Comic Reviews

Madman All-New Giant-Size Super Ginchy Special One Shot Review

Ready for an insane adventure with Madman? I’m not and after reading this I never want to be. All four tales spun in this giant-sized issue definitely give you more pages (and it costs more for them too) but none have very interesting stories. They often lead to nowhere and seem to have no point, and the constantly changing art has its moments, but they are fleeting and not memorable enough for even an honorable mention. Only fans of the characters or of the beat generation may enjoy this Ginchy special.

The first story in this special one-shot is titled “If I Should Live to See the Day I Die!” Madman is talking to Cadaver and precedes to fall down a seemingly endless hole having enough time to write a novel twice in his head and listen to Pink Floyd. Sound crazy? It is called “Madman” after all…

Dollhouse Epitaphs – Review

In a world where people
are hired out to do all sorts of tasks for whomever could pay a
fortune. These specialists are called “dolls”, and they will
perform jobs such as romantic interludes to high-risk jobs. These
dolls have their memories wiped after every mission and are given new
personalities each time. Although protagonist Echo remembers little
bits each time. This is the setting for Joss Whedon’s short lived TV
series Dollhouse with the story then continued in this one-shot
released by Dark Horse.

Strongman Vol. 1 – Review

Strongman begins with a TV commercial for Big Movie Morning which is spotlighting the films of Tigre a famous at the time 70’s Luchador wrestler. It highlights his successful movie career and then his sudden disappearance from the world. We pull away from the TV to find Tigre sitting in a bar in New York, drinking very early in the morning. Tragedy struck Tigre’s life at some point and crushed his spirit, but not his strength. He heads home to his studio apartment and rips the door off of the hinges, being too incapacitated to work his keys. His landlord rushes out and busts him saying not only is he behind on rent, but that he’s going to have to pay for the door. After passing out for a while in a drunken comma there’s a knock on his free standing door. He puts his mask back on and answers only to find a woman that bears a resemblance of a lost love.

Elephantmen: Man or Elephantman #1 – Review

This one shot issue is being used for new readers to jump onto the series and frankly it does that well. If you’ve never read Elephantmen before then this issue will walk you through the world and events that make the comic. The flip side of that coin is that if you are reading Elephantmen then you’ll be treated to a very bizarre story that acts like a “What If?” tale more than anything else. The story picks up almost instantly where the last issue of the ongoing left off. Hip has just spent the night with Miki only when he wakes up he’s human and no longer a Hippo Elephantman. The thing is that it’s the norm for him as he thinks that he’s a human. Miki tries to seduce him some more before he takes off to work, but Hip heads to the showers any ways. Too bad Miki joins him as she won’t take no for an answer.

Incorruptible #16 – Review

Incorruptible # 16 comes out this week, continuing Mark Waid’s excellent line of BOOM! books. The last time we saw our hero Max Damage, his life was a mess. Alana Patel, his new ally and The Plutonian’s ex-girlfriend, has been making secret deals with a shady billionaire behind Max’s back. Max is having less impact on cleaning up Coal Ville than he’d hoped and worst of all, when THE PARADIGM — the earth’s self-appointed superhero police force tried to recruit Max, his insane sidekick,Headcase,went around the bend and MURDERED ONE OF THEM IN COLD BLOOD!

The Traveler # 5 – Review

Stan Lee, Mark Waid and Chris Hardin return with an all new storyline for The Traveler that picks up after the big reveal in the last issue. After some men dressed in hazmat suits clear the area of the accident, they warn the police detectives of the “ghost” that they’ve seen in the area. The “ghost” is of course Ron aka Kronas. He over hears his fiancée Julia’s ex-partner talk about one of Ron’s friends, which gives him an idea to visit him. He pops in on Nate (the friend) who is looking rather sad, obviously due to the fact that he thinks his friend is dead. Ron and Nate begin going over the facts as Nate is able to quickly accept Ron being alive.

AEIOU or Any Easy Intimacy – Review

Any Easy Intimacy is an original graphic novel from Jeffrey Brown that opens a window to a relationship in his life. It goes through Jeff’s entire relationship with Sophia. The two meet in college via a friend of friends deal and soon begin hanging out with each other more and more. It gradually becomes a sexual relationship that rockets the two into a sense of intimacy as they talk and open up about each other. The thing I loved about it was that it’s very real and relatable to anyone that’s been young, dumb and in love. It hits every peak and valley of relationships so eloquently and yet subtly that it’s a true work of art. But that’s where to story hooks you in is that you will remember similar events in your own life, experiences that are practically the same. 

R.P.M. #4 – Review

It’s here! R.P.M. #4 is the last part of this action-packed story written by Shane Riches and legendary wrestler and The New York Times bestselling author Mick Foley. In the previous issue, Paul went out on a rescue mission to save Mackenzie from Dominic. He also discovered who was behind all of Paul and Mackenzie’s surveillance and who was responsible for having Dominic switch sides on his mission. His name is Malumbo, an Angolan diplomat who is trying to retrieve the synthized diamond so he can blackmail Trent into giving him his company and also keep all the mines of Angola all to himself. Paul successfully rescues Mackenzie, but it’s revealed that Malumbo has another card to play in his devious plot. It so happens that Malumbo has kidnapped Paul’s father as well, and in return for his father Malumbo wants Paul to trade Mackenzie for her and the diamond that he is supposed to deliver in Miami. Paul rejects this offer and is helped in his escape and now he is on a mission to not only finish his contracted job, but also save his father.

Undying Love #1 – Advanced Review

Undying Love
(if you couldn’t tell from the horribly overused pun in the title) is
another vampire story. After dozens of vampire stories coming out in
not only comics but mainstream movies, many people are tired of seeing
blood-suckers everywhere they turn. But Undying Love manages to
bring some unique storytelling tactics that make the vampire genre seem
fresh yet still has a few kinks that need to be worked out.

The first issue of Undying Love
explores the mythos of vampire and Chinese folklore. The protagonist,
John Sargent, falls in love with a woman named Mei in Hong Kong. Only
problem with Mei is – she’s a vampire. Now John is on a quest to kill
the vampire that created her, one of the most powerful vampires in
existence.

Myths & Legends #2 – Review

When people think of the Grimm Fairy Tales line of comics the first thing they think of is the covers. The very adult themed covers that depict woman in sexy outfits dressed in the costumes from your fairy tale youth. Grimm Myths and Legends is an off shoot of the Grimm Fairy Tales proper ongoing series and takes a different approach to the horror fairy tale genre. The cover would lead you to thinking that the story is about Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, but not really. In this setting Red Riding Hood works in a top-of-the-line mental health hospital and the Big Bad Wolf has infiltrated the faculty for reasons unknown.