Andrea Speed Comic Reviews

Out this Wednesday. Now excuse me why I get a little emotional over the whole Chu/Savoy attraction becoming canon. *sniff*

Youre running out of time to order this one from your local comic shop. So get a move on and order this one (Item Code: SEP151507) before its too late. Its a great crime noir/supernatural story, and Im enjoying it immensely.

You could probably guess who lives and who dies with some certainty. But who else dies? Ooh, is that a spoiler? I hope not. Out today.

I fear the end of Chew is in site. I dont know what Im going to do when it ends.

A fast moving issue that puts some plots to rest finally and opens up a couple of others. Out Wednesday (today).

Its a fun read too, what with its mash up of detective noir and the supernatural. Now I thought this was out in April, but it may actually come out in May. Either way, pre-order it at your local or online comic book shop. Wildly entertaining.

Were building to the big boss battle, but if youre thinking its just against one boss, you havent been paying attention. Out today.

So the fallout from the massacre continues. Some people are in a decent enough place, some people are in a bad place, but no ones in a great place. It was just too hard and too ugly for anything to be settled. Sounds about right.

I cant praise this series enough, and if you pick up this issue and like it, I highly encourage you to check out the Princeless back catalog. It is endless fun.

This continues to be an excellent genre mash of noir and supernatural mystery, and right in my own personal sweet spot. Its like someones writing a comic just for me. (To which I say its about damn time.)

Where do things go from here? I dont know. It really does feel like were sliding into home. Out this week.

While this really isnt the Hannibal finale, its a relatively close comic equivalent, at least in one respect I mean, everybody needed a valium and a hug after that Hannibal, maybe some Ecstasy. (Im really not overstating this. If you havent seen it, watch it if you dare.) This issue of Chew will probably not leave you suffering an existential emotional crisis. But you will watch this slow motion car crash wincing, wondering why they couldnt have waited. But you shouldnt wait to pick this up. Out this Wednesday.

Were close to the end now, and things are getting even more violent than usual.

This isnt out until September, but I recommend it for all noir fans.

The final twists leaves a lot of questions, but none I can bring up, as it might be a spoiler. So pick it up Wednesday, and well talk then.

If youre looking for a fun comic book, you should probably take a chance on this one. Out this week.

If youre a fan of Revival and have never read Chew, I dont know what youll think. I think it may come off as genuinely crazy, It is, so thats not a bad thing, Id just be curious to hear from those fans coming to the Chew universe for the first time. A solid crossover, but Id be surprised if either of these stories have consequences in their respective universes. Out this week.

This arc seems to be setting up a big showdown, but in the meaning, enjoy the crazy show. Out this Wednesday.

A fun issue, with a couple of answers, even more questions, and a couple of plot complications.

A good issue that feels very much like setting up the end game. Out this week.

Great stuff. Its always nice to come across the story of a new female superhero that doesnt wear the most absurd, cheesecake outfit imaginable, and an all ages comic that doesnt condescend in any way. Check it out.

A solid issue, with an exciting take on the prison breakout story, but some of this did feel a bit like killing time until the big event. What big event? Oh, come on, Im not going to spoil it. But it really feels like were building towards something major.

Something of a game changer in the Chew universe, and a harbinger of things to come.

I still have a few questions, but itll be nice to see how this one unfolds. Out this Wednesday.

A different, fun book, and it does have some kind of closure, even though this is the first of three. Itll be enjoyable to see where this one goes. Out this Wednesday.

Dont get me wrong, this is a good issue, and probably fairly pivotal, but I kind of wish there was a bit more story.

The art is solid, although my favorite spread is one I can't talk about without spoiling. Let's just say it involves Pengthulhu, and yes, it's as assume as it sounds. Of course, the star of the panel is awesome too, but come on. A penguin Cthulhu? I'm there with bells on, whatever that means.

Another solid issue, and an important one.

It's an intriguing start, and I can't wait to see where this one goes.

A good series, I still recommend you support it. But I hope more stuff happens soon. Out this week.

There's so much action this issue is a really quick read, which could be good or bad, depending on your point of view.

Am I saying buy this? Yes, yes I am. Support this with your dollars, and who knows? Maybe more publishers will be willing to put out female centric action comics, with actual females on the staff. I know it's a dream, but I can do that, can't I? (Oh, and check out Lumpy Space Prince on the cover! I do hope he gets introduced in the comic soon.)

A breezy, fun read. Have a I said fun enough? Because it cannot be overstated. Out this week.

The art remains strong, and one scene isn't as brutal as it could be, although it's still pretty grim.

This is shaping up to be fun all age title, so if you haven't given it a chance, now's the time. Unless you're deathly afraid of clowns.

A large and worthy addition to your collection of graphic novels, for foodies and non-foodies alike. But make sure you have room for it. (I was attempting to make a food joke of my own. Did it work?) Check it out here: http://www.birdcagebottombooks.com/s...med-anthology/

Theres lightheartedness and a constant sense of humor that causes this issue to just fly, and makes some of the clichs in a set up like this work really well. It doesnt re-invent the wheel, but I was surprised by how much I liked this. Younger readers should like this one a lot, and older readers should find it pretty damn charming as well.

Notice I said precious little about what went on in this issue? Now that's how you do an advance review without spoiling anything. Out this week.

It's darn fun is what it is, and a great return to form. Check it out this week.

This is just insane. If you like bizarro humor, then this is the bee's knees. If you don't, this will be like the bees in Nicholas Cage's Wicker Man for you: Not the bees! Yes, I'm being deliberately weird now. Why not? This kind of comic demands it.

Read, enjoy, and be glad you don't have to face off with Poyo, Ace of Spies and ass kickers. Out this week.

I think I have run out of ways to this is good, buy it. But this is good, and you should buy it. Out this week.

Out this Wednesday. Always fun, if just a tad gross.

It's unique, and if you want something different, with a decent sense of humor, you might want to give this one a look. Check out the website for more details.

Out this Wednsaday, it's a good all ages comic that everyone can enjoy.

Out thisweek, and a lot of fun.

A good issue, but like most Chews, not for the squeamish. Out this week.

In this stand alone issue, Reed spends all his and Starla's money on improbable, fancy boots, and to make some money back, takes on the job of ridding a town of a dangerous werewolf. Reed's general, cheerful incompetence makes this prospect even more difficult, pretty much rendering their initial moral dilemma moot, and then they have to figure out if they can kill a werewolf or not. Because this is an all ages comic, there are scares that are slightly undercut by the overly sweet ending. Also the ending begs the question .... nobody noticed this before? I don't want to spoil, but the ending, while cute, felt just a little bit like a cop out. But saying that makes me feel like the black hearted bastard that I am. The art remains solid, with a vibrant cartoonish quality, that's as easy on the eyes as the story. This is a fun comic, but the story feels a little slight.

The well detailed art gives you some comic turns in the beginning before giving way to true horror, and overall it's beautifully done. A chilling and excellent piece of work.

Another good one, but just a little bit different than what you might expect. I see that as a good thing.

You can buy this comic at http://theillustratedsection.com/man-from-space or http://www.manfromspace.co.uk/ . Check it out.

Whats happening now? What does it all mean? I have no idea. Its part of what makes this series so fun. Out this week.

Take it for what its worth. Im not a huge reader of all age titles, and I generally dont like Westerns, but I would have no problem flipping through Reed Gunthers all day long. Its charming, and well worth your time. Out this week.

Lil Depressed (Im just going to call him LD) and Drews trouble fraught road trip to see the Andrew Jackson Jihad comes to a close, as they finally see the band. Along the way, Drew and LD discuss the Jazz situation, which is a timely bit of foreshadowing, and thats about it. Still, our hipsters deserve a happy ending, at least for the moment. The art has a bit more of depressed feel to it, which is apt, but theres also a humorous interlude involving LD imaging himself as Charlie Brown (of course Jazz is Lucy), which is really cute, and true to both the Peanuts style and the LDB style. A nice little comic for the emo hipster in us all.

Highly recommended for any lovers of autobiographical comics, character studies, or just great comics. I could use a terrible pun and say it isnt a waste of your time, but I wont put you through that.

Having said that, I would never discourage anyone from reading the fantastically morbid Poe, who was really ahead of his time in the horror genre. (In fact, you could argue he may have been the first writer of torture porn, albeit in a more reserved fashion.) This is a solid adaptation of some of his lesser known stories and poems (yes, I said poems), and it wouldnt be a bad way to introduce a new reader to the dark, baroque world of Edgar Allan Poe.

If youre not reading this comic, I no longer know what to say to you. Heres your chance to check it out, when its released this Wednesday.

Its always good to see Cal back in action, and if youre a fan of our drunken detective, you really need to pick this one up, because when you next see him, things might be a little different.

This is the first issue of this comic Ive ever read, but Ill give it credit for being relatively easy to follow, even though this is the fourth issue in. Reed, the titular bear riding cowboy, is seeking both a woman and a mysterious idol thats causing grotesque monster mutations in its wake. New to the big city and awestruck by it all, Reeds bear friend Sterling is mistaken for a monster, while Reed is basically dismissed, while a government agent is after the monsters and assumes Sterling is one. There are misunderstandings, fights, and escapes. Its a cute adventure, and certainly all ages. In fact, the more of a kid you are, in age or at heart, the more enjoyment you will receive. The artwork is colorful and kinetic, and its all pretty adorable. A lighthearted, charmingly goofy comic.

So thanks for the recommendation, Schatz, as this was a really good comic, and not what I was expecting at all. Give it a look.

Damn good fun. And remember, no luvin up the chickens. Just in case you didnt know the rules.

Out this Wednesday. Itll be fun to see where it all goes from here.

If youve never read Criminal before, I can see this miniseries being a great introduction to the whole series. Its dark, its crime, and lets face it, no one is innocent.

With the Sanjo samurai clan gone, the three survivors of the massacre seek revenge on Lord Gakushi and his retainer Araku - who engineered the whole thing - but the road to revenge is a rocky one, especially in Feudal Japan. While Jun and Katashi train and find trouble, they leave Yuko vulnerable to kidnapping, and as much as they want to set it right, Jun insists they cant, not right away. When they do get around to it, it seems their troubles are just beginning. This is a decent samurai soap opera, but I have to admit I found the narrative captions redundant and stilted part of the time, overselling the mood ideas at work here. Its still a decent read, and the art shines in the action sequences, which includes a few good training montages. I hope by next issue they work out some of the narrative blips, but this is a solid samurai comic for fans of the genre.

I have to admit this is the first issue Ive read of this comic, and Im sure Im missing an awful lot of back story, but I found this to be an easy to follow, amiable slice of life comic with quirky art LDB has a surprise visit from his friend Drew, whos been off touring with his band. LDB is in the doldrums because he just broke up with his girlfriend, or is technically a break up if you were never really dating at all? He doesnt know, and its left him out of sorts. Drew then suggests a road trip to go see the Andrew Jackson Jihad (a real band, on Asian Man Records - I know this, because Im signed up to their email bulletins oh god, does this make me a hipster?!) but it seems theres some thing he didnt tell LBD about. And now his depressed little life gets a bit worse. The art has a loose, indie rock feel to it, which suits the storys slice of life/shaggy dog tale perfectly. A good read for this newcomer, I bet the regular readers will find it even better.

Out this week, pick it up and enjoy the true oddity that is Chew. P.S.: Theres also a special glow in the dark cover available at the SDCC for all you weird cover fans. Why not? I might like a glow in the dark cover myself.

Funny, fun, and pure horror eye candy, you should definitely pick this one up. And not jst for the sparkly vampire beat down, although Im sure thats going to draw in a lot of people.

Kit is a teenage girl whos having problems with an on-again/off-again boyfriend that she feels wildly ambivalent about, except for when theyre out stealing things. Still, she feels the tug of guilt on one job, and decides its time to give up the crimes as well as him. But shes kind of said this before, although this is the first time shes promised her friends. And it seems theres a dark secret that continues to bug her, one about her mother. This is a very genial, easy to like comic with a sassy female lead who feels more realistic than most. The artwork has a spunky, punky feel to it, and its enjoyably breezy read. Those looking for a different kind of comic should give this one a try.

A breezy read, and great fun for all of us monster movie geeks. If only this issue had bad dubbing; then it would have been perfect.

This is an excellent jumping on point for new readers, so if youve never read a Criminal comic before, why not start here?

A bold move to jump out of continuity like this, and very much worth it. Out this week.

That pretty much sums up this issue and series. Deliriously weird, well drawn, and silly, this should appeal to the kids in all of us. Especially if your inner kid is a six year old boy.

Out this Wednesday. If you missed this in comic form, you should definitely pick up the trade form of this bleak, unrelenting horror story.

So if youre looking for some action packed and different, its worth giving this one a shot.

This is a fun, funny, and genuinely strange comic. Even if you dont like it (who are you people?!), you kind of have to admire its commitment to full on, sheer insanity. One question, though - how does Sockarang eat or open a door? Thats really starting to bug me.

A terrific issue, well worth picking up. But I just dont see how Showtime can possibly film this. Out this week.

While this has been a good series, this issue felt a little off to me. But dont let me discourage you from checking it out when it comes to hardcover, because you definitely should.

This is a sweet, engaging collection of comics that everyone whos ever been an outsider can relate to, and I cant recommend it highly enough for all ages. Worth seeking out; if its not available at your local comic shop, pick it up online.

I feel that Barker has been underrated as a writer, which is a damn shame, as he is great. I can still remember a short story of his I read fifteen years ago that still resonates with me, and few horror stories have that kind of staying power. Hellraiser fans should definitely pick this up and give it a look, but the art is a bit more impressive than the story, although Im curious to see if they can pull off what Pinhead plans, and how. Its either going to be brilliant or a disaster. Who wants to find out with me?

Tense, unsettling, weird, and yet lovely in its way, this is a great horror series everyone should be checking out.

I assume the intrepid are supposed to be teens, but they look like adults, especially in the main narrator's case. She looks like she should be parked at the end of a seedy bar, chain smoking cigarettes and asking rummies if they'd like to buy her a drink. (Perhaps I've been reading too much noir.) But a fairly breezy read, with an intriguing set up.

This comic is insane. Its the best thing thats happened to me so far this week.

If youre new to this series, this might not be the best place to start, but its not the worst place either. Thats not wildly helpful, is it? Out this week.

We get to know a little bit more about Jon and his predicament this issue, as well as what happened to him. It seems he used to be a CIA operative, but then there was some time at a facility conducting less than legal remote viewing experiments, a facility that burned down - it seems Jon was the only survivor. He thinks it was a CIA run op, but this issue hes told it wasnt, that he was abducted and someone else was running it but if its true, who was doing it and why? For what purpose So we get a tease about whats going on, and some action, but this issue does feel a little repetitive. Stretching for time, perhaps? Still, the European style noir tinged art by Zonjic remains very good, and really shines in the opening action sequence. An intriguing mystery, it just has a few narrative hiccups.

Out this week, its surely the eeriest comic on the shelf. Give it a look.

This is a low key horror comic, and Im not sure where it intends to go. But thats a good thing.

Spongebob Squarepants seems to have been on forever. And why not? Its a sweet show that can be enjoyed by adults as much as kids, with goofy humor and occasional ventures into surrealism. (Im told stoners appreciate it on a whole other level, but Ive never done the research on that.) Im sort of surprised there hasnt been a comic book before this. And I had to check this one out because of all the indie comic people attached to it. But I must point out this really is a comic just for kids. It has the shows sweet sensibility and bite size stories, perfect for wandering attention spans, but theres really nothing here for adults, which might actually be a positive. Heres a comic kids can read, draw in, and mash up without adults freaking out about it, one they can enjoy fully without a hovering parent. The art generally sticks to the show template, although it occasionally wanders off beam to something a little more intriguing. Recommended for your little Spongebob fan.

So the art is up to its usual fine standards, but the story feels a bit light. Still good, still worth your time, I just wish it was meatier.

But the sheer amount of verbosity threatens to bog the whole thing down, and kills a bit of momentum building p to the big action packed finality. A solid issue overall, but sometimes I wish the story was a bit more streamlined. Out this Wednesday.

Is this the end of the Queen as we know it? Maybe yes, maybe no. But she ends this miniseries much like she entered her first, blowing up every goddamn thing she can and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. Would we have it any other way?

This is an awesomely spooky comic. If you havent checked it out yet, you really should. Out this week.

Purchase on Amazon.com

A good start to a new mystery/horror series. Ill be interested to see where it goes from here.

Buy Glamazonia here and help CX! http://www.amazon.com/Glamazonia-Unc...5384060&sr=8-1

A comic worth seeking out, and the fact that its free is just one more reason you should give it a go. What have you got to lose?

A good issue, but so much exposition is bound to weigh down the forward momentum. Still, the ending should be a punch in the face. (I mean that in a good way.)

Im not one hundred percent sure whats going on here, but Im intrigued and I want to know more. Espionage and crime comic fans will want to pick this one up.

Great first issue, and Im not just saying that because Fialkov sent me a review copy. (Although thank you, Joshua.) Once they reprint this one, you ought to pick it up.

So life is just getting rougher for Zack, and I suspect, before its all done, hes earning his Overkill last name all over again.

A solid read, not at all what I was expecting, but diverting and entertaining. Worth your time, even if youre not a Kids In The Hall fan.

Out in time for Christmas. You make your own ho joke; Im sure the Queen will appreciate it.

This might be a good jumping on point for newcomers, but you really need to pick up the previous trades, if only because this is one great comic. Out this Wednesday, just in time for Christmas.(Also, Mother Cluckers? I dont know whether to boo or applaud.)

Its soapy, frothy fun, and Im sure the ending will be full of drama. Not a bad thing at all.

This issue has a bit of exposition to it, but the issue has more than enough action to balance it all out, and the ending is truly is a shocker.

This is very much an average slice of life portrait of a suburban family. The Satanism angle might scare some people off, but why? Trust me, its funny, and it makes a good point about religion in our society. Pick it through SLG if your comic store doesnt have it.

These comics are odd and very cute, but I must admit theyre small enough to leave me wanting much more. Maybe people telling you their dreams can be awfully dull, but they wouldnt be if they were as entertaining as the stories here. Available online at Birdcage Bottom Books http://www.birdcagebottombooks.com/webpages/Shop.htm .

Buy Chew and help CX! http://www.amazon.com/s/?tag=comixtr...11&Submit.y=10

Fantastic comic. If youre not reading this, you should.

Out this Wednesday, just in time for Halloween. That might not be a coincidence.

Highly recommended, especially if youre a fan of hardboiled or supernatural mysteries.

A plot heavy, somewhat somber issue, its still a good blast of macabre fun.

A surprisingly enjoyable spin on the Wizard of Oz mythos, check it out at Indy Planet, or pick it up at APE.

Buy Warlord of Io and support CX! http://www.amazon.com/Warlord-IO-1-J...reative=380609

If you pick up only one Nazi hunting time travel comic this week, itll probably be this one. A fun read.

A solid mix between hard boiled crime and science fiction, the trade will probably be coming out fairly soon, and is worth a look if you missed it in issue form.

Its a good set up issue, but Drac is really going to have to make a kick ass appearance next issue to make me really excited about this series.

This is not a graphic novel for everybody, that probably goes without saying. But its an excellent adaptation and modernization of the material, with lovely stylized art. Available at Northwestcomics.com .

This remains a fun, weird series, one worth checking out if youre looking for something different, wacky, and slightly gross all at the same time. Out this Wednesday.

A different, action oriented science fiction comic, worth a look when youre perusing the shelves.

If you can buy only one Nazi time travel comic this week, this is the one you want to pick up.

Okay, I admit Im inclined to like these kinds of stories. But at a buck, its hardly going to cost you anything to find out if you like it or not. If you dont, fine, more for me then.

Buy The Man With The Getaway Face on Amazon.com!

While there are some weaknesses, I am sufficiently intrigued to want to see where this goes from here. Is it wrong that I kind of hope Mulder and Scully end up vampires? Come on, that would be hilarious.

A great read. One of those indie comics you really must seek out, or buy from their website. Beautiful stuff.

A decent start, but Im looking forward to more horror.

This series is so gleefully weird. How can you not love it? Out this Wednesday.

I havent covered everything in the magazine (nearly, but not quite), and I dont want to. I want you to go buy it and enjoy it for yourself. Its available in some stores now, or you can buy it online at http://devastatorquarterly.com/shop . For fans of comedy, and those who just love satire or cartoons, this is a must have. And remember, as Popeye said to Bluto, Now, just leans back and let me show you this little diddy I learned back in Dusseldorf.

This should be out in July through SLG, and its only a buck, so why not take a chance? You may like it, no matter how you feel about Satanists. (Or experimental jazz for that matter.)

So put down that copy of Cowboy Oscar Wilde and pick this one up. You wont be sorry. (Unless you are. Then its your fault, not mine.)

A couple of years ago, Razor Wolf Entertainment put out an original graphic novel called Unbeatable, in which a young man learned that his father was, in fact, the Norse God Heimdall, and was then forced to spend a thousand years in one battle after another, learning to become the greatest warrior in history. Dale returns in this sequel, Hotter Than Hell. Finally freed from his thousand years of training, Dale is cast down to Hell itself. A chance encounter with Thor leads him to another round of drinking, debauchery, and lots and lots of violence... but the fun may distract him from their true quest, to find the deity that may be able to get them out of the pits of Hell. This is one of those books that you haven't heard of, but you really should make it a point to seek out. This is a fine adventure story, to begin with, and Wolf's characterization of the Norse gods (and assorted other deities) is totally different from any other version you can name, even if you take into account a li

If youre looking for an action packed romp, this isnt the comic for you. But if youre looking for a more true to life autobiographical story of a man and his life, this is a good one.