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I on numerous occasions talk about how much I love Scout Comics on my youtube channel. Frequently, I highlight the Scout Box (the best damn deal on the internet), and you constantly see me wearing a Scout Comics shirt (generic, or Murder Hobo, White Ash, Stabbity Bunny, or Mullet Cop!). One of the things I've vowed to do more is write about Scout (and maybe I'll be as cool as my friends and get my own discount code!) REDSHIFT #1 (Scout Comics) |
| Humans have a fetish with Mars colonization. Why? Because of an inevitable fear of the death of planet Earth (our bad....) and needing a new place to call home to preserve the human race. The world of Redshift occurs sometime after the (presumed) death of Earth where colonists are mining ice veins, and building a larger habitat for humanity. However, we learn that Mars may not be ideal enough, and the powers-that-be are calling for exploration beyond our solar system to find another Earth-like planet to save the species. |  |
Our story focuses on Hellener Drake, who appears to be nothing more than a simple colonial ice miner. However, we quickly learn the Ministry (the government) has other plans for him, in the form of becoming the Ministry's next Voyager. Apparently not only does exploration run in Hellener's family, but it is also a piece of his past, where he was an academy drop-out.
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After learning the heartbreaking tale of why Hellener dropped out, he is faced with the ultimate survival decision. Does he become the next voyager with the hope of preserving humanity...or does he focus on self-preservation and not go out on a presumed suicide mission?
Final Thoughts
Yeah, I'm definitely intrigued by the premise of this book, and I'm glad I'll have it in my hands soon through my Scout Box subscription. I think you all should pick this up because it creates a compelling narrative of survival while focusing on a family's loss. The art is extremely engaging, and makes you feel for both Hellener and the Ministry. The colors are mind blowing. I truly believe that Cheng just put on a clinic for anyone else writing about Mars, by creating an amazing colors cape to depict the red planet in all of its glory.
Even if you can't get this preordered by the 19th through your LCS, don't worry. Remember Scout has a 3-month delay between their first and second issues to ensure proper time to re-order before issue 2 drops, so use the diamond information below to hit up your LCS. OR... When the listing goes live to order on the Scout Shop and use the code BURRITO (must be all caps) you can get 10% off of your order! (Maybe I'll be cool enough for a scout code one day...)
But if you love stories of space and survival, this is the book for you!
Even if you can't get this preordered by the 19th through your LCS, don't worry. Remember Scout has a 3-month delay between their first and second issues to ensure proper time to re-order before issue 2 drops, so use the diamond information below to hit up your LCS. OR... When the listing goes live to order on the Scout Shop and use the code BURRITO (must be all caps) you can get 10% off of your order! (Maybe I'll be cool enough for a scout code one day...)
But if you love stories of space and survival, this is the book for you!
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I'm pretty interested in Science Fiction. Not just in terms of looking at the fantasy of science fiction, but I love researching all things sci-fi. I'm a huge junkie reading about space colonization/exploration, I love reading about "future weapons," artificial intelligence and more. When Jarred Lujan (Dryfoot) DMed me a birthday present (which I forgot about because of my painkillers) and then I finally got to check out his new project, this is going to hit a lot of the right notes for me...and you'll find out why below!
Crash and Troy (Action Lab-Danger Zone)
By: Jarred Lujan, Kyler Clodfelter
Release Date: July 21, 2021
 | The book opens in what appears to be the middle of some sort of heist or break-in/out. We meet the titular characters Crash (a human mutant) and Troy 3.0 (who is a human consciousness turned into AI software). I instantly know I'm going to love the book for two reasons. First, are the small things we get to know about the characters (like in Dryfoot). Second, the banter back and forth between Crash and Troy is absolutely hilarious as they are working through whatever their plan may be! |
Crash and Troy are successful in their heist/break-out (don't want to spoil what it is!) but, what they were unaware of is how their actions will have galactic consequences. The only way to get out of the situation they've created? To track down the big blue nerd, and bring him back...before it's too late.
I definitely think you should check this book out if you enjoy high action books, science fiction books, or just hilarious dialogue. I love the premise of Crash and Troy, but the way Jared has written a buddy-mercenary-comedy is really next level. What Troy does to get he and Crash apprehended made me laugh at length. The number of shots fired between the partners-in-crime had me in stitches.
Kyler's art is able to both accentuate some high-stakes action sequences as well as embrace the absurdity of the dialogue (watching cat videos while fighting android guards). I really think there is a strong connection between the artist and the writer, and it shows that they've been really developing this idea to be truly kick-ass (see Jared's newsletter for their origin story).
I definitely think you should check this book out if you enjoy high action books, science fiction books, or just hilarious dialogue. I love the premise of Crash and Troy, but the way Jared has written a buddy-mercenary-comedy is really next level. What Troy does to get he and Crash apprehended made me laugh at length. The number of shots fired between the partners-in-crime had me in stitches.
Kyler's art is able to both accentuate some high-stakes action sequences as well as embrace the absurdity of the dialogue (watching cat videos while fighting android guards). I really think there is a strong connection between the artist and the writer, and it shows that they've been really developing this idea to be truly kick-ass (see Jared's newsletter for their origin story).
Final Thoughts
Yep, adding this to my pull list is an easy decision, and it will complement the other title from Action Labs on that list "Sasquatch in Love." You have plenty of time to hit up your LCS or pre-order the book yourself, but I foresee another Lujan home-run, so you better pre-order the first printing while you have a chance, because mark my words, this book will hit a second printing!
Alright...from what I can understand from this, Scout Comics is positioned to takeover Canada in the same way they have infiltrated the USA right? In a press release, they noted:
May 4, 2021 -- Scout Comics & Entertainment Holdings Inc. is proud to announce that they are once again expanding their comic book, trade paperback and merchandise programs by signing a non-exclusive Canadian distribution deal with Universal Distribution effective immediately. Scout Comics and all of its subsidiaries (Black Caravan, Scoot!, Outsider Comics, and Tracker Collectibles) will also be available on Universal’s platform beginning in May for July 2021 release.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Universal and the hundreds of Canadian comic book shops that they have been servicing over the years. Our Canadian fans will now have the ability to get our amazing comics without having to pay high international shipping costs." -- James Haick III, President of Scout Comics
Universal Distribution is Canada’s leading distributor of comic books, tabletop games, CCG’s, trading cards, role-playing games, accessories, toys and more for over 30 years. With distribution centers in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver their focus is their customer’s success and they are continually growing and always striving to improve in every facet of the business.
Angelo Exarhakos, Owner and Founder of Universal Distribution, added, “We are excited to work with Scout Comics in distributing their products and supporting their initiatives. Universal remains committed to seeing our customers succeed and believe the new relationship with Scout Comics will help achieve that goal.”
Scout Comics & Entertainment launched in October 2015 to immediate critical acclaim. Over five years later, the comic book and multi-media company has almost 200 titles published and scheduled for future release, spanning the gamut of genres. Scout has multiple specialty imprints: Black Caravan (horror), Scoot! (kids), Outsider (LGBTQ+), and Non-Stop (first issue releases followed shortly thereafter with the entire trade paperback). Additionally, Scout has multiple movie, TV and streaming adaptations in development, including projects with Amazon Studios, FilmNation, and Disney/Freeform, among many others.
If Universal Distribution helps increase the arm of Scout Comics' reach, ya'll know I'm 1000000000000% in favor of this. Scout is doing so many amazing things through all of their titles and imprints, that I truly believe the world NEEDS more Scout Comics in their lives, and this seems to help meet their goal! Especially if this helps meet the other media goals of Scout Comics, then I think it is a great thing....so it is the opposite of the Blame Canada paradox presented to us by South Park!
 | Today, I checked my email between classes and found a happy surprise in my email... Someone wanting me to read their comic book! Behemoth is a relatively new publisher to me (and I'm kicking myself for being slow to reading their books) and today's surprise comes from their imprint Happy Tank Comics. The journey I was taken on across 30 pages is very hard to describe, but I can tell you this is an absolutely chaotic and absurd world I would love to see more of, and a journey I definitely want to watch unfold! |
Freak Snow #1 (Happy Tank Comics)
By: Kevin Roditeli and Rob Cannon
We are immediately introduced to our icy hellscape, where we've learned that three types of entities exist: Monsters and Freaks.... How the world is frozen, we don't know, but it's Hoth levels of icy. Less than five pages in, the shit really hits the fan as there is a small skirmish near some sort of watchtower. What I really love about this sequence (aside from it being high octane this quickly) is the art. The art throughout the book has an amazing level of chaotic simplicity to it, and if you lean in to check out odd little details, BOOM, YOU GET SOME HEAD BLOOD!
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After this sequence of events, we are lead to question what really happened during this incident, through meeting Berny. Berny is our protagonist, and he's joined by his two best friends, "a has-been robot cartoon character" and a cheap empty beer can. Throughout the final 2/3 of the book, Berny's friends implore him to seek the truth of what happened in the opening several pages of the book, and the storytelling mechanics are amazing.
Again, the art retains that chaotic simplicity from the opening, however, the lettering in this section of the story is what causes you to lean in, and figure out what in the hell is happening. The final 2/3 of issue one might be some of the best story telling (both textually and artistically) that I HAVE EVER SEEN. You never think you'd care about a man, his robot, and a beer can, but a compelling narrative is created, and my mind is still racing from the journey I was taken on. From transitioning to horizontal pages at one point, to seeing the three characters in different forms, to that final line, the end of issue one has deeply set its hooks in me.
The final line (which I won't spoil) may unseat "sound the congress alarms" as one of my favorite sentences I've read.
This book is bloody, chaotic, compelling, and simply complex all in one. This is something you definitely need to pick up with a May, 26th release date. I'm now actively checking the rest of Happy Tank's offerings to see if there is anything else that I can check out now!
Again, the art retains that chaotic simplicity from the opening, however, the lettering in this section of the story is what causes you to lean in, and figure out what in the hell is happening. The final 2/3 of issue one might be some of the best story telling (both textually and artistically) that I HAVE EVER SEEN. You never think you'd care about a man, his robot, and a beer can, but a compelling narrative is created, and my mind is still racing from the journey I was taken on. From transitioning to horizontal pages at one point, to seeing the three characters in different forms, to that final line, the end of issue one has deeply set its hooks in me.
The final line (which I won't spoil) may unseat "sound the congress alarms" as one of my favorite sentences I've read.
This book is bloody, chaotic, compelling, and simply complex all in one. This is something you definitely need to pick up with a May, 26th release date. I'm now actively checking the rest of Happy Tank's offerings to see if there is anything else that I can check out now!
 | So, it is NO SECRET that I am a huge fan of Mad Cave Studios. They are one of my favorite independent publishers, if not one of my favorite publishers in-general. After falling in love with their product, their talent search winners, and anyone who works there, I finally mustered-up the courage to ask if they would create a discount code for me to use on their website... As announced on today's Weekly Pull List video on my youtube channel, THEY SAID YES!!!! So, if you go to their website and use the code: POSER10 you will get 10% off of your order. To celebrate, here's my top 10 things you should snag from Mad Cave Studios using my Discount Code. |
10. Needle and Thread (Preorder)
| Needle and Thread is the upcoming PREMIER RELEASE from Mad Cave's new Young Adult graphic novel imprint Maverick. Needle and Thread is described as: "Noah and Azarie are two different kinds of people who move in two different kinds of social circles. Their paths would never have crossed if it wasn’t for the fact that both are rejecting what’s expected of them and trying to be their true selves, leading both into the world of cosplay." What is a better way to get 10% off than to dip you feet into something brand new (although you have to wait until September to get it!). Don't forget to use POSER10 |  |
9. Hellfighter Quin Vol. 1 TPB
 | I was lucky enough to get to interview the author, Jay Sandlin, about this title as the series was wrapping up. Hellfighter Quin is an awesome Mortal Kombat-style war of the realms where the Hellfighters are battling for control of the Azure Sun. "Quinlan Jones, AKA the Hellfighter, thought he’d hung up his mask for good. That changed when Harlem’s own vigilante is forced into a tournament controlled by hidden clans to gain control over the Azure Sun; a mystical stone that provides abilities to those who come into contact with it. Here, Quin will fight for his life in a series of brutal contests against assassins, cyborgs, and other beings of unimaginable power. No matter what happens, only one may claim the Azure Sun!" This book is high-octane action, with several twists and turns you may not see coming! Plus the art is KILLER!!!!! Don't forget to use POSER10 |
8. Knights of the Golden Sun (Vol 1) or Single Issues of V. 2
| This was one of the first series I reviewed from Mad Cave in 2020 after their first showcase. As I so eloquently described the series "The story is set during the 400 year period between the Old and New testaments where neither angels nor man hear from god. He literally went AFK. Everything is left in the hands of Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabrielle to hold true to their promises of not meddling in the affairs of humans while also protecting the kingdom. However, even the archangels run into a crisis of faith when they stop hearing from God, and the bad only seems to consistently get worse! Michael is kidnapped after he attempts to see if Lucifer will help defend the kingdom. Raphael is away seeing a woman he promised to protect when she was a young girl, and Uriel and Gabrielle are trying to get by the best they can." If you are current on KOTGS then you can pick up issues 8-preording 13. This series has stayed wildly compelling, and should be read by all! Don't forget to use POSER10. |  |
End of Part 1 =-)
Here's a little taste of three distinct offerings from Mad Cave. I'll release the Top 7 purchases throughout the remainder of the week! But, there is no better time than now to become a #CaveDweller and find some new AMAZING reads from an excellent publisher!
And don't forget to use POSER10 =-)
And don't forget to use POSER10 =-)
Author
The journey of a 30-something father of three who's trying to break into the world of reviewing comics after a loooooong hiatus...
Rimmey is a high school history/government teacher & speech and debate coach in Kansas. He has slowly been rediscovering his love for comics since June of 2019.
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