Updates, info, reviews, and whatever I get around to about The Comic Hunter, at 465 Main st in downtown Moncton! You can contact me through this blog, or e-mail me at thecomichunter at gmail.com, or also call at the store. (506) 855-4950. The Comic Hunter has arguably the largest selection of Board Games, Graphic Novels, and Back Issues in the maritimes, as well as a great selection of gaming books and products.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Age of X
Chapter 1 – X-Men Legacy #245
Chapter 2 – New Mutants #22
Writer: Mike Carey
Artist(s): Clay Mann/Steve Kurth
Publisher: Marvel
(There are potential slight spoilers in this review)
Wow.
Ever since Carey hopped on board and took control of the Children of the Atom back in 2008 it’s been consistently the best X book; great teams, great arcs, new unique villains, great writing. He creatively co-helmed the Messiah Trilogy and continues to keep the X-Men one of the best books on the shelves. Age of X continues this premise but in a whole new direction, bringing about a new universe with a new story to tell. And it is just damn awesome.
While the Alpha one-shot in January provided us with some back-story on some of the faces we were to see in the story, Chapters 1 & 2 sort of do the reverse and provide us with a ton of characters, familiar yet different, and will explain their particular stories as the plot unfolds. All of these characters are ones common to us within the 616-universe, but it’s awesome to have to do a double-take at some of the new designs and costumes, thinking Who is that?, only to see their name in the next panel and go Ohhhh!; it’s one of the more exciting aspects of the new universe.
Carey quickly shows the division of roles and superiority between the characters on the battlefield, which leads to the first character tension; there is even a death right off the bat! Exposition is done well; without laying it out at our feet, we get a good lay of the land and the who’s who and what’s what of things.
These two chapters kick things off to a running start: Immediate action, unfamiliar relationships, dramatic tension and turmoil amidst the ranks, mysterious outsiders, and a plot gambit that quickly produces a mutant fugitive. Everything about this arc seems dystopic, and it fits the general idea of the X-Men struggle to a ‘T’.
If you’re an X-Men fan, buy this book, plain and simple. If you love alternate universe stuff as well then all the better for you. From these first two chapters we’re already off and running with a great story and personally driven characters. It’s going to be a good couple months for X-fans.
Pros:
-Superb writing; great dramatic tension and personal struggle between characters.
-Intriguing alternate universe; cannot stress enough the cool character designs and exquisite art by Mann and Kurth
Cons:
-None; unless alternate universes aren’t your cup of tea.
Comic Reviews
Daredevil Reborn #2 Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Davide Gianfelice
Publisher: Marvel
The fish-out-of-water saga continues with issue #2 of Daredevil Reborn. Murdock, after the harrowing incidents of Shadowland, has opted to leave his station in Hell’s Kitchen (in good hands mind you, see T’Challa as the new Man Without Fear) and go for a soul-searching journey. But in classic comic-book fashion he doesn’t get very far before he has to take a detour.
The same things that made issue #1 an enjoyable read are continued here as well. While the characters are run of the mill and mostly static, the plot, while not entirely original either, is entertaining and exciting; it’s interesting to see Murdock outside of the Daredevil suit doing battle. We’re given a bit more back-story into the blind child from the first issue, which makes a dichotomy of lawfulness between this youngster and Murdock in a town full of misdirection and ill-intentions. Hopefully Diggle continues this subplot and makes something of it.
Much like issue #1, it’s likely not going to blow your socks off ; but it’s continuing along at a good pace.
Pros:
-Gianfelice’s art helps give a gritty and run-down feeling to the town
-Seeing Murdock consistently out of the Daredevil suit (and 3-button suit) is oddly enjoyable
Cons:
-Some pretty static supporting characters
Hellblazer #276
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Simon Bisley
Publisher: Vertigo
Fresh off his wedding and honeymoon, master occultist John Constantine is at risk of losing his Brixton apartment. This standalone issue follows the newlyweds as they arrive back home and are prompted with this scenario. Epiphany, his new bride, doesn’t mind the idea but Constantine says over his dead body.
This is the first Hellblazer comic I’ve ever read; though I’ve encountered the character before, in the pages of Sandman, and I know what he’s all about. This comic served as a great stand-alone issue. You literally need not know anything of the character’s past, but knowing a bit about who he is and what he does definitely helps.
I found the story read pretty quickly, but not to say it wasn’t interesting; a pretty common scenario— that of being evicted—is made fascinating and dark when it happens to a master of the occult.
Milligan’s writing is really good at capturing and mixing the noir-detective style with the gloom and doom of the occult, and is accompanied well by Bisley’s pencils.
If you enjoy tales of mysticism or the dark arts, or are a fan of Sandman, this is a great comic for you.
Pros:
-Great art; the darks are dark and the horror elements are done well. The hallucination scenes are especially top notch.
-Superb as a stand-alone.
Cons:
- It’s pidgeonholed by its genre, so if you don’t typically enjoy this stuff you likely won’t enjoy this story. Other than that, none.
Boom! Kids becomes Kaboom!, announces new titles!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
RIP Dwayne McDuffie
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30969
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Wolverine Short
This is a really neat Short film directed by Gary Shore. His previous work includes commercials and music videos, but apparently he is a big comic fan so decided to throw this together. I didn't see Wolverine: Origins, and Aronofsky's sequel isn't due until 2012, but all signs point to the actual film having a similar plot to this short. It's pretty well done; hopefully this film will be less ridiculous sounding than the Sabretooth-as-brother, and mute-Deadpool bits of the first.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/242254/detail/
Friday, February 18, 2011
Marvel reveals BIG SHOTS!!!
Earlier today, Marvel announced its "Big Shots!" promotional push for Daredevil, The Punisher and the already revealed Moon Knight title by Brian Michael Bendis (The Avengers) and Alex Maleev (Daredevil).
“Fans are going to love what we have in store with Big Shots,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel's recently promoted Editor-in-Chief. “We’re taking some of the best Marvel characters that we all know and love and sending them in a brand new direction with some Grade A talent. We want to reach a whole new set of readers while at the same time appeal to long time fans of these great heroes and Big Shots is how we’re doing it.”
Moonknight shall be released in May and the new Punisher series will launch in June while Matt Murdock reclaims his post as protector of Hell's Kitchen in July with Daredevil #1.
Marvel also declined to reveal who the creative teams will be on Daredevil and The Punisher, but the company also indicated that the announcements will come during next month's C2E2 in Chicago at the Cup O’ Joe Panel.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Comic Book Club review for February 2011!!!!!!
This months victim was Freak Angels by Warren Ellis..... So this book got almost every single different point of view possible, some people loved it, some people said it was ok and others.... well lets just say someone didn't have their nappy time and hulked out against this book.... at least it was the book that faced the wraith of the gods and not a fellow club member, it would've been kinda awkward at our next pilates workout.
Anywho... I heard a lot of things like "the art was bland" but some meant it good ways and others not so good. The art was a little dark/depressing but for most, it worked for the storyline. The art good but it was probably the colours that made the tone so bleak, again it worked for the story.
The characters are well diversified, some nice, some not and one.... well lets call it for what it is.... slot machines are very addictive but enough with this public service announcement, back to the review.
I believe reading volume 1 by itself leaves the story unfinished, the people that loved it have read more than just the first volume so I assume it reads better as a whole and because of those people, I will keep reading in hopes that the story progresses better and we find out what really happened that brought this post apocalyptic tale to fruition!!!
Best quote: "Simple, elegant... I give it a 10."
Worst quote: "I freaking hate it, I give it a 2.... and only because Warren Ellis wrote this piece of sh... woah woah well thats all time we have today, join us next month for our review of Irredeemable volume 1 and 2!!!!!
Comics Shipping Feb. 23rd
New Board Game/RPG Arrivals!
Big week after mostly nothing other than restocks post-Christmas time.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Comic Reviews
Daytripper Writer: Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá
Artist: Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá
Publisher: Vertigo
This is the first work that I have read by the Brazilian twins Moon and Bá, but it certainly won't be the last.
The comic book medium is often overlooked by "serious" readers, who pan comic books as a place for heroes and villains and their big other-worldly clashes. Well, if Fables or Sandman; Y: The Last Man or DMZ; or the myriad of other non-superhero books haven't been able to shut them up yet, maybe Daytripper will. This book is an astounding work about life & death, and the thousands of moments in between. It touches on how those fleeting moments in life, the ones that spawn furtive feelings of love & loss, or remembrance & forgiveness, really are the feelings that make up who we are. And what if every normal, mundane day were to be our last? Would they be as tragic as the next?
Each of the ten comics shows the main character of Bras de Oliva Domingos at various ages throughout his life, each one being a snapshot of a crucial moment: first kiss, first love, passing of a loved one, etc. At the culmination of each issue is the death of Bras, exemplifying that all these crucial moments are pieces of the larger, unexplainable puzzle of life. What is the difference between the mundane and extraordinary, if looked at in the same big picture?
This book is a superb work of art that searches through the human spirit and shows it in its most fragile (and beautiful) of forms.
Pros:
-The writing is dramatic, endearing, charming, tragic and soulful, all without being preachy.
-The artwork is phenomenal. Special mention must go to Dave Stewart, the inker, because the lush colors of Brazil are really shown in true form here.
-For a comic that ends with the death of the main character every issue, #10 ends perfectly.
Cons:
-None.
Comic Reviews
The Flash #9
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Francis Manapul
Publisher: DC Comics
This issue begins a new arc in the continuing prelude to DC’s summer event Flashpoint. I wasn’t too familiar with what the crossover was going to entail, but I researched it a bit, and it appears to be some sort of alternative timeline; when concerning the Flash that certainly seems like the norm.
I’m not a regular DC reader (other than Batman), and I thought I might miss out on the pertinent stuff because of this, but Johns is able to keep the writing in this new arc fresh and easy to grasp even if you haven’t been following DC. Johns makes a good blend between Barry Allen’s life and the life of The Flash, showing good characterization and quickly building the dramatics.
The Elongated Kid is discovered dead, but mysteriously not murdered, and signs sort of lean towards the Flashforce being the culprit. While Barry Allen investigates the cause, a new character from the future shows up, and Flash quickly springs into action to discover if they’re friend or foe. The answer: great last-page cliffhanger!
I enjoyed this issue as the kick-off to the arc, but not being a long-time fan I’m a bit wary as to how it could end up.
Pros:
-Johns gives these characters some serious dramatic flair
-Manapul’s art is great; his sharp lines and tones fit the tension well
-Time-traveling tales are generally intriguing and almost always offer twists
Cons:
-Time-traveling tales almost always offer twists; unfortunately, some of which give off a “wtf” factor, and can be used as easy cop-outs
Alpha Flight: Rebirth?!?!?!
Snowbird, Aurora, Northstar and Sasquatch will be joined by the recently ressurected Guardian, Vindicator, Shaman and Marrina.
The new Alpha Flight will kick off in May with a "Point 1" issue by artist Ben Oliver, which will serve as a prelude for the maxi-series in June.
.... oh and DC is giving Static Shock his own ongoing title... I know I shoulda ended on a strong note!
DC canceling 5 titles!!!!!
-Batman and the OUTSIDERS #40 (this book has been pissing me off for quite some time now!)
-Doom Patrol #22 (meh)
-Freedom Fighters #9 (1st favourite..... although this series not as good as previous ones)
-R.E.B.E.L.S. #28 (other favourite.... Braniac II, awesom-o)
-JSA All-Stars #18 (premise was hopeful but in the end the book utterly failed!!!!)
Monday, February 14, 2011
X-Men: First Class - The first trailer!!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Comic Reviews
Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #514
If you want to read my review on the first issue of this new ongoing, here’s the link. http://thecomichunter.blogspot.com/2010/12/comic-reviews_9128.html
Black Panther’s exploits as guardian of Hell’s Kitchen continue in this issue, and it is just as good as the first. T’Challa begins to try and seek out Vlad, the newest big-wig crime lord, and Vlad ups the ante significantly. After Vlad murdered a man in T’Challa’s apartment building in issue 513, he takes it one step further in this arc. I’ll avoid spoilers, but the noir theme is maintained in full force.
There is a great moment in which Luke Cage shows up to offer his help to T’challa. The conversation takes a bad turn, and it sort of gives us a look into T’challa’s head, and how the future could, and likely will, end up pretty grim. Which it does.
The only real faults in this comic are typographic errors. A few instances have the past tense being used instead of the present, and Luke Cage is referred to as the “Hero for Fire”, which I don’t think he’s ever been called, and might be more suited to the late, great Johnny Storm.
This is a bleak, dark crime book. T’challa’s starting to find out what it really takes to be a man without fear, and before the end of it there could be some serious ramifications for the Black Panther character. Very good stuff.