REVIEW: Star Wars #1

(Marvel Comics, 2015)

Writer- Jason Aaron
Art- John Cassaday
Colors- Laura Martin

From the very second you open this book it feels like Star Wars and not just a Star Wars comic book, I mean Star Wars! From those now immortal words that have opened every one of the films and have since been etched into our brains as if by the laser sharp edge of a light saber, so begins this first issue, “A long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away…” Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Men of Wrath’ #2

(Icon/Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Ron Garney
Color Artwork by Matt Milla
Lettering by Jared K. Fletcher

Jason Aaron has never been one to shy away from violent subject matter and he certainly brings the brutality with his new series Men of Wrath from Marvels Icon imprint. Just two issues into the narrative and already this series rivals Aaron’s Image title Southern Bastards for family dysfunction and downright nastiness. Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Thor’ #1 (2014)

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Russel Dauterman
Color Artwork by Matthew Wilson
Lettering by Joe Sabino

Marvel has some major changes in store for us as we approach the end of 2014; Sam Wilson taking over the mantle of Captain America from Steve Rogers, Tony Stark moving from the Invincible east coast to the Superior west coast in a bid to become the Steve Jobs of the 616, Wolverine’s death and the one that has the internet buzzing Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Thor’ #25

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Esad Ribic, R.M. Guera, Simon Bisley

Although technically the final issue of this glorious run, issue #25 is more of a bookend bridging one amazing chapter in the epic saga of Thor’s life to another intriguing and increasingly tantalizing chapter full of exciting potential. Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Original Sin’ #6

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Mike Deodato
Color Artwork by Frank Martin, Jr.

Jason Aaron follows the Nick Fury-centric, flash-back filled hiatus of issue #5 with a return to the events of the present as well as seamlessly picking up the previous tempo and dropping us back into the action at a dead run. Last issue Aaron and Deodato turned their substantial Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Original Sin’ #5

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Mike Deodato
Color Artwork by Frank Martin Jr.

Jason Aaron steps on the brakes slowing the brisk pace of his revelation filled narrative to just above a crawl in this current issue that trades dynamic character interaction and up-tempo timing for meticulously detailed exposition and historic flashbacks; all in the cause of more fully examining the character of Nicholas J. Fury. Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Nailbiter’ #3 / ‘Southern Bastards’ #3

(Image Comics, 2014)

Nailbiter #3
Story by Joshua Williamson
Artwork by Mike Henderson
Color Artwork by Adam Guzowski
Letters & Design by John J. Hill

Southern Bastards #3
Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Jason Latour
Letters by Jared K. Fletcher

It’s crazy to see so many good comics on the market, and extraordinarily frustrating, coming from the point of view of a reader.  You find a story that connects and want to stick with it.  Often those stories come from different companies with different release dates and that means a second trip to the shop and untold amounts of dollar books to sift through while you wait your turn…it all ends up costing you money.  (Gladly of course, that’s part of the thrill.) Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Original Sin’ #4

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Mike Deodato, Jr.
Color Artwork by Frank Martin, Jr.
Lettering by Chris Eliopoulos

It seems we have only just collectively recovered from the shock of last issue’s concluding revelation involving Winter Soldier and Nick Fury(?) only to have Jason Aaron blow our minds once more with yet another pulse pounding final page bombshell. We are about midway into Aaron’s complex and compelling murder mystery Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Original Sin’ #1

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Jason Aaron
Artwork by Mike Deodato Jr.
Color Artwork by Frank Martin Jr.
Lettering by Chris Eliopoulos

Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato aren’t messing around; they have hit the ground running in combat boots with the first issue of Original Sin. Mark Waid did a tremendous job of setting the stage with issue #0; not only by constructing a solid foundation for the entire event but Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Original Sin’ #0

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Mark Waid
Pencils by Jim Cheung & Paco Medina
Inks by Mark Morales w/ Guillermo Ortego, Dave Meikis,
Juan Vlasco & Jim Cheung
Color Artwork by Justin Ponsor

Uatu, aka The Watcher, has been used by many writers in many and varied ways, usually as a plot device to add gravity to an event in the Marvel Universe. The tone set by the appearance of The Watcher greatly depends on the writer; for instance, Matt Fraction employed a rather large dose of Continue reading

REVIEW: ‘Punisher’ #1

(Marvel Comics, 2014)

Written by Nathan Edmondson
Artwork by Mitch Gerads
Lettering by VC’s Cory Petit

Frank Castle has returned from many things that would keep lesser men dead; he’s been shot, stabbed, bombed, taken more shrapnel than most platoons, he’s been cut apart and put back together as “Frankencastle”.  He’s donned Captain America’s patriotic colors and he has even killed Continue reading

Bag and Bored’s ‘Best of 2013’: CORY THRALL

BEST OF 2013
with Cory Thrall

When I started this crazy thing called Bag & Bored I was looking for something to kill some time and have some fun with.  Nothing big, no readership - just silly meanderings on whatever comics I had read that week.  Consider my surprise that here we are over a year later and with quite a cast of reviewers and writers on our team.  One of the major pay-offs with this site has been Continue reading

REVIEW: “Amazing X-Men” #2

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

Written by Jason Aaron
Pencils by Ed McGuinness
Inks by Dexter Vines
Color Artwork by Marte Gracia

Jason Aaron is one of the few writers who could take on a story so inherently fraught with potential theological complications and esoteric mumbo-jumbo and turn it into one of the most fun-filled and exciting high adventure X-Men stories to be written in quite some time. Continue reading

REVIEW: “Amazing X-Men” #1

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

Written by: Jason Aaron
Pencils by: Ed McGuiness
Inks by: Dexter Vines
Color Art by: Marte Gracia

When I initially heard of Amazing X-Men my first thought was, can I afford another monthly X-Book at $3.99? Then I found out that Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness were at the helm and my question became, can I afford not to get this book? After reading the first issue any lingering doubts I may have had have been unequivocally put to rest. Continue reading