The Walking Dead, Vol. 2 Review

The Walking Dead, Volume Two: Miles Behind Us. Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn. 2004. Image Comics. 136 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume two gives us a nice change as the group moves away from the outskirts of Atlanta and we begin to see more of this new world. There are two major locations: a sub-division and the farm.

I like that this deals with the encounter at the end of volume one between Rick and Shane in a couple of ways. It gives some physical reactions, e.g. the move away from the former campsite, and emotional reactions from a lot of the party. These give us a believable world within this fantastic environment and really builds the characters in some nice ways.

There are a couple additions to this main group, as well as a few losses. I like the growth this gives the book. Despite all the odds this group continues to survive, but is looking for something more permanent. This is a theme that comes up again and again in this volume. It does a nice job of giving motivation to the characters beyond mere survival.

The art is just as good as the first volume. It can be a bit of an acquired taste though. Two things of note about this book/the series in general. First, it is quite wordy. This isn't a bad thing since it is all dialogue between the characters. Second, there are a few inconsistencies with some minor story elements. It's not a detriment to the story that is being told at this point. Otherwise, this is a great character driven book that sets the hook for the next volume.

The Walking Dead, Vol. 1 Review

The Walking Dead, Volume One: Days Gone Bye. Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. 2004. Image Comics. 144 pages.

Rating: 4/5

For those that don't know, The Walking Dead is a book about a zombie apocalypse. It follows the story of a small town cop, Rick Grimes, after he wakes up from a coma to find the world changed. In this volume he has to adapt to the world as it is now and seeks to find his wife and son.

The thing that I like about this book (and the TV show) is that it isn't all about the zombies. Sure, they are ever present, but the focus is really on the survivors. This is such a character driven book and is bolstered by focusing on mundane things at times. The characters feel like real people, even if they can be a bit extreme at times, because their reactions seem natural.

I like the art a lot. It's very distinct and can make certain scenes very unsettling. The art certainly helps set the tone of the book between some of the creepier moments and the landscape images. The lack of color is an interesting choice and it doesn't hinder the book in any way. One thing that stands out to me is that all of the characters have a distinct look. This doesn't always happen, especially for minor characters. This isn't just another zombie story.

Hellblazer, Vol. 1 Review

John Constantine, Hellblazer, Volume One: Original Sins. Jamie Delano, John Ridgway, Alfredo Alcala, Rick Veitch, and Tom Mandrake. 2013. Vertigo. 304 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I just finished this last night, and I feel like it took me forever to read. Mostly because of general life stuff creeping in, but this is a long book and pretty dense. It stands up there with some of the other Vertigo titles that I've read and enjoyed immensely though.

It has a slow build. Which I think is fantastic. Sometimes that can make books drag on. It's executed very well in this case though. The slow reveals allow time to learn more about Constantine, his place in the world, and the types of situations he has to deal with. It's not as action packed as the movie (at least from what I can remember) and it doesn't need to be. This is a great character driven story that mixes in elements of heaven/hell, religion, and morality. I like that it doesn't shy away from some of the nastier aspects of humanity. And it does so in a way that doesn't feel incredibly bleak.

The couple of Swamp Thing issues thrown in at the end were a surprise. I was aware that Constantine and Swamp Thing had some sort of connection, but those issues go way beyond anything that I knew about. That part isn't really necessary to the book as a whole. I'm glad it is included because it expands on the characters and the setting. Plus, it is rather creepy to have Swamp Thing taking over Constantine's body. The details are a little sketchy though.

I thought the art was great. Sure, it's a bit rougher than we might be used to reading now, but the grittiness of the drawings fit so well with the tone of the book.  Some of the color choices are more jarring than the pencils. I am interested in reading more stories about this character, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

Bedlam, Volume 1 Review

Bedlam, Volume One. Nick Spencer, Riley Rossmo, and Frazier Irving. 2013. Image Comics. 184 pages.

Rating: 2/5

For a book that is about a former serial killer, it lacks a lot of punch. Don't get me wrong, there is violence up the wazoo. That's about all it had to offer though. The idea of the "reformed" serial killer that wants to help the police find a new murderer is actually kind of interesting. And that part of the story isn't bad. However, I feel like this book doesn't add anything to the concept.

Rossmo's art can be spectacular at times. Within this volume, it seemed kind of lacking compared to his other work. Color is used for dramatic effect. It's cool that it is mostly black and white, with red thrown in for emphasis. This reinforced the dark atmosphere because the red is usually blood and sometimes covers the page.

I'll admit that I'm not usually a fan of really dark stories. They usually sound interesting to me, and then fall short of what I would have liked to have seen out of them. I mention this simply because people that like that sort of thing will probably enjoy this book immensely. Despite some elements that sounded good, it just didn't work for me.

Monstress, Volume 2 Review

Monstress, Volume Two: The Blood. Marjorie Lie and Sana Takeda. 2017. Image Comics. 152 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I enjoyed volume two quite a bit more than volume one. It delved more into the story of Maika Halfwolf, and I felt like I got to understand her more as a character. The world building from the first arc is still there, but it is used more to support the story than to drive it forward.

Maika wants to find out more about this monster that is inhabiting her and gets to learn more about her mother along the way. In addition to Maika being more interesting this time around, I thought the supporting cast was presented better. It seemed like their motivations were shown better and they had more personality. This is particularly true in the latter half of the book when the monster inside Maika gets some more page time.

The art is fantastic. There is a lot of effort put into making this story beautiful. The variety of locations and characters depicted really add to the sense of the world being created. Nice stuff all around and it's worth checking out for the art alone.

Midnight Nation Review

Midnight Nation. J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank. 2004. Image Comics. 304 pages.

Rating: 5/5

I loved this book. The tone reminded me a lot of Sandman, Lucifer, and some of the other Vertigo titles that I've read. It involves a lot more reflection on society than it does action, which is perfectly fine. Some might think it drags at times as a result though.

One of the main ideas in this book revolves around what happens to people that live on the outskirts of society. Sure it includes the homeless or the diseased, but really anyone could end up in this situation depending on the circumstances. I like what Straczynski does by taking these people and shifting them into what amounts to a shadow version of reality. This world is both imaginative and scary because of the feelings that create it.

My favorite character in this book is Lazarus by far. He provides a bit to the story without taking over. The protagonists are well developed and I found them interesting throughout. The art is another strong point to the book. This is another element that made me think of some of the comics I've read from Vertigo. It can be visually stunning and definitely incorporates the art into the overall narrative. There are a number of scenes that capitalize on the feeling of loneliness and loss that pervade the book. This isn't light reading by any means, but it is satisfying in the end.

Clean Room, Volume 1 Review

Clean Room, Volume 1: Immaculate Conception. Gail Simone, Jon David-Hunt, and Quinton Winter. 2016. Vertigo. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

I've become a huge fan of Gail Simone's work after reading her work on Batgirl and Red Sonja. She does a great job of creating some fascinating characters, and that trend continues here. This book centers around a reporter, Chloe, and the person she believes is responsible for her fiancée's death, Astrid Mueller.

I think this works because Chloe becomes a believable person to tackle the mystery surrounding Astrid's organization, which shares some characteristics with Scientology. The book splits between the mundane and the supernatural. I like what is done with both of these, but it takes too long to bring them together in a satisfying way. Looking back I enjoy the layout of the story, seeing how early elements really help bring things together by the end of the volume. A reread might be necessary to truly appreciate the work that is done in that regard.

The art is nice, but is definitely meant for a mature audience. It starts off  pretty gruesome, backs off a little, and then ramps things up some more. The characters are drawn well and the coloring is good. Unfortunately, the book didn't excite me enough to justify a reread or picking up the next book.

Artful Review

Artful. Peter David, Nicole D'Andria, and Laura Neubert. 2018. Action Lab Entertainment. 192 pages.

Rating: 1/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All told, this book just didn't work for me. I like the idea of a spin-off story focusing on the Artful Dodger. Add vampires and you get a nice horror story. I was excited to get a chance to read this adaptation because I enjoyed the novel.

I feel like some of the Artful's personality is lost in this adaptation. It gives the superficial elements, i.e. he's a thief and wants to do good, but there isn't a lot of depth. This sort of carries into the plot in general because it is paced so quickly that it doesn't dig deeper into some of the issues. The setting is evoked really well though, especially with the inclusion of some familiar characters such as Fagin, Oliver, the Van Helsing family, and the Baker Street gang. They prop the book up at times and kept me interested enough to finish it.

I didn't care for the art style. It is geared towards a younger audience for sure. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it dips too much into the cartoony style for my tastes. There aren't any illustrations that stood out to me either, so it becomes forgettable in a format where the pictures should excite me or at least leave some sort of impression. Younger readers should get a kick out of this story.

Army of Darkness/Xena, Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day Review

Army of Darkness / Xena, Warrior Princess: Forever and a Day. Scott Lobdell and Elliot Fernandez. 2017. Dynamite Entertainment. 144 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read. I like that the creators really use the comics format to full effect in telling this story. There is some repetition, but it works to enhance the book. Ash is being taken back in time to help Xena defeat an army of Deadites to prevent the end times. Something keeps going wrong though and he doesn't show up quite when he needs to.

The time travel element is executed well and fits with the Evil Dead/Army of Darkness motif. This isn't the first team up between these two characters. It can seem an odd choice to bring them together. The way they are written here shows that it can be successful. It maintains the humor and sort of silly horror that the Evil Dead franchise offers and mixes it with the over-the-top action from Xena. The artist does a nice job of capturing the look of the characters and their respective settings.

My biggest complaint about the book has to be the plot. There isn't much of an explanation as to the cause of the events that spark the repeated time travel attempts until the end of the volume. Sure, they don't want to give too much away early, but it made me question what the point of the story was aside from attempting to play off the two franchises. I'd like to see more of these characters together.

Siberia 56 Review

Siberia 56. Christopher Bec and Alexis Sentenac. 2017. Insight Comics. 156 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Siberia 56 is a sci-fi/horror story that takes place at a time where humanity is exploring the galaxy and finding places that could serve as potential colonies. The planet of the same name is an arctic world with some nasty creatures inhabiting it, but there is more going on than even the team studying the planet are aware of.

From the tone of the story, this feels like it is in the same vein as the Alien franchise. The structure and the pacing seemed forced though. It's like the creators came up with this idea they loved and rushed to get to it. I think a slower buildup would have worked better for me. It nails the feeling that this planet is inhospitable. Yet I was left wanting more than what this book was able to deliver. The characters felt one dimensional too. There is so much about the planet and the creatures that the human characters are more of an afterthought.

The art is wonderful though, particularly the landscape shots. There are numerous points where the point of view is pulled back to show off terrain with nice effect. That alone wasn't enough to carry the book though. It has some inklings of an interesting story near the end. I just didn't get enough payoff to justify getting to that point.

Welcome Back, Volume 1 Review

Welcome Back, Volume 1: Help, I'm Alive. Christopher Sebela, Jonathan Sawyer, Claire Roe, and Carlos Zamudio. 2016. BOOM! Studios. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I wasn't  sure what to expect from this book. It starts out more like a typical slice-of-life book with the exception that Mali's father is rumored to be a serial killer. Then it brings in an assassin and things quickly spiral into some weird territory. Mali and Tessa are soldiers on opposing sides of a millennia long war and are destined to fight each other forever, being reborn each time one of them dies.

I like the story and the set up for the book. The slow progression from Mali's seemingly normal life to this life that is beyond belief is awesome. It lets the reader adjust to this strange world along with Mali. The ending to the book feels right even though the characters are seemingly going in a different direction up to that point. It sets things up nicely for the next arc of the series. I also liked the art a lot. There are some cool scenes that incorporate the idea that these characters have experienced multiple lives.

My only real complaint is that there isn't enough explanation about this battle that the girls are involved in. It sets up the structure of the world and the war, but leaves a gap as to why these factions are at war and what it means for the girls. I enjoyed it a lot and would like to see these issues addressed in the next portion of the story.

The Valiant Review

The Valiant. Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera. 2015. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Hoo boy. The creative team on this book is fantastic. Now, this isn't a great place to jump into Valiant comics. It helps to know the characters going into it, particularly Bloodshot, Gilad the Eternal Warrior, and the Geomancer. These characters make up the heart of the story. Throughout time an entity known as the Immortal Enemy comes around to kill the Geomancer, who is a protector of the Earth. With a new Geomancer on the scene, the Immortal Enemy decides to strike in an attempt to send the world into another dark age.

I like the guises that the Immortal Enemy takes on throughout the book. We see some of its appearances in the past, which include some classic creatures. The most recent visage is something important to the Geomancer. I felt like this was a nice touch because it adds some tension for the character. The scenes between Bloodshot and the Geomancer are superb. This book also provides background on Gilad, including the origin of the three scars on his face.

The art is good. Clearly, the creators had a lot of fun putting things together. There are some big battle scenes featuring the various Valiant universe characters, and more intimate moments that dial things back. The events in this book have a major impact on the ones that follow, so its definitely worth picking up.

The Circle Review

The Circle. Damon Clark and Alyzia Zherno. 2017. Action Lab Entertainment. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So the initial premise for this book is lacking: the main character's mother dies, so Christian and his father move to a new town where he is an outcast. He is taken in by the other outsiders at his school and things start to get more interesting. They seem to dabble in magic as a lark, but it turns out to be real. Christian finds himself in over his head.

This book gets very dark between the magic rituals and the fallout that Christian faces. That darkness sets this book apart from similar books that I've read. And I like that Christian's progression through the book feels natural.

My favorite part of the book is probably the art. When the magic begins to show up, the art brings it out subtly. It adds to the tension and darkness of the book too. Aside from a few stumbling points related to the plot, this is a solid book worth picking up.

Afterlife with Archie, Volume 1 Review

Afterlife with Archie, Volume 1: Escape from Riverdale. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francovilla. 2014. Archie Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I wasn't too familiar with the Archie characters going into this book, but I don't think that diminished my enjoyment one bit. The classic characters are thrown into a zombie apocalypse started by Jughead and Sabrina. It gives a darker portrayal of Sabrina, which leads perfectly into the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The story gets incredible dark at times as the kids try to deal with their friends and family that have turned.

I like the variety of relationships that are shown. It includes the love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica, Jughead's friendship with his dog, and a crushes between loads of characters. The creators do a great job of fleshing out the Archie setting just by using the characters. They also utilize the horror elements nicely. Anyone familiar with other zombie stories will recognize the story even without knowing all the characters.

The more of Francesco Francovilla's art that I see, the more I like it. There are some really cool scenes that his art brings to life. And the colors complement the story and setting. Afterlife with Archie uses a fun gimmick that works. Check it out.

Dark Engine, Volume 1 Review

Dark Engine, Volume 1: The Art of Destruction. Ryan Burton and John Bivens. 2015. Image Comics. 112 pages.

Rating: 2/5

Suffice it to say, I was not terribly impressed by this book. The world is in ruins and a group of men create a female living weapon to go back in time and destroy whatever caused the problem to begin with.

None of the characters are particularly interesting. Sym, the weapon, doesn't have much personality until the end of the book. She hops from time to time killing anything she encounters. The group that created her is so shrouded in mystery that it's difficult to get to know them. They are mostly waiting for the end of time or for Sym to complete her mission. It doesn't seem like they care which one happens first.

I enjoyed the art. It can be a bit gruesome though. There isn't much for plot and things move at a turtle's pace. I couldn't get into it because there wasn't enough here to make me care about what happened next.

Predator: Prey to the Heavens Review

Predator: Prey to the Heavens. John Arcudi and Javier Saltares. 2010. Dark Horse. 96 pages.

Rating: 1/5

Where do I even begin? This story is set in an Africa town with a U.S. (?) military base stationed nearby. The town has been decimated due to a conflict with a local warlord. And then some predators show up and start killing people. That's pretty much all that happens here. It really could have used an extra 32 pages to fill out some story.

It does give some back story on the human characters, although they still end up feeling pretty flat. There isn't much for plot. The predators are hunting the humans for unstated reasons (anyone that knows anything about predators can figure it out), and another group of predators is hunting them.

The book is full of action and the art isn't bad. These just weren't enough to carry it for me.

Britannia Review

Britannia. Peter Milligan, Juan Jose Ryp, Raul Allen, and Jordie Bellaire. 2017. Valiant Entertainment. 112 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Britannia follows Antonius Axia, a Roman legionnaire, during the reign of Nero. After saving one of the Vestal Virgins, his fate becomes entwined with theirs. He also gains the ability to see what others can't, sort of like Sherlock Holmes. I would not be surprised if the great detective was an inspiration for this character.

I like that this book takes a step away from the traditional Valiant characters. It allows the company to explore different eras and locations without messing with their core series. Heading to ancient Rome is a fun choice, especially with the supernatural elements that are brought into the story.

The art is gritty. I'm not sure if it was a conscious choice, but it made me think of an old manuscript that was recently discovered. Whose pages are brittle and cracking while remaining legible. It does take on some darker tones to match the plot of the story. Jordie Bellaire does a fantastic job with the colors.

This book didn't wow me the way that other Valiant books have. I appreciate the risk they took on this book by going outside their normal elements. It could have used a more charismatic protagonist though.

Revival, Vol. 2 Review

Revival, Volume Two: Live Like You Mean It. Tim Seely and Mark Norton. 2013. Image Comics. 128 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Volume two digs into the characters of this series. The zombie-esque quality of the Revived remains an important point throughout the book. Yet, the focus is more on the relationships between the different characters. Where volume one introduced the setting and the main themes, volume two takes a shift to the people involved and why the reader should care about them.

That means the book progresses at a slower pace, but it never feels bogged down. The situation becomes more complex with people trying to get into the quarantine zone, some people trying to get out, and a few getting into trafficking body parts. This section of the story is tied together wonderfully, although it isn't beat you over the head obvious while reading it. My favorite characters to follow are the police officers because there is just so much on their plates at this point.

The art is great once again. The revival aspect lets the creators do some messed up stuff to their characters, which provides for some great illustrations. There isn't anything here that feels out of place from the first volume either. I can't wait to see where they take this story.

The Grownup Review

The Grownup. Gillian Flynn. 2015. Crown. 64 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a nice little ghost story. It starts off a bit odd, but it makes sense for the scope of the book. I found it a little off-putting. Stick with it. It gets better. The main character is odd because she admits to being manipulative. Everything she does should lead to her being very unlikeable. Flynn's writing is strong enough to get the reader to side with her though.

The crux of the story centers around a haunted house and a disturbed young man. The mother comes to the protagonist for help, not knowing what she is getting into. I think the family dynamics are the most disturbing part of the story. The end twists around itself in a way that leaves everything ambiguous. I loved that because it fits the rest of the story. It  may leave other readers unsatisfied.

The Damned, Vol. 1 Review

The Damned, Volume 1: Three Days Dead. Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt, and Bill Crabtree. 2017. Oni Press. 152 pages.

Rating: 3/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the concept behind this book. It is set in an alternate reality where demons exist and are actively involved in the world. The story is placed during Prohibition, so there are lots of gangsters too. And then there is Eddie, the protagonist, who just won't stay dead. It has a bit of that off the cuff vibe that can come with hard-boiled detective/noir stories. That's a perfect fit for Eddie.
The art is pretty good too. Particularly the depictions of the demons. There is a lot of variety to make them seem distinct.

However, things didn't pick up for me until near the end of this volume. I feel like I kept asking myself "so what?" about characters and events as they came up. Most of it is addressed eventually, but it left me sort of blasé about the whole thing. There wasn't enough information to get me invested in the character early. I might feel differently about it if I went back and reread it though.