Review: DEAD END KIDS #2 Peels Back The Layers On This Murder Mystery

By

-

Dead End Kids #2 is out August 21st from Source Point Press, and it’s a haunting reminder of the scars that connect us all and make us human.

As the mystery of Ben’s death begins to unravel, the characters all reflect on their past tragedies and hardships. The series is by writer Frank Gogol and artist Nenad Cviticanin, with letters by Sean Rinehart. The cover is by Criss Madd, and Paul Allor edits the comic.

This issue of Dead End Kids jumps around in time a bit. In the present day, Murphy, Amanda, and Tank investigate their local bully Bulmer’s involvement in Ben’s death. As they do so, the reader gets to take a peek into each character’s past. We get to see why Murphy is so resentful of his foster parents. We see Tank’s parents learn about his heart condition. Even Bulmer gets his turn.

Gogol and Cviticanin flesh out their cast through these flashbacks. The reader learns what makes the characters tick; we’re peeling back their layers. It makes them feel more real, and it builds sympathy, even for the characters that we may have labeled “villains” after the first issue.

Moreover, it connects all the characters, showing that they all have these scars. That seems to be the core message of Dead End Kids: that we all have these traumas that shape who we are. It’s what makes us human. It connects all of us in real life, just as it connects these characters, and it would do us well to remember that more often.

It’s a very personal, and very intimate issue. Yet the present day story – the murder investigation – balances this intimacy with plenty of excitement and intrigue. The murder mystery is the driving force of the plot, and by giving us more insight into these characters, Gogol makes us care more about the outcome.

Cviticanin’s art is a unique blend of cartoony and realistic, which also helps the audience build a connection to the characters. The cartoony aspect allows readers to see themselves in the characters. Then, when Cviticanin adds some additional detail, it helps deliver the intensity. This is an emotional comic, and words can only carry it so far. The art needs to evoke feeling, and Cviticanin’s work does just that. His colors are soft, which adds an almost dreamlike feeling to the atmosphere, playing opposite this otherwise realistic and intense world.

If you like murder mysteries, emotional dramas, or coming-of-age stories in the vein of Stand By Me, you owe it yourself to check out Dead End Kids. Issue one has already sold out; don’t miss out on this cult classic in the making!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: THE KITCHEN Needs A Little Remodeling, But It’s Still Watchable

By

Eric Trigg

-

The Kitchen has several good elements that aren’t put together in the best manner. Andrea Berloff, who co-wrote Straight Outta Compton, makes her directional debut here. Sadly, this late 1970’s crime thriller feels like it never goes anywhere.

Based on the DC Vertigo comic book miniseries, The Kitchen follows Claire, Kathy, and Ruby, the wives of New York mobsters, as they oversee the operations after their husbands are caught and sent to prison. Written and directed by Berloff, the film stars Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Common, Myk Watford, and Domhnall Gleeson. The Kitchen’s premise is similar to last year’s critically successful hit, Widows. Both films depict a group of women cleaning up the remains left by their significant others. However, while Widows knew what it wanted to do, The Kitchen struggles to find its footing and purpose.

Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, and Melissa McCarthy in THE KITCHEN

Berloff did not write a film about three women baking in the kitchen, much to the surprise of no one if you saw the trailers. In the past, Berloff has participated in several moderately successful projects and even received an Oscar nomination for her contributions to 2015’s Straight Outta Compton. Her latest outing is a gritty 1970’s gangster movie set in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. The Kitchen’s screenplay is tense, violent and humorous at times, but this combination doesn’t flow that well on-screen.

Scenes go from being really intense one second to awkward and hysterical, which doesn’t work because it happens so fast. The tone of the film is inconsistent, which is fine in most cases, but The Kitchen isn’t balancing it out properly. The script feels overstuffed at points, as the conflict changes more than it should and the film continues this pattern up until the last few minutes. It becomes difficult to care about anything these women get involved in because not enough time is spent on any of the conflicts.

Regardless of that, the performances from Moss, McCarthy, and Haddish are so well done. Each woman starts out dependent on their husbands because that’s all they knew, but they all find their own independence in the end. McCarthy stars as Kathy, a mother who has issues with self-confidence. Moss stars as Claire, a woman who has suffered enough abuse and decides to get even. Haddish stars as Ruby, a very quiet individual who finds her voice and becomes fearless. With a cast including Haddish and McCarthy, there was no way the performances would be anything less than admirable.

Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, and Elisabeth Moss in THE KITCHEN

Berloff shouldn’t call it quits as a director, but she should probably use this film to remind herself what not to do next time. As mentioned above, the tone of the film is horribly balanced. Berloff has the potential to do great work behind a camera, and there are a few instances of it here in The Kitchen. However, there are too many scenes and instances that feel out of place compared to what happened prior or mere seconds earlier. For instance, following a near-rape encounter, a laughable scene is then focused on for far too long, and it doesn’t gel well. The way it is shot makes it difficult to understand what direction the narrative is going to go in.

The Kitchen is constantly building towards something that never comes to fruition, and just when it seems like business is about to pick up….the credits appear. A well-acted gangster film that couldn’t seem to find its purpose is ultimately what it feels like, but thankfully, an ensemble trio of well-recognized actresses makes it all worth it. So, while The Kitchen isn’t a complete mess, it could use some cleaning here and there.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 Is A Fire Breathing Blast of Superhero Fun

By

Manuel Gomez

-

AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 From Marvel Comics brings creators Greg Pak, Jeff Parker, Nico Leon, Carlo Pagulayan, Federico Blee, Jason Paz and Dono Sanchez-Almara together to introduce the 616’s latest team of young heroes from across the pacific and answer the question as to where the original Agents of Atlas are.

The AGENTS OF ATLAS debut in their own series as AMADEUS CHO, SILK, SHANG-CHI, WAVE, JIMMY WOO and all your favorites defend the cross-Asian portal city of Pan against the science-magic threat of one of Marvel’s classic villains! Classic science-magic superhero fun combined with young and old heroes from multiple lands clashing with one another, fighting monsters and maybe saving the world along the way! And who is ISAAC IKEDA, the Protector of Pan?

PLUS: Where are the original AGENTS OF ATLAS? Namora, M-11, Gorilla Man and Marvel Boy in an all-new top-secret mission!

Agents of Atlas #1

‘The Portal City of Pan’ Part 1
Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Nico Leon
Colors by: Federico Blee
Letters by: Joe Sabino

‘Behind The Veil’
Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Carlo Pagulayan
Inks by: Jason Paz
Colors by: Dono Sanchez-Almara
Letters by: Joe Sabino

Writing

Split into two stories, Agents of Atlas is a fast and entertaining read. In the first segment (The Portal City of Pan) writer Greg Pak brings his talent for showcasing young characters to the forefront. From the very first page, the scribe is able to create true chemistry and dynamics between his cast of young characters. They are likable and relatable, especially as a team in the early stages of being a unit. Brawn and Silk are highlights as the defacto dual leaders of the group. There’s also some good banter and a nice sense of levity and humor that gives everything a fun and snappy feel. Pak is also developing a nice mystery here, introducing new character Issac Ikeda, the defender of Pan; plus Jimmy Woo and motherfucking dragons working behind the scenes. That’s right, dragons! War of The Realms brought fantasy to almost every corner of the MU, and it’s great to see a title embracing that and mixing it up with superhero action. The title is also tied to Sword Master, another new Marvel title from Pak that has a very similar feel and goals to Agents of Atlas. It all feels like a cool little corner of the MU that is new and refreshing.

The second segment (Behind The Veil) finds Agents of Atlas veteran Jeff Parker tackling the current whereabouts of the original Agents of Atlas. Veil is a shorter read but Parker easily finds himself comfortable with these tried and true characters. It also shows readers how bizarre and unique the Agents are as a group. It’s great to see these characters on the page again.

Art

In the ‘The Portal City of Pan’ Nico Leon and Federico Blee create a sleek and streamlined look that adds a lot of movement and energy to the narrative. The images pop and move, the delicate and think linework creating a light feeling that is propulsive and exciting. And man do they draw some awesome looking dragons together.

‘Behind The Veil’, illustrated by Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Dono Sanchez-Almara has a very similar feel but also feels weightier. That makes sense as these are older characters and that added weight to the art and colors emphasis this is a team with history.

Both stories feature great layout work, with clean and well-placed panels and borders. It’s just solid, great looking modern comic book storytelling.

Conclusion

Marvel seems to be spinning a bunch of fun titles out of War of The Realms, and Agent’s of Atlas might easily be the best one yet. It’s a nice little corner of the MU being showcased here and if you are looking for something different and fun, give Agents of Atlas #1 a try.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: RONIN ISLAND #5: A Test Of Loyalties

By

Corey Patterson

-

RONIN ISLAND #5, hitting comic book stores on August 7th, details the ramifications of issue #4’s huge reveal. In said issue, Hana uncovers the secret behind the Byonin’s creation and the Shogun’s role in the process. Now the young samurai must decide whether to continue fighting for the immoral overlord or risk certain death in the wilderness.

Story

Greg Pak frames the current events of this story around a series of flashbacks from Hana and Kenichi’s past. The reader sees each child’s perspective when Kenichi’s mother finds the two playing together, no doubt astonished by her choice to rip her son away from the girl. The scene reeks of both racism and class stratification that reflects the ugly attitudes often seen in our own world; it also gives Kenichi his first test of loyalty.

These flashbacks give readers context into Hana and Kenichi’s adversarial relationship. This adds to Hana’s contempt for the upper echelons of society, specifically the Shogun and his army. She eventually confronts General Sato and demands he explain why he continues to remain loyal to the man who mutated his own people into Byonin. At this the hardened warrior unearths a startling revelation: ” Loyalty’s got nothing to do with it. I just know what the alternative is.”

While Hana is fighting Byonin and debating the merits of staying with the Shogun, Kenichi races as fast as he can to Ronin Island. He’s taken it upon himself to warn them of the Shogun’s treachery and the Byonin menace. But a run in with bandits may put his life in mortal danger.

Art

Giannis Milonogiannis’ penciling, Irma Kniivila’s coloring, and Simon Bowland’s lettering fit perfectly with the narrative laid out by Pak. Milonogiannis’ drawings of Hana’s flashback scenes are beautifully simple, reflecting the innocence of her and Kenichi’s childhood. As the story progresses Kniivila adds in darker hues to signify how much more complex and dangerous their lives have become in this post-Byonin world. Bowland, not to be outdone, makes effective use of bold lettering to drive home the main themes of the story as they arise in character dialogue.

Comic Covers

Milonogiannis and MSASSYK’s main cover places the focus on Kenichi as he faces the terrors of the burned wilderness; Ethan Young’s preorder cover also features the young warrior but uses a monochromatic sketching reminiscent of historic East Asian art forms. Kris Anka’s unlocked retailer variant cover places the brave Hana in the midst of the Shogun’s warriors, giving her an expression of uncertainty as she contemplates why she’s fighting for the unjust ruler.

Conclusion

RONIN ISLAND #5 adds further complexities to Hana and Kenichi’s fight against the Byonin by revealing even more depths of the Shogun’s nefarious schemes. We’re anxious to see what becomes of Ronin Island once the Shogun/Byonin finally reach it.

What did you think of Hana and Kenichi’s flashback scenes? Let us know in the comments below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: Strange Planetary Divorce Case is the focus in DOOM PATROL WEIGHT OF THE WORLDS #2

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

-

The Doom Patrol’s bizarre adventure is both a blessing and a curse for readers.

The Doom Patrol has returned, and they have a new destination. After the events of the Milk Wars, the team has worked to find themselves. Negative Man adopted a puppy, Cliff Steele(Robotman) has gone back to see his mother, and Jane gets a crazy new idea. This idea involves the team piling into Casey’s ambulance and fly off into space to save planets. After quick convincing, almost the entire team heads off, except for Cliff. The former Robotman realizes he’s left too many bad memories and relationships to go on. Thinking his only good was as Robotman, he drives off a cliff. Will the team get their favorite robot back?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

We open our story with the return of Robotman after Casey finds his car crash. Keeg, Negative Man’s spirit, reveals to Cliff that he had been working on an upgraded version of his body. The body includes upgrades that will be unlocked for every act of kindness Cliff does. We also learn that after adopting Hank, Negative Man has been full of positive energy.

While that might be fine for most people, it does cause an issue for Keeg as he can no longer enter Trainor. That same positive energy eventually breaks free and gets lost inside Dannyland. Before they can find the positives, the Doom Patrol heads off to meet a pair of sentient planet headed people to assist in their space divorce.

If I didn’t stress the bizarre nature of this book before, it practically speaks for itself now. It’s a tough story to follow if you are not used to the Doom Patrol, but it is one that is intriguing. We have moments of fleshing out the characters that we don’t often get with comics. Cliff accepting his role as Robotman, Trainor explaining how his life had turned around thanks to Hank, and even the Planetary divorce is full of these more profound character moments.

That leads me to my biggest problem with the issue: three stories in one normal-sized issue. We had to jam Cliff’s rebirth, Trainor’s positivity change, and a space divorce case into your standard 20+ pages. This wouldn’t be as much of a problem if it weren’t for the fact one was glossed over, and a deus ex machina saved the other. The remaining storyline does show a lot of promise, but it is a tad irritating to watch to other potential stories get tossed aside.

Art:

James Harvey continues to impress with his illustrations for the Doom Patrol. While it doesn’t have the cartoonish nature of Nick Derrington’s style, this style is better used for the more dramatic character moments. The reveal of Cliff’s return as Robotman is heartbreaking, and you can tell it hurts for him thanks to the detail Harvey put in. Derrington had those moments too, but his style was more suited to the bizarre nature rather than dramatic moments.

Harvey’s best work comes in the form of his two-page spreads. The first is a map of the entirety of Dannyland, which gives nods to the previous series and details the whole of the park. It’s only to show how massive Danny is, but it’s nice to see the level of detail put in. The second two-page is the deus ex machina mentioned in the Story section. While I won’t go into great detail about what saves the day, it’s illustrated beautifully while still capturing the bizarre nature of the book.

Conclusion:

This issue is a good follow up to the first issue, but I hesitate to call it a great one. While the dramatic, humanizing moments for Cliff and Trainor are well done, there isn’t much of an overarching plot to get invested in.

While it’s still early in the series, it appears that it will be following the Doom Patrol on random adventures. That can work under the right circumstances, but the question is how long it can keep it up. The art is quite good, but I don’t think it will be enough to carry the series as a whole. I enjoyed myself, but we need to get an actual arc forming soon, or this return is going to fizzle out.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

How Science and Magic Combine In COGNITION VOL. 1

By

Cat Wyatt

-

COGNITION VOL. 1 brings magic and science together into one dark and thrilling volume. Fans of the dark and mysterious will love delving into the depths of this one.

Have you ever craved a series that combines the steampunk and the occult? Something that’s both new and dark and oh so compelling? What about comic fans out there that have a soft spot for Johann Kraus? Cognition will fulfill all of those needs, and then some.

Cognition is a dark steampunk fantasy, full of the occult, science, and some fascinating characters. Set in the Victorian era, this series explores the occult using a very unique lens. The tales inside are beautiful and more than a little bit eerie.

The series follows a set of British Occult Secret Service agents, but there are two characters in particular that are truly notable. One is a steam-powered automaton housing a human soul. And the other is a possessed mouse.

An unlikely bond highlighted on the cover of Cognition #0

Ken Reynolds weaves together a deeply disturbing and fascinating tale here. His characters orbit and inhabit the occult in ways rarely ever seen. Each Secret Service agent is truly unique and fascinating.

Cognition Vol. 1 contains issue zero through four of the series. These issues were a delight to read and did an excellent job of introducing us to the characters and to the world itself.

There are many familiar elements taken and placed into this series – yet they’re warped into something new. The end result was something both familiar and twisted, leaving us feeling somewhat disturbed. It was elegantly done.

The British Occult Secret Service is here to help.

As for the art in Cognition Vol. 1…it was sublime. The choice to go with pure black and white was daring and brilliant. And we do mean black and white. Not sepia. Not grayscale. Black and white and nothing else. Whether or not this was intentional, the color palette left us feeling like a commentary on good versus evil, black and white.

Sam Bentley is the man behind that decision and several others. He brought Reynolds’ work to life in this series. And you can see his passion in every detail. The artwork was bold in a way that only solid shapes and colors can provide. It added an unexpected weight to the tales. It was very effective.

Cognition Vol. 1 was a dark and fascinating read. And with the variety of tales that were told, it’s guaranteed that there’s a plot that will touch and linger with each of its readers. It’ll be interesting to see how far Cognition pushes the boundaries of its plot.

Cognition is every bit as dark and foreboding as this cover indicates.

Cognition Vol. 1 is currently running a Kickstarted project for a few days yet. Here there hoping to bundle the first five issues of the series – the very ones discussed above. If you’re curious to see more of this world, be sure to check it out!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

How CHAMPIONS #8 Gains and Loses a Hero

By

Cat Wyatt

-

CHAMPIONS #8 is out this week from Marvel Comics, and the issue is a poignant reminder for how our young heroes’ team is constantly changing and evolving. And that there’s always a new danger on the horizon they must face.

Kid Nova takes the forefront for this cover in Champions #8

***SPOILER WARNING***

For those that haven’t been following along until now, the Champions has faced a lot of changes as of late. They’ve gained a lot of team members, but they’ve lost some as well. One can only hope that those that have stepped down (Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man) will eventually come back around to the team.

Along with the gains and the losses, characters and their powers have been fluctuating. Some characters have lost their powers, while others have managed to change their state or status. In short, it’s a whole lot to keep up with.

This issue was a poignant reminder that the changes to the team are not over. Once again we’re seeing a shift in powers…as well as a new wrench into the mix. Naturally, everyone is going to assume that there’s something larger going on here – but that just means that there’s another mess for the Champions to resolve. Sooner rather than later, ideally.

You can see the current active characters if you look to the left.

Jim Zub did an excellent job of weaving several plots together in this issue. Sam’s plot seems to be resolved (but we’ve thought that before, so only time will tell). Meanwhile, Miles and Kamala’s plots are still up in the air. And now there’s something new to deal with – whatever is going on with Riri.

All of that would have been more than enough to deal with. Yet Zub threw in a few repeating antagonists as well. They weren’t really all that important to the plot. Mostly they were there as a lightning rod for hate. Which works for us.

Now we’re just left wondering how the team will resolve this – and if the missing teammates will come back to help. We don’t yet know how long this plot will run for, but it’s sure to through the young heroes through a loop or two.

Irontheart and a crash ship…this doesn’t look great, does it?

The artwork for Champions #8 was vibrant and full of life. Despite the relatively large cast, it’s never difficult to tell who is who. Credit should be given to the artists for that one. Steven Cummings provided the line art, while Marcio Menyz did the coloring. Meanwhile, VC’s Clayton Cowles did the lettering for this issue.

There were a lot of different powers that had to be portrayed in this issue, and our artistic team did an excellent job of it. The fight scenes were a sight to behold. There were some odd moments in the fighting – mostly revolving around a certain characters’ punches (was that a power, or was it speed being portrayed?). But otherwise, everything looked great.

Champions #8 was a fun issue that resolved and set up plots all in one. It’s always risky when an issue tries to handle both, but when done right it does pay off. And this is one of those times. There wasn’t a dull moment to be had, and fans are left looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: IMMORTAL HULK #22 – The Quentin Tarantino Moment In The Series

By

Cody Walker

-

Drawing inspiration from Macbeth, Immortal Hulk #22 out this week from Marvel Comics, is a character-heavy entry that does a great deal to bring all the narratives together for what is sure to be an epic throw down.

This is the part of the Tarantino film where the characters are all sitting around, “shootin’ the shit”, planning their next moves. The dialogue-heavy, character building in this issue supplies growing suspense throughout the issue. Who has the drop on who? Which big thinker has the upper hand? Questions are raised. Questions are answered.

Al Ewing and Joe Bennett keep the horror brewing in another beautiful installment in what I still believe to be Marvel’s best on-going series, and honestly, I don’t consider it to be a close contest either. Just like Martian Manhunter, this series is a body horror lover’s delight. The transformations are amazing, the character designs are haunting, everything a good horror story needs, but this one has an advantage above the rest, the Immortal Hulk (hilariously referred to as the Big Daddy Devil and Devil Daddy in this issue).

Bennett’s art in this series is nothing short of incredible, he frequently posts his pencil drawings on social media and they’re always inspiring, but seeing the transformation his art goes through before the final product is mesmerizing. Ruy Jose and Belardino Brabo take care of the inks and Paul Mounts is handling the colors for the Immortal Devil Daddy.

It’s very impressive to me that two people have to tackle the inking duties, it could’ve been something as simple as a time constraint, but it shows how much work it is to ink Bennett’s pencils. Mounts is fantastic in this title time and time again, that gamma glow he has perfected makes those panels pop right off the page.

Taking what looks like a chaotic pencil drawing, focusing the attention where it needs to be, and bringing pencils to life in full color is quite the talent and it is on full display here. The colors here make dialogue-heavy panels easy on the eyes. There’s plenty to admire while giving your eyes a break from the text every so often.

Cory Petit is another veteran that just fits in extremely well on Immortal Hulk. His onomatopoeia always tend to have a rumble and rattle to them. The BOOM appears like it really is booming across the page. Creating dialogue-heavy stories that seem like an actual conversation is a skill many people overlook and something Ewing effortlessly accomplishes here.

WARNING: SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

Our favorite general has a surprise in store, but it appears it may come at a cost. Rick Jones has been freed from the Abomination, but General Fortean has taken up the mantle, handy face and all. This Abomination is my favorite character design of the year. I can’t think of anything more terrifying than a monster that can grab you with its head and spit acid.

Three serious discussions drive the story here with Alpha Flight, Shadow Base, and the crew of Bruce, Betty, Rick Jones, and Joe Fix-it. They really should have a cool name like Gamma Gang. Alpha Flight wants to escalate the situation right back in the General’s face, Fortean wants to weaponize everything, while the Gamma Gang is just trying to hold themselves together.

With the 22nd issue of Immortal Hulk, Ewing and Bennett set the stage for one hell of a Royal Rumble in the next chapter, and hopefully the end to a great knock-knock joke. I really don’t enjoy being left hanging on a knock-knock joke from the Big Bad Devil Daddy. Which, by the way, should definitely be a Marvel Black miniseries, maybe we can get the first appearance of the Bruce Banger.

Is Immortal Hulk still going strong? What did you think of this issue? Let us know in the comments.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: THE GREEN LANTERN #10 Assembles A Multiversal Green Lantern Army

By

Corey Patterson

-

It’s August 7th and THE GREEN LANTERN #10 is now available at your local comic book shop—it’s one you won’t want to miss. Hal Jordan, after having gone toe-to-toe (briefly) with the Anti-Man, finds himself in the company of an array of Green Lanterns from other universes. They too have been alerted to the threat of the menace and the danger it poses to the multiverse.

Story

Grant Morrison takes the grand task of multiversal storytelling upon himself in this issue, detailing the amassing of Green Lanterns with widely differing personalities and power sets. Case in point: The opening scene featuring Hank Hallmark of Earth-36, the Green Lantern who serves the Custodians of the Cosmos (a nice place on the Guardians of the Universe). Though his power derives from a green flashlight instead of a Lantern ring, Hank’s personality is quite similar to Hal’s, which makes him most relatable of the green-clad heroes to be introduced in this issue.

After becoming acclimated with Hank, readers get to see some fan favorite Green Lanterns, including Bat-Lantern and Tangent. The former’s brooding nature and the latter’s aloofness bring these characters to life. But the one thing each member does have in common is the Anti-Man threat, whose presence signals the impending doom of the entire multiverse. It’s going to take all of their cooperation to defeat the beast who represents everything that is antithetical to the Green Lantern life-honoring ideals.

This issue amasses excitement, intrigue, and anticipation for the coming battle. We can’t wait to see where Morrison takes us in the coming issue!

Art

Liam Sharp’s penciling, Steve Oliff’s coloring, and Tom Orzechowski’s lettering mesh together beautifully to create a thrilling space fantasy tale. Oliff’s bright colors and Sharp’s detailing of each character’s physiology showcase the incredible diversity among the multiversal army of Green Lanterns. And Orzechowski’s variation in lettering boxes and fonts push this diversification even farther.

Comic Covers

Sharp’s main cover offers brilliant illustrations of the multiversal Green Lantern team in battle poses, preparing readers for the coming conflict with the Anti-Man. Kaare Andrews’ variant cover depicts Hal alone in a more realistic style to highlight him as the de facto leader of the team.

Conclusion

THE GREEN LANTERN #10 is the beginning of the end of the Anti-Man saga. We see the Green Lanterns preparing for battle and devising a strategy for saving the decaying multiverse.

Who was your favorite iteration of Green Lantern from the various universes? Let us know in the comments below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

How GIANT DAYS #53 Prepares for the Series Finale

By

Cat Wyatt

-

GIANT DAYS #53 from Boom! Studios hits your local comic book store on August 7, and the issue brings us ever closer to that sad moment; the finale of the series. But at least it’s wrapping up all the important plots.

Giant Days #53 has arguably one of the best covers yet.

***SPOILER WARNING***

In case you haven’t heard the news, Giant Days #55 will be the last issue of the series. John Allison made that announcement a few months ago. But it’s only starting to truly sink in now, as we’re nearing the final moments.

Up until Giant #53, it was pretty easy to stick our heads in the sand and pretend the series would just continue forever – following Esther, Suzie, and Daisy until they were old and gray. Unfortunately, this issue really brought the truth home.

On the bright side, they’re wrapping up the series in the right way. And since there’s nothing worse than a series that just drops off (or ends horribly), we’re willing to settle for this.

Daisy doing what she does best…stress and worry.

John Allison did an excellent job of balancing two competing elements in this issue. On the one hand, he’s got to lead the series towards its inevitable conclusion (the graduation of Esther and Daisy). On the other hand, he’s got to keep the tone and theme the same. That means new elements have to be brought in, while other plots are tied up in a nice little bow.

But you know what? It actually worked out really well here. The issue focused predominantly on Daisy (recall, most issues will have a slight bend towards one of the three main characters). Out of the three, Daisy is the most ambitious, but also the least settled when it comes to her future. So some extra time spent on her was appreciated.

Of course, this is Giant Days we’re talking about. So nothing went perfectly for Daisy. And let’s be honest…Daisy is pretty talented at getting herself all wound up over things the average person would ignore. That’s what gives her so much of her charm.

Taking Daisy’s anxiety and distracting her from the impending graduation was a brilliant move on Allison’s part. It felt organic to the series – because Daisy is at her best when stressing out about fixing or stopping things. But it also didn’t deny or hide from the fact that her graduation was still happening.

Max Sarin is responsible for the line art in this issue, as well as the amazing cover. Seriously, this cover is exactly what the fans needed to see right now. It may not have fit the main plot if this issue perfectly, though it did fit the running theme of the series as a whole.

Sarin was able to capture our three leads in all of their glory – and throw a few unexpected twists our way. It was oddly refreshing to see the new looks revealed in this issue, even if they were only temporary (presumably).

Whitney Cogar’s colors complemented Sarin’s artwork, as well as the tone of the series. She used bright and bold colors as needed, a fact she balanced out with muted colors as needed. In short, it was the iconic color palette of Giant Days.

It’s not every day that the letterer gets to shine, but Jim Campbell had a few moments here to truly blend the words with the artwork provided. And he did not waste them. This did help with the impact of those moments, naturally.

Fans will be sad to see the series go. But if Giant Days #53 is any indication for the following two issues, it seems safe to assume that they’re going to do justice to the series. But until that moment actually arrives, let’s just enjoy what we have left.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube