Review: CURSE WORDS #3

CURSE WORDS No. 3
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Charles Soule
ART: Ryan Browne
COLORS: Michael Garland with Ryan Browne and Michael Parkinson
LETTERS: Chris Crank
COVER: Ryan Browne
VARIANT COVERS: Paolo Rivera; Ryan Browne
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Rated M / Mature

Curse Words is a new ongoing fantasy comic book series from Image Comics.  It is the creation of comic book writer Charles Soule (Twenty-Seven, Image Comics) and artist Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts, Image Comics).

Curse Words stars Wizord, a wizard from another world who appears one day in New York City, specifically Central Park.  Of course, the first people to encounter him end up in an unfortunate situation, but eventually Wizord is seen as the city's “sorcerous protector.”  A confrontation with a murderous rival, however, made Wizord do something terrible to the city, and now, he has to come up with an incredible fix-it.

Curse Words #3 opens on the Hole World where Ruby Stitch prepares for her assault on Wizord.  First, however, she has to complete a mission for her boss, Sizzajee.  Meanwhile, Wizord is drowning his trouble in alcohol at the local watering hole because he recently was stripped of his powers.  His familiar, Margaret the koala, has a plan, though...

Curse Words instantly impresses with its eye-popping art.  Still, I have been waiting for this series to fall on its visually striking face, and this issue, it finally did!  Naw, it didn't.  I just love this comic book even more.  Every page simply makes me want to hurry to the next page.  I am sure that some people see this on the shelves and think that it looks too weird.  Judge a book by its cover; weird is good , and Curse Words is a fantasy and magic comic book worth having.

I still think Curse Words could be a standout title.  It might already be...

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication and reprint rights and fees.

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Review: SURFACING: Depth Perceptions #1

SURFACING: DEPTH PERCEPTIONS No. 1
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Nenad Cviticanin
COLORS: Santtos
LETTERS: Krugos
EDITOR: John Ward and Denise Thompson
COVER: Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rated: “M” for Mature

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is a four-issue comic book miniseries from Approbation Comics.  It tells the story of a young man who visits an oceanic research facility where he discovers a creature of fairy tales and myth that should not exist.  Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Nenad Cviticanin; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1 opens with the reunion of childhood friends, Marcus Wright and Anton Parker.  Parker is in charge of an expensive ocean research facility, so Marcus assumes that he and Anton will catch up on old times before Anton makes a business proposal to him.  However, Marcus soon discovers that Anton has a mermaid trapped inside the facility, and the revelation of this creature of myth could change, ruin, or end Marcus's life.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1 is one of the prettiest comic books Approbation Comics has published to date.  The cover for the first issue features a gorgeous illustration and shimmering colors by Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz.  The interior art by Nenad Cviticanin is well-drawn and cleanly drawn line art, which results in strong storytelling, especially in conveying how what is said by one character affects another.  The colors by Santtos also reflect a clean and clear science fiction aesthetic.  In a way, the coloring here recalls the sparse but evocative color photography of the film Ex Machina.

This first issue also offers some of B. Alex Thompson's most effective dialogue writing; it is fun to read the conversations between the characters.  One can be forgiven for thinking that this is a Brian Michael Bendis script, but, no, it's Thompson's.  He is a polished veteran comic book writer, and he makes this first issue an effective tease for the rest of this series.  And I want more... of that hot mermaid!

8 out of 10

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #1's ComiXology page.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: CHAO CAMPUS #22

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES No. 22
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Bernard Gita and Luis Arellano
COLORS: Russell Vincent Yu and Alex Rayn
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
COVER: Kevin Wallace
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rated: Teen 13+

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies created by B. Alex Thompson

“Smart Zombies, Part 2 of 2”

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  It is created by B. Alex Thompson and published by his company, Approbation Comics.  The series is set during a zombie invasion and follows the adventures of three members of the sorority, Epsilon Alpha Zeta Upsilon (EAZY):  ass-kickin’ Jaime Schaeffer, brainy Paige Patton, and sexy Brittany Miller.

The current story line is “Smart Zombies,” which is set at a luxury hotel where a group of scientists hide a major secret.  This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Bernard Gita and Luis Arellano; colored by Russell Vincent Yu and Alex Rayne; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #22 finds our intrepid trio meeting a talking zombie!  His name is Lucian and he maintained his intelligence through the process of death and zombie resurrection.  Jamie detests Lucian, but Paige is willing to hear what he has to say.  Also, the girls find that not all the scientists want them around, although one male scientist wants to... turn the page... so to speak.  Meanwhile, Lucian tests the limits of weird science and plots a new apocalypse.

It has been at least three years since I last read an issue of the main Chaos Campus series, although I did read the special issue, Chaos Campus: Extra Credit #6.  In the years since I first read an Approbation Comics title (well over a decade), I have noticed that B. Alex Thompson has become a stronger comic book writer and that has served Chaos Campus quite well.

The series, which tends to spoof just about every corner of American pop culture, still throws in a reference, here and there.  However, Chaos Campus has become a highly-polished horror comics gem.  The dialogue is sharp, and the action and drama are solidly constructed and written.  Thompson is also quite good at writing single-issue and two-issue stories.  I also think that Lucian looks to be a good, long-term adversary of our chaotic heroines.

So zombie fans should apply for admission to Chaos Campus; it is actually easy to start reading this comic book.  You can enter at practically any point in the series.

A-

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

Chaos Campus #22's ComiXology page.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Review: ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM Volume 21

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM, VOL. 21
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yusei Matsui
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Bryant Turnage
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITOR: Annette Roman
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9339-5; paperback (April 2018); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Assassination Classroom is a science fiction, comedy, and shonen manga from creator Yusei Matsui.  The series was originally serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from 2012 to 2016.  VIZ Media published an English-language adaptation of the series in graphic novel, beginning in December 2014 and recently ending in April 2018.

Assassination Classroom focuses on the so-called “End Class.”  These are the outcast students of Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High.  They are trying to kill their teacher, and they have the perfect excuse.  Their teacher is the monstrous, alien-like octopus that recently destroyed 70% of the moon.  This creature becomes Class 3-E's teacher, whom the student name, “Koro Sensei,” and he promises to destroy the Earth after the 3-E students graduate.  Thus, it is up to these students to kill their teacher in order to save the world.  They are the “Assassination Classroom.”

As Assassination Classroom, Vol. 21 (Chapters 178 to 179 to Final Chapter; entitled Time to Say Thank You) opens, Koro-sensei is dead.  The students of the Assassination Classroom killed their teacher, but there are extenuating circumstances.  Now, the class prepares to graduate, but what does the future hold and how will the legacy of Koro-sensei affect them?

[This manga contains bonus manga, “Time to Come Home,” “Time to Go to the Izakaya,” “Time to Reveal Identities,” “Time to Say Thank You,” and “Tokyo Department Store War Journal.”]

The Assassination Classroom manga has reached the end of its run.  The series is often variations of the same, although the usual is usually quite entertaining.  It is like a sitcom about students learning to become assassins while trying to kill their other-worldly teacher, and creator Yusei Matsui finds comedy in characters as well as in situations.

Assassination Classroom Graphic Novel Volume 21 is the final volume of the series, but it is not so much a finale as it is a coda.  Vol. 20, in which the teacher is killed, is really the final volume.  With Vol. 21, Matsui offers a bit of sweetness to his readers.  There are some extra stories that Matsui produced to accompany the anime based on Assassination Classroom, and this volume also reprints the manga Matsui produced before this series.  I hope this series stays in print, and it probably will digitally.  Assassination Classroom deserves to find new readers for years to come.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for May 23, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

MAR181251    ADVENTURE TIME BEGINNING OF END #1    $3.99
MAR181252    ADVENTURE TIME BEGINNING OF END #1 SUBSCRIPTION DAGUNA VAR (    $3.99
MAR181279    BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA OLD MAN JACK #9    $3.99
MAR181280    BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA OLD MAN JACK #9 SUBSCRIPTION ACT    $3.99
MAR181255    LUMBERJANES #50    $4.99
MAR181257    LUMBERJANES #50 CONNECTING FISH VAR    $4.99
MAR181256    LUMBERJANES #50 SUBSCRIPTION FISH VAR    $4.99
JAN181365    MISFIT CITY TP VOL 02    $14.99
JAN181333    MOUSE GUARD HC VOL 03 BLACK AXE B&W ED    $99.99
MAR181307    RUGRATS #8    $3.99
MAR181308    RUGRATS #8 SUBSCRIPTION BRUNI VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 23, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

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NOV170051    HALO RISE OF ATRIOX HC    $19.99
MAR180042    INCOGNEGRO RENAISSANCE #4 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180109    JOE GOLEM OCCULT DETECTIVE HC VOL 02 OUTER DARK    $24.99
MAR180086    WITCHFINDER GATES OF HEAVEN #1 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 23, 2018

DC COMICS

MAR180250    BATGIRL #23    $3.99
MAR180251    BATGIRL #23 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR180262    BATMAN BEYOND #20    $3.99
MAR180263    BATMAN BEYOND #20 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR180275    DETECTIVE COMICS #981    $2.99
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MAR180291    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #45    $2.99
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MAR180293    HELLBLAZER #22    $3.99
MAR180294    HELLBLAZER #22 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR180231    JUSTICE LEAGUE NO JUSTICE #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
FEB180305    LEGIONNAIRES TP BOOK 02    $34.99
MAR180330    LOONEY TUNES #243    $2.99
MAR180248    MERA QUEEN OF ATLANTIS #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
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MAR180331    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #38    $2.99
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MAR180305    SUPER SONS #16 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB180290    SUPERMAN REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 02    $34.99
FEB180314    SUPERMAN THE GOLDEN AGE TP VOL 04    $24.99
FEB180291    SUPERWOMAN TP VOL 03 THE MIDNIGHT HOUR REBIRTH    $16.99
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