Gregory Smith Comic Reviews

Issue 1 doesn't give up the secrets of the series, but it offers fans an interesting world of a girl who has entered a supernatural space that exists in the forgotten. While not overly upfront with what readers can expect in the future, Backways lays the groundwork for a series that will attract a readership that demands sequential art to engage them on aesthetic and intellectual levels. It looks like it may be a fun supernatural mystery/adventure, as well.

Backways offers the hidden world environment that has been at the heart of much 21st century fantasy, but Anna's defiant personality seems like a new twist on telling the story. With the limited development through two issues, it is hard to get a handle on what kind of story this will turn out to be even as this issue points to developing Anna as someone special. Anna has entered this magical world where the occupants see her as a threat or as a victim, but no one has yet to see her true self. The art is fun and worth the price of admission. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy teen fantasy stories of coming of age in a strange place.

Backways remains visually energetic. The narrative structure slows it down, but readers looking for a teenage, female antihero should check it out. Since the title is trying desperately to build the world as quickly as possible, readers can hope that it will soon find a balance between the text and action. For now, it has to depend on the visuals to provide the energy and develop the characters in this magical world.

Backways issue 4 cements the series in character motivations that explain the action and imparts a sense of danger. The artwork has been, and is still, consistently engaging from epic action to humorous facial expressions. This issue continues that trend and complements the art with organic dialog that showcase the characters' personalities. Magic and mythic characters populate the Backways, and now the story seems to be gaining momentum to match the world and its characters.

Brilliant Trash begins on a strong note with smart writing and visceral artwork. The indifference of a world that finds its truths in social networks and bait-click articles fuels the action. Fans of cold war spy stories and Alfred Hitchcock films will enjoy the methodical revelations that give incomplete insight into something bigger than the characters. With solid and engaging writing and subtly wrought artwork, Brilliant Trash has the potential to be special.

Like many titles written by Cullen Bunn, this first issue leaves open many possible story directions. There are signs of familial drama and a foreshadowing of survival horror. Questions of redemption and sacrifice permeate the dialog. Most historic flood myths occur when a deity sends a flood to punish the population, and survivors earn a new understanding of the nature of the world. In this flood, there is no guarantee of survival. Dark Ark issue one concerns the journey in a claustrophobic and dangerous universe that has been condensed to fit within the hull of a ship.

The open concept makes the book much harder to review because it plays on familiar tropes, yet it never attempts to fit into a cliched story. At every turn, a traditional story element gets overturned by an allusion to something from culture that will resonate with different readers. As such, the parts that resonate will be personalized in a manner that works for an individual but may be missed by other readers. This makes the issue fresh, and for some readers, it will be a nuanced experience that draws from their own lived experiences while creating a fantastic, superhero story.

Fu Jitsu offers readers an interesting art style and a complex (if not convoluted) satirical story. The postmodern storytelling of the first issue seems to be reshaped as political satire in this second installment. Comedy has been the heart of the series so far, and this issue focuses tongue-in-cheek on new areas of contemporary life. I'm not sure where the next issue will take us, and I think that is the intent of the creators.

Fu Jitsu hits the right notes with this reader. It is the one title I want to hand a fellow comic fan and ask, "Do you like this as much as me?" "Did you get that reference to"?" While I'm still not sure if this title will resonate with a broad audience, it does get my fanboy approval.

Fu Jitsu #4 continues the homage-filled universe constructed by its creators. Comics fans can expect an experimental format that will reward readers willing to step out of traditional narrative and question what they read as they read. While this issue can stand on its own, reading the series from the beginning will help the reader understand the techniques being used while making the experience have more impact.

Issue 5 requires readers having some background of the Fu Jitsu universe as it ties up several points while opening new possibilities. I would recommend reading previous issues before taking on this entry in the story. While my letter grade for this issue is not as high as most in the series, it does not mean the series as a whole is anything other than one of the best made for comic fans by fans. I've ordered the back issues for posterity and future enjoyment. I truly hope the series continues.

Pumpkinhead isn't just for the fans of the movies. It develops a world that stays true to the mythos while ushering in a contemporary story that will appeal to a variety of readers. Bunn's text and Shepherd's art do not operate in the cinematic scope of a blockbuster. They build claustrophobic scenes confined to the panels of a comic. This both complements and homages the Pumpkinhead universe. While I don't judge a series on the first issue, the creators have a plan, and they have succeeded in laying a solid foundation for a good monster story.

Regression #1 lays the groundwork for an interesting premise where a corrupted mind creates horror and suspense for itself and maybe other unfortunates who try to peek inside. Naturalistic dialog and adaptive artwork offer hope that the series will grow with a rich sense of characters and the appropriate vibes to convey the fear that can exist only in a person's uncertain mind.