Comic Book Reviews

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

A washed up cop, bodies of dead and abuse children, flashes of moments that could only be interpreted as schizophrenia. This is the story told in this first issue.

“He sleeps, and in sleeping he dreams of small, distorted clouds like crippled children, twisting and crawling across a sky the color of sewer water.”

A once hard-working detective is now alone. He drinks and smokes way too much. His life is in a dilapidated state. And he knows all too well what it all means. All these dynamic images would classify under any well written drama be it on TV, in a book or in a movie.

Yet it’s in the first issue of a comic book, not just any comic book, it’s a Crow comic. James O’Barr has found his rhythm again and these last few crow books are all over the map and all over time.

This story written to take place in the 1970s feels and acts just like as if you are there. This book is a solid 5/5 and should be read right now!

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

If you have read my other reviews you will know that I am a sucker for all these great Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. I just recently gave The Secret Origin of the Foot a 5/5. This issue stars Old Hob, He is a creation from  IDW’s editor-in-chief, Chris Ryall. Yet reading him in this issue you feel like you should already know him.

He loosely reminds me of Hallocat from Archie Adventure Series (bio from turtlepedia.wikia.com):

Hallocat (previously known as ‘Pookey’ before the mutation) was a truckers pet cat, his owner had been illegally dumping toxic waste for a chemical plant whose foreman did not want to dispose of the waste properly in an effort to cut costs. One day, Pookey got under the foreman’s feet, tripping him. In a fit of anger, the foreman picked him up and threw him into a vat of toxic waste (which was actually mutagen).

And this is Old Hob‘s origin (Also from turtlepedia.wikia.com):

Old Hob was a stray cat that came across the Turtles and Splinter after they were dropped by the pair of ninja that had stolen them from Stockgen. The mutagen that was included with them had spilled, and Old Hob had come in contact with the agent as well. He tried to scurry off with a pre-mutated Raphael. Old Hob’s eye was clawed out by Splinter. He would later mutate and team up with Baxter Stockman to get revenge on Splinter and the Turtles. Since the mutagen Old Hob came into contact was contaminated, he was sent to bring in the other mutants, alive or dead, in order to get the mutagen samples from their blood. He was put in charge of a street gang and tried multiple times to take down Splinter and the Turtles.

Old Hob is telling his origin story in a very film Noir style, He has a hatred for humans and a greater hatred for Master Splinter. This story is very existential in its delivery and so typical in its structure. This doesn’t take away from the character at all.

Most Comic book villains fall prey for this very set up, Old Hob may not be The turtles version of Doctor Doom but he most certainly isn’t Paste Pot Pete! He will be a force to be reckoned with.

I am hoping this story picks up and we learn what his plans are. For this I am giving Old Hob a solid 3/5 and once again IDW makes us love being a Turtle !!!!

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Straight on the success of everything that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We get this amazing trade telling the “Secret” history of the evil Foot Clan.

The combination of history and folklore that is so rooted in Japan that it’s almost a historical lesson in Japanese culture. Yet it never comes off as smug or “weeaboo” (Total nerd of Japanese culture). Instead the story is smart and exciting and balances the present and the past.

The look of the Turtles in this tale is a little more gritty, but keeps their dialogue true to each member of the team. The art is outstanding and fits with the scheme of the story. Everything is a massive attack even though most of this is just a history lesson. I wish we could get this in other comics but I will take what I can get.

I give the Secret History of the Foot Clan a 4/5 and a must read for all TMNT fans. This is so far the best story ever told about the TMNT ever!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret History of the Foot Clan TPB
Story: Mateus Santolouco, Erik Burnham
Art: Mateus Santolouco
Cover: Mateus Santolouco
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $17.99
Release Date: Wed, June 12th, 2013

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Set in the 1800′s American frontier, a woman by the name of Whisky Jill must protect a young boy with innate abilities that his original captors seek to exploit. Together they go on a spiritual journey that shows both the light and dark sides of humanity, and attain enlightenment.

Well that’s what it says on Comixology and the truth is I had no idea what I was going to be reading when I opened up the comic. Bikini Cowboy is one part Adult Swim and one part Pixar. The art is done almost like rough sketches for an animated film.

Yet for some reason it works on all levels, this Comic is so much fun and easy on the eyes. At parts it feels like an 1800’s version of Tank Girl. This comic book has all the elements needed to be a huge franchise success.

So if anyone out there is thinking is this book really that good should just go and download it now and you can read for yourself. If they cleaned up a bit of the language it would be a huge sell to someone like Disney to turn a bikini cowboy (Think Brave meets a cowboy surfer girl) into the next Disney super star.

This book is a solid 5/5 and should be read right now!

Buy it here! www.comixology.com/BIKINI-COWBOY-Vol-1

Bikini Cowboy
Published: Fresherluke
Cover: Fresherluke
Written: Fresherluke
Art: Fresherluke
Page Count: 377 Pages
Digital Release Date: 05/08/2013
Age Rating: 9+ Only

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

This is the second issue in the three issue arc; I once again am struggling with the art. As far as story goes it’s really solid and fans who love books like Bleach and InuYasha should fall in love with this story. I just feel the art work lets it down too much.

I hope that at some point in time we could get an amazing animated film out of this, time will tell. If I had to pick a director I’d have to say Sayo Yamamoto (Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, Eureka Seven, High School of the dead and Panty & Stocking with garter belt)

I will not tell you anything about this book only because it is such a solid read and you really should just pick it up and read for yourself.

Here is Dark Horse’s official release statement:

American McGee’s re-envisioning of Red Riding Hood takes shape as this all-new story. The brave young warrior Kani battles a gauntlet of fantastic mythical beasts inspired by Japanese folklore. However, things are not what they seem, and danger lurks where Kani least expects it!

Justin Aclin (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Vasilis Lolos (Conan the Barbarian)!

Based on the hot new game by American McGee’s Spicy Horse Games!

RED RIDING HOOD REIMAGINED!

I still can’t see the appeal of an artist who at any given time can’t properly draw a hand or keep eyes consistent enough that they look almost human. Akaneiro; the path of cloak and wolf is really a great read but has no art to help sell it. I give issue #2 a 3/5 only because of how great the story is.

Akaneiro #2
Writer: Justin Aclin
Artist: Vasilis Lolos
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover Artist: Shu Yan
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: June 26, 2013
Format: FC, 32 Pages
Price: $3.99
UPC: 7 61568 22674 4 00211

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

What more can I say… I am now officially tongue tied. In fact, I wish I could just publish all the pages of this issue and just let you have at it yourself. Ok I can’t actually do that. (The editor doesn’t want to get in trouble )
Captain Midnight is another amazing 40′s character. (Why do the 1940′s superheroes just seem so much fun?) He is a war hero, a man out of his element lost in the year 2013. You know the drill, but even knowing the drill doesn’t take away from an exciting new book.

You will learn all about his past and how he ended up in the future, a future that isn’t all that impressive to him. The story has some great killer art work from Ibáñez (Defenders, Swamp Thing) and Pérez (Archer and Armstrong, Harbinger, Smallville S11) and Joshua Williamson’s (Masks and Mobsters, Voodoo, Xenoholics) solid writing.

If the following issues live up to this #0 one then add this to your pull list immediately!

I am giving Captain Midnight 4/5 with the hopes that issue 1 will be 5/5 crossing fingers.

Captain Midnight #0
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Victor Ibáñez, Pere Pérez
Colorist: Ego
Cover Artist: Raymond Swanland
Genre: Superhero, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: June 19, 2013
Format: FC, 32 Pages
Price: $2.99
UPC: 7 61568 22972 1 00011

By Robert “Rob Base”  Greenwood

When you do a review we are supposed to critique all aspects of the comic and normally that would be the case.

Unfortunately I will not be doing that today, Akaneiro #1 by American Mcgee is written perfectly and he has told a story that fans of InuYasha would be proud.

The art is where I feel strongly that maybe hiring an actual Manga artist would have elevated this story. There is nothing about this art that is striking nor good.

Lets break it down: The Eyes

Their eyes for lack of a better term would look better and more believable in a Disney cartoon that was drawn by people who are actually blind! The artist has forgone all good grace by not knowing how a Manga artist draw eyes, eyes in Manga have a unique and definitive purpose.

The Character designs

In Manga every piece of garment be it traditional or out space chaos, in one way or another is believable. Even Neon Genesis Evangelion is more realistic than what is drawn in Akaneiro

This lack luster design not only looks rushed but makes every character appear to be hiding a beer belly.

Maybe Evangelion isn’t the best example (so below I show off Vagabond)  but the point is every bit of that outfit looks like it belongs.

I would love to recommend this book American McGee has a great story and it looks like it will only get better, but if you want a 5/5 out of this reviewer drop the artist and hire someone who understands the culture better.

For this I am giving Akaneiro #1  a 2/5

Here are some pages…

Akaneiro #1 (of 3)
Writer: Justin Aclin
Artist: Vasilis Lolos
Cover Artist: Shu Yan
Genre: Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: May 22, 2013
Format: FC, 32 Pages
Price: $3.99
UPC: 7 61568 22674 4 00111

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by Chuck Suffel

If you’ve read Joseph Campbell or if you’ve paid attention to the themes present in pretty much any action adventure, sci-fi, or fantasy movie you’re familiar with it. It’s called the monomyth or “the hero’s journey”. It’s the idea that most stories follow a sort of unspoken arc,

1. Birth of the Hero
2. Childhood Trial
3. Withdrawal and Initiation (Rite of Passage)
4. Trial and Quest
5. Death and the Scapegoat
6. The Descent to the Underworld
7. Resurrection and Rebirth
8. Ascension, Apotheosis, and Atonement

(*List taken from David Adams Leeming’s book, Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero)

We see it in The Odyssey, we see it in Star Wars, and to me it’s the thing that makes an adventure story resonate. Even my first literary hero Robin Hood loosely follows the pattern. The important distinction for me is that it’s done well.

Robot 13 is done well, really well.

Read the rest here

by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s an interesting concept, isn’t it? Making small changes in one place can have large impacts in another. That’s the premise behind New York’s ability to keep running and even recover from disaster so quickly in Charles Soule’s Strange Attractors.

Dr. Spencer Brownfield knows that the city needs help. It just can’t run on its own; it’s too big, there’s too much going on. So he takes complex notes and maps the city, then makes “adjustments” – releasing a rat in a restaurant, diverting traffic, or dumping ice cream cones throughout Central Park – that keep the balance of good and bad forces in play.

Heller Wilson is a grad student who uncovers one of Professor Brownfield’s papers in the university library and thinks the good doctor can help him finish his thesis, but doesn’t realize what becoming the professor’s assistant entails. He finds himself drawn into Brownfield’s theory, and puts his future and relationships on the line to follow him.

Is Brownfield a kook? Is New York City really headed for a big disaster that can be avoided through these adjustments? You be the judge.

read the rest here