Category: Comics

Z-View: Undertow #2

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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

A Sea Locust: thirty feet of armored spines, claws that strike at the speed of sound. And it’s devastating Ukinnu Alal’s team by the second. They’re talking mutiny on the Deliverer, and Bau Zikia’s the only one standing between them and Uruku’s sword.

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

The Good

  • Trakhanov‘s art continues to impress.
  • Orlando‘s story expands to bring in more characters.  We learn more about their motivations and it becomes clear that not everyone is totally on board with Redum Anshargal.

The Bad:

  • This isn’t a comic one can read in five minutes.  Some readers won’t like working for their story.
  • The coloring is better this issue, but some panels are still a bit dark.

The Ugly:

  • I am not a fan of the cover at all.

I liked Undertow #2 even better than the first issue. Bring on issue 3! Rating: 4 out of 5

Z-View: The White Suits #2

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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

The White Suits, scourges of Russia’s underworld, have declared war on New York’s organized crime. But NYC’s crime overlords have their own army of Russian mercenaries hunting the Suits, with FBI agent Sarah Anderson and the former Suit known as Prizrak certain to be caught in the crossfire!

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

The Good

  • Frank Barbiere’s story requires you to think and Toby Cypress’ art makes you pay attention.
  • The White Suits is a crime comic that encompasses a mystery or two or three but never at the sake of action.
  • Cypress’ art  this issue is not quite as loose but still unique.
  • The black and white art with a splash of color works!
  • The huge Russian merc is a woman!

The Bad:

  • The jumps in time aren’t spelled out.  To those who complain, pay attention to the art, colors, word balloons, etc.].
  • Cypress’ art is loose… and won’t be to everyone’s taste.
  • The position Anderson and Pizrak are in on the last page of the issue.

The Ugly:

  • The big Russian female merc when you insult her… and even when you don’t.

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

 

Rating: 3 out of 5

 

 

Scott Quick Draw Jack Carter

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One of the things I love about going to comic book conventions is meeting new artists… or at least artists that are new to me.  When I was at MegaCon this year, I met Scott Quick.

Scott does the web strip Camden Bottoms.  I took a look at Scott’s sketchbook and decided to see if he’d be interested in doing a Stallone sketch.  He was.  I ended up getting two.  This is the second.  I’ll post the first next week.  In the mean time check out Scott’s Camden Bottoms!

 

Adventures in Pulp: 3 Free Webcomics

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Adventures in Pulp is a cool site where you can find three free web comics:

Dick Ruby and the Little Green Men:  DETECTIVE NOIR MEETS INVASION SCI-FI in “Dick Ruby and the Case of the Little Green Men. It’s New York in the 1940s and private investigator Dick Ruby is on the trail of a missing person. A trail that leads to little green men from outer space.

The Four Horsemen: THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING! A power-hungry Prince kills his father to steal the crown and kingdom. The only thing that can stop him, the Good Witch of the Dead Lands. Hiding in her place of power, she summons four warriors from across time and space.

Hawk and a Handsaw: ENTER A SUPERHERO INSANE ASYLUM in “Hawk and a Handsaw!” You’d have to be a little crazy to put on a brightly colored costume and fight crime, but how exactly would you know who is the real deal and who has simply latched onto the delusion of being a super powered being?

Brett Harris [writer] and Matthew Childers [artist] are the creative team behind all three strips.  I’ve read [and enjoyed] the first chapter of Dick Ruby and the Little Green Men.  I look forward to future chapters and their other creations.  If you like comics, give ’em a look.

Z-View: Dead Letters #1

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Dead Letters #1 is published by BoomStudios.

Writer: Christopher Sebela

Artist: Chris Visions

Colorist: Ruth Redmond

Cover Shown: Chris Visions

Waking up in a fleabag motel with bandaged arms and a revolver on his desk, Sam doesn’t remember a thing – not how he got here, where here is, or who he is. But the armed men knocking on his door do and Sam will have to use every trick from his forgotten repertoire to outrun and outsmart his way through a hardboiled wonderland of gang wars, femme fatales and big secrets.

 

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The Good

  • Chris Visions’ art and Ruth Redmond’s colors.
  • The set-up: Sam wakes up to a ringing phone in a “sketchy hotel room” not knowing who he is or how he got there. The voice on the phone says, “They’re coming Sam.  You’d better start running” and hangs up.  Page one and I’m hooked.
  • The big reveal [for this issue] is saved for the last page.  Well played, Chris Sebela.  I also like the hints dropped throughout the issue.  [Pay attention to backgrounds.]

The Bad:

  • The position Sam is in.  Amnesia. Killers chasing him.  Yeah, that’s bad.

The Ugly:

  • Page 15 panel 3.

Dead Letters #1  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence.  I’m looking forward to issue #2.

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

The Crow Pestilence # 1 / Z-View

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The Crow: Pestilence #1 is published by IDW.

Writer: Frank Bill

Artist: Drew Moss

Colorist: Oliver Lee Arce

Cover Shown: James O’Barr

Juarez, Mexico. A young boxer, Salvador, refuses to take a fall, but has no problem taking a vicious drug gang’s pay-off. When they take their lethal revenge on the Salvador and his family, he returns as THE CROW, in search of vengeance…and forgiveness.

 

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The Good

  • J. O’Barr‘s cover.
  • This is Frank [Donneybrook] Bill‘s first job as a comic book writer!
  • I’m a Drew Moss fan and am happy to see his art on this series.
  • This incarnation of The Crow has an iconic back story and cool look.

The Bad:

  • Some people will be put off by the violence and profanity.
  • The story jumps between the present and the past and sometimes it wasn’t quickly clear where we were in the timeline.
  • Because of the [many] Crow incarnations some may find the story too formulaic.  I have faith that Bill Frank is going to put a unique spin on things as we progress through the tale.
  • Naming all the bad guys with “dog names” – Raw Dog, Flash Dog, Mange Hound and War Hound.

The Ugly:

  • What happens to Salvador when he crosses the guys who paid him to take a dive.
  • What happens to the guys who paid Salvador to take a dive when he comes back as the Crow.

The Crow: Pestilence #1  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence and language.  

Rating: 3 out of 5