Afterschool Charisma: A Kia for All Seasons

I read Afterschool Charisma, Vol. 6

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

Bakuman: Mind Games and Catchphrases

I read Bakuman., Vol. 14

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Diego Chi Reviews: THE SIXTH GUN #26

THE SIXTH GUN #26
ONI PRESS

Reviewed by DIEGO CHI

WRITER: Cullen Bunn
ARTIST: Brian Hurtt
COLORS: Bill Crabtree
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

REVIEW– SPOILERS

The Sixth Gun continues to be an exciting pull every month, marrying the thrills of western gun-slinging with the horrors of the occult. I'm happy to see that 26 issues in, Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt still manage to satisfy my thirst for action and simultaneously put a pit in my belly.

If you haven't yet checked out these books, the story centers around the pursuit of six mystical guns that are fabled to both create and destroy the world. The heroes, Drake Sinclaire and Becky Montcrief, have been stranded in a super-natural blizzard and hunted by a spirit creature called a Wendigo. In order to find Becky and Drake, an unlikely alliance has formed between Gord Cantrell (an ally), Kirby Hale (a thief), and Asher Cobb (a nine-foot-tall mummy. Yes, I said "mummy").

Issue #26 opens with Drake recalling a past encounter with a Wendigo, a creature of many forms. This flashback sequence introduces a woman named Abigail, a former employer of Drake. Drake had been hired by Abigail to track a group of thugs but when they came upon the camp of their bounty, they found only decapitated bodies. A stag-like Wendigo then suddenly appeared, wearing the heads of the thugs on its antlers– quite the chilling visual.

The story then shifts to Gord, Kirby, and Asher's quest to find Becky and Drake. The three are ambushed by an extremist group called the Knights of Solomon, who seek the six guns for their own purposes. This leads to a thrilling horse and wagon chase– the fast paced action makes for a nice break from the drawn out suspense of the first sequence.

Returning to the flashback, the climax hits when Drake figures out how to defeat the Wendigo: by killing the remaining thug who had become possessed by the creature, yet was still alive. As Drake and Becky search for the new Wendigo host, the issue closes with a gut-wrenching reveal– this time the creature had possessed a group of women and children. Will Drake kill the innocent to save himself and Becky? Good grief, what a cliffhanger!

Cullen Bunn's writing packs a lot into this single issue, perhaps a hair too much. Abigail's characterization was too varied between "confident" and "paralyzed with fear" to get a clear grasp on her, but Bunn usually reveals deep wells of intrigue in his characters so I look forward to her development. Brian Hurtt's visuals are fully capable of both gruesome mutilations and expressive head-shots. The tone and voice of the dialogue is heavily carried by the way Hurtt draws the eyes– sometimes cold and steely, other times full of terror or surprise. Bill Crabtree's colors add emotion to the elegance of Hurtt's style. He gracefully shifts the bleak mood during the flashbacks and winter sequences to the energized feel of the wagon chase. Overall, issue #26 proves Bunn and Hurtt have long since figured out that well-crafted plot and well-paced visuals make for a great comic.

Rating: 9/10

An I Reads You November 2012 to Remember

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Albert Avilla Reviews: Flash #0

Flash #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Story: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul

(Spoiler Alert)
This was a yakety yak issue if I ever read one. This was an in depth view into the same old same old. If you didn't know the Flash's origin, then, I would tell you to read this. The gang just told us a nice little yarn with me being no more enlightened than when I started. I knew Barry Allen was a good man before I read this story. What was new? He stayed in a coma. He won a spelling bee. His uniform had to be armor. The only action in the story was a bank robbery. I feel like I'm cheating you out of your time by writing this review, but you didn't pay $2.99 to read this. There is a good reason to call this issue #0. This did not reach the bar set by other #0 stories.

I rate Flash #0 Don't Waste Your Time and Cash.

Jiu Jiu: Prince Meru the Vampire Pig

I read Jiu Jiu, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 31 2012

DC COMICS

MAY120288 ABSOLUTE FINAL CRISIS HC (RES) $99.99

AUG120168 ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #1 $4.99

JUL120213 ALL STAR WESTERN TP VOL 01 GUNS AND GOTHAM (N52) $16.99

AUG120279 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #32 (MR) $2.99

AUG120150 AQUAMAN #13 $2.99

AUG120191 BATGIRL ANNUAL #1 $4.99

AUG120242 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #9 $3.99

JUL120220 BATMAN EYE OF THE BEHOLDER TP $14.99

JUL120238 EXTREMELY MORONIC MAD TP $12.99

AUG120285 GHOSTS #1 (MR) $7.99

AUG120236 JOE KUBERT PRESENTS #1 $4.99

AUG120214 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #1 $4.99

AUG120271 LOONEY TUNES #209 $2.99

AUG120276 LOT 13 #1 (MR) $2.99

AUG120278 MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE THE ORIGIN OF SKELETOR #1 $2.99

AUG120289 NEW DEADWARDIANS #8 (MR) $2.99

AUG120244 PHANTOM LADY #3 $2.99

JUN120225 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC VOL 02 $22.99

AUG120270 SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES #6 $2.99

AUG120219 SWAMP THING ANNUAL #1 $4.99

JUL120259 SWEET TOOTH TP VOL 05 UNNATURAL HABITAT (MR) $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

AUG120312 BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE BATMAN BEYOND STATUE $79.95

AUG120309 DARK KNIGHT RETURNS SUPERMAN VS BATMAN STATUE (RES) $324.95

AUG120310 DARK KNIGHT RISES BATMAN WITH EMP RIFLE BUST $79.95