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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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Mary Shelley Presents #2

2/15/2020

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Mary Shelley Presents #2
Man-Size in Marble by Edith Nesbit
Kymera Press 2018
Written by Nancy Holder
Illustrated by Amelia Woo
Coloured by Sandra Molina
Colour Seperation by Alejandro García
Lettered by Saida Temofonte


     A young pair of newlyweds settling down into a small cottage in a quiet village are looking forward to a pleasant, pastoral life. The husband dismisses a superstitious maid’s tale of an ancient curse concerning the local church’s marble statues, statues who come to life each year on All Saint’s Eve to wreak revenge. But then, one fateful night…

     I am a fan of this series. I am thankful to work with some wonderful PR people who send me series like these that I doubt I would have heard of otherwise. I am very thankful that this is one of the series that was brought to my attention too. Women who tell the stories that women of the past told before it was common or considered decent to tell them is empowering in any number of ways. For me this is just a stunning example of storytelling and it thrills me to no end that such a hauntingly beautiful story can be brought to life. There is also something inherently creepy about different era's in European history from the stories we have heard and yet combine the power of ones own imagination with folklore and legend and we tend to find ways to scare ourselves.

     I love the way that this is being told. Sometimes an adaptation can alter the way the original story is meant to be read but with the original story in the back of the book you can see how much care Nancy takes in making sure she's telling as accurately as humanly possible. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfolds and how the reader learns information is presented so beautifully. The opening and closing for the story as told by Mary and her creation are inadvertently creating this new late night double feature picture show hosts that scream to be seen time and time again. The character development we see is sensational and how we see them through the dialogue and how the act and react to the situations and circumstances really paints a picture of their personalities. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through pages it works with everything else to create this gorgeous ebb & flow to the book.

     I am in love with Amelia's work on the interiors. The linework we see is phenomenal and how the varying weights are utilised to showcase this level and quality in the attention to detail is simply mindbogglingly great. From the different styles, sizes and places of the homes they look at, to the ways we see the clothing or backgrounds involved what we see is so well thought out and rendered. The backgrounds as seen within the composition in the panels bring us this depth perception, sense of scale as well as the overall size and scope of the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a strong and masterful eye for storytelling. The colour work is exquisite! To see how the light sources are utilised and how the various hues and tones within all the colours to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is divinely rendered. I mean the mastery of colour and the understanding in how to utilise it is utterly remarkable.
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     There is a reason the stories are considered classics and unfortunately many aren't taught in schools any longer so to be able to see some like this one come to life and spark the readers' mind and imagination while fully engaging them will hopefully lead them to seek these and others out. History is rife with nearly forgotten works and this series spotlighting some of them is a reminder that some things should never be forgotten.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides #2

2/15/2020

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Dungeons & Dragons: Infernal Tides #2
IDW Publishing 2020
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Max Dunbar
Coloured by Sebastian Cheng
Lettered by Neil Uyetake


     A devil-tainted puzzle box sends our heroes to the fortress-library known as Candlekeep. If Minsc and his companions can’t unravel its secrets in time, thousands of innocent souls will be lost, including their own!

     One day at a convention I want to play an adventure with these characters that's run by Jim. That would make my life complete, well partially but certainly it's a bucket list item at this point. So anyone listening, Jim, let's do this because my god how much fun would it be? If you haven't read this then you really have no way of understanding of just how damn good this series is on such a regular basis.

     Here's another thing about this series that I love and that it feels like they are more than a team, a family if you will. Strangers when they met and now a well oiled machine who care for one another and look out for one another. In a lot of ways it feels like the New Teen Titans and arc after arc the parallels do not fade and it's because of how well Jim is writing this. This isn't him creating the characters it's him telling the story of their lives and adventures and there are very few writers alive and working that have the ability to do that. Part of me wishes that last issue we hadn't seen Beatrice, who isn't a Tressym, reveal what she really is. The surprise element would have been much nicer but then again it worked out the way it's supposed to.

    I am fan of how this is being told. Aside from the style of Jim's writing the story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well how the reader learns information is presented in such a spectacular manner. The character development continues to impress me and to see the group never staying quite the same and the addition of new characters who leave subtle influences upon them is delightful. The pacing that we see here is superb and as it takes through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way really help create some great unexpected moments. The way all this works together helps create the ebb & flow that we see and how the structure of the book comes to life.

     Max is a delightfully talented artist and illustrator. He has a nice style that verges on the all-ages cartoon type of work and yet he infuses that will some great attention to detail. The linework is superb and how the varying weights are utilised to show a sure, strong and steady hand is fantastic. How we see the backgrounds being utilised and how they fit within the composition in the panels bring us depth perception, scale and the overall sense of size and scope of the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a marvellous eye for storytelling. The creativity and imagination that we see is fantastic and the imp or whatever it is one of those crazy creepy cool things we love to see. I am loving the colour work here and how we see the way that the hues and tones can bleed or show gradation and even colour blocking is so beautifully rendered and shows such an understanding of how colour works.
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     Listen if you've ever been a fan of the New Teen Titans then do yourself a favour and start with the first trade and tell me you don't see what I see. You'll thank me for it I guarantee that much. This is as good if not better than a majority of the super-hero team books on stands today and that isn't just an opinion. So if you think you only read super-hero stories and you only read them from the “big 2” then I am here to tell you this will change your mind.

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The Clock #2

2/15/2020

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The Clock #2
Top Cow Productions/Image Comics 2020
Created & Written by Matt Hawkins
Created & Illustrated by Colleen Doran
Coloured by Bryan Valenza
Lettered by Troy Peteri


     When aggressive cancer begins spreading through humanity like a virus, one scientist will sacrifice anything for answers. Is it a global eugenics conspiracy? The beginning of World War III? And can he get to the bottom of it before it takes what’s left of his family?
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     I digging this. The idea of weaponising cancer, or any other disease, is one that isn't so far fetched. Look at bio-warfare and tell me where it got it's start because that's what this is. It is just taking an avenue that has never been seen before and that is both scary as hell and thrilling as all get out. In our modern age this would seem to be one of just a few scenarios for me, big pharma and their need to sell the cure or steps to halt it so they make even more money and feel like they have power or an ethnic cleansing with the United States current climate would be entirely plausible. So very effectively here Matt is writing something that engages the reader, makes them think and in effect become a part of the narrative.

     I am enjoying the way that this is being told a whole heck of a lot. There is a pace at which we see things occurring here that I wasn't expecting to see but it certainly add a lot to how we see things. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is presented extremely well. I could do without seeing some events happening but then again there's a reason I am not a writer. Because the way the story unfolds I see conspiracy around every corner and turn that he makes. The character development is interesting because while yes he's a scientist I cannot fathom how someone can be so clueless as to what's happening around them. Though I suspect that this may change and I look forward to seeing his character develop further. The pacing is sensational and the pace at which we see situations and circumstances develop is phenomenal. The way that we see all this working together to create the books overall ebb & flow is a medical thriller par excellence.

     I love Colleen's work she has this way of creating such beauty and grace with her work. The linework is beautifully laid down and how we see the varying weights being utilised to show off this level of attention to detail. The faces, facial expressions and body language that we see do wonders in furthering the characterisation in ways words alone cannot do. Though that strategic placement of the towel is a moment I will wonder about heh. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a mastery for storytelling. To see the backgrounds being utilised is nice to see, yes I want more, and it certainly brings us this nice depth perception, scale and overall sense of size and scope within the composition of the panels. The colour work we see is really stunning as well. The way we see the reflection in the floors is fantastic. The way that we see the hues and tones within the colours create the shading, highlights and shadow work is really stunning work.
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     The medical thriller is a genre we rarely see, even in novels, so to see it here and to see it done this exceptionally well is mindbogglingly good. This stacks up with the likes of Alex Kava or Michael Crichton and we're only in the second issue so I can't imagine what it's going to be like as the story continues. This is why I love Matt, the way his mind works and his desire to tell stories that no one else is seemingly capable of doing.  ​

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Star Trek Year Five Valentine's Day Special

2/14/2020

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Star Trek Year Five Valentine's Day Special
IDW Publishing 2020
Written by Paul Cornell
Illustrated by Christopher Jones
Coloured by Charlie Kirchoff
Lettered by Neil Uyetake


     James T. Kirk has had many loves during his mission among the stars, but this time he may have met his match in fellow Starfleet Captain Laura Rhone.

     Ah Valentine's Day, the day made up by a greeting card company to sell product has turned into a multi-billion dollar business. For singles appreciation day I am very picky about what kind of stories I read and to be honest I have never really enjoy the romantic comedies, well unless it had Rock Hudson in them. Then there's James T. Kirk who is a notorious ladies man and I knew a Valentine's story with him was going to be interesting to say the least and so here we are and ya know what I was right.

     I enjoyed a heck of a lot more than I had thought I would and that is saying something because I love this crew, cast whichever way you wanna call it. The opening here is amazing and for once it is nice to see the reverse happening and yet how Bones knows him so very well. It is the little things like knowing when to go that we identify with these characters that allow us to simply sink back into their world. The writing is impeccable and the way that the story & plot development is utilised through the sequence of events unfolding as well as how the reader learns information is sensational. The flow to the events that we see and the personal history that's covered really has this weird, powerful impact on me as someone who grew up with all that we see. The character development is phenomenal. The regulars are who they are and it's easy to see them in the same way but a new “episode” as it were. The new characters are fantastic and it is nice to finally see someone who could give Kirk a run for his money. The pacing is superb as it takes us through the pages and unveils their journey together while helping create this really sensitive and emotional ebb & flow.

     Paul is a certified genius I believe and as you read this you'll understand why I say this as he adds moments that tie in the entire history that Kirk has and it's done so smoothly and seamlessly. I marvel at how large this all feels when it's only a standard length issue.

     First, I love Christopher and the work he does. I have been a fan a long time now and to see him take on Starfleet is damn impressive. His linework is beautiful and how we see the varying weights utilised to bring out the attention to detail that we see is fantastic. He's got one of those steady, strong and sure hands when it comes to his art and yet he can show that and great delicacy at the same time. He is able to bring out the emotions and feelings and get the reader to feel them as well and it's one of the aspects of his work that I really admire. That he understands how to utilise backgrounds and how they work within the composition in the panels to create depth perception, scale and that overall sense of size and scope is perfectly done. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this masterful eye for storytelling. I am really enjoying the colour work as well. There are some really gorgeous colours being utilised and then to see the hues and tones within them create the shading, highlights and shadow work is superb. The creativity, imagination and the old school rendering of the ships and uniforms are mindbogglingly good.
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     I am not sure what IDW was thinking because now I want more. I want to see the Drake's adventures with her female captain and first officers. I want to stay in the five year mission universe and let this creative team run rampant creating new adventures and boldly going where no woman has gone before. Seriously there needs to be an outcry for more of this and if there's not perhaps we will start one. This is like that feeling you get when you realise the animated series and the television merge into something bigger than either one alone.

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Blackwood: The Mourning After #1

2/14/2020

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Blackwood: The Mourning After #1
Dark Horse Comics 2020
Written by Evan Dorkin
Illustrated by Veronica & Andy Fish
Lettered by Greg McKenna


     Blackwood College is in mourning after the death of Dean Ogden, unaware there's a traitor in their midst looking to bury the entire school. Meanwhile, the students continue to deal with Dennis's death, a situation that Reiko not only refuses to accept but plans to rectify. Will mayhem ensue? Duh.

     I am a huge fan of this book. There has to be more tot his than what we're seeing here because this is all kinds of awesome so if there are novels and such I'd love to know about them. But hey I am thrilled that Blackwood is back for another arc because the first one was freaking amazing! With so many teen style magic drama's or just teen soap drama's, thank to the CW & Freeform, this one is really taking a much darker approach than we're used to seeing. Legacies comes close but this is still better. I like that this is real, for lack of a better word, in that it's a magic school and there are those that attend that don't fit the norm and do fit certain stereotypes. It just that natural feel to the book that helps us find our own niche in it.

     Evan does a spectacular job with the writing here. The story & plot development as we see through the sequence of events unfolding and how the reader learns information is exceptionally well presented. Also I really like the fact that while it helps if you've read the first arc it isn't completely necessary in order to enjoy this one. Everything we need to know is laid out and a mild catch up on previous events does occur. So the way that this is being told is impressive to say the least. The character development that we are seeing is really rather quite good. We see the kids personalities and we see them continue to grow and evolve as they encounter situations and circumstances. New characters are introduced and their personalities are “established” but our opinions of them may change the longer we see them throughout the arc. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way it manages to be creepy, fascinating, entertaining and mysterious generally all at the same time. The way all this works together to create the books ebb & flow and showcase how the book is structured is marvellous.

     The interior artwork here is fantastic. The linework that we see through it's varying weights bring out the attention to detail beautifully. That there are a lot of unusual things that need to be shown the creativity and imagination that we see shines through. Also there is the magic we see as well or the result of a spell and the Fish's really get to unleash some great stuff here. The way we see the composition within the panels and how they show depth perception, scale and the overall sense of size and scope is extremely nice to see. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective inside the panels show a strong eye for storytelling. The colour work is really nice to see as well. The hues and tones we see within any given colour utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered beautifully. Whomever is responsible for the writing portion that made up the body well holy effin Mackerel that's some bloody genius work.
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     Well with everything we see within these pages and the body of the monkey in silhouette as it listens to them in office just makes me want to see more. Oh and that monkey is amazing and nasty and delightful so I may not be a happy camper and I hope that isn't the case. What we see here is just good old fashioned solid storytelling. A catalyst to see the kids starting to bond, a mystery that needs solving and intrigue that hasn't reared it's head fully yet. It is dark fun pure and simple and I wouldn't want it any other way. ​

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Carson of Venus: The Eye of Amtor #1

2/14/2020

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Carson of Venus: The Eye of Amtor #1
American Mythology Productions 2020
Written by Mike Wolfer & Matt Betts
Illustrated by Vincenzo Carratù
Coloured by Periya Pillai
Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun
Written by Christopher Paul Carey
Illustrated by Mike Wolfer
Coloured by Periya Pillai
All Lettering by Natalie Jane


     In 2020, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. will be launching the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe, an all-new series of interconnected novels by today's top sci-fi writers... And it all begins at American Mythology with a groundbreaking comics prequel series to the first ERB Universe novel, Matt Betts' Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds! In Carson of Venus: Eye of Amtor, stranded Earthman Carson Napier fights against time and the planet Venus itself, tasked with gathering natural artifacts from across wild Amtor before a mad king executes his friends Ero Shan and Nalte. But Carson is not alone, as Princess Duare battles at his side against unearthly creatures and savage landscapes! Then, thrill to the adventures of scientist Jason Gridley and his mysterious protégé Victory Harben in the astounding Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun, a special, three-part, back-up story that launches the epic plot-line that will run throughout the novels in the first ERBU "super-arc!"

     For me this is something I find myself enjoying so very much. While Dynamite may utilise the world of John Carter what American Mythology is doing is something else entirely. If for whatever reason you aren't familiar with the worlds that Burroughs created these stories are the most closely resembling what it was he did. So for long-time fans and for those being introduced the effect is nearly the same, we're welcomed into worlds of awe, wonder and pure imagination. Also that I am constantly amazed by what we see within the pages is incredible, it's like opening a new gift with each arc because you just don't know what's going to be inside. The love, care and passion that these are done with shines through every panel of every page and that's something that bleeds into the reader as well.

     First of all thank you for this opening splash page because we see these giant zebra hyena's and they are after the ugly brutish my little ponies and it sets the stage for what's to come beautifully. Since Burroughs drew heavily upon the influences he knew it should come as no surprise that we see an isolated “neutral” city that seems to be run by a cross of Roman and Greek influences. I felt the Robot warning me of danger almost immediately and I think that adds something to the mix that is welcome and missing in general. That feeling you get from the mix of writing and illustration that creates the ambiance that is as much a tell as anything else.

     The story & plot development here is amazing and how we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is perfectly presented. The character development is strong and constantly growing and moving forward. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way while also helping to create the books ebb & flow is so nicely rendered.

     The interiors here are phenomenal! The linework is exquisite and the creativity and imagination on display that is brought to life through how the attention to detail shines through, fabulous dahling. I am a fan of the way we see backgrounds and how they work within the composition in the panels to bring depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall size and scope to the book. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a strong and beautiful eye for storytelling. The colour work is extremely well handled here and the array of purples we see makes my heart sing, it's regal of course and my favourite colour. The way that we see the highlights, shading and shadow work created through the varying hues and tones within the colours is gorgeously rendered here. Plus that hairy chest on Carson, sigh.

     I am definitely looking forward to what is coming next as the pair have to find the materials needed for the job Carson needs to do.

     The back-up feature here is as delightful as the main one. Though I have to admit the interiors are a lot more interesting. That first page with the skulls, flowers and vines for the border oh yeah that's what I am talking about! This is the kind of crisp, clean and strong linework that I gravitate towards. The dialogue and what we see happening is fantastic! It is all about the banter between them for me as it has this ring of authenticity and playfulness that is rare to come by. I just wish it were longer lol.
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     So American Mythology and the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs continues to thrill audiences as it was always meant to and should be!

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A Monster Lass: Sue, The Urban Sorceress #1

2/13/2020

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A Monster Lass: Sue, The Urban Sorceress #1
Transmediatale 2020
Created by Gianluca Balla
Written by Daniel Maher
Illustrated by Antonella Capolupo


     Ripples
     London is dark and mysterious. Sue knows it well because she is an Urban Sorceress. She does have a scary power: she can read souls by burning chicken bones.

     This one I saw on ComiXology and took that preview look at it and thought this looks promising so I contacted them and asked to review the issue. Yes sometimes we have to be cheeky about it because I do reviews and it doesn't pay. I am so glad that I did that too because this issue is incredibly darling. I remember being in secondary school and being the outcast, the kid who had slurs, names and such hurled at them by kids who didn't have the nerve to say it my face. Here they make no bones about saying things to her face and I am not sure which is worse. My point, and yes I have one, is that Sue is someone that pretty much everyone either is, knows or did this to others so it's easy to relate to on a number of levels.

     Right from the get-go I liked Sue. Tarot cards and the kind of existential thinking that we see. There is a heck of a lot dialogue here but what we see is mostly bullying in one form or another. It is harsh and oft times cruel although there is that one sequence that takes us by surprise, or at least it did me, that showcases a side of Sue she always thought she had but didn't have the opportunity to really explore it. I am guessing on that one but with what we see and what she says that's a pretty strong assumption. Still I find it a fascinating look at how we navigate the hallways of secondary school. First impressions are the ones that last and if you've grown up with these kids then being cast out usually happens at an early age. So what we see is really defence mechanisms in play.

     The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is extremely well done. The character development really is top notch and I could wax philosophical further but let's not. Let us just say that what Daniel manages to do is get me so engaged and so involved that I use my life for the basis of understanding and knowing what this feels like. That is some darn fine writing people. The pacing is great and it takes on this journey through the pages working with everything else to create a really nice ebb & flow to the book.
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     Daniel may be writing this but it's Antonella that's the star here. Her work is exquisite and the way that this has a manga feel to it and yet isn't exactly manga is sensational. The linework is superb and how we see the varying weights being utilised to bring out the attention to detail is stunning. The different techniques that we see being utilised is what helps to make this what it is. The faces and facial expressions bring so much emotion out of the characters and really help to flesh out their characterisation in ways that words alone cannot do. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this magnificent eye for storytelling.

     I think this tugs at the readers' emotional strings as much as it does the characters. By the last page I think I was a tad heartbroken and it leaves you feeling a little gutted. Now that I do feel this way and that I have such a connection is really thanks to this creative team because they've manage to bring this to life in such a real and powerful way. I want to see what happens with Sue next and where she goes from here. While I have no idea what's in the cards, pun intended, I have to say I think I may have found a new magnificent obsession in this. So I do hope that we'll be seeing more of this series

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Undone By Death or The Shadow of A Wanted Man #1

2/13/2020

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Undone By Blood or The Shadow of A Wanted Man #1
Aftershock Comics 2020
Created & Written by Lonnie Nadler & Zac Thompson
Created & Illustrated by Sami Kivelä
Coloured by Jason Wordie
Lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou


     In the early 1970s, Ethel Grady Lane returns to her home-town of Sweetheart, Arizona with one thing on her mind: killing the man who murdered her family. But first, she’ll have to find him. As Ethel navigates the eccentric town and its inhabitants, she learns that the quaint veneer hides a brewing darkness. She has no choice but to descend into a ring of depravity and violence, with her only ally an Old West novel that follows famed gunslinger Solomon Eaton. As both stories unfold simultaneously, a love of fiction informs choices in reality, for better or worse.

     Once again Aftershock breaks that glass ceiling and proves that they are continuing to put out some of best books on stands today, somehow topping even themselves. At first I though wait am I reading a first issue and then things became more clear. I love this because it is two stories in one and yet both are pretty much among the same lines as if one is drawing is inspiration from the other and we see how they both progress. I don't think I have seen this done in quite this manner before and I applaud the originality and ingenuity behind it. I will say this it surely caught my attention and made want to know what was going on, plus I gotta say it made me want more of Sol's story.

     The way this is being is innovative, fresh and damn good. How we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information makes the story & plot development we see much more enticing. I really like duality we see here and even more so that we don't really know her story, only bits and pieces she's like a blank slate of anger. Which leads me to the character development and that's on point as well. Sol's easier to understand and somehow he's almost admirable and I feel like he's right out of the Rifleman, yes I watched that western. Ethel not so much she's anger personified at this juncture so seeing where this road will take her and how it's going to change her, well the Magic 8-Ball says Reply Hazy, Try Again. The pacing is dynamite and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way it works with everything else to creates the books almost meandering ebb & flow.

     I am loving the interiors here as well. I am mightily impressed with the difference in style we see between the two story arcs. That first splash page of Ethel was where I knew that this was beyond special. She's a tough cookie but she's all anger and bravado and hasn't learned to bite yet at least in my looking at this. The linework is spectacular and how the varying weights are being utilised to bring about this sensational attention to detail is phenomenal. I'm not sure what landmark that is, though I feel I should, with all that minute detail sigh. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a strong and wickedly talented eye for storytelling. How backgrounds are utilised makes me chuffed and then within the composition in the panels bringing us this depth perception, scale and overall sense of size and scope to the stories is superb. Then there's the colour work and Jordie outdid himself here. The way the colours look and how some are like this old, faded, rusted or whatnot and the different shades utilised to make it that way makes me shudder. The way that the hues and tones within any given colour are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadows, even the harder (in my opinion) muted versions in the other arc, showcase such skill, talent and sheer chutzpah. This work on the interiors all around is bloody mindbogglingly brilliant.

     Western and Western themed is not that common any longer and this here proves there is a definite need for it. I am just as invested I seeing the blonde haired, blue eyed rugged outlaw turned family man as I am in this angry young woman seeking revenge. Oh and can I add that it is extremely nice to see that Ethel doesn't really understand the first thing about revenge. This is refreshing change of pace from the norm and Aftershock does it again, someone else said we're the best and they responded with, hold my beer. ​

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Valhalla Awaits #1

2/13/2020

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Valhalla Awaits #1
Evoluzione Publishing 2020
Created by Phil Buckenham
Written by Joshua Metzger & Phil Buckenham
Illustrated by Phil Buckenham
Coloured by Agnese Pozza
Lettered by Justin Birch


     Valhalla Awaits is a comic series that draws heavily from the Poetic Edda and Viking and Norse mythological themes. The story follows characters Hildr and Erik and their journey through the Viking afterlife, where they encounter Norse gods, and legendary creatures.

     I love a good Viking story, the Norse, the Egyptian and the Greek Gods are those that have for me the most interesting and intriguing characters. So while you can assume from the title that death will be a main feature here. I have to say I am utterly and sincerely impressed with this book and what I am seeing here. This is why I love small press companies, it's why I implore you to give them a try because of stories like this. Evoluzione is home to some incredible storytelling and you really need to check them out and soon.

     I found the opening to be dramatic, impactful and full this impending doom and yet that rush for a small hope lingered. It really catches the readers' attention and keeps you engaged and even going off-script as you think of what may or may not know or heck even look up something to familiarise yourself more. This is such a rich and largely untapped realm so seeing this take on it is for me thrilling to see. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is laid down spectacularly. Just the flow of the story and how things progress in such a way that you never lose your focus on what is happening. The character development is fantastic! I really enjoy seeing how the characters are introduced and how Hildr grows up and expands her viewpoint beyond what Erik drilled into her. She has some great lines and they are rather quite true to this day. The pacing is superb and as it takes through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way keeps us fascinated. The way everything works together to create the books ebb & flow is brilliantly done.

     The interiors here are bloody marvellous! The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights being utilised to showcase the level and quality in the attention to detail will bring a smile to anyone's face. Speaking of the faces and facial expressions that we see are superb and along with the body language further the characterisation. The way that backgrounds are utilised here work within the composition of the panels to beautifully demonstrate depth perception, scale and bring this sense of size and scope to the book. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a strong, talented eye for storytelling. The colour work is really well rendered. I am a huge fan of how light sources are utilised as well as how the various hues and tones within the colours create the shading, highlights and shadow work that we see.
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     This was a treat people. The characters are sensational and how we see the story develop is really good and has this natural feel to the flow. The catalyst we see is completely understandable and thus makes Hildr one of those we can identify and relate to. Overall this really is why I love reading stories that seem to come out of nowhere and honestly this continues to be why I think Evoluzione is a company that needs to be on your radar. They have consistently good strong quality storytelling in their books.  ​

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Alienated #1

2/12/2020

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Picture
Alienated #1
Boom! Studios 2020
Created & Written by Simon Spurrier
Created & Illustrated by Chris Wildgoose
Coloured by André May
Lettered by Jim Campbell


     Acclaimed writer Simon Spurrier and artist Chris Wildgoose present a subversive coming-of-age story about having all the power to change the world but the unready hands to truly wield it. Three teenagers, each an outcast in their own way, stumble upon an unearthly entity as it’s born. As they bond over this shared secret and the creature's incredible abilities, it becomes clear to the teenagers that their cute little pet is a superpredator in the making—and it’s in need of prey. Guided by the best intentions at first, the teens' decisions soon become corrupted by adolescent desires, small town jealousies, and internal rivalries, sending them into a catastrophic spiral of their own making.

     First things first Run don't walk, Corre, no comines, to your shop or simply call, message them or however you get your boos ASAP! There's a reason the first issue sold out before hitting shelves and by golly you don't want to miss this! This is the years hottest debut and it's well deserving of me saying that!

     Simon really manages to do something special here and in some weird way I feel it's a modern day science fiction take on Stand By Me. As odd as that sounds I hadn't quite realised it until I started writing this but it really does feel that way to me. The opening introduces us Samuel, Samantha and Samir oh let's not forget Leon too as they all head to school and how Leon affects each of their lives. It is poignant, powerful and completely true of being a high school student at given point in time in history and I know I feel that connection and it pretty damn near immediate. There shouldn't be a person alive, unless you were completely home schooled, that won't be able to relate to what is being portrayed here and it's powerful stuff.

     The way that this is being told is practically perfect in every way. The story & plot development that we see through how the book is structured, how the reader learns information and how we see the sequence of events unfolding is bloody effin brilliant! The character development is utterly sensational as we get such a good look at three very different kids and the world that each lives in. The pacing is superb as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way and it keeps the reader glued to the page. The way this all works together to create the ebb & flow for the books is a kind of lulls you into this amazing cacophony of the unexpected.

     The interiors here are so gorgeous. The linework is laid down with such aplomb and the varying weights being utilised to bring out this level ad quality of attention to detail is so gorgeously rendered. The way backgrounds are utilised throughout makes me happy! They do wonders in setting tone, mood and feel as well within the composition in the panels bring this depth perception, scale and overall sense of size and scope to the book. And the detail oh the detail and that extends to the colour work as well as Samir's pants more than adequately demonstrate. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show us this really rising star's eye for storytelling. The creativity and imagination we see, especially that two pager and the last few I mean wow. The colours here are amazing and to see and sometimes they just a smidge past expectation and it works superbly that way. To see how the various hues and tones within any given colour are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is sublime.
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     Look regardless of what I say or think or feel I think you should check this out and see for yourself how well this book is done. Maybe you'll see other connections, feelings or even comparisons I don't know, I hope you'll let us know I'd be interested in hearing that. For me this now blew me out of the water but they did it with the power of a single feather.

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