A later-than-intended round-up of some new and recent Zenescope releases. Alice’s weird-and-wonderful adventures in Wonderland continue; Sela’s troubles unfold in Grimm Fairy Tales as a nefarious plot comes closer to fruition; a brand new, intriguing adaptation and re-imagining of the Jungle Book; and an extension of an alternative Hook story.
Reviewed Herein: Alice #3, Grimm Fairy Tales #67-69, Jungle Book #1, Neverland: Hook #4
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski | Artist: Shane Davis
Forget everything you know about The Man of Steel and brace yourself for a staggering new take on the world’s most popular Super Hero. What would happen if the origin of The Man of Tomorrow were introduced today for the very first time? Return to Smallville and experience the journey of Earth’s favourite adopted son as he grows from boy to Superman like you’ve never seen before!
This is the second Superman graphic novel I’ve read (after the thoroughly underwhelming All-Star Superman Part 1). Superman: Earth One is set in an all-new continuity apart from the pre-New 52. It takes us right to the beginning of Clark’s experiences in Metropolis. To be perfectly honest, this is what I’ve always thought Superman comics and graphic novels should be. The quality of the writing and artwork, the accessibility for people not steeped in the extended weirdness canon that became the Superman world… This is superb.
In this catch-up post, I cover issues four to six of All-Star Western, Grifter and Suicide Squad. All three of these were late-additions to my pull-list, but I’ve come to really enjoy them. Dark, twisted, and very distinctive, they each have a lot going for them.
I’ve decided to split the ‘Dark’ and ‘Edge’ review into two (otherwise, it would be a review of 21 comics, and that could end up being a bit unwieldy). These titles are, with the exception of Justice League Dark (a late addition to my pull-list), the ones that originally attracted my attention when I first started reading about the New 52. They promised more gothic, twisted and (excuse me) darker stories. I was not at all disappointed, and in fact these are some of my favourite comics full-stop, not just from the New 52.
Reviewed herein: Demon Knights #4-6, I Vampire #4-6, Justice League Dark #4-6, Resurrection Man #4-6
[While on the subject of The Dark, a reminder that I’ll be reviewing Swamp Thing #1-6 in an all-in-one, separate review.]
Here are a few reviews for the comics I wasn’t able to review before their official release. Three beginnings, and three titles I’ve been really so far – all very varied, which is just what I needed at the time. The more comics series I try, the more I realise that fans of SF/F fiction who don’t read comics at all are really missing out – there’s so much to like in the medium, and especially so in the collected versions which have more story. [I’ve written a little more on this after the reviews, below.]
Reviewed Herein: Hell Yeah #1, The Manhattan Projects #1, Marksman #6, Night Force #1, The Shade #4-5, The Untamed #4, Winter Soldier #3
Somehow, I totally forgot to buy Fairest #1, despite really wanting to read it… I’ll add it to next week’s Tuesday Round-Up.
Last night I managed to finally catch up with I Vampire #4-6 (review next week). It’s definitely one of my favourite New 52 titles. I wanted an opportunity to mention it again on the site, and after seeing the artwork for the next three issues, by the highly talented Andrea Sorrentino, I had my excuse.
Here’s the first of four bumper New 52 Catch-Up posts. In this one, I focus on three Superman-related titles: Action Comics (#5-6), Superman (#4-6) and Justice League (#4-6). I had considered continuing with Aquaman as well, but decided that I would wait for the first collected edition (the same can be said for The Flash – which I’ve been told is excellent). I must say that I’ve been unimpressed by Action Comics overall, despite some moments of genius; I remain quite fond of the new Superman series; and very happy with Justice League.
Just saw this over on DC’s blog, and thought I’d share it over here. It’s an early draft of a double-page spread by Scott Clark from the upcoming ninth issue of Grifter, one of the best New 52 titles. It looks pretty awesome:
Issue 9 is an important issue for the series, as it sees not only a new creative team coming on board, but also introduces two new characters: Deathblow and Cheshire. (I mention this only because DC makes a bit of a big deal out of this – I, however, have no clue who they are…)
Writer Rob Liefeld had this to say about the new story arc for the series:
“The idea with Grifter was to open the scope of his adventures up and put Grifter against greater dangers and much bigger threats… We kick off in the Alps with some amazing action, think Bond meets Bourne on unlimited budget.”
Issue 9 is Liefeld’s first for the series, working alongside Frank Tieri. Below is the upcoming issue’s cover artwork, by Rob Liefeld:
Writer: Chondra Echert & Claudio Sanchez | Artist: Aaron Kuder
New York City is down but not out – the zombie apocalypse has destroyed much of the city, but hard-boiled humanity hangs on. But with the survivors divided into warring factions, and the undead hiding behind every corner, only one man can walk the streets alone: Nick Ewing. His murdered wife and child, from the grave, give him the strength to continue his vendetta against the king of Yankee Stadium.
The collected edition of Key of Z, an original and interesting take on post-apocalyptic zombie comics, is now in stores. The series is one of my favourite from last year, and if you like zombie-apocalypse stories, then this is an absolute must. I reviewed the four individual issues in two sittings (here and here), but I wanted to mention it again on the blog.
Just a quick artwork post, this time for the eye-catching and gothic cover art for The Untamed #4, by Peter Bergting:
This is a series I’ve been enjoying quite a bit (reviews of previous issues here and here). You can check out a brief preview of the fourth issue here.
Speaking of Stranger Comics, one of their imprints looks to have some really interesting titles coming up in the future: Foundry. I’ll do my best to bring reviews as and when possible.
Before I get to the reviews, I wanted to write a quick comment about The Road Ahead in terms of comic reviews on Civilian Reader: The weekly round-ups are probably going to become shorter. There are fewer on-going series I want to read in short chunks, so I’m going to start focusing on just a handful of my favourites, but also some single first issues, maybe mini-series, and a few Three Issue Tests – this means I’m going to be a lot more discerning and brutal when it comes to deciding on whether or not to keep buying monthly issues.
[Titles I receive for review from the publishers will, of course, still feature, but will still be addressed and reviewed as if I’d bought them myself – same standards, same potential vis-a-vis Three Issue Tests, and so forth.]
This week, I bring you an unhinged, super-powered loser, a team of super-powered protectors, the hunt for a rogue paramilitary terrorist outfit, some transdimensional magic, and some KGB agents belatedly activated after the war is over.
Reviewed Herein: The Cape #4, The Defenders #2-3, G.I.Joe: Real American Hero Annual, Magic: The Gathering #2, Pigs Vol.01
Over at DC’s blog they are releasing a number of character sketches for the upcoming Batman event, Night of the Owls, and I just wanted to share the latest, because I think it looks great. First, though, here’s a quick blurb for the event:
The “Night of the Owls” is coming this May, pitting the extended Bat-family against the deadly Court of Owls. A shadowy secret society with roots that date back to Gotham City’s earliest history, the Court employs a cadre of timeless, sinister assassins known as Talons to execute its malevolent will.
The sketch below is actually from the “back-up features” (basically, extra stories tagged on to the main issues), and is by Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire):
The fact that DC’s going to tie all of the Batman-related titles together really make me want to continue reading them all… It’s going to be tough to not follow this event (which has basically already started in the Scott Snyder-penned Batman series).
Another varied, bumper comics round-up this week. Early on, it seemed to be leaning a bit Wolverine-heavy, but as Wednesday rolled around, I realised there was plenty of other stuff available that was of interest. This round-up manages to tick off most of the comic genres: sci-fi, superheroes, fantasy, action heroes and villains, humorous espionage, and even a geek-fantasy. So, without further ado, let us move right on to the reviews…
Reviewed Herein: Brilliant #1-2, Danger Girl: Revolver #2, GIJoe: Cobra #10, Incorruptible #27, Infestation: Dungeons & Dragons #2, The Ray #2-3, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – War #1-2, Witchblade/Red Sonja #1, Wolverine #20 & #300, Wolverine & The X-Men #5, X-Club #2-3, X-Sanction #3
While I was away, Dark Horse comics started a new Star Wars series – Agent of the Empire – which received a lot of good reviews. Being the semi-rabid fan of Star Wars–related books that I am, I decided I had to check it out, along with the other new series that started this week, Dawn of the Jedi. And both of these new series are pretty great. So good, in fact, that I am strongly considering trying out some others (especially the other new series, War).
Reviewed herein: Agent of the Empire #1-3, Dawn of the Jedi #1
As I’m back in NYC, I’ve been able to get hold of DC and Marvel titles again, so some will be reviewed in the round-ups again, but there are going to be some changes. I’ve decided to only review up to issue six of the New 52 (or, at least until the end of the first story-arc in each), as this is the end of their first volumes. There are just too many that I like, which means it’s becoming financially impossible (not to mention irresponsible) for me to keep on top of them all. I’ve already cut six titles since I got back to New York. Now, whether or not I am able to stick to this decision is another matter entirely, and if I become gainfully employed, this could change. (Please let me get gainfully employed! For more reasons than feeding my comics addiction, of course…)
So, what does this mean for the Comics Round-Ups and New 52 reviews? I’m going to wait for the collected editions. Some of the money that I save will instead go to other collected series, which offer a lot more bang for your buck. I will post three catch-up posts, dealing with New 52 Batman, Superman and the Dark/Edge titles. I will, of course, still be reviewing Boom!, Zenescope, IDW and a few Image titles, as well as some other DC, Marvel, Dynamite and Dark Horse series. (If I get review copies, on the other hand, I’ll definitely feature anything and everything.) I’ll also post a special Star Wars-related comics review this week.
So, back to the reviews – here we go with a big, bumper edition…
Reviewed Herein: Infestation 2: Dungeons & Dragons #1, Ninjettes #1, The Occultist #2-3, The Ray #1, Road Rage #1, The Shade #3, Thief of Thieves #1, Winter Soldier #1-2, Wolverine & the X-Men #3-4, X-Sanction #1-2
I reviewed the first issue of The Untamed a little while ago, and have been looking forward to reading more in the series. I think they went on a short hiatus, but finally the next two issues are available! The first is still available as a free read over on Graphicly, and I would certainly recommend it. This week, I got my hands on the next two issues of the series, as well as the first issue in another new title from Stranger: The Portent.
Wild Western Horror
Writers: Michael Lent & Brian McCarthy | Artist: Hyunsang Michael Cho
With his dying breath, an Indian Shaman unleashes an ancient curse upon his murderers, the miners of Brimstone, and the richest gold stake ever found in the High Sierras. A week later, the town is overrun and its communication lines cut. With all the honest men fighting the Civil War, the desperate mining investors put together a collection of outlaws, killers and thieves to re-take Brimstone... by any means necessary. Led by “The Viper”, a brooding gunslinger whose brutal exploits are the stuff of Western legend, the vicious posse finds the bullet-ridden town littered with dismembered corpses but its gold stores untouched. In Brimstone, the most feared men in the West have finally found the very heart of fear.
In Brimstone, we get a blend of Western gun-slinging action and a zombie siege. It’s a nice, new and interesting gothic mash-up of the two sub-genres. Brimstone is an action-packed, tense and surprising series. Not only that, the artwork is superb.
The beginning of the dark…
Writer: Garth Ennis | Artist: Marc Silvestri
Mafia hitman Jackie Estacado was both blessed and cursed on his 21st birthday when he inherited the power of The Darkness, an elemental force that allows those who wield it access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons who dwell there. Forces for good in the world rise up to oppose Jackie and what his gift represents, but in this story, they are the bad guys.
Another title I tried thanks to Comixology’s free sampler of the first issue. I’d been aware of the series for a little while – it has connections to another of Top Cow’s titles, Witchblade (which you can also try for free) – but had never got around to trying it out. In summary, it’s a great title: twisted, dark (of course), and with plenty of moral ambiguity. It’s also visually impressive and sometimes arresting. I really enjoyed this. I am slowly developing a real taste for Top Cow’s titles.
I’ve only recently started reading Zenescope titles and so far have been impressed with everything they have to offer. This is a big week, so I wanted to look at as many of the new releases as possible. This meant catching up with some of the shorter series (such hardship…!).
Reviewed herein: Alice #2, Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends #12, Grimm Fairy Tales: The Library #1-4, Jurassic Strike Force 5 #0-2, Neverland: Hook #1-3
Along with these new issues (all of which are pretty great), this week I’ve been reading some older material for a series of reviews looking at series beginnings. Those will start cropping up on the blog over the next couple of weeks, so keep your eyes open for them. Anyway, without further ado, I give you a great evil-superhero collection, another fairy tale-inspired weird journey, and some ninja beat-downs.
A second round-up will go live later today, taking a look at the Zenescope releases.
Reviewed Herein: Irredeemable Vol.8, Memorial #3, Snake Eyes #10
