#IReadsYou Review: SURFACING #2

SURFACING No. 2 (OF 3)
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/BACK COVER: Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. / $1.99 digital-comic (2018; digital release date – October 31, 2018)

Rated: “M” for Mature / 17+ Only (comiXology)

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is a four-issue science fiction and horror comic book that focuses on the drama and conflict that plays out between two friends and a mermaid at a oceanic research facility.  Before that series, there is an earlier comic book, simply entitled Surfacing, which is also published by Approbation Comics

Surfacing is a three-issue comic book miniseries, and it is written by Approbation Comics' mastermind B. Alex Thompson.  Surfacing is a horror anthology, with each issue apparently offering a different story based on a similar theme – a violent encounter with a mermaid-like creature.  Like Surfacing: Depth Perceptions, Surfacing is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Nenad Cviticanin; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos, with gorgeous cover art drawn by Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz.

Surfacing #2 opens on a rural highway in the state of Michigan, circa 1970s.  A young woman named Daisy is hitchhiking when she hops a ride with four friends:  Mary and her boyfriend, Justin, and Mary's best friend, Lisa, and Justin's best friend, Bobby.  The quintet stops at a small gas station and grocery store, where the elderly proprietor warns them against going “upriver,” where these young people plan to enjoy some swimming.  Of course, they ignore him; of course, they suffer dearly for it.

I did not know what to expect of Surfacing, especially after I so enjoyed Surfacing: Depth Perceptions.  It turned out that I thoroughly enjoyed Surfacing #2, which reminds me of dark fantasy anthology series like the classic  “The Twilight Zone” (1959 to 1964) and the 1980s “Tales from the Darkside.”  Damn, once again, B. Alex Thompson, one of my “Top 5” comic book writers, kills it.  I had a blast reading this comic book.  In fact, I think Thompson would have made a better choice than Stephen King's brat, Joe Hill, to write TNT's planned “Tales from the Darkside” reboot, which ultimately went nowhere, of course.

Once again, artist Nenad Cviticanin delivers lovely art and excellent storytelling.  Cviticanin's clean drawing style seamlessly moves from character interplay to kinetic action to horror fully realized.  This is like a teen slasher movie with a sprinkle of the classic film, Jaws.  The coloring by Santtos is equally smooth, but also consistent.  Every page, regardless of the action, has the same color scheme, which helps the transition from the tension of slow boil to blood-letting intensity creep up on the reader.

As they did for Surfacing: Depth Perception, artists Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz draw fantastic cover art for Surfacing.  The front cover offers a striking layout design, and the back cover art captures the fun of summer, but drops in the premonition of summer camp doom.

Yes, I'm going there:  Surfacing rises to the top!

9 out of 10

Buy Surfacing #2 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: GEEK-GIRL, VOL. 2 #5

GEEK-GIRL, VOL. 2 No. 5
MARKOSIA ENTERPRISES, LTD. – @Markosia @daSamJohnson

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Sam Johnson with Mark Darden
ART: Carlos Granda
COLORS: Chunlin Zhao
LETTERS: Paul McLaren
COVER ARTISTS: Sun Khamunaki; Carlos Granda with Chunlin Zhao; Lady Larkin
28pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 23, 2019) – print and digital edition

Rated T+ / 12+ only

Geek-Girl created by Sam Johnson

“School's Out”

Geek-Girl is a comic book character created by Sam Johnson (The Almighties).  Geek-Girl debuted in a 2016 miniseries and returned in a second miniseries, Geek-Girl Vol. 2, which became an ongoing series.  Geek-Girl Vol. 2 is written by Sam Johnson; drawn by Carlos Granda; colored by Chunlin Zhao; and lettered by Paul McLaren.

Geek-Girl focuses on Ruby Kaye, a sexy and popular college coed who inadvertently becomes a superhero.  Ruby dons a pair of super-tech eye glasses that gives her super-powers.  Ruby's BFF, Summer James, then talks her into trying to be a superhero, even providing her with a moniker.  Now, Ruby is Maine's newest superhero, “Geek-Girl.”

Geek-Girl Vol. 2 #5 (“School's Out”) opens in Acorn Ridge, Maine in the aftermath of the attack by the hyper-destructive super-villainess, Lightning Storm.  Now, former super-tech weapons dealer, Johnny Carlyle, who has apparently turned philanthropist, is making Ruby a surprising offer.  Before a public gathering at the reopening of a police station destroyed by Lightning Storm,  Carlyle announces the formation of the Kaye Foundation, which he has named after Ruby.  The re-opening of the Acorn Ridge Main Street Police Station is only the Kaye Foundation's first move.

Its next move is to form a brand new superhero team, this one headed by Geek-Girl!  Shocked as she is, Ruby has to get down to business and start gathering team members like “The Minger,” “The Whupper,” “Guano Guy,” and “Mr. Marvelous Man.”  Meanwhile, there is a lot going on for everyone – personally, professionally, and supernaturally...

Creator-writer Sam Johnson sent me a PDF review copy of Geek-Girl, Vol. 2 #5, as he has sent me PDF review copies of his other comic books over the past few years.  He thought that this latest issue of Geek-Girl would be of interest to readers because (1) it is a longer than usual issue and (2) it can be a “jumping-on point” for new readers.

Actually, just about any issue of Geek-Girl is a good jumping on point because Johnson provides a detailed summary of the previous issue and of the series in general inside the front cover of each issue of Geek-Girl.  Hell, I will credit Johnson as at least a good comic book scribe simply on the basis of his skills at summarizing his narrative.  [Marvel Comics titles include a summary of the previous issue and the story arc in general; DC Comics (stupidly) does not, likely just because Marvel does.]

I saw a lot of potential in the first Geek-Girl miniseries, and, although I only read the first issue of the second miniseries, I did see the potential being reached.  Now, I want to go back and read issues #2 to 4, but, I don't really need to do so.  The summary works; issue #5 is indeed a good jumping on point, and it is a good read.

I like Sam Johnson's quirky stories, and what I like most about the Geek-Girl series overall is its sense of humor and positive attitude.  Ruby and her friend, Summer James (who took on the Geek-Girl role for a bit), are “always game.”  Geek-Girl is never grim and gritty even when the villainous situation is actually kinda grim and gritty.  Issue #5 teases interesting characters and plants some seeds of darkness, not to mention that Johnny Carlyle seems kinda shady.

Artist Carlos Granda's clear-line drawing style is still a little shaky on the line, but his compositions reveal his ability to draw just about any kind of edifice, object, item, vehicle, etc. found in the real world.  Granda's graphical storytelling is also as vibrant and as vivacious as this series' lead character.

Chunlin Zhao's rich colors make Granda's illustrations look pretty and pop off the page.  Paul McLaren's clean lettering is the graphical element that grounds the narrative in a balance of humor and a sense of mystery.

Readers looking for female superheroes will find a winner in this Geek-Girl comic book.  Both the character and the comic book are ready for readers looking from something fresh.  You know, those are the readers who don't go to the overgrown, vacant lot of traditional superhero comics... where you can smell decaying small animals... for their superhero fun.

8 out of 10

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

www.geekgirlcomics.com

You can buy Geek Girl Vol. 2 #5 at comiXology.


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: CHAOS CAMPUS #26

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES No. 26
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Jose Henrique and Anita Zaramella
COLORS: Anita Zaramella
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
EDITORS: B. Alex Thompson and John P. Ward
COVER: Ricardo Mendez
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2015; digital release date – September 21, 2016)

Rated: Teen 13+ / 15+ Only – comiXology rating

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

“The Road to Salvation, Part 2 of 4”

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running comedy-horror, adventure, and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  It is the creation of B. Alex Thompson and is 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’ Jamie Lynn Schaeffer, brainy and magic-wielding Paige Helena Patton, and sexy Brittany Ann Miller.

The current story line is “The Road to Salvation,” which finds the Chaos Campus trio in the middle of a squabble involving a human sanctuary, called “Salvation.”  They also deal with the fearsome “Neo Zombies” and with a Jamie-lookalike.  “The Road to Salvation” is written by B. Alex Thompson; and illustrated by Jose Henrique and Anita Zaramella; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #26 opens as Paige and Brittany and Tyler (Paige's brother) and forces from Salvation East meet Jamie's lookalike from Salvation West, Aimee.  Pardon me; that's “Princess Aimee.”  Thanks to this spoiled princess, Jamie is about to learn more about her past... and her parentage.

Meanwhile, in Salvation West, Jamie makes a colorful discovery about one of her captors.  Now, it is time to hear from Princess Aimee's mother, Queen Raimee, the leader of Salvation West, about the origins of the schism of Salvation.  And it involves some mad scientist shiz-nit.

I have mentioned before that I believe that Chaos Campus has hit a stride since the series numbering arrived in the “20s.”  It is one of my favorite comic books, and I like watching everything that has happened so far come together to form a solid block of entertaining that is on par with any comedy slash humor titles published by Diamond Distributors' premiere publishers.

“The Road to Salvation” story line is a standout because it not only offers origin stories of its main cast, but it is also pulls back the curtain on the series' backstory.  This issue features solid graphics from the team of Jose Henrique Anita Zaramella, and Elisa M. Coletti.  As always, Thompson gives his readers an engaging story that has me ready for the rest of this story arc.

8 out of 10

Buy Chaos Campus #26 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SUCKER: Book One: Living After Midnight

SUCKER: BOOK ONE: LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
COMIXOLOGY/Polite Strangers

Kickstarter campaign to support Sucker is here.

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

PLOT: Jason McNamara and Tony Talbert
SCRIPT: Jason McNamara
PENCILS: Tony Talbert
INKS: John Heebink
COLORS: Paul Little
LETTERS: Jason McNamara
EDITOR: John Heebink
MISC. ART: Brian Wood (logo); Tony Talbert with Stephen Buell; Justin Greenwood with Paul Little; Greg Hinkle; Tony Talbert and John Heebink with Paul Little
ISBN: 978-1-5323-8060-0; paperback (July 2018)
66pp., Color, $9.95

Age: 17+ Only / Mature Readers

Sucker is a vampire comic book series published by comiXology as part of its “comiXology Originals.”  Sucker: Book One is written by Jason McNamara (plot/script) and Tony Talbert (plot); drawn by Talbert and John Heebink (inks); colored by Paul Little; and lettered by McNamara.  The series follows a band of vampire hunters forced to suddenly reunite when a powerful, ass-kicking vampire reawakens.

Sucker: Book One – Living After Midnight opens on the upper east side of Manhattan.  Two clownish thieves accidentally awaken a slumbering vampire, Douglas Jacobs, once upon a time a successful stock trader in the 1980s.  He had not been seen since 1988, but now he is back for a mysterious reason bigger than his own wants.

Enter hard-ass vampire hunter, Clyde Benton, and fellow vampire slayer, the brass knuckle-wielding priest, Father Harrison.  They have been called back into service by “Frontier Innovations” and its taciturn Director Sullivan to take down Jacobs.  This time, however, this hugely successful vampire-smashing unit faces a monster that is (1) most resourceful and (2) very hard to kill.

Don't think of Sucker: Book One as some kind of small press, indie, or self-published comic book.  Think of it as what it is – highly-polished, high-octane genre entertainment.  Its script is probably of better quality than any Syfy original horror films, and is as good or even better in some cases than the writing on straight-to-DVD, VOD, and streaming horror entertainment.

In the case of Jason McNamara's script, I can trot out many of the slang declarations used to describe exciting action movies:  hellraisin', rip-snortin', balls-to-the-wall, etc.  When it comes to the story's internal mythology, McNamara drops it here and there throughout this first book in a way that both teases and intrigues.  However, the action is so frenetic that the reader will have other things to occupy his attention.

That artist Tony Talbert co-plots this first issue shows in the page-by-page and panel-by-panel flow of the explosive action scenes, which are thrilling to behold and bracing to read.  Talbert's graphical storytelling and graphic design of individual pages are advanced enough to make me wonder why he has not produced more work for the bigger publishers.  John Heebink's precision inking seems to streamline some of the wildness in Talbert's storytelling, while directing its power right at the reader.  For instance, the characters' emotions are wild and aggressive, but it reads as being genuine rather than as being over the top.  Heebink's inking also sharpens the inventiveness in Talbert's illustrations.  There are some exceptionally visually striking images in Sucker: Book One (especially those involving the vampire's “union” with vermin).  They are clear, rather than impressionistic.

It would be a sin to not acknowledge the coloring by Paul Little, which is often spectacular in this first book.  Sometimes, it is muted and reminds me of the coloring in DC Comics' 1970's horror comics, (House of Mystery, Swamp Thing).  Other times, Little's hues have the rich and vibrant quality that a talented artist can get using modern coloring techniques.

I must admit that I only sought out Sucker: Book One because I am a fan of inker John Heebink's work going back to Metacops! (Fantagraphics Books), an odd, sci-fi comic book he drew back in the early 1990s.  My fanboy inclinations were rewarded, as I am shocked by how much I like Sucker: Book One.  I practically tore through it once I started reading.  It is one of the best of the recent vampire comic books, along with Jonathan Maberry and Tyler Crook's Bad Blood (Dark Horse Comics).

I recommend Sucker: Book One – Living After Midnight without reservation to fans of horror comic books, especially to fans of vampire comics and fiction.  One might even say I now have a blood lust for Sucker: Book Two.

9 out of 10

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

http://jason-mcnamara.com/
John Heebink: https://twitter.com/JohnHeebink

By Sucker Volume 1 at comiXology.

The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: HELLBOURNE #1

HELLBOURNE No. 1
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Rowel Roque and Jethro Morales
COLORS: Ronson Edulan
LETTERS: Krugos
EDITORS: John P. Ward and Denise Thompson
COVER: Jethro Morales with Alivón Ortíx
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. / $1.99 U.S. comiXology; (2017; digital release date – June 14, 2017)

Rated: “M” for Mature / 17+ Only – comiXology rating

Hellbourne is an action and horror comic book series.  It is created by B. Alex Thompson and is published by his company, Approbation Comics.  The series focuses on the violence and chaos that ensue when demonic creatures emerge from a large hole in the middle of an urban highway.  The first issue is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Rowel Roque and Jethro Morales; colored by Ronson Edulan; and lettered by Krugos.

Hellbourne #1 opens in an unnamed city, where, on a major highway, there is an enormous hole.  No one knows what caused this hole, but city workers investigating the hole become snacks for the creatures that emerge.  It seems that Earth is about to turned into Abaddon, the Tenth Circle of Hell.

Now, an angel and a demon, both leading their respective charges, find that being on Earth gives each of them that familiar feeling.  Even the U.S. Army has difficulty fighting this demonic invasion.  And how do Justin Foster and his younger sister, Amber, fit into all this?

First, I have to say that I really like the art team of Rowel Roque and Jethro Morales.  This duo's Hellbourne work is quite polished, and they could certainly draw for one of Diamond Distributors' premiere publishers.  Their storytelling here is good, and Ronson Edulan's pretty coloring creates shifting moods and changes in atmosphere that heighten the drama of the story.

I am intrigued by the premise B. Alex Thompson offers in Hellbourne.  However, as always, his vibrant character writing makes this worth reading.  Thompson has been writing bold, non-super-powered female characters for two decades, but because Thompson is not a fan-favorite comic book writer, he does not get credit for that.  Still, the proof is in his delicious flavors of Approbation pudding.

Well, Hellbourne is a good place to discover Thompson's engaging characters.  And there looks to be some excellent hell-born hellraisin' fun to be had with this series.

8.5 out of 10

Buy Hellbourne #1 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Review: CHAOS CAMPUS #24

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES No. 24
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Pramit Santra
COLORS: Russell Vincent Yu
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
EDITORS: B. Alex Thompson and John P. Ward
COVER: Kevin Wallace
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2015; digital release date – September 7, 2016)

Rated: Teen 13+ / 15+ Only – comiXology rating

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

“The Pink, Part 2 of 2”

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a long-running horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  It is creation of B. Alex Thompson and is 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’ Jamie Lynn Schaeffer, brainy and magic-wielding Paige Helena Patton, and sexy Brittany Ann Miller.

The current story line is “The Pink,” which finds the Chaos Campus trio and other zombie riot survivors in a house fighting an invisible enemy that arrived in a meteor.  This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Pramit Santra; colored by Russell Vincent Yu; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #24 opens as Doctors Kim and Hollinger attempt to create a serum for the alien parasite that infects Pete.  Their next patients will be Jamie, Paige, and Brittany, and as the parasite increases aggression and gives the infected amazing abilities, curing the girls will not be easy.  Now, the infected Chaos trio can and want to deliver fatal beat-downs.

The “Pink” story line has been a nice change of pace, and since creator-writer B. Alex Thompson is often spoofing or parodying pop culture, the reader can play a game of naming the works of film and entertainment Thompson is referencing.

I see elements of the science fiction horror film, Species (1995), and the 1987 film, The Curse (which is also known as The Farm).  I am also remind of the film version of Stephen King's 1976 short story, “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill,” which appeared as a segment of the 1982 film, Creepshow.

Thompson continues to expand the emotional range of the characters, so this gives Chaos Campus a sense of character beyond the comedy and parody.  Pramit Santra's graphical storytelling here is good, and her jagged style fits the aggressive mood of the story and the infected characters tendency to tear their victims apart.  Russell Vincent Yu's coloring serves this sense of aggression and flesh rending quite well.  Plus, the ending bodes well for the next story arc.

7.5 out of 10

Buy Chaos Campus #24 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SURFACING: Depth Perceptions #2

SURFACING: DEPTH PERCEPTIONS No. 2 (OF 4)
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. (2017; digital release date – January 3, 2018)

Rated: “M” for Mature / 17+ Only (comiXology)

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is a four-issue comic book miniseries from Approbation Comics.  It tells the story of Marcus Wright, a young man who visits an oceanic research facility directed by his childhood friend, Anton Parker, who has a business deal to offer Marcus.  The facility has captured a mermaid-like creature, and Marcus finds himself caught in the mystery of this creature and of its captivity.  Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Nenad Cviticanin; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2 opens with Marcus engaging in an extensive conversation with the mermaid, who eventually gets the name “Becca.”  Anton warns Marcus that “it,” as he calls Becca, has the ability to “mess” with his mind and to manipulate people.  To squash Marcus' admiration for the creature, Anton reveals some of the events that occurred before he arrived.

The first issue of Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is one of the prettiest comic books Approbation Comics has published to date, and the second issue is equally pretty.  The cover for both issues #1 and #2  feature gorgeous illustrations and shimmering colors by Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz.  The interior art by Nenad Cviticanin gets better with each chapter, as his cleanly drawn line art reveals a confident storyteller.  In fact, Cviticanin's graphical storytelling conveys the range of emotions writer B. Alex Thompson depicts in this issue.

Among independent comic book creators, B. Alex Thompson is one of the best at writing naturalistic dialogue for genre comic books, including fantasy and horror tales.  Writing naturalistic dialogue makes the characters seem like personalities rather than being props (in fantasy) or victims (in horror).  The conversation between Marcus and Becca makes it seem as if they are two twenty-somethings on an apparently successful first date.  I had to remind myself that they were actually a human and a creature of fantasy on a futuristic research facility.

The second half of this issue does indeed offer genre intrigue and mystery.  I have to say that I am surprised, although I should not be.  B. Alex Thompson usually delivers high-quality genre storytelling, and he certainly delivers in Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2.

8.5 out of 10

Buy Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: CHAOS CAMPUS #23

CHAOS CAMPUS: SORORITY GIRLS VS ZOMBIES #23
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Pramit Santra
COLORS: Russell Vincent Yu and Schmerys Baal
LETTERS: Elisa M. Coletti
POST-SCRIPTING/POLISH: John P. Ward
COVER: Kevin Wallace
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2015)

Rated: Teen 13+

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

“The Pink, Part 1 of 2”

The long-running Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies is a horror-comedy and zombie apocalypse comic book series.  It was created by B. Alex Thompson and is 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 Lynn Schaeffer, brainy and magic-wielding Paige Helena Patton, and sexy Brittany Ann Miller.

The current story line is “The Pink,” which finds the trio and other zombie riot survivors in a house that holds a surprise.  This story is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Pramit Santra; colored by Schmerys Baal and Russell Vincent Yu; and lettered by Elisa M. Coletti.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #23 opens in the wake of the “Smart Zombies” conspiracy.  On the run with four other survivors of that debacle, Jamie, Paige, and Brittany come upon a strange meteor after an even stranger meteor shower.  Then, the group finds a house that is perfect as a shelter because it has not one, but two generators.  However, Jamie has been acting strange since her encounter with the meteor, and the house also holds a shocking connection to her past.

In the “Smart Zombies” story line, creator/writer B. Alex Thompson threw a left-hook at readers.  Chaos Campus is a humorous spin on comic books, and it is a comic take of the zombie apocalypse.  But (and its a big but) Chaos Campus offers good characters and an intriguing, evolving narrative.  With the arrival of a smart zombie, Thompson showed that Chaos Campus will defy genre expectations by whatever means necessary and unnecessary.

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies #23 is funny, and I'm assuming that it is spoofing the Species film series.  I really like the personal reveal, which is one more example of Thompson evolving our fearless zombie fighters.  This remains a fantastic comic book, and I enjoyed reading it, although I am not crazy about the artist.  Pramit Santra's graphical storytelling is good, but the technical aspects of the art is wanting, I must say.  Still, I am ready for issue #24.

8 out of 10

Buy Chaos Campus #23 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.com

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: GEEK-GIRL Volume 2 #1

GEEK-GIRL, VOL. 2 No. 1
MARKOSIA ENTERPRISES, LTD. – @Markosia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Sam Johnson – @daSamJohnson
ART: Carlos Granda – @ComicFAN
COLORS: Chunlin Zhao
LETTERS: Paul McLaren
COVER: Carlos Granda with Chunlin Zhao
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Manuel Bracci
24pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2018) - digital edition

Rated T+

Geek-Girl created by Sam Johnson

Crime War Part 1: “There's a New Geek in Town”

Geek-Girl is a comic book character created by Sam Johnson (The Almighties).  Ruby Kaye is a college coed who inadvertently becomes a superhero after donning high-tech “super glasses” that give her “super-powers.”  Now, Ruby is Maine's newest superhero, “Geek-Girl.”

Geek-Girl, who starred in a 2016 miniseries, returns in a second miniseries, Geek-Girl Vol. 2.  It is written by Geek-Girl creator, Sam Johnson; drawn by Carlos Granda; colored by Chunlin Zhao; and lettered by Paul McLaren.

Geek-Girl Vol. 2 #1 (“There's a New Geek in Town”) opens in Acorn Ridge, Maine, in the aftermath of Geek-Girl's battle with Lightning Storm.  Ruby is in a coma and taking her place as Geek-Girl is her best friend forever (BFF), Summer.  Being Geek-Girl ain't easy, however, and Summer is getting mentored by Maine's other big superhero, “Pit Bull.”  Still, Summer is having trouble getting the hang of things, just as a new menace slowly starts to create a power base.

I only read the first issue of the 2016 Geek-Girl miniseries.  Sam Johnson sent me a PDF review copy of Geek-Girl, Vol. 2 #1, so I wanted to read it because I did see potential in previous series.  I must say that I am pleased to see that this Geek-Girl comic book is getting stronger, even as the new Geek-Girl character struggles to get stronger.

I was impressed by Carlos Granda on the first mini, and his storytelling and composition are stronger this time around.  Granda has to depict Summer/Geek-Girl's trials and tribulations, but he draws her as a vibrant, vivacious character who is ready to pop off the page.  Chunlin Zhao's rich colors make Granda's illustrations look even prettier.

Sam Johnson's script for Vol. 2's first issue is a little more self-assured than his script for the first issue of the 2016 series.  Johnson delves into character and personality and creates drama through that as much as he does through the fight scenes.  It all comes through clearly via Paul McLaren's clean lettering and design.  Yeah, I still think Geek-Girl will get even better.

8 out of 10

www.geekgirlcomics.com
https://www.comixology.com/

Geek-Girl Vol. 2 #1's ComiXology page: https://www.comixology.com/Geek-Girl-Vol-2-1/digital-comic/673781?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9SZWNlbnRBZGRpdGlvbnM


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.

----------------------------

Review: GEEK-GIRL #1

GEEK-GIRL No. 1 (OF 4)
MARKOSIA ENTERPRISES, LTD. – @Markosia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Sam Johnson – @daSamJohnson
ART: Carlos Granda – @ComicFAN
COLORS: Nahp
LETTERS: Paul McLaren
COVER: Carlos Granda with Chunlin Zhao
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Matt Olson; John Royle
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2016) - digital edition

Geek-Girl created by Sam Johnson

“Lightning Strikes”

Geek-Girl is a comic book character created by Sam Johnson (The Almighties; Cabra Cini: Voodoo Junkie Hitwoman).  It is the story a of college coed who inadvertently becomes a superhero.  The character is introduced in the 2016-17 digital comics miniseries, Geek-Girl, which is written by Sam Johnson; drawn by Carlos Granda; colored by Nahp; and lettered by Paul McLaren.

Geek-Girl #1 opens at night in the skies over Acorn Ridge, Maine.  Geek-Girl is flying around, talking on her phone to her BFF, Summer.  She may not look like a hero, with her booty-shorts and a crop top that can barely contain her ample bosoms, but Geek-Girl is a super-heroine.

Ruby Kaye was a ordinary student at Acorn Ridge College, but then, she hears fellow college student, Jeff, bragging about “super glasses” that give the wearer “super-powers.”  Ruby decides she has to try them on, and before you know it, she is a super-hero.  When she sees a costumed baddie brutally beat-up Maine's resident super-heroine, “Neon Girl,” Ruby finds herself suddenly thrust into being a real superhero, “Geek-Girl.”

Sam Johnson sent me a digital review copy of Geek-Girl #1 some time ago, and I was recently reminded of its existence because the latest Geek-Girl miniseries is set to debut as a digital comic book available through ComiXilogy.  I did peruse the PDF after I first downloaded it, and I was impressed by Carlos Granda, the artist on the series.

Granda's compositions are strong, and he is close to being ready to draw comic books for Marvel and DC Comics (if he has not already).  The lettering by Paul McLaren is professional level, and Nahp's coloring is a little to incandescent, but some of the color effects look good.

Sam Johnson's story is a bit odd.  Ruby Kaye wants to be just-another-girl and a superhero at the same time, but seems socially awkward.  The enjoyable part of the story is watching Ruby work around her conflicts and contradictions, and there is good dramatic potential in the fact that she is blissfully naive about the fact that she is over her head and out of her league.  In Geek-Girl #1, Johnson shows that he has the ability to deliver indie superhero comics that are not only good, but also have the possibility of getting better with each new episode.

7 out of 10

www.geekgirlcomics.com
https://www.comixology.com/

Geek-Girl #1's (2016) ComiXology page: https://www.comixology.com/Geek-Girl-1/digital-comic/434944?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9Jc3N1ZXM

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.

-----------------------

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.

------------------------

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.

--------------------------------

2017 Eisner Award Winners Announced (Complete List) - "Saga" Leads with Four Awards

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also simply know as the “Eisner Awards,” are awards annually given for creative achievement in American comic books. The awards are named for pioneering comic book writer, artist, and publisher, Will Eisner. Some consider the Eisner Awards to be the preeminent awards that honor American comic books, even referring to the awards as “the Oscars of comic books” (which is so obviously ridiculous).

The Eisner Awards also include the Comic Industry's Hall of Fame. The Eisner Awards are associated with the annual Comic-Con International convention held in San Diego, California, in July. The Eisner Awards have been given annually since 1988, with the exception of 1990.

The 2017 Eisner Award nominations were announced Tuesday, May 2, 2017. The winners were announced Friday, July 21, 2017 at a gala ceremony held during San Diego Comic-Con International 2017.

The 2017 Eisner Awards judging panel consisted of Alan Campbell, Rob Clough, Jamie Newbold, Robert Moses Peaslee, Dawn Rutherford, and Martha Thomases.

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Winners 2017:

Best Short Story

“Good Boy,” by Tom King and David Finch, in Batman Annual #1 (DC)

Best Single Issue/One-Shot

Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In, by Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series

Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best Limited Series

The Vision, by Tom King and Gabriel Walta (Marvel)

Best New Series

Black Hammer, by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston (Dark Horse)

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clanton (Tundra)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)

Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (Marvel)

Best Humor Publication

Jughead, by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan North, Erica Henderson, and Derek Charm (Archie)

Best Anthology

Love Is Love, edited by Sarah Gaydos and Jamie S. Rich (IDW/DC)

Best Reality-Based Work

March (Book Three), by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Top Shelf)

Best Graphic Album—New

Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (DC Comics)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

Demon, by Jason Shiga (First Second)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

Moebius Library: The World of Edena, by Jean “Moebius” Giraud et al. (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (at least 20 years old)

Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Colorful Cases of the 1930s, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books (at least 20 Years Old)

The Complete Wimmen’s Comix, edited by Trina Robbins, Gary Groth, and J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)

Best Writer

Brian K. Vaughan, Paper Girls, Saga (Image)

Best Writer/Artist

Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (Pantheon)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Jill Thompson, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (DC); Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers)

Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)

Best Coloring

Matt Wilson, Cry Havoc, Paper Girls, The Wicked + The Divine (Image); Black Widow, The Mighty Thor, Star-Lord (Marvel)

Best Lettering

Todd Klein, Clean Room, Dark Night, Lucifer (Vertigo/DC); Black Hammer (Dark Horse)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

The A.V. Club comics coverage, including Comics Panel, Back Issues, and Big Issues, by Oliver Sava et al., www.avclub.com

Best Comics-Related Book

Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White, by Michael Tisserand (Harper)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation, by Carolyn Cocca (Bloomsbury)

Best Publication Design

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, designed by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)

Best Webcomic

Bird Boy, by Anne Szabla

Best Digital Comic

Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain/comiXology)

Hall of Fame:

Judges’ Choices:

Milt Gross

H. G. Peter

Antonio Prohias

Dori Seda

Inductees:

Gilbert Hernandez

Jaime Hernandez

George Pérez

Walt Simonson

Jim Starlin

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award:

Anne Szabla

Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing:

Jack Kirby, William Messner-Loebs

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award:

Mark Andreyko, Joe Ferrara

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award:

Comicazi: Robert Howard, David Lockwood, Michael Burke, Somerville, MA

----------------------------------------

2017 Eisner Award Nominations Announced - Complete List of Nominees

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also simply know as the “Eisner Awards,” are awards annually given for creative achievement in American comic books.  The awards are named for pioneering comic book writer, artist, and publisher, Will Eisner.  Some consider the Eisner Awards to be the preeminent awards that honor American comic books, even referring to the awards as “the Oscars of comic books” (which is so obviously ridiculous).

The Eisner Awards also include the Comic Industry's Hall of Fame.  The Eisner Awards are associated with the annual Comic-Con International convention held in San Diego, California, in July.  The Eisner Awards have been given annually since 1988, with the exception of 1990.

The 2017 Eisner Award nominations were announced Tuesday, May 2, 2017.  The winners will be announced Friday, July 21, 2017 at a gala ceremony held during Comic-Con International 2017.

The 2017 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of Alan Campbell, Rob Clough, Jamie Newbold, Robert Moses Peaslee, Dawn Rutherford, and Martha Thomases.

2017 Eisner Award Nominees:

Best Short Story

•    “The Comics Wedding of the Century,” by Simon Hanselmann, in We Told You So: Comics as Art (Fantagraphics)
•     “The Dark Nothing,” by Jordan Crane, in Uptight #5 (Fantagraphics)
•     “Good Boy,” by Tom King and David Finch, in Batman Annual #1 (DC)
•     “Monday,” by W. Maxwell Prince and John Amor, in One Week in the Library (Image) 
•     “Mostly Saturn,” by Michael DeForge, in Island Magazine #8 (Image)
•     “Shrine of the Monkey God!” by Kim Deitch, in Kramers Ergot 9 (Fantagraphics)

Best Single Issue/One-Shot

•     Babybel Wax Bodysuit, by Eric Kostiuk Williams (Retrofit/Big Planet)
•     Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In, by Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)
•     Blammo #9, by Noah Van Sciver (Kilgore Books)
•     Criminal 10th Anniversary Special, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
•     Sir Alfred #3, by Tim Hensley (Pigeon Press)
•     Your Black Friend, by Ben Passmore (Silver Sprocket)

Best Continuing Series

•     Astro City, by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (Vertigo/DC)
•     Kill or Be Killed, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
•     The Mighty Thor, by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman (Marvel)
•     Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang (Image)
•     Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best Limited Series

•     Archangel, by William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith, Butch Guice, and Tom Palmer (IDW)
•     Briggs Land, by Brian Wood and Mack Chater (Dark Horse)
•     Han Solo, by Marjorie Liu and Mark Brooks (Marvel)
•     Kim and Kim, by Magdalene Visaggio and Eva Cabrera (Black Mask)
•     The Vision, by Tom King and Gabriel Walta (Marvel)

Best New Series

•     Black Hammer, by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston (Dark Horse)
•     Clean Room, by Gail Simone and Jon Davis-Hunt (Vertigo/DC)
•     Deathstroke: Rebirth, by Christopher Priest, Carlo Pagulayan, et al. (DC)
•     Faith, by Jody Houser, Pere Pérez, and Marguerite Sauvage (Valiant)
•     Mockingbird, by Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk (Marvel)

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)

•     Ape and Armadillo Take Over the World, by James Sturm (Toon)
•     Burt’s Way Home, by John Martz (Koyama)
•     The Creeps, Book 2: The Trolls Will Feast! by Chris Schweizer (Abrams)
•     I’m Grumpy (My First Comics), by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random
•     House Books for Young Readers)
•     Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clanton (Tundra)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)

•     The Drawing Lesson, by Mark Crilley (Watson-Guptill)
•     Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)
•     Hilda and the Stone Forest, by Luke Pearson (Flying Eye Books)
•     Rikki, adapted by Norm Harper and Matthew Foltz-Gray (Karate Petshop)
•     Science Comics: Dinosaurs, by MK Reed and Joe Flood (First Second)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

•     Bad Machinery, vol. 5: The Case of the Fire Inside, by John Allison (Oni)
•     Batgirl, by Hope Larson and Rafael Albuquerque (DC)
•     Jughead, by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan North, Erica Henderson, and Derek Charm (Archie)
•     Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image)
•     Trish Trash: Roller Girl of Mars, by Jessica Abel (Papercutz/Super Genius)
•     The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (Marvel)

Best Humor Publication

•     The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp, by Lee Marrs (Marrs Books)
•     Hot Dog Taste Test, by Lisa Hanawalt (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Jughead, by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan North, Erica Henderson, and Derek Charm (Archie)
•     Man, I Hate Cursive, by Jim Benton (Andrews McMeel)
•     Yuge! 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump, by G. B. Trudeau (Andrews McMeel)

Best Anthology

•     Baltic Comics Anthology š! #26: dADa, edited by David Schilter and Sanita Muizniece (kuš!)
•     Island Magazine, edited by Brandon Graham and Emma Rios (Image)
•     Kramers Ergot 9, edited by Sammy Harkham (Fantagraphics)
•     Love Is Love, edited by Sarah Gaydos and Jamie S. Rich (IDW/DC)
•     Spanish Fever: Stories by the New Spanish Cartoonists, edited by Santiago Garcia (Fantagraphics)

Best Reality-Based Work

•     Dark Night: A True Batman Story, by Paul Dini and Eduardo Risso (Vertigo/DC)
•     Glenn Gould: A Life Off Tempo, by Sandrine Revel (NBM)
•     March (Book Three), by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
•     Rosalie Lightning: A Graphic Memoir, by Tom Hart (St. Martin’s)
•     Tetris: The Games People Play, by Box Brown (First Second)

Best Graphic Album—New

•     The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)
•     Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash, by Dave McKean (Dark Horse)
•     Exits, by Daryl Seitchik (Koyama)
•     Mooncop, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Patience, by Daniel Clowes (Fantagraphics)
•     Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (DC Comics)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

•     Demon, by Jason Shiga (First Second)
•     Incomplete Works, by Dylan Horrocks (Alternative)
•     Last Look, by Charles Burns (Pantheon)
•     Meat Cake Bible, by Dame Darcy (Fantagraphics)
•     Megg and Mog in Amsterdam and Other Stories, by Simon Hanselmann (Fantagraphics)
•     She’s Not into Poetry, by Tom Hart (Alternative)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

•     Equinoxes, by Cyril Pedrosa, translated by Joe Johnson (NBM)
•     Irmina, by Barbara Yelin, translated by Michael Waaler (SelfMadeHero)
•     Love: The Lion, by Frédéric Brémaud and Federico Bertolucci (Magnetic)
•     Moebius Library: The World of Edena, by Jean “Moebius” Giraud et al. (Dark Horse)
•     Wrinkles, by Paco Roca, translated by Erica Mena (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

•     The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)
•     Goodnight Punpun, vols. 1–4, by Inio Asano, translated by JN PRoductions (VIZ Media)
•     orange: The Complete Collection, vols. 1–2, by Ichigo Takano, translated by Amber Tamosaitis, adaptation by Shannon Fay (Seven Seas)
•     The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime, by Toshio Ban and Tezuka Productions, translated by Frederik L. Schodt (Stone Bridge Press)
•     Princess Jellyfish, vols. 1–3 by Akiko Higashimura, translated by Sarah Alys Lindholm (Kodansha)
•     Wandering Island, vol. 1, by Kenji Tsuruta, translated by Dana Lewis (Dark Horse)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (at least 20 years old)

•     Almost Completely Baxter: New and Selected Blurtings, by Glen Baxter (NYR Comics)
•     Barnaby, vol. 3, by Crockett Johnson, edited by Philip Nel and Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
•     Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Colorful Cases of the 1930s, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press)
•     The Realist Cartoons, edited by Paul Krassner and Ethan Persoff (Fantagraphics)
•     Walt & Skeezix 1931–1932, by Frank King, edited by Jeet Heer and Chris Ware (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books (at least 20 Years Old)

•     The Complete Neat Stuff, by Peter Bagge, edited by Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
•     The Complete Wimmen’s Comix, edited by Trina Robbins (Fantagraphics)
•     Fables and Funnies, by Walt Kelly, compiled by David W. Tosh (Dark Horse)
•     Trump: The Complete Collection, by Harvey Kurtzman et al., edited by Denis Kitchen and John Lind (Dark Horse)
•     U.S.S. Stevens: The Collected Stories, by Sam Glanzman, edited by Drew Ford (Dover)

Best Writer

•     Ed Brubaker, Criminal 10th Anniversary Special, Kill or Be Killed, Velvet (Image)
•     Kurt Busiek, Astro City (Vertigo/DC)
•     Chelsea Cain, Mockingbird (Marvel)
•     Max Landis, Green Valley (Image/Skybound), Superman: American Alien (DC)
•     Jeff Lemire, Black Hammer (Dark Horse); Descender, Plutona (Image); Bloodshot Reborn (Valiant)
•     Brian K. Vaughan, Paper Girls, Saga (Image)

Best Writer/Artist

•     Jessica Abel, Trish Trash: Roller Girl of Mars (Papercutz/Super Genius)
•     Box Brown, Tetris: The Games People Play (First Second)
•     Tom Gauld, Mooncop (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Tom Hart, Rosalie Lightning: A Graphic Memoir (St. Martin’s)
•     Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (Pantheon)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

•     Mark Brooks, Han Solo (Marvel)
•     Dan Mora, Klaus (BOOM!)
•     Greg Ruth, Indeh (Grand Central Publishing)
•     Francois Schuiten, The Theory of the Grain of Sand (IDW)
•     Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)
•     Brian Stelfreeze, Black Panther (Marvel)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

•     Federico Bertolucci, Love: The Lion (Magnetic)
•     Brecht Evens, Panther (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Manuele Fior, 5,000 km per Second (Fantagraphics)
•     Dave McKean, Black Dog (Dark Horse)
•     Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image)
•     Jill Thompson, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (DC); Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers)

•     Mike Del Mundo, Avengers, Carnage, Mosaic, The Vision (Marvel)
•     David Mack, Abe Sapien, BPRD Hell on Earth, Fight Club 2, Hellboy and the BPRD 1953 (Dark Horse)
•     Sean Phillips, Criminal 10th Anniversary Special, Kill or Be Killed (Image)
•     Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)
•     Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image)

Best Coloring

•     Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Green Valley (Image/Skybound)
•     Elizabeth Breitweiser, Criminal 10th Anniversary Special, Kill or Be Killed, Velvet (Image); Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta (Image/Skybound)
•     Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (Pantheon)
•     Laura Martin, Wonder Woman (DC); Ragnorak (IDW); Black Panther (Marvel)
•     Matt Wilson, Cry Havoc, Paper Girls, The Wicked + The Divine (Image); Black Widow, The Mighty Thor, Star-Lord (Marvel)

Best Lettering

•     Dan Clowes, Patience (Fantagraphics)
•     Brecht Evens, Panther (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Tom Gauld, Mooncop (Drawn & Quarterly)
•     Nick Hayes, Woody Guthrie (Abrams)
•     Todd Klein, Clean Room, Dark Night, Lucifer (Vertigo/DC); Black Hammer (Dark Horse)
•     Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (Pantheon)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

•     The A.V. Club comics coverage, including Comics Panel, Back Issues, and Big Issues, by Oliver Sava et al., www.avclub.com
•     Comic Riffs blog, by Michael Cavna and David Betancourt, www.washingtonpost.com/new/comic-riffs/
•     Critical Chips, edited by Zainab Akhtar (Comics & Cola)
•     PanelPatter.com, edited by Rob McMonigal
•     WomenWriteAboutComics.com, edited by Megan Purdy and Claire Napier

Best Comics-Related Book

•     blanc et noir: takeshi obata illustrations, by Takeshi Obata (VIZ Media)
•     Ditko Unleashed: An American Hero, by Florentino Flórez and Frédéric Manzano (IDW/Editions Déesse)
•     Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White, by Michael Tisserand (Harper)
•     The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood, vol. 1, edited by Bhob Stewart and J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)
•     More Heroes of the Comics, by Drew Friedman (Fantagraphics)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

•     Brighter Than You Think: Ten Short Works by Alan Moore, with essays by Marc Sobel (Uncivilized)
•     Forging the Past: Set and the Art of Memory, by Daniel Marrone (University Press of Mississippi)
•     Frank Miller’s Daredevil and the Ends of Heroism, by Paul Young (Rutgers University Press)
•     Pioneering Cartoonists of Color, by Tim Jackson (University Press of Mississippi)
•     Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation, by Carolyn Cocca (Bloomsbury)

Best Publication Design

•     The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, designed by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)
•     The Complete Wimmen’s Comix, designed by Keeli McCarthy (Fantagraphics)
•     Frank in the Third Dimension, designed by Jacob Covey, 3D conversions by Charles Barnard (Fantagraphics)
•     The Realist Cartoons, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)
•     Si Lewen’s Parade: An Artist’s Odyssey, designed by Art Spiegelman (Abrams)

Best Webcomic

•     Bird Boy, by Anne Szabla, http://bird-boy.com
•     Deja Brew, by Taneka Stotts and Sara DuVall (Stela.com)
•     Jaeger, by Ibrahim Moustafa (Stela.com)
•     The Middle Age, by Steve Conley, steveconley.com/the-middle-age
•     On Beauty, by Christina Tran,  sodelightful.com/comics/beauty/

Best Digital Comic

•     Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain/comiXology)
•     Edison Rex, by Chris Roberson and Dennis Culver (Monkeybrain/comiXology)
•     Helm, by Jehanzeb Hasan and Mauricio Caballero, www.crookshaw.com/helm/
•     On a Sunbeam, by Tillie Walden, www.onasunbeam.com
•     Universe!, by Albert Monteys (Panel Syndicate)

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Judges Select Gross, Peter, Prohias, and Seda for Eisner Hall of Fame

Voters Will Select 4 More Inductees

Comic-Con International has announced that the Eisner Awards judges have selected four individuals to automatically be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame for 2017. These inductees are Milt Gross (early newspaper cartoonist known for such strips as Count Screwloose of Tooloose, Nize Baby, and That's My Pop!), H. G. Peter (original Wonder Woman artist), Antonio Prohias (creator of MAD’s “Spy vs. Spy”), and Dori Seda (pioneering autobiographical underground cartoonist). In most years, the judges select only two automatic inductees, but an exception was made this year as part of the Will Eisner centennial celebration (Eisner would have turned 100 on March 6).

The judges have also chosen 17 nominees from which voters will select 4 to be inducted in the Hall of Fame this summer. These nominees are Peter Bagge, Howard Cruse, Steve Englehart, Justin Green, Roberta Gregory, Bill Griffith, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Francoise Mouly, Jackie Ormes, George Pérez, P. Craig Russell, Posy Simmonds, Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin, Rumiko Takahashi, and Garry Trudeau.

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Review: MOTORCYCLE SAMURAI Book One: A Fiery Demise

THE MOTORCYCLE SAMURAI BOOK ONE: A FIERY DEMISE
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

CARTOONIST: Chris Sheridan
EDITORS: Chris Staros and Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-370-5; paperback with French flaps (August 4, 2015)
168pp, Color, $19.99 U.S.

First published on the digital comics website, Thrillbent, The Motorcycle Samurai is a digital comic from cartoonist and comics creator, Chris Sheridan.  Last year, Top Shelf Productions published the first story arc in the full-color paperback, The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise.  Top Shelf kindly provided your stalwart reviewer with a copy-for-review.

The Motorcycle Samurai is set in an indeterminate post-apocalyptic future.  Riding the desert wastelands on her motorcycle is “The White Bolt.”  She has a coconut-shell like helmet emblazoned with a calavera-like skull covering her head and face, and she has a katana at her side.  As the story opens, the White Bolt has a bounty strapped to her bike's “sissy bar.”  He is Happy Parker, and the White Bolt is taking him back to small town of Trouble to collect a bounty.

Everything in Trouble, however, is... troubled.  Boss Frankie Parker and Pierre Parker (the “Iron King”) have a claim on Happy.  The new sheriff, Roy Keane, wants him to.  There is lots of want when it comes to Happy, but the White Bolt knows that it's all headed to a fiery demise.

When I first saw the cover of The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise, I was inclined to dislike it.  I need to stop judging books by their covers unless they are Henry Cavill or Charlize Theron (but I digress...).  Not far into reading the book, I started to find it to be an enjoyable read.

The Motorcycle Samurai borrows elements of Italian film director Sergio Leone's “Dollars Trilogy” of Western films (starring Clint Eastwood).  Of course, this comic also spiritually summons Japanese film director, Akira Kurosawa's 1961 film, Yojimbo, the movie that influenced the first “Dollars Trilogy” flick, A Fistful of Dollars (1964).

However, many comic book creators use many influences for their pop comics, and The Motorcycle Samurai is a pop confection full of delightful caramels, gum drops, hard candy, jujubes, konpeito, lollipops, marzipan, taffies, etc.  For instance, Sheriff Keane resembles Evel Knievel, and there is a nod to the rocket pack-wearing heroes of the 1930s and 40s.  The entire affair also has the feel of a animated television series destined for Cartoon Network's “Adult Swim” lineup.

I won't call The Motorcycle Samurai a great comic, but its energy makes it a fun read.  You know, a fun comic is often better than a comic book trying to be literature.  The dynamic graphic design, vivid colors, and inventive elements makes The Motorcycle Samurai pure comics, created by a writer-artist who is grabbing at the visual and graphical possibilities of the medium.

Best of all, the White Bolt just looks so cool.  That is saying a lot because The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise is full of cool-looking characters.  Fans looking for flashy digital comics and webcomics will want The Motorcycle Samurai Book One: A Fiery Demise.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Stephan Franck's "Silver #5" Due July 8th

Issue #5 of Award-Nominated Stephan Franck's SILVER Coming July 8, 2015

Los Angeles, CA – Dark Planet announced that “Night Of The Duvaliers”, the 5th issue in Stephan Franck’s acclaimed mini-series SILVER, will become available on ComiXology Submit on July 8th (https://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508).  ComiXology recently ranked SILVER number 2 on its well respected “ESSENTIAL READS” list (http://dark-planet-comics.com/blog/2015/5/17/silver-makes-comixology-submits-essential-reads-list).

A direct continuation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula universe, set forward 50 years into the pulp/noir era of the 1930's, SILVER introduces James Finnigan, a con man, who endeavors to separate the vampires from their precious silver.  Personal entanglements and character comedy ensue, as Finnigan assembles the team of talented but broken misfits needed to pull off a heist for the ages.  Released last year, the first volume in the series earned Stephan Franck a 2014 Russ Manning Award nomination at San Diego Comic Con.

While the new 31-page extended issue continues the series’ trademark character explorations, in particular the inevitable bonding between Finn and Tao, it is also an exciting feat in WORLD-BUILDING. As the train reaches its final destination, we enter the hidden world of vampires--a culture of intrigues, vanity, decadence and ancient traditions.

“I couldn’t wait to present my take on Dracula’s legendary castle and to start lifting the veil on our unique mythology” says Franck, “everything we’ve seen and heard so far in the story has been leading up to this.”

Since the series’ inception, SILVER has been noted for its strong female characters, in particular troubled vampire-hunter and fans favorite Rosalynd “Sledge” Van Helsing. In issue #5 we  discover vampire princess Liilian, described by Finnigan as “A real troublemaker, someone with an agenda. A bonafide nutball”, with whom Sledge is on a collision course.

As with previous installments in the series, comic books luminaries have been vocal supporters of Franck’s storytelling:

“With SILVER, Stephan Franck cuts right to the bone of the story and masterfully drives his narrative home. A breath of fresh air in the world of comics!”--TOMMY LEE EDWARDS (Marvel 1985, The Question, Turf)

“Why was I not reading this before?  Why? Why? Why?  It’s everything I love about comics.  And everything I miss about a lot of comics these days. Hey Stephan Franck, I want more.” — JIM KRUEGER (Earth X, Justice, The Runner)

Single issues SILVER 1 to 5 as well as SILVER Vol. 1 (which compiles the first 3 issues) are available digitally on ComiXology. The trade paperback print edition of Silver Volume 1 is available at comic shops everywhere, on Amazon, and from the Dark Planet Webstore (http://dark-planet-comics.com/shop-1/). Print editions of all Dark Planet products are available from the Dark Planet booth at comic book conventions (http://dark-planet-comics.com/dates/) across the US, where the company maintains a dynamic presence.

While the digital edition debuts same day as print, Franck we be signing and drawing original sketches inside the print copies of the book at San Diego Comic Con, at the Dark Planet booth (2204).


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephan Franck is an award-nominated animator/writer/director/comic book creator. He was a supervising animator on the cult classic THE IRON GIANT, and contributed story to DESPICABLE ME. He co-created the animated TV series CORNEIL & BERNIE (Nicktoons - Hub Network), and received an Annie Award nomination for Best Director In a TV Program for the special SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW, which presented the Smurf for the first time in 2D animation at a feature-animation level of quality. Stephan’s graphic novel debut, SILVER Volume 1 earned him a nomination for the prestigious Russ Manning Award at San Diego Comic Con 2014, and landed on ComiXology Submit’s ESSENTIAL READS list.

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"Halloween Man" Scares comiXology

After thirteen strong years as a cult-favorite webcomic, "Halloween Man" is rolling into comiXology and Monsterverse with a new ongoing series. After a decade of smashing the troupes of Gothic Horror and Weird Science, our half-dead hero is taking on High Fantasy! Sailing through outer space in a Viking warship and arriving on ape-back, the dwarf king has come to burn Solar City to the ground. It's the undead vs. the under-sized as Earth's Weirdest Superhero rushes to save the day.

This offbeat, action-packed story is brought to you by series writer/creator Drew Edward, artist/graphic designer Sergio Calvet (Magic of Myths, The Dark of the Forest), and editor Russell Hillman (Fast & Frightening -- A Comic About Roller Derby).

Featuring back-up comics pulled from Halloween Man's long webcomic run and packing more thrills than a big budget blockbuster, this is your must read digital comic this week.  All for the low-price of $2.99! Brought to you by Monsterverse!

Check MONSTERVERSE: http://monsterverse.com/ and find HALLOWEEN MAN on Comixology https://www.comixology.com/Monsterverse/comics-publisher/388-0