Title: King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Tim Truman (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: PS Hayes (Review 1) and Jonathan Pilley (Review 2) (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" It looks great, but the story’s just not there."
Review 1: King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #2

I really REALLY wanted to like King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #2. Honestly, I did. But, for a variety of reasons, I just couldn’t.

First off, let’s get this outta the way. Tim Truman is a legend in the business. That being said, everyone has an off day. The biggest problem that I had with this issue is that Conan is hardly in it. He doesn’t show up until the last quarter of the book, and then it’s just for a reveal that really doesn’t mean that much. This issue will probably read better in trade than it does in single issue format.

Art wise, this book is spectacular. Tomas Giorello has a real feel for the look and feel of the world of Conan. He does a great job overall, lavish backgrounds, textures that look REALLY real. I’d be glad to have him draw Conan for as long as he wants.

If I had to grade this book, it would get a C-. It looks great, but the story’s just not there. Truman spends a lot of time setting up the back story of the villain, which needs to be done, but not at the cost of the main character.

Review 2: King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1

If you're a big fan of acronyms, you would look at King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 and see "King Conan: TPOTS." This my stir some sense of chivalry and frivolity in you and you may have cause to believe Conan has gone soft. Rest assured, in King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 from Dark Horse, Conan hasn't gone soft. He's still every bit the Cimmerian warrior you remember. Only now he's king.

King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 is written by Tim Truman and illustrated by Tomás Giorello (colors by José Villarrubia and letters by Richard Starkings and Comicraft). It's a little dense.

A little history in in order. "The Phoenix on the Sword" is an original short story by Robert E. Howard that was actually a rewrite of the unpublished Kull story "By This Axe I Rule!" The story starts with a middle-aged Conan, ruling over Aquilonia but finding himself longing for the days where his life was in danger.

It also doesn't help that the people of Aquilonia who--previously were excited to be under the tyrannical reign of Numedides--are starting to turn on Conan because of his Cimmerian blood. This is exemplified by a secret gathering of conspirators who are prepared to unleash an old friend in Thoth-Amon. And here's where King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 kicks off, with a plot to assassinate King Conan.

Truman is clearly invested in Conan, as this first issue is dense. There are a lot of characters introduced and some heady dialogue, but it boils down to a relatively simple premise in an attempt on Conan's life. The dialogue has that Conan feel to it and you're really thrown into Conan's court.

The art by Giorello and Villarrubia might steal the show though. No offense to Truman's writing, but the art is simply incredible. There's a quality to it that shows a lot of care went into it and the pair manage to depict a Conan story without resorting to overly excessive blood and violence. It's possible that future issues will come to that, but as of now it's pretty calm.

The entire tone of the story conveyed is one of adventure and, well, Conan. It feels like Conan and fans of the character will be impressed. It's a solid first issue in the new series that promises to take readers on quite a journey. It's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of Conan.

More info:

Script by Tim Truman
Art by Tomas Giorello
Colors by Jose Villarrubia
Letters by Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Cover by Andrew Robinson

Publisher:

Title: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth – The Long Death (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Mike Mignola and John Arcudi (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: George Chimples (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" The Long Death is a strong start to what promises to be another great arc."
Review: B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: THE LONG DEATH #1

Previously, in B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: While helping the Russian equivalent of the B.P.R.D. fight off one of several apocalyptic monsters plaguing the globe, ectoplasmic entity Johann Kraus received an improved containment suit. Meanwhile, agent Abe Sapien is comatose, Dr. Corrigan is in Britain and the old mummy Panya is being creepy again.

The insistence on treating each story arc of B.P.R.D. as a miniseries sometimes doesn’t play out too well. The Long Death follows immediately after the Russia miniseries, but also demands a familiarity with the New World storyline involving Captain Daimio’s Sasketchewan sojourn. If you’ve got those stories under your belt, you’ll be well-equipped to enjoy this issue. And if you’re not, check ‘em out – B.P.R.D. is consistently enjoyable, if you know what’s going on.

LONG DEATH, SHORT SERIES


The Long Death starts out promisingly with an enjoyably stomach-churning sequence with Johann Kraus at the center. It seems that this arc will be about Kraus finally confronting Ben Daimio for destroying Kraus’s host body way back in the Killing Ground series. Kraus’s new suit seems to allow him a more human-like living situation, as he gleefully celebrates having a horrible nightmare for being proof that he can finally sleep. Mignola and Arcudi work a tight plot this issue, with the action moving quickly to propel Johann out into the field and into an explosive ending. There is a story beat that’s a little too war movie cliche where one of the tactical team members reveals she is a new mother, but the script manages to wring enough emotion from the moment to earn it. This is taut storytelling, perhaps a little too brisk, but it entertains with nary a dull moment.


BRUTALLY AWESOME ART


I did not catch James Harren’s work on Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest, but based on what he did with this issue, I think I am going to have to track it down. Harren’s artwork elevates the narrative from merely good to something else entirely. His style is a little more solid than that employed by B.P.R.D. regulars like Guy Davis and Tyler Crook – it’s less sketchy and slashy, more rounded and cartoony. There’s more detail and his characters’ faces are more expressive, and Harren expresses a good sense of motion throughout. Most impressively, in this issue, Harren produces some truly nightmarish images. It’s bloody, gory stuff, and Harren draws it well. I am a huge Guy Davis fan, and with this issue, James Harren proved he can fill some big shoes. I’m excited to see what he’ll bring to the next few issues.

HELL ON EARTH, HEAVEN ON THE PAGE


The Dark Horse’s B.P.R.D. line consistently puts out some of the best stuff in comics, and it fills a horror-themed comics niche that few of the other big publishers were doing well (up until Animal Man and Swamp Thing). Right now isn’t the most forgiving time for new readers storyline-wise, but it is definitely worth it to catch up to what is going on presently in the Hellboy universe. The Long Death is a strong start to what promises to be another great arc, and it’s a chance to see fiery new talent James Harren at work. B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: The Long Death #1 earns itself a grand four out of five stars.

More info:

Story by: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art by: James Harren
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Letters by: Clem Robins
Cover art by: Duncan Fegredo with David Stewart
Editor: Scott Allie

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Mike Mignola and John Arcudi[/url] (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Fabian Rangel Jr (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" A fun ride filled with gorgeous art, snappy dialogue, and great action."
Review: The Burning Hand #2

I was first introduced to the pulp hero Lobster Johnson in the pages of Hellboy. I immediately fell in love with this character. From his stoic nature, to his hard line dialogue, he quickly struck a chord with me. Lobster Johnson has some of the best dialogue in comics. I was overjoyed when he graduated to his first solo series a couple of years ago, and have been waiting for a second ever since.

Lobster Johnson:The Burning Hand marks the return of the goggled vigilante and is now on its second issue. Although there was a series before this, Mignola and company have made it so that anyone can pick this up and enjoy it. You don’t need to know a bunch of back story. All you need to know from the first issue is that there have been some mysterious murders and a headstrong, wisecracking reporter named Cindy Tynan is on the case. The end of the first issue saw her about to be “taken care of” by gangsters and Lobster Johnson was emerging from the shadows to rescue her.

Right off the bat we get an awesome cover from the diabolical Dave Johnson. When it comes to the covers for the Mignola-verse books it’s always hard to deal with the fact it’s not Mike handling it. But Johnson is doing some superb work on these and the level of awesomeness cannot be denied. Very pulp, very old movie poster style. The dude is a genius.Lobster Jonhson


The interior art is handled by Tonci Zonjic. I recognized his art immediately from last year’s “Who Is Jake Ellis?”. His style definitely has a simpler quality, and is a good fit for the subject matter. I think he makes a fine addition to the stable of artists working on these Mignola/Arcudi books. Coloring is handled by Dave Stewart, of course. Zonjic’s pencils and inks with Stewart’s colors make for an awesome combo. Some of these pages are just plain beautiful. I really dig the panels with snow.

Mignola and Arcudi are once again showcasing their knack for coming up with great gallows humor, and humor in general. The back and forth between the characters is done exceptionally well in this issue.

Having been rescued, Cindy is taken to the Lobstercave (not really a cave, but a secret headquarters) where we see the team that assists Johnson in his crime fighting. She gives Lobster some valuable information and his reaction of surprise is golden. Afterwards, Lobster Johnson really earns his reputation as a no-nonsense, take- no prisoners dealer of harsh justice. Bullets fly and lowlifes feel the burn of the lobster’s claw.

The plot thickens as a mysterious villain’s identity is revealed and makes all of us Hellboy/B.P.R.D fans smile ear to ear. And if you’re just giving this series a try, the reveal will still be awesome because of how insane the character looks!

This issue was a fun ride filled with gorgeous art, snappy dialogue, and great action. Beware the claw!

More info:

Writer: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Artist: Tonci Zonjic
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Cover Artist: Dave Johnson
Genre: Action/Adventure, Horror

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Star Wars: Clone Wars 7 (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Haden Blackman and Miles Lane (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Daiho (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Good for what it's worth, but entirely forgettable. "
Review:

What's cool about Obi-Wan Kenobi is that he's so cool. He's the "Negotiator." He's always in control and except for his bickering with Anakin never displays his frustration, annoyance, or anger. In fact the only time he loses it is when Yoda asks him in "Revenge of the Sith" to go after Darth Vader and again when he finally confronts his former Padawan, whom he doesn't have the courage to strike dead as he lies broiling in lava.

So it's a bit odd to see him in this story completely obsessed over Asajj Ventress, the lately deceased bald-headed villainess and student of dark Jedi arts from earlier Dark Horse Star Wars comics and the Clone Wars cartoons. For reasons never made clear, Obi-wan has a bee in his bonnet and her name is Ventress. He's convinced she's alive somewhere and waiting to pounce, so he goes and beats up a Black Sun don (the Black Sun being the mafia in the Star Wars universe), who says "right, you're obviously a better man than me, come have a drink and I'll tell you everything I know about the Confederacy."

Once you get past those two very improbable bits of the story, things get better, and that's do mostly to the fine work of artist Brian Ching, who illustrates some exciting action sequences that owe a great deal in framing and in detail to "The Revenge of the Sith." "Brothers" occurs just prior to the events of the film and was being written and drawn prior to its release. Ching obviously had access to the movie or the developmental artwork because this story features quite a bit of hardware from the film, from the ships to Grievous' Magna Guards. Much of the framing of the action sequences also appear similar in style to Lucas' work in RotS.


But after all the fighting's done, scripter Haden Blackman has to bring the story to conclusion, at which point the characters and events again become rather contrived. [SPOILERS] What we're presented is the Luke/Vader sequence at the end of "Return of the Jedi," with Obi-wan comforting a dying Ventress, searching for a glimmer of the "good" hidden below layers of evil. Any possible sympathy Blackman manages to evoke for the dying Ventress is thrown back in the reader's face two pages later when we find her contrition - and her death - were feigned and that thanks to Sith meditation techniques she is alive and now on the run from the Jedi _and_ the Confederacy, setting up what I'm guessing might be a possible return in the animated Clone Wars series now in production. [END SPOILERS]

Overall, "When They Were Brothers" is not a complete letdown, but it certainly doesn't live up to its hype as a "must read" story leading into "Revenge of the Sith."

The book finishes out with a 22-page story originally published for Free Comic Book Day, an annual marketing campaign by comic book publishers and retailers in the US. Nothing of any significance happens here, just Obi-Wan and Anakin crash landing on a Confederacy controlled planet, riding around on speeder bikes, and hacking and slashing their way through a battalion of droids. Good for what it's worth, but entirely forgettable.

More info:

Writer: Haden Blackman, Miles Lane
Penciller: Brian Ching, Nicola Scott
Editor: Randy Stradley
Cover Artist: Tomås Giorello

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Murky World (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Richard Corben (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Chad Bonin (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" This book will and should only appeal to the fans of the artist and his visual work..."
Review:

Richard Corben tackles a whole world by himself, but manages to get lost on the way.

Murky World, a one-shot by legendary Heavy Metal artist Richard Corben, is a unique story that might have best worked as a short tale in the aforementioned book. The plot is murky. There's nothing special about this odd land and the inhabitants of it; and the story largely takes a backseat to Corben's art. It's set on an unspecified world with unspecified inhabitants, all driven by unspecified goals, motives, and dreams. The only unifying theme seems to be greed, despite some semblance of a narrative existing at the heart.


Visually, Corben has some great concepts. The designs are unlike anything you've seen; any time something comes close to comparable to real world works, a curveball is thrown in that you just can't exactly put a name for it. Aborigine? Planet of the Apes? Futurama? There's a certain style for the world that comes close to what you've seen, but is unlike anything you've seen before. Part of it seems almost racist, with characters appearing to be generic 1930s depictions (more like caricatures) of black men that only pop up in "look at how racist the past was" stories, but given that the story is in black and white, that's almost absurd… if these specific characters weren't in subservient roles for many of their appearances. It's too easy to dismiss, and might be the over-analyzations of a reviewer, but it definitely catches your eye.

This book will and should only appeal to the fans of the artist and his visual work; the writing and plotting is a mess, and while the art stands out, it's so unique and polarizing that it won't reach general acceptance.

More info:

Writer: Richard Corben
Artist: Richard Corben

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 8 (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): John Ostrander (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: grovel (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" ...it certainly ties up some lose ends. "
Review:

It’s been an epic journey but this penultimate volume of the Clone Wars saga sees the end of the Quinlan Vos’s epic mission. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll know that Vos is a Jedi who’s been working so deep undercover, he’s starting to embrace the dark side of the Force a little too enthusiastically. Well, now it’s crunch time and Vos will have to make a choice between light and dark. But as ever, things aren’t quite as simple as they seem.

Star Wars - Clone Wars - RancisisWe won’t spoil it for you by talking too much about the ending, but Ostrander manages to wrap the finale into a fairly neat bundle, though it leaves a feeling that we haven’t heard the last of Vos. But then, what would the Star Wars universe be without a bit of room for a sequel? We ought to be used to it by now.

The artwork is well handled, with plenty of leaping lightsabre battles in the style of the recent films, some suitably evil looking adversaries and a handful of rather odd Jedi.

With only one more book left in the series after this, you’d be bonkers to leave this one out if you’ve been following it up until now, and it certainly ties up some lose ends, leaving little for the last book to do except connect it all to the Revenge of the Sith.

More info:

Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Jan Duursema
Inker: Dan Parsons
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Editor: Randy Stradley
Cover Artist: Tomås Giorello
Genre: Star Wars, Science-Fiction, Action/Adventure

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-series (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Brian Lynch and Tom Waltz (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Greg McElhatton (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" If you're looking for an extra "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" helping this month, it's worth your time."
Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series #3 - Donatello

The original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series" one-shots back in the '80s were four fun one-shots each focused on a different Ninja Turtle (and in one case, was a crucial part of a larger storyline). It's nice to see IDW bringing the Micro-Series back, although I must admit three one-shots in, I find myself wishing for something a little more substantial.

Brian Lynch is plotting the Micro-Series, although regular writer Tom Waltz steps in here to co-script this issue's focus on Donatello. His story here feels a little light; Donatello, craving a more technological/intellectual discussion than he can get with his fellow turtles, goes to a tech conference and gets pulled into a battle with two enemies. The idea of mixing an old and a new enemy (well, relatively speaking) is a nice one and the moment where Donatello figures out where he met Harold Lillja before is pretty funny.


On the other side, the switching from ally to enemy (and vice versa) felt rather contrived and in some ways helped illustrate that there isn't much plot here. Remove the flip-flopping and you'll see just how short this comic is. I wasn't expecting a grand epic, but a little more meat on the bones of this issue would've been nice.

Valerio Schiti's art here is the nicest we've had for the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series." It's clean and nicely exaggerated in places; Donatello's eyes getting to the size of soup plates when Lillja's anti-gravity glove is turned on, for example, is a lovely drawing. You can see the glee on Donatello's face in that single panel and it's a strong reminder of how important a good artist is to a script. When the fight breaks out, Schiti shows that he can draw easy-to-follow action, too; it flows from one panel to the next and there's never any confusion as to what's going on. Even small transitions like Lillja looking hesitant in one panel and peeved in the next are tiny shifts that tell the story perfectly.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series" #3 is a slightly fluffy comic, but it's also the first one of these three one-shots that I also found myself enjoying the most. I've given up on there being a bit more of a punch to these (which is a shame), but as popcorn entertainment it's fun. If you're looking for an extra "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" helping this month, it's worth your time.

More info:

Story by Brian Lynch, Tom Waltz
Art by Valerio Schiti
Colors by ScarletGothica, Ilaria Traversi
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Cover by Valerio Schiti, ScarletGothica

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Larry Hama (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Henchman21 (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" A fun issue that longtime fans of G.I. Joe will want to pick up."
Review: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Annual #1

I said plenty of times how much I am loving IDW’s line of G.I. Joe comics and one of the things I love the most is the Real American Hero series, which picked up from the end of the classic Marvel comics run, and wisely brought back G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama to bring back some of the old magic. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Annual #1 is a great one-off story that perfectly captures the feel of those old stories and speaks straight to the 10-year-old in me.

This issue deals with a former member of Cobra’s Crimson Guard who had taken on a normal life with a normal job, until he’s fired. Now he has dusted off his old uniform, and he has a plan to make a big statement at an amusement park. There are two problems that he has to deal with: 1) The Joe team gets wind of his plan and sets out to stop him, and 2) Cobra Commander gets wind of his plan, and isn’t too thrilled for someone to perform a terrorist act that he didn’t plan. So what we get is two different groups trying to stop a terrorist for different reasons, with everyone not being a fan of anyone else. It’s kind of a goofy story, but it totally captures the feel of the stories that I used to love. Larry Hama is such an old hand with these characters that he can do whatever he wants with them and give the readers an entertaining story. This isn’t a flashy story, it doesn’t do anything new with the medium, it’s just a lot of fun.


Adding to the fun is the art by the trio of Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, and Herb Trimpe, along with the inks of Sal Buscema that really bring a uniform look to the book. This is a collection of artist that has a lot of experience under their belts, and it shows in their work here. They all have a very classic 80’s style that fits perfectly with this book. They just add to the nostalgia factor that goes along with this book. Much like the story, it’s nothing flashy, but it just feels right.

My only problem with this Annual is the price tag. At $7.99, it’s a little pricey, even being 40 pages long. I wish there had been a few more extras included with the issue. Anything would make that price a little easier to swallow. Still, this is a fun issue that longtime fans of G.I. Joe will want to pick up. I’ll give this one a 3 out of 5.

More info:

Written by Larry Hama
Art by Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, and Herb Trimpe
Inks by Sal Buscema
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by Shawn Lee

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Infestation 2 (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Duane Swierczynski (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: PS Hayes (Review 1) and Infinite Speech (Review 2) (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" GET THIS NOW!!! "
Review 1: Infestation 2 #1

Although summer is still months away, it feels like it’s here because Infestation 2 #1 feels like a big summer crossover/comic event. And in fact, it is.

Duane Swierczynski does a FANTASTIC job setting up this event. This issue is both set up AND execution. While none of the licensed characters appear in this issue, you get the origin of the monsters that are set loose to go and attack the Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the GI Joe team, and more. This is one comic that’s packed with action from start to finish. Any history or continuity points are revealed in between action sequences. This is a great first chapter to the next two months of Infestation comics.

Artist David Messina does a fantastic job drawing all sorts of different characters. From humans to monsters, he’s got his hands full in this issue. While this issue is crammed with action, violence, and good-looking women, Messina never makes anything seem over the top or gratuitous. A job well done, considering he could’ve taken the easy way out.

GET THIS NOW!!! Aside from the crossover aspect, it’s a really great monster fighting, save the world kind of comic. Don’t bother waiting for the trade, this story is going to read better in weekly installments.

Review 2: Infestation 2 #1

Infestation 2 is the new title-spanning event from IDW that will incorporate some of their popular characters into another universe threatening story. Like in the original Infestation, we will see the Transformers and G. I. Joe, but we have three new titles added to Swierczynski’s tale. New additions are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dungeons & Dragons, and 30 Days of Night.

This time, instead of zombies, the IDW titles are being invaded by the Elder Gods of H. P. Lovecraft fame. Fueled by the power of his cult following and the mystical Artillica, monsters begin appearing all over the world, which prompts an investigation from the C.V.O. (Covert Vampiric Operations). However, they’re not the only ones interested in the strange happenings, as a shadow organization known as Oblivion is already a few steps ahead of them.

After having mixed feelings regarding the Infestation event, I had several reservations about picking up Infestation 2. Well, much like the original’s first issue, this one was a great set up to the event and was a very fun read. Swierczynski does an excellent job at laying things out and getting you to want to read what’s going to happen in the other titles. He also cleverly works in H. P. Lovecraft’s works and life into this tale, and his spin on it helps to solidify the event’s beginnings. Not only that, he also gives those of us who aren’t too knowledgeable about the C.V.O. a very comfortable introduction to them. Though a couple of the introductions are less than stellar, they serve their purpose. Britt’s immediately comes to mind since it was as utterly ridiculous as it was funny. She’s tasked with non lethally stopping the possessed con goers. So putting bullets in their legs and thighs is the best way to do that? Guess bleeding to death isn’t a concern of Swierczynski’s.

When it comes to the art, the prologue done by Schiti is one very strong intro. The rest of the book is handled by Messina, and there is a distinct difference between the two styles. Where Schiti’s characters held plenty of detail and style, Messina’s has a bit less but was very good to look at all the same. One of the stronger looking sequences involves two CVO agents fighting against amphibious creatures. It would have been nice if most of his pages looked as good as this. Though, it was quite humorous (and a bit ridiculous) that Agent Britt goes from the usual double D comic breasts to a triple F all in one panel.

As good as Infestation 2 is, the real test will definitely come in the upcoming titles and how this story ends. With writers such as Mike Raicht, Chuck Dixon, and Tristan Jones (to name a few), IDW is hoping that this will top last year’s event. So far, Infestation 2 is off to a very good start, so once again I’m on board, and if things stay this way it’ll be worth staying on till the end

More info:

Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by David Messina, Valerio Schiti
Ink Assist by Gaetano Carlucci, Federica Manfredi
Colors by Scarlet Gothica, Eleonora Carlini
Letters by Robbie Robbins, Shawn Lee
Covers by Alex Garner, Livio Ramoindelli, David Messina, and Joe Phillis

Publisher:

Title: Danger Girl: Revolver (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Andy Hartnell (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: RoughJustice (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Danger Girl will always be there to remind us that it’s okay to just have fun reading a comic."
Review: Danger Girl: Revolver #1

Andy Hartnell brings the girls back in Danger Girl: Revolver #1. Like most comics in the action-spy genre this issue paid homage to the movies, comics, and novels that have defined the spy franchise. Instead of the sleek, classy, and cool agent, Hartnell re-introduces readers to his impossibly proportioned heroines. Danger Girl: Revolver #1 is an introduction to this genre done right. With dynamic art and choreography, this issue introduces a brand new Danger Girl storyline lacking any dull moments. From the second this issue started it demanded the reader’s attention.

We are first introduced to the cast as they are knee deep in a heist/recovery mission that is going wrong in the best kind of way. It is in these moments that Hartnell’s adoration for the spy genre shines through. From the escape boat named “Galore” to the biplane getaway, each panel honors the double 0’s we know so well. The rest of the issue is dedicated to big explosions and introductions of the cast. As far as first issues go this one has created a wonderful way to grab the reader’s attention immediately from the start. By dropping readers right into the fray of a mission in the book’s opening pages, Hartnell has created a sort of prologue that establishes action and pace right off the bat.


Artist Chris Madden has done something pretty impressive with Danger Girl: Revolver #1. Madden has illustrated this comic in complete eye-catching detail. Escapes and firefights are obviously going to peak the reader’s interest, however, in the slower moments the art direction stands out. It is a tried and tested technique, but by making the girls of Danger Girl so ridiculously proportioned, the comic never loses steam. It may seem like a cheap trick to illustrate busty girls with guns to attract readers, but it’s a formula Hartnell has been using for years.

Danger Girl: Revolver #1 is not going to blow anyone’s mind with thought-provoking content or story. What it is going to do is provide readers with something that is generally fun and exciting. Sexy girls with big guns being chased by scared villains, it’s classic camp storytelling. When comics sometimes take themselves too seriously, Danger Girl will always be there to remind us that it’s okay to just have fun reading a comic.

More info:

Written by Andy Hartnell
Art by Chris Madden
Colors by Jeromy Cox

Publisher:

Title: G.I. Joe: Retaliation Prequel (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): John Barber (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Jesse Schedeen (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" This is hardly the worst-looking movie tie-in ever published."
Review: G.I. Joe: Retaliation Prequel #1

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is being billed as half-reboot/half follow-up to The Rise of Cobra, but aside from the fact that several major characters are MIA, there doesn't seem to be any reason why it can't function as a normal sequel. IDW certainly seems to think so, as they've commissioned a mini-series that bridges the gap between the two films and introduces Dwayne Johnson's Roadblock into the mix.

Actually, the timeline is a little vague, and it's never made clear if the story fits between the films or before The Rise of Cobra. In any case, the book focuses squarely on Roadblock and Snake Eyes as the Joes are attacked by a horde of ninja warriors. Various other familiar faces appear, but most are simply window dressing. It's a very brisk, action-oriented story that reads more like the classic Real American Hero comics than IDW's own, more grounded comic universe. Considering the same could be said for the movies themselves, John Barber seems to be on the right track with the book.


Still, a little more character-focused writing wouldn't have hurt either. IDW's Rise of Cobra prologues were structured as a series of standalone issues, each focused on a different major character. That same approach might have worked well here, too. It would have been nice if Roadblock were given more of an introduction and a distinctive voice, at least.

The artwork has its moments, but it's wildly inconsistent to do the script justice. Salvador Navarro tries overly hard to emulate the movie look in some cases and not enough in others. Certain characters resemble the actors, while others seem pulled from the Real American Hero comics instead. At times poses are extremely stiff an unnatural. But at others, the characters become dynamic and the action flows much more smoothly. It's a shame the art can't offer more stability, but this is hardly the worst-looking movie tie-in ever published.

More info:

Written by John Barber
Art by Salvador Navarro and Atilio Rojo
Colors by Esther Sanz
Letters by Chris Mowry
Covers by Salvador Navarro

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): James Roberts (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Andy Hunsaker (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" I'd like this to go on for a long while."
Review: Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #1

Holy crap. Transformers finally has a really good writer.

Transformers were the reason I ever got into comics in the first place, so I have a deep and abiding love for the myriad personalities running around in the Cybertronian pantheon. Marvel's original Transformers series back in the mid-80s were the first I ever owned, so I mean no disrespect when I say that I would never recommend this particular canon to new readers who don't share that love, or didn't feel their blood run cold when Ironhide got shot in the face in Transformers: The Movie. There are hundreds of characters to keep straight, not to mention the 400 different iterations and settings that have been made into TV shows, usually resulting in random name redistribution with no regard to the previously established characters with those names - and let's not get into Michael Bay's malarkey. The comics started out as toy commercials just like the original cartoon, with only flashes of brilliance here and there (Megatron's descent into suicidal insanity in #25 comes to mind), and slowly began to mature with Simon Furman's arrival late in Marvel's run.

Furman brought a depth of storytelling that hooked fans - much like the aforementioned animated film did with its surprising darkness and grim brutality. Unfortunately, since Transformers' initial popularity was waning by the time he came on board, most of his work is known only to the fans. That's the other big hurdle for new readers - with both the Dreamwave incarnation and IDW's current run with the property, it's still pretty much written just for the longtime fans who sustain it. It's great for us and has delivered a lot of awesome moments, but it's always with that caveat of 'well, you gotta know who these guys are.'

Now, however, it is with cautious optimism that I say that people only passingly familiar with the concepts might actually enjoy reading Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. James Roberts has proved that he's no fluke. After his stellar trip into Cybertronian history with Prelude to Chaos, and last month's fantastic The Death of Optimus Prime, he's making the case with this new #1 issue that he might just be the best writer to ever to grace the canon. No disrespect intended to the great Mr. Furman, but Roberts' dialog crackles with life and vibrancy, comedy and pathos, spouting ideas ranging from lofty to twisted. He's not only juggling his massive cast with aplomb, he's giving us tons of character hooks to make each guy memorable - which is what the old tech specs used to do for all of us old-school devotees. If the show wouldn't showcase our guys, we knew what they were about anyway. Roberts has very obviously memorized these things back to front, and he knows how best to utilize them without being ponderous and cumbersome about it.


It also helps that they've created a really fresh start as well, taking the bold move of actually ending the Autobot/Decepticon war and sending Optimus Prime off to new adventures. In Roberts' case, he's telling the story of Rodimus spearheading a new expedition to seek out the fabled Knights of Cybertron. Some doubt the reality of the old stories, but Rodimus thinks he's got a star map to find them and bring about a new Golden Age, so the majority of the issue focuses on him settling into Captain Kirk's chair and building his own Starship Enterprise crew from scratch - although his ship is called the Lost Light. Turns out that name is an ominous portent, because while Rodimus leaves triumphantly with a following of over 200, stuff goes wrong in a hurry. Is it sabotage? Dumb luck? We'll know for sure in later issues. Here in #1, we're focused on character and mythology-building, and it's all interesting and entertaining.

Outgoing Transformers writer Mike Costa famously left the title with complaints that he could never really get his head around why these alien robots have human personalities and how that made them impossible to write. Roberts, however, understands what you need to understand - they just do. While it's fun to dig deep into how different alien robot culture would be, don't worry that much about it. Sure, maybe they don't date each other or even have genders, per se, but hey, maybe it's an exercise about how to write stories about other things, like sociopolitical turmoil and being Ratbatshit insane and talking to corpses, like Whirl does. Roberts has it down, and he's having a great time exploring how these characters tick, introducing all sorts of cool little elements to the daily life of a Cybertronian.

The only quibble I might have with Roberts is that he's being a little too cute with Cybertronian parallels to human concepts - like "rigor morphis: the dead body assumes its preferred shape" or Brainstorm mentioning his "Autopedia" entry. At the same time, though, it's still totally cool that they'd have those things and helps make these guys relatable and more like an actual society. Plus, he's adding fun things like Tailgate's self-loathing extending to his internal readouts calling him an idiot, or Ultra Magnus seeing the worst in everyone he meets displayed as case files in his optics. It's these amazing, deft little touches that really seal the deal that Roberts is the man to captain the Transformers ship. The guy is funny, as evidenced by Chromedome mocking Rewind's worthless alt-mode of 'a giant memory stick.' Considering he used to turn into a cassette tape, it's still a considerable upgrade.

Nick Roche is handling the art, and while it takes a little getting used to (his opening page Rodimus looks a little too scrawny), it works really well. Everybody's got their own distinctive look, there's no confusion as to what's happening in the panels despite the inhuman physiology, and somehow, in one panel, the little stubby dude Swerve's happy little pose as he tries to get onto the Lost Light crew combined with a hilarious exchange with Red Alert that might automatically make him my new favorite character. He's got a Puck/Gimli kind of a thing going, and it's thanks in large part to Roche's rendering.

So I say to you out here in comic-book land: pick up Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #1. If you've never read Transformers before, or if you haven't in years, give it a shot and let me know what you think. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but even though there are still a truckload of characters being juggled here, it's being done in such a refreshing and entertaining way with this concept that is so unassailably cool that it could actually hook in new readers and make some new fans. Let's hope so, because I'd like this to go on for a long while.

More info:

Written by James Roberts
Art: Nick Roche
Colors: Jos Burcham

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Chris Roberson (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Bernice Watson (Review 1) and Patrick Hayes (Review 2) (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" Legion and Trek fans should be scooping this up!"
Review 1: Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes #2

IDW’s Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes crossover event continues in this second issue as the two teams from different universes struggle to find their way after being thrown into a violent alternate reality. As the Legion of Superheroes flee an angry mob, the Starfleet landing party led by Captain James T. Kirk dodge phaser fire from an unfamiliar military force.

Roberson has paced this story well and has masterfully set up the reader’s anticipation of the moment the two teams of heroes will come face-to-face. Resisting the urge to have the two groups team up in the first issue has drawn out the suspense and will make the moment fans are waiting for all the sweeter. Similarly, he’s in no hurry to reveal the mysterious figure who leads the militant regime in the parallel universe. As this is a short run series Roberson is obviously timing the story to peak at just the right moment and so far everything is shaping up perfectly.

I was very disappointed with Roberson’s characterisation of Uhura in this issue. In stark contrast to her male comrades she is tentative, uncertain and lacks confidence in her own abilities and those of her crewmates – even Kirk! Given that even in the 1960s television series, which was produced during a time when strong female characters were a rarity, Uhura is a highly competent and skilled bridge officer able to take command when necessary I found it very disappointing that she is such a stereotypically meek woman here. I’m even more surprised that Roberson would write her as such given that his main character, Gwen Dylan, in iZombie is far from a weak girl. This misrepresentation of Uhura did somewhat diminish my enjoyment of the story.

Moy’s pencils and Romulo Fajardo, Jr.’s colours continue to work together to create a rich and vibrant visual dimension to this story. Moy’s depictions of the characters are still true to their television likenesses without slavishly adhering to realism at the expense of the overall look and feel of the issue.

Verdict: An enjoyable read by and large that sets up the next issue well. It’s a shame that Roberson seems to have so thoroughly missed the mark with Uhura but hopefully we’ll see some improvement in future issues. 6/10

Review 2: Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes #5

The covers: Phil Jimenez (with excellent coloring by Romulo Fajardo, Jr.) provides Cover A, showing James T. Kirk brandishing a phaser rifle (always cool!) surrounded by seven female Legionnaires. Heck, yeah! Machismo, baby! Cover B is a true 1960's cover by Mike Allred (with beautiful colors by Laura Allred), showcasing Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and McCoy floating on asteroids, while seven Legionnaires float/fly above them. The Legionnaires are wearing their Sixties uniforms! Kitchy cool! And Cover RI with art by Mario Alberti and Gabriel Rodriguez continues the theme of one member from each team inside a ship, standing in front of a large viewscreen. This time it's Sulu and Chameleon Boy, and it is awesome! I've never seen either character illustrated like this before and I really like it. If either publisher would like to hire this pair to do a book featuring either team, I wouldn't be opposed to it. Overall grades: A & B A and RI A+

The story: Dueling timelines continue on an alternate Earth that have split the teams. In the prehistoric past the team is held captive in a hole with inhibitor collars around each to cancel out the wearer's abilities (Does that mean McCoy can no longer lob verbal bombs at Spock?). The most perfect set-up and payoff occurs between Pages 3 and 4, shifting to the team in the "present" where they share intel on Flint/Vandal Savage. The rest of the issue reveals the villain's origin, introduces a "possessive" child, Pages 18 and 19 are hilarious coolness, and the last panel on Page 22 had me drop my jaw. I did not see that coming, but once revealed it was the perfect "duh" moment, as in "Duh, how else could this be accomplished?"Â Writer Chris Roberson is 5 for 5 for this series with only one issue remaining, but I'm betting he'll be 6 for 6. Overall grade: A+

The art: Good layout, good likenesses, and even better flashbacks on the "historical pages." Some specific vagueness: Page 5's fig leaf--Really? We're all adults, and it's art, dammit! The double-paged splash of Pages 12 and 13 evoked a wonderful spirit of Jim Starlin cosmic-ness that should have tipped me off to the final page. And I can only imagine the joy and dread that artist Jeffrey Moy had when he read what Pages 18 and 19 required. There had better be a key for these two pages when the collected version comes out, just so I can see what I've missed! I'm continuing to love Moy, in an artist-reader way. Overall grade: A

The inks: Inker Philip Moy, obviously familiar with this Jeffrey fellow, does a stellar job. Under this hand, Jeffrey's pencils come to life. Overall grade: A

The colors: This issue's colors were used quiet a bit more to move the story forward, especially purple--though I've never associated "that" Trek character with that color, although Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld does play a part in Legion lore. Hmmm...? Regardless, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., excellent job! Overall grade: A

The letters: Lots of dialogue and only one sound effect: SNAP. The story didn't demand any other sounds, so why whine? Overall grade: A

The final line: There's only one issue left? I'm missing this series already (Though I am hearing a TARDIS powering up)! Pages 18 and 19 are a sci-fi fan's dream and Page 22 will get Trek fans' pulses going. Legion and Trek fans should be scooping this up! And still haven't tried an issue? Go to Pages 18 and 19: if those don't pique your interest, nothing will

More info:

Writer: Chris Roberson
Penciller : Jeffrey Moy
Inker: Philip Moy
Letterer: Chris Mowry
Colorist: Romulo Fajarodo, Jr.
Editor: Chris Ryall

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: The Ray (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Doug Zawisza (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" The final page leaves the door open for further adventures of the Ray... "
Review: The Ray #4

"The Ray," #4 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Jamal Igle draws the superheroic fun to a close, albeit in an odd, uncomfortably padded way. The fourth issue's cover promised an epic battle between the Ray and Thaddeus Filmore ("his greatest enemy") but the fight inside the cover was over before we reached the staples.

The hero of this installment -- and the series -- is, without question, Jamal Igle. Igle's work is so insanely detailed, it's not difficult to imagine how the police car robots would translate to the silver screen. There are plenty of quiet scenes to fill out the issue and Igle jams as much detail into those as he did into the action sequences. Igle brings a level of professionalism to his work rivaled only by his perfectionism. This issue is a wonderful sample of both and also would serve quite nicely as a study guide for any aspiring comic book artist. Everything is present in this issue: talking heads, groovy tech, energy blasts, architecture, fistfights, kissing characters, weapons, crowd scenes and so much more. Igle continues to impress with his work and this issue is no exception.


As I sat down to write this review, I found myself leaning towards a less favorable assessment of this chapter. Then I thought about it. Gray and Palmiotti gave us everything that comic book fans want to see: character development, epic battles, quiet moments for the titular character, interactions with his supporting cast and a tease towards what comes next. Why then does this conclusion feel so uncomfortable?

I can only surmise the uneasiness stems from the fact that, quite unlike the comic "standard," this issue doesn't drag the fight out until the end, conveniently wrapping the battle and all unrelated subplots at the same time. Instead, Gray and Palmiotti give Lucien Gates a chance to find some balance between superheroing and living his personal life. It's fun to see Lucien get another chance at making a first impression with Chanti's parents. The movie premiere the couple attends added to their relationship in a manner much like we'd see on a sitcom. There's even another threat calling for the Ray to spring into action. It's quickly dealt with, which nicely illustrates the Ray's intent to continue on with the hero gig.

Additionally, the final page leaves the door open for further adventures of the Ray and it might even lead to exploits with other heroes. That final scene feels a whole lot like the end of a movie starring some of DC's marvelous competition, but it also adds a new layer to the DC universe. I'm looking forward to more from this character and I hold out hope for more of "The Ray" by this creative team.

More info:

Story by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey
Art by Jamal Igle, Rich Perrota
Colors by Guy Major
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover by Jamal Igle

Publisher:

[Zacharie]

Title: Ocean (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: MrP (Review 1) and Adriano1977 (Review 2) (Don't click it, read the review here... )

" An excellent book, beatifully designed too, that would be a pearl in every serious sci-fi fan's shelves. "
Review 1:

In the distant future, where books are a thing of the past and reading one will get you weird looks on the trans-orbital shuttle, a government weapons inspector gets called out to the outer reaches of the solar system to have a look at something that could threaten the known universe. Oh, and there's a private company out there too, complicating things. Snarking about space coffee will happen, as will undersea exploration and the shooting of special space guns.

The story feels a bit like Warren Ellis on autopilot: Lots of fun sci-fi concepts, snarky and self-confident people doing their thing, at at least one mentally disturbed/perverted person. You know the Ellis tropes, and they're all here. And while the story starts out interesting, it soon just kinda moves along at its own pace. Fun, but unless you've never read a Warren Ellis story before, you won't be horribly surprised by anything here.

Part of the problem is the art. While the artwork's competent, it seems that Botox is going to be a part of the DNA in future generations. People shoot at each other, deal with amazing new concepts and the potential end of the world, massive explosions... And through it all, they all look downright bored. The rest of the art reflects this: For the most part it's measured, almost sterile, with some notable exceptions.

Warren Ellis is one of the most productive sci-fi/superhero writers out there. This one's worth reading, but only really recommended if you've exhausted the better Ellis options. There are many, many better books written by Ellis.

Review 2:

1oo years from now, UN special weapons inspector Nathan Kane is sent to the first human space station orbiting Jupiter's moon Europe, because of the perfectly functioning sarcophaguses found in the sea below its frozen surface... and of what's down there with them. Kane and the station's crew aren't the only one who know, though: The crazed manager of a corporate space station has triggered the menace lurking in the European ocean and Kane and his crew are all that stands between mankind and total annihilation at the hands of a billion years old menace...
Revealing more would spoil the fun and the brilliant roller-coasting thrilling journey of discovery this book is, so I'll stop now.
What I'll rant on about is how this graphic novel, optioned for a movie that may sadly never happen, guiltily went under the radar of too many critics and fans.
Writer Warren Ellis throws so many concepts at you here and draws on so many ssources, that your head will spin - so complex and articulated this graphic novel is - if you don't take your time reading, taking in the sights and letting the story and characters work on you. The book is about the beauty and perils and courage of space travel and of explorering in general; about pioneers and a batmanesque main character; about critisising and satirising corporate culture; about horrors from beyond time and the evil that's as much at the core of the human race as is its yearn to live and better itself despite being flawed. All this thrown at you at increasingly dazzling speed. The pace, in fact, builds up slowly but once it seriously picks up halfway through, it's hard to put the book down.
Artist Chris Sprouse draws the hell out of it too, reaching unprecedented highs of scary darkness with his essential, crisp, expressive artwork.
Completing the book's excellent presentation are the stunning covers of the original issues by comics legend Michael Golden, here reproduced as chapter headings, and the Sprouse's preparatory artwork used as some sort of chapter heading pages.
In all, an excellent book, beatifully designed too, that would be a pearl in every serious sci-fi fan's shelves.

More info:

Writer: Warren Ellis
Penciler: Chris Sprouse
Inker: Karl Story

Publisher: