This marks the third consecutive year that I will attempt to document my comics reading by writing at least a mini-review. The goal is 1200 books read and reviewed in 2023, although I missed the mark in 2022 by 88 books. Still, I like that number as it’s easy enough to track - - - 100 books per month on average. Wish me luck!
APRIL 28 update: Current circumstances prevent me from getting any comics reading and reviewing at this time. I’m going to fall behind this month and hope to make better headway in May 2023 . .. .
# GOAL FOR April 30, 2023. . . 400 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 344 comics documented
If you're looking for a good series to settle in with, THE SIXTH GUN has been consistently excellent and Volume 5 is exceptional, featuring some great character development and team building.
As they flee from the events of Volume 4, Becky and Drake head north and unknowingly enter a spirit world where Drake has to make some hard decisions in a turning point for his mindset. Cullen Bunn's take on the Wendigo legend enhances the power, motivation and creepiness of the winterland monster/god. I thoroughly enjoyed his version.
The nine-foot mummy Asher Cobb returns and forms an unlikely alliance with Gord Cantrell and Kirby Hale. While they search for Becky and Drake, they are tracked and harassed by agents of the Sword of Abraham. All three want to obtain the six guns, albeit for completely different reasons.
There are more developments, but I'll not comment on those so that readers can still have some discoveries of their own. The art and coloring, as always, is stellar and takes this to a higher level.
I am hooked. FIVE STARS.
"In space, no one can hear you pray "
Peter Milligan could have set this story in any timeline and it would still have been a good psychological thriller. However, by setting this in the far future it has even more impact.
The year is 2999 and mankind has abandoned Earth and settled on other worlds. Religion has been outlawed and seen "as a dangerous relic from mankind's Earth-bound past" as Milligan describes it in his afterword. Science is seen as the solution to all problems. Yet, religion still prevails and practitioners conduct services in secret and clergy often risk imprisonment and/or death to bring the faith to the dwindling masses. But, is the need for organized religion the only thing that settlers brought with them from Earth? Might they bring along other demons?
Into this world strides a tentative Father Vass, a Roman Catholic priest unsure of his faith and his ability to perform his priestly functions, and his devoted novice Sister Rais (whom he secretly lusts for). In Vass' past is an incident that troubles him continually, when he failed as a second to an older priest performing an exorcism and was disgraced by his actions.
When the "wardens" interrupt a service and come for Vass, he fears they will remove the portion of his brain that supports his faith. But, there is a different reason for his capture. Professor Czajka is an expert on long-dead alien civilizations. When he comes down with a mysterious ailment, wounds and bloody scars appear on his body, and he levitates in an inverted unconscious state while ritual-like murders occur on a settled planet. A government official wants Vass to perform an exorcism on Czajka, since all the efforts of science to cure and revive him have failed.
This is a powerful story about faith, theology, the search for meaning, and human needs and desires. Milligan has a penchant for deep exploration of the psychological make-up of his characters, and the premise of SACRAMENT provides a perfect channel for his efforts.
It seems the final solution might be clear-cut - - - as in the devil either exists or he doesn't - - - and Milligan's ending is satisfying and appropriate. The art by Marcelo Frusin is full of expressive facial close-ups of the characters and brings sufficient creepiness and horror when the story requires it. FOUR STARS.
The weird aliens just stand in place, immobile. When Dom and Birdie venture inside a truck stop/restaurant they meet a man who tells them they are in a “place that leads to other places” and where Dom needs to go to unload his cargo. To a place in the East named Golgotha. There’s more to tell, but this was weird enough to persuade me to subscribe to the rest of the series. I love a good Twilight-Zone styled mystery. FOUR STARS.
Throw in bad-ass Predator-armor-wearer Theta Berwick from Brisson’s first story arc and you’ve got the makings of a fascinating action/adventure. Plus, Brisson makes it clear she may not end up being the hero/savior of this one.
In Issue #2 there are many panels that allow the incredible art of Netho Diaz (with able inks from Belardino Bravo and Roberto Poggi and gorgeous coloring from Erick Arciniega) to move the story forward without text - - and they are stunning. Plus, in my opinion, this is the bloodiest, goriest book from Marvel that is currently on comic shop stands.
After reading Issue #1, I had mixed feelings as to whether this mini-series could sustain my interest. Now, like Picard, I am ‘engaged’. FOUR STARS.
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