No Hero #5 – Review

By Warren Ellis (Writer), Juan Jose Ryp (Art), and Digikore Studios (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I really like what Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp are doing with No Hero. While the concept of a superhuman drug is nothing new, the story still manages to feel surprisingly fresh. And that’s all thanks to Ellis’ touch for taking into consideration the real world implications of something like (super drug) FX7 and Ryp’s incredibly brutal visuals.

The Story: With the media in a frenzy following the unexpected events that occurred at the press conference featured last issue, Carrick takes some advice and allows Revere to go out for a walk that doubles as public relations damage control. As it turns out, the walk offers Josh his first chance to be a hero. Welcome to The Front Line Revere…

What’s Good: The most impressive thing about No Hero #5 is how naturally it progresses Josh’s (A.K.A Revere) story. Warren Ellis does a great job of revealing both sides of the Front Line coin (public/private) through the events that conclude Josh’s transition from street vigilante to public hero. It makes for an extremely compelling read. A read that is also quite awesome to look at thanks to the impressive artwork provided by Juan Jose Ryp and Digikore studios. It successfully straddles the line between realism and a more traditional comic book style. It makes the action and gore (I dig the hallucinations) feel disturbingly grounded, yet appropriately stylized.

What’s Not So Good: For as much as I’ve enjoyed No Hero’s opening arc, the slow burn storytelling continues to be a tiny bit irritating. Five issues in and the story is still in an “introduce the characters” phase. Interesting characters though they may be, I had hoped some sort of bigger plot would have emerged by this point. Having The Front Line targeted for the past is a premise I can get behind; Ellis just hasn’t done enough with it yet.

Conclusion: No Hero is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I just hope that sooner than later, more is done to really solidify the plot that is emerging.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

The Living Corpse Annual #1 (Guest Starring Hack/Slash) – Review

By Ken Haeser (Writer, Art, & Colors), Buz Hasson (Art), and Chris Hewitt (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve never checked out an issue of The Living Corpse, but seeing as how it’s annual features a guest appearance by Cassie Hack and her partner Vlad (of Hack/Slash fame), I figured it was about time to do so. Who knows? Maybe it will hook me enough to make me want to catch up with the series.

The Story: Cassie and Vlad, while investigating the legend of the Jersey Devil, find themselves in The Living Corpse’s territory. While the creature may not be all the legend makes it out to be, there is something worse for the three to worry about…

What’s Good: A simple, fun, comical, and stylish read, The Living Corpse Annual #1 proves to be quite entertaining. While not exactly mind-blowing, the one-shot succeeds largely because it is calibrated to deliver the story in a way that will probably satisfy almost any comic reader (of approriate age this), regardless of how familiar he or she is with the characters involved. And that really counts for something when so many comics are so heavily steeped in continuity or part of some longer plot. The dialogue is mostly humorous, the story is interesting enough, and the artwork is quite unique and eye-catching (love the way the Jersey Devil looks). In short, you really can’t ask for a whole lot more from a one-and-done comic character crossover that seems to be attempting to be welcoming to (mature) readers of all sorts.

What’s Not So Good: By far the biggest negative about the book is the price tag ($4.99) it’s stuck with. I’m all for simple and fun entertainment, but something as lightweight as The Living Corpse Annual should have a comparably lightweight price. Simple as that.

The other negative involves the artwork. For every few impressive panels, there is one that is lacking in some way. Either it suffers from looking too simplified (especially in small panels) or has character work that just looks odd. I mean throughout the book Cassie Hack seems to have a head that morphs into different shapes. And, as another example, in one panel Vlad almost looks like a teddy bear…seriously.

Conclusion: If you are looking for a slick, fun horror-comedy comic book, you can’t really go wrong by picking up The Living Corpse Annual. Then again, there are better comics that can be bought at a much cheaper price.

Grade: C (+ or – depending on your opinion of the price issue)

-Kyle Posluszny

Wolverine: Weapon X #1

By Jason Aaron (Writer), Ron Garney (Artist), and Jason Keith (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: At first, like any sane person, I really wanted to dismiss Weapon X as something that I need not waste my time reading or reviewing. I mean, at first glance, it seems to have all the trappings of what would pretty much be THE ultimate Marvel cash-in series. In my mind I thought, “It stars Wolverine, launches just weeks before a film starring the character hits theaters, and is subtitled “Weapon X” (which just so happens to be an integral part of the Wolverine movie)…yep…” Then I noticed that the creative team attached to the book is the same team responsible for “Get Mystique!” one of my favorite Wolverine stories of all time. Suddenly, Wolverine: Weapon X became a must read series…

The Story: After getting a tip from Maverick, Wolverine heads off to investigate the latest attempt at resurrecting the Weapon X program. It turns out that a private military contractor recently bought Weapon X files off the black market and is looking to give it’s mercenaries a boost. The investigation into the facility hosting the experiments triggers some old memories of Wolverine’s time as part of the program…

What’s Good: Jason Aaron and Ron Garney waste no time establishing the gritty, violent tone Wolverine: Weapon X will have. Both the visuals and the writing do a fantastic job of tapping into the dark side of Marvel’s main mutant. While it’s definitely too early to tell just which directions the first arc will take, it’s obviously going to be a brutal, bloody affair. And I, for one, could not be more pleased about that.

What’s Not So Good: I guess my biggest complaint is that the debut of Weapon X is very much a textbook example of how a standard first issue should play out. The first threads of a plot are introduced, Wolverine’s character is established, and off he goes with a purpose. The formula works, that’s for sure, but I wish the series would have hit the ground running a bit harder. I mean damn near everyone is already familiar with Wolverine on some level, so why not just get to it? Sure, it’s a blast reading Aaron’s take on Wolverine no matter what the character is doing. And sure, I couldn’t be much happier with Garney’s distinct visual style. But I wish things moved forward a bit more from a plot perspective instead of spending so much time establishing Wolverine as a badass…most people already know that he is.

Conclusion: I really like the first issue of Weapon X, especially on a technical level, I just wish it had a bit more substance. That said, what substance there is has some interesting storytelling potential that, under the control of Jason Aaron, Ron Garney, and Jason Keith, should be in good hands. I look forward to see what happens next.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #21 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m quite a fan of the Hack/Slash formula. It successfully blends a variety of genres into one extremely satisfying product. One part bloody horror story, one part buddy action comedy, one part grounded drama, and one part supernatural thriller, Hack/Slash somehow manages to work on nearly every level. While the series has hit a few bumps here and there, it always keeps me coming back for more because the basic concept is just so much fun. Simply put, you should be reading Hack/Slash.

The Story: The latest chapter of Hack/Slash sees Cassie’s past catching up with her in a big way. Longtime fans will either love or loathe the surprise returns in one of the more oddball issues of the series. Let me just say that it features one of the more interesting uses of an old lady in a comic book. Yep…

What’s Good: Story-wise, Hack/Slash #21 scores more points with me for what it sets up than for what actually happens. Though that’s not to say it isn’t a fun and entertaining issue. In fact, it might actually be one of the funniest comics I’ve read in quite some time. The bits with the elderly lady, Muffy, are so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh. Cassie and Vlad even get in on it with some great character moments both humorous and, at times, poignant. Good work Mr. Seeley.

Also worth mentioning is the art team of Emily Stone and Mark Englert. They provide solid visuals throughout the book, with a few extremely stand-out moments. I’ve been a bit hard on Emily Stone in the past (mostly regarding facial consistency and the occasionally sketchy panel), but Hack/Slash #21 features some of her best work. And that work is complimented well by Mark Englert’s effective, quality coloring.

What’s Not So Good: A lot of your enjoyment of the latest Hack/Slash arc will probably rest on what you think of the returning characters. I can easily imagine at least one of them annoying or irritating people, so I can easily imagine his (or her?!) return falling flat. Personally, I think introducing new characters might have been more interesting, but I’m not exactly against how things now stand.

Another not so good thing is that some of Stone’s pencils tend to look a bit sketchy and rough at times. While it doesn’t really distract from the otherwise nice visuals, an extra layer of polish would have helped. I say that especially because Hack/Slash is extremely close to being a consistently good to great looking series as Stone’s solid work continues to improve.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #21 is a surprisingly funny installment to an extremely entertaining series. While some may find themselves a bit irked by the returns, I believe most will be forgiven by the time they hit the cliffhanger of an ending. I look forward to seeing where Tim Seeley and his creative team take things from this point on.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Gears of War #5 – Review

By Joshua Ortega (Writer), Liam Sharp (Artist), and Jonny Rench (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Being a fan of the Xbox 360 series, the Gears of War comics are something of a guilty pleasure for me. The artwork in them effectively captures the gritty violence of the game’s world and action, while the tough-guy dialogue works well enough to keep the books entertaining enough to read. I wish the Gears series had a bit more story and depth, but then again I had a fairly solid idea of what I was getting into when I picked up the first issue.

The Story: Marcus, Jace, Dom, and Barrick find themselves trapped underneath the rubble of the ruined city of Montevado. With the area unstable and crawling with creatures, the separated COGs must find a way out of the dangerous mess. The situation offers up the opportunity for the reader to learn a little more about Jace as well.

What’s Good: To be honest, there isn’t much about Gears #5 that is particularly memorable. The action comes across well and the situation the COGs find themselves in by the end of the issue is appropriately hopeless (and potentially exciting), but beyond that there just isn’t a whole lot worth mentioning. And that’s something of a shame because the creative team puts in some pretty decent work…

What’s Not So Good: The pretty decent work ultimately fails to amount to much. I understand that for the most part, Gears of War is all about mindless action. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to actually advance the storyline once in a while. I mean, I love bloody action as much as the next guy, but it gets tiresome when it seems as though that’s all that is holding the series together. There has to be some driving force moving things along. Unfortunately, I have pretty much stopped caring what that force is at this point. As a result, I just found the penultimate chapter of the first Gears arc to be quite boring.

Conclusion: While I will be sticking around to see how the “Hollow” story concludes thanks to the fairly strong finish of chapter five, I can’t help but be disappointed with things as a whole. The creative team definitely gets the appeal of Gears and successfully translates it to the page, but the whole thing just feels empty without a compelling story. Maybe things will turn around next month, but I will be sure to keep my expectations in check.

Grade:  C-

-Kyle Posluszny

Mesmo Delivery – Review

By Rafael Grampa (Writer & Artist) and Marcus Penna (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I decided to pick up Mesmo Delivery after seeing the slick looking preview pages and hearing nothing but good things about the book for the past month or so. So is Rafael Grampa’s first solo work a true indie gem or is it a victim of the dreaded hype machine? Read on to find out.

The Story: Mesmo Delivery follows two men, a burly truck driver and a company hand, as they make their way through a rural town to deliver a package to its intended destination. The only company rule is that the back of the truck must remain closed so that the package cannot be seen by the driver or anyone else. As you might have guessed, things don’t exactly go smoothly. Rufo, the truck driver, finds himself in way over his head upon accepting a bet with a local and soon all hell breaks loose in two very different ways.

What’s Good: Part mystery, part thriller, and part gory action-horror story, Mesmo is one trippy trucker tale. It easily overcomes a few generic plot points by providing a mystery laced with a number of unexpected twists and buckets of well-executed gore. Trust me when I say that, in both style and execution, you haven’t seen anything quite like Mesmo Delivery.

Rafael Grampa’s kinetic, well-choreographed visuals offer a unique mixture of meticulous detail, the surreal, and disturbing hyper-violence. As strange as that may sound, the style proves to be a perfect fit for a story that definitely takes a few readings to fully appreciate. By revealing some, but not all of the necessary information, Grampa manages to transform a fairly basic trucker tale into something incredibly compelling.

What’s Not So Good: Simply put, Mesmo Delivery is not a book for everyone. The insanely graphic violence and a few odd shots featuring the female anatomy keep it strictly for a more mature audience. In addition, I can easily imagine more than a few readers being frustrated by the obtuse story and the lack of any concrete resolution, especially for a comic that goes for around twelve bucks.

Conclusion: While it is almost certain to be one of the most divisive releases of the year, there is no denying how impressive the presentation and artistic execution displayed in Mesmo Delivery. Personally, I found the book to be an imaginative, cinematic mix of genres that worked on a number of levels. As such, I highly recommend it to mature readers looking for something quite a bit different from the usual Marvel or DC fare.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #18 – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone & Kevin Mellon (Art), and Mark Englert (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The recently completed Re-Animator crossover left me itching for a stand alone, one-and-done Hack/Slash story about Cassie and Vlad taking care of some random slasher. Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to wait at least a little while for something like that. Why? Well, for starters, there is some serious character work to be done in the aftermath of the crossover. In addition, a few overarching plot threads are in serious need of some advancement. Luckily, it looks like Hack/Slash #18 is going to start dealing with those very issues so that the series can get back to what it does best sooner rather than later.

The Story: Picking up shortly after the traumatic events that involved Dr. Herbert West, the latest Hack/Slash finds Cassie and Vlad at a crossroad of sorts. Both characters question the status of their relationship and how they exist in the world in general. Vlad takes his questions to the bar where he finds himself facing off against a plethora of guest stars. Cassie, thanks to Vlad, spends some quality time with her lady-friend Georgia. Meanwhile, the demon from another dimension introduced last issue on a rampage in search of Cassie and the dog-like alien currently living with Cassie’s friends.

What’s Good: Tim Seeley’s character work for both Cassie and Vlad is incredibly effective considering how easily it could have come off as forced or overly dramatic. It’s next to impossible not to feel for the characters in some way, especially considering what went down over the past few months. As for the visuals, the best thing in the issue is Vlad’s brawl with a number of familiar comic characters. It’s a fun, well-choreographed surprise among all the weighty themes.

What’s Not So Good: The whole alien dog storyline just doesn’t do it for me as a whole. It has been going on for a while now and to this very day, it still seems out of place in a series so heavily based around the things that make the horror genre so fun. Hopefully the arrival of the demon-warrior thing signals the beginning of the end for that particular plot thread, because it feels like it just gets in the way of the good stuff.

Conclusion: Hack/Slash #18 is very good when dealing with Cassie and Vlad. On the other hand, it definitely loses a bit of momentum anytime anything else takes the spotlight. That said, the good most definitely outweighs the bad in what ultimately amounts to a strong, character-driven issue of an entertaining series.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Spooks: Omega Team #3 – Review

By Ryan Schifrin (Creator), Larry Hama (Writer), Adam Archer (Pencils), and Tony Avina (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: This series has been really hit or miss so far. It has some good, fun ideas and a nice action-horror vibe, but it has yet to come together in a successful way. Maybe things will start to pick up as the opening arc makes it’s way toward a conclusion.

The Story: The SPOOKS team, in pursuit of Lilithu, heads to Romania in an attempt to bring the ancient demon’s quest for power to an end. Once there, the SPOOKS fight some obsessed cultists, exchange witty banter, cause lots of destruction, and inch closer to their target. In other words, the newest issue of SPOOKS: Omega Team is a lot like the first few.

What’s Good: That this book gives you more of the same. If you like what the series has offered up so far, then you will almost certainly enjoy this issue as well. The action is mostly well done, the banter is somewhat amusing, and the gore doesn’t disappoint.

What’s Not So Good: That this book gives you more of the same. Simply put, this series is already dangerously close to becoming utterly forgettable. The action is starting to feel tired, reading the banter is almost a painful experience at times, and the characters lack the substance necessary to make for a memorable monster fighting team.

Conclusion: SPOOKS: Omega Team #3 will prove to be either a deal maker or a deal breaker. More of the same may work for some people, but this reviewer was hoping for much more from the series at this point. It’s disappointing to see something with so much potential become boring so quickly.

Grade: C-

-Kyle Posluszny

Welcome to Hoxford #3 – Review

By Ben Templesmith (Writer and Artist)

The Story: With vicious creatures on the hunt throughout the halls of Hoxford, insane inmate Raymond Delgado fights back. It’s ancient evil versus human evil in a clash that proves just how twisted things can get when two very different types of darkness collide.

What’s Good: This series just keeps getting better and better. Ben Templesmith creates a stylish horror story that creates a conflicting response within the reader in a spectacular fashion. You can’t help but root for Raymond Delgado, the anti-hero of the story, despite the fact that he is pretty much the worst that humanity has to offer. He is a perfect match for the horrors (and inmates) of Hoxford and the only one capable of fully grasping the situation at hand. It makes for one compelling, haunting read.

I also must mention that the other inmates in the cast provide some truly disturbing moments as well. While spoiling anything would ruin some of the more fun moments in the book, let me just say that there are scenes that are definitely not for the squeamish. Templesmith goes out his way to make sure that you don’t forget what type of people are committed to Hoxford and it works to great effect.

What’s Not So Good: As much as I enjoy Templesmith’s visual style, it creates a bit of confusion in this issue since it is so heavy on action. With the unique color palette and copious amounts of gore, sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly what’s happened during some of the more intense scenes. It is obvious bad things are happening, but I wish it was more clear about what bad things are happening. A minor complaint, but worth mentioning regardless.

Conclusion: After a somewhat shaky start, Welcome to Hoxford is quickly becoming one of my favorite stories of year. I highly recommend this one to all horror fans.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #1: Halloween Treat – Review

By Tim Seeley (Writer), Emily Stone (Art), Courtney Via (Colors), Stefano Caselli (Intro Pencils), Sunder Raj (Intro Colors), and Sam Wells (Journal Entries)

The Story: A re-print of the very first issue of the Hack/Slash ongoing series, this “Halloween Treat” is an origin tale loaded with special features. In addition to the the full #1 issue, the book features a peek into Cassie’s diary (useful for catching up on some Hack/Slash history), a “slasher” checklist,” and more.

The origin tale is told as Cassie is bound to a chair and tortured while her skinless captor assesses her psychological state and how she came to hunt down “slashers.” If you ever wanted to know about Cassie’s family, her first meeting with Vlad, or how she became the character she currently is, this is the place to look.

What’s Good: This is how you make a re-print worthwhile for both new and current readers. The #1 issue alone is worth the price of admission thanks to a smart, compelling plot scenario and great artwork, but the special features are what push this one into must-buy territory.

What’s Not So Good: There is no denying that Cassie’s past follows a very familiar trajectory. For a series that succeeds in differentiating itself from the more conventional hero stories, the origin of Cassie is surprisingly predictable. Also, on a more personal note, this re-print made me realize how much I miss Stefano Caselli’s Hack/Slash work.

Conclusion: A perfectly executed re-print, Hack/Slash #1: Halloween Treat is a must have for fans and a great read for those that have yet to give the series a shot.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #6 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Michael Broussard (Pencils), Ryan Winn (Inks), and Sheldon Mitchell (Colors)

The Story: After embracing the Darkness in order to survive being blown to bits, Jackie Estacado faces off against his child, a being borne of nothing but pure Darkness. It is a battle of revenge-fueled rage versus primal, ancient evil as the Empire arc comes to an explosive conclusion.

What’s Good: Pretty much everything. Jackie Estacado continues to be one of the most compelling comic characters around, and this issue of The Darkness is a prime example of why. For a book that focuses almost entirely on the action, this one has a surprising amount of depth. And as far as action is concerned, it doesn’t get much better than this. The epic battle is visually stunning, full of entertaining banter, and it all resolves in a surprisingly clever fashion.

Phil Hester does a fantastic job laying the groundwork necessary to give this battle some emotional impact, and the payoff hits all the right notes. It plays off everything that makes The Darkness such an entertaining series. The main character is at his best, the artwork is better than ever, and the Darkness (both the power and the nature of it) is given a chance to shine.

What’s Not So Good: For as much as I enjoy Phil Hester’s writing, it comes across as a bit melodramatic or pretentious from time to time. His style works to great effect for the most part, but every once in a while a phrase will pop up that elicits a roll of the eyes. It is as if he is trying too hard to add weight to the story.

Conclusion: The Darkness #6 is easily one of the strongest issues of the long-running series. It is sure to please fans and action-junkies alike. Highly recommended in every way.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Spooks: Omega Team #2

By Ryan Schifrin (Creator), Larry Hama (Writer), Adam Archer (Pencils & Colors), and Nick Bell (Colors)

The Story: The Spooks team follows the trail of the demon queen, Lilithu, all the way to Istanbul and comes face to face with another powerful demon, the Lord of the Flies. Action, violence, and witty remarks rule the day as the team tries to stop two ancient entities from regaining power.

What’s Good: Spooks succeeds almost entirely on concept alone. I say this because it’s difficult to criticize something that I’m having so much fun with. Despite some very obvious flaws (which I will get to in a moment), this book is everything an action-horror comic should be.

The action is fast-paced, the violence delivers for gore-hounds, and good use is made of some very old source material. Definitely a fun read for fans of the genre.

What’s Not So Good: This series seems to be suffering from an identity crisis. The team gives off an almost buddy-comedy vibe, yet the myths and artwork are straight-up horror. I have no problem with mixing genres, but Spooks seems to be lacking the balance needed to pull that off.

The team interaction comes off as silly more often then not, yet some of the images and scenarios are downright nightmarish. Instead of blending these elements into something special, they clash in an uncomfortable fashion.

Conclusion: This series is a lot of fun and is built off of a great concept. That said, it definitely has a few growing pains to work through. Fans of action or horror will eat this up, but I doubt it will create any converts.

Grade: B-

-Kyle Posluszny

Gears of War #1 – Review

By Joshua Ortega (Writer), Liam Sharp (Artist), and Johnny Rench (Colorist)

The Story: Taking place roughly two months after the end of the first Gears of War game, hero Marcus Fenix and a new recruit, Jace, are out on patrol searching for any survivors of a brutal Locust attack. They find a few, one a familiar face, and kill quite a few Locusts along the way.

What’s Good: How well the creative team nails the feel of the Xbox 360 game. The art, dialogue, and story all do a wonderful job of using the atmosphere and characters to great effect. If you’re looking for a story about tough guys killing monsters using excessive violence, you can’t do much better than this. As a fan of the game, I couldn’t be more satisfied.

What’s Not So Good: As you probably guessed, this isn’t exactly the deepest comic on the stands. The characters are your generic military tough guys, the violence may be too much for some to handle, and the comic never really rises above its videogame roots. Also, the storyline is written assuming that you have played the game at some point, so those unfamiliar with Gears may find themselves wondering about certain references.

On the technical side, the dark coloring muddies up and confuses a scene or two, but this is only a slight annoyance in an otherwise good looking book.

Conclusion: Action junkies and Gears fans should really take the time to check out this comic. It faithfully translates everything that made the game such a success into an enjoyable, visually impressive book. A mindless, yet pleasant surprise in every way.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Marvel Zombies 3 #1 – Review

By Fred Van Lente (Writer), Kev Walker (Artist), and Jean Francois-Beaulieu (Colorist)

The Story: The zombies invade the Marvel 616 Universe and quickly make their presence known by striking at The Command, Florida’s state Initiative team. In response, The Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operational Response Agency (A.R.M.O.R.) enlists the help of Machine Man to find a cure before the zombie contagion spreads beyond control. But alas, not all is as it seems…

What’s Good: Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker ably pick up where Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips left off by delivering the camp, humor, and gore expected from the Marvel Zombies stories. Simply put, if you liked it then, you should like it now.  One thing I noticed is that by placing the zombies within the proper Marvel Universe this time around there is an added weight and urgency to the storyline. It goes a long way in making sure the issue avoids feeling like nothing more than a cheap cash-in or overplayed gimmick.

What’s Not So Good: The fact that the first part of the storyline deals strictly with the “C” (or even “D”)-list heroes of the Marvel Universe makes this not so good. I have nothing against playing around in the Marvel sandbox (Avengers: The Initiative is one of my favorites), but the threat loses a bit a credibility when it seems as though the major heroes couldn’t be bothered by something as trivial as alternate reality zombies.

Also worth mentioning is the different visual style used for Marvel Zombies 3. While Kev Walker’s work is both visually attractive and suitably violent, it lacks the punch that made Sean Phillips’ work in Marvel Zombies 1 and 2 so memorable. The first Zombies stories, while definitely entertaining, became something more thanks to the unique, stand-out artwork. Now, unfortunately, Marvel Zombies 3 looks like it could be any other Marvel book on the stand.

Conclusion: Marvel Zombies 3 is off to an entertaining, though unremarkable start. You pretty much know what you are getting into when you pick up a book like this.  Keep in mind that the introduction of the proper Marvel Universe could be reason enough for even the most skeptical readers to at least give this one a try.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

Only a fool would try and recreate the magic that Robert Kirkman conjured with the previous installments of this series. Unfortunately, Fred Van Lente is charged with the task and fails to succeed.

With the absense of the core zombies characters Marvel Zombies 3 falls flat on its face. I dig Kev Walker’s art, no doubt about that. His Floridian swamps scenes are hauntingly beautiful. Having a small scene with Man-Thing is great and the inclusion of Morbius into the story is a nice touch, but ultimately, it’s just not enough. There’s too much set up, exposition, and pointless dialogue to keep this one interesting.

Marvel Zombies is not Shakespeare. It’s messed up fun! And all the charm that made its predecessors such a gory delight is disturbingly absent. Please fix this!

Grade: D+

-J. Montes

Welcome to Hoxford #2 – Review

By Ben Templesmith (Writer and Artist)

I had somewhat mixed feelings about the debut of this new Ben Templesmith series, but I just couldn’t resist another look at the deranged inmates residing in the twisted Hoxford Reform Facility. And after reading this issue, but am I glad that I did.

While the bulk of the first issue was spent establishing characters and Hoxford itself, the second wastes no time creating a focal point between inmate Raymond Delgado and Doctor Ainley and a conflict between ancient evil with a taste for human flesh. The premise is the darkest that humanity has to offer finds himself face to face with the darkest that history has to offer. And you know what? It works far better than I had expected. While I am not entirely sure how long you can really go with such a fairly limited concept, I am more than willing to go along for the ride.

Ben Templesmith is really impressing me with his work on this series. Raymond Delgado is an incredibly compelling (and completely insane) anti-hero that really wouldn’t work unless the setting, atmosphere, and concept was just right… and it is. Simply put, I don’t think he could work in any other environment or storyline, and that alone makes him unique and interesting enough to warrant following. Delgado’s reality (and Hoxford in general) is dark, dreary, and disturbingly violent – a fact that is reinforced by some incredibly gritty and surreal visuals. From a creative standpoint, everything just comes together extremely well.

I really don’t have anything truly negative to say about Welcome to Hoxford at this point, but feel that it really is being written for a specific type of audience. I can’t (in good conscience) make a sweeping recommendation, but those into the horror genre or the concept of the anti-hero really must give this one a try. (Grade: B+)

-Kyle Posluszny

The Walking Dead #52 – Review

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils and Ink), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

After the phone call mindbender last issue that seriously called into question Rick’s mental state, I was surprised to find the latest chapter of The Walking Dead to be both a welcome return to form and an indication that the story has truly come full circle.

While I had no problem with (and really enjoyed) the effective slow burn storytelling of recent months, I’d be lying if I said the good old-fashioned zombie killing is this one wasn’t a breath of fresh air. Well, this issue really brings the series back to its survival-horror roots. Rick and Carl search for supplies, encounter (and dispatch) some zombies, are found by a survivor/returning cast member (it’s apparent on the cover). After a brief reunion, the cast tries to get a grip on what has happened and what to do next. It’s a fairly simple plot (especially considering how far we are into the series), but it really taps into what makes The Walking Dead so enjoyable in the first place, proving that sometimes the most basic plot situation can be something special if handled by the right. And it’s been handled right more often than not.

At this point, how much more can really be said about the technical aspects of this book? Robert Kirkman once again shows that he is a master storyteller who knows how to bring depth and personality to what could easily be just another gore-filled zombie romp thanks to some excellent character moments (the driving scene that opens the book is brilliant). Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn make the most of a black and white color palette, producing one of the best looking books on the stands. They prove in spades that graphic violence isn’t necessarily dependent on the color red.

While I could potentially knock this one for heading back into some extremely familiar territory, it works so well and is handled so skillfully that I can’t possibly allow myself to do that. Why you ask? Because, in my opinion, this is The Walking Dead at its best. (Grade: A)

– Kyle Posluszny

Welcome To Hoxford #1 – Review

By Ben Templesmith (Writer, Artist)

How do you go about reviewing something that seems to be dark and disturbing just because it can be? While I am sure that there is something that resembles an actual story brewing underneath all the gore and language – I can’t possibly imagine what that might be. So far, Welcome To Hoxford is the type of horror that gives the genre a bad name. Most of the characters are extremely violent, mentally unstable convicts. The (heavily stylized) gore is fairly excessive, and there really isn’t anything resembling a narrative arc outside of finding out what exactly is going on at the Hoxford facility. With all that said, however, I have to admit that enjoyed my walk on the dark side quite a bit. Maybe it’s just the horror hound within me, but there is something noteworthy about Mr. Templesmith’s uncomfortable vision of an asylum with the potential to become more infamous than Arkham.

Welcome To Hoxford tells the story of the newest batch of inmates to be transferred to the privately owned Hoxford prison/rehabilitation facility. Each one is given a bit of background, though things seem to be focused most on Ray Delgado, the most disturbed of the bunch. You see, Ray has a “virtual encyclopedia of conditions” and throughout the story we are given brief glimpses into his shattered mind. While not exactly the hero type, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that he emerges as the main vehicle for whatever twisted plot emerges. There are things brewing inside the walls of Hoxford, but whether or not it will lead to a compelling tale remains to be seen.

Ben Templesmith handles nearly all aspects of this book and I believe things are much better off because of it. There is a clear, consistent tone to the writing and artwork that brings Hoxford’s gritty world to life. While the characters are horrible and vulgar, they are believable representations of the dregs of society and written in such a way as to greatly add to the atmosphere created by the unique artwork. The artwork carries a density that can’t be ignored thanks to a striking color palette that varies with each major scene change. Also worth noting is the way Templesmith uses reds to make each scene of violence look memorably artistic.

There are really two ways one can look at a book like Welcome To Hoxford. On one hand it can be considered a shallow, empty, and, ultimately, unnecessary addition to the horror genre because there seems to be limited storytelling potential. On the other hand, one can dive into the thick atmosphere and unsavory characters because, to my knowledge, there aren’t many books like this available. Templesmith is a proven storyteller so, for the time being, I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and enjoy Welcome To Hoxford for what it is (instead of worrying about what it might be). (Grade: B)

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #14 – Review

By Tim Seeley, (Writer) Emily Stone, (Artist) and Val Staples (Colors)

I don’t think I am making too much of a leap when I say that nearly everyone reading this site has, at one point, gotten pissed off at the constant stream of remakes coming out of Hollywood. It seems as though nothing is sacred anymore. I honestly believe that horror fans have gotten the worst of it as rarely is there a day that goes by without news of another remake going into production.

The latest issue of Hack/Slash tackles the remake craze in a way that only Hack/Slash can: by serving up dark humor and loads of gore on the set of a Wizard of Oz remake that’s being directed by the guy who did “Epic Movie 2 and 4 Fast 4 Furious” (Yeah…Tim Seeley gets it). While this one scores big points on concept alone, it isn’t as strong as it could be. There is a lot of potential for gory fun (darkly comic murders inspired by Oz? Sign me up!), but much of it goes unrealized because everything happens way too fast due to the inclusion of odd breaks in the story. I understand the need to advance the three overall series arcs, but it comes across as tacked on when they have next to nothing to do with what the bulk of the issue is about. This one is good, but nearly as great as it could have been.

Tim Seeley serves up some great humor and brings some interesting elements into the series that should play out well in future issues. While I disagree with the way he used this issue to bring those elements into play, I must admit that I am looking forward to the direction the overall plot is taking. In particular, next month looks to be one hell of a ride (80s horror fans are in for a treat).

Emily Stone’s artwork is solid (as usual), but marred by some questionable color work by Val Staples. While the majority of the book looks just fine visually, the gore scenes are hit or miss due to the strange use of pinks and purples for most of the blood. I am able to forgive Staples somewhat though, because a certain scientific serum looks absolutely perfect.

Hack/Slash #14 is a lot of fun, but could have been better. It scores points for concept, comedy, and future plot potential, but not many as were up for grabs. I expect big things next month, so I hope this one makes good on all the promise it holds. (Grade: C+)

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #13 – Review

Mark Kidwell,(Writer) Tim Seeley, (Writer/Art) Emily Stone, (Art) Milian Parvanov, and Courtney Via (Colors)

It turns out that last issue was just a bump in the road (no pun intended, I swear) because Hack/Slash is in fine form this month. Just about everything in this issue is an improvement over the last and I think that if read back to back, this issue would actually elevate the last. I almost want to say now that it’s a shame the “Bump” crossover is over so soon because the concept lends itself well to some Cassie and Vlad ass kicking.

And kick ass they do in Hack/Slash #13. Picking up where they left off last month, Cassie, Vlad, and the reporter Phil O’Grady follow the lead to Eddie’s home. There they come face to face with a large number of the wooden horrors and Eddie himself. Much action, bloodshed, and graphic violence ensues in classic Hack/Slash fashion. It really doesn’t get much more complicated than that, but sometimes simplicity works best. The only drawback to the way this story plays out is at one point where the action breaks in order to move the overall story arc forward. Any momentum that had been built up immediately comes to a halt. I understand that the creative team needed to fit this crossover into continuity somehow due the cancellation of “Bump,” but it really does feel like things are coming from a completely different story (which, in a way, they are).

The writing done by Mark Kidwell is much stronger this issue thanks to, what feels like, more familiarity with the characters. He nails a nice buddy movie type vibe that keeps things light in what is, in all honesty, a pretty dark tale. Occasionally, I was frustrated by the way that he wrote Eddie, as it is sometimes difficult to understand what he’s supposed to be saying – but that is a minor complaint. Tim Seeley does a decent job with the series story elements involved, but, again, they feel out of place. He does throw in some nice humor though and the dog creature is quite entertaining. This is a fun read all around.

Thankfully, the artwork is much more consistent than the last issue. Cassie actually looks like the same person throughout the book, Vlad doesn’t have multiple faces, and there is really only one or two instances where things look a bit off. The gory action in this issue has some solid direction and there are a few great scenes even when things slow down. In particular, a humorous silhouette panel of the three main characters sneaking toward the house cracked me up.

Hack/Slash #13 does a lot to accent the “Bump” crossover storyline and I am really happy with how things concluded. Even if the last issue let you down as it did me, be sure to check out this latest issue – it definitely makes up for last month’s shortcomings. (Grade B)

-Kyle Posluszny

Hack/Slash #12 – Review

Tim Seeley (Writer and Artist), Mark Kidwell (Writer), Emily Stone (Artist), Milen Parvanov, and Courtney Via (Colors)

Hack/Slash, for me, is the ultimate guilty pleasure. It manages to deftly combine a number of my favorite things into one of the most consistently entertaining, visually pleasing comics on the stands. Cassie and Vlad are compelling characters, the extreme gore fits the tone of the series extremely well, sexuality is used intelligently, the humor is spot on (cheesy at times, but in all the right ways), and the stories told are almost always unique enough to make the series stand out. While not necessarily something everyone can or will enjoy (mostly due to the language, gore, and sexuality), this title is something most mature comic fans should at least try out. Horror movie fans: if you haven’t checked out this series yet, it’s time to get on board!

Now with all that said, Hack/Slash #12 is probably not the best way to be introduced to the series. On the other hand, maybe it would be the perfect place to jump on because it functions as a two-part stand alone story that can be read without knowledge of the series. While entertaining and full of moments that can really only be found in a Hack/Slash story, this issue suffers because of the odd way in which the story comes about. Apparently, the story was meant to be released by Fangoria Comics as part of its “Bump” mini-series, but when Fangoria Comics went down, the story of Cassie and Vlad versus Bump was left to linger. Now, after some changes to the length and the story, it has found its way into the Hack/Slash ongoing series. I mention all of this because I can’t help but feel that this issue would have been much better had it not had such a tumultuous trip.

Hack/Slash #12 is the first part of a story about an investigation into the massacre of 32 collegiate environmental activists. Cassie and Vlad show up to the scene and, after running into a famous news anchor and a local policewoman, find themselves in a brawl against some cool looking wooden creatures. The main storyline works well enough, and I look forward to the second part of the arc, but the book stumbles a bit in the way it tries to fit the larger arcs of the series into what probably should have been left as a stand alone story. While it doesn’t damage the book in any major way, it gives the book a disjointed feel. This is unfortunately amplified by some inconsistent artwork.

As usual with this series, most of the dialogue is quite entertaining and there is a nice sense of camaraderie between Cassie and Vlad. Dark humor is used to great effect and while some of the dialogue is cheesy, it fits the story well considering the B-movie trappings. This is a fun read all around. As a side note, keep an eye out for a pair of cult favorites making a hilarious cameo.

The artwork, as noted, is pretty inconsistent and, to be honest, this surprised me quite a bit. The beginning and ending fits with the style commonly used in the ongoing series, while the main story has a completely different visual style. Neither style is bad, but the difference is quite jarring as the characters look completely different depending on the section of the book. On top of that, in the main portion of the comic, Cassie seems to have a slightly different look every couple of panels. This is all quite distracting and I know I would have enjoyed the book more if it had a more consistent look to it. I hope this is just a slight misstep, as the series is usually great to look at. Also, on the more positive side, I want to mention how perfect the gore is. When the blood starts to flow, the artists completely nail the look of an absolutely over the top horror flick and one kill in particular stands out as one of the more brutal things I‘ve seen in a comic.

Hack/Slash #12 is an entertaining and fairly attractive, if inconsistent, comic when taken on its own. However, I have come to expect a bit more out of this series than what is offered here. This issue would have worked better as the stand alone crossover it was meant to be. (Grade: C)

-Kyle Posluszny