Brendan Allen Comic Reviews

There are a couple things I wish I didn't know about this book. The first is that it's basically a placeholder for a potential future Hollywood film. The second is that the series is only slated for 5 issues. That means this is essentially a 5-issue pilot being released to gauge interest for a different project. I wish I didn't know these things because I liked the book. Be that as it may, pick this one up if youre into sci-fi, crime procedurals, and action.

If youre a fan of the original movie trilogy, the 17,000 comic titles that followed, the roleplaying game, the Vegas musical, or just like goofy, campy horror, be sure to check out this 99 cent issue. You should also try to find Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash, because that exists, and it is glorious.

While you won't need to have read State of Grace to get into this backwoods Godfather saga, you will want to pick up the trade paperback after reading this first chapter in Lone Wolves.

If youre looking for a sardonically satirical antihero story with hogtaurs and rat/koala/bird familiars, snatch this one up. While you neednt have already read the first arc to get on at this stop, youll probably want to go back and grab the newly released TPB of The Devils Devil to get more of the story.

Enjoy this series for what it is, a What if? style story that happens outside Marvels mainstream continuity. Looking for a self-aware and self-deprecating comic that breaks all the rules? Here it is.

Elsewhere has a little something tucked away for just about everyone. Here is an inventive story that has a strong, historically based, female lead thrown into an anachronistic alien landscape with a tyrannical dictator. Whats not to love?

Clash of Kings is off to a solid start. Fans of the novel series will appreciate the care that has been taken with George R.R. Martin's masterwork. If you're a fan of fantasy, you may want to either start with the first Song of Ice and Fire novel, A Game of Thrones, or the previous series by Dynamite. There is some narrative exposition, but not enough to necessarily bring a brand new reader fully up to speed.

Kill the Minotaur #1 whets the appetite for the next chapter. This is a solid, straightforward introduction to this new(ish) take on a classic. Readers of horror, fantasy, and mythology should definitely give this one a go.

Chris Pasetto and Christian Cantamessa are doing exactly what they set out to do with this series. Theyre turning a myth inside out, challenging everything you think you know about a two thousand year old story. We basically have a locked room mystery with a known ending. What remains to be seen is how many of his companions Theseus can keep alive, and whether any redeeming character traits will develop for our hero.

Lisandro Estherren and Dee Cunniffe are doing a fantastic job selling the script. Estherren's beautifully brutal lines and Cunniffe's muted, earthy palette bring the story to life in a gritty way that screams East Texas.

If you havent been following Redneck, theres still time to jump on board with this fantastic series. You could get in right now with this issue and have a blast going forward, but Id definitely recommend getting the first three issues while you can find them.

Regression has a spot in my pull list for as long as Bunn and co. continue making them. Regression holds something special for readers of supernatural, horror, mystery, and crime procedurals.

Kurt Sutter has two new shows in the works based off the success of the first Sons series. Sons of Anarchy: Redwood Original is a great place to get your fix while waiting for The Mayans and The First Nine to get off the ground.

If youre a fan of horror, mystery, or suspense pick this one up for a buck. The content is very dark, though. Be advised this title carries a Mature rating for good reason. You can also catch one of Rowdy Roddy Pipers final performances in the movie adaptation of The Chair on Blu-Ray and DVD in October.

The Damned would play just as well as a straight gangster noir story or straight occult demon story. The parallels drawn between demon-kind and mobsters are so natural and seamless it makes me wonder why no one has written this story until now.

For my money, this is the Marvel crossover of the summer. This one feels more natural than Civil War II did for me. The conflict is personal, hitting way too close to home for many of the principals.

All of the writers did excellent jobs expanding the original WWE storylines, with accurate representations and natural outcomes of the original kayfabe plot points. The artists for each vignette took great care with performer likenesses and bringing the scripts to life in ways that fit the WWE era they were assigned. If any of these writers or artists was looking for a little side action, they could easily get jobs at WWE creative.