Reading with a Flight Ring

Comic Book Reviews

[oosteven-universe]

Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #6

Jupiter’s Legacy Requiem #6 Image Comics 2021 Written by Mark Millar Illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith Coloured by Giovanna Niro Lettered by John Workman    The first arc of the sequel to the smash-hit Netflix show comes to a stunning conclusion as Chloe and Brandon’s children go head to head, and not everyone in this book is getting out alive. Just when you thought we couldn't top this series, it suddenly goes to the next level. Details of this extra-sized issue must be kept under wraps for story purposes, but you have our word—YOU WILL NOT be disappointed.    When they say “YOU WILL NOT be disappointed” they mean it.  Because this issue really just goes and takes things to a level that you don’t expect to see, why don’t you expect it well it’s not printed on the dial that’s why.  Caius is a real piece of work and if you’ve been paying attention you’ve known this but now is the time for all his machinations to come to fruition as he reveals himself and his plans.  Oh my stars and garters this issue just takes you to church and serves you up on this silver platter with everything that is presented, revealed with all the twists & turns and revelations that occur.  I wasn’t sure you could do as much as this in an issue so thank googly moogly this is a double sized issue.    I am blown away by how well this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job bringing their ever changing and evolving personalities to the forefront.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages your jaw will hit the floor and you’ll be left wide-eyed and incredulous by what you see.    I am completely and utterly impressed by the way we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that these layers open up new layers to be explored.  Whether the next arc is going to explore them remains unknown at this time but what we see adds some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      This is the kind of work that I expect to see from Matthew.  The linework is clean, crisp and strong and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work is extremely well rendered.  How we see backgrounds enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels brings out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a solid eye for how colour works. ​    What an issue to end this arc on!  Who will be left standing and when all the dust clears remains to be seen.  I do know that we see a lot of death and fighting going on here and there are plenty of surprises in store that’s for damn sure.  What we see is just bloody brilliant and as there’s no clear way to calculate the body count at this time so now we have to wait for the second arc in the run to find out.  Mark outdoes himself with this issue as the writing is mindbogglingly good while the characterisation is delightfully creepy and the interiors are very solid.  Now I’ve got the chills and this isn’t going to leave my brain anytime soon.

[oosteven-universe]

BRZRKR #6

BRZRKR #6 BOOM! Studios 2021 Written by Keanu Reeves & Matt Kindt Illustrated by Ron Garney Coloured by Bill Crabtree Lettered by Clem Robins    What revelations will B. unlock when his handler's life hangs in the balance?     During a mission to retrieve an artefact from a museum in the midst of an ongoing civil war, B. saves his handler, Jim, from a chopper explosion. As he races to get his gravely injured friend to the extraction point, B. reveals new secrets from his past, but little does he know that Caldwell and Diana are secretly recording everything.    Each issue of this gets that much better than the previous one and this is precisely what a series is supposed to be like.  The more intense and more complicated his life becomes with his past and present at play and his desire to finally live out his life like a normal person hanging in the balance is the only motivation he has at the moment and until this happens he’s on a mission with his handler, Jim and things get extremely interesting.  I have to say that his shrink and the organisation that he is currently working for have never been trustworthy in my eyes and this issue we see once and for all if they are or aren’t.  Of course you’ll have to read the issue to find out but suffice it to say that this issue is going to change everything moving forward.    I positively adore the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job with their ever changing and evolving personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the more depth and complexity is revealed.    I am thrilled by the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see the layers open up new avenues to be explored.  The ending opens a few and the conversation with B and Jim opens a few as does the mission itself that starts off the issue and they all add some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      The interiors here are exceedingly well rendered.  The opening page is exquisite and the rest of the work is stunning as well.  The linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work we see throughout is exceptionally well rendered.  I mean that tank and how we see this is mind blowing.  How we see backgrounds being utilised to enhance and expand the moments as well as how it works within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is marvellous.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a stellar eye for how colour works. ​    The concept and execution of the story is first class work.  On the surface it could be cliché but with the depth of the storytelling that we see this really stands out as something incredible.  The writing is extraordinary while the characterisation is phenomenal and the interiors are strong and stunning work.  All together this really has taken me by surprise and it continues to thrill and excite me with each new issue.

[oosteven-universe]

Pennyworth #5

Pennyworth #5 DC Comics 2021 Written by Scott Bryan Wilson Illustrated by Juan Gedeon Coloured by John Rauch Lettered by AW’s DC Hopkins    The continuing untold early Cold War adventures of Alfred Pennyworth, British spy! Alfred is reunited with one old friend, confronts another, and takes a meeting with his MI6 handler…or it could all be just a hallucination as he runs out of time and freezes to death, alone in the vast emptiness of the frigid north.    I know this is based off the television program but I have to say it fits so seamlessly into Alfred’s history in the comics as well.  I am an absolutely huge fan of this series and what we are seeing here as the past and present play off one another in ways that you have read to fully understand.  Usually the “then and now” tactic of storytelling isn’t among my favourites but Scott does such an amazing job of it and makes the transition so seamless that it all just seems to flow so incredibly well.  Seeing him so young and still learning as he goes and the first love of his life being who and what she is just makes this so much more interesting than you could possibly imagine it being.  This will put a spell on you and you’ll find yourself with a new appreciation of Batman’s loyal and faithful servant.    I am loving the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job with their ever changing and evolving personalities.  The pacing here is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story not to mention the twists, turns and revelations makes us want to see and know more.    I am a huge fan of the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also a fan of the way that we see the layers within the story open up new avenues to be explored and boy let me tell you old chap there are a number of them that add this great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      The interiors here really are quite fantastic!  The linework we see is clean, crisp and strong and how the varying weights and techniques are being utilised to create the detail within the work that we see is extraordinarily well rendered.  How we see backgrounds being utilised are nicely rendered, though they could be sharper, as they enhance and expand the moments beautifully.  They also work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a great understanding of how colour works. ​    I am so thrilled with this series and how we see it progress and how the past ties into what Alfred is experiencing in the present.  The writing here is exceptional and the characterisation is superb while the interiors are extremely well rendered and sheds such new life on such a classic character.  

[oosteven-universe]

KISS: Phantom Obsession #04

KISS: Phantom Obsession #04 Dynamite Entertainment 2021 Written by Ian Edginton Illustrated by Celor Coloured by Valentina Pinto Lettered by Troy Peteri    This is it! The explosive conclusion to the craziest KISS adventure Dynamite has published to date! Facing Kaiju and Uzumaki style horror, the band finally are piutted with the mastermind of it all, and the man who holds their rock and roll fate in his hands – Darius Cho!    Whoops the blurb is wrong this isn’t the last issue, maybe it was supposed to be but it’s extended to a fifth issue.  I don’t know all I do know is that this is a fun, exciting and decidedly different story than we’re used to seeing.  I love the originality of what we see and this issue breaks out of even the off wall storytelling we’ve been seeing thus far and branches further out.  I am obsessed with this story and the further it goes on the more obsessed I am becoming.  Now we kind of knew something was up with the man who brought them here but I had no idea what we were truly in store for and the ending of this issue takes on a whole new meaning.  This issue is not only full of twists & turns but some great revelations as well.    I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does an amazing job continuing to flesh out these ever changing and evolving personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists, turns and revelations we really are just drawn deeper and deeper in.      I am very much enjoying the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored.  Whether it’s from that ending and its ramifications or what they encounter throughout the issue adds such great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  The way we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.    The interiors here are nicely rendered.  The linework is clean, crisp and sharp and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work that we see is fantastic.  The backgrounds we see are on the simple side and I do wish we’d see more of them because when we do they enhance and expand the moments.  They also work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a great understanding of how colour works.  Cho’s shirt for instance and the pattern we see in it is brilliantly rendered.   ​    There is so much going on here.  The group is running from themselves as Samurai Warriors and getting farther and farther off track of where they are supposed to be going.  Meanwhile watching everything is Cho and he’s enjoying the thrill of the chase as he thinks he’s in complete and utter control.  Everything we see here is not what it appears to be and it’s glorious!  The writing is superb and the characterisation is completely spot on while the interiors do a fabulous job in bringing it all to life.  KISS is the jam and these stories are a treat every time they come out.

[oosteven-universe]

Black Manta #4

Blank Manta #4 DC Comics 2021 Written by Chuck Brown Illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith Coloured by Marissa Louise Lettered by Clayton Cowles    Devil Ray has his sights set on Atlantis, and he races to put his grand plans into motion before Black Manta can unlock the secrets of the mysterious and deadly orichalcum metal. Meanwhile, Torrid forms an uneasy alliance with Manta and Gallous the Goat following their throwdown in Ethiopian airspace. But perhaps her reticence is not unfounded, as Manta’s villainous nature emerges on their quest for the truth.    I am a fan of the story here.  Torrid and Manta have an uneasy alliance now and while neither trusts the other they do share a common goal.  This of course is the deadly orichalcum metal and how to destroy it.  I like the way Chuck is managing to weave the entire story around this metal and in doing so making some strange bedfellows including, spoiler alert, the longest living and creator of the Global Guardians Dr. Mist.  Side note, now I want to see Primal Force make a comeback.  We also finally see Aquaman making an appearance as he goes after Devil Ray for what he did to the Council.  I mean with all these folks running around this book I’m impressed with how Chuck manages to streamline the story so that nothing feels rushed, over crowded or glossed over.      The way that this is being told is extremely well done.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a wonderful job keeping these ever changing and evolving personalities at the forefront.  The pacing is excellent and as it moves the story forward and we see more of the story being revealed we are more intrigued than ever before.    I am pretty impressed with how we see this being structured as well as how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored.  Whether they all will be explored or not they all add this great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      I am not a fan of the interiors here.  This isn’t something that I think fits this story or would find myself gravitating towards.  A lot of the linework is thick and one note and there are many times when Torrid doesn’t seem to be shown very well and looks very generic.  I know Matthew has some artistic chops so seeing this being so basic surprises me.  I am more impressed with the backgrounds that we see being utilised than I am by the characters themselves and it should be the other way around or all should be done in the same fashion.  Again this is MY opinion I am not speaking for anyone else and I’ve seen Matthew do some fantastic work in the past so this baffles me.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a talented eye for storytelling. ​    Thankfully the story is so strong and the art isn’t so bad so it can still be an enjoyable read.  It is most definitely worth reading and who knows maybe you’ll love Matthew’s simple style here, let me know what you think of it.  I am loving the way we see Black Manta and how he makes no bones about being a villain with no intentions of being mistaken for someone who can be heroic.  With some strong, interesting writing and stellar characterisation this is an intriguing little story.  

[oosteven-universe]

Third Wave ‘99 #1

Third Wave ‘99 #1 Scout Comics 2021 Written by James Haick III Illustrated by Luis XIII Coloured by Dijjo Lima Lettered by DC Hopkins    The story behind the controversial late 1990's Florida surf brand begins here! Third Wave 99 follows surf shop owners Rob Cutler and Jack Reed, along with hotheaded teenager Matt Hurley. This popular surf shop doubles as a support group that helps troubled individuals use surfing as a replacement for other negative and self-destructive habits. Matt's temper has not only hampered his promising college baseball career, but also acts as a catalyst for events that ultimately cause the brand to disappear entirely. Find out the true story behind the rise and fall of Third Wave here!    Okay this is an interesting start to a story.  Now I wasn’t really aware this is based on real events so that makes things a bit more interesting.  From what we see in this issue it does a spectacular job in setting up the story, introducing the characters and in general giving us the kind of background information so we understand where things are going.  I am pretty impressed because it is an unusual story and it is one that I’m sure so many of us weren’t familiar with or even really knew about considering how long the Third Wave was around.      I am very much enjoying the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances does a magnificent job in establishing their personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages introducing us to the story, the characters and the world they live in is enticing and enthralling so that we want to see more.    I am extremely impressed with the way we see this being structured as well as how we see the layers within the story begin to emerge and grow.  I am also liking the way we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored and whether that’s the cop at the station or Matty himself among others that add some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      The interiors here are sensationally well rendered.  The linework is clean, crisp and sharp and with the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the level of detail work that we see is extraordinary.  How we see backgrounds, the ocean is utterly phenomenal, being utilised to enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a truly remarkable eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a fabulous eye for how colour works.   ​    There are moments that are uplifting and we get this really great sense of who Matt is as well as who Rob is.  Though people change but who they are generally doesn’t and the whole idea behind Third Wave is presented in broader terms here and it’s rather inspiring if you ask me.  With some incredibly strong writing and seriously good characterisation along with these stellar interiors this story is off to a fantastic start and I look forward to seeing what’s going to come next. 

[oosteven-universe]

Primordial #4

Primordial #4 Image Comics 2021 Written by Jeff Lemire Illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino Coloured by Dave Stewart Lettered by Steve Wands    Laika, Able, and Baker continue their incredible journey home…but can the three animals successfully pilot their mysterious ship? Back on Earth, Yelena and Dr. Pembrook race through East Berlin to transmit a message before the K.G.B. can stop them.    There are a few things that stand out to me with this series so far.  The animals have this telepathic or speech they can do with each other and yet it is very limited so they aren’t really having conversations so much as they are saying words that are thoughts formed.  It is rudimentary and I like that because while they are in space they are going through something extraordinary that doesn't mean they should communicate like humans.  The other thing is the sheer level and quality of work that Andrea is providing for the interiors is utterly bloody mindbogglingly phenomenal!  Back on Earth as Yelena and Donald work to send a message I am still not quite sure what this is supposed to do but it still adds this element of drama and intrigue to the mix that is as exciting to see as the trio in space.    I am completely enthralled by the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job in continuing to flesh out the personalities that we see, yes even the animals.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the more we want to see.    I am very much enjoying the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers opening up new avenues to be explored.  Whether or not they are explored they all add some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.    The interiors here really are bloody mindbogglingly brilliant.  The linework is immaculate and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality in the attention to detail is perfectly rendered.  Normally I am saying that we need to see more backgrounds but here with the animals these stark white panels just punctuate the work we see even more and somehow because of where they are it works exceptionally well.  When we do see them they enhance and expand the moments beautifully and they also work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a masterful eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for how colour works. ​    This is a different kind of story and it’s fascinating on so many levels.  There are so many things about this that still remain a mystery and I appreciate that because it just means the more we are intrigued the more desire we have to come back time and time again.  Plus with a cliffhanger regarding Yelena and Donald and seeing how the issue ends well I’m eagerly awaiting to see what is going to happen next issue more than ever.  With some interesting and intriguing writing and stellar characterisation wrapped up in these utterly bloody brilliant interiors this is a magnificent obsession.  

[oosteven-universe]

Gun Honey #04

Gun Honey #04 Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics 2021 Written by Charles Ardai Illustrated by Ang Hor Kheng Coloured by Asifur Rahman Lettered by David Leach      The climactic final issue in Joanna Tan’s epic crime story!    When a gun smuggled into a high-security prison leads to the death of dozens and the escape of a brutal criminal, weapons smuggler Joanna Tan is enlisted by the U.S. government to find the man she set loose and bring him down!    Well they weren’t kidding when they said the climactic conclusion because this took me for a bit of spin.  We see Joanna’s father, naked (which I was sad we didn’t see how badly that was burned), and the two have a nice little chat about how he’s still alive and what happened that night.  This is the kind of stuff that we only dream about because honestly I couldn’t have thought this up on my own and it’s damn good stuff.  What Charles does with the twists & turns, not to mention the revelations within this story, keep the reader on their toes and take the raeder on one of those unexpected journeys.  We don’t learn the truth till the end and when we do the surprise is one that shouldn’t have been as shocking as it was but then again if we don’t see it coming then it’s done the right way now isn’t it?    I am absolutely thrilled with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job spotlighting their ever changing and evolving personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as  it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more we are drawn into this on a more personal level.      I am very much enjoying how we see this being structured as well as how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way we see these layers opening up new avenues to be explored.  With this being the last issue and some avenues being integral to the overall bigger picture the way they add such depth, dimension and complexity to the story is impressive.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      The interiors here are amazing.  My one complaint is that we see Joanna naked often enough but never any of the men and being almost 2022 it’s high time that changed and the stigma of a naked man should be gone.  The linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work that we see is rendered exceptionally well.  We see a fair bit of backgrounds being utilised and they not only enhance and expand the moments but work well within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a true understanding of how colour works. ​    What a wonderfully pulpy, witty and dynamic story this is.  The writing is sensational and the characterisation is top notch while the interiors bring this all to life with such aplomb.  It is so nice to see women getting their due here since they can be just as cunning, deadly and bad-arse as any man can be.  Now if they’d do a female impersonator using her travelling show to as a front for being an assassin I’d be over the moon!

[oosteven-universe]

Titans United #4

Titans United #4 DC Comics 2021 Written by Cavan Scott Pencilled by Jose Luis Inked by Jonas Trindade Coloured by Rex Lokus Lettered by Carlos M. Mangual    Starfire takes on Lady Vic as more super-powered sleeper agents activate, displaying powers far beyond those of the Titans. Just who is behind the Cadmus experiment, and what is Blackfire planning as she brings Superboy to his knees?    Oh why can’t we have this Titans series full time?  This may be based off the television show but it’s also the strongest Titans book we’ve had in quite some time.  I do like where we see the story going here and how Blackfire is still the same wicked version we’ve come to know and love since her debut.  I also am very much enjoying seeing Lady Vic here and how she isn’t happy that the one who hired her to kill a scientist now has the Titans and Donna Troy in particular on her arse.  She may be a hired assassin but messing with heroes this strong isn’t something she often does and prefers not to and it is something that we I personally like seeing because while she’s confident in her skills when it comes to these kinds of fights the odds aren’t in her favour.  That she’s smart enough to know this goes a long way in my book.      I am loving the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does an exceedingly brilliant job in continuing to flesh out the personalities. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story it is so brilliant to see this level of teamwork happening.    I am a huge fan of the way we see this being structured as well as how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored, like Blackfire and Connor, or the average folks suddenly finding themselves with power they cannot control.  These and more add such great depth, dimension and complexity to the story. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably handled.    I am living for the interiors here.  The linework is smooth, clean and crisp and how the inking just makes it feel that much stronger is amazing to see.  How the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality of detail within the work is extraordinary.  I hate to brand something but it most assuredly feels like a DC quality book.  How we see backgrounds utilised throughout makes me a happy camper as they enhance and expand the moments as well as work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a superb understanding of how colour works. ​    Kudos to the creative team here because in a lot of ways I’m as excited for this as I was the New Teen Titans in the Eighties and to be able to do that takes some extraordinary skill and talent.  It just feels right, all the elements of here and it never misses a beat in making us feel as if this family never left.  The writing is utterly spectacular and the characterisation is flawless while the interiors are bloody well perfect creating one of today’s most exciting reads.  

[oosteven-universe]

He Who Fights With Monsters #4

He Who Fights With Monsters #4 Ablaze Publishing 2021 Written by Francesco Artibani Illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera Coloured by Giovanna Nifro Lettered by ALW’s Troy Peteri    Violence erupts in the city as the resistance moves forward with their plans, but Radek and the people he love are caught in the crossfire. Will they reach safety before things get out of hand? Will the creature do as they hope and protect them or will its very presence bring their persecutors right down on top of them?    Is there some sort of Holocaust remembrance or tribute happening this time of the year that I am unaware of or forgot?  This is the third book this week that centres around the Jewish people fighting against Nazi forces.  For the longest time it seems that Nazi’s were off limits and with their resurgence in today’s world what we see from a historical standpoint compared to today is way to eerie to contemplate for long.  I just find the connections that my brain makes to be interesting a direct result of the book which shows just how engaged I am in this story.  Also, using the myth or legend of the Golem in such a fashion is just infinitely interesting and adds such a wonderful layer to the story as his presence allows the resistance to really stand up for themselves and what they believe in.    I am utterly fascinated by the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are exceptionally well rendered.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job in continuing to flesh out their personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story drawing us further and further into their lives, hopes, dreams and fears.    I am extremely impressed with the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that these layers open up new avenues to explore.  These avenues add so much depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably handled.    The interiors here are beautifully rendered.  The linework is clean, crisp and strong and along with the varying weights and techniques creating the detail within the work is exceptionally well rendered.  We do see some nice use of backgrounds as they enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The attention to detail in the era, the clothes and the German uniforms are wonderfully represented.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows an amazing eye for how colour works.   ​    The Captain and his personal belief, whether the Golem is real or not, and how he responds to the threat is in such typical fashion of someone who believes that power should be wielded by him and him alone.  Meanwhile Radek is still extremely cautious and isn’t prepared to launch a full scale relation against their oppressors even with Yossel, while not weak though it appears this way he’s not sure they can win even with the Golem.  Soon the choice will be taken out of his hands whether he’s ready for it or not this is war after all.  With some magnificent writing and stunning characterisation alongside these beautifully rendered interiors really make the story shine.

[oosteven-universe]

Mazebook #4

Mazebook #4 Dark Horse Comics 2021 By Jeff Lemire Lettered by Steve Wands    Stuck in an urban labyrinth of his own torment, melancholy building inspector Will and his talking canine companion fight their way through a dangerous metropolitan maze and head underground on the hunt to find his long-gone daughter.    The further we get into this story the further away from what this story is really about I find myself.  Yeah Will misses his daughter and her loss consumed him to such a degree that he let himself spiral downward into some serious depression.  Now he believes that his daughter has been contacting him and this has set him on a new path, one just as obsessive as can be.  I may not fully understand what Will is going through, I've lost a spouse, never a child, and I’m going to pretend to fully understand what the heck is going on but I surely am fascinated by what we see and I want to see oh so much more.  I have to say that I really like how we see Vern and how he ties the real world and this otherworld together as he does.  Can never know if it is some subconscious manifestation or not but man’s best friend and all that jazz can be any number of things.    I am absolutely enthralled by the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job in continuing to flesh out their personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the more wrapped up in the story that we become.      I am a huge fan of the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking how we see the layers open up new avenues to be explored.  Whether this is Vern, what Will finds, or what we see happening to Will’s mind, all this and more adds some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.    The interiors here are extremely expressive and impassioned.  The linework is exceptional and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail we see within the work is rather extraordinary.  How we see backgrounds enhance and expand the moments beautifully and how we see them work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts, which is rather innovative if you ask me, and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The colour work is extraordinary in and of itself.  The monochromatic tones we see in that watercolour style is fresh, interesting and creates such an appealing vision.  With the red lines or an odd colour here and there it really brings everything to life exceptionally well.   ​    The longer that Will spends in this reality the more he’s forgetting, his life, his daughter and his search.  He needs Vern to keep him on track and remind him what they are doing but will even that be enough?  I do like that this isn’t being rushed and it is being allowed to play out at the pace it needs to to really be told.  With some mindbogglingly brilliant storytelling and these phenomenal interiors this book is one you are never likely to forget.  

[oosteven-universe]

Purgatori Volume 2 #3

Purgatori Volume 2 #03 Dynamite Entertainment 2021 Written by Ray Fawkes Illustrated by Álvaro Sarraseca Coloured by Salvatore Aiala Lettered by Tom Napolitano    Purgatori on the Nile! It’s time for a game of crocodile-and-mouse in Africa with the coven of Purgatori’s least favourite witches, and the river’s going to run red with someone’s blood. Purgatori knows that killing her enemies isn’t a problem -- it’s what they’re doing to her mind after they’re dead that might very well destroy her. Maybe there really is no way for her to win this fight. Maybe it’s time to change the rules of the game.    I am more than a little fascinated by the premise of this story as a coven of witches plan to be killed, see drunk dry, by Purgatori so that their essences are inside her where they can combine their magic to permanently take control of her body.  It is a very ingenious plan actually and considering how hot headed Purgatori is and how little she regards those whose essence she’s absorbed over the years is one that might actually work.  If it weren’t for Darwish who as a monster hunter has an idea about what is going on and will actually help Purgatori, who has never been on his killing radar.  Ray really pulled this idea out of the magic hat instead of a Rabbit and I have to hand it to him for its originality and its uniqueness.      I am a complete and utter fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does this magnificent job in continuing to flesh out the personalities that we see.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more we are caught up in the denizens of this world and how the story unfolds.    I am extremely impressed with how we see this being structured as well as how we see the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored.  Between the coven, Darwish, the fantastic shape changing creatures I wasn’t aware existed and more add so much great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  The way we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.    The interiors here are stunning.  The linework is amazing and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this level & quality of detail within the work that we see is phenomenal.  How we see the level of work in the backgrounds is equally as stunning and they really expand and enhance the moments, which is why I wish we’d see more of them.  How they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is remarkably well rendered.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show an extremely talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a stupendous eye for how colour works.   ​    There is something about Purgatori that I am utterly obsessed with.  She’s crazy, interesting, powerful and doesn’t take shit from anyone which is what usually gets her into these situations she finds herself in.  Thinking she’s invulnerable and untouchable she doesn’t think about consequences and this story is a great example of that.  With some seriously interesting writing and crazy good characterisation that are wrapped up in these bloody beautiful interiors make her precisely who she is and doesn’t apologise for it.  

[oosteven-universe]

Dungeons & Dragons: Mindbreaker #3

Dungeons & Dragons: Mindbreaker #3 IDW Publishing 2021 Written by Jim Zub Illustrated by Eduardo Mello Coloured by Katrina Mae Hao Lettered by Neil Uyetake    The prelude to Baldur’s Gate III and newest adventure in Jim Zub’s acclaimed D&D saga continues! Following last issue’s disastrous turn of events, some of our heroes are missing, and the mind flayer threat is twisting ever deeper into the workings of the city. What secrets will be revealed, and what steps will the remaining Baldur’s Gate heroes take to save their friends?    I love this series.  Minsc and Boo particularly though I have to say that what we see from them this issue really makes the reader think.  You go off script and become so thoroughly engaged in the story.  After all, if he has amnesia then how does Minsc know the smell level of evil or that Nery’s is able to interrogate the dead?  It is something to think about and makes the mystery surrounding that much more palpable.  One of these arcs we’re going to have to discover his origin and how Boo came to be as sentient and able to fight alongside the party as effectively as he does.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be one arc it can start in one, they get sidetracked and this continues with the more they learn about him.  I dunno about anyone else but I’m dying to know more about this dynamic duo.    Jim is a master when it comes to the Dungeons & Dragons storytelling.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter.  This manages to continuously flesh out their personalities incredibly well.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more questions we have and the more we want to see, learn and know about.    I am extremely impressed with the way that we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see the layers here open up new avenues to be explored.  Now whether they will be or won’t be isn’t relevant but they all add this great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      The interiors here are fantastic!  The traditional comic book style works well as seen through the linework and it’s varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work that we see is pretty extraordinary.  We see very few backgrounds being utilised unfortunately however. The composition we see within the panels and how this brings out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is handled extremely well.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for how colour works. ​    The more adventures we see these folks on the more impressed I am by the level of teamwork and by extension how they treat each other as family.  They may be an adventuring party and one that had a rocky start but now I couldn’t imagine this team without any one of them being a part of it.  I will continue to tell you this is as much a superhero team as you are going to find on stands right now.  We see some extraordinary writing and phenomenal characterisation alongside some lovely interiors that brings this life.  

[oosteven-universe]

Batman: The Impostor

Batman: The Imposter #3 DC Black Label 2021 Written by Mattson Tomlin Illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino Coloured by Jordie Bellaire Lettered by Steve Wands    The battle against the impostor poisoning the Batman’s name heats up, while Detective Blair Wong makes a deadly decision! Is there any way back for Bruce Wayne’s war on crime after the damage the copycat has done? Or was that war already lost before it ever began?    For whatever reason I wasn’t expecting this to be a three issue series.  I thought there would be more but these folks really manage to tie things up here exceptionally well.  The reveal on who the impostor is wasn’t what I was expecting to see and yet I should have seen this coming from a long way off.  That was definitely a highlight moment for me because I had been so fooled throughout the whole story.  I am also incredibly impressed with the way that this issue is crammed full of information, action and drama and yet it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel overly crowded, glossed over or left out.  Mattson does an excellent job with how he handles the oodles of things going on with the flow of the book.      I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceedingly well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a marvellous job in fleshing out the personalities that we see.  The pacing is amazing and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the mood, tone and feel of the story is  in a state of constant flux.    I’m impressed with how we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored.  His reveal to Choi and what he says to Leslie not to mention trying to clear up his reputation all this and more adds so much great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      Because this is a Batman story the mood, tone and feel is incredibly dark and foreboding and this works given the circumstances.  The linework is impressive and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work is so exciting to see.  How we see backgrounds could be better because when we do see them they are exquisite and they enhance and expand the moments.  How we see the composition within the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is marvellously rendered.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a great understanding of how colour works. ​    I am rather enjoying these Black Label stories as they basically are the Vertigo of the current age.  What if, DC style if you will and they tend to be dark and interesting in ways that allow the creators to really explore the characters in a way that we’d never normally see.  The writing is spectacular and the characterisation is intense while the interiors are completely bespoke to how the story needs them to be.  

[oosteven-universe]

Out #3

Out #3 AWA Upshot 2021 Written by Rob Williams Illustrated by Will Conrad Coloured by Marco Lesko Lettered by Sal Cipriano    In the waning days of World War Two, with the Allies advancing, a desperate Nazi officer unearths an ancient force of evil that he hopes will turn the tide of battle: a vampire. To test the power of his secret weapon, he unleashes the monster on an unsuspecting group of Allied POWs. It's up to Nocona, a Comanche language expert, to communicate with the vampire to find out what it really wants.    This is going to be talked about for a very long time to come.  This is immaculately rendered in every sense of the word and it just continues to impress and blow us away with each new issue.  Which is precisely how a series should progress.  Then of course there is this amazing cliffhanger ending that took me by complete surprise and changed the game in ways that should worry every single living person at this Keep.  I am also really impressed with the way that we see the Germans turning their captors against one another in such a crazy effective way and it really doesn’t take much just a public appearance or the suggestion someone is talking is all it really takes.  It is a brilliant tactic that is employed and demonstrated exceptionally well.      I am over the moon chuffed with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter.  What this does is showcase some spectacular work through their personalities that continue to help define who they are and how we see them.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more I want to see what's happening.      I’m pretty damn impressed with the way that this is being structured and how we see the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored.  Between the Allied Forces, the Germans and this creature there’s a lot going on and a lot to explore and they all add this great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      There are times I cannot handle the level & quality of the work that we see in the interiors here.  Talk about mindbogglingly bloody brilliant work!  The attention to detail we see through the linework, the varying weights and techniques being utilised and just the overall complexity of the work that isn’t just in the characters but every corner of what we see is literally mind blowing.  The way that the backgrounds enhance and expand the moments as well as how they work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is utterly magnificent.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masters eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a master colourist at work.  How we see the application and how the colour is used to its maximum effect is stupendous.   ​    I love this book pure and simple.  It is breathtakingly beautiful in terms of how the story and artwork are portrayed and the mood, tone and feel of the story is immaculately rendered by everything we see within these pages.  

[oosteven-universe]

We Only Kill Each Other #2

We Only Kill Each Other #2 ComiXology Originals 2021 Written by Stephanie Phillips Illustrated by Peter Krause Coloured by Ellie Wright Lettered by ALW’s Troy Peteri    The year is 1938. The threat of World War II looms over the United States, where Nazi sympathisers and fascists have taken root on American soil in alarming numbers. In New York City, resistance to the American Nazi movement grows amongst the ranks of Jewish-American gangsters. Enter Jonas Kaminsky, a rising small-time gangster who's embroiled in a turf war with Levi Solomon, an old-time mob boss with millions tied up in gambling and booze. When thrown together in an unexpected circumstance, it turns out that the one thing these gangsters hate more than each other is Nazis.    Ya know I had to look up Nazi’s in the United States in the 1930’s to see if this was historically accurate or just something thrown into the story for dramatic effect.  Turns out these camps really did exist and that sickens me that we weren’t taught about this in school as if it weren’t something that was important when in reality this kind of hatred was allowed to thrive then as it does to this day.  So kudos to Stephanie and Peter for bringing this to my attention and not only providing a great story but education as well.    I am really enjoying the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are impeccably rendered.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a magnificent job in bringing us and establishing personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more intense and amazing the story becomes.    I am really rather impressed with the way that we see this being structured as well as how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking how we see these layers here open up new avenues to be explored.  These camps, the district attorney’s offer and more all add some incredible depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.    Peter is an amazing artist and illustrator.  The linework is phenomenal and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work that we see is extraordinary to see.  How backgrounds are being utilised to not only enhance and expand the moments but also work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story is immaculately rendered.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a masterful eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a masterful eye for how colour works and when you see moments like the sky reflected in the glass you understand how good the application really is.   ​    I don’t think you realise the history of the Nazi movement and how it wasn’t simply just a Germany thing.  Germans worldwide were encouraged to become a part of the Nazi party and to sow the seeds of dissent wherever they were living.  The stuff that history books don’t teach is and should be criminal and with stories like this we get to see and learn of things that are as integral to the story as they are to this point and time in history.   Bravissimo to Stephanie for the impeccable writing, stunning characterisation and to Peter & Ellie for these mind blowing interiors.  The lettering from Troy just looks right and fits this, now if there’d be some Yiddish I’d be a happy camper.

[oosteven-universe]

The Heathens #2

The Heathens #2 Aftershock Comics 2021 Written by Cullen Bunn & Heath Amodio Illustrated by Sami Kivelä Coloured by Jason Wordie Lettered by Simon Bowland    The Heathens chase the scorpion into its hole and find themselves surrounded by snakes. Can five alphas stay together long enough for the entire pack to make it out alive?    What a spectacular issue this is as it mixes the fight they walked into and their own personal histories allowing us a chance to see what these characters are all about.  Each one has their own story and we finally get a chance to learn more about them and what they did to become an Alpha, okay what they were about that leads them to be considered an Alpha.  It’s a subtle difference but it is actually important because we don’t see them being chosen as an Alpha just what makes them so special.  Even better is we see them through the Ripper’s eyes as well as through their own telling of their story and as an added bonus we learn how the two men  knew each other and why they don’t like one another.  I found myself spellbound and fascinated with the story and their own stories and quite honestly I really didn’t want that to end.      I am very much enamoured with the way that this is being told.  The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does such a magnificent job in continuing to flesh out their personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing their stories and the story itself the more we want to see of their pasts and how they died and what happens afterwards.      I am mightily impressed with the way we see this being structured as well as how we see the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen.  I am also liking the way that we see these layers open up new avenues to be explored and honestly each individual story is worthy of exploration.  What all these avenues do is add such great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      I am really loving the interiors here!  The linework is exquisite and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create such great detail within the work is extraordinary to see.  Between the backgrounds and how we see the composition of the panels work to enhance and expand the moments while also working within the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The page layouts are quite inspired at times and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show such a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show an exceptional eye for how colour works and how to maximise their effects. ​    There is a lot going on here and you might think it may overload the reader but honestly the way that this is being told and how the flow of the book is done, what we see and learn while yes is quite a bit is also extraordinarily well done.  This does separate the group and we’ll see next issue just how this affects things moving forward in the next issue.  With some exceptional writing and stellar characterisation alongside these brilliant interiors really do a superb job in bringing these characters to life and give the reader a look into who they were when they were alive.