The Hit List

EL VALIENTE REVIEWED AT SILVER BULLET PRESS!

2007-12-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

and what a sweet sweet review it is...

Everything I set out to accomplish I did...read the review and check out the kind words from Stephen Saville

read the whole review here : http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/smallpress/119316618844771.htm

and before I get alot of email asking if the last part of the review is correct, Stephen wrote back to me and had this to say:

"What I meant was that I certainly hope that there are more El Valiente comics to come as I enjoyed it. I do tend to get a bit clumsy with my syntax , sorry about that. Cheers!" -Steve

EL VALIENTE #1 in the EL PASO TIMES!!!

2007-05-03T00:18:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed by the paper for thurday's Living section, for all of you interested or who don't recieve the paper, here it is!!!

http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_5805145

No get out there and support the book!!!!

WOLVERINE # 50

2007-01-24T17:33:00.000-08:00

WRITER: JEPH LOEB
PENCILS: SIMONE BIANCHI
ED MCGUINNESS
COVER BY: SIMONE BIANCHI
INKS: SIMONE BIANCHI
COLORED BY: PAUL MOUNTS
LETTERED BY: RICHARD STARKINGS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

The Story: "EVOLUTION,” PART 1
A DOUBLE-SIZED SPECIAL 50TH ISSUE! WITH SPECTACLAR WRAPAROUND COVER BY BIANCHI!
Superstar Jeph Loeb (Batman: Hush) is joined by future superstar Simone Bianchi for the biggest, best and, quite possibly, last battle between Wolverine and Sabretooth! These sworn foes have been locked in an endless grudge match that goes back longer than either can remember -- or even imagine. The key to victory is eons old, and it’s certain to rock their world. Think you’ve seen Marvel’s fiercest go toe-to-toe before? Those were just warm-ups. Also featuring a 12-page backup story “PUNY LITTLE
MAN,” by Loeb and superstar Ed McGuinness (Superman/Batman): He’s big, he’s green, he’s mean, and he just got his mitts on Logan. Now THIS is gonna hurt.

WOW, it’s been that long, so many developments, so little time…but let’s get to what we’re here for!
I’ll be totally honest when I say that I am not a big Jeph Loeb fan, I had some serious considerations when I heard he was taking over so many MARVEL projects after being a DC Hooligan for so long (I mean come on, the guy helped produce SMALLVILLE and was a main architect of INFINITE CRISIS, he’s DC for life ese!) ahem…sorry…I was channeling my inner homeboy! I still think Loeb is a sleeper agent waiting to screw up MARVEL continuity, kinda like Grant Morrison did on his Uncanny run, (though it was good at first!)
So Loeb is writing WOLVERINE as of issue #50, with Simone Bianchi on art chores, still getting used to him being a sequential artist, I mean his covers are phenomenal but can he pull off sequentials?
Loeb is coming in with a bang and finally putting to rest one of the longest running blood feuds in all of Comicdom, WOLVERINE VS. SABRETOOTH. The last time this was really addressed was at the end of Greg Rucka’s run on Wolverine (another DC Hooligan) where it seemed Wolverine finally put an end to Sabretooth, but then again, Sabretooth is part of the X-MEN team now, so I doubt he’ll stay dead long if Wolverine decides to pop that 3rd claw he’s been swearing to pop all these years.
Wolverine knows everything now, thanks to the Scarlett Witch in House of M. He knows all the bad stuff and good stuff he’s done over the years, the veil has been lifted so to say, so I guess it was high time to confront the symbol of all his inner demons in a final fight Other than himself, Sabretooth has been the beast at Wolverine’s back all these years, a vendetta that has taken them there and back again so many times, that I think Loeb has got to have an ace up his sleeve to resolve this once and for all.

Let’s get ready for the final dance and see who is left standing at the end of this one…

LOS MEKSMEN #1

2006-10-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

LOS MEKSMEN

Written by: Francisco Arce
Art by: Dario & O.Lee.A
Published by: 656 Comics

So the world is coming to an end, Armageddon is upon us, the dead have risen from their graves and evil has been let loose across the face of the planet. Who do you call? No, not the Ghostbusters…you call the MEKSMEN!!!

If you can afford it!

LOS MEKSMEN have arrived on the scene and none too late, it seems there is an infestation of the living dead plaguing the Border around Juarez, Mexico, and I don’t mean the total bullshit of the living dead government of the United States, I’m talking an actual zombie-rific, brain eating, gut spewing, dead-fest!

I’ve been waiting for the newest offering from these guys for the longest time. 656 Comics is a studio based out of Juarez, Mexico, and they do actual comics, none of this Meximanga, Otaku, Dragon Power Ranger Ball bullshit. Its hard core comics in the vein of old pulp style tales and horror in the tradition of E.C.

LOS MEKSMEN introduces the two main characters of the series, FULANO DE’TAL which translates into JOHN DOE and EL FUMAROLAS or THE CHAINSMOKER. The two form the core of this heroes for hire type outfit. In their first adventure, the heroes are caught in the horror of not being able to get a decent drink at their local pub because, someone decided to unleash the gates of hell and let zombies pour through like there’s a government cheese giveaway! And I won't give away the big cliff hanger ending...Can anyone say...ZOMBIE KID!!!

The only problems with the book is:
1. It’s too friggin short, but hopefully that will be remedied in the coming issues, more zombie punching action!!! &
2.It’s in Spanish, which is no problem for me, but the monolingual members of the audience are gonna have a hard time deciphering what FUMAROLAS is sometimes saying, although CHEET! Is pretty easy to understand! I hope a English version comes out, although, it does take away a bit of the appeal for me. But I hear tell that the english versions will be released in a nice trade once the series wraps up!

So what are you waiting for, join in on the zombie bashing action and order your copy of LOS MEKSMEN from 656 COMICS!

Order it here: LOS MEKSMEN!!!

GIANT SIZED WOLVERINE #1

2006-10-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

WRITER: DAVE LAPHAM
PENCILS: DAVID AJA
INKS: DAVID AJA
COLORED BY: JOSE VILLARRUBIA
COVER BY: DAVID AJA

THE STORY:
Wolverine has been injured before, but never like this. Blasted with 5,000 rounds of machine gun shells and lifted to the edge of earth’s atmosphere by a giant robot, Wolverine was 85,000 feet in the air when he finally disabled the killing machine. Now, after a horrendous descent and fiery crash into a rural Nebraska cornfield, he lies at the edge of death, lapsing in and out of a coma as his body desperately tries to heal. And that’s when things really get bad.
The men who sent the robot to destroy Wolverine have come to finish the job. The townsfolk who witnessed the crash have gathered up a mob to hunt down and destroy the alien that’s landed. And Wolverine’s fate just might rest in the hands of the strange little girl who first found him in that dark cornfield. A strange little girl with an affinity for taking care of odd creatures, and whose family holds a deep, dark secret hidden from the light of day... House of Blood and Sorrow is an all new 34-page chilling story just in time for Halloween! Written by David Lapham (Stray Bullets) and illustrated by David Aja (Daredevil, X-Men Unlimited)
This Giant Size edition also includes a special Classic tie-in to Wolverine Origins with reprints of X-Men 6 and 7 by Jim Lee, featuring Omega Red and Sabretooth!

After a brief vacation, I'm back and ready to jump into the reviews, so lets get it going!!!

It’s Wolverine! It’s 34 pages! It’s got Giant robots, Aliens, Monsters! It’s written by David Lapham! Come on, if any of you have read Stray Bullets, you know what I’m talking about. This is gonna be good! Not only that but there’s X-MEN 6 & 7 included, back when the X-MEN rocked and JIM LEE could draw!!!

This is what I’m picking up this week. Be there or be square!

Bye the way, My brothers in arms Los 656ers have released MEKSMEN #1 and if your interested in getting a copy of this awesome superhero for hire zombie punching good time head over to here:

LOS MEKSMEN #1

check out the first 6 pages and pick up a copy!!!

MAKE MINE MEKSMEN!!!

Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2

2006-08-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

WRITTEN BY: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
COVER & ART BY: MARK BROOKS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

I’m going to try something a little different this week and write up a report on one of last weeks titles that really made good on their promise to deliver.

Last week’s title that I thought delivered the goods was Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2. Bendis tried to capture lighting in a bottle again, and if all of you read last year’s #1 Annual, you’ll know what I mean. Once again Mark Brooks delivered in spades, his artwork is spectacular, kind of what Mad and J. Scott have been trying to do for years, integrate the whole Manga/U.S. style, referred to as AmeriManga, well Brooks does it with ease, and the same time making it his own style and surpassing these other yahoos! I usually don’t follow artists and I sure as hell am not a fan of Manga, (except for Vampire Hunter D), but Brooks’ art is a nice and visually stimulating hybrid. I wish this guy had a monthly book! Damn! Put him on something monthly already Marvel!!!

Aside from the art, Bendis finally tied up some dangling plot lines that have been hanging in the air that is Ultimate Spidey for awhile. And it only took him 32 pages to complete it!

Bendis has been in kind of a slump as of late with Ultimate Spider-Man, although his version of the notorious “Clone Saga” is shaping up to be something very interesting, the “Gang War” storyline was kind of weak, it seemed he just threw characters at us or rather, Ultimate versions of characters for the sake of “Ultimat-izing” them. Iron Fist and Shang-Chi, along with Moon Knight all kind of fell between the cracks, with the only interesting part of it being the behind the scenes turmoil Peter was having with Mary Jane. At first I was apprehensive that this annual thinking that we were just going to have more characters thrown at us since last years annual dealt with Peter hooking up with Kitty and that rocked out, but I gave it a chance and was pleasantly surprised. Another thing was that it had another appearance of Ultimate Punisher, which is just regular Punisher in the Ultimate universe. Last time Frank appeared in Spidey’s book, he was handed the short end of the stick. This comes from my belief that Bendis dislikes the Punisher character due to some deep psychological horror that stems from his Daredevil fetish, but I digress. For once the Punisher was used like he was always meant to be used. Not as some deranged psychopath that muttered to himself, but as an anti-hero, blurring the line that heroes won’t cross. Punny was used to deliver punishment. Moon Knight also had his time to shine, and the psychological aspect which Moony(?) plays to was explored a little more, though I wanted more. Also, the final fate of police Captain Jean DeWolfe was carried out very well. But if you want the whole dish, then get out there and pick up this issue!

Overall I give Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2, 4 hits, and here’s hoping that Mark Brooks gets his own book drawing Ultimate Moon Knight!!!

MIRACLEMAN: OLYMPUS

2006-08-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

WRITTEN BY: ALAN MOORE
ART BY: JOHN TOTLEBEN
PUBLISHED BY: ECLIPSE

KIMOTA!!!

I know I talk a lot of shit about Alan Moore, but the damn dirty pirate has got some awesome ideas. These are ideas I wish I had thought about. He revolutionized the job of the comic book writer, making it ok for us guys to become more cerebral and not pull punches with our four color fantasies. This is where it started, the MIRACLEMAN series. Originally titled MARVELMAN and published in the U.K., Marvel had problems with the title being too similar to their Captain Marvel, so Moore changed it up a bit and we now have the U.S. version. The story of MIRACLEMAN is very sordid, as to how he came to be and what happened to the rights after Moore left the book, but I’m here to speak on the coolness of the book and how one can learn a lot about the comic book medium and what can be done through solid storytelling.

This arc explores at its most basic point, the wants and needs of Superheroes and the wants and needs of those the hero chooses to serve, like a god who has worshipers and those who worship the god. A cycle of dependence and what can happen when a god decides to become selfish and the needs of the many do not out weigh the desires of the one, being the hero.

What if Superman went rogue? Who would be able to stop him, I mean the guy can fly through the sun, move planets, and go back in time! This is what Moore explores through MIRACLEMAN, showing us what can occur if a hero goes unchecked and left to his own devices. It's full of issues that are ripe with philosophy and ethical/moral implications. What if YOU were a god, or had godlike powers, and let’s say YOU were a little ‘nuts?” The lead in into OLYMPUS shows us exactly this scenario with a member of the MIRACLEMAN family going a little cookoo, in dramatic buildup and cataclysmic violence we see Kid Miracleman decimate civilization as he shows the world what happens when a god goes mad.

He is one of the most sympathetic evil psychopaths I've ever read in comics. Born as MiracleMan's sidekick, Kid Miracleman becomes a victim and puppet of all his worst impulses. He gives in to any and every whim that strikes him, becoming more and more wicked with every twisted act of cruelty and brutality. Kid MIracleman goes through a Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde transformation to become truly, consciously evil. Even when the end is imminent, and the battle with MIRACLEMAN is at its end, we realize that there is only one way out for the former hero. We still feel compassion for how far he’s fallen and hope that there is an alternative to what must be done. The end is truly tragic, and leaves the reader thinking about the moral connotations of what happens when those with the power to control the world go unchecked.

The final part of the book is a brief story about the Miracleman family establishing a Utopia on earth, supported by their ultimate and unlimited power, they become benevolent deities, breaking humanity's selfish vices and reinventing the world as it should be, a virtual Garden of Eden. But of course the tried and true saying states, “Nothing gold can stay” and the end of the book, we are left wondering, how long will this last before the next catastrophe usurps the peace MIRACLEMAN has brought?

It’s a task to find this book in print, and I lucked out by finding a first printing at SDCC for only 6 bucks, it’s a $90 dollar book since it hasn’t been reprinted in many years, we can all thank McFarlane for that one, selfish bastard! But that’s another story. After Moore left the book, Gaiman took over and continued to weave the magic that is MIRACLEMAN. It only lasted a little while because Eclipse which published the series went tits up, and so the last book of the series was written and drawn, but never released

If you like Alan Moore, and wonder what would happen if Superman went crazy, track this book down! By the way KIMOTA is the word that MIRACLEMAN says in order to activate his powers and become MIRACLEMAN. Until next time…KIMOTA!!!

But if you insist on me picking a hit of the week then pick up Agents of Atlas from Marvel, Agent Jimmy Woo returns, now how many of you out there know who the hell Jimmy Woo is?

BATMAN #655

2006-07-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

Written by: Grant Morrison
Art and Cover by: Andy Kubert
Variant Cover by: Adam Kubert
Published by: DC Comics

Comic legends Grant Morrison (ALL STAR SUPERMAN, SEVEN SOLDIERS) and Andy Kubert (Ultimate X-Men, 1602) come together for Part 1 of "Batman and Son." After a harrowing battle with the Joker high atop Police Headquarters, Batman decides to let Bruce Wayne step into the light. But just who is watching billionaire Bruce Wayne? And what does their plan have to do with Man-Bat?

So I’m walking down the Gas Lamp district during last weeks SDCC (awesome!) enjoying a cigarette, Kamel Ztingers (awesome!) talking shop with the rest of the guys I’m hanging with, when someone bumps me on the sidewalk, and this was no slight bump, but a hard bump, a shove so to speak. So I look back to see who it was and it was some baldheaded, leather jacket wearing, shiny vinyl pant wearing, Goth master walking in the opposite direction. He turned to look at me, and our eyes met and I gave him a look, the classic “Wass Up Holmes?” look, and he shot me back a mid-British, down the nose glare. So I’m thinking it’s on like Donkey Kong, I just beat up a “Hired Bum” a night before after he tried to mug me, so I’m gonna tap dance on this metrosexual’s baldheaded melon. But my friend stops me and says…”hey, that’s Grant Morrison!” with thoughts of Beau Smith’s “How to Punch a Comic Book Writer in the Face” article, I diverge my eyes and turn away as we begin our trek to the nearest pub to drink a Guinness and relax, when I finally realized, “Hey, that was fucking Grant Morrison!”

Far be it from me to beat one of the men in comics who I most respect, and that is how I decided to open up this week’s review. Morrison is writing BATMAN, and it’s going to get good. I remember the way he would write BATMAN in the pages of JLA, making him such a bad ass (I just wish he could have done that with WOLVERINE, gay leather wearing biker jacket aside) and of course his most infamous foray into the Bat-universe with his classic ARKHAM ASYLUM. Man that graphic put shudders up my spine as he delved into the psychology of what makes a man, lose his marbles and dress up like a bat and beat up on bad people. I think Morrison’s run on BATMAN is going to differ from that, from what I’ve seen, he’s taking a more retro approach to the book, telling stories about the weird side of BATMAN, and making the DARK KNIGHT fun again. Not only that, but expect the powerful artwork of Andy Kubert to jostle your minds eye with eye candy-rific images of the Bats. I’ve been looking forward to the Kubert’s debut ever since they jumped ship from Marvel and decided to throw in with the DC lot.

So this week’s pick in BATMAN. But I wonder who would win in a fight? Grant Morrison or Beau Smith?

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2006!!!

2006-07-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

I dunno how many of you hell-cowpokes out there have ever been…the question arises…so you do comics? Have you ever been…to the San Diego Comic-Con?!!!

And your answer?

Well I have been fortunate to have attended a few times and had a blast each time…for those of you not in the know, the SDCC is THE biggest comic book/pop culture convention that takes place each year. Anyone who is anyone goes to the SDCC, others refer to the Wizard World Con as the con to be at, but like Coke and Pepsi, one is always a little better than the other, not to knock the WWC, but I feel the SDCC is way better, more spectacular, more publicity, more gusto!

So this year, me and a couple of guys who fancy themselves artists and writers, have decided to throw in and attend the con, not only that, but we are going to have a table to sell our wares and promote our artistic endeavors…

First off we have my offering that I’ve been working on entitled, THE LEGEND OF EL VALIENTE and for our bilingual bloggers, LA LEYENDA DE EL VALIENTE! I have been working on this concept for the past few years, to integrate a wrestling concept into a superhero cliche that can kick some ass, even SUPERMAN! (Don’t believe me? I found a way! heh) Valiente is all about the cool aspects of comics, the myth, the madmen, the monsters, and the damsel in distress, and of course, the larger than life hero that risks his life against all odds to save the day. It’s fun, it’s pulp, it has elements of EC comics horror, along with action and adventure in the vein of old time comics from the 50’s through 70’s! If you’re curious please come visit us at the Project IV Publishing table at the con, located in the Small Press area “S3” ask about El Valiente and we’ll hook you up with the SDCC EL VALIENTE edition for only 150 centavos…that’s $1.50 for all you monolingual amigos…and if you can’t get to the con but are interested in a copy of the mini, please feel free to email me at herosvalor@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you with all the details to get you a copy of the book!

Next up we have HIRED GUN 2: THE HEAD HUNTERS the follow up to last years SDCC offering by Carmona and crew about the adventures of everyone’s down on his luck hitman Sticks. Carmona delivers a bigger tale to last years story, with a 32 page book at the same price of $3 bucks! I haven’t received my copy to review yet, but I promise I won’t pull any punches when it comes to the review and what I thought of the story…Usually Carmona is good about what he writes, meticulous about the details, and of course Sirac is a perfectionist when it comes to the art chores, so be sure to check me out in a week when I’ve returned from SDCC for a complete review!

And finally, I’m happy to announce that the INFESTACION will also be in effect or rather, it will infect the SDCC. The 656ers have been kind enough to hook me up with some copies of their book and I’m gonna pimp their wares at the con. If you like zombie action in the vein of Fulci and Romero, you need to pick up this book, some of it is in Spanish but the book rocks though the art and storytelling. If you want more info about the 656ers then be sure to click on the link included in the link box to the right of the page, and if you want a copy of the book, which is in limited supply, be sure to ask for me, Ray, on Thursday or Saturday at our table in the Small Press area table, “S3” unfortunately i don't have an image for the cover but head on over to www.o-lee-a.deviantart.com for more info!

That’s it for this week, I gotta hurry up and pack and find my chones before I forget them like last time! Catch you guys on the flip side, and see you at the San Diego Comic-Con!!!

Make Mine Madness!!!

p.s.
don;t forget to pick up Civil War #3...Somebody dies!!!

A Man Called KEV

2006-07-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Written by: Garth Ennis
Art by: Carlos Ezquerra
Cover by: Glenn Fabry
Published by: Wildstorm/DC Comics

The Story:
The world is a lonely place when you're a man without a home — just ask Kev Hawkins. After murdering his boss in a nasty government scheme, he's been banished from the United Kingdom under pain of death. What does the world hold for a man with little life experience or job training beyond wetworks and assassination? Then again, with the past about to catch up with Kev in the most violent and terrifying way possible, what the world holds for him may soon be beside the point!

What can I say about Garth Ennis…he rocks out with his c@ck out!!! The man has the mean skills to pay the mad bills and all of that other Ebonic talk that says he’s a damn fine writer. I remember when Ennis was supposed to take over the Authority, right after Mark Millar left, and I was way looking forward to it, but then 9/11 had to screw everything up, and comics had to be careful as to what they were saying and how they were saying it. Gone were the balls to the wall tales of the Authority that Ellis and Millar had crafted, and instead there entered a dark time in comics where one had to watch their P’s and Q’s in order to not be labeled un-patrioticor Al-Qaeda sympathizers, this is something that comic creators refuse to talk about and it’s a hush-hush subject that mysteriously no one in the medium will confirm or deny. The Authority took the brunt of the blow, and comics no longer were able to show the Whitehouse being blown up by aliens or the Golden Gate bridge being bent to the will of Magneto (wait, didn’t that happen in X3? Maybe things ARE changing!)

One of the few comic book writers out there who still has the cajones to back up his shite is Ennis, and when he’s written the Authority, it comes through and delivers like it used to in the Ellis and later Millar days! A Man Called Kev should be one such tale, the character made his debut in an Authority one shot, where he single-handedly managed to kill off the entire team! What couldn’t be done by ultra villains or Henry Bedix aka: The WeatherMan was done by a SAS operative who is forever down on his luck. Despite all his training, Kevin Hawkins is not very muscular or intelligent and is cursed with probably the worst luck of anybody on the Wildstorm Earth!
This issue is Kev on his own, no backup from the Authority, unless he really needs it, which is more than likely. With everyone trying to do him in, it’s a reliable thing that it’s going to have a huge body count which is what these tales of Kev by Ennis are known for.

So if you like a little of the ultra-violence, and balls to the wall action, pick up this issue and sit back and enjoy the Tarantino of comics weave his magic!

Uncanny X-Men #475

2006-07-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
COVER & PENCILS: BILLY TAN
INKS: DANNY MIKI
COLORED BY: FRANK D'ARMATA
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

THE STORY:
“THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SHI’AR EMPIRE” Part 1!
A brand new era for the Uncanny X-Men begins here! Fresh off X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS, Ed Brubaker takes the helm of Marvel’s mighty mutants. Billy Tan joins Ed for a story that won’t just affect earth, but will rock the foundations of the entire galaxy! Vulcan is out for revenge and has his sites set on the Shi’Ar Empire! Get ready for the ride of your life! A perfect starting point for any new reader!

Ed Brubaker has quickly become one of my favorite writers, I first saw his talents on his short AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH which was pure genius but didn’t realize it when I read it in Dark Horse presents like a trillion years ago but was lucky enough to find the Fantagraphics collected version for a buck! (Yay dollar bins!!!) Recently however, Brubaker won me over with his CAPTAIN AMERICA run and of course X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS, which was one of the best X-men stories to come out in recent years, it was something that Grant Morrison would have written if he had the cajones to do it! As I read DEADLY GENESIS, I was for the first time in many years excited about the Uncanny X-Men. I’m a loyal X-fan, but no one has been able to get me interested in those merry mutants like I was in the Claremont/Lee days as much as Brubaker and that says a lot. Actually I was thinking of stopping my Uncanny X-Men run with Claremont’s final issue, but then found out that Brubaker would be taking over and bringing one of my most favorite characters back from oblivion…WARPATH!!! I saw the potential in Warpath as a kick ass character many years ago when he debuted in NEW MUTANTS, and then returned in X-FORCE. The angry Apache youth could have been a beacon for my teenage angst at the time, with all the betrayals he had suffered and sacrifices he had endured with the loss of his brother THUNDERBIRD, one of the original NEW X-Men, back in the hey-day of X-MEN. Just like the strong black characters that lacked in comics or rather that were downplayed, which is slowly being rectified i.e. BLADE, BLACK PANTHER, JOHN STEWART, the Native American heroes are all but non-existent! What did we get? Friggin RED WOLF and APACHE CHIEF!!!
WARPATH could be different; like all the young Native Americans growing up on the reservation, watching the world just pass them by, their people slowly being eradicated by time, along with their traditions and how it was time to stand up and do something about it. These were the things that could have been addressed by a strong Native character in comics, but instead, WARPATH ended up wearing giant shoulder pads, salad bowl kneepads, and feathers to symbolize, “Hey everyone, look! I’ve got feathers in my hair, I must be an Indian!!!”
Well Brubaker is bringing WARPATH into the X-fold and making him a full fledged X-Man, and hopefully make him the kick ass character I thought he could be all those years ago! This issue, #475 is where it begins, and as long as ICEMAN and/or ANGEL aren’t on the team, I know I’m going to enjoy the run! Not only that but it takes the events that happened in DEADLY GENESIS and elaborates them even more, with the return of VULCAN, the lost Summers brother who was introduced in the mini! If you haven’t read DEADLY GENESIS, then rush out and hunt down the copies, or the trade, I think it is already in trade, if you are an X-FAN, you MUST read this story!
Well UNCANNY X-MEN is exciting again and I am looking forward to this run, sadly though I am going to quit my regular X-MEN run, I don’t really dig much for the team that’s going to be featured in that book, especially with ICEMAN being in it,( as you’ve probably guessed by now…I HATE ICEMAN!!!)
I guess I’ll drop X-MEN and pick up DETECTIVE COMICS instead…I heard some guy named DINI is going to be writing it…I wonder if he’s any good?

DCU Brave New World

2006-06-28T00:41:00.000-07:00

Cover by Ariel Olivetti
Written and illustrated by various
Published by DC Comics

In 2005, DC set the stage for INFINITE CRISIS with the unbelievable $1.00 special COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS. Now, DC presents an equally crucial 80-page one-shot specially priced at just $1.00, giving fans the opportunity to sample six new projects set to debut in July and August!

BRAVE NEW WORLD includes original stories that act as a preview for the following books:

MARTIAN MANHUNTER by A.J. Lieberman (Harley Quinn, Gotham Knights), with art by Al Barrionuevo and Bit (Gotham Knights)

OMAC by Bruce Jones (Year One: Batman/Scarecrow, Nightwing, THE Warlord) with art by Renato Guedes (Adventures of Superman)

UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Hawkman) with art by Daniel Acuña (Outsiders, JLA covers)

THE CREEPER by Steve Niles (BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE) with art by Justiniano and Walden Wong (Day of Vengeance)

THE ALL-NEW ATOM by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Villains United) with art by John Byrne (BLOOD OF THE DEMON) and Trevor Scott (THE AUTHORITY)

THE TRIALS OF SHAZAM! by Judd Winick (Batman, Green Arrow) with art by Howard Porter (JLA).

Don't miss the chance to get in on the ground floor of these six exciting new series! Plus, witness the shocking return of a character you never thought you'd see again!

Well it's a buck so that's good...I think the blurb pretty much explains itself...
My bet on the surprise character is....Barry Allen...
Dun Dun Dun!!! Will it happen? find out on wednesday for only $1.00!!!

6 Books You CANNOT Miss!!!

2006-06-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

This is a good week for comic-book aficionados! I mean, sure 52 is raging along, and Warren Ellis’ next volume of Black Gas begins, but there are 6 books that you DO NOT want to miss, or you’ll be kicking yourself in the head and scrambling to find them further down the line, and probably at outrageous prices!!! Surprisingly these aren’t Indie books; they belong to the big two! So without further ado, let’s jump right into this week’s Hit List!

GIANT-SIZE HULK # 1
COVER BY: RYAN SOOK
WRITER: PETER DAVID
GREG PAK
PENCILS: JUAN SANTA CRUZ
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL

THE STORY:
What is the untold story of the battle between one of the strangest superhero teams in the Marvel Universe and the engine of destruction known as the Incredible Hulk? See ol’ Purple Pants go toe-to-toe with Angel, Ice-Man, Ghost Rider, The Black Widow and Hercules in a story that holds a key to Post-PLANET HULK events! By legendary Hulk scribe Peter David and Juan Santacruz.
PLUS! A PLANET HULK INTERLUDE! Bruce Banner makes his first appearance on Planet Sakaar — and battles the Hulk for his body and soul! What secret is the Hulk hiding? What terrible truth does Banner reveal? And who will triumph in this ultimate showdown? By Greg Pak and Aaron Lopresti.
Also: Re-presenting the outstanding INCREDIBLE HULK: THE END by Peter David and Dale Keown.

First up we have Giant Size Hulk #1. With Civil War rampant in the Marvel U, the first hero to be a victim of it was the green skinned goliath. Tony “The Manipulator” Stark shot poor Bruce Banner into the stratosphere and beyond in an effort to finally put a nail in the Hulk’s coffin. Little did he know that Hulk was going to crash land on some distant planet where there is a gladiatorial contest going on and pretty much destrou everyone that got in his way! But the real reason to pick up this book is for the back up story, it was the first Marvel: The End story with Hulk: The End by Peter David and Dale “where the hell are you?” Keown. In this story we see what is left at the end of the universe, cockroaches, and Mr. Greenskin, The Incredible Hulk! The first time I saw this book I neglected to pick it up and boy was I sorry for it, and without spoiling anything, this is the way the Hulk is going out, if he can! So if you see it, grab it, read it, and love it!

ETERNALS # 1
COVER BY: RICK BERRY
WRITER: NEIL GAIMAN
PENCILS: JOHN ROMITA JR.
COLORED BY: MATT HOLLINGSWORTH

THE STORY:
"ID"
You are thousands of years old. You have amazing powers. You have watched civilizations rise and fall-- so why does no one remember any of this? Bestselling Author Neil Gaiman (Marvel: 1602, Anansi Boys, Sandman) is joined by superstar artist John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine) to bring you the eagerly-awaited event of 2006—ETERNALS!! Ike Harris has dreams of adventures, love affairs and betrayals, but no one involved remembers or believes him. And who is trying to kill him to keep him from talking about it?

Next up, The Eternals. What can I say, I have a soft spot for Neil Gaiman, I mean, he’s the man! He kicked McFarlane’s ass and reminded him why Image was formed in the first place when he took him on for Miracle Man, but I digress. Gaiman is a storyteller’s storyteller, he is a rare breed of writer that can interweave philosophy and literature into comics, and I don’t care what anyone says, Gaiman is better than Alan Moore! The Eternals are an old concept that hardly anyone knows about, unless you are a hardcore Marvel Zombie. Gaiman’s Sandman was THE best comic ever published, and in that series he toyed with tales of forgotten gods, which is exactly what the Eternals are. Add John Romita Jr.’s art, and you know this is gonna rock like a virgin on prom night! Gaiman is going to screw with your head, and make you re-think the Marvel Universe like he did on 1602. Make Mine Marvel!!!

THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #1
Written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson;
Art and cover by Ken Lashley;
Variant cover by Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert
Published by: DC Comics

The Flash is back. And in this landmark issue written by Paul DeMeo and Danny Bilson — creators of the groundbreaking TV series The Flash — and illustrated by Ken Lashley (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, Age of Apocalypse), one of the biggest questions of 2006 is answered: Who will wear the ring?

INFINITE CRISIS aimed a mortal blow at the legacy of the Fastest Man Alive — but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! Be here for a historic chapter in the legacy of The Flash!

It’s a D.C. book and I’m getting it! I picked up Wonder Woman #1 and was pleasantly surprised with the story and the art, and this issue should be no different. There’s only one reason to get this book however…the question that has been on everyone’s mind since the end of Infinite Crisis…who will wear the ring? My guess…Bart Allen!

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #4
Written by Grant Morrison
Art and Cover by Frank Quitely
Published by: DC Comics

“Jimmy Olsen, the Daily Planet's "Mister Action," is young, brilliant, and reckless! For this week's story he must become the director-for-a-day of P.R.O.J.E.C.T. With top agents assigned to protect him, he's looking forward to an easy day of jet-setting and international liaisons all in the name of scientific discovery. Instead, P.R.O.J.E.C.T. receives a terrifying directive — to take down a rogue Superman!”

Another DC book, yes yes, I know what you may be saying…WTF Ramos! We Thought you were hardcore Marvel Zombie? And I am, but, these are some truly awesome tales that Morrison is spinning, mind you they’re later than the anti-christ showing up in 1996 but All-Star is worth the wait. Quietly’s art is amazing, I picked up WE3 when it first came out which was a Morrison/Quietly Joint and was blown away, I never thought bunnies, kitties, and doggies were capable of homicide!

The stuff that Morrison has been doing in All-Star has me going huh? Not only does he seamlessly blend in wacky wonky nostalgic Superman history, but he presents some ideas that leave me wishing I had taken that drink he offered me at the SDCC all those years, I thought it was some gay guy in black leather offering me a drink so I was hesitant…HELLO!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #15
COVER BY: JOHN CASSADAY
WRITER: JOSS WHEDON
PENCILS: JOHN CASSADAY
INKS: JOHN CASSADAY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS
PUBLISHED BY: MARVEL COMICS

THE STORY:
“TORN”
Move over Astonishing X-Men...there’s a new club in town and their name is...”Hellfire.” In this issue, after secretly lying in wait for months, they make their move!”

When Morrison was writing New X-Men, it was awesome, then came Whedon, and took what Morrison had established, made it his own, and kicked some more ass!!!

There was a point when I actually thought Emma Frost was turning over a new leaf, after seducing Cyclops and giving him some backbone, but I was wrong, and I’ve never felt so good about being so wrong!

Whedon is an extraordinary writer and teamed with John Cassaday, what’s not to love?

ULTIMATES 2 #11
COVER BY: BRYAN HITCH
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: BRYAN HITCH
INKS: PAUL NEARY
COLORED BY: LAURA MARTIN
LETTERED BY: CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

THE STORY:
“GRAND THEFT AMERICA”

”The penultimate issue of volume two gives us answers to long-standing mysteries and brings us closer to the epic conclusion to “Grand Theft America”! With the traitor revealed and the Triskelion in ruins, the remaining Ultimates must unite to defeat an invasion force bent on establishing a new world order. But with the team shattered, who will lead the charge?”

Millar, man, that guy is awesome at the political intrigue and action. If you guys pickjed up issue 10 then you know what I’m talking about, Hawkeye’s escape was the coolest s#&t I had seen in the series, besides the Hulk eating the “Skrull” in volume 1! This is the type of book I live for and it does make me sad to know that Millar is leaving the book after issue 12 along with Hitch…*sniff, *sniff…Jeph Loeb is supposed to take over with that Mad character drawing, but come on! Millar and Hitch make this book what it is! An action packed balls to the wall ULTIMATE superhero fest that leaves you wanting more and makes me re-read my issue about 6 times before I can finally take a breath and say…DAMN! I wish I would have thought of that!!!

Don’t forget that Star Wars: LEGACY also comes out on Wednesday, I am mentioning it because I’m a huge Star Wars fan, and this book looks Kick Ass!!!

So that’s it for this week, catch you cats here next week for the next round of hits!!!

Civil War #2

2006-06-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: Steve McNiven
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORED BY: Morry Hollowell
LETTERED BY: VC - Chris Eliopoulos
COVER BY: Steve McNiven
VARIANT COVER BY: Michael Turner
PUBLISHED BY MARVEL COMICS

”The super-heroes split as the CIVIL WAR heats up! Registration has become law, household names have gone rogue and a Marvel legend makes a decision that will change a life forever. Featuring the NEW AVENGERS, the FANTASTIC FOUR, the YOUNG AVENGERS and pretty much everybody else!
And, no fooling, true believer... this issue features one of the most shocking climaxes in Marvel Comics history. Miss THIS one and you might just regret it for the rest of your life!”

There's nothing "Civil" about war...

So this is it…the event that is going to break the Marvel U in half. I kind of already guessed at what the major Marvel revelation is going to be, Peter Parker reveals himself to the world as Spider-Man!

You can tell that that’s the direction Spidey’s been taking for the last couple of years. The fact that Tony “Manipulator” Stark has been egging Peter on, and the stuff that’s been happening in Amazing, Peter has no other choice than to reveal himself to the world. I wonder what’s going to happen now that Peter is one of Tony’s team players. As you probably guessed from my disposition, I have already chosen my side, which pretty much puts me at odds with Stark. I’m on Captain America’s side, especially after the way Cap eluded S.H.I.E.L.D. capture in Civil War #1! (If you haven’t picked up Issue 1, shame on you!)

I am curious as to what else is going to go down in this issue, I perused some art from issue #2, and I saw a page of the Young Avenger’s Patriot running atop some buildings being chased and fired on by a Blackhawk, so you know it’s going to have some balls out action and intrigue! I know the identity reveal is going to happen by the last page of last month’s Amazing Spider-Man, but there is a lot more going on in the series that it’s been keeping me guessing. Millar is breaking apart the Marvel U, and who knows how it’ll be put back together, but I have trust in his skills, especially after the phenomenal work he’s done on the Authority and of course the Ultimates!

This series makes me anticipate my batch of books every week! I want to know what’s going to happen, and how it’s going to go down. This reminds me of the old school days when the summer crossovers were worth their weight in gold. We were too young to get into the R-rated summer block buster movies, but we were old enough to read the summer blockbuster crossovers, and of course Marvel would always deliver, in spades!

I hate the wait though, which means that Millar is doing his job, and of course how can I forget the gorgeous Steve McNiven artwork. The widescreen shots that McNiven delivers makes me curl my toes with love of the story! The way he took out the New Warriors in issue one made me feel so much sadness for not knowing these characters more intimately since they went under the radar. Namorita was looking beautiful and deadly until she bit the big one against Nitro along with 600 civilians, and Night Thrasher looked like he was truly a bad ass, they should have had him live instead of friggin Speedball! (sorry Kirkman!)

This brings me to the question I pose for you True Believers, which side do you choose? Marvel or DC? Err..I mean…in Marvel’s Civil War? Pick up this issue and make your decision.

Star Wars: Legacy #0

2006-06-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Jan Duursema, Sean Cooke
Cover Artist: Jan Duursema
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

Let's face it, the only saving grace from Episodes I,II,& III is Darth Maul. I personally think he would have been an awesome villian to keep in continuity and develop as the series unfolded, but obviously what do I know, I'm not Lucas...Wouldn't it have been awesome if General Grevious had in actuality been Darth Maul! I thought that's who it was when I saw the eyes of General Grevious in the Clone Wars...but I digress.

I saw this cover to the new Star Wars series and I was instantly intrigued, a T'Wilek in Darth Maul's tatoos, weilding a lightsaber perhaps?, and looking insanely evil? What's not to love, and best of all it's Jan Duursema art!

Duursema and Ostrander (writer) have done phenomenal work in the Star Wars universe, they are the ones that created good 'ole Quinlan Vos, the "Wolverine" of the Star Wars universe and I'm happy to say that if you had been picking up Star Wars Republic, then you know that Master Vos survived Order 66. I consider Duursema the quentissential Star Wars artist in comic books, she's delivered the goods time and time again during Republic's run, from awesome lightsaber fights, to the deaths of Jedi and Sith alike! (Duursema's Assaj Ventress was probably the best rendered likeness of the character ever!) Ostrander has been a solid writer ever since his days back at Marvel,(the best being the Last Ride of the Western Heroes he did for Marvel a few years back, that still makes me choke up just thinking about it!) Ostrander can weave intricate tales of intrigue and turmoil set against the back drop of galactic fantasy, and he makes you love the characters all the more. This is however, new tales with Ostrander and Duursema kicking off the series with a big bang and shocking revelations about the future of Star Wars!

"More than a hundred years have passed since the events in Return of the Jedi and the days of the New Jedi Order. There is a new evil gripping the galaxy, shattering a resurgent Empire and seeking to destroy the last of the Jedi. Even as their power is failing, the Jedi hold to one final hope: the last remaining heir to the Skywalker legacy."

"It's a brave new galaxy for Star Wars fans, at once familiar and surprising-interplanetary intrigue and adventure on an epic scale; iconic heroes and villains cast in new roles and caught in surprising new situations. Everything you've loved about Star Wars, but nothing you expect!"

In other words, forget everything you know about the Star Wars universe, this a brand new ball game, though it still has ties to SW continuity. If you're a Star Wars freak like I am, I suggest you pick up this issue as it introduces the reader to the same universe in a brand new light. Best of all, it's only 25 cents! How can you beat that?

X3: The Last Stand

2006-05-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

X3: The Last Stand
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kesley Grammer
Directed by Brett Ratner
Release date May 26th, 2006
Released through 20th Century Fox & Marvel
X3 Trailer

This review board is usually just for comics, but hey it’s mine and I can review friggin Betty Crocker recipes if I find them interesting enough! So I’m reviewing X3: The Last Stand. What can I say other than that it fuckin rocked!!! I have to say that this was the best of the series; it was a fan boy’s dream come true! It had everything that a true X-Men fan could want, and without spoiling much for those of you who have not seen it yet, you should rush out and see it after reading this review!

A lot of people that have seen the first two movies were apprehensive about the third because Bryan Singer wasn’t involved. I say to those naysayers to shut up and watch the film. Yes, it’s its own animal, but Brett Ratner has managed to do something different and yet remain true to the essence of X-Men. There’s the Danger Room sequence, something that X-fans have been longing to see in the film and Ratner delivers, along with a fast ball special courtesy of Colossus and Wolverine, “Hey Tin Man. Throw me!” and what does Colossus throw Wolverine at? A Sentinel! But the fun doesn’t end there, the whole movie is nicely paced and a lot of loose ends from previous installments are tied up, while more are unraveled. Even though the movie comes in at a little under 2 hours, it made me want more, especially the ending, for all of you not in the know, you’ve gotta stay till the end of the credits to get a juicy little piece of story…actually I guessed at it and I was right, I’m still waiting for Marvel to come knocking at the door so I can write these scripts rather than guess at them!
The film delivers in spades, from the true Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, to the fates of Jean Grey and all the rest, this film had it all. There were moments when the audience fell into a deathly hush as key characters met their fate at the hands of their nemesis. The one I do want to share with you is the fate of one X-Man that I have hated since the moment she/he was introduced so here it is (SPOILER ALERT!!!) Marrow, even though in the film Marrow was changed into a guy, it’s still Marrow, the cheesy ass bone chucking bitch that in the comics was supposed to be Wolverine as a female, that’s all been remedied now in the comics with the introduction of X-23, but in film she (now a he) eats it big time! Wolverine guts Marrow in an awesome fight scene that you have to watch to enjoy and appreciate, I cheered when Marrow died! Good riddance!

Apart from that, the movie nicely ties up the trilogy, while leaving the door open for more films and even spin-offs. I know Hugh Jackman has expressed interest in doing a Wolverine solo film and it is coming to fruition from what my insiders in Hollywood have said, (actually my latest copy of Wizard), which brings me to an interesting subject, Wolverine. Many of my colleagues, have expressed that Wolverine takes up too much time in the films, that it seems the movies should be renamed “Wolverine and his X-Men” but the truth of the matter is that Wolverine is the spirit of the team. I had this conversation with my good friend Daniel Campos a comic book artist and long standing X-Men fan and I agree wholeheartedly. I love Wolverine, though Gambit is my all time favorite X-Man, but Wolverine is the heart and soul of the team, he’s the one that holds everyone together, the loner who is forced to re-examine his life and become a team player for the betterment of both mutant and human kind. But the thing is Wolverine can go the extra mile, he can do what everyone else thinks about doing but stop short of doing, the line that most heroes won’t cross. This is something that your Batmen and Supermen lack, the courage of their convictions, to do what must be done, like Jack Black in Nacho Libre states, "We gotta take it to the next level!"

X3 was well worth the wait, and the way the film plays out, it leaves you wanting more of these characters. Bryan Singer may have moved on to Superman, which I’m sure is going to rake in the cash, but Superman is iconic and has been around longer than X-Men, so it has that going for it. I am a registered Marvel Zombie and X3 is truly for the fans, with so many cameos and little tidbits that sate the fan-boy in all of us (keep your eye out for the Stepford Cukoos!)

This is the fun and exciting movie of the summer and I am thoroughly and honestly pleased with what Brett Ratner has done, I was skeptical when I first heard about the shuffle of directors, but I hope Ratner returns for the next installment, because you know there’s gotta be another one (besides, we need Gambit in there, especially with the allusions of a sort of Generation X spin-off!)
So what are you waiting for? Stop reading this and get out there and watch X3: The Last Stand!

Buckaroo Banzai #1

2006-05-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

Story: Mac Rauch
Pencils: Stephen Thompson
Inks: Keith Williams
Colors: Dennis Calero
Covers: Matt Haley, Michael Stribling
32pgs, COLOR, $3.50

I don’t know how many of you have ever seen the cult film, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, maybe by accident on late night t.v. but I’m talking late late night t.v. where the only thing awake is you and the weird old lady across the street with all the cats that likes to moon bathe in the buff…or is that just in my neighborhood? Anyways, Buckaroo Banzai has returned in the form of a new comic book from Moonstone Productions.
The comic picks up after the events of the film with Buck in a new adventure written by the original creator Mac Rauch and the original director W.D. Richter. Buckaroo Banzai is a neurosurgeon/rock star/experimental race car driver. He is an adventurer along with his crew of Hong Kong Cavaliers. Buck is a mixture of coolness and grittiness and if the comic is anything like the movie then you can expect lots of weirdness! From strange Red Lectroids from planet 10 that look like a cross between skinless aliens and Rastafarians, gunfights in the middle of the Mojave desert, brain surgery, and forces of evil from other dimensions hell-bent on taking over the world, these are just a few of the scenarios to be found in the world of Buckaroo Banzai.
The art is being supplied by Stephen Thompson whose pencils are very detailed and clean Buck. Thompson drew a few issues of Star Wars Republic for Dark Horse and his art captures the essence of Buckaroo Banzai and supporting cast. Peter Weller stared in the original and his likeness is lent to the comic, Thompson manages to catch all the nuances of Weller’s face and demeanor when drawing Buck. Moonstone is a publisher that I follow from time to time, mainly because they have aquired some cool properties, the main one being Kolchack: The Nightstalker, which I have been a fan of since I first saw when I was a lad. I know Moonstone has passion for their work, the stuff they’ve done with Kolchack, leads me to believe that Buckaroo Banzai will rock out!
There are many aspects that I saw in other creations that I first noticed in Buckaroo Banzai. The hero who carries a guitar and a samurai sword gives glimpses of another popular cult movie, Six String Samurai, so if you enjoy weirdness mixed into your coolness try out Buckaroo Banzai: The Comic

Fell #5 and Moon Knight #2

2006-05-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Well I’m back this week with two reviews for the price of one… hope all you guys and gals are having a good time reading all these upcoming titles that are really good, and to those of you who are still in the dark about these great reads, drop that piece of crap Spawn comic you’re reading and get over to your local comic book shops and jump aboard these titles (editor’s note: I realize that Spawn is being written by David Hine but it’s a waste of time, get over to where Hine really shines and pick up The 198 or Son of M to see the man write some good stuff!)

Fell #5

Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art & Cover by BEN TEMPLESMITH
Published by Image Comics
Suggested for Mature Readers

Nearly every comic Warren Ellis writes is truly awe-inspiring and this series is one of them. Fell tells the tale of Detective Richard Fell who has been transferred over the bridge from the big city to Snowtown, an untamed district whose police roster numbers three-and-a-half people because one detective has no legs. Snowtown is like Sin City’s crack head cousin except here there aren’t enough cops to be corrupt. Fell is alone in this little slice of hell and is starting off with nothing to lose and nothing to gain other than his own salvation. Through his almost uncanny ability to solve problems with only his powers of perception, Fell tries to bring justice to the unjustifiable situation that he finds himself in.
What I like about his series from Ellis is for one, each story is self-contained, you’re in and you’re out in 22 pages, no fuss, no muss. Ellis also throws in extras like a premium DVD that gives you insights on to how he works out the series and what goes into each tale. Each page is broken down into about 9 panel increments and Ellis wastes no space in the telling of the story. Add to that the spectacular and surreal artwork of Ben Templesmith who lends his talent to both covers and interiors and then on top of that the price of $1.99, and you’ve got yourself a truly spectacular piece of art.
The stories are fast paced but not rushed, Ellis is a master of pacing and the reader is immediately sucked into this world of Detective Fell and we can’t wait to turn the page to see what happens next. The way this book is written and layed out should be scripture to up and coming comic book writers who tell stories in six issues when Ellis can do it in 1 page and 9 panels.
Fell is worth its price and more, and it harkens back to the days when comics were still $1.00 and you got great art and great stories every month.
5 HITS

Moon Knight #2

Writer: CHARLIE HUSTON
Cover & Pencils: DAVID FINCH
Inks: DANNY MIKI
Colored by: FRANK D'ARMATA
Lettered by: VC - JOSEPH CARAMAGNA
Published by Marvel Comics

When I first heard that Marvel was resurrecting Moon Knight one more time, I was apprehensive. I mean the character is an interesting concept but I had these images of Stephen Platt art and that just evokes the Image craze of the 90’s. I picked up issue 1 just to see what the deal was and the fact that Charlie Huston was writing it. I was thoroughly impressed; Huston nailed everything I had thought the character was meant to be from the original Moench and Sienkiewicz run in the early 80’s.
What I remembered form those comics was this dark foreboding theme in the stories, not every one had a happy ending. It was grim and gritty before the Dark Knight made it chic’.
Moon Knight was originally Marc Spector, an American rabbi's wayward son who had become a mercenary. As a mercenary he became a skilled combatant, and befriended the French pilot Jean-Paul DuChamp, who he came to call "Frenchie". While the pair were working for the African mercenary Raoul Bushman in Egypt, he stumbled upon an archaeological dig whose crew included Dr. Peter Alraune and his daughter Marlene. The dig had uncovered an ancient temple whose artifacts included a statue of the Egyptian god Khonshu. Bushman stated his intent to loot the dig; this provoked Dr. Alraune to attack Bushman, a decision that cost him his life. In response to Alraune's murder, Spector challenged Bushman to personal combat; he was beaten nearly to death and left to die in the sub-zero temperatures of the desert night. Spector was then found by nearby Egyptians who worshipped the ancient Egyptian gods and was carried to their temple. His heart stopped, but he did not die. Khonshu appeared to him in a vision, offering Spector his life if he would serve the god on Earth. Spector was returned to life in a haze. He concealed himself within the silver shroud that covered Khonshu's statue and again confronted Bushman. He fought and defeated Bushman and returned to America with Marlene Alraune, Frenchie, and the statue of Khonshu that had seemingly empowered him. With no further communication from Khonshu, he determined that he had hallucinated the encounter; nevertheless, he decided to become a crimefighter. He created a silver cloaked costume, based on the appearance of the shroud he had worn while battling Bushman, and became the Moon Knight.
And from there, the adventures continued, as Spector fought the bizzare side of the Marvel U, but there was always this psychological edge that the stories carried. Marc Spector had mutiple personalities and you never knew who you were gonna get. The hero or the madman. The new series plays up this aspect of Moon Knight and this is what gives the book its edge. Issue one starts off big with Moon Knight taking care of business in the form of some theives that he takes down while the voiceover speaks about his philosphy as far as why he does what he does. But that’s just the icing on the cake as the story progresses, we learn that not everything is what it seems and the issues ending has had me waiting on pin anmd needles for issue 2 which is finally comng out. If you like Batman, then Moon Knight is not for you. Moon Knight is its own animal and can no longer be compared as “the poor man’s Batman.”
Charlie Huston has started off what I hope to be a long run on Moon Knight and the added eye candy of Dave Finches artwork seals the deal in spades. If you’re lucky enough, you might still be able to find issue 1 out there on the shelves, and if not, well then jump into issue 2 when it comes out. From what I read about issue 2, Huston is not wasting anytime and is bringing in the heavy hitters and breathing new life into Moon Knight’s already classic past.
5 HITS

Free Comic Book Day...The Movie!

2006-05-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well Free Comic Book Day has come and gone and below are the freebies I was able to snatch from my friendly neighborhood comic book store, supposedly it was only one per person, but I guess I spent enough cash on my pull list that he let me get away with double copies of all these titles…heh..thanx John!!!
But seriously, these are the offerings and my reviews are just my opinions, so take what you will from them or just say, Ray, you’re full of shite!...and now without further ado…

Archie’s 65th Anniversary Bash! from Archie Comic Publications.

I rarely read Archie, but it’s FCBD so what the hell…and this truly was a bash, it reminded me of one of those T.V. sitcoms, where one of the main characters is leaving the show, so they have this big montage of the very best of their run with guest stars galore…and The Veronicas were in it! You may ask how I know about the Veronicas, well I watch a lot of The-N, I’m horrendously addicted to Degrassi the Next Generation, but I digress, so Archie is gonna leave Riverdale and everyone and their mother comes out of the woodwork to say goodbye, and in the end…hr doesn’t leave, like we didn’t see that coming seeing how it IS Archie’s 65th Anniversary! He’s been a teenager trapped in Riverdale for the past 65 years and he hasn’t aged a day and is still in high school? I think Archie is really a vampire lord and is making all these people that live in his town slaves to his vampire lust, using the Veronicas to lure other unsuspecting teens into his evil clutches to feast on their young virgin blood!!! There are virgins in Riverdale right? I know Jughead isn’t getting any…C+

X-Men: Runaways from Marvel Comics.

I love Brian K. Vaughn and I read Y The Last Man religiously, even though I’m behind about 5 issues, but I’m gonna get to them, but this…this FCBD offering…I don’t dig Scottie Young’s art, it’s not what I consider comic book art, more like tagger art…and the script was horrid, what happened Brian? Not only were the characters misrepresented but, these super teen “runaways” were sooo annoying! I wanted Wolverine to gut a few of these shmucks just to give the story some edge, I know I know, it was meant to be for the kiddies, but you don’t have to dumb down the characters to tell a good story to kids, you should listen to my retelling of Dawn of the Dead that I tell my 1 year old before he goes to bed…the only saving grace for this FCBD freebie was 1) it was free, and 2) the Franklin Richards back up story by Chris Eliopolos…C-

Future Shock from Image

Image is usually good at their FCBD giveaways, last year’s Flight issue was so freakin awesome, I loved it but this year I guess they were going for something a little different. I understand that Larsen is notorious for trying new ideas which is good, but this FCBD offering was a bit lackluster, I won’t bother with the crap which of course is Spawn, but I was surprised at how lousy the other stories were, I understand that they were 4 page previews but come on, I can tell you an exciting story in 4 pages, trust me. The Shadowhawk story lacked its usual Valentino edge, and I know for a fact that these guys have preached about the whole 4 page intro…if you can’t hook the readers interest in 4 pages then your comic is not gonna make it…this is total comic book cookbook technique…and they didn’t deliver…the only one that delivered was my pal Robert Kirkman, I have only read about 3 issues worth of Invincible, and his Invincible preview piqued my interest so much that I want to jump on this book, but at the moment, or until I give up a series, I’m gonna have to read them off the net. The 4 pages to preview Invincible is well worth the whole book, and of course to laugh at the crap that McFarlane is putting out…Jesus H. Christ Todd!!! Enough is enough…pack it up and start drawing Spiderman again! Invincible 4 page preview A, Spawn preview F-, Rest of the book D+

Justice League Unlimited from DC.

DC has been rocking and rolling for the past few years, and even though I am a hardcore Marvel Zombie, I have to give props to the Distinguished Competition. This FCBD offering was totally cool, it was a good read and it was entertaining and it was simple. It wasn’t convoluted with all this bullshit about continuity or shock value or artsy complex renderings…it was what a comic book should be, FUN! If you watch the JLU on Cartoon Network then you know what I’m talking about, I mean they had Bwanna Beast in an episode and made him totally cool! The art was uncomplicated and the story flowed, I really had a good time reading the issue and the art was very appealing to the eye, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm would be proud. Plus Despero is in it along with Zatanna! If you’re a fan of the JLU animated series I hope you got this book, this is the type of stuff that made me want to do comics back when I was a young Padawan! A+

Rubberband Press Comics Free Comic Book Day Fun from Rubberband Press Comics Publishing.

Um…Nice cover? Um…I mean…cover stock. No Rating

Bongo Comics Free-For-All! from Bongo Comics.

It’s the Simpsons man! Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know about the Simpsons and it’s a well known fact that about half the country know more Simpsons trivia than the name of the 43rd president of the United States…actually his name is Satan or Hitler or something along those lines, but I digress…this issue was all FCBD should be, and it had Comic Book Guy in it, and he scores with a super model! Louis Lane scores! The jewel of the issue though was Nuclear Power Man and Iron Foot, where we see Lenny and Carl as the Heroes for Rent, a total rip on Power Man and Iron Fist…Sweet Christmas! This FCBD offering rocked out! A+

So that’ll do it for now, I’ll be back next week for my next review or preview of what’s coming out and about to hit the shops! Here’s to FCBD 2006! Whee!!!

DMZ #4

2006-02-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

Seeing as Mr. Carmona is totally busy at the moment, or he may have forgotten in his old age, I have decided to post a pick of the week for myself and for all of you in the wired...Maybe he'll be back next week to post his own pick...

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Wood and Ricardo Burchielli
Cover by Wood
Published by DC Comics/ Vertigo
Suggested for Mature Readers

"Left to his own devices in war-torn Manhattan, Matty stumbles into Central Park, where he comes face to face with a crew of armed and dangerous environmentalists. Are these the mysterious "Ghosts" who protect the once beautiful park, or is Matty at the mercy of a gang of psychotic tree-huggers? " -from DC Comics/ Vertigo Homepage

It's been 5 years since the United States declared war against the Free State Armies. Manhattan is the DMZ(Demilitarized Zone) and New York is once again ground zero, but in a different way, a second Civil War has erupted and the 400,000 civilians that still live in the Big Apple, now the big smoking crater are trying to survive. 9/11 is everyday now, and the war on terror has been taken from the sands of the desert of far away lands and is now targeted on the insurgents and murderers of New York, as the United States has branded them.
Enter Matthew Roth, an intern working for a Nobel Prize winning documentarian who's going to film the war at home, he's dropped into New York on his first assignment and gets stranded in the DMZ after his documentary team gets blown out of the sky, along with Nobel Prize winner, he's the only survivor and he can't get home. That's when the fun begins.
I am really enjoying this book because it shows how no matter where war is located, it's all about the spin it's given, win the hearts and minds of the people and you win the war. Brian Wood is doing an excellent job of showing the way we perceive war in modern times, or rather, the way we don't perceive it...Everyone has a story , but those stories are usually overshadowed by the glorification of war on TV. If it bleeds it leads...But there are human elements to every story...And those stories need to be told...
pick up DMZ #4 it's worth the read and it's a Vertigo book, so you know it's good. This is the war abroad at home and I plan to fully review this series after a few more issues, this is a great jumping on point and the covers are amazing, if the above cover isn't enough to whet your appetite!

303

2006-02-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

Story: Garth Ennis
Art: Jacen Burrows
Color: Greg Waller
Cover: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Avatar Press
6 issue mini-series
Mature Readers

So this Ex Spetnaz Russian Colonel decides to take an antique 303 British Army rifle and walk from Afghanistan to America and kill a very important governmental figure. Can any one guess who will be assassinated?
That’s the premise of Garth Ennis’ comic 303 from Avatar Press, and it’s one that fits in nicely with existing reality. Ennis fills in the blanks as to how to go about killing someone worth killing, especially a world leader. First off show how much of a bad ass this character is and then give him a mission that is not only insane but pretty much impossible. That’s where the 303 rifle comes into play. Ennis’ imagination shows how one man with one gun can change the status quo for the entire world.
The Russian Colonel has no name, and for the task he has embarked on, he doesn’t need one. All he knows is that he needs to fulfill this mission no matter who or what gets in his way. His chosen weapon is an antiquated rifle that’s been around for nearly 100 years. They don’t make them like that anymore and Ennis throws in some historical reference on the rifle that I found fascinating. The historical facts show how this rifle and others like it helped soldiers shape the outcome of war in different parts of the world. This one rifle made a huge impact on warfare and how they just don’t make them this reliable anymore.
The Colonel is also cut from the same cloth, old school and hard line tactics. He does not waver and is not impressed by new recruits, he is there to do a job, killing folks, and he does his job well and without mistakes.From the battle ravaged deserts of Afghanistan, the Colonel begins his march, his mission.
The body count piles up as the Colonel walks the path of what he feels will be his redemption to every single person he has murdered, for everything he’s ever done wrong or perhaps, for what the world has made him do. We realize early on that the Russian has been born for war and for the craft of death. All his enemies follow him as apparitions everywhere he goes, like silent ghosts that do not really haunt him, but are there as a reminder of what he does and what he needs to do. That is until he reaches America, that’s right he gets to America with the rifle, but in the middle of the southwest, on another desert much like Afghanistan, he meets someone much like him, a cop who has problems realizing his place in the world other than being the strong arm of the law. The law is all this sheriff has and he intends to uphold it even when this stranger with a strange rifle comes through town. When the two meet, we’re left asking if the Russian will complete his mission or if the law will prevail.
Jacen Burrows provides the art and the book looks awesome for it. I discovered Burrows when he drew Warren Ellis’ SCARS for Avatar Press and I have followed his work ever since. Don’t get me wrong, this comic is about war and the art brings those images vividly to life. Burrows captures the atrocities of war as well as the human emotions that run rampant in that setting. The Colonel’s story unfolds in spectacular widescreen shots provided by Burrows’ art. The gore is highly detailed, not just a red splotch on the page, but entrails and tissue is delivered to the eye in dramatic fashion.The books were a bit late in coming out but I was finally able to acquire the full story recently. Ennis delivered what I had hoped for, a raw story, full of action and brilliant imagery.
This is Ennis at his best, no holds barred, take no prisoners and tell it like it is. It made want to know more about this mysterious Russian who had killed so many people that the ghosts followed him around everywhere he went.
So go out and find copies of 303 before the NSA and Homeland Security get wind that someone has dared speak out in comic book form on what I think should be done in order to save the world from itself. It’s rare nowadays to find a comic where the story makes you think of how things would be if someone decided to change the world. This series delivered an answer to that question. Ennis delivers war in comic book form as well as redemption from those atrocities in a twisted way. Maybe in a few weeks, as long as the government isn’t listening, I’ll start shopping around for an antique model 303, and one lone bullet, because, usually it’s up to a lone gunman and God as his witness to right the wrongs of madmen and tyrants…

Originally posted on www.hiredgunthecomic.com January 2006

The Punisher

2006-02-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Written by: Garth Ennis
Pencils by: Leo Fernandez (currently but has revolving artists)
Inks by: Scott Koblish
Covers by: Tim Bradstreet
Published by: Marvel Comics /Marvel MAX
Suggested for Mature Readers

I’m sorry but if Batman fought Frank Castle, Batman would get his pointy cowled ass handed to him. Frank Castle, aka: The Punisher, is the embodiment of the anti-hero. He was gritty before Batman was grim.
Everyone seems to underestimate Frank and that is where his strength lies. In Garth Ennis’ current Punisher run, all doubts that Castle is the numero uno vigilante are laid to rest, Ennis is by far one of the best Punisher writers thus far (and of course Chuck Dixon, but that’s for another time.)
The Punisher is a Marvel Max series , for those of you not in the know, Marvel Max is an imprint from Marvel that lets writers and artists deal with characters and stories in mature themes and so it is finally being written the way it should be. Ennis takes Castle to the depths of vengeance, where many heroes won’t go, and in fact I don’t consider Castle a hero, but more of a force of nature. Castle has become the proverbial bogeyman, his legend among the criminal element is even more mythical than Batman’s, because Batman will not cross the line that the Punisher does, and that in fact makes him much more dangerous to those that stand in the way of his “war.”
The new series started off with a bang, pardon the pun, using all the elements that make the Marvel Max series a hit, extreme violence, profanity, and of course sexuality. The first 6 issue story arc centered on the one man who got close to the Punisher and knows his inner workings and how to stop him, Microchip, the Punisher’s ex-weapons and tech expert from back in the Punisher Vol. 2 series. The Feds want to bring Castle in because he is a threat to national security so they “acquire” Micro to give them the low down on how to get Castle. Microchip is doing it because he feels that Frank has gone too far and the war he wages is a pointless one. Micro still feels some sympathy for Frank and decides to help the Feds. In the opening moments of the series’ first issue, Castle crashes a Mafia get together and kills about ¾ of the entire New York Mafia, which sets the remaining Mafiosos on a vendetta to destroy the Punisher once and for all, that is if they can find a Mafia Boss who isn’t dead to initiate the mission. Added to the mix is an obsessed FBI nymphomaniac agent who wants nothing more than to jump Frank’s bones and keeps obsessing over how large the Punisher’s main weapon is, if you get my point, and the series is off and running, with blood practically spilled on every page as the Punishers war continues with even a higher death toll!
The Max title is really letting Ennis open the doors on just how far Castle will go to destroy those that no one else will go after. It shows exactly how the Punisher serves his purpose in the Marvel U, how he cleanses real evil, though he may not be dealing with it on a global or universal level such as the Avengers, he is dealing with society’s dirty laundry when no one else will do it, and he likes it that way.
I don’t want to sound long winded but the series is awesome, I’ve always liked the Punisher, and the way that Ennis writes him is totally in synch with the character, his motivations, his goals, his artillery, and of course the hundreds of ways to kill someone with your bare hands. Sure everyone says Batman could take out Galactus given the time to plan and figure it out, but if it came down to it in a hand to hand with Frank, my money is on the Punisher. No gadgets, no vibrating hand technique, just “chingazos” because the Punisher has the one thing that Batman does not have, Frank has nothing to lose because everything he had has been gone for a very long time, or maybe it was never even there.
If you like the Punisher and want to understand him better, read the Born series which Ennis also wrote, it gives insight on why Castle was destined to become the monster killer he became, because we must always remember, when one fights with monsters, one must take care not to become one. The Punisher became that which he hated, but he has embraced it and become more than those Mob assassins could have imagined when they killed his family. In the end the only thing that will survive won’t be the Hulk and cockroaches, it’ll be Frank Castle. If you think I’m wrong, find The Punisher: The End one shot also written by Ennis and read the last Punisher story. It shows exactly how the Punisher will finally be taken out of the picture, and what it takes for that to happen.
Pick up the Punisher on-going monthly from Marvel and catch up with the original grim and gritty vigilante that started it all…

Originally Published on www.hiredgunthecomic.com December 2005

The Walking Dead

2006-01-31T22:08:00.000-08:00

Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Inks: Cliff Rathburn
Published by Image Comics
Suggested for Mature Readers

“short controlled bursts, and always save the last round for yourself…”

“An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living.”

If you haven’t been reading or even know about The Walking Dead, then you might as well load that last bullet in the chamber, bite down on the gun barrel, and pull the trigger!
In my opinion, The Walking Dead is the best, if not one of the best comic books out there, definitely in the top 10 of what I’m currently reading and what you should be reading!
Robert Kirkman has weaved an awesome tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world where mindless hordes of undead roam every city, every road, hell, everywhere!
The Zombie Holocaust has arrived and there’s no escape, you can’t do anything except try to survive, but it isn’t just the zombies you have to look out for, you should fear the living just as much.
The Walking Dead examines what happens when the world as we know it, the comfort ability of civilization is suddenly torn away from humanity. We can no longer go to Wal-mart at 3 am, buy McDonalds and rummage through unopened boxes of the newest Marvel Legends, because there are frickin zombies everywhere trying to eat our livers!
Social commentary aside the book is friggin tremendous in its zombie-rific horror!
The story’s main character is Rick Grimes, an ex-police officer who at the beginning of the tale is in a firefight with his partner Shane, against some backwoods yokel. During the firefight, Rick is shot and the next scene we see is of him waking up in a hospital somewhere and he seems to be alone until he starts investigating his surroundings. After wandering the halls a bit and finding a dead body in the elevator, Rick discovers that the hospital is abandoned except for the zombies in the cafeteria! The barred door should have given it away not to go in there. If you look closely at the cafeteria scene, you can see a half eaten baby, which is very disturbing. Rick is attacked and after a fall down the stairs and a death roll with a zombie, Rick makes his way out of the hospital. And thus our story begins.
The beginning gave me images of great zombie movies, such as the original Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later, so I was immediately hooked but the comic continues where other zombie movies have left off. And this is exactly what Kirkman has stated, “it’s the zombie movie that never ends…”
Another thing that you’re missing about this book is the amazing art! Tony Moore’s (Fear Agent, The Exterminators) art at the beginning of the series made me excited to be collecting the book and I looked forward to it every month, his portrayals of zombies and humans alike were striking and amazing. Moore had a perfect blend of Kieron Dwyer and Jacen Burrows (another up and coming comic book horror artist) and his details were incredible. You can see every sinewy piece of flesh coming off the decaying reanimated corpses and the sweeping wide screen shots of Rick traveling to find his family along the countryside and towns were startling. Sadly Moore left the series after issue 6, but continues to supply covers for the book. Charlie Adlard came onboard as of issue 7 and has been handling the art chores nicely. I have noticed however that ever since Moore left the series the story has been more character driven, that is the living ones, rather than the dead ones. Though Adlard draws in a similar style of Moore, his art compliments the direction the story has taken as of that issue, once Rick has been reunited with his family and assumes the role of leader among the rag tag group of survivors that have gathered. But let me give you some of the key scenes that really made the book for me:

Issue 4, Rick has been reunited with his wife Lori and his son Carl along with a motley group of survivors and everyone agrees they need guns, problem is the guns are in the city, city full of zombies! One character from the group, Glenn, a personal fave of mine, decides to make a run into the city to get weapons and Rick goes with him, the action and pacing is awesome in this one!
Issue 7, the truth about Shane, Rick’s ex-partner, is revealed and it’s shocking!!!
Issue 9, the cover man! The Tony Moore cover, my favorite from the series so far!!!
Issue 13, after wandering around looking for a place to stay and losing a few characters, the group finds an abandoned prison, lets stay here! Let’s just hope their aren’t any zombies inside, or worse yet, any inmates, especially any who are serial killers!!!
Issue 16, Tyreese goes out in a blaze of glory!!!
Issue 19, the enigmatic Michonne makes her debut, I thought this character was going to cause major havoc in upcoming issues and she has, some crazy chick with a katana and 2 limbless zombies chained by the neck when she shows up. What’s not to love?
Issue 22, the ending to this one is shocking, you’re like, what the hell, you can’t end it this way, but Kirkman does, and we like it!!!
Issue 24, even though we already had figured it out since about issue 6, this issue, everything changes! The book isn’t called The Walking Dead for nothing!

I could go on and on about the book and there’s so many scenes and dialogue that is memorable, but it would take too long to convey that here we’d need a whole other section. So instead go pick up the book! The trades are out there collecting issues 1-18 and the fourth trade should be released soon so be on the look out for it. The single issues sell out quick at the comic shop, so ask your retailer to add it to your pull list before you miss out. The current storyline has shaped out to be awesome so if you can’t wait for the trade go out and find the recent books beginning with issue 19, it’s a great jumping on point.
I give this book 5 hits and you should give it a try if horror and a well told story is up your alley, hell even if you don’t like horror, the interaction between the characters is totally worth you picking up the book.
This comic inspired me to write my own take on the zombie genre, which should be seeing the light of day soon. And in closing I have gathered what I think are My top ten zombie movies of all time. Check them out if you have a few nights to spare, I definitely recommend them if you like the genre and if you want to get into the mood that The Walking Dead delivers!

Ray’s Top Ten Zombie Flicks

1.The Romero Trilogy
Night of the Living Dead (original 1968 and 1990 remake)
Dawn of the Dead (original 1978 and 2004 remake)
Day of the Dead
2. Zombie (Lucio Fulci man! Awesome Italian horror director, kind of like a prequel to Dawn of the Dead)
3. Shaun of the Dead (The zombie movie with an ending, yay!)
4. 28 Days Later (not exactly a zombie movie, more like virus movie, but it’s in the genre!)
5. Serpent and the Rainbow (few think this is a zombie movie, but it is and it’s cool)
6. Cemetery Man (it’s a little known of gem, and it is well worth it if you can find it!)
7. Dead Alive (Peter Jackson + rat monkeys + zombies = you gotta watch it! Originally titled Brain Dead)
8. Undead (think of ID4 and Evil Dead put together…hell yeah! Few people saw this; luckily I stole a copy from the net. Piracy! Piracy!)
9. Night of the Creeps (I saw this as a kid in the 80’s, I need a copy on DVD!!!)
10. City of the Walking Dead (it’s Italian, it’s cheesy, it’s good!)

Some that didn’t make the list but are worth it too…

Return of the Living Dead (fast zombies! I think Kirkman likes this one too but won’t admit it…)
Re-animator (did H.P. Lovecraft invent the zombie genre?)
Lifeforce (not really a zombie movie but kinda like a vampire/zombie hybrid, with hot nude chicks!)
They Came Back (it’s French and weird)
Versus, Wild Zero, & Junk (Japanese zombie action movies huzzah! I’ve seen trailers, they’re really bizarre but Japanese horror rocks! Great if you can find them! Piracy?)
Bad Taste (Peter Jackson again! He actually stars in this one. Kinda like alien zombies?)
Revolt of the Zombies (old 1930’s black & white and cheesy good)

And that wraps it up…if I think of anymore; I’ll post them too…but check out The Walking Dead…and join the legions of undead!

Originally posted on www.hiredgunthecomic.com November 2005