REVIEW:The Amazing Spider-Man #28

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Marte Gracia& Andres Mossa

You know, I thought I would most likely give this Osborn Identity a solid “meh”, and most likely get a nosebleed from reading the arc. I know the Osborns are a HUGE part, and I’d go so far as saying that next to Uncle Ben’s demise the Osborn’s would be a solid #2, on the meat and potatoes list of my beloved wall-crawlers super important things list…or MPLOMBWCSITL for short.

That being said I did not want to read about the umpteenth return of possibly, or perhaps undeniably, the greatest rogue in the Web-Head’s rogues gallery. It turns out Slott has actually been nailing it in my opinion. After Superior Spider-Man, the guy has earned as much rope as he needs, but I’ve been totally digging this run. In addition to Slott keeping me wanting more, the art crew has been killing it as well. It’s so, so good to read a really entertaining Spider-Arc, it definitely helps a guy wash the Clone Conspiracy stank right off. Nope. I had an old man, “get off my lawn”, scowl right to the very end of that business. There was no joy in my life. At the end of the issue it’s more than hinted that the OG Osborn, the man responsible for the death of Gwen Stacy, would once again don the green and purple, and to be honest, I’m freaking excited for it.          

Free Comic Book Day 2017, pt. 2 - Will Dubbeld

Street Fighter V: Wrestling Special #1

I've always had a soft spot for pro 'rasslin, and for Street Fighter, to be honest. Well, Street Fighter II, anyway.
And that movie with Raul Julia, which I recently revisited and found MUCH more entertaining and self-aware than folks give it credit for...

There's some common threads between the two and a comic pairing seems like a fine fit.
Honestly, for all I know, Street Fighter V could be wrestling-themed and this is a more blatant marketing tie-in, but I hope it's just a fun one-off.

There's not a lot of substance here but, damn, it is one dynamic looking book.  I didn't recognize but one character in the whole book, and although I was looking forward to Blanka off the top rope, the book delivered with other fighters. The whole shebang revolves around archetypal manga/anime heel character, Dan Hibiki, and his epic match with a whole stable of lady wrestlers.
I'm guessing the whole cast is comprised of playable characters from Street Fighter V, from Hibiki to memorable characters like Rainbow Mika, Yoko Harmageddon, and Canadian-themed Maple Storm.
F'real.          

Free Comic Book Day 2017 - Will Dubbeld

Reports and rant by Will Dubbeld

Aaaaallllllll the comic nerds love the Nerd Christmas.
It's like regular Christmas, but in May and the comic book stores hand out free loot. We all know the drill and hit the trail eager for this year's goodies.
Unfortunately, recent years haven't offered as phenomenal a buffet of free comics as have previous years.
The experience, however, is as good as it's ever been!

Cosplayers, local talent, discount merch, and, sometimes if you're very lucky, some free eats. Nerds from all walks of nerd life conglomerate and shoot the breeze with each other and, in more metropolitan areas, perhaps a pro of two.
Not in my desolate neck of the Midwest, but in some areas...

My hometown recently opened a comic shop, fingers crossed they do well, and they went all out for their inaugural FCBD. Tables heaping with loot and cake awaited us.
Cake!
Three other stores in a 20 mile radius were plundered by yours truly, netting several free funnybooks and some dirt cheap hardcover Marvelman reprints.        

Free Comic Book Day 2017 – Madman

Well, another FCBD has came and went meaning summer is almost about to drop us in the slow cooker know as Indiana humidity. Also known a Swampass… It also means I’ve undoubtedly stood in the line outside of Comics Cubed, or C3 as the cool kids call it, for roughly 2 hrs not just to acquire the free comic book offerings and all the plunder that goes with it. Equally as important are the deals and sales C3 offers on this sacred and glorious day where we celebrate all things geek. In that regard I and every other geek living in or near Kokomo, Indiana are truly blessed with our own slice of Heaven located in the heart of downtown…    

REVIEW: Predator Hunters #1 of 5

Script: Chris Warner
Art: Francisco Ruiz Velasco
Letters: Michael Heisler
Review: Art Bee

Sci-Fi junkies typically roar about anything Predator related. Since the first two movies hit the big screen many comic book creators took on the mantra, leading to the AVP comics and movie. There have been several Predator comic book runs and I wish I could be one of those that have read them all. I feel blessed that the books I have read were fairly decent to good, but each felt a bit repetitive…same story with a different cover and theme.

Thus far we have seen a Predator in the past, present, and future as well as in various nations and terrain. Feels almost rinse and repeat, doesn’t it? Well strap in, ladies and gents! This mini-series is a different creature of a Predator story entirely!

Seriously…there are ladies that read comics, fanboys.

Predator Hunters gives us a different slice of the same pizza pie, but it all starts at the cover. The above cover is not what I want to see as a comic book fan. Bright color helps, but great artwork gets my attention. If this had not been put in my folder by the grace of my LCB owner (thanks, Shawn) I would have passed right by it on the shelf. The Predator’s face on the cover is really nicely done; it just seems like the creators are ashamed of it. It’s good, guys! Make it bigger and the title smaller, and watch the people jump back. That is one of the best Predator faces I believe I have ever seen artistically rendered.        

Free Comic Book Day 2017 pt.1

Free Comic Book Day 2017 – Art Bee

What comic book fan can argue with a holiday featuring the distribution of comics at no cost? Certainly not this comic fan! Whether the comics are great, mediocre, or completely horrid, the price is right…come on down! Did this year’s selection seem very similar to the previous year to anyone else? Part of me wants to look up the books offered last year to compare, but the fear of what I would find prevents me from doing so.

Last year my daughter was fortunate to win a drawing for one copy of every free comic available, which saved us from several trips through the store. We were not so lucky this year. Fortunately only two comics were of interest to her, so she grabbed a few for me. The bad side is now I owe her; the good side is, since I am Dad, I have a say in how this debt is repaid…muahahaha!!!          

REVIEW: A Minyen Yidn (un andere zakhn)

By Max B. Perlson & Trina Robbins

A Bunch of Jews (and other stuff) is an illustrated memoir first published in the late '30s by Max Perlson, a Jewish immigrant and now adapted by his daughter, Trina, and a slew of artists.  Filled with tales of the Old County and life in early 20th century Brooklyn, A Minyen Yidn is a whimsical series of shorts providing a glimpse into Yiddish culture with a dash of folklore.

Aside from Maus and the works of Harvey Pekar, I'd not seen much in the comics medium about Jewish faith, culture, or history. Perlson's book provides another glimpse; one that's more lighthearted. It appeals to the hearth of ones heart and is unburdened by the cynicism represented in Pekar's work or the sheer horror of Maus. In all honesty, the three works present a poignant chronology of the Jewish people from the prewar era to modern times, but I digress. The 14 different stories presented herein run the gamut, dealing with faith, marriage, a healthy dose of humor, and a dash of sadness.