 |
|
13TH SON WORSE THING WAITING #1 (OF 4) |
|
Writer/Artist: Kelley Jones |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Dark Horse Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DARK HORSE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Monsters fighting monsters! Monsters eating
monsters! Monsters tearing monsters into little monster pieces! From one of
comics' best and weirdest talents comes the creepiest new offering from Dark
Horse's horror line-The 13th Son. Born to a young woman driven to insanity and
black magic by the deaths of her previous children, the 13th Son is a creature
like nothing this world has seen before. Humans are not his target. It's the
other monsters who walk this world-the Wendigo, werewolves, ghouls, zombies, and
vampires-who live in fear of his enormous and terrifying powers. And what those
powers are setting into motion is a horror beyond your deepest, darkest
nightmares. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
Jones made his major comic debut way back when on
Marvel’s Micronauts. He has a craggy, gloomy style that makes him suited for
Batman and other shadowy folks. Over the years he has also began to make his way
as a writer so here the folks at Dark Horse give him a shot at creating a new
character-the 13th Son. Supposedly a character of legend the white faced one is
summoned from myth to defeat evil and remind folks that he really does exist.
The rebirth of the large one is tied into a story being worked on by Ezra Stone
who is following such reappearances by a thing that should not exist and Jones
tells both stories at the same time. We see the Son fighting beasts while Stone
works on a story before seeing his new neighbor come home and create a whole
mess of questions. Could it be that? Nah, that’s not possible. The issue zips
along and is a lot of fun so why not give it a chance when it comes in on
reorder? |
|
|
 |
|
ADVENT RISING #1 |
|
Writers: Rob Worley/Bill Jemas/Donald Mustard
Artists:
Arthur Dela Cruz/Cliff Richard |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
360ep Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.25 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
360ep'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Based on the popular Advent Rising video game by
Majesco, this prequel begins 10 years prior to the start of the video game. In
the exciting first issue, readers get their first glimpse of Gideon and Ethan
Wyeth - the heroes of Advent Rising - as they set off on their journey to save
the human race from eradication by the Seekers. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
The man who helped revitalize Marvel, Bill Jemas is
back with his new company 360ep. The first offering for this kind of comic
company is an adaptation of the video game Advent Rising. The game involves
teens on a new world looking for adventures and trying to get along. We get the
usual new guy in school stuff combined with the fact that there are two
brothers-one who is popular and one who is sort of just there. There are flying
boards and hovering computers but what we get here is a story about getting
along in a new place and dealing with it. The interstellar stuff is coming since
we can see one of the brothers on the cover holding guns but the idea here is to
just introduce us to the characters and hope that we will follow them until they
get to that point. Kids and players of the game platform should get into this
but I would guess that most will pass. BTW, 360ep is not a comic company- they
make connections with people who want to do comics as well as other things so
don’t expect a new line of comics coming from all this. |
|
|
 |
|
ARMY OF DARKNESS #1 |
|
Writer: James Kuhoric
Artist:
Sanford Greene |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Dynamite Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DYNAMITE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The Army of Darkness ongoing series is here and the
first story arc features the crossover no one ever expected to see: Army of
Darkness vs. Re-Animator! Ash Vs. West! Winner takes all! Following the exciting
conclusion of Shop 'Til You Drop (Dead), this first issue finds Ash committed to
Arkham Asylum. It's here that he runs afoul of a rather ghoulish and creepy
Herbert West... and the battle of the century begins! |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
The latest and probably last "Hey Bo" told you about the problems Dynamite
was having getting books out and this first issue is one of the books that just
couldn’t seem to go from solicitation stage to rack stage. Well the book finally
arrived and to fans of both characters it will be worth the wait. The limited
series begins where we last left Ash with him killing tons of creatures at
S-Mart. Now to the outside world it looks as if he killed a bunch of innocent
folks and so the ends up getting committed to the facility staffed by the insane
Herbert West. West has continued his experiments since the last direct to video
special and here we see what crazy things he has been up to. A jail break of
silly proportions happens and Ash is reunited with his favorite weapons before
things get even worse. It’s all very silly and twisted and should make folks
laugh a lot. Greene’s art is incredibly off center with chins the size of anvils
attached to most and drool flying every where. |
|
|
 |
|
FEAR AGENT #1 |
|
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist:
Tony Moore |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Image Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The Fear Agents are no more. Once known throughout
the universe for driving three invading alien races from Earth, they stood as a
testament to the strength of the human spirit. Now, Heath Huston drunkenly
scuttles across the galaxy as an alien exterminator - the last of their ranks. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
This book was announced a long time ago and finally
arrived on the racks this week. The story is an interstellar take starring an
astronaut out and about exploring new worlds. This particular exploration has
him searching on a world populated by almost human primates who somehow have
something that a primate couldn’t possibly have. The guy we follow on his
adventure is Heath Huston and he is an alien exterminator who was part of a team
called the Fear Agents. Since he is the last one we get the title we get. This
entertaining first issue is an attempt to make science fiction tales fun again
so it has at least accomplished that. Remender also does Sea of Red so if you
like that title then you should enjoy this as well. Art is by Tony Moore, who
did Battle Pope and some one shots with Robert Kirkman. His art isn’t what you
would call flashy but it sure gets the job done here. |
|
|
 |
|
MR.NIGHT |
|
Writer: Glenn Dakin Artist:
Phil Elliott |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Slave Labor
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.95 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
SLAVE LABOR'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The Enemy of Mankind takes a holiday in Greece,
holds a discourse on love and human relationships, meets Pythagoras and
discovers that no man is a triangle. Glenn Dakin and Phil Elliott tour the lost
horizons of the human mind and come back with presents for everybody. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
This black and white offering from Slave Labor
contains two tales of the shadowy Mr. Night. He’s all black and wearing a pointy
hat with a tendency to complain about everything. The first tale has him and a
‘friend’ on a vacation to Greece where he greets us by ralphing since he is
surrounded by such useless beauty. We follow him and his companion on a
conflicted quest-his friend wants to have fun and Night hates fun. The contrast
makes the story funny and entertaining. The second story has Night having a
crisis of confidence involving day to day life that most of us will be able to
relate to. The final tale has Night and his friend Artie discussing the idea of
lost love and the need for alcohol. We get further insight into the shadow
figure and realize that just because a man is a walking shadow doesn’t mean we
can’t understand him. Generally I have a marked distaste for black and white
independent comics but this one shot is pretty cool in its own way. |
|
|
 |
|
PURGATORI #1 |
|
Writer: Robert Rodi Artist:
Cliff Richards |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Devils Due Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.95 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DEVILS DUE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The World's Sexiest Vampire has returned - and
Devil's Due has her! When human civilization was in its infancy, legend spoke of
a woman cursed to walk the earth forever in a hideous form - a figure whose
deadly beauty was irresistible to man and woman alike. A being who would
eventually threaten the gods themselves! |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
The folks who bought the carcass of Brian Pulido’s
Chaos bring back the red demon Purgatori to comics by way of local publisher
Devil’s Due. Elektra’s Robert Rodi took on the assignment of reintroducing us to
her with a story taking place in Egypt, 1242 B.C. Rodi and artist Richards
introduce us to a young girl who ends up dealing with a lot more than she
bargained for on her quest to grow up too fast. The quest (which is filled with
suggestive sex and hinted nudity) somehow results in the arrival of Purgatori
who is on a quest of her own. The tale moves quickly and leaves us wondering why
the two are connected as we follow. The next issue promises to give us the
origin of our red winged lead so if we want to know we need to follow. In this
incarnation Purgatori seems to be smaller breasted so this is indeed a new era
for the character. That distinction could make former readers snub their noses
at the title and return her to the land of forgotten characters. |
|
|
 |
|
SEASON OF THE WITCH #1 |
|
Writer: Jai Nitz Artist:
Kevin Sharpe |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Image Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$3.50 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
"SPRING" Jessica Suddreth was a normal high school
freshman until she was magically transported to the fairytale world of Asamondo.
Once there she trains to be a Spell Sword, a mystical warrior, to lead the
peasants against the tyrannical King Elian. The good news is she's the best
Spell Sword ever. The bad news is she still has all the emotions and
insecurities of a fourteen-year-old girl and her training includes chopping wood
and washing clothes for the peasants. Now, high school doesn't seem so bad. Will
she stay in Asamando and work through the hard knocks, or will the comforts of
her old life call her home? |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
This title is a fair example of what is known as a
‘well told tale’. The story involves a young girl at William H. Burroughs high
school (as if someone would name a school after the writer of Naked Lunch) who
has (as some teens do) a rough life. She gets a bad grade on a test, the other
kids have no use for her, her parents are semi interested in her and she feels
better when she flies a kite. After a particularly sucky day at school she cries
herself to sleep and then something magical happens. She gets sucked into a
magical world and suddenly grows big breasts and has powers. Seems that the
world she is whisked off to needed a champion and the village wizard picked her.
After the usual catching up she learns of her new world and we leave with her
getting herself into trouble that will lead us into future issues. This isn’t a
new story but Nitz makes it interesting. He chooses to have her narrate the
start to make us relate to the character better then slightly plays with the
conventions of her arrival to her new world. Sharpe’s art is expressive. Fantasy
fans should have fun with this book. |
|
|
 |
|
SPAWN #150 |
|
Writer: David Hine Artist:
Philip Tan |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Image Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$4.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
IMAGE'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
"RANDOM PATTERNS," Part Three The groundbreaking
150th issue of Spawn is here, introducing a new creative team, a new enemy and a
dark new beginning for the Hellspawn. #150 features a double-length story, and
added editorial content and pinup art. Don't miss this incredible issue that
will change the future of Spawn forever. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
Spawn finally made it to the magical number of #150
and with that we get the debut of a new creative team-District X’s Hine and
Uncanny X-Men’s Tan. In the last issue Spawn was drawn to Al Simmons (who he was
before getting all decayed and such) grave where he then moved back to the
alleys that he called home at one point. Hine returns us there will chilling
words and a sky full of bats. From there he establishes a new status quo and
begins his quest to make the McFarlane creation interesting again. This book has
sort of meandered around since about #100 and here we see that there seems to be
a goal in mind. We get new threats, cooking lessons from Twitch, rivers of blood
and above all else an interest in reading another issue. Hine drops a lot of
stuff in our laps all through this extra long issue and what we get should
increase readership on this title and get it out on a (gasp) monthly basis.
Tan’s art is more detailed and effective than Angel Medina’s and that alone will
make more pick this up. |
|
|
 |
|
LOVELESS #1 |
|
Writer: Brian Azzarello Artist:
Marcelo Frusin |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
DC/Vertigo Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DC/VERTIGO'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Fresh off his white-hot run on SUPERMAN, Eisner
award-winning writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, BATMAN) has created a Western
for the new millennium. Reuniting with HELLBLAZER artist Marcelo Frusin,
Azzarello has fashioned a tough-as-nails monthly series that combines all the
bloody action and atmosphere of a Sergio Leone film with the provocative
storytelling of HBO's Deadwood. The extra-sized 40-page issue #1 is just $2.99;
future issues are 32 pages.Wes Cutter is a wanted man running from a violent
past - the horrors of the Civil War, a brutal stint in a Union prison camp, and
the savage fallout of Reconstruction. Now he's on a quest for the one thing in
short supply: peace. Joining Wes is his beautiful wife Ruth, a woman who has
been to hell and back herself - and hides dark secrets of her own.The road they
travel will be a bloody one, leaving a trail of bodies stretching from Missouri
to the Pacific Ocean. This is a tale only Azzarello - the mind behind some of
the hardest-hitting comics of the last decade - could tell. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
Both DC and Marvel have tried to return the Western
to comics the last few years to little success. DC had the maxi-series the Kents,
Marvel the bizarre Rawhide Kid and Red Skies but no one has tried an ongoing
series until now. With 100 Bullets moving into the home stretch and his attempt
at mainstream superhero work out of the way local boy Brian Azzarello with
Hellblazer partner Frusin debut this week Loveless, the story about the Cutters.
This western takes place after the Civil War, a time when the country was
getting itself back together and reconciling with the fact that we had fought
people who were our neighbors as well as friends. The story begins with a scene
out of a Sergio Leone movie with the shadowy return of Wes Cutter, a man
believed to be dead. The scene ends in violence and hints of more to come.
Cutter and his mysterious traveling companion continue on into Blackwater where
they are preceded by more death and mystery. With each encounter that leads Wes
home we see that he is going to be an interesting person to follow as well as
the shadowed figure that is with him. The identity of that person is revealed at
the end as well as what Cutter is bringing back home on his mule. The language
is harsh (imagine a Deadwood comic) so be prepared. A special mention should
also be made about colorist Patricia Mulvihill. Her work is lush and meshes
perfectly with Frusin’s artwork. Now this being a Vertigo book we know that this
is more than a western but what tone shift this book will take is hidden quite
well. But when it’s all over and done with the question is: will this book sell?
Both creators have a following but neither has sold anything close to Jim Lee
numbers. I would predict that the book will sell in the steady Fables numbers
but not in the Preacher numbers that Vertigo has been looking for since that
title ended. This is another in a series of perfect debuts from both DC and
Marvel. |
|
|
 |
|
SOLO #7 |
|
Writer/Artist: Mike Allred |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
DC Comics
Shipped On: 102605 |
|
MSRP:
.$4.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DC/VERTIGO'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Fresh off his white-hot run on SUPERMAN, Eisner
award-winning writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, BATMAN) has created a Western
for the new millennium. Reuniting with HELLBLAZER artist Marcelo Frusin,
Azzarello has fashioned a tough-as-nails monthly series that combines all the
bloody action and atmosphere of a Sergio Leone film with the provocative
storytelling of HBO's Deadwood. The extra-sized 40-page issue #1 is just $2.99;
future issues are 32 pages.Wes Cutter is a wanted man running from a violent
past - the horrors of the Civil War, a brutal stint in a Union prison camp, and
the savage fallout of Reconstruction. Now he's on a quest for the one thing in
short supply: peace. Joining Wes is his beautiful wife Ruth, a woman who has
been to hell and back herself - and hides dark secrets of her own.The road they
travel will be a bloody one, leaving a trail of bodies stretching from Missouri
to the Pacific Ocean. This is a tale only Azzarello - the mind behind some of
the hardest-hitting comics of the last decade - could tell. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
Writer/Artist:
Mike Allred gets his shot at filling the pages of Solo this time around and as
is the custom of reviewing an issue we will look at each story and see what
works and what doesn’t. We begin with two single pages involving a Metal Men Pin
Up page and Bizarro telling us to not read this issue because Allred hates us
but let’s go in anyway. You would assume that the Metal Men page is here because
at one point he was going to do a MM limited series with Evan Dorkin and figured
why waste the page. The first story is special and involves Hourman who takes
his Miraclo pill then finds he has no crime to stop. We watch him pace and do
various super and non superhero things to burn off the energy he gets while
laughing all the way. The second story is even sillier and deals with the Titans
and the Doom Patrol who end up hanging out in the same apartment building. It
all turns into a big party (with a fight) and even has a drunken Bat-mite. Our
third tale takes us back to the silly Adam West Batman days. Everyone looks the
way they did on the TV show but Allred adds a subversive element to this tale.
He plays with the different interpretations of Batman and even though the humor
level is muted as opposed to the first two stories this one is the most
effective. The next tale is a two pager involving a wager between members of the
New Gods that is okay but nothing special. We finish up with a silent tale
involving two friends on their way to their club house after picking up some
comics. It serves as an excuse for Allred to draw a lot of 60’s superheroes
while conveying his love for that era. This issue of Solo is mostly hits with
only slight misses. I think it would be a good policy to alternate issues from
established names with names that are well known by comic folks but not general
fans (such as the artist who did the previous issue). You have to believe that
this title isn’t a big profit book for DC but something done because the editors
thought it would be a good idea. |
|
|
 |
|
GIANT MONSTER #1 |
|
Writer: Steve Niles Artist:
Nat Jones |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Boom Studios,
Shipped On: 101905 |
|
MSRP:
.$6.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
BOOM'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The year is 2013. Astronaut Don Maggert's first solo
manned space flight has him disappear in the grip of an intergalactic horror.
Returning to earth, he's been transformed into something that will throw the
entire planet into peril! Featuring oversized Kaiji action and giant monster
throwdowns! |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
Steve Niles apparently has no need for sleep because
he seems to be writing at least a book a week these days. This time around he
works with the new Boom Studios (Hero Squared) to do his version of well…a giant
monster. This isn’t a Godzilla tale but more in the nature of those 50’s science
fiction films in which something horrible happened to the main character and we
sat at the edges of our seats seeing whether the creature was to be killed or
saved. (Okay, we saw these films long after they were scary and thought they
were just stupid but our parents didn’t so let’s leave them their illusions) The
giant monster here is astronaut Don Maggert and he is on his way home from a
successful mission as the first man to go solo on the space station. He seems
like a regular guy who has a sense of humor and a need to get home to repair
things with his wife. He also wants to be able to do something without the whole
world watching him. Now as these things usually happen as he heads towards Earth
something breaches the hull of the shuttle he is piloting and that’s where the
fun begins. As he is being absorbed by some disgusting parasite we spend time on
Earth watching the reaction of the ground crew, the military and his wife all of
which are worried as well as confused. The transformation is slow and Niles uses
narration to make us feel sorry for Don as he changes into something that is
big, craggy and hungry as hell. You can feel that Niles is having fun with this
story and imagine that when he was a little kid plopped in front of the TV he
was laughing and pooping his pants watching the movies that inspired this. The
art on this is from his Spawn: The Dark Ages partner Jones (who also worked on
Fused) and its detailed but murky pencil work meshes well with the story being
told. Now it does say that the story is going to be continued at the end but
don’t expect the next issue for a bit. |
|
|
 |
|
CAPTAIN ATOM: ARMAGEDDON #1 (of 9) |
|
Writer:
Will Pfeifer Artist:
Guiseppe Camuncoli |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
DC/Wildstorm Comics,
Shipped On: 101905 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DC/WILDSTORM'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
One of the DCU's mightiest champions explodes
straight from the pages of SUPERMAN/BATMAN and into the WildStorm Universe! But
will the local heroes welcome Captain Atom with open arms or attack him, fearing
him as the latest threat to their universe? Join Will Pfeifer (CATWOMAN, BLOOD
OF THE DEMON), Giuseppe Camuncoli (THE INTIMATES, BATMAN) and Sandra Hope
(ROBIN) as they explore the differences between both universes through the eyes
of Captain Atom and begin a story that could lead to Armageddon in the WildStorm
Universe! |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
Captain Atom has had a hard time gaining acceptance
in the DCU. Bought along with a number of other Charleton characters he was
given a book a long time ago that sold decently but not so much that the book is
still being published. The recently cancelled Breach was supposed to be a
re-launch of the character but DC decided that there were other plans for the
character. The last time we saw Atom he was saving the world inside a giant
Superman/Batman robot and that’s where we find him here. Former Aquaman writer
Pfeifer doesn’t start there though he starts in the Wildstorm Universe where we
see the death of a different version of two well known characters before we join
Atom on his path to the Kryptonite asteroid heading towards Earth. Pfeifer uses
the scene to smartly recap Atom’s origin and let the uninformed in on just how
he became cased in permanent armor. The sequence also serves to remind us of the
lack of acceptance of Atom in the DCU. He’s a powerful hero but not the most
powerful, a permanent member of the ‘B’ team. Once he does his death mission
though weird things start happening. First a time glitch then he falls to Earth
in a spectacular fashion, then things get really weird. It seems that he or
someone like him has been there before but the revelations of how are saved for
future issues. The tale is well written and serves the purpose of drawing us in
enough to make us look for the following installment. Art is by Intimates’
Camuncoli and is quite effective. It is the hope of DC that the Italian artist
gain a solid following here in the States so I hope that there are enough Atom
fans out there to aid him on that goal. |
|
|
 |
|
NICK FURY'S HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 |
|
Writer:
Keith Giffen
Artist:
Eduardo Francisco |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Marvel
Comics,
Shipped On: 101905 |
|
MSRP:
$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
When the supernatural proves too difficult and
dangerous for SHIELD, Nick Fury fights fire with fire! Introducing the top
secret weapon in the battle against other worldly threats, the HOWLING
COMMANDOS, a special covert "shock and awe" unit made up of Marvel's greatest
horror characters. Join Warwolf, the Living Mummy, Frankenstein, the Zombie,
Vampire by Night and a whole army of the macabre in this fantastic first issue!
This series will have far reaching ramifications in the Marvel Universe! |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
To those who are wondering this project is tenuously
connected to this month’s Marvel Monsters Group event even though this was in
the works before information of that project was let out. There is also
confusion on whether this is a regular series or a limited one hence the
question mark after the issue number. I have heard both and when I get a clear
answer I'll let you know. We meet the newest version of the Commandos during a
mission and there we get a hint of the nature of the evil they have been
enlisted to fight while seeing what they can do. The team consists of the new
Vampire by Night, Nina Price, the 50’s character Gorilla-Man, a new character
called Warwolf and new versions of the Mummy, Frankenstein and the Zombie. They
work for a division of SHIELD naturally called Area 13 and are under the command
of Dum Dum Dugan (who filled essentially the same role in Marvel's Godzilla
comic way back when). After the slam bang opening we get introduced to Nick Fury
and the new commander of the team the ever popular Clay Quartermain. Once the
duo reach the mountain base Giffen uses the set up to explain what is going on
and why this team needs to exist at all. And being a Giffen written title the
book alternates from serious to bizarre in less than the time it takes your eye
to register what you just read. That schizophrenic quality combined with the
extreme muscle art of Francisco suggests that this will be a guilty pleasure for
most folks and one way or the other the book will last 6 issues then continue as
a series of limited series until Marvel just gives up. |
|
|
 |
|
SHE HULK #1 |
|
Writer:
Dan Slott
Artist:
Juan Bobillo |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Marvel
Comics,
Shipped On: 101905 |
|
MSRP:
$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The surprise hit from last year is BACK in a new
ONGOING series! Join She-Hulk as she deals with the bizarre legal problems of
the Marvel U.! Strange twists, exciting adventures, and lots of one, two, and
three-part stories guest-starring all of your favorite Marvel Characters! See
why Aint it Cool News says, "SHE-HULK is the best comic Marvel publishes today."
And in this first issue, She-Hulk isn't the only one returning. Get ready, True
Believer! Because it's NOT a dream, NOT a hoax, and NOT HOUSE OF M... HAWKEYE'S
BACK! We kid you not! So why is Clint Barton giving Jen Walters such a hard
time? And how is his fate tied in to She-Hulk's latest case? Well...you're just
going to have to check out SHE-HULK #1 to find out! With guest appearances by
THE NEW AVENGERS and CASSIE LANG (TITAN, from YOUNG AVENGERS) |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
Ed Brubaker started something when he and Wildstorm
brought back the low selling Sleeper and dubbed it ‘Season Two’. The inspiration
came from various HBO series (Deadwood, Soprano's, Six Feet Under, etc). The
seasons are ten to twelve episodes then we wait a year or so for another one.
The British also make shows last six or seven episodes then end (as is the case
with MI-5). Now all of this is a roundabout and clumsy way of letting you know
that She-Hulk is back. The last incarnation was funny/entertaining/exciting/low
selling but the folks that have a say in things at Marvel (like Dan Slott) said
"What the Hell" and so here we go again for another round. In the last run the
law firm Jennifer Walters worked for had an exploding building problem but when
we start here new digs have been built and after a morning adventure in which
she cant get her powers to work we follow her to a new day one. Things have
changed within the firm, people are getting used to the new building and Jen
gets herself saddled with a client who has an interesting defense to say the
least. With Slott at the helm that’s only the start of things. We get a guest
appearance by some members of the Young Avengers (one of them being the new
Vision) that lead to a battle and some laughs before finishing up with jury
selection that involves someone who used to be dead. The story here is immensely
enjoyable and composed of small hilarious moments surrounding major funny ones.
Bobillo has a unique style that grows on you as each page is turned. |
|
|
 |
|
the KEEP #1 (of 4) |
|
Writer:
F. Paul Wilson
Artist:
Matthew Clark |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
IDW
Comics,
Shipped On:
101205 |
|
MSRP:
.$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
IDW'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The keep had stood empty in the Transylvanian Alps
for 500 years. No one knew who built it, or why. But on the eve of WW II, German
soldiers move in and awaken something - something hungry... something as
merciless as the SS einsatzkommandos accompanying them. Noted horror writer F.
Paul Wilson adapts his own New York Times bestselling novel and is joined by
Matthew Smith (Hellboy) on art in this, the first installment of the story that
the Providence Journal called, "A battle between good and evil that staggers the
imagination, with an ending as exciting as any horror fan could wish!" |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
One of my favorite filmmakers is local boy Michael
Mann but this limited series returns to the place of his biggest mistake. After
dazzling us with "Thief", Mann decided to direct an adaptation of F. Paul
Wilson’s The Keep. The story involved Nazi’s inside a castle that accidentally
release a greater evil and have to try to stay alive. Making the Nazi’s
sympathetic was one problem and the crappy effects work used in the film was
another. It opened and died without much notice until just recently when it was
released on DVD. The failure of the film bothered the novelist Wilson to the
point that he wanted the story retold (but as a comic) and the fine folks at IDW
took him up on his offer. This first issue tells us why the men are there (and
naturally has them being warned not to do what they end up doing) and fills in
much more than the film did about the history of "The Keep". Wilson keeps the
evil off page, a decision that increases tension and interest. Matthew Clark
does a wonderful job penciling the issue and his art is enhanced by the decision
to color the limited series in blue tones and white. This is the kind of stuff
that IDW does well and if you are in the mood for some well written horror right
before Halloween then take a chance and pick this up |
|
|
 |
|
INFINITE CRISIS #1 (of 6) |
|
Writer: Geoff
Johns
Artists:
Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
DC
Comics,
Shipped On:
101205 |
|
MSRP:
.$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DC'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
It's finally here: the comics event so massive that
it built over the first half of 2005, through COUNTDOWN, DAY OF VENGEANCE, RANN/THANAGAR
WAR, VILLAINS UNITED and THE OMAC PROJECT! Prepare for the dawn of the DCU's
darkest day in INFINITE CRISIS, a 7-issue miniseries written by Geoff Johns
(GREEN LANTERN, JSA) with art by Phil Jimenez (OTHERWORLD, Uncanny X-Men) & Andy
Lanning (OTHERWORLD) and covers by George Perez (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS) and
Jim Lee (BATMAN, SUPERMAN) & Sandra hope! Surrounded by their most fearsome
enemies, the world's greatest heroes are divided within and without. DC's icons
- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman - are joined by Nightwing, Supergirl, Donna
Troy, Superboy, Robin, Wonder Girl, Green Lantern, the Flash and more as they
face their most dire hour. What happens next will destroy friendships and lives,
dictating the direction of the universe for the next generation! Years in the
making, the greatest event to hit the DCU in over two decades is about to
explode - don't miss out! |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
With the final issue of Villains
United also shipping this week the event that will change the DCU for the next
few years has begun. There is no way to review this without revealing spoilers
so if you haven’t read any of the books that has led up to this go read them
then come back and read this. The villains know the secret identities of the
major heroes, the Martian Manhunter is missing and the entire world knows that
Wonder Woman killed Max Lord. This issue begins with an explosion and narration
by persons unseen until the shocking last page. The big three are in the remains
of the exploded Watchtower discussing the new status quo while being watched
from not only the shadows but from somewhere that allows our narrators to see
all that is occurring on this particular Earth. We then leave that location to
witness Donna Troy assembling the team she will need to make things right. Johns
and Jimenez dance all over the place here and Jimenez gets to contribute some
awesome two page spreads that touch on threads seen in the limited series that
got us to this point. Each page is filled with carnage and devastation but the
worst takes place back on the Watchtower where the three heroes that form the
foundation of the DCU seem to have turned their backs on one another and as Greg
Rucka stated in an interview-when the big three don’t get along the DCU suffers.
Once everything is said and done and all seems to be lost then we finally
discover who is watching all this and the revelation is damn spectacular. The
book comes with two covers-one by Jim Lee and one by George Perez so pick the
one you want. |
|
|
 |
|
MARVEL MONSTERS WHERE MONSTERS DWELL |
Writers: Keith Giffen/Peter
David/Jeff Parker
Artists:
Mike Allred/Arnold Pander/Russell Braun |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Marvel
Comics,
Shipped On:
101205 |
|
MSRP:
.$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Take a time machine back to the age of classic
monsters in this incredible special featuring three new tales of magnificent
creatures, aliens and beasts. Witness the terror of Monstrollo, the horror of
Manoo and the fright of Bombu! Plus a classic tale from the Marvel vaults, “I
Was Trapped By Titano” from Tales to Astonish #10, July 1960 by Jack Kirby/Joe
Sinnott. |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
The Marvel Monsters Group event continues this week
with an anthology of monster tales by three pretty talented folks. The first
story from Giffen and Allred concerns the monster known as Bombu, who discovers
that attacking Earth is more troublesome than he/she/it thought. He is being
chatted with by a superior who fills us in on the many successes Bombu has had
in conquering worlds until now. After being chastised and encouraged the mighty
alien is returned to Earth and well, things don’t get much better for
him/she/it. The subsequent invasion is a bit on the frustrating side and saying
anymore will ruin the jokes so I’ll be quiet now. I will say that it is damn
funny though. The second story from David and Pander (who drew Grendel arc years
back) tells the story of a down on his luck movie producer who has a friend
called Monstrollo, an actual big alien who in an old Marvel tale defended Earth
from harm. Everyone thinks he’s nuts and he can’t get any meetings but then he
runs across an actress friend of his who will work with him to get him back to
being a ‘big man in this town’. This doesn’t work out either but suddenly over
canned pasta and beer he gets help from those aliens. We end things with him
being handled by a new agent, one who tends to get his calls answered. It’s not
as funny as the first story but if you know anything on how Hollywood works then
you may pop a stitch laughing. The final new story is from Parker (Interman) and
newcomer Braun and it’s a typical monster story that borrows a lot from an old
Twilight Zone episode but with a funny conclusion page that reminds us that it
would have been on TV at one time. The classic story that fills out the issue
involves a giant crab monster called Titano that ends the way all the stories of
the time ended with a ‘what then’ moment that suggests another story. Not a
funny tale but it wasn’t supposed to be. This installment is of the same high
quality as Devil Dinosaur and if you wanted to gamble on something funny then
these are the books for you. |
|
|
 |
|
FABLES #42 |
|
Writer:
Bill Willingham
Artist:
Mark Buckingham |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
DC/Vertigo Comics,
Shipped On: 101205 |
|
MSRP:
.$2.75 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
DC/VERTIGO'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
Arabian Nights (and Days), Chapter One: Broken
English. In the first issue of the 4-part "Arabian Nights (and Days)," wayward
foreigners have started showing up in Fabletown — much to the dismay of the
longtime residents. These new Fables are not European and are in danger of
throwing the comfortably Eurocentric Fabletown into chaos. Once more, Prince
Charming is in over his head and must call on the help of a Fable character not
seen in these pages for far too long. |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
The characters of the Arabian Knights enter the
world of the Fables in the first part of one of the most ornate issues I have
ever read. Willingham begins things with the arrival of Sinbad (in a long limo
that has way too many people inside) outside Prince Charming, the Mayor’s
complex. We see from the start that things are going to be problematic because
the characters just sit outside wondering why no one has come out to greet them.
The prince has had a rough night and sitting in his office listening to
complaints doesn’t help him much. Flycatcher, the janitor finally goes outside
and asks the folks in the limo what they want and that gets them into the
building as well as the story. They don’t speak English (well they do, but no
one seems to understand them) and were apparently supposed to have been met by
Mowgli, the Jungle Boy but he seems to be otherwise engaged. Hilarious
communications problems continue as we get caught up in the saga of Little Red
Riding Hood and see that Mowgli is on the hunt for Bigby Wolf but isn’t close to
finding him. Someone is found to communicate with Sinbad and his flock so we end
the day with sleep, questions and a passionate kiss that will lead us into the
next issue and even further, the identity of the Adversary. Willingham gives us
a wonderful story but Buckingham goes insane with creativity and fills every
page with art on top and on the sides of art. You would think it would be a
distraction but it isn’t. The issue also has a sneak peek of the new series
Testament from Douglas Rushkoff and Liam Sharp that will tell stories from the
Bible but in a modern day setting. The peek looks interesting but I am not sure
of the commercial appeal of the project. |
|
|
 |
|
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #1 |
|
Writer:
Peter David
Artist:
Mike Wieringo |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Marvel
Comics,
Shipped On: 101205 |
|
MSRP:
$2.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
MARVEL'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
This is it! The start of the 4-month Spider-Man
event that crosses over all three core Spider books and promises to forever
change the lives of Peter Parker and everyone close to him! Haunted by
unsettling dreams. Disturbed by a growing sense of dread. Convinced that people
are out to get him. A portrait of someone on the edge of a nervous breakdown?
Nah. Simply a typical day for Peter Parker, as your friendly neighborhood
Spider-Man has to contend with a new and deadly opponent named Tracer,
self-defense lessons with Captain America, and some disturbing news that will
change his life in a distinctly negative manner. Part 1 (of 12) |
|
BO'S
REVIEW:
|
|
The newest Spider-Man title arrives this week and
also serves as the introduction to “The Other” that will take place in all the
Spidey titles for the next few months. All of the issues will have a special
trade dress and cover color scheme (red starts us off) and David will write this
months books, Reginald Hudlin next months, J. Michael Straczynski the following
month then each will finish the story in their respective books. The event
begins with a recurring dream that Peter Parker has concerning Morlun and death.
We have seen that Peter has been having problems lately with inconsistent powers
and blackouts but are not really sure why (although we do have a clue). David
introduces a new villain here, the Tracer and the actions used in encountering
him set things further in motion. We also get a flashback involving a workout
between Peter, MJ and Cap that give us a hint on how this story will end. The
sequence works perfectly because we see what happens when superheroes live
together-they help each other get better. David also introduces Dr. Castillo, a
character that patches up superheroes when they get shot or stabbed or worse.
There have been issues of comics that have shown costumed ones being admitted
into regular hospitals but that was always a risky thing. The first thing that
happens when you are admitted into a trauma unit is they take off everything
before they examine you and a mask would be the first thing to go. The character
shows us that David is a reader of comics as well as a writer because a fan
would have come up with something or someone like this. Her findings propel us
into the next issue as does the appearance of someone we believed was dead-Morlun.
This arc is supposed to bring a permanent change to Spider-Man and if you picked
up or even glanced thru the sketchbook you will see that evolution is truly
inevitable. Wieringo does a stunning job on this issue and shows that he is one
of the premium artists for the character. |
|
|
 |
|
ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD #1 (OF 5) |
|
Writer:
John Russo
Artist:
Mike Wolfer/Dheeraj Verma |
|
Review By:
Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
|
|
Publisher:
Avatar
Comics,
Shipped On: 100505 |
|
MSRP:
.$3.99 each
(15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
AVATAR'S SYNOPSIS:
|
|
The writer of the classic film Night Of The Living
Dead brings his all-new, never-before-seen zombie masterpiece to comics! 1971:
It's been three years since the bloodsoaked night that the dead rose from their
graves, attacking and devouring the living. Now, the legacy of that horrific and
unexplained event is about to be unleashed once again upon an unsuspecting
world... But this time, there may be no escape for those in the terrifying
clutches of the cannibalistic, living dead! Hidden within the concrete walls of
a secret medical research lab, someone has been studying the last remaining
undead remnants of the marauding zombie army. Unleashed by the untimely
intervention of a group of roadweary bikers looking for an easy score, the
walking dead renew their gutripping campaign of terror. As each member of a
rural community dies in the grotesque feeding frenzy of the zombies, so does the
nightmare army grow, as halfeaten victims rise up to join the ranks of the
undead. Can anything possibly contain the contagion being spread by the Escape
Of The Living Dead? |
|
BO'S REVIEW:
|
|
The man who co-wrote Night of the Living Dead
(Russo) wanders into the comic aisle with a 6-issue limited series from Avatar
to scare us a bit before Halloween. We begin our story in 1971 outside a
decaying and closed medical research center where some idiots decide to break
in. The facility is, of course, filled with zombies and the intruders are
policemen who are there to shoot them in the head to eliminate them. They also
come across the doctor who runs the facility and as he bleeds out he warns them
that their deeds may be for naught in a horror teaser moment that leads us back
into town. Russo introduces citizens of the town and two lowlifes who bring the
zombie threat back to the town by picking the wrong truck to steal. Their act
sets everything in motion for an attack and gives Russo and Verma an excuse to
toss in some nudity. Folks of this era don’t have a clue about this but nudity
was a major part of horror films in the 70’s and part of the 80’s so the
sequence fits perfectly. It’s a nicely done story that gets us comfortable and
catches us up on the history of the George Romero film while bringing us up to
speed on this new story. Regular Avatar penciller Wolfer does the layouts (or
thumbnail sketches) for the issue and new guy Verma does a nice job on every
aspect of artwork. |
|
|
|
|
|
All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2005 by their respective owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2009 Alternate Reality, Inc.
|
|
|
