Comic Book Reviews

Atomic Robo: Dogs of War #2

Comic Book Review

Atomic Robo: Dogs of War #2 is a fun comic. My biggest complaint is that it’s too short.

It continues the story of the Allied troops on the shores of Sicily in 1943. While the troops are storming the beaches, it’s up to Atomic Robo to stop the German mechs – the laufpanzers. Again, Atomic Robo finds himself against all odds and witty as ever.

The action is great and the art is perfect for the book. There are also some great one-liners in this book (“I hate you the most!”, “Spreken Ze Gun?”).

As a bonus, there’s an extra story at the end that continues Atomic Robo and his team attacking an Egyptian monster. This is a continuation from a previous Atomic Robo series. If you haven't picked up Atomic Robo yet, go for it! It's different. It witty, it's well written and it's something a lot of comics aren't anymore... fun.

Rating: Comic Book Review

Atomic Robo: Dogs of War #1

Comic Book Review

My local comic book shop does not carry Atomic Robo, much to my disappointment. Atomic Robo has just the right blend of action and off-beat humor. The style of art is perfect for the book. Everyone should check out this book.

Dogs of War part 1 starts off with the Allied troops landing in Sicily in Operation Husky. The Nazis have some secret weapons and it’s up to Atomic Robo to stop them. After a not so typical landing Atomic Robo does something he’s really good at – and that’s taking out Nazis. After battling soldiers, Robo comes face to face with the secret weapon. Will he survive?

As a bonus, there’s a backup story as well.

Atomic Robo is something that comics aren’t anymore: fun. It’s not making stupid social commentaries and it’s not dirty. Too many comics now days have to “change everything you know” about a character with revamping or trying to continually go over the top. Atomic Robo has a great story, is draw well, and is just plan out fun.

I can’t wait for issue #2.

Rating: Comic Book Review

ALETHEIA #1

Comic Book Review

ALETHEIA is a book in overdrive. It starts off with a little Greek mythology and jumps into Matrix style action in no time. The action never relents through the whole book.

Like most books these days, the art is a bit cartoony. However, it's not too bad and the art actually works. The gun toting skeletons look a bit cheesy, but the rest of the book looks decent. The picture of Zeus on page 2 is pretty cool.

The creators made sort of a blunder in this book... they don't give you the hero's name until almost the end of the book. Yes, you can assume that it's Thea from the license plate on the motorcycle, but still... they should have made it a bit more obvious.

The book is pretty exciting and leaves you hanging for the next issue. I'm hoping there is good payoff in issues 2 and 3. If there is, this is well worth picking up.

Rating: Comic Book Review

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Hyperkinetic

Comic Book Review

Hyperkinetic is a science-fiction action-comedy following the misadventures of 4 female bounty hunters Milla, Shirley Alicia, and Katiya. In this first issue, the four scantily clad women are pursuing some purple catlike alien.

The juvenile banter between the four make the book almost unreadable. The story takes second place to discussions of VD & peeing in someone's shampoo. The art is also way too cartoony for my liking.

The redeeming part of the comic is that there is a lot of fast-paced action.

Hyperkinetic #1 is scheduled to arrive in comic shops on July 2, 2008.

Rating: Comic Book Review

Green Lantern Corps #21

Comic Book Review

Green Lantern Corps #21 is the story of Alpha Lantern Boodikka. Much of the comic is a flash back to her days as a bounty hunter on Bellatrix. Desiring to get the bad guy, Boodikka is driven to be more than she is. When approached to become a Green Lantern, she leaves behind her "blood-sisters". Not happy about her leaving, Boodikka is warned to never return to Bellatrix.

Now that Boodikka, is not only a Green Lantern, but also an Alpha Lantern, she must return to Boodikka.

The story is pretty decent and the art is very good. I think it's the color combination of the purple and green that Boodikka wears, but the colors just pop off the page. Continued until next issue, this story is recommended.

Rating: Comic Book Review

Project Superpowers #0

Comic Book Review

Project Superpowers by Dynamite collects several long lost heroes that probably haven't seen print since the late 1940's.

Back during WWII, Hitler found Pandora's Box (or Pandora's Urn, to be more accurate). During a raid, Fighting Yank recovers the Urn and learns that the origin of all evil in the world really is from Pandora's Box. The problem is, that not only was evil released, but also that hope was released... and that hope has taken the form of the other heroes he has teamed with: The Flame, The Black Terror, The Scarab, and others.

The problem is that in order to put all the evil back on the box, Fighting Yank also has to put the heroes back in the box.

It's really wild to see all of these old characters from the 40's. I've never really read anything with them in it before and there's probably a pretty rich history that could be used and a lot of depth could be added to them. Fighting Yank is visited by the ghost of his grandfather that fought in the Revolutionary War, and that's a bit interesting. The concept, however, that in order to get rid of evil, you also have to get rid of good is just plain silly...

The art is really good and under the direction of comic superstar Alex Ross.

Overall, it's a good book, and with a cover price of $1 - it's a total steal.

Rating: Comic Book Review

Booster Gold #0

Comic Book Review

Booster Gold along with several Blue Beetles go back in time to save Ted Kord (who was Blue Beetle for a while).

This #0 issue is a tie in to ZERO HOUR. DC's continuity is just a bit too confusing most of the time, but overall, this book was pretty easy to dive into. Jumping through time, the Beetles & Booster Gold stumble across Parallax and Extant. Soon we start to explore the origins of Booster Gold.

The art is pretty decent (I just love the current Blue Beetle's costume) and the coloring really pops off the page.

I'll check out the next issue, simply because of the cliffhanger and I was interested in how the rest of the origin of Booster Gold turns out.

Rating: Comic Book Review

Perhapanauts Annual #1

Comic Book Review

The Perhapanauts are a team of psychics, paranormals, dimension hoppers and even a chubacabara that investigate and battle oddball creatures, mostly out of urban legends. Annual #1 was the first Perhapanauts comic that I have read, but won't be the last.

First, I like the team. There's Choopie (a chubacabara), Big (Bigfoot of course), Molly (a ghost) and others. In the annual the Jersey Devil terrorizes the locals and the Perhapanauts are dispatched to handle the situation and that's when the fun starts.

The art suits the book well. It's not spectacular art, but I think it sets the tone of the book. It's not too cartoony. The story is decent and kept me interested in what was coming next.

The only thing i didn't like was the abrupt ending. The team finds the solution and BOOM! the comic is over. I could have used another page or two.

Overall, I found the book enjoyable and want to see where this comic is going. I'll be picking up future issues.

Rating: Comic Book Review