Special Report: Action Labs Danger Zone Needs YOU to Kickstart It!!

  As we celebrate Action Labs month here on The Broken Infinite (& on The Ikaricast), we here like to take a moment and tell you that Action Labs needs your help. The new Danger Zone imprint is about to launch with various, mature reader titles. These titles are varied and full of complex, adult situations and themes. Yet, Action Labs needs you help to really make sure that Danger Zone can shoot off to immaculate success.

The Action Labs: Danger Zone Kickstarter is up and running with 11 days left. And there is something for everyone if you donate just $5 all the way to $1000. And the further up you go, the more you get back from this rising company. Action Labs has already been nominated for 2 Eisner Awards, which makes the company a force to be reckoned with. The Kickstarter promises everything from PDFs of comics from the Action Labs: Danger Zone line like The Trip, Double Jumpers, Night of the 80s Undead, Ehmm Theory & more to actually meeting with the Action Labs crew, spending time with them and getting publishing credit in one of their comics.

  Now, we in Broken Infinite believe in their books because we have reviewed them, such as:

Double Jumpers Review  by Jeremias de Leon (Xaos)

The Trip Review by Frankie Rodriguez (yes, me)

Ehmm Theory # 1 by Frankie Rodriguez  (yep, me again)

Ghost Town # 1 by (you guessed it) Frankie Rodriguez


Please check out our reviews of the titles we already looked at to get our impressions of them. And visit the Action Labs: Danger Zone Kickstarter for full details on all the awards you can get for donate.

  So check it out and donate today. Thank you.


 Broken Infinite EIC & Founder

   Frankie Rodriguez (Seraph)

THE TRIP (OGN) Review

THE TRIP (Original Graphic Novel)

Written by Jesse Grillo
Art by David Brame & Heather Breckel
Action Labs Entertainment


FLIPPING THROUGH:

    We open with a  Native American Tribe giving the drug known as Toloache, also known as Demon Weed. The drug is supposed to enhanced the vices and fears of the taker. So much so that they seem real. Horribly, the young man who takes it cannot deal with his own fears … dealing with snakes.

   We meet a group of college kids, focusing on a young woman named Karen. She seems jumpy for some reason. Yet, her roommate drags her along on a trip with a group of friends. One of the college kids ends up getting Toloache, aka Demon Weed after losing their original party drugs.

            After the group takes the Demon Weed, things slowly go from trippy to horrifying. And all the while, something that Karen is afraid of is all too real and affecting her life. The Demon Weed shows the descent of the group of friends which lead to some dramatic and frightening conclusions. I know you hate me right now but not giving spoilers.

ART:

            David Brame style is very messy and thick. Yet, he uses it very well in this story that deals with both horror and dramatically dark imagery that people who have hallucinations people can have while tripping on drugs. And boy, he succeeds in that with spades. The book if filled with scary, vivid and dark imagery that manifest from the college kids.  There are some truly thrilling and haunting pieces in this graphic novel. From the snake in the beginning to the crazied muscles going out of control.

            While some panels seem a bit on the lazier side but those a few and far in between. Most of the hurried panels are the mundane scenes. Yet, Brame captures the overall tone and horror of the story. Heather Breckel’s color really breathes life into Brame’s art and the story.  The color choices throughout the hallucinations really make the book the psychedelic trip that its title implies. She really brings out the darker elements of Brame’s style to really engross the horror elements while the mundane life elements look good.  There is a sharpness to Brame’s work that really works well with the story and Breckel really breathes life into it. Well done by both.


WRITING:

            Jesse Grillo delivers a well paced,  interesting story. The Trip very much seems to follow the classic teen horror movies. Yet, while the tropes are there, Grillo keeps it fairly fresh. The characters feel authentic. The story feels like its straight from a movie. Yet, this is a very good horror movie. Everyone one’s fears are actually a little more unique than the norm (always worried about conspiracies and people out to get you are not norm in horror movies) and Grillo builds up not only Karen but some of the other characters as well.

            The elements that lead to the effects of Demon Weed feel very realistic. The dialogue also felt very real.  And the mixing of people’s own fears with actual horrible things is used to Grillo’s advantage a few times in The Trip, which makes it even more enjoyable.  And while the conclusion is satisfying, there are definitely elements that work within the story that state that this could easily be a movie. A stand up job by Jesse Grillo.

OVERALL REACTION:

            The Trip is a horrific, great ride that deals with responsibilities and overcoming fears before they kill you. The art really works on the horror elements and the writing felt authentic. It certainly creeped me out and it is an enjoyable story. While I didn’t feel like it was “oh my god so innovative”, it took a simple approach and slightly twisted the teen horror trope for this.  A good graphic novel that will hold your interest and is a lot of fun.

RATING:

            The Trip definitely lived up to its name. It’s a strong showing and you should all read it. I give it an 8 out of 10. 

Comic News: Action Labs Gets Dangerous With DANGER ZONE LINE!

ACTION LAB has now entered the DANGER ZONE!

Action Lab Entertainment formerly announced the formation of their new mature readers imprint entitled, Action Lab: Danger Zone, and now the first books from the new line are making their way to release.

Starting this May, fans can pick up a full line of new creator-owned titles via comic book shops, as well as all major digital providers, bookstores, and anywhere comic books are sold. Each month will see new mature-themed titles debut, showcasing boundary pushing, genre-redefining material suited to today’s contemporary comic book readers. Comic shops can already -order titles such as new ongoing series Ehmm Theory, and Ghost Town, as well as the original graphic novel, The Trip , and four more titles-- the ongoing The Final Plague, Night of the 80’s Undead, the trade paperback collection of Double Jumpers, and the SubCulture Omnibus following for pre-order in June. There will be even more new titles, like the cult hit, Zombie Tramp, to release in the months to come!

With the emphasis on fun no-limits content, titles offered range from comedy, to horror, to science fiction, to whatever creators can dream up!  Danger Zone is the place where anything goes, both for readers and creators. As with any independent publisher, Action Lab is tirelessly working to get this exciting material in front of as many eyes as possible, so be sure to check Danger Zone and these new titles out on the web and in the Diamond Previews catalog when you see them. Fans of genre fiction done right have a new home in…the Danger Zone!

You can see a free PDF sampler for the line now here:

Action Labs Danger Zone Sampler

Be sure to find us on the web:

actionlabcomics.com/danger-zone

facebook.com/ActionLabDangerZone

twitter.com/ActionLabDanger

And ask your retailers to support our line!

Action Lab received two Eisner nominations in 2012 for its critically-acclaimed all-ages comic Princeless, and has been praised for its diverse library of titles, including Pirate Eye, Fracture, and works like the upcoming Skyward and Odin Jones.  Be sure to visit the Action Lab website http://www.actionlabcomics.com for more information, including links to social media outlets and submission information.

DANGER ZONE TITLES:

EHMM THEORY 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer - Brockton McKinney, Artist - Larkin Ford, Colorist - Jason Strutz

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - Gabriel Ehmm has awoken to a world where zombie 'little people' rise from graves, someone calling himself Saint Peter offers bargains, and his pet kitten can now talk. Connected by blood and straddling the afterlife, Gabe and Mr. Whispers (the aforementioned talking cat) begin a universe-spanning adventure in the first issue of this mind-bending and genre-blending new series.

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130763

GHOST TOWN 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer - Dave Dwonch (Double Jumpers), Artist - Justin Greenwood (Resurection, Wasteland), Colorist - Brian Dyck

32 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - Moments after scientists create a time machine, terrorists steal and weaponize the device, sending bombs into the future. Las Vegas evaporates in flame as the terrorists reveal their future target: Washington DC. Now, the FBI must find the terrorists before the capital becomes a Ghost Town. The clock is ticking.

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130765

THE TRIP - original graphic novel

Writer - Jesse Grillo, Artist - David Brame, Colorist - Heather Breckel

96 pages, full color, $14.95, mature readers

Synopsis - A group of college kids on a desert-baked road trip take a Native American drug that unlocks their deepest fears. Now, if a teenager and his grandfather from the local reservation can’t find them in time, they’re going to have to face their own personal terrors, or be consumed by them! The Trip is an Indian drug fueled ride into horror!!

Publication: May 2013

Diamond Order Code: MAR130764

THE FINAL PLAGUE 1 - ongoing bi-monthly (series of mini-series)

Writer – JD Arnold, Artist – Tony Guaraldi-Brown

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - The Final Plague has begun, and with it mankind's final hours. Can a rural Iowan family survive the initial onslaught of crazed, rabid animals, presumably the product of a mutated super-virus? Or will they succumb to the plague that threatens to end all life as we know it?

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130759

NIGHT OF THE 80’S UNDEAD 1 - bi-monthly 3 issue mini-series

Writer – Jason Martin, Artist – Bill McKay

28 pages, full color, $3.99, mature readers

Synopsis - It's 1986, and Russia's last ditch cold war effort is to strike at our American excess lifestyle with bio-engineered Colombian cocaine. What happens when two girls out for a good time cross paths with a huge celebrity party hyped up on commie zombie blow?!?! Radical undead action man! Totally!!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130760

DOUBLE JUMPERS – trade paperback

Writer – Dave Dwonch, Artist – Bill Blankenship

104 pages, full color, $14.95, mature readers

Synopsis - The cult hit of 2012 is finally collected! After Jason and his team of programmers get stuck in their virtual reality game, Dungeon Lords, they must find a way back to the real world. Unbeknownst to them, the fantasy characters they inhabit have taken control of their bodies… and now wizards and warriors run free in Las Vegas!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130763

SUBCULTURE OMBIMUS

Writer – Kevin Freeman, Artist – Stan Yan

344 pages, b&w (sc), spot color (hc), $24.99 (sc), $39.99 (hc), mature readers

Synopsis - Everything SubCulture in one book!  Join Jason, Arthur, Noel and the entire Kingdom Comix crew as they live--and enjoy--the geek life in this funny and poignant look at fanboy (and fangirl) culture.  This 344-page tome collects the critically-acclaimed four-issue mini-series plus all 501 webcomics published between 2008 and 2012.  Also includes dozens of strips from guest artists, pinups, and behind-the-scenes features.  Also comes in a limited edition hardcover!

Publication: JUNE 2013

Diamond Order Code: APR130761 (sc); APR 130762 (hc)

ABOUT ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT

Action Lab Entertainment was founded in 2010 by a group of independent comic creators with the sole intent to bring the world the most action packed, thought-provoking, entertaining comics available, thereby ushering in a new age of world peace under the dominating, yet benign control of the Action Lab. Action Lab Entertainment is the public front for all the activities of the Action Lab and its members. Although most of the Action Lab’s activities remain classified, Action Lab Entertainment can disclose that two of its many functions are the marketing of comic books through various sales outlets, and the expansion of their domination into other mediums.