1st issue Challenge

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:58 pm

Alpha Flight #1 of 8 (Marvel) I guess I should post my thoughts on the book, which was somewhere in the middle. I agree with Bob that starting the book in the middle of the event was not a great idea. I also felt that the news reporter was behaving in a manner that was totally unrealistic. If there is an attack on the country and people lives are in danger, a reporter will not be discussing the private lives of Alpha Flight. Especially if her life is in danger. Also, I don't think the leader of any country will call someone that is in the middle of a battle to talk about things outside the battle. It felt so fake that it pulled me out of the story. The only thing that saved the book was the end. That said, if this book doesn't improve, I will be dropping this title.

Just to note, I have not liked majority of the Fear Itself tie-in books. I still don't feel I understand what is exactly going on with these tie-in books.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:23 pm

Conan: Island of No Return #1 (Dark Horse) - I liked the story by Ron Marz and REALLY didn't care for the Bart Sears art. Historically, Sears has not done art that appeals to my eye, but in this issue, there were several poor choices/artistic errors made:

* Conan is being chase over rooftops that appear to be about 40-45' high. When he jumps off the roof, it looks like he's suddenly jumping off the roof of a 75-80' high tower that is higher than the surrounding buildings. I can maybe buy (stretching disbelief) a jump of 40' onto an awning, but not a 75' fall.

* Conan tosses his helmet at a guard. It's clearly shown laying at the guard's feet maybe 6-7' from Conan, then in the next panel (which appears to be a change of camera angle) he has the helmet back in his arms. Am I to assume he strolled over next to the guards & picked it up between panels?

* When the anchor a tiny little skiff off an island some indeterminate distance out to sea, they thrown an anchor/chain overboard. A perspective shot shows this chain to be maybe 80' long, I really doubt they'd have a chain this long in a boat barely bigger than a rowboat with a sail.

Sears seems to have real problems with distance, consistence & perspective throughout the issue. I am going to have to give books he illustrates an "automatic do not buy" in future.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:09 am

GABE! wrote:50 Girls 50

This was an interesting story about a group of female space explores on a return mission back to earth after traveling to far away planets in search of new resources for Earth to use, but someone goes very wrong and they end up lost in Space. I see this becoming an all Female Lost in Space / Star Trek style story.

The basic concept was interesting, but the execution and final product felt weak and flat. There was very little character development or even character building done. I couldn't tell who from who, and I don't mean the art, but names or personalities of the girls. That should be done in a #1 issue, and not in the comic's back matter.

Fun book, but I think I'll pass until the Hardcover is released.

I was following you until you got to the last part about picking up the hardcover. You didn't seem to like it that much but you're willing to buy the hardcover. I don't know that Image always publishes a hardcover like Marvel does. There will probably be a soft cover though.

I actually liked this more than you and I'm going to continue with it. The art had a very Wally Wood kind of feel which I enjoyed. This comic book is more about the art and cheesecake and less about the story. Although the story had some unique ideas about the planet and what the characters used there. Overall I thought it was very funny and meant to be taken that way. Except there was that one very creepy moment at the end.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:17 am

BobBretall wrote:Alpha Flight #1 of 8 (Marvel) - I'm afraid I have to weigh in with a thumbs-down on this one. As Ian pointed out, starting a mini out with a crossover into Fear Itself was foolish. This was "Fear Itself: Alpha Flight" not "Alpha Flight". This is certainly colored by my personal dislike of the FI event, but there it is, it's causing me to drop this mini. I like Eaglesham, but not enough to want to read more of this.

I was also not amused by the "Die, Earth scum" tagline they've given Marrina, as well as several other "personality developments" for the characters that I didn't really care for. The personalities seemed different to me from the Point 1 issue, or at least I don't recall having a negative reaction to them there.

Yeah, Fear Itself is hurting this Alpha Flight relaunch more than helping it. Still I'm willing it ride out the event until it comes back around to just AF. I guess I love those Canadians too much. I kind of liked the new though girl Marrina but that's just me.

spid · Post by **spid** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:20 am

Samurai's Blood #1 (Image) The issue is set in the Samurai era of Japan. The story is a fairly simple one of betrayal and revenge. The problem is the writer takes a round about way to tell the narrative, and the names make it kind of hard to follow. They add a nice touch by giving you the location in a caption, but I think the names of the characters would have helpful. The art is good. It will not knock your socks off, but it certainly tells the story well.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:38 am

That Hellbound Train #1 of 3 (IDW) - This first issue was a lot of fun, if you like horror comics. The story and art had a very Warren's Creepy magazine feel to it. There were some scary moments along with some humor in it too. I enjoyed Dave Wachter's artwork here, who also does "The Guns of Shadow Valley" web comic. The story is set in the early 1920's or so I believe. I'm looking foward to seeing this whole story illustratred.

Chris Campbell · Post by **Chris Campbell** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:42 am

BobBretall wrote: Shinku #1 (Image) - I liked this vampires vs. samurais story and appreciated the backstory that Marz put into play to explain the conflict.

This is great to hear. I'm gonna check out the art at the LCS, and then decide if I want to buy the issues or the trade(s).

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:47 am

BobBretall wrote:Conan: Island of No Return #1 (Dark Horse) - I liked the story by Ron Marz and REALLY didn't care for the Bart Sears art. Historically, Sears has not done art that appeals to my eye, but in this issue, there were several poor choices/artistic errors made:

* Conan is being chase over rooftops that appear to be about 40-45' high. When he jumps off the roof, it looks like he's suddenly jumping off the roof of a 75-80' high tower that is higher than the surrounding buildings. I can maybe buy (stretching disbelief) a jump of 40' onto an awning, but not a 75' fall.

* Conan tosses his helmet at a guard. It's clearly shown laying at the guard's feet maybe 6-7' from Conan, then in the next panel (which appears to be a change of camera angle) he has the helmet back in his arms. Am I to assume he strolled over next to the guards & picked it up between panels?

* When the anchor a tiny little skiff off an island some indeterminate distance out to sea, they thrown an anchor/chain overboard. A perspective shot shows this chain to be maybe 80' long, I really doubt they'd have a chain this long in a boat barely bigger than a rowboat with a sail.

Sears seems to have real problems with distance, consistence & perspective throughout the issue. I am going to have to give books he illustrates an "automatic do not buy" in future.

Yeah I noticed those inconsistencies in the art also. Where's the editor's hand on those type of things. Well, this is only two issues to give the main writing team a break. Here's to looking to the future.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:14 pm

Witch Doctor #1 (Image) - I liked the #0 issue and this one was just as good. And how refreshing is it to get a whole story in one issue? I like the art, characters, and looking forward to more.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:50 pm

abysslord wrote:Witch Doctor #1 (Image) - I liked the #0 issue and this one was just as good. And how refreshing is it to get a whole story in one issue? I like the art, characters, and looking forward to more.

I wholeheartedly agree, Witch Doctor #1 was awesomely great.

Crawl To Me #1 (IDW) - Read a press review copy of this & really enjoyed it. Edgy psychological thriller, kind of like Echoes, but not a direct parallel, just that kind of genre. Written & Illustrated by Alan Robert, art is from the Ashley Wood / Ben Templesmith school, so kind of an abstract edge to it, so you'd need to like that style.

I give it a solid 4/5

Frank Castle · Post by **Frank Castle** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:33 am

I feel bad, I haven't tried a new #1 in awhile.

I guess I grabbed That Hellbound Train #1 - I really enjoyed it and #2. And not just because Dave is on the art. That was the reason I bought them but I'm happy I did. Looking forward to the last issue.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:24 pm

abysslord wrote:Witch Doctor #1 (Image) - I liked the #0 issue and this one was just as good. And how refreshing is it to get a whole story in one issue? I like the art, characters, and looking forward to more.

I couldn't agree more and I love the ending to this issue. I like the wackiness of mixing medical stories and magic. It borrowed little bits of a lot of different sources like the TV shows House and Fringe. Although it was really its own thing which is hard to do nowadays. It's a bit gory so probably not for people like John who don't like horror comics or gore. Actually I'd call it more gross than gory but it's a comic so it's easier to take than a movie or TV show.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:49 pm

Infinite #1 (Image) - Read a press review copy of this & it was really cool. Liefeld has gotten a rep as a bad artist, but his work has a certain style to it (and a lot of imitators) and it worked for me in this issue just fine. Some of the preview pages I've seen on the net have been from near the end of the story, this starts out in the future and sets up Bowen a bit better than the preview which kind of drops you into him having already traveled into the past. I think it's definitely a book worth giving a look.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:53 pm

Pigs #1 (Image) - Read a press review copy of this & LOVED it! A Russian sleeper cell in Cuba set up around the time of the Bay of Pigs during the Cold War is reactivated today & merriment ensues! If you are a fan of Vertigo books like The Losers & 100 Bullets, you shoud definitely check this one out!

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:09 pm

Vescell#1 (Image) - I read a press review copy of this & I was really conflicted. The story concept is really cool, there is a technology that allows you to swap your mind into someone else's body, overlaying theirs and taking control. This does not necessarily have to be a voluntary thing for the person being taken over and so we have a large amount of story points that can hinge off the ethical/legal/criminal implications of hijacking someone else's body, let alone the interesting philosophical points of when it's a willing transfer. There's also an interesting connection to the supernatural that I don't want to go into here so I don't spoil anything. PLUS, I really like the art.

Then there's the downside. The writing is wordy. VERY wordy. I'm all for detailed storytelling, and I don't think this necessarily has more words than your average comic, it just seemed that way to me, so it was a perception the story gave off. Also, while the art is good, it's REALLY heavy on T&A, both the scantily clad & naked variety. The interesting part about this is that usually comics that lean heavily on the T&A have pretty rudimentary and/or action oriented stories and coast on the cheesecake art. This comic has a pretty decent story concept and the heavy T&A seems almost out of place.

So I'm giving this one a couple of issues to see how it goes. Given the art, I think it will blow off the shelves when it hits comics stores, so if you're interested in getting a copy, you'd best reserve one before this hits the "Image hot sell out" list.