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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Comic Reviews 2/1/14

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: HACKTIVIST
Issue Number: 1 (of 4)
Publisher: Archaia/Boom
Creator: Alyssa Milano
Writers: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly 
Artist: Marcus To
Colors: Ian Herring
Letters: Deron Bennett
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Adventure
Mature – Comics on the Edge




The center organization involved in this thriller is a social networking company
called Yourlife. The two young entrepreneurs who started it, Nate Graft and
Edwin Hiccox, are now billionaires. The hook is that the users’ information is
protected from piracy or surveillance through their state-of-the-art
cryptographic hash table. Using it can help you achieve positive change based on
your goals be it soul mates, projects, partners, philosophy or philanthropy.
Nate demonstrates the power of it at forum they are conducting by picking out
one attendee and telling him once he logs back in he will find resources,
locations and potential employees to set up his own restaurant. That segment of
the plot explains somewhat the power and success of Yourlife. But the real plot
is what Nate and Edwin have been doing in their spare time in San Francisco. The
opening scene follows a group of dissidents in Tunisia who are desperate to get
their message out to the people. Public speeches are dangerous and soon raided
by the authorities and the government has shut down all access to the Internet,
which would be their best bet at spreading the word. This is here our two genius
come in. In their safe house the protestors get a text message and to their
amazement the network is working for the first time in a month. They know their
mystery benefactors by only the code name _sve_urs3lf. Nate and Ed realize they
have just enabled a revolution but that is not good enough – they could change
the world. The next step could be closer than they think. I liked this story
because the characters are interesting – one is bold and cocky while the other
is pragmatic and obsessive compulsive. We are eased into the real meat of the
story at the very end when Nate is approached after their big keynote
presentation by someone who could help them fulfill a goal. The art is decent
and has very good coloring. It will be interesting to see how things develop in
the next issue. That is always a good thing for a first issue.

Title: DECEIVERS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Creator: Steven Grant
Writer: Steven Grant
Artist: Jose Holder
Colors: Stephane Roux
Letters: Ed Dukeshire 
Cover Artist: Stephane Roux
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Spy Thriller




I usually enjoy stories by Steven Grant. This one is very involved and took a
while to get into. The protagonist is an American named Lincoln McCord who seems
to be an adventurer with connections to European high society. He is currently
in West Germany. He does have an employer but currently agreed to help road test
some race cars for an old friend. As the private jet lands he finds a limo
waiting for him from another friend, the Contessa Via Viarosa, who is throwing a
party and expects McCord to be there. This is his life – never knowing what turn
it will take. In the course of this comic he will save a lady from thugs who
claim she stole from her employer so he invites her along to the party. Later at
the party he is dragged into a spat between another friend and some thugs who
are hassling him. But these incidents are mostly to give us a flavor for the
kind of guy McCord is. What he does for his employer is still not made clear but
the girl he brought to the party is not all she seems and could shed some light
on that for us. As I said this is not a typical plot I would expect from Steven
Grant. It is very involved and jumps from one incident to seemingly unrelated
incident after another. I think the second issue will make a little more sense
so I may stick with it. The art is passible but the pencils are not as detailed
as I like. It is passable though. I would say right now this is an average comic
that needs to pick up speed to hold my interest.

Title: BAD ASS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Herik Hanna
Artist: Bruno Bessadi
Colors: Gaetan Georges
Letters: Marshall Dillon
Cover Artist: $3.99
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Mature – Comics on the Edge




This is a strange comic book. It starts off pretty cool actually and then gets
really strange. The first impression you get about the main character, who is
actually called Dead End not Bad Ass, is that he is somehow gifted. He is
sitting at an outdoor café and musing about the people around him. It seems he
is not thrilled with the young lovers at the next table, or the kid with the
chopsticks up his nose, or the old couple about to take a walk. They didn’t do
anything to him, he is just annoyed by everything, or so it seems. This scene is
set up to show us that Dead End is very good with analyzing a situation and
doing exactly the right thing to set a chain of events into motion for a desired
end result. The simple flick of a coin distracts a driver who swerves off the
road and crashes into a woman who is physically abusing her son. This appears to
be his gift. It is a small example and a sharp contrast to some flashback
sequences of his childhood as a bumbling kid with pimples that was the target of
bullies. Now he is a hit man for a mob boss who happens to be a dragon – sort of
like the lizard from Spider-Man, that size but a dragon not a lizard. This I was
not expecting. Our man Dead End has decided to gather the Green Dragon’s ill-
gotten proceeds for himself and plans to do it at a gathering of all his minions
about three dozen of them. He going to need that special talent of his – big
time. And wait until you see who shows up at the end to challenge him. As I said
this book takes a quick turn. In fact it does so several times and the Green
Dragon thing was out of the blue. This is not a normal world. This has the
elements of an interesting premise but then it sinks into silly dialogue despite
the cool action sequences. The flashbacks appear to have no real meaning right
now, except perhaps why Dead End wears the mask – we never really see his full
face as an adult. Maybe it will become clearer later on but it is just too
disjointed to put up with the bad parts. That is a shame because the art is
rather good. Maybe you will have a different reaction to it than I did.


Title: EMPIRE OF THE DEAD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: George Romero
Artist: Alex Maleev
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Alex Maleev
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature – Comics on the Edge



This is yet another story set in the post-zombie apocalypse era. In this case it
is five years after the dead first walked. It is lower Manhattan and the humans
that are walking about are heavily armed. The leader of the group is Paul
Barnum. This story is about how humanity has devolved. Though Barnum’s group are
police they are off duty as a protection detail for him. He has a very
particular job for the mayor of the city. He procures zombies for the arena in
Central Park. This is the zombie Circus Maxims. This part of it seems ripped
right from The Walking Dead. The fights are staged to amuse the public.
Sometimes there are private fights to amuse the mayor and his friends. To Barnum
it is a job. The other main character is a female doctor from Columbia
University. She is interested in Barnum and his work. Most of this issue is
taken up with the two talking about the nature of the world now, the differences
in various zombies – some seem actually smart, others are just savage. There is
an element of mystery about a missing cop. Barnum assumed she was eventually
attacked by zombies but we see her popping in and out of the shadows. She is not
totally mindless out for flesh – as if she is dead but still has a purpose to
fulfill. And she witnesses a scene by an important person connected to the mayor
that lets us know there is more going on in this world that the usual zombie
plague. Having said all that I had a real hard time getting excited or even
mildly interested in where this is going. There is too much talking and very
little character development. There are only three or four scenes where
something actually happens of significance. So far it is another version of
Zombie-World that is not all that interesting. Romero does add a new element at
the very end of the chapter that may serve to pick up the pace next time but I
am not interested enough to care. As far as the art goes it is not bad but it
takes some getting used to. It seems to me this is an attempt to approach the
whole zombie thing on a more analytical level rather than just as the basis of a
horror story. For me it didn’t click.

Title: DEADLY CLASS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Rick Remender & Wes Craig
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Wes Craig
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Adventure
Mature – Comics on the Edge



The story is set in San Francisco in 1987. It is about a fourteen-year-old
homeless boy named Marcus. He emigrated from Nicaragua with his parents when he
was much younger. But the tragic death of both his parents left him a ward of
the state and placed in a boys’ home. That was then. Now he is trying to survive
on the street any way he can by panhandling or stealing. The first half of this
book is somewhat depressing as it visits the realities of this kind of life.
Marcus is faced with health problems and danger from other homeless trying to
survive as well. So we see an old man trying to steal Marcus’ shoes while he
sleeps among other things to emphasize the hopelessness of the situation. It
finally gets to him enough that he goes to a bridge with intentions of ending
his pain. At the last minute he remembers his father’s encouragement from long
ago and decides to live. But it is also at this point that we see someone else
has taken an interest in Marcus. A young girl standing in the shadows whispers
“Don’t” to herself as he stands on the edge. As it turns out this girl and those
she associates with will play a large part in Marcus’ life. Just when you think
you have figured out what this comic is about it takes a right turn. At a street
festival marking the “Day of the Dead” two things happen. Marcus sees the girl
he thinks has been watching him and a bunch of cops, begin to close in on him.
We are not told why he is being sought by the police, or why one of them who
manages to corner Marcus after a wild chase is about to shoot him in cold blood.
What we do find out is the girl and the various people that lend a hand in
helping her and Marcus evade the police are part of a very secret organization.
At the end we learn it is called Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts and
they want Marcus to join their league of assassins. I like the way Remender
eased us into the crux of the plot. He takes time characterizing Marcus and his
lot in life and then eventually introduces some fast paced action we had not
anticipated. He has also left some mystery about Marcus regarding his wanted
status as well as why the members of this league know about him and sought him
out. The art is very interesting with a lot of interesting layouts and coloring.
It sets the mood nicely. What I thought was going to be a depressing look at
homelessness turned out to be much more. I urge you to check it out and see if
it appeals to you.

Title: SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED: A CRISIS OF IMAGINATION
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Last Laugh
Publisher: DC
Writer: Josh Elder
Artists: Adam Archer & Ben Bates
Colors: Ian Herring
Letters: Saida Temofonte
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero – Video Game Adaptation
ALL AGES



The final comic for review this week is one suited for all ages. It is based on
a video game and has the visual appeal and straight forward plotting to appeal
to the younger crowd. However, it is not dumbed down to that level. Josh Elder
manages to keep it interesting for older readers with some humor and homages
that more experienced DC readers will love. The basis for the main characters is
in one of those alternate Earths called Earth-i. It is a world of imagination
where anything is possible – dinosaurs, robots, robot dinosaurs, pirates and
ninjas are all common in some areas. This Earth’s super hero is called Maxwell
the Scribblenaut. He received a magic notebook from his parents and whatever he
writes in it comes to life. His twin sister Lily was given a magic globe that
allows her to transport anywhere, even to other dimensions. She is known as the
Cartographer. In a brief recap we are told of some previous adventures they have
had, one involving the Justice League on Earth 1. So it is no surprise that this
story will also involve the heroes of the normal DC Universe. The lead-in is
very clever with the Phantom Stranger talking with Madame Xanadu in the House of
Mystery. Long-time DC fans will get a kick out of the inferences to a clichéd
plot line about an impending crisis threatening all existence and how Madame X
foretells the importance of Max and Lily to it all. To get things rolling the
Stranger fetches Max and Lily back to Earth 1 just in time to intervene in an
epic battle in Gotham with the entire Bat family on one side and Joker, Harley,
Bane, Catwoman, Clayface and Firefly on the other. This conflict provides the
action for most of the issue and in the end the kids learn that this Earth is a
lot different from the one they remember. As I said this is well-scripted and
entertaining for kids of all ages. The characters are all pint-sized versions of
the normal DC characters done in a unique style that suits both the video game
format as well as this comic. It is the finishing touch on an already good comic
that makes it highly recommended by this reviewer.

                                    *****
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 first thing the Impossible Man turned into?
The answer is a small jet. The winner by the dice roll is Steven Berk.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What group of kids debuted in DC's STAR SPANGLED COMICS #7?

Here is your no prize question:

“We Are the World” raised over $60 million for charity and featured the voices
of many stars in 1985 including Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bruce
Springsteen and Michael Jackson, among others. The question is what was the name
of the band that played the music on this multi-award winning song?

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.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Comic Reviews 1/24/14


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: MIRACLEMAN
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: … A Dream of Flying
Publisher: Marvel
Creator: Mick Anglo
Writer: “The Original Writer” – (Alan Moore)
Artist: Garry Leach
Colors: Steve Oliff
Restored from WARRIOR #1-2, 1982
Art Restoration: Michael Kelleher & Kellustration with Garry Leach
Prologue: 1956 – “The Invaders from Earth” by Mick Anglo and Don Lawrence
From MIRACLEMAN #1, August 1985
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $5.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Parental Advisory – Strong Language & Content


First, the credits – Alan Moore is not mentioned by name by his request but it
is he who wrote this masterpiece. The introductory piece, Prologue, is by the
original creator, Mick Anglo with art by Don Lawrence. It is basically what a
Marvelman comic would be like if it had survived into the 1980’s though the
story is set in 1956. It is significant as a set up for Moore’s first arc giving
a brief introduction to the Miracle Family in an adventure. It also ends with a
very apt quote about the superman from Nietzsche’s “Thus Spake Zarathustra.”
This is a portent of how dark the story will become. MIRACLEMAN of course is
based on Anglo’s MARVELMAN, a British comic based on Captain Marvel that ran
from 1954 until 1963 along with a companion book YOUNG MARVELMAN. There is a
very brief summary of the genesis of Marvelman written by Mike Conroy included
in this issue. For a detailed history of the evolution of it and the eventual
MIRACLEMAN comics from Warrior and reprinted in the US by Eclipse I strongly
urge you to seek out the multi-chapter essay, The Poisoned Chalice, on THE BEAT
website at: http://comicsbeat.com/poison-chalice-interlude-1953-1985-roundup-
and-some-notes-on-copyright/

So, MIRACLEMAN ran in WARRIOR Magazine starting in 1982. It was later reprinted
in standard comic book form in the US by Eclipse Comics. The significance of
this story cannot be understated. This was the key comic book that began the
deconstruction of the super hero archetype. It precedes WATCHMEN and all the
others. If you are reading it for the first time you may think it is a rehash of
themes you have seen before but remember this story is over thirty years old. It
is the current genre that is imitating. The main story is set in 1982. The main
character is Mike Moran who is 42. He has been having a recurring dream about
being able to fly along with two younger men. The dream always ends with a
disastrous explosion. He wakens in a scream and the headaches that follow are
nearly debilitating. The dream is constantly on his mind with a nagging
obsession that there is a word he needs to remember bust just can’t. It is on
this day that we begin his story that his problem will be solved. As we learn
later in the story his life was changed at the age of 14 back in 1954 when
astro-physicist Guntag Borghelm appeared to him and bestowed upon him god-like
powers when he utters the word KIMOTA (Anglo chose this word for Marvelman
because it sounds like atomic spelled backwards.) The second part of this
chapter recounts some of the adventures he had as Miracleman and he fought major
villains with the help of Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman. In the present
day, in his job as a freelance journalist, Mike plans to cover an anti-nuclear
protest but is caught in the middle of a robbery as masked men take the crowd
hostage while they plan to take the plutonium store at the facility to sell to
terrorists. Through a quirk of fate he is overcome by his migraine and in a hazy
state he sees the word ATOMIC from the back side of a glass door so it reads
CIMOTA. It finally dawns on him that this is the word he has been trying to
remember and when he says it he is once again transformed into Miracleman.
Suddenly the memories come back to him about his former life as a young man –
things he had forgotten since a tragic explosion in 1963. The most interesting
part of this chapter is how he explains all this to his wife Liz when he shows
up home as Miracleman. This is all prelude for the story to come. Reading this
for the first time in a long time was a real treat. Some of it I had forgotten
so knowing the major details that come later in the story put this beginning in
a different perspective for me. But looking at it in the way a first time reader
might I saw what the initial excitement was when I first read it. It starts slow
but there is enough revelation and unanswered questions to intrigue the new
reader. The original art holds up well under new coloring and lettering. I am
tempted to pull out my Eclipse copies and read it all in one sitting but will
resist the urge for now. Along with the main story and other filler the back of
the book reprints three black and white Marvelman stories from 1954. It is
interesting to contrast these classic tales with what Moore is starting in the
main feature. However, not everyone will appreciate the inclusion preferring
maybe to have more of the main story or a lower price point. I think it will
still sell well and I am happy to see the improved production quality but I too
think maybe Marvel is pushing the fans a bit on this at $6. When it is finished
it is going to make a terrific collected edition though.

Title: INHUMANITY: THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Stephanie Hans
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero







This is an INHUMANITY tie-in that has the Superior Spider-Man coping with not
only the aftermath of the damage done by the destruction of Attilan but also a
confrontation when well-meaning citizens grab some Inhuman technology from the
rubble resulting in a big problem. This story fits right into the Superior
Spider-Man continuity and Gage has the character of the Doc Oc web crawler just
right. He is arrogant and sarcastic mostly and clearly has plans of his own –
reasons for salvaging Inhuman technology for his own purposes. But he is no
longer an evil villain and acts the hero when innocent lives are in danger. He
is harsh with his army of agents if they do not follow his instructions to the
letter but he also reveals a bit of admiration for the rescue workers and
firefighters while still considering them as sheep. It is an interesting
contrast and Christos scripts his dialogue well. The main conflict that drives
this story concerns a man who retrieves some technology and is using it to try
to save his wife from her terminal cancer. Unfortunately the machinery he donned
to do this is draining the life force from other people in the area to sustain
her. He could actually kill many people if Spidey doesn’t stop him. It is a
unique challenge and Otto will have help from someone that will teach him
valuable lesson. This is a feel-good story as you get further into it so it
stands apart from the rest of Spider-Man continuity. Christos has taken the
basics from that regular series and used them to set a tale in the background of
the Inhumanity event and come up with a book that is better than the sum of its
parts. The art is pretty decent for the most part, though I found it a bit rough
and angular in places. This is a decent comic as a tie-in or just as a one-shot
to enjoy good old fashioned super heroics.

Title: DISNEY KINGDOMS: SEEKERS OF THE WEIRD
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brandon Seifert
Artist: Karl Moline
Inker: Rick Maygar
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Michael Del Mundo
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy




This is Disney’s first foray into publishing comics based on their own concepts
and characters since they bought Marvel. Elements of the story pertaining to the
Museum of the Weird are based on a concept developed by Disney Imagineer Rolly
Crump. The museum was supposed to be an adjunct to the Disney Haunted Mansion
and Walt saw it as its own walk-through attraction but it never got built after
Walt’s passing. So folks at Marvel and Disney got together to develop a comic
book based on the museum and its artifacts. The story is set in New Orleans
where Maxwell and Melody lead typical lives as teenagers and have the usual
problems that go with it. They live with their parents above the family curio
shop called Keep it Weird. The story begins on a particular day when they both
are concerned about telling their parents about mid-term grades. But instead of
the usual parental interest both brush off any discussion as if they hadn’t even
heard the words “bad news” and “grades” to hurry off to dad’s off-limits study
for “work” stuff. The story that follows will lead Max and Mel to discover what
is truly behind the family business. That night the kids are roused by an attack
on their parents in the curio shop and they both arrive to see their parents
fighting off mythical creatures with magic artifacts, only to be captured and
flown off into the night sky by these same beasts. But the danger is still all
around and if not for the timely arrival of their Uncle Roland the kids would
have been captured or worse. It is through Roland that the kids finally get to
see the secrets of their father’s study and the safe door in it that leads into
an impossibly huge museum on the other side – the Museum of the Weird. It
appears that their parents have secretly been the keepers of all sorts of unique
artifacts and now, as Roland explains, the Society of Shadows is looking to grab
a particular item and he must get things here to help him get to it first. The
story is told from the kids’ perspective as they were as clueless as the reader
about what was going on all these years.  The creators have laid down the basic
elements of the plot – the kidnapping, mythical and magical forces at work, a
quest to be undertaken and two innocents who will play a part much larger than
they imagine. The story flows very smoothly and the art is strong in all
aspects. This is a good first issue to kick off what is sure to be a series of
new comics on the racks. It is good comic fun for all ages.


Title: BLACK DYNAMITE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Every Origin Has a Beginning
Publisher: IDW
Based on the film BLACK DYNAMITE written by Michael Jai White, Byron Minns &
Scott Sanders
Writer: Brian Ash
Artist: Ron Wimberly
Inker: Sal Buscema
Colors: JM Ringuet
Letters: Chris Mowry
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Mature – Comics on the Edge


I can honestly say I do not recall anything about the movie BLACK DYNAMITE from
2009. Maybe I saw a trailer for it but that memory is long gone. Since I never
saw the movie I approach this comic for what it can present to me for
entertainment value. What grabbed me at first was the tribute to Jack Kirby
cover that is instantly recognizable as his style. When I saw it was an almost
Luke Cage looking hero jumping out at me I figured why not. When I opened it I
discovered it was based on a movie from five years ago. This first issue, I
guess, is an origin story based on the title.  The script is organized into
plots from different times. The bookends take place in Cuba in 1976 as we watch
the loan figure with no shirt and a hooded jacket walking in the streets of
Havana in a pouring rain. We also see he is being watched, by what seems to be a
government operative. This is a very moody sequence in the beginning of the book
that turns into something very different in the end sequence. The main plot in
the middle takes place “a number of years earlier” – from one clue around 1972-
73. So evidently this is going to tell us how Black Dynamite eventually came to
be in Cuba. Our hero is probably the most admired guy on the block. Crowds cheer
when he shows up. And that is what happens in this story. A bad-ass pimp named
Too Swole disrupts a block party just to get Black Dynamite to challenge him.
This upsets BD as he was about to get personal with his lady. Basically the plot
is he appears, trashes the pimp and then gets put down by the local community
organizers for being a magnet for this type of element. They recount numerous
bad guys who show up and though he always beats them there is also a lot of
collateral damage. There is more to it than this but why bother. This comic has
some of the worst dialogue I have ever read. I can’t tell if Brian Ash is trying
to be serious or purposely making it as stereotypical as were the
blacksploitation movies of the seventies. There is a lot of clichéd dialogue and
unrealistic reactions. At first I thought it would be good for a few laughs, and
it would be if it was done more intelligently but I did not enjoy it and it got
more painful the more I read. It is not good drama, good satire or good comedy.
The art is also very weak with limited detail, poor transitions and low quality
coloring. I am surprised IDW put out a book like this. Anyway, it is not worth
your time in my humble opinion. Nothing to see here folks, move along.

Title: EGOs
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Dead Worlds
Publisher: Image
Creators: Stuart Moore & Gus Storms
Writer: Stuart Moore
Artist: Gus Storms
Letters: Rob Steen
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Teen +




This far future science fiction story on first look seems like it would be about
one thing and then turns out to be very different. There are a couple of
disjointed plots that one would assume will join later. A young girl on a long
forgotten colony world is giving her parents fits by disappearing all the time.
The truth is that she is moving among alternate realities. The bulk of the book
is about the group of adventurers known as EGO, which stands for Earth/Galactic
Operatives. We are introduced to the “old” team in a story being told to an
audience by their one time leader Deuce. He has the power of persuasion. Among
the other members are two telepaths, a combat master, a cyborg and a girl who
can freeze things. Deuce tells the story of a great battle decades ago against
Repliqa who planned to conquer the known universe using forbidden cloning
technology. (Hmm… shades of STAR WARS!) That flashback serves to explain what
EGO is and how Deuce met his wife Mira. But in the current day the EGOs have
gone their separate ways. Deuce is here to announce that an all new EGO team
will be formed to once again protect the galaxy from looming threats everywhere.
What he does not tell them is that he already knows of a major threat, one that
may have killed a member of the old team. We see the threat known as Masse in
the opening sequence and later again on a larger scale. The public perception is
Deuce is building an all new younger group of heroes to battle any threat that
comes up. But you will see as you go along that the motive is more urgent and
even the team that he puts together is not all that it seems. Oh and why is that
alternate dimension viewing girl watching all this and what does she want? 
There are some interesting plot elements here. At first it seemed a bit jumbled
but as we went further along it started to become clearer. The art is not too
bad. What it lacks in facial detail it seems to make up in other areas. I think
the script is the stronger part of the book and so far seems interesting enough
to make me come back for more.


                                    *****
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:
These are the first lines of what comic book character:
"No! No! Take the fish away! Take them away! They'll kill me!"

These are the first lines of Aqualad. No one got it this time.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the first thing the Impossible Man turned into?

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.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Comic Reviews 1/17/14


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: APOCALYPSE AL
Issue Number: 1 (of 4) (Retailer Preview)
Publisher: Image/Joe’s Comics
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Sid Kotian
Colors: Bill Farmer
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: Feb 5, 2014
Genre: Horror






I received a couple of retailer advanced copies this week. This is the first,
the latest offering from J. Michael Straczynski’s company Joe’s Comics. The Al
in the title is Allison Carter. She is a private investigator specializing in
preventing end of the world events. This is a family tradition handed down from
generation to generation through the male heirs. Since she is the only child she
is the first female with the responsibility. It seems these kind of situations
pop up more often than you would expect. She gets the assignments from an
unknown organization called The Committee. They are delivered to her by an ex-
cop who is now a zombie and when she is successful her payment is left at the
same drop, paid in gold pieces. How a zombie gets around the city unnoticed by
others is a stretch. You may have seen the opening scene in a preview prior to
this. It is used to introduce the character and the type of work she does. The
main plot of this first issue involves a man who has gotten his hand on the Book
of Keys. Zombie Mike explains that this guy is not very good at finding the key
he really wants to use, the one that opens the doorway to Hell. So he is using
the keys one by one until he finds it. Once he does it means, you guessed it,
the end of the world. When Allison needs some help she goes to her friend Max
who lives under a bridge just west of Pasadena. Max is a prophet but he is also
quite insane. If she can get him to focus he might give her enough information
to know where to start. The only trouble is when she finally arrives her target
has already used the key to the doorway to dreams and nightmares. No one is
immune to its effects and soon Al is swept into her own worst nightmare. She
will have to figure a way out of it to get back to reality. This is a good first
issue. It has established the premise, introduced the main character and shown
us a lot about her motivations and lifestyle. The supporting characters are
interesting and add a bit of comedy. In fact there is a light touch of humor
throughout the book making it fun to read. It also ends on a sinister note as
Allison is brought to see an important business man in the dead of night only to
confront an even worse nightmare. The black and white art in the preview is good
enough to stand on its own. It highlights the skill of Sid Kotian to provide
detail and excellent composition. An example of the finished color on the cover
is a good indication that the actual product will be just as good. I like the
spirited adventurer with a sense of humor and her own real life problems and
regrets. They add to her character without being overbearing. This looks like a
fun comic that is sure to please. Check it out in the first week of February.

Title: ANNE BONNIE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Blue Juice Comics
Creator: Tim Yates
Co-Writer: Lelan Estes
Layout Artist: Adam Miller
Price (USD): $1.99 (First issue $3.99)
Release Date: March 26, 2014
Genre: Fantasy





This second preview is for a comic coming out in March. You can read the
solicitation in the current Previews or go online to www.bluejuicecomics.com
The story is set in a mythical world not unlike our own in the time when pirates
ravaged the sea lanes. It starts with the story of Ariana, a young girl who lost
her parents to the sea and now the man looking after her is leaving her behind
as well. He leaves her a medallion that he claims is a key to something lost. He
is trusting it to her for when he returns. Over the years he has told her tales
of the pirate queen, Anne Bonnie. Those tales were a comfort to her. But we
learn at the beginning that the long dead pirate queen is not revered with all
the town folk. Some hope she will return and rid them of the curse of the
pirates now operating freely off their coast. Others feel the mere mention of
the name is a curse. Ariana may discover which version is correct one day as we
shift to a time when she is much older and has finally found the place to use
that secret key. Whether that is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen. This
is a much shorter preview that the first comic I reviewed. There may be scenes
omitted here and there or this may truly be the first ten pages of the actual
comic. The inference from the cover and other graphics I am getting is that
Ariana will become the new pirate queen. Right now that is speculation. The
setup is good and the sampling of the art is an indication of the talent of the
creator. He has developed this world of his in a few pages and the art really
shine from the pencils right to the finished color. So far it is interesting and
is just good enough to make me want to read the first issue when it comes out. I
suggest you check it out in late March.

Title: MINIMUM WAGE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creator: Bob Fingerman
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Slice of Life/Semi-Biographical
MATURE – Comics on the Edge








MINIMUM WAGE was a series done in the nineties by cartoonist Bob Fingerman. If
you like what you see in this follow up series you can get the original in a
large collected volume called MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE also published by Image. In
fact it was the collected edition that started the ball rolling for Bob to
revisit the series where he left off. I have labelled this semi-biographical
because I am not sure how much Bob has added to actual events in his life. Be
that as it may, if you like stories of things that happen to people in real life
you should enjoy it. At the end of the last series 22-year-old Bob married
Sylvia Fanucci in 1997. As the story picks up in 2000 Bob is now estranged from
Sylvia with the divorce pending. Circumstances have caused him to move back in
with his mom as he works at his craft and earns money drawing comic strips for
porn magazines. This first issue is broken up into a few minor plots. It opens
with Bob and his friends going out clubbing highlighting the awkwardness of the
singles scene for Bob who has been out of it for three years. There is another
segment at his job which is also an enlightening insider’s look of the thoughts
on the future of that industry a decade ago in light of the increasing use of
the internet. The other main segment has Bob finally taking the plunge, after
much prodding from others, into online dating. As you might expect there is
disappointment after disappointment until something finally clicks. Like many
comics of this genre it is not a laugh-out-loud funny although there are some
very comical moments, just as there are in real life. You get the feeling that
the events ring true and the people in Bob’s life are as varied as those in our
own. He has a way with the inner dialogue that make things very readable and
holds your interest. His style is much like that you might see in something out
of Mad Magazine. The people are realistic enough with a slight exaggeration of
the female anatomy from time to time. It is a three color format, black and
white with a third grey tone. It is an excellent example of the genre. If you
are into it you should enjoy this one.

Title: BLACK WIDOW
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Raison D’Etre
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Nathan Edmondson
Artist: Phil Noto
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mercenary Hero






Natasha Romanov is an ex-KGB assassin who is now an Avenger and agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D. Like a couple of other popular Marvel series right now this title
attempts to show the rest of her life – what she does on her own time. Natasha
has an agent/lawyer that helps provide her with work for hire. The proceeds of
those jobs are then funneled to a trust that aids worthy causes. It is her way
of atoning for past misdeeds. It is not something she does for maximum profit,
despite the protests from her man Isaiah. She is a fascinating character when
handled right and so far Nathan Edmondson gets it. There are two separate action
sequences in this issue that highlight her brilliance in tactics and efficiency
in combat, both hand to hand and remote. She is also a well-trained spy and uses
the skills of disguise and subterfuge to attain her goal. What makes it more
special for the reader is that those goals are not always spelled out ahead of
time and so as we watch her in action we are thinking one thing while the end
result is entirely not what we expected. It is a good mix of thriller action and
a close look at the real nature of the woman behind it all. Phil Noto’s art is
distinctive. He is constantly shifting the POV perspective while continuing the
flow of the story. The only negative I have is that his coloring is a bit muted.
I prefer things more vibrant but that is a personal issue. This is a very
readable series that relies more on the character than on some global danger
facing a super hero. I liked it and I think you will too.

Title: REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Issue Number: Alpha
Title Story: Tramp the Dirt Down
Publisher: Marvel
Writers: Andy Lanning & Alan Cowsill
Artist: Rich Elson
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Mark Brooks
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero



This is an eight-issue mini-series that brings the Marvel UK heroes to the
forefront. The bookends are the Alpha and Omega chapters and in between each
issue highlights a particular character. As the introduction and set up for the
plot this first issue gets things rolling. It seems an old organization defeated
by Britain’s heroes, Mys-Tech, has left behind a lot of artifacts and MI-13 did
not have the manpower to make them all safe. So in stepped the Europe Division
of S.H.I.E.L.D. to form the group to handle it all. Captain Britain has already
been working with them and as the story begins he has brought Pete Wisdom into
the fold as Nick Fury gives them the sit rep. The old Mys-Tech bases are
becoming active. Mys-Tech is basically a cabal dating back to the first century.
They sold their souls to Mephisto for immortality. The bargain had them
dispatching souls to hell over the centuries. Now they want to be free of
Mephisto. They have amassed mystical and alien artifacts and even created super-
powered beings in their attempts to break his hold. Eventually they brokered a
deal to be rid of the pact. All they had to do was sacrifice the entire
population of Great Britain. All of this history including the final battle and
the defection of some of the evil super powered beings to the other side is
background for what is to come. It presumably happened in past Marvel UK comics.
It matters not as the recap is enough to get the gist of things. Now all that
remains is to utilize all the assets of Mi-13 and S.H.I.E.L.D. to stop Mys-Tech
from making the world burn.  I must admit there is a large cast of characters in
this one and most will not be familiar to the casual US comic reader. The main
thread of the plot is clear and the action is frequent. I think if the middle
chapters focus on a few characters at a time it will flow better. The art is up
to snuff though. I give this one an okay for now.

Title: ALL-NEW X-FACTOR
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Kris Anka & Jared Fletcher
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





I have said in many reviews in the past that X-FACTOR, due to the writing by
Peter David, was the best of the X-books on the racks. For whatever reason that
series ended but Peter David has continued on with an “all-new” cast of
characters so naturally I am on board with it. X-Factor is no longer a mutant
detective agency but a corporate super hero team. Serval Industries is a company
that deals in weapons manufacture, Internet search engines and other things to
pay the bills. But they claim their main business is helping people. That is
where their very own super hero group comes in. They bought the naming rights
for their team from Jamie Madrox and hired Loran Dane, aka Polaris, to fill the
roster. She has researched them thoroughly and is satisfied their intentions are
legitimate. This first issue serves to introduce the main characters at Serval
and recruit the first members for the team. In this first issue those first
recruits will be Gambit and Quicksilver. Later, as you can see from the cover
the other two original members will join as well. You may not recognize them so
I won’t give it away except to say they are former members of the New Mutants.
They will show up later in the series. For now the three core members have their
first assignment – rescue a mutant from a mad doctor who is doing some kind of
research for A.I.M. As in the past the best thing about this book is Peter
David. That is not to say the art is bad. In fact it is quite good. But the
characterization and banter, the subtle sub plots and the thread of humor
throughout makes his scripts a delight to read. A good example of this is the
opening sequence that features a cameo appearance by Wolverine. It serves to set
up the circumstances that lead Remy to Lorna in the first place. It will be
interesting to see how the full team gets together and what kind of situations
Peter will put them in. Even from this first issue you have to wonder if Serval
and its CEO are really that altruistic. It is a doubt that Remy has and will no
doubt be an underlying thread for a long time. However the story winds I will be
there to follow it. I urge you to give it a try and see for yourself.


                                    *****
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 first Silver Age Annual from Marvel?

According to Overstreet the first annual was STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #1. MILLIE THE
MODEL came out around the same time but there is controversy over which was
first.  The winner by the dice is Keith Martin.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
These are the first lines of what comic book character:

"No! No! Take the fish away! Take them away! They'll kill me!"

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.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Comic Reviews 1/10/14

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: A VOICE IN THE DARK
Issue Number: 2
Title Story: Part 2
Title Arc: Blood Makes Noise
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creator: Larime Taylor
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama







I was so enthused by the first issue of this new comic I decided to also review
the next issue. As I said this is one book I will be staying with for a while.
First I am pleased with the art. I know this is a subjective thing but I find it
outstanding, especially considering that Larime does it all using his mouth and
special computer software and hardware due to his lifelong disability. It has
clearly defined characters, good use of shading and nice panel arrangements. The
story so far has not had a lot of action sequences so some may find it lacking
variety in the panels. That is function of the story being told and what the
script demands. This second issue has a lot of dialogue so a lot of different
scenes are not called for. What you need to know is that Zoey is a new freshman
away from home for the first time. Her background was explained in the first
issue. Her deep secret is that she killed a high school counselor that
inadvertently outed her best friend who was so devastated she tried to commit
suicide. The friend is now her adopted sister and no one ever found out that
Zoey was the killer. Now she is at school in Seattle and fortunately her uncle,
who happens to be a homicide detective is nearby but not intruding in her life.
It also explored the inner struggle Zoey has with her past, always questioning
if she could or would kill again. The first issue set her up with an evening
open forum talk show at the college radio station. It is that situation that is
the focus of this issue. On her debut program one caller called to tell Zoey
that she was considering killing herself. As this issue begins Zoey is dealing
with that statement but secretly thinks this could help her deal with her own
situation by looking into another life just as screwy if not worse than her own.
Most of the issue deals with the back and forth between the two as Zoey deftly
gets the girl, who calls herself Heather, to open up about her life and what led
her to this point. Meanwhile Zoey is texting Uncle Zeke to listen in and
possibly avert a tragedy. It is a complex script that deals in flashbacks of
Heather’s life. The attitude of her parents is a major factor in the misery she
feels and their indifference over a major event may have pushed her over the
edge. It is clever how Zoey prods her for more information, enough so that Zeke
can discover her real identity and by the end there is a clever twist you may
not expect. So far this comic has been gripping in its portrayal of the
realities some people have to face in life. We are still not sure if Zoey may
become, or perhaps already is a serial killer. Her conduct in this issue shows
increased compassion for this stranger on the phone. But it is the private
moments, the entries into her diary that are most revealing. I am captivated by
the character and the progression of the story so far. I am looking forward to
the next issue and I urge you to get the first two still on the racks.

Title: LEGENDERRY: A STEAMPUNK ADVENTURE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Ceremonies in Dark Men and Scarlet Women
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Sergio Davila
Colors: Wes Hartman
Letters: Rob Steen
Cover Artist: Joe Benitez
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Steampunk






I picked up this one basically because it is written by Bill Willingham, creator
of FABLES among other things. I had no expectations other than the obvious – it
is a steampunk adventure. After reading it and looking at the cover again I
seemed to have overlooked the obvious. The main characters are from properties
that Dynamite also publishes – Vampirella and Green Hornet. This becomes more
obvious shortly into the story that takes place mostly in a trendy eating
establishment called the Scarlett Club run by the mysterious Madam Pendragon,
our lady vampire. She is dining with the richest man in town, newspaper
publishing mogul Britt Reid. But disruption at the front door turns the tranquil
scene into a melee proving that Vampirella is one hell of a fighter. A band of
men is masks with various blades and steampunk machinery are after a female, a
lady in red who charged in seeking refuge. Once the perps have been dealt with
it is up to Vampi and Reid to interview the lady, Magna Spadarossa, to find out
her story. It seems she has been searching for her sister whom she saw off on a
cruise ship months ago. When her letters were returned she began questioning
people and got the attention of others who first tried to scare her off and now
just want to remove her as a problem. This is a mystery to solve along with the
fact that the attackers are all identical clones of each other. One other scene
clues us in on a man who is behind it all, but not why. Since Vampirella had her
time to shine in this episode it appears that Green Hornet and Kato will get
more deeply involved in the case. I am not particularly fond of steampunk but
this story does not rely heavily on the technology. It is character driven by
one of the best writers in comics. Having it blend Victorian Era science fiction
with famous characters is more interesting than you would expect. The art is
dynamic and well-paced though the coloring is a bit pale in places. It is a fun
story that is sure to entertain you.

Title: THE TWILIGHT ZONE
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: The Way Out
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Guiu Vilanova
Colors: Vinicius Andrade
Letters: Rob Steen
Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction




Presenting a comic book version of a classic television series can be a daunting
task. It is difficult with episodic adventure type shows to get the well-known
characters just right. Presumably the core of the intended readership will be
fans of the show and how the characters are rendered – their likenesses,
personalities and dialogue have to fit just right. That is not the case with
this series. There are no regular characters. Each story is unique and can range
from the mysterious, to science fiction to even supernatural or unexplained. The
challenge here is to tell interesting character studies in unusual circumstances
ending most often with some twist that is unexpected. That is the legacy of THE
TWILIGHT ZONE and what the target audience would expect. J. Michael Straczynski
understands this and has structured the story to deliver it. He even begins with
a narration that could have come from the original creator, Rod Serling himself.
Trevor Richmond is a mover and shaker in a very successful business in the big
city. His investment strategies have benefited the company immensely but he is
dissatisfied with the CEO’s preoccupation with finding his son’s killers. There
is nowhere for him to advance in the company, he needs a new challenge. His
personal life has become too routine as well, the same haunts each day, the same
unfulfilling relationship. At least that is what he tells Mr. Wylde, a man who
runs a secret company that can give him a new name, a new identity. He soon
learns that Mr. Wylde knows a lot about his past – his unscrupulous business
dealing, embezzlement of company funds, even his love life. What he offers is a
pill that will alter him from the inside out – blood type, eye color, even his
fingerprints. All it will cost him is everything he has socked away in those
secret offshore accounts. He will be given a new identity and enough funds in an
allowance to live comfortably for the rest of his life. Everything else will be
given to Mr. Wylde’s company. That is the set up and sure enough Trevor accepts
the offer. What happens over the next few days is amazing as he gradually
changes in appearance until he can no longer go to work and be his old self. He
has his new identity and freedom from everyone and everything that was a
problem, including the Feds who are now investigating the company and his old
illegal dealings. But is it enough?  As I said these stories usually have a
twist and this one is not one you can easily guess. But the story is continued
in the next issue so there is much more to Trevor’s story yet to be told. I
found this to be worthy of the TWILIGHT ZONE franchise in both the basic plot
and the characterizations. The art is pretty decent with varied panel
arrangements and composition as well as good coloring. This is a strong start to
what can be a great series.

Title: REVELATIONS
Issue Number: 1 (of 6)
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Creators: Paul Jenkins & Humberto Ramos
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Colors: Leonardo Olea & Edgar DelGado
Letters: Deron Bennett
Cover Artist: Humberto Ramos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Mystery
Mature – Comics on the Edge



This murder mystery takes place at the Vatican and begins with a body plummeting
several stories onto a spiked iron wrought fence below. One significant detail
that is highlighted is that the dear departed Cardinal William Richleau had a
coin in his hand that fell out as he was impaled on the fence. What immediately
follows is stranger still. In the pouring rain a man emerges from the shadows
spouting phrases in Latin as he approaches the body. His fervor increases as he
raises a dagger to the corpse just as the Swiss Guard arrives to stop him. These
are the details we see as the reader but some of it will be covered up as famous
Scotland Yard detective Charlie Northern is requested to investigate by his old
friend Cardinal Leclair. Reluctantly he agrees and immediately finds things are
not right, the crime scene was not investigated properly and Cardinal Toscianni
tries to dissuade Charlie from wasting his time as they have done their
investigation and consider the matter closed. Of course Charlie sees things that
counter that argument and will look into it more deeply now. This is a strong
opening to what appears to be a deeper mystery. The who, what, where, how and
why of the event are not going to be covered up if Charlie can help it. Of
course there are strong forces working against him that are only hinted at. The
missing coin and the mysterious man who is not revealed may be the keys to
unravel it all. Ramos has a very distinct style that grows on you from page to
page. Aside from the unique characters his work always depicts the colorists
have made good use of contrasting black and white with color to highlight key
elements of each panel. This is a finely crafted story in both aspects and has
gotten my interest already.

Title: BAD BLOOD
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Jonathan Maberry
Artist: Tyler Crook
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE – Comics on the Edge







The first seven pages of this comic made me wonder what the title had to do with
the story. It became clearer after that. It begins with the daily routine of two
college students, best friends since childhood. Through high school they did
everything together and aspired to play football at the university. But now
Trick, the aspiring quarterback, has been battling cancer for some time. He is
depicted as the ashen skinned and bald headed chemo patient you would expect.
His buddy Kyle has been there for him through it all. As the opening scenes
depict they find pleasure in simple things and ribbing each other. Through the
tough times Kyle has been the rock for Trick and right now he once again tries
to bolster Trick’s confidence that he can beat his disease if he does not give
up. Maberry purposely spends time in those several pages on their relationship
to set the groundwork for Trick’s motivation due to the events to follow. That
is when we learn that this is a vampire story. Alone at the football stadium
Trick is attacked by a vampire who apparently has just emerged from years of
hiding and feeding on animals. Why he chose now and this victim to turn on
humans is not clear but the fact he chose Trick is the crux of the plot. As he
bites into Trick’s neck he has an immediate reaction as if he swallowed acid.
The “Bad Blood” referred to in the title is of course Trick’s chemotherapy
tainted blood. It is not only the thing that ironically saved his life but also
it makes the vampire swear to tear apart Trick’s life – everything and everyone
he holds dear. He pledges Trick will be the one survivor to witness the fall of
the world of the living. And it will start with Kyle. This is a story of a man
who has nowhere to turn. He knows he must fight this creature of the dark but it
will be a lonely quest. No one would believe him if he told them vampires are
real. Though his body is weak his spirit is willing, strengthened by the need to
avenge the death of his best friend and the need to protect others. But as the
first chapter closes he has thought of looking for allies and it is that search
that introduces a very unique character to the mix in the closing panel. The
details of the story from page to page rather than the plot synopsis is what
should interest you. The characterizations are very detailed, even the seemingly
goofy spouting of the vampire bent on world domination. The step by step method
Trick begins to follow is interesting and even comical in places, but it is a
serious one that has already led to one big surprise. I feel there will be more
of the same as Maberry gets into the meat of the story. Tyler Crook has a decent
style and his choices of coloring sets the mood no matter what the situation.
They are a good mix for this comic. This is not your typical vampire story. It
is certainly worth checking out.

Title: FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S.
Issue Number: 3 (of 6)
Title Story: Deals with Devils
Publisher: DC
Writer: Sterling Gates
Artist: Neil Edwards
Inkers: Jason Paz & Jay Leisten
Colors: Nathan Eyring
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Cover Artists: Jeremy Roberts, Rob Hunter & Gabe Eltaeb
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


As the FOREVER EVIL event continues on, the cover of this spin off caught my
eye. It features the return of Doctor Light. You may recall that the death of
Dr. Light at the hands of Superman was a key plot before Forever Evil began.
However he is apparently not dead though his appearance in this issue is not the
majority of the story. He briefly appears at his family’s home to see his wife
and children and then is mysteriously teleported away to a location only
revealed at the very end of the issue. This mini-series is more about Steve
Trevor and his work for ARGUS under the present circumstances. At his point in
his story he has made a deal with the Moirai, witches who pull memories out of
his head and cause him to relive them. He will give them something they value if
they aid him in finding Wonder Woman and the rest of the missing Justice League
members. Their magic mirror reveals where they are and who Steve will have to
seek to free his friends and since he is giving far more than they ask they will
aid him on his quest. The first step will be an unlikely alliance with Killer
Frost and Dr. Stein. Steve has information where the missing heroes are all
trapped and once Dr. Stein is told where he reveals how dangerous that is and
what eventually may be the consequences. There are two sub plots this issue, one
is about Dr. Light and the other is a brief one showing a dialogue between Ron
Raymond and the evil Firestorm counterpart from Earth 2. If you have been
following the main FOREVER EVIL comic you will know what bit of information is
crucial to the Syndicate’s plan and why Ron is so important. I found this issue
easy enough to follow though the people that teleported Dr. Light are a bit of a
mystery. The main plot is consistent with the whole crossover event and this
book adds to it, though it is not essential reading.

                                    *****
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:
Who was the first super hero to team up with Batman in BRAVE AND THE BOLD?

The answer was Green Lantern. No Winner this week.

Here was your no prize question:
What is the most common element (by mass) forming the planet Earth as a whole,
forming much of Earth's outer and inner core? It is the fourth most common
element in the Earth's crust.

The element is iron.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the first Silver Age Annual from Marvel?


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.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Comic Reviews 01/03/14


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: ORIGIN II
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Adam Kubert
Colors: Frank Martin
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
Parental Advisory





Obviously this is a sequel to the now-famous series WOLVERINE: ORIGIN in which
fans finally learned how a young boy named James discovered he was a mutant and
the immediate consequences that followed. As a special treat Marvel has included
a few pages from that series – a pivotal scene at that. Now it is 1907. James
has grown and decided to live in the wilds of Canada with a wolf pack that has
taken him in as their own. Grey Scar the leader, Red Streak his mate and the
others share their home and lives with him. James is an adept hunter so this
pack has it better than most. The opening scene shows how James hunts down a
deer and after the rest of the hunters have had their fill he carries the
remains to the den for the mother and her cubs to feed on. The only threat to
the pack is a lone wolf, dark with red eyes and a diamond shaped red tuft of
hair between them. These are the only distinguishing marks on his otherwise dark
grey body. But all things must change and here it is no different. One day on
the hunt they spot a white bear – a polar bear clearly out of its normal
habitat. James watched it from afar as it tried to cope with not being able to
hunt the way it would its usual prey. He even left it berries and fruit but that
too was foreign to this beast. The presence of the polar bear will shatter the
tranquility of the wolf family forever. This is a fascinating story for a number
of reasons. There is no dialogue at all. Only the captions when they appear tell
the story that is otherwise left to Adam Kubert to interpret and bring to life –
something he does with great skill. There is a recurring theme in almost every
Wolverine story that involves him searching for and finding peace, but only for
a time. This opening chapter illustrates that theme all too well. But there is
also something else afoot in the plot. Something “sinister” is at work behind
the scenes. Sharp-eyed Marvel fans will catch the clue in Lone Wolf’s
appearance, the tag attached to the polar bear’s mouth shown on the last panel
and one other clue. The outer cover is clear plastic that is partially
illustrated. The second paper cover has the rest of the illustration and reveals
what was obscured by the outer cover. If you haven’t guessed what that is by the
clues I have already given I will leave it to you to see for yourself. Likewise
the back cover is similarly structured so that when it is opened you see a
partial illustration of what is to come in issue #2. This is a quality product
that should be a big hit and it is worth every cent of the cover price.

Title: DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL 2013
Title Story: The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who
Publisher: IDW
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Jimmy Broxton
Letters: Shawn Lee
Price (USD): $7.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction/TV Adaptation







This special celebrates the 50th anniversary of DOCTOR WHO with a feature-length
story by Paul Cornell, the writer of the TV show. The set-up has the Doctor on
his own in the Tardis when a strange force flings it into our universe, the real
world. The Doctor encounters a 12-year-old girl who is a big fan of the show and
once he understands the situation the Doctor must grapple with the fact that in
this world he is a fictional character, help solve the girl’s all too real
problem with monsters of her own and even meets the actor who portrays him on
television, Matt Smith. This is a theme that has been used in comics in the past
and Doctor Who seems particularly suited for this type of plot. He knows he is
in a parallel universe and the more he explores it with the help of Ally the
more he realizes that all the adventures on the telly and in the comics are the
exact same as those he and his past incarnations had. How can this be? His first
hurdle is to convince Ally and her mother that he is whom he says, not just
someone who happens to look like Matt Smith and dresses exactly like the TV
Character. There are a lot of fun moments when he stumbles into the actually TV
shoot and meets a lot of fans at a Dr. Who convention. Through it all he
eventually finds a way back to where he belongs and Ally learns a lesson to deal
with her own problems.  This is a most enjoyable comic that is sure to delight
Dr. Who fans. Casual readers can enjoy this self-contained story as it is well
done science fiction and the art is superb.

Title: THE MIDAS FLESH
Issue Number: 1 (of 8)
Publisher: Boom! Box
Creator/Writer: Ryan North
Artists: Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: John Keogh
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: Now on Sale
Genre: Science Fiction/Mythology
All Ages





You may have wondered about the tale of King Midas who once wished that
everything he touched would turn to gold and found out the old saying is true –
be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. This story takes the
premise one step further. Sure he found that he could not eat because all the
food turned to gold but what if it was worse than that?  What if everything that
touched what he touched turned to gold as well?  Wouldn’t the air come in
contact with his body as well and all those molecules turn to gold? Part of this
comic goes back in time to the days leading up to that fateful wish. It in
itself is a fun story of Midas befriending a wandering fellow king and safely
returning him to his family. At a feast honoring Midas the now-reigning son of
the fellow king asks Midas what he would wish for and the moment changes
everything on Earth. So where do we go from here? How about far into the future?
A space craft carrying a trio of explorers cautiously approaches Earth by hiding
behind the moon and sending out a probe to see what it looks like. They find a
lot of very old satellites orbiting the solid gold planet below. They presume
they can outwit this old protective technology, something the “Federation”
hasn’t used in years. But there will be more than one surprise awaiting them
when they make their move to land on Earth. I liked both parts of this comic.
The original fable is well told and is given ample time to play out to the
eventual result. The future story has some interesting characters who seem to be
on the side of the good guys against an evil empire somewhere out there. It
remains to be seen if going forward the story can hold up and provide worthwhile
drama for the next seven issues. The art is very colorful and has a cartoon feel
to it. It is a fun book for all ages. The only problem I thought about was if
the entire planet was turned to gold wouldn’t that effect the whole mechanics of
planetary motion – what with the molten core, the magnetic poles and all that
stuff drastically changed.

Title: ROVER RED CHARLIE

 
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Something Happened
Publisher: Avatar
Creator/Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Michael Dipascale
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature – Comics on the Edge



This comic is subtitled, “The Story of Three Best Friends at the End of the
World.”  The three friends are the title characters and are all dogs. The story
is told from their perspective as it begins shortly after some apocalyptic event
that made all the humans, they call them their feeders, want to hurt each other
and themselves. Charlie is a seeing-eye dog. In his case his feeder decided to
douse himself with gasoline on the subway platform and light up. This posed a
problem for Charlie because his leash was still firmly wrapped around his
owner’s arm. There is no hope of help from any humans who are either dead,
trying to kill themselves or others and are babbling incoherently. Fortunately
for Charlie he had met other dogs, Rover, Red and Max at the dog walk in the
park nearby and they have all come to the platform and assessed his plight. Red
is courageous but dumb. Rover, the brains of the outfit, suggests they all bite
through the leash to free Charlie. Max is just a dick and just wants to get out.
Once the four are above ground they have to decide on a course of action. The
visuals make it clear that the problem is universal. Planes are falling out of
the sky, all traffic has crashed or stopped and any humans around have gone
bonkers. They need to find a keeper or feeder that hasn’t been affected! This
really affects Charlie the most because of his training. He is supposed to help
feeders. When the others see an impending change taking over a feeder the others
know enough to flee but Charlie hesitates. This is a fascinating comic just
because of the perspective from which it is told. Each of the three main dogs
has a unique personality that sets them apart. It is often funny to read the
dialogue between them except for the horror that is going on all around them.
They will likely never understand what is happening or why, and we probably
won’t either. This is a story of survival that promises a whole new twist on the
end of the world genre. The art, like most Avatar comics, is photo-realistic,
brightly colored and at times gruesome. It is not as graphic as CROSSED and the
like but it still can get bloody. I am already invested in the fate of these
three dogs and you probably be too once you read this issue. Check it out.

Title: THE SAVIORS
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: James Robinson & J. Bone
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: J. Bone
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Black & White
Mature – Comics on the Edge





Tomas Ramirez has reached a point in his life where he is entirely satisfied
with his place in it. He works at a small gas station in a small town called
Passburg somewhere out west. Others his age mostly moved out after high school
but he is content to work at the garage, rent a room from his uncle, date a
local barmaid on occasion and just get high to pass the time otherwise. Nothing
amazing ever happens here and even the Sheriff is tolerant of Tomas’ weed habit.
Everyone just seems to get along. Tomas has a friend named Frank who runs an
auto junk yard on the east side of town. He will figure into the story after
Tomas sees something he can’t believe. While lying on the aqueduct wall and
getting high one day he hears a strange language. As he peers over the wall he
sees the sheriff and a military officer having a discussion except their faces
are not normal – they are lizard men. Tomas quickly motorcycles away to tell the
only person who might listen to him, Frank. What follows is a frank discussion
about how much Tomas has been smoking. Perhaps he should cut back a bit, just to
be sure he is not seeing things. As you might guess that is not the problem and
what follows is a frantic race for survival. How big is this secret and how far
spread is it in the town?  Tomas may have an ally in a stranger who was passing
through who is apparently more than he seems. It all ends in a big cliffhanger,
literally. I like the way Robinson is pacing the story. The first few pages set
the mood for what is life as normal for Tomas and then he gradually starts
turning it all upside down. J. Bone is a very good black & white artist who uses
minimal detail and good grey shades to get the job done. So far it is very
enjoyable and worth the fair price being asked.

Title: GHOST
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Kelly Sue DeConnick & Chris Sebelea
Artist: Ryan Sook
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Richard Starkings
Cover Artists: Terry & Rachel Dodson
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero/Horror





Now that Dark Horse has re-introduced Ghost in a zero issue and a mini-series
they have launched an ongoing title. There is a brief text at the start that
explains that Elisa Cameron discovered that the mayor of Chicago was an extra-
dimensional demon who had been replacing high officials, possessing them
actually, with demons from his world. Elisa was banished to the other dimension
but two paranormal investigators Vaughn Barnes and Tommy Byers accidentally
yanked her back. Now she only has partial memory of who she was but on the plus
side she has powers to use against the demons. She can fly, become intangible
and best of all she can yank the demons out of the human hosts, when she finds
them. The main one has been pulled from the mayor but has found a new host, the
vain and jealous Doctor October. This first issue of the series gets right into
it as Vaughn and Tommy have helped Elisa find their next target. The opening
scene shows us just how this works as Ghost chases down the target and then
pulls the demon right out so she can destroy it. The only thing disturbing to
Elisa is that she thinks she may have known the host, who did not survive the
possession. So the main plot has the trio, with the help of Tommy’s girlfriend,
searching for leads to possessed people while this recent victim has Elisa
wanting to go in a different direction. There is a subplot involving a serial
killer called the White City Butcher. Tommy and his girl want to track him down
while Vaughn wants them working on finding more demon-possessed people. Of
course without Elisa’s co-operation it is a moot point. She is determined to
find out as much as she can about the last victim, James, for clues to her own
past. As we see from the way this first chapter ends it is the right choice for
a number of reasons and just may lead the entire crew to major revelations about
the plans of Doctor October. I found the original mini-series a little hard to
get into, there was too much detail to learn to make sense of what was going on.
Now that the team has settled in to a routine and a purpose the plot moves along
nicely with sufficient mystery yet to be revealed anyway. There is a turning
point at the climax that will pose a big choice that Ghost will have to make and
that really peaked my interest. The art is very good in this one with lots of
panel arrangements structured to suit the action at the time. The coloring is
also top notch. This series is off to a good start. If you hesitated on the
mini-series I suggest you give this issue a try. It is really a decent comic.

                                    *****
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 of the COMIC'S GREATEST WORLD main characters made his/her initial comic
debut in a non CGW comic?


"X" made his debut in DARK HORSE COMICS #8.  MECHA would also be a correct
answer. The Winner by the dice is Mauricio Carvalho.

Here was your no prize question:

What is the most popular flowering plant in the US?


The poinsettia is not only the most popular holiday flower, it is the number one
flowering potted plant in the United States, with over 65 million plants sold
nationwide. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:

Who was the first super hero to team up with Batman in BRAVE AND THE BOLD?


Here is your no prize question:

What is the most common element (by mass) forming the planet Earth as a whole,
forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common
element in the Earth's crust.


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.