CEMETARY BEACH #2Written by Warren EllisArt by Jason Howard
Blackburn and Moody try to escape the planet as they are chased by the local militia. The more we read about this world, the more savage and dystopic it appears. The pace is break-neck with plenty of beautiful action sequences and explosions. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this comic was produced by Michael Bay. If you’re looking for a spy thriller that grabs your attention an doesn’t let go, pick up Cemetary Beach.
Rating: 9 out of 10
DRAGON AGE: DECEPTION #1Written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina WeirArt by Fernando Heinz Furukawa
Two con artists try to outdo the other in the medieval and magical setting of Dragon Age. I appreciate Furukawa’s art, which displays plenty of background detail in every panel. There’s a lot of dynamic conversation, actions, and wit between the main characters and it turns the book into a fast-paced page-turner. I haven’t played Dragon Age, but the comic reads great without having done so.
Rating: 9 out of 10
EXORSISTERS #1Written by Ian BoothbyArt by Gisele Lagace
When you’ve made a deal with the Devil and need help, who do you call? The Exorsisters. They specialize in sorting out paranormal mishaps, mysteries, and messes. The art is chipper for a supernatural comic, but that’s because it’s a comedy at heart. It’s a bit like Supernatural and The Simpsons had a love child. Exorsisters is easily one of the freshest and most satisfying takes on the dark fantasy genre in a long time.
Rating: 10 out of 10
MARVEL ZOMBIE #1Written by W. Maxwell PrinceArt by Stefano Raffaele
Stefano Raffaele's zombie art oozes with macabre delight. The atmospherics and aesthetic of this series are spectacular! If you like the zombie genre, stop reading this review and buy the book already, it’s worth it. The story revolves around a kid who discovers a mysterious necklace that mirrors one worn by a zombie. During this time, the remnants of the Avengers are taking on hordes of zombies in New York City. We get to see some of our favorite villains in zombie form, while the Avengers pick them apart one by one in gruesome fashion. It’s not all fun and games though. Things get dark fast, and the issue ends with the Avengers down on their luck.
Rating: 9 out of 10
PATIENCE! CONVICTION! REVENGE! #2Written by Patrick KindlonArt by Marco Ferrari
This series gets perverted quickly, as our main character goes undercover in a sex robot brothel in order to sabotage the owner. I’d like to see more background art as the backgrounds are washed out and empty in the majority of panels.The story is serviceable and the banter between our main character and the robot are fun and reminiscent of Star Wars’ Lando and L3-37.
Rating: 6 out of 10
PEARL #3Written by Brian Michael BendisArt by Michael Gaydos
Slow and meticulous, Bendis builds Pearl’s backstory and fleshes out the universe. The experience and mastership of his craft are on full display. Although it is written beautifully, it just doesn’t have the tempo to keep my interest. We learn of a mysterious condition of Pearl that beckons one to read onward, but by this point, I haven’t found any compelling reason to care. The majority of the comic is about the Yakuza deliberating amongst themselves and doesn’t maintain enough inertia to propel Pearl into a captivating comic.
Rating: 5 out of 10
THE NEW WORLD #4Written by Ales Kot Art by Tradd Moore
The New World is about a reality show TV cop in a futuristic America where she has a license to kill. People vote live whether to kill or grant mercy to apprehended criminals. The unique art style of the series reminds me of Salvador Dali’s works. Every single panel of The New World should be on the wall of a modern art museum for all to appreciate. It’s imaginative & hallucinatory while being refined & polished. Kot takes us on a dynamic adventure jam-packed with violence, adventure, love, and sacrifice. This is the Romeo and Juliet of 2037, post-Nuclear Fallout America.
Rating: 10 out of 10
VENOM ANNUAL #1Written by Donny Cates, David Michelinie, Jeff Loveness, and James StokoeArt by Kev Walker, Ron Lim, Tigh Walker, and James Stokoe
D-List villains exchange bar talk about their sightings of the Venom. Each character tells their own story as the barkeep listens in. The first story was a bit bland with cartoonish art. Once you get past that, you are rewarded with an entertaining Wolverine vs Venom tale. The annual wraps up with a Juggernaut vs Venom slugfest. If you flicked through the first few pages and were turned off, don’t be. The last two tales are worth the entrance price.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pick of the Week:
Exorsisters #1