I really have to hand it to the writing in this comic. Jonathan Maberry has a way of intertwining this complex war in such a cool way. War brings so many sides, and Maberry doesn’t let any of those go to waste. He really tries to come from all angles with each new character.
Read MoreReview: Punks - The Comic #4
There are a whole lot of strange, bizarre, and just plain weird comics out there. Some are kind of artsy. Some are kind of deep. While some are kind of allegorical in nature trying to prove a point. As for Punks the Comic, it is none of those.
Read MoreReview: Big Trouble In Little China #8
This is one of the few comics I've been eagerly anticipating each issue. I've been spreading the good word about every issue and how much I love the movie. This is the first one to leave me going kind of meh!
Read MoreReview: Weekly Shonen Jump #9
This week's 200+ page "mega issue" of Jump does not disappoint.
Read MoreReview: Doberman #5
Although I’ve seen a lot of harsh criticism for Doberman, I’ve continued to enjoy it for what it is. I think people who don’t enjoy it take the comic, and themselves, too seriously. This book isn’t trying to re-invent the wheel by any means but delivers on action and comedy which it sets out to do.
Read MoreReview: Graveyard Shift #2
I was really impressed by the first issue of Graveyard Shift, and couldn’t wait to see where this story would go next. While I didn’t find issue two quite as impressive as the first instalment, I still think that this is definitely a series that’s worth your time.
Read MoreReview: Captain Midnight #19
It’s come down to this. After receiving great professional and personal loss, Jim Albright (aka Captain Midnight) finds himself fighting for his life (as well as the whole world) against his once best friend and former partner Chuck Ramsey. This is the big battle that has been building for a while and it is the wrap up arc before the final one of the series.
Read MoreReview: Outcast Vol. 1 - A Darkness Surrounds Him
Outcast is a series I was reluctant to start purely because of how disillusioned I’ve become with Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. While it continually impresses me that he can keep the universe of the comic and the universe of the show separate in his head and write for both, after a while it grew stagnant for me; they find a new place to live, someone in that place rapes or kills someone in Rick’s group, they have to fight, they have to leave, repeat until Rick finally bites it possibly never.
Read MoreReview: Bitch Planet #2
So, my review of Bitch Planet #1 got some heat. And I kind of expected that; I mean, calling bullshit on a beloved creator’s magnum opus isn’t the best or quickest way to gain internet popularity. What I will not abide, however, are the few voices that called it sexist.
Read MoreReview: Quantum & Woody Must Die #1
I’ve heard a lot about Quantum and Woody but haven’t ever gotten the chance to check it out until I saw they’re having a new miniseries. I can already say from this debut issue that If you’re struggling to find some quality laughs in a comic book, look no further than Quantum and Woody Must Die.
Read MoreReview: Munchkin #1
When I first read the news of BOOM! Studios having obtained the rights to do a Munchkin comic I was very excited for the franchise. From the first time I started playing this very popular game I could tell that this game had the potential to be a comic book. From the wacky minions you face and the hilarious named gear you obtain after killing a monster; the game felt like a comic.
Read MoreReview: The Dying & The Dead #1
A friend once told me that, despite what you might hear, Life is not short. It is, in fact, the longest thing you will ever experience. I always found that to be an interesting viewpoint, and, really, an optimistic one. But Life is not so individual an experience - no man being an island, and all that - and its length cannot be measured without a sense of relativity. In a lot of ways, the same could be said about reading Jonathan Hickman.
Read MoreReview: Princess Ugg #7
This series has been kicking serious ass lately. I missed out on reviewing the last issue, but if I had… high marks to say the least. The thing that’s always so pleasing about Ted Naifeh’s storytelling is that he manages to hook you with a different lure each issue.
Read MoreReview: Death Vigil #6
Ah… I probably shouldn’t review this issue because everything is a potential spoiler. So SPOILER WARNING PEOPLE!
I hate it when I’m right. If you recall I figured out the structure of the story and related it to that of anime in a previous review (likely floating around at the bottom of this review). The pacing and the character development ensured that a character had to die in order to push the narrative forward… well Stjepan Sejic’s own cover confirms as much. That’s right, that’s the boldest fucking cover I have ever seen because he doesn’t beat around the bush. I’m sure some people thought it was all a tease, but I knew the minute I saw the cover that everything I thought would happen was about to in this issue… and you know what? It didn’t ruin the issue in the least bit.
In fact, this issue is fantastic because Sejic knows that it’s the journey not the outcome that makes it worthwhile.
Our Sigil’s have a quick battle with some high level Necromancers and everything seems to go well with them until Clara has a run in with the last surviving Necromancer. It’s an interesting scene that I won’t spoil, but it confirmed a lot of what the opening issues threw out there for us to think about. I know that I’m curious to see how the story plays out with this new turn of event.
From there the assault on the Vigil moves into phase two as our scientist/necromancer explains the next stage as its happening. We also learn Wulf’s motivation which is huge because it’s one third of the plot line driving the series.
Sejic is such a talented storyteller. I’ve said for years that the formula anime’s use could be easily adapted in to comics, not so much the manga’s as the anime. With Death Vigil Sejic has done just that, but he hasn’t been a slave to the formula. He’s adapted it and molded it to the story he needed to tell and that’s the important thing about bridging the two styles.
Sam’s character has honestly been my favorite since the series began. Sure part of it is the fact that we started with him, but then there’s also the budding romance between Bernie and him. Sure Bernie treats everyone like family and has genuine concern, but there’s some Cloud/Aerith level of feelings going on between these two. To put it frankly and very spoilery, this is how you do a character death. You don’t just kill the character you rip the people who love them away and make it painful to all.
With this series Sejic has become one of my all-time favorite artists. Part of me is very excited to see him joining Rat Queens, but another part of me really wants him to continue making and telling his own stories with his own art. The characters are so animated that it’s hard not see this as a cartoon or even a live action film while reading it. There’s personality, there’s heart and there’s humor and all of that stems from the art first and foremost.
It’s clear that this is not a series meant to go on forever and that’s okay. I come from a school of thought in which stories should end. In fact it’s a growing trend in comics and one that I wholly support. This first volume has two more issues left and we’ll just have to see if Sam really is 100% dead or not, but it would be kind of bullshit if he wasn’t. Either way though I will be back for more of Death Vigil. If you haven’t checked it out then do so. Be sure to recommend it to anime lovers as well since they’re sure to see how great this series is.
Score: 4/5
Writer/Artist/Creator: Stjepan Sejic Publisher: Image/Top Cow Price: $3.99 Release Date: 1/28/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital
Review: Robyn Hood #6
Robyn Hood starts out way different from anything we have ever seen; Marian narrates this issue. I always said that I love this chick and wanted to see more of her story with Robyn’s. Although I did miss Robyn’s sarcastic attitude. Marian doesn’t even come close to giving us as much spice as Robyn does. But all in all, I loved the changed that Pat Shand gave us and feel like he is listening to his readers.
Read MoreReview: Tomb Raider #12
'The fall of the curtain' marks the end of this current arc. Picking up from last time, Mr. Cruz has made his way to London to track down and kill Lara and Ramile. Lara meanwhile is blowing chunks from the stress of her looming performance (even the return of my favorite Jaffa Cakes don't make her feel better).
Read MoreReview: Sleepy Hollow #4
In Sleepy Hollow #3, the gang got sucked into a possessed grandfather clock that trapped each person in their own hell. The cursed music kept them possessed, kept them from fighting back. Luckily we’ve got Abbie- she figured out how to get everyone out of their personal hells by targeting the music. All that’s left is Abbie’s own prison.
Read MoreReview: King: The Phantom #1
In my Flash Gordon #1 review by the same publisher I mentioned the Mount Rushmore of classic pulp heroes (Flash Gordon, Phantom, Doc Savage and The Shadow, if you want to know), Dynamite did pretty well with Flash Gordon so let’s see how they do with The Phantom.
Read MoreReview: King: Flash Gordon #1
Flash Gordon is an institution. One of the first pulp heroes in existence and along with The Phantom and Doc Savage they are ¾ of the Mount Rushmore of comic hero origins. The Shadow is probably the 4th member of that Mount Rushmore, in case you were curious.
Read MoreReview: Danger Club #6
There is only one thing to say about the return of Danger Club… it’s one of the prettiest books on the market. It’s been a long journey for the creators to get here and frankly I’m not going to go into it with this review. To cut to the chase this book was worth the wait and if you feel differently then that’s okay, but the rest of us are going to enjoy one hell of a return.
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