Month: April 2014

Z-View: Saviors #3

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The Saviors is an on-going series created by James Robinson & J. Bone published by Image.

Writer: James Robinson

Artist: J. Bone

 

Tomas Ramirez is now in the small Mexican coastal town of La Calma, where other new freedom fighters allies intend to test a device to end the threat of the aliens forever. But the aliens have a counterattack plan of their own, so this certainly will be the Day of the Dead.

 

 

The Good

  • James Robinson provides back story without it feeling like exposition or talking heads.
  • J. Bone creates characters that look like individuals.  I am really diggin’ his art on this.
  • A Spanish speaking alien?  Absolutely!

The Bad:

  • The aliens are everywhere!

The Ugly:

  • Poor, poor Tony.

Saviors #3  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence.  If you’re a fan of 1950’s movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the 1960’s tv series “The Invaders”  then Saviors #3 is for you.  

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Z-View: Dead Body Road #3

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Dead Body Road is a six issue mini-series published by Image.

Writer: Justin Jordan

Penciler / Inker: Matteo Scalera

Colorist: Moreno Dinisio

Will a standoff in a diner lead Gage one dead body closer to his revenge? Or is it just a pit stop on the highway to Hell?

 

Dead Body Road #3  Great writing, great art and a crime/revenge story that moves.  Justin Jordan and Matteo Scalera are a team to watch.

The Good

  • Justin Jordan and Matteo Scalera have created a crime classic — and we’re just halfway into the story.
  • The comic feels real… or at least movie real.  It is full of violence, profane language, and takes us into a world where tough ex-cops seek revenge against thieves, murderers and motorcycle gangs.  I love it.

The Bad:

  • Some people are going to be put off by the violence and profanity.
  • Quint.  Is anyone badder?

The Ugly:

  • Not a single panel.

Dead Body Road #3  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence and language.  If you’re a fan of crime/revenge stories then this is for you.  

Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Z-View: The Mercenary Sea #2

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

Writer: Kel Symons

Artist: Matthew Reynolds

When the Venture is damaged in a trap laid by the Chinese admiral after Captain Jack Harper’s head, he’s forced to take the job offered by the mysterious American agent, Mr. Taylor, to rescue a British spy trapped behind enemy lines.

The Pitch: ”Hey, someone in comics should do a pulp action comic, you know a real throwback about a ragtag group of mercenaries led by an Indiana Jones-type who loves adventure and righting wrongs.”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Red Sails at Sunset”

The Overview: Jack Harper and his crew are wanted by the Chinese government for crimes against the state.  Admiral Shi Tang has sent soldiers to collect them for return to the motherland and execution.  If Harper’s team survives they have a job waiting… one that involves rescuing a spy with valuable information from behind enemy lines.

 

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

The Good

  • The issue begins with action.
  • Symons writing flows.
  • Reynolds’ art continues to impress.

The Bad:

  • While I like Reynolds‘ art I still think he overuses silhouettes and blurred backgrounds.  It’s not that I don’t like those techniques but if used too often they can lose their impact.
  • What happens to the Chinese soldiers that Harper’s crew took prisoner?  Why were they taken prisoner?  The Chinese team was sent in to capture and return Harper’s team to China for execution.  Harper’s team and the Chinese soldiers  were just involved in a major gunfight.  Are we to believe that Harper’s team just set the soldiers who tried to kill them free?

The Ugly:

  • The cover didn’t work for me this time.  I liked the idea, but felt the figures were too small and the blurred plane looked too small.

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

Rating: