Tag Archives: Comixology

Scum of the Earth #1 and #2 Review

Action Lab Comics, , , , , , ,

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This sci-fi, crime filled comic book depicting a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde hooked me at the beginning of the story.  Action-packed from cover-to-cover, both issues left me feigning for more.

Scum of the Earth is an indie comic published by Action Lab:  Danger Zone, a line of creator owned comic books for mature readers, from Action Lab Entertainment.  And Scum of the Earth fits into this category perfectly.

Laura and True are a crazy and ruthless couple that travels the south, leaving every destination they visit in mass chaos and bloodbath.  The best part about it is that they’re always happy and smiling about it.  Here’s a few panels from one of my favorite scenes in issue 2.

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Laura and True will smile at you one minute, but the next minute you could be getting your brains blown out.  And don’t let Laura’s pretty face and smile fool you, she’s actually worse than True.

Laura and True are not alone on their joyride crime sprees.  There’s a gun-toting robot from space that’s hot on their trail.  The psychotic couple is so hardcore, that even the robot called them ruthless mother***ers.  Turns out the space robot is a bounty hunter, and his target is True.

Who is this robot, and why is he gunning down a pair of human psychotic murderers?  Or are they human at all?

This strange and brutal, but fun, series is written by Mark Bertolini.  Sharp, mature dialogue with great character interactions.  The relationship between Bonnie and Clyde, I mean Laura and True, is phenomenal.  Strong, mature language makes the nature of this title even more appealing.

I am a fan of mature titles, so Bertolini is a writer I definitely plan to keep my eyes on.

Rob Croonenborghs did a fantastic job with the gruesome art, and I’m going to keep my eyes on his work as well.

Indie comics are just as good as, some are even better than, mainstream comics.  It’s not always about the superheroes.  Sometimes we just need a good laugh in a totally different direction, and Scum of the Earth is one of those comic books that does just that.

You can purchase Scum of the Earth on Comixology.

The series is currently on issue 5, and I plan to read issues 3-5 once I get caught up with my current reading.

Verdict (drum roll please)

Crime, sci-fi, action/adventure, great story execution and visuals.  I highly recommend this fast paced title for mature readers.  I’m giving this title 5/5 stars.

Indie Comic Review: The Dead

The Dead Comics, , , , , ,

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The Dead, an indie horror comic, is definitely a book that can’t be judged by its title.  This comic is not about zombies, but what happens in the afterlife.

After his death, Sam Coleman enters the house, a mysterious and dangerous entity.  The house consists of an endless amount of doors, all leading to rooms filled with bizarre adventures.  The rooms are created by its residents, but Sam couldn’t create his room because he was chased away by a wave of wailing souls.

Here’s a look at the first two pages of the The Dead, the beginning of Sam’s never-ending adventures.

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The rooms can be as frightening as a monster hiding under a bed, or as fun as a child’s birthday party.

The Dead is a supernatural, horror comic filled with bizarre twists and creepiness.  It’s weird, mysterious, frightening, and fun.

One of my favorite characters is Alex, a good guy that never wears a shirt (and that is perfectly alright with me).  There are words displayed all over his body, and it didn’t take long for me to notice that the words on his body constantly change.

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Another one of my favorite characters is Velouria, a hatchet-carrying house wanderer.  And she’s a badass.

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One of the most dangerous beings to stay away from is the wretched.  The wretched looks like a decomposed human, and it nestles inside of a room.  The room eventually turns into nasty, rotten who-knows-what, and the wretched will attack you before you realize it.

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Another danger in the house is the frail.  The frail floats around, and looks like an angel.  Appearing calm and innocent, the frail turns the complete opposite once you get close enough to it.

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The house is so mysterious, that no one really knows much about it, except that it holds hidden dangers, secrets, and that there’s no way out.

James Maddox is the writer of this adventure-filled, adrenalin rushing, indie comic.  Dialogue is intense and complex, and it’s not hard to follow once you get a grasp of what’s going on in the story.  Superb character interactions.  Original characters are a huge selling point, and Velouria and Alex are two perfect examples of originality.

The outstanding visuals are provided by Jen Hickman.  I shouldn’t have to type much about her awesome work, because the pages I included above should all speak for themselves.  Text is not really needed to know what’s going on in the story.  Hickman did a wonderful job on this title.

I really enjoyed this comic, and I look forward to reading more from Maddox and Hickman in the future.  You can purchase the dead on Comixology.  You can also visit the comic’s website at www.thedeadcomic.net.

Verdict (drum roll please)

Horror, supernatural, bizarre, twisted, strange, deceit, and magnificent.  This title gets 5/5 stars.