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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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Midnight Mystery #1

10/31/2018

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Midnight Mystery #1
Alterna Comics 2018
By Bernie Gonzalez
Lettered by Wes Locher


      Follow the strange adventures of detective Zeke King as he goes from case to horrifying case. In this issue: King's latest case goes from freaky to fatal when he's hired to find the lost son of a deceased horror host!

      I am not sure how I first became aware of this book but right from the get go I was intrigued enough to ask my retailer to order it for me. While I may not like nor wish to support the owner of this company I have to say the talent that is putting out books through Alterna is amazing! This issue blew me away and I really liked how well Bernie tells the story. You become invested in the story pretty much right away and the opening is brilliantly done. It is important to have this kind of opening when it’s the first issue of a series ever since it is what people will see and then decide if they want to keep going.

      The narration comes in the form of dialogue as Zeke is making a reel tape recording of his latest case i haven't seen this done before and it adds this certain flair that you can't stop thinking about. There is something about the way he talks and the words that are being used here that grab the imagination and create this wonderful curiosity that keeps the reader moving forward. I thought it was brilliantly done and how it leads into the story is extremely nice to see. This is a recanting of events that have happened until we get towards the end then things take a different turn of events.

      The way that this book is structured is so incredibly well done. The ebb & flow of the book is great and we’re lulled into this false sense of security that Zeke’s job as a Detective, or Private Investigator, is just somewhat mundane even. Almost like Bernie is establishing Zeke, showing us his skills, talents and what makes him tick. We are introduced to a few of his associates and we get hints here and there about why he uses the tapes as well as getting to see his thought process. I have to say all this is so well done as I feel as if I am getting to know him on a personal level. The connection that we get to Zeke is unexpected and utterly delightful.

      The interiors here are just as wonderful as the writing. The fact that everything we see and read here is done by one man is mighty impressive. There is this almost animated feel to what we see with the shapes of the heads and the jaw lines, almost like Batman the Animated Series. There is such confidence in the linework which exudes through the characters beautifully. The way that backgrounds are being utilised thrills me to no end and how detailed they are so they expand the moment and even the size and scope of the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a strong strong eye for storytelling.

      This is one of the strongest, most interesting and unexpectedly delightful introductions to a series. The writing here is mesmerising and the characterisation is excellent as is the pacing and the way that information is uncovered and revealed. The journey we’re being taken on here almost has familiar edge to it and while the client is looking for lost relative of a deceased man it’s what he did when he was alive that we can connect with. Personally growing up I loved watching television late at night or on PBS when all the cheesy “B-movies” horror classics were shown and here within these pages Bernie captures that mood, tone and feel of that in a way I couldn’t have anticipated.
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      This is utterly bloody effin brilliant.

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Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror #01

10/31/2018

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Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror #01
Ahoy Comics 2018
Written by Mark Russell & Tom Peyer
Illustrated by Fred Harper & Peter Snejbjerg
Coloured by Michael Garland
Lettered by Rob Steen
Extras by Carly Wright, Cienna Madrid & Hunt Emerson


        Famous author/day drunk EDGAR ALLAN POE introduces tales of suspense, shock, & disgust! Some are adapted from his own stories, others from his fellow dwellers in the public domain. All are presented in vile and lurid comics form!

      Ahoy has burst onto the scene and are putting a wide, see diverse, variety of books in the four that have been released thus far. These are veterans of the industry and they know what they are doing so it really comes as no surprise how enjoyable everything has and continues to be. I had some trepidation about this book as I had no idea how they would take him on. However this here was absolutely hysterical to me and that was not what I had expected. When you think of Poe automatically The Raven comes to mind and those dark and dreary poems and short stories so that this is slightly off centre is a huge bonus for me.

      The opening is utterly sensational in my humble opinion. The fact that Poe was a drunk and had Syphilis at such an advanced stage, oh let’s be real here that’s a more likely scenario than not since it was all over the place and there were no treatments or cure so everyone seemed to have it, is spot on. They all drank right how much is too much? Depends on the person and why they are drinking to begin with ask Hemingway. Still this does a lot to de-romanticise this time period and it works extremely well.

      Oh M. Valdemar is the first story Poe introduces. He is an acclaimed Danish pastry chef with a very bad cough. I like the story it’s got all the goodies as we see pride, greed, envy and Wrath heh oh the Christians and their made up ways of keeping people in line do make for some of the most interesting reading. Plus when one makes a deal with the devil you must pay the price when it’s due or well something inglorious will happen.  Should we really take delight in something like this, well yes darlings we should though be careful lest it finds it's way to you.

      The second major tale here is a pure flight of fancy and it is the most interesting and utterly ridiculously fun stories I have had the pleasure to read. The writing is amazing, the characterisation is impeccable and honestly all the choices in who is used well let’s just say this is something I personally would love to see continue. An ongoing 6-8 page serial every month depicting the lives, loves and loss of these individuals as they change, grow, evolve or die. Yeah oh my stars and garters yes please!

       The interiors are as varied as the writers stories. Still the utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows some talented eyes for storytelling. Backgrounds are utilised here and there some better than others but overall nothing about the interiors of this book should be at all changed. The linework is used beautifully throughout there is some very nice attention to detail happening and the mood, tone and feel of each segment is expertly shown through the use of the colours.
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      Anthology style books aren’t seen so much in comics these days and perhaps it is time to change that. Do them, well, and promote them as they give us a chance to see, meet, new creators and be entertained in ways that make the reader feel happy. Sometimes a story only needs to be 6-8 or 10-12 pages long to be told and from what I am seeing here these fine folks know exactly what they are doing. This is fun, interesting, odd and slightly creepy but all of it draws the reader in, keeps their attention and leaves them wanting more.

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Vampironica #4

10/30/2018

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Vampironica #4
Archie Horror Comics 2018
Written by Meg & Greg Smallwood
Illustrated by Greg Scott
Coloured Matt Herms
Lettered by Jack Morelli


        Previously...
     Veronica Lodge has been getting some help from resident super genius Dilton Doiley on how to handle her new vampire lifestyle. But her trip back home was met with an unexpected surprise: her parents, Hiram and Hermione Lodge, along with master vampire Ivan, were trying to turn Archie Andrews into one of their own. Their goal isn’t murder—it’s slowly turning everyone in Riverdale into bloodsucking creatures of the night. Now Veronica, Dilton and Archie must stop the vampire siege from descending upon Riverdale—and their first stop is Cheryl Blossom’s pool party!

      Whether it is the novelty of the idea or just a pop culture trend the whole Horror line has been a huge success and failure. I wanted to see more of Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina but apparently that’s too much to ask for. So it surprised me when we started getting more series coming out. Here however the Smallwood’s and Mr. Scott and company have found a way to so far stay on a schedule and bring us something familiar, unique and just all kinds of fun. I love Archie and the gang and I have for so many years now so to see the portrayed outside the norm and to see it done so successfully.

      I would have thought that in issue 4 we wouldn’t be needing that first page wow factor but thankfully no one listens to me. Greg is a god among artists and what we see with Betty was just effin perfect. So is the writing as we get to see the unlikely Denton, Archie and Betty fighting off vampires while talking to each other right. The dialogue is genius and the execution of it is flawless as the overall ebb & flow makes so easy to just follow along, enjoy yourself and have a great time. As absurd as the whole idea is I do like the fact that the Smallwood’s use a lot of the common tropes associated with the whole Vampire mythology.

     There are several moments in this issue that stand out for the amazing moments they bring to light. Such as the whole Cheryl, Veronica moment and then there’s Jughead and his encounter with a vampire in the kitchen. Both scenes are priceless for what they bring to the table in terms of entertainment and ingenuity. Though when Archie runs into his old friend and Betty his girlfriend well then it seems that this whole shall we say invasion is a lot more widespread than anyone had thought. So it’s dangerous and thrilling and half the town, okay I don’t know if it’s really half but, seems to have been turned.

      I am a huge fan of Greg’s work and these interior pages are a big reason why. This may not be the most highbrow of assignments but the attention to detail, the way the linework is utilised so effectively to show off faces, facial expressions and those wondrous vampire teeth is spectacular. The utilisation of these page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off his brilliant eye for storytelling. Then there are panels like where Jughead shoves garlic bread into his face that kind of moment is what it’s about. Without a whole lot of backgrounds in play the creative style that is employed here more than makes up for that.
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     Cheesy and all kinds of fun this is what the old B-movies were all about and why they were so beloved by audiences worldwide. These fine, fine folks have turned this into one hell of a B-movie style comic with shades of the old pulp magazine stories and it is something that I never want to live without.

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NuWay #4

10/30/2018

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NuWay #4
Aspen Comics 2018
Created & Story by J.T. Krul, Dinna Wu & Yuyan Song
Written by J.T. Krul
Pencilled by Alex Konat
Inked by Mark Roslan
Coloured by John Starr
Lettered by Sal Cipriano


     “The world of NuWay is one of struggle. For survival. For sanity. For self. As Zihao tries to find a meaningful centre, he comes to realize the battle is not just his alone. The balance between humanity and machinery is a delicate one, and it seems to be reaching a dangerous tipping point.

     I like this but I am not sure about it at the same time. I am not really sure what kind of story this is supposed to be. We’ve got people fighting in the arena like ancient gladiators only they have had half their bodies replaced with I don’t want to say bionics but weaponry and technology. There is a romance lost and a man struggling to find his place in this world, while another seeks redemption through Zihao. Mix and them all together and I am not really sure where I am. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good or interesting because it is and I keep going with the story as new elements are introduced.

     I love the way that J.T. is building this world through the experiences of Zihao. We see what he sees and it’s like he’s experiencing this world truly for the first time. There is this wonderful connection between the words and narration he uses and the pencils that Alex lays down. This kind of synergy is pretty rare but the fact the entire artistic team makes this story feel like everything is being down one person. I really am incredibly impressed with how we see things in this that you wouldn’t normally get. This ties into the beautiful way that this book is structured. The ebb & flow of what we see is phenomenal and the transitions are smooth which makes it so easy to follow along while missing nothing.

      The characterisation here is sensationally well done. I see the different personalities and they make each character shine in their own unique way. This is all around doesn’t matter if it’s the “good” or the “bad” guys everyone gets the same treatment and this again is something J.T. does that really does stand out in the crowd of good writers. The story itself has such complexity and so many layers to it and they all work there isn’t really a disconnect or something that feels out of place because everything we see belongs in this world and with these characters.

      I am in love with the interiors here. The linework is gorgeous and it’s sets the stage for the Mark and John to follow and they did with such experience and talent. I love the original way that the page layouts are utilised and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a magnificent eye for storytelling. The attention to detail is above and beyond the norm and I got news this is the kind of work that you never forget and always look to expect it in the future. The backgrounds and the vibrancy of colours or when their muted and the way we see them brought to life there so many places the eye can roam and not be disappointed. The creativity and imagination on display here is bloody brilliant.
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     There may be more elements than you think should work and this definitely doesn’t have a theme or genre to fit into nicely. Instead this is very much an original outside the box of convention that is incredibly well done and leaves a huge impression on the reader. Seriously this is what makes comics fun to read.

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Geek-Girl #3

10/29/2018

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Geek-Girl #3
Markosia Enterprises 2018
Created & Written by Sam Johnson
Illustrated by Carlos Granda
Coloured by Chunlin Zhao
Lettered by Paul McLaren


        Heading off, upset after what she expected would be a happy reunion, Summer came across the menacing Chromex holding up a gas station and attempted to intervene—before realising she no longer had the GG glasses. With the help of her friend Josh Halloway, Summer and he drove away, but Chromex caught them, trashed Josh’s car and injured him; when Summer tried to use her headset to contact Pit Bull for help, Chromex crushed it….

       Well I have been touting this book because it really does take me back to the days when comics were a tad ridiculous and powers were given by objects that science couldn’t possibly give. we’re talking fun and pure unadulterated fun the kind that Saturday Mornings used to bring when cartoons were on and we had not a care in the world kind of fun. Briefly fun returned with the likes of Blue & Gold and for a nice run until the Dark Knight made everyone run to copy that dark angst formulae. So do you want to have fun again? Do you want to read about adventures that make you smile, laugh and leave you in a good place?

       One of the things that Sam does here that is sensational to see is that he built a world full of super-heroes. For him it’s complete it just needs to see print so it can grow like a tree whose roots take hold and its branches long and strong. He filters them into the story and shows us glimpses of what else this world has to offer and today, here it is Neon Girl back in action. I love Pit Bull and yes I want to see more of him and now Neon Girl who seems to be wearing a costume much like Geek-Girl’s. Do they need to be scantily clad showing their breasts? Now I do not know whether Neon Girl is angry that she found Summer as Neon Girl or just angry period and honestly I am completely intrigued.

       Carlos is a mighty fine artist. He knows how to manipulate the varying weights of the linework to his advantage and bring things life with some nice detail. Whether they realise it or not they are also fashion designers of a sort sure taking inspirations from the world around them but the myriad of college girls dresses demonstrate beautifully. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off his eye for storytelling. That we see backgrounds being utilised as they are is the way it should be. With Chunlin’s bright and vibrant colours and the gradation provided makes this feel like a classic comic book from the 70’s/80’s.

      Sam is writing a good story here with a solid premise, interesting characters amazing characterisation and pacing. I like seeing Ruby out with her “friends” this issue and kind of learning the hard way, once more, who her real friends are and why they are her friends. Nina’s back and well she has a bone to pick with her but why and how is she back?
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     Alright so with threats all around and Neon Girl wanting to have a chat I am not sure what is going to happen next issue but I can’t wait to find out. You can find them digitally on Comixology or head to www.geekgirlcomics.com and I really do wish you’d take my advice and treat yourself and help an indie creator keep bringing Geek-Girl to life and expanding her universe!

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Beyonders #3

10/29/2018

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Beyonders #3
Aftershock Comics 2018
Created & Written by Paul Jenkins
Illustrated by Wesley St. Claire
Lettered by Marshall Dillon


      Imagine there was a single, mysterious word, written in English, that found itself scrawled across multiple ancient sites, some of which predate the English language. Imagine that word was the key to possibly solving the greatest treasure hunt of all time. Now, imagine a young boy named Jake finally decoded the meaning of the word, and along with his loyal, one-eyed Welsh Corgi and his increasingly confused partners, went in search of the word’s meaning, only to find it led to multiple treasure troves.

       This is the kind of stuff that would’ve given Fox Mulder the hard-on of his life. Not only that but just the fact that Paul is writing this and he’s doing it in the most unexpected and delightful of ways thrills me to no end. This for me is the turning point of the series it gives us more information than I was expecting and it takes things to the next level. Jake is still so very green and coming from where he does, being plucked from his life and being thrust into this world of the Beyonders and he’s a genius and he’s frustrated. There’s like this huge ball of pent up something going on within these pages and the sheer fact that we readers can feel that is amazing.

      The way this book opens is spectacular. The narration of what Jake has learned and what is not making any sense, which granted is a big list especially for him, brings us up to date on what’s going on. It showcases this understanding in layman’s terms of how serious the whole idea of conspiracy theorists are both right and wrong and that the truth (is out there) is so much worse than we could possibly ever begin to imagine. Organisation as old as mankind, buried secrets and the distribution of false information is a wet dream in the making as we hear it being told.

     The way the book is structured is interesting to me. There is a very unique flow to the story here that is both interesting and frustrating at the same time. These people aren’t like us and how they think and how they act so naturally what they say and do will seem odd to us. That Paul is darn effective in getting us to see that as well as showcases his skill and his talent not to mention his passion for writing.

      Wesley has a very unique style of his own here. There is this strange contrast between the technology or static things have this wonderful attention to detail and seem intricate and beautiful, while the people have a more overall limited feel. As is they are secondary and I don’t understand it and I also don’t understand why it works so damn well. Although not gonna lie Shadwell is the best drawn of the bunch and what makes him the favourite character. Still the utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off such a nice solid eye for storytelling. This is the part where I usually moan about wanting more backgrounds but they are they are utilised beautifully and give us so much information.

     If there is one criticism I could voice is that the surrounding characters don’t get the attention the might deserve. The team Galileo for instance was glossed over and that was a tad disappointing, I get why but it felt like blank space that I wanted filled. Our handsome daddy figure (and I don’t father but the drop your bloomers daddy) is someone I want to see and know more of. He’s more of an Enigma than I thought he’d be by now. Narine too for that matter but her I feel is more purposeful as if she’s guarding herself from Jake purposefully and that will revealed later. Regardless it’s minor in the grand scheme of things.
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     This is kind of brilliant in ways you cannot even begin to imagine and it just keeps proving to me that these creators and this company is a force to be reckoned with.  

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Cold Spots #3

10/29/2018

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Cold Spots #3
Image Comics 2018
Created & Written by Cullen Bunn
Created & Illustrated by Mark Torres
Lettered by Simon Bowland


     The unquiet dead gather around a crumbling island mansion, drawn to a quiet young girl who is trapped within the dreary old house. The girl’s father has come to bring her home, but a sinister family with dark and murderous plans stands in his way.

      Oh my god this is what I am talking about people it’s a few days before Halloween as I am reading this issue and we all know that Cullen is a master storyteller so that we get such a story from him, Mark and Simon well yeah it’s just perfectly timed. Well that and I love a good horror story and with all the slasher stuff that’s out there right now having a good old fashioned ghost story at your fingertips. If you have any doubts about what I am saying here then look at the opening page and tell me you don’t get chills from both joy and creepiness.

     So Dan has come face to face with the mother of his child and the daughter of his current employer. I love the writing here and the dialogue because Alyssa had their daughter and never told him about it and now blames him for not being there or caring about her before today. Oh this is the kind of stuff that both infuriates the reader and gets them motivated to keep going to see what is going to happen next. Already I can tell you I don’t like her as she is trying to twist things around and is doing her best to dissuade him from meeting a daughter she never told him about. I get tumultuous relationships and torrid love affairs but these two make the cast of Dynasty look like daytime soap actors.

     The way this book is structured is perfect. Everything that occurs within this issue is in this house with these characters so there is no need for transitions or flashbacks it all flows straight through like in real-time. It has been so long since I have seen this done in comics let alone done this well. Naturally Dan is new to all this and has no idea what the hell is going on and that’s perfect we don’t know his belief’s where he stands on the supernatural so he’s basically a clean slate to us and getting to see him react and begin to understand what’s going on is sensationally well done.

     Mark’s work on the interiors here is utterly amazing. The way he uses the effects so we see the spirits or whatever they are, it isn’t exactly clear yet but I am going with spirits, has this very unique quality to it that creates a huge impact. More so when placed with the living is powerful and so dramatic. The imagination and creativity of what we see here is interesting to me. The clothing, the house and these spirits all of it have these different elements to them that should set off alarm bells but just kind entrance the reader. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a seriously good eye for storytelling. The linework we see and how it’s used to bring the characters to life as well as bring us these beautifully utilised backgrounds makes this an honest to god treat.
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     I love what we see here and how as the events unfold we see characters grow and evolve. That we know so little about some and have a desire to know about others this story keeps getting better and better and keeping us in the dark as they only serves to increase the intrigue. This is the kind of stuff dreams and nightmares are made of and why we can’t seem to get enough of it.

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Long Lost Part Two #3

10/29/2018

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Long Lost Part Two #3
Scout Comics 2018
Written by Matthew Erman
Illustrated by Lisa Sterle


      Piper discovers the secrets to The Sound, the unfathomable world beyond Hazel Patch, as Frances fights to survive her abduction by the strange people living in Hazel Patch. Joanna continues her bizarre plans and has captured one of the strange beings that dwell in the forest outside town. What is she planning and how does The Mountain fit into all of this?

     I can say with the utmost sincerity and honesty that Scout Comics has found and encouraged some of the most talented creators and allowed them to bring their stories to life. I have yet to read a book that they publish which I haven’t enjoyed. Matthew and Lisa have taken something that felt so interestingly innocent and turned it into something that comes from your worst nightmares. We were introduced to two estranged sisters who receive an odd summons, or invitation, to go home to a town they left for their mother’s birthday. Then it all went downhill.

       The writing here is exceptional and the fact that two women who had an odd childhood and went their separate ways are being reunited (and it feels so good) and getting to know each again is done perfectly. Sisters sure but friends not so much and a familial bond can stretch and break and takes something like this for them to get back to a place where they trust, need and love one another and there is this really nice aspect inside this horror story. The way that this is structured and how it’s pacing is done make this what it is.

     I am also a fan of the characterisation within these pages. I think that we have seen Piper go from this introverted scared of everything person become a stronger more confident woman. The transformation doesn’t happen overnight but throughout the story and its still happening as we move forward I cannot wait to see her in her final incarnation. If you want a damn good story that delves into the supernatural with a mystery and some long overdue family bonding then you really need to be reading this. Volume 1 is out in trade form and I am positive your local shoppe can order it all. The ebb & flow and the way characters are introduced and what purpose they serve is incredibly well done.

      Lisa has grown on me more and more with each new issue of her work that I see. This is deceptively simple looking to me and yet the facial expressions convey so much emotion. The linework can be subtle or bold depending on what she wants us to see. The creativity and imagination level here is fantastic as we see the creatures in this other place or how she has portrayed the locals after Joanna has “cured” them. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off her very strong eye for storytelling. The way backgrounds are utilised here do so much to expand the moment and make such an impact on me, page 7 is a great example, and give us this great sense of size and scope of the story.

     There are parts of this that take me by complete surprise and others that seem somewhat more predictable and the way those two aspects play off one another is pretty brilliantly done. You can feel that the end of the story is coming whether you want it to or not and getting emotional about that already is such an indication of how well this series has been told. This is a (little bit of Mardi Gras in my life) wonderfully thought out and executed book that has a light that shines through the darkness and gives off this feeling of hope through the sisters and it’s that spark you lash onto and keeps you going.
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     This is what I live for, finding books, creators and the companies that give them a shot to be exposed to the world. Such a good, strong and powerfully told story that you need to experience.

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Olivia Twist #2

10/28/2018

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Olivia Twist #2
Berger Books/Dark Horse Comics 2018
Written by Darin Strauss & Adam Dalva
Illustrated by Emma Vieceli
Coloured by Lee Loughridge
Lettered by Sal Cipriano


       2050 London: The Esthers send Olivia on a heist into the Vertical City--a mile-high tower, the last refuge for wealthy Americans who have lost their country. But there's incredible danger waiting for her on all sides: the mysterious killer from her nightmares, machine-augmented men, the most powerful C.E.O. in the world. And there is also, as it turns out, an even greater danger for Olivia: a love triangle.

      After all the events of last issue Dodger is out to rescue Pip on Olivia’s behalf. It is the one regret she has that she couldn’t find him as she escaped. But at what cost is this going to be? Fagin isn’t a nice woman and she runs a tight ship and if Olivia is going to get through this she’s going to have be both careful and wilful. I do like everything that we see through Dodger’s eyes as she finally experiences the hell that Olivia went through and lived with for all those years. It might earn Olivia a tad bit of respect but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

      I am really enjoying the way that this is structured. The guys manage to create a really nice flow as well as kind of keep this parallel to the source material. I am more than a little impressed by the fact that Pip is going to be used as a bargaining chip and that’s one of two that is currently in play. If Fagin is this bad now I am going to look forward to seeing what she does for the next two issues in this run. While I don’t mind a gender flip story I don’t remember the original excluding or have a bias towards girls so for Fagin to be anti-male in that yeah took me aback a little. That isn’t a bad thing because it keeps me on toes and now I know for a fact that I cannot take anything for granted. So points for this originality.

       So as Olivia has start learning the crafts of the trade we are introduced to Fagin’s girls. The crew if you will and those that I guess you would consider the core group. It is a nice chance to get to know the players in this moving forward and to see them in action and get a look at some of the city of London. Also indirectly we learn more about what happened to the United States at least to a degree and overall it has this great kind of ambiance that we get.

     The interior artwork here has a wonderful all-ages quality to it. What impresses me more is that the backgrounds being utilised here are wonderfully done. Yes I wish there were more of them being used but that’s okay the level of what we see is really nice, and the Hebrew writing well that just adds something to the mix. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a solid eye for storytelling. There is a great use of creativity and imagination on display as well when coming up with this world it’s tragedy and what it all looks like now and the clothing or costumes you name it there’s a really fantastic look and feel to each individual.
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     So there may or not be a gender fluid character among them I don’t now but will say kudos if there is. With bad guys galore and an establishment bent on keeping the rich rich and the poor poor things around London are disastrously dangerous. Everything that is being done here intertwines in some fashion or another and all the while Olivia has no idea who she is. The ride has left the gates and it’s rounded the first hill and racing towards the next one the real question is are you onboard or not?

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Justice League Odyssey #2

10/28/2018

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Justice League Odyssey #2
DC Comics 2018
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Stjepan Sejic
Lettered by Deron Bennett


      Cyborg, Starfire, Green Lantern Jessica Cruz and Azrael debate whether so-called “God of Evil” Darkseid should have joined the team. (Too late—that evil horse has left the barn!)

      Last issue we saw that Cyborg, Starfire and Azreal were hearing voices that were leading them to the Ghost Sector. Which was caused by the Justice League who left, never turned back and basically said eh our bad bye. It is interesting that in the DCU they never do stick around afterwards and clean up the mess they’ve made and this one quite honestly is huge. I mean c’mon now but that’s something else entirely, and I am sure another crisis in the making. The threesome arrived at the Ghost Sector and encountered Green Lantern Jessica Cruz who in an attempt to stop them ended up joining them.

       Now they face Darkseid who has been reborn and is an adult once more. So after the reasons why he brought them there it is time for the obligatory fight. I don’t mind that honestly I think it’s a nice test and measure for us to see what this group is made of. Azreal is the oddest choice for this team, group or what have you and part of me loves that as it gives Joshua the chance to really shake up the status quo and put someone into space who traditionally would never get the chance otherwise. While Darkseid at the present may not be the man he once was he’s still powerful and I admit that guilty pleasure or not the fight was fun. I have one question has he always looked like Blok from the Legion of Super-Heroes?

      The way that this is structured is fantastic! The way that Joshua is able to create a flow to the book that has both a natural progression and seemingly a plan behind it is amazing to me. Darkseid is always going to try to manipulate the situation but at the same time while everyone knows that how the heroes move forward is their own choices it’s a nice compliment to one another and I wasn’t really expecting that kind of duality. The pacing is amazing and the way we receive information and the actuality of what is going on here well it all comes together beautifully.

     Stjepan is amazing and the way he works and what he is able to do with these computer generated artwork is stunning. The attention to detail he puts into this is breathtaking and that he uses as much of the page and panel as he can to flesh out the scenes, expand the size and scope of the story through how he utilises backgrounds makes me happy. Then there is the creativity and imagination that are on display and the creation of new species we’ve never met before is awe inspiring. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a maestro’s eye for storytelling.

      Joshua also manages to impress me with how he’s able to keep so many various lines of story in play simultaneously. While this issue we see those who worshipped Starfire or Koriand’r we are still reminded of how the Ghost Sector came to be, that Darkseid is aware of what’s transpiring and the mystery of how these people knew so much about her. The complexity in the layering of this book is extraordinarily phenomenal and keeps showcasing just how talented Joshua is and that it seems all he ever does is get better.
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     These days there are few DC books that I am regularly reading but should this creative team be here for a while so will I. This is and exceptionally well written book with stunningly beautiful interior artwork and while it may carry Justice League in the title it’s anything but.

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