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| << May21, 2005 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 524.09 |
May21, 2005 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 524.11 >> |
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------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/S.QlOD/3MnJAA/Zx0JAA/bGIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ----------------------------------------------------------------- [13] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com http://www.jazmaonline.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter.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: Cadre #1 Publisher: Nifty Comics Creator: Mat Nastros Email Contact: cadre@niftycomics.com or MNastros@niftycomics.com Website: www.niftycomics.com Price: $4.95 Comments: My name is Paul Dale Roberts, some people call me Jazma Man and I am a super hero of sorts. Today, I put in my reserve agent resignation with the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. I put in my reserve agent status resignation with S.H.I.E.L.D, because I found some true superheroes I want to be a part of and those superheroes are from Empire City! Cadre is an extraordinary comic book! I love the way Mat Nastros introduces each and every character, it's like watching the movie "Goodfellas" and each gangster was introduced in the beginning of the movie, you knew what their name was, you knew what kind of crimes they committed and you knew something about their personality. Mat does the same thing with his characters. Let me introduce you to a few of them. There is Chris Squires, he's a horror novelist by day and a costumed vigilante by night and he calls himself the Lamprey. He has the ability of stealing energy from living creatures. Chris is shown at the bar with Karl Kolle who is one the greatest heavyweight champions of the Ultimate Class Wrestling Federation. When Chris suggests to Karl that he should go the path of a superhero, Karl is somewhat reluctant. There are some great scene shifts, from the bar to a luxurious resort called the Emperor's Hearth. There is a bonding between these superhumans, some who have not become superheroes yet, it is felt that superhumans should hang out with each other, because they have the connection of having superpowers. The reader gets to meet a powerful man named Jim Harris, who once was a superhero and now he is the President of Harris Industries. He does not like the organized crime that has corrupted Empire City. Another superb scene shift is when a tourist site is shown, it's called Monolith Mountain and this is where things get action packed! There is a legend about a warrior named Tahve and in the long story, it has to do with a love that he wants back, he is punished and becomes a colossus being called the Monolith, a stone statue that seems to be carved right into the mountain and when Monolith is awakened, all hell breaks loose and it's up to our Empire City superheroes to end this madness. It's real interesting on how some of these superhuman people become superheroes for the very first time, like a girl who calls herself Rapture who is actually a super model become superhero and it's suggested that she may only be a superhero for this one occasion to stop Monolith. There is an explosion at Monolith Mountain and things get very intense! Monolith is on a definite rampage...but we must all remember, there is hope now...we have these superheroes who all fight together for the good fight! Cadre is magnificence in every sense of the word! This is a comic book that is impossible to put down! You will love the gorgeous artwork and you will love the dramatic heart pounding action! Cadre is a hit! Name: Uncanny X-Men #458 Publisher: Marvel Comics Price: $2.99 Writer: Chris Claremont Pencils: Alan Davis Email: officeX@marvel.com Comments: No wonder why they call Brainchild, brain child. Not only does he conquer the realm of the Savage Land mutates, but he also has the mind control over the X-Men and sets them against each other. Enjoyed the beautiful drawings of the Savage Land, Alan Davis does wonders with his penciling. I do believe President Bush would be familiar with Kazar's words to the X-Men: ........"for the good of all, the enemy of our enemy becomes our friend". Hmmm...weren't Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden once our allies? The Blackwing Squadron in flight was a magnificent sight, they are using their Pterosaurs for a great purpose, who needs to invent airplanes in the Savage Land? The Blackwing Squadron in flight was like a fantasy show from the Sci Fi Channel, what aerial beauty that was displayed in that one drawing! It's strange to see the X-Men helpless, as they can only watch a battle take place. I enjoyed watching the unique powers of Raina, she's not a pretty sight, but boy she is agile! Name: Excalibur #12 Publisher: Marvel Comics Price: $2.99 Writer: Chris Claremont Pencils: Cliff Richards Email: officeX@marvel.com Comments: This story starts off with scary implications of death as the Military Command Authority is ready to lay down some lethal curfew laws on the civilians. I have seen some strange characters in the Marvel Universe, but there is something about Callisto that takes the proverbial cake. Besides her moving swiftly, those tentacles give me the creeps. Then there is the bad chemistry that Archangel and Callisto have. When seeing Archangel, it's hard to imagine him having any extraordinary powers, besides flight, but to keep those wings beating, it takes strength and he summarizes it well by describing how a snow owl at full flight can impact a 6 foot man and bring him down. The aerial battle between Archangel and Viper was quite intense and the drama can't get any better than this! Name: Amazing Fantasy #8 Publisher: Marvel Comics Price: $2.99 Writer: Fred Van Lente Pencils: Leonard Kirk Email: MHeroes@marvel.com Comments: Carmilla Black comes from Madripoor, that has a hightown (where the elite live) and lowtown (where the poor and unwanted live). Sounds like a place I visited called Rio de Janeiro. Where the tourists are, you will find the rich and elite and in the favila, you have the poor, unwanted and a slew of young gangbangers. The favila is a place where the tourists stay clear of. Carmilla searches out her birth mother, this alone is hard investigative work. With her own personal drama, she is also a superhero named Scorpion. I must admit, I love her costume, even though she seems like she doesn't approve of the design. Also, her outfit is something that all police should wear, since it can solidify around a projectile. So if she is shot, the nano technology using Silica will save her life. Scorpion is surrounded by misery and it was a sad sight to see all of the orphans stuck in one cell. That is horrible living conditions and how can one superhero named Scorpion make things right? This story is definitely a page turner! Name: Random Encounter #2 Publisher: Viper Comics Price: $2.95 Written and Illustrated by: Nicc Balce Website: www.vipercomics.com Comments: Some strange things are happening in the hospital. This story reminds me of the Twilight Zone. There is a strange dark creature in the hospital and the patient is up in arms about it. The nurse steps in and she doesn't believe his strange story. Then this black monster attaches itself to the head of the nurse, in the form of a mask with a whipping tail. The tail whips around the patient and before you know it, the patient is making like a hero fighting off this monster. Like I said, there are strange things in this story and you will learn about the Nede Harvester. Nede means the tree of life. The tree of life can resurrect the dead. Harvesters in this reality usually have monsters after them and these Harvesters have equipment to deal with monsters. The harvester/patient uses a Winter glove as the equipment to beat this monster into submission. Then there is the Nede leaf, when eaten will heal your wounds. The patient works at Kwik Mart and is a hero of this hospital in defeating the monsters that have invaded this sanctuary for the sick. You will meet a cute superhero girl that tries out various superhero outfits and is out to save the town of El Gato from any other monsters. If you have a voracious craving for the bizarre and uncanny, then it's only imminent you will get your hands on Random Encounter to satisfy your needs! You will be happy you did! Name: Oddly Normal #2 of 4 Publisher: Viper Comics Price: $2.95 Written and Illustrated by: Otis Frampton Website: www.vipercomics.com Comments: You love Harry Potter? Well, then you will LOVE Oddly Normal. I wouldn't be surprised if Oddly Normal knows Harry Potter. Harry Potter being a wizard and Oddly Normal being a half-witch. Both are going through some trials and tribulations at their schools. Oddly Normal should just be working on her spells, but in a world where there are strange things like a huge bug bus and bugs that ride motorcycles, anything is possible. The street signs read: Salem Trail and Yellow Brick Road. This is a reality perhaps if you go down Salem Road, you will encounter witches of all kinds and if you go down the Yellow Brick Road, you will encounter the inhabitants of Oz, who knows what happens in Oddly Normal's world? In this story, you will see Humpty Dumpty (after his fall) and Mrs. Plixx - Headmistress, who is some kind of fairy. Welcome to the Menagerie Middle School! A school that has fairies and all other kinds of creatures. The students are two twin girls that are werewolves, a zombie student, a student that resembles The Fly, a student that resembles Frankenstein, and a student that resembles the Invisible Man. Yep, they are all here. The teacher and students make fun of Oddly Normal and say that her name is an oxymoron. Dr. Newton Von Daniken (possibly related to Erich Von Daniken of Chariots of the Gods fame) teaches math and his little head is attached to a miniature flying saucer. I am telling you, you have entered a strange school, this school doesn't even come close to oddly normal, it's bizarre! When Oddly Normal adventures into the woods at night, she is being hunted by the two twins I mentioned before, they transform into their werewolf personas, but luckily the Frankenstein monster kid saves the day..this story will continue! Oddly Normal is palatable morsels of a reality that you won't be able to get enough of. As this reality aggrandizes into something menacing, you will toss your Harry Potter books to the side and stick with the adventures of Oddly Normal! Oddly Normal is great fun and somewhat creepy, I love it! Name: Mr. T #1 Publisher: AP Comics Written by: Chris Bunting Drawn by: Neil Edwards Inked by: Randy Emberlin Website: www.apcomics.com Comments: This is not like the Mr. T comics I used to remember. This comic book is quite dramatic with a strong urban setting. In the beginning scene, there is this kid named Louis and he is in bad shape, he looks like he is dead on the sidewalk. Come to find out he has a steroid derivative in his system, called Shaz- 8. Dr. Johnson and Detective Raziel look into the matter and the detective wants answers. The doctor is hesitant in disclosing any information. There is a scene in which I learn why the doctor is hesitant in telling the detective anything, it's because he is hassled by the drug dealers and his life might be in jeopardy if he opens his mouth. Later on the drug dealers actually do place a contract on the doctor's life. The doctor goes to his friend....Mr. T, someone he feels safe in telling the story to. The reader will learn that Shaz-8 has some awful side effects, it can cause psychotic rages, besides making you as strong as an ox. When the drug dealers corner the doctor and he is brutally assaulted, Mr. T steps in and says, why don't you pick on someone your own size? Mr. T starts kicking some major tush on the hard streets of this city and this story will continue..... Hard knocks the only way Mr. T can deliver! If you're a bad guy, look behind your shoulder, Mr. T is back and we all know Mr. T don't play!! Mr. T is an action packed, hard- edged urban thriller, that will inspire even the bad guys to be good! _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [14] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com http://members.aol.com/comicbknet 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! Top Shelf Productions www.topshelfcomix.com Chris@topshelfcomix.com HELLO, AGAIN 160 pages, black & white, 6" x 5", $10 by Max Estes We've all read many stories about a person whose past comes back to haunt him. Well, this is a more realistic take on that theme as we watch Willy deal with a secret of his youth he has repressed for a long time. You might say he buried the memory of how he and his friends, just kids, untied a boat with a drunk on board. It drifted out to sea and the man never came back. They believed him dead and so left it a secret, buried in their memory. But maybe the hole was not deep enough for Willy. One day he finds a hole in the yard of the building he is the manager of and there is a voice coming from it. Who should crawl out but the old drunk from long ago. He confronts Willy about the incident, which is how we learn the story. Willy still can't believe this is happening, and it isn't really - except in his mind. Somehow the life he is now living has brought the guilt from long ago to the surface. He is sleeping with his best friend's girl. She tells him she may leave Aaron and Aaron says he may ask her to marry him. His mind needs to understand all this and the guilt he feels brings back the guilt from his childhood. Can he cope with a living memory forcing him to face his life and change? This is a wonderfully crafted tale that examines how we deal with guilt or choose to suppress it. in this case it cannot stay hidden and the main character is faced with forgiving himself for the mistakes he has made or continue to wallow in the rut he is in. It is a simple four panel layout mostly with a style that is accomplished and yet simple. I found myself engrossed early on and flipping the pages quickly to see where it was going. It is a satisfying read that ends on an upbeat. i would look for more from Max in the future. He has got what it takes. MOSQUITO 152 pages, red & white, 6" x 6", $12.95 by Dan James I'll be honest about this one. I found it very difficult to follow. It is not the color scheme but the artist's style that was hard to get into. It is not poor art, in fact it is very accomplished. Dan clearly knows exactly what he wants to do and has each panel carefully designed and executed. Most of the objects in the visuals are made from geometric shapes. A lot of the work appears flat - that is the perspective different. I guess the main thing is that it is a stark two-color style what is not white is red, one shade of red, that is it. Add to that the fact there is no dialogue at all, except for the occasional use of one word, SANGRE, that is never explained and you have to rely on is the art. As an individual I was challenged at points to go over a few pages to see if I understood what was being conveyed. The story is about a vampire hunter out for one last hunt. The adventure begins with a bird delivering a letter to our hero containing a picture and a map. He packs for the journey and with farewells to his family he is off. He meets dangers along the way and even picks up an ally. At the finish he faces the supernatural evil that he seeks. The wrap up was a bit surprising but the framing sequence helps keep it in perspective. I do not want to give the wrong impression that I dislike the book. I believe Dan James has a lot of talent as evidenced by the complexity of his style and the simple story that is depicted. There is a purpose to the title as well. It is intriguing to watch and unravel the puzzle. It is not easy to carry off but he does. PS 238 32 pages, black & white, color covers, $2.99 By Aaron Williams Published by Henchman Publishing, Distributed by Dork Storm Press www.ps238.com Aaron Williams is freakin' brilliant. How he comes up with these stories and makes them interesting and funny every time just simply amazes me. If you don't know this comic it is about an elementary school for meta-prodigies, kids with abnormal abilities or powers. Well, all except Tyler whose parents hope is a late bloomer or maybe something will rub off from the other kids. Anyway, now he has a special assignment involving another kid who is the offspring of extra dimensional beings of good and evil. Since this Malphast has no experience with our culture Tyler is assigned to acquaint him with usual kids stuff, toys, comics, games and the like. It turns out Malphast can change his appearance from his normal all black featureless head to look like a regular kid. When they go above ground to mis with the "regular" kids a bully tries to mess with them but Malphast pushes back clandestinely to the bully's embarrassment. This plays into the main plot as the guys teach Malphast a schoolyard game of four square. When the bully buts in and things get out of hand Malphast transports them all to his realm where the lords of Chaos and Order will judge the game about to be played. There are levels at play here with the lessons being learned by Malphast, the other kids, the bully, and we the readers. As always the is a healthy measure of comedy along the way. Some of it is a line that fits a situation. Most of it is structured into the plot to pay off at the appropriate time. Mix that with great understanding of comic strip composition and natural talent and you will see why I say he is brilliant. He can take a simple children's game and use it to show adventure, characterization and reveal a secret that resolves most of the issues built up from the start of the stories. It is entertaining and skilfully executed. The backup story is just as good though shorter. Herschel the handyman has devised an indoor ball field where the kids can let loose and play baseball without suppressing their abilities. It even has a protective shield around it to keep spectators safe. So what could possibly happen when the world's strongest kid gets to bat? Heh, heh! As always, two thumbs up for PS 238! Go out and buy it and see if I'm right. WALKING MAN COMICS PRESENTS SPECIAL #57 - MAY 2005 12 pages, black on colored paper, mini-comic by Matt Levin One of a series of mini-comics made mostly with rubber stamps; including MUSICOMICS #1-56, & WALKING MAN COMICS #1-25 any 4/$3.00 or $1 each. 12-page SAMPLER for 37-cent stamp to: Walking Man Comics 123 Elm Street Hatfield, MA 01038 walkingmancomics@msn.com This issue is a break from the normal story or song interpretation. It was composed as an entry in a contest from a rubber-stamp fanzine. The challenge was to take one stamp and use it in as many ways possible. Matt used the familiar man from a lot of his comics and posed him in 27 different situations and won the contest. This is a unique bit of pop culture that is simple and yet fascinating. This particular issue makes me want to experiment myself. Hmm . . . _________________________________________________________________ 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 2005 The Comic Book Network. 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