Witchblade #173 Review

Publisher: Top Cow Productions
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Laura Braga
Colorist: Betsy Gonia
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Stjepan Sejic
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 12th, 2014

Witchblade #173, “Borne Again Part Four” continues Sara Pezzini’s time without the Witchblade. Two years ago, Sara relinquished the Witchblade. In recent events, she was shot and is now attempting to get back in the field. The Angelus, however, has other plans in store.

I’ve been a fan of the series and Sara as a character for some time. Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic really made the character during their run. But Sara and I parted ways during Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard’s run. Though I thought about staying away, the lure of Marz’ return was too much to pass up. This time he’s joined by artist Laura Braga and colorist Betsy Gonia. Two talented folks I suspect the industry will be seeing more of in the future.

Part of the book is exposition dedicated to catching readers up to current events. The rest is set-up for what should be an entertaining next issue. Your mileage might vary in regards to the pacing. Overall, this is a fairly uneventful issue.

While the events of this issue don’t progress much, Braga and Gonia provide some lively scenery for the journey. The right artistic talent can make something special of the supernatural tales of the Witchblade and this art team is producing some quality work. Beyond a couple awkward-looking panels, this is a gorgeous comic. Braga’s characters look great, with her interpretation of the Angelus standing out. Her detailed scenery makes every setting truly come alive. Her line work combined with Gonia’s colors give the book a vibrant look. This is especially true for the scenes involving the Angelus and the Angelus Realm.

During his previous run, Marz elevated Sara to an entirely different level. He writes as if he created the character. The fantastic art team of Braga and Gonia inject a new and much desired life in this series. The slower pace and recap make for a perfect jumping on point for new and lapsed readers. Those same aspects could also turn away regular readers. If you stepped away from the title, you should consider jumping back on. I sure am.

Score: 3/5

Witchblade #173 was provided by Top Cow for review purposes.

Veil #1 Review

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Greg Rucka
Penciller: Toni Fejzula
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Cover Artist: Toni Fejzula
Cover Price: $3.50
Release Date: March 5th, 2014

Veil #1 comes to us from the minds of Greg Rucka and Toni Fejzula. Before even opening the book, we get a glimpse of what Fejzula offers with a cover that commands your attention. It features the character, Veil, surrounded by creepy rats with red eyes. This first issue introduces readers to her as she awakens on subway tracks surrounded by the aforementioned rats. From there we follow the adventure of someone with seemingly no memory of her identity.

Rucka is a creator who’s frequently been commended for how he writes women in comics. Here, he addresses some social issues, which he also expounds upon in a letter at the end of the book. When a woman appears naked on the streets of a populated city, trouble can occur. It develops in a fashion likely unseen before. It is here where she comes into contact with characters she’ll interact with for the remainder of the book.

Veil has a particular speech pattern, which may be odd to some readers initially. With that, Rucka doesn’t reveal much through her. Instead the story is conveyed visually as she rejoins the world and interacts with other characters. This is where the problems come in. Veil doesn’t express herself verbally. This led to me never feeling attached to her or the other characters. But this is where Fejzula gets to shine. This is particularly true when she displays her strange powers and how she reacts to them.

With the seemingly never-ending debate of “writer vs. artist,” the role of artists is often diminished. That shouldn’t be an issue in the first place, but Fejzula provides more evidence of his artist’s storytelling skills. His style is unique. His characters are expressive. He also employs neat uses of light and shadow. The coloring truly gives the book life.

Veil #1 is an unpredictable comic. I don’t believe that’s rare in any regard, but you really don’t know what to expect as you turn the pages here. It’s bizarre in how Rucka and Fejzula introduce the main character. It’s beautiful in how the narrative unfolds. But I didn’t connect with any of the characters. It was more about the overall story. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’ll be back for the second issue to find out.

Score: 3.5/5

Veil #1 was provided by Dark Horse Comics for review purposes.

REVIEW: The Midas Flesh #2

Publisher: BOOM! Box
Writer: Ryan North
Artists: Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: John Keogh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 22nd, 2014

BOOM! Studios newest imprint, BOOM! Box, is back with their debut title,The Midas Flesh #2. In The Midas Flesh #1, readers were introduced to the crew of the Prospect (consisting of Captain Joey, Fatima a.k.a. Fatty and Cooper), the mystery of the solid-gold Earth and the Federation, the still enigmatic galactic force.

As stated in my first review, give credit to Ryan North for pacing. The issue flows well, especially while depicting different tones at times including plenty of humor. Having done the setup in the first issue, he opens up the characters a bit here. Most of that attention is given to Cooper. North dedicates several pages to revealing an impactful moment in the Utahraptor’s life. Besides developing the character, it adds that other layer to the book in terms of tone.

He expounds on aspects of the first issue while adding to the mix. While we don’t know their full back stories, the Prospect’s crew is a likable group. We have answers to some questions while also being led to other mysteries. Readers are shown numerous elements which beg the question: “what’s next?”

Shellie Paroline and Braden Lamb pick up right where they left off with the first issue. They complement North’s narrative well. Their storytelling skills are well displayed. This is quite evident during Cooper’s flashback sequence. From the crew of the Prospect to members of the Federation, the characters exhibit a wide range of expressions. The segments where Fatima expresses her boredom are memorable. The color palette may be the most noticeable visual. The brighter colors throughout the issue give it an animated look.

The Midas Flesh #2 exactly what you want in an all-ages book. The narrative isn’t too complex for younger readers while not being watered-down to turn older readers away. Combined with the inviting visuals and you have an all-around fun comic standing out among the grittiness of other books.

Score: 4/5

This copy of The Midas Flesh #1 was provided by BOOM! Studios.

Review: The Midas Flesh #1

Publisher: BOOM! Box
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: John Keogh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18th, 2013

Earlier this year, BOOM! Studios unveiled their new imprint, BOOM! Box, which allows creators to create unique and outrageous content simply for the love of comics and storytelling. Writer Ryan North, artists Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb along with letterer Steve Wands kick off the fun with The Midas Flesh #1. What does this sci-fi adventure have to offer readers?

In this first issue, Ryan North presents two parts of a story. The first introduces us to a small crew of space-travelers: Joey, Fatima and Cooper. Cooper is the dinosaur on the cover. He’s a Utahraptor to be specific. I had to look that up. In the second, we see how the roots of this tale rest in ancient Greece. King Midas, Silenus and Dionysus are all true to their roots. Even with my personal tolerance for Greek mythology being rather low, I was pleased with how North used these elements. I didn’t feel overwhelmed with ancient references.

North deserves a lot of credit for pacing in The Midas Flesh. We get a solid idea of the character’s personalities and the relationships between them. The two halves of this story are given roughly the same amount of attention, which is more than enough to pull you in. Just as it’s all about to come together, the issue ends.

Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb give the book an animated and expressive look. Even with North’s narrative, Paroline and Lamb’s visual storytelling shouldn’t go unnoticed. Just from a design standpoint, a few elements standout: the crew’s spaceship, the Prospect, and Cooper, both in his spacesuit and glasses and tie.

The Midas Flesh fuses together the mythology of ancient Greece, futuristic space travel and a techie dinosaur. This is exactly what BOOM! Box is all about. There’s a sense of wonder here that perfectly captures what the sci-fi genre is about. Discovering how the various elements tie together will bring you back for issue #2. Judging from this first issue, we’re going to hear a lot about The Midas Flesh and BOOM! Box come 2014.

Verdict: 4/5

This copy of The Midas Flesh #1 was provided by BOOM! Studios.

HIT #2 Review

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Bryce Carlson
Penciller: Vanesa R. Del Rey
Colorist: Archie Van Buren
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Cover Artist: Ryan Sook
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 2nd, 2013

At the end of the first issue, Detective Harvey Slater receives the news of the death of his former partner, Ken Collins. In addition to that, he and Bonnie Brae are left with the now deceased Detective McDowell. HIT #2 opens up with some flashbacks to give readers a clearer picture of what happened between Slater and Collins. From there the story opens up and we see how some of the relationships work as well as some story progression.

There are a few things going on in this issue but it never feels overwhelming. Bryce Carlson presents several elements but his pacing keeps the story moving forward. Typically in stories of this nature the leading lady is depicted as being unable to stand on her own. Carlson avoids having the “damsel in distress” by including another segment, similar to the ending of issue #1, showing readers Bonnie is capable of handling business. The only problem I really had with this issue is that an unexpected moment seems somewhat glossed over rather quickly. That could just be an effect of telling a short story.

Vanesa R. Del Rey’s style is reminiscent of old-school pulp comics and it’s a perfect match for this genre. Her characters are distinct. Her panels carry a nice flow from one to the next. Archie Van Buren uses a flatter color palette which helps convey the story well. Teaming Del Rey with Van Buren is like giving readers a time-machine to travel right back to 1950’s Los Angeles. Van Buren gets a bit more involved early on during the flashback with a subtle change in the coloring. I always appreciate that when you’re dealing with multiple time periods. It distinguishes those while allowing the artists a bigger role in the storytelling.

HIT #2 is another quality issue in this tale of crime. While reading this issue, I briefly thought of it as an ongoing. I was quickly reminded this is only a mini and that we’re halfway through it. If you’re a fan of cop stories, crime fiction or just good storytelling, you’ll enjoy this issue.

Score: 4.5/5

Anti-Hero #1 Review

Publisher: Monkeybrain Comics

Writer: Jay Faerber

Penciller: Nate Stockman

Colorist: Paul Little

Letterer: Charles Pritchett

Cover Price: $0.99

Release Date: June 26th, 2013

I’ll start by saying congratulations to Monkeybrain Comics on celebrating it’s first anniversary in the digital publishing business. I wish them much success in their second year as they roll out more titles. You can view their full line-up at Monkeybrain Comics.

In Anti-Hero #1, mob henchman Callum Finney discovers the identity of masked hero Paragon. I’ve read a lot of superhero books in my life and even if you break this plot down to the most basic element, which may seem familiar to some, Anti-Hero gives it a fresh twist. Faerber sets a nice pace introducing our two leads, Callum Finney and Paragon, while also throwing in some superheroics to the mix. There’s solid dialogue throughout and each character has her/his own voice. It’s the build-up that stands out here. Readers will get insight into the worlds of each character and meet some of the supporting cast.

Nate Stockman’s visuals carry their weight throughout the book, starting with the cover which is a perfect representation of the book. While his style may not be my favorite, it absolutely works. His characters are distinct and expressive. As you read, you can see how Stockman is a storyteller in his own right. There’s also a nice flow panel to panel. With Paul Little’s colors thrown in the mix, the end product possesses a gritty look fitting for the concept and title.

Overall, this is a solid title. The book covers 23 pages, 16 of which are story while the other pages are dedicated to extras including concept art and creator bios. Carrying a price of $0.99, you’re getting plenty of value with this book. You can purchase this title from Comixology.

Cobra #14 Review

IDW is running two different G.I. Joe continuities across four books. That may confuse people, especially considering two of the books carry the G.I. Joe title. One series is G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero penned by Mr. G.I. Joe himself, Larry Hama. This series picks up where the original Marvel run ended. The other timeline is comprised of G.I. Joe, Cobra, and Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow. To further help readers, read the latter grouping. The story and art outdo the former. But I have hope Hama’s book will pick back up.

Mike Costa, Antonio Fuso, Werther Dell’Edera, and Arianna Florean are guiding the Cobra title which sees Flint leading a small team of Joes tasked with taking down Cobra from an intelligence angle. Flint’s team consists of Lady Jaye, Chameleon, Firewall, Clockspring, and Ronin. An interesting note is that this team is primarily female. Their base of operations: a Las Vegas casino. That’s classic right there. I like it. It’s unexpected and Costa makes it work.

In this issue, the Joes learn more about the former Cobra Commander’s son from Tomax. The remaining half of the Crimson Guard Twins (two of my favorite characters in the Joeverse; long list) is no longer a part of the Cobra Command Structure due to their recent shake-ups in leadership. Flint doesn’t really trust Tomax (rightfully so) and readers will see he has another source for information. This second character is another unemployed former Cobra operative.

The Joes make plans to catch up with the son of Cobra Commander. But they don’t know who else is heading towards that same target. A fan-favorite Cobra operative makes an appearance. Here’s a character I haven’t seen in action in several years. And no, I won’t spoil it. Well only if you really want to know.

I like the direction of this book and look forward to the next issue. Costa’s strong writing shows well through his character interaction and the story as a whole. Visually, Fuso, Dell’Edera, and Florean, produced a book that’s not overly flashly, but it gets the job done. The coloring carries a flatter tone as well. These elements work well and give it that G.I. Joe look.

I like this series and Cobra #14 is definitely worth a read. The overall set-up on this side of the Joeverse is the Joes are still suffering from a recent loss at the hands of Cobra. As a result of that, their budget is cut and Hawk was relieved from duty. The new Cobra Commander and the organization as a whole are doing big things and it doesn’t appear is though they’ll be easily stopped.

The Strain #5 Review

Dark Horse’s The Strain returns from hiatus after issue #4. David Lapham, Mike Huddleston, and Dan Jackson continue with their adaptation of Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s novels. Read on to find out if you should jump back on board.

Most of Lapham’s tale centers on flashbacks of Abraham’s time at a death camp in Treblinka in 1942. We do see Abe at his current state, but only in the opening and ending of the book. His time at this location is rather insignificant except for his interaction with a rather important figure of the series. If you’re reading this book, I’m sure you can guess quite easily.

The art serves the horror book well. Huddleston and Jackson’s work does well presenting the darker vibe. The use of shadows play a big part in that. Jackson uses very few colors in showing the moments from the war. It’s mostly black and white with a small mix of pale blue. Outside of that, we see some royal blue during some of the night scenes as well as red for the blood and the nazi wristbands.

This series is losing favor with me. Nothing here serves to move this 11 issue series forward. There’s been a lot of build-up to an end which may not deliver. I wouldn’t recommend this issue to anyone just interested in the series. If you’re even slightly interested, I would suggest waiting for the collected edition. But you won’t be missing anything if you skip the story entirely. And I won’t hesitate in saying you can make that a strong option.

Spaceman #1 Review

I remember about Spaceman the day it was released and reading tweets about it being only $1 and at least worth trying. My shop didn’t have any left or didn’t order any left. Either way I couldn’t get my hands on a copy. After that though, I never heard anything else about the series. That was until I found this first issue when I visited a new shop while doing some travelling.

Brief sidenote: whenever I travel, I always check for the closest comic shop. I take pictures of the storefront and buy something to support our shops. The only times I’ve never purchased anything was from a shop that didn’t really have many comics left as they were pretty much a gaming shop.

Back to Spaceman. I had no idea what this book was gonna be about. But I’ll try out a lot of books and for $1, what do I really have to lose? Well in this case, I only lost the time it took to read it because I didn’t like it. I really didn’t. I couldn’t wait until I could put the book down.

I didn’t care for the story of this genetically engineered being man sent into space and all that. I wasn’t feeling the art either. This one just isn’t for me.

Avenging Spider-Man #7 Review

Avenging Spider-Man keeps rolling with a rotating partner and creative team. This month Kathryn and Stuart Immonen team-up with Wade Von Grawbadger, Matt Hollingsworth, and Joe Caramagna to pair Spidey with our favorite gamma powered lawyer, She-Hulk.

First, I’ll say that I don’t know much about She-Hulk. I’ve never had a problem with her, but I’ve never read much of her. But it was nice to see her appear in two books in the same week. My point in saying that was I didn’t know what to expect from her character. I imagined her to be a more laid back type of person. Again, that’s coming from a person with little knowledge of the character. She’s very serious and certainly annoyed by Spider-Man, which honestly isn’t unwarranted.

Second, the story is titled “Wadjetmacallit?!.” I kid you not. Odd, right? Well it definitely fits the story. This issue starts off with our heroes teaming up to take out some sewer creature. How did they happen to team-up? I have no idea. After this they head to an Egyptian exhibit and encounter Bastet, goddess of cats. And of course, there are TONS of cats.

Spidey maintains his usual charm. And of course that means annoying She-Hulk. Stuart Immonen’s visuals are what you’d expect from him. I really don’t have much to say on that front. I do like his She-Hulk though.

I really wouldn’t recommend this book. If you’re a She-Hulk fan, you might like it. I won’t guarantee that though. Seven issues and this is easily the least entertaining of the series.