Caleb Palmquist Comic Reviews

In this stellar first issue, Humphries and co. deliver a hilarious and riveting story about a man who just might be a big enough fool to make a perfect U.S. Presidential candidate. The book strikes a perfect balance between political punditry and compelling narrative. If a man like Jack were to be elected as president, I would be terrified, but in this case I'm secretly rooting for him. I want to know just how far he'll go to get what he wants, and see how badly he botches every step along the way. I'm more than ready for the second issue.

The scenes on the surface during the day are where artist Giovanni Timpano and colorist Chris Northrop really shine (quite literally). The idea that the characters would need special climate controlled suits just to walk through city streets during the day is incredibly surreal, and the creative team does an excellent job of capturing the concept. The sepia-toned landscapes are broken down and washed out. Even though the backgrounds are recognizable as city streets, they feel alien. Between the intense light, the eerie emptiness of the streets, and Timpano's rough cut figures, every scene on the surface feels as breathless as a Cormac McCarthy novel.

Word of the Nerdreceived Hardian's Wall #1 as an advanced review copy.The final date for orders of Hadrian's Wall is August 22nd.

Invincible #123was a little slow, but it tied up a major plotline from the last few arcs in a satisfying way, and set up for a new arc that should prove to be exciting, especially for long-time fans of the series. Ryan Ottley's art, Cliff Rathburn, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu, as ever,give us striking lines and bright colors that are the signature ofInvincible.This issue is a must-read for fans, but casual readers may want to give it a miss.

Murphy and Hollingsworth's grim future world of Los Angeles strikes just the right balance between depressing and brightly colorful. This is a world that is falling apart around the people who live in it, but they do not even notice, because their attention is all devoted to the vibrant world of the internet they can all see through their nanopaks. Stark contrasts and a constant sense of motion define the aesthetic of this book, making it compelling and gut-wrenching at the same time.Though the message may be heavy-handed, Remender and company seem to be telling a familiar story with a fresh perspective. At the end of the first issue, our characters are on their way to the last tech-free place on the planet: the "Garden of Tokyo." What they discover there and how the story progresses will determine whether Tokyo Ghost is a thought-provoking discourse on the nature of technology, or a trite, navel-gazing self-indulgence. I'm hoping for the former.

Of course, the crushing hopelessness of the story is brought to dismal life by the mega talented Skroce and colorist Matt Hollingsworth. The incredible artwork shines in the torture scenes, especially in the contrast between McFadden's reactions to physical and emotional torture. Her pain is evident in Skroce's skillful portrayal of her reactions. He even manages to humanize the officer administering the torture in a single poignant panel that gives us a brief look behind her rough exterior.This issue builds intensity and raises the stakes of the series, establishing the inhuman cruelty of the U.S. armed forces and the desperation of the Two-Four rebels. Everything is coming to a head, and we are sure to see a major conflict between the U.S. forces and the rebels in the upcoming issues. Vaughan and Skroce have built a world that is compelling and bone-chillingly terrifying at the same time. If you are not reading We Stand On Guard yet, you really should be.