Re-reading .... Black Science: Vol. 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths

So, as I move into the latter half of re-reading (and, in the case of the final five issues, first time reading) the entire series of Black Science, I'm now finding myself more pumped than ever to head round that final turn as I see the end of this rollercoaster ride heading my way.

The cover to Black Science
#26

Now, if you've just found this post and wanna start at the beginning of my inane waffle, you can find the prior instalments here:

Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever
Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere
Volume 3 - Vanishing Point
Volume 4 - Godworld
Volume 5 - True Atonement

But, for the here and now I'm going delve back in where I left off and talk about Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths.

(As usual, fair warning about spoilers!!!)

Issues 26 - 30, the contents of Black
Science Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms
Hidden Truths

Volume 6 picks up where volume 5 left off, with Grant and Pia McKay back home but in a spot of trouble as Grant has been thrown into a insane asylum after being (falsely) accused of kidnapping his kids by (the still alive) Kadir, who himself is now married to Grant's ex-wife, Sara, and living with her and Pia, who has been threatened into silence by the Kingpin-esque Mr Block, who wants Grant to build more Pillars for the magnate's own gain.

"And deep breath."

However, when the dimensionaut suit tracker Grant gave her goes off, Pia sets about investigating this new signal, confident in her belief that brother Nate has gotten home. However, this is not to be when Pia uncovers a cavern of ghost snakes created by 'Chandra' under Hong Kong, as they begin an invasion of the prime world. From this point though it's reintroductions a plenty as the world is besieged by every major player encountered so far as friends, enemies and some equally powerful new faces appear in a fight to change the Eververse for good!

Yet another suit for Grant to be a
superhero in!!!

Now, as I wrote this, two things have just occurred to me; 1. I should really get a job writing the sales pitch for comics (if Previews are hiring, I'm available for the job) and 2. This is, without a doubt, the most frenetic, fast paced and action packed arc since saving the Roman world in volume 3.

I absolutely loved this volume, which made up for the True Atonement arc and, in fact, probably gave me a greater appreciation of it as both now felt like parts of one big story. As with the last volume, this one lines up split leads in Pia and Grant (with a little bit of Kadir), although here it is more pronounced and obvious as the story jumps back and forth within the issues instead of from one issue to the next. I thought that was a great change of the story as not only did it become less about Grant and more about the world in general, but it also showed how similar the younger and elder McKay are after their resolution previously.

The Anrachist League of
Scientists are together again!

Here, I felt that we got to see in very different but also quite similar ways how McKay's are actually a heroic bunch. Grant, despite his newly bestowed impairment thanks to Doxta last time around, still manages to play the superhero incredibly well here, once again taking to the skies (where does he keep getting these jetpacks) to save Brian. Meanwhile, Pia shows so much bravery as she not only leads the charge against the ghosts (called Zirates, apparently), but taking on Grant's curse when there is no other choice in order to thwart another enemy (also, I loved their shared internal introspection, and how Pia mused 'is it hereditary').

Once again, Kadir's plans
haven't gone to plan.

Of course, there is also Kadir, who despite the limited focus compared to the other two, continued to be equally important in my eyes. I really like Kadir, he's incredibly complex in a lot of ways and makes me think of 'Dr Smith' from Lost in Space (the new series) in how his mind works. He could be, if this was a different story, the hero of the piece because all he wants to is to stop the use of the Pillar (and get the girl, like every good hero). Unfortunately for him, not only is the girl not his (well, he did marry her, but he also lied to get there), but when it comes to being the hero, he screws it up pretty badly here as that's all he seems to do.

And it's because of this, that I think the volume's title 'Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths is based on. In the letters column of issue 30, Rick Remender states that this is where McKay's 'Chickens come home to roost' and no other words in the entire issue could be more apt a description. This is because, throughout this arc everyone who was ever a threat makes their presences known as the world goes to hell; Har'Logh (who Kadir unwittingly let escape), the Zarites, the Millipedes, Doxta (who surprised me with her quick return) all return to cause chaos and effectively help this entire arc be the confirmation that Kadir and the Shaman were right; this 'Black Science' cannot be controlled!

Welcome back Shawn! I've
missed your rather daft jokes.

Fortunately, there was good to offset all this bad as Shawn, Nate and Krolar (the little alien guy who stuck with Nate) all return to the fray in a very superheroic fashion, joined by new allies of the Legion of Ethical Champions, which just happens to include a variant of the Shaman. I remember when I first read these issues what a sense of relief to have these three reappear so we know what happened to them. This time, however, with the gift of foresight, that relief still remained, as it felt to me that their re-emergence came at the right time in order to impart some hope on a situation that was looking rather hopeless.

Of course, they are not the only returnees as Brian is also back and I loved his back and forth with Grant during a high paced chase scene as both were escaping the Asylum and, with it, some Zirates intent on utilizing Grant's (missing) intelligence for themselves. All throughout that chase it really felt like brothers actually bickering, while still supporting each other and it made me sad that we never got Brian from the beginning of the series. And then, there was the brief comeback of 'Hal', who I find as another enjoyable character and also, like Brian, a great foil for McKay. Unfortunately, unlike Brian, 'Hal' didn't get much of a return, but I loved the sass he gave to Block as the latter was looking to escape (obviously, he spent far too much time with McKay on Godworld), and his own form of resistance to Block's orders gave him his own nice hero moment as it assisted in the bad guy's demise.

Ouch! What a way to go
(even for Block).

Speaking of Block, I found myself to be rather disappointed over his sudden and rather anti-climatic seeming exit both during my initial read and on this occasion. That said, as I write this, I've realised that his demise is very much part and parcel of what the arc as a whole is trying to say. This is because, almost from the very beginning, Block has been depicted as something of a monster. From the way he is spoken about to the actions of his doppelgangers, We've always been shown a man who prides his own greed above all other things. This was confirmed when we finally met the 'real deal' who, rather than question whether or not he should, simply took the Pillar for his own selfish ends. In the end, I feel he had to die because his greed, almost intrinsically tied to the pillar itself, was doomed to fail along with his misguided belief that he could control it. However, one thing that I never noticed on the first read through is the reference Block made during his escape that this world was not 'his' world. This made me wonder 'where is his Pillar?' Shame we'll never find out now.

Surrounding on all sides. This is pretty
much the scene which sums up the arc.

Just quickly, there is a question I wanted to air about 'Chandra' who, toward the end of the arc, displayed some rather empathic concerns about her species 'actions' and it's impact on the people of this world. I thought this was strange that this entity would feel this way after possibly countless similar actions and it got me wondering if Chandra's humanity was having an impact on the Zirate inhabiting her even if she was not in control.

Now, this totally doesn't deserve to be right at the bottom, but I had no way to segue into the topic. Also, I'm not really very good at analysing art compared to story (if you can even say I'm good at that). However, I'm just going to come right out and say again; Matteo Scalera's work on this seriously freaking unreal!!!! Of course, I've said that on every single arc thus far but I think it is here, in this arc, where Scalera really shows how phenomenal his work is. I could try and talk about what I love about his work, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words and so, I'm simply putting up a load of panels which I absolutely adore:

Every single one of these panels is (in my opinion) out of this world. They are mad, over the top, exploding (some of them literally) with colour (again thanks to Moreno Dinisio) and, above all,are unlike anything I have ever seen in my life.

I mean we get two panels of characters being crushed/sliced in half and their eyeball rolls away. I mean WTF?!?!?!?!?!

What's more, he did most (if not all) of this with a Broken arm. WOW!!!

"Regains composure."

Well, this doesn't look good.

Once again, I've rambled on way too much but, because I don't know what else I can say about this volume of Black Science, I'm just going to sum up by saying that Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths is a typical Rick Remender story I.e. It is one brutal arc where death and destruction await on every panel of every page.

However, that doesn't change the fact that I was absolutely in love with these five issues and how as they were a rollercoaster ride which nicely built off of the set up from Volume 5 and sets us up further still for a seriously action packed end to what is probably the second act (With Issues 1-16 being act one, 22-34 being act two and the Godworld arc and upcoming eighth volume being almost small intermission in order to regroup.)

So with that, bring on the end of the second act, bring on Volume 7 -Extinction is the Rule!

Re-reading .... Black Science: Vol. 5 - True Atonement

As we make a start into the middle volume of the Black Science series as a whole, if you found yourself intrigued by what I'm selling here and wanted to catch up, you can find the prior instalments here:

Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever
Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere
Volume 3 - Vanishing Point
Volume 4 - Godworld

So, anyway....

Black Science: Volume 5 -
True Atonement

This post almost didn't happen this week as real life found itself getting in my way, taking from me every opportunity to read the issues which I would need in order to write something. That all changed, however, when the night before I wrote this I came off my bike on the way home from work, split my knee open and finding myself at the hospital waiting to get stitches. Fortunately, this gave me ample time (and, I do mean 'Ample') to read all four issues and so, be ready to put pen to paper over my thoughts.

Much like the characters in the series, I seem to have found success from the jaws of disaster (or is it the other way around?)

(This is the part where spoilers may occur. Be warned!!)

The cover for Black Science #22

Black Science: Volume 5 is entitled 'True Atonement' and, after the events of the prior volume, this is about as fitting a title as I think can be used. Here we see the ever (new) heroic Grant McKay, fresh from finding himself on Godworld (as well as a couple of detours) crashing his new Pillar Ship on yet another strange world in an effort to find his team and children. However, his crash comes at the wrong moment as he destroys the Omninid, a powerful device formed from three items each held by warring races vying to make peace, a peace that his daughter Pia help form.

Now, with the ol' McKay luck of causing disaster wherever he goes still going strong, Grant sets about undoing the damage he's wrought in order to set things right and return his daughter home. However, nothing amongst these new missions of his are what they seem as McKay finds himself forced to trade his most prized possession to undo his mistakes before re-encountering old enemies who hold hostage everything he holds dear in order for a perverse utilisation of his dream.

Just one of a myriad of problems Grant
McKay is causing on this new world.

I've probably gone a bit vague and confusing toward the end there as I recap what exactly happened, however it was all in an attempt to avoid intentional spoilers (though I suspect I'll undo that shortly). That said, as I came to the end of reading this, one certainty brushed across my mind: while Godworld was my most favourite arc of the series, True Atonement had to be my least favourite.

Now, that's not to say that it wasn't good, or even a departure from what I feel has made the series great thus far. Unfortunately, something about it (and I don't know what) didn't really grab me in the same way as all the arcs before and I found myself wondering if the darker and more sombre (for want of a better word) cliffhanger ending had an impact on those feelings. Almost as if this depressing end affected the rest of the book. In fact, as I think back I wonder if my knowing what was going to happen also had a greater influence on my viewpoint.

Not quite happy families
between Grant and Pia.

Like I said though, this doesn't mean that the series has taken a dramatic turn from what it was prior. In fact, this arc feels like a natural successor to the Godworld story as we see Grant making good on what he learned and put it into practice. I really enjoyed watching the Elder McKay fumble and struggle and be nervous (although I am concerned about that latter note) as he attempted to be a better dad to his daughter who long since learned to get on without him. For me, this was a switch of role empathy as I found myself more connecting with Pia's point of view despite my affection for what Grant tried to do constantly throughout this story.

It's also here that I felt that there was some sort of change in the hierarchy of characters, with Pia being placed more front and centre. Now, given what is destined to happen, it makes sense for this change to happen but re-reading it now and I love where Pia has found herself while also becoming more like her dad than even she realises. In the end, it was their relationship and how neither seemed willing to give up on it that I loved most about this arc, culminating midway through the third issue with an adorable resolution, which confirmed to me that this is where the story of true heroes begins.

The McKays once again
showing the best way to
make enemies.

Of course, you should never expect anything that simple from Rick Remender and here is no exception as I realised this time around how he'd fitted 'the old switcheroo' in this arc, totally turning everything I'd seen until now on it's head.

While it all starts pretty optimistically enough with the reveal (finally!!!) of the Prime Sara, it's immediately undone when we find the still alive Kadir has now married her and, meanwhile, the enigmatic Mr Block, who only through his doppelgangers have we gotten to know finally makes his long awaited appearance, capturing Grant and the Pillar Ship and threatening the rest of the family into silence so he may reap the rewards of the Eververse.

And it is with this new status quo I wonder is the reason for my dislike as everything now seems so hopeless as the now stunted Grant McKay is locked up, Pia and Sara are under the boot of Block and not even the return (or rather introduction) of Brian can do enough to raise some hope for a change in fortune.

Well, look who's gotten his
feet under the table!!

And THIS is essentially what the story is about; the True Atonement of Grant McKay because, when all is said and done, everything he did in the lead up to this point has been his fault. Now, the villains; Doxta, Block, Chandra and the Millipedes all have access to a terrible power while he is alone and powerless to stop them. As he muses to himself upon a 'visit' from Kadir; ' It's what he deserves' and how he 'owes the whole world an apology, for being so f$%*&£ stupid' (Yeah, I'm not going to swear, but you get the idea).

Speaking of the Villains, I did feel this arc's secondary objective was to introduce and reinforce the series' major villains as we are introduced to new big bads in Doxta and Block, as well as a brief intro to bizarre new monster, Har'Logh the Defiler. It's occurred to me that these characters, as well as Chandra and the Millipedes are, in a sense created by McKay attempts to be heroic. The logic behind this train of thought is that none of them would be where they are without Grant McKay's attempts to save someone/something, which is hammered home in this arc as he tries to save both Pia and, in a more emotional sense, Sara but ends up losing everything. Maybe it's more of a selfish heroism that is the cause, as McKay's need to save his children has now placed Pillar knowledge with four very deadly, and very different enemies.

The (eventual) reveal of Mr
Block, and he's not one to
be messed with.

In terms of these baddies, Doxta is thus far the one which doesn't connect with me compared to all the others. I wonder if it's the lack of focus on her, as she appears as very much a mystery (although a deadly mystery I will admit) whom all we know has been slighted and gets what she wants to forcing a trade. However, compared to the others we've encountered, she'd rather lacking in something, especially when compared to Block. Now, despite the real him on now revealing himself, his having such a multiversally similar personality across all worlds makes him much more connectable. Meanwhile, the way he seems to walk in a almost get everything he wants, says to me that he's almost being groomed as the big bad of the entire series (and that's even after he brings in a giant, deadly, fur monster).

Scalera and Dinisio continue
to go all out with their
imaginations.

Speaking of which, I've got to give my standard praise about how great the art is here. Even in an arc which feels like it should look rather dour and, for the most part, normal, Matteo Scalera and Moreno Dinisio make it all look bright and loud and immensely maddening. I seriously am running out of the words to describe how much I love their work five posts in, but, gosh darn it, I'm going to keep trying.

In the end though, even after spill all that's in my head about this story arc, I'm in two minds as to my final feelings on it. I do recall that, as I originally read it, Black Science continued to be the best title I was reading at the time as it stayed leaps and bounds ahead of anything else. However, as I reflected on it here, I found that the volume just didn't stand up to what had come before it, making it feel like something akin to a holding pattern in my eyes.

Kadir v Mckay, but a majot change in
fortunes from last time.

Of course, I would guess that 'holding pattern' is a poor choice of words and, knowing what is to come. I now think that volume 5 is clearly the end of the second act of the overall story, as the entire tale transitions towards the endgame and our heroes find themselves in dire straits (which is certainly how I understand second acts to look like). This could also explain my reticence towards the arc, as second acts of the story tend to need both beginnings and ends to be good (in my opinion).

So, with the halfway point well and truly past and (if my assumptions are corrected) the second act done. I would guess that it is all downhill from here as we speed straight for the end game.

And it all begins with Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths.

Or, with that title, maybe not?

Re-reading .... Black Science: Vol. 4 - Godworld

It's been a couple of weeks since the last instalment of my great Black Science Mega-ramble and there are two reasons for this.
1. I've been busy with real life and offer stuff and, therefore, I was unable to read the next arc until recently.
2. Because, at the time, there was a hiatus of sorts between issue 16 (the end of the last arc) and issue 17 (the beginning of this arc), I thought I would allow some time between those arcs also.

(But it has mostly been because of reason 1).

Black Science #17

Now, in case you are just finding this one first, I've already focused on the first three arcs previously; Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever , Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere and Volume 3 - Vanishing Point. These three volumes made up one long storyline, almost in the vein of the story's first act as we saw the dimensionauts attempt to survive the multiple hells they find themselves in, hoping to get home and causing chaos along the way. However, as the series ended (to that point), these characters started to reveal their respective viewpoints and plans just as the Pillar, the device responsible for all that had befallen them, exploded in a flash of light and jumped one last time.

That was three years ago (in the story) and now it is time to see what happened next.

(Oh yeah, they'll be spoilers. Sorry!!)

Black Science's fourth volume is called Godworld and is a Grant McKay centric story as we find the leader of the Anarchist League of Scientists is found to be alone in a strange world save for a long necked floating creature following him around and asking questions. However, in the three years since he, his children and his team were scattered throughout the Eververse, life has not been kind as McKay suffers from a serious case of memory loss and struggles to remember who he is or what he is doing, succeeding in his efforts to leave this world only thanks to the Shaman's A.I. Gauntlet's assistance.

Black Science Vol. 4 - Godworld
#17 - 21

McKay's predicament looks set to change, however, when a lucid dream about his childhood and a vision of a mysterious angel creature sets our forgetful hero on a new adventure to not only retrieve his memories but repair the damage of his fractured psyche with a little help (and some hindrance) from a surprise appearance from his Brother Brian and parents. This, in the end leads to a new outlook on life, a new purpose and a return to some of his past in order to lay his ghosts to rest.

As I've continued through this series, I think that I have said each and every re-read of each successive arc that that specific arc is the best I have read yet. Now this certainly isn't a lie of exaggeration I think, because as Black Science has progressed, I believe that Rick Remender has created tighter and more compelling stories while Matteo Scalara's art has only gotten better with each issue (although I think this must have been incremental because I think Scalara's work has truly awesome since the beginning).

With Godworld, however, I have to confess that I found myself thinking in a form of contradiction because, when I was done here, I considered volume 4 to be both simultaneously the best and worst arc that I have read yet.

Dear old Pa McKay

Confusing huh? I know the feeling, but let me stress that this isn't a reflection on the quality of the work put in. Much like every issue which comes before it (and those which come after), I have found myself truly invested in every panel, every page that has been released. Also, more specifically, Scalara's work has been pitch perfect through each issue, still looking so immensely gorgeous that I feel a broken heart as I realise it's all coming to an end.

However, the contradiction comes in the form of the story because, just like the first time I read through it, I started this read and ended the first couple of issues definitely having never been so confused but yet so captivated in anything I've ever read before (to my recollection anyway).

I recall the problem I had with this the first time round was that the opening story was incredibly ..... metaphysical (because that's the best word I can use to describe). Issue 17 sees McKay suffering with his problems and then, midway through, a terrifying creature who knows him appears followed by his brother. Now, I remember struggling with this because I couldn't grasp my head around what was going on and how Brian had appeared.

Of course, with knowledge comes wisdom (or as the series mentions, something to do with Tomatoes and Fruit Salad) and on the second read through, I was about to realise just what is going on.

McKay's figured out that to move
forward, let it all go.

From this point, around the end of 17/beginning of 18, is where Godworld becomes the best arc of the series so far.

I absolutely love these next two issues as we effectively see nigh on everything which makes Grant McKay what he is and how all he does, says and thinks is built upon one simple aspect; Guilt. For me, reading the destruction of this man's personality from an early age had a real resonance with me (I kind of know the feeling, although I didn't end up in an alternate dimension.... I don't think?) and so, equally, I was absolutely captivated and enthralled to see McKay almost literally climb his way back up and shed all the baggage which had caused him problems.

And THIS is where McKay's hero journey really begins. While I had mentioned previously that was where he was going, I have to confess that it was more a case that he was being pushed rather than jumping. Shaun's shaming, Nate's hoping, McKay was almost doing what was expected of him which, in retrospect, I realise may have been the final nail of his original self. The man who was once the anarchist, who never bowed to anyone, was acting on the wishes of other people.

Here though, the decisions to make a difference, to be who he is and not where others (like his mother) push him into believing he should be that seemingly bring him full circle and back to a more mature version of his primary personality; a person who wants to help people and make a difference. It is here that Grant McKay the hero is born!!

Return of some old friends

And so, from there McKay's memories are restored and he discovers that the final key to his escape, the elusive power source for his machine is his imagination, allowing him to go find his friends. Now, it was here, during this particular read through, where I wondered something; if everything that Grant (effectively) needed was created from his imagination (his brother, the creature whose name I can't remember how to spell, the power source), then could Godworld, the physical world, have also been created from his imagination and his need from such a place?

The reason I think this is because, as the series progresses, all the characters are discovered to have ended up somewhere they want to be. Kadir is with Sara, Rebecca her brother, Pia is a Queen who is adored and Nate is a superhero. Therefore, what Grant needed was a. to be alone (because he thinks he deserves to be) and b. somewhere to fix his f%$£ed-up psyche. Therefore, enter Godworld to come help strip Grant down and then rebuild him back up into something better.

This then gets us to issues 20 and 21, the final two issues of the arc, which feels completely separate from the story tone offered by the opening three but I believe is necessary in a kind of 'putting theory into practice' kind of vibe. This is because, McKay first of all returns to Native American world and to what he feels is his greatest failure in this title; the death of Ward.

A little anecdote: About ten years ago, I worked with a chap who died from a brain tumour. He was (roughly) the same age as me but had a wife and a son (who was born a week after he died).

Where does he get those
wonderful toys??

I divulge this story because issue 20 reminded me of it in a lot of ways as Grant reminisces about a conversation with Ward and comes to realise in the present that he took for granted everything he had that Ward didn't and now couldn't. This was the same for me way back when I wondered why this chap who had everything was taken but someone like me who had nothing comparatively. Now, I think Remender added this to hit home and cement his new outlook; what he has/had some people would kill for and that he needs to fight tooth and nail to keep it.

Which, if that's the case, is a fitting moment for such an epiphany as the long game is never far from sight. This issue offers us not one but two deadly problems which Grant stumbles across which could destroy everything. The first is the return of the Telepathic Millipede Death Cult, which is yet another mistake from Grant's past which I think is used to test his resolve and/or force him back into his more 'pity party' mind-set. The second however, is the revelation of the Pillar's destructive properties. Now this is yet another wrinkle which I think further shows that Remender is always trying to make life harder for his characters.

On that note though, I just have to quickly mention just how awesome I think the character of the Gauntlet, which Grant has named Hal (after 2001: A Space Odyssey I would guess), comes across in this arc. I absolutely love this character's wit and the way he interacts with Grant is just gold, inserting himself perfectly as a great Foil for this rather damaged hero.



Once again, more proof that Scalara
and Dinisio are a fantastic art team!

And then that brings us to the final issue of the arc and yet another blast from the past which kinda shows that, while he's worked hard to be better, he's still the same old Grant McKay. This time Grant jumps to a near identical version of his world and finds that this is Rebecca's stop, where she has integrated herself at the expense of her doppelganger. Now, I again really enjoyed this as we saw from almost the get go that Grant is out for vengeance, although how he ends up getting it I thought was a real gut punch which I didn't see coming. What I think I loved here though was the dichotomy of Rebecca's journey compared to Grant's. In a flashback of their first meeting, comments are made regarding Kadir and I enjoyed how, while they both started in a near same place,  Grant has tried to make himself better but Rebecca has effectively become Kadir.

End of the road for Rebecca?

In the end though, Rebecca's story has ended, although I'd love to have seen an epilogue to that.

But, to be honest, this isn't Rebecca's story, it's Grant and that's still got a way to go. However, with his time on Godworld over, things will no doubt go from strength to strength (which, naturally, it doesn't but we can dare to dream).

As I've written this, I've realised to myself how much short shtick I gave the Godworld arc on my first read through. This fourth volume isn't like any of the preceding three in that it's action is all metaphysical, subconscious and not "real". That said, I think I've enjoyed this arc the most, either so far or in total, because it gave me the best opportunity to connect with it's lead character, a character who feels more like me than I realised (super-intellect and anarchistic tendencies aside).

Now, though, we get to see if this mega self-reflection Grant McKay has gone through will stick, because up next is Volume 5 - True Atonement.

Comic reviews: June 2019

This post is a quicker one than some that I've put up recently and there's a very good reason for that.

I'm not sure if it was a blessing or a curse, but the reviews I put together in June seriously paled in comparison to the number/volume that I was able to drum out in May. In a sense it was a blessing because I got to do a lot more of my own things, but a curse in the sense that I feel I missed out on quite a number of interesting comics to have come out.

That said, I still managed to get through three titles and, overall, they weren't half bad.

The first review for June was of Road of Bones #1 from IDW by Rich Douek and Alex Cormack and, I've got to admit, that to say I enjoyed this was an understatement. I loved this book as it was totally engrossing and kept me hook from the moment I started it right to the end. I think the thing I enjoyed most was the atmosphere as the brutality and hopelessness of where the characters are just shined through in Cormack's art especially. It wasn't perfect as the night time/dark scenes were a little difficult to follow, but that was a small complaint, given how into the story I was (and how I want to know more about that apparently reptilian Donovik who appeared at the end).

 My next review for June was Wailing Blade #1 which, like Road of Bones was a Rich Douek production as he re-teamed with his Scam (the name of the comic) artist Joe Mulvey to offer us a tale bandits facing a monstrous knight with a big sword in a fantasy world (the actual review describes it better). Unfortunately, unlike Douek's prior title which I review, I just seriously struggled with this one. I think that the problem I had with it was that it offered no direction and, as a result (maybe apart from the very final page), little incentive to read on. Of course, the art was funky and the world itself seemed fully realised but the lack of an idea about where the story was going was what, ultimately, put me off this.

 Finally, there was Starside #1 & 2 by Dylan Klein, Lane Brettschneider and Jordan Chao, which told the story of a young man who goes on an interstellar adventure when he is taken prisoner during an alien invasion. Now, this comic was one that I actually got into really quickly and enjoyed a lot. The reason for this, I think, was down to the opening half of the first issue, whereby the story starts slow and gives us time to properly get to know the main character and better understand who he is as a person. As a result, I felt that this carried through the rest of the story, helping me care for his plight. Meanwhile, the art had a unique look to it which really had me hooked from the start. Of course, it wasn't perfect, with a few underlying question about some unresolved plot threads, but it was still enough in my book and I'd happily go back to see more.

 And there you have June over and done with. I've got to admit that it was a shame that all three comic series didn't get more positive thoughts from me but, unfortunately, Wailing Blade just didn't have enough in it to get me invested.

However, I thought both Road of Bones and Starside were awesome, particularly the former, and I'd be more than happy to follow up on them in future.

June 2019's pull list - Fantastic Four #11

It has been just under a week (as I write this) since I picked up this issue from my LCS (on release day) and, of that, it took me just under a week to actually break it open and read it. Such is the demands of real life that it takes so long to read just one single comic book.

However, let us give praise to Love Island (which, admittedly, I can't stand) for running long last night, allowing me to hide in our dining room to get my self some Fantastic comic goodness.

Fantastic Four #11

Fantastic Four #11 sees Franklin and Valeria doing what all teenagers end up doing in the end; taking their driving test, after the FF's current mission to seal a number of interdimensional tears around the city requires the kids assistance, a fact that does not go well with agents of the DEMV (or the originally named Department of 'Extra-normal' Motor Vehicles). Therefore, with some help from their uncles, the kids prepare for their test which gets interrupted when the original mission draws them back in.

Now, I've been up and down, back on forth on this newest Fantastic Four run since Dan Slott started it last August for, while the Grimm wedding offered me hope of potential, the Doom story seemingly took it away before the War of the Realms tie-in tease it once again.

This issue left me in two minds by the time I reached the end (after two read throughs), unsure about which way the series was going to go in the long run.

The bad points first. I think the thing that made me unsure about this issue was that it felt like an almost identical re-hash of the previous issue, with Franklin struggling to find his place and role within the team and life. Now, I might not have had such a problem with this had issue 10's ending been more open ended, but given that I felt it to be quite final in what it was trying to say, seeing Franklin struggling without his powers just felt really unoriginal and took a little away from that last story.

That said, while this was a main vexing for me, it didn't take away from the fact that this was still a fun read, thanks primarily to Paco Medina's artwork. I remember as I awaited the Fantastic Four's return that, while I wasn't sure about Dan Slott on as writer (and admittedly, the jury is still out with me), I look forward to Sara Pichelli's great work filling the pages.

The art team really do get the
'Fantastic' part of the book.

Well, it must have been six issues now since she was last drawing and I have to admit that, between Aaron Kuder and Paco Medina, I'm not really missing her. Here, I absolutely adore Medina(and several others; Kevin Libranda, Paolo Villanelli and Juanan Ramirez)'s rich, colourful style which looks so inch perfect for a Fantastic Four book that it's unreal. Chief among this has to be the major dimensional tear and the Microverse visuals which just truly blow me away. As long as these guys, along with colorist Jesus Aburtov, stay on this book, then I've got now problem hanging around either.

Now, I just said about Slott's work and how I'm still undecided. Now, that's still true but, based on this issue, my decision is certainly pushing more towards the positive. I think this is because, much like in the last 2/3 issues, the characters more and more seem to be finding voices which just feel right to me. While Ben is almost quintessentially Ben like for many issues now, I thought that it was here that Johnny really found his voice (finally), while also making me realise that he is Jake Peralta (from Brooklyn 99) in all ways except for one's a cop the other's a superhero.

Meanwhile, while I wasn't a fan of the overall story involving Franklin primarily, I just loved a gorgeous scene midway through the story where Val offers to help him only to be rebuffed. I've never been the biggest fan of Valeria Richards (I find her irritatingly arrogant), but this nice moment helped me see her in a new light as the pair actually felt very sibling-esque in my eyes.

Don't worry, this isn't art from a DC
book. It's only a new FF big bad!

Beyond that, I enjoyed that this was yet another done-in-one story (reminding me of some Waid/Wienigo story. My favourite time) as well as getting the chance to see a fantastic (pun not intended) microverse, complete with Tardigarde's (which I think are a great creature design cropping up all over fiction of late) and a new villain who could be a dead ringer for Granny Goodness (I mean seriously!!!)

Of course, the Doom pages felt a bit wedged in and while, they were necessary, I think they should have been used as book ends, opening and closing the issue. Also, the final page in this book I have absolutely no idea of its relevance and has me totally confused.

In the end, though, while it didn't show so during my first read through, this issue followed on strong from issue 10 in my eyes. And while I'm not sure it was necessary to be included, the Doom pages did nicely set up the next issue, which I'm very much looking forward to.

I mean, when was the last time we had a Thing/Hulk fight?