Saturday, October 31, 2020

Twice-Told Tales Official Trailer #1 - Vincent Price Movie (1963) HD


Stay-At-Home Theater: TWICE TOLD TALES. Featured on TCM Friday
Frightmares during Halloween. A well-done adaptation of three Nathaniel
Hawthorne stories. Probably too slow-moving for today's audiences and
those with short-attention spans. No jump scares. Just good entertainment.
FOUR STARS.

Do Not Adjust Your Set: Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - Monster Mash


Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 30, 2020

MITSKI Producing Science-Fiction Graphic Novel For Z2 COMICS

Z2 COMICS PARTNERS WITH MITSKI AND DEAD OCEANS FOR THIS IS WHERE WE FALL

‘Grateful Dead: Origins’ Scribe Chris Miskiewicz and ‘Wynter’ Artist Vincent Kings Team with the Celebrated Artist for an Original Work of Science Fiction, Complete With an Exclusive Soundtrack

NEW YORK, NY—The critically adored artist Mitski is set to unveil her first new music since 2018’s acclaimed ‘Be the Cowboy’ as the exclusive score to this work of graphic fiction, created in partnership with the writer and artist team of Chris Miskiewicz and Vincent Kings. 
 
“It was exciting to make a soundtrack for a comic book” says Mitski. “It allowed me to work outside of my usual songwriting form and try to approach it like a score, but without any of the cues that come with working alongside a moving image, which ended up being both freeing and challenging. I hope the end result helps to immerse you in the story!”
 
“A project and partnership like this is the perfect marriage of a visual art form like comics, and music” says Z2 publisher Josh Frankel. “Fans of Mitski’s music will not only get something new from one of their favorite artists, but a companion piece that completes the experience. Comics readers will find an original work of science fiction from top creators that is enhanced by the music that accompanies it.” 
 
This Is Where We Fall is an innovative, action packed science-fiction series depicting an after-life that's defined by the manner in which you died, and not the merit of the life you lived, brought to you by Chris Miskiewicz (Thomas AlsopGrateful Dead Origins) and Vincent Kings (Wynter). 
 
The original graphic novel clocks in at just over 100 pages, and will be released in a standard softcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in March 2021, as well as  a hardcover with an exclusive cassette, and a  limited deluxe edition available directly through the Z2 website. The deluxe edition features an exclusive vinyl soundtrack, unavailable anywhere else, and strictly limited to 2,000 copies!



About Z2 Comics:
Z2 is the premier destination for top quality music-based comics and graphic novels, having worked across genres to deliver an authentic experience to diverse audiences. Some of the publisher’s best-selling books include Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETALYUNGBLUD Presents: The Twisted tales of the Ritalin Club and Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel, alongside debut works of graphic fiction by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), DJ Paul Oakenfold, internet sensation Poppy, jazz trumpeter Dave Chisholm and others. Z2’s upcoming works include books created with partnership with The Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson and others.

Horror Hardcore Rock Band To Release Graphic Novel INKED IN BLOOD


Z2 COMICS AND ICE NINE KILLS TEAM UP TO BRING THE SILVER SCREAM TO THE PRINTED PAGE FOR INKED IN BLOOD!

The Exclusive Tie-In Sequel to the Band’s 2019 Album Will Be Released in Spring 2021

NEW YORK, NY—Just in time for Halloween, the leading publisher of music tie-in comics and graphic novels announces a freshly “inked” partnership with none other than the horror driven hardcore band, Ice Nine Kills! Written by the band in partnership with co-creator of Razorblades: The Horror Magazine, Steve Foxe, this original graphic novel also features art by Giorgia Sposito and Andres Esparza, and will be released in spring 2021!
 
“The world of comics has always gone hand and hand with the horror genre I’m obsessed with, so to be creating our own work with the talented people at Z2 is incredible” says Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills.
 
“Ice Nine Kills is the perfect band for comics, and their last album inspires all the visuals you could want for four color horror” says Z2 Publisher Josh Frankel. “Inked in Blood has all of the feel of your favorite classic horror flicks. There are no tricks in announcing this Halloween treat for horror and music fans alike.” 
 
Tying in with the events of INK's cinematic album, INKED IN BLOOD follows a bullied teen super-fan who’s convinced that her favorite frontman could never have committed the grotesque crimes for which he's now standing trial. But when a well-intentioned show of support backfires, this super-fan finds herself locked in a life-or-death battle against a copycat killer whose depravity makes your favorite slasher films seem wholesome by comparison. Get your icepicks handy, INK fans--it's going to be a bloodbath!
 
The original graphic novel will be released in a standard softcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in spring 2021, as well as a hardcover and a limited deluxe edition available directly through the Z2 website. The deluxe slipcase edition features an exclusive vinyl colorway of the band’s 2019 album The Silver Scream!
 

###
 
About Z2 Comics
Z2 is the premier destination for top quality music-based comics and graphic novels, having worked across genres to deliver an authentic experience to diverse audiences.Some of the publisher’s best-selling books include Apocrypha: The Legend of BABYMETALYUNGBLUD Presents: The Twisted tales of the Ritalin Club and Eden: A Skillet Graphic Novel, alongside debut works of graphic fiction by Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides), DJ Paul Oakenfold, internet sensation Poppy, jazz trumpeter Dave Chisholm and others. Z2’s upcoming works include books created with partnership with The Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson and others.
 

FOUR CHAMBERS OF FRIGHT Launches Kickstarter Tonight

An “Elvira” inspired horror anthology with a sinister twist by Canadian publisher Hangman Comics.

October 30th, 2020. Vancouver Island, Canada.

From the 
writer/creator of “Witch Creek Road” and the artist/creator of 
“Monsterella”, “Four Chambers Of Fright” features four heart-stopping 
tales of terror delivered by the sensationally sadistic, “Dizzy”.

Nevin
Arnold (Monsterella, Calavera The Undead) and Garth Matthams (Witch 
Creek Road, The Living Finger), both monstrously huge fans of the 
classic horror comics and magazines of the 60s and 70s, have joined 
forces to create a sinister spin on the classic “horror hostess” 
narrated creepy comics of yesteryear.

In the tradition of the 
horror host, Dizzy spins multiple tales of terror, but unlike the many 
masters of the macabre that came before her, Dizzy tends to be a little 
more…involved in her work!

Written by Garth Matthams and
illustrated by Nevin Arnold and Rodrigo Trindade. Also featuring art by
Pablo Verdugo (“Mr. Beaver”) and stunning cover art by Sun Khamunaki 
(“Lady Death”).  

A “Four Chambers Of Fright” Kickstarter will 
launch October 30th, 2020 at 10 PM (EST) to raise the funds necessary to 
get the book into print. Many amazing rewards will be available, 
including digital and print copies, a deluxe version of the book, as 
well as an exclusive virgin cover limited to just 100 copies!

Pending the success of the Kickstarter, the book is set for a February 2021 release.

“FOUR CHAMBERS OF FRIGHT With Dizzy The Disco Draculette #1”
www.kickstarter.com



Preview Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIdrK3q8t3k

Facebook Event Page: https://fb.me/e/38lSFf5s9

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Book Review: MASKED PREY by John Sandford

MASKED PREY by John Sandford (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, April 14, 2020) Lucas Davenport series #30. Hardcover, 406 pages.  ISBN # 0525539522 / 9780525539520  


Summary on the Goodreads website . . . .


Lucas Davenport returns to the cutthroat quagmire of Washington, D.C., in the stunning new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Prey series.



My Four-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . .


     You can always count on John Sandford for an engaging thriller.

MASKED PREY was especially better than average for Sanford, with a complex plot with very topical themes: alt-right groups, gun activists, the dark web, conspiracy theorists, Nazi-like web sites, and tech-savvy manipulative teens. Mix that all together and get a book that's hard to put down. 


     Sandford presents varying points of view from these fringe groups in a way that helps with understanding how their theories were developed, in an objective fashion that does not champion them. The story reads as a straight police procedural from point A to point Z. What puts it over the top is Sandford’s ability to develop and depict authentic seeming characters and some very engaging and moving dialogue. 


     On a very strange internet blog there are pictures of the sons and daughters of influential Washington politicians along with reprinted articles that reflect Nazi and radical right themes. 


    Is this a coded message to unstable extremists to rub out some of these priviliged children in order to influence a particular vote, or is it just the rantings of some crazed conspiracy theorists?  Lucas Davenport has to figure that out, and stop it if it turns out to be true. 


     Some nice twists and turns here and a few subtle messages about Washington politics and fringe groups. One of the better Davenport novels I have read.

Our Pre-Order Pick: THE KAIJU SCORE #1



THE KAIJU SCORE #1 (Aftershock Comics, November 25 release date. Final order cutoff for pre-orders is Monday, November 2)  James Patrick, writer. Rem Broo, artist. 


Now this is a genre mash-up that really appeals to me - - - a light-hearted crime caper with a monster twist! 

  

     Writer James Patrick says “The Kaiju Score is a Quentin Tarantino film taking place in some corner of a Godzilla movie.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter he cited some of his influences: old Japanese kaiju movies, Donald Westlake’s Parker series, the Oceans 11 films, Elmore Leonard’s story sense and characterization, and Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue. 



       If you enjoy a bit of humor with your crime and monster comics, then you’ll appreciate what THE KAIJU SCORE has to offer. I’m reminded of some popular books with a similar tone as well as the art style:  CHEW, FARMLAND, OUTER DARK, LEVIATHAN. I’m name-dropping several John Layman-scripted books (and Rob Guillory) because Patrick’s work here reminds me of them, and that’s intended as a high compliment. 


      Those who characterize Aftershock titles as dark and often depressing really need to read this eye-opener to change their mind. 


        At the root of THE KAIJU SCORE is a gang-leader’s crazy idea to pull off a big heist under cover of a kaiju attack, which should command the full undivided attention of police forces. 


        Issue #1 serves as a set-up opening act, introducing us to the main characters and offering a sneak peek at the particular kaiju anticipated to come ashore and cause a big distraction: a “Mujara” who subsists mainly on a diet of mullet fish and is considered tamer when compared to other giants. 


        When we first meet master planner Marco, he’s hatching his plan while drinking in the bathtub. Unfortunately, he’s a master of none considering his track record of former flubbed robberies. He’s having a hard time recruiting the skilled caliber of criminals he’ll need to pull off a huge art heist (valued at 30-50 million) from the vaults of the local museum.  He has to settle for some second-tier companions as well as turn to a notorious loanshark to bottom feeders for funding. 




     Gina’s a stylish femme fatale with safe-cracking skills, but in a plot twist Marco may not be getting assistance from the Gina he’s expecting 


      Palmiero’s an equipment guy with a long unlucky streak looking for a chance to reverse his fortunes. 

  

       Pierson is a tough guy with a man-bun who uses his misplaced swagger to hide his low self-esteem and low intelligence. 


       Can they pull it off? As loan shark Blackie Mendoza says: “So the question is . . . do you want to stick your balls in the mouth of this alligator and wave them around?  . . . ‘Cause there ain’t no goin’ back after this.”

FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE STARS.

NIGHTMARE THEATER Anthology Features GARY SCOTT BEATTY


I said last week I wouldn't be emailing until I had something important to say. Well, here it is, something you won't want to miss!

I have a short story in an upcoming anthology from friend of Aazurn Clay Adams (Red Xmas). Nightmare Theater is a 225-plus page trade paperback anthology collecting horror stories by some of the biggest names in indie comics.

You have to see this! Go here.

bit.ly/NightmareTheater

I'll post some art here, but with over 35 comic teams, you'll have to see the strangely beautiful variety of art at the Kickstarter to be truly blown away.

 

Nightmare Theater is stories inspired by horror cinema, from Clay and David Schrader. Clay has funded and fulfilled eight projects on Kickstarter, so you know this is going to happen and it will be huge!

I can't wait to sit down and read this book!

bit.ly/NightmareTheater

+++

Don't get anxious, good things happen to those who (1) wait and (2) do the work! Enjoy outside while you can, we'll all be hunkerin' down soon, but winter isn't here yet. Be safe!

In glorious service to our Aazurn overlords,
Gary Scott Beatty
StrangeHorror.com



 
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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

VALIANT Looking For Artists, Colorists, Letterers

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF THE  
VIRTUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEW PROGRAM FOR ARTISTS


October 27th, 2020 (New York, NY) – Round Three of the Virtual Portfolio Review program is on the way!

Valiant Entertainment will host another edition of the program to assist aspiring comic book artists and find new creators for future projects. For the upcoming round of the program, the award-winning publisher's Senior Editors (Lysa Hawkins, Heather Antos, David Wohl) will be offering virtual one-on-one portfolio reviews for aspiring interior artistscover artistscolorists, and letterers. 30 people in total will be selected to have their work reviewed. 

Please read the below information very carefully for submission details and deadlines.
 
Dates of Digital Portfolio Reviews 
  • Tuesday, November 10th from 12pm-2pm EST
  • Wednesday, November 11th from 12pm-2pm EST
  • Thursday, November 12th from 12pm-2pm EST

How to Submit
  • Email your submission to PortfolioReview@valiantentertainment.com
  • Subject line: Name, Discipline, Available Date
  • Subject line example: Ray Garrison, Cover Artist, November 10th, 11th, & 12th
  • Please note: Submissions should be a digital PDF attachment, a single document with an information page in the back with your name, a link to your online portfolio, and contact info. The document should be no more than 20 pages.

Submission Deadline
  • Submissions open October 28th and are due by November 4th at 5pm EST
  • Those selected for the first day of sessions will be notified by Monday, November 9th no later than 10pm EST
  • Those selected for the second day of sessions will be notified by Tuesday, November 10th no later than 10pm EST
  • Those selected for the third day of sessions will be notified by Wednesday, November 11th no later than 10pm EST
Frequently Asked Questions

1. I don’t have a prepared portfolio. Can I share a link to my Website/Twitter/Instagram instead?

No, we are only accepting PDF attachments (max 25mb). PDF2GO is a free service if you donʼt own Acrobat.

2. I have more than 20 pages I want to share. Can I sneak in an extra couple?
No, this will disqualify your portfolio.

3. Can I just embed/attach single images instead of making a PDF?
No, we are only accepting PDF attachments (max 25mb, 20 pages of art). Again, you can use PDF2GO if you don't own Acrobat. 

4. My PDF is too large to send as an attachment. Can I just send a link to my PDF portfolio?
No, we are only accepting PDF attachments (max 25mb). PDF2GO can shrink your PDF if you do not have Acrobat.

5. I’ve never been hired for professional work before, can I still submit my work?
Of course! If you're an artist, submit any interior, cover, colors, lettering samples you've done on your own or for self-published books. If you're a writer, submit any completed self-published comic you've worked on (no scripts will be accepted, period).

6. I missed the deadline to submit my work. Is it okay to still send it in if it’s before the selections have been made?
No, late submissions will not qualify due to the large number of submissions that need to be reviewed. Please meet the deadline, and if you cannot, keep an eye out for a future edition of the program.

7. I don’t think my work is good enough. What’s the point?

Portfolio Reviews arenʼt a competition to see whoʼs the best, but rather an opportunity to learn how to improve. Weʼre actively looking for creators who we think could benefit from one-on-one time with an Editor to take their work to the next level.


"One of the most fulfilling parts of this job is being able to meet creators and check out their work," said David Wohl. "It’s something that I enthusiastically look forward to because I know how hard it is to get into the comic business. There are so many amazingly talented people all around us who are searching only for a chance to be seen, and without live conventions, those opportunities have been more scarce than usual. That’s why I’m so pleased to be part of the Valiant Virtual Portfolio Review—so I can see your work, and hopefully speak with you about it quite soon!"

Lysa Hawkins also looks forward to the return of attending conventions in person, but in the meantime, she's ecstatic to take part in this program. "Being able to do portfolio reviews was always one of my favorite times. So, I'm thrilled we are offering, once more, artist portfolio reviews. We had such a TREMENDOUS response last time. I'm gearing up for the tsunami of talent to come flooding in. Can't wait and you shouldn't either! We are looking forward to seeing your work!" 

Heather Antos is eager to kick off this next round of reviews and talk to people who are passionate about creating comics. "If the first two rounds of the Valiant Virtual Portfolio review taught us anything, it's that there is a TON of talent out in the world just waiting to be discovered – which is why we can't wait to open our submissions once again for Artists! Whether you've only just begun dabbling in comic art, or have been a working artist, these portfolio reviews are an opportunity for Valiant to see what's out there, but also for us to give feedback to help artists reach their next level. Bring. It. On!"
 

Please remember to review all of the guidelines carefully before sending your submission. Good luck and Valiant's Senior Editors look forward to checking out your portfolios!
 


RUN THE COMICS 5K, Part Thirty-Six


 


I’ve been numbering my entries, picking up where I left off with the I LOVE COMICS 3000 CHALLENGE as one of the participants on the Captain Blue Hen Facebook page. This started as a challenge from friendly comic shops in Ohio and Texas, originally as the 1,000 Comics Challenge, then the 2021 Comic Book Quarantine Odyssey, and then I Love Comics 3000 - - all goals met by the group of Captain Blue Hen customer participants.  I’m curious to see how long it takes me to read that many comics. My journey began with the 1,000 Comics Challenge on approximately March 15, 2020.

 

#666 - #673 DEATHLOK Books One-Four (Marvel Comics, July-October, 1990)

These are four double-sized deluxe editions that listed at $3.95 in 1990 and contained 46 pages of story, so I’m thinking this should count as eight issues.  A good, fast-paced action adventure written by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright with the art divided between Butch Guice (Book One and Two) and Denys Cowan (Book Three and Four).  

By now (2020) we’re all pretty familiar with the story idea of a loving family man trapped inside a murderous killing machine (Bloodshot, Spawn, etc), but I believe Deathlok preceded them all. I remember reading the first iteration of Deathlok (Luther Manning) in 1974 and thinking it was a pretty cool original concept. 

     

Another family man, research scientist Michael Collins, discovers that the cybernetics project he’s working on for Roxxon Corporation is part of a plan to create the ultimate death-machine for hire - - a cyborg. Since this requires a human brain to compliment the A.I. computer technology, and Roxxon can’t risk Collins speaking to the press or government, he is murdered and becomes Deathlok. 

     

Collins breaks free of corporate control and travels to South America to prevent Roxxon from exterminating an Indian village and trashing the rainforest in order to erect a damn. There he confronts the corrupt exec in charge of the project, Harlan Ryker, and prepares to kill him. But Ryker has a counter-offer: a chance to return as Michael Collins in his preserved frozen body as long as he accompanies Ryker to Japan for another dirty deal.  Will he sell his soul in order to regain his humanity, or do the right thing and help Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. take Ryker and Roxxon down? Featuring a guest appearance by Sunfire. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.



#674 THE AVENGERS #377, Volume 1 (Marvel, August 1994)
Quicksilver gets the spotlight in a solo tale that’s complete in one issue. While wandering the streets of New York, Pietro Maximoff encounters prejudice both racial and provincial. He interrupts a beat-down of street thugs by The Circle Of Pavane, a trio of super-powered children of Pavane, a mutant from Pietro and Wanda’s homeland. 


Pavane has a long-time grudge against Pietro from an assumed snub and rejection when he was interested in dating Wanda, as a protective brother kept him at a distance. They come to an understanding before the issue ends, but not without a dangerous incident that helps to bring them together. 


Nice speech with a friendly message from Quicksilver at the conclusion: “I am a mutant like you, after all. Closer in spirit no matter the divergent paths our lives have taken. . . . You’ve experienced hatred firsthand from people who hate our kind. . .  Yet you chose to pass on your own petty hatreds to your children. . . . You were breeding a legacy of hatred, passing it onto the innocent. This, I find unforgivable.” Good story-telling from Joey Cavalieri and Grant Miehm. FOUR STARS.





#675 COMMANDERS IN CRISIS #1C (Image Comics, October 2020)
Two other members of this group have already written about this title, so I’ll try to say something different here. I want to start off by thanking Matt and Joe for bringing this book to my attention. Sure, I scanned through it when it came out but passed on buying it because I’m a bit jaded when it comes to superhero titles. Glad I decided to take a chance. I’m really interested in this book for three big reasons . . . . .

  1. It’s a morality play disguised as a superhero team book. Time travelers from the future coming back to an undesignated year in order to steal . . . emotions!  “No hope left in the future so they’re taking ours!” says Noah/Prizefighter to Nina/Frontier. To which she replies: “Hope? They should’ve gone farther back.” Gotta agree with her when at the same time there’s a debate in Congress about separating into 52 (!! love that number) separate nation states. And that last page line is an absolute killer: “Someone killed Empathy.”
  2. The various heroes are not from this version of Earth, and share a commonality: they were all American Presidents on their respective homeworlds. (“Commanders” - makes sense now). But it’s the powers of two female heroes that strike me as original that really make me want to see how this is developed. Originator creates innovate vocabulary words that instantly change reality. Seer can see into the future or past (obviously) but can only access power one minute at a time. Runner-up in my level of interest is Sawbones, action surgeon, who’s a badass.
  3. Steve Orlando is the writer, someone on my list of creators to watch. (Keep an eye out for Kill A Man, original graphic novel coming out in November - -  Rocky gets a mixed marital arts prizefighting update, and how!)  I’m not familiar with artist Davide Tinto until now. His style is expressive, fluid, and easy on the eye. FIVE STARS.


#676 ILLUMINATI #1 (Marvel Comics, January 2016) It was time to pull another book from the bargain “brick” purchases. Guess they won’t all be winners. The best thing about this is the cover art. 


The original Illumunati (Bavarian history) was a secret society with a defined purpose. So, when Marvel resurrected the name for a group of super-heroes hiding away a cosmic cube - - that sort of fit. But here, the New Illuminati is a group of super-villains led by the Red Hood, determined to steal a pile of weapons from Asgard and as Hoodie says: “There is a new world order coming. This is just the first step . .  of the New Illuminati.” That’s really stretching the definition and usage of the name. Ho hum. 


Best thing here is a heartfelt dialogue between Titania (who wants to go straight) and her imprisoned beau The Absorbing Man (who reluctantly agrees to run away and become farmers - like that’s going to happen!). But she gets snared into joining the Hood, even after She-Hulk tries to find her a job. The rest of the gang is Thunderball, The Mad Thinker, Enchantress, and Black Ant. Ho hum, part two. This ran for seven issues, but I don’t care to seek it out. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS. 




#677 ROGUE PLANET #5 of 5 (Oni Press, September 2020)
An appropriately horrific ending to a series that is a very successful blend of science-fiction with horror. Hopelessness, thy name is Rogue Planet! The art and colors by Andy MacDonald and Nick Filardi are stunning. 


The final twist at the end caught me by surprise. Even though I never really bonded to any of the characters, I was super-engaged and worried about the outcome. Master writer Cullen Bunn strikes again! Now I need to read this over again from the beginning, to pick up those little details I didn’t notice the first go-around. FIVE STARS.







#678 DARK ONE #0, SPECIAL PREVIEW FCBD 2020 (Vault Comics, May 2020)
This is a look at the first chapter of an upcoming graphic novel series. Brandon Sanderson is an award-winning fantasy novelist. The preview contains three and one-half separate highly detailed scenes from the story, that I have to think have been presented out of sequence in order to allow for a better overview. That might backfire, as parts of this seem like an entirely different story that was thrown into the mix. 


Lots of characters, and lots of complex situations. A fantasy world. Serial killer in the modern world. A despotic ruler that everyone fears but no one sees so far. A prominent lawyer who employs the mother of a character from a different scene. The lawyer can cross over from modern to medieval worlds. The most interesting character is the young man battling inner demons, taking counsel from a disembodied faux sister, and a baffled therapist trying to diagnose his specific condition. I’ll certainly take a look when this comes out.  FOUR STARS.



#679 WE ONLY FIND THEM WHEN THEY’RE DEAD #2 (Boom Studios, October 2020)
I like comics that are out of the ordinary. WOFTWTD is definitely different and unique, but it doesn’t have its’ hooks into me yet. Al Ewing’s science fiction fantasy about the vastness of outer space serving as a graveyard for gigantic dead gods has me intrigued enough to pick up Issue #2, but it needs to enthrall me by Issue #3 or I’m going to bolt. 


   Captain Georges Malik and his lover/navigator Jason Hauer are both tired of harvesting body parts of dead gods and long to break away from the confines of Control and the Escort ships (like security guards at a prison) to search the unknown for a “live god”. They pull the remaining two crew members of their autopsy ship into the scheme and make their break, with a determined Escort Ship piloted by Paula Richter (who has a big murderous grudge against the Captain) in pursuit. 


   My other beef is with the art, often dark and muddy. I know there is a lot of creative experimentation being done with colors these days, but the vivid color changes from panel to panel aren’t really helping to tell the story and I can’t discern the choice of hues has any significance. It’s just annoying and disorienting - - unless that is the main intention. Issue #3 has to convince me to stay on this ride. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.



#680 BATMAN #100 (DC Comics, Early December 2020)
The Joker War ends in satisfactory (for me) fashion, and I have new respect for what James Tynion IV is doing with this title. None of us expected this to culminate in a to-the-death final battle between Batman and The Joker. For a brief moment it looked like curtains for Joker, and not at the hands of Batman, but . . . . nah, ain’t gonna happen. 


Fabulous art and colors, and several memorable and touching scenes. Last page introduces new foe, cool-looking-in-armor The Ghost-Maker, who will appear in Batman #102. Back-up story focuses on vigilante Clownkiller (who I affectionately named Rooster Clownburn) and gives some insight into his principles as Batman attempts to rein him in. I think we’ll see him again, and I welcome that. 

FOUR STARS.










#681 BATMAN #101 (DC Comics, Late December 2020)
I miss Jorge Jimenez on art, but Guillem March’s style is a sweet surprise. “After The Laughter” Bruce Wayne/Batman has to consider the path forward. Stripped of many of his resources as a result of the Joker War he has to reconfigure himself for a new Gotham. The fight scenes with Grifter (surprise!) are very well-done. Lucius Fox will continue to play a supporting role, as well as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (hurrah!). FOUR STARS.



#682 DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL ROBIN KING one-shot (DC Comics, December 2020)  Sometimes we let our impulse purchases get the best of us. I didn’t need this $5.99 book, but I do enjoy the writing of Peter J. Tomasi, especially his handling of Damien/Robin. To be far, I’m not following the whole Death Metal saga so I’m missing the background details for this story. Robin kicks the crap out of a slew of DC heroes, major and minor. Does it really matter? Interesting art by Riley Rossmo, but not a style I want to see a lot of. THREE STARS.