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Post by The Captain on Jun 21, 2019 13:33:26 GMT -5
Didn't see a new thread up this week to discuss the new offerings that were released on June 19, so I thought I would put one out there. Sorry it doesn't have the usual nice graphic like the standard thread.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2019 14:45:06 GMT -5
Sabrina the Teenage Witch #3: The mystery intensifies as the book opens with Sabrina fighting a giant snake monster. I like how she switched from spell to spell and shows that even she is fallible when it comes to magic. Very cool to see her think her way out of her situation. An interesting bit is revealed about her classmates (the brother/sister duo) and we see Sabrina share a kiss with the brother...but what about Harvey? Also, Hilda and Zelda seem to know more than they are letting on about Greendale and the odd happenings and politely tell Sabrina to keep her nose out of it. A filler issue, but a good one. Loved Sabrina's inner monologue throughout. Great colors and art.
8/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2019 9:53:45 GMT -5
Hellboy: The Beast of VarguWritten by Mike Mignola Art by Duncan Fegredo Summary: Hellboy goes to the Carpathians to investigate a series of grizzly murders possibly connected to a haunted castle.
Plot: As some may have noticed I've been really down on the recent additions to Hellboy but this issue is a true return to form for me. Nothing against Chris Roberson, but Hellboy is just better when Mignola is the real driving force of the story as evidenced here in this fantastic one shot. We learn of some murders, we get a moody scene of Hellboy in the ruins of a castle, a monster shows up, Hellboy gets knocked around a lot while trying to punch the monster only to be saved by a timely intervention. Is it a little simplistic and formulaic? You bet...but contrary to popular belief those descriptors are not always synonymous with bad. For a case in point I give you chocolate chip cookies: they are a simplistic treat that follows a tried and true formula and while in the wrong hands that recipe can lead to bland cookies it can lead to an amazing treat for your taste buds with enough care...and that's what Mignola delivers here. Sure we've seen Hellboy punch loads of monsters but with the right pacing and a tantalizingly brief back ground that tugs at your imagination each event is unique. Hopefully with the main stories in the BPRD and Hellboy both done we'll see more involvement like this from Mignola.
Art: If you can't get Mignola on art Duncan is truly the very next best thing and perhaps in some ways he's slightly better as I love the emotions and unique faces he delivers. He gave us great turns in some of the very best Hellboy stories(Darkness Calls, the Wild Hunt and the Storm and the Fury to name just a few!) and this newest one shot is a great addition to those tales.
10/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2019 11:17:01 GMT -5
Usagi Yojimbo #1(or is it #239 shaxper ?)Story, Art and Lettering by Stan Sakai Colored by Tom Luth Summary: Usagi is watching a traditional Bunraku puppet show when he encounters Sasuke the Demon Queller! Plot: {Spoiler: Click to show}Though the span of time between stories was no greater a time than it has been in the past it none the less feels great to have a new copy of Usagi in my hands and from a new publisher to boot! It's still a little strange to see the IDW logo on the cover as Stan had been at Dark Horse the entire time I'd been reading Usagi, but it's not the first publisher change the book has been through and it does nothing to lessen the quality if the book as we have another fantastic start to a story here. Though I tend to like the more down to earth, cultural Usagi stories the best as a lover of horror I do have a soft spot for Stan's supernatural tales as well and Sasuke is a fantastic character so I'm glad to be in this neck of the woods again. However, although I do enjoy Sasuke, there have been times in the past where he made Usagi feel like a minor character in his own book and while I don't mind Stan exploring other characters(in fact some of those stories where Usagi barely appears are some of my favorites) if it goes on for too long it does wear on me a bit so I'm hoping this is more of a short but sweet appearance rather than a longer stay. Art: Crucify me as a heretic now before it's too late and you've read any further but... {Spoiler: Click to show}I think it was a mistake artistically to make the puppets look so life like. Sure, it made the revelation that we were actually watching a puppet show an amusing twist but after that I think there should have been something graphically to set the puppets off from the living characters as by not doing so it really tipped the story's hand on the bigger reveal at the end of the issue. Grade:8/10
But why the spoilers you ask? Well, I know a lot of folks enjoy their Usagi in larger chunks rather than by individual issue so for them I'll keep it under wraps.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2019 12:12:41 GMT -5
Savage Sword of Conan #6Written by Meredith Finch Art by Luke Ross Summary: Thorgeir gets his revenge on Conan for having wronged his uncle Thorfel...but Conan turns the tables.
Plot: This is a fantastic call back to an unsung favorite of mine by Roy Thomas from way back in Savage Tales #4! I hear you saying, who needs a sequel after forty years? And you'd normally be right, that's too long past to remember, however in this case that added continuity isn't a hindrance as you can take the story for only what's on the page and it works more than well enough on it's own while still making the older readers, like myself, smile at a nod to a beloved past adventure in a well one one and done story. I've never read anything by Finch, but she did a great job here and I hope to track down more by her soon.
Art: Ross has a great, almost Kubert style look, to his Conan that for an long time reader like me feels classic which along with the nod to a previous story of yore makes this my favorite new Conan story to date.
Grade:10/10 |
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