benchoward Comic Reviews

(Note: My copy is a pre-order version from before the books deal with Image Comics).

I highly recommend Coyotes. Its story is a little too vague at times, but has strong visuals, interesting themes, and an emotional impact that will stick. If nothing else, its got a little girl killing monsters which never gets old.

In fact, this entire comic speaks for itself. Go pick it up. Enjoy the action-packed horror, fantasy, surrealism with an earnest feminist message. Its one of the best sleeper hits of this past four months, and I hope it continues to grow in success.

Hulk #3 is yet another satisfying issue that proves this new approach to the beloved character is unique and enjoyable. Expressive art, strong storytelling, and exploration of serious topics take what could have been a stereotypical grim dark take on superheroes and give it substance.

Kid Lobotomy #1 is a mixed bag of a debut issue. It is visually strong while containing a potentially engaging narrative bogged down by flaws of pacing and development. There is still room for improvement next issue as ideas and characters are expanded upon. At the very least, Kid Lobotomy #1 shows that Black Crown publishing aims for comics that critically engage the reader.

Despite being relatively new, Slang Pictorial has a lot of potential. There are flaws in the art, but the rich setting and fascinating characters draw the reader in. I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction, romance, comedy, family drama, and crime thrillers. If you're interested in getting into Webcomics, then this is a great place to start.

The Few #1 suffers from issues of pacing and vagueness, but the moody art and social relevancy of the story offers a promising start to an exciting new entry in the dystopian genre. I highly recommend it for those that want more relevant, unique fiction in their weekly buy piles.

The Few #2 is an excellent follow-up to the series' promising start. It expands on characters, world-building, and themes while delivering even more top notch art. There is no telling what will happen in the next issue, but it's no doubt going to be epic. Go out and get this book now.

The Few #3 is another riveting entry in the series with yet more great art and deep, meaningful story involving the growth of Edan Hales character and exploring relative topics. It does suffer a little from formulaic story beats and not giving characters equal development, but the emotional impact should keep readers engrossed.

There is no ideal, straight cut way of resolving conflict in The Few. Like Hayden Sherman with his art, Sean Lewis shades the moral landscape with an overwhelming gray tone. It often feels like there are no answers or at least none that will always be the right one. The story is deeply complex, always challenging, and I wouldnt want it any other way.

The Few #5 is the most visually stunning, emotional issue of this amazing, relevant scifi series. Both Sean Lewis and Hayden Sherman bring their A-games with the kind of passion all comics should have. This is Eisner-worthy material, and Ill be rooting for the comic when the time comes.

Visually, narratively, and politically charged, The Few #6 is a satisfying conclusion. There are some turns that seem too convenient or easily achieved, but it does not dampen the raw, visceral reading experience. It is a series that I can say for certain goes beyond entertainment and enters the realm of true literature. I recommend this to anyone that is yearning for relevant scifi comics or relevant scifi in general.