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: A VOICE IN THE DARKIssue Number: 1
Title Arc: Blood Makes Noise
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creator: Larime Taylor
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Life/Crime Drama
Mature – Comics on the Edge
I put this review first because it is the pick of the week. Indeed I believe it
is the best comic I have read in a long time. It is not the usual super hero,
horror, comedy or action comic found mostly on the racks. I knew it would be
special from the endorsement on the front by the A-list creator Terry Moore. The
cover itself may not be enough to entice you to pick it up but trust me it is
worth every bit of the asking price. Larime Taylor is a most extraordinary
creator. If like me you read through the entire issue before reading the text in
the back you will be astounded by the quality of the art and its composition
considering the very unique way he works due to his disability. Adding to that
the story is told in black & white with grayscales in such detail and flow that
it is worth rereading, not for comprehension but appreciation. This is a
psychological thriller of sorts with a mostly female cast. The twist is that the
lead character, Zoey Aarons, admits right up front that she has committed
murder. She is only eighteen and about to head off far from home to freshman
year in college. She is the only child of a mixed marriage – a black father and
white mother. Her only friend is Seven, her Asian adopted sister. It is Seven’s
story that prompted the murder. Seven had to hide her homosexuality from her
biological parents but was accidently outed by the high school counselor to her
parents and the rest of the school. They promptly disowned her and she tried to
kill herself that night in Zoey’s bathroom. Zoey’s parents stepped up and
proceeded to adopt Seven and Zoey stepped up and stabbed the counselor for what
she had done. This all takes place or is explained in the first few pages and
there is much more story in this double-sized first issue. Most of it is an
examination of Zoey’s psyche. She talks to her image in the mirror as if it were
the separate personality that committed the murder. She often daydreams of
killing people – teachers, roommates, classmates and others if she gets annoyed
with them. At first it is shocking to the reader, as if it is actually
happening, but then she draws back and we realize it is what she is seeing in
her mind. Indeed, the more we listen to her thoughts the more we are convinced
she could kill again, but not for trivial reasons. There is a large supporting
cast that are all unique characters Her three new roommates are at first glance
stereotypical characters – the party-girl blond, the fiery Latino and the Goth
chick. Larime promises they are more than what they seem at first glance. She is
a thousand miles from home but fortunately she has her uncle Ezekiel nearby. He
just happens to be homicide detective who happens to be gay himself. There is a
lot to discover in these pages, too much to get into in a review. But to explain
the title – it is the name of a radio talk show that Zoey is going to host on
the college radio station. She invites anyone to call in, anonymously if they
choose, and talk about anything they like. It is not an advice format, just an
open forum within the bounds of FCC rules and good taste. She even uses an alias
the first time out calling herself Veronica. I was not prepared for the last
page as Zoey takes a caller who has a startling announcement to make. This book
is clever, fascinating, funny at times, touching at others and keeps us guessing
if Zoey had a one-time moment of passion or if she is truly deep down a serial
killer in the making. We will find out as the story continues. I will be there
all the way.
Title: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIEIssue Number: 1
Title Story: This is How the End of the World Begins…
Publisher: Archie Comics
Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Letters: Jack Morelli
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror!
Teen+ - Violence & Mature Themes
It is odd to see an Archie comic not made for all ages but to do a zombie comic
that is not entirely for laughs a Teen+ rating is appropriate. You will find
this one on the racks with the rest of the action/adventure comics rather than
the all-ages section. The mood is set right away with the art a muted four color
basic using reds and blues to finish off the greytones. It is very fitting and
lets you know right up front that this is not your normal Archie comic. In fact
you will not find much humor of the usual type in this story though the
characters are all familiar from that genre. It begins simply enough when Hot
Dog, Jughead’s dog, is struck by a hit-and-run driver. As the story begins
Jughead has carried his beloved pet to his friend, Sabrina the teenaged witch,
in hopes that she can do something to save him. Her aunts try their best but
alas Hot Dog was already dead when he arrived and they refuse to use dark magic
to restore the pet. This sets up the premise that bringing the dog back to life
would unleash bad consequences on everyone involved and beyond that the rest of
the town. The rest of the characters are involved with preparing for a Halloween
dance and as usual the rivalry for Archie between Betty and Veronica has a part
to play. This adds a little bit of humor to the comic. As Archie takes center
stage he is caught in the middle of girls’ attention but is soon takes a more
serious turn as we learn who is responsible for the accident as well as
Jughead’s sudden absence from school. With the dance rapidly approaching we
guess that it will be the first major scene involving zombies. Who will be
attacked and who will survive is foremost in our minds. I was not sure how this
could be done in the Archie universe but I found the story interesting right
from the start. It is odd seeing some of these characters not up to their usual
hijinks but that is easily overlooked. This is a fun title for anyone who ever
enjoyed Archie comics, except for the very young ones right now. I recommend you
do not pass it by.
Title: HARLEY QUINNIssue Number: 0
Title Story: Picky Sicky
Publisher: DC
Creators: Paul Dini & Bruce Timm
Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti
Artists: Amanda Conner, Becky Cloonan, Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Stephane
Roux, Dan Panosian, Walter Simonson, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Bruce Timm,
Charlie Adlard, Adam Hughes, Art Baltazar, Tradd Moore, Dave Johnson, Jeremy
Roberts, Sam Kieth, Darwyn Cooke and Chad Hardin
Colors: Paul Mounts, Tomeu Morey, John Kalisz, Lovern Kindzierski, Alex
Sinclair, Lee Loughridge, Dave Stewart and Alex Sollazzo.
Letters: John J. Hill
Cover Artists: Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts – variant: Stephane Roux
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Villain/humor
This is one of the most atypical “zero” issues I have ever read. Usually the
concept of numbering a comic this way is used to present the story that occurred
before the first issue of the run. Sometimes it is an origin story, but that has
already been done in another comic in the NEW 52 continuity. Sometimes it is
used just to tell events that led up to later issues. Instead this comic tells
you what happened as if Harley herself had a hand in deciding who the artist
would be on her own comic book series about to start. That is why you see some
seventeen artists listed above. Each of them contributed a page or two to this
story that is set up by Conner and Palmiotti. It starts with Harley imaging that
she would have her own comic book and wondering just who would be the best to
draw her comic. That is when the fourth wall is broken with a running dialogue
between Harley and the writers as they discuss alternate artists and their
unique interpretations. Thus begins a whirlwind tour of different styles and set
ups. Harley is seen as a rock artist that kills her band, a giant robot, a MAD
MEN sixties style office worker, a ninja warrior and even a Teen Titans Go
cartoon character. There are many more and it is fun to see her portrayed by the
various artists in their own very recognizable fashion all why Harley vamps on
the pluses and minuses of each style. Obviously this zero issue is not necessary
reading to keep up with the series about to debut in December, with the art
chores going to Chad Hardin by the way. But it is a fun comic at a reasonable
price. Completists and Harley fans will want to get it anyway. Casual readers
will find it to be a pleasant diversion from the norm.
Title: TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORAIssue Number: 5
Title Story: Great Legends
Title Arc: End the Curse
Publisher: DC
Writer: Ray Fawkes
Artist: Francis Portela
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Artist: Julian Totino Tedesco
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Now that Forever Evil is in full swing I thought it would be good to look in on
the character who was instrumental in the events that brought it about. This
comic is up to issue number five and starts with Pandora confronting the
Outsider, who is actually Alfred from the alternate world Earth 3. She has one
thought in mind – find a way to reopen the gateway to Earth 3 to send back all
the evil that has befallen our Earth. He is strangely confident despite being
held at gunpoint and he has a lot to tell her. Maybe it is truth or just
deflection but the first revelation is that Pandora committed no sin, the box
opened itself when she first picked it up. The real question is why did it open
for her? Meanwhile in Baltimore a familiar character is examining the remains of
the now shattered devise seeking his own way to get it to work again. Through
this issue Pandora will be shown key scenes of her life and given even more
questions to ponder before she is brought before a group of people that are
seeking to unite with the Trinity of Sin to tackle evil head on. This issue is a
lead-in to the next mystical character crossover in the NEW 52 beginning in
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK # 24. I am particularly impressed by the art in this issue
Portela has a very appealing style and Hi-Fi does a great job on the coloring.
This title is not entirely integral in the whole Forever Evil event but it is
more important than most and impacts the NEW 52 a lot.
Title: BEN 10Issue Number: 1
Publisher: IDW
Creator: Man of Action
Writer: Jason Henderson
Artist: Gordon Purcell
Inker: Scott Macrae
Colors: Jason Lewis
Letters: Neil Uyetake
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/TV Animation Adaptation
ALL AGES
I have never seen an episode of BEN 10 on the Cartoon Network so I am not one to
judge whether this comic book adaptation is true to the character and the series
in general. I will leave that judgment to fans of the show. Instead I decided to
read this to see if it makes for a decent all-ages comic on its own merits. The
first plus is that the story is easy enough to get into without any knowledge of
the characters. They appear to be a super hero team called the Plumbers who have
a good degree of fame and are heading off on vacation to sunny southern
California. Ben is the lead character, a young boy who with the power of the
Omnitrix strapped to his wrist can transform into various characters with
different powers. He has to use the powers right off the bat as he is attacked
on the plane by an old foe who wants the Omnitrix. The main action though comes
much later once the gang is on a cruise ship out of San Diego. While Ben gets
involved with another passenger who is trying to destroy an ice sculpture of a
mermaid the evil Ssserpent is setting his own plan in motion that will involve
the cruise ship though his actual target is something else. We really don’t get
to see the rest of the team in action except for the girl that has magical
powers. The girl Ben meets on the cruise will play a far more important role in
the story that we first thought. Rather than spend a lot of time in back story
and exposition about the team the writer instead is telling the story he wants
and revealing what we need to know along the way. So far it is working well. The
characters are likable and the dialogue is not dumbed down so it appeals to all
ages. The art is top notch with a decent style that fits the theme without
looking too much like a cartoon. I‘d say the creators have accomplished what I
hoped. They have presented a new comic that anybody can pick up and enjoy. You
do not need to know the cartoon to get into it and I would guess fans of the
cartoon will be delighted with it as well.
Title: TEEN TITANS ANNUALIssue Number: 2
Title Story: My Future, My Enemy
Publisher: DC
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Layouts: Barry Kitson
Finishes: Art Thibert, Jesus Merino, Scott Hanna & Barry Kitson
Colors: Pete Pantazis
Letters: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Pete Pantazis
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
The NEW 52 version of the Teen Titans has been around for a couple of years now.
I do not follow the series but was intrigued by the cover showing Superboy
fighting Superboy. That is to say it is Kon-El of this team and his own comic
fighting the Son of Superman, the Superboy of an alternate future from whom Kon
was cloned. That confrontation happens later in this annual but the story begins
as Kon, Red Robin and Wonder Girl materialize into the Batcave some twenty years
in the future. It is in ruins and most of the tech is inoperable. The Teen
Titans have been tossed about through time and are trying to get back together.
These three have been kept together and are working with Raven, who shows up
later to try and get everyone back to present day Earth. It seems the future is
no more pleasant than the Forever Evil present they left. Is this also an
alternate future? Red Robin hopes so based on what he sees in this once
familiar haunt. They soon find out that is indeed what it is. This destruction
and its victims are not the work of the Crime Syndicate but happened more
recently in this timeline. When they are suddenly teleported aboard the Justice
League satellite they will meet the current Teen Titans of this time headed up
by Beast Boy and his wife Rose. But his is not a story of the other Titans they
have assembled as they are mostly supporting characters. It is the Son of
Superman who is responsible for this bleak future and eventually the two
namesakes have an epic battle in space, with a most unusual outcome. The key to
the plot is that Garfield has been expecting their visit. He reveals this and
more to Red Robin in private while Cassie makes a discovery on her own in a
secluded section of the satellite. While the story in this issue makes sense for
the most part it is not entirely self-contained. It is set up by the status quo
in the main issues up to this point and will carry forward into the next issue
in December. It is essential for regular readers of the comic not to skip as the
climax of the story has real consequences going forward. As in other mainstream
NEW 52 comics the art is exceptional. I think sometimes an annual may be used in
the hope of bringing in new readers. That was my first impression from the cover
illustration. Maybe this plot is enough to get some of the curious to take a
chance on the next issue to see what will happen. We’ll see.
*****
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:
What was the occupation of the person who became Concrete?
Ron was a political speech writer before he was transformed into Concrete. The
winner by the dice is Stan Hosmer.
Here was your no prize question:
What two independent sovereign states have square flags?
The flag of Switzerland consists of a red flag with a white cross (a bold,
equilateral cross) in the center. It is one of only two square sovereign-state
flags, the other being the flag of Vatican. David McBarron earns a spot in the
no prize hall of fame for getting this one.
THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
By what name was Guy Gilden better known?
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.
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