Exclusive AfterShock Preview: DARK RED #3 By Tim Seeley & Corin Powell

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May 2, 2019

Dark Red #2 hits your local comic shop on April 24th, but thanks to AfterShock Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive four-page preview for you.

The 32-page book is written by Tim Seeley, with art by Corin Powell, colors by Mark Englert, and letters by Marshall Dillon. Aaron Campbell worked on the cover. Can we take a moment to talk about Campbell’s work on the covers? Each of the past three issues has been an iconic horror masterpiece that will keep me up at night. They are all different, yet bold and in your face. Campbell is the vampire Santa Claus delivering a new treat each month.

About the issue:
A surprise, shocking dive into Chip’s past. During WW2, a small group of soldiers, pursued by Nazis, wanders into a dilapidated French hotel, and one man’s life is changed forever.

Check out the Dark Red #3 preview below:

Are you reading Dark Red? Comment below with your thoughts on the series!

Seeley does a great job at setting the tone of Dark Red right from the get-go. He takes us down the dark highway and into Nowhere, USA, with stereotypical characters that normally wouldn’t make it past the first few pages of a story. In the middle of it all is vampire protagonist Chip Ipswich, who doesn’t rip open the throat of a local drunk when confronted. Rather, he uses his power of persuasion to remain unassuming, to continue his humdrum existence in rural America. – via Michael Fromm’s review of Dark Red #1

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Marvel Comics Exclusive Preview: It’s ABSOLUTE CARNAGE In The SPIDER-MAN Free Comic Book Day Special!

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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May 2, 2019

The Spider-Man Free Comic Book Day Special is out this Saturday, May 4th, but thanks to Marvel Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive four-page preview for you. The issue will give readers their first look at Marvel’s upcoming big summer event, Absolute Carnage.

FCBD Spider-Man will feature a Peter Parker/Miles Morales story by Tom Taylor, Saladin Ahmed, and Cory Smith, while Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman will handle the prelude to Absolute Carnage.

About the issue:

Everyone knows Miles Morales, who rose to fame in Marvel’s acclaimed animated sensation Into The Spider-Verse – and with a second feature film arriving this year, Peter Parker will once again suit up to save the world with his web-slinging super powers! In a special FCBD story, creators Tom Taylor, Saladin Ahmed, and Cory Smith take these superstar heroes of the Spider-Verse in a shocking new direction, with a story that will build to one of Marvel’s most fantastic and epic tales later this year!

And prepare for absolute terror within the pages of FCBD, as an original Venom story by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman sets the stage for what will become one of the most fearsome events in the Marvel Universe…

Nearly a year after the epic red-hot arc of the Red Goblin, Venom’s dynamic creative team is bringing you a story that’s been brewing since classic Spider-Man tales like Amazing Spider-Man #252, The Spectacular Spider-Man #90, Marvel Team-Up #141 – a saga so big and so absolutely action-packed, it will deliver the most dramatic story in all of FCBD history! Fans will be well aware by the summer of 2019 that “everyone is a target”…and the 1st Saturday in May, Marvel invites you to experience the threat for yourself!

Cates and Stegman have been building up to this event since they launched their critically-acclaimed Venom run last year. The event was officially revealed at C2E2 back in March; you can watch the announcement below.

As Cates says, Absolute Carnage is about to “blow the entire Marvel U apart.” No character who has ever worn a symbiote is safe, and in 2019, that’s just about every character. It all starts this Saturday in the pages of Spider-Man on Free Comic Book Day.

Tom Taylor and Saladin Ahmed, meanwhile, have been writing the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Miles Morales: Spider-Man, respectively, both of which have been consistently stellar and fun to read. So having the two writers come together for a Peter/Miles team-up story is reason enough to pick up the comic, symbiote madness aside.

Check out the full FCBD SPIDER-MAN preview here:

Have you been reading Venom? How excited are you for Absolute Carnage? Let us know in the comments!

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Review: STRANGER THINGS: SIX #1 – The Universe Expands

By

Matthew Sardo

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STRANGER THINGS: SIX #1 hits your local comic book store on May 29, but Monkeys Fighting Robots received an early review copy, thanks to Dark Horse Comics.

The book is written by Jody Houser, with art by Edgar Salazar, inks by Keith Champagne, colors by Triona Farrell, and letter work by Nate Piekos. Several cover artists worked on the first issue as well: Aleksi Briclot, David Mack, Kyle Lambert, and Patrick Satterfield crafted the photo variant.

The four-issue mini-series is a prequel to Netflix’s Stranger Things and centers around a teenage girl with precognitive abilities. Francine has struggled through a lifetime of exploitation only to end up the pawn of a government agency (led by Dr. Brenner) that wants to harness her powers for its own ends.

Houser writes a brisk first issue that gives you an overview of the main character and hints towards the future of the story arc. Houser connects you with Francine with little words, and once you are holding hands with the main character, she makes you feel vulnerable and scared as well. By the end of the issue, you and Francine see the world through one lens. Houser’s ability to envelope the reader in the story so quickly is unique.

Salazar’s art takes emotional hard cuts from panel to panel. Without even reading the dialogue, you know precisely what Francine is feeling. The emotional ride that Salazar takes you on is gut-wrenching as you see Francine’s innocence ripped away from her with each page turn. When you add in Champagne’s light ink work, there is a fragileness to the world Francine inhabits. Farrell’s colors are also muted and subdued. There’s a depression to the color arrangement that feeds off the story and artwork. Piekos’ sound effects stand out just enough to carry weight but not distract. The creative team understands character-driven narrative, and everyone is doing his or part to tell a fantastic introductory issue.

If you are a Stranger Things nerd, this is a must-read. If you want to be a comic book artist or writer, this is a how-to guide for storytelling. STRANGER THINGS: SIX #1 is all the best parts of what make comic books great.

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Review: The Villains unite in DCs YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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The Year of the Villain looms over the DC Universe.

If DC had to show off their best characters, more often than not it would be its villains. Characters like Lex Luthor and Joker have made a name for themselves, not just in comics, but in pop culture as a whole. The villains of DC comics always leave a lasting impression which is why the events in this coming year will focus on them. Along with the Leviathan rising arc in Action Comics, Scott Snyder’s Justice League has been setting up a cosmic level threat with the Legion of Doom. What could be coming in the Year of the Villain?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

Amanda Waller rushes to see the President to warm him about Lex Luthor but is shocked to find him missing. Instead, his desk is occupied by the bald billionaire villain himself and the rest of the Legion of Doom. They attack her then fall back. This turns out to be a master plan of Lex’s as he plans to invite all the villains of the world under one banner. This is all for a much larger plan made by Perpetua, mother of the Multiverse, who seeks a war between Justice and Doom. Meanwhile, in Seattle, Green Arrow and Batgirl begin to search for clues about the terrorist group Leviathan.

This story promises a big year for DC. With such an iconic villain roster, it makes sense for DC to unite them with the Legion fully returning. The thing that makes it better, however, is the promised war between the League and The Legion. Perpetua knows this war will shift the multiverse into chaos as intended. Just the tease about the number of characters entering this war brings a smile to this reviewer’s face. Mix in the fantastic characters of Lex and Brainiac essentially spearheading most of the issue and we have a great intro to the Year of the Villain.

Art:

With issues like this, the artwork needs to go above and beyond. Thankfully the team does just that. Each page is breathtaking with every villain looking more intimidating than the last. The best pages, however, are the twin rosters of the coming battle. Lex’s Legion scream villain while the Justice League gives a warm reminder of the famous cartoon in the early 2000s. If the teams for this comic do their magic for the events to come, it’ll be one great looking year.

Conclusion:

It’s a great time to be a villain, and this comic is proof of it. For an almost free tease for the upcoming events, it feels like we’re stealing from DC. The quality of this comic is terrific in both art and story. This issue screams hype for the coming year, and I can’t wait to read these events.

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Review: FALLEN WORLD #1 Is Valiant’s GAME OF THRONES

By

Matthew Sardo

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Valiant Entertainment’s FALLEN WORLD #1 hits your local comic book store today; the five-issue mini-series is written by Dan Abnett with art by Adam Pollina.

FALLEN WORLD is a pleasant surprise, as Abnett builds a world on par with Game of Thrones, and Pollina’s artwork pulls out every ounce of emotion from the 22-page book. Ulises Arreola’s colors add depth and texture to each panel, and the blood red seems grittier than usual. Jeff Powell’s letters keep Abnett’s grand narrative organized and easy to follow. FALLEN WORLD #1 is a complete book that deserves your attention.

About the series:
In the year 4002, a cyborg samurai named Rai struggles to find his morality, while the Nanite-filled supersoldier Bloodshot is on a mission to save the citizens of Earth. Will they work together for the greater good? All signs point to no. Oh, and did we mention there are also dinosaurs on the loose and powerful animal-human hybrid mutants? Good luck with that, Rai.

If this is your first time reading a Valiant book or this is your favorite publisher, Abnett quickly introduces all the main characters. Rai, Bloodshot, and The Eternal Warrior are explained as the story unfolds and you don’t feel like any information is left out. The pacing of the issue and how characters are handled is what makes FALLEN WORLD feel like an episode of Game of Thrones. Abnett’s pace is rapid, introducing different elements of the story, ending on a high note, and then moving on to the next story element. Abnett told us earlier in the week he uses a ridged outline for storytelling and you can tell. Each sub-chapter of the issue is very focused and progresses the story to the cliffhanger at the final two pages of the book.

The combination of Pollina’s art and Arreola’s colors are disturbingly perfect. The close-ups of Bloodshot and the veins popping out of his neck are elements that build terror in the issue. Then to jump to the bright colors of Rai and his world gives the book balance. All the colors and texture build up to the final two pages where the art of storytelling in comics explodes off the page. As the cinematic lens of Pollina’s work pans back and forth to each character, the detail and camera angle used in each panel is brilliant.

At the end of the issue, you want to continue to read the story. FALLEN WORLD #1 lands on a perfect note to hook you as the reader. Run to your comic book store and pick up this issue today.

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Review: Bruce Runs the Gauntlet in BATMAN #70

By

David DeCorte

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Team-ups involving numerous members of the Batman rogue’s gallery often produce interesting results. While we’ve known Bane to be in charge of Arkham Asylum for quite some time now, Batman #70 demonstrates the true level of control he has within the facility.

The issue sees Bruce finally break free of the nightmare-invoking machine. Once he achieves that, he must fight his way through an endurance round of villains to escape the Asylum.

The Writing

King begins Batman #70 with the opening lines of Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. He invokes Batman’s wrath, which the Caped Crusader promptly serves up for the inmates of Arkham.

Throughout the first half, Bruce runs the gauntlet of villains, tearing into Bane for his weak plan to break him. “Is this your marvelous plan, Bane?” Bruce taunts. “After all these years of me humiliating you? Of me exposing you as a soft, feeble-minded lamb? Of me, time and again, breaking you? You answer…with bad dreams!” Of course, the reader is aware there is much more to Bane’s plan still waiting to be revealed, serving to keep up the tension even after the final page of Batman #70.

While Batman does have rage driving him forward, it can feel a little dismissive at times to see him cut through these characters so easily. Foes like The Riddler, Man-Bat, and Hush might not be able to stop Batman on their own, but still he crushes them like minor annoyances, rather than dangerous criminals. It can be rationalized given Bruce’s anger, though, so it’s a minor complaint.

Batman #70 advances the story well, setting us up for a much bigger showdown to come. It’s a game of cat-and-mouse between Bruce and Bane, in which both believe the other is the mouse.

The Artwork

Mikel Janin nails it in Batman #70. The artist provides us with a moody, stylish, and dynamic vision, while also remaining incredibly cohesive.

Without offering spoilers, there’s a sequence halfway through the book where the artwork shines, in which Batman meets Scarecrow. Janin perfectly ratchets up the tension in the sequence, leading to a fantastic payoff. It’s a great demonstration of the power of visual storytelling when executed well.

Of course, the stunning visuals in Batman #70 owe a debt to colorist Jordie Bellaire as well. She bathes certain scenes in unearthly monochromes, while others while others feel grimly realistic. There’s a lot of contrast in styles, but it all pulls together for an excellent final product.

Final Thoughts

Batman #70 is a great chapter in King’s ongoing run. While there’s no big showdown, it does promise that the long-running storyline is on-track and building momentum.

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Review: SAVAGE AVENGERS #1 Is A Blast of Blades And Blood

By

Manuel Gomez

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Savage Avengers #1, by Gerry Duggan, Mike Deodato Jr. and Travis Lanham is a bloody, pulpy, and fun comic that takes a very wild idea (Conan in the modern 616!) and makes it work.

The most savage, most unkillable team of characters in the Marvel Universe is assembled! Wolverine! Venom! Elektra! Punisher! And in their midst – Conan the Barbarian! Conan has returned to the Marvel Universe and his new adventures begin here. What is the City of Sickles? Who is the Marrow God? How is the Hand involved? The roughest and most dangerous characters rumble starting with…Conan vs. Wolverine? ‘Nuff said.Savage Avengers #1
Written by: Gerry Duggan
Art by: Mike Deodato Jr.
Letters by: Travis Lanham

Writing

Conan in the Savage land is the kind of idea that can breed many types of stories. You can go with humor, you can punch in action, you can embrace the weird, etc. Gerry Duggan runs with all of that, which is what makes Savage Avengers #1 such a fun read. The plot builds a good mystery, the intrigue helping the narrative. The action is also fast, bloody, brutal and fun. The high light here is, of course, Conan vs. Wolverine. In Duggan’s hands, that fight is just fucking fantastic. It’s everything you want and more. It has fucking Ninjas.

Duggan also knows how to pace the story well, breaking up the action with short but great character moments and killer dialogue. And he continues to write some of the best Logan quips in the character’s history. Oh and here’s a mild SPOILER...Frank fucking Castle shows up at the end. Awesome.

Art

Taking all art duties except for the lettering, Mike Deodato Jr. creates some dynamic images and pages. His Conan does call back the classic Barry Windsor-Smith era barbarian, but it’s no clone or copy. He also creates fantastic fight choreogroahy, movement and action breakdowns with both panel placement and speed and blur lines. The coloring invokes the heavy and lush feel of a place like the Savage Land, creating a great atmosphere. Deadato Jr. is already a classic artist, but this is some of his best work yet.

Conclusion

Savage Avengers #1 is one of this week’s best books. It’s a fast, fun and bloody start to a series that looks like it will be a hell of a good time. Pick this book up and join in on the mayhem!

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Review: Can Hal Escape From The Ring In THE GREEN LANTERN #7?

By

Corey Patterson

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Most readers can agree Hal Jordan deserves a break after neutralizing Controller Mu’s U-Bomb last issue. Unfortunately, this notion proves too good to be true when he finds himself trapped inside his ring, navigating the mysterious land of Emerald Sands. Readers also meet Pengowirr, a woman fighting for her life against Myrwhydden, a maniacal wizard trapped within the ring. The fates of all three collide in Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp’s epic tale in THE GREEN LANTERN #7.

Story

Morrison’s storytelling is some of the most poetic we’ve seen in the series. The narration’s description of the ring’s inner world reads like one of the Grimm Fairy Tales: both enchanting and unnerving. One may in fact forget they’re reading a sci-fi comic as they read Morrison’s fantastical depictions of Myrwhydden and his god-like Ministers.

The reader follows Pengowirr as she evades the wizard’s creations. Her desperation is made clear as the narration details despair, even going so far as to wonder why she’s even bothering to fight such a bleak predicament.

Just when all hope seems lost, Pengowirr finds the lost Hal. She senses a stark difference between him and the morbid creatures of Emerald Sands. With him comes a sense of light and life that can speak truth to the power Myrwhydden wields.

These character’s interaction reveals a bond deeper than anyone could imagine. Readers will enjoy uncovering the secret of their relationship in the midst of the ring’s chaotic world.

Art

Sharp’s visual representation of Emerald Sands is a masterpiece. The dark greens paired with the peculiar Ministers, grasses, and waters allows this environment to mimic the unsettling feelings within Pengowirr.

One of the key elements that makes this issue shine is Tom Orzechowski’s lettering. Placing the narration dialogue directly on the illustrations, without bubbles, gives tremendous weight to their message. It’s as if the reader is experiencing the voice of a higher power that guides the characters through a world of its own making.

Sharp and Steve Oliff’s main cover issue captures the essence of Emerald Sands. The shape of their rocky world is reminiscent of a lantern, giving readers a clue as to its connection with Hal’s ring. Emanuela Lupacchino and Rex Lokus’ variant cover places emphasis on the Green Lantern Corps. to remind readers what Hal and his ring long for.

Conclusion

THE GREEN LANTERN #7 serves as a satisfying epilogue to the Controller Mu/Blackstar storyline. Witnessing Hal explore the inner world of his ring shows the bond they’ve forged through years of battle.

What did you think of the ring’s inner world? Let us know in the comments below!

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Review: Explore The Fantastical World Of Altara In GOGOR #1

By

Corey Patterson

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Few storytellers can take standard narrative themes and craft a tale that generates intrigue. Fortunately Ken Garing, the creator behind GOGOR #1, lies among these ranks. Upon opening the issue readers are thrust into a chase scene featuring the young student Armano as he makes his getaway on his enormous shrew, Mesmer. But why is he being chased, and where will he find himself?

Story

As Armano makes his escape through the ever-changing landscapes, readers are introduced to the magnificent world of Altara. The lush, green landscapes are overshadowed only by the floating islands they rest upon. We get an up-close glimpse of this epic scenery when Armano and Mesmer are forced to jump across an incredible chasm.

In a death-defying feat, Armando clears the expanse and finally finds a place to rest. But later a mysterious hooded figure appears, and the journey really begins.

Garing weaves together a narrative of mythic proportions. We join Armando as he explores the wide world of Altara in search of Greenpeak, the location his mentor charged him with finding. Rumor has it the mythical being known as Gogor may lie underneath its earth, so it’s no surprise Armando’s pursuers would be interested in his quest.

Armando is a strong character readers of all ages will find inspiring. He’s the quintessential average kid who somehow musters up the courage to evade pursuers, leap across vast expanses, and, most importantly, befriend a stranger. Readers will enjoy the young hero’s adventures as he unearths the mystery of Gogor.

Art

The artwork in GOGOR #1 proves Garing’s illustrations tell stories just as well as his written word. His penciling is simple and clear, helping the reader smoothly descend into the narrative. The bright colors bring fullness to these illustrations as life erupts from each corner of Altara. One can see these larger than life features in the insects, Mesmer, and the plant life.

Garing’s lettering is to be commended as well. The slanted fonts capture the essence of Altara: a world much like our’s, but exaggerated and transformed.

Conclusion

The creative mind that brought us the PLANETOID series has once again crafted an engaging story. Through straightforward storytelling, Garing introduces numerous thematic elements that will undoubtedly take the story in exciting directions.

What did you like most about GOGOR #1’s story? Let us know in the comments below!

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WAR OF THE REALMS #3 Moves Away From Manhattan

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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The WAR OF THE REALMS train keeps on rollin’ forward at a furious and brutal pace. Issue #3 takes us away front the front line and across the universe.

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

Much of the first two issues of War Of The Realms were about the invasion, the front line being Manhattan, but in issue three we hop around a lot. We see familiar faces and places as we jump from realm to realm, surveying the chaos.

Our heroes have split up into smaller teams, the two main missions being to rescue Thor and to destroy the Black Bifrost. These two assignments are absolutely loaded with insane obstacles and tantalizing scenarios. The makeup of these teams, and their interactions, continues to be a major highlight.

War Of The Realms is loaded with memorable moments as well. Daredevil assuming Heimdall’s role, becoming “The God Without Fear” is all kinds of bad-ass. Malekith wielding the Ebony Blade and learning of Knull’s Necrosword continues solidifying him as a top-tier villain. (Also, hey Black Knight it was great to see you!)

At this point, it’s never going to stop being a ton of fun seeing Punisher, Blade, She-Hulk, and Ghost Rider rip their ways through enemies they would otherwise never face. Jason Aaron has found a way to take us on this ridiculous journey without it getting stale or repetitive.

Russell Dauterman makes every battle feel unique and urgent, no action sequence is just for the sake of an action sequence. There’s tension and consequence driving our heroes to their every decision and sacrifice. Dauterman also illustrates this particularly epic story in such a grand and determined fashion that every page provides something you’ll want burned into your brain forever.

All the jumping around we do in War Of The Realms #3 yet the script never gets confusing. Jason Aaron’s dialogue and Dauterman’s layouts keep the reader from ever losing the thread. We always know what the stakes are for everyone and what each character’s goal is.

It’s mightily impressive to be able to juggle this many characters on this massive scale without overwhelming the reader or over-complicating the explanation.

Dauterman may have a few goofy looking faces on Venom or Wolverine occasionally, but you’ll be having so much fun it’ll barely register. Matthew Wilson does wonders with the colors once again as each scene and location has a distinctly different feel and atmosphere.

All of the character redesigns and battle armor are fantastic. Captain America and his Pegasus-riding squad look incredible as they sneak through the world of Frost Giants in search of Thor.

War Of The Realms is shaping up to be one of the best crossover epics in a long time. Fans were burnt out by Marvel’s unending string of constant events and relaunches, but this is the real deal. After some time away from an all-consuming story such as this, Jason Aaron proves that slow and steady does indeed win the race. This isn’t another sales tactic, this is something special.

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The Year of the Villain looms over the DC Universe.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

The Writing

The Artwork

Final Thoughts

Writing

Art

Conclusion

Story

Art

Conclusion

Story

Art

Conclusion

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD