Thursday Morning Superhero

It might seem a bit too early to start your Halloween planning, but time is running out if you want to be cool and give out mini-comics to your trick-or-treaters!  Thanks to Halloween ComicFest, you can pre-order bundles of 25 mini comics from your local comic book store. I placed my order last week and look forward to introducing the neighborhood kids to the amazing Johnny Boo! Check out the comics you can pre-order here!

Pick of the Week:
Darth Vader #21 - We are starting to learn why Vader has selected the world of Mustafar for his prize from the Emperor. He was given Padme's royal starship as his vessel to embark to Mustafar and there is something very odd about Vader piloting such a pristine and shiny vessel. It seems that Vader has similar feelings and has an odd and surprising method of altering the shiny exterior. It seems that Vader has never felt more connected to the Force than his time on Mustafar. The location where he lost so much, including his life, has some sort of power over him and drives him forward with a blind allegiance. Marvel has really done a great job filling in the holes between the movies and providing us with valuable insights of characters that we have know since our childhood. When I think back to my first impression of Vader I thought he was simply a bad dude that could force choke someone out. We learned more about him as the movies progressed, but nothing like the nuance we get in the comics. The Clone Wars cartoon does a similar thing in regards to Anakin and I would love to see similar treatment given to other franchises.

The Rest:
Birthright #31 - It has been quite some time since I revisited this series and will admit that I will need to read the  previous few issues to properly catch up, but am instantly reminded why this series from Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan stood out to me when I first read it. The lore (inside joke) of Terrenos, the mages, and the world add such depth to what started as a missing child story. This week we learn more about the tragic upbringing of Mastema and the sheer power that consumes her. This issue is a nice pause in the story and Williamson promises the next few issues are insane.



Daredevil #608 - Matt and Mike Murdock have some family issues to work out. I was unaware that Matt had a twin brother, but apparently he died many years ago and was brought back through the powers of The Reader. He is already causing quite a few headaches and kidnapped Foggy, but Daredevil is conflicted faced with the prospect of killing his brother or a realistic copy of his brother. I am not entirely on board with this development, but it became more interesting with this issue and has me very intrigued given the fact that Mike just went to visit Kingpin and informed him of Matt's research into the legitimacy of the mayoral election. If only our current political environment was this entertaining. I think some good old fashioned superheros would really liven up the Mueller investigation!




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

Leave it to comic fandom to always find something to rage against when a creator is tasked with something that there can be no correct answer.  Donny Cates, one of my favorite authors I should note, revealed what Thanos' mother intended on naming him until she met him at his birth and lost her mind.  She intended to name him Dione.  According to some definitions, it means goddess and according to some legends Dione is the mother of Aphrodite. Not sure what fans were expecting, but I think that it is pretty cool and I dig it.  Wonder what they will get mad at next?

Pick of the Week:
Babyteeth #7 - Holy hell this is a good issue! Not only do we learn more about the Silhouette and the role they have played stopping the Antichrist in the past, but we learn more about Sadie's mom and the organization she is a part of and their role in this business. It was interesting to learn that this organization had assassinated other babies who they feared were indeed the Antichrist. Sadie's mother has taken her, the child, and Sadie's sister Heather into an underground compound in Maine. The Silhouette fears that this is to allow the child to mature and open the seventh seal when she is old enough. It struck me as odd that Heather's mom had an objection to taking the Lord's name in vain and makes me wonder the true intent of her organization and if the Silhouette is who they claim to be.  Speaking of the Silhouette.  Holy shit.  Carl?!?!?!  Really digging this series and even if you are mad at Donny Cates about the whole Dione thing, this book is well worth your time and money.

The Rest:
Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight #2 - Not sure how I missed that there is a new Goosebumps series, but was delighted to learn that IDW is publishing a new line of Goosebumps comics through a series of three issue self-contained arcs.  What a cool idea!  How does it stack up? It is an absolute delight! Ginny and Mia left their grandmother's house and have become trapped in a horror amusement park run by none other than Slappy the dummy! The art by Chris Fenoglio and colors by Brittany Peer are whimsical and make me wish that there was a Goosebumps cartoon I could watch with my kids. This all-ages book is a must for any Goosebumps fan and I am really looking forward to the conclusion of this arc.

Birthright #29 - Joshua Williamson's epic saga is approaching its end and this issue was an emotional roller coaster that is setting the scene for something big in issue #30.  Not sure if it is the series conclusion, but we are rapidly approaching the finish line. The scenes in which Mikey, now an adult warrior, has to watch the emotional toll his disappearance had on his family was extremely well done and reminded me of why I was drawn to this series. If you haven't read any of this series yet, I really encourage you to pick up the first trade and give it a whirl. Definitely a surprising book that I didn't see coming.

Star Wars: Forces of Destiny - Leia - This one-shot from IDW focuses on Leia's leadership on Hoth prior to being discovered by the Empire's forces. One of my favorite aspects of the new all-ages IDW Star Wars books is its positive portrayal of the strong female characters in the Star Wars universe and the impact that it can have on my kids and their friends. Like the Star Wars Adventures comics, the Forces of Destiny line appear to be a must read of Star Wars fans of all-ages. There is something special in watching Leia struggle riding a tauntaun while sparring back and forth with Han.




Paper Girls #19 - The Battle of the Ages is now in full swing. We start this issue and they are merely in the middle of it, but as it progresses they are deemed enemy combatants. Tiff meets her older self and they realize that they are the only two who can see the giant robots that are currently roaming the town. It also provides a possible way to return to their own time period, but it involves hijacking one of the robots and they currently have no way to secure one. Really enjoying the direction of this arc and learning more about why the paper girls are so central to the story, but Brian K. Vaughan is keeping a lot to his chest and it is unclear when we will learn more about Charlotte, the author of the comic strip, or what role older Tiff and her husband will play.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

Even though my pull list only contained four comics this week, the comic book world that is 2017 appears to be off to a good start.  Some titles from my favorite creators returned this week, and the last panel in this week's Daredevil has be shaking in anticipation of the next arc. 

Pick of the Week:
Grave Lilies #1 - Somehow this book from Z2 Comics flew right under my radar.  It wasn't until I saw a tweet from Cullen Bunn that I realized he has a new story out with some stunning art from George Kambadais.  Grave Lilies is a story about five mysterious young women who appear to be the result of genetic experimentation.  The story opens with an explosion that frees them from the facility where they were being captive.  The young women have no idea if their memories are real and quickly learn that each one has some sort of supernatural ability.   The 80's anime style art paired with Bunn's storytelling is a combination that really makes me happy and has me salivating to see what we will uncover in the second issue.

The Rest:

Daredevil #15 - The new arc of Daredevil opened with a bang this week.  Wanting to take out his frustration on what happened to his former partner Blindspot (his eyes were gauged out by Muse), Daredevil puts a bounty on himself creating a constant flow of d-list baddies to beat up.  This fun break between storylines has an unexpected ending that is disturbing on multiple levels.  On one hand a father takes his turn at claiming the bounty despite his personal reservations about hurting a good guy, on the other hand you will have to witness the glory that is the last panel as I will not be spoiling it.  So good.  So very, very good.



Southern Bastards #16 - Your favorite comic book about high school football in the south is back and Coach Boss is none too pleased about his current two game slide.  Looks like Coach Boss has started a war with the rival town of Locust Fork.  In an attempt to secure victory for his Running Rebs, Coach Boss and his cronies beat up a star receiver from the opposing team and his parents.  Somehow Theron Goode is able to play through the pain of a leg fracture in an attempt to spoil the Rebs' attempt at breaking their losing streak.  In a viciously violent issue in this series (which is saying something), it looks like all hell has broken loose.

Birthright #21 - It has been awhile, but Joshua Williamson gifted us another stellar issue of Birthdright.  For the first time in this series, we are given a real glimpse into the life that Mikey led on Terranos when he was first transported to the other world.  Told from the perspective of Rya, it is an important look at his journey from an innocent child to the chosen one.  I am going to have to refresh myself on a few key points as it has been some time since the last issue and what Williamson revealed in this issue has rekindled my interest in how we got to this point in the story.




POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012. 

Thursday Morning Superhero

Image courtesy of DC Comics

It is the time of year when little sprinkles from San Diego Comic Con begin to appear.  My schedule is starting to take shape and I hope it has room for another taping of Conan and maybe some Conan Bingo in addition to the fun that takes place in the convention center.  Each year I make the trek to SDCC I try to find some cool exclusives for my kids and this year I hope my daughter adds to her DC Super Hero Girls collection and asks for Katana.   Just a truly beautiful collectible that will be ripped out of the box and thrown into a bin of toys to be played with.  Onward to the comics!

Pick of the Week:
Birthright #16 - There has been a bit of a break since we last visited Birthright, but man was the wait worth it.  To catch people up, Mikey vanished when he was a child and everyone assumed his dad killed him.  He returned, much aged, a couple of years later claiming to have been abducted and living in Terrenos as the chosen one.  It is thought that he defeated Lore, but the spirit of Lore (the Nevermind) infected Mikey and he returned to Earth to bring destruction.  In addition to this, there are a series of mages who have been traveling to and from Terrenos and have a vested interested in Mikey and the Nevermind.  With that in mind, understanding there are a lot of details that Joshua Williamson packed into this series that I don't have time to get into, we are gearing towards an epic battle between the mages.  In addition to that, it turns out that Mikey's grandfather is a mage from Terrenos, and didn't even stand up for Mikey's dad when he was missing.  There is another twist that I oh so want to mention, but don't want to spoil anything.  Mikey, his brother, his father, and his grandfather have a lot to figure out if they are going to come together and stand a chance against the other mages.   I thought this series had slowed down and I was quite wrong.

The Rest:
Darth Vader #21 - I would have never guessed that a wise-cracking, murdering droid similar to C-3PO would steal the show in this comic.  While Vader is tracking down a traitor and on a Cylon Raider type "living" ship, Triple-0 is tasked with tracking down Dr. Aphra.  Triple-0 delivers lines like "Answering DID keep him alive, Beetee! Just not for very long." and "I'm sure you'll find not telling anyone anything a far less demanding task when you're safely disposed of, master." while commanding a droid army and slaughtering a large number of friendly locals.  In an odd turn of events I find myself much more interested in the droids then of Vader himself.  Dear Mavel.  Please give us a spin-off of these ultra-violent droids.  I want to learn more about them.


Wonder Woman: Rebirth #1 - I will say that this is the first title that made me truly appreciate the whole "Rebirth" event.  While it is an attempt to reverse course from the New 52, it is also an opportunity for readers to catch up with a character's past.  The New 52 wiped that clean, but "Rebirth" brings everything back.  As someone who is not an avid Wonder Woman reader, this was a bit overwhelming and I was lost a couple of times, but I feel that I can stick with this series and learn to appreciate Princess Diana.  While I am not sold on "Rebirth" and feel it is a bit of a gimmick to sell books, it accomplished its goal as I picked this up and will likely check out the series for at least the first arc.

Daredevil #8 - We have a new arc and the first issue is a fun Texas Hold 'em tournament in which Daredevil uses his ability to read people as he hopes to win it all.  The only problem is the person the casino wants to win is a telepath named Mr. Apex who has a clear advantage over everyone.  That is except for a player who is unaware of what the house has dealt him.  Fun intro in what is setting up to be a team-up with Spider-Man as the two pursue something overseas in Macau.





POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

I hope you are preparing yourself for this weekend's general San Diego Comic Con sale.  If you haven't created your official Comic Con ID, I think you are already out of the game.  In an event that is sure to fill your social media feed with complaints and tales of victory, I wish my fellow nerds the best of luck as they try for the coveted golden ticket.  Good luck all!

Pick of the Week:
Huck #4 - Holy twist, Mark Millar!  Huck is the only superhero that is even more of a goody-goody than Superman and Captain America combined and his story has been one of the most endearing I have read in recent memory.  Thanks to his powers going public, Huck has reconnected with his brother and has learned that his mom escaped from the Russians during the Cold War.  Using his special abilities, Huck is on the trail of his mother, but being the good Samaritan he is, he is delayed in his efforts to help others along the way.  This title needs to be developed into a television series or movie so that this story can reach the masses.   This is the issue that cements it as a must read.

The Rest:
Birthright #14 - The tension between Mikey and Brennan reaches a boiling point in an emotional issue that is setting up an epic ending to the current arc.  Brennan finally has had enough and stands up for himself in a series of panels that I can relate to as a younger brother.  It is amazing to think about how composed he has been considering what his family has been through.  This was the issue that humanized Brennan and Mikey's relationship and Joshua Williamson should be applauded for doing so in such a realistic fashion.  Add in the drama that breaks at the end of the issue with their parents and we are fully set up for a truly special ending of this arc in the next issue.


Star Wars #16 - Dr. Aphra has just been secured in a secret rebel prison that exists on a star.  Leia is ensured that this is a secure location, but Aphra reminds the prison that she is a friend of Vader and that she won't remain long on this star.  Meanwhile, Han Solo is gambling with funds that were intended for supplies and may be a bit rusty on his act.  The Marvel take on Star Wars continues to shine as it sheds light on events that took place between the movies.  I am curious to see where Solo's failed gambling brings him and Luke as they attempt to strengthen their tie to the rebellion.  It is easy to think they were always a key part, but both of them fell into their roles and their struggle to fit in is an enjoyable read.



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.   

Thursday Morning Superhero

Robert Kirkman has been giving us thrills with The Walking Dead since 2003.  For over 12 years we have enjoyed reading about the adventures of Rick and company, yet somehow the title has remained fresh.  This week we celebrate the 150th issue of the groundbreaking title, and Kirkman has promised us in the past that the story is planned out for at least 50 more issues.  As a fan of the series, I look forward to where the next 50 issues will take us, but fear that Negan is going to play a major role in shaping the upcoming story.

 
Pick of the Week:

The Walking Dead #150 - It is hard to imagine that this series has reached its 150th issue.  It has had its share of ups and downs, but if this comic is an indication the series is in an upward trend.  I thought that Robert Kirkman has shown me all there is about Rick Grimes, but I was mistaken.  The Rick that we see in this issue is a return to his days as an unquestioned leader.  Thanks to the whispers in his ears from Negan, Rick has proven that he isn't soft and that he is ready to lead his group and take down the newest threat.  I fear for the new Rick.  I fear for anyone who heeds Negan's advice.  I am afraid.  

The Rest:

Birthright #13 - Sameal is not one to mess with.  Joshua Williamson treats us to an epic battle as Mikey attempts to kill all of the mages who have fled to earth.  In the last issue we were warned of how deadly Sameal is, but to see it on the pages was a joy.  Sameal's hesitation to kill Mikey and the Nevermind when given the change leads me to believe that there is hope of his redemption.  Meanwhile, Mikey's dad is officially bait and his mom has paired up with his pregnant girlfriend in an attempt to track him down.  Oh the drama!  



The Violent #2 - Things go from bad to worse for Mr. Turner.  When we last saw him, he left his daughter in the car to pick up a friend at the bar.  While his intentions were good, the optics were not.  He ended up getting busted by the police and has now had his daughter taken away.  To make matters even worse, his wife is missing and the police suspect he had something to do with it.  With nothing to lose, Turner turns to the one thing he knows well, violence.  In an aptly named comic, The Violent lives up to its name as Turner attempts to piece things together.  If you are looking for mystery noir, look no further than this title.

Captain America #5 - I continue to enjoy Nick Spencer's take on the new Captain America and the political undertones of the villains.  It seems like the Serpent Squad spends a lot of time watching Fox News and may end up in Oregon in an upcoming issue.  The latest issue introduces us to the new Falcon, who sports real wings as the result of forced genetic experimentation.  The new Falcon is a little rough around the edges, and I look forward to seeing this new duo in action.





POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I thought I would open this week's post with an abbreviated gift guide.  Without further ado:

For the DC Fan:
If you have a DC fan you are shopping for, I would highly recommend The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.  It is referred to as one of the best Joker stories ever told and is something that any DC fan should read.

For the Marvel Fan:
If you have read this column before, you know that I am a big Captain America fan.  What brought me into the fold was the work of Ed Brubaker.  If you have a Marvel fan on your list look no further than the Captain America Omnibus.  Packed with the first 25 issues of his run, it includes the Winter Soldier, which was way better than the movie (which I quite liked!).  Although as of this posting I see that it is out of print, so you can either pay big bucks for the omnibus or scoop the individual trades.


For the Indie Fan:
I catch some flack from my friends for liking "hipster comics", but there are some titles that are simply must reads.  If you have a quirky friend on your list, I highly recommend The Underwater Welder from Jeff Lemire or My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf.  Both are stunning and well worth your time.

Pick of the Week:
Birthright #12 - Oh how I want to drop a spoiler in this recap.  Joshua Williamson has been holding out on us and it isn't fair!  We learn more about the five mages that Mikey is tracking down, but we still don't know why or if they are good or bad.  Mikey and Brennan are close to tracking down one of the mages, Sameal, but we learn that he may not be the best one to pursue.  Meanwhile, the feds are upping their play to track down Mikey and Brennan, resorting to force to attempt to use their parents to assist them.  One of my favorite aspects of this book is the relationship between Brennan and Mikey.  Brennan wants to trust his brother, but has a healthy dose of skepticism that keeps Mikey on his toes.

The Rest:

The Violent #1 - Holy depressing debut Batman!  This debut issue from Ed Birsson, Adam Gorham, and Michael Garland is very upsetting, but very compelling.  Mason has just been released from jail, and is adjusting to life with his wife and toddler.  His wife wants nothing but for them to go on the straight and narrow, but the deck is stacked against them.  I found myself shouting at Mason throughout the comic with each bad decision he made.  As a dad, it was very easy to connect with his character and to want nothing but for him to have a meaningful relationship with his child.  This is going to be a rough ride, but it appears to be worth it.


The Walking Dead #149 - I had high hopes given the cover and the title "Devil on your Soldier'.  It didn't quite live up to expectations, but Negan is able to exert some influence on Rick and things are about to become a lot less peaceful.  Something tells me that Negan may not be the best person to take advice from.  Things are still moving at a slow pace, but this surely is the calm before the storm.  Right?

Batman #47 - I am still having a hard time with the way things are in Gotham, but it sounds like Scott Snyder is ready to allow Bruce to wear the cowl again soon.  Not that Jim Gordon has been a bad Batman, but it just doesn't feel right.  Mr. Bloom continues to be one of the best villains I have seen in Gotham, but I am ready for a return to normal.  While the twist at the end was a doozy, it makes me worry that Gordon will remain as the Batman for longer than I would prefer.






 POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.  

Thursday Morning Superhero

Huge week of comics and sadly I wasn't able to read as many titles as I would have liked.  I will likely check out Squirrel Girl, the return of Hawkeye and The Nameless this weekend.  Despite that, I picked up a great stack of comics at my LCS and am riding the wave of excitement of these books and the new Daredevil teaser right into the weekend!  If you don't have Netflix, make sure you sign up as Daredevil drops in April and Wet Hot American Summer isn't far behind.

Pick of the Week:
Birthright #5 - If you are not reading Birthright then I would highly encourage you to stop what you are doing and either go to your LCS or purchase it on ComiXology because you won't be disappointed.  The story centers around Mikey, a young boy who disappeared in the woods as a child.  Everyone suspects that his father murdered him, but are shocked to see him return as a grown man.  We learn that he was kidnapped to another dimension to stop the evil Lore.  Joshua Williamson does a wonderful job switching between Mikey's journey as a child to his current quest as an adult.  The juxtaposition of the young and innocent Mikey with his grizzled adult counterpart really help paint a complex picture of what he is dealing with.  There were two key moments in this issue that make it difficult to wait for the next issue.  I am officially hooked.

The Rest:
Star Wars #2 - As of this moment I am thrilled that Star Wars is in the hands of Marvel.  This series is off to an exciting story that takes place between Episode IV and Episode V.  I do fear that this will raise the bar for what is expected of J.J. Abrams this summer, but I am going to enjoy reading every page.  This issue featured Han Solo driving and AT-AT and Vader attempting to take it down with only the Force.  Vader has been a total bad ass thus far and it has been nice to see a rebel operation not go according to plan.  Still not sure how they are going to get out of things, but completely loving this series.  Add in that Mark Waid is going to be penning a solo Princess Leia title and I am all in on Marvel owning the license.



Nailbiter #10 - Joshua Williamson has an impressive track record of horror titles and Nailbiter is no exception.  This issue almost felt like a one-shot, but Williamson had two tricks up his sleeve that really made this issue sing.  The one-shot was entertaining and had a mini-twist of its own, but what it contributed to the overarching story has me salivating.   This issue would work as a great jumping on point if you don't want to pick up the back issues (you should though).

Saga #25 - Just when I think that Brian K. Vaughan can't possibly push the envelope more than he has with this series, a dragon marks a group for slaughter with her urine.  I feel not a lot happened in this particular issue, but much has to be resolved in the current state of affairs.  A rare week in which the new Saga is not the pick of the week, but one of my favorite series nonetheless.

Feathers #2 - This is what an all-ages comic should be.  It is approachable to young readers, and complex and entertaining for older readers.  In the second issue of a six-part mini-series (I would love to see it picked up as ongoing), Poe and Bianca's friendship grow as he explains how things work in the maze.  Bianca is much smarter then she appears, and quickly figures out Poe's current role.  This series has been packed with humor, action, and is just plain fun.  I would recommend this title for readers of all-ages, but especially those hoping to introduce young readers into the wonders of comic books.






POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

The kind folks here gave me the week off for Thanksgiving and things were looking up.  We started putting Christmas decorations up at the house (the Star Wars tree will go up this weekend), I spent most of Thanksgiving break playing board games with my son, and I am in the home stretch this semester.  Then I read Chew.

Pick of the Week:
Chew #45 - Well, John Layman just ruined Christmas.  Sorry Virginia, but there isn't a Santa Claus because he would never allow something like this to happen.  I knew that nobody was safe and that Layman wasn't scared to pull some major punches, but this one is below the belt.  Maybe if I put my fingers in my ear and say "lalalalalalala" I can pretend it didn't happen.  Maybe issue #46 will open with this character, looking sharp with Patrick Duffy hair, taking a shower and we will learn this is all a dream.  I know in the bottom of my heart this isn't true and these last five issues are going to be soul-wrenching, but this was just too cruel.  The only good that came out of this issue was a nice Kool-Aid gag and the best sounding lasers in the business.  Still, I feel as if I have had a "pyeoom, pyeoom!" right in the gut.  Curse you Layman!!!

The Rest:
Birthright #3 - Josh Williamson and Andrei Bressan's exciting fantasy tale continues this week as Mikey is beginning his epic quest back in this world. Utilizing some impressive magic he was able to escape from the police and rejoin his father and brother.  It appears that his mother can see through his tricks, but regardless, he sets on his quest to slay the five escaped criminals from his world.  This series is a good to look at as it is to read.  Bressan, colorist Adriano Lucas, and letterer Pat Brosseau do a marvelous job in the juxtaposition of fantasy and reality.  The effect is stunning and I am oddly reminded of the live action Masters of the Universe movie.  In a good way.


Gotham Academy #3 - This series just continues to be plain fun.  If it could avoid being as bad as Gotham, which wouldn't be too hard, it would be a perfect fit for television.  My wife is a big fan of the high school drama shows like Dawson's Creek and The O.C. (I swear it's her!) and this would fit that genre well.  It would have amazing cameos considering all of the colorful characters that populate Gotham and would hook a lot of readers if it were as well written as this series.  The ghost hunt was both entertaining and horrifying.  I love the pacing of this series.  It provides insights into the characters that attend the school while maintaining a focus on the story that the issue revolves around.


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

New York Comic Con is this weekend and I am bummed that I can't make the trip to the Big Apple.  This is on my bucket list of conventions to attend and hopefully I will attend it before it gets too big.  An interesting note that may or may not impact SDCC next year, is the plan to empty the main hall after each panel.  Fans will get wristbands for specific panels and then line up 35 minutes before the panel begins.  I am curious how quick a hall that seats 3,000 can be emptied and filled back up, but feel that if NYCC can do this well then it could be the solution to camping out issue that SDCC dealt with last year.  Anyhoo, great week for Image Comics.  Given the recent growth that its had lately and the A-list talent that is developing new series for Image, it is a great time for fans and creators alike.

Pick of the Week:
Wytches #1 - Scott Snyder and crew (Jock, Matt Hollingsworth, and Clem Robins) are onto something special.  While the comic was exceptional on its own, Snyders insight as to the inspiration of the title and how personal it is made it feel extremely special and intimate.  Snyder has a good track record on the horror genre (American Vampire, The Wake) and Wytches takes it to an entirely new level.  The witches of this tale live in the woods and seek pledges for favors.  Sailor Rooks (the troubled teen at the center of this tale) and her family have some sort of connection to these witches and the world of magic and it isn't pretty.  Jock, Hollingsworth and Robins immerse the reader in this world that switches from the mundane to the horrific at ease.  The results are the moments when you jump out of your seat and have that split moment of terror.  Perfect reading for October.

The Rest:
Punks: The Comic #1 - As someone who hit his "punk" phase later than most and was more poser than a real punk, I am left confused with this title.  It was a fine read, but did absolutely nothing for me.  Image is allowing its creators to push the boundaries of what a comic book should be and that should be applauded.  There are some people who probably quite enjoyed this title, but I was not one of them.  Maybe if I were a real punk and my store had Mojo Nixon then I wouldn't think this title needed any fixing.




Birthright #1 - The time to jump on the Joshua Williamson bandwagon is now.  If you missed Ghosted and Nailbiter (you should pick up the trades) you have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor with this title.  The premise of the title, without spoiling anything, revolves around a boy named Mikey who vanishes in the woods after playing catch with his dad.  Over a year later a man who is much older, claims to be Mikey.  Dressed like someone from your local LARPing group, he claims that he was brought to a fantasy world because he was the chosen one.  Andrei Bressan (co-creator and artist), Adriano Lucas (colorist) and Pat Brosseau (letterer) team up to produce a beautiful book that effectively captures the emotions of losing a child.  Emotional, exciting, and intriguing.

Batman #35 - Another new arc is upon us and I am once again reminded how paranoid Bruce Wayne is.  We begin what is entitled Endgame, and learn that the Justice League wants Batman dead.  Why would they turn on their friend?  Who could possibly be behind this devious scheme?  While the plot is Batman 101, I love seeing the lengths that Bruce Wayne goes to in order to cope with his paranoia.  I guess when you have no super powers and you surround yourself with a bunch of supers you worry that at some point at least one of them will turn.  My favorite item in this issue is called the "blind of veils" and it is woven by Hephaestus after he made Wonder Woman's famous lasso.  The thought of Bruce Wayne packing a wool blanky inside a Batsuit is just too great.  Snyder knows what he is doing and I look forward to where Endgame goes.  As a bonus the short story from James Tynion IV at the end is extremely well done.  A horrific tale about the rebirth of the Joker.  Worth the price of admission on its own.

POSTED BY MIKE N. -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.