Witchblade #121 Review

I’m a recent convert to this title, after the awesome Vol. 5 TPB and the even more awesome talents of artist Stjepan Sejic. Writer Ron Marz continues to build upon the mystical gauntlet’s mythos and shows once again that his deft hand is capable of fitting in to any genre.

Dancer Dani Baptiste (absent in this ish) is now, thanks to the recent events of the First Born arc, the wielder of half of the Witchblade, while long-time cop Sara Pezzini wields its twin. However, that doesn’t mean Sara has half of the trouble to deal with. Although in this issue, the first of the three part Crown Heights story arc, the only time Sara breaks out the blade is not in the midst of a frantic battle, but in the shower with her lover, fellow cop, Patrick Gleason.

The pair travel to Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community, specifically the Chabad-Lubavitch sect to investigate a rabbi’s gruesome murder, while tip-toeing around sensitive race issues at the same time. Meanwhile journalist Gretch tries to convince her editor of the existence of the Witchblade to run it on the front page, and hounds Sara until she gets some answers, which it looks like she just may get in following issues.

Although there is no fighting or hectic action to speak of, Marz still captivates with his swift pace and well crafted intrigue. Once again, the art is gorgeous. Sejic’s beautifully rendered figures add much realism. He also adds nice touches like soft focus backgrounds, reflections on windshields, and sunlight pouring into downtown streets. All this gives the book the grandeur of a Michael Bay film in comic book format. Top Cow are blessed to have an artist of Sejic’s talent on their roster.

The cover sums this issue up perfectly – Sara in full Witchblade get-up surrounded by staid priests. It’s like Witness, if Harrison Ford was a beautiful woman operating a powerful supernatural weapon. Future issues will certainly ramp up the action, as secrets are uncovered and the tight Jewish community reveals its true colours. For now, this first issue is a classy set-up.

September 30, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 8 Comments

Wolverine: Origins #28 Review

It seems everyone’s getting in on the act. Batman, Hulk and Wolverine are all fathers now, though the two Bruce’s (Wayne and Banner) sons seem to be estranged from their pops. Wolverine may not be a great father, but at least he’s able to bond with his kid. Well, Daken isn’t a kid anymore, though he certainly resembles his dad. Daken is the son of Wolvie and his one-time wife, Itsu. As is traditional with superhero’s lovers, she died. Raised in Japan, Daken grew up, learnt who his father was and came to blame him for his mother’s death. Thanks to the events of the last issue Wolverine now has the opportunity to start from scratch with his son, as Daken reawakens in a cave with amnesia.

Wolverine is a character that I’m always sceptical of. Like Venom and The Punisher, he seemed to suffer from overuse at one point, with more series, one-shots and cross-overs than he deserved. That seems even more true now. However, Marvel aren’t stupid. They know that he’s the most popular X-Man, and they also know that when his solo film premieres next year, this similarly titled series will hopefully ride its coat tails to a greater audience.

This is the first issue I’ve read of this series and it was a pleasant surprise. There’s enough action and cool moments here for long-time fans who’ve followed James Howlett’s illustrious career, or for those who just like him simply because of his bad attitude and cool costume. Primarily the story consists of flashbacks, including his final battle with Sabretooth, his brutal days in Canada’s Department H, and a lengthy look back at the Incredible Hulk # 180 fight with Jade Jaws himself, and Wendigo. Fans know this to be Wolvie’s first appearance although his costume is slightly different here, ie, no whiskers. His first meeting with Professor X is also an unexpected one, which is to be continued in X-Men: Original Sin #1.

Daniel Way has a firm understanding of the character and doesn’t rely on what others have done by making the clawed one almost a caricature. Way brings out Wolverine’s physical weakness, especially when fighting Hulk, and his emotional ones, all helped by suitably foreboding art. I haven’t looked at Mike Deodato’s interior work in a long time, but I was a fan of his glory days in the 1990s when he helped introduced Artemis in the pages of Wonder Woman. His pages were impressive then. They’re very impressive now. With a greater sense of realism than I’ve ever seen him use and a dynamism in page design, his figures are natural and moody, helped in no small part by him inking his own pencils. The Canadian mutant’s fight with Hulk is a thing of raw power. It’s the only time I’ve ever felt sorry for Wolvie.

Bordering on the need for a mature readers warning, there is plenty of vicious brawling in this issue, which makes sense considering this is effectively a series of lengthy flashbacks to Wolverine’s killing days prior to him joining the X-Men, and is a period in his life which hopefully still has some room left for further exploration.
As for Daken, well, hopefully he’ll become more than a novelty in Way’s hands and with Deodato along this book just may entice more ex-X-lovers to return to the fold.

September 30, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 3 Comments

Tales From The Farm Review

Another in my somewhat daunting pile of goodies from Comic-Con, Jeff Lemire’s book deserves its praise. Essex County Vol. 1 Tales From The Farm, to give it its full title, was published by Top Shelf last year. Ghost Stories and The Country Nurse are the two volumes that followed. All three are set in a farming community in Southwestern Ontario in Canada, and focus on the assorted characters who dwell there. Tales From The Farm is amazingly restrained in its beauty. With autobiographical comics, even loose ones like this, it can be difficult for writers to not thrown in the kitchen sink in order to increase its realism. Thankfully, Lemire knows better. As writer/artist it’s clear that he’s in charge and knows completely what he’s doing.

As for the story, it focuses on 10 year old Lester who recently lost his mother to cancer and is being raised by his Uncle Ken. It’s painfully obvious their relationship is a new and awkward one for both in moments where Lester chooses to watch the hockey game alone in his room rather than with his uncle and where Ken is unsure about how to deal with his nephew’s growing rebellion. Lemire’s skill lies just as much as in choosing what is not shown, as what is. In not over emphasising emotional moments, and giving us the barest of details he allows the characters to speak for themselves. With no narration it is merely the dialogue (of which there is little) to give us a peek into the hearts and minds of this pair. The only other character worth noting here is Jimmy Lebeuf, former hockey pro and man mountain who owns the local gas station and befriends Lester.

An orphan, a strained relationship, a misunderstood faded sports hero. You may be thinking that you’ve seen all this before. It sounds like the perfect ingredients for a independent film that makes critics swoon. However, there is more to it than that. Of course, sensitive comic fans will lap up any story with a comic loving outsider too, but its simplicity is its strength. That extends to the artwork as well. Using broad strokes helps convey the roughness of the two men in the story and the harsh terrain that surrounds them. Lemire sells the isolation of a remote town perfectly, and uses a lighter touch with more grey than black in the brief flashbacks of Lester’s dying Mum. A hand made comic from a 9 year old Lemire posing as Lester’s comic is also a nice touch, from the boy that never takes off his mask or cape. Well, almost never. A touching tale in the midst of tragedy and uncertainty, Tales From The Farm show that a boy’s imagination and curiosity can grow in the toughest of soils.

September 28, 2008
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Top Shelf Reviews

I ordered a few books from Top Shelf’s recent on-line sale, and they arrived this week. It was a nice little gift, from myself. Apart from some free samplers, there was also Alex Robinson’s Too Cool To Be Forgotten, two James Kochalka books, and a CD inspired by Craig Thompson’s magnificent Blankets opus by the band Tracker (I’ll have to read it again now, with the accompanying soundtrack, though its 11 tracks won’t be enough to sustain the reading of the massive volume). I also picked up these two little numbers; Chris Staros’ Yearbook Stories 1976-1978 and Jeffrey Brown’s Every Girl Is The End Of The World For Me.

The latter is an epilogue to his so-called Girlfriend trilogy, of which I have read none. However, this104 page book was still quirkily enchanting, and I’m sure very guy could relate to it. I showed it to my fellow office dwellers when my package arrived and the title alone brought many a smile. Brown is a respected cartoonist, as well as a prolific one. Told over three weeks as 2003 becomes 2004 it’s essentially an intricate, dialogue driven look at the ladies that come and go from his life and how he feels about them. With his e-mails, and phone calls he paints a picture of a heart that flits between hope, confusion and sorrow, with great realism. The sketchy art won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Harvey Pekar’s work, you’ll no doubt find another everyman hero here.

Top Shelf have also just released an awesome trailer for Brown’s other series, The Incredible Change-Bots, a Transformers parody, but I’m sure it’s much more than that. Watch it and laugh.

Yearbook Stories was a pleasant surprise. Consisting of two short tales in its 32 pages it centres on two formative tales of the author’s high school years. The first one, The Willful Death of a Stereotype, chronicles Chris’ anxiety and desire to fit in yet still be himself, when he is presented with a move to a new school and a chance for re-invention. The first step in this process means pinning his hopes on becoming the new class president. Iluustrated by Bo Hampton, and with great lines like, “But dreams are not made of logic, and that alone is their magic,” it’s more whimsical than Every Girl, but still honest and real.

The second story, The Worst Gig I Ever Had is considerably more mature, with its swearing and nudity and is drawn by Rich Tomaso. This focuses on young Chris’ first band and a job for a bunch of bikers in the woods, which explains the title. I much preferred this tiny tome rather than Every Girl, with it’s quaint vibe that’s similar to The Wonder Years TV show from a few years ago. Both tales of the young Chris are bite-sized episodes in his life that perfectly capture the typically curious world view of a growing boy.

You can go here for a Every Girl Is The End Of The World For Me preview, and here for a Yearbook Stories preview.

September 28, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Flash Gordon #1 Review

Flash Gordon has had more facelifts than an ageing starlet. The sci-fi character was created by Alex Raymond in 1934 as a newspaper strip hero to compete with Buck Rogers. However, good old Flash has fared much better. Most would be familiar with the character from the awesome 1980 film (sing it with me, “FLASH! AHAAA!), the late 80s Defenders of the Earth cartoon, or last year’s poorly received TV series. However, far too many people confuse the character with DC Comics’ Scarlet Speedster, much to the chagrin of fanboys everywhere.

Ardden Entertainment is the newest publisher in the comic book biz, with Flash Gordon being their sole release. After a #0 issue launched at the New York Comic-Con, we have the official debut of the blond adventurer’s latest re-imagining.

It begins much in the same way as MI:2, except without the catchy theme music. Flash is climbing a cliff, when his solitude is shattered by a phone call ordering him back to campus, where he earns his living as a teacher. Seeing the rugged heartthrob as a professor may be too far fetched for some, but thankfully, the university scenes are swift, as Flash shouts at his boss, and meets his long time “friend”, CIA agent Dale Arden. There’s some fisticuffs, gun pointing and witty remarks, before Flash is recruited for the CIA once more and told that his old friend scientist Hans Zarkov has gone rogue and is building a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Flash doesn’t believe it, but seems to be the only one who knows where Zarkov is hiding, so it’s off to Africa for the team. All doesn’t go smoothly though, as the pair face a betrayal and a mid-air collision, leaving the issue on a cliff-hanger, showing evidence of its comic strip origins.

I wasn’t expecting much with this title. A new publisher, with new creators and a franchise that has been re-invented more times than Madonna’s wardrobe does not bode well. I’m glad I was wrong. Writer Brendan Deneen and artist Paul Green are a formidable duo who know each other’s strengths. Deneen’s script keeps things moving at a frantic pace, yet it never seems rushed. Having legendary comic book scribe J.M DeMatteis (The Amazing Spider-Man) as Editor is also a great addition to Ardden. Green’s artwork is simple, yet certainly not simplistic. With few lines he manages to give the characters a real fluidity, and the colours are perfectly suited to each scene. With manga inspired pencils reminiscent of J. Scott Campbell or Joe Madureira, it’s a very pretty book, with a sense of dynamism and beauty.

Once the team leave earth and meet Ming, things will heat up even further I’m sure as the cast grows and alien environments and creatures start to appear, as can be previewed here. For those with fond memories of Flash Gordon this update should be welcome, and for those who’ve never experienced his swashbuckling antics, this is a great place to start.

September 25, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

City of Dust #1 Review

Radical launch another title on October 1 with City of Dust, a 5 issue mini-series reminiscent of Blade Runner, Minority Report and the Christian Bale film, Equilibrium. Even those unfamiliar with the work of authors such as Philp K. Dick, certain aspects of this story will still appear familiar, such as the concept of mind crimes. COD’s future world has been constructed upon the belief that “fantasy, religion and imagination were wastes of the human mind, and served to corrupt the individual and pollute the masses.” Imagination is a scary place in this world, which means no comics. How cruel.

A future city where the government controls everything and any fantastic stories or ideologies are outlawed is nothing new. In fact, apart from the art the concept bears a loose resemblance to Freedom Formula, another Radical series. Those similarities are not glaring however and City of Dust makes a rather nasty (in a good way) first impression in its opening pages to ensure it diverges enough from other sci-fi tales.

Steve Niles is a strong enough writer to make this tale more than a knock-off . His horror leanings are hinted at, with multiple, violent deaths and a mysterious pair of bad guys. Well, I think they’re bad guys. Not much is given away. Just enough to entice readers into this world and start salivating for the next issue, especially on the last page where the protagonist is caught red-handed by his superiors partaking in an outlawed activity.

The hero of this adventure is homicide cop Philip Krome. A man filled with doubt, and lust apparently. He unwittingly imprisoned his father as a boy, after being told a classic, and illegal, children’s story. Niles gives Khrome enough uncertainty in his job that we are able to sympathise with him when he kills a nervous man reaching for a crucifix, not a weapon as Khrome assumed. The world building is just beginning and this 48 pager sets the tone well. A massive chunk of that comes from artist Zid.

Zid’s art is close to two of Marvel’s current stars, Adi Granov and Gabriele Dell’otto in the way colour and light is used to create an evocative atmosphere. I’d say this may be Radical’s best looking book to date. If you’re a fan of those artists, you must grab  City of Dust. The sense of depth adds a great deal of realism in the bustling city setting and creates a world of texture and beauty.

The liberally applied violence, profanity and sex also makes this Radical’s most adult book to date, so be warned. With its talk of mind crimes and hi-tech crime fighting gizmos, some hardcore sci-fi lovers may be tempted to roll their eyes with a “seen it all before” attitude. That would be a mistake. As The Matrix showed, as well as the films mentioned above, there is still much uncharted territory in gritty futuristic tales.

Visit here for a massive 19 page preview of this issue.

September 24, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Broken Frontier

Perhaps you’ve noticed that my posts have slowed down somewhat over the last fortnight. No, it’s not because I’m being distracted by playing The Force Unleashed. It’s because I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write for Broken Frontier, one of the largest and most respected comics sites on the ol’ web. It’s not a “proper” job or anything, but it is a great lesson in discipline and exposure for me as a wannabe writer (like most comics fans are.) Over the last two weeks, my reviews for Vertigo’s Greatest Hits #1, The Punisher #62, Big Hero 6 #1, Deadpool #1 and Gypsy Joe Jefferson have all gone up. Plus I have a cool interview or two and an article on the way. It’s a fair amount of work, but an interesting challenge and heaps of fun. I’ll still be posting reviews and news here as always, just not as often, and of course, I’ll be linking to my latest BF stuff here too. Feel free to check out my reviews and drop by the forums to say if you agree or disagree if you like. Whew, there’s a lot of links in this post isn’t there?

September 22, 2008
Categories: Comics, News, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Abyss TPB Review

The first two pages of this RED 5 book show a unique twist on a couple of Batman and Robin homages, going even further in the following pages with more in-jokes than you can shake a Mylar bag at. And that’s a good thing, because the writer of this adventure is the creator of the grand daddy of all fan films, TROOPS, which also means Kevin Rubio has instant nerd appeal for the rest of his life. His twist on the classic teen hero tale in Abyss proudly displays his ode to, and parody of, superheroes. With TROOPS and his work on Dark Horses’ Star Wars: Tag and Bink Were Here showing equal parts adoration and good hearted mocking for the SW universe, Rubio moves onto our most beloved of all pop culture creations – spandex escapades.

Young Eric Hoffman is going through the motions of his life now that his famous father is dead. With his military uncle showing him what his Dad left him, comprising mainly of lots of hi-tech toys and international organizations, Eric seems less and less enchanted. Then he sees his Dad standing before him AND at the same time, realises he was the infamous Abyss, notorious super villain. Suddenly Eric’s interested, not in continuing his father’s legacy, but in creating a new, heroic one.

Dad’s lair includes nice touches, such as amass of kryptonite, and a signed photo of Ozymandias from Watchmen, contained in what looks like a cross between the Batcave and a Bond villain’s hideout. Eric’s quest to save his father’s latest evil scheme is noble in intention, but full of mistakes in execution. He eventually convinces the heroic Green Arrow-like Arrow and his new partner, the young female Quiver (whom Eric promptly asks out on a date) that he’s not at all like his pop. A reluctant team-up, a kidnapping, another reluctant team-up (on both sides of the conflict), fake deaths and good humoured jabs at Comic-Con, Kingdom Come, superhero transport, the jobs of Supes and Bats alter egos and more abound for the rest of the story as the battle draws near.

Long time comics readers will definitely get more out of this than those less familiar with the history of The Big Two, but that shouldn’t dissuade newcomers. Funny is funny, no matter how full your noggin is with geeky knowledge, and Rubio is wise enough to put just enough jokes in to satisfy a wide audience. Case in point, when Eric asks Arrow how he makes his money to pay for all his gadgets, the archer replies, “the old fashioned way – merchandising!” Nice. With lines like that, and great facial expressions (thanks to Tag and Bink artist Lucas Marangon) and timing that could make this duo the next Giffen/ DeMatteis/Maguire (1980s Justice League) this is an entertaining, brisk read.

Certain sequences brought back fond memories of Sergio Aragone’s classic Mad magazine margin gags, or the humourous background action in most of the Zuckers/ Abrahams (Hot Shots, Naked Gun) films, especially the clever “scrolling” news headlines scene. With all this from the original four ish mini, some great looking costumes, a healthy dose of wit, the series original covers which reference famous classics, plus an intro by Blair Butler (TV’s Fresh Ink) and Rubio, this is a well rounded entertaining little number. Abyss reminds us that it’s good when nerds can laugh at themselves, I mean – ourselves.

September 16, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Dragon Prince #1 Review

Starting any comic with a wounded crimson dragon being attacked by gun wielding motor cyclists in an ancient rice filed is certainly attention grabbing. Writer Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Witchblade) is no stranger to the worlds of mysticism coupled with heroism, and here he distinguishes himself from the pack yet again by offering another creator-owned adventure. We soon learn that the man versus dragon battle is being relayed by a single mother to her young son, Aaron. The boy seems vaguely interested in such bed-time tales, until the next day at school, when his regular bullying gets him all riled up, triggering a transformation within him in which he vomits fire and turns pale green. How embarrassing. Running away from school, leaving a crispy bully in his wake, he arrives home to find his mother, who is not surprised at all by these life changing events. In fact, she expected them. She tells Aaron that it was only a matter of time until his true heritage would be shown. With elements of teens becoming something other than human and manifesting new powers it resembles early X-Men, and together with the whole “My Dad’s a dragon?!” vibe, there’s also a tinge of Phil Hester’s Firebreather. And that’s a good thing. Lee Moder’s art is superb as always, giving both the home/playground settings as much familiarity as the more fantastic realms, but with a dynamic nature evident in both worlds. Where the series goes from here will be an interesting lesson in patience. Hopefully Marz manages to pull a few surprises from his hat to keep both newbies and jaded fanboys entranced until the final issue. A kid-friendly, simple story with a cool looking tattooed dragon hunter and a boy on the run, and in way over his head. Dragon Prince will be an oasis to those seeking relief from the “edgy,” and mature epics currently clogging the shelves.

September 15, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Challenger Deep #1 Review

Captain Holden leads his crew on a routine data gathering mission somewhere near Guam when they are hit by a mystery vessel, leaving the sub broken and helpless, while their superiors argue about the seriousness of the situation, with a few scientific phrases thrown in for good measure.

It takes a few pages for this tale to become anything other than that simple description, but if there’s one thing BOOM! seems to excel at, it’s taking stories that’s seem familiar, and then throwing in some unexpected elements to make them gripping and unexpected. That’s what Challenger Deep has going for it.

We soon learn that there are only 50 hours of air left in the vessel and its stuck near a huge ice shelf, and only one man can save them. Dr Eric Chase’s fly fishing opportunity is interrupted by men in dark suits, imploring him to serve his country and save these men’s lives. But he’d rather not. Chase is an expert in the ocean’s depths, but couldn’t care less about saving over 100 lives. In fact, he hasn’t cared much for the deep blue since his wife’s death 5 years ago, and hasn’t stepped on a boat since. That finally changes however when the men in charge let him know about the sub’s precarious position, plus the fact that it’s warheads are set to detonate in 72 hours. Nuclear warheads + methane ice=Armageddon. A planetary match. And that’s bad.

Written by Andrew Crosby and Andy Schmidt, with art by Chee, it seems somewhat reminiscent of one of BOOM!’s better titles, Station, but with a nuclear sub replacing an international space station. With 3 issues left, I can only assume the rest of this series will quicken the pace. There’s a lot of set up in this issue, but it is necessary, and now that it’s out of the way, hopefully the real adventure can begin. Some may be disappointed by the art. It’s dark and sketchy, with minimal detail, but it is a mood setter. Thankfully the pace and dialogue make up for it. Characters are quickly established and intriguing plot elements, such as the Captain’s erratic behaviour, and the crew’s handling of him after the crash, plus the mysterious name that also helps convince Dr Chase to save the world, all help to lift this tale above the depths of mediocrity.

September 14, 2008
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed TPB Review

With all the hype that the game has been getting, which from what I’ve seen so far, it certainly deserves, this comic tie-in has slipped under the Star Wars radar. Of course, it was always going to be an uphill battle, with the frenzy surrounding the upcoming LucasArts release, so it’s no surprise that this OGN (original graphic novel) appears to be the forgotten sibling in the game’s shadow. After reading this book I’ve come to realise that it can’t compete with the awesomeness of flinging around stormtroopers and frying everyone with lightning from your hands, but sadly, it can’t compete with a lot of the other comics out there either. It certainly doesn’t help that I couldn’t even find it on the official SW site, and that both Dark Horse and Amazon list the book as 104 pages, while it actually goes up to 126. That’s enough to make any SW loyalist about as confused as Jar Jar at poker.

Those with a bad taste in their mouth after the Clone Wars film may very well find relief in this darker tale though, and newbies need not be perplexed, as there is a short explanation as to where this adventure is set in continuity (2 years before Episode IV-A New Hope).
The tale concerns Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller (named after Luke Skywalker’s initial name, before George Lucas rejected it), his pilot Juno Eclipse and personal droid Proxy, who is effectively the narrator of this once-hidden tale. There are some cameos to be seen here as Starkiller flits around the galaxy dispatching goodie and baddie alike with skill and abandon (and a lightsaber of course), but they will probably only be familiar to followers of the expanded universe, rather than the films. For such an important note in SW history, Starkiller’s story appears rushed. It deserves more than this. More expansion, more explanation of the main character’s judgements, more of everything. His turning from evil to not so evil, and almost a rallying cry for the birth of the Rebellion seems a hasty one. In fact, the whole TPB just seems haphazard, with mere snippets of Starkiller’s life, rather than a complete biography. I’m sure Haden Blackman, the writer of both this book and the game, had some restrictions placed on him by Mr. Lucas, due in part to the earlier release of this compared to the game. Hopefully more will be revealed when we get to pick up the controller for ourselves next week, and there is enough to mine here for future novels and mini-series. As it stands The Force Unleashed TPB comes across as an unsatisfying part of a larger picture. The art by Brian Ching. Bong Dazo and Wayne Nichols is serviceable and in line with the look of Dark Horse’s other Star Wars series, but it’s not enough to save it. However it did make me want to play the game even more, and that’s probably this book’s greatest audience- eager gamers. If that is its primary function; to serve as a companion piece, rather than a stand alone story, then its done the job. Anything Star Wars related has a lot to live up to, however and fans can be an unforgiving bunch. If you don’t want to be one of them, then leave this alone, and save your money for September 16-19 (depending on where you live), when the console game is launched and we can all breath a sigh of relief as the Star Wars franchise enthralls us once more. Hopefully.

Go here for a preview.

September 9, 2008
Categories: Comics, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Freedom Formula #2 Review

This is what Speed Racer could’ve been like. Hectic, well constructed, mature. Definitely my favourite Radical book, and a welcome departure from perhaps their more famous series such as Hercules and Caliber. Radical Publishing recently celebrated their one year anniversary and already have a string of Hollywood heavy hitters interested in film versions of their projects, such as Johnny Depp, John Woo and Bryan Singer. That bodes well for a good future for the new company, and a great foundation from which to launch further unique titles.

Freedom Formula #2 (of 5) picks up right after the events which closed the premiere issue and doesn’t let up, thanks to the fast paced writing of Edmund Shern and fluid pencils of Kai and Chester Ocampo.The first ish was great. This is even better. It opens in Los Petropolis, a typical gleaming city of the future.

Zee Obanon is captured after being involved in a crash in his home, known as the Wasteland, while on his way to deliver a package for his recently departed father. He, along with his package, falls into the wrong hands. The hands of a group of nasties who take a keen interest in Zee’s father, Jugger Faizer.

As Zee gets to work for his new captors, in a far glitzier part of town, we are introduced to Daedalus, a prime Freedom Infinity racer and puppet for his corporate overlords. These men in dark suits, led by a Mr. Long pay Daedalus 5 million “credits,” (which is the word any writer can use to make the setting seem more futuristic) to infiltrate the illegal street races known as Freedom Formula. The suits don’t like the “norms” getting all rebellious in the face of the big business world of “eugene” (read genetically engineered) racing.

Zee and his new friends stage a daring robbery from the corporation in order to grab some valuable engine parts, which leaves one of the thieves dead, and the rest surprised at Zee’s driving prowess. Zee is then given a unique VC, otherwise known as Vicious Cycle, from his new lawless “friends” to compete in the next illegal race, which ends in a surprising fashion.

This series continues to build intriguing concepts with a genuine rhythm. It’s full of beautifully diverse art and characters that you just know are heading for a deliciously frantic collision. Freedom Formula, like the street races it glamourises, is an enjoyable thrill ride. Strap yourself in and enjoy the view.

Go here for a preview of this issue.

September 8, 2008
Categories: Comics, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army Review

From my review at Sight:

There will undoubtedly be more than a few concerned Christians who will dodge any film dealing with supernatural themes, especially one with , “hell” in the title. I’d suggest those people give Hellboy 2 a go however. Appearances can be deceiving, especially in this case, as there is much to recommend here.

A sequel to the first film from 2004, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army retains that film’s main cast including Ron Perlman as the titular hero, Selma Blair as pyrokinetic Liz Sherman and the dry wit of Jeffrey Tambor as their frustrated boss, Tom Manning. It is also directed by Hellboy’s helmer, Guillermo del Toro.

The most noticeable change is the absence of David Hyde Pierce’s (Niles from TV’s Frasier) voice for the amphibious agent Abe Sapien. Christian actor Doug Jones portays Abe (under all the make-up and prosthetics) as he did in the first film, and alos has the honour of voicing him. When Abe first speaks, that absence is noticeable but Jones is such a great actor, who also plays two other characters here, that it soon fades. Jones’ voice was also forgotten when he portrayed the Silver Surfer in last year’s Fanatstic Four sequel, to be replaced by Matrix actor Laurence Fishburne, so it’s about time he received his due. However Jones, along with Perlman and Blair did perform voice duties for the two fun Hellboy animated films, Sword of Storms and Blood and Iron. For those of you who are keeping track of useless trivia, here’s some more; Jones also worked with Del Toro on Pan’s Labyrinth, as did Perlman and Hellboy 2’s villain, Luke Goss in Blade 2.

Back to the story at hand. This sequel begins in Christmas, 1955 when an amusingly young Hellboy is told by his adoptive father, Professor Broom (John Hurt) about a battle long ago between humans and creatures of myth, which is effectively relayed to us via wooden puppets. King Balor had a multitude of goblins create a Golden Army for him, comprising of “70 times 70” clockwork warriors. Due to the devastation on both sides, however a truce was called and the crown that controlled this Golden Army was shared between the humans and elves. We cut to the present where, you guessed it, King Balor’s son, Prince Nuarda (Luke Goss) wants no part of this truce nonsense and reclaims the crown in order to raise the Golden Army once more.

Much has changed since the last time we saw Hellboy and crew. “Big Red” is now living with Liz Sherman in the B.P.R.D complex, (That’s the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, who the team work for) and as Abe finds out, Sherman is pregnant, which throws her relationship with Hellboy in even greater disarray. This superheroic romance, and the accidental public outing of the B.P.R.D operatives to the general populace provide the film with its numerous laughs. It is a funny film, certainly moreso than the first one, and the addition of new agent, Johann Krauss, basically a German ectoplasmic spirit in a containment suit helps. Voiced by Seth McFarlane his non-nonsense bureaucratic mindset is a great foil for the cigar loving slob Hellboy.
The characters mesh so well together and the cast seem like old friends all at ease with just being themselves. And it is simply luscious to look at. Del Toro is perhaps the most visionary director working today, (and because of such is currently making The Hobbit film, with executive producer Peter Jackson.) When the team visit the Troll Market, all manner of freaky monsters appear, reminscent of a hyped up version of the Mos Eisley cantina scene from Star Wars. The battles here are hectic, but not overly violent and the reliance on puppetry and old school visual trickery rather than elaborate CGI is a welcome bonus.

The film isn’t as epic as I thought it would be. Those expecting massive Lord of the Rings style battles will be disappointed, and the romantic scenes between Hellboy and Liz, and later with Abe and Nuada’s sister, Princess Nuala may be too much for some. However, I am a fan of this series. Different from the comics that inspired it, it may well be, but del Toro adores the source material and worked closely on this original story with creator Mike Mignola, bringing such a clear vision to this outing. The environmental message, the nature of love and sacrifice all mean that this film has more depth than its predecessor, but those themes don’t feel shoehorned. Yes, there is a lot of talking and perhaps not enough action, but with characters birthed from fantasy, there is also great realism in their interactions. No matter what we look like, or what we can do, this film subtly teaches us that there is always a greater need than ourselves, and that all differences are unimportant when trouble erupts.

September 5, 2008
Categories: Movies, Reviews . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 2 Comments

Witchblade Volume 5 Review

I can count the issues of Witchblade that I’ve actually read on one hand, but with the TV show from a few years ago, and the relatively new anime adaptation, plus the upcoming feature film, it’s not like I’ve been unaware of the series. I guess I had unfair expectations laid upon it, as it was one of those books that began in the mid 1990s, when the bad girl craze was sweeping the comic reading public into a hormonal frenzy. Characters like the star of this book were lumped together with Lady Death, Vampirella and many more whose sole function seemed to be to titillate prepubescent readers.

Witchblade was also a character created by four different creators, so that didn’t necessarily help find its focus. However, in the last few years, publishers Top Cow have wisely started to integrate and expand their roster of characters. This move can be seen clearly in this volume, with guest stars from other Top Cow titles and the history of the Witchblade becoming deeper. Recently this series has begun revealing numerous wielders over the years of this powerful mystical gauntlet that is the ultimate girl power accessory, which opens up even more story possibilities.

This TPB is a hefty one, as it collects the Cow x-over mini-series, First Born as well as issues #110-115 of the ongoing Witchblade series. There’s also an introduction from The Walking Dead and Invincible creator, Robert Kirkman and a dazzling cover gallery. All in all this tome contains all 226 colour pages. That’s a lot, and the best thing I can say about it is that I read it all in one sitting. Believe me, that’s high praise indeed. I barely got out of my seat as I flicked through these glorious pages. It had my attention and wouldn’t let go, and that’s something I wasn’t expecting.

Basically, the first few issues of this adventure are focused on cop, and former Witchblade wielder, Sara Pezzini, as well as mob boss Jackie Estacado, AKA The Darkness, the holy warrior Magdalena, Dani Baptiste, a dancer and current Witchie owner and baddest of the bad girls, Celestine AKA The Angelus.

This book starts off with a handy one page guide, which explains all the characters in this world in a pleasantly succinct way. The beauty of this tale is that it’s intense and epic, but not overly complicated, which is more than we can say for most of what’s on offer from The Big Two. Even if you’ve never read an issue of Witchblade before, you won’t feel scared off by this volume.

Written by one of my favourite writers, Ron Marz (Green Lantern Kyle Rayner’s creator) this book details the war fought for Sara’s upcoming baby, of whom the origins are mysterious, though the details are eventually revealed. Lots of running and hiding and fighting ensues as the pregnant Sara, her lover, fellow cop Patrick Gleason (I keep thinking of the GL Corps penciller of the same name!) and sometime ally Jackie Estacado gang up to defeat Angelus’ winged warriors. As Estacado tells Detective Gleason, “In real life, the bad guys don’t always wear black and the ones with wings aren’t always the good guys.” That sums up the supernatural/spiritual/primal themes pretty well. The three manage to fight the hordes (that look like something director Guillermo del Toro would’ve imagined) and escape, after Gleason somehow survives a brutal stabbing. Jackie takes Sara and Dani straight to a secret cavern, where Magdalena shows up. Sara gives birth and the battle begins anew as the Angelus and her followers struggle to keep the baby all to themselves for the sake of the Balance. The newborn, later dubbed Hope brings a surprising victory, which also leaves the Witchblade split in two, for Sara and Dani.

After this battle concludes, things change pace somewhat abruptly. Sara adjusts to life as a new mother, Dani finds a budding romance with a shop owner called David Worthy, yet the girls still manage to find action, or rather, it finds them as they take Hope for a stroll in the park and find that evil forces still want the baby for their own purposes. Both girls also manage to run into different muggers while shopping at different times, which makes the action in the second half seem more forced than the first. The last few issues are akin to Buffy Lite; lots of girls talking casually, new relationships forming, but with short bursts of fighting interspersed throughout. Some may find all the dialogue a bit annoying after the hectic first half, but Marz is a gifted writer and handles it naturally. With this much going on, the fact that there is no lengthy exposition or narration is pretty impressive.

This is a light read, despite its burgeoning cast of characters and lengthy history and its very easy to keep track of what’s going on at all times. I can’t go any further without mentioning the art. It’s beautiful and I don’t mean the fact that all the girls look like supermodels (and so do the guys, come to think of it) Stjepan Sejic is the primary artist. His pages are luscious. Obviously tinkered with computer to look like paintings, he has a skill that deserves more work. Look at the cover gallery included and you’ll see what I mean. There’s enough pretty pictures (even his ugly monsters look gorgeous) to fill a Metallica fans bedroom walls. In every panel, the light, textures and backgrounds are all rendered with such detail; a rarity in the posing superheroes against blank backgrounds in a lot of comics today. If I was on the Cow’s marketing team, I’d create ads from these pages in every heavy metal mag I could get a hold of. Long haired head bangers would lap this art up I’m sure.

More traditional and seasoned pencillers such as Luke Ross, Stephen Sadwoski and Rick Leonardi fill out the remainder of this volume, but the change is not jarring from one ish to the next. There is also a preview of The Darkness ongoing series, which details its supernatural origin effectively.

There is some profanity here and themes that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I was impressed by this series and would be curious to see where it goes next. All the hard work building this universe has paid off. Jaded fanboys and newcomers alike will find something to sink their teeth into here, and probably will want seconds. Surprisingly recommended.

September 3, 2008
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, Reviews . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

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