James McQueen's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: Big Comic Page Reviews: 57
7.3Avg. Review Rating

3
G.I. Joe: The Cobra Files #7

Nov 5, 2013

On the second read, G.I. Joe became quite funny and it got me thinking that it could be an elaborate comedy; a post-modern take on the 80s action movie. It just had to be kidding me on. This thought died quickly and all I was left with was a messy, overwritten, shredder of a comic.

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3
Ghost (2013) #1

Dec 17, 2013

The art is clean, colourful and for the most part capable but has to shoulder some of the blame when it comes to every character besides Ghost being wholly flat and unremarkable. They look like featureless plastic people. In some respects, everyone in this book manages to be more of a ghost than Elisa and she isnt the strongest character herself. Avoid.

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4
Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #1

Nov 19, 2013

Thats the thing so far we havent seen him become the rascal he is. He is already gambling, playing cards and chain smokingand I wouldve much rather seen him in some early scrapes as a youngster or learning/partying from/with Lieutenant Wyler. It feels tied down to a story barely mentioned in the show and one that might not be worth 5 issues exploring.

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4
Burn The Orphanage: Reign of Terror #1

May 6, 2014

Maybe we were treated to too much too soon by the previous arc. There is still a lot of potential here with a new Streets of Rage style roster of characters whose introduction reminded me of a character selection screen. As an opener, its short on laughs and action but I flat out refuse to give up on this title. Being a massive Beat em Up fan, its just too important.

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4
The Victories (2013) #1

Nov 26, 2013

Its pretty controversial with mad violence which some might find funny but I fund the whole thing pretty baffling. I was certain it was a spoof but by the end I wasnt so sure. If it is then the next issue better be a lot funnier.

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4
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1

Feb 4, 2014

The art isnt too great either with some awkward postures, ropey expressions and the background forest areas are blurrier than that of the N64 game. All the beauty of nature is lost and its an odd choice of look for such a story. With Turok being a hunter, everything would be sharp and focussed but this just feels messy and rushed. Its hard to tell what is going on a lot of the time and its hard to care enough to go back again to make sure you got it right.

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5
Indestructible #1

Dec 11, 2013

The art is colourful and very fitting for the story but nothing about this first issue grabbed me. The characters, dialogue and the plot feel a bit flat and unoriginal. Indestructible #1 is mildly entertaining but lacks any sort of impact.

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5
The Mocking Dead #4

Dec 3, 2013

The black and white art is solid and always impressively detailed but overly obvious and familiar. It can also feel a bit flat despite under the dense detail. The art can feel at odds with the humour at times and a more exaggerated art style couldve been a better fit.Not the train wreck I thought it would be but not brilliant.5/10

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6
Angel & Faith Season 10 #1

Apr 1, 2014

The Angel plot is better. London suits this vampire and, looking forward, Magic Town has a lot of potential for a variety of decent encounters. Its a shame the other series has leaned on it a little but Im sure it wont be too long until this finds its stride.

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6
Deadly Class #1

Jan 21, 2014

All in all, this should be a fun ride but it feels pretty similar to the last bunch so far. You never know, it might be different this time.

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6
Minimum Wage #2

Feb 4, 2014

Its an entertaining read that will have you shaking your head and cringing but theres nothing wrong with that.

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6
Quantum and Woody: Goat #0

Mar 4, 2014

All in all, Goat is a wild ride that needs to be owned by any Quantum and Woody fan. Its a funky little piece of madness and a worthwhile little diversion from the well usual madness.

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6
Red Sonja (2013) #5

Nov 19, 2013

All of the characters in this comic are suspiciously beautiful, though. With the obvious exception of the mermen (yaas!), everyone in this comic could easily be in a shampoo, toothpaste, underwear and gymadvert. Even the severed heads that are thrownon the fire look like they were takenfrom the shoulders of Firemen during a calendar shoot. There are no cuts or bruises or bloodstains after battle and considering Red Sonja is infectedwith the plague, she could still easily walk her way to the title of Miss World. This clean look threatens the impact of any violence on display making it hard to believe.

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6
Star Wars: Darth Maul: Son Of Dathomir #1

May 20, 2014

Never being much of a talker, Maul is written well here. The rage has been building and someone, likely many, will be on the receiving end of his light sabre. The rest of the big hitters have some good lines too with General Grievous in particular looking to be on fine form. Its shaping up to be a good and important story and one that Star Wars fans should certainly check out.

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6
TMNT Villain Microseries #7

Oct 29, 2013

Without a turtle in sight, its a bit of mindless carnage and fun.

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6
The 7th Sword #1

Apr 22, 2014

With so much going on there is a lot to explain in this opening issue. The setting does grab you but perhaps at the expense of the characters. 7th Sword is certainly an exciting cocktail but one thats taken ages to be placed in front of me. Hopefully Ill get to taste it soon.

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7
Archer & Armstrong (2012) #17

Jan 14, 2014

The art is bold, crisp and colourful. The characters, the tombs, the lighting (despite not having an obvious source) are all excellent. In real life they would be fighting in complete darkness in such a setting. It also follows the formulaic end of arc comic book rumble. The good thing is that its entertaining with more than a few laughs to keep you grinning along the way.

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8
Creepy Comics #15

Feb 11, 2014

The stories in this book dont have an ounce of fat between them. Not one panel and barely a single word is wasted; yet each story gives you just enough to make you pull that wicked wee grin we all crave. Its why we read this stuff, right?

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6
Creepy Comics #16

Apr 8, 2014

Throw Creepy into the mix of your usual file and you wont be disappointed. Its vile imagination will always raise a grin.

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7
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics Vol. 2 #3

Jan 7, 2014

Its a done in one issue which is refreshing but its not very well balanced; falling a bit flat towards the end. The dialogue is a bit dodgy in places and the moral of the story has all the grace of a haymaker. Get it if youre a sucker for nostalgia. If not, buy it for a kid and itll make their day then slyly read it yourself.

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7
The New Ghostbusters #9

Nov 5, 2013

Its very encouraging to see this team in charge of the Ghostbusters future. Needless to say, I was quite impressed with this comic. Its perhaps pitched to a younger crowd but when its done this well its always worth a read.

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7
The New Ghostbusters #10

Nov 26, 2013

I continue to beimpressed by the pacing of this book. There is just enough progression from issue to issue to keep a reader engrossed in the grand scheme of things. At the same time anyone could pick up this up for the first time and not be disoriented. If you are pining for a new Ghostbusters movie then pick this up instead.

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8
The New Ghostbusters #12

Jan 28, 2014

It maybe ends a bit too quickly and the fact that Ortiz is retelling events to her boss puts everything in the past. As a result, some of the immediacy is lost but its been a fun holiday season with this run. If you can believe it, next month celebrates 30 years of Ghostbusters. Good to see it in safe hands.

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7
Bloodhound: Crowbar Medicine #2

Nov 12, 2013

Its a bit of a one man show so far with little of the characters really able to step out of his shadow. Even his partner, Saffron, seems completely peripheral and without stronger personalities for Travis to come up against we might not see this become great. I just hope Dark Horse gives it the chance that DC for some idiotic reason did not.

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8
Bloodhound: Crowbar Medicine #5

Mar 25, 2014

Its a very satisfying and harsh conclusion to a game changing arc for the series. I doubt many of the characters will be the same afterwards. It also clears up the mystery of the arcs title

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8
Baltimore: Chapel Of Bones #1

Dec 31, 2013

This is the first comic I have thats dated 2014 and a sublime piece of Gothic Horror is a great way to kick off the New Year.

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8
Dark Horse Presents (2011) #30

Nov 20, 2013

Its a tricky comic to reviewand I could go through every single one of the 10 stories on offer but, since each chapter is only ten pages long, I worry about even mentioning them. This could go against BCPs spoiler free nature. Quality wise its a mixed bag of 6, 7 and perhaps even an 8 out of 10 but put them all together and it becomes an experience.

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8
Dark Horse Presents (2011) #31

Dec 17, 2013

Its hard to go wrong with Dark Horse Presents. Its like an idea factory thats occasionally filled with fleeting greatness and adds a bit of variety to the usual monthly suspects.

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8
Elephantmen #56

Apr 29, 2014

Its like a weird hybrid of Animal Farm and 100 Bullets and what a cool little comic it is.

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8
Eternal Warrior (2013) #5

Jan 21, 2014

Theres a cool bond between the old Gilad and his infant Granddaughter. He seems to be a great, if wrathful, role model and itll be interesting to see how this pans out. The writing is nice and succinct and the fact Gilad is teaching his Granddaughter its a great way for us to learn about the new world as well. This is a nice jumping point for anybody looking for a decent yarn. Its early doors and a quick read but Im totally keen to see a bunch of nasty slavers get acquainted with the Eternal Warrior.

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8
Eternal Warrior (2013) #6

Feb 11, 2014

Having a demi god as the main character of any story can be worrying. Its hard to create any sort of drama or tension if the main character can shake off a nuclear blast. The team creative team have done well to explore the morality and consequences of his actions. Having his seemingly immortal Granddaughter along for the ride certainly helps. It looks like there are some hard decisions ahead for the pair.

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8
Eternal Warrior (2013) #7

Mar 25, 2014

The choices before Gilad are getting trickier by the issue. The right answer is getting harder to see. The journey continues to be a testing one and itll be an experience to see where they end up.

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8
Quantum and Woody #6

Dec 3, 2013

The patter between the ill matched foster brothers as they squabble is a delight. I just hope they somehow manage to keep it together long enough to KLANG on each others wristband every 24 hours they die if they dont and there is too much comedy at stake.

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8
Quantum and Woody #7

Jan 7, 2014

The dialogue and character expression make this book shine. Some of the glances Quantum and Woody share are hilarious. Woody always makes the time to wind up Quantum no matter how many guns are pointed at them and he always rises to the bait. Pick this up if you fancy a laugh.

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8
Quantum and Woody #8

Feb 18, 2014

Its encouraging to see a superhero comic as daft as this. It scowls at the seriousness of all the others and is awesome as a result.

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8
Rai #1

Apr 29, 2014

Rai (or perhaps this version of him) looks to be an interesting character; hes already conflicted and recognises the tricky challenges ahead. Even for someone this powerful, you get the feeling the situation is dangerously running away from him. Peace time is over and itll be a compelling ride to watch Rai try and drag it back.

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8
Red Team #7

Mar 11, 2014

It takes backbone to end a series like rhis on such a morally ambiguous note, but Red Team #7 succeeds in taking this story to its natural conclusion while leaving space for further stories with these characters. It might be dark, but it's a gripping read.

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8
Star Mage #1

Apr 15, 2014

The comparisons with Harry Potter are obvious but Darien even has the poster on his bedroom wall. Its refreshing to see a story aimed directly at the younger generation. This could be a lot of fun.

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8
Star Mage #2

May 20, 2014

There's a lot to like about this book and it's only getting started. School seemed hard enough but the challenges are mounting for poor Darrien.

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8
Suicide Risk #10

Feb 5, 2014

This is a nice, original take on the never-dying superhero genre with a bit of grit and cool Sci-Fi. Who doesnt like all of that?

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8
The Shaolin Cowboy: Who'll Stop the Reign? (2013) #3

Dec 10, 2013

This is some uncompromising and fiercely original work by Darrow.

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9
The Shaolin Cowboy: Who'll Stop the Reign? (2013) #4

Jan 7, 2014

A four issue fight scene shouldnt work this well but looking back it has been an experience. Its like Yuen Woo-ping on acid and this arc has been a rare treat. Its bravely original, refreshingly unique and has an ending that will change your day. Also, just look at that cover.

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7
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #1

Nov 12, 2013

Wraith is a dense read with a lot of narrative and script which can really dominate the panels on the page. This will no doubt please fans of the novel NOS4A2 and it is well written but with so much packed in it feels like its a page or two short of artwork. Its a fine start though.

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8
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #2

Dec 11, 2013

When reading this comic you are always aware that there is something horrible around the corner. There is a feeling of dread that goes along with all great horrors and that isthe sensethat everyone is fucked. Wraith has this covered.

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8
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #3

Jan 14, 2014

With great art, top writing and a fresh take on horror this book is on a roll.

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10
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #4

Feb 25, 2014

There is a lot going on in this series; its brilliantly twisted and nasty with a mean sense of humour and striking art. With 3 issues to go – the horror is just getting started. I doubt the snow will stay pristine and white for long

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8
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #5

Mar 25, 2014

This issue lacks the suspense of the journey into Christmasland and the manic action of their arrival. There are no snowballs being hurled at Manx. Instead, we focus on a relationship being formed by Chess and Agnes. Having the three convicts scattered across Christmasland means a lot of the patter is missing from previous issues. Its still a compelling and twisted ride regardless and the ending is pretty remarkable

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10
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #6

May 13, 2014

From a gritty prison escape to this twisted tundra, its hard to believe where weve ended up. From laying low in a barn to laying low in a ferris wheel; from hiding from the cops to hiding from the moon – this series continues to be monstrously surreal and a hell of a lot of fun.

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10
Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland #7

Jun 10, 2014

Its been a wild and crazy ride with Manx. That Rolls Royce of his has taken us from a nasty reality into a fantastical nightmare. When words and art work this well together, its storytelling at its finest.

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8
B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth #115

Jan 14, 2014

This is the first in a five issue arc and the busiest team in comics have deftly started another chapter. Here we are after 20 years of Hellboy and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with an apocalypse.

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10
B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth #118

Apr 15, 2014

Ground zero of the apocalypse is getting messier and messier. You dont want to let this pass you by. Its a hell of a view.

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9
Sledgehammer '44: Lightning War #1

Nov 26, 2013

Mignolahas been creatingthis lore for going on 20 years now and the wealth of quality ideas he has instilled into his own unique lore is unrivalled. This short three issue arc will add another chapter to the rich history of the series and everyone should read it. No exceptions.

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8
Sledgehammer '44: Lightning War #2

Dec 17, 2013

Mignola seems to be firing them out just now (Hellboy, Abe Sapien, Sledgehammer hes even got a Hellboy short in this months Dark Horse Presents) and the consistency never seems to dip. This story lasts three issues and the setting, characters, plot are all set up well without it ever feeling rushed or skimmed. One more issue to go and there is no way in hell, Im missing it.

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10
Sledgehammer '44: Lightning War #3

Jan 28, 2014

The dialogue is peppered sparingly throughout this issue which is a great decision " it allows the action to flow without being interrupted. We can just focus on the hulking, shiny, armoured Sledgehammer battle the Nazi garbed bones of the Black Flame. It may not be the most subtle book but its relentless action, taut script and eye-widening art make it a truly unforgettable one.

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10
Clone #15

Mar 4, 2014

There is much to like about this series. The strapline of this book reads, Not all Clones are Created Equal. There are many different types of clones born from the same person and they are all different beings. Its a very satisfying premise and this issue falls nothing short of being an explosive ending to an awesome piece of Sci-Fi.

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10
Clone #16

May 6, 2014

Simply put, Clone is one of the best series around just now.

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10
Southern Bastards #2

May 27, 2014

The plot is burning slowly but the quality is there to keep you gripped. Earl is as hardboiled as they come and seems tough enough to face the past, or even just the place, hes been running from for the past 40 years. I love him already. Whether he likes it or not, he looks up to the challenge. His clenched fists and gritted teeth show the anger hes struggling to keep in check. I just want to be around for the reckoning.

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