Moriarty #1

Moriarty #1
Written by Daniel Corey
Art by Anthony Diecidue
Lettering by Dave Lanphear
Published by Image Comics
Review by Lan Pitts

I am sure almost everybody knows of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty: one of the greatest literary rivalries of all time. Yet, what is a villain without a hero? Moriarty takes a peek at what happened when the fateful death to both Homles and his arch-nemesis, turned out to just end Holmes and left Moriarty wandering for a purpose. In his travels and life without an adversary, the legendary professor has evolved into something that mirrors Holmes. The idea intrigued me and was immediately sucked in.

The book starts has an interesting timeline, and is set during pre-WWI, around the time of the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, and talks of his killing and the association with the Black Hand are the talk of the nation. We see Moriarty, now under the alias of Trumbold, working as a somewhat businessman that still carries some ties to the criminal underworld. Without Holmes, Moriarty has become complacent and a little bored.

It's not long before the government comes around and asks for his services to find Sherlock's brother, Mycroft. Who is he to refuse the chance to hunt down another Holmes? Better yet, they are aware of who he is and what he is capable of. This is where the story picks up its stride. We see inside the mind of Moriarty, we see his tactics, his self-imposed rules of getting things done. Doyle wrote Moriarty as the equivalent to Holmes and now we see why that is. The hung for Mycroft leads the reader and the old professor into a series of events that hint at a bigger picture, and the fact he soon as a shadowy figure of his own to conquer.

I do love the touch of knowledge Daniel Corey brings to the script, however, where I think the story falters, and this is me nitpicking here because I did rather enjoy it, is the actual narrative. To quote a line from Amadeus, "there are too many notes". While Dave Lanphear executes the lettering layout wonderfully, I think somethings just did not need to be said as they were specifically shown via Anthony Diecidue's art. While I do understand that this is Moriarty's story, but at the same time, I think most readers could deduce what is going on.

Speaking of Anthony Diecidue's art, this is a perfect example of a great collaboration of story and artist. Even in the slower parts of the issue, Diecidue elevates the bits with his mysterious tone with heavy sketch lines and rendering that give this early Guy Davis vibe. The layouts and scenery in old London town have an edge of macabre with lots of shadowy effects that perfectly set the stage for a mystery.

Moriarty is a great example of something that is for people who are not really into superheroics or mega-events. With the Big Two both with event-heavy series, this could be the one for people who want to try something a bit different from the norm. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Zatanna #1! About time, right?

Zatanna #1
Written by Paul Dini
Pencils by Stephane Roux
Inks by Karl Story
Colors by John Kalisz
Letters by Pat Brosseau
Published by DC Comics
Review by Lan Pitts

"The world's a scary place. If I can show people a friendlier aspect of magic, it benefits everyone, mystic or mortal." -- Zatanna

Created over four decades ago by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson, Zatanna has been a somewhat A to B-list character, having a few mini-series and one-shots sporadicly through the years, but never has had her own ongoing series. I find that a bit odd, but thankfully Paul Dini has remedied the situation and brings us everyone's favorite sorceress to center stage with her first series, simply entitled Zatanna.

Having moved away from the dark shadows of Gotham City, Zatanna has found a new home in San Fransisco with a steady gig, but of course a normal day goes awry when she's confronted by Detective Dale Colton who needs her assistance in a mass murder investigation. A very particular investigation. Reading a witnesses mind, the culprits are revealed to be led by well-known mystic by the name of Brother Night (no relation to Mother Night). The horrific acts of violence and sorcery play out while we get a feel of the villains at large and who they are. Zatanna decides to take matters in her own hand and pay Brother Night a visit to confront him on the situation and she easily takes on his cronies. Dini has supplied some great dialog between Night and Zatanna, including a bit on why she aligns herself with teams like the Justice League and doesn't look down on the human world. Though we also see that Night may not be the big picture and something more sinister and darker lay in nightmares and shadows.

As a Zatanna fan, I loved how Dini presented Zatanna in this issue. It shows her life as a super-hero, a stage show performer, and a protector of the human realm. She's many things to the DC Universe and this series could be one to watch for with Dini penning a character he has adored for years. If anybody was going to bring Zatanna into an ongoing series, I'm glad it's him.

The art team assembled on this book is astonishing. When I heard Stephane Roux was on board on the art, I was a bit concerned since I had only been aware of his cover work and wonder how his style would transfer to actual page layouts. Yeah, no worry here. Roux's construction and flow make it a real page-turner and just fun to look at. Of course since Roux is aided by the incredible talent of Karl Story on inks, it's sharp, clean and dare I say flawless. John Kalisz's colors fit everything just right as well. From the opening page with the spotlight, to how Night's den appears. You get a real sense of the world right down to the feel of Zee's cape to Night's skin.

Dini has set up numerous things in this first issue, and I love how easily accessible it since because it doesn't bog down with continuity and we get an idea of who she is, as I mentioned earlier. It's a great start to what I hope will be a fantastic read for years to come. It's been a long time coming and it was worth the wait.

Magdalena #1 review

Magdalena #1
Written by Ron Marz
Pencils by Nelson Blake II
Inks by Sal Regla
Colors by Dave McCaig
Letters by Troy Peteri
Published by Top Cow
Review by Lan Pitts

"I've given it all the thought I need to. I've accepted what I am. What my bloodline makes me. But I'm done being used by the Church. Magdalenas have been disposable commodities for centuries. That's NOT HOW I'm going to end up. Nothing is going to make me change my mind." Patience, the Magdalena

I went into this debut issue knowing little about the character and her history, besides some notion of Magdalena being a warrior nun. I know she's made appearances in other Top Cow titles, but other than that, I have very limited knowledge. So I went into this book without expectations, except for the expectation that Ron Marz rarely disappoints. If you're a fan of what he's got going on over in Top Cow's flagship title, Witchblade, you're in for a treat.

If, like me, you're not familiar with Magdalena and her background, no worries. The plot is pretty straightforward, and any backstory is explained through narrative, yet without slowing down the actual story. I got the gist and ran with it. Marz has handled not one, but three (now including Magdalena) titles that have strong, female leads that deal with supernatural forces since signing with Top Cow, so trust me when I say he's in top form. While Marz may have a common theme now with female characters with mystical weapons, each have their own voice, and the Magdalena of this generation, Patience, is no exception. There's a strong opening and it doesn't let up. You have Church politics, demonic brawls, a murder mystery and that's just first ten pages. You want your demon-hunting warrior woman doing what she does best? You got it. You want a set up with Patience and a kid Anti-Christ? You got it.

I am surprised Top Cow didn't pursue the usual route and do a sort of "Year One" take on the character. But after reading issue #1, I realized there wasn't really a need for that. Marz just picks up Patience in her own series as she is in current Top Cow continuity, which makes it easier to get to the action, which is wonderfully rendered by penciler Nelson Blake II. Blake captures the intensity of the fight scenes, and just as easily nails the "talking head" moments. The inking of Sal Regla (Ultimate Fantastic Four, Fathom) compliments Blake's style. Regla's inks aren't too heavy or overbearing, and give everything a clean, crisp look that is easy on the eye. On top of that, you've got Dave McCaig coloring his guts out and Ryan Sook on cover duty.

With other companies go from big events, to tie-ins, to more big events, it's refreshing to be able to enjoy a book without having to worry about buying back issues or confusing continuity. There's even a timeline of the women who have been called Magdalena in the past, which expands the world and I enjoyed a bit of each backstory. The issue is there from the get-go to enjoy, so if you've been wanting an accessible title, Magdalena #1 answers your prayers.

Dark Reign:Daredevil:The List

Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil #1

Written by Andy Diggle
Pencils by Billy Tan
Inks by Matt Banning
Colors by Justin Ponsor
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by Lan Pitts

"Bullseye was right. The game has changed...we send him a message." -- Daredevil

The events in this issue occur shortly after Daredevil #500 with Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, assuming the mantle as leader of the ninja assassin group, The Hand. With such a title, it gives reason for Norman Osbourne to set his sights on Hell's Kitchen and the continuation of executing his list.

Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil #1 (what a mouthful) isn't really as much a stand-alone issue as it is more of a bridge between #500 and #501 (in which you can see seven preview pages of in this issue). We see why ol' Hornhead is on Osbourne's list as well as movement of the plot in the ongoing series. It's effective, I'll give writer Andy Diggle that, but it puts that little extra strain on the wallet. This is a classic Daredevil story, with DD going toe-to-toe with Bullseye for the upteenth time, and we get to see Bullseye's coldhearted maliciousness that makes him one of the Marvel Universe's best villains.

This is also a great character study for Daredevil himself, especially since The Hand doesn't make just anybody their leader, and we get a hint of the sort of trials Matt went through to earn their respect. Of course, nothing helps you earn brownie points more than fighting off HAMMER units in a well-choreographed fight scene in their hidden sanctum. At first I was turned off by Billy Tan's style and his construction of Daredevil since I had always figured him a slightly more muscular version of Spider-Man, but the psychology behind it is that he is after all, a boxer's son.

I got back into Daredevil a few years ago, and in Diggle's hands it's proving to be one of the consistently great books on the shelves these days. Justin Ponsor's colors are great as well. They add a sort of real world texture over Tan's work, and it's a great combination.

With twenty-six pages of story, seven pages of preview from Daredevil #501 and three pages of sketch material, this makes Dark Reign: The List- Daredevil #1 a solid read with an effective glimpse of the things to come.

Batgirl #1

Batgirl #1
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Pencils by Lee Garbett
Inks by Trevor Scott
Colors by Guy Major
Published by DC Comics

Well, a new Batgirl has hit the streets of Gotham like a Batgirl out of hell. Who is she? What are her ties?

Spoilers are officially on.

The issue starts with a scene out of Fast and Furious with some illegal street racing until Batgirl shows up and bursts up the scene. She's sloppy, as Batman and Robin watch her from afar. Damian notes that this isn't the former leader of the League of Assassins. No, she's "not as good as the other Batgirl", states Dick. Whether Dick means Barbara Gordon or Cassandra Cain is unclear, but we soon learn who she is. Ready for a spoiler? How about are you ready for THE Spoiler as the new Batgirl?

Yes, it's true. Stephanie Brown, former Spoiler, is the new Batgirl. I'll have to admit, she wasn't my first choice, but I think this makes sense. I'm glad it's a member of the extended Bat-family and not some random new character that comes out of nowhere. On another note, it's interesting that this assignment should go to Stephanie, since she supposedly didn't want to continue her vigilante ways. I guess old habits are hard to break. Though, I think how Stephanie inherits the mantle is a bit on the weak side.

This issue just isn't Stephanie's story. What would be a Batgirl title without Barbara Gordon making an appearance or two? Bryan Q. Miller handles these characters with dignity and poise, plus it was nice to see Babs kick a little ass. Lee Garbett's art seems a bit unfinished in some places, but his panel construction adds an easy flow to the story.

The end of Batgirl #1 is exactly what I wanted to see. It's a solid debut issue with an excellent reintroduction to an oft-maligned character. If you're a Bat-fan, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. It's a little bit more lighthearted than what has been going on in the other titles, but just as effective in delivering action and suspense.

Stuff of Legends

This is something I've been waiting for a while to post.

The Stuff of Legend Volume 1, Book 1
Story by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith
Art by Charles Paul Wilson III
Design and Colors by Jon Conkling and Michael DeVito
Published by Th3rd World
Second Printing, Expected Sept. 17, 2009

When I had asked someone to describe this book to me, they simply said "Toy Story meets the Battle of Normandy". Though, after read "Stuff", I can tell you that's the simple version of this multi-layered story. A young boy gets kidnapped by the Boogeyman and it's to his toys to save the day. Now, since the story takes place during WWII, you won't find any Masters of the Universe, GI JOES, ThunderCats, or any toy with multiple points of articulation here. However, you will find a stuffed bear, some toy soldiers, a wooden duck, and a jack-in-the-box. Seems like a motley crew at first, but they are more than dedicated to get the boy back from the Dark (the closet).

That is how Stuff of Legend begins, but quickly becomes something darker and serious as the toys actually step through the Dark as they become the real objects they represent. And then a battle scene takes place and it is honestly unlike anything I have ever seen. I won't get too specific with the details, but Wilson's art is something to behold.

Though it's not just the art of it all, it's the design as well. The page borders resemble that of an antique storybook and I was overwhelmed at time at the sheer creativity of it all. Even how the Boogeyman is constructed and voiced. He's a creature made of shadows and nightmares, easily any 6 year-old's worst fears incarnate. The revelation of his plan is evil and foreboding, but the book never crosses the over-the-top fright factor. The violence is a bit rough at times, but any eleven year-old should easily handle this.

This is a grand debut that is certain to only become grander as the story unfolds. I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood got it's hands on this and options it for an adaptation later down the line. We had reported that the first printing had sold out and the second printing will be shipping soon. At. $4.99, it may seem like a hefty price, but you're not just buying a comic. you're buying the beginning to a comic odyssey that I'm sure will be a modern classic.

Mike DeVito has already thanked me numerous times for such delightful press. That's all I really ask for at the end of the day.

But seriously, check this book out.

GI Joe review and Incarnate review

Now, let’s be frank. This is not Shakespeare by any means, nor is it as bad as Gigli or The Phantom. I got out of the theater last night with a huge grin on my face and not the bad taste in my mouth I had expected after seeing the final trailer. ESPECIALLY the TV spots with Kid Rock’s “American Badass” song during it. So I went at a midnight showing, expecting a “meh” reaction, or something that would make forsake my childhood idols altogether. What Stephen Sommers did was make me feel like I was nine years-old again, playing with my figures (my brother being JOE and myself being Cobra) and I really had a good time. A really good time. There were so many nods, winks and nudges to the old fans and will jump start a new generation of younglings to discover the joy of it all.

Spoilers are blasting away like red and blue lasers!

We begin the movie with the first of many flashbacks. I like telling the origin in passing because you can get straight away to some heavy fight scenes. It’s 1641 and James McCullen is being sentenced for selling weapons to both Scotland and France. He is sentenced to wear an iron mask for all his days, but not before going off on a tirade about Clan McCullen taking it’s place in history to rule the world. Fast forward to the “not so distant future”, James McCullen XXIV (played by former Doctor Who and Heroes star, Christopher Eccleston) and surprise, he’s an arms dealer. His project are nanomite warheads that can be turned off so casualties and damage can be controlled. The warheads are to be taken somewhere and guarding the weapons are Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans, because when I think of sci-fi/military movie, I think of a Wayans). On the way to their destination, Duke, Rip and their entourage are jumped and have their collective ass handed to them by Baroness and Cobra troopers. It turns out Baroness (Sienna Miller sans over-the-top accent) and Duke were once lovers. I know it’s sort of a long shot and detour from the original story, but I guess they need to tie things up.

So, it looks as though all hope is lost until you see Snake Eyes (Ray Park aka Darth Maul) jump out of a helicopter and starts kicking all sorts of trooper ass. I found myself laughing as helpless minions fell by Snake Eyes’ swordplay, and then laughed some more when Snake was joined by Shana “Scarlet” O’Hara (Rachel Nichols) who just blasts guys left and right with her trademark crossbow. And yes, then a red and blue laser shootout ensues, but not in favor of Cobra. The warheads are safe…for now. Duke and Rip then are introduced to General Hawk (Dennis Quaid, flight jacket and all) and soon after we are introduced to GI JOE headquarters, the Pit. It gets gadget-heavy, which is a good thing, but when they talk about invisibility suits, I remember watching something on the History Channel a few years back about how the military, is in fact, developing such a thing. In the Pit we see Duke and Rip training to be one of the Joes and finally getting accepted. There is some flirtation between Rip and Scarlet that reminds me of the old Zelda cartoon where Link is just a pest, but can you really blame Rip for trying to make a move?

McCullen reports to Hawk to check up on the warheads to make sure they are not damaged and so forth. Turned out McCullen actually activated a tracking device and is coming for them. It is here we also see the Destro/Baroness relationship. Turns out, though, Ana/Baroness is actually married to a French Baron and is using his money to help fund for McCullen’s weaponry and such. So then we have the attack on the Pit led by Baroness, accompanied by Storm Shadow (played by Korean actor Byung-hun Lee), Zartan (Arnold Vosloo) and a plethora of troopers. This fight scene is just a taste of what is later to come. There is a Scarlet/Baroness throwdown, Duke taking out troopers, Rip (yes…MARLON WAYANS) kicking some major ass, as well. And of course…Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. All of that in about 5-6 minutes but it felt like it lasted longer because my brain transformed me into that same nine year-old with all the action figures. There are some casualties as well, Cover Girl is killed by Zartan and Hawk is sliced up pretty bad by Storm Shadow.

At the end of the fray, Duke confronts Baroness about how she’s changed and why and to hand over the warheads she just obtained. He even puts a gun to her head, though she knows he won’t pull the trigger and the bad guys get away. Soon after we get some back stories. Duke was engaged to Ana and went to war with her brother, Rex, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Well, things didn’t turn out so well for Rex in a scene that is reminiscent of GoldenEye with Agent 006. We also delve into Snakes’ and Storm’s origin a bit. Yes, there is a Hard Master cameo and we learn why Snake doesn’t talk.

From there, Baroness takes the warheads to her husbands laboratory and weaponizes them. Since McCullen has a sort of bloodfued with the French, he decides to test the first one out on a national treasure. Now is the scene that you’ve probably all seen by now: the French chase scene with the accelerator suits and Snakes Eyes doing back flips over cars. The commercials and ads for it are a bit overplayed by now…HOWEVER, the things Ray Park does as Snake Eyes is truly awesome to see. Rip and Duke do some interesting things as well, but some of them are just mindless and destructive for the sake of being loud and explosive. And again, the bad guys get away, and this time with a good portion of Paris destroyed and Duke has been kidnapped. On top of it all, Rip, Scarlet, Breaker and Heavy Duty are all attained by the French government. Things are not looking well for the Joes at this moment.

Back on the chopper where Duke is being held hostage we see a little more in the history of Ana and Duke as well as the conclusion to Storm Shadow’s origin. When they reach their headquarters Duke tries to grab the warheads and run. At first it seems like a stupid move, even from my perspective, because I said out loud “Now where the hell is he going?” Ah, but sneaky Duke…he reactivated the tracking device that McCullen had used earlier. So then Duke is introduced to the Doctor and McCullen who have something special in line for Duke. Turns out the Doctor is really Rex and is taking revenge out on Duke by making him a slave for his new army. I was impressed by Gordon-Levitt’s voice and how creepy he actually made him sound. Nothing over the top, but a hint of old school Commander was there in how he exaggerated his f’s and s’s.

Meanwhile, the Joe crew is coming to the rescue and there’s another showdown, this one is the big melee fight between our favorite ninjas. Also, a bit of a surprise in the development in the Baroness character and she actually turns on McCullen and her brother to save Duke. In the process, setting McCullen on fire! Yikes!
During this, there is a huge underwater dog fight and Rip is going after the other warheads which have been launched. Though at the end of it all, the good guys save the day, but I know what you’re thinking…the subtitle is called “Rise of Cobra”. Oh…there is a rise. Rex calls himself Commander, and yes, McCullen becomes Destro, just like how we all wanted him to look like. It’s obvious how they are setting up for a sequel and I’d love that! I had more fun with this movie than any other I can remember all year long. Maybe Watchmen. Though I knew how that one ended.

I love how the script borderlined what was made for kids and what was made for old school fans. There’s no masturbation jokes/references here or over sexual shots or racist stereotypes. I haven’t gone through a whole bag of popcorn in a long time like how I devoured one while watching this movie. If you have kids to this movie, take them, it’s just that damn fun. The special effects were pretty sub-par, so I hope they get the right people on them next time. They felt dated and almost SyFy TV special-esque, and took me out of the movie at times, but then some fight would break out and I’d snap right back into it.

If I had to rate the movie using a number chart: 8.5/10. I plan on seeing it again, just in case I missed some hard-to-find Easter Egg.

Now for something a bit different.


Incarnate #1 of 3
Written and Pencils by Nick Simmons
Inks by Matt Dalton
Colors by Brian Buccellato
Assisting Art by Nam Kim. Ben Harvey, Shi Hua Wang
Published by Radical
Available Now

Now usually when a celebrity or TV personality announce they have a comic book in the works, it's just an idea they have, and then a team of professionals are assembled to make sense of it all and flesh it out. That doesn't seem to be the case here with Radical's new mini-series, Incarnate, created and written by Gene Simmons' (who has had a few comic series under his name, but was written by other people. Namely Dominatrix, which was written by Sean Taylor) son, Nick. Now, with a lineage like that, I don't think doing a story like Spider-Man or something run-of-the-mill will have to do. And something not involving spandex. Incarnate is definitely not run-of-the-mill, and is actually pretty bloody fun.

Emphasis on the bloody.

Now, it's not perfect by any means. At first, I was sort of turned off by the "AmeriManga" style of it all. That soon wore off, as I then got turned off even more by the...interesting vernacular and dialogue. Though, I'll give the kid credit and shrug it off as a rookie mistake. After a few pages into it, I really took a good look at the art and Nick has got some serious skills. Now, I'm not sure what the ratio of him was to the assistant artists. Maybe he had some help with the flow of the story and panel configuration...who knows. The art does shine, though. It's not for everybody: even if you happen to just dismiss it at first, I'd suggest you give it a try.

The main character, Mot (who for some reason loo ks like Nick himself) is an ancient vampire/demon who is reborn after of being in some sort of trance for a period of time and he quickly seeks out others like him. However, there is a threat to his kind's existence: humans have found a way to slay the immortals. Some of them have denounced this theory, but soon thereafter, they are discovered at their lair and are killed off, leading to a showdown between Mot and the leader of the demonslayers, who call themselves "Sanctum".

Like I mentioned, it's a set-up for the next two installments, and it's a valiant effort on Nick's part, but a co-writer would have been better to have, at least on the first issue, to help better the dialogue. Don't get me wrong, it was a fun read, and pretty creative. Hopefully young Simmons will learn from this experience and better his craft.

Witchblade Annual 2009.

Witchblade Annual 2009
Written by Jay Faerber
Pencils by Eric Basaldua
Inks by Rick Basaldua, Dulce Brassea, and Alix Minjarez
Colors by John Starr
Published by Top Cow

After a bit of a delay Top Cow's Witchblade Annual 2009 is hitting comic store shelves this week. Though Sara Pezzini and her magical gauntlet has been around for about 15 years, I was surprised to know that this is their first annual. The almost 40 page issue is actually two stories, one a backup story about Ian Nottingham and his new cell mate, written by Joshua Cozine and Joe Henderson and penciled by Sheldon Mitchell.

The primary story has Sara and her partner/boyfriend Patrick Gleason chasing after beautiful women who suddenly have psychotic breakdowns and killing random people. After they catch the first murderer, who tries to severe Sara's arm off with a meat cleaver, she is taken into custody and questioned. She can remember her name, but not the events of the past few hours, so that takes care of the total amnesia theory.

Later, while Sara and Gleason are discussing the case, a fellow officer congratulates them and compares the girl they brought in to a girl he caught. At one table over, another officer says something similar about a gorgeous young woman bashing in some random guy's head in. And doesn't remember it.

Sara uses her detective skills which leads herself and Gleason to an unusual place: a plastic surgeon's office. Later, there is a scene that I don't think you would see on nip/tuck (then again, knowing that show, I wouldn't put it past the writers). I liked this issue for a plethora of reasons. Namely, how the readers get to see Sara as a detective, which echoes perfectly what Ron Marz has been doing on the title.

There is plenty of dialogue and Eric "Ebas" Basaldua could have turned a "talking heads" book into something bland, but he nailed the panel construction magnificently. The angles are exciting and doesn't make one feel they're looking at just boxes on a page. There is some action in the issue, but it's mainly at the end.

Fans of the series will no doubt want to grab this when it hits stores Wednesday.