Eternity #1
Valiant Entertainment 2017
Written by Matt Kindt
Pencilled by Trevor Hairsine
Inked by Ryan Winn
Coloured by David Baron
Lettered by Dave Lanphear


     Ever since Divinity was introduced we’ve wanted to know more about the planet they all landed on that gave them their powers. We’ve also seen Divinity land in Australia and leave behind a group of people who basically worship him. Myscka coming back she and Abram fight then get things together and seemingly fall in love. So now it’s time for all things to come full circle as the stage gets set anew and all the player get introduced to reader’s as if for the first time. Matt does make this new reader friendly which is just an added bonus.

     Oh Trevor there’s so much wrong with the opening shot of the son on the ground in that crawling pose, he looks too old and well I don’t wanna say the other thing he looks like. That kind of faux pas really isn’t normal for you mister. Since I started the subject let’s dive into the rest of the interiors now. I love the way we see the Unknown, their world, species that inhabit it and just the overall effect brought to bear. This representation of imagination and creativity that I love seeing from Trevor and then Ryan and David finishing it off with some stellar work themselves.

     There is an event with the Unknown that forces them to change all plans and scramble into something else by heading to Earth. On Earth the arrival of the Unknown comes to where Divinity first landed in Australia. There they find David Camp who through his zealous nature reveals to them the location of Abram and Myshka and that act is what starts off the story in earnest.

     The characterisation here is utterly spectacular and it’s all over the map. From the way we see the Unknown both at home and on Earth with their different species, jobs and such while being so wildly different for inhabiting the same world is interesting. The there’s the whole David angle and his outright unhinged adoration and devotion to Divinity like he’s a new messiah is creepy as all get out and pathetic at the same time. Now we haven’t seen enough of husband and wife yet to see how their personalities grow, change ad evolve but I’m anticipating some great things and moments to come.

     The way that this book flows, it’s structure and how all the plot and character development that Matt brings to this is among the best there is. The way we can go from segment to segment tying it all together beautifully along the way is not as easy as it looks and that Matt makes it look so effortless just adds to my reasons to be envious. That moment of let’s call it first contact between the Unknown and David with the birdmen landing on either side of him the way that scene is constructed is amazing and how that translates through Trevor’s work just made it more impactufl.

     At first I thought this would be more about Abram and Myshka but while this story raced towards it’s conclusion I realised they have their part to play but this isn’t really about them. It’s about the Unknown and those that call themselves Eternity. This story is a result of what opened with on their homeworld and that’s more intriguing to me. We haven’t seen much of Universe at large after Aric left the Vine and came to Earth and then went back out and became Thundarr and either way it’s really just been him so that we finally get to see the life that’s out there and not just on Earth has all this unlimited potential to that captures the mind and imagination.

     A much needed look outside of Earth that expands the Valiant Universe to new heights.

Superb #4
Lion Forge 2017
Written by David F. Walker & Sheena C. Howard
Pencilled by Ray-Anthony Height & Eric Battle
Inked by LeBeau L. Underwood, Eric Battle & Robin Riggs
Coloured by Veronica Gandini & Sotocolor
Lettered by AW’s Tom Napolitano


     I am enjoying this immensely as we see, right now, three teenagers with enhanced abilities with three different viewpoints dealing with the same thing. Of course when dealing with teenagers things can be a might unpredictable and dare I say volatile what with raging hormones and the whole between child and adulthood looming. So that David and Sheena are managing to write this in such a way that is neither demeaning to them or making it overreacted to is a balance so few are capable of achieving.

     So I do like that we open with two things happening simultaneously one is Kayla’s parents completely unaware of what their daughter can do while lamenting that the work they are doing for Foresight is putting her in danger, well they are scared by the organisation and of Gomez specifically. While we also see Abbie working on stuff while, kind of girl genius with a welders torch in an abandoned warehouse type setting as she listens to the news.

     I’m also a huge fan that right now this is all still in a building phase, the development of not only the kids together with their new abilities but with their parents and Foresight, it’s all ground breaking and new so that we don’t get thrust into this with a prefabricated setting and all the players in place. We as the reader feel a part of this building process and that kind of perspective really hasn’t been shown before. Is it perfect, well no but then again what is but this is as good as it gets when dealing with something we have no experience with.

     There is a rather large team working on the interiors here. Even if they weren’t all listed, above, you’d be able to see the differences. There is the heavy lined work that tends to feel heavier and scratchy at times versus the more detailed work with finer lines and feeling more traditionally super hero in nature. Regardless the use of page layouts throughout with their angles and perspective are well done. So I do wish more backgrounds were utilised here because when they are wow, that page with the roller coaster for instance was freaking stunning. They really do expand the story and give the reader a bigger picture of what’s going on.

     So right now we’ve got three kids who have new abilities that allow them to do things that most are afraid of. Fear that is spread by Foresight so they can round them up, examine, dissect and figure out how to profit from their emergence. Yes this corporation is as bad as any government when it comes to rounding up those with abilities. It’s frightening how easy it could be considered normal for this kind of behaviour to be accepted. With what’s happening in politics these days the scarier part is that it feels like something we could see now.

     I think that while the idea isn’t revolutionary the way things in the Catalyst Prime universe are coming together in ways that have me genuinely excited about comics. I haven’t felt this way about a universe since I first discovered the enjoyment comics can bring in my youth. This is must read material guys it’s honest and interesting with the right cross-section of those who gained their abilities.

Mage The Hero Denied #3
Image Comics 2017
By Matt Wagner
Coloured by Brennan Wagner
Lettered by Dave Lanphear


     For years, Kevin Matchstick and his wife Magda have led a quiet life, raising their two children and hiding from the dark forces that he once combatted as the reborn Pendragon. An adept witch, Magda has spent the past seven years brewing a protection philter that will make their home immune to any magical attack. With only several weeks until the potion reaches fruition, they’re reluctant to once again uproot their family and flee a potential threat. But another attack from the fairy realms forces Kevin to once again call on the power of Excalibur, fully exposing the reality of magic to his son Hugo.

     While it’s been way too many years since the second instalment of the series, about twenty years actually, and the second came ten years after the first so if there were ever to be a fourth we’d better hope Matt lives to ripe old age and keeps all his mental faculties. Even though it’s been stated this is the final chapter. If there’s one thing I can say is that this hasn’t lost any of its appeal, charm or charisma for me. Matt eases back into Kevin’s life like it’s a high school reunion remembered in exquisite detail.

     Last issue Kevin and his son Hugo were set upon by more creatures out for the bounty on his head. This time Kevin is unable to shield Hugo from seeing the realm, the creatures of what his father can do. Of course Hugo’s characterisation here is phenomenal and it comes more so from being a parent and raising a kid as the perspective we get is one where the parent is afraid of what the son sees and the kids resiliency and fascination is so well done. The same can be said for how Magda reacts to all this and it shows the whole family angle that’s so smartly done.

     Alright so the interior artwork isn’t quite the same but that’s to be expected still it has that feel to it and seeing Kevin’s balding head and his son’s horribly done home bowl cut is great. No it doesn’t have the mystery or majesty that the original did but it’s certainly holds its own. Matt’s eye for visual storytelling never ceases to amaze me with his use of page layouts through their angles and perspective. The creativity and imagination on display here is wonderful and though I'm sad that Kevin, with a nice hairy chest, sleeps in boxer briefs, yes pervy mind here.

     I love Kevin’s idea to draw those chasing him to him by leaving town and inviting open season upon himself. It’s bloody brilliant is what it is, from the planning stage which wasn’t a stage at all to how readily Magda agreed to it, to the fact that it makes the most logical course of action. Plus the fact that Kevin is now ready to fight, he’s angry and that means all the action is about to take off in ways that mean we’re in for a good time people.

     You never realise how much you’ve missed something until it comes back. The writing, the story and the characterisation here is superb and it just makes me genuinely happy. Matt’s taken too long a break from this and yet his story structure and development has matured and aged as well as a fine wine. Also there are a few things in this issue that stand out because of not only what is happening but the subtlety and the way it’s manipulated here is utterly fantastic. The Matchstick children will come into their own in iteration or I'll be terribly disappointed. While they may not be the next Pendragon their mother is a witch after all so there should be some power that trickles down the family tree and wouldn’t it be a hoot if they saved their father in the long run.

Misbegotten #2
Action Lab Danger Zone 2017
Written by Caesar Voghan & Eric Granger
Illustrated by Justin Case
Coloured & Lettred by Willia Bowm


     Sir Gottfrey grows impatient with J-Clone's inability to get into character. Ever since Double-M 091, the only one who might help him cope with his stage-fright, has gone missing, J-Clone has become love-sick and now refuses to master his lines for the upcoming Pageant. At the Vatikan, Elano cuts a deal with the Pope: he will deliver the Lord's body double to the Church, but that will be his last mission. On his way to Harlequin Island, Elano stops aboard Domus Mariae, the carrier-turned-abbey, where he rejoins Father Micon, his longtime Franciscan mentor. Pressed by Elano, Micon reveals his involvement with Gottfrey in the early days of the bioengineering revolution. Back on Harlequin Island, during the weekly Sunday show, Sir Gottfrey witnesses the clash between King Richie's motley crew of veteran gladiators and a squad of augmented Steampunk Templars. Meet Klaudette: the one-eyed geisha who aspires to become a major player in the human blood traffic inside the replika Ghetto.

     Where I felt the first issue was a clusterfuck this one feels right. The story has a very nice structure to it, the information flows freely and in ways that makes sense and are easy to follow. Once again I’m reminded why I say to give books a chance when you see potential but can’t quite its foothold. Don’t get me wrong this world is full of crazy time stuff going on and the fact that there are clones galore running around who have been taken from some the most well known figures in history, both good, bad and indifferent, is merely the window dressing to the story’s soul.

     I will admit that the information we are getting this issue is totally in line with some very adult humour that is great appreciated. I mean J-Clone’s morose and well fetish style behaviour don’t exactly inspire the godliness he’s created from. Though depending on who you are only strengthens the belief that’s not indeed a celestial being.

     That MM-091 has found her way to the Bishop and the Cardinals and is informing them of J-Clone's existence well it’s kind of fun. That and the nod to the Statue of Liberty in the background that makes quite the statement. Also whether or not they believe that J-Clone's a clone the son of God they cannot take the chance that he is. This is the Church we’re talking about and they’ll be damned if anything gets in the way of the image they’ve shaped, moulded and sold to masses for riches and power.

     I am a huge fan of Justin’s work on the interiors here. There are those subtle things in the backgrounds, which are expertly used and wish we got more of, that are extremely delightful. His use of page layouts through their angles and perspective are very well done. The cleanness of his work and the attention to detail is done is amazing to see. The weight of the linework is also important to how we see what we see and again impressive work all around. Though really this Danger Zone that shower scene could’ve done more.

     While I’m not always sure that everything we see is really necessary it’s okay because it gives us a chance to see just how twisted and bizarre Gottfrey truly is. There’s an unexpected humour to go along with the sheer chaos of what this seems to be about. You will read this and wonder WTF did I get into but once you open Pandora’s box there is no closing it.