Welcome, folks, to another edition of
Done-in-One Reviews, the capsule-sized review feature for readers on the go. This week we've got another great selection for you, including a pair of queens, a dreamwar, and plenty of great horror. So sit back, relax, and get your read on - it's
Done-in-One Reviews.
Afterburn #4 (Red 5 Comics)
by Scot Chitwood, Paul Ens, Wayne Nichols and Nick Schley (with Art Lyon)
One year after a solar superflame melts half the earth, Jake and his team travel around the world, stealing treasures for whoever will hire them. This time around, they’ve gotten into something a little heavier than art: codes for all of China’s nuclear missiles. Because of this, they’ve gotten a little over their heads, and have had to deal with giant shark creatures, mutant pirates, and a ninja - and are now captured and at the mercy of General Kim of the North Korean Army. Yes. Just like the rest of Red 5’s line up, Afterburn is something... different. You’re getting stories that don’t just stick to the normal comic book tropes - and the results are amazing. A good mix of humor and action, solid art, and a solid production schedule - this is a comic - and a company - to watch.
Rating: 3.5/5 --B. Schatz
Bomb Queen #3 (Image Comics/Shadowline)
By Jim Robinson & Paul Little
Well the geeks of Capewatch are now at the less than tender mercies of our favourite villainess, Bomb Queen. She had just survived an altercation with the hero of Littleville, the White Knight and so she’s hankering for some spankering. But the lead geek, Neil manages to deal his way out of that mess by playing spy for BQ. On the road back to Littleville he and his compatriot run across a new hero called Dee-Rail. In the meantime the good people of Littleville decide that the best course in dealing with BQ is to create an embargo on all goods entering NPC. Unfortunately the people don’t appreciate being cut off and so take it out on BQ. Alas, she’s the villain of this story and things don’t end very well. I hate to admit it, but I actually respect BQ’s handling of the uprising. The silly people deserved their fate. Well, we’re three issues into a new story and I’m still having fun. But why do I feel so dirty after reading this book?
Rating: 4/5 --Terry Verticchio.
Casey Blue: Beyond Tomorrow #3 (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
by B. Clay Moore, Carlo Barberi and Jacob Eguren (with Carrie Strachan and Darlene Royer)
Casey is still trying to figure out why she blanks out and starts killing people. Meanwhile... a lack of back problems boggles the minds of a small town filled with teenage girls sporting impossibly large boobs. Okay, I may have made that last part up, but seriously - it’s a bothersome, yet seemingly integral part of the Wildstorm art style, and it’s overly present here. Proportional problems aside, this book still reads fairly well. The story by B. Clay Moore is certainly a departure from his body of work over at Image, featuring more closely on the life of a teenage girl sans cussing. In the end, it’s nothing revolutionary, but a solid mystery involving secret groups and programs. Worth a read if conspiracy and anatomic impossibilities are your cup of boob. Gah. Sorry, tea.
Rating: 3/5 --B. Schatz
DC/Wildstorm Dreamwar #4 (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
by Keith Giffen, Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott (with Gabe Eltaeb & Randy Mayor)
At least we know that it's a Dreamwar now. The heroes from both sides have traded their blows and we've entered the second act - figuring out why they are fighting, and who to turn their combined might against. As far as hero team-ups go, this issue was fairly standard. Previously issues weren't so standard (the g-d Batman had his head lopped off in the last issue - best thing I have ever seen) but... every series needs a bit of a breather, and the end gives a glimpse at to some new wrinkles that are coming for our heroes. The art by Garbett... I won't lie, it seemed a little rushed in this outing. His work was phenomenal on the mini series Highwaymen - but he was also just penciling one book at the time - over the past few months he's been pulling double duty as artist of this book, and artist of the last arc of the Midnighter ongoing - so I'm willing to give the guy a break, as you can still tell what's going on, who is who - and you still get the occasional Frank Quitely vibe from him, which is never a bad thing.
Rating: 3/5 --B. Schatz
Dead, She Said #2 (IDW Publishing)
by Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson, & Grant Goleash
In general, the party doesn’t start until the megalomaniac with the army of giant carnivorous attack ants show up. Good news, as they show up this issue. As for our erstwhile detective, he’s doing the best he can to solve the mystery of who killed him, but he’s dead and all, and that brings up complications of its own. Precisely how do you tell people that and get them to believe you, no matter how bad you smell? And he doesn’t even know about the ants yet. What I do know is the guy deep frying his turkey in the trailer park got exactly what he deserved. More creepy, somewhat funny stuff from Niles, with great artwork by Wrightson, who seems made for this kind of material. If you’re in the mood for a horror-mystery with a tiny sprinkling of humor, this one is for you.
Rating: 4/5 --Andrea Speed
The Goon #26 (Dark Horse Comics)
by Eric Powell (with Dave Stewart)
The gang war kicks off with a surprising amount of casualties and the book is still monthly! Both are kind of surprising, but in the best ways possible. As usual, this book is a healthy mix of noir-like mountain humor and face punching plot with a dash of the grotesque thrown in for funsies - and nobody can pull off that balance as perfectly as Powell can - even despite the losses taken over the course of this issue. It’s quite obvious that going forward, nobody is going to be safe in this book - and the next time things look as cheery as they did pre-hiatus, I’m going to be preparing for a game changing decent into darkness once again. Fantastic read.
Rating: 4/5 —B. Schatz
I Kill Giants #1 (Image Comics)
by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura
It’s a mythical story about a girl who plays D & D! Okay, all kidding aside, this was a great read. Barbara Thorson is in 5th grade. She’s got a family that loves her and a D & D group that... well, likes her and doesn’t. She’s your pretty typical girl. Except for the part where she’s a giant killer. Most of this issue is set up for what’s to come, but it accomplishes the task well. We’re shown Barbara’s life, and get a feel for a more every day kind of existence before we’re given a glimpse into some of the more fantastic elements near the end. It’s a story-telling device that I love... situate the audience, make them comfortable, and then ease them into the journey. Joe Kelly’s story moves along very well - and his character’s voices are clear and distinct - and Niimura’s almost dry-brushed manga influenced art fits the book like a giant killing glove. Here’s to great things from this book!
Rating: 4/5 —B. Schatz
Jonah Hex #33 (DC Comics)
By Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Darwyn Cooke
Artist Darwyn Cooke joins regular writers Palmiotti and Gray for this excellent issue of Jonah Hex. This issue we see an orphan boy, born mute, who is marked for death when his father dies, frozen, in a tremendous Canadian blizzard. Hex proves an unlikely savior, but when he's caught by the Mounties, the boy's future looks even dimmer. It's nice to see Hex taken out of his usual comfort zone -- how often do you see a Western comic with a set piece in a snowstorm, after all? What's more, Darwyn Cooke's unique art style is absolutely perfect for this story. He does an amazing job putting drama into the snowblind waste. Some of the most powerful panels here are little more than snow white, blood red, and a few shades of gray. The orphan's point of view gives us a really unique perspective, both of the story itself and of Jonah Hex as a man. The ending is as harsh and unforgiving as it could be without giving way to total despair. It's no surprise when there's a good issue of Jonah Hex, but it's always a blast to find such an unabashedly great one.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Number of the Beast #7 (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
by Scott Beatty, Chris Sprouse, Karl Story & Drew Geraci
Things are starting to come together… or fall apart, rather, in this penultimate issue. For most of this story, nearly all of the previously known Wildstorm heroes and villains have been noticeably absent as a mystery with touches of religion and conspiracy ripples through the ranks. Now, all the cards are on the table and the end of the world is here. Or almost here. The problem with this story is that the ending has already been given away. We saw glimpses of it in the Armageddon titles and some mechanics of it in the Revelations title – and we know as of a few weeks from now, the Wildstorm U is going to be a pretty bleak looking place. The main thrust of this book focused around the mystery of getting to that point – and now that we’re nearly there, the air is out of the balloon. Not that the story is bad… just that there is no wallop left. Thanks goodness the art is phenomenal. How they got 7 (looking to be 8) issues out of Sprouse in four months is beyond me, but good on them for doing so.
Rating: 3/5 --B. Schatz
Pilot Season: Urban Myths #1 (Image Comics/Top Cow Productions)
by Jay Faerber and Jorge Molina
In a world of mythological noir, Jack Kaklamanis (or Jack Medusa, as the kids call him, due to the curse he inherited from his mother) is just a guy trying to make his way in the world. As a private eye. Interesting? Very. Jay Faerber is a guy who loves a story about a gumshoe - and he’s written a private eye story before in the prestige one-shot called Dodge’s Bullets. But as I mentioned before, this story is a little bit different than your typical detective story - as there is a solid dollop of mythology in the proceedings. Jack’s been hired to find a girl who is trying to chase her father down to Hades, and things get a bit muddy. A story about family, myth, detective work and magic - this has been the best story to come out of Top Cow’s Pilot Season project to date. And also? The art is phenomenal. Definitely not the Top Cow school of art, being a touch more cartoony with a neat flow of line, just like the nice cover image you see above. The book does cost $3.99, but it’s entirely worth it. And if you’ve read it and want to read more, vote for this project when the voting opens. Only a few Pilot Season titles make it to a full length series, and this is something that deserves it.
Rating: 4.5/5 --B. Schatz
Powers #29 (Marvel/Icon)
by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Avon Oeming (with Nick Filardi)
An issue of Powers? Seriously? On the one hand, you almost can't complain about the lateness - this issue has 36 pages of story and most are some kind of oversized... so I don't really expect monthly. But I would like a touch more frequent than quarterly. Onto the review. This issue has quite a few great moments in it. Deena's secrets have finally caught up with her, and things are looking bleak in the interrogation room - and Calista (aka the new Retro Girl) is caught after attempting a sting of the group that is killing people using the Powers virus. There's a lot of action and a ton of plot movement - and we're just one issue away from the end of the arc, so the story end is coming up in... oh, three months. But man... it's so good.
Rating: 4.5/5 --B. Schatz
Scalped #19 (DC Comics/Vertigo)
by Jason Aaron & Davide Furnò (with Nick Filardi)
Dash is in a bad place. Then again, he always is. He's working on a crooked police squad for a man who he believes killed his mom. The FBI keep tightening the screws on him to deliver the goods on his boss. But coming back to the rez has done some strange things to his head, and the web of lies that string off of each and every character have him trapped in a tough spot. And this issue brings yet another shocker - and it's a doozy. Things are going to change - again - when this comes to light, but in which ways? Jason Aaron is the kind of writer every writer wishes they could be. He can create a vast cast of characters and give them distinct voices and characteristics. You never become lost in the strings that he's trailing in all kinds of directions, and you never forget what happened from issue to issue. Scalped is, by far, the best crime book out there at the moment - and yes, I'm including Criminal, which is a very close second. The first trade is available for a scant $9.99. Make sure you check this out.
Rating: 4.5/5 --B. Schatz
Scream Queen #2 (Boom! Studios)
by Brendan Hay & Nate Watson
This continues to read just like an ‘80’s horror heyday slasher flick, with Molly gaining a secret admirer as she wonders at all the violent death suddenly afflicting her hometown. The deaths seem to be benefiting her in various ways … but is she that suspicious? Not really. And why would she? It’s just a huge coincidence that the head cheerleader who was mean to her was violently killed soon after, and the manager who wouldn’t give her time off ends up drowned in the toilet, and she had no knowledge at all about Rummy the Rhino, the school mascot, so what connection could she draw between his violent assault and her? But Wrighty’s latest gift to her just might be a tip off that she has a very lethal secret admirer. It’s cheesy fun, predictable but a popcorn flick all the way, although some of the attempts at humor fall flat. The art has some rough edges too; at times it’s solid, and other times it seems like a little polishing would have benefited everyone involved. But hey, it’s a low budget slasher flick - you get what you pay for.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Sky Doll #3 (Marvel Comics/Soleil)
By Alessandro Barbucci & Barbara Canepa
Well Roy and Jahu are now heroes of the congregation. They destroyed an entire planet so the faithful can live in peace and freedom from fear. As can be expected the boys aren’t too pleased at their new found celebrity and their animosity only grows when they’re forced onto some kind of talk show, whereupon their entire lives are laid bare for the entire galaxy to watch in the comfort of their own homes. In the meantime rebels from the Church of Agape are planning to ruin the party. As well, poor Noa remains a tormented soul, but soon she will realise that there is more to her life than she ever imagined. Well this story certainly moves fast and furious with the concept of the commercialisation of the church and our obsessions with celebrity, ratings and spin. At times it’s a bit hard to absorb. Only when the characters step away from all that noise does the real story come to the forefront. As for the art, there were times the panels were so busy that I missed a detail and I had to flip back to get my bearings; nonetheless the art is excellent. And while there is a sense of closure with this issue, unfortunately I was informed that a fourth issue is on the way, but it’s stuck in production limbo somewhere. I hope it comes out quickly, as this story needs a proper ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Terry Verticchio
Trailer Park of Terror Color Special #9 (Imperium Comics)
by James Dracoules, Dean Kotz, Kristen Meinhold, J-P Kamath, Earl Geier, Jason Jensen, Kristi Hertzog, Ken Branch, Guillermo Ucha, Justin L. Deniston, Leeahd Goldberg, & Tom Schloendorn
This comic was another of my occasional random pick ups, where I’ll just try a title I’ve never read before. This is a pretty interesting horror anthology comic - with humor mixed in - with the framing device of a trailer park filled with people either supernatural or touched by the supernatural. The stories in this issue are told by Norma, the queen bee (no, not literally) of the park who has a very checkered past, and isn’t one you want to mess with at all. For no obvious reason, almost all the characters in the tales she tells are parody versions of Peanuts characters (if you couldn’t tell from the cover). You didn’t think there was anything sinister in the way Schroeder always played his piano? Now you’ll find out there is. The stories are generally predictable in an EC Comics kind of way, but they’re still entertaining , and I thought the framing story was enough to bring me back for the next issue. The art varies from pretty good to needs improvement. But any horror anthology fans who are looking for something besides Tales From The Crypt should definitely check this out.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
July 19th 2008, 12:50 PM
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