1st issue Challenge

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:59 pm

Think Tank #1 (Image) - Nice entry into the "weird science" genre. Weird DARPA projects and superb art by Rahsan Ekedal...how can I not like this?

Archer & Armstrong #1 (Valiant) - Best Valiant comic to date (and that's saying a lot, as they've all been good). We talk at length about this on WCS #261

Godzilla: Half Century War #1 (IDW) - Wow! Stokoe is perfect for this, and I love how he is cleary such a fan of Godzilla. I loved the nods to the original Japanese Gojira movie.

It Girl & the Atomics (Image) - Good story, I like Norton's art on this & I'm looking forward to seeing where they go with this (even though I'd still love to see Allred doing the art...)

Thun'da (Dynamite) - Decent issue, but not worth $3.99 to me on an ongoing basis. I'd pick it up from $1 bins. Putting the original origin story next to this #1 issue was a mistake, it made it painfully obvious that there was 3x more story in those 8 or so pages as we got in the ~20 pages of the main story (sorry, I didn't go back to count pages).

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:36 am

BobBretall wrote: Homecoming #1 (Aspen) - There were some really painfully overused tropes in this issue (the high school kid hacking into the school computer to create an identity for someone, for instance) but there was some cool new stuff to balance that out. In particular I liked how the issue ended and I really want to see where David Wohl is going with this.

I was really on the fence about this one and finally decided to not order it. After reading this, and other reviews, I put #1 in my 'bag' and put the title back on my list for now.

I was afraid it was just going to be like the movie Faculty but the art looks good and Aspen almost always has quality work. We'll see how quick #2 and #3 come out though.

Perseus · Post by **Perseus** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:32 am

BobBretall wrote:Pathfinder #1 (Dynamite) - I loved this. A lot more than the actual D&D comic from IDW, in much the same way that I'm now playing Pathfinder & like it a LOT more that AD&D 4E.
Jim Zub did a great job with the characters, I particularly liked the fighter & cleric. The cleric, in particular, was more logically in-character than almost any cleric I've seen before in comics of this genre.
Highly recommended for fans/players of fantasy RPGs.

Bob, did you enjoy the John Rogers' D&D comic from IDW? I read a couple of issues and liked them enough to want the trades. Also, what is your opinion on Skullkickers? I'm a fan of fun fantasy comics, so I may check out Pathfinder soon.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:17 pm

Perseus wrote: Bob, did you enjoy the John Rogers' D&D comic from IDW? I read a couple of issues and liked them enough to want the trades. Also, what is your opinion on Skullkickers? I'm a fan of fun fantasy comics, so I may check out Pathfinder soon.

I read the IDW D&D series for the 1st arc & then stopped. It really didn't click with me. I think it's probably more of a problem I have with D&D 4th edition (like those darn Tieflings they stick into every party, not a D&D race I'm fond of). The comic is maybe a bit too much like AD&D in that it makes me aware of the stuff I don't like about it.

Not necessarily a problem for people who just like the fantasy genre & don't play the RPG, or for people who actually like 4th edition (I've not met any of these people, though).

Pathfinder, for me, out-D&Ds AD&D, it's a superior gaming system.

Re: Skullkickers - I like it. It's the humorous side of fantasy role-playing while Pathfinder is played straight (for the most part). Both are good series, I like both more than the official D&D comics.

spid · Post by **spid** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:33 am

I did not love Pathfinder, but I did like it enough to pick up the trade later on.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 8:41 am

BobBretall wrote:Godzilla: Half Century War #1 (IDW) - Wow! Stokoe is perfect for this, and I love how he is cleary such a fan of Godzilla. I loved the nods to the original Japanese Gojira movie.

I thought Godzilla 1/2 Century War #1 would be all about the art, but I really enjoyed the story as well. I'm quickly becoming a fan of James Stokoe's comics. I've got to go find the Orc Stain trade now.

BobBretall wrote:Thun'da (Dynamite) - Decent issue, but not worth $3.99 to me on an ongoing basis. I'd pick it up from $1 bins. Putting the original origin story next to this #1 issue was a mistake, it made it painfully obvious that there was 3x more story in those 8 or so pages as we got in the ~20 pages of the main story (sorry, I didn't go back to count pages).

The art was nice in Thun'da #1 but there was almost no dialogue or story to be had. This comic was like looking at a series of pin ups instead of there being good storytelling. It's not a bad comic just not a great comic (3/5).

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 7:08 am

I just read a lot of new books over the past month so here are my quick thoughts:

Phantom Stranger #0 - I thought it was an ok issue. The introduction of the Spectre was too quick for my taste. I will continue to get this series for the next few issues.

Team 7 #0 - I loved this issue because of the combination of great story and art. I have felt that the DC "edge" line of books were the weakest of the new 52 but this makes up for the failure of that line in my eyes. If you want to see a GI Joe/ Shield book set in the DCU, this book is for you.

Sword of Sorcery #0 - This was a great first issue as both the main and back-up stories were well executed and got me interested in the whole book. The art in this book alone will make me buy this book every month.

Talon #0 - I thought this was the best of the new books. It was well executed and told a really great story. I am looking forward to this series.

(My favorite order of Wave 3 is Talon, Team 7, Sword of Sorcery and Phantom Stranger)

Tower Chronciles Vol 1 - I pre-ordered this because of the creative team and the interesting format; bi-monthly 72 page paperback versus the standard 20 page monthly book. I loved it. I thought Matt Wagner did a great job introducing the characters and Bisley's art was a perfect fit for the book.

Happy #1 - This is my favorite the bunch. Morrison did a great job setting up the characters and story and Robertson's art was amazing. Compared to other Morrison short minis that he has done in the past, I felt this was more accessible.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:51 pm

HassanT wrote: Sword of Sorcery #0 - This was a great first issue as both the main and back-up stories were well executed and got me interested in the whole book. The art in this book alone will make me buy this book every month.

I loved this, a 5/5 for me.

HassanT wrote: Talon #0 - I thought this was the best of the new books. It was well executed and told a really great story. I am looking forward to this series.

How much of this requires having read/liked the court of owls stuff? I actively hated that whole storyline, which is why I skipped this book that seems to have spun out of it.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:53 pm

Bob wrote:
HassanT wrote: Talon #0 - I thought this was the best of the new books. It was well executed and told a really great story. I am looking forward to this series.
How much of this requires having read/liked the court of owls stuff? I actively hated that whole storyline, which is why I skipped this book that seems to have spun out of it.

I think you could still enjoy the book, even if you didn't enjoy the court of owls. Obviously, this expands on some of the history of the Talons.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 11:48 am

Westward #1 - Kinetic - Great 1st issue, futuristic with a pretty cool concept. I'll let their web-site speak for them if you're interested in checking this out:
http://www.kinetic-press.com/Westward/westward.html

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:40 pm

Tower Chronicles v1 - Wow, what a great book!

Bisley did an absolutely fantastic job on the art, and the stories by Matt Wagner were really good too. It was worth the $7.99 price because you got so much content (72 pages!) Highly recommended.

dbm · Post by **dbm** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 7:26 pm

BobBretall wrote:Westward #1 - Kinetic - Great 1st issue, futuristic with a pretty cool concept. I'll let their web-site speak for them if you're interested in checking this out:
http://www.kinetic-press.com/Westward/westward.html

I liked it as well. And way under priced for the size.

Bob, have you read Dry Spell, from the same creator? I loved it. http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Spell-Ken-Kre ... 1450787053

Gilgabob · Post by **Gilgabob** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:16 pm

BobBretall wrote:Tower Chronicles v1 - Wow, what a great book!

Bisley did an absolutely fantastic job on the art, and the stories by Matt Wagner were really good too. It was worth the $7.99 price because you got so much content (72 pages!) Highly recommended.

I enjoyed it as well. Vol.2 was solicited last month in case anyone missed it.

Gilgabob · Post by **Gilgabob** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:27 pm

Nightstalker #1 (Revolution Comics) I hate to be critical of this book because there's like 70 pages for $2.99 but I didn't care for it. The story is about a female african-american who along with her demon sidekick hunt other demons that are disguised and living among humans. It's not a very original story and it's very light on the dialogue. Overall this books reminds me of something Image would have put out in the 90's. Again, I appreciate someone putting out a title independantly for such a bargain price but ultimately the book must be judged by it's merits and, sadly, I found it lacking.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 11:31 pm

dbm wrote: Bob, have you read Dry Spell, from the same creator? I loved it. http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Spell-Ken-Kre ... 1450787053

I'll have to check this out!