Welcome to this spook-tacular edition of Unleash The Fanboy‘s Weekly Comic Reviews column.  The one’s going to be a bit different because the normal master of ceremonies (Daniel Alvarez) is off and I’ll be stepping in to host.  Name’s Harrison Rawdin and I’m a resident News Editor on this wonderful website.

Below you’ll find reviews for some of this week’s releases, featuring titles from Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing and Aspen Comics.  All done in house by our ever faithful team of skilled professionals, who week-in and week-out sift through this stuff so you don’t have to.  So please sit back, relax and enjoy.

Bedlam #1

Bedlam is the story of a former super criminal who tries to atone for his past sins, all the while trying to suppress his more sadistic desires. In this double sized 1^st issue, we are introduced to Fillmore Press (his alter-ego “Madder Red”), the town of Bedlam,and a host of other side characters both important and unimportant that give us a feel for this dark tale.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

Bloodstrike #32

Tim Seeley scripts the book. This is mostly where the book fails for me; the dialogue sounds like it should be in a B-List action flick than a good story. From that stand point isn’t that bad if that is what the book is trying to accomplish. It has a good chunk of harsh language (Not for the kiddies), which isn’t bad (I mean look at Wolverine) but it’s mostly used to try and make the characters more “badass” and “edgy”, which falls flat. Especially when most of the characters come off as douchebags, I did like Suprema; her dialogue during the fight with the team was the only real good piece of conversation.

For the full review, click here.

3/5

Happy! #2

If there’s anything that Happy! owes a debt to, it’s the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” with Nick and Happy being near identical characters to the movie’s Eddie and Roger. As with the Robert Zemeckis movie, the contrast between the more realistic humans and the cartoon/imaginary characters is heavily emphasized. The difference is that Morrison is able to push the envelope on violence and mature content beyond what a widely released film ever could.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Fatale #9

Twists and turns abound, as this stellar series plays it somewhat safe as it holds close to genre tropes in order to explore and exploit its complex narrative.  From a car ride in the beginning to the desperate actions of our protagonist, the world of Fatale is ripe with conflict and intrigue.  It literally pumps quite lively with tender juices that highlight the struggles that our main cast endures as they attempt to deal with the Method Church and its crazy followers.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Haunt #27

The brothers have come to a bit of a crossroads as one of them is seeing visions and the other is losing patience.  More or less what this issue represents is the culmination of that dynamic, as our heroes come to terms with the cost of their actions while taking small steps forward.  It’s not perfectly handled but the creative team does just enough solid work to cement a rather sturdy foundation for next month’s issue.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Whispers #4

Whispers isn’t divided into storylines, but this issue still closes a lot of the initial plot threads. Sam takes care of the demon and manages to solve Vanessa’s problems, in one fell swoop, even if things don’t turn out quite as he planned. Luna’s plotting on this book has been great so far, and this issue in particular shines, even though some of the individual scenes are shaky. The “weakness” that Sam discovers is a gamechanger for the book, but it isn’t revealed until the last page. Suffice it to say that it’s a great progression of the book’s plot that’s natural without being predictable.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Witchblade #161

Since Sara Pezzini arrived in the windy city, her life has had one supernatural mess after another with each of these mini-arcs carrying a rather disjointed feel.  But somehow the pieces are steadily coming together to form an intricate and interesting road map that’s proving the mantel of this creative team.  We’ve had run of the mill apparitions, biker witches, a trip to a fantasy realm, the reveal of an underground magic trade and a mysterious company that now seems to be the string that ties it all together.  In short, it’s been an interesting run so far.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Dark Shadows #9

Mike Raicht tackles the script offering a very straight forward conclusion that has Barnabas Collins facing the sins he made long ago.  It’s a rather sturdy finish that moves the overall saga forward but by the end of it there are quite a few plot lines left dangling.  To an extent because of that fact the romp feels incomplete, as it lacks a fitting payoff.  Beyond that however, the author more than succeeds with nailing the dialogue as each character acts as fans would honestly expect them to given the situations that they’re dealing with.

For the full review, click here.

3,5/5

Red Sonja: Atlantis Rises #3

Max Dunbar delivers some passable work that ultimately offers a detailed but somewhat disjointed experience.  His pencil strokes imbue the title with action and a kinetic feel that easily sells the experience, but at the same time faces and objects look far too deformed.  It’s not that the work done here is bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just lacks consistency in its execution and style when compared to the previous two issues.

For the full review, click here.

3/5

Vampirella #24

Brandon Jerwa pens the script and this may be some of his best work to date.  A lot happens in this issue, characters are thrown into battle, people are being brutally murdered but he still finds time to offer at least a few lines of character development.  With all the sparks flying, it’s easy to forget how this all started but the author takes the time to highlight history even as the narrative approaches its cliffhanger finish.  When all is said and done, we’re left with a personal but highly action packed issue that will please longtime fans.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Vampirella vs. Fluffy #1

If you have fond memories of watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer in your younger days and you happen get a kick out of Vampirella, then this release is certainly for you.  What we have is an archetype rendition of a classic TV Show that lovingly replicates its basest qualities while having the wherewithal to delve into its own territory.  In short, this an engaging and very fun little romp.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Doctor Who #2

As for the writing itself, the dialogue certainly feels very Doctor Who-ish. At times, there are some subtle nods to the Doctor Who legacy itself; such as when the Doctor almost suggests that the monsters never just kill him. Breaking the fourth wall? maybe, but it adds a little humor even in the most tense sections, and that’s very Doctor Who.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Ghostbusters #14

Erik Burnham continues his stellar stint on Ghostbusters, and his latest script simply hits it out of the park.  Yes, there are moments where it comes off as a bit too wordy and the pace gets bogged down by unnecessary dialogue but when the time calls for it the jokes are simply there.  He finds a way to imbue the trademark wit of the iconic actors in a logical extension of the movies, while simultaneously expanding the franchise.  At the end of the day the tale being told here is incredibly entertaining and it will have fans grinning ear to ear.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #3

Whilst this is certainly interesting, it doesn’t feel long enough. To ‘fight’ – if you can even refer to it as that – between the Rocketeer and the villains on the ship is massively short lived. Obviously, giant dinosaurs are a bigger threat here, something Cargo of Doom #3 does a lot of building up to, but there is very little conclusion or final conflict here. Its all over very quickly. Then, the losing bad guy has what appears to be a sudden change of heart. It suits the confines of the story, but the writing and speed of this change of character makes it a little unrealistic or hard to believe.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Star Trek #14

Mike Johnson pens the script overseen by Roberto Orci, and for the most part it lacks the substantive imagination found in the 2009 remake.  What we have here is a basic tale about a passable comedic character that in all honesty never needed to be told.  But the life and times Keenser has some solid moments as it stretches itself thin in order to establish some competent narrative strings.  The author puts a solid foot forward and ultimately delivers a solid enough jaunt with a decent moral message but not much else.

For the full review, click here.

2.5/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #15

Whether you grew up watching the movies, tuning into the television series or playing the old video games chances are at some point in your childhood you got some exposure to these staple characters.  And if you’re like me, you’ll feel a warm and fuzzy sensation knowing that they’re around for a whole new generation to enjoy.  They’ve endured a lot of shifts and narrative changes over the years, but this latest comic book is starting to seem like the dream rendition of this saga.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2012 Review

Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz tackle the script with simplistic grace.  Their story is a silly romp that goes from bad to worse as Raphael and Casey Jones take center stage.  The dialogue is loose but sharp enough to remind you when it was written, as each character is realized with a stylistic blend of the current and previous renditions.  Whether you follow the main monthly series or not, you can easily pick this up and enjoy it from start to finish.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #10

The artwork is, as usual, great. This issue takes a few chances to show more of an old Cybertron. It doesn’t show too much this issue, yet every chance is a nice escape for More Than Meets The Eye, which is otherwise predominantly set in The Lost Light (which can be very grey at times).

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Charismagic: The Death Princess #1

Emilio Lopez is the saving grace of this issue.  His unique art style imbues a sophisticated and controlled vision that elevates every corner of this story to new and bold heights.  Any missteps the narrative takes are softened by the brilliantly placed pencil strokes that give more than enough room for error.  The end result is an experience that allows the reader to ignore the clunkier moments as they embrace the pretty pictures.

For the full review, click here.

3/5