It Came From the Reading Pile - Reviews #5
This is a regular post where I grab a bunch of comics from my reading stack and rave and rant about them. This is also a labor of love for my daughter and I - to not only share a common interest but to also encourage her to read and write.
Using a carrot scale of 1-5 to measure the overall book.
1. Silver Surfer Black #2 & #3
Publisher: Marvel
Story: Donny Cates
Art: Tradd Moore
What's It About:
Silver Surfer has been sucked into a black hole and finds himself face to face with the Symbiote God himself - Knull. To add further complications, Silver Surfer has been infected and his body is being slowly confused by the darkness.
After a spectacular battle, Silver Surfer barely escapes and is aided by Eon the living planet. Something has infected the core of the planet and Surfer decides to investigate. What he discovers is awesome and sets up for a very exciting finale to the series.
What's Awesome:
2. Once & Future #1
Publisher: Boom!
Story: Kieron Gillen
Art: Dan Mora
What's It About:
The hot book of the week delivered both from a story telling and artistic standpoint. Kieron Gillen delivered another great story and has been on fire with this series and Die from Image.
A scarab from the times of King Arthur is found and shadowy organizations move to fulfill an age long prophesy.
In their way is a professor in the mold of Indiana Jones and his grandma. It sounds funny but it really works and we are introduced to a bad ass lady and fantasy elements that work very well together.
What's Awesome:
3. Blade Runner 2019 #1
Publisher: Titan
Story: Michael Green
Art: Mike Johnson
What's It About:
I purchased this book for two reasons: 1) Awesome Artgerm cover and 2) I love the Blade Runner universe. As a side note on the cover, I really like the Rachel shadow on the cover.
You will not be disappointing by a well delivered package that truly takes you back to the Blade Runner universe. You will see similar buildings and locations from the movies.
From a plot standpoint we are introduced to Ash; a new Blade Runner with secrets of her own. She gets assigned to a missing persons case and we quickly join her in a investigation. Along the way we find out new details about our hero and the wife and child that she is searching for.
What's Awesome:
4. Unearth #1
Publisher: Image
Story: Cullen Bunn
Art: Kyle Strahm
What's It About:
Cullen Bunn seems to be one of the most prolific writers in comics with projects in multiple companies (Manor Black from Dark Horse).
A flesh-altering disease destroys a remote village in Mexico and a medical task force is sent in to investigate. The team is able to locate possible answers in a nearby underground cave.
They venture out and discover hostile creates, natives, and worst of all no possible way out except to venture deeper into the earth. Comparable to the Alien movie in an underground setting.
What's Awesome:
5. Berserker Unbound
Publisher: Dark Horse
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Mike Deodato Jr.
What's It About:
Limited series from another prolific writer in Jeff Lemire.
We are introduced to the Mongrel King, a barbarian returning home weary from battle. Unfortunately, his village, friends, and family have all been destroyed and killed.
The culprits reveal themselves and Berserker battles them to the death. At some point, our hero escapes and runs from hoards of enemies into a cave. This mysterious cave leads straight to New York City! There is a little more to it but basically that is the end result.
What's Awesome:
Stay tuned for Invincible Compendium 1, 2, 3 review
Caveat: Still waiting for my Invincible Reviews. I guess high-school, sports, and other things are more important than comics!
Using a carrot scale of 1-5 to measure the overall book.
Publisher: Marvel
Story: Donny Cates
Art: Tradd Moore
What's It About:
Silver Surfer has been sucked into a black hole and finds himself face to face with the Symbiote God himself - Knull. To add further complications, Silver Surfer has been infected and his body is being slowly confused by the darkness.
After a spectacular battle, Silver Surfer barely escapes and is aided by Eon the living planet. Something has infected the core of the planet and Surfer decides to investigate. What he discovers is awesome and sets up for a very exciting finale to the series.
What's Awesome:
- The writing is crisp and epic in scope. Donny is doing a fantastic job of tying all of these pieces together and building a huge mythology around Knull.
- The art is awesome, psychedelic, and beautiful. Perfect for the series.
- The colors just pop from the page, look at the cover image with all the vibrant shapes, colors, and imagery.
- The incubator!!!
What's Not Awesome:
- Some may not care for the art.
Overall:
Worth reading if you like Silver Surfer, Donny Cates, Knull, or the cosmic setting. These are still selling for cover price so they should be easy to get.
🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕out of 5
2. Once & Future #1Publisher: Boom!
Story: Kieron Gillen
Art: Dan Mora
What's It About:
The hot book of the week delivered both from a story telling and artistic standpoint. Kieron Gillen delivered another great story and has been on fire with this series and Die from Image.
A scarab from the times of King Arthur is found and shadowy organizations move to fulfill an age long prophesy.
In their way is a professor in the mold of Indiana Jones and his grandma. It sounds funny but it really works and we are introduced to a bad ass lady and fantasy elements that work very well together.
What's Awesome:
- Top notch character development - you root and want to learn about the main characters.
- Book was just extended to be an ongoing series so more great stories to come.
- Everyone loves the King Arthur legend and this may put a new spin on certain elements.
What's Not Awesome:
- Might be hard to find a copy of issue #1 for cover price it was going for $15 on the secondary market.
Overall:
You quickly become vested in the characters and the art is fantastic. A modern setting that can quickly get fun and crazy with fantasy elements.
🥕🥕🥕🥕out of 5
Publisher: Titan
Story: Michael Green
Art: Mike Johnson
What's It About:
I purchased this book for two reasons: 1) Awesome Artgerm cover and 2) I love the Blade Runner universe. As a side note on the cover, I really like the Rachel shadow on the cover.
You will not be disappointing by a well delivered package that truly takes you back to the Blade Runner universe. You will see similar buildings and locations from the movies.
From a plot standpoint we are introduced to Ash; a new Blade Runner with secrets of her own. She gets assigned to a missing persons case and we quickly join her in a investigation. Along the way we find out new details about our hero and the wife and child that she is searching for.
What's Awesome:
- New stories in the Blade Runner universe.
- Change of pace from past material as we now have a female Blade Runner.
- The cover is stunning.
What's Not Awesome:
- The book contains some predictable plot threads.
- Like many first issues, it leaves you with a lot of questions. Unlike Once & Future above you don't become as vested in the characters and plot.
Overall:
If you like Blade Runner this is certainly worth the look. You can still find this for cover price.
🥕🥕🥕🥕out of 5
Publisher: Image
Story: Cullen Bunn
Art: Kyle Strahm
What's It About:
Cullen Bunn seems to be one of the most prolific writers in comics with projects in multiple companies (Manor Black from Dark Horse).
A flesh-altering disease destroys a remote village in Mexico and a medical task force is sent in to investigate. The team is able to locate possible answers in a nearby underground cave.
They venture out and discover hostile creates, natives, and worst of all no possible way out except to venture deeper into the earth. Comparable to the Alien movie in an underground setting.
What's Awesome:
- Cullun Bunn continues to deliver the chills with all of these horror series.
- Cool underground concept that could yield a lot of scares.
What's Not Awesome:
- Art was just okay.
- No character development - you have no vested interest if anyone dies or lives in the expedition. At this point you are more vested in learning what is around every corner.
Overall:
If you like horror give this a couple of issues and see if it delivers. I was not crazy about the art so I may not stick around for the ride. You can still buy these for cover price.
🥕🥕🥕out of 5
Publisher: Dark Horse
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Mike Deodato Jr.
What's It About:
Limited series from another prolific writer in Jeff Lemire.
We are introduced to the Mongrel King, a barbarian returning home weary from battle. Unfortunately, his village, friends, and family have all been destroyed and killed.
The culprits reveal themselves and Berserker battles them to the death. At some point, our hero escapes and runs from hoards of enemies into a cave. This mysterious cave leads straight to New York City! There is a little more to it but basically that is the end result.
What's Awesome:
- Mike Deodato does a great job with the artwork and it really stands out.
What's Not Awesome:
- Similar plot as many other stories - one that comes to mind is the old Masters of the Universe Movie.
Overall:
Fun and enjoyable book that does not bring anything new yet to the table. You can still find this book for cover price.
🥕🥕🥕out of 5
Syd's Pick
Stay tuned for Invincible Compendium 1, 2, 3 review Caveat: Still waiting for my Invincible Reviews. I guess high-school, sports, and other things are more important than comics!
I was late on the ball with the Silver Surfer black series, but picked up a copy of #4 when it caught my eye. I had some extra funds one day at the LCS and picked up the rest, and totally submerged myself in both the story and art, which complimented each other perfectly. I wasn't really a Silver Surfer fan in the past, but have a new perspective on the character after reading the 5 issues of Black. Nice review, and the book itself is really incredible.
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