Category Archives: Comics
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/20/14
Happy Holidays, Henchies! We’re deep in the heart of Hannukah right now, and next week is Christmas! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a good one. I’ll be going home to see my family, and we’ll have a good time, like we do. We’ll talk comics, movies, cartoons; maybe I’ll get some new TV show recommendations! Oh, and presents! If I get any good presents, I’ll let you henchies know.
This week was pretty full of interesting comics – both good and bad! Marvel delivered the one-two punch of both Captain and Ms. Marvel, the former capturing Comic Book of the Week for the first time in awhile, thanks to a detour away from stupid outer space. In bad comics, DC continues their assassination of Wonder Woman, and Batman Eternal is as bad as it’s ever been. But Robin is back, so that should count for something. Too bad it’s not the Robin I wanted.
He makes this look good
Oh Harper Row, you had such potential. But I will never give up hope!
Comic Reviews: Batman Eternal #37, Batman and Robin #37, Captain Marvel #10, Ms. Marvel #10, Scarlet Spiders #2 and Wonder Woman #37.
Gamer Girl & Vixen – Making the Page
I’m happy to announce that work has begun on the first issue of my comic, Gamer Girl & Vixen! Our artist, Gemma Moody, is hard at work penciling the opening pages of our first issue, and from what I’ve seen so far, she’s gotten even better than when we first discovered her! This comic is going to look gorgeous!
In fact, here’s a sample of Gemma’s work! It’s the new social media cover image she drew up for us!
As I mentioned before, we’re looking to put out a single, stand alone issue on our own, then we’ll be launching a Kickstarter next year to produce a full-length graphic novel (which will include that first issue as a first chapter!). Gemma’s already got a few pages done from when we first started the project and tried to pitch it around to publishing companies.
So for this week’s behind-the-scenes look at the making of of Gamer Girl & Vixen, I’m going to share with you the process of going from initial page sketches to completed work! I think it’s a really nifty process to witness, and I’ve dug up some of Gemma’s original work to share with you all after the jump!
Spider-Woman is Getting a Hip New Costume
The Modern Age is upon us in comic book land, and I couldn’t be happier! I’m as fickle as they come in my fandom, but I’m really enjoying all these new, realistic and very modern superhero redesigns. Whether it’s the new Batgirl in her trendy jacket or Captain Marvel’s classier jumpsuit, I’m a big fan!
And here comes Spider-Woman’s own jacket and sunglasses style! I love it!
Full red bodysuits are so last year
The costume was designed by artist Kris Anka.
The new costume will debut as part of a Spider-Man Unlimited video game I’ve never heard of, which seems like an odd choice to me. It’ll finally reach Spider-Woman’s comic book series with issue #5 next year – if the comic lasts that long. The first issue was a giant mess, and I’m kind of worried that the forced tie-in to Spider-Verse is going to hurt the series in the long run. It’s not uncommon for new comics to be cancelled before they even reach double digits due to lack of sales, so Marvel better hope that writer Dennis Hopeless has some kind of plan in place to get readers after Spider-Verse is over.
A fancy new costume is a good way to start.
I like the gloves!
The new costume was announced at USA Today. Click the link to check out an interview with Hopeless and Marvel, as well as some other pictures. I really love the design. It’s hip, it’s sleek, and it’s still clearly Spider-Woman.
Classic spandex superhero costumes are fine, but when you can redesign a character this well, why not try out a new look for awhile? Marvel can always return to classic Spider-Woman in the future. For now, I definitely dig this design, and I actually think I might pick up Spider-Woman #5 to see it in action!
————
Review: Teen Titans #5
This Teen Titans comic is pretty much the antithesis of everything I like in comics these days. Books like Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye and Batgirl are breaking new ground on how superhero stories can be told, with real human characters, real human drama and actual creativity in their storytelling. Batgirl, for example, embraces the modern day world of its youthful character, sending Barbara Gordon spinning into a world of Internet hookups, auto-tuned bad guys and real stakes. Ms. Marvel stars a teenager who is just as much in touch with her family as she is with superheroics, and actually has to worry about both. Hawkeye is mostly interested in the man behind the mask.
Teen Titans #5
Whereas Teen Titans is content to be just a dumb superhero comic where the characters are only really concerned about being superheroes. Not even an art change or the promise of a new character can save Teen Titans #5 from just being generally dull.
Comic Rating: 5/10 – Alright.
I said this before in my last review, but it bears repeating: what is so difficult about writing a story that’s actually about the Teen Titans themselves? The previous writer, Scott Lobdell, never managed to do it, and new writer Will Pfiefer likewise can’t seem to focus on his teen stars. It’s not like they’re a boring group! This is actually a pretty solid roster of Titans. They have the potential for some really interesting mix-ups. Beast Boy and Bunker have a neat friendship/roommate thing going. And why haven’t we heard a peep about the Red Robin/Wonder Girl romance since Pfiefer took over? Raven, meanwhile, doesn’t have any strong relationships with anyone on the team.Why not tackle some of these legitimately interesting topics?
Instead, Pfiefer introduces some of the most laziest super-villains I’ve ever read for one of the laziest superhero fights I’ve ever read. Does he not care? Does he not want Teen Titans to be a good comic? Pfiefer backs off his pet character, Manchester Black, for a little bit, but he doesn’t replace him with the Teen Titans. He replaces him with a gaggle of spoiled rich kids who take a designer drug that gives them super-powers. Is there anything more unimaginative? Then these idiots literally fall into the Titans’ laps. That’s how the heroes of this comic book get involved. The rich kids decide to fight established superheroes for no reason other than it’s a thing to do, and we have a comic.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been more disappointed in this comic. Or maybe I’m not disappointed so much as just tired. I’m tired of Teen Titans failing.
Join me after the jump for the full synopsis and more review!
My 6 Favorite Things of 2014
Attention young people who read my blog, let me make one thing perfectly clear: when adults say that time flies when you’re older, they are 100% right! Jeez louise, I can’t believe 2014 is already over! Where the heck did the year go? How did I get this old?! What the heck did I do with myself?
All griping aside, how about we look back and share our favorite things form 2014?
I’ve known better years
The problem with that, however, is that I can’t really remember everything I did in 2014! I have no idea what I was into last March! That was a forever ago (even though it feels like only yesterday). Was there anything to enjoy in 2014? Or was it just one big slog of depression? If you join me after the jump, we can find out together!
Henchman-4-Hire 