Zombie Tramp vs. Vampblade #1 (of 3)
Action Lab: Danger Zone
Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Pencilers: Winston Young
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: From the pages of ZOMBIE TRAMP comes a clash of titans, as the Queen of the Dead takes on the stalker of the night, Vampblade, in a match that will stand the test of time. Or at least the dead of night. Who will come out on top when these two hot headed ladies get together for some fearsome all-night action? Find out in this steamy, action paced mini-series!!
[SPOILERS!!]
Review: Spinning out of the pages of Zombie Tramp comes a really strong first issue for these two lovely ladies together. Vampblade, created by ZT co-writer Jason Martin, gets to really shine as we get to know a bit about her backstory, the reason she does what she does, and the enemies she's facing. I also like that she's uniquely different than Janey in that she doesn't kill if she doesn't have to, nor does she seem as truly hot headed or bloodthirsty. The being said, she does really enjoy being a supernatural crime fighter and I like that.
Not too mention, she's hot as hell.
There isn't a whole ton that happens in this issue, it's mainly set up of these two meeting for the third time but now actually having a reason to stay together as Janey isn't really a team player - the reason is quite interesting though, a classic gag and story trope that I'm curious to see where they take it. In the few pages that these two girls are together though we see on display just how different they really are.
I like that Janey is really the cause of all the strife these girls are going to have to go through, and I like that it's because she just plain doesn't like people anymore. No matter who they might be. I think that little douchebag from issue #8 of Zombie Tramp was the last straw for her, but sadly its come at the cost of jumping the gun. I hope by the end of these 3 issues the two will be friends, but knowing how Janey is now I could very well see them just putting up with each others' existence, but not actually getting along.
The action was nice, and the 'reveal' involving Janey was really nice as well. I'm really curious to learn more about Vampblade and her lore, which if I remember correctly she's getting an ongoing of her own after this, so awesome! Definitely will be checking that out.
The art by Winston Young is really nice. It's got a new age feel to it, and it's got a look that I think fits these character quite well. If there's anything that the world Janey and Vampblade inhabit have in consistently good taste its the artists that bring it to life. From Mendoza himself who starts all of this, to TMChu, to everyone else that have worked in this world and now Young, I have yet to experience an artist's work that I haven't liked.
Definitely going to be strong mini-series I think, at least definitely in the art department. I wonder if Winston will do the art for the Vampblade? I would totally love that, I think he'd work out well for it.
Anyways, great first issue. My only problem would be that it kind of ends abruptly, and I really want to know where in the series following issue #11 this takes place. Are they both in Vegas? Is this some side adventure that takes place before Janey hits the open road at the end of issue #11? I need answers!
Final Score: 4 Parasitic Vampire Worms out of 5
Action Lab: Danger Zone
Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Pencilers: Winston Young
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: From the pages of ZOMBIE TRAMP comes a clash of titans, as the Queen of the Dead takes on the stalker of the night, Vampblade, in a match that will stand the test of time. Or at least the dead of night. Who will come out on top when these two hot headed ladies get together for some fearsome all-night action? Find out in this steamy, action paced mini-series!!
[SPOILERS!!]
Review: Spinning out of the pages of Zombie Tramp comes a really strong first issue for these two lovely ladies together. Vampblade, created by ZT co-writer Jason Martin, gets to really shine as we get to know a bit about her backstory, the reason she does what she does, and the enemies she's facing. I also like that she's uniquely different than Janey in that she doesn't kill if she doesn't have to, nor does she seem as truly hot headed or bloodthirsty. The being said, she does really enjoy being a supernatural crime fighter and I like that.
Not too mention, she's hot as hell.
There isn't a whole ton that happens in this issue, it's mainly set up of these two meeting for the third time but now actually having a reason to stay together as Janey isn't really a team player - the reason is quite interesting though, a classic gag and story trope that I'm curious to see where they take it. In the few pages that these two girls are together though we see on display just how different they really are.
I like that Janey is really the cause of all the strife these girls are going to have to go through, and I like that it's because she just plain doesn't like people anymore. No matter who they might be. I think that little douchebag from issue #8 of Zombie Tramp was the last straw for her, but sadly its come at the cost of jumping the gun. I hope by the end of these 3 issues the two will be friends, but knowing how Janey is now I could very well see them just putting up with each others' existence, but not actually getting along.
The action was nice, and the 'reveal' involving Janey was really nice as well. I'm really curious to learn more about Vampblade and her lore, which if I remember correctly she's getting an ongoing of her own after this, so awesome! Definitely will be checking that out.
The art by Winston Young is really nice. It's got a new age feel to it, and it's got a look that I think fits these character quite well. If there's anything that the world Janey and Vampblade inhabit have in consistently good taste its the artists that bring it to life. From Mendoza himself who starts all of this, to TMChu, to everyone else that have worked in this world and now Young, I have yet to experience an artist's work that I haven't liked.
Definitely going to be strong mini-series I think, at least definitely in the art department. I wonder if Winston will do the art for the Vampblade? I would totally love that, I think he'd work out well for it.
Anyways, great first issue. My only problem would be that it kind of ends abruptly, and I really want to know where in the series following issue #11 this takes place. Are they both in Vegas? Is this some side adventure that takes place before Janey hits the open road at the end of issue #11? I need answers!
Final Score: 4 Parasitic Vampire Worms out of 5
Carpe Noctem #3
Hashtag Comics 2015
Written by: Martin Dunn
Co-Plotted, Illustrated and Lettered by: Derrick Fish
Coloured by: Challenging Studios
Reviewed by: Steven Leitman
Review: With each issue of this series that comes out I am more and more a fan of it. Vampire brothers Jace and Dante now have Chelsea as a scribe to fix the things that the public isn’t supposed to know about and their society. Dante’s exploits as the series started drew the ire of Issac Bottwin and last issue he recruited the zombies to attack the brothers in Las Vegas’s hottest night club and that’s where we pick up this issue.
Got to hand it to Derrick here too because the interior artwork is freakin awesome! Bottwin is creepy as all get out and he just adds that touch of horror to this book that it really needs to balance out the whole thing that the brothers bring. He also opens up this issue so he can set himself up to watch the action unfold. It’s a brilliant opening too I really like the jab at Twilight because well, it needs to be done.
Inside the club Chelsea is trying to adjust to her new life talking to Jolene, the bartender as the boys argue and get ready to go out leaving them completely unprepared for what is about to happen. Martin has some serious writing chops here, he’s giving us this great characterization and infusing all the problems of legitimate businessmen with being a part of the supernatural community. As the zombies of Zed’s are about to crash into the club the boys hear, sense, and smell them and it doesn’t take long for the action to begin.
Huge fight scene too and it’s just beautifully rendered by Derrick and the Studio coloured just as well too. I really am blown away by the attention to detail and the use of pages, panels, and backgrounds throughout the fighting. Plus seeing zombie parts flying around after being struck by these supernaturally strong beings was the icing on the cake. What really impresses me the most is that throughout the fighting we see more great characterization, that there’s more to Jolene than meets the eye and that while they may be zombies they aren’t stupid. Plus the boys get overconfident and while they all come out on top, thanks to Chelsea’s timely intervention, they aren’t as tough and unbeatable as they think they are.
This is a shining example of what you can do with the supernatural community that isn’t typical or predictable. It’s so well thought out and executed and the interiors are just beyond what you can expect that if something as fan friendly as True Blood can be successful on cable television than something like this can be just as entertaining if not more so.
By the end of this issue what really struck me was the bonding Chelsea is having with these characters and Jolene particularly. She’s gotten what she wanted, a new life that isn’t anything like her old one and she’s adapting to it more quickly than I would have imagined and in some aspects seems to be enjoying immensely.
This is one of those examples of books you should be reading that aren’t known in the mainstream. We need to be looking for projects like this and promoting them and spreading the word that such great creators are doing such work outside the bigger named companies. I’m completely taken and enamored with this book and I think if you give it a shot you will be too.
Hashtag Comics 2015
Written by: Martin Dunn
Co-Plotted, Illustrated and Lettered by: Derrick Fish
Coloured by: Challenging Studios
Reviewed by: Steven Leitman
Review: With each issue of this series that comes out I am more and more a fan of it. Vampire brothers Jace and Dante now have Chelsea as a scribe to fix the things that the public isn’t supposed to know about and their society. Dante’s exploits as the series started drew the ire of Issac Bottwin and last issue he recruited the zombies to attack the brothers in Las Vegas’s hottest night club and that’s where we pick up this issue.
Got to hand it to Derrick here too because the interior artwork is freakin awesome! Bottwin is creepy as all get out and he just adds that touch of horror to this book that it really needs to balance out the whole thing that the brothers bring. He also opens up this issue so he can set himself up to watch the action unfold. It’s a brilliant opening too I really like the jab at Twilight because well, it needs to be done.
Inside the club Chelsea is trying to adjust to her new life talking to Jolene, the bartender as the boys argue and get ready to go out leaving them completely unprepared for what is about to happen. Martin has some serious writing chops here, he’s giving us this great characterization and infusing all the problems of legitimate businessmen with being a part of the supernatural community. As the zombies of Zed’s are about to crash into the club the boys hear, sense, and smell them and it doesn’t take long for the action to begin.
Huge fight scene too and it’s just beautifully rendered by Derrick and the Studio coloured just as well too. I really am blown away by the attention to detail and the use of pages, panels, and backgrounds throughout the fighting. Plus seeing zombie parts flying around after being struck by these supernaturally strong beings was the icing on the cake. What really impresses me the most is that throughout the fighting we see more great characterization, that there’s more to Jolene than meets the eye and that while they may be zombies they aren’t stupid. Plus the boys get overconfident and while they all come out on top, thanks to Chelsea’s timely intervention, they aren’t as tough and unbeatable as they think they are.
This is a shining example of what you can do with the supernatural community that isn’t typical or predictable. It’s so well thought out and executed and the interiors are just beyond what you can expect that if something as fan friendly as True Blood can be successful on cable television than something like this can be just as entertaining if not more so.
By the end of this issue what really struck me was the bonding Chelsea is having with these characters and Jolene particularly. She’s gotten what she wanted, a new life that isn’t anything like her old one and she’s adapting to it more quickly than I would have imagined and in some aspects seems to be enjoying immensely.
This is one of those examples of books you should be reading that aren’t known in the mainstream. We need to be looking for projects like this and promoting them and spreading the word that such great creators are doing such work outside the bigger named companies. I’m completely taken and enamored with this book and I think if you give it a shot you will be too.