Comics

A few weeks ago, I had an idea that I wanted to start subscribing to Comic Bento.  That’s a service that sends you a blind box of trades each month.  Sort of like Loot Crate, but for comics.  $25 bucks for 4 trades seemed like an idea that really appealed to me, but I don’t have a lot of space for comics right now.  So, what I have decided is that I will read and review them each month, and then donate them to local libraries and schools.  So, I get some random new comics each month, you guys get some fresh reviews, and some lucky readers get some new comics at their library or school.  Sounds like a win for everyone.

Front Lines by Mike Maillaro, Mike Weaver, Grey Scherl, and Gina Maillaro

1872 #2 by Gerry Duggan and Nik Virella

Summary: Ten years ago, during the Civil War, Tony Stark designed a powerful weapon for the Union forced.  He expected them to use the threat of the weapon to force the Confederates to surrender.  But instead, the Union forces used this weapon to brutally massacre Southern soldiers.  This is what set Stark to becoming a drunk.

The difficulty with transcribing an interview with comics writer Mark Millar is not one of attuning the American ear to the Scottish accent. Rather, it's in the judicious editing out of all the exclamation points you find in your notes. Mark, like the comics he produces, is a high-energy personality, and every utterance comes across with a sense of excitement and urgency.

And why shouldn't he be excited? He's had several of his comic book projects turned into films, with more of those on the way, and he's living out the dream of playing daily with superheroes, and getting paid to do so!

The owner and operator of Millarworld sat down with CriticalBlast for a few moments to talk about his latest graphic novel venture, CHRONONAUTS, as well as drop some knowledge on us about some of his other projects he has coming down the pike.

Marvel released the following press release this morning: 

SECRET WARS #9! The Biggest Marvel Story of All Time Just Got Bigger!

New York, NY—August 26th, 2015 — It’s the story that has the whole world on the edge of its seat. The biggest Marvel event of all time. The story that destroyed the Marvel Universe. And if you thought it couldn’t get bigger – you thought wrong. Today Marvel is pleased to announce the expansion of the blockbuster Secret Wars event with SECRET WARS #9 – coming to comic shops later this year!

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of Marvel books shipping in November.

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS #1 & 2 by MARK WAID, ADAM KUBERT & MAHMUD

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of DC books shipping in November.

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #1 by FRANK MILLER, BRIAN AZZARELLO, ANDY KUBERT & KLAUS JANSON

The epic ending you never saw coming is here because you demanded it! The Dark Knight rises again to face the dawn of the master race!

The Justice League is back, and ready to hit the bad guys like a ton of bricks. LEGO bricks, that is.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: ATTACK OF THE LEGION OF DOOM is the latest installment in the animated LEGO adventures of DC Comics' Justice League characters: Superman (Nolan North), Batman (Troy Baker), Wonder Woman (Grey Griffin), Flash (James Arnold Taylor), Green Lantern (Josh Keaton) and Cyborg (Khary Payton). Together, they've been successful in stopping the bad guys in their tracks.

I'm a lifelong fan of comics, and of the actors who portrayed the characters in them. However, there are only a very few who had a pivotal impact on my life, those being the ones I encountered at my youngest, most formative years.

Actress and dancer Yvonne Craig was chief among those, one of those people who had always been there and, in my unthinking naivete, I presumed always would be.

Today, I have learned that Ms. Craig has passed away on August 17 at the forever young age of 78, after battling breast cancer.

While Craig will be eternally remembered for her portrayal of Batgirl in the iconic 1960s BATMAN television series, starring alongside Adam West and Burt Ward, fans will also recall her stunning portrayal of the green-skinned dancer, Marta, on STAR TREK. She also acted opposite of Elvis Presley in the 1964 musical, KISSIN' COUSINS.

By Gina Maillaro and Mike Maillaro

Howard the Duck (2015) #5

By Mike Maillaro, Josh Pollard, Jeff Ritter, & Graham Scherl

This Week:

Reviews by Mike Maillaro, Mike Weaver, Grey Scherl, and Gina Maillaro

AGE OF APOCALYPSE #2 by Fabian Nicieza and Gerardo Sandoval

Summary: The X-Men square off with Apocalypse’s Elite Mutant Force. They are all trying to claim Doug Ramsey.  They fight gets real ugly, real fast. 

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! 

Comics shipping this week

I have an obscenely long list of comics coming out next week. I really need to start trimming down my pull list some, but it is pretty much all stuff I enjoy reading...

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! 

Comics shipping this week

Yeah, that is about as Deadpool as you can get.   Today, Fox posted a teaser up for the Deadpool trailer coming tomorrow.   Not work safe (some foul language), but really funny! Definitely very encouraging that Fox is going to have the exact right tone for this movie:

By Gina Maillaro and Mike Maillaro

Weaver is running LARP’s at GenCon, so my lovely wife has decided to step in for him.

DC Bombshells #1

Written by: Marguerite Bennett
Art and Colored by:  Marguerite Sauvage
Cover by: Ant Lucia
Lettered by: Wes Abbott

WHO IS STAN LEE?

Written by Geoff Edgers
Illustrated by John Hinderliter
Published by: Grosset & Dunlap (2014)
Cover price: $4.99

Front Lines by Mike Maillaro, Mike Weaver, Grey Scherl, and Gina Maillaro

E IS FOR EXTINCTION #2 by Chris Burhnam, Dennis Culver, and Ramon Villalobos

Summary:  Cyclops, Emma, and Wolverine had tricked the U-Men to free Xorn.  The old X-Men end up blowing up the U-Men as they leave.

Meanwhile, Beast realizes that the Hank McCoy who showed up at the end of issue one is a human with no X-Gene.

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! 

Comics shipping this week

The fifth comic release week of any month is usually a pretty light week for me, and this month is no exception.