TOTAL PARTY KILL #4

The new TPK is live! And for this time around it's hosted over at The Vorpal Gnome (a MediaGauntlet site maintained by Ryan Speck and myself).

Come, GET SOME:




What should you expect if you click on that pretty banner? My rambling thoughts on Houses of the Blooded, 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars, various other gaming things, lots of comics (Red Sonja, Lone Ranger, Doctor Who: The Forgotten, Hercules: The Thracian Wars, Pistolfist: Revolutionary Warrior, Dragon Prince, Necronomicon-- and MOAR!).

I have to be honest: Things are much more on the "ravings" side of things, as opposed to "reviews". I guess it depends on what you consider a review, but in most cases this TPK, I just blabble on, sometimes not even really talking about the product at hand critically. Just a heads up. (My natterings on the Doctor Who comic is a fine example of this!)

Also, this edition has "anchors", which means you can just click to the section you want to go from the Table of Contents at the very beginning.


Hope you enjoy this installment. I sure as Nine Hells enjoyed writing it.


All I ask of you is to read it and spread the TPK links around!

Deadpool #1 [Comics!]

"Is this really the best plan we could come up with?"

Huh. Well, that was somewhat blandly interesting. Or interestingly bland. Or pop-tarts. The blueberry kind. Know what I mean?

Having not kept up on the "OMG! SKRULLZ!" stuff goin' on in the Marvel Universe, I might be missing out on a joke or two. But still, this issue is pretty straight forward. No surprises, decent Deadpoolian narration, great art and pretty much a meh-tastic, stock standard comic book for folks who dig comic books. It's not bad, it's not impressive-- it just is. It's also a good jumping on point (well, maybe) for new readers. Fact is, I thought writer Daniel Way was going to deliver something absolutely painful, and to be honest I kinda wish he had. See, this issue does have action, it has some Deadpool tropes and trappings we know and love, but it just doesn't... impress. It's horribly average. And I was hoping for something a little more on the stunning side, provided it didn't suck balls like I feared it would.

Scratch that. I'd rather have horribly average than averagely horrible. It's really better than I'm giving it credit for. After eating a cupcake while typing this, I realise I'm being a dick and should rate this comic a little higher. It does deserve that.

So, really, not a bad issue. In fact, I liked it. I just wish it was better. I love Deadpool, you see, and I was really enjoyed the end of that crazy run on Cable & Deadpool. But now my fave merc gets his own series again, and they gave it to a guy who is indeed very cool and nice, but the only thing I can think he did was a much hated run (ride?) on Ghost Rider. Personally, I didn't hate it all that much. I didn't like it... but I didn't dislike it either. It certainly wasn't as good, even all combined, as this first issue of the new Deadpool series.

Now, I know what you are thinking: "Screw you Steve, Deadpool is lame."

Wait, not you. Jerk.

I know what you are thinking: "Steve, as one Deadpool fan-being to another, will this issue appeal to me?"

Excellent question! And to that I have to say "Yes, but only tentatively. I think some fans will dig it, no doubt; but others will be quite cautious and will see where it goes, if anywhere, especially if it heads off to Ibiza to party. Everyone loves parties."

I fall in the latter category, in case you're wondering.

Hey, I don't care what you have to say on the matter, jerk!

Oh no, not you! I like you. Stay with me here.

Mr. Way does indeed seem to "get" Deadpool-- at least enough to write an okay first issue, anyhow. I will proudly admit that the last page is great, and classic Wade Wilson. The art is fantastic and a totally welcome sight for sore eyes...

Right, we'll pretend I didn't say that last bit. Did I really need to say it that way?

The art kicks serious ass. Seriously.

Overall, the whole issue is one great big fight scene, and it sure does look purty. As for how it's written, I can see Way has chosen the more zany aspects of Deadpool to focus on, and while that's all well and good, I sure pray he changes it up a bit or else this comic will get very, very boring very, very fast.

I do have faith, though. I think it can pulled off. I suppose it's a "wait and see" kind of thing.

No, not THAT kind of "wait and see". What's wrong with you?!

Aw, not you! Come on, don't cry. I meant it for that other guy. The jerk. It's okay... we can cuddle if you want.

Oh, I forgot to mention Deadpool #1 is pretty fun. Fun is fun, right? And Deadpool should be fun. And funny. And Deadpooly. I like Deadpooly things.

Lethality: Of the five-man party, two return spewing wild tales of oddly clawed beasts and dire penguins equipped with steam-powered jet-packs. "But you don't know what a jet-pack is!" says the GM. And to this the adventures remind him that they had purchased a bed and breakfast in the Barrier Peaks, where they kept pet vegepygmies. In obvious anger and frustration, the GM unleashes over-zealous daemonic weightlifting instructor automatons on the survivors. Will they get out of this alive?

Birthday [Me!]

So far, so good for my birthday. I should have lots of new things to talk about, including Deadpool #1! Yeah, as much as I rail on superhero comics and all that, Deadpool is still a major weakness of mine. I just love the character. And if your curious, my favourite run of Deadpool was Joe Kelly's. Probably the best work of his career if you ask me.

In fact, I'll be reading the new Deadpool very, very soon. Maybe I can squeeze out a review before my guests show up and we feast on... something.

Until hopefully sooner than later, folks!

Update [Updates!]

Heya! Don't worry, I'll be adding more stuff to this blog soon. I just needed a little break-- whilst using my Birthday Time as the perfect excuse. I'm also playing through Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion of the first time and I'm really enjoying, though it's no Morrowind. I hope I can give my thoughts on this in the future.

For now, here's a link to a nice, short interview with late, great Bob Bledsaw (of Judges Guild-- RIP, sir), from way, way back in Pegasus #2! Yeah, it's interesting to note they made a tidy sum in sales and it's also incredibly fascinating to take a look at the mindset of indie games publishers from the early days of RPGs.


Right, so I blame to do a list of short reviews soon to catch up. Let's see if I can hold myself to that lofty goal...

TOTAL PARTY KILL #3

Hey folks! If you don't mind, I would like to direct your attention to my latest column-thing of TOTAL PARTY KILL over at Comics Waiting Room.

This fortnight I cover some stuff like my thoughts on D&D 4e, Mutant Future (a brilliant Gamma World semi-clone, available as a free PDF), Houses of the Blooded (or rather, the $5 deal!), Twilight: 2013, some bits about Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy and how I think it runs (so far), One Monk Miniatures (some of the best paper minis out there-- seriously! And they're giving away FREE DEEP ONES!!), Hirst Arts (they make moulds so you can make your own plaster terrain pieces), Gun Street Girl (a terrific webcomic involving a kick-ass woman and the magician she works for), Conan the Cimmerian #2, Libris Mortis and The Bonegarden as idea mines, Fate: Undiscovered Realms (a fun new Diablo-like), JESUS HATES ZOMBIES (featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves!!), Sails of Blood (pirates!), The Harvest War over at Zuda.com (fantasy!), and a bunch of little things you'll digm like a great rpg that fits on a sheet of paper and a links to more free crap.

So, please... get to it and tell me what ye thinks!




This latest issue of CWR has lots of great stuff, including comic book reviews; a director's cut of Brandon Jerwa and Eric Tarutmann's Wide Awake: Behind the Wall of Sleep from the new Popgun 2 anthology-- which is shown on CWR in it's 9 page entirety! (and it's AWESOME); a new Jess Knows Best (geek advice column!); an interview with the creator of The Devil's Panties; and Elliott (two Ts!) Serrano showing us the future of DC Comics movies!... plus much, much more.

A very engrossing issue of Comics Waiting Room for sure. :)

(X-posted in my Livejournal!)

The Punisher #61 [Comics!]

"Thirty years and they still follow me."

Man, I've been busy; so I've been unable to update this for a few days. Well, the buck stops here and I need to get something up, yeah? My head has been full of Dracula's minions and high-ranking Nazis so I needed a break. Why not the "new" Punisher? The one after Garth Ennis left the series, I mean.

Probably perfect, I figured.

I will never accept an argument against the fact that Ennis' Punisher run is probably the most perfect in comic book history, especially considering it went on for sixty freaking issues. Now we are left with a left team on the book, and not long (what, a week?) after the slow-burn climatic and coldly approriate #60.

Gregg Hurwitz picks up where Ennis left off, and from what I understand Hurwitz is a "best-selling crime author". No small feat, I suppose, but does he have the chops? If you want a hardboiled, noir-detective and verbose version of Frank Castle, then yes.

Aside from the almost over-the-fedora-top narrative, I'd say Hurwitz is off to a good start. After yet another re-telling of how Frank lost his family (new writers are required to do this, eh?) we find castle being asked to come down south of the border to Mexico to help some people out who are having their daughters kidnapped... and then turning up dead. Will Frank take this battle on?

Well, not to be Mr. Spoiler, but I think it's safe to say he didn't pass it up. I suppose that one thing that mildly irked me. Oh, right, so Frank is going to refuse and then this story is over? Pretty cliche. Very crime-novel cliche, actually. But whatever, it flowed well and I liked it. Hurwitz delivers a gritty opener to his tale.

At least it doesn't suck and it leaves me curious to see what's next.

As for the art, Laurence Campbell provides a nice, almost "Criminal" perspective (he's like a darker Sean Phillips to me, but with his own style, of course) and it adds to the hardboiled feel nicely. I have not one complaint on the art. It works great!

Other than all that, I'm still at "wait and see". So far, so good... but so what? The next few issues are what will make or break this for me. Here's to Hurwitz and Campbell keeping up the good work.

For more information on this issue, go here.


Lethality: Four of the six party members are killed by a hail of gunfire. Sam Spade and his henchman get away clean, however. They're gonna have to watch their backs now, see?

2000 AD #1600 [Comics!]

"I'm no man's slave, dickhead!"

I just realised something. I haven't written a review about the actual 2000 AD comic, which is one of my absolute favourite things ever, which I look forward to weekly-- or whenever my stack of issues arrives here in Not-UKland.

Oh, and you may notice that I've started placing "[category!]" in the headers. I do this so the title is predominant, and so it's easy to see if you are interested right away. Or something like that.

Anysplrugnig, I figured that Prog 1600 was a great place to start doing the occasional 2000 AD review (more like semi-review / thoughts) right here on 'Grognerd. I'll just do a quick overview of what I think of each thrill. And if you have no idea what 2000 AD is, get your ass to Mars, punk.

Right. I'm pretty tired, so let's get cracking!

First up, as per usual Tooth fare, we have Judge Dredd. This time kicking off a new series called Mutie Block. It's John Wagner and Kev Walker on point, and these guys are probably one of the best Dredd teams today (like that's a big surprise-- Wagner IS Dredd). One thing I love about Judge Dredd in recent years is that it has become deeper and deeper and tends to tackle more complex social issues in it's razor-sharp satirical manner. This time it's immigration (something I'm all too aware of personally these days!). Part one here is all set-up for what looks like an explosive story! Lotta sides and personalities involved. I can't wait to read part two!

Then there's part one to Stalag 666, which is something I've know about for quite some time. This is something writer-droid Tony Lee has had brewing for a little while, and I was terribly excited to see how it panned out. The set-up is quick, and we are filled in on what is essentially Nazi space lizards and their human suck-ups, the "Mussolinis". Hey, it's pretty transparent and heavy-handed, but I'll take this future-war scenario. And there's a reason for this, really. Stalag 666 is a WW2 POW movie as told in 2000 AD fashion. It's Stalag 17 in space and the grim dark future where there is only war. And snake Nazis. We're introduced to some interesting characters and treated with some nasty violence. All in all, I really enjoyed it! It's paced well, and made me yearn for more. Bang-up work, Lee. The artwork by Jon Davis-Hunt has a nice, older-school quality to it which has that rough feel nicely suited to this tale. Good marks all around.

Before I could stop basking in the glow of two great new stories, The Red Seas pops up! Oh, have I missed this thrill. Have I ever. Ian Edginton and Steve Yeowell are in top form, as per usual yadda yadda etc. Are those... Vikings!? Holy shit! This comic keeps getting better and better. Vikings, pirates... and George Washington? This is one of the best black and white comics you will ever read, friends. Old Gods promises to be one helluva thrill-run.

And that's it. Only three comics for this landmark issue, but damn-- what an issue. Chock full of some of the most exciting stuff I've seen in years. In fact, I have to stop yacking about this before you become terribly sick of my raving. I know I've said past issue were great before, but this prog is ACES. The fantastic Greg Staples cover is just the plutonium-enhanced icing. Well done, Tharg. Drokking well done.

Read more about this fine piece of zarjaz here. More info on the thrill mentioned can be found!


Lethality: A Total Block Kill. That's right, an entire Mega-City block was wiped out. I think it Huey Lewis block, actually. Poor buggers. TBKs are brutal.