Seven Warriors #1 of 3

Seven Warriors #1 of 3
Boom Studios
Written by Michaël Le Galli
Art by Francis Manapul

Boom has taken off to a far off place and time in their latest offering. We are somewhere in time in Tamasheq, capitol kingdom of N’Nas Amon. Two of their main enemies have united and began attacking. All of their men have been sent out to battle and there are only women, children and those unable to fight inside the walls. The queen has little choice but to hire mercenaries from other lands to protect her people but she wants to protect the prince, her son by sending him away and for him to find a good wife and continue the royal bloodline. As most of you are probably saying right about now, “Haven’t we heard this somewhere before?” Yeah.

I was able to pull out good and bad from this book. Let’s start with the good. The art had a nice feel to it that made me think I was looking into a different place and time. When telling a story like this, I want that. Each panel was well placed and I didn’t get lost trying to follow the story. Now for the bad, I had an issue with the writing on a few different things. For starters, they didn’t tell us what time this was. Was it in a different dimension or was it in our past? When the story changed points, we weren’t told how much time passed. Also, it seemed that there were gaps in the storyline and I couldn’t tell if this is on purpose or not.

Just as a heads up for everyone reading, this book is a little more mature so if you have younger kids looking for a book to read, this isn’t it. But for me, even though this is the first of three, I’m not sure if I’ll read anymore. The writing didn’t draw me in and keep me. I liked the art and the storyline had merit but I can’t get past what I pointed out. There should have been more. In my humble opinion, you may just want to scan this at the store and leave it there; this isn’t a keeper. I give it 2.5 caps out of 5.

Usagi Yojimbo: Two Hundred Jizo

Usagi Yojimbo: Two Hundred Jizo
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Stan Sakai
Art by Stan Sakai

Dark Horse did something that was really cool. They give credit to the previous companies who carried Usagi Yojimbo (of the TMNT fame) by pointing out this is the 200 issue of the title. Here, Usagi ends up in a village living in fear of ruthless outlaws. When the outlaws hear the Usagi is in the village, they call him out after he stops one of them from attacking a woman. What happens next, I really can’t tell you because y’all know how I feel about spoilers. But let me pose these questions, will he succeed in defending the village or will they stand up for themselves (ok, so they’re typical, so what)?

This book was truly a solid offering from Sakai. When I read through it, the art is pencil black and white. This really fit with what was being told, just like the movie Seven Samurai can only be shown in black and white. Each voice holds true, the writing was very well done and the story stands alone but you can see it as part of an ongoing story. Keeping with the simple style shown, the paneling is very simple and didn’t need anything extra. One thing that I drew me to this offering is the fact that my son at seven can read this.

The story is very kid friendly but can keep adults in it as well. I was able to sit down and be drawn into this, just like I would with the old wire-fu movies or the older samurai movies of old. Yet, I could hand this to my son and he would read it and I wouldn’t worry about the content. It does show death but in a very appropriate way that it would not give him nightmares. This is something that you can share with just about everyone. In my humble opinion, this is one to get. I give it 5 caps out of 5.

Bonnie Lass: The Legend Part 3

Bonnie Lass: The Legend Part 3
Red 5 Comics
Written by Michael Mayne
Art by Tyler Fluharty

Bonnie is at it again. Since I wasn’t given the second issue to read, let’s pick up here in this one. Bonnie’s ship is captured by Monet and his crew. The statue and a scroll that’s in it brings up the Leviathan and can control it. So, what is Monet doing? He’s trying to get ancient technology to help him and the secret society, the Ebb Tide, to control their world. Bonnie, on the other hand, is just trying to get her ship back and find some treasure. In the battle that dominates this book, the statue and scroll get destroyed. Sending the Leviathan back into the deep. Bonnie takes Monet and her crew after it (just another day at the office).

This book didn’t hold me like the first one did. Now, this could be because I’m not sure of what’s going on, missing the second book. The art was the same and worked with the story; just exaggerated enough to show it’s not this world or time. The paneling was not as good as the first book I read. There were a couple of points, I thought, where a frame or two needed to be larger on the page, more dramatic. The writing was good as well, but for me, I would like to know what’s going on. For those people who miss an issue, add what happened in the last one to make sure everyone is on the same page.

For me, I didn’t dislike this but I wasn’t as absorbed as I was with the first one. As I pointed out, it could be that I’m behind and don’t know what brought everyone to what’s going on. Also, this is the issue just before the climax so we’re still in the climbing stage of the story, it’s usually just there to prep you for what’s about to happen. The characters had their same personalities and Bonnie still has her “charm” but the others were not really part of the story. In my humble opinion, if you read the second book, odds on you’ll like this one. I give it 3.5 caps out of 5.

Operation: Broken Wings, 1936 #1 of 3

Operation: Broken Wings, 1936 #1 of 3
Boom Studios
Written by Herik Hanna
Art by Trevor Hairsine

I’ll admit; I have a little more than a fascination with WWII for a few different reasons. When this book was given to me, I was really interested in reading it. The story follows Major Hans Shoeffer going about his normal business in the early stages of the Second World War. Conducting his standard routine of gathering information, filing reports, listening to the propaganda and seeing people being taken away; never be seen again. But he has other plans and other sides to join. Oh yeah, he gets a visit from the Gestapo who’s checking on the murder of a former member of his team. This is a time that I like to study but do not want to have any part of physically.

Going through this book, it was almost a window back to 1936. You see the art is done in a style that has good detail but is in the manner that you feel the grittiness of the time, it could almost tell the story on it’s own. The paneling was simple and worked but there was a few areas that I thought something different could have had the story flow better. The writing was very well done, a lot of what is going on is Hans’ commentary on the situation but it makes sense for what he’s telling the audience of what’s happening.

I started reading this and couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see where he was going, whether he was going to get caught in a trap to kill him or the verbal trap set by the Gestapo agent or something else. There is true intrigue and mystery in this book that pulls you in and leads you to where it wants you to go. I want to see what happens in the next issue. In my humble opinion, get this book and be drawn into a time that’s part of our history. I give this 4.5 caps out of 5.

Dark Horse Presents #5

Dark Horse Presents: Issue #5
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Eric Powell and various others
Art by Eric Powell and various others

This is the first time I’ve ever read Dark Horse Presents so I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew the format and how it was laid out but not of what was inside. For those of you like me, it’s a variety of different stories; some complete others are on going. They have one about a robot sent into space to see if a far off planet is inhabitable, another is about characters dressed in suits and masks trying to get a “Bleeding Heart,” and another about a guy who’s essentially a mail carrier. The artists are different for each story so you can see each take on it’s on feel. For me, this was something different.

Overall, the layout of the book was really well done. Because each story had it’s own artist and feel you knew when one story would end and the next would begin, I figured they’d do that but it was still nice to see. Each story had basic paneling done. In all stories this was the best thing they could do, don’t over do something when it’s not needed. The writing was solid but they didn’t do the one thing I prefer when I get a story part of the way in, they didn’t give you the back-story. Personally, I prefer that so I have a better grasp of what’s going on.

Each of the stories was able to keep me reading this was really good. The story, “Isolation” is the first in the book and gets you. It makes you ask real questions that could be asked in the near future. “The Adventures of Dog Mendonca and Pizza Boy” and a nice comic break but still have solid storytelling. From there, each one has a solid feel and keep you reading. If you are a fan already or if you want something new to read, this will be a good selection, in my humble opinion. I give this 4 caps out of 5.

Dead or Alive #1 of 4

Dead or Alive #1 of 4
Red 5 Comics
Written by Scott Chitwood
Art by Alfonso Ruiz

Sam and Jed are a couple of cowboys back in Texas in 1870. They’re just trying to make it to the next day, get their pay for whatever ranch hand work they can find, and move in life. In one of their days work, they see a fire at a local ranch and look into it. When they find the owner of the ranch and his workers all murdered and the owner’s daughter rushing in after being in town, they decide to find the murder and bring him in to face justice (the reward was a good motivator too). This is where everything goes down hill.
This book was different from most western comics out there, because it brings in everyone’s favorite monsters to life, zombies. The story was well written and leads into areas that you don’t expect. The characters are each unique and come off the page. Yet their accents didn’t carry in the book which is a little peeve of mine. The art is well drawn; again something where you know where they are in the time but it’s just off enough to know something is different. Now, the paneling is pretty standard but they do have a few differences to keep it interesting.

I liked this book, parts of it were routine but this story has been done a bunch of times and in a bunch of time periods. This one was unique enough to make it new again. They give the back-story to let you know who’s who and what’s going on. You can almost see each character in different times or you may even say, hey, I know that guy. In my humble opinion, I plan on checking out the rest of the story when they come out. I give this book 4.5 caps out of 5.

Dead or Alive #1 of 4

Dead or Alive #1 of 4
Red 5 Comics
Written by Scott Chitwood
Art by Alfonso Ruiz

Sam and Jed are a couple of cowboys back in Texas in 1870. They’re just trying to make it to the next day, get their pay for whatever ranch hand work they can find, and move in life. In one of their days work, they see a fire at a local ranch and look into it. When they find the owner of the ranch and his workers all murdered and the owner’s daughter rushing in after being in town, they decide to find the murder and bring him in to face justice (the reward was a good motivator too). This is where everything goes down hill.
This book was different from most western comics out there, because it brings in everyone’s favorite monsters to life, zombies. The story was well written and leads into areas that you don’t expect. The characters are each unique and come off the page. Yet their accents didn’t carry in the book which is a little peeve of mine. The art is well drawn; again something where you know where they are in the time but it’s just off enough to know something is different. Now, the paneling is pretty standard but they do have a few differences to keep it interesting.

I liked this book, parts of it were routine but this story has been done a bunch of times and in a bunch of time periods. This one was unique enough to make it new again. They give the back-story to let you know who’s who and what’s going on. You can almost see each character in different times or you may even say, hey, I know that guy. In my humble opinion, I plan on checking out the rest of the story when they come out. I give this book 4.5 caps out of 5.

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth Russia #3 of 5

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth Russia #3 of 5
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art by Tyler Crook

Things are not looking up for the Bureau since Hellboy has left. Before this issue, Abe’s been shot and is in a coma, Liz is in hiding after torching half of the planet and now we get to this issue. Two agents have gone to Russia for a special meeting with their Russian counterparts. They’re investigating zombies walking around a village, not attacking anyone, just stealing construction equipment and supplies. The Russians tracked the zombies back to their base and sent someone into check it out. He came out a tad different (like being subjected to too much of a purple dinosaur). Just imagine what the office gossip is like where they work.

This is the second book I’ve reviewed from this title and I’m seeing some good trends here. The paneling is the simple square, nothing fancy or exaggerated. They keep to that style, I like it for this. Also, the art is colorful and bright, even though the story is of a darker feel. You’d expect it to be otherwise but this counter really works for the story. Even the features and details are just enough off to give it just the right feel. Lastly, the writing, they really don’t weight the story down with too much dialog. The writers and artist let the story be told with the art, again this works really well.

I was only given this issue but because they did what I really appreciate, tell what happened in the other issues, I was able to follow along and could get into the story without asking too many questions. I would have liked to see some more humor come through, but I got used to that with Hellboy being there. Other than that, this was a good read and a story to follow. This is a story you should get the first two issues, catch up with what’s going on and then get this one as well, in my humble opinion. I give this 4 caps out of 5.