A grip of short reviews [Comics!]

Right, so I've been lazy again. I'll quit saying that as, uh, I tend to say that a lot. Things have been really busy in my neck of the woods, and I'm even working on a couple projects.

That said, let's do a few short comic reviews, eh?


The Man With No Name #4













This comic is panned by some as boring and slow, but to me it's a nice, slow burn. Sure, each issue could hold three issues the way it's going, but TMWNN is just great to read for it's mood. Yeah, I don't know why Blondie has the weird font for his talky bubbles either. But I don't care. The art is sweet and, well, moody; and when the action does get going, it kicks ass. I have a feeling things will be heating up even more next issue. Lethality: The posse manages a daring escape only to have 4 out of the 5 of them shot off their horse by Josey Wales. They never even heard the shots.

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Battlestar Galactica Origins #10










You know, at first I thought this particular end of the series was a bit too mashed together, and trying too hard to combine back-stories for Helo and Starbuck; but I'm pleased to say this issue is a marked improvement. The art is still kinda... eh. I know Lau is better than this... what's up? Maybe it's just me. On the plus side, the art isn't bad or anything-- so cool. The duo of writers seem to be gaining a nice pace and the story is goin' nice now. And what's up with the make-out sesh? 'Shippers: get some! Lethality: 3 raptors vaped, 1 cut in half, one got away back to it's battlestar.

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Army of Darkness #13










The King For a Day story lands on our heads and holy crap do I LOVE IT. This series is one of the best things to read if you dig irreverent humour, wild action, monsters & the undead and, oh, the Evil Dead films. This is what I'm talking about folks. A great one-shot story that sets things up to come. Damn, this is a shining, bloody example of why I read comics. Army of Darkness movie lovers will love this one! Top bone-notch writing and killer art. Lethality: The entire platoon of Deadites were cut to pieces. Not even Sgt. Headstone could save them. He's back to being plain ol' dead, too.

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Judge Dredd Megazine #276













Not much to say other than "a drokking gruddamned fine issue!". The real stand-out, though, is the Snow/Tiger Pax Americana single issue collection that's included. Andy Diggle and Andy Clarke need to do more with this vastly underappreciated anti-terorist high-tech hyper-violent thiller. And my fave thing of the bunch was the awesome sweet-as-Pye cover art. One of my faves in the last few years! Lethality: Total Block Kill. The usual, really.

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The Boys #23










This series keeps getting better and better. Wow. We got more on The Seven, under-the-door wanking, Homelander saying "fuck" some more, Darick Robertson kicking so much art-ass that I'm wearing my balls as goggles right now, and a bunch of other stuff. The last page made me fall out of my chair. Nice one. Lethality: Total Super-jerk Party Kill. Not surprising.

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Well, that's all the time I have for now, folks. Lot of Dynamite in there, yeah? Well, they mmake excellent comics, so I cannot help myself. I have some stuff from Boom! to read, which I think I'll get to today. As well as working on the new TPK, of course.

Cheers!

Battlestar Galactica: Season Zero #11

"Oh, there's going to be an 'incident'..."

This great 12-issue series keeps trucking along at a good clip. There's really not too much to say if you haven't jumped on board BSG: Season Zero yet. Be warned: if you haven't read any of the previous issues, do so and do so as soon as possible. No self-respecting BSG fan should go without reading Brandon Jerwa's prequel to the hit TV show we all know and love.

Now, I suppose I've mentioned somewhere that a lot of cool stuff happened before BSG's 1st season, and that watching the first episodes doesn't really make it seem like the crew saw much action before the Cylon attack. Then again, some (like Starbuck for starters) are competent warriors who must have learned it somewhere. So Jerwa's story does indeed make sense and it's a perfect prequel-y fit.

As for the issue itself, Jerwa and Jackson Herbert deliver a tight,
competent package.

Yes, I said package.

And Jerwa's firm grasp of plot and talky bits never wavers, nor does it fail to be entertaining. Jackson Herbert provides nice art, and his real stand-out piece for the issue is the cover he did. You can see it in this review. It's one of my favourites for the year so far. #11 as a whole sets up for the final issue of the series, which promises to be a fracking doozy.

Can't wait.

Read more about this issue here.

Lethality: Six of the eight Cylon Raiders are blasted into space-dust. The other two have Hotdog and Apollo on their tails. Prospects are very grim for our two bio-mechanised survivors, indeed.

Battlestar Galactica: Origins #8

ADAMA - Part 4 of 4

First Baltar, now Adama. Robert Place Napton has crafted an excellent and intriguing tale concerning probably one of the most, if not THE most, important character on the TV show Battlestar Galactica-- Commander William Adama. Up until part 4, this series has been terrifically paced and executed, covering Bill Adama's life from when he was in the First Cylon War right up to when he meets Saul Tigh and his family life start to fall apart. Now, the fourth part isn't bad. In fact, it is quite good! My only complaint is that maybe this should have been 5 or 6 parts or something. This issue feels a bit "scrunched", if you will. Regardless, the Battlestar Galactica: Origins comics are some of the best things out there today, especially if you are a BSG fan. Robert Napton delivers the goods in snappy style that should make his peers jealous, and we BSG nerds would be absolutely fracking crazy not to pick up the Adama Origins issues. I should also note that this some of artist Jonathan Lau's best work, his pencils adding a special dimension to the story that no wordsmith could. Special mention goes the colouring work, as well. And it sure is cool to see Julian DiMarco from Battlestar Galactica: Season Zero pop up. It brings me joy to see Dynamite continue to kick ass with this license.

Lethality: Five of the seven in the Viper group wiped out. No word from the Raptors...

Short Uncontrolled Bursts? How about Total Blog Kill.

Hey folks, this draft has been sitting here since April. I keep wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do with this damned thing. I think I might have figured it out. Instead of "Short Uncontrolled Bursts" (as that's the name of the comics section of my upcoming Comics Waiting Room column Total Party Kill, landing this Tuesday), this will be Total Blog Kill. At least for now. I can dump short reviews of games and comics here, like I originally intended. Or something. Anyhow, here are a few old mini-reviews I typed out months ago late at night...

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One day, I'll get this regular entry-blogging-in-the-blogosmear down. One day. But for now, here are REALLY short reviews. Under this snappy title-name... thing.

Today's batch is covering comics. It usually will. Just so you know.

Zorro #2: Wagner and Francavilla are keeping me interested with a great story, chock full of intrigue, mystery and action. In this issue, we learn of a traumatic event which shape's the narrator and Zorro's life. 5 out of 6 foxy Zs.

2000 AD Extreme Edition #28: The Mean Arena reprints wrap up and Wolf Rawker is the best name ever. Lots of fun with Maniac for Hire and Superbean. A great reissuing of underrated past-thrills! 4 out of 5 Tharg Love-babies.

Battlestar Galactica Origins: Baltar #4: This excellent arc ends with yet another solid issue. Best BSG comics offering since Zarek. A "not-to-miss" for Battlestar fans. 5 cylon heads out of 6.

The Boys #17: This title soldiers on-- and it keeps getting BETTER. I don't think Ennis has even hit his stride yet with The Boys. The love story is touching. And there's nothing like the undead to spruce things up! 3 red-wings out of 4.

Red Sonja #30: As Red Sonja travels along on her death-ride, we get some stories of her past. In this issue, we are treated to a tale from Ron Marz with Lee Moder on art. Both kick some ass. This title continues to have the quality we all know and love. 5 Hykanian discos out of 6.

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Right. And there it was. So for those of you reading, I hope I can update this occasionally or maybe even regularly. As I always say: we'll see.