1st Impressions: EHMM THEORY # 4

EHMM THEORY # 4

Written by Brockton McKinney
Art by Larkin Ford & Jason Strutz

Action Lab Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                Revelations give Gabriel and Mr. Whiskers shocks as Aaron faces his son and starts giving answers. Dominika wants none of that as she sends G.O.D.D. to capture them. But not everyone in G.O.D.D.  agrees with Dominika. It leads to some startlingly revelations about Dominika, Aaron and Gabriel as this issue ends the first miniseries.

ART:

                Ford and Strutz give a tour de force in this issue. The panels have great detail and backgrounds. Everyone has a nice distinct look. There are so many kinds of things this issue: people, robots, animals, talking animals, dimensional portals and much more. This book expands your imagination in ways that both make sense but never thought of before. The emotional moments look authentic and powerful. The characters look realized, with great nuisances and good expressions. The colors are vivid. The pencils and inks are powerful. A stellar ending for Ehmm Theory’s first miniseries.

WRITING:

                McKinney writes a very strong ending to this first miniseries. There was definitely a good amount of emotion, revelations and handled the plot lines very well. The dialogue, as always, was some of the best in comics today. McKinney really puts a lot of joy in his work … as we shall monsters that would come from our imaginations but at the same time, we might not have thought of. The characterizations felt very authentic. The pacing of the book is really good for the amount of events that happen within this final issue. Although, there are a couple of parts that might make it feel too fast.  And while things get tied up well, McKinney leaves it open for more with one last, stunning revelation.

OVERALL RATING:

                The writing is stellar. The art is amazing. While there are a few fast parts to the issue, overall, this was an enjoyable ending to one of the most inventive series in comics.


RATING:

                I give Ehmm Theory # 4 a strong 9.5 … out of 10. 

1st Impression: Ehmm Theory # 3

EHMM THEORY # 3

Written by Brockton McKinney
Art by Larkin Ford & Jason Strutz

Action Lab: Danger Zone

FLIPPING THROUGH:

            So, after last issue completely changed the status quo of what we thought this series was about, we get even more surprises. As Gabriel, Mr. Whispers and Alyona continue journeying to find Gabriel’s father, Aaron Ehmm; we are introduced to Alyona’s old friend, Tym.  The search reveals how Gabriel’s parents had met. Yet, Dominka is closing in and a reunion gets more and more difficult as Gabriel finds out more about his parents than he bargained for.

ART:

            Larkin Ford and Jason Strutz continue to dazzle people with their art. The cartoony style mixed with detail and modern super hero sensibilities really make this book’s art stand out. And this issue really gives you a vast variety of things: talking animals, robots, medieval like princesses and modern day guns. There are various kinds of backgrounds in this book that also really shows off Ford and Strutz’s skills. The art is smooth, with enough detail to show people and animals of all shapes and sizes. The inks are very clean and sharp. Ford’s pencils continue to electrify. The book constantly makes you see the unexpected and Ford pulls it off so well. With great proportions and even more vivid colors, this was a solid issue.

WRITING:

            McKinney continues to write one of the most innovative, most status quo shattering books in comic book history.  Every time you think you have your footing and feel like you know where this book is going, McKinney pulls the rug under you. This issue’s revelations just add to the mystery behind the book while building up to this first miniseries’ finale. While McKinney is building his world, he makes sure to keep developing his main characters. While this issue, it does not seem apparent, Gabriel got some deep development with the multiple revelations this issue. His reactions to everything kept building and building on what has been established. Whispers and Alyona also get great development.

            Yet, McKinney weaves so many twists and turns so well to the emotional attachments in the show. The pacing for the book is good but honestly, if the book was a little slower, then it’d be perfect. Otherwise, this is one of the best written books I have ever read.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            This issue was simply amazing! Great art. Exquisite Story. Good pacing. Besides the manor pacing issue, this book just continues to be one of the best comics ever.

RATING:

            I give Ehmm Theory # 3 gets 9.5 out of 10. BUY IT!!!

Action Labs Month: Order of Dagonet # 1 Review & FREE COPY

We have another comic review for you guys here at The Broken Infinite. This time we're looking at Princeless writer Jeremy Whitley's other book the order of Dagonet. We're looking at the first book of the series for this review.

Order of Dagonet

Written by Jeremy Whitley

Art by Jason Strutz
Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

Over in England mythical beings have returned to earth and Merlin, yes the Merlin in King Arthur lore, contacts certain British people who all have one thing in common, being knighted by the queen. They are contacted as being the only people who can save England from the mythical menace. The fun starts when you see the people who are contacted to save England. A best selling author, a B movie star that was a Shakespearean actor and an old rock musician that speaks in a barely intelligible manner.

The entire book is basically a look into exactly who these people are and the quirks they have or the troubles they'll run into or have run into while going back to England and try to save it, even though they really have no idea how to do that. It's a nice quirky take on the knights save England from evil story. It contains references to different mythologies and works of fiction but makes something totally offbeat and distinct that stands on it's own with it.

Art

Jason Strutz has an amazing art style that is unique and awesome and mesmerizing. I have seen nothing quite like that in a comic book. The use of pastel colors in the comic is reminiscent of an Edgar Degas painting and it gives this comic a style that is perfect with this kind of story. Honestly the writing and the art in this comic are like peanut butter and jelly why would you just go for one when you know for a fact they're so great together?

The art in short, is unique and amazing because of it.

Characters

The writer of Order of Dagonet's writer, Jeremy Whitley has always been good with writing characters and this is no exception. This book explores just what kind of people each of the protagonists are and they are portrayed as real humans. They also interact with each other as such and these interactions give us glimpses into who they are and what kind of personalities they have. The old rock star acts just as someone like him would when dealing with a situation like this, crazy. The renowned book author thinks things through and tries his best to do what makes the most sense.

Each character is great and it won't be hard for you to find your favorite out of the cast.

Verdict

This comic is fantastic it made me laugh within just a few seconds of reading it. It has lots of smart and funny dialog and the art style is beautifully unique. If you want to read something that is not the norm and very entertaining you can't go wrong with Order of Dagonet. As a matter of fact you can read it right here, below this review. Courtesy of Jeremy Whitley himself who gave us permission to let you guys read it here on The Broken Infinite. I give Order of Dagonet a 9 out of 10

EXCLUSIVE Advance Review: Ehmm Theory # 1

EHMM THEORY # 1
Written by Brockton McKinney
Art by Larkin Ford & Jason Strutz
Action Lab Entertainment


THE RUNDOWN:

            Been a while since I had to do one of these. Action Labs Entertainment is an up & coming indie comic book company that has been publishing a lot of good work. Don’t Believe me. Jeremy Whitley, author of Princeless & Order of Dagonet, was nominated for an Eisner for his work … alongside the same year as Mark Waid. Let that speak to you for a moment.

            Action Labs will also be putting out  Jamal Igle’s upcoming Molly Danger, Whitley’s new NFL Rush Zone comic and have been known for their family friendly books. Yet, they are expanding outside of the family friendly realm with their wave of books under their Danger Zone banner. Danger Zone are more mature. This is one of the first books that will be launched this May under the Danger Zone Banner. So, to all fans & retailers …. Read this review. Comment. And watch history in the making with this first review of Ehmm Theory.


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            We open our book with a man … and a talking cat that is adorable as they kick the head off of a zombie, midget clown. Yes. You read that correctly. A zombie … midget … clown. And that immediate makes way for how our main characters … the cat seemingly being one .. got in their particular predicament.
            Our main characters, Gabriel Ehmm and his cat, Mr. Whiskers, gets charged with a mission. Their mission is not apparent to till they get back to Earth and start dealing with zombie midget clowns. That and Gabriel being told that he has to find his father … his biological father. Which he gets a lead at the end of the issue.


ART:

            Larkin Ford’s art was surprisingly impressive with this opening issue. I say that cause the style of art leans between the cartoony with touches of realism but the first panel of the first page was definitely a selling point. It provided the right tone and sucked me in. The next few pages of Ford’s pencils and inks alongside Jason Strutz (artist of Order of Dagonet) sold me for the ride that this book is gonna take visually. For the love, no matter the scene with Mr. Whiskers, the cat is so cute that it will make women swoon just by looking at him.

            The inks were deeper and darker during the more violent scenes while lighter during the more mundane or …”heavenly” ones. Strutz colors enhanced the work more, making sure the violent scenes were touched with darker shades while brighter in other scenes. Even a panel in the issue where Gabriel and Mr. Whiskers talk to their “benefactor”, Strutz ends up coloring the panel somewhat similar to the bright & awesome work he does for Order of Dagonet. Ford and Strutz really put their best foot forward with kinetic, interesting positions, inks, pencils and colors. The gore was visually stunning but not overwhelming, which I find in a lot of other books. Kudos to this team.


WRITING:

            McKinney writes what seems to be a very simple story when you look at it but when you think about it, every answer leads to another question. And that is what will make this title a force to be reckoned with. Seriously . . . as you go through the events of this first issue, you begin to ask yourself questions. We know how Gabriel ends up in his current state but the actual that all started is not revealed, leaving one of many mysteries that the book holds. We know why Mr. Whiskers is there along with him and why he talks. Yet, the actual why him and Gabriel where picked for their mission is never revealed. And we see zombie midget clowns but no idea as to why they are coming out from the graves now.

            All these questions get set up in the first issue. The first issue reads great. A full issue which gives you the origin of our main characters and sets up the premise of the series …without giving it all to you all at once. McKinney does a spectacular job doing all this set up. Gabriel and Mr. Whiskers, as characters, feel authentic with their comments and reactions. Nothing sounds too comic booky or cheesy. It sounds real. It looks real and really goes a long way to help this book find its voice.

            And McKinney does a great job balancing and pacing the story he gives in this first issue. Nothing feels slow. Nothing feels too fast. Everything comes off well paced. There isn’t too much gore. There is no lack of character development. Really solid in execution. My only minor gripe would be that I have to wait for some of these answers.  LOL

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            I can honestly say that this book is solid. Good art. Not art that you may be used to if you are long in the super hero brand of reading but it is solid and looks beautiful. The characters are relatable and likable. The pacing is excellent. Everything feels right. And the book keeps you asking questions after every answer they give. It’s funny. It’s violent. It’s smart. And I implore any and all retailers that if you are worried this book won’t sell, trust me … it will. I tell everyone, when the book comes out in May … pick this up. You will NOT be disappointed.



RATING:

            I give Ehmm Theory # 1 a 9 out of 10. This was a GREAT read. And I look forward to more.