Just in time for the release of Marvel's latest superhero epic, DOCTOR STRANGE, comes this DK tome dedicated to THE MYSTERIOUS WORLDS OF DOCTOR STRANGE.
As with nearly every DK book I've ever read, this collection by Billy Wrecks and Danny Graydon (with a foreword by comics writing icon, Roger Stern) succeeds in being exhaustive yet condensed, providing the reader with access to just about everything that has touched Doctor Stephen Strange's life since he became the Master of the Mystic Arts. Hardcover with gilt-edged pages (a nice touch!), this oversized book takes readers on an encyclopedic tour of Strange's origins, his allies, his associates, his enemies, and the notable turning points in his life.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 11/01/2016 - 07:54
Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
When I read the REBIRTH: TEEN TITANS issue last month, I had some recriminations about the book. Having Damian Wayne individually take down each hero -- Beast Boy, Starfire, Kid Flash and Raven -- in relatively short order, I was seeing once again the "invincible boy wonder" with sociopathy issues. How was this going to work?
Thankfully, with the proper debut of the series, TEEN TITANS #1, Benjamin Percy and Jonboy Meyers turn the whole introduction around in a way that makes perfect sense. Damian Wayne -- Robin, son of Batman -- was, in his own way, simultaneously making a point...and asking for help.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Wed, 10/26/2016 - 07:39
Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
Confession is good for the soul, they say. It's also a religious expression. So this is a little of both.
I was raised in an Apostolic Pentecostal home. If you're unfamiliar with that, put your mental cursor on "snake handlers" and move it just a little to the left and you'll be in the vicinity. Morals were important, and that's a good thing -- but the morals (at that time in the organization's history) were often things that seemed up to the interpretation of those in charge, who knew better because they had divine connections. As such, it was an era of rock-and-roll record purging and exposure of backward masking in music. Pulpits were the fastest method of pushing pre-Internet memes such as KISS being an acronym for "Kings in Satan's Service" accompanied by tales of how the band would hold Satanic prayer rituals over each album's original pressing prior to mass production. Snopes did not exist.
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 10/20/2016 - 09:49
On January 11th, 2017 Titan Comics will launch KHAAL - a brand-new, violent space opera of warring clans, gladiatorial arenas and political intrigue.
The first issue of KHAAL will be made available with variant covers from the industry's top talents including; Marc Laming (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Nick Percival (Assassin's Creed), Adam Gorham (The Violent), Steve Kurth (Iron Man Legacy) and series artist Valentin Sécher.
A bold new comic series written by Stephane Louis (Husk). With art from Valentin Sécher (The Metabaron), KHAAL takes place on an ancient prison ship, floating alone in the void, left behind by a galaxy decimated by a brutal war.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 10/18/2016 - 10:29
Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 11:20
The good people at Valiant and Catalyst were kind enough to send us a review copy of Valiant Universe: The Deckbuilding Game. I’ve been reading Valiant almost as long as I have been reading comics; since Valiant relaunched in 2012, I have not missed a single issue. Also, I really enjoy deck building games, including Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game and Star Realms.
Over the next few weeks, I will be doing more of a formal gameplay review once I get my gaming group together and get a few plays in, but I did want to give some of my early impressions of the game.
Submitted by Critical Blast Staff on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 08:00
While I really enjoyed Doom Patrol, Young Animal's second book just didn't win me over. This isn't the worst comic I have ever read, but it felt very middle of the road. In a crowded marketplace, there wasn't enough here to keep me engaged as a customer.
I understand the need to be a critic. Heck, for me it’s a way of life! So if you don’t like something that I do, or you like something that I don’t, I get it. Wear what you dig, live and let live.
But when your criticism is based on something ludicrous, well, expect your criticism to be critiqued. We can do that.
Case in point: Miley Cyrus. The former Disney good girl Hannah Montana was recently interviewed by Variety, where she spoke on a bunch of things important to her, including the CW show, SUPERGIRL, for, of all things, perpetuating gender stereotypes.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 10/11/2016 - 09:14
Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Thu, 10/06/2016 - 14:39
And the first chapter is FREE! Writer, Shea Fontana, is set to write the digital first comic series titled: DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High.
While the kids won't get the reference, it's sure to make their parents chuckle a bit. I think it's safe to say a certain element of the referenced movie will NOT be present in the comic.
Shea Fontana has already written DC's first original graphic novel DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis, which also made the New York Times Bestseller list. The second graphic novel, sub-titled HITS AND MYTHS, will be available on November 1st of this year. A third graphic novel sub-titled WONDER WOMAN: SUMMER OLYMPUS is set to be released summer of 2017.
Here is Shea Fontana talking about the opportunity:
Submitted by S.J. Mitchell on Wed, 10/05/2016 - 10:57
The New 52 will always hold a special place in my comic book loving heart as it offered so many new opportunities to meet classic characters for the first time. However the tone was bitter and left a lot of fans disappointed with the direction.
Now, with 'Rebirth', DC is rebuilding a universe that was fractured by a poor mishandling of the brand. And, so far, they're doing a fantastic job through storytelling and character building.
As always, the DCU begins and ends with the world's greatest superhero:
SUPERMAN
While Action Comics is the series that started the superhero craze, with the introduction of the Man of Steel back in 1938, the title that really seems to be carrying the torch this time around is SUPERMAN.
Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 10/04/2016 - 12:09
From Comicbook.com:
Warren Ellis will return to DC, to work on some of the characters that made him a household name among comic book fans, as the curator of a new pop-up imprint called WildStorm, ComicBook.com has learned exclusively.
Following on the heels of the success of Gerard Way's Young Animal imprint, WildStorm will take a similar approach, with Ellis writing the "main" book and curating the others.
