Category Archives: IDW Publishing

The Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up! #1 Review

IDW Publishing, , , , , ,

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The Super Secret Crisis War is over, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of our favorite Cartoon Network heroes and villains.  The Powerfuff Girls Super Smash-Up!, published by IDW, is a new crossover miniseries where Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles will team-up with various Cartoon Network characters.

The story begins with Fuzzy Lumpkins kidnapping Ms. Bellum.  The girls arrived in time to see Ms. Bellum perform a move on Fuzzy, taking him down.  You may wonder if we finally get to see Ms. Bellum’s face.  Well I’m not telling, you will just have to read the story for yourself to find out.

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Next, the girls and Professor Utonium pay a visit to Dexter’s Laboratory for a VIP tour, with the professor giving Dexter a sample of Chemical X in exchange for the tour.  Of course the obvious (and always funny) happened next.  Dexter’s sister, Dee Dee, snuck into the lab.  And yes, she is still a walking catastrophe.  Actually Dee Dee is a dancing catastrophe.  As always, she begins to dance and twirl, causing chaos in the lab.  Chemical X spills over onto Dee Dee, turning her into a hideous creature.  To make matters worse, she accidentally transports herself into another dimension.

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Derek Charm is the creative writer and artist.  The story is just as entertaining as when I watched both cartoons on television, especially Dexter’s Laboratory.  Dee Dee always stole the show, and it’s no different in this story.  Excellent script, funny character interactions.

The art is amazing with bursts of pretty, bright colors and fine details.  Great action scenes.

The Powerful Girls Super Smash-Up! #1 also contains a Courage the Cowardly Dog bonus story.  It is a super short story, and since I don’t give spoilers, I’ll just say that it’s funny and weird like the cartoon on television.

Jeremy Whitley is the writer.  Fun and strange script, and in case you’re wondering, yes Courage is still a “stupid dog.”  And he is still paranoid, and always first to notice strange events on the farm.

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Great artwork by Jorge Monlongo.  I especially like Courage’s facial expressions.  I laughed out loud as if I was watching tv.

There is no doubt that I am going to continue to read this all-ages comic book miniseries.

The Powerfuff Girls Super Smash-Up! #1 was released on January 28, 2015.

VERDICT (drum roll please)
I strongly recommend this title.  I give this issue 5/5 stars.

 

Super Secret Crisis War #1 Review

IDW Publishing, , , , , , , ,

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If you and/or your children are fans of Cartoon Network, or just cartoons in general, then you will definitely want to read this comic book.  Published by IDW, Super Secret Crisis War is a six-issue mini-series featuring some of the network’s most beloved heroes and villains.

The demon, Aku, formed the League of Extraordinary Villains, a group of Cartoon Network’s most notorious villains.  Their mission is to capture and control the power of the heroes, and conquer their worlds.

The league sends evil robots to fight the heroes.  If the robots are defeated, the heroes get transported to the league for the next phase of their villainous plan.

The heroes that are targeted by the robots are:

  • Ben 10
  • Dexter (Dexter’s Laboratory)
  • Powerpuff Girls
  • Samurai Jack
  • Ed, Edd, n Eddy

We all know that Ed, Edd, n Eddy combined doesn’t make the sharpest tack in the box, but hey, they were targeted by an evil robot.

Five one-shots are included in this mini-series.  Below are the titles and month of release.

  • June – Super Secret Crisis War #1
  • July – Johnny Bravo #2
  • August – The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy #3
  • September – Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends #4
  • October – Cow and Chicken #5
  • November – Codename:  Kids Next Door #6

What a great line-up.

Louise Simonson is the writer.  Well-written script.  Funny dialogue and character interactions.  I couldn’t help but to hear the characters voices in my head while reading this hilarious comic, especially Mojo Jojo and Ed, Edd, n Eddy.

Beautiful artwork by Derek Charm.  Fine details.  Bright and colorful panels that kids will love and enjoy.

There is no doubt that I am going to read this entire mini-series.  I just wish that I was in this comic.  I would steal Ben 10’s omnitrix, and ask Dexter why is he the only person in his family that talks with an accent.

VERDICT (drum roll please)
If you are looking for comic books for your kids, then I strongly recommend this all-ages comic mini-series.  I am giving this issue 5/5 stars.

The New Ghostbusters #2 Review

IDW Publishing, ,

ghostbust2In the debut issue of The New Ghostbusters by IDW Publishing, we saw how the team came together. Janine, Melanie and Kylie got together to search for the guys, who were abducted by spirits and taken to what appears to be another dimension. The PCOC made them an official team, but they have to abide by PCOC’s terms.

The team is engaged in a photo shoot at the beginning of this issue, and this is where I was able to get a more in-depth feel of the characters and their personalities. Erik Burnham, writer, has done a great job with character development. All four members of the team are from different walks of like, but they are all funny in their own way.

Janine – Aggressive, mouthy. Will put you in check at the blink of an eye. Shows strong leadership skills.

Melanie – Takes crap from no one.

Kylie – Gothic-looking. Skilled at identifying supernatural forces.

Ron – Annoying

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I like this issue much better than the first one. I laughed throughout the story. Right now, I’m liking the entire team, but I especially like Janine. Her aggressive personality stands out from the rest of the team, and she backs down to no one. Not even the PCOC.

Along with a good script should be good artwork as well. This issue has both. The artwork is superb. Art by Dan Schoening. Colors by Luis Delgado. These two are great visual storytellers. I don’t know what I like the best, supernatural scenes and its’ bright colors, or Janine’s facial expressions when she’s mouthing off!

I plan to continue reading this series to see where it leads.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this series, if you haven’t already started reading it. It is full of funny jokes and ghosts!

The New Ghostbusters #1 Review

IDW Publishing, ,

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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.