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REVIEW: “Peace Sign” #1

(Self Published, 2013)

Review by Jose Sagastume

WRITTEN BY:  Tom S. Johnson & Jane Shepard
ARTWORK BY:  Sarah Menzel
LETTERED BY:  Sarah Menzel
LAYOUT BY:  Tom S. Johnson & Sarah Menzel

In an ideal world the media that I consume would be as diverse as the world around me. There wouldn’t be a noticeable absence of strong female characters, people of color, or people with a different sexual orientation than mine. However, we don’t live in an ideal world and despite all the progress that the comic book industry has made there is still a strong absence of these characters. Peace Sign is a comic that aims to change that by giving us a roster made up primarily of gay characters. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Guardians of the Galaxy” #2

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITTEN BY:  Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS BY:  Steve McNiven & Sara Pichelli
INKS BY:  John Dell, Mark Morales, Steve McNiven & Sara Pichelli
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Justin Ponsor
LETTERING BY:  VC’s Cory Petit

In the skies above London, England the Guardians have engaged the Badoon in fierce battle. A squadron of Badoon ships surrounds and fire upon the lone Guardians spacecraft while they are busy on board tending to Tony Starks battle damaged armor. He cannot even contact the other Avengers because the entire region’s communication lines are down as well as his armor’s communication system. Continue reading

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REVIEW : “Deadpool Killustrated” #4

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITTEN BY:  Cullen Bunn
PENCILS BY:  Matteo Lolli
INKS BY:  Sean Parsons
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Veronica Gandini
LETTERS BY:  VC’s Joe Sabino

Shakespeare, Poe, Kafka, Deadpool. Something has gone horribly awry in the Ideaverse and Sherlock Holmes is on the case. Holmes and his trusted companion Dr. John Watson are on the heels of Deadpool as he leaves a trail of dead bodies consisting of some of literatures most important and innovative characters. Continue reading

VIDEO REVIEW: “Deadpool” #8

2ComicNerds-title-logo-2013--22ComicNerds have returned with a Video Review of “Deadpool” #8, and they also have the results of their ‘funniest superhero’ contest!  Not to mention a fun opening sketch.  Check it out and, as per the usual, check out their channel and other pages, all linked below!  Huge thanks once again to AJ and Lee at 2ComicNerds for allowing us to share these awesome reviews with you!  We hope you enjoy the video.

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REVIEW: “Team Stryker” Web Comic

(www.teamstrykercomic.com, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

SCRIPT & ARTWORK BY:  Andrew Grieve

“Team Stryker” is a full-blown action film straight from the 80’s, blasting its way into your brain with a tongue-in-cheek cast of characters, inventive and hilarious locations and villains, and just lots and lots of explosions and gunfire.  This webcomic, which also has its first issue available in print, is a crazy mixture of film references, quirky action, and insane characters - all from the minds of Andrew Grieve and the friends he credits as co-creators. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Noctua” #1

(Alterna Comics, 2013)

Review by Jose Sagastume

WRITTEN BY: Andrew M. Henderson
ARTWORK BY:  Orlando Baez
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Eagle Gosselin
LETTERING BY:  David Paul

In issue one of Noctua writer Andrew Henderson introduces to a universe where vampires, known as transhumans, co-exist with humans. Instead of running with a very supernatural setting the story takes place in the year 2051 after a virus has mutated 5% of Earth’s population into transhumans. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Savage Wolverine” #4

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITTEN BY:  Frank Cho
ARTWORK BY:  Frank Cho
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Jason Keith
LETTERING:  Cory Petit

Shanna The She-Devil lies mortally wounded upon a stretcher carried by two natives of the Savage Land. She is accompanied by a native priest and freelance science genius Amadeus Cho as they make their way across The Savage Land to an organic root formation that by all outward appearances is Man-Thing but it does not move it is rooted in place where it remains silent and still. Shanna is placed before the twisted monstrosity in a shallow grave while the priest performs a ritual incantation. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin” #1

(Dark Horse Comics, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

WRITTEN BY:  Tim Siedell
PENCILS BY:  Stephen Thompson
INKS BY:  Mark Irwin
COLORS BY:  Michael Atiyeh
LETTERS BY:  Michael Heisler

“Star Wars: Darth Vader & the Ninth Assassin” is one of those Star Wars titles that stand out to me.  One, it has Darth Vader (always helpful), and two - it deals with the post-Episode 3 through pre-Episode 4 part of the Star Wars timeline - an era that has captured my attention, especially in more recent times.  I really find the younger Vader a complex and interesting character, even when played down in this first issue - which, sadly, is one of my main gripes about this first issue. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Bloodshot” #10

(Valiant Entertainment, 2013)

Review by Jose Sagastume

WRITER:  Duane Swierczynski
PENCILS:  Barry Kitson
INKERS:  Stefano Gaudiano with Barry Kitson
COLOR ARTWORK:  Brian Reber
LETTERING:  Rob Steen

The current issue of Bloodshot picks up exactly where the last issue left off. Our hero has just freed the Psiot Children and is in the process of taking them to safety when a group of mercenaries attack him. This provides us with a really cool action sequence that not only continues to show us how deadly Bloodshot can be but also gives us a peak into the powers of some of the kids with him. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Batman” #19

(DC Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITER:  Scott Snyder
PENCILS:  Greg Capullo
INKER:  Danny Miki
COLOR ARTWORK: FCO Plascencia
LETTERING:  Comicraft

A madman holds Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department at bay. He exits the bank through the front door with a young woman laden with 25 pounds of explosives. He urges her forward pressing a gun to her head. What makes this terrible event even worse is that the perpetrator appears to be none other than Bruce Wayne. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Injustice: Gods Among Us” Chapter #13

(DC Comics - Digital Firsts, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

WRITTEN BY:  Tom Taylor
ARTWORK BY:  Tom Derenick
COLOR ARTWORK:  Andrew Elder
LETTERING:  Wes Abbott

The idea of comic books based on video games has always held a slight interest for me, much like the novels.  The only comics I’ve actually collected that are based on games were the Mass Effect and Dragon Age titles (yes, I’m a huge BioWare dork), and while some of the series for those universes have been great, a few have fallen short of my expectations.  Comics along the lines of “Injustice: Gods Among Us”, such as the series released as a lead up to the game “Batman: Arkham City”, are in a world all their own, however. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Theremin” #1

(Monkeybrain Comics, 2013)

Review by Jared Butler

WRITTEN BY:  Curt Pires
ARTWORK BY:  Dalton Rose
LETTERING:  Ryan Ferrier
DESIGN BY: Dylan Todd

What if 1920s Russia had super advanced technology like ray guns and robot-men Generals?  Well apparently they would build a not so impressive metropolis of ten story or shorter buildings with not so hi-tech bi-planes and zeppelins flying overhead. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Avenging Spider-Man” #19

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITER:  Christopher Yost
ARTWORK:  Marco Checchetto
COLOR ARTWORK:  Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERING:  VC’s Joe Caramagna

There’s a battle raging deep inside the mindscape of The Superior Spider-Man and it’s not just between Otto Octavius and Peter Parker. They are joined by The Sleepwalker (who is only familiar with the original Spider-Man) and a malevolent shape-shifting creature called a Fear Worm. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Frost: Rogue State” #1

(Monkeybrain Comics, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

WRITTEN BY:  Brandon Jerwa & Eric Trautmann
ARTWORK:  Giovanni Timpano
COLOR ARTWORK:  Andrea Celestini
LETTERING:  Simon Bowland

Comic titles surrounding the Afghanistan War have been popping up like crazy lately, so I wasn’t too surprised to crack open “Frost: Rogue State” #1 and find this title being set there, as well. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Harbinger” #11

(Valiant Entertainment, 2013)

Review by Jose Sagastume

WRITER:  Joshua Dysart
ARTISTS:  Khari Evans, Trevor Hairsine
INKER:  Stefano Gaudiano
COLOR ARTWORK:  Ian Hannin
LETTERING:  Rob Steen

Harbinger #11 is a continuation of the Harbinger Wars crossover event but is so masterfully written by Joshua Dysart that it doesn’t feel like a tie-in issue at all. Continue reading

VIDEO REVIEW: “Thanos Rising” #1

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Hey, there!  We’d like to welcome our buddies AJ and Lee - known as the 2ComicNerds - back to Bag & Bored!  We love sharing their insightful and just plain fun video reviews, and today we have their take on “Thanos Rising” #1, as well as announcing their new contest!  As usual, please be sure to watch this video, then either visit their YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/2ComicNerds?feature=watch - or visit them on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/2ComicNerds

So, here we go - 2ComicNerds vs. “Thanos Rising” #1 - FIGHT!

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REVIEW: “Polarity” #1 (of 4)

(BOOM Studios, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

WRITER:  Max Bemis
ARTWORK:  Jorge Coelho
COLOR ARTWORK:  Felipe Sobreiro
LETTERS: Steve Wands

Max Bemis, frontman for the band ‘Say Anything’, has created and written a four issue mini-series, starting with this first issue.  I don’t know anything at all about the band Bemis is in, but I dug into this first issue sure that it wouldn’t be a problem.  Plus, with each of the four issues containing a code for a different free downloadable song from Bemis, I’m sure I can get a decent idea. Continue reading

REVIEW: “Action Comics” #19

(DC Comics, 2013)

Review by Shawn Warner

WRITER:  Andy Diggle
PENCILS:  Tony S. Daniel
INKS:  Batt
COLORS:  Tomeu Morey

This issue is a changing of the guard as Grant Morrison is replaced by Andy Diggle. Like Morrison Diggle is best known for darker more esoteric subject matter most notably perhaps his work on Hellblazer. So for him to pick up the Superman mantle here is a very logical move for DC. For them to keep the readership that Morrison has built on this title they would have to choose a writer cut from the same cloth as Morrison. I believe they have done just that with Andy Diggle. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Thanos Rising” #1

(Marvel Comics, 2013)

Review by Cory Thrall

WRITER:  Jason Aaron
ARTWORK:  Simone Bianchi
COLOR ARTWORK:  Simone Peruzzi
Lettering:  VC’s Clayton Cowles

‘Thanos Rising’ is a very surprising title, and one that broke my expectations wide open.  I had figured I would enjoy it, especially since the awesome Jason Aaron is on writing duties.  I found this book to be so much more than I had originally thought - so much richer in story, and a very personal one, at that. Continue reading