True Believers: Annihilation - Omega the Unknown #1 (re:view)

Another dollar for your comic! Ummm... I literally know nothing about or I could say that the character is "unknown" to me (ay? ay?? I'll see myself out). Anyway, the comic follows Omega the Unknown against a band of steel armoured/skinned (not sure which!) aliens as well as a connection he may have to a young person named James-Michael Starling.

It opens with some good ol' beat-em-up with Omega as he knocks and shoots beams from his Omega-symbolled hands which are different... So far so good. Of course, it's not all going to last and he's shut from the behind but the next bit gets interesting (and beautifully done I should say with the colours, expressions and effects). It transitions from him screaming into the young person I was mentioning earlier.

Okay, in terms of Marvel fighting weirdly shaped cycloptic steel assassins, I'd say that's the norm... but the next bit gets a bit trippy (hear me out). It transitions to James-Michael who also seemingly feels the connected pain of being shut from the behind. The parents are quickly killed off and revealed to be robots that self-destruct (umm... okay). It kind of becomes a psychological thriller (without the thriller) wherein by James-Michael confused by the statement is let into psychedelic vertigo where reality and fantasy seem to blur (beautifully done yet again with the effects for show).

More confusion ensues as a fight suddenly erupts in James-Michael's room between one of the alien-beings and Omega with James-Michael seemingly developing the same powers as Omega. So many questions! There's so much mystery that's been tantalised from the start that it left me with so many questions that wanted answers like how is Omega connected to James-Michael, who is James-Michael and why are his parent's robots???

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I mean there are so many questions that needed answering and the issue has done enough to fully invest in getting those answers. The issue is beautifully illustrated with colours with offerings of shadowing and psychedelia. Another thing to note is the use of description of the actions which was an interesting take as so often I usually assume the movements but of course, the actions don't usually move on pages but it's spelt out for you which I found adds another level storytelling to the issue. I also love the slight insinuation that this might all be happening in James-Michael's mind which makes it more for an even more exciting read.

True Believers: Annihilation - Omega the Unknown #1 (originally published as Omega the Unknown #1)
Steve Gerber & Mary Skrenes - writer
Jim Mooney - illustrator
John Constanza - letterer
Petra Goldberg - colourist
Mary Wolfman - editor

Winter Lights at Canary Wharf 2020 part 3 (Star Log)

The last part for this year's Winter Lights festival at Canary Wharf. The other parts: Part 1 and Part 2.

20. The Bra Tree

21. Affinity by Amigo & Amigo and S1T2

22. Pools of Light

23. Squiggle by Angus Muir Design

24. 16 Bits by Park Heyl

25. Chromatic Play by Tine Bech Studio

26. Sasha Trees by Adam Decolight

Winter Lights at Canary Wharf 2020 part 2 (Star Log)

Part 2 coming right at ya! Part of this year's Winter Lights festival at Canary wharf. You'll find part 1 to the blog here: Part 1.

10. Stratum by Studio Chevalvert

11. Mountain of Light by Angus Muir Design 

12. Ditto by Ithaco Studio

13. Luma Paint Light Graffiti by Lichtfaktor and Bomber Graffiti

14. Aquatics by Phillip Artus

15. Desire by Uxu Studio

16. Constellations by Studio Joanie Lemercier

17. Seed of Life by Amberlights

18. Lightbench by LBO Lichtbank

19. Neon Tree by Hawthorn

The New Teen Titans #2 (RE:VIEW)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a dollar for your comic! I don't think I ever had much dealing with the Teen Titans but I do seem to remember playing this one on one teen titan beat-em-up game one the Cartoon Network website over 10 years ago. Apart from that - nada! Let's dive in.

The comic book follows a new kid on the block sporting new tricks as gifted a mysterious group to remove the Teen Titans out of the picture, which I'm sure are for their nefarious scheme!

The characters are SO much fun to read as they throw sass, galavant around and have really unique personalities that bounce of each other. The main supervillain of the story is Grant Wilson who throws a strop and boasts he has friends in high places that will help him get places (teen angst, hey?).

The standout character for me would probably be Starfire who speaks in a different language to start with and it's so much fun seeing an outsider question the customs of human beings living in Western civilisation. She's a bit of a wildcard with her unhinged perspectives and at being her own boss of the situation. I mean all their personalities seem to also come at a cost of being their weaknesses which is a very interesting conversation to be had...

Art and panelling complement each other as it flows one page to the other. It doesn't hinder or full short of the slight subplots that pop up or the herding of all the different personalities and abilities, which helps propels the story (see what Starfire does to Grant - the poor boy!). I mean the ending is quite dark for what it seems for young people who are in their teens or maybe I'm just overly sensitive!

The cliffhanger and twist ending is a keeper! It just hits you in the feels and then the shock falls in! Spoiler alert - you have to read it unless of course, you already read it... so uhhh... read the next one?

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Wanna see what new crop of adventures they go on as the last one was super fun!

Dollar Comics: New Teen Titans 2
Marv Wolfman & George Pérez - writer
Romeo Tanhal - finisher
Ben Oda - Letterer
Adrienne Roy - colorist
Len Wein - editor

True Believers: The Criminally Insane - Purple Man No 1 (RE:VIEW)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a dollar for your comic! This time it's bringing some purple goodness as Daredevil takes on the persuasion of Purple Man with fresh challenges along the way. Let's dive in!

Daredevil seems more subdued in his kick and flicks opting more for brains than brawns, which comes for a surprise as it creates more levelled depths to his thinking (there's even a panel where he's investigating the legality of Purple Man's actions). This does create for a very entertaining read as he even says out his actions when he's kicking the musclemen around. And what do y'know, Daredevil ends up as Purple Man's lawyer when he refuses representation - colour me surprised!

It's pretty interesting though as the comic book sees Daredevil like I've never seen him before in that he seems to have this sixth sense where he could sense something foul in the air - something wicked this way comes! I find the character so captivating but his short snippet of an origin not so much. It would have been interesting to have explored the character a bit more as they bring more out of Daredevil story-wise and visually. Purple Man has strong charisma which does play off the character of Daredevil as well as his abilities fascinatingly with the science, the thinking and the reaction.

Art-wise I found it took it in a different direction to the type of early Daredevil comics I've seen before. It was less flair and more focused art. My favourite part was when Daredevil's trawling through the city with the skyline becoming blood red and playing with his shadow against some buildings. It was art in motion.

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Just for the pure charisma of Purple Man, ya-hah Hunny!

True Believers: The Criminally Insane - Purple Man No 1 (originally published as Daredevil (1964) #4)
Stan Lee - story
Art - Joe Orlando
Inking - Vince Colletta
Lettering - S. Rosen

Winter Lights at Canary Wharf 2020 part 1 (Star Log)

Okay, this year's Winter Lights wasn't too cold on the day that I went so the experience was even more pleasant than it was on previous years (I didn't particularly wrap up warm on the day). The first nine in the trail are in this post. Let us dive in!

1. Mi-e dor de tine by Daisler Association

2. Bit.Fall by Julius Popp

3. The Clew by Ottotto

4. Liquid Sound by Entertainment Effects

5. Absorbed by Light by Gali May Lucas

6. Sky on Earth by Uaii Studio

7. Time & Tide by Paul & Pute

8. Shish-Ka-Buoy by Angus Muir Design

9. Lactolight by Lactolight

Superman #75 (RE:VIEW)

Don't think I've read a single Superman comic since the New 52, which I started reading the Action Comics series and the Superman series. #75 follows on from the defeat of the Justice League and cities left in ruins, but only Supes still stands in the way of Doomsday. Let's dive in!

This isn't just a comic book, it's a blockbuster with each page capturing each action to the full extent. It jumps right into the action with my wigs being sent into full orbit. There's that raw emotion which is captured with full-on dramatic flairs surrounding the focus on the characters and the pause in thoughts that beautifully captures the raw emotion of pain, humanity and exhaustion.

There's the subtle metaphor of the cape as it appears throughout the whole comic as it's torn to shreds, stamped upon and ends floating in the wind as a torn flag. The attention to detail is not lost despite with details deep on the destruction, slug-outs and additional drama of having Jimmy and Lois in the mix, yet the cape illustrates the dire seriousness of the situation.

The power of emotion really does shine through really strongly (seeing that it is full-page spreads) which help elevate the issue to new heights. One of the most memorable moments I find is when there is a full-page shot of Lois and Jimmy with a camera lens capturing the moment Superman and Doomsday toppling away from each other. It was a powerful moment captured of the sheer power of the circumstances.

The ending killed it with Lois crying into the winds with Superman lying dead in the heap (nuff said).

Dollar Comics: Superman #75 (originally printed as Superman #75)

Dan Jurgens - words & pictures

Brett Breeding - finished art

Glenn Whitmore - colours 

John Contanza - letters

Ghost Rider: King of Hell #1 (RE:VIEW)

I haven't really read a solo Ghost Rider comic since the early 2000's since the reprints in the Mighty World of Marvel. I'm ready to sink my teeth into this one and see what's on offer! the story follows Johnny Blaze and the Spirit of Vengeance as they are sent hurtling into hell faced with trials and tribulations. 

It's been some time since I last ventured into the world of Ghost Rider so it came as a surprise to find that this would probably be the best comic book to come back to for that reintroduction of the character. It comes when both of them are separated when sent to hell but the personalities are really well represented like 2 sides of a coin. It's like getting to know the characters all over again.

This is a tie-in comic I believe into the Damnation storyline which is part of Doctor Strange's main story. Something that I am very familiar with since following all his adventures in many of a back issue started reading some time ago. But with this, I'd say it is very easy to pick up from the get-go without the need to read the main storyline which would help if you just want to keep it to just Ghost Rider.

Well, the Ghost Rider plans to storm the ranks of Mephisto's castle and plant himself on his throne. The "seven circles" are the challenges faced to get there which becomes more of a fleeting rendezvous but fun to read through nonetheless. I guess it just shows his confidence in quickly dispatching the challenges in hell which I'm sure that they are a frequent visitor and actually, it does make a lot of sense when Johnny says that he fears nothing since I'm sure he's fought with everything imaginable. Of course, the comic book ends with the Ghost Rider on the throne - the end!

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I would love to see what he does with hell. What makeover he'll have, you know... more mosaic tiling, gilded plinths and water streams aplenty. Get with it!

Ghost Rider: King of Hell No 1 Halloween Comic Fest 2019 (originally printed as Damnation: Johnny Blaze - Ghost Rider #1)
Christopher Sebela - scribe
Phil Noto - illuminator 
VC's Travis Lanham - calligrapher

Lady Mechanika HCF 2019 Vol. 1 Issue 1 RE:VIEW

It's my first dabble into Lady Mechanika and also probably steampunk in general (the issue isn't really steampunky but it'll do). If I'm following the issue correctly, Mechanika is coming to terms with losing a loved one and the issue seems to be her finding herself. 

What a mighty feast the comic came to be! It starts off with a quick back story that it illustrated gorgeously which I assume is a setup for the Lady's next adversary (love a quick backstory). Then pow! The entrance of Lady Mechanika who happens to speak fluent Spanish (most of the comic is spoken in Spanish - translated, of course). I have to say that the art literally pops in all ways and I'm living for the rather subdued steampunk look she's rocking. The styling remains strong throughout the whole comic book with expressions, panelling and speech and text box styles on fleek and very easy to grasp immediately. 

The comic is a nice departure from the type of huge comic book events that I am so well acquainted with. It feels contained but very relatable in terms of the theme of acceptance and dealing with the loss of a loved one. It seems to forms its own anecdotes with the fresh perspectives of death and the afterlife from a personal or cultural belief like how the comic book deals with death as not being the end. Another thing that got me is the theme of acceptance with Mechanika looking different but she is immediately accepted into the fold without any prejudice which I don't think I've come across many comics of recent do so much of.

The action comes at the end though and leaves closes it off in the highest fashion. I'm not complaining though as it's a fresh way to read comics instead of having to see two titans duke it out with each other. Moreover, the story carries strong on the character of Mechanika enough for me to invest myself in wanting to read more into her adventures. This seems evident seeing that I believe that the comic is set 5 volumes in but already I'm gathering a picture of her whole character.

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I'm definitely picking up the first volume of the comic book!

LADY MECHANIKA HCF 2019 Vol. 1 Issue 1
Joe Benitez and M. M. Chen - Story
Michael Heisler - Letters
Joe Benitez and Martin Montiel - Pencils 
Studio J=13 - Digital Inks
Peter Steigerwald and Beth Sotelo - Colors

Edit:

Just realised I had the previous year's edition of the Halloween Comic Fest version