Birthright #1: A Roundabout Review

Birthright #1

Produced by Image Comics 

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Andrei Bressan

Colors by Adriano Lucas

Nothing scares a father more than losing a child. A simple game of catch turns into what would be my worst fear. Aaron Rhodes loses his son in the park as his boy enters a heavily wooded area to fetch a ball gone long. In the first seven pages a year passes, effortlessly. The opening third of the book is dedicated to the father and the rest of Mikey's family, a family shown to be torn apart. 

The FBI  becomes involved when Mikey is found in a way no one could ever have imagined. Aaron, after being accused over and over again for murdering his son, was never charged. A body was never found. And we find out why in the middle of the comic book. 

So what happened to Mikey Rhodes after running for the ball? Where did the "hero" of our story disappear to when he was separated from his father during a simple game of catch? We find out the boy was transported to a far away land where time passed more rapidly, aging him. Once a missing boy, now returned, as a man. And this is where our true story begins. 

The cover alone is reminiscent of Art Adams mixed with Mike Mignola. Andrei Bressan draws phenomenally well, not just the everyday world, but a world of fantasy. And it is the story by Joshua Williamson that encourages me to read further. What brings it all together is the vibrant colors Adriano Lucas adds. 

Image keeps adding title after title to my pull list after I'm trying to cut back on titles I collect and I hope they don't stop. 

Thanks for Reading

4.5 out of 5 stars

A 3rd Shot of Reviews (10-1-2014)

Spider-Man 2099 #4

So far this is as much fun as the first issue. It cannot compare to the first Spider-Man 2099 from the nineties, because so far this series is so much better. 

Edge of Spider-Verse #4

The cover reminds me of the old EC books from the fifties. The interior, I imagined, mimicked the stories too. I have yet to purchase and read an old EC title to compare. 

Alex + Ada #9

This title continues to impress. 

Justice League # 34

This is the only New 52 title I still collect and it still proved to be worthy, unlike Thor, who can no longer wield the hammer. Geoff Johns is weaving not just a story, but a mystery; what is Lex Luthor after? 

Morning Glories #41

Imagine the TV show "Lost" as a comic book. If you liked the show, you'll like this. After 41 issues I might be lost, but I'm enjoying trying to be found.

Thor #1

Being a first issue is the worst thing about this book. All in all I must say, it is a must read. Too much happens in this to describe during one shot, I just might need to make it a double. 

A 2nd Shot of Reviews (9-24-14)

What did you pick up this week?

Amazing X-Men #11

When Nightcrawler returned, I was estatic, but the Amazing X-Men is anything but an ecstatic read. I decided to give this series an extended shot since it has the majority of the X-Men I grew up with, but I fear issue 12 might be my last for the series.

The Last Broadcast #5

My only Indie title. Issue 1 was enjoyable and I've been caught up in it ever since. The artwork is sketchy, but it works with the story. And at the end I'm wondering, what the???

Edge of Spider-Verse #3

In my first "Shot of Reviews" I mentioned how much I disliked issue #2. This issue was the opposite. I like it so much I wrote a full review on it. 

Guardians of the Galaxy #19

My first introduction to the Guardians was in the 90's. When I was first introduced to these "new" guardians, I passed until they starred in their own series; 18 issues later and I am still enjoying the ride. How could I complain with Thanos and the cosmic cube?

New Avengers #24

Jonathan Hickman has been doing an amazing job. This issue is no exception. The only qualms I have are, what do a bunch of villains care if the Earth is destroyed? I do understand if the Earth is Destroyed, so is the universe, but is that enough for these characters to do what Namor suggests? And what about the Sub-Mariner, why does he feel off? However, Hickman portrayed Doom as good as I have ever seen him. 

Thanks for Reading

Edge of Spider-Verse #3: A Roundabout Review

By Marvel Comics 

Written by Dustin Weaver

Art by Dustin Weaver

I didn't like Edge of Spider-Verse #2, I felt the full comic book could have been crammed in four pages of the latest issue Superior Spider-Man. As much as I didn't like issue #2, art or story, I loved issue #3. Dustin Weaver did a great job introducing a brand new Spider-Man, not to mention he drew him well too. How often do you read a comic book where it is drawn and written by the same person? 

Aaron Aikman experimented on himself, the result was becoming this particular world's Spider-Man and Naamurah was possibly the Green Goblin, not as a doppelgänger, but as an arch nemesis. In true Peter Parker fashion, Aaron has the same luck, where those close to him are cursed. His girlfriend leaves him for reasons unknown and enters back into his life all with in the same issue. Dustin gives a sense of time stuck using twenty pages, an admirable feat of story telling. 

This issue has everything a one shot should have. There was action and romance, some suspense, and most importantly a villain worthy to be written about in the pages of Spider-Man. Dan Slott created an idea and is allowing others to run with it. It's almost reminiscent of a giant "What If" story, but a reality for the 616 universe, the best part is, Peter doesn't even know about it yet.

And a side note, if you like the Marvel collectors cards from the eighties, you're in for a treat.

4 out of 5 stars

A Shot of Reviews from My Weekly Haul

Edge of Spider-Verse #2

Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman

All in all I am looking forward to this Spider-Verse, and if I wasn't a completist I would have passed. This issue is nothing that couldn't have fit in four pages of the Superior Spider-Man. The art is wanting and the story is lacking.

2 out of 5 stars, or save your money.

The Superior Spider-Man #33

The series has lost steam since it isn't being written by Dan Slott, but we find out more about who and/or what is hunting the Spider "totems".

3 out of 5 stars

Avengers World #13

I'm getting disappointed. The series started off with a great new idea and now I feel like I got on a roller coaster and afterward was transported to the merry go round. With all the Avengers books going around I'm getting lost and confused, maybe they should start at a new number one.

1 out of 5 stars. 

All New X-Men #32

Cover Swipe of the week.

When the Ultimate universe first came into existence, I was away from the comic book scene. As I later read them myself I was hooked, until it seemed they ran out of ideas. All new X-Men has been a book I've been looking forward to. Even at a slower pace and an introduction of the time-misplaced X-Men to the ultimate universe, Brian Michael Bendis is pacing himself with this issue.

3 out of 5 stars. 

The Wicked + The Devine #4

I liked issues 1-3, and this one is no exception. It is a change from the super hero universe I normally visit. This book is a murder mystery that I'm stuck with unravelling at the month to month pace. I know the murdered, but not the murderer.

3.5 out if 5 stars.

Daredevil #8

This is my favorite character. I pride myself on having every Daredevil book from #1 to now. The Purple Man has returned and he played the long game. Mark Waid has turned Matt Murdock's life upside down and does something even more graphic to Mr. Killgrave.

3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Avengers #35

Jonathan Hickman has picked up the pace in East of West, and has as equally slowed things down here in the Avengers. I'm lost and confused. I missed the days when Marvel added the editorial notes on where to check out what. I find out that Roberto DaCosta purchased A.I.M. and Thor has an Ax. The latter having an answer in Original Sin, but if I only read this title, I'd be lost. Frankly I'm disappointed. Great art, but as far as being my favorite Avengers title, I'm a bit frustrated with it.

3 out of 5 stars.

Uncanny X-Men #26

Brian Michael Bendis merged this title with the All New X-Men and had been doing a great job. This issue spear heads forward with the unveiling of Professor Xavier's will, bringing to the Marvel universe the strongest mutant ever. How this will effect everything else, no one knows. 

3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Uncanny Avengers #24

I'm done with this series. How does the Red Skull steal the mutant powers from Charles Xavier's brain. I like the premise of uniting two teams to show the American population that mutants and humans can coexist, but since this title seems to not need any other title to exist, I don't need this title.

1 out of 5 stars. 

Thanks for Reading

Imperial #2: A Roundabout Review

Imperial #2

By Image

Written by Steven T. Seagle

Art by Mark Dos Santos 

This will be the first time I reviewed back to back issues of the same title, whether that is a good or bad thing remains to be seen. Imperial #2 wasn't the first comic book I read out of my weekly haul, but it was the most anticipated. 

At the end of issue #1, a meteor fell from the sky. Certainly our future hero would be crushed if not for Imperial, but who is he? He wears tights, a cape, and a sentient crown. Unfortunately, Imperial doesn't like Mark very much and we only find out that Imperial didn't pick Mark to be his successor in between talking about the rings of Saturn and S'mores.

The issue starts right out of the gate on the interior cover. Imperial is on top of Mark, saving them from a meteorite, or is it meteor? By page four, we are introduced to Imperial's first major villain, Meterax. Four pages later, we realize he's not so major. The story continues with the same formula as issue one, much like Lethal Weapon II is to Lethal Weapon I, it's good but is it as good? 

In issue two, we learn a bit more about Imperial including that he is old.  He's been doing the superhero gig as Imperial for a long time, way longer than his comic book title from the thirties. And after the lesson in making s'mores, as a reader, we start to question Mark's sanity.

By the time I'm finished reading the book, I'm left with a feeling of satisfaction. The entire comic is advertisement free. The characters continue to develop and I wonder what will fall from the sky in issue three. This is also the first comicbook I have read that could also be a recipe book for s'mores. 

Four out of four S'mores

East of West #15: A Roundabout Review

East of West #15

By Image Comics

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta

Over 115 issues ago, the Walking Dead was published by Image Comics. This came out at the end of my non-collecting years, although if I were collecting, I would have passed. I am not a zombie fan. Years later, East of West arrived, and after trying Morning Glories, I figured I would give another Image title a shot. I picked up issue #1 of their news apocalyptical tale. 

The beginning of the story was very enjoyable. It was paced well, while introducing the characters of the story. It drove along between 40 to 60 mph, occasionally reaching 75-80 mph, that is if East of West could be compared to a car driving on the highway. Keeping with this theme, in the beginning of issue #15, it would be doing 80 and exceeding 100 MPH by the end.

Death has been looking for his son, the nations are at war, and the three remaining horsemen of the apocalypse plan on destroying the beast, who also happens to be Death's child. It's the three horsemen that catch up to the beast first. Conquest, or War, challenges him first and a fight ensues, one that could answer what is more powerful, the conflict that it creates, or the death that follows. Panel after panel of pure accelerated enjoyment has Conquest and Beast doing battle. It just so happens one has to lose.

If Jonathan Hickman can throttle a bit more, this series will only get better. The war between nations has only just begun, the four horsemen of the apocalypse roam the land, and the beast, Babylon is loose. May god help any in their way. 

4.5 out of 5 stars