Sword of Ages #1
IDW Publishing 2017
Created, Written & Illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez
Coloured by Lovern Kindzierski
Lettered by Robbie Robbins


     A young woman will become the first wielder of the most famous sacred weapon of all time to champion for her world's survival, inspiring a legion of heroes to join her struggle against a merciless alien force. The line between science fiction and magic might get fuzzy, but the line between heroes and villains will be drawn in blood.

     I understand that with a five issue run some things need to be glossed over in order to tell the fully story. It’s kind of unfortunate really because the opening had me excited to learn what this family was running away from and running towards. The fact that the girl was left with these alien giant cats to be co-raised was baffling without any real explanation. While it’s not unheard of I would’ve liked to see something that explained why that was happening. So for me personally I think things could have been opened better and it we’d just started with her and the old man going to their destination and she remembered what happened to get there that would’ve been a much less aggravating for me.

     So once we move past that and we see her in action against slavers on her way to her destination things start looking up. Also the old man and his vision quest makes me wonder a few things because what we see here could be construed in a number of ways. As if he’s there to guide her to her destiny and he’s definitely not what he appears to be. If so then I look forward to seeing his expanded role as things move forward. If not then his visions or trances are the ranting and hallucinations of a very over-inflated ego.

     I will say that once the story starts the interest and intrigue factor ramp up. We get to see more of this strange world explored, we’re introduced to new species and hybrids that we can relate to and find familiar and yet unique. I have to say that I find the idea of sword and sorcery handled in this way as again Gabriel takes something expected and flips the script on it. It feels like Tatooine and Dungeons & Dragons somehow merged to create something completely new. Once he gets going I love the way that Gabriel just ploughs forward without looking back.

     His interior artwork is utterly fabulous I mean c’mon that floating giant space jellyfish is breathtaking. His eye for storytelling is as good as it’s ever been with the use of page page layouts through their angles and perspective and how he utilises backgrounds. The attention to detail throughout is wonderful to see. The uniqueness of the characters, human, animal and everything in between all have this really good sense of anatomy about them. Nothing feels like a costume or something too far removed from reality there’s a nice tone and feel to it all.

     The road, the scenery and the local wildlife the way it all unfolds here is nicely done. There are parts of story, personality, see characterisation, and action that helps us define the roles the characters play. Also there’s a very specific talking creature here that seems to be more common than I has originally realised and I find that intriguingly interesting. I found the whole road trip in this area to be more reminiscent of say Thundarr the Barbarian and there’s something about that I instantly fell in love with.

     This isn’t going to be like anything you’ve seen from Gabriel before and I have a feeling it only gets better from here.

Quarry’s War #1
Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics 2017
Written by Max Allan Collins
Illustrated by Szymon Kudranski
Coloured by Guy Major
Lettered by Comicraft


     Former U.S. Marine sniper Quarry has found a new vocation as a professional assassin. But when his latest contract turns out to be an old acquaintance from his military days, the fresh-faced hit man finds himself battling against his own conscience as secrets from the past start to reveal themselves.

     I’ve been really impressed with the whole Hard Case Crime imprint. The stories have been smart, interesting and full of ambiance that I find intriguing. I’ll wholeheartedly admit that I hadn’t heard of Quarry’s War before reading this issue so to find out it’s a comics adaptation of something that already exists made my eyebrow go up. So now I’m going to have to read the first book in the series, provided I can find it, also I'm going to have to check out the television series as well. Titan keeps bringing me series that have outside influences in their creation that drive me to find them and get involved with them. How often do you find this happening to you? If the answer isn’t often then you need to start reading more of these books.

     Max does an interesting take on the then and now tactic of storytelling. For as we are seeing Quarry settle into a new job we also see where everything started for him. I like this because it is interesting to see both how he was and is while also seeing what remains the same in his personality. It’s not something that’s easy to do but Max handles it with aplomb. Also I gotta give some kudos here as his partner in the now is Boyd and he’s an openly gay man and this is set in the 1970’s where acceptance wasn’t normal and neither is the idea of a gay contract killer. So the dynamic we see here is both interesting, respectful and well done with characterisation.

     I’m a big of Szymon’s as well and he has a very seasoned eye for storytelling using the page layouts through their angles and perspective. Here while he makes it look comic book than normal perhaps it’s still this attention to detail that I love seeing from him. The utilisation of backgrounds is superb and it’s the little details here that make things stand out and garner your attention. Boyd’s porn stache for instance is one of those you kind of giggle and think well that was the rage then. Then seeing the ‘Nam sections with the uniforms, guns and jungle it’s just really impressive the way he’s able to do it all so smoothly and deftly.

     So I find it highly interesting to see how the target that Quarry and Boyd have is under scrutiny from them. The background information they’ve got and seeing them plan where and when to take out said target. The guys have different roles but work well together and it’s Quarry who is the shooter while Boyd is the set-up guy, gathers intelligence and viable scenarios for taking him out. How they play off each other and what’s revealed amazes me in the way that it’s never a normal family there’s always some creepy ass shit happening with them. Even though they aren’t the target his children are off the charts disturbed.

     So we have the then and now which is serving multiple purposes and we have this characterisation that’s top notch and all of it is structured so very well. The ebb & flow is exceptional work and it gets us interested, invested and intrigued to see where this is going. Overall it’s a reading comic, you have to read it and I mean really read it to get the maximum effect glossing over just won’t cut it.

     Another stellar adaptation from Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics of something Max created in novel form to begin with.

Kino #1
Lion Forge Comics 2017
Written by Joe Casey
Illustrated by Jefte Palo
Coloured by Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by Todd Klein


     Major Alistair Meath of Britain's Royal Air Force sacrificed his life to save Earth from an approaching asteroid on the night of "The Event." Seven months later, Meath has resurfaced as the colorful, kinetic energy-powered superhero KINO, but something is very wrong with the world. Britain's MI6 is on the hunt for Meath, and the terrible secret behind his return is revealed in this mind-bending thriller within the Catalyst Prime Universe.

     So with each new book that comes out in the Catalyst Prime Universe we start to see more and more crossover as the world expands. Okay we’ve seen Lorena, Payan before and we know she’s a hardass and not one to be trifled with but here in this light it’s even more apparent that she’s a woman with secrets, ambition and a ruthless streak that makes her both unparalleled in her field and something akin to a super-villain. That we can’t really tell the difference between what she wants and what she’s willing to do to get it and what she’ll do with it when she has it well it is the kind of characterisation that makes for some interesting reading.

     Then there’s Agent Gilmore and his introduction. I liked this and thought he was more of a pushover then he appeared. While I thought this was more of a feel you out kind of thing I gotta hand it to Joe for making it that and so much more. With each new book of his that I read I’m becoming more and more impressed with his ability to tell a story. How he’s able to structure a book and create that ebb & flow that not only takes you on a journey but creates it as well so it’s a more complete than you realise.

     There’s also a moment when a different kind of super-villain origin story emerges and it’s done in the most peculiar of ways. I have to say that this while at first was something I didn’t understand they why of it became apparent quickly enough. It really is a most interesting way to go about that too and I love the unabashed way it feels.

     Jefte has an interesting style of work here. I feel like I’ve seen if before in some indie publisher stuff of 80’s but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s just a familiarity or something my mind has made I don’t know but regardless I feel it and that might have a bit of warmth towards it. Or it’s because he was also prolific at Marvel but then I don’t read that much Marvel so. Any way you slice it he’s got a good eye for storytelling as he constructs the page layouts using angles and perspective are nice to see. Backgrounds are tricky and while we see them used well we don’t really see them used enough.

     There are a number of angles at play here story wise and I look forward to seeing how Joe is going to keep this going separately while also merging their parts to make a larger picture. If anyone can do that successfully it’s got to be Joe so far he’s proven through a myriad of books that he’s more than able. it’s very ambitious to build a new superhero universe from the ground up and I’m very much impressed with what is being presented. Yes not each title will be for everyone but the sheer diversity of what is going on here means you’re bound to find something to like, love and want to see more of.

Maxwell’s Demons #1
Vault Comics 2017
Written by Deniz Camp
Illustrated by Vittorio Astone
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar


     Maxwell Maas may be the greatest mind the world has ever known, but at 10-years-old he has a lot to learn. Adventuring to distant worlds through his makeshift multiversal closet door, Max will encounter greatness and menace on a cosmic scale. Fans of Gaiman's Sandman will feel at home in the expansive, daring universe of Maxwell's Demons.

     Oh my goodness this what not what I was expecting at all! I love being surprised and the fact that Deniz is able to take a 10-year-old genius and make him relatable, likeable and overall deliver a stellar story that’s just as much about coming of age and finding yourself as it is about the misadventures of a boy living in his own world, feeling every bit the outcast and embracing that. At first glance yes you’ll see Maxwell’s best friends are his stuffed animals that he brings to life through his imagination but don’t let that fool you this is as far from a kids tale as you can get while still maintaining some form of innocence.

     I found myself drawn to Maxwell because in his own way it seemed eerily similar to my own childhood. Though where he has the wherewithal to understand and implement scientific theories I secluded myself away and focused on reading and drawing, all thanks to comics. More comfortable alone with my imagination than with people my own age, childhood bullies can be absolutely brutal when you don’t fit into society’s norm, I immediately felt a connection to him. While many will have a similar experience and the love of daydreaming or overactive imaginations are going to be strong denominator's in how it’s seen and felt.

     Also Deniz does something completely unexpected in another way as well. After we see the story with Maxwell play out we see a short focusing on his father. This is huge because what we see of their relationship from Maxwell’s point of view isn’t very flattering to put it nicely. However with that back-up we get a look at his dad and it will forever change how you view him even when he’s being a brutish man. The characterisation here is flawlessly done and the fact that we can get this level of it so we are well underway to thinking of them as people and not characters is thrilling to me.

     Vittorio does some outstanding work on the interiors here. His eye for storytelling is fantastic and the way he identifies and uses light sources are well thought out and executed. The use of page layouts with their angles and perspective are very nice to see and that he uses backgrounds here to flesh out the panels and scenes is exciting to see. Plus there’s his own imagination and creativity in bringing things to life that combines the child and adult points of view and that got me.

     The story while taking me surprise also opens up a plethora of avenues for the guys take the further adventures. From what we see in the periphery that’s carried on into the back-up to Maxwell’s own realisations and what we see him do here all conspire to leave you feeling there’s so much more to explore. It has that whole refreshing feeling that there’s something brand spanking new happening in science-fiction and that alone is worthy of attention.

     The way the story is structured as we follow the ebb & flow of Maxwell’s life is extremely well done. From action to pure storytelling using characterisation and circumstances show how well conceived and executed this is. Vault is home to some spectacular and exciting new voices and they are ones you need to know!

The Librarians #2
Dynamite Entertainment 2017
Written by Will Pfeifer
Illustrated by Rodney Buchemi
Coloured by Weslei Manuel
Lettered by Troy Peteri


     As the Librarians burst into the penthouse apartment of murdered movie maker Solomon Schick, they discover the startling secret behind his violent "death." What's more, they discover the truth behind "Quarry: Bigfoot," "Heavenly Visitors from the Hell Above" and other Schick Classics might be more complex that they ever suspected.

     Okay last issue was definitely an attention grabber that’s for sure. I have to admit that after this issue I may think this just as fun if not more so than the television show. Why well they have a budget to keep in mind and special effects cost money so they are somewhat limited in what they can pull off. Whereas here the only thing stopping you from telling a story is your imagination or lack thereof. So yeah while the original source material is great this this has the potential to be even greater and that’s because there’s pretty much no limits.

     I like Will and the work he’s capable of producing, the stuff over at DC has been incredibly solid. So now that he’s here and working on this I have to say wow the way he is able to get inside the characterisation of the cast is exceptionally well done. The dialogue, the attitudes and the general presence of each character feels right to me and that’s awesome. Even more so since the show isn’t even over and is being produced for television. Plus there’s the introduction of the series antagonist who he gets to create from the ground up and again what skill there is in that.

     The way this story is being structured is phenomenal. We get to see action, intrigue, story and plot development unfold for us in ways that honestly I doubt a soul alive other than Will would’ve been able to predict. Even then the story has that organic feel to it like it’s just being told by Will as the characters wish it to be. There is some absolutely craziness going on here and I love that the word play is being used as such that there’s an intelligent madness to the proceedings that sucks you in, makes you pay attention and most importantly makes you think! This isn’t something you can skim you really have to read it as the ideas that are presented need your concentration to follow the path they are taking. Makes me shiver to think just how gosh darn good this is.

     O trabalho de Rodney é excepcional como sua atenção aos detalhes nos mostra. Or Rodney’s work is exceptional and the attention to detail he brings this is simply stunning to me. While he’s done work around the industry for me this is where he is going to make a name for himself. This work is wow and if you don’t believe it go to the shoppe and look at it, it’s beautiful stuff. His eye for storytelling through the use of angles and perspective is solid as can be. Okay so backgrounds, when we don’t see them they are noticeably absent considering how well they are utilised when we see them. So that page with the city behind him and the moon in the night sky, C' um caraças, que belo trabalho!

     I want to talk about this story and what we see and learn but honestly I can’t everything that I would be able to say would kind of be spoiler alert stuff. This is something that has to be read and discovered by the reader. I can tell you how it makes me feel, how the work speaks for itself and that I highly recommend that you read it till my face turns a smurfy blue. However it’s up to you to actually give this a try.

     Smart, sassy, intelligent and full everything that makes comics worth reading it’s all right here.

Animosity Evolution #2
Aftershock Comics 2017
Created & Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Eric Gapstur
Coloured by Rob Schwager
Lettered by Marshall Dillon


     Different cities, different creatures, different reasons for doing what they do that is a normal society. The only difference here is that the new city building is being done by the animals. This is Wintermute’s city and make no mistake this isn’t the land of the free or home of the brave. This is a new reality where new rules are in place. If you don’t work you don’t eat, and even then the rations are enough to really feed anyone. There is dissent ion among the refugee’s and the city is growing way too fast for the resources available.

     This issue focuses on a set of sisters that came to the city and one of whom works for Dr. David. The girls set off fireworks or ammunition of sorts to garner attention to themselves. I have to say it’s nice to see Gwen leading the refugee’s with Penelope and Mya. We also for the first time see the process they go through to even get into the city. Honestly I wasn’t prepared for expecting to see what they go through and the fact that Marguerite can continue to surprise me with the way life is unfolding here is magnificent.

     I love that we focus on the sisters who named themselves after Roman Empresses. The sisters are Kangaroo Rat’s just in case anyone is wondering. I think that focusing on different species that we’ve met even peripherally and showcasing them and their importance and acceptance in the grand scheme of things is such a great way to do things. If this is going to be the theme of this series I’m all for it or even if this is going to be something that happens here and there then I’m okay with that too.

     Eric has a great eye for storytelling here as well. The way he can bring these animals to life is extremely nice to see. It’s important at least to me that they do come across as accurate and believable otherwise it’s just another morphing of species and that isn’t what this is all about. The way page layouts are utilised through their angles and perspective are well done and help the ebb & flow of the story. Oh backgrounds, backgrounds, backgrounds I'm torn here between how the used and how they aren’t. Simplistic yet impactful I guess you could say though really the attention to detail in them is what brings things to life in my eyes.

     I have to say that I loved the structure of the story here. The way it flowed and the way that we saw things unfold all of it had this very natural feel to it. Following the girls around from the start and how tight a family unit they are is amazing. As we see the girls get assigned work and get those feelings of importance we see their characterisation develop. So by the end of the issue what we see happen is something that not only they but we needed to see. There is this whole dynamic that is forged here that is impossible to describe and yet easy to point out and that’s what makes Marguerite and her writing so special.

     As the world continues to grow and expand it’s stories like these that help find the good and positive in what has happened instead of focusing on the wars that ensued. Don’t get it wrong there is war coming to this city as well only it’s going to be fought on multiple fronts. Still this is a different perspective on what is going on in this world and that makes it a unique and exciting compliment to the main series.

Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil #2
Dark Horse Comics 2017
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated & Lettered by David Rubin
Flats by Kike J. Diaz


     Global Planet reporter Lucy Weber is determined to find out what happened to her father: The Black Hammer! All answers seem to lie in Spiral City’s infamous asylum, where it’s most dangerous super-villains reside. As she searches for the truth, Lucy uncovers the dark origins of Black Hammer’s greatest foes….Could they be connected to the mysterious disappearance of Spiral City’s greatest heroes?

     So we open up with the origin of one Cthu-Lou! I gotta tell ya aside from old days version of underground comix art this was a pure hoot! From the old lady who’s sink needs fixin to the not so yappy little dog to how Lou Kaminski was transormed the opening was one of those off the wall kind of are you serious? Kind of moments that really stands out, not just because it’s kind of ridiculous but because its so gosh darn entertaining.

     Shoot forward however many years later it is and Lucy is coming to pay a visit. Once again we get to see Lou’s wie as bossy as ever letting Lucy in. She’s right one that Elaine Kmaniski and there’s absolutely no getting around that and I don’t mean that nicely. I have to say Jeff’s dialogue in this issue cannot be beat. The nuances of what’s being said, what to pick up on and letting it all wash over you is why this and Black Hammer are just so good.

     The way that this book is structured is extremely well done, but then Jeff knows his stuff so that’s not really a surprise. Lucy’s journey is taking us through all this and really where she goes we go right? That’s a natural ebb & flow as by focusing on her we see what she sees and know what she knows so all these revelations and twists that she encounters we see those for the first so it’s a great tactic to use here. I have to tell you the whole interview this issue was full of moments that surprised me and I enjoyed that immensely.

     David’s work here leaves me baffled it looks so amateurish and then there moments like seeing Cthu-Lou sitting at a table and your just have to say wow. Or even Louise who is a marvel. But normal folks not so much as the faces just are all over the place and quite hit normal in they they are structured. I want people to look like people and not some underground comix book style from the 1980’s. The kind of care put into Lou or Sherlock and his Legion I wish we saw in Lucy. She looks like one of those surrealist paintings where every time you see here she’s a different person with the same ball of hair on the back of her head. For me personally I don’t appreciate the kind of work he does it’s not something I enjoy.

     So having learned of another clue to follow Lucy decides to head back to the Hall of Hammer to regroup and figure out her next move. I think have of the interesting parts don’t come during her interviews which so have been illuminating for sure but seeing the items in the Hall, trophies, old costumes and her notes and such those little touches give the story a bit more life and explain more about why she’s doing this. That background stuff that is being used so well and fuelling her desire to find her father that is an emotional hook that readers can get behind rather easily. It makes Lucy seem so real and makes us all wonder at what point does she become a superhero herself?

     The way this issue closes out is right on track with what we would hope it would be. Jeff doesn’t disappoint us here at all. I’m in for the long haul basically because the writing is that good, interesting and has that depth of character that keeps you wanting to be involved.