Review: Children of Saigo #1-3

June 26, 2017

By Wes Jones

Home is where the heart is… and the samurai swords. Mini-series Children of Saigo from publisher AAM-Markosia follows the remaining members of the Iwanaga clan, a family of modern samurai living in Chicago. Ben, Shiro, Zoe and Teron are the young adult children of police officer, Mike Iwanaga. The family are descendants of Koji Iwanaga, sole survivor of the Battle of Shiroyama. Koji was tasked by actual historical figure Saigō Takamori with the mission of retreating and ensuring the samurai way of life and Bushido code survive. The Iwanaga’s background comes at a price, however. Due to their unique pedigree, a yakuza boss’ daughter wants their heads as trophies. The cover and synopsis may lead you to believe this to be a testosterone-fueled, katana and handgun murder fest, and some of it is. It becomes clear in the first issue however, that family and tradition, not bloody revenge, are by far the most prevalent themes.

Super S - Anime Podcast E.028 →

June 24, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

Click here to listen to the episode on ComicBastards.com!

028 - It's the final episode of Titan Talk until they make more episodes of Attack on Titan ... we'll see you in three years or some shit. There will be spoilers as there have been every episode so if you're still planning on watching the second season of AoT then skip the first part. If you just want to hear it all, so you don't have to watch it... enjoy. Otherwise, the rest of the picks we talked about are below! If you like the show, please subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or anywhere you can listen to podcasts, and we thank you for listening.

Scout Comics Releases Summer Titles

June 23, 2017

Scout Comics & Entertainment is excited to kick off THE SUMMER OF SCOUT, featuring the announcement of eight new upcoming Scout comic book properties each week during the summer of 2017!

Comic Review Photo - Curse:Eagle Blend.jpg

Review: Curse of the Vessel #1 & 2

June 23, 2017

By Patrick Wolf

Curse of the Vessel is a solid paranormal thriller that offers an interesting premise coupled with a set of exciting revenge stories. While the series suffers from some recycled plotlines and absent characterization, it’s still entertaining enough to warrant a read So, if you’re looking for a gritty noir blended with some cool spirit-revenge, look no further: Curse of the Vessel was made for you.

Comics To The Maxx - 003 - Bat-Magic →

June 22, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

Click here or on the title to be taken to the podcast.

003 - This is Comics to the Maxx! It came to me in a dream, the idea for this podcast that is. It's a little like our last episode in which we turn the entire universe upside down, but this time we start with Batman and add a dash of the Lantern Corps. If that sounds interesting trust me, it's the air molecules sitting above the tip of the iceberg! Sit back and get ready for Dustin and Kevin to sell you on their latest Elseworld's title that will likely never be made, but you'll fucking wish it was by the end of the show, it's Comics to the Maxx time!

Unboxing: Loot Crate - June 2017

June 22, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

Do these even come by the month anymore? Seems like I get them when they're damn well and ready to send them to me and that means I have no fucking clue which month they're tied to nor do I care. The boxes are getting bigger, but sadly, some of the shit still seems like a weird warehouse finds like a particular Marvel item that you'll see on the video. Also recently I talked about a different monthly service coming and how it was shit I actually liked, but the cost is too high and they make you jump through a lot of hoops to get free shit and I'm not talking about reviewers either, just normal people. Anyway, fuck that shit. Loot Crate may not have the best products, but at least it's easy to deal with.

Aspen Comics To Include Age Ratings For All New Titles

June 22, 2017

Aspen Comics has announced they will be including an Age Rating on all direct edition covers published for the retail market beginning this July with Siya Oum’s Lola XOXO (Volume 2) #1 and for all future titles. Aspen President Frank Mastromauro elaborates:

Japanese illustrator Tsuji Santa covers the STREET FIGHTER™ & FRIENDS 2017 SWIMSUIT SPECIAL

June 22, 2017

UDON’s STREET FIGHTER™ & FRIENDS 2017 SWIMSUIT SPECIAL hits comic shops everywhere on July 26, showcasing the lovely ladies of video games like Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Final Fight, and Rival Schools. However, fans attending the upcoming Anime Expo show in Los Angeles won’t have to wait that long. Premiering early at the show, July 1-4, UDON has produced a new limited-edition cover featuring the artwork of Japanese illustrator, Tsuji Santa!

Oni Announces "My Boyfriends is a Bear"

June 22, 2017

Oni Press, Portland’s premier independent comic book publisher, is excited announce a new graphic novel MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR by Pamela Ribon (SLAM!, Moana) and Cat Farris (Emily and the Strangers). This romantic comedy of bear meets girl stars 28-year-old Nora, frustrated with the dating scene until she meets the perfect boyfriend—a 500-pound American black bear.

“The comics market right now has a lot of very dark, serious stories,” says Farris. “I’m really excited to help put a story out there that is silly and sweet. Something that hopefully makes people smile. It’s not everyday you get to sell people a book about a girl dating a literal bear, and I hope folks are as charmed by this story as I have been while working on it.”

“I love how comics can shift from big moments to small,” says Ribon about making her first graphic novel. “There’s a wonderful intimacy with the reader that allows for sweetness, surprise, and depth of honesty at an immediate, visceral level.”

Review: Miku Hatsune: Acute

June 21, 2017

By Ashley Gibbs

While I am not a huge vocaloid fan, I do know some stuff about them and of course know who Miku Hatsune is. She’s the cute main mascot that’s taken Japan by storm and her likeness is used to sell many things. That being said, I had never listened to the song Acute before reading this. Had I heard the song, I would have known what to expect of a story based on it. Going in blind, Hatsune Miku: Acute did a good job of shocking me, it’s a darker story than I would have expected from these cute characters. However, at its core, it’s a story of friendship and love and how sometimes jealousy can make us do horrible things.

Review: Destroyer #2

June 21, 2017

By Ashley Gibbs

Destroyer #2 picks up with Frankenstein's monster still continuing his journey to man’s world after his solitude in the arctic was disturbed. However, most of the issue is spent with two government agents as they try to find an important scientist whom the government needs to stop the monster. This issue has good pacing and artwork though there isn’t much in the way of deep story telling being told as it’s more about moving the pieces into the right places. While less intense than the first issue, if you’re into this series then you’ll enjoy reading this one.

Review: Injustice 2 #4

June 21, 2017

By Ashley Gibbs

While Superman was detained in the previous issue, the prison break did succeed in its mission to release Damian Wayne. In Injustice 2 #4 we find out why and if his mother’s appearance in the previous issue was a tip-off, then you know what to expect. While this book isn’t filled with as much action we do get some good story that moves the plot forward for Harley and her situation. We also get some tender memories from Batman though not too much in the way of moving the plot forward with him, but I enjoyed the story told nonetheless. This was a pretty good read that really helps flesh out the characters involved.

Review: Injustice 2 #3

June 21, 2017

By Ashley Gibbs

The prison where Superman and other members of the Regime are being held is under attack by the Suicide Squad led by the false Batman in Injustice 2 #3 but the real Batman has prepared for everything -or has he? This issue is filled with a lot of action during this full on prison break but also some nice reunions. While this issue isn’t filled with a whole lot of character development, it helps move the story forward as the chess pieces begin to fall into position. While the Regime was once the biggest threat this earth had to face, new powers are coming into place from the rubble of the broken world.

Review: Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #2

June 21, 2017

By Daniel Vlasaty

Issue one of Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks had a frenetic energy like nothing else I’ve read in a long time. I thought it was a really great and nice and special book. And now Jim Mahfood and his badass Grrl Scouts are back for issue #2 of this revenge/drug-fueled/psychedelic nightmare of a book. I am pretty sure in my entire life I’ve never sincerely called anything a tour de force, and don’t get me wring I’m still not going to because I think that’s a lazy, stupid, clichéd thing to say. But I think if I ever were to call a book a tour de force, it would be this book. Anyway, Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks is a crazy and insane and awesome book, and here’s my review for the new issue.

Review: The Wild Storm #5

June 21, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

The Wild Storm always feels as if it’s going to a commercial break when the issue ends. I sit there just expecting more, realizing eventually that another month will need to pass in order for that to happen. Granted this all happens in seconds while I’m reading, but it still happens. I have the strong feeling that when The Wild Storm is collected, it’s going to be a tremendous continuous read, one that I will look forward to digesting again.

Review: Royal City #4

June 21, 2017

By Jonathan Edwards

I've been championing this book since pretty much the get go, and as far as I'm concerned, it's been doing a pretty good job of consistently living up to that hype. However, with the next issue marking the end of Royal City's introductory story arc, it seems that Lemire has slowed down his momentum a touch for this fourth installment. Mind you, it's by no means a bad issue. The priority is just different. Rather than following in the footsteps of the last couple issues by introducing new plot threads, we see those that already exist start to get pulled together. Although, Lemire still leaves us with the lingering question of who exactly is the young woman that Patrick keeps running into? And perhaps more importantly, how does she fit into what all's going on with Tommy and Royal City?

Review: Archie #21

June 21, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

First and foremost, I’m not going to tell you who is the person injured in the drag race that happened in the last issue of Archie. Frankly, when I read the solicit I knew who it would be and I wasn’t wrong. It’s obvious given the trio involved, and only one of those characters would actually “change everything” as they’re billing the next issue.

Review: Prison School vol. 7

June 21, 2017

By Dustin Cabeal

Prison School continues to be possibly the greatest manga I’ve ever read. Its ridiculousness seems to know no bounds as it finds new ways to put the characters in perverted settings based on misunderstandings. That isn’t to say that this volume is perfect, but it is damn close.

Review: I Hate Fairyland #13

June 21, 2017

By: Ben Snyder

Writer Skottie Young delivers many laughs and some disturbing imagery in I Hate Fairyland #13, in what is other an otherwise unremarkable issue.

I Hate Fairyland continues to be one of the more frustrating books out there. What started out as clever spin on the typical tale of a young girl having to find her way out of a happy-go-lucky Candy land, has become drawn out and entirely inconsistent. Following last month’s twisted issue of mushroom samurai and irony is an issue, which focuses entirely on Larry, the fly guide of Gertrude.

Review: Crosswinds #1

June 21, 2017

By Ben Snyder

In a novel twist on a “Freaky Friday”/ Trading places swap, Crosswinds #1 sets up an interesting premise in which a mysterious and reluctant gangster and a trapped miserable and harassed housewife mystically trade places.

Writer Gail Simone is one of the more accomplished comic book writers out there with successful runs on Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and her brilliant horror series Clean Room. Crosswinds #1 is unique among these titles, as this book tends to be the most realistic. Besides the magical twist at the end, most of the drama is human in nature.