The Weekly Crisis - Comic Book Review Blog

Image Round-Up - May 22nd 2013

2013-05-21T22:08:00.000-03:00

The Image Round Up column aims to get some words down on every single Image Comics book published for the week. This weeks reviews are handled by William Tournas and Hansel Moreno. They'll be dropping non-spoilery reviews the day before the books are available so you can best make up your mind on what to buy tomorrow. We offer this service because Image has been putting out some amazing content lately and it will be nice to shine a light on every single title they produce. This week our intrepid team looks at The Activity #13, Dia De Los Muertos #3, Nowhere Men #5 and
Revival #10.

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This week after gathering classified intel The Activity #13 is declared the COVER OF THE WEEK! Read William's preview for more info!

The reviews are graded according to the following scale:

Must Read. -- Do not miss this hot piece of comic action!
Buy It. -- For memories sake.
Check It. -- This is a toss up. Up to you really.
Byrne It. (skim it on the rack). -- Look at it but don't leave with it.
Avoid It. -- Steer clear.

The Activity #13

Story by: Nathan Edmondson
Art By: Mitch Gerads

William Tournas: When it comes to comics and most other types of serialised story telling, it can be quite hard to maintain a high quality on something that's ongoing.

The creative team of Nathan Edmondson & Mitch Gerads achieve this with every single issue of The Activity. Each issue is a shining of example of great storytelling, as each issue is able to stand alone on its own merits.

After the Flashback issue last month, Issue #13 brings us back to the main storyline and dealing with the events of issue #12.

Team Omaha has been placed on stand-down pending further investigation after the identity of the leak was discovered. A call from a colleague of Switchfoot's in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), leads to an unsanctioned mission with dire consequences.

Nathan Edmondson had me feeling mixed emotions with this issue. I was on the edge of my seat with Team Omaha's unsanctioned mission, while also have a sense of sadness for the investigation into the leak.

Mitch Gerad's art is amazing as always, matching the tone of the book perfectly. It brings the story forward in fast paced scenes, as well letting the slow intense moments linger with you.

Verdict - Must Read

Dia De Los Muertos #3

Story by: Alexander Grecian, Kurtis J Wiebe, Joe Keatinge
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colors by: Riley Rossmo, Megan Wilson
Letters by: Kelly Tindall

Hansel Moreno: The third and final installment of Riley Rossmo's Dia De Los Muertos is in. This Day of the Dead themed anthology features three stories:

Return Of The Dead by Alex Grecian

First of all, a Proof reunion is something not to be missed. This is a quiet, creepy ghost story. It's a little similar to Ed Brisson's (The Bri$$) contribution but it stands well on its own with a few key attributes: It is a silent story and the color palette is muted as well. This story fits well with in the Dia De Los Muertos mythos.

Lonesome by Kurtis Wiebe

This story is a touching look back on how fast love can grow. In my opinion I think this story captures the feeling of Dia De Los Muertos the best. We remember the dead in all aspects of our lives.

Day Of The Dead 3000 by Joe Keatinge

This story is nothing short of Ultra violent Mexploitation. This takes Riley's idea and spins it so far out of orbit. You really surprised me Mr. Keatinge.

Verdict - Must Read

Not Final Cover

Nowhere Men #5

Story by: Eric Stephenson
Art by: Nate Bellegarde & Jordie Bellaire
Cover by: Nate Bellegarde & Fonografiks

William Tournas: Nowhere Men is one of the most fantastic comics that I'm reading at the moment. It's smart, amazingly written and the art is astounding. A perfect collaboration between the creative team of Eric Stephenson, Nate Bellegarde and Jordie Bellaire.

This issue gives a small glimpse to events prior the main story line, before jumping back to fallout from the space station disaster. More nuggets continue to be dropped as the mysterious virus that began transforming the young research scientists continues to evolve them even further.

The race is on amongst the last remaining original World Corp scientists to find these evolving humans before they get into harms way.

Stephenson has written a fictional world that I could believe was real in this day and age, with Bellegarde and Bellaire breathing air into work and making it even more real.

If I could compare it to anything, I would say its a modern day Watchmen.

Verdict - Must Read

Revival #10

Story by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Mike Norton

Colors by: Mark Englert
Letters by: Crank!

Cover by: Jenny Frison

Hansel Moreno: Right, ok, so wrap your head around this: The dead have risen. They don't want to eat the living, they are cognitive and they aren't decaying, in fact some of them are in better health than they were before they knocked off. What would you do? What would the local or national government do? In Tim Seeley's and Mike Norton's Revival we see this event unfold as they imagine it would in rural central Wisconsin.

First off, the dead are alive, alive and well. How weird and exciting this would be if you had lost a loved one? How awful would this be if you had killed some one? Second the government has issued a quarantine to ensure that the "revival event" is not contagious or has other unknown and unforeseen repercussions. That's a smart move but immediately causes a lot of tension between the scared and confused citizens. I for one would immediately head for the hills if this happened near me.

Revival has a large sized cast. We have local law enforcement, Revivers, reporters, government officials and all sorts of crazed factions trying to take control of the Revivers fates.

One of the (shall we say opportunist?) factions has been carving out and selling organs of the dead, Reviver or not, and selling them for crazy illegal black market money. Where there is a will there is a way, I guess. A few issues back a disastrous car crash spilled its guts, quite literally and exposed the operation. This being a rural community there are not many locations for a ne'er do wells to hide.

This isn't even scratching the surface of what Revival brings to you in monthly singles or trade collections! We have family tension! A mysterious creature lurking in the woods! Dozens and dozens of secrets coiling around the town! Mundane, embarrassing, dark and terrible and the main Revival event.

At first I was a little apprehensive about the size of the cast and the time the team was taking rolling out their stories. I liked the book but it was slow. The pace just didn't have me jonesing for the next issue. After I read issue 6,7, and 8 back to back to back I was hooked, hooked I tells ya! Tim and Mike are swinging for the fences!

The story has (now) completely vested and you can't forget the art. Mike is laying down some amazing lines. Whether drawing tight close ups in numerous types of locales (bars, barns or hospitals) or the vast expanses of rural Wisconsin Mike is a pro. He also has a knack of alternating between amazingly cute button noses to disgustingly eviscerated corpses. This is greatly (horribly) amplified by Mark Englert's wonderful (terrifying!) colors.

All in all, I love this book. The story might be a little weird to pick up midway through the second arc so check out the trade!

Verdict - Must Read

Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 05/22/13

2013-05-21T09:30:00.000-03:00

Welcome to your Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews. There's a plethora of excellent comics hitting stands tomorrow, including Bounce #1, Mind MGMT #11, Subatomic Party Girls #1, and many more! Hit the jump to give them all a thorough once over. I'll see you on the other side.

Major Releases

BATMAN INCORPORATED #11

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Chris Burnham

Batman’s world has been devastated by his war against Talia, but is he willing to give up on his own humanity?

Grant: We move ever closer to the grand finale of Grant Morrison's long running Batman epic, and I can't help but wonder how in the world he's going to wrap up years worth of Batman stories in three issues. Considering how solid the majority of the run has been up to this point, I'm obviously willing to trust that Morrison can find a way, but in the interim, I'll happily enjoy the fruits of his and Chris Burnham's labour as things heat up in the ongoing war between Bruce and Talia.

BOUNCE #1

Written by Joe Casey

Art by David Messina

FIRST ISSUE SPECTACULAR!

Meet the ultimate slacker superhero for the 21st Century! Jasper Jenkins is a super-head AND a super-hero! He's relatable AND reliable and he's embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! The sensational debut of the new feel-good hero of the decade! You can't afford to miss it!

Grant: Image is riding high on the Joe Casey name of late, first with Sex and now with this week's Bounce. I've found Sex to be a little too slow for my tastes, but hopefully with a title as energetic as Bounce, this book's pacing will be a tad quicker. I've also quite enjoyed David Messina in the many licensed books where I've encountered his work previously, so I'm eager to see what he can do with the added freedom of a creator owned book.

YOUNG AVENGERS #5

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie

• The book where when a character says “I did it half an hour ago” normally means doing “it” half an hour ago reaches its first epic conclusion.

• Why Did Loki Do It? No one kno... okay, we’ll tell you...Well, part of it.

• Miss America probably punches someone. She usually does.

Grant: I say it every month, but Young Avengers has rocketed to the top of my must read pile. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie are reminding the world each and every issue why they are such a talented comic book duo. Everything about this book, from the characters, to the art, to the solicitations, is a ton of fun, and that's exactly how I like my comics. Seriously, what's not to love?

New Kids on the Block

AKANEIRO #1

Written by Justin Aclin

Art by Vasilis Lolos

From the brilliant imagination of video game auteur American McGee comes a dazzling reenvisioning of Red Riding Hood set in the wondrous world of Japanese folklore! Justin Aclin and Vasilis Lolos take Kania young woman torn between two cultureson an epic adventure battling devious yokai for the fate of her world!

• Based on the hot new game by American McGee’s Spicy Horse Games!

Grant: I'm not terribly familiar with either Justin Aclin's writings or American McGee's games, but I really dug Vasilis Lolos' work over in Conan for issues #8 and 9. That combined with the relatively interesting concept of reimagining Little Red Riding Hood in Japanese folklore is enough to get me to check out this new miniseries.

GREEN TEAM #1

Written by Art Baltazar and Franco

Art by Ig Guara

INVENTORS! EXPLORERS! ADVENTURERS! Do you need money to finance an important project? Then you should set up a meeting with THE GREEN TEAM!

• Nature of world-changing idea: _____

• Amount requested: _____

• Does your project have the potential to:

Fracture space-time? __

Replace the combustion engine? __

Attract extraterrestrial attention? __

Prove/disprove existence of deities? __

Piss off The Justice League? __

Render the human body obsolete? __

If any of the above are checked, please fill out liability release form GT2013-05. Send any 82 drawings, plans, models, or photos with request.

Grant: I wasn't particularly fond of The Movement, DC's other new title for the month, but I have higher hopes for Green Team. The concept sounds like the most fun, Art Baltazar and Franco are a talented writer team, and Ig Guara's a solid artist. Putting it all together should make for a delightful read, right?

HALF PAST DANGER #1

Written by Stephen Mooney

Art by Stephen Mooney

DAMES. DINOSAURS. DANGER. Summer, 1943, and in the midst of a war waged by monsters, Staff Sergeant Tommy ‘Irish’ Flynn never expected to encounter a real one. But on a remote island in the South Pacific, Flynn and his squad come face-to-fanged-face with creatures long thought dead.

Grant: Speaking of fun, what's not to like about a comic called Half Past Danger? I don't know much beyond the title, cover, and solicit, but it really looks like this will be the kind of pulpy, action-packed comic that the industry can always use more of. I'm also pleased to see IDW putting out some more creator owned series; that's the kind of thing that there's also always more room for.

SUBATOMIC PARTY GIRLS #1

Written by Chad Bowers and Chris Sims

Art by Erica Henderson

Cleo, Libby and Vette are Beryllium Steel, the hottest power pop trio in the world -- and they're about to be the hottest band in outer space! When a plan to make them the first band to perform live on the moon goes wrong, they find themselves on the wrong side of the galaxy, faced with space pirates, intergalactic crime bosses and no way to get home. Their only option: ROCK OUT!

Grant: Over at Comixology, Monkeybrain's newest series releases this week. Subatomic Party Girls is a comedy adventure featuring an all female band going to space. If that isn't enough to convince you, it's written by Chad Bowers and Chris Sims (who you might know from the Awesome Hospital webcomic [and you should know Sims from his venerable work at Comics Alliance]) and drawn by Erica Henderson (who is all kinds of amazing). This is a winning combination, folks, so check it out.

Fond Farewells

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS #3

Written by Alexander Grecian, Kurtis Wiebe & Joe Keatinge

Art by Riley Rossmo

GOLDEN-AGE FORMAT

Inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead, artist extraordinaire, RILEY ROSSMO, interprets stories from three of today's top writers. From KURTIS WIEBE (PETER PANZERFAUST) comes a heartbreaking love story--in this world or the next. JOE KEATINGE (GLORY, HELL YEAH) offers up Day of the Dead 3000. As Ultra Muertos falls at the hands of Mother Slaughter, his grandson takes over the mantle with a death wish for all-out apocalypse! And New York Times bestselling author ALEXANDER GRECIAN (PROOF) tells a tale of ghost children.

Grant: Riley Rossmo's Day of the Dead anthology comes to a close this month with three stories penned by three talented writers. This miniseries has been a nice change of pace, featuring Rossmo's brilliant art partnered with plenty of excellent short stories. I'll be sad to see the book go, but eager to see what Rossmo gets up to next.

GREEN LANTERN #20

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy

It’s the final battle against the First Lantern and the Guardians in this, the extra-sized finale of Geoff Johns’ historic run on the title! Plus, don’t miss a special retrospective on Geoff’s run on GL!

Grant: This month sees the end of all the current runs on DC's Green Lantern books, including Geoff Johns' tenure as the writer for the main Green Lantern title. I followed his entire run before the reboot, but couldn't bring myself to continue once the New 52 hit. Either way, it will be quite the change to see someone else's name on the writer credit for Green Lantern, but I have a funny feeling that Johns will be able to land on his feet here.

That being said, charging $7.99 for 64 pages of content is kind of highway robbery and seeing that makes me glad that I don't follow this title, because I would not want to shell out that kind of cash for something that will have far fewer than 64 pages worth of actual comic content. Yikes.

You May Have Missed

ADVENTURE TIME #16

Written by Ryan North

Art by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb

THE FIRST ISSUE OF A NEW ARC AND THE PERFECT JUMPING-ON POINT FOR NEW READERS! It’s an all-new adventure for Finn, Jake and the gang from critically acclaimed writer Ryan North! The best all-ages series of 2012 continues!

Grant: I'm always ready for more Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb goodness. Their run on Adventure Time has managed to stay fresh and exciting through 15+ issues, and I can't wait to see what Finn and Jake get up to next. It's no coincidence that this book was nominated for three Eisner Awards - it's just that good. If you've been depriving yourself of this book, I would strongly urge you to change that habit tomorrow. There's no better time to start reading Adventure Time than as soon as possible.

ADVENTURE TIME: FIONNA & CAKE #5

Written by Natasha Allegri

Art by Natasha Allegri

THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ADVENTURE TIME SPIN-OFF CONTINUES! Fionna and Cake are racing against the clock to save the feral flame boy’s family…but can they do it in time? Written and drawn by Natasha Allegri, the creator of Fionna and Cake, this series is being called one of the best of 2013!

Grant: As you're probably well aware, it's not only the main Adventure Time series that's worth reading, but pretty much every single Adventure Time book that's coming out right now. Boom! has done an excellent job of finding talented creators to helm their tie-in comics, and Natasha Allegri's Fionna & Cake miniseries has been one of the best books they've done. Every issue has been an absolute joy, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

MIND MGMT #11

Written by Matt Kindt

Art by Matt Kindt

Once, Mind Management’s agents were trained in its remote headquarters, Shangri-la. Now, with MIND MGMT shut down—at least officially—its location has been erased from every former agent’s memories. So how do you find a secret base? With a secret map.

• Ongoing series from Matt Kindt (3 Story)!

“Kindt's story and art pull you in effortlessly and make you desperate for the next piece to the puzzle.” — Greg McElhatton, Comic Book Resources

Grant: Matt Kindt's Mind MGMT is one of the more challenging comic books coming out right now. His winding story of secret organizations and agents with superpowers seemingly becomes more complex with each and every issue, but that only adds to its charm. Kindt's writing and art is rock solid, and Mind MGMT is only getting better. You should definitely be reading this series if you aren't already doing so.

The Balance

FIVE GHOSTS: THE HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY #3

Written by Frank J. Barbiere

Art by Chris Mooneyham

“ENTER: THE FORGOTTEN CITY!”

In a fantastic valley...far from the eyes of man...Fabian Gray meets THE GUARDIAN OF DREAMS!

Grant: Frank J. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham have been cooking up something special in the pages of The Haunting of Fabian Gray. Their story has been hinting at a much bigger threat than we've seen thus far, and even if there wasn't something sinister on the horizon, the hook of Fabian's five literary ghosts is already enough to keep me interested. Adding in all the adventure, explosions, and intrigue only makes this series more worthwhile.

LOBSTER JOHNSON: SATAN SMELLS A RAT

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi

Art by Kevin Nowland

The artist of Hellboy: Buster Oakley Gets His Wish returns for two-gun vengeance!

Someone is killing off skid row bums and dumping their corpses. The only one who can deliver justice is Hellboy’s favorite gun-blazing vigilante.

“This series continues to prove why Mike Mignola is one of the best creative forces in comic books and should be a must read for anyone." —Technorati

Grant: Lobster Johnson remains one of my favourite Hellboy universe characters, and I've been thoroughly enjoying these one shots. They aren't necessarily instant classics, but they always tell an engaging story with cool ideas that wrap up neatly within their 22 pages. Sometimes that's exactly what I want, and I'm happy to turn to Lobster Johnson for that fix.

THE UNWRITTEN #49

Written by Mike Carey

Art by Peter Gross

In the conclusion to “Orpheus In the Underworld,” Tom meets the King of Hell again—and this time it’s even more unpleasant than before. The only way out is up, and the only way to get there is through a story. But what if the story says you have to lose? This issue leads directly into the epic fiftieth issue, and the start of THE UNWRITTEN FABLES!

Grant: The latest storyline of Tom seeking Lizzie in Hell has been... *ahem* one hell of a read (sorry about that). I'm really excited to see how this all shakes out, and while I've never really read Fables, I'm still intrigued to see what this Unwritten - Fables crossover is all about next month. This book is always of the best quality, and I expect issue #49 to be no exception.

Pick of the Week

I feel like selecting the Pick of the Week only gets harder and harder, and this time is no exception. While I'm terribly tempted to go with one of the amazing Adventure Time books, I have to go with Young Avengers #5. While Adventure Time and Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake are brilliant, Young Avengers is the kind of book I want to see more of from the Big 2, so I can't help but root for it to be ever more successful to send some type of message Marvel's way.

What about you? Which books are you desiring come Wednesday's arrival?

Cover of the Week - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and High Crimes

2013-05-19T22:30:00.000-03:00

Let's hear it for the Covers of the Week! This time around we've some beaten up half-shells and a high altitude landscape of foreboding. To check these out, along with our honourable mentions, just check behind the cut!

Ken's Cover of the Week - TMNT #22 by Mateus Santolouco

Ken: What makes this cover stand out, on top of the inverted picture, is the original use of the police tape. Raphael falling means nothing, but the tape and Splinter and Shredder make it work out much better, showing the lines between good and bad. And the detail is just over the top here, which makes it work even more.

Grant's Cover of the Week - High Crimes #3 by Ibrahim Moustafa

Grant: There is so much to love about this cover. The landscape view of the hills and mountains of the small town belies the violence of that bloody hand that floats above it. And to use the tip of Mount Everest as the palm print? A beautiful symbol of all the crazy things that are going into the plot of this crazy series. It also reminds me of how good the High Crimes title banner looks. This is a seriously awesome cover.

Runner-Ups: Batwoman #20, Wolverine Max #7, Dream Thief #1