Review - Orphan Black: Deviations #1

Orphan Black: Deviations #1 -

IDW Publishing 

 

Written by Heli Kennedy

Art by Wayne Nichols

Colors by Sebastian Cheng

Letters by Neil Uyetake

Story Edits by Mackenzie Donaldson

 

IDW has been giving fans a chance to see something that they often wonder about with anything they love...an alternate reality.  Ever since the Deviations stories have come out, there have been several unique "what if?" scenarios, but I never thought this would be one of them.  Orphan Black is one of those shows I discovered later than the rest of the world, which means I've been playing catch up ever since.  So I had to see what ride IDW had planned for this story.

 

(WARNING:  SPOILERS AHEAD for anyone who has not watched the pilot episode of Orphan Black.)

 

This particular Deviation explores what would have happened if Beth Childs never committed suicide and was saved by Sarah Manning.  Things start out very much like the TV pilot, with Sarah still trying to get her life straight and Beth who's life is very much in flux.  When Sarah saves Beth at the train station it sets off a chain of events with the clones and gives us information that I do not remember getting in the original story (not this early anyway.)  It's also very interesting to see where Beth fits in the group dynamic and appears to bring even more paranoia to the group that is already rightfully paranoid.  Their reaction to Sarah is the biggest part of this story, and for Orphan Black fans, may be quite surprising.  In the last few pages of the book, it's actually quite interesting who seems feel the least threatened by her.  For that reason, this first issue ends on a very tense confrontation. 

 

Unlike most Deviations books, this is not a one-shot, it's a six issue series.  Rightfully so, because there is so much story to tell here.  We don't even really get halfway into the plot of the pilot episode, but we do get introduced to the majority of the principle players.  Some things are the same, with a slightly different approach.  Without spoiling anything, there are certain things that remain unchanged, but end up happening through different circumstances.  It's very interesting to see where things go in this next issue and how much this book starts to separate from the original story.  I will say that if you've never seen Orphan Black, you will not be able to appreciate what's going on as much.  The story is still interesting, as are the characters, but you'll be far more invested if you're a fan of the show.  As someone who is, I'll be very interested to find out more about how Beth's relationships will be different with certain characters now that Beth is actually alive.  It's something I think any fan of the show would enjoy.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY   

Review - Street Angel: After School Kung Fu Special

Street Angel: After School Kung Fu Special - 

Image Comics

 

Written by Brian Maruca & Jim Rugg

Art by Jim Rugg

 

(RELEASE DATE:  4/26)

 

 

You know the old saying, "boys will be boys and girls will be girls."  Well...not everybody fits in to that mold.  In fact, Jessica Sanchez smashes it with her fist and watches it bleed.  Leave it to Image Comics to do what they do best, break the mold and tell a fun story.  This "Street Angel" has been in her own web comic, now Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg bring her into this hard cover special.

 

The story centers around Jessica "Street Angel" Sanchez, who is no stranger to battling forces that you think would be beyond her control.  There's still the pesky matter of having a regular life, having to go to school and contend with friends that want her to go to an after school dance.  They mean well, but there is another little matter of a showdown with the Ninja Kid to attend to after school that may change things.  It's pretty clear that Van Buren Middle School is not ordinary school, but yet there is a very familiar feel to this story.  I don't want to spoil any of the details, but you do get to see a couple of different sides to Jessica.  After the fight happens (which isn't a spoiler, because it wouldn't be a Kung Fu Special without one), things kind of take a turn from there.  What we end up with is something quite unexpected, and yet, should leave you smiling at the end.

 

Before I even get to the writing, let's talk about the art.  Jim Rugg is a name you need to know, because I thoroughly  enjoyed each and every panel of his art.  What he did with the kung fu scenes alone is worth the price of admission, and the layouts were top notch.  I got a high end comic strip vibe from this book, and that is a good thing.  Another reason is the setting and the presentation of Jessica Sanchez.  This book is sure to be popular with the young adult crowd, but adults should also be able to take a trip down memory lane here (especially if your school life wasn't exactly great or normal.)  To me, this is a feel good book that is just plain fun.  Don't over analyze it, just look at the great art and enjoy a few rounds with this kick-ass kung fu girl.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Divinity III: Escape From Gulag 396

Divinity III: Escape From

Gulag 396 - 

Valiant Comics

 

Written by Eliot Rahal

Art by Francis Portela

Colors by Andrew Dalhouse

Letters by Dave Sharpe

 

Acts of true altruism are a bit hard to find.  I'm not just talking about now, or any specific time, that is more of a general statement.  It's not necessarily because they don't exist, but it could be because those aren't the stories that get told, heard or printed.  In a world full of oppression, Valiant Comics sets out to find such a story with the Divinity III tie-in, Escape From Gulag 396.

 

One thing I can tell you, which isn't really a spoiler, is that this is a very unconventional and different Archer & Armstrong story.  For those two, that is saying something, but follow me on this.  Gulag 396 is the last prison you want to go to, because death is the only way out.  It should be no surprise in the current Stalinverse, that religious beliefs are something that may put you there.  That's where Obadiah Archer finds himself for his belief in God, but it's the tragic circumstances of his capture that really send him on the path he takes in this story.  I will not spoil that, but it really grabs you and makes you wonder how he keeps his mindset.  Once inside, he does not stop, which leads him to a very unique situation as an inmate in this prison.  This is where the second half of the duo comes in.  If you haven't read any of the Divinity III arc so far (which you should be, by the way), then this interaction will seem VERY odd to you.  Go with it, because what happens at the end of this book is something truly great.  It's a twist you might be able to guess is coming, but will still leave you with a smile and a nod.

 

No matter what your faith is, or even if you don't have religious beliefs, this is still a story that you can absolutely read, enjoy and relate to.  What Rahal has done here is shown a complete devotion to a belief system, and even to mankind as a whole, in the darkest of times for humanity.  It's also a feel good story in what has been, up to this point, a very dark and haunting storyline (albeit a damn good one.)  One thing I found myself doing is, wondering what I would do and how I would react in a similar situation.  To me, that is one of the big marks of a good story, especially if you're only getting one bite at the apple.  Then you match that with the stunning art by Francis Portela, and this is a book I could easily see myself picking up and reading again.  From the writing, art and across the board, Divinity III as a whole may be the most consistently great major arc in comics in the last few years.  It was nice to see that trend continue with this book.

 

RATING:  PULL / BUY  

Review - Grass Kings #1

Grass Kings #1 - 

Boom! Studios

Written by Matt Kindt

Art by Tyler Jenkins

Letters by Jim Campbell

Think about what it would be like to live "off the grid."  It almost seems unimaginable, almost to the point of being anxiety inducing, in this modern world that we live in.  Still, it's possible that some people feel like they don't have much of a choice.  When three brothers decide to start their own community, with their own rules and their chosen members, you could consider it paradise or consider it voluntary isolation.  This latest offering from Boom! Studios, direct from the mind of Matt Kindt, tells their story and much more.
This book starts out with the history of the land that the community rests on.  It's important to pay close attention to these first few pages, because I feel like it leads to a significant plot point later on in the book, so don't discard it once you get to the meat of the story.  Once that passes, a lot of this issue centers around one of the brothers, Archie, who picks up someone who has snuck into their community.  This is mainly a vessel for telling the reader how the town operates, introducing us to some of the characters therein and how things operate within their borders.  There is also a lot of talk about another brother, Robert, who seems to be the leader of the community.  What we don't find out until near the end of the issue is that Robert has some serious baggage, and I will not spoil what that is.  The conclusion of this first issue, if you paid attention to the beginning, is a nice callback (in my opinion) and could lead to something very unexpected in future issues.

When it comes to world building, Matt Kindt is really one of the top guys you want.  He not only knows how to build, but he knows how to put each piece in the exact right place that it belongs.  The pacing in the book is done so well, and brings all the players to the forefront without dragging things on and making it feel uninteresting.  Even though it's hard to believe that something like this could be happening now, there is such a realism to what Kindt has given us and it's intriguing to consider what it would be like if a place like this did exist and how they would be viewed by outsiders.  There is also a good deal of mystery here, from a couple of different angles, but we get just enough to wonder if these two elements may be connected.  Then you enter Tyler Jenkins, who I still love for his work on Snow Blind with Ollie Masters, and you realize how perfect the choice is right off the bat.  Jenkins gives this raw and rustic look to this story that just works so well with Kindt's writing.  He also has a way of depicting raw emotion that really takes a story to that next level.  I was pretty convinced this book would be a winner when I saw the creative team.  Now that I've read the first issue, this will definitely be one of the first books I read as each subsequent issue is released. 

RATING:  PULL / BUY 

Review - Nightwing #16

Nightwing #16 - 

DC Comics

Written by Tim Seeley

Art by Javier Fernandez

Colors by Chris Sotomayor

Letters by Carlos M. Mangual

There has been a lot of news surrounding Nightwing lately.  You can't go to a comic book news website without reading about a possibly upcoming Nightwing movie, the possibility of him joining the Arrowverse and/or who should play Dick Grayson (NOTE: As of this review being written, no official announcement has been made on either topic.)  So, why not keep that discussion going in the comic book realm with the start of a new arc, "Nightwing Must Die."

FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS ISSUES OF NIGHTWING.  NO SPOILERS WILL BE POSTED FOR THIS CURRENT ISSUE.

Things are going surprisingly well for Dick Grayson right now.  He has a reformed supervillain girlfriend, he's back in the place where he calls home and he's doing his thing.  Unfortunately, in comics, that's usually the exact time things start to unravel.  Judging by the cover you would think that this story has plenty to do with Damien, and you can probably guess why.  What you won't guess is what the story is REALLY about.  There is a MAJOR development in Dick's life that happens midway through this issue.  I want to shout it from the nearest rooftop that he's perched on, but I just can't do it.  From there, the stage really gets set for what is to come in future issues.  How Damien ties into it all should be very interesting, and I have always loved their dynamic.  What we see at the end, which I also can't spoil for you, is something that should leave you talking to your comic book loving friend until the next issue drops.  Yes, it's THAT important.

Not only does Seeley REALLY get Nightwing, he continues to build on his character as the character ages.  It's easy, after working with one character for this long, to settle in and get into a comfortable groove.  What Seeley has done, and continues to do, is make Dick Grayson not just more likeable, but more relatable.  The balance of real world issues and things that only happen to costumed heroes is one major thing that makes this book great.  It's also nice to see Javier Fernandez get to add a few more toys to his toy box, and really show what he can do with multiple characters that we all love.  So keep talking about the possibility of a movie or TV appearance for Nightwing.  There is something very cinematic happening right here in the page, and I am going to enjoy ever single issue of it.

RATING:  PULL / BUY