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

Pick of the Week:
Southern Bastards #18 - I love how this series has evolved and continues to tackle some of the ugly issues of society that has reared its head as of late. While I agree with author Jason Latour that it is unfortunate that this book is more relevant given recent events, it makes it all the more important to shine a spotlight on some of the issues with race that we don't want to admit are still a major issue in our country. This issue pulls no punches and gives me a lot of joy knowing that Earl Tubbs' daughter is going to ensure that his killer's suffer a similar fate. An absolutely brutal issue with stunning visuals from Chris Brunner, Southern Bastards remains one of my favorite books.

The Rest:
Redneck #6 - The first arc of this surprisingly good series ended with a bang. The Bowman family finally gets closure on the death of Slap, but it comes with a huge cost and one that has me completely clueless as to where this series is headed. It serves as a grim reminder about the history of this family and the skeletons in its closet that it must continue to fight in addition to the stigma of where ever they end up. Now that I have the full arc in hand, I look forward to sitting down and reading it from the beginning. If you missed this series, I cannot recommend picking up the first trade when it comes out enough. Fantastic series that I hope continues to do well.


Rick and Morty #30 - As someone very late to jump on the Rick and Morty bandwagon, I am very happy that the Oni Press book is a lot of fun and will do a good job filling the void that will be left in us all after the season finale next week. This issue gave us a day in the life of Beth and the frustrations she faces on a daily basis. No respect for her career, a husband who is helpless, and a father who is constantly bringing in horrors from other dimensions and threatening the lives of her family members. At moments it was very heartwarming, but the unexpected ending brought us right back to the Rick and Morty universe and serves as a great reminder on why Beth is so stoic and able to deal with so much. Really funny issue.

Duck Tales #1 - The rush of nostalgia that I felt when I heard Duck Tales was coming back made me feel like a kid again and had me craving a big bowl of sugary cereal. IDW comics launched a Duck Tales book this week penned by Joe Caramagna and it is an absolute delight. The first issue featured two self-contained short stories that have the same humor and feel of the television series. Definitely recommend it to the younger readers and also recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the original series and is excited to return to Duckberg.




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

Thursday Morning Superhero

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

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

The Rest:

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



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

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




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

Thursday Morning Superhero

I had the good fortune to check out Alamo City Comic Con last weekend and I have to say I am impressed with the crowds this convention drew.  I got my wife a photo op with David Tennant and Billie Piper for our anniversary and was impressed with how Wolf Photography and the volunteers at ACCC ran things.  Thanks for a memorable Saturday!

Pick of the Week:
Nailbiter #26 - While it is a bit early for a holiday special, I am thrilled beyond words that my favorite horror series is back.  The dynamic of Charles Warren (the Nailbiter) and his former lover Shannon (the police officer currently holding him behind bars for kidnapping).  Their conversation really provides a great overview of the series and creates a nice jumping on point for new readers.  Warren is dealing with his own internal demons and seems like a good character despite the fact that he is truly a serial killer.  Detective Finch was derailed on his attempt to return to Portland and now finds himself in the same predicament that brought him to Buckaroo in the first place.  The only difference is that he is the one captured, not the one looking for his missing partner.  Joshua Williamson hints at potential new secrets to be revealed in the next issue and I sure hope we don't have to wait another month!

The Rest:
Southern Bastards #15 - It has been too long since my last trip to Craw County and things aren't looking good to Coach Boss.  After getting crushed by their rival on homecoming, the Running Rebs are looking to make the most out of their season.  The mayor's wife isn't shy about mixing things up in an attempt to get Coach Boss fired, but if he can find a way to win then his job is secure.  The seedy comic about high school football in the South is back and just as good as ever.  This quote from Coach Boss pretty much sums up the series in a nutshell.  After one of his "coaches" offers to hurt an opponent's star tight end before their game, he responds "I may be a murder and a gangster and a whole helluva lotta other fuckin' things.  But not on Friday nights.  Some things is Goddamn sacred, boy."

The Walking Dead #160 - Both sides are making strategic pushes as part 4 of The Whisperer War really brings the pain.  Both sides are going to suffer major losses and it isn't entirely clear who we can trust.  Lydia and Carl are bunking up (he is old in the comics!), but her mom was the leader of The Whisperers.  Negan seems to be helping, but he is someone you can truly never trust.  What is clear is that the loser of this one is going to be absolutely decimated.



 

Batman #10 - I really am giving the new Batman a go, but I just can't get into it.  It is my DC staple so I imagine I will continue to read it, but it just doesn't have the punch that it once did.  Batman is trying to free Psycho Pirate from Bane's stronghold on Santa Prisca.  His mantra is that he needs to get Psycho Pirate to save someone otherwise he is going to break Bane's back.  I nice throwback to when Bane actually broke Batman's back, but it did little to draw me into the story.  Hopefully when they return to Gotham things will pick back up.  Bane is also boring now that he is off the juice.




Battlestar Galactica: Gods and Monsters #1 - When I saw that Dynamite Comics was publishing a new Battlestar comic I got pretty excited.  I loved the revamped series (minus the ending) and have enjoyed some of the previous iterations of comics.  After reading this debut, which involves Gaius building a Cylon Centurion ala Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, I feel that it is probably time for Battlestar Galactica to take a long break.  The spin-off Caprica was a disaster, the movie "The Plan" was awful, and this series first issue did nothing to capture the magic of what made the series great.  If you want to revisit this world I highly suggest playing the board game, which is excellent and will make you feel as if you really are on the fleet and possibly a sleeper agent.

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 still recovering from the fun I had watching Captain America: Civil War last week.  While not my favorite Marvel or even Captain America flick (see Winter Soldier), the movie was just a lot of fun.  Dean summed things up nicely in his review, but I would have added a bonus point for Vision's sweater and docked a point for being about 20 minutes too long.   I hope you all had a successful Free Comic Book Day and are back in the swing picking up your pull lists.

Pick of the Week:
Southern Bastards #14 - The new arc to Southern Bastards is a doozy.  Turns out Earl Tubbs has a daughter who wants to get to the bottom of his death.  She just returned from serving in Afghanistan and doesn't pull any punches trying to reclaim what was taken from her father, but is up against a lot of racist opposition.  Jason Aaron doesn't hold back in addressing the race relations in Alabama, and at many times in this issue I felt uncomfortable.  That is meant as a compliment as witnessing discrimination, from the perspective of the individual facing it, is a powerful thing.  Entitled "Homecoming", this looks like it may be the best arc in what has been a fantastic series.  I cannot recommend this enough.  Aaron is brilliant in capturing the racial undertone in this small town, and Jason Latour does a phenomenal job portraying Roberta's struggle as she tries to understand why her father died.

The Rest:
Batman: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 - This surprising series reached its conclusion this week, and while it isn't the strongest finish I've read, it was fitting.  The big surprise last time was that Shredder introduced the mutagen to Gotham's greatest villains.  Mr. Freeze as a polar bear had to be my favorite twist, but the payoff in this issue was a bit of a let down as things had to wind up quickly.  I think extending this to one more issue would have really helped things out.  Overall a great mini-series, but it ultimately felt like a rushed ending and what could have been an amazing payoff was a bit underwhelming.


Batman #52 - The torch has officially been passed.  No stranger to Batman, and author of the crossover with the Ninja Turtles, James Tynion IV has earned the right to pen the main Batman storyline.  In a quasi-origin story, we learn how motivated Bruce Wayne is to be the best Batman he can be.  It also was a touching story the further demonstrated how strong the bond is between Wayne and Alfred.  While the story wasn't anything ground breaking, it sets the scene effectively for "Rebirth" and demonstrates that Batman is still in good hands.

Darth Vader #20 - While I continue to enjoy this series, it is starting slow down significantly.  In a very anticlimactic issue, Vader has a pow wow with the Emperor on a Super Star Destroyer that is quite ridiculous looking.  The takeaway from the performance review is that Vader, due to the fact that he kills anyone that gets in his way, is the savior of the Sith.  Still trying to track down Aphra to hide what happened I don't know how many issues ago, it looks like the two will finally be reunited.  I get that political maneuvering is always going to be part of this universe, but it is the part that I like the least.  I sure hope that things pick up soon as this has been my favorite of the new Star Wars titles at Marvel.


The Fix #2 - This comical series about corrupt cops from Nick Spencer, Steve Lieber, Ryan Hill, and Nic J. Shaw improved upon its solid first issue.  After their failed attempt at a heist of a retirement home,  the two inept detectives hatch a plan that involves Roy shooting his partner in the hand.  Mix in Roy trying to frame a co-worker for a murder I am guessing he committed and you have a very surreal, bizarre, and entertaining series.  I am still not sure where the overall story is going, but I know that reading about the antics of Roy and Mac is highly entertaining and I look forward to really getting to know the cast of characters that are involved.  There is an air of mystery similar to Morning Glories, but not in an evil school 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

With all of the negatively floating around in the comic book world due to some issues with San Diego hotels, I will turn to my other big hobby which is celebrating its biggest day in a couple weeks.  International TableTop Day is on April 11 and I couldn't be more excited.  Now is the time to reach out to your FLGS and see if they are hosting an event and how you can get involved.   If you don't have an FLGS, many other groups are hosting events and you can find one near you here.   I am going to be running multiple demos and hosting a Machi Koro tournament.  I wish I had a creative segue to this week's reviews, but I don't.  Sorry.

Pick of the Week:
Nailbiter #11 - We are so close to finding out the secrets of Buckaroo, Oregon!  I feel that any issue we will learn more about why this town has created so many serial killers.  In the new arc (which is a great leaping on point and has a nice reference to the cover of issue #1) Finch opens with a brutal interrogation of the Nailbiter himself.  Meanwhile, Barker is imprisoned by the horned man and is forced to witness truly horrifying events.  The back and forth between the two subplots is one of the most terrorizing and suspenseful pieces I have ever read in a comic.  The brutality of Mike Henderson's art and the tension between Finch and Warren (the Nailbiter) make this one of the most intense issues in this series to date.  It is going to be a long wait for issue #12 in May.

The Rest:
Southern Bastards #8 - Throughout this current arc I had to hand it to the creative team (Jason Aaron and Jason Latour) behind this book that they made me feel sorry for Coach Boss.  In the first four issues he was the Darth Vader of high school football.  He did the bidding of the powerful individuals in town and would strike you down if you crossed him.  This arc we learned about his troubled past and in this issue he went from Annakin to Vader in a matter of panels.  Beware the power of high school football.  Coach Boss should have followed in my footsteps and played tennis instead.





Convergence #0 - The event that will lead to the new new 52 began this week as Superman learned that Brainiac has been collecting domed cities from the various DC timelines in an attempt to allow editors to start over from square one, bring in new readers, and roll around in cash.  I do like it when there is an effort made to bring in new readers, but I fear this is a slippery slope that will hinder the creativity of the authors.  The event starts this week and it is looking like I will take a break from DC titles until June.







Feathers #4 - If the good folk at Laika are looking for a new project after the Box Trolls, I would sure love it if they considered picking up this title.  Feathers is full of intrigue and whimsy, and took a very interesting turn this week.  I don't want to spoil anything, but highly suggest you start reading this series.  A mysterious stranger has been kidnapping the mice (homeless children) and nobody knows why.  Bianca, a princess, runs away and meets Poe, a feathered creature who appears to be a child himself.  Poe has been helping the mice from the shadows and has drawn the attention of the mysterious stranger.  As we learn more about the world that Jorge Corona has crafted his story becomes more endearing.  The best all-ages book currently being published.



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 is hard to believe that Halloween is tomorrow.  I look forward to the new wave of superhero trick-or-treaters, and will without question see large volumes of Star Lords and Rocket Raccoons stop by in hopes of a treat.  After the knowledge that Marvel dropped in regards to its upcoming movie slate, I think that the steady stream of superheroes is sure to continue.  On a sad note, this will mark the first Halloween in some time that I am not going dressed as Axe Cop.  I am going to be the Groot to my son's Rocket.  Happy Halloween!

Pick of the Week:
Saga #24 - Epic moment from Lying Cat, The Will's sister, and a dog that shoots tranquilizer darts from his nose.  Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples can do whatever they want and it will be pure gold.  It was great to have an issue almost entirely dedicated to the quest to save The Will.  He quickly became one of my favorite characters and I hope that Gwendolyn and Sophie are able to find the necessary dragon semen to create the elixir.  Oh, this also featured the line "Gonna eat yer filthy cervix!"  In other words, this comic rules.

The Rest:

Mind MGMT #27 - We all knew that Meru was special, but she didn't believe in herself.  She is one of the strongest female protagonists in the comic book medium, and it looks like she may now understand her true power.  Meru converses with the first immortal in this issue and turns a corner in terms of understanding her unique gifts and why they are a threat to Mind MGMT.  Things had been looking bleak, but hopefully this was just the pep talk that Meru needed to finally take down this vile organization.





Arkham Manor #1 - Despite cutting down the number of titles to a supposed
52, DC continues to expand some of its more popular lines so a new Batman title is anything but shocking.  In this new book, due to the implosion of Arkham Asylum and the citizens of Gotham not happy having the criminally insane held at the stadium, the mayor uses imminent domain and turns Wayne Manor into the new Arkham.  Interesting premise and with Gerry Duggan penning it I will stick around.  This was a fine first issue and establishes the situation well enough.



Southern Bastards #5 - We are gifted a new arc from the creative duo of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour and we are going to learn quite a bit about coach Boss.  The first arc was put to rest so to speak, and the town is going to continue pushing forward as if the events from the first four issues never occurred.  While I am shocked by how bold Boss is in the aftermath of issue #4, I am more intrigued by the glimpse into his childhood that we are provided.  I look forward to pulling back the curtain and peeking at a glimpse of humanity in this previously one note character.  So happy this series is back.




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

Thursday Morning Superhero

The big news in the world of San Diego Comic-Con is that DC and Warner Brothers are taking over Saturday Night.  Kevin Smith has been booted from Hall H so that DC can promote four titles.  From the official release, " [k]icking off the exclusive evening is the world premiere public screening of the highly anticipated new drama series Gotham (the only screening of Gotham at this year’s Comic-Con), followed by a screening of the complete pilot of new action-drama The Flash, and exclusive video presentations from returning hit Arrow and new thriller Constantine. Cast members and producers from all four shows will make special appearances throughout the night."  Sounds like people will be lining up early and hanging out in Hall H all day.  I will attempt to make my way in, but will most likely be enjoying something else at the convention.  Time for the books!

Pick of the Week:
Southern Bastards #3 - As someone who grew up in Texas, I can fully relate to high school football running a small town.  I am pretty sure it was nothing like what Earl Tubb is dealing with in Craw County, Alabama.  After watching his old friend stumble into and die on the football field during a game, he has reached his breaking point.  As it says at the start of this book, "Now Earl has a stick. And some questions he'd like answered."  Tubb begins to fight back against Coach Boss and his crew and we finally learn just how far Coach Boss' power reaches.  Jason Aaron captures the feel of a small, seedy southern town and Jason Latour's art is a bit rough around the edges to fully immerse you in a situation that would make most people uncomfortable.  I am not sure if this duo has worked on any other projects, but I will be on board with any future books they are a part of.  It was great to see Tubb finally step up and fight back and I look forward to seeing him beat people with his stick in issue #4.

The Rest:
Nailbiter #3 - The mysteries that surround the town of Buckaroo, Oregon continue to grow with each issue from this entertaining thriller from Joshua Williamson.  I was in search of some answers in this issue, but find myself with more questions than I began with.  Has Edward Warren truly retired from killing?  Something tells me we will see him begin to develop a body count again soon.  Williamson has done a masterful job crafting complex characters that provide real depth for this small town mystery.  Mike Henderson sets a dark tone that evokes real moments of terror and shock.  If you are a horror fan then it is not too late to hop on board.  I sure hope that Detective Fish begins to unravel the mystery as to why so many serial killers have sprung up in this small town.

Original Sin #5 - This event continues to gain momentum as we draw nearer to who actually pulled the trigger and killed the Watcher.  We learned last time that the Winter Soldier merely killed a replicant of Nick Fury, but we also learned that Nick Fury is one old dude.  This issue gives us the background on Mr. Fury and was a delight to read.  If you are a fan of Fury, even if you haven't been keeping up with this event, then I would encourage you to check this out.  This event continues to impress and surprise me with each new issue.  It is a bit of a disappointment that not many of the Watcher's secrets have been revealed, but still a joy to read.

Rocket Raccoon #1 - With all the hype about the Guardians of the Galaxy I would be remiss if I didn't check this title out.  I am happy to report that Rocket Raccoon is just plain fun.  Over the top action, tongue humor, and a solid little story to go along with it.  While not in the same category as Southern Bastards or Nailbiter, Rocket Raccoon is a good comic to read for pure entertainment.  The Lego variant that featured Stan Lee was enough for me to open up my wallet and I would encourage you to check out this title as well.

Legendary Star Lord #1 - Sticking with this Guardians theme, I went ahead and picked up this issue as well.  Another fun title, but with a lot more heart.  The debut was sweet, but not sure if it is enough to bring me back.  I enjoyed learning more about Peter Quill and the one-shot story was nice, but I don't know if it quite delivered the hook.  If you are a Guardians fan then you already picked this title up.  If you are new to the series like I am, then you may want to wait for the trade.





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