Birthright #16
Skybound/Image Comics 2014
Created & Written by Joshua Williamson
Created & Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Coloured by Adriano Lucas
Lettered by Pat Brosseau

    This series from the get go has been one thrill ride after another.  Now that Sameal has revealed who he really is to Aaron and Brennan their story is only going to get a lot more interesting.  Meanwhile Wendy and Rya have encountered Mastema who is treating them as a “guest” in her home, she being one of the mages who fled Terrenos.  Are they going to bond or are they going to be prisoners to lure Mikey out?  All this and more gets revealed this issue.

    We open up at Mastema’s where dinner is interrupted.  As it turns out “Agent” Kylen whom we know is a hunter from Terrenos and is after Mikey is known to Mastema but the real question becomes why are they all working together?  What is their connection to one another and what is the true purpose they all serve?  I like the way Joshua keeps weaving the characters in this story into a greater narrative than we’ve been led to believe.  It seems that all the mages who fled together kept in touch for a while and sporadically as well.

    Before Enoch can go talk to Sameal however it’s time to see him and the boys as they try to keep Mikey from bleeding out.  As Sameal gets them to his secret lair, and yes that’s exactly what it is and Brennan calls him a Prepper and that’s pretty much what he is.

    Andrei’s depiction of this lair is one for the record books.  I’ve sung his praises for what he’s brought to this book from the start but this, this takes the cake.  The two page spread and our first look is the kind of stuff that you could hope to imagine and would see thanks to CGI in a big budget movie.  His attention to detail, his eye for storytelling through pages and panels using angles and perspective are really unparalleled.  Then the walk down the levels left my jaw on the floor, mouth agog it’s that powerfully gorgeous.  

    The revelations keep coming and they spill forth like from cracks in a dam.  From personal history between father and son to the boys and their roles in all this.  Nothing is ever what you’d think it would be here and it completely falls in line with everything we’ve seen to date.  Including what we’ve wondered and seen from Brennan about how and why he can see not only the Nevermind but the other things he’s experienced also.  

    Andrei and Adriano again demonstrate such storytelling through the visuals as they match the words with such perfect ease.  Aaron is gorgeous man, his son Mikey his spitting image and Brennan looking every bit his age all the while the four of them having that family resemblance is amazing to see.  Also the attention to detail like the blood on Aaron’s shirt show that even the littlest of details aren’t overlooked and are incredibly poignant.  

    This series has never faltered, slowed down or ceased to amaze.  Joshua and Andrei’s storytelling keeps hitting plateau after plateau and only seems to be getting stronger with each issue.  Who knows where this will even out or if even can at this point?  This is the kind of storytelling that is so rare it only comes along once every blue moon.

    

​

Death’s Dark Angel #1
American Mythology Productions 2016
Written by Jack Herman
Illustrated by Neil Vokes & Rich Rankin

    It’s the 30th anniversary of Neil Vokes and Rich Rankin’s innovative black & white comic Death’s Dark Angel! Originally published as Death’s Head by Crystal Comics, the story featured the deadly future echo of Eagle which evolved into a terrifying twisted version of the man he was. Now the silent killer has turned his sights on his past self and is set upon destroying those in the way of his singular mission. This edition has been fully remastered with an incredible ink wash finish that brings new life to the original story pages. And the Vokesverse continues to expand and gives us a first look at an all new Death’s Dark Angel story coming later this year! This is the ultimate introduction to the fertile imagination and characters of a comic book artistic legend!

    This was completely cool!  Thirty years ago this debuted and one might say it was way ahead of it’s time because it totally was.  Today this almost seems like standard fare to me but the storytelling and characterization we get from this was absolutely incredible.  As far as first issues go this was a great introduction to this world and to Dark Angel as well as his pseudo origin.  I say this because while we see how and why he was created there’s a lot more here left open-ended.  The church, it’s legend and history are all touched upon but who he is now that he’s been resurrected from the dead remains to be seen.

    Vengeance from the “host” body is clear to understand and the way that this futuristic world has been shown thus far show us a greater picture that will be revealed.  With new stories coming i’m incredibly excited at the prospect of what will come.  The creativity and imagination in creating the Talik Hunting Dogs is impressive.  The whole premise of this new civilization and the Regulators and those running the world and how fear is a strong factor in keeping things running smoothly offer a lot of promise and potential.

    The black and white interiors with gray tones for me are the perfect way to go here.  The flow of the story through pages and panels again is way ahead of it’s time.  The work here is great as it shows emotion, feeling and the kind of tension and horror that Death Angel represents.  It also has this great Noir feel to it in how it’s presented so the combination is so nice and fresh even now.  

    It’s easy to see which characters were influenced by this character over the years.  This creation is great for this current era and that we’re getting a look at what started it before a new set of stories comes is something you need to be adding to your list.  It’s strong, passionate and well executed this story is going to impress!

​

Rai #14
Valiant Entertainment 2015
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Cafu
Coloured by Andrew Dalhouse
Lettered by Dave Lanphear

    Tailored to the needs and challenges of each generation, a new Rai appears every century. But even Rai cannot completely eradicate  resistance, as the first Rai discovered when he encountered anti-Father radicals. Despite centuries having passed since then, violence threatens to break out again as the age of the latest Rai comes to a close...

    This series is so freakin good.  The more we see and learn of Father the more despised he becomes.  Though I do now see a pattern has emerged among his Rai champions.  Each serving for 100 years at a time and there’s a reason for that as we see here.  I’m going to say that at that point in it’s existence is when it’s own consciousness is no longer in sync with Father’s and he cannot control it anymore and must replace it with one that will do his work without question.  Starting from a clean slate without the priors memories so as to not influence or shorten it’s lifespan.  It really does paint him as the monster he is.

    I still think Father is based off of Harada after all only he would be willing to sacrifice sections of this island full of people for the greater good and to maintain absolute control.  Having centuries to lose whatever part of humanity it might have once had and for me that belief keeps this tied into the “present” in more ways than by name.  At some point I look forward to Matt actually creating Father’s origin in the present so we’ll see just how he came into being but until then the speculation is more than delightful and means we keep coming back to see what atrocities he’s capable of next.

    Sai is an interesting iteration of the Rai.  I’m hoping that somehow she manages to survive and is on Earth but I won’t hold my breath.  Her burgeoning humanity however demonstrates beautifully why each needs replacing at that point in time with what Father deems the society needs for him to maintain his control.  The characterization here is stunning to me and among the reason why I love to come back to this series time and again.

    Cafu’s interiors and the use of pages, panels, angles and perspective are incredibly well suited to this series.  The emotion he can bring to the characters through facial expressions really enhance the feel of the story unfolding before us.  His use of backgrounds is superb as it gives the reader that real sense of spacial awareness needed for the bigger picture.  He’s got that sense of what he needs to do for impact in ways others don’t.

    This continues to break new grounds at Valiant for it’s continued unbidden display of power, greed and dictatorship that’s highly reminiscent of Japan’s origins.  His storytelling, plot advancement, characterization all continue to grow and elevate this book into a world of it’s own.  Valiant has the strongest cohesive line of books out of any company today and it’s evident in the passion and care its’ creators but into their work.  


​

Archie #9
Archie Comics 2015
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Veronica Fish
Coloured by Andre Szymanowicz & Jen Vaughn
Lettered by Jack Morelli

    Archie and Veronica have not had the easiest relationship, but despite all the drama they’ve managed to overcome the odds stacked up against them.  Archie has beaten Mr. Lodge at the game of life three times: after getting Reggie off spy-duty, then getting his father, Fred Andrews, to NOT work for Hiram and NOT move the family to Singapore and, finally, by actually getting to spend time--a lot of time--with Veronica.  But this is allowed on one condition only: their time together must be spent at the Andrew’s household--nowhere near Lodge Manor and HIram’s campaign headquarters.  With his family, his girlfriend and his best friend by his side Archie seems to have an ideal situation all worked out… for now.

    I absolutely adored this issue.  I’m sorry but what Mark has brought to this series goes beyond anything we’ve ever seen in the Archie line of books before.  The kind of characterization that he’s doing while keeping things kind of drama filled and setting up the love-triangle and keeping the characters very much who they are has been a dream come true.  No more all sweetness and friendship with a little teenage friendly rivalry this is what we face in the real world and it’s marvelous.

    So in an attempt to make her son happy Archie’s mom reaches out to Veronica and the result is both sweet, heartwarming and a disaster in the making.  An uber spoiled rich girl in a working class family environment is mixing oil and water it shouldn’t work.  For all her good intentions to make the Andrew’s house feel more like her own it’s takes a mother’s wisdom and words to really hammer things home sometimes.  

    In the meantime I loved seeing Mr. Andrew’s reaction to everything that’s happened and his childlike enthusiasm for the new toys that are currently residing in his house.  Then Archie’s reflection of this whole two vastly different worlds, mom’s words and confiding in Betty have all the earmarks of what love, family and friendship are all about.  Not to mention that the Archie and Betty who know each other inside and out haven’t gotten over their own relationship and that will come back to haunt them all.

    This was a very moving, touching and emotionally charged issue full of laughs, love and the unexpected.  While Archie has always been iconic they’ve also always had that half-hour sitcom endings where everything works out and here you see that’s gone as life doesn’t work that way and sometimes the things that separate us also draw us together.  Mark is a writing genius and his work on this series could literally be the crowning achievement on an extremely illustrious career.

I’ve settled in and become a huge Veronica fan (this time I mean Fish).  An elevated version of the original take is delightful mixed in with some usual, unusual, things that happen keep this both grounded in the real world and it’s own version of Mayberry quite nicely.  Her eye for storytelling through pages, panels, angles and perspective make this a pure joy to read.  

Archie’s never been better and here’s hoping this has another long and prosperous run!

​

Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #8
Valiant Entertainment 2015
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Raul Allen & Patricia Martin
Art Assists by David Astruga
Colour Assists by Borja Pindado
Lettered by Patricia Martin

Earth's immortal soldier thought he knew pain? And then he entered the depths of his enemy's "LABYRINTH"? The mysterious figure known only as the Dying One is on a mission to unlock the secrets of the Eternal Warrior's immortality?and the only way he can accomplish it is to kill him over and over again! Trapped at the heart of a miles-long gauntlet of technologically inflicted cruelties and mechanical terrors designed to dissect, examine and analyze, Gilad has finally been cornered?and he's about to realize that if he can't escape, he'll simply have to survive.

I still cannot believe the level of writing that Robert keeps bringing to this series. The characterization from the get go has been surprising as we’ve gotten to know so much more about Gilad. Exploring aspects of his life we’ve never seen before and the realm with his family that has been a constant in his life as he heals from each death just brings a whole new respect for the man.

As this issue goes on and Gilad, who as it turns out isn’t as smart a man as we’d like to believe keeps experiencing death at the hands of the Dying One. I love that while he’s captured, it was done so while his body was recovering so it was easy to steal the body from where it was, he’ll take each death in stride to keep learning. He’ll come back time and again though I wonder if a true autopsy is performed what would happen, all the organs and the brain if they are removed can he find a way to come back?

Once again instead of relying upon his fighting skills Gilad has to use his brain here and it’s almost like he’s not as comfortable with that. The characterization Robert keeps bringing us as he continues to make Gilad a fuller more reachable and relatable character is amazing to see and honestly i’ve never liked him as much as I do in this run. Heck even seeing the influence this series has on the 4001 version is incredible.

Raul and Patricia have this real sense of how to visually tell this story. The flow through the pages panels with the use of angles and perspective is beyond amazing. There are moments that it has a classic, okay 70’s/80’s, sensibility to it and yet it’s still so modern with it’s attention to detail. The use of the backgrounds really flesh out this steel labyrinth in the best possible ways. The bring that cold analytical aspect and then the Dying Man and his familiar look by contrast, that of a desperate man, really do wonders in keeping you riveted.

The Dying One is desperate and he wants to learn how to stave off death. Instead of working with or trying to learn from he’s taking and in this action he’s proven he’s not worthy of living longer. I love that kind of characterization, and the scientists with him, is this because we can not because we should or are they that loyal to him they’ll do anything, even die? That we are so engrossed in this story and ask a ton of questions about “background” characters is a testament to how Robert writes.

This and Ninjak for me lead the way this year in demonstrating the strength of characters the company has and the unlimited possibilities and potential moving forward.

James Bond 007 #7
Dynamite Entertainment 2015
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jason Masters
Coloured by Guy Major
Lettered by Simon Bowland

    After World War Two, army intelligence groups created ghost cells called "stay-behinds" across Europe in the event of a Warsaw Pact surge. “EIDOLON” is the story of a SPECTRE stay-behind structure – ghost cells of SPECTRE loyalists acting as sleepers until the time is right for a SPECTRE reformation and resurgence. The time is now.

    I’m a huge fan of this series and the opening completely demonstrates why.  With a very cinematically stylistic opening from Jason and Guy it has all the drama and emotion needed to immediately draw you in and capture your attention.  It’s also a very good start to the arc as it really tells you just enough about Mr. Hawkwood and what’s he’s up that will tie into what we see James up to.

    When we jump to part two it adds this extra dimension to British politics that as an American we don’t really think of.  That MI-5 and MI-6 are competing agencies much like the FBI and the CIA who are constantly at odds with each other and fighting to do their jobs within the best of their ability without the other getting in their way.  Behind the scenes stuff that leads directly into James, as MI-5 has no love for him.

    James lands at LAX and is greeted by an old friend.  Sometimes I want to see his male friends being treated like his female friends, yeah let him swing both ways.  This encounter was kind of fun, flirty and a message being sent.  Subtle but not so much, friendly banter and a few hmm moments as i’m thinking yeah something’s up and it’s more the Felix is letting on about.  It also gives us a heads up as to what James is doing right now.  

    His mission is just an extraction of an undercover agent who they think has been made.   Pretty innocuous right but no not once events start unfolding.  Pretty soon you begin to put the pieces together, not James he wasn’t privy to the opening, but as a reader you see the connecting dots and it’s ooo now this is going to be good.  This is fun, exciting and a perfect translation for James into a comic book series.  

    I mentioned Jason and Guy earlier but throughout the whole issue you’ve got to admire what they bring to the table.  The flow of the book through pages and panels with the use of angles and perspective are wonderful.  The attention to detail in faces, clothing and the little things you barely notice but have a major impact are all just perfectly placed and done.  Plus i’m one of those who thinks backgrounds are incredibly important for the whole picture and I like what i’m seeing of them here.

    James Bond is smooth, suave and a handful and it’s great to see him just being him and having a series that doesn’t try to do more with him than it should.  With smart intelligent writing and sleek stylistic interiors this is a top read!

​

Project Nemesis #6
American Gothic Press 2016
Created & Written by Jeremy Robinson
Illustrated by Matt Frank
Coloured by Diego Rodriguez
Lettered by Marshall Dillon

    It's here -- the final showdown between man and monster of vengeance! Nemesis is rampaging through downtown Boston as a scourge of military fighter planes pummel her with ammunition, but the kaiju has one more growth stage before she carries out her verdict on Alexander Tilly. Can Hudson stop her? Should he stop her?

This is how you do a Kaiju story people.  Use legend, lore and other worldly origin tactics to create a new and unique creature that is the spirit of vengeance.  Let it grow, evolve and smash it’s way through cities on it’s quest while man tries to stem the tide, minimize the damage and figure out how to stop it.  Ultimately man has little hope of stopping such a creature and yet the dilemma is not one for those who give up easily.

Jeremy has introduced to a world where an ancient set of bones was used to transform a girl into something more.  Something the General could use to stop the effects of aging, time and disease in his own body, an act of pure selfish greed.  This set of bones could have been of a dragon or a kaiju or simply a creature who settled on Earth from space it’s true origin remains a mystery and one that fascinates the mind because it is so open ended.  The longer it stays that way the longer we’ll be happy because not all things should be solved.

Hudson and Collins have this partnership to them that’s so nice to see, reminds of Hart to Hart, Remington Steele, Moonlighting and yes the X-Files.  One rational, the other less so with more an open mind and acting on gut instinct.  They balance each other out completely and accept each other and heck there’s even a kind of romance thing going on between them, after all this how can there not be?  They are some exciting, fresh new characters and while this story may be over here’s hoping that this isn’t the last we see of them.

Matt’s interiors have been some of the nicest i’ve seen.  The level of attention to detail here has been amazingly good.  Nemesis in all her incarnations has been both beautiful and menacing and all around one of those creatures whose deadliness couldn’t be more attractive.  His eye for storytelling through pages and panels has been a joy to see.  He can bring so much joy and emotion off the page to excite and thrill readers and with the incredibly colouring by Diego completing the bigger picture this has been an incredible journey visually.

Godzilla has nothing on this book as our human protagonists really do set the stage and make the world much more accessible for the reader.  Not to mention we’ve got a slew of characters, monsters and scenarios that have been left open ended so as to harken a return.  This has been a story whose pacing and revelations, twists and turns not to mention character growth all around has made it one of the strongest of it’s kind.

​

Cry Havoc #6
Image Comics 2016
Written by Simon Spurrier
Penciled by Ryan Kelly
Inked by Barbara Guttman & Miguel Montenegro
Coloured by Nick Filardi-London
    Lee Loughridge-The Red Place
    Matt Wilson-Afghanistan
Lettered by Simon Bowland

....IN LONDON the Inhand Org
offered to cure
Lou of her
monstrous curse, but only at a price
...IN AFGHANISTAN
she travelled with shapeshifting mercs,
unaware they were leading her into a trap
...IN THE RED PLACE
Lou’s
child is being stolen by a rogue
monstress... as the
Inhand Org
closes in
    
Wow what a way to end this first (?) story arc!  Simon has done an absolute beautiful job in tying in all the stories so that we get a completely suitable ending for all that’s happened so far.  It’s full of some excellent characterization and for the first time we get to see Lou in a brand new light.  One that will forever change the landscape of the world he’s created here.  

    There is also some great moments as we see Sri’s true nature revealed, meaning her real mission and why she’s along for the ride here.  How Mr. Bleacher was able to use his position and his knowledge to manipulate the situation and a vulnerable girl with no idea of what was happening to her played magnificently.  Though I have to say he’s among my new favourite bad guys after all this.  There’s nothing more dangerous than a man who believes with every fiber of his being that he’s got the right to do what he’s done and would continue to do so regardless of its consequences.  

    This issue also has a great look into the backstory of how many of the world’s nations and leaders know of these forgotten fabled creatures.  How the funding was put into place for Inhand Org. and how they learned and use superstition and turned it into science.  Not to mention a bit of monologuing taking place since they don’t realize just what kind of person Lou really is and giving her all this information well you’ll see how all that turns out here.

    Ryan’s interiors were freakin wonderful.  I love his imagination and attention to detail in creating these characters both in and out of their creature forms.  The way he has the story flow through pages and panels and the coloured border to show where they fall in it’s just so well thought out and executed.  The use of backgrounds and little touches he puts in the people on their clothes or Lou’s stitches really just enhance the mood, tone and feeling from the story.

    This has been a roller coaster ride from day one as we’ve had to see three different perspectives throughout and to finally see them coalesce into the ending was worth all of it.  This has been a stellar arc and hopefully it truly is just the beginning.

​

Street Fighter Unlimited #5
UDON Entertainment/Capcom 2016
Written by Ken Siu-Chong
Illustrated by Edwin Huang
Coloured by Edwin Huang & Espen Grundetjern
Flats by Ludwig Olimba
Lettered by Marshall Dillon

    Deep in the amazon jungle awaits the most ancient and powerful martial arts master alive -- the mysterious Oro. Two fighters seek his wisdom -- the troubled Ryu, and the deadly Akuma! Oro may reveal his secrets to one of them... but not without a fight!

    For someone who’s never been a video gamer, even though this was in the arcade when I was a burgeoning teenager, this series has been an absolute delight to read.  As i’ve gotten older i’ve found that cartoons like Yu Gi Oh have a great appeal and what I get from the interiors here is very akin to that style of animation.  It’s fun, expressive and easy to get emotions and feelings from.  

    The characterization from Ken has been superbly done.  I love that Ryu more so has this whole inner demon thing going on.  That he both fears and wants to embrace the power within him but his self-doubt about being able to control it has him seeking out the master he thought was dead is the kind journey of self-discovery that is universal in it’s appeal.  There’s a great relatability to it in terms of coming to grips with who you are and it’s just so well done here.

    Gill on the other hand is both silly and wondrous.  Setting himself up as this God like entity and using social media, the press and world leaders, all of whom happen to rely upon religion much more than they should, is almost genius in it’s approach.  The anticipation of waiting for the other shoe to drop from him is delicious since we are forced to wait as this part of the story unfolds in a pace that is fantastic and frustrating.  Both because it’s well thought out and executed and we know better but it’s like screaming at the tv, it just doesn’t do any good but to let it play out.

    When we see the team I do get this kind of chill in my bones.  This is a good thing because it’s seeing Chun-Li, Cammy and the rest together as a unit and working for the greater good behind agencies that really stands out for me.  Not to compare it to G.I. Joe but having a fighting force like these folks against a foe like Gill well it’s just another example why we are so ready to get behind this kind of aspect.  Again Ken’s characterization and storytelling ability make this so much darn fun and interesting you can’t help but get excited over it.

    Welcome aboard Edwin Huang whose work on the interiors is a wonderful thing to see.  I like the flow of the story he’s created through pages and panels.  His depiction of the characters in this style is marvelous and seeing the outfits, so classic and in no need of revamping or real updating, on them brings a smile to the face.  His use of backgrounds and facial expressions really help you get the greater sense of what’s happening here.  

    This by far one of the more consistently good, entertaining and enjoyable series on the market and needs to expand past its “niche” market status because the writing goes so far beyond battle after battle.

​