Talking comic book reviews in the interim.

It's been a fair few weeks since I last posted anything here. Unfortunately, this hasn't been due to laziness or a lack of trying on my part but as the past month has seen the trifecta of job, family and house have all but dominate my life.

As a result of this, my plan to re-read Superman Smashes the Klan has been delayed (although I have started to find time to read it) as I have come to learn that time isn't really a right, but more of a luxury.

Fortunately though, I have managed to make time to get a few reviews done for Pipedream Comics (don't ask me how I can do one but not the other) and, because I feel it has been long enough to go without posting something, I thought I'd put up just a quick little something to briefly mention these comics that I've managed to read during March.

First up was my review for Sharks of War #1-3. Now, I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from this series, as the concept seemed too silly for my liking. Fortunately, as the review might imply, keeping an open mind seems to have done me some good because I found this to be a fun and engaging read.

I think the main reason for this is how the shark in question was written so earnestly. While the concept is absurd, the characters were not (well, maybe the bad guys). Also, despite its crazy concept, Ben Lacy also did his homework to make it believable.

The art is solid. I'm not sure what to say about it really. It isn't the greatest look in the world (in my opinion) but the creator admits in the back up that he worked with what he had and it works well to deliver the world. In a round about way I'm saying that I liked it.

I was pleasantly surprised by this series and if I get the chance I sure wouldn't mind seeing how it progresses.

After that came my review for Starside #3-4 (although I read all four first issues in order to review this comic). Now, as was the case when I reviewed the first two instalments, Starside continues to be an enjoyable series to follow and after reading the first four issues as a whole I find myself a lot more hooked.

I don't know what I can say that I haven't reiterated in the review, but I feel the story is so much stronger by issue 4, as it looks to set up an epic journey of a kidnapped man attempting to find his way back to Earth (similar to Farscape). The characters felt very relatable, which helped, and there were so many questions that I need the answer to (such as where did all the powers come from and what is Rigg's story).

As for the art, it isn't what I'd usually expect from a sci-fi comic (maybe a horror) but it really works I think and gives it a sense of unease and loneliness (I guess in that sense, because Jack is alone in space, it is horror). I recall the first couple of issues having some great potential and these extra two sell it to me even further. I think, as a result, I wanna keep my eye on this comic going forward.

My final review from the last few weeks was for God Summoner #1. Now, I have to admit, there is little beyond what is in the review with this one bit, suffice to say, I really enjoyed it. I thought God Summoner had this real epic fantasy vibe to it, with the issue making me thinking of a slew of comics and TV shows in its similarity.

I was absolutely engrossed in this issue from the moment I started, because of both the mesmerising story and the breathtaking art (which seriously reminded of the work from Cognition). The latter wasn't perfect, for it had some moments which were confusing, but this was a very minor issue and did nothing to impede my overall enjoyment.

This is, without doubt, another entry to my choices for 2021 top 50 as I look forward to future instalments and the reveal of where the story goes from here.

That's all I've got for now. I must admit, while I haven't had a chance to read the comics I was hoping to, this month has certainly given me some great opportunities to read to some truly killer comic books. I certainly look forward to keeping an eye on them going forward and seeing how their respective stories unfold.

For now though, back to my immediate goal of reading Superman Smashes the Klan.

Miskatonic High 1 - 10 (and a bit more)

This past week has been a little bit different to what had been planned.

While a little bit of work had been done on some ideas I have working on at the start of the week, a combination of tiredness, overwork and familial duties, meant that any great strides I was expecting to do were quickly scuppered.

The same goes for the comics as my initial plan was to work through Superman Smashes the Klan. However, when unforeseen problems came into play, I was forced to postpone for a week and read something a little more digital.

Fortunately, I had access to a series which has been deserving my undivided for quite some time and now was rather fitting given that it currently was having a Kickstarter for its tenth issue.

Miskatonic High is a Lovecraftian style, supernatural horror series which focuses on a group of students (all of whom having some sort of supernatural connection all of their own) who, upon joining an extra-curricular club, find themselves battling a differing away of monsters, deities and warlocks in some Buffy the Vampire Slayer fashion while preparing to uncover the truth behind these events in the lead up to defeating the big bad.

(Well, I can only assume there is a big bad.)

Before writing this (and after reading), I went back and checked my original review of the first two issues. As I read it back to myself I realised just how much of the positives that I had noted were still very much prevalent in the comic by it's tenth installment. I found Miskatonic High to be a fun, quirky, almost satirical (because the series feels like it subverts or even mocks standard horror tropes) series which really played on the formula of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as it focused on a group of kids bending together to defeat monsters of the week, all the while learning more and more about some bigger villain and, in the process, themselves.

The thing is, as this series progresses, it started to feel more Umbrella Academy than Buffy as the characters were all so ... dysfunctional. Now this isn't a bad thing because, unlike in my original review, the characters are so incredibly filled out by the tenth issue, with none being entirely likeable but at the same time having some real depth to the them. I found myself really invested in how Mike Shea had depicted them, particularly Anton, the ghost of a kid who no longer exists (it's complicated), as he is greatly explored in a 0.5 issue (and that's the bit more).

Meanwhile, I love Ryan Mendoza's art, which still looks very similar to Morning Glories but with such a dark colour palette that i think it looks so stylish with its Lovecraftian vibe. It just looks gorgeous and clean and completely timeless, with the monsters looking classic but feeling new as well.

Reading Miskatonic High in its entirety over the last week has been a real joy for me and, I truly feel validates everything I had originally said all those months (maybe even years) ago when I reviewed their first two issues. It is truly a fun series that was definitely worth my time to read and i think will continue to be so for as long as Mike and Ryan make it.

So, if anyone actually reads what I I ramble, I'd suggest pledging to their Kickstarter as you can get the entire backlog (so far) for a good price that's definitely worth the money.

Oh, and before I forget ...

Of course, Miskatonic High was not the only comic I read this week. Midway through my read I was a able to acquire a copy of Hand Me Down, a new short comic story from TKO studios. I wont beat around the bush, this is a tremendously enjoyable comic. I thought that Alex Paknadel really put together a heartfelt story about a struggling marriage that, had all of the supernatural stuff been ripped out, would have gave been no less riveting. I found myself with a lot of questions by the end, particularly in regards to the final reveal (which I wont spoil for you in case you still haven't read it) and almost hoping for a sequel to find out what happens next.

meanwhile, Jen Hickman's art is perfect for this story, as their style (which very much reminds me of Cliff Chiang) really shows off the emotion and looks grounded but can really turn and give the more horror aspects a punch.

In short, I really think this is a horror one-shot done right and I'm a little sad that it ended there. it'll probably be on my list of recommendations for the top 50 in December (along with everything else this year it seems).

So that's another week (and change) done and, I'll be honest, I'm now starting to see the struggle of splitting my time between a blog, a website, the dream of my own comic and a real life. Therefore, I'll probably be MIA here while I catch up on some urgently needed (and deserved) reviews.

However, once those are caught up, I'll hopefully be able to get around to that dream analysis of Superman Smashes the Klan.

A week of reviewing.

After last week's decision to go through my dropbox and read through some issue 2's (and an issue 3), I found myself wanting to continue in that vein and kind of clear out my dropbox.

This meant devoting my time to reviewing comics for Pipedream Comics.

Unfortunately, due to the amount of time it takes me to write a review (ten - fifteen minutes a might as I put my kids to bed), it sadly meant only a limited number could get done in a week. That said, the last week at least saw me hammer out three assessments of my thoughts.

The first title which I reviewed was Chasing the Dragon #1 from Magma Comics, Heavy Metal Magazine's new comic imprint. Now, I'll be honest, In find this comic was a bit of a struggle to get through and though I've put a positive spin on the review, it was difficult to find those good points. 

The issue I had with it was the story. The world and the seeming idea of it came across as interesting enough; a slave finding his way into a spotted revolt against a tyrant. However, I found that as I read it was hard to confirm that this was even the case. I do think that what this specific issue could have benefitted from would have been be the first issue covering the '20 years ago' scene at the beginning and then issue 2 focusing on the present day events. My opinion is that doing this would have allowed sufficient exposition to prevent the confusion I had and maybe answer some of the questions I ended up with (although what do I know). 

Of course, Chasing the Dragon does have its good points, with the art being the main factor. I really thought that Menton3's (which I assume is some sort of online persona title) really gives the issue atmosphere with his art, allowing the world to feel authentic in that Dragon filled, medieval way I think it should.

By the end of this read I was torn. I think it's a series which has potential (as long as the questions I finished this issue with are answered in the next) but if i were advising myself, I'd probably hold out until the trade and see which way the wind blew (ideally not extinguishing the Dragon's flame).

Next up I reviewed for Major Holmes and Captain Watson #1-3 by Jeff Rider and Ismael Canales (just in time for it's final issues kickstarter) and, suffice to say (as the review aludes), I really enjoyed this series. While the mystery seems complex in a Sherlock Holmes kind of vibe and interesting enough on it's own, I really loved the characters in here. This new Holmes, Watson and the rest felt really ... well, real, as all the characters came across as really fleshed out and likeable (well, except maybe Mycroft). The villains also were intriguing as I found myself questioning who were the ringleaders of this Moriaty group and whether it was Moriaty himself (because if Holmes can cheat death, why can't his nemesis).

Meanwhile, the art had this really traditionally English vibe to it which I enjoyed. It very much reminded me of the Paul Cornell Knight and Squire comic in its visual tone. Also, the action sequences were really engrossing and, in some way, made up for the slightly clunky pacing of the story needing (well, in my view) to maintain exposition of the ongoing case.

For me this was another contender for the Pipedream top 50 of 2021 (shocking how many we've had so far this year) and I really want to get a hold of issue 4 to see how this plays out.

Then came my final review for the week, which Brigantia #1 and 2 by Christopher Mole and Melissa Tender. Now, I feel that I let my bias creep in with this one initially and that I wasnt expecting much from it. This (and the fact that others had near immediate release dates) is most likely why I kept pushing it downstream. However, I feel Brigantia deserves an apology from me for this because, when I actually got around to it, I found these issues to actually be a pretty good read.

Now, Brigantia isn't perfect as I felt that more backstory was needed for both the hero and villain in order to make them more compelling. However, I found the story engaging enough and, probably most importantly, it felt like Brigantia was incredibly inspirational as I was reading through, like it was Superman or Spider-Man (depending on the publisher you think of).

For me though, it is the art that really drew me in, particularly that of the issue two artist Harriet Moulton. This is because I thought that, while the artwork in both issues is unique and gorgeous, Moulton's work on her pages were really something extra.

In the end, I'm glad I read these comics and hope that it'll be a lesson to me in future not to be so dismissive. As for Brigantia in particular, it certainly is something I'd like to check out future issues of, if for nothing more than that art.

So, that's been my last week's worth of reading. Now that my review has gone down considerably, I'm gonna be spending the next couple of weeks working on some bigger reads, a two trade review which will follow a mass catch up read of the entirety of Miskatonic High.