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2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
Kaledo Art
blake kathryn
todays bird
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PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
pixel skylines
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
Jules of Nature
Three Goblin Art
⁂
Kiana Khansmith
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Product Placement
izzy's playlists!
Discoholic 🪩
cherry valley forever
seen from France
seen from Germany
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seen from United States
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@thanosrules
#inktober My Favorite Mind MGMT Panels
For me, #inktober 2014 was a celebration of my favorite Mind MGMT Panels...
There is a panel here from each of Matt Kindt's published 27 issues (to date) of Mind MGMT, as well as the MM story from Dark Horse Presents #31, plus a few more to fill in for the 31 days of #inktober.
All Art is after Matt Kindt.
I am very excited about this weekend at Alamo City Comic Con 2014! If you are going to the convention, stop on by!
enJOY!
Terrible Sketch Tuesday #89 - Aug.12.2014!
Welcome back to the continuation of Terrible Sketch Tuesdays - YEAR TWO!
So, last year, TST #037 (which can be seen here), was a quick colored pencil sketch of my favorite Marvel Super-villain, evaluating how best to conquer Earth…in fact, last year on this day, was the eve of Marvel’s Infinity Event - Wow, it has been a year!
Anyway, I knew I was going to stick to the Thanos theme for this week’s sketch, but I wanted to up my game a bit, and sketch him like my favorite Thanos artist…
So here he is, sketched after Ron Lim, just several ticks towards terrible: THE MAD TITAN, THANOS!
enJOY!
_____
Follow @SketchTerribly, Like Terrible Sketch Tuesdays on Facebook, and/or See all the terrible sketches
Mind MGMT Thanos Cross-Over - Lyme vs. Thanos!
How else could I possibly complete one of the most epic Thanos original art collections of all time?
Well, given my latest obsession (Mind MGMT), a Henry Lyme vs. Thanos by the amazing @MattKindt was definitely the way to go.
enJOY!
AMAZING THANOS COMMISSION by Kelly Williams (@TreeBeerd)
And yes, I already found a place for it on my wall! :)
For more information about Kelly's amazing art, check out his website: http://treebeerdstuff.com
enJOY!
Happy Guardians of the Galaxy Day!
I couldn't resist. I had to put a picture together with some of the stuff that surrounds me in my office, with Rocket at the helm.
Original Art by @rob_guillory
BTW - In case you missed it (not sure how), here is the 15-second Teaser for the Trailer that will be available later tonight (on Jimmy Kimmel Live!):
Teaser for Tonight's Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer (source: ComicVine)
Full World Premiere of First Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer:
enJOY!
The Making of...Mind MGMT #24 (Cover)
OR, What you missed, if you weren't on twitter, don't already follow @mattkindt, or were preoccupied with other life things...
Happily, I wasn't distracted enough to miss a tweet, as the creation process of the image you see above was nothing short of AMAZING.
Note All times are in Central US, links go to the specified tweets (most to all, are images).
THE START - 2:45 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Going to start live tweeting the creation of the next MIND MGMT cover... issue 24 ... starting now!
REVIEWING OPTIONS - 2:46 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Started this morning early with thumbnails. Then ran them by my wife for her opinion. Was leaning towards bottom 2.
SELECTING THE LAYOUT - 2:48 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Picked this one after some discussion over the idea of putting the logos on the back cover.
PENCIL TO "PAPER" - 2:51 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Started ruling the logo placement in and penciling the cover...
AND THEN THIS HAPPENED - 2:52 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 2:54 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 2:55 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Then this happened. Phone rang as I was opening the door. In my rush to see who was calling I spilled a large mocha.
And this. I was carrying the cover to @brihurtt place... ruined, front and back.
Can't redraw it on this side either. Who was calling?!?! @JeffLemire. Not that I'm laying blame.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD - 2:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014
A walk to the art store later... back to where I started and all caught up! Time to pencil. No more phone calls!
PENCIL TO "PAPER" (take two) - 3:12 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Penciling the cover on heavy 140 lb. Water color paper.
LOGO PLACEMENT - 3:30 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying to figure out if the logo interacts with the art or sits on top.
DETAILS - 3:36 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Filling in detail...
MAKING GOOD OUT OF THE BAD - 3:43 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Free association to fill the space. Adding the coffee I spilled earlier along with an item from each character.
GOING ALL "GEOF DARROW" - 4:02 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying to channel my inner Geof Darrow...
PENCILS COMPLETE - 4:07 PM - 13 Feb 2014
This is about as detailed as my pencils ever get. Any more and I get bored inking.
CAUGHT "MOCHA" HANDED - 4:11 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Just now realizing that the spilled coffee means I have no coffee. Debating a coffee run vs. Finishing cover on time
BRUSH CHOICES - 4:13 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Been using this brush own for a week or so. Water proof and quick. But not sure I love the brush tip.
FRONT COVER INKED - 4:20 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Front of the cover is Inked...
MORE (AND MORE) INKING - 4:42 PM - 13 Feb 2014
One of many unglamorous parts of comics. Inking. Foreground to background since so much overlaps.
TOOLS (AND STRUGGLES) OF THE TRADE - 4:57 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 5:00 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 5:01 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Hard to see but the brush tip starts to split after a while which is why I'm not in love with this brush.
I use a make up travel bag for art supplies. It usually hangs by my table. Ready for conventions at a moments notice!
I'll use microns to add detail while waiting for the brush to fix itself.
INKING... - 5:27 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Getting there...
INKING...COMPLETE! - 5:53 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Pen details finished...
THE ERASER! - 5:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Erasing pencils with a kneeded eraser.
INK SPOTTING - 6:05 PM - 13 Feb 2014
spotted the blacks... time to paint!
LET THE WATERCOLOR BEGIN - 6:10 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Water color. Working light to dark.
MORE TOOLS OF THE TRADE - 6:11 PM - 13 Feb 2014 and 6:13 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Here's the water colors I use.
I've used these 3 brushes for years. Working big brushes and gradually smaller ones to fill in detail.
MORE COLOR - 6:41 PM - 13 Feb 2014
More color...
BASIC COLORS - COMPLETE! - 7:04 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Basic colors are done. Next is adding value and shading with blues and blacks. Nearly there...
7:05 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - The empty spots are for the title logo, Dark Horse logo, issue #, and UPC code.
DINNER AND INTERVIEW BREAK - 7:10 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Dinner break and online interview tonight until 9 pm. I'll finish later tonight and tweet the photoshop process as I go along.
STAINED - 7:17 PM - 13 Feb 2014
coffee stained boots from the spill this morning.
PROTECTION - 7:19 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Now that's it's nearly done I'll be keeping it in plastic until I get it safely scanned in. And no more coffee!
BACK TO WORK - 9:54 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Back to work. Adding blue on top to add shading and depth.
SHADING - 9:58 PM - 13 Feb 2014
More shading...
MORE [DIGITAL] TOOLS - 10:01 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 10:04 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 10:23 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Scanning. It will take 4 scans since the original is oversized...I'll tile them together in photoshop.
The 11x17 Mustek scanner I use is $200 on Amazon and scans water color better than the high end $1000 ones...
Start with the cover template and old paper texture in background.
RAW SCAN + TEMPLATE - 10:40 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Here's the raw scan dropped in to the template.
PHOTOSHOP TRICKS - 10:42 PM - 13 Feb 2014 and 10:51 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Unsharp mask sharpens up the black ink lines and brightens the color slightly.
I use multiply under Blending options to make the art look like it's on the old paper...
LOGO EXPERIMENTATION - 10:53 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , 10:56 PM - 13 Feb 2014 , and 11:03 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Trying different logo colors to find out which one looks best.
I'm thinking bright orange logo... maybe.
Taking some pieces out of the logo to make it look broken up.
BUMP UP THE CONTRAST - 11:08 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Bumping up contrast and brightening some sections of the fire/flames.
FIN. - 11:16 PM - 13 Feb 2014
Final cover. Added some type in Illustrator to the front. Not sure if it needs it...
11:17 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - When I'm not live-tweeting the process I usually sit on a design over night and then look at it w/ fresh eyes before sending it to my editor
11:18 PM - 13 Feb 2014 - And show it to my wife first to get her reaction…so that's what I'll do tomorrow. Goodnight! Thanks for paying attention!
DURATION: ~ 9 HOURS (including MOCHApocalypse)
If this doesn't give you all the reasons you would need to follow (and love) @mattkindt, I am not sure what would.
Thanks Matt, for yet another FANtastic way to involve your audience, into the phenomenon that is MIND MGMT!
enJOY!
_________
Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.
Follow @thanosrules on Twitter!
So, during Episode 3 of the Dark Horse Addiction Podcast (@DarkHorseAddict) I was able to read my GLOWING review (@LFLJ refers to it as a "love letter") of Mind MGMT by @mattkindt.
It is pretty obvious that I love Mind MGMT, but how much?
Let's count the ways, in this sound-byte (2 minutes and 29 seconds) from that episode...
Transcript of my review:
More than a comic, Mind MGMT is movement. Reading it changes you. It changes the way you think comics should be created, how creators should interact with the community, and what is truly possible within and around this entertainment medium. Never before have I eagerly awaited a month’s passing to read the next issue of a comic. Not like this. The story is captivating, intelligent and created with the utmost care for the final product. Matt Kindt is a wonderful genius. Every month he manages to produce some of the highest quality work in the industry today - not just for Dark Horse, but for three other publishers as well (Marvel, DC, Valiant). All this, and he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. So, keep an eye out for Matt in the years to come, though based on his track record, he will be hard to miss!
Why did I write this?
It was my contribution to the Unleash The Fanboy's "BEST COMICS from 2013" Article.
ANyway, I thought I would share my love of Mind MGMT with the world (again).
enJOY!
Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly) is headed to Wizard World New Orleans 2014!
Once again, I am headed to Wizard World New Orleans! I cannot believe it has been an entire convention year since Leo (@LFLJ) and I graced NOLA with our podcasting presence. Check out our joint podcast effort here: Stacks of Comics - Episode 017 - Live from NOLA Comic Con - Podcast Crossover!
Needless to say, there have been a few changes in the past year...and while Leo and I are both Podcasting, it is for an entirely different cause. Now, we are the co-hosts of Dark Horse Addiction (@DarkHorseAddict) over on comicaddiction.net!
What will we be doing at Wizard World NOLA 2014? Well, lots of things:
Recording a Podcast
Interviewing amazing Dark Horse Creators (hopefully)
Sketching Terribly
Advertising for my upcoming Children's Book! "POOR little Stink Bug"
Speaking of that, here is a copy my Bio for this WW Convention:
The artist behind Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly), Charles Joy (@thanosrules), has been a comic book fan for as long as he can remember. And while the Infinity Gauntlet will always hold a significant place in his heart, in recent years his eyes and mind have been opened to the wonders of the creator-owned comic world. Also within the past few years, he has really stepped up his comics game - reviewing, sketching, podcasting and even working on his first Children’s Book: “POOR little Stink Bug”!
So, if you are in the New Orleans area, or planning on heading to WW NOLA 2014, be sure to stop by and say high. Who knows, if you are a Dark Horse Addict like us, you may just land yourself an interview on the podcast!
enJOY!
——
Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.
——
Follow @thanosrules on Twitter, listen to the Stacks of Comics Podcast (@stacksofcomics) and be amused by Terrible Sketch Tuesdays (@SketchTerribly)! Oh, and follow @LFLJ too! ;)
Stacks of Comics - Episode 032 - Nopesgiving & Gone Dark Horse!
Episode THIRTY-TWO of Stacks of Comics is FINALLY FINALLY here! Recorded at different times over November and December 2013, it is here! I (@thanosrules) am joined once again by Leo Johnson (@LFLJ) to discuss all things Comics and many, many things not Comics… hell, the first part is basically a haul video from WW Austin 2013, without the video.
Anyway, if you listen to nothing else in the podcast, check it out around the 1 hour mark, for a special announcement (this is where the “Gone Dark Horse” stuff comes in).
So, please enJOY this 01:10:47 (1 hours, 10 minutes, 47 seconds) installment of the Stack of Comics podcast as we basically talk about nothing for a while, then something very cool at the end.
Episode 33 is dedicated to … the Dark Horse Addiction Podcast!
@DarkHorseAddict
@comicaddiction
Other Highlights / Links from Episode 032:
Wizard World Austin
Nicholas Pitarra
Leo loves Nick
Rob Guillory
http://comicaddiction.net
Terrible Sketch Tuesday
TST 052 - Nopetopus!
Leo’s Stuff:
Leo’s Nerdspan Reviews
Nerdpsan - http://www.nerdspan.com
Stash My Comics - http://www.stashmycomics.com
Geek Syndicate - http://geeksyndicate.co.uk
Andrew’s Stuff:
Lights.Camera.Action-Figures
Andrew Love Anime
Alley Theatre - You Can’t Take It With You
Contact Info:
Follow us on the Twitters: @thanosrules @stacksofcomics @LCAFigures @LFLJ @DarkHorseAddict @comicaddiction
Go look at our Websites: http://thanosrules.com and http://stacksofcomics.com and http://terriblesketchtuesdays.tumblr.com and http://lightscameraactionfigures.tumblr.com and http://comicaddiction.net
Like us on Facebook!: Stacks of Comics and Terrible Sketch Tuesdays
Subscribe and Listen on iTunes!
Johnson and enJOY!
Infinity Chapter Six + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Here we go again...this time 10 reviews. These are extremely late, but hey, better late than never? Either way, I wanted to finish things off...
Overall Note - The end has come. For the event anyway... I have to say, this was a pretty great event. There were several 5/5 issues, main event books and tie-ins. It also felt pretty cohesive, which is a nice change of pace from some events. Lastly, it fits well with the rest of what is going on with the other Marvel titles, giving way for the next wave of books, all related to the Inhumans. That said, the first thing I thought (and I am sure I am not alone here) when I saw the cover to New Avengers #12, was the end of Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. Check out the following image:
Look familiar? Either way, this is a great segue to my first review, for New Avengers and the issue that shows us, sometimes there are fates greater than death (especially for a nihilist like Thanos).
New Avengers #12 ( 5 / 5 ) - This should not be read before Infinity 6. You likely know this because of the timeline in the back of each of the Infinity books, but still. Not that what happens at the end of Infinity 6 is a secret, especially from this cover. Heck, enough time has passed, you know what happened. Triple-Dog-Heck, likely no one is reading this. ;) Anyway. Again, this issue was great. In fact, the series was my favorite Marvel title from Marvel NOW! This issue is filled with kings and leaders learning their place. Their very small place in the universe. One take-away from this issue (and event really), is that we all have to deal with the fact that no matter how much power, control, money, luck any of us has, "Everything dies."
Infinity: Heist #3 ( 3.5 / 5 ) - Cross, Double-Cross, Triple-Cross. Is that even a thing? It may be. So many lies, so much deceit - all to be expected from a "villain-centric" book. As I have been saying all along, I am not real big on this type of story. This issue has an interesting (and cosmic) twist to it, but still no real specific tie (that I see as of now) with the event (outside of the fact that they were taking advantage of the event events to cover the "heist". This mini-series are not really necessary and add very little to the overall story, of course, unless you are in to this kind of book. That said, I was impressed with the reveal at the end, not sure what it will mean, but there is one more issue to go (release date January 8th, 2014, well after the event), so we will see.
Infinity: Heist #4 ( 3 / 5 ) - Well, it finally came out, as expected on January 8th, 2014, and I had a chance to read it (January 16th). Meh. I am sorry, it just wasn't for me. I do have to say, the very last panel, did redeem the entire story, if not just a little. Is it worth it? Likely not. But, as I have been saying, if you dig this kind of villain focused story, you might just dig this mini-series.
Infinity: The Hunt #4 ( 5 / 5 ) - Loved it! No surprise really, given the writer, but still. This was a wonderfully dramatic end to the mini-series. So many feels. It was wonderful to see that it tied in to event events and illustrated what we have come to expect from the "child super-heroes" books. So, though this mini-series got off to a slow start, it ended up being a great story with many interesting characters and situations for those characters. Teamwork, FTW!
Secret Avengers #11 ( 4 / 5 ) - Another decent tie-in. Just like last issue, we see the aftermath of the terrigenesis - previously "normal" people powering up. Some good, some bad. This issue follows our new "superhero", previous S.H.I.E.L.D. computer tech, in the field with Nick Fury and Agent Coulson. Trial by fire (pun intended) for her, as she goes up against another one of her kind, someone not in the "good" category". But evil? Who knows. Likely scared and just too over-powered. In the end, Sarah learns a hard lesson: Be with S.H.I.E.L.D. or against S.H.I.E.L.D. Where will all this go? What decision will Sarah make? I am not sure, and likely will not find out. I am leaving the Inhumanity stuff alone for a while...
Wolverine and the X-Men Annual #1 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - This issue was "cute". Much like "Infinity: The Hunt", this issue is all about the children. Specifically highlighted in this issue, Kubark (Kid Gladiator). He is just an overpowered kid learning his place in the universe. Constantly in his father's shadow (expectation wise), he only wants to, well, punch things. In this issue, he gets to do just that. The story is set during the events of Infinity, so there are plenty of opportunities to punch, both in space and here on earth. In the end, he learns a great lesson: With great punching, comes great...err. Never look a gift-horse...hmm. Beggars can't be choosers? Either way, this is another "feel-good" issue with lots of action (and punching). Oh, and you do not need to read all 40 some issues of Wolverine and the X-Men to read this tie-in, it is a great Infinity adjacent One-Shot.
Avengers #23 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Not much to say about this one. It was on par with the other Avengers tie-in issues for this event. Much of what you read in this issue is covered (highlighted) in the main event book, so it is not altogether necessary, but there are a few things of note...Specifically, the save by the significantly powered [event specific] Earth Allies on the PEAK station. Seeing Ronan smash skulls never gets old. So this issue wraps up the Avengers space battle and homecoming. At this point we have almost forgotten why they went into deep space in the first place. Nonetheless, they are home and ready to save Earth (again).
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - What I love most about this issue is the art. Francesco Francavilla does an amazing job here. It isn't your mainstream comic book art, but the style fits perfectly with cosmic tales. As a tie-in, this is relatively non-essential, though it does provide some filler for what happened at the PEAK Station before the events of Infinity #6. There is quite a bit of action, and a good bit of GotG snark. What I am curious about is Angela. I am not sure why she appears so powerless. Sure, she is durable, but in this issue sure doesn't destroy many enemy combatants. Overall, it is a fun read and fits nicely in with the rest of the story.
Thunderbolts #18 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Nice. This series really turned itself around within the Infinity event. The first tie-in issue was the last straw for some, maybe most, but that second tie-in issue really was great. From there, the issues stayed consistently entertaining. The art is still odd, but something about it is fun and fascinating. The story - well done. it wasn't your average Punisher-centric story. It was imaginative, intelligent and had a couple nice twists. So many people got their way, and that is saying a lot, given the complexity of the latest Thunderbolts team. This is not to say there aren't some ongoing points of conflict, but those will be ironed out, well beaten out more likely, on this upcoming "Road Trip". Oh Boy. And Mercy? How is that "little issue" going to be dealt with? Only time will tell (I have not read anything past this issue, in case these items have been addressed since).
Mighty Avengers #3 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Blue Marvel arrives. Why? To save the Mighty Avengers and NYC from Shuma-Gorath. Okay, maybe the world. Still, it was bad, then "Adam" flies in and saves the day. He also seems to know the identity of our mystery "Spider Hero". I should also be clear, Adam doesn't do it on his own. He gives the team extra motivation - this combined with Power Man and Ava Ayala, save the day. Now, obviously I have "spoiled" the fact that things work out in the end, but I didn't say how, and that is the really interesting part, which I will not spoil. It is worth reading, especially if you have been digging the series so far. Oh, and since I am so late in reviewing this issue, the 4th has been released, which reveals Spider Hero's identity: Blade. Why not? They are really pushing the "non-white" (save Doc Ock) team thing now. Really. It is kind of awkward, no? Either way, pretty intelligent way to end a battle, and decent enough way to tie things into the Infinity events.
Infinity #6 ( 5 / 5 ) - Much like the stories of prophecy, where the son is destined to rid the world of his father, this event unfolds in a way Thanos would not have expected, nor enjoyed. As the reader, of both this event and Thanos Rising, we know that the universe is to be rid of all offspring sired by Thanos. This is the only way Death would accept our favorite villain into her loving arms - or so he hopes. In fact, Death is either his unrequited love, or he is crazy and she is simply a manifestation to quell any remorse his lifelong nihilism has produced. Unfortunately for Thanos, none of his plans come to fruition. This is the worst possible outcome for him. No rest, No Death, No fulfillment of his latest universal quest.
This event ends less about The Builders and more about what the Builders and Thanos brought about. Nearly all the event specific allies not only go their separate ways, but grow in power and potential for future threat. The world has been seeded with Inhumanity. The Builders? What builders? Apparently they were a weaker threat than Thanos. Thane - now there is a threat. One hand brings death, the other a living death with no end, with his new mentor (Ebony Maw) there is no telling what horrors he will bring to the universe.
What this event did do, is tee up a new age for the Inhumans. A plan that Black Bolt would have unleashed either way. So, in the dawn of Inhumanity, Marvel takes us once again into a mess of issues, related, semi-related, and all very similar to the "mutant problem" the X-Men have been facing for years and years. Will this similarity be addressed? Who knows. I will likely not find out for some time, as I am taking a much needed break from the Marvel insanity.
What I am looking forward to, and what I will be reading spoilers about is the impending threats mentioned by Black Swan in New Avengers #12. Those are some story-lines that I could follow. Again, only time (and money) will tell.
What's Next? Infinity is over. Everything has been wrapped up with a nice bow, in a sense. So, what are Thanos fans to do? Thankfully, just wait just a few more months! A new Thanos Original Graphic Novel from Jim Starlin is due out later this year (April 2014):
There is an imbalance in the universe. Since his latest return from oblivion, Thanos himself feels… incomplete. Now the so-called Mad Titan plans to put both wrongs right. The revelatory waters of the Infinity Well lead Thanos on a new quest, with a once sworn enemy, Adam Warlock, at his side. A crusade that will bring confrontation with the Silver Surfer and the galaxy’s mightiest heroes – the Annihilators. This April, Thanos will embark on an odyssey that will change everything in THANOS: THE INFINITY REVELATION.
More about the upcoming release, plus an interview with Jim Starlin here on Marvel.com: Unlock Thanos: The Infinity Revelation with Jim Starlin
Okay - that wraps up the final set of reviews. Again, I was impressed with this event. And though it ended like other Thanos events before it, we are left with a hint of future cosmic battles, drama and likely an eventual family reunion.
For reference, here are the links to all my Infinity Event Reviews:
Infinity Chapter One + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Infinity Chapter Two & Three + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Infinity Chapter Three & Four + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Infinity Chapter Four & Five + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Infinity Chapter Six + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
enJOY!
That moment you realize all you have been collecting is Evil...Eeeeeeevil!
Infinity #6 Young Variant
Cosmic Parenting at its best...
Painkiller Jane: The Price of Freedom #1
If you read my reviews, you know that I am a huge fan of this creative team. Jimmy et al. always deliver more value per issue than most any comic on the market today. This book is no exception.
What do you get in this issue?
Two stories! The ongoing, and one called, "From The Beginning", a short, yet complete story to catch up the n00bs and refresh the established fans. This is reminiscent of one of my favorite comics of all time from Jimmy and team: Creator-Owned Heroes
Amanda Conner Art on the [main] Cover! It goes without saying, Amanda adds value to any book. The other cover is striking as well, big thanks to Dave Johnson for the Variant!
Amazing Art from Juan Santacruz (onging story) Sam Lotfi (backup story)! The interiors of this book are fantastic. Though different for each story, they fit perfectly with the tale being told. Just as she is written, Jane remains beautiful, powerful, sexy and relatable regardless of the artist. This is a testament to her character and creators. Bravo.
"The History of Painkiller Jane", by Patrick Wedge - Exactly what it states in the title - a third-party look at the origins surrounding the character, and her creators - from before the character was imagined, through her time with the Sci-Fi Channel, and on to the ride we share with her today...
A Letter from Jimmy, "Welcome Back" - Another history lesson (this time first-party) about the character, the process, and proof that Jimmy is doing what he was destined to do - entertain the masses!
Wardrobe Malfunctions! You'll see.
Fantastic Tweet-able phrases of endearment! Again, you'll see.
So, what about these stories?
Fantastic. I believe that whether you are a long time fan or new to the character, you will love the direction of this series. As I have stated, the art is beautiful, and the writing perfectly suited for Jane Vasko (duh!).
The best part? I actually literally laughed out loud at a point or two in the issue. I love when I can be that entertained!
Congratulations, Jimmy and team. I am really looking forward to where all this goes!
_________
Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.
Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for more thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!
Infinity Chapter Four & Five + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Here we go again...this time 11 reviews. Apologies for the delay - but now we are all caught up!
Overall Note - Lots going on here, the space stuff is starting to get confusing again (Avengers title), while the Earth stuff is some of the best storytelling I have seen in a while (New Avengers title).
New Avengers #11 ( 5 / 5 ) - Again, fantastic. This title has not let up. This issue has a very unexpected twist and an extremely solemn ending. You will be impressed to see what the Builders are willing to do to ensure "a more natural end to our existence." Wow. And of course, though short, the Thanos bit will leave you satisfied. The side view (you will see what I mean) certainly commands perspective. Oh, and the Dr. Strange scene. Awesome. No more, or I will spoil it. This continues to be my favorite book in this series!
Avengers #21 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Apparently, I am too stupid to read this title. Or at the very least, I do not pay enough attention when I read comics. It is a good issue. Probably great if I could wrap my brain around it. The Ex Nihilo / Abyss / Captain Universe stuff just feels way over my head. The way they backed into the story of why the Supreme Intelligence was in need of repairs, was well done. The way the Annihilation Wave was handled, perfect. The Captain Universe / Builder interaction - also wonderfully told. And the end...yikes.
Guardians of the Galaxy #8 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - To be honest, I had to catch up on this title a bit. So I read #7 and then #8. I can't say that it was necessary, as I have no idea how much time passed between the two issues. The "background info" at the beginning of both issues was even the same. All we know at the end of #7 is bit more about Angela and that there was no obvious invasion at the time. In #8, they don't know if Iron Man or the Avengers are alive and the threat to Earth is very real. A bit confusing for a one-issue transition, but I am not faulting this issue for that. In fact, this issue was damn near perfect. But I am biased, I love the space books...and I love the fact that we may eventually know what happened to Thanos, Drax, Peter and Richard in the Cancerverse. This issue is a great tie-in for Infinity...and I have to say, I am VERY pleased that they actually added GotG to the list of Tie-Ins - I mean, seriously. Very excited to see what happens next!
Nova #9 ( 4 / 5 ) - Interesting. Very interesting. Surprising too. I didn't think they would go as far as they did with this. In the review I did for the previous issue, I commented heavily on how the audience for this book must be much younger than me - mostly because I am having a hard time relating...Yet it takes a "younger character" (Kaldera) to really scale up the maturity level of the book. The ideas and themes in this issue really jumped quite a bit. I guess that was obvious from the cliffhanger, but still. Throughout the issue, you are left with "what is going to happen to this poor family". Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of it (the stuff that doesn't directly relate to Kaldera is pretty "young audience". Not that it is bad, just harder for me (30s) to relate to. Overall, it is another decent tie-in for the event, not required, but still offering some ties to Richard Rider, a situation that may never surface, and may only ever be hinted at...
Avengers Assemble #20 ( 4 / 5 ) - Cute. Sad, but cute. Well, the story starts out sad. Tragic. Unrelated to anything obvious. Then things are made clear. The 50-foot tall naked dude makes sense. I mean, sure, he is naked because he grew, not his clothes. But that is not what made sense. And how it was dealt with (both how the story and problem) surpassed my expectations. It had a good bit of (albeit comic-y) science that fit with the story, and of course the story fit right in with the terrigenesis stuff. They are really playing that out quite a bit - but then again Inhumanity is coming...still wondering about the difference between the I-gene and X-gene... Anyway, this issue is... cute. Has a good story and positive ending. The Wonderman thing is getting a bit tiresome, but I am sure that will work itself out (How is this related to Uncanny Avengers / 4 Horsemen?). I like Scarlet Witch, so it was always probable that this issue was going to get a decent score.
Thunderbolts #17 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - This title is still holding strong. I am even going to increase its rating a bit, to show my appreciation. Mainly because of how well it is tied in to the story (especially now with the terrigenesis (green mist)). Some items of note: We finally find out why one of the mob families has been more prominent in the story than all the rest, to a very interesting degree; We see Ross and Sterns work together with very poor cell reception to figure out a way to show [no] Mercy to the alien flag ship; We see Flash Venom-Out; Punisher and Elektra get their murder on; and Deadpool finally gets his pizza.
Secret Avengers #10 ( 4 / 5 ) - I have not been reading this series. I read the first couple issues and it just didn't fit in with what I wanted to read (on top of everything else). It is the S.H.I.E.L.D. book with an Avengers name. That is perfectly fine. It feels like "the movie book" as well, especially this issue, starring Fury, Hill, Coulson and Rhodes. Like many of the other tie-ins it is all about terrigenesis. I will leave my I-gene/X-gene conversation out of this review, but still... this is about "normal folks" powering up. As can be expected, S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to exploit these new power-sets (it was either that or smite them). Since the Earth is under attack, they decide to take advantage of the situation - especially based on the powers of the most recent Inhuman, Sarah. So, as much as this is a S.H.I.E.L.D. series, this issue is all about Sarah. Is that interesting? Maybe. Depends on if she is a throw away character... based on ethnicity alone, she may just be put with the Mighty Avengers. And seriously, I am not being insensitive - that is how they have "configured" that team - it is just an observation.
Infinity: The Hunt #3 ( 4 / 5 ) - Wonderful. My favorite part is the narrative done by Finesse, her story about observing Captain America, and how it has changed the way she handles terrifying situations. Situations like the ones illustrated in this issue. While the rest of the world is being torn asunder by Thanos and crew, the "kids" are doing their own thing...they think they are helping, but what is really going on? At this point, we are not sure. It is chaos. I guess all will become clear in the next (and final issue): Final Exam!
Infinity: Heist #2 ( 3.5 / 5 ) - Okay, this is starting to get more intriguing. I am still not a big fan of B-List Villain books, but this may actually turn out to be something worth reading all the way through. Once again we see terrigenesis impacting the story-line. I have to say, it is in a slightly different way - I didn't see it coming from the last issue. I am looking forward to seeing how this pans out. I may not care about all the characters (or any of them), but something has got to give - especially with all this setup. The I-gene thing is really getting to me, especially here - I mean, how is Blizz any different than Bobby Drake? Oh well. Maybe now he will have some new tricks up his icy sleeve.
Avengers #22 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - A homecoming. A greater purpose. A reason to keep fighting the good fight. The art is really beautiful. I LOVE how Leinil Francis Yu draws Carol Danvers - breathtaking. His work on the other characters isn't so bad either. ;) The unique and brooding style really fits with what this event/series needs. I might as well get lost in the art, as I am kind of lost on some of the nuances of the story. I get it. They are coming back from deep space. Earth is the next battlefront for them...the battlefront that many of our other heroes have been entrenched for a while now. What will turn the tide? If anything, the words of Thor. So inspirational. We are nearing the end... truth (Hickman's words through Thor) an beauty (Yu's art) await.
Infinity #5 ( 5 / 5 ) - Not another 6/5, but still a great book, deserves a 5/5. I am really looking forward to how this event concludes. Read this BEFORE Avengers #22. It is not a huge deal, but does make that book make more sense (and everyone knows how much trouble I have with that title) ;). The issue seemed short in comparison to the the others. It is probably just me. Anyway, we get a lot of great "Avengers Ra-Ra", which is nice, considering what they have been going through...sad news for them, the one planet they left is the one that needs the most attention. With "The Builders problem" mostly out of the way, they have one last thorn to remove - Thanos. Unfortunately, that thorn has caused a great infection...Not only in the form of terrigenesis. But also the chaos that Thanos has unleashed across the planet. Not to mention the whole "universes colliding" problem. This is such a great event!
What's Next? So much going on. Only a few issues left to wrap it all up. And then what? Inhumanity? The All-New Marvel NOW!? Will everything change? Who is going to die?
What did you think of Sinestro / Thane? Poor Thanos and his lack of sleep. I am very impressed how they linked the Thanos Rising story-line in with this event. Very well done.
Okay - that wraps this set of reviews up. Again, I am loving this event. It is everything I could have asked for - and more. We will see how it all ends...see if Thanos can once again return to Death - that is, if she ever embraced him in the first place.
enJOY!
Infinity Chapter Three & Four + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Here we go again...this time 11 reviews. Apologies for the delay - but now we are all caught up!
Overall Note - This round of event books left me in awe. Not so much from the trades, but the main event book, Infinity #4 - so awesome. In fact, many of the tie-ins were "so so", with a few improvements where I expected them. Read on for more of my ramblings.
Avengers #20 ( 4 / 5 ) - It was good. At the start, it felt like more re-hashing of the same space battle we have seen over and over, but as the issue progressed, some new "space fight" stuff (which is huge in Infinity #4) was introduced, and even some very interesting (yet side-bar) new Ex Nihilo / Abyss stuff continues to form. Definitely worth picking up as a "first class" tie-in for Infinity. In fact, a bunch of it shows up in the "Previously in Infinity" section of #4.
Superior Spider-Man Team Up #3 and #4 ( 3 / 5 ) - Since #3 and #4 are so closely related in content, they kind of meld together anyway - perfect for a quick review of both. So here goes - I am not sure we need another book about Superior Spider-Man (as this could be a spin-off of Mighty Avengers at this point), but this one at least does overlap with the Infinity event and the resulting fallout from the Terrigen Bomb. Yeah, minor spoiler, that is the green mist...or so it would seem, from later accounts of terrigenesis (Infinity #4), is the stuff of Inhumans. In this issue we see Superior Spider-Man dealing with Thanos bad guys (quite effectively I might add) as well as "teaming up" with a newly hatched Inhuman (though, depending on when you read other issues, you don't know this yet). Either way, it is interesting how this new character plays out. Proving once again Doc-Ock-Spidey is not much of a role model... things turn out much different than the Fearless Defenders tie-in (which I will discuss below). Are these worth it? Only to solidify "new powers emerging"...but quite frankly, how Inhumans differ from Mutants is getting munged here - besides from the obvious differences between the Inhuman gene and the Mutant gene. :|
Nova #8 ( 4 / 5 ) - The cover is actually pretty spot on, given what actually happens in the issue. The introduction of another "young" character seems overly "plot-device-y", but hey, this comic is geared more towards younger readers. There are pretty decent call-outs to Richard Rider and the Cancerverse. It is obvious (from ties to GoG #6) "they" are strongly hinting that the Age of Utlron time/space stuff is what allowed Thanos and Quill to emerge from the Cancerverse...but still no definitive statements on the current whereabouts of Richard Rider. Anyway - the history in the Cancerverse is not the only thing being dredged up - links to Richard and his time with the New Warriors is also coming to head, as this 15-year-old Nova is introduced to Robbie and Vance. Where will this lead? How will the new "young" threat sent by Thanos come into play? It is all very exciting...albeit a bit too "teen drama" for me at the moment.
Infinity: Heist #1 ( 3 / 5 ) - I am not a fan of the "two-bit" villain comics that have been coming out. I stopped reading "Superior Foes..." after issue two, and this mini-series (hopefully) seems right up that same alley... I get it, "they" want us to see other things that are going on as part of the Invasion. Most of the second-tier tie-ins are showing us fallout that reaches close to home. Looting, rioting, and now a big heist. Maybe these thugs don't realize that Tony stayed while the vast majority of the Avengers went into deep space? Sure, wait until Thor is gone... but I certainly wouldn't underestimate Tony and his tech. It is hard for me to care about this story-line with everything else that is going on. I will continue to pick it up as part of the overall story, but it will not be high on my reading to do list.
Avengers Assemble #19 ( 3.5 / 5 ) - More backstory. More of the same goings on with the space battle where half the Avengers get captured. More behind the panels detail about the rescue. More overlap with Captain Marvel and Avengers story-line. All of this is fine. I just felt like I read it too late. So, be sure to read this near Captain Marvel #16 to have the best context. Also, if you like the relationships between Carol and Jessica, and Jessica and Clint, this is still the right book for you. Girl Power!
Thunderbolts #16 ( 4 / 5 ) - Consistent with the last issue... The first tie-in for Thunderbolts must have been a fluke. Because I am still impressed with the level of writing and tie-in with the Infinity event. The art is still quirky - but I love it. The Leader's head never has looked so good. The juxtaposition of its whimsy against the dire nature of the event make the book more entertaining. Deadpool continues to amuse, Punisher continues to brood, Ross continues to bully and Elektra well, Elektra continues to use her "talents". ;) All is well in Thunderbolts land. Heck, even Mercy plays a pretty decent role in battling Thanos' thralls. Worth the read as it relates to the event, and even the series, as it has not picked up to readable levels.
Mighty Avengers #2 ( 4 / 5 ) - This issue was better than the last. For me anyway. It had a good tie-in to the event, not only through all the fighting, but through Dr. Strange and Uatu. It also had a great "goose-bump" inducing moment. I don't want to spoil it, but you will know what I am talking about once you read it. With the introduction of another player in this "Mighty" battlefield ,this book continues to grow into the "Minority" Avengers, which is great - but seems somewhat forced now. Almost making the point too well. Maybe that is just me. When I see the Avengers, I do not see race - this series seems to make a point of calling it out. Whichever lens you want to look at this book through, it is a pretty decent read. I look forward to where this NYC battle is going, and how the new character introduced will impact the story. At this point in the event, if you had to choose between this book and Superior Spider-Man Team Up, I would recommend this book.
PS. Yeah. I don't know who "Spider-Hero" is. Maybe, Iron Fist?
Infinity: The Hunt #2 ( 4 / 5 ) - Wow - much better! More what I expected from Matt. I loved that the entire book started out with what was missing from the last issue - details on the Latverian School of Science and their "chosen"! From there we go back to the battle already in progress. We get some great visuals from Wolverine and an awesome disarm / super-punch from She-Hulk. All this, and a death of a friendly. Very interesting. I am really looking forward to the next issues. As these "kids" take off on their own, it should be a wild ride - maybe to rival Avengers Arena...
Fearless Defenders #10 ( 4 / 5 ) - I have to be honest, I haven't read Fearless Defenders since #4AU. Further honesty, I don't remember what it was about other than it was part of Age of Ultron. I have to say though - after reading this issue of Fearless Defenders, I may have to go back and read what I have missed. I am impressed. There are some great undertones of "strong female role model" in this book. Be they super-powered or just partial robot. It does feel a bit overplayed, similar to the Mighty Avengers, but that is what we get when books try to break out on their own for a specific audience with a specific set of character types. Anyway, much like Superior Spider-Man Team Up, this issue surrounded the fallout from the Terrigen Bomb. New Inhumans are popping up everywhere. As hinted above, this time things go a bit better than Doc-Ock-Spidey's failed attempt to mentor the fledgling power. This time the powers are harnessed, not confused. Something more develops...
Infinity #4 ( 6 / 5 ) - Wow. This is a fantastic issue. Both on and off planet. The Inhuman stuff is really intriguing, especially the Thanos specific stuff. The space stuff - again, wow. Blown. Away. In fact, one thing that I have discovered while reading/reviewing comics - if the story pans out "how I would have written it", I like it way better. I know, I know - that sounds super egotistic - but as the primary plot point was being set up I had a thought of how it should go...needless to say, the results were impressive and bested my expectations! I am not going to spoil anything, but I have to say - you have to read this issue. In fact, read all the main Infinity Event books - it has been a stellar event! The books from the main event have it all. They cover all the bases. After that first minor confusing issue, it has all been a highly enjoyable ride. I cannot wait to see how things pan out.
What's Next? I did happen to see a sneak-peek of Infinity #5 - interesting. All I can say is - execution better be great, especially to top Infinity #4. At first glance (of just the reveal), Thane looks a bit too much like Sinestro for my taste. :/
enJOY!
Infinity Chapter Two & Three + Tie-Ins | thanosrules quick reviews
Okay, some of these are late, but keeping up with reading AND reviewing has been somewhat difficult. Of course, that is not why you are reading this - so let's get to it.
Overall Note - The "space" portion of the story still seems REALLY BIG. I feel a little lost as to where people are at any given time. Because we have some big players and teleporters we lose track of any space-time. It all kind of loses meaning. While it is a big universe, sometimes I feels like it is all taking place around the same giant ring-world planet. Maybe it is just me. I am sure it will all pan out in the end - then again, a star chart would be nice.
Infinity #2 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - I really loved this issue. I talked about it briefly in Stacks of Comics - Episode 030, but no one seems to believe me. It got infinitely easier to understand what is going on with the story. This issue really cleared a bunch of stuff up AND provided us with a FANTASTIC reveal (which I will not spoil here). There is so much going on in this issue, it is hard to encapsulate it all in a short blurb. I will say my favorite part was Black Bolt calling in the rest of the Illuminati to one of the coolest places in the universe(s). Needless to say, if you are a fan of any of the characters in this story - pick this up.
Avengers #19 ( 4 / 5 ) - This issue and Captain Marvel really go hand in hand. Which makes sense - she is on the cover. And what a beautiful cover it is... in fact, I loved the art throughout the book. This issue picks up right after the last, and mostly tracks what happens with Carol and her team ("the captured"). It does give quite a bit of insight on what is happening with the Galactic Council (and proves that J-Son of Spartax is a #$%!@, here and in Guardians of the Galaxy). This issue is definitely worth reading and has important (expanded) tie-in information for the event itself.
Mighty Avengers #1 ( 3 / 5 ) - This title and Thunderbolts are a "boots on the ground" perspective on the event. At least for the time being. It is a good issue, sets up the characters, but as far as "Tie-In", you could take it or leave it for the event. It has some potential, I will give it that. And as we saw in Infinity #3, this team will likely play a larger role as the event rolls on.
Infinity: The Hunt #1 ( 3 / 5 ) - I am biased - I love Matt Kindt's work. Period. This is the first of of four tie-in issues of the event mini-series. Again, it has HUGE potential. While slow to start, this particular issue sets things up, and if you like the "Avengers Academy" / "Jean Grey School" age characters, it will be right up your alley. I just have to assume in the four available issues we will see great things. I do wish Matt did the art as well, that would be incredible - but then he wouldn't have time for Mind MGMT (and the million other things he is doing). ;) PS. Latverian School of Science - 'nuff said!
New Avengers #10 ( 5 / 5 ) - There is really no way to talk openly about this book without ruining the surprise that was revealed at the end of Infinity #2. At this point in the event, you likely know what I am talking about, but I am not going to discuss it until my next round of reviews. I do love that the entire book starts out with Stark saying, "What did you say?" to Black Bolt. Sets up the "gravity" of the situation. We get an EXCELLENT amount of Thanos in this issue. There is yet another pretty big reveal as it pertains to Dr. Strange...and we end the issue with another "incursion". With all that is going on, we lose track of the fact that the Illuminati have been dealing with world ending stuff even before this event. Wow. Get. This. Book. Read. This. Series.
Captain Marvel #16 ( 4 / 5 ) - Girl Power! Wondering what happened "off panel" in Avengers #19? Well here are most of your answers - and we find out how Carol went from "Binary" to "Captured". I really enjoy how Carol is represented in this event - a major player. She is not too shabby to look at either. The artists are really doing a great job. Kelly Sue of course is doing a bang up job portraying one of the most important/powerful Marvel characters as a strong and independent woman. Great role model material here... whether you are a "half-breed dynamo" or not.
Thunderbolts #15 ( 4 / 5 ) - The moment that this became a 4/5 I actually said it aloud. I was as shocked as anyone, especially based on previous issues. Now, again, I am not hyper-critical like some of my peers, but the last issue had very little to do with the event. This one at least is event-adjacent. Getting closer. Obviously, after this issue, we will see direct involvement from some (not all apparently) of the Thunderbolts. What did it for me? Well besides the oddly quirky (in a good way) art - it was the writing. Yeah. I LOVED the movie reference discussion that Deadpool and Venom had. I can tell you, this book would have received a much lower score if Deadpool didn't have his a-ha moment. You will see what I am talking about. :) Anyway, I know that is trivial, but it goes up from there. It seems like this book is finally getting legs. Check it out.
Infinity #3 ( 4.5 / 5 ) - Wow. I still feel "lost in space", but this book is definitely impressive. They are doing a great job of not requiring the tie-in books if you just want to main story. In fact, some full panels from the tie-ins appear in this issue. That can be seen as good or bad, I guess. I liked Hickman's play of "Submit or Perish" - actually a better execution than AoU, IMO. ;) Anyway, this issue was a good mix of space vs. earth. We get a few great "Captain America FTW" moments; a few "other team" Tie-In, tie-in panels (Thunderbolts, Mighty Avengers, Illuminati); AND the showdown we have been waiting for finally erupts. As indicated on the Skottie Young variant cover (one of my all time favs) Thanos and Black Bolt go head to head. I really want a statue of their final interaction from this issue. Thanos wants what is "his" Black Bolt says, "NoOoO" (duh).
Fantastic. And if you missed it, here is a little tweet that I sent out commemorating this issue:
enJOY!
