(Borderline Press, 2013)
By Dennis Wojda
One cannot help but see reviews. It’s the nature of the entertainment beast, of which I am a willing cog, that for every film trailer, book excerpt, or comic book PDF there will be a person tap-tapping away on his laptop, opining on a shadow in the corner or a too-closely-filled word balloon. At the same time, there is nothing better than being surprised and having your preconceived notions wonderfully smashed before your eyes.
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Pencils and Inks by Kev Walker
Colored by Frank Martin
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Things have grown exceedingly dark in this issue of New Avengers as the “Time Runs Out” arc speeds headlong into the massive Secret Wars event and the end of the Marvel Universe as we know it. Series writer Jonathan Hickman crafts one of the most poignant chapters yet in his extensive Avengers opus focusing much of the attention on Reed Richards this time and really spelling out exactly what he and his fellow Illuminati members have sacrificed in the face of almost certain destruction. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Story by Rick Remender
Art by Daniel Acuna
Rick Remender and Daniel Acuna continue their stellar work as the creative team on Uncanny Avengers; the prolific writer and visionary artist bring their collaborative genius back for the franchise re-launch. Remender teamed with Acuna for the lion’s share of the first series hitting their creative stride early on and riding that momentum through the Axis event that decimated the original team to the point of leaving just three of those original team members to return, though not in the physical sense in Wonder Man’s case. Continue reading
Greetings and salutations True Believers and welcome to the first in a series of articles that will focus on the major changes coming in the near future for our beloved Marvel Universe. Major is perhaps not a strong enough adjective to describe the changes that were announced by House of Idea big wigs Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso at a press conference held in Manhattan’s Midtown Comics last week. Continue reading
Interview by Brad Gischia
Brian Visaggio isn’t afraid to take the bull by the horns, or in this case, the comic by the panels. His current project, Andrew Jackson in Space, is on KickStarter right now, and only two weeks remain on this funding drive. Brian was good enough to answer a few questions for us on AJiS, as well as the process of KickStarting an independent comic book. Continue reading
(ComixTribe, 2015)
Story by John Lees
Art by Iain Laurie
Colors by Megan Wilson
Letters by Colin Bell
Variant Covers by Riley Rossmo, Nick Pitarra,
Garry Brown, Joe Mulvey, and Cody Schibi
And Then Emily Was Gone is a horror story on more than one level. It is a creepy and utterly fantastic fairy tale set in modern day Scotland that explores several levels of the horror genre and taps into them with great success. This was, as far as I could tell, one of the most surprising hits of last year, and with that success comes good things for creators John Lees and Iain Laurie. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Writer - Peter David
Artist - Carmine Di Giandomenico
In light of the Earth shattering Secret Wars announcement from Marvel earlier this week, the cancellation of a little but loved series like X-Factor gets lost in the shuffle. This is most likely what led to the book being cancelled with this its 20th consistently well written and entertaining issue, it got lost in the Marvel Now shuffle, overshadowed by bigger books with more hype that were more tied into to the big crossover events.
(Image Comics, 2015)
Writer: Kel Symons
Art: Nate Stockman
Colors: Paul Little
Lettering and Design: Pat Brosseau
Battles with unspeakable monsters, daring intrigue, legends, and spellbinding magic await as we enter the Land of Fate in Reyn #1, the new Image Comics fantasy adventure series, written by Kel Symons (The Mercenary Sea), with art by Nate Stockman, colors by Paul Little, and lettering and Design by Pat Brosseau. Continue reading
(IDW Publishing, 2015)
Written by Chris Ryall and Steve Niles
Art by Anthony Diecidue, Ashley Wood, and Val Mayerik
Colors by Jay Fotos
There are times that my docket for reviews is nearly empty, and other times when my desktop is so full of PDF icons that I can hardly see the picture of my children, peering out from the background. This is one of those times, and I admit, I lucked out, because as I was clicking through them, getting and idea for what was there, I happened upon this gem.
(ComixTribe, 2015)
Story by Sam Read
Art by Alex Cormack
Letters by Tyler James
Edited by Steven Forbes
Comic books are a big business. Apart from many businesses though, it is also an art form, which brings it’s own set of complications. How do you judge art? It’s in the eye of the beholder of course, but there is a way to tap into the collective consciousness that makes something culturally popular and therefore financially successful, and at this point in time the term “comic book” seems to bring out wallets like never before.
Image Comics
(release date Feb. 18, 2015)
Story by Brian Joines and Jay Faerber
Art by Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff
Covers by Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff
The idea of the secret identity is as old as the idea of the super hero. Countless comics have explored and played with that theme, from Clark Kent verbally jousting with Lois Lane, to Bruce Wayne gadding about town with a starlet, it’s a common trope that will never get old. It’s been established that people with powers should hide who they really are. The enemies that plague them would visit untold horrors upon their families if they knew. How awful was that page when Eddie Brock showed up, kissing Aunt May on the cheek and we all knew he was Venom? Up to this point, the emphasis has been on the hero, with some minor drama playing out while he or she is out of costume. Continue reading
Marvel Studios 2015
Summary: It’s 1946, WWII is over and Agent Peggy Carter finds herself working for the SSR. Begrudging the position of a pencil pusher, stranded in an era where the male presence runs basically everything, Carter secretly attempts to continue doing what she does best: being a secret agent. But everything comes at a cost, when Howard Stark appears to be selling his most dangerous inventions to the black market, Peggy is hired on to clear his name at all costs – even if it brands her a traitor. In the ensuing battle a new enemy arises, and those dear to Peggy continue to get hurt. How much of it can she take before she breaks? Continue reading
(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
(New Worlds Comics, 2015)
Created and Written by Guy Hasson
Art by Aron Elekes (Pages 1 – 15) and Vincent Kings (Pages 16-23)
Science Fiction comics usually thread the line between horror and fantasy. Guy Hasson has written a book that is cleverly horrifying and fantastically smart at the same time. Feast your eyes and brains on this goodie from New Worlds Comics, Wynter #4.
(Acid i Comics 2014)
Story and Art by Nikkol Jelenic
Pinups and short stories by Leo Cherry, Jeff Bonesteel, Josh Shockley, James Dufendach, Mark McKenna, and Brian Spicer
I know I’m dating myself here, but my first experience with mermaids in pop culture was seeing Darryl Hannah splash about in a bath tub while Tom Hanks gawped at the floppy orange tail. Splash came out in 1984 and colored my vision of mer-people (wait, there are boy fish people?) for many years. There’s something you should know before reading A Taste For Killing #3…these ain’t Ron Howard’s mermaids.
Written by Yuichiro Higashide, Illustrated by Taketo Sanada
TYPE-MOON Ace (2011)
Summary: The next Great Holy Grail War is about to begin, but Sagara Hyouma needs to summon a “Servant” to fight with in order to participate. But to summon the “Servant” of his choosing, Jack the Ripper, Hyouma needs to give a live sacrifice to the spirit. When the summoning goes awry, Jack the Ripper still appears but not as Hyouma intended. What will Hyouma do in order to participate in the next Great Holy Grail War?
Written and Drawn by Matt Bellisle
2014
Over the last couple of years I’ve become increasingly interested in the indie comic market. I go into comic shops whenever I’m traveling and look for their “indie title” or “local author” section. Sometimes there are none, but increasingly, you find that each and every little town has a dedicated cadre of comic enthusiasts, willing to put the effort into creating a book.
I found TetherMen at a shop in Wisconsin, and immediately picked it up and slapped it (lovingly of course) on top of the pile I was in the midst of purchasing. Matt Bellisle, the author and artist, has delivered a unique book in a clever package.
Marvel Studios 2015
Summary: It’s 1946, WWII is over and Agent Peggy Carter finds herself working for the SSR. Begrudging the position of a pencil pusher, stranded in an era where the male presence runs basically everything, Carter secretly attempts to continue doing what she does best: being a secret agent. But everything comes at a cost, when Howard Stark appears to be selling his most dangerous inventions to the black market, Peggy is hired on to clear his name at all costs – even if it brands her a traitor. In the ensuing battle a new enemy arises, and those dear to Peggy continue to get hurt. How much of it can she take before she breaks?
(Action Lab Entertainment 2014)
Story and Letters by Eric Grissom
Art, Cover, and Design by David Halvorson
Additional Art by Will Perkins and Phil Sloan
Welcome to 2015 and all those things that were promised us. Hoverboards, self-tying shoes, and the ability to get fired by fax lie in the coming year. But lest you forget that a short week ago those things were still a year away, here is a review for a book that promises more than a auto-fitted, auto-drying jacket, this promises fun and adventure and clever story writing. This is Planet Gigantic from Action Lab Entertainment. Continue reading
(Kodansha Comics 2009)
Chapters 60-64
Story & Art by Hajime Isayama
Storyline Ongoing
Summary: In an alternate telling of the history of the world, mankind has been pushed back behind walls where for the last 100 years they’ve been protected from monsters known as Titans. One day these Titans appeared again and brought one of those walls crashing down – the result almost sent humanity into extinction. This is the story of the last remnants of mankind.
[SPOILER WARNING!!] Continue reading