Samurai’s Blood TPB Out in Feb

I’m a bit behind on all the mini-series that Image Comics has been receiving praise for. Samurai’s Blood looks pretty good though, as you can see by reading the entire first issue for free.

THE TIDES OF VENGEANCE RISES WITH SAMURAI’S BLOOD

Image Comics Collects The 6-Issue Epic Miniseries

Image Comics is proud to announce the February release of SAMURAI’S BLOOD VOL. 1 TP, written by Owen Wiseman, illustrated by Nam Kim (Warcraft: Legends) and Matthew Dalton (Starcraft: Frontline), edited by Dave Elliottand produced by Benaroya Publishing. SAMURAI’S BLOOD VOL. 1 TP collects issues #1-6 of the sold out miniseries and will include extras such as a gallery page of covers by fan favorite artist Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9) and additional prose Samurai’s Blood stories from Owen Wiseman.
Set in feudal Japan, an era when lineage defined you, SAMURAI’S BLOOD involves three teenagers who must make their way through the world hiding their identities in order to find their destinies. As their village burns behind them, they are headed for a city they’d heard about only in stories. The three young samurai must now struggle to stay alive and take vengeance on the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan and the only world they’d ever known. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance, or they will they fall on the swords of fate?
The critics have raved about SAMURAI’S BLOOD:
“I’ll be picking up the 6-issue run of Samurai’s Blood…I’d suggest you do the same.” –IGN

“Samurai’s Blood is just another example of all the great stuff Image Comics is putting together this year…I recommend the entire series.” – Comic Book Bin

“One of the best things about Samurai’s Blood is its strong period feel, which is carried in particular by Nam Kim’s idealized yet realistic art and Jo Chen’s more expressionistic covers.” – Playback STL
“Once again (and unbelievably, I might add), Wiseman has upped the stakes with this story… I can’t honestly understand how this book keeps getting better every issue, but somehow it does. 5 out of 5” – Comic Attack

SAMURAI’S BLOOD VOL. 1 TP  (DEC110519, ISBN: 978-1-60706-488-6), a 192-page full-color trade paperback, will be on sale in stores February 29th, 2012 for $14.99 and is available to order in the December 2011 edition of Previews. For more information, please visit www.benaroyapublishing.com.

December 19, 2011
Categories: Comics, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Lock Out Trailer

The President’s daughter. A space station prison. Guy Pearce in a rare action role. This veers dangerously close to cheesy, but it is French, and I love a good French action film (such as Brotherhood of the Wolf, the 2 District 13 films) so will give it a go when it opens in April. It’s also produced and co-written by Luc Besson who knows how to make entertaining movies (Taken, Transporter).

December 19, 2011
Categories: Movies . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Makeshift Miracle Chapter 2 Review

The second chapter of Jim Zubkavich’s (Image’s great Skullkickers) Makeshift Miracle has now concluded, and just like the first one, which I reviewed here, is also available for free download in order to spread the word about how good this webcomic is. Thankfully, it is actually good.

Our spiky haired, loner protagonist Colby began his adventure at the end of the debut chapter, after discovering a beautiful, naked girl falling at his feet like a comet. Here he talks to himself and does what he can to keep her alive.

Zubkavich is building the pieces at a glacial pace, which those weened on hectic superheroics may find annoying, but I find charming. It helps that the narration, like the story (at least so far) is simple and very understandable. It’s an all-ages comic really.

We learn nothing new in this second chapter, as the overwhelmed teenager quickly jumps into action realising no other help is at hand, bundles his new friend up to keep her warm and soon discovers that she has a handy ability.

I’d imagine in the following chapter, we’ll get to the bottom of who this girl is, which will drive the story to some unexpected places. At this point, it needs it. However, it seems to me that Zubkavich has a grand plan in mind and is obviously playing coy for now, making deliberate pacing choices and ending each chapter on a cliffhanger. What this story needs now though is more understanding of our two main characters, the introduction of some key supporting players and the inevitable threat that comes calling for the girl from the sky. The rather intriguing foundation has been laid. Now it’s time for the solid gripping narrative to take centre stage.

Shun Hong Chan’s art is simply delicious. It’s crystal clear, dynamic with a manga flair that makes even these pages, in which not a lot actually happens, seem alive and bristling with a restrained energy. The deft colouring builds a great environment and snow covered claustrophobia and uses black and white when needed to great effect, not as flashbacks as seen in the previous chapter, but with more subtlety when the characters’ isolation needs to come to the fore.

It appears luscious on the computer screen and will look even more so when Makeshift Miracle comes to print as a collection from Udon next year.

Follow Makeshift Miracle right here and download Chapter 2 as a PDF or CBR file here.

December 19, 2011
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics?, News, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment