Monthly Archives: February 2013

The New Ghostbusters #1 Review

IDW Publishing, ,

ghostbusters

I didn’t read the original Ghostbusters series, so I really didn’t know what to expect with the re-launch. So when I bought The New Ghostbusters #1, by IDW Publishing, I quickly skimmed through the pages to see who was in it and what the ghosts looked like. I was in for a big surprise because I hadn’t read any of the press releases or previews.

The Ghostbusters (Peter, Egon, Ray and Winston) were abducted one at a time, by a ghost that resembled each of them. They wind up in what looks like another dimension.

Who you gonna call now? The New Ghostbusters!

  • JANINE. Ghostbusters secretary.
  • KYLIE. Ray’s bookstore manager, paranormal researcher.
  • MELANIE. FBI special agent

After creating a chaotic scene at a ghost busting site, the ladies are given a proposition by the city. Either agree to micromanagement by the Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission (PCOC) or have charges filed against them by the city. Since none of the ladies have technical skills with the proton equipment, they also have to add a technician to their team. RON ALEXANDER. Janine hesitantly agreed.

This is a pretty good debut issue. Great dialogue with lots of jokes, all at a good pace. I like how Erik Burnham began with showing what happened to the original Ghostbusters. If you’re looking for a good set-up for a story, this issue has it.

Dan Schoening did a great job on the artwork. I also like the coloring by Luis Delgado. I especially like the ghosts. They’re the typical ghostbusters ghosts. Ooey, gooey and slimy. Just how I remember from the film!

I wasn’t really feeling the story, probably because I rather watch it on television (cartoon comes on QUBO channel), but I’m curious as to what’s going to happen next. I want to know how The New Ghostbusters are going to handle not being able to have a say in the coordinating and prioritizing of their cases. Especially their most important case, finding the guys. I also want to see how well Janine and Kylie work with Ron. Last but certainly not least, I want to know where the guys are and how they plan to get home. So I plan to read the next issue to see where it’s heading.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

If you’re a fan of Ghostbusters then you will want to start reading this series.

Grimm Fairty Tales Presents: Wonderland Review

Zenescope Entertainment, , , , , ,

wonderland1

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents:  Wonderland

I was already a fan of Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales.  But when I learned that Greg Horn was going to be a variant cover artist (pictured above) for issue #1, I immediately emailed the comic shop to request cover B.

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents:  Wonderland is what happens after the Wonderland Trilogy (Return to Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, Escape From Wonderland).  Callie Liddle and her daughter, Violet try to live normal lives.  They learn soon enough they can’t escape the realm of madness, and is on the run once again.

The series begins with the spirit of the Mad Hatter using a troubled teenage boy named Sammy to carry out his madness and evil schemes, including brainwashing an entire town and murder.  In case you don’t already know, Mad Hatter’s name is Johnny and he is the brother of Callie.

Wonderland is full of chaos, madness, murder and betrayal.

The relationship between mother and daughter is breathtaking, as Callie gives her all into making sure Violet is safe.  Violet wants to live a normal teenage life.  Callie knows this is not safe and forbids Violet from doing most teenage activities.  Living a life on the run is causing the relationship between Violet and her mother to deteriorate.

The series is a twisted fairy tale filled with horror, chaos, suspense and murder.  The Mad Hatter, Queen of Spades, and the Queen of Hearts are just a few of the characters that Callie and Violet will encounter from the realm of madness.

The artwork is great, especially the covers.  Zenescope is known for their explicit covers.  But there’s nothing explicit about the stories.  Just pure horror, chaos and madness.  And I love every bit of if.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

If you like:

  • fairy tales
  • stories with a twist
  • horror
  • chaos
  • suspense

then I highly recommend this series.

SECRET AVENGERS #1 REVIEW

Marvel Comics,

secretavengers1

Maria Hill, Agent Phil Coulson, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Nick Fury, Jr.  When I learned that this bad ass team was going to debut in the first issue of Marvel NOW! Secret Avengers AND Nick Spencer was going to be the writer, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.

The comic is new reader friendly and if you’ve seen the Avengers movie, you’ll feel even more comfortable.  There is a strong resemblance between agent Coulson and Clark Gregg from the movie.  Black Widow sort of resembles Scarlet Johansson.  Not only does Nick Fury, Jr. looks like Samuel Jackson, he also sports Jackson’s coolness.

I like that Agent Coulson is in the series.  There’s something about the interaction between a man in a suit and heroes.  Usually something comical happens.

The members of the team have their minds wiped at the end of a mission.  I didn’t know what was going on at first, but by the end of the issue I can pretty much tell where the story is heading.

I’m familiar with, and love, Nick Spencer’s style of writing.  He’s good at plotting, timing, and dialogue.  Spencer also likes to revisit scenes in his comics.  That helps for a better understanding of the story.  I love when he does that and hopes he brings that technique over into Secret Avengers.

Luke Ross did a great job on the art.  Matthew Wilson adds a noir feel to it with the colors.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

Secret Avengers is yet another stellar title of Marvel Now. 

MORNING GLORIES REVIEW

Image Comics, , , ,

mornglory

I thought about sending my son off to a boarding preparatory school.  But that thought didn’t last long. 

What changed my mind?

 MORNING GLORY ACADEMY.

Morning Glory Academy (MGA) is one of the most prestigious prep and boarding schools in the country.  All of the students come from different backgrounds and social statuses.  The story begins with six students (aka Glories) getting accepted into the academy.  Not long after their arrival, the students learn that MGA holds secrets. Dark and evil secrets.   The Glories are:

  • CASEY.  Very smart. Shows leadership and often takes charge of the other Glories in their stand against the administration.
  • JADE.  Emotionally unstable. 
  • ZOE.  Typical cheerleader with a twist.
  • HUNTER.  LOVES COMIC BOOKS! Usually not on time for important events because he has issues telling time and he can’t hear alarms.  Likes Casey.
  • JUN. Serious and straightforward.  Has a twin brother that went to MGA a few years before him.
  • IKE. Wealthy, likes to challenge authority.  Cares for no one but himself.

mornglorydavidcropMorning Glory Academy is a mysterious and deadly place. The staff takes orders from the mysterious Headmaster. The school has a strict set of rules, far from that of traditional schools. For example, parents are instructed to cut all ties with their children once they leave for the academy. Parents who don’t comply are dealt with.  Severely.  One of the first events in the story that hooked me was a ghost, who we eventually learn is named David, lurking in the school. Students are also tortured and murdered by the schools’ faculty and staff.

The students at MGA are accepted, not because of their academic status, but because they all share the same birthday.

Morning Glories, published by Image Comics, is addicting.  Multiversity Comics is the perfect resource for help with understanding the story. Each issue in the series is dissected and explained in what is called study hall.  Just type ‘mga study’ hall in the search box on their website.

Nick Spencer does a great job at storytelling. Compelling characters. Well written dialogue.

Joe Eisma does an excellent job on the interior pages, with much attention paid to detail.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

Morning Glories is a must read comic. If you haven’t already started reading it, I suggest you start now.

The Walking Dead Review

Image Comics, ,

walkdeadvol1

The Walking Dead Volume 1, DAYS GONE BYE is a great read. It’s a trade paperback that houses the first six issues of the series.

The Walking Dead, published by Image Comics, follows the day-to-day lives of survivors of an apocalypse. ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.

Rick Grimes woke from a coma to find the hospital full of zombies. Making his way home through the deserted town, he meets Morgan Jones and his son, Duane. Rick learned that zombies had taken over and everyone was told to relocate to larger cities, where they would receive protection from the government. Rick left to head to Atlanta where his in-laws lived, in hopes of finding his wife and son.

Rick encountered zombies along the way, but he safely made it to a campsite in the woods outside the city of Atlanta. There he met up with his wife, Lori and their son, Carl. The group worked hard at protecting each other, although zombies got ahold to a couple of people in the group.

The Walking Dead is a story about survival. It’s a story about trust.

Glen sneaks in and out of the city to get food and supplies for the rest of the group. He only goes a certain distance once in the city, and knows which buildings to stay away from.

Stress, jealousy and mistrust leads to a fallout between Rick and his friend Shane.

Robert Kirkman did an excellent job at setting up the story in this volume. Well written dialogue. Perfect timing.

Tony Moore produced some great art in this book. It’s black-and-white. It fits the story perfectly. Visually sets the tone. Eerie. Creepy. And guess what? I love it.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

There is no doubt that I highly recommend everyone, that’s not afraid of this genre, to read The Walking Dead.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #3 REVIEW

Marvel Comics, , , , ,

ssm3

Let me start off by saying that I am still loving on Superior Spider-Man.  Every page is a page turner, which is how a good story is supposed to be.  There’s a couple of funny moments, such as when Mayor J. Jonah Jameson thought he was going to be in control of Spider-Man.  And the interaction between the Vulture and his henchmen.  Those bird-like creatures talked and acted as if they were kids, and were treated as such.  They were given pizza and game tokens!

A lot is going on in this issue.

  • Spider-Man’s revenge against Adrian Toomes, the Vulture
  • Peter Parker in Doc Ock’s memories, being zapped in and out of his flashbacks
  • Carlie increasing suspicion of the true identity of Spider-Man

To spare a lengthy post, I’ll touch on Spider-Man’s revenge against Adrian Toomes, the Vulture.

Spider-Man went to Toomes and offered him a way out of his life of crime.  Thinking he was joking, the Vulture ordered an attack.  After knocking one of them to the ground, Spidey learned the bird-like creatures were children.

I told you they talked and acted as if they were children!  I was shocked to learn the truth also.

ssm3chase2Spider-Man had a flashback of his dad striking him when he was a young boy.  Outraged he went after Toomes to put a stop to him for good.

They fought.  And they fought.  And they fought.  Until the end.  Toome’s end.

There is so much going on in this story that I can’t fit it all into this post.  Well I can but no one will read it all.  Not even me.  Too long.

So I’ll wrap it up here.  This series is still going strong.  One of the best Marvel NOW! titles.  Very strong dialogue and pacing.  Dan Slott is still the man.  He packed a lot in this issue without skipping a beat.

Ryan Stegman still has it going on with the art.  Several intricate scenes.  Edgar Delgado is great with the colors.  A few of the panels made me cry, especially Otto’s flashback of his dad hitting him as a child.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

Do I really need to tell you my recommendation?  If yes, then go back and read the first sentence in this post.  Better yet I’ll copy it here for you:

Let me start off by saying that I am still loving on Superior Spider-Man.

If you haven’t already started reading Superior Spider-Man, now is the time to start.  While you’re at the comic shop you may as well grab issues 1 and 2 also.