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Webcomic Wednesday – Adventures of Superman

June 5, 2013 by

Ok I know. DC’s weekly digital instalment, Adventures of Superman, isn’t exactly a webcomic. But technically it’s digital first and it’s a comic so I’ll allow it. Plus it’s the 75th anniversary of the quintessential superhero, and I haven’t had a chance to give this title much love.

So here goes.  

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Hello and welcome to Webcomic Digital Wednesday! Each week I take a look at a webcomic digital comic and let you know what I think about it. This week I’m taking a look at one of DC’s newest line ups of weekly digital comics, the brilliant Adventures of Superman, which incorporates a wide swathe of talent from across the industry.

 

I’ll admit I have never been a huge Superman fan until recently. With Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the 75th anniversary of Superman, and the recent effort on DC’s part to promote the man, he’s seen a big resurgence. Adventures of Superman is the next step in this promotion, a series of one-shots crafted by industry talent, big and small, each telling a different story of the man. And it is brilliant.

There isn’t any pressure to fit in with the rest of the universe – no problems with continuity or New 52 garbage. These are just straight Superman tales, each only limited by the creators imagination, as they each try to capture a piece of his day to day life.

There is just so much heart to these stories, and they are often told in inventive and fun ways. From standard, “beat the bad guy” stories, to children pretending to play as Superman and Brainiac, each tale feels unique and so far it hasn’t stumbled. If you ever needed an excuse to get into Superman stories, look no further.

So far my favourite is the second issue, written and drawn by Jeff Lemire. But don’t take my word for it, check out the series here , or on any device with the Comixology/DC app. For a dollar a pop, it’s a steal.

Have any webcomics you want me to check out? Let me know on my twitter @Pipes815, or send me a message via our contact form.

Filed Under: DC Tagged With:

Review: Nowhere Men #5 – Eric Stephenson & Nate Bellegarde

June 3, 2013 by

NowhereMen_5.jpg5Nowhere Men takes on an interesting slogan early on in its run: “Science is the new rock and roll”. It’s a saying of one of the main characters and seems to be a tenet that this group of scientists take in stride. Less like a typical think-tank, and more in line with The Beatles, this group of men are rock stars – big egos all formally part of this global corporation known as World Corp. Set many years after their much publicised break up, Nowhere Men follows not only this original cast of science superstars, but the mysterious crew of a forgotten international satellite orbiting the earth, as they find themselves exhibiting strange powers.

Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde’s tale of corporate secrets and exciting sci-fi is both intriguing and original, and after a brief hiatus returns with issue five to follow the space-station’s crew adjusting to their new powers, as the former members of News Corp battle each other to track them down. It’s slower than the past couple of issues, as many of the characters find themselves still caught in the same area they found themselves in for the past two issues. While it does allow us to further familiarise with each character’s new powers, it is beginning to drag. Hopefully the reveal of a new rival character in the intermissions, as well as the development at the end of the issue can remedy that.

Speaking of intermissions, this is where Nowhere Men shines. Each takes on the form of posters, magazine articles, or artwork that are not only great to read, but both develop character and the world of Nowhere Men as well. Interviews and gossip pieces give back story, while also giving the story a sense of time and place. This is a world that worships science, and has given these men celebrity status, also crucifying them when they fail. It’s a neat parallel to our own celebrity infatuation.

It also helps that these posters are expertly designed too. Each feels like a product of the 60s and 70s, and with some definite nods to artists of that era, looks authentic

Bellegarde’s panel art is also great. His distinct character design manages to portray the wide range of the cast nicely, combined with a nice flat colouring thanks to Jordan Ballaire gives this series a distinct feel. If I could frame each cover in the series I would.

Actually, half of the art in Nowhere Men I’d frame, if it wasn’t great to read. Cool intermissions aside, Stephenson’s tale is really taking shape, and while it may be taking a while to get there, I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Filed Under: Image Tagged With: ,

Webcomic Wednesday – Cthulhu Calls

May 29, 2013 by

Hello and welcome to Webcomic Wednesday! Each week I take a look at a webcomic and let you know what I think about it. This week I’m having a look at a comic that takes you behind the curtain to see how the artist works in a digital space. It’s Cthulhu Calls, courtesy of Mark Waid and Yves “Balak” Bigerel.

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While Mark Waid’s name may be tied to this particular comic, he isn’t the star of this show. What began as a short script for a print comic, Waid asked artist Yves “Balak” Bigerel to begin a simple storyboard for a digital comic, which he then turned into its own peek into the artist’s mind. Balak provided not only the storyboards, but also annotations below each, explaining the process each step of the way.

I’m not sure about any of you but I find this both informative and incredibly interesting. Each step is meticulously thought about in such a way to enhance the visual aspect of the storytelling – it brings up points I didn’t necessarily consciously notice, but felt them anyway. Balak’s annotations are fantastic and it’s clear how important good art is to this medium.

That’s not to say the story is any less good – the brilliant tale of Cthulhu unable to take a one night stand is funny and original, and it’s full of personality. I’d actually like to see more stories like this from Waid, as it is just so much fun.

If you wanna see what goes on behind the scenes of making a comic you can check out Cthulhu Calls here. It’s funny, original and incredibly informative.

Have any webcomics you want me to check out? Let me know on my twitter @Pipes815, or send me a message via our contact form.

Filed Under: Webcomics Tagged With: ,

Review: Wolves of Summer #2 – Tony Keaton & Andrew Herbst

May 23, 2013 by

wolvesofsummer2Wolves of Summer is quickly becoming something I look forward to (that makes two of us – Ed). The two months between issues seems like a long time, but after the second issue, it’s going to feel a lot longer. “Knives” keeps the momentum going, as Johnny tries to turn a young group away from a life of violence, and in the past, the Wolves find themselves dealing with their own demons.

(Issue 1 Review)

Hans’ demons in particular are a stand-out. Waking up Johnny in the middle of the night, and telling him to kill the weakest child in the group is particularly chilling. Spending the rest of the issue on edge was effective, and really hits home a Lord of the Flies parallel, only for it to end in a way I didn’t expect. It only deepens the relationship between Johnny and Hans which is interesting, and I hope to see it pan out more.

Another child plagued by demons, this time in a more literal sense, is Hartschen. His failing sanity, as he is visited by monsters is also interesting. Even when the monsters aren’t around, it’s clear that something is up, as Hartschen attempts to wind-up other kids without provocation. Not only does it question what is going through his mind, but it is also a very childlike thing to do, as when the boredom sets in, anything will do for fun.

The future storyline is the weaker part of the issue this month, as it mostly focuses on action as Johnny tries to turn the children on the train away from attacking again. While it did subvert my original theory that Johnny was trying to die, the execution mainly consists of a well drawn action sequence. It is book-ended with two very powerful moments, but the parts in-between feel like filler, and also makes for a confusing question. If Johnny really wanted these kids to go home to their family, would he have really fought back the way did? I hope the way he handled the situation is explained further in future issues.

As mentioned before, Herbst again shows off his artistic chops. The strong visual storytelling returns, as does his fantastic panel design. The monsters in the forest are also effective, as his art style lends to their horror effectively. His unique style is a treat to read, and the action scene has a strong sense of motion and momentum. I can’t wait to see where he gets to go next.

In fact I can’t wait to see the rest of this series goes. While I may have already used that praise in my first review, it can’t be said enough. Tony Keaton and Andrew Herbst have struck gold with Wolves of Summer #2, and it has quickly become one of my most anticipated series. The next issue can’t come soon enough. You can buy it here.

Filed Under: Independents Tagged With:

Webcomic Wednesday: Loading Artist

May 22, 2013 by

Hello and welcome to Webcomic Wednesday! Each week I take a look at a webcomic and let you know what I think about it. During my brief break I came across many new webcomics, so this week I’m taking a look at another local NZ artist, Gregor Czaykowski (pronounced cha-cow-ski), and his creation Loading Artist

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I had a chance to listen to Gregor talk at a panel last weekend at Chromacon about building a webcomic. It takes a lot of spare time, and a lot of energy drinks apparently. His comic, Loading Artist is a labour of love – it’s what he does when he isn’t making money, and it’s more than a joke a week affair.

He mentioned at the panel that at times the comic reflected his day-to-day life, and it shows. Jokes about depression, loneliness, and life in general make this comic both sobering and a better read. While it still has the usual weekly webcomic fare – like a duck upset at being fed white bread instead of wholegrain, at times Gregor turns the camera on himself, which has a very powerful effect.

If you want to check out Loading Artist, and you should, it’s here. Not only will it make you laugh, it’ll make you think. Not a lot of traditional webcomics do that nowadays.

Have any webcomics you want me to check out? Let me know on my twitter @Pipes815, or send me a message via our contact form.

Filed Under: Webcomics

Moving On Up: Moth City Now On Thrillbent

May 15, 2013 by

Remember Moth City? That webcomic that had made good use of the digital space which I adored. Do you also remember Insufferable, Mark Waid’s own webcomic which I also enjoyed? Well now they both have something in common; you can now find Tim Gibson’s Moth City over at Thrillbent.

Thrillbent, from the minds of Mark Waid and John Rogers, is an online home for a wide range of webcomics, all maintaining a pretty high standard, which makes Moth City‘s home a no-brainer really.

Moth City is a great read, and this can only mean good things for this small, New Zealand based creator. It’ll be interesting to see where it goes next.

Tim Gibson also made up a small trailer for the release, which you can view below:

You can now check out Moth City here at its new home.

Filed Under: Webcomics Tagged With:

Event Spotlight – Chromacon 2013

May 6, 2013 by

Chromacon-Main-438-wide-x-242-high-pixelsNew Zealand. We’re known for producing some pretty impressive things. Lord of the Rings, Pavlova, Zorbing. But what if I told you that some of us were pretty keen artists too? Don’t believe me? You don’t have to. You can see it for yourself this Sunday, at New Zealand’s newest arts festival: Chromacon.

Chromacon is an annual event aimed at showing the world our best and brightest. Over 70 New Zealand based artists – illustrators and comic artists alike – will be in attendance this year. People like Tim Gibson, creator of Moth City , Faction Comics and more will be available for workshops, demos, and just being available to talk all day, giving you the chance to get close and personal with some of our most impressive artists we have to offer.

Chromacon 2013 is this Sunday, May 12th, all day, taking place in the Aotea Centre in Auckland. It’s free entry, so you really have no reason not to check it out. You can find out more information from their website www.chromacon.co.nz, or through their Facebook and Twitter.

I’ll also be in attendance, so if you want to put a face to the name, hit me up on my Twitter, @Pipes815. I’m not nearly as exciting as these people are, but I promise I’ll say hello.

Filed Under: Events

Review: FF#6 – Matt Fraction & Joe Quinones

April 30, 2013 by

If there was a prize for best fill-in artist it would have to go to Joe Quinones. Actually, that doesn’t do the art in this chapter of FF justice – if for whatever reason Mike Allred couldn’t return, and Joe Quinones were to take over, I’d only be a little bit sad. FF#6 manages to come together (excuse the pun) fantastically,despite the lack of Allred, remaining at the high standard associated with Matt Fraction’s titles these days.

ff6Quinones’ art really shines in this issue. While not the exact pop-art aesthetic of Allred’s work, the entire look of this issue feels like an FF issue (thanks in part to the equally brilliant colours courtesy of Laura Allred), which is the highest of praise. Quinones’ panels  draw on Allred’s unique design sensibilities, but he manages to make it his own, with some excellent layout designs. His characters are also expressive and suitably fun, with small details like the hoodies the Yancy Street Gang wear, making this issue feel like the cartoon it should.

Despite the cartoon-ish art style, Fraction manages to continue his skill in telling multiple stories. Bentley-23 and Medusa are still missing, Tong has a revelation, and Scott – amongst dealing with his grief over the loss of his daughter – helps Darla fight off the Yancy Street Gang. Each of these stories feels suitably fleshed out, with the Tong one in particular being a standout. Only Fraction could show a character’s development on a single page, and make it feel worthwhile.

Scott Lang’s slow descent into losing it is also a highlight of the story. He’s constantly lost when he has nothing to do, often dwelling on the death of his daughter, but when he takes control of things outside of caring for the Future Foundation’s children, he’s focused and smart. It’s a clever way of showing how badly the death has affected the way he reacts to any child he deals with, and it seems he has a ways to go.

A ways to go is what I hope with this title. In fact, I’d be happy if the Richard’s family never came back, because FF is one of the best titles in the Marvel Now!, and I never want it to end.

Filed Under: Marvel Tagged With: ,

Webcomic Wednesday – Hark! A Vagrant

April 24, 2013 by

Hello and welcome to Webcomic Wednesday! Each week I take a look at a webcomic and let you know what I think about it. This week I’m checking out one that you probably all have read, but I’m going to tell you about it anyway. It’s Hark! A Vagrant, courtesy of mastermind Kate Beaton.

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Hark! A Vagrant has been a favourite of mine for some time now. Beaton often takes famous literature or events, and makes it her own. It’s brilliant – in a space where webcomics too often rely on video games, movies or comic books, Hark! A Vagrant takes Jane Austen, Shakespeare and Jacques Cousteau for a spin. It’s wholly original and unique.

That’s not to say that she doesn’t delve into more traditional territory – in fact those are some of my favourite. The Aquaman one above or Sexy Batman  always make me smile.

Beaton seems to take on a more literal approach when she tackles characters. In the blurb of her Aquaman comic, she points out that this man who talks to fish and lives in dark caves shouldn’t be anything but crazy. It’s incredibly amusing because it just makes sense.

If you want to check out this comic you can do so here. There really isn’t much more I can say other than it is truly fantastic. We need more comics based on historical events.

Have any webcomics you want me to check out? Let me know on my twitter @Pipes815, or send me a message via our contact form.

Filed Under: Webcomics

Review: Noctua #1 – Andrew M. Henderson & Orlando Baez

April 23, 2013 by

noctua1At one point it seemed vampires were everywhere – they had the seat that zombies had once occupied and were intent on being a part of every form of media. Now that the “Twilight madness” as I liked to call it, has calmed down, zombies have returned to being the supernatural creature of choice. Noctua fills this void of vampires, by producing its own take on the monster, mixing in elements of racism, mob drama, and a little bit of Batman to create something unique – if not a bit rough around the edges.

Noctua is set in 2051. Vampires (known in this universe as trans-humans) and humans co-exist tentatively, with strong xenophobia extending from both sides. After an owl-like vigilante known as Noctua raids an illegal human blood trafficking ring, killing a mob boss’ son in the process. He finds a young girl and takes her in, and as news of Lucinius death reaches not only the leader of the mob, Alucard Constans, it also  reaches a couple of police detectives as well, who take it upon themselves to find out what went wrong.

If that synopsis seemed like it  had a bit much going on, it’s because the first issue kinda does as well. Henderson introduces many different plot-lines without letting the reader having time to grasp the previous one, as the story bounces from character to character without slowing down. I can’t help feeling that this dialogue heavy issue would have been better spread out over three, letting the reader take in bits and pieces, and giving more time to flesh out the character of Noctua, before throwing in the rest of the world.

Where Henderson does succeed is in his portrayal of vampires. Less monsters of the night, and more like the X-Men, Henderson manages to make this new race sympathetic. They are just real people, some are good and some are evil. At the end of the issue, I’m not entirely sure whether I should be rooting for Noctua, who initially comes across as a more violent Batman, only to seem more like a killer with a personal vendetta against a race, rather than someone who seeks justice. It’s a nice twist on the vampire fiction, and it seems to set up future moral conflicts for the characters of this world.

On the subject of Baez art, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. His character work is fantastic, with the vampires looking suitably feral and savage, and thanks to Eagle Gosselin’s dark colour palate it sets a depressing and violent tone. But Baez environments at times lack any detail at all, never quite giving the comic a sense of place. I could never tell where exactly the action was taking place, and often the background was just a swirl of colours, leaving me to guess where the characters were, or if they were even inhabiting a physical space at all.

Noctua comes out of the gate swinging, introducing many different plot points that can leave it feeling cluttered, but thanks to it’s interesting premise and themes, still manages to keep me interested. If this book manages to slow down and focus on only a few plot-lines, this could definitely be one to watch this year.

Filed Under: Independents Tagged With:
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