Category Archives: Comics

‘Justice League: Throne of Atlantis’ Remains One of the Greatest JL Stories Ever Told

June 12, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

Perhaps the most complex and intricate Justice League story I’ve ever personally read, Throne of Atlantis is loaded with war, internal conflicts, deception and a number of twists you don’t typically take in through this specific medium. It’s a fast-paced piece that reads and looks amazing (as for the looks, I’ll be delivering my review of the animated film in the immediate future), and if you’ve never been a big Justice League follower, reading this tale – especially the beautiful hardcover collection that includes a DVD as well as a Blu-ray of the film – might turn you into a dedicated follower of the League.

As for the story, I’ll be as vague as possible and tell you that a naval test goes awry and a series of missiles plummet towards the bottom of the ocean. And deep beneath the sea, the army of Atlantis takes the arrival of explosives as a clear ignition point of a war they will not stand by idly and watch, nor will they lose. But as Orn, evil brother to Aquaman, makes his way to the surface to bring hell to those who walk on dry land, pieces of a different puzzle are coming together, and they all point to an accidental war that is anything but accidental.

That’s all we can give you here, because believe this: you need to read this story. Geoff Johns’ epic tale is beautifully illustrations by Ivan Reis, Paul Pelletier, Tony S. Daniel and Brad Walker. All keep the look of the story cohesive, and all gift us some stunning background visuals. The characters themselves don’t always exist as the star of the show, although I must say I’ve never seen Orn look so menacing and intimidating. This story really gives readers an idea of how sharp, savage and downright entertaining Orn is. This is one severely underrated villain, for sure.

If you’re looking for an excellent storyline to hold your attention for a few hours, get your hands on the stunning hardcover/disc combo. It’s a must-have. It was a gift given to me for my 35^th birthday, and I was more than pleased by the gift, I was certifiably stoked. And it all lived up to expectations. Throne of Atlantis makes for a marvelous book and an action-packed, gratifying film, as well!

Rating: 4.5/5

1st Appearances, Comics, Marvel Comics

Throwback Review: X-Men #1 (First Appearance of Magneto)

June 9, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

A true classic that introduces a number of characters that would, decades later, find themselves firmly entrenched among a blossoming group of iconic names and faces. In X-Men #1 Stan Lee gives us the chance to meet Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Beast, Angel, Iceman and – eventually (she arrives at the Professor’s school for gifted youngsters about halfway through the book) – Jean Grey, then known as Marvel Girl. We also learn of the professor’s intentions to hone his pupils into warriors capable of defending and preserving the safety of the world’s average men and women.

Continue reading Throwback Review: X-Men #1 (First Appearance of Magneto) →

Comics, Marvel Comics

Marvel Spotlight on… Werewolf by Night #2 (Review)

June 9, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

The initial introduction of Jack, the young, confused lycanthrope – as seen in Marvel Spotlight On… #2 – would eventually go on to become an expanded and intriguing tale of a man afflicted by something terrible. Jack is a decent human being, but sudden extreme events in his life change things fast.

First, Jack is forced to confront himself and acknowledge his position as a literal monster of the world. Second, he doesn’t care much for his step father – there’s some hatred lingering beneath the surface, and when it comes to Jack, that hatred spreads in the direction of his step father’s driver, a mean brute. And finally, the man suddenly has his mother taken from him after she found herself in a terrible car accident that may not have been an accident at all.

Rage fuels the beast, terror and uncertainty rules the man. There’s a sizable gap between man and monster and that works great. It’s a little bit reminiscent of Lon Chaney Jr.’s depiction of the Wolfman back in 1941. I love that, as Chaney played the greatest Wolfman we’ve ever seen, still to this day.

I really enjoyed the parallel conflicts of the story, as they encourage a fast paced narrative that sucks the reader right in. Gerry Conway really did do an outstanding job of crafting this monumental introduction, and Michael Ploog, who handles the illustrations, turns in top notch work that for the most part, wouldn’t feel dated by today’s standards. The man was ahead of his time, and he got the chance to illustrate a terrific story here.

As much as I adore Marvel’s other big classic monster book, Tomb of Dracula, I just can’t get enough of Werewolf by Night. Werewolves were always “my thing” as a child, and they still are today, decades later as grown nerd who takes a verbal shellacking from his kids… even though they’ve all got a little nerd in them, as well.

Amazing stuff, is Werewolf by Night.

Rating: 5/5

Comics, DC Comics, Review

Reliving the Death of Superman (Review)

June 8, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

Back in the early 90s there were only a handful of books I could claim to truly love. Spiderman, Batman, The Flash and Superman made up my primary reading list. I adored those characters, each for different reasons. Batman channeled that dark side, Spidey captured the essence of youth perfectly, the Flash never slowed down for anyone, and Superman was a symbol of everything right in the world.

And then DC decided to kill Superman, shattering everything right in the world.

It was a tough pill to swallow, and it was a difficult story arc to make it through. Back then, before the story had been released as a collected graphic novel, we all waiting weekly for the next chapter in the destructive saga. And as each week passed, the feeling that Superman was doomed (pardon the… eh, screw it) grew. Superman’s demise felt imminent. No matter what he, or any member of the JLA threw at Doomsday, it didn’t faze him. The monster just… kept… coming.

Throughout the 150-plus page story we, the reader, break down as much as our once trusty heroes. Knowing that there’s something alive in this universe capable of completely obliterating the forces of good was jolting. Knowing that the men and women who occupied this fictional world were no longer safe left a dark cloud hovering over the masses.

Of course we readers faced no danger… or so we thought.

The real danger we faced, unbeknownst to us, was the loss of a legend. Was it really possible that DC could kill off the greatest superhero of all time? What could possibly fill the void left by the one and only Superman? The whole scenario seemed like a bad joke. But it wasn’t, and the DC crew would indeed decide to kill Superman.

Of course, the DC gang would find a way to bring the Kryptonian back to us in decent time. But that stretch in which Superman was nowhere to be found, was an uncomfortable stretch to say the very least.

Nowadays DC is running a different ship entirely, having rebooted essentially all of their major titles a few years back, labelling the project the “New 52.” There are ups and downs in the new system, just as there has always been, but it’s cool to see Superman still doing his super thing in 2016.

But whether Superman made a triumphant return or not, one can never forget the brilliant story written by Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern. And I’d be mighty neglectful if I didn’t tip my cap to Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Jackson Guice and, again, Dan Jurgens who all illustrated this tale. And finally, respect to a gang of amazing inkers: Brett Breeding, Rick Burchett, Doug Hazlewood, Dennis Janke and Denis Rodier.

Without these sharp minds and hands, the Death of Superman could have been an epic misfire. Instead, it ended up being epic, just plain epic… and tear-jerking. Still one of, if not the greatest graphic novels ever to be published, The Death of Superman is mesmerizing, engaging, depressing and abysmal. It’s memorable and it’s infectious. There’s a brilliant hardcover release of the book which also includes DVD and Blu-ray copies of Superman: Doomsday, and it’s relatively easy to get your hands on the collection for under $20. It’s a purchase you’ll cherish.

Rating: 5/5

Comics, Image Comics

Outcast Volume One: A Darkness Surrounds Him Review

June 4, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

A brilliant book with multi-layered characters that are typically easy to cheer for, but can be easy to despise. But if you pull those polarizing figures from the picture, and what Outcast truly is, is an evil, exorcism tale. Now drag those personalities back into frame and what you’ve got is a battle between good and evil that runs parallel to an intricate examination of magnetic characters.

Robert Kirkman may end up being remembered for The Walking Dead and little else, but he’s accomplished so much more than just creating The Walking Dead, and his ability to chill to the bone sure as hell isn’t dependent on the inclusion of zombies. Kirkman could make your backyard patio set terrifying, if he wanted to. He can certainly handle evil, self-doubt, violence and even maybe a hint of schizophrenia, as well. Pretty versatile, if you ask me.

As for this story, the focus rests on Kyle Barnes, an insanely troubled 30-something with a past he’d prefer to forget. But he can’t forget, because evil beings have been following him since day one. His only answer (a leery one) to this problem is to stop being the pursued and begin pursuing. Kyle embarks on a mission to rid the world of the evil beings capable of possessing the human body.

Kirkman makes this one a rugged affair, as we see some unsettling imagery, creepy ideas brought to the page and an unrelenting evil that has a score to settle with Kyle. It’s a brilliant read, and this comes from someone who isn’t a fan – in the least bit – of religious horror stories.

This one feels different. It actually doesn’t feel like an exorcism piece in the slightest, and that works for me. It reads differently, as though the small community and the mysterious and unknown are designed to take center stage over crosses and holy water. Again, big points for knowing when it’s time to move in a different direction.

I’m interested in seeing where Kyle heads from here. Robert Kirkman’s writing is top notch, and Paul Azaceta and Elizabeth Breitweiser’s artwork proves to be a magical fit for this gripping story. One volume in and I just can’t get enough of this aggressive piece of artwork.

You can order volume one right here.

Rating: 5/5

Comics, Image Comics, News

Scanners meets The Bourne Identity in Image’s ‘Throwaways’

May 16, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

Author Caitlin Kittredge (Coffin Hill, Hell) and artist Steven Sanders (Wolverine) have teamed up to give us what promises to be a balls-to-the-wall joyride. Throwaways sounds like a certified keeper, and we’re pumped to see the book moving forward.

Look for Throwaways to launch in July.

Here’s some valuable 411 from the official press release:

Abby Palmer and Dean Logan are two broken people. Abby is a veteran with severe PTSD and Dean a burnout trying to escape the shadow of his infamous father—but when they are thrust into a modern-day MK-ULTRA conspiracy… They discover they are both ULTRA’s human experiments.

“Throwaways is the comic I’ve been waiting my whole career to write, and I can’t think of a better publisher than Image or a better collaborator than Steven,” said Kittredge. “This book is a collection of everything I love—spies, superpowers, secret history, conspiracies and action, grounded in a big dose of flawed, realistic characters. It’s just plain fun to write this book and I can’t wait for it to be unleashed on the world.”

Sanders added: “Throwaways has been a blast to work on! Just getting to draw ‘real life’ telekinetic fights has been something of a dream come true. I’ve had an itch to draw that sort of thing since I was a kid. It’s also giving me the chance to try out some illustration techniques I’ve just recently learned about. There’s a lot of detail to play with, a lot of action, but also quiet moments to build up tension. It’s hard for an artist to not be excited about a comic like this.”

THROWAWAYS #1 (Diamond Code MAY160548) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, July 6th. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, June 13th.

News

We’re Looking for Passionate and Dedicated Writers!

May 13, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

At this point in time the website is in its obvious infancy, but we really want to grow. We want to be able to give comic fans the reviews they want. We want to give the analytical mind the thought provoking articles they deserve. We want to rank Marvel titles, characters and story lines. The same can be said for DC, Image, Dynamite, IDW and all of the other amazing indie publishers out there. We want to bring more exposure to your books.

That’s where you come in, because we need you to make it happen.

If you like writing about those things mentioned in the first paragraph, and you want all sorts of advance and current comics – in digital form – free of charge, then reach out to me here: contact@best-comic-books.com, let’s get this site growing like it should!

Comics, Features, Image Comics

The Greatest Books We’re Reading in 2016: Postal

May 13, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

Matt Hawkins, Brian Hill and Isaac Goodhart created a marvelous and engaging tale about a mail man with Asperger’s who finds himself in the middle of an intricate war and a bid for power. Postal is one of the greatest books on the shelf, loaded with fantastic characters and a few great twists, the popular Image title immediately squeezes its way into the must-read column.

And that’s really not a result of the book’s ruthlessness (it can indeed be pretty effin’ ruthless), it’s a result of nurturing of personalities. We care about Mark. We care about Maggie. We even become quite invested in the story’s antagonists. They’re a colorful lot, and the manner in which Hawkins and Hill blur the details and the line between good and evil, we’re never entirely certain of who is shady and who isn’t. I enjoy that enigmatic quality.

A murder mystery with some strong elements of horror (the secret’s floating throughout the town offer plenty of genre fuel, and things only seem to be escalating as the story continues), Postal is one of the greatest books you can read right now. It’s such a refined piece of work that looks and reads in pitch-perfect fashion. Postal cannot be avoided or slept on – it’s just too good for that.

Each arc is being released in collected volumes. You can volume one right here, while volume two can be purchased here. Volume three will be available for purchase next month. If you have trouble tracking down a few of the earlier issues, the old trade paperback is a safe way to go.

For now we want to bring you up to speed on the story, without spoiling it for you. Just in case, you know, you’ve had your head buried in the sand.

Dig on our top moment from each of the first four books.

Favorite Moment from Postal #1

Favorite Moment from Postal #2

postal favorite scene 2 — Mark begins the journey into his family past.

Favorite Moment from Postal #3

Favorite Moment from Postal #4

Here we offer you a look at each cover from the first four issues, which are what make up the first volume TPB. Speaking of the TPB, we’ve also got a look at the cover for that as well:

Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Reviews

Alien vs. Predator vs. The Terminator (Review)

May 8, 2016 The Overseer Leave a comment

There are a few things that make this story rather unique. First, we see Ellen Ripley and Call reunited which is awesome and leads to the other aspect of this tale that kicks serious tail: We’re dealing with post-clone-super-modified Ripley. The one we met in Alien: Resurrection. These are two points that immediately won me over, as I’m big on the idea of post-Resurrection tales. Throw in Terminators and Predators and a guy like me – a product of the ‘80s – is just about in Heaven.

We’ve got a Terminator working to create the weapon of all weapons, something clearly capable of disposing of Aliens, androids, clones and Predators alike. This Terminator, who operates under the alias Trollenberg certainly looks to be the major villain of the story arc, but we quickly learn that he’s only one piece of the puzzle. It’s the creature he’s been putting together that poses the real threat. The hulking beast is capable of obliterating everything – Predator, Alien – you name it, with the greatest of ease.

So how in the hell can Ripley and Call bring the insanity to an end, and how do they dispose of what eventually is revealed to be an Alien, Terminator hybrid?

Pretty intimidating predicament.

We won’t dig too deep into conflict resolutions, because you can still get your hands on this book today, although at a somewhat hefty price. It’s not cheap, but it is worth it, and it is a story line that truly has a massive fan following despite some sketchy reviews and – admittedly – a couple hazy plot points. I think the greatest complaint has been that the story itself feels a bit too murky. But in 2016, having now read a lot of Alien, Predator and Terminator books, and seen a few new film additions of each of those franchises, I can appreciate this one for what it aims to do. It’s something of an earlier crossover book (not uncharted territory, but for years a pretty sporadic occurrence), and it falls into a few potholes as can happen in crossover stories, but it feels like a pretty straight forward, even if a little outlandish, idea that’s stronger than more than a single comic I’ve read and film that I’ve seen.

I’ll take this book all day and night. It unites three of my favorite childhood monsters and brings them together for a respectable battle (I’m greedy and readily confess to wanting just a bit more action from the story). I enjoyed this far more than a lot of the franchise books I’ve read – so many in fact I couldn’t even kick off a list. I enjoyed it more than Alien vs. Predator. I enjoyed it far more than Terminator: Genisys. It’s a fun book that doesn’t fall as flat as some reviews might lead you to believe.

Respect goes out to Mark Schultz who writes a fairly convoluted but quite enjoyable and infectious book. As for artist Mel Rubi, not much need be said other than holy hell – beautiful art!

Rating: 3.5/5