Comic Review: The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode

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Comic Review: The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode

The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode

The Strange Talent Of Luther Strode

When you were in high school didn’t you wish that you could become big and strong in an instant? This Image comic written by Justin Jordan (Shadowman, Team 7) and illustrated by Tradd Moore (Deadpool, Legends Of the Dark Knight), is about a teenager who orders something from the back of a magazine that actually works.

Luther Strode was a normal, kinda nerdy teenager who gets bullied at school. Wanting a change, he orders an exercise book from the back of an old comic. The workouts seem to work instantly. Taking him from a scrawny geek, to the jacked kid at school you don’t want to mess with. But, there is more to this book than Luther knows and soon he will find out.

Great series that is more than it seems, not just a simple beat’em up storyline. Great artwork of people’s bodies being eviscerated. Another great new series from Image.

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Comic Review: Northlanders Volume 1 Sven The Returned

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Comic Review: Northlanders Volume 1 Sven The Returned

Northlanders Volume 1 Sven The Returned

Northlanders Volume 1 Sven The Returned

If you’ve seen the TV series Vikings on the History Channel you may be craving more. A good place to get your fill is with the series Northlanders from Vertigo. Brian Wood (Demo, DMZ) and artist Davide Gianfelice (Greek Street, Six Guns) give you all the vikings you can handle plus a little extra.

Sven has found out that his father, back in Orkney, has died. All his land and money which should have been his, has been claimed by his uncle Gorm. He returns home to settle things with his uncle and to leave and never return. But things do not go according to plan. Sven begins a one man war against his uncle to reclaim what is rightfully his.

The illustrations are as visually pleasing as you would expect from a comic about vikings. The story arcs can be as short as 2 issues or in this volume as long as 8. So throughout the series you get many different tales about other people, places and times.

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Comic Review: Fear Itself

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Comic Review: Fear Itself

Fear Itself

Fear Itself

Asgardian weapons have fallen to earth that change anyone who comes in contact with them. A Marvel event following Siege that is written by Matt Fraction (Iron Fist, Hawkeye) and illustrated by Stuart Immonen (Legion Of Super-Heroes, Action Comics).

Red Skull’s daughter, Sin, finds the Hammer of Skadi turning her into Skadi, the Herald of the Serpent. She frees the serpent from its prison and releases the seven hammers of the Serpent’s generals. Those who touch the hammer’s become the fallen generals. When Odin learns of this, he withdraws from Earth against the pleas of Thor. What could have made Odin so worried that he would leave the planet?

Like many of the Marvel events, big battles ensue as well as unexpected deaths. Artwork was amazing but the series felt kinda formulaic. Still worth a read if you haven’t had the chance yet.

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Comic Review: Secret Invasion

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Comic Review: Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion

This is a Marvel series of epic proportions.  An invasion by the Skrull race is imminent and it seems like the war will be over before it even starts. This Marvel event is written by Brian Michael Bendis (The Mighty Avengers, Sam and Twitch) and illustrated by Leinil Yu (X-Men, Wolverine).

The Earth is in grave danger but no one knows yet. Tony Stark has made a startling discovery.  The woman he thought was Elektra turned out to be a Skrull. Somehow this Skrull has the ability to shape-shift that is completely undetectable to mutant powers, magic powers and technology. Knowing this is only beginning. Tony ask the two smartest people on the planet, Hank Pym and Reed Richards, for help but with the possibility that anyone is a Skrull, who can they trust?

Another one of the big Marvel crossovers, everyone is affected by the invasion. You never really know who is themselves and with no hints, you only find out when they want you to. With tons of twists and turns, you really get addicted once you start reading as it seems utterly hopeless for the heroes of Earth. If you want to know about the aftermath of Secret Invasion, check out the Dark Reign titles.

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Comic Review: Final Crisis

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Comic Review: Final Crisis

Final Crisis

Final Crisis

What happens when evil wins? Darkseid is on the path to total victory in this DC title written by Grant Morrison (Happy!, Action Comics) and illustrated by J.G. Jones (Wonder Woman, Doc Savage).

Darkseid has gained control over the anti-life equation, something he has been trying to accomplish for a very a long time. Rallying the forces of evil to his side, he begins to gain control over reality, killing those standing in his way. Fighting a seeming impossible battle where evil has already won. Batman and Superman and their allies do everything in their power to stop the entire universe from falling to the anti-life equation. It may be to late to win the war that was lost before it even started.

Final Crisis is a very dividing series. Some people claim it is one of the best series ever, while others say it’s impossible to follow and makes no sense. Personally I found it a difficult read but it was one of the first comics I ever read. Give it a read and see which side you fall on.

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Comic Review: Loveless Volume 1 A Kin Of Homecoming

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Comic Review: Loveless Volume 1 A Kin Of Homecoming

Loveless Volume 1 A Kin Of Homecoming

Loveless Volume 1 A Kin Of Homecoming

Nothing like a good ol western with a side of revenge. Yup, I reckon that there’s some mighty fine reading. So come round the campfire and listen to this Vertigo tale from Brian Azzarello (El Diablo, Cage) and Marcelo Frusin (Hellblazer, Flinch).

Wes Cutter has come back to his hometown of Blackwater to right some wrongs. A brother who has been spreading rumors that he is dead. Friends who want to see him dead. Trying to put the pieces of what happened to his wife after he left for war. If you have wronged Wes Cutter than you are surely damned.

Great story all around, it’s hard not to like a western. My biggest problem is it goes back from past to present quite a lot. I found my self getting confused about what exactly was happening every now and again.

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Comic Review: Batman And Son

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Comic Review: Batman And Son

Batman And Son

Batman And Son

A great series of Batman stories in their own right. They are made even better by what this sets up for the future of the Batman universe. This DC title is written by Grant Morrison (Animal Man, Action Comics) and illustrated by Andy Kubert (Doc Savage, Trinity).

Batman has been so busy fighting crime that he has been ignoring his public duties as Bruce Wayne. Bruce gets away from Gotham by attending a London Pop Art museum but it’s not long before something goes wrong. The gala is suddenly attacked by a swarm of man-bat soldiers and pretty soon, Batman is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, Talia has quite the surprise for her former lover.

There are so many good things going on for this Batman collection. The 3 incarnations of Batman, the introduction of the son of Batman and a standalone Joker story. This single issue is considered one of the top ten Joker stories of all time. You will be blown away by the artwork. It’s truly amazing!  There are tons of reasons to get this comic, so pick one and enjoy.

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Comic Review: Batman Detective Comics Volume 1 Faces Of Death

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Comic Review: Batman Detective Comics Volume 1 Faces Of Death

Batman Detective Comics Volume 1 Faces Of Death

Batman Detective Comics Volume 1 Faces Of Death

This is the series that set up the Death Of The Family event before we even knew about. Come check out DC’s Detective Comics, written and illustrated by Tony S. Daniel (Spawn, The Tenth).

Starting with the capture of The Joker, Batman returns him to Arkham Asylum. The next day he is gone, leaving one thing behind in his cell–his own face. Trying to track down the Joker he is lead to the Dollmaker, the man who cut his face off.  The Dollmaker is a much more slippery and elusive enemy than he first anticipated and soon Batman is fighting for his life.

The series starts out very strong, which is easy when you have the Joker as a starting point. First couple of issues are interesting and overly gory but after those it kinda fizzle’s out.

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Comic Review: Fashion Beast

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Comic Review: Fashion Beast

Fashion Beast

Fashion Beast

Alan Moore (V For Vendetta, Watchmen)  is back with an old movie script that Avatar decided to help make into a graphic novel. Artist Facundo Percio (Anna Mercury, Broken Trinity) brings to life Fashion Beast.

With the country at war and nuclear winter seemingly immanent everyone’s mind is on one thing–fashion. Celestine is the biggest designer in the country and and yet no one has ever seen him. Holed up in his warehouse the only time people see even a shadow, is when he picks new models. There begins the new life of Doll, the newest model.

Being that this was written in 1985 you can definitely see the influences of the time. It takes a few issues to get an idea of what’s going on. But once you do it’s a compelling read.

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Comic Review: Earth 2 Volume 1 The Gathering

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Comic Review: Earth 2 Volume 1 The Gathering

Earth 2 Volume 1 The Gathering

Earth 2 Volume 1 The Gathering

When the world’s greatest superhero’s die saving the planet, new ones are chosen to take their place. DC’s Earth 2 is written by James Robinson (Starman, Firearm) and illustrated by Nicola Scott (Teen Titans, Secret Six).

The world was coming to end until 3 superhero’s made the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing it was the only way to save everyone Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman laid down their lives. Years later the worlds is soon to be in danger again but no one knows it yet. New hero’s come together and are chosen to protect the world in The Gathering.

Explosive start with the death’s of the big 3. You are left wondering how all this came to pass. Interesting take on the origin’s of these new hero’s. I like how some of them are regular people who just become endowed with their powers out of nowhere.

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