The third issue of this fan favorite mini-series starts on an interesting note, as all the jungle mutants descend upon the judges, capturing them so that they might take him back to the insane doctor who no doubt has some horrible designs for these lawmen. That said, there are Predators and even an Alien or so running amuck, so it won’t be a huge surprise if something else gets to the Judges, first.
Continue reading ‘Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens #3’ Review
In my personal opinion, it’s important to take risks with comics and graphic novels. There are a great deal of brilliant works out there that go underrated or entirely unheralded when in truth, they may just be impressive enough to earn a place on your personal favorites list. I understand that the average consumer probably can’t afford to grab every book to hit stands or digital outlets on a weekly basis, but I also understand that we’re a little predisposed to the idea that sticking with our established favorites is the safest route to travel when contemplating where to invest our hard-earned bucks. A book like Angel Catbird calls that approach into question, and then some.
Continue reading Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas ‘Angel Catbird Volume 1’ Review
Written by: Daniel Hadley
Opening with the brutal murder of two elderly women and followed by the disposal of their bodies via several Tupperware containers, it’s fair to say that Lady Killers doesn’t shy away from the depiction of senseless brutality, which is fine with me as I’m quite partial to odd bits of savage bloodletting. During the earlier mentioned double homicide we learn via several narration boxes that our main character Josie, who masquerades as a pretty housewife, is actually a killer for hire working for a yet to be revealed organisation that deals in death.
Continue reading Lady Killer #1 Review
Written by: Matt Molgaard
When you pick up anything Joe Lansdale has created, you know you’re holding something special. The man’s made a living by sharing his outrageous and original ideas with the masses, and we’re a better lot of fans for it. Steam Man is just another top flight tale from Lansdale, and as you’d expect, it’s stuffed full of wild imagination and epic showdowns.
Continue reading ‘The Steam Man of the Prairie and the Dark Rider Get Down’ Review
If you’re a fan of Hellboy, which, I’m pretty sure everyone with a properly functioning brain is, you’re going to want to pay close attention this exciting news break. There’s more magic from Dark Horse and the world of Hellboy on the way, and we’re stoked beyond belief.
Check out all the deets courtesy of the official Dark Horse press release:
Next spring, Dark Horse Comics will publish an original graphic novel, Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, co-written by legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, co-written and illustrated by Eisner Award-winning artist Gary Gianni and colored by award-winning colorist Dave Stewart. Following the events of the classic story “The Island,” Hellboy sets sail from the wreckage of a deserted island only to cross paths with a ghost ship. Taken captive by the phantom crew that plans to sell him to the circus, Hellboy is dragged along by a captain who will stop at nothing in pursuit of a powerful sea creature.
Gary Gianni has previously collaborated with iconic writers including George R. R. Martin, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury and Michael Chabon and teamed up with Michael Kaluta to work on the classic pulp hero, The Shadow. Gianni is best known the creator of the Monstermen series, which appeared as a back-up feature in Hellboy. He also illustrated Prince Valiant, the syndicated newspaper comic strip, for 8 years. Gianni will illustrate Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, with colors by Dave Stewart; Mignola will provide a cover, with colors by Stewart.
“I imagine if Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea were a movie, the Hollywood hyperbole would describe it as Hellboy’s greatest adventure,” said Gary Gianni. “Yes… it’s Hellboy as you’ve never seen him before, laughing , loving and battling his way across the stormy seas! You’ll be thrilled as he faces cosmic forces terrorizing a haunted ship manned by a desperate crew! Be sure not to miss Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, the biggest comic book event of the year!”
Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea is the third Hellboy original graphic novel, following the classics, Hellboy: House of the Living Dead by Mignola, Richard Corben and Stewart (2011) and Hellboy: The Midnight Circus by Mignola, Duncan Fegredo and Stewart.
Pre-order Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea on Amazon and Penguin Random House.
I can’t read more than 20 or 30 pages of a fantasy novel, but when you put that story on a page with magnetic illustrations, and you gift these unique creatures varied appearances, my interest level rises, significantly. After just five pages or so, I knew I’d be reading King’s Road: The Long Way Home in a single sitting, eyes straining as I stare at a five inch cellphone screen.
The read justified the strain on the eyeballs, and I’ve got no regrets having tuned out the world around me in order to be sucked into a fantastical world where heroes and beasts call the same landscape home. Not that we spend much time in any magical lands of any sort. No, this story takes place here on earth, but King’s Road is a story that hasn’t met its conclusion, and though I’ve not been familiar with the title prior to today, it’s very obvious that an alternate reality will force the story’s protagonists to return to a realm I’ve yet to see.
Peter Hogan manages to tell a story that is both fast-paced and slowed for consideration of those who may not be familiar with any of this fantasy brouhaha. His story is straight forward, and his characters are all likeable – even a vile “queen” who rules a universe under shady and sinister methods. In fact, she didn’t just land the gig of a universe, the treacherous traitor ambushed the king, who just so happens to be the brother of the story’s hero, and rightful king to a still unknown kingdom.
Loaded with action, it’s impossible to do anything outside of admire the work of artists Staz Johnson, and Phil Winslade who create some nasty beasts with which our heroic family must tangle. What’s even more impressive is that somehow, all of these morbid monsters – cyclops, trolls, and winged freaks of nature – fit comfortably in our own world. An army of monsters doesn’t even look out of place at a strip mall. That’s excellent work from Johnson and Winslade, and it’s all held together by Peter Hogan, who’s created something extremely special here.
I never thought I’d say it, but I can’t wait to read more of King’s Road!
You can look into the single issues, or the trade paperback, right here.
Rating: 4/5
I can’t praise Jeff Lemire enough for what is nothing shy of an immediately captivating tale of sacrifice and heart ache, isolation and frustration. It’s about life in exchange for death. It’s about fallen heroes, all but forgotten by a world that once loved them. It’s about The Black Hammer, the one who gave his life so that Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Barbalien, Colonial Weird, Talky Walky, and Madame Dragonfly could continue to live… continue to breathe.
This is a tale about a young woman, once proud to be the daughter of the Hero of the Streets, and her mission to find those heroes long forgotten. For she knows, in her heart, that they’re out there… somewhere.
Dramatic enough for you?
Honestly, Black Hammer is an amazing book that instantly pulls the reader into a world occupied by polarizing and infectious personalities. Their conflicts are unique but united as a group. Their opinions on their state of existence differ, but there’s a familial beauty to this group that leaves us comic geeks falling in love. It’s an amazing piece of work.
Dean Ormston’s artwork is also perfect. A throwback to a simpler age, Ormston’s got variety in his hand, but he’s decorated this story the way it should be, the way a 50s science fiction film might look on page. And in some ways, that’s kind of what the story is: a science fiction experience lived by a handful of heroes of no use today, trapped in a one horse town with little to do… other than survive.
Lemire, coupled with Ormston deliver what has to be recognized as one of the most inspired Dark Horse titles to ever see release. Ever. That’s a powerful statement, but you don’t find the perfect book very often.
Look into issue #1 of Black Hammer right here.
Rating: 5/5
Big fan of Dark Horse’s Resident Alien? Well, we’ve got some news that should put a skin splitting smile on your face.
Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse are joining forces to deliver Resident Alien: The Man with No Name.
Look for the launch on September 14, 2016!
From the Press Release:
Dark Horse is proud to announce the newest installment in the Resident Alien universe, Resident Alien: The Man with No Name. Peter Hogan (2000 AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Milkman Murders, Doctor Who) will revisit Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle and his mysterious adventures in Patience, Washington.
Resident Alien writer Peter Hogan explained the creative premise behind The Man with No Name: “In this series Harry’s not only dealing with a murder mystery; he’s having to deal with dramatic developments in his personal life as well — and readers will finally learn the answers to some of their questions about Harry’s past.”
Dark Horse, Hogan, and Parkhouse published the first Resident Alien series in 2012. The Man with No Nameis the fourth Resident Alien miniseries; it was preceded by Welcome to Earth!, The Suicide Blonde, and The Sam Hain Mystery. The first issue of The Man with No Name goes on sale September 14, 2016, with the next three issues of the miniseries published monthly.
Synopsis: Resident Alien chronicles the life of Harry, an alien who crash-landed on Earth and is forced to hide in plain sight among humans. While awaiting rescue and dodging government agencies intent on capturing him, Harry spends his time solving murders and other mysteries in a small Washington town. In The Man with No Name, Harry investigates a huge, bizarre fire attributed to a possible drug ring, while fending off the investigative prowess of the United States government.
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
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