Katy Rex returns to NonCompliant as we discuss the new horror tinged take on Sabrina, the surprising feminist themes of Archie vs. Predator, the latest issue of female fronted Thor, and the all ages indie slice of life comic Nutmeg. Plus a couple of PSAs about the University of Mary Washington Divest arrests and Day of Silence and a very special puppy cameo.
Never ever let it be said that Archie Comics is content to let their flagship character stagnate. Coming off of the tragic death of Archie Andrews in Life with Archie, and the atmospheric, zombie-infested Afterlife with Archie, you’d think that Archie Comics would want to take a breather, and make something a little more traditional. Instead, they’ve teamed up with Dark Horse Comics to set Archie on a collision course with el diablo cazador de hombres – the devil that hunts men – in Archie vs. Predator.
History is often bombarded with grand events being the only thing that is of worth. Many times it’s more enjoyable to look at the nuances in these grand events to directly learn about our history. This central theme is seen throughout Brian Wood’s new book Rebels. Wood takes us into 18th century America and the American Revolutionary War. The storyline follows a man named Seth Abbott and a band of militiamen who are challenging the British force in the colonies. This small-scale look at the life of a few militiamen is a great read.
Artist/writer Jill Thompson has one of the most idiosyncratic bodies of work in contemporary comics ranging from important arcs on legendary comics series The Sandman and The Invisibles to more traditional superhero work like a run on Wonder Woman as well her own creator owned comic/children’s book/film series Scary Godmother. She has drawn everything from dying stripper gods to Romantic poets, Batman to Bart Simpson and even an all animal cast in her Eisner winning Dark Horse series Beasts of Burden with writer Evan Dorkin. She is also one of the few creators not named Neil Gaiman allowed to write The Endless in her Li’l Endless stories.
Rat God #1 Story and Art by Richard Corben Colors by Richard Corben and Beth Corben Reed Published by Dark Horse Comics Master of comics Richard Corben channels H.P. Lovecraft’s knack for horror and combines it with elements from Native American legends in Rat God #1, creating an unnerving tale that has readers gripping pages with all their might. …
Conan/Red Sonja #1 Written by Gail Simone and Jim Zub Art by Dan Panosian Colors by Dave Stewart Published by Dark Horse Comics Near the beginning of Conan/Red Sonja #1, there is an evocative image of a lion and panther battling in the arena for the pleasure of the prince of Koth. However, the panther and lion end up devouring their handlers instead …
2014 was an incredibly rewarding year to be a comics reader. Veteran creators, like Grant Morrison, Kurt Busiek, and Matt Wagner continued to churn out some of the best work of their career while new creators, like Noelle Stevenson, Babs Tarr, and Tula Lotay had very strong starts. Marvel and DC published their fair share of events, including Original Sin, …
“How can you know who you are, if you don’t know who you’ve been?” Those are the first words written by Resurrectionists scribe Fred Van Lente, as the first issue opens up with quite the exhilarating ride. What if we were connected to our past lives in a much grander way than simply believing in the ideology?
First of all, there is nothing wrong with comics and stories in general filled with big explosions, blood splatters, and fire fights, especially if they’re part of the action or military genre. The Ghost Fleet #1 squarely fits into these kind of stories and relishes in its military credentials from the first page, which has a typically gory panel of Andrew Jackson and his soldiers fighting the British with some smaller panels showing Jackson’s covert activities with French privateers. The mix of over the top action and espionage is a nice hook for the comic, but Ghost Fleet decides to predominantly focus on the action part.
It’s de rigeur to knock Hollywood for being out of ideas, but then along comes Father’s Day. It is Dark Horse’s four-issue miniseries combining two well-worn tropes: The hitman with a heart and the child as apprentice killer, as originated in the Lone Wolf and Cub manga series and repeated in so many action films (Luc Besson’s Leon/The Professional, Hanna, Kick Ass et al).
The Usagi Yojimbo Saga: Volume 1 Writer, Art, and Letters: Stan Sakai Series Editors: Michael Dooney and Jaime S. Rich Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo is a series that works on multiple levels. It has the epic feel of a Japanese chanbara (sword fighting films), alongside moments of melodrama, in which the …
It’s that time of year again. The days grow shorter, and the nights grow longer. Yet we tend to sleep a lot less. Not surprising, considering the number of scary stories, movies, and video games we subject ourselves to throughout the month of October. Should you actually treasure sleep, Creepy #18 is a mix of comedy, horror, and poetic justice.
Predator Vs Judge Dredd Vs Aliens: Incubus and Other Stories Writer(s): John Wagner, Andy Diggle Art: Henry Flint, Enrique Alcatena, Brian Bolland, Jock Publisher: 2000AD/Dark Horse Comics Purchase: https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/25-337/Predator-versus-Judge-Dredd-versus-Aliens-HC In space, as the old saying goes, no one can hear you scream. The same can also be said for Mega City One. Just in time …
Neverminds Publisher: Drumfish Productions Writer: Rich Bernatovech Artist: Jamie Fay DrumfishProductions.com Neverminds is the first in a series focusing on an all-female superhero team. The team is introduced as they begin a rescue mission. Their covert op is interrupted by a mysterious and powerful villain who has been lying in wait. The stranger fights the …
If you’ve read any of Frank Miller’s comics, you’re probably familiar with some of his most beloved tropes found in his work from Daredevil to Holy Terror, including pudge-faced, long coated wearing anti-heroes, prostitutes, a crapsack urban setting, and hardboiled voice-over narration that ranges from unintentionally hilarious (” Sin City, she’s a big, bad broad flat on her back begging for it and I take her for all she’s worth and then I take her again and still she’s begging.”) to tight and poignant (“Worth dying for. Worth killing for. Worth going to hell for. amen.”) In “Hard Goodbye”, Miller plays with these tropes and devices like a kid with his favorite action figures, but he also constructs a three dimensional character in Marv, who is the dark grey anti-hero Sin City needs. Marv is a driven character, who will go to any means necessary to avenge the death of Goldie, a prostitute and “goddess”, who gave him the time of his life before she was killed. The plot of “Hard Goodbye” is filled with forward momentum and doesn’t go down any rabbit trails. Miller fleshes out some of the backstory of (Ba)Sin City, its ruling clan the Roarkes, and supporting characters, like Lucille and Nancy, but it mostly focuses on one violent, mentally unhinged (yet well-intentioned) man’s quest for vengeance , justice, or something in-between.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten #7 shows that Spike and Xander together as roommates is both comedic and dramatic gold. Christos Gage and Nicholas Brendon land joke after joke starting with the first page where Spike asks Xander to move over his “dolls” so he can have room for his hundreds (possibly thousands) of Soap Digests. (Vampires watching soap operas makes weird, yet logical sense. You have to do something to pass the time while the sun is up, and not everyone can read Jean-Paul Sartre in the original French like Angel.) Artist Rebekah Isaacs adds some more humor with her spot-on reaction shots of the other characters’ faces to Spike and Xander’s odd couple antics. An issue of Spike and Xander trading banter would be an entertaining read in and of itself, but Gage and Brendon do what Buffy did and still does best by mixing its comedy with a heavy helping of interpersonal drama and a focus on character relationships. Beyond the hilarious banter, hijinks, and strange, yet fitting baddie, Spike and Xander have a lot in common.
Dark Ages #1 Written by Dan Abnett Art by I.N.J. Culbard Published by Dark Horse Comics In the first couple pages, Dark Ages #1 has a lot going for it. Minimalist cartooning with a simple image of a falcon catching a mice until the setting and characters are introduced. The main characters are a (sadly) interchangeable band of …
Serenity Leaves on the Wind #6 Written by Zack Whedon Pencilled by Georges Jeanty Inked by Karl Story Colors by Laura Martin Published by Dark Horse Comics For lack of a better term, Serenity #6 is a comfort food for a Firefly fan. It is full of snarky dialogue, a pack of underdogs saving the day once again, aerial maneuvers, …
Star Wars: Darth Maul, Son of Dathomir #1 Written by Jeremy Barlow Pencilled by Juan Frigeri Inked by Mauro Vargos Colors by Wes Dzioba Published by Dark Horse Comics If you were annoyed by the romantic subplot of Attack of the Clones or the trade disputes of Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Darth Maul #1 is the cure for what …
Serenity Leaves on the Wind #4 Written by Zack Whedon Pencilled by Georges Jeanty Inked by Karl Story Colors by Laura Martin Published by Dark Horse Comics Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #4 is a better paced comic than the previous issue in the miniseries. Writer Zack Whedon manages to include the planning and execution of Mal …
Serenity Leaves on the Wind #3 Written by Zack Whedon Pencilled by Georges Jeanty Inked by Karl Story Colors by Laura Martin Published by Dark Horse Comics Sometimes Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #3 is very good. Artist Georges Jeanty has an impressive handle on the interior of Serenity, which is detailed and has all the nooks and crannies of …
Pariah #1 Writer: Aron Warner and Philip Gelatt Art and Lettering: Brett Weldele Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Purchase: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/24-209/Pariah-1 There are few fears as penetrating to the psyche as isolation. The world is connected by an ethernet cable attached seemingly to our hearts. It’s becoming harder to find any solitary pleasures without feeling the need to …
Serenity Leaves on the Wind #2 Written by Zack Whedon Pencilled by Georges Jeanty Inked by Karl Story Colors by Laura Martin Published by Dark Horse Comics The Serenity Leaves on the Wind miniseries isn’t new reader friendly, but it is a great place for fans of the Firefly TV series and Serenity film to reconnect with their favorite characters and …