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.

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.

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.

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.

Kabuki Volume 1

Celebrating twenty years of Kabuki, this is the first volume in a complete set of large oversize library editions collecting the entire critically acclaimed Kabuki series.

This edition collects the first two original Kabuki volumes: Circle of Blood and Dreams. With eleven issues and loads of extras, this is the book that fans of Kabuki have been waiting for and the perfect starting point for brand-new readers.

Kabuki follows the story of a damaged woman, code named Kabuki in her role as assassin / enforcer to the Noh, a centralized media outlet that controls Japan in a dystopian future.  She is driven by both vengeance for her mother’s death, as well as her own scarring by the sadistic Yakuza boss, Kai.

Kabuki is celebrated the world over as David Mack’s tour de force, and with good reason.  It could be argued that this is more of a work of art than a comic book.  Mack has an altered approach to every aspect of this book from the scripting, to the page layout, to the art itself.  This trade collects Circle of Blood and Dreams in a single glorious 402 page epic.  This version also features notes from Brian Michael Bendis, and Jim Steranko heaping praise after praise on David Mack.  Mack also include details about his process for creating and realizing this complicated story.

There is no need to point out that Kabuki is a work of art.  David Mack is a renowned artist and writer the world over.  Kabuki features some lavish artwork that captures the beauty and symmetry of the female form.   He succeeds in making a black and white comic look vibrant in Circle of Blood.  The Dreams book is breathtaking in its mixed media presentation, which if you are fan of that style, will be an instant win.  The story is rich and detailed with minimal wording where the art is fullest, and blocks of text to offset huge single page runs.

A word to the wise, just because it’s a work of art does not mean that it is a fun read.  I found the volume to be tedious at times.  In Japanese style, it’s told in a vertical format that may be a challenge to some readers.  Also this format is a bit of a chore for anyone reading it in electronic format as it requires a great deal of scrolling up and down from page to page.  At the end of my reading, I found that I appreciated the work from an artistic perspective, but didn’t enjoy it as a comic.  Newcomers to the Kabuki comic may find this 400+ page volume to be a bit onerous to get through.

Fans of David Mack and Kabuki will undoubtedly treasure this collection.  Fans of japanese themed series like Frank Miller’s Elektra will also enjoy this epic telling of a assassin on her trail of blood, vengeance and the meaning of it all.  Traditional readers who like a more horizontal page layout and linear story will find this book dull.  In closing, I would I would call Kabuki artistically pleasing, but daunting to the average comic book fan.

For more information about the Kabuki Library Edition HC or other great products from Dark Horse, please visit their website:  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.

Resident Alien: The Sam Hain Mystery 2

Stranded on Earth and hiding in the small town of Patience, Washington, the alien known as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigel attempts to solve another murder mystery. When he finds an old briefcase containing an odd confession, a violent manuscript, and a crime novel signed with a mysterious inscription, Harry sets out to uncover the truth once again!

Issue number two is a tense page turner.  Be prepared to not put this comic down after you pick it up.  The plot thickens as Harry learns a bit more of the Rex Monday mystery.  There are several pages describing an affair, a short novel that could be so much more, and more questions than Harry can answer.  Fortunate for him, he has a plucky assistant to help him with some out of the box thinking.

This issue is consistent with the two that have gone before.  The story is seamless and tight.   The art is realistic and colorful without being garish.  The flashback scenes highlighting the affair and murder are breathtaking.  Hogan keeps the story going in that steady freight train fashion that is perfect for a good mystery.  Love a good mystery, then you will love this book.

For more information about Resident Alien and other groundbreaking comics from Dark Horse, visit their website here: 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.

Barb Wire 1

Nail-hard tough and drop-dead gorgeous, Barb Wire is the baddest bounty hunter on the mean streets of Steel Harbor, where gangsters can lift bulldozers and leap rusting factories in a single bound. The hunting is stupid good and the bounties are hella big—if Barb lives long enough to collect!

Opening up this book, I have to admit it made me laugh a little.  Not because the book itself amused me, but as someone who encountered the movie as a teenage boy it's funny to remember.  To be honest I've only ever seen the film, so this new Barb Wire is my first encounter with the comics.

Barb is still kicking ass and looking pretty while bounty hunting.  Following an encounter with one of her targets, she heads back to her bar where she does her best to keep the peace there.  This of course does not work out, and a fight breaks loose.  After the cops show up and the dust settles, she finds out the landlord is selling the property, so now she has to figure out how to get out of that mess.

With no prior experience with the original books, I'm not sure how well it follows the characters and overall look from that run.  I'd have to guess they at least look similar, but regardless, this new series is looking really good.  With super sharp pencil work and vibrant colors, the updated visuals are a fresh and welcome addition to the title.

From what I remember of the movie (which oddly is more than just Pamela's boobs) it seems to fit into the world well.  As I said before, I don't know how the storyline in the first comics went, so I'm a bit at a loss and previous fans will know best.  As my first book of the series I enjoyed it and think it's a decent buy worth adding to the collection.

For more on Barb Wire 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.

Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians 2

Ricardo Delgado delivers a stunning, elaborate prehistoric parable that evokes classic spaghetti westerns and noble samurai tales of yore! Traveling through a dense swamp teeming with primordial danger, a solitary Spinosaurus aegyptiacus is the unpredictable and deadly antihero of Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians.

I swore I was going to see Jurassic World within it's opening weekend, but that sadly didn't happen.  I have yet to figure out another day to see it since which is just as sad.  At least I can quench my thirst for dinosaur thrills a bit with the second issue of Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians.

We continue on our prehistoric adventure in Egypt alongside the ferocious Spinosaurus.  This chapter focused more on the creature's interaction with other dinosaurs, whether it be hunting smaller prey or even what appears to be a courting of sorts.  This book also started off with a story involving other dinosaurs and their struggle to defend against predators.

The artwork as you would expect and hope follows the same style the first book used.  I really liked it then, and still like it as much as I did from the start.  It's probably not the easiest thing to illustrate something based on speculation, but Delgado does it justice as far as I'm concerned.

I was certainly pleased to have been introduced to the first issue of this mini series and was more than glad to open the next.  The story which continues to be told well without words alongside great art is well worth checking out.  I was sold right away, but this second part is backing that up and should be one for all to grab.

For more on Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians 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.

Mulan: Revelations

Though the future boasts endless technological wonders, only a very few can afford access to them. As a new virus rages through the rich and poor, threatening all of humanity, a warrior is awakened to stop the evil puppeteers behind it all! Centuries after her ancestor and namesake fought for China, a new Mulan has been chosen by the ancient Chinese immortals in a final battle for the world!

No disrespect to all you raving fans, but move out of the way Disney.  This is definitely not the animated movie that many of you have seen.  I actually have not, and rather enjoyed reading the launch issue of Mulan: Revelations as my first experience with her.

This drastically different telling begins in old China right in the middle of a fierce battle.  Spirit type beings referred to as The Immortals perform some sort of spell to save one warrior, of course being Mulan.  Whether it was to ensure her reincarnation, or immortality is hard to say, as we jump all the way to her living in futuristic China 2125.  There is a new virus which attacks only those with tech implants, and apparently her blood is the cure.

The art we saw with this first book is a very interesting style, especially for the setting.  The colors throughout look more like traditional paints, mixed in with the occasion hard pencil lines.  All this placed within a sci-fi world makes for a really neat look that I can't recall seeing before.

As the DH summary states, this is a cool blend of "Chinese martial arts and futuristic cyberpunk".  If that doesn't sell you, then I can only suggest that you go out and buy a copy for yourself.  I'm pretty sure you will not be disappointed with this intriguing new title.

For more on Mulan: Revelations 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.

The Order of the Forge 3

Our heroes finally discover an ancient and secret weapon on a long-forgotten Viking ship, but the wicked Lord Hammond is closing in, intent on seizing this deadly prize! Now Washington must engage in battle on two fronts—with Hammond and an undead Viking horde!

Victor Gischler’s story continues to steamroll right over the reader from the outset of issue number three.  At the outset, George and Kate are looking for a way to access the site holding the ancient weapon.  They are caught unaware by Drumknott and Hammond, who force the pair to open the way for them.  Outside Revere and Franklin spot Hammond’s men and do what comes naturally, which is of course mass destruction.  Inside the cave, progress is made, tables turn, then turn again, then zombie vikings show up.  Needless to say there are no dull moments to be had in the latest installment of Order of the Forge.

Before the praise, I do have a few minor complaints.  First off, the cover.  It is more than a little lackluster compared to the interior art.  In the two previous issues, the covers have been big, bold and attention grabbing, whereas this issue’s cover is rather dull.  The contemporary profanity Gischler interjects, tends to rub me the wrong way.  It’s apparent, that he wishes to use the occasional F-bomb as a means of connecting modern readers with the historical characters, but to this reviewer, it comes off as trying too hard.

Now, on to the fun stuff.  Bettin’s interior art is again lavish, engrossing, and explosive.  There are a few panels that are just beyond words, such as a scene when Franklin tears through the head of a soldier with a gatling gun.  The visual of the head disintegrating is gore-geous..  Later on, there are a few full page shots of the zombie fights with George and Kate that would delight any reader, and of course the colors are eye-popping as always.  The visuals in this book are just too good to describe.

The story is also just as amazing as the previous issues, with non-stop adventure.  George’s “curse” still provides laughs, such as when Hammond asks him for the map and he is unable to lie much to Kate’s consternation.  The jabs between Franklin and Revere are also entertaining.  To me, this is the Indiana Jones of comic books.  Well paced, well plotted and breathtaking in its illustration.  Another must have by Dark Horse!

For more information about Order of the Forge or other great titles from Dark Horse, visit their web site. 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.

Rexodus TPB

The Black Blood is unleashed upon the earth again, and Amber must save her father—and the world—with the aid of the only other Black Blood survivor, Kelvin Sauridon, a dinosaur from the past. In this high-stakes adventure, can they put aside their differences long enough to save the planet they both called home?

More dinosaurs?  Yes, please.  I will never turn away the potential for an awesome book that involves these ancient creatures.  Especially when you mix in some sci-fi flavor to it and create a title like Rexodus.  With the whole TPB to check out, how could I not be excited?

This new title begins millions of years ago when dinosaurs still ruled, and were more humanoid than we're used to.  Threatened by a terrible evil known as The Black Blood, the Disaurians send a craft into space in hopes of survival.  Fast forward to now, with a scientist and his daughter Amber being brought to an archaeological dig of sorts.  Shortly after Amber accidentally awakens one of the "dinosaur" survivors, Kelvin, the pair are thrown into a fast paced adventure to again fight against The Black Blood.

For a creature over 60 million years old, Kelvin looks as sharp as can be.  That goes for the rest of the characters, and the entirety of the book itself.  The artwork in this unique tale is incredibly strong, with detailed illustrations and colors that bring every panel to life.  I very much appreciated the various designs for the dinosaurs, taking aspects of species we know and making them more humanoid.

I can't imagine there are many people out there that can say they don't love dinosaurs.  It's one of those things that we loved as a child and often continue to do so.  I'm definitely in that crowd, and this book was a great addition to something I adore.  It's a fun story with superb art, and should really be on your radar.

For more on Rexodus or other Dark Horse books, 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.

Fight Club 2 #2

For the past decade Tyler Durden’s been sneaking out of Sebastian’s subconscious. Sebastian has a nice wife and a nice kid. He has a nice home in the suburbs. Nice-enough neighbors. Now all that’s going up like so much potassium permanganate.

By now, if you hadn't already, you've watched Fight Club.  Right?  I'm going to assume as much, especially if you're reading this.  Hoping even.  If not, I won't judge.  I'll just expect you to before you proceed with a review of the second issue of Fight Club 2.

Try as he may have to keep Tyler under wraps, Sebastian was not so successful.  Of course, it didn't help that his wife was secretly cutting back on his meds so she could sleep with Tyler.  What she least expected was Tyler to be responsible for kidnapping her son.  By the end, it looks like it's time to return to the house.  Yes, THE house.

Again assuming you know the movie, you know that the visuals are going to be a very important component.  The story is so twisted that they need to do their part in guiding you along, and they are doing a great job so far.  I've been really impressed with how the title is handling bringing this kind of story to a comic.

It's been quite a long time since I last watched Fight Club, and reading the comic brings back memories of why it's so good.  It's early to say for sure, but the sequel in this format is doing it justice.  I'd be one to suggest going out and starting this and seeing just how crazy it gets, as I'm sure it will.

For more on Fight Club 2 or other Dark Horse books, 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.

Realms: The Roleplaying Game Art of Tony DiTerlizzi HC

Depicting fantastical creatures, horrific monsters, and courageous heroes, Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations defined the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons, Planescape, and Magic: The Gathering in the imaginations of legions of devoted roleplaying gamers. This collection features never-before-seen artwork and photographs in addition to his most iconic roleplaying work.

"Like I said, it's never easy.  Sometimes all you need is a little faith.  Surround yourself with your adventuring party: the friends and family who encourage and believe in you.  More importantly, have faith in yourself.  Believe in the powerful magic inside you.  Take a chance and roll your dice - whether they are 20 sided or metaphorical.  You never know what luck they may bring you"

Tony DiTerlizzi
Amherst, Massachusetts

It isn't often I start off a review quoting a book, but this just struck a nerve with me.  Not only is that super inspirational as an aspiring artist, but it speaks to life in general as well.  Plus, he's from my home state which is awesome.  After having the pleasure of viewing Realms: The Roleplaying Game Art of Tony DiTerlizzi, it is but a small portion of what makes this such a spectacular book.

If you've ever been a D&D nerd (raises hand), you've probably seen some of Tony DiTerlizzi's amazing illustrations.  For those that haven't, you are in for a heck of a treat with this book crammed full of his work.  There is just something about going through this book that sends you to another place, and in a way, joining Tony's imagination.  Even just being an art book, it was a thrill ride better than most I've ever had.

I can't even put into words the gorgeous artwork that this book presents to us.  Even starting with just the cover, I fell in love, for both the quality of the art and her beauty.  Whether or not you are a fan of D&D, or even fantasy as a whole, you're going to adore this artwork.  With the kind of illustrations he brought to this genre, DiTerlizzi rolled a natural 20.

Regardless of what you're reading currently, this needs to be on your quest list.  Immediately.  It is more than worth its weight in gold, or silver or other such nerdy currency.  This absolutely needs to be looted, and stored in your inventory.  All play on words aside, you seriously need to buy this book.

For more on Realms: The Roleplaying Game Art of Tony DiTerlizzi  or other Dark Horse books, 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.

Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians 1

Ricardo Delgado’s gorgeous and brutal Age of Reptiles series returns, marking a bold new direction in wordless storytelling! The steaming swamps of Cretaceous Africa teem with prehistoric life and primordial danger in a tale filled with villains, victims, and one of the most dangerous and unpredictable protagonists ever created: the lonely antihero Spinosaurus aegyptiacus!

With the newest movie in the Jurassic Park series in less than two weeks, this is a perfect time for a new dinosaur comic.  Then again, any time is really a good time to read a comic that involves these ancient beasts.  As the title Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians denotes, these are about the most ancient inhabitants of Egypt as it gets.

As popular as the ferocious T-Rex is, the Spinosaurus was potentially an even more terrifying and deadly dinosaur.  This first part of the miniseries follows the day to day of this creature, who roamed both the lands and waters of prehistoric Egypt.  Hunting small prey in the rivers and even holding its own against much larger, it was not to be underestimated.

Delgado takes on virtually every role in this title, save for colors (which he actually still chooses).  The artwork is wonderful, taking what we can only speculate to be what dinosaurs looked like and making it as real as possible.  Without a single word in the book, yet still telling a clear story, that is the true testament to how great the art is.

Until this book, I was never aware of these great books that Ricardo Delgado has done.  I really enjoyed this one, and would gladly like to check out the others.  In the mean time, I will definitely be looking to read the rest of this and would definitely say to pick up all four as the come out.

For more on Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians 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.

Ei8ht #3+4

Time is almost up!

As Dr. Hamm and the black-ops soldier Collins try to survive in the prehistoric past, the fierce warrior Nila and the chrononaut Joshua attempt to convince the rebel council to take up arms against the Tyrant before he releases a dangerous scourge and wipes them all from the face of the Meld!

Writer:

Rafael Albuquerque

Mike Johnson

Artist:

Rafael Albuquerque

Publisher:

Dark Horse

The fun thing about time travel stories is that they don't have to make sense, as long as they provide an enjoyable narrative and a satisfying payoff to the initial set up. The second half of Rafael Alnuquerque and Mike Johnson's stellar time travelling pulp tale satisfies on both fronts.

This issue helps resolve a lot of the mystery surrounding the first few issues,whilst linking the differing time streams together into one. It's a tale that's broadly sketched in the best of possible terms, as Joshua and Nila form the emotional core of a piece where a literal Nazi villain faces off against a persecuted minority that acts as an amalgamation of all the different beliefs on nomadic life. It's to the scripts credit that it focuses more on action and keeping everything going than the broadly silly plot, but it also doesn't seem to be afraid of that more silly side either, embracing it and making it just another component of a winning story.

Thrown into this is Albuquerque's art, with its ragged, kinetic look. I've spoken praises about this before and I have to repeat it again. The way he makes all the different time periods work with the colouring is a masterclass in subtly- even scenes that don't show a skyline find a way to indicate what time period they are a part of, by utilising broad brushstrokes in the background or by incorporating it into the clothing of characters or a part of a key object. The effect is such that it's effortless to keep track of what is happening, something that is a lot easier said than done and which makes it all the more impressive.

If there are any down points, is that the story loses a bit of steam once the 4^th issue draws to a close with the promise of a battle between the nomadic tribes and the Nazi lead armies. There was no real build up to it, nor really a chance to get to know the tribe itself, other than when they tried to impede the main characters progress. As such, suddenly asking us to care about them is perhaps a step too far.

Besides that though, I enjoyed both issues so much. With next issue being its final one, it's well worth checking out the other issues now. Even if the writing isn't up to much, those who like something visually attesting to look at won't be disappointed.

Cover image courtesy of Dark Horse

Ei8ht is available from 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.

The Complete Pistolwhip HC

Matt Kindt and Jason Hall’s breakout crime series returns! This deluxe hardcover edition includes both of Kindt and Hall’s elaborate mystery graphic novels, in color for the first time, along with the Pistolwhip one-shot and a story from Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings!

Ah, the great detective mystery.  I remember being a kid and reading things like Encyclopedia Brown and watching movies like Dick Tracy and loving the "whodunit" stories.  I still enjoy following along as the pieces come together, and got to experience a new adventure with that in The Complete Pistolwhip.

This HC edition collects all of the stories from the series from Matt Kindt and Jason Hall.  The first part opens the book with a one-shot, and then moves on to the main story.  Each chapter of the primary novel adds a little more to the mysterious jigsaw puzzle.  Multiple characters are all being woven into one grandiose scheme revolved around murder, heroism, and loss.  What's neat about the whole story is that it is all tied together by an ongoing radio play, and in the latter part of the book, a comic as well.

The art style is pretty unique and not something I recall seeing much of, if at all before.  It has a much looser, almost sketchier feel to it throughout the book.  At first I wasn't so sure about these visuals, but by the end they did grow on me.  Something about them just seemed to flow naturally, as if they just made the story glide along.

I've always loved mystery stories like this that reveal little pieces bit by bit, making you think back on earlier parts and realizing how they are connected.  It can be a little difficult to read if you're not completely focused, as there's so much being thrown at you.  Otherwise, as long as you can let yourself sit for a while with this collection, it's a worthwhile use of your time.

For more on Pistolwhip 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.

Sundowners TPB Vol 1

Faster than lightning! Stronger than steel! Crazier than an outhouse rat? Enter the Sundowners—sworn to protect humanity from interdimensional invaders! But is the threat real, or all in their heads?

If you hadn’t guessed already, this is a very dark series, that blurs the lines between vigilantism and outright delusion.  The story commences with a washed up psychologist, who has taken up “counseling” a group of people called Sundowners, people who don costumes and patrol the night looking for everything from Reptiloids to purse snatchers.  It is clear from the first issue, that even if they are right, they are still a little crazy, maybe a lot.  My personal favorite was Arcanika who gains physical strength for committing biblical sins.  Concerned Citizen isn’t as much fun, but has a touching ongoing story.  He’s clearly in the grips of at least 2 different clinical issues, but still finds a way to channel that into something positive to support and defend the people in his neighborhood.

The story and art in this series are dark and dreary.  One exception to this, is that the painted covers are entrancing.  Tim Seely focuses deeply on the depths of personal despair of his characters.  The magic of the series, is that even in the midst of their insanity, they are trying to save the world, or at least their little corner of it.  As the story progresses it seems that there really is some form of interdimensional threat that is perched to open up a can of whoop ass on the city of Chicago.  The problem, and perhaps beauty of the series, is that it’s never quite clear even at the end, if it’s real or not.  Even when the “heroes” are in the final fight with the aliens, two bystanders only see them battling empty air.  So, is it real?  Is it delusion, is it Memorex?  Even after my second reading, I still wasn’t sure myself.  This is very artistic, but a little difficult to follow.  Lovers of stories like Watchmen, will adore this, but more conventional fans, will likely find offense with the treatment of the superhero concept.

For more about The Sundowners, or other works from Dark Horse, please visit 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.

Mister X: Razed 4

A disappearing skyscraper and a crime lord are revealed in the retrofuturistic metropolis of Radiant City! Mister X, allegedly the city’s mysterious creator, must expose those who threaten his city—but can he do it before they silence him?

With the final book of this mini-series came one of those "oh now I get it moments".  I suppose I should have expected it going into the fourth and likely final issue.  Regardless, the three previous issues all came together just as they should have in number four of Mister X: Razed.

Given that this is the final book of the mini-series, there was just one singular story rather than a split.  It takes separate elements that were seen before, including the missing building, Rosetta, and the magician, and all glue them together.  By the end, you get a much better feeling of how all these stories somehow fit in this mysterious title.

This ending chapter comes together in the effective and appropriate artistic method we've seen thus far.  While some other kinds of stories might work, the noir genre definitely benefits most from these kinds of visuals.  All in all, I thought it was good work and was pleased with the choice to go with this style.

I certainly had my share of difficulty trying to get through this series, but it turned out ok by the end.  My suggestion is to grab all four and sit down with them in one go, as it will make it easier to grasp.  These books might not be up everyone's alley, but wouldn't be a bad way to see if Mister X is something you'd like to read more of.

For more on Mister X: Razed 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.

Frankenstein Underground 3

Frankenstein’s monster has been captured by an underground race of men, but instead of experimenting on the monster, their master shares the secret history of their people . . . and that of the Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra.

The more of these books that I get to read, the crazier the story gets.  But crazy in a good way, in an interesting, totally not expecting that way.  Just three issues into Frankenstein Underground, I can only imagine the surprises that are in store for the following issues.

Captured and being lead through what is Hell in his mind, Frankenstein's monster tries once more to escape.  After his futile effort fails, he regains consciousness and is suprised to be in the company of two human scientists.  They explain to him about their difficult journey to find this underground city and are seemingly good people.  As you'd expect though, not all is at it seems, and the ending was by far the most shocking part of the story.

For the most part, the third issue of this title has nothing dramatically different in the way of the art.  It's still strong artwork for both the lineart and coloring that I still like though.  There were a few panels that were different for a neat past/present comparison and those were a nice touch.  Also of note was the very last panel, which did creepy so well.

With the stuff that was thrown into this issue and content from before waiting to pop up again, I'm being drawn forward.  That in itself is a good sign of clever writing for any piece of fiction, especially comics.  I'll continue reading this as long as I keep getting surprised, and you should as well.

For more on Frankenstein Underground 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.

Fight Club 2 #1

Some imaginary friends never go away . . .

Ten years after starting Project Mayhem, he lives a mundane life. A kid, a wife, pills to keep his destiny at bay. But it won’t last long; the wife has seen to that. The time has come . . .

Rize or Die.

Whether or not you've seen it, or like it for that matter (which if you don't, I have to wonder), most people know about Fight Club.  It's one of those cult classics has just permeated society, most notably of anything for the first two rules.  I had heard whispers of a sequel in comic form, and lucky for me, I got to read the first issue of the much anticipated Fight Club 2.

Normally, I'd offer a brief synopsis of the previous content, in this case the Fight Club movie.  But we don't talk about it.  So go out and watch it.

That being said, this comic follows up 10 years later, with our main character now going by Sebastian living a boring, average life.  His wife is not ok with that, and has been doing whatever she has to in order to get "him" back.  After a decade of trying to keep him under wraps, Tyler comes back, and he returns with a bang.  In more ways than one.

The artwork for this first book is clean and solid throughout.  For this issue at least, most of the colors were toned down, adding to the drab life our character leads.  Where it counts though, there are some really in your face pages, giving an excellent contrast between both sides of him.  There was one page in particular about halfway through that stood out big time and thought it was fantastic.

I honestly never expected there to be any more to Fight Club, and I'm totally ok with it being a comic.  Obviously, if you've never watched the movie, you're missing out and are actually doing yourself a disservice.  So, again, watch it if you haven't, and in either case, go out and grab this book.

And definitely talk about it.

For more on Fight Club 2 or other Dark Horse books, 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.