I love discovering new things on my own...moreover I love it when people all over the success spectrum email me to check out their work. Especially folks who are early into either the creative process, or the amount of material they've shared with the world. It takes guts to put yourself out there, and I love it! Here's your subtle reminder: MY DMS AND EMAIL ARE ALWAYS OPEN FOR REVIEWS!!!! By: Edwin Leger and Benj GalutanBREAKHOLD is currently on Webtoons with 6 parts available for reading. The prologue of the story offers a snapshot into one of the two primary worlds where this story is taking place. The first world has a mythical/prehistoric feel to it. You have large mountains with their peaks enveloped in clouds, a bright violet river, and lush greenery you would expect in a forrest that may border either a river or wetlands. We get a brief glimpse of animals that seem to be some sort of warriors...and then a leaf falls, upon a young man who does not remember his name, does not know where he is, or when he comes to...what the two impending figures standing over him are. After he attempts to flee, he is caught by the two figures: Mindset (an embodiment of his mind) and Breakhold (the manifestation of his heart). After learning he is dead, but doesn't know how or why, out of nowhere a dinosaur comes (confirming his death) and it gets a beatdown by Mindset and Breakhold. Part 3 is where things offer an interesting turn where we meet Jeremiah (who is the young man in the beginning) and Joel (the popular kid) going through their high school routine. I have a very good feeling that what is happening in the "real world" will help us understand how Jeremiah arrives in the "dead world." The last thing I'll mention about chapter 3 is watching the connection between Jai and Breakhold is very Billy Batson/Shazam in a pretty cool way. The art throughout the 6 parts is also pretty cool. The landscape used in the "dead world" is breathtaking. As someone who has taught in high school for the last 13 years, the over-the-top-ness of the high school is on-point. This also has notes of what you would see in traditional comics/graphic novels, but it also feels like it has hints of manga-style influences as well. Why should you read this?
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A couple of weeks ago I decided to check out Mad Cave Studios' website and review some of the free #1's they had posted. After making it through both Battlecats and Knights of the Golden Sun #1 I knew I needed to both pick up the trades AND get my LCS to start ordering these books for me as they pick up on their next arcs. Knights of the Golden Sun Vol 1 (Mad Cave) |
This is a snapshot from the first page of the story. What hooks me to this image (and all of the environment-setting images) is the sheer eeriness of it all. The intentional use of the different shades of black and grey draw me into the vibe they are creating in Nacirema. All of the other environmental images also set the right mood for the right time. Instead of looking at some of the traditional manga characters and environments (like below) this just has amazing elements that feel like I'm staring at some weathered photographs. |
This panel has been up on their website for a while. The character design fits in the traditional manga mold. What drew me in from this shared panel were the action lines making me wonder what exactly Shuyin is getting pulled into. Seeing this panel in context of the rest of the action draws me in even more! |
6. I really like manga style in a comic book reading style. I think this will successfully reach audiences who prefer both styles.
The Bad
Final Thoughts
GI Joe #6 (IDW)
By: Paul Allor, Chris Evenhuis, Brittany Peer
However, during this mission, Fadeaway bumps into someone she used to work with at Cobra, and helps in her attempt to break free...until things go awry. The only other thing I'll say is MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IS BACK IN THE FINAL REVEAL!!!!!!!!!
What should you do? This is my first run of Joes in books, but I collected them and watched everything when I was a kid. I think they have an interesting story in the early phases, and I like how they give you "cards" in the back of each issue whenever a new major character is introduced for the first time. If you want in, this is a good run to start!
Alienated #3 (Boom!)
By: Simon Spurrier, Chris Wildgoose, Andre May
All three Sams are dealing with their alien friend and the murder they were part of in different ways, but they are still a connected mind and can understand the experience of the others. We also learn that the alien can not just pull any object requested through a portal of its own creation, but someone can travel with it, be cloaked and unseen, and still interact with their destination (which is terrifyingly cool). The Samantha is willing to use this newfound power to darker ends, where she takes out her frustration on someone who both abandoned her and forced her to lose something she loved. This was quite emotionally powerful to me. I was interested to see if she would use restraint or be blinded by her emotional anguish.
Then, there is a final nod with a potential lead in the murder case.
What should you do? While the first two took a while to grow on me, issue three starts to show the potential grander impact of the extra-terrestrial discovery. I think book 4 has the potential to blow my (proverbial) socks off (I don't think I've worn anything but flip-flops during COVID). If Samantha has a dark emotional moment from her past, I am now anxious to see if the others have similar events and if they choose to react differently from Samantha if given the opportunity.
The Flash 753-754 (DC)
By: Joshua Williamson (and 4 different talents on each book)
These two books were solid, and I was glad I got both of them together, because 753 left me instantly needing more. 754 has one hell of a cliffhanger because we can see the true awe and might of Paradox, but it gives more time to mentally prepare for the aftermath of these events in 755.
What Should You Do? This is a good arc to jump in on. If big things are coming in the next book or two, I'm glad to have jumped on this ride at 750 and not missed out. Although, I'm wondering if the events of Flash Forward are going to come into play anytime soon (as the internets seemed to indicate it may...)
Dead Day #1 (Aftershock)
By: Ryan Parrott and Evgeniy Bornyakov
That summary is actually quite accurate. We are on the verge of the fourth ever dead day. What causes it isn't 100% known, because it's not annual, it has to do with celestial alignment. While some people are preparing by buying supplies and things their loved ones may want, others are arming themselves and covering their door frames in goat's blood. Why? Because you aren't 100% sure if someone is coming back, who is coming back, and if they are friend or foe.
I really think this is conceptually engaging, and the art is on fire. I'm also intrigued to see if some of the greater evils of folks come out in a purge-style out-lash, because you could get away with anything on Dead Day....because you can blame it on a dead body which may not ever come back again.
What should you do? This is also in solid pick-of-the week territory for me. I'm normally a big fan of any of the aftershock books I pick up, normally I'm pretty close to right on their books of which will be a hit, and which ones may struggle...but I think this title could last quite some time because of all of the story angles you could drive the readers on during and after the fallout from Dead Day.
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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