Trailer Time: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLWsK1ZFunA#t=136 To start with... yes this looks like a much better movie than the first one, but I'm not going to say that the story is very original. It's not. It's the typical heroes journey and all we can hope for is that the ride is worth it. Winter Soldier's arm looks like shit and in general he looks like he's wearing fake muscles. Also Evans isn't as bulky... not sure if that's good or bad. At any rate, it looks like a movie that's worth seeing though I'm sure I'll become tired of it now that it's in the can and Marvel/Disney is ready to market the hell out of it. Oh and the new suit is way fucking better. Now for the gifs!

Review: The Rocketeer & The Spirit: Pulp Friction #2

Wow this too a really long time to release. In fact after reading it I almost forgot that I was the one reviewing the series. I’ll tell you right now that it was not worth the wait. I know that sounds cruel but other than Cliff and Spirit sharing the same world and the clever connections between their supporting cast, there’s really nothing else going on in this story. After the “meet cute” of the last issue has been sorted out, Cliff, Spirit and the rest of the supporting cast talk to Betty. It’s a pointless scene and I have no idea why the Spirit thinks that a woman who was just on the beach doing a photo-shoot would know something special about a murder she wasn’t involved in; more than say the Coroner that they visit later in the issue. The only thing that comes from the conversation is Betty stirring up Cliff and Ellen... and Ellen’s dad, but his stirring is more in his nether regions. They head to the morgue to check out the body and the group continues to argue and moan and there’s a joke about L.A. traffic which is more fact than comedy. Our hero’s protagonists have a “meet cute” for some reason and we basically learn that TV is evil.

The first issue was really enjoyable because it got a lot of the muck out-of-the-way from a crossover situation like this. This issue manages to find a new muck to trudge through and it makes for an average story at best. My biggest problem with the modern pulp genre (make no mistake that’s what this is), is that it’s written with nostalgia in mind. The writers that tackle the genre remember what the genre was like when they read it upon its original release and just try to copy that style. The result is that they write dated stories that are incredibly easy to figure out which makes any story longer than one issue repetitive and boring. If you look at modern superhero stories they do not suffer from the lenses of nostalgia and yet the vast majority of modern pulp reads like a cleaned up version of classic pulp. That’s the exact problem here. Waid gave you the problem and the solution in the first issue and I was okay with that as long as the journey was worth it, but that’s turning out to be just as predictable.

Is there something involving planes for the Rocketeer to deal with? Check. Does the Spirit help him like a fish out of water? Check. Does Betty end up getting captured by the bad guy of the story? Check. Does anything else happen? Nope. There’s nothing about this story that makes you say, “yup Mark Waid wrote that” nor does he capture the original voices of the creators which would have been okay. Instead it’s just another comic cranked out by the corporate machine.

The art is wonderful. It’s the only part of the comic that I didn’t feel forced to pay attention to. It’s gorgeous and it’s so well done that you could read the comic without looking at the dialog and still figure out what’s going on in every panel. Loston Wallace’s facial expressions and body language are very strong and give the story a pulp look, but keeps with the bright colors associated with The Rocketeer which is essentially acting as the host series here.

There was something special and fun with the first issue. The clever way that the two worlds connected was believable and made you crave for a larger connected pulp world much like the one Dynamite has created, but without them involved. This issue delivers a well-worn crossover formula that in my opinion talks down to its audience assuming that it couldn’t handle anything that wasn’t a tongue-in-cheek meeting of these two characters and that’s the real shame here.

Score: 2/5

Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Loston Wallace Publisher: DC and IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Bravest Warriors #13

With the recent premiere of 'Bravest Warriors' Season Two, more eyes than ever are tuned in to the web series, and hopefully that means more people to buy this always amusing spin-off comic which is quickly becoming one of my favorite casual reads on the shelf. In this issue, the Bravest Warriors take a break from the constant punching and thwacking of evil to discuss the origins of their individual animal-themed weapons, from childhood dysfunction to vision quests. Eric M. Esquivel brings the trippy humor in full force this issue, one of the best standalone stories of the series. It brings a smile to my face and the creativity delivers a lot of gentle surprise. Artists Mike Holmes and Lisa Moore keep up the great work they've been doing, and Ryan Pequin's short caboose story is an amusing (and gross) diversion.

I'm hoping with 'Bravest Warriors' increased profile will contribute to more people giving this comic a chance and not assuming that it's a cheap commercial cash in. I can't speak for the rest of the Boom! Line, but their Kaboom! Children's imprint has been putting out some charming content, with 'Bravest Warriors' being one of the finer examples. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this comic in the hands of one of your infinite incarnations, your multiverse selves will thank you.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Eric M. Esquivel Artist: Mike Holmes Publisher: Boom and KaBoom Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Dark Horse Presents #29

Dark Horse’s monthly anthology returns and it’s frankly begging for some new stories to grace its pages. There really does seem to be a lack of energy on this series as of late and I could only find one story that truly blew me away. Let’s dive through it though and see if it’s something you’ll want to pick up or possibly skip until next time when it’s guaranteed to have new stories. The issue kicks off with The Strain: The Fall – The Silver Angel. I’m really enjoying this story as Lapham takes readers through the world of The Strain. Our lucha libre the Silver Angel is quite the character and what he’s willing to do for the little girl waiting for him is brave. Let’s hope she’s all there when he arrives. The story and art continue to be impressive on this tale and actually make me want to catch up on the full series.

The story that really grabbed my attention was Snip Snip. It takes place in the not too distant future in which gangs rule the city. Rather than the gangs being made up of the usual suspects though, it’s run by creative teams like “Red Cross Crew” which is a bunch of nurses packing heat. Some grocery store baggers banded together to form “Harbor City Body Baggers” and it continues to be crazy from there. It’s a great setting that is both violent and funny, but never really serious. We meet Mindy Cooper who runs a barbershop in which she cuts clients hair in her underwear and on their lap. Too bad she’s about to be kidnapped by the Zookeeper gang. The story is crazy fun and has one element that I can’t spoil for you because it’s too funny. The art style is incredible and really captures the world. I really dug the art. I’m really hoping that there will be more stories set in this world or a full publication of it because I’m hooked.

Alabaster continues and it added an element that was very interesting. It had a sad ending so hopefully there’s some kind of cheer in the next chapter. The Boxcar tales have run a bit long in my opinion, but hopefully there’s a big payoff coming.

Nexus had a couple of interesting elements to it this time around. I think the conclusion is coming which should be interesting. I really enjoy Steve Rude’s artwork and that’s a strong part of what keeps me going on this series.

Trekker ends so I won’t say much about it, but it was pretty predictable. I haven’t read any of the other Trekker issues so there is potentially one element introduced that could be a big shake up. I’m looking forward to the mini that’s coming as I think it will prevent the overlapping narrative that this tale suffered from.

I don’t know if the Nosferatu Wars ends in this volume, but if it does it was kind of rushed. Instead of being given one solid scene in a larger story the plot jumps around some and then really leaps ahead at the end. I like the concept, but I would have liked to have spent more time with the build up to that concept.

I’m going to mention Brainbot Jr. which is only one page, but it made me chuckle and there wasn’t much to laugh at in this issue. Brainbot is a fun character and I would definitely like to read more.

Overall this issue is good, but far from great. This series should be the next big thing from Dark Horse and instead this issue was filled with older comics and creators looking to revive their franchises. It’s not that those franchises are bad, but when they’re lumped together they’re not as special. I’m hoping the next issue will do a fly by that’s so awesome it causes me to spill coffee on my shirt, but in the meantime this issue is just decent.

Score: 3/5

Writers: David Lapham, Andrew MacLean, Richard Corben, Caitlin R. Kieman, Mike Baron, Ron Randall, Steve Niles, Michael T. Gilbert, Neal Adams, Dara Naraghi. Artists: David Lapham, Andrew MacLean, Richard Corben, Steve Lieber, Steve Rude, Rond Randall, Menton 3, Michael T. Gilbert, Neal Adams, Tom Williams. Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $7.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Clone #11

What I can only describe as the second season of Clone kicks off with this issue. It’s quite the change of pace from the previous issues and in several ways reminds me of the very first issue of the series. It’s clear that it’s being used as a jumping on point for new readers and I think that it’s very successful in doing that. What that means for current readers is an issue that recaps the events that we’re already aware of and revealing what the new status quo is for the Clones and Luke. The recap begins instantly as we find images of Luke’s face plastered all over New York City. We find a bum that is clearly a clone due to the distinguished mole under his right eye. He’s doing a pretty good job of hiding in plain view, but some cops spot him and begin to check him over. They ask him to raise his sleeve so they can check for a number and the bum books it. As he’s running we learn that the world is afraid of the Clones and that they’re not regarded as humans; this has put a larger target on their heads for Militias and basically anyone looking to pull the trigger. BAM! BAM!! The clone heads down an alley way and he’s suddenly grabbed by Luke and pulled away from the police. He begins to calmly walk him through a maze of kitchens and dressing rooms and carefully to the car waiting for them with Jennifer behind the wheel.

Of course this is Clone so nothing really goes according to plan and the simplest of things can go wrong and chaos will ensue. Not a lot happens in the plot though, but there is an event that steps up some drama for the next issue. Missing were the protagonists from the first two arcs and some of the supporting character. It almost seems as if the cast has been scaled down or people have been switched out in favor of clones. I’m sure we’ll have to wait to see in the coming issues. The writing and dialogue are as good as always. I’m sure some older readers will feel a bit bored with the issue, but it really is a very strong issue. The balance of relationships is definitely getting more and more interesting especially when you see some of the clones that survived the first story arc.

I’m very happy to inform you that artist Juan Jose Ryp is still on the series. To be honest he’s like 80% of why I buy this book so the fact that the story is entertaining and crazy as shit really is the icing on the cake. Ryp doesn’t miss a beat and the writers have thrown a ton at him in this issue. When most comics go to New York City it’s basically empty streets and tall buildings, but when Ryp takes you there… you’re there; crowds of people, trash and tourist everywhere and everything receives his photorealistic details. The man is one of the most amazing illustrates in the history of the industry and he only seems to be getting better.

When I finished reading this issue my initial impression was that it was pretty average, but then I thought about how great it is that the creative team was able to find a new starting point for readers within this complex story. This is factually the first issue that a new reader has been able to jump on to the series and not been forced to go back and read the previous issues. You can actually start here and that’s great. I’m not joking when I say that this series is complex; there are so many characters (and half of them look the same) and several storylines happening all at once that every issue was like walking in on a movie half over. Don’t miss out on this series because who knows when you’ll get another opportunity like this.

Score: 4/5

Writers: David Schulner, Aaron Ginsburg and Wade Mcintyre Artist: Juan Jose Ryp Publisher: Image and Skybound Entertainment Price: $2.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Fanboys vs. Zombies #19

My prayers have been answered! We finally get back into the thick of things with Fanboys vs. Zombies. We took some devious routes, but now it is all fresh air...with the slight undertone of zombie breath. Rob and Burger come back on the scene. It makes the hell of a difference for this week’s issue. Now let me first say that they aren’t in it a lot, but still enough time to bring me back to the promise land. Our setting takes place in Mexico, and I think that is pretty cool. I love when comics cross cultures and embrace the culture in that issue. So some of this issue is in Spanish, which is understandable if you don’t speak Spanish. We meet up with Felix and his brother. Felix is just an average dude, but is sort of the leader of a huge group of Mexicans trying to survive the attack. He is the conductor, no really he like totally drives a train. Their mission; get to Canada in hopes of it being too cold for zombies to live.

Burger finds Felix, and they immediately become friends. Burger and Rob are trying to get back to Saint Diego (sorry too many Anchorman reruns). They want to hitch a ride. Did I mention there are zombies everywhere? Probably the most zombies yet. That was exciting for me see. Anyway, Felix tries to find room and Burger asks why Felix’s brother is so apprehensive when fighting off zombies. Well I don’t want to ruin it, but Felix’s brother used to wrestle in Lucha Libre. His name was El Esqueleto. He sort of has a tragic story and swears to never hurt a fly. Again, it is cool that the comic embraces some Mexican culture. El Esqueleto is one huge dude, so it is a shame that he can’t put up his best fight. This stresses Felix out being the leader and all. Once, Felix drops Rob and Burger off, the comic revolves around the two brothers leading the train through trouble. It actually has a pretty cool story attached.

I love this take on zombies, because at least for now, we are focusing on people trying to survive; not a group trying to find the cure for it all. I am sure this comic will get into all of that, since it already has, but I appreciate the break from the same old zombie story. Sometimes, I feel like my reviews mean nothing… ha, but today I felt like I was heard when the Wrecking Crew made its comeback. I almost stopped reading this comic! Now, I am back in love and hope to never recycle the previous issues.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Shane Houghton Artist: Jerry Gaylord Publisher: Boom Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Trailer Time: Bayonetta: Bloody Fate

We previously posted the teaser trailer for this upcoming anime release, but today we have the full trailer for you to check out. It doesn't have any captions, but you do get a better idea of what the story is about. The movie has a limited release in Japan starting in November so it's likely we won't see this one until next year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMHsOFhKiA

Source

Here's The Teaser for Tomorrow's Teaser For Captain America: The Winter Soldier

A fucking teaser for a teaser... yeah it's dumb that's why I made it a gif! Especially since they don't say anything in the teaser teaser. Just kidding here's the video... see you tomorrow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaynOP_Hhmo

Review: Death Sentence #2

I’ll be honest with you… I read this issue before you. I mean how could I not? The first issue was fantastic and so given the opportunity I jumped at reading this issue in advance. It also meant that I had to re-read it in order to write this review and you know what? Just as good the second time around. The first issue for this series just shipped, but if you missed out on it fear not there’s a second print for it coming since it sold out. You can also check out our group review, but enough of that. Here's a quick reminder of what the G+ virus is; it’s a sexually transmitted disease that gives you powers. We’re talking X-Men like powers with no two people being afflicted the same way twice, but it comes with a cost… you only have six months to live. Our story follows three people who have contracted the virus.

The issue kicks off with Weasel; a man who is a fading rock star looking to sell a few more albums before kicking the bucket. The biggest problem is that his music sucks and the gimmick of his powers is already wearing off. The other problem that Weasel has is that his personal life is shit. His ex-wife won’t let him see his son and thus has interrupted his impromptu concert outside of his apartment to tell him as much. He becomes enraged and throws his guitar out the window hitting a fan in the head. In what I can only call perfect comedic timing the story cuts to the fan on the News later giving a thumbs up and his friend holding the guitar for him.

The next character the story checks in with is Verity. She’s clearly not perfect, but compared to the other two main characters she’s damn near a saint as they’ve both continued to engage in sexual activity and possibly assigned death sentences to other women if the virus activates. Her problem is that her power scale flagged very high and alerted the wrong people. It also caused her to freak out and accidentally kill five people. The police easily figure out that it’s her when they turn on the computer, but then the Department of National Security rolls in and takes over the case. It’s interesting what they do, but I’ll leave that for you to read. We also learn who Lou is and let’s just say that’s short for something else. Now the DofNS is hot on Verity’s trail and she has nowhere to go. There’s not much I can say about the third characters chunk of the story or even the rest of the other two’s stories without spoiling it for you, but let’s just say that you’re going to have a hard time predicating where everything is going.

The strongest element about this story is that writer Monty Nero has grounded it in reality. Other comics have attempted this, but none have pulled it off like Nero has. There’s a sense of each character’s life before the death sentence is handed to them and there’s a clear distinction of what is normal for them now or at least their attempt at making something normal. For Verity she wants to do what’s right and register and basically just live a peaceful life until her end. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen for her.  Weasel’s life is a grab bag of shit with so many loose ends to tie up death will probably be a welcomed sense of relief. The great thing about their characters is that the reader can relate to at least one of them. Definitely not 100%, but enough that you can understand their reasoning for this or that choice or even a wrong choice; and if you read it and don’t relate to any of them then I’m sure you at least have someone similar in your life to relate them to.

You have to love that art. It’s impossible not to love it and I’m not just talking about the covers, though they are amazing and beautiful all on their own. As I said the story is grounded in reality and art makes sure of that with the photorealistic imagery. Artist Michael Dowling puts the reader inside this world that helps us narrate the tale of our three main characters. The coloring is also stunning. Each setting has its own range of colors which is perfect for the story considering it jumps around. I think the strongest scenes for the coloring were set at night, but also one towards the end involving Verity.

I wish that I had the third issue to read this very moment. In fact I wish I could just read the entire series right now it’s that addicting of a story. The reveals in this issue are great and only leave you wanting more questions answered. If you missed the first issue then you should kick yourself because it’s one of the best series of the year.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Monty Nero Artist: Michael Dowling Publisher: Titan Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: TMNT- New Animated Adventures #4

Raphael graced the cover of this week’s TMNT Animated Adventures. Raph has always been my favorite. Don’t ask me, because frankly I don’t know. When I was young, I always loved him then upon growing wiser I realized that I had no support to back up my choice. I mean Raph is the most powerful turtle. No doubt about it, but he is also a little baby and stubborn as hell. But like a child, I stuck to Raph and decided long ago never to abandon him. Once a favorite; always a favorite. Ok now that I have wasted some time talking about my life, let’s get to the review. Like all the other issues, this comic is just plain fun. It has so many jokes that keep entertained. The jokes don’t have an intentional punch line either. What I mean by that is you never know when a joke is coming. You read and then bamm! They don’t set anything up which lots of children comics tend to do. I like when the jokes are cleverly put in place, that way the reader has to pay attention in order to laugh; not just say the word pooh and expect kids to only get that.

The Turtles sneak out the Foot Clan after getting a tip from April. The boys, unexpectedly, encounter a full-on Clan attack. Turns out the Clan has got some tricks up their sleeves when they pull out a new dart. The dart is laced with kyosuu, a Japanese drug that causes a knock out. It also causes hallucinations, as well as, a long-term effect of the patient losing balance, permanently. Leo, Donnie, and Mikey must now find some key ingredients to make an antidote for Raph. This is all part of Shredder's plan to take down the Turtles once and for all. Shredder knows where the shops are that sell these ingredients, so he decides to again ambush the Turtles; well not directly but instead Dogpound is sent on the mission.

From the perspective of an educator, I love how each issue tries to teach the reader some lesson; especially this issue in which Splinter teaches the boys that having different viewpoints on something is a strong attribute. Splinter is always the voice of reason. He is such an iconic character. I really do believe that. In every comic, movie, or show that comes out, Splinter is the same rat. That goes to show how all people see him as this universal character, like God or Morgan Freeman. I hope the writers keep these lessons up, because it adds a nice touch.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Erik Burnham Artist: Dario Brizuela Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Star Wars – Legacy #8

An Imperial knight and a descendant of Han Solo hunt for a Sith in a junk field above a dead sea planet in this latest issue of the Legacy arm of the Star Wars franchise. While not overly familiar with the details of the Legacy series, set forty years after the Original Series, I do find it a compelling place for storytelling and a successful example of Dark Horse's strong licensed content. The writing in the issue is straightforward and adventure driven, with an almost pulpy pace as our two heroes navigate the deadly edges of space. I'm not caught up on the series so I can't quite say I was deeply immersed in anyone's motivations, but the issue was simply written enough that I could easily follow the action without too much back history. I appreciate the pacing, feeling more like fun exploits than some of Dark Horses other Star Wars offerings that can occasionally feel burdened by franchise history.

The art unfortunately is some of the most uneven I've seen from Dark Horse, with panels ranging from impressive to somewhat crude. While many shots of ships and aliens look striking, many left me wishing somebody else had illustrated the issue. I can't tell whether the lesser examples were unattractive stylistic decisions or simply a matter of a crunched deadline, but it made a noticeable impression on my reading experience.

A mildly entertaining if slight book with a mixed bag of art. Not probably the best place to start reading, but not offensive in any way that would keep the diehard Star Wars fans away.

Score: 2/5

Writers: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman Artist: Brian Albert Thies Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Rat Queens #2

Yay the Rat Queens are back. I will freely admit that I was a part of the hype train for this series, but hey it ended up delivering in the end so no one can complain. The first issue was great; guess what… this issue is better. The reason being, we’re in the world now. We’ve met the characters and gotten the lay of the land meaning we’re able to freely explore the story and world. The issue kicks off with Violet and Hannah arguing about the troll that’s in front of them. Violet asks how a huge troll sneaks up on someone with Elven eyes and that sets Hannah off on Dwarf stereotypes. It was an awesome way to start the issue off because it reminds you of the ladies personalities instantly and sets the mood for hilarity. It’s great for another reason as well because Kurtis Wiebe paints the real world onto fantasy and makes it a nerd’s delight. A Dwarf that only drinks wine as a matter of principle… loved it! Spoiler the ladies defeat the troll but not without taking some damage and then head back to town to figure out who is trying to kill them. More hilarity ensues along the way of course… and drinking… of course.

There’s definitely more to the story, but it would be very pointless for me to sum it up for you. Wiebe does a great job with this series and continues to give each character their unique voice and personality. Dee and Betty seemed to take the back seat in this issue which was a shame, but it’s also bound to happen with four main characters. Honestly the story doesn’t move forward that much, but we continue to have a better understanding of the setting and spend more time getting to know the characters which I doubt anyone will complain about.

Roc-Motherfucking-Upchurch in the house! Upchurch’s art, as I’ve said before, is fantastic and some of my favorite. I really enjoy his character designs and especially in the case of the ladies they’re very realistic. I can’t stress enough how refreshing it is in the world of comics to see not just men, but women with their unique body frame; from hips to the shoulders no two characters look-alike. Upchurch flexes his action and gore muscles in this issue and it also rocs (pun intended, but with no insult attached). I really enjoy his blood effects and coloring. Something about it is very cool and anime inspired.

I’m very happy that these two creators came together for this series. They’re a great partnership and continue to produce entertaining and high quality issues. If this keeps up it may just work its way onto my top five list. In the mean time you should definitely check out this issue and series. If you missed out on the first issue you should be able to get a second print copy with this issue as well and trust me, you want to do that. This series is proving to be a humorous monthly experience that is also well-written and beautifully illustrated.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe Artist: Roc Upchurch Publisher: Image and Shadowline Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 10/23/13

Mikasa Ackerman Real Action Figure

Early in the week I posted some of Medicom Toy's "Real Action Figures" for Batman and Superman that frankly sucked. Mikasa from Attack on Titan is much better, but I'm not really into the cloth clothing stuff. Still it's pretty cool and it comes with a ton of shit.

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Review: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3

I really want this comic to do well. It holds that throwback style which shows an appreciation for the original Agents. I have noticed that although the throwback is cool, it doesn’t allow for anything futuristic. The comic reads like an old comic. I liked it at first, but somehow Andrea Di Vito needs to create more. I don’t mind if the comic looks old school, but bring it up to date a tad for us readers wanted something more. I really think the whole series needs a makeover. It should have been very futuristic and filled with all sorts of gadgets. Instead all the readers see is are these corny characters. So there isn’t much to do about that now, but I think some things could use an upgrade. We jump right into Agent Noman being held by Iron Maiden, well more like her guards. And in any typical fortress, most guards are lazy bums. These two dingleberries see a wasp fly in their room. Anyone can see that this wasp is clearly part of Noman’s plan. Instead the two men let the insect climb into Noman’s neck. We then are lead to Dynamo and Lightning. I like these two guys. I think Dynamo is a strong lead and very relatable dude. Lightning seems to be pretty easy going, so both men make a great pair. Finally, we see Agent Dynamite take down some of Maiden’s men. All three of them have some real good traits that a good team needs.

Although I like all the characters, it is hard for me to see them as a team though. I mean they really haven’t done anything as a full team yet, so it should be understandable. Why couldn’t we have seen the boys playing the human knot game, or knock out before all this happen. But seriously, it all seems too rushed. Dynamo was rushed into the agency, rushed into the field, and rushed to play team captain. I would hate for the comic to feel like a ball of rush.

The story that does interest me here is Kat’s. She again has a quick flashback of her working up the Thunder pole. I think her story alone could be incorporating more in order to hold the reader. I want to know more about her and Maiden’s relationship, as well as, the history behind some key events. Maiden is our main villain, so maybe she could start having some flashbacks as well. Some that link to Kat’s in order to bring it all together.

All in all, I haven’t given up on Thunder yet. There are definitely some things I like about it. The rich characters are there, but the tone of the whole comic needs some revamping. I hope that maybe it will happen slowly and this is still only the set-up of the comic. If that is the case then I am all for these new Agents.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Andrea Di Vito Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Kiss Me, Satan #2

Although I didn’t enjoy the first issue of Kiss Me Satan very much, I felt like this issue really stepped it up.  Time-wise it’s directly after the first issue.  The witches are hiding in a motel, and Barnabus returns from getting doughnuts and coffee to find a maid outside their room.  He knows it’s suspicious for a maid to check on a room at one in the morning, and realizes she’s a werewolf.  They get into a fight, and during the fight the werewolf tells Barnabus there’s a bounty on the heads of the witches.  Obviously he wants Barnabus dead too, but the werewolf is willing to team up with Barnabus, kill the witches, and collect the reward.  However, Barnabus isn’t having any of the plan and drives a stake made out of a broken broom handle through her heart.  He then hops in the car and tries to get himself and the witches farther away from this whole situation.  But there’s a truck full of…undead ninjas (seriously) following them, and the truck smashes into Barnabus’ car and they all coincidentally enough are ejected out of the car, right into a cemetery. While this potentially pretty epic fight is about to ensue, Meredith’s water breaks and she’s ready to have her child, which will not inherit his father’s power being that he does not carry the werewolf gene.  She has the doctor at gunpoint because nobody knows that the baby isn’t a werewolf except for her, her husband Cassian, Barnabus, and the witches.  The doctor does what Meredith says until the baby is born and he insists on following protocol.  She blows half of his head off with her silver bullet, which was a great moment art-wise.  She then takes the baby from the nurse and starts killing members of Cassian’s pack who are chasing after her.  She ends up on the roof of their house and runs into Cassian.  She actually tries to shoot him, but the gun is out of bullets.  In a rage he knocks her to the ground and takes the baby.

Meanwhile at the cemetery, Barnabus and the witches dismantle the undead bone from bone and when the fight seems to be over, we meet the Bone Wrangler (“For reasons I’m thinkin’ might sorta be obvious”).  Behind him are corpses rising from their graves, and it’s clear that the Bone Wrangler wants that bounty money.

I was a much bigger fan of this issue than the first one.  It was a breeze to read through and although it plays off of the two biggest bled-dry genres in entertainment recently (zombies and werewolves), I feel that it has a unique enough story and interesting enough characters to keep me entertained throughout this five-issue miniseries.  I felt the pacing was great on this issue; it went back from Barnabus’ predicaments to the birth of the werewolves’ son cleverly.  For example, Verona who’s the leader of the witches gets incredibly mad when the zombie ninjas attack them.  She says “Some sorry jackass is gonna wish he was never born” just as Meredith’s water breaks, and it cuts back to that story.  These occurrences happen a few times, and it makes the story flow very well.

I like the art quite a bit too, it’s definitely above-average.  I liked the action sequences in this issue a lot more than the last and the blood and gore was disgustingly detailed.  If you don’t take this comic too seriously and don’t worry about the amount of clichés it adopts, you’ll probably find yourself enjoying it like I did.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Victor Gischler Artist: Juan Ferreyra Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Star Trek #26

Despite the death of Admiral Marcus and the destruction of the Vengeance in “Into Darkness”, Section 31 continues their plot to incite war with the Kingon Empire by allying with the Romulans. With Kirk and the Enterprise once again caught in the middle of potential all-out war, the crew has to do everything they can to stand in the way of the disastrous conflict. For being built on such shaky ground, this continuation of the 'Star Trek' reboot franchise does a decent job at extrapolating from the film's events in a logical manner. Section 31 didn't build just one advanced ship, now they have a small fleet of small stealth ships and the Klingon's didn't ignore the escalation of aggression that took place during 'Into Darkness'. So from a plotting standpoint the new 'Star Trek' is acceptably straightforward, if missing a few gears. The Klingons believe Khan to have been operating on Kronos under the orders of Starfleet, apparently ignoring his little landing of a starship on top of San Francisco. However, it does the job of expanded canon well in making realistic connections that make it really feel like a continuation of the film's story.

However, it's not all sunshine in the writing department, as the characters utterly lack personality. If there is one thing that could be said for NuTrek, it's that it established a snappy banter between characters that drove its central energy. In the comic, everyone's lines are incredibly cookie cutter, usually characters blockily explaining their actions to each other. What could have been a pretty fun comic gets dragged down quick by the monotone delivery. This extends to the artwork as well, featuring that now expected stiff blandness of the licensed movie comic book that comes from an extensive use of production stills as photo references. Colorists Yuwono and Noor do a visibly attractive job painting the characters faces in a photorealistic style, but when the art focuses on anyone who didn't appear in the movie it noticeably declines.

Ultimately, it's not an unreadable book, and fans of the film might want to keep up with these potentially canon additions to the NuTrek continuity, but the personality deficit paralyzes the fun and prevents it from being much more than merchandise.

Score: 2/5

Writer: Mike Johnson Artist: Erfan Fajar Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Bushido #4 (of 5)

Mitsuko has been captured.  Orochi has been turned.  Kenchiro goes to hunt down his brother and get back the love of his life. Each issue of this series has been a beautifully illustrated, expertly told tale evoking the honor of Feudal Japan and the horror of vampires attacking in the dead of night.

The series has built to a highly anticipated climax, and Kenchiro’s destiny will be met in the next, final installment.  Don’t miss that—or this entire series.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Rob Levin Artist: Jessada Sutthi Publisher: Top Cow Price: $2.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Group Review: Pretty Deadly #1

Each of the writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the issue a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass along with a short reason for the score. Here’s a blurb about the issue from Image before we begin: KELLY SUE DECONNICK (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) & EMMA RÍOS (Dr. Strange, Osborn) reunite to bring you an all-new ongoing series that marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher.  Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her tale of retribution is as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.

Dustin: BUY

Everyone else on the site might disagree with me, but I fucking loved this book. It’s broken in places. It stutters in others, but in doing so it becomes a rarity in the comic world. The structure shouldn’t work, but it does. The way the story is told with its mixture of narrators, should be annoying or confusing, but it’s not.  Quite frankly it’s one of the most brilliant origin stories I’ve ever read in comics. Deconnick’s sing-songy dialog perfectly captures the era and places you in the old west.

Rios’ art work is what I’ve really been waiting on and it did not disappoint. I’m sure some people are going to look at it and be confused or not see the how the impressive structure of each page actually surpasses the narrative, but it’s there. This is a gorgeous series and I cannot wait to read the next chapter. This may have just become my new favorite series.

Adam: BUY

I haven’t ever quite read something like Pretty Deadly.  It combines obvious western elements, along with folklore storytelling-and we aren’t given a ton to work with this first issue.  The opening grabbed me faster than a lot of books I’ve read lately, with a downright depressing folktale about how Deathface Ginny came to be.  It gets vicious at some points too, with Big Alice shooting Johnny in the leg just for a few feathers that he got in his pocket when he touched Sissy.  The few characters we’re introduced to are all unique to say the least, and I’m interested in finding out more about them in upcoming issues.  The world in which the story is set in is very vast and rich, and although it’ll be a challenging read for sure, this is a book that’s too refreshing not to go and pick up.

Samantha: BORROW

Death is such an interesting character. He can be seen in so many lights; man, woman, child, reaper, ugly, beautiful, and so on. Here we meet death’s daughter. It is exactly how I picture death’s daughter. Seriously, I picture a western cowgirl, dressed in all black, very attractive, and one small scar or attribute that is off. She happens to have scars on her mouth that give her a skeleton-like face. She looks dead and alive at the same time.

Pretty Deadly doesn’t tell you much this first issue. We pretty much know that death’s daughter is after this young girl who proceeds to dress as a vulture. She is guarded by a blind man that rides through the night with her. All the characters are just so arbitrary. It was hard to really get into the plot when it all felt overdone. I am hoping that the next issues will open the way for more creativity.

Plus, I was totally confused when a bunny and a butterfly start narrating the story. Was this confusing to anyone? I am not sure how it all connects, but they have some hefty explaining to do.

Steve: BUY

I’m pretty torn about this book. On the one side, with only a few rhythmic missteps, its lyrical cadence is some of the best I’ve read in recent memory, particularly at the book’s beginning. I also like its nigh-voodoo mythology-meets-Old West passion play framework, showcasing stories within or sidling up alongside others; and it’s here that its intricate poetry works as an impressive and gripping avenue of storytelling.

The only problem I have is that there is too much going on at this outset, with singularly distinctive but, for me, almost immediately forgettable characters getting muddled next to each other in a story Inception. I’m almost certain this will develop into something great, however, and based on Deconnick’s meter alone, it’s worth a look. Combined with Emma Rios’ busy yet heady art, which I don’t hasten to compare to East of West, though the similarities are there (and not just thematically), Pretty Deadly #1 may not be what I expected, but I think it is different and enticing enough to warrant a buy.

Carl: BORROW

A western melded with a fairy tale, Pretty Deadly follows the story of a woman arrives to town draped in a vulture cloak.  Telling a story illustrated with various tarot cards done up to accent the action, the woman recants the events of Death riding in a horse made of smoke.  This one is interesting, haunting, but not memorable.

Score: 3 Buys and 2 Borrows

Writer: Kelly Sue Deconnick Artist: Emma Rios Publisher: Image Comics Price: $2.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Group Review: Velvet #1

Each of the writers/reviews of Comic Bastards will give the issue a score of: Buy, Borrow or Pass along with a short reason for the score. Here’s a blurb about the issue from Image before we begin: ED BRUBAKER and STEVE EPTING redefined Captain America with the “Winter Soldier” saga... and everything they've done so far has been leading to VELVET! When the world's best secret agent is killed, Velvet Templeton, the Personal Assistant to the Director of the Agency, is drawn off her desk and back into the field for the first time in nearly 20 years... and is immediately caught in a web of mystery, murder and high-octane action. Sexy and provocative, with a dark twist on the spy genre, this EXTRA-LENGTH first issue by two of the industry's best-selling creators will knock you out!

Jordan: BUY

I’m usually not into spy fiction but then, Velvet isn’t your normal spy fiction.

Set during the cold war the story follows the super-secret agents at ARC-7 following the death of one of their best field agents. It starts with murder; from there the book introduces one of the more interesting female protagonists I’ve seen in a while in secretary Velvet. A fem fatale so secret, even the secret guys don’t know about her.

This book handles violence and plot at a breakneck pace that made me forget that I was reading it for a bit, so high octane was the comic. The characters and plot also feel nicely fleshed out, not hollow and 2 dimensional like you feel with a lot of first issues. Despite my predisposition towards the fantastic, this perfectly possible tale left me wanting more. Move over Bond, Velvet is here.

Steve: BUY

Well! That was fun! The high concept behind Velvet is basically, “What if James Bond was killed in action and a badass Miss Moneypenny set off to avenge him?” And you know what? It fucking works. But then, anyone who doubted Brubaker’s ability to pen a dynamic espionage story hasn’t been paying attention. Epting’s art in this deeply-seeded mystery tale set decades ago is one of moments, which may seem redundant in a review about a comic book (a medium that de facto celebrates them), but each of his panels is an often photorealistic pregnancy of the barely-contained tension that rumbles through the story. Furiously paced in the dichotomy of jab-like writing and sweeping visuals, Velvet is bound to be a fantastic tapestry that I can’t wait to see continue to roll out.

Carl: BORROW

The smoke filled days of 1970’s spy thrillers are reborn in the pages of Velvet.  The titular hero investigates the murder of a fellow espionage artist, Jefferson.  The story features all the elements of the bygone era punctuated by Velvet’s unparalleled abilities at fighting, investigating, and spying.  Fun, but not groundbreaking, the series brings you back in time while giving a harrowing tale that leads to a hell of a cliffhanger.

Samantha: BUY

Well I am huge fan of Ed Brubaker, and this new comic just proved why all of you should love him too. Velvet has that traditional spy story, but it is done with style. I don’t know how Brubaker taps into female characters so well, but it is sort of scary. Not to mention that secret agent stories just always hit a special place in my heart. Ever since my first glance at Agent 99, I fall in love with the whole badass agent routine.

Steve Epting couldn’t have drawn up this comic better. Velvet has that nostalgic way about her, and he had to of use Stacy London when he drew her up.. Don’t know her, Google it. He picks up that spy drama perfectly. With the dark shadows, the James Bond attire, and the back alleys, he sets up exactly how I picture everything. Sometimes a comic is disconnected with the art and the vision the comic is giving you, but here it is pure magic.

I am thinking that Velvet will be my new favorite comic for the deception, aggression, and action all wrapped in a woman on a mission. You can’t get much better than that.

Adam: BUY

I love any good spy, noir, or thriller stories, and Velvet pretty much knocks all of these out of the park with its ‘dark twist on the spy genre.’  The fact that Ed Brubaker is writing it pretty much already had my expectations pretty high, and I was not disappointed.  We get a lot of exposition in this extra-length first issue, and everything from the characters to the different settings and all the mystery is incredibly engrossing.  There’s a good glimpse into who our main character Velvet is as she narrates a good portion of the book, but not too much as she seems very secretive.  It seems to be that nobody really knows who Velvet is, but judging by the end she wasn’t always just a secretary, and I’m looking forward to see where the story goes from here.  The art and coloring is fantastic as well, each setting is incredibly believable and sets the tone for the story.  For me this was most apparent in Velvet’s flashbacks whether it be, Paris in 1973 or New York in ’68.  There’s a lot to like about this book, for me this is a must-buy.

Dustin: BUY

I’m very hit or miss on Brubaker’s writing, but this one hits with me. I don’t care what anyone says, there is something about the spy genre that draws us all in. We all have our secrets and we all love to hear other peoples. The spy genre is like hearing a series of secrets revealed, but with a sense of danger attached to them.

Velvet is wonderfully narrated and while predictable with its set up, I’m curious to see where it leads to from here. This is a great first issue and Epting is a huge part of that. It’s fantastic to see him taking on something other than superheroes because he’s a fantastic illustrated and truly brings this story to life. I had my doubts about Velvet fearing that it would be too much like Fatale, but it surprised me in the best of ways.

Score: 5 Buys and a Borrow

Writer: Ed Brubaker Artist: Steve Epting Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13

Review: Samurai Jack #1

Written by Guest Contributor: Jordan North Samurai Jack is back! Yes it’s been a long time coming (9 years in fact) but the ponytailed warrior himself is back in action, making the jump from the small screen to the comic book page. And thanks to the talents of Jim Zub and Andy Suriano his comeback is a successful one indeed.

Starting off with a plethora of covers Samurai Jack #1 had me frothing at the mouth from the start. It seemed that the who’s who of comics all lined up to pay tribute to everyone’s favorite time-displaced samurai with everyone and their mother contributing dynamite cover work, setting the stage for the issue to come. These alternate covers showed off interesting interpretations and exciting scenes in a way that had me clambering to get to the main issue out of excitement. Even a personal favorite artist of mine-- Rob Guillroy-- showed up to pay some respects. Nice move on IDW`s part. It really made me feel as if I was getting back into a legacy in a nice way, like slipping on an old pair of pants. Mmm… the “credits” that introduce the creative team at the bottom of the main cover is a nice touch to.

The first thing you notice upon opening the comic is the art by Andy Suriano which stands out for no other reason that it isn’t the original stuff. It all feels so very similar, but Suriano’s work feels slightly grittier, worn in and grown up. In a series prized for the art this is an important distinction to make. After getting over the oddness though I found myself really appreciating Suriano’s take on line-work, which feels a little more adult and like a natural progression of the style of the show. It feels like the artist has aged with the material, and it’s a good thing. As far as color work is concerned Suriano favors more neons and pastels than the cartoon network original which didn’t end up bothering me too much however there were points where I missed the cartoon’s vivid palate of shades.

Story-wise the plot adds up on Jim Zub’s end. Like something strait from the old cartoon the forty-three pages have Jack battling cyborg monsters in an arena, consulting old mystics and searching for artifacts. I do applaud the creative team for actually making a stride towards furthering the plot from where the show left off. The addition of a larger quest in the “strands of time” feels like a bigger thing than the show ever tried to take on and I like the departure from the serialized format of the show.

Overall the team of Jim Zub and Andy Suriano work on Jack. It’s just familiar enough to satiate old fans and just new enough to set itself apart from its wonderful subject material Samurai Jack: the comic book shows promise and its first issue is a sterling example of an adaptation done right. Samurai Jack is just as fun here as you remember him. Bring on the next issue.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Jim Zub Artist: Andy Suriano Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 10/23/13