[Zacharie]

Title: Batman / Phantom Stranger (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Alan Grant (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: rob (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I have to say it was a pleasant surprise."
Review:

This is a big step-up from the Phantom Stranger's usual one-page guest-appearances; here he gets a whole book to team up with the Dark Knight Detective!

The story opens in a cemetery, narrated by the Stranger:


The story involves a group of crooks who are breaking into a crypt, to steal a magical ring off of a corpse. At the same time, a group of kids are there, doing the old Ouija Board bit.

One of the kids, named Konik, gets scared and runs off, stumbling onto the crime scene, making it look as though he has committed a murder. Batman asks the kid what happened, but the kids lies about why he was there in the first place, making Batman suspicious. He turns him in to the GCPD.

Batman is in a particularly broody mood this evening, and this dark thoughts are noticed by the Stranger:


I like how Batman doesn't even flinch, when he realizes that the Stranger has suddenly appeared behind him.

Batman--in his identity as Bruce Wayne--knows this kid, knows he didn't commit the murder, but can't get him to open up (there's a great scene where the Stranger visits Bruce in the back of his limo, while Alfred wonders why his boss is talking to himself).

Eventually Batman and the Stranger do the team-up thing, looking for more information about the guys who stole the ring:


Batman and the Stranger eventually catch up with the gang, and the story behind the ring extends back thousands of years, involving a lost race of people and the destruction of the world!

The kid, Konik, has been kidnapped by the gang, but at the right moment he helps Batman, proving his innocence. After some encouraging words to him from the Stranger, he and Batman take a moment to discuss what just happened:


I had never heard of this one-shot until I had to find it for this blog, and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. A good story, well written by Grant, with great art by Arthur Ranson (someone I was not familiar with before this book).

It also has some nice comedic moments, making this a wonderful, bigger scale version of those classic Bob Haney Brave and the Bold team-ups.

More info:

Alan Grant (script)
Arthur Ranson (art)
Bill Oakley (letters)
Arthur Ranson (colors)
Jamison (color separations)
Scott Peterson (edits)

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Team Zero (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Chuck Dixon (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Dana Place (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Definitely worth picking up."
Review: Team Zero #1

Plot:
A small commando unit led by Deathblow set out on a mission to assassinate a Japanese General when all hell breaks loose and his entire team is killed. While recuperating from his injuries he is briefed on an upcoming mission to Germany, but before he can go, he has to choose his new team.

Review:
Deathblow is a hard core, battle to the death, chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out kind of Marine with a penchant for beautiful women, who thrives on the possibility of death, and is only happy when he is doing his job. Chuck Dixon is writing a character that is part Dirty Harry and part Death Wish, with a loyalty to his troops. Deathblow may be a typical hard as nails comic book marine, but the writing is excellent and the art by Doug Mahnke really brings out the violence and grit that is going to make this book definitely worth picking up.

More info:

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Sandra Hope

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Black Gas (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Warren Ellis (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Jeffery J. Timbrell (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" If you’re a fan of comic books who’s interested in something much darker than the norm, or even if you’re a zombie junkie looking for a brutally violent undead epic, Black Gas is right up your alley."
Review:

Warren Ellis lives in a mad, mad, world.

Through Warren Ellis’s unique perspective, comic readers have been exposed to space-shuttle anal probes, artificial penises that play ‘Ride Of The Valkyries’, a horde of coffins under the ice of Europa, superhero archaeologists, a talking dinosaur setting out to rule the world, barbarians and Hitler porn, giant robots and cam-girls, space opera and serial killers, mystery, murder and magic.

Oh my.

The Black Gas comics are Warren Ellis on Zombies.

Any questions?

The story of Black Gas deals with two young kids vacationing on an island with a gruesome and overlooked history. Staying up at an old cabin, the couple is woken up when a random earthquake creates the hot spring from hell, releasing a mysterious black gas that engulfs most of the inhabitants. The gas quickly strips the mind down of it’s civilized demeanor, elevating violent compulsions and sexual desires, eventually leaving nothing left but out of control instincts set to screw, eat and kill.

Warren Ellis’ Black Gas is what would happen if EC comics did a version of James Herbert’s The Fog. I’m not sure if Ellis’ zombie story is meant to be homage to Herbert’s own tale of a mysterious cloud that leaves a storm of sexual and violent debauchery in its wake; but it certainly feels like a great alternative spin on the classic. Ellis’ formula for Black Gas has elements similar to the Herbert stand-out blended with elements of Cronenberg’s Shivers, Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, the nihilistic work of Lucio Fulci and Ellis’ own bizarre sense of style.


I mention Lucio Fulci’s influence not so much because of the gore in the comic (there is a lot), but because of the brutally sadistic tendencies of the zombies. Fulci’s particular brand of Living Dead were not so interested in eating humans, as they were interested in shoving six inch long wooden spikes through human eye-balls. The zombies in Black Gas aren’t above a little wanton cannibalism, but don’t be surprised if they also decide to play “hide the undead sausage” with a victim’s empty eye socket. Most of the victims in Black Gas would consider themselves lucky if the worst thing the zombies wanted to do was eat their brains.

Unlike Fulci, who is primarily a man of imagery and atmosphere, Warren Ellis is a writer who likes to get into a character’s head; even if that character just so happens to be a rotting corpse (or especially if that character happens to be a rotting corpse). Ellis adds a greater emotional depth of horror to the undead; allowing some of the zombies to retain a ghost of their old personality, even as they commit various atrocities. In Black Gas some of the zombies seem to be suffering as much as their victims, begging for people to kill them, even as they kill and eat other people. One particular scene has an infected flesh-eater saying “This isn’t me, I’m not doing this”, while the gas releases his deepest, most cruel and inhuman tendencies. It creates a deeper sense of horror as the former personality of the zombie is forced to watch helplessly in disbelief as it wreaks bloody havoc on its friends, neighbors and loved ones.

Black Gas is full of brutal violence, wanton depravity and mass zombie sex orgies who’s imagery sometimes feels like a loving homage to Hieronymus Bosch. The brutal death sequences featured on some of the covers is enough to make any self-respecting gorehound sit up and take notice. This isn’t an insincere parody masquerading as a horror fiction; this is downright mean, Cannibal Holocaust-style viciousness. The brutal gore in Black Gas harkens back to the 70s and 80s masters who infused the brutality with a sense of hopelessness and anarchistic glee. The real horror of this imagery isn’t in the fine details of blood, rape and mayhem; this echoes the hopelessness of war, not from the perspective of the soldiers, but from the perspective of the people caught in the middle watching their whole life being torn to pieces right in-front of them.


For people who thought comics were all neutered superfolks preaching in tights or epic fist-fights, Black Gas will be like a warm cup of piss to the face. Surprise! The good old days of Horror comics are returning with a vengeance. Censors, outraged parents and industry politics may have buried them, but clearly, the horror comic won’t stay dead.

As usual, Ellis surrounds himself with the best people suited to bring his work to life. Veteran Ellis collaborator Jacen Burrows (Dark Blue, Scars, Chronicles of Wormwood) unleashes artwork vile enough to make a headless corpse gag; including an all you can eat feeding frenzy in a hospital maternity ward and a fast food joint that’s all to eager to help their customers lose some weight. The very talented Max Fiumara (Infinity Inc, Thor, Night of the Living Dead: The Beginning) shows a strong enthusiasm for the material and handles the duties for all but the very last issue, acting as a perfect fit to Ellis’ talented script, delivering epic sprawling scenes of undead savagery mixed with subdued character moments and a mounting Lovecraftian tension. I say Lovecraftian, because the way Max draws the island in particular makes the setting feel like something out of the short story Dagon, with its weird angles, foreboding history and strange, almost clam or seashell-like appearance. The over-all sense of dread is highly effective and well-executed. Ryan Waterhouse (Night of the Living Dead: Hunger) comes on for the very final issue and delivers the violence, depravity and gore on all cylinders, while simultaneously bringing his own subtle style of chill to the story.

Black Gas is being released in it’s entirety as a 144 page Trade Paperback from Avatar comics in November/December. If you’re a fan of comic books who’s interested in something much darker than the norm, or even if you’re a zombie junkie looking for a brutally violent undead epic, Black Gas is right up your alley.

More info:

Writer(s): Warren Ellis
Penciller(s): Max Fiumara
Inker(s): Max Fiumara, Sebastian Fiumara
Colorist(s): Andrew Dalhouse
Editor(s): William Christensen

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Ghostbusters (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Erik Burnham (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Patrick Smith (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Deserves a spot on your pull list."
Review: Ghostbusters #3

For better or worse, you can thank Ghostbusters for the ginger haired caffeine addicted bearded wonder you see typing before you. Viewing it for the first time all those years ago was one of the more profound “ah HA!” moments I have had over the course of my life, acting as the catalyst for the comedy nerd I was in high school and the horror hound I have become over the last couple of years. For those reasons, you can understand why I was a little hesitant when IDW announced they were making an ongoing Ghostbusters comic. I read the first issue though and thought it was pretty good, then I read the second and thought it was even better, and its now only after reading the third issue that I realize that this book might be one of the funnest reads on the rack.

Written by Eric Burnham with art by Dan Schoening the book follows the continuing adventures of the Ghostbusters (obviously). The opening arc takes place maybe a few months after the events of the second film but there is also a subtle time jump from the eighties to the modern day (the only way I caught it was due to a digital camera in the second issue) and the boys in grey continue to deal with New York Citys pesky poltergeist problem. This particular issue involves them fighting a rampaging bear statue possessed by a supernatural entity while also moving along the master plot of the possible return of Gozer, this time in a form a bit more menacing than the stay puft marshmallow man.


The strongest aspect of Erik Burnham’s writing on this series is this: He gets it. He gets the films, he gets the characters, and he just gets the world that has already been established while also adding onto it. He has a real reverence and love for the source material that comes out in his writing, but also has the writers instinct to ask questions (and give answers) on things within this universe that were never adequately explained. Another strength is that he constructs each issue so far to include a one and done case while also adding to the ongoing story. He seems to be setting up things to come within his run and if it turns out to be what I think it is, we’re going to see an aspect of the Ghostbusters universe that has never been at the forefront of a story. If I have one complaint with Burnham though it’s that he occasionally indulges in a bit of a checklist storytelling. Checklist storytelling is what I refer to whenever I see a character or phrase from the original source material simply because they wanted to write that in as a fan. Now this isn’t a huge problem, hell why wouldn’t you do that if you had access to this toy box, but it in certain cases it can become a bit distracting while your waiting for them to get it out of their system.

Dan Schoening has the kind of style that I just love. He uses a great cartoony tone which could be a problem if your expecting photo realistic depictions of Bill Murrey and Dan Akroyd, but that isn’t a problem since Schoenings style makes each character instantly recognizable. His style also lends itself to some pretty dynamic action sequences and really creepy looking ghosts which offer the same counter balance of humor and horror that the films had. Couple all of that with some cool background references, homages to Ghostbuster related miscellanea and other geek friendly properties from the eightees such as The A-Team or Knight Rider and you have some great artwork that you can really enjoy.


In the end I really don’t know why I was so hesitant to give this series a chance since IDW has proven to be the place to go if you want high quality property adaptations. Between they’re revitalization of G.I. Joe (If you haven’t checked out Cobra yet you really should), The recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles relaunch, and the “More-Awesome-Then-You-Would-Think” Dungeons and Dragons comics IDW has proven themselves time and time again that they know how to make great comics. Ghostbusters is no exception and deserves a spot on your pull list.

Pros

Reverence for the source material
Each issue has a one in done story while furthering a larger plot
Great mix of Humor and Horror
Great artwork

Cons

A little bit of checklist storytelling

More info:

Written by Erik Burnham
Art by Dan Schoening

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Ghostbusters: Tainted Love (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Dara Naraghi (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Hypergeek (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Everything that you would expect from a Ghostbusters story and more!"
Review:

The Story (Spoiler free) - Love is in the air-literally!-as Winston befriends an attractive woman with a ghostly problem in her apartment. But trapping the love-struck apparition proves to be more complicated than the Ghostbusters originally thought. Can Winston step up and save the day? Just how far will Peter go to find a date? And do Ray and Egon ever stop to think about girls, or is it always about trans-dimensional ectoplasmic anomolies with those two?

The Rating - ‘Tainted Love’ is straightforward and fun adventure story, which delivers everything that you would expect from a Ghostbusters story. The story is definitely all-ages appropriate, and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The plot of the comic is pretty simple, but Naraghi manages to keep things interesting with an unique solution to get rid of the apparition, and some intriguing new additions to the Ghostbusters arsenal, like arm-mounted proton packs that minimize the damage caused. Naraghi manages to get the characters and their dialogue just right, and they all behave like they do in the movies: Ray and Egon are socially inept nerds, Peter is a lecherous joker, and Ray is, well, I’ve always thought of him as the straight 3_0 man in the comedy troupe. The story is well paced, and has a good balance between action, comedy, and character moments. There is never a dull moment, and the fun never stops!


The artwork on the book is from Canadian artist, Salgood Sam (Max Douglas), whose artwork you may know from a variety of great projects, such as Seas of Red, Therefore Repent!, Comic Book Tattoo, Awesome 2: Awesomer, and he’s also set to have a story in Popgun 4. If you’ve not seen his artwork before, I’d highly recommend starting with Therefore Repent!, which is an amazing piece of work! His artwork here is a little more cartoony than anything I’ve seem from him before, and please don’t think I mean that in a bad way! For some reason ‘cartoony’ has become a dirty word these days, and I really don’t know why. Some projects call for a more cartoony style, and Ghostbusters is definitely one of those comics! The artwork on this comic is absolutely perfect for the subject matter, and 4_0 Salgood Sam does a beautiful job of bringing the world of the Ghostbusters to life. The characters don’t look exactly like their screen counterparts, which is fine, but they do look very similar. He also does a great job of drawing convincing ghosts, and a top-notch job of drawing things like the proton beams, and the effect of ghosts being sucked into the ghost traps. He also keeps the art looking interesting throughout, by using inventive, and sometimes unusual, perspectives for certain scenes. It’s some great artwork, and you couldn’t ask for a better looking Ghostbusters story!

Ghostbusters Holiday Special: Tainted Love is a thrilling adventure story, which delivers everything that you would expect from a Ghostbusters story and more! The story is brought to life with fun and vibrant artwork, that really does the piece justice. Recommended for Ghostbusters fans of all ages!

More info:

Written by Dara Naraghi
Artwork and lettering by Salgood Sam
Colours by Bernie Mireault & Salgood Sam
Covers by Salgood Sam & Nick Runge.

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Hawken (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Benjamin Truman and Timothy Truman (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Doug Zawisza (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" You just might enjoy it as much as I did. "
Review: Hawken #1

Serving as the comic book equivalent of Jell-O, there’s always room for westerns. Combine the word “western” with the name “Tim Truman” and my wallet sheds bills, my friends. It just happens that way.

Riding along El Camino de Muerte (the Road of Death) is where we meet Hawken, who is simply introduced as an old man. Turns out he’s an old man with a penchant for serving up bellies full of lead. In a story that runs a very full, tightly detailed (sometimes too much so) twenty-two pages, Hawken takes out seven other people. No remorse, no regrets, no revealed agenda. Benjamin Truman and his father, Timothy, leave a mystery lingering in these pages to draw us all back for more.


As if the mysterious agenda weren’t enough, this gunslinger riding a blind mule has some ghosts lingering around. The Trumans give us a nice hook on those ghosts, and through those ghosts a peek into the motivation behind Hawken.

If you’ve read a Tim Truman-drawn book, you know his knack for detail and his realistically ridiculous style. His characters are drawn so real you can imagine them out in the real world, but they are also expressive enough that they can’t help but exist only in comics. Truman’s style is unlike any others out there, as unique as Joe Kubert’s and every bit as iconic. This issue gives Truman a chance to shine and to celebrate his own art as there is nothing -- no inker, no colorist, no artistic assist of any kind -- to hide Truman’s labor. On some pages, you can see the layers of work Truman has put down, and those pages are mind-numbing in their splendor.

Like that Jell-O, there’s nothing of serious substance here, but it sure was a nice variation from the same old, same old while it was going down. It’s not something you’ll really regret too much later, but you also might not really remember it either. When I see the next issue sitting on the new comics rack, I’m sure I’ll get it, and in doing so have some memories of this issue. Until then, I can sit back and make a recommendation to you to try “Hawken.” You just might enjoy it as much as I did.

More info:

Story by Benjamin Truman and Timothy Truman
Art by Timothy Truman
Colors by Timothy Truman
Cover by Timothy Truman
Publisher IDW

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Fevre Dream (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): George R.R. Martin (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Matthew Meylikhov (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Stunning full-color epic..."
Review: George R Martin's Fevre Dream #1

Prepare for a ten issue vampire epic on the bayou from the writer of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels! From the New York Times Best-selling author, George R. R. Martin, comes a tale of vampire clans, death and debauchery, legendary bloodmasters, and even a few epic steamboat races on the muddy Mississippi. This is Martin's FEVRE DREAM, an antebellum story of power, loss, and the fever of bloodlust. It is 1857, and Abner Marsh is a remarkably ugly man -- but the best steamboat man on the river. When the pale Joshua approaches him with a partnership and enough money to build the boat of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. But Joshua is a mystery of a partner, a man who keeps strange hours and stranger friends. It's only a matter of time before Abner begins to wonder where the FEVRE DREAM is heading, and if it may turn out to be a nightmare, after all. Each issue of this stunning full-color epic is illustrated by Rafa Lopez, an artist whose skilled line captures every moonlit drop of blood in delicious detail. Adapted by the Hugo-nominated author Daniel Abraham, this version of FEVRE DREAM stays faithful to Martin's original dark vision, while bringing the torture and joy of his vampires to almost-human life.

This haunting series is available with Regular and Wraparound painted covers by Felipe Massafera and a very limited Nightmare retailer incentive.

Follow behind the cut for my thoughts


I'm not crazy about vampire stories. I don't know why, but they never really resinated with me. Maybe it's the whole biting the neck thing that just kinda creeps me out, but it's just not an idea that I've ever easily gotten behind. I'm also unfamiliar with George R Martin and the source material here. I can't say that Fevre Dream is really the story to change all that on me, either, but it still is a rather enjoyable read.

The story follows two different vampire families as they both vie for control over New Orleans, as well as the general bragging rights of who contains the better steamboat. With notoriety comes power, and as much as the vampires are the superior beings to the weaker humans, they want more than to just physical dominate them. They want the humans to recognize them as their superiors without even the knowledge that they are the prey. This is where the steamboat comes in, and the Fevre Dream is built.

Like I said, I don't really care for vampire stories much, but the way this one is going intrigues me. I do like the idea of warring families of vampires like mobsters, ones who don't focus so much on their natural domination skills but rather the subtlety and cleverness of outwitting humans. Basically, if the vampires aren't being vampires, I'm more interested. Such is the case for Martin's story, and it makes for an entertaining read in the same way that I enjoy a story like Turf. Daniel Abraham's adaptation here also fits a comic book perfectly. While I can see how this would work in a novel form, it flows incredibly well as a comic book. It reads like a dark classical novel with pictures more than it does a comic book, and it's an interesting set up.

Lopez's art is the only thing I'm sort of weary on. He's an artist I'm not overly familiar with, but a quick Google search shows me he has a clear style. It's his style that I don't really get behind, especially here in a couple scenes and illustrations that seem unnecessary to telling the story (in scenes having to do with one woman in particular). I feel like a story like this needs a much more subtle approach to the art, especially with the two vampire families. It's set in a very classical tone where everyone is dressed much nicer and enjoys wearing long coats, so it stands to reason that more of the story would follow along these lines. There are just a couple characters who appear somewhat unevenly depicted. It's not terrible and it's definitely not hard to look at or anything like that, but it's the type of artwork where I'd expect something a bit less... flashy and voluptuous.

Fevre Dream ends up being an interesting comic book, and one that seems like it will offer a strong adaptation of the source material. While I'm not sure if I want to follow it to it's conclusion, I will say that for those who are fans of vampire tales that portray actual vampires that don't sparkle or spend an hour gossiping with annoying accents, Fevre Dream is definitely for you.

More info:

Cover: Felipe Massafera
Writer: George R.R. Martin
Art: Rafa Lopez

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Okko - The Cycle of Air (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Hub (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Sara 'Babs' Lima (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Okko is a fantastic series and a fun read- this comic will not disappoint!"
Review: Okko- The Cycle of Air #2

Take a journey to feudal Japan in this incredibly crafted comic...

The Good
The first thing I have to mention is the magnificent art work. It has been a long time since I have opened up a comic and thought to myself, "wow, not only does this artist have a fantastic storytelling capability, but he has managed to take my breath away." Seriously. I have not seen pencils this impressive in a long time. Everything from the emotion on the faces of the characters, to the movement of the wind is brilliantly drawn in this comic. The story is set in feudal Japan, I would guess during the middle guess and focuses on a clan of Samurai. The story is split between being fun and light, to serious and ends on a very somber note. The reader will be left wondering how long they will have to wait for the next issue! It is that good!

The Bad
The worst I can say about this book is that it is in no way new-reader friendly, which is a surprise considering it's only part two of four. When you are not publishing a comic on a consistent basis it can be difficult for readers to follow. Additionally, a small "indi" company like Archaia does not release issues every Wednesday and should want to do everything in their power to attract new readers. Having said that, I really felt that the writers of this comic should have included some sort of introduction that would brief new readers in the beginning of the book, giving a synopsis of what happened in the last issue and who the characters are. This book should take a lesson from John Layman's "CHEW," which is a perfect example of how to easily make an indi comic accessible to new readers.

The Verdict - 4/5
The fact that this comic is not new-reader friendly is truly a shame. Criticisms aside, reading the second issue will make you want to read the first While it was at times confusing, Okko is a fantastic series and a fun read- this comic will not disappoint!

More info:

Written and illustrated by by Hub
Colors by Stephan Pelayo

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Pantheon (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Mark Andreyko (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Jesse Schedeen (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Issue #1 is dull and plodding rather than tightly paced and exciting."
Review: Pantheon #1

Between Pantheon and Kill Shakespeare this week, I'm pleased to see IDW expanding beyond the usual licensed fare and offering some genuinely original material. Of course, both of these books have something in the way of name recognition. Kill Shakespeare gives the Fables treatment to the Immortal Bard's plays. Pantheon, meanwhile, is a concept developed by Marc Andreyko, Anny Simon Beck... and some actor you might have heard of named Michael Chiklis? I guess he did some sort of cop show? Played one of them superhero folk in a movie or something? Pantheon presents a near-future world where the Greek gods are dormant. Humanity is suffering from all the ills pop culture promises are imminent, including crippling oil shortages and global warming. Amid it all, an opportunistic treasure hunter crosses paths with a man who might just be the mighty Zeus himself.

The concept on its own isn't quite as novel as it could be. The industry already has books dealing with Greek mythology as it pertains to the modern era (Greek Street), as well as books about gods suffering from fish-out-of-water syndrome (Thor). The execution is where Pantheon can make or break itself. Sadly, the execution falls pretty flat in this first issue. The problems are many, but at its core Pantheon wants to accomplish a lot but never shows the energy or willingness to properly explore its ideas. Readers only glimpse bits and pieces of this ravaged vision of Earth, with most of the exposition coming in the form of those cliched news broadcasts that have become a bane of the form ever since The Dark Knight Returns. Andreyko, who is the sole credited writer for this project, fails to inject true life into the setting. Even after a disastrous terror attack unfolds, I didn't find myself drawn into the story nearly as much as I should have been.

By the time Pantheon develops a main character, things fare no better. Finch both looks and reads like a poor man's Yorrick Brown. He has a few mild personality quirks, but mostly just runs around getting shot at. If this were a movie, he would have Shia LaBeouf's name written all over him. Andreyko establishes a small supporting cast for Finch that shows some potential, but as quickly as they appear the characters are written out again. So far, Finch does little to support the book on his own. And then there's Zeus, a man who sits motionless in his apartment full of ancient Greek oddities and muses on the world outside. In the one visible sign of Chiklis' involvement, Zeus is directly modeled after the actor. Aside from the goatee, Zeus is a spitting image of Vic Mackey. I found myself wishing he really was Vic Mackey in short order. Andreyko doesn't shed much light on Zeus' state of mind or motivations. Nor does he inject the character with much power, majesty, or any of those qualities one might expect from a god. He shoots lightning, but that makes him only marginally more interesting that the rest of the characters in this book.


One more complaint about the story, nitpicky thought this may be. The marine biologist in me was offended by the way Florida's ecosystem was portrayed in this issue. Since when is Miami teeming with seals and Great White Sharks? Honestly, the underwater sequences involving these creatures were the most interesting part of the book, but they require a certain suspension of disbelief for this and other reasons.

Stephen Molnar's artwork is more bearable, if not necessarily suited for the story Andreyko is telling. Molnar has a very classicized look to his work. Pages are rigidly constructed. Characters are simple but boldly drawn. It's not unlike the work of Mike Allred in some ways, with one significant exception. Molnar's work is done no justice by the coloring of Moose Baumann. The colors are bland and manage to subtract depth from the visuals rather than add it. The story already demands more texture and detail than Molnar's offers, and the fact that the coloring can't pick up the slack only makes matters worse.

As I said, a story like this sinks or swims on the strength of its execution. Sadly, issue #1 is dull and plodding rather than tightly paced and exciting. There's plenty of potential for improvement, as Andreyko has only really begun to start shuffling his pieces around the board. Sadly, I don't know if I have the interest to stick around based on what I've seen here.

More info:

Created by Michael Chiklis
Written by Mark Andreyko
Art by Stephen Molnar

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Frank Miller (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: miketellsitstraight (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Recommended for the stunning artwork and be ready for a quick read!"
Review:

Synopsis: Japanese scientists unwittingly unleash an unholy monster from the Earth's distant past on the unsuspecting populace of Tokyo. The creature is the size of a skyscraper, possesses the combined multi-species memories of the dinosaurs, an accelerated bio-manipulation power, and is bent on subjugating mankind to its will. Japan's only hope is the untested boy robot Rusty and his nucleoprotonic power source.
The unstoppable creature rampages through the city and bats away the insignificant boy robot as if he were a gnat. The Americans send in the last line of defense for the planet -- the Big Guy! Can even the power of the "robot" champion of Earth prevail against raging primeval fury? Will Rusty break out of his depression over failure for long enough to help?


Pros: Larger format offers better viewing of Darrow's incredibly detailed artwork, Miller's writing remains pulp, very well done

Cons: Simple story with few surprises, no sequel (although a 26-episode television cartoon aired in 1999-2001)

Mike Tells It Straight: Miller and Darrow follow up on their smash hit Hard Boiled with this very well-received two-issue series. The collected edition comes in two flavors - this oversized color version and an even larger king-size edition in black & white. This edition is by far the more appealing and improves on the original standard comic issues with superior page size to appreciate Darrow's incredibly detailed artwork. The king size version loses points for being B&W without Claude Legris' wonderful color work (although preferable for those focused primarily on Darrow's artwork). The story, action and dialogue are very simple - showcasing the widescreen comic format before it became a widespread panic with Warren Ellis' The Authority or Planetary. The animated series was pretty good too and gives much more detail on the characters than this incredibly brief intro story. Recommended for the stunning artwork and be ready for a quick read!

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Written by Frank Miller
Art by Geof Darrow
Colors: Claude Legris
Letters: Bill Spicer

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Okko - The Cycle of Earth (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Hub (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Collin David (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" It’s absolutely worth picking up as a serious contribution to the medium of comics."
Review:

Okko is an exceptional comic series that mixes the best parts of Hellboy, Samurai Champloo, and Lord of the Rings into one fantastic package that I can’t put down.

The series follows along as the titular character, a ronin named Okko, makes his way across a mythological version of Japan with a masked warrior named Noburo, an inebriated monk named Noshin, and a young boy named Tikku. With equal parts samurai epic and horror film, Okko immediately presents a set of circumstances and characters that are both endearing and exciting. Part of this easy connection is the artwork of Hub (French artist Humbert Chabuel), whose grace in depicting lively characters is complemented by his amazing, evocative landscapes and intensely detailed imagining of this strange historical fiction. It’s a rare artist who can depict humans, nature, and rampaging monsters with equal skill.

While it’s extremely unlikely that classical Japan was rife with talking rats, demonic tree spirits, and legions of the undead, Hub interjects these elements casually and convincingly into a tale that draws you deeply inward. While none of the events of this second book truly depend on anything that has happened previously, the characterization that the first book, The Cycle of Water, establishes enriches the appreciation of the story significantly. It’s a story that is driven forward equally by both plot and character, looking beautiful the entire time.


It’s not too common to see a Japanese warrior epic that isn’t drawn in manga style. While there are some small manga elements present, the artwork is far more complex and enjoyable, free from gigantic eyes and tiny skirts, and presented in full color. As someone who studied under comic legend Moebius, Hub is doing some amazingly respectable work.

The entire cycle of books, which is being translated from the French by Archaia Press, is scheduled to include five books that explore the elements. The universe is deep and interesting enough to have warranted a strategy game published by Asmodee as well.

Because there are a lot of swords, spears, and antique guns involved, there is a great deal of blood and violence, though little of it could be considered gratuitous. Sometimes you just need to chop the head off of a zombie to survive. The elegance of the book seems to forbid any kind of profanity, though two pages of a nude, female warrior, in addition to pages full of complex dialogue, relegate this to a mature-audiences status. Regardless, it’s absolutely worth picking up as a serious contribution to the medium of comics.

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Written and illustrated by by Hub
Colors by Stephan Pelayo

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Okko - The Cycle of Water (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Hub (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Barky (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Good story, very engaging, with plenty of surprises and gory beheadings."
Review:

Okko is a ronin in the land of Pajan (similar to feudal Japan). His companions are Noburo (a masked man or demon or creature), and a drunken monk. Together they fight demons. Noburo is attacked at a geisha house while he is being entertained by the lovely Little Carp. Pirates carry her and the other geisha off across the sea, and Little Carp’s brother, Tikku, convinces Okko and company to help him rescue his sister. They have to consult the water spirits in order to track the pirates, and when they do discover their whereabouts, things are not as they seem. Little Carp has been murdered by Pennagolans – demonic spirits who are masquerading as the lord and lady of a high-ranking Pajan family. The lady of the house has taken her body, and she and her husband are using it to produce an heir (Little Carp is already pregnant at the time). The samurai and his companions defeat them and Tikku joins them for training, service, and further adventures (to be continued in the Cycle of Earth).


This full color graphic novel is beautifully illustrated – stylistically it’s very Asian (appropriate considering the setting). I wish some of the panels had been larger as it was occasionally difficult to make out what was going on action-wise. Good story, very engaging, with plenty of surprises and gory beheadings. I’m not as well-versed in Japanese mythology as I’d like to be, and I’m wondering if the demons mentioned in this book are part of actual Japanese mythology, analogous to something in that mythology, or created especially for this Pajan. I’d love to read what comes next. This is definitely for adults/a mature audience – there’s lots of violence and some nudity.

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Written and illustrated by by Hub
Colors by Stephan Pelayo

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: House of Night (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Kent Dalian (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Brandon Johnston (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" A fun series that will please long time fans and newcomers alike."
Review: House of Night #1

Synopsis: Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you are marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood.

P.C. Cast‘s hit series finally comes to the panel courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. Going into this book my knowledge of the House of Night series was limited. I knew they were vampire novels and targeted at teenagers; frankly that was enough to make me run in the opposite direction. I’m as tired as anyone of the cliche that vampire + teen angst = breakout-hit-that’s-sooooooo-original. Not even setting the book in my home state of Oklahoma was enough to win me over, so intense was my opposition. So it was with a seed of cynicism in my heart that I began to read House of Night #1.

I should have known better than to be so close minded from the outset. As a student of the written word, I know that formula can be a good thing in the right hands. And it is here. Reading the comic made me take a closer look at this series, and I’m probably going to insert them into my very long but distinguished queue of stuff to read.


The story in issue one is pretty straight forward, and a good place to start for beginners (like me.) Zoey has just gotten her full vampyre tattoos and has been appointed the leader of The Dark Daughters. Reluctant to lead anyone, Zoey and her friends consult some vampyre history to see how they can get her out of this predicament.

Here is where the book grabbed me; I loves me some back story, and readers are told the story of Freya and the establishment of a House of Night chapter in Norway. Cast pulls from a rich tapestry of myth and legend and spins it in original ways to create the vampyre lore of the series. If this issue is indicative of how the series will progress then it’s likely to flesh out more details for long-time fans as well.

The the art of the book is mostly done by Joëlle Jones, and has that western culture anime feel that makes pretty figures even more appealing than they already are. It’s not my favorite direction, but in a book about teen vampires it fits. Karl Kerschl’s more mature style is featured in the history lesson scene, and this direction is a nice departure from the here and now, and gives the scene a sense of distance both spacial and temporal.

House of Night #1 sets the stage for a fun series that will please long time fans and newcomers alike. If you’re anything like me the book may pique an interest for the comic’s novel counterpart series.

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Written by: P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Script by: Kent Dalian
Art by: Joëlle Jones, Karl Kerschl
Cover By: Jenny Frison

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Avenging Spider-Man (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Zeb Wells (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Wesley Messer (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I laughed, I smiled, and got hooked from the beginning"
Review: Avenging Spider-Man #1

Let’s get this out of the way now, Avenging Spider-Man #1 is a comic that initially I had no interest in. My interest in Spider-Island died near the end and decided on a whim to give Avenging Spider-Man a shot. Lo and behold I got a pleasant surprise. Zeb Wells is a writer that’s been doing Spider-Man books and other series in and around Marvel. Just not many books that I was interested in. The name that caught my eye was Joe Madureira, one of my favorite artists who created one of my favorite series that’s never been finished being Battle Chasers. Yes I’m still slightly bitter about him not finishing Battle Chasers, this isn’t about that so we’ll be moving right along. Joe Madureira is still a great artist so I couldn’t help but check out the first issue. The concept of Avenging Spider-Man is him teaming up with different members of the Avengers on adventures. Reviving the classic Marvel Team-Up format. This came together in a way that I couldn’t have ever imagined.

There’s one thing you’re going to notice in Avenging Spider-Man right away is this is a truly action packed first issue. Madureira is a nice fit with the amount of action that’s happens right from the beginning, showcased by a double page splash of the Avengers fighting a giant robot. Now ask yourself you can’t help but smile at Avenging Spider-Man starting off on this note. I find there is nothing wrong with that at all. You can tell Zeb Wells is having a blast writing Spider-Man and these sequences for Joe Mad to draw. This shows that between the two of them these are sort of Spider-Man stories they’ve both always wanted to do. There’s a nice bit in one quiet moment of how Spider-Man can manage to be on all these teams and still manage to be in New York City at the right time. As Spidey explains that sometimes he can’t be. Which leads to a brilliant bit of chaos at the New York City Marathon and Madureira cutting loose on a double page spread with Mole Man’s Subterraneans swarming the marathoners.


What caught my eye is from that page on every page is just so much fun. There’s a great segment with the Avengers arguing which person has to take Spider-Man back to New York so he can get back to his day job. Specifically leading to his team up with Red Hulk and their interactions with each other along the way. Zeb Wells shows he has a nice handle on Spider-Man and his interactions with the other Avengers. There’s a new quirk in the underground sequence that leads to the last page with J. Jonah Jameson that interests me. I give Zeb Wells credit in putting a nice twist in there that does make a lot sense when you think about why J. Jonah is down there. By the time I was at the last page and learned what was going on underground, I’m steered toward wanting to see where this goes next issue.

Avenging Spider-Man is a pleasant surprise. This takes Marvel Team-Up and explodes with bombastic energy making this a must read. I have to say I’ll be looking for more of Zeb Wells from here on, this was a lot of fun. This is one of the more fun Marvel Comics in recent history. As long as Joe Madureira can keep up the monthly schedule, we’re in for one amazing series. I laughed, I smiled, and got hooked from the beginning. Avenging Spider-Man you make the Marvel Universe a brighter place in one issue and I’m going to be there for the next.

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Written by Zeb Wells
Art by Joe Madureira and Ferran Daniel

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Orchid (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Tom Morello (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: B.J. Brown (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Go and check it out because this title is going fast!"
Review: Orchid #1

Orchid is the comic debut of Tom Morello (guitarist from Rage Against the Machine & Audioslave) as a writer and Dark Horse Comics is his new band. As an activist and contributor to the awareness that RATM brought as a group, revolution is certainly an integral part of his life. It comes as no surprise that the story of Orchid centers around a post apocalyptic revolution and a mask that grants “tremendous but perilous power” to the wearer.

The world of Orchid is essentially your classic story of the weak trying to overcome their destitute situation against the strong. It is a world of little mercy and hard times for most as the seas rose to levels where most cities were completely submerged. In this debut issue, Morello sets the scene for this phase of Earth ravaged by epic flooding and mutated sea creatures. The poor sect of the survivors are called the “Bridge People” and it is among them that our heroine comes to be. A teenage prostitute, Orchid’s personality is shown as a no nonsense suspicious realist who is protective of her small family. Though the story doesn’t reveal the power of the mask or Orchid’s first moments with its use, it does set up and show her rebellious nature and motivation for becoming something greater than what she was and what she had been.


It is an interesting story to delve into during this tumultuous period in world history. With all of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations and slow recession recovery going on today, it is quite the metaphoric tale. Just like Morello’s heroine we are all upset and bruised by all of the revealed mismanagement of our country’s (and the world’s for that matter) economic structure. That incredibly rich 1% that weilds such a massive percentage of the country’s wealth also has managed to keep a chokehold on politics in a way that confuses the public and complicates law making so that they can become richer. These are revolutionary times indeed.

Apparently Tom intends to accompany each issue with a song related to the comic for each issue under his “Nightwatchman” alias. Though this review does not include impressions on the related audio, this concept is certainly fresh and new. It’s “World Wide Rebel Songs” meets “World Wide Rebel Comics” here people!

I’m sure Tom Morello will have much more to think about from this dystopian fantasy tale. Issue #2 drops November 9th along with a new jam. Go and check it out because this title is going fast!

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Writer: Tom Morello
Artist: Scott Hepburn
Colorist: Dan Jackson
Cover Artist: Massimo Carnevale
Genre: Action/Adventure

Publisher: