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| << November13, 2004 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 497.06 |
November13, 2004 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 497.09 >> |
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------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/bGIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> RICH's REVIEWS continue . . . Title: Marvel Age Hulk # 2 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Mike Raicht Artist: Patrick Scherberger Price: $ 1.75 US, $ 2.50 Can Comments: This tale has Hulk going up against several cyborgs. The fights are filled with action. The Hulk really tears up a diner when the Cyborgs attack. It is nice though to see a comic not have to be overly violent to be entertaining. Bruce's character is a lot more carefree now. Its great seeing him more relaxed, back the way he was at the start. The art is still simple and still good for this style comic. Title: Ultimate Spider-Man # 66 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Penciler: Mark Bagley Inker: Scott Hanna Price: $ 2.25 US, $ 3.25 Can Comments: The art is very good. The heroes are not in costume but Wolverine is drawn as a tough little guy and Peter looks the part of a student. The thing is their minds have switched bodies. How or why who knows. These two seem to share a mutual dislike for each other that is slightly amuzing to watch. You can also see they do have respect for each other. Title: Amazing Spider-Man # 513 Publisher: Marvel Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Penciler: Mike Deodato Jr Inker: Jose Pimentel Price: $ 2.25 US, $ 3.25 Can Comments: This time as Gwen's daughter plunges to her death off a bridge Spider-Man saves her. Like he didn't do with Gwen. Other than that the story is slow. The art is good. Spider-Man is shown as a more mature and responsible person. He shoulders the responsibility of looking after Gwen's children even though they are not his. Title: X-Men: Unlimited # 5 Publisher: Marvel Writer: Scott Killinger, Vito Delsante Artist: Lee Ferguson Penciler: Rael Lyra Inker: Jay Leisten Price: $ 2.99 US, $ 4.25 Can Comments: Wolverine's face looks as if its covered in dirt the way the lines are drawn on it. The art by Rael and Jay could really use some improvement. Wolverine doesn't really make a good King. I don't like the way Scott Killinger has made Wolverine a dum brute in this story. Hes anything but that. The second story is illustrated by Lee Ferguson. He leaves the faces blank on some of the characters like its to much trouble to draw features like a mouth or nose. A girl tries to pick up Logan in a bar and he saves her from an evil mutant. The art inside isn't that good but the cover makes up for it. Hes jumping right out at you. _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [11] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.jazmaonline.com/ He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] SPOILER WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COLUMN MAY REVEAL SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE PLOTS OF SOME COMIC BOOKS, OR THE ENTIRE STORY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Name: Louie the Rune Soldier Vol. 3 Publisher: ADV Manga Price: $9.99 Story: Ryou Mizuno Art: Jun Sasameyuki Comments: In the reality of magic, many magicians come to mind from Harry Potter to Merlin the Magician to Harry Houdini. You will love the magic that is depicted in this excellent Manga story. Louie is trying to master his sorcery work and he takes it very seriously. Louie's teacher is a monk and his monk sensei teaches Louie how to control the weather. We're talking about some serious magic. Louie goes through a series of pitfalls. Louie works with his own team of soldier warriors and when a nearby town is in danger, Louie and his soldiers assist the town with their newfound magic abilities. Louie may be good in magic, but he is horrible when it comes to talking with women. Louie clams up when a beautiful woman is present. Will he be able to overcome his shyness? It's anyone's guess. Plenty of drama and excitement in this story! Name: Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 2 Publisher: Shonen Jump Price: $7.95 Story & Art: Nobuhiro Watsuki Comments: Being the MOE, Multiverse Observer and Explorer, let me step out of the Louie the Rune Soldier reality and head over into two more realities, that being Rurouni Kenshin and later Remote. Right now, let's talk about Rurouni Kenshin. When the Chief of the Police Sword Corps asks for favors, then you know that things are bad. There is a crazy eyed killer on the loose named Hitokirui Udo Jin-e. The killer is working a list of the Chief's friends. These friends of the Chief work at the Meji government and they can become the next victims of Jin-e. It is up to Kenshin to go up against the hypnotic paralyzing effects of the Jin-e and save the potential victims that are on Jin-e's list. Before I move on, I found an interesting comic book called "Chaos League" by Cynanide Studio. Very cool characters and they can be found at: www.chaosleaguegame.com, now to Remote. Name: Remote Vol. 2 Publisher: Tokyopop Price: $9.99 Story: Seimaru Amagi Art: Tetsuya Koshiba Comments: As I enter the final reality through my MOE Stargate, I come across a series of serial clown murders. We're not talking about John Wayne Gacy aka the Killer Clown, this is even worse, if you can imagine that. The serial killer clown has a target, a school of delinquents. There is a bomb threat and all of the students leave the school, making them possible targets of the serial clown killer. The serial clown killer would love to kill all of the students and before our hero can quit the police force, he must take on an undercover assignment at this school. The artwork is intense and works well with this very dramatic story! Name: Jonas - Tales of an Ironstar #1 Publisher: CodeDeco, Inc. Price: $3.95 Color, 23 pages Contact Information: mail@ironstarcomics.com Written and Illustrated by: Brian Colin Comments: Jonas lives a sad life. A life filled with bitterness and sorrow. I had to pity Jonas as he reminisced over his once happy family life with his wife and son. His biggest blessing was his son Jeffrey and for some reason the minister known as Jonas had the worst tragedy fall upon his home and family. As Jonas being a faithful man of god and trying to spread the word of god, made the biggest mistake of his life and that was playing with a snake. I hear about back woods church going people who revel in dances with real poisonous snakes. Jonas played with one snake too many and gets bitten. As the poison coursed through his veins, he starts to hallucinate. He sees the snake sprouting hairy legs. He sees the snake wrapped around his son's neck. Jonas wonders if god has abandoned him as he snuffs out the life from his son, thinking that the snake was around his son's neck and in reality it was Jona's hand that was doing the choking. Choking that was so intense that his son passes on. This was supposed to be the day that his son went from a boy to a man and instead loses his life, because of his own father. Jonas now wanders the land and is destined to kill off all the Seraks. Now I wander if what Jonas saw was imaginary or was it for real? Will he truly become a monster hunter tracking down the slimy beasts that supposingly took his son's life? Or will he come to the stark realization that it was actually he that took his son's life? There is much to fathom here. The artwork is quite different and unusual, but gives the story a surreal feel to it and works well with the story. Jonas - Tales of an Ironstar is a haunting story that leaves the reader desiring more and more! Name: Astonishing X-Men #6 Publisher: Marvel Price: $2.99 Writer: Joss Whedon Artist: John Cassaday Comments: After reading Astonishing X-Men #6, I must say that I am overjoyed that a dead mutant had been resurrected, that being the all powerful and very cool Colossus! I really got a kick seeing Nick Furey demanding answers and wanting to know how everyone knows that this is the real genuine Colossus. I loved the answers that Beast and Wolverine gave, that they smelled him and figured it out that way. I have always wondered if Peter Nikolaieuvitch Rasputin is also related to the infamous Rasputin that was stabbed several times, poisoned and finally crawled away and drowned in some pond. If you can provide this answer I would highly appreciated. SHIELD keeps getting more complex and bigger and I think Agent Brand and her own branch of SHIELD, known as SWORD will one day do their own spin-off. SWORD like the movie MIB, is a complex branch of SHIELD that takes care of extraterrestial matters and I bet they have many stories to tell. This was a very fun read and again I am happy that Colossus is back and ready to kick some butt! Name: Excalibur #5 Publisher: Marvel Price: $2.99 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Aaron Lopresti Comments: It's a thin line between love and hate. A person of another color or religion, or a homosexual can be found to be an abomination in the eyes of god. Ministers preach on how homosexuality is the ultimate sin. Muslims hate the infidels of other faiths. The KKK feel we are being invaded by other races and cultures and want to stand up and fight the so-called invaders. We have hatred everywhere and Excalibur #5 focuses on our hatred through fictional means. If we had a world filled with mutants with extraordinary powers, we would have hatred between the mutants and regular humankind. Professor Xavier loves his fellow mutants, but he also loves humanity. Professor Xavier understands that mutants are the next level of human progress and he tries to reach out to humanity by creating the X- Corp, a ways and means for global outreach. His lifelong dream has brought in so many mutants that are now affiliated with the X-Men. It's amazing on how he started with 5 X-Men and now he has over hundreds of mutants affiliated with the X-Men. Professor Xavier and Magneto were once bitter enemies, but they feel the bonding, they know they are like brothers and must come together to save mutantkind and humanity. The irony of it all! Excellent and powerful story! _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [12] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com David LeBlanc is the Editor of the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine; which won the prestigious Eagle Award for Favorite Comic Book Ezine in 2001. He is a long-time fan of comics and the electronic media; having been the moderator of BBS comics forums on WME, FIDONET and the Comic Book Network. He and his wife live in a suburb of Worcester, MA and David works part-time at That's Entertainment, the Eisner-winning Comics and Collectibles store. David's favorite motivational phrase is: BEHOLD THE TURTLE, HE ONLY MAKES PROGRESS WHEN HE STICKS HIS NECK OUT! OWLY "The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer" by Andy Runton www.andyrunton.com 160 pages, black & white, 5-1/4 X 7-1/2, $10.00 Top Shelf Productions www.topshelfcomix.com Once in a while you find a comic book that is simple, elegant and delightful. This is such a graphic novel. It is two novellas actually and it is done with no dialogue at all. It involves an owl and his adventures; first with a worm who has lost his way and then with two hummingbirds. This owl has a tree house and feeds other birds from a bowl on a table nearby. He is a kindly owl, helping other creatures of the forest. He finds two fireflies in a jar and sets them free. For all his good work he is still lonely. This changes one day as he finds a worm, nearly drowned in a rainstorm. He brings it home, warms it and sits with it until Wormy awakens. Imagine the worm's surprise to be saved by a bird! Thus begins a friendship. As Wormy tells the story of how he got separated from his parents in the violent storm the story turns to their quest to find Wormy's way home. Even the lightning bugs take part and all learn the meaning of friendship along the way. It is a touching story that will have you smiling all the way. Near the end it looks like a sad closing but that is just to prepare you to be lifted again. "The Bittersweet Summer" shows the cycle of things as Owly and Wormy plant flowers and become friends with two hummingbirds. Again we have some sad occurrences as one hummingbird is caged but we know Owly and his friends will set things right. Even as they become fast friends the reality of the need to migrate overcomes the two hummingbirds even though the others try their best during the beginning of winter. It is hard for the friends to part, but the cycle of life will cheer them again in the end. The art in this book is clean and narrative. With no dialogue the story is all in pictures and actions. It is amazing how easily the essence is related with perspective and panel composition. The characters are all cute and fun to watch. This is a keeper for kids of all ages. It is on the shelves now and worth your time. BARAKA AND BLACK MAGIC IN MOROCCO by Rick Smith http://www.indyworld.com/smith 128 pages, black & white, trade paperback, 6 X 9, $14.95 published by Alternative Comics http://www.indyworld.com/ jmason@indyworld.com In October of 2000 cartoonist Rick Smith and his wife Tania traveled to Morocco. This book is about their experiences while visiting Tangier, Chaouen Fez, Merzouga, Casablanca, Marrakesh and Essaouira. It is interesting from the perspective of the cultural differences they encounter and the fact their experiences take place a year before the homicide attacks of September 11, 2001. The narrative gives you insight into part of the way of life most Americans can only imagine. Along the way they meet other tourists whom they form a loose bond with as they shares parts of their trip. A part of world they visit is very riddled with deception over business transactions. At one point a rug merchant drugs their tea to get a sale. In fact the recreational use of drugs flows through the entire story. In some areas they need guides to help them find their way. They learn to bargain and not trust anyone - something that would get to me soon enough. They do have fun times and see things that amaze them, both in nature and in the people and places they visit. Rick's ability as a cartoonist helps keeps things moving with traditional 5 to 9 panels per page. He does vary the characters so we always know who is who. The limitations of black and white of course do not do justice to contrast of blue sky to desert sand or the sunset or other scenes in the cities. He does capture the essence of the story he is trying to tell and the people they met on the way. It is an easy read with lots of interactions along the way. Having said all that, I must add that this is not the kind of book I would buy. I appreciate the talent Rick has in both art and storytelling all the same. I just don't get excited about travelogues. There are many non-fiction comics I have enjoyed in the slice of life vein a bit more. You, on the other hand may prefer this real life journey amongst another culture. Pick it up and see. NIGHT #1 24 pages, black & white, color cover, $2.95 Written by Troy Hasbrouck - troy@jesterpress.com Art by Buddy Prince Jester Press www.jesterpress.com The introductory remarks are ones I have read before. They are about a "life-long labor of love" and every comic reader's dream to write or draw their own comic. Words of this type are not unusual in the first effort from an independent self-publisher. What is unusual is the few that really have the right formula, the honed talent to catch you right away so that you know it will be something special. Works like 2 OVER 10, BONE, FINDER, and others hit me that way. What is more usual, despite all the heart felt sentiment, is a very amateur effort with many flaws and little chance of getting past a few issue when the money and enthusiasm runs out. NIGHT #1 falls somewhere in between. First it is a crime horror drama with werewolves, vampires, zombies and the like. The local Chicago cop finds an FBI team waiting at the scene of a horrific massacre - body parts all over. The next night some punks are having fun rolling a rich couple who got lost the wrong side of town. Then they notice a lone man across the street and they figure to continue the crime wave but they are in for a surprise. The crux of the story follows this would be victim, David, as he gets involved with a rival gang and things lead up to a confrontation not only among the gangs but with the FBI. The story is good enough to keep you interested though the end of the first issue makes you wonder if it is over all ready. We learn that David has inner conflict about his transformations and someone in the group is not helping. There is good characterization and plot development. Likewise the art is good enough. But for me it looks just a bit off. The eyes of the characters are too big, not the right proportion. This must be what Buddy is stressing but I found it distracting. When the werewolf attacks he does a neat reversal to a darker figure and white text in black word balloons. It is a good effort that will become better over time. This one, as I said, is one of those that could become something if it appeals to the right crowd and gets exposure. If anything, the art style will probably determine who will or will not buy it. _________________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine (CBEM) --------------------------->Disclaimer<--------------------------- This is an ANNOUNCE only mailing list, only the Editor can send messages to the list. No one else has access to the subscriber list. Replies to these messages will be received by the Editor ONLY, so you must CC: individual contributors if you want them to get your E-Mail. The E-mail to the E-mag MAY be used in future issues at the Editor's discretion UNLESS you specifically request that they not be. It is our policy to withhold names and/or Addresses, by request only, from letters of comment. All contributors are required to use their real name and have a valid Email address for their columns to be published. Send Email comments to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Material for inclusion in the Emag - press releases, solicitations, column submissions, Letters to the Editor, guesses for the trivia contest should be sent to ComicBkNet@aol.com The EDITOR, not the submitter, has final approval and edit rights on ALL material. Printed comic books and advanced copies for review in the Emag should be sent via US Mail or UPS to David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 TO Subscribe send a message FROM the intended address to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com TO Unsubscribe send a message FROM the address to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com You may also unsubscribe from the Egroups Web page at the short cut below. Shortcut URL to the Egroup page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag All contents COPYRIGHT 2004 The Comic Book Network. This messages may be reproduced only in its original form, and in its entirety for non-commercial purposes. Contact the original author(s) or the Editor for permission to use individual items. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ |
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| << November13, 2004 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 497.06 |
November13, 2004 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 497.09 >> |
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