A world of four color magic arrives every Wednesday.
Stories and adventures of heroes and villains, good versus evil.
Tales that entertain and excite by talented writers and artists.
Here are my thoughts Among The Panels.
Rumble #1
Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: James Harren
Publisher: Image
Comics
Price: $3.50
When I think about how many comics come and go each year, I am always tickled when I find one that inspires hope in the medium for me.
Rumble #1 by John Arcudi and James Harren is a shining light in the landscape of recycled stories.
The first few pages blew me away; even though the post-apocalyptic world is more common these days, this one kind of stands out.
I thought that it was going to dive into what happened to the world or explain that some kind of war broke out and most everyone perished but they didn’t.
Instead of what you might expect, we got a story about a scarecrow demon that wields a giant sword!
The scarecrow attacks an old man, who leaves a cryptic note with a lowly barkeep. The barkeep manages to stop the scarecrow with a well-placed baseball bat to the head. After running to contact the police the old man who now is missing an arm vanishes and leaves no trace behind.
The barkeep tries to explain it to the police but they seem like terrible police officers and just write him off as crazy. Just after they leave the barkeep to his business, we find out that the barkeep still has the giant sword. He straps it on his back and goes out into the night for help. He arrives at that owner of the bar’s house but is unable to rouse his friend. The barkeep hangs up the phone and comes face to face with two giant demons asking for the sword. He runs out into the street and pulls out the sword to fight. The demons are being quite nice but he is still afraid of them and ends up throwing the sword at them. He finally gives up and tells then to take the sword and the agree, but just as they get the sword back the scarecrow man appears once again and we are left with a cliffhanger.
The biggest reason I enjoyed this book was the art. James Harren’s was so different from the normal style of books in this genre, that really pulled me in from page one. I really enjoyed the character designs with elongated features and goofy looking expressions. The action scenes were awesomely rendered and the demons were drawn expertly.
John Arcudi and James Harren have created a sincerely original world that I hope will continue to grow. There are just so many questions asked in the first issue. I hope that when the second issue drops next month I am gifted with more of a great story packed with art that screams to be looked at.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Rocket Salvage #1
Writer: Yehudi Mercado
Artist: Bachan
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
Just by judging the art of Rocket Salvage #1 you would think it was a kids comic seeing as how the art is really bright and slightly cartoony. As soon as you start reading the book however you are given something completely different.
Yehudi Mercado has created a really cool world for his characters to reside in.
On the outside it’s a story of a retired space racer who now raises two children while maintaining the appearance as a junk salvage operator.
After a couple of panels in you realize that the children are clones and the world isn’t what it appears to be.
The universe seems to be split between to empires and the world that these characters exist in is stuck in the middle. The world is run by a mobster alien who seems to be utterly ruthless. We don’t get to see a lot of him but what we do see is pretty informing.
As the story starts unfolding we don’t get a ton of information about what is really going on but we get enough to glean what may be happening.
With the little information we get it seems that our main character, Primo Rocket, was once the best racer in the world but due to some kind of accident he no longer races. Something to do with the accident spurred a war between the two empires. There was mention of some kind of weapon that could stop the war and Primo is somehow tied up with it. Some assailants came to kill Primo and his children who turn out to be more than just clones. There are so many characters in this story that have abilities but we never get to see them.
Whenever a character is introduced we get a small caption about who they are and what they do. It’s a really cool tool to tell everyone what’s going on as quick as possible but I wish we got to see more!
The story is really interesting and different and because it’s matched with the more cartoony art style it makes it even better. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the humor. With such strong writing and art this book was an awesome read. The art is really well done and pops off the page and that really helps drive the serious side of the story a little better. I think people might overlook this book because of the art but they would be missing out on something vastly different and enjoyable.
Score: 4 out of 5
Wytches #3
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jock
Publisher: Image
Comics
Price: $2.99
Today I dove deep into the creepy and disturbing pages of Scott Snyder’s Wytches #3.
I’m not one to usually be scared by a story. I can only think of one book that ever really scared me and that was House of Leaves, if you haven’t read it you should!
But Scott Snyder has a way with words that drill things deep into my brain where they sit and stew, waiting to scare me at a later date. I don’t know how well I will sleep after reading this seeing as how there is a thicket of trees right outside my bedroom window.
Wytches #3 starts with a flashback.
We see the Rooks family having a fun weekend talking about playing hide and seek while in one of those fast food restaurant play areas. After a bunch of killer dialogue we are sent back to the present where we find the family in turmoil. Sailor is missing in the woods after her and her uncle was attacked in the cliffhanger from the last issue. We get a little more information about what happened, but not enough to be satisfied.
Most of this issue revolves around Papa Rooks and his attack by a bald, half-naked, and surprisingly wicked, no legged woman. Yes, all those things I listed are true. The depiction of this woman by Jock is going to stay right behind my eyelids for probably another month. The scene is too hard and disgusting to describe here but I really do invite you to take your chances and see how it affects you.
Jock is really at his best in this book as well. His page layouts and designs are so insanely terrifying that it brings the horror genre out of basements and into your local comic book bestsellers shelf.
This issue honestly doesn’t give you that much information but it does up the creepy level to an all new high.
I know I write a love letter to Scott Snyder at least once a month but how can I not? These stories are getting more in depth and personal and there are just so many lines in this book that I write down and come back to later because they inspire my own writing. Creator owned comics are the place to be and I hope one day to follow in his footsteps and write something like this that changes the way we look at comics and or writing.
Score: 5 out of 5
Last Supper #1
Writer: David Brian Andry
Artist: Paul Shultz
Publisher: Ghost Thunder Collective
Price: $0.99
Since I started writing comic reviews a couple of months ago I have only chosen to review a couple of independent comics.
I choose them wisely since I work for a small comic publishing company. I know how much a good review feels for a comic that is fighting tooth and nail to be seen in the ocean of comics released every month.
Last Supper #1 by David Andry and Paul Shultz is an amazing addition to the ever growing landscape of comics.
The story is a about a man who meets a waitress and through a bunch of unexpected events end up spending a magical night together. I know this doesn’t sound groundbreaking but stay with me.
The way David crafts his characters is wonderful. They feel so real that you almost immediately fall in love with them. The waitress, Katie, is a spunky 25 year-old with an unplanned future ahead of her. Mark, the patron, is a little older and has just gone through some of the most traumatic things a young adult can. The way they talk to each other is so natural that you feel like you are standing right beside them.
The way the night they share unfolds is something of awe because even though all the clues are there, when you reach the end it’s still a complete surprise.
It’s a true testament to a writer that manages to surprise you even when it’s all spelled out in front of you. The message in this story screams at you from page to page. It fills your heart with sadness and hope all at the same time. I personally felt something deep for this comic because it felt like I wrote it myself. David’s writing style is so similar to my own that I felt that this comic was written for me, to inspire me to dive into my dream of writing comics.
Paul Shultz’s art is very fitting for this book. The softness in the lines and colors adds an extra layer of emotion that helped the story grow and evolve. Seeing these two relatively unknowns come together and create something so good is inspiring. Independent comics are so important to the growth of the medium and the simple fact that it’s easier than ever to get something produced that it used to be it’s time to show the bigger companies that money doesn’t always make the man.
Last Supper #1 is proof of how awesome a comic can be with only a couple of people involved.
Score: 5 out of 5
Batman #37
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
Publisher: DC
Comics
Price: $3.99
Last time on Batman, Bruce was left at the hands of the Joker and to no one’s surprise, he managed to escape.
Batman #37 starts with Alfred explaining to Batman that this strain of the Joker toxin is unlike any of the previous versions; this one has no cure.
No matter what they threw at it, the Joker won.
Batman does a couple of quick detective moments and figures out that there had to be a Patient Zero and that his blood would be the only way to construct a cure. He traces it back to a hospital on the outskirts of town and flies his way over while talking to Commissioner Gordon on the phone.
It made me laugh a little that Batman flying with a jetpack didn’t faze me at all. It was completely normal and within the confines of Snyder’s story it fits perfectly. I have to think that Greg Capullo was just having fun with it.
When Batman arrives at the hospital and Patient Zero is revealed it changes the story completely. I didn’t know who I thought it would be but I honestly didn’t see it coming. I love being surprised and I should know by now that Scott Snyder doesn’t do what you think he will. While Batman deals with Patient Zero Gordon is left to fight the Joker one-on-one. The end of this issue is of course a crazy cliffhanger once again.
I just don’t understand how Batman just keeps getting better. The reimagining of the Joker the first time was terrifying enough but now that he seems to becoming more unhinged than anyone thought possibly raising him to being the most power villain in all of comics. At least before he had some kind of messed up code that was dependent on his relationship with the Bat but now with all those ties cut; he’s a maniacal masterpiece.
These two do what they do once again and of course, in my humble opinion; it’s still the best comic on the rack from month to month.
I have no idea where this story is going but I am ready for it to end. I want to know what Scott Snyder has in his demented mind and I can’t wait to see how Capullo captures it and delivers it to our hungry eyes!
Score: 5 out of 5.
