Straight Forward Reviews : Quantum and Woody : Goat # 0

So Valiant has launched a spin off of Quantum and Woody that seems to be much more than it appears.  Much like it's protagonist.

Writer - James Asmus and Tom Fowler

Artist - Tom Fowler

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de León

Story

So much of this story are spoilers! But without spoilers the synopsis is that this issue delves into the origin of the Goat that Quantum and Woody met and took back with them near the start of that series run.

These origins that revealed are perhaps some of the funniest I've ever read. There were definitely times where I laughed out loud and awkwardly disturbed the people around me. But, it isn't just laughs you actually come to feel for the goat. Those feelings grow to a high point at the end of the issue.

Art

Tom Fowler comes back and his work still looks great as he goes back to drawing the Goat and the boys. Especially noteworthy is the way he conveys effects like fire and explosions.

Verdict

Goat is a winner. With a story that is more well thought out than the cover would have you believe and lots of hilarious moments there is no way this can't be recommended. There's drama, there's action and there's tons of comedy I give Goat # 0 a 9.5 out of 10.

Straight Forward Reviews: X-O Manowar issue 13

Planet Death continues in X-O Manowar. What happens when Aric interacts with other Vine and humans on the Vine home world?

Review by Jeremias de Leon


Story

Aric goes to the Vine home world and sees how his people have survived as slaves for the Vine and sees that not all Vine see him as a threat. We get some backstory about Aric and the Visigoths early on in the issue. Then it's mostly action from there on.

The writing in this issue really does Aric justice especially. It explores his motivations and history and fleshes him out. The dialog is written well too, the characters all have believable interactions for people out in space who are slaves and all of a sudden see a guy wreck their masters in a way that would've seemed impossible. Even though it's about a magical armor wearing alien killer, people act realistically or as realistically as you would imagine they'd would.

Art

The art in this issue is gritty looking with a slightly sketchy look but still pretty detailed. The action scenes in this issue are done really well, which is a definite plus in this issue since it is mostly action scenes. The use of color on the Manowar armor's sword and projectile is brilliant and the motion of Aric's body and the enemies reactions to his attacks is brutal. I applaud Cary Nord pencils and Moose Baumann's colors.

Verdict

The issue does a great build up in the first few pages then goes into EPIC fighting and leaves with a cliffhanger. You might be a little lost if you didn't read any previous issues but there's a recap at the beginning of each Manowar issue including this one and it does a good job with it's recap, so as long as you read the quick synopsis you'll be fine in this issue.

X-O Manowar has good storytelling and fantastic action if you love great action and you don't want it to be brainless this is the comic for you. I give this issue a 9.5 out of 10.