REVIEW: WWE #1

Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Illustrator: Serg Acuña
Colorist: Doug Garbark
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Review: Art Bee

When I was a child and my family moved back to the United States in 1985, WWF wrestling on Saturdays quickly became one of my favorite shows. I have been hooked on the dramatic violence paraded before me on each of their programs ever since. Granted, the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) eventually had to change their moniker to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) to appease the World Wide Fund for Nature.
This did not affect their fan base at all.

What makes professional wrestling so much fun to watch is all of the drama that happens and needs to be settled inside the ring. In addition, many of the wrestlers portray such colorful and charismatic personalities; people have a hard time avoiding becoming attached to at least one.

Boom! Studios just produced a new ongoing series called WWE.
Guess what it is about?

Grabbing this comic book was a no-brainer for me. It needed to be given a chance and honestly this was worth the time. It was very entertaining and felt just like watching an episode of Raw or Smackdown. This issue focused mostly on Seth Rollins and his climb to attaining the WWE World Heavy Weight Champion title. This actually happened last year at Wrestlmania and the comic book was very accurate.      

REVIEW: Humalien #4

Created, written, and illustrated by J. Adam Farster
Review: Will Dubbeld

Nearly a year ago, I looked at the first 3 issues of J. Adam Farster’s Humalien and after much anticipation no. 4 is all up in my business.  I took a quick refresher on the first three parts and then it was off to the races.

The book picks up with electro kinetic hero Ed and his sidekick Kulh shortly after their kidnapping by The Executioner.  This bounty hunting baddie and his henchmen are carting our heroes off to face The Trinity who, if you recall, are a trio of squid-headed ne’er do wells responsible for cloning Ed in the first place.
Although things look bleak for Kulh and Ed, have no fear.  The remaining members of a rag-tag resistance are hot on the trail and geared up for a rescue mission.
Without delving too deeply into plot details, it’s revealed The Trinity have conquered Earth and the power that lies within Ed is instrumental in their world-subjugating scheme.

Humalien #4 is a great addition to this series.  The style, in both writing and art, has remained consistent throughout and the feeling of a Saturday morning romp still runs strong through the pages.
The only critique I have is the tail end seemed to be a bit scattered or rushed, leaving the fate of certain characters and the motivations of others a bit unclear. Given the pacing and tone of the comic these are easily forgivable foibles.

REVIEW: Curse Words #1

By: Charles Soule and Ryan Browne
Colors:  Ryan Browne, Jordan Boyd, and Michael Parkinson
Letters: Chris Crank, Ryan Browne, and Shawn DePasquale
Review: Art Bee

When I was brought onboard HCB the guys here told me, “try reading God Hates Astronauts; it’s worth it.” They were right. It did not disappoint. That comic brought tears to my eyes from laughing so hard. Later that year, Ryan Browne shook my hand at Appleseed Comic Con in Ft. Wayne and signed some stuff for me. Poof! Instantly I was morphed into a Ryan Browne fan. When I heard about Curse Words #1 being published by Image, my pull list enlarged just a bit.

Curse Words brings Browne’s unique style of drawing to a new venue. The best quality of Browne’s work is his attention to detail. Whether in God Hates Astronauts or Curse Words, clothing seems to be in as much detail as the character’s features and backgrounds. Every page delivers a high amount of color, nuance, and quality stimulating your eyes with pleasure.

The story starts out with the central character, Wizord, sitting in a meeting with an obvious pop-star named Johnny One (seriously resembles Justin Beiber in attitude and looks). Johnny One is asking to be made platinum…not gaining a platinum album. There is no trickery here. This dude is asking to be “platinum, like…for real.” Then this dude gets upset when he can’t feel anything. Does anyone truly know what they want? Not really.

REVIEW: Hulk #1 and #2

Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Nico Leon
Color Artist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Review: Madman

Never. I’m quite certain I have never in my life read a She-Hulk solo comic book…
Sure, I’ve read issues from various other titles that she was featured in, but that’s not the same, now is it? Desperate times call for desperate measures, and we’re way past desperate in the Hulk category. Now, as stupid as this sounds, back in “Civil War 2”, The Hulk, aka Bruce Banner, was assassinated by Hawkeye…of all people…Hawkeye. I actually like reading Hulk comics, so thank you for the kick in the balls there, Marvel. On top of that, some imposter is running around in The “Totally Awesome” Hulk.

Here’s the deal Marvel: stop %@$*@@# around.
Bruce Banner is the Hulk, Mr. Cho, not you. Just go away.  We don’t need you. Maybe it’s just me being a hater. I’ve honestly not read a single issue of “The Totally Awesome Hulk”, because I don’t care. I don’t care about other Hulks for the most part.  I’ve nothing against She-Hulk or the Red Hulk, but after that, I draw the line…none shall pass. For me Bruce Banner is the only “Hulk”. That should be written in as one of the governing laws of comicdom. You don’t commit sacrilege against the Banner-Hulk period. Under no circumstances. Ever.    

REVIEW: Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire

Story: Neil Gaiman
Adaptation and art: Shane Oakley
Review: Will Dubbeld

Good ol' Neil. He hits more than misses, this guy. Whimsical stories that are bereft of the sometimes pretentious Lovecraftian wanderings of Alan Moore or the acerbic loathing of Warren Ellis.

Or the product of whatever fever-dream Grant Morrison is on at the moment.
Ol' Wacky Grant...

So out of my Fab Four of British scribes I've got to hand the top spot to Neil. From Fortunately, the Milk to Sandman, his tales nearly always hit the literary spot and Forbidden Brides does not deviate.

As the title may lead you to believe, Forbidden Brides is not necessarily to be taken seriously. Tongue planted firmly in cheek from the opening line, "somewhere in the night, someone was writing", Forbidden Brides juxtaposes an author endeavoring to write a gothic horror novel and the prose contained therein. Tropes and cliches abound in this satire of gothic penny dreadfuls and their ilk, from a raven-tressed beauty in a sheer, white gown to fratricidal sword duels and talking ravens.