Review: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1

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Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (Legacy #43) is out now, telling a beautiful and haunting lost story from the Alien Costume Saga.

The annual is written by Saladin Ahmed, drawn by Garry Brown, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Joe Caramagna. The cover is by ACO and Marcelo Maiolo, with a variant by Gabriele Dell’Otto.

Following the first Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, Spider-Man returned to Earth sporting a slick, black costume – the alien symbiote that would become Venom. This untold story shows what the suit was up to while Spidey was sleeping, before Peter Parker got rid of it.

Ahmed does something brilliant with this tale and tells it all from the symbiote’s perspective. He shows you what the alien was thinking while out on its adventures, and it actually seems like it was trying to do good. It considers Peter a friend, and is trying to help him. This builds sympathy in the reader, which adds an emotional weight and makes certain moments (especially the ending) one hell of a gut punch.

It’s tragic in the same way that people feel bad for animals. The symbiote doesn’t know that’s it’s doing wrong. It’s only following its instincts and doing what it knows, so it doesn’t understand when its supposed friend reacts poorly.

Garry Brown has the perfect style to tell this story. It’s edgy and gives off strong horror vibes. (Anyone who reads Brown’s Babyteeth knows how well he does horror, and the Alien Costume Saga is, in many ways, a superhero horror story.) Loughridge’s colors compliment the style, creating a muted, dark environment. Plus, the two create intense action scenes in addition to the great creepy stuff. There’s a fight sequence in here that pops off the page, if you’ll pardon the cliche. It’s full of energy and movement, yet it still works well in an otherwise dark book.

So all in one comic, you have a horror story, a tragedy, and a superhero story with action, villains, and punching. Amazing Spider-Man Annual#1 is a great read, and it’s just making fans crave Ahmed’s Spider-Man book even more.

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Review: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #9 Does Not Slow Down

By

Anthony Wendel

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With the second major story arc of Sonic The Hedgehog from IDW Comics in full swing, one can only hope the success of previous issues continues to carry over. Luckily for all the Sonic fans out there it delivers a lot in a single issue.

Summary

In an effort to save Angel Island from Neo Metal Sonic, the resistance fighters and Sonic have to stage a daring attack.

Writing

After the first arc which helped to established the new villain of the series, it’s impressive to see how far the storyline has progressed. Neo Metal Sonic is shown to not only have taken control of Knuckles’ home of Angel Island but also managed to neutralize the Master Emerald, the source of the island’s ability to float in the air. Got to admit, Neo Metal Sonic works fast.

Writer Ian Flynn is able to showcase the ability to juggle a large cast with relative ease. Each of the characters are allowed a moment in the story to showcase they aren’t simply there to fill a space. Also, despite a lot of dialogue dedicated to helping to set up the invasion strategy there is just as much action utilized for proper balance. All in all a very enjoyable issue of Sonic The Hedgehog.

Artwork

The artwork by Tracy Yardley is at its best in this issue. The two page splashes of both Angel island and the resistance fighters gathered together help to showcase the great attention to detail Yardley brings to the comic. It’s the kind of art which needs to be given an extra moment to appreciate all the fine details which went into its creation.

The color work by Matt Herms delivers some dynamite effects to the fight scenes. Of particular note is when Blaze showing off all the powers at her disposal. Thanks to the great job on the coloring, the intensity of the fire seems to radiate from the page.

The lettering by Shawn Lee continues to be a staple of this new series. Jokes and emotional moments come through perfectly thanks to his word placement. It also aids in delivering Sonic The Hedgehog’s personality in a very authentic fashion.

Conclusion

With a last panel cliffhanger which will definitely have fans waiting with anticipation for the next issue. The Sonic The Hedgehog series from IDW Comics continues to be a fantastic series. It’s almost safe to say a bad issue won’t come for a while. Just to be on the safe side, better just knock on some wood.

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The Fate of the World is in One Man’s Hands in THE FREEZE

By

Michael Stagno

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September 19, 2018

The creative team of Dan Wickline and Phillip Sevy are seeking to make a cold December even colder with, The Freeze , an Image Comics and Top Cow offering.

The official premise of the series is painted perfectly on the Image page for the series, reading, ‘The entire human population is frozen by a mysterious global event … all except Ray, and only he has the power to unfreeze them. Now with the fate of the world in his hands, he must figure out what is going on, how to set things right again, and answer the question: does everyone deserve to be saved?’

“The Freeze is a post-apocalyptic survival story where the biggest danger is man’s true nature,” said Wickline. “We strip the world down to one decent person and then give him the power to rebuild society from scratch, not knowing if those he awakens will benefit the new world or indulge their darkest inclinations. It’s an intriguing concept to explore as a writer, and Phillip is just hitting it out of the park with his art.”

The series will land on shelves on Dec. 5, 2018, and, if you’re lucky, will be able to catch a sneak peek at New York City Comic Con in October!

Click HERE for the official release on the series from Image.

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‘CRAZY RICH ASIANS’ Review: A Stylish, Fun-Filled Rom Com

By

Kieran McLean

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September 19, 2018

In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran reviews the monumentally successful romantic comedy from director Jon M. Chu, Crazy Rich Asians. Does this film single-handedly revive the romantic comedy genre? Is the core relationship believable and compelling enough? Find out by listening to my review below!

More – ‘A SIMPLE FAVOR’ Review: A Bizarre & Compelling Thriller

If you like what you hear, it would be awesome if you hit the like/subscribe buttons and drop a comment in the appropriate section.

Listen to the review below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9f6irCSuEg[/embedyt]

What Is Crazy Rich Asians?

Rachel Chu is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend, Nick, to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. She’s also surprised to learn that Nick’s family is extremely wealthy and he’s considered one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Thrust into the spotlight, Rachel must now contend with jealous socialites, quirky relatives and something far, far worse — Nick’s disapproving mother.

What is Kieran’s Movie Space?

Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.

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‘A SIMPLE FAVOR’ Review: A Bizarre & Compelling Thriller

By

Kieran McLean

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September 19, 2018

In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran delivers his spoiler-free review of Paul Feig’s new comedy thriller, A Simple Favor. Is this another great film from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig? Do Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively deliver good performances? Listen to my review below and find out!

More – Review: ‘NEXT GEN’ Is A Beautifully Animated Movie And Well Told Story

If you like what you hear, it would be awesome if you hit the like/subscribe buttons and drop a comment in the appropriate section.

Listen to the review below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlYsXjL-oc[/embedyt]

What is A Simple Favor?

Directed by Paul Feig, the film centres around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily’s (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town.

What is Kieran’s Movie Space?

Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.

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TRAILER: Terrifying Netflix Film ‘APOSTLE’ From THE RAID’S Gareth Evans

By

Ruben Diaz

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September 19, 2018

Apostle is a new period horror film with torture devices and cults featuring a stellar cast and it’s all on display in this intense new trailer. The film comes from Gareth Evans, the director behind The Raid and Raid 2 who looks poised to take his already spectacular skillset to the next level. After its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, Apostle will release on October 12, 2018, on Netflix.

About Apostle

Official Description: A man attempts to rescue his sister who’s been kidnapped by a religious cult.

Apostle presents a rabidly dark and disturbing island where a cult lives in isolation. Well, not exactly. The cult sometimes goes out to snag a person or two. Netflix understands how essential subscribers are and so does this collective of crazies. Dan Stevens of Downtown Abby fame stars as Thomas Richardson; his missing sister is played by the young and talented Lucy Boynton (Murder on the Orient Express, Bohemian Rhapsody). Acclaimed actor Michael Sheen (Underworld) also stars and looks poised to provide some epic sermons.

Apostle features a cast that includes …

Dan Stevens as Thomas Richardson
Lucy Boynton as Andrea Richardson
Mark Lewis Jones as Quinn
Bill Milner
Kristine Froseth as Ffion
Michael Sheen as Prophet Malcolm
Elen Rhys as Jennifer
Annes Elwy as Sinead
Ross O’Hennessy as John the Suspicious One

The trailer for Apostle is expertly crafted. There’s so much tension and the set up with the torture device (pictured above) is excellent. The pause and return to the pace the trailer moves at provides a great shock, a sort of jump scare that strikes at the core when all these elements come together.

It’s not often that movies take advantage of centuries-old torture devices, and Apostle looks to fill that void. Additionally, the film doesn’t seem to be a complete departure from director Evans’ roots as there do appear to be some kinetic fight sequences.

Did this trailer get you excited for Apostle?
Leave your comments below!

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Review: Steve Niles And Marcelo Frusin Take The Reins In A Solid KICK-ASS #7

By

Manuel Gomez

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Steve Niles and Marcelo Frusin become the first creative team to tackle Kick-Ass other than the character’s creators Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. with the start of a new arc in KICK-ASS #7.

Kick-Ass has wiped out Hoops Lucero and seized control of his criminal operations, but Violencia’s set to bust out of jail and get his bloody revenge on our favorite superhero.

Kick-Ass #7
Written by: Steve Niles
Art by: Marcelo Frusin
Colors by: Sonny Cho
Letters by: John Workman

Kick-Ass created by: Mark Millar & John Romita Jr.

Writing

Steve Niles has no problem picking up the baton from Mark Millar in his first issue. Right from the first narration box, Patience Lee’s (aka Kick-Ass) voice is consistent with the groundwork that was laid before. Niles actually has a knack for a more ‘hardboiled’ narrative voice (like his excellent Criminal Macabre series of noir/horror books) and that skill is in full effect throughout the book. That voice helps push the idea that Patience is now almost as much a criminal as she is a hero now that she has literally taken control of multiple gangs. It gives her a more harden edge, makes her more dangerous.

There’s also a dive into the more mundane parts of Patience’s world outside the mask, a detail the further humanizes the superhero.

However, Niles doesn’t entirely rely on dialog and narration, as there is a fantastic and almost wordless action piece that ends the issue. It’s a great example of pure comics storytelling.

Art

It’s a little jarring seeing that familiar green and yellow suit come alive under the pen of someone other than Romita Jr., but Marcelo Fruisn and colorist Sonny Cho do an excellent job. They keep the characters looking consistent, but like Niles, they bring their own style that lends the book a different feel. This is a more muted issue, with art that feels a little bit more old school in its layouts and composition.

And then there is the aforementioned climactic action set piece. Short, fast and tense, the last four pages are a highlight. Notice must be given to letter John Workman for his contribution, especially in this scene.

Conclusion

A new creative team means a good starting point if you have been waiting on starting a series, and that’s a great way of looking at Kick-Ass #7. Patience Lee is quickly growing into her own under that scuba suit and having multiple creators continue her story is exactly what the title and character need. Great job.

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Get Excited for SELF/MADE and its new Creative Team

By

Michael Stagno

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September 19, 2018

A new creative team comprised of Mat Groom and Eduardo Ferigato will soon have the comic world talking about them, as promised by Image Comics, when their series, Self/Made, drops.

The story follows a warrior named Amala Citlali, whose kingdom of Arcadia is besieged by chaos. She looks to escape her defined role and change her destiny. She could never have predicted, however, it would result in her chance to confront her God.

This intimate fantasy series of spanning worlds and self-discovery will be helmed by a brand new creative duo in Groom and Ferigato, who are coming together for a project for the first time.

“As much as Self/Made is a deeply personal, intimate story about the relationship between God and creation, the framing of that lends itself to exploring,” Groom said. “It actually almost demands that you explore the breadth of all creation. So, we’re going to do that! Obviously there’s a lot of fantasy-inspired visuals here and, as you identified we’ll be hitting some sci-fi inspired worlds very soon. After that, we’re headed for what I guess I’d call ‘non-traditional’ fantasy. So we’ll be all over the sci-fi/fantasy spectrum.”

This new science fiction-fantasy-mystery series hits shelves on December 5, 2018, and definitely deserves your attention, with a great synopsis and beautiful art, including coloring by Marcelo Costa.

Click HERE for a sneak peek, including the first series trailer, for Self/Made in i09’s exclusive interview with the creative team.

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‘AMERICAN VANDAL’ Season 2 Is Serious As S***

By

Jon Barr - TV Editor

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Netflix’s AMERICAN VANDAL finds another way to spin a juvenile topic into an engaging mystery. The mockumentary series that lampoons true crime series like MAKING A MURDERER and THE JINX returned last Friday. The sophomore season definitely captures the same spirit, irreverent humor, and engaging story of its first season. What’s interesting is how the series goes far darker this season, while still packing hilarity into every episode. AMERICAN VANDAL proves that it can tell gripping dark mysteries with the silliest, s***tiest crimes ever.

The second season, much like the first, deals with a crime of immense immaturity & property damage. AMERICAN VANDAL ventures to the world of rich prep schools, as Peter and Sam investigate a criminal called “The Turd Burglar.” While outcast Kevin McClain (Travis Tope) has confessed to the crime, there are discrepancies in the crimes and his story. Now, our two high school documentarians must uncover the truth behind the various poop crimes at St. Bernardine High School.

AMERICAN VANDAL does a fantastic job at taking its juvenile crimes seriously. Even with a plethora of poop-centric misdemeanors, the series commits to the bit. The series finds fantastic ways to spin a gripping narrative out of its goofball premise. Furthermore, the many twists along the way are infused with the same dedication to silly humor. From horse-headed electronic bands to hot janitors, AMERICAN VANDAL finds tons of childish jokes to take seriously. It’s this commitment to its juvenile set-up that makes the follow-through so rewarding.

However, while the series is a comedy, this season goes way darker in its subject matter. The Turd Burglar is less like Dylan Maxwell (Jimmy Tatro) and more like the mastermind from SE7EN. Without spoiling the ending, this mystery’s take on social media bullying is especially harrowing. The series digs a lot into cyberbullying, the discrepancies of how athletes are treated, and how police can coerce confessions from suspects.

We get a lot of thoroughly interesting characters this season. AMERICAN VANDAL always excels with capturing the spirit of modern day high schoolers, and season two is no exception. It helps that the series is consistently cast with fantastic young actors. This season’s wrongfully (?) accused teenager is Kevin, played by Travis Tope. Tope brings an energy to the character like a young Jesse Eisenberg, which is perfect for the character. On the opposite side, you have Melvin Gregg, who shines as hotshot basketball player DeMarcus Tillman. AMERICAN VANDAL continues its fantastic track record with casting young actors.

However, as strong as our new cast is, the two main characters are really weak. Neither Peter (Tyler Alvarez) nor Sam (Griffin Gluck) are as involved this crime around. What made season one of AMERICAN VANDAL work was how the filmmakers were also characters. This season, the two boys feel so far removed from the case. That loss of a personal element for the protagonists feels like such a letdown. It’s a shame that the boys behind the camera are given so little to do.

While the returning characters are noticeably weaker, it’s hard to see any other failings of the season. Especially if you view AMERICAN VANDAL as more of an anthology – which seems like their intended new direction – it works fairly well. The series still maintains the same quality that made it a show to watch last year. It’s a unique show that rises above the childish parody that it could become. Season two proves that the show’s stellar premiere was no fluke. AMERICAN VANDAL proves it has a strong sense of self, and it’ll make you laugh at – and fear – the Turd Burglar.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwrr6aIWeus[/embedyt]

STAND-OUT PERFORMANCES: Travis Tope, Melvin Gregg, Kiah Stern

STAND-OUT EPISODES: “#2,” “The Dump,” “Sh*t Storm” (yes these are actual episode titles)

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New Spin on the Story of Jesus Christ Coming in JESUSFREAK from Image Comics

By

Michael Stagno

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September 19, 2018

The creative duo of Joe Casey and Benjamin Marra are set to retell the history of Jesus Christ in an upcoming graphic novel, in conjunction with Image Comics, called, Jesusfreak.

From the look of the cover, God’s son looks more like a version of Bruce Lee, who is ready to dish out the punishment and, to further that theory, the publisher describes the book as, ‘a bloody two-fisted tale of historical heroic fiction featuring a young Nazarean carpenter who is having some trouble finding his place within the violent world around him.’

The book will initially drop as a 60-page hardcover graphic novel and is set for release on March 20, 2019. There will be an advanced peek of it at this year’s New York Comic-Con, via an exclusive Image Comics’ ashcan offering.

“Jesusfreak is less inspired by any strict religious traditions and, is instead, more concerned with exploring the unique tension that exists between depicting a mythical figure and a historical figure. A tension that, is compounded when, for many, they’re considering the same person. It’s also a chance for Marra and I to indulge in a specific style of hard pulp storytelling that we think perfectly fits this material.”

What do you think? Are you prepared for yet another spin on history of Jesus Christ, but this time in graphic novel form? Let us know in the comments section below.

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