There’s a scene in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall where a young version of Allen’s character Alvy Singer is taken by his mother to the doctor. Young Alvy is depressed and has grown apathetic toward his 9 year-old responsibilities. His reason- the universe is expanding and will someday break apart into nothingness. “He’s not doing his…
Tag: comics
Comic Review: TRANSFORMERS vs. G.I. JOE #1
This is a crazy comic book. Artist-writer-colorist-letter Tom Scioli channels Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko, embarking as a nearly one-man band to drum up a radically different take on the Robots in Disguise meeting the Real American Heroes. Co-writer John Barber tags along to pepper in dialogue, captions, and plot points. What does the duo…
Comic Review: SUPERMAN #33
Two solid issues of Superman in a row? The new DC, there’s no stopping them now! The Man of Steel’s refresh era continues in Superman #33, with writer Geoff Johns and long-time Marvel artist John Romita Jr. bringing readers part two of their “Man of Tomorrow” story. While not quite as explosive as their first…
Comic Review: SUPREME BLUE ROSE #1
And now for something completely different. Supreme Blue Rose is an entirely new take on the world of Supreme, the Superman proxy created by Rob Liefeld and helmed for years by Alan Moore. In Blue Rose #1, writer Warren Ellis steps in to apply his own unique take on the Supreme world, and combined with…
Comic Review: TEEN TITANS #1
Why oh why is this book not called New Teen Titans? It sure feels deserving of the title. After a lackluster first salvo at the launch of the New 52, the Teen Titans are back in a fresh #1. The creative team of Will Pfeier and Kenneth Rocafort make it an exciting debut, with an…
Comic Review: ORIGINAL SIN #6
The Watcher has no eyes. Original Sin has no heart. Perhaps the more accurate word is core. Writer Jason Aaron is clearly in touch with the various Marvel Universe characters that populate the pages of Original Sin #6. He takes special care with Nick Fury Sr., the book’s de facto star, peppering his dialogue with…
Comic Review: PROUD
Short stories are something of a lost art in the world of comics. They once dominated the field, with old 80-page giants and anthology titles offering readers collections of compact storytelling entertainment each month. Today, short stories are pretty rare and good ones rarer still. In Proud by James Mulholland and Caitlin Soliman, the potency…
Comic Review: Spread #1
Reading Spread #1 feels like popping in an old VHS tape with an intriguing painted cover only to discover an unnerving and unpredictable reel of weirdness play out. It’s creepy, gory, cold, and violent, and it’s also a lot of fun. This is a horror story with a survivalist aspect to it, but writer Justin Jordan keeps Spread refreshingly…
Comic Review: Spider-Man 2099 #1
Miguel O’Hara swings back into his own monthly title this week in Spider-Man 2099 #1, with none other than co-creator Peter David returning to handle writing duties. The first issue marks a serviceable yet somewhat muted return for the character, with flat plot points and occasionally stilted artwork weighing things down but enough action, humor,…
Comic Review: Armor Hunters #2
Armor Hunters is an event book that feels like an event. Big stuff is happening and the repercussions look to be profound for the Valiant universe not just in these pages but in many issues to come. The inclusion of Valiant’s expanding roster of characters makes the action felt beyond just the circle of X-O Manowar,…
Comic Review: Rocket Raccoon #1
Scottie Young takes the reigns of Rocket Raccoon #1 as writer and artist, delivering a fun yet somewhat racy adventure for the furry space hero. Best known for his Oz books and steady stream of hot-selling variant covers for the House of Ideas, (he might be responsible for sending more than a few Marvel executives’…
Comic Review: Black Kiss XXXmas in July Special
“The why is anybody’s guess.” Those are the words of Howard Chaykin, creator of indie trailblazer American Flagg! and noted purveyor of pulp. The man is a comic auteur, with a long history of expertly crafting tales of action and adventure with a hardboiled slant. His work often skirts the edge of what’s acceptable in comics, and…
Comic Review: Superman #32
Superman #32 feels like the book we should have received 31 issues ago. Marvel royalty John Romita Jr. lands at DC in a big way this month, joining the company’s Chief Creative Officer and noted character rehab specialist Geoff Johns. Together, the superstar duo tackle the longstanding albatross of mainstream comics: what to do with…
Comic Review: How i Made the World #1
How i Made the World #1 is a fresh example of what comics can be outside of the standard superhero format. Smart, funny, introspective and decidedly non-epic, the first issue centers on the trials and tribulations of college student Liz as she navigates a high-stress world of art classes and smoking blunts on the beach. Read…
Comic Review: Original Sin #3
Original Sin might be Marvel’s weirdest crossover to date, but Jason Aaron’s strong script and Mike Deodato’s art make this superhero noir work. Check out my review of Original Sin #3 over at Kabooooom: http://kabooooom.com/2014/06/comic-review-original-sin-3/