Thursday Morning Superhero: Essex County Edition

Essex County by Jeff Lemire

The amount of comic book adaptations that have flocked to the small screen has been welcome, if not surprising in what titles have been selected.  The most recent news that has me incredibly excited is the upcoming adaptation of Essex County by Jeff Lemire. Lemire is a masterful storyteller and Essex County had a profound impact on how I view the comic book medium.

Essex County is set in Canada and features interconnected storylines associated with a farming family with an underlying hockey theme as it explores themes of grief, isolation, family, and was very close to making it on the required reading list for the sport and culture course I used to teach.

While the story centers around Jimmy LeBeuf, a former professional hockey player whose career was cut short, but we meet his brother Lou, an imaginative child named Lester, and his Uncle Kenny who he resides with after the death of his mother.

The series is an emotional ride, but Lemire’s ability to evoke emotions from his art draw you in and connect you with the characters who often say very little.  Hockey as a metaphor for theses characters life in Canada is front and center and demonstrates how we structure sport as a reflection of the society for which it resides.  As a sports and comic book fan, this book is the perfect marriage of why I elected to study sport academically.  It is beyond the wins and losses, but how it impacts people on the human level, provides an escape from the pains of daily life, and is a universal language with the ability to connect us all.

The six-episode miniseries was announced by CBS and it is estimated to debut in the Winter of 2023. It will be a long wait, but at least I have Paper Girls and the final season of Locke and Key to help tide me over.

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

Thursday Morning Superhero: Good News Edition

 As we get closer and closer to the end of 2020, we can all use some good news.  I wanted to share some good comic book news in my second to last TMS post this year. 

Good News #1 - Beef Bros on Kickstarter!

Aubrey Sitterson has team up with Tyrell Cannon and with colors from Fico Ossio to deliver the feel good book of the decade!  Dubbed as an aspirational leftist superhero comic featuring a pair of himbos who take on sketchy cops and landlords.  The colors and art are bodacious and Sitterson is challenging his supporters with a variety of beefer challenges to spread the positivity that is enveloped in this book.  I thoroughly enjoyed Sitterson's "The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling" and "No One Left to Fight" which also featured Ossio on colors.  Join me as a fellow Beefer!

Good News #2 - The return of Sweet Tooth and Netflix news!

Earlier this year I mentioned that Sweet Tooth was optioned by Netflix, but now production has started in New Zealand and I am hopeful that this will translate well to the small screen. In potentially more exciting news, Sweet Tooth: The Return dropped yesterday and I cannot wait to explore the world that Lemire created again. I will admit that due to the distraction of the news cycle I did not make it to my LCS to pick up a copy, but I cannot wait to read it later this week.  

Good News #3 - SDCC Holiday Merchandise!

Even though the conventions to 2020 went online, I still find joy every time I see the SDCC logo or Toucan. My son's virtual background on Zoom is the San Diego Convention Center so when I saw that SDCC was offering holiday merchandise I started immediately planning some Christmas gifts. I particularly like the denim jacket, the Hall H pin, and Holiday Ornament.  The "Front of the Line" pin is a bit of a taunt, but I thought that was also a nice touch.

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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Happy Thursday fellow nerds.  I wanted to open by informing you of a change in Thursday Morning Superhero starting in 2020.  As this is my last post of 2019, I am scaling things back next year and will bring you your comic book updates on a monthly schedule. I am not sure what that format looks like yet, but I look forward to some healthy changes and wanted to wish you all a happy New Year.

Pick of the Week:
Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy #1 - Pulled from the world of Black Hammer, Jeff Lemire, Tonci Zonjic, and Steve Wants have a new book the centers around the masked vigilante Skulldigger and the relationship he has with a young man.  When the book opens, William Bowers is reflecting on the night his parents got murdered.  In an almost Batman like scenario, Bowers' parents were murdered on a mugging gone wrong following dinner.  Unlike Batman, Skulldigger intervened at this point providing a ghastly end to the murder's life.  This is my introduction to Skulldigger and I am getting some Punisher vibes, but instead of an arsenal of weapons Skulldigger wields a metal skull hung from a chain.

One quality that I always enjoy in books by Lemire are the role of the adopted father figure. This jumped out at me the most in Sweet Tooth, and if there are similarities here between Skulldigger and the soon to be Skeleton Boy I am here for it.  Like Jeppard in Sweet Tooth, Skulldigger appears to be an extremely flawed man, but one with good intentions. 

Every good story needs its villain and the Ghastly Grimjim appears to fill that void here.  Currently in prison (although not for long), Grimjim looks like quite the formidable foe who is motivated into escaping his cell when a hero from the 60's unmasks himself.  This was a gripping debut that immediately had my attention and I am very much looking forward to reading this in 2020.

The Rest of my Pull List:
Not to be outdone by his own work, Lemire dropped another great issue of Family Tree this week and Cullen Bunn delivered a fun spin-off entitled Tales from Harrow County. In preparation of The Rise of Skywalker I picked up The Rise of Kylo Ren and will do my best to avoid spoilers until Monday when my family will enjoy the finale to the current saga. Wrapping things up this week was the continuation of Daredevil as he teams up with Electra and is ever so closer to fully returning.

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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Disney Plus has arrived and it has been a joy to see all of the fun my friends are having streaming various Marvel and Disney content.  I did sign up for a game of Disney Plus roulette and think I need to watch the Secret of the Wings per Dean's list.  Not sure I am looking forward to that, but I am pumped to finally check out the Mandalorian with the family.

Family Tree #1:

 There are a lot of great books out this week, but this new book From Jeff Lemire and Phil Hester really stuck with me and had me thinking at the end of the night. While an end of the world story isn't particularly ground breaking, the slow approach that this book is taking reminds me of Sweet Tooth, another gem from Lemire.  While Sweet Tooth focuses on children that are born during this time, Family Tree focuses on some sort of infection or rash that literally causes plant growth on humans.

This story centers around Loretta, a single mother, and her family.  She has a daughter who appears to be 9 or 10 years old and a son in high school who has a tendency to get in trouble. Lemire's books tend to have strong father like characters in them and I am curious if this book will follow that trend or if Loretta will break the mold.  She clearly is struggling as a single parent, but genuinely cares about her kids and is extremely strong willed and not shy about her beliefs.

This debut issue does a nice job of establishing an interesting cast of characters that have no idea that they are about to be confronted with an end of the world scenario. I look forward to learning more about the infection that is spreading and the curious individuals who seem to know something about it and are seeking out Meg (Loretta's infected daughter).  It reminds me of the individuals in Sweet Tooth who sought out hybrids for medical research.  I am definitely intrigued and cannot wait to read more of this series.

The rest of the pull list:

In addition to the stellar Family Tree, Folklords from Matt Kindt told the story of Ansel and his desire to seek out the Folklords.  In his town, when children come of age they go on a quest with the guidance of a mysterious cult-like group of librarians. When they hear people speaking of the Folklords, they are clearly upset and it forces Ansel to embark on this mission with the help of a friend in secrecy.  This book was a lot of fun and it is always nice to have a new Kindt story to enjoy.  The Target Vader series also made the cut again this week and remains an impressive highlight reel of what Vader is capable of.  Lemire's other book that came out this week, Gideon Falls, demonstrated why it was the Eisner for best new series of 2019 and was one of the more disturbing books I have read in a while.  I mean that in a good way and cannot recommend it enough.

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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Kids are starting to go back to school and my first assignment is to read The Boyz.  I learned that the first four volumes are on ComiXology Unlimited and are also currently on sale on ComiXology for around a dollar an issue. Hopefully I can plow through the books and start binging the series on Amazon by Sunday.

Pick of the Week:
Gideon Falls #16 - Andrea Sorrentino produces some of the most stunning two-page spreads that really immerse you in this creepy and surreal universe that he created with Jeff Lemire. The ending of this issue sets the scene for a showdown that is likely going to leave a lot of people changed. We learn a big secret about Norton Sinclair that has me asking more questions. It turns out that his real name is Daniel and he was taken from his family to Gideon Falls when he was only nine. His dad also investigated the existence of the Black Barn and it is going to see the two of them shed some light on what happened back in the day. This book, from the colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Steve Wands, art from Sorrentino, and story from Lemire is truly a masterpiece and a book that I need to re-read with the most recent development. I always have more questions than answers, but it is a good thing that drives my interest in this series.

The Rest:
Silver Surfer: The Prodigal Sun #1 - Prah'd'gul recalls the story of what caused his exile many years ago. He is a character that reminds me a lot of Star Lord, as he is brash and has powers beyond what you would expect. We learn about an encounter he had with Silver Surfer and Galactus that didn't go as he planned. Surfer hinted that his father was someone other than himself, before besting him and sending him to a different planet to allow Galactus to feast on the world he just landed on. Vowing revenge, Prah'd'gul is saved from his exile by Surfer and is seeking revenge on his brother with the help of Surfer. I have not read a lot of Surfer books in my day, but this was one of the more entertaining I have read.

Star Wars: Target Vader #2 - Since we are in the middle of back to school season this title evokes a much different feeling in my brain.  I have thoughts of tax free weekends, rows of folders, and a savings of 5% with a Red Card.  In this series, the Hidden Hand has put out a hit on Vader and he is well within his power to put an end to it. Beliert Valance, a cyborg, is heading up the team against Vader and he is almost as insane as Vader himself and has no concerns with the collateral damage that occurs when you draw Vader out from the shadows. This has been an entertaining side story, but I am starting to feel that Marvel is watering down the watch Vader kill people who are trying to kill him.



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

Thursday Morning Superhero

End Game is finally here!  I have my tickets to see it Sunday morning and have muted specific terms for the first time since I joined Twitter many moons ago. Early reviews for the movie are good and I am excited to watch this phase of the MCU reach its epic conclusion. May you all have a spoiler free next couple of weeks.

Pick of the Week:

Ascender #1 - Set 10 years after the conclusion of Descender, Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen return to the world they introduced us to five years ago.  The Harvesters have purged the known universe of all robots and technology. The Mother rules all with an iron fist and has enslaved many planets. She wields a powerful magic, but there is a rumor of another magic user that is haunting her. Hope comes in many forms, and Mila appears to be that force in this book. Her mother died for her so that her father and her could be free. Freedom sounds good, but it essentially means they are outcasts who are forbidden to interact with the "saved", those who have pledged devotion to the Mother. Lemire and Nguyen do a masterful job introducing the reader to this universe and setting the stage for competing factions as the resistance seeks to bring back technology and free everyone from Mother's rule. This really makes me want to revisit Descender as I am embarrassed to admit I never finished.

The Rest:

Criminal #4 - Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips continue to produce the goods with another stellar issue of Criminal. This issue provided us a night from the perspective of Ricky Lawless, complete with cocaine use, murder, bar fights, and some of the worst impulses that a human could have. You start to feel a bit sorry for Ricky, who is driven by the death of his father and has relatively good intentions. The death of Teeg Lawless was mentioned in the first Criminal story and at the end of the book Brubaker and Phillips let us know that we finally get to hear how it all went down in the next issue! I cannot recommend this series enough and remain impressed at how fresh Brubaker and Phillips keep this series after so many years and so many tales. 

Redneck #19 - Following the horrific events of the last arc, Bartlett and his family are at the end of their ropes and desperate for help. They were told of a man that could help them, but it would come with a cost. This brings the family south of the Texas border and among the dead in the Asilo Del Muerto. We are teased with who this new individual is, Senor Carrona, but Donny Cates promises that we will get to know him better as this new arc unfolds. There is something unsettling watching the vampires leave Texas and the Bowman clan should be afraid at what Bartlett is plotting with Carrona.  Very excited about this new arc!

Star Wars: Vader Dark Visions #3 - In the most bizarre book in this series, we are introduced to a nurse on the Death Star with a creepy infatuation with Vader. The book opens with the appearance of a simple crush, getting nervous when he is around and daydreaming of the two of them together, but it quickly goes beyond a simple crush as we learn she has a collection made up of blood and other bodily items that she found cleaning up the operating room. As I type this it feels like this book shouldn't exist, but thanks to the magic of comic books we have Fatal Attraction set in the Star Wars universe. The difference is that Vader is not one to put up with this type of infatuation lightly.



Doctor Aphra #31 - When we last saw Triple-Zero and Aphra and their attempt to deactivate the bombs they had been implanted with, Triple-Zero was ready to give up and walk away from it all thus triggering the proximity bombs. Thinking quickly Aphra revives Beetee-One, thus sparking a brief moment of joy in Triple-Zero and giving him the will to live. While this hasn't been the best arc in the series, it has been pretty fun and reminds me how important the droids are to this series. Towards the end of the book Beetee-One comes in very handy and returns to his harbinger of death form and quickly dispatches of a group of storm troopers. I feel I am getting to the point of dropping this title and wonder if it would have been better as a mini-series following her debut in the Vader series.

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 am very excited to check out Captain Marvel this weekend, but was alerted to this upcoming "superhero" film that is flipping the script a little bit. It reminds me of Joe Hill's "The Cape" in some ways, and I am very intrigued.  The trailer is not for the feint of heart so consider yourself warned.

Pick of the Week:
Black Hammer '45 #1 - The incredible team of Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes, Matt Kindt, Sharlene Kindt and Marie Enger are bringing us all back into the Golden Age of superheroes thanks to this new title from Darkhorse.  The Black Hammer Squad spent their time making the world hell for the Nazi's. They stopped them in the air, on the ground, and in the sea. Despite some of the supernatural creations of the Nazi's, The Black Hammer Squad had little to fear.  The book opens with with members of the team, now in their 90's, getting together because of something significant about the date. We are treated to some thrilling flash-backs, but an ominous final mission seems to be at the heart of this series. This book jumps off the pages thanks to the incredible work by the Kindts and it is always easy to get on board when it comes to superheroes defeating the Nazi's. The creative team behind this series is a powerhouse and I cannot wait to see what went wrong in the final mission and what the team is getting back together for on that fateful day.

The Rest:
Paper Girls #26 - The four girls have been sent to the four corners of the "cube" and find themselves in different timelines all posing their own problems. One of the highlights for me was the Michael Jackson zing that must have been a last minute add that was particular timely. As this time-traveling sci-fi wave of nostalgia races towards its conclusion (it is ending in a double-sized issue #30) the girls appear to have one last chance to return to 1988 and save the world. I am curious if the issues will continue to feature all of the girls or if we will have one issue per girl and the second half of the finale brings it all together. Brian K. Vaughan appears to set the stage for each girl to have their own mission in their current whereabouts and an ally to assist. I fail at revisiting this series when new issues drop and I really owe it to myself to start this series over. Vaughan weaves a complex tale that spans multiple timelines with competing factions that has me scratching my head trying to understand how it all fits together.

Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions #1 - Marvel unveiled a new mini-series that focuses on some of Vader's side quests. In this on-off, Vader finds himself on a planet that has seen better days. The people of this world live underground after their planet was ravaged by a shark looking Kaiju known as the Ender. People will scavenge the surface for food, but always have a quick route underground should the Ender awaken. Vader's Tie-Fighter crash landing on the planet has awakened the great beast and the sole individual who remained on the surface is treated to quite the epic duel. This felt pretty mindless and cheesy, but entertaining.  It is like a direct to DVD film that is worth checking out on Netflix, but you understand why it didn't make it to the big screen. I will likely check out the other issues in this series if they are as entertaining as this book was.

Batman #66 - Batman remains trapped inside his own nightmares, and his current plan of escaping isn't going to well thanks to the stubborn nature of the woman being interrogated. For some reason Batman feels if he can understand truly why Catwoman, Selina Kyle, truly loves him he will be able to escape.  This issue is an interrogation of Ms. Kyle as we walk through the complicated history the two have and try to gain a sense of their attraction to one another. I find it funny how intense the covers feels compared to the walk down memory lane Catwoman provides throughout this issue. Reading this right after Black Hammer made it feel even more retro than intended. I remain impressed with Tom King's current arc for the Dark Knight and am happy to be back on the Batman Train.  Choo-choo!


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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Today's abbreviated Thursday Morning Superhero is brought to you by ComiXology as I did not have a chance to make it to my local comic book store. 2019 has been oddly busy, but thanks to the advent and growth of digital comics I am able to maintain my pull list and keep up with the phenomenal series from Jeff Lemire and Donny Cates.

Pick of the Week:
Gideon Falls #10 - It seems we finally have our issue that allows the path of Norton and his quest for the Black Barn cross with Father Wilfred and the repercussions are not positive. Apparently the Black Barn dates back to a mysterious murder in the late 1800's and I have a feeling that Norton's connection to the Barn goes deeper than first imagined. I worry what the two have awakened crossing paths and am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Jeff Lemire has planned for us now that the door has been opened.  This does not bode well and is shaping up as a potential True Detective season four.

The Rest:
Babyteeth #14 - Sadie is at long last reunited with her baby and the reunion in Hell is not as heartwarming as you may have guessed. There are still a lot of questions as to how Sadie ended up giving birth to the Anti-Christ and how the hell they are going to get out of...hell. This issue was a dramatic turn from other issues and allowed us to see Sadie for the vulnerable mother that she is at heart. It was uplifting, although problematic given the situation Sadie and her family are in.




The Batman Who Laughs #2 - Batman has been infected with the Joker toxin and it is only a matter of time before the serums he is injecting himself with become ineffective. In this issue, brilliantly illustrated by Jock, Bruce Wayne confronts the demons infecting Gotham City while coping with the severity of his current infection. It plays out almost as if Wayne is accepting his fate due to the serum and identifying an appropriate successor. I love having Scott Snyder paired with Jock for a Batman series. It is what every DC fan has been clamoring for.





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

Thursday Morning Superhero: Year in Review

As we rapidly approach the new year it dawns on me that I may not have many more Thursday Morning Superhero posts in 2018. While it is a bit cliche to post an end of the year list, it is also valuable to reflect on what 2018 gifted us and see what will keep us excited reading into the new year.  Attempting to narrow down your favorite books into a concise list is always a struggle, but here are the five books that had the biggest impact on me personally in 2018. They may not be the best books of 2018 and are presented in no particular order.

Gideon Falls by Jeff Lemire:
Inspired by Twin Peaks and a series that is being adapted for TV, Gideon Falls is a book that presents two stories that will at some point come to a head. One story is about Father Fred, a new priest who has arrived in Gideon Falls after the current priest recently passed away. The other follows a young man who is currently dealing with mental health issues that have him recovering hidden pieced of a mysterious Black Barn throughout town. Norton and Fred could not be more diametrically opposed characters who are seeking a greater understanding in this mysterious town. I have always been endeared the horror genre in comics and have always been drawn into the characters that Lemire creates. At one point I almost had his phenomenal hockey story Essex County on my syllabus as required reading in a sport management class. The dichotomy of rural and urban play is extremely effective and artist Andrea Sorrentino really brings this series to life. I cannot wait to see what 2019 has in store for the town of Gideon Falls.

Daredevil by Charles Soule:
I started to fall in love with the Man without Fear during Mark Waid's run on the series starting in 2011. The series has had its ups and downs as most ongoing books do, but Soule's run in 2018 brought Matt Murdock back to his roots in Hell's Kitchen. In addition to finding a way to put the rabbit back in the hat in terms of everyone knowing his secret identity, Soule was able to focus on the relationships that are surrounding Murdock and how his decisions impact those he loves. I also enjoyed the current arc that is eerily similar to the situation in White House. As someone who is a bit of a news junkie, I enjoyed the balance between Murdock attempting to work with and investigate Kingpin at the same time. I am not sure where his run will end up in the big picture, but it reinvigorated my love for Daredevil and has me excited about the passing of the torch in 2019.

Babyteeth by Donny Cates:
As I mentioned earlier, I have a soft spot for horror books and an even softer spot for young parents. When I learned that Cates was writing a book that centered around the birth of the Anti-Christ and the impact it had on its young mother. I wasn't prepared for the world building that Cates would bring and how emotionally connected I would be drawn to Sadie. Her struggle with her own family and dealing with her child resonated with me in a profound way.  It is a book that can be difficult to read at some points, in a good way, and a series that I highly recommend. After the recent trip into the Red Realm and what this means for Sadie, her child, and her family I am anxiously awaiting this book to return in 2019.

Darth Vader by Charles Soule:
Soule returns on my list for penning my favorite Star Wars book since Marvel regained the rights. I probably sound like a broken record, but Soule's ability to make Vader a truly menacing villain and showcase his incredible power in the Force has brought me a new found respect for Vader. It is consistently the best Star Wars book on the market and spawned a phenomenal spin-off in Doctor Aphra which nearly made the cut for this list. There are so many memorable moments including using mind control on a giant squid in issue #15 and the sheer terror he invokes in the Inquisitors.  The arc that brought Vader under water to deal with the Mon Cala was particularly memorable. Since we don't have a new Star Wars movie this Christmas I am very much looking forward to reading new Star Wars material in 2019.

Dept. H by Matt and Sharlene Kindt:
This underwater whodunit from a duo of Kindts came to a fitting conclusion in 2018. It all began when Mia had to journey to an underwater research base after her father was murdered. While the premise the drove the series was attempting to solve who murdered her father, the heart of the book was Mia coming to terms with the relationship she had with her father. We learned about this through a series of flashbacks that really set the tone of the book. In addition to the murder mystery there was extra suspense as it related to a potential pandemic associated with a virus that was working its way towards the surface. Matt and Sharlene's art on this book really added to the tone and the design of the underwater contraptions was a highlight throughout this series. I started appreciating Matt's watercolor technique in Mind MGMT and was thrilled to see a similar style that really added to the mystery. Definitely a book that deserves the deluxe trade paperback treatment and one you should all consider gifting to your comic reading loved ones.

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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Pull list was longer than usual so we are diving right into the books this week!

Pick of the Week:
Royal City #14 - While I am sad to see one of my favorite current books come to an end, I am happy that I was able to experience the life of Royal City and highly recommend this series to everyone. Learning about how everyone in this messed up family is coming to peace with the changes in their small town, a death in the family, and the other issues they are dealing with really gives me hope. Hope that people are able to roll with the bad times and persist. The quote that sums this series up for me is from Pat's inner monologue. "That's the thing about the past. It's gone. Just because it forms us, it doesn't mean you have to let it define you forever." Wise words that have a profound meaning given the turbulent times in which we all exist.

The Rest:
Cold Spots #1 - A spooky tale from Cullen Bunn and Mark Torres debuted this week and it leaves me with more questions than answers. There are some sort of presence in the form of ghosts that seem to be gathering in a central location. This has drawn the attention of the town folk and has brought with it unseasonable cold weather. Add in a missing woman and child and we have a very intriguing mystery forming. This book had me at Bunn and horror, but Torres does a phenomenal job with the overall atmosphere and tone for this story. One to keep an eye one.



Daredevil #607 - For the first time since he took the helm I am a bit concerned with where Charles Soule is taking this series. After surprising us with Matt Murdock meeting his twin brother Mike, we learn that Mike was accidentally created by Reader after going over case files Matt sent over to help bring down the Kingpin. While I appreciate the issues that may arise having a Matt Murdock twin interfering with things, I am not quite sold on the idea. It is novel and I will check out the next issue to see what grand plans Soule has for this development.

Darth Vader #20 - After not being sure about the direction Soule is going with Daredevil, it is crystal clear which way he is headed with Darth Vader. I sounds like a broken record talking about this series, but the sheer power and force of Vader in the comics is something to behold. Vader takes swift revenge on a pair of inquisitors he has concerns with and then openly defies the Emperor in order to make a very interesting demand. I won't spoil what Vader wants, but it is clear he wants some space to himself after his slaughter of the Jedi.




Doctor Aphra #23 - To set the scene where this book is headed, Aphra is currently trapped in a floating jail that is dealing with a toxic spore issue and is on a crash course with a neighboring inhabited planet. She and other prisoners have been abandoned and she is currently hatching an escape plan.  I will admit that this arc left a bit to be desired, but it is setting up an epic clash involving Aphra's knowledge that Vader wants to supplant the Emperor. It seems an encoded message has reached Vader and it will be interesting to see how it pans out and the impact it has on the Empire.  After all, public knowledge of such a plot would provide a lot of fuel for the Rebellion.

Redneck #14 - We are finally seeing the bigger universe in which the Texan vampires in Donny Cates' series exist and I am very curious to see what this next arc will bring. We are introduced to the Parliament of Elders who apparently own all of Austin. The Bowman family has houses on the land, but that land is property of this powerful group. These individuals have grand plans for Texas and I have a feeling that this series is going to take a very interesting turn.





Hit-Girl #7 - In part 3 of this mini-series from Jeff Lemire, Hit-Girl remains in Canada and is currently trying to escape from Billy Baker and his gang of thugs. It has been an odd journey with Lemire penning such a violent series, but his subtle touches that hearken back to his ability to connect characters with meaningful relationships add an interesting element as people get their heads lopped off. I will finish this mini-series, but will probably take a break from the upcoming Kevin Smith arc in which Hit-Girl is in Hollywood surrounding the making of an upcoming Hit-Girl movie.




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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Pick of the Week:
Babyteeth #12 - This series has evolved effectively and we are treated to a quieter issue that lulls the reader into a false sense of security only to have the rug swept out from under them. Sadie is desperate to return to the Red Realm to save her son.  The only person who is capable of opening it from this side is Simon, a child who recently returned from the Red Realm and his mother doesn't want him to endure any more pain. As a parent this issue really resonated with me and I think it is a big reason why I have enjoyed this series as much as I have. The dialogue between Sadie, her father, and Simon's mother is very moving, when they aren't shouting at each other. The tease at the end of the issue has me salivating for issue #13.

The Rest:
Ether: The Copper Golems #4 - Boone and his crew manage to shut down one of the portals being powered by a copper golem, but don't quite understand who is opening these portals between the Ether and Earth and their motivation. Their journey brings them to the Enchanted Primeval Forest where they are greeted by a master storyteller who enchants most of the group in a series of tales tapped to their inner most psyche. This allows us to experience a series of mini-comics within this story that are an absolute delight. Not sure how Matt Kindt and David Rubin will be able to wrap things up with the next issue, but I will  be there for it.


Gideon Falls #6 - The first chapter in this series reached a stunning conclusion in a very trippy issue. Father Fred is attempting to save Clara and has an unexpected trip in and out of the mysterious Black Barn that is a central force in this series. I don't pretend to understand what the Black Barn is, but Clara's brother is involved and there are dark forces at play. Meanwhile, Noton and his therapist have found the door to the Black Barn and hatch a plan to assemble it. Very curious to see what happens as Norton begins to assemble the pieces of the Black Barn he has been collecting throughout the city of Gideon Falls and I'm worried that we will meet Clara's brother in the near future and it doesn't bode well.




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

Thursday Morning Superhero

As we race towards summer some of my fellow Nerds of a Feather crew are going to share their summer reading lists with everyone. Unfortunately I have been too busy to write a detailed post, but here are some comics I am looking forward to reading this summer. Joe Hill is returning to his series The Cape with The Cape: Fallen. The first two series about the infamous cape are gut wrenching and I cannot wait to read a new series and see who gets killed. Other books I am planning on reading this summer include Lumberjanes, Mouse Guard, and a re-read of Bone.  After the brutality that I am preparing for in The Cape, I definitely will be in need of some lighter books.

Pick of the Week:
Saga #52 - The  cover of this issue is going to be my theme for the summer and Fiona Staples might be the best artist in this industry. Hazel really hits it out of the park when she says "my father used to say that there's no such things as 'heroes' or 'villains', that they only exist in storybooks."  The complicated and flawed characters that Brian K. Vaughan created really reward the reader as you go along the journey with them. The Will is still haunting the island and Squire has gone missing. This leads to a search as we see some of the most amazing creatures ever put to page. While I have always been a fan of Staples' art, it truly shines in this issue and steals the show from a very dramatic issue that has me salivating for the next few.

The Rest:
We are Danger #1 - Written and illustrated by Fabian Lelay, this title is all about rock and roll and gave me a very Scott Pilgrim vibe. Not from a video game reference standpoint, but from the standpoint of a focus on human relationships among competing bands. Tabitha breaks from her hit band in this first issue and starts putting together a new group with Julie and some other local talent. Featuring a cast of strong female characters and a song written in Filipino, this comic is a breath of fresh air and was a lot of fun.




Lando: Double of Nothing #1 - Like Dean, I was also pleasantly surprised with Solo and was excited to learn that there was a spin-off focused on Lando. Artist Paolo Villanelli does an amazing job capturing the facial expressions of Donald Glover's portrayal of Lando and writer Rodney Barnes captures the feel of the banter between Lando and L3 to truly immerse you in this universe. While the first issue doesn't set the stage for anything too spectacular, it was enjoyable and well executed and is a must read for anyone that enjoyed Solo.

Royal City #11 - Jeff Lemire announced that this series will end with issue #14 and it seems like he is well on pace to provide a satisfactory conclusion to this emotional series. Each issue reveals a little bit more about the mystery surrounding Tommy's death and the rift between the various family members who are tangled up in this situation. Relying on seamless flashbacks laced throughout the issue, Lemire does a great job of leading us to two separate climaxes that have more linked than first expected. It is hard to imagine this series started out with a struggling author revisiting his hometown when his father was admitted to the hospital. We have learned more about the family and the town and I am excited, and a bit worried, about what is planned for the end.


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

Thursday Morning Superhero

It might just be me, but it feels like 2018 is really flying by and I am getting closer and closer to sharing San Diego Comic Con with my son.  My son, who will be nearly 11, will join me this year and we are starting to plan our trip and I can't wait to experience and cover this event with him in tow. We have started discussing creators he would like to meet (Jeff Smith) and figuring out what type of panel works for someone his age. Should be an interesting and educational experience.

Pick of the Week:
Gideon Falls #3 - The mystery of the Black Barn is starting to come together, but a lot of questions remain. Thanks to DNA evidence, Father Fred is now cleared of the murder charges he faced, but has to reconcile the fact that it looks like the priest he is replacing is the guilty party. Meanwhile, Norton becomes more paranoid as it appears as if someone has stolen evidence from his apartment. Dr. Xu, recovering from her experience with the Black Barn, confides in Norton and isn't sure what to do moving forward. There are clearly supernatural elements at plan and the connection between Father Fred and what Norton and Dr. Xu are experiencing at the end of this issue leads me to believe that there is a whole lot more to Gideon Falls than meets the eye. Jeff Lemire paints a supernatural picture wrapped in mystery that has been an absolute delight to pour through.

The Rest:
Ether: The Copper Golems #1 - Boone Dias is returning to the Ether in an exciting development from Matt Kindt. Dias is sprung from prison with a mission of stopping the Copper Golems who is punching holes into Earth's dimensions. In a stunning twist, the agent briefing him is his daughter who he long abandoned in his first ventures into the Ether. It will be interesting to see the role Dias' family plays in this series, which starts with a jail break and some pretty cool magic. Artist David Ruben really knocks it out of the park with his illustrations in the Ether in this trippy book that has me delighted to return to this world.


Kick-Ass #4 - I did not expect Patience to figure out a way to escape from the trap she was in, but explosive balloons is something I never have experienced. The violence in this issue takes it up and the readers are treated to an action scene straight out of a John Woo film. I was impressed with the cover Patience came up with, but her actions impacted family members in a way that really drives home the heart of this series.







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

Thursday Morning Superhero

We did some rearranging at my house over the weekend and some purging of old items and it got me thinking about some of my older comics that I haven't read in ages. Part of the purge involved taking some books to Half Price Books and I think I need motivation to revisit some old series and might start including a write-up in this space.  I just feel that re-reading books like Blankets, Batman:Knightfall, and Infinite Kung Fu to name a few would be a fun project. While I think about that enjoy this week's reviews and go pick up Gideon Falls if you haven't already!

Pick of the Week:
Gideon Falls #1 - Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino team up to bring us a mysterious story set in a small town. It sounds like it will be a classic good versus evil, but I am sure there is much more to it than that. On one side you have Father Wilfred who just moved to town following the death of the previous priest. We haven't learned what led to his demise, but it sounds like it might be part of an ongoing problem in Gideon Falls. On the other side we have Norton Sinclair, a formerly committed young man who is obsessed finding mysterious black shards in the trash throughout the city. Turns out that Lemire created this character in the late 90's back when he was in film school and is finally getting to tell his full story. I am extremely intrigued by what Sorrentino and Lemire introduce us to in this first issue and am looking forward to visiting Gideon Falls again in the next issue.

The Rest:
Infinity Countdown #1 - The race for the Infinity Stones is on and I am not sure how I feel about it. Marvel is prepping for a reboot and it will require someone to get all six stones and recreate the universe to match their vision. This was a Guardians of the Galaxy heavy issue which is fine by me, but it feels all too formulaic. I think there is pressure to reboot the universe to draw new fans as they are shifting over to more of the creator own projects from other publishers. I do enjoy comics written by Gerry Duggan and did enjoy this book, but I feel that it will be too predictable as it moves closer to hitting the reset button.


Star Wars Adventures #7 - I probably sound like a broken record on this series, but it really is one of the best all-ages books being published and is a lot of fun for Star Wars fans of all ages. I particularly enjoyed part 1 of "Endangered", which featured the Rebels crew attempting to save a sacred bird. The "Tales from Wild Space" story this week was nothing to write home about, but works well as quick and fun entry in this series.







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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Marvel teased its new event and....ahhh who am I kidding? The Image Expo was held yesterday and over 20 new creator owned series were announced! The series that stood out to me included Dead Rabbit from Gerry Duggan and John McCrea and Leviathan by John Layman, Nick Pitarra and Mike Garland. Dead Rabbit is about a mercenary who is forced out of retirement and Leviathan is described as Godzilla by way of black magic. Yes please!

Pick of the Week:
Royal City #10 - This series has grown even more emotional as we get a peek into the final days that Tommy was alive. The Pike family, who seemed so normal and put together at the start of this series, has a lot of skeletons in the closet and things aren't as peachy as they seem. What started as a family coming together to rally behind their sick father, has turned highly introspective as they all reflect on the memories of the troubling loss of Tommy. In the latest issue Tommy mixes alcohol and prescription medication after being dragged to a party at the old factory he didn't want to attend. What resonates with me in this series is how Jeff Lemire paints his characters as feeling alone despite how social they all appear. I sound like a broken record when I review Lemire books, but he really has an uncanny ability to write people in an extremely realistic way and in a way that the reader connects with his characters on a personal level with relative ease. 

The Rest:
Dept H. #23 - We now know the true identity and motive behind the murder of Mia's father and the sabotage of Dept. H. Matt and Sharlene Kindt's stunning mystery at the bottom of the sea will reach its conclusion in issue #24, but what was revealed this week truly put all of the pieces together. Mia is still racing to the surface with the cure, but it is unknown if she will make it or what she will find when she finally emerges from the sea. This series has been a delight from the beginning and I sure hope that Matt and Sharlene will continue to work on future projects together.  I can't wait to read the conclusion! 


Birthright #30 - This issue is a culmination of a multitude of factors that are starting to set things right and restore some sense of normalcy. I will admit to being a bit confused during some of the interaction within Mikey's memory, but alas!  The Nevermind has officially been separated from Mikey and it seems to mark the beginning of the end.  This is an odd crossroads for a series that I have enjoyed. It is one I want to read from the beginning again so I can see how Joshua Williamson brought everything together. While I want to see this series continue and want to learn more about this world Williamson has created, I don't want this comic to drag on and want it to reach its appropriate conclusion. I honestly thought that this might be the end, but appreciate how Williamson set up the next arc. It is one I am looking forward to and will trust him in terms of the direction this series takes.  It has been a great ride thus far.

Hit Girl #1 - Mark Millar, fresh of rebooting Kick-Ass, gives us an uber-violent debut of a new Hit Girl series. This definitely took a direction I wasn't expecting, both from a story and art perspective. Ricardo Lopez Ortiz gives this series an anime inspired style that works really well with the over the top action sequences. The story centers around a lonely Hit Girl and her desire to find a new partner. Her desire is so great that she is willing to partner with a convicted hit man who has killed over one hundred people over a twelve year period. She figures that he would rather be free after helping her out than serve 10 consecutive life sentences. Definitely more violent than the first Kick-Ass, but I think I preferred the new character introduced in that series. Either way I am looking forward to both of these series.

Daredevil #599 - Charles Soule is setting up the 600th issue of Daredevil to be a doozy!  I am a big fan of Muse and how Soule has used him to sow discord and make him one of the most feared villains I have read.  The dynamic between Mayor Fisk and Matt Murdock is very interesting, but it seems that Fisk is always one step ahead. Murdock is beginning to work on a way to oust Fisk, but it is coming at the cost of being blind (sorry) to what Muse is doing. This arc has been very tense (as was the other one with Muse) and I am fearful of what issue #600 is going to bring.

Infinity Countdown Prime #1 - We are officially on the path to the next Marvel event and another reset of the Marvel Universe. Gerry Duggan is at the helm of this series and it was an interesting, albeit predictable, walk through the struggle to control all of the gems. Depending on the direction it takes it might be fun to see how the competing interests compete over the gyms. I must have missed when Wolverine learned how to teleport and that was something to see during the opening sequence when he took down some of Ultron's minions who wanted the stone in his possession. Most big events are a lot of hype that under-deliver.  I don't have high expectations for this one, but found this first issue enjoyable.


Doctor Aphra #17 - Aphra and the crew she is temporarily working with infiltrated the Hivebase-1 and for a brief moment it looks like they might be joining the Rebellion.  That is until they run into none other than Hera. This was a welcome surprise and led to an exciting jailbreak led by Tolvan still driven by ulterior motives. The most recent arc has been a bit confusing as it lacks a clear driving force, but the romantic tension between Aphra and Tolvan has been an interesting twist. As this was one of my favorite spin-offs I have high hopes that this series will return to its roots as this arc develops.






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