Review: The Sixth Gun #17

I was finally able to catch up on The Sixth Gun and boy I’m glad I did. This is one series that continues to get better and better with each issue. I have to admit that I thought the first story arc was rushed and it felt like this big ultimate battle that we were building to was over and done with before you could even get a feel for the characters. Now though, the book doesn't come across as if it’s being written for the trade, but rather letting the story progress naturally from issue to issue. It reminds me of what last week’s Mud Man #1 was setting out to do by returning the focus of comic book storytelling to the single issue and for books like The Sixth Gun that’s a strength for them.

The real reason to read this issue is for Gord Cantrell’s story line. His arc and progression as a character take him from obscure character that survived the first storyline, to an actually meat and potatoes character that has relevance in the storyline. It wasn’t until the last issue that it was shown that he has a reason to be in the story, up until then I just wondered why they didn’t just cut him loose. He had no depth and reeked of convenient story telling. How knows, maybe that’s how he started, but writer Cullen Bunnhas taken him to new highs in this issue.

The story begins with Becky figuring out that she’s a prisoner of the Swords of Abraham after having a conversation with her father in the past. He tells her why he left the organization and that changes her characters path from being a hapless and clueless victim, to a woman with a cause. Now she must figure out how to free herself from her prison and find Sinclair and the guns. Gord’s story has him back on the plantation that he lived on for many years. His presence has disturbed the ghosts of the people that died there including his former master and teacher. Gord must make a choice: stay on the righteous path he’s on or give into temptation. The big difference is the consequences his actions with have not only on him, but the ghosts he’s disturbed as well.

I really like the overall package that is The Sixth Gun. The story and art are very seamless as writer and artist have become a strong collaboration. Bunn and artist Brian Hurtt come across as having a strong partnership almost to the point that the book exists beyond their names. In a way it’s like the “Dark Phoenix Saga”, everyone knows the creative team behind it but the story and art are bigger than the creators at this point. In a strange way The Sixth Gun has surpassed its creators as a mainstay in comics.

All flattery aside this is one of my favorite comics on the market and no that’s not just because it’s published by Oni Press. I feel behind on the story as you can probably imagine, but now that I’m caught up again this book has found its way to the top of monthly pile. This is a weird week for comics as a whole, but it has several great indie books releasing so take this opportunity to jump on one of the few monthly independently produced comics on the market.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Brian Hurtt Publisher: Oni Press

Limited Edition Awesomeness: Thanos Power Glove

Limited edition T-Shirts are all the rage right now and several sites have very cool offerings. This week, GraphicLab.com has a shirt titled "More Power." As you can see it is very awesome, but if you're going to get yours you better grab it before the end of the week since they'll never be a second offering for this bad boy.

Episode 6: Six Covers And Counting

This is a heavy episode! We finally spill the beans on why we dislike Dynamite Entertainment so much and run through practically all of their licensed properties (it's a big list). Then we put the whole "Frank Miller" thing to rest once and for all. "Comic Speak" makes a return this episode as well, so if you love the English language...we're very sorry!

The Behind Pile 11/20 Edition

I know its occurrence that’s not limited to me, but there are times when I buy comics and I don’t read them. I think it’s the collector mentality or something; hell I’m not going to explain it. What I will say is that I’m behind on reading and after getting moved, married and settled I’ve finally sat down read books that I bought years ago and never read. Here’s the first batch done in much the same way as The New 52 reviews. Mostly because I enjoy that format for reviews so shut up and read it already.

Locke & Key: Head Games #2

Fuck I wish I had bought the rest of this series! Seriously I love this book and this series and I’m way behind which sucks since I was reading about it before it blew up. I remember picking up the first issue to “Welcome to Lovecraft” and my comic shop guy was like, “I don’t think that book is going to be very good.” At that point I knew his opinion could not be trusted especially when he doubled his order size for the second issue and raved about it. At any rate the second issue is better that the first which I re-read in order to read this issue. If you haven’t read this series then buy the trades or pick it up digitally, which is likely what I’ll do while I track down the single issues.

Crawl To Me #1

 

Wow! I was really impressed by this issue. It was interesting and captivated me instantly. Also Alan Robert is very talented! His art style reminds me of Ben Templesmith’s, but his storytelling is very different. I really like this book and thankfully just got a review copy of the entire series (before the fourth issue mind you) so you’ll definitely see a write up for the trade. If you can find the back issues though you should pick it up.

G.I. Joe #1

 

By now you should have a good idea of how long my pile has been sitting around since this series is in the thirties already. This book was pretty good, the art was decent and I liked the way they eased you into the world. I didn’t care for all of the movies influence into the series, but hey what can you do. Also, it’s Chuck Dixon. I could take beef with him but there are worse formula writers out there. If you like the Joe’s and can tolerate Dixon then this book is worth reading but not struggling to track down. If I didn’t own it already I wouldn’t go out of my way to get a copy.

Green Hornet # 16

 

Is this book still going on? I hope so since it’s the best thing that Dynamite is putting out. Hester has great ideas for this series and I really enjoy the deep character moments that he adds to the book. I fear that if the book is still an ongoing that the art has taken a dip in favor of Bionic Man, but I will be tracking down the next issues to get caught up on the book. Green Hornet is one of my favorite pulp heroes and it’s strange that Dynamite would excel with this title. Of course pulp enthusiast would probably disagree, but I dig this book.

Green Hornet Strikes#8

 

As much as I like the regular Green Hornet, Strikes is so much better! It reminds me of Phantom 2099, in that the legacy of the character is still there, but it’s in the future and this new Hornet must find his own way with the old ways. Unfortunately it’s been heavily delayed and I honestly don’t know if it’s an ongoing or a mini, but again another one I’m going to track down. This issue saw the end of the first story arc which wraps up the events started in the first issue.

Last Phantom #7

 

Speaking of the Phantom,this book was full of potential… wasted potential. The best part of this book is the flashback to a pulpy comic look. It was the only part of the story that didn’t suck and frankly I think I already read ahead in this book. I’m personally done with this series and can’t wait until Dynamite gives up on the title so some else can take a chance on it and do it right. Such wasted potential that it’s just sad to see. Also the art was pretty meh with the exception of the flashback.

The Boys # 41

 

I’m just going to say, there is no possible way for The Boys to end that is going to be gratifying to long time readers. Everyone seems to think that Butcher has some huge endgame planned, but he doesn’t. Nor does Garth Ennis. I enjoyed this issue and I really need to get caught up on the series, but I could tell that 41 issues in that this book is going to end one day and not how anyone hopes. It’s a shock book that I’m sure Ennis thought would get cancelled and he’d be done with, but it turned out to be so much more than that. That’s it.

Golly #3

 

One of Phil Hester’s more under appreciated books, Golly is the story of a Carnie that must carry out Gods work. I’m paraphrasing a lot there. This issue has Golly and the other Carnies trying to spray Brother Dare with holy water while in his were-hog form, which ends with Golly pissing on him. I can only guess why this book wasn’t well received, but I think it was just ahead of its time. If this book came out today I wonder how well it would do. I know that the hardcover came out not too long ago and if you’re in the mood for something different then pick it up.

Impaler Vol 2. #1

I couldn’t finish reading this book. It was terrible. I know it was a finalist in some horror awards (says so on the cover), but it must have been a slow year or something for horror. The writing and storytelling was so bad and so uninteresting that I started to pay more attention to Whitney which was playing in the background. I don’t know why this book got so much press, but it was all hype.Terrible book and I’m sorry that I bought it and sat on it for so long. At least I didn’t buy the second issue. Also this book is another example why Top Cow is shutting its doors (not confirmed, but it has to be coming).

Savage #1

 

I really liked this book! I think a lot of people wrote it off when it came out, but this book was good. The first issue was very intriguing and really left me with a lot of questions, but in a good way. It explained just enough so that I wasn’t confused and wanted to read more.Thankfully I bought all but the last issue, so I’ll be track that down in order to finish reading the series. What I’m really excited about is that this is a book from Niles in his prime so it should hopefully get really good! -- Well there you have it, my first “Behind Pile” batch of reviews. I’m looking at about four or five piles of books to read still so don’t fret they’ll be more… as soon as I have the time to read them.

Batman's Replacement?

Still striking fear in the heart of criminals

Review: Ghostbusters #3

Ghostbusters #3 put out by IDW Publishing came out this week and was the first in the series I finally sat down and read.  Initially I was a little stand-offish about the book because I love Ghostbusters the movies and the game that came out a couple of years ago was a hidden gem.  The book surprised me and brought in a good story that ties in with the movies some of us grew up on. This isn’t another reboot of the same story from the 80’s and trying to capture the nostalgia from then.

Seeing the newspaper clipping of the terror bear (like the terror dogs from the first movie coming from a statue) and hearing the report two guys sitting in a bar playing pool is where we start out. One of them starts up the conversation if they could get the plans for the nuclear backpacks or if he was accepted for his franchise application. Either way he wants to be part of the action that is exclusive to the Ghostbusters.  The Ghostbusters is on the road changing a tire heading back to the shop from a case. When they get to the shop “Wally” is waiting for them to complain about them not getting to the terror bear attack outside Wall Street (the one thing wall street and occupy agree on terror bear =bad).They get stuck in Queens which leads to the arguing and yelling between Peter and Wally (classic Ghostbusters here) over why the city even uses the Ghostbusters and the business.  Two days later this starts progressing in two ways: one being in Ray working on a new jumbo trap and two; Spate Catalog start growing a page.  Before they can review it more the alarm goes off.  The Guys are off to Time Square where the terror bear is attacking. Egon testing a new high power pack and is trying it on the bear and knocks it out. As Ray is retrieving the jumbo trap to capture the bear he gets sucked into the back window to the other dimension. There he meets an entity of Gozer not the gatekeeper or the key master but a new one.

The book is written well with subtleties and make a good story but one thing that lack is Peter’s sarcasm which he is known for doesn’t show through much.  The book stays with the scientific approach which has been evident in the movies.  I enjoyed the story and that they use the first movie but in way of reference to move on to a new story and not a rehash of it.  It does though keep the character one-dimensional to the parameters that were set from previous but are relatable.

The art seems Saturday morning cartoon style I was kind of hoping a more realistic style. The style work for the story and the hint of ghost in every few page to show they are everywhere is good.  I do like that the A-Team van driving by yelling “you suck” while the tire was being changed was a different touch.  The bear looks good but at first glance looks more robotic that ghost terror. I detail on Idulnas though is very well done and shows his power and thrive for no failure. And the other dimension looks like another dimension and not of this earth but not completely out of touch of realism. I enjoyed how it looked as the book moved on.I would recommend a read on this book because it shows a turning point and bring in the flow of the story to the conflict and the climax. It’s a good issue and worth read if you haven’t read the first two.  I started out thinking I’m not too sure how this is going to turn out to lets read more.

Score: 4/5

Review: Chopper #1

A while back I expressed my desire to read a book from Asylum Press called Chopper and by the grace of the Gods I was given a copy to read by a good friend of mine. So I bet you wonder what I thought about it… The sound of Christina’s alarm fills the room as it awakes her from her slumber. As she prepares for school she peers from her bedroom window and recites her disdain for the cookie cutter neighborhood and life that surrounds her. On her way out the door little miss cheerleader and her father have words about the company that she keeps and how she needs better friends. He’s a cop and he knows what it’s like to have shitty friends. Once at school, Christina gets to work and makes her rounds with the local “homeboys” and moves some of her product. Now in class she helps her jock ex-boyfriend get away with cheating on an exam. After class the two of them meet and chat, Taylor begs for her forgiveness for his cheating ways but she tells him to piss off. Now at lunch, Christina has to choose between her corny ass white cheerleader friends or her bad girl friends. At the bad girl table the three girls plan to meet at a concert and then head off to the Daytona Bike Week motorcycle rally. They all agree to meet up after the football game.

Later, in the middle of the football game, Christina sneaks off to meet up with a customer. He wants some “E” but she has something better, a drug called Stairway to Heaven. After the deal they both go their separate ways, Christina meets up with her bad girl friends and heads off to the bike rally and the customer grabs his girlfriend and they get high. Meanwhile Christina’s dad enters a crime scene where a man is found dead in his room. But with no signs of forced entry and his entire drug stash untouched, who killed him and wrote sinner on the wall with his blood? Sitting in the middle of a field the Stair Way to Heaven customer and his lady begin to feel the hallucination effects of the drug, which are a headless motorcycle rider with a hand scythe who’s ready to do some killing. At the cycle rally the girls walk around until Christina stops a table selling jewelry. On that table she a piece resembling the tattoo of Ouroboros that she has, then all of a sudden she is frozen in fear by an image of a demon.

First off the cover from Cris Ortega is about as cool as it gets. The art on the inside from Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi, Small Gods) isn’t too bad in its own. There are a few panels that come of a tad stiff but it’s far from a deal breaker. It is no secret that writer Martin Shapiro is doing a modern-day retelling of the headless horseman but there are just a few things that I didn’t get. This could just be the first issue bumps but I just have to know, number one whose Christina’s connection? What I mean is, where does she get her drugs from? Plus her dads a cop and she’s pushin’ right under his nose? Snap, worst cop ever. Number two, what the hell is Stairway to Heaven (other than a stupid name), did she cut it, grow it, mix it? Doesn’t she know you don’t get high on your own supply? Not only that, but just because you hide it in cookie boxes doesn’t mean they won’t pop you for possession, intent to sell, selling in a school zone, I mean she’s going away for a while if someone narcs her ass out.

Over analyzing aside, Chopper #1 is pretty a fun ride. It has all the makings of a modern-day Hollywood horror movie (take that as a complement if you need to), which is little surprise that movie rights have already been sold to the production company, Dilemma, in association with Mane Entertainment. So if you have a chance to pick up Chopper #1 go for it and give it a "ride" and you can also check out the web series that has little to nothing to do with the comic on YouTube. FUN!

Score : 3/5

Do Want!: Alter Egos--It's a Movie!

Tired of Superhero movies where they run around and blow shit up and save the world? How about something a little more grounded?  Yeah, well me too. So it looks like Jordan Galland's Alter Egos might be for us.

The film is set in a version of our world in which super heroes are real but have recently lost all government funding and public support, and out of that setting comes a corky comedy about an out of work superhero who needs to be saved from his own emotional crisis, and the girl who helps him do it.

I'm down and ready to watch the hell out of this thing!

Source: Twitch

Artistic! Superhero Paint Splatters

Listen, I know there's a lot of sweet ass art this week and thanks to Arian Noveir and his computer, you're getting some more! So just sit back and enjoy it. Why? Because you deserve it.

This Kicks All Kinds of Ass: Here's the Poster of those People in that Movie You Want to See

Whoomp there it is! Thought You Knew!

WTF? Batman is SO at the Wrong Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_WEdzg4WmKc It's clearly for Avengers only. Other than that, Happy Birthday little dude...NOW lets get loose wit it!!!! Then Batman will do the "Stanky Leg" for you and you only.

Review: Mud Man #1

If you write this book off based on the title then you are missing out one of the best superhero comics of the year. Mud Man is created,written and drawn by Paul Grist, who on the first page expresses his love of comics as a monthly periodical. Not sequential storytelling, not a trade paperback, but the monthly comics that a vast majority of comic readers grew up enjoying. He declares that Mud Man is a return to that art form and that he is in fact not “writing for the trade” as so many people in the industry do, but writing for the story. If this opening letter doesn’t convince you that this creator is setting out to do something different in modern comics by returning to its roots, then the first issue will.

The story begins with two teens running around their seaside town in the south west of England spray painting the everything in sight. It is after all the last day of summer break. Their names are Jack Newton and Owen Craig. While tagging up an abandoned house Owen stumbles upon what he can only describe as the “Bat Cave.”Unfortunately, he’s not the only one there and is soon chased off. The next morning he awakens unsure of what happened the night before during his escape. As he gets ready for school he makes a startling discovery when his hands turn to mud. At school Jack prevents Owen from being bullied, but that doesn’t stop Owen from getting hit by a car. Fortunately he's completely fine, but the driver of the car thinks that he threw mud on his windshield which perplexes Owen even further.

There is something familiar about Mud Man, if has a dash of Invincible and maybe just a hint of Major Bummer. Perhaps that’s the beauty of the book is that it’s so deep with familiarity that you can pull your own influences out of it and still be right. That being said, Grist has something special here. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a superhero book and actually wanted to read the next issue due to it actually being good. What’s more exciting is that I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I know that’s usually the case with comics, but when you know that a book is going to have some sort of resolution in six issues you tend to be less impressed by it.

The art is very stylized with thick lines and large hands that wouldn’t quite work if it didn’t match the art style the way it does. What’s really enjoyable about the art is that instead of filling pages with black to cover lack of detail or to fill in the page, Grist’s and his colorist Bill Crabtree use a crisp white to fill the “dead space” of each page. It gives the book a classic look, but keeps the modern style for everything else. The art is very good and I only hope that Grist is able to keep up with monthly writing and art duties because both play a key part in what makes Mud Man special.

I don’t say this often, but if you’re going to buy one comic this week it should be Mud Man. This book is not to be missed and if you don’t grab this first issue I guarantee you’ll be kicking yourself when everyone is talking about it six months down the road and other news publications are shouting that they knew about it first. This is your chance,right here, don’t miss this book. It’s one of my favorite things as a reviewer to finish a book and know exactly what score to give a book which was the case with Mud Man because it was that damn good.

Score: 5/5

Writer/Artist/Creator: Paul Grist Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $2.99

Review: Knightingail #1

You know what trend in comics I’m really enjoying? All-age books that actually appeal to all ages. Comics use to walk this fine line in which they would have adult subject matter, but didn’t out right say that it had adult subject matter so that children could in fact read the comic and have no idea what they were actually reading. I’m not saying Knightingail is that way, but again it appealed to me and yet I could very easily see a young child enjoying this book. At its core, Knightingail reminded me of a Saturday morning cartoon if it had been produced by Jim Henson studios (pre-Disney).

The comic opens with a Furry trying to fix a damn that’s about to break. Yes I said Furry, since it’s a forest creature with human features. Unfortunately he’s too late and the water takes him away as his wife Kaeli and children look on. Gail rushes in and begins rhyming her magic to save the man and fix the damn. She’s then given a hard time about her rhyming from Kaeli who turns out to be her best friend. Gail leaves, but her friend begins telling her children of the story of Knightingail.

We flash to the past were our two friends are swimming, until Gail (then Eloa) realizes that she’s late for her council meeting. She rushes off to the meeting discouraged by the fact that no one on the council listens to her and she feels as if she’s being patronized by everyone including her father.Normally the meetings are very boring, but today they have captured a talking vulture looking creature that warns that darkness is approaching. Suddenly there is a lot more going on in this council than Eloa is aware of.

There was something really simple and enjoyable about this story. It reminded me a little of Dark Crystal and Pirates of Dark Water.I know that’s a weird combo, but that’s what struck me. I really enjoyed the book and will definitely pick it again. The most important thing is that it didn’t read like a children’s book, but as a true all ages tale. Some stories are so good that they transcend age and I think if Knightingail continues the way it is, it could be one of those stories.

If you’re like me and always looking for something different, something fun from the world of comics then track down Knightingail and give it a shot.Especially if the influences I’ve listed is something that you enjoy because you’ll probably like the book as much as I did. Don’t let the kid friendly cover fool you; this book has the potential to appeal to everyone.

 

Score: 4/5

Let's Talk About Frank

The thing about the Frank Miller "controversy" is that first of all it has nothing to do with comics and it's being blown way out of proportion. The thing is comic fans, comic sites and comic creators all felt the need to weigh in on this with multiple articles and massive amounts of "tweets." It all lead up to a boycott of his work and basically looked like the downfall of Frank Miller all because of his opinion not being popular. That's right the man responsible for Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300 and really google the man to find the rest of his extensive body of work; looked like he was on his way out because comic fans are as fickle as the weather.

Then Mark Millar posted a great response to the "controversy" on his site which you can read here (I don't believe in re-posting someone ones entire article and stealing hits from them). He brings up great points such as the mob mentality of the internet and the bandwagon effect. I'm sure several creators "weighed in" on the "controversy" just because they were approached, not because they had an opinion. Personally, I don't care what his opinion on politics is. As long as his views don't advocate the harm of anyone then I don't care. What baffles me is that comic fans were so willing to turn on this man that's delivered countless stories that are sited as works that changed the medium and yet his personal opinion is what he's judged on. We have professional athletes that have been accused of rape that are still beloved and playing today, but Frank Miller doesn't like a protest and he's blacklisted? And we wonder why Marvel and DC can't get their shit together when their trying to cater their companies to fans that change like the wind.

Here's my take for what it's worth: Good comics are good comics and that's all. Creators of such comics can be right-wing, left-wing or something else altogether and I don't care as long as the story is good. The only time I'll blacklist a creator for their opinion is when they've done something in their personal life that has hurt another person or again advocated the harm of another living human. Not for their opinion, not for their political views, religion, creed or national origin. It's a scary time in our world when comic creators can't even exercise their first amendment right without being crucified by their industry. But hey, what do I know? I'm just a guy that gave Holy Terror a 5 out of 5 because I could see that it was a statement on how American's viewed the Islamic faith after 9/11, rather than a short-sited view from the creator.

P.S. If you're so quick to write Frank off then I better not read anyone talking about The Dark Knight Returns or Batman: Year One when then next movie comes out or the next landmark run on Batman because you don't get to have it both ways.

Review: Godzilla: Legends #1

Godzilla Legends is a solid entry into IDW's Godzilla brand of comics, but doesn't stand out as something special like the ongoing or Gangsters and Goliaths. At it's core it really is just a shameless cash in on the franchise. This particular issue focuses on Anguirus and paints the picture of him as an underdog in the monster battling world. The problem is that this book relies on the humans to tell us a story and make us care when really we're all just here to see some monsters beat the hell out of each other and destroy whatever city they're standing in. The book opens with an attack from Destoroyah on a military facility. The humans inside decide to use a reluctant scientists "G-Signaler" to summon either Godzilla or the nearest monster to take on Destoroyah. At first it seems that the signal is broken, but then Anguirus shows up to no ones relief. It seems that Anguirus doesn't have the best track record when it comes to beating other monsters, in fact he's never beaten another monster and Destoroyah is way out of his league. Never the less Anguirus is as stubborn as he is stupid and begins battling with Destoroyah. Sure enough though, he begins getting his ass kicked.

There is a lot of... stupidness that you have to accept in the giant-monster genre. Things like, what are the monsters doing when they're not attacking cities, why are they always attacking cities, why do they all breath under water and many other stupid things that you just have to accept in order to enjoy monsters beating the hell out of each other. The problem with this book is that it draws your attention to these facts and not only doesn't answer them, but doesn't even try to. The creative team of Matt Frank and Jeff Prezenkowski clearly understand the Godzilla movie formula, but that doesn't mean that the formula should have been used.

They understand that the humans drive the story and explain the world and the rational behind the monsters rampage. I may be alone in saying this, but I always hate the human aspect of the Godzilla movies. Here's the reality of it. Monster shows up pissed off at the humans and kicks the shit out of their city. The movie was successful so they did it again and added more monsters. That too was successful so they continued to have the King of Monsters Godzilla beat the crap out of more monsters! When you try to add a story to marketing you'll fail every time. Frank and Prezenkowski spend almost the entire issue with the humans and the annoying scientist that they're giving credit to for summoning Godzilla. I couldn't care less.

If you're a Godzilla fan then go ahead and buy this issue. It has great art and few panels of monster fights are definitely worth the price of admission and let's be honest; you're going to buy it any ways. Personally though I was hoping for it to be more entertaining then it was. I think that the ongoing really nailed what a Godzilla comic should be and that this book fell really short of that mark. In the end the cover should have probably said, "Featuring A Whinny Scientist" rather than Anguirus.

Score: 2/5

Review: Severed #4

What is it about horror stories that has that one character that can save everyone from a bad situation, but they make the most irrational decision possible and go completely against their nature? I don’t know the answer since and I’m not going to pretend that I understand why the horror genre is the only one subjected to this character “glitch”, but I will say that Severed unfortunately suffers from it. This book has some major plot details that are spread throughout the entire issue and it makes it really hard to talk about it without spoiling the story.I will not spoil the book for you, but because of that I will have to talk in very vague terms. After the last issue, Sam is very un-trusting of their new friend and frankly she has every right to be since he’s a kid killing monster. She checks up on him and reveals her doubts to Jack, who frankly is too dense to get her rational thinking. The two of them fight and basically have that scene in which they say everything that the audience has been thinking, but that the characters were too polite to say to one another. Afterwards they make up, but by doing so they seal their fate.That’s about all I can say really.

Let me get the good out-of-the-way first. The art is still something special and is as strong as it was from the first issue. Artist Attila Futaki has a marvelous style that is perfect for horror and the period the story is set in. The art is unchanged by the story, which is a good thing. The story on the other hand was frustrating. Now I’m not one to whine and complain when a story does something I don’t like or character does the opposite of what I think will happen. In fact I love to be pissed off by a story when it emerges me so much that I feel deep emotions when things don’t go the way I want them to. It shows the quality and skill of the writing to make you love and hate something at the same time.That being said I was frustrated by this issue for another reason altogether.

I absolutely do not like it when a the smartest character in the book that’s kept others from making mistakes, makes the biggest mistake of them all. What’s worse is that in this issue it’s just to prove themselves right since they were already free of the situation they felt stuck in before.I can’t say that I’ll be back for the next issue, I think that my journey ends right here. The writers of the book said from the beginning that they wanted a sense of dread and suspense to flow throughout the book and to be honest they were doing a fantastic job until this issue. The sense of dread, the danger is gone and regardless if the story ends with a happy ending it will not have the same meaning as it once did. Others may read this book and think that it’s great and if you want more details from me after reading it for yourself,head back here and I’ll tell you why this issue broke the “rules” of its own story and thus left me the reader alienated.

Score: 1/5

Pilot Season Reviews: Round Three!

I continue to have a major problem with Pilot Season as I look at Top Cow’s releases and wonder if they shouldn’t be trying to publish more or if they’re really one step away from just releasing Witchblade and The Darkness as their only titles. As it is this batch of Pilot Season books are actually very good! Even the third book that I’m going to talk about prior to its release is worth being given a mini-series at the very least. But atlas, only one of these books will be given the false hope of eventually having its own mini or at least the title of “winner.”

Anonymous

No it’snot the Shakespeare movie bombing at the box office, this book is basically about a black ops operative that deserted the war and came home to do random acts of kindness. Okay it’s not too random considering it’s his father that he’s helping, but soon after he meets a woman how is being abused at home. He “black ops” into her home and black bags the man. When he awakens he’s tied to a pier with the tide coming in. Mr. Black Ops tells him that if he every raises a hand to another woman again that he’ll kill him. He leaves him, but times his call to the police so that they save him just in time but not before the fear of God gets to him. Unfortunately a Zebra can’t change its stripes. The abusive husband, who also happens to be a dirty cop, strikes another woman that’s investigating his criminal activities. From nowhere, Mr. Black Ops pops out with a shot-gun and says, “I warned you!”

That’s it. I was sold on this book before the last scene,but by this point I had actually forgotten that I was reading a Pilot Season book. What’s worse is that now I know that if I ever read this book again it could be years from now and by then it won’t have the same topical relevance a sit does now. It’s too because this book is definitely good enough to be a mini or even an ongoing depending on where the creators want to take it. If Image is smart they’ll green light this book once Top Cow crumbles.

Seraph

Here’s another good book that is definitely worthy of an ongoing. When you have Phil Hester co-writing anything you make it an ongoing. This book takes everything that was cool about Spawn and discards all the horrible ideas that were shoehorned into the story. Our Seraph is a man who put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. But an Angel brought him back to life and made him a power for God. Now he walks the city looking for a sign as to what to do with the power. His omen this time is a lost child poster. He shows up at the mother’s house and ask her about her daughter and the STD junkie mother tells him that she sold her for drugs and rent, but wants her back. Honestly it was the most believable junkie mom I’ve ever read. The Seraph tracks her down to a man who is basically a spider demon and he’s going to kill him, boom his power disappears. God shuts him down because he’s not doing his will, but his own.

That is why this book is so interesting. To see this character have to constantly figure out God’s will in any given situation when faced with pure evil was just brilliant. I couldn’t believe how smart of an idea it was and it shocked me that this was doomed to Pilot Season purgatory(pun intended). This book has so much potential and so much talent working on it that it’s a shame that it’s not being given an ongoing. This really could have been the next Spawn and possible ran for just as long given the circumstances of the story. Oh well right?

City of Refuge

Here’s the thing, I couldn’t tell if the world outside this city was gone or if the people within the city have cut themselves off from the rest of the world… and I liked that I couldn’t tell. I’m pretty sure that the city is functioning outside of normal society with participants that have signed up to live a crime free life under the corporate microscope. These people suffer from survivor’s guilt as they think about the people they’ve left behind. Our story follows a therapist that also works as a security guard in the city. When he’s on duty he’s given a drug that shuts down the chip implanted in his head that controls his violent emotions. On the first night of his twelve-hour duty he’s summoned to a hostage situation. It seems that the drug the security officers use has hit the street and now normal people are turning off their chip in order to be… violent.

The story didn’t amaze me, but honestly if this was a mini-series I would definitely pick up the next issue and give it a read. Sadly this book that could really have turned out to be a gem is just another casualty of Pilot Season. -- I guess you should probably go vote on one of these three books. They really are the best that they have to offer and out shine the others we’ve talked about, but really I don’t care either way since I’m still waiting for Mysterious Ways to finish so I can win all those free comics from Top Cow…like that will happen.

This Kicks All Kinds of Ass: Justice League of America 1997

"In case you didn't know, It's windy out!" HA! This is 100% Awesome! Enjoy what could of been, JLA the television show that just didn't make it. Here's part of it, lets see if you can appreciate it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0kHSllsVOE

Episode 5: Avenging What Exactly?

This week we're strangely topical as we talk about Frank Miller's Batman: Year One in the wake of Miller telling off the Occupy Wallstreet protesters and alienating comic fans the world over. We also delve into Marvel's Point One we wonder what exactly Spider-Man is avenging in his new series and really what the hell the Avengers have been avenging all these years.

Would You Wear This? Cardigan Edition

I can't claim credit for finding this terrible batch of cardigans, not that credit belongs to Graphicly's the Couch blog thingy. I can say: WTF, WTF, who the fuuk would wear these?