I chose the name “Words on Pictures” for a number of reasons: It describes both the column and the comics I review. That’s why every review I write pays explicit attention to both the art and the writing. The brilliance of the comic form is not simply the art, nor is it the writing; it is the way the two combine to create a whole that is greater than either.
Rat Queens. Initially when I heard about this book, I thought it was something like Maus. I was wrong. So wrong. Little did I know that it would be about four badass adventurers, loaded to the gills with armour, spells, swords, recovering occult members, magic mushrooms and the best use of the word “dickcheese” I have seen/heard in a while! This book is fast becoming one of the best books out there for your money.
The human race has gone mad. It’s unclear as to whether it was a disease, biological weapon or genetic trait that’s done it, but the worlds population has turned into a bloodthirsty, horrific, murderous, rampaging mess, and that spells trouble for our heroes, Rover; Red and Charlie. Three dogs on a mission to leave Manhattan. After the first issue of dodging blood thristy, crazy feeders, Ennis switches the focus this issue to the inevitable struggle for who will be top of the domesticated foodchain.
Extra! Extra! The team tackle a mountain of news this week. They also look at their best and worst comics of the week, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and issue #3 of 52.
I am a huge Batman fan, always have been and always will be; so being able to own my own copy of Detective Comics #27 is a dream come true!… Okay, it’s not that Detective Comics #27, but it is the next best thing! As this issue is split up into separate stories I think I’ll split my review up to mimic each story on its own merit.
I just want to start off by saying I’m not a reader of Constantine. That’s not to say I dislike him, but I’ve just – well – never read any of his stuff. The Forever Evil event was my jumping in platform to the Constantine series, and to date I own a whopping two issues; so maybe I’m not the best guy to review Constantine… or maybe that makes me the best guy to review Constantine!
Marvel’s All New NOW titles are continuing their march towards comic book domination, and where better to start a new series than with that red haired, bad-ass ex KGB agent Black Widow. With the success of Scarlett Johanson as Ms Natasha Romanov in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it stands to reason that Marvel would want to capitalise. therefore, it comes as no surprise that they have released Black Widow #1.
There’s an old saying, “fiction is folks,” and Brubaker and Epting’s Velvet (with colours by Elizabeth Breitweiser) is a perfect example. It’s 1973 and Velvet Templeton is an agent on the run, now 42 years old, she’s spent the last 18 years flying a desk.The third issue finds her in Central Europe, following a trail of murder, espionage, and deception.
Zombies. Like that rash that won’t go away, they’ve infected every orifice of popular culture. From TV, to film, to comics, to cute and twee games like Plants Vs Zombies, it seems zombies are here to stay. At least that is until Wade Wilson, the merc with the mouth has his way. Yes, Deadpool has a date with a few million zombies. Yikes.
This week Dan & Jack discuss the big news from Image Expo and beyond, the return of Agents of SHIELD, the Weekly 52 Segment and the very first Comic Book of the Month for January 2014!
Front and center, America! Here comes action! Here comes adventure! Here comes The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot – a roller-coaster ride through the minds of Geof Darrow and Frank Miller, the tag team that set you reeling with their hard-hitting series, Hard Boiled! Everything you remember about being eight years old and watching monster movies is right here, but with all the magnified detail that you always wanted to see.
I have a confession to make: I stopped reading X-Men almost 20 years ago. The stories were convoluted, very little seemed to be happening, the books weren’t any fun, and most damning of all, I had stopped caring about the characters. Amazing X-Men changed all that. Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness have made the X-Men fun again, and in doing so, they’ve drawn me back in.
The first issue of this book caught my interest enough to get me on board for the second, but the second issue alone wouldn’t be bringing me back for the third. I liked Porter’s art. It’s angular and dense with detail, doing a good job of reflecting that these characters are not really the Justice League they were apparently created to be; at least not yet.
Welcome back one and all. Break out th’ bagpipes, dust off ya kilt, tussle up yer sporran lasses and laddies, as Papercuts and Inkstains is headin’ oop the highlands! Scottish independence is a hot topic of conversation these days, what with there being a referendum on whether or not the country secedes from the United Kingdom and stands proudly on it’s own two legs as an independent country.
Jack, Dan & Free are back for 2014! It’s a new year so we’re aiming to be bigger and better than ever! The best/worst comics of the week return, as usual, and we’ve also got the debut of our new segment about the DC weekly series 52!