Nick Davis's Blog, page 111

Fabula Zero Exposition the graphic novel mash-up of comic & prose story telling now available at Chucks Comics

Chucks Comics one of the best comic book stores in Baltimore is based in Essex MD and has a long history of supporting independent creators and their titles, and today was no exception. The good Captain Chuck is now stocking copies of Fabula Zero Exposition, my graphic novel mash-up of comic and prose story telling. Plus you can pick up a FREE copy of the Exposition Broadsheet Comic – Ninja Fight while stocks last! Show your local indie author and comic book store some love and pick up Fabula Zero Exposition If you would like to see copies of the 46 page graphic novel Fabula Zero Exposition in your local comic book store drop me an email at webmaster [at] alt-world.com

Review – DCnU52 Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns, Art by Jim Lee, Inker Scott Williams

Justice League #1

Publisher DC Comics

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Jim Lee

Cover by Jim Lee, Scott Williams & Alex Sinclair

The long wait is over, Justice League #1 from the DC New 52 is finally here and I picked up a copy from Chucks Comics. Now it has been a very, very long time since I've read a DC comic and the last time I read Justice League in comic book form was the very last of the Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire era. Frankly with DC flushing its universe and having a Final Infinite Crisis every year I really didn't have the urge to look at any of their books. So will the new DCnU52 change my mind? 

I've read this book from cover to cover, put it down and then re-read it. This book is the launching point of the new DC universe a deliberate choice to what has been a much hyped relaunch. I'm not sure what I expected, maybe a little more than I got, more of the League forming in this issue, or perhaps a glimpse into the status of the other heroes that will make up the team? Although we do get to see Vic pre-Cyborg. I needed something that would of left me more pumped and excited than the end of this book left me feeling.

Lets start from the top, the art in this book is beautiful Jim Lee's work looks amazing with great inking and coloring that really pop the pages. I did feel the helicopters you see at the start of this story were a homage to The Dark Knight Returns, and we open up with Batman being shot at by the Police as he runs down an extraterrestrial threat. During the roof top chase he runs into Green Lantern who seems to be channeling more early John Stewart than Hal Jordon; with an over reliance on his ring. Of course Batman just to show how badass he is steals it with relative ease. The story develops from there and the pair head to Metropolis to confront? Recruit? Superman – actually I don't really know why they go to Metropolis unless Hal has serious impulse controls issues.  The book ends not with the Batman has a plan and here is the team I've already recruited to deal with this threat; but with us facing DC's most famous SUPERhero who has a very different attitude than what you are used too… And that was that…

In all a good Superhero book with a nice bit of action, beautiful art and a brisk read. Its not grandstanding, it didn't leave me breathless, but it did leave me wondering what is going to happen next. I do feel this has all been done before, with all the edgier attitudes shown its like reading an Ultimate title that just happens to have DC characters in it. The hype left me expecting more than what we got; what this book is if you break it down is a solid superhero book that works as a nice gateway for new readers into the DCnU52.

3.5 Thumbs up out of 5

Review – DCnU52 Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns, Art Jim Lee, Inker Scott Williams

Justice League #1

Publisher DC Comics

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Jim Lee

Cover by Jim Lee, Scott Williams & Alex Sinclair

The long wait is over, Justice League #1 from the DC New 52 is finally here and I picked up a copy from Chucks Comics. Now it has been a very, very long time since I've read a DC comic and the last time I read Justice League in comic book form was the very last of the Giffen era books. Frankly with DC flushing its universe and having a Final Infinite Crisis every year I really didn't have the urge to look at any of their books. So will the new DCnU52 change my mind? 

I've read this book from cover to cover, put it down and then re-read it. This book is the launching point of the new DC universe a deliberate choice to what has been a much hyped relaunch. I'm not sure what I expected, maybe a little more than I got, more of the League forming in this issue, or perhaps a glimpse into the status of the other heroes that will make up the team? Although we do get to see Vic pre-Cyborg. I needed something that would of left me more pumped and excited than the end of this book left me feeling.

Lets start from the top, the art in this book is beautiful Jim Lee's work looks amazing with great inking and coloring that really pop the pages. I did feel the helicopters you see at the start of this story were a homage to The Dark Knight Returns, and we open up with Batman being shot at by the Police as he runs down an extraterrestrial threat. During the roof top chase he runs into Green Lantern who seems to be channeling more early John Stewart than Hal Jordon; with an over reliance on his ring. Of course Batman just to show how badass he is steals it with relative ease. The story develops from there and the pair head to Metropolis to confront? Recruit? Superman – actually I don't really know why they go to Metropolis unless Hal has serious impulse controls issues.  The book ends not with the Batman has a plan and here is the team I've already recruited to deal with this threat; but with us facing DC's most famous SUPERhero who has a very different attitude than what you are used too… And that was that…

In all a good Superhero book with a nice bit of action, beautiful art and a brisk read. Its not grandstanding, it didn't leave me breathless, but it did leave me wondering what is going to happen next. I do feel this has all been done before, with all the edgier attitudes shown its like reading an Ultimate title that just happens to have DC characters in it. The hype left me expecting more than what we got; what this book is if you break it down is a solid superhero book that works as a nice gateway for new readers into the DCnU52.

3.5 Thumbs up out of 5

Have you discovered The Wonder Tales? New all ages fantasy adventure with the Princess Archer Quest

Once Upon a Time, in a land far, far, far away travels the lost Princess Gwendolyn, fair of face with emerald green eyes and unruly red hair held in place in a long braid that reaches far down her back. She is almost a good a shot as the Archer who's bow she carries and she is as kind as she is brave.

Lost with her are her loyal companions Kurt, the wolf-boy, cursed by Baba Yaga, unable to talk or change into a human, and Will O'Wisp a Faerie creature. Together they have been banished to the Land of the Sun by the evil Witch Isabelle; a strange land many, many thousands of leagues from their own. As she began her search to find her way home she encounters Tobisum, a Samurai who is one inch in stature, but is mighty in heart. Gwendolyn strikes a deal with him, in return for his help as a guide; she aided him in his quest to rescue the Woodland Nymph from the Serpent of the Iron Mountain. From the Nymph Gwendolyn learns of her heart's desire which is to change Kurt back to a human. To do this they must seek out the door to Baba Yaba's house in this Kingdom and only the Goblin Jiki Ninki at the Crackling Mountain has the answer…

The Princess Archer and The Princess & the Serpent of Iron Mountain ebooks detail her first adventures so far in Volume Two of The Wonder Tales, the all ages fairy tales for all the family. Find out what you've missed by clicking here.

First Look – The Justice Society of America return on Earth 2 the first announced parallel world for DCnU52

The DC panel at Fan Expo in Canada brings us the interesting news that the Justice Society of America is going to return to the DCnU52, and the team will be from Earth 2. This is the first time I've heard that DC are going to keep parallel worlds in the universe reboot, after all wasn't this one of the reasons they are doing this? Because of all the problems caused by infinite earths? The team behind this book is James Robinson & Nicola Scott, I wish them luck as they bring this WWII era team to life; I still have endearing memories of reading the JSA mini-series that served as their return in the 90′s.

Fabula Zero Exposition a home grown graphic novel mashup of comic/prose based in Baltimore hits new heights!

Fabula Zero Exposition is my graphic novel mash up of comic book action and narrative prose about the story of Jack; a comic writer who has lost the plot and who's superhero characters get fed up of waiting for him to finish their story. So they take matters into their own hands and throw Jack into action straight out of the pages of a comic book. You can check out the preview pages here of this reality bending book based in Baltimore and is now reaching new heights, I guess the pilot (above) is enjoying the diabolical dance number

First Look – IDW Josh Adams Doctor Who comic preview is a Tyrannosaurus Rex Matt Smith's new companion?

A little bit of Doctor Who fun for you courtesy of IDW comics, the image above is from a series of previews done by Josh Adams (son of Neal Adams) who is taking over art duties for the IDW book from Issue #9. The question I have is the T-Rex the Doctors new companion? Rest of the images after the jump.

Sigmartyr – Vol.3 of the Epic Stikfas action web comic continues!

Volume Three of Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic continues. Click here to view to read this epic story. With only three Omega's left, will the Ninja survive the onslaught?

Indie Review – Judas #1 & #2 written by Frank Miller, art and everything else by Asher Humm

Judas is an independent comic series that is starting to find its feet and appearing in local comic stores in Pennsylvania. It's one of the many Indies I discovered at Baltimore Comic Con. Here is the synopsis for this book;  our hero Judas wakes up in a world he doesn't recognize and has no memory of his past. All he knows is he's called Judas and he is wearing a suit that gives him powers, but he cannot remove it. 

The first book is about Judas gathering himself together and making some new friends An evil scientist is trying to get him back using a mad scientist and his ninja monkeys. A fun fight follows with some strained banter; less talking more action would have suited the fight scene much better. A good fun issue and a promising start to the series. Plus you cannot really go wrong with any story that features Ninja monkeys, but I am getting away from myself here.

The second book we learn a little more about Judas' world and the hunter killer robot known as the BOX is dispatched to hunt him down. New characters are added which confuses the story a little bit and I sense a little inside humor in this book. The fight between Judas and the BOX is good, nice dynamic and easy following panels make up for the writing issues.

I've only read the first two books of Judas; the third is still in production. The story itself is a little quirky and tries a little too hard to be humorous for that sake of being humorous. I loved the abstract nature of some of the setups and the pacing kept you turning the page. The writing in places felt clumsy and as I mentioned before seemed to be referencing inside jokes, which don't always work. A saving grace of the series is the artwork; the artist Asher Humm does a great job of catching the off-kilter world of Judas, with strong inks and a cartoon style that fits the style of the story.

Overall a good indie title, writing needs a little tidying up, but the artwork is dynamic and punches out of the page.

3 and Thumbs up out of 5

Asher Humm is the artist who's art graces the Exposition Broadsheet Comic – Ninja Fight.  To learn more about Judas & Asher Humm click here to view his Deviant Art Page You can pick up your copy of Judas at Comixpress here.

Fairly Anti-Climatic Hurricane Irene – Wind, rain & an indoor water feature right here in Baltimore

I have to say for me Hurricane Irene was fairly anti-climatic, I think it helped that the eye swerved slightly to the right and only sideswiped Maryland. Not to say it wasn't wild at times,  we did catch a lot of rain and the wind was fairly nutty. We only had two minor emergencies, the sump pump blocked up which lead to a ten minute pretty disgusting degunking to get our ancient pump to work again. Then we  had a minor bit of flooding as the external basement steps flooded and added a minor indoor water feature to our basement; which I saved using an improvised barricade of old boxes and paint tins – redirecting the mighty flow direct into our sump pump well.

I know my experience wasn't typical of this storm, and many people had a much more wild time of it than we did. From all the reports as state we got very lucky. To check out pictures from all over the state you can pick up CBS's Gallery here.