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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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Cardinal Dagon Vol. 1

8/21/2020

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Cardinal Dagon vol.1
Behemoth Comics 2020
Written by Massimo Rosi
Illustrated by Giuseppe Costablie
Coloured by Renato Stevanato
Lettered by Mattia Gentili

    Enter the Cardinal, a scoundrel. He loves women; he sings karaoke, has bad taste and goes around like a gigolo and a dandy. After the death of the Pope, it’s entirely up to him to bring about the ruin of Earth, in his own way of course.

    Two things of note, one is that I am one of Massimo’s biggest fans/supporters and two Behemoth is a company on the rise that you need to take notice of.  I love the Osiris Path book and I saw their catalogue and knew right away I needed to read and review this one, even before finding out who the creative team was.  I just knew based on my limited knowledge of their books that I was sure anything I was to read would be amazing, ps., turns out I was right.   I love that Massimo isn’t afraid to take on the Catholic Church in his stories and paint them out to be hypocritical and so much the opposite of what’s advertised. Plus as we all know the devil cannot exist without god and sometimes Jesus so the way that all of this is blended into a story is rather exquisite to see.

    I love the way that this is being told.  Essentially this is an 80 page giant which is more than okay with me because of how much story we are getting here.  How the story & plot development moves ever forward through how we see the sequence of events as well as how the reader learns information is presented phenomenally well.  The opening sets the stage and we see the players and what side of the coin they occupy.  The character development is startlingly good.  I love seeing these characters and each time, in each panel we get to see a little more of them revealed and it’s kind of delicious.  The pacing is perfectly done and as it takes us through the pages revealing this world and the twists and turns along the way it is easy to see how all of this works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

    How this book is structured and how we see the layers within the story woven throughout just  takes my breath away.  If you are looking for something new to read then you need to get this book, it doesn't matter how you just need to get it.
    The interior artwork here is gorgeous.  I will say that I wish his crotch and penis weren’t blacked out.  I mean it’s 2020 and it looks odd to see that section blacked out where it doesn’t fit with the overall way this should be seen.  The linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights are being utilised to bring out the attention to detail is superbly rendered.  The way we see backgrounds being utilised here makes me happy but I do wish we’d see more.  On a plane with blank backgrounds it doesn’t feel cramped like it should.  Otherwise we get some nice depth perception, 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 really strong eye for storytelling.  The colour work is beautifully rendered as well.  I like how we see the hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.  
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    I love when I read a book that I had high hopes for not only met those but exceeded them in ways that I wasn’t aware were possible, yeah this is what makes me happy and excited to read comics.  What we see here and what we experience throughout this book is a different kind of adrenaline rush and I cannot stress/recommend or praise this enough.Massimo truly is one of the absolute greatest writers you aren’t aware of, yet.

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Maestro #1

8/20/2020

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Maestro #1
Marvel Comics 2020
Written by Peter David
Illustrated by Germán Peralta
Coloured by Jesus Aburtov
Opening Scene Illustrated by Dale Keown
Opening Coloured by Jason Keith
Lettered by VC’s Ariana Maher

    An explosion of experimental gamma energy turned scientist Bruce Banner into the super hero known as the Hulk, one of the strongest beings in the universe.  The Hulk once travelled to the future and met his older self, a despotic ruler who goes by the name of Maestro.  We know what turned Bruce Banner into the Hulk.  But what turned the Hulk into the Maestro?

    I haven’t been excited about reading the Hulk since the last time Peter David was writing the book.  This first issue alone is a testament to the man’s brilliance and skill as a writer.  I found myself riveted to the page wanting to see more now, not in a month, by the last page.  This is a remarkable story that has depth to how we see Bruce as a man as well as some wonderful layering within the story that focuses on the others seen or mentioned that really creates that extra intrigue factor.  

    The way that this is being told is phenomenal.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented flawlessly.  Right from the get-go Peter manages to create this world that we are interested in learning more about and what follows well, I for one want to know more.  The characterisation here is filthy work, and by that I mean there is no surpassing it.  What we see and how we see the characters as they face the circumstances and situations presented to them is utterly bloody brilliant.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists & turns alongside some incredible revelations we see how all of this works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.  

    So this is a prime example of someone who is able to take a character and make them accessible to everyone!  If you are not a Hulk fan or someone who just follows certain folks this is what you need to be reading.  I may not know how long this will run but I'm ready to read every issue this creative team puts out and I do want it to be a long and healthy run.  This is what gets readers’, fans and the industry excited to have unfold before them!

    The interiors here are absolutely amazing to see.  The linework is so smooth and how we see the varying weights and even techniques being utilised to bring out all this detail work is extraordinary.  The utilisation of the backgrounds we see here is sensational and how they work to enhance the moments as well as bring us this great depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book is exquisitely rendered.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stupendous eye for storytelling.  The colour work we see here is divine!  To see how colour with the hues and tones within them being utilised to further create musculature and add to the facial features is what sets this apart for me.  The way we see the shading, highlights and shadow work being rendered throughout is amazingly good.  
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    This is the kind of book that I wish marvel would look at and realise that all of their titles need to meet the standards that we see within these pages.  The quality and level of storytelling we bear witness to within these pages is why I am such a fan, lover and collector of comics.

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Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists #1

8/20/2020

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Atlantis Wasn’t Built For Tourists #1
Scout Comics 2020
Created & Written by Eric Palicki
Illustrated by Wendell Cavalcanti
Coloured by Mark Dale
Lettered by Shawn Lee

    Lovecraft meets Sergio Leone in a modern tale of corruption, family legacies, and nightmarish dread. Lucas Lewis drifts into Atlantis County, Oregon wanting nothing more than a hot meal and a soft bed for the night. What he finds instead is a small town in thrall to eldritch creatures lurking in the surrounding wilderness, possibly guided by an even more sinister force. Lucas becomes determined to eradicate all Atlantis's demons, but these monsters are not what they seem. Unfortunately for the monsters, neither is Lucas.

    I keep saying that Scout is where you need to be paying attention.  This is just another reason why, as what starts out as this seemingly innocent story turns into something so much more.  It will take you places you weren’t expecting to go and it will leave speechless and breathless by the last page.  I love how this engaged me as a reader, my mind and how it drew me into this town.  There are ways that this is being told that I found to be outside the box thinking and I have to say that works way better than I would have expected it to.

    The way that this is being told is amazingly well done.  How we see the story & plot development constantly moving forward and how we see the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is extremely nice to see.  There are layers and intricate moments that are woven so seamlessly here that it really kind of has the gravity of a black hole on the reader.  The character development here is intriguing and I say this because there are just these first impression moments and not really much else but because of the conversations between characters you WANT to know more.  This is crafted within an inch of perfection.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing Atlantis, it’s denizens and what Lucas encounters along the way.  How we see the book is structured and how everything here works together to create the story’s ebb & flow showcase some incredible still, talent, charisma, charm and uniqueness.  

    The interiors here are marvellous!  I love how the overall look of the book makes the reader feel.  The mood, tone and feel of this story is remarkably well done and I have to say that while I expected to be impressed I wasn’t expecting to be blown out of the water.  The linework we see and how its varying weights are being utilised alongside the various techniques we see is absolutely phenomenal.  The way that we see backgrounds being utilised here could be a skosh better but overall they do well to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale as well as the overall sense of size and scope to the book but it could use some tweaking.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a really strong eye for storytelling.  The colour work is fabulous!  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is just beautifully rendered.  During the nighttime sky I have to say seeing the darker muted colours treated the same way as in the light is beautiful to see.  
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    This was on my radar, mainly because it’s a scout title, but I wasn’t prepared for this to be one of the best things I am currently reading.  Scout Comics is home to a new wave of storytellers who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries and let loose this talent that should put the rest of the industry on notice.  Also I have contacted a number of stores and no one NO ONE has copies of this book so whether that’s sold out or didn’t realise they should buy it remains unclear but get this while you can!

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Big Girls #1

8/17/2020

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Big Girls #1
Image Comics 2020
By Jason Howard
Lettered by Fonografiks

    When men become giant monsters hellbent on destroying the world, only girls can stop them—BIG GIRLS. Meet Ember—she writes poetry, loves to read, and she’s a 300-foot-tall full-time monster killer! She and the other big girls are all that stand in the way of our world’s complete annihilation!

    I loved this issue.  I feel like this is one of those that should have been thought of years ago as Attack of the 50ft Woman and Giganta have been around for years.  Jason is pretty damn brilliant and this showcases that.  The concept is spot on amazing and the way that we are introduced to this grabs the readers’ attention straight away and keeps it throughout the entire issue.  There’s something about the way we are almost misled at the start that I found extremely appealing and then I wanted to see more and more.  

    The way this is being told is phenomenal!  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is extremely well presented.  There are a ton of moments that we see which are extremely important to how we see the story moving forward and that alone would make me excited but there are so many more moments woven throughout that really makes this what it is.  The character development is amazing and I have to say that the way we see the characters interact with one another and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances tell us a lot about them.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns as it reveals this world to us well it’s easy to see how well it all works together to create the ebb & flow.  

    The way that the book is structured is really rather impressive.  I am a fan of the fact that we also get the barest minimum of an explanation as to the world becoming this way.  While I don’t mind a story being set so that we see it happen but this far after I’m glad that we are kind of just jumping into the deep end.  We see a lot of great reasons as to why this book feels so unique as the intrigue and interest factors keep this upward trajectory.  This is really an impressive book my friends.

    The interiors are really great.  There is something to be said about how the backgrounds are being utilised to really enhance the story, become a part of the story and how they bring us this depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book.  Plus they are just really cool as we get to see how the world has changed and how it hasn’t by seeing the buildings.  The linework is great and  how we see the varying weights being utilised to bring out the attention to detail is really well done.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a remarkable eye for storytelling.  The colour work too is extremely nice to see.  The way that the hues and tones within the colours are utilised to show the shading, highlights and shadow work is beautifully rendered.
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    Jason definitely has his own style and unique point of view that has always shined through in his artwork.  So now it’s really nice to see that expand into a full book done by him, sans the lettering of course.  This is a solid book that has a very interesting premise and one single character who is shown what life is really like in the world she lives in and she’s not sure that she likes it.  The inner conflict as well as the layers of story we see woven throughout make this a very smart and bold series.

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Seven Secrets #1

8/15/2020

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Seven Secrets #1
Boom! Studios 2020
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Daniele Di Nicuolo
Coloured by Walter Baiamonte with Katia Ranalli
Lettered by Ed Dukeshire

     This is an all-new original series about seven powerful secrets -- words, wonders, weapons, and worse -- with the power to change the world.. For centuries, the Order has trusted in Keepers and Holders to guard the Secrets in seven briefcases against all harm, but when their stronghold is attacked and the secrets put in peril, the entire Order must face their greatest fear -- an enemy who knows too much and is willing to kill to get what he wants. Now, the Order's newest member, Caspar, must discover the truth of the Secrets before the enemy does, or risk losing everything.

    There is a reason there was a quiet hype about this book.  Not only is this freakin’ amazing but it just really captures the mind, imagination and creativity in the reader beautifully.  When we open up the story we start thinking right away and to be honest there is amazing misdirection in it that takes you by surprise.  I adore that because it sets the tone for the entire story and that means you have to pay attention to what we are reading and that’s even more stellar to me.  The way we are engaged and how fast and intensely that happens is beyond anything I could’ve hoped for.

    The way this is being told is utterly phenomenal!  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented is beautifully rendered.  The idea here is sensational and that it feels natural as if this weren’t a conspiracy theorists dream come true is nice to see.  The character development is superb and as we see the characters face the situations and circumstances continuing to help define who they are.  The pacing is on point and as it takes us through the pages revealing the world alongside the twists and turns along the way keeps this as thrilling as can be.  The way the book is structured and how we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow show why Tom’s one of those writers we love to follow.  Also you can see the passion he has for the project in the way this is being told, so Bravissimo!

    The interiors here are really nice to see.  There is something to be said about how this seems to mix the all-ages animation style with an almost manga feel to it that elevates what we see and the impact it has on the reader.  The linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights being utilised, especially in the backgrounds, really give some lovely focal points.  The utilisation of the backgrounds do a beautiful job in bringing us depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the book.  The colour work is gorgeous.  One of the things I adore about this is the fact that we see the backgrounds fuzzy like where the colour is utilised to show us distance.  The way we see such solid colour packed in and also how we see the various hues and tones being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work here is divine.  The work, the creativity and imagination that is on display really take the story to a whole nother level.  
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    I was excited for this as it was and then knowing the first issue sold out before event hitting stands made me hope it was worth it.  Turns out it is and then some.  The story is phenomenal and it adds mystery, intrigue and all kinds of great drama that is making this one of the year's best surprise hits.

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Bigs & Tiny #1

8/14/2020

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Bigs and Tiny #1
Blackbox Comics 2020
Written by Ramel Hill & Dimitrios Zaharakis
Illustrated by Federico Sabbatini
Coloured by Andrea Celestini
Lettered by Ed Dukeshire

    A comedic duo, on the hunt for answers to their newfound super powers, unravel the mystery of a seedy underworld of criminal activity in the heart of New York.

    What a fun book this is.  It is nice to see that these guys are able to put out a wide range of titles that run the gamut of genres.  This kind of diversity allows for a broader range of folks to have that opportunity to find something that they will enjoy.  For me I rather like how we are brought into the story and how quickly we are engaged.  I, for one, am really impressed with the way my mind was working from the get go as we are literally placed in the middle of the episode.  It is a risky move but it pays off because it certainly makes me want to know what the heck this is all about.

    I really 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 really well done.  Just the way this makes you feel like you're coming in late, feeling like it’s real life time movement and how you become a part of the story is amazing to me.  The characterisation is amazing and as we see them interact with one another and act and react to the situations and circumstances tells us a lot about them.  The pacing is solid and as it takes us through the pages revealing this world we can see how all of this works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.  

    I am actually really impressed with how the book is structured and how it is able to really engage the reader.  Pulling us into this world, not really giving out any solid information but they are able to grab your attention, keep it and have your mind work in overdrive.  It is a really good, solid experience reading this issue.  Plus the ending wets the appetite for what is to come beautifully.  Plus the personalities, the banter between the boys and just the overall mood, tone and feel of the book is inviting.  

    The interiors here are solid and nice.  This is definitely a comic book style to the work and it suits the book nicely.  The linework is great and I do like how we see the varying weights involved in the backgrounds and how we see the brick building.  Actually the backgrounds in general are amazing and to see the way that there are times when the city becomes a part of the story, like it’s own character.  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 great and I like how we see the different techniques involved to showcase the hues and tones within the colours creating the shading, highlights and shadow work is utterly gorgeous!
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    If you are looking for a good buddy comedy then this is exactly what you want to be reading right now.  It has this kind of throwback feel to it but is completely modern and there is an unquantifiable factor here that makes this an IT book.  I do read a lot of books and I can say with certainty that this is something you are going to really enjoy this story.  

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Sweet Heart #3

8/11/2020

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Sweet Heart #3
Action Lab Danger Zone 2020
Written by Dillon Gilbertson
Illustrated by Francesco Iaquinta
Coloured by Marco Pagnotta
Lettered by Saida Temofonte

    In this issue, Maddie goes hunting, catches up with an old enemy, and visits a family friend. 20 years after she was first chosen by the Stringer, she’s doing everything she can to fight back against the creatures Ellicott City town has long since surrendered to.

    I am such a fan of this series.  Normally all this jumping around a characters timeline would be rather annoying, and while part of me still thinks that, and yet here it makes sense in a way for that to keep happening.  Don’t get me wrong I'd love to see Maddie in High School trying to figure this out there and watch her as she grows up with this passion/obsession of being free of her Stringer.  Sure there are things I wish were done differently but that’s a readers’ prerogative, so that I am immensely enjoying the way that this being told as is, is even more impressive because I doubt I would actually change a thing.

    The way that this is being told is really rather quite good.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information keeps the story moving forward extremely well.  That we do get to see what appears to be highlights of her life and the moments that mean the most the story the way we do is presented in a way that really catches your interest, engages your mind and keeps it that way.  The character development is interesting.  I would like to see other parts of Maddie and maybe her childhood bully might be the answer to that because an obsession is only as good as the knowledge the person has about it and it can become a little one-dimensional.  The pacing is great and as it takes us through the pages revealing how Maddie and her family are dealing with this is nicely done.  Also the way that this book is structured and how we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow is elegantly crafted.

    This is certainly a non-traditional horror story and that it maintains the same standard from issue to issue and does so unapologetically is brilliant.  This is a strong and unique concept that is delivered in a way that gives you hope, keeps surprising you and if you’re not careful it can also be devastating.

    The interiors here are absolutely wonderful!  The linework that we see is phenomenal and how the varying weights and techniques are utilised to bring out this gorgeous detail work is done with such a great eye.  While yes I would like to see more backgrounds being utilised, I mean in the market, outside the market I feel it could use them.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a really superb, strong eye for storytelling.  Also the creativity and imagination on display is so good and at times so chilling and it makes reading this that much interesting.  Also can I say that he did grow up to be such a handsome man!  I am impressed with the colour work that we see as well.  Especially when it comes to the snow and how the whites, blues and greys are being utilised.  How we see the hues and tones within the colours creating the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered beautifully.
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    This is a great little series.  Don’t sleep on this one, don’t be too late to the party because while you may not know a lot about Action Lab Danger Zone I am here to tell you that it is definitely a place you wanna be!  This has strong, smooth writing and beautiful interiors and it’s a gripping tale so what are you waiting for?

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Wynd #2

8/11/2020

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Wynd #2
Boom! Studios 2020
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Michael Dialynas
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar

    The Bandaged Man has returned to Pipetown to find any remaining magic and will eliminate it -- or them -- with extreme prejudice. But can Wynd, with the help of Oakley, find a way to cure himself of his magical heritage -- or has he put himself in even more danger than he ever imagined?

    I am liking the way that we see two different angles of the same story unfolding throughout these pages.  Granted this is Wynd’s tale and he’s a very special boy but because of the way the Kingdom is going and how the King’s hatred of magic and those who are touched by it is reaching a fevered pitch well it would seem no one is truly safe anymore.  Plus that the king's son, Prince York, has asked his boyfriend to run away with him well the proverbial you know what is going to hit the fan.  

    I am loving the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is laid out beautifully and keeps everything moving forward.  There really is a great way that this is being told so that it’s easy to follow and manages to keep rising the interest or intrigue factors with the turn of every page.  The character development that we see here is utterly phenomenal and as we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances before them really shows us some wonderful growth throughout.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing this world, the past and how it affects the present is remarkably well done.  With the way that this is structured and how we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow is amazingly well rendered.

    The layers within the story and how we see the characters really makes this so much more compelling than one might expect.  That there is this great amount of diversity in the characters and the idea that Wynd who’s an elf should be exterminated for being different well that’s something we all have seen.  It is unfortunately a universal truth that there will always be someone to persecute for some reason or another and it does make the readers’ connection to the story that much stronger.

    Michael has a very unique style to his work and it is easily recognisable.  The all-ages aspect of the book is great and then how he adds such detail into the work is sublime.  Right off the bat we see the patterns in the rug and blanket not to forget the shields and it just makes this so riveting or mesmerising to look at.  I normally ask to see more backgrounds being utilised but what we see here is great and how we see depth perception, a sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the book is nicely done.  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 beautiful, the different colours in the patterning show the hues and tones beautifully.
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    These are huge double sized issues and even then by the last page I am wanting to see more!  I cannot wait for the two groups to meet up and then to see what Wynd is going to do.  This has charm, personality, pizzaz and just this amazing way of connecting with the reader.  I cannot recommend this enough if you aren’t already reading this.  

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DCeased: Dead Planet #2

8/10/2020

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DCeased: Dead Planet #2
DC Comics 2020
Written by Tom Taylor
Pencilled by Trevor Hairsine
Inked by Gigi Baldassini
Coloured by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Saida Temofonte

    The Justice League is trapped on Earth, and they’ve discovered that life still survives on this dead planet! Survival is precarious, though-and with billions of infected still roaming the surface, death lies around every corner. But it isn’t just the anti-living our heroes have to worry about, because John Constantine, Swamp Thing, and Zatanna are about to discover another evil growing…

    So this one has been my favourite because of those left on Earth, namely the Shadowpact.  Opening up this issue the way it does was a blessing and a curse for me as I named my ginger cat after the hero whose spotlighted.  Though it is nice to see that there are spots around the world where humans still remain alive in groups.  This is what I imagine would happen, small pockets of resistance just waiting and hoping that they can outlast this.  It is just another added element from Tom that makes this the kind of story we want to read.

    The way that this is being told is utterly fantastic!  Maybe outside of John and Zee the rest of Shadowpact are considered D listers and to see them be able to live and thrive and prove to the world they are not to be messed well it makes me wish the series would come back.  I mean this team of heroes is what fans want to see, okay maybe just me but still.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information so that everything moves forward is just beautifully done.  The character development is pretty amazing to see.  After being there five years and being battle hardened it is interesting to see the new developments in their personalities.  The pacing is sensational and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see just how well everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.  

    I am such a huge fan of this and honestly I didn’t think I would be.  The way that this is being written, how the book is structured and to see the layers within the story as we do showcases Tom’s brilliance, skill and talent as a writer.  I am in awe and completely gobsmacked by how I perceive this book and this storyline.

    The interiors here are rather extraordinary.  How Trevor manages to fill up the panels so we don’t see or sometimes need backgrounds is a nice trick.  Though when we do see them they are a whole nother story.  Though I wish he’d taken advantage of Ivy’s powers and really cut loose when they were all outside talking.  The linework is fantastic and to see the faces and facial expressions as well as the body language furthered the characterisation even more.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a marvellous eye for storytelling.  To be able to lay inks down on these pencils is amazing to me and the talent and the eye to get it just this way is something special and Gigi really shows off some stellar work.  The colour work we see is amazing!  The way that we see the myriad of hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is exemplary!  The techniques in application are gorgeously rendered and they make me smile.  
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    This is the kind of storytelling that I want to see at DC!  It doesn’t branch off into every title, which is just annoying, it has this stellar work from Tom with the layers, characterisation and just how he’s able to make this seem plausible.  Then there are the interiors which are just mindbogglingly good.  All said and done this is the kind of comic that I want to read because it’s just that damn good.

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Bad Mother #1

8/10/2020

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Bad Mother #1
AWA Upshot Studios 2020
Written by Christa Faust
Illustrated by Mike Deodato Jr. 
Coloured by Lee Loughridge
Lettered by Dezi Sienty

    April Walters is a hit-and-run victim of life – a middle-aged soccer mom whose inner fire has been snuffed out by her dreary suburban existence. When her teenage daughter goes missing under mysterious circumstances, April embarks on a harrowing mission to find her; a journey that takes her through the underbelly of her suburban community and sets her on a collision course with a massive crime syndicate and its lethal matriarch. Tested to her limits and beyond, April discovers that hell hath no fury like a mother scorned.

    So AWA Studios and Upshot Studios have very quickly cented their place in my top ten companies whose books I absolutely have to read.  Each and every book that I have had the privilege and honour to read thus far has far exceeded any and all of my expectations on every single level.  This one is no different and for a slew of reasons and while I wasn’t sure exactly what the title was supposed to represent by the end of the issue I certainly had a very strong suspicion.  

    I really like the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented and keeps the story moving forward beautifully.  This being the first issue introduction can oftentimes be harder to snag your attention right away but Christa has no problems doing that here.  The opening is superb and it does wonders in introducing us the main character.  Right away I am intrigued and interested to know about this woman.  The character development is interesting because we just get this surface skim on the people we see.  Thanks to the dialogue and interactions with one another we know there’s a ton bubbling under the surface and this just wets the appetite.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the world they live in we see how well all of this works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

    I am digging the way that this is structured.  The way we meet the characters and how we see what is and what could be happening is laid out perfectly.  This is engaging, intriguing and is a great read. 

    Mike has always been one hell of a great illustrator but man he’s on the top of his game here.  The linework we see is exquisite and how he utilises the varying weights and techniques here brings us this crazy good attention to detail. Then add into the mix the way we see backgrounds here and with as much detail work as in the characters really enhance the moments while bringing us some great depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts is phenomenal and how we see the angles and perspective in the pages show a masters eye for storytelling.  The colour work is divine!  How we see the myriad of hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is extremely impressive.
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    Everyone should be reading this because what I see here and the potential for what’s to come is going to keep you riveted to the page.  Just the way we see the events unfold and how things go from there as well as that ending we see, this is going to be one of those heavy hitter stories that if you miss out on it now you’re going to be sorry later when you try to play catch up.

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