Comic Book Review: Lady Killer #3

Troubles are brewing for Josie both on the home front and at work. How will she handle them, but more importantly is it good?

The book opens up with a lively party in Josie’s home and pays homage to The Watchmen (movie) referencing Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” This provides some massive foreshadowing because this third installment introduces significant changes in the direction of the plot as well as character development for Josie and Peck.

Josie’s character is explored in two different ways. The first is through her interactions and dialogue with her mother-in-law. She is aggressive and intimidating. Jones draws her invading Mother Schuller’s personal bubble and getting right in her face. The second and far more important evolution of her character comes during her assignment. She is faced with a dilemma and makes a choice that will shape the rest of her story. What is important to note is both her character developments focus on her work-life balance and how the two intrude on each other. It is a really good touch exploring it from both angles, work affecting home life as well as home life affecting work.

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Comic Book Review: Men of Wrath #5

Jason Aaron and Ron Garney’s closing issue keeps vengeance front and center with plenty of violence to go around. Is it good?

The opening page of the issue delivers an immediate shock, hooking you. The next page delivers an emotional blow shattering your hope and bringing forth an overwhelming feeling of outrage mixed with sadness. This emotion lingers throughout the rest of the issue connecting you to Ira Rath in a way that never occurred in the previous issues. However, Aaron does try to temper the emotion with the next few pages hinting the opening pages might be a dream, but also delving a little deeper into Ira Rath’s psyche and what he envisions as an end for himself.

The issue really hits its stride during the brutal action sequences. Ron Garney’s scenes are explosive and brutal. The level of violence is quite possibly greater than the original Red Dawn. There is no room for injuring or incapacitating. There is only one end.

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Comic Book Review: The Black Hood #1

A traumatic shooting takes a police officer down a troubled path leaving him scarred both physically and spiritually. How will he deal with it? Is it good?

Duane Swierczynski’s name caught my eye. I enjoyed his run on Deadpool vs. X-Force and figured I would go ahead and give this new title from Dark Circle Comics a read through.

The book reads much like a journal entry being told from the protagonist’s perspective. There is very little dialogue although there is a very good plot reason for this. (The fact the protagonist can’t talk!) The book has exceptional pacing each flip of the page pulls you further into the shoes of Gregory Heittinger wondering where it will take him and how he will function.

Heittinger’s character is deeply compelling and this is an origin story right up there with Spiderman and Batman. It may be even a little better for he is not losing someone close to him, he loses himself. The issue follows him as he makes appearances, goes through rehab, and watches TV all the while trying to make sense of the act of violence he committed.

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Comic Book Review: The Life After #7

A little bit of office turmoil, a not so joyous reunion, and a journey through some collapsing tunnels are just a few things you will see in The Life After #7. Is it good?

Joshua Hale Fialkov seems to be making it a trend in this arc to flashback and world build all the while keeping us even more confused as we continue to wonder about what is actually happening in the world of Jude and Ernest Hemmingway.

After reuniting Nettie with Jude and Ernest, Fialkov has decided to split the trio up. Nettie stays with the giant god bunny and her daughter while Jude and Ernest are marching through the tunnels. The split doesn’t help the pacing of the book giving it a fragmented feel as Fialkov jumps between the characters too often not giving them enough panel time to continue to develop and grow. He is juggling four distinct storylines at this point. It also reduces the time readers have to connect with the characters. There is an extremely emotional scene with Nettie that you just pass over with the jump to Jude and Ernest.

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Affiliate link: Click here to get your copy of The Life After #7.

Comic Book Review: Pathfinder: Origins #1

A group of adventurers has gathered to begin their next quest, but first they regale their quest giver with their credentials. Is it good?

The premise for the origin story of Valeros feels too forced. Writer Erik Mona creates a scenario where a group of adventurers has already accomplished what appears to be a great feat in defeating The Gallowed Gang, but they are forced to defend themselves and their characters when attempting to obtain another job. The quest giver points out all of their flaws and why they are not fit to be given a quest.

After about two pages, which feels a lot longer due to the large amounts of dialogue, you finally get to the origin of Valeros. He is a typical mercenary who likes to enjoy his cups a little too much. Unfortunately, this gives Mona a perfect excuse to utilize the all too often used cliché of finding a job in the local tavern. It is livened up a bit with a bit of action, but you have to suspend disbelief quite a bit when the folks trying to hire him are set upon by demons.

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Affiliate link: Click here to get your copy of Pathfinder: Origins #1.

Comic Book Review: IXth Generation #2

Political intrigue, a formidable threat, advanced physics, a dose of philosophy, and a whole bunch of questions make for an interesting second installment. Is it good?

Matt Hawkins and Stjepan Sejic begin IXth Generation #2 with a recurring question from the first issue: Does the resurrection process truly bring the person back to life or is it a new person with a digitally downloaded consciousness and genetic replica? The question is not fully answered (and hopefully won’t be for some time), but it serves its purpose effectively as the hook. It is not an unrealistic notion given our technological advances and sparks your inner philosopher whether you debate the ethics of the resurrection or actually attempt to answer the straight-forward dilemma.

Hawkins’ dialogue does a good job of empowering Aphrodite IX, but also showing who she is as a person and how she interacts with her subjects and siblings. She treats them both as family and has respect for them. Aphrodite IX’s internal monologue is crucial;

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Affiliate link: Click here to get your copy of IXth Generation #2.

Advanced Comic Book Review: Frankenstein Underground #1

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be Frankenstein? Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck, and Dave Stewart explore the life and history of Frankenstein. Is it good?

The comic gives a pretty clear depiction of what it is like to be Frankenstein. It starts off a little slow with Frankenstein in Mexico at an ancient Mayan ruin where he recounts his past to an old woman who happens to inhabit the ruins at the time of his arrival. He recalls the numerous occasions of being hunted, shot at, captured, imprisoned, tortured, and even thrown into the boxing ring with a familiar red demon. He explores how this affected his psyche and his search to find purpose in the gift he believes is a curse.

About halfway through the book, the story takes an abrupt shift from exploring the character of Frankenstein to the introduction of the Marquis Addet de Fabre, a collector of sorts who just has to have Frankenstein for his own.

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