Bryant Dillon (330)
Favorite TV Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
What would the world be like if superpowers existed, you had them, but they came with a 6-month expiration date in the form of your death? This is the chief concept behind the Titan Comics hardcover graphic novel, Death Sentence, written by Monty Nero (2000AD, Amazing X-Men Annual) and featuring the art of Mike Dowling (2000AD). Walking a line between Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' high-concept Watchmen and Garth Ennis‘ provocative and raw The Boys, Death Sentence is another unique examination of how f@#$ed up we mortals are, how horrendously horrible it would be for us to posses super abilities, and, despite this, how enduring and inspiring humanity can be, especially in the face of evil.
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The release of WarZone Girls Volume 1, Issue 4: The Past Is Never Silent may be the last of the the WarZone Girls saga (for now), but Issue 4 shows the direction writer Thomas Nyman planned to take S-Squad with an issue focused on cybernetics, nano-technology, and S-Squad member Widow’s complicated and violent past.
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There are a lot of great indie books out there, but Dead Future King, written and illustrated by the talented David R. Flores, has been at the top of my “recommendation list” since its very first issue. While a “King Arthur vs. zombies” mash-up could easily become nothing more than a gimmicky, B-movie-type shlock-fest, Flores has crafted a nuanced and dignified tone for his tale that succeeds in elevating the story in similar ways to how The Walking Dead comic series is so much more then your typical zombie flick. Dead Future King #3 continues this trajectory, mining more of Arthurian legend and twisting it to fit in a crazy, violent world where the corpses of the deceased walk among us.
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If you haven’t been following my regular reviews of the first four issues of Image Comics’ The Mercenary Sea by writer Kel Symons and artist Mathew Reynolds, this makes the fifth month in a row that I’m raving about a comic series that doesn’t involve a vampire slayer in some way. I won’t bore my fellow comic book sniffers by reiterating how The Mercenary Sea is one of the most original and atmospheric books on the shelves, or how Reynolds' bold and unique visuals can go toe to toe with nearly any other sequential art currently out there . . . No, I’ll just quietly inform you that The Mercenary Sea #5 continues the trend established by the issues that proceeded it by upping the stakes, pumping up the action, and being one of the best damn books on my pull list every month!
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Real Conversations with Fake People is a fairly new podcast series and a labor of love for host Siike Donnelly. The podcast takes the form of a parody interview show, where Donnelly enlists actors and comedians to portray his favorite fictional characters, so that he may sit down with them for an “in-character,” heart-to-heart conversation (that also often involves a lot of overall “geeking out” between Donnelly and his “guests”).
As Donnelly explained to Fanboy Comics, he has a “Marvel-ous treat” in store for the listeners of the upcoming Real Conversations with Fake People season finale.
It’s no surprise at this point, but writer Zack Whedon and artist Georges Jeanty continue their “winning” run on Serenity: Leaves on the Wind with an amazing and action-packed fifth issue!
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“Did you like it?” He asked her.
“Am I supposed to?”
“I don’t know.” Mike said.
“Well, I did like it. I like it fine.”
This bit of dialogue comes from writer Ivan Infante’s new e-book, False Ransom: The First Mike Chance Novel, and takes place between the lead character, conman and bruiser Mike Chance, and the fugitive daughter of a local mob boss immediately after she has shot a man to death . . . an experience that is a first for her. While this smidge of Infante’s story may not seem like much on its own, it perfectly captures the dark tone, moral ambiguity and subtle sexiness of False Ransom, while also conveying the emotional turmoil readers will experience in this tight and suspenseful page turner. At first, it’s an acquired taste, perhaps a little more harsh and cynical than most are used to, but once you get accustomed to the flavor, trust me, you’ll like it. You’ll like it fine.
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Aliens vs. Predator. Terminator vs. RoboCop. Avengers vs. X-Men. The comic book world is full of face-offs, and the “vs.” title is an age-old staple of the genre. Well, another “vs.” book has emerged to stand amongst its peers in the industry, and perhaps even in front of some of them. (I’m looking at you, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice . . . at least these guys are grammatically correct.) The book I speak of is the indie title Man vs. Rock: Volume 1, and it is an off-the-wall battle for the ages with some laugh-out-loud moments that are sure to crack up the average geek.
Image Comics’ The Mercenary Sea has been receiving my praise since its very first issue. Writer Kel Symons and artist Mathew Reynolds have used their talent and skills to craft one of the most unique and original comic series on the shelf these days. Playing out like a pulse-pounding, action-packed war epic with Johnny Quest-inspired visuals, the tale of Captain Jack Harper and his refitted German U-Boat (despite the inclusion of female mechanic Samantha on the crew) has been very much a “boy’s club.” Well, that all goes out the porthole in The Mercenary Sea #4 with the introduction of a new female character, cut from the same cloth as Captain America’s Peggy Carter, in what is easily the best issue of the series yet!
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Los Angeles may not be a city known for its stage performances, just as the stage might not be known for its use of the science fiction genre. In true “where no one has gone before” fashion, Sci-Fest, the First Annual Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival, has initiated its warp drive and blasted through many preconceived barriers to discover a unique, surprising, thought-provoking, and undeniably entertaining evening of theater. Featuring humor, drama, and an array of mind-bending tales, Sci-Fest plays out like the live version of a late night Twilight Zone marathon or Weird Fantasy comic book binge and is must-see event for any Los Angeles-based fan of the science fiction genre or the stage!
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