Hey All! We've moved the Blog portion of the ComicDorksCast over to The Fantasy Shop's Website! Just Click on Wallace The Dragon to find all our new articles. We will still be posting the episodes here as to not interrupt those who have subscribed through iTunes and various other podcatchers but all of our articles have found a new home. Come find us! We've got reviews on games as well and the message boards are once again alive and active!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Whatever You Want: Life Sucks


Life Sucks

By: Jessica Abel and Gabe Soria

Art By: Warren Pleece

Anyone who knows me shouldn't be surprised that I enjoyed this book. It combines two of my favorite things: vampires and the movie Clerks. That's right: Vampire Clerks. Dave Miller is your typical college student applying for a job at the Last Stop convenience store. He's excited to be hired on the spot by Radu, until Radu turns him into a vampire and he's stuck as the night manager for all eternity. And Dave can't use regular vampire powers like turn into mist because he refuses to kill humans; he drinks stale blood from the blood banks. Not to mention with Radu being his master, he gets forced into working on his days off ("I'm not even supposed to be here today! " would fit perfectly into this story). If the day guy is late, Dave is in for a world of hurt, literally.



To make life even worse for Dave, there is a pretty goth girl named Rosa that visits the store, but doesn't know he exists. Rosa is part of the nightly "running of the goths" that waltz passed the Last Stop after the local juice bar closes for the night. She imagines being a vampire as the speedy route to an uncomplicated life of elegance and beauty. Little does she know that proof it is otherwise is right under her nose.

Did I forget to mention that there even is a Randal character? Dave's friend Jerome fits that part to a tee, right down to closing the copy store he slaves at for his master to join Dave in the nightly running of the goths. While the writing isn't on par with Kevin Smith, it's still pretty good. Plus, the vampires make fun of the goths, i e "Nice cape." Who can pass that up?

All in all, I enjoyed this book and can't decide whether I want to shelve it with my comics or vampire books.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

ComicDorksCast Episode 078 - Bomb Threat

ComicDorkscastEp078.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

  • Brubaker and Lark end their run on a cliffhanger in Daredevil #500.
  • Scott's Pick of the Week: Batgirl #1.
  • Things continue to get weird in Mighty Avengers #28.
  • Darren's Pick of the Week: Blackest Night: Superman #1.
  • Superman Annual #14 reveals all of Mon El's secrets.
  • Darren's Pick of the Week: Punisher #8.
  • Brief Mentions.
  • Anticipated Books.
If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Beg Wave" by Ponytail.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

ComicDorksCast Episode 077 - He Looks Like Guy Gardner

ComicDorkscastEp077.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

  • Everything gets a little darker in Blackest Night #2.
  • Jon's Pick of the Week: Deadpool #13.
  • Scott Summers shows his badass side in Uncanny X-Men #514.
  • Darren's Pick of the Week: Walking Dead #64.
  • He's back! And he's better than ever! Superboy in Adventure Comics #1.
  • Scott's Pick of the Week: The Marvels Project #1.
  • Brief Mentions.
  • Anticipated Books.
If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Whatever You Want: Hellblazer


Hellblazer: All His Engines

Written by: Mike Carey

Art by: Leonardo Manco

This is by far the best Hellblazer book I have read to date (which isn't saying all too much because there are plenty of Hellblazer books for me to read). It starts with Constantine's sidekick/driver, Chas, coming to our anti-hero for help. Chas's niece, Tricia, is in a coma and no one can tell him what is wrong with her other than it's not a virus, which means that it falls under John's area of expertice.

John snags Chas on a trip to Los Angeles. There is a great scene where Chas is talking about the learning curve of learning how to drive on the right side of the road and John comments that he doesn't want to be around when it flattens out. In Los Angeles, there are a bunch of demons who have emigrated from hell to set up satellite offices. And this is where the story gets twisty.



The demon who has the soul of Tricia has her trapped inside his body, causing John the dillema of killing the little girl if he kills the demon. He strikes up a bargain in true Constantine fashion, never intending to uphold his end to the fullest if he can help it. He goes to another god to play agains the first. Mictlantecuhtli: "You forget yourself. I am no upstart demon, scrabbling in the dirt of the human soul. I am Mictlantecuhtli. I am a God." Constantine: "Great stuff. I'm John - and I'm a bastard." Super classic.

I'm rapidly becoming a Mike Carey fan, with Hellblazer, Lucifer, and the ongoing series Unwritten. He knows his way around a great story. I'm looking forward to reading more of his works.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

ComicDorksCast Episode 076 - Welcome -or- Shun! You Owe Me a Coke

ComicDorkscastEp076.mp3
(Download Directly: Right Click and choose "Save As..." and save locally on your computer)

  • Superman: World of New Krypton #6 begins the Codename: Patriot crossover and is amazing.
  • Scott's Pick of the Week: Secret Six #12.
  • Captain America: Reborn #2 makes even the most doubtful dork see the genius that is Brubaker.
  • Darren's Pick of the Week: Destroyer #5.
  • Invincible Iron Man #16 continues Tony Stark's fall into a world of pain and confusion.
  • Jon's Pick of the Week: War of Kings #6.
  • Brief Mentions.
  • Anticipated Books.
If you have any questions or comments drop us a line at: Comicdorkscast@gmail.com

Go to www.FantasyShopOnline.com and check out the growing community on the Message Boards.

Check out our website at ComicDorksCast.Blogspot.com.

The Music at the opening and closing of the show was: "When The Curtain Calls for You" by Jonathon Fire*Eater.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Whatever you Want: The Question Five Books of Blood


The Question: the Five Books of Blood

By: Greg Rucka

How far would you go to learn about the Religion of Crime? That is the question ex-cop Renee Montoya, aka the new Question, must ask herself. This book was excellent. A quick read, broken up into five chapters, each chronicling a different aspect of the Religion of Crime. Each chapter starts with an excerpt from the Crime Bible.

In the chapter of Deceit, Renee tries to get a glimpse of one of the Black Books that an author claims to have read. She follows him home only to catch him in the act of trying to murder his wife to boost book sales. This is the first time she meets and fights Brother Flay, a monk from the order of the Stone. Chapter Two is Lust, where Renee goes to a House of Lilith to spend time with Elicia. Once integrated into seeming like a regular customer, Renee moves freely about the House as the Question, gaining information.

As the book progresses, we watch Renee fall deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. She fights with Batwoman over the Bastard's Folio, said to contain Cain's second foretelling. She chases down a cop killer, only to meet up again with Brother Flay. He gives her coordinates to a meeting place, telling her that if she didn't meet him there that he would kill everyone that has meaning in her life.



I'm a huge fan of Greg Rucka and the character of Renee Montoya. This story was a thrill to read and kept me guessing at every turn. I highly suggest it to anyone who read 52, likes Rucka's style of writing, or is looking for a great read. I look forward to reading more about the character of the Question in the future.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Blog Log #2 (Out of the Milk Crates: War… What Is It Good For? Um… Good Comics!?!)

Fury: Peacemaker TP


Writer- Garth Ennis


Pencils- Darick Robertson



Inks: Jimmy Palmiotti & Rodney Ramos



So, there I was the other day, just chillin’ on my couch. (Which, is equipped with an asshole… just ask Dayron.) I had finished my stack of new comics and was in that, oh so awful state of desperation of what to now. Sure, I could pick up my six string and bust out a few hits but I was kind of jonesin’ for a kick-ass story. Since, we were lucky enough to get one of Marvel’s finest this week, (You know… Secret Warriors? …Right? …People?) I thought, “Hey, Nick Fury is a badass. Maybe, I should read a Nick Fury Story.” And so… I did. And this is how that went.

I am a fan of WW2 stories and it seems Garth Ennis is, as well. The proof is in the quantity of Garth’s war stories. Not to mention, that recently, as a Marvel fan and more specifically, a Captain America fan I have read a few WW tales in my day. (I even heard a few from my dear old granddad.) Reading Fury: Peacemaker reminded me that Cap was not the only hero during this world devastating conflict. Obviously, anyone in the armed forces, past or present, are heroes but here I am speaking in comicbotics. (Meaning, Cap and the Invaders and what not.) It turns out I have seemed to be overlooking a major player in the big war. He goes by the name Nick Fury and he is most definitely a howling warrior. This trade takes place during Sergeant Fury’s time in Tunisia. The year was 1943 and Nazi Germany needed to be wiped of the planet like a whiskey shit from a hairy, hairy ass. (A.K.A a Shitler) Explosions, blood and death ensue, as Fury must figure out whom he needs to kill. Well, I guess in Fury’s case it’s easier to figure out whom not to kill. (The numbers would be a lot smaller, of course.) Obviously, he is a man that can take care of himself and do what needs to be done to survive. It is an absolutely funtastical read, especially if you like the time period and the action of war. You saw the team right? Yup, it’s the guys bringing us the Boys and the countless other good time readings they have produced over the years with other folks. So come on… take my word for it, if you like Fury, war stories, or comics in general you will dig this story. And all of you Punisher fans should take heed when I say this, “Fury: Peacemaker is equivalent to Punisher: Born! And if you liked Born, then you know it is the work of the same damned team.” Seriously, if you are a fan of Captain America, Sgt. Rock, Garth Ennis, or Darick Robertson you have no choice but to read this book. And now to get Dayron to check it out I will say, “If you don’t read this book you don’t like Band of Brothers.” In closing I would like to say that Fury is officially two-eyed eagle in this book… or is he? In closing my closing, I leave you with this, “To the end of the war Nick and the beginning of many more.” The poor bastard has no idea...

-Rob

*In the case that you want to know what Fury is up to now, check out Secret Warriors. It fucking rules!!!

**That’s Fury: Peacemaker, not to be confused with Colt: Peacemaker. Resemblance is noted.
(Obviously, This had to be done.)(You are welcome!)

Saturday, August 1, 2009

No Episode This Coming Week

That's right, with Rob having left our ranks as of the last episode we're going to take a week off so that when we come back with our new line up (before we change the line up again as Darren heads off to Japan) complete. So, have a great week and we look forward to talking about all things comics next week!