This article is dedicated to the coolest of the cool things you can collect. This month isn’t really about something you can collect but of someone you can become. I had the privilege to speak with Robert Schumann, the founder and event coordinator, of a very special group of folks.
There’s people who wear costumes, there’s people who cosplay and then there’s the Umbrella Corp of Denver group. A couple times a year around Denver you will see a troupe all dressed in black and tactical gear. All their gear goes together and they are all wearing the same Umbrella Corp insignia. Their presence is menacing but their attitude is awesome! They are some of the most friendly people you will meet at Denver Comic Con or the Denver Zombie crawl.
They were founded in 2011. They do charity events and make any happening into a seriously awesome event. A couple of events they do throughout the year are…
To invite the Umbrella Corp Denver car or team to your event please contact Robert Schuman via rschuman06@yahoo.com
Item:
Umbrella Corp tactical outfit
What it is:
One of the coolest cosplay outfits out there and if you are lucky enough and put in the effort, you might become part of the group!
How Much it Costs:
Costs vary depending on what gear you get but here’s an example of how much and where you can purchase such an outfit. (Read at the end of this article for Umbrella Corps of Denver Official list of gear). All prices are close estimates based on internet sites:
511 Black tactical pants: $50
Tactical knee pads $20
Tactical boots $75-130
Airsoft replica AR-15 $60-150
Tactical gloves with knuckle protection $40-60
Tactical elbow pads $20
511 tactical shirt $25
Tactical vest with MOLLE/loop platform $100-180
Sling for rifle: $20
Painters mask: $31
Tactical helmet: Replica $30/Real deal – $400-900
Insignia patches:$10
Is It Worth It?:
You can put together a similar outfit on a budget. Shop at Goodwill or Ross and you will find many bargains for this stuff:
Black shirt, long sleeve: $5
Black pants: $5
Find the best looking toy military style rifle at Target or goodwill(Might need some black paint): $10
Homemade insignia: Free
Cool sunglasses.: $5
Black surgical mask or bandana: $5-15
Goodwill black shoes or boots: $20
Prices are approximate but pretty close based on my own experience shopping at Goodwill. I shop at Goodwill a lot. 🙂
I can tell being in such an outfit would make you feel like a rockstar. So yeah it’s worth it.
Bottom Line:
What I though was really cool was how they are all treated like celebrities. Dozens of people coming up to get pictures. Every once and a while it’s exciting to feel important and like a celeb.
We use S10 gas masks or North Safety 7700 Series Half-Face Mask Respirator with North+ P100 Filter Cartridge
All other gear and equipment can either be found on the websites listed above, online, or at your local Army Surplus stores.
Umbrella corp Denver is a cosplay for charity group. Our mission is to support our local community and military veterans by providing costumed appearances at events, raising donation and volunteering for charity – and to have fun doing it.
Oh how the mighty have fallen, and then hit rock bottom. Back in the late 90’s, when boy bands ruled the Earth, I don’t think any of us could have predicted that the Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC would ever team up. They were arch enemies! But time makes fools of us all, and members of the two bands will be teaming up for a new Asylum movie calledDead 7, written by none other than Nick Carter (he was the youngest in BSB, and “the cute one”).
The producer of Sharknado is the person we can all blame/thank for the upcoming Dead 7. The movie will be a futuristic western, with zombies! It will star Carter as the hero of the day, as well as his fellow Backstreet Boys A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough and N’SYNC-er Joey Fatone. Because what won’t Joey Fatone do, amiright?
Carter is intending to reach out to The New Kids on the Block in hopes of getting Jordan Knight to sign on and there is no word on whether or not any other members of N’SYNC will accept his invitation.
Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry) Photo courtesy of the BBC
“I am a Partially Deceased Syndrome Sufferer and what I did in my untreated state was not my fault.” – Kieren Walker
In the post-apocalyptic world of the small (and recently canceled) BBC show In the Flesh, zombies have been renamed “Partially Deceased Syndrome Sufferers.” Through medication they have returned to their original state, memories intact. On paper, they have their old life back, placed back into their family homes, able to live the way they did before they rose from the grave. But in reality, things aren’t quite that simple. Living citizens are still angry over the deaths PDS sufferers caused in their untreated state, and in small towns like Roarton, being partially deceased could get you a bullet in the brain. Neighbors are terrified of PDS sufferers’ medication wearing off and that if it does, they’ll “go rabid” and return to being dangerous zombies. Most citizens want them out of their town and use the derogatory slur “rotters.” PDS sufferers are forced to wear makeup and eye contacts to hide the fact that they aren’t living anymore and the stigma is down right life threatening.
While In the Flesh is not the most popular show, characters like Kieren and Jem have a lot to teach us about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the stigma surrounding it. In just the first three minutes of the first episode, Kieren is shown having vivid, disturbing flash backs of the people he killed when he was in his untreated state. These flash backs continue throughout the show and Kieren becomes depressed over his inability to control them and the government’s lack of care.
Those who suffer from PTSD frequently have vivid flashbacks and nightmares of the trauma they’ve endured. Like Kieren, they can’t let go of the events that happened to them. PTSD sufferers often grapple with suicidal ideation, similar to how Kieren feels during the show. His sister points out that he “can’t kill himself twice” alluding to the way Kieren died in the first place. Feeling guilty for his actions, Kieren grapples similarly to those with PTSD.
Jem, Kieren’s younger sister, is a veteran who fought untreated PDS sufferers in the Human Volunteer Force (HVF) during the zombie outbreak or “the rising” as it’s referred to on the show. As the show continues, we find out that Jem is suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme feelings of guilt and anxiety. She shows all the symptoms of PTSD and with no tools to help her transition into civil society again, her anxiety just keeps getting worse. It doesn’t help that one of the people tied up in her guilt happens to be her brother, a PDS sufferer she couldn’t bring herself to kill during the rising.
Jem Walker (Harriet Cains) Photo courtesy of the BBC
Studies show that 1 out of every 9 women will develop PTSD in their lifetime. This makes them twice as likely as men. While Jem suffers because of her time in the HVF, this number is likely higher because 1 out of 6 women in the US will experience an attempted or completed rape at some point during their life. The stigma around PTSD is focused on veterans, but many people forget that rape victims make up a large portion of PTSD sufferers.
One fear that the living have about PDS sufferers is that if their medication wears off, they will return to their untreated state and become violent. The stigma around PTSD sufferers is very much the same. Especially with veterans, many people believe that PTSD sufferers are violent and will lash out at any moment. With the April shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, this stigma has only deepened. Suspected of having PTSD, Ivan Lopez injured 16 and killed 3 before killing himself. While Lopez was being evaluated for PTSD,there was never a diagnosis. Despite there being no concrete evidence of Lopez having PTSD, many people believe he did and have therefore attached the diagnosis to violence.
Ivan Lopez, Photo courtesy of Fox News Latino
However, the opposite is true. PTSD sufferers are no more potential to violence than anyone else. Blogger and PTSD sufferer C.J. Grisham writes, “I get extremely nervous in crowded situations and become hypersensitive to my surroundings. Before entering any building, I make a quick survey of all people around me and seek out any and all exits. I sit with my back to a wall so I have a good view of people approaching me. I get startled and anxious at unexpected and loud noises. What I don’t get is violent. What I don’t do is threaten people.”
Clinical Psychologist and Military Researcher, Herrera-Yee says of PTSD sufferers that “you’re more likely to see it as someone who is withdrawn, anxious and numb, who’s lost interest in life. Some veterans explain it to me this way: ‘The last thing you want is to go out and lash out.’” Despite this, the stigma of violence still remains, much like the stigma surrounding PDS sufferers. Kieran is small, and soft-spoken. He spends much of his time inside, avoiding people because he is ashamed of what he did. He takes his medication daily and is probably the least likely to lash out or go rabid. In fact, when *SPOILER* forced to go rabid by being subjected to the pill “Blue Oblivion,” he attempts to tie himself to a grave to keep himself from hurting anyone. It isn’t the PDS sufferers who are most likely to lash out, but the living surrounding them who treat them like second class citizens and want them out of their town by any means necessary.
While having PTSD isn’t quite as obvious to the untrained eye as the living dead, the stigma is still very similar. No one is threatening to gun down anyone who has PTSD, but the same fear is still very much there. Similar to Kieren having to hide his condition with makeup and eye contacts, many PTSD sufferers feel they cannot talk about their disability for fear of judgement and many feel ashamed for having it in the first place.
PTSD is a serious issue with a terrible stigma surrounding it. People who don’t understand PTSD (or don’t care to) can be afraid of people who have it. It’s important to educate the public about this disease because with knowledge comes acceptance. By using In the Flesh as a teaching tool, we may be able to get rid of the misconceptions surrounding PTSD.Though the show has been canceled, its messages are still important. Like Kieren, many PTSD sufferers are very much harmless and deserve our love and respect.
July has come and gone in the blink of an eye. August promises to close out the summer in style, with a few notable blockbusters and some good independent films sprinkled in. Check out what we have to say about August’s films:
August 1 – Guardians of the Galaxy
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro
I’m hooked on a feeling… that this might be the greatest Marvel movie ever made. Although the Guardians have been around in comic books for decades, and the team being used for the film having existed since 2008, the number of people who can name any of the individual team members is far surpassed by the volume of fans who have no idea what is going on – and that will work to the film’s benefit. Nobody has any expectations of this rag-tag group, whose diversity is its strongest card. A talented set of actors, endless humor and explosive action will round out the intergalactic adventure that, at worst is a thrilling movie to see with the family, and at best could be this generation’s Star Wars. One thing is certain – we will be at the theaters on Friday to find out. – Sherif
HEEEYYY!!! Now one more time, say that with your best James Brown impression. Couldn’t do it? That’s okay, because Chadwick Boseman sure can when he plays James Brown in the upcoming biopic titled Get on Up. If you are a fan of James Brown, soul, funk, music, and history, this movie is for you. Be prepared to get on up and enjoy this movie directed by Tate Taylor (The Help). However, get on up silently because, well, you are still in a movie theater. I honestly believe this movie is going to be great and it’ll make you feel so many emotions including excitement, happiness, sadness, and sorrow. Despite this movie being about the music of the godfather of soul, it is also about his family and his life, which has not been struggle-free. Basically, I think this movie is going to be fantastic; however, if James Brown and his music is not your thing, it is possibly the drama and the history will be enough to hold your interest. So one more time, get on up, and give it your best HEEEYYY!!! – Evan
August 5 – Dragonball Z: Battle of the Gods
Starring: Original voice cast
I’ve been trying to get into DBZ since I recently signed up for Crunchyroll, but there are just so many other great animes out that I haven’t gotten a chance to get to really dive into the series. What really has me interested is the fact that a year after its release, Funimation has taken it upon themselves to get the American theatrical release rights and is showing this in select theaters for a few nights. Something happened with a Tekken animated movie a few years back and it was definitely worth the trip. I don’t personally care about this movie and I figure that any major fan would have already seen the dubbed version, and while I don’t really care for some of the business practices of Funimation, this gives me hope for the future. Anything that gets a big enough following could be a potential candidate for the big screen. There are plenty of animes I would pay to see so if this is your type of thing, make sure to get out there and support it as it will give companies a reason to continue doing this in the future. – Robert
August 8 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Starring: Johnny Knoxville (voice only), Tony Shalhoub (voice only), Megan Fox, William Fichtner, Will Arnett, Whoopi Goldberg
August is here, and whether or not fans burn down the House that Bay built depends on this film. Long-time fans are either reserved or outraged, whether it be the way the Turtles look, the fact that Megan Fox is playing April O’Neil, or if it’s just based off the fact that Michael Bay is the director. All of these points are quite valid, but I can’t help but want to take a chance on this new take on the Heroes in a Half-Shell. We all have our own impression on what we consider the Turtles to be, and I think that any major motion picture attention to the franchise is a win in my books. There’s simply no way this TMNT incarnation will be as amazing as the originals, or even the new Nickelodeon television series, but as long as Bay can capture the magic of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that made it such an instant classic 30 years ago, it may continue to be at the forefront of pop culture for all ages. – Sherif
August 8 – What If
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver
Originally titled The F Word for its initial 2013 debut, What If is the tale of Harry Potter trying to avoid being put in the friend-zone with a decidedly hot blonde. It sounds like a cliché concept, but What If has already garnered a lot of critical acclaim, earning Best Adapted Screenplay at the Canadian Screen Awards. Daniel Radcliffe is finally believable as an adult actor, and his best friend in the movie is played by Adam Driver – who is the one sole reason that HBO’s Girls is a watchable show for me. This movie won’t break any new ground, but for any guys looking to get over the Friend Zone hump, this would be the movie to take her to (unless she likes TMNT, in which case you should just marry her). – Sherif
August 8 – Step Up: All In
Starring: Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Adam Sevani, Stephen Boss, and Cyrus Spencer
Confession time: I have seen every single episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Every. Single. One. I haven’t seen any of the Step Up movies, but I am always happy for the contestants of SYTYCD when they make it to gigs beyond the show. For Stephen Boss aka tWitch and Cyrus Spencer aka Glitch, this is exactly the case. And really, is anyone going to see these movies for the plot? No, its a dance movie. But the dancing should be worth seeing this film, even if it is just for the SYTYCD alum. – Adrian
August 15 – Frank
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Domhnall Gleeson (AKA Bill Weasley), Scoot McNairy
I have absolutely no idea what to make of this movie. It looks like Deadmau5 has a crack-head brother or something and we are getting to watch the story of his tomfoolery. The story of a guy who wears a fake head and never ever takes it off seems like it could be humorous but I don’t know if this is my kind of comedy. After watching the trailer my interest is definitely piqued but there are too many other things I would rather see so I would say that I will wait to rent this at Redbox or something, but truth be told I will probably forget about this movie once I’m done writing this. – Robert
August 15 – Life After Beth
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon
As much as I love these actors and zombies, I am rather sick of people being in love with monsters. Although the idea may be over done in this we see upcoming actor Dane DeHaan (Amazing Spider-Man 2) as Zach, a young man who we see struggling emotionally due to the loss of his girlfriend. This quickly changes as Zach sees Beth (Aubrey Plaza), his lost girlfriend and finds she has been resurrected somehow, and although she initially shows no signs they start to figure out she is a zombie and needs to eat human flesh. This will almost guaranteed bring laughs if for nothing else due to the cast, but ultimately it will be lost among the other blockbusters this month. It is definitely not a family film and is marketed towards the teen and young adult community. Although the film itself may be easily forgotten due to other massive films this month don’t forget it as it will likely be a well liked film among certain groups. – Jacob
August 15 – The Expendables 3
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, Kelsey Grammer(?), Terry Crews, Victor Ortiz, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Initially sold as a man-gasm inducing thrill-fest, this franchise is two strokes away from permanently shooting blanks. I love action flicks as much as the next guy, and I genuinely thought the franchise was a good idea, but is there something really so wrong with just letting the legends ride off into the sunset without having to sit through multiple hours of screaming, slow-motion firefights and catchphrases that barely worked twenty years ago? Let’s be honest; nobody is watching this film for the acting, or the storyline. Twenty & thirty-something men get to see some of their action star idols duke it out as one last hurrah. The third installment gives us Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson (the new bad guy), Harrison Ford, a post-prison Wesley Snipes and Kelsey Grammer. If the fate of the world is in Frasier Crane’s hands, we’re all screwed. There’s no way I’m influencing you’re decision to see The Expendables 3, as you’ve likely already made your decision before reading this. – Sherif
August 15 – The Giver
Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Odeya Rush, Katie Holmes, Taylor Swift
I won’t lie. When I see the trailer for The Giver, I get chills. Based off the book The Giver by Lois Lowry, the movie will be a look into one boy’s world… a utopia that isn’t actually that perfect. It feels odd to be writing a preview on this for two reasons. One being that practically every millennial and younger have read the book in school. The other being that if I say much more for those who don’t know the plot, there is a lot to give a way. In short, go see this movie. You will not be disappointed. -Adrian
August 22 – Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Starring: Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, Bruce Willis
Is it 2005 again, or did Robert Rodriguez just find a way to make Jessica Alba hot again?? It’s been nearly a decade, but Frank Miller’s Sin City is coming back to the silver screen in its second installment, A Dame to Kill For. Just like last time, the star-studded cast will take turns adding their pieces to the puzzle. Sin City vets like Alba, Bruce Willis and Josh Brolin are back, but several big name newcomers will also be sharing the spotlight, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Viewers should expect multiple plot twists, both in a sequel and prequel aspect to the original. Miller and Rodriguez’s visual style also looks to be prevalent throughout the film. This is going to be a fun movie any way you look at it. If you can’t wait for the movie to come out, you can also read the graphic novel of the same name, as it was released over 20 years ago. – Sherif
August 22 – To Be Takei
Starring: George Takei
Oh my! To Be Takei is a documentary depicting the life of brilliant and ever-exuberant George Takei. It tells his story from his childhood in a Japanese internment camp to his ground breaking role on Star Trek to his coming out story and marriage. This promises to be an incredibly inspiring film, especially for anyone who has felt trapped by society just for being who they are. George cleverly reminds us in the tagline that “It’s Okay to Be Takei!” As a Trekkie and proud member of the LGBT community, I’m extremely excited to see this movie hit the big screen, On Demand, and iTunes on August 22nd. – Charlotte
This movie looks like it could be a more light-hearted sequel to Due Date. The movie stars Zach Galifinakis as yet another crazy person with a myriad of issues, only this time he inherits a small fortune and everybody seems to be out to get it from him. It actually looks pretty funny but looks like it might have more of those light-hearted friendship moments than I would prefer from a movie with him in it. His usual style of comedy hasn’t yet grown old to me so this definitely looks like something worth checking out. – Robert
August 22 – If I Stay
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Jaimie Blackley, Liana Liberato, Mireille Enos, and Joshua Leonard
Honestly, I have never read If I Stay. However, it doesn’t look half bad. The story follows a teenage celloist named Mia who has a pretty good life going on until her family gets in a fatal car wreck. Mia experiences an out of body experience while in a coma and must decide whether to go back to living or go… elsewhere. I don’t know whether this will appeal to the masses, but anything that gets teenagers to read seems pretty decent to me. – Adrian
August 29 – Life of Crime
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher, Yasiin Bey
Life of Crime reminds me of the type of comedy that my parents would have watched when I was a kid, and one that I wouldn’t have understood for the life of me. I have a feeling this could be the same way. Tim Robbins plays a rich man whose beautiful wife (Aniston) is kidnapped. When the kidnappers attempt to collect the ransom, Robbins refuses to pay. If it sounds like an idea that’s been done before, that’s because it has. The 1986 movie Ruthless People had pretty much the same premise, and Life of Crime is credited as being based off the book The Switch. I’d be lying if I said that Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def and Tim Robbins didn’t sell me on seeing the movie, but otherwise, Life of Crime doesn’t bring nearly enough to the table to make me want to sit through it. – Sherif
In this consumer-based industry, it can be easy to forget the years of hard work that the people in the business put in. Behind every panel, it takes a skilled writer, artist, inker and colorist to make the product complete. Behind each scene goes hours of preparation. Hush Comics’ weekly article “Respect My Craft” will dive into the history of these comic book and pop culture greats that will hopefully give a new perspective on how the men and women behind the pen (or stylus) contribute to the collective awesome-ness of the nerd world, or at least give you a reason to invest in their work.
Click on the link to take you to all of our Denver Comic Con 2014 “Respect My Craft” articles
Name: Max Brooks
Profession: Writer
NotableWork: World War Z, Zombie Survival Guide, Harlem Hellfighters
“One time I was doing some radio press in Utah and this lady called up and she said, ‘I’m living in a trailer with my four kids and now I’m afraid of zombies and I don’t know what to do!’ And I said, ‘Lady, if you’re living in a trailer with four kids, you’ve got bigger problems. Don’t worry about the zombies.'” –Max Brooks
Max Brooks was born May 22, 1972 to Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. He graduated from American University’s film school in 1994, after having also attended Pitzer College as a History major and spending a semester at the University of the Virgin Islands. Mel Brooks is a name that should sound instantly familiar to anyone who has watched older comedies. He was an actor/producer in such films as The Producers, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Anne Bancroft was a name that I didn’t recognize immediately but after looking at her work, realized just how big she was. Anne Bancroft played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, a role for which she won a Golden Globe for best actress, and a film that is preserved in the national registry for its cultural significance. You could say that their son had quite a bit to live up to.
In his early years, Max worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live, and according to interviews, had written the manuscript for The Zombie Survival Guide even before working there. It was during his time at SNL that he met a book publisher that was willing to put the book out there and get it published. What initially was touted as comedy book slowly but surely started to be seen for what it actually is. With sales that were initially slow, Max decided to do a few interviews and lectures to prove that this book was the real deal and that it wasn’t making fun of its core audience. After people started realizing that this book was amazing, it shot up The New York Times Best Sellers list and eventually selling over a million copies while being the publishers most requested back cataloged book.
After the success of his first book, he followed up with World War Z, which was met with high praise. World War Z was immensely popular and spent weeks of the Best Sellers list. The novel remains one of my favorites of all-time, and it’s just as socially conscious as it is entertaining. From the Middle Eastern relationships to American non-interventionism, the underlining political tones were all on-point. These books made Brooks not only an acclaimed writer, but the new spokesman for the undead.
This book was so popular, in fact, that it was picked up for a movie adaptation. After these two successes, they were followed up by a graphic novel that was a follow up to the Survival Guide, called The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. Max Brooks wasn’t content to just be a writer, he has also acted in TV show such as Roseanne and 7th Heaven. He also has a career in voicing animation and has done voice over work for various cartoons such as Batman Beyond and Justice League. He has been handed the torch for the undead (even though Romero is still writing books), even representing zombies in the Deadliest Warrior special, “Vampires vs. Zombies.” Spoiler, zombies win.
Latest work is the Harlem Hellfighters (review to come), a fictionalized account of an all-African American military squad during the First World War. They were set up to fail and ended up being some of the most decorated soldiers of the war. This is where his degree in History really shines, because he is able to take stories that actually happened and show the world the true bravery of this unit. Even though some of the people will be renamed as not to upset the families, everyone in the story is either real or based on a real person.
One of the most interesting things about Max Brooks is that he is dyslexic and yet still managed to write one of the most popular zombie novels of all time. While a kid in elementary school, he was initially frustrated that he had such a hard time reading, but it was his love for history that actually saved him and allowed him to push past it.
None of the media in this article belongs to Hush Comics; it all belongs to their respective properties (NY Times, Spike TV, Broadway Books). Join us tomorrow as we continue our countdown to Denver Comic Con with comic book artist, Colleen Doran, famous for Sandman, Wonder Woman and more.
In preparation for Denver Comic Con, we’ve been writing daily articles spotlighting guests at the con – called “Respect My Craft. Just last week, we wrote on:
Godzilla! Everybody’s favorite giant lizard monster is back at it. This opening weekend of Godzilla was the highest-grossing film of the year. This isn’t a very accurate representation of the movie, but it’s close enough. Expect our review soon.
The Game of Thrones got really juicy last week, with Peter Dinklage giving one of the show’s best performances (I only wish it could have lasted longer). Tonight’s episode, “Mockingbird,” is sure to be a thriller. Judging by the name, I’d say Littlefinger (who carried around a mockingbird pin) and Sansa, our “Little Bird,” will get plenty of attention.
Speaking of GoT, creator George R.R. Martin gets animated with it, as he appears on Robot Chicken in this clip inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Birds.
The government actually has a zombie fallout plan. Tax dollars wasted or bigger conspiracy??
The first full trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar has dropped. There’s a big emphasis on Murphy’s Law, and finding life on another planet when the food source on ours runs out (we’ll always have Cheetos, right?). Matthew McConaughey and My Cocaine (Michael Caine) star in this sci-fi thriller.
Everybody calm down! The next DC Animated project announced is… Aquaman and his New52 origin story. I hope all you people who were complaining of too many Batman films are happy when Arthur Curry starts riding seahorses and talking to dolphins. Jokes aside, Geoff John’s Aquaman run to kick off the re-launch was pretty good, and made the masses respect the ridiculed character. There’s still a while until this comes out, but the next DC Animated film to come out will be Batman: Attack on Arkham.
The new teaser for Guardians of the Galaxy is out, and Rocket Raccoon’s voice is heard. Blam! I murdered you!
DC Comics has released the creative teams and covers to the HUGE September crossover for Futures End. They will feature 3D holographic covers, and if they’re anything like last year’s “Villain Month,” they will fly off the stands. Just beware, there is going to be an awful lot of cash-grabbing issues, most of which will be terribly written and uninteresting.
While Spider-Man might have been the originator of the superhero selfie, DC Comics will be releasing selfie-themed issues coming this August.
Cinderell-y, Cinderell-y night and day its Cinderell-y! Next year the live action version of Cinderella comes out. Considering Cinderella is Adrian’s favorite Disney movie of all time, this is pretty big news. Check the teaser below:
Get ready to eat and read at Chipotle. The restaurant chain is debuting literary cups with the likes of Toni Morrison, Jonathon Safran Foer, Malcolm Gladwell and many more contributing to musings that are sure to be written in perfect typography.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Pick of the Week:
Magneto #2 – A
“Magneto was right.” This is quickly becoming one of my favorite titles. Gabriel Herandez Walta captured something special while illustrating this book. We find Magneto in search of Omega Sentinels, killing all in his path. When he discovers that the homeless are being kidnapped and biologically altered to hunt mutants he has a flashback to Warsaw,1942. The flashback panels are brilliant. I literally got chills reading those pages. We find yet another catalyst for Magneto’s anger when it is revealed that his friend, Levi Weinlaub, and family suffered at the hands of Hilter’s Nazis. When in the company of humans Magneto refers to himself as Max in this book. As a child, Max Eisenhardt was sent to the Auschwitz death camp. He changed his name to Eric Lehnsherr to navigate through the camp to be closer to his true love, a gypsy girl named Magda. As Max he was weak and fragile. This is interesting because it appears as if he is identifying himself as the powerless. This book flowed well, and the reader can follow along with minimal backstory. OMG, the scene with the nails is a MUST SEE! Magneto’s new purpose seems to be focused on righting the wrongs of the past. I give this title an emphatic two thumbs up! – JS
Marvel has finally found Magneto’s voice in the new Marvel.NOW world. He’s broken-down, tired, and fucking ruthless; this isn’t your father’s Magneto. The best part is, his powers aren’t even back to full strength – a point that serves to show just how frighteningly powerful he is. Magneto‘s writer Cullen Bunn does a commendable job on this book. We’ve started off with different accounts of Magnus Meltdowns, just to add to the effect that this guy is absolutely terrifying, and it works so well. I also love the flashbacks to Nazi Germany and how it turned Erik into a monster. This book has shot straight up my list of favorites, and I can’t wait to see where this book takes us. – S
Other Reviews:
BOOM! Studios:
Dead Letters #1 – B-
A man wakes up in a shady motel room and remembers nothing. Not his name, not how he got there, not even what he had for lunch. The one thing he does remember is that he’s no stranger to violence or action. Sounds totally Bourne Identity, right? Dead Letters #1 certainly starts out that way but ends in M. Night Shyamalan fashion. I’m talking The Six Sense Shyamalan… Not the The Happening version. Had it not been for this crazy twist, I would have just as soon written this series off. This is one to keep your eye on; its’ bound to surprise and entertain. – T
Dark Horse Comics:
Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #5 – B+
This issue was loaded with nostalgic moments from the history of the series. We actually get to see the original terminator being sent back along with Kyle Reese being sent back as well. There are obviously a few changes that have been made due to the continuity having changed. It seems as though everything is still going according to plan but with a slight twist. There are few variables that are going to change how we get to the end, but ultimately it should turn out similar to the explanations we are given in the film. With each issue that passes, I get more and more excited to find out how everything comes to an end. – R
Veil #2 – B-
The crazy lady with the weird powers is back. Dante is still stuck in the middle of it all, trying to play protector to some weird bio-weapon lady. There are some new elements that open up possibilities, but it ends up creating more questions than it does answering. I love the direction that the series is going in, even if it’s a tad creepy. The art is soft and the color art is crazy good. There’s something about a woman who mutilates sexual assaulters that really intrigues me – call me old-fashioned. There’s a difference between stalling and feeding the story to the readers, and Veil is doing a great job of the latter. – S
Edgar Allen Poe’s The Premature Burial – C
This one-shot comic combines two of Edgar Allen Poe’s tales, including The Premature Burial and The Cask of Amontillado. Both of these stories seem to be told by an original character named Mag the Hag. With anything by Edgar Allen Poe, you are assured a very dark and demented story filled with nasty people and often times nasty deaths. These two stories are nothing short of classic Poe and the artwork provide for them add to the already creepy nature of the short stories. The first story, The Premature Burial, follows a man who tries to kill a woman and desecrate her corpse only to end up finding the end he tried to produce for the woman in being buried alive. The second story, The Cask of Amontillado, is about a man who is taking a woman down to his vaults to tell her why her husband has been missing for years only to tell her that he killed him and trapped him in a wall. After he has told the woman of his actions and she runs off, the man dies himself next to the man he trapped so many years ago. Definitely two creepy stories and a must have issue for any Poe fan. If you do not know Poe’s work you may find this a little off putting as the stories are very dark and the artwork even made me shiver once of twice. – JR
DC/Vertigo:
Batman: Detective Comics #30 – B+
Oh, the wonders of a new creative team. After Gothtopia, Detective Comics‘ latest arc, the series was running on fumes. It had lost its flavor and much of its audience. However, this new creative team of Brian Buccellato (writing) and Francis Manapul (art) has breathed new life into the series. We start the Icarus arc with big panel art and some sweet action scenes of Batman. It looks like Batman will be taking on a street drug that sets people on fire! Like, full-blown Richard Pryor. I’m curious to see if they go back to Bat’s roots or will fall back on some big baddie to carry the arc. I’m hoping that the series takes some risk and starts all over, because more of this and I’ll be addicted. – S
Trillium #8 – B
This was the final issue of Jeff Lemire’s Trillium. There was a lot of confusion leading up to this issue, and I was unsure of how Lemire was going to wrap it up. I suppose it wasn’t as confusing as I made it out to be, because it’s wrapped up in the first ten pages. However, the main focus of the story is of the romance of Nika and Billy. We get more heartbreak and despair, too. Lemire really brings his A game with the art; there are several full-page panels that really make the book. Overall, Trillium made less sense than I wanted it to, but it took me on a fantastical journey to show us that we are not alone in this universe. – S
Green Arrow #30 – B
Things have begun to get a little crazy with the second to last issue of The Outsider Wars. The mystery of Oliver Queens’s death from last issue was solved and I must say that I was pretty surprised with how they pulled it off. I don’t particularly like the way that they ended this issue though. They spent all this time with the buildup to only abruptly end things in what can only be described as unsatisfying. Of course nothing is final seeing how the last issue ended and this one begins. The art for the whole Outsider War has left much to be desired as far as I’m concerned but it certainly isn’t the worst art I’ve ever seen. I am more interested to see what is coming next after this whole war as opposed to the end of this particular story arc. – R
Aquaman and the Others #1 – D
This has got to be the lamest bunch superheroes I have ever seen. So far, I haven’t seen a single interesting thing about any of The Others. I actually didn’t even know they were a team until last week. The art just as great as the regular Aquaman book, but it still can’t save the bland characters with almost no unique personalities. This issue also felt extremely short and there was barely any buildup to whatever story arc they are beginning. They barely took the time to properly introduce the main cast with each getting a few pages and absolutely no backstory. I don’t know where they are going with this publication but I am willing to give it ten issues before I kick it to the curb – if it lasts that long. – R
IDW Comics:
Monster and Madmen – C+
In the second part of this three-issue series, we learn a little more about the Madman, Jack the Ripper, and his intentions. We see Frankenstein’s monster wander off around the city trying to figure out what has happened since he awoke and he becomes enthralled with the people and buildings around the city. All is fine and he is going around unnoticed until a prostitute offer him her services and the horrified and horrifying look he gives her makes her scream in fear causing people to chase him only for him to find his way back to the Doctor who saved him from the beach in the first issue. We learn this man is Joh Moore and that he has an almost unhealthy obsession with the Monster. Dr. Moore offer the Monster his home and tells him that if he stays and lets him examine him that he will make the Monster a companion to help heal his lonely heart. After the Monster agrees to stay we see the Doctor go out on the town and pick up a woman whom we can only assume will receive the wraith we all know Jack the Ripper is known for. A very entertaining and artistically entertaining series continues to put a good twist on two famous stories. Anybody who enjoys either story or monster movies in general will enjoy this issue and hopefully in the next and last issue we will have a good wrap up of the series. – JR
Image Comics:
Black Science #5 – A
Just when you thought a story involving multidimensional travel to interwoven layers of realities and universes couldn’t get more complex, Black Science #5 enters the scene to roundhouse kick you to the face. One of the best kicks I’ve ever received. A whole new dynamic enters the plot this week and it breathes vibrant life into an already thriving series. Remender knows what he’s doing. I really applaud the way he drops a new and compounded concept on readers without making it confusing or seem out of place. On par with the plot is still the artwork – environments are so intricately detailed! Everything about this series is well managed and super creative. If you haven’t started, please pretty PLEASE start reading Black Science. – T
’68 Rule of War #1 – A
I really enjoyed this issue. With a familiar, yet new take on the world of zombies, this story has some interesting twists to it. I really was interested in this story from the get go, with the mystery behind what is happening and the various stories lines I could see crossing paths, I’m happy I got the chance to read this new book and I look forward to future issues. If you get a chance to read this book or you are a big zombie fan, check it out for sure. – E
Marvel:
Moon Knight #2 – A
I’ve been reviewing comics for a very short time now, but I’m finally starting to hit my groove. Know how? I’ve discovered my first real pet-peeve with comics! It’s when issue #2 drops and it’s everything that should have been issue #1!! Moon Knight #2 hits this mark square in the face. I guess in the way of pet-peeves, this is a good one to have. People – if you were only mildly impressed by Moon Knight #1 (like me) be sure to shake the feeling and grab a copy of #2 right now! Panel to panel, this issue was flat out awesome. The outstanding quality of #2 resides in the fact that no major or significant plot development occur. There’s almost no dialogue and you don’t really know what’s happening until the end. You might read those last few sentences and think I’m on crack. Rest assured – I only sniff magic (markers). The story is a one-and-done, but is executed flawlessly and is visually stunning the whole way through. I can now start buying into the hype that Moon Knight is a keeper. – T
Ultimate Spider-Man #200 – A-
If you have been following Ultimate Spider-Man, you know that the Ultimate Peter Parker has been dead for two years (SPOILER!). This issue, more than anything, is a love letter to Peter Parker and all the iterations of his kind. As all the big names come back for a wake in Parker’s honor, we get a recap of all the crazy adventures they went through together. It was really neat to get an inside look at how others felt about their relationship with Spider-Man, and does a solid job of explaining all the characters and relationships you may not know. If you’re not a Spider-Man fan – or you lack a heart – it can bore you. However, the full page spreads of various Spider-Men is something to behold. By the time you’re done reading this, you will have had a great session in nostalgia, or you will go buy the entire catalog of Ultimate Spider-Man. – S
The Punisher #4 – B+
I really like this entire arc of the Punisher. It is action-packed, stays true to the character, and has a story-line that is intriguing enough to keep me entertained. With moderate story progression this week, I can’t put much effort into figuring out what is brewing; however, I hope it will be exciting. This book is fun to read, and I really do enjoy reading this comic. – E
Black Widow #5 – B-
After four issues of what could be considered one-shots, the fifth issue is finally able to build a continuous story. The idea that a spy should trust her gut over intel rings true for Natasha, as it gets her into one sticky situation. Phil Noto’s art, as always, is worth the price of admission alone. I like that the story is finally moving forward, but I can’t help but feel that, five issues in, the book has lost a bit of its luster to me. It will take some really good story-telling to pull me back in the way I originally felt about it. That being said, an espionage book written about an Avenger is enough of an original idea to get me to keep reading, and Natasha Romanov is one of the most bad-ass characters in the Marvel world. Let’s hope this snowball keeps rolling downhill. – S
Loki: Agent of Asgard #3 – B-
I thought the story that was being told was pretty cool. I have a pretty good idea of where this story is going, but it is really nice to see how Loki is manipulating things for the purpose to gain his objective. I really liked the way the story is told in this issue. With most of it being a narrative, I felt like I was watching a movie about major or even a fairy tale, and honestly, that wouldn’t be far off from the truth. All the mysticism and dragons make this a tale worthy of Midgard. – E
Deadpool vs. Carnage #1 – C+
This issue marks the start to another almost guaranteed enjoyable Deadpool series. We learn that Cletus Kasady/ Carnage has escaped from prison and has been traveling across America killing as many people as he can. Deadpool sees this on the news while watching T.V. and after a classic Deadpool scene where he tries figure out what he should do with his life, he heads after Carnage figuring he is the only one crazy enough to be able to catch him and bring him to whatever kind of justice Deadpool brings. This first issue packs the kind of violence we would assume would come from not just a Deadpool book but from Carnage as well and of course has the same wit and humor that always comes with our favorite Merc with the Mouth. The issue ends on a semi cliffhanger and the sight of a smaller Villainess from the Spiderman universe known as Shriek. This series is bound to be entertaining for Deadpool alone, but I am excited to see where it goes and how these two will continue their battle. – JR
The Merc With the Purdy Mouth faces off with Carnage. We don’t know why; Deadpool actually gets the “epiphany” from watching television. There’s not even an attempt at cohesion here – like most things Deadpool. There is some clever writing, but I didn’t see the point to any of it – and the issue was quickly forgotten after the last page was turned. The name of the series is enough to sell the mini-series, but any more bland issues like this and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep going. Here’s to hoping this issue lives up to at least a little of its potential. – S
Inhuman #1 – C
Don’t get me wrong, I like Charles Soule’s writing. I truly enjoyed last year’s Superman/Wonder Woman run from D.C. Comics. But Inhumans #1 was a difficult read. Unless you have a pretty extensive knowledge of The Kree, (an alien race at odds with the Skrulls and responsible for bio-engineering super-sapiens here on earth), Black Bolt and Terrigen technology, you are going to be lost. There is a ton of unnecessary dialog in this book, so much so that it seems forced. I know, I know, I’ve complained before about the lack of writing in some titles, but this book couldn’t find a healthy balance between the art and the story. The panels are vibrant, shout out Joe Madureira, but at points it seemed like the art and story were fighting for the readers attention. Now, with that being said, I am semi-excited for this title. If you have been following the incredible Ms. Marvel book, you will be pleasantly surprised that we start Inhuman following the Terrigen storm in New York; can we say “crossover?” Overall, great art, too much info in the story for a first issue. There is, however, a pretty cool Stark Industries Easter Egg at the end, though. – JS
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 3 B’s and 1 D, averaging out to a 2.5
Marvel Comics: 3 A’s, 3 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 3.13
Independents: 2 A’s, 3 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 3.00
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Pick of the Week:
Deadly Class (Image Comics) #2 – A
This book is awesome, it’s a classic high school scene like Harry Potter or Freaks and Greeks, except the children are there to learn how to be assassins. I just love the story behind this book and what it is going to develop into. At first, when Sherif told me about Deadly Class, I honestly thought it was going to be stupid and not very entertaining, but I have been proven wrong. With so many cool characters, and an interesting concept, Deadly Class has tickled, no, molested my fancy and I cannot wait to continue to see what comes out of this comic. In issue #2, we get our very first look into the school it’s amazing to see where everyone comes from and how everyone there plans to become an assassin. Even though there isn’t a ton of action in this issue, the writing is enough to keep the reader engaged and interested through the entire book. I can truly appreciate a comic that doesn’t need action to make the story great. If you have not started reading Deadly Class yet, I highly recommend it. – E
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo:
Superman: Lois Lane #1 – B
Lois Lane hasn’t been a major part of Superman’s life like she has in the past thanks to the reboot of the New 52 and Superman knocking boots with a goddess now. This story proves that Lois Lane is still a badass reporter that doesn’t need to be rescued by the Man of Steel. The plot revolves around Lois’ sister and some sort of trouble that she got into with drugs that have crazy side-effects. Lois of course sets off to investigate and get into all sorts of hijinks related to the investigation. The story overall isn’t too bad and the art is great, which also matches the artwork from the new 52 superman book. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a one-shot like this but I can say that Lois didn’t disappoint. She is still the only woman I can see Superman ending up with. – R
Batman Superman #8 – B-
I’ve finally woken up from the bad dream that has been the past couple months of Batman/Superman and found myself back in the real world. I’m not sure what kind of hell was happening with the last few issues, but we are back in the Greg Pak/Jae Lee universe that we signed up for in the first place. Issue #8 saw an alternate universe’s Robin and Supergirl (now Huntress and Power Girl) meeting Batman and Superman for the first time. Seeing Batman’s estranged daughter interact with him for the first time is worth a laugh, and Superman’s attempt to protect Power Girl from himself is exactly what you’d expect. The plot is just a transition to what will happen in the next issue of World’s Finest, so don’t get too attached to the story. Really, though, the art is what will save the book. It’s just beautiful, and it’s reason enough to invest in the series going forward. – S
Dark Horse Comics:
Tomb Raider #1 – B+
This issue is about what I expected it to be when I heard there was a new series coming out. This issue is an introduction to a few key characters and the buildup for the first arc. What I didn’t expect was that it is a continuation of the story from the latest Tomb Raider game that came out. I absolutely loved the game and if you haven’t played it yet, I would highly recommend it – you owe it to yourself. This continuation has me especially excited because I was left with a sense of wanting to know what happens next after the game. If the writing is as good as it was in the game, then I expect there to be great potential in this story. This is still a very young Lara and that leaves tons of room for development beyond anything we have seen before in games or film. – R
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #2 – C+
If the debut issue of Serenity: Leaves on the Wind was the honeymoon, issue #2 is like the awkward first week back. The Serenity crew is forced with a tough decision regarding Zoë’s condition, and they pick up an old pal in Jayne Cobb. With Jayne on board, things should feel back to normal, but the identity just isn’t there in this book… yet. There are many moving pieces in Leaves on the Wind: the new revolution, Zoë, River, and an unwelcome visitor by the name of Jubal Early (last episode of Firefly). So far, nothing has been established to make me feel part of the experience. Hopefully the next issue will make me feel the magic. – S
IDW Comics:
Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles #31 – A-
As the turtles regroup in Northampton from the events of City Fall, we’re finally getting to see our heroes in their familiar light: joking, training and feeling like family again. There are some really awesome moments with Casey and Donatello (very nostalgic of the first TMNT film) and Raphael and Alopex. Even Leonardo and Splinter iron out some issues. This issue isn’t all feels though, as a new mutant assassin of the foot emerges. What really sets TMNT apart from other books is that even in the lulls, there is always something to push the story along. The dialog may seem lengthy at times, but it’s heavily tied to the story and character development. The art of Ross Campbell is beautiful, and is greatly complemented by it’s bright colors. Enjoy it while it lasts, as after issue 32, Mateus Santolouco takes over. Regardless of who is drawing, with Tom Waltz at the held, TMNT can do no wrong. – S
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Utrom Empire #2 – B
In this Krang-centric book, we get a look at the bigger picture. Krang, although ruthless and power-hungry, cares deeply for the fate of his people. It’s almost admirable, in a creepy kind of way. As he battles extinction from all angles, Krang proves he is willing to do whatever is necessary to save the Utrom people, even at the cost of his own life. The 80’s action flick vibe is still in full effect, here. Vog, the triceratops mutant, is quickly becoming one of my favorite villains in the book, and I just hope that the turtles never have to face such a foe. I’m not nearly as interested in this side-story as I have been in the past TMNT mini-series (the best among them being Secret of the Foot Clan), but Utrom Empire has managed to take the turtles most dangerous foe and make him the protagonist… sort of. – S
Samurai Jack #5 – B
BOSS FIGHT! We were just saying in our review of issue #4 that it’s time for the story to pick up steam and progress the story. Like the top of a roller-coaster ride, all this issue needed was a light push and the story went from 0-epic in one page. In fact, it might move too quick, as the art and dialog is all over the place, and a bit jumbled. That being said, Jack confronts Aku, and it’s every bit the showdown we were waiting for. The Threads of Time play a big part in his strategy, but the turn-around from start to end is so fast, it seemed a bit rushed. Pace aside, Jack is still a great pick-up for those raised on the series and genre. – S
X-Files Conspiracy: Transformers #1 – B-
Above most other aspects in creative media and storytelling, I appreciate creativity and new ideas. IDW supplies in X-Files Conspiracy. The fourth installment of this series merges the adventures of Scully, Mulder and their cohorts with the infamous robots in disguise – Transformers! Being one of my favorite childhood interests it was great to see Optimus and others in still panel form. The premise is simple; the X-Files team is out to unravel a conspiracy and in the process, save the world. Continuing on from the previous issues featuring the Ghostbuster’s crew as well as our favorite heroes in half-shells (TMNT!!), the Autobots assemble in support of the cause. There were a lot of humorous moments in the pages of this issue that really add to the enjoyment factor. It wasn’t the most action packed comic, but all in all this was a fun read. I recommend it if you’re looking to add a little bit of light-hearted variety to your comic stack. – T
Image Comics:
Black Science #4 – A
Of the numerous volumes of comic books I’m reading right now, very few come close to Image’s Black Science. This series tops even the Star War issues in my current stack (and that’s saying something). Don’t sleep on this one, people. Rick Remender’s (writer) creative genius has brought us a story with depth, intrigue, adventure, conflict/plot variety and everything that makes the Hush Comics family giddy! An issue hasn’t passed where I wasn’t left anxious after at the very last page and panel! Issue #4 plays out is similar fashion as the debut issue – a race against time before our dimensionaughts are forced to jump again to another dimension. The intensity is juxtaposed with powerful character monologue and gorgeous art work. I give, yet again, another big round of applause to Matteo Scalera (artist) and Dean White (painter). What they put on the page…it’s like love-making for eyeballs. By the conclusion of the issue, the plot has taken on a completely different pace and tone. This beautiful evolution opens up vast possibilities for the continuation of Black Science. I hope Remender and team keep this unique adventure engaging and exciting. – T
The Revenge #1 – B
Uhhhh, I’m not entirely sure what I just read, but it was good! This is definitely unlike other comic books that I have read in a long time. With lots of blood and boobs, The Revenge is a comic for a mature audience. This story is pretty clear and laid out, but I still have no idea where it is going to go. Some points in this comic and just demented and gruesome, yet I can’t find fault in it because that is the identity that the book has found for itself. Honestly, I found the book strange but a good strange, not like a “this is so weird and stupid I don’t even know what is going on strange.” So if you are in the search for a comic book unlike the rest, and are up for some boobs and blood, then I would recommend The Revenge. – E
Sex #11 – B-
After last issue’s tease at what a world with the Armored Saint looked like, we are back to the foreplay of the other nine issues. While the tension is certainly rising in Saturn City, I can’t honestly see the Saint making a comeback for at least another five issues if they continue at this pace. All the major characters and motives (or lack thereof) have been established and the only logical next step this story can take is to introduce the Armored Saint to save the city. They show us in the beginning that Simon clearly still has the skill but he just doesn’t have the proper motivation to break his vow yet. Simon is reminiscent of how Oliver Queen was behaving in the beginning of his New 52 run; they both desire to be something else yet neither one quite knows how to make it happen. I’m sure that wrinkly old ball sac called the Old Man will help him out with that. Speaking of ball sac, there has been a marked increase in the amount of penis that they started showing since its first introduction a few issues back – perhaps we could tone that down a bit. This isn’t Game of Thrones or Spartacus, after all. – R
The Walking Dead #122 – C-
Uggghh! If you’re wondering whether I’m disappointed or practicing my walker impression, know that it is the former… Chalk another one up for an uneventful TWD issue. As various members of the Alexandria and Hilltop communities cope and adjust to the aftermath of the savage battles the plot remains in a state of limbo. Minor developments and hints as to what will happen next pepper the page, but I’ve already lost track of the number of times an issue has lead me to believe, “oh the next issue is gonna be crazy!”… And I can count pretty high. Kirkman’s focus on the All Out War arch is far too centralized war rhetoric and how it affects everyone. I don’t know about you, but the impacts of war are lost on me in this post-apocalyptic time frame. The world has already gone to shit and a series of skirmishes termed as “war” adds little to the series. Only four issues remain until the All Out War story ends. I hope for the sake of continued TWD support that the conclusion is epic. It may not be long before this TWD fan is walking away from this dead series. – T
Marvel:
Hawkeye #15 – B+
It feels so good to be back in New York with Hawk-guy. I’ve had enough of Kate as Hawkeye, with her disastrous exploits living on her own. I really enjoy Clint Barton’s everyday adventures: the guns, the butt-kicking, and most especially, the Bros. The Russian (?) Bro Mafia is hilarious. They are one building away from owning the whole neighborhood – a building illegally owned by Hawkeye. Sometimes, it’s the most humane stories in the Avengers’ world that make for the most clever and entertaining books. Throw in a legitamite villain to the mix, and you have plenty of gas in the tank for Matt Fraction’s best book out. – S
Fantastic Four #1 – B
After an exciting first few pages, I was actually pretty excited to continue reading to see what was coming next. It started on such a serious and mysterious note that it grabs the reader attention right away. Yet, the rest of the book didn’t really carry that same mood and tone up until the end. Seeing that it is a first issue, I can understand the need to set up plot lines and background story, I just wish all that middle stuff was a bit more interesting. However, I am still interested to see how this story is going to play out. It seems like it is going to be more of a somber comic than a typical superhero book. And by getting a glimpse at that somber tone, it allows the reader to want to know how it got there. What went down in order to bring these people to the places they are at now? I guess only time will tell, but I would enjoy finding out. – E
Origin II #3 – B
Three issues in out of five and I’m still not sure what the purpose of this book is. I have enjoyed the art immensely but there hasn’t been any actual character development. So far Logan hasn’t actually said a single word, unless of course you count onamotapeia as language. I get the feeling that given the direction some of Wolverines other books are taking that this will perhaps be an origin for how his feud with Sabertooth ultimately began. Somehow, Sinister also fits into the picture, too. Being a major fan of Wolverine, I can’t help but continue to read this but I also can’t help but as why is there a sequel. – R
Indestructible Hulk #19 – B-
As of right now, there is a lot going on in the Indestructible Hulk series; yet with this particular comic, I felt like not much was happening. We got to see the effects of another one of Banner’s solutions to a problem and the consequences that happened because of it, but a majority of the comic was just uneventful. We did get to see some pretty cool action toward the beginning of the comic; however, it wasn’t able to carry the book by itself. I’m hoping the next issue can bring more excitement following the events that have transpired over the last couple issues. – E
Deadpool #24 – C+
Issue #24 ends the long saga of Agent Preston being stuck in Deadpool’s body. It’s drawn out, and uncharacteristically emotional, but it’s still the same Deadpool you know and love. There are a couple moments in the mush-fest that stick, though, as Deadpool is truly alone now – excluding the cacophony of voices in his head. It’s a decent transition issue, but it’s not much more than that. With all the hoopla at Marvel over a Deadpool wedding, I can see the need to explore those feelings, but #24 really forces the issue. Overall, I’m happy with the direction the book is taking, but turning Deadpool into a soft-hearted murderer won’t sit well with me. – S
Wolverine #2 – C
Heroes and villains have a way of dying or having a major crisis that somehow majorly affects them all the time. It’s the comic book industries way of reminding us that we should appreciate what we have because at any minute it could be taken away. Just look at Peter Parker; not only did they kill the Amazing Peter but they also killed the Ultimate universe’s version of Peter, too. Logan has a run-in with Superior Spider-Man‘s “Peter Parker” that shows a side of Logan that I don’t really think we have experienced before. This is a Wolverine that is de-powered, broken and, for the first time ever, afraid. I can’t help but think that this is just some plot to bring him back better than ever, or maybe change him in some major way kind of like what they did to Jubilee. That being said, this depiction of Logan pretty much shits on the whole idea of the character. I hope that Paul Cornell knows what he is doing. Too much of this Wolverine is definitely a bad thing. – R
Superior Spider-Man #28 – C-
After such a stellar display in issue #27, Superior Spider-Man feels like an awkwardly-long continuation instead of an expansion upon the Goblin Nation story. Some secrets were revealed, and it still feels like this is going somewhere, but I had gotten my hopes up after the last issue that things were finally turning around. While Otto is dumb-founded that the Green Goblin has out-smarted him, the subconscious of Peter Parker is getting sucked further and further into Otto Octavius’ psyche. Maybe Superior is trying to avoid taking the easy way out (segueing into April’s re-emergence of Amazing Spider-Man), but it just seems now that it is stalling for time until Parker returns. I’ll still keep reading, but I wouldn’t recommend this to new readers. – S
George Romero’s Empire of the Dead #2 – D
This issue is pretty much nothing but buildup for the inevitable plot arc involving some ridiculous rise of the zombies with consciences, or perhaps some type of battle between zombie and vampires with humans caught in the middle. The story remains vigilant that there is a way to domesticate zombies and that they have some feeling or memory of their former selves. I know that George Romero is considered one of the greats but I think he has crossed over that fine line of innovative into ridiculousness. This doesn’t even feel like fresh material after watching his last few subpar films. He has already explored many of these ideas in his earlier work and it didn’t pan out very well there either. I am left wondering how he thought it could pan out better in short spurts that don’t really have any coherent ideas so far. And as a bit of a personal gripe, the art is a bit all over the place. It is hard to determine who is who sometimes when the art doesn’t even match from one panel to the next. – R
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 2 B’s, averaging out to a 3.00
Marvel Comics: and 4 B’s, 3 C’s and 1 D, averaging out to a 2.38
Independents: 3 A’s, 6 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 3.09
Funniest Panel of the Week:
Epic Panel of the Week:
Cover Art of the Week:
Fantastic Four #1 Alex Ross variant
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The next time you’re at a post-apocalyptic slumber party, remember to always make claimsies to the bed you were going to sleep on. If not, you might end up getting choked out and left for dead by your supposed buddies. As we sat on our couch and watched The Walking Dead this week (no choke-outs occurred… tonight), we were expecting more of a scattered view of the ensemble cast, similar to “Inmates”. Instead, “Claimed” focused in on two distinct groups – Abraham/Glenn and Rick/Michonne. We’re gonna skip around here in the interest of staying with a certain topic.
We still can’t stand Carl. Sorry, Chandler Riggs, don’t hate us! This kid couldn’t act his way out of a tub of chocolate pudding, which admittedly might be harder than it sounds. We’ve been fooled throughout the series into thinking that Riggs plays a good Carl because he only gets a few lines every episode, usually in childish rebellion. This season, when we got a real good look at him as an individual, his story has completely failed to come across as a genuine coming of age tale. We’re not completely turned off of Caaaarrrrl, but it’s gonna take some major convincing to get us to care about this kid again.
“Claimed” depicts Michonne in a new light; we are exposed to a part of her that we had all but confirmed of her past – Michonne had a son, and his name was Andre. Carl spends the episode prying information from Michonne about her personal life and it’s convincingly heartfelt. Hush is extremely torn as to whether or not this new, sensitive portrayal of her is a good or bad thing.
On one side of the coin, Michonne transcends gender. She’s a badass with a katana, and there is no gender associated with her. Men (and pugs) dress up as Michonne. Just an episode after she murders a herd of walkers, Michonne is brought to her emotional brink by a pink (pink… seriously?) room full of dead people who were once a family. Which to some may seem like a way for the show to make her seem weak just because she is a woman. However, others in the Hush family feel that Michonne’s reactions were not weak, but rather essential character development. Michonne is a bad-ass. There isn’t a woman (or man) who watches the show and doesn’t want to go buy a katana. But Michonne is more than that. She is a mother, a lover, a fighter and a protector. She is multi-faceted and utterly human. It would only be in her nature to see that room that was more than just pink, it was the story of family who could not handle the world crumbling around them. It was a family who lacked the strength Michonne has. If Michonne had seen that room and not had an emotional reaction, she may not get empathy from the audience due to a lack of believability.
Glenn lets big Abe have it
Let’s talk about the legend, the end-all, be-all solution to the zombie apocalypse. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Eugene Porter. This motherfucker right here… This mullet-rockin dweeb in cargo shorts that haven’t been acceptable since 1998 is humanity’s last hope. It sounded a little far-fetched when I first read about it in the comic books, and I was skeptical. Now that I’ve heard it out loud, I can’t believe that Abraham and Rosita would ever believe him in the first place.
Nobody believes you, Eugene!
That’s not to say that Abraham and Rosita are unconvincing in their roles. Rosita does her best J.Lo/Tomb Raider impression, and is the best eye candy not named Lauren Cohan (Maggie). Anybody who takes the time to clean up like that, hoop earrings and all, is a great asset to have. Abraham plays soldier very well, blindingly following the “orders” from Eugene, who proudly proclaims, “I’m smarter than you.” Making a bit of comic-book prediction here, but we think Tara will soon switch teams and hook up with Abraham, ala Holly.
I hope she knows that she’s not doing her back any favors.
The real winner of this episode is Rick. I often feel that Rick is expected to be the unquestioned leader. Since pre-Shane, really, we haven’t gotten a good look at Rick only trying to survive on his own. It reminded me a lot of “Nebraska” (S2E8), where he gunned down two men who threatened him in a bar. It’s a plain reminder that Rick Grimes is a force to be reckoned with when he is by himself. Although he unrealistically summoned his inner-superhero to do some damage on the scavengers, we really found ourselves rooting for Rick again – something we haven’t done since Rick led the charge to invade Woodbury and rescue Maggie and Glenn.
Hush Comics gives “Claimed” a solid B. Overall, we really enjoyed the unique cinematography in this episode, and we can appreciate what they are trying to build here. Unfortunately, it is absolutely killing the pace of the show. Having all the groups separated and clearly not all going to meet up again until the season finale without great character development feels wasteful. We also feel, for the first time, that the connection of the show to the comic books is becoming problematic. At this point, forcing the show to fit into the lore of the comics is stifling. With the development of Carl being absolutely terrible and the journey to the sanctuary by all the separate groups, it is getting hard to relate to the characters or believe that they are even still surviving. The show has lost its touch when it comes to thinking about human morality and interaction.
There is a typographer and marketer who survived the apocalypse
All photos and awesomeness credited to AMC Television.
After such an explosive season 4A finale, the season 4B opener of the The Walking Dead was a little lackluster. It may be because the producers need to save money and not pay actors, but having an opener being Carl-centric was a bit disappointing. Let’s face it, most people were concerned with Glenn and Maggie reuniting and Daryl saving the day. But that is probably why we didn’t get to see any of that at all. Instead, we got to yell at the idiocy of angsty pre-teen Carl Grimes. The redeeming part of “After” was Michonne having emotions.
We enter the episode with Michonne returning to the prison after everyone has scattered. But she is going back for only one reason: to finish Hershel off. Along the way is one of the big plusses of the episode, the recreation of Michonne’s Walker Pets. Then we get a good ole’ “way too soon” shot of Hershel’s little walker head and Michonne stabbing it. All the feels.
Enter Rick and Carl walking alone down the open road. Carl walks ahead because he has tricked himself into thinking he is a badass. It becomes clear that Carl doesn’t have respect for Rick anymore, but it is unclear why. Is it because he realizes his dad isn’t invincible? Is it because he thinks his dad let all their friends die? Or is it simply that Carl is just a little shit? It really could be all of the above. They enter an abandoned restaurant and encounter Big Joe, the guy with the thickest skull this side of Wolverine. Is it likely that Rick’s axe wouldn’t have killed Joe? Probably not, but then we wouldn’t have gotten this piece of advice, “Every bullet counts.” Rick says this to Carl after Carl shoots Joe. Again Carl tries to show his upper hand by not doing what his father says. They find a home and argue some more. Then like a jealous woman, Carl brings up Shane. Going for the jugular. It was the moment for me that I realized that I don’t really like Carl, again. He had half a season of being a tiny little Rambo, but now he just looks and acts like his stunt double, a 30 something woman. It’s pretty terrible.
Michonne had a bad dream. It seemed though that all of it really happened, just not in the same sequence as it happened in the dream. We got a taste of her dressed up and talking like a normal human being. She had a pretty nice apartment, too. She has a “lover” and a child. She also put her Katana in her knife block. I am really hoping that a knife block featuring a Katana goes on sale at Target tomorrow. Anyway, her dream got creepy and her boyfriend and his friend got their arms cut off before they were walkers. But then she woke up! But I guess waking up from a bad dream in the zombie apocalypse isn’t really waking up from a bad dream.
Back at the home Rick and Carl found, Carl sits in what was once a young man’s room. A room with many of the same things Carl may have had if the zombies had never happened. It was a simple little touch to what was an attempt at a coming of age story. Unfortunately, this was the only good touch. Rick is passed out on the couch and all Carl does to try to wake him up is scream at him. He doesn’t even check his pulse! It’s pretty ridiculous in a show about survival. Anyway, of course his screaming attracted walkers. And then Carl didn’t stay in the house. Yeah, and I wasn’t the only one thinking that either. I found this gem on Tumblr everywhere after typing in “The Walking Dead.”
And he decides to mess with the walkers. Remember last time he did that? Well Dale died. This time, no one died, but Carl should have. He leads them away from the house, more than likely because he knows he shouldn’t be out in the first place. Then he encounters a third walker and barely is able to shoot all three. They do die on top of him and he has to wriggle his way out. Then he throws up, wasting the milkless Wheaties he and Rick had argued over the night before. Instead of being scared though, like a little punk he says, “I win.” This kids needs an ass whoopin’. He goes back to the house and yells at an unconscious Rick some more, this time about being such a badass blah, blah, blah and then says he doesn’t need Rick anymore. Mmm, mmm, mmm, what a little asshole (credit to the secretary in Ferris Bueller). And moreover, it seemed like not so great acting. I was not moved. It may have been the content, but isn’t every 14 year old kid too big for their britches? Is it that hard to act it well?
Carl decides to go explore some more and finds a lot of pudding in the kitchen of a nearby home. But then he also finds a walker, wastes lots of bullets and when that one bullet he needed was gone, he tries to scoot away. Didn’t he think of pistol whipping him? Well, obviously not. In a big show of cat and mouse, Carl ends up getting away, although I’m not entirely sure how because there were plenty of chances for his leg to be bit. But his shoe did get taken away by the walker. And that was the whoopin’ he got. And it probably will be the only time that he gets beaten up and his shoe stolen from a bully. Then he went and ate that puddin’ on top of a roof. It was a little sweet, a boy and his puddin’. But then I remembered that Carl is a total A-Hole and it wasn’t that sweet anymore.
Michonne ended up in the woods with her new pets in the midst of a herd. When she sees a walker who looks eerily like herself she starts to freak out. Then she copes. She copes big time. She literally killed an entire herd by herself. Well, and her Katana. And that is how Michonne got her groove back. A big thanks to my friend Robert for saying that (and the shoe thing earlier) while we watched tonight’s ep. Michonne then follows the tracks in the mud back to people. She is ready to be with the living again.
Back at the house, Carl sits with Rick in the dark. Rick wakes up, and seems like an un-dead man. But then it turns out he is just continuing his dead-like breathing with his broken ribs and didn’t want to say anything to build suspense. Then he says “Carl” in his very strange way and passes out. Carl finally admits he’s scared and then he cries like a little whimp.
Michonne finds clues as to where they are and reunites with Rick and Carl. Maybe Michonne will be the saving grace Rick needs, because Carl certainly didn’t go out looking for medicine. It was all about chocolate pudding.
Hush Comics gives tonight’s episode of The Walking Dead a C. The only redeeming factor was more background on Michonne, her awesome zombie genocide and more emotional depth as to why she is the way she is. Carl was the center of the episode and if I wasn’t invested in the rest of the group, it would have been a deal breaker. Carl nor the actor who portrays him are ready for such a tall order of carrying an episode. It actually mirrors the comic book content pretty well, but the delivery by Chandler Riggs comes off much more like a pubescent tantrum than a boy becoming a man. This is made compounding disappointing by the fact that it was written by the man, Robert Kirkman, himself. Robert Kirkman may have been going for a coming of age tale, but all it did was make me dislike Carl more than I already did. He may be Southern, but he is no Huck Finn.
Hush Comics 