Review: AL15 Vol. 2

This week has been a case of trying to catch up on things that I've had trapped on my to do list for a good few months. Unfortunately, a case of forgetfulness, limited time (due to real life) and just an eagerness to read a few other things meant that those things I should have looked at sooner got pushed down the river a bit.

However, with the reading up of my December comics having finished at the end of last week, I figured now would be as good a time as any to make good on reading a comic that had been idling.

So, the last few days I've been reading AL15, Vol. 2: Broken Dreams, the second instalment of the Steve De La Mare's sci-fi adventure about Andromeda Lewis, 14th Generation who also goes by the titular 'AL15. Picking up from where the the first volume left off, AL15 continues her journey to return home to Viridi but finds herself on the dream land of Somnium Terram, where all who live there are living the lives they had previously only ever dreamed of. However, when all on this world are at threat, ALI5 (along with some unexpected allies) must risk her chance to return to her world to save this one.

Given this comic's continuance of De La Mare's ongoing story, Vol. 2 certainly struggles to remind readers, both new and returning (it's certainly been a while since I read Volume 1), of where the journey had reached thus far. However, despite this opening problem, I quickly found myself deeply immersed in this second instalment as De La Mare once again provided an epic but heartfelt story about one of the most 'human' characters I feel I've read about in a good long while; one who endeavours to do the right thing and inspires other to do the same.

Meanwhile, beyond AL15, the world and lore behind it that De La Mare has produced feels really deep and lived in. The landscape and the robots within it feels very ominous and have incredible personality respectively. Then there are the characters, all of whom, from those returning to the ones newly introduced, work really well together, with a certain new addition being a fantastic foil for AL15 and a prime example of showing of the best of the lead character's abilities.

As for the art, well De La Mare's art is chef's kiss of beautiful visuals. The style, which is very reminiscent of digital art seen in newspaper strips (a la Ben Lacy's Shark of War). However, where it seems to excel is thanks to the colours used, which are all incredibly vibrant and just truly stunning when combined with the pencils. As a result of this pairing, I really feel that this artwork really imbues the spirit of a true sci-fi adventure story.

I remember, after reading Vol.1: The Adventure Begins (which I wish I still had access to my review of) that I thought that this was a really wonderful and engrossing read. Well, it's fair to say the Vol. 2: Broken Dreams continues that vibe for me as, once again, I was really taken in by this story of Andromeda Lewis, 15th Generation and her voyage home (I had to get a Star Trek reference in somewhere) and it has me really looking forward to another chapter of this story.

I just hope there'll be a catch up page at the beginning to remind me where I am next time.

My Pull List: December 2022's comics.

It's been a week of catching up over these past few days as, in the aftermath of a January so far filled exclusively by Die, the comics from my pull list have been languishing to one side.

However, with my Collected Edition of Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' RPG/Action/Horror comic all read, I've been able to spend my evenings going through those single issues I picked up once December came to a close.

First up, I read Do a Powerbomb #7, the finale of Daniel Warren Johnson's wrestling epic which saw Lona Steelrose and Cobrasun, now crowned the Champions of Necroton's wrestling competition, face off against their final opponent before they are allowed to bring Lona's mother back.

As I went over Christmas, one of the few constants I heard on every podcasts' best of 2022 list was this series and that, I think, is for good reason. Do a Powerbomb has been an amazing read with every issue with this final one being no exception. DaP was once again action packed and brutal in delivering that action (I could feel ever slam and suplex) but continued to deliver every panel, scene and slam with so much emotion as Steel and Sun fought tooth and nail (some of which might've been lost) to claim their prize that it every turn of my page damn near broke my heart. Coupled with DWJ's great writing and tremendous art, as well as the unexpected ending, this final issue really stuck the landing. From this I hope there's a follow up series (which includes seeing the champions carrying they won belts) and I've really gotta check out Murder Falcon.

After that, X-Terminators #4 was my next read, where Leah Williams and Carlos Gomez continue the mad cap adventure of Dazzler, Jubilee, Boom Boom and Wolverine Laura Kinney as they find themselves under capture of Dazzlers Vampiric ex on board the Collectors ship. However, when a crazy plan of escape finds them their way home, the quartet find themselves face to face with a more sinister creature of the night.

While, for me, the series has been getting progressively more entertaining with each passing issue, I did think that this instalment was a lot quieter than the previous few. This was probably down to the fact that it was the penultimate issue, meaning it essentially sets up the finale. However, Williams still brought the cheeky humour to it with some great dialogue while Gomez's art continues to be vibrant and glamourous. The cliff-hanger ending certainly has me intrigued about how it will end, but this series has certainly been a good dose of guilty pleasure and I'd like to read it all as one and see if it reads even better as one giant hit.

Next came, Fantastic Four #2, (which felt like a nice juxtaposition as I went from a couple of series ending to a series that is recently beginning) which saw the new creative team of Ryan North and Iban Coello continue their re-introduction of Marvel's first family with an up close look at Reed and Sue Richards as they have a spot of lunch in a diner. However, this idyllic stop soon becomes a technological nightmare when the locals reveal their prior allegiance to an old adversary.

This new run is now two for two in fun, solid issues with another great read from beginning to end. Starting with the gorgeous Alex Ross cover, this was another Twilight Zone/Outer Limits type of story which focused primarily on Reed and Sue as the idea from the Pepose issues is flipped and Sue is the narrator talking up Reed. That said, it didn't feel like a Reed centric tale as I thought both were on equal footing, like genuine partners and equals (like any marriage should be) Meanwhile, Coello's art continues to remind me of Isaakze, Medina and the bevy of other artists which ended Slott's run with a style that just blew away. In the end, the story had yet another hopeful, positive ending as the FF change lives and it gives me high hopes for the rest of the run and excitement for the next issue.

Finally, I read She-Hulk #9, which continued Jen Walters latest adventures under Rainbow Rowell as things came to a head. Picking up from where the last issue left off, Jen is finally face to face(s) with those who brought Jack of Hearts back and have been on her trail for the past while. Now she must face off these new bad guys but in doing so, will she lose what she has only just gained?

Issue nine was yet another great issue in this run as I get more and more comfortable and in step with Jen Walters newest adventures. This time round it is more action packed than most of the run so far (minus issue 5 maybe) but Rowell nevertheless makes it any less emotional with the Jade Giantess' life seemingly falling apart around her really tugging at my heart strings. I do feel that Rowell's take on She-Hulk feels incredibly contemporary but still manages to weave in some classic tropes with a last minute revelation that (even though I knew happened. Spoilers 'sigh'), I still wasn't completely expecting to be as gut punching (and even guilt laden) as it was. Meanwhile, Takeshi Miyazawa has a fantastic art style which nicely compliments Roge Antonio's work from the first arc, leading to a seamless transition. The more I read this series, the more I'm seeing why so many people rave about it and the more I'm glad that it went beyond the 5 issue mini series. With a final part to this arc still to go, I'm eager to see how things work on this one.

And with that December (and with it, officially 2022) comes to an end. Now onto 2023 and an early start as I already have Fantastic Four #3 at home ready to read.

Just a shame I have to wait until the 25th for the final X-Terminators comic.

Die, the complete collected edition.

After three weeks of dedicated reading, I've finally finished reading Die. I can't lie it was a massive tomb, and has led me to almost constantly think 'I feel sorry for poor Santa who had to deliver it'.

For the longest time, I've heard a lot of good and interesting things about this series from Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans and Clayton Cowles which tells the story of six teenagers who are transported to a mysterious world during a Dungeons and Dragons game only to return two years later missing one of their number and the arm of another. Now, twenty years later, the 'survivors' are summoned together again when the mysterious 'Die' they were using in that game is returned to them, leading to these former players having to return to the game they thought they'd escaped.

However, despite the praise this (as well as Once and Future and many other Gillen series) had been getting, I was initially sceptical due to my being the only person in the world who didn't like his Young Avengers run (I still prefer the Heinberg/Cheung run to this day).

Thankfully though, a free copy of the first issue on Comixology convinced me to give it a go ...

... leading to this past Christmas and Father Christmas possibly acquiring a Hernia thanks to it (it is REALLY heavy).

I have to confess though, after three weeks and 20 issues (plus a D&D campaign's worth of backmatter content) I'm still just as unsure as to the story that Die was telling as I was at the beginning. However, this doesn't take from the fact that I found Gillen story as compelling as anything else in the world. Truthfully, despite a lot of mystery surrounding the story and direction/mission that had been set, I found myself night after night simply unable to put this collection down with a deeply intriguing world containing truly captivating (if not entirely likable) main characters. The scale which was given in Die was truly unreal in it's Jumanji meets the Neverending Story vibe and helped make the entire saga feel like it was more a dream rather than an experience which the characters were truly trapped in.

Of course, my view on the series being more dreamlike is in no small part to Stephanie Hans' artwork. A big draw during that first issue read which convinced me on Die's worth, I am absolutely in love with Hans work in this series. The style is just so gorgeous and, frankly, has such a dreamlike look to it in almost every page that I was continually convinced that the end would see a return to that first night a la Jumanji. However, while this did look dreamlike, it was equally nightmarish with so many brutal, heart-wrenching scenes which feel all the more so thanks to the artwork.

I will admit, I feel as if I'm being a little vague about Die, particularly given the impact it had on me.

True, the story beyond 'we have to get home' felt like Kieron kept it close to his chest right until the very end (and maybe even beyond in some aspects) and maybe that answer will be found in the backmatter (of which, thus far, I have barely scratched the surface). However, the more I read, the more I think I became convinced that this was not about the destination but about the journey.

Sure, by the end an overarching villain is revealed, but for me that seemed like less of what I cared about. As I read Die, I found myself wondering, is this a story about people being themselves? Because, sometimes, society makes us be and act a particular way, is this a tale about six people, forced to conform in some way normally, actually having the opportunity to be themselves and, in doing so, learn that they are actually being themselves in the real world or that, in Die, they are quite literally someone else entirely.

I think I'm rambling at this point but, suffice to say, this was an unbelievable comic series to read. Beautiful, addictive, thought-provoking, I'm glad that I listened to the hype and gave it a chance.

Now though, I find myself wondering if Gillen and Hans plan to return to this world, given that this collected edition says 'book 1' on the side.

Print or digital comics? My everlasting dilemma

 So, I'm currently on lunch at my day job and I've decided to try and find some new comic series to pick up (because, apparently, the giant pile by the side of my bed just isn't enough).

Now, I've found three which have caught my eye in the next few months. The first two are Superman related titles, with Tom Taylor and Clayton Henry releasing Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent followed a week later by Christopher Priest and Carlo Pagulayan's Superman: Lost, while the third is another Star Trek comic, in the form of Christopher Cantwell's Star Trek: Defiant. All three are incredibly tempting and it's a sad state of affairs that I can really only afford one of them.

(I've also found what appears to be a one-shot in the form of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Dog of War, but given that is released after the other three, I suspest this will be missed).

I'm unsure what kind of series Defiant is (an ongoing or a limited series), but both Superman series are of a limited nature (Jon Kent is 6 issues and Lost is 10) and, as a result I thought I'd investigate the possibility of picking one of those two up as a digital purchase (because it would save space in the long run).

Now, I haven't used comixology in a long while (from a purchasing point of view) because the set up is difficult to deal with and navigate as well as, quite frankly, Amazon get enough of my money and I'm still a little bitter about their gutting of this once great site.

Nonetheless, it is still the only place to buy digital comics and so I thought I'd take a look.

Sadly, none of these titles did not appear (because Amazon don't work in pre-ordering comics, apparently).

However, this isn't the thing which irked me the most. What irked me the most was, while I was there, I decided to at least check prices by comparing other comics of similar price ranges.

What I found was that a comic which is normally $3.99 (or £3.99 at my LCS) is £3.19 on Amazon, while a $4.99/£4.99 comic is now £3.99.

Maybe I'm crazy but this feels a little steep for a digital comic.

Now, it's been a while, but would guess that I previously would've accepted this price because it was a £0.80/£1 saving and, every penny helps (especially during current circumstances). However, with age has come something else, and it isn't in favour of only making an 80p/£1 saving. With the major upheavel that comes with buying off of Comixology nowadays, coupled with the fact that I've recently returned to a sense that physical reading is better/more enjoyable, I actually think that the saving needs to be greater, especailly as digital is still not 'owned' by me and could disappear at a moment's notice.

So, basically, this long ramble has brought to the conclusion that getting any new series through comixology just isn't worth the cost and trouble and that (if I can afford it), I'll be picking up one of those new series I mentioned from my LCS (who honestly deserve my coin more than Amazon).

... And when I say one of those new series, I really mean it'll be the one written by Tom Taylor and containing a guest appearance of the awesome Superman he created.

2023: A year of severe comic reading

This post was originally called 'a year of no more comics' but I thought I'd change it as I'm really not sure that would be a realistic objective for me.

The last 12 months has been a bit of a period for me and my love of comics. While I started last year in good spirits and a positive light, the need for another mid-year break from burnout, as well as the end of an era with Pipedream Comics going on indefinite hiatus, 2022 turned into something of a chore as it ended.

Well, chore is the wrong word because, as we reached Christmas, things certainly improved thanks to Do A Powerbomb, Ryan North's arrival on FF and, of course a Birthday and Christmas double bill which provided me a slew of quality trades.

Still, much of the middle of the past year sure felt like a hard slog.

However, with 2023 now here, I've found myself with a renewed sense of hope and optimism (which will hopefully last beyond the six month mark) as I make my plans for the next 12 months.

So, with that, I thought I'd go through all of my goals/resolutions for 2023!

1. Scale down the backlog (considerably) - This one has been a mainstay of my life for a couple of years now, but at this point it has become more of an absurdity than ever before. With a pile of graphic novels sat beside my bed (which includes a couple of collected editions from Christmas and even one from last Christmas), not to mention a small bundle of digital kickstarter rewards and enough comixology based comics that would certainly put my physical collection to shame, it feels like this year has got to be the one in which I make some serious headway on this backlog. This was primarily the reason why I was originally going to say no more comics, although it certainly is a foolish thing to say because there will always be a comic which acquires my intrigue. However, when all is said and done, burning through this backlog has to be my highest priority because what's the point in having all of these comics if I don't read them.

2. Reread older series, in order to trim down my collection - Speaking of reading, another 'resolution' (for want of a better word) is my plan to re-read a tremendous portionof my older comics. The reason for this is because, at nearly 40 years old and with a family including 2 small kids, space in my home is at a premium and now (thanks to that aforementioned pile I've just mentioned), my comics are overflowing at an insane level. However, not being a person who is particularly good at simply throwing things away, I've decided to try and re-read as many comics as I can (because, again, what's the point in having them if I don't read them). This way, if I find my tastes have changed to the extend that these particular comics no longer appeal to me, then I can arrange to sell/donate/throw away (maybe not so much that one) these particular comics and, thus, reduce some of the clutter in my home.

Also, it would give me plenty of fodder to write down my thoughts on. Speaking of which ...

3. Try and become something of a replacement for Pipedream Comics - This has been something I've been pondering about for the past couple of months. Since Pipedream Comics closed its doors, I've found myself with more time than I originally had (certainly for a couple of years now). Certainly, the site going on 'indefinite hiatus' was an opportunity to take a break and reassess things, especially given that, as of the time that the decision was made, I was going through a degree of burnout as my enjoyment when reading was waivering somewhat. However, now I've given myself a break and am in a better place, I'd love to try and make the time to bring focus to comics that might not neccesarily have as many eyes on them. Of course, I am aware that any credibility I had came from the site I worked for and so, there is little influence I can offer. However, the chance to try again at this kind of thing would certainly be something I wouldn't want to say no to, although it would be less a resolution and more and invitation to be taken up by others.

In the meantime though, there is one other resolution which can focus my attention ...

4. Build and release a kickstarter campaign for Predators - This is a resolution which has been a year in the making. Five years in fact, when you take into account that my previous comic making endeavour and subsequent discussion about it laid the first stones into the path. However, with almost continuous listening of podcast interview with other creators, as well as all of the terrific comics I got to read during 2022, I feel like I'm at a place where I want to move forward with my own current creative endeavour; Predators. The only issue is that, due to the cost of Living crisis (thanks Boris, Liz and the gang), trying to put together a legitimate amount of money to ask Robert Ahmad to finshed what he has already started (with two glorious pages) is being nothing short of difficult. Therefore, like many before me, I'm contemplating building a kickstarter campaign to gain the rest of the funds needed to finish the pages needed. Now, this is probably a fools errand and I can wager that I'll lose my confidence in achieving this many times over the coming year, but I want to try and do something given that I'm not getting any younger.

Speaking of not getting any younger. Finally ...

5. Remember that comics isn't the be all and end all - This should be a given but, if the last couple of months (as mentioned above, again) have shown me anything, it's that comics does tend to take up a tremendous amount of my thinking capacity. However, in the run up to Christmas, I did think that I found a better balance between comics and life than I've tended to have for a good long while. With that in mind, my last resolution is to continue to maintain that balance so that I continue to read plenty while not also overdoing it.

And there you have it, my resolutions/plans for 2023. Of course, I do have others, e.g. losing weight, getting fitter, all those stereotypical resolution that'll not doubt fail by the end of January, but these ones are those which relate to comics, which of course make them most important.

Hopefully I can follow through on all of these.

Fortunately, I've already made a start on them as I've already begun burning through Kieren Gillen and Stephanie Hans' Die.