Review - Supergirl Being Super #1

Supergirl: Being Super #1 - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Mariko Tamaki

Pencils by Joëlle Jones

Inks by Sandu Florea

Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Letters by Saida Temofonte

 

There have been many versions of Supergirl across all of media. We've had the unsure, the naive, the angry, the girl and the woman.  How to define Supergirl is a debate that still rages on, but everyone agrees on one thing:  She is a strong woman who deserves a spotlight.  Fans enjoy the CW TV series like how grounded Kara is.  DC Comics turns back the clock a bit and changes a few things in a new comic series, Supergirl: Being Super, with a nearly all-female creative team. 

 

We start off with a high school aged Kara who seems to be leading the life of a normal teenager.  The story is also narrated by Kara, so we get a bit of internal monologue as well.  There is a change to her origin story, which I won't spoil here, but I will say it is not all that unfamiliar.  We get to find out a lot about Kara's life, her friends and something heartbreaking that she is struggling with.  For the longest time you'll read this book and be surprised about how...for the lack of a better word...normal, it really is.  An abnormal teenage girl with a secret, struggling with everyday problems.  Then, on her "birthday", something starts happening to Kara.  That's when everything starts to take a very odd turn.  Normal becomes next level very fast, and there in lies the cliffhanger of this first issue.

 

I did not want to spoil any of this super sized first issue, so it was necessary to be short on details.  I will say that I got lost in the story that Tamaki created.  We were all teenagers once, and even as a guy, I felt like she was trying to show the readers what the life of a teenage girls is like.  Normally in these situations, you keep waiting for something to happen.  This time, I didn't feel that at all.  Tamaki was telling a deeply personal story of Kara Danvers, and it was captivating.  Combine that with the gorgeous art by Jones and it just all felt right.  When the inevitable happens in any superhero story, and things go sideways,  you deeply care about what is happening to each of the characters you have been introduced to.  I know that Supergirl has already had her Rebirth, but I feel like this is the story I was looking for all along.  The only thing that upsets me about this book, is the fact that it is a limited series.  Supergirl fans, Kara Danvers fans, need more of this.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Divinity III: Stalinverse #1

 

Divinity III: Stalinverse #1 - 

Valiant Comics

 

Written by Matt Kindt

Pencils by Trevor Hairsine

Inks by Ryan Winn

Colors by David Baron

Letters by Dave Lanphear

Cover by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic

 

Divinity has always been a solid story for Valiant, but often seems overlooked (in my opinion.)  Valiant has their main characters, and we love them, but from the start of the Divinity series you could make an argument that it was in the Top 3 of anything Valiant is putting out.  After gaining some press in Divinity II with the inclusion of Vladimir Putin, this unconventional sci-fi space epic is about to take a different turn of sorts.  Welcome to the Stalinverse, and the start of Divinity III.

 

Right when you open this book, you get a great timeline of what has happened in the Stalinverse up to this point, highlighted by key events on different years.  That allows you to jump right into the story without needing to have any filler.  I will warn about this MINOR SPOILER, just in case this isn't clear by the cover.  You WILL see some of the Valiant characters that you know, but definitely not the way you've seen them in the past.  Their presence is quite clear, and sets the tone for just how bleak things really are at this point in time in the world.  The first issue centers around Colin King (you know that name too), who is tasked with the security of the world and making sure that allies are staying loyal to the Union.  We find out a lot about those loyalists, but we also find out more about Colin than expected.  His role seems quite clear, and then suddenly, things take a fairly big turn. Maybe it will surprise you, and maybe it won't, given who we are talking about.  There is another player in this story that King pays a visit to towards the end, that may be the key to what happens next.  I will not reveal who that is, but if you've read Divinity or Divinity II, you will know exactly who it is.  It's where they are and what they say to close out the first issue that proves troubling.

 

I love Matt Kindt's work, but there's just something about the teaming of him and Valiant that I feel brings out the best in him.  The way he balances all the different personalities in this book, and the raw emotion of the state of the world, really keeps you drawn in for this entire first issue.  Surprises can often be used as a crutch to hide sub-par story telling, but not in this book.  Kindt weaves them in as critical moments at critical times in a way that really give them maximum value.  Then you add the team of Hairsine and Winn, who really take the mood that Kindt has set and run with it.  There's a particular page where there is a test of loyalty, and the way it is presented is both tragic and incredible.  Stepping outside of their comfort zone in this third arc, Divinity is a winner once again.  I can't wait to see how the players interact and how this world continues to change in future issues.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Optimus Prime #1

Optimus Prime #1 - 

IDW Publishing

Written by John Barber

Art by Kei Zama

Colors by Josh Burcham

Letters by Tom B. Long

If I asked you to name a Transformer right now, which one pops in to your head.  Whether he's your favorite Transformer or not, Optimus Prime is probably the first image you see.  Even someone who is barely familiar with the Transformers has at least a passing familiarity with him.  Any diehard Transformers fan (like myself), we have been through a lot with Optimus over the years, haven't we?  Well, now that Revolution has passed and the Hasbro worlds have officially combined, the leader of the Autobots finally has his own ongoing series.  So let's roll out for Optimus Prime #1.

This story takes place in two different time periods:  today and four millions years ago.  The flashbacks, for lack of a better term, set the tone for Optimus himself and the ideals that he brought to the present day.  At the same time, some things never change.  Trying to deal with and find a cohesive relationship with humans is still challenging.  Something happens at the beginning of the issue, in present day, that makes things even more complicated in post-Revolution Earth.  If those two things weren't enough, something else seems to be coming to cause a whole other set of problems.  Optimus has a team by his side, with some familiar faces, but all seem to agree that they will follow him in whatever he decides.  It's the weight of that burden that is really hammered home in this issue, and just how long Optimus has really been dealing with that.  Sure we have a cliffhanger ending in this first issue, but there is so much going on in a whole other sense, that there is so much to look forward to in the next issue.

Speaking for myself, and I'm sure others would agree, John Barber did a fantastic job with Revolution.  I think we've gone on at length on our show and here on the website about that.  What he's done here is move that forward, but also backwards.  He's telling us a story of the life of Optimus Prime, somewhat mirrored in what is going on in our world right now.  The best way I can describe it is, it's like merging exactly what is going on with our current political climate with the exact opposite, and having this end result that leaves you wondering how the world responds to it.  The weight of Optimus Prime is so palpable in this first issue, and Barber really hammers it home in the flashbacks.  We really get to find out who Optimus Prime was and why he believes what he does today.  That can be somewhat dismissive and uninteresting in storytelling, if not done correctly.  Here it is a compelling and necessary part of the ultimate main protagonist. If that isn't enough, the art by Zama completely sends me to the time of the Transformers that I love.  It has an 80s quality to it that is clean and so amazing.  It also almost feels like a found footage time capsule moment, where you're watching it through a video camera you found buried by time.  Transformers as a whole is a bigger brand than Optimus Prime.  Given time, though, I think this has a real shot to be right at the top of the greatest stories of Optimus Prime that has ever been told.

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Shadows On the Grave #1

Shadows On The Grave #1 - 

Dark Horse Comics

 

Written by Richard Corben

Art by Richard Corben

 

Nostalgia is not hard to come by these days in most genres.  Want a World War II epic?  There seems to be a  new one at your finger tips at least one a year.  The list goes on and on, except when it comes to the horror genre.  The Tales From the Crypt revival is coming to TV, but what about in the comics world?  Dark Horse takes aim at just that kind of vibe in this new series, Shadows On The Grave by former Eisner Award winner, Richard Corben.

 

The first thing that caught my attention was the narration (you actually get introduced to both narrators in the beginning of the book), and the fact that we are getting FOUR mini-stories.  The first is about a strange puppet master, the next about a vacation gone wrong, another about a combative married couple and finally a story about an ancient land of kings.  Each story is unique and creepy in it's own way, with a few of them leaving you feeling very uneasy throughout.  It's actually a compliment for me to say that there are a couple of specific things in these stories that I really hope I forget before I fall asleep tonight.  The last story looks like it may actually be continued, so I will be very interested to see how the second issue is structured.

 

To me, this issue seems very much like an old school horror feature you'd find at an old cinema.  Pay for your ticket, get several shows and creep yourself our for a few hours.  Whether you're a fan of a Tales From the Crypt style, something like Twilight Zone or even an old radio horror drama, this book seems to have it all.  There is also a very specific detail about the art that I won't spoil, only because I'm curious how other readers will react to it.  As for the art, even though Corben draws the whole book himself, he gives each story it's own unique style of art to go with the setting.  Every detail has been crafted out here by Corben, and it shows you why he is a past Eisner winner.  Without a major focus on gore and guts, this book is the kind of horror that is just missing in the genre right now.  I hope this keeps up the trend that the first issue has started.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - M.A.S.K. #1

M.A.S.K. #1 -
IDW Publishing
Written by Brandon Easton
Art by Tony Vargas
Colors by Jordi Escuin
Letters by Gilberto Lazcano

When IDW brought the Hasbro universe together in Revolution, even though my expectations were high, even I didn't think it would be as much of a success as it has been.  The way they flawlessly brought it all together, made everyone  matter and play off of one another, was nothing short of amazing.  Well...it's over now.  So, now what?  Now we dive in with the group who hasn't had their own book in a while, the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.

This book definitely picks up where Revolution left off (so minor spoilers if you haven't been reading), so we know what has happened with the team and Miles Mayhem.  The team themselves also finds out that some of that misfortune is going to follow them, whether they were at fault or not.  So the first issue deals a lot with what they are going to do now and where they are going to base their operations to go after Mayhem.  One thing that really stood out in this issue to me was the team building and how everyone just felt like they were coming together as a strong unit.  A couple of the team members also bond over some similar circumstances, and even throw in a Star Wars joke.  If you're a M.A.S.K. fan like I was from the 80s, you already know what's coming, and we DO get to see a look at them.  If you're new to the story, let's just say that who you see at the end of this book sets up what is going to be a long battle of epic proportions.

I never had any doubt that Brandon Easton would be able to take the ball and run with it in the early going of this series.  The way he added depth to the team in the early going, and had them dealing with instant adversity, really made the story interesting right out of the gate.  It's not easy to follow up a major arc like Revolution, but the strength of this book shows me that this was the right choice to be the first one up.  Fico Ossio did an amazing job on art for the group in Revolution, and Tony Vargas doesn't miss a beat here either.  So if you loved Revolution, and you love the Hasbro universe, this is exactly what you were hoping for.

RATING: PULL / BUY

Review - Masked #1

Masked #1 - 

Titan Comics

 

Written by Serge Lehman

Pencils by  Stéphane Créty 

Inks by Julien Hugonnard-Bert

Colors by Gaétan Gorges

Letters by Cat Connery

Translated by Edward Gauvin

Some cities are stranger than others.  If you spend enough time in New York City, there are probably very few things that would strike you as odd.  As an outsider, you can't help but notice these things.  This week, Titan Comics takes us to Paris (or what was once Paris) to a futuristic world where strange things have been happening.  That brings us to this new series, Masked.

We start off with almost a mission briefing, while witnessing a group of soldiers investigating an incident in a secluded area.  It's important to pay attention to the details in both the art and the writing here, as this will be important as the story goes on.  The current world presented in this story is somewhat of an aftermath to that, and the story of Frank Braffort.  I won't go into too much detail, and spoil what I just mentioned, but Frank has been through a lot and is just trying to put his life back together.  His sister is helping him, but it's not too long before someone tries to pull him into his old life.  All the while people are seeing what are being called "anomalies" throughout the city, something Frank is no stranger to in his past.  These phenomenon are causing an "us versus them" mentality amongst the citizens and the government/protectors.  You get the feeling that Frank is more important than even he realizes as the first issue comes to a close.

The story definitely provides intrigue, but part of me feels like it's almost too much.  It's got a good base for a sci-fi action thriller, but there's not quite enough thrill to match the mystery.  I wouldn't say it is overly complicated, as the initial pages paint quite the picture of what happened with Frank and his connection to everything, but it seems like we should have gotten more of a clear indication of what's to come.  The reason I say that is, this is a 4-issue series, so there isn't much time to make everything clear without cramming it all in.  If this were 6 issue, I would probably be less worried.  At the same time, the character base is good, blending sci-fi with a bit of international intrigue never hurts and you do get that feeling of wanting certain reveals that you don't get right away.  One reveal did fall a little flat, but you get the sense that it was just an appetizer for a larger meal going forward.  The art is very good, in a series where each detail is clearly very important.  There are a couple of action sequences that were executed very well, and the art alone makes you want to keep reading.  I think Titan really has something here.  My main worry (and I think it's a legitimate one), is that they will end up having to cram a lot into the last 2 issues and things will get to jumbled up at the end.  I'm going to stick around and see what happens.

RATING:  PICK UP

Review - Batgirl & The Birds Of Prey #4

Batgirl & The Birds Of Prey #4 -
DC ComicsWritten by Julie & Shawna Benson

Art by Roge Antonio

Colos by Allen Passalaqua

Letters by Deron Bennett

Cover by Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn





During the staggered launch of the DC Rebirth initiative, we reviewed the initial issue of Batgirl & The Birds of Prey.  It was definitely one of the most charming Rebirth books, but our only worry was that Huntress would overpower the story.  That has not been the case, but it has made us want a Huntress comic from the Benson team.  Let's dive into this latest issue and see if all of those things still hold true.

If you've been reading this series, minor spoilers of previous issues lie ahead.  We know that the team has been on a mission to track down the Oracle imposter.  Huntress was always a reluctant member of the team, and we know there was a bit of a fracture there.  So now Huntress has gone off on her own, to a certain extent, and once again adopted her lone wolf ideals.  What I didn't expect, was the amount of setup and back story that we would get on Helena and the Bertinelli family.  We get a lot of information on what happened to the family and what happened to Helena at a very young age.  It really ties her motives together and also explains her relationship with Batgirl and Black Canary very well.  Minor spoiler (that you should see coming), they reconcile and find that the mission to find imposter Oracle may be involve more than they first thought.  The final few pages of the issue will definitely make Batman fans smile, and give you a nice final page to set up, what I suspect will be, a big reveal coming.

This book has been very stead and consistent.  The team dynamic that Julie and Shawna Benson have given us is one that is both heartwarming and badass.  Those aren't things that always go together, but these three ladies just work so well as a team on the page.  I still want a Huntress comic, but I'm not sure I ever want this team to break off on their own.  They can all stand on their own, but are just so entertaining and strong together, it makes me look forward to this book even more with every passing issue.  The art has been very consistent as well, and I loved the detail in the final pages during the action sequences.  The setting of the flashbacks were also spot on and really lent to the larger story.    Julie and Shawna Benson not only know how to write some of the strongest female characters in comics, but they show that they know how to craft a story that can be funny, interesting and action packed.  I'm not sure how comic book fans can ask for any more than that.




RATING:  PULL / BUY

Review - Mayday #1

Mayday #1 - 

Image Comics

 

Written by Alex de Campi

Art by Tony Parker

Colors by Blond

 

There have been a lot of stories about the Cold War, both fiction and non-fiction.  Add in the Vietnam War, and you're combining two of the most volatile and uncomfortable periods in American history.  Alex de Campi and company bring it all together in Mayday from Image Comics, with a twist.  Let the tension begin!

The U.S. government has just found out that the Soviets may have agents active in Vietnam in 1971, and they have someone that can prove it.  That's where the story begins, as these government agencies try to coordinate and keep this person in a safe house.  As you can imagine, the words "safe house" don't always work out well in any fictional story (and that goes double for comics.)  As the events that surround this asset start to unfold, a crazy series of events follows it.  Then there is one agent with the FBI that seems to stand out from the rest.  I wasn't quite sure what to think of him, until you read on and found out what he did to something in the house.  It seemed like a small detail at the time, but became far more important at the end of the story.  In the last couple of pages, a story that had largely been in three different places quickly converges and you're left wondering what the next step will be.

I had high hopes for this book, given the premise, but I have to be honest.  This book was a little too random and frantic for my taste.  Sometimes that is a good thing, but there really didn't seem to be any sense of structure here.  The story just wasn't together enough for me and I found it really difficult  to get invested in any of the characters.  There were also times where elements were added for shock value that just seemed completely unnecessary.  Without spoiling anything, one of the characters makes a really horrible decision that I just don't see someone in that position making.  Given the circumstances, and who that character worked for, it just didn't make sense.  This book lacked the tension that I was hoping for and, other than the time period, didn't really capture the feel of the Cold War.  That could be harsh for just one issue, but I just didn't feel like there was much of a reason to stick around for more.  The art is good, and I do like how they worked music into the story, but it's just not enough to save a book that is too random for it's own good.

 

RATING:  DROP 

Review - Ether #1

Ether #1 - 

Dark Horse Comics

 

Written by Matt Kindt

Art & Letters by David Rubin

 

 

Some things just don't mix.  Like oil and water, they just don't want to be together, yet we still combine them from time to time.  So what happens when the worlds of science and fantasy collide?  Even in the face of something you can't explain, could there be a rational explanation?  So this week I decided to enter the mind of Matt Kindt, and his new series Ether, from Dark Horse Comics.

 

Boone Dias is a scientist, and believes that everything can be explained.  He is driven by facts and knowledge, but that journey sends him to the Ether.  It's a world filled with magic and fantasy, yet in Boone's mind, he is set on explaining that which seemingly cannot be explained.  We find out in the story that this is not Boone's first trip into the Ether, and he is pretty familiar with the capital city in particular.  That is where this story takes place, and where he finds out that his research will be put on hold.  Something has happened in this world that could change it's very existence, and Boone's scientific mind is in need.  As the investigation goes on, at one point this book takes a turn that definitely adds to the intrigue of Boone's character.  By the end, just when you feel like you have a handle on what is going on, you're left wondering by the last page if there is more to this story than you currently realize.

 

We have seen stories where fantasy meets reality, but I like the spin that Kindt puts on that genre.  He takes skepticism and blends it with an almost blissful ignorance in his main character that he can explain anything.  The world he presents to us is full of charm and likeable characters, but we just don't know a whole lot about them yet.  The good news is, you get just enough to actually WANT to know about these characters.  When you look at the art, and even the credits page at the beginning, it feels like Rubin wants to leave you a bit unbalanced as you go through the panels to add to the mysticism of the Ether itself.  Then, in the last few pages, things seem to just straighten out and normalize.  Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but if I'm not, mission accomplished.  There is a lot to like here and, as someone who also has a scientific mind, I was really invested on how someone similar would react to an interdimensional world.  I hope we continue to get more backstory with each issue, and if we do, I'm in for the long haul.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye #1

Cave Carson Has A 

Cybernetic Eye #1 - 

Young Animal / DC Comics

 

Written by Gerard Way & Jon Rivera

Art by Michael Avon Oeming

Colors by Nick Filardi

Letters by Clem Robins

 

One thing I can say so far about the Young Animal imprint of DC Comics, it's that it has been exactly as advertised.  A little crazy, a little out there and at times a bit all over the place.  Whether or not that is a good thing or a bad thing is all in what you like from your comics.  This time we get to see a familiar face, even if it's one that not all fans may remember.  Time to dive into the pages of Cave Carson.

 

The story starts off pretty crazy, and then takes a very emotional turn.  We're dealing with an older Cave Carson, now with a grown daughter, who is dealing with a tragedy in his life that leaves him questioning his place.  Even with all of that, he still seems to be trying to lead the normal life that he and his wife wanted to live.  That is seemingly put on hold where the cybernetic eye itself seems to be going a bit haywire.  As the story goes on, you start to wonder if it is the eye or if what he is seeing is actually real.  If dealing with that wasn't enough, his old life seems to be trying to suck him back in.  The past clashes with the present a lot in this story, and that is certainly the case with the last few pages.  That's where the book takes a big turn where that conflict, and a surprising appearance by a familiar character, leave you wondering where this story is going to go next.

 

This book did one thing that the other Young Animal stories that I have read so far, I feel, failed to really do.  I really cared about Cave, how he felt and what was happening to him.  It wasn't crazy for the sake of being crazy.  This book had plenty of that, but the real meat of this book finally gave it's main character a soul.  Way and Rivera gave us a Cave Carson we have never had before, and created an unfamiliar and unique feeling to his story.  Vagary was replace by intrigue, and randomness was replaced by a controlled chaos.  This is what I was hoping to get from this pop-up imprint, and it looks like it's finally here.  Add that to the solid art from Avon Oeming, and this may be the book that finally gets the ball rolling.  Read the back story on the character in the back of this issue, do a little digging and that will make you appreciate the story even more.  I'm not 100% sold yet, but I am more optimistic with this title than any from Young Animal so far.

 

RATING:  PICK UP 

Review - Warlords of Appalachia #1

Warlords of Appalachia #1 - 

Boom! Studios

 

Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Illustrated by Jonas Scharf

Colors by Doug Garbark

Letters by Jim Campbell

Cover by Massimo Carnevale & Robert Sammelin

 

The world seems very divided right now.  The current political climate has people more at odds than I can recall in my recent memory.  Given that, nothing can match the division of the American Civil War.  Sure that was a different time, and a different world, but imagine if that were to happen today.  What of a state decided to secede from the union and decide to become it's own nation?  Boom! Studios imagines such a world in Warlords of Appalachia from Phillip Kennedy Johnson.  

 

Kentucky has decided to secede from the Union for religious freedom, but has seemingly lost what was billed as the Second Civil War as the story begins.  Over the back story from a radio talk show host, we see what Kentucky has become.  We also follow a man named Kade Mercer who is trying to survive in this world with his family and the people who have decided to stay in Kentucky.  As odd as it seems to imagine, the military is also occupying Kentucky in this story.  There are also some mysterious people that we learn about in this story that may play a role in future issues.  There are also a few relationships that we learn about that call certainly loyalties into question, but I won't go into spoiler territory here.  As the tension builds, a callback from early in the issue (and what turns out to be a big mistake), leads to a major turn in the story.  We also find out that a character, who seemed like an after thought at the time, is actually far more important than expected.  What we are left with in the final panel really amps you up for the rest of the upcoming issues.

 

On the surface, you think that this is a story that you may have seen or read before.  The difference here is the layers of the story that Johnson was able to provide in just one issue.  He establishes the setting, gives the main characters depth that makes you invested in them quickly and adds enough mystery to give the reader something to think about going forward.  The action isn't forced, and is actually given proper build-up to make it matter when it does happen.  You also get that sense of thinking that things did not have to happen the way that they did, and that is another thing that sets this story apart.  Credit also goes to the team of Scharf and Garbark, who depict a gritty and war torn Kentucky, but also make it feel like a place that those who stay would want to call home.  This is yet another in a series of stories from Boom! recently that have much more edge and intensity, giving the publisher a nice balance in their current story telling.  Warlords of Appalachia will make you want to return to Kentucky to see what happens next, for sure.

 

RATING:  PULL

 

 

Review - James Bond: Hammerhead #1

James Bond: Hammerhead #1 - 

Dynamite Comics

 

Written by Andy Diggle

Art by Luca Casalanguida

Colors by Chris Blythe

Letters by Simon Bowland

Cover by Francesco Francavilla

 

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the James Bond franchise right now.  With a star that may not want to continue, to a list a mile long of rumored replacements, 007 fans need something consistent right now.  Luckily I'm here to remind you that Dynamite acquired the rights to James Bond comics, and their newest offering is finally here.  So will Hammerhead change Bond's "licence to kill" or just plain get him killed?

 

Right away in this issue we find out there is a lot at stake for the safety and security of the British people.  Bond is trying to identify a radical who is targeting a company who is taking something VERY important over for a government defense agency.  No surprise, things don't go exactly as planned and Bond is sent to another location, in the hopes that this person may strike again.  In true Bond fashion, there is a beautiful woman involved.  What he soon realizes is that there are some very alarming weapons in play here, one of them being the namesake Hammerhead.  He clearly wasn't happy with the assignment, but soon finds out how big that bigger picture really is.  We do get a little bit of a tease at the end, but in a way, you can probably guess what is coming.

 

What I loved about this book is, it brings James Bond into more of a high tech world.  Sure, Bond always had his toys, but now he's dealing with hackers and high tech arms that are leaps and bounds from anything even Pierce Brosnan would have experienced in a new age of 007.  This Bond is not as suave as he is cavalier and rebellious, but I think it works in the context of what Dynamite is trying to do here.  Diggle gives Bond edge when he needs edge, and an air of over confidence when it is needed.  Casalanduida also does a great job backing up Diggle's writing by setting the mood with each facial expression in key moments of the issue.  All in all, this story really gets you wondering "what if" when it comes to high tech arms in the real world.  I'm intrigued not only as a Bond fan, but as someone who loves a good story about high tech arms and international intrigue.  Let's see where this one goes.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Teen Titans Rebirth

Teen Titans Rebirth - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Benjamin Percy

Art by Jonboy Meyers

Colors by Jim Charalampidis

Letters by Corey Breen

 

One of the most shocking events in DC Rebirth is (WARNING:  Spoiler for Detective Comics #940) the "death" of Tim Drake.  Tim didn't just leave his impression on Gotham, but on his friends, the Teen Titans.  Everyone deals with loss differently, but sometimes we don't have time to grieve.  Enter the latest Rebirth offering from DC Comics and, what appears to be, a new era for the Teen Titans.

 

The story is broken up into sections where you see each Titan (Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven & Kid Flash) on their own and seemingly moving on with their lives.  Each of them has a different reason for being where they are, be it mentally or physically.  What I love is that each of their emotions are pretty clear in either how they are dealing with the loss of Tim Drake or the fact that the Teen Titans are seemingly on their own.  One thing binds them together in this story, and that is a common threat.  What I love is, this will definitely not be dragged out.  We find out who is behind all of this right at the end of the issue, and I will say this, it will make you smile.  I'll just say, in the most spoiler free way possible, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

 

Benjamin Percy is easily one of my favorite writers in the industry right now.  Even in Green Arrow, he has an uncanny knack of capturing the essence of each individual character.  With such a vast array of personalities, it's amazing how Percy makes you feel like he's been working with these characters for years.  Percy is also lucky to have another rock star artist like Jonboy Meyers, who brings a fun and exciting vibe to each panel.  The last page of the book is a big wow moment, and Meyers captures it amazingly well.  Rebirth has done well in turning the page and making the characters we love great.  What we're seeing here is a true Rebirth, in that it is a new era for a group that is no stranger to change.  The last page alone makes me want to keep going, but as a fan of the Teen Titans, I think there are very exciting times ahead.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY  

Review - Britannia #1

Britannia #1 - 

Valiant Comics

 

Written by Peter Milligan

Art by Juan Jose Ryp

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Letters by Dave Sharp

Introduction Art by Raul Allen & Patricia Martin

 

Many great stories have been told about the Roman Empire.  From the Vestal Virgins to the rule of Nero, it was a time of great power.  It seems like it's been a while since a comic tackled this time period, so I was very excited to see that Valiant would be doing so.  Let's start our journey and head to the strange land of Britannia.

 

The story follows a man named Antonius Axia who, in the beginning of the story, is being asked a big favor by one of the Vestals.  The result of this would change his life forever and force him to make some difficult choices.  Not only do the Vestals have more plans for him, but the emperor Nero will have a say in his fate as well.  In the middle of the story, something happens that gets Nero's attention and forces him to find more about what is happening on the fringe of the Roman Empire, Britannia.  Antonius has rebuilt himself at this point, but is called upon by Nero to lead this investigation.  Turns out there are several alterior motives at play, and that is the least of Antonius' problems.  Once arriving, he sees that he will be dealing with something from his past that he thought was long gone.  With his closest friend by his side, the story hits it's highest point right as it ends.

 

There is a lot to like about Britannia, but there are also a few problems.  While the character development was very good, the book did drag a bit in the middle.  It seemed like there were a few pages that seemed a bit unnecessary, and didn't really serve a purpose to the larger story.  Aside from that, Milligan does a very good job of capturing the time period and essence of the Roman Empire.  You can really feel the emotional roller coaster that Antonius is on, and there are plenty of twists that keep this first issue interesting.  It's also hard not to get lost in the way Juan Jose Ryp paints such a beautiful scene, capturing the mood of each part of the story.  The background imagery of the Britannia setting alone is chilling and masterful.  The art in the introduction is also amazing, and does a very good job at setting the tone for what's to come.  I will be very interested to see how Milligan will balance what is going on with Britannia with what is going on back in Rome, since Antonius' problems reach both parts of the world.  I'm on board, but still a bit cautious.

 

RATING:  PICK UP 

Review - Dark Souls: Legends of the Flame #1

Dark Souls: Legends of the Flame #1 - 

Titan Comics

 

Written by Tom Williams

                    George Mann

                    Tauriq Moosa

                    Dan Watters

Art by Alan Quah

            Komikaki Studio

            Piort Kowalski

            Brad Simpson

            Damien Worm

            Nick Percival

Letters by Rob Steen

                  Tom Williams

 

It's a great time to be a gamer.  Video games have become so cinematic, with in depth story telling to go along with the game play elements.  That doesn't mean that there are not other stories to tell and more worlds to explore.  Titan Comics jumps into the world of video game comics once again this week with Dark Souls:  Legends of the Flame.  This limited series is a little bit different.

 

The reason there is such a large creative team is, there are several different stories within this one issue.  A traveler arrives to a place where an old woman tells him tales through a giant flame.  Each story deals with the curse that has plagued the world and how it affects different people and areas.  Even though this is a regular sized comic, none of these stories felt rushed or left anything lacking.  Surprisingly enough, they actually all seemed to tie in at the end, in their own way.  Each tale seemed to have a different warning, and a different lesson that needed to be learned.  Some moments were violent, some were heartbreaking and some left you wondering how they didn't see it coming.  The end of the story comes back to where it started, and uses the tales as a means to round things out and really kick off the remaining issues.

 

When I first saw how this book was structured (and how many pages there were), I will admit that I was worried.  Given the names attached, I probably shouldn't have been worried, but I just didn't see how this whole issue wouldn't seem rushed as it was structured.  The way that each story played to a similar theme, and how they really tie together nicely at the end, is a credit to everyone involved in this project.  Then you look at all the different art teams, and they too, did not miss a single step.  Even though each style is different, this is one of the most striking artwork of any comic on the shelf right now.  Each also sets the mood so well with the writer that they were paired up with.  Titan has done a lot of video game comics, and have a pretty good track record of delivering consistent winners.  This one may be one of their best yet, and right up there with Deus Ex: Children's Crusade.  Whether you are a fan of the Dark Souls games or not, you will enjoy this book.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY

 

Review - Skybourne #1

Skybourne #1 - 
Boom! Studios

Written by Frank Cho
Art by Frank Cho
Colors by Marcio Menyz
Letters by Ed Dukeshire
(Cover shown is the Frank Cho variant.)

If you love comics, Frank Cho is probably a name you know.  He has drawn a lot of the characters you, and even caused quite a stir regarding one of them recently.  So what happens when Frank Cho puts down the pen and picks up the keyboard?  This week I dive into his creator owned series Skybourne from Boom! Studios.  What has been billed as "Indiana Jones meets James Bond" certainly intrigued me, so let's see what we have.

I will preface this by saying, it is VERY important that you read the credits page right after the cover.  It introduces us to Abraham, Thomas and Grace Skybourne, who will be the major players in this story.  It also explains their abilities, which will prove to be an important piece of information as the story goes forward.  The focus of this first issue is more on Grace Skybourne trying to acquire something for her family.  As these things often do in comics, it doesn't go so well, and the action begins.  Actually, saying action doesn't even really begin to describe it.  Some of the scenes that follow are brutal, but great.  Grace does one thing in particular that was a huge WOW moment when her team drops the ball.  Once we find out what she was trying to acquire, you realize just how big of a deal it is.  Just when you think it's over, another player enters the fray and another battle begins.  That leads us to quite a shocking ending and a lot of questions going into Issue 2.

I know that Frank Cho has experience as a writer, but this may be his finest work.  The way he writes the final scene alone, and the way it's depicted, is top notch.  To address the elephant in the room, whoever thinks Frank Cho doesn't know how to portray strong women, needs to introduce themselves to Grace Skybourne.  She is tough, she is commanding and she does not react well when she is disrespected by the men in the story.  Imagine Lara Croft growing up with more edge, starting a foundation and suddenly becoming a metahuman.   The art is top notch, as expected, and really lets the action sequences jump off the page.  This series is a huge win for Boom! Studios, and I believe, could end up becoming one of their top titles.

RATING: PULL / BUY 

Review - Wonder Woman #5

Wonder Woman #5 - 

DC Comics

 

Written by Greg Rucka

Art by Liam Sharp

Colors by Laura Martin

Letters by Jodi Wynne

 

We have spent a lot of time talking about the immensely successful DC Comics Rebirth initiative both on our podcast and here on our website.  We have given you reviews of a lot of #1 issues, but we all know, true success is not measured by one issue.  So this week, I decided to enter the jungle with Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman series and see if the story is still going strong.  

 

Issue 5 is following The Lies storyline (Rucka has been telling another story in even issues with Nicola Scott doing the art) where Diana is trying to discover why she cannot find her way back to Themyscira.  Along the way she encounters Cheetah and is now on the trail of a madman named Cadulo, who just happens to be holding Steve Trevor hostage.  What I really love about this particular story is the interactions between Wonder Woman and Cheetah.  The depth and realism that has been brought, not just to Cheetah, but her relationship with Diana is incredible.  It also shows the amazing strength of Wonder Woman who, even though she is dealing with her own crisis of mind and character, sets that aside to assist those that she cares about.  Rucka lets her carry several burdens and once, and she handles it beautifully.  In reading this arc, you know Cadulo isn't the one pulling the strings, but we do get a bit of a bombshell dropped towards the end of this issue.  Someone is revealed as being part of the bigger pictures that will definitely complicate things going forward.  Then right after that, we get a great cliffhanger over what the fate of Steve Trevor will actually be.

 

It's easy to focus on how much depth Rucka has created here, and the layers that he has given to these characters.  Liam Sharp deserves a great deal of credit for setting a mood and really allowing Rucka to drive his story home.  This is especially true with Trevor where Rucka is throwing jabs, while Sharp still captures the seriousness of the dire situation that he is in.  Even though there are different stories being told in this ongoing series, Sharp and Scott both bring a winning style to Wonder Woman that allows her to return to form as one of the flagship characters of DC Comics.  If you were searching for a Wonder Woman comic to love for the last few years, this is it.  It's a story in which Wonder Woman herself is actually trying to find out who she really is, where she belongs and what has really been going on in her life.  Don't wait for the trade, get the back issue and put this in your pull box now.

 

RATING:  PULL  

Review - Monika Vol. 1: Masked Ball

Monika Vol. 1: Masked Ball -
Titan Comics
Written by Thilde Barboni
Illustrated by Guillem March

 

We all have our vices, and we all have our secrets. Sometimes we think that the world wouldn't understand. Sometimes we just don't feel like it's anyone else's business. Enter the world of Monika from Titan Comics, where we see all that with some mystery mixed in.

The story follows Monika, an aspiring artist who is also searching for her missing sister. She soon finds herself caught up in an exotic and dangerous world, with a man she feels may be the key to her sister's disappearance. As the story goes on, you seem to get an idea of what the big reveal will be. That's when the story takes a dramatic turn for Monika, and ends on somewhat of a reset. I don't want to spoil it, but you get most of the answers you were seeking.

While the art from March is striking, as it always is, that is pretty much where the positives end. This story is all over the place. Even though this is Volume 1, it feels like you're starting at Volume 2. There are plot holes, unestablished potential danger and very odd character interactions. There were times I actually had to go back and make sure I didn't skip any pages accidentally. You figure out the mystery pretty easily, so the payoff wasn't really there. It's like this book was trying too hard to be mysterious and even a bit "Eyes Wide Shut". It's a short trade that really should have been a bit longer. Other than the stunningly beautiful art, this one really isn't worth it.
 


RATING: DROP / SKIP

Review - Briggs Land #1

Briggs Land #1 - 

Dark Horse Comics

 

Written by Brian Wood

Art by Mack Chater

Colors by Lee Loughridge

Letters by Nate Piekos

Cover by Tula Lotay

 

Would you live life by your own rules, if you could?  Outside of society and government, going the way of the separatist.  Dark Horse gives you a look inside that world with the Briggs family in Briggs Land.   Let's find out if this story stands on it's own, or is more Branch Davidian.

 

We start out with the husband, who is the head of the family, and the wife who is hardly seen as the second in command.  The book does a very good job of explaining who is in the Briggs family, what their role is and the history of the compound itself.  Turns out, racism and white supremacy is barely scratching the surface with this group.  Something happens at the beginning of the issue that immediately changes the dynamic and creates a tension that seemingly lasts throughout the issue.  As is always the case, the government is hot on their trail, but not ready to make a move.  It's hard to explain too much of what is going on without going into major spoiler territory, but trust becomes a big issue in the Briggs family because of events that unfold throughout the issue.  Grace Briggs really takes the brunt of it, and you get the sense that some changes may be coming.  Something happens at the end of this issue that really keeps you guessing, and certainly raises debate as to what strings are being pulled by who.

 

Brian Wood does a masterful job of keeping the tension up in this issue, while slowly introducing all of the main players in the story.  When you have that many characters you need to bring into one issue, a lot of times it can feel jumbled.  Television gives you 30 minutes to an hour to do this, and Wood executed it flawlessly in less than 30 pages.  The art by Chater is gritty and fits the style of the book, while the color by Loughridge really seems to set the mood for every scene.  This story really sets itself apart and really makes you want to care about a group of people that are, essentially, bad people.  I have a a feeling that, as we start to peel the layers a bit more, there will be way more to it than just that.  I'm very excited to see how this story continues to separate itself from the normal crime family drama.

 

RATING:  PULL 

Review - Dishonored #1

Dishonored #1 - 

Titan Comics

Written by Gordon Rennie

Art by Andrea Olimpieri

Colors by Marcelo Maiolo

Letters by Rob Steen

Not long after E3 2016 wrapped up, I decided to go back and start playing Dishonored.  From the mystical elements, to the plague infested land, it just looked like a dark and mysterious game.  It certainly did not disappoint and I instantly became a fan of the franchise.  So when I saw that Titan Comics was putting out a Dishonored book, I knew I would be checking it out.  Time to find out of their hot streak of adapting video games to comic books will continue.

If you're wondering when the story takes place, it's 12 years after Corvo ends the reign of the Lord Regent and Emily becomes Empress.  Corvo is now training the very City Guard that he was fighting against, but he's also looking for something more.  A lot of this issue is focused on Corvo in a very personal way, he's looking for something that I won't spoil.  He goes off on an investigation and finds that there is a new threat to Dunwall.  He also meets up with something that is a great callback to the first game (you'll know it when you see it.)  In the heat of the battle, he comes across someone that looks very familiar.  By the end of the book we find out who it is, and what will be driving Corvo in future issues.

If you are a fan of Dishonored, this will definitely serve as nice fan service for you.  There are a few elements of the game that are worked in early, but you also get some new characters that we may even see play a role in Dishonored 2 when it comes out.  If you are new to Dishonored, this may not be as big of a deal for you.  In order to appreciate the depth of the characters, and why you should invest in them, I think you really have to be a fan of the game.  The big reveal at the end will still peak you interest, but a lot of the meat of the book may be lost on you.  The art in the battle sequences is very well done, but tends to be a bit lacking in non-action sequences.  As a fan already, I certainly feel like I want to read more to see where the story goes.  New fans may want to enter with caution, or at least do a bit of research on the game if you're intrigued by the premise.  This is one to watch, as it could really go either way for me at this point.

RATING:  PICK UP  

Review - Captain Kid #1

Captain Kid #1 - 

AfterShock Comics

 

Written by Mark Waid

                    Tom Peyer

Art by Wilfredo Torres

Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Letters by A Larger World

 

Getting old isn't easy.  As a man on the cusp of 40, I seem to notice new things all the time that remind me that I'm not a kid anymore.  Imagine being able to actually be young again with just a thought, and have powers to make it even better.  Enter Captain Kid, a new series from AfterShock Comics.  Time to find out if this new hero is another home run for the ambitious new publisher.

 

The story surround a man named Chris, who is celebrating his birthday.  Chris has more than his fair share of problems, not just being old, but in his job and his personal life.  What his friends don't know is he is actually Captain Kid, a young hero he can transform into at a moment's notice.  The vast majority of this issue is very true to life, where Chris is spending his birthday with friends and there may be a fair amount of old people jokes.  He then runs in to a couple of mysterious people, which change the story going forward.  Each of them plays a different role (which I won't spoil here), but we find out that the problem is much bigger than a couple of random heroic acts by Captain Kid.  The final page leaves you with an interesting question...or does it?

 

The reason I leave it as a question is, quite frankly, this book is a bit all over the place.  I'm not sure if it's because that's how the character is, or if it's just truly all over the place.  I do like that part of this book is true to life, with real world problems, but it takes WAY too long to get going.  We also get what should be some emotional moments, or reasons we should care about the main character, but not enough back story to really hammer it home.  I'm sure they'll cover it in future issues, but if you fail to really grab the reader in Issue 1, you may not get a chance to tell them that story.  AfterShock has been known in the past for having that attention grabbing first issue, and maintaining it throughout the run.  Other than the solid art by Torres, I feel like Waid fails to give readers enough to invest in the main character or enough curiosity to maintain interest.  Even in a collection of diamonds, and AfterShock has plenty, you're bound to find one that is flawed.  I'm afraid this one is it.

 

RATING:  DROP