BioShock Infinite... The Board Game

Okay usually we go nuts for board game adaptations, but this one is kind of strange. I'm still interested, but I find a board game of a popular video game just kind of weird. Weird in a good way though.

2 to 4 players will control familiar characters like Handymen, Daisy Fitzroy, Songbird and Comstock's airship. One interesting twist gives players the chance to be experience the other side of Infinite’s protagonists as the non-player controlled Booker and Elizabeth traipse around the map destroying players characters and resources. Scoundrels.

If you're in BioShock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia (that's the game's title) then you better start saving, Plaid Hat Games has it listed for $85 bucks! In the meantime check out these photos:

Via Complex

Review: Secret #3

For all of you that have been wondering and asking where Secret has been I have three words for you: “It’s a secret.” Damnit I couldn’t resist making a seriously terrible joke to start this review. Honestly I don’t know what the delay on this series has been; I asked Image months ago and never heard back so I assumed the answer was “no comment.” I follow Hickman on Twitter, but keeping up with that guy’s feed is impossible. At any rate its back… and I don’t remember anything about the first two issues other than the fact that they were pretty average. It’s probably good that I didn’t remember anything going on in them because it made me like this issue a lot more. It kicks off four years in the past at a urinal. Our main character… ah, fuck what’s his name… Grant (I already knew it from reading, but I wanted to illustrate my first experience with the issue) pulls up to the urinal in-between two skin heads. He makes a snide remark to the two men to get them riled up and then the scene changes.

We find Grant and his friend Thomas at a café sitting outside waiting for someone. They talk in military/undercover/black ops terms about two targets approaching them for a meeting. It turns out to just be a double date which put a grin on my face. They begin chatting and we see the results of the first scene in one of those “we had a quite morning too” type of deals. The scene is actually of Grant with a knife to his throat while Thomas busts out of the bathroom stall and caps them both in the head.

secret03_coverHere’s the thing about this issue… (SPOILER AHEAD IF YOU DIDN’T READ THE FIRST TWO ISSUES) I thought that Grant set Thomas up to die, but he’s very hurt and confused by his death. I let this go quickly because clearly I was wrong, but it definitely means that the first two issues weren’t constructed very well with their story. I remember them jumping around as much as this issue, but here I wasn’t lost or confused by what was happening. It sucks that it took three issues for that to happen and a hell of a delay. Overall the story was good and I’m interested in it more, but it still struggles. The humor and witty remarks are all fairly obvious. If you’ve ever watched a con man/spy movie then that’s all this is. It’s a shame, but I don’t think this is Hickman’s forte.

The art is great. I enjoyed Ryan Bodenheim’s work on the first two issues and he commands the page and story with this issue. He controls the pacing of the story and even though the beginning was working its way towards an obvious conclusion, it was partially because of Bodenheim’s page and panel structure. I personally enjoy his character designs and faces. Everyone is kind of rough and chiseled looking, but at the same time beautiful looking. It definitely plays to the Hollywood feel. Also I appreciate that the character’s had different facial structures and their fashion wasn’t copy and paste. The thing is, that I may have been confused about the story due to the art… I don’t know anymore.

Honestly I could recommend this to anyone because it felt like a brand new series to me. I almost went back and re-read the first two issues, but after I actually enjoyed this issue I decided not to bother. Why go back and confuse or remind myself that I was planning on giving up on this series after seeing what this issue was going to do. In a strange way I think the long delay may work in their favor so if you missed the first two go ahead and jump on.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Artist: Ryan Bodenheim

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.50

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Skullkickers #24

If you thought that Skullkickers was done with its shenanigans then I have news for you… no they ain’t! The creative team takes a break from their usual story to bring some “Tavern Tales’, but not before Zub chimes in with some great zero issue/prequel commentary. It’s funny stuff and sets the stage for what’s about to come. The issue itself is four separate stories following each of the Skullkickers and a special guest that ties heavily into the current story arc. The first story is written by Ron Marz and drawn by Stjepan Sejic. Off the bat you won’t recognized Sejic’s art. It’s very different from his usual stuff, but it’s incredible all the same. The story follows Kusia as she faces the next stage of her assassin training. It’s actually quite funny and follows the action-adventure formula of “everything that can go wrong will”, but Kusia manages to continue through and that’s where the humor comes from.

The next story is from Adam Warren and Remy Mokhtar and follows Rex. He’s in the Wild West being chased by a giant cat and running for his life. It’s instantly funny because he has hair, but Mokhtar does a great job of capturing his facial expressions so that you know that it’s Rex from the get go. It’s a short and sweet story with plenty of foreshadowing for his character... even though readers already know how it turns out.

skullkickers24_coverThe third story is about Shorty of course, but is actually narrated by Rex. It’s all about partnership and is very funny with great dialogue from Todd Dezago. The art was interesting. I didn’t love it, but Jeff Cruz has an interesting style and I would actually check out more of his work for a different series. I don’t know if his style lent itself to the comedy very well and that hurt the jokes.

In general I think all of the stories were pretty funny and stayed true to the Skullkickers brand. It did feel like a filler issue, but I think in a strange way it was an important addition to the first issue reboot experiment. It was almost like it needed to be done in order to prove a point. I liked it a lot just for that reason alone, but it also made sure it delivered the goods as well.

It’s also a great issue if you’re a new reader or just confused by the fact that the original number returned to the series. Even though Zub makes some great commentary about zero/prequel issues, he makes sure that this issue is successful in fulfilling the original intent of these types of issues. New or old readers are left feeling very welcomed on this series so check it out.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Ron Marz, Adam Warren, Todd Dezago, Jim Zub

Artists: Stjepan Sejic, Remmy Mokhtar, Yinfaowei Harrison, Jeff Cruz, Lar deSouza, Misty Coats

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.50

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Tomorrowland #2

This is a very different comic series from Paul Jenkins. Don’t get me wrong I can see his structure and creative process all over it. In a strange way it’s very akin to Fairy Tale Outlaws, but with its own flair of course. I’m glad that it exists though and that Titan Comics has brought it to North America. I love comics like this that would ordinarily struggle to be picked up by a publisher and likely remain in the sea of undiscovered indie books. It’s a comic experiment that I’m glad exists. The story picks up with our twin DJ’s staring face to face with Will Shakespeare and other historical figures; Mike breaks the moment (which is frozen in time in case you forgot) and goes to make himself a sandwich. He figures that this is all just a dream and that he’s going to sandwich it up in the meantime. The historical figures explain their role and the conflict they’re up against. The gist is that once a generation a creative force is born that can fight back evil and prevent it from taking over the world. The big question seems to be why there are two of them chosen when all the previous incarnations have been solo.

The story switches over to the “evil team” and we meet the nameless one… that looks a lot like the devil. He too is confused by the appearance of two chosen ones, but his court of demony people offers him the idea that the “good” forces are growing weak and fear his power… this doesn’t turn out to be true.

Tomorrowland_02_Cover_WebIt’s an interesting issue even if most of it seems to be spent explaining the world. I’m curious to see where it’s going, but the overall plot only takes a baby step in this issue. I enjoyed seeing the different historical figures come into play later in the issue. There was one that was very surprising that no one will see coming and the comic makes a meta reference to that fact. Jenkins brings a lot of his style to this series, but I’m still waiting for the heart. Right now it reads like commentary on the importance of the creative process, but that isn’t a strong enough theme on its own currently.

Can I just say that I love art studios? I do. It’s one of the reasons I enjoyed and supported anything made by Udon before they got Capcom money and decide to just do art books. I don’t know if Stallar Labs is just Alti Firmansyah and Beny Maulana, but the fact that they can seamlessly produce a comic together is great. If there’s more to the Stellar Labs team I would love to see it. They do a fantastic job with this issue and have a ton thrown at them to illustrate in the issue. Not only are they bringing a dozen or more well-known historical figures to life, but they’re drawing different places in time and reality. It’s a treat to view the art and the team tells a fantastic narrative with just the visuals.

I like this issue and series, but it’s missing that special something. It’s just a cool series right now, but I don’t know if it has what it takes to be a treasured jewel in comic’s history. It’s an interesting experiment that may pave the way for other series, but I’d really like to see it stand on its own as something creative and different for the world of comics.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Paul Jenkins

Artists: Alti Firmansyah and Beny Maulana of Stellar Labs

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

My Pull List For 8/28/13 – Jordan North

Written by Guest Contributor: Jordan North Holy mangos has it been a week!

I write this from my new apartment on campus, it’s a scary place, not the building itself but scary because of what it represents. It means I am miles away from my home and home town in a place that I am not too familiar with. It means it’s time to start some projects that will go on to mean a lot, a lot are riding on them, and the time to work magic is now. It’s time to start meeting people again and be serious again and be silly again and really everything is all just very new. It’s daunting, but also I haven’t felt so alive in a while.

It’ll be an exciting run. And I’m not really alone, no. I have friends around sure but really what is giving me the most comfort are the contents of my room itself. Behind my laptop sits a massive poster of the characters of the Marvel universe. Cap and Iron man and Red Batman, an action figure of Donatello sits on my dresser; a bust of Venom and “V” from V for Vendetta on my end-table. These are the familiar faces. These characters, their stories, and the memories that they hold. What’s ahead looms large and fierce and with so much potential and, despite the enormity of the year ahead of me, they remind me that we all have the power to channel our inner super when we need to, and do great things.

However, it can’t be all the toys that I’m embarrassingly old to have that do it for me-no, I’m stressed as all hell, I need STORIES! Here’s what they are this week:

Ultimate Comics - Spider-Man #26 Cover

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #26

I know it, the web knows it... Miles Morales is one of the greatest new characters to be introduced to Marvel or any big two stuff for that matter in the past few years. How a character that caused so much controversy in the start made the journey to become who people are now saying is the Spider-Man is just as much a testament to the wonderful character of Miles as it is the writing of Brian Michael Bendis. Plus I have a natural bias towards a coffee-colored hero (LOLZ)

FF vol. 2 #11 Cover

FF #11

FF is a great f$#%ing time. The humor, the candidness, the goofiness of the team and the focus on small human moments make it one of the most outstanding books on the stand. In an era where fun in comics is the most sought after (and hardest to find) of accolades, Matt Fraction`s FF stands out. This man is the Joss Whedon of comic books. All great times and great characterization, and Mike Allred`s art transports us back to a candy-colored Golden-era with his art. Pretty damn pretty and pretty damn fun.

Young Avengers Vol. 2 #9 Cover

Young Avengers #9

A newer title for me that I started picking up due to so much buzz Young Avengers is having a great run right now. A fun and brilliant team title dealing with the misgivings of youth and the stress that would occur when that turbulent time was stretched over the task of saving the world. Plus Jamie McKelvie draws like he was born doing it. Plus, Kid Loki. F#$%ing Kid Loki.

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Regular Show #3

Sometimes I just want to stop thinking and read something light and dumb and about bipedal birds. Regular Show, both on television and in comic form, gives me that fix.

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TMNT #25

TMNT is the best we’ve seen The Turtles in a long time. Maybe because this book features The Turtle’s stories as we always knew they should be, not pulling any punches. It can be brutal, funny and it’s always a blast. Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz are telling the Ninja Turtles stories we always felt like they couldn’t tell on TV for being too weird and not family friendly enough. The style fits like a glove. The Turtles have never felt more like The Turtles.

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So that’s it. Better, but I’m still stressed! And itching for next week like a junkie vying for his next fix. I have little doubt that next week`s slew of great material will fail to deliver. It’s a great time to be a comics fan. Well, I’m off again into the wild. Time to go out and build some castles. Wish me luck! Until next time, lataz.

Group Review: Arcane Secrets #1

If you follow our group reviews you’ll know that we don’t just cover big issue releases. We like to throw in independent titles here and there and that’s exactly what we have today. Mixing it up even further is the fact that it’s an all-ages title. With all group reviews the writer/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the book a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass and then follow with a short reason why they chose their score. Here’s a quick blurb from Amigo Comics about the issue: Lovecraft for Kids! The Cthulhu Mythos for the whole family! Join Doctor Ment and his faithful companion Harry Callahan in the fight against 'The Things That Go 'Boo' In The Night'! Many ancient artifacts of the Dread Xulu and other Elder Beings are lost, and if Ment and Callahan don't retrieve them, the evil minions of the evilness will do it!

Carl: BORROW

The cartoonish styling of the illustrations on this book tips you off that this is one that never takes itself seriously—and that’s what makes it a hoot to read.  The nods to HP Lovecraft are all there (including a cameo by him, too).  If you played some of the old Lucas Arts games of the 90’s like Grim Fandango or Sam and Max, you will eat up every page of this supernatural mystery.

A dark force known as the Order of the Tentacle looks to take over the world.  Dr. Ment and his crew stand in its way.  While not a keeper, the goofy-fun tone of the book makes it a great little diversion.

Adam: PASS

Taking a glimpse at the cover, I figured this book would be an enjoyable, easy-to-follow, mindless book.  Unfortunately, I was extremely wrong.  This whole issue looked like it was a college kid’s bad acid trip threw up onto 32 pages.  The story was forgettable and incredibly disjointed, all the jokes were cringe-worthy, not to mention I found multiple errors (my favorite was “He made us to serve jello to the patients with seizures.”).  I know this comic isn’t trying to take itself seriously, but you still need to have solid writing to keep people’s interest, or it just comes off as annoying.  I feel bad for Dustin since he has to write-up the synopsis for this mess…I couldn’t care less to read this over again and actually summarize what happened.  It jarringly cuts back and forth between poorly developed characters and bizarre happenings without warning.  Needless to say, the surprises aren’t pleasant ones.

Kevin R: BORROW

What we’ve got here is a totally adequate kid’s comic. The Arcane Boys: Junior Samples Junior is a light, fun adventure story that dives into mythology in ways that would give even Mike Mignola nightmares.  Angel D. Svoboda is both the writer and the artist, and while the art is bright, colorful, and often times really excellent, the story kind of stumbles. To be fair, it’s a foreign book, and although the translation is fantastic the jokes were probably not meant to ring true to an English-speaking audience either way.

As an adult, I honestly found the whole thing boring. Lovecraftian horror is something that has been explored for pretty much every audience at this point, and the jokes really don’t ring very true for me.  But I bet if you give it to a kid, they’ll eat it up.

Arcane Secrets #1

Samantha: BORROW

Arcane Secrets is quite a cute comic. Getting into the art isn’t hard with its bright colors, dorky little characters, and whimsical creatures. It is getting into the story where I find this comic a little rough. The base line revolves around a mystery which is cute and very Scooby like. You have the bad guys vs. the good guys all after this mysterious tentacle. It was hard for me to jump into this story because the switches happened so fast between the two groups that I never really got involved with what was happening. I also didn’t really understand it until halfway through.

I picked a “borrow”, because this issue doesn’t have a strong beginning for me. I do want to continue with this comic though. It has a certain childhood feel to it. The cuteness of it is just addicting and I think once this comic gets off its feet it will have a very sweet read to it.

Steve: PASS

There seems to be this weird, rabid demand for so-called “all-ages” books; not from kids, mind you, but parents. Not having kids, I couldn’t care less about these titles, since despite being for “all-ages,” they usually are most decidedly not. Take Arcane Secrets #1, for example. I enjoy the “Lovecraft Babies: Challengers of the Unknown” premise at the heart of this book, but unless you’re extremely young and/or worryingly-easily amused, then nothing within this book is going to appeal. In its defense, it appears to have been translated into English, which may account for the regularly tangential storytelling and oddly-paced writing. The art is simple enough and fun, I guess, but I doubt it’ll be impressive to anyone over the age of reason. Save this for a really basic distraction for your kids if you have them.

Dustin: BORROW

The art style of this book screams out to me. I like it a lot since it resembles old cartoons in both design and fashion. It looks great, but the art does not save the story. The problem with the book is that it’s geared towards kids. I don’t mean that its all-ages, I mean it’s written for children. That’s not bad, but for an adult reader it makes for a tough read. I’m actually curious to see where the series goes from here, but it was rough start. I’m guessing that Dr. Ment is a main character, but he didn’t really come off as such. The villains were perfectly ridiculous, but there seemed to be a lot of them. I’ll be back for a second issue, but if you don’t have a kid to share this with then you’re better off on just borrowing it if your curiosity gets the better of you.

Score: Borrow or Pass it’s up to you!

Writer/Artist/Creator: Angel A. Svoboda

Translator: Rafael Nieves

Publisher: Amigo Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Group Review: TMNT #24 – “City Fall” Part 4

Continuing with our group review cover for “City Fall” we’ll once again be weighing in on the series as it reaches the half-way point in the arc. Each of the writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will score the book with either: Buy, Borrow or Pass and a short reason for their choice. First here’s a blurb about the issue from IDW: CITY FALL' part 4: City Fall continues as Shredder reveals his new second-in-command: Leonardo! While the underworld readies their armies, the Turtles must come together if they have any hope of saving their brother. Don't miss this landmark 25th issue that sees the launch of a full-scale war on New York City! The Savate, Foot Clan, and Slash are all back - along with a couple of shocking special guests!

Samantha: BUY

Dude these covers by Kevin Eastman are so sick. Probably not the only person who thinks this, but I really want him to do a full issue for this story arc. He brings in such classics lines while still getting me giddy over these ninjas.

Of course this issue is once again a buy. I don’t think a lot happens here, but I don’t need a ton of action every time. I am weird and kind of enjoy the time it takes to wrangle in Raph. He is a hardass, so I like seeing him going all crazy but being able to hone this in for the good of his brothers.

I told you during Karai’s mirco issue that these story lines would cross over into the City Falls and they have. You totally need to read them in order to be more informed of what is happening. But clearly what makes this issue is the end reveal. It is going to be a huge a turn around and I think will eventually aid the Turtles into their ultimate goal.

Carl: Borrow

Leonard remains under Shredder’s control.  Splinter returns to Old Hob for some help, and the remaining Turtles look for their missing kin.  In true 25th style, the issue ends with a surprise appearance that will have TMNT devotees quivering in their shell.

Unfortunately, the end doesn’t justify the means.  In this case, this issue is overall flat.  Not much happens, save for the last panel.  This is a bit of a disappointment considering how good the previous issues were.

Congratulations to the title on reaching issue 25.  Please keep in mind fans buy comics for the entire book, not just the last panel.

Steve: BUY

I still can’t believe that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle book is one of my most anticipated monthly reads, but there is just no denying that the solid foundation this universe has established is paying off dividends with the beginning of this City Fall event. It is kind of a shame that cracks are beginning to show in the Foot Clan’s brand new structure, but hopefully these hints are just clever feints to keep readers interested. I personally would like to see Leonardo’s new status quo explored further and for some time before inevitably reverting back, but that’s just me.

Regardless, we are in for one hell of a multi-front war that I can’t wait to see play out further. Plus, this series and its compendium (the villain spotlights, which have been similarly amazing) have done a fantastic job of slowly introducing the arrival of two very cool characters, and the tease at the end of this issue in particular leaves me all aquiver. Whether you’re an old fan or completely uninitiated to the new world of Turtles, you really should be reading this book.

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Adam: PASS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was before my time, both the comic and the show.  The show ended when I was 1, so I never really grew up with it.  That being said probably means my review on this has no credibility, but whatever.  Here’s my take on TMNT #25.

I feel that the art on the original series suits the story and feel of the comic a lot better.  The new artwork is very good, but almost too detailed.  It also seems to take itself seriously; I thought that the original was first intended to be a one-shot parody of superheroes.  It also retains none of the whit or charm that I always hear people talking about in the original cartoon.  The story itself whips back and forth between different sets of characters, it almost seems like you’re reading a couple different issues at once.  For being a first time reader of the comic, it was pretty jarring and discouraging; I definitely didn’t care to read the backstory or want to know what happened next.  Definitely a pass for me.

Dustin: BUY

I have enjoyed the last three issues of this story arc, but for me the fourth chapter of “City Fall” has been the best. There was just the right balance of plot progression and character development. There were several scenes leading up to the ending that had me giddy with excitement, which only made the ending even better. You’ll hear a lot more of what I have to say about it on this week’s podcast so I’m going to keep it short, but this issue wow’d me big time and in a way delivered everything I wanted from the series.

Score: 3 Buys and a Borrow

Story: Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow & Tom Waltz

Writer: Tom Waltz

Artist: Mateus Santolouco

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Group Review: Grimm Fairy Tales – No Tomorrow #1

No Tomorrow has been a heavily promoted series from Zenescope, so we thought we’d weigh in on the brand new series. With every group review the writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the book a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass and follow that up with a short reason why they picked their score. First here’s a quick blurb about the book from Zenescope: In the not so far off future, the battle between the forces of good and evil for control of the nexus has finally come to an end… but this uneasy peace is not meant to last. A new horror is born into the Grimm Universe more terrifying than any before. A horror whose name is spoken in hushed and fearful whispers. A horror more beautiful than the breath we breathe but as deadly as our last and final gasp: Keres, the Goddess of the Death! From fan-favorite writer Raven Gregory (Wonderland trilogy/Fly/Dream Eater saga) comes THE WORLD'S MOST TERRIFYING COMIC BOOK! In a world where Death has gone mad, there may be...NO TOMORROW!

Adam: BUY

I reviewed a book from Zenescope’s main series Grimm Fairy Tales last week, and now here’s a Grimm Fairy Tales Presents book.  At first glance I thought this issue might take elements from the main series, water it down a bit and throw it into a miniseries.  To my delight, I was ignorantly wrong.  The first thing I noticed is the artwork on the cover is actually just as good quality-wise (albeit a little bit different) as the art inside.  Of course with Zenescope there’s 5 other covers, but the one we were presented I feel does the best job of setting the tone and mood of what’s in the actual book.  The story itself is very strong and interesting, enough for me to want to check out at least issue #2, if not further.  You get a glimpse into multiple people’s lives, and see first-hand how they are affected by death and tragedy.  For example, there’s a little boy who’s scared to fly for the first time.

When Keres unleashes the enormous earthquake, the mother of the boy comforts him as she sees a reunited brother and sister get slaughtered by debris in the Denver airport.  The fact that it takes place in real-life areas such as Chicago and Denver make it more marketable to the people who don’t exactly enjoy the fantasy genre such as myself, while still retaining some of it and all of Grimm Fairytales’ darkness.  All the stories tie together too, such as when we meet the main character Patrick.  When Keres was in Patrick’s office, it was interesting to see him try to stop her after recalling he saw her in Denver on the news that morning.  The fact that his fate was similar to the brother and sister in the beginning really makes me wonder if he lives or not (unfortunately, we found that out in the preview for next months’ issue which kind of killed my curiosity), and if he can find out how Keres is doing what she’s doing and why she’s doing it.  If I can find this at my local shop, I’ll definitely be picking a copy up.

Unfortunately, writer Raven Gregory knows tragedy and loss all too well as explained at the end of this issue, and I send my condolences out to him and his family.

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Samantha: PASS

Stories surrounding death are so relatable on so many levels. He is a character that everyone knows and most could tell a story or two about him. I am not surprised that for this new Grimm Fairy Tale death has been chosen as our main character once again. I found this comic to have huge disconnects with the reader despite choosing a familiar character.

Death doesn’t seem escapable so when Patrick accidentally escapes her it seems weird to me. Almost like she has given up. With East of West doing such a fantastic job on death’s character it is hard not to judge this against that comic. You need to build ties with your characters in a matter of moments for the story to have a hook. I can see East of West story in real-time. Here, I didn’t get that same connection with Patrick or his wife. Death is barely even in it and also seems too much of a mystery when their beliefs are black and white. I will definitely pass on this Fairy Tale.

Dustin: BORROW

I teetered back and forth on whether or not you should purchase this issue or not and it really came down to a few things. One I will admit is completely trivial, but being that the story beings in Denver and they show the infamous Blue Mustang statue, you’d expect them to get the glowing red eyes right. That’s my home state and I love flying home and being greeted by that demonic looking beast that not only killed its creator, but attempted to kill his son that finished the project. Also the red eyes would have fit perfectly with the story. Also I’ve never known Colorado to look like a desert, especially around the airport. That aside I have actual reason why this is only a “borrow” for me.

The story is interesting, but only because of the cliffhanger we’re left on. The rest of it really could have been told in six pages and the cliffhanger (which is really the lead into the story) could have been our title page. The disaster at the beginning took up far too many pages; the encounter with the family was strange and basically ended up being pointless. The art was decent, but I didn’t believe our main character was forty. It could be that he wasn’t since they comment on that, but then they never say his real age. I can appreciate Raven Gregory’s dedication at the end and so if you wanted to buy the book to support that dedication I would be fine with that.

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Carl: PASS

Another reimagining of the Grimm Fairy Tales, No Tomorrow centers on Death as she causes lethal earthquakes.  What this book has is an interesting premise.  What it suffers from is a lack of execution.  Sure, horrible disasters are happening, but we readers have no sense of awe as to be lured into this book or the following issues.  Death shows up and people die.  But there’s no more than that in this issue.

So what’s the catch?  We won’t know until issue two.  And that’s a cheat that prevents people from purchasing comics.

Kevin R: BUY

The cover of No Tomorrow #1 is Death, herself, wielding her trademark scythe and not much else. But don't let that initial gross feeling- which, by the way, is totally normal- deter you from the book: No Tomorrow #1 is a really entertaining read. Here, Death is a silent force of nature, leaving widespread destruction in her wake. Raven Gregory is super careful to not draw any direct parallels, and creates characters to bring you into the moment of disaster only to end their lives, or their role in the story entirely

Artist JG Miranda, too, is incredibly clever with the way he represents action in that opening sequence and throughout the book. The main plot of the issue follows a man as he realizes that Death is very real, and in our world. The storytellers give us this idea in less than two pages. Efficiency of exposition is something not a lot of storytelling teams can do in comics, so it’s refreshing to see it here. This is probably the biggest surprise for me since I started writing for the site. Never did I ever think I would be saying this, but I can’t wait for the next one.

NoTomorrow01_cover A

Steve: PASS

So, I’m guessing No Tomorrow is an attempt to centralize a supernatural disaster scenario around one man and his family, which elsewhere might offer a unique perspective, but here falls flat with a painfully slow story and mostly indistinguishable characters. For some reason, it also feels like the beginning of DC’s Trinity War event (especially in the appearance of this book’s cloaked, Pandora-esque baddie), but it doesn’t even come close to the action or intrigue of Trinity War, which is saying a lot, since I don’t particularly care for that event. The art is the best thing about this book, and even that undulates significantly in quality, luxuriating near the rushed side of the spectrum. Not having much in the way of substance, No Tomorrow #1 was a tough book to get through that I doubt will capture many readers’ attention.

Score: 3 Passes, 2 Buys and a Borrow

Writer: Raven Gregory

Artist: JG Miranda

Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Kill Shakespeare: The Tide of Blood #5

“The Tide of Blood” brings everything a good Shakespeare has; blood, sex, drama, magic, and always, always girly men… no I am just kidding.  These comics have risen to grace and respect from me. I’d love to do a huge teaching unit on Shakespeare and have these comics to help bring in some new perspectives. It has to be hard to adapt Shakespeare in a new way, with so many others failing at their attempt. With Kill Shakespeare I have a good sense of direction in the comic bringing in analytical side of my reading. I dig how this new adaptation relies on more violence. We always wanted the characters to stab the dude on the left; and now we get to see it happen. The characters are taking charge in their actions. The only thing I do miss is the soliloquies from our main characters. We don’t really get any reflection moments in this comic. These were always my favorite parts. Clearly, these characters don’t save face enough and don’t need a moment to tell of their deepest wishes, but still it would be cool if we heard some soliloquies being put into a comic form. Plus I just like saying that word.

Juliet is pretty much a badass in this issue. She gets the “hell yeah” out of all the readers, which is a great prize to win. She doesn’t get the cheering section from her other mates though. They despise her actions in this issue. What she did will for sure have some consequences on her and Hamlet. Shakespeare is pissed too, and since he created you and can easily change everything you are I wouldn’t piss him off again.

KShakes_v5_05-pr-1I think my favorite character in all this is Shakespeare. He is such a rad dude. Obviously, they had to make him cool because any nut with a brain respects this dude. He really does have some trickery which any good god should have. His cleverness is what gives the title of favorite. I like how the characters have an interaction with their creator. It makes you think of a Joan Osborne song but hey at least it gets you thinking.

I am interested to see where the next Kill Shakespeare takes us. The comic sort of alludes to the fact that they may bring in a new villain. Then when I reread the last couple of pages I think Miranda was referring to herself. With them already playing out Richard, Lady Macbeth, and Prospero it is hard to say who they could bring in that would be bigger than these three names. Maybe Caesar or Brutus? My vote is still for Lady Macbeth. Bring her back! Bring her back! She should just be the over laying villain at all times. I think she may have been Shakespeare’s most villainous character. I still get chills thinking about when she sees the blood on her hands. Oh man.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col

Artist: Andy Belanger

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Number 13 (TPB)

Number 13 is a lot of things.  Sure, it’s a post-apocalyptic tale while having a heavy emphasis on the future and science fiction.  But it also is able to encapture organic emotions of friendship, betrayal, loss, the search for the truth, and the will to be wanted by others.  Enter our protagonist, called “13” throughout.  Throughout the course of these 4 issues (this trade collects issues #0-3), we learn that his real name is Evan.  As a baby, he was forced by Professor Wade Eablis to become a “servator.”  The purpose of the servator is to kill Fecteds (I’ll get to that later).  During a public speech made by Eablis, he explained how he needed these servators to save the world.  He said Evan was “special” and took him from his mother’s arms.  He claims that combining humanity with technology will save the people from their impending doom.  He also promises that Evan will never lose his humanity or his name, two things that are far from the truth. Everyone’s worst nightmare becomes true: the “Monstrum Morbus Plague” decimates the human race.  Those who were fortunate enough to survive were turned into mutated monsters, also known in the book as “Fecteds.”  Even a smaller percentage of people are “Munes,” or humans who remained immune to the plague.  Even though they were immune, they still carried the disease.  War ensued between these two factions.

The reason why 13 is so special is because he was the only one that was truly immune.  He wasn’t infected and wasn’t a carrier.  He was Professor Eablis’s only hope to creating an antidote to combat the plague.  Even 13’s blood was “a weapon to be used against the monsters.”  In simple terms, 13 was the cure.

In issue #0, we learn that 13 is an amnesiac.  His processing unit was damaged years and years ago.  This processing unit was responsible for thinking, telling 13 what he is and what he is supposed to do.  He doesn’t even know who he is or what he’s doing, but he’s adamant on finding his father.  He asks anyone and anything, really (he even picks up a skull and asks it if it’s his dad) if they’re his father.  We’re then introduced to Lorna, a three-eyed girl who is being eaten by a Fected.  13 blows it away with a spray of bullets, his arms turning into machine guns.  You can tell the boy’s innocence is still intact, it’s clear that the technology is driving his killings, not his own mind.  He ends up fashioning on a metallic leg for Lorna.  At this point, I thought the story would be an endearing tale of friendship with hints of violence while 13 and Lorna find 13’s father.  I was very wrong, as that plot wouldn’t have captured the depth and intrigue that Number 13 has.

Number 13 Trade CoverI don’t want to give too much away, as I believe this trade is definitely worth picking up.  Throughout the story you will see 13 try to figure out who he really is and why he’s searching for his father.  Everyone he meets (minus the children) tries to take advantage of him-they see him as the ultimate weapon to dominate the world, nothing more.  It turns out; Wade Eablis is looking for 13, too.  Who possesses him in the end and if 13 ever finds his father is for you to find out.

You can see the innocence in the children-but the children think more morally and sanely than the adults.  The adults just want to use 13 as a weapon, while the children see him as a friend and a protector against mutants in their land.  What does the war mean?   It’s just killing beings because they look different from others; it’s no different from, say, World War II.  To quote the book, “The plague did not turn humans into monsters.  It merely provided an excuse to be what they already were.”

Both the writing and the artwork in this book were strong.  The art is a bit cartoony, but provides much detail and personality to the characters it depicts.  You can really feel for Evan’s mother as she looks at her son for the last time.  You can also see the brutality as the ogre is eating Lorna’s leg, with a stream of blood and bones behind it.  The decimated world is very believable and desolate, and the futuristic feel that most of the book retains is also very believable.  It’s not too weird or out there, and it seems like these advancements might be something that would happen 60 years after the world ended.  Personally, I’m not a fan of science fiction much, but I still loved this book.  I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a very solid story rather than just throwing a ‘science-fiction’ tag on it.

As I said, this book does a lot of things.  And it does a lot of things well.  It’s grim and grotesque, but there’s also a sense of hope through the eyes of the youth.  Dark Horse knocked it out of the park again with an enthralling miniseries worthy of any comic fan’s 16 bucks.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Robert Love, David Walker

Artist: Robert Love

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $15.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Knuckleheads #3

If you follow the podcast then you probably remember us having a few conversations about Knuckleheads from Monkey Brian Inc. It’s a series that we all enjoyed, but admittedly I was underwhelmed by the second issue. It delivered on the funny, but the story felt as if the pause button had been hit. This time however the story and comedy are skipping hand-in-hand and that made for a great read. This really is a hilarious series so if you enjoyed things like Dark Horse’s Buddy Cops or Gamma, then you should definitely check this series out. I’m going to sum up the book as quickly as possible because there isn’t a lot that I can say without ruining the read for you and that would be shitty. The lizard monster is still really pissed off even after throwing Trev through a building. Lance, Trev’s friend and roommate, is still up on the roof with the pizza dude (who might be my favorite character) and is now throwing bricks at the monster to avenge his friend’s “death”. The English woman that’s still being “King Kong’d” tells him that the thought is great, but that the results are more likely to hurt her than the monster. Around this time Trev wakes up… and comedic antics plus bad-assery go into full effect.

The first issue made me laugh-out-loud a few times, while the second issue mostly delivered smiles. This third issue… had me smiling, laughing and smacking my leg. It was some seriously funny shit. I like the humor because its stuff that I would say or can relate to, the creators will have to decide for themselves if that’s good or not; but I liked it.

KnuckleheadsThe writing is very good and even though the page count is slightly shorter than a print comic and the plot doesn’t progress very much, it still hits all the right beats. The pacing worked perfectly this issue and the conclusion of the arc leaves the series in a great spot. It’s nice when the writer leaves the reader wanting more of the series, but with a full resolution so that they’re coming back for something other than just an answer to a cliffhanger. The series has had strong dialogue throughout, but none stronger than this issue.

When there’s comedy in the story, the right art is important. Even if the jokes aren’t physical, the body language is. They’re body should support the joke and can easily make it fail if it isn’t. It’s why so many books that try to be funny or even sexy, fail miserably. Knuckleheads has the right look to it. I laugh looking at the page as much as I do reading it and that’s how it should be. There’s also a lot of action to follow in this issue and it’s very easy to do so, which is important considering there’s a big fucking monster. Also anyone that can draw puke in a comic book and have it actually look funny should win an award.

I’ve enjoyed this series and was very happy to see that it was returning. If you missed out on any of the issues then pick them all up for just a buck each. For three bucks you’ll get a hell of a lot more content to the average print comic, which seems to be Monkey Brain’s winning formula. Hilarious stuff that I’m sure we’ll be talking about on the podcast in the near future, but in the meantime check it out.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Brian Winkeler

Artist: Robert Wilson IV

Colors: Jordan Boyd

Publisher: Monkey Brain Comics

Price: $.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Mind the Gap #13

Okay so right when I saw the cover of this comic my mind went crazy. I believe I recited “what the fuck” out loud when seeing a baby on the cover. I was excited to see what all this was about since in no way has this comic brought up baby drama. Yeah so I read the comic and then flipped through again and realized there is no baby in this damn issue. So we are all left with the same feeling; who the hell is this baby? And what does it have to do with this comic? Questions only give you a reason to keep on reading. Very clever. This issue goes through their story a little different here, but I love when stories take you back in time and then bring you back to the present. The two stories seem to be so obscured, but somehow it is managed to bring it all back to one ideal place. Mind the Gap did just that in this issue. We have barely had any flashbacks in this series, and for them to just whip it out so tastefully shows the skill put in here. We have yet to see Elle outside of her coma world, but the first flashback we get is of her before the accident. She has an encounter with her brother that leads to her coma. It is interesting to see how this all came about and for me vindicates Junior from some serious wrongdoing.

mindthegap13_coverAThe main flashbacks here aren’t of Elle though. We mostly follow a young boy during WW II. He is given research materials by his father that he must protect in order to continue the discoveries being made. We don’t know who this young man is until the end, but he clearly is at the center of Jairus. Then we move on to the present. Junior is still trying to find out all there is to know about Jairus and reveals some pretty hefty stories onto the gang. The team also gets an addition to their group which I am pretty stoked about. She will offer a lot of advice and will only be the forefront in finding Elle a way out of her coma.

Why I am so intrigued by this comic revolves around all the different characters involved. Having this flashback, which I hope continues, just adds more layers onto an aggressively interesting story. We get to see inside each character’s actions. It allows for us to get to know these people and find their motives. At the same time I think the writers of this story are only building up some of these characters in order to rip them away from us. This gives the reader a chance to ask themselves why they like and who they like. If I were you I would maybe keep a distance from trusting anyone...even yourself.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Jim McCann

Artists: Rodin Esquejo & Dan McDaid

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $2.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Itty Bitty Hellboy #1

Review by: Kevin Reilly Over the past few years, Art Baltazar and Franco have made quite a name for themselves. The duo have racked up several Eisners and critical acclaim at DC Comics for their series Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures, and they have just launched their own kids’ comic store and publisher, Aw Yeah, Comics!  The praise is well-deserved; both series are incredibly easy-going, accessible, and fun for people of any age. Luckily, the formula has given us another gem with this, the premiere of Itty Bitty Hellboy. It’s very similar to the aforementioned TT and SFA: the book consists of short, two to three page vignettes featuring Hellboy and his friends.

That’s pretty much it, for twenty-odd pages. And yet, Itty Bitty Hellboy is so much more. The vignettes are interlocked, so although every two or three pages you’ll see the Itty Bitty Hellboy logo it all comes together to form one really funny story. If you’ve never read Hellboy before, or you’ve been following closely since way back in 1994, or you’re just desperately looking for something your kids would get a kick out of, Itty Bitty Hellboy delivers.

Itty Bitty Hellboy #1 Cover

The art is as clean and bright as we’ve come to expect from Art Baltazar. It’s big, it’s colorful, and it works for the piece. In fact, the book really shines digitally. Itty Bitty Hellboy is more vibrant and easier on the eyes than most books I’ve read in the format, and its child-friendly font means you can read it clearly and easily zoomed-out on a seven-inch tablet. This is oddly specific praise, I know, but it’s worth mentioning.

I’m dismayed that this will only last five issues. Although it makes sense (and it’s very much like Hellboy to have this be a miniseries), I wish we were getting a lot more of these books. Maybe someday! Until then, I’d pick this up as soon as I possibly could. It’s snappy, funny, and it jumps off of the page, screen, or what have you.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Art Baltazar and Franco Artist: Art Baltazar Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 8/28/13

These Marvel Soaps Are A Slap In The Face To Some Fans

Not me, but for some fans I'm sure they're not happy about Marvel insinuating that they need to take a shower. I'll personally never understand why anyone thinks it's "cool" to rock three-day B.O. anywhere out in public, let alone a comic convention. Yet it happens all the time. The soap comes in a four pack shown above, but there was no price at the time I found this. Now... get to scrubbing nerds! Via Albotas

Review: Mind MGMT #14

As with every issue that has come before it, Mind MGMT #14 somehow manages to build itself as a hypnotically morbid curiosity with imperceptibly smooth, sleight of hand storytelling, and it does so without even breaking a sweat, and by treading trodden tracks that continue to reveal new paths. Issue 14 is all about Meru: her past, her recent re-awakening, her no longer dormant “powers” and her inextinguishable drive to learn more. We’re along for the ride as she attempts to allay a newly gnostic gnaw at the back of her mind by retracing her childhood and tracking Mind Management’s footfall through it, and what a journey it is.

In a way, much of this issue flirts in a perhaps more surreal spin on a Joe Sacco graphic novel, offering slice-of-life storytelling surrounding the intricacies and tragedies of Place, but vetted through a particularly keen perspective in a very different, much more enlightened main character, the evolution of whom stands as the crux of perhaps the comic world’s most singularly impressive stories.

I know Meru and her life have taken the lead role for the better part of Mind MGMT, as she has been established as our Dante to its Divine Comedy, but this is not a rehash, nor is it a poor lesson in redundant storytelling. Kindt has once again proven that he is adept at revealing new depths and folds within the makeup of his characters, as well as his story itself. He achieves this exploration into a life robbed of people and memories without anything so crass as nostalgia; and yet, its response remains just as bitingly evocative.

Throughout it all, though, Kindt simmers his story in the kindling of a twice-thought snuffed-out relationship, at first tenderly fanning the flames and then searing the skin with a (literally) fiery altercation. As personal as this story feels, Kindt is undoubtedly girding his world for war, but in Meru’s continued growth in becoming what she was always meant to be, it feels like he has plotted out a new and intriguing front, not to mention an equally interesting backstory, with a quiet yet telling look into the apparent past of The Eraser.

Mind MGMT #14Visually, Kindt has established this great ethereal tone in Mind MGMT, and he continues to utilize it to its fullest in issue 14. Its hurried, furtive pace dizzies in the same way an impressionist painting might; like a picture of a tenuous memory you can’t quite grasp, like a name on the tip of your tongue. New readers will go through the requisite acquired taste process, but it doesn’t take long to figure out that this book could exist no other way visually, particularly as Kindt uses it in soft but distinct ways.

In its more looming, introspective moments, the panels themselves unravel, spilling much of the art out on the page in a fantastically dreamy bleed. In one panel, you actually see this process happen, as one “sleeper” agent manifests her ability in order to deliver a secret message, and the borders around her world melt away. It’s so subtle, beautifully well-conceived and crafted, you’d be forgiven for missing it, but it’s also a nice touch that adds to the mystique of this book.

As always, the stories at the periphery of Mind MGMT #14 act as fascinating and telling asides, exploring the unswept cobwebs of its universe. This time focusing on the home-wrecking Matryoshkas agent-in-training, Domino, and the green thumb-minded Mind Management artist known as Jardin, these may not seem directly pertinent to the main plot, but they are integral to the world by nudging it quietly further into a more robust narrative whole. Kindt has proven to be a master tease, showing no exception thus far as to how good he is at drawing the reader ever more deeply into this story.

If you haven’t checked out this series yet, stop being close-minded and pick it up. In fact, there’s no better time to jump aboard this technicolored head-trip, as the collected second volume will be available for a paltry $19.99 on October 9th.

Score: 5/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Matt Kindt

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13

Review: Thumbprint #3

Thumbprint has proved itself to be a captivating mini-series to me.  After receiving the first two issues to get prepared for #3, I flew through them.  Based on a novella of the same name by Joe Hill, it’s really something that you wouldn’t expect from the writer of Locke & Key.  It’s more of a crime-thriller, and an above average one at that. The story follows Mallory Grennan, a First Class Private in the army who was a soldier with a dark past in Abu Ghraib.  Her father was a war hero, but she took a different path.  A photo surfaced of her standing on a dead enemy solider with one boot on his head.  She admittedly said that she was lucky the frame of the picture didn’t get more of her; only Mallory’s boot was visible in the photo.  This wasn’t enough evidence for her to be formally charged, but if you zoomed out the picture as they show in the panel next to it, you can clearly see Mallory, along with a pile of dead enemy soldiers in the background.

Fast forward a bit and she’s back home, 8 months out of Abu Ghraib.  Her father dies in New York, and now Mallory doesn’t care who hears her story, for nobody’s judgment mattered but his.  Back in civilian life, she moved into her deceased father’s house and works as a bartender at a local VFW.  One of her co-workers named John who makes Mallory sick, has been trying to get with her before she even left for Iraq.  “He’s married with four kids and lives with his wife’s parents.  He has no car.”  He persuades Mallory to give him a ride home.  On their walk to the car, John steals a drunk old man’s wedding ring.  It turns out that it’s Glen, a regular at the VFW.  On the car ride home, John makes a move on Mallory, who has no part of it.  She elbows him in the nose and throws him out on the street.  When she gets her mail the next morning, she receives a piece of paper with nothing but a thumbprint on it (hence the title).  There’s no stamp on the envelope, which means someone had to physically put it in her mailbox.  This makes you think at first it’s obviously John, but in issue #2 you may be able to put the pieces together.

Thumbprint_03-pr-1Without recapping the whole series, one of Mallory’s comrades named Anshaw throws a captured bomb-maker out of a transport vehicle in issue #2 due to the fact that he spit on Mallory.  The bomb-maker gets seriously injured, but is able to escape because in the fall, his THUMB FALLS OFF.  That hint good enough for you?  The bomb-maker escapes his handcuffs since he’s able to slip through them with no thumb, and Anshaw is discharged and sent to a veteran’s hospital for PTSD.

I’m thinking that 95% of people can put the puzzle together in issue #2.  But, the story is easy to follow and interesting enough that you will want to find out what happens in issue #3.  Anshaw breaks into Mallory’s home and explains his diabolical plan.  He’s delusional and thinks that everyone in the army was out to get him.  He killed one of the higher officers, Corporal Plough (along with others), and sent his thumbprint to Mallory.  The thumbprints were basically threats to Mallory, because it was Anshaw’s way of interrogating people.  If they didn’t tell him if Mallory was included in this keeping watch over Anshaw, he’d cut off their thumb.

He ends up-you guessed it-cutting off Mallory’s thumb after handcuffing her (included with a gruesome sneak peek of Anshaw’s Guide to Easy Thumb Removal).  Then Mallory, all too similar to the bomb-maker, escapes the handcuffs and proceeds to kill Anshaw with her trusty pistol.  There’s no happy ending here however, as a doctor gives Mallory a shot of morphine and says “This will help with the pain,” she mutters “No… it won’t.”  The last panel is presumably Anshaw’s funeral which Mallory attends…with a necklace strung with thumbs.

The art wasn’t anything spectacular, but really hit home with the type of story it was conveying.  The art was bleak and minimalistic, which matched the overall tone of the book precisely.

If you’re looking for a crime thriller that actually takes until the very end to figure out, has tons of twists and turns, and is incredibly original like Revival, look elsewhere.  But, if you’re looking for a quick read in the genre and a book that has an interesting enough story to keep you hooked throughout, be sure to check out Thumbprint.

Score: 3/5

Story: Joe Hill

Script/Adaptation: Jason Ciaramella

Artist: Vic Malhotra

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Price: $3.99

Release Date: 8/28/13