REVIEW: What if? Marvel Comics Went Metal With Ghost Rider

Writer: Sebastian Girner

Pencils, inks, and colors: Caspar Wijngaard

Review: Madman

I haven’t read a single comic since the middle of July due to the fact my wife and I welcomed our first child and, well, life got real busy, real fast.

I suppose that goes without saying but, unless you’ve lived it, I doubt you can fully understand just how exhausting parenting can be. That being said, our little bundle of joy is a little over four months old now and is by no means any less exhausting.

So due to the aforementioned mini-human I had to take a step back from the wonderful world of comics, both reading and reviewing, for a few months and my, “to read”, pile is near the toppling over stage.

 So, I figure I’d pop in to say hello and help the HCB guys out with a review. I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to contribute here for a bit yet; I guess that depends on the cooperation of my wife and the mini-human.

We shall see.

REVIEW: Roulette

Story: Jeff Kaufman

Art: Federico Zumel

Colors: James Brown

Letters: Justin Birch

Review: Art Bee

A couple of weeks ago while I was checking out at my LCS, the graphic novel Roulette was sitting on the wire rack with its shiny, foily letters, and we all know how shiny things affect me.

Needless to say the impulse buy was made, and the $9.99 price point made it a bargain.

Afterward while driving home I began to wonder whether or not I had ever heard of Big City Comic Studios (the publisher) and if the company was located in an actual big city.

It would be hilarious if it was located in a small rural town.

Alas it is located in Orlando, Florida…

Roulette is a horror comic more attuned to a slasher film. Like many slasher films the identity of the killer is typically left to the end of the story, and this one is no different. The story begins with the introduction of Kim Barnett, daughter of a wealthy businessman. Kim arranges travel for her fiancé and six friends to Las Vegas for some fun.

Upon arriving the group is given an invitation to download and use an app called Roulette. The invitation says:

 “Would you like to trade places? All participants must download the Roulette app at www.madeyourchoice.com. Each participant will be given a time to meet downstairs and enter the red limousine. Choices will be made. Lives will be changed. Remember, you can always say no.”    

All of their pictures appear on a wheel that spins and randomly selects one, and the first one chosen is Kim. She leaves and enters the red limousine as do they all. The next morning all but Kim wake up in a hotel room. Shortly, the app shows Kim tied to a chair and gagged with a masked man wielding a knife.

“Would you change places?”

REVIEW: Bully Wars #3

Story: Skottie Young

Art: Aaron Conley

Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Letters: Nate Piekos of Glambot

Review: Art Bee

In middle and high school I had to deal with my share of bullies and even though my school was smaller, it contained several. Granted many of those days were the brightest of my life and they shaped me into the man and father I am today…whatever that is worth.

Imagine my curiosity when Bully Wars by Skottie Young was visible on the shelf at my LCS. When I thumbed through the issue my eyes were shocked to see artwork in a style other than Young’s and that is when the credits revealed, to my amazement, the art belonged to Aaron Conley.

This made me happy. If you are not familiar with this gent, he worked with Ryan Browne on God Hates Astronauts (Image) among other things.

Bear with me on this. I have not read the first two issues.

Bully Wars aims to set all of the bullies in the school into a contest of champions of sorts.

May the Best Bully win…

At first I thought this comic book was going to glorify bullies, but that thought was quickly knocked down, stomped, and shot in the head with the first argument shared between a pair.

REVIEW: Sock #1

Creator, writer, illustrator: Rickman

Review: Will Dubbeld

So, you all wanted a comic about a sock who fights crime, right?

That’s clearly rhetorical.

You know damn well you wanted a vigilante sock book...

Want no longer, as Sock presents three short stories detailing the exploits of a cape-wearing, flying sock of justice.

Upon hearing the sounds of danger, the mild-mannered sock perks from his owner’s laundry basket and wordlessly takes flight, hell-bent on righting wrongs and punishing the wicked!

Seriously, I think it’s a normal sock the rest of the time...

Also, it spins around like Linda Carter in the old Wonder Woman show to transform from normal sock to super-sock.

I feel that’s worth noting...

The first short is a classic go-to setup involving a lovely young lady imperiled by a knife-wielding ne’er do well in a deadend alley. Hearing cries for help, The Sock speeds through the night air and handily defeats the would-be mugger in one of the most bizarre fights I’ve ever seen on the page.

And not just because it depicts a thug getting beat up by a sock.

The Sock first envelopes the guy’s head and pops off, leaving his hair standing on end (presumably from static electricity?).

He then flies into the guy’s mouth, which is gross, because The Sock was going into the wash as the story opened.

Also the author is perhaps a Mick Foley fan.

I don’t know.

Finally, The Sock wriggles up the guy’s pantleg and socks him in the nuts.

Or possibly constricts something; it isn’t graphically depicted.

Either way, dude drops to the ground clutching his breadbasket.

The Sock then flies home, just in time to be tossed in the wash.

REVIEW: MCMLXXV #1

Story: Joe Casey
Art: Ian Macewan
Color: Brad Simpson
Design: Sonia Harris
Letters: Rus Wooton
Review: Art Bee

Why did I pick up MCMLXXV #1 at my LCS?
I wish I could say something like it has a great cover or appealing artwork, but the only reason this comic book came home with me is my fascination for Roman numeration. 
The title of this comic is 1975 by our numerals. Granted, Roman numerals are bulkier to use but just look at how much more interesting they are.
They seem like an entitlement instead of a number. I believe the title is a reference to the time period in which the story takes place, but it is not clear.

Pamela Evans, a cab driver in an unknown metropolis, is the main character in MCMLXXV #1. Our first look at this lady shows her as a badass by her using her cab as a weapon against a large group of ninjas who just happen to be occupying the entire street. She then exits the cab and proceeds to pummel the katana-wielding warriors with a tire iron. We are never given a reason for the group of ninjas being there or whether they were there to attack Pamela or her fare. In addition there is no provocation for Pamela to attack other than the ninjas being in the way.
Is this a story of heroic roadrage?

REVIEW: Swamp Thing Halloween Horror Giant #1

Writer/artist: various 

Review: Will Dubbeld

Well, ‘it’s the season... 

Halloween is one of my most favorite bits of the year. Ghouls and goblins and panhandling urchins rub elbows with Scary Monsters and Super Creeps whilst all-nite horror marathons ride the airwaves.

Granted I can enjoy these flavors year-round, but the whimsy isn’t the same.

Comic companies ofttimes join in the Halloween festivities with a themed one-shot or standalone regular series issue and this year’s big winner is DC Comics.

Which is not a phrase you’ll hear uttered with frequency...

This 100-pager features an original Swamp Thing vignette and several reprinted All Hallows’ pieces.

“Hollow”

The new Swampy bit is scribed by Brian Azzarello with Greg Capullo pencils and is a frankly intriguing story.

I’m fairly behind on my monthlies and unsure if there’s a frame of reference in a book I’ve not read yet, but “Hollow” seems like it sets the stage for an upcoming Swamp Thing series.

It’s extremely vague but follows a young lady named Twiglet who is acting as Swamp Thing’s herald or acolyte after having been rescued by him at some point. 

The rescue is amazing as it features Swamp Thing fighting a giant albino alligator. There’s the price of admission.

Right there...

Azzarello teases an upcoming war with a being/force called The Barren and flexes Swamp Thing’s muscles in a fight with some demon creatures masquerading as trick or treaters.

While usually nonplussed about Azzarello’s writing and persona, this was a win. He comes off as a pupal version of Warren Ellis and Ed Brubaker’s atomic love child who hadn’t fully gestated and always falls short of truly spellbinding writing.

Greg Capullo really hits his stride here, showcasing his omnipresent slavish attention to detail, accentuated by Jonathan Glapion’s inks and colors from FCO Plascencia.

I’m looking forward to following along with this storyline. 

REVIEW: Beasts of Burden: Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men #1

Writer: Evan Dorkin
Artist: Benjamin Dewey
Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot
Review: Art Bee

When I first saw this comic book on the shelf at my LCS my first thought was, “sharp cover”, and my second was the Rolling Stones song which is still bouncing around my skull.
My decision to pick it up and review it was cemented by the owner and operator of my LCS, Shawn, saying that it was, “one of the best new comics he has read in a while”. In the past our opinions have been hit or miss on agreement, but in this case, they are fairly close.

Beasts of Burden #1 almost seems like something aimed at children with talking animals and magic. Even though there is no rating on the comic, from what I read in this issue, it seems fine for most ages (8+).
What hit me sideways was the boldness in the artwork. Dewey’s lines are all bold and deliberate providing a since of deliberate destiny for the characters. This is strictly my interpretation and I stand by it. The scenes are very detailed and keep the reader’s focus well. These qualities are one of the driving forces of the issue.

REVIEW: Eric Henson’s Eden #1

Story & Pencils: Eric Henson
Inks: Michael Babinski
Colors: Stephen Downer
Letters: Robert Dean
Review: Art Bee

Why do I love science fiction so much? The answer is most assuredly anything can happen at any time and anywhere in this or another universe. The only limitation is in the mind of the creator.
This comic’s cover was definitely this issue’s attraction; main reason being the slender four eyed alien on the cover. It sealed the deal wonderfully.

 Alterna Comics has been quickly moving up my list of favorite publishers mostly for two reasons:  newsprint pages and price point (most issues are ony $1.50). Not too long ago I reviewed Doppelgänger #1, and between it and this issue, the publisher seems to be producing some top shelf stories. A bigger investment will provide more information.

Eden #1 is an action-packed story set in 2714 after an alien race, called the Nomads, has conquered Earth and sent the surviving humans to an alien refugee world, Eden.
The main character is Brigadier General Neriah Willis. She is almost a cliché badass, but that is one of the few clichés I don’t mind. Who doesn’t like the hero to be a badass with a putz sidekick, a man called Christian in this case.

REVIEW: Unnatural #1

Writer, artist & colorist: Mirka Andolfo
Colors assistant: Gianluca Papi
Lettering & production: Fabio Amejia
Review: Will Dubbeld

Leaps and bounds above manga, in my opinion, are Eurocomics.
Though wildly popular, manga tends to adhere to a handful of stylized artistic choices for the most part and simply lacks the diversity I’ve come to expect out of comics.
European comics, in contrast, run the gamut. 
From Moebius to Manara and all points in between, there’s a layered artistic aesthetic I don’t find in their Japanese counterparts, leading me to choose Schtroumpfs over Dragon Ball any day.

Unfortunately, manga is much more prevalent in the casual market. Domestic companies have done far better a job at translating, importing, and marketing manga in an affordable manner so kudos to them. Euro books are much more scarce and oftentimes collected in pricier collections.

I nearly passed over Unnatural at first glance but, upon learning it was a domestic translation of an Italian comic, quickly ordered a copy.
I was not disappointed.

REVIEW: Rob Guillory’s Farmhand #1

Created, written, and drawn by Rob Guillory
Colors by Taylor Wells
Letters by Kody Chamberlain
Review by Art Bee

When you first enter into a bakery, the smell that hits you makes you aware of the comfort within the door, dazzling you with an airy spell-like seduction. Our local bakery is one of my very favorite places to go and sit for a donut and a cup of joe, since the bakery is connected to a café. The blend of the smells makes me feel like the world is right.
Farmhand #1 gave me a similar feeling, and I think I am going to live here for a spell.

This comic started enchanting me through the beautiful images I saw as I thumbed through the issue at my LCS. More on that soon...
When I bought this comic book, my first thought was, “another zombie book”.
Guess what…
I was dead wrong (pun intended).

The story starts with Ezekiel (Zeke) Jenkins and his sister, Andrea (Andy), investigating an attack in the chicken coup when they find their father buried in the ground. This obviously freaks the kids out as they are under the impression he is on a business trip. While trying to dig him up something strange happens to Zeke when he touches his father. 

REVIEW: Shanghai Red #1

Art/Colors/Cover: Joshua Hixson
Script/Design: Christopher Sebela
Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Review: Art Bee

At some point in each our lives, aren’t we all enthralled with pirates?
Through most of my teenage years, I was. That was quite a while before Pirates of the Caribbean hit the silver screen but from the sound of many that triggered or retriggered their interest. Since that movie series hit theatres, pirates seem too much of a grand stand for me.

A week ago when I picked up my comics from my LCS, staring at me was a cover that was attractive and intriguing. Without any more knowledge aside from the cover, my guess was it was a pirate story, and I decided to give it a try.

For many centuries the seas have been the lifeline of commerce. It was the job of people called, “boarding masters”, to supply ample bodies for shipping crews. Along the west coast of the U.S. it became common to incapacitate a man and forge his name on a contract to serve on a ship. Once contracted to serve it was illegal to abandon the job until the end of the contract. Most of these voyages were connected to Shanghai, China, which gives the name to the practice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghaiing). 

REVIEW: Batman #50

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Colorist: June Chung
Review: Madman

Well, here we go. The long awaited super-sized issue jam-packed full of Bat-Goodness, and the world shattering wedding of the Batman and Catwoman has finally arrived!
I’ve read through the issue a couple of times now and, for the life of me, can’t make up my mind if I like it or not. Maybe the build up and energy DC put into this climactic issue raised my expectations and made me want it a little too much…

After reading the Prelude to the Wedding books, which I really enjoyed, as well as The Best Man story arc in Batman issues 48 and 49 I expected this issue to blow my mind... Well, it was more like a soggy Snap Pop. Batman #49 was so, so good. I’d go as far as to say it is my favorite issue of Batman I have read in a long time…and Batman didn’t even have that big of a part to play in the issue. Most of the heavy lifting went to The Joker and Catwoman.

THE SHOTGUN BLAST!

(Apologies, McGirk)
Review: Will Dubbeld

So, Marvel relaunches for the umpteenth time, and I buy in for the umpteenth time.
I can’t help it.
I’ve been a dedicated Marvel Zombie since the ‘80s and have largely enjoyed their fare. I’m not viewing the company through rose-colored spectacles, mind you. There’s been PLENTY of foibles and writing gaffes I’ve hated, causing me to skip most of the ‘90s, because I thought the books were trash.
It’s okay. Marvel Zombies are allowed to dislike things.
An objective reader and fan of the Last Great American Art Form can dislike things and not spew vitriol across the Internet, however...
With a few exceptions, of course.

All in all, I’ll take Marvel’s relaunches any day of the week over a hard continuity reboot. I can pick up an issue of Spider-Man and read with confidence; comfortable in the knowledge that the Peter Parker therein is the same Peter Parker from Amazing Fantasy #15.
He’s not from Earth-12, or Post-Crisis-Pre-Flashpoint Peter Parker. He’s the same down-on-his-luck, wheatcake eatin’ Puny Parker, and I’ll take character shakeups over Crisis anytime.

Anyway here’s Wonderwall...

REVIEW: Hawkman #1

Writer: Robert Venditti
Penciller: Bryan Hitch
Inkers: Andrew Currie & Bryan Hitch
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Review: Madman

Today is a good day. I was so, so happy to hear DC was releasing a new Hawkman book.
I don’t follow DC very much except for the Batman book. Although I will read any Hawkman comic thrown at me; I just love the character. When I was a youngster my best buddy from down the alley, Dustin, had all the Justice League toys complete with the Hall of Justice. Of course, since they were his toys, he always chose Batman and Superman, and I always got Martian Manhunter and Hawkman. That was perfectly fine with me. Looking back that’s probably where I fell in love with the character even before I’d read any Hawkman comics.

I was even more excited to read this book when I saw the amazing variant cover by Stjepan Sejic. I don’t get too excited about most variant covers like some of my buddies, but I promptly snatched this bad boy up in all its majestic glory.
Speaking of artwork, Bryan Hitch’s illustrations between the covers is on point and really does make my soul hurt thinking about how long I have to wait before the second issue drops.
Damn you, flux capacitor! Why have you forsaken me?!!!

REVIEW: Medieval Spawn and Witchblade #2

Writer: Brian Haberlin & Brian Holguin
Art: Brian Haberlin
Colors: Geirrod VanDyke
Letters: Francis Takenaga
Review: Art Bee

For a couple of months before the first issue hit the stands, I have been stewing in my own anticipation for the release of Medieval Spawn and Witchblade #1. As many of you already know, Spawn is my crack and my dealer loves me. Much like Madman is with Spider-Man, my money will be spent on anything flying the Spawn banner. On top of that information, it is also well known of me to have a soft spot for any of Silvestri’s Artifact stories.

Medieval Spawn and Witchblade #2 seems to run parallel with the first issue which focused on the Hellspawn of the series, King Valor.
The second issue leads to the founding of a new bearer of the Witchblade, Starling. The story zeros in on a blind man by the name of Sea Hawk, a member of the Guild of the Trusted. This guild is determined to track down artifacts and Sea Hawk has his mind set on the Witchblade. He is also a wizard of some kind and a powerful one by the looks of it.

Free Comic Book Day 2018 - Will Dubbeld

Relentless and shameless advertising campaigns aside, FCBD has been and will remain one of my favorite aspects to the hobby.
Most Local Comic Shops go all out with sales, promotions, door prizes and the like, and I’m fortunate enough to have a handful of stores in easy driving distance. A regular bounty of .25-1.00 books found their way into my collection as well as the usual assortment of freebies.
Let’s have a look, shall we?

Titan Comics
A Brief History of Tank Girl

Written by: Alan Martin
Cover by: Jamie Hewlett
Drawn by: Brett Parson, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell, Jonathan Edwards
Lettered by: Brett Parson

Oh, Tank Girl...

Free Comic Book Day 2018 - Madman

Ah yes, Free Comic Book Day is the one thing I will willingly stand in line for that does not involve emptying my bladder. I’m being 100% honest here. I don’t wait in lines. I don’t wait for a table at a restaurant. I just don’t wait period. I have the patience of a toddler and willingly admit that…

The irony here is my wife is 7 months pregnant, so I guess I have been waiting for that to happen. Soon enough I’ll have actual data and first hand comparisons of an infants’ patience compared to my own. The main point here is that I simply do not wait.

FCBD is not that day. I arrived an hour and five minutes early at Comics Cubed and attained the coveted first spot in line. Again, being honest here, I could really care less about the free comics. I mean, the majority of the books are reprints, glorified advertisements, or a weird little mixture of both. Don’t get me wrong though; it sure is a lot of fun taking part in the geeky festivities. Hanging out with friends and other like-minded geeks is always a good time. The real reason I go to Comics Cubed every May 5th with a pocket full of cash are the ridiculous deals and “flash sales” that go on, starting an hour before the doors open for the freebies.   

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2018 – ART BEE

What a grand idea and holiday.
A day devoted to putting comic books in the hands of the masses for absolutely no cash.

My LCS, Comics Cubed, runs many sidewalk deals while the masses wait to gather free comics. This year I acquired a Fearless Defenders trade paperback for $3 as well as an original Dick Tracy tpb for $1. With deals like this on top of free comics, how could I stay away?
Luckily, Madman was able to grab the first spot in the line for us and we had our choice from the word go, something to which I could get accustomed.
Let’s dive into the floppies I nabbed.   

Star Wars Day ‘18

Words: Will Dubbeld

Darth Vader #14

Writer: Charles Soule
Pencils: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Inks: Daniele Orlandini
Colors: David Curiel

I was ecstatic when Star Wars bounced back home to Marvel Comics.
Dark Horse had a long, storied history with the franchise, but most of what I’d read was uninspired and bland.
It represented my inherent dislike of the Expanded Universe in that it utterly was without regulation and went off the rails.

Luckily, Star Wars has a rudder these days. That’s not to say there haven’t been some serious misses in the new comics; in fact, there have been some arcs that felt severely...
UnStar Warsy.

The Darth Vader comic tows the line between capturing the Star Wars spirit and fringe science-fiction.

Vader #14 is an inherently great issue with a shadow cast over it by my own bias.
More on that later...

REVIEW: REVIEW: Breathless #1

Writer: Pat Shand
Artist: Renzo Rodriguez
Colorist: Mara Jayne Carpenter
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Review: Art Bee

There is not much of a story as to how Breathless #1 came into my possession. One of the guys at the LCS put it in my folder, and when I saw it I thought, “It doesn’t look horrible, so I will give it a try.”
What I would come to find out was this issue is a work of brilliance. There is so much going on here and my hope is to do it justice in this review.
Put on your safety glasses and hardhat as we get started.

Before reading Breathless #1, I really thought this was going to be something along the lines of a vampire story based on the cover and title. How glad I was to find out that was not the case. Pat Shand has shown us his writing aptitude in this story from the start. The main character is Scout Turner, a doctor at a pharmaceutical company. We are introduced to her on the first page while she is picking up her albuterol inhaler, and this one scene on the first page tells us so much about this character. She has asthma, is broke, has to deal with a lot of silly people, is a leap year baby, and her age; all without actually telling us. Shand gives us all credit for having a brain and being able to put thoughts together.