L. Caraballo Twitter @captzaff007

Agents Of Atlas #1 branches off of Marvel’s latest, largest crossover event, the War of Realms, and, despite only tangentially knowing a handful of the characters involved…it was damned refreshing.

The first issue in the latest volume focuses on an international team of mostly pan-Asian superheroes (including Cindy Moon, and Amadeus Cho) as they clean up some of the remaining Fire Dragons that have wandered into our realm. They find themselves suspicious of Ngyuen, leader of the Pan Industries group that has opened up portals connecting several major cities throughout Asia; if the second half of the story is any clue, the AoA is going to have to stop an upcoming ancient battle.

Greg Pak does a great job balancing the various characters here (there are about two dozen speaking characters), and imbues each with their quirks and eccentricities, even if they only get a line or two in; he also does his best work with Cho, finally making interesting enough to be be viewed as the leader of a team, but still struggling with his self-doubt (truth be told, I hadn’t read any comic with Cho since he headlined the Totally Awesome Hulk…so maybe I missed a lot of further development between then and here?)

Carlo Pagulayan and Nico Leon‘s art is lively, and the action moved at a pace; I was less enamored with the story occupying the second half of the book — it seemed to come out of nowhere, and with less explanation as to who these characters (3D-Man; Venus; Marvel Boy; ….Gorrila-Man? Right?) are for me to engage with them; I suppose I’d have to had read the previous titles with them, but for some reason this half felt more like a lesser Justice League Dark entry. 3/5 Bibles.

-J.L. Caraballo

Luke “Heirophant” Anderson
IG @LUKEPOISONER

Wow. Anyone reading random Marvel series’ from Hulk to Avengers to GOTG will have seen tremors and evidence leading up to this crossover series, but here is where Absolute Carnage kicks off in earnest, and here we may finally see the full and terrifying potential of Cletus Cassady as Carnage.

What started as kind of a stupid character (“What if Venom were more like the Joker and Hannibal Lecter? Wait…he kind of is already.” Tom DeFalco chomps on a cigar and thinks a second before saying: “Do it more hillbilly, and in red!”) – has grown to become a critical threat in a number of corners of Marvel’s various universes over the years, but was thought to be put down for good…. Enter an ancient symbiote god; a cult bent on resurrecting Cassady; and more Carnage than Spider-Man and Venom have ever faced before… yes folks, this is Absolute Carnage #1.

Donny Cates (Redneck, Babyteeth, Doctor Strange) has really swung for the fences in this, with the world-building and additions to the Venom/ Carnage mythos; but it all feels pretty natural and in keeping with the extended canon built up around what was originally just a weird black suit Spidey picked up in the first Secret Wars.

This is a long book — by newsstand issue standards, anyway – but it doesn’t feel 3 issues long, even with all the explanatory text and obligatory catch-up, and this is largely due to the pairing of Cates with the always visually exciting Ryan Stegman (Superior Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider), whose unique and cartoonish style deserves a place among the most iconic Spidey artists of all time (Ditko, Larsen, Bagley, MacFarlane, Romita Jr, etc), and who, admirably, does the pencils for the whole issue, with no fill-in artists or breakdown hand-offs. The able and talented JP Mayer (Blue Beetle, Superman, X-Men: Gold) lends a murky, gritty, and claustrophobic edge with his inks, and Frank Martin’s colours bleed red, black, and blue.

Maybe 25 years ago I remember collecting the first big Carnage crossover, Maximum Carnage. It was my first big crossover, and I had high hopes. It linked together Spidey and Venom with Morbius, Cap, Cloak and Dagger….. I wanna say Deathlok too? And it had them all fighting some Manson family-type team Carnage had put together with Shriek, Demogoblin, that eight-armed Spider-Man Doppelganger thing… I don’t know…

The point is, it was fucking stupid. This isn’t. Absolute Carnage looks to be both huge and wild, and should be worth following for at least most of the upcoming storm of related titles for the next few months. I haven’t said it since the 90’s, but make mine Marvel. 5/5 Resurrections.

-Luke Anderson

I felt confidant going into Major X #000 that I would immediately understand everything that was going on. After all, a prequel to a series as new as Major X can’t have that much mythology to unpack, can it? Instead, within two pages, I felt like I’d just started playing a late-era BioWare game. All sorts of terms and titles were thrown my way to suggest a lore, but I didn’t have any context for them. (And way too many X-Puns for my taste, from the X-istence to the X-ential, it was all a little X-tra.) There was also the mention of a Cataclysm, hence my sudden “Anthem” flashback. What had I gotten myself into?

However, while you would be served to have read at least the first few proper issues (ie 1-6) of “Major X” before tackling Issue Zero, it isn’t a requirement. This issue isn’t actually a new tale at all, but rather the re-release of “Wolverine” #154 and #155 from 1988 with some “Major X” trimming on the front and back ends to re-contextualize those stories for the current character and plotline. If you’ve already read or currently have the original issues of those comics, there’s not much new to see here. This is the equivalent of the same movie you already own with some new extra features on it to entice a second buy. From that perspective, you can skim through the fresh material while waiting in line to buy a different title and still have time to check your phone.

However, if you aren’t familiar with Wolverine’s run-in with the Watchtower and their shadowy leader named (somewhat anticlimactically) The Administrator previously, the story does hold up well on its own merits. The ending that incorporates Major X into the proceedings also has a degree of shock value to it that feels earned and not pandering. Assuming you are not familiar with the original 1988 versions, I won’t spoil the story here but rest assured that both Wolverine and Deadpool are front and center and that’s likely to keep even the most casual fan entertained.

“Major X” creator (and the writer/penciler of the two “Wolverine” issues in question) Rob Liefeld’s typical excesses from both an art and writing style are on display here, giving this 2019 re-telling of a 1988 story-arc a distinctly 90s feel to it. Nobody actually talks like this and no physical form (mutant or not) looks like this, but that’s all part of the fun. Liefeld’s never been about photorealism or Shakespearean prose. He’s a blunt instrument in both word and illustration so, if you crave subtlety or subtext, you’ll need to look elsewhere. However, if you love Wolverine, Deadpool and the world they inhabit, or are nostalgic for the old 90s X-Men cartoon (which this feels like it would be in lockstep with), you could do a whole lot worse.

There’s concept art at the end of the issue, along with an interview with Liefeld about how “Major X” came to be and why he wanted to tie it into this particular story from his back catalog. If you’re a fan of the Major X character, this adds context even if he’s not around much. You’ll certainly never look at his sword the same way again. 3/5 Bibles.

-Dave Beaudrie

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019

SILVER SURFER – BLACK / EVENT LEVIATHAN / SONATA / IGNITED [Comic Reviews]: Surf’s Up.

**SILVER SURFER: BLACK #1** – Marvel Comics

Okay, so Sandman In Space as illustrated by Tim Sale is a pretty good pitch for a book, but after this mini-series, it’s been done. I mean, it’s literally none of those things, but Silver Surfer: Black, by Donny Cates and Tradd Moore, makes the pitch redundant nonetheless. It’s a dreamy, cosmic head-trip, and it took me 3 full pages, checking the credits after each panel, to believe the art wasn’t by Tim Sale.

Norin Radd, the Silver Surfer, has been cast into a black hole during a battle with the children of Thanos. This is where we find him; falling through an endless void of darkness, buffeted by the forces of space-time, and beset by his own personal torment. He uses the power cosmic to navigate, shape, and affect this new pocket galaxy he is trapped in. Sounds pretty Sandman, right? It is.

Spinning out of his run of Guardians of the Galaxy, Donny Cates (Redneck, Babyteeth) is comfortable here, effortlessly spinning a tale both poignant and action-packed – no mean feat considering how much is just an internal monologue. For this, though, we have co-plotter and artist Tradd Moore (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, Secret Avengers) to thank; his fluid, globular, and bold style reminiscent of the aforementioned Tim Sale, but also Moebius, Marc Hempel on Sandman, and Steve Ditko’s work on Doctor Strange. It’s pretty cool stuff. Aided by a bold color palette provided by Dave Stewart, the art is both easy on the eyes, and leaps off the page.

At the risk of being too hyperbolic or running out of clichés, I would say that this book is basically perfect. New readers or devotees of Marvel’s Cosmic titles will both find this title an excellent read, and the self-contained story in a mini-series format will appeal to Marvel burnouts who don’t want to be forced to buy every title printed for three months god-damned months or so every year just to understand the story in the title I actually started collecting. Grrrr. But I digress. Buy this excellent book. 5/5 “Let There Be Lights”.

-Luke Anderson

“The greatest detectives hunt our greatest threat!” is the tag for DC’s 6-issue mystery thriller by former Marvel architect Brian Michael Bendis and teaming with Alex Maleev. This has been a simmering story over on Action Comics, with Leviathan dismantling covert-ops organizations Kobra, Task Force X, DEO, Spyral, and A.R.G.U.S. Will this be another slam-dunk for the creative duo, or rather an exasperated gasp into the comic book summer event foray?

Leviathan starts with Batman and Lois Lane running into each other in the wreckage of Odyssey, A.R.G.U.S. latest project, where they find a beaten and demurred Steve Trevor. He recounts the events leading up to the destruction before going full on psychotic and shooting at Lane and the Bat. Consequently being put down by Green Arrow with a non-lethal, but painful, arrow. After which they stand around talking about the who and the why.

As far as event kickers go, this definitely whets the appetite. Like, who is really behind this? Who was that in the shadows? And who the hell is this Leviathan? Bendis brings his David Mamet-lite dialogue that he was well known for in New Avengers for with Maleev’s art working for the stark and moody atmosphere. It’s been a serviceable start by Bendis and company and with even more players yet to be introduced to story, i.e. Barbara Gordon, Manhunter, Plastic-Man, we can only eagerly await the next installment of the event. 3/5 Bibles.

-Lauro Rojas

Sonata #1 has the looks and story to truly suck you in and not want to leave. The story by David Hine and Brian Haberlin keeps you interested. There is lore established that gives you background on the situation.

Though the story is great, the comic is really carried by the art. Haberlin does a phenomenal job painting such vivid pictures of the environment that they are in. It feels like I am inside the world with them. The art just matches the story so well. Right away, you are brought into a situation that you want to see get resolved. Between meeting different races/tribes, exploring the world or flying around on a Thermasaur, Sonata will keep you interested from start to finish. 4.75/5 Interplanetary Travelers Agree.

-Tim Markham

Mark Waid and Kwanza Osajyefo wade into cautious waters with Ignited. The premise of the story asks the question, if you survived yet another school shooting and you were given super powers… what would you do?

I knew nothing of the book, just that Mark Waid was writing it (who I love), but the first page isn’t some kind of action shot or set up; it’s a letter from the creators letting us the readers know that they wrote this book with the upmost care knowing full well the trauma these events have on the survivors. This book takes on alt-right talk shows, gun rights, gun safety and is unapologetically liberal. Waid and Osajyefo’s writing is straightforward and precise.

The art by Phil Briones is good, but not great. He takes risks with his art and the story and at times, it pays off. He has a Bryan Hitch style that works but for the majority of the book his art is just off the mark; you can’t help but feel that, with a book of this magnitude, they should have found a better artist.

I am very intrigued to see where this book goes and just how much bitching and complaining the comics-gate community does. 3.5/5 Bibles.

-Robert Bexar

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

PSI-LORDS #1 [Advanced Review]: Gods At Odds!

Happy Monday, geeks and geekettes! Coming in from the land of Down Under, our Luke Anderson takes a look at a tite from one of the finest independent publishers out there in Valiant Comics. Better yet, this one’s an early one. Yup, Psi-Lords #1 doesn’t drop for another 2 months and change. So, comic geeks, mark this one on your pull-list. Even with that strange AF title, let’s dive right on in!

Luke “Hierophant” Anderson @lukeleftlukeisgone

Ah, Valiant Comics. It’s been maybe 7 years since Valiant Comics rebooted and rejoined the publishing world – and it has been a trip so far. Some of the wildest characters, creators, and artists, coming together – unencumbered by decades of continuity – and resulting in some of the coolest comic books I’ve read in my life…. a tradition they continue with Psi-Lords #1.

Reviving yet another old franchise from Valiant’s past, Psi-Lords originally spun out of Magnus, Robot Fighter and Rai. I guess from that bit of background that this new series is set in the 41st-century-era, but there is nothing here to give that away. Four people from Earth awaken in a space prison, and they have “godlike” powers. It’s actually really strange, and gives no hint of what is to come yet other than weirdness and violence, with writer Fred Van Lente playing the locked-room mystery for all it is worth. The characters are weird, the space prison is adversarial, and the comic won’t shy away from violence. That is basically all I can tell you so far.

Developing this mysterious tale of an oddball team in space is the aforementioned Van Lente, who should be no stranger to Valiant readers, with acclaimed runs on Archer and Armstrong and almost every other title they have. He does fine work here, juggling character intros, action, and intrigue with aplomb; this book should be a blast to read like his books usually are.

The art is suitably epic and edgy, as Renato Guedes (Batman, Wolverine, lots of titles) seems to strike a weird balance between the fluid and bold shapes of both Kirby and Moebius simultaneously, and a messy, ink-blotted and textured realism like Bill Sienkiewicz or Simon Bisley. The already bizarre characters –mainly their personalities and powers– read like total outsiders in their hands, and action sets them further at odds with the situation they find themselves in. Like the book, I can’t give too much away. This book is strange and benefits from going in knowing as little as possible…

Coinciding with Valiant’s 7th year, and leading up to their inevitable summer crossover event, Psi-Lords #1 shows off Valiant’s house style nicely; the house style being “real comics and not some bullshit cash grab”. Psi-Lords promises to be pretty interesting – perhaps a little too interesting… 4/5 Gods in Heaven.

-Luke Anderson

Pick up Valiant’s Psi-Lords #1 at your local funnybooks store on June 19th.

July 27, 2017

IMMORTAL IRON FISTS / JAMES BOND 007 – KILL CHAIN [Reviews]: Dangerously Dapper.

**IMMORTAL IRON FISTS #1** – Marvel Digital (Comixology)

Spinning out of the Iron Fist: The Living Weapon maxi-series, we catch up with Danny Rand as he continues with one of the hardest challenges of his life. The outsider who beat the odds to become The Living Weapon, is now trying to help raise a Teenage Girl. Eeeeeeek!! Pei (that’s ‘Pay’ for those of you who read your comics out-loud) is a high school freshmen who’s having some issues dealing with modern society. She only knows of life in the magical city of K’un-Lun and is having a bit of a transitional phase that isn’t going too well. You think having to deal with monks teaching you deadly arts or dealing with dragons or ninja trying to kill you is hard? You think being the youngest person to ever bear the mark of the Iron Fist is challenging? You’ve never had to deal with teens during puberty. Mean girls, bullies, and teen angst filled drama makes plunging your fist into the heart of a dragon seem like a cake walk.

Kaare (Spider-Man Reign) Andrews is an artist’s artist who this go-around is writing this fast paced fun fish out of water tale that should be welcome to any “Young Adult” reader– and those who are still young at heart. With art by AFU (Spera) Chan and colors by Shelly Chen, this book looks nothing like any other currently being published by Marvel; a fun, fluid, expressive style that is as reader friendly as it is distinct. AFU is a welcomed breath of fresh air.

Exclusively available on Comixology in digital first. Six issues, bi-weekly, and off to a fantastic start. 4/5 Glowing Fists That Go Boom!

-Sean Farrell

**IAN FLEMING’S JAMES BOND 007: KILL CHAIN #1** – Dynamite

“Inquisitor” Luke Anderson
@lukepoisoner

Okay, this book is cool; but it is hardly “Ian Fleming’s” James Bond. Let me explain myself: Ian Fleming’s James Bond was a different beast to the one largely depicted in the movies. The James Bond films featuring Connery, Moore, and Brosnan have all proven popular — and even I rate a few of them as fun movies in their own right — but they hardly reflected the cold, steely-eyed, ex-SAS assassin burnout that Fleming wrote of. Even with the portrayals of Lazenby, Dalton and Craig being closer to the mark, none could be said to be truly Ian Fleming’s James Bond. Each one lacks something vital even still, something made up for by explosions and chases -– like with the rest of the films. I would have thought that the “Ian Fleming’s 007” brand would mean exactly that, and give us the James Bond of the novels. Instead, what we have here is what appears to be Andy Diggle‘s love letter to the late 80’s Bond film, The Living Daylights – and also, like, one scene from Goldeneye.

Not that there’s anything necessarily bad about this. The reknown Green Arrow writer pays tribute to the excesses of 80’s and 90’s Bond films in a pretty good pitch in and of itself. I’d read that. Throw in the noir-ish cinematic art from returning 007 artist Luca Casalanguida, and a pair of antagonists straight out of both the Cold War, and the extremified 90’s — and this book is an exciting read. Brimming with action and light on the exposition, this first issue of Ian Fleming’s 007: Kill Chain is the action film I wasn’t expecting to read. 3.5/5 New Testaments & Apocrypha.

-Luke Anderson

June 30, 2017June 30, 2017

SECRET WEAPONS #1 [Review]: Powers.

Valiant is so cool.

No, really.

Reading through Secret Weapons #1, the latest book to be released by Valiant (or as I call them, the real Marvel and the superior Image), I was struck by the lightness of feel, and the … cleverness of it all. Given the subject matter, what could have been Great Lakes Avengers or Legion of Substitute Heroes in the hammy hands of a bigger publisher, instead reads as something more like an indie small-town flick crossed with Runaways. Turns out the writer, Eric Heisserer is new to comics, but you might have seen his latest screenwriting effort, a little movie called Arrival. You know, that cool sci-fi flick that isn’t Interstellar.

Being paired with the excellent Raul Allen and Patricia Martin (they being he art team behind Ninjak, Ivar the Timewalker, and The Wrath of the Eternal Warrior) is a bonus; and gives this — the first comics outing for both writer, and this Harbinger offshoot team — a very familiar look and feel for Valiant readers.

The team of psiots with the powers too weird and seemingly useless for Harada to put to use in the main Harbinger is being hunted by a nightmarish thing that speaks in an unreadable dialect resembling QR code. It’s all pretty fun. Throw in Livewire from Unity, and it makes for a pretty wild outing, and a worthy addition to Valiant’s Harbinger canon. For new readers, I’d say that Valiant make pure comics, and don’t bully you into buying every book in existence – that’s my job. So, go buy this book, or I’ll kick you in the shins. 4.5/5 Lesser-Known Disciples.

Hello again, faithful flock of the all mighty GHG, Cardinal Brooks here with my review of Flash #21 which the second part of “The Button” storyline that started in Batman #21. Said button is the very same iconic Watchmen button, worn by the Comedian! What is it doing in the DC universe, and what does it have to do with the death of the Flash’s greatest enemy? We still don’t know by the end of part two, but scribe Joshua Williamson and artist Howard Porter are crafting a great story so far, and it’ll be hard for readers to wait for the next chapter in this epic story.

This issue starts in a familiar way–at a crime scene–but in an unusual location– the Batcave–which has been trashed in a fight that almost cost Batman his life. We also see Barry processing the death of someone who took so much from him, while still investigating the said crime scene. At the end of the issue, Barry and Bats take a dangerous trip which gives us “The Button” yet another tasty cliffhanger. With the way it’s reading so far, this looks to be one of the best DC stories to come out of the Rebirth reboot. Bring it one boys!
4.5/5 Lightning Bolts.

**BEN REILLY: SCARLET SPIDER #1** – Marvel Comics

Taffeta “Dutchess” Darling
@taffetadarlin

With the return of “the character who has been labeled as one of the most controversial in Spider-Man’s history”, issue one of Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider takes place in the aftermath of “The Clone Conspiracy” (which I didn’t fucking read, because I don’t read much of the newer Spider-Man titles; yeah–that’s right). Ben is trying to find his way and make his mark in Las Vegas. He wants to be a “hero” — although he also wants to get paid or take a reward for saving random strangers — and obsessively goes out of his way to recreate what Peter Parker has including his own MJ and Aunt May.

Written by Peter David (Spider-Man 2099), the issue has some mild enjoyability to it, yet desperately wants to recapture the 90s nostalgia image that the character first came out swinging with. Overall, it’s a mediocre attempt and does little to establish the character except that he has a new attitude and can kind of be a dick. While I can appreciate Ben’s new snarky side, the constant reminders of just how different Ben is from Peter grew obnoxious after about six pages and I found myself rolling my eyes and remembering why I don’t read a lot of Marvel titles these days. If they’d stick with some consistency, I might find myself reading issue two of this.. ha, nah I won’t. The artistic combination of Mark Bagley, John Dell, and Jason Keith compliment this issue with its default cityscapes and backgrounds, but there’s nothing that really jumps out at me as an “amazing” panel. After reading this issue, I can pretty much set up the traditional Spider-Plot in my head instead. 2/5 Excelsiors.

**ALIENS: DEAD ORBIT #1** – Dark Horse Comics

My first thought when I saw the cover of Aliens: Dead Orbit by James Stokoe, was “What was Moody thinking assigning me this?!” To be frank, I was not looking forward to the read, but went in with an open mind anywho.

Despite my damnedest to be fair, Aliens Dead Orbit was so hard to follow, and every character looked like they were distant cousins to Gorilla Grodd. Not only aesthetically unpleasant, but confusing since they all look the same! It also didn’t help my train of thought when my morkie kept humping his Cat in the Hat stuffed animal next to me.. but that’s all besides that point.

The worst part was that Aliens: Dead Orbit didn’t even get semi-interesting until the last page, and then it was over! A whole lot of nothing, and then some actual excitement at the very, very end. Yup. Sadly, it might be too little too late by that point. To give you a quick synopsis of Aliens: Dead Orbit — it starts with a team going to check out another space station that appears to have had a pretty substantial accident. The team wasn’t sure what to expect when they land on the station. Little did they know they would come face to face with a creature that looks similar to Spider-Man’s Venom mixed with GOT’s White Walkers. Now that’s an image! 2.5/5 Bibles.

What’s up people?! It’s your boy the Belser back again to spread that sweet, hot, buttery comic book love all over the place. Gross metaphor, I know, but it’s been a minute since I’ve done this and, gosh darn it, I missed you guys. Your boy’s been busy but that does not stop me from being able to get my hands on the latest hot comics. Case in point, my subject matter for today: the newest issue of the latest ongoing Black Panther series. Now, I read this book enthusiastically the first few issues. I have to say it was kind of lackluster. A lot of the supporting characters tend to take over the book and that can take you out of it.

However, they are making a good turn in the right direction. Here’s the Story: in conjunction with his latest book (Black Panther and The Crew), King T’challa is looking for the entities his people pray, the Wakandan pantheon of Gods known as the Orishas. His main reasoning is because of the fact that Wakanda kind of has suffered a great deal in recent times. Civil war and unrest. Many attempts at conquest. Death and destruction. While all this has happened, they have been silent. He wants to know why. In particular, the location of Bast the panther God that grand him his power. I really dig the detailed storytelling by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s very clear he’s a learned scholar and has a great deal of affection for this character. Also, I enjoyed the work of Wilfredo Torres. My favorite panels in this book are the ones depicting the looks of the Orishas themselves. The detail. The vibrant color. All so imaginative. 3.5/5 Bibles.

**BATMAN/THE SHADOW #1** – DC/Dynamite Comics

It’s been a while since I’ve read anything with The Shadow, and admittedly I don’t fully know much about him or his story. I remember the movie with Alec Baldwin, but only vaguely. So it was interesting to find out that Batman and The Shadow were doing a joint series — especially once I read up on The Shadow and learned that he was used as the basis for the creation for Batman. The more you know! *cue the musical diddy*. I jumped right in, and after a few pages I was hooked; needing to know how The Shadow is involved and who he is. The story starts with an Arkham employee checking in on various villains locked in their cells. Seems like he’s having a good night, that is until a mysterious figure enters his life. The story, written by Steve Orlando (Midnighter) and Scott Snyder (Swamp Thing), is well written with good dialogue and a nice flow as well. The artwork, by Riley Rossmo, presents a slightly different look for Batman, but overall very nice, with striking scenes that really present the mysterious nature of The Shadow. This saint will be keeping an eye on this series. 3.5/5 Black Hats.