Showing posts with label Brandon Barrows. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Jack Hammer # 4 Review

JACK HAMMER # 4
Written by Brandon Barrows
Art by Ionic
Action Lab Entertainment

This will be a spoiler free review.

It’s the final show down between Jack and the Black Smile with an election and lives on the line. Conspiracies will be revealed and Jack and Charlie go all out to stop the Black Smile and his crew.

ART:

Ionic does a great job this issue. He adds a slight bit more of detail this issue, giving everyone a nice look with his unique art style. The detail he adds is great as it makes the action look good and the emotion of the issue is conveyed well. Backgrounds are good. The colors and shading work, add a good element of mystery; which fits the theme of the book.

My only real gripe is that distance shots aren’t the greatest. Otherwise, the action was good. The people are distinct. And there are some decent backgrounds.

WRITING:

The plots of the miniseries and the issue tie up well. The plots with Goodman and the Black Smile are fully connected here and Barrows allow the mystery and the detective work leads to a strong climax. Jack, Charlie, Stu and more get some great development this issue. Barrows allows everyone to shine in one manner or another this issue, allowing the book to feel very powerful and complete. The main plot gets showcased well throughout the whole issue as we learned some more answers, leaving us with more questions. The dialogue was very strong and the pacing was near perfect. A really great ending for this miniseries.

FINAL VERDICT:
I really enjoyed this last issue. Things got tied up well. We got some mysterties for future mysteries with Jack Hammer. The cast got to shine and the art was pretty good. This issue really left me feeling satisified and wanting more of Jack. I give Jack Hammer # 4 a solid 4 out of 5.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

1st Impressions: JACK HAMMER # 3

JACK HAMMER # 3
Written by Brandon Barrows
Art by Ionic
Action Labs Entertainment

FLIPPING THROUGH:

Jack, with the help of Ramona, finds a way to piece together what’s been going on. It seems that the company Technotrends has had some dirty dealings. The CEO, Eddie Newman, found out about them and hence the beginning of this series. As more and more answers are uncovered, the mastermind behind the whole caper is making his final moves to deal with Jack … once and for all.

ART:

Ionic does a pretty good job here. All the characters are well rendered and this is more detail this issue than in last with the backgrounds and characters. We got some pretty decent classic background work from Ionic. The movement of the characters look more fluid this issue, which makes the action stand out more during those moments during the second half.

Solid, classic panel work here; definitely going with the noir, crime drama feel of the book. Ionic makes sure the colors are not too vivid; thus, creating a great atmosphere for the issue and the overall genre of the comic. While some of his perspective shots with characters in the distance aren’t very detailed, but do not take away from the book this issue.

WRITING:

Meanwhile, Barrows produce a good issue as he speeds towards the arc’s climax. Barrows presents a very capable detective in Jack Hammer as he starts filling in holes to the mystery behind Eddie Newman’s death and the kidnapping of his wife by super-powered thugs.

What I love about the book is that the super powers are very much secondary. Barrows focuses more on the plot and mystery aspects of the book. This allows Barrows to really focus on Jack as a characters and even feel more relatable. Thus, the battle at the end of the book feels a bit more exciting, because the stakes feel much higher. This isn’t a world where super powers are as common place as Marvel or DC … they are a bit stricter here. There is a good grasp of reality that helps give the book a strong identity and it shines very much this issue.

The book is paced extremely well as it goes on a consistent uphill climb towards the climax. The dialogue feels authentic with good homage to old noir or gumshoe flicks. Barrows presents the pieces of the mystery coming together very well, allowing Jack to be our guide. The villain’s reveal seemed a bit typical till you actually got into his/her motivation. Barrow shines as we see super powers dealt with a bit differently here.

Barrow’s does produce a good issue. The only thing that is keeping it from being a great issue is that it’s a bit dialogue heavy. Sure. There is a lot happening ; but there is a large amount of dialogue that ends up interrupting the flow. Otherwise, a solid job from Barrows.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

This issue was good. It moved towards the climax. There was a lot happening but didn’t feel cluttered. The art was good and the writing was strong. The dialogue heaviness of it might interrupt the flow a little. Otherwise, a great read.

RATING:

I give Jack Hammer # 3 an 8 … out of 10. Pick it up now!

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Action Lab Entertainment's New Releases for the week of April 23rd, 2014

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK
New Releases for the week of April 23rd, 2014
(If links do not open when clicked, copy and paste them into your favorite web browser.)

FRACTURE VOL.2 #4 (of 4)
Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin
Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c)
Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c) Steve Bryant

In this climactic last installment of the newest arc of FRACTURE, the city
of Triton is held hostage by the Society of Thorns and its minions, while Virtue fights
Jeff for control of their shared existence. An unexpected ally joins the battle with
disastrous consequences, leading to a final shocking twist.
Variant cover by Steve Bryant (Athena Voltaire)!

FC/ 32 pages / $2.99 standard /$3.99 Variant edition RATED PG

GHOST TOWN Vol.1 TPB
Writer(s): Ryan Lindsay, Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Daniel Logan, Justin Greenwood
Cover Artist(s): Justin Greenwood

The unthinkable has happened. In the wake of time displaced
terrorist attacks on Baltimore and Las Vegas, Washington DC has been
evacuated. With the government uprooted, the abandoned Capital has
become a refuge for bandits, smugglers, hardened criminals and those
who have chosen to stay behind in this pre-apocalyptic Ghost Town. Collects the four issue series’ first arc.
FC/ 116pages / $11.99 MATURE READERS

JACK HAMMER #3 (of 4)
Writer(s): Brandon Barrows
Artist Name(s): Ionic
Cover Artist(s): Ionic

With the architect of Eddie Newman's death revealed, Jack goes on the offensive to
confront the mastermind pulling the strings of Boston's underworld and rescue Newman's kidnapped widow. He knows the who and the how, but the questions remain: why? And does he stand a chance?
Variant cover by Des Taylor (The Trouble with Katie Rogers)

FC/ 32 pages / $2.99 standard /$3.99 Variant edition ALL AGES

SKYWARD VOLUME 2: STRANGE CREATURES TPB
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale

Jeremy Dale and Action Lab proudly present the second volume of the
runaway hit action-fantasy, Skyward! New, curious allies and strange, twisted enemies
emerge as Quinn runs headfirst into a conflict that's bigger than he ever dreamed
possible. Who will catch up to our young hero? Enter... The savage Rabites! Or will it
be Skerrigan who ends our hero's journey? Continuing the series that TMStash lauds as
"...Breathtaking. You won't be able to put this down!" Thrill to the fantastic storybook
adventure from Jeremy Dale (G.I. Joe, Marvel Kapow!), following the exciting tale of
Quinn and his dog, Jack-- left orphaned by an invasion of his homeland. Collects
Skyward #4-6, as well as the critically-acclaimed Halloween Comicfest 2013 short story,
"Into the Grim."
FC/ 96 pages / $8.99 ALL AGES

VAMPLETS: THE UNDEAD PET SOCIETY
Writer(s): Gayle Middleton and Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Amada Coronado (p), David Dwonch (i) Bill Blankenship (c)
Cover Artist(s): Amanda Coronado (a), Bill Blankenship (c)

The Legend of the Ghost Pony begins here in this terrifyingly sweet installment from
Hasbro designer/illustrator of My Little Pony Gayle Middleton! Ghost Ponies have been the harbingers of the weird for years. Whenever they appear, creatures near have disappeared, never to return. Where do they come from? What is their terrible secret? And what is the Ghost Pony’s connection to a vampyre baby named Lily Rose Shadowlyn? Find out in this all new adventure! Variant cover by Gayle Middleton herself.

FC/ 32 pages / $3.99 standard /$4.99 Variant edition ALL AGES

Monday, February 24, 2014

1st Impressions: JACK HAMMER # 2

JACK HAMMER # 2
Written by Brandon Barrows
Art by Ionic
Action Lab Entertainment

FLIPPING THROUGH:

Jack finds himself meeting 3 super powered thugs that, at first, want to do business with him. As to why? That does not get explained but things go south as the mystery deepens with new superhumans popping up.

ART:

Ionic’s style is very simple. It has a good amount of detail as well as some wonderful proportions on people. Ionic gives a good showing here with great angles, decent pencils and some great coloring. Ionic definitely plays with the angles this issue, giving us some unique shots that really work for the book. Also, the shading in the book is very well done. My only real gripe would have to be that some of the inking is indeed a bit on the heavy side when it comes to the outline of people. While a little bit is fine, I thought that some of it was a bit heavy in the beginning of the book. The action is pretty well rendered here. A solid job by Ionic over all.

WRITING:

Barrows does a great job here of moving the story along while giving us some great characterization with our main hero. Our detective is not a “Garry Stu” type character. He is flawed, abrasive and sarcastic. Yet, Jack’s charm cannot be denied as he goes on to connect Howitzer to what seems to be a crime gang. Barrows allows us to run alongside Jack as he puts all the pieces of the puzzle together.

The dialogue is very good as Barrows take quotes from classic noir series but add today’s sensibilities to them alongside the super powered element. Jack isn’t the type to wear a costume and this book reads as such. The plot moves at a pretty steady pace throughout the book, not really getting fast till the end. Barrows leaves enough questions to make us wanting more, just like Jack with a solid cliffhanger ending. Really great writing from Barrows.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

Jack Hammer is a good, solid book with interesting mysteries, a strong lead and good story telling. The art is good as well. Yet, the heavy ink outline felt a bit much on some panels.

RATING:

I give Jack Hammer # 2 an 8 … out of 10. Pick it up Wednesday!