13th Crusader Comic Reviews

So, mark your calendars Crusaders, for A&A: The Adventures of Archer & Armstrong #1, is scheduled to arrive at your local comic book shop on March 16th! Don't miss out on the newest exploits of two of Valiant's most coveted characters embarking on a journey inside the supernatural shoulder bag of Aram Anni-Padda and meeting up with someone who's been for waiting for them for three millennia! The big, the bad"the bitter " Bacchus!

Hellena #1 will debut at this weekend's Boston Comic Con and will be distributed throughout the New England area with a print-on-demand for anyone outside of the region. It will also be available on Comixology in the near future. Visit http://www.fatcatfunnies.com/ for more info.

Being among the best is one thing; being the one that stands out from the best of the best, makes you legendary. Batman is a legendary character. No one on this Earth could ever dispute that. Period and the end. Now, the only unanswered questions that are left in regards to this latest DC Rebirth title is this: Will the collaborative efforts of the creative team be enough to make the All Star Batman title, a legendary one? Will it be a book that comic fans will gravitate to and talk about until their last breath is drawn? The answer is simply this " that depends on the creative team, but most importantly, that's totally up to you on whether or not you decide to support this book after reading the story!

This issue was action packed from the very beginning, no doubt about it; however, it did seem to be rather fast paced with a "we haven't seen nothing yet" feeling to it.

ASM #12 is more of an assortment of Spider stories merged into a single regular-sized issue. After reading ASM #12, I couldn't help but feel as if I had just watched multiple TV shows simultaneously. Although I am still very optimistic about the Spider-Verse tale in general, this was one chapter(s) I will not miss.

The art by Phil Jimenez for Angela is simply brilliant. Am I surprised? Not really! After all, haven't we seen his handiwork in previous issues of another female warrior (Wonder Woman)? Angela's form is quietly provocative while her facial features maintain that "if looks could kill" glance in almost every panel.

I wouldn't necessarily consider Bang Bang Lucita a top-mover or a must read comic; however, it does have a good plot with an ample amount of historical references. Seeing a Latina woman set as the main character in a stand-alone title was rather invigorating. Although Lucita is on the right side of the law, a role model she is not. I'm very curious to see how Lucita evolves over time.

The "I AM SUICIDE" arc is not one you'd want to miss. Don't hesitate! Run out to your local comic book shop and buy it now! You'll feel better once this magnificent book is in your hands.

Batman's life is suffering personified. His mission is to save lives. Batman has become a legend, inspiring many; he's larger than life"even though he is still, only human.

The Book of Death promises to be another exceptional and very entertaining story that was set up beautifully by The Valiant series. Robert Venditti assembles a powerful script, suitable for first time Valiant readers to comprehend, while simultaneously providing plenty of excitement for those who have been on board with Valiant since day one of their re-launch. The art here was good, but perhaps better during the scenes that were read by Tama from the Book of the Geomancers. The coloring was fine, but I did find most of the issue to be a little bit too bright, particularly for a story that's centered upon forthcoming doom.

With this Book of Death issue, I firmly believe that the character of The Eternal Warrior has been propelled to a new height. The creative team's efforts were successful at keeping the reader fully engaged by showcasing the trials and tribulations that Gilad must endure in his ever important role as a defender of the Geomancers. This issue contains high-octane entertainment with a battle sequence between Gilad and Unity that will not easily be forgotten. The resiliency of The Eternal Warrior really stands out with this book, justifying Gilad's recognition as The Eternal Warrior and commanding respect for it from his peers and readers alike. If there is ever an issue where you wish to learn more about The Eternal Warrior, this one is it. The creative team did a masterful job of presenting the chronicles of Valiant's past, present and future, making it easy for you to jump right in and enjoy this epic event.

In closing, this is a great series to invest in. However, with only one issue left to go, one can't help but feel that this particular story will pave the way for another event. Is that such a bad thing? No"not at all!

I can't say enough about the creative team that was assembled for this series. Their collaboration set a new standard when it comes to comic book events. They successfully delivered a spellbinding tale loaded with plenty of excitement and mystery for new and old Valiant fans alike to enjoy for a very, very long time.

The script in this debut issue was not sophisticated at all; however, that doesn't mean it equates to a terrible plot or horrible story. Panels that contained sensible and obvious humor were plentiful throughout the book, and it also had its fair share of subtle quips geared more towards an older audience. The art put forth by Brandon McKinney definitely had a TV animation feel to it, but it worked well as the main intent of both the script and the artwork was designed to introduce the larger-than-life icon to a younger generation of readers while supplying a fresh and entertaining perspective of Bruce Lee for fans that grew up idolizing him. The fact that Shannon Lee provided her input on this project honoring her father via comic book format, makes this endeavor, much more special.

Where I cast my doubts, lies solely with the non-Gotham resident characters that appeared in this issue. It already implies that there's a decent chance that this story might be more of a JLA or Superman themed book rather than a Batman book. That's not necessarily such a bad thing when you think about it; however, there's a side of me that hopes that I'm proven wrong, especially since I'm investing in this story strictly because of the Batman from the Frank Miller Universe.

With all of that being said, I'm not giving up on this series. It's definitely much better than DK2 up to this point. Legendary this story is not, but the creative team has used up two issues using a supporting cast of characters as a setup for what's to come. Sooner or later, the Dark Knight will return, but against a race of superpowered beings, he's going to need some major help. As I mentioned in the DKIII book one review, this series appears to be more of a JLA or Superman themed book rather than a Batman book.

Overall, this issue was entertaining but I was lightly disappointed. I wouldn't recommend giving up on Dead Drop based solely on this first installment. The rest of the series has yet to be released and Valiant has yet to dissatisfy".will they X-O?

Unquestionably, Godspeed steals the show in this issue and perhaps even for the series thus far. Despite the Godspeed character appearing to be more of an anti-hero instead of a typical villain, he will certainly draw his fair share of comparisons with Flash's other speedster rivals, such as Eobard Thawne, and even Hunter Solomon during the Wally West Flash era. Speaking of Wally West, the younger Wally West that is, you'll get to see some great strides being made in this issue with the development of Kid Flash. Sooner or later, Kid Flash's role will be more defined, but in the meantime, it'll give readers yet another positive reason to continue picking up this title.

My bottom line is this"you will regret not having this issue in your collection. Of that I can assure you. Do yourself a favor and be a part of history. Run! Pick up a copy while you can!

Ninjak's reputation as a premier infiltrator was onfull display and firmly cemented with this issue.Thelevel of intensity and attention to detail with theNinjak se

Look out Ninjak! Roku's got a look, and locks, that could kill!

You know how to set a reminder on your smart phone, right Dave?

The Ragnark series has been an absolute treat to read since the very first panel of the run. As a Norse mythology enthusiast, there is none other than Walter Simonson who's able to impart their knowledge of the subject like he can"trust me on that. The concept of a post-apocalyptic Thor story is brilliant. The artwork alone in every issue so far, has been gorgeous, especially during combat sequences. Laura Martin's coloring fits perfectly with what Simonson is portraying.

If you want to read a Thor book done right, then look no further. Ragnark is an extremely strong and powerful book that contains a great story along with dazzling art that jumps right at you. Ragnark receives my highest of recommendations.

Sidekick has been a very intriguing book to read - trust me on that!

In closing, this was a fine issue and it has been a fun series to read overall. Frank J. Barberie is doing excellent work on Solar. He has brought us an enjoyable humanized cosmic adventure that'll make this series quite memorable indeed. If you're looking for a good use of your reading energy, then Solar is the book for you!

What made this show extra special, were the fans. Everyone I met was in a great mood and enjoying themselves at this event. This is a great testament to the wonderful job the show's promoters did with putting it all together, keeping everyone's best interests at heart and making sure that their experience at this Con was fruitful and memorable. That's why I can't wait for the next show at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.

Given the context and nature of the subject at hand, I expected more complexity out of the script Jason Aaron delivered.

Frank Tieri's adaptation of Hangman is simply extraordinary. He set up a world where a criminal who committed an incalculable amount of heinous and unspeakable crimes could keep on thriving by performing atrocities for all of the right reasons. As a long time comic book fan and collector, I have always been fascinated by Golden and Silver Age characters, but not once was I able to take the Hangman character seriously"not until this most recent Hangman series by Dark Circle Comics came along. The artwork for each Hangman book supplied by Felix Ruiz, perfectly personifies violence and represents malice in its purest form. Kelly Fitzpatrick's colors augment the intensity each panel portrays seamlessly.

Overall, the pleasant mix of subtle and obvious humor played extremely well within the story, especially when dealing the silent enemy of most superheroes " lack of funds.

I am eagerly waiting for what will happen next in the Valiant Universe. In the meantime, I highly recommend you heed Ninjak's advice"

It's a solid debut of the new Thor in action, and the best part of it is, it's only the beginning.

I like comedy and really enjoy science fiction, but I couldn't help but think that Unit 44 was a blend of Men In Black and X-Files all throughout reading the issue. I appreciate and agree with what Locher and Jimenez are setting out to do with bringing more humor to comics, but I think it's a bit of a gamble, as not every collector views their local comic shop as their primary source for comedic material. Fortunately, it is a four issue limited series, so it's not an overwhelming commitment, especially if sci-fi comedy, via comic book format, is your cup of tea.

Unity #13 is a perfect opportunity to learn more about what goes on with Unity through the eyes of their newest member, Faith, while learning more about Unity's newest rivals, The United.

Comic shops " beware! You'll know when you're being visited by The 13th Crusader when I enter your store in the same fashion as Ninjak on the day the next issue of Unity is released!

I am more than confident Kindt will deliver yet another successful Unity story arc. Of that I have no worries. Neither should you.

Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #5 begins a two-part prelude to the upcoming Labyrinth story arc which will commence with issue #7. This issue is yet another fine example where new readers are provided with an opportunity to begin enjoying the extraordinary immortal character that is the Eternal Warrior. Valiant is perhaps better than any other publisher in the industry right now when it comes to offering new readers with great jumping on points.