tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22611527943730349082024-03-13T20:51:57.185-04:00Superhero Reviews!Reviewing Comic Books & Graphic Novels of our Favorite SuperHeroes!!Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-12029107531779898402012-10-23T16:47:00.002-04:002012-10-23T16:47:11.977-04:00Seasons & Mini's versus the On-going...From a series of Posts I made at <i>ifanboy.com</i>....
<br />
<br />
"I can understand the corporate mentality of an on-going….and with the titles like <b>Batman</b>, <b>Spiderman</b>, etc., it makes sense. I would think that with great selling titles or titles with one author for several years <i>(<b>Green Lantern</b> for example)</i>, it would make sense to keep an on-going numbering.
However, with lesser selling titles/characters…..<b>”Seasons” or “Mini’s”</b> may be the way to go.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Marvel </b>has already kind of done this with <b>Punisher</b>, since an on-going just can’t seem to hold numbers <i>(regardless of the Creative Team)</i>. I think of how much better characters like <b>Green Arrow</b>, <b>Hawkman</b>, <b>Deathstroke</b>, etc. would be in <i>DC’s New-52 </i>if they were done in 6-issue Mini’s rather than on-goings with filler issues and <i>“stretched”</i> story arcs that put you to sleep.<br />
<br />
I would suggest keeping it a numbers game…..if a title sells over a certain number, keep it on-going…..if it dips below or never reaches the “number” than keep it to 10-12 issues and start again after with a new Creative Team."<br />
<br />
"As a <i>completest</i>, <b>I would be in favor of mini-series, or “Seasons”</b>. If I drop an on-going title for content or financial reasons, I’m far less likely to ever collect it again unless it starts up at #1 or the character stars in a <i>“mini/maxi” </i>series.
I would be happy to jump on board a title with a character I enjoy if I know it’s a complete story without filler issues and long, extended story arcs just for the sake of being an on-going, Creative Team changes, or waiting for some “Event”.<br />
<br />
<b>I think some characters are just built more for the mini- or “Seasons” </b>with breaks for Creative Teams to prepare the next arcs, or come up with great stories for the characters to star in. <b>A whole list of titles from DC & Marvel that can’t break the 30k-per month barrier come to mind.</b> A character like <b>Green Arrow</b> <i>(just one of many examples)</i> would be far better off with mini-series or a 10-12 issue <i>“Season”</i>, rather than the horrid filler issues, bad story arcs, and shifting Creative Teams that are sending GA into the toilet, and shedding readers by the thousands every month.<br />
<br />
The <b>Big 2</b> are like our Government, holding to outdated modes of operation, stubbornly resisting change….and ultimately hurting their futures. Leave the Big Sellers to sell big, and make changes with the so-so sellers to help them be bigger."<br />
<br />
"<b>I love the idea of “Seasons” or “Mini/Maxi-series” when it comes to the Inde/Small Publisher Titles</b>. As an avid collector of several titles from the aforementioned, I have greatly enjoyed the ease of <i>“jumping on” </i>to the <b>Godzilla </b>and <b>Planet of the Apes</b> franchises <i>(because of their revolving mini’s- and often restarted on-goings)</i>.<br />
<br />
I’m a big fan of <i>Starkings</i>’ <b>Elephantmen </b>& <i>Sakai’s </i><b>Usagi Yojimbo</b> series, but often find people shying away when I tell them how far along the series are, and all the backstory they would have to collect. I’m not a <i>“salesman”</i> by any stretch, but those titles <i>(who have very loyal followers) </i>might increase in sales if they followed a <b>BPRD/S.King’s Tower format of on-going mini’s</b> <i>(giving new readers a chance to jump on)</i>. <b>Chew </b>was a book I was interested in, but by the time I had interest it was already too far along for me to start collecting…..Your <b>Hoax Hunters</b> is fine right now, but what if potential new readers shy away in the future when your issues are numbering in the thirties? Of course, <b>The Walking Dead</b> is the anomaly in this discussion….seemingly adding readers regardless of how issues are numbered.<br />
<br />
Several of the titles from DC/Marvel that I’ve collected over the years have been re-launched/re-booted/etc. several times, and it’s never bothered me at all…..so <b>I don’t think “Seasons” or on-going “Mini-Maxi” series will ever lose readers</b> <i>(looking at sales numbers over the last several years)</i>…only add….so I only see this as a positive thing."<br />
<br />
"Loyal followers will still have their LCS ordering their copy….and potential new readers will read about the new launches on the internet. New readers to comics won’t know/care about Publisher worries, only seeing the #1 on the shelf and saying, <i>“Hey, how about I try this….it’s just started”</i>. I’ve gone shopping with a few new readers <i>(some of them women….sorry to break the stereotype)</i>, and all of them were generally unwilling to buy anything that didn’t have a #1 on it. The couple that did buy “older” numbered titles<i> (by “older” I mean #3 or #4) </i>did so because they could pick up the previous issues which were readily available (due to re-orders).<br />
<br />
<b>It’s great to say “I have #1 thru #100 of So&So!”……but it’s the same to say, “I have all 100 issues of So&So!”…..and in the end, what’s the difference? </b>20 mini-series or 100 on-going issues…..sales history would suggest <i>(on average)</i> that the 20 mini’s would have higher numbers from the 20 #1′s. Good for the publisher, Good for the creative teams, Good for the new reader wanting to jump on…."<br />
<br />
"<b>If you look at sales numbers from month-to-month, you’ll notice that readers “jump off” every month.</b> I believe part of the reason that; excluding <b>The Walking Dead</b>, comic book sales don’t reflect the commercial success of movies is because the Comic Book Industry doesn’t take advantage of movie-goers interest.
While <i>TWDead </i>has seen it’s sales numbers booming from interest in the TV series….<i>The Avengers, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, etc.</i> have/did not see great increases, if any at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Arrow</b>; the new series from <i>The CW</i>, has had success in it’s first couple episodes and is extended for an entire season, but <b>will DC try and capitalize on it’s success?</b> Probably not. They would do well to immediately re-launch GREEN ARROW at #1, and/or rename it just ARROW….do a mini or two, etc….Change the concept around the character <i>(just a tweak or two)</i>, and it might sell well. Will they? Remains to be seen.<br />
<br />
<b>Publishers like IDW, Boom!, Dynamite, etc. have no shame or worries when relaunching titles, starting mini’s, etc. to coincide with movie/tv releases</b>…..<i>G.I. Joe, Transformers, Planet of the Apes, Popeye, Godzilla, Judge Dredd, Green Hornet, Lone Ranger, etc</i>…..<b>and those publishers survive and do well with the concept of “revolving” launches and mini’s.</b> Are the <i>“Big 2″</i> too arrogant to try, or are <i>“longtime”</i> readers too stubborn to allow for this with the iconic characters?<br />
<br />
Advertise it in the theaters before the movie starts…..<i>”Like the movie? Read the NEW comic book starting ___”</i> .....How hard is that? Common sense marketing to me."<br />
<br />
"<b>I would suggest that a “Season” be simply the completion of an extended arc</b> <i>(i.e. two or three arcs which interconnect/overlap)</i>, not by months of the year, but by issues. One<i> "Season"</i> may be 12 issues, the next season of that title may be 20, etc. Like a mini-series that may be 3, 4, 5, 6 issues…base it on the story arc rather than a publisher timeline.<br />
<br />
TV Seasons run between two years, and are anywhere from 10, 13, 20, 24 episodes etc. <b>The point is to have a definite beginning and ending, eliminate the “filler” issue, play off the timetable of movie/tv releases, & give “jumping on” points for potential new readers.</b> Keep some continuity, but not so much as to confuse.<br />
<br />
<b>We; the avid comic book reader/collector, have become so <i>“trained”</i> to see the world of comics in such a narrow mindset that we are helping to destroy it.</b> Time to evolve to see things like the younger generations….<i>”right now”</i> is what it’s all about, 10 or 20 years ago means <i>“nothing”.</i>.."<br />
<br />
<b>What do you think? Leave a Comment....
</b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-2660506566030827522012-08-31T10:22:00.000-04:002012-08-31T10:42:23.620-04:00Elephantmen: Armed Forces (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKNR517_u_E/UEC5zzVklEI/AAAAAAAAByg/RyjRHFZMDF4/s1600/Elephantmen00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKNR517_u_E/UEC5zzVklEI/AAAAAAAAByg/RyjRHFZMDF4/s320/Elephantmen00.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Armed Forces is a collection that includes the sold out graphic novel <b>War Toys</b><i> (see: <a href="http://superheroreviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-of-month-november-2011.html">Book of the Month</a>), </i><b>War Toys: Yvette, </b>& a couple of issues from the ongoing monthly, <b>Elephantmen</b>. <b>Richard Starkings</b> continues the writing on this masterpiece of <i>Pulp Science Fiction</i>, while artwork is done by some of the greatest artists in the industry today....<b>Moritat, Boo Cook, Ladronn, & Axel Medellin</b>. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WpZI_QOlgDw/UEDJ3-ix0PI/AAAAAAAAB0s/zp6hXZm2Pys/s1600/yvette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WpZI_QOlgDw/UEDJ3-ix0PI/AAAAAAAAB0s/zp6hXZm2Pys/s400/yvette.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yvette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While I must admit that <i>Saga </i>has taken over as the #1 comic book in my heart, <b>Elephantmen </b>takes a backseat to nothing else being published today. Completely original, entertaining, with some of the best storytelling and artwork available....it's in a word: <b>Awesome!</b><br />
<br />
The Hardcover editions are breathtakingly gorgeous, with attached ribbon bookmarker, great binding....a very <i>"real book"</i> look and feel.<br />
<br />
This volume is a prequel to the other <b>Elephantmen </b>volumes, showing the history and background on our main characters, the war fought in Europe between Central Africa & China, & the European resistance led by it's symbolic leader, <b>Yvette</b>. <i>She is really the star of this volume, as she matures from naive little sister to unstoppable Force of Nature!</i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
What we learn first is the history or <b>MAPPO</b>, the scientific entity led by the <b>Dr. Nikken</b>, who created the <b>Elephantmen</b>. After training, brainwashing, and purposing them for war....they are sold the Central African Alliance to be used against China in disease-ravaged Europe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULS-ZbPTdwo/UEC_uIm8CBI/AAAAAAAABzE/1LGCx8egmOI/s1600/EAF1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULS-ZbPTdwo/UEC_uIm8CBI/AAAAAAAABzE/1LGCx8egmOI/s640/EAF1.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
That is where we first meet <b>Yvette </b>and her brother. They are some of the surviving few trying to resist the <b>Elephantmen </b>advance across Europe. With 90% of the population killed by a virus, and the <i>Elephantmen </i>attempting to exterminate everyone who's left....<i>Yvette </i>and her brother could lose hope, but don't.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AES-p-zU68E/UEDBDoTavGI/AAAAAAAABzU/Wdqrgq-JOHI/s1600/EAF2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AES-p-zU68E/UEDBDoTavGI/AAAAAAAABzU/Wdqrgq-JOHI/s1600/EAF2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yvette & her Brother</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
After her Brother meets an unfortunate end, <b>Yvette </b>must <i>"grow up"</i> and defend herself against the advancing forces of <b>MAPPO</b>! She devices a plan that allows her escape while killing several of her Brother's murderers. Thus begins the legend of <b>Yvette</b>, both in the eyes of the <i>Resistance </i>and the <i>Elephantmen</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UQ8n6nNifM/UEDCD7cOdYI/AAAAAAAABzc/BZfwNFy-UL4/s1600/Elephantmen-Moritat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UQ8n6nNifM/UEDCD7cOdYI/AAAAAAAABzc/BZfwNFy-UL4/s1600/Elephantmen-Moritat.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Legend begins.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Resistance loses ground; however, as the <b>Elephantmen </b>hunt <b>Yvette </b>to gain revenge for their comrades. Fear is beginning to overtake some of them, as the legend of <i>Yvette </i>has grown with every dead <i>Elephantman</i>. They finally catch up to her in Norway, where she is all alone against an army of <i>Elephantmen</i>.....but <b>she has become a Force of Nature!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
An awesome battle ensues, but <b>Yvette </b>comes out with the short end of the stick.....or so the <b>Elephantmen </b>would think. But she cannot be stopped, only slowed momentarily!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP465Lv6Ndk/UEDC9ormH7I/AAAAAAAABzk/lE01HvObMxc/s1600/EAFnorway2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RP465Lv6Ndk/UEDC9ormH7I/AAAAAAAABzk/lE01HvObMxc/s640/EAFnorway2.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yvette & Elephantmen...face-to-face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After recovering from her injuries, she begins tracking the <i>Elephantmen</i>; now advancing toward <b>China</b>, killing as many as she can. <br />
<br />
<b>China</b>; meanwhile, has a secret of their own....in their base on the <b>Moon</b>. Firing rockets toward earth carrying their own version of Elephantmen....<b>Tigers</b>!!! We also get our first glimpses of flame-throwing <b>Hyenas</b>.<br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b>
<b>Yvette </b>and the <i>Resistance </i>commandeer an <i>Elephantmen </i>armor suit, and she attacks.....at the same time the <i>Elephantmen </i>are being attacked by China's <i>"Stone"</i> <b>Tigers </b>as well. <i>Yvette </i>is saved once again by fate, and shows no mercy to the <i>Tigers</i>.<br />
<br />
In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Patient Zero</i>, we get an early glimpse of <b>Dr. Nikken</b> and his attempts to produce an <i>Elephantman</i>. The story revolves around <b>Vernal</b>, an assistant in the labs. When<i> Dr. Nikken</i> orders the disposal of a failed experiment, <i>Vernal </i>saves it as a pet. It grows and grows, until....well you'll just have to pick up the volume and read the story, won't you?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffArFz15XKE/UEDF_Qu_gqI/AAAAAAAAB0I/50txV07fWOU/s1600/EM01_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffArFz15XKE/UEDF_Qu_gqI/AAAAAAAAB0I/50txV07fWOU/s1600/EM01_03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">artwork from <i><b>Patient Zero</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What I truly loved about this volume is that <b>Yvette </b>is the star! In the monthly title <i>(collected as Elephantmen: volumes 1-5)</i>, it's<b> Hip Flask</b>, <b>Ebony Hide</b>,<b> Obadiah Horn</b> and those humans most closely associated with them that star....but here in <b>Armed Forces</b>, it's just <b>Yvette</b>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w220UCPxZqY/UEDKogAHQgI/AAAAAAAAB00/uY8A3i8U5TQ/s1600/Richard+Starkings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w220UCPxZqY/UEDKogAHQgI/AAAAAAAAB00/uY8A3i8U5TQ/s320/Richard+Starkings.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Starkings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once again, we see the genius that is <b>Richard Starkings</b>! This volume is tremendous, and a must have if you are wondering about the beginnings of the <b>Elephantmen</b>! The artwork is always phenomenal, and the story is riveting. <br />
<b>Starkings' brings out the humanity in the Elephantmen while showing the animal in Humanity.</b> <br />
<br />
This is a <i>"little known"</i> title, and hard to find at your local comic book shop.....but ask for the monthly issues and visit <b>Amazon </b>to pick up the first 5 volumes and volume 00 <i>(Armed Forces)</i>....you won't be disappointed!<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: AWESOME.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-29143341377192741542012-08-31T08:51:00.001-04:002012-08-31T08:59:33.856-04:00Saga #5 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z7ODz6OPtI/UD-5UQyP6aI/AAAAAAAABwA/fvdbmChur5k/s1600/Saga-5-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Z7ODz6OPtI/UD-5UQyP6aI/AAAAAAAABwA/fvdbmChur5k/s320/Saga-5-Cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
To say that this title so far has been awesome would be an understatement.....<b>Brian K. Vaughan</b> <i>(Writer)</i> & <b>Fiona Staples</b> <i>(Artist)</i> have easily created the best series of 2012. <b>Saga </b>& <b>The Walking Dead</b> are the only non-<i>"Big 2" (DC & Marvel)</i> titles in the Top 50<i> (in Sales)</i> for the last 6 months. <b>Saga </b>has been doing great in sales, with several reorders for each of the first 5 issues. This is a title still gaining new readers every month, and boasts an impressive female reading audience as well<i> (something most comic book titles struggle to find)</i>.<br />
<br />
The covers for every issue have been wonderful, boasting a character from the <i>Saga Universe</i>, this issue having <b>Prince Robot IV</b> gracing it's cover. He seems to have father issues, a bad temper, and maybe some problems in the bedroom as well.....but things are looking up, as he receives good news in this issue.<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="http://superheroreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/saga-4-review.html">Issue 4</a></b></i> ended with <b>Marko, Alana, & Hazel</b> face-to-face with <b>Landfall </b>soldiers looking to <i>"pacify"</i> them, <b>The Will</b> trying to escape <b>Sextillion </b>with a little girl he's saved from slavery, & <b>The Stalk</b> still lurking about......on to the review.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The issue begins with <b>Prince Robot IV</b> spending some time on the can.....then receives an incoming call from his wife who informs him she's pregnant!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FphKJ93JPoM/UECubtTNDmI/AAAAAAAABxk/3_ctF6XJzSY/s1600/Prince+Robot+on+toilet+%235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FphKJ93JPoM/UECubtTNDmI/AAAAAAAABxk/3_ctF6XJzSY/s1600/Prince+Robot+on+toilet+%235.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No dialogue necessary....We've all been there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile...<b>Marko, Alana, & Hazel</b> are face to with soldiers from Landfall....seeking to <i>"Pacify"</i> them. A fight ensues, <i>Alana </i>gets shot.....and <i>Marko </i>goes <i>#*%($^@!(!</i> on them....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf0D-sRRxt8/UECvMUb5V8I/AAAAAAAABxs/-Tpd-7DejWw/s1600/Saga-5-Page-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf0D-sRRxt8/UECvMUb5V8I/AAAAAAAABxs/-Tpd-7DejWw/s640/Saga-5-Page-6.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't make Marko lose his temper.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgjWXRMvLRw/UECwJrWinMI/AAAAAAAABx0/mARzqucuNXM/s1600/Marko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgjWXRMvLRw/UECwJrWinMI/AAAAAAAABx0/mARzqucuNXM/s640/Marko.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when you threaten Marko's family!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Will</b>; meanwhile, is attempting to get the little girl he rescued from slavery<i> (see: <a href="http://superheroreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/saga-4-review.html">Saga #4</a>)</i> off <b>Sextillion </b>when he comes face-to-face with <b>Mama Sun</b>....who is holding <b>Lying Cat</b> at gunpoint and wants her <i>"property" </i>back. A <i>"security elixir"</i> keeps the little girl on <b>Sextillion </b><i>(she will die if she leaves before fulfilling her contract)</i>, and <b>The Will </b>desperately seeks a way to save her.....<br />
<br />
<b>Marko, Alana, & Hazel</b> take the Landfall Soldiers' aircraft to get to <b>Rocketship Forest</b> faster, <b>The Will</b> calls <b>The Stalk</b> for help and admits his love for her, <b>Prince Robot IV</b> arrives to find <i>The Stalk</i> with the unconscious <i>Landfall Soldiers</i>, then.....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UvP4i9K0QAQ/UECx3SIm2DI/AAAAAAAABx8/eFo8OkkYiJk/s1600/Prince+Robot+kills+The+Stalk+%235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UvP4i9K0QAQ/UECx3SIm2DI/AAAAAAAABx8/eFo8OkkYiJk/s1600/Prince+Robot+kills+The+Stalk+%235.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is The Stalk really gone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What an AWESOME issue!</b> I could have seriously put more and more artwork in this post, because I love every page! However, to help <b>BKV </b>& <b>Staples </b>make money, I chose only some of the highlights from the story.....<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: AWESOME!</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-79781213184486995512012-08-29T10:34:00.000-04:002012-08-29T10:46:33.483-04:00The Flash #10, #11, & #12 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0x0Ea9lGi6Y/UD4XcsRKbKI/AAAAAAAABts/DjiAzl1I2Gk/s1600/The+Flash_dcnu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0x0Ea9lGi6Y/UD4XcsRKbKI/AAAAAAAABts/DjiAzl1I2Gk/s400/The+Flash_dcnu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, the <i>"<strike>New </strike>52"</i> <b>Flash </b>is officially a year old! Sales have been solid,<b> Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato</b> have proven they can write as well as do fabulous arwork, & this has consistently been my favorite DC Comics title. <i> "The Man" & "Booch" </i>have introduced us to the re-imagined <b>Rogues</b>, <b>Gem Cities, & Barry Allen</b> with art that borders on masterpiece.....<u>I cannot state enthusiastically enough how wonderfully awesome the artwork is from the first to last page in every issue done by these two creators.</u> <br />
<br />
<b>The Flash</b> is one of the most visually-influenced characters in comic books. What I mean is, the story almost always hinges on the visual....rather than the visual on the story <i>(i.e. Batman, Green Lantern, etc.)</i>. DC Comics made the right decision in giving this title to <b>Manapul & Buccellato</b>, two artists who were new to writing. They have progressed exponentially as writers over their first 12 issues together, all the while providing the breathtaking artwork that is needed on a title like <b>The Flash</b>!<br />
<br />
Looking back over the years at wonderful artwork on <b>The Flash</b>.....from the talented hands of <i>Harold Porter</i>, <i>Ethan Van Sciver</i>, <i>Scott Kolins</i>, & <i>Andy Kubert</i> <i>(off the top of my head)</i>.....it is <b>Francis Manapul</b>'s Flash that I always see now when I think of <b>The Flash</b>! He has made<b> The Flash</b> <i>"Iconic"</i> again in my eyes....<u>Thank You Mr. Manapul!!!</u><br />
<br />
On to the reviews.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqrEICDqbB8/UD4WqaLBF0I/AAAAAAAABtk/6a_D3FqH9sg/s1600/the-flash-new-52-10-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqrEICDqbB8/UD4WqaLBF0I/AAAAAAAABtk/6a_D3FqH9sg/s320/the-flash-new-52-10-cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<b>The Flash</b> is in love....with <b>Patty Spivot</b>, but she's disappeared in Guatemala <i>(while investigating a cold case murder)</i>. <b>The Flash</b> is trying to find her, but finds himself facing <i>"waves"</i> of trouble...at the hands of <b>Weather Wizard</b>! <i> Marco Mardon</i> has a drug empire in Guatemala, and with the help of his considerable powers and his sister-in-law, he is not about to let <i>The Flash</i> interfere. <br />
<br />
What <b>Weather Wizard</b> & <b>The Flash</b> don't know is that <i>Patty </i>is being held captive by <b>Elsa Mardon</b>, W.W.'s sister-in-law! <i>The Flash</i> tracks them down, <i>Elsa </i>admits to taking <i>Patty</i>, and a half second later <i>The Flash</i> has saved <i>Patty's </i>life from the drug thugs ordered to kill her by <i>Elsa</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Barry Allen</b> wants to tell <b>Patty </b>he loves her, but she now blames <b>The Flash</b> for Barry's <i>"death" (see: Flash #8)</i>.....Not knowing that <i>Barry & The Flash</i> are one-in-the-same. <b>The Flash</b> decides not to burden her with his troubles, <b>Weather Wizard</b> makes sure <b>Elsa </b>is punished for his brother's murder, and <b>The Glider </b>appears to bring <b>Weather Wizard</b> <i>"home"</i>.<br />
<br />
A decent issue, with fill-in artwork by <b>Marcos To</b>. He does well, but he's just not <i>Francis Manapul</i>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnPWxvaPw9U/UD4bgilEIjI/AAAAAAAABuQ/w1bj7qcVmeg/s1600/FLASH11-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnPWxvaPw9U/UD4bgilEIjI/AAAAAAAABuQ/w1bj7qcVmeg/s320/FLASH11-cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
In <b><i>Slow Burn</i></b>, <b>Heat Wave</b> makes his first appearance in the <i>"<strike>New </strike>52"</i>, and teaches the important lesson of what happens when you play with fire. <b>Barry Allen</b> has decided to <i>"stay dead"</i> for a while, travelling to <i>"The Keys" (a crime-infested ghetto suburb of Keystone City)</i>, and finding a new job.<br />
<br />
He finds work at the bar the <b>Rogues</b> hang out at. He has a personal conversation with <b>Captain Cold</b>, and witnesses firsthand the animosity that <b>Heat Wave </b>and <b>Cold </b>have toward one another.<i> Heat Wave</i> blames <i>Cold </i>for what has happened to them, and wants revenge. <br />
<br />
Barry changes to <b>The Flash</b>, and puts out fire and ice with some fast running.....<b>Glider </b>appears once again as <i>Heat Wave</i> and <i>Cold </i>are being transported to jail.<br />
<br />
<b>Marcos To</b> does artwork again, and again...he's not <i>"The Man"</i>! Some decent revelations begin to take shape in this issue, linking the changes in the <b>Rogues </b>to something that <b>Captain Cold</b> has done....previous to the <i>"<strike>New </strike>52"</i>, all the <i>Rogues </i>uses technology or mechanical weapons <i>(Guns, flamethrowers, etc.)</i>....now their skills are manifested as powers within themselves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CNqe3_JlAT4/UD4dcVvLqVI/AAAAAAAABuY/jKUdIr_JvJc/s1600/flash12cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CNqe3_JlAT4/UD4dcVvLqVI/AAAAAAAABuY/jKUdIr_JvJc/s320/flash12cover.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div>
Issue 12 sees <b>Manapul </b>back on full-time artwork duties....and the issue really takes off from the start. <b>Glider </b>saves <b>Heat Wave</b>, and leaves <b>Captain Cold</b> <i>(her brother, btw)</i> falling to his death as <b>The Flash</b> hunts down <b>Dr. Elias</b> to find out why he's turned against him. After tapping into the residual power created by <i>The Flash's </i><b>Speedforce</b>, <i>Dr. Elias</i> is considered a hero.....of course he didn't tell the public where he got the energy that is now powering the Gem Cities and the new <i>"all-green"</i> railway system.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the <b>Pied Piper</b> is back....and so is <b>Trickster</b>, making their debuts while saving <b>Captain Cold</b>. <b>The Flash</b> meets <b>Glider </b>face-to-face, and finds out that she has something against <b>Dr. Elias</b>. She uses her powers to fatally wound him, but makes it look like <i>The Flash</i> has done it! She & the other <b>Rogues </b>then drive the new railway train off the tracks and into the side of a windowed skyscraper....where it disappears!!!!....thanks to <b>Mirror Master</b>!!<br />
<br />
Just as <b>The Rogues</b> are about to make their escape, they find their path blocked by the chilly hands of <b>Captain Cold</b>.....a great cliffhanger going into The Flash Annual #1!! <b>Loved everything about this issue!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4KML9h6fFA/UD4hMS5RfHI/AAAAAAAABu8/Ds-hme1XLsI/s1600/the-flash-new-52-2-run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4KML9h6fFA/UD4hMS5RfHI/AAAAAAAABu8/Ds-hme1XLsI/s400/the-flash-new-52-2-run.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<b><u>The Flash, The <i>"<strike>New </strike>52"</i>....One Year Later.</u></b> I have never seen an artist use the panel layout to tell stories like <b>Francis Manapul</b> does.....he can draw within his drawings<i> (see panel to our right)</i> to tell a great story in unique ways. He does this every issue, making <b>The Flash</b> entertaining and visually exciting!<br />
<br />
Sales have dropped over the year, but are still strong at this point....after a couple of fill-in issues on art by <b>Marcos To</b>, Manapul is back in the saddle for the foreseeable future. I've always been o.k. about fill-in artists, since time/stresses/real life sometimes slow down an artist, so I imagine somewhere down the road there will be fill-in artists again on <b>The Flash</b>. So long as the majority of artwork is done by <b>Manapul & Buccellato</b>...I'm happy!<br />
<br />
My hope for the future of <b>The Flash</b> is that <i>"The Man" & "Booch"</i> stay together and continue their solid writing and phenomenal artwork.....in the end, that is what will propel this title to great heights. While creative changes are abounding all over the <i>"<strike>New</strike> 52"</i> titles, this title remains unchanged...that speaks volumes of what fans and DC <i>"higher-ups" </i>think of these two. With the highly anticipated <i>"Gorilla Warfare"</i> beginning in a couple months, I fully expect to see <b>The Flash</b> back in the Top 20 over the next year.<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#10): O.K.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#11): O.K.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#12): AWESOME.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (one year later): AWESOME.</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-34294287312123741282012-08-27T14:09:00.000-04:002012-08-27T14:21:15.064-04:00Red Lanterns #11 & #12 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ-PYfEbat4/UDu4itSJQ9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/ux2txFU8Dzs/s1600/tumblr_m85c6jmk0I1r2lg31o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ-PYfEbat4/UDu4itSJQ9I/AAAAAAAABnQ/ux2txFU8Dzs/s1600/tumblr_m85c6jmk0I1r2lg31o1_500.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It is only beginning!!!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> are having issues.....split into two factions, separated in two directions, dying one-by-one from whatever and whomever has poisoned the <i>Red Lanterns' </i><b>Power Battery</b> on their home planet <b>Ysmault</b>.....things are not looking good.<br />
<br />
So, it's almost been a year for the <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> title.....a year of <span style="color: red;"><b>RAGE!! </b> </span>Sales show them around the middle of the pack for DC titles, and last among the 4 <span style="color: lime;"><b>Green Lantern</b></span> Titles.....but at around 36k, sales are solid for this title, and it should continue for at least another year or two. <b> Peter Milligan</b> is going strong, with no announced plans of going anywhere...and artist <b>Miguel Sepulveda</b> is showing his worth just a few issues in. On to the reviews.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRdpBq5Ba9w/UDumD3O_AyI/AAAAAAAABlI/_n0EEKZt_ZE/s1600/red10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRdpBq5Ba9w/UDumD3O_AyI/AAAAAAAABlI/_n0EEKZt_ZE/s320/red10.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Love and Hate </i>begins with <span style="color: lime;"><b>Green Lanterns</b></span> <i>(including Guy Gardner)</i> arriving at <b>Ysmault </b>and discovering the shocking scene of the Red Lanterns' destroyed Power Battery, the planet tearing apart, and ghosts of dead, dead <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span>. <br />
<br />
The scene then shifts to <b>Zamaron</b>, home of the <span style="color: magenta;"><b>Star Sapphires</b></span>, where <b>Bleez </b>and her faction of <i>Red Lanterns</i> have been captured by <b>Fatality </b>and the rest of the <i>Star Sapphires</i>. <b>Fatality </b>believes their shared time against <b>Invictus </b><i>(see: <span style="color: lime;"><b>Green Lantern New Guardians</b></span> title, #'s 5-7)</i> and their similar abused childhoods may be able to persuade <i>Bleez </i>to join their Females-Only Corps of Love.....<i>Bleez </i>is having none of that!...at first. <i>Bleez </i>believes they are the ones seeking to destroy them, and after telling <i>Fatality </i>to <i>"stick it"</i>, she shares her rage-filled blood with the <i>Star Sapphire</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-op5F1-w-qGQ/UDupyYoWCNI/AAAAAAAABlo/aS0et_Gdi1M/s1600/abysmus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-op5F1-w-qGQ/UDupyYoWCNI/AAAAAAAABlo/aS0et_Gdi1M/s320/abysmus.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>the "new & improved" Abysmus!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile, <b>Rankorr </b>awakens to nothing.....literally. Knocked unconscious during the initial battle with the <span style="color: magenta;"><b>Star Sapphires</b></span>, he is lost and feeling all alone in the universe.<br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus</b>, <b>Skallox</b>, and our favorite cat-in-comics, <b>Dex-Starr</b> have traveled far and wide to track down <b>Abysmus</b>, whom <i>Atrocitus </i>believes is the one behind the poisoning of their Power Battery. He pours out rageful vengeance and begins a <span style="color: red;"><b>Blood Prophecy </b></span>to find his adversary......<br />
<br />
<b>Bleez & Fatality have a "cat fight", Rankorr finds an asteroid belt of dead Red Lanterns, & Atrocitus comes face-to-face with a "new" Abysmus!! </b>Changed by the <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Guardians of the Universe</b></span>, they seek the death of Atrocitus!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_jCYzHzvFU/UDuqojepx5I/AAAAAAAABlw/uoFSEDEh8vY/s1600/red+lanterns+12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_jCYzHzvFU/UDuqojepx5I/AAAAAAAABlw/uoFSEDEh8vY/s320/red+lanterns+12.jpeg" width="208" /></a>In <i style="font-weight: bold;">Nectar</i>, <b>Abysmus </b>wants answers! Why was he created only to be buried? Why was he a disappointment to his<i> "father"</i> <b>Atrocitus</b>? And why does a cat keep pestering him? As the unconscious body of <b>Dex-Starr</b> falls to the ground, <i>Atrocitus </i>relives the memories of life before becoming a <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lantern</b></span>.....his family and race annihilated by the <b>Manhunters</b>....his pure rage rising from the ashes of a destroyed life!<br />
<br />
Weak and dying, <b>Atrocitus </b>sends up a flare for help as <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> are dead or near death across the cosmos.....<b>Rankorr </b>sees the flare and arrives just in time to give <b>Abysmus </b>a construct of the death that he has caused by poisoning the Power Battery on <b>Ysmault</b>. The distraction allows <i>Atrocitus </i>to gain the upper hand and rip out the <i>"seed"</i> he had planted of the <b>Four Inversions</b> so many years ago.....<i>Abysmus</i>' weakened state means dinner time for <b>Dex-Starr</b>!!! <br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus </b>and his group return to <b>Ysmault </b>to <i>"heal" </i>the <b>Power Battery</b> just in time, because the restored power enables <b>Bleez </b>to realize that purple isn't her color! The <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> meet once again on <i>Ysmault</i>, and <b>Atrocitus </b>announces they are just beginning!! <br />
<br />
An impressive issue, although I must criticize the<i> "pulling a rabbit out of the hat"</i> ending. Wouldn't logic dictate that <b>Atrocitus </b>let all the <b>Red Lanterns</b> know to hunt down <b>Abysmus </b>because he had the <i>"seed"</i> of the <b>Four Inversions</b> within him? Of course, logic and rage don't really work together all that well......Writer <b>Peter Milligan</b>'s use of Dex-Starr as violent, comedic relief is wonderfully done, and has only added to my growing love for the <i>Kitty of Rage</i>!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4El985yee_s/UDux_8o-EFI/AAAAAAAABmQ/ItzP-eRAHgI/s1600/red-lanterns-12-page-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4El985yee_s/UDux_8o-EFI/AAAAAAAABmQ/ItzP-eRAHgI/s640/red-lanterns-12-page-3.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dex-Starr.....down, but never out!!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, One Year into DC's<i> "<strike>New</strike> 52"</i>, I see <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> as one of the big winners! While several previously non-existing books <i>(O.M.A.C., Hawk & Dove, Mister Terrific, etc.)</i> were cancelled throughout the year, and several more are in danger of being cancelled because of low sales<i> (Captain Atom, Firestorm, Resurrection Man, Stormwatch, etc.)</i>, <b>Red Lanterns is going strong!</b> Could the story have been less <i>"choppy"</i> in parts?...sure. Should there have been more rageful vengeance to compliment the story arc?...yeah. But overall, I'm impressed with this title, and enjoy it more than any of the other <span style="color: lime;"><b>Green Lantern</b></span> titles.<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#11): O.K.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#12): IMPRESSIVE.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (One Year Later): IMPRESSIVE.</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-27963367236848046882012-08-27T12:26:00.001-04:002012-08-27T12:26:45.434-04:00Reed Gunther: The Bear-Riding Cowboy (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svksEaL2cfY/UDufdI6lG5I/AAAAAAAABkI/iUxeep7F5iY/s1600/reed_gunther_tp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svksEaL2cfY/UDufdI6lG5I/AAAAAAAABkI/iUxeep7F5iY/s320/reed_gunther_tp.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
I've collected comic books over a couple of decades, and Reed Gunther is one of the best "all ages" comic books that I've ever read. Entertaining, fun, comical at times....with a decent story plot and good writing & artwork.
Reed, Sterling <i>(his best friend, and also a bear)</i>, & Starla have <i>"wild west"</i> fun fighting monsters, giant snakes, and an "evil" businessman....which all leads them to New York City! <b>Every Chapter leaves a smile on your face and chuckling under your breath as you shout "Pickled Beets!"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-58124220488594771462012-08-04T20:18:00.000-04:002012-08-04T20:18:14.984-04:00Godzilla Legends (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TICGPCFeB5M/UB2m-Q0annI/AAAAAAAABbo/cR0wsKnubYk/s1600/GodzillaLegends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TICGPCFeB5M/UB2m-Q0annI/AAAAAAAABbo/cR0wsKnubYk/s320/GodzillaLegends.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
This 5-issue mini-series explored some of <i>Toho's</i> other monsters that regularly make appearances in <b>Godzilla </b>movies and comics. Each issue/chapter of this Graphic Novel explores one of the monsters pictured on the cover.<br />
<br />
Various writers & artists collaborated on this project; most notably <b>Matt Frank</b>, who drew the cover for the collection and all of issue 1. <b>Simon Gane</b>; the current artist on the on-going <b>Godzilla </b>series from IDW, is among the artists as well.<br />
<br />
The <i>Godzilla/Toho universe</i> is a rather simple one......<b>Giant Monsters, Alien races, and Humans</b> trying to determine the friendliness of the aliens and avoid/defeat the Monsters. <b>Godzilla </b>is the <i>Alpha-Monster</i>, who regularly saves mankind while also crushing them underfoot.<br />
<br />
I am rather new to Godzilla; having watched several of the movies as a child.....and am currently catching up on several <b>Godzilla </b>films made after 1998. <b>IDW </b>has done an outstanding job staying<i> "true" </i>to the franchise's history and direction <i>(unlike previous incarnations of Godzilla at Marvel & Dark Horse)</i>.....much like they've done with <i>G.I. Joe, Transformers, Doctor Who, Star Trek, & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>.<br />
<br />
On to the Review.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LX6fixSGSV4/UB2qjkixHfI/AAAAAAAABcI/m1gnHdvO9ME/s1600/anguirus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LX6fixSGSV4/UB2qjkixHfI/AAAAAAAABcI/m1gnHdvO9ME/s320/anguirus.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 cover, by Art Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It begins with <i><u>"The Underdog"</u></i>. <b>Destoroyah </b>appears for no apparent reason and begins leveling the metropolitan area. <b> Dr. Anders</b> has a frequency device that is still in the development phase, but has <i>"called"</i> Godzilla once. Desperate to rid their city of <i>Destoroyah</i>,<b> Colonel Matsumiyah</b> orders <i>Dr. Anders</i> to use the still-unfinished device. <i>Dr. Anders</i> activates the frequency device, but it apparently doesn't work. <i>Destoroyah </i>destroys their building with them in it.......<b>Tagger </b>& <i>Anders </i>escape, but <i>Matsumiyah </i>doesn't.<br />
<br />
But Wait! The device did work! Just not quite how they expected, it hasn't called <i>Godzilla</i>, but rather <b>Anguirus</b>!! Though he is far from humanity's best hope. <i>Anguirus </i>has lost every single recorded battle with another monster. Charging blindly into the fight with <b>Destoroyah</b>, <i>Anguirus </i>looks destined to lose yet again against his far more powerful opponent. <br />
<br />
<b>Tagger </b>has a soft spot in her heart for the courageous <b>Anguirus</b>, though <b>Dr. Anders</b> believes he may lose his life against <b>Destoroyah</b>......who will be victorious? And what happens when <b>Godzilla </b>appears?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwVKs1vmSHw/UB2ttqc_R7I/AAAAAAAABco/S6FrJCZIQ7U/s1600/rodan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwVKs1vmSHw/UB2ttqc_R7I/AAAAAAAABco/S6FrJCZIQ7U/s320/rodan.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 cover by Art Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next, is <i><u>"Lifespan"</u></i>, a tale involving everyone's favorite flying monster....<b>Rodan</b>!! <br />
<br />
When Marine <i>Matty Graves</i> returns from leave with a giant egg, all hell breaks loose in Okinawa! It's Rodan's egg! While <b>Rodan </b>wreaks havoc on the base, <b>Dr. Holder</b> hides the egg. Obsessed with unlocking it's secrets, <i>Dr. Holder</i> ignores his other duties and gives the egg his undivided attention. <br />
<br />
Dr. Holder's son; <b>Ethan</b>, is having problems at school. Getting bullied and beat up because he's not Japanese and his father is not in the Marines....but he has developed a talent of sorts, he's become a good thief. <i>Ethan</i> tries talking with his father about his troubles, but <b>Dr. Holder</b> only cares about the egg.<br />
<br />
When the military order him to give up the egg, <b>Dr. Holder</b> goes insane with his obsession....and <b>Ethan </b>sees an opportunity and offers to help his father steal the egg from the base! The next day; while <i>Dr. Holder </i>is being arrested for stealing the egg, <i>Ethan </i>takes the egg to school....coaxing out <b>Rodan </b>to<i> "punish" </i>the bullies at school. <i>Rodan </i>appears, and you won't believe what happens next......!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-wB6xVu2zk/UB2vrnx2afI/AAAAAAAABcw/htbCn1Eb7n0/s1600/titanosaurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-wB6xVu2zk/UB2vrnx2afI/AAAAAAAABcw/htbCn1Eb7n0/s320/titanosaurus.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3 cover by Art Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In <i><u>"Secrets"</u></i> we learn that <b>Tristan </b>has an unusual gift....the ability to read minds and influence others. <b>Miki Saegusa</b> has this gift as well, and has been sent by the<b> United Nations</b> to recruit <i>Tristan </i>& others for a special development school aimed at stopping the <i>Kaiju </i>Monsters using their telepathy.<br />
<br />
The school is run by Headmaster <b>Mugal</b>, who oddly has the power of blocking the telepaths from reading his mind. <b>Tristan </b>decides to attend the school, and quickly shows himself as the most powerful of the students....exciting <i>Mugal</i>, but worrying <b>Miki </b>who thinks the training is proceeding too quickly.<br />
<br />
Using fear and pain as catalysts, <b>Mugal </b>causes <b>Tristan</b> to have a <i>"break"</i> and connects with a monster, <b>Titanosaurus</b>! As <i>Titanosaurus </i>rages across the city, <i>Tristan </i>tries to find his parents....who have been abducted! There is far more powerful forces at work here; however, than meets the eye! Where is Tristan's parents, Tristan, & Titanosaurus? What is the connection with Mugal? And what is he planning?....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywEYXGi10Y8/UB2yFJD-Q3I/AAAAAAAABc4/5ihLlc1o9xY/s1600/hedorah.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywEYXGi10Y8/UB2yFJD-Q3I/AAAAAAAABc4/5ihLlc1o9xY/s320/hedorah.jpeg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4 cover by Art Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><u>"Smog of War"</u></i> stars one of the weirdest monsters of the <i>Toho </i>universe, <b>Hedorah</b>! Linfen, China has been destroyed and rendered uninhabitable by huge amounts of toxicity. A <b>Mechagodzilla </b>training team has been sent to investigate....assuming that the destruction was caused by <b>Godzilla </b>himself.<br />
<br />
The team is quite surprised to face this very different creature, who can change shapes and is toxic to the touch. While <b>Mechagodzilla </b>chases after <b>Hedorah </b>to keep it from destroying any other metropolitan area, <b>Godzilla </b>enters the fray!! <br />
<br />
Tasked with destroying <b>Godzilla</b>, the team of <b>Mechagodzilla </b>doesn't know who to fight....<b>Hedorah </b>or the Kaiju Alpha Monster himself?<br />
<br />
<b>Mechagodzilla </b>targets <b>Godzilla</b>, who ignores it to fight <b>Hedorah</b>....who seemingly cannot be hurt by conventional means. <i>Hedorah</i> decides to attack both <i>Godzilla</i> and <i>Mechagodzilla</i>, and appears to have the upper hand! Who will win? The giant Machine, Chemicals, or the Lizard? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMcDsZgaN9w/UB202NVRpLI/AAAAAAAABdc/wW1vouObv_4/s1600/kumonga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMcDsZgaN9w/UB202NVRpLI/AAAAAAAABdc/wW1vouObv_4/s320/kumonga.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 cover by Art Adams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In<i><u> "From a Great Height"</u></i>, adventurer <b>Bryson Allworth</b> describes his journey from <b>Godzilla</b>'s tail to his head....an effort to collect scientific data for research, and to conquer the challenge of climbing the great Monster. <br />
<br />
<b>Allworth </b>discovers along the journey that <b>Godzilla</b> is much more than meets the eye....he just wants to live his life and be at peace, but we keep getting in the way. So do other monsters! This time it's <b>Kumonga </b>that disturbs Godzilla's<i> "chi"</i>. <i>Kumonga </i>dug a mile-wide quicksand pit to trap his prey, and goes to work spinning his web to wrap up lunch.....but the <b>King of Monsters</b> will have none of that! A battle between giant monsters ensues, and to quote a famous acting quote, <b>Godzilla </b>will <i>"break a leg"</i>!<br />
<br />
Is <b>Godzilla </b><i>Kumonga's </i>lunch? or, did <b>Kumonga </b>bite off more than it can liquify? Is Mr. <b>Allworth's </b>theory that mankind causes the destruction brought about by <i>Godzilla</i> and other monsters true, or pure fiction?<br />
<br />
If you are a fan of the Kaiju, then <b>Godzilla Legends is a very enjoyable read.</b> Filled with giant monsters, weird sci-fi, and strange aliens.....decent writing & good art showcase the unique perspectives revolving around some of <i>Toho's </i>other Monsters. <b><u>Citizen's Grade: Impressive.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-51217767745050112782012-08-03T01:37:00.000-04:002012-08-03T01:41:50.829-04:00Dinosaurs vs. Aliens (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqs8l1eqVLo/UBtZ4X99RTI/AAAAAAAABag/xmpHUAHZ9bg/s1600/dinosaursvsaliens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqs8l1eqVLo/UBtZ4X99RTI/AAAAAAAABag/xmpHUAHZ9bg/s320/dinosaursvsaliens.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Now <b>this </b>is an interesting concept.....which is definitely doubling as movie pitch for <b>Barry Sonnenfeld</b> <i>(who is the director famous for the "Men in Black" film franchise)</i>. Written by the Iconic <b>Grant Morrison</b>, with artwork done by<b> Mukesh Singh</b> & <i>Liquid Studios</i>. The Graphic Novel is published by <b>Dynamite Entertainment</b>.<br />
<br />
Just when I had given up hope that <b>Grant Morrison</b> could write a simplistic, straightforward, awesomely wonderful comic book like he did <i>"back in the day" (I am referring to his <b>JLA </b>writing)</i>....he writes this great piece of work! So simple it's daring....so simple it's complex and mind-blowing! <i>Bravo, Grant Morrison, bravo!</i><br />
<br />
I will be at my local cinema at 10am waiting in the <b>Dinosaurs vs. Aliens</b> line........I may have to leave occasionally <i>(for work and showers)</i>, but I will be there on opening day!!! On to the review...<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
This graphic novels screams <i>"opening scenes from upcoming film"</i>, with dinosaurs facing off against one another as Aliens traversing the universe land believing themselves the only intelligent life on the planet. There is a unique comparison that I read in an interview with <i>Morrison</i>.....<b>that </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Dinosaurs vs. Aliens</i><b> is in it's most basic sense a close comparison to Europeans landing in America and their outlook on the "New World" </b><i>(claiming ownership on whatever soil they stepped on without thought to anyone else prior to them having claim to it)</i><b> and Native Americans </b><i>(as being in all aspects "less then" Europeans)</i><b>.</b> That distinctive perspective makes itself quite clear in the opening pages of this wonderful story.....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mjmzbz1xWl8/UBtdBmfJyLI/AAAAAAAABbA/G-k0uI0ll68/s1600/dinosaursvsaliens02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mjmzbz1xWl8/UBtdBmfJyLI/AAAAAAAABbA/G-k0uI0ll68/s1600/dinosaursvsaliens02a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the headdress, bracelets, necklaces, and "war" paint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The story is narrated by an alien, <b>Commander Kit</b>. He explains how they ended up at the<i> "blue planet"</i>, their investigations of plants and animals, their assumptions and mistakes that led to the inevitable clash of cultures. In essence, he explains how it became <b>Dinosaurs vs. Aliens</b>!!<br />
<br />
<b>Grant Morrison</b> does a masterful job of going somewhere I've not seen anyone go before <i>(that I'm aware of)</i>, though you can argue it's basically <i>Avatar</i>....which is basically <i>Dancing with Wolves</i>....which is basically _______<i> (fill in the blank)</i>.....but I'm talking about comics, and dinosaurs portrayed with <i>"human"</i> cultural aspects. <b>Morrison's writing is fluid and simple</b>, not the usually convoluted mess of abstract thoughts and <i>"pulling rabbits out of a hat"</i> to complete stories that his writing has become over the last 5 years or so <i>(<b>in my opinion</b>.....he sells tons of comic books, & has millions of fans....so maybe I'm just not intelligent enough to get his stuff, which is quite possible!)</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQMVL9oAtnU/UBtd24YpwiI/AAAAAAAABbI/idOGAXRtPZY/s1600/dinosaursvsaliens01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQMVL9oAtnU/UBtd24YpwiI/AAAAAAAABbI/idOGAXRtPZY/s400/dinosaursvsaliens01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These don't look like adversaries you would want to f@*# with!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>The Artwork is phenomenal!!</u></b> <b>Mukesh Singh</b> has done work for <i>Virgin Comics</i> in the past,<i> Evi & Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper</i>.....he is a great talent!! He should give<i> Richard Starkings</i> a call during his downtime and draw some <i>Elephantmen</i>.....it would fit perfectly with his talents and what he's done so far. Anyway, he does an awesome job of giving a human <i>"aspect"</i> to the dinosaurs while keeping them dinosaurs. A simple idea, but very difficult to accomplish....<b>Singh gets the job done!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Think Jurassic Park meets Aliens</b>, and you have the basic understanding of how awesome this book is, and how the eventual movie will be!! My hope is that there is a Part Two on the way soon, and a film shortly thereafter! <b><u>Citizen's Grade: Awesome.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-54064593533248753472012-07-28T19:07:00.000-04:002012-07-28T19:13:48.438-04:00Saga #4 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13UTM16Rv-M/UAxoEBS_0QI/AAAAAAAABYo/zX4MfKHBcS4/s1600/Saga-4-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13UTM16Rv-M/UAxoEBS_0QI/AAAAAAAABYo/zX4MfKHBcS4/s320/Saga-4-Cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
This series by <b>Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</b> continues to impress me with mind-blowing writing & art. The universe of <b>Saga </b>continues to be as unique & complex as it is simplistic & beautiful. <br />
<br />
The covers so far have been great as well! Each one is really like a poster featuring one <i>(or two)</i> of the main characters. #4's cover features <b>The Will & Lying Cat</b>. <i>The Will</i> appears to be smoking.....something?.....we'll pretend that it's a self-rolled cigarette.<br />
<br />
It's been announced that the series will take a couple of months off after issue #6, while they catch up & see how the release of the first collection in graphic novel format sells.....before they continue on. I understand this, and want them to be rested/caught up/etc......but I hope it doesn't steal away any momentum from this wonderfully awesome series that is really turning heads and gaining new readers!!<br />
<br />
On to the review......<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This issue is definitely for mature readers, as <b>The Will</b> arrives at <b>Sextillion</b>.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiRC0RJRnMo/UBRr4LioYwI/AAAAAAAABY0/-dUIkJ2b7jU/s1600/Saga_4_Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiRC0RJRnMo/UBRr4LioYwI/AAAAAAAABY0/-dUIkJ2b7jU/s400/Saga_4_Panel.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Lying Cat </b>is a little disgruntled when told she can't enter......<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajXLSoh5cyE/UBRsO8kGh2I/AAAAAAAABY8/GWP81JyxLEo/s1600/saga4...lying+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajXLSoh5cyE/UBRsO8kGh2I/AAAAAAAABY8/GWP81JyxLEo/s400/saga4...lying+cat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lying Cat & Red Lantern's Dex-Starr....the coolest Cats in Comics!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile, the snow-spell does the trick and heals <b>Marko</b>.....who wakes up, meets <b>Izabel</b>, then has some explaining to do.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAWB26fqLjA/UBRs8BUUGJI/AAAAAAAABZE/jFYa_39q9iw/s1600/saga04_p6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAWB26fqLjA/UBRs8BUUGJI/AAAAAAAABZE/jFYa_39q9iw/s640/saga04_p6.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The Will</b> wants a<i> slave girl </i>to have fun with....weird alien guy offers him a six-year old.....his answer:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AX4VYQQ50qw/UBRtem5QdfI/AAAAAAAABZM/MNNoz3Pxc9Q/s1600/thewillsquash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AX4VYQQ50qw/UBRtem5QdfI/AAAAAAAABZM/MNNoz3Pxc9Q/s400/thewillsquash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Marko </b>changes a diaper, then he and <b>Alana </b>prepare for battle against her old compatriots....<br />
<br />
<b>Another Awesome Issue from Vaughan & Staples, who are delivering the best title in 2012 in my mind!!</b> I know the reviews for the issues of <i>Saga </i>have been short, to the point, with lots of pictures and even a little humor.....and I admit I've kinda done that on purpose. This title is worth reading, and is immensely enjoyable. I highlight the main plot turns, and my favorite parts of each issue.....and hope that I show some of the awesome artwork! I also leave out a bunch so as not to spoil YOUR enjoyment when you read....<b>SAGA</b>!!!! <b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: AWESOME.</u></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nJAryJESco/UBRuKDP8o-I/AAAAAAAABZU/s-3-jM_h58E/s1600/vaughanandstaples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5nJAryJESco/UBRuKDP8o-I/AAAAAAAABZU/s-3-jM_h58E/s400/vaughanandstaples.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vaughan & Staples.....an AWESOME creative team!!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-18309905131451378082012-07-13T01:04:00.002-04:002012-07-13T01:10:21.858-04:00The Flash #9 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULWbrK4fgeo/T_u4v_QCIrI/AAAAAAAABWA/8_V5a0pKohc/s1600/Flash9_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ULWbrK4fgeo/T_u4v_QCIrI/AAAAAAAABWA/8_V5a0pKohc/s320/Flash9_008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This title is by far; in my opinion, the best of the <i>"New 52"</i>. The artwork is always stellar, and you can see in this panel to our left that <b>Francis Manapul</b> and <b>Brian Buccellato</b> prove the truth of the phrase, <i>"A picture is worth a thousand words"</i>. Every page and every panel is like this, and then when <i>Manapul's & Booch's </i>scripts add more life to the pictures.....the artwork and words come alive in your mind to form the symphonic masterpiece that is <b>The Flash</b>.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra6CalMGayU/T_u5L1FD9RI/AAAAAAAABWI/N8y4now9Rmg/s1600/flash+%25239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra6CalMGayU/T_u5L1FD9RI/AAAAAAAABWI/N8y4now9Rmg/s320/flash+%25239.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover to #9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The issue begins with <b>The Flash</b> awaking from a dream from his childhood, only to find that the dream has become a twisted reality....in <b>Gorilla City</b>, as <b>Grodd </b>has just taken the throne of his Father in a battle to the death, and is consuming his brains to ingest his Father's knowledge. <i>General Silverback</i> thinks he's a messenger having come down to <i>Gorilla City</i> with the lightning.....but <i>Grodd </i>smells fear, and announces <i>The Flash</i> as dessert!!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Iris West</b> and her 3 companions are still trapped inside the <b>Speedforce</b>, and hearing strange noises. <b>The Pied Piper</b> wants to rejoin the ranks of the vigilante heroes, while the Police Director is afraid that thier relationship will become public knowlege. <b>Patty Spivot</b> asks for a leave of absence.....which will lead to bad weather <i>(pun intended)</i>.<br />
<br />
Back in <b>Gorilla City</b>, <b>The Flash</b> awakens with no knowledge of who he is, where he is, or why he's there. The <b>Elders</b> of <i>Gorilla City</i> believe he is the <i>"Messenger"</i>, and that his arrival signals the end of their civilization. They free him and show him their ancient prophetic cave drawings heralding his arrival as <i>"The Runner"</i>. King <b>Grodd</b>; however, is not convinced that the paintings are anything but lies!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QES_pKVo0eg/T_-p384wipI/AAAAAAAABW0/odKyHF2BPe4/s1600/the-flash-new-52-9-fastest-man-alive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QES_pKVo0eg/T_-p384wipI/AAAAAAAABW0/odKyHF2BPe4/s400/the-flash-new-52-9-fastest-man-alive.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fastest Man Alive!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Grodd's </b>aggression triggers Barry's childhood memories, and helps him to regain his memory just in time to face <i>Grodd </i>in combat. <i>Grodd</i> is powerful and fast, but Barry is <b>The Flash</b>, <i>The Fastest Man Alive</i>!! <i>Grodd's </i>anger brings the cave down upon him, and the Elder convinces the citizens of <i>Gorilla City</i> to allow <i>The Flash</i> to leave in peace. <b>Barry Allen</b> arrives back in Central City to see that <b>Dr. Elias</b> and several others are protesting <i>The Flash</i> and superhero vigilantes.....<br />
<br />
<b>This issue is really about overcoming one's fear</b>.....which isn't easy when staring into the eyes of a powerful, fast, intelligent Gorilla <i>(just ask Charlton Heston)</i>. But <b>Barry Allen</b> is <b>The Flash</b>, and <i>The Flash</i> gets things done....very quickly!! <b>My only question about this wonderful issue is how he returned to Central City from Gorilla City?</b>.....was he in the same time period<i> (i.e. the "now")</i>, so only had to run from East Africa back to Central City? Did he use another <b>Speedforce </b>portal; and if so, did he suffer the same lapse in memory/amnesia? Did the Gorilla City elders have some <i>"secret" </i>to navigating the <i>Speedforce </i>better? These questions may never be answered, but they do not take away from the great story and superb artwork that once again graces the pages of....<b>The Flash!!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Manapul</b> & <b>Booch</b> deliver another winner! <b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: IMPRESSIVE.</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-36371362074550955122012-07-10T00:46:00.004-04:002012-07-10T01:05:48.437-04:00The Flash #8 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykZ76dkAfaw/T_usgKmz_wI/AAAAAAAABVY/SuplpVLltJk/s1600/flash%238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykZ76dkAfaw/T_usgKmz_wI/AAAAAAAABVY/SuplpVLltJk/s320/flash%238.jpg" width="213" /></a>As I wait for the temperature to drop below triple-digit heat indexes so I can drive my NON-air-conditioned truck over to <b>Capital City Comics</b> <i>(in Reynoldsburg, OH)</i> to pick up <i>The Flash #10</i>.....I thought I'd review <b>#8</b>. <br />
<br />
When we last left <b>The Flash</b>, he had just<i> "flashed"</i> away from the treadmill in <b>Dr. Elias'</b> facilities and into the <b>Speedforce </b>in an effort to find <b>Iris </b>and the others from the boat who disappeared during his battle with <b>Captain Cold</b>. Issue #8 begins......<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>The Flash</b> finds himself inside the <b>Speedforce </b>and being attacked by <b>Turbine</b>, who arrived there in 1944 and wants to return home. <i>The Flash</i> tries to calm him down with words, but ends up just having to knock some sense into him.
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMW5Ux7t-2g/T_uvKA1SkqI/AAAAAAAABVk/YCxyrm-zD5U/s1600/flash-new-52-8-knee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMW5Ux7t-2g/T_uvKA1SkqI/AAAAAAAABVk/YCxyrm-zD5U/s320/flash-new-52-8-knee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flash "calming down" Turbine...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After calming down, <b>Turbine </b>shows <b>The Flash </b>the <b>Speedforce </b>and some of the mysteries that it holds......<i>The Flash</i> also discovers he's the solution, not the problem for the <i>Speedforce</i>. When The Flash taps into the <i>Speedforce</i>, he releases the built-up energies....and portals open up. Portals that <i>Turbine </i>has been trying to pass through to get back home to his time. Instead, <i>Turbine </i>just starts spinning and things get pulled in & out. So, the events in the <b>Gem Cities</b> that <i>The Flash </i>thought were his fault.....aren't. It was <i>Turbine</i>, who is now half insane after being stuck in the <i>Speedforce </i>for 70 years.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvGerN-cg68/T_uvdvIHbYI/AAAAAAAABVs/UxcmuRO0W3M/s1600/the-flash-8-layout-page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvGerN-cg68/T_uvdvIHbYI/AAAAAAAABVs/UxcmuRO0W3M/s400/the-flash-8-layout-page.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring The Speedforce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The Flash</b> gets angry, <b>Turbine </b>starts spinning....and they run through a portal. Later on in the <b>Speedforce</b>, <b>Iris West</b> finds <i>The Flash</i>'s earpiece.....even though Iris and the other's from the ship that disappeared at the end of issue #7 had actually arrived first.<br />
<br />
What we see next is the one and only....<b>Grodd</b>! He prepares for battle against his father to prove his worth and readiness for adulthood.....and the Throne of <b>Gorilla City</b>. It's a battle to the death for adulthood, the throne, and the knowledge of the defeated. I think you can guess who wins.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlSwxlc0CA8/T_uxuvTKfiI/AAAAAAAABV0/cS6u8t6H0Zw/s1600/The_Flash_008_vm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlSwxlc0CA8/T_uxuvTKfiI/AAAAAAAABV0/cS6u8t6H0Zw/s400/The_Flash_008_vm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As <b>Grodd </b>announces himself King, <b>The Flash</b> finds himself arriving from the <b>Speedforce </b>Portal.....who knows where <b>Turbine </b>ended up....<br />
<br />
Another wonderful issue full of surprises, new characters, and new discoveries for <b>The Flash</b>.<br />
<br />
<i>Written, drawn, inked, & colored by the amazing team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. </i><br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: IMPRESSIVE.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-47857295766580343042012-07-03T19:50:00.001-04:002012-07-03T20:24:12.666-04:00Red Lanterns #9 & #10 (Review)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9iTQ_sL88g/T_Ns50CB62I/AAAAAAAABUY/QRVBhw28Hr4/s1600/RedLanterns9d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9iTQ_sL88g/T_Ns50CB62I/AAAAAAAABUY/QRVBhw28Hr4/s320/RedLanterns9d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Motto of the Red Lanterns!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have to admit, the <span style="color: red;"><b>RED LANTERNS</b></span> title is my guilty pleasure <i>(BaBUM)</i>....I've tried to drop it from my pull list <i>(BaBUM)</i>, even tried passing by it and ignoring it in my local comic book shop <i>(the great <b>Capital City Comics</b> in Reynoldsburg, Ohio...BaBUM)</i>....even purposely didn't go to the store on the weeks that it's released just so maybe it would sell out and I'd miss it<i> (BaBUM)</i>, tried to convince myself that I didn't want it anymore because <b>Ed Benes</b> left as artist <i>(BaBUM)</i>.....but alas, no matter how much I've tried, <b>I MUST HAVE RED LANTERNS!!</b> <i>(BaBUM Ba<b>BUM</b> <b>BaBUM!!</b>)</i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxOUcRC2cjU/T_NxvYV8ePI/AAAAAAAABUk/UqlvG8uU2s8/s1600/REDL_Cv9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxOUcRC2cjU/T_NxvYV8ePI/AAAAAAAABUk/UqlvG8uU2s8/s320/REDL_Cv9.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">#9: Exodus.</u><br />
As <b>Bleez </b>and her faction pour out vengeful rage on the planet Sarff Minor, <b>Atrocitus </b>reveals <span style="color: red;"><i><b>"I have seen the end of the world. Someone has killed the Red Lanterns."</b></i></span> He believes this<i> "someone"</i> to be Abysmus.<br />
<br />
<b>Bleez </b>returns and the two factions immediately begin their <i>"civil war"</i>, as <b>Rankorr</b> looks on....then when he realizes the gravity of the situation, The Power Battery is poisoned....Red Lanterns are dying...and the planet Ysmault is beginning to break apart, he yells at all of them to stop!<br />
<br />
As <i>Atrocitus, Bleez, & the rest of the Red Lanterns </i>contemplate their situation at the poisoned Power Battery....<b>Rankorr </b>sneaks off and foolishly tries to remove his ring....then quickly realizes he cannot, for the ring and the rageful napalm that courses through his veins is what keeps him alive! <b>There is no leaving the Red Lantern Corps! </b> He realizes that the hope to return to his old life is futile.<br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus </b>orders the abandonment of <i>Ysmault</i>, and determines to find <b>Abysmus </b>so he can save the Power Battery....then make him pay! <b>Bleez</b> believes that the<b> Star Sapphires</b> may be behind the attack on them as well, siting her past and what <i>love </i>did to her.<br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus</b> ends issue nine with these words:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><i>"Die? What is Death to a Red Lantern? To be a Red Lantern is to have met death once.......Let every living creature in this vast and miserable universe....Quake in Fear. Let them shake with Terror. For the Red Lanterns have been Angered. And we will not rest...we will not stop...until we do what Red Lanterns always do....WE WILL BE AVENGED!"</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0-Moj-WOZo/T_N1zGD-S7I/AAAAAAAABUw/Xupkg14-DIY/s1600/REDL_Cv10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0-Moj-WOZo/T_N1zGD-S7I/AAAAAAAABUw/Xupkg14-DIY/s320/REDL_Cv10.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">#10: Two Lanterns.</u><br />
While <b>Bleez </b>leads the <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns</b></span> <i>(including <b>Rankorr</b>)</i> to the <b>Star Sapphires</b> home planet, <b>Atrocitus & Dex-Starr</b> make their way looking for <b>Abysmus</b>. <br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus </b>follows some strange Red Lantern energy that he feels, believing it may be Abysmus. He &<b> Dex-Starr</b> enter hyperspace and forcibly break into <b>Stormwatch Headquarters</b> <i>(where; unknown to Atrocitus and Dex-Starr, <b>Skallox </b>is being held)</i>. As <b>Apollo & Martian Manhunter</b> attempt to handle <i>Atrocitus</i>, <b>Midnighter </b>squares off against <i>Dex-Starr</i>....<i>(see: panel below)</i>.<br />
<br />
<i>Apollo </i>and <i>Manhunter </i>have their hands full, and the station's secret position in space is at stake....<b>Martian Manhunter</b> <i>"mind connects"</i> with <i>Atrocitus </i>and is physically shaken when he encounters Atrocitus' rage.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Skallox</b>'s ring returns to him<i> (by Atrocitus' power?)</i>, and seeks rageful vengeance....but is transported away by the <b>Engineer</b>. Atrocitus leaves peacefully, which is the complete opposite of his character....but we soon find out why.<br />
<br />
<b>Atrocitus </b>explains to <b>Skallox </b>the crisis of their power battery, and their search for <b>Abysmus</b>. They must conserve power, because they cannot recharge their rings. Nonetheless, <i>Atrocitus </i>does feel...diminished by having to control his instincts against <i>Stormwatch</i>. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, as the rest of the <span style="color: red;"><b>Red Lanterns </b></span>approach the Star Sapphires home planet, <b>Rankorr </b>has had enough of being picked on and beats some fellow <i>Red Lanterns</i> senseless.....earning the respect of <b>Bleez </b>and the rest of the<i> Red Lanterns</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjLdBUWwgbU/T_OAxAo0GWI/AAAAAAAABU8/_9GbI4qeeDM/s1600/RL10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjLdBUWwgbU/T_OAxAo0GWI/AAAAAAAABU8/_9GbI4qeeDM/s1600/RL10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What's up with the chin-horn, Midnighter? This would NOT have happened</b><br />
<b>if Dex-Starr's ring weren't poisoned, leaving him weaker and slower than normal</b><br />
<b>(see: Issue #1 for Dex-Starr's rageful feline ferocity at full strength!)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Writer <b>Peter Milligan </b>continues his journey of Rage, beginning to amp up the threat and the crisis that faces our Red Lanterns. I've been quite impressed with how he has built this story and the mythos of the Red Lanterns in a long, extended run. I hope he is allowed to continue for at least another 12 or so issues, but if he keeps up what he's done so far, I'd like to just see his name on this title for the duration....<i>much like <b>Geoff Johns</b> on <span style="color: lime;"><b>Green Lantern</b></span></i>.<br />
<br />
The new <i>"powers"</i> that Atrocitus displays in issue 10 are impressive. While <b>Rankorr</b> has shown that Red Lanterns can make constructs, <b>Bleez</b>/others have shown that some level of intelligence can be reached, and even that <b>Dex-Starr</b> may appear to be uttering words <i>(..."Abbbsss???"...is that a word from the Kitty of Rage?)</i>, Atrocitus displays an impressive array of powers. Focusing his Napalm rage as he uses it to melt hyperspace & sensing Red Lantern energy from a great distance, <i>Atrocitus </i>shows why he leads the Red Lanterns!!<br />
<br />
<b>Tomas Giorello</b> stepped in for artwork in issue nine, following <b>Ed Benes</b>' departure. <b>Miguel Sepulveda</b> took over the regular art duties starting with #10. Although different from <i>Benes</i>, the artwork is good....a little darker, <i>"scratchier"</i> maybe.....plus, he draws a better <b>Dex-Starr</b> <i>(who actually looks like a cat! No offense<b> Ed Benes</b>)</i>.<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#9): O.K.</u></b><br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE (#10): IMPRESSIVE.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-24760742104950034292012-07-01T20:53:00.000-04:002012-07-03T17:43:03.191-04:00Planetoid #1 (Review)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2j64Ma8gsHo/T_DrJ6CmCzI/AAAAAAAABTo/8U8nFIW6O5c/s1600/273904901756813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2j64Ma8gsHo/T_DrJ6CmCzI/AAAAAAAABTo/8U8nFIW6O5c/s320/273904901756813.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
From the outset of this issue, you find that the plot is simple: <i>Man crashes into strange planet.</i> The Story is simple: <i>Man attempting to survive on said planet.</i> The artwork is great, the grays and blacks contrasting nicely with our main character. <b>It's a strange and original world with mechanical beasts and lizard-like creatures</b> that chew and digest metal. <b>This first issue contained a good introduction to the Planetoid <i>"universe"</i>, had well-placed action panels, and a good ending to lead into issue #2.....</b><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Our main character; <b>Silas</b>, crashes onto the planet when it's powerful electromagnetic radiation renders his ship useless. <i>Silas </i>wonders about, looking for other lifeforms and trying to figure out where he is and how to escape.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bGJQaQl0x0/T_DzKOcb1JI/AAAAAAAABT8/7EyipGIv03M/s1600/planetoidpanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bGJQaQl0x0/T_DzKOcb1JI/AAAAAAAABT8/7EyipGIv03M/s320/planetoidpanel.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
Our metal-chomping lizard friends eat his tent, and then he finds himself face-to-<i>"face"</i> with this.......<i>(see: panel on right)</i>....giant snake-like creature that lives in a lake of toxic petrol-based sludge. He manages to destroy the mechanical creature, but is wounded in the process. Saved by a stranger, <b>Silas </b>passes out and wakes up later with wounds bandaged and the stranger; <b>Mendel</b>, feeding him lizard soup.<br />
<br />
They share stories.....<b>Mendel </b>explains how the planet became the way it is, <b>Silas</b> shares his history and how he crashed on this forsaken planet......<i>Silas</i> plans to leave, but <i>Mendel</i> explains that <b>there is no leaving this planet!!</b><br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Ken Garing</b> is a rising star in the comic book industry. He came out of nowhere with this wonderful story that really fits the niche of <i>Terminator (i.e. if you like Terminator, you will like this!)</i>, though is completely different! <b>Garing</b> is the writer, artist, colorist, etc. for this 5-issue mini-series that I wouldn't mind seeing continuing as a monthly on-going title.<br />
<br />
<b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: IMPRESSIVE.</u></b></div>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-86632409579075048952012-07-01T20:48:00.002-04:002012-07-03T17:43:39.280-04:00The Massive #1 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNA9dQHmX5o/T_DjsE6SCjI/AAAAAAAABTM/BbnXeNPoGW0/s1600/TM%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNA9dQHmX5o/T_DjsE6SCjI/AAAAAAAABTM/BbnXeNPoGW0/s320/TM%231.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<b>Brian Wood </b>writes this apocalyptic journey about the crew of the <i>Kapital </i>as it searches for it's <i>"sister ship"</i>, <b>The Massive.</b><br />
<br />
In a bleak future <i>(not very distant from now!)</i> the crew of the <b>Kapital </b>is near the Kamchatka peninsula <i>(off the coast of Russia)</i>, following a <i>"ghost" </i>signal on their radar that they believe may be <b>The Massive</b>. The small crew is being aggressively followed by <i>"hostiles"</i>. The <i>Kapital </i>and<i> The Massive</i> are the two boats of <b>The Ninth Wave</b>, Marine Conservationist Direct Action Force. <i>Kapital </i>is Captained by <b>Callum Israel</b>, who is also the leader of <i>The Ninth Wave</i>.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
After <b>Mary </b>takes an inflatable boat and dispatches of 3 of the closing <i>"hostiles"</i> harshly, Captain <b>Cal</b> & <b>Mag </b>prepare to hold off the rest closing in. <br />
<br />
Interspersed with the present day is the history of the yearlong series of catastrophic events that has led to the current predicament. <b>A global environmental disaster has left the world on the brink</b>.....as governments have fallen, and humanity struggles to survive and adapt to the changed conditions. Within that history are the decisions made by <b>The Ninth Wave</b> that has brought them to their current situation. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oOCrRs3Tr-M/T_DolnLKQPI/AAAAAAAABTY/6gbyfp5rBTA/s1600/the-massive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oOCrRs3Tr-M/T_DolnLKQPI/AAAAAAAABTY/6gbyfp5rBTA/s320/the-massive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ninth Wave vessel Kapital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Kristian Donaldson & Dave Stewart </b>add art and colors to <i>Wood's </i>writing, which gives it the feel of <i>The Day After Tomorrow</i> meets <i>Whale Wars</i>. As a sporadic financial supporter of the <b>Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</b>, I can see the definite similarities......maybe <b>Brian Wood</b> knows this or doesn't<i> (it's cool either way!)</i>, but I think this is a great concept. <b>This is <u>NOT</u> a comic book about conservationism, it <u>IS</u> a comic book about conservationists in an apocalyptic future</b>.....Wood can write about conservationism if he likes, without having to be <i>"preachy"</i> or boring....it's genius really!<br />
<br />
That said, after reading the issue 4 times, <b>I am both intrigued and "meh" about it.</b> <i> Brian Wood</i> has never been my favorite writer; and he is known to be better read in collected format (i.e. Graphic Novels & trade paperbacks), so I'll be picking up the next couple issues to see if I'm going to continue reading this or dropping it.....however at this point: <b><u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: O.K.</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-47270523260883691832012-06-24T21:19:00.000-04:002012-06-24T21:44:34.683-04:00Godzilla #1 & #2 (Review)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYFYddHGnWA/T-esL8oym_I/AAAAAAAABSk/sF0Qy-kMtNI/s1600/godzilla%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uYFYddHGnWA/T-esL8oym_I/AAAAAAAABSk/sF0Qy-kMtNI/s400/godzilla%231.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "wrap-around" cover for Godzilla #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As <i>"Godzilla Week"</i> <b>KREEEEAUNG's </b><i>(Godzilla's roar spelled phonetically)</i> to a close, we take a look at issues <b>#1 & #2</b> of the new monthly on-going series; <b>Godzilla</b>, from <i>IDW Publishing. Written by veteran writer Duane Swierczynski, with artist Simon Gane and colorist Ronda Pattison.....</i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<u>Issue #1.</u> Monsters are running wild! <b>Kumonga </b>crashes a wedding in Mexico, killing everyone inside...everyone except <b>Urv Jassim</b>, that is. Having lost his husband-to-be in the destructive chaos, <i>Urv </i>vows revenge. <b>Rodan </b>disrupts an auto race in Brazil, and <b>Battra </b>destroys a military garrison in South Korea...other monsters are elsewhere, acheiving high levels of destruction and chaos themselves. Meanwhile, <b>Godzilla </b>is on his way to Washington D.C. to let our Congress know what he really thinks of them.....
<br />
<br />
Enter: <b>Boxer</b>. Ex-British Special Forces. Currently bodyguard for a billionaire's daughter, in Washington D.C. Having already lost his daughter to the monsters, he is determined not to lose <b>Miss Gwen Murakami</b>. Unfortunately, <i>Godzilla's </i>indifference to which buildings he crashes into and destroys means <i>Boxer </i>has to use all his former training and gut instincts to save <i>Gwen </i>and himself. <br />
<br />
<b>Boxer and Gwen </b>escape the collapsing building they were in, and are trying to escape Washington D.C. when they run into local <i>"yahoos" </i>with guns and mullets, who have plans of facing <i>Godzilla</i>. <i>Boxer </i>tries to dissuade them from their folly, but it's too late! <b>Godzilla </b><i>"SKREEEEE-ONNNNNK!'s"</i> into view, the rednecks let loose a barrage of bullets.....one of them striking and killing <i>Gwen</i>. <i>Boxer </i>carries Gwen's body to the congressional building to give to her mother......but <b>Godzilla </b>has had all he can take of the Government's foolish policy-making and posturing!! One giant radioactive breath-blast later, and the government is in ruins <i>(literally)</i>. <b>Boxer </b>survives.....and decides it's time to take the fight to the monsters!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_fmZZmABIfY/T-e3Yb3p9OI/AAAAAAAABSw/bAvgcVfWeh8/s1600/Godzilla%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_fmZZmABIfY/T-e3Yb3p9OI/AAAAAAAABSw/bAvgcVfWeh8/s400/Godzilla%232.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note: Godzilla does NOT appear underwater<br />
in this issue....lol.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Issue #2.</u> <b>Godzilla</b>; apparently unhappy with the fact that all of Pittsburgh's sports franchises wear Black & Yellow, decides to wreak havoc on the city. One tatted fool who tries to take a picture with his phone is shown what happens when you try and <i>"paparazzi"</i> the <b>King of Monsters</b>!! <b>Kumonga </b>crosses the border from Mexico, and well-wishers meet <b>Anguirus </b>in Scotland.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Boxer </b>has assembled a team of disgruntled monster-haters and offers the British Permanent Secretary a 7-billion pound deal to rid Edinburgh of it's monster problem. They pick a fight with <b>Anguirus </b>and quickly realize that may have been a mistake. But Boxer has a plan, one involving the <b>Giant Monster Repelling System</b>...<i>"The Headache Beam"</i> gun.<br />
<br />
Things don't go as planned; of course, as <b>Anguirus </b><i>"cronks"</i> their ride and the issue ends with them running for their lives with a broken<i> "Headache Beam"</i> gun.<br />
<br />
<b>As much fun as I had writing this review, the fun is easily doubled when reading Godzilla!!</b> This is an entertaining, mash'n & smash'n title with some interesting story developments. <i>Cheesy in some parts? Sure.</i> But what else would you expect from a title that stars a giant radioactive dinosaur-like creature who doesn't speak? <b>This has become one of my favorite titles to pick up each month, and the contrast of this title to the more "serious" ones I read is refreshing. <u>CITIZEN'S GRADE: IMPRESSIVE.</u></b><br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-86121425262320161362012-06-17T21:30:00.001-04:002012-06-24T21:32:07.497-04:00Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHDuvMOIKZ8/T95q01-O4GI/AAAAAAAABRg/fcBA0vQ3MAA/s1600/Godzilla_KingdomOfMonsters_VOL1_TPB_CovLowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHDuvMOIKZ8/T95q01-O4GI/AAAAAAAABRg/fcBA0vQ3MAA/s320/Godzilla_KingdomOfMonsters_VOL1_TPB_CovLowRes.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of Volume 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8sZGsnuePR8/T95q-fGKbMI/AAAAAAAABRo/uhxs4EkYJuU/s1600/Godzilla_KingdomOfMonsters_VOL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8sZGsnuePR8/T95q-fGKbMI/AAAAAAAABRo/uhxs4EkYJuU/s320/Godzilla_KingdomOfMonsters_VOL2.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of Volume 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Continuing <i>"Godzilla Week"</i> brings us to<b> Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters</b>, a three volume <i>(twelve issue)</i> story arc that stars <b>President Ogden</b> <i>(who looks a lot like <b>President Obama</b>)</i>, <b>Sergeant Steven Woods</b>, a girl named <b>Allie</b>, psychotic & telepathic <b>twins</b>, <b>Godzilla</b>, & most of his Monster <i>"friends"</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-giMLJyb39fc/T95rC2sNkCI/AAAAAAAABRw/0VzAJPCYVAU/s1600/godzilla_kingdom_of_monsters_vol3_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-giMLJyb39fc/T95rC2sNkCI/AAAAAAAABRw/0VzAJPCYVAU/s320/godzilla_kingdom_of_monsters_vol3_cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of Volume 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The story begins with <b>Godzilla</b> rising up from the depths of the ocean off the coast of Japan. After destroying a fishing village, the Japanese Government makes the decision to nuke the beast!!<br />
<b><u>MISTAKE!!</u></b> <b>Godzilla </b>can now breath fire <i>(or something to that effect)</i> as a result of the failed attempt to destroy him. Godzilla takes out his bad breath frustrations on Tokyo's helpless population.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, all across the world in various nations and on various continents.....other monsters are awaking as well!! <b>Anguirus, Battra, Kumonga, </b>and <b>Rodan </b>begin paths of destruction, heading toward one another. <br />
<br />
The twins;<b> Mallorie & Minette</b>, decide they want to be Queens.....so they use their considerable telepathic powers to influence and control <b>Battra</b>. They make their way to Paris.....where <i>Battra</i> cocoons on the Eiffel Tower.<br />
<br />
<b>Anguirus </b>decides to leave Mexico and travel across the U.S. border illegally! <b>Rodan </b>eats a juvenile hockey player in Moscow, Russia, and <b>Kumonga </b>takes to the road just outside Pasadena, California.<br />
<br />
<b>President Ogden</b> and the U.S. Government begin to panic as Godzilla makes his way across the Pacific and onto our shores.......<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KLfNhOjG8fQ/T957YG72L1I/AAAAAAAABR8/DCPAoZFlozo/s1600/Anguirus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KLfNhOjG8fQ/T957YG72L1I/AAAAAAAABR8/DCPAoZFlozo/s320/Anguirus.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anguirus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Godzilla </b>beats down <b>Anguirus </b>in L.A., stops off at Mount Rushmore to destroy the National monument, then begins his trek eastward. <b>President Ogden</b> tries to <i>"kill two birds with one stone"</i>, using the industrial power of Detroit to build <b>Mechagodzilla</b>....a mechanical monster to fight the real ones! <i>Mechagodzilla </i>and the real <i>Godzilla </i>go toe-to-toe....but in the end, <i>Godzilla </i>stands tall and <i>Mechagodzilla</i> goes rogue <i>(when it's circuits are fried).</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtyqZKnVGzQ/T958wDkwhBI/AAAAAAAABSE/LDs09ZB2wZc/s1600/King+Ghidorah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VtyqZKnVGzQ/T958wDkwhBI/AAAAAAAABSE/LDs09ZB2wZc/s320/King+Ghidorah.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Ghidorah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile; somewhere in the mountains of Asia, a monk gives his life for the awakening of <b>King Ghidorah.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Sergeant Woods & Allie</b> struggle to survive somewhere in Alabama, <b>Rodan </b>and <b>Battra </b>fight in Paris, <b>Godzilla </b>and<b> King Ghidorah</b> fight in Washington D.C. forcing the U.S. government and President Ogden underground. Godzilla<i> "Skreee-Onks!" </i>& Woods and Allie find <b>Mechagodzilla</b>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCOUjyF13Yo/T96B6qEac7I/AAAAAAAABSQ/tYGwGBVAzLM/s1600/Battra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCOUjyF13Yo/T96B6qEac7I/AAAAAAAABSQ/tYGwGBVAzLM/s320/Battra.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battra before & after...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Woods & Allie</b>; <i>"driving"</i> <b>Mechagodzilla</b>, battle <b>Anguirus</b>...then head north to face Godzilla. Woods wants vengeance! <i>Godzilla </i>doesn't care or know why.....but <b><i>Godzilla </i>backs down from nothing!!</b> <i>King Ghidorah </i>enters the fray as well.....and in stroke of sheer luck, <i>Mechagodzilla </i>comes away victorious....leaving <b>Godzilla </b>& <b>King Ghidorah</b> unconscious in the process.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9K7FfT36Dw/T96DBp1txQI/AAAAAAAABSY/J5KTbRA_gk0/s1600/GozillaCrushesHastings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9K7FfT36Dw/T96DBp1txQI/AAAAAAAABSY/J5KTbRA_gk0/s320/GozillaCrushesHastings.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real reason for Hastings' downfall!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <b>Twins</b>; having now control over <b>Battra & Rodan</b>, steal away <i>Godzilla </i>and carry him to a nuclear power plant somewhere near mountains.....they drop him in and <i>Battra </i>lights up <i>Godzilla </i>and the plant, causing a nuclear explosion. <b>Godzilla</b> awakens, but the twins soon learn he cannot be controlled like <i>Battra & Rodan</i>. <br />
<br />
<b>Godzilla, Rodan, & Battra</b> leave mass destruction in their wake. But it ends up an unconscious stalemate....and the <b>Twins</b>.....well, they no longer have the ability to control anything. Humanity begins to rebuild, the monsters leave (?), and <b>Spacegodzilla </b>stares at Earth from the Moon....<br />
<br />
It seemed that just before <b>Jason Ciaramella</b> began writing the last issue of this series, <b>IDW </b>came to him and told him they would be starting a<b> Godzilla on-going monthly</b> a few months later so not to do anything too good......<i>sigh</i>. Everything is great, right up to the ending, which falls flat on it's face......or is crushed by Godzilla's foot just like <b>Hastings</b>! Other writers included <b>Eric Powell & Tracy Marsh</b>. Artists for this series were the <i>legendary</i> <b>Phil Hester</b>, and <b>Victor Santos</b>.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">CITIZEN'S GRADE: SIGH...</u><i>(because of the sub-par ending)</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-56536875565889419762012-06-16T19:48:00.003-04:002012-06-24T21:19:46.433-04:00Godzilla: Gangsters & Goliaths (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NqsAfYB-6c/T90T4aU0QfI/AAAAAAAABRI/BmQON-hDnOo/s1600/Godzilla_GangstersGoliaths01_cvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NqsAfYB-6c/T90T4aU0QfI/AAAAAAAABRI/BmQON-hDnOo/s320/Godzilla_GangstersGoliaths01_cvr.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
I've decided that it's <i>"Godzilla Week" </i>at <i>Superhero Reviews</i>!! Although <b>Godzilla: Gansters & Goliaths</b> may not contain the most deeply intricate story plots....and the main characters don't speak, they simply roar or <i>"skreeonk"</i>....<b>how can you not love the random and all-encompassing chaos and destruction? </b><br />
<br />
Written by <i>John Layman</i>, with artwork by <i>Alberto Ponticelli</i>....<b>G:G&G</b> revolves around Tokyo Police Detective <b>Makoto Sato</b>, who tries to end the corruption and violence of mob boss <b>Takahashi</b>. <i>Takahashi </i>murders his partner and frames him for it, has his cronies take <i>Sato </i>out to sea to murder him and dispose of the body......they end up just off the coast of<b> Monster Island</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>Sato </b>makes a bold move and escapes death momentarily, only to find himself washed up onshore <b>Monster Island</b> with the mob guns right behind him.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Sato </b>escapes death again when the mob cronies annoy <b>Godzilla </b>by shooting him in the foot. Two escape with their life <i>(barely) </i>and inform <b>Takahashi</b>. <i>Godzilla </i>then turns to <i>Sato</i>, who is saved by <b>Mothra's </b>intervention. <i>Sato </i>awakes to find that Monks of the <b>Elias </b><i>(two tiny women who uphold the balance of the universe) </i>have taken care to nurse him back to health.<br />
<br />
Seeing an oportunity to find justice for his murdered partner, and take down the Takahashi criminal organisation, <b>Sato </b>kidnaps the <b>Elias </b>and returns to Tokyo. <b>Mothra </b>is influenced <i>(i.e. controlled) </i>by the <i>Elias</i>, so it follows them to Tokyo as well. <i>Sato</i> formulates a plan to destroy <b>Takahashi </b>using <i>Mothra </i>and the <i>Elias</i>' help. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-3PAeBP7h8/T90X_IsYLEI/AAAAAAAABRU/RSC4vROY6SE/s1600/godzillaG&G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-3PAeBP7h8/T90X_IsYLEI/AAAAAAAABRU/RSC4vROY6SE/s320/godzillaG&G.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't stop Godzilla, you can only<br />
hope to contain him!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite the <b>Elias</b>' misgivings about his plan, <b>Sato </b>forces their help and that of <b>Mothra</b>. <b>Takahashi </b>is not deterred; however, and seizes the opportunity to take over all of Tokyo's criminal underground as a result of <i>Mothra's </i>destruction of various ports, buildings, etc. at <i>Sato's </i>behest. <i>Takahashi</i> finds <i>Sato</i> through the torture of his son......and takes the <i>Elias </i>captive. The <b>Monks </b>from <i>Monster Island</i> arrive and confront <i>Takahashi </i>in an attempt to rescue the <i>Elias</i>, but are gunned down by <i>Takahashi</i>.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Godzilla </b>and the other giant creatures of <b>Monster Island</b> have followed <b>Mothra</b>, the <b>Elias</b>, & Detective <b>Sato </b>to Tokyo as well. Wreaking havoc upon the unsuspecting masses, who have no idea why it's happening. <i>Sato </i>realizes that he is to blame for this mass destruction, having <i>"upset the balance"</i> of the Universe. His son convinces him to take action, so they break into a government facility and steal/borrow an older version of <b>Mechagodzilla</b>!<br />
<br />
After battling some giant beasts, <b>Sato </b>and son crash <b>Mechagodzilla</b> into the building <b>Takahashi </b>is at....attempting to save the <b>Elias</b>. Just as <i>Sato </i>believes he's saved the <i>Elias</i>, <b>Takahashi </b>confronts him in an attempt to kill him!! <b>Godzilla </b>arrives and squashes <i>Takahashi </i>like a bug just in time......<i>Sato </i>returns the <b>Elias </b>to <i>Monster Island</i>, all the Monsters follow them back, Tokyo begins to rebuild, and Sato's sons come to visit him......on Monster Island, where he is now a Monk for the <i>Elias</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>A decent story, decent art, great displays of Monstrous destruction!! <u>Citizen's Grade: O.K.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-89707173613680240642012-05-24T20:12:00.001-04:002012-06-24T21:20:33.265-04:00Saga #3 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_MYqnMJldU/T77HhSe4BdI/AAAAAAAABOw/aoTGFfkyKU0/s1600/Saga_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_MYqnMJldU/T77HhSe4BdI/AAAAAAAABOw/aoTGFfkyKU0/s320/Saga_3.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
So, we find <b>Marko, </b><b>Alana, & Hazel</b> still in the <i>Endless Woods (it is "endless", you know)</i>.....Marko bleeding to death from <b>The Stalk</b>'s attack last issue, and the <i>"horrors"</i> having appeared.<br />
<br />
We quickly learn that the<i> "horrors"</i> aren't exactly that, but rather are <b>ghosts</b>....<i>"spiritual defenders of Cleave"</i>. Marko regains consciousness momentarily and lets Alana know that he would need <b>snow </b>for a healing spell.....of course it's sweltering, and they are nowhere near snow. One of the Ghosts; <b>Izabel </b><i>(see: cover on left)</i>, offers to help...<u>.for a price</u>. She wants off <b>Cleave</b>, but can only achieve escape if she's bonded with someone born on Cleave. Alana is wary about allowing a ghost to bond to her daughter, but she does need snow for Marko.<br />
<br />
<b>The Stalk</b> is still about, but is too busy fending off the indigenous wildlife to keep pursuing <b>Marko, Alana, & Hazel.</b> She calls <b>The Will</b>, and we learn that the two have had a <i>"past"</i>. <b>Prince Robot IV</b> is planetside as well....<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Izabel </b>was a tradegy of the war between Marko & Alana's alien races. She promises that she has no ill will toward either of them though, and reassures Alana that her husband is not dead.....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui10dj6yrYQ/T77KbD1I9dI/AAAAAAAABPE/Ss7J2PWa8bI/s1600/saga_isitgood_03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui10dj6yrYQ/T77KbD1I9dI/AAAAAAAABPE/Ss7J2PWa8bI/s400/saga_isitgood_03.png" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How does Izabel know Marko's not dead?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Prince Robot IV</b> begins his interrogation of prisoners to try and find the secrets that led to Alana and Marko's escape. His tactics are a bit....odd.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzVOMnfynsU/T77LWHRrQXI/AAAAAAAABPM/MPtsnhqVEY8/s1600/sagapanel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzVOMnfynsU/T77LWHRrQXI/AAAAAAAABPM/MPtsnhqVEY8/s400/sagapanel1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do <b>NOT </b>make Prince Robot IV's screen go "snowy", you wouldn't like him when he's "snowy"!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Izabel </b>shows she is a good ghostly babysitter.....giving Alana burping instructions. Alana allows Izabel to bond with <b>Hazel </b>to save her husband.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4I4Se3zhO50/T77L-Busk5I/AAAAAAAABPU/w8hV-1YhNrc/s1600/IMG_00622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4I4Se3zhO50/T77L-Busk5I/AAAAAAAABPU/w8hV-1YhNrc/s400/IMG_00622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The issue ends with the revelation that <b>Marko </b>was married before <i>(or still currently is)</i> to a <b>Gwendolyn</b>. He lets this slip in a <i>"bleeding-to-death-in-&-out-of-consciousness"</i> state, asking Alana to, <i> "please tell my bride I loved her...please tell Gwendolyn I loved her so much...."</i> <b>Uh-oh, that can't end well.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</b> bring another great issue in this awesome series, without forced action sequences....just a good story with great characters. <b><u>Citizen's Grade: Impressive.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-49055425679539361702012-05-19T20:54:00.002-04:002012-05-19T20:58:57.665-04:00Higher Earth #1 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDyAHvBEBwU/T7g43Xyxh6I/AAAAAAAABOQ/N2SmcuGlRJ0/s1600/HIGHER+EARTH+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDyAHvBEBwU/T7g43Xyxh6I/AAAAAAAABOQ/N2SmcuGlRJ0/s320/HIGHER+EARTH+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
The new series from <b>Boom! Studios</b>, <i>written by <b>Sam Humphries</b>, with artwork by <b>Francesco Biagini</b></i>. Let me say from the start that I was drawn to this new on-going series <u>NOT</u> because of the writer or artist or publisher.....but because of the story concept.<br />
<br />
The art is decent; by the way, with great <i>colors by <b>Andrew Crossley</b></i>. <i>Biagini's </i>art comes from different angles, and the fight sequences are good. <i>Sam Humphries'</i> writing is good, carrying with it a great concept of awesome potential. The former writer of <b>Planet of The Apes</b>, and soon to be <b>Marvel Comics</b> writer, <i>Humphries </i>shows his muster with a good first issue introducing us to <b>Rex & Heidi</b>; the two main characters, and Rex's bird <i>(?)</i>. The only place the writing fell short to me was that there was almost no revelation as to who the <i>"enemy"</i> is.....of course, I'm sure it will be revealed as the story progresses.<br />
<br />
<b>The first issue was only $1.00</b>.....you can't beat that!! <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
We are introduced to <b>Rex </b>right from the opening panel, falling out of the sky along with a massive amount of garbage.....someone tries to claim one of his belongings and is introduced to his shiny friend, a samurai sword.....then there is the black bird <i>(?)</i>. We then are introduced to <b>Heidi</b>; in a giant mechanical bear, beating down one of the locals to take back her toy dinosaur! She is being watched by Rex, who is being watched by someone else.<br />
<br />
Rex and Heidi are <i>"introduced"</i> at her hideout, a sword fight ensues....and questions arise. How does Rex know Heidi? Who is <b>Jed</b>? Where did Rex come from? He explains.......<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxP4UzYZBNA/T7g-ZzrLzHI/AAAAAAAABOc/HWPMi0qJbeY/s1600/Higher-Earth-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxP4UzYZBNA/T7g-ZzrLzHI/AAAAAAAABOc/HWPMi0qJbeY/s1600/Higher-Earth-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Space is Dead."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <b>Mysterious figure </b>attacks Rex & Heidi....but is thrown out like yesterday's trash<i> (pun intended)</i>. Heidi is given a choice by Rex to come with him to another Earth, or <i>"do you want to sleep in garbage for the rest of your life?"</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The issue ends with Heidi seeing a <i>"better"</i> earth for the first time.....<b>Sunshine Earth 9</b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The concept of multiple earths, and traveling across parallel universes is intriguing and shows that this title may have great potential.</b> I'll be collecting the monthlies on this one for a while to see where it's going. <b><u>Citizen's Grade: O.K.</u></b></div>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-86238759080086129552012-04-28T18:51:00.000-04:002012-06-24T21:22:54.315-04:00Saga #2 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REO9o71eCaM/T5xx6crc1eI/AAAAAAAABLo/v58eRXXoh2I/s1600/Saga2cover1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REO9o71eCaM/T5xx6crc1eI/AAAAAAAABLo/v58eRXXoh2I/s320/Saga2cover1a.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
When you first look upon the cover of <b>Saga: Chapter Two</b><i> (or, #2)</i>, you think <i>"What the Frak?"</i>....weird hand and baby hands? But do not be fooled! <u>This is an awesome comic book through and through.</u><br />
<br />
<b>Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</b> deliver the next chapter of this on-going series, which is quickly becoming the hottest property in the comic book industry. <b>The only criticism I have of #2 is that it goes by so fast! </b><br />
<br />
When we last left<b> Marko & Alana</b>, they were fleeing the forces chasing them, and hoping to find the mythical <i><b>"Rocketship Forest"</b></i>....<br />
Now they find themselves in the<b><i> "Endless Woods"</i></b>.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>The Will</b> is tracking them and learns that another is as well...<b>The Stalk</b>. <i>The Will</i> contemplates giving up on the quest, and we will soon find out why....<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
In the <b>Endless Woods</b>, sleep-deprived and being attacked by living vines, <b>Alana </b>learns the cost of marrying a vegetarian, and gives up a <i>"disturbing" </i>secret so <b>Marko </b>can cast a spell to save them....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGZxCindOpU/T5xvSBSp1II/AAAAAAAABLI/BDtH-uKYXsI/s1600/Saga2Plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGZxCindOpU/T5xvSBSp1II/AAAAAAAABLI/BDtH-uKYXsI/s400/Saga2Plants.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Living" Forests don't like Vegetarians!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After casting the spell, and freeing themselves from the vines, sleep overcomes them despite Marko's fear that <b><i>"The Horrors"</i></b> may overtake them....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqbWt-sBvPE/T5xvum9pdLI/AAAAAAAABLQ/-kbhcE7bWOQ/s1600/saga_002_pg08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gqbWt-sBvPE/T5xvum9pdLI/AAAAAAAABLQ/-kbhcE7bWOQ/s640/saga_002_pg08.jpg" width="403" /></a></div>
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Prince Robot IV</b> arrives at <i>Cleave</i>, looking for our fugitive lovers...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0jbpGnaaV8/T5xwjc5a39I/AAAAAAAABLY/L3icmjnQRlc/s1600/TVPrince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0jbpGnaaV8/T5xwjc5a39I/AAAAAAAABLY/L3icmjnQRlc/s400/TVPrince.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Robot IV (pic from issue #1)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Hazel </b>cries, <b>Marko</b> tries to bring a peace offering to their new visitor, but she'll have none of that! Enter....<b>The Stalk</b>....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcq_v29ex-c/T5xxKb3C8vI/AAAAAAAABLg/cQJyQBlqBww/s1600/Saga_2_Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcq_v29ex-c/T5xxKb3C8vI/AAAAAAAABLg/cQJyQBlqBww/s400/Saga_2_Panel.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stalk...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b>Marko & Alana</b> quickly find out why <b>The Stalk</b> is <u>NOT</u> to be trifled with....<b>Marko </b>is attacked by <b>The Stalk</b>, which leads <b>Alana </b>to take some drastic measures to try and protect <b>Hazel</b>....they are interrupted; however, when strange noises from the forest sends <i>The Stalk</i> running in fear....enter <b>The Horrors</b>......<br />
<br />
Another masterpiece issue from <i>Vaughan & Staples</i>.....<b><u>Citizen's Grade: Awesome.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-17169525825931735992012-04-26T20:35:00.002-04:002012-04-26T20:36:12.573-04:00A Tribute to O.M.A.C. (featuring the artwork of Keith Giffen)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A tribute to <b>O.M.A.C.</b> and the series' wonderful artist <b>Keith Giffen</b>.....</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh8-W1PerV4/T5nmFClVi5I/AAAAAAAABJc/4_RKKQcyv7k/s1600/OMAC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh8-W1PerV4/T5nmFClVi5I/AAAAAAAABJc/4_RKKQcyv7k/s400/OMAC2.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover to Issue #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4KB87Uds4uw/T5nmLfoR3uI/AAAAAAAABJk/IoxvPf2Vez8/s1600/omac-001-pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4KB87Uds4uw/T5nmLfoR3uI/AAAAAAAABJk/IoxvPf2Vez8/s400/omac-001-pic1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kicking Cadmus-butt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ULUd-PqAA/T5nmQwOqq3I/AAAAAAAABJs/KmO7FbTTUbY/s1600/f89409fce5069d147c6db48329df1e10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ULUd-PqAA/T5nmQwOqq3I/AAAAAAAABJs/KmO7FbTTUbY/s400/f89409fce5069d147c6db48329df1e10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fvZjT_qI1Q/T5nmdUn6TnI/AAAAAAAABJ0/YjJxXdeEtFs/s1600/omac1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fvZjT_qI1Q/T5nmdUn6TnI/AAAAAAAABJ0/YjJxXdeEtFs/s400/omac1b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He <b>IS </b>O.M.A.C.!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h7HAc8n6OBA/T5nmkBLsw4I/AAAAAAAABJ8/ohuSeahayAs/s1600/Omac-1-interior-Keith-Giffen-2011-e1308871841846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h7HAc8n6OBA/T5nmkBLsw4I/AAAAAAAABJ8/ohuSeahayAs/s400/Omac-1-interior-Keith-Giffen-2011-e1308871841846.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fighting weird villains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wK8NvDjcYIo/T5nmtEj4mNI/AAAAAAAABKE/xlD_YtkLhc8/s1600/cancelled+omac+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wK8NvDjcYIo/T5nmtEj4mNI/AAAAAAAABKE/xlD_YtkLhc8/s400/cancelled+omac+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Letting Frankenstein know who he is!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TO_FUaKMxI/T5nmzKPBFNI/AAAAAAAABKM/xLO76DjRux8/s1600/I-AM-WITH-YOU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TO_FUaKMxI/T5nmzKPBFNI/AAAAAAAABKM/xLO76DjRux8/s640/I-AM-WITH-YOU.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>DiDio </b>& <b>Giffen</b> were 8-for-8 with O.M.A.C. acronyms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnqZPiA-CpE/T5nm4QXzh2I/AAAAAAAABKU/glFHoz9bd5M/s1600/OMAC-02-02-540x834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnqZPiA-CpE/T5nm4QXzh2I/AAAAAAAABKU/glFHoz9bd5M/s640/OMAC-02-02-540x834.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief explanation of what & who O.M.A.C. is....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jnulCiUIxo/T5nnAwZRatI/AAAAAAAABKc/IUxY4TYw6vw/s1600/OMAC_8_Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jnulCiUIxo/T5nnAwZRatI/AAAAAAAABKc/IUxY4TYw6vw/s400/OMAC_8_Panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checkmate soldiers taking a beatdown!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtbEpMWTIVo/T5nnG4FXZEI/AAAAAAAABKk/2FxviGRRvr0/s1600/DiDio-Giffen-go-big-for-OMAC-finale-EC189N2V-x-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtbEpMWTIVo/T5nnG4FXZEI/AAAAAAAABKk/2FxviGRRvr0/s400/DiDio-Giffen-go-big-for-OMAC-finale-EC189N2V-x-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blink!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Goodbye O.M.A.C.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thank You Keith Giffen!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-26456988860440529922012-04-26T19:52:00.000-04:002012-04-28T18:53:12.229-04:00O.M.A.C. #8 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHbA6RqY8FQ/T5nQ_MkcTZI/AAAAAAAABI8/DstCmVxKAFc/s1600/OMAC%238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHbA6RqY8FQ/T5nQ_MkcTZI/AAAAAAAABI8/DstCmVxKAFc/s1600/OMAC%238.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><b>O</b>mit, <b>M</b>utilate, <b>A</b>nd <b>C</b>ancel</i>.....the title of issue #8, the end of the <b>O.M.A.C.</b> series.....which I suppose is fitting, considering <b>Jack Kirby</b>'s original series lasted only 8 issues as well. It makes you wonder if it was planned that way? Considering O.M.A.C.'s writer; <b>Dan DiDio</b>, most assuredly knew the orginal series only lasted 8 issues at the beginning of this venture....I find it very likely that it was planned, and smile at myself that it didn't occur to me sooner.<br />
<br />
Issue #8 is a narrative given to us by <b>Kevin Kho</b>....his <i>"last will and testament"</i>....as things are seemingly going badly for Kho and <b>Brother Eye</b>. <i>Eye </i>is in a strategic battle to the death with <b>Maxwell Lord</b><i><b> </b>(head</i><i> of </i><i>the secret government organization, </i><i><b>Checkmate</b>)</i>, as <b>O.M.A.C.</b> wreaks havoc on <i>Eye's </i>behalf...... <b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Keith Giffen's</b> artwork is top-notch, and I'm personally glad that he stayed on till the end of this series. Giffen's art paid homage to the Kirby's style, and really made this title AWESOME!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A beautiful layout of <b>O.M.A.C.</b> shredding through <b>Checkmate's </b>forces at their underground fortress, hidden within <b>Mount Rushmore</b> begins the action of this issue.....meanwhile, <b>Brother Eye </b>battles the forces of <i>Checkmate</i> in Earth's Orbit.....as they have; at last, found the sentient satellite!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HwbaerXTyg/T5nRE-sK_nI/AAAAAAAABJE/9WCCJHyYo9U/s1600/OMAC_8_Panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HwbaerXTyg/T5nRE-sK_nI/AAAAAAAABJE/9WCCJHyYo9U/s400/OMAC_8_Panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great two page layout in issue #8....has to be seen at full size to be appreciated!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Checkmate's</b> special agents try to gain the upper hand against our <i>mohawked-monster</i>, but are unsuccessful...even after <b>Lord Mokkari</b> <i>"blinks" </i>in a giant <b>Gobbler </b>to destroy <b>O.M.A.C.</b> As the two fight, they rip apart and tear down areas of Checkmate's base. After the Gobbler is destroyed, <b>Sarge </b>takes it personally and attacks <i>O.M.A.C.</i> himself, but loses an arm in the process...when <b>O.M.A.C.</b> <i>blinks </i>away.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdWl5qe39hM/T5nfAqV6Z3I/AAAAAAAABJQ/UiZSc_8x4Jg/s1600/JLI%239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdWl5qe39hM/T5nfAqV6Z3I/AAAAAAAABJQ/UiZSc_8x4Jg/s320/JLI%239.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cover of <b>JLI #9</b> <i>(by David Finch)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Kevin Kho</b> finds himself back at his apartment, where <b>Jody </b><i>(His Fiance) </i>is waiting for him. He begins to explain the whole situation to her, but is interrupted by <b>Checkmate </b>soldiers looking to destroy <b>O.M.A.C.</b>!! He <b><i>"OMACTIVATES"</i></b>, showing Jody what he has become! Meanwhile, <b>Maxwell Lord</b> <i>checkmates </i><b>Brother Eye</b>, magnetizing the sentient satellite, who begins collecting the nearby asteroids until he is trapped. As a last act, <i>Eye </i>gives Kho one last<i> "gift"</i>.....O.M.A.C.'s body and strength with Kho's brain and personality.<br />
<br />
<b>Jody </b>pleads for <b>Kevin </b>to stay and let her try and help him.....but Kevin realizes the inevitable, and responds to Jody, <i>"Kevin Kho is dead. I am O.M.A.C."</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
A wonderful series that was truly one of the best of<b> DC's <i>"New 52"</i></b>, in my opinion. Sad that it's gone, but glad it ended in a way that pays homage to the legendary <b>Jack Kirby</b>. Rumors are that O.M.A.C. will be joining the <b>Justice League International <i>(JLI)</i></b>....starting in issue #9 of that title, which also has O.M.A.C. on the cover! <b><u> For this issue, and the entire series of O.M.A.C., Citizen's Grade: AWESOME!!!</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-63199226056988175222012-04-25T17:16:00.003-04:002012-04-25T17:17:40.418-04:00Red Lanterns #8 (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2-gocr_kxo/T5haGE8tQuI/AAAAAAAABIY/wnxpljzyN2M/s1600/RL%238a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2-gocr_kxo/T5haGE8tQuI/AAAAAAAABIY/wnxpljzyN2M/s320/RL%238a.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>"I will...destroy the aberration. Rip out his heart and feed it to Dex-Star..." --Atrocitus (speaking of Abysmus)</b></span></i><br />
<br />
Writer <b>Peter Milligan </b>is joined by new artists <b>Andres Guinaldo & Jorge Jimenez</b> in issue #8. A good story arc building as the <b>Red Lanterns fac</b>e their first major threat from <i>without </i>the Corps.<br />
<br />
So....<b>Atrocitus </b>is stabbed through the chest, <b>Rankorr</b> is thinking but still confused, <b>Bleez</b> is leading her own faction, <b>Abysmus </b>and the other aberrations are seeking to destroy the Red Lanterns.....that's where we left off in <b>Red Lanterns #7</b><i> (See: <a href="http://superheroreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/red-lanterns-7-review.html">RL's #7</a> Review for further details)</i>. This issue begins with <b>Abysmus </b>on his way to the Central Power Battery to <i>"pollute"</i> it with his own flesh.....<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Meanwhile, <b>Atrocitus </b>lays stabbed through the chest....rage building within him for <i>Abysmus </i>and the other creatures with him. <b>Rankorr </b>is defending himself from these creatures and attempting to reason with them.....which they find odd for a Red Lantern. As <b>Abysmus </b>stabs one of his own ribs into the Central Power Battery to <i>"pollute"</i> it and destroy the RL Corps <i>(along with <b>Atrocitus</b>)</i>....<b>Rankorr </b>begins to feel weak, and the creatures parlay their attack because they believe his death is inevitable. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vF87QAudpo/T5haLPax16I/AAAAAAAABIg/HrKi_GsICWA/s1600/RL%25238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vF87QAudpo/T5haLPax16I/AAAAAAAABIg/HrKi_GsICWA/s1600/RL%25238.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleez gracing the Variant Cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>[Interesting sidenote: the <b>rage that radiates from Atrocitus can be felt</b> by Rankorr. Whether this is just something that Rankorr feels, or whether all the Red Lanterns can feel this has yet to be explained. It is an interesting concept though, like a feral representation of a Red Lanterns potential power....could show the rankings of the Red Lanterns by experience, power, etc.]</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i></i><br />
As <b>Atrocitus </b>and <b>Rankorr </b>make their introductions, <b>Zillius</b> and the other Red Lanterns still loyal to <i>Atrocitus </i>return to find him injured and <i>Rankorr </i>standing there. <i>What's <b>Zillius </b>to do but think <b>Rankorr </b>is behind all this, and an agent of <b>Bleez</b>, right?</i> <b>Atrocitus </b>tries to stop them, but feels the pain and weakening from <b>Abysmus's </b>actions toward the Power Battery. One of the <i>"unnamed" </i>Red Lanterns falls ill and dies suddenly, which all the other Red Lanterns think is caused by Rankorr. As they close in to attack, <b>Rankorr </b>does something that we've only seen <b>Bleez </b>do thus far that I'm aware of.....<b>he creates a construct with his ring!! </b>Though rudimentary, it freezes the Red Lanterns in their tracks momentarily....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xuz7aW-cAs/T5haQKvQ5NI/AAAAAAAABIo/rHs79Lt07ME/s1600/RL8interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xuz7aW-cAs/T5haQKvQ5NI/AAAAAAAABIo/rHs79Lt07ME/s400/RL8interior.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>DEX-STAR</b> <i>(Feline of Rage)</i> siting!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Meanwhile, orbiting <b>Ysmault</b> and preparing to attack<i> (?)</i>, <b>Bleez's</b> spies inform her of Rankorr's appearance and she sends <b>Skallox</b> to Earth to <i>"get the scoop"</i> on him. <b>Skallox </b>refers to her as <i>"Princess"</i> now, showing her power and the respect/fear that her faction has for her. Back on Earth, <b><span style="color: lime;">Green Lantern Guy Gardner</span></b> discovers Rankorr's origins for himself, and takes off for Ysmault.....<br />
<br />
As Abysmus and his fellow aberrations leave Ysmault in the spacecraft left by <b>Iroque </b><i>(of the <b>Indigo Tribe</b>!)</i>, and Rankorr's constructs drain him mentally.....<b>Atrocitus</b>; as though oblivious to it all, walks on the shore of the <b>Blood Ocean </b>with <b>Dex-Star</b> contemplating the <i>"Ancient Blood Prophecy"</i>......the death of the Red Lantern Corps!!<br />
<br />
I've always been a fan of <b>Ed Benes'</b> artwork, so I had to adjust to <b>Guinaldo & Jimenez</b>.....but they do a good job in this issue. <b>Milligan</b> is doing a good job writing, and is really building the mythos of the <b><span style="color: red;">Red Lantern Corps</span></b>. He is mastering <b>Rageful story-telling</b>....<i>i.e. all actions and motivations come from the perspective of Rage</i>. My only fear for this title is that Milligan would leave or be replaced. <i>It could be detrimental to the Red Lanterns if a new writer would interrupt or neglect this mythos-building campaign. </i>Overall, a decent issue in both artwork and writing, and I like the direction this title is going.<i> </i><b><u>Citizen's Grade: O.K</u></b>.<br />
<br />Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-90062097255696023992012-04-22T17:16:00.005-04:002012-04-22T22:07:13.748-04:00Green Arrow: Into the Woods & GA: Salvation (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdEaoN65eT8/T48pzGfTnMI/AAAAAAAABHU/9EzTTX8cvMM/s1600/GREEN+ARROW+HC+VOL+01+INTO+THE+WOODS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdEaoN65eT8/T48pzGfTnMI/AAAAAAAABHU/9EzTTX8cvMM/s320/GREEN+ARROW+HC+VOL+01+INTO+THE+WOODS.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><b>Green Arrow: Into the Woods & Green Arrow: Salvation.</b> These two volumes, which included all 15 issues of the <i>new </i><b>Green Arrow</b> series; previous to the<i> new...new</i> <b>Green Arrow</b> series <i>(<strike>New </strike>52)</i>, were tie-ins to the <b>Brightest Day</b> mega-event that permeated the DC Universe.<br />
<br />
<b>Green Arrow</b> has had great trials as of late.....the <b>destruction </b>of most of Star City <i>(causing the death of his Grandaugher)</i>, exacting final <b>justice</b> on the source of the Star City's destruction<i> (<b>Prometheus</b>)</i>, having been turned into a <b>Black Lantern</b> <i>(causing him to verbally, mentally, & physically attack his wife, son, & protege <b>Speedy</b>)</i>, and then being turned into a <b>White Lantern </b>to help defeat <b>Nekron </b><i>(the source behind the <b>Blackest Night</b>)</i>.....a <b>Brightest Day</b> has dawned! At least for others, anyway. <br />
<a name='more'></a>A mysterious, living, and magical forest springs up in the destroyed center of Star City....and <b>Green Arrow</b> takes refuge there to escape the mistakes and regrets of his past.<br />
<br />
The citizens of Star City are trying to rebuild and get on with their lives, but larger forces seek control and wealth at their expense....including someone with close ties to <b>Oliver Queen</b>'s father. <b>The Queen</b>; and her bodyguard/assassin <b>Nix</b>, seeks to control Queen Industries, Star City, and rid her life of <b>Green Arrow</b> and anyone else who would stand in her way!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkGlMWqUWm8/T5RvaDciNkI/AAAAAAAABHw/tpSu5hXUkpY/s1600/GREEN-ARROW-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkGlMWqUWm8/T5RvaDciNkI/AAAAAAAABHw/tpSu5hXUkpY/s320/GREEN-ARROW-8.jpg" width="213" /></a>As time passes, <b>Green Arrow</b> begins to notice strange happenings in the forest. Visits by <b>Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Mister Terrific, & Doctor Midnight</b> only confirm his suspicions. He is visited by his dead Mother. <b>Gallahad</b>; claiming to be a <i>Knight of the Forest</i>, arrives to assist Green Arrow as well. Whether Gallahad is truly the Knight from Arthur's roundtable or just a mental patient is debatable, but he is skillful with a sword and wants to protect the forest at all costs.<b> Jason Blood</b> and his <i>"associate"</i>; <b>Etrigan the Demon</b>, arrive soon after......Etrigan states that the forest is evil and goes about trying to merge with it as it attacks our <b>Emerald Archer </b>and his friends.<br />
<br />
<b>Archer, Knight, & Occultist</b> stand their ground against <b>Etrigan </b>& the Forest.....protecting the tree with the <b>White Lantern</b> symbol at all cost.....and eventually are victorious. Green Arrow; however, begins to see that the forest may not be all that <i>"good"</i>. The forest begins spreading and attacking people and Green Arrow and friends find themselves fighting against the forest as <b>SwampThing</b> is revealed as the <i>"Protector"</i> in the <b>Brightest Day</b> story arc.<br />
<br />
In the end, <b>Green Arrow decides it's better to face his troubles than run from them.</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VuaIxExgZwI/T5R2AUdMwyI/AAAAAAAABH8/B1P2afEnmLg/s1600/Green_Arrow_Vol_4_13_Textless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VuaIxExgZwI/T5R2AUdMwyI/AAAAAAAABH8/B1P2afEnmLg/s320/Green_Arrow_Vol_4_13_Textless.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cover of <b>Green Arrow: Salvation</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our favorite <b>Emerald Archer</b> is then asked to assist in transporting a dangerous religious fanatic, who escapes, & wreaks havoc. Green Arrow & the Star City Police Department battle the fanatic followers of <b>Reverend Billy Miggs</b>.....who commit mass suicide to help their leader.<br />
<br />
Eventually; with the help of <b>Batman</b>, Green Arrow is able to overcome Reverend Miggs' and his followers....<br />
<br />
The<b> Brightest Day</b><i> </i>tie-ins <i>(which you <b><u>don't</u></b> have to read to understand what's going on)</i> give us a <i>"Robin Hood"</i> sort of feel to <b>Green Arrow</b>, as he lives in the forest and does what he can to help the <i>"little man"</i>. Throw in a magical forest, some side characters and you've got yourself a good story. Additionally, add in an arc about a crazy religious fanatic and his followers, an appearance by <b>Batman </b>and you've got yourself another decent story.<br />
<br />
All in All, <b>if you like Green Arrow you'll enjoy these volumes.....if not, you may be taking your chances.</b> Though it probably is the last time you'll see the<i> "classic"</i> <b>Oliver Queen/Green Arrow</b> character for a long, long time.<br />
<b><u>Citizen's Grade: O.K.</u></b><br />
<div></div></div>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2261152794373034908.post-63377210692884016552012-04-08T19:50:00.000-04:002012-04-08T19:50:28.907-04:00Usagi Yojimbo: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1FM3Y0NX7M/T4De1dpaHCI/AAAAAAAABEE/k5jAYFYEAcE/s1600/UY-DBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1FM3Y0NX7M/T4De1dpaHCI/AAAAAAAABEE/k5jAYFYEAcE/s320/UY-DBC.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>This volume of our favorite Rabbit Ronin; <b>Miyamoto Usagi</b>, was the first long and exciting story arc of the series. <b>The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy</b> includes all the intrigue, fight scenes, personal conflicts, ninja, and tragedy of a great story.....all with the atmosphere of feudal Japan.<br />
<br />
Many characters of earlier books are in this arc....<b>Gennosuke</b> <i>(Usagi's self-proclaimed Best Friend)</i>, <b>Tomoe<i> </i></b><i>(Lord Noriyuki's Chief Samurai)</i>, <b>Shingen </b><i>(the ninja)</i>, & <b>Zato-Ino</b> <i>(the blind swordspig)</i>....drawn together by outside circumstances into an uneasy alliance against the treacherous <b>Lord Tamakuro</b>. Will these proud and headstrong warriors resolve their differences with one another and help Usagi defeat Lord Tamakuro?<br />
<br />
Written and drawn by<b> Stan Sakai</b>; who in an epic fashion resembling the Asian classic <i>The Seven Samurai</i>, creates a dramatic, funny, and heart-wrenching tale of the life and times of our brave and lonesome Samurai rabbit.....<b>Usagi Yojimbo</b>.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_v7YXdIjAo/T4IiRtp9xfI/AAAAAAAABE0/rErf0o_kroU/s1600/tomoeame.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_v7YXdIjAo/T4IiRtp9xfI/AAAAAAAABE0/rErf0o_kroU/s1600/tomoeame.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The book begins with <b>Tomoe </b>racing back to her Lord; <b>Noriyuki</b>, attempting to tell him of <b>Lord Tamakuro</b>'s preparations against the <b>Shogun</b>....but is in the midst of an overwhelming force seeking to block her path. She is captured and being returned to Tamakuro when they pass a ronin Samurai.....<b>Miyamoto Usagi</b>! He recognizes her and follows to help her. Meanwhile, <b>Gen</b> the Bounty Hunter is tracking <b>Zato-Ino</b> the notorious blind Swordspig.<br />
<br />
<b>Tamakuro</b>; in an attempt to hide his plans from <b>Lord Hikiji</b> and others, orders <b>Tomoe</b> <i>(who found his stockpile of rifles earlier)</i> imprisoned, and the base-of-operations of spying ninjas destroyed. Meanwhile, <b>Gen </b>happens upon several dead bounty hunters, who fell at the hands of the infamous <b>Zato-Ino</b>.....who is bathing in a mountain pool, accompanied by a couple of beautiful females....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-71-itmB95kY/T4Iidymu4VI/AAAAAAAABE8/MNJevyQC0CQ/s1600/shingen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-71-itmB95kY/T4Iidymu4VI/AAAAAAAABE8/MNJevyQC0CQ/s1600/shingen.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shingen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Usagi </b>happens upon the Ninja village destroyed by Tamakuro's men, and is found by <b>Shingen</b>....who wants vengeance for the deaths of his comrades and believes Usagi is responsible! The two fight, and Shingen falls over a cliff's edge...believed dead by Usagi. <br />
<br />
<b>Usagi </b>is welcomed into service for <b>Lord Tamakuro</b>, but gets an uneasy feeling after speaking to his Captain, <b>Torame</b>. Usagi finds and frees <b>Tomoe</b>, and the two attempt escape....but only Usagi makes it out of the fortress. Just as Usagi looks to be defeated by Tamakuro's forces, help arrives from <b>Shingen </b>the ninja!<br />
<br />
<b>Shingen</b>; having learned the truth of who was behind the destruction of the Ninja Village, forms an alliance with <b>Usagi </b>and takes him to meet with the other <i>Neko Ninja</i> to prepare to assault the castle fortress of Lord <b>Tamakuro</b>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAjLDuKeSzg/T4IeF8qkWMI/AAAAAAAABEs/itJryU0qv1c/s1600/gen1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAjLDuKeSzg/T4IeF8qkWMI/AAAAAAAABEs/itJryU0qv1c/s1600/gen1.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Meanwhile, <b>Gen & Zato-Ino</b> <i>come face-to-face and battle against one another in one of the most epic encounters I've read in Usagi Yojimbo so far</i>.....<b>Gen loses his horn to Zato-Ino's blade!</b>....but it ends in a stalemate, as they are interrupted by <i>Usagi </i>and his Ninja allies. <b>Usagi </b>convinces the two to put aside their fury against one another for the moment and instead unleash it on Lord <b>Tamakuro</b>. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eA6FheLi78/T4IeBIQllwI/AAAAAAAABEk/DTavnNzcJpM/s1600/ino1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eA6FheLi78/T4IeBIQllwI/AAAAAAAABEk/DTavnNzcJpM/s1600/ino1.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zato-Ino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>They attack the fortress of Lord Tamakuro, find <b>Tomoe</b> still alive, and defeat the forces of Tamakuro in epic fashion by blowing up the fortress armory. <b>Shingen, Zato-Ino, & Spot</b> are lost during the attack and explosion, and presumed dead.<br />
<br />
Lord <b>Noriyuki </b>thanks Usagi for his service to the realm, and then He and Gen take their leave. In <b>The Fate of the Blind Swordspig</b>, we learn that <b>Zato-Ino & Spot</b> had not died as Usagi and others were led to believe! Injured and close to death, he and Spot are rescued by mountain villagers. In his gratitude, Zato-Ino helps them fight off some bandits, and he decides to stay......having only sought peace and quiet, this is his dream come true.<br />
<br />
A really great story arc with wonderful plots, fights, intrigue, conspiracy, and tragedy to have you reading this volume over and over! <b><u>Citizen's Grade: Impressive.</u></b>Jon Q. Citizenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16731956117910814409noreply@blogger.com0