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READING WITH A FLIGHT RING

Briggs Land #5

12/27/2016

Briggs Land #5
Dark Horse Comics 2016
Written by Brian Wood
Illustrated by Mack Chater
Coloured by Lee Loughridge
Lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot

   Outside muscle is brought in to secure a business deal and rapidly spirals out of
control. Word has spread through the secessionist community that the Briggs family is weak,
and Grace needs to act quickly and decisively or lose everything.

   This is not only a great look at secessionists and how they feel and live their lives but it’s a great look at characters and characterisation. Brian does this absolute magnificent job here with Grace being the new head of the family and her son Caleb who believes himself to be this Alpha Male and yet doesn’t possess the intelligence or skill to be more than a common thug. The difference between couldn’t be any clearer here and how that is portrayed through the storytelling is an amazing bit of work.

   Caleb is one of those characters that you just want to hate with every fiber of your being but can’t. He thinks he’s better than he is, smarter than he is and much more capable of doing things his way but he isn’t. We’ve seen him try to buy the Hardware Store and fail miserably in doing so and needing to be bailed out by his mother. Though he refuses to see how he’s done it the wrong way he’s still listening to his mother which honestly surprises the heck out of me. He’s such an idiot and so confident in himself you actually kind of feel sorry for this sick piece of you know what.

   The biggest threat to Grace running Briggs Land doesn’t actually come from her incarcerated husband no it comes from her eldest son. His actions make her look weak as if she cannot control her own children let alone a group. It’s because of this latest muck up that she has to scramble harder and faster in her thinking only strengthens my feelings for her. She’s a remarkable woman and regardless of what they are caught up in she does what she has to for herself and her children and all their futures.

   I’m such a fan of the work Mack does on the interiors here. The attention to detail is astonishing and the use of the page layouts with their angles, perspective and those incredible backgrounds really give us so much emotion. Mack uses the landscape to give us as much characterisation as he does using the characters themselves and it’s just some of the most sublime work.

   I cannot get over that Brian is able to just bring us a story about human drama filled to brink with this battle of the sexes and pure unadulterated hatred as it’s centerpiece. That we both love and despise the characters but can somehow still relate to them is one of those mysteries that cannot be explained. This is the power that a writer like Brian can bring to audiences. Gripping, powerful and riveting in ways that will leave you in awe this is going to be THE series of 2017!

Joyride #8

12/27/2016

Joyride #8
Boom! Studios 2016
Written by Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly
Illustrated by Marcus To
Coloured by Irma Kniivila
Lettered by Jim Campbell

   Someone hijacks the ship and takes the team to an unknown section of space, where they come face-to-face with the powerful aliens that humanity encountered when they first left Earth...and the reason the SafeSky was built.

   Ironic that i’m reading this on the day Carrie Fisher passes away as in its own way this book very much as that Star Wars feel to it with the characters and their time spent in space exploring the universe and discovering who they are amid so much turmoil. While I’d like to say that’s why I got emotional reading this it really is a testament to Jackson and Collin’s storytelling. The way they are fleshing out these kids and showing us their bonds of friendship and coming into their own as adults well it’s just extremely powerful stuff.

   We can understand Kolstak’s desire for vengeance against those that destroyed his world and his family. His friendship with Catrin however also shows us how he’s got within him the capacity for overcoming it whether or not he wants to see that. That the creatures that did this to him and his people would be the same ones that Humans encountered so long ago that they decided to try and hide themselves away from the galaxy is well played. That connection which binds them in ways they never really realised only makes the writing of this that much stronger.

   I still have this weird affinity for Dewydd and his unrequited love for Uma. Though I have to say that the more Uma embraces who she is and her role as Captain the more I can see what he sees in her. That she loves Catrin shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone but hey we kinda figured that out from her friendship and keeping Dewydd at a distance the way she has. That she’s willing to do what she does here for the sake of her friends well it’s the most revealing aspect of her character that could ever be displayed.

   Marcus and Irma’s work on the interiors here are superbly done. The use of colours when it comes to the Supervoid or the creature in the ship it’s just so eerily stunning. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and the backgrounds here are so well utilised. The faces, facial expressions and body language reveal as much about them as the words do.

   This story is so amazingly well told. From its conception to its execution this series has managed to capture the imagination, mind and heart of it’s readers. There’s so much going on here that continually reaffirms why I think this may be among the best new series of 2016 and why it went from a limited series to an ongoing series. The exploration of not only a new reality but of themselves for these kids is so relatable to.

   This is one of the most amazing series you’ll read.

Animosity #4

12/27/2016

Animosity #4
Aftershock Comics 2016
Created & Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Rafael De Latorre
Coloured by Rob Schwager
Lettered by Marshall Dillon

   At first I thought these opening flashbacks were just a great way to see how Jesse and Sandor became to be as close as they are. Now with what Marguerite does with this issue i’m beginning to wonder if there’s more meaning behind them. Yes we see how Sandor bonds with Jesse and his feelings for her stem from this place but then what of her parents?

   I have to say this as well when we get to where Mimico is telling his army to kill the humans I surely hadn’t expected anything to play out like it had. I love Marguerite and that she’s able to tell us stories like this. Her mind has some weird wiring going on and i’m totally thankful for that because this is much more interesting than I thought it would be. I love that Pearl is back and looking the worse for ware but that the army isn’t following his orders well that’s something that should have been expected but wasn’t.

   I do like that regardless of whether they are human or animal it seems that leaders are leaders and seem to be prone to having some sort of complex that leads to dissent or revolt among their “people.”   As the truth of the matter comes to hand we suddenly see that perhaps it isn’t intelligence that sets us all apart it’s what we do with it that does. I mean packs have a hierarchy that is strictly adhered to and yes there are challenges to rule but it has more of a one on one effect instead of the way humans rule. So instinct or intellect which one is more to blame for how we run society?

   Rafael has won my heart over with the work he’s been doing here. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and some backgrounds he visually enhances the story in such a great way. The look and feel of the characters is marvelous, that Koala for instance yeah i’m all about him and those earrings. Actually that he can infuse so much emotion into these animals to make them seem and feel more human while retaining their animal nature well it’s a stellar feat he should be most proud of.

   The way this story progresses is amazing to me. I love the questions asked that give me as a reader pause. I mean c’mon we’ve been thinking of it but haven’t voiced it yet but seriously when will we learn exactly what happened to Jesse’s parents? How they Sandor and Jesse get away from the madness that is going on around them well that’s wonderfully done.   I had thought they’d made friends here and perhaps they’ve got a few long lasting connections perhaps not time will tell. The mix of humans and animals here have such a weird dichotomy that you just never know what is going to happen.

   With the Armies having squared off and Sandor and Jesse knowing they belong to neither tribe as it were means they have to go on the move again. So where they will go and what further adventures await remain to be seen but with this kind of writing, characterisation and exploration i’m on board for where Marguerite is going to take us.

Aliens Life and Death #4

12/26/2016

Aliens LIfe and Death #4 (of 4)
Dark Horse Comics 2016
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Moritat
Coloured by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Michael Heisler

On LV-223, Captain Paget’s team of Colonial Marines attempt to rescue a woman, Chris, from the Alien hive, only to be set upon by the Alien horde, intent on preventing her rescue. Inside the hive, Chris witnesses the stillbirth of a deformed chestburster erupting from a fellow captive and realizes that she may carry the last viable Alien queen embryo.
Empowered, she uses the threat of her own death as leverage against the queen to pull the Alien horde away from Paget and her troops. But the reprieve from the xenomorphs reveals another threat—an Engineer, determined to wipe the humans from the face of the planet!

Ah ya know what this ongoing series of mini-series that tie-into each other and continue to tell the tale of these characters just keeps getting better and better. Chris in the Hive with the Queen as her wife and teammates come to her rescue have to face the wrath of an Engineer. There’s no such thing as easy in this franchise and Dan has this uncanny ability to keep finding ways to add new characters, increase the tension of existing ones and thrill audiences with this never ending action.

With the crew on the Hasdrubal adding an extra element of drama to what’s happening on the planet’s surface things are getting a lot more interesting. I love the added duplicity and subterfuge going on up there with the Marines and Company man. I mean we all know where certain loyalties lie and he’s really not doing much to hide his intentions. Plus he’s been promised a viable live sample should they get Chris back to Earth and save her life before the embryo bursts free.

I am a huge fan of Moritat and his work. The way he uses the page layouts through angles, perspective and backgrounds to bring the action to us is amazingly well done. The sheer amount of violence he can bring to the page without going into excessive gore is impressive as well. Plus just the way he renders this world and the xenomorphs really not only excite the imagination but instill the awe and danger they represent.

The characterisation here continues to make me feel for these characters. Paget and her team have the best and worst luck possible and the more we see the more I don’t want them to die and that’s half the fun here. We all know the life span of characters in these situations and that so many of them have survived this long is miracle enough. Dan though found a way to get us invested in these characters and to feel their loss when they die and that we keep coming back for that kind of punishment is a testament to his skill.

With everything this franchise is about and embodies within these pages it’s no wonder that we keep coming back time and again.

Nights Dominion #4

12/26/2016

Nights Dominion #4
Oni Press 2016
By Ted Naifeh
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar

   Emerane’s sole purpose for joining the others on their fool’s quest was to get enough money to buy her brother, Claude, out of debtor’s prison. Claude’s been there since he was nine years old, because every year the price to buy him out doubles. Though the heist turned out to be a bust, Emerane temporarily joined forces with The Furie and was rewarded handsomely for her efforts—handsomely enough to finally buy her brother back. But Claude is no longer at the debtor’s prison, and those who run it can’t tell her where he went or why he left. Meanwhile, Umber’s parliament has come under attack from none other than the cult of Uhlume itself!

   With the group having gone their own way it seems nothing is as they left them. Emerane’s brother wasn’t in prison and the Magus found his home up in flames and being hunted. I like the way that Ted is weaving this tale so that as we see what the characters have to face after their initial adventure we see how they’ve become inextricably linked. Sometimes it can feel a bit forced or trite but we see them all having such difficulties in their everyday lives and it all seems to go back to that adventure and what they’ve learned so bringing them all back together feels not only natural but right.

   So we knew we’d be seeing the bard again, after all he really did bring this group together and set them up to take a fall so he could do his thing, I just thought it would be under different circumstances. Still his characterisation remains as ambiguous as his intentions and while I really want to dislike him he’s super intriguing. He’s kind of like Fizban in that he’s maddeningly oblique and yet terribly essential and mysterious.

   Ted’s work on the interiors is wonderfully done. The way he utilises the page layouts through angles and perspective really captures the moments the right way. I mean that he’s so talented he’s writing and drawing this it’s no wonder that everything we see is exactly what’s intended. There’s also some great use of ambiguity to the work that leaves things open to reader interpretation that’s extremely well done as it engages the reader more fully.

   So now that the next arc is underway and our mysterious Bard is back and once again acting like the group’s leader promising the people things he may not really be able to deliver or can he? With the Cult of Uhlume on the move the citizens and our intrepid heroes are going to have pull a rabbit out their collective hat to get this one taken care of. Still this really is one of the best stories from a structure and execution standpoint that i’m reading right now.

   With nonstop characterisation and action this series continues to thrill readers and sets a new standard in comics you could role play!

Faith Fallon #3

12/26/2016

Faith Fallon #3
Insane Comics 2016
By Steven Pennella

   Alright so this issue get further into the relationship between Dahlia and Faith and I have to say suddenly I understand a lot more why Faith was attracted to her. Also the Steven delves into the life of Faith Fallon and what she was willing to do to rise to fame well it really does smack of one of those television specials where they do that in-depth expose of a star and hold absolutely nothing back.

   I have been enjoying the structure of this story from day one and Steven continues to keep this as riveting as possible. I mean yes there’s a character called the Master who has this whole supernatural or cult leader kind of thing going on which makes this that much more interesting. But it’s really kind of secondary to the fact that Faith is willing to do whatever it takes to become famous that’s really surprisingly captivating.

   There’s this way that Steven tells this story that is more than a little enthralling. The way he’s able to portray the characters whether they are stationary or fluid in appearance they seem to grace the page with a power and captivation you just don’t normally see. From unknown secrets why the Master doesn’t want Faith to be a big star and offers up Dahlia instead to actually seeing why Hyman is so reluctant to let his little sister go off on her own there’s this sense of something so much larger coming from the page.

   The interiors are stunning works to be it mildly and from the Masters Jesus look to Dahlia’s secret every image put onto these pages is amazing to see. The use of page layouts through the use of angles, perspective and those incredibly detailed backgrounds what Steven is capable of here is astonishing. You can almost feel the stubble of chin hair, or the body hair we see rippling under skin and muscle. The near realism of the bodies we see it really strikes a chord.

   In order for Faith to get what she wants she has to get Dahlia out of the way and things happen here that are as shocking as they could possibly be. Almost as much as what Faith is willing to do in all honesty. I love that there’s so much duplicity and deception among these characters. Tinseltown has long been a place where people go to realise their dreams and more often than not are spit up and chewed out and this story takes that prospect to new heights.

   This is definitely not your run of the mill story of rags to riches and it is not for the feint of heart. It’s a completely Mature Readers title full of sex, lies and murder whose route is unlike any other you’ve ever seen. With twists, turns and surprises at every turn this is a story that will grab a hold you in it’s spell and leave you breathless wanting more when the issue ends.

   A spectacularly told story of a woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her dream regardless of what that entails.

   Insane Comics is home to some of the most unusual, innovative and captivating stories you won’t find anywhere else.

4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #3

12/26/2016

4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #3
Black Mask Studios 2016
Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Illustrated & Designed by Tyler Boss
Flatting by Clare Dezutti
Lettered by Thomas Mauer

   Well the kids have figured out Paige’s dad’s secret and his connection to these bank robbers, or at least they think they have. Paige has been up and down about her father’s involvement with these guys and has enlisted the aid of her friends to figure out what’s really going on. In the process they burnt the house down the guys were staying in.   So what’s going to happen next is anyone’s guess!

   I have to admit this is one of those off the wall exceedingly wonderful series that as you read you begin to get more and more excited about. The characterisation here is superb and as the story goes forward you begin to love the kids more and more as they keep coming up with new ways to help Paige. It’s not even the fact that they come up with these outlandish ideas to do what they are doing it’s the fact that it’s totally believable that they’d come up with these ideas and actually try to do them.

   The way that Matthew structures the story it’s magnificent to see how his mind has orchestrated how all these things play out. I think we underestimate kids not only from a standpoint from what they know but what they are capable of. This group of friends has a very diverse set of skills and talents and together they do seem to make one of the most unique group of friends. I mean c’mon we see something concocted here that is supposed to be one thing but turns into another and that slip up turns into something positive.

   Paige’s own crusade to help her father any way possible has set the kids on a path that most wouldn’t dream of going down. That however is more than half the fun because it not only shows off who the kids are at their core but the depth of their friendship and the love of a daughter for her father. It doesn’t get much more altruistic than that when your friends agree to help you do something from a place of care and love.

   I love the interiors here too. They have that all-ages quality to them that enhances the kids innocence but there’s this really nice attention to detail in them as well. The personal characteristics that the kids possess which make them identifiable are wonderfully done. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of backgrounds are utilised incredibly well. The work really enhances the words to show off the silliness and the seriousness of what these kids are attempting

   That Matthew is also able to utilise Paige’s father’s old friends and make them a big a part of this story as they’ve become is wonderful. That Matthew is pitting these adults against these kids in such a way it becomes this whole wonderful us versus them going on that makes you root for the kids. The writing, characterisation and storytelling here is superbly done so that this is one of those stories you don’t want to turn away from.

Warhammer 40,000 Will of Iron #3

12/26/2016

Warhammer 40,000 Will of Iron #3 (of 4)
Titan Comics 2016
Written by George Mann
Illustrated by Tazio Betin
Coloured by Enrica Eren Angiolini
Lettered by Rob Steen

   The Calaphrax Cluster: cut off from the universe by a warp storm for ten thousand years, now suddenly accessible again. Sent by Lord Azrael to cleanse the region, Baltus and his fellow Dark Angels Space Marines made planetfall on Exyrion, where they tracked a mysterious signal to a cavernous hive – one infested by twisted warpspawn! On a diplomatic mission to Tintaroth, Altheous is trying to persuade its isolationist nobles to enter the war. Watching from orbit, the Iron Warriors, Space Marines consumed by Chaos, sent an asteroid slamming into Exyrion, cracking the underhive open! As the ground battle commences and the Iron Warriors chase down their prize, Baltus and his squad head deeper into the dark of Exyrion. And above them, Inquisitor Sabbathiel has discovered the remains of an ancient squad of Dark Angels..

   I’ve long said that Titan has this great way of turning franchises into comics that can appeal to a wider audience. While I’ve only known OF Warhammer, i’ve never played or been introduced to it, this series has so far been a wonderful introduction to it. I mean George obviously knows this franchise well, he’s written novels based on it, so that he’s making this so new reader friendly without feeling it’s a guide for dummies well that’s fantastic to me.

   He’s been giving us these great looks at each faction in play here while reinforcing their stance and how they feel about each other. All the while there’s been this huge story with side plots that just flow naturally. The way he’s structured the story and used the characters and their characterisation to further the plot has been spectacularly done. He’s made this for me a brand new world I want to get to know better and that is what a good, solid and talented writer does he gets you involved and invested so you want to know more.

   The interiors here are utterly marvelous as well. I love the mix of victorian attire and the giant mechanical suits the characters wear. There’s something wonderful about the mix visually that captures the imagination. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and the use of backgrounds really help tell a fuller story. Plus the creativity and imagination on display with new species or mutated people is really impressive as well.

   For me this a new universe to sink my teeth into and explore. Who better than George to really get our feet wet with the factions, what they represent and what they ultimately strive for? The characterisation is strong and you get a sense of who’s who but not necessarily who's right in their thinking so it’s an ever changing thought process of who benefits and which faction is the one we should be behind.

   This is an exciting new franchise in comics that is fraught with action/adventure and the unknown spoils of war. Jump on board for an interesting new series that has everything you could hope for.

Bloodshot U.S.A. #3

12/25/2016

Bloodshot U.S.A. #3
Valiant Entertainment 2016
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Doug Braithwaite
Coloured by Brian Reber
Lettered by Dave Lanphear

   Bloodshot discovered that P.R.S. had exhumed Kay McHenry’s body and turned the former Geomancer into Deathmate. With this knowledge, he teamed up with The Bloodshot Squad to defeat Deathmate and escape in a makeshift raft where they were rescued at sea by Ninjak. Ninjak explained to the Bloodshot Squad that a mysterious virus had infected much of NYC, turning innocent people into violent, mindless savages with red eyes and pale skin. Were the nanites to blame? As the Bloodshot arrived in NYC, they were able to use their abilities to drain the But that was before Deathmate arrived. As Ray and Deathmate come to blows, Ray attempts to drain the nanites from her body, resulting in a strange transformation...

   Dag nabbit Jeff right in the damn feels. I mean c’mon now this isn’t playing fair! The whole time Ray and Kay are together going through all this stuff there’s this tension you can feel i your bones. Maybe not unspoken or in denial but there’s a connection between these two and yes he’s got Magic right now, does she look a lot like Kay?, but if Kay is going to be back what does that mean?   Oh goodness I couldn’t get over the way these two were together, the characterisation, dialogue and the overall effect it has on me just wow.

   It’s not just Jeff with all this either it’s what Doug brings to the book as well. The attention to detail in the faces, facial expressions and body language that go along with how we see them this issue is impressive. The use of page layouts through angles, perspective and those backgrounds that are filled with so much detail really bring this to life beautifully.

   While Ray and Kay are going through their own thing Ninjak and the Bloodshot Squad are in Manhattan on the ground doing what they can. Festival comes to a realisation that she’s quite helpless in the machinations of Kozol. He really is holding all the cards and if she takes him out he wins and New York loses making him one of the scariest men aside from Harada in the Valiant Universe.

   The characterisation that Jeff delivers throughout this is utterly amazing to witness. From the “side” player who are fleshed out as effectively as they are to the whole thing that Ray and Kay go through really has made this franchise what it is today. From soulless killer with no direction, a puppet if you will, to a free man thinking and feeling and finding his way in the world able to rely upon others it’s humanised him in the best ways possible.

   With so much going on and one more issue in the arc left the aftermath of all this is going to be spectacular to see. One of the most impressive things i’m seeing here is that Bloodshot’s future is wide open and anything can and will happen where he’s concerned. While i’m still waiting for him to take his rightful place as one of the universe’s premiere heroes his ongoing journey of self-discovery is always a hgihlight for me.

Kiss #3

12/25/2016

Kiss #3
Dynamite Entertainment 2016
Written by Amy Chu
Illustrated by Kewber Baal
Coloured by Schimerys Baal
Lettered by Troy Peteri

   468 years after the Great War, the last remnants of humanity live comfortably underground in the metropolis of Blackwell. But four teens start questioning everything around
them, and search for the truth about their past. And what they are about to discover are secrets
that will rock their world…

   I think that the openings with their video representation to school children about how life and society works are wonderful ideas that are brilliantly executed. Even better is the fact that this whole thing feels like it could be happening for real when February rolls around. Propaganda films are such effective tool to keep an unsuspecting society at bay and I gotta admit it’s kind of brilliant to see it used like this.

   The kids have split up and are running for their lives after waking up Morpheus and getting attacked by the Protectors, who coincidentally are destroying the area Morpheus is in. The kids are on the verge of discovering the truth but what it will cost them? With potential relationships on the horizon and world shattering discoveries at hand Amy is really doing this great job with multiple angles of story development.

   Kewber does some equally amazing work on the interiors too. The attention to detail is exceptionally well done and the use of angles, perspective and backgrounds in the page layouts really capture the imagination. I’m still struck by the twins and their Archie Orange hair colour it really helps set them apart and make you believe there is something special about them and their potential destiny.

   I know this is a Kiss series and we’ve yet to really see the connection to them and what’s going on. However there have been clues and indications and I look forward to seeing what kind of legacy they’ve left for this future. Of course I also have this sneaky suspicion that this underground city is more and less than we’ve been led to believe.   Something is definitely not right about the way this city is run and how it’s citizens are herded like sheep. There’s that mystery, one the kids are on the verge of discovering, as well as Kiss’s connection to it all that really draws readers to keep coming back.

   There’s so much wonder and imagination on display here. This is far from your typical Kiss vehicle and that alone makes it more awesome. We may only be three issues in but as a reader i’m dying to know how the band is connected to this and to the kids and Morpheus. Any does this wonderful job crafting this story and leading us in the right direction while only supplying nuggets of information.

   Mysterious, adventurous and compelling this story will capture the mind and imagination and capture you in it’s web.