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Today's reviews!

Reviews for 19-12-21 
​Reviews for 18-12-21 Reviews for 17-12-21 Reviews for 16-12-21
​Reviews for 15-12-21 Reviews for 14-12-21 Reviews for 13-12-21
​Reviews for 12-12-21 Reviews for 11-12-21 Reviews for 10-12-21
​Reviews for 09-12-21 Reviews for 08-12-21 Reviews for 07-12-21
​Reviews for 06-12-21 Reviews for 05-12-21 Reviews for 04-12-21
​Reviews for 03-12-11 Reviews for 02-12-21 Reviews for 01-12-21

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Bornhome #4

1/27/2016

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Bornhome #4 (of 4)
American Gothic Press 2015
Written by Paul Tobin
Illustrated by Jeff Johnson
Coloured by Anthony Diecidue
Lettered by Marshall Dillon

    So not what I was expecting but I have to say this was so far beyond what I was expecting that’s it way cooler.  This story has all the classic elements that a science fiction thriller needs complete with mutated humans and space pirates, not to mention a love story.  The premise of the Terracore while nothing new is a perfect catalyst for several reasons.  Profit in a galaxy that needs and wants it as well as what we learn about here.  

    There’s something extraordinary about the way Paul is able to end this tale.  Langer meeting the man with the answers wasn’t something I was expecting.  His visage very much akin to that of the Kind Souls and the revelation about their lives and what’s happened to them over time living on this desolated nearly dead planet was honest and heartwarming.  

    I think what surprised me the most about all this was Langer’s own personal journey that we were privileged to see unfold.  Yes the story about who the man is, was and wanted for this planet was unexpected to say the least but honestly it was Langer himself and what Shane pointed out to him that got to me the most.  Paul’s ability to tell a story is highly underrated and this issue is proof of that.  His work to date got me here but it’s this single issue that moving forward will have always finding his work.

    When the old Pirate talks about humanity and how it’s been divided was not only incredibly insightful but in its stark honest reality true to the lives we lead today.  That alone should give many pause in their way of thinking.  Change is an inevitable part of life, creation of things be it through science or otherwise creates constant change.  When fear is ruling someones life so that they fight change and want the status quo to remain is when man is in trouble.  Poignant, real, honest and scary in how easily it is conveyed here, a possible reasoning for the roots of bigotry in us.  

    Still all the while the Pirates on the planet after Langer, Shane and the kids playing their part in all this trying to bring them down while the request for a better world has been desired was a great play on what we’ve been “listening” to.  Not to mention a little levity at just the right moment when you realize Langer is going to help these people realize their dream.  Without too much thought to his own safety and future in the process.  

    Got to admit too that the discussion between Langer and Shane about humanity and how it’s viewed through differences in appearance and genetics well score another one for Paul.  I love the twist when Talbot makes an appearance as well and you have to wonder if he’s set on the course he’s on or will he change his mind.  

    Damn I could never have expected to have such an emotional and thought provoking reaction to this story.  That I have and feel in some way changed by it should be testament to what these folks have brought us through their undeniable skills.

    Jeff and Anthony’s interiors have been inspired as well.  From the moment we saw the children of whom only survives that initial encounter to the first appearance of the Kind Souls.  Then the Pirates and the inspired backdrop of what’s known as the Arcade Planet we’ve been treated to a story that’s been as visually diverse as the writing.  

    Stories and ideas are meant to touch people and I guarantee you this one will do just that.

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Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2

1/27/2016

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Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 (of 6)
DC Comics/IDW Publishing 2015
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Freddie E. Williams II
Coloured by Jeremy Colwell
Lettered Tom Napolitano

    I can’t remember the last time I read a comic company crossover DC was in charge of but I fervently hope that this isn’t the last one for that length of time.  James characterization of not only each individual turtle but of Batman, Shredder and Master Splinter as well has been beyond anything I could have hoped for.  His knowledge and understanding of who they all are at their core is unparalleled and it’s evident he’s as much a fan as the rest of us.

    I won’t sugar coat it we always see heroes fight each other when they meet for the first time it’s the oldest thing in the book of crossovers.  Batman takes on the Turtles to open this issue and you’ve got to hand it to him that he didn’t freak out or lose his cool fighting grown turtle men.  Sure he’s got his share of wild looking rogues and in the Justice League has seen a lot but that he didn’t flinch well yeah that was pretty awesome.  Even more so was how the fight ended because that was so freakin cool!

    So back in their underground lair the Turtles go over what’s happened.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciated seeing this unfold.  Personalities shined as each one of them went over what happened with their own unique style, from surfing the web, to geeking out over how cool Bats was to creating a chart to actually being smart enough to know what Batman was actually doing during the fight.  

    Batman has a Sai from the encounter and he and Lucius run a diagnostic on it.  What they can learn from it was pretty amazing and showcases just how technology can be used in ways that could potentially benefit mankind when used outside the Government’s purview.  This was just as exciting as seeing the fight in a geeky science way and it’s also one of the staple points that makes Batman the kind of hero people love.  

    Ah the villains get some more attention this issue as well as Shredder uses the Penguin to procure something for him.  While I love seeing them together I almost wish we’d seen them finding each other before this little encounter.  We learned last issue why Shredder wants this Waynetech Resonance Engine and with what Master Splinter learned this issue he knows why they want it too.  Though I have to say seeing what transpired between the Penguin and Shredder well yeah oh thank goodness we get to see this!  

    This issue ends with the Turtles and Master Splinter finding their way into the Batcave left us with one of the absolute best issue endings ever!

    As if a story of this caliber weren’t enough Freddie and Jeremy have brought as much enthusiasm and incredibleness to the interior artwork as well.  I mean what holy amazeballs says about the work here is an understatement of what we experience.  The page and panel layouts the attention to detail and just the look of the characters goes above and beyond the call of duty.  

    The age of the company crossover is back and by god is it better than ever it was!

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The Precinct #2

1/27/2016

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The Precinct #2
Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Frank J. Barberie
Illustrated by Crizam Christhian Zamora
Coloured by Dinei Ribeiro
Lettered by Larger World Studios

    In the sprawling, steampunk metropolis known as The Big City, it is the sworn duty of one group to keep the peace and uphold the law: the officers of The Precinct! Mortimer Hill is a veteran officer who has busted his fair share of criminals, but when a high-ranking official ends up dead and mechanical monsters and a mysterious murder start causing trouble, he’ll need to use all his wits to get to the heart of the mystery…

    This is one hell of a story so far.  Steampunk and magic work as well together in this world as oil and water do in ours.  There’s a deep seated jealousy and rivalry happening, mostly behind the scenes, where science and religion, in this case the Acolytes and their magic, fight like Republicans and Democrats.  Science rules though and they try to stifle the Acolytes and their ways as best they can but sometimes when all you want is equality well something, or someone comes along and makes everyone see that one can’t be whole without the other.

    So how does killing off people get them closer to that realization?  Well for starters you’ve got a cop and acolyte working together.  What a pair these two make as well.  I love the dialogue here as each one has that “i’m in the right” tone to their words and doing very little to truly understand the other.  However I have a feeling this association is more important than even I am currently realizing.  

    Frank’s the kind of writer than can easily take two people from completely different worlds and make them work together against all odds and make one of the most interesting reads around.  What we’ve been presented so far really does wonders in drawing the reader into this world and helps us understand it so that we’ve become invested in seeing the outcome.  In this case long before you realize that’s happened.  While Jo and Mort are the oddest of couples I think it was the Senate meeting that really cemented that feeling for me.  

    As any fan of comic books will likely admit we are ourselves amateur detectives.  Well we like to think so after all these years of reading detective stories, thanks Bats.  So when we read an issue like this and see the layers to the story and kind of figure out along with the characters what’s happen we connect with it more.  Then of course there are the curveballs we didn’t see coming and go how the heck did I miss that?  Which in return keeps us following a writer with whatever he, or she, may write.  How Frank weaves the story through dialogue, action sequences and character interaction here is why I think so highly of the story and him.

    While it’s easy to piece some pieces of this puzzle together that I am somewhat lost as to why now and if certain folks are connected remains a highlight for me to keep coming back. That this story is crafted in a way easy to follow and easier to like/enjoy doesn’t hurt either.

    I’m also a big fan of Crizam and Dinei’s interior artwork as well.  The fluidity of the artwork and the sense of motion and danger they bring to the page is thrilling.  Not to mention the ability to bring both human magic and steampunk ingenuity together in the most creative and divisively vivid ways.  

Dynamite has made a Steampunk fan out of me and with this their latest effort has cemented their creativity to be at the forefront of the genre.

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Puppet Master #11

1/27/2016

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Puppet Master #11
Action Lab Danger Zone 2015
Written by Shawn Gabborin
Illustrated by Antonio Ontiveros
Coloured by Daniel Morales Olvera

    This continues to be one of the most amazing series on stands today.  While this is the finale of the Boy of Wood arc it still has the ability to introduce characters that keep a larger game happening.  It’s almost like Chess while you use a pawn you’ve got your mind three moves ahead to use the Bishop.  Shawn’s found a way to really tell the smaller stories and weave the larger one throughout them keeping this interest and thrilling readers.

    Anthony has a special destiny with the Puppets and possibly without them.  What I found even more fascinating however is that Dr. Jenn knows about not only Camille but the Puppets as well.  As more and more stories are being told it seems that the secret of their existence isn’t such a secret.  I love this on so many levels, it adds players to the field that lead to potential arcs outside their current dilemma of working at someone else’s whim.  I mean let’s face it evil and greed are universal and that leads to interesting stories.

    I like the interlude here with Joe as well.  His love for the real Camille is freaky though Agalmatophilia is a real thing even if this one was once animated with life.  Still with his knowledge and disappointment he’s a wildcard moving forward for everyone.  Speaking of which the double ending surprises well yeah that’s great too.  I’m really impressed with how all this is playing out.

    There’s also something to be said about the fact that Anthony was the star, or focal point, of the story.  For a change it was less about the gang and more about their connections to the real world.  This actually goes a long way in giving them a larger role in our world than I had previously expected or been aware of.  It really does go a long way in expanding the history of the franchise.  It’s not just about Anthony either there’s also Cedar and i’ve got a feeling we won’t be seeing the last of her either.  

    The revelations regarding Camille and her history with the puppets was nicely done.  Seriously there’s something about the way this all is being told that really goes so much further than simple puppets being possessed by humans and exacting revenge.  This was a perfect interlude style story that takes place between major arcs regarding where the gang is and who they are beholden to.  I like that this series hasn’t been one huge arc after another and the characterization and introduction of characters means the series has unlimited growth potential.  Not to mention so much room for mystery and gory violence.

    Also that the interior artwork is good is another reason i’m totally digging this series the way I am.  The depiction of the puppets has been phenomenal since day one but now with Anthony, Camille and the rest we see such a whole new cast of characters that keep the real and imaginary world merged as one.  The use of pages, panel layouts keep the story flowing nicely.  The facial expressions and use of backgrounds, or lack thereof, continue to keep things focused where they need to be for maximum effect.  

    This Highway to the Danger Zone is like the autobahn fast, furious and extremely fun to travel on!

    

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Red Agent #1

1/27/2016

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Red Agent #1 (of 5)
Zenescope Entertainment 2016
Written by Lou Iovino
Illustrated by Diego Galindo
Coloured by Grostieta
Lettered by Fabio Amelia

    Britney Waters, aka Red Riding Hood, is recruited by a secret government agency to help take down an extremely dangerous terrorist organization called The Circle. Using the codename “Red Agent,” Britney must locate a hacker named Ditto who may be the only chance the government has at stopping the terrorist group. But The Circle has sent its sadistic laboratory-enhanced soldier Alpha after Ditto, making Britney’s mission much more dangerous than anticipated.

    So this first issue was absolutely amazing to me.  I love the idea behind this using Red, Britney, as an agent to protect the world, highborns and humans alike.  With a pre-existing antagonist in Alpha keeping the world tied together so that the whole thing feels like a Mission Impossible movie makes for great reading.  So it’s my hope that we’ll see this mini-series be about Britney gathering her team and stopping Alpha, for now, and establishing herself as one of the world’s foremost spies.  Should Lou be able to keep this going the way this first issue went then it really can be another strong ongoing monthly series, or yearly mini-series that keeps Zenescope firmly entrenched as one of today’s best innovators.

    The opening is incredible in it’s depiction of violence and intrigue.  Yes Alpha’s kidnapping of this girl sets off a string of events that will dictate how this story progresses.  The intrigue of who Alpha works for and why he’s doing what he’s doing well it’s definitely something extraordinary.  

    So seeing Britney heading into a newly reopened NORAD with a tour by the General, no name just General, was handled, see written, extremely well.  I loved the dialogue between the two.  I have to admit that the General’s idea of having Britney as an agent to lead an elite group instead of just using her, lying to her and trying to manipulate her but having it feel honest and true is something I wasn’t expecting.  For whatever reason I actually kind of trust Lou in his reasoning and his actions and that in itself is nice to see considering how often these types aren’t portrayed as understanding or helpful.  Granted Lou could throw us all for a huge loop but either way it’s convincing.

    So the introduction of Ditto is great.  I like the character as he’s one who uses his skills to skirt the law and do things his own way.  Using whom he does is his problem he needs training and a team behind him to utilize his skill set.  That’s where Britney comes in provided she can get him from Alpha’s clutches.  The events that unfold this issue make it clearly evident why he wants Ditto and with how this issue ends it’ll be interesting to see how the chips lay.

    Diego and Grostieta do some amazing work on the interiors too.  I am a huge fan of the fact that she can be feminine, strong, confident and a badass without looking like she’s wearing a cheap slutty Red Riding Hood costume from Party City.  Plus the attention to detail throughout the whole issue by both of them goes a long way to making this as successful as it is.  The bullets through water for instance is beautifully done highlighting the use of colours.  The use of backgrounds is phenomenal as is the page and panel layouts.  

    This is the kind of book the world needs about a strong female lead that’s done with respect, intelligence and high octane adventure!  

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Monster World #2

1/26/2016

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Monster World #2
American Gothic Press 2015
Written by Steve Niles & Philip Kim
Illustrated by Piotr Kowalski
Coloured by Dennis Calero
Lettered by Marshall Dillon

    I am in love with this book and with Hank Barrymore!  The throwback setting of Hollywood’s golden age as the backdrop for a movie’s monsters come to life tale is perfectly done.  These guys have captured the era, tone, feel and look in such a way that this is something i’d love to see done on the big screen as it’s really that good.  

    After last issue Hank knows he’s been played by his client and goes to see her for an explanation.  Knowing full well what he’s getting himself into and what’s going to happen in this meeting he allows it to go the distance.  There’s still something off about Mrs. Forrester and it’s apparent from the moment we met her but then again she’s the classic Dame of the story that convinces the Private Dick to help her out and she does that exceedingly well here.

    On a side note here there’s a reason I love Piotr’s work and it’s clearly evident in his portrayal of these characters.  Hank’s naked body in silhouette and getting dressed with just that right amount of exposure, and the happy trail, is evocative and classy.  

    Back at his office while drowning his troubles, the ones he’s gotten himself into by the way, he receives a visitor.  Oh the tension here too was great and although it’s just Buck the reporter.  God the writing here really is spectacular as Buck is integral to the story.  This is a time when the internet was science fiction and a good reporter had his ear to the ground and contacts everywhere.  The way this is portrayed here really epitomizes that whole era.  Buck’s knowledge is encyclopedic in its weirdness and that’s what useful here.  

    So the boys go to meet Buck’s friend who may hold some answers that they need about what’s happening at Monster World Studios.  Pretty much immediately Wilson is unnerved by the conversation and it’s almost like he knows they are being watched and ushers them out.  There is one man whose name keeps coming up however and I look forward to Hank actually getting to meet and know him.  

    So the gist of what’s happening in town is kind of explained but enough is left open so that there’s still plenty of opportunity to really have it fleshed out.  Buck having no encounters yet is skeptical of what he’s been told until tonight.  As events unfold before him there leaves little room for doubt that monsters do in reality exist and they are being set upon them.  Someone wants the disappearance of Mr. Forrester and the murders at the studio to remain a mystery.

    So there’s more to Hank’s background than we knew.  Next issue we’ll learn more about that if the covers any indication.  In the meantime you need to get lost in this world because this is the kind of story that evokes so much memory and longing in the reader.  This is what a classic feels like.

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Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #3

1/26/2016

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Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #3
Valiant Entertainment 2015
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Raul Allen & Patricia Martin
Art Assists by David Astruga
Additional Colours by Borja Pindado
Lettered by Patricia Martin

    Gilad died protecting the Geomancer and the Earth itself from Master Darque, a powerful practitioner of dark magic.  Upon his death, he returned to the afterlife and was greeted by his long deceased wife Leena and the many children he has lost over his centuries of life.  Not all of them were happy to see him, including his oldest son, Kalam.  Indeed, dark forces are already daring Gilad to attempt his return to the land of the living...As Gilad fights his way back to the living world, he is unaware of something evil that lures him to his doom…

    I am lost in this world or should I saw afterworld that Gilad finds himself in.  This is and continues to be something that explains so much of his character.  Fighting the forces of hell as he heals and makes his way back to the land of the living to keep up the mantle of hero and guardian of the Geomancer yeah it really delves into the deepest parts of him and gives us a fuller picture.  

    Not only is Robert knocking this story out of the park but the interior artwork is amazing as well.  I mean dang this is some hella good stuff we’re seeing here.  The two-page spread alone is sheer genius and by blacking out Gilad was just one of those moments you’ll never forget.  So that we see such differences in the time he’s with his family compared to when he’s in the chamber really makes this stand out as much as it does.  Well that and the imagination in ringing the denizens of the underworld to life.

    Gilad’s relationship with his family is a complicated one to say the least.  Much more so than most since Leena and the children are deceased and he only sees them when he needs to leave the mortal plane to recuperate.  On one hand she understands him and loves his determination and on the other hates him for repeatedly leaving her not understanding why they aren’t enough for him.  It’s so well written here that it is almost painful to see Gilad have to deal with either of those facets.  That’s damn good writing when you can see that.

    So Gilad has to escape the afterlife and that it isn’t going to be easy but doesn’t feel drawn out or prolonged unnecessarily is great.  I like that this isn’t written or at least doesn’t feel like it’s written to fit a trade.  The struggle we see in gaining his freedom is fun for the fact that we see him thinking and using some ingenuity.   Sure there’s also plenty of action going on here as well as he has to fight his way through Humongous’ hordes.  

    Overall this really has taken the character to new heights, places and with some of the most indepth characterization i’ve ever seen.  I mean there’s so many layers to him and as we see one another is revealed and how they all kind of interplay is incredible to see.  

    With series as strong as this it’s easy to see why Valiant is taking it’s place alongside the top companies in the industry.  

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Call of Duty: Black Ops III #3

1/26/2016

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Call of Duty: Black Ops III #3
Dark Horse Comics 2015
Written by Larry Hama
Illustrated by Marcelo Ferreira
Coloured by Dan Jackson
Lettered by Michael Heisler

    In the future, a world ravaged by environmental change and transformed by technology is gripped in a new cold war. An elite unit of soldiers, including Dylan Stone, Jacob Hendricks, and John Taylor, carries out the wetwork of the Winslow Accord deep behind enemy lines. They’ve been following leads from Uzbekistan to Finland, chasing down the deadly assassin known only as “the Wet Witch.” In Helsinki the team picked up a sniper: Alice Conrad. Their plane gets shot down in the remote arctic, where they have to fight tooth and nail for a clue about their enemies’ plan . . .

    Who are you going to call when you need a war story told?  None other than Larry Hama because he’s the man with the plan and the ability to really tell a story so involved in military jargon and sequence that you just feel it’s incredibly accurate.  I’ve never been in the military so their behavior is only something i’ve seen in movies and books so for me yeah this has a great feel and tone to the writing that this unit is what I think of as being right.

    Just an fyi here too Marcelo and Dan’s work on the interiors is pretty fantastic.  Aside from some great moments of realistic people and human anatomy they are able to bring action sequences to life with a sense of motion that’s hard to do.  Also the use of pages and panel layouts is impressive to help not only the flow of the story but to highlight certain things as well.  Of course i’m also a huge fan of backgrounds and perspective they bring so that they don’t shy away from effectively using both makes me a happy camper.

    I’m not a video-gamer so for me this is all I know about the franchise, expect maybe it’s a first person shooter game.  So the story we get and the mission they are on is more than enough to keep me not only entertained and thrilled but also thoroughly engrossed in what’s going on.  The characterization is spectacular and while not everyone is expected to live it’s nice to see that sometimes they do.  Then there’s also the teamwork on display here that only a team so oiled and used to one another can produce.  Larry’s really got an exceptional eye for that kind of detail writing and it comes through both boldly and subtlely here.

    There’s something crazy fun happening here with the story as well.  The Red Witch, the Wet Witch and whoever and whatever else the Russians are sending into play have done a fantastic job of misdirection.  As the story moves forward and we learn things aren’t always what they appear to be it just gets that much more interesting and the bad guys aren’t as clear cut as you’d like to think.  Granted everyone has a reason for what they are doing and some aren’t as altruistic but then is this teams any more so?  

    This is a perfect action/adventure military thriller.

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Titans Hunt #4

1/26/2016

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Titans Hunt #4 (of 12)
DC Comics 2015
Written by Dan Abnett
Penciled by Stephen Segovia
Inked by Art Thibert
Coloured by Hi-Fi
Lettered by Carlos M. Mangual

    Still one of my favourite books right now.  I’m a die-hard Titans fan and the late sixties, early seventies run had my favourite cast of characters.  What Dan does this issue not only brings them back but says--hey I read these stories and i’m a fan too so i’ll do them justice in bringing them back to prominence.  

    The opening alone had me in fanboy heaven!  I mean seriously NINE of the original Titans, okay Mal and Dove were missing but they were there, are back in action the two page spread combines the best of the old and the new.  I also have to admit two things, the first is that I find myself not even missing Wally here and that surprises me but it is what it is.  The second is that it’s about time Garth was considered a powerhouse up there in league with Donna.  So the opening serves a dual purpose in that not only do we see them as a team but Dove has gone off after Mal who was taken setting something else up.

    When we get back to the present we see that the flashback is in reality just a memory shared by Dick, Donna and Garth.  There’s something about the characterization here that I find mesmerizing.  I see glimmers of their old persona’s but these aren’t them they are products of the world they are on now so melded it really makes me want to get to know them all over again for the first time.  

    Meanwhile Mal after his seizure was taken to the hospital where Karen shows up looking for her husband only he’s not there.  Now here’s where Mal’s background comes into play.  We’ve seen him with the Horn of Jericho and then with the science one that opened portals and let the Gargoyle, formerly Mister Twister, free and there’s a whole mess.  So somehow Dan is combining pre and post crisis origins together here and I cannot wait to see how he complete’s that.  I mean let’s face it Mal is also one of DC’s first black superheroes so that’s a major part of this story is beyond fantastic.  

    Ah thanks guys for not turning Mr. Twister into the Gargoyle and letting us see him holding that staff as something of a ghost, trapped in limbo maybe.  That he uses Mal to set this all in action just rings so true to what has come before that it’s just perfectly executed for me.  

    It also makes me extremely happy to see the time spent on Hawk and Dove.  Also that even though Dawn possess the mantle now she’s unaffected by what’s happening while Hank most certainly is.  I also think that this gives us a new look into Dove’s fate outside of the Crisis on Infinite Earths so that will be something learn about.  Gnarrk and Roy’s little adventure together also goes a long way to finally fleshing out Caveboy, really Caveboy?, in a way that we can get behind.  

    We’ll never be able to really revisit the past, well I doubt Dan would let us on whichever Earth that happens to be on, so this one here is the best possible thing to happen.  It gives us these characters in a fresh, new way while paying homage and respect to what’s come before.  Plus some absolutely killer interior artwork here really helps set the stage for an ongoing series once this is over.  

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The Hangman #2

1/26/2016

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The Hangman #2
Dark Circle Comics 2015
Written by Frank Tieri
Illustrated by Felix Ruiz
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Rachel Deering

    Well here we are with the second issue of the new Hangman’s origin and I gotta say it’s a doozy.  That this is very much living up to the company name of Dark Circle is one of the better aspects for me.  Michael Minetta is to be the new Hangman but first we have get to the point where he accepts the mantle.  I like how Frank is telling this because it really delves into the darkest reaches of what man is capable of doing and how closely heaven and hell work together so that the right person is being used in the “job.”

    With shows like Lucifer, Supernatural and the like on air we’re seeing more and more ideas like this one and I gotta say it’s fun to see.  Felix and Kelly do some wonderful work on the interiors here to keep things so dark.  There really is this heaviness to the work that helps you feel what you need to.  Well that and the whole thing where Michael gets his let’s call it education about what’s in store for him.  Such imagery on display here it’s really captivating.  Plus there are these great little gems throughout the pages and panels that really set the stage perfectly.

    Wow Michael really was a very proficient hitman wasn’t he.  We see many of his fulfilled contracts here confronting him in what appears to be some dreamlike state.  I have to admit that Frank really showcases his, Michael’s, range emotions here from uncertain, to terrified, disbelief and finally defiant resignation and it’s so well done.  

    When he finally realizes where he’s at and who his host is there’s great drama going on.  The dialogue between he and his host is the kind of stuff  you look for when reading it’s just that interesting and character revealing.  By the way there is some rather adult language and suggest imagery in that language but it goes so well with the concept of what’s happening and who is saying it that kind of want to see him do just what he would like.  Though fate and his working relationship have other ideas, for now.  

    There’s one moment when Michael uses his own words and pisses his host off to the point where well you gotta see it to believe it.  Suffice it to say the results are incredible.  It’s also the lead-in to the history of the Hangman and Michael’s new role in life.  So basically we’ve seen the kind of man Michael is and what he does, what he’s good at and now we learn about what he’ll be doing from here on out.  It’s good, interesting stuff and I think it goes beyond redemption but that’s on the table too.  

    My only request is that he doesn’t run around like the last page of this issue.  I understand this is a new generation etc, but honestly the “street” look is tired already and I long for the days of costumes.  Plus i’d really be interested in seeing what he chose, aside from this which is kind of lame.  If he’s keeping this then at least do something about the mask/hood all he looks like right now is some burglar or mugger.

    I look forward to seeing what Frank and co. has in store for us here.  

​
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