Happy Halloween week, geeks! Once again, we’ve got a whole boatload of new titles, including a mash-up of the lunar/arachnid kind! Halloween is fast approaching, and we’ve got some treats in store for you here at GodHatesGeeks, no tricks this time around! Let’s just jump right into it, and see what’s worth your time and hard-earned dollars this week…
I love a good crime story. Especially a “gone straight but now I’m slowly back into the game” kinda crime story. Gerry Duggan, and John McCrea, give us a Boston tale about a one man crime spree called The Dead Rabbit. Once he bludgeoned fools with brass knuckles all through the 1990’s stealing from criminals and businesses – we catch up to our vigilante (real name Martin) twenty years removed from his last big score. Expecting an island beach house with a new car for every day of the week? Try more like being a greeter at the big box store in town, trying to earn a bit of money since all of his has run out taking care of his wife with her medical condition. Hard times have caught up to Martin. A chance encounter with someone up to no good, puts Martin on a path of pain and blood. Old scores bubble back up now that the Dead Rabbit has resurfaced. Things are about to get violent.
Gerry Duggan knows how to write big and small moments. This may be the story of a masked vigilante, but it’s grounded in the real world: no tights, just blood and gristle. Duggan’s been full speed ahead since ending his long run on Deadpool with his sci-fi romp Analog as well as this year’s big Marvel Event, Infinity Wars. The art by John McCrea is as always fun and entertaining; the man drew Hitman with Garth Ennis he knows what he’s doing when it comes to crime and destruction!
A decent start to a new series by two solid creators.3.5/5 Bibles to start. From Image Comics on shelves NOW!
Lance “Apostle” Paul Instagram @The.TravelingNerdWEAPON HEX #1 — Marvel Comics
The continued warped world of Marvel’s newest crossover event, Infinity Wars, continues. Weapon Hex #1 is the mesh up of All-New Wolverine and Scarlet Witch. This is one of the comb’s I was most interested in checking out, but unfortunately the reward was not worth the wait.
One reason I was so excited for the mash-up from the mind and art of Ben Acker and Ben Blacker was because Scarlet Witch and X-23 couldn’t be less alike. Unfortunately this issue suffers too much trying to be slammed into a signal issue, and not enough attention payed to the supporting characters that could of been used. For instance, when was Cloak and Dagger ever seen as supporting characters for either of the two? Plus I never felt there was anything original about Weapon Hex’s origin. It was just a retelling of X-23, mixed with some magic; doesn’t make much sense to set up an entire series for something we’ve seen a million times over…but here we find ourselves.
3/5 Magician Wolverines agree
“Reverend” Ryan Ford @nayrdrofLUCIFER #1 — Vertigo Comics
The tale of Lucifer, aka the Devil, and his fall from grace is one that has been told time and time again, adapted for each changing generation. From the Bible, to Dante, to Shakespeare, to Milton, to the Charlie Daniels Band, each work of fiction puts a new spin on Old Mr. Scratch. To recap of those just now tuning in: God and the Devil were having an argument, they fought and now the Devil reigns over Hell. Yet, the animosity between the two runs deeper. I think that both God and the Devil are brothers that were homes-chooled. We’ve all heard of the Mother of God so it makes sense. In any case, the Devil was a straight A student, paying real close attention in math and literature as a kid, which helped him with business, law and politics later in life. Meanwhile, God was off making dinosaurs and action figures he called “people” and then some plants that did some really funny stuff to the action figures. Eventually, he got into college, but only because of a baseball scholarship, and barely graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. The Devil, on the other hand, started running for President or King or whatever it was, as well as taking control of the family business, which is where God got pissed, and now we’re at the part everybody knows.
Absolutely none of that somewhat philosophical somewhat blasphemous tangent is anywhere within the pages of Lucifer, yet the story is just as confusing. Nevertheless, writer Dan Watters has found a way to make the events interesting enough to see what happens next. However, this need is driven by the thin narrative thread connecting stories A and B. It is the lack of cohesion peppered with glimpses of crossover that make one say to themselves “Okay, I get where this is going, but what the Hell?”
One aspect of the writing that is executed rather nicely is the direction given for the movement of scenes and action within any given frame. The creepy whimsicality is uniquely suited to the tone of the book courtesy of the artwork by Max and Sebastian Fujimara. Their style takes cues from many famous and infamous works of the past, yet establishes a visual presence that feels right for the material. The only downside was the color palette seemed a bit drab, undercutting the emotional through line in a few frames. But, it still worked, like the issue itself as a whole. It was all good. Good, but not great.
The great thing about these X-Men Black books is that Marvel is giving us a glimpse into what really drives these villains. With the Magneto issue Marvel gave us a person who really believes that he is doing what is right. With Juggernaut, Robbie Thompson gives us insight into what makes Cain Marko tick. The issue revolves around Cyttorak and his cult going full on inception in Marko’s mind to see if he is still worthy of his gem because if someone is that powerful there is no reason that an unworthy Thor should be able to beat him. Once Marko comes to, though he beats the crap out of the demon we get to see what really drives the Juggernaut… rage.
The artwork by Shawn Crystal is kitchy at parts and stunning in others. It has an underground vibe to it. The scenes where Marko is fighting the X-Men misses the mark just a bit, but when the Juggernaut is dealing with Cyttorak, it’s beautiful. By the by, we also got informed that there are actually seven gems of Cyttorak, and that Marko has been holding back all this time and we haven’t really ever seen the true strength of the Juggernaut and just where does all that rage and strength come from? A scared child. Revealing that the scars of childhood never really leave us.
Once again, the Marvel Universe finds itself a wasteland mostly inhabited by zombies with a small group of heroes left to defend it; seems like this happens every Tuesday or something, eh?
This time we see the zombie-infested world through the eyes of Simon Garth, The Zombie (capital “Z”), who is trying to still hold onto his humanity by not consuming flesh. Steffano Raffaele’s art is exactly the right amount of grotesque, showing us the twisted, disgusting forms of characters who have been ravaged by this version of the zombie virus. Writer W. Prince Maxwell treads some common ground (cure or destroy; the needs of the many over the needs of the few; and whether humans are also the monsters more than the un-dead are) but manages to make it feel somewhat fresh and interesting. And, as always, it’s great to see our favorite Marvel characters all gross and rotting, especially around this time of the year.
Marvel’s Infinity War event has cranked up…and I had no idea, truth be told. I knew OF it, but not any of the details pertaining to it. After a quick recap of events thus far, Infinity War: Arachknight sets up a completely new webslinger, a mash-up of everyone’s Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and everyone’s favorite schizophrenic moon-based multiple-personality-having C-list superhero, out chasing a furry goblin of the green kind, and navigating one of his three major personalities, and using his tech to fight crime on the streets of New York. Writer Dennis Hopeless throws us straight into the action, introducing us to Peter Parker on the night he not only loses his aunt and uncle, but is also chosen to be the Spider Totem for this world.
Balancing the fun nature and scientific smarts of Spider-Man with the unhinged schizophrenia and violence of Moon Knight is a bizarre mix, but Hopeless makes it work in spades. He manages to hint at a larger history with this iteration of Peter Parker, without slowing down any of the action for exposition. The action is sparse, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t crackle when it hits, and the design of the Arachknight himself, as rendered by artist Alé Garza, is badass, and a perfect blend of the two characters. It’s an interesting story, and I’m interested to see where it goes, but seeing as this is yet ANOTHER major crossover event from Marvel, it’s hard to get too excited by mash-ups like this, knowing that the status quo will eventually be reset.
Happy Moonday, geeks and geekettes! Another weekend may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end too. That being said, we’ve got one hell of a Monday Morning Stash for you today, including a review of one of the most talked-about new releases of the past week, a fun one-shot, and the launch of a whole new publishing house. Let’s get right to it, and talk about the hard stuff first, and not let the biggest news just flop around. Yes. We’re going to jump right in with…
“Cardinal” Roberto de Bexar @RobBex2BATMAN: DAMNED #1 – DC Black Label/ DC Comics
The Joker is dead and Batman can’t remember what happened.
BatPenis aside, this was DC’s Black Label launch and it’s a great one at that. Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo are a fantastic pairing. They are known for such great graphic novels like Joker and Luthor. They are both great at the crime noir feel and Azzarello is one of the best. He does play around just a bit with Batman’s childhood by implying that Thomas Wayne was having an affair and that the Enchantress might have had some involvement in Bruce’s future endeavors. Since this is turning out to be a story leaning heavily on the mystic, you can’t take a step without bumping into either John Constantine or Zatanna, who turns out to be a street card shark hustler.
Dong da dong dong DONGGGG!
Bermejo’s art is consistently beautiful and stunning. He captures the look of Batman, Bruce Wayne, Gotham, all of it, in such a realistic fashion and with a very distinct, unique look. There is just one panel that looks off and it’s the opening panel where Batman has been fatally stabbed and the blood looks Photoshopped in. Outside of that panel, the book is a beautiful piece of artwork. Now, yes, the first printing of the issue does have BatWang in it and DC is going to take it out from here on out, but that isn’t the reason you should pick this up. 4/5 BatWangs.
-Robert Bexar
Jason “Bad Preacher” BudTHE WRONG EARTH #1 – Ahoy Comics
Ahoy, matey!!! You’ve just treasure mapped your way into a dead man’s chest full of golden comic bounty!!! So…just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this comic port, aboard this pirate’s grip…
Abundance. Humor. Originality. Yes. Yes, these words comprise the acronym from whence AHOY Comics has plundered its namesake. Captained by Publisher Hart Seely (National Lampoon), AHOY’s gone burly Blackbeard and shanghaied a motley crew of comic world rogues and rapscallions to bring hijinks and mayhem into the oft-conventionalized Seas of Stupor-Heroed Cheez… all to leave you drunkfully punched into Caribbean Rumdom with.
So…come along now, lasses and ladies, for an unfair maiden’s voyage aboard a sea-scaring vessel known as…The Wrong Earth #1…
Dragonflyman (imbued of a Green Hornet/The Tick costumed aesthetic), gives good old-days, wholesome, Boy Scout delivery with his overly-sanitized rhetoric, as his literally red-headed stepchild-like sidekick, Stinger, buffoons it through his best Boy Blundering schtick; watch as both of them go galavanting around in codpiece-smothering tights and gossamer wings, in order to fisticuff a numeral-obsessed supervillain and his ruffians into lawful subservience – all whilst our heroic twosome manage to elicit the oft-conjectured true love dynamic that may exist amongst more famous “crime-fighting” duos, such as: Batman and Robin, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck, and Burt and Ernie from Sesame Street.
The adroitly monikered supervillain, Number One (a lounge lizard-looking meth-head in stripped pants and gaudy gold jewelry, who looks like he was fathered by Gene Simmons, of KISS, and Thurston Howell III, from Gilligan’s Island), and his literally-numbered henchwomen and henchmen (looking Harley Quinnian, cruise ship-costumed, and gimp-hooded, in their respective appearances), comprise an initial galore of goon gallery offerings; with visual allusions to other various DC and Marvel comics criminals, and James Bondian villains, alike. Further conflating this coterie of Pop culture pulchritude, comes the inevitable multiverse collision factor. Yes…that’s right!!! You’re getting more than one whirled in your comic peas here. Earth-Alpha, meet Earth-Omega. The Righteous, to the Wicked. Dragonflyman, meet Dragonfly. A superman, to one who likes to punish men. A Stinger in one world, but maybe not in the other. 4.25/5 Tear The Wings Off.
One week in November 2017, two suspiciously similar-looking groups of women made their main roster debuts on RAW and Smackdown Live. From that moment almost one year ago, the inspiration for this title was born. In this one-shot issue from BOOM! Studios, these pages feature the women of NXT (and a brief William Regal cameo). Writer Dennis Hopeless tries to provide an explanation for the cloned factions appearing post-Survivor Series and, well, it’s a better backstory than the actual backstory the WWE writers came up with.
Hopeless’s characterizations are spot-on: I heard the Iconic Duo’s lines in that weird sing-song tone that they use when cutting promos; and Paige pointing out that there wouldn’t be a Women’s Revolution without her was the most truth I’ve read…this week. So far, anyways. Hyeonjin Kim’s art is expressive and captures everyone’s faces wonderfully, which helps in the long run, since, in general, it’s a bit hard to translate wrestling to the printed page; however, it works here, and this was a pleasant surprise. 4/5 RamPaiges.
WWE #6 – BOOM! StudiosFelipe “The 3rd Deacon” Crespo @F7ovrdrv
I’ve found this series to be consistently enjoyable, with good attention to detail, interesting backstories and “kayfabe” (wrestling fan terminology for storylines)… On the plus side, the art has also been great, with strong character likenesses, etc., etc. And–that’s why I’m pretty disappointed with this issue. First the good: It’s cool seeing Ambrose and Sasha (but, shh, don’t tell Renee Young!), with how their characters build, and their bonding on the road, etc. It really is.
First off, it’s weird seeing Dean using the old version of the Dirty Deeds finisher. He’s been using the 2-arm hook ddt for a long time now, yet he’s portrayed using the forward falling headlock. Not horrible, just weird. Really bad #1: In the Ziggler match, it kind of look like Ambrose won by pinning him while Ziggler is face down on the mat.. Just let that simmer. Really bad #2: Did.. did I just see Dean defeat Zayn with a submission? A.) Zayn is in a heel role (HA! WHAT?) B.) He won applying a submission, via three count. Internalize that. 2/5 Submission Victories via 3-Count.
WWE #5 – BOOM! StudiosDestiny “Evangelical” Edwards @mochaloca85
With the Architect’s arc finished, it’s time to focus on the Lunatic Fringe and the road to Money in the Bank. We open at Extreme Rules, post-Asylum match with Chris Jericho—you know, the one with the thumbtacks—and Dean Ham-brose claiming he’s not actually crazy. His car won’t start which sets off a chain of events involving him (probably) getting a dude fired and run-ins with Sasha Banks and Brock Lesnar that could only happen to him. Aside from a few cringe-worthy lines (Ambrose’s greeting to Roman Reigns particularly stands out), Dennis Hopeless’s writing is solid, as usual. Serg Acuña does a great job at capturing Ambrose’s ridiculous facial expressions (I don’t call him “Ham-brose” for nothing). The back-up story picks up with New Day’s battle with the Dark Unicorns. It’s okay; not nearly as interesting as the previous installments their “Optimistic Odyssey” has been. 3.5/5 Cherry Tomato Brock Lesnars.
WWE #4 – BOOM! Studios“Father” #HeelSean Farrell @IAMSCF
The rebuilding of Seth Rollins continues! This fast pace game of cat-and-mouse between Seth and Triple H picks up where we left off last month, with Seth at the end of his rehab. Seth is medically cleared but HHH continues to be a roadblock. Sometimes, even literally. In a game of keep away that would make The Roadrunner and The Coyote jealous, Seth has to contend with a traffic jams, a small army of backstage security as well as WWE Superstars willing to sell out their fellow man to secure good favor with the Cerebral Assassin. We are treated to a short story featuring the Eater of Worlds (no; not the giant one with the purple headdress and the flying hood ornament…), Bray Wyatt, and the entire Wyatt Family dealing with a trespassing fan who finds out what happens when you do indeed follow the buzzards. The back-up spotlights some strong work by Ryan Ferreier and creepy atmospheric art by Clay McCormack.
Dennis Hopeless and Serg Acuña continue to blur the line between work and shoot with this reimagining of the facts of Seth Freakin’ Rollins road back to being the WWE Champion. Roman, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and even the New Day can not, and will not stop Seth from getting what he wants. BOOM! Has made a comic for Wrestling fans and a maybe just maybe made some Wrestling fans into comic fans. 4.5/5 Pedigrees.
WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2017 SPECIAL #1 – BOOM! Studios
WWE WRESTLEMANIA 2017 SPECIAL #1 – BOOM! Studios
“Pastor” Shawn Puff @ShawnPuffy
Dennis Hopeless takes a brief detour from his monthly Seth Rollins story (see Ryan’s review of this week’s issue #3 just below) for the WWE WrestleMania 2017 Special #1, which features five past short stories based on it’s-still-real-to-us-dammit past and present WWE events. In “Ladder Match”, HBK faces Razor Ramon in the first ever.. you guessed it.. ladder match. (Spoiler: Razor wins.)
Story number two focuses on Triple H and Stephanie’s plans for their eventual takeover of the company during Hunter’s time nursing an injury. Then things get a little trippy with the New Day traveling through time spreading the power of positivity. This story didn’t actually end, but, instead, left us with a cliffhanger as the Xavier, Kofi and Big E are set to fight… the Dark Unicorns. I told you it gets trippy. In “You’re Good But…”, we travel with Daniel Bryan on his journey from training, to NXT, to SummerSlam, to the World Championship twice. The final story features Sami Zayn versus Kevin Owens and tracks their feud back to the indies and even further back, to high school and elementary school. Who’d a thunk it?
Overall, this Mania Special is pretty Carlito cool. It’s only 42-pages long so there are about 8 pages per story. I expected more of a focus on actual WrestleMania matches, so the title kind of threw me off. Also, New Day. The other four stories are all based on actual events, while their “promo” brings us a magical ghost unicorn dude and time travel (although they did use the cardboard box time machine from that skit they did on the Vaudevillians about a year ago–so there’s that). Regardless of the placement, I’ll give the ish… 3/5 Unicorns, because… NEW DAY ROCKS!! NEW DAY ROCKS!! NEW DAY ROCKS!!
WWE #3 – BOOM! StudiosRyan “Father Grimm” Davis @OGMrGrimm
Issue number 3 of BOOM Studios partnership with WWE centered around the recovery of Seth Rollins: how he went from feeling on top of the world as the WWE champion, only to find himself on the shelf questioning himself and his future. Rollins then finds his drive to be “The Man” again and Redesign, Rebuild, and Reclaim! There was an awesome short back-story/rhyme on the how and why of Finn Balor becoming Demon King, which puts into perspective why he only brings out the demon when absolutely necessary. The thing that jumped out to me the most after reading this issue is just how tuned into the programming writer Dennis Hopeless is. He nails the dialogue so well, I could actually hear the wrestlers’ voices saying these things in my head–especially Triple H.
The New Day’s small cameo/shameless product placement for Booty O’s Cereal was also a lot more entertaining than any of the New Day Pops segments from recent memory. But best of all? Cuing the accuracy of modern smark reactions through the eyes of Rollins as he witnesses the rise of The Roman Empire; Hopeless even takes an amazing “meta” jab at Roman’s terrible jokes. Overall, the first three issues of BOOM’s new WWE series takes me back to the Undertaker comics of old, but with a fresher spin, more in-tune with the actual characters that makes them all the more relatable. 3.75/5 Bibles.
WWE #2 – BOOM! StudiosFelipe “The 3rd Deacon” Crespo @F7ovrdrv
BOOM!’s second issue of WWE follows Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins settling into his role as WWE Champ post Wrestlemania.
There’s nothing new to report on the artwork front. The artstyle is still solid and serviceable with clean lines. Some likenesses are good (Rollins, Triple H, Steph); others are… something (Lesnar, Heyman), but not all too distracting that they pull you out of the story…
I found myself enjoying this issue more than the first. It was cool seeing Rollins’ growing pains as not only the new champ, but as the Authority’s crown jewel. They also did a good job at portraying at what might have been going through Rollins’ mind during said period.
I’m eager to see if this ongoing series follows Rollins’ story or whoever holds the championship belt itself.
The first issue of BOOM! Studio’s new WWE-based comic doesn’t disappoint. With an alternate viewpoint of one of the most shocking turns of the modern era, Marvel scribe Dennis Hopeless (All-New X-Men) gives readers a peek at what was behind the break-up of The Shield and rise of Seth Freakin’ Rollins. The comic makes it hard to hold onto any anger towards SR for turning on his Shield brothers; nuttier– the story actually makes you feel bad for him! Throw in some clean illustrations from Serg Acuna, and you have a fun and compelling first ish, a definite great way to add more layers to a storyline wrasslin’ fans thought to be fairly cut and dry. As for its pending direction, one thing’s for sure: when it comes to WWE, things aren’t always what they seem.
It’s hard to say anything about Part 2 of The New Day’s Optimistic Odyssey without a smile creeping across my face. This crazy mix of time travel and wrestling is silliness at it’s finest. Rob Guillory‘s (Dirk Gently) illustration perfectly invoke the wacky and lighthearted feeling that has made The New Day a fan-favorite. With the back-up format, you get a quick and easy dose of humor without any unnecessary detail. Before you have a chance to get bored or question the level of inanity the issue wraps up and leaves you wanting more. While the antics do lend themselves to being very popular for younger readers, the proposed featuring of old school WWEff wrestlers and eras make for a good choice for adult fans as well. 4.25/5 Heart Break Kids.
“Pontiff” Matt Paulsen @stigmonus
We seem to agree on a good chunk of the new WWE #1 from Hopeless and Acuna. You already know the events; now you get to understand the behind the scenes motivations and internal struggles of The Architect. It’s very interesting to see Rollins’ drive, and how goal-focused he is, and how he’ll just throw anyone under the bus for the sake of his own gain. The narrative blurs the line a bit, seeing as he was the heel during this stretch and here we’re seeing him as the misguided hero of sorts; but I love heels and I was a day-one fanboy of Seth when I returned to watching WWE after a while off. The book is surprisingly a lot of fun, well written, and fast paced, and Acuna’s art style of cartoony-action but with weight and expression is fantastic.
All the ducks seem to be in line storywise, except one detail in the book that was jarringly wrong: Seth using the Pedigree finisher during this period. Every wrestling fan knows he was using the Curb-Stomp at this time in his career until the move was eventually banned. He cashed in his Money In the Bank, then curbed stomped Lesnar, and then later Reigns, and pinned him to win the title. There’s a couple page back-up feature, “The New Day’s Optimistic Odyssey Part 2” from writer Ross Thibodeaux and the aforementioned Guillory that features the former hip gyrating WWE Tag Team champions on hijinx through time. Personally, I didn’t care for this part as Jennifer did, though I can see how some might find it fun, I felt that it removed the emotional strength from the rest of the book. Should have just saved the space and gave us a few more pages of The Man.3.75/5 Curb-Stomps.
Bah Gawd! WWE has a new comic book series. And although this WWE/BOOM! Studios collaboration was announced months prior, my skeptical ways kicked in. How do you tell the story of the wrestlers in a comic book way? Won’t it come off cheesy? This–not so much. The tale of how The Shield came apart is/was/always will be (heh) interesting. For those marks wondering: Then. Now. Forever #1 adds a little more fantastical, comic-esque good versus evil aspect to the pages. For Dennis Hopeless‘ (Cable & X-Force) first issue in the sqauared circle, I’m impressed; not totally committed for a long series of comic Curb Stomps but I’ll take it. 3/5 Curb Stomps.
“Reverend” Lauro Rojas @Snarky_motif
We always said that life in the squared-circle was comic book storytelling on the small screen, but the squared circle jumped from the screen and into your hands. Boy, is it fun! What starts off as the eventful day that led to The Shield’s break-up delves into a day in the life of the Shield as they’re just hanging out and grilling, totally in kayfabe by the way. It sows the seeds for the arc to come. Along with that is the New Day’s shenanigans that they get into as camp counselors of positivity? So much yes!If you love wrestling, get it; if you love larger than life characters get it. Just get it already! 5/5 Bibles.
Destiny “Evangelical” Edwards
This comic is so good, you guys! (And not “so gud”, dear Deacon Felipe…) Hafta admit, my opinion is biased as shit since 1.) I love almost all things wrestling, and 2.) I’ve loved BOOM! Studios since the first time I saw James Silvani draw Darkwing Duck. The main story actually made me care about the Shield as a group–yes, I’m that asshole who squeed with glee at Seth’s turn–and the back-up story made me laugh a helluva lot harder than it should have. Hell, Xavier Woods has a time machine made out of a refrigerator box, because– of course he does. 5/5 Giant Print Bibles.
“The Man Called” Moody @travmoody
Just when you thought you were over that whole Shield thing (even with repeated ads for the next feature on the WWE Network), they–WWE & BOOM!–bring us back in with some of the best written wrestling comic dialogue ever. Sure, Mic Foley is an accomplished scribe.. but this, BOOM! Studios, is the big time. They got a Marvel guy spinning the wheels, and it’s clear as “A New Day” that Hopeless knows his professional wrasslin’.
Onto the goods that every other Apostle hasn’t mentioned: The Shield just sound right. Everything from Ambrose’ “rowdy loose cannon” jibberjabber to Roman’s “playin’ it cool” quips.. to Seth’s.. ahem.. twisted fate, just reads on-point. I love the focus on these 3, rather than try to smother all of us with the entire brand (or, hell, roster) in 22-pages. The powerbomb pencilwork of Dan Mora (Hexed, Klaus) is the work of Titans. He just finds that right balance between comical spunk and sketchy grit. The Shield appear so personable without coming off like POP! Vinyl figurines. In the brief back-up story, Rob ***Who? WHO?? WHOOOO???*** Guillory (Chew) goes the other way with the wrestler designs to great, some would say Booty-O-ful results. Simply put, WWE: T.N.F. #1.. rocks. 4.75/5 Broken Matt Hardy’s.
BLACK BOLT #1 – Marvel ComicsKevin “Pastor” Palma @eggrollko
It isn’t too often that a novelist transitions into writing comics, so I always find it interesting to see what their initial output is like. Last year we had an example of someone making a near seamless transition, when Ta-Nehisi Coates made his debut on Black Panther. This time, Saladin Ahmed, in his comics debut, teams up with Christian Ward (Ody-C) to bring us a book starring another of Marvel’s mighty monarchs, Blackagar Boltagon — still the best name in comics — aka Black Bolt. The result is fantastic. The story is exciting and mysterious, with Black Bolt fighting his way through a prison to figure out how he’s come to be imprisoned there and find a way out. The artwork is also great, from the MC Escher-esque labyrinth to the fluid action and vibrant colors. 4.5/5 Blackagar Boltagons.
BANE: CONQUEST #1 – DC Comics“Reverend” Lauro Rojas @Cheeky_Basterds
After facing the Bat it seems that Bane has gone from madman hellbent on domination to something of an anti-hero out to protect his city. We find Bane and his ragtag mercenaries intercepting a ship the contents of which set the story off. From there, it’s Bane running special ops around Gotham to figure out “who’s” and the “why’s”. It’s really that straightforward and bland. A damn shame too, since I loved Chuck Dixon’s run on Nightwing during the One Year Later event. The art is particularly no stand-out, but Graham Nolan does his best to show Bane off as a badass, with a hell of a lot of back hair. Yeah. 2/5 Bibles.
ETERNAL WARRIOR: AWAKENING #1 – Valiant Comics“Father” Sean Farrell @IAMSCF
“I want your skull! I need your skull!”, as the dark poet G. Danzig once bellowed. As Valiant continues a year-long celebration of its character’s 25th Anniversary, here we are given the second of four specials (y’all remember my review of the first one, The Immortal Brothers: Tale of the Green Knight, right?! Right.) dedicated solely to The Eternal Warrior. In a homage to his original series first issue, we find Gilad in a previous time in the life of a farmer; a terrible farmer who’s been having terrible nightmares? Dreams of his death again and again in different ways? Wait, what?!? That’s right, the Fist and the Steel has taken a serious blow to the head and now has some form of amnesia! What terrible timing this is with the vicious Alpha Hyamm and his Fell Legion scouring the lands looking for the Skull of the Eternal Warrior!
Where’s a Gormancer when we need one? Oh… here he is! After searching for Gilad for four years he’s here to help Gil remember who he is, what he is, and what his mission and purpose are. Blood, sand, bones and battle fill this issue out and hopefully satisfy your craving for violence and revenge. Robert (X-O Manowar) Venditti is no stranger to the EW having crafted his tale for the past five years, and seems to enjoy putting Gil in tough spots. Immortality be damned, you still need to fight tooth and nail to stay ahead of evils that roam this planet in all its forms. The artistic team of Renato (Bloodshot, Action Comics) Guedes and Ulises Arreola bring this dangerous tale to you with crisp storytelling and bloody detail that isn’t for the feint of heart. 4.5/5 Bibles.
JEAN GREY #1 – MarvelTaffeta “Dutchess” Darling @TheTaffetaDarling
It’s finally happened. My favorite red headed omega level mutant has her own series. In this first issue of Jean Grey #1, a young Jean is dealing with the foreboding sense that the Phoenix is rising. Written by Dennis Hopeless (WWE comics), we get to see young Jean on her own since she doesn’t have her mentor and friend Charles Xavier to help her hone her skills. Miss Grey falls down, but gets back up throughout this issue learning from her mistakes, which helps her grow as a young mutant, and member of the team. Hopeless creates a sincere inner dialogue for Jean with more autonomy than previously written. Whether she’s stopping armor car robberies, or struggling with her internal fight to stay off path her predecessor went down, readers get to see how this ResurreXion Jean Grey is unlike the classic Jean we’ve come to know. The art in this series by Victor Ibanez is nicely done crosses the Bronze Age 80’s style with a bit of pop, yet there some panels with moody ominous tones that blend well for the story of the coming Phoenix going through Jean’s head. While it’s evident there’s still some work to be done with developing the character’s new freedom, fans of Jean will feel the comfort of knowing she’s in capable hands. 4/5 Phoenix Talons.
BATMAN #22 – DC“Pontiff” Matt Paulsen @stigmonus
By the time we get the third part of “The Button” crossover in the pages of Batman #22, it’s become increasingly evident that whatever revelations linger from Rebirth are directly connected to Geoff Johns’ The Flashpoint, which then became the catalyst for DC’s relaunch, and this issue from scribe Joshua Williamson (The Flash) and the amazing Jason Fabok (Justice League). Pieces of the DC Universe that we’ve known as “The New 52” seem to be becoming undone since the Return of Wally West in Rebirth #1 — and it’s been accellerating throughout the books, from returning old characters and concepts to the ever-weird Superman Reborn history merger.
The Button has been our first glimpse behind the curtain of what DC has in store for us. While it’s easy to get excited over — since we’ve witnessed it build for a year — each of these issues have only given readers cool moments, some relationship building between Batman and Flash, and even more questions than we had before the first issue dropped. Batman #22, indeed, picks up with Barry and Bruce face-to-face with the fan-favorite Flashpoint Batman himself, Thomas Wayne, as they search the timeline for clues. Fabok and Williamson show an uncanny ability to pull off emotional moments with big action scenes with equal deftness. DC’s faith in Williamson’s rising star has been paying dividends for them and for himself, and Fabok might as well be chalked up as one of the best artists of the era. He nearly makes a book ‘can’t miss’ as few others can. 5/5 Bible Buttons.
SECRET EMPIRE #1 – Marvel“Cardinal” Roberto de Bexar @RobBex2
Secret Empire is one of those few comic events this critic was actually looking forward to, and while the zero issue (technically) wasn’t bad it also wasn’t great by any stretch of the means. Captain Hydra’s numero uno ish main drawback is the overabundance of talking heads; you know, like “1980s Christ Claremont” talking heads. And you can’t blame readers for wanting to almost glossover any dialogue with its artwork by Steve McNiven (Wolverine). But as slow as Nick Spencer (Captain America: Sam Wilson) takes with his script it seems that McNiven sadly rushed through the art. Exposition heavy, half of this issue could’ve went back to #0. Still, Secret Empire can turn out to be one heck of a series if it dwindles down to the chief matter at hand…
Fanboys. Fangirls. Nerd trolls. You are the reason we can’t have nice things. When a story begins, stop complaining and let a story finish. The worst of the worst happened this past week when Marvel had to come out and calm everyone’s nerd-adrenaline, simply because “Oh no! Captain America is evil!” Yes, Captain America is the pinnacle of good, just like Superman; but how about you let the writer craft his story and take it “ALL THE WAY UP!” to the end, before you start bitching and complaining. Remember when Tony Stark was really an agent of Kang all the way back in the 90’s? Oh! You mean it’s a comic book and he’s no longer and evil asshole, but one of the top good guys?Exactly. Let Nick craft his story, and, hell, if at the end it wasn’t a good story, keystrike away. Not after the first chapter. That said…3/5 Bibles (although I should give it an extra 1/2-1 Bible for all your bitching!)
Good Monday, fellow congregants! I hope the ongoing holiday onslaught holds up for a bit longer; while we take a look at some of the new titles to add to Santa’s list!
We’ve got a whole slew of new titles to go over, and a double review from your very own “Traveling Nerd”. We’ve got what is being called the “Best New Title of 2015,” as well as a few new looks at some old familiar faces.
UPDATED on Wednesday, December 9th:
All New X-Men #1
Harley’s Little Black Book #1
All New X-Men #1 – Marvel Comics“Cardinal” Gary Brooks
I’ve been a religious (pun intended) reader of just about every X Book since I was about 15 years old. I’m not gonna tell you how old I am, butjust know that spans a couple decades. In that time, there have been more reboots and #1’s then we’ve had US Presidents. Some were good, some were great, and some were just plain bad. The landscape has changed drastically, Professor X is dead and with him his dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants is all but forgotten. Magneto, one of the greatest X-men and one of their greatest villains is dead. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine are all head and being an X-man is more dangerous than ever before.
Dennis Hopeless (Spider-Woman, House of M) and penciler Mark Bagley of Amazing Spider-Man fame bring us the newest version of the All New X-Men, in which the 4 original members Cyclops, Jean Grey, Hank McCoy, and Ice-man have been plucked from the past to help save the their future and our present. If that doesn’t boggle your mind, stay tuned and welcome to the Uncanny world of the X-men. I’m not too familiar with Dennis Hopeless, but he seems to be able to tell a story pretty well. He’s got big shoes to fill with all the legends that have come before him. Bagley on the other hand is a legend in his own right and his line work looks better then ever. Bring it on boys, lets see where you take us. Issue #1 looks great and reads well.
3.75/5 Optic Blasts
Harley’s Little Black Book #1 – DC Comics“Sister” Sarah Obloy @DarthHistory
Harley Quinn has had a busy year. She has battled various foes, gone on a road trip with her besties, teamed up with Power Girl, and headed to Hollywood for some fun and excitement (and a little bit of mayhem). This time around, Harley is determined to prove that she’s one of the good guys…by jetting off to England to save Wonder Woman. Of course, this is Harley we’re talking about, so things don’t go as planned.
With an appearence by the London Legion of Superheroes, Harley’s plan is foiled by the fact that Wonder Woman is…Wonder Woman. Harley’s playful yet insane tone is convayed in LBB #1, which makes sense, since Amanda Connor (Birds of Prey, Power Girl) and Jimmy Palmiotti (The Resistance, The Twilight Experience) are the voice of Ms. Quinn, and the visuals are spectacular as always. The only detracting factor is that, after all of the build up, there is very little Harley, Wonder Woman interaction. The buildup to such an unlikely team up leads to a very brief encounter, and you’re left wishing they had hung out longer. As the start of a series of meetups with some of DC’s finest, it’s a great start, leaving the reader anxious for her next encounter.
3.75/5 Golden Lassos
Sheriff Of Babylon — DC Comics“The Apostle” Lance Paul @Lance_Paul
From the first mention of Tom King’s (Grayson, Omega Men) new project dealing with his time as a CIA operative, in Iraq, I knew it was going to be a must-read. King has far surpassed my expectations with this incredible whodunit mystery, based around his experiences. There are no blood filters, nor any kid boxing gloves, in this modern day dragnet thriller.
The story revolves around Chris Henry…or essentially Tom King…a Floridian police officer sent to Iraq to help train the new Iraqi police force. Immediately, Henry is met with the futility of an uphill battle: things come to a head when a suicide bomber clears out a mess hall, and Chris jumps at the chance to use his negotiations skills to defuse the situation. While in mid-conversation with the bomber, a US sniper ends the discussion.
Left to contemplate his place in this Eastern war field, Henry finds out that he is more of a marlin-out-of-water than he ever thought possible. Across this new Iraq, our second lead, Sofia, works on creating a new empire over the rubble of the old. Our final character is Nasir, a Saddam Hussein loyalist, whose children were killed by a US missile mishap. In King’s world, these are the inheritors of a new Iraq.
King’s story really starts to build foundation when he switches narrative to his two Iraqi natives. Both are simply trying to survive in this new foreign landscape. Sofia, Iraqi born but American schooled, is quiet and ruthless; and you can see that she plays this new game like an aspiring future kingpin. Nasir, on the other hand, is slowly starting to crack under the pain of losing his children. Once a ruthless left hand scourge of Hussein, he is now left to bloody his hands on his own. All three of these new characters exude depth, and they leave you in a hard place to judge them; based off of their past and current actions.
King is partnered up with the multi-talented Mitch Gerads (The Activity, The Punisher) for this 8 issue run, with Gerads not only illustrating a beautiful work of art; but also playing double duty with colors as well. The palette choice gives you the feeling that you are seeing a desert landscape straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. Gerads does an excellent job portraying the unnamed and never spoken final character: the sweltering desert heat. The same can be said about the gore and carnage portrayed, with seemingly violent realism. Both Mitch and King never shy away from the truth, in all its unease, inducing feelings of danger and/or voyeurism.
Another highlight of Gerads’ talent, is the phenomenal Iraqi cityscape. Very few artists in the current landscape could portray the crowded craziness of an early millennium war torn Iraq. Gerads has the eye of a talented cinematographer: panels switching between city level shots, to birds eye views of the cityscape; showing the research that Mitch has undergone to create authenticity.
A graphic novel, covering the early years of our war in Iraq could of gone in many different directions: Geo-political, religious, or pro-American. Thankfully, Sheriff of Baghdad, tells a story so truthful and open, that it makes you care and feel for each of the characters in new ways. The politics of this New Iraq in 2004 are only a backdrop to this modern day suspense detective story. Regardless of your feelings on the US in Iraq, this is a comic that tells a story made for the silver screen. Easily, this is the best book of 2015!
5/5 Peace Protestors agree!
RED WOLF #1 – Marvel Comics“The Apostle” Lance Paul @Lance_Paul
At first glance, this concept seemed like a sad way to exploit the lack of Native American heroes in the current comicscape; while banking off of an enjoyable carry-over from Secret Wars by Marvel. Nathan Edmondson (Punisher) surprised though: with Red Wolf #1 set in the exact same world, Marvel left Red Wolf in after the end of Secret Wars – with it seeming to be more of an end to 1872, that slowly segues into the beginning of our new story here…
Using a new intellectual property and largely untouched resource, Marvel has an opportunity to take this Cheyenne warrior in many directions. Red Wolf seems poised to be an heroic loner, who champions the disenfranchised; someone that the masses most often relate to and admire. RW is feared and hated by the white man, due to the color of his skin and his religious beliefs…a character arc Marvel has explored to certain degrees in the past… Also, with the continued state of imperialism in the US and abroad, combined with the fact that Europeans committed genocide against the indigenous tribes of America when they arrived and colonized this country; isn’t the timing right for Stan and Co. to give Marvel’s first American Indian super hero, his own title again???
Edmondson starts our hero, in the town of, Timely, where we last saw him as Sheriff of this lawless and bigoted town. This allows all manor of prejudiced subtext and dialogue to impact our new hero; and this struggle shares similarities to those of Professor Xavier’s (or MLK, Jr., who the prof was based off of) dream of universal acceptance, regarding all of humanity. Though some of the interaction and lack of character development seems pushed or less than thought out, Nathan maintains a steady flow from beginning to end.
Like I said, if you view this more as an end to 1872 that starts to transition into Red Wolf #1, it is more fitting. By the end of this first issue, our hero is left more of a stranger-in-a-strange-land, than the new comic Old Man Logan; or even the original Captain America, after his stint, frozen in ice.
Red Wolf and Edmondson’s story strength rely heavily on Marvel vets Dalibor Talajic (New Avengers) and Jose Marzan Jr (Y the Last Man), who both play double duty bringing different feeling and illustrations to the image frames and their orientations. From an opening splash page, to tense showdowns over dusty landscapes, the artists excel at bringing an authenticity and organic feel to the book.
Marvel gets the most credit for bringing on graphic designer Jeffrey Veregge (G.I. JOE) to the team as a Native American consultant. Though not the same tribe as Red Rolf, having Jeffrey on board helps to bring an authenticity to the series and less of a western reimagining.
This is a good comic, and gives the feel of an indie vibe for issue number 1. Though not as adult as Jason Aaron’sScalped, Red Wolf does do a good job of showing a hero-minus-spandex protecting a group of people who have been too often exploited. With only issue number one to go off, its hard to predict the lasting power of this new property. The team behind it is sound and their work deserves a read. This part Native American Traveling Nerd approves!!!
Marvel has introduced its titular green anger monster in the guise of, Amadeus Cho (the appointed seventh-smartest person on the planet), in Marvel’s The Totally Awesome Hulk #1; and, much like what I’d written about the new Amazing Spider-Man…something about the new format is irking me!
Writer Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, Incredible Hercules, Batman/Superman) has thrown us into quite the introduction, with Cho leaping into action; fighting off a double-headed giant turtle attack on a beach, before getting into what happened to former Hulk Bruce Banner. The exposition, thankfully, doesn’t bog down any of the action or story, and moves briskly. There’s enough backstory for even a novice Hulk reader (like myself) to be able to follow what’s going on and put the pieces together; and he adds a nice, flippant sense of humor to Cho, that adds deft touches throughout the story (like Spider-Man and She-Hulk’s cameos…although this marks maybe the third Spider-Man cameo in as many titles I’ve read).
Frank Cho’s art seems extremely utilitarian; as the current Marvel approach seems to be “all lean, sleek, smooth lines, all the time!” – which makes for easy reading, but the personalities of each title seem to blur together. That being said, Marvel’s current approach seems off-putting: every single one of these heroes is now part of a team. I suppose that makes crossover events that much more common, but whereas I’m used to the loner Spider-Man occasionally teaming up, or an outsider Hulk joining a team only when the shit hits the fan, here there’s an entire roster of supporting characters who not only constantly update the heroes, but who know their identity, struggles, and abilities. When every single one of their A-listers has the exact same set of technology, intelligence, and supporting cast, it loses its appeal, and quickly becomes rote.
I just finished reading the title about an hour ago and I’m pretty sure that, just thinking about it, I am confusing some panels of Totally Awesome Hulk with the new Amazing Spider-Man. And that’s fine, if that’s what you’re into; but for a casual reader just looking to jump into a good story with interesting characters to whom I can relate…well, hopefully somewhere down the line the technobabble and crossover events stop taking precedence over just telling a simple story. If Hulk is for you, enjoy this title. Maybe. Whatever. Later on…
3/5 Hulks Busted
Luke “Heirophant” Anderson IG @LUKEPOISONERRobin Wars #1 — DC Comics
Another month, another crossover event. DC’s Robin War kicks off right here; tying elements from recent Detective Comics, Robin, We Are Robin, Grayson, Red Hood, and the Court of Owls storylines into one plot. What does this all mean? The streets are awash with Robin-wannabes, and as as result, a law against Robins is brought into effect and carried out with ruthless efficiency. Add to this mixture almost all the Robins (WE’LL NEVER FORGET YOU, STEPHANIE BROWN) and the new Robo-Batman, and there’s all the makings of a fine story here. Scenes like Damian encountering Robo-Batman for the first time are neat, and the banter between Damien, Jason, and Tim…with Damien being his usual bitchy self…was particularly enjoyable.
This new crossover may not run as long as some of the others of late given that this core title is numbered issue 1 of 2 – and also due the limited scope of this evidently Gotham-centric storyline (this is all a plus, yes?) – but with this first issue Tom (“former CIA operative turned author”) King (Grayson, The Omega Men) and a group of different artists set us up for a crossover that promises to be full of action and intrigue and Robins and Owls and cool shit to keep us entertained whilst Batman is off being a god or whatever the hell they’ve done to him now. We’re giving this a rating of 4 out of 5 disciples, which is a coincidence because it only really features 4 out of the 5 Robins; New 52 be damned.
4 out of 5 Disciples
Spidey #1 — Marvel Comics“Deacon E” Esko @eskobts
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…back in the olden days of the ’90s. It was back then that I was introduced to Spider-Man, and instantly became a fan. Then the cartoon made me a super-fan, and the comics made me a fanatic.
I’ve seen/read the early parts of Spidey’s hero life a million times. Sometimes it’s dry and boring, sometimes, its as awesome as the first time. This is one of those awesome times. While I’m not a huge fan of the style chosen for the artwork, it’s still great art. I think my main issue with it is the simplicity of the details in the background of the panels. Artist Nick Bradshaw’s (Wolverine and the X-Men) foreground art looks awesome and all the coloring is excellent. The story flows well and the writing is exceptional. Writer Robbie Thompson (Silk) captures the feel of the early Dtiko/Lee Spider-Man fairly well. He definitely captured Spidey’s wit without sounding cheesy or outdated. Although I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this exact scenario play out in a cartoon at some point, reading it still kept me interested and excited for the next page, which means they’ve done their job very well. Bravo. 3.75/5
DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1 – DC“Dynast” Dana Keels IG/Twitter @hatandwand
The Dark Knight Returns is a masterpiece. Frank Miller could do no wrong. Daredevil, Batman: Year One, and Sin City; the man was untouchable. In 2001 he followed up TDKR with a sequel. It was trash. Next came his film adaptation of The Spirit. It too, was trash.
The one-time mastermind was quickly becoming a parody of his former glory.
So when DC announced The Dark Knight 3, any anticipation was also met with a considerable amount of pessimism. Which Miller would we be getting? The man who blazed a new frontier for comics? Or the Miller that no one wants to invite to Thanksgiving?
Breath easy, classic Miller is back, and he’s brought some friends with him, most notably, Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Wonder Woman). Anyone familiar with Azzarello’s work will find his voice all throughout this issue, which provides a fresh take on Miller’s well-established world. Future Gotham is a shitty place. Crime is always at an increasing high. Taking from headlines of today, police brutality and racial unrest are more prevalent in Gotham of the Future, but none of it ever feels preachy. In fact, it serves as a mere backdrop to the book’s themes of Legacy.
Our heroes are old, if they’re even around anymore. The mantle must be passed on and the flame must continue to burn. With Commissioner Yindel still trying to make a name for herself, Carrie Kelly’s continuing evolution, and Lara, the daughter of Supes and Wonder Woman, trying to find her place in life; Legacy is the undercurrent here. Not to mention three of the biggest roles in the book are all female. That just kickass in its own right!
Andy Kubert (Batman and Son, Flashpoint), Klaus Janson (Superman) and Brad (Superman: Lois & Clark) Anderson‘s art hits all the marks. The style is reminiscent of the original Dark Knight while not being a slave to it. The book takes on a claustrophobic feeling, cramming as much content into its panels as it possibly can. Fans will find Miller’s biggest presence in the mini-comic towards the end of the issue that helps to flesh out the supporting characters — including one CW superhero show favorite — that feel 100% Miller; it’ll be interesting to see how they tie in with the rest of the story as a whole.
Miller, like the Dark Knight himself, is back. This first issue packs plenty of punch. While feeling like a set-up to an epic run, it sometimes feels like it forgets to focus more on the smaller, issue-to-issue story. At least for now. 4/5 Batfleck Bibles.
Thanksgiving Stash (Update: 11/25) – The Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1, Ms. Marvel #1, Vader Down #1/Darth Vader #13, The Mighty Thor #1, Red Thorn #1
Fistful of Comics I (Update: 11/23) – Spider-Woman #1, Black Knight #1
Sunday Stash (Update: 11/22) – Huck #1, Batman Europa #1, Web Warriors #1
Better late than never… Ms. Marvel #1 has got to be one of the most charming comic books I’ve ever read (GO MARVEL!). The book opens up with Kamala Khan fighting alongside the Avengers and quickly transitions into her everyday life and everyday problems as a teenager. Though I’m a newbie to the series in this Volume 2, I had no problem following writer G. Willow Wilson‘s fantastic bit of backstory throughout the issue.
Being an Avenger has kept Kamala extremely busy, too, so she has missed out on quite a few things that have been going on at school. As her friends tell her… she hasn’t really been “there”. The story then focuses on her love interest, Bruno and his new girlfriend Mike (trust me, jokes are cracked). Bruno walks Kamala through the initial steps of his new relationship, which seems pretty dumb–but the New Avenger just had to know. It’s a good thing her resent can slowly melt into her busy new lifestyle. Later, we see how popular Ms. Marvel has become in Jersey City, when she finds her picture on a Hope Yards Development billboard–something she isn’t thrilled with, which leads to further intriguing obstacles.
While the story felt a little rushed and the amazing artwork by Takeshi Miyazawa & Adrian Alphona was also a little jumbled and kind of IN YOUR FACE, I did enjoy how accurately the sketches portrayed Kamala’s nervous/irritable mood. I could totally relate to the story, and Kamala’s feelings which made the story even more fun to read (not really sure why though… since I’m not an Avenger, nor am I a teenage girl in high school… maybe just because she is all over the place and so am I). Even if you missed out on the first volume, definitely give the All-New Ms. Marvel a shot! Till next time, Geeeekkksss…!!! 4/5 Qurans.
Before I get to this week’s Darth Vader #13, yours truly has the distinct pleasure of bringing you two reviews. That’s right. You’re getting TWO reviews for the price of ONE! Have we at GHG gone insane? Possibly, but the lab results are still out…
VADER DOWN #1 / DARTH VADER #13 – Marvel“Cardinal” Roberto de Bexar @RobBex2
Vader Down #1 is brought to us by the extremely talented duo Jason Aaron (The Goddamned) and Mike Deodato (New Avengers). Aaron is hands-down one of my favorite writers right now. His take on Vader is on par with both Kieron Gillen’s take on the Sith Lord and the cinematic version, but Aaron and Gillen’s take actually make Darth Vader that much more powerful, frightening and that much more awe-inspiring. Vader Down sees the Sith Lord continue his search for Luke Skywalker on Vrogas Vas, taking out entire space squadrons on his dreaded way.
Deodato’s artwork is just superb, like always, as he’s able to capture the strength and the magnitude of Darth Vader and just why everyone is afraid of him. And why is everyone afraid of him? Because everyone should be, as Vader himself says while surrounded by a massive army of rebels, “All I am surrounded by is fear. And dead men.” That’s a pretty ballsy thing to say, but when you are a Sith Lord as powerful as he is, it’s not cockiness; it’s the truth.
Before I continue, allow me to state that I have not been disappointed in one Marvel Star Wars book. The writing and artwork has just been spectacular, but I think that is what happens when you are working on something that everyone loves and reveres. Also, these books do a fantastic job of connecting A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.
In Darth Vader #13 — the second part of 6 in “Vader Down” — Gillen’s Vader takes on an entire army of Rebels…and it’s not even a battle. Luke tries to find a Jedi temple that both him and daddy accidently stumble upon one, a nice touch since we all know Luke won’t receive any training until Empire Strikes Back). More interesting is the trio of Aphra, Triple-Zero and Beetee and what Vader has in store for them. Salvador Larroca’s artwork has been just as nice as the story, considering the challenge of capturing the likeness of characters everyone knows and loves. You can almost hear James Earl Jones come off the pages of Vader Down. Both issues = 4.75/5 Darth Bibles.
This title reminds me a bit of the “Dangerous Habits” arc from Hellblazer, of played a bit looser, a lot quicker, and a bit lighter. Jason Aaron (Vader Down, up above) throws us right into the story, not stopping for any filler, but just reintroducing us to Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor, more the worse for wear this time out. The art is workman-like, neither standing out nor distracting, merely there to tell the story and not embellish. In, out, and moving on. This title is much the same: throwing us straight into the plot with minimal exposition (which is great, since I am far behind my modern Thor lore). But this is an interesting first issue, has a lot to offer (although, again, the art is nothing spectacular or unique), and a bit light and short, surprisingly. After padding out the Amazing Spider-Man, I’d have expected Thor to get the same treatment, but alas. 3.75/5 Crashing Weather Space Stations.
RED THORN #1 – VertigoLisa “The Goddam” Wu @TheWuReport
It is time to break out the old Scottish mythology books because Red Thorn #1 will most likely have more allusions and symbols like the one spoken by what looks like a chained up hot, nude ginger tattooed god. Writer David Baille (2000AD, Judge Dredd), a proud Scott, pays tribute to his city of Glasgow by putting landmarks such as the Barrowland and King Tut’s in the comic.
The readers in issue #1 is truly getting a tour of Glasgow by Baille himself, and it seems to even come with Baille’s special 90’s mixtape. And, with artist Meghan Hetrick (Bodies, Joker’s Daughter), colorist Steve Oliff (Akira, Spawn), and letterer Todd Klein (Sandman, The Omega Man), one has to pause and wonder how much of Baille really put himself into the main character, Isla, and should readers be worried.
The beautiful protagonist Isla is on a quest to find answers about the sister that she never met. However, on this journey, she will most likely learn more about her ability to make her art come to life and even control people through her sketches. This ability seems like a gift. After all, who wouldn’t want to draw oneself out of receiving a traffic ticket or make the perfect partner? But watching Isla’s flashback to the first time when her ability became apparent, no one would want to gamble by putting pen to paper. No matter how hard she tries to abstain from drawing, she finds herself drawing the same unknown man. This impulse she discovers is ancient and in her blood. The first issue of any comic series can be difficult, but Baillle seamlessly frames the story to give readers a clear exposition and gives an intriguing background of the main character that makes readers beg for more. 4/5 Blood Bibles.
If a Spider-Woman #1 written by Dennis Hopeless sounds familiar to you, yes, this did happen last year; but thanks to those Secret (and possibly Interminable) Wars, it’s time for yet another #1 to grace the stands.
Hopeless (Avengers Arena) takes this opportunity to shake up the status quo and make our heroine eight months pregnant. This by no means takes Jessica Drew out of the action, maternity leave notwithstanding. She gets an opening-scene mentor-by-headset exchange with her porcupine-suit-wearing protege Shriek while standing on top of Ben Urich’s car, we get reminded that she and Carol Danvers are best friends, and then we cut to a maternity-leave party in which Hopeless does a solid job letting Tony Stark serve as reader’s proxy and voice the paternity question on everyone’s mind. The following maternity-leave montage is much more interesting than it sounds before a cliffhanger that is very interesting if you’ve been reading Marvel comics longer than five years.
Hopeless does a terrific job setting everything up and walking the line between the fantastic and the mundane, but his art team does a whole lot of heavy lifting. Javier Rodriguez hit the big time as colorist and occasional fill-in penciler on Waid’s Daredevil and teams here with Alvaro Lopez (Catwoman) to infuse this tale of a superheroic mother-to-be with a European sensibility full of strong character work and facial acting. If you’re at all intrigued by the premise, definitely pick this up and expect to be won over. 4/5 + Results.
BLACK KNIGHT #1 – MarvelJason “Bad Preacher” Bud
Consider this Demi-Fan of Comicdom, so Marveldosed over the fact that his formerly favorite fanboy publisher, has rebooted his own oeuvre sooo many times in the past thirty-some-odd years; that he nary has any interest in Stan Lee’s re-salvaged lore… You mean…the BEST The Man can do anymore, is give us yet another iteration of his battle axed-weary, Battleworld Mash-Up, every decade or so??? That’s so 1984!!! How about a NEW Majestic Marvelverse, with some NEW Fangled Villains and Ass-Kickin’ Heroes??? But here we are: Another reboot. Another repeat. Another replay… Another fucking yawneth, on the horizon…… And then again…perhaps not?? What slay you???
Now…let us breaketh down the Round Table here, shall we? So…dear Ladies, and good Sirs…who is responsible for this Marvel Rebooteth, entitled Black Knight #1? Why…it is none other than: The Write Knight, known as Frank Tieri (Underworld, Wolverine, Deadpool); Sir Pencilalot, Luca Pizzari (Glimmer Man, red Skull); Color-at-Arms, Antonio Fabela (Spider-Man 2099, BlackAcre); and Letter Bearer, Joe Sabino (Deadpool, Thunderbolts)… Allow me to proclaim right here and now, that even though the Kingdom of Marvel grants us a title redux; I must confess that this Band of Knights, does deliver with a certain air of chivalry…
Yet unbeknownst to us mere mortals, is how our righteous hero, Dane Whitman, (once again inheriting the familial mantle of the Black Knight), has come to inhabit the enigmatic realm of Weirdworld. Wielding his Ebony Blade, this Dark Knight has risen to conquer a new keep; and he has bequeathed it, New Avalon. Although this is Black Knight III, our aforementioned Marvelers have given us an exalted environ within which to retell a tale that portends of sordid subversion. Turmoil exists within Sir Dane’s inner ranks; and left to their own devices, his lieutenants may not give quarter unto one another, when quarreling in kind. The underpinnings of this particular sphere of Weirdxistence seems most sinister, in every iota of its manifestations; and all may well be damned, no matter where their blades may fall…
Despite this Third Battleworld rehash, this latest incarnation of Black Knight may yet yield an insidiously enticing parlay of epic proportion… What say ye, to a Blood Curse that may turn the tide of this goodhearted hero, into one of unbridled blackness??? Can a cavalcade of Uncanny Crusaders wreak vengeance upon a conflicted cavalier, whose own morality may be at risk of melting into the primordial ooze, of this wickedly weird, weird, weird, Weirdworld??? 3.75/5 Severed King Heads.
I really just have one word for Huck…adorable! This is the story of a man who was left at an orphanage as a boy who now lives everyday by doing one good deed. He has a secret, though. He has super strength and never tires out. Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Old Man Logan) captures the simplicity of this tale of the world’s sweetest man through very charming dialogue, while Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire, Blue Beetle) captures the feel of the mid-west with his muted colors and thin lines. He especially pays great detail to facial expressions, since a lot of the story is told without dialogue.
Huck #1 was also a very quick read, but still fun to flip through. The real drama is at the end when you find out that someone has betrayed Huck’s secret. All in all, I would say this was a great set up for what seems to be a heartbreaking tale of betrayal, with a quasi-superhero twist. 4/5 Bibles.
WEB WARRIORS #1 – Marvel“Saint” Patrick Obloy @OffTheGeekEnd
Following in the foot-steps of the Spider-Verse and Secret Wars comics, Web Warriors #1 provides a proper follow-up to the story of the many Spideys and their universes. The Web Warriors (as they decided to be called) is a group consisting of many Spider-people from the various universes, coming together to monitor and protect the ones that no longer have a Spider-presence, some of which are a result from the Secret Wars. In this first ish we not only get a bit more understanding of some of the Spider-members, but also learn that they aren’t the only ones that know about the multiple versions of themselves and how to travel between said universes. It was interesting at first to see what various versions of Spider-man could exist, and now we’re given a glimpse at some of the variations of a popular nemesis of Spider-Man.
Written by Mika Costa (G.I. Joe: Cobra) with art by David Baldeon (Nova, X-Men: Legacy), the story has a bit of humor mixed in with the main storyline to remind you that while these Spider-folk are here to protect and help, they also find the different universes to be a bit strange and yet oddly familiar. Reading the previous Spider-Verse issues and the Secret Wars series would give a better understanding of the background, but Web Warriors was written so its not necessary, and anyone could jump right in on the first issue. Costa even put in a few little notes pointing to previous issues, and a page giving a brief background on each of the members of the team. As a bonus, the last few pages of the comic gives yet another variation on Spider-Man, but not one that is part of the Web Warriors… yet. Hopefully we will see more of this very interesting and excellent take on the character. 4/5 Woven Webs.
“Father” Joe Tower @whateverjoeBATMAN EUROPA #1– DC Comics
Look. The platform for a review is to make a sort of a general determination whether or not a particular comic is worth your time. Let’s just make that clear since this could come off as being too harsh a critique or having a pretty bleak outlook on the state of comics.
I’m sorry for all of that, obviously, but also, don’t waste your time with this comic.
Batman Europa #1, the Caped Crusader’s latest globe-trotting DC adventure, takes Batman to — you guessed it — EUROPE! Berlin! The city of doorways and arches, avenues and alleyways; Europe’s own Gotham City! A city with enough history and personality to bring a new look and, possibly, new threat to the Dark Knight! And what newfangled threats await The Dark Knight in ominous Berlin? — The Joker! The Joker. The. Joker. The Joker? The fucking Joker. How many times — and in how many ways — do we have to see this same showdown again and again and again? And again?! And…again. Our mightiest comics’ heroes suffer from a terrible bout of the “same old story, same old song-and-dance,” and here’s the hard evidence. If anything new had been done to keep both characters and the story fresh (perhaps actually utilizing the European setting some more significant way), this title would have been a lot better. As it is, though…ugh.
It’s a shame as well, as Batman’s titular book has created a new, unique dynamic, while introducing a terrifying new villain, AND getting into social commentary (just reread the excellent Batman #44). The talent involved here (Brian Azzarello writing? Jim Lee doing art?! How could this possibly not be good?) usually delivers as well, but here the talent doesn’t elevate the concept. As smaller indie publisher take comics off into new storytelling territory and the comics-to-film movement becomes the behemoth we’ve all waited for it to be, some of the well-trodden territory of mainstream comics are going to have to step up their game. 2/5 Bibles.
