Alan Robert’s Wire Hangers #2

Life of Agony bassist Alan Robert becomes a comic book creator with his inaugural work, Wire Hangers. This four part series is a dark tale of conspiracies, vigilantes, cops, feds, homeless freaks, nosey reporters and gore. Alan Robert is the writer and artist of this twisted series.

The artwork stands out immediately. The book is drawn to be admired. Reminiscent of Ben Templesmith, the pages become a character all their own. The art is a murky and wild, capturing the chaotic and sinister tone of the story. Smartly placed lighting effects give life to the panels and catches the readers’ eye. There are weaknesses in Robert’s skills. Certain characters are disproportionate and he seems unable to capture some action movements .

The story is picking up the pace and the characters, stilted and cliqued in the first issue, are getting a life and voice of their own. The story continues to unfold the bizarre Suicide King Killings. A reporter is taken captive by a mysterious homeless man who seems to know about a yet unrevealed conspiracy. A broken cop refuses to accept the spoon fed leads given to him by men in black suits. Glimpses of a man pulling all the strings are alluded to, but nothing is totally clear at this point.

Wire Hangers is 32 pages of advertisement-free twisted fun. Alan Robert shows off some bad-ass comic book making skills. It’s not perfect, but it’s keeping my interest.

3.5 out of 5

The Sword #24 review

After a nearly two and a half year run, The Sword concludes with this 40-paged mega-issue. The Luna Brothers plan to celebrate this event in style with coast to coast wrap parties. On Thursday, May 13th, they will appear at Midtown Comics at Grand Central Station in New York. On Friday, May 14th, they will fly to the West Coast to Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles. An exclusive Sword print will be available to both parties with a 100 print limit. The Brothers will be signing issues and celebrating Dara’s final fight.

The Brothers Luna, Joshua and Jonathan, have a right to celebrate. The Sword has been a blast and often was my first read off of a Wednesday’s pile. While a few of the issues leading up to the fantastic series’ conclusion lost some momentum, The Sword has been a dynamic, driven, high-speed ride. In issue 24, The Sword’s heroine, Dara Brighton, faces her final challenge as she seeks revenge against the powerful elemental siblings who murdered her family.

Last issue’s reveal was brilliant! Dara’s sidekick, Justin Foreman, unmasks himself as the long-lost younger brother of the demi-gods, Phaistos. With the Sword in Phaistos hands, things certainly look hopeless for Dara, but she’s been there before. It certainly gives him the opportunity to give us page after page of back-story. The exposition was decent, but the tale does get a little convoluted. Once Phaistos tells his tale, the shit hits the fan. The last half of this issue read like a descending roller coaster.

Most importantly the series’ conclusion is satisfying. The Lunas don’t fall into the temptation of cheap gimmicks to tie up the lose ends and give their faithful readers a clear, intelligent, and definitive ending. The Lunas threw some great unexpected twists in this issue which I greatly appreciated. I was very pleased with conclusion and enjoyed looking back to see how all the pieces fit together. The Luna Brothers are a one project at a time duo. I can’t wait for their next effort. Good job, boys.

4 out 5

X-Force #26 review

Chapter Five of this epic 14 issue crossover delivers some shocks and develops this exciting story. Second Coming spans every X-title and each series is authored by their respective writer. With such a diverse talent pool, maintaining a tightly plotted story should be tough. So far, the X-authors are up to the challenge.

Writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost deliver one of the best X-Men comics I’ve read in a long time. It reads like the blockbuster event the Marvel was hyping this event to be. Only five issues into this event and the X-universe will never be the same. The fight for Hope continues as Cyclops sends teams to bring her back to safety. Mainstream X-characters that were lost in ridiculous stories are reunited with their brethren. Rogue and Nightcrawler battle Bastion as they protect Hope. The clash ends with a jaw dropping moment that leaves the other X-Men speechless.

The artwork is the true hero of this issue. Mike Choi’s pencils and Sonia Oback’s coloring combine for one of the most visually stunning books on the market. This is a beautiful book with pages that are wall-art frame-able. The full-page panel of Wolverine jumping from a truck while his costume is smoldering kicks ass. Every panel is crafted with the highest quality and are just fun to admire. From action to still moments of emotive tension, this is phenomenally sharp and rich.

The X-Men are finally given a majestic and sweeping event worthy of this franchise. If the flowing installments can maintain this tension and speed, Second Coming will go down in the annals of great X-Men tales.

4.5 out of 5

After seeing Millar and McNiven’s debut issue of Nemesis trashed by some big name comic reviewers (IGN and CBR), I had to come to its defense. Nemesis is the world’s greatest villain who targets the world’s best law enforcement officers. He is sadistic, smart, and has seemingly limitless resources. While he may appear one dimensional, I felt that added to his “bad-ass”-ness. He is methodical and cold which is terrifying. Mark Millar’s plot was predictable, but it wasn’t bad. These are elements that have been over-used, yet it worked.

How Steve McNiven’s art was criticized in this issue is beyond me? I don’t know what crack is being smoked at CBR, but I want some. The wordless panels of mass destruction were sharp and spot on. Much of this issue fell upon McNiven’s talented pencils and he delivered. From inks to colors, this book jumped off the pages and held my attention.

The conclusion was a bit cheesy and very predictable. I’m looking forward to the next issue. How someone could read this and not want to get the next issue is beyond me. This isn’t Millar and McNiven’s runaway hit Old Man Logan, but it is a fun comic.

3.5 out of 5

Batman and Robin #8 review

Grant Morrison continues to weave together a unique era in the Batman mythos. For timeless characters like Batman, it’s tough to come up with something original. Like it or hate it, Morrison is delivering something new.

Dick Grayson, Batwoman, the Knight and the Squire gather at a Lazurus Pit under the streets of London, and await the resurrection of Bruce Wayne. In a smart twist, Morrison reveals that the corpse Superman carried at the end of Final Crisis was a clone of Batman created by Darkseid. Not being a fan of Final Crisis, I was sad to see elements of that debacle reach into the pages of this issue. However, it was tolerable if not enjoyable. Morrison writes Dick Grayson extremely well. He’s emerging as a confident hero who is building poise under the cowl. Damian gets a new spine (literally) and is temporally confined to a wheelchair. This issue ends with a shocker and a cliffhanger that makes he hope for the next issue to arrive soon.

While I prefer Frank Quitely’s unparalleled art, Cameron Stewart is doing a great job. This issue is a fast-paced romp and Stewart has a commanding grasp of these pages. The Batman vs. Batman fight is sharp and flows beautifully. Stewart captures soft details in a clean and refined style. Considering that he had to fill Quitely’s shoes, Cameron Stewart is holding his own.

I respect what Grant Morrison is creating, but I’m not a huge fan Final Crisis. I like Batman because he’s an earthy hero, with no jacked up origin story of cosmic powers or aliens. Batman tossed in with mulit-verses, resurrections, time travel and all that bull crap is not my cup of tea. Morrison gets too weird for me, but he is writing a good story. Let Batman protect Gotham and Green Lantern tackle the sci-fi junk.

3.5 out of 5

Resurrection #7 review

After reading the trade paperback Resurrection Vol. 1 and feverishly devouring up to issue 7 of the monthly comics, I am officially hooked on this series. Resurrection brings new life to the overexposed alien invasion genre. Sub-tagged with “The End is Only the Beginning,” this original plot follows humanity’s survivors after an alien invasion and occupation. Why did the aliens, referred to as “The Bugs,” leave after they conquered earth? What was their purpose? What’s left of our societies? Will they come back? When will comics ship (just kidding)?

A band of survivors have formed an uneasy alliance. Leaving the safety of Red Lion, PA, they begin their journey to Washington, D.C. Among their precious cargo is Bill Clinton, the current US President. As the group’s factions clandestinely debate their next move, they are quickly brought back together when a threat emerges. This issue opens up a new direction and another dilemma for our survivors. I loved it because I never saw this one coming. That’s good comic book writing!

Marc Guggenheim’s brilliant storyline and intelligent characters are keys to the series success. Similar to Kirkman’s The Walking Dead, Guggenheim’s narrative uncovers the human struggle in the wake of the unthinkable. The horror of the alien occupation is over, but life is still terrifying. When I can pick up a comic and remember the main characters from month to month, the author has written a fine book. The series progression never lulls and keeps getting cleverer. The characters have distinct voices and act like real people. Each book has a second feature, which isn’t a cheap through away. These pages maintain the series quality and truly further the storyline.

For comics, the best stories needs a talented artist to bring it to life. Artist Justin Greenwood gives Resurrection a boldly distinctive style I haven’t seen anywhere else on the racks. I love detail, but Greenwood’s approach relies on boldness. Thick, dark lines create a brooding atmosphere. With very little detail, each panel sharply conveys its point. This allows the reader to follow the action, helping the story to progress quickly. It takes a talented artist to trust that less is truly more. With simple lines, Guggenheim shows his talent by drawing a perfect fit to a powerful plot.

Resurrection is a well-rounded, never dull, refreshingly new, uniquely drawn comic. With Resurrection, Guggenheim and Greenwood prove they are mighty tag team in the industry. Comics should be fun and entertaining to read and this one is both. If this smartly plotted comic isn’t on your pull list, then you dumb.

4 out of 5

Days Missing #1 review

I was compelled to buy Achaia’s premiere issue of Days Missing for several reasons. First, it costs less than a dollar; bargains are always a plus. Its tagged with “Roddenberry Presents” so I thought it would be an interesting sci-fi story. The cover and back were sharp and the concept seemed original. Was it worth a buck? Buck, no!

Comic industry veterans Phil Hester and Frazer Irving should be ashamed. Hester’s script just falls flat. I was interested by the concept but bored by the poor execution. The story is about a mysterious figure who intercedes on behalf of humanity to keep us from extinction. This white haired, crazed eyed hippie has been around since earth’s creation and has been waiting for humans so he could hang out with someone similar to him. The issue begins with a viral epedemic that could destroy the earth’s population. The cosmic hippie lends his hippie hands and once again humanity is saved from annihilation. The pages are littered with too much unnecessary back-story and the pace is deathly slow.

Artist Frazer Irving’s skills are uncharacteristically poor and sloppy. I think Irving realized that the story sucked and just drew these panels in a drunken stupor. Large black lines outline every character, giving them a cookie cutter appearance. The bland cast is drawn just as they are written – boring.

I will never have the dollar I spent on this drivel back or the 10 minutes it took me to read this. Take a pass on Days Missing.

1 out of 5

Stumptown #2 review

Did you ever pick up a comic on a whim, not hearing any hype surrounding its release, and strike gold with your chance purchase? That’s what I did with Stumptown. Oh yeah, solid gold, baby.

Dex is a private investigator and proprietor of Stumptown Investigations. Writer Greg Rucka creates a female character, both flawed and loveable. The series first arc The Case of the Girl Who Took Her Shampoo, But Left Her Mini follows Dex as she seeks the whereabouts of a missing girl. Taking the case to settle a gambling debt, Dex is quickly pulled into a quagmire of shady villains with hidden motives and itchy trigger fingers. Rucka nails the atmosphere and intrigue behind the protagonist and the plot. I love the layers that Greg Rucka weaves and builds as Dex gets deeper into finding answers.

Artist Matthew Southworth draws a pitch perfect match for Greg Rucka’s extraordinary narrative. In a character driven comic, the artist must be able to convey the story without relying on action sequences and muscle-clad heroes. His silent panels are well structured and flow perfectly.

Get onboard right now so that you can say, I was there at the beginning. This is a smart comic that should be at the top of pulllists.

4.5 out of 5

Tracker #2 review

Writer Jonathan Lincoln and artist Francis Tsai unite to deliver one hell of frickin’ good comic. After a fine inaugural issue, I hoped that the series would continue to satisfy. Well, mission accomplished, boys.

Alex O’Roark is the FBI’s top tracker and he loves his job (even more than his girlfriend). While tracking down a serial killer known as Herod, he survives “The Blue Line Massacre.” We learn that the Handel Foundation has been researching lupines or werewolves and one of their mysterious doctors cares for O’Roark after the massacre. Another victim mysteriously survives and O’Roark tracks him down in this issue. Lincoln achieves an appropriate balance between exposition and action. This is an unpretentious action-packed read. This is tightly plotted with a fresh approach to the icon werewolf genre.

Francis Tsai draws a sharp comic. His panels and layouts pace perfectly with the narrative. The supernatural creatures’ kinetic movements are nicely portrayed. It’s a dynamic approach, which is just what this comic needs.

Tracker is an equally clever detective yarn and a brutally vicious horror tale populated by smartly written characters. I pray this five- issue story gets a monthly series.

4.5 out of 5

Die Hard: Year One #3 review

I grew up with the Die Hard movies and loved every testosterone injected, unrealistic action-packed moment. When a buddy gave me the first three issue of Die Hard Year One, I turned up my nose. “What this hell is this”, I thought. How many more places can McClain get stuck in? An elevator, maybe? Oh, me of little faith. It’s a big world and there are plenty more binds for John McClain to get into.

With a necessarily slow build as the major player took their places, this series is shaping up to be a fun ride. Officer John McClain, the character immortalized by Bruce Willis in the Die Hard franchise, hits the New York streets on his first beat. It’s the 70’s and trouble is brewing in the Big Apple. Writer Howard Chaykin has good command of the story as he navigates multiple episodes and characters. Once all parties intersect, the plot takes off and the stage is masterfully set for some balls-to-the-wall John McClain ass-kicking and name–taking good times. Like all Die Hard plots, Chaykin does a fine job of assembling an interesting crew of bad guys and an unsuspecting McClain finds himself trapped in their scheme.

Stephen Thompson captures the feel and funk of the 1970’s. With bellbottoms and tube socks, the details make these pages sharp. Some of the effect choices fall flat, i.e. the forefront blurring in some action sequences, but overall it’s a good effort. I love the headbands and feathered back hair!

Die Hard is back and seeing McClain’s roots is a blast.

3.5 out of 5