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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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Colonel Weird Cosmagog #1

10/31/2020

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Colonel Weird Cosmagog #1
Dark Horse Comics 2020
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated & Lettered by Tyler Crook

    From the world of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series comes a bizarre sci-fi adventure origin story! Wacky space adventurer Colonel Randall Weird leaves Black Hammer farm and embarks on a strange journey through space and time for something that he's long forgotten with his sanity and life at stake!

    I have been waiting for this to come out!  For whatever reason of all them the Colonel is just plain fascinating.  He’s forgetful, seemingly unreliable and has aged beyond any of the others and he’s remained as mysterious as they come while we enjoyed Black Hammer as they were on the farm he stood out among them.  So I was excited for this and ya know what this is everything I could have hoped for and oh so much more!  This is why we love these guys, follow their work and talk about it like we do.  Now no worries if you haven’t been reading anything else because this is a great stand alone as it is written and you’ll learn everything you need to so if you haven’t then you need to jump on board now!

    I love the way that this is being told.  How the story & plot development come to life through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information while moving ever forward is brilliantly done.  The character development is everything!  How we see him and how we get to know him is basically the whole issue in and of itself.  This is fascinating, eerie and slightly spooky considering he acts much like someone with dementia or Alzheimer's and you can feel for him, empathise and connect with him on so many levels.  The pacing here is utterly fabulous and as it takes us through the pages revealing what this is about we cannot help but be swept up in his life.  How the story is being structured and how we see the layers within playing their parts make this such an extraordinary read.  

    I don’t know what it is about Tyler’s work but the more he does the better he gets.  The interiors that we see here are stunningly gorgeous.  The linework is phenomenal and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the attention to detail is breathtaking.  Then how he’s able to enhance the detail work that we see through the way he utilises colour is just next level genius ability.  The way that backgrounds are utilised throughout do more than expand the moment and bring us emotions they provide us with depth perception, a sense of scale and this overall sense of size and scope to the book.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling.  The colour work we see is just mindbogglingly well rendered.  How we see the hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is extraordinarily well done.  The feelings and emotions the work is able to bring to the reader is sublime.
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    This is a spectacular journey through the mind and life of Colonel Weird and it starts to bring him to life in some truly unexpected ways.  That nothing about him is something that happens in a straight line is marvellous as he travels through time and space so often that he’s now unable to think in a linear fashion.  I knew this was going to be good but I had no idea it was going to be this good.  Jeff’s created a whole new full functioning universe filled with interesting and dynamic characters that far surpass their inspiration.  

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TMNT The Last Ronin #1

10/31/2020

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TMNT The Last Ronin #1
IDW Publishing 2020
Story by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird & Tom Waltz
Written by Tom Waltz & Kevin Eastman
Layouts by Kevin Eastman
Illustrated by Esau & Isaac Escorza
Page 39 Illustrated by Ben Bishop
Coloured Luis Antonio Delgado
Colour Assists by Samuel Plata
Lettered by Shawn Lee

    In a future NYC far different from the one we know today, a lone surviving Turtle goes on a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. Kinetic layouts from Eastman, moody inks and a thrilling script full of surprises from longtime TMNT scribe Tom Waltz all combine to make this one of the most memorable TMNT stories you will ever read! This is a perennial TMNT tale that can't be missed!

    I would describe myself as a casual fan of the Turtles.  All the crossovers they’ve been a part of have been outstanding feats of storytelling.  So when there’s going to be an “Event” that draws its original creators into helping bring it to life well that’s something you’d better believe we all want to be a part of.  So I came into this with a completely open mind and by the last page this had me hook, line and sinker involved in the story.  I mean I know enough so that I can follow along but it isn’t until the cliffhanger ending, which well I can’t give that away.  Still I was captured from the get-go and I didn’t want this to end.  Though I know it’s an event and I know it’s popular but there are way too many covers with this.

    The way that this is being told is nothing short of brilliant.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented beautifully.  The way that we see this and how we’re introduced to the story is done in such a way that it captures the readers’ mind, imagination and leaves the desire and possibly need to know more.  The character development is mindbogglingly good as we are taken on this journey through our hero as he treks forward and it’s utterly amazing how well the reader melds with him.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story and the way the world is we get this amazing journey.  

    With how this book is structured and the layers within the story it just sweeps you up into this in ways you couldn’t imagine.  The way we see how everything works together and creates the story’s ebb & flow is sensational.

    The interiors here are amazing.  The linework is incredible and how we see the varying weights and various techniques being utilised throughout create some really beautiful detail work.  Plus the style of work we see and how it is able to bring us this emotional punch in the face just blows me away.  The way that we see the backgrounds incorporated into the book make the city another character and it’s just so beautifully done.  Plus how we see the depth perception, the sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is impeccably done.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is utterly amazing to see.  The darkness that permeates outside the city and the bright lights of the city itself change the mood, tone and feel of what we see.  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is exceptionally well rendered.  
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    Doesn’t matter if you are a fan of these Turtles or not, you NEED to read this book as the storytelling we see is so damn amazing that it showcases what’s possible when creators make you feel with such intensity what’s going on.  

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Legacy of Mandrake the Magician #1

10/30/2020

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Legacy of Mandrake the Magician #1
Stonebot/King Features/Red5 Comics 2020
Written by Erica Schultz
Illustrated by Diego Giribaldi
Coloured by Ramon Bunge
Backgrounds by J.P. Massa
Lettered by Martin Casanova

    Mandy Paz is by all appearances an ordinary teenager just trying to make her way through high school. If she seems like she’s going out of her way to avoid attention, that’s because she’s hiding a big secret—she has powerful magical talents. So, when strange and sinister things start happening in her small town, Mandy decides to take action. And on her quest to chase down the root of the town’s trouble she just might discover the truth about her own legacy.

    I missed the zero issue so I am a little sad about that.  But I have been waiting for this as I am a fan of the original King Features characters.  I get the reasoning behind Mandy taking over as a legacy but one of these days I would like to see a boy be the legacy and have him be gay.  The gender reversal is almost overdone, this is my opinion no one else’s and this doesn’t lessen how good this story is.  Erica is an amazing writer and she continues that streak with this book.  

    I love the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented beautifully.  I like that while there was a zero issue that doesn’t mean you had to read it to enjoy this.  We get a great sense of what’s going on in Mandy’s life and the way this is presented makes it easy to enjoy what is happening.  The character development is amazing and you get the sense that one is definitely not a friend at all and I cannot wait to see how that plays out.  The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the characters, this world and the story it’s easy to see just how well everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

    Also the way that this is structured and how we see the layers within the story coming to life showcases just how well Erica’s mind works and how talented she is.  Also there are moments where the light hearted nature of a teenage girl shines through and balances out the whole idea of having such power at her disposal.

    The interiors here are absolutely delightful!  The linework we see is sensational and there’s a nice strength and confidence that comes with how they are laid down.  Also a great nod to Pizazz in here as well.  I am somewhat surprised that there is a person whose sole job is to do the backgrounds but since it’s me I love that about this.  I mean the wallpaper alone is sensational.  Still I do like how everything we see works so well together and that we get some great depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a strong and talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is fantastic!  I love how we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.  The effects of the magic and everything we see is so well rendered.
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    This is a bright shining star right now.  This is the kind of storytelling we need what with politics being crazy and the whole shut-in quarantine that’s gripped the world.  This is fun, engaging, relatable to and it just finds a way to lift your spirits perfectly.  The power of storytelling can do so many things and I’m so thankful for these creators for bringing this to us.

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Zorro in The Land That Time Forgot #1

10/30/2020

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Zorro in The Land That Time Forgot #1
American Mythology Productions 2020
Written by Mike Wolfer
Illustrated by Alessandro Ranaldi
Coloured by ARthur Hesli
Lettered by Natalie Jane

    This astounding mini-series organically merges two different worlds in a story of action, intrigue, and prehistoric adventure that will have you cheering and on the edge of your seat! Set before the events of the original novel The Land That Time Forgot, Italian explorer Fausto Caproni leads an expedition to rediscover the fabled island continent of Caprona, first discovered by his grandfather but lost in the mists of time. On the eve of his embarkment from the port of La Reina de Los Angeles, Caproni has secured funding for his voyage from the Spanish government, as well as from the wealthy de la Vega family. But with a detachment of Spanish soldiers set to accompany Caproni, Don Diego de la Vega detects a nefarious plot. Diego-who is secretly the swashbuckling hero, El Zorro-stows away aboard the ship, and once they reach Caprona, Fausto, his sister Marina, the crew of the galleon Redenzione, the Spanish soldiers, and Zorro himself will find themselves thrust into a nightmare world of rampaging dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts that still roam in a land that time forgot! 

    Whether you are a die-hard fan of Edgar Rice-Burroughs or not this is going to excite you.  Just the thought of finding that place where dinosaurs roam and has this mystique to it that comes with the unknown not to mention some adrenaline rushing danger makes me giddy with excitement.  

    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  How the story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information moves the story forward beautifully.  I do like the fact that we see Don Diego as we do since we know who he is and that Caproni is brought to us as his friend or ally with the judgement of Commander Monastario thrown in.  This opening and the conversation they have is bloody brilliant and sets up what we are going to see perfectly.  The character development is amazing to see as things play out here and Mike knows and loves these characters and it shows.  The pacing is perfect and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story, the twists and turns along the way we get this absolutely delightful experience.

    I do love the interiors here.  The linework is magnificent and I love seeing the strength and control through the varying weights and how we see the details emerge.  Yes I want more backgrounds, I always do, but honestly with the innovative way we see the page layouts being worked and the angles and perspective in the panels more than make up for the lack thereof.  What we do see is this amazing eye for storytelling and that ship, Redenzione, is beautifully, mindbogglingly gorgeous is its detail.  The colour work is beautiful.  Seeing the white in the cresting waves is sublime.  How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work are exquisitely rendered.  
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    If you are looking for one of the most interesting and unique experiences then this is where you need to be looking.  Mike has this structured incredibly well and the layering within the story is beautifully worked through.  It feels exciting, fresh and new and yet we know the properties and we know what they are capable of and yet here we are.  A wonderful start to a new beginning in the world of Edgar Rice-Burroughs and it is going to be an extraordinary journey.  American Mythology Productions should be on your reading list, I mean everything they put out just a blanket pull.  Trust me.

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Sympathy For No Devils #1

10/29/2020

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Sympathy For No Devils #1
Aftershock Comics 2020
Created & Written by Brandon Thomas
Created & Illustrated by Lee Ferguson
Coloured by Jose Villarrubia
Lettered by Simon Bowland

    Winston Wallis has a secret. He is all that remains of mankind, and is surrounded on all sides by demons, monsters, and ghouls that picked up where humankind left off – lying, stealing, cheating, and killing.
     Years ago, it was Winston’s job to investigate such things. Now his ex-partner needs help solving the brutal murder of the world’s largest Colossal. Because he knows the secret. He knows about the magical curse that gives Winston the ability to survive a world where everything is bigger, stronger, and angrier than he is. But how long can Win’s impossible luck last, and will this new case finally be the death of him?
     Win certainly hopes so…

I really enjoyed this and I think for a myriad of reasons some of which were more feelings than anything else.  The interiors to me feel like they were inspired by Barry Kitson and that kind of style to me is outstanding.  I like that this is a future where beings from either multiple worlds or dimensions all live side by side.  Without any explanation of when or even where we are when this story takes place just that we enter an already running saga is beautifully done.  This captures the attention, makes the reader wonder about this and want to know more about it.  So kudos for the way that we see this being structured as well as how we see the layers within the story which just keeps adding to the intrigue factor.

I am enjoying the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development as seen through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information keeps everything moving forward perfectly.  The character development that we see is great and that we have our two main characters who are kind of like the odd couple and the more they chat and the more dialogue we see the more ambiguous they become.  They talk about things we aren’t privy to and it’s both maddening and infinitely fascinating because it instills that need to know on the part of the reader.  The pacing here is great and as it takes us through the pages revealing the city and their relationship it’s really easy to see how everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

As I mentioned earlier I love the interiors here.  The linework is strong and the style is great and the way that the varying weights are being utilised to create the details that we see is extremely well rendered.  The creativity and imagination that is on display here is phenomenal stuff, and I love seeing how this is incorporated into the character designs.  Backgrounds are utilised pretty well throughout but i’d still like to see more of them, specially considering Winston’s luck and all.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a strong eye for storytelling.  The colour work is really well laid down as well.  I like how we see the choice of colours and then how opposite or complementary or just outrageous choices that are made here.  How the various hues and tones within the colours are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered exquisitely well.
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This isn’t your ordinary science fiction story.  No this is creative, inventive and really more outside the box than I had expected it to be.  Proving once again that Aftershock is pushing the envelope and putting out some sensational storytelling here.  

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Giga #01

10/28/2020

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Giga #01
Vault Comics 2020
Written by Alex Paknadel
Illustrated by John Lê
Coloured by Rosh
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar

    Nobody knows why the skyscraper-sized mechs known as ‘Giga’ fought their bitter, centuries’ long war. All they know is that when the fighting finally stopped, the dormant Giga became humanity’s new habitat and new gods in one. When disgraced engineer Evan Calhoun finds an apparently murdered Giga, his society and the fascistic tech-centered religious order that controls it are rapidly thrown into chaos.

    Wow this is an impressive debut issue.  There is so much that we learn in this introduction to the series that already I want to see explored.  If this is going to be what we should expect as the story moves forward then Alex hit a grand slam here (World Series baseball or all 4 Major Tennis Tournaments).  Any way you look at it this is something that takes you by surprise and brings you both a look at what could be reasonable thinking, ie scientific, versus myth through religion.  This is the kind of stuff that engages the readers’ mind right from the start and it doesn’t let up for one single moment through to the last page.

    I am a fan of the way that this is being told.  How we see the story & plot development move forward through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information as they impeccably rendered.  The jump from the past to the present is something that screams out for more and I feel it is deliberately done this way for a number of reasons and I wholeheartedly support that because while it drives me crazy the possibilities it represents are legion.  The character development that we see is phenomenal.  Evan for example is a mainstay already and to see his past versus his present and know that what we saw then still holds true now is beautifully rendered.  The pacing here is amazing and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story, this world and those who inhabit it is so fun to see.

    The way we see this structured and how these events come about naturally showcases a solid mind, skill and talent when it comes to writing.  Plus how we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow is perfectly laid out.  There is no point in this book that I questioned any choices that were made in the writing.

    Okay now the interiors here are really nice to see.  The linework is gorgeous and how we see the varying weights and possible techniques utilised to bring out the attention to detail that we see is beautifully rendered.  I wish we had more backgrounds being utilised.  To see the inside of these Mech Giga’s is an opportunity that should be taken full advantage of without any blank moments, in my bumble eye and opinion.  When we do see full scenes it is freaking amazing how much life it brings to the page.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a good, strong eye for storytelling.  The colour work is phenomenally rendered.  I love seeing how the various hues and tones within any given colour are utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.  Also there’s some weathering that we see or it could be dirt or sun bleaching but to see this and to see how it's laid down is really something special.
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    Vault has this way of finding the next big thing and releasing them almost one on top of another nowadays.  This pushes us in a direction of the science fiction genre that I don’t think we’ve ever seen before and that’s exciting!  If you don’t have Vault on your pull list, all titles, then you are missing out on what’s fresh, new, and just mindbogglingly brilliant storytelling.

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Hot Valley Days & Cocaine Nights #1

10/28/2020

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Hot Valley Days and Cocaine Nights #1
Antarctic Press 2020
Based on Actual Events
Written by Matthew Spradlin
Illustrated by Farid Karami
Pencil Assists by William Allan Reyes
Coloured by Andrew Crossley

    The TRUE STORY of a 15-year-old streetwise girl named Janie XXXXX. Back in 1978, Janie left behind her abusive past in small-town Ohio and hitchhiked to L.A. There she soon found out neighbor's business was all about cocaine. For the next eight years, Janie worked to hustle cocaine for the Cartel at clubs and parties, selling to the rich, famous and powerful. Then she decided to stop selling, and the trouble started. The bright lights of the big city make this rainbow holo-foil shine even more! All you urban cowboys and girls who just wanna have fun are gonna want yourself a piece of this!

    Well this is a first for me because I have no idea of the original story and I didn’t even try to look it up.  I want to enjoy this, all three issues, before I look up the real life events as I don’t want anything to spoil this for me.  What Matthew has done here is amazing to me.  The way that this is written and how it is able to connect with the reader along with how well the “then & now” storytelling is being utilised really makes for a powerful read.  I like that as well because you feel for Janie and her siblings and you can see how the events of her life get her to where she is.  It is easy to feel a connection to her based on what we see and then some because the way she is portrayed here.

     I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through the sequence of events unfolding as well as how the reader learns information is presented extremely well.  The way that this is structured so that the flow that we get is just incredible.  It is a joy to read and see how the past and present and how they don’t match per se but they demonstrate a lot about who she is.  This is part of the character development that we see and I love it because there is no mistaking the kind of girl and woman Janie is and how far she’s willing to go.  She’s definitely a champion in my book.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story and her world it’s easy to see how everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

     I really like the interiors that we see here.  The linwork is really strong and how we see the varying weights being utilised to showcase the detail work is extremely well rendered.  I think that backgrounds are being utilised really well and I like how they bring us this depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope of the story.  Also I like the way we see faces and facial expressions here as they do wonders in furthering the characterisation.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stellar eye for storytelling.  The colour work is gorgeous and I love how we see the various hues and tones being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.  Also the 70’s and the 80’s were notorious for the outrageous clothing and to see this represented so well within these pages is spectacular.
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     This is a spectacular book and it has all the right notes to make it go from a movie of the week, remember those?, to full on blockbuster level event.  With really good strong writing with layers within it struggling to see the light this is something that capture your attention, engage your mind and really get under your skin.

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Stargazer #2

10/27/2020

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Stargazer #2
Mad Cave Studios 2020
Written by Anthony Cleveland
Illustrated by Antonio Fuso
Coloured by Stefano Simeone
Lettered by Justin Birch

    Reeling from the news that her brother, Kenny, was in a very serious accident, Shae rushes to the hospital where everything begins to spiral. Kenny mysteriously goes missing from his hospital room so Shae rushes over to see Kenny's podcaster friend, Ari Noonan. What Shae discovers will change the way she has thought about everything for the last two decades.

    God almighty this really is one of the best books available today.  The way that Anthony is writing this is beautifully done and bordering on absolutely flawless.  I was awed when I finished this issue and I sat here for a moment and just jaw dropping to the floor awed by what was within these pages.  While I am a fan of what Anthony has done so far there’s been nothing that has prepared me for just how well this is being done, it’s like now that he’s got a foot in the door and wammo it’s time to prove he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.  This is a statement book and what a statement it makes.  Doesn’t hurt either that Antonio and Stefano are doing the interiors heh.  

    I am thoroughly enjoying the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exquisitely.  That we see the past revealing itself as memories continue to surface we don't know what is real and what isn’t as Shae never wanted to admit the truth of the matter.  Which leads me to the character development that we see which is astounding in revealing so much in such a short time as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter.  The pacing here is amazing and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story with its myriad of twists and turns along the way.  

    The way that we see this book structured is marvellous.  The way that everything we see works together so seamlessly to create the story’s ebb & flow is beautiful to see.  The then and now aspect is worked into this in a great fashion that highlights a few things that if you pay attention will show up later on.  There is a smart and intelligent way that this is being told and I have to say it will blow your mind.  

    The interiors are phenomenal!  I love Antonio’s style and the fact that we get to see the linework as we do and how well the various weights and techniques are utilised to bring such amazing detail in the work.  The way that backgrounds are incorporated into the scene’s and how they bring this really nice depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story while enhancing what we see is brilliantly done.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a masterful eye for storytelling.  I love the colour work as well and there as it has this gorgeous watercolour effect and it so effortlessly adds such rich and soft tones to the work.  
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    With the story unfolding and the more we learn the more we want to learn.  Shae’s been miserable hiding the reality away and her brother the poor guy well he’s going through stuff that only his sister and her friends can help him with.  This is an amazing read that transcends everything you’ve ever thought you’ve known.  Welcome to the Mad Cave, there's a fire roaring and open seas just for you.

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Riptide: Draken #2

10/27/2020

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Riptide: Draken #2
Red5 Comics 2020
Written by Scott Chitwood
Illustrated by Danny Luckert
Coloured by Matt James

    Having discovered the first definitive proof of the Loch Ness Monster, Hannah and her team quietly begin gathering more information on the legendary creature. But the only thing more dangerous than the monster itself is the world finding out about its existence.

    Oh my goodness I love this book.  It takes us through a scientific observation of how plausible it would be for there to be a species of Plesiosaur still roaming around today.  Of course for us that’s hypothetical because no one has seen one up close to say for sure, god forbid catch it and slice it open like barbarians.  Still backing things up with scientific fact as Scott is doing here he’s creating something of a fictional history story where Nessie exists, as the fiction, while showing historically accurate places where Plesiosaur’s skeletons were found as well as pointing out that Coelacanth was thought long extinct until one was found off the Comoro Islands.  So yeah I love the balancing act between fact and fiction that we see within these pages as it captures the readers’ mind and imagination while engaging in the discussion on the pages.

    I love the way that this is being told.  How we see the story & plot development through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented beautifully.  I like how it is both entertainment and learning experience at the same time as this lets it have more oomph in my humble opinion.  Plus when you see something you question you hit the search engine and see for yourself.  This is an interactive experience and it’s being done so incredibly well.  The character development that we see is superb.  The way they interact with one another, through dialogue, and how they act and react to the situations and circumstances really work to flesh them out even further.  The pacing is amazing as it takes us through the pages and reveals the twists & turns along the way. 

    I am a fan of the way this is structured and the way we see the events unfolding thanks to the ebb & flow that’s been created by everything working together.  This is simply a stunning story and it’s not what I was expecting to see and I think that by defying expectation and doing something completely original and separate was a damn good call.

    The interiors here are really very nice to see.  I like the style of the artwork that we’re seeing here as it isn’t that realistic, or hyper realism, and it isn’t simply comic books; it has the blend of the two putting it in the middle and it’s really spectacular to see.  The linework is nice, i’d like to see variation in techniques instead of straight up linework but through the varying weights it works.  The way that backgrounds are utilised is fantastic and it helps bring us this great depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a solid eye for storytelling.  I like the colour work here and I like the illusion it brings.  The motion of the waves and how the shading in clothing is working and this looks like those were computer generated and it definitely makes things look pretty.
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    I am rather fond of this book and the story itself.  The idea is solid and the way that they are going about telling the story is smartly done.  I keep telling you all that Red5 Comics is home to some extremely good, solid, strong and fascinating storytelling, isn’t time you listened?

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Miles to Go #2

10/27/2020

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Miles to Go #2
Aftershock Comics 2020
Written by B. Clay Moore
Illustrated by Stephen Molnar
Lettered by Thomas Mauer

    For the first time since childhood, Amara Bishop has taken a life. Now she and her daughter Alea find themselves on the run with an aging former assassin named Moses Graves. As the trio works to figure out who is stalking them and why, Amara and Moses reflect on their pasts as killers, and begin to wonder if their unsuspecting loved ones might be in danger as well.

    I am really enjoying the way that this is being told.  There is something about this that while familiar is also completely new, fresh and surprising and there is  no one who does it better than Clay.  I do like that when we read this there is so much to uncover and be excited by in both good and some not so good ways.  Let’s face it a mother never wants to shoot someone in front of her daughter and then there’s Moses and the delivery of his news, other than he’s there to save their lives of course.  So yeah there are a lot of moving parts happening here and the way they all tie together in various ways is extremely fun to see.

    The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is exceptionally well laid down.  The fact that we see how well this book is structured and how this affects the way we see the events unfold is masterfully done.  The character development we see is amazing and I really like the way that we see the dialogue, banter or just back and forth between them and while it is telling it doesn’t really reveal as much as we’d like it to.  That’s okay though it just adds another reason to keep coming back for more.  The pacing here is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story along with the twists & turns along the way it’s easy to see how everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow.

    There is something about this that works a whole better than it probably should.  Yes it is violent but unfortunately that’s nothing new these days, even with a young girl involved.  Yet Clay manages to infuse so much charm into the characters that you feel things alongside them as well as empathise with them.  

    The interiors here are so gorgeous.  Just the way that the work is able to transfer the idea of kinetic energy as the guns fire and people run is simply stunning.  The linework is fabulous and how the varying weights are being utilised to create the detail work is stupendous.  That the way the panels are filled some with and some without backgrounds really is what is best for that moment.  This is how I see the work that Stephen is doing.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stupendous eye for storytelling.  The colour work as well is beautifully rendered.  The way that we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is utterly phenomenal.  
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    Aftershock continues to be a driving force in today’s market and they opened the door for a myriad of other publishing houses.  With this kind of storytelling where the writing is strong, engaging and gripping alongside this level and quality of the interiors it’s ridiculously good.  

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