Off the shelf: Harbinger #25

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Denise
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Image: Valiant

(Note: I received a free copy of this comic from creator Vivek J. Tiwary.)

Story: Think Misfits with a dash of X-Men & Babylon 5‘s Psi Corps. Peter Stanchek is a kid with psionic abilities that looked to Toyo Harada for guidance. Bad move: Harada is a power mad loon with the usual “must control the world” agenda Harada builds through his Harbinger Foundation. Peter has banded together with other teens with similar skills…but so far even their successes are of the two-steps-back variety.

Thoughts: I’m iffy on superhero stories, unless they involve snark or mythology. The Harbinger series has neither, but the world building here is impressive. Being as this is my first dip into the storyline, I’m pretty lost; though the basics are clear, the sub-plots and character tics are lost on me.

What hits home is Barry Kitson’s gorgeous two-page spread at the end of the issue, and the one-page “sizzle reel” on the inside cover by Joshua Dysart, Khari Evans and Brian Reber. All I needed know, beautifully drawn and simply described. “Into Memory” by Vivek Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle) has the same type of groovy color focus found in Beatle, but this time it’s artist Lewis LaRosa doing the art. It’s beautiful and touching, but again, without knowing the back story? I stared at the last panel hoping I’d gotten the gist, but figuring I hadn’t. “Fan Fiction” by Justin Jordan and Rafer Roberts is a hoot, and I liked the way he pictured the teen heroes’ reactions to what’s on the interwebs.

Nutshell: #25‘s “Anniversary Celebration” feels like more of a love-letter to their fans rather than a jump-in point for newbies, with eight different sections instead of focusing on story arc continuation . (Granted, as this is my first look, this series may do this every issue. But I hope not; this format is fun as a one-off  but it’d definitely grate if I wanted story progression.) Some great, fun moments, but that’s it for this newbie.

Subscribe or Shelve?: Even though Harbinger looks like the winds of all-out war are blowin’ – the series spins off into Harbinger: Omegas next month – I’m not chomping at the bit. The characters are detailed just enough, yet I’m not connecting with them. Perhaps it’s because so much was crammed into a single issue. I would read it again if it was available, to see if the story would grow on me. But I’m not sure it’s currently my cup of tea.

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Off the shelf: Chastity #1

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Denise
(Image: Chaos!Dynamite/Bleeding Cool)

(Image: Chaos!Dynamite/Bleeding Cool)

Not only am I a sucker for horror comics, but I’ll read just about anything that’s free.  So when I saw that Dynamite was trotting out Chastity #1 (the Dynamite re-launch of the ol’ Chaos! Comics vampire assassin from the 90s) for a free look-see over at Bleeding Cool?  I looked, and I see’d.  Yeah I know it hit shops in July.  I’m slow.  So far?  Well…

Story: Chastity is a teen gymnast, or at least was until her ACL flipped her the bird.  Her mom had high hopes for Chastity’s Olympic chances, but now gives zero fucks about the poor girl.  So, what’s a teen to do but lose herself in the hottest new vampire fiction?  One thing though; it’s written by a real vamp, and that vamp wants Chastity.  For dinner.  Death’s a-knockin’, as Chastity’s origin story takes off.

Thoughts:  Fans of the original Chastity series at Chaos! will notice a BIG change in her origin story here, but with the whole YA Paranormal Romance thing that swept in like a plague of locusts is so popular now, I think it works well.  I saw the “twist” involving the author of the “Blood Rose” series a mile away — as anyone who loves vamps would — but I enjoyed the ride nonetheless.  Told in flashback, Chastity is no-nonsense and doesn’t veer off on tangents.  In fact, Chastity #1 felt a little choppy at times, but as this is an origin/Exposition Fairy issue, I’m okay with that.

Nutshell:  I’m not up on Chastity as much as I’d like — gotta admit I was more an Evil Ernie gal back then — but I love Dave Acosta’s pencils, and Thiago Ribeiro’s gorgeous (and gore-geous) colors.  Emanuella Lupacchino & Ivan Nunes bring on a hot-but-not-tacky Chastity pin-up-y pose that looks fantastic and lays out the basics of the character beautifully.  I’m liking the details and depth in this standard cover more than Tim Seeley’s subscription cover for this particular issue.

Subscribe or Shelve: Definitely looking forward to seeing where Marc Andreyko takes this character, and Ribeiro’s slaughter-riffic panels have me hooked.  I’m all in.  Off to grab #2 & 3!

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Supernatural Season 10 promises a “Dean-mon”…and karaoke?

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Denise
Supernatural-Season-10-poster-570x853

Image: The CW

SPOILER ALERT Y’ALL: if you’re all caught up on the Moose & Squirrel Show, you know that Dean has gone all black-eyed.  But what’s that gonna change?  Apparently not his love for porn, booty and…karaoke?

Check out the CW’s teaser trailer for the new season.  And if you really want to have some fun, Google “Season 10 Supernatural Poster” to see all the glorious fan art that has been making it’s way around the internet. (My favorite? No question: the “fangasm” faux-poster My Brother Is A Demon!) Let the mayhem begin!

 

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Baltimore Comic-Con 2014 Costume Contest winners!

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Denise

It’s official y’all!  There are some crazy talented folks in fandom.  I saw a few of these folks at the ‘Con (and snapped a pic of the Mothra/Mechagodzilla tag-team), but wowza.

Which reminds, me… here are a few Photos I Forgot To Post.  Enjoy, and read on for the winners (including pics!) after the jump.

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Continue reading →

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‘Afterlife with Archie’ hits the newsstand/supermarket market in October!

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Denise
Halloween ComicFest variant (ComicFest/Archie)

And let’s not forget the Halloween ComicFest variant of Issue #1….(ComicFest/Archie)

I’m a big fan of Afterlife with Archie.  It’s a great spin on an old, beloved franchise, the artwork is spooky and brilliant, not to mention that it all starts (by accident) thanks to one of my favorite characters; Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

So, I was psyched to hear that Afterlife with Archie will be hitting newsstands starting next month!  What’s the difference, you ask?  Well, for the most part comic books are relegated to comic book shops, bookshops and the online market.  A title that breaks through to a wider area — like the magazine rack of a newsstand or supermarket — is getting a bigger audience, and a spike in readership.  It also means that there could be special newsstand-specific variant covers to be had, and of course there’s the ability to pick up issues that you might have missed that are now sold out of their initial printing.

These newsstand editions will be a whopping 48 pages, which means more stuff for fans!  (That’ll also mean a bump-up in price, from $3.99 to $4.99.)  For fans of Francesco Francavilla’s award-winning work (insert shameless plug for the Ghastly Awards with Francavilla’s win here), it’s an opportunity to check out his art in a larger format.  Ooh, nice.

Sabrina_03_CovVar2

(ComicsAlliance/ Archie)

With The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina also hitting stands this October (something that was briefly teased at last Saturday’s Archie panel at Baltimore Comic-Con), it’s shaping up to be a very happy Halloween indeed.  I’ll get more into Sabrina next month, but just wanted to share the gorgeous cover of issue #3, with the Creepshow homage from Robert Hack.  Not only is it groovy, but look at all the detail.  I could stare at that cover for hours.  Hours….

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: The Maze Runner

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Denise

the maze runner onesheet

Hey gang, let’s go to the movies! Today’s free Baltimore screening fest is for The Maze Runner, and according to a fellow critic who has read the book series this film is based on, it should be a cool ride.  Here’s the synopsis….

When Thomas wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D.  Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape.  Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner.

Shady overlord organizations!  Kids in peril!  Kids in peril that decide to fight the system!  Who doesn’t love that?

Here’s how to nab yourself a pair o’ passes:

What: ADMIT TWO passes for the Baltimore area screening of The Maze Runner

Where: Cinemark Egyptian

When: Tuesday, September 16th, 2014

Why: Because I smell another YA franchise y’all!

How: GOFOBO!  Clicky!  http://l.gofobo.us/xHzEjU7M

REMEMBER: seating for screenings are first-come, first served and are not guaranteed. So get there early to make sure you get a seat.

Good luck everyone!

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Sunday wrap-up!

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodateWell, the ‘Con has left the building.  But yesterday was still a whole lot of fun, and had a surprisingly great slate of panels to choose from.  I say surprisingly because typically Sundays are “wind down” days, with a bunch of so-so panels that are really round-robins of folks chatting about whateverall (though sometimes that can be pretty awesome, it’s usually just for the niche fan).  I skipped the costume contest in order to hit a few of these panels, and protip?  If you’re sick to death of crowds, that’s the thing for you to do next year.  You’ll even have plenty of time to make your way to the costume contest finals, should you wish to freak out over the amazingness that can be found there.

The coolest part of hitting BCC this year?  Running into folks I know, folks whose work I’ve reviewed, and people who were in panels I enjoyed.  The Fifth Beatle’s Vivek Tiwary was especially gracious when I congratulated him on his Harvey wins and told him I enjoyed his panel.  His enthusiasm for the work he creates is definitely infectious, and I look forward to more of his stuff.  Ditto for The Horror Show’s James Maddox; I’ll be reviewing new stuff from both of these creators later this week….

Onward, to the panels!

Continue reading →

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Baltimore Comic-Con: Saturday wrap-up!

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodatePhew — Saturday was the usual crazy-crowded, walk-stop-walk Con that I’d remembered!  Luckily, there were some awesome panels that took me away from the merch floor, and the hallways.  Purchases so far?

* My Little Pony TPB “Pony Tales, signed by Thom Zahler!  He told me he’d love to be invited to BronyCon, so maybe next year I can get him to sign something else….

* S.H.I.E.L.D. “Staff” badge.  Because I’m not Coulson.  Hello, Halloween!  (Bonus points to the folks at that booth for printing Castiel’s FBI badge upside-down.  Because that’s exactly how Cas would roll.)

* 2014 BCC keychain, with Carnage logo on one side & BCC logo on the other.  Because I’m a sucker for dogtags.

* String Aquaman!  Someone had left a boatload of DC superhero string figurines at the “dump table” in front of the merch room.  Free!  Of course I snagged Aquaman.  Because he rocks.

Best of Cosplay for Saturday:  I did manage a few pics, but the real throwdown will be at today’s costume contest.

comicconsaturdaycos

And so onward, to the panels!

Continue reading →

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2014 Harvey Award winners announced

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Denise

This year’s Harvey Awards presentation was last night, and the big winners were led by Saga, with 3 wins. Sex Criminals, Adventure Time, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, and Best Of Comix Book: When Marvel Comics Went Underground all double-fisted with two wins each.

Read on for the full list! Continue reading →

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Frank Cho’s “World of Payne” announced at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Denise

Will post Saturday stuff later, but first? A press release of coolness. Cue announcement!

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodate

Cho/Sniegoski Project Announced at Exclusively at Baltimore Comic-Con!
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – September 6, 2014 – Frank Cho and Thomas Sniegoski are happy to announce their next creator owned project, World of Payne, at the Baltimore Comic-Con.

World of Payne is an urban fantasy graphic novel hybrid told in a unique narrative prose and sequential art style; part novel and part comic book. It’s a story of psychic private investigator, Lockwood Payne, who is actually a modern day sorcerer from an ancient society of witches and wizards and his strange misadventures in the world of the occult and unrealities. Along the way, he’s helped by his ever-loyal and unflappable friend, Doctor Hurt, an urgent care doctor in the strip mall next door to Payne’s office, and the beautiful Michelle, a witch-in-training.

The introductory book, World of Payne: Book 0 – Ghost Dog, will be published by Flesk Publications in Spring 2015. It will introduce all the major characters of this world and set up the upcoming horror adventure book series.

The Baltimore Comic-Con is being held Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7, 2014, at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located immediately across the street from the historic Camden Yards sports complex (which includes Oriole Park and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum). Tickets, a full guest roster, and additional information is available on theconvention’s website.

The latest developments regarding the show always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

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