So Long And Thanks For All The Walkers!

Something happened that many thought never would: Robert Kirkman’s pop culture behemoth, The Walking Dead, is ending.

Comic Reviews: Conan The Barbarian and The Walking Dead!

Comic Reviews!

Conan the Barbarian #1 (Marvel Comics)

Like Star Wars before him, the mighty Conan has made his return to Marvel Comics from Dark Horse. And also like Star Wars, he’s got Jason Aaron writing his new adventures. But that’s where the similarities end, because make no mistake, Conan The Barbarian, featuring art by Mahmud Asrar, is a truly brutal book, and marks a triumphant return to the publisher that made him famous in comics.

Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man and Oblivion Song!

COMIC REVIEWS!

Amazing Spider-Man #797 (Marvel Comics)

The time has come. Dan Slott is leaving The Amazing Spider-Man. After years of penning the wall-crawler’s adventures, the writer is prepping one last story, and it’s set to be one hell of a finale for Slott and artist Stuart Immonen. Not only has Norman Osborn returned as the Green Goblin, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve: none other than the Carnage symbiote. As the beginning of “Go Down Swinging”, Amazing Spider-Man #797 is not only a great kick off to what’s sure to be a bombastic event, it’s also a great example of how great Dan Slott is on the book when he’s on his game.

The Amazing Ryan Ottley

Dan Slott is leaving The Amazing Spider-Man. It was bound to happen one day, but it’s still a shock to realize that a day is coming very soon where Slott’s name won’t be on the title anymore. After being on the book for a decade, the writer is leaving behind a massive legacy on the book that will be very hard for anyone following him to live up to. Luckily though, there’s one name that will be coming to the book that will definitely make an impact: Ryan Ottley.

Comic Reviews: Sideways and Invincible!

COMIC REVIEWS!

Sideways #1 (DC Comics)

DC’s “Age of Heroes” has had a pretty rough start. After being delayed due to its ties to Metal, the first two titles in the line, Damage and The Silencer, weren’t exactly the best examples of creating new and exciting characters that the publisher was promising. Thankfully though, it looks like the third time is the charm for this new launch with Sideways, the new character (and ongoing series) from Kenneth Rocafort, Dan Didio, and Justin Jordan. With an intriguing set of powers and a somewhat similar back story to a certain wall-crawler from the competition, I’m hopeful that this is the book to really show off DC’s intentions for their Age of Heroes.

Comic Reviews: Old Man Logan and The Walking Dead!

COMIC REVIEWS!!!

Old Man Logan # 16 (Marvel Comics)

If rumors (and Marvel solicitations) are to be believed, Old Man Logan will be nearing its final issue shortly. Which is a shame, since the Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino comic series has been a surprisingly great ride. The two have taken a concept that should’ve been terrible, but somehow made it into one of the best titles in Marvel’s stable. Lemire and Sorrentino have sent the universe-displaced Logan on some pretty wild adventures, including a trip to Japan and fighting against Vampires, but now? He’s heading into space.

An Open Letter To AMC

MILD SPOILERS

Dear AMC,

I’m writing this to you as a fan. Whether you know it or not, your network is the gateway to people getting into comic books. I’ve lost count over how many people have walked into Jetpack Comics and asked for Walking Dead trades because they watch your show. But now that you’ve started the seventh season, I have to ask: why are you still resorting to cheap gimmicks? You know you don’t need to do that right? I mean, you guys beat Sunday Night Football last year. SUNDAY. NIGHT. FOOTBALL. That’s freaking unheard of. No show has ever done that.

So Long, Invincible…..

One of the best comics on the stands is reaching the final act. It was announced early last week that Invincible, the other Image series written by Robert Kirkman, would be coming to a close with issue 144. Invincible has been running just as long as The Walking Dead, but has a fraction of the popularity, which is a real shame, because it’s easily one of the best superhero universes on the shelves. Originally featuring art by Kirkman collaborator Cory Walker, who was then replaced by the mighty Ryan Ottley, Invincible is a book that’s not afraid to not pull any punches. Characters were killed, maimed, and scarred both physically and mentally. Like Walking Dead, there’s a long list of characters that were favorites of mine from Invincible that have either died or changed so much over the course of the story that they’re no longer favorites. It’s well above the usual indie comic takes on Super Heroes.

Comic Reviews: Invincible and Huck!

COMIC REVIEWS!!!!

Invincible #127 (Image Comics)

After an extended break, Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley’s Invincible has returned, and man, does it deliver. After having Mark Grayson travel back in time, relive and change his past, and giving us a cliffhanger leaving us at the moment he returns to Eve and his daughter (who’s now MUCH older than the infant he left behind), Kirkman and guest artist Cory Walker waste no time getting us back into the story.

Comic Reviews: Secret Wars and The Walking Dead!

COMIC REVIEWS!!!

Secret Wars #9 (of 9) (Marvel Comics)

MILD SPOILERS

At long last, the finale of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars has arrived. The long delayed concluding chapter has the inenviable task of wrapping up a major event and setting up the status quo that Marvel fans have been aware of since October. And for the most part, Secret Wars succeeds. It definitely feels a little rushed, but when compared to other Marvel events (Age of Ultron, I’m looking at you), Secret Wars is one of the better event stories that Marvel has published recently.