Review: Trespasser #3

Story: Justin M. Ryan
Art: Kristian Rossi
Letters: DC Hopkins
Publisher: Alterna Comics
Release date: June 15th 2016

The only problem with Trespasser is that after I've finished reading an issue, I have to wait for the next one. So I've been waiting for what feels like too long for today, and it didn't disappoint.

After the events and issue 2 and with the cover as enticing as it is, I was expecting this issue to be based a lot more on our science fiction extra terrestrial friends. However the focus of this issue is on the building anxieties in the house, the tension builds as things go from bad to worse. Ryan is a master craftsman, friction is woven into the script and as you read, the tension builds in you too, your heart begins to race and sweat beads on your forehead, it really makes reading quite the experience. Rossi's art once again is a fantastic spectacle to behold, it is moody and atmospheric and a master example of storytelling at its finest.
This issue is a study in character and relationships, to me that seems to be what trespasser is about, the dynamic between man and daughter. Ryan has a wonderful grasp of his characters and you can feel the personality behind each one, their spirit crackles on the page.

I cannot praise Trespasser enough, so be sure to believe the hype and get involved with a wonderful series that I really cannot do enough to praise.

Review: Charge #1

Writers: Dan Jury and Chris Jury
Pencils: Adhitya Zulkarnaen
Inks: Christopher Bryer
Colours: Pamela Siega
Letters: Michael Lagace
Cover Art: Jordan J. Nering
Publisher: Alterna Comics
Release date: June 1st 2016

Charge has been put for a week now. Everything I've sat down to try and write this something seems to have come up that I am unable to get out of. So it's nice to finally be able to get a moment to put something together about this cracking comic.
Actually a few days before this comic came out I fired up my Dropbox and found the review/preview copy of Charge #1 sat there just begging to be read. So it was quite serendipitous when I got the email from Alterna with the release details and link to review copy a few days later, forewarned is forearmed.
Charge is a great piece of tense science fiction thriller. It's got all the ingredients, a shady corporation, an uptight suit from head office, a remote cut off location and some scientists working on a clandestine experiment. Intersperse that with some time travel and you have a wonderfully crafted story in your hands.
Dan and Chris Jury have a wonderful understanding of their characters and material. With such a ensemble cast being used it would be easy for some of the characters to get lost in the crows and become a little one dimensional, but that doesn't happen here. The plot is well paced and reads smoothly, there are no clunky page turns or jilted storytelling that put off your reading experience.
The artwork is sublime, each member of the team performing their duties perfectly,  then combining to create pages that are wonderful to look at and are an excellent paradigm of sequential art and, more importantly to me, storytelling.

In short this is a wonderful comic, the story is interesting and engaging, without over complication. The art is fluid, dynamic and a joy to view. I can't wait to see where the plot takes us next. Get yourself on comixology and treat yourself. You won't regret it at all.

Review: Freelance Blues #4

Story: Ian Daffern and Mike Leone

Art: Vicki Tierney

Inks: Diego Moreno

Cover Art: John Lang

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: May 25th 2016

If you've been here before, if you've seen my reviews of previous issues then you may be aware that I am a fan of Freelance Blues, this issue does nothing to change that.

The spectacularly creative minds of Daffern, Leone and Tierney have crafted another immensely enjoyable chapter in poor unfortunate Lance's tale. In #4 we find Lance working on a ranch trying to make an honest living but, as always, things take a sinister turn. In the previous issue Daffern and Leone began to hint at some underlying familial conspiracy behind Lance and the twins plight, and that juicy vein of story is continued here. The information is teased out skilfully and woven into the structure of the plot, keeping the readers attention. It's another example of superb writing, with the story crafted wonderfully, paced excellently and peppered with humour throughout, this series has become a fine paradigm of excellent comic writing and storytelling.

In Lance they have created an ultimately likeable protagonist, in fact it must be impossible to dislike him, each issue comes with a wonderfully thought out supporting cast too.

 

I'm unashamedly in awe of Tierney's artwork, each panel crackles with life and energy, she is an excellent storyteller and her artwork is the perfect companion to Daffern and Leone's script. This issue is no different and her artwork seems to get better and better the more I look at it. Her command of characters is particularly impressive and you can feel the life that she puts into each one. 

This was a fantastic issue to read (twice.....ok three times) and I can't recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and read it, if you haven't already dipped into this series then go back to the start and enjoy a shining example of excellent comics. Daffern, Leone and Tierney, thanks for the fun, I can't wait to see what's next. 

Review: Corktown #1

Writer: Mario Candelaria

Art: Scott Ewen

Letters: Zakk Saam

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Released: May 18th 2016

This week I've been blessed to read another stellar release from Alterna Comics in what has been a fantastic tenth year for them, and for us as readers.

Corktown follows the tale of a ghostly detective, trying to stop her reanimated body commiting a series of gruesome murders. This initial issue sets up the premise and some of the supernatural mythos really well. One of the most common flaws with an opening issue is the level of exposition required, after all generally they set up the story. However Candelaria has crafted a well told story that shows us, rather than outright tells-and that makes for a much more interesting read. Stephen King said you should never assume your reader is less intelligent than you (slightly paraphrased) and Candelaria puts us right up there with him and just tells the story with an exuberance that shines through.

There's some interesting takes on different supernatural myths at play too, namely vampiric and ghostly lore, but I don't want to delve too much into for fear of spiders, but needless to say it works well and adds interesting elements to the book. Torrie is an interesting and compelling protagonist, though I get the sense that there is still a lot more to come from her. 

The comic is set in Detroit, I have never been to Detroit and I'm unsure if I ever will. So it is testament to Ewen's art that he can so vividly bring a city to life to one who has never set foot in its boundaries. That fused with excellent character and sequential art, makes this book a true feast for the eyes. You almost become an inhabitant of Detroit, experiencing this story through your own eyes, as though it was unfolding before you.

I have recently begun to make my own comics, I've been writing for a while and it seemed like logical progression. So I thought lettering them would be a breeze, oh how wrong I was. Anyone who can letter should be immortalised as a genius and Saam is no different, so in my eyes he deserves special mention.

This was a fantastic book to read, wonderful writing with great characters and beautiful art to take in. It's well worth a look and is available on comixology digitally now. So do yourself a favour and give it a go. 

Review: Raygun #2

Writer: Gregory Schoen

Pencils and cover: Alonso Molina

Inks and letters: Paulo Lopez

Publisher: Alterna Comics

Release date: May 11th 2016

I've had a pretty rough week. Which is a tremendous shame as it started out with such promise, waking up Monday morning with the review copy of Raygun #2 waiting for me in my Dropbox, that put a smile on my face, though time quickly used its icy fingers to manipulate that smile into something more macabre. What with work, people, relationships and life the week got a little worse. Finally I wrestled a few minutes back from Father Time, that cold tosspot, and I used them to finally read this issue of Raygun, and well a bit of light got let back into my week. 

Schoen, Molina and Lopez have crafted anything brilliant issue rife with actin, conspiracy and intrigue. This is actually one of the best written comics I've read in a while, the script is well paced and is imbued with that quality that makes you want to keep reading. Snappy dialogue and well thought out characters don't hurt your enjoyment at all, Matthew is everyone you want from a protagonist, a little conflicted and edged, but ultimately can illicit sympathy from the reader-put shortly he's just likeable. 

I've said before that the artwork is a little reminiscent of a manga style, and I stand by that, but it's gorgeous nonetheless, every panel is exquisite and filled with detail, no space is wasted in telling the story. This is a shining example of the effect that comics can have, of how they can affect our lives. Shining rays of light penetrating the mundane gloom. This review is a little shorter than some of the others, but really it is more of a thank you than a review. Thank you messers Schoen, Molina and Lopez for writing this comic, it gave me a smile in a week filled with frowns.

If you aren't already involved in this series then make that change and get out there, get a copy and enjoy.

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.