Misbegotten #1
Action Lab Danger Zone 2017
Story by Ceasar Voghan
Script by C. Voghan, J. Case & Eric Granger
Illustrated by Justin Case
Lettered by William Bohm

     What if Marilyn Monroe fell in love with Jesus of Nazareth and tried to save him from the cross? There is a world in which this scenario is not that far-fetched: the world of MISBEGOTTEN--a post-apocalyptic saga about hot clones, holy relics, and a priest sent on a mission to spoil the most accurate passion play ever.

     Alright not going to lie this whole confused the hell out of me. There’s a great premise here but it seems like there are so many different segments that didn’t go together or have a proper segue from one to another. I felt like I was switching channels and watching something completely new.

     So let’s break it down here shall we? The opening is well very church centric in a way. From what I can understand the Vatican or it’s now equivalent has a legitimate army that has been converted to it’s way of thinking. Now I’m not a fan of the church in any way shape or form and ironically the very reason is highlighted in these very pages. They kill unless you convert to their way of thinking and “god forbid” you have your own belief’s. So while they were dealing with the Heathen’s we get to meet an Oracle, a blind girl of ten who has the sight and she reads the Monsignor and tells him what’s to come.

     Next up is thing about runaway replikas. No explanation on what they are, how they came to be or anything like that but it does start a bit of what the Oracle had seen. Meanwhile I’m guessing a clone of Marilyn Monroe is screwing a pilot to get off the ship. It just seems to appear at random and okay so we get some titties and his ass, which really isn’t enough, but c’mon other than this serving to get her off the ship did we need to see it?

     Suddenly the Monsignor is at the new Vatikan and with the current Pope, Inocentis, where the Marilyn clone has ended up. So I guess this is where she went after getting off the ship. While she’s no Oracle she does have her own two bits to add about Jesus and him ending up on the cross which seems to send them into an uproar.

     So finally we meet the man who made Jesus. His Island and those on it and it’s weird. Creative, imaginative and all kinds of whackadoodle interesting. He seems to love his retro stuff, which would explain why the clones he creates are of historical figures, though not why his assistants look like slutty Harlequinns.

     I do rather like the artwork here it’s got some great attention to detail. The way that page layouts are utilised through angles and perspective are extremely well done. I like that we see as much use of backgrounds as we do since they help to convey the larger picture. There is some really nice use of imagination and creativity going on here as well as some stunning likenesses.

     As much as I want to rave about this book I can’t. Yeah it has this premise that’s intriguing and the cast of characters that we see make us want to know more but it’s not enough. The structure of the story here is a right mess. Nothing flows like it should from one part to the next. There is nothing to tell us what’s going on or how it got this way, no brief catch up on how the world ended up with this version of the church. I want to give this a rave review because I’m used to high quality storytelling from Action Lab this however doesn’t stack up.

     I'll give this one more issue to come together and impress me but with as disjointed as it feels here to me I don’t see that happening. It’s a shame too because the art is stellar.

Gasolina #1
Image Comics 2017
Created & Written by Sean Mackiewicz
Created & Illustrated by Niko Walter
Coloured by Mat Lopes
Lettered by Rus Wooten


     Fugitives. Rebels. Newlyweds. In their journey south from El Norte, Amalia and Randy have played many roles in order to survive. Now, they must become unlikely leaders in the fight against a new cartel who uses inhuman tactics to ignite the most monstrous war Mexico—and the world—has ever seen.

     Alright Sean is laying the foundation for something interesting here. Our main couple aren’t exactly made to appear as Donna and Dr. Alex Stone and there’s a reason for that. This is a harsh and brutal reality where Cartel’s rule and they grow more and more powerful everyday. They are ruthless, vindictive and more powerful than most government’s and then there’s the fact that there’s something else entirely going on here as well. I really like what Sean is doing here and how complex the storytelling is.

     The opening is perfect for this series as are it’s first words which may just be more prophetic than you may realise. It also starts the story and characterisation off as we get to know these two just a little bit more. Then without warning he starts off with the action here and starts showing us what kind pacing we can expect from him as this moves forward. It’s extremely solid and showcases a myriad of options for the reader’s mind to wander off to. I like the way we as reader’s are being led in one direction while the slight of hand happening off camera says it’s something else entirely.

     As more character’s are introduced the situation becomes worse and more volatile the story and the characterisation increase exponentially. Also our couple, Randy (El Doctor) and Amalia, show us how much they care for one another as well how precarious their relationship actually is. It’s a nice dichotomy actually to see both the love and the weakness in their life and makes them seem more real and relatable to.

     Niko and Mat do some really strong work on this book. His linework is spectacular and the way he uses the imagery to evoke emotions is nice to see. The use of angles and perspective in the panels as they are laid out showcases a good eye for storytelling. Major impacts on the bloody aspects that we see both from the cartel and the farm because they are concise and bloody while conveying a meaning behind them all without the unnecessary gore effects. I’m really digging the way the boys bring this to life. Also I’m a huge supporter of people who not only use backgrounds but understand their importance and I gotta say Niko kudos man kudos.

     So while there’s plenty of social commentary on how messed up our world is that these Cartel’s and what they do actually exist there’s also a fictionalised element at play that keeps this from being a straight up factual encounter. It’s interesting, diverse and full of things we need or should be looking out for. I mean kidnapping, payments to them, possible drug running and a whole lot more is what happens in the real world and we need to stop turning a blind eye at the kind of violence this breeds.

     Also I like Arguello who we are introduced to here as well. Randy meets him in the market and shows him a bunch of stuff that the cartel who may have his bosses son has done. Is he cop or scholar or both eh read it and see what happens. All I know is that he’s a great addition to this book and hopefully one of it’s mainstay supporting cast. I say this because in this world the chances of people living all that long are not too great.

     Strong, interesting and full of angst, the right kind of angst too, this blends the real world with fiction in ways that will blur how you see reality.

The Librarians #1
Dynamite Entertainment 2017
Written by Will Pfeiffer
Illustrated by Rodney Buchemi
Coloured by Weslei Manuel
Lettered by Troy Peteri


     Hidden beneath the Metropolitan Public Library, The Librarians dedicate their lives to protecting an unknowing world from the secret, magical reality hidden all around them. For the past 10 years, Flynn Carsen has served as that protector; The Librarian and now, to aid him in his duties, the Library has recruited four people from around the world, including Eve Baird, a highly skilled counter-terrorism agent who is responsible for protecting the group and keeping them all alive; Jake Stone, an Oklahoma oil worker with an IQ of 190 and an encyclopedic knowledge of art history; Cassandra Cillian, a quirky young woman with the special gift of auditory and sensory hallucinations linked to memory retrieval, known as synesthesia; and Ezekiel Jones, a master of new technologies and aficionado of old classic crimes who enjoys playing the role of international man of mystery. Overseeing the new team of Librarians is the somewhat cantankerous Jenkins, an expert in ancient lore who has been working out of the Library’s branch office for longer than anyone knows. This new group works together to solve impossible mysteries, fight supernatural threats and recover powerful artifacts from around the world.

     It’s high time someone got the rights to make these stories the franchise is one of those that has unlimited potential when it comes to the possible storylines that are available to it. The television series is one that I thoroughly enjoy time and again and the eclectic cast of characters only serves to really hammer home how much the differ and how much they need each other. Also they couldn’t have gotten someone better than Will to do this, his experience in team books allows him to handle these individual characters easily enough.

     The whole set-up here is utterly fantastic. With Eve and Cassandra tagging along with Flynn to a movie festival thing where a huge impact on Flynn’s life, leading him to be The Librarian, where a whole new adventure begins. it’s exactly like you’d expect an episode of the television show to be. Will’s got the pacing down to a science and his characterisation is absolutely incredible. With all this being so on point it’s really no wonder why I believe that Dynamite found the absolutely right person to helm this series, oh and I hope it’s an ongoing series too.

     The interior artwork by Rodney and finished by Weslei is brilliant in it’s own right. I love how close to the actors Rodney gets while still leaving some wiggle room when it comes to his ability with expression. His eye for storytelling is amazing as the angles and perspective he brings to the layouts on the pages are brought to life. Also there’s a slight cinematic feel to this. While it would be better if all the panels had backgrounds to really complete the effect after all when they appear you can see the difference it makes on the story.

     I’m pretty darn impressed with how well Will is able to utilise each character and their unique skill set throughout the story. Heck even Jenkins and his demeanour and how he comes across here is perfectly done. So far we’re seeing that there’s a mystery that is right up their alley and the person it centres around is as enigmatic and theatrical as he is makes getting beginning with this a whole lot harder. It is going to take a whole lot of effort, smarts and their particular skills to not only get things started but to survive the experience as well if the ending is any indication.

     I am thrilled beyond belief for this and that Dynamite seems to be the home for some spectacular franchises where this fits right in should come as no surprise. This is off to an excellent start and I don’t the quality dropping with this creative team.

Dark Ark #1
Aftershock Comics 2017
Created & Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Juan Doe
Lettered by Ryane Hill

     The wickedness of mankind has moved the Creator to destroy the world by way of the flood. Noah has been tasked with building an ark to save his family and the animals of the world. But this is not Noah's story. For darker powers have commanded the sorcerer Shrae to build his own ark and save the unnatural creatures of the world—such as the vampires, the dragons, the naga, and the manticore. But what will happen on a vessel crawling with monsters, where insidious intrigue and horrific violence are the rule of law?

     I like this and why wouldn’t I? I mean lets face it as long as we’ve had recorded history there’s proof that we’ve been fascinated by things that go bump in the night. Magical creatures that shouldn’t exist and we wonder why they don’t or why we haven’t seen their fossilised bones but most don’t care about the scientific side just the side that makes us squirm in either terror or delight. Plus who else is going to be writing something like this but Cullen? The man’s a genius and he’s got so much inside that mind of his that needs unleashing and boy this is his time to shine!

     Ya know what I love about this is that Cullen manages to bring us the first issue and lay out the ground rules for us. Why do there have to be ground rules? Well we’re talking about all those things that shouldn’t exist and their appetites are legendary so naturally rules have to be established if they are all going to survive till it stops raining and the waters recede. The concept here is utterly amazing and I have to say that while it shouldn’t make any sense at all it absolutely does make perfect sense. This issue is crafted beautifully and it’s pacing and revelations all come with this surprisingly perfect sense of timing.

     Shae may be an “evil” sorcerer who built himself an ark at the whims of the well yeah i’m gonna call it Lucifer, God’s opposite who somehow had knowledge of Noah being conscripted by God to save the creatures he loves. Now why shouldn’t all creatures be saved and not just those beloved by god? I mean Unicorns weren’t chosen by god right because they are mystical in nature, btw they do have a place in this ark however. So with Unicorns on this Dark Ark there must be other mythical creatures of light on board as well right? Well I guess we’ll see as the series progresses how many different creatures exist here.

     Juan is amazing here! It isn’t easy to take some of mythology’s greatest, fiercest and most notorious of creatures and bring them to life with your own vision. Yet he does it here and while they are pretty much instantly recognisable they are also incredibly unique and showcase his creativity extremely well. His style isn’t one of tight detail but has this more imagined, not opaque but interpretive by the reader’s mind. The emotion and feelings he can bring to the page here are extraordinary.

      The characterisation here is utterly splendid. From Shae finding a way to feel important and atone for the sins of his past so that his family may live to the inherent personality traits of those beings on board the Dark Ark. Then there’s the personalities of his children and those people who are captive aboard the ark meant to be food for those creatures. The way Cullen can get you to understand who these let’s call them all people are and get you to find a connection with them is one of those things that cannot be overlooked.

     I love that Shae still has secrets from everyone, his family the creatures and the abductees as well as from himself in some ways. These creatures have their own hierarchy among themselves as well, groupings and clique and such so that life on board here will be very interesting indeed. I mean some of these are hunters others their prey so to be on board with one another well the dynamic that is there to be explored has such delicious potential. I mean c’mon how often do we get to see creatures such as these as captive audiences and the chance to flesh out personalities and characteristics?

     Aftershock continues to allow such freedom for their creators to explore realms, story ideas and whatever strikes their fancy and let’s us see those astonishing results. I feel privileged to get the chance to explore these strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before, and what a wonderful ride it is!

Half Past Danger 2 #1
IDW Publishing 2017
Created, Written & Illustrated by Stephen Mooney
Coloured by Triona Tree Farrell


     Nobody talks about how many dinosaurs died in WWII. But three months after Sergeant Tommy Irish Flynn and Captain John Noble wiped them out while foiling a Nazi plan, the boys are back, hot on the trail of some Dino DNA stolen by their former ally, Agent Elizabeth Huntington-Moss! The Nazis must be stopped before they can unleash their doomsday weapon!

     A. I got the variant cover where Irish is looking kind of quirky cute on the cover and I immediately saw Stephen in the resemblance which made me giggle. It works though because both are extremely cute men. Also I have so much admiration for someone as talented as Stephen is because the fact that he’s able to write and draw this and have all of it be as so gosh darned good as it is. The quality level here is amazing to see and that everything that is on each page is exactly what he intended it to be for us to get the maximum impact for the reader through words and visuals.

     I love adventures like this we don’t get to go back to WWII much any more in comics. Well let’s face it with so many wars happening around the globe as it is they seem to get precedence. For for my tastes though this has that feel of like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider and the Maltese Falcon and that’s the kind of stuff I crave. It’s fun, intelligent and has that element of romantic danger, betrayal and intrigue, that just can’t be found in today’s world. There really is a certain amount of romance, both physical and psychological when it comes to adventures of this sort in this era and it’s a major factor in how we get to enjoy it. What Stephen does here is blend it all so well the action, romance, adventure, intrigue and the all too important humour. Also the language lesson from the Irishman, both, adds a great element to the humour aspect as we “Americans” get to imagine the accent and the meaning behind words.

     I have to say that the interiors here are magnificent as well. The way the pages are laid out and the use of angles and perspective give us a great panoramic view of what’s going on and even has a cinematic flair to it. The attention to detail in the characters, clothes and everything that we see is so gosh darned tight it’s truly splendid. I know Stephen is doing all this by himself and it’s time consuming still I really wish there were more backgrounds in play. What we see when they are used is game changing in how everything is presented and understood by the reader.

     Sometimes a sequel isn’t a sequel it’s just a brand new story arc. I like that Stephen is taking the first arc and moving forward from there to bring us this one. There are elements that tie the two so closely together, like the Dinosaur aspect, and the reuniting of characters. While Ishi may be missing, hopefully just for now, it’ll be interesting to see how things progress into next issue. Also seeing Greta here well that was kind of cold and I don’t mean that nicely or as beneficial in any way. I get that in the heat of what happened people act differently but really this gorgeous beauty with a beautiful mind to be such the Ice Queen yikes.

     Once again Stephen proves he’s got more than just the chops to get us instantly involved in the story. The premise, characters, pacing and characterisation that he delivers has us laughing, left intrigued, wondering and wanting to see what’s next. John, aka The American, is literally a boy scout who isn’t interested in women and is as strong as Captain America, by the way just as blonde too, remains one of those people who you can’t get enough of. How he and Irish can be as close as they are is unusual, well the whole Odd Couple thing isn’t enough of an accurate description. Still they have this comedic timing between them with John playing the straight man with the innocence of a newborn babe.

     If you haven’t been reading this then you really need to be. If you haven’t read the first arc, go get the trade, it’s okay you pick this up and jump right in without feeling lost. New Reader friendly indeed. This is exciting, fresh and entertaining in ways that harken back to the past when storytelling was truly an art form.

Retcon #1
Image Comics 2017
Written by Matt Nixon
Illustrated by Toby Cypress
Lettered by Matt Krotzer


     "TPTB," Part One The reboot of a comic book miniseries that has never existed begins with an all-new, all-different issue #1! Time to travel back and jump in on this comic while it was new!

     I wasn’t sure how this was going to go, come across or translate with the premise described above. Ya know what though I got mad respect for Matt and what he’s capable of now. I think how this opens up and how he’s got this whole story structured was spectacular and the flow made this incredibly easy to follow. I was immediately captivated and intrigued by what was happening and the desire to keep going and wanting to know more is something that hits you right away. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a book do this to me so gosh darn quickly.

     So we meet Chris as he’s in an AA meeting and confessing how long it’s been since his last drink. For those of us who’ve never attended one it’s very much like the way we see it portrayed on the television. It’s also a pivotal point in the story, yes the opening this doesn’t just set the stage for what we’re going to see from here on out it literally starts the story, leaves us with a lot of holes that need filling and whole lot of WTF to keep our attention.

     The characterisation here is really very good. I love that Chris comes across as this hard as nails, hard drinking to try to forget his past asshat that wants it all to be finally over and done with and yet can’t let it go. He’s a great protagonist/antagonist and raison d’etre for the whole book right now. Part of me wants to slap him for being a whiny bitch and the other half feels sorry for him and wants to help him through it all. That kind of characterisation doesn’t come along everyday and to do it in such a short amount of time, establish the readers feelings for a character, shows off some mad skills.

     I wasn’t sure I was going to like the artwork here. At first glance it’s really kind of hardcore indie stuff that I used to avoid back in the 80’s/90’s. It really has that look, tone and feel of some retro underground comics art and as I kept reading the more I began to see just how well suited this style was for the story. Toby nails this with what looks like ease but had to be some painstakingly long nights. That it’s similar and yet different from his work on White Suits, which I adored FYI shows his maturity and growth as an artist. This guy he’s one of the up and comers in this industry you best be paying attention to he’s got this whole vibe about what he does that will captivate readers.

     So what makes Chris a target for someone and who exactly is after him? Those little tidbits will have to be something you read for yourself but I’ll try to be as vaguely interesting as possible here. So we know something needs a Retcon, the title of the book after all, so we get a glimpse at what Chris did in the past and whom he worked with doing it. Hopefully we’ll see most of these folks at some point in time during it’s run and see how they’ve changed and how the same experience made them who they are.

     Now I will say those sent after Chris at least one of is a character that we have to pay close attention to since they may become what we like to call a game changer. Again the characterisation is great and we get a good feel for the type of people we’re dealing with and even an inkling of motivation for what they are doing not to mention the whole ambiguity of the real reasoning behind it all. it’s a great mix of shelling out information and hiding it at the same time. The slight of hand storytelling that Matt is bringing to the table is quite shockingly addictively good.

     Once again Image is the home for Imagination run amok. Let the animals run loose and see what they do and you’ll enjoy every single moment of it!