Madness of Wonderland #4

The madness stops here, or at least that’s what Emma Legrasse is hoping for as she closes in on the suspect behind the murders.  With her girlfriend’s life on the line, she will stop at nothing to bring this person in and put an end to the violence.  However, the killer may not be who she thinks.  Read the final installment to the Madness of Wonderland mini-series that will leave you crazed for more. 

So, now Madness of Wonderland comes to a close.  The killer has been revealed (which I won’t give out here) and the legacy of the Mad Hatter lives on.  It’s been a wild ride and Emma just wants it to stop, for her girlfriend’s sake as well as for anyone else this murderer might lay claim to.  But, what is Danko’s involvement in all of this and why did he take Shelly?  As luck would have it, Emma tracks him down to the very site where Hall and Lovecraft discovered the caves with all of the strange writing.  A final showdown is at hand where they finally air-out their dirty laundry and their connection with Johnny Liddle is finally unveiled.  There were so many twists and turns in this issue that “madness” is an apt title for this series.  However, that’s what makes a good psychological thriller.  You don’t really know where the story is taking you and in the end the big reveal finally pays off.  All throughout the series you had little glimpses of the Mad Hatter and you’re told that Emma witnessed her whole family killed while being held captive when she was a kid, so when it’s shown that Johnny was there back during Emma’s imprisonment it gets you thinking of how it may have effected Johnny down the line.  Did his involvement play a role in him becoming the Mad Hatter?  That’s something for the reader to speculate on and it’s things like that, that make the story that much more enjoyable for me.

So, let’s continue on that thought of the continuity tie-ins.  When you’ve got an ever expanding universe of characters and locations, one can start to lose track and get lost in the myriad of stories that come about from all of that.  However, when a writer throws in a bit of back story that places characters at a specific event, you can develop a timeline of the universe and then try to figure out, unless you’re specifically told, how these characters or events influenced the next in line.  So, like I said, did Johnny’s involvement influence his actions down the road?  Now the fun part is going back through the series that started it all and try and place when that happened.  Not sure if Raven had this planned out way back then, but it would be some awesome foresight into an already amazing universe.  Kudos to Dan Wickline for executing this so wonderfully.  I feel like a read through the earlier series is now in order.

Now, my thoughts on what I didn’t like about this issue were simply that I thought the big reveal as to who the killer was at the end was a bit obvious.  I don’t know, I feel like they could have thrown you completely, but decided on the familiar path so-to-speak.  This is still worth the read though, so don’t let that deter you from a great issue.

Emma Legrasse has finally confronted the killer and prevented any more deaths, but where will she go from here?  Only time will tell what Wonderland has in store for Emma, but one thing you can be sure of is that it won’t be pleasant.  So, be sure to pick up this issue from your local comic shop or wherever you get your Zenescope needs.  This is not one to be missed as I’m sure the repercussions from this book will be playing out in series to come.  For more info on where to find this issue, visit the Zenescope website, or the Zenescope Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer and not the Mad Hatter. 

Madness of Wonderland #2 & #3

 Warning: There may be spoilers ahead! Read at your own risk!

         

 As the investigation of the bizarre murder continues, agents connected to the case keep winding up dead.  Now Detective Legrasse must delve even deeper into Lovecraft’s journal in order to put this case to rest.  However, a spectre from her past begins to haunt her and a man thought dead leaves signs of his return.  The madness continues in these next two installments of the new Wonderland spin-off by Dan Wickline. 

So, I think it’s safe to say that you never want to get involved with anything even remotely related to the Liddle family.  Something Emma Legrasse is finding out all too quickly as other agents investigating the murder case that started all of the current craziness, begin to get picked off one-by-one.  Not only that, but she keeps reliving her traumatizing past, bringing up old emotions and pain that would not deem a normal police officer fit for active duty.  Somehow, Emma has been able to suppress all of those feelings throughout her life and only now having them well up during this strange investigation.  Obviously a strong willed girl, otherwise she would’ve lost it a long time ago having to deal with so many murders for all these years. 

The one big mystery though is how Lovecraft’s journal ties into all of this exactly.  Sure, the markings on the victim might have something to do with it, but if Legrasse is the only one that has the journal, who else would know about it?  Question upon question piles up across these issues, which will hopefully be answered by the conclusion to this mini-series with the next issue.  This is looking to be something great. 

 Dan Wickline is putting together quite the wonderful mystery here.  What with a quick appearance by a character we all thought dead and little hints divulged from Lovecraft’s journal, it’s certainly shaping into a series I just can’t put down.  It even has me trying to figure who this mystery killer is.  Each issue has me thinking I’ve finally figured it out and then something else surfaces that debunks my theory.  Good mysteries are hard to come by these days, at least ones that really get me thinking, so for the fact that I have no clue who’s killing everyone, I’m really looking forward to the last issue.

               

 Now, my only beef I had to do with issue three.  The art just fell short in my opinion.  It seemed flat and unemotive compared to Reine Rosenberg’s work on the second issue.  I mean when you compare the agent getting killed in issue two to the one in issue three, you just don’t get the sense that Agent Anders is feeling her life slip away as much as Nicole the medical examiner did.  Oscar

Celestini did great with the Lovecraft flashback shots in both issues, but I just didn’t feel it with Puste.

So, now this series is starting to wind down, but not before a few more wrenches are thrown into the works.  I can’t say enough how much I’m enjoying Mr. Wickline’s work on this series and really can’t wait for the big reveal.  If that’s not motivation enough to go grab these two issues then you must be mad!  Believe me when I say, Madness of Wonderland does not disappoint.  For more info on where to find these issues, visit the Zenescope website, or the Zenescope Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of these books for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Madness of Wonderland

Written By Dan Wickline, the mind-bending follow up to Call of Wonderland is here! Following the events of Call of Wonderland, Detective Legrasse is still trying to make sense out of what happened to the two murder suspects who disappeared, seemingly in thin air, from a locked basement. But when she's called in on a disturbing and brutal murder case, she realizes that there is a connection to be made somewhere. Meanwhile, the back-story that follows HP Lovecraft's journal continues as Lovecraft's disturbing dreams are becoming more and more real to him.

The sequel to the Call of Wonderland mini-series, Madness delves deeper into Lovecraft’s journal as a murder investigation, led by Detective Emma Legrasse, holds a startling connection.  When we last saw Detective Legrasse, she was chasing down Salome Gray and Julie Sands, the two who would become the Queen of Hearts.  Now, it seems as though the horrors of Wonderland are bleeding over into the real world, although it wouldn’t be the first time and certainly not the last.  The essence of Wonderland is like a toxic fog that just hovers around anyone who comes into contact with it in one form or another.  Slowly, it eats away at your psyche, leaving you in a state of constant fear as Lovecraft found out the hard way.  Emma has been exposed to the madness by holding onto Lovecraft’s journal and her current murder investigation is only just the beginning of her trip down the rabbit hole. 

One thing I can say that I liked about this issue was that it was another addition to the Zenescope Wonderland universe.  Yet another artifact of Wonderland, Lovecraft’s journal, has already sealed the fate of Salome and Julie and now Detective Legrasse is next.  Like the mirror in the Liddle house and the hat of the Mad Hatter, the journal has created another connection to the evils of Wonderland.  Not only that, but it even explains how Wonderland came to be.  Dan Wickline has been doing a great job of expanding upon the Wonderland lore and now with Emma Legrasse in possession of the journal, nothing good awaits her.  The artwork in this issue was really well done.  Sebastian Cichon’s lines have a real nice flow that gives the issue a softness that contradicts the content of the story itself.  Somehow, that just works really well.

As it seems to be the case with a lot of what I review lately, I couldn’t find anything bad about this issue.  Great writing, great art, I mean what’s there to complain about if you’ve got both of those in a comic?  Those two things right there are what every person should, and probably does, look for in a comic.  So, let’s move on with this review and stop me from rambling on any more than I have.

               

 The Madness of Wonderland is so strong that it has conjured up its own comic series.  If anything can be said about dealing with Wonderland it's that Emma Legrasse is in for quite the thrill ride with mind-bending horror around every corner.  Let’s just see if she can keep her wits about her as she tries to solve this new murder.  A great addition to the Wonderland storyline, definitely go pick this one up, you would be mad not to.  For more info on where to find this book, visit the Zenescope website or the Zenescope Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer and we hope not the Mad Hatter.

Sleepy Hollow #4

Vengeance will be his!

Mike has met his fate at the hands of The Headless Horseman.  Now, the Horseman has Steve cornered and Brandon and Ty within his sights.  Will they be able to escape his wrath or will swift justice be served?  Read the thrilling conclusion to Zenescope’s Sleepy Hollow.  It’s sure to make your head spin!

The Headless Horseman is swiftly taking down all those who essentially summoned him forth.  Heads are literally flying all over this issue and Ty is at the top of his list for betrayals.  As to be expected, this issue was decapitations galore, no one really stood much of a chance.  Although, there was a nice little revelation that pretty much changed the whole series.  Well, it definitely changed some aspects of certain characters and really makes you take a second glance at the previous issues to see if there were any signs that lead to this new twist.  That single reveal just changes your whole perspective on the events that lead to Craig’s death.  It’s a good one, so I can’t give anything more away, but it will definitely surprise you.

So, the thing that I liked the most about this issue is the one thing I really can’t talk about, which is the big reveal.  Like I’ve said it shines a whole new light on the overall series and really just makes the Horseman’s quest for vengeance that much more justified.  I think I’m gonna have to stop there before I accidentally give something away. However, because I liked the reveal so much, I’d have to credit the writing for the issue as well.  If Dan Wickline hadn’t crafted such a fine story, the revelation wouldn’t have worked so well.  So, in the end the writing would have to be my favorite part of this issue. 

The one thing that got to me was the convenient plot device at the end.  Sure it helps the story and makes everything work, but it just felt like it was too conveniently placed.  Those kinds of things tend to make me scoff a bit at the overall integrity of the issue.  Kind of the easy way out of having to do some extra explaining.  Thankfully though, it wasn’t a deal-breaker and didn’t ruin the issue for me.  Aside from that, this was a really well done book.

So now we come to the end of the slaughter-fest.  No one stands a chance against the onslaught of the Headless Horseman and he will not rest until justice has been served.  Although, if you’re on the receiving end of his sword, you probably deserved it, which is reason enough to pick up this issue.  Not only will it give you closure to this series, but it could save your life!  So, go complete the series and grab issue four of Sleepy Hollow.  For more info on where to pick up this issue, visit the Zenescope website or the Zenescope Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. No swords were involved in Dan's opinions, comments or thoughts so far as we know and all of those things are all his. 

Sleepy Hollow #1

 In the small town of Tarry Town, New York the story of the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow has become something of Myth and Legend.
               
A legend that is about to become all too real. When a prank goes deadly wrong those responsible will learn the truth behind the legend as the Headless Horseman returns to exact a horrifying revenge that none will ever forget. From the writer of Salem's Daughter: The Haunting comes a tale of horror and terror that will leave you on the edge of your seats. Hold on to your hats...and your head.

Sleepy Hollow starts off in the true Grimm Fairy Tales fashion, rather violently.  This is the story of the Headless Horseman, so one can expect a great deal of decapitation throughout.  Although with this being the first issue, we get to see how Craig Marsters fits into the grand scheme of things.  His ties to the past are definitely going to come into play, but now I’m just getting ahead of myself. 

 Dan Wickline wrote a very interesting take on the origins of the Headless Horseman by modernizing it into the bookworm being taken advantage of by the jock storyline.  There were a few surprising little plot points that definitely changed things up a bit to the point where the ending wasn’t what one was expecting.  The unpredictability really gives this book that extra attention grabber. I know I’m looking forward to see how this pans out.

 There was a little dialogue trouble in some instances that it just didn’t seem very natural for a character to speak the way it’s written.  Speaking out every word instead of using the conjunctions makes the speech look rather stiff.  I’ve seen this problem in other series and it throws you off when it’s done frequently, but like I said, there were only a few spots where this occurred, so don’t let that dissuade you from checking this out.

So, shave a bit off the top of your wallet and go pick up this book at break-neck speed.  Now, I wouldn’t say I’m sticking my neck out for this book, but you’ll definitely lose your head over how good the story is.  Sleepy Hollow is another great addition to the Grimm Fairy Tales mythos and heads will roll if you don’t add this one to your collection.  For more info about this book and where to pick it up, visit the Zenescope website or the Zenescope Facebook page. 

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer. We're pretty sure Dan still has his head. ;)

Wizard World Austin 2012 Wrap Up Part 2

Believe it or not, the day I could have slept in because it was quiet was the day that I had to be up the earliest! I'm telling you, I lead one glamorous life. Typical con day routine : Get up, get around, check email, check Facebook, head to the convention. I wasn't honestly feeling breakfast so I decided to skip that and head right down to the convention center. It might have had something to do with my excitement about finally meeting Shawn and his wife, Sun (see the bakery post for more information about her) for the first time in person.

So, it was off to the convention center. Since I was anxious combined with oh crud, Saturday parking is always miserable, I actually ended up at the convention about 45 minutes before the VIPs and Press could access the show floor. Oops! That's ok though because it gave me time to check out some of the costumed folks standing in line and chat with people.

 I love that comic conventions give all of us grown ups a chance to safely play dress up. It's something that a lot of us never outgrew and other than Halloween, we don't really get a chance to indulge in. It's something that I honestly want to do but haven't gotten comfortable enough, plus, is it really professional? Oh the dilemmas! However, on Saturday, there were some fantastic costumes spanning ever genre and comic book imaginable. A lot of them I recognized and there were quite a few that I didn't. No matter though. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and the volunteers were keeping everyone's energy levels up while we waited to get inside.

Once inside, I headed over to see someone that was drawing free pictures based upon any one question he asked you. Unfortunately, he chose to arrive late so a lot of people didn't even realize he was there or what he was doing. Tip to vendors..be there and ready to go when the doors open. Otherwise you give off an unprofessional vibe to those who walk by early in the day. After I received my drawing (which I will try to scan and post another day), I headed back to Artist Alley.

The one thing that I didn't love about this convention was the odd L shaped layout*. It made it more difficult for me to remember where I had been and where I hadn't. I have a tendency to be pretty straightforward in how I handle the vendor floor. I start in the front and work my way up and down each aisle until I get to Artist Alley and then I do that section separately. The L shape totally threw me off.

That didn't stop me much though! I managed to get through a decent sized chunk of "the alley" before it was time to go out and meet Shawn and Sun to say hi and to pick up my baked goods. Since I wasn't 100% sure how long it would take them to get to the convention center and park, I found a chair and relaxed while watching everyone walk by. Again, people watching at comicons is a fantastic way to waste an hour or two if you have it to waste.

There were some amazing costumes. I especially loved the girl dressed as a weeping angel. She stayed in character for ages while people took photo after photo. Sadly, the one that I took of her earlier in the day just didn't come out good enough for me to share with you, but I can say that anyone willing to stay in character for photos is dedicated to their character and a real hit with the convention attendees.

When Shawn and Sun arrived, they were also dolled up in fun Weird West costumes. Sadly, I didn't get to snap a picture because Sun rushed right off. I'm not sure where she headed to, but she was in a hurry to get there. Luckily, I got to talk to Shawn for a few minutes, snag a hug (and those bakery boxes) before we were both off to do our own things at the convention. For me, it was to drop off a couple of bakery boxes before heading up to the Zenescope panel.

True to form, this was the only panel that I managed to attend all weekend. One of these days, I'm going to manage to actually attend two or more. Until that day comes, Zenescope panels will always be top of my list. In this panel, Stephen and Pat filled us in on what Zenescope is up to and what we can expect. Here's just a bit of what they shared:

• Robyn Hood issue #1, written by Pat Shand, is the 2nd highest selling issue for them, not only this year but ever.
• Wonderland will continue in 2013 with Madness of Wonderland (written by Dan Wickline). Watch for that in February or March.
• Mark Miller will be continuing work on Jungle Book.
• Pat and Raven Gregory are in the process of pitching a book with 2 male leads.
• The pilot for the Animated Series is now complete and they were in the process of pitching it to various networks. 
• Zenescope works with a multitude of online sites, including Geek-o-Rama..yes, he said us out loud to the crowd!
• This was Pat's first ever panel and he mentioned that he'd brought 20 Pat Packs* with him in the hopes of selling out at this convention.

After the panel, I walked back downstairs with Pat while Raven talked a mile a minute in his ear (via cell phone technology). If you've never been the 3rd party while someone is talking to Raven on the phone, I highly encourage it. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud a couple of times. Raven's enthusiasm can be heard, for sure.

Sadly, by this point in the day, I was feeling tired and a little run down, so instead of getting back to work, I decided to finish handing out my baked goods. The folks loved getting those pretty pink boxes and it was a lot of fun to surprise them. I'm thinking that this is something we should work on continuing at other conventions. I'd love to work with small, local companies to get their name and product out there and to treat our site friends with a yummy treat. 

Once I finished that, I managed to meet back up with Walter and the kids..Did I mention that they were there too? Crud, I bet I didn't! Well, they were and the kids were full of energy and having a great time. There's something magical about 5 and 6 year olds and their enthusiasm for life and all things magical and mysterious. We made our dinner plans and then they were off to a fantastic time at a local museum. I wish I'd gone with them. It sounded like so much fun!

For me though, there was more convention. I had to meet up with Shawn again so that I could give him his prize pack for the giveaway. With the handing off of the baked goods and running to the panel, I had completely forgotten to earlier. Luckily, he managed to spot me in the crowds and so I got another hug and he let me take this picture of him. I confess that I was having trouble with the lighting at that point, but I did want to show off how Geek-o-Rama contributors have fun too! Sadly, Sun wasn't with him so I couldn't get a photo of the two of them together. They made a great looking couple in their costumes.

After we parted ways again, I decided that I was worn out enough that I could safely sneak back to the hotel and relax before I met up with Walter and the kids for dinner. Turns out, I was wrong. I stopped by a few tables on the way out just to say see you tomorrow and yet again got sucked into the Zenescope table. Pat and I stood talking for a while, I sold more of their books for them and actually had someone come to the table looking for me so that they could get more information about the site. It was the first time something like that had happened and honestly, I felt a bit like a celebrity for a minute there. I can't imagine how someone like Pat feels every time someone comes up and asks him to sign their books for them. I'm wondering though if I shouldn't spend more time pimping other people's books at conventions since people seem to know that the best chance of finding me is at that table...

So, my plan of leaving early was a total bust, but it did mean meeting some more awesome folks so it was worth hanging around a bit longer. From there, it was back to the hotel where I plugged my poor dead phone in and relaxed until it was time to meet up with Walter and the kids. We had a fantastic dinner together, where Ohana and I totally beat Walter and Turk at the word search (or maybe it was a tie because we all started cheating..). The kids zonked out and we ended up carrying them to the car but I hope that they had fun too. 

Once back in the hotel, I glanced at the clock and groaned. Morning was going to come far too early but another good con day is always worth the lack of sleep that may come with it. Come back tomorrow for the Sunday wrap up and general summary! 

* Did you find the answers to yesterday's prize giveaway? If not, they were: 

• The L Shaped Layout
• Zenescope's list
• 20 Pat Packs
• Me (no, I didn't say this but c'mon...that one was a gimme)

Since nobody answered any of these, this book will return to the giveaway vault for another day.