Hey everyone. Welcome to another edition of UTF’s Weekly Comic Reviews, I’m your Godzilla-loving host, Daniel Alvarez. It’s been a pretty cold spring to say the least, why don’t we warm it up with some comics? This week bring in not one, but two My Little Pony comics. (Hope you’re ready for some good laughs!) We also have a stellar Judge Dredd Year One issue, among other cool stuff. Let’s get started.
A Distant Soil #39
A Distant Soil #39 gets a three and a half out of five from me. I don’t know what’s happening, but I know that I like it so far. I long for a little color however and I can’t accurately judge the comic without doing a little back reading. I look forward to more!
There have been many stories featuring overly curious children falling into precarious situations, and this arc is no different except for the fact that the child in question is Hope Estacado. The resulting pages offer a riveting journey into both her young mind and the agenda of the Ancient Ones delivered in a way that only this unique team could possibly illuminate.
If you would have told me that a series set in an alternative history of the United States, which ultimately resulted in a steam-punk rendition of the west would be this compelling I wouldn’t know what to think of you and your opinion. But thankfully the talented duo behind this makes it all work while yielding a truthfully accessible tale and leaving me utterly impressed.
When it comes to biblical satire that plays not just with the concepts but the current society’s view on them, I can’t think of a more entertaining property that has pulled off that balancing act as well as The End Times of Bram & Ben. The dynamic crew from the first issue has put their best foot forward and this final outing is just about on that same level of quality.
After narrowly escaping the wrath of the knife club, Tyler finds himself earning the ire of the stick club. After making out of a scuffle against the captain in one piece, he now finds himself in the crosshairs of the archery club along as the teachers of his school. The teacher of the exotic weapons club sends one of her best spies to get close to Shainline, but what happens when they spy becomes a double agent?
Invincible #102 has a fisticuff-laden plot made heavy by the weight of its revelations and developments. Long-time readers, in particular, will find it very rewarding.
I was absolutely excited when I found out that this series was coming down the proverbial pipeline. The concept sounded intriguing and the reunion of this team instantly peaked my interest and in the end I’m still excited about it.
The Manhattan Projects has always been full of dark humor, but issue eleven has likable characters, cheerful jokes, and heart-warming moments surpassing all its predecessors. Now I’m really scared what Jonathan Hickman will do next.
Can Rex pass the test of “The Pool of Great Reflection”? Is the dwarf immortal or has he just been given a second chance? In short, the Might Skullkickers is yet another must buy. Four out of five stars.
Despite what people may think about mystery concepts I happen to find them to be endlessly intriguing, especially when there’s a season finale followed by a premiere. Some big things happened during the last outing, and wouldn’t you know it as soon as we open this comic book we get some answers and a whole lot more questions.
After so long a wait, it’s frustrating that this issue didn’t have more to offer. That, in turn, makes it even harder to be excited about Whispers‘ final issue, whenever it may come.
Seifert’s solution for Morrow’s seemly final defeat could come off as a cop-out but given the dire circumstances, the simple brilliance of the Morrow’s plan comes off as a no-brainer. If you like horror, magic and well-timed humor, give Witch Doctor: Mal Practice a try. None of these genres is generally my cup of tea but this creative team sucked me in without much of a fight. True fans should find this, diamond in the rough, a perfect fit.
A sword wielding assassin of a futuristic civil war torn world is off to kill her next hit. But her brash behavior and desire to end her career as a killer may turn the tables on our heroin! Amala’s Blade gets a four and a half stars from me! I’m excited to read the next comic!
There have been and always will be superhero books, but what separates them from being simple copies is their unique aspects and this property is no different. What we have in this release is a mystery wrapped up in a conundrum that is simply full of twists and turns as the creative team slowly but surely strives to make a point out of all this.
When it comes to high end fantasy outings, there are many paths a tale, such as this one, can take. Some lead to over explanation and a story that simply drowns in an unnecessary amount of context while others simply embrace their world while trusting that their audience will figure it out sooner or later. Being that this is an established property this duo chooses the latter option.
The Massive continues to be heartbreaking and while it is dwindling rapidly hope still looms somewhere out there with Cal and his crew. If you enjoying rooting for the seemingly doomed, Wood gives you a book and a cast worth cheering.
How do you stop someone that is hell bent on destroying everything you hold dear? Recruit the man who can predict the future, of course! Get your copy, today!
When it comes to taking a franchise that’s been around sine 1977 down some new and exciting paths there are certainly some pitfalls that can befall even the most steadfast creative teams. Thankfully this dynamic trio works together to bring something not necessarily unique but nonetheless engrossing to these intergalactic festivities.
All in all, this isn’t a bad issue of Bionic Woman, but its not great either. Its a little generic at times, and at other points fairly predictable, but it serves as a decent enough bridge to a hopefully better issue.
There are times that when I cover a given comic book series that I find myself eagerly anticipating the next outing as I wonder where the narrative will go from here. This is one of those books, and with each new entry my interest continues to be peaked as curve balls I don’t expect continue to be thrown into this game.
Overall, definitely one of the most interesting issues in this crossover yet. Finally the antagonist takes center stage, the dialogue is great. MASKSis truly heating up, the plot is becoming bigger. With an intriguing ending, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next issue.
It’s always a hard thing to bring an ongoing series to a close, even if there are other titles featuring the same character on store shelves. The creative team needs to find a way to give a proper send off to the various arcs and characters that have graced the pages of their title and for this book it’s no different. And fans can certainly rest assured knowing that things come to a solid sendoff.
It’s a difficult prospect having a hero take a break from larger crimes to tackle something smaller and much more local. But thankfully this exactly the type of arc the creative team and our protagonist excel at, ultimately giving fans the opportunity to watch this pulp icon work his way up the proverbial food chain.
If you like a good horror-comedy with great art Killogy is well worth your time. If you are a fan of Vincent, Ramone and Grant then it may be better, you may get an extra laugh, but for my money I would have like to have seen an all original take from Robert. He’s definitely got it in him.
All in all, this is an issue worth picking up. Its not full of fighting and explosive action, but its a refreshing breather, and definitely shows a more personalized and sensitive direction for the series; its important to have a sense of character, after, to differ the Joes from the Cobras.
When it comes to searching for an original comic book, it may seem a bit outlandish, but Jinnrise is one that makes the list despite it centering on an alien invasion. The creative team brings so much unique material to bare that its dedicated audience has no choice other than to simply turn off their brains and just have a ball with the concepts bouncing around this diverse landscape.
Wow, this was truly a great comic. A minor complaint I had with the first issue was that it didn’t feel like a Year One for Dredd, it felt like another gritty story in Mega City One. That changes here, we really get to see what a young Dredd is like. Not only that, but the story reaches new heights with a great balance of mystery and action. This is by far the best Dredd comic IDW has put out.
Overall, another great issue of My Little Pony. Not only will it make you smile, it’s also a really engaging read for its epic story. Rarity has never been written better. Fluttershy gets some of the funniest lines, and Shadowfright is a pretty cool antagonist. Not to mention that Luna is getting a lot of great page-time in this arc. With the insane ending, it’s going to be a long wait until Issue #7.
Overall, this is definitely the best Micro-Series issue yet. Rarity might not be the fan favorite Pony, but I can guarantee you’ll have a deeper appreciation for her after reading this comic. The writing is top notch and the art is always a blast to look at. Let’s not forget to mention all the wonderful references and cameos for fans to see.
When it comes to the adventures surrounding these mean green fighting machines, there have been quite a few interpretations or continuations over the years but few compare to this one. What he have here is a tale that’s guided by the steady hand of one of the original creators that happens to powered by some new forces, the combination of which unleashes their talent in interesting ways.
All in all, whilst this can’t live up to the last issue, it doesn’t have to. The team behind More Than Meets The Eye #16 know when they need to take something in a different direction. This issue is all about what happens afterwards, dealing with the various consequences rather bluntly. It does still thread future plot points in as well, meaning this is something most people are going to gain something from.
McMillian does a very nice job with True Blood and it is an adaptation that continues to grow on me. I start to wonder what I’ve been missing on TV all these years, good books will do that and for that I’m thankful. If you are a fan of the show it would be in your best interest to read this comic as well.
Too often events feel like afterthoughts that exist only to milk a dedicated audience out of their hard-earned cash, but devoted followers of the Grimm titles can rest assured that this feels like something that will be worthwhile in the end.
GRIMM FAIRY TALES PRESENTS VAMPIRES: THE ETERNAL #1
With Grimm Fairy Tales Unleashed in full swing, is our world ready to deal with the menace born forth by the reappearance of vampires? The truth is no, because they’re monsters and since the Earth largely believes that they’re fake it doesn’t necessarily leave humanity in the best possible position. But thankfully their leader and her followers have some adjusting to do in this modern reality.
Another week, of course, brings another 2000AD. This week, 2000AD #1829 contains Judge Dredd, Dandridge, Zombo, Tharg’s 3rillers and Stickleback. Let’s take a closer look at each individually.
S#!T Talking Central