1st Impressions: THE FINAL PLAGUE # 5

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 5
Written by JD Arnold
Art by Tony Guaraldi-Brown & Manuel Martinez
Action Lab: Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We get a very powerful finale to this first arc of The Final Plague as we get the final fates of the people within the Maguire Base and the fate of the family from Iowa.

ART:

                This last issue was a tour de force by Guaraldi-Brown. From the man getting his face ripped off by a monkey, to an infected man biting into another man to the final panel, Guaraldi-Brown delivers powerful visuals that are horrific, disturbing and emotionally heavy. Between all the gore, Guaraldi-Brown does a great job giving more of the human element in his work. The backgrounds and colors are just amazing thoughout the entire issue. Martinez gives a great assist to Guaraldi-Brown’s work with solid inking.
                From the horrific panels opening the book to the powerful last page, this book is a masterful piece of macabe and terror with great emotion. A stellar job by Guaraldi-Brown & Martinez.

WRITING:

                Arnold ends this series with two very powerful and frightening endings to characters we have followed since the first issue.  With the military and doctors at the Maguire Base, things end on a gruesome note that definitely feels like a natural progression of the story.  Our good captain moves forward as a soldier, knowing the “Armageddon” situation that the virus has put all the people within the lab in. Carol and Jeremy, on the other hand, do their best to survive and Arnold does a fantastic job with their characterizations. With the dangers that have come about because of the plague, each of our characters have been forced to a very dismal destiny.

                Yet, while the impact of that plotline will be far reaching, Arnold saves the most emotional powerful scene for the end.  As we go back to Iowa one last time to go along with the Michaels family in their town. Arnold sets up a tragic and gripping end as we see the Michaels family together for the final time.
                The dialogue felt authentic. The pacing of the issue was perfect. I love that Arnold made sure to close the two main storylines, making sure you want more. There was great emotion. There was horror. There was a striking ending that will make you want more. Arnold writes one hell of a comic.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This issue was amazing. It was disgusting. It made me feel things. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

RATING:

                I give The Final Plague # 5 a solid 10 … out of 10. Grab it on April 2, 2014.

Preview: THE FINAL PLAGUE # 5

 
THE FINAL PLAGUE #5
Writer(s): JD Arnold
Artist Name(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown
Cover Artist(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown

 As the opening arc comes to close, can Drs Stohr and Friedman escape the overrun
facility at Lakehurst? Will the Michaels be forced from their family farm? And a major character
falls! The end is just the beginning for this zombie animal epic!
Features the series’ first variant "Ugly Love" cover by John (Super Ugly) Williams.Hits stores on April 2nd, 2014.

Action Lab Entertainment Solicitations For May 2014

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


 
BO, PLUSHY GANGSTA #3 (of 3)
Writer(s): Pavel Balabanov
Artist Name(s): Pavel Balabanov
Cover Artist(s): Pavel Balabanov
Variant cover: Pavel Balabanov

As Bo Plushy’s showdown with the “Roswell” gang and their boss, the Serpent (a.k.a. Puppet Master) continues,
things aren’t what they appear! Does the Puppet Master have the voodoo teddy gangsta by the strings?
Or is it the other way ‘round? Come on, it’s Bo!
Features a painted cover variant by series creator Pavel Balabanov!
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                        $3.99



 
DRYSPELL # 1 (Bi-Monthly)
Writer(s): Ken Krekeler
Artist Name(s): Ken Krekeler
Cover Artist(s): Ken Krekeler
Variant cover: Ken Krekeler

Tom Ferris lives in a world of costumes and wonder. Figures streaking across the sky, hurling themselves over rooftops at night.
They are commonplace. But Tom doesn't notice that world anymore. His world is made up of
spreadsheets, phone bills, software, coffee, collared shirts. Every night, he lies awake, wishing to be the man he once was.
Today, Tom gets his wish. And the world will never forget him again.
Features a  “design” cover variant by creator,  Ken Krekeler!

32 pgs./All Ages/ FC                                          $3.99


 
THE FINAL PLAGUE TPB
Writer(s): J.D. Arnold
Artist Name(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown
Cover Artist(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown

The Original Animal Zombie Epic collected for the first time!  Follow the terrifying tale of survival as a mutated rabies virus
turns animals great and small into bloodthirsty, rampaging beasts.Civilization crumbles, and only a small group of farmers
and scientists stand between us and total extinction!
 Collects the entire first volume of the critically acclaimed horror series!!
160 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                        $14.99





MOLLY DANGER: BOOK ONE HC
Writer(s): Jamal Igle
Artist(s): Jamal Igle (p), Juan Castro (i), Romulo Farjardo Jr. (c)
Cover Artist(s): Jamal Igle (p), Juan Castro (i), Romulo Farjardo Jr. (c)

Offered again! She's the hero you've been waiting for! Eternally child-like and inhumanly strong,
Molly Danger has protected the citizens of the once sleepy town of Coopersville, New York for the past 20 years from the terror
of the sinister Supermechs. But what secrets from her past threaten to destroy everything she holds dear when new
D.A.R.T. recruit Austin Briggs becomes her pilot?
48 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    $19.99        


 
PRINCELESS: THE PIRATE PRINCESS #0
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Artist(s): Emily Martin and Soojin Paek
Cover Artist(s): Soojin Paek and M. Goodwin

Adrienne is the Princess who rescued herself and she is determined to save every girl left locked away in a tower by their parents.
 But when Adrienne meets Raven, The Pirate Princess, she'll learn that she's not the only princess with a plan of her own!
 Join Adrienne, Bedelia, and Raven for the beginning of a new and incredible chapter in the story of princesses who can do their own rescuing.
Jump onto the Princeless bandwagon for only a buck!
32 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    $1.00



SKYWARD/MIDNIGHT TIGER FCBD
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale, Ray–Anthony Height, DeWayne Feenstra
Artist(s): Jeremy Dale, Ray–Anthony Height, (i) Note Lovett
Cover Artists(s): Jeremy Dale, Ray –Anthony Height
Behold the Berserkers! Quinn and crew find themselves facing uncomfortable truths as sins of the past come back to reveal themselves.
Fans old and new won't want to miss the first look at what's on the horizon for Quinn and Jack! And in Midnight Tiger,
sometimes all it takes to become a hero is an unfortunate incident and a single split second decision. The origin of MidnightTiger!
32 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                    Free


   
THE SKYWARD ACTION PACK
Writer(s): Jeremy Dale
Artist Name(s): Jeremy Dale
Cover Artist(s): Jeremy Dale
 

All three TPBs of Jeremy Dale’s hit series SKYWARD in one handy package!  Follow the adventures of Quinn and his dog Jack
 as they face off against fantastic, terrible threats, meet new curious allies, and find a new life amidst the invasion of their homeland. 
 Collects Skyward #1-9 in three volumes!
288 pgs./ All Ages/ FC                                $24.99

 
ZOMBIE TRAMP/EHMM THEORY FCBD
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza, Brockton McKinney
Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza, Larkin Ford
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza, Larkin Ford

Are you bold enough to take a ride with Janey, the Zombie Tramp?!? If you pick her up, she might just share the story of
how she came to be the street walking dead!! Be brave so you can be ready for her all new series following this special issue!
You also get a mind shattering sneak preview from the second volume of the coolest comic series you haven’t read yet… Ehmm Theory!

32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC                                    Free




ZOMBIE TRAMP VOL 2 TPB
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza

Synopsis: 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!

128 pgs./Mature Readers/ FC                        $11.99

1st Impressions: The Final Plague # 4

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 4
Written by JD Arnold
Art by Tony  Guaraldi-Brown & Manuel  Martinez
Action Lab Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                Holy $#iT!! Yeah … plague zombie animals killing people and people going crazy … understandably. 

ART:

                Guaraldi-Brown once again gives us a macabre picture of the world, dealing with a plague in this twisted zombie story. Guaraldi-Brown gives us a good amount of detail in his rougher, sketchy style as he gives us dead people, ravenous animals and humanity showing some of its worst quality in style.  Guaraldi-Brown and Martinez set up some great, graphic panels with a good sense of color that helps fit the mood of the story and really sucks you in to the bleakness of the chapter. The animals battling were quite epic to see as our artists render it well.

                The overall composition of panels with everything from animals attacking to people running were also set up well to display the faster pace of the story as it reaches its climax. There as a decent amount of gore but not overly splashed everywhere which helped the balance of the book. The people were drawn with some decent detail and really looked as it fit the story of the book. Once again, a supremely well done job by Guaraldi-Brown and Martinez.

WRITING:

                As we close in on the finale next issue, Arnold starts making sure we steamroll to the end of the story with some very interest scenes and powerful dialogue. Aforementioned, we see the very worse of humanity a couple of times in this issue to help express the dire straits the characters are in. Arnold gives us chilling dialogue in several scenes while also continue to develop the characters from the lab in New Jersey and the family out in Iowa.

                The fact that people were thinking this was an end of the world event was made believable through the strong dialogue to go along with the art this issue. It ran the gambit of people in natural disasters: from people who are scared that it’s the end of the world, to people stepping up to help others to people abandoning what they own or other people in other to survive to just people who have no idea what’s going on.

                Arnold shows all these very well throughout the issue. He also does a great job with pacing the issue so that little by little, things change and work out. The story continued to climb towards a pulse pounding cliffhanger which really sets up the final issue and builds on what came before.  A superb job by Arnold this issue.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                All of the story and work done by Arnold, Guaraldi-Brown and Martinez start leading to a grand climax and this issue sets things up for the end beautifully.  The plots are lining up for a big finale and the characterization is top notch. This is horror and comics at its best.

RATING:

                I give The Final Plague # 4 a 10 … out of 10! Buy it now!!

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS New Releases for the week of January29, 2014

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS IN STORES THIS WEEK New Releases for the week of January 29, 2014 (If links do not open when clicked, copy and paste them into your favorite web browser.) FRACTURE ENCORE EDITION #1 Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi Synopsis: Just in time for FRACTURE Volume 2, see where the story began with this encore edition of FRACTURE Volume 1 #1! In the metropolis of Lower Triton, the city’s greatest hero, Virtue, its nastiest villain, Malice, and an everyman named Jeff have something very important in common. They’re all the same guy — and none of them knows it…until now! THE FINAL PLAGUE #4 (of 5) Writer(s): JD Arnold Artist Name(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown Cover Artist(s): Tony Guaraldi-Brown Synopsis: Monkeys on the loose in New Jersey! The hounds are released in Iowa! And in Chicago…Lions, Tigers, and Bears! Oh $#!#! The Final plague continues to spread. Panic has gripped the globe, and the world begins to burn. Special Notes: The Final Plague is Action Lab’s biggest selling title to date, find out what all the buzz is about for this unorthodox viral outbreak epic!

Comics News: The Final Plague Attacks The Horror Comic Awards

For immediate release THE FINAL PLAGUE ATTACKS THE HORROR COMIC AWARDS Action Lab: Danger Zone miniseries nominated for three awards Pittsburgh, P.A.-The Final Plague, Action Lab’s story of a rural Iowan family attempting to survive the initial onslaught of crazed, rabid animals, presumably the product of a mutated super-virus, has taken the world by storm. The series, written by J.D.Arnold (Top Shelf’s BB Wolf and the 3 LPs) and artist Tony Guaraldi-Brown (Tales of Red Hot Horror) has been nominated in three categories, Best Mini Series and Best Scene, while series letterer Chris Fenoglio  was also nominated for Best Letterer  in the 2013 Horror Comic Awards. "A huge THANK YOU to everyone on the nominating board, all the great people at Action Lab, and to my fellow creators Tony Guaraldi-Brown and Chris Fenoglio! We are very honored to be nominated alongside so many fantastic books and top notch creators.” Said writer/creator J.D. Arnold “ And a special big thanks to all the fans out there. We hope you are enjoying the book, and we hope you stay along for the ride. It's about to get crazy!” The staff of the Horror News Network has selected the nominees, and voting is currently open and will remain open until December 30, 2013. The 2013 Horror Comic Awards will be determined by fan voting via the following link: http://www.comicmonsters.com/horror-comic-awards.html To see the full list of nominees at: http://www.comicmonsters.com/item-8165-2013_Horror_Comics_Awards_Are_Here.html. 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 PRINCLESS, 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.

1st Impression: THE FINAL PLAGUE # 3 Review

THE FINAL PLAGUE # 3

Written by JD Arnold
Art by Tony Guaraldi-Brown

Action Lab: Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We open back in Jersey as Captain Stroeman gets into interesting developments in the lab as Francine, who was bitten last issue, ends up eating part of a dead doctor. This causes the captain, Dr. Friedman and the others to subdue and study her. Things get overly insane as Robert and his family go to the hospital to check out his wounds from the earlier attacks. This leads to a shocking announcement by the CDC … that 11 people were infected by the diseased animals.
                Another duo of characters go into the woods only to find something they were not looking for and finally, Friedman’s research ends up giving some shocking results.

ART:

                Guaraldi-Brown really does a spectacular job this issue with giving the right mood and horrifying visuals of the book. The opening pages are lightly gruesome and only get worse as it goes on ahead. The panel work is amazing as each picture conveys the right amount of story without Arnolds words; as well as looking wonderful with its watercolor like palette. The water colors and whites give a great texture to the work.

                The people in the book are of all shapes and sizes and convey emotion well; even though this is not your normal comic book style. Guaraldi-Brown leaves a stunning impact with his work in each page with a good amount of detail, texture and flair.

WRITING:

                Arnold continues to raise the stakes. The characters are now knee deep in some really disturbing territory as the diseased is announced by the CDC. Arnold gives us some great narrative at the beginning of the book from Captain Stroeman. What I love about this is that while the animals seem zombie-like … the humans infected look more … enraged. Yes, there are zombie elements but there is a time limit it on that, supposedly.

                Arnold also takes the time to pull the heart strings this issue with the focus back on Robert and his family. The scenes in the hospital with not only Robert’s family but also the policemen felt very authentic. There was a lot of tension with those scenes as well as a good amount of paranoia. Kudos to Arnold for capturing the human condition in such a situation so well. It added even more layers to this wonderfully constructed story.  While this issue may look very wordy, it does fit the need of the story and adds to the ambiance of the book.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This book continues to make me feel unclean and now … a bit paranoid. This book is ever gripping with captivating art and entrancing story.

RATING:

                I give The Final Plague # 3 a 10 out of 10. HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL. BUY IT NOW!!

Final Plague - The Original Zombie Animal Comic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Action Lab Entertainment

Canonsburg, PA

http://www.actionlabcomics.com

When zombie animals attack!

September 24, 2013

_____

THE FINAL PLAGUE #3: THE ORIGINAL EPIC ZOMBIE ANIMAL COMIC AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER FROM ACTION LAB: DANGER ZONE

In most zombie tales, the threat is from the ravenous hordes of brain-eating walking dead; but what if the threat came from reanimated members of the animal kingdom, not from other people? This is the question ACTION LAB: DANGER ZONE’S THE FINAL PLAGUE asks, as a small rural family in Iowa, and people across the country, are attacked by increasingly feral and bloodthirsty animals and forced to fight for their lives.

J.D. ARNOLD and TONY GUARALDI-BROWN’S THE FINAL PLAGUE, the first and original animal zombie comic, combines the raw terror and suspense of THE WALKING DEAD with classic horror films featuring killer animals like RABID or CUJO, by combining the two in a new and original premise that predates its imitators. Beyond the blood and gore of most other zombie books THE FINAL PLAGUE concentrates more on psychological scares and chilling suspense, and readers who enjoy books and films like THE STAND or THE ROAD will find a lot to like here.

THE FINAL PLAGUE kicks into high gear this October with issue number 3, as the infection affecting the animal kingdom spreads, and the humans are increasingly under threat not only from the undead fauna but from each other. In the words of artist TONY GUARALDI-BROWN, ”In the first five issues, the reader will start to see the broad scope of this plague and how the animals destroy the order of the food chain as well as how humans deal with the fact that life as they know it will never be the same.”

THE FINAL PLAGUE #3  by J.D.ARNOLD and TONY GUARALDI-BROWN is available NOW to pre-order from ACTION LAB DANGER ZONE in this month’s PREVIEWS with Diamond Order Code AUG130917.

Issues 1 and 2 are still available for reorder as well:

THE FINAL PLAGUE #1  APR130759

THE FINAL PLAGUE #2  JUN130712

The Final Plague has begun, as a mutated rabies virus spreads across the planet, infecting, killing, and reanimating animals, both great and small. Can mankind survive? And what will happen when the first humans are infected? Will they fall, only to rise again? Are these really humanity’s final hours?!?

ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT

Action Lab was founded in 2010, and received two Eisner nominations in 2012 for its critically-acclaimed all-ages comic Princeless. The publisher has been praised for its diverse library of creator-owned and licensed titles including; Skyward, Ehmm Theory, Pirate Eye and works like the upcoming Molly Danger and Vamplets. Action Lab: Danger Zone is the mature readers line from Action Lab entertainment, that features a full range of genre defying creator-owned material.

Be sure to visit the Action Lab website http://www.actionlabcomics.com for more information on all of their titles.

_____

Comics News: Action Lab Takes Over San Diego Comic Con

Critically-acclaimed independent publisher Action Lab Entertainment kicks off its 2013-2014 season with a bang at this year's San Diego Comic Con, held July 17-21 at the San Diego Convention Center.  This marks the company's second appearance at the show, and this year will be marked with special announcements, exclusive books, and a constant stream of well-respected industry professionals.

Confirmed creators to appear at the Action Lab booth include:

Jeremy Dale (Skyward)

David Dwonch (Ghost Town)

Kevin Freeman (SubCulture)

Tony Guaraldi-Brown (The Final Plague)

Lea Hernandez (The Garlicks)

Jamal Igle (Molly Danger)

Jason Martin (Night of the 80s Undead)

Gayle Middleton (Vamplets)

Mike Norton (Molly Danger Cover Artist)

Stan Yan (SubCulture)

A more detailed guest list, including signing times and additional creators, will be provided as the convention approaches.  The Action Lab booth is located in the Independent Press Pavilion, Table 2202.

In addition to having a number of featured creators, Action Lab will be offering a number of limited-edition convention exclusives available at SDCC.    Among the offerings:

·         A limited edition sneak preview of the upcoming Molly Danger, with two exclusive SDCC covers by fan-favorites Mike Norton and Jamal Igle

·         A limited edition hardcover premier of Vamplets:Nightmare Nursery with exclusive Ghost Pony cover by Gayle Middleton

·         A variant cover of Skyward #1 by Jeremy Dale

·         A white sketch cover of Skyward #2 by Jeremy Dale  

·         A special edition of The Garlicks by Lea Hernandez

·         The premier of Bo Plushy Gangsta with special convention-exclusive cover.

Each of these books will be available in limited quantities while supplies last and most can be signed by their respective creators.  All of the books will also be available in a bundle for a total of $75!

Finally, Action Lab, led by President Kevin Freeman, will be hosting its own panel, "What's New at Action Lab Entertainment," scheduled for Saturday, July 20th at 6:00 PM in Panel Room 28 D-E.  The Action Lab staff and creators will be there to talk about everything that is in store for Action Lab for the next year--including some big announcements, and to answer all of your questions.  Attendees will receive a special NFL Rush Zone Button which they can redeem for a special prize at the Action Lab table in the convention hall.

For more information about Action Lab Entertainment, visit their website at http://www.actionlabcomics.com.