Review: Ash and The Army of Darkness #4

The Evil Dead series is a cult franchise of three films that follow anti-hero Ashley J. Williams as he confronts demons in a haunted cabin in the woods.  The third film transports our hero back to medieval times to fight the Army of the Dead. The films gained a huge following because they brilliantly mixed sarcastic humor, gore, and true frights.  Director Sam Raimi made this cinematic formula all his own; watch Drag Me to Hell to get more of the same from him.

And this book, penned by Steve Niles, falls right into place with the films.  The same tone, a synthesis of laughs and thrills, abounds.  Niles plays a perfect doppelgänger to Raimi by translating the fun of the films into this comic.

Additionally, Dennis Calero does an outstanding job of illustrating character concepts like the chasing forest demon into the comic.  I understood exactly what was happening because the artist portrayed the bodiless demon so well.  I fret that those not familiar with the films may have a tougher time understanding what is going on, but I feel Calero’s capable pencils may be enough to capture such a challenging concept to understand.  Besides, the artist also does great justice in recreating the looks of characters such as Ash, Henry, Arthur, and Shelia.  The depictions of the characters from the films are stunning.

Lest I sound like I’m gushing, I will say one more item about the art.  The demons and creatures have a great, distinctive look to them.  The flying creatures on the opening pages look like animated gargoyles dropping down from the skies for an attack.  Also, the Necronomicon’s flesh binding seethes with detail.  And the haunted graveyard’s fog seems as thought it could lift right off the page.

Okay, back to the story.  The book takes place during Ash’s exile to the times of swords and sorcery.  I’m picking this up on issue four, so I am under the belief that Ash has been transported back to repeat his experiences seen in the third film.  He and Shelia go into the forest to reclaim the Necronomicon so as to banish the demons.

The issue’s climax ends with a wicked twist that fans won’t see coming—and will usher them to read the next issue.

My only gripe about the book is the dreadfully slow exposition between Arthur and Henry.  The two characters explain a whole lot that should have been told through the visual storytelling method.  But that’s a minor gripe.

Overall, Ash vs. The Army of Darkness captures the look and spirit of the film while providing new, additional stories in the Evil Dead universe.  Give this book a read if you want to feel scared and laugh while doing it.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Steve Niles Artist: Dennis Calero Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps#19

I love the action, I love the story, and I love my new anti-hero Bloodshot. The only thing is I wish is that it didn’t have to end. I wanted more. The biggest reason being we finally have a true enemy of Bloodshot and the Corps. Bloodshot and the Corps are on a mission with no option of failure. The must retrieve their boss Kozol and Captain Palmer from Oreck, former CEO of Project Rising. Bloodshot rallies the troops now that he knows who the targets are. They have to split up with Granite and Disciple taking on cold war and infiltrating the base. Bloodshot takes on the power couple which only he can do and Vagabond volunteers to take Chernobyl who is radioactive.

Vagabond has a different approach than fighting hand to hand but physiological. Vagabond can relate losing everything. His story starts out with two young lovers taking on the world and doing whatever they want. If they want to get drunk they get drunk. If they want to smoke themselves silly they go ahead. This all changes with pregnancy and the couple taking on new responsibilities; one night after a party and costly decision takes everything from him. Here he can relate with Chernobyl who lost everything because of what he is.

Bloodshot is taking a real beating from the powerful duo of Strongarm and Sharpshooter. There is one advantage Bloodshot has, his nanites, he takes a bite into Strongarm using the nanites to infect the encrypted code that is keeps him alive. In turn Sharpshooter’s emotions towards Strongarm give Bloodshot the opportunity he needs to go after Oreck.

This book was great but as a whole, the arc was short which has its advantages and disadvantages. It was a nice quick story with some meat and importance. The disadvantage was you brought some great enemies against the Crops and left you just wanting more. I enjoyed every minute and can wait for the twist and turns that could be happening in the next crossover event.

If you are thirsting for some real action outside the normal heroes this book is for you. It will give you a little insight of Bloodshot before you can jump full in with the next arc. I love this character and what is happening and I can’t wait to see what next with the little gem given to you at the end.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Christos Gage & Joshua Dysart Artist: Bart Sears Publisher: Valiant Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Red Sonja #7

If there are any of you out there that feel Gail Simone and Walter Geovani’s Red Sonja Queen of the Plagues run was lightning in a bottle… Well, you would be right. It was six issues of pure rock’em sock’em entertainment that was as good of an arc as I read last year. It kicked. It kicked hard. Now, if there are any of you out there who may feel that the Queen of the Plagues run was just too good and there is no way that Simone, Geovani, and company can produce another story even remotely close to the previous six issues… well, all I have to say is that you are gravely mistaken.  You underestimate the talent at work here and you underestimate the character of Red Sonja herself.  With the proper creative team that is in place right now, I don’t see any slowing in the sagas of the She Devil with a Sword. Everything is still there and the new issue and new story arc looks to be promising, intriguing, and yes, as entertaining as the first story arc. It still kicks.

Our new story begins about three weeks after the Queen of the Plagues arc and we find our heroine knee deep in muck and slime.  She is looking for an artisan chef, the best artisan chef as part of a deal she has made with a pharaoh type emperor who wishes to throw the greatest party anyone has ever or will ever see to celebrate his death, which is coming soon. He has enlisted Red Sonja to find the six greatest artisans in several fields with a chef being primary. To make it interesting, the pharaoh has put a little wager down with his 1000 slaves that are to be given freedom either by emancipation or death. It is all up to Red Sonja to determine which by her success or failure (Talk about pressure).  Red Sonja takes up the offer and that why she is in the muck, looking for the great Grimaldi, a resident chef to a bunch of cannibalistic, culinary snobs and sexual deviants who inhabit this particular stinky stretch of godforsaken bog. What ensues can only be described as a little bit of action, a little bit of comedy, and a little bit of suspense, all wrapped up in one nice and neat first issue of the story arc. We even get some mutant croc people in the mix as well.

Gail Simone is one of my favorite writers within the world of comics today and in reading this issue, I know why. She renders a perfect blending of many elements to create a tale that is pleasing both in the reading and in the afterthought. She slices and dices in a perfect combination of violent action, witty story development, and appropriate humor, all paced in a perfect timing element that is never rushed or overdone. Like Grimaldi himself, Simone is an artisan too.  This story is like a well-made dish that is to be savored.

I have likewise been very taken with Walter Geovani’s artwork. For the first six issues, he captured Red Sonja in her best looks of beauty and beast. She is breathtaking and absolutely deadly.  He leaves the steppes and forests of the Queen of the Plagues arc for this issue and enters into the lush green nastiness of the swamp. The thing is, even with such a dramatic change of scenery Geovani doesn’t miss a beat. The dark earth tones are there and Red Sonja is still the same stone cold stunning killer that has been put into even higher regard, I feel with each passing issue.  It is superior art of a wonderfully delicious character that makes you just want more, more, MORE!

What I noticed in this particular issue is how Simone and Geovani are really beginning to gel as a creative team. We have panels here where Geovani does all the talking through the drawn page. And then we have the pages where the dialogue and thoughts of Red Sonja are brought to the front by Simone. This give and take style works perfectly and makes for an excellent issue. It’s just superb. So to anyone who did think the well might be tapped on Red Sonja, I simply present Issue #7 for your approval. Red Sonja is still rolling and shows no sign of slowing anytime soon.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Gail Simone Artist: Walter Geovani Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Price $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Conan the Barbarian #25

The final chapter in Brian Wood’s Conan the Barbarian is here, and I have to say I have mix feeling about this series.  On one hand Wood’s Conan run has been very entertaining and the story telling was great, but I am sad to see the series end with only twenty-five issues.  Also, after Cloonan left there was some problems with the art from time to time. At some point the art was either really good and other times art was really inconsistent and really made Conan a tough read sometimes. Aside from the art issues, this Conan series was very good run in terms of story and it made me care for Conan. In Conan issue twenty-five we have Conan returning from his epic fight in the jungle. Conan lands the Tigress on a nearby island and just sits in the sand sad and depressed wondering what to do with the mighty ship.  During the time that he is on the island, Conan takes to challenging local fighters to fights hoping that one of the fighters just puts him out of his misery. After one of the fights Conan wonders why everyone in the island begins to call him the Ghostman. The barmaid explains to Conan that the reason everyone is calling him the Ghostman is because everyone can see that Conan is a defeated man, and the only person that can get himself out of that state is Conan himself.

This last issue of Conan was not my favorite.  I understand that Conan is in grief because he lost the love of his life and his crew, but it felt like Wood’s spent way too much time on showing Conan’s grief.  I felt that they could had done all the grieving in a couple of panels or even a page or two and once the grieving process was done show Conan remembering Belit and her crew on all the good times they had together and finally moving on to the next chapter in his life.  But all I got in this last issue was Conan just moping around and trying to make himself feel better by kicking other people’s asses. It just felt so different from the entire series.

As for the art, I would had loved to have Becky Cloonan come back to the issue and finish the series, but Leandro Fernandez does a very good job of giving the book that initial feel of the first couple of issues of Conan that I read when Cloonan worked on it. Great consistent art on every page, and Dave Stewart’s coloring was fantastic in this issue, both of them combine did a really good job to capture what Cloonan did for the book in the beginning. Overall, Conan # 25 was a lackluster ending to a great series. Can’t win them all I guess.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Brian Wood Artist: Leandro Fernandez Colorist: Dave Stewart Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price $3.50 Release: 2/19/14

Review: Bad Ass #2

After our group review for the first issue one thing became clear… this series is apparently written only for me. The second issue doesn’t see the introduction of more talking Dragons or anything that would instantly send it into the realm of WTF, but it doesn’t answer any questions either. In fact I was left with more questions about our villain known as Dead End. The issue begins in 1977 again as Jack (our future Dead End) is shooting baskets from the free throw line with the school’s Gym teacher. The coach is apparently putting in extra time to help Jack, but after missing 200 shots in a row he tells Jack that he’s enough reason for him to commit suicide. Jack tells the coach to get a rope, a gun and other objects commonly associate with suicide and that he’ll help him make it look like an accident. In the next issue we find Jack in the principal’s office where he cops a similar attitude there and is suspended from school.  Jack may be covered in zits (which are grosser thanks to the slap from the Nurse) and clumsy, but damn he’s got an evil wit to him.

Now something that wasn’t clear in the first issue was Amadeus Kitty’s role in everything. Jack or Dead End as he’s known here, mentioned some racy pics with a guy named Black Snake which sounds villainous. Well it turns out they’re the heroes of this world though I suspect that Amadeus is more Catwoman-esque than anything. The two of them square off and Dead End comes out on top leaving only the swat team outside to deal with.

Again, I loved this issue. I like the mystery behind Dead End and how he went from being a zit farm that couldn’t make one shot out of two-hundred, to a man who can bounce a lite cigarette off of a cop car until it hits the same asshole from the first issue in his remaining good eye. I laughed my ass off.

There’s something fun and entertaining about Herik Hanna’s script. It’s not that Hanna isn’t taking the world seriously; it’s that he’s not taking the superhero side of it seriously. That’s why Dead End can flick cigs all over and Amadeus Kitty can shoot ridiculous soundwaves and it’s entertaining, but then when we learn about Jack it’s dead serious. Just because Jack starts talking back to people doesn’t mean the reader runs out of sympathy for him, it just means that there is only so much a person can take before they snap. Ultimately Bad Ass might end up as a unique character study of a super villain, but we’ll all have to wait and see.

Bruno Bessadi’s artwork is amazing. It’s gorgeous to look at and the quality doesn’t dip from the first issue at all. What’s impressive is that in the 1977 timeline, Bessadi keeps Jack looking realistic and doesn’t forget the slap from the Nurse. So often in comics the artists is required to reset the look of a character so that the readers aren’t confused, but Bessadi manages to keep the continuum and show Jack’s face even worse know. Zit farm Jack is awesome and something that’s rarely been done in comics, but especially not in a serious super hero book. That aside Bessadi keeps the action easy to follow and fast. The battle with Amadeus is never confusing and again entertaining.

Bessadi’s art is complimented by the wonderful coloring of Gaetan Georges. The coloring is what makes the artwork stand out the most. In the present time line the color is vibrant and gives the series a look that rivals any superhero title out there; while the 1977 timeline has a softer tone that in a way resembles the era and brings it to life. Georges does a wonderful job at making Bessadi’s artwork pop especially on the half page image of Amadeus Kitty pulling out her violin. That scene had “poster” written all over it.

I understand why this book isn’t for everyone, but those same reasons are why I like it and continue to like it even more. As I said in my chunk of the group review, I don’t read the quote-unquote “funny” superhero titles that the “big two” have to offer so maybe I’m not as burnt out on this genre as others or maybe my tastes just tend to be weird and dark… I’m okay either way and will be back for the next issue of Bad Ass for sure.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Herik Hanna Artist: Bruno Bessadi Colorist: Geatan Georges Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: A Voice in the Dark #4

For the past few months, I have had a real guilty indulgence in reading Larime Taylor's study in young psychotics, A Voice in the Dark. When you read it, you can't help but to get engulfed into the world of Ms. Zoey Aarons, a serial killer in the making who’s trying to fight her dark desire as she deals with adjusting to a relocation and a urge to kill. Zoey has left her home for a college that is a pretty good distance away from her family, minus her detective Uncle and adding to adjustment, we soon find out that this campus town might just be the serial killer capital as recent murders and old legends factor prominently in the make up of the area. In order to help fight through her intruding thoughts of murder, Zoey has created a radio show on campus where people can express their darkest musings anonymously. So far, it hasn't helped.  And thanks to Taylor's flash forwards, we know that Zoey does kill again. How she gets from point A to Point B remains a mystery, but here in Issue #4, we are beginning to get an idea as to the victims, and possibly a reason too. Only time will tell.

What we do know is that Zoey is invited to a sorority party by one of her roommates and we get a glimpse of the party and the victims as things progress. Mr. Taylor himself even makes a cameo appearance as a would be suitor for Zoey (An absolutely classic move by the way). What we also see is peer pressure, social ineptitude, and more handiwork by another killer in the area. It all adds to an already great story and this issue continues to spin an awesome web. My guilty indulgence continues.

I have mentioned this before,  but Taylor writes Zoey in such a "human" way. She comes from a good home, is intelligent, a little bit shy, and generally friendly in her interactions with others. Take away the killing part, and Zoey would be a great person. That is what makes this story so intriguing. It is with such care and consideration that Taylor writes and draws Zoey. She is innocent and guilty at the same time. Truly an amazing feat from an amazing creator in Larime Taylor. He's writing this tale hella good and I know that I am in for the duration. You should be too.

If you look up Larime Taylor on Google, you will get tons of articles about his disability. All I can say is that he has made the best with what he has regarding physical limitations and he has utilized his immense desire and talent to make one of the best running stories today regardless of his disability. The guy is truly incredible.

Score: 5/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Larime Taylor Publisher: Image/Top Cow Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Blood-C - Vol. 3

Japanese anime meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Blood-C. A young high school girl, seemingly ordinary, must keep the town she lives in safe from ancient monsters that feast off of human flesh. This series was actually an anime series first and also has origins in the Blood: The Last Vampire, which is where you see our main character Saya. Blood-C is more of a spin off series. If you are not familiar with the series than volume 3 is probably not the best place to start, actually if you don’t have previous knowledge on the series then it becomes extremely hard to follow the story line. It can be confusing and at times just all over the place. However, if you’ve been a long time follower of Saya than you should definitely read this one, a vital story line is revealed.

You enter volume 3 right away with some action; the ancient monsters munching on train passengers for an afternoon snack but to their dismay Saya and her Katana are a deadly combination. Panels of gore and fight scenes move fluidly on the pages but come to halt when the reader is transported hours from the unraveling situation. It appears that throughout this story Saya is almost as confused as I was reading it. She is clinging to her old memories and becoming lost in reality. Flashbacks of suppressed memories expose more about this mysterious Saya and her connection to the ancient ones.

Volume 3 takes on a pretty crazy plot twist. Was Saya becoming a lethal hunter all a set up? Who really is Nono and Nene? Will Fumito’s experiment be exposed? Stay tuned for the chaos that will ensue in Blood-C.

What caught my eye in first place were the illustrations. I really liked the creative take on these capricious monsters; they look like they just ooze filth and malice. I loved the cover art featuring Saya, just overall the illustrations were well done.

Score: 3/5

Artist/Writer: Ranmaru Kotone Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $12.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Unity #4

I’ve never been more excited to see where a comic book company’s shared universe is heading, than I am with Valiant. Comic fans are familiar with the “nothing will be the same” bait and switch that comic book companies use, but really they’re temporary changes that turn into micro-changes after a short while. With Valiant they have an all-or-nothing attitude that actually changes the landscape of their comics and Universe. Nowhere is that shown more than with Harbinger and X-O Manowar, but there is one book that ties those two series together and that’s Unity. Unity has intrigued me from the beginning because in a way it’s been the perfect jumping on series for anyone that wanted to follow everything happening in the Valiant Universe. You get a bit of Harbinger with Harada and Livewire; Archer & Armstrong and Eternal Warrior with Gillad and then of course X-O Manowar with Ninjak and Aric. It goes to show you just how dedicated Valiant and their creators are to making Valiant a shared universe, but more importantly an approachable shared universe.

In the last issue of Unity something fantastic happened; Livewire discovered that Harada was not a good guy. In Harbinger we see that he’s grey, not really black or white, good or bad, but a little of both. Here though we see the evil side of him and as Livewire’s new found ability allows her access to everything digital Harda has done. Every email, every file and it’s very telling of his character. Needless to say she and the rest of the gang that Harada put together no longer feel as if they can trust him with the suit of armor.

The issue kicks off with our Foodie Blogger turned X-O supporter reporting on Aric’s whereabouts at a classified prison, we’re still getting an idea of what her role in this story will be but clearly it’s not accidental that we’re following her again.

From there the story introduces us to a lone Harbinger member by the code name of Anchor. He’s staring at something while thinking of when he was a part of a tactical Harbinger team; you might remember them as the team that Aric killed in under a minute. He’s lonely, but due to his unique powers and the mental suggestion of his former commander he’s been picked as the sole protector of the X-O armor. As he stops daydreaming we see Ninjak already in place above him waiting to start his part of the mission to retrieve the armor, but where are the other two members of Unity? Don’t worry… they’re on site.

This issue is fast-paced and honestly I didn’t see it resolving this aspect of the story line in one issue, but it does. You might think that that isn’t enough time, but you’d be wrong. The action continues to be great and plentiful. There’s just something rewarding about watching these heavy weight characters throw down against each other. It’s hard to say who’s going to live or die and with Valiant… you never know when they might pull the trigger on a character. Matt Kindt continues to do a great job on this series and finding his niche at Valiant.

Something I haven’t been able to expand on in the group reviews has been Doug Braithwaite’s art style. His pencils have a great balance of being sharp and cutting into the page and then at times softer and more obvious. To put it plainly it looks like pencil work, but only when he wants it to. It’s very stylized, but it’s the right fit for this series. The photorealistic details make the world feel a part of our own which makes the realism that the story has more enjoyable as a reader.

If you’re interested in the Valiant Universe, but don’t know where to start Unity is a great place to pick up. I would argue that each series has had more than one great jumping on point, but with Unity you get a snapshot of everything and that’s a wonderful thing to have from a comic book company.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Matt Kindt Artist: Doug Braithwaite Publisher: Valiant Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Savage Dragon #193

Until Savage Dragon #192 was released in November 2013, I cannot remember the last time that I read the title. It had been one of my favorites back in the early days of Image Comics and I used to devour issues every time I could get my hands on them.  Unfortunately, I drifted away from the Dragon (and comics in general) for quite some time. When I returned to comics just a couple of years ago with a vengeance, Savage Dragon was not one of my pulls. I think I read one trade during that time and I noticed that it had been so long since I had followed it, that I had missed a whole lot of this character and his evolution.  It was a pity as Erik Larsen is one of my comic heroes and the fact that he has remained with his baby, The Savage Dragon, for all these years is proof positive of his commitment. It really is one of the few titles that has such a strong continuing dedication from its creator in the modern era. Back in November 2013, when the opportunity came up to review Issue #192, I jumped right at it. I wanted to see how things were going and I had heard that big things were beginning to drop on the title. How could I resist?  I did review it and though it felt great to unite again with the title, this wrap up story just didn’t get my attention as much as I would have hoped. It had good elements, but was simply fair in a continuum that has been exceptional through the years. Still, it was able to prick my interest enough to give Issue #193 a shot. Man. I am glad I did. In what is promised to be the “1^st issue in a bold new direction”, I am happy to say that Larsen and Image have delivered and in this new telling of Savage Dragon, I believe lifelong followers and newbies can begin and develop evenly as the next realm of the Dragon is entered.  I really dug on it.

In this issue, Son Malcom Dragon has taken over the reigns of the family business and during early flash backs, we see that knocking heads and taking care of business in the physical arena is no problem for our lad. He has all the strength, speed, and agility of his father to go with a more bronze color tone of his skin.  He can handle it.  But living on his own, going to high school, and engaging socially… Now that just may be a whole lot tougher for him.

Larsen does a super job in establishing Malcolm’s awkwardness as he constantly is harassed, gawked at, touched, and chased by teenagers galore while at school. He has moved into a dive located in downtown, but he hasn’t unpacked and just appears to be an absolute stress case in handling his literal “big man on campus” tag.

We then cut to young Malcolm getting called out on a job. He has to stop one destructive piece of creature/creatures (You have to read it to understand what I mean here) that is knocking down buildings, killing innocents, and causing big trouble for the city.  Malcom enters into this scrap as an entirely different character and he looks as smooth and relaxed in this action sequence as a hero can be in dispatching a creature. The study in contrasts is wonderful and I think within these opening pages, we are getting to a very interesting story of Malcolm and his struggles; struggles of being the son of the Savage Dragon, struggles of dealing with parents of girlfriends who don’t approve of their daughter dating a dragon… struggles with trying to “blend in” when you simply can’t because you dwarf everyone with sheer size and a nice streamlined fin on your head. And finally, those struggles of dealing with curious persons who are wondering and asking if you have scales all over your body, all over your body to include those delicate parts. It all is a lot for our young man to handle, but Larsen has written and drawn it in a way that it will be a most interesting adventure to be sure.

With the art, Larsen just rocks heavy. Malcolm looks like some bronze reptilian god, ready to kick ass at one moment, then he cuts to some of the most innocent eyes and facial expressions of a man who is unsure of himself in social situations.  Things are in top form and the Dragon is back. Also, Dad is still around too. I think it is going to be nice to see the mentoring relationship between father and son here as well.

I may have been a little down on Issue #192, but Erik Larsen has come back strong on #193. The promise of a “bold new direction” is kept and I am looking forward to following Malcolm to wherever he may go.

Score: 5/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Erik Larsen Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Terminator: Enemy of My Enemy #1

Let us return to the time of 1985. It was a time when guys wore skinny ties, women wore enough hair spray to tear a hole in the ozone layer, and both danced it up at clubs called Tech Noir. It was also a time when the world was introduced to a T-800 Terminator, the most powerful and destructive killing machine that the world had ever seen at the time.  Thus began the ongoing saga of The Terminator that is still kicking strong some 29 years later. Enemy of my Enemy is a mini that is being released that doesn’t change anything in the Terminator continuum, but it adds an additional element to the tapestry. It just happens to take place in 1985, about the same time that the first Terminator movie was wrapping up.

In a totally different locale (The east coast), we are introduced to a former CIA agent and current bounty hunter named Farrow Greene. The story wastes no time in demonstrating that Greene is hardcore in her work (and ripped up in her physique). She obviously can handle trouble. Greene is given a job to hunt down a diminutive and mousy doctor named Elise Fong. She is told that capturing Fong will go a long way in helping her “reach her goal”. What goal, we have no clue. But, Greene takes the case and finds Fong rather quickly. Unfortunately, there is another hulking hunter out to get Dr. Fong as well, and it doesn’t look like bringing her in is part of his agenda. Action ensues and Greene shows that she can take care of things, but a Terminator is a Terminator and with her first encounter, she has questions. Also, Dr. Fong gets away.

I came into this issue with a poor attitude, wondering how to take some of the 1980s era story and rehash it into a new territory.  But I must say a good job has been done here.  Dan Jolley paces this tale at a strong speed from the get go and he covers a whole lot of area in a small amount of time. Even with that fast pace, the story never feels rushed and fits extremely well to the action that is presented.

Dialogue by Jolley and matching art by Jamal Igle on the pencils and Ray Snyder on the inks respectively help to convey a strong story and establish a new badass lady in the Terminator world. I gotta say that I was very impressed with the characterization of Farrow Greene, and within this issue, she proved that she is quite a worthy adversary to the T-800. Things are looking like we are in for an interesting tale with lots of questions generated within this opener that will keep you reading more. This is a great initial go.

In the past the Terminator brand has had some missteps both in movie form and comic. Dark Horse has put a recommitment to the franchise however and they are bringing it. With the Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle story (See Review) and now this one, I have renewed and continued high hopes in this extremely good iconic storyline continuing in a positive direction.

Score: 4/5

Writer:  Dan Jolley Artist: Jamal Ingle Inker: Ray Snyder Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Godzilla: Rulers of Earth #9

Bam!  We open with Titanosaurus, Manda, and Gezora attacking a Navy fleet.  That’s awesome because these are three cool yet highly underutilized kaiju.  Even better, Godzilla himself pops up to have a ménage a quatre with the attacking monsters.  I have to say that the scene in which Big G uses Manda to snap the other monsters like a locker-room towel made me guffaw and cheer. This is Chris Mowry delivering what a Godzilla comic needs: immediate monster-on-monster action.  Also, Jeff Zornow’s pencils capture the action so well that you understand the battle.   No question as to whether Godzilla is bashing squid or teeing up on the 14^th hole of Pebble Beach.  Every panel flows smoothly so that the action runs fluid.

I also must make an aside that Titanosaurus needs his own comic.  IDW, I have a great script for you that will sell countless books.  Call me.

Okay, back to the issue.  Lucy, knocked from the ship during the battle, ends up in the one place where I hoped she wouldn’t.  No, not one of those 24-Hour Asian Massage parlors outside the casinos where you can get a late-night happy ending.

She ends up on Mothra’s island.  Fuck.  I hate Mothra.  Talk about a one-dimensional monster.  The moth iteration of this hapless wonder kaiju is always dead or dying.  The phallic worm twins are always hatching.  Either form, this monster is always sucking.

Add to that those annoying twins, and you have the makings of a plot turn that drags the comic down to the literary equivalent of the wrong side of the tracks.  The only good to come of this is that the twins (I want to call them the Peanuts so bad) recant the story of ages ago where Gorosaurus, Batra, and Kameobas rock the prehistoric era like a Brian May guitar solo.

Chris Mowry, you are one sly dog for writing those cameos in.  I tip my beer to you for that, my man!

Add to that Megalon and King Caesar, and you have now balanced Mothra’s suck factor out with some redeeming monsters.  So many additional monsters make cool cameos that readers will spend the issue ranting and cheering.  Until we realize that we still have to deal with Mothra.

Mothra.  Can’t someone just hang a big yellow bulb and have Mothra slam into it and beat itself to death?  Space Hunter Nebula M, you need to get on that battle plan quickly.

We end with Lucy getting teleported by Mothra (damn, I hated typing something as terrible sounding as that).  She now knows the secret of the monsters and where Godzilla fits in.

On a more promising note, next month’s cover teases the appearance of the Gaira kaiju.  Those gargantuan look to shake things up worse than a sorority girl on Ecstasy at a kegger after being dumped by her boyfriend and who sees that boyfriend there with her sorority sister.

This series has built a great rhythm for monster battles and all out fun.  The characters no longer govern the brunt of the book, and that’s as it should be.  If we could get past this Mothra nonsense and back the awesome kaiju, we will be okay.

IDW has burned us G-Fans in the past.  I worry that this title may be replaced by Little People, Big Mothra.

Please don’t let that happen.  Buy this book and keep it pure.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Chris Mowry Artist: Jeff Zornow Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Dual Review: Loki – Ragnarok and Roll #1

In this dual review two writers (in this case Steve and Dustin) will take a look at the issue and give a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass. Before we begin here’s what the issue is about from Boom Studios: What happens when Odin banishes Loki to Earth? He finds a world of outcasts that appreciate his style! While his kin sharpen their weapons, he picks up an electric guitar.

Steve: BUY

So, I have to admit, I approached Boom’s Loki: Ragnarok and Roll in the same way a wayward child might, when browsing through his or her local Blockbuster or Erol’s Video, come upon one of those old Golden Video films. You know the ones I mean. Right before a big Disney film was about to drop, Golden Video would pimp these straight-to-video knock-offs and stick them everywhere to feed on the public fervor. It was hilarious guerrilla marketing and I loved it. But is Boom’s Loki title just a way to leech off the mass boner the world currently has for the god of mischief, or does it turn its own kind of trick?

I gotta say this book was a hoot and change. I clocked onto this early, in reading the way Odin describes the relationship between Thor and Loki. It’s perfect - what a brilliant way to both describe and appeal to a god of mischief. The brothers’ relationship is great, as well. It’s much more exaggerated than we’re used to seeing and played more for comedy than in Marvel continuity (well, until recently, I guess), but both separately and together, I loved the voices Esquivel gives these characters.

The art was simple, cartoonish and itself a bit mischievous, but in a good way - the crucified rockstar was a nice touch, for one example, and the inclusion of the mafackin’ Flying Spaghetti Monster for another. Like the story, Jerry Gaylord has a great, over-exaggerated art style here that might make you think this could be an all-ages title, if it weren’t for all the decapitations and satanist lesbian dominatrices dressed as nuns. Oh yeah, it has all that, too. Something for everyone.

Of course, that’s the point of this book: a god’s discovery that humanity has become a dynamic, hedonistic thing where everything - including godhood - is available, and while it gets a bit too-cool-for-school at the end, I have a feeling someone’s timely emergence is going to give that a good kick in the ass, too.

So yeah, this gets a solid BUY from me for raising the bar on stealing the thunder ... so to speak. On that note, I’ve been inspired to go back and check out Esquivel’s precursor book to this, Thor: The Unkillable Thunder Christ, because ... well, because it’s fucking called that, for one. And secondly, thanks to this crew’s ceremonious arrival on my shore, I’m inspired to check out their wake.

Dustin: BUY

I will say up front that I’m giving this issue a soft “buy.” I’m still kind of leaning towards a “borrow”, but I don’t think I can determine that until at least the second issue. I wanted to like this series more. The concept and the cover alone intrigued me and when I saw that Jerry Gaylord was on the book I was even more excited. Gaylord’s style has vastly improved from Fanboys vs Zombies and it’s nice to see him tackle new projects and flex his artistic skills. He was become very stale on FVZ and you never want to see that happen to an artist you like.

It’s a solid first issue, but there was something lacking. It was as if the issue needed to either spend more time with Loki on earth or less time with Loki on earth. I really think this issue could have ended with him just walking into the club at the end and it would have been sufficient. That would have given the issue a chance to hang out with Loki in Asgard and really develop his character and the rest of the Norse gods we’re introduced to.

Like I said, I liked it, but I don’t know if it made me fall in love with it. I could see myself dropping this series after the second issue if the pacing issues weren’t worked out and I hate that; when something has a cool title like Loki: Ragnarok and Roll you don’t want it to disappoint you. You want it to fucking rock and captivate you. Instead it was just okay and I’m still not sure if that’s worth a buy, but I also think that it’s worth coming back to and with that you’d have to read this issue to come back.

Score: BUY

Writer: Eric M. Esquivel Artist: Jerry Gaylord Publisher: Boom Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Group Review: Undertow #1

Each of the participating writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the issue a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass along with a short reason for the score. Here’s a blurb about the issue from Image Comics before we begin: Atlantis is the world superpower, and Redum Anshargal is its worst enemy. If you want to break free of the system, he can offer you a place at his side, exploring the wild surface world in his watertight city barge The Deliverer. He and his hostage-protégé Ukinnu Alal hunt the Amphibian, a legend that could be the key to an air-breathing life on land. But as they become the hunted, can Anshargal's team survive long enough to turn the tables on the godlike beast they set out for?

Kimberly: BUY

I admit that before reading Undertow I thought it was a different Undertow I saw that was really whimsical and elven like; I think it’s still worth checking out. However, I wasn’t disappointed with this one.

It’s like a reversed Atlantis story. What if the original inhabitants of Atlantis wanted to discover what was on land? What if they were militarized? Well the answer may lie in the pages of Undertow. It also had an Avatar vibe to it; I think it’s that hunger for discovery that plagues humans. Even though this inhabitants aren’t exactly humans but it could still be applicable.

I love the way in which the narrator describes his surroundings and his journey. I would give the story telling an A+, but this issue is jam packed full of dialogue and action so at times it may get a bit confusing. The usage of color scheme adds to that underwater atmosphere that I especially loved in this issue.  Though this isn’t something I would normally be interested in reading, I am still going to give it a “buy,” I think it’s entertaining and it’s got a unique angle.

James: BORROW

I had extremely high hopes in this lofty story. It has been promoted for some time now by Image and it looked on the ads to be a real interesting tale of deep sea melodrama. And for the most part, it is. Undertow looks like it is going to be an epic tale of undersea political intrigue and heavy duty in your face action. This first issue delivers on that as we bear witness to a battle, as well as some brief history of an insurrection that is occurring within the Atlantis’ state. We also get to know the rebel leader Redum Anshargal  better as seen through the eyes and narration of Ukinnu Alal, a child of privilege who has left it to find himself while serving in the Atlantian army.

Artyom Trakhanov’s art is very powerful and worthy of great praise. He covers tremendous action and wide landscapes of story scope very exquisitely. Steve Orlando’s story however, though it is bold in presentation and heavy on action, it almost feels like he tries to stuff too much in this first issue. You have some time man. Don’t try to throw everything in at once. Pace it man. Pace it. It doesn’t have to be a sprint.

All in all, I believe that Undertow has a ton of potential, but I am very curious to see how the next issues play out before I am sold on a full commitment to buy.  Borrow, all day, but, I want to see if Orlando’s story gets into a good groove once all the elements are properly established.

Steve: PASS

Right now, at the beginning of this review, I’m still not sure whether I want to give Undertow #1 a Borrow or an outright Pass. I didn’t hate this Atlantean history retread, but I almost immediately forgot about it when I put it down. Much of the fault there, I think, has to do with the fact that I’ve seen this “ancient-yet-technologically-advanced underwater society” trope so many times before, and frankly I’m pretty sick of it.

The art is a little bit of all right, although it does get a bit overly-wrinkled and busy at times. My main problem is with the dialogue, which I found to be stilted and abrupt, even though there’s a lot of it. Both the story and the voices used jump all over the place without actually saying much, hammering in points of a society that still doesn’t feel fleshed-out by the issue’s end.

A story about fishpeople who shun their totalitarian, emotionless society in favor of exploring prehistoric land in search of a legendary amphibious creature should be good, and while this isn’t what I’d call terrible; its implementation doesn’t match its concept.

Dustin: BUY

Leave it to me to be the optimistic voice right? I fucking hate underwater societies. I hate them. I find the idea of Atlantis to be stupid and illogical which is why I don’t like stories about underwater societies. It’s why I never complain when Namor or Aquaman are walking around above water, because can you really blame them? It’s fucking better up here. This series deals with an underwater society… but the world is crazy.

The first crazy ass idea of it is that it’s taking place at a time in which humans are still basically monkeys and definitely savages. In many ways our underwater people are space explorers on their own planet. Even the opening of the urban legend of Redum Anshargal reeks of Space Pirate goodness. The parallel between space exploration continues as we discover that the underwater society is much like our own; complacent and controlled by the ruling class aka the government.

I know it’s become a complex idea. Basically it’s a story set in the past before humans dominated the world, but in a way it’s commentary about our current society and explores the idea of us one day having to explore a new world to live on and the idea that we wouldn’t be able to live the way we do currently. For humans this is oxygen which isn’t breathable on say Mars, whereas with our underwater dwellers it’s water for air.

Now the issue did have some problems and overall I didn’t connect to any of the characters, but the concept and execution won me over. Additionally I enjoyed the art with the sharp and thick line work. The coloring only served to make the world and setting pop off the page. It might not be for everyone, but I’ll definitely be back for more.

Samantha: PASS

This comic immediately felt like I was being pulled in an undertow. The whole comic was a blur of rapid movement. I couldn’t breathe or understand the full capacity of what was happening. If I didn’t read Image’s site, I still would be thrashing my arms wildly at what the hell is going on. The whole thing was just very unusual for me. No doubt the comic took us to a new places and experiences. But it was thrown at us with a heavy hand. I hate when first issues throw tons of information at you. It stresses me out and always feels like a cop out because they couldn’t think of a better way to introduce a new world.

At the same time, I didn’t want to give Undertow a “Pass” for one simple reason; I think some people will love this comic. The underwater elements are pretty fascinating. I don’t think enough comics are based underwater. People love the Lost City of Atlantis. And last but not least, monsters are involved. So I think some will jump onto this series very quickly with all its allure. For me though, I will pass up the chance to drown once again.

Score: 2 Buys, 2 Passes and a Borrow

Writer: Steve Orlando Artist: Artyom Trakhanov Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Group Review: The White Suits #1

Each of the participating writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the issue a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass along with a short reason for the score. Here’s a blurb about the issue from Dark Horse Comics before we begin: Mysterious killers dressed in white, they savaged the Cold War Russian underworld—then disappeared. Now they have resurfaced in New York, leaving a trail of dead mobsters. In this bloody wake, an amnesiac and an FBI agent search for the answer to a single question: Who are the White Suits?

Steve: BUY

It is a rare thing for a book to completely grab your attention from the first page. Obviously that’s the aim, but it is so frustratingly often unreached. Luckily, White Suits #1, with its “bleached noir” visual style and cadence, is one such book that grabbed me - somewhat inappropriately - from the word “go.”

This urban legend crime story about a small unit of utterly amoral basses is fast, turbulent and bloody, with thematic shades of 100 Bullets, though admittedly not as resounding and without as measured or in-depth an approach. In fact, the issue sometimes moves too quickly, but I’m guessing that’s because it first appeared serially in Dark Horse Presents, which makes me think it might read better altogether as a trade.

Still, White Suits’ choppy and restless storytelling style is matched well with its black and white color scheme, offset as it is by an aggressive flirtation of red. It allows the warped slash of the book’s art to really pop, and whenever color does rear its head, it either glows like an alarm or pools like murder. Like I said, this might read better when it’s all collected in trade, but I’d say at least pick up the first issue, just to see what happens when noir goes pale.

Adam: PASS

I really wanted to like The White Suits, but I ended up not caring for it all that much.  Basically all I got out of it was the little blurb at the beginning of the issue but with some art (great art, actually).  I felt like I had whiplash after reading the issue, there was just too much going on and none of it minus the ending was memorable to me.  In the back of the issue it says “either you’ve been slapped silly and liked it, or you’re shivering in a fetal position, hoping the bad things will go away and stop hurting you.”  I do feel like I was slapped silly because of the almost ADD-like perspective changes in the story, but I can’t say I liked it.  The art was great though-it gave the book a filthy, dirty, dark feel that was immersive.  I’ll definitely give this series a fair shot because I think it’ll get better from here and the art is gorgeous, but I definitely can’t recommend buying this first issue.

Samantha: BUY

Dark Horse gives us a new comic this week, and I can’t exactly put on a finger on way I was so intrigued with this. I think maybe it was just all the good elements adding up to be an all-around pleasant read. First, the book is visually amazing. The whole comic is black, white, and red. I love when comics are black and white with pops of color at dramatic moments. I also loved the layering the comic does with the panels. The issue reads as a collage of pictures not a sequence of panels.

Next comes the story. Now I hope that the series can continue into something interesting and not just a spy drama with the typical girl and guy duo taking down the big guys. But for the first issue, we see more of illusive White Suits. We have no idea what these guys and gals are here to do. We do know that they have been around since the Cold War though. And no one knew what they were doing there either. I actually would love for the series to do some flashbacks to the Cold War to help us understand the dudes better. My hope is that we can focus on the group and see what these guys are all about. I have a feeling it will be pretty interesting. Probably a play with communism or socialism.  Like me I think you will enjoy the comic, so definitely “Buy” this issue for an all-around entertaining treat this week.

Dustin: BUY

I remember being taken away by this series just from the preview. It wasn’t so much the story which is admittedly on the predictable side, but more so the artwork. Great art can elevate the simplest of stories to the next level. I mean really this story is your paint by number revenge story (very Kill Bill at times), but with amnesia thrown in for good measure. I still enjoyed it, but it was ripe with influences.

The art though… damn. Toby Cypress blew me away. His page breakdowns where magical and while I can see some people getting lost in them… just take your time. So often readers want to keep pace with the dialogue and their own habitual reading speed, but here Barbiere and Cypress ask you to slow down and just stare at the page. They ask you to pay attention to that scene with the extreme close up on the eyes and soak in the fact that this character has no soul. His eyes are dead and his actions are deadlier. The art is beautiful.

What adds to that beauty is the coloring. Mostly the book is in black and white, but then there’s this gradient of orange to red that’s used throughout the issue that adds vibrancy to the page. It makes the violence pop and the action flow from panel to panel. It also makes the impact of the white almost a neon haze. This was a fantastic first issue that only left me wanting more.

Score: 3 Buys and a Pass

Writer: Frank J. Barbiere Artist: Toby Cypress Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Quantum & Woody #8

Within the ever-widening gyre of “humorous” superhero comic books, Quantum and Woody is the one series that actually seems to float effortlessly at the top. For having not heard his name much before (other than furtive brushes against Thief of Thieves and The End Times of Bram & Ben, in which he served as co-writer), James Asmus has very quickly risen to the upper crust of my current favorite writers, and this series’ eighth outing is a perfect example of why. This issue of what I hold to be Valiant’s best book of the moment sees its titular tit and his brother Quantum finally rallying their white supremacist militia against the tank-toting government sub-contractors that would use them to start a civil war. Yeah, that happens, and guess what? It’s fucking hilarious. Asmus once again proves that he is fluent in the funny here; not by being forceful or hammering quips awkwardly into dialogue, but by making it feel light, organic and most of all fun.

Now, that’s saying a whole hell of a lot for a book that tackles “controversial” topics like homosexuality in the military, race wars, the ridiculousness of domestic politics and even teen pregnancy. Basically, if your buzzword has a cheeky nook and/or gaping cranny, chances are, Asmus is going to use Quantum and Woody to satirically spelunk the shit out of it ... and it will be glorious.

Speaking of those hard-to-reach places, even at its most serious and subsidiary, this issue is a great read. Asmus is clearly having a hell of a time building this world from seemingly every direction, whether it’s via the one-page flashback of Quantum’s time in the service (which suitably wraps up the personal backstory of this arc), or even in something so simple as the book’s lettering.

As I’ve mentioned before, Asmus regularly makes even what elsewhere could be misconstrued as the gristle of comic books both flavorful and fun. For example, with significant assistance from letterer Dave Lanphear, he bandies about a liberal helping of sound effects in the book, and you’d be remiss if you missed the more choice samples.

I don’t want to spoil the fun for those who have yet to read it, so let me just throw down this [LETTERING SPOILER WARNING]. Whether he seasons his scenes with a disastrous FAAT-DOOM, an explosive BA-DAAASS or a sizzling FSSHHZZZZLE, it adds a little something extra to the enjoyment of Quantum and Woody’s punch, and exemplifies the easy and entertaining tone that has permeated the book for the first two arcs.

Along the same lines, and this is another moderate [SPOILER], I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone so accurately depict the sound a fax machine makes via lettering. That alone is a solid achievement for this issue, and what it bodes gets me all nippularly titillated, since I was sad to see the character it teases go in the first place. Needless to say (though I will anyway), there are great things afoot in this book, and not just because next issue will give us a Vincent Van Goat backstory!

Okay, so normally this is the portion of the review that I’d spend discussing the art of the book. But I’m not going to do that here. I’ve already written at great length how I feel about Doyle’s work in this book, as well as in my coverage of her collaboration with Brian Wood in last year’s inexcusably overrated miniseries Mara, and I don’t think there’s much else to say.

The general gist is that her style is not for me, and it serves as the only detriment to an otherwise flawless arc. In fact, it’s the only reason I didn’t give Quantum and Woody #8 a five out of five. I do still wonder about those readers who champion her stuff, and have yet to come across anyone who can substantiate the opinion adequately.

The only other thing I will mention is that I’m happy to see a shift in the visual direction with the announcement a while back that the enigmatic Kano will be taking over artistic duties. I think his visceral cartoony style will lend itself much more satisfyingly to the overall aesthetic of Quantum and Woody, and I can’t wait to see how he and Asmus work together.

If you’re not reading Quantum and Woody, well, crap on a Catholic, I don’t know what to tell you ... other than you’re being a real bag of cats’ asses! Apart from the substandard art this arc, which again is thankfully over, this very well may be the best thing going in superhero comics right now. True story.

Score: 4/5

Writer: James Asmus Artist: Ming Doyle Colors: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Dave Lanphear Publisher: Valiant Comics Price: 3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Alex + Ada #4

Although I was a bit disappointed with last month’s issue of Alex + Ada, I can gladly say that I’m back on board with this series thanks to this month’s installment.  It’s definitely not for everyone due to the subject matter and the fact that it moves very slowly, but issue #4 has a huge impact and has changed the direction of the book. The book starts off with Alex entering the forum we saw him accessing at the very end of issue #3.  He goes up to the bar where a few other forum members are sitting and one of the members starts up a conversation with him.  We learn later that his name is Levi, a forum moderator.  There’s also another guy sitting amongst Alex and Levi whom we find out is a robot (we don’t learn his name in this issue, however).  At this point, Alex is confused about how a robot could get into these forums, but actually about half of the members that come into the forums are robots.  It’s explained to him that these robots are sentient, just like Tera, the robot who was murdered at the rock concert.

Levi brought up another great point here that will definitely come into play in the future of this series and that’s injustice towards the robots.  If Tera’s circumstances happened to a human, the people who attacked her would be charged with murder.  But since it was an android (even a self-aware and free-thinking one), she was just thrown in the trash.  Alex thinks he wants sentience for Ada, but isn’t quite sure yet.  He is seeking out Levi and the robot’s advice for what he should do next.  They explain to him that it’s an illegal procedure, but it can be done.

Alex finds out that Prime Intelligence has a secret that luckily Levi knows about.  When competing with Nexaware who created the first sentient artificial intelligence in history, Prime was also sentient.  After the Nexaware massacre, Prime blocked the sentience.  However, the block to the sentience can be unlocked and the android can be its own functioning being due to the fact that Prime Intelligence is essentially a complex brain inside the android.  The procedure is dangerous and costly, not to mention illegal.  Is this really what Alex wants Ada to be?

The issue was very heavily dialogue-driven as we’ve come to expect from this book.  It’s a slow-burn type of read but as I said, the ending is great and serves as a huge cliffhanger that raise tons of questions.  Where it shines for me at least is the emotional and human (although sometimes android) connections.  The art is great for capturing emotions and the loneliness and disappointment Alex feels at the moment.  Although I still think Alex is weird for going along with his grandmother’s ploy to get him over his breakup and not be single by getting an android, it makes me wonder if people will actually have androids for this purpose someday.  Any science fiction fan should definitely be following this book, and I’m already looking forward to next month’s issue.

Score: 4/5

Writers: Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna Artist: Jonathan Luna Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #3

This damn Clone Trooper named Hock has become the best thing to happen to Star Wars since Boba Fett and that’s saying something. Fett’s popularity is owed in large part to the fans, but with that came his annoying appearance everywhere. Also the fact that the expanded universe found a way to bring him back from the dead only made Fett the Wolverine of the Star Wars universe. There’s been a Fett shaped hole in my heart because of the annoyance of his popularity, but thankfully Siedell found a way to fill that hole… Hock Malsuum. Malsuum has gone back to work for the Empire and has found his way into Vader’s squad. This issue is about the “biggest battlefield disaster the Empire had ever known.” I mean that’s all I really need to say about the issue. Malssum sees the problem with everything going on and ends up saving his own ass in the process which leads to him helping Vader and winning his trust 100%... at least we think that for now.

I really don’t need to say anything about the battle since it is the majority of the issue. Malsuum continues to show why he’s incredibly bad-ass and why he’s a mutation from the original clones. He does have a great moment in which he misses the company of the other clones and even gives a great line that explains perhaps why the Troopers in the original movie trilogy are such terrible shots (it’s very funny).

Tim Siedell knocks it out of the part again. I’m not kidding when I say that Hock Malsuum is one of the best things to ever happen to Star Wars. It’s almost a shame that they’re not going to be able to use him in the films so way because it would be awesome to see him in motion. Siedell continues to narrate the story from Malsuum’s point of view and keeps Vader at bay. Vader speaks a little in this issue, but seeing the world through Malsuum’s eyes is magical. His narration when he meets the Emperor fills you with the same excitement and that’s a credit to Siedell’s writing. I actually found myself cheering for the Empire which is something I’ve never done before.

Gabriel Guzman’s artwork brings Siedell’s script to life. His characterization of Malssum is great as he adds so much personality to the character with the visuals. Malssum’s mannerisms especially when he feels accomplished in winning Vader’s trust are great. You can see his silent moment of joy as it puts you right there with him.

I’m almost running out of things to say about this series what with it being so consistently great, but I’ll continuing talking about it for those that may forget why they should be reading it. I’ve said previously that this is the only Star Wars title I’m currently reading and that’s because I don’t think any of the others could hold a torch to what the creative team is accomplishing here. If you love Star Wars because of the strong characters, look no further than this series for enjoyment.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Tim Siedell Artist: Gabriel Guzman Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 2/19/14

Review: Curse #2

Before I get into this let me just make one thing very clear, and please take this to heart, I’m pretty sure that I’m right about it. Four part series are hard. Especially that second issue. I’m a big fan of three-part series, honestly. I really like a beginning, a middle, and an end. Simple. I think once you start having a sort of two-part middle, that’s when unnecessary content is created. Or people get confused. That was rough, I don’t believe that anything that these guys write is unnecessary, but I think that it makes it hard to find a good ending for that second issue. Personally, I’d prefer three thirty page issues, but let’s be honest, that’s just not going to happen. I just don’t like being titillated when there hasn’t been any more real development. The murderer that has been terrorizing the town has been captured. But this guy is no normal captive. Anton Chavoy is a werewolf. That makes for some pretty abnormal conversation between captor and captive. That and the excessive amount of chains required to keep this monster restrained. The most important thing about this beast is the bounty that he’s worth. Until he transforms again, Laney won’t have the proof that he needs to collect the money that he’ll use for his son’s leukemia treatment. And to make matters worse, Laney is the prime suspect in the investigation.

I liked it, but some of the content seems a little overused. I would even go as far as to say that it’s a little cliché. I don’t want to give anything away by being too specific about what I wasn’t completely sold on, but if I’m right in assuming that it is, you’ll see it too. Maybe I just didn’t know what to expect this month. Like I said earlier, this part of a four-part story always seems like the weakest part to me. I’ve been reading a lot of minis lately and I’m seeing this over and over again. I am completely convinced that next month will leave us all on the edge of our seats.

The art really shines in the flashback portion of the book. I love a good flashback, and I’m always excited to see what route the artist will take. That being said, the flashback consisted of a pretty “meh” story.

Not a very long review, I know, but I think that it’s safe to say that this may be the general consensus. A good issue, but not nearly the impressive all around storytelling of its predecessor. I’m sure that the best is yet to come though. This is just the calm before the storm. Or maybe I just have the wrong expectations for this book.

Score: 3/5

Writers: Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel Artists: Riley Rossmo, Colin Lorimer Publisher: Boom Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/19/14

Trailer Time: Guardians of the Galaxy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTZ2Tp9yXyM&feature=youtu.be I'll admit that I laughed one time and only one time. The rest just seemed... typical. Also I hope you liked that scene of Rocket Raccoon and Groot shooting guns and turning in a circle because they put them in different clothes and then placed them in a different location and called it a day. I guess they really loved that spinning shot.

Joelle Jones Launches New Website

If you're familiar with Helheim then you know Joelle Jones from her amazing artwork on that series. Obviously she's done a ton more than just Helheim, but I'm bringing that up because she's working on the sequel for the series. That's right Brides of Helheim is coming! Thanks to Jamie S. Rich for sending this our way. Official Press Release:

Comics artist Joëlle Jones is proud to announce the relaunch and redesign of her website.

joellejones.com is the official home for all news and previews of Joëlle Jones’ projects, as well as featuring an archive of past works. Fans of the cartoonist can follow the site to buy exclusive prints and also to keep up to date on Jones’ upcoming appearances.

Joëlle Jones has been working in the comic book industry for nearly a decade, and is known for her work on books like DOCTOR HORRIBLE, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, and MADAME XANADU, as well as creator-owned projects like YOU HAVE KILLED ME and HELHEIM.

Though Jones previously had an art blog and tumblr, this marks the first full-service website devoted to her work. To celebrate, she is offering for sale, for the first time ever, the original art to HELHEIM #1. Details here: http://www.joellejones.com/helheim-1-cover-for-sale/

All other art sales will continue to be through Cadence Comic Art, who are selling all remaining pages of the HELHEIM series, as well as pages from ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, HOUSE OF NIGHT, 12 REASONS WHY I LOVE HER, and Joëlle’s other previously published comic book projects: http://cadencecomicart.com/artist.php?artist=18

The HELHEIM trade paperback collecting the first series will be on sale in March. Joëlle Jones is currently at work on the sequel, BRIDES OF HELHEIM, which will be released by Oni Press.