Kennel Block Blues #4 wraps up an excellent series that had all members of the creative team providing a high level of quality within their own expertise to capture a real sense of heart, humour, and entertainment, all while continuing to play with the comic form.
Welcome Back #7 Written by Christopher Sebela Art by Claire Roe Colors by Jeremy Lawson Letters by Jim Campbell Published by Boom! Studios Man, however awkward it was for you to meet your significant other’s parents, surely it won’t beat out Mali meeting Tessa’s. The issue opens where the previous one left off with the …
Kennel Block Blues #3 is a high point for the series so far. What began as a satirical, comedic take on the prison genre through animals in a kennel has turned into an even more emotional story than originally expected.
The Last Contract is ultimately the story of a man, a nameless hitman, who represents, in a Sisyphus-like manner, someone who cannot escape the world and activities they have been cursed to repeat. Even after retirement and an attempt at making a life for himself, The Man has found himself in the middle of a heated scenario.
Goldie Vance #1 is rooted in the teen detective genre, but Hope Larson and Brittney Williams put their own spin on it through their charming setting and a sparkling cast of characters.
Lumberjanes #24 ends the selkie arc as it hits its next stride. Taking examples from the girls themselves, the creative team works together to bring the arc home in a satisfying way. While Watters, Leyh, Pietsch, Laaiho and Aiese may not be going for the same badge April was in this arc, but they certainly deserve one after delivering a finale where everyone gets to shine while still wrapping up the story in a way that never feels too rushed or leaves anything hanging. This is the kind of story you want going into the third year of a comic, and it doesn’t disappoint.
There’s the infamous Joker quote from The Dark Knight that gets applied to wrestlers Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens a lot more lately. “You and I are destined to do this forever.” That’s essentially what the story of Mali and Tessa has been up until this point. Two souls locked in conflict until the end of time, always coming back and finding each other. Welcome Back #6 throws a wrench in that concept though and explores if it is possible for them to do so.
The creative team continues to present a very playful and funny prison drama, parodying the genre in all the right ways so far. Switching Oliver’s fantasy sequences to more morose images was rather unexpected but definitely works with the ante going up and the action moving forward in this issue.
With a plot steeped deep in Adventure Time lore, Adventure Time #50 wasn’t for me, but more knowledgeable fans may get a kick out of it. The comic is technically sound though with creative lettering from Steve Wands to show how overblown and melodramatic the Lich is, bright and spooky colors from Maarta Laiho, and fun, expressive art from Ian McGinty. If you like a certain type of pet or hero cycles, the last few pages will be a treat.
As of this moment, POWER/RANGERS UNAUTHORIZED has 17,539,292 views. Even counting for repeat viewings, such speaks to the many millions of Power Rangers fans thirsty for new content featuring such classic characters updated to appeal to more modern and mature sensibilities. Higgins and Prasetya’s new ongoing more than satisfies that thirst. While comics have never reached so large an audience, every fan of that fan film owes it to themselves to check out issue #1 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. For all their tonal differences, both are equally reverent translations of commercials for children into art for adults. And best of all, the comic is just getting started. Now is the time to jump aboard the series. Now… “It’s Morphin Time!”
Welcome Back #5 Written by Christopher Sebela Art by Claire Roe Colors by Jeremy Lawson Letters by Jim Campbell Published by Boom! Studios Man, Sebela and Roe really know how to make their audience wait for it with this book. If you just read the first volume of Welcome Back, you’ll be happy to know …
Welcome Back is a superb action story that is simultaneously a classic tragedy. Mali is an extremely relatable heroine for this day and age, which makes what happens to her even more confounding and sad.
The first issue of The Last Contract introduced the main character without a name, designated only as ‘The Man.’ He was last left off on the hunt, forced out of retirement, for a blackmailer who holds some information that ties The Man and a fellow criminal named Burrell amongst others to a list of hits that, if publicized, would reveal their hidden businesses.
With its visual flair courtesy of artist Caitlin Rose Boyle and colorist Mickey Quinn and a lead character that is part passionate fangirl and part misanthrope, Jonesy #1 is one of the most fun new releases of 2016.
Kennel Block Blues does an excellent job at parodying prison genre tropes through many of its sequences that perhaps shows how beaten down the genre really is but manages to stay fresh and even off-putting at times within the anthropomorphic world.
John Flood #6 is a revealing issue that utilizes both the telling script of Justin Jordan, the stunning artwork of Jorge Coelho (whom easily has his most intensely drawn issue) and the colours of Tamra Bonvillain who switches between wide open blue/green skies to red blotches of blood that stain clothes and splatter from the moments of violence.
Toil and Trouble #5 is a must read with its continually wondrous and awesome art. The writing is perfect too as the tale comes near its close.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? does its job fairly well as an interpretation of the novel. Parts have been changed from the prose of the novel. Nor does it have the cleaner world of the movie version. But the comic has much to offer for readers and can serve as a good introduction to the tale.
The Last Contract starts off with a heavy foot to the pedal, creating a world quite quickly with characters that have a real sense of history. It is very difficult to take a hitman as a character and produce a story that feels fresh and exciting but it appears that this title is in more than capable hands.
Toil and Trouble #4 has a ton to offer in the way of action, drama, and fine character moments. The artwork is stunning and great for the establishing the world of the characters. The tale of the sisters Smerate, Riata, and Cait shows how each other’s choices impact the lives of individuals and their fates. Give Toil and Trouble #4 a read today!
Power Up! #6 Written by Kate Leth Illustrated by Matt Cummings Letters by Jim Campbell Published by Boom! Studios Well, all good and fun things must end. Power Up! #6 is the last issue of the series, with no announcement of a sequel or ongoing status currently. How does it stack up as a finale …
Ending on yet another cliffhanger, the arrival of John Flood #5 could not have been any more enticing. Things have really begun to escalate after Flood and the still mysterious serial killer came to a head in the last issue, making it appear all the more likely that their stories are bound to end in shedding one another’s blood.
While this issue does put out a lot of information, Power Up! #5 avoids being an exposition dump. Cummings’ art is on point as usual, outdoing himself on the character design of these intergalactic warriors, and Leth makes you feel like you’ve known them forever, despite only being introduced this issue. What it may lack in action scenes, it makes up for in great tandem work to give great character moments and the backstory everyone has been waiting for. Well, most of it. There’s still one issue left, you know…