Kevin Hopson Comic Reviews

Ed Brubaker spins a mysterious, thought-provoking tale that combines both horror and the occult, while Sean Phillips and Dave Stewart adequately portray the noir setting Fatale is best known for. I can see why this has been a highly-touted series, and I'd be inclined to pick up future issues as this second story arc continues to progress.

In the end, though, the story works, and we find Flash in yet another precarious situation leading into the next issue. As a writer and fan of science fiction, this series brings back great memories of my comic book reading days in the 80"s.

This is a solid issue that acts as a great setup for the second half of the story arc. Though some of the dialogue felt a little tried at times, other parts were witty and original, making it an enjoyable read overall. The art matched the quality and mood of the writing, giving me a definite creep factor throughout, particularly at the beginning and the end. Speaking of which, this issue reaches its conclusion just as the crew is about to step foot in the abandoned house. As a result, there's no better cliffhanger leading into the next issue.

This book is like a combination of Conan and Batman if that makes any sense. Tarzan is aseemingly simple and primitive man, but he possesses fighting skills and is willing to beat thesnot out of wrongdoers. I enjoyed Nelsons fresh take on the character, and the art is beautifullydone. The second part of this story will be concluded in the next issue, which is now a must readfor me.

Jim Zub utilizes his fantasy background to pen a solid introductory story to this series. Readers will encounter bloody conflicts, drunken brawls, and even some fraternizing between the opposite sexes. Andrew Huerta's illustrations and Ross Campbell's colors jump out of the panels, successfully opening readers' eyes to the amazing Pathfinder world. Whether you're a Pathfinder geek or someone new to the material, this book is worth checking out.

Luke Lieberman writes an engaging tale, and the ending will likely leave the reader wanting more. The character details and eye-pleasing colors make for some beautiful art as well.

This issue is a great jumping on point for new readers. Its reader-friendly not only in the sensethat youre brought up to speed at the beginning of the book, but its also the first part of a newstory arc. Trautmann writes a solid opening to this storyline, effectively drawing you in andbuilding anticipation for the next issue. The quality pencils and soft colors are easy on the eyes,too. In fact, there are some great action scenes in this book, and the panels flow nicely. Given allof these factors, there are plenty of reasons to check it out.

Though Shredder is back from the dead, its nothing a good game of Twister wont solve for the turtles. However, Splinter finds himself isolated from the group, deep in thought over the recent change of events. In the meantime, Baxter Stockman, who is being held captive by Krang, stumbles on to something big, while an unexpected visitor at the turtles house pushes Raphael over the edge.

John Shirley, novelist and co-screenwriter of the original movie, writes an action-packed issue filled with violence and multiple kills. Though the art is rough and muddled at times, the dark tone suits the character and setting appropriately. I'm sure the body count will continue to rise in the next issue, but " more importantly " I'm interested in seeing where the story goes from here.

Surprisingly, the story engaged me from the very beginning and forced me to turn the pages in anticipation. Sometimes a simple and relatable storyline can pique a reader's interest much more than an intricately-woven tale, and The Wheel of Time is proof of that. The old-school art and vibrant colors definitely add to the allure of the book. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but this is a series I'll be keeping an eye on.

It's difficult to disclose much without spoiling it for the reader, but the information that is brought to light in this issue will have you grinning at the end. Just like prior issues, the writing is both clever and thought-provoking, and the style of art " which can be dark and gritty at times " fits the mood perfectly. I've been onboard the Robert Kirkman train for a while now, and I don't see any reason to jump off at this stage. As long as he continues to entertain me in this manner, I'll be anxiously awaiting Conrad Paulson's next job.

There isn't much dialogue in this issue. Instead, captions and inner thoughts are repeated throughout the story in an attempt to drive home the protagonist's confused mental state. This is a situation where the art, which I happened to enjoy, advances the story more effectively than anything else. Overall, this was an intriguing debut issue, and it should grip readers enough to warrant checking out the next installment.