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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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Zorro: Timeless Tales #1

7/18/2020

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Zorro: Timeless Tales #1
American Mythology Productions 2020
Written by Jean-Marie Nadaud
Illustrated by Carlo Marcello
Zorro Created by Johnston McCulley

    Step into the golden age of Zorro comics with a nostalgic return to these classic swashbuckling adventure tales! Zorro Timeless Tales unlocks the vault of stories originally published in France by the amazing creative team of Nadaud and Carlo Marcello. The art perfectly captures the magic of Zorro's charisma and charm with incredible artistry. These are the tales that made Zorro a household name across the globe beautifully presented to a new generation of readers!

    I think every single person, especially those that read comics, should be reading this book.  Not just because it’s freakin amazing but because to really appreciate the stories being told today you should be familiar with the stories of the past that paved the way.  While Zorro may have lost its lustre over the years he’s still been around for 100 years and I think folks should see why this man has such staying power.  Also I want you to marvel at the writing, the dialogue and the way that the interiors are done because I’ll be hornswoggled if they aren’t still some of the greatest there are.

    I love the way that these stories are being told.  Just to be clear there are three stories in this book.  The way that we see the story & plot development through the way we see the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented impeccably.  To see these stories happen and unfold before us in this kind of real time way is how the story should be told.  The character development is simply amazing.  The dialogue, the way we see the characters interact with each other and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they face tells us a lot about them.  The pacing is superb and how it takes us through the pages revealing the story not only showcases how well the book and it’s stories are structured but how it all works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

    I think one of the longest running gags is that El Capitan is corrupt and has this thing for Zorro and wants his head.  All because Zorro robs from him and gives it all to the people of Los Angeles well not all but he cannot beat Zorro regardless of his boasts and his desire.  Also the Governor who is also as corrupt as El Capitan but then again back then it isn’t all that surprising. 

    The interiors here are just masterpiece page after another.  The linework is sensational and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this attention to detail that we see is astonishing.  I mean the work in the Governor’s collar or in the guards uniforms is so well conceived and executed.  More often than not we see backgrounds being utilised and they do so much more than enhance the moments.  They are essential parts of the story as Zorro makes an escape or surprises someone.  They bring us this great depth perception, sense of scale and this overall sense of size and scope to the book.  The colours are gorgeous and they haven’t been remastered as far as I know so to see the gradation being utilised throughout is really something special in my opinion.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a masters eye for storytelling.  
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    Thank goodness the folks at American Mythology have had the foresight to release these stories once again.  We should never forget the past and we should find ways to honour it instead.  A good start is to be reading this and books like it and marvel at how far we have come and yet how much has remained the same.  

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Star Trek Deep Space Nine #1

7/18/2020

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Star Trek Deep Space Nine #1
IDW Publishing 2020
Written by Scott Tipton & David Tipton
Illustrated by Greg Scott
Coloured by Felipe Sobreiro
Lettered by Neil Uyetake

    Death casts its shadow as Constable Odo searches for truth amid a web of treachery and lies. Everyone on the Promanade has a motive for this murder, be it vengeance, justice... or old-fashioned greed.

    While I am a fan and supporter of the original Star Trek books I never cared to read the TNG comics.  Deep Space Nine was something I started to watch and gave up on it just wasn’t the version I was hoping for.  This however intrigued me because it focuses on Oto and I adored Rene Auberjonois, and had a crush on Dr. Bashir so I had to check it out.  Plus if you know me I am a fan of the Tipton’s and Greg is one of my absolute favourite artists working today which guaranteed I was going to be reading this.  Sometimes I am beyond thrilled to take a chance on something that I wouldn’t normally go for.  The idea of this story is something I personally love to see because there are so few mystery stories set in this world.

    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see here through how the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is laid out exquisitely well.  The brothers Tipton really are some amazing storytellers and I thoroughly enjoy the work they do in the Star Trek Universe and to see this the way we do is phenomenal!  The character development that we see here is superb.  We get to see some really nice work on these characters, some of whom I don’t know and others that I am surprised to see within these pages.  So yeah I am totally impressed with exactly much we find ourselves liking, questioning or being reminded why we didn’t like them.  The pacing is amazing and as it takes us through the pages revealing the layers of the story to us we see how well this book is structured as well as how it all works together so seamlessly in creating the books ebb & flow.

    This is a phenomenal book!  The way we see the story start and begin to get juicy as a myriad of characters are introduced as possible suspects in this crime.  Just the introduction alone is one that makes us want to see more and if we were going to get this quality of storytelling is what we should expect than I want to see more of Deep Space Nine, something I never thought I’d say.

    Oh Greg is one of today’s most extraordinary artists.  His linework is exquisite and how he is able to utilise its varying weights and techniques to really showcase the attention to detail.  How he is able to utilise these bold, strong lines side by side with the soft and delicate ones and bring them together is something you cannot be taught in schools.  This is pure talent right here and we see this also in the way he utilises backgrounds throughout.  They not only enhance the moments but they provide this amazing depth perception, sense of scale as well as the overall sense of size and scope to the book.  The creativity and imagination that we see throughout is just sensational, in the myriad of species as well as the architecture on, in and whatnot the station.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a masters eye for storytelling.  The colour work that we see is divine.  How the various hues and tones within any given colour that’s being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered perfectly.  The colour choices we see are inspired and inspiring and how they are utilised to add to the definition at times shows this supremely talented eye.  
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    This book is mindboggilingly bloody brilliant!  From the writing to the lettering  there is absolutely nothing to find fault with.  

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Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1

7/18/2020

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Snake Eyes: Deadgame #1
IDW Publishing 2020
Script & Dialogue by Chad Bowers
Story & Illustrated by Rob Liefeld
Ink Assists by Adelso Corona
Coloured by Federico Blee
Lettered by Andworld Design

    Rob Liefeld takes on G.I. Joe in this brand-new mini-series! Snake Eyes has long been the most mysterious member of the Joes, but how long can he keep his past classified when he’s forced to play his hand? Will he get a lucky roll? Or will the deadgame finally catch up to him?

    I don’t know about you but I have been waiting for this for what feels like forever now and I am not disappointed in any way shape or form.  There is something to this mythology we see in this that acknowledges Joe's past and present in some beautiful ways while also at the same time it expands their world as well.  Then of course there is this overall sense of fun to this book that is simply too good to deny.  Granted any mini-series could fit into the Joe universe this one does it and it feels so seamless and natural.

    I am a fan of the way that this is being told.  How we see the story & plot development moving forward through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is done exceptionally well.  The character development we see here is pretty on point as well.  Seeing how the characters act and react to the situations and circumstances placed before them helps us see them better and understand them a tad more clearly.  Now the narration that goes along with Snake Eyes here is interesting because it’s an off-screen person giving us the thoughts that Snake Eyes has and it is a tad poignant to boot.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see not only how well the book is structured as well as how everything works together to create the books ebb & flow.  

    I really do like this book and for more reasons than I had originally I expected I would.  Aside from the fact that it feels so completely and utterly G.I. Joe in all it’s glory the story itself is highly interesting and it really is nice to see how the Joe’s react and backup one of their own.  Everything about this issue excites the fan of the franchise in me and that’s what this should do and to exceed my expectations well that’s just damn good storytelling.

    I am totally digging the interiors here too.  Rob’s linework is laid down exceptionally well and it’s got that strength and vulnerability side by side with his utilisation of the varying weights and techniques that wesee.  My biggest complaint is that we don’t see enough backgrounds being utilised, that and why doesn’t Colton look worse from being captive.  Otherwise how we see the characters, their body proportions, faces and facial expressions all are just beautifully rendered and further the characterisation.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a masters eye for storytelling.  I am impressed with the colour work we see here as well.  I shouldn’t be because Blee is extremely talented and how we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is exemplary work.  I think this might be my favourite work from Rob to date as well as Blee’s and the creativity and imagination that we see is superb to say the least.
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    This is why the Joe franchise has so many avid fans and followers.  It is why we see them cosplayed at conventions and why it’s been around and seen as much as say Scooby-Doo is.  The love for these characters and the joy they bring emanate from the creators to the reader spectacularly well and it just makes us want to see more.  

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It Eats What Feeds It #1

7/18/2020

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It Eats What Feeds It #1
Scout Comics 2020
Written by Max Hoven & Aaron Crow
Illustrated by Gabriel Iumazark

    In this grimy horror romp, Francois, a stunning middle-aged woman, has developed a worsening affliction and seeks a young caretaker to upkeep her lavish creole mansion deep in the mystic bayou of Louisiana.  Kenny, a teenage halfwit looking for a summer job, stumbles right to her doorstep. Free rent, free meals, high pay, easy work, and a provocative boss... what's there for Kenny to refuse? Well, there's the blood-covered kitchen spilling over with raw meat and the bolt-locked steel-plated attic door he's restricted access to. Are these red flags worth the risk of missing out on a wild summer romance?

    This was completely and utterly captivating to me.  I love a good horror tale and this one checked off a lot of the boxes that I look for.  Scout has this way of finding talent and letting them shine and with a slew of new offerings on the table, their release schedule looks amazing, they are finally making that huge push for a share of the market.  It is no secret that I have been a huge fan of Scout Comics for a while now and they have such a range of genres for you to choose from and the emphasis seems to be related to horror in some way, shape or form.  This book just goes to show why they remain one of my go to company’s for my comics reading enjoyment.

    I love the way that this is being told.  The way we see the story & plot development emerge through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is laid out beautifully.  Right off the bat when we first meet Kenny we see how he’s portrayed and can immediately identify with him.  I appreciate the humour of his assessment of the situation and yet through circumstances beyond his control he has to follow through.  It is so well written and structured that it takes only a couple of pages before there’s no turning back for the reader.  The character development that we see here is phenomenal!  Kenny may be that perennial slacker that we all have known in our high school days and the way we see his and Francois’ relationship grow is believable.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way showcases not just the way the book is structured but how well everything works together here.

    The interiors here are amazing.  There is a part of me that’s instantly reminded of the old school Disney films, I am talking The Great Mouse Detective and the Rescuers.  They have that fine line effect and yet give off the mood, vibe and oomph that we need to experience this properly.  I don’t quite know how to put in words just how this makes me feel so I can only imagine that each individual would have their own unique experience with it.  The backgrounds that we see are delightful, they work well with the genre and the overall aesthetic of the book.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this marvellous eye for storytelling.  The colour work is bloody brilliant in how it’s so dark, mysterious and in how it’s laid down.  The various hues and tones we see within any given colour that are being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is phenomenal work.  The way we see the blurred colour in the backgrounds and how the light streaming through windows has an effect it’s just effin bloody brilliant!

    This is an extra large sized issue and it is worth its weight in gold for every single page that we see.  The story has some wonderful unexpected layers to it that we see and then by the end we want to see what’s next!  I do think I know what happened but it’s not for certain so what I would love to see are more stories set in this bayou, even if they are the past fleshing out what we learn here I would be more than happy with that.
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    This is a beautiful, unnerving and haunting book that you will love and completely want to see so much more of.

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Sirens #1

7/17/2020

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Sirens #1
Markosia Enterprises 2020
By Steven A. Ross

    A young man finds himself in a strange and hostile alien world. Alone and afraid, he is witness to a myriad of horrors before being led to a startling discovery. A discovery that would have consequences beyond imagining. 

    Folks there is a reason I love Markosia and the comics that they put out.  They may be a small press publishing house but they are extremely mighty.  Much like they Boudica on the battlefield Markosia is definitely a contender when it comes to quality books with high levels of storytelling.  This one is as cerebral as it is hauntingly beautiful and it captures the readers’ mind, imagination and engages the mind in truly imaginative ways.   It is books like this that reignite that mysterious passion where you find yourself lost in the story and have absolutely not one single idea what the hell is going on.  This is what you need to make sure you find, order from your shop or Markosia themselves because this is one of those things that will make you happy for many hours/days afterward.

    I love the way that this is being told.  How we see the story & plot development unfold through the sequence of events and how the reader learns information is really nicely laid out.  Right from the opening we are drawn into this in some surprising ways that make you want to see and know more.  It’s a gorgeous sequence and it does more than what is asked for.  The character development is interesting as well here since we really are getting to know one particular character better than others.  I like how nothing is really defined but hinted at and suggested through the actions they take and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter.  The pacing is superb!  As it takes us through the pages revealing this nightmarish landscape we are enthralled the entire way through.  The way that we see how the book is structured as well as how everything works together to create the ebb & flow for the story is wonderfully presented.

    I am loving this for a myriad of reasons but at the end of the day when it comes down to it it’s all about the story.  I have the vaguest sensation of what is going on and what will occur but I could be completely off base and it’s that element that drives us to come back for more, or to re-read for the umpteenth time to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

    The interiors here really are utterly gorgeous.  We see this digital painting happening here, okay assumption but I am getting pretty good at spotting the difference, and yet the attention to detail within the book is bloody marvellous.  For one of the rare occasions you will hear me say I don’t mind the lack of backgrounds here.  This green haze that has so many different hues and tones within it feels like this kind of fog which just increases the creepy factor throughout the book.  Plus the moments we see the city and that kind of skyline that is a complete and utter wow moment for me.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkable eye for storytelling.  For me the colour seals the deal here.  Whether it’s the lights of a vehicle or office building to this alien landscape, mind you anything that has yet to be seen is an alien landscape, what we see just provides that mood, tone and feel of what we see perfectly.
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    Seriously folks please heed my advice and find this book for yourself.  It is a sensational, cerebrally smart and intelligent read wrapped up in these gorgeous pages that provide a complete experience.

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Bettie Page Vol.4 #01

7/16/2020

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Bettie Page vol.4 #01
Dynamite Entertainment 2020
Written by Karla Pacheco
Illustrated by Vincenzo Federici
Coloured by Rebecca Nalty
Lettered by Becca Carey

    Stunning starlet Bettie Page has signed on to a new “tastefully sensual” fantasy film, shooting on a secluded tropical island. But when one of her cast members is MURDERED, everyone on the island is a suspect! WHO is the killer? WHAT is the film’s producer hiding? HOW do they get off the island? You’ll have to read to discover WHODUNNIT…!

    I’ve known that Bettie was an icon basically all my life but I was never that into her ya know.  It wasn’t until Dynamite started doing these volumes that I discovered just how awesome she is and was.  If you haven’t checked these out then you really need to, because they are smartly written, entertaining, engaging and just a gosh darn hoot!  Plus it will give you the desire to look her up and see what her life was all about.  She was a pin-up goddess and she reigned uncontested for a lot of our troops overseas.  As beautiful, mysterious and captivating as Marilyn Monroe, Bettie was and still is an inspiration for artists, fashion designers and hairdressers alike.

    I love, love, love the way that this is being told.  While each arc is within the same life or timeline with each other they are completely stand alone arcs.  Though it is nice to see Captain Connelly again and while he’s making another appearance their relationship is easily explained here.  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.  Finally we are seeing a story where she’s not doing that secret agent (man-- yes you are singing that) gig and she’s just another wannabe actress.  This leads me to the character development that we see here.  There are a few universal truths, Bettie is far from stupid or being naïve and neither is she shy or a wallflower, okay be a bit introverted, so to see her in this issue is absolutely delicious!  The dialogue and the way we see them react and act to the situations and circumstances that stand in their way.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see just how well the book is structured as well as how it all works together to create the ebb & flow for the story.

    I love the interiors here.  The only real criticism that I have is that we need to see more backgrounds.  The island backdrop begs to be seen.  The linework is great and seeing how the varying weights are utilised to create the detail work we see is really well done.  A few more techniques would be nice but this is modern comic book style.  I am particularly impressed with the faces and facial expressions that we see throughout the book.  The way they convey almost everything we need to know about the characters from the resting bitch face to the downright sneers what we see is amazing at furthering the characterisation.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a great eye for storytelling.  I rather like the colour work that we see here as well.  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is really nicely rendered.  More so when we see how the colours are muted by a skoch by a mirror, this is impressive work people.
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    This is one the most underrated and overlooked books and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever why that is.  I would very much like to challenge all of you to pick this up, order it if ya have to, and then tell me precisely what you thought of it, even if you don't want to admit that this is one of the better books you’ve read for this week.

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Sacred Six #01

7/15/2020

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Sacred Six #01
Dynamite Entertainment 2020
Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Jae Lee & Gabriel Ibarra
Coloured by June Chang & Mohan
Lettered by Willie Schubert

     Four women are lured to rural Georgia as part of a mysterious scheme to defend an impoverished farming town which finds itself under siege by zealots. But this isn’t just any impoverished farming town, and these aren’t just any four women. The all-new Draculina, Pantha, Nyx, and Chastity have been brought together in Ashthorne in an effort to avert all-out war against nearby Sacred, Georgia. But Ashthorne has a deadly secret, Sacred has a deadly purpose, and lurking in the shadows is Lilith, the immortal sorceress and mother to Vampirella.

     These characters are extremely BadAss in every way shape and form.  Also Pantha is among those characters that I love and adore and as far as I know she’s not been connected to Vampirella before so this is a treat for me!  Plus I am a huge Chastity fan as well so this on the whole makes me so gosh darn incredibly happy.  Then of course it is written by Christopher Priest so if you are thinking about sleeping on this then you are a fool!  This is far and away one of the best intellectual comics that I have seen lately.  This really does make you think when you read it as it engages you in some spectacular ways.

     The way that this is being told is utterly fantastic!  How we see the story & plot development move forward through how we see the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is laid out beautifully.  There is something about a history lesson that I love and more so when it involves Egypt and it’s ruling class and they are based upon actual people.  The character development that we see here is really interesting.  This is told as if it were in chapters and each focusing on someone different, after all this will be a really decent sized cast when it’s all said and done.  Then towards the end we see more with the same characters and it leaves me incredibly intrigued to say the least.  The pacing here is fantastic and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way it’s easy to see how all of this works together to create the books ebb & flow.

     Once we pass the prologue and get into the heart of the story we see how Gabriel and Mohan work together on the interiors here.  Oh sweet mother of Pearl Bailey, price tag on the hat and all, the work is gorgeous.  Their first page has this imagery that sets the stage for everything to come and it’s just simply beautiful to look at.  The linework is exquisite and the way the varying weights and techniques are being utilised to draw out this level and quality in the details is mindbogglingly good.  From zombies to vampires and Pantha, oh lord in her cat form as a panther it’s bloody brilliant to see, the creativity and imagination that is on display within these pages is astounding as it’s brought to life.  How we see backgrounds being utilised could be a whole lot better, I mean on a film set and blank backgrounds meh.  Still the utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is divine!  Talk about knowing how to create the perfect mood, tone and feel, I mean the way we see the various hues and tones being utilised within the colours to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is astounding.  How the colour can bring a face or body to life with the tones and shading is scary to see within these pages, by how damn good it’s being done.
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     The way this is structured and the way that we see the different characters and their viewpoints shows just how impressive Christopher is as a writer.  The man can weave a tale that would impress Thoth and even make him jealous.  This is the start of something big, epic proportions big and you’ll want to be along for every single thrilling moment of it.

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Engineward #1

7/15/2020

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Engineward #1
Vault Comics 2020
Written by George Mann
Illustrated by Joe Eisma
Coloured by Michael Garland
Lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

    Earth is an ancient myth, long forgotten. Now, the word of the god-like Celestials is absolute, and they rule with brutal efficiency. When Joss, an Engineward, discovers and reactivates the head of an ancient ghoulem, she finds all is not as intended. Her destiny—and that of her world—lies somewhere far beyond the borders of her shantytown.

    Oh This is going to be on your Christmas List, Christmas in July that is.  Science Fiction is alive and well at Vault Comics and i have to say that this really is some cutting edge stuff and it’s only the introduction to the series.  What really impresses me about this thus far is how we see the fall of civilisation and what happens with the kids that grow up afterward.  Oral storytelling that gets passed down through the generations tends to change words without changing the meaning of them.  Plus localised dialects play a huge role in how they learn to speak as well since phonetics is really pronounced in a world where the population doesn’t normally write.  Now I am making assumptions about that but it's safe considering and then to see Joss being an Engineward and knowing how electronics work, that is in a class all of it’s own and I am greatly intrigued by it.

    I am loving 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 keeps this moving forward beautifully.  The character development is sensational to see.  How we meet the characters, where we meet them and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances placed before them tell us a lot about them.  Ichabod for example we get this great look at him and then when we see him again he’s noticeably different and we all know the reason why even if it’s not spoken aloud by them.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the world and it’s inhabitants we can see just how well this is structured, not to mention how it all works together to create the books ebb & flow.

    There is something fresh and new about this which flows right alongside that feeling of déjà vu.  It is that unshakable feeling you’ve seen this done before but then by the same token it’s never been done like this.  So it will excite you and engage your mind as you work things out as you move through these pages.

    I have got to say that if I hadn’t known this was Joe’s work beforehand then I wouldn’t have guessed it.  This is his strong linework and he does utilise the varying weights and techniques to bring out this great attention to detail and yet it feels different, more mature.  I still want to see more backgrounds from him though because when he utilises them, oh baby does it look spectacular!  Also if we can see boobs we should see peen, its 2020 after all show some dangling bits!  I do appreciate the men kissing, that was nice to see.   I love the creativity and imagination that we see throughout the book.  People, creatures and ghoulems all have these different feels to them that grab your attention and bring joy to the eyes.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a magnificent eye for storytelling.  The colour work is phenomenal!  I like how the hues and tones within the colours are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.  I really appreciate seeing the flesh tones being utilised to add musculature to bodies without the aid of linework.  It brings the work to another level.
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    This is why Vault Comics is in my Top 5 favourite publishing houses.  You can’t soar sitting on the ground, you need to take that leap off the ledge to really fly, which is what we see these creators doing right here.

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Archangel 8 #3

7/14/2020

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Archangel 8 #3
AWA Upshot Studios 2020
Written by Michael Moreci
Illustrated by C.P. Smith
Coloured by Snakebite Cortez
Lettered by Sal Cipriano

    In a world beyond the sight of mortals, Heaven and Hell wage war for the souls of mankind. Principal among God's legion are seven archangels written about in religious texts for millennia. But there is an eighth archangel, known only from passing allusions in Apocrypha, who operates under a different code. Fighting without God's sanction, he faces the enemy on his own terms, and shows just how bad good can be.

    I was intrigued by this the moment I learned Moreci was writing this and I have to say the man has yet to let me down.  The way this is going and how it is being told is so utterly bloody brilliant that it captures your attention, engages your mind and puts your own deductive skills to the test in ways that were reserved for the old Detective Comics.  It just feels like the more we learn the more that is still out there to be found.  It is almost maddening in its depiction of the characters and trying to reason in our own minds what they are doing here.  

    The way that this is being told blows me away.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented spectacularly well.  How this moves forward and how it seems to reveal while showing more and more layers is stunning.  The character development that we see is great and as we see more of them the more we learn and the more I want to know.  The game is changing and the characters are evolving and things look to be heating up intensely.  The pacing is superb and as it guides us through the pages we see how everything works together to create this phenomenal ebb & flow.

    The way this is structured, the way it keeps the reader on edge the entire issue and just the way the atmosphere of the book seems to find a way to seep into the readers’ bones is beyond what we have come to expect.  As this grows and evolves and we get pulled deeper and deeper into this world we don’t want to leave.  Personally I wanna arm up alongside the 8th Archangel because he’s a complete badass!

    The interior artwork here is stunning!  I have no idea how this has been done but the linework that we see is expertly laid down to create this level and intensity in the detail work.  Then when the colour work is added and creates even more detail in the imagery there’s just o real words that could possibly describe the effect it has on a reader.  When we see how backgrounds are utilised and when they appear it has this way of enhancing the moments perfectly as well as providing us with depth perception, a sense of scale and this overall sense of size and scope to the story.  With the varying weight of the linework and the different techniques being utilised I am so utterly impressed with C.P.’s talent, skill and ability.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a truly marvellously talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is divine.  The way the hues and tones within the colours are being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is expertly rendered.  Snakebite is so amazing in keeping in sync with C.P. and how they work together is mindbogglingly good.
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    I am telling you that this company is here to stay, here to put out the highest quality books that you will see on stands to wow you.  This is where it’s at, the production level and quality is just leagues above the rest and your favourite creates are unleashing their own work and you can see and feel the passion behind the project.

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Ghost Wolf Vol.3 #2

7/14/2020

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Picture
Ghost Wolf vol.3 #2
Amigo Comics 2020
Written by Massimo Rosi
Illustrated by Vito Coppola
Coloured by Viviana Di Chiara
Lettered by Monkey Typers

    A Tale of Two Wolves
Mara attacks the Lumen in a desperate attempt to stop them from reaching the Stone, the place where an ancient, Hungry God was sealed.  And there is no sign of Lif, the last Ghost Wolf.

    I am such a fan of Amigo and these franchises that they’ve created and maintain through these limited series arcs.  While it’s always best to read them all it isn’t always necessary, this for instance is one that I can say is new reader friendly.  If there is something in the past that we need to know then Massimo finds a way to work that into the story.  I think this is a stellar look at the past, present and the future in ways that should actually surprise you.  I like how we see Amma and her sage words of wisdom to Mara versus the sheer blind faith and madness that comes from the Lumen.  I do find what each side offers itself and others to be beneficial to their people, okay not the Lumen, but this is so much like what we know and have seen that it is still frightening to see play out here.

    I am a fan of the way that this is being told.  How we see the story & plot development through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information moves everything forward beautifully.  The way that we see events happen so that there isn’t a need to bounce around shows such a great structure to the book.  Massimo is a brilliant writer and if you haven’t had the pleasure yet then start here.  Because the flow, the structure and how we see these little things that accumulate into larger ones is spectacularly well presented.  The character development that we see is fantastic!  The way we see the character behave, how they react and act to the situations and circumstances before them continue to flesh them out as complete, whole people.  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.

    The interiors here are beautiful as well.  I like how we see the linework and its varying weights and techniques utilised throughout to bring forth the attention to detail that we see.  There is a traditional comic book style within these pages but it’s done in such a non-traditional way.  How we see backgrounds being utilised throughout not only enhance the moments we see but they bring 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 strong and talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work we see is fantastic as well.  The opening for example with it’s grey scales creating this almost cement feel is so outrageously good, then adding colour and utilising the hues and tones within them to showcase the shading, highlights and shadow work is exceptional.  
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    I think this is one of the more fascinating stories that you’ll find on stands.  What we currently take for granted could be gone and the world thrust into a new different age based on our civilisations past.  Can you imagine an event or series of events that could have that kind of power and influence to mankind?  Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

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