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Friday, March 21, 2014

Comic Reviews 3/21/14


REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: AVENGERS UNDERCOVER
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Descent
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Kev Walker
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Francesco Mattina
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




If you were a fan of AVENGERS ARENA you will want to get this comic. In that
series Arcade kidnapped 16 super-powered teens from around the world and trapped
them in an underground arena for a month. The idea was to force them to fight in
a death match until only one was left standing. That didn't really work out as
he planned it though indeed some of the teens met their death in the ordeal. A
group of the teens that survived promised each other that they would not reveal
to the public what went on in Murder World but Arcade had other plans. He
disappeared when the teens were liberated and three months later began streaming
videos on the internet of the battles that went on. Now a group of the survivors
have to deal with the events they endured being exposed. So far 2.5 billion
people have viewed the videos on YouTube. This title begins with the various
teens coping with the publicity and the aftermath in their own way. The opening
scene shows Hazmat, no longer needing to wear a protective suit, dealing with a
particularly obnoxious boy mouthing off about how she was the worst one of the
group in the videos. She has tried to blend in as a normal teen for the first
time in her life but he pushes her too far when she overhears the trash talk.
The whole conversation among the other teens begins with a conversation about
Chase who has decided to cash in on the unexpected celebrity status by giving
interviews on TV, against the pact they had formed. This first issue deals with
Hazmat, Chase, Nico, Deathlocket, Cammi, Anachronism and Bloodstone as they come
together eventually for a common cause. Deathlocket has been at a S.H.I.E.L.D.
base getting an arm replacement but it seems her nanites have taken control and
turned it into a weapon. Cammi has been with her mom in Anchorage, Alaska for
the first time in two years. Her mother thought her dead all that time but the
revelation she was alive brought her hope that her daughter would come home and
live with her. Cammi has other plans right now. The farthest gone of the group
is Bloodstone. He is on a vendetta against Arcade seeking out his known
addresses and blowing them up, hoping to eventually get the evil mastermind.
Aiden, Anachronism, is his friend and has summoned the rest to Bloodstone's
house to reveal to them what he has been up to. His last transmission was the
supposed home of Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil. Aiden fears the worst and wants
the others to help him find Bloodstone. This series follows logically from the
events in AVENGERS ARENA. Each one of the characters have been coping with
various stages of PTSD and more than one want revenge on Arcade. But they will
all come together to help their own and so the main plot begins. This is a
different kind of super hero story and is multi-layered as was the previous
series. There is good characterization and the art is fantastic. You do not have
to worry about jumping on at this point. The cover hints that one of these teens
will become a villain, adding another plot element to ponder. They are really
not Avengers but that never stopped Marvel from using the title to generate
interest. It is definitely worth a try.

Title: CAPTAIN MARVEL
Issue Number: 1
Title Arc: Higher, Further, Faster, More.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: David Lopez
Colors: Lee Loughridge
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





When this series was restarted the last time I gave it a try but was not that
enthused with the direction it was going. Now Marvel has given Captain Marvel a
new first issue and I decided to see what warranted the change. Some of the
supporting characters and plot are new to me jumping on at this point but that
is not a problem in following the story. It begins with Carol leading a team of
adventurers on a far off planet. They are seeking out something at a market on
this planet and are also being hunted by the Spartax Secret Police. It seems at
first that we have joined the story in mid-plot but after the splash we go back
six weeks to see how it all began. Carol is actually living in a secret home in
the crown of the Statue of Liberty. As we look in on her she is baby-sitting the
daughter of her friend Tracy. She is also in a relationship with James Rhodes,
aka War Machine. They have just intercepted a capsule plummeting to Earth and to
their surprise there is an alien female in it. Later Iron Man comes to see Carol
to update on the girl's status and reveal he has a plan to keep an Avengers
presence in outer space. The first task would be to find out where the rest of
this particular species have settled after the destruction of their planet by
the Builders. This is a not so subtle attempt to get Carol to take on the first
shift, recognizing that she needs a little time away from Earth. Before she can
accept she will have to have a heart-to-heart with Rhodey about their
relationship, where it is at and where it is heading. I found this story
refreshing and enjoyable. The supporting cast is varied and the element of the
love interest is handled well. But it seems she will be leaving all that behind
for the time being as evidenced by the opening scene so far away. There is not
much revealed in the outer space plot yet, but that will follow rapidly. The
Captain Marvel character has a pleasant personality and Kelly Sue inserts a
little humor in just the right places. The art is top notch as well. For a first
issue it hits all the right buttons. I suggest it is worth your time.

Title: MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Cory Smith
Colors: Mauricio Wallace
Letters: Marshall Dillon
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction - Super Hero







Dynamite is bringing back the Gold Key characters it has the rights to with a
new debut each month. Last month was the TUROK series and this month it is
MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER. In the next two months they will issue SOLAR MAN OF THE
ATOM and DOCTOR SPEKTOR. Rather than do new stories of the characters as they
have been depicted in the past they are retooling them as all new series. I was
not that impressed with TUROK but I still am curious about the rest and so
picked up this title to check it out. Russell Magnus is a social studies teacher
and martial arts coach in the elementary school in a small town somewhere in the
Northwest. He has a wife who is expecting their child. He loves his life here
but has doubts about his place in the world - as if no one else is aware of life
outside this happy town. The other thing we notice is that there are an
abundance of robots around, to aid in all kinds of tasks. The common thread
seems to be the AI that is ever present on video screens who acts as town
administrator and a personal mentor to Magnus. This is the new version of 1A,
rather than the old versions that always depicted him as a robot. This idyllic
life will suddenly come to a halt as the town is attacked by Pol-Progs
announcing that 1A has violated the Third Code of Humanities. We infer that this
indeed was a hidden civilization but the authorities of the North Am Synod have
finally discovered it. Before we can witness what fate awaits 1A and Magnus'
wife Moira the scene shifts as Magnus is transported, teleported perhaps, to a
cell of sorts in a large city. 1A's parting words are that robots and humans can
live together in harmony, as they did in Maury's Peak, but Magnus will have to
fight for it, once he saves himself. This is the set up for the series in the
first half of the book. The second half has our hero in more familiar garb
wandering the city trying to decide what to do next while taking in the wonders
of a metropolis far advanced in technology than what he is accustomed to. He is
a wanted man here, not just another citizen as in past series. And wait until
you get a look at the current version of Leeja! This one starts off a lot better
than TUROK in my opinion. Though it is retooled quite a bit it is still setting
the groundwork for why Magnus is indeed a robot hunter. It will be interesting
to see where things go from here. A strong contributor to the overall story is
the art. The opening scenes in Maury's Peak are purposely colored in two tone.
It is only the story as it takes place in the North Am city that is fully
colored. Looking back it gives me the feeling that we have not seen the full
truth about the quiet little town. Perhaps it was all a sham to begin with. It
is an interesting start and a much better handling of the character who has been
around for a long time. I am curious to see where it goes from here.

Title: MONSTER & MADMAN
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Damien Worm
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
Mature - Comics on the Edge


The subtitle of this comic is "The Secret History of Jack the Ripper and
Frankenstein's Monster" so you know right up front who the main players will be.
In fact Jack does not appear in the first issue until the very last panel. This
issue focuses on Frankenstein's monster. It tells of his fate after the death of
his wife and his creator. He should have died too at the end but he didn't. So
he wandered in the frozen north seeking his purpose or place in the world. A
series of events guide him on his path. First as he neared civilization he
happened on a Russian sailor who attacked him and forfeited his life and his
jacket for the effort. The monster happened on the Norwegian ship waiting for
the Russian and was taken on as laborer by its captain. Once the ship was loaded
the monster spent his time below deck and it was not until they made port that
the captain revealed his ultimate plan for the monster's services. The captain
had surmised that the monster had killed the Russian and coerced it to get rid
of a man in this port that owed the captain money. It is this act and the
aftermath that will eventually set the monster out on his own once again and
eventually have a fateful meeting with Jack the Ripper. I am thinking the plot
will get a bit more interesting in the next issue. This first issue is mostly
the set up for the series so we can understand the state of mind of
Frankenstein's monster. We are left to ponder what kind of relationship it will
have with a killer. Will Jack sympathize with him or maybe try to use him as
well?  We don't know at this point. The art is painted and is very dark. It is
meant to set a mood but I think gives up some clarity in the process. Still it
is an interesting concept that could be growing into a better story. It will
take more issues to see if that happens.

Title: NOSFERATU WARS
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Originally published in DARK HORSE PRESENTS #26-#29
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Menton3
Letters: Nate Piekos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge






I am a regular reader of DARK HORSE PRESENTS. It is a decent anthology that has
more good material than bad month after month. I find that some of the
serialized stories read better once they are collected and this is the case with
NOSFERATU WARS. Like MONSTER & MADMAN this is another Steve Niles horror story
with fully painted art, this time by Menton3, an usual name for an artist.
He/she/it (I can't be sure) does a better job with giving the story the right
mood without sacrificing the right amount of detail. This is a story of a pair
of vampires and takes place during the time of the Black Death in Europe. With
so many focused on the plague and the feared supernatural causes of that they
have had free reign to feed without detection. However, this story is about how
these female and male vampires made a couple of decisions on a whim that will
seriously impact their status quo. The first occurs when they seek directions
from a doctor they meet about a castle where they hope to find their next
victims. As they leave the local priest has the doctor seized and burned at the
stake for consorting with demons. Still focused on their mission it is only the
screams of the burning doctor that makes Moira plead to Tarquin that they pay a
visit to the hypocritical clergyman. This will draw the attention of other
vampires who do not want to raise the visibility of their kind in this way.
Later at the castle they carry out their plan but this time it is Tarquin who
alters their course on a whim, that will delay their departure just enough to
forever change their destiny. At first you think this is the gist of the story,
that putting their bloodlust aside for moralistic or romantic notions will be
their ultimate undoing. However, the last few pages prove that Niles had yet
another much unexpected fate in mind. Seriously, there is no way you can guess
how this story will end even if you think you have read every possible vampire
story. This is one of Niles better stories that does indeed read better as a
collected one-shot. He even leaves enough at the end to possibly return to these
characters again. This one is worth it for fans of the genre.

Title: BEASTS OF BURDEN: HUNTERS & GATHERERS
Issue Number: 1-SHOT
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Evan Dorkin
Artist: Jill Thompson
Letters: Jason Arthur
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Fantasy
Mature - Comics on the Edge






I was unaware that there are other stories of these characters prior to this
one-shot. After reading this issue I am tempted to seek out BEASTS OF BURDEN:
ANIMAL RITES the graphic novel that precedes this issue. It is set in the sleepy
town of Burden Hill that harbors dark and sinister secrets. The heroes are a
bunch of dogs and one cat who are dedicated to protecting the town from the
forces of evil. The story is told from the animal's perspective who all
communicate with each other as if human, like the terrific comic currently out
ROVER RED CHARLIE. After some introductory exposition we get right into the main
plot. The gang has gotten wind of a creature of some sort terrorizing the area
and set up a plan to trap it. It involves one of them acting as bait to get the
creature to show itself. Rex is the one who acts as the lure and when the
creature attacks he leads it on a predetermined path through the woods. As the
chase continues others take over for him, each one taking their turn so no one
tires too much until they spring the trap. It turns out that this particular
beast is known as a Windslither, a semi-spectral demon not seen in this area
before. It presence will actually aid the rats and crows who are allied together
under someone call The Master we have yet to see. While the heroes spread the
word that the town is free from this particular threat there is danger on the
horizon, presumably coming in a future chapter of the story. This comic has
everything it needs to be very entertaining. The impeccable artwork of Jill
Thompson is a pleasure to see. The story has likable characters set in a story
that has adventure, mystery, horror and humor on every page. Seek it out on the
racks. You won't be disappointed.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
Here is one about a character that recently made his debut in NEW 52. The
question is in what comic did Alexander Luthor ORIGINALLY make his first
appearance?

Alexander made his NEW 52 debut in FOREVER EVIL #6 but the character, the son of
Lex Luthor, made his first appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS ANNUAL #1 in 1982.
The winner by the dice is Jim Woodruff.


THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
John Jakes is a western and Civil War novels writer. Michael Moorcock is a
fantasy writer. James Cawthorn is a comic book artist. What comic book character
do they have in common?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Comic Reviews 3/14/14


REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: STARLIGHT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Creators: Mark Millar & Gordon Parlov
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Gordon Parlov
Colors: Ive Svorcina
Letters: Marko Sunjic
Cover Artist: John Cassaday/Gordon Parlov
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature – Comics on the Edge


If you saw some of the promotional material for this comic you might conclude it
was going to be a clone of Flash Gordon, and parts of it are. It is the story of
a former space hero, Duke McQueen, now approaching his senior years. His wife of
38 years passed away a year ago and he is still adjusting. His two boys are
grown with kids of their own. They had some concern about him at the funeral but
went off to live their own lives. A year later, as we tune in the story, Duke is
planning a dinner for his family on the anniversary of Joanne’s death. Through
the process we learn of his prior adventures both in flashbacks and in framed
newspaper clippings on his wall. He was a career test pilot that disappeared one
day, whisked away to an alien world where he became the hero of that far off
planet by taking down its ruthless dictator freeing the people. While we don’t
see all the details he is loved by all so much so that they urge them to stay
and marry the queen. But his heart is back on Earth and so he returned with a
fabulous tale that no one believed. He was ridiculed by the press and it cost
him his career. Now with Joanne gone he has only memories to live with. But that
is about to change as we see in the final scene. He has visitors in need of his
services. This first episode is more a tale of the man nearing his retirement
years remembering the good times and suffering the loss of family in more ways
than one. Clearly he made a difference in his youth, though those that
recognized it are a galaxy away. Like anyone else his age he ponders what the
future could possibly hold for him. The story going forward will answer that
question. So it is not just a space epic in the likes of Flash Gordon but more a
tale of the human spirit. The art is spectacular and evokes memories of styles
seen in Heavy Metal and the like. The colors are brilliant and really set off
the pencil and ink. This promises to be a deeper story based on the
characterization so far. I am confident Millar has a lot in store for us and I
plan to see what that is.

Title: MOON KNIGHT
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: Slasher
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Declan Shalvey
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





The best way to describe Moon Knight is in the introductory text of this latest
series. “Mercenary Marc Spector died in Egypt, under a statue of the ancient
deity Khonshu. He returned to life in the shadow of the moon god, and wore his
aspect to fight crime for his own redemption. He went completely insane, and
disappeared. This is what happened next.” That is about all you need to know to
get into the character. He has some similarity to Batman. He is very rich and
fights crime by night in a costume and has all kinds of high tech gadgets but no
special powers. The contrast is that the money was gained through past nefarious
deeds so he uses it to counter the sins of the past. He also wears white instead
of black. One of the best lines of the comic is when asked why he wears white
because the bad guys will see him coming his response is, “That’s the part I
like.” So instead of a cape and cowl arrangement now he wears a white suit and
tie with an all-white face mask emblazoned with the crescent moon on his
forehead. He also has the cooperation of a special police task force headed up
by Detective Flint. They are assigned to the freaky cases. While Flint
recognizes that Moon Knight is a vigilante he knows he can trust him to get
results. He informs new members of the squad at the most recent crime scene that
“Mr. Knight” is a concerned citizen and his officers will only refer to him as
such. There are standing orders to apprehend Moon Knight but this Mr. Knight is
here to help. Oh, and the other thing is the insane part. Part of the result of
his resurrection in Egypt was that he took on different aspects of Khonshu. Now
he has four different personalities, something called Dissociative Identity
Disorder. But as we see in flash back to a doctor who examined him it is not
just a simple brain disorder. She believes he is indeed inhabited by an ancient
consciousness and his brain is struggling to explain it to Marc, sometimes with
hallucinations. He is indeed an interesting character and trust Warren Ellis to
explore it in well-thought-out fashion. I understand this series will be a
series of done-in-one stories, which is always appealing to me. This first issue
deals with a slasher dwelling in the underground of New York. Ellis leads us
through Marc’s though process that leads him to the killer and how he
systematically wins the fight. This first issue does not rely heavily on action.
It is more like a TV procedural that leads up to a brilliant climax with a lot
of characterization along the way. Coloring is the key to the visuals in this
comic and Bellaire does a great job showing the stark contrast of the man in
white against the dark surroundings of the city at night. This comic is flying
off the racks and more copies are arriving as I type. This one looks like a hit
and I urge you to give it a try.

Title: FOREVER EVIL
Issue Number: 6 (of 7)
Title Story: The Power of MAZAHS!
Publisher: DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: David Finch
Inker: Richard Friend
Colors: Sonia Oback
Letters: Rob Leigh
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




This is the penultimate (love that word) issue of the series that is reshaping
the future of the major super teams in the NEW 52 Universe. The bad guys crossed
over from Earth 3, sort of an opposite world to our Earth, and have defeated the
Justice League while recruiting most of the Earth bad guys to do their bidding.
While we wait to see the fate of the main teams in their respective books this
title has gone forward with the odd teaming of Batman, one of the few JLA
members not captured, with Lex Luthor and a team of mostly bad guys. They
include Deathstroke, Manta, Captain Cold, Black Adam, Sinestro, Catwoman and the
Bizzaro recently created by Luthor. They are closing in on the crashed JLA
satellite near Happy Harbor, RI. Sinestro’s ring detects that most of the Crime
Syndicate’s other-world auras are somewhere in Maine but there are two
signatures inside the satellite. Catwoman observes from what they know there is
one more Earth-3 person than they knew about. Indeed, if you have been reading
this story you know that the Crime Syndicate have a prisoner whose identity has
been hidden from us. He is inside with The Outsider – the Earth 3 Alfred along
with their analog of Cyborg – the machine controlling all the tech in the world
- Grid. Nightwing is also inside. Several things are all coming together at
once. The rest of the Crime Syndicate fear the appearance of a crack in the sky
and need Deathstorm to absorb enough energy to seal it before their “Destructor”
can break through. One of their members, Power Ring, was killed and his power
ring is seeking a new host. Meanwhile Nightwing was meant to be held safe by
Grid but Alfred has learned that Grid went way beyond his directive and rigged
him up to a device meant to hold Doomsday within the JLA satellite. Basically it
is rigged to seal the room and then explode if any attempt is made to free
Grayson. The only way to stop the device is to stop Dick’s heart. It is a hard
choice for the group in the room. Elsewhere Sinestro, Deathstroke and Black Adam
are alerted to the impending arrival of the rest of the Syndicate. And Alfred,
realizing that the secret prisoner is the most dangerous threat if he is
released betrays Owlman’s former orders to protect Nightwing and has gone to
take care of the prisoner. Each of these situations bring about a lot of
conflict and casualties. While we are left hanging on one major development for
the moment it is clear by the end why the Syndicate had feared their secret
prisoner. The secret is in the story title if you can figure it out. Johns has
really built up a great story and I am anxious to see how it all ends. Finch and
the rest put in a great effort on this as it deserves. There is a brief mention
of Firestorm in one panel which may indicate the JLA/JLofA fates will come into
play next issue as well. I have not been disappointed with this story yet and
the last issue will definitely at the top of the read pile when it hits the
stands.

Title: MAGNETO
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Paolo Rivera
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Anti-Hero





Marvel has just put out a Magneto solo series, disconnected from the UNCANNY X-
MEN. The whole theme here is Magneto going on a one-man crusade to make sure
that those who seek to destroy mutants pay for their sins. The first such target
is Doctor Eli Hatcher who has gone by other aliases and worked with anti-mutant
organizations like the Purifiers, The Right and the Friends of Humanity. How
Magneto deals with Eli is first told by an eyewitness to some men in black, aka
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Then we see graphically how easily Magneto dispatches his
enemy. This was only one stop on a trail he is following. And obviously
S.H.I.E.L.D. is following him. One of the more interesting aspects of this story
is the fact he is doing this with no costume. With a shaved head and beard
stubble no one really recognizes who he is – they only know him with the helmet
on – a fact he takes notice of. But out here on the run he has limited resources
to track down those he seeks. He sifts through newspapers from all over the
country looking for reports of crimes against mutants knowing full well those
after him would also plant false stories in hopes of luring him into a trap. It
is a bit of a cat and mouse game but he stays focused and knows what to look for
in every case. His next target poses a more unique problem. This is a man who
killed three mutants and has turned himself into the police in a small town in
California. Cullen has put him an interesting situation and how he deals with it
is typical of his straight at the problem attitude. But he will find something
he wasn’t expecting.  As far as a first issue this has all the right elements.
It establishes the status quo of the main character, sets up the motivations for
his actions and provides some decent action and a little bit of drama. Just
because he is going after really bad people does not meant we have to agree with
his methods. But somehow you find yourself routing for Magneto. You get invested
in the character so that is another plus. I found the art very appealing. While
I might not be a fan for a long time investment in this type of story I think it
is well done and should be a hit.

Title: TALES OF HONOR
Issue Number: 1
Title Story: On Basilisk Station
Publisher: Image/Top Cow
Creator: Based on the novels by David Weber
Writer: Matt Hawkins
Artist: Jung-Geun Yoon
Letters: Troy Peteri
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction




This comic is an adaptation of a series of science fiction novels I am not
familiar with. Fortunately there is a bit of introductory text to explain the
scene over which this space opera takes place. In the year 2130 a colony ship
left Earth to begin the interstellar dispersion of mankind. New Star Nations
were born and ruled themselves as they saw fit. There were Theocracies,
monarchies, communist states, democracies and various fringe groups. But
advances in transit speed brought the distances between them closer and the
inevitable clashes began. One of these nations, The People’s Republic of Haven
is on the surface a democracy but is actually a central party controlled
dictatorship. As it became wasted by its welfare state it embraced an
expansionist policy of military conquest. After conquering several other systems
it set its sights on the Kingdom of Manticore, home of the lead character Honor
Harrington. She joined the military following the footsteps of her father
knowing full well that they would soon be at war with Haven. As the story opens
she and her officers are prisoners aboard a Havenite battlecruiser bound for a
prison planet named Hades. From the supporting text we find out that this
episode actually takes place during the seventh novel of the series, "In Enemy
Hands.” Hawkins and Weber agreed to structure the story this way to have Honor
narrate the story in flashback from her under duress position. She thinks back
to her first light cruiser command on Basilisk Station. She tells of the
difficulties of the crew adjusting to her command and her treecat, Nimitz. It is
not a pet but a special breed from her home world that can form a symbiotic
empathic relationship with humans. Then there is their first participation in
the war games held regularly. Her brilliant maneuvers gave them a victory but
made them the object for the flagship’s defeat. Eventually this led to The
Fearless being ordered to Basilisk Station, a space station far out in the
Manticore system that guarded a wormhole. It is the closest thing to exile the
military has. But it is about to get worse when she finds out who her commanding
officer is. The point of the structure of the plot is to give us a glimpse of
where thing are leading from where they started. As Honor narrates her story she
pauses here and there to jump forward a little bit to another scene yet to come.
It is a way of teasing us to stay with the story for bigger payoffs. The
character is a strong competent woman that we come to admire. Knowing she is
held prisoner and about to be tortured adds some element of wonder once we see
some of the things she was capable of in her career before that. The art is
different in that I really like the scenes of the space battles more than those
of the characters interacting. It is a decent series that deserves a chance.

Title: VEIL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Toni Fejzula
Letters: Nate Piekos
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
Mature – Comics on the Edge






This is a very odd comic. For one the art style is quite unique. It is fully
painted and involves a lot of different perspectives of view. The composition is
well done and there is good detail in characters and background. It just strikes
you visually when you first see it. The protagonist is introduced in a very odd
way. We are in a subway and laying on the platform, completely naked is a female
gaining the curiosity of the rats that start to swarm around her. Suddenly she
awakens and speaks only a few words, no complete sentences. As she wanders
around looking for a way out she starts speaking in rhyme. For example “Not-rat-
not-cat-not-fat-in-a-cocked-hat…” and so on. When she approaches a gate locked
with chains she has no trouble snapping the chains by bending the bars apart. So
we get the idea she is not an ordinary human. But what is she? You can imagine
the reaction she gets when she reaches street level with no clothes on. This
happens to be in a section of the city filled with peep shows and strip joints
so the street people have a mix of reactions. Some of lesser moral fiber plan to
take advantage of her but one concerned young man steps to her aid with a coat
to cover her. The plot leads them to his place where he offers her some clothes
and plans to somehow find a way to get her help. But the local thugs have
followed them and have other plans. There is a shocking climax to this first
issue in which we learn that Veil is even more resourceful than we first
thought. Though she may not be able to communicate very well she is not a
helpless, feeble-minded person. It is an interesting set up for the series.
There is a big mystery to explain going forward. Obviously we want to know how
she came by these fantastic abilities and why did she end up on the subway
platform. This will have to come as the story unfolds. Rucka has peaked our
curiosity and I for one want to know more. You probably will too.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!

If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week’s trivia question:
What company published PETE THE P.O.'ed POSTAL WORKER?

Sharkbait Press was the answer and the winner by the dice roll is Christopher
Begley.

THIS WEEK’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Here is one about a character that recently made his debut in NEW 52. The
question is in what comic did Alexander Luthor ORIGINALLY make his first
appearance?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don’t hesitate to send in an answer – even days after it appears.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Comic Reviews 3/7/14


REVIEWS

The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.


Title: FANTASTIC FOUR
Issue Number: 1
Title Arc: The Fall of the Fantastic Four
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Inker: Karl Kesel
Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super hero




This is the latest mainstream title to get restarted with a new first issue.
James Robinson starts off with a provocative story title and posits in the first
few pages that the "Fall of the Fantastic Four" is exactly what will happen. It
begins with Sue Storm writing to Franklin and Val, apparently in a diary, about
what has happened to bring this about. She just touches on where the members are
at right now, rather than what happened. Reed is seemingly incapable of the
scientific genius he is noted for, Ben is imprisoned for murder, Johnny is lost
in self-indulgence and Sue herself feels alone and heartbroken. That little look
is meant to brace us for what is to come. Going back to the beginning it seems
like business as usual. The team is busy trying to take down Fin Fang Foom once
again and this battle sequence shows that they are still a fine-tuned team with
years of experience. Everyone pulls their weight and Reed's master plan is
intricate but flawless. But there is a slight hint at the end that this attack
may be more than it seems. The individual scenes of their personal time do not
seem to indicate anything too out of normal. Reed and Sue struggle with family
life due to the fact that Val is off in Latveria and they are not of one mind
what to do about it. Ben is about to suggest a major change in his relationship
with Alicia and Johnny has a decision to make about his stage career that will
affect his team duties. Most of this is just a day in the life in Marvel's First
Family. But the last few pages set up the event that will signal it as the last
day of true happiness. It is an interesting beginning and Robinson has the
scripting skills to bring things to a boil gradually over time to make it well-
paced. Likewise Leonard Kirk is a master of his art and Kesel's colors really
make his artwork shine. This is a good first issue and a perfect jump on point
for anyone who wants to give Marvel's flagship title another try.

Title: ONE-HIT WONDER
Issue Number: 1
Story Title: Glorious Basterd
Publisher: Image
Writer: Fabrice Sapolsky
Artist: Ariel Olivetti
Bonus Art: Jean Marie Minguez
Letters: The Wolfpack
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Crime Drama
MATURE - Comics on the Edge




Right off the bat I must say that this comic really stretches credibility in
plotting. The premise is that Richie Reese was a one-time child star who did a
lot of commercials. Now he is a hit man. Okay, that is not a stretch. But the
opening scene sets up circumstances that just don't follow on logically. He is
on a TV show talking to a doctor, apparently a psychiatrist, as if in therapy.
Anyway, the discussion is about how his fame as a child was like a drug and when
it was gone it left him begging for more. When the doctor asks him how he got
over it Richie says he will show him. He then proceeds to pull out a gun and
shoot the doctor with the cameras rolling. Now the very next page is 24 hours
later with our hit man relaxing at his pool with two bimbos and talking on the
phone with his "agent" - that is the guy who lines up the hits. So, this well-
known celebrity kills someone with lots of witnesses in front of TV cameras and
just walks away and goes home? The point is that his home's location is a secret
and just for laughs it is a famous place. But if you are a hit man you generally
do not kill people in public or at least expose yourself in this way. But that
is what he did and is already on his next case. So the rest of the book shows
how he hunts down his prey. She gives him the slip but he reacquires her at a
night club and he even gets surrounded by the FBI in the parking lot. I guess we
are supposed to be thrilled by the fact that he actually manages to distract the
feds and get the girl into a car and drive away. All along the way during the
issue he has flashbacks to things he experienced as a child as they relate to
his current situation. While he does have some skills he also makes several
mistakes - too many to still be in business, or alive for that matter. In fact
the first issue ends with the result of another mistake, or carelessness. I
can't figure out if this guy is supposed to be a caricature or if Fabrice really
thinks this is a cool character. I didn't like him or hate him. I just don't
enjoy the character or the writing. The art is passable but it doesn't do enough
to save the mediocre story. I would pass on this one if I were you.

Title: REVENGE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Jonathan Ross
Artist: Ian Churchill
Colors: Arif Prianto with Ian Churchill
Letters: Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt
Price (USD): $2.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Horror
MATURE - Comics on the Edge





If anyone probably deserves to get revenge it is Griffin Franks. He is seventy
two and is about to betrayed by his trophy wife. He has had an up and down
career in Hollywood for decades. He did movies and a couple of TV series. Along
the way one movie in 1975 was called the REVENGER, about a vigilante type anti-
hero. He had his ups and downs until the Revenger returned in a big hit in 2014.
He is finally back in the limelight but it appears it will be short lived. The
studio is reviving Revenger as a franchise but plans to replace the character
with a bastard son in the next picture. Franks has to face the fact they don't
want a senior citizen action hero. But Candy, his current wife has an idea how
he can recapture his youth. A plastic surgeon she knows about south of the
border can make him look 15 to 20 years younger. She finally persuades him but
it is all part of her plan to replace him with her younger lover and gain his
recently renewed fortune while getting around their pre-nuptial agreement. There
is more than just greed motivating her but this is all leading up to a more deep
seated need for revenge as the series progresses. You'll note I list this as a
horror comic. The ultimate plan plays out through the comic as we see the build
up to it in flashback. The special doctor has rather unorthodox methods that
ensure that if Griffin somehow manages to survive he will indeed be a changed
man. The visuals of the process are rather gruesome and Churchill masterfully
blends them into transitions to an earlier time pertinent to the story. The art
is very detailed and brilliantly colored. There is a lot here to take in both in
the script and the art. It has action, horror, sex and strong emotion. If you
like the genre it is very well done.

Title: VANDROID
Issue Number: 1 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creators: Nic Nicola, Tommy Lee Edwards, Noah Smith & Dan McDaid
Writer: Tommy Lee Edwards & Noah Smith
Artist: Dan McDaid
Colors: Melissa Edwards
Letters: John Workman
Cover Artist: Tommy Lee Edwards
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
MATURE - Comics on the Edge



So, there is a logical explanation for the name of the title. Once you read the
book you will get it. I will give you half of it - the "droid" part stands for
android. The Vandroid takes up most of the second half of the story. The first
half is pretty much how it came to be. The story is about two guys whose
particular talents and fortunes bring them back together to fulfill their life
dreams. Taylor Grey is working on an artificial intelligence project that is
about to have breakthrough when the team realizes the AI is sucking data and
power from everything it is connected to. They eventually shut it down but not
without serious damage to equipment and personnel. While it was a disaster
Taylor still sees the value this can have eventually, especially for military
applications. But his bosses don't see it that way so on his own he contacts an
old friend. Chuck Carducci was at the top of his game in the mid-1970s. He was a
top mechanic and was known across the country for his custom van designs. This
brought his fame and fortune but he fell into the trap many do and indulged in
drugs. When the van craze died his fortunes turned in the other direction. He is
now a has-been eking out a living and trying to shake bad habits. When Taylor
contacts Chuck it will begin the process that will result in the merger of their
talents and the creation of something they dreamed about but also didn't expect.
The story explores the usual aspect of artificial intelligence trying to find
its purpose in the world. There is more to Taylor's plans than we have yet seen.
Is the Vandroid a modern day Frankenstein or something else? It is not a bad
concept though some of the plotting is a little cheesy. The art is adequate for
the job it has to do. There are some shocking moments and once things get
rolling along it gets intriguing. It is not a bad first issue and leaves you
with curiosity about what comes next.


Title:ROBOCOP: BETA
Issue Number: 1-Shot
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: Emilio Laiso
Colors: Michael Garland
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Cover Artist: Greg Smallwood
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction





With the Robocop movie out Boom has put more titles on the rack to capitalize on
the publicity. This one-shot appealed to me because it explores the idea of how
the technology was developed that resulted in the urban policeman cyborg. The
beta version of Robocop had its beginnings in the war zone in this alternate
world of the not too distant future. The military is already using ED-208s and
Ed-209s in its ongoing conflict in Iran. A team from Omnicorp is there for
support and one event presents them the opportunity to move forward with a plan
they have been working on. The story begins with the death of one soldier,
Joshua Duncan, from a bullet to the head. As Dr. Dennett North explains to
Joshua as he wakens they managed to save him but he is different now. The head
wound left him with some memory loss and as we see most of his body has been
replaced with robotic parts. Omnicorp already has the hope of introducing
cyborgs as law enforcement in the states and this has given them the opportunity
to test out the hardware with a cyborg soldier. They will have to overcome the
objections of the local commander but they have some leverage to use. What they
don't know is what is going on in the mind of Joshua Duncan. He is having
recurring visions of an event involving his squad raiding a house and
terrorizing a family they believe are hiding weapons for their fight against the
Americans. It haunts him that the family was eventually slain, all the time
denying any such activity. This event will play a large part in the plot moving
forward. While the first trial by combat of the new cyborg is successful it also
raises new concerns as the commanding general finds out that this new cyborg was
once one of his privates. We can see both the external conflict between Omnicorp
and the military and the internal conflict within Duncan's mind do not bode well
for the outcome of this story. What I like about this story is the concept of a
prototype trial of the technology. I also like the art as it is clean and
detailed. It supports the plot nicely. And props to my old friend Ed Dukeshire
for continual success with his very professional lettering. The only problem I
have with the story is the beginning. In the original ROBOCOP McMurphy was so
damaged from injuries that parts of him were replaced out of necessity to save
his life and mobility. In this situation we are talking about a single shot to
the head. Why use the near death of this soldier as an excuse to replace
everything except his head? It just stretches credibility a bit too much. The
resolution of the plot is acceptable though and as a whole it is an entertaining
book for anyone who wants to read a self-contained Robocop story.

Title: PARIAH
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Aaron Warner & Phillip Gelatt
Artist: Brett Weldele
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction
MATURE - Comics on the Edge







The first thing I noticed about this comic book is that artist Brett Weldele has
a style very similar to that of Ty Templeton, one of my favorites. He uses sharp
pencils, minimal details and uses color and shading to provide the atmosphere
required. That part of it is appealing to me. The story at first is a bit
confusing. That is because we find a group of young people aboard some sort of
orbiting spacecraft with no explanation as to who they are or even if they
belong here. What we do see is the group turning against one of their own, oddly
enough the only one of them in a coat and tie. He is apologizing for what has
happened, claiming he did not know it would. To what is he referring?  Is it the
problem with steering the craft or even the fact that they are in space at all? 
We get from bits of dialogue they are all a group of Vitros, whatever that
means. My guess from further reading is they might be genetically enhanced
humans with superior skills and intelligence. Anyway they isolate Hyde in a
locked chamber and get on with the job of assessing their situation, which is
not good. The station is old and running on autopilot but eventually they will
have problems. The life support systems is not adequate to sustain them
indefinitely or for a very long time. Oxygen and food will run out and there is
no way of generating electricity for the long term either. It is through the
process we get the idea that they are trapped here and need to figure out how to
get back to Earth in a craft never designed for that purpose. As one of them
takes control of the situation it is only ten hours into their presence here
when a routine burn of the main thrusters meant to keep the craft in orbit
instead turns it toward a decaying orbit. They will burn up in the atmosphere if
they don't correct this. The first issue of this story concentrates on this
first immediate task and how they draw on the skills of the individuals to try
to save the group. There are of course other concerns here that are only touched
on. Why did they end up in this craft? Why has it been sabotaged and by whom? Is
this an elaborate trap to get rid of them all? Aside from the dialogue there is
narrative comment from the start by one of the group, Herman Toulane. While the
main action is playing out he provides us with a personal commentary on what the
group is all about and how his life circumstances and choices brought him here.
At a critical point in the plot he will become the key player among them to
ensure their survival, even if it is temporary. That fact and its outcome poses
a literary dilemma that I can't reveal as it spoils the plot. These are
interesting characters and as I said I particularly like the art. I think this
one is well worth anyone's time and money.

                                    *****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!!     WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!


If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only.  Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
What animated TV show are some of the characters in DR. CYBORG patterned after?
In DR. CYBORG the characters are based on JOHNNY QUEST.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What company published PETE THE P.O.'ed POSTAL WORKER?


Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.