Tastes Like Rock! Geekonomicon

Cryptocracy in one issue has become one of this reviewer's new favorite non-superhero titles on the wracks! The series takes the concepts of the Illuminati, a shadow government, mythological creatures, aliens, and a lot more, rolls them into one giant conspiracy running the world and makes each all the more interesting and fun. Obviously not for everyone, also not for the younger set (many "F-Bombs" dropped throughout the issue), but this has the makings already of one of the better titles that isn't a franchise to come out of Dark Horse in a few years... Read More

Shaper #1 could be the next great sci-fi/fantasy epic, all the building blocks are there and the story doesn't lag on exposition setting up this universe. Action picks up pretty quick and thrusts protagonist Spry into the story's central conflict fast, with up front reveals and revelations about Spry's lineage and abilities. And just as you're getting into the story and enjoying the plot, boom, To Be Continued! Shaper does leave you wanting more... Read More

All around great Spider-Man story, as a lifelong Spidey fan and as a reviewer, I'm looking forward to the rest of this three part epic as Spider-Man teams up with the Inhumans and later with the new and awesome Captain America, Sam Wilson (originally the Falcon for those that only listen to internet trolls and don't read the material before giving it a chance). No character does fish out of water like Spider-Man when dealing characters he has had little to no interaction with in the larger scope of the Marvel Universe. Loveness strikes a perfect note with pretty much every bit of dialogue in this first part of the "Inhuman Error" three parter... Read More

Dark, grim, and gritty as always, this issue is a decent jumping on point for new readers, through exposition and flashbacks enough is covered for new or lapsed readers (like myself) to catch up with what has been going on since X relaunched almost two years ago. Story is pretty par for the course when it comes to dystopian cities, riddled with crime and drugs; very Dark Knight Returns. And X is like Batman if he were the Punisher... Read More

The story is well crafted and moves at a fast pace as a crime/heist thriller should, the writer gives equal attention to both the supernatural/spiritual elements of the story and the crime thriller side; thus producing a solid amalgamation of the genres, leaving neither feeling neglected. This really is a solid story with well researched information on Reincarnation mythology and beliefs from around the world... Read More

The creative team behind Spider-Gwen continues to deliver with the second issue of the mouthy pink one's adventures in her own dimension. This issue gives us a better look at some of her supporting cast and a better look at what her world is like, in particular its differences from the 616 Marvel Universe; some characters are different sides of the hero/villain divide, as stated in earlier Spider-Gwen related reviews (Edge of Spider-Verse #2 and Spider-Gwen #1), and this issue shows that for one beloved character it's a damn deep divide... Read More

If Inception and The Matrix (the first one, the good one) had a baby it would be Neverboy. This review will be a fast to keep from spoiling anything more than what I already said with the Inception/Matrix line... if you like trippy mysteries pick up Neverboy #1! Just from this first issue of the mini-series you'll be hooked if for no other reason than just to see what the hell is actually going on... Read More

Retrofuturism Crime Noir. In short, awesome. And now I am filled with regret that I didn't start reading and reviewing Mister X in earlier tales. The vibe Dean Motter has in his Mister X  has a Dark City feel, and yet is much more developed and solid than the 1998 cyberpunk noir thriller. Told in three old school serialized segments that look and feel like comics from the 1940s... Read More

Much like the debut issue of Spider-Gwen, also out this week, S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 is an issue I've been waiting for since the announcement that Marvel would be producing a series set in the 616 Marvel Universe inspired by the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series. Why is that? Simple, Phil Coulson. Spider-Man. Teamed up. The Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon series' Spidey and Coulson moments have nothing on this issue... Read More

This reviewer has been waiting and waiting for this issue since I read and reviewed Edge of Spider-Verse #2, which introduced this alternate reality Gwen Stacy, Earth-65 to be exact, that received that fateful spider bite instead of Peter Parker. Gwen was integral to the Spider-Verse event that wrapped this week in Amazing Spider-Man #15, and now back in her own world has to pick up the pieces of her life as Gwen Stacy and figure out how to live up to the Spider Legacy having met and fought alongside the greatest Spider-Man... Read More

Ei8ht could be the next big science fiction comic, it's debut issue has already hooked this reviewer and sci-fi fan. The story is fractured and fast moving, but not in a bad way at all, the protagonist, or at least seeming protagonist at this early point, is the reader's eye piece into the story. This role is played to pitch perfection as you have no better idea of where he has landed than he does, readers are taking the same journey as the enigmatic Joshua... Read More

The B.P.R.D. are still in Russia, the team split up and still fighting the hell unleashed on the Earth by the Black Flame months ago. The issue runs by at the same speed all B.P.R.D. issues have had for past year or so, Mignola and Arcudi are continually delivering with the B.P.R.D. series. Even with the breakneck speed each issue feels like it runs at, this storyline has been running for well over a year, real time not comic time, but it is still engrossing... Read More

A chapter of Hellboy's life only ever vaguely, very vaguely, hinted at; his first assignment in the field as a B.P.R.D. agent. As with most Hellboy stories, it rushed by before I had noticed I was at the final page, as addicting as it can sweetly annoying when Mignola is on his A-game; and here he is, teamed with John Arcudi once more for a 1-2 punch of well done story telling. Showing humanity at the center of the larger story has become a specialty for both these great writers as the greater mystery pushes forward... Read More

Continuing reviews of the Fire and Stone event from Dark Horse Comics with Predator: Fire and Stone #1, action is the name of this issue's game only the last two pages advance the story; and it is a pretty awesome advancement and gives me hope that this mini-series in the Prometheus/Alien/Predator/Alien vs. Predator crossover event turns out to be the best of the Fire and Stone series. Pacing is even more breakneck than in AVP: Fire and Stone #1, though it still feels out of whack the with the staggered and out of order releases; this writer is digging the multiple series thus far and Predator in one issue is out pacing the other series in action, except maybe AVP: Fire and Stone... Read More

Another chapter in the Fire and Stone event Dark Horse Comics is using to relaunch and solidify the connections between the Alien, Predator, and Prometheus franchises. It's interesting the way Dark Horse is releasing them, this issue takes place before the events of Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1 which was reviewed last week, and then AVP: Fire and Stone breaks off into Predator: Fire and Stone #1 while AVP continues... Read More

Dark Ages takes the knights and sorcery of medieval fantasy tales and injects some sci-fi for a decent read with literally a little something for every genre fan out there. No spoilers but it reads like King Arthur meets Army of Darkness meets Independence Day, keeping spoilers out of this review is not going to be easy; all the best bits will spoil reading the issue. Abnett is commended for not glorifying his knights and in no way making them superhuman... Read More

This first issue of Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1 hits the ground running, it takes place between the events of Prometheus: Fire and Stone #4 and Predator: Fire and Stone #1, so it is highly recommended that you pick up the Prometheus: Fire and Stone series before reading this issue. The Fire and Stone cross over is interconnected very well, the creative teams should be commended for this. The action flows heavily in this issue after some mild exposition in the first few pages, then it moves along to the cliffhanger ending just as breakneck as Aliens: Fire and Stone #1... Read More

What can be said that I haven't said about Stan Sakai's epic Usagi Yojimbo that hasn't said before? And numerous times at that, both by this reviewer and fans the world over. Sakai's artwork is superb with Yojimbo, even after thirty years, the car and detail he gives his world are always flawless. From a story line point of view, there's no detracting from what Sakai does with Usagi Yojimbo; even when the story feels like it's dragging (rarity that that is ) you know it's going to turn soon and you'll be floored by what Sakai does next. Here in Senso #3, Sakai's blending of Yojimbo and his universe's version of the Martian invasion from H.G. Wells' War of The Worlds continues... Read More

Part of the big Fire and Stone cross over series Dark Horse is doing to fill in gaps and cement the connection between the Predator, Aliens, and Prometheus series (in particular reinvigorating Prometheus with a sequel film on the horizon); Aliens: Fire and Stone takes place after the events of the Prometheus film, the year 2179 to be exact. No time is wasted on back story, readers are plunged headlong into a xenomorph attack on a group of miners and salvagers... Read More

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns and loses none of the energy and pace it amped up to after the crossover with Captain America: The Winter Soldier in season one. The show kicked of it's second season at a run picking up months after the end of the season one finale with Coulson and his team still working on rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. after the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the kinetic second half of last season, no spoilers but if you haven't seen Cap 2 and season one of Agents, you have missed out... Read More

Simply one of the best versions of Gwen Stacy ever! In an alternate version of the Marvel Universe, Gwen Stacy is bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker leading to a world without a Spider-Man but one hell of a Spider-Woman. In this reviewer's opinion one of the most interesting of the new additions to the multiverse of Spiders Marvel is offering up in the Edge of Spider-Verse mini-series leading up to the main Spider-Verse crossover event in November. Gwen as Spider-Woman has been the stuff of fan fiction for years, but the concept has been taken to a new level by writer Jason Latour... Read More

Eric Powell is back on a monthly schedule with the new Goon four part mini-series Occasion of Revenge. In this first issue, there is little of the offbeat humor and antics of Goon titles past, there is no levity except for one scene where Franky's beer is used as a.. well, read the issue and you'll see. This reviewer believes the official solicit from Dark Horse, this is looking like it will be the biggest Goon story in quite a while. And one that focuses on horror and darkness, I'm sure Powell's humor will break in at some point, but the threat Goon and his cohorts are up against this time is bigger than anything they've faced before... Read More.

What can be said about any Elfquest issue that isn't gushing praise? The Pinis deliver another gorgeous and well written piece of the Elfquest tapestry, the writing and artwork are superb as always, Sonny Strait's lush colors keep making this series that much better. Elfquest always garners my highest recommendation, but again, this is not a jumping on point in the Elfquest mythos, if you're new to Elfquest make sure you check your local comic shop's back issues and grab issues one through three along with this issue before jumping in... Read More.

Dream Thief: Escape is an interesting blending of modern crime noir and paranormal events and powers. Another in a long line of ghost possession stories over the last few years, this one however has an interesting spin that also mixes in some costumed and no-costumed vigilantism as well as spanning several decades. This helps give the storyline depth and breadth, which is nice, anything with any ties to the supernatural of late, outside of the comics medium, seems almost rushed with minimal back story and little to no way to identify or feel empathy with any of the characters... Read More.

This issue of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, more than many I've read in a while, felt like the TV show was back on the air with the original cast members acting it all out. Dialogue, action, characterization... everything felt like the TV show. This is in no small part thanks to Nicholas Brendon (who played Xander Harris on the show, but if you don't know that, I'm not sure why you're reading the comic or this review) joining Christos Gage on regular writing duty for the Season 10 issues of Buffy. Brendon joining the regular creative team is exciting on many levels, his intimate knowledge of the characters and world of Buffy being no small part... Read More.

Finishing off the two parter started last issue, the B.P.R.D. crew find themselves up against an unknown enemy within one of their own. This issue is a nice spin on the usual possession story, centered on another source than demonic possession; which is refreshing on the current deluge of demon/Satanic centered possession movies. Granted comics are freer of the over saturation that Hollywood has been putting out for the past ten years, but nonetheless it is cool to see another avenue be a plot driver for a possession centered horror story... Read More.

Let us begin this review with a fanboy moment... SPIDER-MAN 2099 IS BACK IN A MONTHLY ONGOING!!!!! AND IS BEING WRITTEN BY PETER DAVID AGAIN!!!! Okay, that's enough of that. The cult favorite future version of Spider-Man from Marvel's 2099 line of comics series that began with the first volume of Spider-Man 2099 back in late 1992, is back after years of fans demanding it. Sure Miguel O'Hara has been back in the limelight to lesser degrees with one shots and backup stories, plus a stint on the now defunct multi-dimensional X-Men offshoot Exiles team about ten years ago. But, this is the first time Miggy has had his own ongoing since the original series concluded in, I believe it was 1996, and it is a damn good return... Read More.

Playdom is back and capitalizing on the success their 2012 release, the original Marvel's Avengers Alliance. Much of MAA's success came from its integration as a Facebook game and later as an Android app. While the first Avengers Alliance, of which this reviewer has been an addicted player for the bulk of its two year release, was addictive for a return to and deft reinvigorating of 64 bit style turn based combat system and its decently solid melding of Marvel 616 Universe (original Marvel Comics continuity), the Ultimate Marvel Universe, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe that comprises the continuity from 2008's Iron Man through to 2012's Avengers... Read More.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is so many things at once to so many diverse fan tastes. To hardcore comic purists, that want each scene to match up to the books panel for panel, it is likely an abomination that should never have seen the light of day. For hardcore fans of the canon that Fox has created over the course of the previous four X-Men and two Wolverine films, this is the Holy Grail of live action X-Men features; deservedly so in fact... Read More.

Months ago my reservations about Dan Slott's Superior Spider-Man play, with Doc Ock pulling a Freaky Friday on Peter Parker and sending the real Pete for a seemingly permanent dirt nap in the dying body of Doctor Octopus, were assuaged and rightly so. Critics can say what they will but Slott did something much greater than the tried and true “kill a hero and put someone new under the mask” story. He took that comic book trope and made it his own... Read More.

Elfquest, created and exclusively written by the Wendy and Richard Pini, has an incredible history (both in story and publication) that so many are unaware of. This is a shame that needs to end, Elfquest has left an indelible mark on so many that have read it; take it from this reviewer and let the creations of the Pinis touch your spirit too! Final Quest is upholding that history well, the story is instantly engaging whether you're up to date on the recent events of the Elfquest world or not... Read More.

The Hell on Earth storyline continues in a new five part story arc with “The Reign of The Black Flame”. For those behind, the apocalypse set in motion by Rasputin bringing Hellboy to earth in the last days of World War II has more or less come to the planet through the Plague of Frogs that began not long as Hellboy departed the B.P.R.D. in 2004 and began his otherworldly journeys, along with the machinations of the Black Flame... Read More.

Skyman is a blend of superheroes and government conspiracies, not virgin territory granted, but speaking perhaps a little early (given that this is the first issue) this series looks to have areas of realism that should not be as limited as they are in a medium that is continually maturing and not backing away from adult issues. The adult issues dealt with, not a major spoiler, largely in this issue being racism in the United States from the citizenry to the branches of the military and government itself... Read More

This reviewer now realizes, after reading Baltimore: Chapel of Bones #1, that I have been missing out on the Baltimore series by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden! Missing out in a pretty big way in fact. I'll be checking out the previous 18 issues and the novel for sure after reading this one issue that blew by as I was reading it. Mignola, with Golden, shines as always; as a big fan of Mignola's Hellboy, Baltimore shows me once again that I really need to pay more attention to Mignola's other writings... Read More

It's been a while since the Geekomonicon reviewed Oeming's The Victories. It's still just as good. This reviewer jumped back in after missing out on The Victories stories included in a few issues of the Dark Horse Presents anthologies, and the beginning of the ongoing so I missed out on some great stories and am admittedly a little lost on what's going on with a few subplots... Read More