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.

The Man With No Name #3

The Good, the Bad and the Uglier Sinners and Saints: Chapter Three

"Well, then... maybe we oughta kill him."

Honestly, I didn't feel this series got off to the start I was hoping. The first issue was okay, but it's nothing amazing. The art is good, and I like the lettering for TMWNN's speech bubbles.

TMWNN? Lame. I think I'll call him "Blondie" from here on out.

Anyhow, Blondie, who was a character immortalised by Acting Gawd Clint Eastwood in three classic films (A Fistful of Dollars -- For A Few Dollars More -- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) is back. And he's as badass as ever. By issue #2, the story starts galloping along and I was totally hooked. It's a slow build but now in #3 things a really heating up.

It's easy to blame all the explosions. But don't. It was their upbringing, see.

The usual doublecrosses and intrigue apply, and writer Christos Gage shows why he's a talent and it's good to see him on this title. In fact, I'd love to see him write more Western titles. Or, even better, let's keep him on The Man With No Name. His story is simple (so far) and involves roguish cads from both sides of the American Civil War wanting a treasure that's holed up in a church. The characters involved are rich and well-written, with excellent period-esque dialogue that flows like a a river of the finest whiskey. In this case, simple and uncomplicated is good. It's a short read that won't let you down.

Art duties fall to one Wellington Dias, who, aside from having a goddamned awesome name, does a great job portraying the Old West, as well as the rough characters who inhabit it. Bruno Hang's colours should not be overlooked, either. The pages look rich and dark, without being too dark, and brightness comes through nicely. This is a vibrant looking title, is what I'm saying. And let's not forget Richard Isanove who's covers here usually convey a the quick violent attitude of those times.

Now, a lot of people I know talked smack about the "zombie cover" for this book, and I'll agree that it was unnecessary. But you know what? Don't let that detract you from this gritty yarn. Though, I would be totally cool with zombies showing up.

But that may just be me.

For you fellow gamer-nerds out there, I can safely say that Aces & Eights, Boot Hill and Deadlands fans will love The Man With No Name. As will you folks who enjoyed the films its based on. I'll be honest, I was rather skeptical about this series, and issue #1 didn't reinforce my hopes much. I sure love it when series like this pleasantly bushwhacks me.

Have I mention there are explosions?

I'm partial to explosions.

Lethality: Five out of six in the posse are taken out by a combination of dynamite, pistol-fire and a couple of well-trained sharpshooters. Someone send word to their ma's. They ain't comin' home.

Cthulhu Tales Vol. 1 TPB

I would be lying if I told you I hated Cthulhu stuff. I would be living in a realm of falsehoods if I said uttering "Hastur" didn't fill me with perverse glee...

What? I'm still here? That Hastur is getting lazy ever since he discovered cosmic bacon.

Anyway, the gibbering madmen at Boom Studios have compiled Cthulhu Tales, Cthulhu Tales: The Rising, and Cthulhu Tales: Tainted; which if you're into Lovecraft and his sanity-blasting literary progeny and haven't read-- you are missing out on some unspeakable wonders.

But enough with the hyberbolese, let's get down to the brass tacks out of space...
Brief tacks.

The first story, Cthulhu Calls, is cuddly Cthulhu as a phone-stalker. Throw in some Fatal Attraction stuff and VIOLA! A great short tale.

Then there's The Beach by Fall of Cthulhu littérateur Michael Alan Nelson. This haunting tale will completely degrade your senses, partially due to Andrew Ritchie's awfully compelling illustrative work. Seriously, this one will stay with you a while... Make sure to pack your +7 Water-Wings of Protection.

There's a lot more in this maddening tome, all of it from ghoulishly good to terrifyingly terrific. And you don't have to be a bad knock-off of The Cryptkeeper like me to enjoy it.

One writer I was happy to see is Kevin Church, who has two offerings, The Art of Noises and the brutal-yet-entertaining Bowels of the Earth. Michael Alan Nelson and Andrew Ritchie also pop back up with For You. James Kuhoric, another writer I admire, gifts us with What Lies Beneath, complete with great art by Dan Parsons that reminds me of an old adventure comic. Kuhoric also throws I Hear the Call at us, and I doubt all of me is intact after the experience.

This first volume of Cthulhu Tales has a LOT to offer. 132 pages of illustrative madness on an unprecedented magnitude. Although I'm not going into intense detail and only covered a handful of the stories, you have to understand that every story in this book-- both short and long and either quaint or horrific-- is pretty remarkable. This is one of the best comic story collections I've read in quite some time.

Now, as if your very being depends on it, go forth and buy this wonderful anthology. GO!

Read more about it here.


Lethality: 7 of the 8 investigators are torn to shreds. The sole survivor leaps to her death before anyone from Miskatonic University can ask her any questions.

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...

Rex Mundi #12

In order to keep up with my crazy life (it's full of things like radioactive flying monkeys and such) I'll sometimes post very short, one-product reviews.

Today we have Rex Mundi #12. If you haven't read this series yet, you're missing out. I know I've been missing out, but thanks to finally heeding SBC/CB staffer Nicolas Slayton's advice, I now own the entire series. All the trades. All the recent floppies.

In a nutshell, Rex Mundi takes place in 1933, in a world where the power of the Catholic Church never faltered. There was no Reformation. The American Civil War ended in a stalemate. Europe by the 1930s is still in the same stage our world was back in 1890. Or maybe 1914. Also, magic and monsters are REAL. The Holy Grail is... real? People liken this series to Da Vinci Code, but I feel that's an incredible insult and does this wonderful creation a disservice.

Anyhow, back to issue #12. It's good and very solid. The story has really ramped up from a hardboiled occult-tinged noir detective mystery story to an epic, Europe-spanning struggle which parallels WW1, WW2, Napolean-- all sorts of stuff. I really like how the character of Lorraine has progressed, and everyone else has come along nicely. Character development is usually something we've grown accustomed to falling along the wayside with comics, but not so with Rex Mundi. This book burns slow, but very bright and hot. I don't want to give much away, other than to say the splash page that ends this issue made me cheer over its awesomeness. Man, I haven't read comics this great in a long, long time. You Rex Mundi fans will NOT be disappointed.

And have I mentioned the action has been ratcheted to a fever pitch? Keep it up Team Rex Mundi, keep it up.

This issue immolates five out of six party members, seriously maiming the survivor. He'll never play the fiddle again.

For more information, please visit the Rex Mundi website.

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.

Shlupdate

I really should update this thing. I mean, not like this, but for reals-- you know? I haven't forgotten about it, it's just family stuff got in the way before I could get back to it. But never fear (for those 3 of you who may read this...), I should be back doing -something- with this soon! Hope everyone had an awesome holiday season.