The Drifting Classroom (Halloween ComicFest) (RE:VIEW)

I love watching horror films but I can't really say that I've read many horror comic books or graphic novels. But here I am! It's fun to scared so let's dive in.

The first story up is from a chapter of The Drifting Classroom. This confused the hell out of me especially it's a short excerpt from a presumably longer story but the sense of urgency is personified in the dramatic flair and styling of the artwork. Excellent use of striking artworks, exclamations motions and shadowing of the space creates a cauldron of the quick and rapid flow of pace. It really does add to wanting to know what the hell is going on. 

The writing and plot come together to form a jigsaw as it comes together to form a strong sense of mystery, concern and horror of what is happening. A small remark there, signs here and there, as well as actions that happen abruptly adds to if everything is even related to the actual situation.

Altogether, I would definitely be getting the full manga which is called The Drifting Classroom: Perfect Edition. Watch this space for a RE:VIEW!

Next one up is Deathrow Doorbell from Smashed by Junji Ito. This one fits in with a lot of horror films that I love like The Ring and The Grudge (the structure reminded of the films for some reason but don't ask me why) where it jumps right into the deep end, then there's a back story and then back into the deep end again. It makes the main being (not sure if that's what I call them but what the hey) mysterious at their true intentions at not showing any empathy or remorse of what they do to the main characters, but seemingly coming to them with goodwill which is questionable.

The artwork is similar to The Drifting Classroom in that it uses shadowing, different styles of speech but what makes it more interesting in how it uses the use of words and the styling of it to create the atmosphere towards the end which really does send chills down my spine. 

Another one to pick up, watch this space!

Credits:

The Drifting Classroom Halloween Comic Fest 2019 edition

Kazuo Umezz - writer

Translation: Sheldon Drzka

English Adaptation: Molly Tanzer

Lettering: Evan Waldinger

Design: Adam Grano

Editor: Joel Enos

Smashed Halloween Comic Fest 2019 edition

Junji Ito - story & art

Dceased #1 RE:VIEW

So DC decided to go there by going full zombie! The lowdown is that Cyborg is captured, tortured and turned into a cyber virus that unleashes into the world turning people into mindless zombies.

The narrative follows Batman through the whole first issue which is very befitting with the themes of the issue (monsters and all). A conversation could be started about the monsters in all of us. The placements of the speech boxes and stylings are used beautifully in conjunction with the characters and surroundings in quickly being able to identify characters, situations and locations.

The story flows really quickly as I imagine anyone is as excited to see a fully-fledged zombie apocalypse writhe before their eyes. It starts off with the why this came about, then the how it came about and finally the fruit of the labour. This is masterfully written in I guess in a very short amount of pages. 

The transitioning of art styles seems seamless and strings together the three arcs of the stories together. Double snaps to comic book art versatility and had to do a double-take when the art styling changed (not that it's not been done but I found it unexpected and don't ask me why). The three artists worked on the comics and it all works with the storyline and setting, especially I found with the Apokoplis scene.

Of course, they had to do the dirty to the man of the hour on the very last page. The final act of the issue is quite the main course with Batman witnessing the catastrophe unfold before his eyes. It was actually a treat to see his tech wizardry at work to fry the electronics in his mansion (read the comic yourself to find out why as it's fresh with the last issue just recently come out).

Subscribe: Yes

It started off beautifully so I'm definitely going to pick up the rest of the issue!

Credits:
Comic Book: Dceased #1 Halloween ComicFest edition publ. October 2019 (org. date July 2019)
Tom Taylor - writer
Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano & James Harren - artists
Rain Beredo - Colorist
Saida Temofonte - Letterer
Greg Capullo & FCO Plascenia - cover artists

Harley Quinn #1 (volume 2) (RE:VIEW)

Picked up a Dollar Comic edition of Harley Quinn's first issue (volume 2). Excellent initiative to hop into comics for a dollar which I never really would venture into (budgetary reasons). The issue sees Harley inherit an apartment building, while she has a hit on her for a very juicy bounty amount of dosh. 

The cover keeps it fun so I expect the comic to be fun and boy does it run at 100 miles per hour. There is high entertainment value from the beginning in which she takes down a dog owner in abusing his dog in which she inherits. Not only this, she immediately contends with someone who wants to get a bounty on her head (another one later which I would assume becomes a story arc for her later down the line).

The characterisation Harley seems fun especially the part where she goes to find a job or auditions which shows of her quirkiness, fun and tendencies to fray into psychotic epicness. The humour keeps coming and found myself pleasantly surprised that I'm laughing out loud at the jokes (a lot of humour don't really land with me in comics). I much prefer when she has someone to bounce off from though like the talking mole she has with her so that they share that kind of banter (which was also captured in the recent Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy team-up mini-series).

The art is slightly less colourful than the cover itself but good nonetheless. It's subject detailed in that there are fewer details in the background which I don't mind as it does work entirely with the story, panels and speech bubbles.

Subscribe: YES

I see great potential to lead to different over-the-topness fun and I'm sure it would be a great reveal who wants her dead, as well as being able to raise cash for upkeeping her apartment building and managing it. It does seem a slightly different Harley to what I'm seeing but I very much like it.

Credits:
Harley Quinn #1 (volume 2) Dollar Comics edition 
Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti - writers
Chad Hardin - Artist
Alex Sinclair - Colorist
John J. Hill - Letterer
Ammanda Conner & Paul Mounts - Cover
Release: September 2019 (original: 2013)

Invisible Woman #1 (2019)

The issue explodes into an extraction mission which made me double-take majorly. Was this an Invisible Woman comic I was reading? I was expecting it to be contained in the world of the Fantastic Four. 

During the first segment in snowy Russia, she tries (and fails) to smuggle through her extraction. The artwork is gorgeous but I found her powers a bit indistinguishable between the lighting of the snow (makes sense I guess if her abilities are being able to bend light). At one point, I thought a shining flashlight was in fact just her powers. 


I love that it just jumps right into the deep-end but it did take some time for me to realise Susan was in disguise which was presented in a glorious one-page reveal (I still didn't even believe it was her when one of her partners called her "Stormy"). It’s almost mentioned that she just adjusting to her forcefield abilities which are so surprising as it was during the time when she was coming out of her damsel in distress days of just being invisible. This just threw everything out the window about Invisible Woman and I’m here to live for it!

The next transition features the responsibilities of her roles in her day-to-day life which plays to a tender tone which is a beautiful reminder of the character she is: caring, loving, adventurous and the beauty she sees in so much (even in the simple things like a cup of coffee).

The final acts seemed slightly more shocking in that it is revealed that there is a different side to Susan all along which is the same Susan from the 60’s comics! She brought into questioning by the CIA regarding her mission partner who has been captured. And of course, she has red in her ledger so she goes against their words and decides to take action to save him. A few butts kicked on location and an obligatory appearance from Black Widow to boost ratings.

I mean there’s so much potential and it shows Susan is such a different light. It’s quite the shocking revelation reveals that this takes place in the early days of the Fantastic Four run, which is a VERY different Invisible Woman to how I remember her from those days. Definitely picking up issue number 2 to see where she heads next!


Subscibe? Y

Credits:
Mark Waid: writer
Mattia De Iulis: Artist
VC's Joe Caramagna: Letterer
Adam Hughes: Cover
Publisher: Marvel
Date: September 2019

TheVH5 Insta September 2019

View this post on Instagram

The British Library (2014) - Yinka Shonibare CBE #yinkashonibare #tate #britishlibrary

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Oct 18, 2019 at 12:45pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

"I'm a firestarter"- Oedipussi Rex Cabaret Sauvignon: You Can't Sip With Us #dragcabaret

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Oct 16, 2019 at 3:22pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Fons Americanus - Kara Walker #turbinehall #karawalker #tate

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Oct 11, 2019 at 11:09am PDT

Double Take by It's Nice That and Coals Drop Yard

The artwork comes to life I find in its simplicity in the shape in forming larger structures that play with its environment in a very fun and quirky way. The colours and shape contrast with the architecture around it in its contrasting material and design. I feel like their presence provides a sense of invitation to interact with them as seen from parents taking pictures of the children on the structures.

There are specific viewpoints in which you can see a better view of how these artworks tantalise with its surroundings but of course, I didn't realise until a bit too late when I had to leave.

It's as if they're looking at you:

TheVH5 Insta

View this post on Instagram

Balance of Power - Allora and Calzadilla #performanceart #geopolitics #tate

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Sep 19, 2019 at 11:40am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Big Bra (2016) and Corset (2017) - Tools of Endearment sculptures - Kalliopi Lemos Getting my battle armour on for I am a warrior princess #kalliopilemos #steel #sculpture #femalewarrior

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Sep 14, 2019 at 11:29am PDT

View this post on Instagram

In Real Life (2019) - Olafur Eliasson Olafur Eliasson In Real Life exhibition at the Tate is something I can't get enough! Second viewing and it definitely does not get old. Highly recommend! #olafureliasson #tate #art #installationart

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Sep 6, 2019 at 2:17pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Babel 2001 - Cildo Meireles Exploring information overload and failure of communication as sound are played across a tower of radio #radio #art #tate #installation #cildomeireles

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Sep 4, 2019 at 11:52am PDT

The Dark Crystal exhibition (Star Log)

View this post on Instagram

The Skesis Throne at the Into Thra, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Exhibition #darkcrystal

A post shared by The Vinh Hoang (@thevh5) on Aug 27, 2019 at 11:03am PDT

To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from the Into Thra: The Dark Crystal Age of Resistence exhibition especially as I haven’t even seen the film (own it on Blu-ray though but haven’t gotten around to watching it). My colleague told me that it was dark. That was about it. This came from the mind of Jim Henson so it’s like bad Muppets, I guess?


I actually went past the Gaming Lounge first and I don’t even know why but I expected a retro-style arcade type game, but upon closer inspection, it was a tactics game on Nintendo Switches. 


Moving on to the gallery, I noticed that every single person was an adult but then I put it down to that the film/series itself seemed a bit grotesque at parts from the clips that showing. Giving it more thought though, it could just be that they grew up on the film seeing that the film is about 30 years old (if I remember correctly). 


The design featured photographs, props, models and drawings from the series. From just this section, I could see that it was a super-rich universe and a lot of craft goes into it.

With the time closing in on me, I moved past the voice-over booth which featured literally a voice-over for a clip. There was quite a queue for it!

Next was the Castle of the Crystal area which featured the banquet from the film as well as the Crystal itself (get me – I’m saying it like I know the film!). There was an anagram to solve from symbols featured in a handout I was given. Deciphering it gave the following letters:


N R H T A T U


(see if you can figure it out as it took me ages to figure out)


Next was a remodel of the Endless Forest (not really endless in this case) and the Stone-In-The-Wood (equivalent to Sword in the Stone?). 


The final section was the gift shop where I had to have successfully deciphered the word to the anagram. Clues were that it was a word that it wasn’t related to the film, it was 5 letters and it started with “T”. I definitely needed more help than that, maybe just giving the word to me. After hmm-ing and ah-ing, I came up with “Truth”. Bingo! I gained a gorgeously illustrated print (don’t know the artist though – should have asked in hindsight!). 

EDIT: Wasn't too sure if I was going to share the post as my phone got stolen so there's nothing to really to show! In the end, I decided for it as I'm not going to let any no-good doers ruin my day xx

Frieze Sculpture part 2

Here's part 1 and let's dive into part 2!

13. A Stranger Holding Two Wings (2018) - Tai-Jung Um

14. ONE Through ZERO (1980 - 2002) - Robert Indiana

15. Cord (2019) - Jodie Carey

(Actually missed this one... Sorry!)

16. Untitled (2011) - Ma Deshang

17. When I Sleep (2018) - Tracey Emin

18. Laura's Asia's Dream (2018) - Jaume Plensa

19. Alexander (2015) - Bettina Pousttchi 

20. Composition (2008) - Barry Flanagan

21. Bridges (We are melting) (2019) - Ivan Argote

22. Tudor Ball (2019) - Lars Fisk

23. Solar Disc III (2018) - Emily Young