This is an actual graphic novel, having a proper beginning and ending. The ending is particularly good, as it reframes everything we’ve seen up to thaThis is an actual graphic novel, having a proper beginning and ending. The ending is particularly good, as it reframes everything we’ve seen up to that point. (view spoiler)[The last story sees Sonja reluctantly protecting a few nuns who oversee a library, and the very last page shows one of the nuns writing down the stories Sonja told them while she stayed there. So any unbelievable things Sonja has done throughout the rest of the book can be laid at the feet of the author, who was creating a hagiography of her savior. (hide spoiler)]
Red Sonja here is the equal to any male barbarian, and more power to her. Some will say that just changing the gender of the protagonist doesn’t make it a feminist story, which is true, but also so what? There are women who quote-unquote “behave like men” and here we have a fictional one doing so. Stop gatekeeping and limiting what women can do, whether they be real or fictional. This is just a cracking fun adventure.
The art is somewhat inconsistent but no biggie. It ranges from great to mediocre, but always tells the story so it can be easily followed....more
I don’t know why the Savage Land trips writers up so much. Seems like a no-brainer to me: dinosaurs, aliens, and superheroes. Mix ‘em together for aweI don’t know why the Savage Land trips writers up so much. Seems like a no-brainer to me: dinosaurs, aliens, and superheroes. Mix ‘em together for awesome! Yet…
So there are two distinct stories here, the first being a bit of an epilogue to Planet Hulk, taking place in the Savage Land. I just found it tedious, tbh. Some body horror, a little genocide, a whole lot of running back and forth flailing one’s hands in the air like a muppet. It feels like a 7-year-old is telling the story. “The Hulk gets kidnapped and then he gets away and then he gets kidnapped again and he gets away, but, oh yeah I forgot, the alien laid eggs in him, but he gets away and then gets kidnapped and plus he’s eaten by a dinosaur, and the alien used to be a boy but now he’s a girl and Ka-Zar is there with his sabretooth tiger and it’s so coool!” It’s a 4-page tale stretched out interminably.
The second story is better, riffing on James Bond, as the immortal Tyrannus steals Pandora’s Box from a Roman museum. It’s an old-school Hulk story, that doesn’t depend on convoluted continuity for the hook. Weirdly, the Savage Land bit is 3 issues while the Rome stuff is 4, yet the former feels twice as long as the latter. There are things which are brought up only to be dropped, so certain characters feel less integrated and function as mere plot devices, which undercuts the story.
These tales have all the right elements, just utilized in an unimpressive way....more
Apparently this takes place around the same time as Captain America/Iron Man: The Armor & The Shield, perhaps somewhat before, since one of the Big BaApparently this takes place around the same time as Captain America/Iron Man: The Armor & The Shield, perhaps somewhat before, since one of the Big Bads here is the antagonist of the other book, wannabe Hydra Supreme Veronica Eden. Same kind of action with pop culture references as the other books Landy has written. Lightweight action stuff. Good art, if a little hard to follow at times....more
Solid adventure about collusion between factions that want to pit Hydra and SHIELD against each other for fun and profit. The main draw here is the inSolid adventure about collusion between factions that want to pit Hydra and SHIELD against each other for fun and profit. The main draw here is the interaction between Tony and Steve, and Landy finds plenty for the friends to banter about while he makes the unfolding story seem effortless.
It doesn’t quite rise to the quality of the best Batman/Superman team-ups in World’s Finest, but it’s a solid attempt, and a nice change of pace from the two heroes being antagonistic towards each other the way they’ve been for pretty much the entirety of this century so far....more
The ultimate in media res story - each issue the Avengers and the readers are dropped in the middle of the action, with no idea about how they got theThe ultimate in media res story - each issue the Avengers and the readers are dropped in the middle of the action, with no idea about how they got there or what exactly is happening. We do eventually find out who’s behind it all, so that’s satisfying. My only real complaint is that Landy leans on existing jokes too much, which deflates humorous moments....more
A short overview of Astro City, most of it devoted to the various heroes. It’d be nice to get a more complete fictional guidebook. Starts off with a vA short overview of Astro City, most of it devoted to the various heroes. It’d be nice to get a more complete fictional guidebook. Starts off with a very short story about a villain come back to life that exemplifies what Astro City is all about, but I’d rather it just be a focused book about the metropolis....more
Solid middle-grade story about friendship overcoming evil. My only real concern here is the glorification of gemstones, especially diamonds. The targeSolid middle-grade story about friendship overcoming evil. My only real concern here is the glorification of gemstones, especially diamonds. The target audience of girls aged 8-12 isn’t going to know about the sordid history of the gem trade, particularly that of blood diamonds. Diamonds are actually fairly common and only the monopoly of DeBeers brutally restricting trade has made the rocks seem rare and therefore expensive. The company has behaved like a drug cartel at its worst, and even at its best they’ve acted like the worst of corporations. Everything from child labor to murder to price fixing. Thus the “shiny rock = good” reinforces that message.
I didn’t connect to this at all. Theoretically this ticks all the boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed the superhero novel Tobin wrote, but this just didn’I didn’t connect to this at all. Theoretically this ticks all the boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed the superhero novel Tobin wrote, but this just didn’t do it for me....more
This is your standard “xenomorph + evil Weyland-Yutani” story with some woo-woo psychic stuff that absolutely does not fit into this universe. That noThis is your standard “xenomorph + evil Weyland-Yutani” story with some woo-woo psychic stuff that absolutely does not fit into this universe. That nonsense really dropped me out of the story. Anything with Aliens should be hard-nosed Science Fiction. That’s why the first two movies are classics and almost no one even remembers the sequels, prequels and stinkquels.
I will note that art by Salvador Larroca with colors by Guru-eFX (whoever that is) is really good. This is probably the best the xenos have looked in comics, maybe ever. Shame the story lets them down....more
Comic based on the PnP RPG, basically just a short story set in a Mad Max post-apocalypse hellscape. It doesn’t make much sense, but so what? Cool carComic based on the PnP RPG, basically just a short story set in a Mad Max post-apocalypse hellscape. It doesn’t make much sense, but so what? Cool cars and explosions, that’s what you’re here for and it’s what you get....more
Usually when an actor writes a comic it’s not good. Or in the case of Samuel L. Jackson, straight-up terrible. I’m happy to report this is the exceptiUsually when an actor writes a comic it’s not good. Or in the case of Samuel L. Jackson, straight-up terrible. I’m happy to report this is the exception to the rule. All the others I’ve read feature a main character who is awesome, incredible, amazing… and coincidentally looks exactly like the actor. Dastmalchian also breaks that trend.
Everything about this is self-assured: the pacing, the dialogue, the reveals, the sense of time and place… it all works together. I’d give it 5 stars except this is just the first half of the story....more
A nice addition to the Peter Grant series, even if it is the cliché of the possessed car. Apparently Aaronovitch really dislikes BMWs. Grant is a wizaA nice addition to the Peter Grant series, even if it is the cliché of the possessed car. Apparently Aaronovitch really dislikes BMWs. Grant is a wizard working for the London PD, his mentor is fellow wizard Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who is far, far older than he looks. Not very much hooks into the river goddesses in this one other than a cameo, but overall it’s fine.
There are also a bunch of one-page stories in the back of this, most of which are cute. In this one, Nightingale summons Grant on a matter of utmost urgency, touching on universal themes we can all relate to: [image] …especially if you have elderly parents. :p...more
Proper grimdark horror ending for this series that’s been full of monsters - both the supernatural kind and the human. I blazed through this because tProper grimdark horror ending for this series that’s been full of monsters - both the supernatural kind and the human. I blazed through this because the story just hurtles along to its inevitable and horrific conclusion. Sometimes the happy ending is not the right one.
The writing is top notch and the art continues to be superb....more
A grim reaper without a past, afterlife politics and machinations, demons and monsters: let’s roll.
This is really good. Excellent dialogue, terrific pA grim reaper without a past, afterlife politics and machinations, demons and monsters: let’s roll.
This is really good. Excellent dialogue, terrific pacing, cool ideas, gorgeous art. Top to bottom solid. 4 stars only because it ends on something of a cliffhanger and I’m not sure if it continued.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Flaviano’s art before, but I really like it. It’s unique yet familiar, managing to evoke western manga and Frank Miller at the same time. The design of the characters is amazing, too. Everyone in the afterlife wears black and red, yet Flaviano manages to give each individual a unique, distinctive style. Even his crowd shots with lots of people in them manage this. Impressive.
Loading...
