Change #4

Not long ago, Image introduced us to 'Change'. Initially I was rather reserved about this 4 part series as issues 1-3 only seemed to skim the surface of what was already a rather confusing tale with what appeared to be a rather outlandish, introspective plot.

But finally, after 3 issues of umming and ahhhing, in #4 it all comes together. Kot understands that the complexities of the human condition are what causes us our greatest pain, and through this series we pretty much see closure in its deepest and most darkest form. What we are left with is a rather beautiful story of love, loss, forgiveness, acceptance and growth.

What Would Doom Do?
Bask in the glory at is 'Change', and re-read this title again, and again, and again, until you grow your own talking tumour. And if you need a break, then watch Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion. Same diff.

Lost Vegas #1: Lost in Translation?

Ocean's 11 in space - that was the initial thought when we first read the synopsis for McCann and Lee's heist-style title a few months back.
Whilst there are elements of truth to this comparison, wow do they deliver.

Meet Roland, a down on his luck gambler who owes a hell of a lot of money to a lot of the wrong sorts of people. When the debtors come to collect (love this scene), he's forced to work on Lost Vegas - the space casino - to pay of his debts. 5 year's later and true to loveable lowlife form, Roland has made his plans to get out. A very simple concept, but one that has you immediately looking forward to the next issue.

McCann and Lee are no stranger to working with each other, but they are by no means slipping back into old habits. This is a new venture for the both of them, as it is almost completely opposite to their previous work, and McCann in particular is so versatile. I'm currently reading this side-by-side with 'Mind The Gap', and McCann's style couldn't be anymore different. Lost Vegas definitely departs from the sci-fi-esque mystery, and presents a slightly more edgier and darker tone - that is beginning to reminds me of a noir Great Gatsby.


This really comes out in Ronald's character. From the beginning you get the sense that he'll be the low-life that we love. But there's something very dark and sinister about him. He only looks out for number one, and is willing to step on/over anyone to get what he want. This is the main reason why I absolutely LOVE Skottie Young's variant cover of #1 because his style really captures these darker qualities.

Skottie Young variant cover

When it come's artwork, Janet Lee has a very unique style that ready does root the story firmly in the comic domain, but at the same time there's something that's not completely right for me. The pages are dazzling to look at, especially with the help of colourist Chris Sotomayor, but I can't help feeling that it could be slightly grander. It's almost as if the vastness of the surroundings aren't being fully translated. The double page spreads are beautiful, but I don't feel as lost in them as I should - it doesn't necessarily feel like there are thousands of people on board as opposed to hundreds. BUT that said, Lee is great at making you feel like you are the overseer of this spectacle.  

So we guess it's all aboard Lost Vegas for some glitz, glamour, aliens and a squiggly ink thing.
We like

Ultra Sweet: Age Of Ultron #1

After dropping this not so little crazed nugget on us a while back, it's finally time for Marvel's newest major crossover arc - 'Age Of Ultron'. Somewhere in the near distant future, Hank Pym's 'child' / Vision's 'parent' of sorts has returned, and yes, it still hates humanity.

Ultron has already taken over a modern day NY and we the lucky readers get to see the aftermath. Hawkeye leads the charge (single handedly) to save an 'Avenger-napped' Spiderman from a good old fashioned good-for-nothing gang. 

Within these scenes, Bendis manages to capture the urgency and anger of Hawkeye in such few words, as well as the frenzy and boyish humour of the gang. But there's so much more we can say about Bendis but this would be like preaching to the converted (we may just stop reviewing anything written by him...), So let's shine some light on the real stars of the show - Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary and Paul Mounts. The pencils/inks and colours all comes together is such an amazing fashion. 

The combo of Hitch/Neary/Mounts for these double spreads are beyond amazing, and the panels are a frenzy of action and awesomeness. The way Hawkeye flits across these panels murdering, maiming and saving are far too much fun, and the panels featuring the Ultrons' arrivals are like earth shattering, fear inducing music to our ears - we're surprised more comics don't use this kind of effect....(see below)

By the end of the issue we see which heroes appear to be left in the war against Ultron, as well as what has become of a fallen leader (no spoilers here...kinda)

After all the hype, we are happy to say that the Age of Ultron is here, and even after putting the issue down we can still feel the tremors. It's definitely gonna be a while until this story really begins to unfold, but based on this #1 it's gonna be worth the wait.

What Would Doom Do?
Easy...Sumbit or Perish_

Gotta tattooed head say Number 13

When we last visited Number 13 we were drunk on mulled wine, and Santa had failed to deliver that renewed series of 'Generation Hope' that i'd been pining for...

So with a clearer head and final at peace with the loss of Cable Junior it was time to revisit Robert Love and David Walker and Robert Love's post-apocalyptic warzone. #3 marks the final instalment of this 4 part series, and with a heavy heart, I must admit that it falls a little flat.

Love sets up what could have been a brilliant story - nothing groundbreaking, but great nevertheless. An apocalyptic world where many of the humans population have been a affected by the mutant gene (Mutes), whilst a smaller proportion have remained immune (Munes). Cue the mad scientist with a passion for biology and an aversion to the different (sound familiar), and one little boy with a rare blood type that not only renders him immune to the mutation, but as has the ability to destroy it. Pull him apart and replace some bits with terminator style machinery, and you have one lean meant 13 killing machine. A 'bumb on the head' leaves 13 memoryless and wanting to save the beings he's been 'created' to kill.

Simple, but with Love/Dana Shukartsi's art and Heather Breckel's inks it all comes to life in a garishly stunning way. But sadly enough this this enough to carry it all the way through. The story pretty much ends how you'd expect (sorry no spoilers here), and to be honest its rather...ungratifying. I get the feeling that there could have been so much more, a few more twists and turns.

There isn't much of a chance to really attach yourself to a character, and I didn't really feel as if I was 'following' Number 13 on his journey. Whilst it's great as a moral compass for modern day life (love thy neighbour, accept each other etc), I felt very much on the outside of it.

Number 13 is definitely the beginnings of something pretty awesome, but just fails to reach it true potential...who knows...Love and Walker might end this madness and dazzle us with more issues to really bring out the story. They might even release a prequel...I have many of fingers and arms crossed.

Misery City: The most miserable fun I've ever had (in a good way)..

Having finally gotten around to my stack of new comics, courtesy of London Super Comic Convention and its focus on creators and comic books rather than hype and shiny things,  I'm pleased to announce I can begin to share my thoughts on them. I know I know, this is the moment you've all been dreaming of (yes I have been drinking, no I'm not drunk).

But lets not dwell on me and how much of a hero I am but rather lets look at Max Murray, on one hand the classic pulp detective, fedora pulled down low, trench coat wrapped around him to keep out the chill of the city, and on the other, a man stuck in Misery City with hell itself coming out of the ground and very possibly the only person capable of doing anything about it, even if it is rather begrudgingly. This is Misery City, it's pulp noir meets the supernatural, a twist of Sin City with a dash of the Maltese Falcone and a sprinkling of Lewis Carrol, and even this doesn't quite sum it up, it just is Misery City. And I love it, the grimy feel, the fear and hate held within the pages, the desperate wish to be elsewhere but the need to keep going, its everything I want from a book titled Misery City.

And the reason for all this? The creators, the honest to god geniuses behind it, K.I. Zachopoulos and Vassilis Gogtzilas (I've checked the spelling of their names three times and I'm still not sure it its right) who I had the honour of talking to at LSCC and one thing is obvious, their passion for this book, and I can feel it, it reaches out through the words and art. K.I. Zachopoulos is a literary phenomenon and one of the main reasons for the brilliance of this book, with the other being the artistic talent of Vassilis Gogtzilas but I'll get to that. The words that man can use, they way he plays with them, its a joy to read, you can feel the icy fingers of his words caressing your soul, drawing you in deeper until they are clawing at your mind but you cant look away. And its then you realise that you are Max Murray, and all because of K.I. Zachopoulos.

However, this is a comic, and the words are only half the story, with the other half being the art, art that fully expresses the misery and decay, the hopelessness of life, the power of cruelty and the rawness of the story,  the art of Vassilis Gogtzilas. And it fits right in, it takes those words and wraps them in misery that shoves them straight into the nerve centres of the brain. The harsh raw line worked, like the hacked limbs of the unlucky, and the decayed murky colour of the world a reflection of the souls that inhabit Misery City and the splashes of colour, the show the power of hate and pain that shine like a beacon within this world created by Vassilis Gogtzilas and K.I. Zachopoulos. Its the perfect pairing, and it truly is miserable, but utterly fantastic because of it. Read it.

If you don't you'll be haunted by midget killer clowns in your sleep, I promise you that.

The Marvel Space Race Pt 2: Guardians of the Galaxy #1

Following on from our review of Nova, we continue our intergalactic Marvel space race with Guardians of the Galaxy. With the upcoming movie and the need for Marvel NOW to take to the stars, where else is there to start (apart from with Nova of course...).

How any reboot's have been seen that rehash the same story of origin over and over again - Peter and that spider, Batman and that mugger. But when the hero isn't at the forefront of the public domain, this type of introductions is so gratifying.

Issue #1 recounts the history of Peter Quill aka Star Lord in 3 different time periods in the event's leading up to his birth and later his mantle as Star Lord. And true to Bendis form, the story is comprised of the usual character archetypes and enough dialogue to make the head spin. In other word this bad boy read like a good episode of One Tree Hill. There was mummy issues, daddy issues and a few kills here and there.

There are some great moments in this story - in particular the first meeting and later romance between Meredith Quill and J'son. It all happens so fast but you really don't question it. So rarely so we see this kind of true fleeting romance in the Marvel world, so any excuse to fall for it is welcomed. And penciller - McNiven, is definitely instrumental to this. His work is stunning. It's full of detail and expression, and McNiven is able to capture so many emotions throughout the panels. He really makes this story so easy on the eye despite all the dialogue. I really feel that the sum of his work is displayed in that beautiful spread of young Peter running away as his home is destroyed. And let's not forget colourist Justin Ponsor who really captures the varying moods and dynamics in this issue.

All in all, this issue doesn't come off a pre-requisite to the story, but it's definitely worth it for a reintroduction to Quill as well as some amazing artwork. There are so many shifting tones that really gave this issue pace and adventure, and it almost read's like the movie itself. We place the future of this title in Bendis' more than capable hands and this more than fitting song.

What Would Doom Do? Simple. Kick back and wait for the Nova crossovers to start kicking in, and then beggg that the GG swoop down into Avengers Arena issue and save the hell out of Cammi. True story.