Review: House of Penance #2

By Reboot

After enjoying Dark Horse’s House of Penance #1 by Peter Tomasi (w) and Ian Bertram (a) as much as I did, I figured I should give issue #2 a go. So, did issue #2 keep the momentum going after House of Penance came charging strongly out the gate last month?

One of the first things I noticed as I read this issue is the pacing. As the first issue is a slow, methodical build-up to the unknown, the second issue wastes no time jumping in head first. References the characters bring up hints at the time period, such as how the construction workers mention the Spanish-American War and Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders, but as the first issue takes the time to slowly drag you down into this world via the time period, issue #2 focuses nearly exclusively on the psychological horror of it all.

Review: House of Penance #1

By Reboot

Hey again! Reboot here. Back sooner than usual to review more comics. This time it is Dark Horse Comics' House of Penance #1 by Peter Tomasi and Ian Bertram. 

Dark Horse seems to be taking more chances lately. They've been trying out some ideas through their anthology series Dark Horse Presents with oversized issue #1's including reprints of the Dark Horse Presents material like the already released King's Road #1 and the soon to be released Weird Detective #1, in addition to original series that have seemed more inspired as of late.  Some of these chances are paying off. One of those chances that should pay off is House of Penance. 

Review: King's Road #1

By Reboot

Something I complain about in comics is that there aren't enough fantasy comics being published as floppies or graphic novels by big publishers. Webcomics do overcompensate for this, but it would still be nice to get my fix in a physical copy. I imagine part of the problem is that drawing horses are hard. Or so I hear.

As a result of this fantasy deficit at the big publishers, when I saw King's Road #1 written by Peter Hogan and illustrated by Phil Winslade and Staz Johnson come out through Dark Horse Comics, I wanted to read it. I wanted to read it so much that I read it. Which lead to me having opinions. Opinions I will share with you.

2016 Comic Reading Challenge!

Here I was, perusing Facebook as I like to do, when I stumbled upon a page promoting a 2016 Reading Challenge.  The monthly list of book requirements caught my eye.  I love the guidelines for book options, and frankly think it would be a great graphic novel reading challenge.

While I probably don't need to add more reading to my to-do list, I can't help myself.  The best part is I'm bringing you all with me!

Preview: ITTY BITTY COMICS: THE MASK #1

I have always loved the work of Franco and Art Balthazar. Their comics are always fun and entertaining for any age.  From the Dark Horse Comics Press Release:

The Mask is back, and it's Herman Shazbert's turn! When the mild-mannered zookeeper buys his wife a strange mask, the whole family wants to try it on! But watch out, Grandma Shazbert—it will put quite the pep in your step!

Preview: Pop #1 from Dark Horse Comics

Before I even start talking about Pop from Curt Pires and Jason Copland, just read the description from Dark Horse Comics:

What if the world's pop stars and celebrities were literally products, grown by the world's wealthiest (and most depraved) minds—and one of them escaped?

As unique as it is entertaining, POP is a white-knuckled thrill ride through the marketing-mastered, technologically tethered tragicomedy we call life.

Preview: Sundowners from Dark Horse Comics

I am a big fan of Tim Seeley's so I can't wait to see the newest series from him called Sundowners with artist Jim Terry.  From the Dark Horse Comics Press Release:

Faster than lightning! Stronger than steel! Crazier than an outhouse rat? Enter the Sundowners—sworn to protect humanity from interdimensional invaders! But is the threat real, or is it all in their heads?

From Tim Seeley (Revival, Hack/Slash, The Occultist)!

A dark look at the thin line between heroism and insanity!

Firefly Withdrawal

As I finished the final issue of the current Serenity comic series, Leaves on the Wind #6, I felt a tear well up in my eye. This was not for the tear jerking moments of the issue, although there were plenty. This was because, yet again, this was over. Once again, the crew of Firefly was not getting a new story to read or another fight to survive. It was an ending, pure and simple.

Over the years, geeks have taken to the scrappy crew of Firefly, riding their emotional ups and down. Still, every roller coaster ride is short-lived; from 13 episodes to a movie to a few comic mini-series and one-shots, all spread out over a decade. Most of the gaps in content are due to the creator himself, Joss Whedon, who has been busy with other projects. Still, the love from fans has kept this crew front and center in the geek world, even with nothing new on the horizon in most years.

Review: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1

Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

If you don't already know, I'm a huge Browncoat.  Yeah, super big.  Like throwing a whole party around the Firefly game.  On New Years Eve.  I turned the year playing the Firefly game while ignoring the clock.  So I was a wee bit excited for the release of Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 from Dark Horse Comics.  With the team of writer Zack Whedon, penciller Georges Jeanty, inker Karl Story and colorist Laura Martin, this series continues the story of our favorite Firefly crew nine months after the events of the movie Serenity.

NYCC '13: Interview about The Fifth Beatle

While at New York Comic Con, I had the distinct honor of sitting down with writer Vivek J. Tiwary and artist Andrew C. Robinson to talk about their upcoming graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle.  The Fifth Beatle recounts the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, showing not just his successes with The Beatles but his struggles with his life in England, where homosexuality was illegal at the time. I was lucky enough to have read the book before meeting with them (it comes out on Nov. 19th), so I was already bubbling over with questions.

Tiwary has been actually working on The Fifth Beatle for over 6 years but his education of Epstein's life started over 21 years ago. He was particularly inspired by Epstein's life because of everything he had to overcome, i.e. being gay and Jewish in the 1960's was particularly hard.  Robinson was also excited to see an end to the project, since he has been painting it for over four years. They both almost seem like they don't believe their work has been accomplished. As Tiwary put it, most Beatles projects don't see fruition so this is a huge deal.

It's time for our NYCC Con In A Bag Giveaway!!!

That's right!  The piles have been sorted and bags have been packed up!  It's time for our annual NYCC Con In A Bag Giveaway!!!

For all you new readers, the Con In A Bag is no ordinary giveaway.  This is what your giveaway bag would look like if you had actually attended the show, complete with the back pain after you carry it.  So, you get all the stuff everyone wants, like the autographs, exclusive items, t-shirts, toys and of course, comics.  But you also have the random stuff handed to you like flyers, buttons and weird little things that howl at you.  Yep, your bag will randomly howl at you on occasion.  The only thing we don't include are the long lines and back pain.

So, for this time around, we had enough awesome, amazing stuff plus weird random stuff to create TWO great bags for TWO lucky readers!  Check out the awesome stuff that will be in one of the two bags.

Look at all the prezzies!  Some of this stuff could be all yours!
Except the chair.  That stays here.

A big thank you to our sponsors ComicMix, Dark Horse Comics, and Mega Bloks.  We love these companies so very much and you should check out the awesome they produce!

So get moving and enter now!!  This contest ends when Halloween does, so get moving now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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NYCC '13: Chat with Georges Jeanty about the Whedonverse

At New York Comic Con, I got a chance to chat briefly with Whedonverse artist Georges Jeanty. And I mean briefly chat. It was exactly 4 min 50 seconds. I timed it. He did confirm some details for me about the upcoming Serenity comics. I also quickly questioned him about any upcoming involvement with Buffy.

Ok, I bulleted all the details for a quick read. Just remember, 

This post is SPOILER-FILLED so if you are allergic to spoilers, go read another tasty article on [insertgeekhere].

NYCC '13: Day Two Recap

Day Two of New York Comic Con always feels like a real con day because it's a totally full convention center. The crowds are double the volume and double the headache.

I opted to skip the people troughs this morning and arrived just before 11. First stop was checking out the latest offering from Mega Bloks. Their new Call of Duty items look fantastic! Then I went on a freebie hunt for a bit, snagging a lot including special collector's item for our bags! I also ran the gauntlet of autographs at Dark Horse comics. I got to chat briefly with Mike Norton and Dennis Hopeless (The Answer!), Bryan J. L. Glass (Furious), Donny Cates (Buzzkill and Hunter Quaid), and Eliot Rahal (Hunter Quaid).

My favorite was sitting down to interview Vivek J. Tiwary and Andrew C. Robinson about their upcoming book The Fifth Beatle. These two guys are great and having read it, I know they have created something amazing.

Review: Buzzkill #2

By Reboot

Today, I'm reviewing issue 2 of 4 of Dark Horse Comics' Buzzkill.  This is part of Dark Horse Comics' push for more superhero comics and was created by Donny Cates and Mark Resnicek.  The script itself was written by Donny Cates with art by Geoff Shaw.

For those of you who haven't read issue 1 of Buzzkill (you should read it right now then) here's the premise; a man named Ruben (that's not his real name) starts going to AA meetings again to help him get over his addictions because they give him uncontrollable powers.  Not a feeling of power,  like super strength and super speed.  They make him a super hero.  But with these powers, he's also hurt people he loves and people he's never and will never meet. 

Review: Itty Bitty Hellboy #1

Out today is the latest addition to the Hellboy universe, Itty Bitty Hellboy from Dark Horse Comics! Issue #1 of 5 is co-written by Art Baltazar and Franco, plus art by Art Baltazar. These guys do their best to bring the red guy to you and your kids.

This is an single issue of six short stories that introduce the characters in a fun way.  We get to see all the old familiars Hellboy, Liz, Johan, Roger, Abe plus the baddies Rasputin, von Klempt, and Kroenenbut.   

Review: Conan the Barbarian #19

By Reboot

Today I'm reviewing Dark Horse Comics' Conan the Barbarian #19, the start of Black Stones: Part 1 written by Brian Wood with art by Paul Azaceta and colors by Dave Stewart.  Though this is a continuation of Brian Wood's run, it is a decent jumping on point being the start of a new arc, so don't dismiss this title solely for the scary #19 on the cover.  If that's not enough to persuade you, keep reading!

This adventure follows Conan and Belit sailing on the Tigress in the Western Ocean, causing some pirate related mayhem along the way.  In this particular story, there are these scary Black Stone thingies that do stuff I don't wanna tell you because you should read it.  For the sake of clarification, they do not do good things.  We also get a mix of seafaring in addition to creepy small town craziness all in one issue!

I Survived SDCC and All I Got Is This Giveaway!

Stellar view from the
convention center

Hi kiddies!  I'm back from my worldwide traveling, which of course included that lovely week in sunny San Diego.  Just a side note, going to San Diego from the humidity-filled hell that is New York City is amazing wonderful.  Like escaping the Rancor only to find yourself in a library stocked with all the books.....and Benedict Cumberbatch is your manservant.  Just mull it over, you'll thank me later.

Review: Catalyst Comix #1

By Reboot

Today I'm reviewing another installment of Dark Horse Comics' superhero revival, Catalyst Comix #1.  This comic is divided into three distinct stories in the same universe (one lead story and two back ups) all written by Joe Casey with art by Dan McDaid, Paul Maybury, and Ulises Farinas with characters originally created by Barbara Kesel.

The book will rotate lead stories every three issues and starts with Frank Wells aka Titan.  I think this is probably for the best.  I like this format and I think it will help Dark Horse differentiate itself a bit from the big two since they don't have too many anthology books like that (They do, however, have Legends of the Dark Knight and Adventures of Superman).

Review: King Conan #2

By Reboot

Today, Issue #2 of 6 of the Conan series King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon by Dark Horse Comics hits the shelves. This is scripted by Timothy Truman, with art by Tomas Giorello and adapted from the novel of the same name by Conan creator Robert E. Howard.  After reviewing issue #1 of this last month, I was on the fence with this miniseries which compelled me to read on. Will this issue sway me one way or the other? Read on to find out!

Review: Captain Midnight #0

By Reboot
 

Today I'm reviewing the first of Dark Horse Comics' new wave of super hero titles, Captain Midnight #0 written by Joshua WIlliams with art by Victor Ibanez and Pere Perez.  Dark Horse had announced not long ago that it would be launching more super hero titles, despite the fact that they were starting to focus more on horror comics again and doing them fairly well.  I was not excited about this shift for them and think they shouldn't be doing this at all, but I thought that it was important to give it a shot.