Straight Forward Reviews : Skyward # 8

Jeremy Dale's adventure epic returns for issue 8.

Writer - Jeremy Dale

Artist - Jeremy Dale 

Publisher - Action Lab

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Three Rivers is in the sights of an enemy with a powerful army on his side and the ruler of Three Rivers is preparing his own for the attack. In the meantime the Rabites are training and scouting for the attack as well and run into some people usually unlikely to be as deep into the woods as they are.

This issue is certainly building towards something epic and possibly catastrophic in the Skyward universe as there's an underlying tension through the whole issue and quite a big bang at the end.

The story moves at a decent pace this issue and gives enough time for characters personalities to be revealed more. Though the issue is remarkably short.

Art

Jeremy's lines and Kathryn Layno's and Hoyt Silva's colors come together to form some of the most charming and full of personality art I've seen in a while. Where a lot of comics, especially in the big two seem to have some technically great, but very similar, art styles this comic is full of a style that is it's own and easily identifiable.

Verdict

While I loved the art and the story is solid it felt like it ended much too quickly. Understandably it has quite a younger reader fanbase but the rest of the story never insulted the intelligence of the kids and it felt like it could have been the length of a standard comic. But the story is still, as stated before, very solid and the art is wonderful so I give Skyward # 8 a 9 out of 10.

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES COMIC CON 2014 EXCLUSIVES

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES COMIC CON 2014 EXCLUSIVES
Skyward, Vamplets, Nutmeg and Zombie Tramp convention variants abound.

 

PITTSBURGH, PA- Action Lab Entertainment, your new favorite comic book company returns to the Mecca of American pop culture, Comic-con International: San Diego. This year, Action Lab will have a plethora of show exclusive limited editions available for purchase at their booth.

 Jeremy Dale’s amazing all ages fantasy series SKYWARD, a hit with the young and young at heart will release it’s eighth issue with a show exclusive sketch cover.

Gayle Middleton’s Vamplets, the adorable ghouls from Gloomvania, return with the second hardcover album of the popular series.  Written by Middleton and Dave Dwonch (Cyrus and The Haunted Taxi Cab, Double Jumpers) with art by Amanda Coronado, Action lab will have a convention variant limited to 1000 copies.

Dan Mendoza’s relaunched Zombie Tramp series, now one of Action Lab’s monthly offerings will feature a show exclusive variant cover of the new issue #1 limited to 1000 copies.
 

And in the tradition of bringing something new to the table, Action Lab will debut their newest creator-owned series, Nutmeg.

Written by James F Wright and illustrated by Jackie Crofts, Nutmeg is the story of two suburban junior high girls who bond when through a twist of fate; a prank on a pompous rival finds them building a criminal empire with their irresistible brownies. It’s sugar and spite and everything not so nice as Poppy and Cassia navigate the world of middle school politics and shady dealings.

All four books, along with the rest of Action Lab Entertainment’s offerings will be available for purchase at Booth 2006 in Hall B all week long.

 For more information, retailers can contact Kelly Dale at kdale@actionlabcomics.com. For press and conventions you can reach Jamal Igle at jigle@actionlabcomics.com.
 
ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT- Formed in 2010 with the purpose of pooling their collective talents into a single, powerful entity, the members of Action Lab Entertainment have countless years in multimedia publishing, design, and business.  Their first release, Fracture, was successfully funded through Kickstarter and since then they have continued their mission to produce high quality, genre-spanning entertainment.  Since its formation, the accolades for A.L.E continue to build on a daily basis.  Among its more popular titles are all ages material like the Eisner, Glyph, Shel Dorf Award nominated series PRINCELESS, NFL RUSHZONE (based on the Nickelodeon Television series), Jamal Igle's MOLLY DANGER, Artist/ Writer Jeremy Dale’s hit series SKYWARD, and Gale Middleton’s (My Little Pony, The Littlest Pet Shop) monstrously adorable VAMPLETS. Action Lab’s Mature Readers imprint ACTION LAB DANGER ZONE continues to push the envelope of comics entertainment with titles as varied as EHMM THEORY and Dan Mendoza’s over the top horror-comedy ZOMBIE TRAMP, THE FINAL PLAGUE and BO, PLUSHY GANGSTA.

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK 5/21/14

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK
New Releases for the week of May 21, 2014


   
SKYWARD #7
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale
THE RUNAWAY HIT SERIES CONTINUES!  War is coming, and in the wake of Skerrigan's attack,
where does that leave the inhabitants of the Rabite village? The rise of the Brother Kings' army starts here!
From rising star creator Jeremy Dale (GI Joe, Marvel Kapow!), this issue also features a stunning
RETAILER INCENTIVE cover by Phil Noto (Batgirl, X-Men)!

      



 
 

 

ITTY BITTY BUNNIES IN RAINBOW PIXIE CANDYLAND #1

Writer(s): Dean Rankine

Artist Name(s) Dean Rankine
Cover Artist(s): Dean Rankine

 

Take some time for an adventure to a magical world with two cute

bunnies... two foul mouthed, drug using, butt-naked bunnies that go on adorably

offensive, insultingly hilarious adventures! Your journey into off-color fun begins

here, with this mix of Adventure Time and underground comix! Also available in an

alternate classic comic spoof variant cover!

  

 
ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL.2 #4 (of 4)
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza
Synopsis: Now that Janey and her mysterious new friend Morning have reached their
destination, things get even more volatile as a friend from the past comes to visit our
Zombie Tramp. Double-crosses, revenge, and the Necronomicon all collide in the
conclusion to The Taint Train of Terror! Alternate “risqué” variant cover also
available
     



.


ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL.2 TPB
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza
Everyone’s favorite street-walking dead returns! Janey the Zombie Tramp
makes a mysterious new friend and together they board an express train to more
fetish, gore, cartoon grindhouse mayhem in the style that fans of the series have
come to love! Are Janey’s budding undead powers enough to see her through
another deadly adventure on the…Taint Train of Terror?
 Collects the entire second volume just in time for the all new ongoing series
relaunch!
     

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT Solicitations for August 2014

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



BO, PLUSHY GANSTA: KINGDOM OF BO TPB.
 
Writer(s): Pavel Balabanov 
Artist Name(s): Pavel Balabanov 
Cover Artist(s): Pavel Balabanov 

 Are the legends of Bo, the “teddy bear” gangsta, true? And, did we just say teddy bear gangsta?! You’re about to find out-- when the soul of Gardia City’s toughest gangsta gets imbued in a plushy bear by a voodoo priestess. It’s Scarface meets Ted in this over-the-top video game style urban epic. Collects Bo Plushy Gangsta # 1-4.
128 Pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                                  $14.99

 
THE F1RST HERO#1 (of 4)
Writer(s): Anthony Ruttgaizer 
Artist Name(s): Phillip Sevy (art), Fred C Stresing (letters/colors) 
Cover Artist(s): Lee Moder (reg),  Jamal Igle (var) 
 
 The entire world knows the stark reality: everyone who manifests superpowers goes insane and becomes a threat to society. So, when Jake Roth develops superpowers but somehow keeps his sanity, he must decide whether to put himself at risk by using his powers to help people or do nothing and save himself while innocent people around him get hurt. Cover by Lee Moder, with a variant by Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Molly Danger) limited to 1500 copies!

32 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                         $3.99/ $4.99 Variant
 
   
HERO CATS OF STELLAR CITY
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Marcus Williams 
Cover Artist(s): Marcus Williams (reg and var)
 
 Avengers and Justice League move over! The cutest heroes on the planet have arrived! Meet the Hero Cats of Stellar City in this spectacular first issue. Not your ordinary house cats, they're a tactical action-packed covert team dealing with extraordinary threats to humanity in ways that will amaze. Variant fold-out cover limited to 2,000 copies!
32 pgs./ Kids, All Ages/ FC                                  $3.99/ $4.99 Variant

  
ITTY BITTY BUNNIES IN RAINBOW PIXIE CANDYLAND: SAVE X-MAS #1
Writer(s): Dean Rankine 
Artist Name(s): Dean Rankine 
Cover Artist(s): Dean Rankine (reg and var)
 
 Itty Bitty Bunnies creator and cartoonist extraordinaire Dean Rankine lives down under, where Christmas is celebrated in the summer, so it makes perfect sense for his depraved creations to go on a holiday adventure now stateside. It also makes sense to the Bunnies to cook up a big batch of meth to help fund their Yuletide activities! Also available in a “Tickle Me Tyrone gift” variant cover, limited to 1500 copies!
32 pgs./ Mature Readers / FC                                    $3.99/ $4.99 Variant

 

MIDNIGHT TIGER #2(of 4)
Writer(s): DeWayne Feenstra, Ray-Anthony Height 
Artist Name(s): Ray-Anthony Height 
Cover Artist(s): Ray-Anthony Height 
 
Gavin learns the hard way to be careful what you wish for when he finally comes face to face with P. Stone! Fortunately, he’ll have some unexpected help from the folks who’ve been keeping an eye on him since the beginning of what could be the shortest crime-fighting career Apollo Bay history.
32 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    $3.99
 
 
SHINOBI:NINJA PRINCESS
Writer(s): Martheus Wade 
Artist Name(s): Martheus Wade (Pencils and Inks) Marvin Cheveallier (Color assists) Janet Wade 
(Ink assists) Kevin Williams (Copy Edit) 
Cover Artist(s): Martheus Wade (reg) Tressa Bowling (var) Limited to 1500 copies 
 
Jishin 自信 (Confidence): 14 year-old ninja princess Shianndrea Toshigawa and her strike team have a new mission: spy on their rivals, the Azumi Ninja Clan, and discover what secret dealings they have with the evil Emperor of Japan. But when the plan goes awry and fellow ninja Hamasuke is captured, can Shianndrea overcome her lack of confidence and save him before it’s too late? Variant cover limited to 1,500 copies!


32 pgs./ Children and Teens/ FC                        $3.99/ $4.99 Variant

 
 
SCUM OF THE EARTH #2 (Bimonthly)

Writer(s): Mark Bertolini 
Artist Name(s): Rob Croonenborghs 
Cover Artist(s): Rob Croonenborghs 
 
Now that True has been outed as more than a bourbon-fueled psycho killer, can he and his partner in crime Laura fend off an intergalactic bounty hunter? And just who is this alien hunter, and what’s his connection to True? Mind blowing cosmic revelations, guns, blood, and twists ahead!

32pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                      $3.99

  
SKYWARD#12
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale 
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale 
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale (reg), Darwyn Cooke (var) Limited to 1500 copies 
 
 Celebrating its first full year, SKYWARD is thrust into new lands with new peoples, creatures...and distractions? In the midst of a changing land, our heroes find that the Battle of Three Rivers was only the beginning of a brand new conflict! This issue also features a LIMITED Edition variant
cover (1500 copies) by DARWYN COOKE (Parker, DC’s New Frontier)!
 
32 pgs./ Children and Teens/ FC                        $3.99/ $4.99 Variant

 

SOUTHERN DOG#1
Writer(s): Jeremy Holt 
Artist Name(s): Alex Diotto 
Cover Artist(s): Riley Rossmo (reg), Mehdi Cheggour (var)
 
 
 
When awkward high school teen Jasper Dixon conceals an injury sustained during a hunting excursion with his family, his infected wolf bite combined with the hormonal changes of puberty triggers a disturbing physical transformation. Now he’s forced to confront his Deep South upbringing and monsters far worse than what he’s become! Featuring a regular cover by Riley Rossmo (Drumhellar), and a Limited Edition (1500 copies) werewolf variant by Mehdi Cheggour (Enormous)!

32 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                         $3.99/$4.99 Variant
 
  
ZOMBIE TRAMP Vol.3 #2 
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin 
Artist Name(s): TMChu 
Cover Artist(s): TMChu (reg and var)
As Zombie Tramp stirs up trouble in Sin City she catches the attention of its most legendary resident, The King! The problem is he “left the building” three decades ago--so what kind of undead monster sits on the throne now? It’s a buffet of all out high-stakes reanimated action! Also available in an alternate ‘risque’ cover limited to 2000 copies.
32pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                      $3.99/ $4.99 Variant