Marco Piva-Dittrich Comic Reviews

Story and art are both incredible

An amazing start for this new series

"Little Nemo" is back, and it's still magic

Rough, dirty, awesome

Constantly improving, and it had already started very well

The world of The Humans is a great creation. True, it is pretty much the world as it was in the early 1970s in a biker gang in the USA " but with apes replacing people. OK, let's rephrase it. The characters of The Humans and their interactions are outstanding. This book, like the previous three issues, has the feel of something that could have been created back in those years, with all the tiny imperfections in the slightly yellowing paper and a certain style in the art that can be pinpointed to that period and that period only.

The Humans is a brilliant series; this issue #5, despite being the start of a new arc, requires at least some prior knowledge of the characters, so I'd advise everyone who wants to get into The Humans to start from the recently published Humans for Life trade paperback collecting the first four issues.

So, who should read The Humans? Well, everyone. Unless you are easily offended, that is. The Humans is gritty and realistic (despite the fact that they are all apes), and incredibly enjoyable.

Another hard-hitting issue for this fantastic series

Once more, The Humans doesn't disappoint: blood, violence and gore - and family, loyalty and a strange kind of love.

The Humans go pedal-to-the-metal in this issue, filled with blood and anger.

This last issue of The Humans delivers - and then something more. A fantastic conclusion for an outstanding series.

A lot of different styles meet in this issue

An incredibly funny ride

A great start

From an excellent start, Drifter keeps improving

Complex story, wonderful art

The plot gets more complicated, the art is majestic

Spectacular conclusion to a complex but well written story arc

Now: would I advise to read Drifter? Sure. But not if you are looking for easy entertainment. Drifter is not a series you can read distractedly: it requires concentration, Ivan Brandon seems to be challenging the reader with every small event. But it is so rewarding"

A very complex but very interesting issue.

Complex and convoluted as always, but extremely interesting. Brilliant art.

A majestic conclusion to the second story arc for this series, with lots of questions answered - and even more questions asked.

An interesting start to a new series; plenty of promise

Still building up towards something big, but quite good anyway

Transitory issue, but very well built

Another very good issue

Brilliant conclusion to a great story-arc

Wayward is back: do yourself a favour and start reading it.

Thrilling and full of surprises

Great and always improving

Once again, Wayward managed to go past my expectations " which are pretty high with this series. The next issue will conclude the second story arc, so I'd suggest to start catching up fast.

This second, great story arc concludes with an amazing issue wrapped up by a genuinely jaw-dropping moment.

A great way to kickstart a new story arc

Another great issue in this fascinating series

A fantastic, compelling read

A great adventure full of fascinating poetry

Great start for an interesting miniseries

Smart and angry. A miniseries to follow

Big Man Plans is not an easy, straightforward book to read in 15 minutes and forget: it has imagery that will remain embedded in your mind for a long time.

This miniseries concludes with a hard-hitting issue, dark and gritty but amazing.

An extremely interesting start

Very interesting read, with the plot getting thicker and thicker. Well worth reading.

A transitional issue, but still very good - and the art is outstanding.

A good build-up for something explosive that will soon happen

From high to high!

A transitional but very interesting issue

Compelling start to a new arc

This issue #14 of Manifest Destiny is not exactly the richest in action " but there is so much going on in the story that it just flies.

Getting weirder and more interesting issue after issue

Manifest Destiny is a really entertaining series, full of adventure and with an interesting cast of characters. Get into it!

A complex story that gets weirder and more interesting by the issue

A story arc concludes here, with huge surprises

A transitional issue that however brings several storylines together

Puzzling (in a good way). Amazing art.

One more issue of Elephantmen that will make the reader wait impatiently for the next " probably one of the best things that can be said about a series.

A fascinating issue

A slower issue, dense with tips at what might happen in the future

All in all, Elephantmenis a great series. Sure, we already reached issue #65, but don't worry: it will be easy to get into it. Give it a try!

Once again, then, Elephantmen proves to be an interesting series, with a pretty deep sociological analysis disguised under an entertaining adventure. What more can you ask for in a comic book?

Another very good issue for "Elephantmen".

This series is getting even more complex and exciting

A good first issue, asking many questions

Good characters, interesting and well developed story

Getting better with every issue

More and more interesting

Southern Cross is complex, weird, compelling. The atmosphere created, both thanks to what happens in the story and to the art, that represents perfectly the vaguely claustrophobic and artificially lit atmosphere on the Southern Cross, is amazingly realistic despite the events taking place.

A very interesting conclusion to this arc

The stories in it are all great " and the cause is worthy. It costs 6 US Dollars (sorry, 5.99) for 44 pages, and it is for charity. There is no reason not to buy it.

Very interesting start to the series

Secret Identities shows us an extremely interesting side of the world of superheroes, bringing up stuff that we just might not have thought about. It is an extremely entertaining, fun read, and this second issue opens up a series of subplots that will definitely bring something very interesting with them. If I'd have to place a bet on the most relevant one, I'd go for the one involving Gaijin. Besides the "traitor" story, I mean.

This series is a very interesting one: on one side, it does fit the typical "superhero comic" stereotype, with the villain of the month and funny characters with amazing superpowers. But on the other hand, however, Secret Identities makes those superheroes into real people. True, all superheroes have a" well, a secret identity, but normally the stories are focussed on what they do while wearing their costumes. Here, instead, we see regular people with regular lives who happen to have been born with certain powers and try to help others through them. And this goes even for the aliens, ancient creatures and (mostly) artificial beings in the story.

A very entertaining series to read, that can be followed on several levels.

A great issue, going deep into the personal issues of some members of the team.

Secret Identities is a fun yet deep superhero series, very well written and full of those issues that are normally ignored in more "regular" stories. The two authors, Brian Joines and Jay Faerber, managed to create an interesting, believable world, well illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis.

An interesting take on well known characters

A slow build-up towards the end of the series

The only flaw is that it all ends here

A good start for a new series

Very interesting developments, and there's more to come

Constantly improving

One more great issue of this series that's becoming more and more interesting.

Good conclusion to this arc

A new story arc opens in a very interesting way

Danger and mystery take central stage

A great issue focussed on a very interesting character

A brilliant adventure with quite some depth in its characters.

A satisfactory, surprising ending to the second story arc in this very good series.

An original take on mutants and superpowers

Extremely interesting

Complex and convoluted - but perfectly crafted

In They're Not Like Us, something huge will be happening soon: it is absolutely obvious from what happens in this issue. Give it a read.

At a first glance this may look like a transitional issue, but there's a lot of stuff happening in the background.

A vintage-style delight

A compelling superhero thriller

Complex and compelling

Lots of surprises and shocking revelations

C.O.W.L. is a brilliant series, full of references to the period with the addition of superheroes. Jump on the bandwagon, while there is still time.

A great way to conclude the series, with (almost) all the subplots being wrapped up.

Weird stuff, but really cool

A surprisingly good story. I'm very curious to know where Michael Stock will bring us now, as the "original story" created by his daughter has been told in the first two issues of the comic: will his creativity be on pair with young Nico's?

A brand new angle on some old themes

A great read

The story flows and this issue, that concludes the first story arc of Penny Dora and the Wishing Box (a collected edition will be published in July), is no different from the previous ones: adventure, fun and some social commentary on children " but not too much of it, Penny Dora is far from being a boring pedagogic dissertation.

An interesting start to this series

An extremely interesting (and sometimes quite moving) second issue for Descender, then; definitely worth a read.

Still quite interesting

After a slow start, Descender is becoming a really interesting series. The next issue will conclude the first story arc, and I'm sure there are big surprises waiting for us. Stick with Descender, you'll find out that it is worth your time.

An interesting, albeit slightly derivative, series with outstanding art

A very interesting conclusion to this first story arc, with lots of ideas thrown in - all perfectly brought to conclusion.

At a first glance, Descender could seem a complicated series to pick up " but trust me, it is not. Just allow yourself to be carried by the story. And this issue, being the start of a new arc, is ideal to try.

Once again, a big praise must go to the art of Descender. Everything, and I do mean everything, is a watercolour. In this issue in particular Nguyen's art reaches new highs in" urm" a certain scene on (or near) a certain planet. Nothing more I can add without entering the spoiler area.

A very interesting story is developing. And the art is outstanding.

The pace of the story is slow but brilliant. Great read

Very interesting, odd story

Interesting first issue, the future of Nightworld looks bright

Interesting story, peculiar art

The plot thickens, the art remains old-fashioned (and great)

Great conclusion to the miniseries

Pyrotechnic conclusion of a great story arc

A transitional issue that suggests interesting developments

Thief of Thieves starts (re)gaining its pace

Getting more and more interesting

The story starts getting complex - and every time more interesting

When I started reading Thief of Thieves, I thought it would be an entertaining series but that it would soon get repetitive; well, the authors proved me wrong on the latter theory. This is a constantly evolving series, with surprises after surprises.

Good start to a miniseries that promises fireworks

Surprising, especially but not only in a positive way

An issue that leaves the reader with lots of unanswered questions " which is good, as they will (hopefully) be solved soon.

Seems slightly rushed, but definitely not bad

Blood, guts, violence, zombies - a fun read

An interesting start for a new miniseries, with plenty of subplots opening.

A good story with some very interesting revelations that may explain something about the whole "'68 Zombies" universe!

As the "'68 Zombies" universe starts wrapping up, something extremely unexpected happens. A surprising issue.

A spectacular ending for a whole universe.

Compelling, fast, full of action

A pretty good start for this new series - let's see where it goes from here.

Interesting turn of events here...

The story improves, the art is getting too close to comedy

Imperial keeps improving

Incredibly confusing, but in a good way

Complex, odd, interesting

Extremely convoluted. In a good (but creepy) way.

Very complex, very interesting

As usual, extremely puzzling but also very interesting

Extremely challenging, but very satisfactory

A children-oriented series with lots of potential for adults too

Things are getting weird. In a good way.

A fun ride for all ages

Oddly Normal is a series that, oddly (horrible pun fully intended), asks two new questions for every answer given. What initially might have seemed a simple children story is slowly becoming a really interesting adventure " still good for all ages.

An intimate, personal issue

Childish fun... very funny for adults, too

Cute, heartwarming, entertaining

Oddly Normal is an interesting series for everyone, definitely worth a try " whatever format it will be published in. And Frampton, in the letters page, gives us hints at something even bigger"

A first issue used mostly to introduce the characters and set up future events, but already quite captivating

Still building up, but we start understanding more. Worth a read.

Ringside is a good series; if you are a pro wrestling fan, you'll enjoy the many references to "the business"; if you are not " well, those are not intrusive: even the subplot focused specifically on the wrestling company is pretty easy to follow. Do give it a try!

So diverse that there's something for every taste

Great story, art not on the same level

A captivating thriller

More and more interesting, despite a below-average art

Brilliant story, below-average art

Great story despite the disappointing art

Outstanding story, poor art

The Fuse is a really good series, and I do advise our readers to give it a chance: you won't regret it!

A very interesting thriller

The story in this story arc is accurately confusing. What I mean is that Antony Johnston has opened a huge number of subplots (and suggested more) and is now slowly starting to bring them together. Unfortunately, however, the art in The Fuse is not getting any better. I am aware that I may seem monotonous about this issue, but" well, I will just leave you with this image of Ristovych and Dietrich, of their slasher smile and vacant eyes"

A brilliant story slightly spoiled by a below-par art

A very good thriller with brilliant characters

Better than the sum of its parts. Still some margins for improvement.

Extremely peculiar and different