Welcome to Ralton #1-3

By Don Rosencrans, with Cole Johnson

Reno Sanders is a simple man with a wife and kid trying to live an ordinary life on his land outside of Ralton City, even though his life has taken a turn for the unordinary.

On a sunny spring day in 1987, Reno Sanders is enjoying a day at the mall with his wife and daughter. Mangus, the devil-man of local legend, is on the hunt for Reno to tell him about a strange new world that he's unknowingly a part of due to the mysterious object that attached itself to his chest when he was a teenager. Being the quick-to-anger type that he is, Reno of course mistakes Mangus' intentions at first.

But what follows will be tales of unimaginable heights as Reno tries to balance his professional and family life with that of his new friend Mangus.

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welcometoralton.wix.com

The Good:

I was given the opportunity to read Welcome to Ralton and I have to say that it was some good fun action packed reading. The dialogue between the characters has been well written for the most part and the action scenes were easy to follow. The main character Reno Sanders is easy to like. What's an even more fun character is the devil, Mangus, that helps Reno discover and control his powers along the way. The dialogue especially between Mangus and Reno is very good. The back drops and the panels all flow really well in this comic. That might be one of the bests things to say about about Welcome to Reno.The story thus far has kept me intrigued and looking forward to the next issue.

The Bad:

My biggest issue with the comic might be how the heads/faces are drawn. Large jaws and extremely wide eyes with next to no cranium. This is something that I will nit pick about within this comic since the comic itself is done so well overall.There are a few scenes that the dialogue is a bit off. Only a few though and they are only noticeable because of how well the comic reads overall. Again I'm nit picking here because the book is done so well. 

Summary:

Welcome to Ralton looks promising. Three issues into it and I am looking forward to getting my hands on issue 4. With devils who actually help people, ex cons with bad intentions and a strong fun main character Welcome to Ralton is sure to keep you entertained! 

Available now at New World Comics in Oklahoma City, OK and online. Check these guys out at welcometoralton.wix.com!

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.

Little Dixie Horror Show

Next time you’re driving through southeastern Oklahoma, be mindful of what road you’re taking, the places you pass and the folks you see or talk with. Especially when passing through Little Dixie.

Little Dixie…what…never heard of it?

Doesn’t matter. Just keep on driving. Soon as you start noticing the Taco Bells and suburbs changing into trailer parks and decaying antebellum mansions, the cemeteries and pawnshops outnumbering the schoolhouses and public parks, you’ll know just where the hell you are. Little Dixie, where everyone has a story to tell, a Moonpie to share, and something ugly hanging from the family tree.

Dead hookers that won’t stay dead…the frozen memories of a haunted movie house that refuses to let the past die…a foolhardy young boy seeking a fabled treasure within the dark recesses of an abandoned mine…desperate men doing desperate things to pull themselves out of desperation…a damaged girl seeking comfort in the arms of the dead…the ghoulish revenge of children forced into the insanity of violence…a satanic farm where murder is the bumper crop…

This is The Little Dixie Horror Show.

The Good

I had a great time getting into this book of horror stories, so much so that it has me curious about the area it’s based on.  The writing was very well done, providing such detailed descriptions that you could really feel the terror.  As the author makes reference to, The Little Dixie Horror Show is scary enough that you’d expect to see on Tales from the Crypt.

The Bad

Throughout the whole group of stories, probably the only thing I stumbled with was that there were a couple that suddenly cut off sooner than I expected.

The Summary

This is a really good collection of short stories that most anyone could get into, especially horror fans of course.   Each story was great by itself and were all capable of offering strong, terrifying tales as a solo read.  I definitely think this one to break out again during Halloween and experience the horror a second time, if not more.

For more information on Mer Whinery and his work, check out Literati Press.

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 reviewers.

The Wonderboy Serials Vol. 2

A lone man with extraordinary powers is responsible for the longest sustained global peace in modern history. Though worshiped for toppling brutal regimes, wiping out crime, and cleaning up financial institutions, dark realizations about Wonderboy threaten to unravel his hold on the public imagination.

A modern reinvention of the serialized dime store novel, the “Wonderboy” series examines the real-world implications of an all-powerful superhero from many perspectives such as a brilliant super villain wasting away in a maximum security prison and a feminist blogger determined to expose the truth about Wonderboy to an adoring public.  Issue one introduces a world so dependent on Wonderboy that whispers of corruption and misogyny are silenced by forces bent on maintaining the pristine legacy of the world’s greatest protector.
The Good
Once again, I was drawn into the world of Wonderboy and found myself glued to it for long periods of time while I read Season 2 of the serials.  The chapters kept me looking for more, urging my mind to get to the next piece of the tale.  This was especially the case more towards the end, as things really began to pick up intensely.  When I finished, I found my mind blown and double checking to see if there was more to read.

The Bad

I had little to no problem with this second collection of the books.  Personally the only thing that really stuck out was the large amount of dialogue in the beginning, but there could be far worse things to get past in a book.

The Summary

This was just as much fun to read as the first one.  If you aren’t convinced by the first season of how amazing this story is, the second should do the trick.  Halfway through reading, I started to think “wow, this would be great to see as a film”  Not many books end up having me wish there was a movie version, and the Wonderboy story is now among that short list.

For more information on Charles Martin and Will Weinke or their  work, check out Literati Press.

The Wonderboy Serials are available on all eReader formats or as a .pdf. Check out your favorite digital bookstore or visit www.smashwords.com to download each issue for only 99 cents!

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. Brian's desire to star in a movie, along with his comments, thoughts and opinions are 100% his own. ;)

The Wonderboy Serials : Season 1

“Who will save us from Wonderboy?”

A lone man with extraordinary powers is responsible for the longest sustained global peace in modern history. Though worshiped for toppling brutal regimes, wiping out crime, and cleaning up financial institutions, dark realizations about Wonderboy threaten to unravel his hold on the public imagination.

A modern reinvention of the serialized dime store novel, the “Wonderboy” series examines the real-world implications of an all-powerful superhero from many perspectives such as a brilliant supervillian wasting away in a maximum security prison and a feminist blogger determined to expose the truth about Wonderboy to an adoring public.  Issue one introduces a world so dependent on Wonderboy that whispers of corruption and misogyny are silenced by forces bent on maintaining the pristine legacy of the world’s greatest protector.

The Good

It’s always a strong indication of how good a book is when you feel the constant urge to continue reading it, even when you shouldn’t be.  That is very much the case with Wonderboy.  I really had a tough time pulling away from this book.  It’s not your typical superhero story, and this unique approach is wonderful.  We get this world from many angles, yet the reader is never lost seeing through another character’s eyes.  Normally I don’t like cliffhangers, but the ending of each chapter left me anxious and I just wanted to read on.

The Bad

If I had anything bad to say, it’s that it takes a little while to gain momentum.  Once it does though, it really kicks into gear and makes you push on faster.

The Summary

This is a fantastic read, and I cannot wait to acquire the next chapters.  The Wonderboy stories are definitely ones that I suggest be purchased.  Whether you’re a superhero fan or not doesn’t really matter, this series is a good read for pretty much anyone.  I don’t often re-read things, but I would certainly enjoy this again.

For more information on Charles Martin and Will Weinke or their  work, check out Literati Press.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. All comments, thoughts and opinions belong to the individual reviewer. However, Brian is the official superhero of the site this week for picking up the slack while Katrina frantically tries to prepare for holiday guests. Brian, you rock! 

Eggs

24 pages of achingly bittersweet awesome from everyone’s favorite bassist from psychedelic rock band, The Gentle Art of Floating. This book is rated Mature Eyes Only.

The Good

This is a neat little compilation of honest stories, and you may just find yourself relating to one.  Even if you can’t, they are tales about life that you can get a laugh from.  With sections involving everything from working at a sex shop, to the woes of school, the stories are certainly meant to entertain.  The newspaper comic style you don’t usually see in a book suits the approach to storytelling.

The Bad

Although some of the stories you may be able to relate to, not everyone will be able to appreciate all of the topics discussed.  In all fairness though, there is the mature reader warning before you begin.

The Summary

If you have an open mind and are looking for a fun, quick read, this could be up your alley.  It’s almost like the Sunday funnies for big kids.  As a collection of events from the creator’s life, it doesn’t limit itself to any certain fan base either.  I could see myself reading more of these in the future for a good chuckle.

For more information on Eric Gorman and his work, check out Literati Press.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. No actual eggs were harmed in the making of this review and all thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.