Comic Reviews

FVZA TPB Review

If there’s two genres of monsters that are worn out right now it’s Vampires and Zombies. So perhaps a book dealing with both isn’t the best of ideas. But that would be where you are wrong. FVZA or Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency is a refreshing story that adds its own twist to both genres but also tells a heartening story about the monsters and ghouls.

In this world Vampires and Zombies are a known quantity. Their history spans as long as America’s history. Imagine little boys and girls studying the “Vampire Epidemic” as a natural part of their US History. After World War II, the FVZA was created and effectively eliminated all of the Vampires and Zombies in the US. Since then one man has been planning for their return. Dr. Hugo Pecos has a long history with Vampires; during WWII he was part of a squad that had to eliminate a containment camp of Vampires that the Nazi had created. After that it became his life mission to destroy the vampire virus to prevent others from being infected.

The Darkness #85 – Review

The Darkness continues to be one of the most interesting books at Top Cow. From it’s very inception it has always stood out as a special title. After a couple of relaunches the series returned to its original numbering as if to say you don’t need a “one” on the cover to sell issues or to bring in new readers. In fact that’s the strength of this title is that you can pick it up at anytime and catch up.

This issue begins the storyline “Alkonost”. After being jerked around one too many times, Jackie has set out to get revenge on the Sovereign. Jackie’s hired a crew to find and destroy the Sovereign’s host bodies (statues that he can move his spirit into). After several difficult missions, including on that lead the team to Fort Knox, they decide to take an easy mission and just buy one of the statues. One of the crew arranges for them to meet with a retired human trafficker that spends his days buying stolen art.

Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier #1

If there’s one thing that’s hard to find, it’s good sci-fi! Thankfully with TV shows and movies breathing new life into the genre its forced other mediums to take it up a notch. Critical Millennium is no exception as it antes up and then raises. It’s a little bit Event Horizon mixed with some Cowboy Bebop and a dash of a post apocalyptic future in which nearly every animal is extinct.

Man has finally created a space ship that is faster than light and designed to reach every corner of the universe. The issue begins with a journal entry from th e captain of the ship as he sits at his post on the bridge. The days and years jump as the captain narrates the ships numerous disasters. Space is more dangerous then any of them knew. The logs end as the captain is removed from his ship by a gigantic space creature.

Irredeemable #15 – Review

Cary and Tony continue to go head to head as his half of the Paradigm prepares for the kill shot to take the Plutonian out once and for all. That is until they break a fault line miles below the desert and put an earthquake into effect. Sam reveals himself to the team, but continues to hide the fact that he’s actually Modeus wearing Sam’s body. Bette is instantly suspicious but far to focused on redeeming herself to point it out to the rest of the team.

After Dark #0 Review

The world is dying and covered in blackness. There are no longer weather warnings but black out warnings. This is a time where light means nothing and you can be lost to the darkness. The world of After Dark is one that is post-apocalyptic future where humanity is losing itself. If you’re rich you can go through life heavily medicated ignoring the battle that humanity is losing with itself. The poor spend their days rioting for a better life while the military beats them into submission.

The story opens with Lieutenant Brood medicating himself after leaving his crew to their deaths. He wipes it from his conscience trying to gather his bearings and remember how he got to where he is. Two months earlier he’s in a nightclub trying to “rent” a woman before receiving a call from his superiors. He’s summoned before General Lau and given a mission outside of the city.

Legends the Enchanted Graphic Novel

The idea of fairy tales being real is not an untapped one, but Enchanted brings an interesting twist to the concept by making the world dark and gruesome, a la Brothers Grimm. Take some parts of fables, add some elements of steam punk and maybe a little of the aforementioned Grimm fairy tales and you’ve got the world of Enchanted.

We begin like all good fairy tales should begin, with Jack (of the bean stock fame). He’s in the troll killing business and currently taking down two big uglies for a small town. After he’s defeated them the town is reluctant to pay him since everything was destroyed in their battle. Jack assures them that if they hang the trolls head at the front of the village that no more trolls will come to kill their sons or rape their daughters. They pay him and he fills his motorcycle up with the blood of the trolls, then takes off down the road. This gives a strong view of the world and the work that the Enchanteds must do to survive.

Angelus #4 – Review

Fans who are familiar with the Top Cow Universe know that Angelus and Darkness are mortal enemies. So it’s kind of a big deal when Dani, the new Angelus bearer, is captured by the Darkness. Unlike previous bearers, Dani is not under the influence of the artifact. Now she must escape the Darkness if she’s going to live to see the events of “Artifacts.”

We open with one of the Angelus’ servants fighting her way through hell carrying the wheel of shadows, one of the thirteen artifacts. She is confronted by Cerberus (because it’s hell and he’s required by law to make an appearance), who isn’t going to let her out with the wheel. The servant is forced to bond with the artifact and use it to destroy Cerberus. This scene is important as it builds not only the main story, but also builds towards Artifacts.

Velocity #1 – Review

The wait is over and the fastest woman in comic books has finally arrived with her own series! Pilot Season winner Velocity returns with a brand new first issue from writer Ron Marz (Magdalena, Witchblade) and artist Kenneth Rocafort (Madam Mirage, The Core). I’d say that art is what has made this issue so highly anticipated. A beautiful female Speedster is great idea but the art seals the deal.

The story begins with Velocity, a.k.a. Carin, escaping from some killer robots. She explains that she’s fast… very fast. In a way it’s a tutorial on her powers and weaknesses. Ever since she was enhanced by the Cyberdata Corporation she’s been able to run at mach 7. No she can’t shake her molecules to run through walks or travel through time, but she can move fast enough to create contained whirlwinds and bounce off walls.

Cowboy Ninja Viking #1

The title and premise of this series is ridiculous yet completely fascinating. It’s still very ludicrous, but something about the writing and the art make for an original story that the world of comics has never seen. I should give the history on the success of the book, although… you’re bound to hear the tale upon picking it up from any comic retailer. The spiel goes like this, the series was only to be four issues long, but due to its sales it was given an on-going status. So why is this book so good?

For starters it’s about a man who has distinct personalities living in his head. One as you may come to suspect is a Cowboy. Another is a Ninja and the last is… you guessed it, a Viking. The man’s name is Duncan and he has little to no clue what’s happening in his head. Dr. Ghislain, who is owed a favor by every person of power in the United States, experimented on Duncan due to his “triplet” personality.

7Psychopaths #2

They say to kill a manic you need at least seven psychopaths and a whole lot of luck. At least that’s what Colonel Thompson and Professor Goldschmidt believe as they continue their hunt for a team do just that… kill a manic. Once acquired, the team can end the second World War by assassinating Hitler.

November 7th, Colonel Thompson receives a call informing him that a solider that was horribly burned while fighting Nazis in Berlin is in custody. They bring him in due to the fact that he has a habit of being a fire bug and has trouble adapting to civilized life (being horrible burned will do that). But before Thompson and The Professor can add him to the team he catches fire to the truck that delivers him. Shorty after that Smith, the brilliant mathematician that enjoys electroshock shows up and tells the Colonel that he has Churchill’s approve to go on with the mission. With the team now at seven, the rigorous airborne trainings begins.