Rachel Bellwoar Comic Reviews

All the behind-the-scenes Hollywood drama you could want smushed into one issue " that's The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #1 in a nutshell.

Will 1973 be a better year for Elena Abbott than 1972 was?

Transportive settings and fun homages to The Wizard of Oz (popsicles that look like characters Wax will meet in Discopia) make Sci-Fu a dope mix(tape) of familar ideas taken to new planets.

A similar storytelling structure makes Madius Comic's follow-up to King's Leap, Ake's Trial, extra noteworthy for its divergences.

Amazing Ages #1 is nostalgic catnip, right up there with Stand By Me and Stranger Things in the 80's, friendship department.

Angel City #4 has Dolores and Co. ignoring past warnings to land themselves in bigger trouble than before.

If you're ever set up for murder, Dolores is the person you want to emulate, in a dialogue crackling penultimate issue to Angel City.

Magritte was an artist who operated on contradictions andMagritte proves it's point to its own detriment. No explanation of RenMagritte's work can compare to viewing his paintings.

Bullseye #1 is prepared for readers having the attention span of the titular character, and in the end, it pays off.

A bunny out of water story, that has a lot more going on, with its nettlesome narrator, and touching art by Rosie Packwood.

Gods have been having a mini resurgence in pop culture this year, but Cloudia & Rex is the first of the recent crop (American Gods, Wonder Woman) where I haven't felt like an outlier to the enthusiasm.

Cold War #1 is a successful first issue that reminds readers to question anything that sounds too good to be true (also, that Gatorade-colored cover rocks).

Pam Grier movie meets The Incredible Shrinking Man is Vault Comics' Colossi #1.

A second printing of the first issue comes out October 30th. The second issue comes out November 6th.

Part Buffy, part Law and Order, and part its own gritty animal, to use a corny pun, this issue brings bite to two genres that have been done numerous times before.

Corktown #2 slows down the pace for some spectacular representations of grief.

Usually graphic novels are self-contained, but Curtiss Hill leaves a lot of storylines unresolved. If there is a sequel in the works, it would've been nice if the cover indicated that, so readers could go in not expecting an ending, but if there isn't going to be one, the ending is fairly disappointing. Readers are cheated out of a confrontation while the character of Dino is completely shorted from getting a voice.

Few comics have more atmosphere to burn than Tyler Boss' Dead Dogs Bite.

Deathstroke #12 lands the big prison exit but falters with a character entrance.

Delicates isn't easy and if you're not up to sadness, it might not be the right choice right now but there's a weight to this sequel and fans of Sheets shouldn't skip it.

So far writer, Jody Houser, is keeping Missy's plan under wraps, but the conditions by which she meets the Master are quite unusual.

Pitting Dracula against a demon is surprising but not without drawbacks in Evil Dead 2: Revenge of Dracula.

While Fearscape is accessible to all readers, English majors (guilty) might feel slightly bigheaded, recognizing all the references, and the prospect of more historical storylines, opened by meeting one of the storytellers who came before Henry, threatens to steal the issue away from him. A comic that's worth a read to see how it's constructed, as much as to see what it's about,Fearscape #1goes on saleSeptember 26thfromVault Comics.

Artistic ingenuity by Njib brings David Bowie's career launching stay at Haddon Hall to life.

Heavenly Blues is a theater where what you think you know about Hell gets averted.

Heavenly Blues might have its sights towards heaven in issue three but readers won't be in any rush to leave hell.

I, Holmes's Sherlock Holmes roots hinder, rather than help, the series in its action-packed first outing (I Rose is the famous detective's fifth generation great granddaughter).

The topics discussed during "Regroup" may not warrant an entire issue, but Bryan Hitch's art and Alex Sinclair's colors provide an energy that the story misses.

Kaijumax imagines what it would be like if humans created an island prison for kaiju movie monsters.

After another fighter outs him at a press conference, James' career takes a hit. Will this comeback story respond with readers?

From celebrated manga writer, Shigeru Mizuki, Kitaro: Strange Fun for Everyone knows what it's doing by throwing you into its world of Japanese folklore. You're going to want to backtrack to the beginning.

In Snow White, the Evil Queen used her magic mirror to find out who's the fairest in the land. Mandy is learning magic from hers. What could go wrong?

Issue one stirs up tension from deceptively mundane activities and very little dialogue. Writer, Matthew Erman, lulls readers into thinking the comic isn't complicated because the scenes are very normal. Piper takes her dog out to poop. Piper feeds her dog. Piper checks her text messages while sitting on the toilet (and that one's the best, because how many comics take the time to acknowledge people go to the bathroom, too?) but you get to the end and realize you have to go back.

Loot isn't National Treasure but it scratches a similar itch, as Emily tries to figure out where Diana Jensen's treasure map leads.

'Lucy in the Sky' is more than the Beatles, but if they're the reason you pick this book up, that'sterrific.

There's enough fun to be had in this issue that it doesn't matter yet, but can Ennis and Suduka sustain a time travel series where the risks have been eliminated?

Meticulous interiors, expansive cityscapes, and one incredible opening flashback mark the beginning of Masked: Anomalies.

Issue two develops nicely off of issue one but leaves our point of view character in a precarious position.

The figures from Masked: Anomalies' covers make their debut in issue three.

Created and written by Troy Vevasis, with art by Aleksandar Jovic, Mr. Crypt #1 is the perfect pick-me-up for a lousy day.

With a star turn by Baron Rat and monocle fashion statements, Mr. Crypt and the Vampire Menace is the kind of treat I wish people handed out on Halloween instead of candy.

Mr. Crypt's sure come a long way in his final, and craziest, adventure yet.

Until now I've been a fan of Nick Cave's without really knowing anything about him. Reinhard Kleist's graphic novel, Nick Cave: Mercy On Me, is an almighty achievement.

No Angel #1 could've remained an effective small town whodunit. Instead it takes two Biblical twists that have me very excited to see where this comic is going.

No Angel #2 brings some smart characterizations but weighs too much action for the ending, leaving a scarcer middle section.

The early confidence that Odyssey of the Amazons #1 has to leave the Amazon in such dire straits has me excited to see how Grevioux will write them out in issue #2.

There's a beauty to the containment of the one shot but it also means there are a few cases of stories being cut off rightwhen they're about to get rolling, which could be for lack of timeor lack of answers. We never get to learnthe meaning behindAmanda or Adam's dreams,andAmanda disappears from the narrative entirely. We miss her, which is no small potatoes, and the ending doesn't try to square everything up happily.Quilte does a lot right but feels like it's settling or holding backfrom being great.

Particularly in the cliffhanger ending, that leaves our heroes in a compromising position, Ramlock Investigates has a very 1960's Batman vibe, and, if there's any other way of taking that, I mean it as a compliment.

Whether or not you might wish thebackstorycovered was less expansive, it does get alot of the grunt explanation out of the way, leaving the second half of the first issue entirely devoted to an interesting present day. With Ashlar's new goal being revenge on Romulus (a page depicting the methods they employed to destroy the Wolvesensuringyou understand why), will her continued use of their same methods of murder allow her to find the vengeance she seeks?

Sabrina has been struggling to find time for her friends lately (and her love life is extremely complicated), but should that really be such a concern when there's a serial killer on the loose?

While Sabrina continues to look for a spell that will stop Ren and Radka from turning into a wendigo, can Ren be trusted with her secret?

Will Sabrina be a match for head witch, Della, inSabrina the Teenage Witch: Something Wicked #5 finale?

Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter packs on the monsters for some very entertaining showdowns.

The Loch Ness Monster gives The Great Pumpkin a run for his money inScotland Bound, Charlie Brown.

Scrimshaw #1 quickly strikes its own path with distinctive characters and a desire to consider big issues like the environment and immigration. Unexpected elements of fantasy keep you on your toes. As a fan of overseas adventures, this comic endeavors to provide that and more.

Overall, Scrimshaw #2 is a piece mover but has some stand out material for antagonist, Mr. Song.

The thought of the Runaway Horse team dispersing so quickly after coming together was disappointing in issue two, but in execution, with more of Mims' beautiful ocean shots, Scrimshaw has made the difference inconsequential. One storyline doesn't triumph over the other and there is no shortage of bad guys to go around.

Shipwreck #3 may be my least favorite issue of Shipwreck so far but that means nothing in a series this good.

The quickness to kill can make reading Songs for the Dead troubling but it's a comic that's challenging neglected terrain.

Fresh characterizations give new life to a story about a young girl's journey to become a knight.

Like a PG-rated Fame, Jenni, Maggie, and Lauren are backup singers in The Backups: A Summer of Stardom.

A murder mystery set in 1920's London that addresses abuses against women and war veterans.

Rising to the challenge of establishing a world, "Ides of March" sets up numerous story possibilities for when issue one gets released this fall.

While I hold out for a prequel series, Olmos' comic adaptation of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari offers new ways of looking at a classic horror film.

The Dark #2: The Howl is a study in how a cover can lead you astray. I won't make the mistake of overlooking this series again.

The Diamond Star #1 packs a complete story with a positive message about self-improvement and a strong father-daughter team.

Ulises Arreola's colors keeps the two worlds separate. You're always aware that you're in an enclosed space on board the ship, because of the way the artificial lights bounce off the walls and tile. The desert scenes, meanwhile, are full of clear skies and scorching sun, while a new setting, where Vexana goes to look for a witch, includes the rare sighting of plant life. As the two time lines grow more in sync, Vexana continues to be an amazing case study. You won't be forgetting this 'forgotten queen' anytime soon.

I'm not sure what an end to this series looks like but if it's anything like the beginning and middle it's going to leave a mark.

For all of the fighting, The Forgotten Queen is a personal story and that's thanks to Amilcar Pinna's focus on Vexana's face. Every emotion is laid bare, and it's why accepting this series could be over is such a bummer. Vexana can never be done but will we hear the rest of her story?

Nellie Bly lived an extraordinary life but The Incredible Nellie Blyis more for younger readers who might not know much about her career.

Greek and Roman myths have been done. It's time for Norse tales to be told.

Tin and his mom speak different languages. Can their mutual love of fairy tales help them find their voices?

The Order is time travel without the travel; battles that build progressively; warriors in their twilight years that will gain your full support, and wholly deserve it.

The Order is time travel without the travel; battles that build progressively; warriors in their twilight years that will gain your full support, and wholly deserve it.

The Queen's Favorite Witch isn't trying to be non-fiction, but those hoping for more historical fiction on the lines of Discovery of Witches might have better luck with the sequel.

A fresh take on The Little Mermaidthat never feels like a retread, the crowdfunding campaign forThe Sea in Youruns until June 30th.

For a playful series that serious about how we treat people in the public eye,There's Nothing Theregets the highest marks.

Space Journeyis Tommy and his friends' favorite show, but does that make them prepared for an actual alien encounter? 

When going to live with someone you've never met before, it helps if the person knows you are coming. Turtle finds this out the hard way in Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel.

Uncanny Valley High is a familiar but clever issue that's part of Space Goat Publishing's great new line of Backpack Editions (graphic novels made to fit bags).