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.

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.

Comic News: VAMPLETS: Legend of the Ghost Pony Hits Stores!

THE GHOST PONY HAUNTS STORES NATIONWIDE

Pittsburgh P.A.- Monstrously cute and adorably deadly, The Vamplets return!. Created by My little Pony and The Littlest Pet Shop designer, Gayle Middleton, Gloomvania's cutest bloodsuckers launch an all new quarterly series. Co-written by Middleton and  Dave Dwonch (Double Jumpers, Ghost Town) and illustrated by Amanda Coronado and Bill Blankenship, features an all new cover by Gayle Middleton. The Ghost pony is also now available in adorable plush form being offered to mortals for adoption from the Nightmare Nursery of Gloomvania. Includes a FREE bottle of blood (see picture). We suggest carrying it with you at all times-your life depends on it.
All items are currently available for pre-order.



 

VAMPLETS:THE UNDEAD PET SOCIETY #1 (Ongoing)
Writer(s): Gayle Middleton and Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Amanda 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 (limited to 1000 copies!).
FC/ 32pgs. /3.99 (regular cover); 4.99 (variant cover)

Advanced Review: NFL Rush Zone FCBD Issue

NFL RUSH ZONE
Free Comic Book Day Issue
Written by Kevin Freeman
Art by M. Goodwin & Bill Blankenship
Action Labs Entertainment


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Ish and his family have relocated to Canton, OH … the site of the Football Hall of Fame. Shortly after settling in, Ish is called into action, getting transported to California to face off against some Blitz Botz (yes, that is how it’s spelled).

            Ish tries to beat down some Blitz Botz with the 49ers Rusher but brute force does not seem to cut it. Ish finds that sometimes, he’s gonna need to use his brain instead of brawn to get the job done.


ART:

            I have enjoyed M. Goodwin’s art this issue. The lines are nice and clean. The panel work flows well. I honestly enjoy this art more than the actual animation art for the show. There is a life and excitement that Goodwin captures from the show and multiplies it by 10. And while animation will always be Animation, it is good to see Ish, the Rushers and Blitz Botz done extremely well.

            Bill Blankenship’s colors explode Goodwin’s pencils and inks. There is a great use of color that works not only for the comic and its story, but in comparison to the pallet of the show. Characters look defined. Blitz Botz look menacing. Ish looks like a kid but still looks heroic as he puts on his Guardian gear. Kudos to the art team in this.


WRITING:

            Freeman scripts a great issue here. It does a lot for a book that is a Free Comic Book Day issue. It tells a story. Gives you an idea of the background of the characters without going into the normal way of telling origins. It gives you our hero and villains easily enough. It establishes the theme and importance of our hero and what he does. And grabs readers to take a look into their world.

            Freeman does this and does this well. We get 2 battles in this issue which are paced well. This issue does not seem short like many other Free Comic Book Day issues of the past. And Freeman has a strong grip on the voice of the characters from NFL Rush Zone. People who are not fans of the show will quickly understand what’s going on. People who are fans of the show will enjoy this jumping on point (which Freeman makes) as a great companion to the show.

            And I loved how easily Freeman was able to interject a lesson while not being preachy. The issue leaves you intrigued and entertained. A good job by Freeman.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            We get a strong showing in this adaption of an animated property. It’s fun. It’s well written, well drawn. It’s full of life. And it teaches a lesson without talking down to the reader. While I was not completely floored and I do enjoy the art here than I do of the actual animation. Still, this definitely makes a great companion and wonderful read.

RATING:

            I give NFL RUSH ZONE Free Comic Book Day Issue an 8.5 out of 10. Good stuff. Grab it on Free Comic Book Day.

Action Lab month: Double Jumpers vol. 1 review

Looking at what can be considered the backbone of Action Lab's Danger Zone line and written by Dave Dwonch with art by Bill Blankenship. Action Lab released this series as single issues under it's normal lime last year. Now it's as one collected volume under the Danger Zone line.
Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

A group of programmers are working on a game and during a bug test switched bodies with the characters in the game. That's an extremely basic description but the story is something where anymore should be experienced yourself by reading it.

The story moves at a brisk pace. Which for this kind of story is welcome. There were parts while reading where there's a kind of a red flag that goes up in your head where you think this part shouldn't go on for too long and it doesn't. Pacing is played like a game and Dwonch handles it masterfully.

There's also the conflicts. Whether it happened in the real world or in the game the tension feels almost palpable. Whether it's about fighting monsters in the game or about what the game characters are doing to the programmers lives while in their bodies in the real world. Even though the premise is sci-fi the problems are believable and you will find yourself caring about what happens.

Characters

Like any good story the characters are well written and have their own unique personalities and act as real human beings. Though I did find myself not being as attached to the characters as I thought. Not because they're not well written, far from it, but because when it comes to their background very little is given. Aside from two characters you don't really know much about their history, not that you need to know about where they went for grade school but some information on why they have the motivations they have would be appreciated. Still that aside they are still well written.

Art

The character designs are not what I'd expect for this kind of story. They are both detailed and simplified. It's a bit like a mix of Japanese manga and western cartoon style. Just looking at the characters by themselves out of context they might seem awkward but the art works very well on the pages and in this story. While looking at the pages they really do have a nice visual style built. It really does work as a comic which is what this is so it's not bad at all.

Verdict

Double Jumpers is a crazy romp through the video game industry and relationships. It is certainly a fun read with action, comedy and off the wall craziness in every page. Character development is great but there could have been more with character backstory. I give this an 9 out of 10.