1st issue Challenge

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:25 am

Epoch #1 (Image) - I read the press preview for this book. It had a real "late 1990's Image" vibe going on in the art. If you really dug those comics, you'll probably like this. I'm a bit less of a fan of that era of Image & coupled with the fairly dense narrative text boxes, I really didn't like the storytelling done here (personal taste). The story itself is a supernatural murder mystery with cops, angels, werewolves, etc.

The Big Lie #1 (Image) - I believe this is a one-shot, I read the press preview & this story basically exists to put forward a conspiracy theory about 9/11 involving explosive charges places around in the WTC towers to help bring them down (e.g., the planes crashing into them did not by themselves bring the towers down). Kind of a sci-fi twist here with a scientist traveling thru time to try to convince her husband to leave a meeting in one of the towers before the disaster so he does not die. This device allows her to go over lots of "evidence" to try to convince her husband & his co-workers to leave the building. If you like this kind of story, you may enjoy this. Not something I'd go out & buy a hardcopy of, but the story/art was decent enough (Rick Vietch & Gary Erskine were commissioned to tell this story by a Truther group espousing the conspiracy theory which is central to the story).

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 4:46 pm

Near Death #1 (Image) - I read the press preview for this book & loved it. I interviewed the author (Jay Faerber) a couple of months ago & loved the idea & preview pages I saw at that time, and now reading the whole issue, it didn't disappoint. Aside from the near death experience that put the protagonist on the path of saving people instead of killing them, this was a pretty straightforward (and well done) story in the "hard boiled crime" genre, so if you like that kind of story, check out Near Death #1.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:16 pm

BobBretall wrote:Marksmen #1 (Image) - I liked this take on the post-apocalyptic story genre. Cool to see the San Diego Convention center worked into the story. Another book that's only $1 to sample.

I read Marksmen #1 last night and it was entertaining enough but I probably won't continue with it. There was nothing wrong with it per se but it didn't compel me to come back for more. I didn't click with the style of writing and dialogue. I do appreciate the $1 first issue from Image and I will sample almost anything for a buck.

spid · Post by **spid** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:07 am

Damaged #1 (Radical) The premise is a simple one. What if a bitter Dirty Harry came back today to enact his own style of justice to the criminal element. The book is set in San Francisco which enhances the Dirty Harry homage. The book has a 70's/80's vigilante with a gun feel to it which is fun.

The art fits the mood for the book in a continuations of Radical's great art style.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:14 am

BobBretall wrote:
IanG wrote:Severed #1 (Image) - It's great there are so many amazing horror comic books nowadays. This one is so spooky in many different ways. It's funny how close this comic is to That Hellbound Train from IDW. They both have got a young boy running away from home and trains. Nonetheless, I happen to love period pieces but I realize they're not for everyone. This story seems to be depression era but I'm not positive on that. The watercolor like artwork fits the story perfectly. I'll be back for more.
I agree. I originally skipped this one thinking "I don't need another period horror book", but after reading a press preview of #1, I went out & bought the issue & will buy the rest of the series. Fir anyone who digs Scott Snyder's American Vampire, this is definitely worth checking out.....still horror, but less supernatural, more "real-world wacko" terror, which is worse in some regards. I also got the "depression era" vibe, I think that is when this is set......

I agree with both of you. I love the way Scott Synder writes, the art was great, and just the way the story unfolded in this issue was perfect.

J. Farrell · Post by **J. Farrell** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:13 am

IanG wrote: I read Marksmen #1 last night and it was entertaining enough but I probably won't continue with it. There was nothing wrong with it per se but it didn't compel me to come back for more. I didn't click with the style of writing and dialogue. I do appreciate the $1 first issue from Image and I will sample almost anything for a buck.

I think you're being kind. I'm a sucker for almost anything post-apocalyptic, but this didn't work for me at all, especially the story/writing.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:49 pm

Warehouse 13 #1 (Dynamite) - This is not a full/fair review as I didn't buy & read this comic. On the other hand, I like the TV show Warehouse 13 & thumbed through the #1 of the comic at the LCS today.....the art was very weak, IMO. I would have given it a try/buy had the art been even "just OK". Stuff based on TV shows where the artist cannot do passable renditions of the actors really don't work for me. On the plus side, it helped me not break my "don't buy TV show comics" rule.

The Bionic Man #1 (Dynamite) - This one I bought because the 1-in-20 cover was on the rack for the normal "cover less 15%" that my LCS charges, and up on flipping through it., the art was decent. Not great, but decent. The story? Well, Kevin Smith makes his contribution known with 2 separate instances of really unnecessary bathroom humor. There was nothing much added here that made me interested in returning for #2. Dynamite is helping me keep TV comics off my pull list yet again!

Gilgabob · Post by **Gilgabob** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:52 pm

J. Farrell wrote:
IanG wrote: I read Marksmen #1 last night and it was entertaining enough but I probably won't continue with it. There was nothing wrong with it per se but it didn't compel me to come back for more. I didn't click with the style of writing and dialogue. I do appreciate the $1 first issue from Image and I will sample almost anything for a buck.
I think you're being kind. I'm a sucker for almost anything post-apocalyptic, but this didn't work for me at all, especially the story/writing.

I have to agree with J. Farrell on this one. The story is a cliche, The dialogue is amateurish, and the artwork is crude. I appreciate the introductory price but that's about it,

Gilgabob · Post by **Gilgabob** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:04 pm

BobBretall wrote:Rachel Rising #1 (Abstract) - I like Terry Moore, but there were only 18 pages in this thing for $3.99.....

As a 1st issue, this was a LOT of setup and would have been a lot more satisfying for me if there were another 6-8 pages to get this thing kicked off right. Especially how it ended (just trailing off as Terry Moore tends to do) it really feels like the 1st 1/6th of the pages for the 1st TPB, with not a lot done to ensure I got a satisfying 1st issue read.

This is on probation & may end up with me just getting a collected edition at the end. As a full story, I have no doubt this will be great (and green) but as a #1 comic issue it left a lot to be desired.

I agree 100% with your take. The issue was a very quick read especially when you consider the first 9 pages contain no dialogue. I still would slip Rachel Rising#1 (Abstract) into the green because Moore hooked me with the mystery of what's going on with this girl.

Gilgabob · Post by **Gilgabob** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:16 pm

Netherworld#1 (Top Cow). A pretty solid first issue about a private detective (Ray Parker) hired to find a girl by more than one interested party. This is a gritty, hard boiled drama with a bit of horror/supernatural thrown in. I liked the artwork by Shasteen on this one and overall a very solid #1

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:08 am

Justice League #1 - I have only recently begun reading books from the DC Universe, so my opinion is from someone with little knowledge of the previous Justice Leagues. For me though I thought this was a great first issue that set up the series well. It also began the process of setting up the new universe which was nice. Definitely a good starting point for those of us who are uninitiated to the DC Univerese.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:58 pm

Danscomics wrote:Justice League #1 - I have only recently begun reading books from the DC Universe, so my opinion is from someone with little knowledge of the previous Justice Leagues. For me though I thought this was a great first issue that set up the series well. It also began the process of setting up the new universe which was nice. Definitely a good starting point for those of us who are uninitiated to the DC Univerese.

It seems there are two reviews for this comic. "Nothing happens, written for a trade" and "Great setup for a new universe, slow but building to a great story".

I'm sure I'll agree with you being a relative DC-newbie myself and think it's a great setup for a new start. I won't have mine until Friday though.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:48 pm

Anne Rice's Servant of the Bones #1 (IDW) - I bought this because I love the artist (Renae deLiz) and I was VERY pleased with her work, the issue is beautifully illustrated. However, I could not manage to struggle my way through the entire story, I gave up about half-way through and just looked at the art for the rest of the way. I guess I'm not much of a fan of Rice's later writing (I remember liking Interview with a Vampire & Vampire Lestat way back when), but I've not read any of Rice's novels in probably 20+ years.

I think this would be a great series for people who are fans of Rice's storytelling.

Frank Castle · Post by **Frank Castle** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:15 pm

Justice League #1 - First DC book I've read in awhile and I enjoyed it. The art was great, of course, and story seems interesting enough. I did not like GL talking in the 3rd person like he was a pro wrestler but overall, good little book.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:46 pm

Justice League #1 - I thought the first issue was pretty good. It was fun and entertaining. I agree that it moved a bit slow, but then I also felt that since this is supposed to be the first time these heroes meet, Johns probably wanted to spend more time on character interaction and not just the plot. I thought the dialogue was great. I laughed out loud a couple times reading the interaction between Green Lantern and Batman.

As for the art, I am still a big Jim Lee fan and I thought it was incredible.