Review: Freelance Blues #3

Writers: Ian Daffern, Mike Leone

Art: Vicki Tierney

Cover: Stephen Sayer

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: April 27th 2016

This week saw another chapter in the sterling Freelance Blues from Alterna Comics. Daffern, Leone and Tierney have once again crafted an exciting and intriguing adventure for Lance, hitting it right out of the park.

The story continues with Lance on the road, embroiled in some magical, mischievous goings on that are, quite frankly, very entertaining.

Daffern and Leone perpetually craft a well written, well paced script that keeps you hooked. Lance is an easy to like character, in fact all the characters are fleshed out and believable, really allowing you to switch on your empathy.

Tierney's art is wonderful. There are amazing snapshots of art in comics, amazing splash pages, beatifically spreads, that's great, but they don't always tell the story. Tierney can do all this whilst being an incredible storyteller. Her art in this issue is exemplary and should serve as a lesson to aspiring artists out there, as well as being a feast for the readers eyes. 

There always a danger at this point in a story arc for the plot to begin to stagnate, Daffern and Leone introduce some new elements and intrigue to ensure that doesn't happen. So this issue keeps you well and truly hooked. 

This was a fantastic and exciting issue to read, I know it's been out a while now but if you haven't already read it, do yourself a favour and get involved. 

Review: Trespasser #2

Story: Justin M. Ryan

Art: Kristian Rossi

Letters: DC Hopkins

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: April 13th 2016

A terrifying and brilliant new chapter in one of my favourite current releases from Alterna Comics. For me,  Ryan and Rossi are fast earning the moniker 'dream team' when it comes to Tresspasser. Issue one took and interesting concept and laced it with mystery, suspense and intrigue. This next issue turns it all the way up to eleven and continues some of the best work in comics that I've come across. 

Now I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll do my upmost to be brief. This issues sees Hector and his daughter catch their breath and try to return to 'normal' after their ordeal. However it's not long until strange nocturnal events mean they are in for the night of their lives. 

The writing is stellar, Ryan had laced suspense through out the issue, to the point where I began to have palpitations and a cold sweat. Now there is a propensity in some comics to bombard the reader with a lot of exposition, I've just read an issue from a certain 'big' publisher that does so. I don't like this, I think that it shows an assumption that reader is too slow to follow the story. You should never make the assumption that your reader is any less intelligent that you are. Ryan doesn't, he is a natural storyteller, pacing the story well and layering new information about the story, the characters and the premise throughout. It seems he leaves subtle hints to allow the reader to draw conclusions and learn at their own pace too. This all helps to build up the furore of suspense, in fact so much so that I had to backtrack over issue 1 to try and see if there were clues I had previously missed. Rossi is the mirror image with his artwork. There are numerous great artists out there, but great art doesn't always translate well into comics, not if one can't tell the story. Well Rossi is a great artist and storyteller, the kind that is so good it makes you jealous of his talents. Moody atmospheric pages add to suspense that creeps in from the the outside, really it's a terrifying experience and exemplary work to many artists out there. 

This whole issue is a wonderfully intriguing horror romp that weaves elements of sci-fi into its web. I really can't praise it enough, get yourself out there and get reading it. It's available on comixology from 13th April. If you haven't read issue 1 yet, then stop being daft and catch up. 

Review: Freelance Blues #2

Writers: Ian Daffern and Michael Leone

Art: Vicki Tierney

Letters: Robert Petek

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: 30th March 2016 (Digital) 

I'm a little late reviewing this one, life seemed to get in the way. Though as soon as I received my review copy in my inbox it was opened straight away and read without a moments hesitation, knowing that I would be in for a treat.  Freelance Blues #2 is a cracking issue that continues to tell the story of hapless Lance in his mission to provide for his family, always hindered by getting a job with some nefarious villain (unintentionally of course). 

This issue sees Lance take to the road to find work but inevitably things go awry and he finds himself mixed up in a science experiment with supernatural proclivities.

Once again Daffern and Leone's script is tight and paced well. Lance is written in such a way that you can't help but empathise with him. In fact all the characters are well written and fleshed out. The big bad monsters that play the antagonists are subverted and add a nice slice of humour to the book. The twists and turns keep you hooked and this separate story keeps the whole arc going smoothly.

Tierney had a real mastery of character in her art and does more impressive work in this issue. She showcases her abilities as a fantastic storyteller on every page, with interesting layouts that frame her art well and keep the story moving. The villains are particularly well drawn, but it's also the little things, the details on the background for example, that are a real marker of her talents.

This issue shows Daffern, Leone and Tierney working in wonderful unison to create another fantastic issue. It could be a great standalone story, and it is in some ways, but it also is a piece of a larger puzzle that I can't wait to work out. So bearing in mind this has been out nearly a week now, if you haven't already had chance to pick it up, do yourself a favour and do so.  You don't want to miss out. 

Review: All My Ghosts (TPB)

Writer/Artist: Jeremy Massie

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: March 23rd 2016 (print)

Last week I reviewed Massie's 'The Deadbeat' and this week I continue the Massie trend by having a look at 'All My Ghosts'. I've know this paperback was coming for a while, I've seen the buzz on Twitter as I follow Massie (@jeremy_massie if you're interested), but truth be told I haven't read it until now. To be quite honest I never thought it would be my sort of read, I'm pleased to say I was rather wrong. 

Massie tells the tale of a small newspaper business in a small town struggling to stay afloat in a strangulating economy. Forced to sell his family business Joe Hale begins to experience strange supernatural occurrences-as the title would suggest.

Massie is a talented writer, his character work is excellent, as is the dialogue. Importantly he crafts believable characters in a world of hyperbole. All My Ghosts is no exception, although that doesn't necessarily mean you lie the characters. 

I didn't like Joe Hale, not consistently, he is a fundamentally flawed character, he does some reprehensible things and is the perpetrator of some odd choices. 

He is great fun to read, besides I came round to him in the end.

We don't all want perfectly polished paradigms of character surely? We've grown up enough to not expect protagonists without fault. I certainly don't, they make for rather tiresome reading. I don't know what goes through Massie's head in his creative process, but he makes great flawed characters that are interesting and compelling reads. Maybe he sees them as a reflection of the fundamental flaws that all humans have, maybe he doesn't, that's only my opinion. Either way, his characters don't disappoint. 

As usual Massie's mind and pencil work in wonderful synchronicity and his style of art is a great pleasure to gaze upon. I read somewhere recently, the exact location eludes me, that independent comics are poorly drawn and lack detail. Preposterous. Anyone who shares that opinion needs only to look at the opening page, a wonderful splash panel of an incredibly detailed printing press. It really caught my eye, a printing press, if Massie can do that with something like a printing press then you can get a clear indication of the point I'm trying to make.

This is a wonderful book to immerse yourself in, you won't always see eye to eye with the protagonist but you'll feel richer for it. Do yourself a favour and go and buy this book, the story is great and the artwork is sublime. I'm seriously tipping my cap to Massie, he's done it again.

Review: The Deadbeat

Story and art: Jeremy Massie

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Currently available in March previews for print. Available on comixology (digital).

In a strange twist of fortuitous circumstance, I had just finished re-reading the deadbeat when I got an e-mail from Alterna, with a review copy and information that The Deadbeat is available in March previews. So it's rather fresh in my memory. 

Now I did a review of the AnniverSERIES edition of this a little while back, which can be found here http://retrogradereview.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/review-deadbeat-anniverseries-edition.html?m=1 and pretty much sums up the book well. The main point being that you should go and buy it. 

The title sums up the premise pretty well, The Deadbeat tells the tale of a down and out ex-superhero who tries to reconnect with his daughter when she unexpectedly crashes back into his life. Massie leaves a lot of himself in this work, like this was a matter of catharsis for him, that makes for delicate and emotional reading; which is only a positive thing. When you read the story, you become instantly sympathetic with the protagonist and his struggle. The fact that Massie generates that kind of connection is testament to his prowess as a storyteller. 

Adjunct to the excellent storytelling is Massie's art, he works in perfect synthesis with himself. I've often thought that it is a tremendous advantage if you are able to both write and draw your own work (in some ways anyway, I could write a rather lengthy essay on the odd connection between writer and artist (and inker and colourist and letterer)) Massie proves the point here with his sublime artwork. I feel I repeat myself in some of these articles, harping on about sequential art and such things, but oh well. Massie tells his story well, the art is consistent, the panels well spaced and the story well paced.

I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed this book, so seriously consider giving it a look, you're missing out if you don't.

Review: Raygun #1

Writer: Gregory Schoen

Pencils and cover: Alonso Molina

Inks and letters: Paulo Rivas

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: March 9th 2016

It's been a busy week or so for me, so to sit down with a new offering from Alterna Comics was a welcome relief. The fact that Ray Gun is brilliant was just the icing on the proverbial cake. Telling the story of Matthew Baker as he is sent to live with his father, this first issue sets up an interesting premise that leaves you curious as to what will happen next. 

Of course in this issue there is a substantial amount of exposition, a first issue demands that you must set the scene and have your 'inciting incident', if done incorrectly, this can be slightly full. However Schoen has crafted the story in such a way that it doesn't suffer tedium, rather it is enthralling. Its paced well and each page has a hook to keep you turning them. 

Though that isn't entirely because of the script, despite its excellence, but Molina's, frankly brilliant, artwork pops out of every page. His style seems to me to contain elements of manga, and that works really well. The characterisation is really strong and sequentially, there are practically no flaws. The panels flow smoothly and there is never any confusion about what comes next, or awkward reading. In fact some of the panels are the best laid out I've seen in a while, with some clever little tricks that made me smile.

Inkers don't often get mentioned I find, I've read some reviews that refuse to even acknowledge them, but Rivas's work here really accentuates the pencils and makes them stand right out.

Really this comic is a wonderful paradigm of symbiosis, or synchronicity that makes comics brilliant, each creator working in unison to make something special. 

Ray Gun is a brilliant read, the story draws you in and the hint of a mystery reaching from the past has whet my appetite for the next issue. There should be no barrier to you going and getting this comic straight away, it's available on comixology right now, it's a wonderful example of indie publishing at its finest. I couldn't of enjoyed it more, not to fill the void until the next issue. 

Review: Freelance Blues #1

Story: Ian Daffern, Mike Leone

Art: Vicki Tierney

Cover Art: Michael Del Mundo

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: February 27th 2016

There's something about Freelance Blues that resonates with me. It's the story of luckless Lance who no matter what, ends up working for grievous, evil scallywags, the kind bent of world domination, when all he wants is to earn enough to pay the bills.

It's quite relatable to most of the population, metaphorically anyway. Who hasn't though of their bosses as cruel, supernatural, monsters at some point and in that respect, Daffern, Leone and Tierney have struck gold with their subject matter; because you can't help but empathise with Lance. That makes Freelance Blues engrossing from start to it's (slightly predictable but emotionally gut punching) ending. 

Daffern and Leone have produced a script that is engaging and keeps the story moving at a nice pace, throwing in a few twists and turns that keep your interest. The dialogue is sharp, snappy and when coupled with Tierney's fantastic art, gives a clear well rounded feel to the characters, allowing you to empathise with Lance's struggle further. 

I'm not sure how to describe Tierney's art without being reductive. It isn't hyper-detailed, but it isn't simplistic, it has a cartoonish feel, but couldn't fit more perfectly into this comic. Really she has found a sweet spot between the spaces and her consistent artwork truly revels in it. Some excellent and unconventional panels showcase her talents and it's nice to see someone steer away from stereotypes, and highlights how good a story teller she is.

Alterna Comics continue to up the ante with their releases and Freelance Blues #1 is an excellent start to the series, with great art, interesting and engaging characters and plot, with a great hook at the end to pique your curiosity for what's to follow. It's released this Wednesday and is strongly recommend you adding it to your pull list.