Comic Reviews

Samurai’s Blood #1 – Review

I love me some sweet samurai stories, Yojimbo, Throne Of Blood, The Samurai series, Seven Samurai, Samurai Fiction, Blade Of The Inmortal, Lone Wolf and Cub are some of the staples of the samurai genre. They are also some of the most imitated out there. This week Image Comics is pumping up their samurai library with Samurai’s Blood. Will this be a significant book in Samurai lore? Will this be an original title or another imitator? Well we can’t judge a series by one issue, but I can tell you about the first.

Space Warped #1 – Review

Far away in a land long ago… there was an orphan boy who dreamed of leaving his farm and becoming a horseman, only to be sidetracked by two druids with plans to destroy a dreaded Death Castle and the only man that can help them is old and crazy.  Behold! You get Space Warped, KaBoom!’s translation of a comic book that spoofs all the good things of Star Wars and meshes them with far begone era of our own history.

Green Wake #3 – Review

Recently Green Wake was picked up as a new ongoing series from Image and Shadowline and the reason is because it’s one of the best new series of the year. It’s definitely one of the best books being published from Image and company on a monthly base. The series shows that story and art are equally important in a series and that there should always be a fine balance between the two.

Savage Dragon #171 – Review

Over the years The Savage Dragon has proven to be one of the most conssistent comics to entertain fans. Offering, direct action adventure, funny moments, intrigue and a lot of attitude, bundled up in a refreshing imaginative narrative. The Dragon is two years shy from hitting his two hundred issue milestone. With a hundred and seventy one issues now completed. The Dragon has no sign of getting old or repetitive. In fact this issue is the start of a very unusual story arc. The Savage Dragon is dead. Turns out he was really evil too. Now the book has no hero and no main character, so you might ask yourself what will happen with the tittle now?

Blue Estate #3 – Review

Upon finishing this issue I asked myself, “Where is this story going?” The novelty of the series is wearing thin as it continues to make fun of actors past their prime in this alternate fan fiction story that has more characters then scenes good enough to use said characters in. Really this series reminds me of the movie Big Trouble, only with more drugs, sex and violence. Ask yourself, if you added those three things to Big Trouble would the movie somehow be better? Or even good? If you found yourself saying yes, then you’re probably one of the people buying this book, which has developed a fan base of sorts.

Magus #5 – Review

One of the strongest things about Magus is that it’s not forced to start with its main characters, but instead it starts with either a look at the world or a flashback to give the reader a richer, fuller view of the story. This issue is no exception as it starts with a look at Garrett Hick’s past and a time when he developed magic powers of his own. His family life had become completely messed up as his mother too, had powers and used them for everything including lobotomizing her husband. It’s a great window in the world of a man trying to take over the world.

Magus # 4 – Review

Have you ever bought a book and held on to for almost a month, just in time for the next issue to come out? Well that’s what happened to me with this issue which is a shame because it’s really good. Issue #3 ended with a big reveal of sorts and frankly as good as the first three issues were they were just the warm up to the meat of the story. The fourth issue really kicks things off as it pulls back the veil of the world more.

Dracula: The Company of Monsters #10 – Review

Dracula: The Company of Monsters #10 decides to dance through several time periods within the comic’s universe, and most of them are pretty dull, matching the mostly flat artwork.  After a promising ninth issue (and I can feel the hate mail coming my way for saying this), Kurt Busiek’s latest issue may have some pretty cool moments – but not enough to measure up to my expectations, instead managing to irritate me.

The story picks up from the beginning of the last issue with Evan and Dracula torturing Conrad.  There’s a flashback explaining more about Dracula’s dark past and events revolving around Evan, and how he devised the plan to trick not only Conrad but Dracula, leading up to the final confrontations between two groups of bloodthirsty vampires and a group of slayers.

The Amazing Spider-Man #663 – Review

That’s more
like it. Now that the
reigns are back in the hands of writer Dan Slott, The Amazing Spider-Man is once again a book that pleases. If you
read my reviews of the previous Avenger’s
Academy crossover arc, you’ll know that I did like the previous issues a
decent amount. Still, I have to say that the difference is striking. Peter is
back in the swing of things, and still trying to juggle work, his girlfriend
and being your friendly neighborhood Avenger and member of the FF. 

Graveyard of Empires #1- Advanced Review

In Afghanistan, a small poppy field gets dumped on by a strange pesticide carried by a small flight of planes. Just outside of the field, a small army U.S outpost F.A.C Alamo receives a visitor in the form of a suicide bomber. After a quick disagreement between the two Marines holding the line, the Corporal Reddick takes the shot killing the bomber. In moments, E.O.D (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) opens the bomber’s stomach to expose a bomb, a bar of semtex. As the explosive is disarmed the locals start to gather around as one local man begins to explain that the body has to be buried as soon as possible, and then he slips one of the G.I.s some drugs.  As the day runs into the night the troops are forced awake by the attack of a Taliban mortal strike.  As the soldiers return machine gun fire, C.O. Kim calls for air support.  In moments three Apaches fill the skies and bailed out base camp Alamo.