Category: Crime

Z-View – The Black Beetle: “No Way Out” #4 by Francavilla

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The Black Beetle: No Way Out is a four issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

The epic conclusion to Black Beetle’s first series! Colt City’s caped crusader goes head to head with the mysterious villain Labyrinto! Can Black Beetle make it out of this maze of matched wits and matched blows alive?!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below *** The Good

  • Francavilla has set up the Black Beetle to look and feel like an old pulp magazine or movie serial.
  • Another great cover by Francavilla.
  • Last panel page 5.
  • Is that Steranko??
  • The reason Labyrinto chose his name.
  • Bonus art – Albert Hulm and more!
  • Francavilla’s coloring throughout the series has been spot on.

The Bad:

  • “All right Fierro… time’s up.”  “You got that right.”  Poor Fierro.
  • “I’m afraid I’ve been you to the punch once again, my mysterious friend.”
  • The way Jimmy Galazzo’s dad treated him.

The Ugly:

  • Poor Fierro.

Black Beetle: No Way Out

Rating: 5 out of 5

Z-View – The Black Beetle: “No Way Out” #3 by Francavilla

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The Black Beetle: No Way Out is a four issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

While investigating a mysterious mass murder that leveled Colt City’s mob bosses, Black Beetle gets wrapped up in a puzzling maze of clues. Could the appearance of a costumed criminal named Labyrinto be related to the destruction of the powerful organized-crime racket?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below *** The Good

  • Francavilla has set up the Black Beetle to look and feel like an old pulp magazine or movie serial.
  • Every month I sing the praises of Francavilla’s Black Beetle covers.  This is my favorite so far.
  • Shadows fall over the Black Beetle’s face while in disguise but out of costume — could they be a nod to Will Eisner’s The Spirit?
  • “Having me outnumbered makes them confident… but it also makes them predictable.”
  • Page before “Intermezzo” — who is that mystery man watching from above in the shadows.  Oh-oh.  I thought it was him.
  • “Tonight the madness ends.”
  • More bonus art from Francavilla!

The Bad:

  • “You were asking too many questions.  We don’t like snoops around here.”
  • Yikes!  There’s a mystery man watching from the shadows above.
  • “Guess I’ll have to check the body myself… Sometimes I hate my job.”

The Ugly:

  • “Not much left of the face.”

Black Beetle: No Way Out

Rating: 5 out of 5

38 Things We Learned from the “John Wick” Commentary

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Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present 38 Things We Learned from the John Wick  Commentary.

Here are my top five…

3. Their first “director’s cut” was two hours and twenty minutes. That’s thirty nine minutes longer than the film’s theatrical cut.

4. They acknowledge that in the real world a retired assassin probably would have changed his name, but they like they idea of this world being similar to that of a comic book.

13. They were heavily influenced by the style of graphic novels and attempted to capture some of that in the colors, framing and angles.

20. They love seeing people’s reactions to the gold coins, the cop (Thomas Sadoski) at the front door and other unexplained sequences. “A lot of people don’t give their audiences credit,” says Leitch. “You can leave it a little mysterious. They can think about it.”

18. They credit Reeves’ dedication and talent with their ability to do long takes during the fight scenes. “I think we really only cut for impact,” says Stahelski. “We didn’t really cut to get around moves, we didn’t cut to speed things up. We wanted you to see what happens before, during and after.” “You’re not using long lenses to hide bad action,” adds Leitch.

Z-View – The Black Beetle: No Way Out #2 by Francavilla

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The Black Beetle: No Way Out is a four issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

While investigating a mysterious mass murder that leveled Colt City’s mob bosses, Black Beetle gets wrapped up in a puzzling maze of clues. Could the appearance of a costumed criminal named Labyrinto be related to the destruction of the powerful organized-crime racket?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below *** The Good

  • Francavilla has set up the Black Beetle to look and feel like an old pulp magazine or movie serial.
  • Another great cover by Francavilla.
  • Love the double-page splash on pages 2 and 3.
  • “But luckily no one gets hurt.”
  • “Thankfully I never leave for an ocean trip without a respirator…”
  • “I’ve learned that, in my case, ‘unlikely to happen’ is often likely to happen.”
  • Big panel on page 11.
  • “The moment I hear him… it’s a second too late.”
  • Page 14
  • “Oh, C’mon now!”
  • Darwyn Cooke Black Beetle bonus sketch!
  • More bonus art from Francavilla!

The Bad:

  • “But even with the helipack, I arrived too late.
  • “Take care of the Black Beetle once and for all.”  Yikes!
  • Who is the person lurking in the shadows behind the Black Beetle on page 9 and coming up behind him on page 10?

The Ugly:

  • “It’s a short fall… but long enough to see all those tiny hungry red eyes… waiting for me to hit the water.  They’re all over me in a second. And they keep coming.  And coming.”
  • Water rising quickly and the escape hatch is barred from the outside!

Black Beetle: No Way Out

Rating: 5 out of 5

Z-View – Black Beetle: “No Way Out” #1 by Francavilla

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The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 in a four issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

Black Beetle’s investigation of two local mob bosses is interrupted when a mysterious explosion murders them and a pub full of gangsters—taking out most of Colt City’s organized crime in one fell swoop. Who could pull off such a coup, and what danger might that murderous bomber do to Colt City and Black Beetle?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below *** The Good

  • Francavilla has set up the Black Beetle to look and feel like an old pulp magazine or movie serial.
  • Love the cover by Francavilla.
  • Followed by an equally awesome full page splash.
  • “Wish me luck.  Not that I need it.”
  • Bonus “title cards” after the story created by Francesco Francavilla.
  • “Are you from space, Mister?”
  • “Are right, Rick.  I don’t have time for this. So…”
  • The cliffhanger last page.
  • “Okay.  You’re good.  I’ll give you that.  But this is not over.”
  • Bonus teaser images by Francavilla and a Black Beetle pinup by Mike Norton.

The Bad:

  • “K-BAOOOOOOOMMM!!”
  • “All I can think about is WHO got to them BEFORE I did… While I should really be worrying about… freefalling from an EIGHTEEN STORY BUILDING.”

The Ugly:

  • “Thudd!”
  • “Constantino.”  “Huh?  “FWWWP  FWWWP”

Black Beetle: No Way Out #1

Rating: 5 out of 5

Z-View – The Black Beetle: “Night Shift” #0 Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

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The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0 is a collection of three Black Beetle episodes that originally appeared in Dark Horse Presents #11–#13 and will lead into the Black Beetle: Night Shift four issue mini-series from Dark Horse Comics.

Written and Directed by Francesco Francavilla

When a powerful totem of dark magic shows up at the Colt City Natural History Museum, Hitler sends his fearsome Werwolf Korps to collect the piece. Unfortunately for the führer, Colt City’s protector, the Black Beetle, is on the case!

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below *** The Good

  • Francavilla has set up the Black Beetle to look and feel like an old pulp magazine or movie serial.
  • Night Shift is set in 1941 and the bad guys are Nazis.
  • Cliffhanger on page 7 leading in to full page 8 splash.
  • “I’ll take care of this.”
  • Who is the mysterious leader of Werewolf Korp?
  • Love Francavilla’s art and colors.
  • The Black Beetle’s plan to turn the tables on the Nazis.
  • The cliffhanger on the last page of the story.
  • Bonus “title cards” after the story created by Francesco Francavilla.

The Bad:

  • 1941 Nazis.
  • Black Beetle’s exposition to Dr. Howard — “It’s a long story but — due to the current situation I’ll give you the short version…” [great summary and fits the feel of the 1941 pulp comic but a bad time to be talking about it]
  • Adolph Hitler’s Werewolf Korp. Hitler, Nazi’s and the Werewolf Korp.  It doesn’t get much worse that than in 1941.  Ulp – it just did.  Who is their hooded leader?

The Ugly:

  • Being around to hear a Nazi say, “Keine Zeugen.” <“No witnesses.”>

Black Beetle: Night Shift #0 was a blast. 

Rating:

Z-View: Shaft #2 by Walker and Evely

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Shaft is an on-going series published by Dynamite. Shaft created by Ernest Tidyman.

Writer: David F. Walker

Artist: Bilquis Evely

Colorist: Daniel Miwa

Cover Shown: Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz & Ivan Nunes

Every great detective has their first case. For John Shaft, that first case seems simple enough. But tracking down a missing person for his girlfriend quickly turns into a matter of life and death. With the bodies piling up, Shaft realizes he’s in over his head. But can he stay alive long enough to figure out what is going on, or will his first case be the death of John Shaft?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good:

  • Still diggin’ the art by Bilquis Evely.
  • “Could spot a booster from a mile away.  That’s ’cause I used to be a booster.”
  • Double page splash showing Shaft’s relationship deepening.
  • “Keeping her safe is the most important thing.  That’s the only thing keeping the four-eyed ************ alive.”
  • “It was like someone opened a cage and let the animal out.”
  • Evely gets the feel of the period down pat.

The Bad:

  • “The fact that they’re following us this close says a lot.  First, they don’t care if we know.  Second, if they don’t care that we know, they don’t think we’re a problem.”
  • “They were either cops or gangsters…”

The Ugly:

  • The last page of the issue… and I can’t wait for #3!

 

Shaft #2 should appeal to fans of the Shaft movies and is for mature audiences due to adult language.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Rating:

Z-View: Men of Wrath #4 by Aaron and Garney

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Men of Wrath is a five issue mini-series created by Jason Aaron & Ron Garney published by Marvel.

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: Ron Garney

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher

The last living men of Rath face off, as Ruben comes gunning for Ira to protect the life of his unborn child. With father and son standing poised to kill each other, will the Rath curse come full circle?

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • Nice cover!
  • Ira’s grocery store run-in with the Sheriff.
  • The last page is a shocker.

The Bad:

  • Ruben proving to himself he’s a “man.”
  • Going from wanting to kill your soon to making him wealthy.
  • “She’s out in the backyard. Buried under a sycamore.”

The Ugly:

  • The way Ira talks to his son.
  • The way Ruben let’s his gun answer back.

 

Men of Wrath #4  is for mature readers due to mature language and violence.

Rating:

21 Things You Might Not Know About “Justified”

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Justified is my current favorite tv show so I was glad to read 21 Things You Might Not Know About Justified.

Here are my three favorite of the facts listed…

6. LEONARD WAS A FAN OF OLYPHANT’S PORTRAYAL.

Before his passing, Leonard was very vocal about being a fan of Justified—particularly with the way that Olyphant interpreted the character of Raylan. In 2012, The Wall Street Journal asked Leonard whether the series had influenced the way he visualized the character in his writing, to which he responded: “No, because Tim Olyphant plays the character exactly the way I wrote him. I couldn’t believe it. He’s laidback and he’s quiet about everything, but he says, if I have to pull my gun, then that’s a different story. And it works. There are very few actors that recite the lines exactly the way you hear them when you’re writing the book. George Clooney [in the 1998 movie Out of Sight] was one. He was very good.”

7. OLYPHANT ISN’T THE FIRST ACTOR TO PORTRAY RAYLAN GIVENS.

James LeGros got there first, playing Raylan Givens in the 1997 TV movie adaptation of Pronto. And LeGros has popped up on Justified, too: In 2011, he began a recurring role as small-potato criminal Wade Messer.

17. OLYPHANT CLAIMS TO BE DOING HIS BEST SAM ELLIOTT IMPRESSION.

In order to be the coolest guy in the room, Olyphant claims that he just acts as Sam Elliott might. The irony, of course, is that Elliott will star as one of the final season’s bad guys. “On his first day of work, I took [Sam] aside and said, ‘Look, buddy, here’s the deal: Raylan is really just me trying to be you and failing miserably,” Olyphant joked to Rolling Stone.

Source: Mental_Floss.

Z-View: Sherwood Texas #4 by Berryhill and Hillyard

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Sherwood Texas is a five issue mini-series published by 12-Gauge Comics.

Sherwood Texas #4

Writer: Shane Berryhill

Artist: Daniel Hillyard

Colorist: Charlie Kirchoff

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

 

The battle moves south of the border as Hood goes into Mexico looking to thwart the Nobles at every turn. Back in Sherwood, John Prince is about to make a discovery that changes everything.

*** Beware – spoilers may be found below ***

The Good

  • Berryhill comes up with a nice explanation of how Will is kept safe while recovering.
  • Ann Willis is a great supporting character.  “Remind me never to get on your bad side” – indeed.
  • The Jesters taking the fight across the border.

The Bad:

  • The casual way that Sheriff Hoyt shows he has tired of the interrogation.  [So bad it could have been listed in “the good” section.]

The Ugly:

  • Prince’s nephew’s situation… love the last panel of the book!

 

Sherwood Texas #4

Rating: