1st Impression: ALL NEW SOULFIRE # 1

ALL NEW SOULFIRE#1
Written by JT Krul & Frank Mastromauro
Art by V. Ken Marion, Mark Roslan & Kyle Ritter
Aspen Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We open to a mystery in France that starts 2 years prior to the main story. Then we fast forward to 2213, where Mal and Sonia are watching PJ fight a giant metal spider mech. Benoist is coaching from the sidelines as PJ does his best to win the battle … within a stadium.
                After which, the gang meets up with Grace and they all go to Paris for a tournament. But, as they go to Paris, Grace uncovers a new mystery.

ART:

                Okay. His work was breath taking in Fathom-The Elite Saga but Marion really out did himself here. There is an energy to this issue that is just intense and full of life. The characters and backgrounds are nice and detailed. The character designs really work well in this “All New” beginning, giving Mal a pony tail. Marion’s pencils and Roslan’s inks just give a smooth, detailed look into this future of Soulfire. Panel composition is great with good angles, nice poses and people of all shapes, colors and sizes abound.
                The battle was definitely well rendered as Ritter provides some of his best color work to date. This is indeed one of the best looking books I have seen all year.  The lines are nice and clean but with a nice edge to them. The designs are great. And everyone looks distinct. Overall, this book’s art is AMAZING.

WRITING:

                Fresh from his first volume of Jirni, Krul comes into All New Soulfire, giving it a new energy. We start with a progressively smaller cast right now; which actually works to the books advantage. We catch up with the last volume with ease as this NEW volume makes it easy and accessible to readers. Krul gives us some solid characterizations from all the main characters, really capturing their voice of who they are now while still fitting in to the continuity of the previous Soulfire series.

                The story’s pacing was excellent. Nothing lasted too long or was overly wordy; just a nice pace. The dialogue fit the group well as PJ seemed to be a little more enthusiastic here, but that works for him. There is a lot to this world but Krul gives us a familiar spot, Paris, to be our backdrop. And as the multiple plots just start, Krul makes sure to go back to the first scene with the end of this issue; leaving readers wanting more. A magnificent job by Krul.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This was a PERFECT first issue.

RATING:

                Do I really need to say it? Okay. I will. ALL NEW SOULFIRE #1 gets a 10 … Out of 10!! Buy it on November 13^th, 2013.

Preview: ALL NEW SOULFIRE # 1

ALL NEW SOULFIRE #1
JT Krul ­ Story / V. Ken Marion ­ Art / Kyle Ritter - Colors

Aspen's final 10 for 10 series makes its red-hot debut!

In the future, technology is everywhere, but there's a greater source of
power and wonder now out there - magic! After saving the world from the
destructive force of chaos itself, Malikai and his friends try to return to
a life of normalcy. PJ is determined to be Benoist's heir in the battle
arena, where cybernetic technology rules the day. Malikai is just happy to
be with Sonia again, yet he can't help see that Grace is still haunted by
the scars of the past. Meanwhile, a secret danger grows in the shadows
between magic and technology, and it has a name - RAINIER! Don't miss this
exciting premiere issue of the ALL NEW SOULFIRE!

Join veteran Soulfire scribe JT Krul, along with the amazing artistic
talents of V. Ken Marion and Kyle Ritter, as an all-new direction for
Michael Turner's fantasy epic Soulfire begins right now!

ALL NEW SOULFIRE #1 is in stores November 13th, 2013!

Straight Forward Reviews: Bubblgegun issue 3

Bubblegun is back for more cyberpunk action. What's one of Aspen's newer heroines up to now?

Writer - Mark Roslan
Artist - Mike Bowden
Publisher - Aspen 

Review by Jeremias de León

Story

This issue sees Molli and what's left of her team try desperately to get back her sister from the weird techno coma she's in. We see more backstory this time for the antagonists and some nice character development for Molli.

In short the story and dialog in this issue is all about leading up to the bigger stakes and action we'll see soon and it does a fairly good job.

There's some good storytelling here but all the different technologies in this sci-fi world could use some explaining. There were different variations of robot and cyborg being thrown around at different specific entities and for what the antagonists are after it seems that the differences between them are important but since the reader doesn't know it might as well be gibberish for now.

Art

A very varied color palette takes the spotlight in this issue, along with good emotive close ups of the character's faces. As this issue is pretty tense for the protagonists seeing their emotions does a lot for the storytelling.

Molli's character design is one of my favorite designs in comics this year, as I've probably already said in my reviews of issue 1 and 2. It really stands out here as she's doing a lot in this issue. Her design is one of those character designs that really makes the character look especially cool while in motion. Not unlike Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel, when standing still he may have looked goofy but while in motion he pretty much defined cool. For Molli her two colored hair makes her look very unique and much like an action hero as in some panels where she's moving her hair in the wind looks very much like a flame.

Verdict

This book is a ton of fun, and subjectively, one of my personal favorites. Objectively, this has the potential to be a really well done series. Right now it could use some more fine tuning but it's really worth the read and I have faith it'll only get better from here. I give Bubblegun an 8 out of 10.

Straight Forward Reviews: BubbleGun # 2

With the second issue of Bubblegun out we're here to answer the question, is it still good or even better?

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Already this issue improves over my complaint of last issue (I still really liked the issue mind you) about the backstory hardly being there. There's some time taken to explain things about Molli's past and about the world itself. Which is done well, there isn't a wall of dialog but it also isn't too short either. For a comic that has a lot of action in it they gave it a proper amount of time... or... panels. 

The dialog is still well done as in the previous issues. Even though this is a sci-fi world with a lot of crazy cyborgs and the like the characters still talk and act like people would or as you would expect like people would. Maybe the antagonists are a bit flat for now but with one of them being a bit of a surprise perhaps the others will turn out to be more interesting too.

Art

The art looks great. I just love the stylistic choices made with the characters especially on the female characters hair. Even more especially Molli's hair. Her hair looks like a flame in most of the pages and it really makes her standout. The world is drawn fantastically when you see more of the world in this issue it really does look like it is an actual place with specific landmarks and the like when you take a closer look. Which I have to give credit for.

Verdict

This fixes the few complaints I had with the first issue, and it has good action scenes and a really cool art style so I have to give this a recommendation. When read with issue 1 it starts to make sense, issue 1 by itself I had a few minor gripes with though I still loved it but if read with issue 2 it really looks to be an awesome comic. I give Bubblegun issue 2 a 9 out of 10.

Straight Forward Reviews: Bubblegun # 1

Aspen debuts another brand new series this month after Jirni debuted in April. In this edition of Straight Forward reviews we look at cyberpunk action in Bubblegun issue 1. Sparkling issue 1!

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

The story in this issue, as it should do since it is a first issue, is set up the characters and the world. They debut in a big action scene that quickly lets you know what each characters strengths are and then afterward have some character building dialog and then at the end delve into what the plot for the next issues are going to be. In a spoiler free nutshell. 

The writing is not bad, the dialog between characters is believable and well done. The world seems to be pretty huge and have a lot of lore for it. In this issue, it seems to be a good thing and a bit of a drawback. It looks like there's going to be plenty going on in this world to not run out of stories to tell but it also feels like there's some important things about the world that the reader should have known about the world; like a little as to why certain corporations are extremely powerful or important t the characters. The story doesn't stop being enjoyable but it feels like there could have been some more information. Though I'm sure there will be more explanations in the second issue.

Characters

The main character and the crew she's in are all distinct and, although some got more time to shine than others, it's obvious when reading their dialog that they all have tons of personality. Also their designs are all fantastic. I love their character designs, they all have this nostalgic flavor and new sensibilities at the same time. Plus they're all bright and colorful and Molli and her sister look fabulous. It's nice to see colorful characters like them. 

Molli as a character has a lot of spunk and is very animated. Her sister is a nice foil for her, and their crewmates are all very distinct. 

To speak about how well the character designs are, I originally was not supposed to review this book! But after seeing the first two pages and how the characters looked I was intrigued enough to want to review the book and see if it really was good. 

Art

I already mentioned how much love I have for the characters. The whole comic is a colorful cyberpunk adventure and the inventive designs don't just stop at the characters. The weapons and technology are cool and the action looks flashy and stylish. The art is what made me pay attention and it will most likely get you to pick up the book. So it more than does it's job in my book.

Verdict

This book is tons of fun to read. There is less information about the world than I would like but it looks great and the characters are awesome. Plus there being less information than I'd like doesn't mean it is by any means not followable or poorly written. Quite the opposite. I give this comic an 8.5 out of 10

Soulfire (Vol. 4) # 4 Review

SOULFIRE  (Vol. 4) # 4
Written by JT Krul & Frank Mastromauro
Art by  Mike DeBalfo & Nei Ruffino

Aspen Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

            So … let me be perfectly frank here. (Ha. I made a funny.) There is a LOT of EPIC SHIT that goes down this issue. Benoist  had sacrificed himself to save others and now … the frightening suggestion fusing magic and technology to save him is being devised with interesting results.

            While this is happening, there is definite conflict as the King comes in, finding these methods disgusting . . . even threatening Faye, his Queen. Malikai talks things over with Sonia about the world might be coming to the end for humanity much like the Ice Age was the end of the Dinosaurs. Sarin and Nisaba coming in as several others are talking and Nisaba accusing them of conspiring against Sarin. A small fight ensues but ends when . ..  nah. Not tell you that.

            I will say this. Remember when Malikai compared to what was happening now to the coming of the end of Dinosaurs. Well, we get PLENTY of evidence of that!

ART:

            I have to say right off the bat that Mike DeBalfo is an extremely talented & amazing artist. The visuals in Soulfire were damn near breath taking. There was a lot of beautiful detail. The thick inks really help show off the grandeur of the book and its characters. I honestly can say that several panels and pages would make spectacular posters alone. Ruffino’s colors help accentuate DeBalfo’s art into vivid pieces of art. The characters are nice and detailed. The backgrounds are astounding. DeBalfo & Ruffino’s art is honestly eye sex.

            Which gets me to my one real issue with the art. DeBalfo’s art on some of the smaller panels with people in the distance looks blurry. It could have been hurried due to the fact of the detail to the larger panels but these smaller panels with people in a distance looked rushed. It is really the only blemish on an otherwise magnificently rendered comic.

WRITING:

            Mastromauro works with JT Krul on the plot while Krul does the heavy lifting in terms of writing. And I really enjoyed this issue. The scope of the comic is epic and Krul proves it within these pages. I seriously yelled “HOLY FRELL” (I’m a fan of Farscape: get of it) at least 5 times during the comic. The story was gripping.

            The characters were all relatable. There was a large cast in this book and I really am not familiar with them but now, I want to know all about them. Malikai, Faye & Benoist really resonated with me most of all.  I enjoy the elements of fantasy mixed with modern day in Soulfire. Especially, I loved the aspect of magic vs technology coming to head in this particular issue.  And how the answers to their current problems does not lie with either one individually.

            The pacing for the book was strong with nothing that felt too out of whack that isn’t on purpose. Like I said, there were moments that Krul wrote in that made me yell outloud several times. Krul really shines in this book and world.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Soulfire Vol. 4, # 4 was an exciting issue that will captivate you and astound you. There are a lot of characters but you don’t feel lost. Besides the minor complaint, this really is a stunning, fascinating book full of intrigue, versatility and wonder. This book is clearly one of the most original books out there now.


RATING:

            I give Soulfire Vol. 4, # 4 a 7.5 out of 10. Besides the minor panel fubs, it is a good book. Pick it up.