Tag: Comic

The Magic Order Vol. 1 – Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel Quick Review

.Reading time 2 minutes.
The magic order vol 1. - Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel Quick Review
The magic order vol 1. – Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel Quick Review

The Magic Order Vol. 1 – Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel Quick Review

A dark, graphic, adult fantasy/horror comic. The Magic Order Vol. 1 though a little derivative, gives enough to hold and entertain you.

A secret magic order that holds the monsters at bay from the world is threatened by a wronged villain. Madam Albany is out to take the magic order protected evil tome and turn the way of things on its head. Cue magic, graphic murders, monsters and an angsty family full of tropes. Set within beautifully dark art (that is kind of the biggest redeeming quality of the whole thing).

I won’t go into the frustration of that consequence erasing ending because ugh, that really ruined the magic for me.

But I loved the art, was interested in the world, the magic, artifacts, monsters, even some of the characters. Say what you want, I am always into the girls like Cordelia. Dark, self aware, powerful, slightly on the crazy side packed into a “fuck it” attitude. There was the making of something there that I could easily love. God, I just wish there was a little more detail put into it than what was given which was a little sparse and rushed, TBH.

– 2/5 I would totally read more (if there’s more – I never know with these things) but that ending…

I have received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

 

Crowded – Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Rachel Stott Quick Review

.Reading time 2 minutes.
Crowded - Christopher Sebela Quick Review
Crowded – Christopher Sebela Quick Review

Crowded – Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Rachel Stott Quick Review

In the future anyone with a grudge, money and backers can use the REAPR app to put a hit on anyone else. Average girl, Charlie Ellison finds herself targeted by a REAPR campaign with a million dollars on her head. She turns to the DFEND app to hire the lowest rated bodyguard, Vita. The campaign unfathomably climbs, assassination attempts fly out from every corner and Vita, the surprising badass, drags Charlie through, often times self imposed, danger to safety.

Highlights –

  • Fun
  • Action packed
  • Intriguing world, premise and characters
  • Colorful art and interesting character design
  • Vita
  • Diverse characters

Lowlights –

  • Charlie, while she has her charms, can be more than a little irritating.
  • After 6 issues both main characters are still somehow almost a complete mystery. We get to know the two main antagonists inner workings more than we do Charlie and Vita.
  • Speaking of Antagonists inner workings, from where it all ended, Trotters whole story line felt a bit pointless. Especially after going into so much detail about him (though I’m sure more will come out of it in future issues?).
  • The ending was sort of flat. I was expecting to learn more about Charlie than that one big reveal at the end after so many issues. I wanted a little more facts than she works a hundred jobs, has evidently self destructive and flaky behavior and, the almost understandable fact, that everyone she’s ever come in contact with hates her guts and she doesn’t feel great about it.

 

– 3/5 Crowded was a fun, intriguing, action packed and colorful read, full of diverse characters but left things, at the end of the first volume, at a kind of anticlimactic place.

I have received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Cold Spots – Cullen Bunn, Sean Phillips & Mark Torres

.Reading time 2 minutes.
Cold Spots - Cullen Bunn, Sean Phillips, Mark Torres Quick Review
Cold Spots – Cullen Bunn, Sean Phillips, Mark Torres Quick Review

Dan Kerr, a PI, is hired and sent to find wealthy Arthur warren’s missing daughter and grandchild. He finds his way to a remote town where paranormal ghosty things ensue.

To be blunt – the story overall doesn’t deliver on its promise of “unexpected twists and mounting dread”.

The first issue starts strong with creepy lingering unease in every frame. Everything is mysterious and dark and shadowy. It feels like there is something big to discover. A possibility of there being more to it than your standard ghost story. A possibility of digging further into characters who seem to have complicated histories and depth. The setup is great. It delivers.

But the whole story ends up rushed through and light on detail. The characters are mostly underwhelming, and the development and scale of the story didn’t go where I’d hoped it would.

There was a lot of potential within. Issues 1-5 are atmospheric and filled with horror tropes that I enjoyed, and I think it’s possible the story could have become something unique and intriguing. The art is gloomy with a surprising amount and use of color that is quite well suited for the whole vibe of the story. The characters had potential to be interesting with further development had they not been left mostly as face value figures.

I always find this to be the problem with miniseries. It’s just not enough. Nothing is given enough time and space to develop. I’m not sure if there are more issues to come (it seems as though there aren’t) but if there were, I think this would be something I could really enjoy.

-2/5 A dark and eerie miniseries that could have been more.

I have received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

 

Burnouts – Dennis Culver, Geoffo,Chris Burnham Quick Review

.Reading time 2 minutes.
Burnouts - Dennis Culver, Geoffo,Chris Burnham Quick Review
Burnouts – Dennis Culver, Geoffo,Chris Burnham Quick Review

Burnouts – Dennis Culver, Geoffo,Chris Burnham, Dave Dwonch, Lauren Perry, Allen Passalaqua

The world is being invaded by body possessing aliens and the only ones who can save it are teenage burnouts… by staying wasted.

Burnouts is a colorful, quick and light-hearted read about a nerd (who isn’t just a nerd) and a group of outcasts (who are more than just outcasts) coming together to unite their bravery, rebelliousness and smarts to save the world.

There’s a little dose of trope subversion, going a little deeper than surface level which creates characters with entertaining dynamics and dilemmas.  The concept is funny and intriguing with the possibility to delve into seriousness and drama.

The kids are just kids. Their only special power being that they can see alien possession when, well, not sober. All they can bring to the table is themselves which makes them pretty average kids with nothing to fall back on but each other.

The ending was a surprisingly serious revelation, making a very quick dive into serious territory.

I can’t wait to get my hands on more.

– 4/5 A quick, fun, light-hearted read where the survival of the world depends on teenage outcasts and their ability to stay wasted, brave and united.

I have received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Buy it – Burnouts

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom – Kelly Thompson and Jenn St-Onge Quick Review

.Reading time 3 minutes.
Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom - Kelly Thompson and Jenn St-Onge Quick ReviewNancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom – Kelly Thompson and Jenn St-Onge Quick Review

Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom by Kelly Thompson and Jenn St-Onge

Nancy Drew is in the middle of her usual crime solving, badass, smart girl routine when she receives a mysterious letter that pulls her back to her home town. There she reunites with her old friends and tries to get to the bottom of what grudge is being held against her and who exactly is trying to kill her.

So, considering this is the sixth in the series I should have probably read the others first. I haven’t. I also never read the original Nancy Drew series, so I’m sure I don’t have the full scope of appreciation for this modern revision.

All that said, I was able to follow the story without feeling lost. I appreciated the millennialness they put into it. Smart female protagonist, social commentary, pop culture references, diverse range of teenage characters (races and sexuality) wrapped in with some emotionally charged moments, fast paced action and mystery.

The art was pleasing, offering small samples of variation in style in every new chapter. All modern especially when you compare it to the original series. The characters are all edgy and refreshed from the past styles.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Nancy, I found her personality a bit unlikable, but I enjoyed the dynamics of her and her large group of friends together. Funny, quirky and a little Buffyesk with the smooth talking, sarcastic teen vibes.

The mystery didn’t blow me away. I wouldn’t say it was too predictable, but I found myself not as invested in the plot line. It felt quite rushed through with the number of things that happened, making the transitions and the parts that are usually intended to pack a punch (mystery reveal) kind of sudden and a little anticlimactic.

I’m very tempted to read the rest of the series. Though I’m not sure how much would be contained of what I read since Nancy was going back to her previous home town in this issue. I’m pretty attached to this first cast I was introduced to.

I have received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

– 3/5 Nancy Drew brought back to life with some new millennial edge.

Buy it – Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom

Nancy Drew: The Case of the Cold Case 

Edit – I think there is some sort of mix up with titles – What I read via NetGalley could either be The Case of the Cold Case (with the exact same description) or The Palace of Wisdom (which has the same release date and description as provided). It’s a thing. Either of them could be what I reviewed or could be one in the same, yay.