Zombie Tramp vol. 3 #5 - Ongoing
Action Lab: Danger Zone
Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Pencilers: Dennis Budd
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: She used to be Hollywood's hottest high priced call girl, until the bite of an undead john changed her into something deadly different! Now Janey Belle – the street walking dead with supernatural abilities and a copy of the infamous Necronomicon – roams the highways searching for answers as the... ZOMBIE TRAMP!
[POSSIBLE SPOILERS for vol. 2 of Zombie Tramp]
Review: This issue was, overall, a whole helluva lot of fun. The story was lacking in overall meat – ironic – but we got introduced to a new paranormal race, which I highly enjoyed. And we got a fun chase scene which is sorely lacking in comics these days. Unless I'm just reading the wrong comics.
Again, the biggest problem with this issue wasthat it was lacking in full on story, only a few things happened. And as digestor of entertainment I generally like to get a little more out of my issues than just a fight scene, or a chase scene – but the thing about Zombie Tramp I continually notice when I read it is that... I don't care. I literally have so much fun reading an issue that I don't care and I'm more excited to see a Zombie Queen that can raise the dead using said army to fend off a Werewolf Trucker who, quite frankly has a wonderful knack for sexual innuendos.
I can't wait to see the rematch, and I'm glad this issue was being used as a set up for a future, even more epic conflict rather than being just simply a one-off story.
See, I'm conflicted every time I review this comic. And you know what, I'm done being conflicted. I really liked this issue. It was fun, action-packed, and we now have freaking werewolves running around in the ZT universe. Yes.
Budd's art is great, and I like that Mendoza has a great eye for picking talent on his comic. Like TMChu before him, Budd's art is manga-styled for sure, kinetic for all the action, and just very pleasing to look at. His style is a bit more cartoony than TMChu's was but that's most definitely not a bad thing. I'm not sure how long he plans to stay on the title, but I think alternating between these two artists would be a win-win for all involved.
Issue #5 is my favorite issue of the new ongoing so far, and I'm really excited to see these two characters throw down again. I also hope that we get to see more paranormal creatures enter the picture down the road as filling this world with all sorts of blood-sucking, moon-howling, flesh-eating behemoths would be, well, killer. Go! Start reading this comic!
Final Score: 4 Fanged Furries out of 5
Action Lab: Danger Zone
Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Pencilers: Dennis Budd
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: She used to be Hollywood's hottest high priced call girl, until the bite of an undead john changed her into something deadly different! Now Janey Belle – the street walking dead with supernatural abilities and a copy of the infamous Necronomicon – roams the highways searching for answers as the... ZOMBIE TRAMP!
[POSSIBLE SPOILERS for vol. 2 of Zombie Tramp]
Review: This issue was, overall, a whole helluva lot of fun. The story was lacking in overall meat – ironic – but we got introduced to a new paranormal race, which I highly enjoyed. And we got a fun chase scene which is sorely lacking in comics these days. Unless I'm just reading the wrong comics.
Again, the biggest problem with this issue wasthat it was lacking in full on story, only a few things happened. And as digestor of entertainment I generally like to get a little more out of my issues than just a fight scene, or a chase scene – but the thing about Zombie Tramp I continually notice when I read it is that... I don't care. I literally have so much fun reading an issue that I don't care and I'm more excited to see a Zombie Queen that can raise the dead using said army to fend off a Werewolf Trucker who, quite frankly has a wonderful knack for sexual innuendos.
I can't wait to see the rematch, and I'm glad this issue was being used as a set up for a future, even more epic conflict rather than being just simply a one-off story.
See, I'm conflicted every time I review this comic. And you know what, I'm done being conflicted. I really liked this issue. It was fun, action-packed, and we now have freaking werewolves running around in the ZT universe. Yes.
Budd's art is great, and I like that Mendoza has a great eye for picking talent on his comic. Like TMChu before him, Budd's art is manga-styled for sure, kinetic for all the action, and just very pleasing to look at. His style is a bit more cartoony than TMChu's was but that's most definitely not a bad thing. I'm not sure how long he plans to stay on the title, but I think alternating between these two artists would be a win-win for all involved.
Issue #5 is my favorite issue of the new ongoing so far, and I'm really excited to see these two characters throw down again. I also hope that we get to see more paranormal creatures enter the picture down the road as filling this world with all sorts of blood-sucking, moon-howling, flesh-eating behemoths would be, well, killer. Go! Start reading this comic!
Final Score: 4 Fanged Furries out of 5
ADVENTURE TIME Presents: Marceline Gone Adrift #1 - Mini Series
Kaboom! Comics
Created by: Pendleton Ward
Writer: Meredith Gran
Pencilers: Carey Pietsch
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: In a mini-series starring the fan-favorite Adventure Time character Marceline, and definitely one of my favorite characters from the series as well. When Marceline discovers she can't think of lyrics to capture the essence she's looking for for her new album, a freak accident sends her flying – quite literally – into a realm filled with inspiration. How will she cope, and will she ever find her way back?
Review: So wow, I really, really enjoyed this. This was a surprisingly emotional first issue that focuses heavily on both Marceline and Princess Bubblegum. It's still filled with the silliness that AT has come to embody, but Gran chooses to focus more on the character moments and she doesn't disappoint. After a freak accident causes Marceline to be an unfortunate threat, it was quite interesting to see how genuinely conflicted Bubblegum was when deciding what to do about it.
This is one of my favorite things about AT, and what I think makes it so wonderful. That these fully rounded characters can embody such a silly world, and not only take it all in stride but act like real, thoughtful people when comes right down to it. Bubblegum and Marceline have been besties since forever, and to see either of them have to take the other out of the picture is really rather heartbreaking.
I'm very interested to see where the story goes from here, and how far Gran will take the concept of Marceline on a introspective journey through the cosmos. I think it could garner up some very important character growth and pave way for an incredible, character driven story.
I liked the idea that Marceline is having to crash with Jake and Finn, or is it the other way around? It really helps with the whole starving artist motif Marceline is going for in the first half of this issue. Jake and Finn are funny as usual, and I also like the emphasis placed on a few of the side-characters to Bubblegum who helped feature in this story.
There is no secondary mini-story in this issue like there usually has been in past AT related titles, and I think that works in this story's favor. While the ending is a bit abrupt, it doesn't feel rushed. And that's key when finishing a story like this that millions will read. It invokes a sort of helplessness, vulnerability, and sense of awe. Marceline is in for a real trip, I just know it.
The art is quite good, cartoony and fits this story well. Pietcsh has mastered the AT style already, and I wouldn't mind seeing them dabble around with main title as well. I hope Pietsch stays around for more comics after this one, and also stays on this comic for the remainder of the series.
Final Score: 4 Interstellar Highways out of 5
Kaboom! Comics
Created by: Pendleton Ward
Writer: Meredith Gran
Pencilers: Carey Pietsch
Reviewer: Derrick T. Crow
Summary: In a mini-series starring the fan-favorite Adventure Time character Marceline, and definitely one of my favorite characters from the series as well. When Marceline discovers she can't think of lyrics to capture the essence she's looking for for her new album, a freak accident sends her flying – quite literally – into a realm filled with inspiration. How will she cope, and will she ever find her way back?
Review: So wow, I really, really enjoyed this. This was a surprisingly emotional first issue that focuses heavily on both Marceline and Princess Bubblegum. It's still filled with the silliness that AT has come to embody, but Gran chooses to focus more on the character moments and she doesn't disappoint. After a freak accident causes Marceline to be an unfortunate threat, it was quite interesting to see how genuinely conflicted Bubblegum was when deciding what to do about it.
This is one of my favorite things about AT, and what I think makes it so wonderful. That these fully rounded characters can embody such a silly world, and not only take it all in stride but act like real, thoughtful people when comes right down to it. Bubblegum and Marceline have been besties since forever, and to see either of them have to take the other out of the picture is really rather heartbreaking.
I'm very interested to see where the story goes from here, and how far Gran will take the concept of Marceline on a introspective journey through the cosmos. I think it could garner up some very important character growth and pave way for an incredible, character driven story.
I liked the idea that Marceline is having to crash with Jake and Finn, or is it the other way around? It really helps with the whole starving artist motif Marceline is going for in the first half of this issue. Jake and Finn are funny as usual, and I also like the emphasis placed on a few of the side-characters to Bubblegum who helped feature in this story.
There is no secondary mini-story in this issue like there usually has been in past AT related titles, and I think that works in this story's favor. While the ending is a bit abrupt, it doesn't feel rushed. And that's key when finishing a story like this that millions will read. It invokes a sort of helplessness, vulnerability, and sense of awe. Marceline is in for a real trip, I just know it.
The art is quite good, cartoony and fits this story well. Pietcsh has mastered the AT style already, and I wouldn't mind seeing them dabble around with main title as well. I hope Pietsch stays around for more comics after this one, and also stays on this comic for the remainder of the series.
Final Score: 4 Interstellar Highways out of 5
Grimm Fairy Tales #106 – Ongoing
Zenescope Entertainment
Writer: Pat Shand
Artist: Andres Barerro, Przemyslaw Klosin
Reviewer: Derrick Crow
Summary: Sela and her mentor Shang, along with their former enemy, Belinda, have opened a school for a select group of Highborn and Falseblood teens with enhanced abilities. Their goal is to guide the teens who may one day be humanity's only hope against evil from other realms.
Review: I think my favorite thing about Grimm Fairy Tales is its expansive world building, and the sheer amount of cool things that exist in this world. In this issue I got introduced to the Gaia of this universe and she's beautiful. I love her. She's omniscience and I like how sincerely distant she is from everything. She knows she should give up her secrets, but she also knows when she is supposed to. Much to Sela's chagrin. This was also a good catch-up issue for those of us who haven't read the post — Age of Darkness GFT until recently. The use of Druanna, or Gaia, was well handled to get to the point and set up of the issue and I actually like what the series is setting up for the students of Arcane Acres.
Unfortunately, the other major character of this issue is Wulf who I originally garnered as my favorite character just a whole issue ago. I say unfortunately because, for whatever reason, I feel Wulf took a nosedive in character this issue. Last time he seemed rather fun, serious, but fun. And very caring about his teammates. This issue he was a real asshat and got his dues by the end of this issue, but it was rather grating seeing him act like a jerkface to everyone around him. I did not like it at all, and now I don't like Wulf anymore and that makes me sad.
I mentioned earlier that this issue was setting up something for the future Realm Knights of Arcane Acres, and I think it was a good idea to use a one-shot story to focus on this instead of building it around a multi-part story. A nice breath of a fresh air. Other than everything with Wulf, this issue was really good though and I'm looking forward to what's coming next.
There were two artists on this issue and there is a big difference in show. Klosin illustrates the first 4 pages while Barerro illustrates all the rest. I'm not sure why there was swap on this issue on such an awkward page count ratio, but I think I liked Barerro's art better during the moments involving Sela and Druanna. Anything not involving them felt very subpar in the art division by Barerro, and Klosin's art is much more detailed. I would like to see Klosin do more GFT but Barerro works wonders when dealing with the more fantastical elements, not so much the scenes built more around “reality.”
I did like this issue, but I'm just really distraught over Wulf. You read two issues and you think you know a guy. Men.
Final Score: 2.5 Future Realm Knights out of 5
Zenescope Entertainment
Writer: Pat Shand
Artist: Andres Barerro, Przemyslaw Klosin
Reviewer: Derrick Crow
Summary: Sela and her mentor Shang, along with their former enemy, Belinda, have opened a school for a select group of Highborn and Falseblood teens with enhanced abilities. Their goal is to guide the teens who may one day be humanity's only hope against evil from other realms.
Review: I think my favorite thing about Grimm Fairy Tales is its expansive world building, and the sheer amount of cool things that exist in this world. In this issue I got introduced to the Gaia of this universe and she's beautiful. I love her. She's omniscience and I like how sincerely distant she is from everything. She knows she should give up her secrets, but she also knows when she is supposed to. Much to Sela's chagrin. This was also a good catch-up issue for those of us who haven't read the post — Age of Darkness GFT until recently. The use of Druanna, or Gaia, was well handled to get to the point and set up of the issue and I actually like what the series is setting up for the students of Arcane Acres.
Unfortunately, the other major character of this issue is Wulf who I originally garnered as my favorite character just a whole issue ago. I say unfortunately because, for whatever reason, I feel Wulf took a nosedive in character this issue. Last time he seemed rather fun, serious, but fun. And very caring about his teammates. This issue he was a real asshat and got his dues by the end of this issue, but it was rather grating seeing him act like a jerkface to everyone around him. I did not like it at all, and now I don't like Wulf anymore and that makes me sad.
I mentioned earlier that this issue was setting up something for the future Realm Knights of Arcane Acres, and I think it was a good idea to use a one-shot story to focus on this instead of building it around a multi-part story. A nice breath of a fresh air. Other than everything with Wulf, this issue was really good though and I'm looking forward to what's coming next.
There were two artists on this issue and there is a big difference in show. Klosin illustrates the first 4 pages while Barerro illustrates all the rest. I'm not sure why there was swap on this issue on such an awkward page count ratio, but I think I liked Barerro's art better during the moments involving Sela and Druanna. Anything not involving them felt very subpar in the art division by Barerro, and Klosin's art is much more detailed. I would like to see Klosin do more GFT but Barerro works wonders when dealing with the more fantastical elements, not so much the scenes built more around “reality.”
I did like this issue, but I'm just really distraught over Wulf. You read two issues and you think you know a guy. Men.
Final Score: 2.5 Future Realm Knights out of 5