3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . lift off! Womanthology: Space #1 is almost here, and it’s out of this world! For those that don’t know, Womanthology started with a tweet from Renae De Liz and ended up as a 300-page hardcover comic anthology (Heroic) and now an ongoing IDW series, created entirely by women. Womanthology: Space is the first, five-issue arc of the series, and it includes work from talented women ranging from pros in the industry to an inspired ten-year-old artist, and contains stories that are exciting, hilarious, and moving.
While the young adult genre has exploded in the last few years and broken boundaries regarding the intended readership, it’s still a rarity to find a young adult novel that appeals equally as well to teens and adults. Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games have all successfully made this “leap,” and now a new competitor has entered the field in the form of author Ned Vizzini’s (Be More Chill, It’s Kind of a Funny Story) The Other Normals.
I don’t understand why we don’t have more anthology comics out there. Comics grew up on anthologies. Some of the most prominent characters in comics appeared first in anthologies. I do like regular ongoings, too, don’t get me wrong, but a good anthology allows creators to try small, wild stuff and allows readers to try out a bunch of creators.
Dark Horse Presents #16 is a sterling example of what an anthology comic ought to be.
The eponymous character in Ghost has been around for a bit – nearly twenty years – and this issue marks the beginning of a new monthly series featuring the character. This zero issue collects a three-part story originally serialized in Dark Horse Presents #13-15 earlier in the year.
Hipsters, juggalettes, a Suicide Girl, and a drunk lesbian dressed as Dracula. Bucko has it all. I think that the best way to describe this book would be as a comedy-mystery-buddy-romance that is probably set in Portland, or at least a city that bears a strong resemblance. I actually forgot about the Pixies cover band whose lead singer performs on a single-gear bike. Yep, they are called the Fixies. There are several reasons why I loved this book, but the first sentence of this review is probably the biggest one.
And, here we are. The thrilling conclusion to "Vader's Trip to the Ghost Prison." I will be keeping this review spoiler free for you all, since giving away even the smallest detail kind of ruins it for you. So, what can I say about the conclusion then, you ask? As a long-time Star Wars fan and as someone who was hooked on this story arc from the first issue, I can honestly say that the conclusion was more than satisfying. In just 26 pages, all of the loose ends are tied up nicely. Of course, "nicely" in no way reflects the actual characters behavior in any way, but you know what I meant. I hope . . .
I'll admit that I am not a long-time Whovian. In fact, after putting it off for several years, it wasn't until six months ago that I finally found the time to sit down and see what all the fuss about Doctor Who was about. After only a few episodes into the series, my initial reaction was to hop in my own TARDIS and kick my past self in the butt for not watching it sooner.
Yes, it's THAT good, but, of course, if you're reading this, you're most likely already a Whovian yourself.
As a youngling, I remember walking into my local comic book store and stopping dead in my tracks when my eyes caught glimpse of Danger Girl Issue #1 resting so elegantly on the shelf. And, how could I not? Flipping though the pages, I was treated to incredibly gorgeous women in tight clothing who kicked a-- with a mentor who looked exactly like Sean Connery. And, if that's not enough, these beautiful women were drawn by a then unknown (to me at least) J. Scott Campbell. Looking back on it now, it's incredible how much of what I loved about the series was merely "fan service," but hey, I was 14 and that's all that mattered back then. 'Till this day, I still think J. Scott Campbell is my favorite artist when it comes to the ladies. I remember jumping ship on Danger Girl once a new artist took over, because to me they just weren't the same characters anymore.
I never thought that Mind the Gap, an amazing, new mystery book from Image Comics, could pull me into its intrigue even more, but Jim McCann has proven me wrong, and I’m so happy that he has. With every issue, he peels back another layer, and with every reveal, the whole story is turned on its head. You think you’ve figured it all out, but then there’s yet another twist. Each panel has new clues, and you never know what might happen when you turn to the next page.
I always have a good deal of fun with Super Dinosaur. Kirkman's all-ages series about a kid and his genetically-altered T-rex best friend and their struggles against various villainous forces is good for both its lighthearted action adventure and, for me, its nostalgia factor. As a child of the '80s and '90s, I grew up on cartoons that originated the tradition to which Super Dinosaur belongs – though the comic is a little less restrained by censors and stuff.
SPOILERS BELOW (for the first few issues)