Friday, July 13, 2018

Heads Will Roll - Clankillers #1 [Early] Review



  I've been on a warrior woman kick lately. I mean I'm always on a kick with warrior women, but lately, I've spent a lot of time with series like Vault's Heathen, Dark Horse's Sword Daughter, and Dynamite's Red Sonja. So seeing as Clankillers #1 was being advertised as another young warrior girl on the run and out for revenge I knew I had to put the first issue on my reading list. Of course I have to give out a huge thanks to Sean Lewis and the Aftershock team for sending ya girl an early review copy. You guys are seriously the best!

Clankillers tells the tale of teenage rebellion, set amidst the harsh landscape of historical Ireland. Blaming the death of her mother, and the descent of father's madness on the Goddess Balor, Princess Finola decides that she alone will take down the holy deity. But in order to come face to face with the goddess herself, Finola will have to kill the Four Clans of Ireland, including the one belonging to her own kin.

There's a lot of potential in this first issue. Lewis and Fuso have really laid out the groundwork, setting up both the characters and story quite nicely. Why is Finola seemedly her father's favorite daughter, what was the king like before insanity took over, and of course why did the Goddess Balor need to kill the Queen? These are all questions I NEED answered and why I'll be continuing to read this series.  It gives readers enough to be invested without blowing it all away with the first issue. We've also got some really great characters on our hands. Of course I love Finola, she's got the spirit and strength to conquer through anything taking the impossible feat of claiming a goddess' head, head on. (Pun totally intended) But who I'm really enjoying is King Padraig the Grotesque, As his name states, he's a man of pure evil. Padraig is the comic book equivalent of Tywin Lannister and its shown throughout the issue through his own actions and dialogue why he's so hated by his daughter and feared by those around him. He's a tortured scumbag and those are my favorite kind of characters.

Now Antonio Fuso's art is rough, but given the mood and style of Clankiller's, that's not a bad thing. In fact, it's what really helps to bring the story together. The colors are dark and murky, really helping to set the brutal tone of feudal Ireland. The world is shit, and while dialogue can take that feeling so far, Fuso's art brings us that much farther, truly showcasing the hardships in which these people are forced to face.

Series from Aftershock comics seem to be hit or miss. Animosity and Insexts both from Marguerite Bennett are among my favorites from Aftershock but I think that Clankillers makes a great new addition to the publisher. I'm really excited to see where this series will go as Finola cuts her way through the four clans to her goal. Given that we've already seen talk of Goddess' and some magic I'm hoping that the creative team will pull even further from Irish mythology. Give me all the banshees, kelpies and changelings, please!

Clankillers #1 hits the shelves of your local comic shop this Wednesday, July 18th, as well as digitally over on Comixolgy.

For fans of Sword Daughter & Head Lopper.



Thursday, July 12, 2018

2018 Annual Mid Year New Comic Wrap Up !


http://thatcomicgirl.blogspot.com/2018/07/2018-annual-mid-year-new-comic-wrap-up.html
 We're only halfway through the year, but 2018 is shaping up to be one of the best years for new comic book series that we've had in recent times. It's only July but there are so many great new titles that you should be reading. I thought I'd take a moment to highlight some of my favorites right now. If you don't see your favorite title on here now make sure to come back later in the year, as I'll check back in around October/November to highlight some more titles. So as much as I would like to feature books like Submerged and Catwoman, if a book is only on it's first issue, more then likely it's not going to make the list. At the moment most of these titles are still ongoing, most with only about four issues on shelves, so make sure to check them out at your local comic shop or digitally through Comixology to catch up!

VAMPIRONICA - Greg Smallwood & Meg Smallwood -  I love the Archie reboot. I think it's one of the best things to happen to comics in awhile. If you haven't had the chance to read the main Archie title, Jughead, Vixens or any of the other amazing titles you should catch up on that. On top of the Archie reboot, I'm head over heels in love with the Archie horror verse. With titles like Afterlife with Archie, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (which is getting a Netflix show btw), and Jughead the Hunger, Vampironica is the perfect addition to this sinister alternate universe. As the title states it follows Veronica Lodge and her run-in with, you guessed it, a Vampire. After being bitten, the story continues to follow Ronnie as she adapts to her new condition. Greg Smallwood's art is absolutely stunning, given its unique style, every single panel featuring the characters is animatic and super expressive only making the pages more enjoyable. The only problem I have with this book is that like all titles in the Archie Horrorverse, there seems to be a delay in the releases and there are long lapses between every new issue. That being said it's still worth your read, but if you're waiting for the collected trade you might be waiting longer then usual. [Comixology]

THE WILDS -  Vita Ayala & Emily Pearson - The Wilds was my most anticipated book of 2018, and with the first three issues on shelves it hasn't disappointed. I featured this book back on my Post-Apocalyptic recommended reading list a few months ago and will continue to push this wonderful series every chance I get. This is a post-apocalyptic book unlike anything on the market, it's "blooming dead" both hauntingly beautiful and eerily creepy always keeping the characters and readers on edge. Did I mention this one is queer as hell because that's always a reason to read a book. While I'm sad that Wilds is only a five issue series it also makes it the perfect jumping on book for both veterans and newcomers to comics. It's a well-done story that doesn't feel overwhelming because it's only five issues.  That being said the world that's been created leaves something to be desired. Personally, I'm hoping to eventually see more stories inside this universe. It's amazing to see how over the course of three issues thus far, we've seen the progression of Vita and Emily as writer and artist respectively. Their wonderful dynamic and love for the series pour across each page and it's clear in each new issue. With three out of five issues available now and the collected trade on its way, there's no logical reason why you shouldn't be reading The Wilds. [Comixology]

DEATH OR GLORY - Rick Remender & Bengal - I'm not sure what to make of Death or Glory. Three issues deep I can say I'm enjoying it even if there are some points I'm not understanding. Glory doesn't live a conventional life. She grew up in a trucking convoy with her father figure Red being at the head of them. But Red is sick and is in need of expensive dire medical treatment. Given the unconventional life, the two have lived Glory is forced to steal the money from her ex-husband, who has found himself involved with some illegal drug runners. I will say issue three is what really hooked me into the series and the deciding factor that's making me keep it on my pull. The first couple pages sequence a backstory for the main character Glory, which really helped me connect with the character and the story. Glory is a great character, by the way, she gives off the typical badass, strong female character trope, but later on in issues we see her vulnerability and hesitation to some of the situations, she's put in. Bengal's art alone is enough to make you pick up this book and is the reason I started reading it in the first place. It's surely a Western story but a lot of the art has an Eastern style. A lot of Bengal's action sequences in Death or Glory are fast paced and his characters are expressive, reminiscent of the flow and fashion of Cowboy Bebop. [Comixology]

ISOLA - Brenden Fletcher & Karl Kershel - Isola is the Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki spiritual successor we've been waiting for and deserve. It's also a book I recommend for fans of the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschel and company have been knocking it out of the park month to month, and it's one of the books that I'm always anxiously anticipating. Each new issue has only expanded the beautiful world of Isola, as well as it's rich story, constantly leaving that feeling of wanting more. (Really hopeful that maybe one day we can see an artbook or an illustrated encyclopedia) Isola is a queer love story of a loyal knight and her dedicated queen, on a quest to break a curse that has put both the Queen and her kingdom in danger. There are a million reasons why you should be reading Isola and if you're curious I dedicated an entire blog post to my love for Isola, so check it out. There's so much to Isola that you just have to see for yourself. Don't believe me? Well, good thing you can read the prologue for free to get a taste of what you're in for. After that make sure you pick up the issues. We're up to issue four so and the creative team has at least two more arcs planned after the first one so let's make sure they get there! [Comixology]


SWORD DAUGHTER - Brian Wood & Mack Chater - I considered not adding Sword Daughter to this list. It's still a fairly new title with the second issue being released just last week, but it's one of those books I keep thinking about constantly. Sword Daughter is about a young girl named Elsbeth and her reconnected relationship with her father after he's spent the past ten years in a coma. Together the two struggle to repair and rekindle the relationship between father and daughter that they never knew as the two set out to take on the group of thugs that burned their village. Like I said I'm really enjoying this one, it has that Norse vibe that I never realized I loved. Ashamedly there are no Vikings in this one (at least not yet). I'm enthusiastic to see the relationship grow and strengthen between Elsbeth and her father, while also preparing for imminent heartbreak. Now the pacing in this one is a little weird, but I'm sure it will all tie together somehow. That being said it doesn't take away from the story at hand. Maybe I find this series so favorable because it plays upon one of my favorite tropes of estranged fathers and their children/daughters, but I'd still recommend giving it a shot. Now I'll admit this series isn't for everyone but you might be surprised.  [Comixology]

Didn't see your favorite new series on this list? Well let me know, so I know what I'm missing out and should be catching up on! Make sure you check in in the next few months as I'm sure I'll feature all of my favorite new titles for the second half of 2018! As always HAPPY READING!


Thursday, July 5, 2018

The Bat, The Cat & The Entire Internet


https://thatcomicgirl.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-bat-cat-entire-internet.html

It's finally here, after fifty issues, multiple tie-ins, over three dozen variant covers, and even it's own Spotify playlist, the long-awaited wedding between Batman and Catwoman is finally here. While a wedding, solidifying the relationship between bat and cat was something I had always secretly wanted it was never anything I'd ever dreamed of seeing in comics. After all according to Dan Didio; "People in Gotham can never be happy." So when it was announced that the iconic couple would finally be tieing the knot, I was skeptical but keenly excited.

Tom King has been masterfully crafting this from issue one of his Rebirth run. From the beginning, I've stood by the opinion that Tom King is one of the best, if not the best writer for Batman. Each arc has been engaging, bringing something unique to both the main character and it's supporting cast. At the end of it all, every single issue was pinnacle leading up to this very moment.


So how did the milestone issue fair?



Tom King, Mikel Janin, and the rest of the guest artists on issue fifty pulled off a feat like no other. As usual, King is poetic with his words, as love letters to both characters are quite literally spanned across the forty-four-page issue. It's one of the most romantic stories I've read in a long time and is one that I'll find myself reading over and over again. It's one of those issues you'll discover new details with each read. We're treated to multiple splash images, from several guest artists including Greg Capullo, Amanda Conner, Becky Cloonan and many more. These splashes feature the iconic couple spanning across, costumes, timelines and decades. In fact the splash pages are the only gripe I had about this issue. Personally, I felt like they should have been arranged better, chronicling the years these two have spent together, rather than having these pages haphazardly sprinkled throughout the issue. That's a minuscule detail compared to the rest of the issue, and it doesn't even come close to hurting how the story is presented.

*****Spoilers ahead so make sure to pick up a copy of Batman #50 before continuing any further!

Despite it's ending, the love both for and between these characters cannot be denied.

As for the ending and how I feel about it, I'm shocked, astounded, floored, you name it and that's how I feel. I fully expected for an interruption in some sort of way, either from the majority of Batman's iconic rogue gallery or just the Joker himself (as most of the variants would speculate). But to discover this was planned almost from the beginning from Bane himself, I'm pleasently pleased. I almost immediately found myself going back to Batman volume 2 with Tom King's "I Am Suicide" arc in an attempt to catch any details I might have missed. We're still foggy on some details, so there's no clear consenus on what exactly went down, but I'm sure that will be explained in a future arc and is something I look forward to. Bane is one of my favorites, and other then Hush, he's the one I feel and know could truly bring Batman down forever if he wanted to.



Just because there was no wedding does not mean that the love between these characters is over. In both my opinion and theory I was banking on the failure of this union. In fact, I even went as far as to wanting to see Selina, "betray" Bruce, her love for him being merely a ruse in midst of something much greater. Now while that may be just what happened we don't know for sure yet and only time will tell. While I like the idea of Catwoman and Batman being in love, I don't like the idea of them being together, at least not from a marriage standpoint. It's great to the see the two happy together in the occasional Elseworld story, and I loved the buildup between them from Tom King in previous issues, but in the long run, seeing these two married would more then likely end up stale, even with a powerful force like Tom King behind them. The great thing about Bruce and Selina's dynamic, is in their relationship, and in it's evolution and adaption to the events going on around them. From a Catwoman stand point, her driving factor in what makes her a good character is that grey morality which acts as a perfect foil to Batman's own "white knight" purpose.

If you've been on the internet the past few days, you'll see that consenus is generally split down the middle.

It's frusterating to see people so upset over something as trivial as a wedding ceremony (or lack thereof) I've seen fans attack the creators, and even go so far as to cancel their own issues or variants because of it. I've even seen some people hope for the downfall of the new Catwoman series because of the outcome of the wedding. (Which is stupid because Catwoman #1 was amazing, is on sale now and is something you should be reading) We've been through fifty issues thus far, fifty issues celebrating the love between the Bat and the Cat, and according to Tom King, we're in for at least another fifty more. I've even seen rumors about a child between Bruce and Selina that will be revealed possibly by issue seventy-five in an attempt to bring Helena Wayne into the canon universe (which I'm totally for!). So again their relationship is far from over.

There's so much more involved here then just the title of husband and wife, and unfortunately, people aren't seeing that. As I said before this isn't the end of the relationship between Selina, and Bruce but rather just another obstacle they'll learn and adapt from. I guaruntee the payoff at the end of this all will be well worth its outcome. Besides, if you're really that upset over not being able to see an all-out wedding, that's exactly why the internet created fanfiction.



Now there are some that are calling this a bait and switch, with an elaborate wedding teased for months only to have the rug pulled out from under it's readers and fans. While I'll admit DC went full guns blazing with this event,  it's what to be expected with a company like this. Some call it corporate greed, but it's what to be expected when trying to generate sales and hype for something like this  Besides Marvel did almost the same thing (even if on a smaller scale) with X-Men Gold and the wedding (or lack thereof, SPOILER) between Kitty Pride and Colossus. Yet the backlash for that wasn't nearly as severe.

So no, I'm not upset or even angry that the wedding didn't happen. I don't feel played, or "baited" because, in its own way, this is exactly what I expected, and what I even wanted. I'm still happy with my variants, and the build-up towards this iconic issue, and with how it happened as a whole. It's okay if you didn't like it, and okay if you did, but I feel like a lot of people are hasty with their emotions and their thoughts on the issue. If you didn't like it I'd seriously consider giving it a second chance. Most importantly give the future of Batman and Catwoman, both in their individual series and their characters. a chance to thrive as well.

If you haven't checked out Batman #50 it's on sale now at your local comic shop or digitally at Comixology. If you have read it let me know what you think!