PREVIEW – The Darkness II (FCBD)

2K Games, Top Cow Productions, Inc., and the Free Comic Book Day Committee announced today that they have teamed up to produce The Darkness II: Confession, an exclusive comic tie-in for The Darkness™ II video game, for Free Comic Book Day. The 32-page, full-color comic will be a prequel to 2K Games’ upcoming video game, The Darkness II. Produced by Top Cow’s lead artists and writers in partnership with 2K Games, The Darkness II: Confession will be distributed by Diamond Comic Distributors to thousands of independent comic book stores worldwide on May 7, 2011.

The Darkness II: Confession introduces comic fans, video game fans, and new readers to Jackie Estacado, the bearer of The Darkness, an ancient primal force which acts a blessing and a curse for its bearer, allowing him access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons that dwell there. The Darkness II: Confession takes readers from Jackie’s origins in the first video game, through his rise to power, and the events leading up to The Darkness II.

Emerald City Comic Con Report: Day 2 (part I)

Forgive me if this wrap up doesn’t always seem 100% coherent…it’s almost one in the morning, and it has been a very long–but very, very epic–day.

First thing I come across when I hit the con floor is an amazing, unbelievable piece of comic history:

That, friends and neighbors, is an original copy of Avengers #1, from 1963. Not only is it in Very Fine condition…it’s signed by BOTH Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Sells for a cool $1200. (Which, all things considered, doesn’t actually seem unreasonable.) I’m just honored I got to hold it for a few minutes!

Next, it’s off to grab an autograph from Max Brooks (of Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z fame) before the marathon of panels begins. While in line for Mr. Brooks, I meet a gentleman, James Ward, and his son. James goes by the stage name Jimmy D in his work as a comedian, and is an extremely cool guy. He and his son are huge Star Wars fans, and made final plans to attend the con when they heard that the 501st Legion (see yesterday’s post) were going to be here:

After getting my copy of World War Z (a highly imaginative and well-researched book, by the way; I very much recommend it) signed, it’s off to panels. But I’m sidetracked on my way out…who would say no to these faces?

These are members of an extra curricular cartooning class that meets after school, and is comprised of kids from two local (Seattle) middle schools–Madison and Aki Kurose. These students learn some of the fundamentals of drawing and discipline, and spend part of their class putting together a one-shot giveaway comic book to take to cons and shows. I picked one up of course (along with a donation to the program.) I even got mine autographed! 😀

I gotta say…I LOVED meeting Greg Rucka and getting his autograph. Brubaker? Amazing. Matt Fracton and Ron Marz? Incredible. But this might be the single most special set of autographs I get all con. These kids are very much the future of the industry and hobby we love so much. Not that all of them, or any of them necessarily, will grow up to become comic creators…but through this kind of class, they’ll at least come to understand the value of the medium, and have a much better chance of not dismissing comic books out of hand as an artistic medium as they grow up. You go, kids!

NOW it’s panel time. First stop: Vertigo! They had the misfortune of being scheduled opposite Max Brooks’ zombie survival panel (and honestly, that’s where I would have been too, had I not been covering the major companies for this site) so the room was rather sparse. Still, everyone involved was enthusiastic and clearly happy to be there. Major takeaways from Vertigo:

– The new arc of Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth will be called “Endangered Species.” It involves Gus and company finding a sanctuary where it may be possible for them to settle down in safety. The group is split between those who want to stay, and those who want to continue with their quest Northward.

-House of Mystery #36 hits next month, and will be an excellent jumping on point for new readers. (It’s set to contain some newbie-friendly recap pages.)

– Jack of Fables #50 hits next month. It will be entirely comprised of splash pages. Sturges says that, “many characters will fight, few will survive, but we promise not to kill off EVERYONE.”

– Babe the Blue Ox one-shot is coming out later this year

– Don’t hold your breath for Daytripper hardcover editions. No plans for them as of now.

– When asked about the reason for Vertigo’s success as a brand, Will Nesh cited the early precedent set by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, as well as the strong and consistent guidance of Karen Berger. Vertigo tries to tell mature, intelligent stories, they don’t simply try to shock or titillate and call that “mature.”

– Jeff Lamire’s OGN “Underwater Welder” is still scheduled to come out this summer through Top Shelf

And photos:

Next up, the Top Cow panel, in the same room. I found it hard to contain my excitement as the Beef Barons arrived…I love Top Cow and almost everything they do, as anyone who’s been following my Witchblade/Artifacts reviews already knows!

Echoes #2 – Review

 

By: Joshua Hale Fialkov (writer), Rahsan Ekedal (art)

The Story: A man tries to come to grips with the fact that his father was a big-time serial killer while also dealing with his own mental health issues.

What’s Good: What a creepy story this is!  If you enjoy horror that is more unsettling and psychological, this is something you should definitely check out.

In the first issue, we were introduced to a young man whose elderly father was passing due to Alzheimer’s.  In his final, incoherent moments, he tells his son to, “Check the box” in the basement of their old house.  The son does so and finds ~100 little dolls.  That would be screwed up even if they were normal dolls, but these dolls are made from the skin, bones, hair & clothing of little girls that his father (apparently) killed.  We also learned that the son is not that mentally stable himself.

This issue explores whether the son is destined to become his father as Fialkov makes him hear his father’s voice in his head and that voice is urging him to start killing little girls.  The whole thing is very creepy, but what really sets it apart is how you just cannot tell how much of this “father’s voice” is the son’s guilt and how much is due to his own mental illness.  Or is it really all the same?  This whole situation builds to a pretty shocking conclusion to this issue that I won’t spoil.  The pacing is really good on this series, as both issues have ended in a really good place that rewards the single-issue buyer.

Ekedal’s art is again perfect for this issue.  This comic works a million times better without color (although it does have significant grays) because it removes all warmth from the page and let’s just the creepy remain.  His renderings of the little dollies are disturbing as hell.  You hate to look at them, but have a hard time prying your eyes away.  Really good art…

Velocity #3 – Review

By: Ron Marz (writer), Kenneth Rockfort (art), Sunny Gho (colors), Troy Peters (letters) & Filip Sablik (editor)

The Story: Velocity very-pleasing-to-the-eyes race to save her Cyberforce teammates continues.

What’s Good: Again, Kenneth Rocafort’s art is the main attraction here.  Just keep an eye on his name because he’s a guy who you’ll hear about in the future.  The guy is just very, very talented.  This issue is so pretty to look at that the story kinda fades into irrelevance.  I would probably say he has been heavily influenced by Greg Capullo’s art because I see a lot of similarities to that scratchy, hyper-detailed style.  But, what really set’s Rocafort apart is the dynamism of his figures.  You can tell he has a very good understanding of human anatomy and musculature because when you see his characters in an action scene, it looks like a still taken from a movie because the bodies are all in the proper positions (i.e. they are properly balanced and have correct posture) and the right muscle groups are all taut.  I’m not sure if he uses a lot of photo-reference or if he has just spent a lot of time studying bodies in motion, but the end product is nice.

And atta-boy should also be handed out to Sunny Gho’s colors.  Even though I feel like the girl-with-red-hair trick is almost cheating, I still fall for it every time.  So it must be a little harder than just saying, “Viola!  I give you…RED HAIR!” or else all colorists would do it.  What makes Gho’s work a little different than other comics that have the magical red hair (e.g. Batwoman) is that he is using a pretty bright color palate and it still works.  Nice job.

The story is nothing too remarkable in this issue.  Not bad, but the art is sooooo the main attraction that the story just needs to competent.  And, it accomplishes that as we follow Velocity as she tries to save her teammates from a virus that the bad guy has infected them with.  We do get a pretty big cliffhanger and I’ll be curious to see how that turns out.  The story’s simplicity also works very well with the publication delays this title has had.

Comics You Should Be Reading

Welcome to a new feature here at WCBR, which will hopefully resurface periodically.

Here we highlight series that we reviewers feel are not getting the readers, or the attention, that they deserve.  These are books that we’ve been particularly enjoying.  These are DC/Marvel books that should be in the top ten, or at least the top 20, in the monthly sales figures, or indie titles that, qualitatively, should be mentioned alongside blockbusters like the Walking Dead, Chew, or Morning Glories.

So, with the intro out of the way, let’s get started!

American Vampire (DC/Vertigo)

Written by Scott Snyder (who is taking over Detective Comics) and with art by the incredible Rafael Albuquerque, American Vampire is the story of a new breed of vampires who arise in the United States in the late 18th century. They can go outside and don’t have much use for old-fashioned, Euro-vampires and their sissified clothes. The story is also a bit of a bonus for history buffs as we have so far touched on the Old West of the 1880’s, Hollywood of the 1920’s and Las Vegas of the 1930’s. Did I mention how awesome the art is?

-Dean

 

Fantastic Four (Marvel)

Before Hickman’s run, I hadn’t had any love whatsoever for the Fantastic Four since childhood. Now FF is my favourite Marvel book and Reed Richards right up there with my favourite characters. This alone should be testament to how good this book is. It’s a book where anything is possible, one that challenges, and shatters, limitations of scope and structure. This is a big book chocked full of big ideas and massive, cosmic hullabaloo. Every issue of Hickman’s Fantastic Four feels like it’s charting new ground with every month’s offering feeling bold, adventurous, and full of life. To top it all off, Hickman also writes all of the characters, especially the kids, fantastically and in a manner that makes them impossible not to love.

-Alex

 

Kill Shakespeare (IDW)

This is a fantastic series, regardless of how you feel about the Great Bard himself. While it does have plenty of references and in-jokes for people familiar with Shakespeare’s work, knowing the plays is not at all a requirement for enjoying the fantastic dialogue, wonderful characters, and constantly twisting plot. The quality of both the writing and the art make this one a no-brainer for anyone’s pull list, and will have a place on my shelf both in single issue and trade form. Well worth taking the time to seek out and sample.

-SoldierHawk

 

Orc Stain (Image)

This is one of the whackiest series out there on the stands right now. The story is pretty basic: The various fractious races of orcs have finally been united under one, all-powerful Orctzar. All that stands between the Orctzar and absolute power are the services of a one-eyed orc who has the ability to crack open anything with his little hammer. But, the story is merely a frame for James Stokoe’s wicked sense of humor and art design. Starting with the art, everything in the Orc Stain world is an animal. The orcs don’t just wear armor…it is all various hard-shelled animals fitted all over their bodies. Ditto for the swords and everything else. The visual look is like nothing else. And the humor is something else. Much of this humor revolves around orcs losing their gronch (with is orcish for “junk”). The comic makes me laugh and admire the art design.

-Dean

Action Comics (DC)

Don’t be put off by the lack of Superman; this is quite possibly the best, and smartest, book DC is putting out. Razor sharp wit, a hilarious supporting cast, and super-polished Pete Woods artwork make this book a must-read. Best of all is the fact that the title is very much a “Paul Cornell” book. It’s funny, it’s action packed, and Cornell writes a fantastic Lex Luthor. Then there’s robot Lois, possibly my favourite new character of the year and the sort of zany, smart-mouthed creation that Cornell excels at. Top this off with a really cool “villain of the month” format that often looks to highlight some of DC’s underused baddies, and you’ve got something that is made out of win… and just a little bit of insanity.

-Alex

Artifacts (Image/Top Cow)

This is an extended 13-issue event that promises to change the face of the Top Cow (Witchblade, The Darkness, Magdalena) universe. While it’s still in its infancy as an event (issue #2 was just released), that’s an advantage for a new reader who wants to jump onboard to this epic story of mystical artifacts and those who which to defend—or claim—them. Ron Marz is doing excellent job of bringing non-Top Cow readers up to speed on all of the players, powers and forces involved in the saga, so not being familiar with the source material shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. Pick up issues #1 and #2 now, and save yourself the trouble of tracking them down when everyone is raving about this series in the next couple months.

-SoldierHawk

 

28 Days Later (BOOM!)

Do you love The Walking Dead? Then you should also be reading 28 Days Later (based on the movie of the same name). It is just that simple. Lots of zombie comics think that zombies (or infected in the case of 28 Days Later) are the main attraction. Smart post-apocalypse stories like TWD and 28 Days (or The Stand, The Road, etc.) know that the true star of these stories is the breakdown of human society and whether decent people have any hope in a land where ruthlessness is a true advantage. Although it is similar to TWD, it has enough differences to make sure that it has original concepts. This is a comic that I’m excited to read every month and it never disappoints.

-Dean

 

S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel)

Part science fiction, part fantasy, part history, all awesome. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a mind bending, time-traveling adventure in which many of the great minds of the Western world—and some great minds who aren’t from the West at all—come together to form the beginning of the S.H.I.E.L.D. that guards the current Marvel Universe. Think a history-based League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with a bit of Marvel lore (and some absolutely gorgeous artwork) thrown in, and you’ll quickly see why, barring something absolutely incredible happening between now and January, this is my choice for best new book of the year.

-SoldierHawk

Scalped

40 issues in with no passable jumping on point save issue one, this isn’t the most new-reader friendly book.  But I’m listing it anyway, because Scalped is just that damned good.  Scalped has consistently been among the very best comics on the stands since it debuted in 2007 and yet, since 2007, it has flown under the radar, in spite of an Eisner nomination and a (now) big name writer in Jason Aaron.  This book is grim, dark, gritty, unrelenting, uncompromising, and so  real that it hurts.  It’s an ugly and dirty book but also one that’s very real and human and even after forty issues, the idea of an American crime story on an Indian reservation is as fresh as ever.  It’s a compelling, and ingenious, mix of noir and social commentary, both sides balancing the other but both also being equally brutal.

-Alex

 

Velocity #2 – Review

By: Ron Marz (writer), Kenneth Rocafort (art), Sunny Gho (colors) & Troy Peteri (letters)

The Story: Velocity is in a race against time to save her friends in this BEAUTIFUL comic book.

What’s Good: The attraction for this book is Kenneth Rocafort.  The man is a beast of an artist and should be on the list of names to buy regardless of what they are drawing.  Rocafort just has the complete package for an artist: excellent linework on humans creating realistic and dynamic characters, wonderful page layout skills so that we never have pages with 4 boring widescreen panels and interesting use of perspective because in comics “the camera” can be positioned ANYWHERE.  Rocafort makes Velocity look fast without often resorting to squiggly lines and smears of color in her wake.  That is a real feat!  He makes his characters look “real” without it appearing that he is tracing over a photograph.  Really, the guy is incredible, but a cheer should also go up from the crowd for Sunny Gho as this is a wonderfully colored book.  Everything is just rich, textured and beautiful.

The Rest of the Stack for 11/11/09

SWORD #1

“No Time to Breath” by Kieron Gillen (Writer), Steven Sanders (Pencils), And Craig Yeung (Inks)

“Not Yet” by Kieron Gillen (Writer), James McKelvie (Pencils), Matt Wilson (Inks), and Dave Lanphear (Colors)

The Story: In the main story, Abigail Brand spars with her partner, Commander Gyrich, welcomes Beast aboard her ship, and attempts to help her half-brother deal with a situation he has gotten himself into. In the backup story, Brand and Lockheed discuss Kitty Pryde’s current situation (being stuck inside a giant bullet).

The Good And The Bad: In the first issue of SWORD, writer Kieron Gillen throws a hell of a lot at the reader. New characters are introduced, conflicts are established, and the responsibilities (and hectic nature) of SWORD are explored more than they have been in the past. It’s pretty standard “new series” stuff, but thanks to the setting and slightly quirky tone of the dialogue, SWORD #1 feels quite fresh. While Abigail Brand doesn’t come across as the most likeable of characters, her supporting cast is more than strong enough to make up for it. Lockheed (in a nice touch, still reeling emotionally in both stories), Beast, Unit, and even Henry Gyrich all make quite a strong first (in the series) impression.

The artwork in SWORD #1 is serviceable, but only a few panels stand out in any meaningful way. Thankfully though, Steven Sanders and James McKelvie use a similar style so the book has a nice consistent look from start to finish. One thing I absolutely must mention is how horrid Steven Sanders’ take on Beast is. It’s like he’s part cat, part goat, and part Joe Camel…seriously…

Grade: C+

Sky Doll: Doll Factory #1

By Barbara Canepa & Alessandro Barbucci (Writers & Artists)

The Story: Doll’s Factory serves as a companion to the Sky Doll mini-series. There’s a short origin story that leads into the series released by Marvel a while back and a lot of behind the scenes/making of type of material.

The Good And The Bad: How do you feel about paying $5.99 for material that probably should have been put into the Sky Doll hardcover collection that came out some months ago? That’s really the key question that will decide how much you get out of Doll’s Factory #1. While the material is well presented and interesting (especially the short prequel), it isn’t really worth the money unless you are a huge Sky Doll fan. Since it’d be unfair to grade what’s, basically, just bonus material, I’ll instead label it…

For Fans Only!

Supergod #1

By Warren Ellis (Writer), Garrie Gastonny (Art), and Digikore Studios (Colors)

The Story: A scientist explains how the world went to hell as a result of the race to create superhumans that could be worshipped and save the world.

The Good And The Bad: It won’t be for everyone since it is quite dense and rather wordy, but thanks to Warren Ellis’ dry wit, intelligence, and sense of humor, the first issue of Supergod is well worth your time and money. Clever, smart, and damned good looking, Supergod #1 nicely fills the space that opened up when No Hero wrapped up. The two share similar themes, though No Hero was more about the drive to be superhuman while Supergod is more an exploration of the nature and meaning behind the superhero.

Tracker #1

By Jonathan Lincoln (Writer) and Francis Tsai (Artist)

The Story: An FBI agent discovers he’s not quite the same man he was before being found as the lone survivor in a bus full of mutilated people.

The Good And The Bad: Simply put, the first issue of Tracker isn’t a very good comic. From the clichéd main character with a five o’clock shadow and a hilariously stupid name (O’Roark) to the bland, somewhat predictable procedural stuff, nothing about the first issue of Tracker makes me want to follow the story to the end. While the premise of the series is all right and the potential is certainly there, Tracker #1 doesn’t have a particularly compelling or unique hook…or the characters that could possibly make up for the less than interesting things. At least Francis Tsai’s artwork is decent. Tsai’s art looks inconsistent as it jumps from being gritty and rough to polished throughout the book, but the storytelling is fine and the character work gets the job done.

Grade: D+

-Kyle Posluszny

 

Witchblade #132 – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Art)

The Story: Sara and Patrick share an evening together reconnecting before getting involved with a mystery involving missing children.

What’s Good: It’s been a while since Witchblade had an arc that featured Sara confronting the supernatural in a way that’s unconnected (as far as I can tell) to a future event. That’s part of the reason why Witchblade #132 is worth the read. It works really well as a return to the effective formula that made me a fan of the series in the first place.

While little happens in the first part of “The Bridge” to move the story forward past the setup, the character work done by Ron Marz in the opening scene makes up for it in a weird way. It’s a little heavy on fan-service (though it IS a sex scene, so you can’t be surprised it is there), but there’s no denying that the scene contains well written, mature, adult dialogue that does justice to the relationship that Marz has done such a fine job of establishing. The conversation between the characters had to happen and it is executed in a way that simply works.

What’s Not So Good: Stjepan Sejic’s artwork always shines when the Witchblade powers or the supernatural are a part of the story. Unfortunately, in Witchblade #132, there is little use of the Witchblade and only one shot of the supernatural thing that “The Bridge” is all about. As a result the flaws of Sejic’s style are a bit more noticeable than usual. The characters all look a bit plastic, inconsistent, or emotionless at times, some panels seem pretty rushed, and there’s a lack of definition in a few scenes that proves to be distracting. While the latest issue of Witchblade looks far from bad as a whole, but I’ve come to expect more from the series and the artist.

Conclusion: Witchblade #132 works because it takes care of some character issues in an effective way and proves to be a nice start to what looks to be a short, but entertaining arc. While the book isn’t exactly a “must read” in any way, it’s worth checking out if you are a fan of the Witchblade series.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #131 – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer), and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With the War of the Witchblades all wrapped up, I look forward to seeing where Ron Marz takes the series next. Will he dive right into another event or let the series go back to being about supernatural crime solving for a while? Time to find out.

The Story: Patrick Gleason and Sara Pezzini’s sister discuss Sara’s current situation while taking care of Hope. Meanwhile, Sara saves a child’s life and says goodbye to Dani.

What’s Good: Witchblade #131 serves as a great jump-on point for readers looking to check out the Witchblade series. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it does gives readers a taste of pretty much everything the series offers. The conversation between Sara’s boyfriend and her sister that frames the entire issue is realistic, written well, and does a nice job of filling the reader in on everything that needs to be known about the state of the series going forward. In addition, the Sara Pezzini action scene does a nice job of giving readers a feel for what the series is like when it’s not focusing on an epic, universe altering event (which it seems like it has been doing more often than not as of late).

What’s Not So Good: While Witchblade #131 is a great jump-on point, it’s also a pretty boring read for series regulars. Nothing new happens, no real story seeds are planted, and the brief action scene is pretty tame and underwhelming for the most part. In addition, the flaws of Stjepan Sejic’s style are really noticeable considering that most panels are made up of little more than “a day in the life” type stuff. The characters occasionally look mannequin-like, some details look smudgy, and the action scene only has two notable panels. The artwork certainly doesn’t look bad, but it doesn’t have the “wow” factor Sejic’s work usually has.

Conclusion: There really isn’t anything more to say about the latest issue of Witchblade. As a place to jump on board, it works great. It just doesn’t have a whole lot to offer series regulars.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

WCBR’s Top Picks

Kyle’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Secret Warriors #8 – The “God of Fear, God of War” arc continues to impress the hell out of me thanks to the strong character work that’s been done for both Phobos and his father, Ares.

Most Anticipated: Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors #1 – Predictable choice, I know, but more Secret Warriors is always a good thing.

Other Top Picks: Batman and Robin #5, Sweet Tooth #2, Astonishing X-Men #31, The List: Secret Warriors, Deadpool #16, Strange Tales #2, Vengence of the Moon Knight #2, X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #1, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #3, Haunt #1, Incarnate #2, Witchblade #131, and War Heroes #3.

Rob G.’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Thor #603- This just book just edges out Green Lantern #46 because of it’s sheer literary mastery (although GL was a ton of fun). Thor is one for the ages and will be remembered as a classic, maybe the best run of this past decade.

Most Anticipated: Astonishing X-Men #31 – The return of the Brood in Ellis’s hands. Let me wipe the drool away. Plus, Jemeriz has taken over art duties so I’m looking forward to more consistent and pleasing visuals than the last arc. Honestly, I can’t see what can be bad here.

Other Top Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #608, Batman and Robin #5, Batman: The Unseen #1, Captain America: Theater of War – Ghosts of my Country, Daredevil #501, Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors, Irredeemable #7, Spider-Man 1602 #1, Sweet Tooth #2, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #3, Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2.

DS’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Wonder Woman #36 – Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti are succeeding in restoring WW to her deserved status as one of the pillars of the DCU. Simone’s fantastic story-telling is setting the stage for another great story arc.

Most Anticipated: Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1 – it’s been a long time since we’ve had a regular dose of a Sorcerer Supreme and I’ve liked Jericho Drumm since first reading him in Strange Tales. I love Dr. Strange, but I’m hoping a new doctor in the house will bring back the freshness that made the sorcerer supreme so great under Lee and Ditko in the 1960’s.

Other Picks: Ghost Rider: Heavens on Fire #3, Batman and Robin #5, Justice League: Cry for Justice #4, Magog #2, Superman: World of New Krypton #8.

Alex’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Secret Warriors #8 -The more this book focuses on the kids, the more I like it. This month’s issue was entirely centred around them, and so it takes home my pick of the week.

Most Anticipated: Haunt #1 – I was underwhelmed with Kirkman’s last ongoing, Astounding Wolf-Man, I haven’t cared about Todd McFarlane in ten years (maybe), the 10-page preview was disappointing, and the advance reviews have been absolutely blistering. What was once excitement for this series has quickly turned to morbid curiosity. That said, I’m taking a real “I’ll see it for myself” stand on this for now.

Other Picks: Batman & Robin #5, Sweet Tooth #2, Daredevil #501.

Tony’s Picks

Best of the Past Week: Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu Black & White One Shot – Green Lantern was good, don’t get me wrong, but last week’s black and white Shang-Chi comic was unlike anything Marvel’s done in a long time, and I really respected that.

Most Anticipated: Planetary #27 – Wow, the comic three years in the making. I’m sitting here at work right now typing this out and actually still have a copy of Planetary #26 in my desk, noting with bewilderment that it came out November 2006. For better or worse, the comic that reignited my love of this artform ends here and now. I’ve waited three years for this moment so, yes, it is rather anticipated.

Other Top Picks: Batman and Robin #5, Criminal: Sinner #1, Daredevil #501, Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1, Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2

The Darkness #80 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer & Artist), Andre Parks (Inks), and Sakti Yuwono, Arif Prianto, and Admira Wijaya of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The last issue of The Darkness brought the familiar “team building” storyline to the series. And you know what? It worked really well. I look forward to seeing Jackie’s team in action now that everyone has been introduced.

The Story: Jackie’s got interest in some swampy land. Unfortunately for him, the Sovereign has some business interests in the same area. Oh yea, and there’s an ancient bog monster in the swamp that both may have to deal with in some way.

What’s Good: It’s not often that I get to review a comic that’s both written and drawn by the same person. It can’t be an easy task and I give all the credit in the world to Phil Hester for taking on the challenge. The Darkness #80 proves that he was definitely up to the task.

The first chapter of “Bog” has all the trappings of a classic swamp monster story. There’s shady businessmen, a reluctant lady who knows of the areas secret, and a likeable rogue that isn’t going to be dissuaded from getting what he wants. Hester’s story is simple, effective, and just plain entertaining. It’s also got personality to spare (though some of it is delivered in a heavy-handed way) and that goes a long way towards making up for how odd the story feels following The Darkness #79. But I’ll get to that in a bit.

Hester’s artwork in the latest issue of The Darkness is solid and gets the job done. It’s stylish and delivers in the areas that matter the most. While a few panels look a little awkward, for the most part the action’s exciting, the storytelling compliments the dialogue, and the color work/heavy inking keeps things clear and uncluttered.

What’s Not So Good: This may sound something like a nitpick, but, simply put, “Bog” is a strange way to follow up the team building stuff that’s taken place over the last few issues of The Darkness. It’s particularly strange considering that “Bog” sort of seems like a filler story that could almost be told at any point in the series. Yeah, the Sovereign character is involved so you could argue there’s some sort of storytelling window “Bog” must take place in, but the monster comes first and foremost. Jackie Estacado’s people seem to completely disappear in The Darkness #80 and it leaves me wondering why Hester didn’t decide to let the team establish itself more first before moving ahead with the “Bog” arc.

Conclusion: It isn’t perfect, but you really can’t go wrong with The Darkness #80. If you like The Darkness, monster stories, and entertaining dialogue, be sure to pick it up.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 – Review

By Mark Waid (Writer), Kenneth Rocafort (Art), and Sunny Gho of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The great looking first issue of Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer definitely started things off on the right foot for the Mark Waid and Kenneth Rocafort mini-series. Though Waid used a tried-and-true formula to set up the crossover, I found myself appreciating it because I’m fairly new to both the Cyberforce and the Hunter-Killer stuff. Sure, they were in that Fusion mini-series with the Avengers that I reviewed, but it was hard to really get a bead on the teams with so many characters running around.

The Story: Ellis desperately tries to smooth things over between Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer as he reveals the truth behind Morningstar and his connection with the Cyberdata Corporation.

What’s Good: The main reason you should pick up Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 is because Kenneth Rocafort is just so damned good at what he does. His work may look gritty and rough at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it’s hard to deny how sleek and sexy Rocafort’s style is, especially when it comes to his character work. And thankfully, as far as the art is concerned, Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 isn’t a case of style over substance in any way (though, thanks a great deal to Sunny Gho’s color choices, it is definitely stylish). Rocafort’s action scenes are dynamic (I really like how he handles Velocity’s powers), his attention to detail is mighty impressive (seriously, check out the panels that feature some sort of complex technology), and his smooth storytelling is complimented by some slick panel layouts.

So the artwork is quite kick-ass in the second Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer issue. How about the writing? Mark Waid does a nice job of handling the necessary exposition while moving both teams forward towards an interesting enough goal. In particular, I really like the “Jett” technology concept that’s revealed to be driving the overall plot. Also worth mentioning is the dialogue that’s exchanged between Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer. Waid nails the tension, yet also tosses in some sharp, surprisingly funny lines to keep things from feeling overly serious or pretentious.

What’s Not So Good: I’ve only got one complaint about the artwork and one complaint about the writing. The negative thing about the artwork is that occasionally backgrounds look a bit plain, bland, and sterile. It’s not such a big deal, but it’s noticeable enough to mention. The negative thing about the writing is that there’s no avoiding the sense that a portion of the book is dedicated to an information dump. It’s necessary for the plot, yet it feels a bit clunky.

Conclusion: Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #2 is well worth picking up. Kenneth Rocafort’s artwork is great and Mark Waid’s definitely got some cool ideas driving the story along.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

The Rest Of The Stack

Superman: Secret Origin #1

Geoff Johns (Writer), Gary Frank (Pencils), Jon Sibal (Inks)

The Good and the Bad: Superman: Secret Origin is a near perfect “jump-on point” for those who haven’t picked up a Superman book in a long time. In this new mini-series Geoff Johns and Gary Frank don’t offer us a mere summary of how Superman came to be, instead they give us a funny and moving coming-of-age story of a small town boy that transitions from adolescent to a young man aware of his capabilities. However, since this is a story about Superman after all, Johns and Frank waste no time jumping straight to the superhero scenes. Right away they gives us the superhero puberty scenes, showing Clark realizing his powers in the most common teenage boy ways. From realizing his bone-breaking strength on the field, to his premature heat discharges with Lana, Johns and Frank win big in drawing the similarities of a hero in the making and the familiar and awkward moments of a young boy. Even though the pacing may be unfolding a little too quickly, we get a much-needed background on how Superman came to be. This is definitely worth checking out.

Grade: A-

-Raymond Hilario

Avengers: The Initiative #28

Christos N. Gage (Writer), Rafa Sandoval (Pencils), Roger Bonet (Inks), and Edgar Delgado (Colors)

The Good and the Bad: Avengers: The Initiative is one series that’s definitely making the most of the whole Dark Reign thing. As the Avengers Resistance assembles to help some like-minded Initiative members in need, it’s hard not to smile as the whole Marvel sandbox concept gets used to full effect. On a technical level, Avengers: The Initiative #28 is a winner. Christos Gage does a fine job of cramming in some really nice character work among all the clever action. The artists prove that they are certainly up to the task of handling anything (and anyone) that Gage throws at them in an entertaining, slightly chaotic way. That said, it’s unfortunate that the impressive artwork, as a whole, doesn’t really fit the surprisingly dark script all that well. Simply put, it’s too lively and vibrant for the story being told.

Grade: B

The Darkness/Pitt #2

Paul Jenkins (Writer), Dale Keown (Pencils & Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

The Good and the Bad: I never would have considered the likeable Jackie Estacado to be a racist homophobe until reading The Darkness/Pitt #2, but, Paul Jenkins’ questionable character work aside, the Top Cow mini-series is proving to be a fun, violent romp. The dialogue between Pitt, Estacado, and Timmy is mostly entertaining in that “odd couple” type of way and Dale Keown’s slick, polished artwork is elevated by Frank D’Armata’s moody, dark colors. If you don’t mind a generic, forgettable plot, give the mini-series a look at some point if you are in the mood for something with that special “90s” vibe.

Grade: C+

No Hero #7

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

The Good and the Bad: Whoa! That’s the word that comes to mind when I think about the conclusion to No Hero. Warren Ellis throws a very cool curveball into the plot that makes main character Josh Carver infinitely more interesting as a character. The downside is that the brutal, violent ending pretty much puts the kibosh on any more exploration of the very character that you’re probably going to want to follow a bit more (though a prequel might work…). Oh well. At least Ellis ends things with one hell of a finish, mostly thanks to the incredibly disturbing, disgusting, detailed artwork provided by the talented Juan Jose Ryp. Whether you want it to or not, because of Ryp’s work, No Hero #7 will stick in your mind for quite some time.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #130 (War of the Witchblades) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Sjepan Sejic (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: A dead main character, a powerful artifact once again made whole…yep, the War of the Witchblades has definitely brought changes to the series.

The Story: The War of the Witchblades concludes…

What’s Good: While some parts of the War of the Witchblades arc felt a bit drawn out, Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic make every page of Witchblade #130 count. The script is tight, nearly every panel aides the storytelling in some way, and the changes promised breathe some new life into the Top Cow Universe. In short, as a conclusion to a “game-changing” storyline, Witchblade #130 delivers in a big way.

The biggest problem I’ve had with the recent direction of the Witchblade series is that too often individual issues lacked balance. A book was either the Ron Marz show (a slow read, loaded with exposition/dialogue/narration and maybe a montage for flavor) or the Stjepan Sejic show (a really pretty, but very fast, read). Witchblade #130 truly gives readers the best of both worlds. Ron Marz’s War comes to a satisfying close as some new story doors open up, while Stjepan Sejic is given enough epic action to really show off what he’s capable of. And let me tell you what… Stjepan Sejic is capable of a whole hell of a lot. From the dynamic panel layouts and shapes to the level of detail that’s on display, Witchblade #130 is one great-looking comic. It can definitely be a negative thing when a book is loaded with large panels, but Sejic makes the absolute most of every single bit of page space that he’s given.

What’s Not So Good: You know what tends to bother me? When a storyline feels like it wraps up in a way that’s almost too neat and tidy. While the War of the Witchblades’ ending satisfies, it also veers pretty far into ” clean, happy ending” territory that seems out of place considering how dark the overall arc is.
My only other complaint is a familiar one. Stjepan Sejic’s characters occasionally look plastic and doll-like due to the techniques that he uses. A bit more facial detail would really go a long way towards eliminating the plastic look in my opinion.

Conclusion: The latest issue of Witchblade looks great and brings a solid story to a satisfying close. Pick it up.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #129 (War of the Witchblades Chapter 5) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: One big problem that I have with events is that once one gets rolling, I can’t help but think about what’s going to happen after it. Is the Witchblade going to become whole again? Is one of the main characters going to die (for real this time)? Is the event leading towards something much bigger? With the War of the Witchblades winding down, I have to imagine I’ll find an answer or two to the questions I have in Witchblade #129.

The Story: Dani confronts Sara with the intention of ending the War of the Witchblades. Meanwhile, the Angelus force hovers outside of Dani’s place, intently watching Finch.

What’s Good: Witchblade #129 is driven by the action that Ron Marz uses to shake the status quo of the series. The battle between Sara and Dani is intense, questions are answered, and the future of the Witchblade series is made a little bit more clear. In other words, the latest Witchblade delivers where it matters most with an event like The War of the Witchblades going on.

Artist Stjepan Sejic does his best work when there’s a lot of supernatural stuff going on. So, needless to say, Witchblade #129 is one hell of a good looking book. The dark and light Witchblade armor looks fantastic, Sara’s Darkness-powered bridge/lair thing is awesome, and a few pages of the fight between Sara and Dani are truly epic-looking (I’d mention my favorite image, but I don’t want to spoil anything).

What’s Not So Good: Since it’s so full of action, Witchblade #129 is an extremely fast read. Dialogue is a bit sparse and since large images dominate the book, the pages just fly by. The only other negative I can think of is that occasionally Stjepan’s characters look plastic, unnatural, and, in all honesty, a bit creepy. That’s a minor complaint about the artwork though, since most of the character work is quite good.

Conclusion: Witchblade #129 is a must read comic for fans of the series. It looks great, packs some nice surprises, and will leave you wanting more.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #79 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Jorge Lucas (Art), and Felix Serrano (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I was casually flipping through The Darkness #79 when, all of a sudden, I yelled… “Triple-H!?”

The Story: Jackie’s got a new team to work with…

What’s Good: Phil Hester sticks to a very familiar “team-gathering” formula with The Darkness #79 and it works surprisingly well. Each member of Jackie’s team is introduced and given an entertaining (slightly seedy) back-story in a way that wouldn’t feel out of place in an Avengers title. As you probably know though, The Darkness isn’t your average superhero book and it’s for that reason that the latest issue of The Darkness stands out. While Hester doesn’t do anything new with the formula he’s working with, he doesn’t really have to because the style and tone of The Darkness is enough to make his story feel fresh.

Jorge Lucas’ gritty, dark work is a perfect fit for the new Darkness arc. There’s times when a more exciting style works for the series (Michael Broussard’s comes to mind), but this is not one of them. Hester is building a story that’s a bit more grounded and Lucas’ work adds a lot to the tone Hester is going for.

What’s Not So Good: The whole “HHH” thing is a bit of a distraction. I don’t mind referencing if it’s done right, but the WWE star’s appearance really took me out of the story. While HHH is certainly a solid choice for the character his likeness is used for, Vike will always be HHH rather than Vike.

Conclusion: It’s a bit formulaic, but The Darkness #79 is entertaining as hell. I look forward to seeing what Jackie Estacado’s team can do.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 – Review

By Mark Waid (Writer), Kenneth Rocafort (Art), and Sunny Gho of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll admit to not being all that familiar with either Cyberforce or Hunter-Killer. Truth be told, it is the creative team that got me to pick up the first issue of the heavily hyped Top Cow mini-series.

The Story: The Hunter-Killer team, working to track down other Ultra-Sapiens, launches an attack on Cyberforce. As it turns out, the members of Hunter-Killer may have bitten off more than they can chew.

What’s Good: Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 is really welcoming to new readers, which is a good thing because it’s a book you’re probably not going to want to miss once things really start rolling. Right from the odd opening, writer Mark Waid lays down a solid foundation for a crossover while doing a nice job of introducing both teams (and the universe they exist in) that are going to be fighting and (probably) joining forces for the greater good. The artwork by Kenneth Rocafort, meanwhile, manages to be gritty, sexy, and stylish all at once without ever failing to tell a story (for the most part). Rocafort’s work makes Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 look truly unique and almost worth the price of admission alone.

What’s Not So Good: You’ve read Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 before. I don’t mean that literally, but I mean it in the sense that it feels exactly like almost every other crossover that’s come before it. The stage is set, the teams are introduced, there’s some revelation, and then…uh oh…to be continued. You’ve seen it before, you’ve read it before, and there’s no getting around that fact. Now, that’s not to say that the formula doesn’t work, because it does. It still warrants a mention though, so that’s why I bring it up.

Conclusion: If you can get pass the generic “beginning to a crossover” feel that dominates the book, Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 is well-worth checking out. Mark Waid’s got some cool ideas in play and Kenneth Rocafort’s work deserves to get noticed.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Fusion #3 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), Sal Regla & Jay Leisten (Inks), and John Starr & Blond (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: As long as you read an issue of Fusion with the right mindset…

The Story: Cyberforce and the Avengers face off against the Thunderbolts before all the teams realize there’s something far worse that must be dealt with: Venom’s alien symbiote has gone ballistic!

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Fusion #3 uses a simple formula to get the job done. And you know what? It works well enough. If you came into the series to see all four teams (Cyberforce, Hunter-Killer, Tbolts, and Avengers) fight and then team up, well… Fusion #3 is your book. It’s dumb, it’s mindless, but it’s also quite a bit of fun (I’m sure I’ve said that about Fusion at least once before).

Artist Tyler Kirkham does his best to make the most of his time playing with the Marvel characters. Kirkham crafts a rather badass looking Venom and he also does a nice job of keeping the nonstop action manageable and satisfying. There’s a drop in quality here and there, but it’s understandable, considering how much is going on in nearly each and every panel.

I honestly wish I had more to say about Fusion #3, but how much can you really say about a book focused almost entirely around the action taking place? Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning keep things moving from scene to scene with some fun dialogue and, frankly, that’s really all I need with a crossover like Fusion. In short, if you’ve liked part one and two, you’ll probably enjoy the conclusion as well.

Conclusion: There isn’t much to it, but Fusion #3 is almost certain to please those that are part of its target audience. Fun, yet totally forgettable.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #78 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Nelson Blake II (Pencils), Ryan Winn (Inks), and Arif Prianto of IFS (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’m glad that it looks like Phil Hester is about to get The Darkness back on track. While I’ve enjoyed the re-launch of The Darkness quite a bit, there’s no denying that something has been missing.

The Story: Jackie wants to regain some measure of control and power. To do so he must take out the Sovereign…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The Darkness #78 tells a cool little story that not only works well as a (temporary) conclusion to the Sovereign arc, but also as a standalone story about Jackie Estacado being a total badass. It’s clever, it’s brutal, and it’s written/framed in a way that effectively adds to Estacado’s mystique as someone that’s not to be messed with. In addition, The Darkness #78 does a nice job of setting up the near future of the series which, from the looks of it, seems to be all about getting back to what made Jackie’s story such a hit to begin with.

Nelson Blake II is the big surprise of the latest issue of The Darkness. I’ve seen Blake’s pencil work before, but I don’t recall it ever looking quite as good as it does in The Darkness #78. Thanks to Ryan Winn and Arif Prianto, Blake’s work is bright, clean, and stylish in a way works far better than you’d expect; considering what an issue of The Darkness normally looks like. While the art isn’t really a prime example of the typical “Darkness” style, it still proves to be a nice change of pace for the series.

Conclusion: The Darkness #78 isn’t groundbreaking or particularly exciting, but it delivers as a solid piece of entertainment. The art impresses and the writing effectively sets the stage for the next chapter of The Darkness.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #128 (War of the Witchblades Chapter 4) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: “The War of the Witchblades” event got quite a jolt from the last issue, thanks in part to the (possible) deaths of not one, but two main characters. While I’m sure that at least one of the Witchblade bearers will turn out to be at least somewhat ok, it all made for a very nice cliffhanger.

The Story: The Angelus warrior Sabine sees an opportunity to make the Witchblade whole again, but needs to manipulate Dani in order for the plan to work…

What’s Good: Let me just say this this section is going to look a bit misleading because I actually like Witchblade #128 quite a bit… Anyways, “The War of the Witchblades” continues to intrigue, thanks to the mystery surrounding some of the elements of the mythology that the story has introduced. Ron Marz is doing a nice job of crafting a memorable event and handling the characters; the latest chapter of the story reads rather well. And thanks to Stjepan Sejic’s unique painted style (the artist’s work is as strong as ever in Witchblade #128), the event is as compelling to look at as it is to read.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with the latest issue of Witchblade is that it doesn’t do a whole lot to move the Witchblade war forward. See the story summary above? That’s pretty much all that happens in the issue outside of the (now standard) mysterious old shop owner appearance. Sure it sets the stage for what looks to be a classic battle, but that doesn’t feel like enough when it seems like more could be happening. It’s always frustrating when a good event is bogged down by pacing issues.

Conclusion: I know that’s not much of a review written above, but there just isn’t a whole lot that needs to be said about Witchblade #128. On a technical level, it’s a pretty standard issue of a good series. What that means is that the book reads well and looks absolutely spectacular at times (the “to be continued” page is poster-worthy for sure). As part of an event though, the latest chapter of “The War of the Witchblades” is a bit weak because not enough happens to make Witchblade #128 as satisfying as it could be.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Fusion #2 – Review

By Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Writers), Tyler Kirkham (Pencils), and Sal Regla (Inks)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Fusion #1 was a fun ’90s throwback comic. It was dated as hell, but if you just went with the crazy stuff going on, there was far more to like than hate. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

The Story: The Avengers and Cyberforce battle it out because of the Ripclaw situation. It’s soon learned that something is linked to Ripclaw in some way and that something is now in the hands of Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts….

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: You can look at Fusion in one of two ways: it’s either an action-packed crossover that delivers where it matters most or a dated, tired crossover that serves as a reminder of why comics like Fusion no longer work well. That’s why it’s so difficult to write a review about Fusion #2. In fact, I’m fairly certain that the second chapter of Fusion is “review proof.” If you like it, I can totally understand why. If you hate it, I can totally understand why. It’s a great example of what made some of those “bad” comics so much fun, but also a great example of how silly and nonsensical they are. Make sense?

Now, on a technical level, Fusion #2 is surprisingly solid. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning do a nice job of bringing out every personality that’s part of Fusion’s cast. They write a number of entertaining character moments and have come up with an interesting enough reason to throw four different teams from two different companies together for a showdown. As for the artwork, Tyler Kirkham does a fine job of handling a number of chaotic scenes, though a few panels look awkward and rather “pose” heavy.

Conclusion: If it sounds like your type of thing, then by all means pick up Fusion #2. If it sounds like your comic book version of hell, then be sure to stay far, far away.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia #1

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Marc Silvestri (Pencils), Michael Broussard, Eric Basaldua, Tyler Kirkham, & Sheldon Mitchell (Pencil Assists), Joe Weems w/ Marco Galli, Eric Basaldua, Rick Basaldua, Jason Gorder, Jay Leisten, Sal Regla, Jon Sibal, and Ryan Winn (Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

The Story: A riot breaks out as the March for Humanity (led by Simon Trask and his Humanity Now! coalition) reaches San Francisco’s mutant population. The confrontation sparks a wave of violence between mutants and humans that spreads throughout the streets of San Francisco and other nearby cities. With chaos reigning, Norman Osborn sends his Avengers in to restore some order by any means necessary. There is also another plan at work, something far more sinister…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The best thing about the first chapter of Utopia is its strong ending. It’s genuinely surprising and it brings to mind a number of interesting possibilities. What’s disappointing though, is how long it feels like it takes to get the ending that makes the Utopia one-shot worth reading.

While Matt Fraction does a very nice job of ramping up the tension in San Francisco and establishing a sense of scale to the mutant/ human conflict, too much of Utopia #1 feels like fluff. What Fraction establishes in over thirty pages could have easily been taken care of with less than twenty-five. Now, with that said, just because it’s padding, doesn’t mean it’s bad.

Fraction does a lot of great things with the various characters he is allowed to play with. Fluff or not, there’s no denying how well written Utopia is. The scene between Cyclops and Toad is absolutely fantastic, as is the short Hawkeye/ Bullseye appearance. The page showing how others are reacting to the San Francisco mess is also very effective in a “short, but sweet” way.

What bothers me about Fraction’s story is that it makes Cyclops look rather foolish early on. The March for Humanity had apparently been marching hundreds of miles for quite sometime before reaching San Francisco. I find it hard to believe that a character like Cyclops (or any other “X” leader) would not be on top of things regarding how to deal with Trask’s march. Yeah, I know, that complaint is a bit of a nitpick in the larger scheme of things, but after all the character rehab Cyclops has gone through…

By now you’ve probably noticed that I have yet to mention Utopia’s artwork. There’s a reason for that. You know that phrase “Too many cooks in the kitchen?” Yeah… The artwork in Utopia #1 brings that phrase to mind quite often.

Now I’ll leave the “Top Cow” style stuff for you to decide on (expect subtle scenes to look anything but subtle…poses aplenty). What I will discuss, however, is the fact that the first issue of Utopia has visuals that are, when taken as a whole, quite disappointing. For every great looking scene, there is one that serves as a terrible reminder that the art team is made up of fourteen different people. Simply put, Utopia #1 is wildly inconsistent– visually. At least the whole thing has a cohesive look to it though. It really could have been so much worse considering how many people had a hand in creating the artwork.

Conclusion: The Utopia crossover shows a lot of promise, but it takes a while to understand why. If you can deal with the occasionally rough visuals and the sense that things have been stretched out a bit, you’ll find a lot to like about the Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia one-shot.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade Darkness Angelus Trinity Blood On The Sands – Review

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Even though they tend to be ultimately forgettable in the larger scheme of things, I enjoy the random Darkness/ Witchblade one-shots because they always manage to enrich the mythology or characters of the Top Cow universe in some way.

The Darkness: Diyafa by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), Sheldon Mitchell (Pencils), Joe Weems V (Inks), and Arif Prianto (Colors)

Witchblade: Assahiya by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), and Admira Wijaya & Sunny Gho (Art)

Angelus: Chermera by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), Tom Grindburg (Pencils & Inks) and Sunny Gho (Colors)

The Story: In “Diyafa,” a young man seeks out “The Dark Wyrm” that uses the Darkness in order to rescue a loved one. In “Assahiya,” the Witchblade’s balance is divided between two sisters. In “Chermera,” a man must kill a lover that has been corrupted by the Angelus.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The visually impressive Top Cow one-shot Blood on the Sands amounts to more than the sum of its parts. That said, I’m not really sure how much more because I’m certain that Blood on the Sands would have worked better as a mini-series as opposed to a single one-shot. Taken individually, each short story is simple, rushed, predictable, and, truthfully, not all that interesting. But, taken together, each short story weaves together with the current Darkness/Witchblade/Angelus situation surprisingly well.

The artwork is easily the highlight of Blood on the Sands. Each story is done in a specific, (mostly) fitting style that makes up for some of one-shot’s shortcomings. I would love to see each art team given a full issue to work on.

Conclusion: Blood on the Sands is a solid enough fix for fans of the Top Cow universe, but it’s far from an essential read.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #77 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Michael Broussard (Pencils), Ryan Winn (Inks), and Arif Prianto (Colors)

The Story: Jackie fights the lady with the red ribbon’s guardian and comes to learn the secret of the curse… and of his break with the Darkness.

What’s Good: The battle between Jackie and the sand guardian feels adequately epic thanks to the exciting, dynamic visuals and the dialogue that flows along with the action. In addition, it’s nice to see what (initially) seems like a throwaway battle used as a springboard for getting the series back to doing what it does best. While I don’t want to spoil anything, let’s just say that it’s good to see Phil Hester move the story away from the Sovereign and back towards the Darkness. I wish I could say more about the issue, but the best stuff is saved for the end (in other words, spoiler territory).

What’s Not So Good: While it’s not a huge distraction, Jackie and the lady with the red ribbon are drawn rather inconsistently. Jackie, in particular, looks like a completely different person at times. Having that irregularity throw you when following the character.

Another complaint I have is that some of the dialogue is a bit too heavy-handed and melodramatic. While it fits the story quite well, it’s still a bit silly from time to time.

Conclusion: The Darkness #77 is just solid all around. The visuals look good, the storytelling is pretty compelling, and the ending is sure to please all fans.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #127 (War of the Witchblades) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The War of the Witchblades got off to a solid start. Now that the stage is finally set, it’s time for the War to truly begin. I for one, can’t wait to see what happens.

The Story: Tensions between Sara and Dani erupt into a battle between the light and the darkness.  Meanwhile, an Angelus warrior named Sabine looks for the opportune moment to make a claim for power…

What’s Good & What’s Not So Good: Thanks to both the artwork and the writing, the fight between Dani and Sara plays out really well in Witchblade #127.  Ron Marz’s “fight” dialogue is effective and Stjepan Sejic’s work (especially the “Dark Witchblade” design/powers) makes the battle between the Witchblade bearers something to remember.  I must also point out that the limited use of dialogue keeps the focus on the visual storytelling, the use of color, and the rather impressive panel layout which, this case, is a good thing.

The biggest negative about chapter three of War of the Witchblades is that occasionally Sejic’s artwork makes people look a bit…off. Dani in particular looks so computer generated in a few panels that it proves to be a distraction until the fight breaks out. It’s a fairly minor complaint, especially considering how nice the majority of the book looks, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.

Another complaint I have is the way the events in the issue escalate at a wild pace, especially considering the fact that a baby is caught up in the middle of the clash. While I like the concept of Sara losing control, she seems uncharacteristically mentally weak in a way that says “plot device” in a very quiet voice. Maybe more will be explained next month.

Conclusion: I wish I could say more about Witchblade #127, but I’m sort of at a loss for words.  It features an entertaining, well-executed fight scene and ends in a way that will leave fans begging for more. The dialogue is solid all around, the visuals look mostly great, and the storyline is playing out in a way that should please new and longtime fans alike.  If I said much more, I would be ruining the surprises of the issue, so just go pick it up if you are a fan of the series.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny