Thursday Morning Superhero: Stop Bad Idea!

The bizarre marketing stunts for Bad Idea have returned alongside their return for another round of incredible looking comics.  In addition to encouraging 200 protestors to picket their booth at New York Comic Con in exchange for exclusive comics, they launched a Kickstarter yesterday that will supposedly lead to the end of Bad Idea as we know it if it raises $2.6 million.

The Kickstarter surrounds one of their titles from the first round from the dynamic duo of David Lapham and Matt Kindt, The Hero Trade. The first issue showed up at comic book stores with no mention of who created or published the comic. Some of these comics ended up in the trash, but people quickly caught on to the stunt.  While the story appeared in parts of other Bad Idea books, and even another promotional surprise with the Passive/Aggressive storylines, the Kickstarter is the only way to get future chapters of the story collected in an impressive looking hardcover.  There is even one tier to get a hand-painted cover by Matt Kindt.

It is important to note that the Kickstarter goods will be delivered even if the $2.6 million stretch goal is reached, but it puts the round two books that have been pre-ordered blindly by myself and others at participating stores.  For the second round of Bad Idea's books, fans were encouraged to pre-order the titles blindly, but given how much I enjoyed the first round I was not hesitant to pre-order these books.  It will be interesting to see how the 20 day campaign goes and I am sure there will be some surprise updates along the way.  

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 Bad Idea Day

I am a day late here at Nerds of a Feather, but I would be doing you all a disservice if I didn't take the time to wish you all a Happy Belated Bad Idea Day.  I have mentioned Bad Idea here in previous posts, but after over a year of promotion, an unrelenting button, a surprise ash can, and a whole lot of bad ideas, the first comic hit select comic book stores yesterday.

To get fans even more excited, it was announced that they were including not-first print editions for when stores sold out of the first print that actually had bonus materials.  Each store was given a special button to give to the fan who picked up the first Bad Idea book at their store and some fans even camped out over night.  

Unfortunately none of the stores here in Austin are part of the Bad Idea program so I had to order my first copy of Eniac #1 from Matt Kindt online.  Bad Idea is limiting sales to one book per person and have stated that there will be no digital copies of their books.  I will post my thoughts on Eniac once my copy is delivered, but the early previews have been stunning and I have not read a Matt Kindt book that I didn't enjoy.

The marketing may have been a bit odd, but Bad Idea successfully built up a successful hype train that was able to overcome obstacles due to COVID and I cannot wait to read their other books.  To see if any shops near you are part of their program or to pre-order any of their books online you can visit their website here.

While I may never forget them for forcing us to click on a button one billion times, it has already been a wild ride and I haven't even read a book yet.  Happy Bad Idea Day everyone.

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

Before I hop into our final pre-SDCC post, I wanted to share this amazing Kickstarter from Nerds of a Feather favorite Matt Kindt. The creator of Mind MGMT, Dept. H, and many others has launched his first Kickstarter! It is for a read-along one-off set in the Mind MGMT world!  You get an actual vinyl to listen to as you read the story!  It was a no brainer for me and you can check it out here.

SDCC Comics Edition:
While television, film, and exclusives have taken over comic con, a large volume of comics content still exists and is well worth the effort to check out. For the final pre-SDCC installment, I will focus on convention exclusive books and panels that I hope to check out.

Exclusive Editions:

Sword of Ages #1 Deluxe Edition - Limited to only 250 copies, this issue kicks off Gabe Rodriguez's epic fantasy series that is wrapping up soon. The series features a blend of technology and fantasy and is a delight.

Redneck #13 - Just look at that freaking cover. This horror series from Donny Cates has been one of my favorite series in the past couple of years and this SDCC exclusive cover is unbelievable and a must own.

Rick and Morty #37 - You had me at Pickle Rick Foil Variant. What more do you want from a cover than Pickle Rick embossed in glorious foil! This series has done an admirable job filling in the void due to the delay in new episodes. While I haven't been blown away by every issue, it has been an enjoyable read.

Panels:
Spotlight on Jeff Lemire - Thursday gifts us this gem of a panel at 3:00pm in Room 25ABC. Jeff Lemire is one of my favorite creators and is well know for his creator owned titles including Sweet Tooth and Essex County. In addition he had an amazing run with Old Man Wolverine and has an innate ability to connect his characters on an emotional level with his audience. If I can only convince my 10 year old to join me for this one.

Skybound Entertainment: What's Next - On Friday I hope to learn more about what the future holds for Skybound Entertainment. Hosted in room 6BCF from 5:45-6:45pm Robert Kirkman and CEO David Alpert will share insights as to the future of Skybound.  In addition to the future of its comics, content will highlight expansion into video and board games.

Spotlight on Jeff Smith - Bone is one of my family's all-time favorite series. My son is beyond excited about sitting in on this panel in room 28DE from 2:00-3:00pm on Sunday. The panel will focus on Smith's new book, Smiley's Dream Book, and the future of the Bone 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

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

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.

Thursday Morning Superhero

This week's books featured the return of two titles that I didn't realize how much I missed them. Dept. H and Southern Bastards are two incredible series that nobody should miss. Even if you aren't a fan of high school football, the twisted world that Jason Aaron and Jason Latour have created for this football team in Alabama is a little too believable and horrifying. Matt and Sharlene Kindt have produced one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read, and their attention to detail is unmatched by other creators. It is a good time to be a fan of comics and there are some amazing titles that should be able to bring new fans into the fold.

Pick of the Week:
Southern Bastards #19 - Holy hell this issue does not pull any punches. I normally try to avoid spoilers in my mini-reviews, but be warned that there are minor spoilers to follow. Coach Boss and the Rebs are losing the game and it seems that his caving to McKlusky may be one of the reasons that the boys are playing uninspired football. McKlusky surprises the team to collect his money at half-time, only to be delivered a briefcase full of dog shit and a starring role in the half-time speech that rallies the players. Meanwhile, Earl Tubbs' daughter has tracked down Coach Boss and is ready to get the revenge she so desperately wants. The ending had my jaw on the floor and I cannot freaking wait to read the next issue.  In the meantime I think a re-read of this series is in store.

The Rest:
Dept. H #22 - We are only two issues away from the conclusion of the series and finally uncovering who killed Mia's father. The crew finds themselves in a very difficult situation, as Aaron is holding onto the cure, but is a substation above everyone else without a functioning sub. Given the condition of the substations and the sabotage that has occurred, only one member of the team can attempt to surface with the cure to the epidemic that is currently ravaging the people on the surface. Tension is at an all-time high, yet Matt and Sharlene Kindt share some truly beautiful scenes with us and it highlights the relationships between this diverse cast of characters. The watercolor approach this book has is mesmerizing and the inclusion of a water meter on the page borders is absolutely brilliant. One of the best series I have read recently and I am absolutely looking forward to its conclusion. I was especially excited to learn in the letters section that the world of Dept. H shares a common universe with Mind MGMT and Revolver.

Ducktales #5 - I am loving this series from IDW and feel that it is adequately filling in the gaps while my family and I wait for another season of Ducktales on Disney XD. The stories in this issue feel like classic Ducktales, but with a bit of a modern twist in terms of humor. I thoroughly enjoy that I can hear the voices of the characters in my head as I read each page and enjoy sharing this series with my kids. One of the best all-ages books on the market.






Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Ahsoka and Padme - I am still enjoying this series and felt brought back to the Clone Wars animated series in this one-shot. I always enjoyed the dynamic between Ahsoka and Padme, and this issue played well on that and their love of Anakin. It might have been better to give each of these characters their own issue, because it felt that both characters deserved more of their lives outside of what we have already seen shared. Not my favorite in the series, but an enjoyable issue that I will once again recommend to Star Wars fans of all-ages. Still hoping that there are plans to publish these stories as a collection.




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 seems like things are starting to return to normal. The convention season is behind us, my kids are back in school, and Nintendo is still making it really difficult to purchase their products. At least I have Supreme Court action, back from the dead fighting, a new virus breaking out on earth, and crazy vampire grandpas to keep me occupied.

Pick of the Week:
Dept. H #17 - Mia gets one helluva an email from Lily that details the shaky background of their friendship. The crew is close to finally making it back to the surface, but if we can trust the briefing from Lily it looks like they might want to remain under water. According to Lily, the H-Virus had another outbreak on land and is creating all sorts of havoc. I want to trust her and feel that her heartfelt email to Mia is a way to get her message out before they all die. Aaron is looking might suspicious, but I haven't nailed down a motive on him just yet.  What is clear is that Matt and Sharlene Kindt have crafted a great murder mystery at the bottom of the ocean and this is a series well worth your time.

The Rest:
Redneck #5 - We finally learn the truth about what happened to Slap and holy hell was that brutal. Apparently not everyone in the family is on board with attempting to co-exist with humans and Slap was caught in the crossfire. This issue brought back memories of the first and makes you really appreciate what author Donny Cates is setting up. JV is pissed off and I don't think things are going to end well for anything. Add into the mix that they are accountable for turning Father Landry and are going to have a hard time remaining hidden for long. I am expecting a lot of blood in the next issue.



Secret Empire #9 - We had some nice victories over the past few issues. Led by Sam Wilson, the Avengers were able to take down the planetary shield and destroy the bubble over Manhattan. On top of that, they were able to welcome the Winter Soldier back to the team after everyone thought he was killed at the hands of Zemo. Come from behind victories and the return of seemingly dead best friends is pretty cliche superhero comic, but it is pretty cliche for a reason. When properly written and executed it is a lot of fun.  Thanks to Nick Spencer and crew, Secret Empire continues to be an entertaining event that will likely have no real impact on anything other than a fun story. Issue 9 is an epic battle showing how the tides really are turning, but there is one enemy that they were never prepared to face. Captain America himself.

Daredevil #25 - Matt Murdock has made it all the way to the Supreme Court. In an attempt to establish a legal precedent that masked superheros don't have to identify themselves to testify, Murdock is up against one of the best lawyers in the country and Kingpin himself. In addition to the lawyer, Fisk reaches back out to Tombstone to take a more violent approach to preventing this case from being heard. I liked watching the justices fight Daredevil in his mind as he made arguments and dealt with tough questions. This was a fun approach to Daredevil that focused more on the law and less on him beating up bad guys with his billy club, which based on the conclusion of this issue, Plan C for Fisk involves a lot of fighting.



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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Despite being over 50 days away, I am having a hard time avoiding the San Diego Comic Con hype and am starting to get antsy for my annual trek to the west coast. While I am bummed to learn that there will be no Nerd HQ this year and Nerdist appears to be scaling things back, you had the feeling in the past few years that at some point the off-site bubble would burst just a little and things would settle down a bit.  If these announcements are a sign of this, I welcome it and hope those nerds making the trip without SDCC badges still have a good time.

Pick of the Week:
Redneck #2 - It might be due to the fact that I am a Texan, it might be due to the fact that I really enjoy stories set in the south, or it might be that this is a great twist on a standard vampire book that is a great read, but Donny Cates has a hit on his hands and I highly recommend picking up the first two issues and catching up.  The Bowman's (the vampires) and the Landry's (a religious family led by Father Landry) have had their issues, but it reached a boiling point in the first issue when Slap, one of the Bowman boys, was found hanging from a tree following a night of debauchery from some of the Bowman family.  This has only escalated tensions, and has spilled over to the local barbecue joint where some of the familiars (those who are on good terms with the vampires) worked.  All hell breaks lose in the second issue and we start to learn a bit more about some of the characters who appear to have a much bigger part to play beyond the family feud.  I am thinking Slap was caught up in some shady happenings that we will learn about as this series continues.  If you are looking for a new series to hop on board before it is "cool" then I highly suggest checking Redneck out. Be warned it is not for the faint of heart.

The Rest:
Dept. H #14 - Matt and Sharlene Kindt's underwater mystery continues this week as the remaining survivors of the crew attempt to surface despite the contagion they have been exposed to.  We learn more about Jerome in this issue and what motivated him to partake in this underwater research.  His advanced knowledge of viruses and cures led him to be recruited by various international powers.  Apparently there was an effort made by the global powers to produce exclusive contagions to supposedly use as weapons.  I doubt that Mia's father was wrapped up in this type of conspiracy, but if this is the case, then it isn't surprising that it led to his murder.  I am finally starting to put some pieces together, but am far behind the curve and doubt I will solve this one on my own.

X-Men Blue #4 - We have contact from another dimension and a Wolverine in the house!  Things get quite exciting in this issue, as the X-Men track down Wolverine's son after hearing reports of him killing people in the mountains in Colorado.  Something isn't quite right with Jimmy (Wolverine's son) so the X-Men try to talk some sense into him and figure out what is going on.  Their displacement in time is only creating new questions as they figure out their role and why they were brought here.  While I don't know a lot about the reveal at the end of this issue, I am excited to see where a new arc will take us.

Guardians of the Galaxy #2 - Gerry Duggan is a great fit with this series and I have really enjoyed these first few issues.  While not an avid Guardians comic book reader, I do enjoy the characters and Duggan's sense of humor (which included Deadpool killing a bunch of presidents) is making me enjoy them even more.  The Guardians are attempting to steal a rare egg from The Collector in order to pay a debt.  Stealing from The Collector is no easy feat, especially when for some odd reason Drax is no longer destroying anything.   Mix in a planet that has loads of other Groot-like characters and you have some intrigue to really keep you interested in this team and their exploits.  Definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoyed the movies.



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

Thursday Morning Superhero

Not only is Free Comic Book Day around the corner (May 6!), we are in early stages of the big summer events from Marvel and DC.  I tend to buy the hype early and end up disappointed, so I hope this year is different.  It am intrigued by both and hopeful that they will hold my interest throughout the summer.

Pick of the Week:
Redneck #1 - This week we are gifted a dark, new vampire title from Skybound and Donny Cates.  The Bowman family and Landry family have a history of bad blood between them that goes back generations.  If the first issue is any indication, we are embarking on a new feud that will severe consquences.  Having been in this small East Texas town for hundreds of years, the Bowman family has learned to live a quiet life in the country devoid from human consumption.  The family does not attack humans and hints to a time when they were hunted.  It looks like there was some sort of truce that was formed to allow them to live in solitude.  In this first issue we are introduced to this gritty world that feels like a cross of True Blood (minus the cheese) and Southern Bastards.  This series looks very promising and Cates does a great job establishing tension and drama in a short amount of time.  Looking forward to this one.

The Rest:
Royal City #2 - Jeff Lemire's new drama continues this week as we learn more about the eclectic characters and the dysfunctional relationships that bind them.  While I am not sure if this is a good comparison to make yet, this series feels a lot like the Royal Tennenbaums.  The characters are good people, but they are not without flaw and are dealing with complicated issues on an individual and family level.  The patriarch of this group suffering a stroke has brought back most of them to Royal city and it will be an interesting read to see how it all comes together.  



Dept. H #13 - I am not anywhere near to winning the super-deluxe Junior Deputy Detective badge that Matt and Sharlene Kindt are offering the first reader to successfully solve this underwater whodunit.  There are some good theories, but I find myself questioning more people as I learn more with each issue.  I guess this is the sign of a good murder mystery and it will hopefully all come together soon.  For now, Mia and the remaining survivors must successfully surface after being exposed to a contagion, despite the threat of being fired upon if they should surface.  Lots of drama, lots of questions, and a series I should reread in hopes of obtaining a badge!

Secret Empire #0 - The introduction to the next big Marvel event is here and it is one that I am quite excited about.  Captain America, still believing he is an agent of Hydra, has declared war on the Marvel Universe.  It is odd watching Steve team up with Zemo and others, but the ramifications that this could have are huge.  I personally enjoyed the twist that Nick Spencer dropped when Cap uttered those infamous words, "Hail Hydra."  This sets the scene for the event that I think will kick off on Free Comic Book Day next month.





Daredevil #19 - We are closer to learning how Daredevil was able to put the cat back in the bag in regards to everyone knowing his secret identity.  Killgrave has trapped his children in a machine in an attempt to usher out his mind control at an unforeseen scale.  Daredevil shows up trying to stop Killgrave, but must first work his way through the mind games that Killgrave is playing with him.  It is difficult to determine what is real and what is due to Killgrave's ability.  While we don't quite understand yet how it all happened, I look forward to seeing how Killgrave and his children played a role in altering the minds of an entire world.

Batman Rebirth #21 - The Button part one is upon us.  DC's big crossover event kicked off in Batman this week as Bruce attempts to uncover the mystery of the Watchmen button that they found in the cave when Wally appeared.  While waiting for the Flash to arrive, Batman is greeted by Reverse Flash and a brutal fight takes place.  Not much is revealed in this issue, but a lot of questions are asked.  Where did this button come from?  Why did it react to Psycho-Pirate's mask?  There is another surprise that I won't spoil, but this definitely has a summer event feel to it and I hope that the inclusion of the Watchmen goes better than the last time I read modern takes on that 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

In non-comic related news, there is amazing Kickstarter in its final days that is worth your time and attention.  Pandasaurus Games is running a campaign for Dinosaur Island, a game that has you creating your own Dinosaur theme park.  Featuring a color scheme and graphics straight out of the 90's, this is a game that pulls on all sorts of nostalgic heart strings.  Check out the campaign here.  In addition to being excited about building my own dino theme park, this week's books were phenomenal!

Pick of the Week:
Darth Maul #2 - When you combine Darth Maul and Cullen Bunn you know you are going to get a series that is going to be a lot of fun.  This issue brings that together, and mixes in a little but of Cad Bane for good measure.  As Maul attempts to find an appropriate outlet for his rage, Darth Sidious seeks to take him farther down the path of the dark side.  Maul is instructed to lay low, but the desire to seek revenge on the Jedi is too great.  While I really enjoyed watching Maul fight without overtly demonstrating his use of the Force and his light saber, this book really shines in the scenes where Sidious is manipulating Maul in order to fuel his hatred.  One thing that the comics have done an amazing job with is making the Sith a true force to be reckoned with.  Hearing Maul talk about his fear of Sidious and what would happen if his secret plans are discovered casts Sidious into an all new light.  In the movies he appears more fragile, yet in the comic book the fear is palpable.  There is a reason why Sidious was able to work under the noses of the Jedi and manipulate formidable Sith Lords like Vader.   I hope Bunn continues to explore the relationship between Sidious and Maul in future issues.

The Rest:
Dept H. #12 - The plot gets thicker as we learn that the crew has been exposed to a new strain of the H-virus and are quarantined on the base, which is currently hanging on by a thread.  While Jerome may have found the cure for the original H-virus, it appears that the research process may have exposed everyone to something else.  This underwater whodunit gets more and more complex with each issue, and the potential motives for the various crew members seem to grow with each issue.  I a not sure who I suspect, but I do know that Mia and her father may be the only decent humans that have set foot on the base.  I don't want to spoil what happens at the end of this issue, but it left me absolutely speechless and really shifted my thoughts on who may have killed Mia's father and what their motive might be.  This is a truly mesmerizing series and the art from Matt Kindt and the colors from Sharlene Kindt provide a surreal setting that is appropriate for a mystery of this magnitude.

Birthright #23 - We learn a little bit more about why Lore was allowed to attach the Nevermind to Mikey.  It seems that Lore has struck a deal with Mikey and may have more in mind then simply destroying the mages who are on earth.  In addition, his daughter seeks him out and it isn't clear whether she opposes him or wants to join him.  All this time Rya, who is pregnant with Mikey's child, is dealing with the struggle of stopping Lore and saving Mikey.  I am not sure how many issues this series is slated for, but it feels like we are racing towards some sort of finish line and I am on pins and needles wondering how this is all going to work out.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #68 - When we last left the turtles it looked like Slash, under government control, captured the mutanimals and possibly killed Seymour and Mutagen Man.  Old Hob managed to escape to warn the turtles, but it might be too late as it looks like the captured mutanimals may be the next victims of governmental brainwashing. In addition to the peril that the mutanimals find themselves, the government soldiers have tracked down the turtles' new lair and are preparing an all-out assault.  I sure hope that Splinter and the foot clan, who he is currently leading, can intervene and provide some much needed support.  Between the tension that the turtles have with Splinter and the mutanimals, and the fact that they will need to unite in order to take down the government operatives, this series is getting quite intense.

Valiant High #2 - Valiant's ComiXology exclusive high school take on its universe continued this week and this series is an absolute blast.  I have dipped my toe in some Valiant books and have enjoyed them, but feel motivated to take a closer look after reading this book.  There seems to be a mysterious dynamic between Principle Haruda and Gilad, who has been a sophomore as long as anyone can recall.  This book opened up with a no holds barred version of dodge ball, featured a mysterious janitor, and included references to both Buffy and Veronica Mars.  This is a nice light and entertaining series that everyone should give a chance.



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 partly saddened and relieved to be missing SXSW in Austin this week.  While I enjoy going into the belly of the best and immersing myself in seas of people and technology, it is nice to escape the chaos and check it out via my social media feed.  While Marvel and other comic book publishers seem to be moving away from SXSW this year, I am happy to report that the tabletop gaming scene continues to grow.

Pick of the Week:
Ether #5 - Matt Kindt and David Rubin delivered a stunning conclusion to the first arc of Ether this week and I am chomping at the bits for volume two. In the final issue of this arc, we learn that Ubel is attempting to open up the connection between the Earth and Ether for his own sinister means.  The arc of this series is something to behold.  What started with a straggler who appeared to be entering the Ether in the same way one would use a hallucinogen, has evolved into a story of a man who fell victim to what he thought was his purpose in life.  We meet his wife in this issue, and learn of her sacrifice dealing with her husband and his obsession with the Ether.  I felt a real emotional connection to Boone and Hazel in this issue and really appreciate how much this series has grown in five short issues.

The Rest:
Batman: Rebirth #19 - "I am Bane" part four doesn't pull any punches.  The juiced up super villain is not too pleased with how Batman and others are working against him.  Batman isn't too keen on enlisting the help of Two-Face, Hush, Solomon Grundy, and others, but is still recovering from the viscous beat down he suffered in the last issue.  If this first issue is setting the tone for things to come, then there will be a stack of bodies in the wake of Bane as he goes after the Batman.  While this series has been steadily improving as Tom King finds his voice writing the Batman, but I wonder if I should switch to All-Star Batman and hop back on the Scott Snyder bandwagon.


Daredevil #18 - It appears that The Purple Children helped Daredevil reestablish his secret identity after the cat was out in the bag.  The Purple Children, of which their are five of, are the spawn of Zebediah Killgrave, a purple man who has the power to make people do whatever he wants.  Killgrave was working on some sort of device that harnessed the power of his children, and had sent a mob to collect the final two. These two ended up on Daredevil's doorstep, and the man with no fear was able to save them and now is attempting to stop Killgrave from completing his device and save the other three children.  It remains to be seen if Daredevil has the will to withstand the abilities of someone as powerful as Killgrave.  Charles Soule's run with Daredevil is rapidly becoming one of my favorite runs of all time.


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 going to forego my normal intro and get right into the books!

Pick of the Week:
Ether #4 - Matt Kindt has a gift when it comes to creating intrigue and really forcing you to focus on small details throughout his books.  Ether took an unexpected turn today, when we were introduced to Hazel and learned about her journey into the Ether as a child.  With no way of telling people where she had been for five years, she had to carry this secret until she connects with Boone Dias.  Through the fantastical art of David Rubin we are reminded that the Ether can be both amazing and utterly horrifying at the same time.  I look forward to learning more about Hazel (Kindt revealed some nuggets in this issue that have me salivating) and can't recommend this series enough.

The Rest:
Dept. H #11 - Another Kindt book this week?  With double the Kindt (Sharlene is also working on this title)?  Mia is not much closer to figuring out who murdered her father, but she has uncovered some evidence and had an epiphany that should provide clarity moving forward.  She had this vision as she recounted a story her father told her when she was younger.  It was a beautiful escape from the danger that her and the crew are currently in.  It finally clicked that the art in this series reminds me of Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind and it couldn't be more appropriate.



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #67 - The new arc of TMNT kicked off with a bang and I am quite concerned.  Slash was recaptured by government officials and they are attempting to control his rage and use him as weapon.  Meanwhile, Leonardo is struggling to get all of the turtles on the same page given the recent string of events.  Hopefully he will get things sorted out soon, because the government's first test with Slash is on the Mutanimals and it is a doozy.

The Walking Dead #164 - I am still amazed that this series is still chugging along and even more surprised by the supposed friendship between Rick and Negan.  One thing that Robert Kirkman has done is build a deep seeded hatred and mistrust in Negan.  No matter how many times he appears to have redeemed himself, you still don't trust his intentions.  Even after learning at what may have caused him to become evil incarnate, I can't feel sorry for him or trust him.  I hope I'm wrong.





Old Man Logan #18 - We reach the exciting conclusion to the arc in which Logan went to save a crew from a ship that had been overtaken by Brood.  Seemingly pulled between two different realities, he is finally able to free Jeanie and with her help subdue the beasts.  The vision of the baby he left behind in the wastelands haunts him and will steer his next course of action.  Really excited with the direction this series is headed.

Daredevil #17 - Daredevil's new arc kicked off in exciting fashion as Matt Murdock visited a confessional in a local church!  Nothing like sharing something that you feel shamed about with a total stranger!  In all seriousness, it is a fine vehicle for Daredevil to get something off of his chest.  The secret of how he put the secret back in his secret identity.  If you didn't know, his identity became known to the public and it created all sorts of problems for him.  Somehow he was able to put the rabbit back in the hat, and it will be interesting to learn how.  I'm oddly really looking forward to this arc.




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