Cyberines #1
Red Anvil Comics 2015
Created & Written by: Joe Martino
Illustrated by: Cory Hamscher & Pow Rodrix
Coloured by: Sean Forney
Reviewer: Steven Leitman
Summary: Cyberines #1 takes us to the next step of human evolution. We delve into the past of what turned one of the Cyberines into a deadly enemy. Was he always destined to be? We also introduce a new "Villain". The Persian freedom fighter Sirocco. Is he friend, or the worst type of foe?
Review: Red Anvil is home to what I like to refer to as modern day throwback comics. By this, I mean they have all the look, feel, and comfort of a time before the darkness took over comics and by that, I mean early to mid-eighties. Joe’s ability to weave that balance of old school feel in a modern day setting is what sets this apart from many contemporary books on sale. Cory’s interiors use Joe’s concept of that beautifully giving it a more mainstream 80's and Image feel to it without all the clunky shoulder pads and such.
Part of what I am enjoying about this book is that many characters were once soldiers in the U.S. Army and are now transformed into modern day super-heroes. But they aren’t the ones that will follow blindly, yes they listen to orders given but ultimately if something is right or wrong they will make their judgment calls they feel comfortable with. Plus we’ve seen Killwatt over in Shadowflame so to learn he’s from the same unit as John? Well that’s just good writing, showing us that not everyone is going to be cut from the same cloth.
There’s a moment during the origin recap that is just delightful as he rejects that garrish Captain American wannabe suit and his own words “Bionic-Friggin-Man” used to describe himself that resonates with readers. It shows us that just because this happened doesn’t make them much different people as we are, but just in a position to do more.
Their mission is to see what Sirocco is doing here in the states. I like how the team with little to no real information about him go about assessing where and why he could be here. It’s solid thinking and a smart of use of resources that make sense instead of having someone suddenly come up with an answer out of the thin blue air. Then once they encounter Sirocco the teamwork they display is pretty solid as well showcasing why this team works well together and how they still improve upon that. They aren’t perfect and that’s even better since we’re so accustomed to seeing our heroes make so few mistakes.
As first issues go this one is solid as can be. We get a chance to meet the team through its leader’s eyes and then see them in action learning just enough about each one to make you curious about them and wanting to see more. That this has a pre-angst vibe with all the modern day storytelling techniques and settings gives me hope that comics can have action/adventure and a modicum of violence while still retaining the brightness and hope that drew us to people in colourful costumes in the first place. Support Red Anvil and order these books today and help usher in a new age of comics the blends old and new in the best possible way.
Red Anvil Comics 2015
Created & Written by: Joe Martino
Illustrated by: Cory Hamscher & Pow Rodrix
Coloured by: Sean Forney
Reviewer: Steven Leitman
Summary: Cyberines #1 takes us to the next step of human evolution. We delve into the past of what turned one of the Cyberines into a deadly enemy. Was he always destined to be? We also introduce a new "Villain". The Persian freedom fighter Sirocco. Is he friend, or the worst type of foe?
Review: Red Anvil is home to what I like to refer to as modern day throwback comics. By this, I mean they have all the look, feel, and comfort of a time before the darkness took over comics and by that, I mean early to mid-eighties. Joe’s ability to weave that balance of old school feel in a modern day setting is what sets this apart from many contemporary books on sale. Cory’s interiors use Joe’s concept of that beautifully giving it a more mainstream 80's and Image feel to it without all the clunky shoulder pads and such.
Part of what I am enjoying about this book is that many characters were once soldiers in the U.S. Army and are now transformed into modern day super-heroes. But they aren’t the ones that will follow blindly, yes they listen to orders given but ultimately if something is right or wrong they will make their judgment calls they feel comfortable with. Plus we’ve seen Killwatt over in Shadowflame so to learn he’s from the same unit as John? Well that’s just good writing, showing us that not everyone is going to be cut from the same cloth.
There’s a moment during the origin recap that is just delightful as he rejects that garrish Captain American wannabe suit and his own words “Bionic-Friggin-Man” used to describe himself that resonates with readers. It shows us that just because this happened doesn’t make them much different people as we are, but just in a position to do more.
Their mission is to see what Sirocco is doing here in the states. I like how the team with little to no real information about him go about assessing where and why he could be here. It’s solid thinking and a smart of use of resources that make sense instead of having someone suddenly come up with an answer out of the thin blue air. Then once they encounter Sirocco the teamwork they display is pretty solid as well showcasing why this team works well together and how they still improve upon that. They aren’t perfect and that’s even better since we’re so accustomed to seeing our heroes make so few mistakes.
As first issues go this one is solid as can be. We get a chance to meet the team through its leader’s eyes and then see them in action learning just enough about each one to make you curious about them and wanting to see more. That this has a pre-angst vibe with all the modern day storytelling techniques and settings gives me hope that comics can have action/adventure and a modicum of violence while still retaining the brightness and hope that drew us to people in colourful costumes in the first place. Support Red Anvil and order these books today and help usher in a new age of comics the blends old and new in the best possible way.
Grocery Assassin
Broken Icon Comics 2013
Written by: Eric Watkins & James Maddox
Illustrated by: Tristan Kelly
Cover Colours by: Kevin Steward
Reviewer: Steven Leitman
Review: One of the great things about going to a convention is that local or semi-local people attend these shows and they bring their work put it out there and try to interest you. The best ones have great personalities and draw you in once they see you interested in their work. In this case we looked at it and when you pick it up and leaf through it you get this great feeling like you are looking at something special. Looking at it as we talked to them about the book, who they were, and there was no pressure. Just that these guys love what they do and want to share with you. That in turn makes me want to share it with you.
Alright, it’s got a great colour cover which captures your attention right away with a Mission Impossible vibe. As the book was described to us it’s about two assassins that see each other in a grocery store and suddenly break out trying to kill each other and all kinds of chaos ensues and the poor shoppers are caught in the middle of it all. How awesome does that sound!? It really is one of those things you want to experience.
Here’s another instance where I’ve learned to love black and white comics because the line work is great and you see so much more of what is there on the page without having to worry if the work is getting lost in shading or colour. On page 2, the two men see each other and immediately guns are drawn and our first innocent bystander gets shot. What I kind of loved about this was that the two assassins are basically cut from the same cloth. They look pretty darn similar in appearance, only one is more suit and tie while the other is more laid back without a tie on.
Very quickly things get out of hand as a guy stocking the shelves finds where they hid a dead woman's body and he gets shot. Next thing ya know instead of going after each other they decide to play the most kills wins and creativity counts double. So you have to read this to see just how creative they get with their kills and the extremely unlikely twist of an ending that ensues. The writing here is inventive and creative and all kinds of fun and aside from learning about these two from the artwork, that very aptly demonstrates what kind of men they are, the last few pages do wonders in fleshing them out through the writing.
The last page really sealed the deal for me because it just doesn’t get any better than that. What it also does is set the stage for me and by that I mean personally I want to see another story with these two guys if it can be as creative and fun as this one is then I want more. That’s what good comics do, they leave at the end having had this great fun ride and leave you with that desire to see more. It’s books like this that half the fun of attending a convention comes from because you discover something new that you normally you couldn’t without someone else, like I am now, telling you about it.
If you aren’t in the Ohio Valley area but want to check it out go to www.brokeniconcomics.com and see it for yourself. And then treat yourself and get a copym support the folks who clearly love what they do and bring intense joy to you as a reader.
Broken Icon Comics 2013
Written by: Eric Watkins & James Maddox
Illustrated by: Tristan Kelly
Cover Colours by: Kevin Steward
Reviewer: Steven Leitman
Review: One of the great things about going to a convention is that local or semi-local people attend these shows and they bring their work put it out there and try to interest you. The best ones have great personalities and draw you in once they see you interested in their work. In this case we looked at it and when you pick it up and leaf through it you get this great feeling like you are looking at something special. Looking at it as we talked to them about the book, who they were, and there was no pressure. Just that these guys love what they do and want to share with you. That in turn makes me want to share it with you.
Alright, it’s got a great colour cover which captures your attention right away with a Mission Impossible vibe. As the book was described to us it’s about two assassins that see each other in a grocery store and suddenly break out trying to kill each other and all kinds of chaos ensues and the poor shoppers are caught in the middle of it all. How awesome does that sound!? It really is one of those things you want to experience.
Here’s another instance where I’ve learned to love black and white comics because the line work is great and you see so much more of what is there on the page without having to worry if the work is getting lost in shading or colour. On page 2, the two men see each other and immediately guns are drawn and our first innocent bystander gets shot. What I kind of loved about this was that the two assassins are basically cut from the same cloth. They look pretty darn similar in appearance, only one is more suit and tie while the other is more laid back without a tie on.
Very quickly things get out of hand as a guy stocking the shelves finds where they hid a dead woman's body and he gets shot. Next thing ya know instead of going after each other they decide to play the most kills wins and creativity counts double. So you have to read this to see just how creative they get with their kills and the extremely unlikely twist of an ending that ensues. The writing here is inventive and creative and all kinds of fun and aside from learning about these two from the artwork, that very aptly demonstrates what kind of men they are, the last few pages do wonders in fleshing them out through the writing.
The last page really sealed the deal for me because it just doesn’t get any better than that. What it also does is set the stage for me and by that I mean personally I want to see another story with these two guys if it can be as creative and fun as this one is then I want more. That’s what good comics do, they leave at the end having had this great fun ride and leave you with that desire to see more. It’s books like this that half the fun of attending a convention comes from because you discover something new that you normally you couldn’t without someone else, like I am now, telling you about it.
If you aren’t in the Ohio Valley area but want to check it out go to www.brokeniconcomics.com and see it for yourself. And then treat yourself and get a copym support the folks who clearly love what they do and bring intense joy to you as a reader.