@thanosrules

Mind MGMT #9 Review!

Check out my 5/5 Review of Mind MGMT #9 over at Unleash the Fanboy!

QUEEN CRAB HC

Recommended!

You think you have problems…

For some reason, I never found time to sit down and read this book - until this weekend. I decided to make time - given all my unfettered support for Jimmy and team, I found myself bewildered by the fact that I hadn’t yet read and reviewed  this book…

As you can see, I enjoyed it - very much so.

This will actually be more of an advertisement than a review, as I am not going to spoil anything… in fact, the “top N reasons” thing seems to work pretty well for this type of thing, so here goes - Top 3 reasons to pick up this book:

• The Story - It is unique. It is well paced and masterfully executed. I had no idea what was going to happen - until it happened. It is not a “feel good” story. It amplifies how bad one person’s life could be - and then crosses a very strange and entertaining line. You do get a sense of relief that Ginger’s life is not your life (well at least hopefully that is the case). Either way, this is the perfect story for The Outer Limits or Twilight Zone… if either of those two shows increased their sex/nudity allocations - which is a good point - the content of this book is for mature audiences, not for kids.
• The Art - Interiors fit the book perfectly. The extra sketch prints (especially Amanda’s - which was my favorite) were an awesome bonus as well. It is always great to see different artist’s take on the same character. Artiz’ sketchbook is also included, which was a nice touch.
• Creator-Owned / Crowd-Funded - I know I am beating a dead horse on this one (if you have read my RETROVIRUS HC Review and recent tweets), but this is a critical component for this book and should be recognized. If and when (you really should try it sometime) you fund a project like this, it really makes you feel like you are “part owner” of the project… I realize that is not the case, but you are certainly part of the process and overall results. Without funding for projects like this, we are chained to the same-old “safe” licensed work (in most cases). This delivery mechanism is fantastic and should be supported.

So, there you have it. Again, I hope you enjoy this book.

For more from Jimmy and his Kickstarter based projects, check out their track record (and new project in the works - go fund it!):

• QUEEN CRAB - 137% Funded, Released March 16th, 2012
• RETROVIRUS - 140% Funded, Released November 21st, 2012
• SEX AND VIOLENCE VOL 1 - 121% Funded and Counting (16 days to go as of this post), To Be Released in 2013 - Let’s break the prior funding record with 150% funded!

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Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

RETROVIRUS HC

Recommended!

Some things should be left alone…

So, by now you know I am quite biased towards the work of Jimmy and Justin. This is for good reason - they are my favorite storytellers.

Now, with that out of the way, why should YOU pick up this book tomorrow (November 21st, 2012)?

Here is a list of the top 5 reasons I would pick this book up, if I were you:

• The Story - Jimmy and Justin are well known for their prolific storytelling. This book adds to their wonderful library of work. It is a bit different, though - it takes us away from the superhero, western, vigilante, war and most every other genre we are used to seeing… Reminiscent of Jurassic Park, The Relic, Mimic and other 90s Sci-Fi Horror, this story takes us into a world that is not so different than our own. In fact, who is to say projects, like the one depicted in the book, aren’t fully funded and underway? That prospect, and the way this story unfolds make for an intriguing tale which should be taken more as a warning to the scientific community - Some things should be left alone…
• The Art - Norberto Fernandez does a fantastic job with the detail, facial expressions, scale, and of course blood and gore this story needed to be successful.
• The Cover - Amanda Conner. Nuff’ Said.
• The Price - Retail Cover Price: $12.99 USD. That is a steal for a HC. Hell, it is a steal for Amanda’s cover art bound into a beautiful book.
• The Community - This book was funded by the community. This, like other books from Jimmy and Justin, started as a Kickstarter project. It was fully funded and now is a reality. If nothing else, support the fact that this kind of content creation is possible. Who knows, someday you may want your ideas to land at your Local Comic Shop… this type of project continues to pave the way for just that opportunity.
• BONUS Reason! - Creator Owned - If you read my reviews, you know that I am 100% behind Creator Owned work. Creator Owned = Inspiration. We call can use some inspiration from time to time…

So, there you have it. I hope you enjoy this book.

For more from Jimmy, Justin and their Kickstarter based projects, check out their track record (and new project in the works - go fund it!):

• QUEEN CRAB - 137% Funded, Released March 16th, 2012
• RETROVIRUS - 140% Funded, Released November 21st, 2012
• SEX AND VIOLENCE VOL 1 - 101% Funded and Counting (22 days to go as of this post), To Be Released in 2013 - Let’s break the prior funding record with 150% funded!

These guys are a true inspiration to the comic industry and the community they create around it. Not only with these projects, but the ongoing Image series: Creator-Owned Heroes. If you haven’t checked that series out yet, you are missing out. Go get it from your LCS (tell them to order it if they don’t have copies) and/or check it out on Comixology (Issue 1 is free).

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Support the future of Comics. Support Creator Owned Work.

——

Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

Turbulence #1 & #2

Recommendation: Yes, Indeed!

Super Fun and Imaginative!

As I alluded to in my review of Defects #1, I did enjoy this comic series just a little bit more. Nothing against Defects, but I just enjoyed Turbulence more. Maybe it was because I had two issues to enjoy? Who knows, but the simple fact is that this story is just really fun, exciting and new!

Sure, it is about superheroes. It even reminds me of some other teenage superhero books (Harbinger by Valiant Entertainment), but this is a new and different character. He has a new and different outlook on his situation. Yeah, his story is born in torment, but he is not all dark and brooding. He is upbeat, getting his feet wet, learning the ropes, and adding things to his “new rule” list to ensure he is a better superhero tomorrow.

Now that I think of it… I may have liked this story better because it wasn’t so dark and violent. I get enough of that from many of the mainstream titles… so this was a nice change of pace.

There are elements of the story and characters that may come off as “hokey”, but that is part of the fun in the book.

Again, like Defects (as the creative teams are awfully similar :), the art, story, lettering, flow, format, etc. are EXCELLENT for a pure indie book. It is obvious that they know what they are doing, even if things are produced, “one paycheck at a time”. ;)

For more information about this comic, check out: Overtime Comics - Turbulence

It is available in print #1 and print #2 ($4.99) or as a digital copy #1 and digital copy #2 ($0.99)!

Check them out… Today!

Oh, and as a side note… if you have ever seen Overtime Comics at a convention, you have seen the packaged little cards they sell to represent the digital copies. It has a QR 2D Barcode so you can scan it with your mobile device, URL to the digital copy, an image of the issue cover and links to more information about the publisher… It is one of the most creative ways to sell digital comics I have ever seen!

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

Defects #1

Recommendation: Yes!

Not what you expected!

Yeah, I thought this was going to be something akin to Avengers Academy or even Young Masters (because they kinda look “bad” right?) … but it is more of a breaking all the rules, no-holds-barred, free-for-all!

If you were looking for conflicted teens not acting on their problems, this ain’t it… These kids mean business and they will let nothing stand in their way!

So, what does this mean? There is a good amount of violence in this book. Not all ages, but all ages books are kind of silly anyway. ;)

The art, story, lettering, flow, format, etc. are EXCELLENT for a seemingly pure indie book. This creative team and publisher knows their stuff, even if things are produced, “one paycheck at a time”.

Oh, and it has that Fringe “experimenting on children” feel to it… which is always a bonus for a sci-fi story. :)

So, you might be wondering why this wasn’t a 5/5… fair question. For one, this gives the book a chance to show improvement as the story progresses and more issues come out. Second, there were times I was having a hard time following the characters, keeping them straight. I believe I need an index of their characters and powers (something I got used to with the first page in many Marvel books I guess). Third, compared to the next book I will review from Overtime Comics (Turbulence), I believe that 3.5/5 is an appropriate score, and I need some variation with my ratings!

Do not let me discourage you from this book. It is off to a fantastic start and leaves you wanting the rest of the story.

For more information about this comic, check out: Overtime Comics - Defects

It is available in print ($4.99) or as a digital copy ($0.99)!

Check it out… Today!

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

Think Tank Vol. 1

Recommendation: YES!

Redefining F = ma one issue at a time…

The Top 5 Reasons you should pick up this awesome new series:

1. It will make you smarter… or at least you will start to get a small grasp on what is going on in the story that makes you feel stupid.
2. The creative team on this is fantastic. If you are not following them yet, you should be: @topcowmatt and @RahsanEkedal
3. The story is unique, officially classified as non-superhero, but as you will see, there are some pretty super things about the main character.
4. As the first story arc completes (the first four issues in the series) we almost immediately have a collection. That is fast… and perfect for new readers!
5. It’s Science. Plain and simple. Yes, there may be some exaggeration here and there, but nothing fantasy about this, really. It is a solid piece that can appeal to genius and layman alike.

It has been a while since I felt stupid reading a comic book. I realize that statement alone sounds stupid, but this book covers topics, and handles the content in such a way to make you feel intellectually inferior. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing. Growth never happens without a challenge.

I am not going to give away anything in the story, it speaks for itself. What I am going to do is praise a couple things already touched upon above…

The simple fact that Matt takes the time to add a section called “Science Class” illustrates his dedication to the book. So many books just show us some fantastic thing, without grounding them in reality. Matt provides both, with a twist. Each of the fantastic things portrayed in the story has a little explanation (well as much as he can fit within the pages of the book), to include whether or not it exists in “real life”. He then gives you links to YouTube videos proving that fact… Very nice.

Hey Matt, if you read this, I do hope you get a chance to see the LHC. :)

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

Incredible Hulk #15

Recommendation: “Absolutely Not!”

“Old Squatchy”

I just finished this issue.

I needed to see the train wreck for myself.

I needed to finish this.

INCREDIBLE CRAP! The monkey had the right idea.

I have NEVER rated a book this low before. I am so disappointed. I did enjoy the vast majority of the art, but it could not make up for the bill of goods we were sold here with the story.

Sure, he found a way to tie everything back in. Big deal. It doesn’t save it. Not even close.

I have to assume Aaron didn’t care about this book. It must have been something that he threw together because he had to, definitely not something he was passionate about.

Some more slaps in the face:

1. This is a $3.99 book - the first 7 issues (and even 7.1) may have been worth that, maybe, but these last issues - I want my money back.
2. Mister Gor + B.R.A.I.N. = REALLY?
3. All Doombots, no Doom. Here is where you can tell Aaron was just phoning this in. He couldn’t even be troubled to write Doom (or decent Doombots).
4. Vegetable - The Comic Vine database now has to have something in it, so rediculous… so unnecessary… it is just… disappointing.
5. Old Squatchy - The name of the review… because it basically sums it up. “Old Squatchy” - REALLY? Nice way to go out… Somebody better start running.

Anyway…

Do not pick this up. Save yourself $3.99 + tax.

The ONLY reason to get this is to complete the collection. I don’t even know why you would want to do that, as it is really not worth anything. Keep issues 1-7 and 7.1, burn the rest (okay, maybe keep Issue 13 too).

Sigh.

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for more thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!

Captain Marvel #5

Recommendation: “The best one yet!”

Carol’s trip through time continues… wait until you see the end of this issue!

I thought it was only fitting to review this book Live! during the Women of Wonder Day event on Sunday, October 21st, 2012 - so I did. If you are interested, you can find that review as part of Stacks of Comics - Episode 015 - Women of Wonder Day 2012!

NOTE: The review starts at time stamp: 00:43:55 in that episode.

I really cannot say much more about this book than I already have, other than to once again recommend it very highly.

There is an artist change up this month. We are presented with Emma Rios’ fantastic art for the entire issue. It is beautiful. I cannot get over it, really.

The story itself is progressing along nicely and by the end, you kind of get an idea why we have been travelling back in time with Carol… I am definitely looking forward to the next issue, which has been teased:

“Next In Captain Marvel: The Beginning!”

So, as I said at the end of the podcast, celebrate Women of Wonder Day 2012 by reading this book!

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Follow @thanosrules on Twitter for more thanosrules Quick Reviews (#trqr) and listen to Stacks of Comics (@stacksofcomics) for all (okay, some of) your Comic Podcast needs!