All-Ghouls School

I thought for Halloween, I'd review something that fit the season. And All-Ghouls School covers all the bases here. It's a little tale about Becca, a normal human, that gets sent to a school full of monsters for summer school. The story is your typical unpopular new girl trying to fit in with a new crowd, but with the added element of the supernatural. That added flavor makes the whole take fresh. There is a subplot that is obvious the second it's introduced, but it doesn't detract from the overall story. And the twist on the last page is something I definitely didn't see coming. The art is very similar to something you'd see in an Archie comic, which adds a very fun atmosphere to the book. While that might make it seem like it's only geared for kids, this book will be enjoyable to any age range that picks it up.

Store signing at Illusions Games and Comics

From right to left: my co-worker Andy, me, my other co-worker Cheltsey, Tom Feister, and my boss Nick.

We were lucky enough to have a store signing with artist Tom Feister (G.I. Joe, Legion: Secret Origin) at the shop I manage, Illusions Games & Comics. It was a total blast. This is what working in a comic shop is all about. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm in the right profession.

Pigs #1

Image continues to crank out the good stuff when it comes to your non-superhero comic fare. Pigs is about a KGB sleeper cell from Cuba from the Bay of Pigs era awakened today. The mystery surrounds why the agents are activated today, and what their mission is. The cliffhanger at the end is all you'll really need to be convinced to keep getting the series, but don't overlook the gritty, definitely adult dialog. The real meat of this book lies in that dialog. Well written like the best Hollywood crime movie, with enough unique characters to keep you entertained. The art is a little weak to me. Fits the tone of the book, but just seems unfinished in certain parts. I could've gone for more realism in that regard. But it's not so distracting that you won't be able to enjoy the story. Worth checking out if you're a fan of political/action thrillers. 

Legion of Monsters #1

I'm a sucker for redheads, so Elsa Bloodstone was all I needed to buy this. But I also had become more familiar with Marvel's monsters thanks to their dealings with the Punisher during the FrankenCastle arc. So there was a bit more intrigue to this series for me than just a hot redhead. Well, let me say, this book was a pleasant surprise all around. From the suspense of the mystery killings, to the humor of the wacky monsters, to the bad-assery of Elsa. Dennis Hopeless has grasped characters in a way that few writers can today. For being a relative newcomer, he's got a great take on established characters. His take on Jean Grey in the upcoming X-Men Season One OGN is already one of the best I've seen. And to take these C-list characters and make them interesting is spectacular. As is Juan Doe's art. I've always been a fan of his "propaganda" style covers, so to see his interiors on more than a random one-shot is a treat. His style seems a bit different that his cover work, but in a good way. It's at the same time dark and hilarious. A definite unique style. If you're looking for an unexpectedly fun time with characters you'd never consider fun (with the exception of Elsa, because redheads are always fun), then look no further than this title.

The Strange Talent of Luther Strode #1

Image has a real knack of hooking you on certain books with their solicitations in the Previews catalog. Probably better than any other company. And maybe they should since so many of their books today are created by newcomers to the industry. It's a hard sell to a public that needs the most for their buck. You know for the most part you're going to be safe buying a book by Brian Michael Bendis or of a character like Spider-Man. But to buy a book by somebody you've probably never heard of about a character (or characters) that is premiering for the first time, you need something to grab you immediately. And that's exactly what the preview for The Strange Talent of Luther Strode did for me. The sheer magnitude of richly colored, over-the-top violence struck me. Now after reading the book, I'm hooked even further. The story might seem like a standard "weak nerd likes a girl, gets buff to beat the bully to get her" tale, but it's so much more. Luther Strode is immediately a guy you like, and you want to see him succeed. You've probably even been in his shoes. As he gains his "talent" though, you're interested in seeing what he's going to do with them. But how did he get them, and who are the mysterious forces behind them? Well see, that's the hook. All of it is drawn and colored in a way that's best described as frenetic. The action literally explodes from the page in a way that's eye-popping. Very bright colors, very action hued. The perfect compliment to the story. Image should have another indy sensation on their hands.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #1

And the 52 DCnU reviews come to a close with Green Lantern: New Guardians. I think the GL franchise is the strongest in the DC line. Every book has been new reader friendly even though the old DCU stories were continued, every book has had great art, and every book has been what a comic should feel like. In this one, we get to see the wide spectrum of the different Lantern Corps (and it's not pronounced "corpse" people). There's even a nice introduction of Kyle Rayner at the beginning to catch new readers up to speed. I enjoyed seeing a bit of all the different Corps as much as I did learning about Kyle. My only quibble is with the art. It's nice, and most definitely brings a cosmic life to the book. But everyone seems to have porcupine hair. Like they all have spikes instead of hair. That needs to go. But the color palate is pleasing, accentuating each Corps member nicely. It'll be fun to see if each Corps is highlighted in the series, or if it'll begin to focus solely on Kyle's life as a Green Lantern. In Brightest Day indeed...

Aquaman #1

Not a hoax! Not a dream! The world might have just come to an end, because they've finally made Aquaman cool! It's so unbelievable for me to be saying this, but it's true. And the funniest thing about how they made him cool, is how they did it. They made fun of him. And that in turn made him a very likeable character. A character you wanted to see succeed. Geoff Johns has gone three-for-three in the DCnU. He's completely turned me around on his writing. I think the internet has cracked in half. What's next, I get a girl?? (Yeah, right) The art is superb, which is no surprise since Ivan Reis has become a superstar thanks to his pairing with Johns on Green Lantern. This was an exceptionally fun read. Quite possibly the biggest surprise of all 52 new comics. Even Johns' biggest fans could not see this coming. I doubt even DC did. Aquaman!