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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
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​Reviews for 03-12-11 Reviews for 02-12-21 Reviews for 01-12-21

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NIghts Dominion Season 2 #3

10/31/2017

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Nights Dominion Season 2 #3
Oni Press 2017
By Ted Naifeh
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar


     There’s a conspiracy afoot in Umber, and it involves the House of Asps. After Emerane pays a visit to the House, she discovers just how far the conspiracy goes—all the way to the Lady Madras of the council. Or does it? When Emerane confronts the woman, she discovers an ambush from the Asps—and when she tries to escape, she’s shot through with arrows. Who is the real enemy? Will Emerane live to find out?

     I am a complete and utter fan of this series and have been since the get go. Not only did it start out feeling a Dungeons & Dragons adventure complete with a unique and diverse set of characters but now it’s gone so far beyond that. After the group managed to win the day in Season 1 they’ve kind of gone their separate ways and that’s led to where we find ourselves now. Emerane off on her own got into a world of trouble acting on her own, though her confidence bordering on arrogance is usually enough to see her through things. Things however are not always what they appear to be and that’s even more true when it comes to not only the woman she confronted but to Emerane herself.

     The opening here is something great. I mean the city itself has known war and peace and is in a state where things are back to normal or so they think. While everyone is celebrating a religious holiday, even Wikan, things suddenly go terribly, horribly wrong. I’m not sure what would have been worse a zombie invasion or what we see here? I’m pretty sure the city isn’t bankrupt and that they’ve had to lay off their Warden’s but it would seem there’s a new sheriff in town and he’s a piece of work. Right from the start we get a damn good look at him, his personality and the fact that he’s as far from a good guy as they come.

     Ted does some amazing characterisation here. From Wikan and the young woman he’s with to this Amarad (The Black Hammer Commander) he ensures that we know who they are even if they wish to seem ambiguous. I also really like that the flow of the story, the pacing, is impeccable as it is so that the particulars are presented to us in ways that continue to surprise and thrill. It isn’t always easy to keep things as fresh and breezy as Ted makes it appear.

     I’ve said it before but i’ll say it again, that Ted can do the interiors as well as the writing is admirable. His unique style makes this world come to life beautifully. The way he uses page layouts through their angles and perspective showcase his eye for storytelling visually. That everything we see is as he intends it to be so that we’re getting the maximum bang for the buck as it were is immeasurable when it comes to enjoying this.

     I love the twists and turns this issue takes. There is a sense of something so much larger going on and that Wikan is out of his league when it comes to facing it. Hell from what we see here friends are enemies, or are they?, as they certainly act the part in public. I am anxious to see what’s coming next and how things are going to coalesce so that our intrepid band of heroes reunites once again in a way that will once again make their city free and safe for all it’s citizens.

     Ted is a one of a kind storyteller who’s able to combine his writing and illustration talents to create a world both familiar and foreign where you want to be.


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Graveland #2

10/31/2017

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Graveland #2
Scout Comics 2017
Written by Massimo Rossi
Illustrated by Gabriel Ibarra Nunez


     I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this story. People this is the latest offering from Scout that has really just been exceptionally well done. Stores need to carry these and y’all need to be reading this and spreading the word about it because this is the kind of story that comes out of nowhere knocks your knickers off and leaves you holding an empty bag. Massimo is emerging as a top notch writer with some mad skills that being from Italy we haven’t had the honour of seeing yet. I love that comics keeps getting more and more international and that we see so many writers and artists who have established themselves in Europe now finding an audience in the United States.

     This issue is something of a departure from the first one. There isn’t a super-team involved, that was the Governments attempt to see if indeed the serum would work and they’d have a response team that could handle any threat. So last issue we saw them fall in battle, though honestly I really didn’t think they all died but okay we’ll see what happens with that later if indeed there is a survivor. Otherwise this is very much a story full of characterisation, development and establishing how those lost heroes were created in the first place.

     I think Military minds around the world must all operate on the same wavelength so ironically if we could just eliminate them all we’d have far fewer warmongering arseholes in the world. That’s just my thought because for all their bluster they hide behind the scenes and you’ll never see them on the front lines. That Massimo both nails the characterisation and personality so fully that we see him for who he, General Mills, is and what he’s about, represents and the inherent dangers a man like him is to a President of a country well it’s superbly done. I am enthralled with Massimo’s ability to make us know and care about what happens to these characters/people, good and bad by the way.
So when we see the flashback here it’s more a history lesson, one to let us know more about Amon who is introduced here. It’s purpose is two-fold as it gives us characterisation and motives about how he behaves as well as tell us how long and corrupt the U.S. Government is and how dirty their hands are regarding international things. Both give us why Amon hates the U.S. and why they’ve kept him in status for so long, and though he’s supposedly a clone I'm not sure about that if his memories are this crystal clear and intact.

     Gabriel’s interiors are sublime! I love the look where I can’t tell if it’s just coloured normally or if this has some kind of water colour effect to it. The way there are these vague impressions of the detail make it mysterious and interesting in ways that I am still not fully prepared for. I do wish though that we’d see his penis here instead of it feeling like a blacked out ken doll it is 2017 after all and that kind of “oh no we can’t show a penis” has got to go. Anyhoo the use of page layouts through their angles and perspective show a wonderful eye for storytelling. I usually clamour for more backgrounds to be used but for some reason here I’m not going to do that. Everything feels right, like there’s a perfect rhyme and reason behind how it’s done. I have NEVER said that before either.

     So with this story now fully underway with Amon firmly entrenched as our main character moving forward I'm even more invested than I already was. His personality and attitude as they’ve been introduced make me want to see more of him. Massimo’s writing and the way he’s paced this so far and used plot, story and character development is one of the strongest I'm seeing out there. You really need to find a way to get your shoppe or subscription service to order this series for you it’s one of the best things to hit stands and proves why once again the best in comics is from the small/indie publishers.


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Glitterbomb: The Fame Game #2

10/31/2017

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Glitterbomb The Fame Game #2
Image Comics 2017
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Djibril Morissette-Phan
Coloured by K. Michael Russell
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
Back Matter by Holly Raychelle Hughes


     Kaydon was Farrah’s babysitter for Marty. Farrah was a washed up actress who got cast aside into the skids of the acting world when she wouldn’t put out for the series star, sound familiar to today’s world heh. When that thing from the ocean took her body and lashed out Hollywood’s most notorious blood suckers went after Kaydon. A sixteen year old girl who wanted to be an actress, with no formal training is now centre of the universe for those morbid enough to spin this tragedy every which way they’ll make money from.

     So why a second arc, simple the thing from the sea didn’t die with Farrah. It has a new host and still maintains it’s hunger though it remembers Kaydon and what she did for Marty and now that she’s being used, torn this way and so that her despair should only be for the creature and not for anyone else. So anyone and at this point I do mean anyone who uses Kaydon in a way it doesn’t like well sayonara bitches.

     I love Jim and how he crafts a story, through the pacing, development of the plot and characters while releasing just enough information here and there to keep us thoroughly involved. I honestly thought that something else was truth here until a moment I proven wrong and then my mind went into overdrive trying to piece together what we’ve been given to make it make sense. Yes creature from the sea, uses humans as a host, has an insatiable appetite from death so nothing is going to make sense but regardless your mind races to find the plausibility to make it all coalesce.

     I like the work that Djibril & K. Michael do on the interiors here. When we are seeing the gut-wrenching horror that is the sea monster, in human form this is very much your normal comic book filled with regular people, fashion and emotional storytelling that relies heavily on facial expressions. There’s one thing I cannot tell and that’s if Kaydon has her lip pierced right in the middle of her lower lip, there’s a line there more often than not but nothings clear. So the use of page layouts through their angles and perspective are handled nicely. I do wish we’d see more backgrounds, I mean why set them up and then not use them? I mean the moment Kaydon’s on the bench with the trees, houses and news van behind them but never seen again or the apartment she shares with her mother.

     Speaking of Kaydon and her mother I like how we see this playing out. Her mother works herself to the bone to provide for Kaydon and while Kaydon working would be a great boon to them, their bills and for groceries, the impetuousness of youth rears its privileged head. Generational gap for sure and from the way Jim does this it isn’t going to be long before Kaydon realises just how wrong she’s been and how right her mother is. Though how many lessons are needed for her to experience before it hits home?

     So the way this issue ends is amazing to me, between the whole slew of people both supporting and hating her for who she is and what she’s done, perceived or otherwise and who is there for her on the last page to guide through making all of those who wronged her suffer yeah it’s about to be one hell of a bloodbath and this poor little girl lost at the centre of it all has no idea what’s she unleashing.

     Stunning in its scope and brevity there’s a haunting beauty to what we see playing out and I can’t look away for the life of me.


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Fu Jitsu #2

10/30/2017

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Fu Jitsu #2
Aftershock Comics 2017
Created & Written by Jai Nitz
Created & Illustrated by Wesley St. Claire
Coloured by Maria Santaolalla
Lettered by Dave Sharpe


     Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man and wielder of the Atomic Katana, has attacked Washington DC and conquered the United States. Now it’s up to Fu Jitsu to stop Wadlow. But it’s tough trying to save the world while fighting with your ex-girlfriend that you’re still very much in love with. Oh, and Fu’s martial arts powers go haywire, so he’s got that going for him. Which is nice.

     Have you ever just looked at something and said oh I’m not going to like this, it’s not for me, blah blah blah, etc? I did that when I saw the first issue as the cover didn’t inspire confidence in me and the title seemed kind of kiddie. However I am so happy that I was proven wrong and you know sometimes you have to read the ones that look like they aren’t going to be for you because those are the ones that surprise you the most. Jai brings a very clever and interesting idea to life and it feels like a real world version of the Last Airbender which is something that will have a lot of appeal to a lot of people.

     Well it would seem that Wadlow, I think referring to him by only his last name is appropriate, is exactly what he wants at the moment. There are a number of things about this to like and dislike but remember above all “be careful what you wish because you just might get it.” The way I see it the problem that Wadlow has is he’s focused on Fu Jitsu to the point of total distraction which means he can’t concentrate on much else so he leaves himself open to be well taken down. Still Wadlow has managed to take over the work, poor Brain stuck with Pinky just watching, and made his most hated foe the Enemy of the Planet and yet somehow Fu remains ever elusively out of his grasp.

     Wesley St. Claire, I like saying his name in my faux British pompous voice, does a nice job on the interiors here. I like how he shows action, Fu jumping onto a roof, I like how he has styled the characters here with their clothing trying to blend in. It has just the right blend of Sunday Newspaper Strip funnies with traditional comic book artwork to keep interesting, fresh and unique. The use of page layouts through their angles and perspective are well done and show off a nice eye for storytelling. We all know by now what I’m going to say next, there should be more backgrounds in use here, they do so much to expand the story, put things in context and just add dimensions that complete things.

     There’s something about this that I absolutely adore and that’s the introduction of Fu’s rogues gallery via Wadlow. Not content with any of the world’s spy agencies he’s going to use Fu’s foes to flush him out and take him out. This is where I think backgrounds would’ve helped instead of the blank stuff, though the crazy uniforms do show a nice imagination. Jai’s use of Fu’s greatest enemies here is something that expands Fu in ways that other things couldn’t. It establishes him beyond what we’ve seen so far and makes his world seem larger than we had imagined. It’s an incredibly effective way of using storytelling to do more than just be words.

   The story structure, along with the plot & story development and pacing that is intricately connected to the characterisation is done extremely well by Jai. I am thoroughly impressed with the story so far and I look forward where it goes next. Despite the fact that I think Wesley needs a little more seasoning and needs to learn more time management skills, the end of the issue’s art seemed to be rushed and deteriorate a bit.

     Fun and carefree it’s the kind of story that doesn’t make sense and yet is completely easy to follow.

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The Black Sable #2

10/29/2017

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The Black Sable #2
Zenescope Entertainment 2017
Written by Joe Brusha
Illustrated by Sergio Arino
Coloured by Dijjo
Lettered by Kurt Hathaway


     One hundred years in the future the “age of pirates” has returned as mankind reaches out for the stars. Schooners have been replaced by star ships and these pirates wield space age weaponry, but they are as bloodthirsty and ruthless as their predecessors were centuries before them. Experience a new universe of swashbuckling action and adventure in the vast reaches of space!

     I know I give Joe a hard time and I have no idea if he even sees these reviews or avoids them, I think I have a pretty good handle on the type of guy he is already. Honestly I hope he knows about these because the ideas are fantastic it’s just the little things he kind of needs to work on and in this issue I feel like he’s doing just that. For the first time I feel like the book flows well, the transitions from scene to scene are done nicely and the overall feel of the book is positive and not full of cliché or tired old plots recycled.

     Though I will say we see far too few aliens species here, at this point in the future of human history and with what we’ve seen already in other Zenescope books means we should be seeing more of them used here. That’s a minor thing though and the big bad here, well that’s not entirely correct because there are two big bad’s here and both have something in common. The mystery surrounding them and their origins, two vastly different yet similar men, are something that definitely captures the attention and leaves the reading wanting to know more.

     Sergio does a splendid job with the interiors here. I will say please utilise backgrounds in all the panels, this is space, there’s technology and ships and all kinds of things that can be used to showcase how far or little mankind has progressed why because when they are used the are utterly spectacular! I do like that we are seeing these outfits as both uniforms with that pirate flair so they have give off a nice feel. The eye-patch a tad cliché but whatcha gonna go? The use of page layouts through how we see the angles and perspective are wonderfully done. I like the linework as well and the weight of it and how it looks on the page. This does a have a great look to it and I am very much enjoying this.

     So there are a few angles that are working from different folks, though only one of them remains beyond the veil for us. I like and I’m enjoying how I see them eventually converging so that it creates a huge problem for Sable and her crew. This goes along with the characterisation here as well as it feels like part of the story as if the two were intrinsically connected. The level of writing here is an extreme jump in quality from what Joe normally delivers. I didn’t get lost reading this once and it was easy to follow and there really is something here that I wasn’t expecting.

     Okay that two page spread was completely and utterly incredible to see. It was creative, different and unexpected but it also made the moment the characters were in a viable and immense threat. Again the set-up here is extremely well done and it makes me wonder how much assistance Joe had in writing this. Well with a classic style cliffhanger ending this was a very worthwhile read and continues to build and maintain my faith in the way the future of Zenescope is seen.


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Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter #2

10/28/2017

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Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter #2
Hammer Comics/Titan Comics 2017
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Tom Mandrake
Coloured by Sian Mandrake
Lettered by Simon Bowland


     There in Serechurch they met with Ermine, the town’s Alderman, and learned that a new vampire menace by the name of Slake had taken over the poor quarter of the town and had begun gathering together an army of vampires, an army unlike anything ever seen before and one which

Porphyr had clearly intended to join.
     I will be the first to admit that if anyone were going to take such on a story like this, a comic adaptation of a 1974 Hammer motion picture is Dan Abnett. I mean the man has such extraordinary skill when it comes to writing to take what at the time was supposed to be a very serious motion picture that we see today as something well kitschy or at the best “B” status so there’s a lot to pull from and I love that the tone of the book feels like the tone of the movie.

     The whole concept here works a lot better as a comic book for me. Yes it could reasonably be a scenario out of Ravenloft or some other Dungeons & Dragons stylised adventure just as easily but for me this is where it’s meant to be. We get better characterisation here and the potential for stories to unfold without bad, stiff or forced acting. Dan has this knack for writing where the story development, dialogue and characterisation are all interchangeable with one another. This makes reading the stories he writes a lot more interesting and a lot more complicated but always in the best of ways.

     So far we’ve see our trio of vampire hunters win, get side tracked and now are trying to figure out a way to help this town with their problematic infestation. Carla’s a woman in a time when they are really looked upon as nothing than things to be owned and used. So seeing her being strong, capable and intelligent which makes it’s truly a joy to behold. The way the characters bounce off each other shows an interesting dynamic at work and one that should grow, change and evolve the longer they stay together, yes that means alive.

     It is so nice to see Tom working like this again he’s such a talented artist and his eye for storytelling is legendary for a reason. I love the linework here how the weight of it changes depending on what or who it is that’s in focus. Or out of focus as the case may be, like the writing in a book that we can tell how it’s written, by that I mean the type used. I am enjoying the style and how the darkness and the things that they are fighting there’s a creativity and imagination there that sets these apart from what folks will expect to see and that’s important and just fun to see.

     I like how things both go as you’d expect them to while simultaneously diverting from any given certain path. It’s got a kind of outside the box thinking to it that keeps it fresh, original and bringing reader’s back to see what’s going to happen. Then of course there’s misdirection and misinformation at play here as well and I’m not sure if that’s something I reading too much into or if it’s a more subtle part of the writing. There are those among the villagers who give off that not to be trusted under any circumstances feel to them.

     If you haven’t read this yet then you really need to and then watch the original motion picture because it’s just worth it for how campy it is, by today’s standards, and how it was taken so seriously then. Titan has the strongest adaptations I have seen in comics and they do consistently with a large variety of source material.



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Gasolina #2

10/28/2017

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Gasolina #2
Skybound/Image Comics 2017
Created & Written by Sean Mackiewicz
Created & Illustrated by Niko Walter
Coloured by Mat Lopes
Lettered by Russ Wooton


     Once upon a time in Veracruz, two newly-weds tried to put their pasts behind them, to build a happy life together. But the world is full of monsters who seek to bring out the worst in them.

     Game on.

     The first issue really does this great job of grabbing your attention and pulling you into this world. So much so that the second issue with it’s aftermath and it’s characterisation is almost a let-down of sorts. Notice I did say almost because I really am rather impressed with what Sean is doing here. I love the way the book is structured how it flows and the distribution of information is presented to us. From the moment our intrepid lovers appear to how we see them running away, to fight another day is the idea, everything is done with a purpose. I like it because it was able to make me absorbed into the story and that I was on such an intellectual level was just an added bonus for me.

     When they entered the house to check things out there’s this great tension going on. That’s a combination of the story and how that’s interpreted by Niko and Mat. I like the room by room sweep that they do and how it’s dark and you don’t know what’s going on or if anyone is there and it’s a great thing to see play out. It’s a great example of how to create drama without background noise ruining the moment, if this were a motion picture than so idiot would insist on putting “a dramatic backdrop score” which of course ruins any kind of horror or surprise element that is there.

     As they search the house and don’t find any sign of Quique and there’s one female corpse and I tell ya what people you NEED to pay attention to what’s going on there. Now I’m not one hundred percent sure what happened to Martin as he’s really making no sense at all. Still it’s no coincidence that someone shows up and while again I’m not sure how or why they were there at that time. There are a couple of things it could be but the mystery surrounding it continues to grow and deepen the story in some great ways.

     The interiors here really sell the story as the saying goes. The mood, tone and feel for what’s happening at any given moment almost rests on the boys shoulders. It should come as no surprise then that they do this was extraordinary skill. The attention to detail is there when it’s needed as are the darker more shaded in areas that are meant to heighten the feelings and then finally there’s the last two pages with a completely unique look of their own. From page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective to the utilisation of backgrounds or the lack thereof it’s all exceedingly well done. The eye for storytelling from Niko shouldn’t be missed.

     I love that we are in an era where comics have gone beyond simply super-heroes, romance, horror, science-fiction and westerns into any amalgamation of those or simply the kind of stories about the world we see and perceive. Storytellers are able to write what they want, what they know and what they hope to show as something new, exciting and original and they want it to have an impact on the reader. I’m thrilled that there are places for such intellectual properties to alongside the mindless silly ones as well as the standard fare we’ve come to know and love.

     This is not going to end the way you think it will or expect it to but it will broaden your horizon and make you think.

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Dark Ark #2

10/27/2017

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Dark Ark #2
Aftershock Comics 2017
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Juan Doe
Lettered by Rayne Hill


     I am a fan of Cullen’s his talent, his creativity and imagination not to mention is skill at weaving a story with some excellent characterisation. I know there are some people out there who don’t the whole concept of a build up but we are talking about a story that is confined to an Ark and there’s no going anywhere. So that means that there has to be time spent building the characters so that we get to know them. It’s hard enough of as it is seeing as how most of these are considered monsters, though there are exceptions with creatures like the Unicorns.

     So call me a weirdo or whatever but this is how things are supposed to go you introduce all these new and wondrous creatures and we need to get to know their personalities. I like how Cullen is setting the dynamic on the Ark, those with power, those who want power and those just content to sow the seeds of chaos. How they weave in and out in voiced opinion here and there while accusing others or defending themselves the characterisation is incredibly good.

     We kind of got the back story on Shrae last issue and why he was chosen to take those creatures God deemed unworthy of saving. While we haven’t gotten the best of looks at the family and the whole dynamic there we’ve gotten a good start and here we see him interacting with the beasts below. I love that interaction too because while Shrae is doing his best to ensure they all live they have no respect for a human regardless of what he’s trying to do. From veiled threats to outright hostility we see how much each side can take and to be fair both sides are doing things that and yet kind of backing down at the same time.

     The tension is something you could cut with a spork and that we can almost feel it in the air as heavy as the densest fog is an attribute to Cullen’s skill at writing.

     My biggest complaint is when interior artwork is not good or doesn’t match what the story is about. No offense to Juan intended but his work is so below par of what we should be seeing in these pages. The work feels like it should be in a bad children’s book. We should be seeing stuff with this crystal clear linework and an attention to detail that will blow us away. There are so many creatures who could be brought to life in such dark and creepy ways instead we get some watered down version of Where the Wild Things Are. The human faces are plainly round with barely any attention to eyes, nose or mouth.

     I want to be a huge advocate of this book because the idea behind is beyond stellar. It’s got that bite that we want, literally and figuratively, the hook that brings a reader back and the honestly the whole dynamic is superb. There are characters that jump out at the reader and makes you want to know more about them. Aside from the prisoners who are really nothing more than window dressing and yes that includes Janris we’re scratching the surface of these characters here.

     This is the kind of book that I’ll stop reading because of Juan’s artwork and I hate to say that but I’m putting it out there. There just isn’t enough work to justify continuing something that is so flat, so uninspired and unimaginative.

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Bloodshot Salvation #1

10/27/2017

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Bloodshot Salvation #2
Valiant Entertainment 2017
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Lewis LaRosa & Mico Suayan
Coloured by Diego Rodriguez & Brian Reber
Lettered by Simon Bowland


     Bloodshot is the perfect living weapon. Injected with billions of microscopic nanites that give him full control of his physiology, Bloodshot has enhanced strength, speed, can repair any injury, and is able to control technology with a thought. Magic and Jesse — Bloodshot’s family — have come face-to-face with Rampage — an unstoppable force who bears a striking resemblance to Bloodshot.  This happened because Bloodshot — in the present — couldn’t leave well enough alone and went to confront “Daddy” — Magic’s estranged father who threatens all Bloodshot holds dear…

     Normally I am not a fan of this whole then and now storytelling when it’s now and the future, now and the past okay because it’s inherently different, don’t ask it just is. The future is never really written in stone so events can happen that divert what we see and change the course of what’s to come, the past generally is showing how things to where the present is. Still seeing Magic and Jesse facing off against Rampage however is a nice look at things to come.

     Jeff is one of the most prolific writers of his age, seriously look at the volume of work he’s currently producing, and it’s no surprise that everything he’s doing is seriously good stuff. The variety and range he’s capable of is astonishing to me though that does help in getting it all done all these different genre’s he’s covering. So of course I’m a fan of this and what’s done with the character. The characterisation, development and what he does with the pacing and story development as well is pretty remarkable stuff.

     The character development here is great and I do love seeing Ray acting more and more like a normal human. It’s so nice to be able to relate to him this way instead of how we saw him in the beginning as that cold blooded killing machine who was more a tool than a man. To see the progression he’s made and to see that there is so much more to come has it’s own kind of excitement about it that keeps us coming back time and again to see it happen.

     I do love the interior artwork here. My favourite moments came when Ray was talking to the dog, the way his face wrinkles and how just honest, handsome and concerned he looks is beyond what we’ve come to expect. The opening is pretty spectacular too as the attention to detail is fantastic to see and the overall linework is extremely impressive. The use of page layouts with their angles and perspective are handled very well. I’m super impressed with the use of backgrounds here and how we they expand the story and really give the bigger picture to the reader.

     I like the way certain aspects of the story are advancing. The old man and his revival of PRS the introduction of a new character, or is that mystery man someone we already know?, all of it has this mysterious appeal to it that makes us want to see more about it. I mean why do these men have such a hard on for this damn project and are willing to try and move heaven and earth to control it? It really is one of the things about this series that I find fascinating PRS is like a hydra cut off one head and two more grow in its place. You couldn’t ask for a more stable yet constantly changing constant threat.
This is consistently one of the most polished well executed series that comes out.

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Grimm Fairy Tales 2017 Halloween Special

10/27/2017

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Grimm Fairy Tales 2017 Halloween Special
Zenescope Entertainment 2017
Written by Anne Toole
Illustrated by Marc Rosete, Eduardo Garcia Renzo Rodriguez & Joe Sachez Diaz
Coloured by Ceci De La Cruz, Slamet Mujiono, Fran Gamboa, Aloex Marmontel
& Walter Pereyra
Lettered by Fabio Amelia


     Finally a story worthy of a Halloween special! This was fantastic for me I loved the way the story was structured and how everything unfolded. It was a smartly written book that was able to weave each feature into one cohesive story. It doesn’t hurt that I love Mary, her power set and the fact that she’s constantly looking for something elusive that she actually ran away from. She’s a complicated young woman with trust issues and yet we can so easily relate to her extremely well and with what Anne does with her here well she understands Mary extremely well.

     Talisman has taken off to misdirect the Tarot from Mary’s location leaving her alone in the hotel room. Now this is New Orleans where people are going to try to get you to spend your money on them whether that be in shoppes or tours or whatsoever so when a flyer comes under the door to the room it’s right up Mary’s alley and it’s free. So naturally she goes on this free ghost tour which is led by one of those seemingly always perky with blonde hair and that cheerleader attitude.

     One of the things I liked about this is the fact that no time is wasted in getting things started. As soon as the group gets to a location Mary is thrust into the past and immersed in the murder of someone who died at that location. It’s a great way to tie the story together and keep it fresh and interesting at each stop while also setting up a nifty little mystery. Yeah this is what we like to see in comics and as an added bonus it FEELS like something that we don’t normally see at Zenescope so my whole moving forward is right here on display and utterly fabulous.

     While each segment has it’s own set of artists it doesn’t feel like that they all blend together extremely well. I’m not sure I’d have been able to tell the difference if I hadn’t read the credits and that alone is phenomenal. The use of page layouts throughout is fantastic all the angles and perspectives we see heighten the reading experience. With the exception of the theatre the utilisation of backgrounds pleased me to no end, they really do wonders in expanding the story by letting us see what the characters do. Kudos to everyone involved in bringing this to life it’s a job very well done indeed.

     I feel like each of these vignettes could have been a full length story all it’s own but that Anne manages to wrap it all up nice and neat for us in this short amount of page count speaks volumes of her talent and ability. I’m actually very surprised that this isn’t an oversized special to tell the entire story. This is very Mary and the fact that her character and characterisation are continually developed every step of the way here is fantastic to see. That it seems she is finally coming into her own, warts and all, is long overdue in my humble opinion. Her time at Arcane Acres started her introduction to the world but it’s stories like this that really, truly plant her as one to watch. Her uniqueness as not only a character but a young woman could easily vault her into the Robyn Hood status among reader’s if given the chance.

     If you are looking for Halloween fun then look no further this is what you’ve been waiting for!


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