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.

The Adventures of Aero-Girl 3

The Fantastic Fantoccini and his army of evil muppets attacks! The motivation behind Dr. Chimera's most sinister plot to change Foxbay forever is revealed. Will Foxbay's newest powered pair be ready to stop him?

The greatest of heroes can come in virtually every shape, size, or even species.  The most interesting of villains can often be the most unexpected appearances as well.  Jumping into issue three of The Adventures of Aero-Girl, we get to see a lot of more what is happening in Foxbay.

Aero-Girl and Jak-Jak continue to bond, in both superhuman feats and communicating better.  Other heroes which are introduced are also still doing their part, against such villains as The Fantastic Fantoccini.  Meanwhile, we learn all about the plot of Dr. Chimera to rid Foxbay of all sickness and disease no matter the cost.  Will the other heroes be enough or will Aero-Girl's mother need to let her be the hero she is?

As we get further into the series, there is continually more of the fantastic artwork in each book.  With the new heroes and even villains we got to see new powers, and with that the great art that brings it to us.  The colors really packed a punch this time and of course, the new designs were a treat to see.

The first two books did their part to hook me, and this one has started to reel me in.  I'm really enjoying the writing, and definitely digging the artwork.  This hero book is doing an excellent job in the expansive genre and would love to stick with it.

For more information on The Adventures of Aero-Girl or other Action Lab titles, check out Action Lab.

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

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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

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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

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Astro City #25, $3.99
Batman Harley Quinn TP, $19.99
Batman Second Chances TP, $19.99
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.