Review: The Auteur: Sister Bambi #2

The Auteur is one of those bittersweet titles. On the one hand, I want to sing its praises from he highest mountain, or solicit it by menacingly haranguing passersby in the street. But I also don’t want to oversell it, because really, it’s something you have to experience on your own. Saying that, of the books on the scene that I am currently reading, some of which will inevitably become revered within the annals of comic book canon, The Auteur is perhaps my most eagerly-anticipated monthly pleasure. It shows how you take chances without guiltily softening the blow; how you can “say something” by not being condescending, holding the reader’s hand or worrying about offense. And its creative team achieves all of this effortlessly, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, while telling one of its most unnaturally bizarre stories. The end effect is a book that provides an itch that you love to scratch, no matter how bloody or pustulous it gets. Gross, sure, but oh-so satisfying.

In this issue of The Auteur, lovingly entitled “Writer’s Cock” (yup!), self-exiled, stark-raving mad Hollywood director and noted romantic, Nathan T. Rex, finds himself on Skull Island, where he must begin principal filming on his rape-heavy nazi propaganda biopic, as well as embark on a fearsome vision quest to find a cure for writer’s block.

The Auteur Sister Bambi #2This herculean, if ignoble task leads Rex through a bevy of heady challenges, from a testicularly-aggravated King Kong, to cannibalistic aborigines. All the while, he tries to figure out how to tell the woman he loves that she can’t be the lead in his film, and learns something (via “drugs”) about the art of writing in the process. It’s a feel-good for the whole family (said no one, ever).

As always, to read The Auteur, you will need a few things: a strong stomach, a block of wood to bite down on, a stiff drink and a firm shucking of your most delicate sensibilities. While definitely not as offensive as issues past, The Auteur: Sister Bambi #2 still features much in the way of adult material, like cocaine as both legal tender and sentient counsel, the vivid abuse of hallucinogenic drugs in aid of enlightenment, overt racism, and of course, one of the most gruesome, graphic and downright majestic gigantic monster monkey murders / machete-aided anal cavity eviscerations I have ever seen. Which is saying a lot, just so you know.

In so doing, this book remains the filthiest, funniest book out right now, bar none; with unquestionably some of the most experimental and hilarious art in semi-mainstream comics. Callahan’s work here is as gut-wrenching and cartoonishly gritty as Spears’ writing, incorporating an almost childlike levity within a framework that also allows equal parts depth and scope. Their combined efforts, along with Anderson’s perhaps surprisingly nuanced palette and Spears’ deftly-integrated lettering, give Rex truly exemplary character moments; his long, dark teatime of the soul with Buddha Hitchcock, for example, or the incredible narrative and visual parity during and in the aftermath of his psychedelic trip.

Spears, Callahan and Anderson are clearly having a whale of a time playing within the sandbox that comic books afford, pushing the envelopes of reality (with many hints suggesting that the characters knowingly exist in a comic) and of course, common decency. Props have to go to editor Charlie Chu and the entire Oni team for allowing this thing to see print in the first place. I would personally love to be a fly on the wall when and if everyone gets together to discuss story points, changes and marketing strategy for The Auteur. That’s gotta get some kinda weird.

I honestly don’t know what else to say about this book, or how better to pitch it. And I might need to stop reviewing it altogether, because I probably just sound like a very broken record at this point. But suffice it to say that you should be reading The Auteur: Sister Bambi (as well as its original series), buying it with all the money you are able to throw. If you want comics that take chances, don’t hold back and offer truly new ways to test your limits and those of the medium, this is where you need to be. Period.

Score: 5/5

The Auteur: Sister Bambi #2 Writer: Rick Spears Artist: James Callahan Colorist: Luigi Anderson Publisher: Oni Press Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Psycho Bonkers #2

The first issue of Psycho Bonkers was definitely a surprise. When you read as many comics as I do and read as many “all-ages” titles as I do then you tend to read a lot of bad all-ages comics. Thankfully Psycho Bonkers wasn’t bad, in fact it was pretty damn good. This second issue is a bit info-dumpy, but overall I think it’s still a fun and entertaining read that is actually geared towards all-ages. For instance, a kid could read this book and have fun with it, while I myself read it and had fun with it.

Shine has trouble as three Bonk Racers are coming up on her fast which means they have the numbers to possibly knock her out. Instead their leader Stepchild grabs Gabbo and throws him around. Gabbo is the little repair bot that helps Shine. Other than her attachment for him, he’s pretty important to keeping her racer going so this isn’t good. She decides to get bold, but that’s something you can read for yourself.

Psycho-Bonkers-#2-1The rest of the issue is spent in the past just after the crash that killed her father. Fuel, her father’s racer, has now claimed two of her family members lives. Shine is taken to a kid’s home and that’s where she meets Stepchild for the first time. After getting her footing and kind of making friends, Fuel shows up and Shine jumps into action to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. Of course this puts her in the line of fire now… I’m going to say she makes it, but you may want to check for yourself.

There is obviously a mystery going on with Fuel which is why I’m interested in this series. The racers are alive to an extent so what’s going on with this badass racer? While the flashback took up most of the issue this time, it was still worthwhile as it built Shine’s character and the background of her family and the events that led to the race. The only problem is that it left the present day story feeling a bit hollow as it didn’t really serve to move the plot forward any and we’re basically left in the same spot as last time. Not terrible, but it could have been better. That and we don’t learn why Shine and Stepchild had a falling out.

The art still packs a punch. In fact, I don’t have any criticisms for the art because it works with the story very well. Adam Archer manages to take panels that would otherwise be hollow or empty and add style to them so that they actually add to the story. It’s pretty impressive because again it saves me from having any complaints about the art. If anything I just wanted to see more of his gorgeous race scenes.

This issue slumps a little bit, but I needed to in order to progress the story. I’m still digging it and I think that anyone that checked out the first issue will enjoy it as well. The mystery with Fuel is what’s driving this story right now so hopefully there’s something cool planned like a dead half-brother or something less strange. Either way I’ll check it out.

Score: 3/5

Psycho Bonkers #2 Writer: Vince Hernandez Artist: Adam Archer Colorist: Federico Blee Publisher: Aspen Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Old Wounds #3

Well our mystery is wrapping up and a big piece of it is revealed in this issue of Old Wounds. I won’t be telling you what it is, just that this third issue plays an important role in the story. Though I do wonder if I can trust it. That’s the catch with whodunits, you never quite know until the last page if you’re being Keyser Soze’d or not. The opening of this issue reveals what forced Michael to retire as it plays out as a reoccurring nightmare that he has. We also find him in protective custody with the detective that learned his identity in the last issue. They don’t really address that fact much, but you can tell she’s curious about him. They begin trying to break down the case together by paying a visit to the man who retired Michael and his partner. Though Michael doesn’t think it’s him since he’s been locked up for years and is doing life. Though it does end up being a pretty solid hero/villain moment with neither man wearing a mask to talk to each other.

oldwounds_03_cover_prevThis issue is okay. It’s not as strong as the other issues and there’s a few problems with the story. The first is that our detective never once acts like a detective. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be her coming off as star struck, but instead it comes across as incompetence and that’s not a good character trait. Michael at one point actually reminds her that she’s the detective which I would find embarrassing if someone said that to me.

The second problem is that even though the finger of blame has been pointed at Michael since the beginning, no one says it out loud. Even when he becomes the only possible suspect (unless you’re paying attention that is) which is kind of annoying. I mean if it looks like a duck, acts like a duck and all the duck’s friends and family are killed then you’d at least suspect the duck. Your kind of left waiting for that moment of realization from either the detective or Michael and it never comes. The strange thing is that it’s teased, but then interrupted.

Now granted Russell Lissau could have something planned for the next issue that will make for a big pay off, but I just don’t know. Obviously there’s something more going on to this story and I’m hoping its big because I have enjoyed the story and I want to see it end strong even if this issue took a dip for me (not much of one so don’t panic).

John Bivens art continues to be gritty and have that bite that the story needs. The opening in particular is very strong and kind of starts like a mature cartoon would. In fact, I can kind of see this story being animated which is a compliment to Bivens style. The grey scale seemed a bit rushed in this issue, but it’s not enough to detract from the story, just something I noticed and could just be my eyes.

Overall this is a solid outing that has set up the series for an interesting conclusion. I wouldn’t say that it’s as strong as the first two issues, but still better than most comics out there so take that for what it is. I’ll be back to finish it out, but be warned… that’s going to be a pretty short and vague review because I don’t like spoiling mysteries. In the meantime, there’s time to catch up on Old Wounds so I would do that if I were you.

Score: 3/5

Old Wounds #3 (of 4) Writer: Russell Lissau Artist: John Bivens Publisher: Pop! Goes The Icon Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print

Review: The Legacy of Luther Strode #2

I can’t be the only one that kind of forgot what the last page of the first issue was right? Because I was sorely confused when I picked up this issue and spent the first few pages wondering when exactly Luther and Petra teamed up with Delilah? There did seem to be a lot left unsaid to the reader between the two issues, but let’s be honest… we don’t really need more talky-talky do we? We come here to rock and clearly Justin Jordan is aware of that so he cleverly recaps everything you need to know with comments and dialogue that assumes you’re on board with everything already. The trio is in Russia to meet the Gardener and get Cain’s location from him. It becomes clear that Delilah A) has been alive a long fucking time and B) has persuasive powers. She might be doing good, but there’s no fucking way I trust her. Thankfully Petra doesn’t like her either which lends to some hilarious moments.

Eventually they find the path to the Gardener and it’s paved with skulls… like a lot of fucking skulls sunken into the ground. You have to kind of wonder if these dudes are actually just in charge of population control because they’ve killed a lot of people and if they didn’t then we’d have a few billion more people on this planet… metaphorically speaking of course.

Legacy-of-Luther-Strode-#2-1A fight breaks out and Luther attempts to go easy on the Gardner which Delilah notices and Petra comments on saying that he still thinks he can get through to these fuckers. That is what makes Luther different after all, his heart and his effort to bring them back to humanity and ultimately his grief when he fails.

Some people will be pretty fucking pissed with this issue because the Gardner only speaks in Russian and Justin Jordan teamed up with Steve Orlando (great up and coming writer by the way) to not translate the dialogue. It’s legit Russian, but unless you read Russian you’re going to be putting shit into Google Translate or just doing what I did and giving a big ole smile and enjoying how cool that is. Personally I love when shit isn’t always translated because that’s life. I don’t know what my wife is saying half the time because I don’t know Spanish and suck at learning languages so not knowing what’s being said is the norm for me; so this comic didn’t faze me, but I’m sure some of you were pissed. Just appreciate that they could do that.

Not that it truly matters. I’m sure there’s some good stuff there because it’s Jordan, but ultimately we’re just here to see Luther fight and man if you thought that Tradd Moore was running out of tricks… he is not. I mean this guy is just on another level compared to other comic book artists working today. I know everyone loved him at Marvel, but when he’s allowed to work freely and just go off on a page it’s fucking magical. Really I think I would have to make up new words in order to describe his art at this point. It’s really fucking qrata! (Yeah just made that up… it sucks, deal with it)

One day I’ll go back through this series and break it down page by page, panel by panel and dissect why it’s so fucking good, but for now you’ll just have to deal with this gushing review about three creators and their support team that have managed to produce not one, but three series that are instant classics. I’m not being cheeky or just throwing that around casually, I would at gun point tell you that the Luther Strode series is an instant classic because it proves it with each and every issue.

Score: 5/5

The Legacy of Luther Strode #2 Writer: Justin Jordan Artist: Tradd Moore Colorist: Felipe Sobreiro Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Resident Alien: The Sam Hain Mystery #2

Well, well, well… it looks like I like this book a lot huh? Yes, I’m referring to the cover quote because I may as well address it with a “Thank you” and then move on to what’s going to be a glowing review either way. What’s stood out about this volume of Resident Alien is the fact that it didn’t start off with a dead body. In fact, we may not have a dead body at all (I’m not going to spoil it either way for you). Yet without a dead body there’s still a mystery and our Doctor Detective is still on a case which has managed to do a lot of character building for him. We can see how obsessed he is with mysteries and you have to wonder if it’s because his alien culture has no such thing. Either way it’s very interesting to see how in to the non-case case he is.

I’m hesitating writing the rest of this review because it’s a fantastic issue, but I worry that talking about it will ruin it for anyone that’s thinking of reading it. I’ll do my best to remain vague, but hopefully not so vague that you find this pointless to read.

Resident-Alien---The-Sam-Hain-Mystery-#2-1Harry has begun reading the unpublished manuscript that he found in the ceiling of his office that the deceased doctor hid. The story is about a man and woman having an affair. The man’s wife is out of town for the summer and the two have that connection that you only read about in something like The Bridges of Madison County. It’s good stuff on its own, but then the twist in the story happens and it leaves Harry wondering a few things: was it written by Rex Monday? Is Rex Monday a woman? And is this story more autobiographical than fiction? Let’s just say that Harry’s “Watson” helps him with this one, but where the issue ends is very thrilling and has me excited for the conclusion which is pretty standard for this series.

Part of me hopes that this series can go on like this for a very long time. I love the mystery solving small town doctor, but then the government angle, with them tracking Harry lets me know that it can’t. But I can wonder how it will all play out since the government is months behind our main story. Will Harry even be there when they finally do find him or will the two storylines somehow connect in the end? I know that doesn’t have much to do with this particular issue, but that’s why I love this series, it makes you think about the overall journey while still enjoying what’s in front of you.

Peter Hogan’s writing is just wonderful. The way he crafts the story is masterful with so many layers and moving cogs all working at the same time. The last issue was enjoyable, but because it was so different from the other volumes I did wonder what it would do in the end, this issue blew me away and frankly it’s great to be surprised by a series after so many issues. In particular Hogan’s narration with the transcript is gripping and sucks you into the story just like Harry.

Complimenting Hogan’s writing is the masterful Steve Parkhouse. Parkhouse’s style is one that I’ve personally come to love. Both creators have gotten to the point that I would follow their work no matter where they went, but I’m very happy to see them continue Resident Alien. Parkhouse shines with this issue as he creates the world of the transcript. It feels different from the main story which is important because there should be that question of whether it’s real or not.

This issue is fantastic and that’s no bullshit. I’m really looking forward to the conclusion because I honestly don’t know how it’s going to play out. Will it be calm and peaceful or will there be a twist that elevates this story to a new level? Honestly either ending would be enjoyable and wonderful, but I’m sure the creators will curve ball me which is another reason I continue to read Resident Alien.

Score: 5/5

Resident Alien: The Sam Hain Mystery #2 Writer: Peter Hogan Artist: Steve Parkhouse Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Mythic #2

Written by guest contributor Lance Lambert

There’s nothing better than the connection with one’s local comic and the perks that come with a pull list. Surprisingly it’s not the 10% off, it’s the random comics that the comic guy throws in for you to check out.  That’s how I started Mythic and let’s say I considered it a win. The story was fun and captured me from the start and the art was no different.

Mythic #2 starts with a flight team for the Mythic Lore Services investigating a disturbance off a coastline. As for the disturbance, it is more like a pissed-off stone leviathan. We have no clue why he’s pissed, but there’s no chance when he smacks the helicopter right out of the sky.

Meanwhile, our main characters are dealing with the previous conflict, a drought in the Midwest.  Waterson has summoned his twin, Killer of Enemies. Yes, Killer of Enemies is his name, and don’t worry Nathan is just as surprised as you. As one would expect, a monster with such a glorious name isn’t the brightest.  Being that Killer is the closest thing to a jock in the monster world, when Waterson tells Killer that the local bruiser (the wind) has been talking shit, Killer must uphold his name. To top it off, Killer is no ordinary monster.  McCrea’s design just adds to the humor with Killers head being carried in his hands and flames bursting out where the head should be.

Mythic-#2-1The fight that ensues is hilarious. Of course, Killer’s shit talking isn’t much better than the quarter back of your high school football team, yet we all know its pulls good laughs.  In addition it works to bring the projected ending, the mountains and wind have some good ole elemental intercourse, bringing rain to the town. As the conflict comes to a close, the team learns of what happened on the coastline. The fight scene and humor are great and really move the comic.

However, the plot is bland. We really don’t learn much about any of the characters, even Nathan who seemed to be our protagonist. He is still just the former cell phone technician. It’s exciting only for a few pages then it no longer can stand on just action and humor.  The issue closes with us learning more of what happens to the monster at the start. A secret is at play and there are more hands involved than we knew before.  The reveal at the end hooks the reader but still doesn’t reel them in.

Humor is definitely the strength of this comic, but the writing seems to overlook some of the important narrative to keep readers involved.  McCrea’s designs for the monsters are eccentric and keep the comic fresh. I was really stoked on the first issue and that carried over to the second. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same this time around. Mythic #2 kept me laughing, but left me with nothing more.

Score:2/5

Mythic #2 Writer: Phil Hester Artist: John McCrea Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/24/2015 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

Review: Empire: Uprising #3

Some lingering questions get answered in this month’s issue of Empire: Uprising. This issue focuses a lot on Golgoths ministers, the people who keep his empire running, though with his teleporter he seems to micro-manage a lot of things. One of his ministers is a guy called Tumbril, a slightly unhinged interrogator who tortures the information he wants out of people. Tumbril along with Lucullan long for the glory days when they were fighting the 'good guys' for world domination. They watch video footage of themselves on a movie screen while discussing the current climate. It's a good scene as we get some of the history without it feeling info-dump heavy. It lays in the groundwork for the Eucharist, a potion that imbues super-strength.

Empire03_cvrWe also learn more about some (as I'm sure he has a lot) of Golgoths hidden plans. One involving a laboratory where they are making some kind of biological monsters. For what purpose we have yet to see. We also get to see how the Eucharist is made, hint: It's dark.

I really enjoyed this issue as it gives a lot of different characters’ points of view. Because the ministers are doubting each other and, though they can't say it for fear of retribution, Golgoth, it spreads the seeds of doubt to the reader. Who do we trust in this story? is Golgoth going mad? what the heck are his secret experiments about? It is definitely building the story in the right direction. There's always the constant surveillance that monitors everyone’s actions except Golgoth of course, though this part was a little unclear, does he only not get recorded when he's alone, or do the conversations he has with people also get erased?

There are some fantastic visuals this month especially the movie that Tumbril and Lucullan watch. I really enjoy the effect on Golgoths teleportation, it fits really well. And the lettering in this comic is great, adding that little extra to the scenes that require it. Golgoths reversed text bubbles, black with white writing, is ever-present letting us know that he's not a good guy. With the way this issue ends I don't know if I should be rooting for him. He's a bad-ass, emphasis on the bad.

Score: 4/5

Empire: Uprising #3 Writer: Mark Waid and Barry Kitson Artist: Barry Kitson Colorist: Chris Sotomayor with Andrew Crossley Publisher: IDW Publishing/Thrillbent Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital

Review: Legenderry: Green Hornet #5

All these initial story arcs are coming to an end and in some cases that fills me with excitement, ready for the next chapter and in others it fills me with relief that I don’t have to continue them.  This is one I am more excited about.  Legenderry: Green Hornet hasn’t really been a barn burner, but so far it’s head and shoulders above everything else set in the Legenderry universe.  With Vampirella being kind of a rushed dud and Red Sonja being… well… whatever Red Sonja is, this is kind of the best thing going by comparison. Legenderry - Green Hornet #5Ever since the motorized Penny Farthing this book has set itself aside as being a bit more quirky, a bit more challenging and a bit more imaginative.  The writing has been clever delivering at least a chuckle or two every issue and the characters are defined well enough that you can tell who is who.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say they are all three-dimensional, but the main protagonists are around 2.5D.  It’s essentially the isometric platformer of comic books.  The story itself has been kind rote with not a whole lot original going on but the addition of the Brass Hornet and Chesterfield made the story interesting even if it was a little cliché.

There really isn’t much to say about the book.  The story arc was entertaining and we end with a strong new villain as well as the promising return of this arcs villain.  We accumulate some additional protagonists in the aforementioned Brass Hornet and Chesterfield and a robot gets its head blown up when the Brass Hornet rips its ear off and shoves a grenade into the gaping head hole.  All things considered you aren’t seeing that in any of the other Legenderry books.  It’s a good book, it’s better within the context of the full arc though, on its own there just isn’t enough there to float the book.  However with the total sum of disappointment that the Legenderry books have given me I don’t think I’ll invest in the next arc.

Score: 3/5

Legenderry: Green Hornet #5 Writer: Daryl Gregory Artist: Brent Peeples Colorist: Michael Bartolo Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Orphan Black #4

Yay, I've been looking forward to when the comic would tackle my favorite clone, Cosima. This issue delves into Cosima's past before we met her on the show. It shows us how she knew Beth (which was insinuated but not shown (to my memory at least)). It also tells the tale of her first monitor, a girl called Emi who is the singer of a band and Cosima's girlfriend. This is all juxtaposed with information we have from the show that shows Cosima getting suspicious of Delphine, her new monitor (which we all know from the show right?). I really enjoyed seeing Emi and Cosimas relationship. Cosima is totally unaware that Emi is a monitor and breaks up with her because the relationship has run its course, because Beth has asked her to change majors which requires a relocation to Minneapolis. Emi, just like Delphine eventually does, has fallen in love with Cosima and doesn't want to lose her. It's really great seeing how she turns into a psycho-ex and that Cosima never suspects her, or spares a thought for what happens to her. I'd love it if some of this came up in the TV show.

OB04-coverAs seems to be the pattern for this comic, the ending blends into the next story, transitioning from one clone’s perspective to another. next issue will focus on Rachel, the power-mad bi-atch clone that messes stuff up for the others (did anyone watch the season 3 finale? be interesting to see what she does next).

The artists are the same but the style feels a little different. I don't know if this is to give each characters issue a different feel or the team is just changing things up. Either way it'll be interesting to see what they will do when two clones (or more) appear in the same story.

Score: 4/5 (Because I'd actually like to see some of this incorporated into the show to make it feel really cohesive.)

Orphan Black #4 Writer: John Fawcett and Graeme Manson and Jody Houser Artist: Alan Quah and Cat Staggs Colorist: Chris Fenoglio Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital

Review: Rasputin #6

Rasputin is a series that I haven’t been kind to in previous reviews, and so it was with some apprehension that I approached the latest issue, which brings the series back after a four-month break. Much to my surprise however, I have to say I enjoyed this issue and I think it may be the strongest entry in the series to date. Indeed, much like its protagonist, this series refuses to stay dead; just when I think I’m ready to give up on it, it manages to do something that reignites my interest. In this case, the feature that has given this series a whole new lease of life is the shift in setting from the early 20th century to present day. While the change in setting has not been fully explained just yet, this issue worked anyway as a way to build the world in which Rasputin now lives. It establishes him as an aid of some sort to a presidential candidate, while also setting up some ongoing plot threads for issues to come. Meanwhile, writer Alex Grecian also finds time to take us back to the events of issue five, and wrap up some dangling plot threads left over from that issue. While there hasn’t been a lot of time spent developing them, and Grecian is still sparing in his use of dialogue, I’m already interested to find out more about the cast of Rasputin’s modern-day adventures. Particularly, the character of Shanae Tolliver who drops a bombshell on the final page of this issue, which leaves Rasputin in a very interesting place moving forward.

Rasputin-#6-1My only real gripe with the writing this issue is the dialogue. Previously, I’ve criticised this series for not having enough dialogue, however with this issue I think Grecian has found a sweet spot between too much and not enough. Still, my complaint comes from the fact that some of the dialogue still feels a little awkward, and I continue to be puzzled by how consistently unimpressed the characters in this series are by Rasputin’s healing powers; a strange creative choice that really dehumanizes many of the characters in this book.

Something I’ve praised about this series since the very beginning is the art team of Riley Rossmo and Ivan Plascencia, and that praise shows no signs of going away with this issue. Even now - in the modern day setting - Rossmo and Plascencia’s work seems to fit perfectly with Grecian’s story. I feel like everything I want to say about this art team I’ve already said multiple times in previous reviews, so with the aim of not repeating myself I’ll just say that the art in this book continues to look great, and many double-page spreads could very easily be framed and put on a wall.

It’s no secret that I wasn’t a huge fan of the first volume of Rasputin, but volume two has kicked off firing on all cylinders. The story is more focused, the characters show a lot of promise and the art continues to look great. I’m really hoping that this creative team can keep up the high standard set by this issue, because if they can then volume two of Rasputin might well become a must-read.

Score: 4/5

Rasputin #6 Writer: Alex Grecian Artist: Riley Rossmo Colorist: Ivan Plascencia Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 06/24/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

Review: Dawn/Vampirella #4

I have had quite a guilty pleasure in reading this super campy, sometimes kind of cheesy, but always entertaining yarn written and drawn by Joseph Michael Linsner.  In this story, Lisner’s original creation Dawn, the Goddess of Witches has been put up to a challenge of wits and storytelling against the Queen of Vampires Vampirella, all under the direction and captive persuasion of one big codpiece wearing demon named Masodik.  I will let you read between the lines there. Anyway, old Masodik is trying to find a lady worthy to carry his seed and he has identified these two as his prime candidates.  Their goal is to tell him a story that will make them worthy to be his mate.  We have seen had some back and forth between the two with no victor quite emerging as of yet.  With the stalemate, Masodik is beginning to become a little bit bored with the whole thing.  The end may be near. That is unless one of the ladies can hit a story on the level of The Godfather.  Or not.  This is an inside joke that will need to be read to be understood.

Issue #4 goes to a lot of different places and is the busiest of the issues to date.  Lisner introduces the reader to more of Dawn’s backstory as well giving insight to her motivation and as to how in the world she got herself trapped by Masodik, even with all of her witchy powers.  We had witnessed Vampirella’s capture during the first issue, demonstrating her empathy as the force of capture. As for Dawn, love would be the capture factor.  This issue brings a strong continuum to our tale adding balance to those who may be unfamiliar with Dawn and what makes her tick.

Dawn Vampirella #4As for Masodik, we also get some more insight to what makes him (literally) tick with more information given about his bombastic bomb pacemaker that might just explode and blow everyone away should he not find what he is looking for.  Everything is on the line and spelling some serious life or death between our combatants if they don’t get to business.

I just can’t help myself, but I really do like this series.  Between all of the serious and more dramatic comic offerings that are up everywhere, Dawn / Vampirella makes no bones that it is not one of those.  It is unapologetic.  And in that honest portrayal, you as a reader get a sincere and no holds barred drive in movie feeling on a hot summer’s night.

Sure it is a little off in some ways, but Lisner proves himself to be a very capable writer and artist doing justice in portraying Vampirella on quite equal terms with his own Dawn.  It is a good portrayal of both ladies and you find yourself waiting patiently to see when these two will team up and shove Masodik’s codpiece down his throat.

There is a side story that appears within this issue through a dream of Vampirella that is rudely interrupted by one of Masodik’s more sensual (and vindictive) servants.  Not quite sure where it is going to go.  But it would appear to have some relevance to Vampirella and what ultimately may be that eventual team up between her and Dawn in ending Masodik’s imprisonment. It has a bit of intrigue that presents itself beyond the camp, making this perhaps a more serious tale before all is said and done.

But until then, all I can really say is pull up a chair, pour yourself one of your favorite beverages, and enjoy this often kooky, often goofy, but always fun rendition of a 70s feeling “girls in captivity” film. It might not be the most eloquent comic you will read out there.  But it will not disappoint either.

Score: 3/5

Dawn/Vampirella #4 Writer/Artist: Joseph Michael Linsner Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Fight Club 2 #2

Fight Club 2’s second issue continues to bring its A-game with every page, and I could not be more pleased with it. “Sebastian” and Marla Singer are living in a motel after their house was burned down at the end of the last issue, while pretty much everyone is trying to get Sebastian to go away so Tyler can come back. FBI agents show up to investigate the arson of the house, and they have telltale kiss marks on their hands. Sebastian and Marla’s son disappeared in the house fire, and Sebastian is pretty sure he knows who took him; and he’s going to have to go back to some dark spots from his personal history to get him back.

I was apprehensive starting this series, and even after my initial reading of the first issue, with the choice of Cameron Stewart for the art duties. Not that I don’t dig his work--Sin Titulo is great, and his parts of Morrison’s Batman saga are stellar. I just thought I would find his artwork too clean, too bright for the world of Fight Club. I should have known I was wrong when he drew a full splash of an exploding head in issue 1; I didn’t know for sure until this issue that he was the right man for the job. His pacing and sense of mood are some of the strongest ties that put this comic in the same family as its novelistic predecessor. Stewart’s use of repeated imagery, especially in montage sequences like the weddings about halfway through the issue, gives the comic the feeling of a novel, without making it feel like it’s just an illustrated manuscript.

Fight-Club-2-#2Palahniuk gets my admiration for this book as well, for being completely unafraid to go back down the rabbit hole with this story again. He’s not being precious about his original work, and he’s really taking to the comics medium in a way that makes him seem like a natural. The series doesn’t seem like it’s going to be an unconnected sequel, but rather a redoing of an old song with new variations. You replace the slick synthesizer with a horn section, add a minor key gospel choir accent, and it becomes a different animal. This book seems like it’s going to a similar place on a different path, and it’s been fun to read so far.

Dave Stewart’s colors are, perhaps unsurprisingly from a guy who’s won like a dozen Eisners, stellar. He gets to do a lot more nuanced work than he usually does on big ticket Dark Horse books (read: Mignolaverse books); less flats here, and more detailed shadowing. It’s books like this that remind you why he’s won a buttload of Eisners--he’s one of those invisible masters who can move from genre to genre and shine in any of them.

Where the original Fight Club tried to pose Tyler Durden as a kind of anti-hero (he’s the clear antagonist in the book, but he’s constantly talking about using violence for redemption, on a personal and society-wide scale), this book is jumping right in with him as a class-A douchenozzle. Even the people who kind of like him (coughcoughMarlacough) come off as people who know they’re making a horrible decision. This is no longer the story of a lost man searching for redemption in all the wrong places; this is a man who’s committed to cleaning up the messes he’s responsible for, even if he doesn’t remember doing them.

And that’s what I love about this book.

Score: 5/5

Fight Club 2 #2 Writer: Chuck Palahniuk Artist: Cameron Stewart Colorist: Dave Stewart Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Southern Cross #4

One of my real sleeper surprises of this year has been Southern Cross. Within its previous three issues, it has delivered some strong creepy sci fi thrills and chills, invoking an eerie air that will hang with you long after you have finished reading it.  Big props go to writer Becky Cloonen and artist Andy Belanger who have really delivered a worthwhile story, mixing the best elements of science fiction, horror, mystery, as well as detailing a future of mega conglomerates, dirty politics, and shady dealing all along the promise of advancement and prosperity. At the heart of this tale is one Alex Braith who has booked a passage aboard the Southern Cross starship headed toward the Saturn moon of Titan.  On the agenda for Alex, to get the remains of her deceased sister who died under mysterious circumstances on the moon. While on board, there has been some strange and supernatural like occurrences that has frazzled poor Alex.  But these occurrences have likewise girded her desire to know more.  It has been one interesting and trippy ride.

So begins Issue #4, where Alex is trying to deal with something that she saw within the previous issue, even as the captain denies that he witnessed anything. I am not sure how believable he is at this time. Needles to say, Alex is not too happy or satisfied with the captain’s statements either. She decides to go out a little bit further in trying to get the answers regarding what she has seen and what has been happening regarding a missing passenger, a previous “suicide”, and other strange events.  Also, it would appear that the equally strange and mysterious gravity drive is out of whack.  It is getting kind of tough out there in cold dark space.

Southern-Cross-#4-1Issue #4 has a lot of flashbacks between Alex and her sister as well as interpersonal thoughts.  The dialogues propel the story as Alex discovers some underhandedness going on between a prominent crew member and one of the more shady passengers on board the ship.  Alex is likewise having difficulty with her physical being, having intense flashes of her mind that is taking a toll on her physically as well.  It is time to report to the medic, but all might not be too well with this option either.  All roads are leading to an eventual destination that may be a physical place, or something much more sinister.

Of all the issues, this one appears to be the most surreal.  Cloonen does go inside more, addressing the turmoil being felt by Alex as she is trying to figure out the answers.  As for Belanger, I am convinced that this guy is having a real fun time in drawing this series.  He has created a solid mixture of heavy industrial machinery, dirty and grimy people, and funky crazy visuals as this great unknown is showing itself in weird bursts of some kind of ectoplasmic energy.

All is done superbly with the pages continuing to turn quite easily with an mounting expectation for answers growing with each step taken by Alex.  I can’t wait to see where we go from here.

Though this issue has not been my favorite of the series, very little is lost here.  The story propels forward. And if anything, I think that a real nasty turn is getting ready to be made.  It would seem that this issue may just be the calm before the storm that is going to be unleashed upon Alex and the crew of the Southern Cross.  Something mysterious is definitely afoot. And all I can say is bring it on guys. I know that I am ready.

Score: 3/5

Southern Cross #4 Writer: Becky Cloonen Artist: Andy Belanger Colorist: Lee Loughridge Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

Review: The Fade Out #7

I can’t help but open this comic every month and immediately get pissed when I see Charlie enter the panel. Maybe you are supposed to like him as a main character or sympathize with him every once in a while. But I can’t. I can’t seem to care about him. I also can’t be the only one who thinks this. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have this way of making the reader’s emotions all rush together at once when reading their stories. That is certainly the case with Charlie. Even the way he is drawn makes me angry. It is like he has two emotions: depressed and horny. And please don’t read my anger as frustration towards this comic. Again, the way this story holds you by your shoulders and shakes you up a bit makes me come back for more each month. Things are really heating up with these past two issues. Something big is building. You can feel it in narration and see it on the characters’ faces. I don’t exactly know what will happen though and that makes it all the more exciting. So besides for a small couple pages with Dottie and Ty, we spend most of our time with Charlie and Maya. Yeah that annoyed me last issue too. Our narrator is talking for the most of the issue too. These are usually my favorite Brubaker moments. He has this way of giving the narrator all the power. The narrator controls your emotions and your thoughts, all the while you see this story unfold in the background. And the story could be different. The characters could be different. The setting could be different. Yet here we are watching Charlie and Maya’s relationship come together/break apart. Charlie has a reputation and in my opinion, it is being stupid. He jumps from one thing to next to get his mind off of Val. Then the next moment all he wants to do is think of Val. He is struggling hardcore.

The-Fade-Out-#7-1What confuses me the most is Maya. We get a sense of Charlie’s motivation and maybe there is more to it but still we know the gist. Maya is the mystery. Just like all these women are the mysteries to Charlie. Why is Maya with Charlie? Why is she essentially playing him? Or is she not playing him? Does Charlie have this “it” factor that she can’t get enough of? Then it makes you think of Val’s story. Because this is what it is all about right? Find out what happened to Val.

Maya and Charlie spend lots of time together but the moment the separate, things get real for Charlie. He runs into some trouble, but the real story is after the trouble is gone. All of the emotions that Charlie felt after Val’s death come rushing back. So again, we are in the same spot. Charlie is having major issues and Maya is small distraction for him. And yeah you guessed it; I still hate Charlie and wish Maya could see it. Maybe it is wrong of me, but Gil still wins out as best friend. Whatever happens, everyone has buried themselves into these gigantic holes and are trying desperately to fill them in with dirt.

Score: 4/5

The Fade Out #7 Writer: Ed Brubaker Artist: Sean Phillips Colorist: Elizabeth Breitweiser Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/24/2015 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

Review: Captain Midnight #24

It is with a heavy heart that I report that Captain Midnight, after 24 issues, it has reached its close.  At least for now that is.  Writer Joshua Williamson has carved a pretty wide birth in these 24 issues, filling them with rock’em sock’em action, hard hitting drama, and even some good humor that has equally been matched by the various artists that have assisted in the process. All have been solid and I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every story arc with the best thus far being the last, a killer crossover between pretty much all of the Project Black Sky Universe.  It has been one hell of a run. Issue #24 concludes the series at least for this point in time, as we reach the climatic conclusion of the battle between the good Captain and the Archon, a megalomaniacal aryan baddie with aspirations on molding the world in his and his “Chosen’s” image. Archon has been the threat from the very beginning with Midnight’s earlier enemies working to try to deal with the threat in the way that they thought was best. Through these battles, Jim Albright (aka Captain Midnight) has gathered intel, made developments, and now sits on the edge of oblivion going mono a mono while his allies work to keep the Chosen at bay.

Issue #24 packs a whole lot of punch and it literally ends in a bang…Well actually a couple of bangs.  Both have some serious impact as to how this story goes.  And both help to propel the next level of stories that will follow now that this incarnation has ended. I can’t really say too much over what transpires.  But I can say that there are some surprises, some “yes” moments, and some clues to where we go from here played throughout this issue.  And though I don’t think that this issue offered the completeness of what I was hoping to see.  It did lay out an explosive tapestry and worked to establish the Archon as one serious and true to form villain that I believe will be around in some way shape or form within the future of this series.

Captain-Midnight-#24-1Joshua Williamson has written very few missteps during the whole run.  Everything has been super from start to finish.  And even what I thought to be the worst issue of the bunch, a special “Halloween” story.  Even it introduced a character who has had a strong impression and appears to be set to evolve within the next phase.  It has all been good and I will miss Williamson’s mix of good gritty story bringing back a Golden Age comic book legend with style and sophistication.

And as for the art, I know last month I had made some observations of how I felt about Miguel Sepulveda’s depictions.  Though more brutal and gory than his contemporaries in the series, his work has really brought an adrenaline level that matched Williamson’s writing pace perfectly, syncing in an epic battle and all of its glorious carnage.  Nothing changed from Issue #23 to #24 as the battle sequences are complex, refined, and full of detail that is impressive considering the amount of explosions and simultaneous combat occurring throughout. It flat rocks, making Sepulveda my favorite artist of the series. I can’t wait to see some more of this guy in action. I’m already pulling up New 52 Red Lanterns and StormWatch issues.  I’m a total fan now.

Where things go from here is anybody’s guess.  But with the first 24 issues, a solid and sound template has been laid that puts some pressure on the next person who takes the reigns of Albright and his Secret Squadron.  They most certainly will have their hands full.

And though this individualized issue did not wow me completely. I know that I will miss this title immensely with Williamson at the helm.  Good luck to the future of Project Black Sky.  My most sincere hope is with you.

Score: 3/5

Captain Midnight #24 Writer: Joshua Williamson Artist: Miguel Sepulveda Colorist: Javier Mena Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital

Review: Weekly Shonen Jump #30

Jump has its ebbs and flows, but it's hard to feel disappointed with an issue in which One Piece has reached or is just about to reach the climactic moments of the most entertaining arc since the timeskip.  The thing that will make Dressrosa stand out for me as an arc in this post-timeskip world of One Piece is that it held true to Oda's method of making protagonists stand against villains for deeply personal reasons while successfully raising the stakes.  One Piece has never been without its personal, character-driven drama: it actually makes the Anime unwatchable for some people, something I struggled with in a handful of early arcs.  Oda's great success here is that the fate of Dressrosa was several degrees removed from the main crew of the Straw Hats. The destruction of the city was not only made deeply personal to the reader through the story of Kyros and the connection between Law and Doffy, though: the fate of Dressrosa and the pirate alliance that formed to save it are major signals of where this series is headed.  Much like Kishimoto achieved with Shippuden, Oda has loaded the front end of his post-timeskip world with lore that will unfold in the end-game of the series.  Dressrosa takes this a step further, preparing the reader for the big, bad, high-stakes world of the real Grand Line.

Naruto was not quite as exciting this week, and even though it was a great chapter, it felt a little slow since the family themes at hand are just so damn obvious.  It's hard to really pitch that as a criticism: Kishimoto is so good at telegraphing nuanced looks at how we define love, family, and friendship, that sometimes his chapters suffer from a character taking the time to sit us down and explain things.  With the wacky way that genes work in Naruto, it still remains to be seen what Sarada's mom situation really is.  The mere possibility that it might not be Sakura was an effective opening to explore parent-child relationships: I just didn't really need Naruto to sit Sarada (and me) down and explain how this theme tied back to the original series.

WSJ 30 coverThe only thing making a splash in this issue, aside from Luffy's giant haki-inflated fist, is a rare one-shot, Folie A Deux from American writer-artist team Bikkuri and Rem.  I confess that I found the art a little hard to follow.  Characters and details were occasionally impressive; other times, the dark, twisted style of the comic could not get out of its own way in order to efficiently present what exactly was happening.  Where the art sometimes succeeded, the manga presented a world that posed too many questions and did not even feign to answer them.

Ambiguity in a one-shot is necessary, but it doesn't have to be a necessary evil.  Ambiguity can (and should) be leveraged to awesome effect in one-off stories.  Random example: one of my favorite episodes of television is "Midnight," from the Fourth Series of new Doctor Who.  Sparing all the details, the villain in the episode is never revealed: it has its evil-yet-fleeting impact on the characters and then vanishes into oblivion.  Folie suffers from too much world-building and not enough real character exploration.  Any amount that we do delve into the characters is just a lot of posturing and power-flexing.  It's hard to care about the Jack-the-Ripper-esque mystery or the 19th century underground Wonka-style elevator because the manga never gets off the ground before jumping into the action.  The synopsis of the one-shot did more to explain the story than the story ever achieved on its own: that's a no-no.

Of course, independent of any concerns for quality, there is an open and interesting question as to whether or not work such as this actually deserves to be called manga.  I don't want to get too far into it right here, but it's a question worthy of consideration.  A medium with a particular cultural heritage is beckoning to people from far different backgrounds.  The question, mainly, is whether creating manga is just like creating "comics" with a different name but with an eye towards a particular style; or, must creators pay their dues in order to truly create manga?  If so, while Folie, for instance, certainly aims at a manga style, it falls short of the same quality as other titles.  On the flip side, as manga becomes internationally-renowned, this creative team has shown that it can win competitions on the world stage.

It’s hardly a make-or-break distinction, but I still think it’s an interesting one.  It’s hard to tackle on this side of the ocean since, in many ways, if there is an issue with assigning the term to certain works, it’s an issue of appropriation.  My two cents on the issue (which is definitely worth less than two cents) is that if a Japanese-run manga anthology with one of the harshest editorial policies known to man thinks that a title warrants inclusion in its ranks, then that title is manga.

Score: 3/5

Weekly Shonen Jump #30 Writer: Various Artist: Various Publisher: Viz Media Release Date: 6/22/15 Format: Weekly; Digital

Review: UFOlogy #3       

I love UFOlogy this month. Like seriously loved it. It has been a weird ride with issue #1 and #2, but #3 has made it worth it. Sometimes I am quick to judge, and I know this about myself. This is why I always give comics some time to build and now I am realizing that the flaws in issue #2, made #3 more sweet. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you bastards that BOOM! is the way to go. James Tynion and Noah J. Yuenkel have slowly introduced us to our main characters, but with the addition of some intertwining stories and developing friends, their method has proved to be worth it. Becky and Malcolm are finally starting to become friends with the help of their alien experience. Needless to say, Becky is shut down a lot of the times from this experience. She is having nightmares and I love how this is structurally played out. But I’ll get to that in a bit. I always thought that Becky was just kind of a boring lead, but now I realize it is all part of her persona. Tynion and Yuenkel have done a fantastic job of letting the characters develop on their own for the reader. Now I feel more connected to her and get excited when she opens herself to Malcolm.

UFOlogy-#3-1I also think we needed some type of side story, and again the writers delivered. We get two side stories. One is about Malcolm’s dad. The town probably thinks this dude is crazy since he runs a radio station dedicated to aliens. This guy has some clear history, oh and something happened to his wife. So now you wonder if he lost his wife to something alien relate…? Anyway, we don’t see him in present day, but instead go back to the past. I love when stories can layer, especially when those stories are from different time periods. We don’t get a lot of movement in this particular story, but I think readers can see where it is progressing to, so again I give the writers some credit for excitedly easing us into it.

The second new story follows a more conspicuous character. We don’t know his name quite yet, but it is fair to say that he is far out. He is hitchhiking in a way and gets picked up by a nice guy. That is how every horror story starts out right? But don’t jump to conclusions on this one. Some typical things happen but the ending of this story leaves the readers guessing. I can say much more about it, but it all leads back to these writers getting into a flow with this story. All three stories blended perfectly and each story kept the anticipation of the reader high.

There are no higher moments than Becky’s nightmares. What is so cool about her nightmares is that Matthew Fox, the artist, just jumps right into the scene without letting the readers know what is real or fake. Even though Becky wakes up, the reader has this gut feeling that maybe the dream wasn’t just a dream. Fox blends the two worlds together and since the comic is magical realism, having an alien in front of your face is their reality. I’ve mentioned before how much I love Fox’s drawing of the aliens too. They are creepy and we get to see some more types of aliens as well, so Fox steps it up for sure in this issue. And how the comic ends lead me to believe that we will see a lot more Fox’s talent come out in coming issues.

In conclusion, UFOlogy and I got off on the wrong foot, but something about it kept me coming back for more and I am so glad that I did.

Score: 4/5

UFOlogy #3 Writers: James Tynion IV & Noah J. Yuenkel Artist: Matthew Fox Colorist: Adam Metcalfe Publisher: BOOM! Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital

Review: The Little Mermaid #5

We reach the end of our little Zenescope series.  I’ve got to say that of my limited exposure to Zenescope titles this series has probably been the most pleasant from start to finish.  It’s a good story, not necessarily great but good from start to finish.  With my reviews of White Queen I went from rage and a deep, deep hatred to a mild acceptance despite all the flaws White Queen had.  While I wasn’t amazed by The Little Mermaid from issue one I could kind of see where it was going and the writing and art were competent enough to keep me interested in what was going on. Something like this is hard to review because unlike some books, which fail but they don’t fail in an interesting way, this book succeeds but doesn’t succeed in any interesting way.  Whether something succeeds or fails it doesn’t make for reviewing, or even really, further consideration unless it does those things in some notable way.  It makes it hard to discuss as a ‘text’ as far as what’s included in the text because there isn’t anything you can point to and offer compliment or criticism.

Little-Mermaid-#5-1I can say that this book excels in what I call the ‘invisibles’.  There are certain elements of entertainment, whatever entertainment that is, that when done well are invisible.  Basic, fundamental things that are needed to tell the story but can interfere with your immersion.  In this case things like art, page layout, pacing, dialog, and even plot and characterization.  The book does suffer a bit from Interchangeable Character Syndrome and when a book presents with ICS it usually makes it hard to determine who is doing what and why because everything blends together into a grey paste of plot elements.  This book presents with a mild case of ICS but it’s easily compensated for by the vastly different and visually engaging character designs.  Even characters who are ‘plain’ are at least set apart visually from our Mermaid protagonist, our octo-woman Antagonist or our King of Atlantis.  Panels flow together easily, you always have a solid notion of where you are in the world and where you are in time (save for some major time skipping in early issues), the art is pleasing and the story is serviceable.  The plot tells us what we need to know when we need to know it and the story mostly ties up at the end.  I say mostly but when compared to the dead stop I’ve gotten in the Dynamite books this book at least ties up its loose ends while introducing some potential future revisit.

Our series ends on a very Conan note with our protagonist reluctantly sitting on the Throne of Atlantis as the new queen and feeling very trapped by it as our octo-woman antagonist looms in the shadows with her inevitable return to claim the throne for herself.  It remains to be see how either character will cope with what lies ahead of them but, as with Conan; that is a story for a different time.  After reading so many books that neither resolved nor set up anything after the first arc it’s appreciated that they at least tried, and succeeded, in keeping the story open for continuation.  The book is not revolutionary, but it is well done.  It’s a solid piece of entertainment that will help you kill some time and will most likely leave you satisfied at the end.  Plus it has barely clothed fish ladies in it with big ol’ boobies, your mileage may vary depending on age and maturity.

Score: 3/5

The Little Mermaid #5 Writer: Meredith Finch Artist: Miguel Mendonca Colorist: Jorge Alberto Cortes Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital

Review: Robyn Hood #12

We take a small break from the Cabal, and honestly I think we needed it. The Cabal have consumed a lot of Robyn’s time. Even the smaller stories lead to Cabal and without knowing much about them still, readers needed some change. And we got it, in a great way might I add. Rotter is at Robyn and Marian’s apartment. Since he saved these girls and has proven to be helpful, he feels like it is time for them to repay him. Which is probably fair since Rotter tends to grow on you. When I first got introduced to him, it seemed like he was playing both sides. His motives were unclear and Robyn has enough unclear people in her life. But then he saved the girls once, and then he saved them again. So it became clear that this dude had a small change of heart, although I doubt he would put it like that. Pat Shand created another dynamic character. It amazes me how we get introduced to someone like Rotter and the reader’s viewpoint completely switches from issue to issue with him. You really just can’t give up on these mysterious people.

Robyn-Hood-#12-1Anyway, Rotter has a long history that he would rather keep secret. This is probably because of his appearance. He wants you believe that he is an asshole. I think to him; it makes himself seem less human. And honestly it works for much of the time we see him. Then Shand introduces this issue in a new way. As a reader, you immediately start to feel sympathetic towards Rotter without knowing his story.

Now Robyn and Marian, after getting some of his story out, search to find a cure for Rotter. I find the whole setup of this issue brilliant. First the relationship between these three is hilarious. You have Robyn with her bull heart, Rotter with punk ass attitude, and Marian with her kind heart all trying to solve a problem. Needless to say, we see more of these three working together.

On art, we still have Roberta Ingranata, and I can’t praise her enough. She has done an incredible job taking on the art in this series. I think my favorite part of this issue is in every scene with Rotter there is a cat in the panel as well. Whether it be playing, purring, or asleep, it is so cute to see Rotter interact with them! But besides for my obsession with cats, I love the vibrancy that Ingranata brings. The characters feel alive and she has a much cutesier aspect with the characters. Especially with Rotter’s black and white flashbacks. Everything comes across exactly how you picture it with Rotter’s narration.

This is just another great issue from Robyn Hood. Although we didn’t progress with much with the main plot, it was so nice to see some characterization being built-in and to see a more sensitive side with Rotter.

Score: 4/5

Robyn Hood #12 Writer: Pat Shand Artist: Roberta Ingranata Colorist: Slamet Mujiono Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital

Review: Ninjak #4

Ninjak #4 is a real swerve of an issue, and I mean that in the best possible way. Just when I was getting a little bit tired of Colin’s storyline, Kindt gives me what I didn’t know I wanted: origin stories for Roku and Kannon. The story stops right in the middle of the shit in which Kindt left Ninjak at the end of the previous issue; the main part of the issue is a retelling of the last things Roku remembers from her old life--before she was killed. She returns in a legendary quest kind of story, unburying herself, and facing off with a variety of oni before she can become who she is now meant to be. Kannon’s story is one of undead monks, impossible mountains, and those who are lost finding what they need. This is the kind of semi-legendary storytelling that I want from a story about a ninja who’s from Britain and operating in modern times.

Ninjak #4There are a number of artists on this issue, and I apologize in advance to Juan Jose Ryp, Clay and Seth Mann, and Marguerite Sauvage, if I end up crediting them with the wrong sections. As far as I can tell, the Manns did the framing sequence with Ninjak, Roku and Kannon; Juan Jose Ryp did the bulk of the Roku backstory; and Marguerite Sauvage did the segments from the childrens’ story Roku thinks about during her quest. All of the artwork in this issue is the definition of “on-point,” so I no one should feel slighted when I say that for as disparate as the styles were, they told the story, and they told it well. Even when it would shift radically from a storybook aesthetic to a giant oni trying to break Roku’s back, it told the story the way it had to be told, and it felt organic--Spielberg used to say that if you could follow a movie with the sound turned off, it had been perfectly shot; this is a comic that you could almost take the dialogue out of, and you’d still be able to follow it from point A to point B. As always, Butch Guice is top-notch with the Lost Files backups, as well, and he finally gets to draw something that’s not Ninjak in a cityscape. He gets to flex some other kind of storytelling muscles, and the entire issue is better for it, as both segments skew towards a “Japanese legend” flavor, with a lot of thematic similarities. And then, Ulises Arreola brings it all together with a unified color scheme, and makes it feel like a complete whole, and not three disparate parts.

Usually, I’m rough on Matt Kindt for relying pretty heavily on narrative caps in his issues instead of making characters talk to each other. In this issue, I am glad he’s honed his skills at stories like that, because both parts of this story are solitary and benefit from being told in a fireside-legend kind of way. These are stories that rely as much on mystery as characterization, and Kindt pulls it off in each segment. This is the kind of storytelling I dug from him during Rebel Heist, using legends to tell stories. It hasn’t quite been firing for the first three issues, but this issue really took off.

Just when I thought I was out on Ninjak, Kindt and Co. at Valiant pull me right back in. Well done, all around.

Score: 5/5

Ninjak #4 Writer: Matt Kindt Art: Juan José Ryp with Clay Mann & Seth Mann and Marguerite Sauvage Color Art: Ulises Arreola Letterer: Dave Sharpe Publisher: Valiant Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 6/24/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital