The main review this week is Standstill #1, which goes all out with a double page spread. add, The Wednesday Comics team typically lists new #1 comics, finales, and other noteworthy issues from non-Big 2 publishers, all of which you can find below…enjoy!
Stillness #1
Story and Color: Lee Loveridge
Art: Andrew Robinson
Engraving: Rob Tweedy
Publisher: Image comics
Bo·Q’s comments
Gimmicks can really make or break an issue or even a series, but they usually drive sales or at least viewing interest. pause Full of gimmicks: The oversized first issue is filled with 30 double-page spreads? Tempting. For the first time, writer honors are provided to industry veterans/outstanding colorists, Lee Loveridge? Eight issues of time travel shit you can’t wait to flip through? You bet. All of these are great selling points, and in today’s competitive comics market, I’m a sucker for gimmicks. But size and value aside, why is that?
The story is a fairly bland pulp adventure tale with a dash of hard spy novel time travel thrown in for good measure. Two protagonists, the inventor of string theory and the power fantasy anti-hero. But mostly, it’s a sociopath rattling off Wikipedia facts before 1-2 punch lines, with very little scope. although Andrew Robinson The line art and environmental storytelling continue to blow me away, and the gimmick of having only a double page spread feels weak when each spread has an average of 4 panels.
This is the first manga-sized chapter, and the pacing is a bit manga-esque, but even so, it’s a knock on the manga. This would make the most sense if the span was to widen the widescreen panel, similar to changing the 16:9 aspect ratio to the beautiful Panavision anamorphic 2.76:1 where the sides of the composition are used to enhance the narrative, but Nothing works. Stillness #1. Loveridge’s coloring downplays this pale pulp attempt at a depleted world, but with an interesting resolution to how color is frozen in a reality where time has stopped; blues replace skin tones and so on.
What Lafridge lacks in narrative rhythm, he makes up for it through his choice of color palette and subtle temperature changes that determine the mood of a scene. maybe i don’t love Rob Tweedy’s Seemingly random thick to thin balloons with fat tails that swerve sharply for no apparent reason. Or maybe the Inventor episode would have received such a sparse runtime #1it was challenging to feel unintentionally involved in half of the story beats. Regardless, if factual monologues and long, luxurious, lighthearted reads are your thing, then this is a gimmick for you!
Nightclub 2 #1
writer: Mark Miller
Art: Juan Ramirez
color: Fabiana Mascolo
letter: Clem Robbins
Publisher: dark horse comics
reviewer Clyde Hall
Volume 1 nightclub Released as an image title in late 2022 with a cover price of $1.99. This may seem like a “too good to be true” deal, but it’s not. Instead, it’s both a great book and a great holiday deal. Reminiscent of him kick ass title, with nightclub writer Mark Miller The story follows three young men who are geeky best friends who share a love for superhero stories and comics.
Miller Get the band back together Juan Ramirez,
Fabiana Mascoloand Clem Robbins exist nightclub 2 #1, now part of the Dark Horse series. The price is $4.99, but it’s still a steal when you consider that this is the same killer creative team continuing the adventure without missing a beat.
Friends Sam Huxley, Danny Garcia, and Amy Chen were once ordinary teenagers going through the changes and trials of young adulthood. Until one of them turns into a vampire. A true sun-shunning, hemoglobin-hungry, night creature. Considered by many to be an immortal curse, the trio see it as a way to become the superhuman crime-smashing superheroes they’ve always dreamed of. Soon, all three were brought in to make costumes, catch criminals, and even film their exploits for online subscribers.
The team quickly learns about all the advantages the undead have over ordinary mortals, but it also creates a new set of problems. Most importantly, how the older, more powerful vampires despise the spotlight these newcomers have on their kind. Most viewers attribute superhero live broadcasts to young filmmakers with digital effects skills, but not everyone.
As volume two begins, the crime-fighting trio becomes a duo. After a fight over Amy and Danny’s budding romance, Sam left the Fang Fellowship. While the young crime-fighting couple was cashing in on YouTube, Sam developed his skills on the basketball court, attracting the attention of college scouts.
Aside from this rift, which seems scary to the teenagers but could potentially be resolved as a step toward young adulthood if the teenagers weren’t supernatural predators, everything goes well. The superheroes Star Guardian and Yellow Bird enjoy a certain degree of tolerance and even cooperation from the police. Basketball wonder Sam has career prospects, newfound respect from his classmates, and a hot girlfriend. But whether you’re dealing with vampires, superheroes, or both, the fight can take a darker path. This type of person is rife with former teammates’ sworn enemies.
The launch of Volume Two brings with it the impressive momentum that was a direct continuation of Volume One. Fans of the classic Peter Parker high school drama will feel the echoes of teenage angst. The raw and tumultuous undercurrent of best friend betrayal, coupled with brutal real-world street crime and the execution of troubled kids at the accepted cost of doing business, establishes the modern setting. Danny and Amy’s love should bring smiles as city detectives champion superheroes based on the same comic book.
nightclub 2 There’s more to make the miniseries interesting and exciting, but nothing that really exposes new readers to what came before. Reading through all six issues of the first volume will certainly increase your appreciation for the continuation of the story here.
When the blood dries #5
writer: Gary Moloney
artist: Daniel Romero
Writer: Becca Kelly
Publisher: Crazy Cave Studio
Comments by Jared Bird
Fantasy is a genre close to my heart but often overlooked by other, more consistently profitable genres. However, the fantasy genre has made a comeback in the past few years, causing a stir in many media outlets. Comics also benefited from this, and one of the works that caused a stir was When the blood dries up From Mad Cave Studios, this week ends.
Across five topics, When the blood dries up A powerful story about former adventurer Meabh trying to escape her past, which comes back to haunt her. Its characters are its strongest element, some of the best-handled character writing I’ve read in comics this year, courtesy of the writer Gary Moloney. Some characters create both lovable, sympathetic characters and downright hateful characters, vacillating between the two extremes. MoloneyThe dialogue craft is a highlight, and the series never succumbs to the clunky exposition that’s often found in the fantasy genre. As the conflict reaches its climax, Mibu’s story comes to an explosive conclusion and nothing will ever be the same for her again.
Daniel RomeroThe artwork has been a consistent highlight of the series. Romero has a great skill at character expression and portraying nuanced emotions, as well as an incredible ability at delivering dynamic action sequences. The climactic fight scene is spectacular, one of the most satisfying, heart-pounding moments of comedy I’ve read all year, with absolutely superb art work. it’s easy for me to imagine Romero Soon after this, he would receive another title as he possesses the balancing skills that many artists in the industry aspire to possess.
Drawing inspiration from classic westerns, dark fantasy, and Irish history and culture, the series had a unique feel from start to finish, and the ending blew me away. It felt organic and conclusive, but I doubt many people would have been able to predict how the protagonist’s events would play out. This ending did not feel out of place, but seemed like a natural and tragic ending, which proved the ability of the creative team.
Gary Moloney and Daniel RomeroThis masterfully crafted new Western fantasy comic comes to a huge conclusion, satisfying readers with an incredible ending that proves the series is undoubtedly one of Mad Cave Studios’ strongest creations ever and one of the most powerful on the bookshelf. One of a kind piece.
Wednesday Comics Review
Patra #1 (Dark Horse Comics): A bloody and mysterious time, Patra #1 There’s quite a bit of intrigue and horror set up. There is clearly some supernatural force at work, exacerbating the serial murder plot. writer james robinson is methodical, taking us from the police and their notes to our protagonist Patra, the sole survivor of a grizzly murder. Although art Scott Collins Setting the tone and plunging us into supernatural horror, I hate seeing a black family brutally murdered, especially by a (presumably) white serial killer. A bit heavy. However, I was really interested in Patra as a character, she was lovable and I rooted for her even though she was in a terrible position and the circumstances were triggering (although I think that understates it). letters of Jim Campbell Connect everything between different conversations and perspectives. The conversations were interesting, and one of them made me think about how normalized it is to use alienating and dehumanizing terms. Ultimately, the book looks great, with a traditional feel to the lines and a cool treatment of the gutter that goes well with the supernatural horror mystery. —Khalid Johnson
progress report
AD 2000 Avantgarde 2396 (Rebel Publishing): This week’s Avant-garde is a large issue that offers a continuation of a currently ongoing story, as well as a new future shock and a separate short. The latter is All aboard Nova Express by writer James Pitty, artist Steve Roberts, and engraver Jim Campbell. It’s about a cosmic orchestra (the name is funny) 400 hits) They were having a hard time and didn’t get the great show they wanted. At its core, the story is a bright sci-fi canvas for a struggling band. It lives and dies by the laughs it manages within that framework, and there are plenty of them, from the broad over-the-top visual humor to the music nerdiness within, like a gimmicky musical machine that just says “yes.” It’s all fun, not all that original, but bright and enthusiastic in a satisfying way. this future impact, title As long as evil is stopped, was written and drawn by Alan Kerr with letters Anne Parkhouse. Frankly, this is a total bad thing. It’s a parable about the risks of economic neglect of energy production, but also a giant demon and mutation. This is exactly what you want in a short comic. As always, you can get a digital copy of this week’s Avant-garde here. —Zach Quentins
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