Project Fanboy - Reviews

Project Fanboy - Reviews http://forums.projectfanboy.com en Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:19:27 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/images/misc/rss.jpg Project Fanboy - Reviews http://forums.projectfanboy.com Project Fanboy Project Fanboy steven@projectfanboy.com no Poe #1 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3839&goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:39:46 GMT * Title: * Poe #1 * Publisher Name: * BOOM! (http://www.boom-studios.com) * Writer: * Barton Mitchell * Art: * Dean Kotz $3.99, 25 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with... Title: Poe #1
Publisher Name: BOOM!
Writer: Barton Mitchell
Art: Dean Kotz
$3.99, 25 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
Everyone knows that Poe created the detective genre, but did you know he was a detective himself? Finally the secret can be revealed for the first time! Enter the world of POE and follow the famous author of darkness as he tracks the killer of his brother’s friend. Supernatural adventure for fans of books like HELLBOY! “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.” --Edgar Allan Poe

Reviewer Comments:
really wasn’t looking forward to reading this at all. But I’m glad I did.

At first I just assumed this would be a very boring book based on a writer. Nothing about that sounds interesting at all does it?

After finally getting into it I realised that this, if not anything, is a gorgeous book. I read on and discovered that Barton Mitchell has actually written this very well. It’s gripping, clever and suspenseful. It’s a great detective story. The dialogue isn’t forced enough to make you cringe and isn’t down played so much that it’s unbelievable as a period title. The whole book flows so quickly and naturally...making it a very easy read.

Dean Kotz’ artwork is outstanding. The pencils and colors are what really sell this book. They’re classy, tell the story well, fit the writing to a tee with its noir style and it all just captures Poe perfectly. My only gripe is that you’d seriously think it was set in London, as opposed to Baltimore. But so what? It works for Poe as well as it works for Sherlock.

Speaking of Sherlock...this has a very Sherlock Holmes-y feel to it. If you reckon that’ll tickle yer fancy then I recommend picking this up.

Cleverly written and Jaw dropping artwork.

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]]> Reviews LiamBradley http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3839 no The Incredibles #4 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3838&goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:15:57 GMT Title: The Incredibles #4
Publisher Name: BOOM!
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Marcio Takara
$2.99, 25 pages, Black & White

Safety Content Label: A - Appropriate for age 9 and up.

Publishers Blurb:
Legendary writer Mark Waid's action-packed INCREDIBLES story concludes! Mr. Incredible discovers the shocking truth behind his recent loss of powers... and must defend his family against a shocking menace from the past! Features a Kirby-inspired incentive cover from Godland artist Tom Scioli!

Reviewer Comments:
Loved the last 3 issues and the 4th doesn’t disappoint.

It’s kind of pointless saying that Mark Waid’s writing is awesome.
But you can’t not say it. Mark’s such a chameleon writer. It’s great to watch him hop between 17 billion titles every month, and to do it with different styles on each one. This series has been one of the most fun reads I’ve had in a while. I have Mark to thank for that. He’s done an excellent job in taking an amazing movie and adapting it to comic form. In this issue he wraps up this ark with Mr Incredible getting his powers back just after a visit from one of Mrs Incredible’s old arch nemeses makes an appearance.

Marcio Takara’s artwork is as strong as it’s been in the last 3 issues. Nice clean lines, great story telling and lots of dynamic shots that give the book an exciting feel.

The colors are bright and eye catching. They manage to pop off the page and suck you into the book at the same time. They replicate the colors of the movie, but not so much as it looks like photos from the movie. Which is a good thing as it leaves the comic to stand on its own a little.

This is just overall a really fun and light hearted book.

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]]> Reviews LiamBradley http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3838 no Fearless Dawn # 1 (of 4) http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3837&goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:21:34 GMT * Title: * Fearless Dawn # 1 (of 4) * Publisher Name: * Asylum Press (http://www.asylumpress.com) * Writer: * Steve Mannion * Art: * Steve Mannion 2.95, 32 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want... Title: Fearless Dawn # 1 (of 4)
Publisher Name: Asylum Press
Writer: Steve Mannion
Art: Steve Mannion
2.95, 32 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
FEARLESS DAWN

Quarterly

ISBN13:978-0-9818230-2-7

Synopsis:
Jet riding good girl FEARLESS DAWN battles her arch nemesis Helga Von
Krause in this mini-series from Steve Mannion. Fearless Dawn infiltrates the vaunted "Manitoba Sector" to discover the secret behind Helga's chemically-induced NAZI MONSTERS. Meanwhile, all is not
well back at home base when Fearless Dawn's boss discovers our hero has broken probation and flown the coop! Join us now as Steve Mannion's beautifully rendered comic book tale unfolds in full-color glory!

Fan's of Steve Mannion's The Bomb will love this new action-packed series.

Reviewer Comments:
This is just a lot of whacky fun. If you took golden age pulp, Old School British comics, Good Girl art, Tank Girl, Captain Sternn, Dave Stevens, and the original Buck Rogers strip, put 'em in a shaker with crushed ice and spiced rum.....you might get something almost like FEARLESS DAWN.

Maybe.

Dawn heads to Manitoba to thwart Helga Von Krause and her Nazi army from producing the mysterious "Aggro" Drug. Things go awry when she discovers the drug's ability to turn people into hulking behemoths. Enter Old Number Seven, dashing hero-agent in the old Buck Rogers vein.

Things get messy and then complicated and then ALL SORTS of messed up.

The story is fast, fun, and it's clear that Mannion is just having a grand ol' time with this. His art is gorgeous, though Dawn seems to inexplicably alternate between a vest and halter top, just a vest, and just a halter top, from page to page, but with the feel and tone of this book it is hard to say if that is an error or just part of the madcap fun.

Dropped by Diamond, (for not making the new sales cut-offs) FEARLESS DAWN is available directly from ASYLUM, and is well worth the $2.95! That's at least $1.04 less than 90% of your Marvel and DC books, kids!

Personally, I can't WAIT for Issue 2. But, I'm gonna have to as this is a quarterly publication. So, I'll wait, it'll be worth it, and I'll tell you about in a few months
!

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]]> Reviews SebastianPiccione http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3837 no The Unknown #3 (of 4) http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3836&goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:11:05 GMT * Title: * The Unknown #3 (of 4) * Publisher Name: * Boom Studios (http://www.boom-studios.net/) * Writer: * Mark Waid * Art: * Minck Oosterveer $3.99, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to... Title: The Unknown #3 (of 4)
Publisher Name: Boom Studios
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Minck Oosterveer
$3.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
She has solved every mystery known to man. But there is one mystery that remains... UNKNOWN! Boarding a speeding train of horrors is the only way that Catherine and Doyle can find the next clue in their mystery of the afterlife. A new original mini-series from Mark (KINGDOM COME) Waid in the vein of RUSE with EXCALIBUR’s Minck Oosterveer.

Reviewer Comments:
Unknown is a series that could easily spend all of its time discussing ideas rather than showing much action. A story that attempts to solve what really happens when a person dies could easily be an excuse for the creative team to preach their beliefs. But this definitely isn’t what happens here.

This book doesn’t pull any punches. We’re introduced to a villain in this issue that’s so completely cruel, you can only hope he’ll be able to answer the question of what death is like much sooner than the rest of us.

I’ve really enjoyed the writer Mark Waid’s work on this series. The story has combined plenty of big ideas with a lot of action in a way that provides the fun of comics with a depth of storytelling. Waid’s characters are able to quip with one another, but this isn’t a comedy book by any stretch. All of these varying elements have been very carefully balanced to keep the reader completely engaged through each issue.

Artist Minck Oosterveer picked some interesting angles in this issue to help convey dominant, impressive settings that greatly helped the storytelling process. Such effective visuals help keep the number of text boxes down and really keep the story moving. Creative use of coloring and lettering combined with Oosterveer’s work to show what a visual medium is truly capable of.

Waid is on hot streak right now, and anything that he writes is worth picking up.

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]]> Reviews MichaelRoberts http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3836 no Unthinkable #3 (of 5) http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3835&goto=newpost Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:07:27 GMT * Title: * Unthinkable #3 (of 5) * Publisher Name: * Boom Studios (http://www.boom-studios.net/) * Writer: * Mark Sable * Art: * Julian Totino Tedesco $3.99, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * PARENTAL ADVISORY - 15 years and older. Similar to T+ but featuring more mature themes and/or... Title: Unthinkable #3 (of 5)
Publisher Name: Boom Studios
Writer: Mark Sable
Art: Julian Totino Tedesco
$3.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: PARENTAL ADVISORY - 15 years and older. Similar to T+ but featuring more mature themes and/or more graphic imagery.

Publishers Blurb:
Nobody believed novelist Alan Ripley when he revealed he created UNTHINKABLE terror scenarios for the government. Now the CIA doesn’t just believe him – they blame him. Can he survive interrogation in time to stop his next nightmare from coming true? Only writer Mark (TWO-FACE YEAR ONE, CYBORG) Sable and artist Julian Tedesco know for sure

Reviewer Comments:
Unthinkable, written by Mark Sable, has been a bit of a rocky series for me. The art, with its heavy inks and sketchy lines, effectively conveys the dark, dour tones of a world at war. The colors add plenty of texture and grit. The overall look seems almost messy, but the combined effect is one of frantic energy.

I’ve loved the art, but I’ve had trouble with the pacing of the scripts themselves. The first two issues have seemed a blur, seemingly compacting three or four issues worth of plot developments in each issue. The big reveals and dramatic moments haven’t had as much impact because I didn’t really know the characters all that well.

This issue marks a big turning point in this series. When things happened to the main characters, Sable helped the reader connect by taking that extra moment to linger on a loss, or to celebrate a victory. Those small moments where the plot slows down add connecting points to real people rather than just glimpses of story agents.

One quick extra note, there is a splash page early on in this issue that absolutely floored me. There’s no text on the entire page, but you can still almost hear the characters based solely on the pure emotion and visceral action of the scene.

This is a series that could have benefited from another six or seven issues, but issue #3 is the one that has hooked me to read the two remaining issues.

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]]> Reviews MichaelRoberts http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3835 no Rostam: Return of the King http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3819&goto=newpost Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:08:26 GMT * Title: * Rostam: Return of the King * Publisher Name: * Hyperwerks (http://www.hyperwerks.com) * Writer: * Robert Napton * Art: * Karl Alstaetter 5.95, 32 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want... Title: Rostam: Return of the King
Publisher Name: Hyperwerks
Writer: Robert Napton
Art: Karl Alstaetter
5.95, 32 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
Book 2 – Rostam: Return of the King
The comic book adaptation of the classic Persian tale. Story of Kai-Kavous and Soudabeh adapted from the original epic poem The Shahnameh, by Ferdowsi. 32 pg. ISBN 10: 0-9770213-2-7

Reviewer Comments:
Another adaption from the Persian epic poem, this issue blew the first one out of the water. The story of how the king of Iran met and won his beautiful and clever wife, this makes for some really good reading.

Robert Napton must have had an easier time converting poetry to panels, because gone is that sense of choppiness from the first issue. This story flows smoothly, like...well, like poetry.

Karl Alstaetter's artwork is gorgeous. The mouths are more mobile, people smile more in this issue, and the eyes are super expressive. The first splash page of young King Kai-Kavous, sitting bored upon his throne is gorgeous. The detail is amazing. Mike Garcia's colors are bit darker and at times murkier, than Campos' were, but he manages a very solid, almost sculpted feel to some of the figures.

Love, war, and betrayal, all the elements of a good mythic adventure come together for this adaption. Definitely worth the look.

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]]> Reviews SebastianPiccione http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3819 no Rostam: Tales of the Shahnameh #1 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3818&goto=newpost Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:10:58 GMT * Title: * Rostam: Tales of the Shahnameh #1 * Publisher Name: * Hyperwerks (http://www.hyperwerks.com) * Writer: * Bruce Bahamani * Art: * Karl Alstaetter 5.95, 32 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they... Title: Rostam: Tales of the Shahnameh #1
Publisher Name: Hyperwerks
Writer: Bruce Bahamani
Art: Karl Alstaetter
5.95, 32 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
Book 1 – Rostam: tales of the Shahnameh chronicles the popular Rostam and Sohrab story as told in the epic poem The Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by the famed Persian poet Ferdowsi. 32 pages. ISBN-10: 0-9770213-1-9

Reviewer Comments:
Ok, I'll admit, I'm biased. I'm a HUGE mythology buff, and the idea of reading a Persian myth I was unfamiliar with really appealed to me! So kudos right there, just for the idea.

The book itself does not disappoint. Sure there is a touch of choppiness to the pacing, but I think that has more to do with trying to adapt an excerpt from an Epic Poem into a 32 page comic than anything else.

The story, like any good heroic myth, is tragic. The meeting of two opponents, neither aware that they are also father and son. Bahmani does a good job of bringing the characters to life and making you feel for them. All the elements are there, the proud and noble warrior, the headstrong son, the petty and arrogant king. Good stuff.

Alstaetter's art is excellent, in that early image way. He handles the backgrounds, the architecture, and the elaborate costumes extremely well. While his facial expressions are great, he is a bit limited in his mouth construction. Everyone has three mouth poses, closed, gritted teeth, or gaping shout. But that's a small thing.

Jose Campos' colors are magnificent, adding depth and layers that really make the art pop.

If you like adventure, myth, and fantasy with an old world flare, I'd say check this one out.

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]]> Reviews SebastianPiccione http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3818 no Army of Darkness #22 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3757&goto=newpost Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:15:05 GMT * Title: * Army of Darkness #22 * Publisher Name: * Dynamite Entertainment (http://www.dynamicforces.com) * Writer: * Mike Raicht * Art: * Pablo Marcos $3.50, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might... Title: Army of Darkness #22
Publisher Name: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Mike Raicht
Art: Pablo Marcos
$3.50, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
After the events of Ash's whirlwind trip overseas, the life of the Chose One is about to take yet another unexpected turn! All thanks to writer Mike Raicht and artist Pablo Marcos

Reviewer Comments:
Favourite issue so far.

Although this is only the third issue I’ve read it’s my favourite so far. I’ve only read the last 3 issues and this is already a must read series for me. Ash has grown on me so much that he’s now probably one of my favourite characters. Ash shares so many qualities with my favourite character “Deadpool”. So I’d either really hate the character or really love the character. I’ll go with the latter.

Mike’s writing is as great as ever. The story is heading in a direction that only proves to be getting more exciting by the panel. The character interaction between Ash and Brad is awesome and is getting better and better.
Like I’ve said before...It’s difficult to keep a good balance of Interesting story, comedy and horror. But Mike juggles it perfectly. I really like where Mike’s taking this book with the whole team (League of Light) being formed. Currently all its inhabitants are extremely interesting and messed up. Should be fun!

I’ve been trying to find something wrong with Mike’s work (Mainly just to wind him up) but I never can. However I’m going to stoop quite low here and be my nitpicking self. My only gripe is that I spotted a typo and a mistake with the punctuation. I shouldn’t even mention it as grammar and punctuation are my kryptonite. Nonetheless, Mike, you should be burned at the stake, or at least his editor should be!!! I kid!

In this issue Pablo Marcos’ took over the pencils. His style’s a little different from the regular Scott Cohn artwork that gets thrown down on Army of Darkness. However I have to say I LOVED the artwork on this. Marcos’ work fits just as well as Cohn’s artwork. I was concerned that I might not like it as I’ve grown rather accustomed to Cohn’s work. But Marcos’ hit it out of the park. His lines are clean and his ability to tell the story visually is jaw dropping.

The pencils are awesome and all. But they are made a million times better with Rael Sidharta’s awesome colors. The colors are smooth, clean, well balanced and just an overall joy to look at.

If you haven’t read this series at all but think it sounds kind of like you’re thing. Don’t worry about it being on the 22nd issue. Pick up issue 20, 21 and then get 22. Issue 20 was a great jumping on point for me. Although it’s not necessary, as soon as my funds will allow it I’m going to start from issue 1.

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]]> Reviews LiamBradley http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3757 no Jungle Girl #5 (of 5) http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3750&goto=newpost Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:19:14 GMT * Title: * Jungle Girl #5 (of 5) * Publisher Name: * Dynamite Entertainment (http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/htmlfiles/) * Writer: * Plot by Frank Cho, Script by Doug Murray * Art: * Adriano Batista $3.50, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most... Title: Jungle Girl #5 (of 5)
Publisher Name: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Plot by Frank Cho, Script by Doug Murray
Art: Adriano Batista
$3.50, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
Writer Doug Murray and cover artist/co-plotter Frank Cho conclude their most exciting Jungle Girl series yet! Over the course of the last two years, fans have been demanding answer to the mysterious origins of Jana and at the conclusion of this issue, the biggest mystery stands revealed! Illustrated by Adriano Batista and again featuring two incredible covers, one by Cho and a variant by Batista!

Reviewer Comments:
I jumped into issue 5 of a 5-part miniseries. That’s not usually the smartest way to read a series, but I went ahead and gave it a shot. With some series, you can start anywhere, read the recap page, and enjoy the story presented. Of course you won’t understand all of the layers or the jokes or whatever, but you’ll still get most of it. That wasn’t the case with Jungle Girl #5.

I understand the basic idea of female Tarzan fighting monsters, but that was about it. I didn’t see a recap page, and I couldn’t find anything online to help me get caught up. Some of the characters were confusing in the sense that I just didn’t know what they were (what species?), and then there were a few different plot threads that I just couldn’t catch onto.

All of that to say, read the previous issues before this one in order to have the story make sense.

With that out of the way, this was a pretty book. Frank Cho did the cover, and he apparently enjoys this type of character. Having formerly worked on Shanna the She-Devil, he brings the same affection for the character archetype to the Jungle Girl Jana. (Is there a pattern here?) The cover really is stunning, and his artwork is always amazing.

Adriano Batista handles the interior art, and he had the chance to flex his muscles in illustrating wildly varying types of characters. He easily handles the strength and beauty of the lead character while throwing her into battle with horrid monsters from the depths of the ocean. The nature of beauty and horror comes across very strongly in this, thanks also in part to colorist Giovani Kososki. Zachary Matheny helps to animate the emotions of these creatures with his jagged, rough lettering, while still retaining the smooth lettering for our human characters.

So, if you’re interested, and you haven’t been reading already, be sure to pick up the trade when it comes out.

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]]> Reviews MichaelRoberts http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3750 no THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY #1 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3726&goto=newpost Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:47:17 GMT * Title: * THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY #1 * Publisher Name: * Dynamite Entertainment (http://www.dynamicforces.com) * Writer: * Chuck Dixon * Art: * Esteve Polls and Marc Rueda $3.50, 27 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents... Title: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY #1
Publisher Name: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Art: Esteve Polls and Marc Rueda
$3.50, 27 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
From the classic movie, the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! The Man with No Name rides again, this time under the veteran hand of writer Chuck (G.I.Joe) Dixon in a brand-new Dynamite #1!
Featuring incredible art by Esteve Polls, and iconic covers by Wolverine Noir artist, Dennis Calero, Lone Ranger artist, Sergio Cariello and Zorro artist, Francesco Francavilla, Dixon tells the tale of "DEAD MAN'S HAND" in a five part arc that continues the strong direction Dynamite's westerns are known for!

Reviewer Comments:
Good writing and Great artwork.

The good, the bad and the ugly has to be one of my favourite movies of all time. That’s the reason I was both eager and hesitant when I got around to reading the comic adaptation. On one hand I’ve got a comic based directly on a movie that took my breath away and on the other hand I’ve got something that surely can only be lacklustre compared to a movie which set the bar so high. Of course I read it anyway; after all I’ve seen pretty much every comic to movie adaptation ever made. The least I could do was give this a once over.

I tend to grudge reading anything set in the Wild West, but Chuck (G.I Joe) Dixon’s writing eased me into it well. I often find the dialogue cringe worthy, forced and just an overall chore to read. However I didn’t feel like that when reading this. In fact, there wasn’t much dialogue at all for me to turn my nose up at. The sparingly used dialogue wasn’t cringe-worthy, but in fact a joy to read.

The lack of Dialogue isn’t a bad thing by any means as it lets Esteve Polls’ gorgeous cinematic artwork tell the story for you. His pencils on this are just phenomenal and really do a great job capturing the magic of this genre (ordinarily something that only movies should be capable of).

Poll’s pencils (alliteration) are only complimented and brought off the page by Marc Rueda’s classic approach to the colors. His color palette in this book is practically identical to the colors of the sets in the movie.

Story wise it’s too early to judge, but this first issue seems to be setting the series up well. I’ll keep reading.

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]]> Reviews LiamBradley http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3726 no Mr. Stuffins #3 (of 3) http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3723&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:50:27 GMT Title: Mr. Stuffins #3 (of 3)
Publisher Name: Boom Studios
Writer: Johanna Stokes, Andrew Cosby
Art: Axel Medellin
$3.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: A - Appropriate for age 9 and up.

Publishers Blurb:
“My teddy bear's a secret agent!” This is it! What everyone's been waiting for: a teddy bear vs. the huge military robot smackdown! The fate of the Tyler family rests in Mr. Stuffins hands…er, paws. Paws of fury that is! Series Features "A" covers By MOUSE GUARD's David Petersen.

Reviewer Comments:
Even from the title of this book, you know it’s going to be a little different than most of the other stuff that you’re reading. Mr. Stuffins is the story of a super-soldier program accidentally placed inside of a children’s toy. Imagine one of those fully animated Elmo dolls with the personality of Clint Eastwood and the fighting ability of Jason Bourne.

I had so much fun with this series from the beginning to the end. If you haven’t been reading the story yet, wait for the trade; but this issue was a very satisfying finale. Writers Cosby and Stokes have a great balance of realizing the humor and playing it to its fullest while still creating believable characters. Mr. Stuffins should be absolutely ridiculous, but the artist Axel Medellin Machain made this toy look absolutely ferocious at times. I’m still not sure how a stuffed animal can knock people out, but he certainly looks good while he’s doing it.

All of the artistic duties were fulfilled with top-notch efforts. Andres Lozano and Daniela Fiore filled this book with rich colors and very creative shading. Using a type of paint-splatter effect, they were able to add to the energy of the actions with dynamic panels. Jonny Lowe got to show off some fun lettering techniques when Terminator-type robots began their assault on our hero, and David Petersen has created one of my favorite covers that I’ve seen in a while. You’ll just have to check that out for yourself.

This book is a blast for kids or adults. This project could have easily derailed, but it stayed on course for the entirety of the mini-series.

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]]> Reviews MichaelRoberts http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3723 no Toy Story #2 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3721&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:33:01 GMT Title: Toy Story #2
Publisher Name: Boom Studios
Writer: Dan Jolley
Art: Chris Moreno
$2.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: A - Appropriate for age 9 and up.

Publishers Blurb:
More all-new adventures featuring the world's favorite toys! Andy’s been working on his science project for weeks, but Rex clumsily breaks one of the pieces! Can Woody and Buzz lead a squadron of toys into the science fair and stealthily repair Andy's project before he discovers the broken piece? Story by Eisner Award-nominated writer Dan Jolley!

Reviewer Comments:
The premise of Toy Story is incredibly fun, and Boom Studios continues to deliver great moments in issue #2 of this series. Didn’t read the first one? Doesn’t matter. These are one and done stories, so you (or a child that you may know) can jump in at any point.

Dan Jolley had the writing duties on this one, and he delivered compelling action scenes mixed with good, fun humor. Some of the piggy bank’s lines were especially humorous. I have to say that the ending left me scratching my head, as I didn’t quite agree with the way some of the characters acted. But I really enjoyed the rest of the story, and one weird moment didn’t throw me off completely.

The art team did a great job. I especially enjoyed both covers for this book. Both were dynamic and functioned as a great preview to what was inside. The little details of these kinds of books are what make them stand out. For instance, when the characters would switch back to their regular toy form, they were drawn so that some of them were rigid plastic toys and others were loose and flexible cloth toys. The transition from moving characters to immobile toys was actually believable. Another detail that especially caught my eye was the coloring on the T-Rex toy. Great textures gave a real sense of depth.

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]]> Reviews MichaelRoberts http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3721 no Dead Run #2 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3695&goto=newpost Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:56:00 GMT * Title: * Dead Run #2 * Publisher Name: * BOOM! (http://www.boom-studios.com) * Writer: * Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson * Art: * Francesco Biagini (Pencils) Mathew Wilson (Colors) $3.99, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up,... Title: Dead Run #2
Publisher Name: BOOM!
Writer: Andrew Cosby and Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Francesco Biagini (Pencils) Mathew Wilson (Colors)
$3.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
"All Speed. No Limits." The end isn't near... it's here. America has become a wasteland, leaving the few cities that remain transformed into impenetrable fortresses. NICK MASTERS a driver, the best there is. If you need something picked-up, delivered, or disposed of, Nick's your man. But when he fails to deliver… all hell breaks loose. Part two of the epic saga that redefines the science fiction action genre. From the writer of HEXED and FALL OF CTHULHU, Michael Alan Nelson, collaborating for the first time with EUREKA creator Andrew Cosby!

Reviewer Comments:
As Nick and Becki continue through the wasteland, we get a perfect balance of great writing and artwork. This book is just awesome (even if the title header is practically identical to the “RUN D.M.C” logo).

Cosby and Nelson really is a match made in heaven. When I first read Dead Run #1 I came out of it with a feeling of great satisfaction. The book was just awesome. I then saw that Cosby and Nelson were joining forces on another book named “Swordsmith Assassin”, so I had to get me some of that action, too. I read Swordsmith Assassin and somehow the dream team managed to fly by the bar that they set so high on Dead Run #1. Finally issue 2 of Dead Run arrived and now I’m pretty certain that those first issues were definitely not a fluke. Cosby and Nelson are just THAT good. I’m so glad they found each other.

However with this Dead Run series, I truly don’t think I’d enjoy it as much if it wasn’t for the brilliant artwork from Francesco Biagini. Francesco’s work really takes this comic to a whole other level. His style fits the book perfectly and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. As good as Biagini’s work on this book is, I’ll go ahead and say this. It’s not as good in the second issue as it was in the first issue. It’s still great but I think everything artistically in the second book has dropped a level from the first book.

Mathew Wilson’s colors on the book are good, but not as great as they were on the first. In the first issue they just really seemed to pop out at you. Whereas now they seem to just lie flat on the page. By no means are they bad, though. I would just like to see Wilson turn it up a notch to the standard of the first issue, where he seems to have more enthusiasm and adventure with his palette.

Marshall Dillon’s lettering on this book is just plain weird. But I love it! I’ve never seen it done in such a cool, modern and weird way. Great work!

Great writing, great pencils, good colors and cool lettering. What more could you want?

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]]> Reviews LiamBradley http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3695 no IRREDEEMABLE # 4 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3692&goto=newpost Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:42:20 GMT * Title: * IRREDEEMABLE # 4 * Publisher Name: * Boom! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.net) * Writer: * Mark Waid * Art: * Peter Krause 3.99, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read... Title: IRREDEEMABLE # 4
Publisher Name: Boom! Studios
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Peter Krause
3.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
What if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? The Plutonian’s deadly rampage continues. His former comrades-turned-victims are beaten, tired, and searching for hope. A “twilight of the superheroes”-style story that examines super-villains from the writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

Reviewer Comments:
God, I love this book!

As the smoke clears from last issue's destruction, Scylla is dead, and Charybdis may not be far behind. The heroes are still at a loss as to what set the Plutonian off in the first place, much less what they are going to do to stop him.

And they're not the only ones.

An emergency session of the United Nations is called to discuss the same thing. The U.S. wants to talk treaties and nuclear armaments. Everyone else doesn't want to talk at all....'cause the Plutonian can HEAR you.

But, as the world will find out, and one nation in particular will learn...whatever you DO say, had best be sincere!

Our heroes do what they can, and Gilgamos and Bette Noir do what they can, and Qubit is forced to make the hardest decision of his life when Tony finally answers an old question.

Plus, we find out the real task of all those Modeus robots.

Whew, that's a lot for one issue! But it flows so well, that it is both a great read and one that ends all too quickly. As always, Krause's artwork is a wonderful compliment to Waid's words, creating a thoroughly enjoyable comic experience.

People...I'm telling you:
READ. THIS. BOOK.

Seriously!

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]]> Reviews SebastianPiccione http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3692 no Witchblade # 128 http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3676&goto=newpost Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:02:08 GMT * Title: * Witchblade # 128 * Publisher Name: * Top Cow (http://www.topcow.com) * Writer: * Ron Marz * Art: * Stjepan Sejic 2.99, 24 pages, Color * Safety Content Label: * T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with... Title: Witchblade # 128
Publisher Name: Top Cow
Writer: Ron Marz
Art: Stjepan Sejic
2.99, 24 pages, Color

Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP - Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publishers Blurb:
Witchblade #128
“War of the Witchblades” Part 4 (of 6)
(W) Ron Marz (A) Stjepan Sejic (Cov) Stjepan Sejic & Luke Ross

The momentous “War of the Witchblades” story arc continues!
Every war has casualties and the climactic battle in Witchblade #127 has left both Sara and Dani lying on the ground. Which one will rise to reunite the Witchblade? Or will the Witchblade choose a new bearer entirely to carry the mantle of The Balance?
Featuring a beautiful homage variant cover by Luke Ross (Captain America)!

Cover A – Stjepan Sejic
Cover B – Luke Ross

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 ongoing series

Reviewer Comments:
Ok, I'll admit, I haven't really read a lot of WITCHBLADE. I;ll also cop to not exactly being Ron Marz's biggest fan.

That said, I must also admit to liking this issue.

First and foremost, let me just say that Stjepan Sejic's art is nothing less than godlike! The man is incredible. I couldn't tell from the pdf files if it wa painted, cgi, or both, but DAMN this book looks good, like a more stylized 3-D Alex Ross type of thing. Lots of Angelus in gleaming armor flying about in regal poses. Incredible.

The story, well, as I've said I haven't read much WITCHBLADE, and I certainly haven' read anything since Dani came onboard; but I had no problem puttng the pieces together. The first page does a five panel summation of all I needed to know from the 1st 127 issues. Boom, no muss, no fuss! I'm up to speed and ready to go.

No, this issue picks up right after the two weilders of the witchblade, Sara and Dani, have nearly killed each other. The Angelus, well at least THESE Angelus have motivations that are less than in sync with "defending the forces of the light," if you catch my meaning.

Sara and Dani have split the withcblade, Sara getting the Darkness half and Dani weilding the Angelus portion. As a result, Sara's darker nature is taking control. She'll stop at nothing to get the other half back, and Dani is out to save her if she can.....and the Angelus, well, they're content to deal with whomever is left standing.

Well written, intense story with mindblowing artwork. Give it a look-see.

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]]> Reviews SebastianPiccione http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=3676 no