Comic Reviews - 8/26/10

Title: PHOENIX WITHOUT ASHES
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Harlan Ellison
Writer: Harlan Ellison
Artist: Alan Robinson
Colors: Kote Carvajal
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction


Harlan Ellison is a well-known writer so it was easy to decide to give this
comic a try. The cover gives a small hint at what the story is about. Note the
central figure in plain farmers clothes holding what may be a large brimmed hat.
In the background is a rural church. In the foreground, clearly out of place is
a metallic portal of sorts in the ground with a circular opening shining light
from below ground. Once you begin the story that part becomes clear as the story
is set in the year 2785. We don't know exactly where but the small community we
zoom in on is a community run by a religious hierarchy. It is a fundamentalist
society where the Elders are the law. But this is also a future place. There is
one among the younger that is beginning to question the authority of Elder
Micah. He wonders why the sky is metal and the ground is not. Where does the
waste go when they put it down the trap? More importantly, why can't they marry
the ones they love rather than follow the genetic dictates of the words of the
creator's machine? Even after being sent to the hills to cleanse him of these
evil thoughts he persists. Though Devon loves Rachel she is promised to Garth by
the creator's machine and they both shun Devon, as does the rest of the
community. And so, Devon decides to spy on the elders. What he learns will
probably get him into even more trouble. But it also may shake up the entire
community. This is a really interesting story. The elders using forgotten
technology to control the community is something right out of The Twilight Zone.
The art is superbly laid out and executed. A lot of the story, in fact, is told
without dialogue and it works because of the art. This is a solid story that
will only get better.

Title: THE SIXSMITHS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Slave Labor Graphics
Writer: Jason Franks
Artist: J. Marc Schmidt
Some material by Jen Breach
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Humor


I had no idea what this comic was about and there is no explanatory text to fill
us in, but I am glad I picked it up. From the cover we get a small clue. This
appears to be an ordinary family - parents, a son and a daughter. However if you
look closer you will see the father is wearing a pentagram pendant over his
shirt. They are Satanists. But this is a humor collection - a series of one and
two page strip gags using that fact as a background. One of the recurring themes
is the father trying to get a job after being a fund manager for twenty years.
In the first situation he gets a bit too enthusiastic and begins talking about
smiting the company's enemies with a burning sword. In another as he talks about
his life - golf, cricket, and being active in his church - the interviewer takes
offense, because he is an atheist. It is a bit ironic telling a Satanist that
Jesus has no place in the job. Some of it is subtle like that. When the family
dog is found by a kind person the son goes to fetch him. When asked why they
named him Furfur he explains he was named after Count Furfur who commands 26
legions in hell. There are even a few scenes in the church. While the "pastor"
is preaching fire and brimstone, literally, father Sixsmith is complaining about
how sore his bottom is getting. It is hard to explain humor like this. It is
funnier to see and read than it is to explain. The art is simple and works well.
I could see this as a daily or weekly strip in an alternative publication.
Though it is not offensive some it touches on subjects you would not see in your
local newspaper comics. I liked it a lot. It is a preview of a graphic novel
coming out in October. Go ahead and spend a buck and see if you agree with me.

Title: MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE PUNISHER
Issue Number: 2 (of 4)
Title Story: Warrior of Heaven
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Jonathan Maberry
Artist: Goran Parlov
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Cory Petit
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


OK, I'll admit when I saw the title I figure this was either a spoof of some
kind or an excuse to sell another mini-series at four dollars a pop. Once I got
into it I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of those out of continuity
stories that could have been labeled "What if?" In this world the Earth has been
ravaged by a pathogen that has turned everyone to their base nature - cunning,
violent and cannibalistic. They spread the disease throughout the world by
either killing or infecting others. The superheroes try to stem the tide but in
the end they either fell or were turned. Frank Castle is in New York and is
somehow immune to the virus. For years he has been hunting down monsters and
infected super humans and killing them. He knows it was him who set this plague
on the world in a crossfire with illegal weapons traders. It is now his mission
to somehow save the world. In this issue he begins with a battle against the
Hulk. This is obviously the carry over from the first issue. One would think it
is a hopeless battle but then this is Frank Castle. When that battle is out of
the way he is drawn to church where a priest and a young boy are the bait for
another super human gone bad seeking to get Frank. As we see now Frank is not
the only one with immunity to this disease. The father relates his story of
survival amid all the chaos while Punisher worries about Deadpool missing from
one of the graves in which Frank scattered his remains the last time he killed
him. But the big problem will reveal itself in the last panel. It is a bit of a
slugfest but there is more to it. The additional characters add some respite
from the constant struggle but we wonder can they survive in the end. For that
reason you feel the need to come back for the next chapter and see where it
goes. Will it be like I AM LEGEND, the original story that is, and Frank will
end up the last man on Earth? Anything is possible.

Title: EX MACHINA
Issue Number: 50 (Last Issue)
Title Story: Vice
Publisher: Wildstorm/DC
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Tony Harris
Colors: JD Mettler
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Variant Cover Artist: Jim Lee
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Science Fiction
Mature Readers

If you have not been reading this title this is your last chance. Just kidding,
this will no doubt continue to sell well in collected trades as did Y, THE LAST
MAN. So I cannot really recommend a last issue for the new reader. But now that
it is over I can tell you have read every issue and the few specials and enjoyed
it all. There is a difference, I recognize, in waiting thirty days between
chapters and sitting down with six or seven at a time. I recently read Y, THE
LAST MAN in trade form and could see how the big picture is more coherent when
taken in big gulps. This is in part the structure of the story being told.
Vaughan clearly had the outline of everything he was going to accomplish from
beginning to end. What is neat about EX MACHINA is that each issue moves forward
the main story while mixing in a flash back that either has relevance to the
current plot or directly caused the motivation of characters in the present. We
have gotten to the point where Mayor Hundred has fended off various people who
are out to kill him for a number of reasons. His ability to communicate with
machines and control them brought him initial recognition as the hero that
minimized the damage on September 11 and propelled him to the mayor's office of
New York City. Now he is considering a run for the White House in the 2008
election and the back scenes go back to 2006 and 2007 with the finale in 2008.
There are final meetings with trusted comrades, former allies and others. It is
not all happy endings but it does wrap up nicely and has a bit of a surprise at
the very end. As much as I enjoyed it along the way I know I will enjoy it even
more when I read the whole thing again.

Title: THE RISING
Issue Number: 0
Title Story: Radical Premiere
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creator: E. Max Frye
Writer: E. Max Frye
Artist: J.P. Targete
Letters: John J. Hill
Cover Artist: Natalia Babiy
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction


I am not sure why so many of the comics from Radical have such dark coloring. I
realize most if not all of it is the individual artists on the books that make
those choices but it seems there are too many from one publisher to be a
coincidence. Some of the comics have had really interesting stories, a few are a
bit too complex and that is when the lack of clarity in the art is a detriment.
This one is bit better though it purposely starts with a dark setting. Soldiers
are fighting monstrous beings in a rain soaked environment. They fight more than
the weapons their alien adversaries wield but also the sickness they can
transmit. One survives and is rescued by natives. This could be the deeps of the
Amazon, or some other planet. We just don't know. In fact on first reading I
thought it was too similar to James Cameron's AVATAR. Through some scenes with
no dialogues he becomes part of that community but it is soon disrupted. The
rest of the setup for the series is set in a post-war world. After five years
the Earth and Draconia have fought off the enemy and are moving ahead to a great
peace with freedom and unity. Our hero is in a prison camp in the desert now and
the scene there reveals a new reality about this age of freedom and unity. I
admit while parts of it are interesting it does not come together as a thrilling
adventure or intriguing mystery. Part of that is the lack of editorial
direction. I got confused as to who all the different species are and why this
alliance has resulted in humans in a labor camp. I am afraid this preview did
not grab me enough to want to follow the series.


*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Jon Jackson Stevens was executed for the murder of which hero?
The victim was Retro Girl in the first arc of the POWERS series, aptly titled
"Who Killed Retro Girl?" The winner by the dice roll is David Lizewski. He wins
the ALADDIN graphic novel from Radical Comics.

Here is a no prize question:
What is the oldest continually operating hospital in the US?
Bellevue Hospital in New York was founded on March 31, 1736. David Lizewski got
it first.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
From the Silver Age: Can you spell Mr. MXYZPTLK's girlfriend's name? (Hint: it
is spelled just like it sounds!)

Here is your no prize question:
What was the "oldest continuously run family store in North America" through 2008?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Comic Reviews 8/20/10

My View
David LeBlanc
ComicBkNet@aol.com

David LeBlanc was the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine for over ten years. He is a life-long fan of comics and moderated online comic book forums long before the Internet became the place to be. David works part-time at
That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning comic store in Worcester, MA.


REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That’s Entertainment management or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: MAGOG
Issue Number: 12
Title Story: Chapter 2
Title Arc: Blown to Kingdom Come
Publisher: DC
Creators: Mark Waid and Alex Ross
Writer/Artist: Scott Kolins
Colors: Hi-Fi Designs
Letters: Travis Lanham
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

Although this story is the second chapter of the arc it reads very much like a beginning. Scott uses the plot devise of boyhood friends that meet again as adults in a very adept way. Magog of course is one of the bad guys from Waid and Ross’ KINGDOM COME, set in a possible future. The character has been introduced into current times with the foreboding that that possible future will now happen. The title of the story hints that theme as does the over-title on the cover, Kingdom Coming. But the story begins way before David Reid became Magog. The scene is one played out by many fan boys in their youth, yours truly included. David is pretending to be a Superman type hero and his best friend is a super soldier with an Omega Blaster. They argue over which one is the bad guy until another boy wants to join in as the Amazing Arachnid. That is when their fun turns into pick on the nerd. In a way it was their first team up. They planned to stay together through life but ten years later the death of David’s father disrupted that. Now we are in the present. Magog interrupts an armored man on a rooftop about to shoot something with his robot arm. Thankfully Scott realizes not every first meeting has to be an obligatory fight followed by explaining misunderstandings. They talk but before they can get to the reasons the two are attacked by some very strange characters. At this point I am thinking part one of the story may have something to do with these characters. The story leads on to what Magog’s new partner is involved in and builds to an unexpected climax that will be concluded in the JUSTICE SOCIETY SPECIAL in September. I liked the structure of the plot and the scripting. Scott Kolins does a very fine job all by himself in writing and art. I’ll be checking out that special for sure.

Title: X-MEN
Issue Number: 2
Title Story: Part 2
Title Arc: Curse of the Mutants
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colors: Marte Gracia
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Adi Gravnov
Price (USD): $3.99
Genre: Super Hero

I’ve enjoyed this story arc so far. From the beginning in THE DEATH OF DRACULA (still on the racks if you missed it) it has been well laid out to get to this chapter. Last time we saw a vampire commit suicide by exposing himself to sunlight an exploding in the sunlight in a crowded plaza. This exposed many people to a vampire virus created just for the occasion. Among the crowd was their intended target, the depowered mutant Jubilee. The virus affects people gradually filling them with desire to seek out the vampire clan. As the mutant doctor examines the changes in Jubilee the team sets out to find the perps. At the end of part one they have discovered one of the lairs, filled with bodies drained of blood. Their mission is to bring one back alive but things turn to having Wolverine and Colossus surrounded members of the Claw clan, probably the most viscous of the vampires being more bat than human. Have no fear, Blade is here! With him he brings the revelation that yes the Lord of the Vampires is behind the attack and he must have a larger plan – but it is not Dracula! (again see the book mentioned above.) Once the X-Men figure a way to use Cerebus to map out vampires the direness of the situation becomes very clear. Only a Hail Mary pass of a plan could hope to stop the coming onslaught. What remains to be seen is how Jubilee will factor into the situation and whether their outrageous gamble will pay off. The art has been top shelf as well. The characters are true to traditional renditions but with a style unique to this team. It is most entertaining without having to crossover into other X-Books.

Title: ARTIFACTS
Issue Number: 1 (of 13)
Publisher: Top Cow/Image
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Michael Broussard
Inker: Rick Basaldua
Colors: Sunny Gho
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Too numerous to mention
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

What this series will do is bring the entire Top Cow Universe together for the first time. Some characters have been around longer than others, some are new with this series, but they all have something in common. They all are connected to a certain artifact. Think of the Witchblade, the Spear of Destiny as artifacts, two of the thirteen. The Curator, a familiar character to Witchblade readers explains to a newer character in this book that he is one of thirteen who wield certain artifacts. Each has their purpose in the world. But if they are all found and brought together then the world, the universe will come to an end. This first chapter introduces a defrocked priest, Tom Judge, who carries the Rapture, one of the most powerful artifacts. It has allowed him to return from hell and the Curator charges him with opposing whoever is trying to bring the thirteen artifacts together. It is clear from the start of the story that others know he is coming and are out to find him. Sara Pezzini runs into one ugly demon that has been killing priests looking for the One, Tom Judge. Meanwhile her sister Julie is looking after Sara’s daughter in the park. By the end of the story another of the thirteen will become apparent and the consequences will change Sara’s life forever. Marz has scripted a tight story with exposition enough to keep us entranced in the concepts while bringing enough action to advance the plot. The art brings it all together with some creative composition and really interesting new characters. As a bonus there is a two-page bio of the origin of Witchblade. I suspect there will be another character featured in each of the chapters. So far it is off to a good start and even new readers should find no problem following the story.

Title: LOCKE & KEY
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Sparrow
Title Arc: Keys to the Kingdom
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors: Jay Fotos
Letters: Robbie Robbins
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE – Comics on the Edge

This is the first chapter of the fourth mini-series in the LOCKE & KEY saga. You should not be scared off if you have not sampled this title yet. In fact IDW has put out the Legacy Edition of the very first LOCKE & KEY comic with 8 extra pages of recap of the entire series to get you up to speed and it only costs $1.00. But you don’t have to get that right away because this issue is very easy to follow and pretty much stands alone without relying on the back-story. The focus is on Bode, the youngest of the Locke family. It is winter and he is being shunned by the cool kids because he is a bit weird. When he play acts things that have really happened they take it as quirkiness. Meanwhile his sister is seeing Zack who is secretly the enemy out to find the key to the black door. The older brother Tyler is still harboring guilt over the death of his father and lots of bad things that have happened in previous issue. But Bode is the one we follow the most. The main element to this entire series is a bunch of keys, each giving the user a different ability. One allows you to unlock someone’s head and take out memories or even put in a book which then becomes committed to memory. The first key found allowed Bode to leave his body as a spirit and fly around unseen by others. In this chapter Bode’s attention is drawn to a frozen bird bath by a friendly sparrow. There frozen in the ice is another key. Like some of the other keys, it works by unlocking a door and walking through it. This is the Animal key so Bode decides to test it figuring he will pass through the doorway and turn into a great beast of some sort. To his surprise he becomes a sparrow. This is key to the story as Zack follows after and turns into a wolf. The wolf and other vicious creatures soon threaten Tyler and his sister and Bode the sparrow will have to find a way to save them. This story has its moments of horror but is generally lighter than other chapters have been. It ends on a happy note and so is more delightful to read. Rodriguez is always up to giving his best for the visuals. If you though of trying out this title then this issue is the perfect one for it.

Title: BONE TALL TALES
Issue Number: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Creator: Jeff Smith
Writer: Jeff Smith & Tom Sniegoski
Artist: Jeff Smith
Colors: Steve Hamaker
Price (USD): 114 pages, $10.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
ALL AGES

Some of the material in this book was previously published in the comic book STUPID, STUPID RAT-TAILS. If you are a fan of Bone, one of the best-selling Independent comic series of all time, then you will want to add this to your collection. The volume consists of four tall tales, three of which are written by Tom Sniegoski. The first story, Smiley and the Bone Scouts is the framing sequence that ties it all together. It is set after the return to Boneville by the heroes of BONE. Smiley and his pal rat creature Bartleby take three Bone Scouts on a camping trip. The story has classic Bone humor and ends with Smiley telling tales around the campfire to the scouts. This leads into the first tall tale, The Powers That Be. Smiley tells the story about the time when the Bones were in the Valley living with Rose and Grandma Ben. Each had chores to share and one day it was Fone and Phoney’s turn to do laundry. They wander off and find a map, which convinces Phoney it is a treasure map. Reluctantly Fone follows him and after some peril they reach the spot. What a surprise they get. The other three tales involve the founder of Boneville, Big Johnson Bone (I don’t know if a double entendre is intended!) In the first he is born and has his first adventure with Old Man Winter and a bear. In the second he is fifteen and is out to retain the title of winner of the eating competition at the Bone County Festival. He has an unbroken string of wins but a new competitor will challenge he stomach as well as his heart. The last is the longest story coming in at 68 pages. It is the lost tale of Johnson’s adventures while he was wandering the lands before he found his fortune and founded the trading post that became the start of Boneville. With him were his trusted mule and a snarky monkey he won in a card game. It is a delightful story that has a twister picking them up and landing them in the Valley where they help some of the animals fend off the Rat Creatures. It also explains why Rat Creatures no longer have tales. In all it is an excellent volume for all to enjoy. Smiths’ art is top notch and Sniegoski has captured the essence of Smith’s imaginary world and the characters in it. Even if you never read BONE you will enjoy this one.

Title: RYDER ON THE STORM
Issue Number: 0
Publisher: Radical Comics
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Wayne Nichols
Colors: Feigian Chong & Sansan Saw
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Cover Artist: Francesco Mattina
Price (USD): $1.00
Release Date: Now on Sale
Genre: Noir Mystery/Supernatural?
Mature Readers

This is an interesting story for a number of reasons. There is no expository text to explain where or when it takes place. It appears to be a large city like New York, perhaps in the future, but there are large canals navigated by water taxis. The technology looks like a mix of current with throwbacks to the last century. The main character has computers but the keyboard looks like an old typewriter. Let’s just call it an alternate reality for now. In this world Ryder is a Private Investigator. He gets a call from Katrina Petruska, a night club worker who just found her rich new boyfriend, Michael Hudson, dead on the floor with eleven holes drilled in his head, the drill in his hand and bottles of pills spilled near the body. She had Ryder’s card from Michael. The scenes move forward as Ryder goes to the scene. The cops clearly think this is a stupid attempt at staging a suicide. They think that a gold-digger with no future except hitching up might be dumb enough to think she could get away with it. She reveals there is more evidence and her story is that they filmed their romp and she left the room to clean up. She returned to a locked door and when she broke in she found Hudson. The whole thing has the noir look and feel to it. Ryder is the cool one with some tricks of his own. When he returns to his office the mystery deepens. This is a 16-page premier issue with no ads, no additional material and only a buck. It has me very interested already. The art is decent enough to make this a better than average offering. It is definitely worth a dollar to give it a try.

*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize for getting the new trivia THIS WEEK will be the graphic novel ALADDIN from RADICAL COMICS. Only one prize per person will be allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email please but guess as often as you like.

Last week’s trivia question:
What 12-issue comic book series also featured THE BLACK FLAME and DYNAMO JOE?
The 12-issue series was MARS from First comics. The winner by the dice roll is Stu Cathell. Stu wins the $10 credit.

Here was the no prize question:
Which was the last state to require every motorist to come to a complete stop at a stop sign?
Massachusetts – prior to changing the law it was legal to proceed through the sign if you stopped when the car in front of you stopped at the sign.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Jon Jackson Stevens was executed for the murder of which hero?

Here is a no prize question:
What is the oldest continually operating hospital in the US?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question so don’t hesitate to send in an answer – even days after it appears.

Comic Reviews 8/13/10

Title: CROSSED FAMILY VALUES
Issue Number: 3
Publisher: Avatar
Creator: Garth Ennis
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Javier Barreno
Inker: Julien Hugonnard-Bert
Colors: Digikore Studios
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
ADULT MATURE - Comics on the Edge

I added the word ADULT to the listing because I feel this should not be sold to
anyone under 18. I always felt that Garth Ennis pushed the envelope when it came
to shocking comic book readers. Although he created the original concept and
series of CROSSED it seems that David Lapham has taken it to the extreme. For
those unfamiliar, the Cross virus has spread far and wide with only pockets of
unaffected struggling to survive without being discovered by the "Crossed." The
disease is spread by contact with bodily fluids of those already infected. If
you think of how many different bodily fluids could be used you will understand
how easily the writer could resort to acts of depravity as plot devises. The
disease makes those infected go after the normal to either kill them, infect
them, or just perform all kinds of deviancies on them. This second series
follows a group of survivors, a family that ran a horse ranch before the
disaster that spread the virus hit. Early on we learned that this family was
very dysfunctional to begin with. The father has been abusing one teenage
daughter and possibly another, the mother turns a blind eye to it and Addy, the
older sister is the only one among them that worked up enough courage to
confront him. Before he had a chance to give her a good thrashing for
questioning him the Crossed attacked and the entire family that survived took
off on horses to find a place secluded to build a new home. At this stage of the
story they have started a settlement and have been building defenses around it
in the event they are found again. Addy has been sent out on scouting missions,
partly to keep her away while the father has his way with any woman he wants.
The events have pushed him even further into his god complex and he is followed
by the others like a cult leader. Addy has been kept away from her early teens
sister, Kayleen, but soon figured out she must be the victim of her father's
depravity. As this chapter opens she is standing in the door of the room Kayleen
has been kept in. Not only is she almost ready to give birth she has an IV
plugged in that is feeding her Crossed blood. I can't tell you in this review
what Kayleen says explicitly. Let's just say she views her pregnancy as a gift
from god through her father. Before Addy has a chance to even turn her rifle on
dad he slams her against the wall proclaiming himself god's prophet. It is
around this time that the Crossed are closing in on their location. Before long
they will attack. The two plots combine as Addy is locked up and makes a last
appeal to her mother before the father returns. As the fighting begins outside
he is too overwhelmed to teach her a lesson to guide his flock. This will be the
final confrontation between father and daughter with a surprise ending. While
the basic plot is compelling the visuals are some of the most disturbing. If you
think the incest would be bad enough there is much worse, trust me. The point is
to show how much of a monster an uninfected person could be. You either have to
look past the sex acts, the violence and cannibalism and other gross things to
find anything of redeeming value, or really get off on it - which is disturbing
for me to think about. The artwork is superb, it is what is depicted that is not
pleasant, especially the scene of Kayleen after she has given birth. This is not
for the casual curious or fans of Lapham's crime dramas, which are tame compared
to this. I am not saying I recommend it to anyone, I am warning you that it is
one of the most disturbing things on the racks today.


Title: NANCY IN HELL
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Image
Writer: El Torres
Artist: Juan Jose Ryp
Colors: Francis Gamboa
Letters: Malaka Studio
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge




Well, this one is more suggestive than overt in the adult material. The premise
is that a group of people is in hell but for them it is not fire and brimstone
and constant torture. The title character is a babe and is drawn that way. She
relates her first experience to the others while sitting in a bar with a drink
and a cigarette in hand. She first woke in a lake of blood and made it to "land"
only to find it is really a plain of putrid bones and soon she is attacked by
two female demons with sexual designs on her. Nancy is rescued by a man the
others call the Philosopher. Back at the bar he explains that those there,
including Nancy, are indeed in hell but are not yet brain-dead like the zombies
roaming around outside. Little by little they all will become like them, if they
are not taken by the various demons. That is the set up. The rest of the book
involves confrontations, which include Nancy showing off her female figure as
well as her skills with a chain saw. When things once again seem hopeless an
intriguing figure appears. Most of this just seems like a set up for fight
scenes and some bad girl art. In fact many of the panels are just gore and
blood. There is a plot here but it is mostly drowned out. I can't help but feel
that the story could be told in a much different way with different art and
advance further into the plot. It would be more interesting. But as it is, I
would not buy the second chapter.

Title: THE STAND: HARDCASES
Issue Number: 3 (of 5)
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Stephen King
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Tomm Coker with Laura Martin
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror


Someone commented when they saw me with this issue in my hand, "Is that story
still going on?" Obviously it is. Steven King's THE STAND is such a detailed
story that I am glad the creative team is taking their time to bring as much of
it they can to print in these series of mini-series. It is impossible to recap
the entire story until now but the editor gives you key bits of information at
the start of each issue to better understand what has gone before and who the
key players will be in the current issue. People have come from all across
America after the devastating Captain Trips virus killed 99% of the population.
Those left have been compelled through visions in their dreams to either make it
to Las Vegas to follow the Dark Man or to Boulder Colorado guided by the vision
of the righteous 108 year old Mother Abagail. Events up to this point make it
clear that this is a tale of good versus evil that will eventually lead to a
confrontation. But at this point there are more subtle things going on. As the
action this time focuses on the people in Boulder. The everyman Stu Redman and
the girl from Maine, Frannie Goldsmith have fallen in love. Her former traveling
companion, Harold Lauder, was her secret admirer and though he traveled to
boulder he now only dreams of the Dark Man. Likewise, Nadine Cross, who traveled
with Larry Underwood is not among those destined to stay. Her meeting with
Mother Abagail confirms in her mind that she belongs elsewhere. Much of this
chapter is the lead up to the group in Bolder becoming organized into a
community with a steering committee and eventually an elected leadership. While
some have determined that Harold should not have any position in the new
government we see by Harold's journal what he thinks of the others. As usual the
art team does a spectacular job. This is not a series to easily jump into at any
point but the product so far has been excellent. While each group of five issues
do not entirely stand alone they can be read as a concise part of the whole. THE
STAND is well worth collecting in either individual issues or the collected
trades.

Title: SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Publisher: DC
Creator: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Writer: Cary Bates
Artist: Renato Arlem
Colors: Allen Passalaqua
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Cover Artist: Felipe Massafera
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero - ELSEWORLD


DC has not been doing many ELSEWORLD stories lately so this one was a welcome
step sideways from the main DC Universe. Stories like these used to be call
"Imaginary Stories" but once the phenomenal Alan Moore pointed out, "aren't they
all?" they became ELSEWORLDS. So in this divergent Universe the entire El
family, Jor-El, Lara and baby Kal, escaped the destruction of Krypton. Instead
of crashing in a cornfield in Kansas their large spacecraft set down softly in
front of the UN building. After several heroic feats by the entire family the
world embraced them with welcome and offered them a home. In a unique fashion
they choose to settle in Metropolis and using advanced technology the ship
transforms using materials far below the earth surface into a large skyscraper.
While Jor-El sets out on a program to help humans integrate Kryptonian
technology Lara devotes her time to the lecture circuit. From the start of the
story we have learned that Jor-El is obsessed with his inability to save Krypton
from destruction. This plays into the plot as it moves along. Two other elements
are introduced this chapter. Kal-El begins life as a human after a long search
by the Els secretly awards foster custody to Jonathan and Martha Kent. In a
strange twist Lex Luthor, a child prodigy, also becomes the youngest employee of
Jorcorp, the new foundation stared by Jor-El. And to finish things out Kal El is
about to get a sibling. This is a fun story for long time fans of the Superman
saga. All the elements are set for the next two chapters. The Els have to adjust
to life among humans as much as the Earthlings need to adjust to them. The
attempt to give Kal more experience by living as them was a natural development.
The addition of Lex with access to advanced technology and more Kryptonians on
the way will surely spice it up. Cary is telling a good story and Renato and the
others do a decent job with the visuals. This one gets two thumbs up from me.

Title: MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Taken
Title Arc: Metal Mob
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Russ Manning
Writer: Jim Shooter
Artist: Bill Reinhold
Colors: Wes Dzio9ba
Letters: Blambot!
Cover Artist: Raymond Swanland
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction


The second reintroduction of the classic Gold Key heroes from Dark Horse is now
on the racks. First I will say I enjoyed this comic more than SOLAR, also on
sale. All the elements of the original Magnus are used to start new. He was
raised as an orphan by the robot A1 (I always think of steak sauce when I read
this) and was trained to the height of human capacity to the point of being able
to smash steel with his bare hands. By the year 4000 man has become very docile
with robots performing all manual labor. But at some point someone or something
has caused some robots to rebel against the prime directive to never cause harm
to humans. Magnus has a secret implant allowing him to monitor robot
transmissions so he is at an advantage in locating their bad behavior or in
escaping capture if need be. The opening story has a bunch of robots, under the
direction of a yet revealed human perhaps, kidnapping rich females. The latest
is a good friend of Leeja Clane, friend of Magnus and daughter of Senator Victor
Clane. Only Leeja knows that Magnus is the infamous robot fighter protecting
humans lately. She implores him to help her friend, a job he is already on. But
Leeja is an adventurous soul, atypical of most humans, and hatches a plot to
locate her friend using herself as bait. It will be up to Magnus to make sure
the plan works, once he figures out what it is. I found this story easy to
follow with good character building and logical progression to a climax. The art
team does a good job on the story as well. If you are familiar with Magnus this
title will appeal to you. If not it is an excellent start to a decent science
fiction story.

Back up story - "Magnus, Robot Fighter"
Creator: Russ Manning
Originally appeared in MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER #1, Gold Key Comics, 1963

As a bonus feature Dark Horse has made this issue a 56-page bargain for your
comic dollar by including the reprint of the very first MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER
story from 1963. The great Russ Manning had a good concept and his original
story holds up well. This is because a good concept with solid plotting and
master art for the time does not change with time. While Shooter's take on the
relationships are slightly different he does not stray from this classic
version. Like the main story this one introduces us to the main characters and
the origin of Magnus. He is still a vigilante and is often pursued by Polrobs
who are secretly controlled by an evil robot with a master plan involving
kidnapped humans. In this original he first meets Leeja when he saves her from
abusive Polrobs and they work together to get to the bottom of people
disappearing from the streets. It is a full-length story and like many back in
those days is not continued next issue. Hats off to Manning for his
accomplishments with this character and to Dark Horse for exposing a new
generation of readers to his work.

Title: SPITFIRE
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Title Story: Living in the Ruins
Title Arc: Women of Marvel
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Colors: Cris Peter
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Cover Artist: Jenny Frison
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


Not having read many of the titles featuring UK based Marvel heroes I was not
familiar with this character. Lady Jacqueline Falsworth served in Britain's Home
Guard during WWII. She was bitten by a vampire and given an emergency blood
transfusion from the original Human Torch. This combination gave her superhuman
speed. Eventually her powers faded until another injury prompted yet another
transfusion from the Human Torch, which not only restored her powers but also
her youth. She also developed some vampiric traits - growing fangs and gaining
regenerative powers. However, she has no desire to drink blood and now works for
the British Secret Service agency MI: 13. Along the way she has developed a
romantic relationship with Blade the Vampire Hunter. They go on missions
protecting Britain's secrets especially when it involves vampires. In this one-
shot the writers attempt to show what a typical mission is while providing
insight into their relationship. Unfortunately this one did not grab my interest
enough to give it a recommendation. I found the scripting disjointed and at
times unnatural, no pun intended. The art is ok but at time looks rushed. I just
did not care for the characters or the plot, which itself twists and turns in a
very loose fashion. The fight scenes are okay but alone do not make a compelling
story. Maybe someone else can do something exciting with these characters but on
this issue they missed the chance.

*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Which comic does Overstreet list as the first "poster format" comic?

This was a tough one, as the answer was buried in the listing itself, not in
some "list of firsts." It was the original mini series of RADICAL DREAMER from
Blackball Comics. We had no winner this time.

Here was your no prize question:
What was the first movie for which the cost of obtaining rights to the soundtrack outweighed the entire production costs?

The cost of obtaining the rights to the soundtrack (approx. $27,000) for Kevin
Smith's Clerks outweighed the entire production costs for this film (approx.
26,800) - a first in motion picture history.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What 12-issue comic book series also featured THE BLACK FLAME and DYNAMO JOE?

Here is the no prize question:
Which was the last state to require every motorist to come to a complete stop at
a stop sign?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Reviews 8/5/10

My View
David LeBlanc
ComicBkNet@aol.com

David LeBlanc was the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine for
over ten years. He is a life-long fan of comics and moderated online comic book
forums long before the Internet became the place to be. David works part-time at
That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning comic store in Worcester, MA.


REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by That's Entertainment management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: HOT WIRE: DEEP CUT
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Title Story: "Bad Dogs Get the Pipe Wrench"
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creators: Steve Pugh & Warren Ellis
Writer: Steve Pugh
Artist: Steve Pugh
Letters: Steve Pugh
Cover Artist: Steve Pugh
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/Horror

This is the second mini-series about Alice Hotwire, an exorcist for the Metro
Police. In this future world ghosts became a problem fifty years ago. They are
called "blue lights" and are mostly souls of the dead that have not crossed over
to the other side. Some of them are tangible enough to create real problems,
even exact revenge on the living. Newly dead are interned in ceramic coffins and
suppression towers keep the free-floating ones under containment. It is the ones
that aren't in control that need to be rounded up and dealt with. When the
patrol cops can't handle particularly difficult blue lights Detective Hot Wire
is called in, as she has some special abilities. We saw this in the first
series. Now she has been recuperating from a line of duty injury - growing back
an arm that was destroyed. Her partner, Peter Mobey, can't get her to respond to
his calls. She is holed up in her place reliving the past as we see in flashback
a bad girl out for fun all the time. A run in with a ghost while she was romping
on the freeway with her boyfriend explains part of her attitude toward ghosts
and explains the title of the story. After six months of self-destructive
behavior it has gotten to the point where she must decide to get back on the job
or be relieved of duty. Watching TV footage of how the regular cops handle a
very aggressive ghost is enough to make up her mind. This is not just an action
drama where the good guys chase the bad guys and catch them in the end. It goes
deeper into the personality of the main character as well as the attitudes of
the general public and the regular cops dealing with high tech solutions to a
supernatural problem. The theme seems to be that actions have consequences. Pugh
does a great job in telling the story in both script and art. These three-issue
arcs are ideal in telling individual stories. A bit of recap is provided at the
start to fill in the new reader. It is a superb effort worth your time.


Title: TIME BOMB
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creators & Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Paul Gulacy
Ink Assist: Charles Yoakum
Colors: Rain Beredo
Letters: John J. Hill
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

I particularly like Paul Gulacy's art so I was pleased to see he was the one
chosen to translate this tale of Nazi Germany and time travel. The year is 2012
and an organization called the New World Order is brought in to a discovery
below the streets of Berlin. A team working in a subway tunnel went missing when
the floor collapsed under them. What the first team sent down discover is an
underground complex dating back to WWII. Aside from some rather large buildings
and bunkers the amazing discovery is a missile - technology really out of place
for that time period. As the NWO begins to assemble a Special Ops squad for a
special mission the missile is somehow activated and launched only to explode in
the air over Berlin. The resultant fallout causes casualties from a disease
previously unseen with the ability to spread across the world. This was a secret
doomsday weapon hinted at during the war but never discovered. The bunkers would
have housed the chosen among the master race who would have emerged after the
virus cleansed the world. The Ops team is brought together as we get brief looks
at their personalities and relationships. Some are cold-blooded agents and
others specialists in their fields. Their mission will be to use a previously
abandoned time-travel device, the Time Bomb, to go back before the missile took
off. They must fill in the proper authorities about the discovery and keep
everyone away from it. Unfortunately for the four operatives instead of going
back two days they go back 67 years near a German POW camp. Now they will have
to deal with the original site themselves and perhaps the previous time traveler
and inventor of the Time Bomb himself. Palmiotti and Gray provide a thriller of
a script and Gulacy does not disappoint. This promises to be an engrossing story
right to the very end. They take the time to flesh out the characters and
provide background on each. The mystery they face poses some interesting options
and dilemmas. This is a slick package off to a great start.


Title: AFTER DARK
Issue Number: 1 (of 3)
Publisher: Radical Comics
Creators: Antoine Fuqua & Wesley Snipes
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Jeff Nentrup with Sara Biddle
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Francesco Mattina
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

Quite often comic books from Radical have a very dark tone to them. I don't
think it is by editorial direction but rather the preference of the artists.
This aptly titled book is one of those types. The world is a dark place with
natural sunlight all but non-existent. There is famine and civil unrest
everywhere and even the artificial light of major cities like Solar City are not
immune to the horrors of the night. The powers that be assemble a team to find
the one individual who might provide hope to the masses for if Solar City falls
and the technology fails the world will truly be in the dark ages. The team that
is assembled are specialists - some military some criminal. If they don't end up
killing each other they may find Angel. She is the forbidden icon that provides
hope for the masses. Some believe she is dead but others say she can save the
world. Shortly after they leave on their mission to somewhere in Europe they are
faced with a decision that will reduce their numbers, making success that much
harder. This story is a bit more complex and harder to follow. The author seems
to want to show more about the individuals and their relations with one another
than to making the plot and objective a bit more clear to the readers. It is an
action story and when the setting is illuminated the art is much more pleasing
that the settings outdoors in the dark. I have mixed feelings about this and
will need to see more before deciding if it is heading in the right direction.


Title: BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE
Issue Number: 4 (of 6)
Title Story: Dark Knight, Dark Rider
Publisher: DC
Creator: Bob Kane
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Walden Wong
Colors: Tony Avina
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Andy Kubert & Cameron Stewart
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero

By now everyone knows that Bruce Wayne did not really die in FINAL CRISIS but
was sent bouncing through time. In each era he left a mark as a form of Batman
of that era. Now he has made it to the Old West and is causing problems for some
rather ruthless cowboys. The opening scene shows them hanging a rancher,
brutalizing his wife and daughter and taking out the young son who tries to
defend them. It is all over a small box with a bat symbol on it. Their boss,
none other than Vandal Savage, has one goal, to get it open and is using an
Indian and a local doctor, Thomas Wayne, to "persuade" the daughter to reveal
the secret. The mysterious cowboy in black who wears a mask has plagued the
hired thugs with various injuries and may be coming to rescue the girl. In
response to that threat Savage has contracted Jonah Hex to kill the mystery man.
The story is all about the conflicts between the parties and within Thomas Wayne
himself. While the story itself is interesting and moves at a fast pace it does
little to provide any clue as to how or if Bruce will ever return to the
present. The clash with Hex provides the transition to the next chapter and the
moment in history Bruce will be off to next. He keeps moving forward in time but
will the foreboding of disaster as told in previous chapters occur if he makes
it to the present? We have to wait and see.


Title: THE SCOURGE
Issue Number: 0
Title Story: Zero to Sixty
Publisher: Aspen
Creator: Gale Anne Hurd
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Eric Battle
Colors: Jorge Fares
Letters: Josh Reed
Price (USD): $2.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

Unhappy as I am with the whole "zero" issue mentality I decided to try this one
as I rarely read anything from Aspen. I see by the credits on the inside cover
there are 6 covers, two direct edition, one incentive and three San Diego Comic-
Con covers. These days it is all about collectability to raise the sales of new
books. It is also very short with only twelve story pages and three text pages
with character sketches. Since this is the prelude to the series the idea is to
build interest in readers for the main event. I am not sure this accomplishes
that goal. The sequence follows Griffin, a NYC SWAT officer who is in the middle
of a strange epidemic that has hit New York. The entire issue has him trying to
make his way across town to pick up his eight year old son. His ex wife is on
the phone beleaguering him about his responsibility. Oh yeah, he is also being
chased by a motorcycle cop who has been turned into a gargoyle looking beast
like many others in the city. Griffin knows the cop is no longer human and can
infect him too if he is not careful. So we get twelve pages of chases, escapes
and witty banter over the phone. There was a time when the zero issue told you
the story of what happened before issue #1. If not an origin story it would at
least set up details previously not revealed. This one just throws us into the
problem after it already exists without a clue as to who, what, when, where, or
why the plague is happening. The art is decent enough but I would have to see
issue number one before committing to the series. For now I would say skip this
one and try issue #1. You won't be missing anything.


Title: PILOT SEASON: STELLAR
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Top Cow/Image
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colors: Felix Serrano
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Marc Silvestri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction

I have reviewed the previous PILOT SEASON one-shots from Robert Kirkman and
liked them enough to visit his next offering. MURDERER, DEMONIC and STEALTH each
were unique concepts brought to print for the first time in a competition with
STELLAR and finally next up HARDCORE. Fans will pick the one they like best to
continue on in a new mini-series. Since these are truly concepts not meant to be
told in just a single issue they each read like the beginning of a larger story.
It is up to the fans to decide whish story continues. This story follows the
main character as she travels to distant worlds. She has tremendous abilities on
her own that are augmented by devices in her costume. Her current mission has
her seeking out specific plant abundant on this world. While seeking the flora
she is attacked by the fauna, which serves to show us her abilities not only to
defend herself but also to heal quickly. There is also a hint at the catch in
all these powers. That bears fruit as she reaches the settlers on another
planet, one of whom desperately needs her cure. Her interaction with these
people gets to the crux of the plot. She and a few like her have these
tremendous powers but have been shunned by humanity because of the deadly
effects they have on normal humans. She has resigned herself to a life roaming
the galaxy and helping others as a way of finding meaning in her plight. The
others like her have made another decision. I like the concept and the execution
of this introduction. Kirkman provides all the essential info, some of which he
leaves to Chang to reveal visually. The two work well together and the finishes
keep it professional. I am undecided on which PILOT SEASON book is the best so
far. They all have things about them I would like to see more of in another
series. Why not give it a try and help me decide?

*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Which character pioneered the Mother Box and the Boom Tube?

From the pages of MISTER MIRACLE it was Himon who was the resident genius. The
winner by the dice is Steven Berk.

Here was your no prize question:
What was the first National TV show that Elvis appeared on?

Although Elvis was on several television shows before he appeared on Stage Show
in January 1956, this was his national debut.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which comic does Overstreet list as the first "poster format" comic?

Here is your no prize question:
What was the first movie for which the cost of obtaining rights to the
soundtrack outweighed the entire production costs?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.