COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Moriarty #7

COMIC BOOK REVIEW:

Moriarty #7

Writer: Daniel Corey     

Artists: Mike Vosburg (pages 2 - 21) & Anthony Diecidue (pages 1, 22)

Publisher: Image Comics


Reviewer: Andrew Rubio

Review Date: December 16, 2011


Rating: 8 out of 10

Back in Junior High, I was quite the Sherlock Holmes fan.  I had read all the Arthur Conan Doyle stories; picked up a plethora of stories and novels written by others (some of my favorites include "The Holmes-Dracula File" by Fred Saberhagen and "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" by director Nicholas Meyer); and watched tons of Holmes movies and television series (including the Granada Television version staring the amazing Jeremy Brett).  It's easy to admit that I was a Holmes junkie.  As time passed however, I found myself drifting away from the character and spending more time with another British import (Doctor Who).  The older I get, the less I remember of the stories I read as a teenager. Such is life. 

As I started reading Moriarty #7, I was immediately taken back to my youth.  Writer Daniel Corey has a real grasp on what a young Moriarty should sound and act like - Brash, intelligent and dangerous.  He's at least three to four steps ahead of you before you even enter the room.   

We join the story at Chapter 3 of The Lazarus Tree story arc.  It's a perfect jumping on point for a new reader, as the entire issue is a flashback to the young professor's life.  In the flashback, Moriarty is already well on his way to becoming the "Napoleon of Crime."  The Professor attempts to employee a young student to take over the operation of his Bombay office.  When the student refuses because of an obligation to his father, Moriarty begins a ruthless operation that will eventually change the student's mind. 

The way Corey writes each scene is perfection.  Moriarty's character is impertinent and despite the odds against him, he remains in control of the situation.  It was a joy to read as the plot played out to the bitter end. 

How the flashback plays against the current story arc isn't covered in this issue outside of the student's involvement.  I'm sure there are more details in the previous issues. 

In the art department, Mike Vosburg takes on the bulk of the chores.  His art fits the story well and captures the flair of the time period.  The crucial finale is layered perfectly and the panels flow without a loss in story.  His style is a mesh between Eduardo Barreto (who unfortunately just died) and Tim Truman. 

Anthony Diecidue's opening and closing pages are a bit rougher but also fit the "present" setting of the story.  It's only two pages so it's hard to mention anything else. 

I have to say I really enjoyed this issue.  I'm tempted to add this title to my Pull List and track down the previous 6 issues or the Trade Edition.  You probably should too if you like Holmes and the characters in his universe.  Professor Moriarty is treated with the respect a villain of his caliber should be treated.   

Pick it up!


(This Review was originally posted on Impulse Gamer)

Copyright © 2011 by Andrew Rubio

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Bonnie Lass #3

COMIC BOOK REVIEW:

Bonnie Lass #3 (of 4)

Writers: Michael Mayne & Tyler Fluharty      

Artist: Michael Mayne

Publisher: Red 5 Comics

Reviewer: Andrew Rubio

Review Date: December 2, 2011

Rating: 3 out of 10

I have to say… I had a rough time reviewing this title.  I read it in the afternoon and decided to jump into my review that night.  Well, I didn't get a chance to do that.  I had to wait until the following day to type something up.  Unfortunately, I couldn't remember too much about the book.  The dialogue and story just didn't stick with me.  So I had to read it again. 

A second pass did not endear me to the title. 

Issue 3 picks up where the previous issue left off - Monet, the villain of the piece, uses ancient technology to raise a Leviathan from the ocean.  Monet’s soldiers hold Bonnie Lass and her crew captive on her pirate ship.  

What follows next is a long fight sequence filled with exposition as the Leviathan watches on.  Monet makes quick work of Bonnie and her crew (thanks to the use of his ancient tech) until the tide is turned by random gunfire.  As the Leviathan exits into the ocean depths, Bonnie regains control of her ship and follows the beast into the ether - Determined to take the monster out. 

There is a lot of dialogue and plot that takes place during the fight scenes.  I found it a bit unbelievable that so much could be said during a punch.  Yes.  I know in the world of comics, you have to give a little leeway for character snark and commentary during a battle.  But with Bonnie Lass, I found it going too much over the top.  It became distracting. 

Michael Mayne's art seems Manga inspired, especially the fight scenes.  It's very reminiscent of early Adam Warren work.  It's clean with only a few moments where panel flow is lost in translation and I had to ask, "What just happened?" 

Like movies and television, there's a lot of hard work that goes into the development and creation of a comic.  So I appreciate the effort Mayne and Fluharty put into the title.  However, I really can't recommend this issue unless you're a devoted Bonnie Lass fan.

(This Review was originally posted on Impulse Gamer)

Copyright © 2011 by Andrew Rubio

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X #3

COMIC BOOK REVIEW:

Atomic Robo: Ghost of Station X #3 (of 5)

Writer: Brian Clevinger          

Artist: Scott Wegener

Publisher: Red 5 Comics

Reviewer: Andrew Rubio

Review Date: November 26, 2011

Rating: 7 out of 10

I go into Atomic Robo without knowing a thing about the character, concept or setting.  In fact, I believe this is the first Red 5 Comic I've ever read.  I am truly a New Reader. 

Stepping into Issue 3 (of a 5 issue series), I'm at the middle point of the story.  Within the first few pages, I'm given the set up and a sense of what's happened in the previous two issues.  This is good.  I'm not wandering blindly into the story. 

Atomic Robo has been attacked and his team now tries to figure out who was behind it.  Meanwhile, a group of scientists are tackling the mystery of a house being shipped out of the country.  Their investigation intertwines with Atomic Robo's crew as they prepare a surprise assault on Majestic 12's operation.  The story moves quickly with a good set up once the action hits. 

The battle in the second half of the comic plays out nicely.  It manages to be both big and intimate at the same time, focusing on Robo taking down a small army.  This builds to an effective cliffhanger. 

Dialogue is a bit clunky at times with a lot of over-technical explanations of how they solve a problem.  But the story flows well once that's out of the way. 

In the art department, Wegener is very clean and stylized.  The story doesn't get lost panel-to-panel.  His action sequences and layouts are handled very well. 

One issue I had as a new reader: I have no idea who these people are.  There is something like 13 supporting characters and only a couple are called out by name.  They seem like props to move the story along.  The review copy I have may be missing a character breakdown on the inside cover so this may not be an issue with print copies (or regular readers).  This didn't affect the reading of the story. However, I wasn't sure who was a major player and who wasn't. 

Atomic Robo has a Hellboy-ish feel to it.  For me, that automatically set a familiar tone to the series.  The character is likable and worth investigating more.  The book seems like an all-ages title, which helped a newbie like me.  I would feel comfortable picking up the next issue based on this one.

(This Review was originally posted on Impulse Gamer)

Copyright © 2011 by Andrew Rubio

PULLED FROM THE BACKLOG: Marineman #1

Previously on Pulled From The Backlog:

From 2009 to 2011, my job had me traveling across the globe.  I found myself traveling from California to St. Louis.  From St. Louis to Singapore.  From Singapore to Macau and Hong Kong.  During that time, I had my LCS in California (DJ's Universal Comics) keep my pull list active. Now back home and readjusting to American life - I find myself facing 3 long boxes FILLED with over two years worth of comics!

Brightest Day and Siege are still new to me.  Dark Horse has just released Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom.  The Image founders are teaming up to bring out Image United.  Now several storylines behind the rest of the world… I pull an issue from the backlog.

Marineman #1

Writer: Ian Churchill     

Artist: Ian Churchill

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: December 2010


Reviewer: Andrew Rubio

Review Date: September 30, 2011

Rating: 3 out of 5



Having read through this week's New 52, I decided to pull something from my two year backlog.  I was looking for a quick read.  A One Shot maybe.  Nothing too complex after having read George Pérez's Superman #1.  Wow!  That book was dense!  After I was done, it felt like I had read a graphic novel.

Packed with words and pictures!

So digging for something breezier, I stumble across Ian Churchill's Marineman #1.  When I originally asked for this book to be added to my pull list, it was because the cover piqued my interest. The main character looked like a bulked up, cartoony Aquaman.  I decided to pull Issue #1 and give it a spin.

First off I gotta say this is one wordy book!  I thought Superman #1 was dense.  Marineman #1 gives any Bendis title a run for its money in the word department.

Wordy!

More Wordy!

Definition of Wordy: Relating to or
consisting of words; verbal.

It really feels like Churchill was trying to teach more than entertain.  I definitely know more about Oceanography now than I did earlier this morning.  I'll admit I zoned out more than once while reading the issue.  This was not the breezy reading I was looking for.

The art on the other hand is very pleasing. Churchill has a good, clean style and a lot of his layouts are very dynamic.  His art literally pops off the page.

No problems here.

For a first issue, it does its job. Introduction to main and supporting characters. Locations. Set up for the first story arc. The book certainly isn't bad but it really wasn't my cup of tea. I never had my LCS pull the rest of the series (which I see runs to Issue #6 - My God! $4.99!?!).  Which worked out well because, to be honest, I'm really not interested in reading further issues.  Sorry, Ian.  

If you're a fan of Churchill's art - By all means pick it up.  Or at this point, pick up the Trade.

Copyright © 2011 by Andrew Rubio

THE END OF A FLING

You know how it is. You're far from home. Away from the people you love. Lonely. Wandering the streets, getting use to your new surroundings. Then you see it - The local comic store. You're pretty sure it has all the stuff you'd find back home at your normal store but you're not that sure . Maybe they have a better discount on new books? Maybe they'll have that back issue you've been looking for? That missing Holy Grail.

Or maybe you just want to try something new. The excitement and anticipation kicks in as you enter the store.

And so begins your tawdry affair with another comic vendor. It's only temporary. You both know what you're getting into from the get-go. It was never meant to be long term. It's only to fulfill your selfish need for instant gratification. You could wait until you return home to your faithful comic guy but you can't. You need it now.

Right now, dammit!

I've been on the road, off & on, for the past 3 years. Sometimes for a couple of weeks. Sometimes 6 or 7 weeks. Or like now, 10 full months. Each time, I'd have my local comic store (DJ's Universal Comics) hold comics for me. Meanwhile, I'd find some local "action" in each city. For the most part, it's been pretty hush-hush and I've been able to get away with it.

However…..

After a trip back from St. Louis last year, I got caught. I returned home and hit Universal Comics. As I picked up my haul from the past 5 weeks, I made the mistake of adding the few titles I had been reading in St. Louis. To raise suspicions even more, I asked for a few bag and boards more than what I was buying. My comic guy (Cat) looked me in the eye and asked "Dude, are you cheating on me?"

Caught. I fumbled a response before admitting I was getting some stuff on the side. Just to hold me over until I returned home.

He gave me the stink-eye the entire time he bag & boarded my purchases. I felt lousy having it come out that way.

This is the same comic guy who has been my comic guy since after college. The same comic guy who found a first printing of Captain America #25 for me WEEKS after it sold out. Who knows I worship Grant Morrison and holds his titles for me even if I don't ask. The same comic guy I've followed to three different store locations faithfully for close to 16 years.

Yeah. I felt pretty crummy.

That hasn't stopped me tho. These past 10 months, I've been "stationed" in Singapore. I diligently send a Pull List back home each and every week but find myself visiting the local store (Comics World) to pick up at least one title a week. Without this store, I would have been MONTHS behind on reading Blackest Night - And that's something that could not happen! Of the three stores out here (Yeah, ONLY three stores), this one is the best in terms of customer service. They've treated me really well each and every week.

This weekend, I'm going to have to tell the owner (Bill) that it's over. Like St. Louis and New Jersey before, our weekly relationship is coming to an end. I'm heading home in two weeks and I probably won't be coming back. I'll try to stay in contact. If you're having trouble finding a specific back issue or promotional item, drop me an e-mail. I'll see if I can send it to you. 

Don't shed a tear.  We can end this amicably.

HELLO AND WELCOME

Hello.  My name is Andrew Rubio and I read comic books.  I read them for pleasure.  I read them for research.  And for a brief period of time, I was actually paid to read them as a consultant.  Comic books have been the one constant throughout my life, haunting me like a four-colored banshee.

My earliest comic book memories usually include man-handling a Disney, Bugs Bunny or Archie comic.  I vaguely remember images from various early stories but can never place where they came from.

1972

From a young boy to an outcast teenager to a grumpy adult, the art form known as the COMIC BOOK has always been there. My grandfather taught me how to read using comic books (especially with Spidey Super Stories as presented by Marvel and The Electric Company).

Yes.  I still have this!

Well, the California school system helped out too but Spidey definitely left a larger impact.  I continued reading throughout my school years becoming a "serious" collector in Junior High (which means I stopped folding them over to read 'em). Continued reading as a working adult. Continued reading after my children were born. Continued reading as prices steadily increased (I started reading comics when they were .35¢. They are currently $3.99). I even got married the same week Clark Kent and Lois Lane did, reading that issue on the way to the chapel.

Lois & Clark: Oct. 9, 1996
Dawn & Andrew: Oct. 13, 1996

I’ve made 2 serious attempts to give up comics (not counting the times that financial situations forced me to take brief sabbaticals or the one time my mom forbade me from buying new comics for an entire summer).  Both of those attempts saw me crawling back to my true love after a few months.

Comic books have been there for as long as I remember. And more than likely, they'll be there for a long time to come.

I had a MySpace blog way back when (like 2007) and never really stuck anything on it.  This is my second attempt at a blog and I'm sure it'll work exactly like the last one.  Eventually, I'll add the original MySpace stuff to this blog to keep all my thoughts in one place.  It'll also pad this place up a bit.

If you're looking for a blog with in-depth reviews of comics, this probably won't be the place to find them. Admittedly, I'm not smart enough to deliver an insightful or scholarly review of anything. I just like to babble. But if you're looking for aimless ramblings about the Micronauts or the time a friend of mine took the bus, carrying his entire comic collection in milk boxes to trade with me then this is the place for you.

Thanks for reading.