Straight Forward Reviews : Bruce Lee Tribute

Bluewater Comics made a tribute to Bruce Lee with this comic about his life. As the resident martial arts enthusiast who comes from a family of martial artists that revere the man, I'm here as the one to review it.

Writer - Chris Canibano

Artist - Joon Han

Publisher - Bluewater Productions

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

The story is pretty much what you would expect it to be. A biography of Bruce Lee. 

The comic is set in the sort of distant future where holograms are commonplace. The mayor of San Francisco is welcoming people to a museum built to honor the legendary martial artist. After telling people about the museum and what i's features are it goes into an account of Bruce Lee's life and gives some interesting factoids. Which, living in my family of Bruce Lee fans, I can vouch are indeed true.

Instead of a narrative, it's more like glimpses into his life.

Art

The art is interesting. This will probably be a point of contention as I can see the art being either a hit or miss among people with very few in the middle about it. 

It goes for a photo realistic approach and personally, I actually think it fits since the story is not one of fantasy but about a real man and real accomplishments. 

Verdict

The comic is solid. There are more typos than I'd like to see. One or two is ok but some of them actually got in the way of understanding whatever was being said. The art is ok and again, for a comic about a real person makes sense.

I give this comic a solid 8 out of 10.

Laid Back Comics: Captain America #8

Early in the week, I was catching up my reading of Captain America mostly due to a back-log of comics I had not gotten to yet. Cap is one of my favorite Marvel characters and for the last several years has had a string of excellent stories behind him. When Marvel NOW came about Captain America would be changing hands to a new team and with that it would also be a dramatic shift in the story, which one often sees after a long run by one team ends and a new one jumps on. Rick Remender and John Romita Jr set out not only do something different, they jumped genres turning the book into a Sci-Fi dystopian dimension jumper  and at first it seemed to work, but as the series contained soon it started to feel like it was just starting to drag little by little to sit and wonder when will it end.

Issue 8 feels though things that been setting up throughout a lot of the series would be coming to head and in a way a possible end was in sight, of course it wasn't going to be easy for Steve having to face off with the son of Zola who he had help to raise and now on the end of another major beating. It is one thing the series I do feel is positive is the never give up and die aspect of Captain America, with the major revelation and now facing off with the consequence at hand. Sadly what would be dramatic scenes are filled with the clichéd speech of a child berating Captain America explaining how awful the country he represents really is.  It is odd to have a character in this brand new environment and yet we have familiar speech coming from one of the characters.

Tension to the issue is the key, like mentioned we are slowly seeing an end in sight characters like Zola and his daughter who has seemly turned against his teaching start to face off we also see a brilliant turn for Captain and Ian/Leopold. Steven using his short time fathering the child to hopefully bring him back from the reaches that his true father has tried to take him. Before getting suddenly silenced by the big reveal of the book, which in of itself wasn't too shocking the more you sit and think about it. It raises more questions than answers and they then leading to a new issue to come out. As close to the end of the story we seem to get another chapter seems to be added on.

Though John Romita Jr is doing one of the best Jack Kriby characters and worlds here that it would be amazing to see him try his hand at other Fourth World characters. Art alone is the shining light on the book, though while we get amazing scenes with his art, there seems to be struggles in other places, the faces change shape or look fish like with side lines. Group shots of seems to run into one another.  Dean White colors also are a little inconstant, one time dull and faded then moving to bright. Sometimes they would fit with one is happening on panel and others time it doesn't.

While the series so far has started off fresh both in writing and art has slowly turned into just another weird tale of Rick Remender along the lines of Franken-Castle. If I loves it then there is nothing to say, here I am just waiting for this to end and check out the possible next story.

OVERALL: 7.0 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening writes for The Broken Infinite. Follow him on Twitter @BAClend

Laid Back Comics: All-Star Western #19 Guest Staring Booster Gold

There is one thing to say about this, Jimmy Palmiotti is a man on a mission with All Star Western. When the gate-fold “WTF” covers were first announced he kick up the gears and started promotion the book to anyone and everyone he could. Why? The answer was simple, the guest star that would be joining the book of course.  A certain time traveling hero by the name Booster Gold, who hasn't been seen since Justice League International book. This was a twist to be sure.

All Star Western is honestly best be described as a cult book, the best book you may not be reading, and many others. It is mainly because while it may have be a book placed in the same DC Universe it stayed in its own corner because it took place in the past, with little connections to the bat books. Here though is a full injection to the rest of Universe as Booster now thrown into the mix. The book itself is broken down into four different sections, the meeting, the villains, Boosters arrival, and the back up Stormwatch. With the first two sections of the book flows very naturally it only feels like it trips a little when we get to the area where Booster first appears as it was a sudden shift with very little lead in.

That is not to say the story placed by Palmiotti and Grey where Jonah Hex meeting the time traveler who now sudden wearing a sheriffs badge isn't still a good read. Hex calling Booster out on his tough guy act and pretty much giving him an idea that this world he has entered is not some polished western, where violent gangs will do horrible acts just for some possible cash is done and you need a bigger bad gang to catch them. And now he has a bit of a comic foil to follow him around which has been a small staple of the series. Gray and Palmitotti though aren't pushing a pure comedy though and as much as I would love to see the Booster of the old JLI days working with this cowboy, we are seeing the slightly more serious side. It shows in how they write him and what he wants to do to criminals as to what Hex will do as well.

There has to be a lot of credit on how much one enjoys the issue thanks to Moritat on art, but also colorist Andre Szymanowicz who did something sublet with Booster as with everyone else. The world is slightly dark and at times dirty like the old west should be, but Booster comes off bright and colorful at times, he stands out and as a man from the future it makes sense. He still ‘clean’ as opposed to Hex and the world he lives in. It is this little touch that gives this book something a little more special than a small guest star.

The other item this book has been doing lately are these small backups of other western heroes and villains. Here is a story of Gun Fighter coming to the rescue of a convoy of women from raiders and werewolves. With that running around it is no wonder Hex wasn’t fazed by a time traveler.

Overall All Star Western is a great book that doesn’t get the newsworthy notes that it should. If you’re a fan of Hex or Booster than this is a perfect time to pick up this issue and the issues that follow.

OVERALL 8.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening writes for Broken Infinite, follow him on Twitter @BAClend

Laid Back Comics: Age of Ultron #3

I wouldn't call Age of Ultron an uninteresting premise to a story, the idea of something like Ultron winning out

in a war against the heroes of the Marvel Universe only to have them rally around and fight back in the end is something that should give a feeling of excitement. But, three issues in and not only has the series seemed to slowly walk from point to point. It does so while stuck on a AM talk radio station and sadly the topic of the day is shoelaces.

While the first issue had enough of a hook to get me interested, the follow ups ending with the third issue here as left me not only bored, I feel Bendis has falling back into his habit of what many did not like about some of his Avenger Stories, the talking heads.  The question that was brought up in issue one on why Ultron would want to trade for any of the heroes when he has no real care for living beings has stretched out into this one and still remained unanswered for the most part. Even with the Cliffhanger appearance at the end there is still very little light shed on the why. And more and more we are just told how bad of the world has now become since this attack and we are told of those who have lost their lives to Ultron, but just being told the world is bad and someone died off panel isn't enough to keep my attention long enough to the story. More often I would flip through to see if something was going to happen.

Luckily there is a short area featuring Red Hulk, Taskmaster, and Black Panther in another part of the country, Chicago. Here is some fine action and Hitch does fantastically well.  Sadly it ends far too quickly to save the issue as a whole. I feel bad for Hitch who is working at is best on this book and so far has just spent his time drawing board meetings of depressed heroes.  Now, it is far to point out that this even is ten issues long and hasn't even hit the middle of the story which is two issues away, but at the rate the book is coming out and how we already know the big guest star that will be coming in at the end of it, it is a wonder why it seems to be moving along so slowly.

There are also a few weird moments since this series was so late to debut, like with Doc Ock with Spider-Man’s body or several members of the Fantastic Four out in deep space. Those books got tie ends to try and explain that and for Spider-Man that helped, but for Fantastic Four made no sense as they were supposedly contacted by Black Panther, but ‘missed the call’. Despite in this Issue itself Sue Storm mentioned Ben Grim as one of the heroes who fell during the surprise attack. This has left me as a reader more confused than intrigued.

Sadly, if this is how the story is shaping up so far, I am not looking forward to the flow or the end to find out about the new guest star joining the Marvel Universe. 

OVERALL: 4.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening writes for The Broken Infinite, you can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/BAClend

Laid Back Comics: Batman Inc. #8

To say that below my following review will be full of spoilers is pretty redundant at this point seeing as we got the new from the New York post about the big moment in it. We will get to that a little bit later as there is a good amount of story that happened as well.

Batman Inc. has seemed like a slow beast getting to this point of the Leviathan Story line but we are soon getting to the end and here is one of the, if not the darkest chapter in it. Do not be fooled by the title of the series, this is a straight Damian story from start to finish. While the rest of the Batman Inc group is struggling to fight their way to get to Batman, currently trapped, it is Robin who comes flying in to suddenly even the odds, taking the fight straight to the tower. And while this is going on, it shows how far Damian Wayne has gone as a character in the books. He might have first shown up and pushed the idea he was ‘the proper’ person to become Batman and take control of his legacy, here it is more about wanting to save his father and call off his mother in her actions.

The best scene in the whole Book is when Nightwing and Robin get to work together again even for the briefest of moments. They lay down the feelings on how much they meant to one another. It is a wonderful written scene harking back to the period of time Nightwing was Batman. Times almost forgotten now save for Morrison who wrote it. It also has this wonder action quality to it all with them sitting and talking this out while hail of gunfire is upon them, before moving out with smoke bombs and classic 60’s style fight sound affects right out of Adam West show.  But, with the knowledge we knew going into this, it was bitter sweet as we knew what would be coming very soon.

Everything this issue had leaded up to was Damian fighting against his much larger self, The Heretic. And it is a brutal one at that. It was more than really just a drawn out fight, this move was enough of a distraction for the group to grab what Heretic was holding and stop Talia if only for a brief moment. And Damian went down swinging and insulting his mother’s followers. And hopefully in this last effort try and convince her to stop this brutal fighting between this and his father, though that may have cost him his life in doing so.

The art work put forth by Chris Burnham in these last few pages is what sells this as not just some would be comic stunt, but a genuine moment in the history of Batman. Yet another tragedy in an already tragedy filled world of Bruce Wayne. And while the cynics of the world may have this off as another Robin dying, we soon forget this was a blood relative of Bruce, and the last time he lost one of these was when his parents died on that night in Crime Alley.

While the artwork though out by Burnham was all around wonderful, there is a credit to Jason Master who did a few pages as well. And while there is a moment where he tries to use the same style, it is slightly noticeable in the two change overs. It isn’t bad art work in any shape, but if you are flipping through it would be little jarring.

The whole series and death is very sad, Damian when introduced was an unlikeable character at first, but the more he was used and groomed under Alfred, Dick, and then later Bruce he was a fresh voice to the Batman Family, he was accepted as well by the fans slowly. So for him to be ‘gone’ is a sad one even it was planned for a while. Will he stay; well I don’t want to be one of the few who says it will only be a matter of time before his return happens. But, never can really say in the world of comics anymore. Though if this is the finale story of this Robin, then it would be a fitting one.

-TT-

OVERALL 8.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening

Twitter: BAClend

Laid Back Comics: X-O Manowar #10

Robert Venditti has spun a tale of a man out of time gifted with powers he could hardly understand and hunted by the beings that made it, enslaved him, and want the armor back and him dead.  Worse yet his best friend thought dead now hangs in the grip of his enemy almost dead.  It is a familiar situation seen over time in comics, Television, and movies.  And it plays out much like you think it would, what makes this better is the connection the two main characters here have with one another.  Well established from the series start that Aric and Gaft were always close and would do anything for each other.

It is a human moment in an otherwise amazing Sc-Fi adventure going on currently around them. But, of course that doesn’t stop Trill from being the bad guy that he is. The whole sequence leads up to show us that Aric may have been holding back how powerful he really is. The just full hatred he has hidden within him seeing his once thought dead friend almost end up that way again, Trevor Haisine seals that notion though his art and the anger and pain brought on by all of this on Aric.

We also get a better look that Aric is still the warrior he was when first introduced, he may have the X-O armor now and having pretty solid control over it. We are still shown that without it, he can at least hold his own using more of his wits than shoving a sword though whatever the problem may be. Helping heal his friend and then talking him down has Gaft dawns the armor was the main story that leads to a sad conclusion, but the set up to Planet Death making it us realize it isn’t Planet Earth that will be the place Planet Death take place on.

Which is something I am happy to see frankly, Earth invasions while fun, can feel played out here seems to be the reverse of the situation a human setting course to return to the alien world planet as the invader is a fresh take on the whole idea.

Looking forward as Planet Death we are left with a lot of different questions and some concerns, the first is how will the race respond to Aric coming in and will he turn the home world into the planet of death ever so hinted at? I know Aric will be looking for revenge but will he loose himself in it? All of these is why readers are coming back to this book.

X-O Manowar takes what should be considered cliché and boring and is able to make it fun and exciting, a test sometimes other comics fail to pass. Here we are getting a new level of sci-fi action as Planet Death approaches and looks to take our hero a journey to face off with the alien force that has changed his life so much. It is time to get on the bandwagon now of Valiant Flagship title, otherwise you will be sad you missing this series.

OVERALL: 9.0 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book reviewer and sometimes video producer. Follow him on Twitter @BAClend

Laid Back Comics: Secret Avengers #1

Not fond of this cover either

It is no shock I am a fan of Secret Avengers and I was very nervous hearing about Marvel NOW coming in as it might scrap the book for perhaps something else. But, I was relieved hearing that it was going to be coming back with a new writer in Nick Spenser and another roster change-up ; though upon reading the issue I did wonder if this was the right change to make.

If anything the book having the word ‘Avenger’ in the title seems a bit false. Make no mistake; this is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Book from the cast and the missions, which is not the only real secret the book is currently hiding. For what it is worth the first two ‘recruits’ Hawkeye and Black Widow didn’t seem interested in joining and then suddenly all read for the chance a panel later. Of course we don’t know why the sudden jump but only one of the many questions the books leaves us with as we get through it. The next plot point to all of this was that Hawkeye and Black Widow get nanoparticles that allow memories to be altered remotely. This all sounds pretty comic book super science which I have no real problems with. So in the end the missions are so secret they won’t even remember being on them or in the case of poor Hawkeye why he was in Bubdapest to start off with.

There are two things wrong I feel with this book and to start out it is trying very hard to connect with the Avengers movie using the ones who were working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Heck they even manage to make Coulson here look like actor Clark Gregg even though his first few appearances had him look nothing alike. But, if anyone is going to see this and expect the same Agent Coulson we fell in love with in the movies, we are sadly going to be disappointed. This Coluson along with Nick Fury ‘Jr.’ are out to save the world and in some way screw over Hawkeye and possible Black Widow. The reveal at the end to me seems to point to that happening sooner than later.

Spencer writing has never been bad, but never something I could say has blown me away either. Here is a book that has a lot of dialogue, and at times very witty, but low on the actually action portion.  It is hard to get behind a book that has so many talking heads and then quick action or off panel action. Art is much better with Luke Ross though wouldn't mind Black Widow having her zipper a few inches higher. I often don’t mention this and should but Matthew Wilson on color for this book did an amazing job and little disturbing job with a scene involving demon possession!

But, as the book comes to a close I felt more depressed than I was excited for the future issues. Maybe under has this been promoted as an S.H.I.E.L.D. book proper my expectations would be different and not blinded by volumes past. Here this title just lightly jogs in and stands around not doing much at all and doesn’t have much of a hook to keep me coming back.

OVERALL: 5.0 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book reviewer and sometimes video producer on the internet, you can follow him on Twitter by Clicking Here.

Laid Back Comics: Batman #17

Death of the Family has been played along these past few months bleeding outwards into the other Bat family books, but all that came back to head in to the latest and finale issue of the story in the Batman proper. And….Holy S&*%! Sorry that is a bit of an unprofessional way to examine a comic. But really, this was just a story that had amazing journey to it and to get to the end of it, you just wanted to sigh and fall down in the chair you were reading it in and take it all in. And in some sick and twisted fashion this story was not just a Batman vs the Joker, it was a love story between them.

A jaded lover that wanted nothing more than to see his 'King' returned to the glory that he knew. To remove the weakness of him, to be the only real member of his family.

Synder has been teasing the readers with each different step of the story and hinting at certain items. Where is Alfred? What is Jokers plan in all of this? Does he truly know everyone behind the mask? What is under those tray covers! And in a rare time for me as a reader I couldn't guess and point it all out. That shows the writing put together there. And with each little page turn and reveal left me with sighing in relief or back to the edge of my seat. For fans of Alfred everything is well with our favorite butler, there was a time I thought he would not make it out of this alive or in great condition. Then you have to think though with a title of story being ‘Death of the Family’ and here it stands with no one actually dead what seemed to be the point of it all.

Well, in some way Joker has if only a short amount of time killed the idea of the family aspect of Batman. His family was taken to the edge and some learned many things about one another, this has left them separate from one another, a metaphoric death in them working so close together if even for a small amount of time. And speaking of metaphors about the relationship between Joker and Batman is getting titled to one side in this, the idea of why Batman just doesn't kill the clown is brought up and examined from Jokers eyes as well as forcing Batman to admit that simple idea that killing him means the Joker wins. But, that is laughed off and added that there is maybe even a fear behind killing the Joker. That keeping him alive is the safer route than killing him and something worse come after him.

It sounds like something discussed before by fans and creators alike, and this isn't to say this is the right version, but with how the story unfolded it makes sense for Batman to have these thoughts and the Joker to challenge him on it. And the reveal towards the end that Joker is it this for the long game, he doesn't truly care about who Batman really is or who is family are. He just wants Batman.

And never before have had I really seen art work put together like this book. Greg Capullo has taken scenes that would scare even the most harden people and having us yell. HOLY S&*$%! Dang I did it again. But when you see Joker finally reveal what was on the trays and you see the eyes of the Bat family around them finally having the idea they were victims in all of this Or Jokerfied Alfred coming on to the scene. If really there is only one item I may not like about Capullo’s is his Bruce Wayne, he tends to give him this odd sleepy eyed look to him, but even then that could be a another mask he wears during the day.

Synder and Capullo have made Batman theirs, each time it seems like we might know where things are going or things might be the same old same old. They throw you into a brand new direction like this one and floor it all the way. It is cliché to consider how great Batman is now, but with stories like this, you can see why we say it.

OVERALL: 9.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic reviewer and sometimes video producer, you can follow him on Twitter by clicking Here

Laid Back Comics: Bloodshot #8

If X-O Manowar is the sci-fi adventure flag ship of Valiant, then Bloodshot is the dirty gritty action film and we like it like that. Last issue saw Bloodshot and crew break through defenses of Project Rising Sun but not finding what they wanted, instead children that Bloodshot once captured while an agent.  This issues takes the familiar part of any story where the plan suddenly take a turn in the direction the heroes didn't see and now must quickly recover and soon.

For Bloodshot it comes down the worst, he was very close to what he thought was learning all about him, only for it to be removed and replaced with another mystery he needs to solve with the kids that are now running loose. And they know him and do not like him in anyway. I like the nick name the kids of given Bloodshot, “The Boogieman”. It is simple and yet freighting for these kids to sudden be captured and makes sense. Writer Duane Swierczynski very much wants this mystery to plan out longer in this arc because as soon as the kids are re-introduced to Bloodshot, they are quickly separated again leaving him with his current and a tad ugly enemies to try and finish him off.

Of course that is also a slight weakness to the book, there is a bit of jumping around between some of the characters, so much at one point one seems to have vanished and just get casually explained off. There was a lot that was trying to do at times, there are seeds to the upcoming Harbinger War that look to be planted and new characters introduced that could become important later on, but these quick looks tend to distract from where the story is or right now isn't going. We aren't lead into what these characters plan to do next, we moving from fight to fight trying to keep up and catch our breaths.

What really great though is Manuel Garcia artwork through the whole issue, even when at times it can be a little gross. There is one point in the book I did have to put it down and thank I wasn't eating something. But, that is just the details he goes into the characters. I could only imagine the challenge it is to make and draw these techno-bodies of Chainsaw and it should be looked on as an accomplishment as they are very unique.

My only issue is that this feels a lot like stretching out the current story line just a little longer. Nothing moves any closer to resolution. It seemed closer to filler than it was a chapter in the ongoing story. It not a bad thing really, it is something that happened with serialized comics so it was a matter of time before Bloodshot has his own. But, don’t take that as a damnation of the comic, it still the action film that I mentioned above. It really stands out as nothing like any comic on the rack and should be read to be believed.

OVERALL: 7.5 out 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic reviewer and sometimes video producer on the internet, you can follow him on Twitter Here

Archer and Armstrong #7 review

Archer and Armstrong is getting it's 7th issue released this month! We're back again to see if this series is still as great as previous issues or if it has gone into a lull.

Review by Jeremias de Leon



Story

In this issue the plans of the people who would want to destroy the universe and are Archer and Armstrong's enemies are coming to fruition. As Archer and Armstrong try to deal with that they also try and talk with the new Geomancer and Armstrong's brother. It looks like they realize one thing and that's that there is a bigger fish to fry before handling the problems Armstrong and his brother have. The story moves at a brisk pace in this issue, it moves fast, slightly too fast before you know it the comic has ended when you were expecting to know at least a little more about what's going on.

Art

The art has always been good in this series but in this issue it seems even minor flaws that were apparent with how the characters were drawn are disappearing. It's not very noticeable but there is an improvement from last issue to this one. Character expressions are still done perfectly, especially Armstrong's and the action looks as intense as before.

Just look at Armstrong's face

Verdict

Archer and Armstrong is still the perfect blend of action and comedy, it leads from tense moments to funny moments and back again seamlessly and it never feels as some of the kids would say "mood whiplash". Besides the story being a bit too quick in pace for my taste, although I love when stories get to the point I felt some things should have allowed some time to digest, this is a fantastic issue. I'd be hard pressed to say this is still below great. I give this issue a 9.5 out of 10.

Laid Back Comics: Fearless Defenders #1

There was a time I wasn't sure how I could approach this title, you see When The Defenders title was canceled not too long ago I was a bit sad by it going. I Then saw this title pop up with the Marvel Now I crossed my arms and seemed to grumble at how this somehow might been the reason behind why the other was cancelled, like there couldn't be two ‘Defender’ titles out. After coming to the notion that idea was completely dumb I warmed up to Fearless coming in based on the first two characters showcased in Misty Knight and Valkyrie. Two characters that have been supporting roles in other books I have enjoyed so be reasonable the same will happen here.

The story is pretty much standalone so far, there is no lead in with other titles. It is a sight forward threat is being made and this group will have to be formed and face off with whatever it may be. Now the characters of Misty Knight and Valkyrie have two very different backgrounds and often face off with very different threats. Cullen Bunn knows this and actually plays around with the idea for some fun moments. For Misty, you first see her taking on some artifact smuggler somewhere on ocean which is something that she seemed just run of the mill for her to do. That is until rocket launchers are pulled out and used against her.

And while the smugglers did get away Misty did manage to bring back something for her friend and new character to the book in Dr. Annabelle Riggs an archaeologist who unknowingly reveals a secret that the artifact Misty brought back can raise the dead. And now Misty is facing off with several undead Vikings. And this of course brings Valkyrie into the book proper.

The opening book is very action oriented with just brief moments of exposition in between to give it a good breath before diving into undead bashing. I wouldn't call these things zombies just reanimated bones. This all seems to lead back to Valkyrie and the release of the Doommaidens rising. So in the opener of the series we get not only introduction of three main characters so far, but also the threat in a well-paced fun opening issue.

The art work though while looking well and nice, also carried with it the stigma of the female form that has been traveling around for a while now. Meaning there are moments you title your head and go that cannot be good for the spine. There was major fear with that as the series was first announced and it is a trend that we do see in the book.

The other major aspect of the book and one that got many headlines is this is an All-Female book, the first of Marvel NOW, and what was first thought of as just an all-female team, the book actually takes the All-Female to everything. Main cast is not only all female it looks as if the threat is as well with the Doommaidens. So in essence we are getting more than just a team, it could be an almost All-Female book period.

In the end the book is fun start to this new series that already has two very strong leads and is looking to expand on as the first arc continues, it is one of the better new books debuted under the Marvel NOW banner.

OVERALL: 7.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book reviewer and sometimes video producer. You can follow him on Twitter Here.

Laid Back Comics: Harbinger #0

Issue zeros can be a tricky beast in comics, the idea of it being a prelude to a possible start of the series like a prologue. It is even trickier when you have a zero issue after your series has already started. Valiant is taking that risk with Harbinger.  Here the origin of Toyo Harada comes to light for the readers and it is a powerful visual and reading experience.

The issue has two sides to it, while on a mission Toyo starts to tell a story of his past, his childhood in Japan surviving the Atomic bomb being dropped. Each time the story goes back to that the art switches as well. This isn't a new technique and it is one that sometimes doesn't work, but here it works perfectly.  The art helps sets the mood of a child who just survived on of the biggest horrors in human history and in that short time lost his innocent as he gained his special powers. But, it was just the one thing that he always wanted as a child would, his family. It has times a dream like quality to it with how the color shades work on each of the characters. It at times is more of a nightmare than a dream. Mico Suayan had a task to take something that was terrible incident and give it something to send even more chills down your spine.

And when we come back into the present day the art remains chirps as it flows, it could easily be jarring to move from one arena to another but never does it fall into the trap. And Pere Perez is the one that has to do with it. If there was one problem it might be that he had more mundane of the duties when it came to the art. There were few action pieces for him to use.

The story Joshua Dysart has put forth with Toyo is one of sympathy and also slight fear. Toyo wants to fix a broken world. A world where he is a short time lost everything he held dear to him. But, he also not clear cut in terms of good. He doesn’t hold back to get what he wants and get the job done. And he plays it to perfection and as a reader you may feel conflicted while reading, but always intrigued. That real the strength of the writing in the book, he isn’t a pure good or bad character, Toyo is that shade of grey you want to 

learn more about.

This is a fanatic look at Harbinger and a perfect introduction to the book to anyone who may be on the fence of picking up the series. You read this; you will want more and will be ready when Harbinger Wars starts next month.

OVERALL: 9.5/10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book reviewer and sometimes video producer. You can follow him on Twitter at his name @BAClend

Laid Back Comics: Uncanny X-Force #1

Uncanny X-Force, not to be confused with just X-Force, or now Cable and X-Force, Uncanny X-Force is fairly young book with only 35 issues before getting this re-launched with Marvel NOW, we get a brand new team inside of the book as well as the creative team behind it. This shows that X-Force as almost separated itself as its own brand now with in the X-Books. As we enter the second volume of the title there is definitely a different feel to it and there is one thing I can say about this issue and new direction. There is a lot of cussing and it all coming from Psylocke?!

We should start at the beginning here, Wolverine has for most part disbanded the X-Force team and this has left a few members stranded to find a direction for themselves. In the case of Psylocke she tried to be at the Jean Grey School, but certain incidents had made things hard for everyone to be there. So Logan just in what can be assumed is one last mission to take on so she can get back into the field.

And that is the only real back story you get between the end of the last volume and to this current one, other dialog moments that come up is a call back to other series like the end of Avengers vs X-Men when Storm talks about how her marriage ended. And then a tease of something happening with her and Logan which turned more to Wolverine and the X-Men, all the while they are just heading to find their contact. The script here is solid enough with well-established beats, but then while the story is progressing it shoots back to these call backs that currently don’t have to do with the issue at hand you are reading. When we are back to the issues main story it still moves slowly as another character is introduced in Puck, the contact for the mission, and then moving down to the main action sequence with Spiral and Psylocke. But, everything goes back to the cursing; it is just so out of place and obvious. Instead of using just the random characters or even blurred out the word, they are these big black boxes in the text boxes. Your eyes draw right to that trying to fill in the blank. And many times it doesn't come off a clever writing, it just cursing because why not.

Courtesy of Bleeding Cool

I am not sure Sam Humphries was trying to push the idea that Psylocke has herself letting herself go from the end of the last volume, where she lost not only Angel but almost lost Fantomex as well. She sits on a hair trigger now and becoming loose cannon. Written to try and forget the past by throwing herself into these situations.

We are supposed to be caring about what should be a drug bust of mind control pills being spread around. The return of Spiral who Psylocke would love nothing more to just kill right in the middle of this club; but the last section of the story is so fast and hectic we are quickly shuffled off to the sudden return of Bishop last seen abandoned far into the future. And then we meet back with Fantomex and his new ‘partner’ Cluster. Which has its own twist to the story that the definition of narcissism to a literal extreme.

While the story for me is something that could be built on, the start was leaving me a little cold and confused. But, there was very much good going on, Humphries and artist Ron Garney are bring forth a different feel of this book than many of the others. Some things feel familiar like the location of Los Angles, but it feels different, like a new type of underworld they are stepping into. One where a hover car traveling down isn't even given a second look or six armed drug dealers can be the center of attention and is welcomed from the populace. You want to see this more of this sometimes unseen world. That goes to Garney on the art work, with only one moment towards the end where Cluster is jumping around in a possible one of the more awkward positions I could think of. But, also it is odd to say when we get the small visit to France where is was bright and clean as the opposite where the team current was.

Overall, the issue tries to quickly set up the team players as best it can while trying to maintain the feel of the previous volume with slight or in case of Psylocke’s vocabulary manger twist to try and leave a mark on you. The art is the saving grace to everything though as the world we see is something we want to come back to and expand on. It isn't as fast of a start to the new volume as many might like, but there is a lot to build up from here

SCORE: 6.5 out of 10

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book review and some times video producer, you can follow him on Twitter at @BAClend

Laid Back Comics: X-O Manowar #9

Bryan "BAC" Clendening is a comic book review and some times video producer. You can follow him on Twitter at his handle @BAClend

It is hard life for Aric of Dacia star of X-O Manowar and for our hero things are not going to get any easier with this prelude to Planet Death story ach. The Vine are going to stop at nothing to bring back the Shanhara X-O Manowar armor by whatever means they can. Which means a massive invasion of planet Earth, which some may say is tad overkill.

Valliant’s flagship title has been a staple of quality writing ever since it launched and here is another pure example of why that is. Issue nine is what the cover says it is a prelude to something major about to come for not only Aric but all of planet Earth as well, Admiral Xylem is tired of the failuars of the past to remove the Shanhara from some human. Writer Robert Venditti has created a chilling villain and very smart villain here. He has seen the failures coming before him and is setting out to see that not happen again. And the way he goes about to try and collect that information may consider crossing the line when he pulls out a trump card later.

Then right on the opposite side of it is the High Prist, he sees Aric gaining the power of the Shanhara as something divine. It chose Aric for a reason while rejecting so many others that came before him. The Vine isn’t just a blood thirsty alien race of the week. They have different trains of thoughts, different opinions, and different methods. While currently they are choosing the side of a major threat we care how and why they would make such a decision.

And in some sense they mirror the heroes in Aric and Alexander Dorian, Aric the warrior right to his bones is more than willing to move head long to meet Xylem and have him pay for what he has done to him. And Alexander trying his best to try and to stop the destruction of this world he grew up on. These character moments are what drives this issue.

That is not to say we didn’t any action in the issue, far from it. He last section of the book is dedicated to Aric facing off against some X-O Commandos sent ahead of the invasion. And that is when the issue pops on the art level. Trevor Hairsine while doing well in the quiet moments and tension building characters did seem wooden as they all stood around. But, once Aric meet the commandos things picked up.  There were a few close up faces that tended that were over exaggerated to a degree of bring you out of the story.  At the end the cliffhanger really sends home the note that things for Aric is going to get much worse before he can fully get his hands on the Vine

This issue is another reason why Valiant titles are all sleeper hits, if you are not reading these now you need to.

SCORE-8.5/10 

Laid Back Comics: Superior Spider-Man

Be warned this does contain spoilers of Superior Spider-Man, though seeing as how late this is it might not matter.

Bryan 'BAC' Clendening is a comic blogger and sometimes video producer. You can follow him on Twitter at his handel @BAClend

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN

So hopefully you read my thoughts on Amazing Spider-Man #700, and if not please check it out before reading this, I couldn’t just sit and not try and see where this story would go in the brand new series Superior Spider-Man.

When we last saw ‘Spider-Man’ it was that Doctor Octopus was now in full control of Peter Parkers body. He has even updating the Spider Suit, which counts as I believe the 5 or 6 costume change Spider-Man has gone through these last few years. We aren’t sure how much time has passed since issue #700 but my guess would be maybe less than two weeks. And while he seems to be savoring his victory over Parker we get to see this new Spider-Man’s first real test against some villains. And in this case a new Sinister Six.

And that is the major plot of the first issue, Spider-Man vs this Sinister Six, which taken at face value this sounds like a Spider-Man story.  And there is where the issue shines, to say new Spider-Man did take the smart route in taking this team down. Setting up a slightly violent way to ease drop on the team, setting up the area to fully take them down, and finally putting the plan full swing. It was well done and smart.

But, like issue 700 I still have problems the characters and interactions with this ‘new’ Spider-Man and Peter Parker. He has become short and almost smug while at work, not to mention dressing JUST LIKE Doctor Octopus, and no one questioning him on this sudden change in altitude or wardrobe. The worst I felt was the scene with Mary Jane at dinner. There is just something a little unsettling as I read through the dialog of that one scene, with the end results of him leering at the chest of Mary Jane. It came off too creepy than anything else. Like watching your uncle hit on your girlfriend. You didn’t know what to say but you just knew this felt wrong.

But, there were some bright spots I thought that would take this character on a direction that was hinted at. At very beginning when it looks like he was just about to leave from the Sinister Six attack, he rushed back in to save a police officer on the scene.  It seemed like an honest moment, and while ‘Peter’ questioned it for a brief moment he never regretted doing it.  It was Doc Ock taking responsibility. The moment was short lived through; by the end of the big the big reveal is that somehow in a yet unknown way Peter was still around doing these small good deeds as a Jedi ghost, for lack of a better term.  Now, this was good as it stopped Ock from killing someone, but this also was ammo for the snark coming from many fans stilling back and yelling, “Called It!” While this allowed some fans to forgive the last story line and tries to see where this will go or for how long, I see it as just a bit of a ploy and almost bait and switch. And I don’t know how long I could honestly follow the series if it just there to lead Spider-Man character backwards.

Now I have been very harsh on the writing and the story, but there was something I greatly enjoyed and it is Ryan Stegman artwork to go along with the series. There is energy behind the art work of Spider-Man that sometimes gets lost on by other artist. Not here, if anything the art makes reading the story a lot easier. I just wish the story behind it was much better.