With two movies, a long running spin off and countless one-shots, Hellboy is the gold standard for what creator-owned comics can be when there is that perfect combination of epic storytelling and emotionally rich characters involved. Yet like many other comic fans who know of the title, I don’t read it on a regular basis. If you are like me in this respect, you need to immediately pick up Hellboy: The Fury #1. Continue reading
Fly, Zenescope’s latest title, is the sleeper hit of the summer. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, leading the reader backwards in time, from a brutal present-day confrontation to the precise moment that is clearly at the heart of the character’s woes. Continue reading
50 Girls 50 doesn’t try to be something it’s not. The title pretty well prepares you for what lies inside, and if this isn’t enough of a clue to what awaits the reader, then keep in mind this is Frank Cho’s new comic. Having taken on writing duties with Doug Murray, Cho turns over illustrating to his new protégée Axel Medellin. Continue reading
Written by Cullen Ben and Shawn Lee, with illustrations by Matt Kindt, The Tooth stands as a perfect example of why we NEED small publishers like Oni and Red 5 Comics. It is a wonderful story, but one which defies easy categorization and clearly flies in the face of what the Big Two/Three traditionally publish. Continue reading
Focusing on licenses, and “re-developing” stagnating properties, IDW has had some major success with GI Joe, Transformers, and less-mainstream-but-even-hotter Suicide Girls comic. None of these series come close to matching the fun and excitement that IDW has returned to… Dungeons & Dragons. Continue reading
The Rocketeer, and its creator Dave Stevens, never really broke big in the mainstream comic culture, settling instead into its “classic indie” status. IDW hopes to change all that with Rocketeer Adventures #1. Continue reading
In this introductory issue of the recently reformed Canadian super-team Alpha Flight, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, and Dale Eaglesham hit the perfect balance between a comic that will appeal to all readers and a story that has some fun ‘Canadiana’ shout-out moments. Continue reading
DC’s summer super-event, Flashpoint has both the fun of an alternate reality tale and the reward of a continuity storyline. Written by Geoff “I am DC” Johns, with stunning artwork by Andy Kubert, the first issue is largely spent setting up this previously unseen ‘world’. And what a world they have crafted! Though I’m more a fan of Green Lantern than of The Flash, this event looks to be far more exciting… and dare I pun ‘fast paced’, than Blackest Night or Brightest Day. Continue reading
Grant Morrison’s seminal run on X-Men returns to print… and just in time for the new movie! Originally penned when the first X-Men film was reigniting the public’s favour with these long running characters, Morrison sought to incorporate new, modern elements while remaining true to the spirit of the earliest issues. What resulted was signature-style Morrison bizarre, which is to say, pure mutant gold. Continue reading
Heavily embedded in the culture and locations of Queen Street West, Snow, by Benjamin Rivers, is a very Toronto-centric indie graphic novel. It’s the 30-something equivalent of Brian Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim saga, but with a more culturally relevant storyline and less manga-influenced art. Continue reading
Too often, when famous and successful franchises are mixed together for a crossover, you end up with a total disaster. Danger Girl and Army of Darkness manages, though not as well as the respective source materials, to be a fun, fast-paced, action-packed read! Continue reading
Yet another Point One issue from Marvel, and I’m starting to notice some trends. Creator change-ups on titles; less forced back-story exposition; and the stories are just getting better and better! Secret Avengers #12.1 has all of these elements and is possibly the best issue yet in this stellar series. Continue reading
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