Aliens vs Zombies 1

When a meteor carrying the Zombie virus hits Earth, it triggers the potential end of mankind. The last chance for humanity is a spacecraft full of alien scientists tasked with tracking the interstellar virus; one that has wiped out many other planets and lifeforms. What will happen when humans must team with aliens to survive the apocalypse?

This book starts out pretty routine, on Earth, with a very standard zombie outbreak. There’s talk from an unnamed narrator about the way the zombie virus broke out, and the degradation of media reports. It really could be any zombie story from any source, with little explanation of what to expect, a president trying to save himself, and a rough-looking man fighting zombies off and running.

Then, the aliens get involved.

The aliens are introduced by name, but so far only the captain (and arguably the first mate) has any personality to speak of. The book ends far too early for me. There’s not a lot of real action, story, or explanation, though it’s a good set up. The fact that I felt it ended too early is a good sign, in a sense: it means I wanted to read more of it. I wanted to get some information about the characters presented. I was interested to see how the humans would interact with aliens, especially in the face of a threat they haven’t yet discovered the origins of. I’ll probably pick up the next book out of curiosity.

The art here is pretty decent, really great colors. The character design is a little generic as far as the aliens go, but it could be much worse.

I think for this one, fans of zombie stories will likely be more interested than sci-fi fans will. Though anyone who likes aliens in particular may be interested, it felt like at heart it was more a zombie story than anything else. We’ll have to see what the next book shows us.

You can find out more and purchase this title from Zenescope Comics right over here!

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.

We Stand On Guard 1

A canadian family is watching the news in a living room that appears to be in the not too distant future.  They are discussing the potential for the United States targeting them, the next thing they know, bombs are dropping and half the family is dead.   Flash forward, the little girl is now a budding adult, eking out a modest living in the wilds of the Northwest territories.  That is until she runs afoul of a combat drone and has to be rescued by a band of freedom fighters, possibly the last free Canadians.  Add a giant United States robot, and one hellacious firefight to wrap up the inaugural issue of this promising series.

This will be a title that will engender intense love or intense hate.  Given that Americans are egocentric about their nation, this could generate some bad blood with some readers.  The art is very crisp and clean courtesy of Matrix storyboard artist Steve Skroce.  The colors really brought out the fine lines of Skroce’s work, reminiscent of Brian Boland of Judge Dredd fame.  The visuals he brings out are tight and tough.  Some people might find the clean style a little off for a war drama, but it seemed to work in the first issue.

Rick Vaughn’s script left a little to be desired for me.  I spent most of this issue feeling like I was waiting for something exciting to happen and even during the combat sequences, I still felt like I was waiting.  Part of this is, that he falls back on time honored scenes for setting up a combat drama.  Case in point, Amber is hunting a deer in the forest and comes on the combat drone, a scene I feel like I’ve been bored with a dozen times before.  Then after she comes across the resistance fighters, they just happen to be attacked by a giant robot.  This series does have promise, but may not yield much in the way of surprises other than the basic premise.  One bright note in the script was the dialogue, which was crisp, interesting and involving.

Keep an eye on this one, it could be the sleeper hit of the summer.  For more information about We Stand On Guard or other titles from Image, visit their website.  Image Comics

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.

Bloodshot Reborn 1-4

The man once known as the unstoppable killing machine called BLOODSHOT must track down the impostors carrying out mass shootings in his former name. But the hunter becomes the hunted when an upstart FBI investigator and her grizzled partner believe the original Bloodshot himself to be responsible for the murders.

Can Bloodshot elude the agents – and his own inner demons – long enough to take out a nanite-infused gunman?

Writer:
Jeff Lemire
Artist:
Mico Suayan with Jeff Lemire
Publisher:
Valiant Entertainment

Bloodshot Reborn is, like a lot of Valiant series published this year, an odd duck. There's an earnestness from the creative teams when it comes to playing silly concepts completely straight, which means that they live and die on what they provide on top of staple stories straight out of a Storytelling 101 book. In the first four issues, a simple redemptive arc for Bloodshot (a character who has come across in the past as an unaware 90's caricature) gets given some spice by adding one simple twist – we aren't sure if he's been driven insane by his experiences or not.

It's this key plot element that kept me hooked rather than learning about how hard Bloodshot has had it since he became human and decided to hide from his past. The two arguing voices which he personifies, one a bloodthirsty child's mascot moulded on himself and the other the woman he briefly met and who gave him his life back, liven up an otherwise pretty boiler plate opening first two issues.

Even the FBI agent who has the same abilities of Will Graham from Hannibal isn't enough to shake the feeling of a story that is less mystery and more 'Go from point A to point B. Repeat.'

Having said all that, I did enjoy the issue – Bloodshot's alienation and decreasing sanity are gripping and the fight choreography well done – each of the people that Bloodshot has to fight have just enough of an individual arc and personality that they aren't reduced to mere obstacles to destroy and move on.

The central concept at the heart of the comic -is Bloodshot necessary and can our anti hero become him again without sacrificing the very humanity he now loathes but feels protective of? -is played well enough. the slow degradation of his psyche as the nanites take control once more is a little sudden, as he goes from the same person he's been the rest of the comic to someone willing to kill an innocent at the bidding of the voices in his head.

Hopefully this will all make more sense as the series progresses. But I for one could get used to the creepy quality of the series where we aren't sure if we should trust our protagonist at all. The Valiant Now! series seems to be trying to update classic Valiant Characters and give them a twist. Let's hope this change sticks.

Cover image courtesy of Valiant Entertainment.

Bloodshot Reborn is available from Valiant.

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.

Supreme Blue Rose TPB

Unemployed reporter Diana Dane is hired by a mysterious intelligence broker to solve the biggest mysteries of 21st Century America: what fell on the town of Littlehaven, and who or what is "Supreme?”

This is a trade paperback that collects the Supreme Blue Rose limited series in a single volume, written by comics legend Warren Ellis.  Ellis has penned numerous great comics over the years, but Supreme Blue Rose is not one of them in this writer’s opinion.  The story follows a writer, Diana Dane tasked with the onerous job of getting to the bottom of what happened in a little town called Littlehaven.  If it already seems like this is a hyped up story where nothing is what it seems, then you are correct.   As the story develops, Dane determines from various “helper” characters that every so often time has to reset itself, regurgitating reality into a completely new version of itself, unnoticed by most.  That is, except for a few rare individuals that fall through the cracks.  Diana’s employer Dax, is set upon rebooting history again to suit his own aims.

There is a great deal of bad, or at the very least very unappealing things about this story.  Number one is the artwork.  It feels unfinished in several areas, and most of the panels have wispy “threads”floating for no apparent reason other than to reinforce the series supposition that time is like a giant loom.  The characters themselves lack much in the way of distinction or development, which was disappointing.  Ellis introduces various terms like actor, revision, supreme, etc. which the reader must then keep track of to maintain the integrity of the story.  This might have worked in a novel, but in the format of a comic felt like too much in too small of a space.  The whole book just felt like Ellis was attempting to create a masterwork that fell flat in the final product.

Steer clear of this one unless you are either a huge Warren Ellis fan or a lover of cryptic, obscure, sublime sci-fi epics.

For more information on Supreme Blue Rose or other Image Comics publications, visit their website.  Image Comics

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.

New Comic Day Releases: July 15th 2015

ABSTRACT STUDIOS
Rachel Rising #35, $3.99

ALTERNATIVE COMICS
It Will All Hurt #2 (not verified by Diamond), $8.00

AMDALE MEDIA
Comic Fandom Quarterly #1 (Of 5), $5.95

AMIGO COMICS
Sidney Hammer #1 (One Shot), $5.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Gold Digger #223, $3.99

ARCANA STUDIO
Intrinsic Volume 2 Singularity Zero GN, $14.95

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Jughead And Archie Comics Double Digest #14, $4.99
Mega Man #51 (Ben Bates Epic Connecting Poster Part 8 Variant Cover), $3.99
Mega Man #51 (Diana Skelly Variant Cover), $3.99
Mega Man #51 (Patrick Spaziante Regular Cover), $3.99
Sonic Worlds Unite Battles #1 (Evan Stanley & Jamal Peppers Regular Cover), $3.99
Sonic Worlds Unite Battles #1 (Evan Stanley & Jamal Peppers Sketch Variant Cover), $3.99
Sonic Worlds Unite Battles #1 (Roger Robinson & Idalia Robinson Variant Cover), $3.99

ASPEN COMICS
Fathom Blue #2 (Cover A Claudio Avella), $3.99
Fathom Blue #2 (Cover B Paolo Pantalena), $3.99
Fathom Blue #2 (Cover C Mike Krome), AR

AVATAR PRESS
Crossed Badlands #80 (Fernando Heinz Megafauna Mayham Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #80 (Fernando Heinz Red Crossed Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed Badlands #80 (Fernando Heinz Regular Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #80 (Fernando Heinz Torture Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #80 (Fernando Heinz Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Crossed Badlands #80 (Michael DiPascale Art Deco Cover), $3.99
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade American History X Wraparound Cover), $3.99
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade Crossed Culture Cover), $3.99
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade Design Sketch Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade Future Tense Cover), $3.99
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade New World Order Wraparound Bagged Cover), $5.99
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade Red Crossed Incentive Cover), AR
Crossed Plus 100 #6 (Gabriel Andrade Regular Cover), $3.99
Mercury Heat #1 (Omar Francia Art Nouveau Cover), $3.99
Mercury Heat #1 (Omar Francia Designs Incentive Cover), AR
Mercury Heat #1 (Omar Francia Excessive Force Cover), $3.99
Mercury Heat #1 (Omar Francia Regular Cover), $3.99
Mercury Heat #1 (Omar Francia Wraparound Cover), $3.99

BIG PLANET/ RETROFIT COMICS
Entity Observes All Things GN, $12.00

BIG FINISH
Doctor Who Damaged Goods Audio CD, $24.99
Doctor Who Last Of The Cybermen Audio CD, $24.99
Doctor Who The Fourth Doctor Adventures Suburban Hell Audio CD, $18.99
Doctor Who The Well-Mannered War Audio CD, $24.99
Worlds Of Dr Who Volume 2 Audio CD Set (The Well Mannered War & Damaged Goods), $52.99

BIG WOW ART
Nocturnals Black Planet TP, $24.95

BLACK LIBRARY
Warhammer 40K The Unforgiven SC, $14.00
Warhammer 40K Valedor TP, $16.00

BONGO COMICS
Simpsons Comics #222, $2.99
Simpsons Comics Colossal Compendium Volume 3 TP, $17.99

BOOM! STUDIOS
Adventure Time Fionna And Cake Card Wars #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Jen Wang), $3.99
Adventure Time Fionna And Cake Card Wars #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Wyeth Yates), $3.99
Adventure Time Fionna And Cake Card Wars #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Jeffrey Brown), AR
Adventure Time Fionna And Cake Card Wars #1 (Of 6)(Cover D John Kovalic), AR
Adventure Time Marceline Gone Adrift #1 (Of 6)(Carey Pietsch ECCC Variant Cover), $9.99
Big Trouble In Little China #13 (Cover A Jay Shaw), $3.99
Big Trouble In Little China #13 (Cover B Rob Guillory), AR
Bill And Ted's Most Triumphant Return #1 (Of 6)(Joe Eisma ECCC Variant Cover), $9.99
Bill And Ted's Most Triumphant Return #1 (Of 6)(Shelli Paroline Wondercon Variant Cover), $9.99
Escape From New York #1 (Garry Brown ECCC Variant Cover), $9.99
Fiction #2 (Of 4)(Cover A David Rubin), $3.99
Giant Days #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Lissa Treiman), $3.99
Long Walk To Valhalla Original GN, $24.99
Lumberjanes #16 (Cover A Brooke A. Allen), $3.99
Lumberjanes #16 (Cover B Kat Philbin), AR
Oh Killstrike #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Logan Faerber), $3.99
Sleepy Hollow Origins #1 (Michelle Ankley Wondercon Variant Cover), $9.99
Steven Universe Volume 1 TP, $14.99

BOUNDLESS COMICS
Lady Death Lost Souls Deluxe Collector Box Set, $199.99
Lady Death Sacrilege Complete Series Collector Box Set, $129.99

BROADSWORD COMICS
Tarot Witch Of The Black Rose #93 (Jim Balent Regular Cover), $2.95

BROADWAY
Doctor Who The Drosten's Curse SC, $9.99

CINEBOOK
Alone Volume 3 The Clan Of The Shark GN, $11.95
Damocles Volume 2 An Impossible Ransom GN, $11.95
Lucky Luke Volume 53 Nitroglycerin TP, $11.95
Wisher Volume 4 Bowler Hat And Faery-Cane GN, $11.95

COMIC SHOP NEWS
Comic Shop News #1465, AR

COMICMIX
Beardo Volume 4 Self Employee Of The Month TP, $19.95

DANGER ZONE
Gravedigger #1 (Of 3)(Dario Carrasco Variant Cover), $4.99
Gravedigger #1 (Of 3)(Rick Burchett Regular Cover), $3.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Abe Sapien Volume 6 A Darkness So Great TP, $19.99
B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth #133, $3.50
Dark Horse Presents #12, $4.99
Death Head #1 (Of 6), $3.99
Groo Friends And Foes #7, $3.99
Plants Vs Zombies #2, $2.99
Predator Fire And Stone TP, $14.99
Shaper #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Strain The Night Eternal #11, $3.99
Usagi Yojimbo #147, $3.50

DC COMICS
Astro City #25, $3.99
Batman Harley Quinn TP, $19.99
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Black Canary #2 (Annie Wu Regular Cover), $2.99
Black Canary #2 (Babs Tarr Variant Cover), AR
Doomed #2 (Javi Fernandez Regular Cover), $2.99
Doomed #2 (Mateus Santolouco Variant Cover), AR
Dr Fate #2 (Ibrahim Moustafa Variant Cover), $2.99
Dr Fate #2 (Sonny Liew Regular Cover), AR
Green Lantern Corps Volume 6 Reckoning TP, $14.99
Green Lantern The Lost Army #2 (Ben Oliver Variant Cover), AR
Green Lantern The Lost Army #2 (Jesus Saiz Regular Cover), $2.99
Harley Quinn #18 (Amanda Conner Regular Cover), $3.99
Harley Quinn #18 (Ben Caldwell Teen Titans Go Variant Cover), AR
Invisibles Deluxe Edition Volume 4 HC, $39.99
Justice League #42 (Dan Hipp Teen Titans Go Variant Cover), AR
Justice League #42 (Jason Fabok Regular Cover), $3.99
Justice League #42 (Joe Quinones Variant Cover), AR
Martian Manhunter #2 (Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira Regular Cover), $2.99
Martian Manhunter #2 (Eric Canete Variant Cover), AR
New 52 Futures End Volume 2 TP, $29.99
New Suicide Squad Volume 1 Pure Insanity TP, $16.99
Robin Son Of Batman #2 (Patrick Gleason Regular Cover), $3.99
Secret Six #4 (Dale Eaglesham Regular Cover), $2.99
Secret Six #4 (Sean Cheeks Galloway Teen Titans Go Variant Cover), AR
Supergirl Volume 6 Crucible TP, $16.99
Superman Wonder Woman #19 (Doug Mahnke & Jaime Mendoza Regular Cover), $3.99
Superman Wonder Woman #19 (Sean Cheeks Galloway Teen Titans Go Variant Cover), AR

DIAL BOOKS
I Am Lucille Ball HC, $12.99

DOWNTOWN BOOKWORKS
DC Super Heroes Even Super Heroes Sleep Board Book HC, $9.99
DC Super Heroes My First Book Of Super Powers Board Book HC, $9.99

DRAWN AND QUARTERLY
Poetry Is Useless HC, $29.95

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Dawn Vampirella #4 (Of 6)(Joseph Michael Linsner Virgin Variant Cover), AR
King Prince Valiant #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Declan Shalvey), $3.99
King Prince Valiant #3 (Of 4)(Declan Shalvey Black & White Variant Cover), AR
King Prince Valiant #3 (Of 4)(Marc Laming Black & White Variant Cover), AR
King Prince Valiant #3 (Of 4)(Marc Laming Variant Cover), AR
King The Phantom #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Jonathan Lau), $3.99
King The Phantom #4 (Of 4)(Stephen Downey Black & White Variant Cover), AR
King The Phantom #4 (Of 4)(Stephen Downey Variant Cover), AR
Lady Rawhide Lady Zorro #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Joyce Chin), $3.99
Lady Rawhide Lady Zorro #4 (Of 4)(Joyce Chin Black & White Variant Cover), AR
Reanimator #4 (Of 4)(Cover A Francesco Francavilla), $3.99
Reanimator #4 (Of 4)(Cover B Andrew Mangum Black & White Variant), AR
Red Sonja #1973 (Cover A Ed Benes), $7.99
Swords Of Sorrow Vampirella Jennifer Blood #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Billy Tan), $3.99

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Dorfler HC, $22.99
Octopus Rises HC (not verified by Diamond), $22.99

FIRST SECOND
Divine GN, $19.99

GRAPHIC INDIA
Mistry P.I. #1 (Of 5), $2.99

HASHTAG COMICS
Carpe Noctem #3 (Derrick Fish Regular Cover), $3.99
Carpe Noctem #3 (Challenging Studios Variant Cover)(not verified by Diamond), AR
Tailwands Volume 2 Kaya's Journey Begins GN, $7.99

HERMES PRESS
Phantom The Complete Series The Charlton Years Volume 4 HC, $60.00

HIGH SPEED PRODUCTIONS
Juxtapoz #175 (August 2015), $6.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Godzilla In Hell #1 (Of 5)(Cover A James Stokoe), $3.99
Godzilla In Hell #1 (Of 5)(Cover SUB Jeff Zornow EC Comics Variant), $3.99
Littlest Pet Shop Wait A Second HC, $12.99
My Little Pony Adventures In Friendship Volume 3 HC, $12.99
Superman The Atomic Age Sundays Volume 1 1949-1953 HC, $49.99

IMAGE COMICS
Astronauts In Trouble #2, $2.99
Drifter #6 (Cover A Nic Klein), $3.50
Drifter #6 (Cover B Eduardo Risso), $3.50
Elephantmen #65, $3.99
Empty #5, $3.99
Empty Zone #2, $3.50
Invincible #121, $2.99
Island #1, $7.99
Mantle #3, $3.99
Penny Dora And The Wishing Box Volume 1 TP, $12.99
Postal #5 (Cover A Linda Sejic), $3.99
Postal #5 (Cover B Isaac Goodhart), $3.99
Red One Welcome To America HC, $16.99
Revival #31, $3.99
Reyn #6, $2.99
Roche Limit Clandestiny #3, $3.50
Secret Identities #6, $3.50
Skullkickers #33, $3.50
Trees #11, $2.99

INSIGHT EDITIONS
Terminator Genisys Resetting The Future HC, $45.00

LOCUS MAGAZINE
Locus #654 (July 2015)(not verified by Diamond), $7.50

MARRS MEDIA
Rue Morgue Magazine #157 (July 2015)(not verified by Diamond), $9.95

MARVEL COMICS
All-New X-Men Volume 7 The Utopians HC (Premiere Edition), $24.99
Ant-Man Annual #1, $4.99
Armor Wars #3 (Alex Maleev Landscape Wraparound Variant Cover), AR
Armor Wars #3 (Paul Rivoche Regular Cover), $3.99
Captain Britain And The Mighty Defenders #1 (Of 2)(Alan Davis Regular Cover), $3.99
Captain Britain And The Mighty Defenders #1 (Of 2)(Frazer Irving Variant Cover), AR
Captain Marvel And The Carol Corps #2 (David Lopez Regular Cover), $3.99
Captain Marvel And The Carol Corps #2 (Georges Jeanty Variant Cover), AR
Dark Tower The Drawing Of The Three House Of Cards #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Deadpool #34 (CGC Graded 9.8)(Dynamic Forces), AR
Death Of Wolverine #1 (Of 4)(CGC Graded 9.8)(Dynamic Forces), AR
Fantastic Four By Aguirre-Sacasa And McNiven TP, $24.99
Guardians Of Knowhere #1 (Jenny Frison Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Variant Cover), AR
Guardians Of Knowhere #1 (Mike Deodato Regular Cover), $3.99
Guardians Of Knowhere #1 (Rob Guillory Gwenom Variant Cover), AR
Guardians Of Knowhere #1 (Skottie Young Connecting Variant Cover A), AR
Guardians Of Knowhere #1 (Skottie Young Connecting Variant Cover B), AR
Hail Hydra #1 (Andrew Robinson Regular Cover), $3.99
Hail Hydra #1 (Blank Variant Cover), AR
Hail Hydra #1 (Jake Wyatt Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Variant Cover), AR
Hail Hydra #1 (Juan Doe Variant Cover), AR
Hail Hydra #1 (Pasqual Ferry Ant-Sized Variant Cover), AR
Hail Hydra #1 (Roland Boschi Design Variant Cover), AR
Hawkeye #22, $4.99
Infinity Gauntlet #1 (Dustin Weaver 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Inhumans Attilan Rising #3 (Alex Maleev Landscape Variant Cover), AR
Inhumans Attilan Rising #3 (Dave Johnson Design Variant Cover), AR
Inhumans Attilan Rising #3 (Dave Johnson Regular Cover), $3.99
Korvac Saga #2 (Otto Schmidt Regular Cover), $3.99
Korvac Saga #2 (TBD Variant Cover), AR
Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 14 HC, $75.00
Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 14 HC (Direct Market Variant Edition 221), $75.00
Marvel's Ant-Man The Art Of Movie Slipcase HC, $49.99
Moon Knight #17 (Declan Shalvey Regular Cover), $3.99
Planet Hulk #1 (Mike Del Mundo 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99
Planet Hulk #3 (Alex Maleev Landscape Wraparound Variant Cover), AR
Planet Hulk #3 (Mike Del Mundo Regular Cover), $3.99
Princess Leia #2 (Of 5)(Terry Dodson 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Secret Wars #3 (Of 8)(Alex Ross 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Secret Wars Battleworld #2 (Of 4)(Chris B. Murray 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Secret Wars Battleworld #3 (Of 4)(James Stokoe Variant Cover), AR
Secret Wars Battleworld #3 (Of 4)(Scott Hepburn Regular Cover), $3.99
Siege #1 (Andrew Robinson Variant Cover), AR
Siege #1 (Bengal Ant-Sized Variant Cover), AR
Siege #1 (Joshua Budich Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Variant Cover), AR
Siege #1 (W. Scott Forbes Regular Cover), $3.99
Silver Surfer #13, $3.99
Spider-Man 2099 Volume 2 Spider-Verse TP, $19.99
Star Wars #4 (John Cassaday 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Thor God Of Thunder Volume 4 The Last Days Of Midgard TP, $19.99
Ultimate End #1 (Of 5)(Mark Bagley 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Ultimate End #2 (Of 5)(Mark Bagley 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Where Monsters Dwell #3 (Of 5)(Frank Cho Regular Cover), $3.99
Wolverines Volume 3 The Living And The Dead TP, $15.99
X-Men Volume 5 Burning Earth TP, $12.99
Years Of Future Past #3 (Arthur Adams Regular Cover), $3.99
Years Of Future Past #3 (Mike Norton Variant Cover), AR

NETCOMICS
Behind Story Volume 1 GN, $11.99
Chiro Volume 2 The Star Project GN, $11.99
Core Scramble Volume 1 GN, $11.99
Give To The Heart Volume 4 GN, $11.99
Sweet Blood Volume 2 GN, $11.99

ONI PRESS
Kaijumax #4 (Zander Cannon Regular Cover), $3.99
Kaijumax #4 (Adam Warren Variant Cover), $3.99
Letter 44 #18, $3.99
Sixth Gun Valley Of Death #2 (Of 3), $3.99

PANINI PUBLISHING
Doctor Who Adventures Magazine #3, $7.99
Doctor Who Magazine #487 (July 2015)(not verified by Diamond), $9.99

PAPERCUTZ
Nickelodeon Magazine #2, $4.99

RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Big Book Of DC Super Friends A Golden Book HC, $9.99

REBELLION
2000 AD Pack June 2015 (1933-1936), $21.40
2000 AD Summer Sci-Fi Special 2015, $6.99
Aquila #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Judge Dredd Dark Justice HC (not verified by Diamond), $24.99
Judge Dredd Megazine #361, $12.40
Zenith Phase 4 HC (not verified by Diamond), $25.00

RED 5 COMICS
Bad Dreams TP, $12.95

SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT
Arpeggio Of Blue Steel Volume 5 GN, $12.99

STARLOG GROUP
Fangoria #342, $11.99

SUBLIME
Love Stage Volume 2 GN, $12.99
World's Greatest First Love Volume 2 GN, $12.99

TITAN
Star Trek Magazine #54 (Newsstand Edition), $9.99
Star Trek Magazine #54 (Previews Exclusive Edition), $9.99
Star Wars Insider #157 (Star Wars Celebration 2015 Dark Side Cover Edition), $9.99
Star Wars Insider #157 (Star Wars Celebration 2015 Light Side Cover Edition), $9.99
Walking Dead The Official Magazine #13 (Newsstand Edition), $9.99
Walking Dead The Official Magazine #13 (Previews Exclusive Edition), $9.99

TITAN COMICS
Blacklist #1 (Alice X. Zhang Regular Cover)(not verified by Diamond), $3.99
Blacklist #1 (Subscription Photo Cover)(not verified by Diamond), $3.99
Lone Sloane Volume 1 The 6 Voyages Of Lone Sloane GN, $17.99
Ring Of Roses GN, $22.99
Rivers Of London Body Work #1 (Of 5)(Lee Sullivan & Luis Guerrero Regular Cover), $3.99
Rivers Of London Body Work #1 (Of 5)(Wayne Reynolds Variant Cover)(not verified by Diamond), AR

TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Incredible Herb Trimpe HC, $34.95

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Robert Gill), $3.99
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Cary Nord), $3.99
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Clayton Crain), $3.99
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic), $3.99
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover E Blank), $3.99
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover F Paolo Rivera Character Design Variant), AR
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover G Pere Perez), AR
Book Of Death #1 (Of 4)(Cover H Paolo Perez), AR
Book Of Death Legends Of Geomancer #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Marguerite Sauvage), $3.99
Dead Drop #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Raul Allen), $3.99
Dead Drop #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Adam Gorham), $3.99
Divinity TP, $9.99

VERTICAL COMICS
My Neighbor Seki Volume 3 GN, $10.95

VIZ MEDIA
07-Ghost Volume 17 GN, $9.99
Case Closed Volume 55 GN, $9.99
Ranma 1/2 2-In-1 Volume 9 TP, $14.99
Rin-Ne Volume 18 GN, $9.99
Tiger And Bunny Volume 7 GN, $9.99

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Aliens Vs Zombies #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Sean Chen), $3.99
Aliens Vs Zombies #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Anthony Spay), $3.99
Aliens Vs Zombies #1 (Of 5)(Cover C Giuseppe Cafaro), $3.99
Aliens Vs Zombies #1 (Of 5)(Cover D David Seidman), $3.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland 10th Anniversary Special #3 (Cover A Mike Krome), $5.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland 10th Anniversary Special #3 (Cover B DheerajVerma), $5.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland 10th Anniversary Special #3 (Cover C Paolo Pantalena), $5.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland 10th Anniversary Special #3 (Cover D Sabine Rich), $5.99

Strange Fruit 1

The setting is Chatterlee Mississippi, the year, 1927, and the mighty river is rising.  The people of Chaterlee are racing to shore up the river against the coming disaster, but the true challenge they are about to face will come from the heavens.  Several of the white farmers are racing against time, and draft negroes to help them except for one proud man who makes a run for it.  Eventually his flight (which now include some Klansmen) carries him to a stretch of woods where a meteorite which is not a meteorite touches down.  Sonny finds himself face to face with a towering black man who makes short work of the bed sheet brigade.  The final image of the comic shows the colossus clad in a rebel flag.

This title comes to us courtesy of writer Mark Waid and artist J.G. Jones.  I won’t belabor the point of Mark Waid being the writer, his resume speaks for itself.  It’s about a hundred pages long. He distinguishes himself yet again in the first of a four issue epic that is guaranteed to polarize readers.  Although Waid could not have known of the furor that would surround the Confederate Navy Jack around the time of the publication of the first issue of Strange Fruit, it will be certain to add fuel to the fire, and with luck some understanding.  The story is tense and full of conflict as the farmers work to save their livelihood, further igniting the tense race relations in Chatterlee during that time.  If that wasn’t enough, an object falls from the heavens bearing a passenger who appears to be a negroe of gigantic proportions and superhuman abilities.

There is little to say against this first issue other than it starts off slowly, as the creative team sets the stage for the alien landing.  Jones uses the painted style of books like Kingdom Come to give the comic a stark realism.  Most books these days to it with scratchy, half inked pages and muted colors.  I applaud the team behind Strange Fruit for avoiding this route.  A comic does not have look like it was drawn by an eight year old to look gritty.  J.G. Jones achieves this with bold painted images, and bright colors.  Waid’s story mirrors the level of distinction provided by his artist with a taut, seamless script that sets the stage, introduces key players, and evolves layers upon layers of conflict for the following issues.  This is a must have book from a brilliant team.  Get yours while they are hot.  This series is sure to fly off the shelves at a record pace.

For more information about Strange Fruit and other great works from BOOM! Studios, please visit their website.  BOOM! Studios

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.

Red Sonja #1973

Since her fearless debut in 1973, the She-Devil with a Sword has redefined the fantasy genre thanks to the efforts of acclaimed writers including Gail Simone, Roy Thomas, Luke Lieberman, and Eric Trautmann! Joined by first-time Sonja writer Cullen Bunn and a handful of amazing artists, these titanic talents each contribute tales of derring-do to this supersized, action-packed anthology. Everyone's favorite red-tressed heroine battles monsters, rivals, and ne'er-do-wells in Hyborian adventures retro-tinted to capture the flavor of her classic comics era!

Red Sonja never gets old.  It is just a fact.  The character has been running strong for over 40 years in one form or another in books, comics and movies since her inception.  This 48 page one-shot is a celebration of the year she was first introduced to the comic book world by the inimitable Roy Thomas, who also pens one of the stories in this book.

This book features 6 stand alone stories that celebrate the various aspects of her character from her fiery temper, to her relentless quest for justice, to her wicked wit, and of course Sonja’s inestimable skill with a sword.  The stories have a fair bit of range.  One details a time shortly after her family is murdered when she is taken in by a farmer only to be ousted when the oldest son needs to be taught a lesson.  Another is her bid to free female slaves forced to fight in a gladiatorial arena.  The Hanging Tree, tells a tale of justice and vengeance when she goes from tavern brawl to tied to her horse with a noose around her neck.  Raiding Party features dazzling fight scenes with epic prose accompaniment.  Silent Running is a wordless tale that chronicles fight, and flight and then more fighting, ending with a brief moment of peace for the eternal warrior.

Fans of the character will find everything they have come to love from this character since her early days to phenomenal development she has received since being acquired by Dynamite in 2005.  The visuals are vivid, breathtaking and fluid.  The artists for these stories succeeded in keeping up the breakneck pace of a Red Sonja book, while still capturing the tender moment of occasional vulnerability from the she-devil with a sword.  Whether readers are old friends to the character, or completely new, they will find equal joy in the story telling.  The writing for each of these short pieces is of the high quality that we have come to expect from Dynamite.  Another throwback to the origins of Red Sonja is the price, being listed as 799 cents.

Fans of the Robert E. Howard mythos or just great sword swinging will love this one-shot.

For more information about Red Sonja and other great products from Dynamite, please visit their website.  Dynamite Comics

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.

8house Arclight #1

A lady of the blood house has had her mind trapped in a strange alien root-body. She’s hiding on the outskirts of her kingdom until she learns that the alien monster pretending to be her has returned. The first issue of a shared fantasy universe. Sharp genderqueer knights, blood magic, music, dancing, and a goose.

In the debut issue of this self-proclaimed landmark series by Brandon Graham, we are introduced to a Lady of the blood house who, for reasons unknown now inhabits a body made up of roots.  She is accompanied by a knight named Arclight, who is steady fast in support of his support of her, despite the delicate condition she’s in.  They have been hiding out on the edges of the kingdom, but now return home to court, to find the the Lady’s true body is back inhabited by the alien whose body she is now stuck with.  There is also blood magic, dancing, pretty court scenes, and a huge number of androgynous cast members.  This comic will be a guessing game for even the most astute reader.

After reading the first issue I had to find the synopsis online to ascertain the plot of the story.  I see that as a miss for Graham on writing and execution.  The story wastes whole pages on sweeping visuals of the landscape, with little to no explication or character development.  The reader gets a very general sense that the root creature is “The Lady” and Arclight is a knight of some sort at her disposal.  At the end of the story I was still confused as to whether Arclight was male or female.  I guessed male but I’m not certain.  This is intended, as the publisher advertises the series as containing “Sharp genderqueer knights, blood magic, music, dancing, and a goose.”

This seems to have the potential to develop into an elaborate science fiction story, but it will require no small amount of patience on the part of the reader.  I would only recommend this story for very patient readers of cryptic plot lines, although the colors come in a variety of pastels giving the comic a unique look and feel.

For this or other great titles from Image, visit their website.  Image Comics

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.

This Damned Band 1

1974: the world’s most famous rock band thought they were “worshiping Satan,” only to find they were actually . . . worshiping Satan.

I'd have to say people probably know how crazy of a time the 70s were, especially for rock bands.  If  movies or even just listening to the music can tell us anything, it was a wild time for all involved.  Looking at the debut issue of This Damned Band, we see that level of crazy taken to another level.

For the most part, the first issue of this book is almost like watching a follow the band video.  It offers us an introduction to all the members of Motherfather, the biggest rock band at the time.  They are like any other huge band, with the girls, the money, the drugs.  The one thing they didn't expect though was their worship of the devil to actually be more than a selling gimmick.

There were some really great looking visuals throughout this book.  The artwork in general was quite detailed, and along with the colors, really stood out.  The change in style during their drug induced concert was pretty neat and presumably close to the real thing.

Honestly, the majority of the book didn't pull me in and I actually took a break and came back to it.  That's not to say it was bad, but it wasn't something up my alley.  It could get more interesting after the surprise visitor now, so future issues just might prove worth it.

For more on This Damned Band or other Dark Horse Titles, check out Dark Horse Comics.

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.

Quantum Conditioning - "Fun Equals Laughs Times Vacation"

The Cursed and the Damned

The Cursed and The Damned is a story about Werewolves taking on the horrific result of playing God. As the Werewolves come together they bring about a war where no Zombie or Human is Safe. Can they fix what they started or watch as humans become prey and the real enemy watches from the shadows?

In the debut outing of The Cursed and The Damned, we find a group of “shifters” assembled, discussing a long awaited cure for their delicate condition.  The only catch is that the cure has yet to be tested on a human being.  Their plan is to inject a human with the cure, then bite her to see what the results are.  If it sounds ill conceived, then you are dead on the money.  Their guinea pig is a woman named Sabrina.  She is injected. She is bitten.  The only problem is the bit from the werewolf does not heal.  She is rushed to the hospital where her life is saved by more mundane medical procedures.  She eventually recovers enough to be released, leaving the wolves to believe that their cure works.  Later they check back on her, only to find her comatose in her home where she has apparently been ill for some time.  Paramedics manage to resuscitate her, but as a zombie rather than a human.  All hell breaks loose and it appears the misguided werewolves have unleashed a zombie apocalypse.

This is a cute book with a novel concept.  The cover art is particularly stellar.  The image of a powerfully built werewolf with zombies crawling around its legs is striking.  As novel as the concept is, the first issue seems a bit rushed.  It should be noted that Geek-o-Rama only received a mock up of the first issue, and this review will reflect that the end product may reflect significant changes.   The artwork for the werewolves is just great.  The artist gives us big, bold powerful creatures that look like they could rip Frankenstein’s Monster in two without breaking a sweat.

One initial complaint is that the first issue takes several shortcuts to get to the meat of the story, no pun intended.  If the series has a central protagonist, we aren’t clued into who that might be.  There are few characters introduced, but none of them feel central other than Sabrina who turns into a zombie, so it’s probably not her.  It’s hard for the reader to understand who to sympathize with at the outset without a central figure.  The art also seems a bit rough even in the first few pages that are fully inked and colored.  The latter half of our mock-up was partially inked with no color, so the entire book could receive more treatments to smooth out the art to match the stunning cover.

All-in-all, this looks to be a promising work that could posit a brand new runner in horror fiction.  To get your copy of The Cursed and the Damned, visit N.A.S. Studios

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.

Death Head 1

When Niles and Justine Burton go camping to get a break from their stressful lives, they expect to find peace . . . not an abandoned village hiding an ancient evil. In a turn of events ripped straight from a horror movie, a brutal killer wearing a plague doctor’s mask begins hunting Niles, Justine, and their two kids.

I think when it comes to the horror genre specifically, it can really be hit or miss.  You are either going to sit down and experience a piece of garbage and likely a remake, or something that leaves you with nightmares for days.  The feeling I get after reading number one of Death Head is that I'll need a nightlight after later issues.

During a camping trip to get away from the typical day to day, our couple Niles and Justine come across a small village in the woods that isn't even on the map.  Much to Justine's chagrin, Niles wants to explore it and they both end up getting trapped in a room they soon realize is a huge crematorium.  They escape by sheer luck, and the bad guy of the series Death Head sees them get away.  Not for long I can assume?

While the overall feeling of the story is scary, the quality of the artwork is not.  Adding to the frightening plot, strong linework and well chosen colors add to the ongoing sense of dread. During the most tense part of the book was where it really came into play, and gave it just the look it needed.

Although the story features a stereotypical getaway that goes wrong, everything else is not to be frowned upon.  I'm not completely sure of the relevance of a couple side stories that were happening, but I imagine that will be explained.  I am definitely curious to see what happens with Death Head and his prey, and would suggest looking into this new thriller.

For more on Death Head or other Dark Horse Titles, check out Dark Horse Comics.

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.

Kickstarter/Indiegogo Spotlight:Light-Earth #0

I've always enjoyed when genres cross paths and come together to make a cool piece of fiction.  Our feature this week is a cool looking blend of sci-fi and fantasy, where a powerful being tries to liberate an enslaved world.  The zero issue of Light-Earth sounds like it could be a great adventure, so head on over to the Kickstarter to join in!

Tomorrows 1

The future: Art is illegal. Everything everyone ever posted online has been weaponized against them. The reign of the Corporation is quickly becoming as absolute as it is brutal—unless the Tomorrows can stop it.

Tomorrows is the kind of comic you get if someone binge watches the movie Hackers after reading way too much Ayn Rand and Aldous Huxley.  The main character is Zoey an artist in a world where art is illegal.  Zoey is rescued from certain death at the hands of nazi-esque storm troopers by artistic terrorist Claudius who takes her to the hideout of the elusive Tomorrows, a group of artistic terrorist who even have an AI named Warhol.  They are trying to protect the world from a despotic tyrant who is building a computer that will allow him to take control of any human mind at will, allowing complete control, right down to a person’s thoughts.

Zoey narrowly escapes capture with the rest of the Tomorrows due to a dream that leads her into the testing chamber that will finalize her transformation into one of the Tomorrows when surprise raid by Claudius’s ex-lover turned enforcer for the Icarus project causes the rest of the team to be taken.  Fortunately, all she needs to break into the fortified tower holding her friends is a suped up Hypercycle and the elusive Warhol AI.  At the conclusion of issue one, the Tomorrows hijack the airwaves announcing that a new day is dawning to the masses of humanity held in thrall to an oppressive government.

This could be a great book, but if the first outing is anything to go by, it will take some work to get there.  First off the art was something of a turn off.  They were going for a total dystopian world with odd lighting, garish colors, and beaten down humanity.  It just seemed too contrived.  Also half the characters in the book always look like they had blue skin.  Presumably this is due to lighting, but it still just looks weird.  The whole thing reads as very derivative and I couldn’t wait for the end.

Another stepping stone for this series to get past, is also one of its marketing draws.  Every issue will be done by a different artist.  It seems like an interesting concept, but it also means that there could be a definite lack of continuity from one issue to the next.  I would only recommend this book if you are a fan of dystopian epics where a stalwart band of resisters is trying to overthrow a tyrannical government bent on suppressing free will from humanity forever.

For more information about other great titles from Dark Horse, visit their website:  Dark Horse Comics

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.

The Spire 1

The Spire is a mountain of metal and stone that rises out of the middle of the desert, containing a vast city of twisting tunnels, grinding elevators, ancient machinery, and is home to over a million human and non-human residents. Shå, the last of the Medusi, is responsible for keeping watch over them as Commander of the City Watch, despite the fact she isn’t shown any respect due to her race.

The Spire kicks off with the death of the old baron, and our main character, Shå chasing a couple of miscreants through the endless winding tunnels, corridors, and levels of the city.  The criminals give her the slip, but leave her a token of their esteem, a crossbow bolt in the shoulder.  Later the same dastardly duo meet a grisly fate, along with an old woman they were leaning on.  Cut back to Shå who is having a tryst with her lover Meera which gets rudely interrupted by a summons from the new Baroness.  It seems the old woman that was murdered along with ruffians was her nanny, years back.  Shå’s back is now up against the wall to find the murderer and bring them to justice.

The Spire is a great book that uses all the tricks of the trade to weave a great if not original story.  Shå is a bit of a trope, but the reader will love her anyway.  She is the surly non-conformist in a position of authority in the spire, but still not loved by the powers that be.  The artist’s rendering of Shå is great.  There are some sweeping single page spreads that really bring the character to life.  Some other characters are less well defined which was disappointing, that could hint that the book was rushed to print.  Hopefully in successive issues, we’ll see a little more consistency in the artwork.

The story itself is tightly scripted and moves well, but the reader will be incensed by a few minor details.  The end of the book feels a little unfinished beyond the normal comic book cliff hanger.  I wanted a little tighter finish for the debut issue.  Also the writer fails to do much in the way of world building or set finishing in this first book, which leaves us feeling a bit in the dark as far as the mechanics of the Spire universe.

One thing however, that was done especially well was the lettering.  It’s not the first time we’ve seen this style, but it is still a nice change of pace.  The creators use different fonts, colors and other highlights to create mood and tone in the dialogue which makes the story pop a bit more than the usual fare.  All in all, this promises to be a great series with just a few bumps in the road for the initial outing.  Snag a copy for three and make sure to keep tuned for the second issue where we hope to learn more about the killer, who is likely just getting started.

For more information about The Spire or other great offerings from BOOM! Studios, visit their website.  BOOM! Studios

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

Zombie Tramp Vol 3 Issue 13

Dan Mendoza returns for the one year anniversary of the ongoing series in a special issue written and drawn by the Zombie Tramp creator himself. As Janey makes her way to Florida for vengeance, she's offered a chance at forgiveness to one of those that wronged her and set her on her twisted path.

As anxious as I always am to read another issue of one of my favorite titles, this one was especially exciting.  It's crazy to think that it's already been a year since the ongoing series for Zombie Tramp, yet here we are.  What better way to celebrate with issue 13, complete with a wide assortment of covers to collect.

During her journey headed to Florida, Janey happens to run into one of the many people from her past that wronged her.  After being invited to his home, complete with wife who was equally as guilty for terrible deeds, the horror show begins.  It is page after page of revenge, day after day of pain, as Janey returns the favor for all that was done to her.  While it may not change what contributed to her current state of "living", it did offer a bit of closure, and also opened the door for more questions.

Wow.  With all the intense artwork in issues we have seen thus far, this is way up there.  As you'd expect with the anniversary issue, Dan himself provides all the gruesome visuals within.  It was fantastic to see him illustrate this book, and man did he deliver.

If you've never read any Zombie Tramp to this point, this is a hell of an issue to jump into.  It is undoubtedly one of the strongest, both in story, emotion and art.  Be prepared for some one of the issues that pushes the envelope the most.  Even if you don't grab all the variants like I will, just one copy will be worth the price.

For more information on Zombie Tramp or other Danger Zone titles, check out Action Lab/Danger Zone.

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.

Athena IX #1

FROM THE PAGES OF IXth GENERATION COMES A ONE-SHOT SPECIAL EVENT! Ever the didact, Athena IX specializes in cruel, calculating instruction, manipulating her siblings and supplicants with the intellectual upper hand. But this is the Chairwoman's future, not hers, and some lessons must be taught more harshly than others.

This book takes place in a dystopic city many centuries in the future. The city is run by the tyrannical Athena IX - an entity designed as a god to “save” humanity from its predicted extinction. The story lets us know there are nine siblings that all rule certain parts of the world, but this one focuses only on Athena (though it mentions Aphrodite and Artemis).

What I found most striking about this book was that all the main characters are women. The protagonist and antagonist are both women - women who aren’t light-skinned, typical “beauties” like we see in many comics. As someone who is always longing for more diversity in comics, I really appreciated this touch. I also appreciated that the character of Athena, presented as a tyrannical, unfeeling overlord, is presented as such without any apology or backhanded explanation. She just is that way - something we don’t see in female characters too often.

I think that, in order to appreciate the book fully, prior knowledge of the world would be required. I wasn’t always sure how much I was supposed to know. I didn’t know whether I was supposed to root for Athena, or what the end game is (I still don’t, having finished reading). I didn’t find Athena likable, but the other main character wasn’t given much personality, so I could not root for her either. I think I’d like to see an expansion of the title, or I’d like to read more of the world building so I could have a better opinion.

This seems like a very interesting future world, but as a one-shot standalone it doesn’t really do much for me. It did, however, pique my interest in the world as a whole, and I’ll be seeking out other titles! So in that regard, it’s certainly doing its job.

Grab this one if you’re looking for a new sci-fi world to read about, and if you’re looking for a book that doesn’t throw the same type of boring protagonist at you that you’ve seen over and over.

You can find out more and purchase this title from Image Comics right over here!

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.

Imperium 5+6

Toyo Harada will create Utopia…he just needs the right weapons first!

The most powerful man in the world has collected an assembly of monsters, killers, and super-villains…and now he’s set his sights on the last asset his team needs: the renegade scientist called Broken Angel. The only thing standing in his way — an army of enhanced soldiers…guarding a top-secret, highly fortified facility… deep underwater! The impossible heist begins here!

Writer:
Joshua Dysart
Penciler:
Doug Braithwaite
Colours:Brain Reber
Ulises Arreola
Letterer:
Dave Shart
Publisher:
Valiant Entertainment

After a few issues of slow build up, Imperium kicks into high gear again, whilst still doing enough to make its approach feel fresh. For the most part it's all in the construction. Issue five has us following a thoroughly unlikeable person for the first half, before pulling the curtain back to reveal what we really witnessed, giving a new meaning to the term 'stealth attack'.

To be honest, having read a lot of superhero fiction in my life, I was dreading what was to come when the fight scenes started in issue six. True to their source, there were plenty of cliched fighting scenes as people become pinned down, gunplay becomes rampant and the monsters on Harada's side start ripping apart those they encounter.

Despite that, it's the small little things that get sprinkled in made it worth reading and added some variety to things. For one, the fighting itself is almost made secondary to smaller character bits. It plays into the appeal of the series to me so far – every aspect of Harada's plan is, whilst sound as a whole, made up on components that are tinderboxes, ready to burn the whole down enterprise to embers. The tension generated by this helps play into the aim of the series as a whole – that those who saved the world and created paradise were the worst of the worst.

What surprised me more was that for a moment we see Harada's facade slip, yet the other characters treat this reveal as something they knew already. Knowing the series it will be brought back later- but for something as potentially surprising as that reveal was, it felt odd that not much attention was paid to it.

The artwork itself seemed to suffer a bit compared to the last two issues. Maybe it is fatigue on behalf of the artist, but proportions and the level of detail on characters and objects seemed a little more cartoony that what I've seen from the series so far. It's still good, but not quite as impressive as the work used in issue two for example, which managed to convey extra tones to the characters and story that are purely visual.

Would I say it's worth jumping on at this part of the series? Yes. Issue five, with a cold open that still manages to explain the majority of the relevant plot before unfurling into something else completely, is a good introduction and I'm not sure if you would have missed much bar an extended 'getting the team together' prologue.

If this is your jumping on point, revisit issue two for GraveDog's story and the stellar artwork. Otherwise, it's a brave new world you'll be entering. Like Harda himself, it seems like Imperium will give you a chance, but if you aren't smart enough to take it there's no time to wait for stragglers.

Cover image courtesy of Valiant Entertainment

Imperium is available from Valiant.

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.

Negative Space 1

When one man’s writer’s block gets in the way of his suicide note, he goes for a walk to clear his head and soon uncovers a century-old conspiracy dedicated to creating and mining the worst lows of human desperation.

Negative Space is a mashup of science fiction tropes that can most closely be described as The Truman show meets the Matrix.  The main character, Guy, is trying to kill himself, but he can’t decide how to word his suicide note.  He goes for a walk for inspiration, meeting a variety of people he knows, pan out the a super secret control room where technicians are waiting for the opportunity to record his suicide, and feed the sorrow and desperation to an alien race known as the Evorah.  Through a series of events, Guy eventually stumbles onto the operation, which of course makes sense because they’ve only been doing this for a few hundred years and are likely to make mistakes from time to time.  The first issue concludes with Guy discovering one of the Evorah, which we are led to believe from dialogue in the control will bring Hell on earth.

The highlight of this book is probably the art.  Many fine details in very little space.  I did like the intricacy that seemed to go into each panel.  One let down was that the main character just didn’t look that good in most of the sections.  The artist was going for a frumpy, down on his luck guy.  The effect is that Guy looks a little blobby, with a huge nose and facial features are difficult to decipher making panels hard to read.  Despite this the background in most of the issue makes up for it.   The writing however, leaves much to be desired.  The story behind Negative Space is a bit on the fun side, but stops before reaching satirical proportions, which suggests the reader is to take it as a dramatic science fiction tale.  The problem is that there are just too many plot holes to make it legible.

The coloring is really what gives this story any punch, they capture a nice Blade Runner kind of feel with Guy’s world that keeps the narrative moving forward, albeit at a sluggish pace.  Book one of this series is off to slow start, but with the promise of revelations about the Evorah and how all this will impact Guy’s bid for a well written suicide note.

For more information about Negative Space or other great works from Dark Horse, check out their site: Dark Horse

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.

Postal Vol 1

The townsfolk of Eden, Wyoming wake up to the first official murder the town has seen in 25 years. Their reaction to this isn’t normal, and there’s a reason for that. Eden operates as a haven for fugitive criminals who remain here while new identities, often including facial reconstruction, are created for them. There is zero tolerance for any illegal activity that might draw attention to the town and an “official murder” is the last thing they want. A single, tight-knit family runs Eden with the youngest oddball son Mark Shiffron overseeing the postal branch, the only means of shipping in or out of the city. THE FBI has repeatedly been foiled trying to insert an undercover here; they see Mark as the weak link to exploit. This murder gives them a new opportunity.

At first, I though that this comic was called Postal because it was about a guy going postal. Then I actually read the comic, and as it turns out the main character is a postal worker! Just goes to show that you can’t always judge a book by its cover. I am judging this book by its cover though, and my judgement hence be that it is good. So basically there’s a small town in Nowhere, Wyoming, and Mark “Rain Man” Shiffron notices that strange things are afoot in his town. Through detective footwork that would make Hank from Breaking Bad focus on minerals full time, Mark discovers some very spooky things in the town he calls his home. The writing here is top notch, Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill have crafted a depressingly realistic narrative of a small, rural town driven crazy by its own twisted delusion. Mysteries lead into further mysteries until nothing is left but blood and broken bones.

One thing that really grinds my gears (in a good way) about Postal is the degree to which it focuses on the mental disorder Aspergers Syndrome. Our protagonist Mark is afflicted with it, but he doesn’t let it slow him down! There really are some disappointing stigmas regarding mental illness in this country, I was diagnosed as bipolar a few months ago and most people ask if that means I have “two different personalities” (it doesn’t, I only have this one which sucks). But if Mark Shiffron can use his “malfunctioning brain” for good, maybe I can use a McDonalds without crying in the bathroom!

It’s also worth mentioning that the art of Postal is sublime. Isaac Goodhart paints an image of a bleak, broken town held together by paranoia and duct tape. If anything the art is too flattering, I was in Wyoming once and it did not look as interesting as the pages of this comic. This art’s got some grits! You can practically feel the blood dripping off the pages.

Postal was published by Image Comics, but don’t let their name fool you! Their comics also have words. If you like them on Facebook, a representative will show up to your doorstep with a bouquet of flowers.

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.