Review Witchblade #171

Since its inception, Witchblade has had a roller-coaster existence. It has a sound premise. It has a sound lead character. But for some reason, the title has lacked a sound direction.

Some of the title's best storylines were authored by Ron Marz, who seems to understand that this comic can't thrive on action alone or the all-too-frequent shredding of Sara Pezzini's clothing in favor of the very revealing Witchblade "costume." His stories tend to involve more introspection for Sara as she continually strives to manage her enormous responsibility as bearer of the artifact. These moments of genuine character development always lend meaning to whatever action is taking place and make the comic an enjoyable read.

Marz took the helm once again in issue #170 and started the "Born Again" storyline. In issue #171, we begin to see that Marz has big plans in store for this title.

I reviewed issue #171 for the guys at Broken Frontier and you can read it HERE.

What is your take on this character? Where should she go from here? Leave a comment over at BF and let us know what you think.

Illini Farm Toy Show 2014

Looking at the most recent "Coming Shows" section of Toy Farmer and the "Events" listings on Toy Tractor Times, I don't see a listing for the upcoming Illini Farm Toy Show. That's too bad because listings in Toy Farmer and Toy Tractor Times are among the best ways to promote a local toy show.

The show information is listed below, I copied it from the information posted in the Champaign County Farm Bureau's newsletter.

Please do what you can to spread the news about this show. I know a lot of the dealers who attend and they really do have a great variety of farm toys. It's definitely worth the trip. Thanks!!
 

10th Annual Illini Farm Toy Show
Sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau District 12 Young Ag Leaders
Champaign, Douglas, and Vermillion Counties

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 3, 4, and 5, 2014
Holiday Inn and Convention Center
1001 Kilarney Street
Urbana, Illinois
(I-74 to Exit 183 at Lincoln Ave.)

Bring your farm display and enter to win a $100 gift card!

Friday: 5:00 pm Open Room Trading -- Banquet Room Closes 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am Open Room Trading -- Banquet Room Closes 5:00 pm
Farm Toy Consignment "Live" Auction -- 10:30 am
Sunday: Open Room Trading -- 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Admission: Includes Friday and Saturday
Adults: $3.00
Children (ages 6-12): $2.00
*Free admission on Sunday with free will donation to local Ag-In-The-Classroom Programs!

For more information contact:
Kurt Wolken (217) 202-2730

 

Review Harley Quinn #1

All grown up and causing a whole new kind of mayhem, Harley Quinn rides into her own title from DC Comics this month. Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti are in charge of Mr. J.'s former squeeze, and she couldn't be in better hands.

After receiving an apartment building in Coney Island, she quickly learns that she has financial responsibilities that won't take care of themselves. So she embarks on a dual plan to revive her career in psychiatry and satisfy her more dangerous impulses through a second job in the roller derby.

This is a fun title with a main character shouldering exciting new careers while trying to stay ahead of the assassins on her trail. Oh, did I mention that there is a freak show on the building's first floor? You're going to have fun with this book, so jump onboard now.

Read my full review on the Broken Frontier site HERE.

Review Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Volume 2

The hardcover collected version of David Petersen's Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Volume 2 came out the same day as the fourth (and concluding) issue. Both were worth the wait. Petersen assembled another all-star cast of creators to produce Volume 2, and they represent every imaginable artistic style. It's a visual feast for the eyes complemented by brilliant storytelling. Mouse Guard fans will love this, and if you've never read the Mouse Guard books (correct that by picking up Fall 1152 immediately) Legends of the Guard Volume 1 and Volume 2 are still understandable and entertaining.

Read my full review on the Broken Frontier site HERE.

Broken Frontier Awards 2013

It's time to cast your votes for your favorite comics projects of the year. The Broken Frontier Awards 2013 will be awarded at the end of January, and you have until December 24 to cast your votes HERE.

I'm enjoying writing for the guys at Broken Frontier. Besides being a great bunch of crazy guys, they are devoted fans of comics in every medium. And the site's mission is to bring attention to independent creators and small press titles while not excluding big news from the big publishers. It's a balance that favors the indies, and I love it.

In addition to the reviews you're used to seeing from me on BF, I'll be posting some blog topics and creator interviews in the coming months. If you have a topic you'd like me to discuss on the BF blog, just leave a comment here and I'll look into it.

Live Today on WSJS

I'll be live on the Allan Handelman radio show this afternoon talking about antique and collectible toys. I have been a guest on his shows since my days writing price guides for the hobby, and I always enjoy my appearances at this time of the year. It seems that many of us go through old boxes and discover toys from our youth or that have been passed down through the family while we are getting the house ready for Christmas.

So if you have old toys from when you were a kid and would like some more information about them, listen in and participate if you'd like. (I'm not an authority on dolls, however, so please don't ask about them. I know a few great folks who can help you with doll questions.)

The show will be broadcast live on WSJS in North Carolina starting at 3:00 EST. Their website is www.wsjs.com and you can listen in as we are on the air. If you'd like to call in and talk about the toys you had as a kid, the numbers are  336-642-0060 and toll free 800-642-0060.

And if you didn't get on air and have a question, leave a comment below and I'll get some information to you.

Review Letter 44 #2

As a self-confessed sci-fi junkie, it's not hard to imagine that I picked up Letter 44's first issue the day Oni Press released it and read it before anything else. What I found was an exciting mix of political intrigue and science fiction that I hoped creators Charles Soule and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque could pull off for more than one issue.

Good news: they can, and they did! Issue #2 confirms that these intriguing characters have really jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. Newly elected President Blades is brought up to speed on Project Monolith, but it's clear that the military leaders are withholding information. The crew of the Clarke continues to deal with its quirky engineering while heading straight for the alien installation known as the Chandelier.

The politics is heavy on secrets and the science fiction is heavy on cool astronaut stuff -- and none of it gets in the way of the brilliant levels of character development that make Letter 44 a hit.

I reviewed the book for Broken Frontier, and you can read it HERE. Please Tweet it to your followers.

Review Rocket Girl #2

Image Comics has legitimate hit on its hands with Rocket Girl.

I'm enjoying Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder's time-travelling teenage cop and her mission back to 1986 to prevent her present from ever existing. And the second issue delivers all of the action, humor, and suspense you were hoping for.

There is a nice mystery developing around megacorporation Quintum Mechanics and their mysterious Q-engine, but there is a better one developing around main character Dayoung Johansson and her quest to bring the rogue company to justice. How does she know that her inside source is telling the truth? And why is she willing to throw away her career to alter the future?

I reviewed the book on Broken Frontier, and you can read it HERE. Leave a comment and please Tweet the review to your followers!

Review Drumhellar #1

One of the interesting things about writing for the Broken Frontier site is that I'm always checking out the work of creators I've never read before. Unfamiliar with Alex Link and Riley Rossmo's previous work, I picked up Drumhellar #1 not knowing what to expect.

Drum Hellar is a paranormal investigator on the trail of "something big" in a small town. It's a comic with potential, and I like Rossmo's art. But it is one trippy adventure.

Read my full review HERE. And please leave a comment on the site, I'd like to know what you guys think of the book.

Reveiw Saga #15

Without gushing like a fangirl, it's safe to say that Saga is one of the best new series to hit the shelves in this decade.

Writer Brian K. Vaughan created a world where every issue finds our fugitive family in peril and also contains genuine character development. These characters aren't certain what the person standing next to them will do next -- they just know that they trust each other to do the right thing. And that's enough to build a life on -- while you're on the run from two governments at war and the assasins they've hired to kill you. To Vaughan's credit, you find yourself cheering for the assasins more than once. It's okay -- for now.

Fiona Staples has an understated artistic style that she uses to full effect by coaxing the wide range of emotions from the simplest of facial expressions and body language. Staples captures the main characters as realistically as any artist in comics when she brings the dialogue to life. Alana is the realist and skeptic but she is beguiled by the possibilities of a different life when she reads A Nighttime Smoke. It ultimately leads her to Marko, the faithful dreamer with lethal combat skills and more than a little bit of magic. Staples gives us two fierce individuals who are even more powerful when they are together.

In issue #15, we are finally treated to a few answers about the characters themselves and where this title might be going. It's some of the finest storytelling in comics. So yes, you should add Saga to your pull list and give the trades to your friends so they get hooked, too. Fair warning, however, this is a mature readers only kind of book and not for young readers.

I reviewed issue #15 for Broken Frontier, and you can read it HERE.

Review: The Rocketeer & The Spirit Pulp Friction #2

If you're a pulp fiction fan, there are a number of must-read comics currently on the shelves. While I enjoy the dark supernatural noir of Fatale, the lighthearded action hero mystery of The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction also has plenty of appeal.

Writer Mark Waid has done his pulp homework and presents spot-on characterizations of Cliff Secord and Denny Colt. Their supporting casts also shine in this series.

My full review of issue #2 is on the Broken Frontier site, and you can read it HERE.

Review Superman / Wonder Woman #1

Two of the DC Universe's most powerful characters team up -- well, that's hardly news. Team-ups are a staple of comics. But rarely have the two involved parties been involved.

It's action-romance, and you're going to love them together.

Writer Charles Soule handles the characters first and then offers pulse-pounding action deftly presented by artist Tony S. Daniel. I reviewed it for Broken Frontier, and you can read it HERE.

Review Rocket Girl #1

Sorry it's been a while since I posted here. Fall is crazy busy, and I've enjoyed every minute. I recently reviewed Rocket Girl #1 from Image Comics, and you can read it on the Broken Frontier site HERE. The story of a teenaged cop traveling back in time piqued my interest. That 15-year-old Dayoung Johansson also has to navigate the culture of 1980s New York in order to save the day made this a must-read. Amy Reeder's art is instantly engaging, and for a first attempt at handling all of the art duties on a title (pencils, inks, colors) she's doing a brilliant job of presenting a cohesive story. The panel with Dayoung flying out the window and saying, "I am the police," will sell you on this character. Enjoy!

Broken Frontier Staff Picks 10-02-13

Two posts in one day! I contributed a couple of previews to this week's Staff Picks over on Broken Frontier. Green Lantern #24 and Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1 look pretty good, read the article HERE and see what you think!

Review Batman 23.1

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I'm still writing for Broken Frontier, and I hope you check the site each week for comics news and reviews with an indie focus. I tend to cover some of the bigger releases from DC and Marvel, as well. Can't help it, there are some great stories coming out of the big houses lately. I recently reviewed Batman 23.1, the Joker issue. The much-awaited glimpse into the origin of the Caped Crusader's nemesis received a whole lot of much-deserved pre-press hype. DC has never released an origin for Joker, and every Bat-fan has his/her own ideas about it. To quote my own review, the issue was "awful." It was. Read the review HERE and you'll see what I mean. I don't often write bad reviews. If I don't like a book, I generally choose to not review it. Sharing what I enjoyed about comics is usually more constructive, but I've made an exception with Batman 23.1. Why? Because I have had my own ideas about Joker's origins since I first read The Dark Knight Returns -- and the ridiculous story presented in Batman 23.1 was such a disappointment that I couldn't keep quiet about it. My idea: Joker and Batman have parallel origins. Both lose their parents in a robbery/murder, perhaps by the same criminal on the same night on opposite sides of Gotham. They experience identical tragedies and deal with the consequences by pursuing very different paths. You have to admit, it's a way better idea than the sadistic aunt and Joker raising a gorilla!

Review: Resident Alien: The Suicide Blonde #0

I've had a lot of fun expanding my reading list as a staff writer for Broken Frontier. Because of my affinity for mysteries, I wrote a review for Dark Horse's Resident Alien: The Suicide Blonde #0. It promises to be an interesting blend of sci-fi and mystery.

This issue is a set-up story used to introduce the characters and their world. It's effective as such, and what it lacks in action it makes up for by starting off with Native American dream walking.

Read my review HERE.

Of Course Comics Are for Women

I was asked to weigh in on the recent comments that comics aren't for women. Taken out of context, you can make anyone's quote regarding "A" into the incendiary comment "B." And I think that's a good bit of what we had in the comics world last week.

My thoughts on the subject and the real issues we aren't addressing are on the Broken Frontier site, and you can read them HERE.

Please leave a comment when you read it, I'd like to know your thoughts.

Staff Picks July 31, 2013

I contributed a couple of previews to this week's Staff Picks feature on Broken Frontier. You can read it HERE.

Batman Annual #2 and Uncanny X-Men #9 look like two great books this week. The Zero Year storyline is featured in Batman Annual #2, and in Uncanny X-Men #9 Jubilee's baby has carried a world of trouble into the lives of the X-Men.

Once the books are available on Wednesday afternoon, I'll be writing reviews of them for BF. Stay tuned!

Review Batman Superman #2

Origin stories always make me nervous. I like the heroes you're messing with, and I expect to still like them once you've reimagined their beginnings. As with anything else, some origins work well and others don't.

Greg Pak's Batman Superman is outstanding. It's as if DC's two favorite sons become trapped in a story written by a character you'd find in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. It's filled with action, but that takes a backseat to who these characters are and who they could be given slightly different circumstances. Jae Lee's beautiful art is complex, so slow down and take it all in to really understand what's happening within the panels.

My full review of issue #2 is on the Broken Frontier site, and you can read it HERE.

If you are a fan of these characters, or you just want to add something fresh to your reading list, this series is a good place to start.

Review Rocketeer Spirit Pulp Friction #1

If I could explain why I find pulp fiction and noir irresistible, they would probably lose their appeal.

I think mysteries fascinate me because as a kid the first characters I read in multiple volumes were classic mystery figures like Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown. I even read the Bobbsey Twins books on the recommendation of our local librarian, but wow, the time period was so far removed from my own that I didn't really appreciate those books. When I was old enough to appreciate Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen, I went back and read Dashiell Hammett -- I was happily hooked on mysteries.

So when comics feature a good mystery or take on noir characteristics, I'm first in line to write their reviews. When IDW and DC announced a pulp character collaboration, I was very pleased to learn that The Rocketeer and The Spirit would be teaming up. But when I learned that Mark Waid would be writing the title, I knew he'd pull out all of the stops to get the period correct.

And he has! The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction #1 hit the comic shops this week, and it's the bee's knees. Paul Smith's art is a gorgeous homage to the styles of the Sunday funny papers, Dave Stevens, and Will Eisner. You can read my full review on the Broken Frontier site HERE. Seriously, if you love pulps this is the comic of the year for you.

Highlights of SDCC 2013: Friday

Although I'm not there this year, I've attended Comic-Con International San Diego many times and have the stories to prove it! When Comics Buyer's Guide magazine closed its doors back in January, I found myself looking for a new comics writing home. At the time, the idea of attending Comic-Con as a fan and not as a journalist was just too new and way too crazy.

Thankfully, I'm now a staff writer for Broken Frontier. The site focuses on small publishers/independent titles but keeps a close eye on mainstream comics, as well. Their international team has been very supportive as I learn the ropes, and I'm grateful for their patience. I enjoy a good challenge, and they also push me to try new things like writing opinion pieces and the subject of this post -- a round-up of Comic-Con's exciting Friday happenings.

You can read it HERE.

Now, the byline says it's all me. However, it's not. I wrote most of the stories, but several were contributed by Frederik Hautain, my editor. How do I know this? Well, when I posted my version, I also sent him a note asking him to go over it. The post has a lot of images, and I wasn't sure they all loaded properly. Well, it looks great, the additional stories are terrific, and I really appreciate the assist.

I'm already making plans to attend the con next year. It's definitely the place to be for comics fans.

Review Justice League #22

One of the biggest hits for DC's New 52 is Justice League. It's easily one of the best team titles on the shelves, and not just because of the fantastic action sequences. These characters are just getting to know one another -- and like any family there are things they like about each other and things they don't. Figuring out how to work together to save the planet can be messy, and that struggle is endearing.

In issue #22, the leaguers and their secondary teammates have a mystery on their hands with the crash-landed Watchtower, but something much worse is on the horizon. Billy Batson is determined to take Black Adam's ashes back to Adam's native soil of Kandaq, but he creates an international incident. The Justice League and the Justice League of America respond, and as Madame Xanadu has correctly predicted, a war breaks out.

Trinity War is the crossover event of the summer, and while it's going to be a slugfest, don't ignore the greater mystery surrounding Superman that is boiling under the surface. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis are a wonderful team, the story is complex and engaging while the art is fantastic. '

You can read my full review of the book on the Broken Frontier site HERE.

Review Batman #22

Chapter 2 of Zero Hour kicks off in Batman #22, and Scott Snyder is in great form with an action-packed story. Angry and reckless, young Bruce Wayne isn't Batman yet. He has the drive, he knows his mission, but he's making mistakes and enemies while he struggles with his methods.

Read my full review on the Broken Frontier site HERE.

Review Superman Unchained #2

You have to read this book. I know you probably have a pile of books to read before you get to Superman Unchained #2, but you need to push this to the top of the stack -- it's that good.

Scott Snynder and Jim Lee aren't fooling around, and issue #1 wasn't a fluke. To use a film analogy, Superman Unchained is a summer blockbuster that delivers all of the pulse-pounding action you could want and all of the character development and clever plot twists that are usually missing from those films.

As the mystery deepens, Snyder adds the World's Greatest Detective, and the brief scene between the world's finest is easily worth the book's price. Jim Lee is at the top of his game, and you don't want to miss his gorgeous rendering of the batcave.

My full review is posted on Broken Frontier and you can read it HERE.

Review The Private Eye #3

Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin are at it again. The third issue of their pay-what-you-want online-only comic, The Private Eye, is a must read for mystery fans. The momentum established in the first two issues was not an accident, folks. This is a fast-paced, entertaining book that requires attention to the details offered in Martin's art.

With this issue, Vaughan starts with an enormous violation of P.I.'s privacy as we take a tour through his dreams. My full review is available at Broken Frontier, and you can check it out HERE.

The Private Eye is a terrific story well told. You're going to enjoy it.

Review Fatale #15

I'm a fan of mysteries, noir, and pulp fiction. Little wonder then, that I liked Fatale from its very first issue. The blending of the supernatural and noir within the title is balanced so well that characterizing the book as one genre or the other does it a disservice.

With issue #15 the creative team of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips launch a new story arc that propels us back into the grand mystery of Josephine and the men who revolve around her.

I reviewed it for Broken Frontier, and you can read it HERE.

Please leave a comment on their site and let me know how you liked the book.

Review Witchblade #167

With issue #167, Chicago-based private investigator Sara Pezzini is launched head-first into a new story arc that is a great jumping-on point for the series. Writer Tim Seeley is in fine form on this book and has made good progress toward giving the supporting cast more depth, responsibility, and opportinities for mayhem. But it's Sara's struggle to balance her supernatural responsibilities with just being a woman trying to pay the overdue rent that will earn Seeley new readers.

My full review is up on the Broken Frontier site, and you can read it HERE. Feel free to leave a comment about the book on their site.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Staff Pics June 19, 2013

Good news! The guys at Broken Frontier named me a staff writer! It's very cool news, and it means that I'll have to keep myself to a regular writing schedule each week. That can only be a good thing.

I've enjoyed my return to writing comics reviews, and the BF editors would like me to branch out by writing some opinion pieces and doing creator interviews. That should be a fun challenge, and I'm looking forward to it. If you have some ideas, please send them my way!

I'm contributing to BF's Monday-morning feature, Staff Pics. Each week we offer a short preview look at notable comics coming out that Wednesday. You can check out this week's Staff Pics HERE.

Happy Wednesday and enjoy your new books!

Review Superman Unchained #1

I'm a big Superman fan. Not apologizing for it, either. The first comic I ever picked up at the grocery store was a Superman book, and he has been a favorite ever since.

As much as I enjoy watching Supes leap tall buildings in a single bound, my favorite stories are always the ones where he has to use his brain or face a moral crisis and his powers are just tools to reach the solution. His quest to do the right thing often leads him to debate what the right thing really is for a given situation -- a trait that makes him one of the most human characters in the DC universe.

The big news in comics this week is the launch of Superman Unchained #1. Written by Scott Snyder with art by the incomparable Jim Lee, this book deserves all of the attention it's received. Snyder's story is a Batman-worthy mystery, and he does a terrific job with Clark Kent. Lee's art was crafted as if he had all year to work on the book and nothing else going on -- the detail will blow your mind. If you haven't read Superman lately, dive into this title head first. There isn't a better marriage of words and art on the shelves right now.

I reviewed the book for the folks at Broken Frontier, and you can read the review HERE. And I have a fangirl confession: the review went live on the BF site yesterday, and I tweeted about it (follow me @leaveittokaren). I tagged Snyder, Lee, BF, and DC Comics. Jim Lee read the review and replied, "Very kind."

That made my day!

Review East of West #3

Recently, I was asked if I read the entire series for all of the books I review. I don't, but I do like to have some background on the title before I work on a review. I try to review titles that are on my personal pull list as often as I can -- familiarity makes for a smooth writing process. When I review a title not on my pull list that is near the beginning of its run, I ask my local comics shop put the previous issues in my box. I'll read those before I attempt the issue I'm reviewing.

Such was the case for my review of Image Comics' East of West #3. Once I read that first issue, I was hooked. It's an interesting take on the Four (Three) Horsemen of the Apocolypse with well-developed characters full of wit and carnage.

My review is on the Broken Frontier site HERE.

Review Ten Grand #2

The first of two comics reviews I wrote this week for the guys at Broken Frontier appeared yesterday.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Ben Templesmith have a hard-boiled hit on their hands with Ten Grand, the first release from the Joe's Comics imprint (published by Image Comics).

My review of issue #2 is HERE. Please leave a comment! Thanks!

Review The Private Eye #2

Hello!
The cancellation of Comics Buyer's Guide magazine back in January marked the end of an era for the magazine, its readers, and its contributors. If you haven't read John Jackson Miller's brilliant piece on the topic, go HERE. It was a privilege to write for CBG and talk comics with the remarkable cast of characters who made that magazine happen.

Recently, Broken Frontier was reorganized and relaunched as a site with a focus on small press and independently published titles -- which means that their content is right in line with the material I enjoyed writing about for CBG. So I'm writing about comics for Broken Frontier again! My first review is for Brian K. Vaughan's The Private Eye #2, and you can read it HERE -- please leave a comment. Thanks!

If you have material you'd like to see Broken Frontier review, or would like to recommend a comics creator for an interview, you can let them know HERE.

I've also decided to keep posting to this blog, so you can expect an interesting mix of topics that I enjoy. For more day-to-day info, follow me on Twitter @leaveittokaren