 Black Science #1 see below for preview images Credits: Story: Rick Remender Art: Matteo Scalera Painted Art: Dean White Lettering: Russ Wooton This was quite an interesting comic to read. In this story, a guy named Grant has convinced his wife that it would be beneficial for them to delve into the world of “Black Science”. This choice, which from the story we gather was not a good one, leads to a whole mess of things. So, the scientific research culminates in a group of people having figured out a way to go explore another planet…or universe, I haven’t quite figured out which. But, this is a very odd place. It’s got gigantic turtles (very reminiscent of the turtle in the movie Neverending Story) and huge frogs that seem to rule things, reptiles riding dragon type creatures, just all kinds of weird stuff. Apparently, Grant and his wife took their kids on this little trip along with a bunch of other people. Grant and his wife are outside getting fresh water for their travel machine, called the Pillar, can take off again at it’s soon scheduled time. In the process of this excursion, they encounter all these creatures who are, understandably, trying to kill them. I mean, if other beings from other planets came to Earth we all know that, as the planet civilization, we would try to destroy them and see them coming here as a threat. So, they are out trying to find this fresh water while, in the meantime, the travel party is anxiously waiting for them to return because takeoff is imminent. These creatures that attack them end up killing his wife. But Grant scoops up her body and they get back to their “ship”. They take off while some guy named Kadir is ranting on and on about who’s fault this all is and blah, blah, blah. But, when they land again, they are not home. They’ve landed on a planet where there is an all-out war of mass proportions going on. THE END Now, that’s the issue in a nutshell. Of course, this was an issue where there was so much said but truly, not a lot of information given to bring it all together. However, it was a real page turner and I now have to find the second issue because I want to know how this all came about and comes together. I will also say that there is a lot, and I do mean a lot, of science talk and technical jargon being thrown around and since, honestly, science in general was never my strong suit, I had a little difficulty following the story. I’m sure someone who is a fan of science-fiction and knows more about physics and such would understand more. (Chemistry was my best science subject. Physics was my worst.) But, it is an interesting idea, nonetheless. The artwork in this issue is phenomenal. Bright and colorful, great detail and a lot of imagination. It’s truly a beautiful book of art even if it turns out that you don’t like the story. Regardless, it did its job. I want the second issue. It’s from 2014 so it might be a little harder to find. But it’s by Image First Comics and that usually means there are copies floating around out there. We’ll see what happens. Thanks for reading! RATINGS Overall 3.5/5 Story 3/5 Artwork 4/5     
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 Weird Detective #1 The Stars Are Wrong see below for preview images Credits: Script: Fred Van Lente Artwork: Guiu Vilanova Colors: Mauricio Wallace/Josan Gonzalez Letters: Nate Piekos of Blambot Cover: Guiu Vilanova/Mauricio Wallace Over the weekend I read one of the strangest comic books I have yet to pick up. The title Weird Detective is apt for this guy is wicked strange. We are presented with Sebastian Greene, a hardnosed, super straight-laced detective who seems to always have all the answers. And there is a reason for that. He’s a single guy, red hair and creepy eyes. He lives alone with his cat, an animal that he communicates with telepathically. Yes, the cat can talk…sort of. The thing is the man is actually an alien. Well, technically, an alien being has taken his place in our society by making a copy of his body and inhabiting it while the real Sebastian Greene is in an incubator type thing being kept alive by machines and tubes. The aliens, calling themselves “The Great Race” have decided to come to Earth in the quest for knowledge as to how to eradicate other villainous beings from destroying their planet and lives. So, there is a war between alien lifeforms (races) and then there’s an alien presence on Earth. Now, none of the people this “detective” interacts with think it’s ultimately outrageous that he is as good as he is at his job. He doesn’t need to process any evidence or talk to anyone, he just looks at the scene and automatically knows what happened. At most, these people think he’s just a little off kilter. Nobody suspects he is anything other than what he presents himself to be. In this issue, the detective solves two homicides. One is particularly gross because the body is missing all of it’s insides. It’s just a floppy mess of skin, like a body mask almost. And it’s found at the bottom of a pool so that just amplifies the nastiness. I will say it took a little time for the premise of the story to come together. They basically waited until the last few pages to bring the whole thing together. Sometimes that can be frustrating. And the way the story is told, it’s a little confusing as to who is really the narrator here. But the artwork is cool and makes the reading more enjoyable. The images of the various aliens are interesting too. They’re not the typical alien picture with the reverse teardrop shaped head and the big black eyes and fairly human form. (It’s funny how we always seem to picture aliens looking so similar to humans, a little arrogant on our part don’t you think? They are another species. That’s like assuming a goat should look like a human being.) I’ve got five issues for this series. I am going to hope that the story picks up in the second issue. RATINGS Overall 2.5/5 Story 2/5 Artwork 3/5  Page 3 NOTE***This image happens to be in French. This image is for artwork preview. The actual comic book does NOT have French in it.  Page 4  Page 11  Page 16 top half of page  Page 20  Page 27  The Twilight Zone: 1959 see below for preview images Credits: Laughing Matter Writer: Tom Peyer Artist: Randy Valiente Colorist: Salvatore Aiala Studos Letterer: Simon Bowland Initiation Writer: Mark Rahner Artist: Colton Worley Colorist: Salvatore Aiala Studos Letterer: Simon Bowland The Comics Code Writer: John Layman Artist: Colton Worley Colorist: Salvatore Aiala Studos Letterer: John Layman In this forty-eight-page special we have three short stories in a one-shot issue. Here we have a somewhat constant theme of bullying. Our attention is drawn to the lengths people to which people will go when their only concern is themselves. We have a story of a young man, his abusive father who thrives on causing other people’s misery and the power of perception. There’s a tale of a little boy who desperately wants to be accepted by the older kids in his town and what he’ll do to get that. And finally, a cautionary tale about propaganda and profiting from deceit. Though all of these comic shorts have a similar theme they are all very different stories. Yet, each “bully” seemingly gets what is coming to them, although it might not be how you’d expect. That’s the beauty of “The Twilight Zone”. We get the classic introduction in each story as if it were the actual show. I can practically hear Rod Serling himself when I read those parts. Even though there are two different artists working on this issue, the art flows together from story to story very well. It seems to be fairly traditional comic book art but, it’s good nonetheless. I happen to prefer more bold and colorful images but, it seems the muted tones are a popular thing anymore. Still, I found the stories to be classic Twilight Zone material. My personal favorite was the last one, the story about profit and deception. It’s always struck me as interesting that the writers for this show (and now comic book series) do such a great job at taking everyday situations and turning them into a twisted tale that goes beyond what we could normally consider. Any Twilight Zone fan would enjoy this comic book. It’s truly nostalgic in a way. RATINGS Overall 3.5/5 Story 3.5/5 Artwork 3.5/5     The Twilight Zone 2014 Annual see below for preview images Credits: Takers Written: Mark Rahner Illustrated: Randy Valiente Colored: Lisa Moore Letters: Rob Steen Not Faire Written: Mark Rahner Illustrated: Jose Malaga Colored: Marco Lesko Letters: Rob Steen The Secret Over-Sharer Written: Mark Rahner Illustrated: Edu Menna Colored: Sandra Molina Letters: Rob Steen This comic book is so spot on with the television show it’s eerie. We have the sly little introduction (on TV made by Rod Serling) where they let us “meet” our soon to be disoriented friend, the short and to the point stories and the true essence of the kind of tales we have grown to expect from The Twilight Zone. “Takers” is a story about a man so against social welfare programs it oozes from his every pore…and his mouth…constantly. He winds up going back in time and believes he’s to stop FDR’s New Deal plan from going through. “Not Faire” is s tragic tale. Truly tragic. A short story about a poor man that just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere he goes (who can relate?). There’s a point where you really do feel so much sympathy for this guy. Kind of like the episode “Time Enough At Last” from The Twilight Zone television show. It’s almost heartbreaking. Then, “The Secret Over-Sharer”. Now, THIS is a tale of truth and warning, in my opinion. This story really taps into the essence of what has happened with the advent of technology and its continued growth. It’s almost like it’s taken over our lives. And this story is a tale of woe and caution. I really liked reading this annual issue. I know it’s from a few years ago but, it was so much fun to read. The artwork is good and the stories are just so classic Twilight Zone, it can’t help but make one smile while reading it. Any Twilight Zone fan would love this. It’s classic. RATINGS Overall 3.5/5 Story 4/5 Artwork 3/5  Takers page 1
 Yeti: The Adventure Begins (issue 1) see below for preview image Credits: Written/Created by: R. Lopez and WRGII Illustrated by: Alexey This is another one from Crude Comics Inc. And yet again, it’s original. This one is along the demon monster kind of line. The sarcasm is still there and continues to be fresh and entertaining. In this comic book we have some things that just don’t seem to go together but, somehow these guys make it work. We have a couple of young guys, one is obviously the brains and one perhaps the brawn but, the brawn doesn’t seem to have the brains to use his muscles. And the dynamic between these two is hysterical. They have obviously known each other for a while. Then we have the Yeti. This is a formidable foe that resembles a dark and evil version of a Big Foot type creature. And this thing looks like it means major serious business. In addition to all that we have Nazis (bad guys of course), a drunk as a skunk mountain guide who I wouldn’t trust to shine my shoes, and an incredible will of some people to be extremely nosy. (I, for one, would NOT go traipsing about in the mountains with a drunk fool and a bonehead friend in search for something that is the subject of folklore and campfire stories. But, thankfully, I’m not in the comic book, I’m reading it.) The unique story line leaves me very curious as to how things progress into the next issues. It will be an interesting joy to see how these guys bring everything together. The depictions of the characters are very detailed and creative. The bold black and white artwork is perfectly aligned with this type of plot to bring the reader to disbelief and laughter, all at the same time. These guys obviously have a vision for this comic and they are bringing it to life for their readers in amazing form. This comic would be a great read for anyone who loves the monster horror stories, stories about animals gone evil, or things that seem incredibly out of this realm of reality. It definitely keeps you smiling and keeps you on your toes. I am very curious about the second issue. I can only imagine that things keep getting better and more interesting. Visit www.crudecomicsinc.com to purchase this comic book and others! Check out what they have. I’ve already looked and these guys have a lot to offer. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crudecomicsinc Follow them on Instagram: @crudecomicsinc RATINGS Overall 4/5 Story 4/5 Artwork 4/5   Nightcall: Desire (Book 1 of 4) Credits:
Written/Created by: WRGII/R. Lopez Illustrated by: Mel “M.A.D.” Dawdy Editing/Layout by: P. Stacy Lettering by: Mike Yeager This is another original comic from Crude Comics Inc. This one is completely different than Zombiesluts. In this story, we have something much more dark and mysterious. It’s a vigilante story of sorts. A special man with a unique gift who seemingly hunts down demonic forces he is “drawn” to with his trusty hammer in hand, ready to pound justice into whomever he sees fit. The writing is brilliantly done to keep you interested and focused on what is happening. However, it’s not so easily spelled out as to what all is going on. That being the case, when you are done reading this first book you are very curious and immediately wanting the second book. There’s a healthy level of dark sarcasm and I think it works really well for the character. We don’t know his name. We don’t know what his problem is with these people he kills. But we do know he’s some sort of badass with a hammer wielding his own justice at every turn. The artwork is also very unique. I am not trained in art by any means so I can’t tell you a style name or anything like that but, I will say it is awesome. I love the bold black and white. It’s almost like sketch work in some areas too. Plus, the use of color is for emphasis and impact, like showing only the blood on a pair of hands in color, leaving the hands and the rest of the image in black and white. It really does have some impact and definitely pulls the eye to the artwork on each page. Once again, these guys have mastered the idea of unusual layout and use it to their advantage every time. I still like the fact that every page doesn’t look like every other page. It not only makes the appearance interesting to the eye but, it also adds interest to the story flow. As in Zombiesluts, some pages have multiple panels and some are full page illustrations, some have both. I think it’s a great way to showcase the creators of the comic book and their talents. I truly enjoyed this issue and its dark web of mystery and murder that it has begun to weave. I anxiously await the next book, Book 2. Visit www.crudecomicsinc.com to purchase this comic book and many others! Check out what they have. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crudecomicsinc Follow them on Instagram: @crudecomicsinc RATINGS Overall 4/5 Story 4/5 Artwork 4/5  ZombieSluts Springbreak Bloodbath #1 See below for preview image Credits: Written/Created by: R. Lopez and WRGII Cover/Illustration by: Santtos Edited: P. Stacy The generous people at Crude Comics Inc. sent me some comic books not too long ago. My favorite was ZombieSluts. This was a new comic book series to me and I wasn’t sure how I’d like it because, as a general rule, I don’t usually go for zombie content. However, this one was not only interesting but, also funny. Now, if crude content (hence the name of the company) is NOT your thing, then you won’t like the writing so much BUT, the artwork is DEFINITELY still something to be appreciated my true, die-hard comic book lovers. This artist is really talented and the art in this issue is nothing short of a unique expression of the storyline. It is very detailed. The creativity pours out onto every page. The color choices are great. And the artist’s vision of the zombie look is a really good one. It’s a great take on the traditional zombie characteristics but, there’s a little bit of redneck Billy Bob teeth kind of thing goin’ on too. It’s really good. Not only are the zombies disgusting, they are also humorous. It’s a nice spin on the horror comic genre to incorporate the comedy like they have in this series. Initially, when this was sent to me, I was informed ahead of time that there were crude jokes and bathroom humor in what was being sent to me. As I have stated before, it really takes a lot to offend me, especially if it’s something for entertainment value. Such things are so subjective and I’m just not sensitive to such things. And I was actually expecting a lot worse than what is actually in here. What IS in here is some foul language, some trashy chicks that would make a sailor blush, violence, sexual innuendo, bodily functions and much more. I would actually say that, in a way, it reminds me of a much more adult version of MAD Magazine type comedy but escalated. Which is great for me because I LOVED MAD Magazine when I was a kid. Additionally, and this is just a personal observation, they really did something different with the page layouts in this issue. It’s not just your typical panels. Some pages are full page illustrations, some have full page illustrations and then panels on top, some are the panels but, even then, they are arranged in different sizes and positions so even just that makes you pay more attention and appreciate the artistic side of what was created here. Plus, we start the issue with a quote from Gary Busey, who, and I have seen interviews with him, has put himself through a lot of crap in his time on this earth so far. So, a lot of what he says has an interesting flair to it. And this quote is no exception. Sometimes the most seemingly messed up people are actually the ones that know what’s really going on…they’ve been there. So, I am totally looking forward to the next issue. I love the amount of nastiness and vile content in this series. I mean, immoral chicks on Spring Break and zombies…what could POSSIBLY go wrong?! Visit www.crudecomicsinc.com to purchase this comic book and many others! Check out what they have. I have more reviews coming. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crudecomicsinc Follow them on Instagram: @crudecomicsinc RATINGS Overall 4/5 Story 4/5 Artwork 4/5  |
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