Comic Review: Krystal #1

Krystal #1
Story and Letters by Jaymes Reed
Pencils by Rob Baumer
Inks by Travis Stephens
Colors by NichX
Cover by Brock L. Hor, Jr.
IK Comics
Cover Price: $1.00; Available Now

Krystal isn't for me, pure and simple. From the get-go, if you're one of those people who have been getting on everyone's nerves complaining about how women are somehow wrongly portrayed in comics for male gratification, you will probably not love this comic book, then again, maybe you can use it as therapy and move on to the next argument on your list or just find some comics you do like to read and leave us to our complaint-free reading...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Scorn #2

Scorn #2
Writer/Creator: Kevin Moyers
Artist: Philipp Neundorf
Septagon Studios Inc
Cover price: $3.75; Available now

What we've got here is a tough little nut to crack, at least from my viewpoint. Behind the curtain time; sometimes it's hard to review things that come across my proverbial desk. Some books you read, and it's easy to say “This is good” or “This is bad.” Not so much with this one. There's some serious subject matter going on here and a very unique art style, which brings up some good points and some bad points. I'll get to that in a minute...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Tales From The Farm

Tales From The Farm
Volume One Of The Essex Country Trilogy
Written and Drawn by Jeff Lemire
Top Shelf Productions
Cover Price $9.95; Available Now

When Lester's mother dies and he is orphaned, Lester's uncle reluctantly brings him to his farm in the small county of Essex in Ontario, Canada. Uncle Ken doesn't really know how to deal with kids, Lester doesn't know his uncle all that well, and their relationship becomes strained and distant almost from day one. While in town getting gas, Lester pops into the store to pick up a new comic book. It is there that Lester meets Jimmy, a ex-hockey player who was injured in the NHL and has been written off as being "slow" and "different." Jimmy and Lester soon become friends, and the pair of them set off on superhero adventures fighting an alien invasion and picking up games of hockey on a frozen pond. Ken, however, is not too fond of their friendship, and while he is determined to keep the two apart, Lester is all the more determined to keep the relationship going...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: The Misadventures of Clark and Jefferson #2

The Misadventures Of Clark And Jefferson #2 of 4
Writer: Jay Carvajal
Artist: Marc Borstel
Ape Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50; On-sale: Nov 2007

Take equal parts Lethal Weapon, Deadwood, and Starship Troopers, and you may have the weird mix that is the Misadventures of Clark and Jefferson. Issue #1 and #2 set up a nice little mini that starts out as regular old western story but then takes a turn for the weird about halfway through the first issue. Is it possible that cowboys will become the new zombies? One hopes not, because I don’t think I can deal with a cowboy Spider-Man variant cover...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel

The Probability Broach
Story by L. Neil Smith
Art by Scott Bieser
Colors by --3--
Big Head Press
Cover Price: $19.95; Available Now

Or as I like to call this book, “Libertarianism, Yay!” This was a weird one, not really knowing anything about it till I started reading, which is not normal for me these days as I usually try to find out lots of info about things before I buy them. However, I was sent this book and after reading it, I’m left scratching my head a bit. There are several different questions to ask myself while reviewing this: does it work as an adaptation of a novel? Does it work as an explanation of Libertarian ideas and philosophies? Does it work as a piece of fiction on its own? Is it exciting? Does it have interesting characters? Does it have anything to say? I guess those last ones are questions I ask when reviewing anything, but they come up more in relation to the first two questions. I have answers to all those questions, but first, plot synopsis, ho!!...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: ChiSai - Karma

ChiSai: Karma - The Complete Collected Edition
Written by Bart A Thompson
Various Artists
Approbation Comics
Cover Price: $3.50; Available Now

A lone mystery man has been making the life of crime lord Jeno a living hell with a constant barrage on his henchmen and bank accounts. Jeno has searched through his entire payroll looking for the perpetrator, only to discover that this "man" is actually a woman by the name of Shy, a young trained assassin that used to be in his employ and had thought to be left for dead. Armed with a katana and retractable matching sais, and protected head to toe with bulletproof armor, Shy is out to destroy Jeno's empire before finally facing him one last time...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Killing Pickman #2

Killing Pickman #2 of 6
Written by Jason Becker
Illustrated by Jon Rea
Lettering by Matt Talbot
Archaia Studios Press
Cover Price: $3.50; Available Now

Continuing shortly after the events in issue #1 of this six-part miniseries, the mysterious and demon-inhabited Pickman is now in a hospital while Detective Zhu sits in his car, thumbing his gun as he prepares to execute Pickman. Pickman, completely immobilized by restraints on his bed, opens up his mind to a psychiatrist who has been brought in to analyze Pickman's mental state to see whether his is fit to stand trial. In a cold and very matter-of-fact way, Pickman explains to the doctor the essence of his soul, reaching deep into the back of his memory as he recounts his unnaturally long life, and how he came to be in the such possession of the powers he now controls. As the conversation nears its end, and with the psychiatrist only seeing a pseudo-intellectual religious nut, Zhu makes his way to the fourth floor, gun in hand, and ready to confront the child-killing monstrosity...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Intrepid #1 and 2

Intrepid #1-2
Written by Jose Loeri
Art by Mats Engesten
Coloring, Lettering and Layouts by Atlantis Studios
Crucial Crisis Comix
Cover price: $2.95; Available now

What do you call it when one man takes on an entire regiment of armed soldiers to escape from a government prison and then makes his way to Mexico and then gets a bar blown up while fighting his way through two other former teammates who have been artificially enhanced? I call it Intrepid.

In "Preamble", the first of the 7-issue "Heroes and Villains" arc of Intrepid, we meet Joseph Paxton. Intrepid is the only way to describe him. A man who seems willing to take on anybody and anything to rescue a friend and former underling. A man with amazing powers himself. But he may also have memory implants, so we cannot trust anything that he remembers...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Eleven Questions with T.E. Pouncey: Mort Todd

Mort Todd is a comic artist, writer, and creator who has been a major force in comic books since he was a teenager.

"I was always drawing as a youth and became editor of my summer camp newspaper," Mort said. "I appropriated their mimeograph machine and started self-publishing comics by junior high."

Moving from Maine to New York City , Mort met Dan Clowes and other teens and began Psycho Comics and other titles. He also sold stories to DC comics, Marvel, Fantagraphics, and Kitchen Sink before becoming editor of Cracked magazine.

"After that I started my own company, put out a Bill Ward magazine, a bilingual humor comic," Mort said . "Later I launched the Marvel Music line working with bands like Alice Cooper, KISS, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Marley with work by Neil Gaiman, Kyle Baker, Gene Colan and other great talent."

Currently, Mort has his own company Comicfix, which did newspaper strips (Speed Racer, Molly the Model) and is now focused on, but not limited to, the Sadistik photo novels, featuring the adventures of a Super Criminal. Mort is also working on a few scripts that are being considered for film and TV.

T.E. Pouncey: Can you tell us a little about how you came to be involved in Cracked magazine?...continue reading this AWESOME interview at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: A Drug War Carol

A Drug War Carol
Written by Susan W. Wells
Art direction and production by Scott Bieser
Big Head Press
Cover Price: $5.95; Available Now

It's not new to hear arguments against the war on drugs. But those arguments don't usually come in the form of a graphic novel. That alone makes A Drug War Carol by Susan W. Wells and Scott Bieser unique. And though the story provides an interesting new way to share history with a new audience, the story itself is not very creative or interesting...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls Vs. Zombies -- Special Edition Preview Issues #3 and #0

Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls Vs. Zombies
Special Edition Preview Issues #3 and #0
Writer: Bart A. Thompson
Artist: Steve Doty, Jed Raven
Approbation Comics
Cover Price: $3.50; Available Now

Bart A Thompson's adventures of three buxom badass zombie-busting gals have been floating around for a few years now, courtesy of his own Approbation Comics. So far there have been three Special Edition Preview issues put forth, and you can read all about the first issue, where Paige, Jamie, and Brittney make their debut, right here on Geeks Of Doom. This review should get you up to speed on just what Thompson is going for with this series...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: ChiSai: Duality #1

ChiSai: Duality #1
Written by Bart A. Thompson
Pencils & Inks by Francisco Paronzini
Grayscale by Jorge Mongiovi
Letters by Richard Nelson
Cover Colors By Mike Beals
Approbation Comics
Cover Price $3.99; Available Now

There comes a time in every person’s life when they must ask themselves the *tough* questions:

Who am I?

Where is my life headed?

What would I do if I were suddenly accosted by gun-toting assassins while taking a shower?

Well, friends, the answer to one or more of these questions (...prrrobably just the one...) can be found in the pages of Approbation’s new two-part mini-series, ChiSai: Duality.

ChiSai is the story of Shy, a badass martial artist with a dark past who is just trying to live a peaceful existence in relative isolation with her boyfriend and their daughter. When visitors of the masked and violent variety come a-callin’ (during the most personal of moments), Shy learns that said dark past (established in the original miniseries, ChiSai: Karma) has come back to haunt her. She is forced to leave her peaceful life behind to tie up loose ends and ensure her family is never threatened again...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Birth TPB and Novo #1-3

Birth TPB and Novo #1-3
Written and Created by Michael S. Bracco
Alterna Comics
Birth: Cover price: $8.00; Available Now
Novo: #1-3, Cover price: $3.00; Available Now

Hot alien sex, cool monsters, wild alien technology, huge, bloody war scenes, a progeny, and a world's fight for survival.

You had me at hot alien sex.

One world. Two species. A planet divided. Will they destroy one another or work together to solve their mutual problem? Michael S. Bracco starts his epic with the graphic novel Birth. Alterna Comics then publishes issues 1-3 following the journey of the offspring Novo.

Although it's 88 pages Birth is a swift, smooth read. Take your time and take it all in though because Bracco chronicles the story of a world that has come to its penultimate epoch, thus creating its one chance for salvation, Novo. In it there are whole pages devoted to small single panels that not only show the passage of time and space, but also evoke emotion. Bracco's backgrounds seem especially influenced by manga and they have a very alive, flowing feel. The art seems more etched than drawn. The covers for both Birth and all the Novo issues are in color, however the interiors are all black and white. Whether it is natural or conformed, Bracco's style is perfect for the black and white medium. The waterfront battle scene is very graphic, but the black and white format absorbs some of the horror...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: 'Afterlife' Volume 1

Afterlife Volume 1
Written by Stormcrow Hayes
Art and Lettering by Rob Steen
Foreword by Joshua Dysart
Published by TokyoPop
Cover Price: $9.99; Available Now

What happens when you die? Every religion has an answer. Philosophers debate about it. Artists try to capture it. Scientists try to define it. And they've all got it wrong. There is no Heaven, there is no Hell. There is no punishment for lack of morals or reward for a decently lived life. There are no virgins, no pearly gates, no fire and brimstone. There is only a void of eternity, where every... single... person who has ever lived goes. In this world, Mother Teresa and Hitler stand side by side pondering, L. Ron Hubbard and David Koresh fist fight to pass the time, and priests from the Catholic, Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths sit in a circle and point fingers at each other. Forever...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Infiniteens #1

Infiniteens #1
Story and Art: Zeu
Lettering: IK Comics
IK Comics
Cover Price: $1.00; Available Now

It has been eighteen years since the Vitori-Shears Barrier was broken through, and the ensuing rift released superparticles across the entire world. The result was over two million "event children" or "event freaks" as they would despairingly come to be known as. These superpowered freaks, with abilities that are limited only by the imagination, have strewn anarchy across the entire world. Boston, New York, and Los Angeles now lie in ashes, and are just a few of the victims to the constant battles of the failing governments and military against the event freaks.

But in Cape Ruseur, a small town that...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Amour #1

Amour: The Amour Anthology #1
Written by Bart A. Thompson
Art by Ezequiel Pineda
Letters by Brant W. Fowler
Approbation Comics
Cover Price $3.50; Available Now

The skinny on Amour, an Approbation Comics title, is that it’s a black-and-white anthology of three one-and-done storylines about dating life in our society today. Billed as a romance comic book, each story is a bite-sized chunk of early relationship stages, i.e., the really uncomfortable dating portions. The anthology format is one that caters to shorter story, limiting the overall scope of a book, generally frustrating interested readers but pulling in casual readers with easy to access stories and fresh characters. Amour is a nice balance of short-play stories generally centered around two individuals in situations that are, for the lack of a better term, called dates. The shorter stories play down Bart Thompson’s likely weakness with writing longer narratives...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Witch Hunter 1st Issue Special

Witch Hunter #1
Writer: Vincent Verrante
Pencils: Scott
Inks and Colors: Victor Dominicis, Keith Seifert
Monarch Comics
Cover Price: $2.99; Available Now

Three hundred years ago, a young boy along with his mother are burned at the stake for practicing magic. But while his body burned, his soul was kept safe in an amulet. Now, in this modern time where magic has ceased to exist because the world has ceased to believe, this young boy is needed more than ever. His soul is released from the amulet, and his body brought back to life. Thus is born the Witch Hunter who adorns his swashbuckling garb with magical artifacts and weapons, and is cloaked in a purple robe, ready to take on evils in whatever dimension they raise their head. One of Witch Hunter's first missions is to locate the daughter of a rich businessman. His journey takes him to a manor in a land deep underground, where monsters pay to "rent the services" of females of all shapes and races. With his trusty gun, sharp blade, and sharper wit, the Witch Hunter will have to cut through more than just a few unruly customers and staff to find the girl he has been paid to save...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Myriad #1-4

Myriad #1-4
Various Artists
Approbation Comics
Cover Price $2.99; Available Now

Anthology comics are few and far between, and are always tricky to market to the masses, especially when you are dealing with a title with not just multiple short stories, but multiple titles and storylines that are entities unto themselves under that anthology umbrella. The choice to make it as homogeneous as possible to target a specific audience (think Marvel Comics Presents), or to make it a diverse compilation that will force readers out of their comfort zone and expose them to new genres and storytelling is always difficult. Approbation Comics, with their Myriad line, decides to take a huge gamble by bringing together five titles that couldn’t possibly be more different under the same umbrella, with each title getting approximately eight pages per book. Does the gamble pay off?...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: The Misadventures Of Clark And Jefferson #1

The Misadventures Of Clark And Jefferson #1 of 4
Writer: Jay Carvajal
Artist: Marc Borstel
Ape Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.50; On-sale: Nov 2007

In the sun-baked Arizona desert, Sheriff Clark and nearly blind Deputy Jefferson keep the small town of Sagebrush at peace. But when the ornery Dempsey Gang rides into town with plans of staying a while, Clark goes in for the arrest, with Jefferson cowardly following behind. And despite Clark's best efforts, one of the Dempseys escapes into the desert. But Clark and Jefferson are quick to take up their own horses and follow after the desperado. While on the trail, the duo come across over a hundred dead cattle, with only their guts and eyes eaten up. The pair press on diligently, unaware that their journey is about to lead them straight into a close encounter of the third kind!...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Peace

Give Peace A Chance
Frankie B. Washington's series gives readers a lot for their money

Peace # 0-2
Created, written and drawn by
Frankie B. Washington
Cover by Crystal Correia
FWB Press
Cover Price $3.00; Available Now

Frankie B. Washington is man with big ideas.

In the first three issues of his epic comic series Peace, Washington destroys and creates a new universe, introduces the gods who run the universe, and re-imagines Boston as a futuristic city-state full of gang conflicts.

And that's just the beginning.

For those who complain (as I often do) that readers just don't get much for their money these days from comic books -- rejoice! The three issues of Peace I read are so dense with plot and story, that I read all of them five times before even starting to review them and I was still finding new stuff with each re-reading...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!