Sneak Peek Reviews for 06/23/2009

Berserker #1

Written by: Rick Loverd

Art by: Jeremy Haun

Sometimes creators make a silly decision. Rick Loverd tried first to find a home for Berserker as a television show. He should have seen the problem with that. This is a story that, in many ways, was meant for comics. In many more ways it was meant to be drawn by the likes of Jeremy Haun. This is an incredibly fun read that brings a fun nuance to what might, in other hands, be a pretty typical horror story. Berserker brings the idea of losing your temper to a new and incredible height, imagine blacking out when you get really pissed off and coming to with a couple dead bodies nearby … that’s the kind of thing that happens to characters in Berserker. This is going to be one bloody entertaining book. Fans of books like Crossed who want a book that’s a little scaled back will love this one.

Detective Comics #854

Both Features Written by: Greg Rucka

First Feature Art by: J.H. Williams III

Second Feature Art by: Cully Hamner

This is going to be the comic of the year. You heard it here first. Don’t ever forget that. Detective Comics featuring Batwoman is going to be the hottest thing since bread, I mean sure when we started slicing it was pretty cool and all but bread was a pretty big step in the first place. Williams’ art is going to quite simply put you on your ass. He has a different style for each story element in the issue. And all of it is awesome. The story is fantastic and while having read The Question Five Lessons of Blood (now available in super sexy trade paperback) will make for a more enriching experience I think that you can feel more than comfortable diving into this book and loving every single moment. There’s going to be a lot of questions and by the time the second story arc rolls around you can expect to get some answers but for now let’s just be glad that the action is on and it’s hot. The second feature of this book is also phenomenal. The Question is a character that has been begging for her own series ever since the end of 52 and now 2 full years later we can expect monthly Question stories for quite some time to come. Cully Hamner has brought his A-Game to this title and even though it’s only 10 pages you’re still going to have a lot of fun with it.

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia One Shot

Written by: Matt Fraction

Art by: Marc Silvestri

It’s not often that I find myself interested in reading a Marvel “Event” these days. There have been exceptions. Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, War of Kings … you’ll note, of course, that all of those books are about cosmic characters. So when I heard that one of my favorite writers currently working at Marvel, Matt Fraction, was going to be writing an event this summer I was immediately excited, worried, and frustrated. Excited because it’s about time that he got some face time on the big stage at Marvel as his work on Immortal Iron Fist, The Order, Uncanny X-Men, and Invincible Iron Man have been consistently amazing. I was worried because I didn’t want people to not like it and for it to have a negative effect on his career. I was frustrated because it felt like I might have to buy a Marvel event that dealt with major players and wasn’t just a super-fun space opera. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. This book is a lot of good. A whole lot of good. So much so that it would be considered, by most, to be awesome. Fraction is going to be the name on everyone’s lips for some time to come (here’s hoping that they will go back and read some of the awesome stuff that he did before he found his way to Marvel). Silvestri’s art is good, though it is quite clear that he had help (yes he has 4 people on “pencil assists” [a.k.a. drawing the backgrounds and unessential characters]). I think that if you’ve been reading Uncanny X-Men that the best part about this event is that it built out of the events going on in the title over nearly the last 2 years. So, get set for Utopia to be broken, and for the world to look at Mutants in an all too familiar way … but with even more support.

Sneak Peek Reviews: 05/12/09

Unwritten #1

Written by: Mike Carey

Art by: Peter Gross

Get ready for a pretty lofty review. This is a seriously awesome comic. Vertigo has been scratching all the right itches for me lately. With Air, House of Mystery, Madame Xanadu, and now Unwritten. I devoured each and every issue of Lucifer while it was coming out and I think that it might well have been Mike Carey's best work to date and that it put Peter Gross in the limelight like he had always deserved. I think that everytime someone picks up a copy of the first Lucifer trade that I smile a mile wide. These are two guys with some serious talent and to have them come back together to work on another Vertigo book gives me the kind of happiness that I find difficult to describe. The story of Unwritten holds the kind of promise that a lot of Carey's work has, the kind of promise that makes me giddy. I find it a little hard to describe the story, but basically it is about Tom "Little Tommy" Taylor, who was the basis for his father's Harry-Potter-esque character that has become the most popular fictional character of all time. There are some questions about whether or not Tom is really his father's son, there are some questions about where his father has disappeared to, there are some questions as to whether he is human at all and not fiction come to life. The kind of questions that this series is bound to ask make my head spin in a good way. Peter Gross became one of my favorite artists when he worked on Books of Magic and then his work on Lucifer only further confirmed my love for his work, and now any time I read stuff he's drawn it's like putting on a favorite coat, like slipping into your favorite sneakers, like eating your favorite simple meal (grilled cheese, chicken noodle soup and jalapeno Crunchers). I am going to love the hell out of this book, but don't just take my word on why you should check it out, you can get it yourself when it comes out tomorrow ... for $1! That's right 32 pages of comic (48 if you count ads) for $1!

Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1

Written by: Paul Cornell

Art by: Mark Brooks

This was a really fun book that also asks some serious questions about what a post H.A.M.M.E.R. world would look like, and how young heroes would develop in that kind of world. I'm pretty unfamiliar with all of these characters and if Cornell created them for this mini-series then he did a great job of making them feel like they already belonged in the Marvel U. Mark Brooks does an excellent job on the art chores for this mini-series as well. However I think that the unsung hero on art in this issue is Christina Strain, her colors bring an excellent level of depth and reality to this book. I think that a group of young super-powered individuals that comes together during the reign of Osborn would unquestionably look like this, would make these same mistakes, would dance around these same philisophical quandries. I think that fans of Avengers: Initiative, and the original Young Avengers would probably really dig this mini-series and I think that it certainly serves as a compliment to Cornell and crew that I think so highly of the direction after just one issue. Grats to all involved.

Sneak Peek Reviews: 05/05/09

Final Crisis Aftermath: RUN! #1

Written by: Matthew Sturges

Art by: Freddie Williams II

Lately the name Matthew Sturges has been synonymous with excellent comics. When I heard that he was going to be penning one of the Final Crisis Aftermath books I was equal parts excited and nervous for him. I mean this is sort of a bigger stage than a lot of his work has been on in the past. Final Crisis (whether you loved it or hated it) was a huge story line for DC last year and the Aftermath books have the established love from some fans and the established hate from other fans both working for and against them. Someone who didn't love Final Crisis might still pick up RUN! #1 because they want to see what happens to the man behind the death of The Martian Manhunter, someone who loved Final Crisis might be picking up RUN! #1 because they want to see how things have changed for the characters who had been under the influence of the Justifier helmets. But either way there is a lot to live up to or live down when it comes to fan reaction when it comes to these books. I think that anyone familiar with Sturges incredible work on Jack of Fables, Blue Beetle, & House of Mystery is going to be enthralled by this book. It has a lot of the tell tale markings of a Sturges book. And at the same time those who aren't familiar with Sturges' previous work are going to really get a kick out of the kind of sense of humor and sense of pacing and storytelling that Sturges brings to his books. Freddie Williams II is really kicking butt on this mini-series as well. His art work is always improving and the case is no different here. I really think that he was a great choice to illustrate this story and when you read it I think you'll know why. There was one coloring gaff (Firestorm is colored as being white or perhaps light skinned but Jason Rusch [the current Firestorm] is a fairly dark-complected young black man [and one of my favorite {and woefully overlooked} characters of recent memory] but aside from that I think that the issue was really brilliant through and through. I highly recommend it and hope that you'll check it out when you hit the shop tomorrow.

New Mutants #1

Written by: Zeb Wells

Art by: Diogenes Neves

You ever have one of those childhood experiences that makes it hard for you to use good judgment about particular sections of geek culture. I have a few. One of them is New Mutants. There was something about the first couple of issues of New Mutants that I picked up that really stuck with me. There was something about the thought of Xavier Academy being an actual school and having classes and students that just thrilled me to the bone. And so whenever Marvel launches a new, New Mutants title I have to check it out, no matter what my gut tells me about it. Zeb Wells isn't one of my favorite writers. He and I had a good first experience together with his book from Virgin Comics "Snake Woman" I really dug that. But since then I have thought that most of his work has been pretty average. But like I said, it's New Mutants. Either issue #64 or #38 was my first issue of New Mutants (either way it was bought out of a back issue box) ... and like I said there was something about it. Zeb Wells manages to get on my good side with this issue, I think he captured the characters pretty well and I think that the story might be interesting as it unfolds. Diogenes Neves is pretty darn good as well. I think that anyone who is a fan of the Louise Simonson era of New Mutants is probably going to enjoy this issue and likely this series. So, prepare for a blast from the past as pre-Liefeld New Mutants are about to get all up in your business!

Sword of My Mouth #1

Written by: Jim Munroe

Art by: Shannon Gerard

A good long while ago I read a really great graphic novel called “Therefore Repent!” it was written by Jim Munroe and drawn by Salgood Sam. It was a really brilliant and rather touching book that takes place after The Rapture. Reading that got me to check out some of Jim Munroe's novels and I really dug those as well. So when I heard that he was going to be doing a mini-series to follow up Therefore Repent! I got excited. And my excitement was well aimed. “Therefore Repent!” introduced the concept that in a world after The Rapture, in a world no longer looked upon by God that Magic would work. It seems like a dreadfully simple idea but it really took me by surprise and made me love the book. Sword of My Mouth takes place in post-Rapture Detroit and focuses on a mother who is raising her young infant son without the help of the child's father. There is something dreadfully simple about the book but at the same time that simplicity strikes me as brilliant. I really, really liked this first issue and I can honestly say that I am really excited to see where this goes. I think that a lot of people might like this series and should check out “Therefore Repent!” you can read the first 60 pages herehttp://tinyurl.com/64lcvc and you can order it through your favorite local Fantasy Shop! I also recommend that you check out Jim Munroe's website nomediakings.org.

Better Late than Never - Sneak Peek Reviews: 4/28/09

Battle for the Cowl: The Underground 

Written by: Chris Yost 

Art by: Pablo Raimondi 

Where to start, where to start? 

I loved this comic. I really did. I know you're all getting very sick of hearing that, but I loved this comic. There was something about it that just struck the right chords with me. I have been fascinated with The Riddler ever since he stopped being a straight up super villain and became a private detective for the rich and famous, those whose cases had been abandoned by the police and ignored by Batman. Everything about the character has been interesting since then, and this issue focuses on him and one of my other favorite citizens of Gotham: Selina Kyle. Chris Yost, who will soon be taking over the reigns on Red Robin, really showed that he can do some kick-ass writing even if his writing partner Craig Kyle isn't along (not that there was any question about that once I read the first issue of Killer of Demons). And Pablo Raimondi has been one of my very favorite artists for a good long while now and seeing him work with Gotham as his canvas was really thrilling. I think that all of the Battle for the Cowl ancillary issues have been rather good when they weren't totally awesome. I commend all the creators involved with each of the books because there has been something about them that has really sung and I hope that everyone who decided not to read these books soon realize what a collossal mistake they made ... that wasn't pointed at anyone in particular ... really ... anyway ... 

Sherlock Holmes #1 

Written by: Leah Moore & John Reppion 

Art by: Aaron Campbell 

When I was in the third grade I read The Hobbit for the first time and it made me a fantasy fan for the rest of my life (my first exposure to fantasy had been the previous year when my teacher had read a sizely portion of The Chronicles of Narnia to my class and by reading The Hobbit I knew that it would be a love of the genre and not just C.S. Lewis). The book I read after I had finished The Hobbit was The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. So it's now big surprise that I have always had a love of mysteries and crime stories. When I heard that Dynamite was going to be doing a Sherlock Holmes series I was hesitantly thrilled. I've really enjoyed a lot of the properties that Dynamite has dealt with, books like Lone Ranger and Zorro being the best of the bunch in my own mind. And when I then heard that Leah Moore and her husband John Reppion were going to be penning the story I knew that I had very little to worry about. This was one really well done book and has a lot of the typical Holmesian tropes that fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work will recognize and enjoy. The artwork is stunningly good as well. Aaron Campbell, who I am completely unfamiliar with, brings a level of intricacy and talent the likes of I haven't seen in a very long time (his art actually reminds me a whole lot of Eric J). I really think that this book holds a hell of a lot of promise and I hope that everyone checks it out this week.    

Sneak Peek Reviews: 04/07/09

Warlord #1

Written by: Mike Grell

Art by: Joe Prado

In 1975 Warlord’s Travis Morgan made his first appearance, and with it began an epic quest from imperiled USAF pilot to warrior legend of Skartaris, a mythical world he arrives at when he parachutes from his plummeting SR-71 Black Charger. The original series ran from 1976 until 1989 and is considered a fan favorite even today. So when it was announced that Grell would return to helm a new Warrior ongoing it was to some excitement and adulation. The first issue jumps right into some Indiana Jones like action with all new characters finding a portal to another world, one we will assume (for this review at least) leads to Skartaris. Once they’ve passed through the event horizon we jump to the perspective of our titular hero, Travis “The Warlord” Morgan. The issue does a great job of being introductory while also engaging and full of new material. It’s clear that Grell has not lost a step when it comes to crafting a story and anyone who is familiar with the work he has done over at www.comicmix.com should know that already. What’s really rather nice is that Joe Prado has a lot of Grell influence in his work and so it immediately hearkens back to the style that those familiar with the previous series will recognize. I think that anyone looking for a great sword and sorcery fantasy series would be doing themselves a favor by picking up this book, and anyone looking for something that isn’t tied into a dozen other titles in these days of everyone screaming “EVENT FATIGUE” (a concept that I admit I do not grasp) then they would also be doing themselves a favor. I think that this book has a lot of promise and that it would be criminal not to support it especially with its $2.99 price-tag.

Wolverine: Weapon X #1

Written by: Jason Aaron

Art by: Ron Garney

It’s not often that I review a Wolverine book … in fact in the history of doing written reviews this is only the third time I have ever reviewed a Wolverine book if I remember correctly. There is a very good reason behind that; I am not a Wolverine fan. I think that more often than not people grossly misuse the character and that he has become, because of fervent fan adoration, the most overused character in comic book history. Of the three times I have reviewed a Wolverine book two share a striking similarity; they were written by Jason Aaron. Jason Aaron is the kind of writer that I one day long to be. He knows how to pen characters that have a moral compass while navigating a life of amoral action. They realize the right things to do and the wrong things to do but often … they just don’t care whether what they’re doing is ultimately right or wrong. His work on books like Scalped, The Other Side, Ghost Rider, and his previous work on Wolverine have all given me goose-bumps. The few times I have talked to the man he has been engaging, interesting, kind, impassioned, and overall fun to talk to. So when I heard that Marvel was making the incredibly smart decision of letting him pen the launch of their new Wolverine book to coincide with the upcoming release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Re-teaming him with artist Ron Garney was also a master stroke. The two of them together have a way of drawing you into Wolverine’s ultra-violent world without making you shake your head from transition. If I were to compare the work of Jason Aaron and Ron Garney on Wolverine to any other creative team that has ever worked on the character it would most closely resemble the work that Greg Rucka and Darrick Robertson did when Marvel re-launched the Wolverine book in 2003. So take that for what you will. This is going to be a book of Wolverine not as superhero but as everything else Wolverine has ever fit into, horror, sci-fi, suspense, espionage, detective, etc. He might be wearing the costume, but consider it his work clothes, it’s form fitting and black and grey, it doesn’t give an opponent much to grab onto in a fight and it’s dark so it’s stealthy … so … yeah … BUY IT! (side note: This is one of Marvel’s new $3.99 books and it is still only 22 pages, although this issue does include a 6 page preview of the upcoming mini-series Ghost Rider: Heaven’s on Fire as well as guidebook information about the character Maverick and the organization Weapon X … so I am conflicted recommending this book but I think that for the creative team and the fresh take on Wolverine that it is worth the price of admission.)

Exiles #1

Written by: Jeff Parker

Art by: Salva Espin

The (New) Exiles are dead, long live The Exiles. In 2001 Judd Winick launched an ambitious new series at Marvel called The Exiles, it featured 6 characters pulled from separate alternate realities who had been brought together to fix some mishaps of the Marvel Multiverse … excuse me for stealing a phrase. The book was incredibly fun and great for people who liked mutants but didn’t want to have to know all the minutiae of decades of the characters histories, it was also great for people who liked the shows Sliders and Quantum Leap (and I was a fan of both). Winick wrote the series for 37 issues before Chuck Austen took over … things remained passably good and fun for that time. With issue 46 Tony Bedard took over and the book amped up a bit but unfortunately became a little repetitive. When issue 89 rolled around Chris Claremont took over … and I stopped reading the title. A book I had faithfully followed for 88 issues was now borderline unreadable. It remained unreadable for 11 issues until it was cancelled … only to unfortunately be combined with Claremont’s New Excalibur book and relabeled “New Exiles” which ran for 18 issues before being canceled. And for a while I breathed a sigh of relief that a book I had come to love and characters that I had grown ever so fond of were done being abused. Then Marvel announced that there was going to be a new Exiles ongoing. The cringe that followed could probably have been seen from space. Then they announced that Jeff Parker was going to be writing it and the “WOO-HOO!!!” could probably be heard from Mars. Jeff Parker is the perfect writer to take on this kind of book and I couldn’t be happier to see the title in his capable hands. The art by Salva Espin is gorgeous as well, I kind of wish that they had let him do the covers because I worry that some people might look at Dave Bullock’s cover and be put off by his very stylized look, but I think that it is plenty exciting and should be enough to draw the reader’s eye. This is pretty much a wholesale re-launch of the book and I think that anyone who liked what Winick did with the book would be remiss in missing this book.

Is there a character whose popularity you just can’t figure out? I'd love to know, email me at ComicDorksCast@gmail.com

Sneak Peek Reviews: 03/31/2009

Flash: Rebirth #1


Written by: Geoff Johns


Art by: Ethan Van Sciver

There are a whole lot of books that get labeled "Most Anticipated Book of the Year" ... for a whole lot of people though Flash: Rebirth really and truly is that elusive beast. For the last 24 years a whole lot of people have wondered if Barry Allen would ever return to the pages of DC comics and if so when and under what circumstances. Final Crisis revealed the when and the how of Barry's eventual return and now we have to deal with some of the bigger questions like the why and the what next. How will Barry Allen fit into a world where there are already several other crimson clad speedsters? How will his relationship with his wife be effected after years seperated by the untravellable distance of death? How will his city take to his return, and more importantly how will his rogue's gallery react to his sudden reappearance? There are a lot of questions and this story starts to answer some within the first issue but at the same time there are plenty of new questions posed. Geoff Johns' love of The Flash mythos is clear from the very first page and Ethan Van Sciver's talent has never been more evident, his art is better than it has ever looked. This is going to be one of those stories that will have an incredible impact on the look of comics for a long time to come. This is the kind of book that only Johns and Van Sciver could do. If you thought that Green Lantern: Rebirth was great then you are in for one hell of a treat, and if you thought that Green Lantern: Rebirth changed the way you looked at a character then you haven't seen anything yet.

Irredeemable #1


Written by: Mark Waid


Art by: Peter Krause

MARK WAID IS EVIL. It was plastered across a shirt that The Fantasy Shop recieved a few months back and it was the first hint that Mark Waid was going to be doing something big. Since I was the only manager who wore and extra large t-shirt I was given the shirt and shortly thereafter I tried to learn as much as I could about what it meant. I would come to find that it was an indicator that the next series that Mark Waid was going to be working on wouldn't be the kind of work he had done before (or at least not the kind of work he had done before if you never read EMPIRE). Irredeemable is what I learned it would be called and the premise would basically be "What if a superhero with the power level of Superman snapped and became the world's most terrifying supervillain?". I was sold. I told tons of people about it thanks to them asking about my shirt. And I am glad that I did. Cause this book rocks. A whole lot. Mark Waid has always been a preeminent story teller in my opinion and his teaming with Peter Krause on this story is visionary. Krause has a style very reminiscent of Jerry Ordway and thus there is this classic style to the look of the book while there is also this incredibly modern feel to the storytelling. All in all I think that anyone would like this book and that everyone should at least look through it before they leave the comic store tomorrow, it'd be in you best interest.

Destroyer #1 (of 5)


Written by: Robert Kirkman


Art by: Cory Walker

This is going to be one interesting book. The basic premise of this book is an aging superhero is told that he's got a very limited amount of time to live and so he decides that once and for all he is going to make sure that the world is safe from those who only he could stop. Since it's a MAX book we can safely assume that there is going to be a decent amount of blood. Come to think of it since it's written by Kirkman I think that there should be a safe assumption that there is going to be a Kill Bill level of blood. This first issue sets up an interesting world that could very easily be explored at a later date should Kirkman ever decide to revisit working for one of the BIG TWO. Previous adventures of The Destroyer would be madcap fun. But working under the assumption that this is going to be the only exposure we'll get to the character I'll simply say that I think that anyone who likes Invincible and perhaps more importantly Brit should be reading this book. Cory Walker's artwork looks great as ever and if he would work more frequently in the industry I think that he would be a household name by now. But in the meantime we'll just continue to enjoy his work on books like The Destroyer.

Sneak Peek Reviews: 03-17-09

Lillim #1 (of 5)

Written by: Shaun Lapacek & Ian Keiser

Art by: Matrix

Ever want a book to be really good? A book you have no ability to  develop preconceptions about? That's the problem I ran into with Lillim. I have no idea who Shaun Lapacek and Ian Keiser are and I will likely never meet them. But there is something about the way that they wrote this book that seems like a poor translation of a foreign language comic. There is something about the pacing of the dialogue as well as the intent of the story that comes across as vaguely European. I wanted to like this book. I saw the solicit in previews and thought that it looked cool but couldn't really get my head around how what I saw there translated into what I was now reading. I love the concept of "Lillim" in a mythological pretext, the sons and daughters of Adam's first mate, Lillith. The concept was so interestingly and complexly executed with Mike Carey's Lucifer book ... and I guess my familiarity with the word may have put me down the wrong path. All in all I wouldn't say that this is a bad comic, by any stretch of the imagination. I think that artist Matrix evokes the kind of art that fans of Kia Asamiya or Pat Lee would find familiar. I think that the story is a mix of played out (a god of olden times reawakens in the presence of someone who looks like the mortal he loved so many centuries ago) with interesting new concepts (all the gods of different pantheons were in fact the same individuals playing the same roles with different names throughout time). I just wanted it to be more. Perhaps over the next four issues we might see something interesting develop. I suppose I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Battle for the Cowl: Azrael - Death's Dark Knight #1 (of 3)

Written by: Fabian Nicieza

Art by: Frazer Irving

When you're a comic fan for over 20 years you reach the point where you realize that there just isn't time to care about everything. Where you start thinking "I've never really liked that character so I couldn't care less what's going on in his/her books" or "I've never had a good experience with that creator so I just won't read what he/she works on". So when something happens and a creator you've come to respect starts working on a character you've never cared for you are presented with an interesting conundrum. That is what happened with me on this particular book. I have never liked Azrael, I thought he was a terrible Batman and that his ongoing series (that ran from 1995 - 2003) never found a consistent direction long enough to bear resemblence to something I would ever like to read. So when Fabian Nicieza, a writer that I have come to have a great deal of respect for, and Frazer Irving, and artist whose work I am unabashedly in love with, decide to work on the character I had to think pretty hard about whether or not I was going to read the book. Ultimately I am glad that I did. Between the revamping that the character is going to receive at the hands of Nicieza and the way that pretty much anything in the Gotham Universe has been pressing all of my buttons lately I am certainly excited to see where the mini-series is going to take us. There is something about the way that Grant Morrison works on a book that establishes so many interesting nuances and ancillary characters that makes for rich birthing grounds for later concepts. This has been clear on his runs on books like JLA, New X-Men, Seven Soldiers, Final Crisis and more. This book takes a concept from Ressurection of R'as Al Ghul and a character from the stories right before R.I.P. began and turns them both into golden concepts that made me smile. I really think that anyone looking to see how interesting and complex the characters of Gotham City are going to be by the time that June rolls around would be serving their own best interests by checking this book out (not to mention ... the artwork rocks).

G.I. Joe: Cobra #1 (of 4)

Written by: Christos Gage & Mike Costa

Art by: Antonio Fuso

Jesus ... I've said this at least once already but I will say it again now. You win. IDW, you (you fine sirs) win. When you bring the likes of Christos Gage and Mike Costa in to write a mini-series about the Hawaiian shirt clad Chuckles, a man who spends more time on undercover missions than he does being himself, you have to know you had me at the word "Hello". Add to that the artistic prowess of a guy like Antonio Fuso and you've really got a killer package on your hands. This issue thrusts you right into the action and then does it's best to fill you in on as much of the twists and turns that Chuckles has had to go through to get to where you find him. It's really good. It's the first time that I have ever read one of the books that is meant to mine the fond memories of cartoons from my childhood that I ever felt like it lived up to the hype. The guys at IDW have put together such an interesting group of story tellers that I can't help but enjoy the fruits of their efforts. So for what it's worth it's official, I'm a G.I. JOE fan again.

Air #7

Written by: G. Willow Wilson

Art by: M.K. Perker

Vertigo has long held my heart, seemingly for ransom. I can't seem to get more than a few months without falling in love with something from Vertigo. So much so that I try pretty much everything that they publish worrying that I might miss something great. Every now and again I read something that isn't to my taste but more often than not I find myself knee deep in loving another series. Air had me from the cover of issue #1. I had already read and enjoyed G. Willow Wilson & M.K. Perker's first collaboration Cairo and knew that I would be getting into something unlike I had ever read before. And I was right, and more than that I was rewarded for sticking with it. Air is a complex piece of story telling that unfolds in the same kind of fashion that shows like LOST and comics like Locke & Key have. There is something inherently magical about the book and I wish there were words that I could say that would assure you that the book is well worth your money. The trade paperback comes out this week as well and it collects issues 1-5 for the low low price of $9.99 and with issue 7 only being $1 that means that you can get completely caught up for under $15 (depending on the tax rate at your particular comic store, at mine it'll be $14.82). I realize that I probably can't put the kind of words together that might get you to check out this book so I'll use the words of some people you might lend more creedence to:

"I've read the first five issues of Air and have enjoyed them to no end - it starts off as Rushdie and then parachutes off into Pynchon." - Neil Gaiman

"I am knee deep in Air ... There's so much to love in this story" - Brian Azzarello

"The fantasy is real, and the reality is fantastic. Air is a compelling and completely original read that thrills, surprises and delights." - Gail Simone

"It's a beautiful and intriguing post-9/11 fairy tale, part Gabriel Garcia Marquez, part LOST, all very fresh and exciting. I can't wait top see where it leads next." - Jason Aaron

"Challenging and original, a groundbreaking look at air travel and the politics of terrorism." - Brian Wood

"An interesting mixture of fantasy, romance, and air travel." - Variety

"Best thing I read ..." - USA Today, Pop Candy

"Take a lieap with the premier issue of Air. ... With shows like Lost and 24 having viewers hang on every mystery, there's no reason to suspect Air can't do the same." - Oklahoma Gazette

"An entertaining read with some serious points to make about the fluidity of borders in the 21st Century." - The Onion

"Complex, great characterizations, mysteries, a hint of something mystical ... this Air has substance." - Valdosta Daily Times

"The opening scene is breathtaking... Perker's work is compelling and easy on the eyes... Air certainly has potential." - IGN

"[A] fantastic new series... There's little excuse not to buy this book and get in on the ground floor of a bright career." - Newsarama

"Wilson and Perker share a deep love for comics, and it shoes in every pretty page. The feeling of magic just around the corner is on every page of the book." - Bust Magazine

"Vertigo's real sleeper hit of the year" - Comic Shop News

So check out the ongoing adventures of Blythe and Zayn before this gem gets lost in the rough. 

Sneak Peek Reviews: 03/10/09

The Amazon


Written by: Steven T. Seagle


Art by: Tim Sale

There are not many creators that I have more respect and admiration for than Steven T. Seagle and Tim Sale. They've both had rough patches in their careers but I think that they inspire me because they are willing to venture outside the popularly accepted genres and adventure in the realms of more literary conceits in their works (Sale in his work with Jeph Loeb [when he was still writing really great stories like Batman: Long Halloween & Superman for All Seasons], Seagle has always been the kind of writer to buck tradition). This book was first published 20 years ago by Comico and is now brought back to us by Dark Horse and I was really blown away by how beautiful the book really is.

Amazon is the tale of Malcolm Hilliard, a journalist working for a fictional American publication: Point Magazine. His work has brought him to The Amazon to unearth the source of numerous sabotages of logging equipment at a lumber mining site run by American owned D'Orellana Timber Products. Along the way he encounters the vast disparity between the haves and the have nots of the South American jungles as well as the equally destructive practices of Christian Missionaries who seek to forcefully "share" a "better" way of life with the indigenous people.

The book is incredibly well rendered by the then 23 year old Tim Sale and is immediately accessible. The story is told in a very interesting tiered fashion as we see the thoughts of Malcolm written into his journal alongside the words he chooses to share in his article. It's really a rather enjoyable story. And I don't want these reviews to become nothing but cost comparison but when a comic that I think imparts great value for it's price tag comes across my stack I am going to share it with you: The Amazon #1 is 28 pages of comic (during which there are no ads) and 2 pages of discussion between the creators about how they think about the book 20 years after they collaborated on it ... and it's $3.50. Take that for what you will.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1


Written & Drawn by: Tony Daniel


Inks by: Sandu Florea

It's the book we've been waiting for, and from my persepective it was well worth the wait. Tony Daniel is the kind of artist, it seems, that takes a bit to get used to drawing the characters that he is working on, and by the time he was done with Batman: R.I.P. he had a really good handle on all the characters. Here in Battle for the Cowl, I don't know if it is that he has an even better grasp or if it is that he is working from his own script but his work looks better than ever. Ireally think that this is going to be one incredibly visual story and the visuals are going to be incredible. He also clearly knows what he's doing when it comes to writing the book and it's also clear that he learned a hell of a lot from reading Morrison's scripts while they were working together. From my viewpoint he clearly has the motivations of the characters down pat and has a really firm handle on what and who should even be in the background of a panel (i.e. when Catwoman appears in the book is perfectly timed). I certainly don't think that he's going to be the next big writer for the big 2 but he certianly can handle his own on his own. I get the feeling that he would have been a little too frontloaded had this story arc been any longer than three issues but that certainly he should be more than fine for the three issue stint. I look ever so forward to the upcoming Gotham resurgance on the shelves but for the time being I will just be very glad to have the Bat Family in such capable hands.

(ahem ... 30 pages for $3.99 and a big time event for the titles.)

Sneak Peek Reviews: 3/3/2009

New Avengers: Reunion #1


Written by: Jim McCann


Art by: David Lopez

It's not often that I come across something for which I have absolutely no expectations, be they movies, television shows, comics, novels, bands (these happen more frequently as opening bands are often creatures of which I am completely unaware). On those rare occasions I am often pleased. Jim McCann is not a well known commodity when it comes to writing as he is more often known as Marvel Comics' Assistant Manager Of Sales Communication ... whatever that means. In fact all that I know about Mr. McCann is that he loves Hawkeye and Mockingbird more than any ten fans combined. And when it was revealed that Mockingbird was, in fact, not dead he graciously volunteered to write a 4 issue mini-series featuring the return of the long seperated couple. I really didn't know what to think when I got into this issue, I knew I was going to like the art because I think David Lopez is amazing (in particular his run on Catwoman) and so when I finished the issue and the first thing that crossed my mind was "I wonder what happens next!" I was, needless to say, surprised. McCann clearly has a grasp of these characters and he wears his affection for them on his sleeve, pants, coat, hat, socks, shoes ... and maybe, just maybe, his boxer shorts. But that doesn't negatively effect the reading. This was a really fun book and watching the relationship between Hawkeye and Mockingbird flourish and falter on these pages was an interesting experience, especially since I had never read an issue where they were a couple in the first place. I think that this was an issue well worth the read and it certainly was a pleasure to look at ... but once again Marvel has placed an interesting predicament in front of the fans who are looking to buy this book as it is ... $3.99 and 22 pages and written by a Marvel Staffer with little experience and drawn by a rather lovely artist who doesn't have instant name draw appeal. So ... know that when you see this on the shelf that I recommend it ... but ... there might be a book that will give you more for your $4.

Superman: World of New Krypton #1


Written by: James Robinson & Greg Rucka


Art by: Pete Woods

Anyone who has been following the events of Action Comics, Superman, and Supergirl lately know that a pretty big decision has been placed on the plate of one Kal El, aka Clark Kent, aka Superman. He has to choose between the world he knows as home and the society he has longed to know. Candor is now on it's own planet and is occupied by roughly 100,000 Kryptonians. That is a pretty attractive draw for someone who has never known the home of his parents. Clark made the decision to temporarily leave "Clark Kent" behind and embrace "Kal El" in the most recent issue of Superman, and he had to seem to renounce all that was his home in order to be accepted among the Candorian society as dictated by his Aunt Alaura. So he bid farewell to his wife and mother and the city he calls home and left them all under the protection of his close friends and associates who also call Metropolis home. But this mini-series (or is it a maxi-series ... I never knew how to discern the difference) will focus on Clark's attempt to better prepare the Kryptonians for interaction with Earth. We all know now that the society of Krypton was far different than that of Earth ... or at least the modern Earth that Clark has grown up on. This series will explore just how different. Written by fan favorites and critical darlings James Robinson and Greg Rucka this book couldn't possibly have a better pedigree on the writing side. And the artistic side is nothing to sneeze at either, Pete Woods (another artist who has worked on [and had a fantastic run on] Catwoman ... is Selina becoming a proving ground for the industry?) brings his A-game to this title and really proves that he has the chops to do any kind of city-scape as well as character design. This is a really great book that has really great names attatched and a big story to tell ... and it does it for $2.99 ... interesting. Definitely worth buying when you're in the store tomorrow.

Killer of Demons #1


Written by: Christopher Yost


Art by: Scott Wegener

Christopher Yost is better known as one half of the second best regular writing team in American comics Chris Yost and Craig Kyle (Sorry guys, but Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett are the cat's meow) and Scott Wegener is probably best known for being the artist on the totally amazing Atomic Robo from indie comics publisher Red 5 Comics. Together they have come up with a delightful spin on a pretty tried and true idea. Guy is picked by God to be a demonslayer, guy doesn't particularly want to be demonslayer ... the spin comes in the form of the Angel Uriel who guides him and the sheer number of demons that surround the main character Dave Sloan. The first issue is really rather hilarious to be honest. I think that it has a really great feel and doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. The book is really well drawn and is smartly written and is really a pretty good deal at 34 pages for $3.99.

Sneak Peek Reviews: 02/24/2009

Doctor Who: Whispering Gallery One-Shot

Written by: Leah Moore & John Reppion

Art by: Ben Templesmith

I really have begun to wonder what has taken me so long in getting around to reading the Doctor Who comics. There is something about the character and the stories that are told with him that are unique to him, and they are always interesting, often brilliant, and sometimes pure genius. This story is really no different, husband/wife team John Reppion and Leah Moore (daughter of comics legend Alan Moore [but who does a very good job of trying not to ride daddy’s coattails]) have crafted an incredibly interesting story utilizing the most recent incarnation of The Doctor and his second companion Martha. The story has an interesting twist and really feels like a solid if not a rather good episode of the show. I think that having read and enjoyed this issue that I might even start looking into reading some of the previous stories because they have had some really great creators involved in the making of them. The only thing that I would say is a little frustrating about this book is that the amazing talent of Ben Templesmith is … somewhat muted by his use of photos of characters faces in certain shots … it just makes for a somewhat still shot here and there, even though he does his best to also draw around the capture. All in all I think that this was a fun story and a solid read and that anyone who has thought about maybe checking out the Doctor Who books (like I had) would be well served by checking this issue out.

New Avengers #50

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis

Art by: Billy Tan, Brian Hitch, David Aja, Michael Gaydos, David Lopez, Alex Maleev, Steve McNiven, Leinil Yu, Steve Epting, Greg Horn

December 2004 saw the launching of an all new Avengers title, New Avengers, with a whole new approach to the line-up of The Avengers, instead of taking a huge list of characters who couldn’t really support their own books and adding a few who could and making the story be about their camaraderie it was suddenly packed with headliners and mystery characters … and Luke Cage. It was essentially a book featuring all of Brian Bendis’ favorite Marvel characters together. And a lot of people didn’t think that it would work. A lot of people scoffed and said “These aren’t MY Avengers” … but the book sold. Like hotcakes. Like hotcakes with $100 bills stuffed in them. And it is still very likely the #1 ongoing book at Marvel as far as numbers are concerned. And for 50 issues, for all intents and purposes, Bendis has been telling one big long story, the kind he is famous for on works like Powers, Ultimate Spider-man, & Daredevil. It all sort of culminated in the pages of Secret Invasion and now it seems as though we have reached the second act of the New Avengers story. It’s certainly interesting where it seems to be heading, and it is certainly causing a lot of buzz in the industry … if only it were causing it for the right reason. Marvel decided to raise the price on two of their best selling books in order to try and weather these difficult financial times without having to raise prices on a bunch of lower selling books to keep them afloat. So, for the time being Dark Avengers and Mighty Avengers are both regularly $3.99 and so because of that the expectations have really been cranked up. For someone to buy a monthly ongoing book for $3.99 from one of the big two is really asking quite a bit these days, so the price of admission had better damn well be worth it. This issue was really exciting, there were a lot of very classic Bendis moments and a lot of really cool new ideas and innovations that he hasn’t used much in his writing prior to this, so it seems clear that he realizes that in order to get fans to plunk down $4 a month he’s going to have to get a little creative and really go one step further than we might imagine he would. This issue also featured great art by Billy Tan and great guest pages from some really great artists (with the exception of Greg Horn … why does anyone let that guy do interiors?) … And this book would have totally been worth the $3.99 price tag … but I realized about ¾ of the way through it that it was longer than 22 pages … it was 37 … and so I looked at the cover … and saw that it was $4.99 … so I think you’ll have to decide for yourself if it is still worth that price tag … ultimately I would say that it is, but the 7 page preview of Dark Reign: Fantastic Four seemed a little out of place in a big anniversary issue.

Was it worth the price tag for you? I’d love to know, email me at ComicDorksCast@gmail.com

Sneak Peek Reviews: 02/17/09

Amber Atoms #1

Story & Art by: Kelly Yates

Colors by: Michael E. Wiggam

I know that I have a reputation with people who know me, even those who only know me as that guy at the comic shop. I'm the guy they all say "He likes everything though" about. I'm the comic store equivalent of Mikey from the LIFE Cereal commercials. But I think it's just that I choose to not read bad comics ... also I can find something about every book that I read that is likable (well almost ... I mean ... I've never given a good review to a book drawn by Rob Liefield ... but I understand and respect that he has fans).

Now I realize that many people think that I am saying all of that in order to position myself to be able to say something about Amber Atoms #1.

Fooled you.

This book is great. It's just the right kind of space opera that we need right now. Evil kings trying to overtake the intergalactic government from within, a deceptively smart and undeniably scrappy young woman who longs to experience more of the universe than her father's junk yard, assassin androids that jump up out of nowhere to grab hold of your ankle. And all with artwork that is a mix of the styles of Mike Wieringo (may he rest in peace) and Cully Hamner. Kelly Yates has a whole lot going for him. I think that he has a great sense for story pacing and that he's got the idea of giving you just enough to make you come back for the next issue down pat.

If you like stories like Star Wars (I know that's lofty and that many people would probably laugh at my comparing the two but ... take it for what you will) and Flash Gordon then you're in the right place. I think that this book has a lot of promise and that when you take into account that Yates is writing and drawing the book himself you know that the creative vision will be singular and exciting.


Outsiders #15

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi

Art by: Lee Garbett

Who remembers 1983? I don't ... I was 2 ... I wasn't even two when Batman & The Outsiders made their first appearance in the final issue of The Brave and The Bold. Sheesh ... C'mon ...

Who remembers last week? I DO! REALLY, I DO! When Batman & The Outsiders Special came out last week I was convinced that the book was going to have to do a whole lot to win me over, even with the killer creative paring of Peter J. Tomasi and Adam Kubert ... but I was wrong. It didn't have to do a whole lot. It just had to be the subtly crafted masterpiece that it was. It was a tear jerker and it introduced me to the team that I was going to want to love for the next decade.

And then smartly DC followed up their stellar release the following week with Outsiders #15. Written by the same Peter J. Tomasi as the Special and drawn by Lee Garbett who pencilled the two issues of Batman that tied into Final Crisis.

This book will knock your socks off. I was glad that I wasn't wearing socks to be honest because I would have felt a little uncomfortable having them knocked off while I was at work, it's just not something that strikes me as professional. The team that was originally formed is well represented here with Halo, Metamorpho, Black Lightning, Geo-Force, and Katana all being members but the addition of Owl Man and The Creeper add an interesting aspect to the team, not to mention the leader of the team: Alfred Pennyworth. If there has ever been a time for Alfred to take the spotlight in the comics industry now is the time. In a time where more and more focus has been placed on the supporting casts of titles it is finally time for the gentleman's gentleman to get some page time. Alfred has been, for all intents and purposes, a superhero for a very long time and now it's time for him to show it. Think of him as the Barbara Gordon to the Birds of Prey, guiding the strike team on their campaign against evil.

Is there any task you'd rather have Alfred doing? Be honest with yourself.

Read this book.

X-Factor #40

Written by: Peter David

Art by: Valentine DeLandro

I know I have said this before and I fear that I might have to say it again sometime in the near future (too near to be comfortable) but ... X-Factor is BACK!

The book that has been essentially about Jamie Madrox for 40 issues (and a 5 issue mini-series) has finally found it's heart and soul again, not to mention it's footing. Peter David is a writer that I haven't always loved but whom I have always had a great deal of respect for. There is something about this character and this series though that has managed to keep me reading through good times and bad. Madrox is the kind of character that makes you want to read comics, he's complex ... and not just because he is the living embodiment of multiple personalities. He is a character who can fall in love and does so convincingly (mostly because David knows how to write realistic human emotions) and can also hate convincingly.

But the series kept getting sidetracked.

But it seems like it's finally found it's way back to the path of ... awesome. I can't tell you too much about what happens in this issue without ruining some really epic moments and without ruining a great, great story. What I can tell you is that Jamie has returned to the parish overseen by one, John Madrox. Yes the dupe that became a father and a priest makes his return in this issue and essentially acts as Madrox's confessor. There is something incredibly surreal about the idea of the conversation that they have considering that Jamie is talking ... to himself. But not once did I think it was silly, at all. As a matter of fact I thought it was brilliant. Peter David had figured out a way to have an entire issue of introspection without having to worry about overuse of narration boxes or silly talking outloud when there is no one else in the room.

I honestly think that if you worried that X-Factor had fallen off of the tracks that you'll kick yourself if you don't read at least this issue.

And if I'm wrong tell me, email me at ComicDorksCast@gmail.com