Straight Forward Reviews : Fracture vol 2 # 4

The cerebral series Fracture returns with more clones and different personalities fighting clashing in life or death battles.

Writer - Shawn Gabborin

Artist - Chad Cicconi

Publisher - Action Lab Entertainment

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Jeff's clone Virtue has gone haywire and seeks to kill Jeff. On top of this a villain that controls crocodiles is terrorizing lower Triton city. Any more summarizing would be criminal as this story is pretty dense.

The writing in this issue really shines. This series is all about a man's mental state and relationships with other characters. Of course there's still super heroics and it still has plenty of action. But, it really is more about the dialog rather than the action. With that in mind the characters have to sound like they're real people and fortunately enough they do. Despite it being a comic book with superheroes they sound and feel real. When they're not fighting. During the action scenes the dialog reads a bit too much like a Saturday morning cartoon which is a bit jarring compared to the rest of the dialog.

Art

The art does it's job. Objectively speaking the characters look good and so do the environments. Some bits of action looks like it could flow better. Subjectively it's not really my cup of tea but it's nowhere near bad, I didn't feel like it was a chore to look at it or anything that dire. Which goes to prove that the art truly isn't bad, the style can be something you don't care for but if it's still getting your attention and doesn't seem to set off any "that's just bad" alarms then it has to still be pretty good.

Verdict

Fracture is a unique series that's really standing out right now. This issue has a lot done right and some awkward moments. Which are mainly from the action parts of the comic feeling too much like a Saturday morning cartoon. But there's much more hits than there are misses and it's so unique that it should get looked at on that alone. The dialog and developments on Jeff's psyche are very intriguing. With that said I give Fracture vol 2 # 4 an 8.5 out of 10.

ACTION LAB Solicitations For July 2014

Solicitations: Action Lab Entertainment for July 2014
The following titles will be available for purchase in comic shops everywhere! 


BO, PLUSHY GANGSTA #4 (Bimonthly)
Writer(s): Pavel Balabanov
Artist Name(s): Pavel Balabanov
Cover Artist(s): Pavel Balabanov
 
 Bo and his new special forces unit are in a showdown with the Rasta Gang. It’s all out battle with our plushy protagonist, exosuits, ninja-girls, and Jamaican octopus-controlled zombies!

32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                        $3.99

 

DRYSPELL # 2 (Bi-Monthly)
Writer(s): Ken Krekeler
Artist Name(s): Ken Krekeler
Cover Artist(s): Ken Krekeler

 
Tom Ferris has started seeing the world differently. As colorful heroes shine for all to see, Tom's new friends have revealed a different path; a path where he's free to express himself--where he can embrace who he should have been, instead of who he is. And the world turns, waiting.

32 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                                          $3.99

 
FRACTURE: VICE AND VIRTUE TPB
Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin
Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c)
Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi (p/i), Bill Blankenship (c)
 
 In this exciting installment of FRACTURE, Jeff fights to assert control over his own mind in an increasingly complex world. With his control slipping and everyone around him in peril, Jeff is forced to seek help from an unlikely source -- his evil side's former ally! At a mind-bending pace, this volume crash es towards a final confrontation -- with all Jeff's "marbles" on the line! Collects Fracture V2 issues 1-4.
 
 
128 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                        $11.99


JACK HAMMER TPB
Writer(s): Brandon Barrows
Artist Name(s): Ionic
Cover Artist(s): Ionic
 
In Boston, powers are real, heroes are rare and Jack McGriskin is a private detective with a strong right arm and a nose for trouble. When a missing person he’s been hired to find turns up dead, he stumbles into a network of corruption stretching from the streets of Boston to the halls of Congress and the clues lead him back to a world he’d left behind. Collects Jack Hammer #1-4.

128 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    $11.99        

 
MIDNIGHT TIGER #1
Writer(s): DeWayne Feenstra, Ray-Anthony Height
Artist Name(s): Ray-Anthony Height
Cover Artist(s): Ray-Anthony Height (reg). Jerry Gaylord (v)
 
 Having lost all hope in the heroes of his world, fate steps in and gives young Gavin Shaw the power to do the things they have not. Only as the teenage hero Midnight Tiger does his city have a chance at redemption. Retailer incentive cover by Jerry Gaylord!

32 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    $2.99/ $3.99 Variant
 


  
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale 
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale 
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale (reg), Craig Rousseau (var) 
 
 Clearly, it's time for action. With the startling events of last issue leaving our heroes reeling, it's time to enlist aid from the northlands. Onward... to the home of the Berserkers! From Breakthrough Talent of 2013 award nominee creator Jeremy Dale (GI Joe, Marvel Kapow!), this issue also features an incredible RETAILER INCENTIVE variant cover by Craig Rousseau of Perhapanauts fame!

32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                                   $2.99/ $3.99 Variant


    

ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 3 #1 (Ongoing)
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin
Artist Name(s): TMChu
Cover Artist(s): TMChu, Jerry Gaylord, Josh Howard, Jamal Igle
The series relaunch previewed with a Free Comic Book Day issue continues here. Join creator Dan Mendoza for the all new adventures of the cult hit series featuring his undead anti-hero, Zombie Tramp, now brought to life by the amazing talents of new superstar artist TMChu. It’s kinky supernatural fun as Zombie Tramp hits the road, starting in… sin city of course!
Special Notes: Also available in 3 cover variants; risqué, Josh Howard (Dead@17), and Jerry Gaylord (Fanboys vs. Zombies) and a special retailer exclusive Jamal Igle (Molly Danger, Supergirl) cover.

32pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                      $3.99/ $4.99 Variants

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

Straight Forward Reviews : Fracture Vol. 2 # 3

Action Lab continues Fracture's second volume. With twists and turns in the story and tensions heating up in Jeff's personal life just what can be expected this from this issue? Read on and find out.

Writer - Shawn Gabborin

Artist - Chad Cicconi

Publisher - Action Lab

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

This particular series is one that's easy to spoil so without trying to give too much away. Jeff's fracture clone Virtue seems to be going through a change. Virtue seems to have his own views on right and wrong and they seem to be quite different than what Jeff feels.

The comic started off with what seems like a Saturday morning cartoon battle between "the bad guys" and "the good guys" how wrong you are if you think that's all this comic would be, or even if you think that's all the battle at the beginning is. Within five pages the story takes a turn and you'll see how the comic veers from what it seemed to be at the beginning. It turns into something more complex and with quite a bit of character development.

Art

The art is alright. The lines are great but the colors could be more detailed for this kind of story. I love bright and vibrant colors but for this kind of cerebral story it feels kind of odd for the characters to be looking like children's cartoons. It doesn't really hurt the comic's story though and it's not off putting enough to make it a jarring experience to read.

Verdict

This issue brings tension, mystery and action into a pretty awesome package. Some of the dialog feels like it's trying a little too hard to poke fun of tropes and clichés. But I still have to say it's pretty smartly written and totally worth reading. I give Fracture Vol. 2 # 3 an 8 out of 10.

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK 2/26/14

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK New Releases for the week of February 26, 2014    FRACTURE VOL.2 #3 (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)  In this penultimate issue of FRACTURE volume 2, the path of Virtue takes unexpected turns, and the troubles of Jeff and his alter-egos ensnare unintended victims. Jeff seeks help yet again from the dubious Doctor Atomic, and an electrifying secret is revealed! Variant covers by Bill Blankenship and John “Super Ugly” Williams celebrating Ugly Love month! FC/ 32 pgs / $2.99         JACK HAMMER #2 (of 4) Writer(s): Brandon Barrows Artist Name(s): Ionic Cover Artist(s): Ionic Private investigator Jack McGriskin is a magnet for trouble--and this time it’s a doozy. Businessman Eddie Newman is dead and Jack has suspects, but can he make the charges stick? And more importantly, can be live long enough to? Stalked by a super-powered killer, Jack’s time is running out! Variant covers by New York Times best selling author Brett Weldele (The Surrogates) and John “Super Ugly” Williams! FC/ 32 pgs / $2.99       PIRATE EYE TPB Writer(s): Josiah Grahn Artist Name(s): Carl Yonder Cover Artist(s): Carl Yonder Synopsis: Once a pirate with a keen eye for finding wealth in unlikely places, Smitty now lives exiled from the sea. Landlocked, he has carved out a new niche as a "finder," a man who, for a price, will utilize the same skills that served him as a treasure-hunting scoundrel to unearth any item, person, or secret. As his reputation and caseload swell, Smitty must contend with the gangster who all but rules his new hometown, a dangerous collection of local brigands and politicians, and the pall of threats from old enemies. Through it all his focus on what he values most-his own success-never wavers. Though his circumstances have changed, in his chest still beats the heart of a pirate! Collects the first four issues of the smash hit Pirate Eye comic and sports an all-new cover by series artist, Carl Yonder! FC/ 128 pgs / $11.99        PRINCELESS ENCORE #4 (of 4) Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley Artist Name(s): M. Goodwin Cover Artist(s): M. Goodwin Synopsis: Be there for the epic conclusion of the first Princeless story! Adrienne and Bedelia are in deep trouble with the city guards, but they're not about to back down! Fisticuffs will be had!  Hijinks will ensue! Stereotypes will be challenged! Princeless! Features a variant “Ugly Love” cover by John “Super Ugly” Williams! FC/ 32 pgs / $2.99