Title: R. A. Salvatore's DemonWars - The Demon Awakens (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Andrew Dabb (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Brian Smith (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Definitely pick up this book if you have the chance, you won't regret it."
Review:

I've been a Salvatore fan since I first read the Icewind Dale Trilogy, and I actually am enjoying this series a little more. The story follows Elbryan, a youth in Dundalis who is left orphaned after his town is sacked by goblins and giants, Pony, Elbryan's playmate and love interest who grew up with him, and Avelyn a monk studying the magic holy stones in the Abellican church. They all come together and must face off against an evil demon dactyl that is gathering an army of powries, which are evil bloodthirsty dwarves, goblins, and giants.

The transitions between each character work well by chapter, and you really end up caring about each of the main characters. The difference between this and the Drizzt novels is that all the charactes are vunerable. In other words, some of the characters you come to love may not last, let's just leave it at that.

The only problems are the usual problems with Salvatore's writing, overuse of certain words (ex. stoic, stoically...). It's a small price to pay for such a fun and exciting book. The holy stones make magic seem new and interesting also.

Definitely pick up this book if you have the chance, you won't regret it.

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Creator: R. A. Salvatore
Writer: Andrew Dabb
Artist: Tim Seeley

Publisher:

 

Title: R.A. Salvatore's DemonWars Eye for an Eye (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Scott Ciencin (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Paul Dale Roberts (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" This comic book story is a blast and the story is dramatically entertaining!"
Review: R.A. Salvatore's DemonWars Eye for an Eye #3

The dreaded Jhesta Tu attempts a murder on Yatol Murgan and a war is ready to emerge! As the war is ready to commence, Yatol Taher interrupts the upcoming conflict. This is a story with exceptional fantasy mixed in with sword & sorcery combined. I haven't been keeping up with the continuity of many comics, since my real job is as a Division Supervisor for a political government office here in California has kept me extremely busy. I have been heavily involved with the Recall Gray Davis/Special Elections. In fact I just came back from San Bernardino County and checked out many poll areas as an Official Special Elections Inspector sporting around in a 2003 White Pontiac Grand Prix. Ahh..these business trips can be fun at times. Anyway, now that the Special Elections is over with, maybe I can concentrate on comic books again.

Anyway, if I had my druthers, this comic book story is a blast and the story is dramatically entertaining! You'll especially love it when Nur-al-Din a demon Djinn (or genie) goes up against our hero Andacanavar! You'll also enjoy indulging yourself with "A Traveler's Guide to Corona" with a very cool "timeline" and "glossary"! Great use of shadows and fantastic night scenes are found in this comic book!

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Creator: R. A. Salvatore
Writer: Scott Ciencin
Artist: Greg Tocchini

Publisher:

Title: Ghostbusters Legion (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Andrew Dabb (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Rob Irwin (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" This series walks a more serious line, but with plenty of comic quality too."
Review: Ghostbusters: Legion #4

Plot: Intelligent ghosts are rampaging in New York, controlled by ex-Ghostbusters colleague, Michael Draverhaven. While Venkman, Spengler and Zeddemore battle with them as best they can, Ray Stantz is a prisoner of Draverhaven. When Stantz manages to get a mobile phone signal out to his comrades, the Ghostbusters are able locate the mad Draverhaven, manage to knock him out, and in doing so, break his link to the ghosts and avert impending disaster.

Comments: Even now, at the end of this miniseries, and on the verge of a brand-new ongoing series, I'm still bitter that the writers have moved the action of the Ghostbusters to the present day. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? I read somewhere that the average comic book buyer is male and in his late 20s. This is me, people. And you know what? I watched Ghostbusters in the cinema at the age of 9, loved it, and would do anything for this comic series to take me back to mid 1980s NYC, rather than trying to be hip and modern and present-day. Ultimately, it's not going to stop me reading the book, but it's a bizarre editorial decision which I see no good reason for. And when I can't see a good reason for changing something as important as a franchise's timeline, I get extremely frustrated.


With that off my chest, I'm happy to say that this issue wraps up the "Legion" storyline quite neatly. Sure, it relies on the age-old plot device of knocking out the madman with the psychic link/alien mothership/power station/other controlling force which immediately neuters the threat you were hoping the author would actually have some genuinely clever way of getting around, but that's okay because this is Ghostbusters. Unlike Wanted #6 which also came out in the same week and also had a rather basic ending, I'm not looking for ground-breaking work in Ghostbusters. If it's there, I'll be happy (and probably a bit surprised, too!). If it's not, well, I guess I'm only reading to watch Venkman crack jokes and the boys bust some ghosts, anyway. This isn't supposed to be War and Peace.

Possibly one of the most impressive aspects of this issue is the depiction of the ghosts attacking New York. In bright, almost flouro colors, they really stand out from the regular Ghostbusters artwork, which is actually quite surprising as the regular artwork isn't exactly dark and sombre itself. Kudos to Blond for this.

Final Word: I haven't been following any of the backroom dealings on this series, but I get the feeling that this mini-series must have been a "proof of concept" for the ongoing series that is now advertised in its pages. This is a good thing, as unlike the extremely comical Real Ghostbusters of some years ago, this series walks a more serious line, but with plenty of comic quality too. Much like the two Ghostbusters movies, now that I come to think of it.

More info:

Writer: Andrew Dabb
Artists: Steve Kurth (p), Blond (c)

Publisher:

Title: Ghostbusters: Displaced Aggression (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Scott Lobdell (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Rob (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" In the end, this book was fun for me because I’m such a ghosthead"
Review:

You’ll find very few people happier than me that the Ghostbusters are back in comic shops. I doubt you’ll ever see a writer re-capture the magic of what Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and the others brought to the screen all those years ago. But it’s still a lot of fun to watch the boys in grey suit up and kick some slime! (That’s right, I said it.)

After being defeated by the ghostly villain Koza’rai, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler each find themselves trapped in a different time period. Their only hope is Rachel Unglighter, a student of Egon’s, who travels back in time to reunite the team and save the world.

This book is pretty accessible to Ghostbusters fans young and old. The story almost writes itself. And with Peter trapped in the old west, Ray trapped in the days of King Arthur, etc, the jokes do too. That’s unquestionably the hardest part of the Ghostbusters movies to replicate on to the page: that comedic camaraderie Murray, Akroyd and the others put into it. How do you channel the genius of Bill Murray? You can’t. You simply have to do the best you can.

That’s the thing about the Ghostbusters miniseries’ that have come out in recent years (to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first film). In my opinion, they’re only as good as their Venkman. Did Akroyd create the concept? Yes. Did he and Ramis write the films? Yes. But the Peter Venkman character (along with Sigourney Weaver’s character, Dana Barrett) was what injected some reality into them. He was the healthy cynic. In essence, he was the Han Solo of Ghostbusters (I think that means Egon was C-3P0). So as a writer, the closer you can come to generating something along the lines of Murray’s performance, the better your story is going to be.


I don’t think Scott Lobdell comes incredibly close in that regard, but he does a decent job. For my money, the best Ghostbusters graphic novel out there is Legion by Andrew Dabb.

From an artistic standpoint, Displaced Aggression is pretty “cartoonish,” but I can live with that. At the end of the book, Michael Dialynas pencils a short story about what Janine (the Ghostbusters’ secretary) was doing while the main story was taking place. His style looks a little more “comic bookish” to me. But then again, who am I to say what looks cartoonish or comic-bookish?

The real question is, if Janine can get in the book, why can’t Louis Tully?

In the end, this book was fun for me because I’m such a ghosthead. But I can recognize that it doesn’t recapture the magic of the films. And that’s okay. It’s doesn’t look like the Real Ghostbusters cartoon, and the creators’ hearts are in the right place. For me, the latter is what matters most.

More info:

AUTHOR: Scott Lobdell
ARTIST: Ilias Kyriazis, Michael Dialynas

Publisher:

Title: Criminal Macabre: Two Red Eyes (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Richard George (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I'm looking forward to the next issue to see where this macabre storyline goes."
Review: Criminal Macabre: Two Red Eyes #1

Trying to conceptually relate Criminal Macabre to mainstream characters isn't exactly easy, but I'll try for the sake of framing this review. X-Files. Punisher. Blade. If you take those three properties and their worlds (not their current books) you'll have something close to Macabre. Cal McDonald is a private investigator/monster bounty hunter of sorts. Unfortunately his situation could be better. At the start of the series, he is nearly beaten to death by the husband of one of his dead friends (who died because she knew Cal). Some of the many evil spirits and monsters that Cal has offended over the years want revenge while he is recuperating in a hospital, but our hero has his own legion of undead to come to his aid.

This first issue is a commendable start and it does a great job of bringing new readers (such as me) into Cal's world without speaking down to them. We get a lot of narrative but blatant exposition is kept to a minimum. We pick up the essential information as the plot rolls along. The creative team is quite twisted and doesn't hesitate to throw massive amounts of gore on the page to get your attention. I'm not one to enjoy gore, but it is actually utilized extremely well here. The blood is kept to a low level until writer Steve Niles and artist Kyle Holtz want you to be shocked. It's a great tactic. I'm looking forward to the next issue to see where this macabre storyline goes.

More info:

Written by Steve Niles
Art by Kyle Hotz
Colors by Michelle Madsen

Publisher:

Title: Criminal Macabre: No Peace For Dead Men (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: The Insomniac (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" If you’re a fan of horror comics and Niles in particular, I would recommend Criminal Macabre."
Review:

Full disclosure: I’m a big Steve Niles fan. I loved 30 Days of Night and Wake The Dead, as well as his work on Batman, Spawn, and JSA. His reinvention of one of my favorite characters in the DC universe in The Creeper: Welcome to Creepsville is still one of my comic treasures. So I have to say I was worried when I heard about his Criminal Macabre project. The supernatural private dick angle has been played before, and masterfully so with Hellblazer.

That being said, I’ve always been pleasantly surprised with Criminal Macabre. While Cal McDonald does have certain classic noir elements that would remind you of John Constantine, in place of Constantine’s Cockney con artist and wiseass is a bitter, depressed, and extremely violent detective with little in the way of pathos.

Criminal Macabre: No Peace For Dead Men picks up as the forces of darkness gather to discuss solutions for their McDonald problem. While most just push for just kicking down his door and ripping his head off, an ancient vampire named Salem, who had just finished decapitating one of McDonald’s few remaining friends, proposes a tactic of psychological violence. Instead of simply attaching McDonald directly, they would kill every human being McDonald has any contact with — anyone he loves, meets, speaks to, or even just sits next to on a bus.

A side plot sees Cal reincarnating an old friend out of his haunted car at the behest of the ghosts widow, but the central action revolves around the escalating conflict as McDonald strikes back and strikes back hard against the supernatural forces that wronged him, culminating in his own death and rebirth as a ghoul and a member of the undead.

As always Niles’s writing has a lot of bite, and the cubic and off-kilter art style of Christopher Mitten serves the story well, in particular with his designs for the various supernatural creatures that haunt the Criminal Macabre world. What’s appealing about the enemies in Macabre is how overwhelmingly human they are. Werewolves, vampires, demonic insects, and other bizarre creatures dress in normal clothing and behave in a very normal, human manner, even as they kill.

If you’re a fan of horror comics and Niles in particular, I would recommend Criminal Macabre. If you’re not a fan of horror comics, then I suggest you go pick up a copy of Archie and eat a bullet.

More info:

Written by Steve Niles
Art by Christopher Mitten
Colors by Michelle Madsen

Publisher:

Title: Criminal Macabre:Feat of Clay (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Andrea Speed (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" There’s very little reason for you to feel guilty about picking this one up.
"
Review:

It’s great to see Cal McDonald, hard drinking (and pill popping) supernatural detective, back again, and I’m thrilled that Criminal Macabre will be an ongoing series. But in December?! How can I wait that long?! In the meantime, this is a one shot to tide us over, and while most of the Cal stories are comedy/horror, this one is mostly just horror. He’s at a personal low point, with Sabrina having left him, a friend dead, and the fact that he’s settling into a new place that’s just this side of tacky. (And the really weird thing is all of this takes place after Supernatural Freak Machine, and essentially has a major plot spoiler for that unfinished IDW series. It can’t be helped though, and let’s face it, if you’re a Cal fan, you’ll probably buy the Dark Horse trade version of it when it comes out, plot point spoiled or not.)

Anyways, Cal gets a call from the brother of an acquaintance, and since he needs the money he takes the case. It seems a golem had been created for a very specific revenge, but its creator was so shocked that the whole golem thing actually worked he dropped dead almost on the spot, leaving the golem lurching around Los Angeles without a master - a situation that could be very bad indeed. He goes after it to take care of the problem, but that’s a bit easier said than done. As is typical for him, Cal gets roughed up a bit, gets some help from his ghoul sidekick Mo’Lock (but doesn’t really appreciate it), and things ends up messy but otherwise copasetic. It’s a rather melancholy story, and certainly an adult one (Cal’s questionable habits aside, there’s bad language and violence some might find objectionable), but it’s great to see Cal back in action.

The art by Hotz is perfectly suited to the world of Criminal Macabre, it’s dark and atmospheric, and no offense to Jones (the artist on the last couple of Cal miniseries), but Hotz’s faces seem to be a bit sharper overall. The golem is wonderfully odd looking, and there’s a couple of brutally messy action sequences. (Cal is always bruised and cut, and his world is apparently never very clean.) The coloring by Madsen is quite warm, but appropriately dark.

I know, I’m very strange, and I’m a sucker for a hard boiled train wreck of a supernatural detective. But we all have our guilty pleasures, even if there’s very little reason for you to feel guilty about picking this one up.

More info:

Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Kyle Hotz
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Nate Piekos for Blambot!
Editor: Shawna Gore
Cover Art: Kyle Hotz

Publisher:

Title: Transformers: Tales of the Fallen (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Chris Mowry (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Jesse Schedeen (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I don't want to say the issue is poorly written. It's more that there's very little content present."
Review: Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #1

Better late than never, the newest Transformers mini bridges the gap between films.

After reading Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #1, I had to check to make sure I hadn't stumbled into a time warp and landed back in June. This issue, rather than attempt to pick up where the recent movie left off, bridges the gap between the first and second movies. The necessity of that escapes me, but it doesn't necessarily make a differenc eat the end of the day. But far worse is that the issue adds absolutely nothing to the ongoing Transformers saga. I realize I shouldn't be expecting too much from a tie-in to Michael Bay's Transformers, of all things, but by any standard this issue is a pretty sub-par read.

Writer Chris Mowry focuses on the relationship between Sam Witwicky and the troublesome Bumblebee. This is an area I felt the two films covered pretty well, and this issue doesn't really add anything new to the equation. Sam wants to have a life, and Bumblebee does nothing but cause chaos in the Witwicky household. Cue a Decepticon to kidnap Sam and force Bumblebee into action. You can pretty much deduce the rest from there.

I don't want to say the issue is poorly written. It's more that there's very little content present. The final third of the issue has almost no real dialogue or characterization. Sadly, reading Carlos Magno's Transformers smacking each other to scrap metal isn't quite as appealing as watching the battle unfold on the big screen. Magno actually does a pretty respectable job rendering Bumblebee and Barricade, but the choreography is a bit lacking. His Sam also looks profoundly strange and almost nothing like Shia LaBeouf. I wouldn't be surprised if Magno was mandated to avoid a resemblance though. His humans don't look that great, but they are more consistent than I've seen in many other recent Transformers books.

All in all, Revenge of the Fallen #1 does a very poor job of selling the mini-series as a whole. Knowing that future issues will tie heavily into what Simon Furman is planning for Transformers: Nefarious, I still have some interest, but that's despite everything I read in this comic, not because of it.

More info:

Artist: Carlos Magno
Author: Chris Mowry
Cover Artist: Magno
Cover Artist: Alex Milne

Publisher:

Title: I.C.E. (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Doug Wagner (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Jason Wilkins (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I.C.E. #1 is first and foremost a damn fine comic book."
Review: I.C.E. #1

This week, 12 Gauge Comics pulls the trigger on their latest action/adventure comic book franchise called I.C.E., from Managing Editor Doug Wagner and Art Director Brian Stelfreeze. Topical, explosive, and well-crafted, I.C.E. #1 is available for a steal as part of 12 Gauge’s Buckshot promotion for $1.00.

I.C.E. stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an elite agency dedicated to curbing the flow of illicit goods and people across American borders. Drug trafficking and illegal immigration are hot topics in the U.S. political landscape, polarizing both major parties and entire states, in the case of Arizona. Wagner knows his target audience well though, and smartly refrains from social commentary, avoiding the pitfall of politicizing what is simply intended to be a timely action/adventure yarn. I.C.E. doesn’t preach which is appropriate. Cole Matai and his motley band of agents aren’t out to judge the refugees and criminals they apprehend, they’re out to enforce the law – no more, no less.


As tempting as a “hipshot” metaphor is when discussing an action comic published by a company called 12 Gauge is, it’s really not appropriate to apply to I.C.E. #1. There’s nothing scattershot in Wagner’s approach to his plot, as everything is planned out and paced meticulously for maximum effect, showing a restraint and understanding of the action genre that ranks up there with Mark Millar and Brian Michael Bendis. From the innovative opening car chase to his solid characterization, Wagner instinctively knows how to effect a balanced, kinetic pace that doesn’t get bogged down in unnecessary exposition.

Jose Holder’s art is appropriately raw-edged and gritty, yet avoids muddy storytelling with intelligent panel choices and page construction. The aforementioned opening sequence is brilliantly depicted, showing a remarkable restraint as Holder hooks the audience by building the action gradually for an amplified impact during the scene’s climax. By contrast, Brian Stelfreeze’s art in the supplemental back-up story “Hot Tin” is more stylized than Holder’s work but no less robust and evenly paced. Each artist complements the other, lending stability and consistency to the entire issue.

Smart, relevant, and slickly produced, I.C.E. evokes the spectacle and style of modern action blockbuster movies thanks to a crisp, even pace and intuitive understanding of genre conventions. More importantly, Wagner, Stelfreeze, and Holder have produced a real comic book in I.C.E., importing film archetypes and techniques yet remaining true to their home medium. Whatever the franchise’s ultimate fate (Cole Matai’s uncanny resemblance to The Rock seems a little too coincidental, for my taste), Wagner and company can remain confident in the fact that I.C.E. #1 is first and foremost a damn fine comic book.

More info:

* Words: Doug Wagner
* Art: Jose Holder and Brian Stelfreeze
* Colors: Mike Wiggam

Publisher:

Title: Loose Ends (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Jason Latour (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Kelly Thompson (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" “Loose Ends” is ballsy and bold, and I wish more comics could be like this book."
Review: Loose Ends #1

Following the strong “Magus” mini-series this past year, 12-Gauge brings us another interesting mini-series with impressively powerful art, in “Loose Ends” #1.

In “Loose Ends” #1 we’re introduced to a waitress (Cheri) and a guy in a car (Sonny). We’re not sure what they’re about, but the guy in the car is doing some kind of shady deal, and we take a short pop back into the past to get a feel for what that shady deal is (drugs!). Eventually, as all the players materialize, we realize that another waitress inside (Kim) is Sonny’s ex and it sounds like they share a kid together. Sonny tries to give her some money, but she seems unconvinced. When Cheri is attacked by some drunk regulars in the bar, Sonny tries to help and the whole thing goes horribly wrong and ends very badly for at least one of the players. It’s a surprisingly good twist and it feels both unexpected and also natural. It’s the kind of horrible thing that really does happen to people when things get out of control, especially with weapons and alcohol involved.

The writing by Jason Latour is solid throughout. All his characters have very distinctive voices but with a similar strain that mark them clearly as certain kinds of people who live certain kinds of places and do certain kinds of things. While it’s a very specific style of writing that may not appeal to everyone, Latour smartly commits to it wholeheartedly (the same way Brunner does with the art) and, as such, it comes together very nicely. The plotting is surprisingly smart, with the book unfolding naturally and believably but with an unexpected twist that makes it far more interesting than expected.


Chris Brunner’s art is a dream that skirts the line brashly between cartoony and realistic. It’s consistent and appealing, well-paced and easy to follow, beautiful and potent. But what really hits home about it is how damn cool it is. Brunner chooses a look for “Loose Ends” and 100% commits to it, never faltering. It might not be a style that appeals everyone (much like the writing), but it’s interesting and vibrant and kinetic, a real (and much needed) breath of fresh air in comics. Brunner’s art feels young, smart, and unique while hinting at lots of wide-ranging influences. Brunner uses some different techniques for his flashbacks which work to good effect, and he isn’t afraid to make bold choices to illustrate things like characters thoughts, or the fact that a character is getting very very drunk. Brunner’s panel layouts are particularly strong and well chosen, never feeling overly showy, but giving us the maximum impact for our story.

The lettering and sound effects, which will perhaps put some off, and initially I was skeptical about, had me sold by page five, when I realized it was yet another way in which the creators were fully committing to the look and feel of this book. The sound effects of Cheri’s flip flops as they literally “flip flop, flip flop” across a parking lot is the panel that solidified for me that I was going to love this book. The colors, by Rico Renzi match Brunner’s wild modern art moment for moment and panel for panel. They hit the page like a bomb going off, but a precise gorgeous bomb.

“Loose Ends” is ballsy and bold, and I wish more comics could be like this book. While we all know that every story out there has been seen before and too frequently done to death, the execution in this first issue by Lautner, Brunner, and Renzi is straight up sublime.

More info:

Story by Jason Latour
Art by Chris Brunner
Colors by Rico Renzi
Letters by Jason Latour
Cover by Chris Brunner, Rico Renzi

Publisher:

Title: Reign of Doomsday (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Lyons (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: seaberry (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I am looking forward to the next installment of the Reign of Doomsday storyline"
Review: ‘Steel’ Reign of Doomsday

Steel #1 is part of a series of one-shots and regular issues that DC Comics is releasing with iconic covers of their heroes. Alex Garner‘s artwork on the cover immediately catches your eye.

The story begins in the middle of a battle between Steel and Doomsday, the vicious creature that murdered Superman in the monumental Death of Supermanstoryline. All of Metropolis’ other defenders are unavailable, so it falls on John Henry Irons to defend the city. Irons is recently recovered from a coma, but he feels that it is his duty to stop Doomsday.

Steve Lyons‘s script is very impressive, considering that he is relatively new to comics. There are flashbacks to the aftermath of Irons’ first encounter with Doomsday before he became Steel, and Lyons’s script really captures the integrity and nobility of Steel’s character. I also enjoyed his characterization of Steel’s niece, Natsha Irons. Ed Benes‘s artwork is also solid. There is clearly a Jim Lee influence in his work, but over the years, he has come into his own as a penciler.

My only gripe is that the fate of Steel is unconfirmed at the end of this story. However, the creative team captured the essence of John Henry Irons and I am looking forward to the next installment of the Reign of Doomsday storyline in Outsiders #37.

More info:

Writer: Steve Lyons
Artist: Ed Benes
Cover Artist: Alex Garner

Publisher:

Title: Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Lance Eaton (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Definitely not for kids, Criminal Macabre will leave adults wanting more and looking forward to the next adventure for Cal McDonald. "
Review:

Cal McDonald can see dead people. Actually, some of his best friends are ghouls, and he can often be found hanging out in the dark pits of Los Angeles with various forms of undead people: ghouls, ghosts, zombies, vampires, werewolves. Ever since he was a child, he's been plagued by the undead. After an unsuccessful stint as a police officer, he ended up working for tabloids and a supernatural detective.

In Criminal Macabre, McDonald finds himself mixed up in a series of events that are shattering all the truths he has learned over the years of dealing with mythical creatures. Werewolves and vampires are organizing and stealing from the humans instead of just hunting as they have always done. They are also a lot stronger. Before, McDonald could just used a regular gun to take out an attacking werewolf or bloodsucker, but now the old superstitious tales of silver and crosses seem to be the only thing that will stop his enemies.

If that's not enough, the police keep pestering about his amazing ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, including several murder scenes. His one friend on the police force, Lieutenant Detective Brueger, grows impatient with his crazy stories of monsters - until she finds herself facing out against a werewolf. Now the two must figure out what is driving the monsters to organize, become bold, and repeatedly attempt to kill McDonald.


This delicious tale of demons and detectives was orchestrated by Steve Niles. Previous stories about Cal McDonald can be found in book format, where Niles first established the pill-popping, alcohol-inclined, smart-mouthed detective. Despite his bad habits (he smokes, too), his tendency to enjoy the company of the dead, and his grim demeanor, McDonald still remains loveable. He's a brasher and maybe more loathsome Han Solo who's a product of his environment but still capable of exerting agency in the face of a hairy eight-foot snarling werewolf. McDonald also has a sense of humor and delivers one-liners that will actually make readers laugh out loud.

Known through the comic book industry for his fantastic and fearful storylines, Steve Niles thrives in the atmosphere of the dark and devilish. In the horror genre, he and Ben Templesmith have written award-winning series including the very popular 30 Days of Night series. Templesmith's harsh drawing of Niles' stories culminates in a haunting and brooding depiction that gives each panel a nightmarish ambience. Throughout the graphic novel, Templesmith's tone adds darker layers of morbidity. The minor glitch of his drawing can be that panels and characters are sometimes hard to identify. But for the few instances where this does happen, it's more than worth the momentary confusion to have a graphic novel so engorged with chaos and carnage that it carries through to the drawing.

Another rising star in horror, Rob Zombie provides the introduction, and fans will enjoy an afterword by Niles as well as an added story. Brief biographies of Niles and Templesmith round out this graphic novel, making it a full and enjoyable piece to keep coming back to. Definitely not for kids, Criminal Macabre will leave adults wanting more and looking forward to the next adventure for Cal McDonald.

More info:

Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover Artist: Ben Templesmith

Publisher:

Title: Criminal Macabre: My Demon Baby (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Chris Galea (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" This won't blow you away, but it certainly does what it sets out to do; and that is entertain."
Review:

I'm a sucker for gimmicks, and although more often they tend to leave a bitter taste in my mouth, I'm glad to say that Dark Horse's gimmick of putting a Thomas Jane on the cover of the Criminal Macabre has introduced me to Cal McDonald the protagonist of the Criminal Macabre series.

Cal McDonald is a self loathing private investigator who excels at solving paranormal mysteries. He prefers the company of ghouls to man and has a fondness for illicit substances. Following the events of a previous series this arc begins with Cal in self destructive mode. Saving Cal from himself, Mo'Loch (his ghoul friend) hands him his next assignment, which basically means capturing Satan's own child.

This is pretty much, been there, done that territory and fans of the genre are likely to lap it up. Although never quite reaching the dizzying standards set by Fell, this is a pretty good effort. A refreshing change is the fact that being limited to four single issues, the story is very direct. Steve Niles' quirky humour makes it all the more entertaining and elevates it from its peers. Fans of one-liners are guaranteed a laugh here. The artwork is pretty grimy which complements the story well and it's always easy to follow what's going on.

This won't blow you away, but it certainly does what it sets out to do; and that is entertain. I for one will surely be looking into the other Cal McDonald titles out there and considering that a movie is in the pipeline, I don't think I'm alone.

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Written by Steve Niles
Art and colour by Nick Stakel and Michelle Madsen

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Title: Criminal Macabre: Cell Block 666 (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Chad Derdowski (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Like horror? Like crime? You’ll like this."
Review:

The latest Cal McDonald mystery collects all four issues of the Criminal Macabre: Cell Block 666 limited series and promises to be one of the most demonically dark chapters in the continuing adventures of the supernatural detective. Had I read any of the previous chapters, I’d have something to compare it to and could tell you whether or not it lives up to the claims made on the back of the book. Since I can’t make any parallels between stories, I’ll just tell you what I do know: It’s a good read.

Here’s the lowdown: Cal McDonald is a paranormal detective who pops pills, drinks a lot of booze and investigates things that go bump in the night using rudimentary magic and a group of ghouls for friends who seem to be indebted to him for some reason. When McDonald is set up for a murder and sent up the river, he’s left pretty much on his own, without assistance from his supernatural friends. Cops don’t like him, criminals don’t like him and it seems that there are even a few ghouls who don’t like him, and Cal has to expose the corruption that exists within the prison system before it’s too late.


At first glance, a character like Cal McDonald seems sort like a poor man’s John Constantine and in a sense he is. He’s a hard-living purveyor of paranormal prospecting who acts as sort of a common man’s Dr. Strange. But those of you who are willing to write the guy off as an American version of Hellblazer should give the book another look. Criminal Macabre has got a bit of noir-ish sensibility and something of a Rockford Files vibe to it as well. Nothing seems to go right for Cal McDonald as he’s constantly getting the crap kicked out of him, is forced to sleep in the sewers and is always on the run from the law. But at least he’s got his friends, right?

I found Cell Block 666 to be a nice introduction to the character of Cal McDonald and a fun story that kept me turning pages from beginning to end – I couldn’t put it down and read the whole thing in one sitting. I wouldn’t say the book was flawed in any way shape or form, but it does suffer from being a bit derivative. It’s another one of those mash-up style books that are so popular these days (Like crime comics? Like horror comics? Let’s put ‘em together!) and the artwork is of the Guy Davis/Mike Mignola School of Scary Drawing… but none of these are bad things, really. I thought Nick Stakal’s artwork looked great and completely worked for the story. The same goes for Michelle Madsen’s colors.

Long story short… you like crime comics? You like horror comics? Enjoy flawed heroes who might not always do the right thing but are definitely on the side of justice? You’ll probably dig Criminal Macabre and you’d do just fine starting with this volume. I’m giving it a very solid B.

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# Writer: Steve Niles
# Artist: Nick Stakal
# Colors: Michelle Madsen
# Letters: Nate Piekos for Blambot!
# Covers: Tim Bradstreet

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Title: Criminal Macabre: Last Train to Deadsville (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Steve Niles (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Adam Volk (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" While the series can read a little choppy at times, it has potential, and there is something inherently likable about Cal McDonald."
Review: Criminal Macabre: Last Train to Deadsville #2

Plot:
Down on his luck paranormal investigator Cal McDonald, battles the demonic forces of evil (not to mention an extremely pissed off girlfriend) with the help of his undead partner Mo’Lock.

Comment:
Anyone who’s ever secretly wished that the wolfman had disemboweled Abbott and Costello and gorged himself on their livers is going to appreciate the finer points of Last Train to Deadsville, an entertaining blend of gore splattered horror and slapstick humor. Issue #2 finds supernatural private investigator Cal McDonald, and his ghoul partner Mo’Lock, once more facing the forces of the netherworld, having previously dealt with a two-thousand year old mummy, a gaggle of demonic hillbillys, and Cal’s own faltering love life.

But while Last Train, is a largely original series with some intriguing concepts, it is also slightly inaccessible for readers unfamiliar with the character and setting. Writer Steve Niles simply assumes the readers knows his characters well enough to understand the plot, and the end result is a comic that moves with a pace that would put a sugar binging eight year old with ADD, to shame. In fact, the narrative moves so quickly, that new readers never really get a chance to know Cal and Mo long enough to care about them. Instead, the plot jumps from one scene to the next, providing only brief amounts of explanation and characterization. This is due in larger part to the mythos already established around Cal McDonald (Niles has produced a large volume of work around the character), but there is no acclimatization in this series for new readers. In this sense, perhaps Cal McDonald would be better served with a continuing series rather than numerous mini-series spin offs.


Where Last Train, does succeed however, is in Niles’ solid grasp of humor. The banter between Cal and Mo is hilarious, and in this particular issue Mo’s “tongue in cheek” handling of a demon is particularly inspired. The art is also well done, and Jones provides some dark and brooding imagery that compliments the story nicely.

In the end, Last Train to Deadsville is successful only because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The series isn’t claiming to be anything more than an entertaining romp through a world overrun by the forces of evil, and in this sense reads more like a loving tribute to the pulp-era horror serials of the past. By the same token however, new readers and those unfamiliar with Cal McDonald, will feel left in the dark. Steve Niles, has done some incredible work, and is largely responsible for the recent resurgence in horror comics today (30 Days of Night is nothing short of brilliant, Aleister Arcane is one of the most innovative new series to emerge in decades, and Remains, Niles’ latest foray into the world of zombies, is absolutely phenomenal (see my review for Remains issue #1). Ultimately, Niles continues this tradition with Last Train to Deadsville. While the series can read a little choppy at times, it has potential, and there is something inherently likable about Cal McDonald. After all, there’s nothing more entertaining than booze, broads, and things that go bump in the night.

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Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Kelley Jones
Cover Artist: Kelley Jones

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