Comic Books

1. The Shadow Glass #1 Review

   The Breakdown

   The Shadow Glass is a six-part miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics. Words and art by newcomer artist/ writer Aly Fell.

   Elevator Pitch

   Sixteenth century England mixed with the occult. It’s like Lionhead Games’ Fable come to life in comic form.

   The Verdict

   The Shadow Glass #1 serves as setup for what promises to be an intriguing and adventurous series. It’s not the story that’ll hook you in this first issue (it’s a fairly standard girl finds out her dad isn’t her dad, runs away to seek answers), rather it’s Fell’s art and coloring that will make you want to see more.

   (more…)

2. Predator: Life and Death #1 Review

   

   The Breakdown

   Predator: Life and Death – A graphic and thrilling four-issue miniseries that will expand the world of Predator. Written by Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy), with art by Brian Thies (Star Wars: Legacy).

   Elevator Pitch 

   A nostalgic, yet newly savage storyline that revolves around our favorite ritualistic, extraterrestrial hunters meeting a new group of well-equipped Marine friends.

   The Verdict

   Violent and delightful. The story effectively gives the same eerie discomfort that we come to expect with the Predator species. Abnett sets a concrete and explosive start to this new addition to the Predator/Alien/Prometheus tale and Thies’ artwork in this issue is timeless.

   (more…)

3. Liberty Comes to Comics – Behold Liberty: Deception – Zero Issue

   

   Our sci-fi audio drama series, Liberty: Critical Research, ended it’s first season recently, but that doesn’t mean you’ve heard the last of the world of Liberty! Last week we launched the new Liberty podcast series: Tales from the Tower – a horror anthology. But that’s only the beginning of the action and terror that Liberty has in store for you in 2016!

   The world of Liberty was developed as a comic book series long before the podcasts came to be, and we’re happy to reveal that Liberty‘s flagship title, Liberty: Deception is about to debut! (more…)

4. Graphic Novel Review: The Puma Blues: The Complete Saga

   

   The Breakdown: The Puma Blues – an environmental sci-fi that rocked the indie comics scene of the 80s has been collected and completed for the first time. From the minds of prolific Ninja Turtles author, Steve Murphy, and famed Sandman artist, Michael Zulli.

   Elevator Pitch: Transmetropolitan meets Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep, liberally dipped in the grittier side of the 1980s and paired with John Audubon-style nature art.

   The Verdict: The Puma Blues is the one of the best indie comics you’ve probably never heard of. But you know who has? Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Peter Laird, and Dave Sim, all of whom have been quoted singing the praises of Puma. That should be enough information to make you order a dozen copies immediately. The book is bleak, strange, a bit dated, and at times about as subtle as a kick to the groin from a Dead Kennedys fan, but undeniably earnest and disturbingly prescient. It’s not hard to see why so many prominent names in comics are big fans. Puma is must-have piece for lovers of obscure pop-culture, artsier comics, and anyone with a streak of punk rock in their soul. (more…)

5. Duckworld No More? Mark Waid Returns Howard the Duck to His Origins in S.H.I.E.L.D. #10

   

   If you’ve seen the much maligned Howard the Duck film or read any Howard the Duck stories published since 1979, you’re probably familiar with the concept of Duckworld. You know, an alternate Earth where everyone is ducks and everything is duck-themed: Ducktor Strange, Bloomingducks, etc, etc. Sounds like a recipe for a finite barrel of bad jokes, right? It is, and it’s also not Howard’s real point of origin. During his landmark initial run, Howard’s creator Steve Gerber had the down-and-out duck hailing from a world of talking animals, but all that changed when Gerber was kicked off the book and Disney flashed a lawsuit. Now, after decades of Marvel fumbling Howard’s backstory, Mark Waid has reinstated Howard’s point of origin in a one-shot issue of S.H.I.E.L.D. (more…)

6. A Magical Girl Must-Read: Zodiac Starforce #1!

   The Breakdown: Zodiac Starforce – Magical girls in the USA fighting the forces of evil and going to high school. Written by Kevin Panetta (Bravest Warriors), with art by Paulina Ganucheau (TMNT: New Animated Adventures, Bravest Warriors).

   Elevator Pitch: Sailor Moon meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in a surprisingly genuine and fresh approach to a much-beloved genre.

   The Verdict: Charming, exhilarating, and honest. Zodiac Starforce takes a fresh look at an old favorite. Featuring four girls imbued with the power of the zodiac (Gemini, Aries, Taurus, and Pisces), Starforce gets straight to the action by skipping the origin story. Panetta does a beautiful job connecting readers to the characters without the need for multi-issue backstories. Definitely add issue #1 to your comic subscription.

   (more…)

7. Graphic Novel Review: The Bozz Chronicles – How a Suicidal Alien Won My Heart

   The Breakdown: The Bozz Chronicles – a classic 80s comic series collected for the first time. Written by David Michelinie with art by Bret Blevins and John Ridgeway.

   Elevator Pitch: Doctor Who plus Sherlock Holmes plus ’70s Swamp Thing plus The Avengers. No, not those Avengers, the BBC show from the ’60s.

   The Verdict: Fun, charming, delightfully over-the-top. Only six issues long, so not enough time for much character development, but Michelinie still manages to make them likable enough that you’re fond of them by the end. Blevins’s art matches the tone of the stories perfectly. Worth the cover price just for issue 3, but thoroughly enjoyable throughout. (more…)

8. Victory for ZIM! A Triumphant Return at Comic Con

   It’s been over 10 years since Invader Zim left our television sets, leaving a gigantic, gaping hole in our chests. Finally, that hole has been filled with the return of ZIM to comic book form.

   The story picks up two years after the show’s end, and that’s all I’m going to say about the plot. You know, because spoilers. All that needs be said is that the story is magnificently crafted and perfectly captures the essence of the series you know and love. The characters truly come to life off the page, with character voices filling your head. It’s almost magical, really.

   To celebrate the series’ return and comic book transformation, creator Jhonen Vasquez, Eric Trueheart (writer on the original series & comic), Aaron Alexovich (artist for the original show & comic), Megan Lawton (inker on the comic), and Rikki Simons (voice of Gir!) gathered at San Diego Comic Con to discuss all things ZIIIIIIIIIM! (more…)

9. Ghostbusters at Comic Con: The New Movie, The Comics, The Boardgame, & Beyond

   The creative team from IDW’s Ghostbusters series and the designers behind Cryptozoic’s Ghostbusters: The Board Game joined forces to talk about the future of the franchise.

   The current Ghostbusters miniseries, Ghostbusters Get Real, is already in stores and features a multiversal crossover between the film characters (which the team refers to as “Ghostbusters Prime”) and their cartoon counterparts from The Real Ghostbusters. But at the panel IDW revealed pages showcasing the event is even farther reaching. It’s not clear in what capacity they’ll be appearing, but expect to see the ghost busting teams from the animated Extreme Ghostbusters and the 2011 video game Sanctum of Slime, which IDW editor Tom Waltz wrote. The ongoing series wrapped up 2014 but the series is coming back, beginning this October with an annual that will lead into a new ongoing by the regular series creative team of Erik Burnham and Dan Schoening. (more…)

10. Tales From The Miami Vice 30th Anniversary Reunion

    

    This year, a little piece of Biscayne cruised up San Diego Bay and into the halls of Comic Con. It’s been 30 years since Miami Vice debuted in September 1984 and, though its influence never left pop culture, the television series is in the midst of a well-deserved resurgence via streaming services. Crockett and Tubbs didn’t make the Comic Con scene, but the heart of the show was well-represented by beloved cast members Michael Talbott (Stan Switek), Olivia Brown (Trudy Joplin), and Edward James Olmos (Lt. Martin Castillo). The cast, joined by the creative team behind Lion Forge’s Miami Vice comic, shared stories from their time working the mean streets of South Beach and amazing behind the scenes anecdotes. (more…)