1st Impression: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT- IRIS (Vol. 3) # 5

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS  # 5 (Vol. 3)
Written by David Wohl
Art by Alex Lei  & Siya Oum
Aspen Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:
                Executive Extinction ends with a few bangs and an increasing body count.  We get an EXTREMELY unlikely alliance. Iris reflects after the death of Lily as she meets with her new partner. Meanwhile, the rest of the EAs gather together for a final assault on Mazutsu.

ART:
                Alex Lei was much improved this issue. His art was crisp. His lines were nice and clean with great pencils and inks. Lei draws beautiful and deadly women with good angles.  Lei also gives great backgrounds and sharp shading throughout the issue. Oum shines will some brilliant coloring this issue. There are some great tones used to show darker areas as opposed to lighter ones. The porportions were great this issue and the sequential art flowed well from panel to panel.  A solid job by this art team.

WRITING:
                Wohl ties up the events of Executive Extinction and this latest Executive Assistant: Iris fairly well. Iris gets some good development here, dealing the with loss of Lily as well as confrontations with Rose. And while we do see some of the other EAs, Iris does shine. The narrative helps give the issue a great flow.  The dialogue felt real and the situations fit the storyline and issue well. My only gripe was that it felt a bit rushed at the end. Not much but I think a couple extra pages would have helped make this issue have a better flow. Still, Wohl closes this chapter in Executive Assistant: Iris’s life well with gripping action and good drama that does not drag.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                The book is fairly solid. Wraps up everything well. The art was good. Pretty solid issue all around.

RATING:

                I give Executive Assistant: Iris # 5 an 8 … out of 10. 

Preview: Executive Assistant: Iris (Vol 3) # 5

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS (vol 3) #5
David Wohl ­ Writer /Alex Lei­ Art / Siya Oum - Colors

The Extinction finale has arrived!

In this, the final chapter of the thrilling Executive Extinction crossover,
Iris seeks vengeance for her fallen comrade and forces a final showdown with the man who murdered them--the vicious and malevolent Mazutsu. But to get to him, she must cross paths with her own employer, the C.I.A., as well as her greatest nemesis, Rose, who is seeking a little revenge of her own. In the end, only one will survive, and THIS time, it's permanent!

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS (vol 3) #5 is in stores September 11, 2013!

Executive Assistant: Iris # 3 Review

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS (Vol 3) # 3
Written by David Wohl
Art by Alex Lei & Siya Oum
Aspen Comics



FLIPPING THROUGH:

            We pick up where we left off with a gunshot … which comes from an unknown area. Iris is able to save one of her “employers” with the help of her other “employer.” Yet, she finds that Rose was let go which leads to a big confrontations which shows almost all of the Executive Assistants together for the first time.

            The mysteries of Rose deepen as she gets a very surprising kind of help. Leaving Iris to stew. As she then chooses not to chase after Rose anymore, Iris ends up flying back only to have more trouble waiting for her.


ART:

             Alex Lei really steps up his game this issue. Last issue, there was good pencils but awkward panel work. There is none of that here. Pencils and inks are very strong this issue. No misproportions. And backgrounds were decent this issue. Siya Oum’s colors really help Lei’s pencils and inks stand out. The action was visually very good this issue.

            Unfortunately, Lei’s pictures of characters from the distant is not the best. Panels with characters seen in the distance seem a bit too cluttered together in terms of pencils and inks. And at first, I was kinda of quizzically looking at a panel right before Rose was supposed to be tortured to find Rose smiling. That was oddly disturbing to me cause she was ABOUT TO GET TORTURED AND WAS SMILING.

            Now, whether if that is cause she knew what was gonna happen next or not, is debatable but otherwise, Lei gives a strong showing of art this issue with beautiful colors by Siya Oum.


WRITING:

            Wohl gives us an issue at a breakneck pace. Like I said when I reviewed issue # 2, it felt like the pacing of a big action movie. And it REALLY fits this issue. A lot happens this issue but it is paced well that it flows … much like an action movie. There was a lot of rising action with a lot of the other Executive Assistants interacting with each other which really sweetened the issue.  While some might find the inner monologue as wordy exposition, it actually works for Iris, the main star of the  book. Iris is finding out a lot of Matsuzu that is cause for her to be both angry and a little fearful of him. And her showdown this issue made her question herself. I applaud Wohl taking a concept of assassins and being about to make her relatable by showing her question herself and her abilities after failing to succeed in a task she normally excels in.

            The characterizations of both Rose and Iris were really strong this issue. It makes me look forward to much more from them and their interactions. Lily’s interactions with Iris were also very entertaining, showing a respect and history between the characters that I enjoyed watching.

            And the cliffhanger of an ending definitely makes me want to see what will happen next. I look forward to seeing what will come next.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Executive Assistant: Iris # 3 was a solid issue filled with action, intrigue and a looking into a group of professions finding themselves dealing with loyalty to each other or loyalty to whoever pays them. Iris finds herself questioning herself and the conflict herself which adds a bit to Iris as a character. Wohl handles giving a breakneck pace well while Lei proves good art. While there is room for improvement with Lei, you can definitely see improvement this issue. Oum’s colors are beautiful to gaze upon. I look forward to seeing what Wohl, Lei & Oum have in store for us next.


RATING :

            I give Executive Assistant: Iris # 3 an 8 out of 10. The book is good.

Preview: Executive Assistant: Iris (Vol. 3) # 3

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS (vol 3) #3

David Wohl – Writer /Alex Lei– Art / Teo Gonzalez - Colors

The Extinction continues!

Working with the CIA, Iris learns that the powerful and malevolent arms dealer Mazutsu is off limits to the Agency, a fact that piques her interest further. Covertly, Iris heads to New Delhi, India in search of her friend Lotus, but surprisingly discovers a deadly battle already in progress, along with the arrival of some rather violent “friends” as well!

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS vol 3 #3 is in stores March 13, 2013! 

FC 32 pages $3.99

First Impressions: Executive Assistant: Iris # 2 (Vol 3)

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS # 2 (Volume 3)
Written by David Wohl
Art by Alex Lei & Teodoro Gonzalez
Aspen Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            The Executive Extinction Event continues as Iris is trying to track down her one employer, John Wheeler. And unfortunately, it brought her face to face with the Executive Assistant named Rose. Rose & Iris duke it out for a bit  as Iris narrates the fight.
            After Iris finds out where her employer is and who took him, Iris chases after him only to run into more trouble in the form of the Executive Assistant on the cover besides her … Jasmine.


ART:

            Lei’s pencils and inks have a kind of zen to them. They are not overly strong inks but they are not weak either. There is a subdued grace with the panels and that works EXTREMELY well for Executive Assistant: Iris. Each panel seemed to flow into the other. Gonzalez’s colors really helped to keep the kinetic zen of the issue with its fast pace, beautiful women and varied scenery.

            Not a single character seemed out of proportion. The Action really flowed on the panels. And the colors really made the issue come to life. Lei has some great pencils and inks here. Very strong. There was only one panel where I was kind of weirded out by the eyes cause of Iris’s angle but otherwise, a really strong issue artistically.


WRITING:

            Wohl definitely hits a sweet spot here. The pacing of this issue was excellent. There was an uncanny flow in this issue that I have not read in many comics. There was this almost larger than life-movie like pacing and scenes going on in this issue. The fights were good and credible … though I want more of Jasmine vs Iris. Iris herself proved to be an extremely interesting character with multiple bosses and loyalties. Her verbal trade with Rose was just a interesting as the physical one.

            The issue did not read fast. It felt like an  I was put into a middle of the movie but I got just enough of it to understand what is going on and want to see the rest of it. Rose was definitely an interesting character that I would personally like to see more of but Iris really shines here. And the plot to the Executive Extinction event seems to be really heating up with this issue showing more Executive Assistants going to war with each other. 

            Wohl delivers good plot, great characters and strong action with a rhythmic pacing that enchants you like your favorite song.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Executive Assistant: Iris # 2 (Volume 3) delievers an action packed, rhythmic paced story with realized characters and high stakes. The story  continues to climb and fit into the Executive Extinction event while standing on its own strongly. Wohl writes a powerfully melodic issue with Lei & Gonzalez delivering art that fit a live action movie template well.
 

            Despite the one odd panel, this was a good read and I am looking forward to learning more of this event and what will happen next.


 RATING:

            I give Executive Assistant: Iris # 2 (Volume 3) … a 9 … out of 10. 

Preview: Executive Assistant:Iris (Vol. 3) # 2

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: IRIS (vol 3) #2

David Wohl – Story / Alex Lei – Art / Teo Gonzalez - Colors

Iris is back, but will she make it through the – Executive Extinction!

The “Executive Extinction” crossover reaches a deadly turning point as Iris encounters an ALL NEW Executive Assistant--Jasmine—and the results are perilous! With her employer already kidnapped and held by the Russian Mafia, Iris makes a shocking decision that could end with her own death!

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS creator David Wohl is joined by newcomer Alex Lei and series vet Teo Gonzalez, to bring you the thrilling third volume as the “Executive Extinction” crossover event continues!

Executive Assistant Iris (vol 3) #2 is in stores January 30th, 2013!