READING WITH A FLIGHT RING
  • About
  • reviews
  • Contact
  • Cosplay of the Day 2
  • Company News
  • Entertainment Section
  • Convention News/Updates
  • original artwork
  • My Best Books of the Week
  • Cosplay of the day!
  • FCBD
  • Interviews
  • Webcomics

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

Facebook Link

White Widow #4

6/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
White Widow #4
Absolute Comics Group 2019
Written & Lettered by Benny R. Powell
Illustrated by Iwan Nazif
Page 24 Illustrated by Jamie Tyndall
Coloured by James Brown

     White Widow has reached out to the world's first super-heroine, Andromeda seeking an ally.  Little does she know that Andromeda is secretly The Group's preeminent and deadly agent, Artemis - and White Widow is her number one target! 

     With the shocking conclusion we pick up where the last one left off.  Here’s what I really like about this book, we are seeing her going through this one step at a time instead of already knowing how to use her powers and gifts.  The real time way of storytelling here is fantastic and I wish we’d see more like this.  Just because someone gains abilities doesn’t mean they know how to use them. It takes practise and patience to get the hang of thighs and we are seeing that here and personally I like it better this way.  

     I do very much like the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is amazingly strong.  I love the fact that this is one big scene and it peppered with moments elsewhere that are happening in real-time as well.  The character development that we see here is remarkable.  Benny continues to impress me with each turn of the page as Gabby tries her best to take stock of the situation on the fly and improvises as she goes along.  This is some absolutely top notch writing.  The pacing here is fantastic and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see how all of this works together to create the books ebb & flow.

     There really is something about this book that I like so very much.  It is non-traditional sure but with so many different ways out there to slap a new name on a character who can be part of a so-called family. What this does is fuse with some darn fine originality.  I am also a fan of the fact though a compete rank amateur that she is Gabby still manages to find a way to get out these situations alive, just barely and with a ton of luck.  

     The interiors here are rather lovely and while I won’t begrudge Jamie for not illustrating his co-creation I would like to see more of his work.  That being said the linework we see and how the varying weights are utilised to create the detail that we see is very nicely done.  I wouldn’t mind a few other techniques being utilised along with the straight up linework but I guess we do with what we’ve got.  I do like that we see backgrounds as much as we do.  They not only enhance the moments but they also provide some nice depth-perception, a sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book.  So what is really impressive is the colour work that we see.  With one minor glitch, I think page 10 top left panel, the evening sky and Gabby’s legs where they meet the crotch are the same colour which makes for some wonky looking proportions.  Still that we see so many hues and tones within the colours being utilised to show shading, highlights and shadow work it’s a beautiful feast for the eyes.  Also that brickwork and building materials that we see are shading extremely well.

     The more we see of the folks who want Gabby dead the more I want to see them.  Sure some aren’t as bad as others and the cliffhanger ending we get this issue leaves me a tad uneasy it’ll be interesting to see where this is going to go.  Also i smell revenge and jealousy covered up by Chanel #5.  See if an indie company can put out a super-hero title that is both serious and hella fun, well I won’t finish that thought.  Regardless this is what we need to see more of on stands.  

0 Comments

Transformers The Terminator #2

6/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Transformers The Terminator #2
IDW Publishing 2020
Written by David Mariotte & John Barber
Illustrated by Alex Milne
Coloured by David Garcia Cruz
Lettered & Design by Jake M. Wood

    The 0T-800, last hope of his kind, has travelled back to 1984 to destroy the Cybertronians before they can awaken and subjugate his future. But when the Ark systems start to bring the Autobots and Decepticons back online, what will he do against two armies? It’s up to one Terminator to save the future and nothing’s gonna stand in his way!

    Last issue I wasn't totally convinced that these two franchises would be this compatible.  This issue has put any doubt that I might have to rest.  The way these two actually fit with each other is pretty spectacular to see.  I have openly said that I am not the biggest fan of the Transformers franchise and yet when something like this comes along I find them more intriguing.  So that’s what David and John bring to the table is something that makes folks like me who have a passing knowledge of the franchises and makes them come back for more because the storytelling here is really amazing.

    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is exceptionally well laid down.  There is a way that this plays out that makes sense as well as who is doing what that I find fascinating and full of surprises.  Which leads me to the character development that we see within these pages.  I am surprised, though I shouldn’t be, at how we see the characters here as they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they find before them.  Also huge shoutout for Sarah because she will always remain essential to any Terminator story whether by design or by fate.  The pacing is great and as we are led through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see how everything that we see works together to bring out the ebb & flow of the book.

The interiors here are really great.  The linework is great and how we see the varying the weights being utilised really do bring out some extremely fine attention to detail.  The Cybertonians have a lot of detail in them as they are what they are made up of, the lair that we see with the equipment and the way the hallways are done we see all this detail that really fleshes this world out in ways that make it almost feel real.  The way that we see the backgrounds does more than enhance the moments; it also works within the composition of the panels to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope of the book.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this superb eye for storytelling.  The colour work is really nice to see as well.  How the energy changes the colour scheme and how it casts those hues and tones onto another colour is exceptionally well rendered.  I am also a fan of seeing the paint finish effects like you would on a car.  Yeah this is really well thought out and executed.
​

I am a fan of these creators and of this series.  That we can still be constantly surprised by team-ups and that they feel fresh, new and exciting and in many reignite the desire to see each one on their own again.  I am looking forward to the rest of this story and see were it goes from here.  

0 Comments

Rogue Planet #2

6/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Rogue Planet #2
Oni Press 2020
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Andy Macdonald
Coloured by Nick Filardi
Lettered by Crank!

    The crew of the salvage vessel Cortes set down on Lonely Orphan with dreams of getting rich. Now, they desperately hope to escape with their lives, as the planet itself displays a malicious intelligence—an intelligence that turns the crew’s worst nightmares against them.

    Hot Diggity!  This book is magically delicious in ways that even Lucky can’t charm!  Last issue introduced us to the crew of the Cortes and set things in motion to say hey this is a science-fiction horror book in a major fashion.  This issue picks up right where we left off and I have to say that thank goodness it did.  Here is hoping that this is going to be a real-time story instead of jumping around, unless of course it’s for a back story.  Cullen amazes me time and time again with the sheer amount of talent, skill, charm, charisma and uniqueness.  The man is a god among men when it comes to writing and even if he doesn’t think so the volume of work he’s done and is doing and the quality of it all leaves me gobsmacked.

    The way that this is being told is utterly brilliant!  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is flawlessly executed.  I like that we see the team in the field that’s already encountered this alien life form which has taken one of their own and we get to see those left behind to fix the ship.  Why is the ship acting up in such a weird way?  Is this connected to this Rogue Planet?  I guess time will tell.  The character development that we see is utterly marvellous, though I found myself incredibly happy to meet Franco so…., and how they continue to be fleshed out through their conversations, the situations and circumstances they encounter and how they act and react to them.  The pacing here is amazing and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way shows us how everything is able to work in concert with each other to create the books ebb & flow.

    Every time we turn a page there is something new happening that catches your attention.  Do not discount the little things either because it’s those seemingly innocent moments that can turn into the most revealing later.  

    The interiors here are absolutely stunning!  The linework that we see and how it’s varying weights work with the different techniques that we see working together to bring this level of quality in the attention to detail is sensational to see.  The creativity and imagination that we see here makes me chuffed as it seems endless.  Nick is a master colourist and we see this in how he’s able to utilise the colour, their hues and tones, to create more drama, horror and bring these things to life in ways that are to creep you out.  The way we see the backgrounds being utilised here is magnificent and not only because they enhance the moments but they bring us depth perception, a sense of scale as well as the overall sense of size and scope to this book.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows such a masterful eye for storytelling.  This creative team right here needs to work together on all the projects because the synergy I see in this is mindbogglingly fantastic!
​

    Franco aww man I like him, actually all three of those left behind are among the more interesting of the crew.  I say this because of how much we get to learn about them and let’s face it we didn’t like the captain from the get-go.  Still the way this is structured and how the layering within the story is being done engages the reader in some wondrous ways.  This is modern storytelling at its finest as it feels somewhat familiar and yet it’s only something we sense.  Best new book of the year!

0 Comments

Red Border #2

6/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Red Border #2
AWA Upshot Studios 2020
Written by Jason Starr
Illustrated by Will Conrad
Coloured by Ivan Nunes
Lettered by Sal Cipriano

    A young Mexican couple narrowly escapes the Juarez Cartel by fleeing across the border into Texas, only to be run down in the desert by the Cartel's most brutal thugs. Rescued by a mysterious local who takes them to the safety of his family's ranch, the couple soon realise they are trapped in a house of horrors beyond their wildest imagination, and the army of assassins on their trail might be the least of their problems.

    This book just takes such a weird turn and I love every moment of it!  Crossing the border these days is much harder than it’s ever been but not impossible and in the last issue we saw an incident occur and we are sure why that happened at all.  Still that was just the beginning of this absolutely crazy ride.  Don’t take a wrong turn, and beware of southern hospitality or Texas hospitality because if something seems too good to be true, then it definitely is!

    I am in love with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is exceptionally well laid out.  I mean this has turned into a very different kind of story than I had originally thought it would be and that’s due to how the story is revealed to the reader.  The character development is utterly marvellous and the more we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances or just plain behave in the first place tells us so much.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the page revealing the plot twists and turns we see how all of the works together to create the books ebb & flow.  

    I love that this book mashes up several genres and makes them all feel like they belong in such a seamless way.  I love the transitions, the tension and the way the different arcs are all playing out simultaneously.  While the bigger picture is still elusive, which I am totally fine with to be honest, the way that we see the race against time begin and the reveal of at least one important character means that we’re going to see one hell of a Texas showdown and will it be the new Battle at the Alamo?

    The interiors here are breathtakingly gorgeous.  I love the linework and how we see the varying weights and even techniques being utilised to bring out the attention to detail.  Talking about detail we have to talk about the colour work as well.  I mean seeing the different hues and tones being utilised to create musculature or in the hair I mean it’s perfectly rendered to create detail where there is no linework.   How we see the backgrounds being utilised do more than just enhance the moments they bring us this wonderful depth perception, sense of scale and the overall 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 show stopping eye for storytelling.  I mentioned some of the colour work earlier but the way we see the wood, with it’s tones and grooves and the way all of these subtle moments we see are due to the myriad of colours and the hues and tones within them.
​

    This is what comics should be.  Stories that take you places you’ve never been before.  Show the plight of people and how deranged and depraved those who prey upon another human can be.  Getting across the border usually means some form of human trafficking or indentured servitude.  So that we see this story and we see the forethought in some of the thinking from the characters well it just takes us to this place we never thought much about and it makes us want to be there.  

0 Comments

Danger Devil #1

6/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Danger Devil #1
Source Point Press 2020
Written by Tony Doug Wright
Illustrated by Joseph Haemmerle
Lettered by Magnus

    A bounty hunter from the underworld, a demonic goddess, a cursed mythical kingdom rising from the depths of below, and a mouthy twelve-year-old are no match for Danger Devil and her sidekick Kid Diabla. These masked agents from the Mystic Bureau are dedicated to protecting the world from all supernatural threats, especially the Order of Methalia, an ancient society hellbent on returning the wicked one to her throne as the ruler of the ancient civilization of Tragg Magnar.

    Source Point Press keeps growing and evolving while never forgetting their roots.  This is an example of that.  I like the idea and Tony’s writing is pretty solid though it does need some fine tuning and well Joseph needs more practise because I am not terribly impressed with his work.  Regardless this is what makes comics great!  I am not sure these guys would get the chance to stretch their wings, grow their talents and fine tune what makes them, them.  This is far from a throw away and it is a great opportunity to see the creators grow from this point forward.  Sometimes all it takes is a little break so that confidence grows and we see them flourish.

    The way this is being told is really rather well done.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold a well as how the reader learns information is laid fairly well.  The opening does what it’s supposed to do, it catches your attention and makes you wonder what the heck is going on.  Almost like we came in mid episode and we don’t have a start over option.  So yeah it makes the reader want to know what is going on, so much so they stay for the entire issue.  The character development is a little wonky for me.  We see some strong personalities to life here and it is going to be interesting to see how they develop as the story continues.  Though for the love of god stop those two kids with the lab from speaking any further.  I am not sure who they are supposed to represent but that’s the most annoying inflection since the valley girl phase.  Stop that immediately!  The pacing is good and that we see this happen in real time, not once in the issue do we jump anywhere else we stay in this scene till it plays out.  

    How this is structured and how everything here is utilised to create the books ebb & flow is nicely done.  We have to wait some time for the reveal of who the girl is and why she’s there so think of that as you write more, length until a reveal shouldn’t take too long.

    The interiors here, sigh.  While I do like the linework we see and how the varying weights are utilised, I would love to see more variation in techniques utilised.  Don’t be afraid to use crosshatching for instance, there are 5 different techniques so do not be afraid to utilise them because the base laid is good but relying on one thing doesn’t bring it life to its fullest.  Anatomy will tighten up with regular work and pay attention to hands and fingers.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a solid eye for storytelling.  The colour work is interesting as well.  The bold bright colours of the heroes versus the darker tones in the villains lets us know who’s who.  I would like to see more shading and gradation but I do like the green and the effect it has around her.
​

    This is one where you get it because it’s worth getting, the creators have talent and we see this and we want to see their talent flourish.  The potential I see here is unlimited and if they continue on this trajectory then sky’s the limit right.  Give it a go, I think you’ll be more than pleasantly surprised.

0 Comments

John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids: Hyperbreed #1

6/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids: Hyperbreed #1
Storm King Comics 2020
Created & Written by Louise Simonson
Created & Pencilled by Guy Dorian, Sr.
Inked by Sal Buscema
Coloured by Ross Campbell
Lettered by Janice Chiang

    Byrr, Fext and Cammo:  Hyperbreed human-animal 'splices' who've been given a cushy assignment, board an ancient freighter, transport valuable Explosive Ore to a mining colony, and earn a large delivery bonus. But when they drop out of spacefold, Mak pirates--robot monsters wearing the body parts of vanquished enemies--attack. Fighting against cruel odds, with Mak Yik crystals infesting their ship, our heroes begin to suspect that their lucky break is really a setup for annihilation.

    Alright and now for something completely different.  Actually it really isn’t so much different now that I think about it, it has this crazy revamped Wanderer’s to it.  Otherwise I like what we are seeing here and the concept behind the three characters.  Genetic splicing isn’t a new idea and we’ve seen it done well and done horribly, here what I see is something that intrigues me and makes me want to know so much more.  I am not surprised by how polished this book is, these are highly respected creators whose resumes are quite impressive but I am surprised that we haven’t seen them do this sooner.  

    I am really enjoying the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is extremely nice to experience.  That this is an inter-galactic setting and that the ancient and honourable game of Poker is discussed starts this book beautifully.  Louise does something with the writing here that not only sets us up for the series itself but as that is happening we get this great look at the character development.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see how everything works together to create the books ebb & flow.

    I like how we see the way that this book is structured with the multiple layers and for adults reading between the lines while kids can read it and start to see how being different isn’t always so bad.  It has elements for everyone to enjoy and those that are aimed at one group over the other.  Also it really is a good strong book that can be in any household to be passed around and end up being a great topic of conversation around a device free meal.

    I am enamoured with the interiors here.  The linework we see and how the varying weights and techniques being utilised to bring the attention to life is astonishing to see.  Also that Sal gets to ink them and bring this to life even further is why he’s among the best there is.  I love the attention to detail that we see and how it brings me back to a classic age in comics and not only that but manage to elevate the work well past today’s standards.  This is proof positive that the younger generation still have a thing or two to learn from the masters.  How we see backgrounds being utilised here is phenomenal to see and how they work within the composition within the panels so that we get this depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book is stellar.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a sensational eye for storytelling.  The colour work is truly and utterly mindbogglingly great!  Specially when it comes to Cam as the colouring on his skin is seen and how the various hues and tones within the colours are utilised it is just freaking amazing.  This is a masterclass in colouring and I'll be damned if this isn’t as spectacular as it gets.
​

    This book is absolutely incredible and it doesn’t matter what age you are there is so much here to enjoy and to share with others.  This maintains the high quality standards that I have come to expect from Storm King Comics.  No matter what they do, what genre, what age range they put out the highest quality books and one look at this will show you just that!

0 Comments

Ash & Thorn #1

6/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ash & Thorn #01
Ahoy Comics 2020
Written by Mariah McCourt
Illustrated by Soo Lee
Coloured by Pippa Bowland
Lettered by Rob Steen

    The apocalypse is nigh! The world needs a Champion, and the only heir to a sacred mystical lineage is...a little old lady? Meet Lottie Thorn, reluctant savior of the world, and her also-elderly trainer Lady Peruvia Ashlington-Voss. They might not look it, but these women are prepared to take on any Big Bad that comes along. But first, perhaps a nice cup of tea? Every AHOY comic also features extra prose stories and illustrations.

    Well this Buffy meets the Golden Girls and I will say I have never been more impressed with how that combination actually works.  Actually I am really impressed with the whole book itself as I find it humorous, intelligent, engaging and just a pure delight to experience.  Mariah has found a way to take an honest approach to the characters and that in itself is refreshing so to add into that, this whole surreal new reality that is Lottie’s life and you’ve got the makings of something incredible.  

    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well.  With the opening of the book we get to see some interesting action happening and it does more than I have come to expect out of one.  It definitely generates interest and draws the reader in beautifully so that we want to know more but also it does a lot to establish the character development as well.  Seeing the interaction between the two women is not just delightful but it’s natural, normal and it sounds real.  If you are having trouble with how I use the term “real” let me know I ill see if I can elaborate.  The character development is amazing and not unjust for these two but for every character we meet.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story and its twists and turns along the way the experience is just so enjoyable.  We see how all of this works together to create the books ebb & flow and highlight how well this is structured.

    In another book I said that for me Soo’s work wasn’t suited for that particular story.  Here we see the talent that she has on full display and I cannot get enough of it!  The opening in particular with the mountain region and the river surrounded by trees and the green is so gorgeous to look at.  The linework that we see is spectacular and how we see the varying weights and different techniques being utilised to create the attention to detail is marvellous.  We see backgrounds a lot more than I was expecting so let’s keep that trend going because it could still benefit from more.  Still what we see and how it works within the composition within the panels bring us some nice depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a solid eye for storytelling.  The colour work is fantastic as well.  I do like the colour choices we see and how the various hues and tones within the colours are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is well rendered.
​

    Ahoy is one of those companies that really knows what they are doing.  Smart choices in the books they put out and instead of trying to food the market they have a smart, intelligent way of putting out the books they have.  This one easily fits into what I have seen from the me thus far and if this continues on the way it’s started then we’re in for one of the more uniquely interesting reads.  

0 Comments

Bleed Them Dry #1

6/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Bleed Them Dry #1
Vault Comics 2020
Created by Hiroshi Koizumi
Written by Eliot Rahal
Illustrated by Dike Ruan
Coloured by Miguel Muerto
Lettered by Andworld Design

    The year is 3333. Earth is in a state of recovery. Vampires are real, and though far less populous, they thrive alongside humans in the Japanese-engineered mega-city known as Asylum. People have come to understand that some Immortals are good, some are bad, and most navigate the world without incident. There is peace. That is…until now. Someone is brutally murdering vampires. And Detective Harper Halloway has been assigned to the case. To solve it, she’ll have to unearth a much deeper truth: The future of humanity has been edited.

    This is why I love Vault Comics.  They started off relatively unknown and now they’re a powerhouse publishing house in comics.  They’ve stayed true to their science fiction roots and have continually expanded and pushed the envelope in what the genre is and consists of.  This book right here is a superb example of this.  The idea behind the concept is phenomenal and it almost, I said almost, feels like it should fit into the world of Bladerunner.

    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  Eliot keeps refining his work as he grows and evolves into one heck of a tale weaver.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is spectacularly laid down.  There is a great sense of mystery and misdirection happening here and that we see so much so soon, which by the way doesn’t feel rushed or crowded, feels as natural as can be.  The character development is solid stuff.  How we see the situations and circumstances come about and we see them act and react to them shows us a lot about their character.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists & turns along the way we see how all of this works together to create the ebb & flow for the story.

    This is a great book, and I mean a GREAT book!  There is something about it, that elusive “IT” factor that is here and how we meet and see the main character as she takes us through her day and introducing us to this world is extremely well done.  This is one of the stronger introductions to a series as we see what is needed to move forward and to engage the readers’ mind throughout.

    The interiors here are really spectacular!  The buildings that blanket the page and the panels placed on top that’s the kind of imagery that a reader remembers for a long time.  Plus the linework is magnificent to see and how the varying weights and techniques that are utilised in bringing out this level of attention to detail is amazingly clean and strong.  Backgrounds are utilised more often than not and what they bring to the story is immeasurable as they enhance the moments and give us this great look at this world.  They also work within the composition of the panels to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling.  The colour work is divine and how we see the myriad of colour choices is sensational.  The way that the hues and tones within the colours are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is superbly rendered.
​

    This has pretty much everything, including the kitchen sink, in it and how Eliot manages to make them work together and make it feel so natural is stupendous.  That we see this vampire ninja cop should be alarming but with his partner, our main character, who’s desire to do old school detective work is the perfect balance.  The layering of the arcs that running simultaneously and how they all fit within the larger picture is just beautifully done.

0 Comments

Sleeping Beauties #1

6/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sleeping Beauties #1
IDW Publishing 2020
Based on the Novel by Stephen King & Owen King
Adapted by Rio Youers
Illustrated by Alison Sampson
Coloured by Triona Tree Farrell
Lettered & Designed by Christa Miesner

     A strange sleeping sickness, known as Aurora, has fallen over the world, and strangest of all, it only affects women. In the small town of Dooling, a mysterious woman has walked out of the woods; she calls herself Eve and leaves a trail of carnage behind her. More mysterious: she’s the only woman not falling asleep.

    This wasn’t anything like I was expecting it to be and we all all that’s a great thing!  I hadn’t realised this was an adaptation of a King novel, so here’s hoping the ending is better lol, once you learn this you automatically know this is not going to be an average read.  There is a lot going on here and this is the debut issue and it has to set everything in motion, capture the readers’ attention and make them want to go further.  This does that beautifully and so much more to boot.  The butterfly and Eve in the opening is something that really catches you by surprise and leaves that mark upon so that you have to go further into the book.

    The way that this is being told is really rather well done.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is laid down exquisitely.  The entire way that this is told with a lot of moving parts that need to be put into play is done with such aplomb.  The character development is interesting because we don’t really get to see too much of any one character and the looks we do get while all too fleeting do what it needs to make them appear interesting for different reasons so that we want to come back and see if our first impressions are accurate or not.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see how everything works together to create the books ebb & flow.

    The way this is structured and how we see the book keeps us in its gravitational pull as we journey through the book is utterly sensational to see.  There is this beauty with a strong undercurrent of something not right waiting to burst free, much like the caterpillar from its cocoon.  

    The interiors here are beautifully done.  The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to bring about this level of attention to detail is sublime stuff.  There is something about the linework and how we see everything that does evoke how the story feels to the reader.  It takes the story and somehow magnifies the mood, tone and feel of the book.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this utterly marvellous eye for storytelling.  The colour work is beautifully rendered as well.  Again there are these moments like seeing Eve in the green or the pool scene where we see such vividness and verve.  The choice of colours, how we see the various hues and tones within them utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is stunning.

    This book is not what I was expecting in the slightest.  What it is however is an enigma and how this will play out is anyone’s guess, except for Eve she seems to know.  We are treated to this visually thrilling and epicaly worded story that comes out of nowhere to take you down the rabbit hole with Alice while eating those very special mushrooms.  Either way if you want to take a walk on the weird side then let yourself go and take this trip it is well worth the time and effort spent trying to figure it all out alongside the rest of us.

0 Comments

That Texas Blood #1

6/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
That Texas Blood #1
Image Comics 2020
Written by Chris Condon
Illustrated by Jacob Phillips

    CRIMINAL colourist and first time solo artist JACOB PHILLIPS and writer CHRIS CONDON break onto the scene with a brand-new ongoing series! Like Paris, Texas gut-punched by No Country for Old Men, this mature neo-Western crime series kicks off when the search for a casserole dish leads to a dark and tense confrontation on Sheriff Joe Bob Coates’ 70th birthday.

    I love going into these blind as that’s where I think being a reviewer comes in handy.  This allows me to have a more critical eye to what I am seeing and to enjoy the way that the story is told in a more pure state.  I read this and went over sections a few times and in all honesty I have absolutely no idea what in the great green canopy of the Amazon is really going on here.  Plus I love every damn moment of it!  Joe Bob’s turning 70 and he’s worrying about if his best years are in the past.  From there what we see is a whirlwind of mystery tied into every aspect of what we see and it’s unbelievably good.

    The way that this is being told in a pretty smart and interesting manner.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is executed flawlessly.  I mean the overall way we see Joe Bob as he goes about his day as Sheriff and how all this stuff seems to happen around him.  The character development is interesting to me, it doesn’t feel normal but then again neither does the story itself so it fits.  We do get a nice look at Joe Bob, his role in this town, his personality and his wife and all of it just makes you want to learn more.  The pacing here is phenomenal and as it takes us through the pages revealing twist after twist and turns galore it has this strange hypnotic effect on the reader.  How we see the way the book is structured and how everything works together to create the books ebb & flow.  

    There is something fresh, new and exciting about this book.  You think about it long after reading it, it seems to have this really intense humanity angle as well as this supernatural element maybe.  Just the way that this is put together was done with such precision and care and it’s pretty damn amazing.

    I like the interior artwork a whole heck of a lot.  There are times when it feels a tad simple and then there are times it’s so intense and so detailed which really amps up the story’s feeling.  Those hair curlers, brilliantly done, the whole bedroom scene and that cave oh my god that cave scene there are some truly magnificent moments here.  The way that we see backgrounds utilised is great, could be better but still great nonetheless.  The way we see them within the composition of the panels brings us this great depth perception, sense of scale and the overall 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 a rather strong, talented eye for storytelling.  You’d never guess this is his first series as the main artist.  The colour work is sensationally rendered as well.  The way we see these, I’m assuming digital, brushstrokes that bring the shading are done in a way that isn’t lazy but it’s like the artist who thinks the work is never done and keeps going.  I like it’s great and it adds a nice dimension I wasn’t expecting.  The hues and tones utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is fantastic to see.
​

    If you want something off the beaten path that will shock, thrill, entertain you and engage your mind then this is for you.  If this continues on like this debut then it’s going to be the next big thing we talk about in the comics world.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.