Category: Comics

The Package by Elliot Blake & Alexis Ziritt /Z-View

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The Package is a graphic novel created by Elliot Blake and Alexis Ziritt published through Kickstarter and available on Comixology.

Writer: Elliot Blake

Artist: Alexis Ziritt

Cover: Alexis Ziritt

 

Hitman Fred Cutler is sent to Mexico by his boss to retrieve a package. The package never arrives, but hired killers do. When Fred comes to, he discovers a bomb has been sewn into his chest. And if he wants to live, he’s going to have to kill his boss, L.A.’s most notorious gangster, Rafi Vega.

The Good

  • I love the cover by Alexis Ziritt.
  • Elliot Blake has created an excellent revenge story with a couple of unexpected twists.
  • The pinups by Emma Rios, Andrew Maclean, Robert Wilson IV and Eric Bonhomme.
  • The running gun battle when hitmen show up in Mexico.
  • I could easily see this very cool graphic novel turned into a very cool movie.
  • The price.

The Bad:

  • When you don’t know enough to get quiet around Rafi.
  • What happens when you keep “testing” Charlie.
  • Waking up a few days after being shot to find a bomb has been placed into your chest.
  • Nearly everyone — definitely all the major players in this tale.
  • It’s too bad some people may be put off by the roughness of the Ziritt’s art.  For me, it works — gritty art to compliment a gritty crime story.

The Ugly:

  • When Fred finds out what the package is.

The Package  is a comic for mature audiences due to profanity and violence.  If you’re a fan of Sin City; Dead Body Road, Criminal and Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, then you’ll dig The Package.  

Kelley Jones, John Beatty, Batman & Daytona Beach Comic Con

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Nice, huh?

Batman by Kelley Jones and John Beatty… how could it be anything less than nice?

It couldn’t.

If you’re in traveling distance of Daytona Beach this Sunday, June 8th, you can get a signed, limited edition of the print from John Beatty his-own-bad-self.  John will be at the Daytona Beach Comic Book Con signing and sketching along with…

  • “Captain Cartoon” Dick Kulpa
  • Rob Smith Jr. “Swampy’s Florida”
  • Jim Fern – Marvel and DC Comics artist

Heck, I’ll even be there… but don’t let that keep you away.

Z-View: The White Suits #3 by Barbiere & Cypress

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The White Suits is a four issue mini-series created by Frank Barbiere & Toby Cypress published by Dark Horse Comics.

Writer: Frank Barbiere

Artist / Colorist: Toby Cypress

Mob war erupts in Chinatown! In a desperate final gambit, New York’s criminal underworld and their Russian mercenaries draw the murderous White Suits into a deadly ambush, with ex-Suit Prizrak and FBI agent Sarah Anderson as hostages. With no way out but death, who will survive the “Kill Box”?

*** Beware – minor spoilers are found below ***

The Good

  • Frank Barbiere’s story requires you to think and Toby Cypress’ art makes you pay attention.
  • “I’m the missing piece.  I’m one of them.”
  • “This is the end… probably what I deserve.”
  • Nice twist with the hulking Russian merc.
  • I really liked the 4 panel storytelling that begins with “My name is Petra…”

The Bad:

  • Cypress’ art is loose… and won’t be to everyone’s taste.
  • Some folks may be put off by the violence in this issue… of course if they’ve read the other issues that shouldn’t be an, uh, issue.

The Ugly:

  • A lot of the people after being caught in explosions and machine gun cross fire.

The White Suits is not for all audiences since it contains adult language and violence.

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

 

 

Z-View: Undertow #3 by Orlando & Trakhanov

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Undertow is an on-going series created by Steve Orlando & Artyom Trakhanov published by Image.

Writer: Steve Orlando

Artist: Artyom Trakhanov

Cover Artist Shown: Artyom Trakhanov

Surrounded by bloodthirsty humans, boiling in their landsuits as the sun rises, Redum Anshargal and Ukinnu Alal’s team comes face to face with a primordial god. He’s never killed a god before, but that doesn’t mean Anshargal isn’t up for trying. The dry frontier takes another life as the pulp monster adventure continues!

*** Beware – minor spoilers are found below ***

The Good

  • Trakhanov‘s double-page splash.
  • The introduction of The Amphibian.  “This is how you kill someone!”
  • “I drown spies in the warm desert sun!”
  • Bonus pinup by Luke Parker and back cover by [I think] Matthew Reynolds.

The Bad:

  • What the Amphibian can easily do to an enemy.

The Ugly:

  • If you thought the Amphibian in battle was gross wait until you see him in camp afterward.

IUndertow #2 isn’t for kids.  Rating: 4 out of 5

King Conan Teaser Poster: Let the Lamentations Begin

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I know just the thought of a King Conan  teaser poster starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to excite  a lot of Schwarzenegger and Conan fans [myself included].

Unfortunately the poster isn’t as strong as I had hoped.

I know I’m going to get blasted by fans for saying this, but the poster looks like Conan/Schwarzengger [suffering with rosacea] calmly holding a sword.

I wanted something more.

Let the lamentations of the fans begin.

Z-View: The Mercenary Sea #3

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The Mercenary Sea is an on-going series created by Kel Symons & Matthew Reynolds published by Image.

Writer: Kel Symons

Art and Colors: Matthew Reynolds

“BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA” Jack Harper and the crew of the Venture slip into enemy waters to rescue a British spy, code-named “Top Hat.” Only their old adversary, Captain Tono of the Imperial Japanese Navy, spoils the party.

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

The Good

  • I like the cover.
  • The colors and sound effects lettering were especially nice this issue.
  • Nice cliffhanger on the last page.

The Bad:

  • In the first two issues I nitpicked about Reynolds‘ blurred backgrounds being used too often.  I didn’t feel they were over-used this issue and now I feel bad about picking those nits.
  • Being in a submarine under attack by depth charges.

The Ugly:

  • What happens after you tell a Japanese interrogator, “I have no bloody idea what you’re talking about…”

I look forward to the next issue of The Mercenary Sea.

Rating: