Steven W. Alloway (292)
The webcomic, Cyanide & Happiness, is definitely not for all tastes. The description for this book mentions themes of murder, cannibalism, and incest, and that honestly only scratches the surface. No topic is taboo, bad taste is celebrated, and if you have any triggers, this comic will eventually hit them, without remorse. That said, it’s also very, very funny.
A little over a year ago, I reviewed the first episode of a time travel webseries called Pike and Trident. A few months before that, I had the pleasure of interviewing the women behind the series, Kim Turney and Patty Jean Robinson. Well, now they’re back and hoping to bring us more time travel adventures with their second episode, “Josephine Gets Her Way.”
This issue of Future Proof is less about mind-bending causality and time-changing morality issues than the last few have been. Instead, it focuses more on our heroes’ mission, in and of itself, and the historical period to which they’ve been sent.
If I have one criticism of the Velvet comics, it’s that the issues are released too far apart. The last issue I reviewed was #10, back in April. Now, it’s November and we’re on Issue #12, and it’s difficult to remember exactly what was going on the last time I read this comic. Still, it’s a minor criticism all things considered, and it gives me an excuse to go back and read some of the previous issues again.
Last year, I reviewed a comic called The Mighty which explored the concept of Superman (or rather, a hero like him) as a god on Earth, and wondered what it would be like if that hero didn’t hold to the absolute morality that the Man of Tomorrow does. Irredeemable explores a similar concept, but on a much grander scale—and in a much darker way.
We’re nearly through the five-issue arc of this Sherlock Holmes comic, and the actual mystery to be solved was only just introduced last issue. Still, there’s been plenty to hold our interest throughout, and now that Holmes has a case, things are even more thrilling and fun.
The latest issue of Trista & Holt again plays with alternate points of view and unusual storytelling techniques. This time, most of the issue is narrated by Issy Holt’s old friend, Lou—who, if you’ll recall, was killed several issues ago. His ghost, along with the ghost of Moore Holt (shot and killed by Trista), wander the halls of a hospital and observe the action—though they’re not as up to date on the story as we are.
The adventure continues as we explore more of the life and backstory of rogue adventurer Abbey Chase. After a flashback to her teen years, we see her about to get caught up in a human trafficking ring, while apparently thinking that it’s some kind of beauty pageant. Of course, we know Abbey Chase better than that, and while she plays dumb very well, it’s clear she has something up her sleeve.
In a nutshell, Tales to Admonish is writer Andrez Bergen and artist Matt Kyme’s tribute to/sendup of the Silver Age of comics. Really, though, it’s much more than that. It’s an anthology of stories of all types, from sci-fi and fantasy to superhero adventures, to action thrillers, and, of course, a healthy dose of noir. What it is most of all, though, is a lot of fun.
The first issue of this comic left me blown away. Issue #2 doesn’t quite measure up to that bar, but it still has plenty of action and excitement to make it worthwhile.