Star Wars: Knight Errant and New Invasion

Press release from Dark Horse below about a new Star Wars series from writer John Jackson Miller (Knights of the Old Republic), and under that – solicitation info regarding Tom Taylor’s and Colin Wilson’s continuing Invasion series which kicks off in May. Yay!

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW STAR WARS™ SERIES, KNIGHT ERRANT!

AS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC DRAWS TO A CLOSE, WRITER JOHN JACKSON MILLER MOVES TO AN UNCHARTED CORNER OF THE GALAXY!

Coming off the heels of penning the breakout hit Mass Effect: Redemption and the gripping finale of Knights of the Old Republic, writer John Jackson Miller introduces us to Kerra Holt, a young Jedi who’s about to realize that her role in the galaxy is far more important, and vastly different, than she could have ever imagined.

Set one thousand years before Episode I, in a time referred to as the “Dark Age of the Republic,” this story takes place in an era when the Sith were legion and the Republic was strained to the breaking point, leaving large swaths of the galaxy with no one to turn to. This pivotal time in the history of Star Wars has been largely unexplored, until now.

Additionally, for the first time ever, the writer of this new comics series will also be authoring a novel for Del Rey Books, set in the same era and involving the same cast of characters in an all-new adventure. It’s going to be a unique event for Star Wars, and one that will give fans a whole new perspective on the galaxy.

“There’s such wonderful chaos going on in the galaxy in this period,” said writer John Jackson Miller. “More than a generation before Darth Bane introduced the Rule of Two, Sith Lords are colliding not just with the Republic, but with each other. Kerra’s going to find that good intentions just may not be enough in a galaxy gone mad! This is a wide-open area to explore, and I’m thrilled that Dark Horse and Del Rey have given me this opportunity to do so.”

“With John writing both the comics and the novel, Knight Errant will be a Star Wars story on a scale we’ve never undertaken before,” said comic-series editor Dave Marshall. “This will be a first-of-its-kind opportunity to introduce the Expanded Universe of the Dark Horse comics to the fans of the Del Rey novels and vice versa!”

With more news in the coming months, look for Star Wars: Knight Errant to arrive on shelves later this fall!

STAR WARS: INVASION—RESCUES #1 (of 6)
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale May 26
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The Yuuzhan Vong invasion spreads death and destruction across the galaxy, leaving behind ravaged worlds with little hope of survival . . . Artorias, the homeworld of the Galfridian family lay in the path of the Yuuzhan Vong armada—and now, though separated, Finn, Kaye, Nina, and Caled work to fight the invaders with the hope that one day they will again be together on their peaceful planet.
Finn studies at the Jedi temple with Luke Skywalker and the grown Jedi children of Han Solo and Princess Leia! Kaye and Nina use a Yuuzhan Vong slave ship to attack their former captors! Caled raises forces on Artorias—not knowing the danger from one of his trusted allies!
• A new era in Star Wars comics!
Luke Skywalker’s galaxy under siege!

February 11, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: , , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Clip

Here is the latest glimpse into the Feb 23-releasing animated film from DC Comics and Warner Bros. The more I see of it, the more I like it. Details and clip below.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League) rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting parallel worlds with uniquely similar super heroes and villains. Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday, Green Lantern) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

The movie features an all-star voice cast led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as Superman, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as Owlman, Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Law & Order) as Lex Luthor, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as Batman, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as Superwoman and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.

Warner Home Video will distribute the full-length animated Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths on February 23 as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, as well as single disc DVD, and On Demand and Download.

While we’re on the topic of DC, here’s a look at Series 3 of the JLA Classified Classic action figures. Yes, they all look the same, but you gotta dig those washboard abs! Looks like 6 sticks of butter. That’s courtesy of artist Ed McGuiness and his interpretations of Professor Zoom, Red Superman, Green Lantern Hal Jordan and The Atom.

Finally, it appears as though Batman Begins and The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan will help Warner Bros reboot Superman. I remain cautiously optimistic. Just please don’t try and be ‘revolutionary’ WB and make Superman dark and brooding. It does not work.

February 10, 2010
Categories: Movies, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Gestaltapalooza

Some may think there’s not  a lot of fanboy/girl activity in the city in which I dwell. Sure, Perth is the most isolated city in the world, but we have a high percentage of comic book lovers. The new Supanova Pop Culture Exhibition is doing well, with its 3rd year coming in a few months, plus 24 Hour Comic Book Day, and even a few local lads done good (Ben Templesmith, Ashley Wood and Shane McCarthy spring to mind). All this serves as a reminder that creativity and curiosity can flourish anywhere.  Now, local publisher Gestalt has reached its 5th year of operations. That’s an impressive stint and certainly worth celebrating, so they are! February  18th at 7pm at Clancy’s Fish Pub in Applecross, Western Australia is the place to be. I’ll certainly be there (but please come anyway). Gestalt will be launching their new book Rombies, with its creative duo in tow, writer Tom Taylor (Star Wars: Invasion) and artist Skye Ogden (Gestalt’s Vowels).There’ll also be live music and the chance to hobnob it with the creative elite.

Rombies is available now and is such an awesomely simple concept – Roman zombies, with an appropriate tagline, “Friends, Romans, countrymen…lend me your brains!” This is how Gestalt describe the unique one-shot.

Rombies conveys the terrifying sense of claustrophobia in the samnite gladiator’s desperate dash for freedom through the catacombs under the coliseum. Pursued by both undead men and beasts, the samnite has to use all his strength, skill and cunning to escape with the his companions; a thracian gladiator and a young boy who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Staying with Gestalt for a moment longer, their latest project, Justin Randall’s Changing Ways launches in April and you can order it now on page 258 of the February Previews catalogue. It’s moody and beautiful and scary and …well, is described thusly:

Changing Ways conveys the intimacy and heartache of a family struggling to survive in a world that’s falling apart.  Randall was focused on delivering a story that people could relate to from the outset.

“I wanted to create a story that, despite the cataclysmic events going on in the outside world, you could really just focus on the intimate moments of a small family,” he said.

Synopsis:
David Barrot, a retired Corrections Officer, moved to Grey Oaks after the tragic death of his son, Cale.

With wife Lucy and daughter Jessie, the Barrot family bought a farm on the outskirts of town and began their new life, putting aside all the dark events of their past.

Unfortunately for them, the dark just won’t leave David alone.

The first sightings started months ago, igniting rumours of disease and infection. Newspapers reported unusual lesions appearing on livestock and stories of strange side effects spread quickly. Perhaps it was inevitable that the people of Grey Oaks would be next.

These are their Changing Ways.

February 10, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Legends: The Enchanted #0 Review

I was at one of my two local comic shops this week for my usual swag of goodies, when I noticed one of the guys bagging up the new releases. What caught my eye was Radical’s Aladdin: Legacy of the Lost #1. Amongst all the Big Two offerings, it stood out like a Twilight fan at Comic-Con. It’s painted cardstock cover and general handsome presentation means that it should (as it deserves to) swivel heads looking amongst the latest floppies.

That’s indicative of pretty much all of Radical’s output though, and this year looks set to be the best yet from the relatively new company. Aladdin, BTW is definitely another book you should read. It’s swashbuckling in all the right ways. And now on to Enchanted.

The perceptive would’ve seen the Legends: The Enchanted OGN in this month’s Previews. That 128 page “deluxe hardcover” book arrives in April, and this zero ish acts as a primer. Comparing the premise to Fables and the works of Zenescope is the first description that comes to mind, but like most of Radical’s books it’s set just enough apart from anything else that it’s easily its own beast. They have a brief, yet solid history of dressing up great concepts with killer looks and Legends is no different.

It begins with Jack the Giant-Killer doing what his title implies, with Conan-like machismo, simultaneously saving and destroying the humble town of Krakenfield in the process, before riding off on a mean bike. Then we’re whisked away to Pinocchio, who is fully grown and is being tortured. It seems that not everyone in this fantastic world likes these “enchanted” folk and their powerful abilities, including the handy, but painful “healing charm.” We then see Red Riding Hood slicing up some wolves in the dark woods, and then meet some ugly folk (including one wearing a shirt with the Radical logo on it) in a tavern looking to stir up trouble, but who do not go unnoticed.

Creator Nick Percival does a superb job of teasing the world he’s created. The OGN will show us darker versions of Hansel, Gretel, Goldilocks and Humpty Dumpty amongst others, and this #0 issue is a great introduction –and it’s only $1! This is a grisly world filled with bionics and mechanics as much as grotesque creatures and medieval brutality. Sure, not a lot happens here, but Radical are obviously confident that Legends will find a greater readership and if nothing else Percival’s tale is the mark of a future talent to keep your eyes upon. There’s a richness to his painting style that Radical readers would be familiar with and a boldness to the way he approaches each page. He lets each scene breathe, and though it’s obvious he’s bursting at the seams with mad ideas, he’s in no rush to tell a complete story here. There will be plenty of time for that come April, and I for one am looking to visit this crazy world then.

February 7, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

The Week In Pictures Feb 7 2010

There are so many press releases, previews and great snippets of upcoming comics products flooding the net daily, that it’s difficult to whack them all up on this humble blog. So, I thought I’d give a new (hopefully regular) feature a go and boil down all the juicy bits of recent nerd goodness to a hearty visual stew.

Top Cow’s 4th installment in their Pilot Season series of one-shots (and potential series) is called Stellar. Written by Image partners Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri, with art by Bernard Chang, Stellar arrives in April and is described thusly:

In Pilot Season: Stellar #1, Kirkman explores the story of Stellar, one of five genetically-enhanced super-humans created by the government.  For Stellar, the process used on her has made her toxic to other humans driving four volunteers insane.  Banished from Earth, Stellar roams the cosmos trying to use her powers for good, haunted by the fact that she can never return home – and all too aware that her fellow super-humans are out there, eager to strike at any moment.

Halo Legends premieres in san Francisco on Feb 10. Press will be there of course, and maybe you, if you’re quick, and lucky. If not, you can see it with the rest of us on Feb 16.

A limited number of free tickets are available for the general public. Fans wishing to receive free tickets to the event should RSVP via email to halolegends@ign.com. Tickets will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. Halo franchise development director Frank O’Connor will be available for media interviews from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and will also discuss the film in an informal, in-theatre Q&A following the screening.

Halo Legends is an all-new, CG and traditional anime PG-13 experience that presents enthralling new stories from one of the world’s most popular video game franchises. The seven-story anthology explores the origin and historical events of the Halo universe and its intriguing characters. The individual episodes fall within Halo’s 26th Century mythology as the battle between humanity and aliens rages on in an attempt to protect Earth and mankind’s expansive number of space colonies.

Andy Kubert’s covers for the first 2 issues of DC’s mini-series, The Return of Bruce Wayne are out. Written by the man who killed him, Grant Morrison, the series will feature Bruce returning to the land of the living (and the present) via a few stopovers throughout past centuries. Yes, we get Pirate Batman and Caveman Batman and all manner of awesome-ness. Batman with an actual costume made of bats while beating primitives with a low-tech axe? I am so there.

Staying with whacky Bats news, is the crazily enjoyable Batman: The Brave and the Bold cartoon series. This new episode features the origin of Firetsorm (cleverly combining the former and present identities), Booster Gold, The Riddler and a bunch of villan’s from Batman’s “zany bad guy” period.

February 6, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

Man-Machine

OK, I’ll be honest, I haven’t read much of this new webcomic from Martin Hekker and Mike Angstadt, entitled Man-Machine. The first chapter, Praepisitio and the second, The Name of the Father plays with themes of capitalism, God and technology. It deserves a more in-depth read and a wider audience, and comes with a great soundtrack and visuals that lay somewhere in the Phil Noto spectrum, but not quite. The reading interface is seamless too. Instead of flipping pages, there’s the pulling of arrows. It works so well. The two books have such distinct and separate colour palettes that the pics from Book 1 below really don’t do them justice. Go here to see what I mean. It’s always a nice surprise to discover the work of talented individuals willing to create something new and daring.

February 3, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Crisis On Two Earths Clip 2

Coming on Feb 23 is DC’s latest animated film, and here’s another clip from it, along with the press release below. Since it’s not up on YouTube yet, you’ll have to see it embedded on CBR. It is worth it though, as the good Lex Luthor appeals to ‘our’ JLA for help against his world’s destroyers. All signs point to this being the best DC animated film yet.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is an original story from award-winning animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League) rooted in DC Comics’ popular canon of “Crisis” stories depicting parallel worlds with uniquely similar super heroes and villains. Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday, Green Lantern) is executive producer. Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern) and Sam Liu (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) are co-directors.

The full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def , as well as single disc DVD, On Demand and Download.

February 3, 2010
Categories: Cartoons, New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

NBM Sale

NBM Publishing have another great sale on. Woo hoo! When they had their most recent one last year, I picked up quite a few bargains, such as The Acme Novelty Library, Missouri Boy and more. Check it out for a bunch of $3 comics!

Also coming from NBM in April is Brooke A Allen’s 208 pager A Home For Mr. Easter, which is described as a, “crazy energetic book by a refreshing new talent! Tesana has never really fit into anything before but her daydreams. But when making an attempt to connect to her peers by joining in a pep rally planning committee she suddenly discovers a little white rabbit that lays brightly colored eggs. Realizing that she may have found the real life Easter bunny, Tesana embarks on an epic quest in an effort to get him back to his natural habitat and into safe hands. However as she progresses on her fanciful journey she gains more and more undesired attention until the quest becomes an increasingly madcap race to stay ahead of greedy pursuers and find a safe place for her new friend…wherever that place may be. It’s Tesana against the world!”

Here’s a peek at the art, and you can see more at Brooke’s blog here.

February 3, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Toy Story #1 Review

Following on from the first part of this story as seen in the recent Toy Story #0 from BOOM! Studios, The Return of Buzz Lightyear, Part Two is presented here in another charming instalment of this widely adored franchise. Jesse Blaze Snider again impresses with his considerable writing skills. There’s a lot to live up to whenever you stamp a Pixar property boldly on the cover, but BOOM! can afford to be confident. Jumping from the dark vampire romance of Dead Romeo to this kid friendly series with ease, Snider manages to erase any doubt as to his storytelling diversity. The guy is funny. Like the previous issue, I enjoyed this more than I thought. Snider knows what Toy Story fans expect, ie, humour, emotion and light hearted fun and with the 3rd film set for a June release, now is the time to dive in and get reintroduced to these characters. Setting the comic between Toy Story 2 and 3 is a wise move, as it gives Snider more characters to…play with and creates a familiarity for fans of the films.

Following on from the #0 issue in which Buzz was returned to the toy store, and replaced by a brand new version in Andy’s room, the adventure continues with great aplomb. Woody rounds up the troops to rescue his gallant friend from the shelves, and tries to convince the newer Buzz and fellow Space Ranger Booster to go along with the plan. One daring flight down the squeaky stairs later (with a quick diversion for Andy’s dog Buster) and the rescue attempt in miniature form begins.

Wordplay including a karaoke machine named Mike and dialogue such as, “Allright girls and toys!” makes this the kind of tale that parents can enjoy just as much as their kids. It’s obvious that Snider is enjoying himself here. When Woody and co. steal Andy’s mum’s car to get to the toy store, and get pulled over by a bewildered cop – genius. When they arrive at their destination to find an angry swarm of Buzz Lightyears dressed as a samurai, ninja and other assorted varities – genius-er!

Artist Nathan Watson matches Snider every step of the way. The key to making comics funny is down to two visual cues – timing and facial expressions. Watson nails both. His loose style is closer to the Buzz Lightyear animated TV series than anything resembling drool inducing CGI wizardry, but it works well. All of the characters from Slinky to dinosaur Rex to piggy bank Hamm are portrayed with such skill that there’s no question that these are the same characters from the films. Thankfully this is an ongoing series, so there’s a few more issues to catch up with Woody and Buzz before Toy Story 3 arrives.

February 2, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: 1 Comment

The Claw and Fang Preview

Bluewater may just be getting more success (besides their never ending bio titles) with this intriguing prospect. Interior pages from April’s debut issue below, plus some groovy concept art can be seen here.

FILMMAKER’S “THE CLAW AND FANG” DEBUTS IN APRIL WITH COVER BY DAN BRERETON

Film maker, Michael Kutcher debuts his first stint into the comic book world this April with “The Claw and Fang.”

Kutcher is new to creating comics, driven by his experience working on two feature films, “Bulletface” directed by Albert Pyun and “Kung Fu Joe” directed by Glen Berry, he wanted to move away from the production process over to the creative side. Matias Basla draws the gritty series “The Claw and The Fang” with covers by Dan Brereton, GMB Chomichuk and Steve Babb.

“The Claw and Fang” is a modern action drama with gothic horror elements. The characters are pulled from many of Kutcher’s real life experiences and that personal relationship adds greatly to the story.

The four-issue story arch begins in the present with Justin, a 21-year old warehouse worker, who has given up on life in the real world choosing to live in a virtual one where he is a natural leader. Other important characters are Noro, a demon summoned back to Earth after being banished to the Darkness for thousands of years; and the Firewoman, the last shaman of the old ways who forces Justin to confront his destiny and save us all.

“The Claw and Fang” will be released as a four book series through Bluewater starting in April 2010.

To learn more about “The Claw and Fang” go to www.theclawandfang.com.

February 1, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics? . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Biomega In Feb

Press release from Viz Media below about their new series launching next month. Cool cover.

MAN AND MACHINE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IN SCI-FI ACTION MANGA BIOMEGA

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will debut the cyberpunk action manga series BIOMEGA on February 2nd. The new series, rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences, will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint and will carry a MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Zoichi Kanoe plunges into the depths of 9JO, a sprawling island city in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in search of Eon Green, a girl with the power to transmute the N5S virus. The deadly contagion is spreading across the world, turning humans into disfigured, zombie-like “drones.” But he’s not the only one looking for her. Agents of the Public Health Service’s Compulsory Execution Unit are also in hot pursuit, with sinister designs of their own. Zoichi and his trans-human allies have no time to waste; the countdown to the apocalypse has begun!

“Tsutomu Nihei created BIOMEGA with a jaw-dropping, intensely powerful art style that reflects his background in modern architecture,” says Leyla Aker, Editorial Manager, VIZ Media. “The main characters—the “enhanced” human Zoichi and Fuyu, the AI in his rocket of a motorcycle—navigate this apocalyptic landscape in a story that offers pure speed, action, and suspense. Both manga and American comics fans won’t want to miss this exciting debut!”

Tsutomu Nihei debuted with the acclaimed manga short story BLAME!, which was nominated for North America’s Harvey Award and won the Shiki Award in Japan. The artist also created NOiSE, a manga prequel to BLAME!. His visually striking Wolverine tie-in SNIKT! was published by Marvel Comics along with a commission by Bungie Studios for the  HALO graphic novel.

For more information on this title, or others from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.

January 27, 2010
Categories: Comics, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Samuel L. Jackson Goes BOOM!

BOOM! Studios are doing the Marvel thing and releasing a teaser image, with no text. Here’s their lone picture of Samuel L. Jackson, but eagle eyed fans have noticed that it’s in relation to a new series called Cold Space, as seen in the April solicitations.

COLD SPACE #1

(W) Samuel L. Jackson, Eric Calderon
(A) Jeremy Rock

From legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson and Emmy nominated writer/producer Eric Calderon, the team that brought you the Emmy-award-winning, best-selling Afro Samurai, comes their next original series — Cold Space! When an on-the-run outlaw crash-lands on a hostile planet on the brink of civil war, he finds himself caught in the crossfire between two warring factions. But in chaos lies opportunity… because where there’s war, there’s money to be made! A hard-boiled sci-fi action-adventure with covers by Eisner Award-winning artist Dave Johnson and Irredeemable cover artist, Jeffrey Spokes!

January 25, 2010
Categories: New To Comics?, News . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Asylum Press FCBD Preview

May 1 is the annual Free Comic Book Day event, to promote the diversity of our beloved medium. For that day only anyone is welcome to garb selected titles from participating FCBD retailers. Asylum Press have now released a preview of their FCBD one-shot right here. You can take  a look at Fearless Dawn, Warlash and previews of upcoming books. If you like cheeky humour and horror, it’s definitely for you.

ASYLUM PRESS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF A PREVIEW OF THEIR FEARLESS DAWN/ASYLUM PRESS SAMPLER  FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY COMIC

Frank Forte, publisher of Asylum Press, has announced the release of a preview  Fearless Dawn/Asylum Sampler FCBD issue.

“I’m excited to be a part of Free Comic Book Day for the first time, “explains Publisher Frank Forte, “readers will get a great sampling of the books we publish.  Some of the titles are current and others will be published this fall.  It gives retailers and fans a chance to see what’s coming.”

A great way to introduce Asylum Press to retailers and fans.  Featuring a sampling on new and upcoming comics.  Fearless Dawn By Steve Mannion features our favorite new heroine battling a troop of mutants. Black Powder, a bloody frontier adventure, by Dwayne Harris, can be described as a “Buckskin Apocalypse Now”.  Warlash:Origins features a tale of Bladeviper by Royal McGraw and J.C. Wong. Farmhouse is a tale of a drifter who falls in love with an artist undergoing an experimental art therapy regimen, by Elizabeth J. Musgrave and Szymon Kudranski. In Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis, our armored hero goes up against a horde of brain eating monsters, by Frank Forte.  EEEK! by Jason Paulos, is an anthology of retro style horror tales.

January 25, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, News . Tags: , . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

Tumor Review

Available next week is this pulp influenced tale from Archaia that held the #1 place on Amazon’s Kindle Graphic Novel Bestseller list for 2 months.

Occasionally narrated by main character, private investigator Frank Armstrong, who’s middle-aged and ill of health, the book can be filed proudly under N for noir. Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov with black and white art by Noel Tuazon (the same team behind Elk’s Run) the tumor of the title is inoperable and clings to Frank’s brain. As he sees his own life slipping through his fingers, he also tries to save the life of Evelyn, a drug kingpin’s daughter.

This book is dirty with its jagged visuals, harsh characters (all of whom seem to swear with reckless abandon) and good old-fashioned life and death stakes. It’s like Frank Miller’sSin City, but far more grounded. Tuazon uses different levels of artistic detail to reveal Frank’s flashbacks and this technique mirrors Frank’s failing memory perfectly. His tenacity and dedication to what could be his last case is admirable and Fialkov never allows the story to become too muddled, or his ageing hero to become unsympathetic.

After reading the first few pages, you’ll certainly want to know how this jagged, frantic tale ends. The 225 pager is available on January 27, and you can also check it out here. There’s also an interesting interview about the history, and great success of the book with Fialkov here.

January 24, 2010
Categories: Comic Art, New To Comics?, Reviews . Tags: . Author: Kris Bather . Comments: Leave a comment

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