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I'm diverging from the norm this month, as you probably guessed from
the title (wooo, I have a title this month!). Nothing that I read this month
really stood out enough to be worth an entire long review, and I know
my past couple reviews have been pretty cheezy and short. Sooo, for
your extended reading pleasure, I present little capsule reviews of most
of the stuff I read this month, good and bad. Everyone gets their moment
in the spotlight this month! Some deserve it more than others.
Let's start with whatever comes out of the comic book shop bag first!
Warlands, 3 stories. This pretty book by Dreamwave (produced or
published or something by Image) contains 3 stories, one from Wizard
Issue 1/2, one from Another Universe issue 0, and one special new story
(just to get poor saps who already bought the first 2 to shuck out an
extra $6 just to get one story). I hadn't previously seen any of these
stories, so we picked it up. The stories simply give background to the
original first 12 issues, and kinda intros the next 12-issue story arc. Not
really bad, not really neccasary, not really outstanding. Oh yes, and they
conflict each other as 1 character dies in two different ways.. Same
setting, same time, just done differently in 2 stories. Bad job, guys!
Review your past work to make sure you don't contradict yourselves!
(Art by Pat and Alvin Lee, story(s) by Adrian Tsang).
And while I'm reviewing Dreamwave products, let's move onto Shidima.
I've read the preview and the first two issues and I'm still not sure if I like
this book. The series is more or less kinda sorta maybe a Warlands spin-
off, but all it has to do with Warlands is that they're set on the same
world. Anyways, the story jumps around a lot, leading to confusion. I
haven't decided if I like the main character. And there's something wrong
with the art... Proportions are a bit off, and there's something else I can't
quite put my finger on, but it's definitly not up to par for Dreamwave. Oh
plus, there's cheezily done graphic violence. Probably not worth it,
unless you really have a thing for psuedo-Japanese-based comic books.
(Art by Warui Namekemono and Ramil Sunga, story by Adrian Tsang).
On to brighter and better things for a moment! Sleeping Dragons 3 is
finally out... YAY! This nice fantasy book published by Amaze Ink still
proves to be entertaining and clean. The one drawback to this particular
issue is that it centers around a play, which is performed entirely in
rhyme... A bit annoying, but understandable. Art and story are still
enjoyable and I am looking forward to the continuation of this current 4-
issue story arc (started in issue 2), even though it isn't coming out until
July! I recommend that any fantasy fan gets ahold of the first 3 issues of
this series, it promises to be a good one: ) (Story by Kevin Mason, art by
Alex Szewczuk and Craig Taillefer).
And while we're on the subject of clean fantasy books whose latest
issues I was awaiting, the next chapter of Rod Espinosa's Courageous
Princess is also out! This book continues to be suitable for children and
adults, with simple but enjoyable art and nice coloring, plus an
entertaining story! The price is steep (12.95), but since it's only coming
out once or twice a year, the extra cost isn't too bad. Buy it just to see the
cool evil dragon make another appearance. WOOHOO! (Story and art
both by Rod Espinosa).
Back to a low note... Tick in Color #2... Bleagh! How did Tick go from
being a book that I looked forward to each month to a book that almost
disgusts me? It's going downhill FAST! The art is standard, the colors
don't add anything to it, and the story... *sigh* Ok, so the story is
standard Tick fare (ie, pretty silly), but the dialogue and so-called jokes
SUCK! This particular issue featured one Uranus joke (sinking to the
level of an 8-year-old), one totally unnecessary scene with a four-
breasted moon woman (come on, this isn't Total Recall, let's keep a
normal amount of mammary glands), and lots of lines that maybe were
supposed to be jokes but totally fell flat. Perhaps worst of all, the issue
ended with a cliffhanger, but Marc Silvia spoiled it in his Arachnida
column! Stupid marketing move and annoying! If this comic doesn't
improve within the next couple issues, I won't be reading it anymore, and
I suggest that all Tick fans write in and order them to get some funnier
jokes fast! (Oh, yeh, published by NEC, same as it's always been, Story
by Marc Silvia, art by Mychailo Kazybrid and Tak Toyoshima).
I also read Meridian, by CrossGen and Girl Genius from Studio Foglio,
but I think I've subjected you to enough of my ramblings for this
particular month!
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