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. This year I’m going to
fall short of the goal, but the effort was worth it . . . . .
# GOAL FOR December 10, 2023. . . 1,133 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 867 comics documented
#847 - #852 THE SIXTH GUN, VOLUME 8: HELL AND HIGH WATER by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (Oni Press, July 2015) I’ve been following this series since Volume One and have become quite attached to Drake, Becky and company. It was a shocker to see things take such an unpleasant turn in Volume 7. You can’t help but root for these characters, and suffer with them when they are defeated. As if that wasn’t enough, the bad times continue in Volume 8.
Synopsis: The Six - the cursed pistols that can destroy the world - have fallen into the wrong hands. Griselda the Grey Witch and her henchman Jesup Sutter now control the weapons. As they prepare to use the guns to throw open the gates of Perdition and condemn the world to darkness, they are opposed only by a ragtag group of desperate heroes. But Drake Sinclair, Becky Montcrief, and Screaming Crow have a few surprises in store for the ageless witch. As the apocalypse dawns, a vicious gunfight rages in the streets of a nameless city!
The Knights of Solomon (another ancient order also interested in possessing the artifacts and securing them from use) decide to step in since Sinclair’s band have failed and are hiding out. Before things play out, they also take a beating. Seems like sacrifices are the order of the day, as the Grey Witch unlocks the seal and descends into the underworld to plunge the world into eternal darkness and start anew. After enduring more battles and an apocalyptic storm and flood, Becky comes to the conclusion that the only way to win may be to stand back and watch it happen. An old friend shows up (in a new role) and provides a gateway for them to enter the gates of Hell for a final confrontation.
This was an intense reading/viewing experience as Bunn and Hurtt are rapidly tying the various plot threads together for the concluding volume.
This has been a great and consistent series, often taking things in directions that were far from predictable. FOUR STARS.
#853 - #857 THE SIXTH GUN, VOLUME 9: BOOT HILL trade paperback by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (Oni Press, September 2016) This makes the list of Top Ten Comics Series of All-Time (That I Have Read, an important disclaimer). The end was very satisfying. Both Bunn and Hurtt had a few more awe-inducing story twists and exhilarating illustrations up their sleeve for this very satisfying concluding volume. Of course I’d grown attached to certain characters and didn’t want to see them die, but this would not be a realistic story nor make the points it wants to make if nobody makes a sacrifice and all the good guys emerge unscathed.
If you like the weird western genre or dark fantasy then put this one on your list to check out. Recommended. FIVE STARS
Synopsis:
The gates of the Armageddon have been thrown open, and the world we know has been destroyed. Now, Griselda and her minions journey through the Realm of the Dead in search of the Devil’s Workshop. Giving chase, Drake Sinclair and Becky Montcrief have one chance to stop the Grey Witch before she takes control of the Workshop and recreates the world in her horrific image. Old friends—and old enemies—reappear in this final apocalyptic chapter of the hit series!
#858 - #861 BACK ISSUE magazine #148 (TwoMorrows Publishing, December 2023) When it comes to magazines about comics there is none better (for my money) than BACK ISSUE. I don’t read it regularly but grab an issue when the subject matter interests me.
This issue features DC’s line-up of space-based characters from the Bronze Age, most notably ADAM STRANGE but also the FROM BEYOND THE UNKNOWN anthology series, THE FABULOUS WORLD OF KRYPTON backup features, a spotlight on Superman villain MONGUL, and THE OMEGA MEN series. Everything is in depth, detailed, story synopsis, behind the scenes, interview with creators - - everything a comics fan could ask for. FIVE STARS.
#862 JENNIFER BLOOD: BATTLE DIARY #1 by Fred Van Lente and Robert Carey (Dynamite Entertainment, November 2023) I’ve only read a couple random issues of Garth Ennis’ JENNIFER BLOOD before this. So, I wasn’t aware that she had passed on and her daughter was assuming her identity and role. No matter if this is your first time with the character, it’s easy to pick up on the gist of things. If you like Marvel’s PUNISHER comics and vigilante/anti-hero/gun for hire type of comics then I think you will like this as well.
In this introductory/set-up issue, the new JB gains the confidence of the leader of a violent white supremacist gang who hands her the contract to rub out a corrections officer. Will she or won’t she? Maybe she’ll protect her prey and help her get the goods on the rest of the gang. Next issue should provide some answers.
There’s a very touching opening scene with JB visiting her mom’s grave to pay respects, confess that she keeps her emotions in check and uses a journal to articulate her feelings, and admit that when she’s not Jennifer Blood she feels useless: “The world is grey and pointless . . . and I think . . why do I bother?” She’s on the verge of committing suicide when a cry for help from another section of the graveyard snaps her out of it. “But, so far, at least, whenever I’m at my lowest, something always happens to rescue me, to stay my own hand . . to bring the blood back into my veins.”
An emotional moment that was ruined for me when it’s later revealed that she was on assignment, and was supposed to be at the graveyard to rescue a member of the gang, and was actually hired by them. I don’t think Van Lente made a mistake in the script - - it just took the heart out of it for me. Maybe I’ll come back for Issue #2. We’ll see. Kind of bummed that this is a $4.99 book and there are no extras. Just a 20-page story. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
NOTES: While I’m on the subject of cover prices, let me get this one thing off my chest. Today, while visiting my local comics shop I saw some interesting new series debuts from both Boom and Dark Horse. Normally, those would be impulse buys and I’d check them out to see if I wanted to follow the series. However, not when these books were priced at $7.99, $9.99 and $5.99 and didn’t appear to offer much in the way of extras. I’m just not going to spend that much on a single issue of an unproven title. What are these publishers thinking?
#863 - #864 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39 by Zeb Wells and John Romita, Jr. (Marvel Worldwide Inc, February 2024) The big Spiderman event that has been building up for months in one or two page teasers is finally here.
Actually, this is the fourth part since Gang War kicked off in November in the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: GANG WAR FIRST STRIKE #1.
On the downside I’m not a big fan of major event/crossovers in comics (with a few exceptions) and I’ve said enough about that before, so no need to rehash here. On the upside, I jumped into this story easily so there’s no need to read in order (at least in these opening stages) or feel you have to purchase 27 issues before the storyline wraps up in DAREDEVIL: GANG WAR #4 in March 2024. But, bless you if you do - - and know that all comic shops love you.
If you do decide to take the plunge, what you’ll find in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39
No casualties so far, although the credits page says that Hammerhead killed Madame Masque, who (no surprise) shows up near the end of this issue (unless that’s a new person behind the mask). I would expect some major players to be killed in the opening rounds of a gang war, but this is the Marvel U. and not the real world. However, Tombstone has been shot and is on life support while Hammerhead was hospitalized (briefly).THREE STARS.
In the first story, “La Bestia” by Ale Santos and Rafael Albuquerque a female assassin in 1971 Brazil allows herself to be captured by the police so that she can infiltrate the prison/interrogation chambers led by a brutal former Nazi officer.
The second feature, “No Tomorrow” with story and art by Stephane Louis is a time-travel (more like time-influencer) tale that takes place in a future where the Templars believe they can influence future events in such a way as to eliminate the Assassin Brotherhood by killing the last one. A romantic betrayal that leads to rescue and training by a mythogical-looking creature and finalizes in retribution. “The Assassin’s Creed is eternal.”
This was much better than I expected, with some appealing art and colors. I may have to check out Issue #2. FOUR STARS.
#866 DEAD DETECTIVE #1 by Bob Heyoka and Fabio Lima Jansen (Black Box, November 2023) While the story is interesting, there is no hook here to bring me back for Issue #2. I can guess that this series will be about the relationship between two detectives, one alive in the real world and the deceased other existing in the underworld/limbo but it never gets to that point and instead spends the entire issue revealing the incident 15 years prior (Detroit on fire, Devil’s Night, 1995) when Detective Rex Danto was killed by a devil cult. The issue ends in 2011 with his partner Jim Falls revisiting Danto’s grave, pouring a beer tribute onto the ground which opens a doorway leading down to a portal to . . . where? I am assuming it is the other dimension where he will reunite with his partner.
The art and colors are really good with some creepy imagery but the story seemed plodding and predictable in spite of that. Art alone won’t keep me onboard, especially with a $4.99 book.
The synopsis on the publisher’s website reveals where this is going:
While investigating the death of his partner, a detective discovers a portal to the afterlife. Reunited in the underworld, they must solve the mystery of a demonic cult-and save the city of Detroit from the forces of evil. It might have helped if that synopsis was included on the credits page. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#867 BLITMAP #1 by Jack Timer and Matias Basla (Sup Incorporated / Titan Comics, November 2023) Another book like DEAD DETECTIVE, where the art and colors are much better than the story. If you’re looking for a new science-fiction comic to read in a futuristic solar punk metropolis world, then you may want to check this out. It looks like video game eye candy, and that’s no surprise as Sup is the brainchild of video game developers.
What attracted me to this title is the unique publishing concept, as described on the webpage: “Every printed copy comes with a one-of-a-kind, collector's item cover. No, really. Like every single cover. No one in the world will have the same cover as you.” . . .Sup Inc.'s team of engineers and artists took 6 months to develop a new patent-pending printing technology called "Hyperpress" so that every single copy is unique. Wrapped in foil blind bags, you can discover your cover when you open it. A feat achieved without using Artificial Intelligence.
I’ve only included the foil bag art here. My specific cover features a side profile of the character Cici in the third image below the Blot-Map logo. I’ve seen some of the covers on the website and there are all variations on the 7 different panels on the bag. Mine is used several times. It’s just colored differently to make it unique. Still, a pretty cool concept.
You don’t really see what Cici looks like in the story, as she and all members of the Blitnauts faction wear television sets/video monitors as headgear. In the city of Caelum, Blitnauts and Logos battle for power. Cici is on a data retrieval mission and her group meets rich and privileged Logo Liz, who is bored and in search of adventure. Her bodyguard knows one of Cici’s group, so there is an uneasy bonding which becomes stronger when all of them are involved in a bar brawl. During the skirmish they fall into some kind of portal to an unknown location as the issue ends.
By purchasing this issue, I was able to register my unique cover via a QR code. There have been some follow-up emails from Sup, which I’m not tech savvy enough to be interested in. I’ll let them explain this part: “The Blitmap IP is completely open-source. This means that anyone is free to use the IP and imagery, in any way they want. The comic is Sup's. sponsored contribution to the growing universe of Blitmap. Want to sell merch with Blitmap characters on it? Build a Blitmap video game? Create and monetize whatever you want - the IP belongs to you. Just don't duplicate the comic issue exactly and sell it.”
I’m not planning to explore that option. But, realizing that there may be some Pop Culture Podium friends that may want to utilize this, that I’m giving you all a heads-up here. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
No comments:
Post a Comment