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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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Monolith Vol.1 #1

6/30/2021

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Monolith Vol.1 #1
Magnetic Press 2021
Original Script by Roberto Recchioni & Mauro Uzzeo
Written by Roberto Recchioni
Designed & Illustrated by LRNZ

    Sandra needs some personal space from her suffocating husband, so she takes their toddler son on an impromptu getaway. But it may be that her husband isn't who she's really trying to escape from... Taking the safest car on wheels, she heads out across the desert with no idea what adventure lies ahead...

    The opening here is pretty spectacular in that it is very much an advertisement for a car, one that surpasses anything and everything that we’ve ever dreamed we could possibly own.  This is the perfect setup for what we are going to see because while this car is supposed to keep your family safe, it’s primary purpose, you just know that somehow, some way this is all going to go sideways and what starts out as something wholesome and good will turn into this monstrous horror story.  The second opening here is amazingly creepy as we meet David and Sandra, a married couple that are having some serious marital issues.  It really brings us to a level of creepiness that I wasn’t aware was possible and how it’s done is remarkably brilliant if you ask me.  

    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 exquisitely well.  The character development is utterly phenomenal thanks to how we see the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstance that they encounter.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story, introducing us to the characters and this world it is super easy to get caught up in the story.

    I am enjoying how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story emerge at multiple points as well as grow and strengthen with each new avenue that is explored.  These layers contain the superb characterisation as well as how the moments that have a huge impact upon how we see the story.  So whether these layers work with the main arc or simply swirl around it we see how they add such depth and complexity to the story.  How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is achieved exceptionally well.

    I am loving every moment of the interiors here.  This is done in such a non-traditional way so that it feels like it’s being painted and that is how the attention to detail comes about.  The change in colour and how shadow work is shown through the various hues and tones is done so it feels like there is no linework.  It blows me away that everything feels like it done solely through painting colours on a canvas.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels demonstrate a masters eye for storytelling.  The work that we see is bloody mindbogglingly brilliant to look at and you will simply stare it trying to figure out just how all this detail work has been created.  
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    With some amazing writing and characterisation that will make you empathise, sympathetic and then turn on the characters regardless of who they are which is wrapped up in what should be award winning interior artwork and you’ve this mind bending adventure beginning to take shape.  This is out now digitally and it won’t be out in physical copy until August 11th 2021 so there’s plenty of time to make sure your local shop orders you a copy and I cannot recommend that you do this soon enough.  The rest of this series if goes anything like this introductory issue than we are in for one of the years best series, that comes out of literally nowhere.

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Broken Gargoyles: Sin and Virtue #1

6/30/2021

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Broken Gargoyles: Sin and Virtue #1
Source Point Press 2021
Written by Bob Salley & Christina Blanch
Illustrated by Stan Yak
Pencil Roughs/Layouts by Mike Lilly
Flashback Sequence Art by Ken Perry
Coloured by Robert Nugent
Lettered by Justin Birch

    Prescott and his men seek out the widow of their fallen brother-in-arms as they find her fighting to keep her farmland, while Manco teams up with an ageing US Marshall on her last assignment to capture Ben and the other escaped convicts.

    The first arc was done by fewer folks and it was as equally as good as this one and it makes me wonder why this one needed so many different people to be involved in bringing it to life?  The opening here shows us that the 117th weren't’ the only ones shafted if the US Marshall is any indication.  Still that Manco meets up with her and

to either one they are after more than one person in common.  It is a nice “coincidence”, and I don’t believe in coincidences so there’s that, that they should meet after Manco was left in the middle of nowhere by his former unit.  The second opening here shows us that race relations never seem to change as Ben relates his own story.  The sad thing is that regardless that this is something of a steampunk adventure some things never seem to change and Ben’s story is all to believable and relatable to.


    I 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 presented extremely well.  The character development we see through the dialogue, the character interaction and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter are magnificently rendered.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story we see things start to come together even more.

    I greatly appreciate the way that this is being structured and how the layers within continue to grow, strengthen and new emerge depending on what avenues are opened up to explore.  The layers contain some of the stronger characterisation, the meeting of new characters as well as the background information where they were surgically altered.  These layers whether they enhance the main arc or simply swirl around it bring in some extra depth and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is fantastically achieved.

    The interiors here are fantastic!  How we see the linework with its varying weights being utilised to create the detail work is incredibly well rendered.  I will say that the flashback sequence in its own version of black & white is incredible to see and it almost makes me wish the entire book was done in this manner.  How we see backgrounds being utilised to not only enhance the moments but work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense fo scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book is marvellous.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show some wonderfully talented eyes for storytelling.  The colour work is equally as brilliant.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a sensational eye for how colour works.

    I really like this series.  The idea behind it is phenomenal and how we see the 117th Infantry Regiment as they travel doing what needs doing, in this issue this includes visiting the widow of their fallen comrade.  I like that these folks have formed something of a family, the Regiment and those they’ve brought into the fold, and have each other to really rely upon and have their backs when its needed most.  With some sensational writing and characterisation and absolutely delightful interiors take you on a journey that blends action, intrigue and drama in some beautiful ways.

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Oz Annual Patchwork Girl

6/30/2021

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Oz Annual Patchwork Girl 
Zenescope Entertainment 2021
Written by Jenna Lyn Wright
Illustrated by Alessio Mariani, Eman Casallos & Dario Tallarico
Coloured by Jorge Cortes, Michael Bartolo & Maxflan Araujo
Lettered by Taylor Esposito of Ghost Glyph Studios

    Dorothy was once a young farm girl from Kansas, but it has been many years since she has been that person and even longer since she has returned to Earth. Now, residing as the queen of Oz, ruler of the Emerald City, she and her people have gone through their hardships but she has been there to protect them.  
     But when a magical tornado rips through a prison, bringing one of most evil of creatures to ever walk among in Oz, to a small town in our world, Dorothy and her friends must set out to protect a place she once called home. And what she will find will change the very fabric of her identity.

    Oz is making something of a comeback what with Hercules Payne having had his adventure and now having a place there.  I like it as its been far too long since we’ve had the pleasure to see Dorothy and her friends.  The opening here is fantastic and it’s nice to se that Dorothy is questioning herself and what she’s going as Queen.  Leave it to Bartleby to be the voice of reason and point out, essentially, that if she wasn’t capable of being Queen she wouldn’t have been chosen.  Besides if you don’t question the work that you are doing than chances are you aren’t doing that good of a job.

    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 presented exceedingly well.  The character development that we see is fantastic thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction as well as they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter.

    I am enjoying how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story emerge and strengthen from beginning to end.  These layers contain the bits with some amazing characterisation, the introduction of a new character as well as reminding readers of both of Dorothy’s homes.  What this does is add extra depth and complexity to the story in some amazing ways.  How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow ass well as how it moves the story forward is achieved exceedingly well.  

    I like the interiors here and how we see this typical comic book style work.  The linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work is extraordinary to see.  The creativity and imagination that we see is phenomenal and it starts with meeting the Patchwork Girl in the Ojo prison.  With the stone and her visage it just brings horror to life in such a beautiful way and really makes her someone you don’t ever want to run into.  The way we see backgrounds utilised enhance the moments as well as provide some great depth perception, sense of scale and the 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 very talented eye for storytelling.
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    I really enjoyed this though I was hoping we’d see Dorothy’s family still living in the old house.  That would’ve been a great family reunion and considering how time passes differently in the merry old land of Oz and the Earthly realm is never completely clear.  Regardless, what we get to see is a min-reunion of sorts as the three, Dorothy, Bartleby and Thorne travel to Earth to deal with the Patchwork Girl.  This was fun and interesting and it’s always nice to see the introduction of a new, dangerous and powerful villainess.  

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Green Arrow 80th Anniversary Special

6/30/2021

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Green Arrow 80th Anniversary Special
DC Comics 2021
By Various Creators

    CELEBRATING THE EMERALD ARCHER’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY! For the last eight decades Green Arrow has been one of the premier (and loudest) characters in the DCU, always at the forefront of where the superhero genre is headed. This oversized anniversary issue follows in those footsteps, as an all-star lineup of Green Arrow creators, alongside some of the gifted creators of the modern era who have been inspired by Oliver Queen, unite to pay tribute to the Battling Bowman. See what the past, present and future have in store for Oliver Queen, Black Canary, Connor Hawke, Arsenal, Red Arrow, Speedy, and more in this epic special!

    While Green Arrow has been called Batman with Arrows, it isn’t really that far off.  I think this is why over the years we’ve seen Ollie with so many personality changes, something to set him apart from Bruce and then there’s Roy with his drug addiction that also sets them apart from their so-called counterparts.  If we’re being honest Ollie has had some of the craziest and best adventures over the years and his early days were filled with optimism and that quirkiness that came with his schtick.  

    I absolutely love the way that this book is being told.  It makes me wish we’d see more adventures throughout his long existence.  When he and Speedy were young and idealistic to the more cynical moments and exploring the fact that he couldn’t keep it in his pants and didn’t use condoms.  Each story focuses on a point in time of his life and all of them are complete stories with a clear beginning, middle and ending and that impresses me to no end.  The character development that we see is amazing thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter.  The pacing throughout is perfectly done as each story flows seamlessly into the next one.  

    Now I don’t know who came up with pairing off the artists and the writers but whoever is responsible for this deserves a raise because honestly I couldn’t have done one of the fan made choices that would’ve come near to what we see.  Though in all honesty I’d have loved to see Phil Jimenez being given an arc to illustrated.  The Wildcat arc introduces us to the Yellow Wasp and shows Ted’s nine-lives power and how the boxing glove arrow was born and it’s one of my absolute favourite stories, so let’s see more of G.A. and the Yellow Wasp!

    Speaking of the interiors here I love the work in ever single arc regardless if its my go to style or not because what we see brings so much emotion and feeling to the forefront thanks to how we see faces, facial expressions and of course body language.  All of this furthers the characterisation beautifully.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such beautiful eyes for storytelling.  The colour work is brilliantly rendered throughout.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is brilliantly rendered.  
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    I miss these 100 page giant sized issues.  I think a yearly book like the this one would be a great way to showcase these talented creators as well as giving us a chance to thrill at unseen adventures that take place throughout Ollie’s life.  The only thing missing here, for me anyway, are The Seven Soldiers of Victory, which if you think about it is Batman and the Outsiders long before Bats even had the idea.  Still i’m down for a yearly book that does what this one does and allows us to see what his family, and he’s got a large one whether it’s blood or not, is currently up to.  This is brilliantly done from head to toe, side to side and every which way including loose.  It really is worth every single penny folks.

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darling #1

6/30/2021

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Darling #1
Source Point Press 2021
Created & Written by Michael Fleizach & Todd Hunt
Illustrated by Dave Mims
Lettered by Zach Turner

    With all of New York City enveloped in the zeitgeist of a missing 8-year old girl, lovable anti-hero Francis Darling accidentally stumbles onto the machinations behind her kidnapping and the drug war that ensues. But has he really? A bit like chasing the Mad Hatter through a toxic chemical cloud, Francis' strange and inconceivable journey brings us uncomfortably close to NYC's most crooked... most deviant... most irredeemable characters; the kind that can only be extricated from the drug-addled guilty conscience of a failing brain.

    What an interesting and pretty powerful this story already is.  We’re talking drug addiction and in this issue alone not only do we see that Francis has tracks up his arm but his girlfriend or ex-girlfriend isn’t able to handle being around him because of it.  This is where things get tricky because if something happens to him and he overdoses or some such deal her guilt at not being able to help him when she knew full well the extent of his addiction well that’s something that is incredibly hard to live with.  So that we see these kind of things and super impose them through our own knowledge and experiences is what makes this so impactful and engaging.

    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 extraordinarily well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter is magnificently rendered.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages introducing us to these characters, the story and the world they inhabit it is easy to empathise with these folks and get swept in their lives.  

    I like how we see this being structured and how we see the layers emerge and grow.  It is within these layers that we see some great characterisation, how we meet the various characters and really get a sense for this world.  What these moments do is add this extra depth and complexity to the story and it does so beautifully.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is greatly achieved.

    The interiors here are absolutely gorgeous!  The linework is phenomenal and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality of detail work that we see is astounding.  There is this amazing style to the work that just works so beautifully plus how we see the backgrounds and how they are utilised throughout is spectacular.  How they work within the composition of the panels create the depth perception, sense of scale and the 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 remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is brilliantly rendered.  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered exceptionally well.  I love seeing the creativity and imagination being utilised to bring this world to life.

    I am super impressed with this book.  It is deeply personal, you can tell that just by the subject matter and how well it is represented, story and how the structure, characterisation and the overall writing is so phenomenally well done with such creative and dynamic interiors make this something powerful to read.  

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Parasomnia #1

6/30/2021

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Parasomnia #1
Dark Horse Comics 2021
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Andrea Mutti
Lettered by Simon Bowland

    From Cullen Bunn (Harrow County) and Andrea Mutti (Prometheus, Starship Down), comes a new dark fantasy tale of two worlds split between dreams and reality. After his son disappears, a broken-down man braves a nightmarish dreamscape in order to find him—and battle the ruthless cult that seeks to rule the land of dreams as the barrier between realities starts to collapse. 

    When you see a title and have to look up what it actually means you know that straight away you are engaged and invested in the book.  Turns out I have aspects of Parasomnia in my life, I have been known to sleepwalk and talk in my sleep, so you learn something new every day and if you don’t then you really should start trying more as its what makes life more interesting.  How this works with the story however is as of yet unknown to me and I like this aspect because it remains something of a mystery and mysteries are what keep us coming back to a story time and time again.  

    I am loving the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of event unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well.  The character development is interesting and this is thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels.  This holds true for both the real world and the fantasy world that we see within these pages and it’s the beginning of seeing the correlation between the two.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story, the characters in this little drama and the worlds they inhabit we’re mesmerised as we try to piece together what’s happening.

    I appreciate how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story emerge and start to grow.  These layers are where the bits of stronger characterisation happen as well as where we see the dual worlds coming into play.  What this does is add extra depth and complexity to the story regardless if they enhance the main arc or simply swirl around it.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves everything forward is achieved exceptionally well.

    God I love Andrea’s work.  The man is a sensational visual storyteller and what he can do with the linework and its varying weights to create this level of detail work is utterly astounding.  The way that we see backgrounds being utilised throughout to not only enhance the moments but to work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is magnificently rendered.  The creativity and imagination that is on display here is gorgeous to see and while mainly in the alternate world with its various species it is so effective everywhere.  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 equally as brilliant to see.  The watercolour painting and how it utilises the various hues and tones within the colours to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is brilliantly rendered.  Overall the work on the interiors really is simply bloody mindbogglingly brilliant to see.
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    This is why I love comics, the level and quality of storytelling is second to none.  The creativity and imagination on display is wondrous and it really finds a way to engage the reader and get them invested in the story brilliantly.  This is unlike anything we’ve seen in comics that I’m aware of and its also what I’ve come to expect from these gentlemen, storytelling that is par excellence.  Dark Horse is lucky to have such a dynamic combination of talent here.  

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Shadow Service #9

6/29/2021

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Shadow Service #9
Vault Comics 2020
Written by Cavan Scott
Illustrated by Corin Howell
Coloured by Triona Farrell
Lettered by Andworld Design

    The truth below! With Gina at her mercy, Lady Yastrik comes face-to-face with a terror she never imagined existed. An MI666 agent has been pushed too far and all hell is about to be let loose. Quite literally!

    I am in love with this issue.  Just the setting alone is amazing and gives you a whole new meaning to a dinner party from hell.  Cavan is an amazing wordsmith and the way he’s able to craft a story and fill it with dialogue in such ways that excite the reader.  How it is able to evoke such feelings and emotion throughout is utterly spectacular.  The opening is phenomenal as what we see happen to this poor child is so thoroughly disconcerting and horrific, yet completely and utterly fascinating at the same time.  While Doctor Dee may have wanted all the power for himself and himself alone fate has other plans and what better a conduit for such a creature than that of a child who is much more malleable and easily possessable than a fully formed grown adult man whose personality has already been formed. 

    I love 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 exquisitely well.  The character development that we see is extraordinary thanks to how we see the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story along with the twists & turns along the way we’re so caught up in what we see we hardly realise how quickly the issue reads.

    I greatly appreciate the way that this is being structured as well as how the layers within the story continue to grow, evolve and emerge anew depending on the avenues that are explored or introduced.  The layers contain some of the best characterisation and add some of those new avenues to be explored and whether they work with the main arc of the story or simply swirl around it the depth and complexity that it adds is magnificent to see.  How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is achieved exceptionally well.  

    The interiors here are so bloody dynamic and interesting.  The linework is sensational and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level and quality to the detail work is astonishing to see.  How we see backgrounds being utilised throughout not only enhance the moments but how they work within the composition of the panels to bring us the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is rendered beautifully.  The creativity and imagination that’s on display here is marvellous and whether it’s the boy being tattooed or that magnificent two-page spread what we see leaves you gobsmacked.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is bloody gorgeous.  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a stellar eye for how colour works.
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    This issue really knocked my socks off.  There is a lot happening but nothing seems out of place, crammed in or just shoved in for the sake of it being there.  Cavan has really crafted something extraordinary with the writing and characterisation that gets the perfect compliment from Corin and Triona’s interiors.

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The Dark Age #6

6/29/2021

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The Dark Age #6
Red5 Comic 2019
Created & Written by Don Handfield
Illustrated by Leonard Rodrigues
Coloured by Dijjo Lima
Lettered by DC Hopkins

    Riker and his band learn why metal disappeared and uncover an even darker, more incredible secret, one that can either save or damn humankind forever.

    Jonnie sees who the boy king is for the first time and it raises more questions than there are answers.  Still it’s a great wrinkle in everything we’ve been led to believe so far.  There are a few avenues that have opened up over the course of this series thus far but none have prepared us for what it is we are seeing happen here.  I almost feel we were cheated a bit by this issue it’s weird that’s for sure and I’m not sure the direction is one I would have taken but I’m willing to see how this plays out next issue before actually passing judgement.  There is at least one person who seemed to either be prepared for this or simply didn’t care and attacked relentlessly when they should have held off.  This is going to change how we see things so perhaps it isn’t as crazy as it appears.

    I 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 presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see is interesting and this is due to the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story as well as these twists & turns it certainly takes us places we’d never thought we’d go.

    I like the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to grow, evolve, strengthen and emerge anew depending on which avenues are being explored.  These layers contain strong bits of characterisation that both work with the main story arc and swirl around it either way it adds depth and complexity to the story.  How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is achieved extremely well.

    I am a huge fan of the interiors here.  The linework is phenomenal and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level of detail in the work is extraordinary to see.  The faces and facial expression plus how we see the body language does wonders in fleshing the characters out even further.  I’d like to see more backgrounds being utilised, the talent and skill is here and it’s all that’s really missing.  Otherwise the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope we see is extremely well rendered.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is brilliantly rendered.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for how colour works.
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    This book was already an interesting take on what happens when all the metal all just disappears.  I would’ve been content to let the readers own mind use their imagination and creativity to come up with possible scenarios, after all the mind is a powerful thing and usually comes up with much better ideas when left to roam freely.  What we see this issue really just takes the story to a whole new level and whether they are benevolent of not remains to be seen.  With some stellar writing and amazing characterisation alongside these gorgeous interiors showcase why I love Red5 Comics.

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Nuclear Family #5

6/28/2021

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Nuclear Family #5
Aftershock Comics 2021
Written by Stephanie Phillips
Illustrated by Tony Shasteen
Coloured by JD Mettler
Lettered by Troy Peteri

    Thrust into an alternate reality where the Cold War turned hot and nuclear fire rained down on America, the McClean family is faced with a future replete with nuclear experimentation and deadly political machinations. Even if the McCleans can make it back to their own timeline, is there any way to avoid the post-apocalyptic future awaiting them?

    There is something about the way that this ends that was a little disappointing to me.  I think I’d have preferred to see the Boom than the black and left it there leaving the reader to wonder whether or not it worked.  I think that would have been a far more effective ending than tying it up with a pretty little bow.  Again this is just my opinion.  I did find it interesting to open this issue in Korea and seeing Tim playing with the radio as it sets us why he had the radio system in his basement.  Now seeing the Governor who appears to be a young Mitch McConnell, yuck, was another interesting bit seeing as how he was willing to believe Tim and take him home in the attempt for him to make it back to his time and set things right.  Though how exactly that is supposed to work is beyond me.

    I do 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 presented rather quite well.  The character development is rather interesting as well thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story as ti races towards its conclusion we’re gripped in the clutches of these events.

    How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to play themselves out is well done.  The layers contain the strong characterisation and bits such as the Governor and Roger going with them work with the main arc and swirling around the main arc adding extra depth and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is achieved extremely well.  

    Tony’s work on the interiors is always mindbogglingly brilliant to look at.  The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights and techniques create the detail work that we see is extraordinarily well rendered.  The creativity and imagination we see in how these zombie style creatures we see is impeccably rendered.  The way that backgrounds are utilised throughout being utilised to enhance the moments as well as working within the composition of the panels to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is magnificent to see.  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 phenomenal.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a stellar eye for how colour can be used to maximum effect.  
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    With the exception of the ending I think was told exceptionally well.  The solution seems so utterly simple and yet it is a complete gamble whether or not it would truly work.  Also I think that the duality of Korea and the basement playing out side by side was an interesting choice and it engages the reader in an unexpected way.  Overall this was a fun little story that takes something familiar that Stephanie puts her own unique spin on.

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Teen Titans Academy #4

6/28/2021

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Teen Titans Academy #4
DC Comic 2021
Written by Tim Sheridan
Illustrated by Steve Lieber
Coloured by Dave Stewart
Lettered by Rob Leigh

    Who is RED X? The students of Titans Academy want to know, and they want to know NOW! After the infiltration of the school by the Suicide Squad, three unlikely students launch their own investigation into the mysterious figure’s true identity and motivation. What they find is shocking and surprising, if any of it is actually true!

    I always feel like i’m missing either an issue or a segue between issues, something to tie in what we’ve seen to the previous issue.  Now I might have missed something but I don’t know much about these kids that populate the Academy and I’ve been intrigued as to who these three are and I like that we're getting a change to finally see them in action.  The Bat Pack, I still have no idea who they are and what they can do but I will say i’m more intrigued than ever to learn more about them.  Now I realise that this is a large cast of characters so  can forgive some stuff but I have no idea what they can individually do or if they are simply inspired by Batman and wish to emulate the man with no superpowers.

    I do like the way that this issue 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 extremely well.  The character development is interesting and this is thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story as well as the twists & turns along the way keeps us guessing.

    How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story emerge and grow.  The way these three behave and how they interact with their fellow students happens within these layers adding more depth and complexity to the story.  This is what’s great about these bits is that whether they work with the main arc or simply swirls around it is really rather impressive to see.  How everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is achieved extremely well.  

    The interiors here are absolutely delightful, and that Panda bear is my favourite touch.  The linework is nice and how we see the varying weights being utilised to create the detail work is extremely well rendered.  The way that we see backgrounds utilised to enhance the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is great to see.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a very talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work we see is also incredibly well rendered.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a great understanding of colour.
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    I am hoping that the transition from one book to the next starts to flow better because if not I can understand why folks are disheartened with this book so far.  The potential here is amazing and it would be nice to spend more than an issue on any given character or as we see here set of characters and these three need to have another issue or two to keep investigating who Red X really is.  There really are a lot of characters at the Tower right now and these choppy single issue focus stories just aren’t going to cut it.  

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