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Fearless Defenders #6 Review

Marvel Comics, , ,

feardef6

It turns out that Valkyrie used to be a Doom Maiden after all. The Maiden of Rage. And rage is what she was full of in this issue. She took down all the Shield Maidens, most of them with her bare hands. Keep in mind the Shield Maidens are the some of the strongest female superheroes in the Marvel universe, so that should tell you how strong and powerful she is.

But there was one Shield Maiden in particular that was strong in a different way. Knowing that Valkyrie was possessed by an unknown evil force, Annabelle Riggs stood against the Maiden of Rage to save Valkyrie. But at a hefty price. I won’t spoil what happens, but I will say that the sassy, but feisty Misty Knight sucker punched the heck out of Valkyrie for what happened to her friend, Dr. Annabelle Riggs.

And yes, Caroline Le fay is still in the picture. She fled the battlefield to develop more evil plans which includes choosing new Doom Maidens. So I don’t think she’s going anywhere for a while.

I am still enjoying this Marvel NOW! series and I list all my reasons in prior posts of this title. I am surprised at the outcome of Annabelle. I knew that Annabelle was going to play an important role in Valkyrie’s life, but I didn’t know for how long. And I was just beginning to really like her. But this series is set up for characters to come and go. Remember this is not a team. And I can only imagine what’s going to happen to the rest of the Shield Maidens. Who’s next to leave? Who’s next to join? I want them all to stay because from looking at the pictures of female villains on Caroline Le Fay’s monitor, it’s going to take the entire group of badass Shield Maidens (remember Misty Knight hired more than the required amount) to take them down.

Cullen Bunn is the creative and talented writer. Superb dialogue and the interactions among the diverse characters are breathtaking. Fast paced but not hard to follow. I like how the names appear next to the heroes. That’s especially good for readers that are either new to comics, or for those who may have forgotten a name or two (tapping foot, looking around whistling). I can’t wait to see what Bunn has in store for us in future issues. RED SHE-HULK WAS CANCELED SO I HOPE TO SEE HER MAKE AT LEAST ONE APPEARANCE IN THIS TITLE. (yes I was a reader of that title)

Excellent artwork by Will Sliney (art) and Veronica Gandini (colors). There are several images, since the first issue, that I would love to have either the original art or a print. The characters are so realistic and I especially love the fight scenes, brutal punches and choke slams. The lighting on those panels is intensifying. And I LOVE the cover art by Mark Brooks. This comic ALWAYS has great artwork and covers. A good scripts needs good visuals. This title has not disappointed me yet.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

This is a great series and if you haven’t read it yet, then you need to start because I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Oz #1 Review

Zenescope Entertainment, ,

oz1

The warped-minded creators at Zenescope are at it again.  Oz is the fourth realm of power in the Grimm Universe, and a lot of havoc is about to be wreaked.  This new series is a twist on the beloved classic Wizard of Oz.  It’s Zenescope, so you know this series is going to be an action-adventure fantasy.  Dark fantasy of course.  But in case you don’t already know, they are known for taking classic tales and spinning them into horrific stories.  Dark, horror, mystic, and all the other creepy fun stuff.

The witches of Oz are on a hunt for a powerful weapon called the Veridian Scepter.  They are led to a farm in Kansas where they meet the heroine, Dorothy.  There is also auntie Em and Uncle Henry.  And what would the story be like without Toto?  Just don’t expect a cute little dog.

Joe Brusha is the writer.  He combined elements of the original story with elements of the Grimm Universe to create one high quality dark adventure.   Great characterizations and well paced.

The art team includes Rolando Di Sessa (pencils), Glauber Matos (inks) and Grostieta (colors).  Great visual storytellers.  I love the beautiful cover art, and of course it has the signature trademark of a scantily clad female.  I also like the modern-day witches in the story.  Pretty.  Not the traditional green witches with long pointed noses and fingers.

I am already hooked and definitely plan to continue reading the series.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend this title.

Superior Foes of Spider-Man #1 Review

Marvel Comics, ,

superiorfoes1

I am a loyal reader of Superior Spider-Man and a fan of Nick Spencer, so there was no doubt that I would scoop up this debut issue at the comic shop.

Boomerang, Shocker, Speed Demon, Beetle and Overdrive. They are the members of the new Sinister Six. Yes you counted correctly. There are FIVE of them. Neither of them is the sharpest tack in the box. And Shocker and Speed Demon are dumber than a box of rocks. Boomerang is the leader and he’s a downright liar and cheat.

The new Sinister Six is a gang of villains. Street thugs. And they all have one thing in common, THEY ALL HATE SPIDER-MAN. I am more than certain that Spider-Man will be kicking their butts everyday, because if they’re already getting on my nerves, then I know that Spidey will be more than irritated with that attitude of his (I sure hope by now everyone knows that Doc Ock is now Spider-Man).

Although the story is set-up well for a debut issue and the character interactions are funny, it does not suit my current personal taste. So far it’s an easy read and suitable for all ages.

Nick Spencer is the writer of this new Marvel NOW! title. I am used to his writing style on Morning Glories and I’ve read a few issues of Bedlam and his story arc in Thief of Thieves, so I was curious to see his style for this title. After reading Superior Foes of Spider-Man, I now know that Spencer is a talented writer regardless of genre. Well written dialogue, funny and easy to read. Well paced. I may read a few more issues to see where the series is headed. Knowing Spencer, it could only head in one direction, and that is up.

The creative art team consists of Steve Lieber (artist) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colors). My favorite panels are where Shocker was under a table grabbing money off the floor during the bar fight, and where Speed Demon took that puppy from the little girl! Great job team.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

Although this title does not suit my personal taste, I still recommend it. I especially recommend it if you are looking for a light and easy fun read, and/or if you are a fan of Superior Spider-Man.

Hoax Hunters Books 1 and 2 Review

Image Comics, , ,

hoaxhunter1 hoaxhunter2

If you’re a fan of television shows like X-Files, MythBusters and Ghost Hunters, then this is the perfect comic series for you.

Hoax Hunters is a reality television show that debunks stories and sightings of monsters, aliens and cryptids. But the show is actually a cover-up. The creatures are real and they’re either protected or eliminated by the hunters.

Members of the Hoax Hunters:

  • Jack – Leader. Former FBI agent.
  • Regan – Attractive female with mystical powers.
  • Ken Cadaver – Former NASA scientist. Created a re-animator that was used against him. Zombie-like with psychic powers.
  • Murder – A spacesuit filled with crows! That’s right, there is no human in that spacesuit.

I didn’t know too much about this title, published by Image Comics, until I met Michael Moreci and Steve Seeley during my visit to Motor City Comic Con back in May. They are the creative writers of this dark, sci-fi, mystical, scary and fun series. Not only were Moreci and Seeley very friendly, but they also took their time explaining the series to me. Since I am a fan of dark, horror, sci-fi, monsters, aliens, ghosts and all the other dark and creepy adjectives, I bought both trades.

Book One contains issues #0-#5 and Book Two contains issues #6-#9. The creative team is taking a break during the months of July and August, and issue #10 will be released in September.

I cannot wait until September to get my hands on the next issue. I was immediately hooked after reading both trades. The monsters, gnomes, and the possessed girl in the haunted house are all real. But there is an underlying mystery, as well. Jack is left in the dark about his father, who was not only a Hoax Hunter, but his whereabouts are unknown to Jack.

I have never read such believable fiction until I read Hoax Hunters. I’m starting to believe that cryptids do exist. Okay I’ll confess, I’ve ALWAYS believed that Sasquatch (Bigfoot) existed. And the Abominable Snowman. Does that make me an honorary Hoax Hunter? But this is why I am enjoying the series. Debunking myths and legends in front of the camera, while secretly dealing with them in reality.

The main characters are compelling, yet complex. Jack is the tough guy with the muscles. Regan is probably the most powerful. Ken is quiet, mysterious and haunted by his past. Murder can’t talk but somehow his teammates know what he’s saying. Their interactions with him are funny, except when he’s alerting them of danger.

By the way, be careful when you’re around Donovan, the show’s producer. He’s not one to be trusted.

JM Ringuet, Axel Medellin, Emilio Laiso, Brent Schoonover, Charo Solis, and Rosario Costanzo are the creative artists on these stories. Excellent visual storytellers. I have no complaints in this area at all. The entire art team deserves a round of applause.

I found a couple of resources that keep readers up-to-date on the series:

This title is a creator owned series. Therefore, we as readers need to spread the word to buy single issues. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE TRADES TO BE RELEASED. The continuation of comics is dependent upon its sales of singles. This is not Batman, X-Men or some other big named title. There are no big gun names attached like Geoff Johns, Brian Michael Bendis or Dan Slott. Therefore, this title is harder to sell. It’s up to the readers to keep this series going. I buy singles AND trades because I only like to read my singles once. No fingerprints or smudges are allowed on my books.

I became an instant fan and loyal reader of Hoax Hunters and I plan to continue reading the series. I also plan to help market this title by talking to customers and staff at the comic shop and posting on the social media circuits.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

It should be more than obvious that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TITLE.

Morning Glories #27 Review

Image Comics, , ,

mornglories27

It has been a while since I blogged about Morning Glories, and A LOT has happened since then. For those of you that are new to this title, Morning Glory Academy is a prestigious boarding school. But this is no ordinary school. Morning Glory Academy (MGA) harbors dark and deadly secrets. There are unique and strict teaching methods at MGA such as deception, manipulation, torture and death. David, a ghost with three heads, lurks around the school and the staff don’t seem to notice. The students share the same birthday and their parents are instructed, I mean warned, to cease all communication with their child once they leave for the academy. Parents who don’t adhere to the warning suffer severe consequences.

This double-sized issue of season 2 is just as complex, confusing and bizarre as the issues in season 1, which is a good thing because that’s what this series is all about. The best part about it is that it’s double-sized, meaning double confusion. Morning Glories is a story that leaves you lost and confused because the mysteries surrounding the academy and the student body gets more complicated with every issue. We still don’t know who the Headmaster is. Exactly who is David and why aren’t the teachers afraid of him? What made rifle-toting Irina so trigger happy? And what in the world is that enormous funnel-shaped object spinning in the school’s basement?

There are a couple of new additions to the series beginning with season 2. At the end of every issue you will find a shortened study hall version. And there is a recap of where the story is so far. The characters in the recap are babies, and they are so cute (in my mommy voice)!

Nick Spencer is the creative writer of this dark and twisted story. Each character is complex, some harder to understand than others. Dialogue is strong and powerful, and the character interactions are breathtaking. Morning Glories is probably the most chilling story on the market right now.

Backing up this chilling dialogue with the visuals are Joe Eisma (art) and Alex Sollazzo (colors). The characters are lifelike from their facial expressions, to their body language. I love Sollazzo’s contrast of colors between the light and dark scenes. I can spot their artwork a mile away, without my glasses.

I am enjoying MORNING GLORIES. It is dark, supernatural, mystical, biblical references, confusing, mysterious, and all-around entertaining. I also like the tight-knit community that the creative team and fans of this comic has become. The creative team put a lot of work into this series, but that doesn’t stop them from interacting with their fans. They are not hard to find (especially if you’re on Twitter) and they respond to questions, comments and complaints (people actually complain, can you believe that? But it’s usually minor stuff like why the different covers and release dates).

Some of the ways Morning Glories fans are spoiled, by both the creative team and some of the fans themselves include:

  • Online fan chat the night an issue is released. Spencer and Eisma usually drop in. I dropped in for this issue and Spencer, Eisma And Sollazzo were there as well. Details on upcoming issues, including special guest artists, are sometimes announced before they’re made public.
  • Facebook fan page
  • Various covers (at times), each of them at cover price. This issue has 8 covers by various artists. Did I say they’re all at cover price?
  • Eisma always announce when he puts his original art up for sale. There are prints and information about commission sketches on the site as well.

Season 2 is a good jump-on point for those that are looking for a place to start in the series. I suggest picking up the trades from season 1 as well so you can feel and appreciate the full effect of the story.

One thing I want to stress is to NOT WAIT ON THE TRADES TO COME OUT. What does Batman, Superman and X-Men all have in common? You guessed it. They’re all big named titles with big names attached, and owned by the Big 2. Morning Glories is a creator-owned series and the continuation of these type of comics are dependent on us, its’ readers. In other words, buy the singles when they’re released. Don’t wait months for them to collect in a trade. There won’t be any trades if the singles aren’t selling. And this is one title I definitely would not want to get canceled. Therefore I am going to do all I can to help promote this series, which is published by Image. I buy the singles AND trades. Why both? Because I read singles only one time, unless it’s crucial that I go through the book again. I don’t like smudges, fingerprints, creases, bends and tears. NOTHING. I learned about this series at a con, and the first three trades were already released. I bought and read them all, then bought all the back issues. And I haven’t opened any of those back issues to this day. Well I may have opened the first issue to let Spencer sign it. Come on, I couldn’t help it. He and Eisma are so adorable! Besides I let them sign my trades. I haven’t met Sollazzo but I’m sure he’s just as nice and friendly.

By the way, the new additions I mentioned above, the shortened version of study hall and the recap will only appear in the singles, digital and print. NOT TRADES. Just thought I’d throw that in there to give you a little extra push to buy the single issues.

Don’t forget to head over to Multiversity for the MGA Study Hall. I usually type MGA Study Hall in the search box at the top of their site, and read the lecture notes. But beware, this is no easy session. These guys break the issue down, page by page. Panel by panel.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

If you don’t know my recommendation by now, then I suggest that you keep reading this post until you know. Wait, I’ll help you out. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TITLE.

Guardians of the Galaxy #3 Review

Marvel Comics, , , ,

guardgal3b

If anyone is looking for Iron Man, he is on the planet Spartax with the Guardians.  He took a vacation from Earth to venture out into the universe.  Earlier in the series the king of Spartax made a new galactic rule that no one is allowed on Earth.  Becoming suspicious of the king, who is also his father, Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord and the Guardians head towards Earth.  They run into Iron Man who has intercepted the war ship of the Badoon, terrorist aliens.  They defeated the Badoon but were arrested by the Spartax Royal Guard for violating the rule.

The Guardians have been sentenced to the living prison.  All of their weapons were confiscated, even Tony Stark’s armor.  Meanwhile the meeting of the Galactic Council became heated when the king of Spartax accused the Badoon of ordering the attack on Earth.  After the king left the meeting the Council expressed their concerns and suspicions of the king.

The Royal Guard thought they arrested ALL the Guardians.  Let’s see here.  There’s Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Drax the Destroyer, Iron Man.  That’s right they forgot GROOT!  That little twig sitting in a flower-pot was overlooked.  In case you don’t already know, Groot can regenerate from a twig.  I will just say that the Guardians were glad to see him.  After taking over the Spartax Battleship Star-Lord addressed the entire fleet of ships, warning them to be wary of his father, the king.

I am still enjoying this Marvel NOW! title.  And it’s not because I stare longer at the panels with Tony Stark and Star-Lord.  It is because the Guardians is a badass team.  Gamora, the green alien lady, is said to be the most dangerous woman in the universe.  There’s the raccoon that gets a kick out of shooting people.  Uh oh, did I just call Rocket a raccoon?  I hope he didn’t hear me.  Drax likes to smash things.  Things as in people.  And then there’s Groot.  I would run as soon as I see him.

Brian Michael Bendis is the writer.  Dialogue is sharp and witty.  The interactions among the Guardians is worthy of being envied.  It is obvious the group values loyalty and friendship, and they respect their leader, Star-Lord.

The art team consists of Steve McNiven, Sara Pichelli, John Dell and Justin Ponsor.  Lifelike characters, finely detailed.  Scary looking aliens.  Great visual storytellers.  I can’t name my favorite panels because that would be all of them.  I also like the cover.  Rocket Raccoon is definitely not one to be messed with.

I definitely plan to continue reading this series.  I said I didn’t like Gamora’s costume in my review of issue #1.  There was no need for the space suit in this story, so I’m curious as to what she will be wearing in future issues.  I like her attire in this issue, however.  Baring flesh, but still kicking butt.  I am also curious as to what the king of Spartax really has up his sleeve.

VERDICDT (drum roll please)

I highly recommend this title.