Tag Archives: comics to read

Hoax Hunters #13 Review

Image Comics, , ,

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While a review copy of Hoax Hunters #13 quenched my thirst, I can’t wait until its release date of January 8, 2013.  Holding a print copy in my hands will provide instant gratification, especially with Christian Dibari (artist) and Mike Spicer (colorist) providing the visuals.

The season finale is here, and will leave you in a WTF moment.  And the ending is more dark and twisted than all the issues combined.

While fighting the demon, in an effort to secure the Book of All Futures, Regan makes the shocking discovery that she’s more powerful than she realizes.  Fearing that Regan’s connection to the book will be discovered, Donovan warns her that they must flee to safety.

Meanwhile, the moment we’ve been waiting for is here.  Or is it?  Up until now, Jack Lawson, the handsome team leader, has been a loyal member of the Hoax Hunters.  But throughout the series, he’s been harboring his own hidden agenda on the sly.  Jack has been searching for his father, who went missing years before.  Earlier in the series, Jack was supposed to have given Donovan a multiverse device.  But he gave Donovan a replica of the device instead.  He kept the original to aid in the search for his father.  Getting into a heated argument with his dad’s business partner, Borges, only escalated the situation.  But this time, Jack has gone way too far.

Once again, Moreci and Seeley produced another dark and twisted horror story.  Hoax Hunters is definitely one of the best horror comics on the market.  Myths are explored with sharp dialogue and great character interactions.  Regan is so powerful, it’s scary.  Although I don’t fully trust Donovan, he does appear to have some good in him.  Jack appears to have gone stone crazy, and Murder is, well Murder.  You can’t read an issue of Hoax Hunters and not mention Murder, the crow filled spacesuit.

Dibari and Spicer are to blame for the eye-popping visuals, especially the chupacabras.  I also like when Donovan changes from a fine-looking young man into a demonic beast.

Without giving any spoilers, I’m posting a couple of pages so you can get a taste of both dialogue and art.  So if you’re looking for spoilers, sorry but you’re reading the wrong blog.

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Now that Season 1 of Hoax Hunters is finished, the creative team is taking a break before Season 2.  If you want to read the first season in its entirety, then don’t pay outrageous prices on eBay.  Buy the trades or read them here.

If you’re a fan of horror, mythology, Mythbusters and X-Files, then Hoax Hunters, published by Image Comics, is a title you definitely should be reading.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I give this issue 5/5 stars.

Nova #11 Review

Marvel Comics, , , ,

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If you haven’t already started reading Nova, now is the perfect time, but you will need to grab issue #10, the start of a new arc and writer.

Nova #11 is Gerry Duggan’s first full solo issue, after he debuted last issue with a back-up story.  I stopped reading Nova after the first arc, but upon learning that Duggan was taking over as writer, I made it a requirement to at least read the first story arc.  Duggan is the writer of one of my favorite Marvel titles, Deadpool.  Since Deadpool is nowhere near suitable for kids, I was curious as to how Duggan would handle Sam Alexander, a typical teenager with a powerful helmet.  Duggan is just as humorous on this title, as he is with Deadpool.

Sam Alexander is still that mouthy, full-of-attitude, impulsive teenager.  A mirror image of my tween son.

In the last issue, Sam appeared to have been going blind.  But in the current issue, Sam figures out what is really going on.  I must admit that it’s the perfect twist to begin a storyline.

Great artwork by Paco Medina (pencils), Juan Vlasco (inks), and David Curiel (colors).  Great facial expressions, and Sam’s little sister is a cutie pie.  I have no complaints at all in this area.

Nova #10 is the perfect jump-on point for new comic readers, or for those looking for a fun comic to read that’s suitable for all ages.  I plan to read this Marvel title, at least through the first story arc.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

If you’re a Nova fan, looking for new comics to read or a jump-on point, then I highly recommend this all-ages title.

Rover Red Charlie #1 Review

Avatar Press, , , ,

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A zombie plague has consumed New York City.  The city is literally burning to the ground, and the feeders (humans) are either killing each other or committing suicide.  Rover Red Charlie is a new mini series by Avatar Press.  This heartfelt tale follows three dogs, Rover, Red and Charlie, as they struggle to survive what appears to be the end of the world.

Garth Ennis is the writer of this captivating series.  Rover Red Charlie is not your average comic.  The story is written from the canines’ points of view, and it’s about survival, friendship and loyalty among three different breeds.  Strong, emotional dialogue that will nearly tempt you to jump inside the comic, and rescue all three canines.  I especially like Charlie, a service dog with strong leadership skills, and the feeder that sacrificed his life for Charlie was heartbreaking.

Michael Dipascale provided the outstanding artwork.  The feeders have detailed facial expressions, but it’s the canines that truly stands out among everything else.  They are all realistic looking and perfectly drawn.

Knowing that I’m always looking for new comics to read, and that I have a comic blog, one of the owners at the comic shop recommended Rover Red Charlie.  I quickly said, “Oh no” when I saw that Avatar Press was the publisher.  When I saw Ennis’ name on the cover, I said, “Oh heck no.  No thank you.”  That’s because whenever I see either name, I immediately associate them with Crossed.  I know that Avatar Press publishes comics that are beyond bizarre, so I didn’t want anything to do with Rover Red Charlie.  Later that day I realized my comic blog is about my honest reviews.  I like to read comics and share my opinions for those looking for new comics to read, or for readers who are looking for a jump-on point.  There’s a comic to suit everyone’s tastes, so for me to not read and share Rover Red Charlie would be discriminating.  I called the comic shop, asked to have the book placed into my box, and purchased it the next day.

I believe that Crossed is the only story that I’ve ever read by Ennis.  I was amazed with his writing in this book, and have decided to read more of his work.  I searched and learned that he’s written comics about a couple of characters I really like, so I’ll be Ebaying and Amazoning it pretty soon to find the books.

Although I was hooked by its debut issue, this title doesn’t fit my current personal taste.  But that doesn’t mean I won’t recommend other readers to give it a try.  It’s definitely worth reading.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this mini series, especially to readers that are dog lovers, and/or zombie fans.

This Bites

Not So Super Comics, , ,

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Jasper is just your average Joe Blow, who works at a record shop. But it doesn’t take long for him to undergo a disastrous life-changing experience. While at the supermarket, Jasper sensed that he was being watched. Instead of following his instincts and running, he continued going about his business. Well, not following his instincts caused him to get bitten by a vampire.

When Jasper went into work, his friend noticed he wasn’t looking too well. Jasper eventually confessed that he thought he’d been bitten by a vampire, and the poor guy freaked out. Fearing he would become Jasper’s next meal, he dismissed Jasper as his friend.

Jasper is determined to not turn into a vampire, because he’s a vegan! That’s right, Jasper is a vegan. All alone, Jasper turns to the only trustworthy person he knows, his grandmother! She’s feisty, aggressive, and is determined to help Jasper find a cure.

This Bites is a vampire comedy by Not So Super Comics. This indie comic is funny and will leave you looking forward to the next issue. We need to support our independent comics, just as much as we support the Big 2. Everyone can’t work for high-profile publishers, so we as readers need to support our indie comic creators. I read a variety of comics, indies included. Therefore I will continue to read, blog, purchase and whatever else I can do to help spread the word about indie titles. In addition, it’s good to take a break from mainstream comics, and read something other than superhero vs. super villain.

Jacques Nyemb is the writer of this hilarious script. This is the second comic I’ve read by Nyemb, and what I like about his writing style is that he gets straight to the point. His scripts are not too wordy, and they are very easy-to-follow. This fun comic will have you laughing from the 80’s style vampire to Jasper’s feisty grandmother.

Speaking of character styles and personalities, the story was brought to life by David Degrand. Great facial expressions, flawless flowing panels. Excellent visual storyteller.

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This Bites doesn’t fit my current personal taste, but that does not mean I’m not going to recommend it to those looking for new comics to read, or readers looking for a nontraditional vampire story.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

I recommend this title, especially for readers who are looking for a fresh take on vampire stories, comedy style.

The Fearless Defenders #12: Final Issue

Marvel Comics, My Rants and Tantrums, , , , , , ,

feardef12

Today I protested Marvel Comics by purchasing only 1 of their titles, THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS #12. There were 8 comic books on my family’s list for today, and 6 of those books were Marvel titles. They will just have to wait until next week. I faithfully read Superior Spider-Man bi-monthly, but not today. Guardians of the Galaxy. Nope. Deadpool. Sorry D-Piddy. While it’s great that Misty Knight is in Daredevil: Dark Knights, this week is all about The Fearless Defenders. So that title is not coming into my home this week either. I didn’t even purchase Amazing X-Men for my husband (don’t worry, he fully supports my protest). The only title I’m reading by the slasher of comics this week is The Fearless Defenders. Imagine the impact if more readers stood up and did the same for their favorite comics that are getting axed.

The heavy stream of tears from my eyes have finally reduced to a trickle. I was fine reading the book until the last page of the story. That’s when the tears began to fall. And reading the final thoughts by the creators made it even worse. Ellie Pyle gave a rundown on projects that Cullen Bunn and the rest of the team will be working on. But…they’re all working on separate projects across the universe.

DISCLAIMER: My blog consists of my HONEST reviews and HONEST thoughts and tantrums. Everything I type is my own voice, as I am influenced by no one.

Right now my tongue is on fire. It’s more explosive than all the TNT that Wile E. Coyote used during the entire run of Roadrunner.

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In case you’re wondering, yes I am in sista mode. Remember it’s sista, and not sister. Misty Knight’s mouth ain’t got nothing on mine right now.

Marvel seems to enjoy playing with the emotions of its’ readers. They will cancel a title, only to re-launch it with a new creative team. I don’t know why they won’t start the new team on the new arc. They know damn well there are some serious comic collectors that does not need their numbering to be played with. I should know, my husband has been collecting for many years. And what about new titles? Books that don’t even get the chance to celebrate a one year anniversary, such as The Fearless Defenders?

But in all honesty (which is what my blog is all about), Marvel did not cancel The Fearless Defenders. It was the readers. We canceled this title. Sure Marvel is the puppet master, but we loosened the strings by not spreading the word about the book.

I wrote a blog post a few days ago about my random thoughts. I mentioned how readers need to support their favorite books and creative teams. Creators always tell readers to talk to others about the books, and why we like them. A few simple ways to get the word out are:

  • Talk about your favorite book(s) at your local comic shop. Tell why you like it. Is it the writing, art or both? Talk to the owners AND customers.
  • Get on your blog, website, or visit a comic forum and post a thread or comment on someone else’s.
  • Social media sites. I’m on Facebook and Twitter, but I know there’s a lot of other sites out there. Post a few words about the books you’re reading. Mention the writer and artist.
  • Instead of wasting keystrokes begging for re-tweets and follows on Twitter, post what comics you’re reading and what you like about it. Tweet multiple posts if you run out of space (I’m a talker so I had to learn how to condense my tweets to 140 characters).
  • Use hashtags. I haven’t been on Twitter that long, but I am learning how to use them. Before you know it, your favorite titles will be trending.

We need to drown the internet by marketing our favorite books, to keep them in publication. Cullen Bunn, Will Sliney, Mark Brooks, and Veronica Gandini gave it their all. We know this because it shows in their writing, art and the colors.  And yes, always mention the colorists. Who do you think bring the pencils and inks to life? It’s definitely not me. I would place last in a stick figure drawing contest, and I started back coloring outside the lines as soon as I graduated from kindergarten.  So there is no way I could do Gandini’s job.

I also mentioned in my random thoughts post that we need to put our favorite creators on a pedestal, especially those on low-profile titles. Spider-Man and X-Men are high-profile titles. They don’t need anything but everyone to step back, and take a moment to realize that there’s other books out there besides those two.

I follow a lot of people on Twitter in the comic industry. These people open up their lives to not just their family and friends, but to their fans. We know all about their families, pets, and what they eat at each meal. We know when their loved ones are ill, and when they recover. And they’re constantly posting pictures. This is a chance to establish creator/reader relationships. If they share their lives on social media sites, then we can tell them how much we appreciate them and their work. This provides encouragement and a motivation boost.

I was hyped about The Fearless Defenders from the beginning. Besides the characters, I was familiar with Bunn’s writing from Deadpool Kills. And that’s another thing. If you like a certain book, follow the creative team. You just might like their other work. When I learned about this title, I had the comic shop PRE-ORDER my copies.

Instead of complaining about the artist of a certain minority-led book, and gossiping about some eight year-old bullshit about who tried to get with who, put all that damn energy into trying to keep your favorite comic books far away from the chopping block.

I will definitely miss this awesome series, and I hope to see many, if not all, the characters in other titles. If you haven’t had the chance to read the adventures of this kick ass non-team, you can read all the issues here.

Since Marvel loves to stop and re-launch titles with different creative teams, maybe this title will get re-launched but with a twist. The twist would be that the creative team would remain unchanged.