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!

Subscribe? Yeah!

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.

Subscribe? Yaaaaasssssss

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

Iyanu: Child of Wonder - Chapter One (RE:VIEW)

This is the first comic of YouNeek Studios that I've delved into and it's a good one at that. I would describe it as a young teen still finding her way in life and especially finding out her full capabilities in wondrous and surprising ways. Let's dive right in!

There are extremely tender moments in the comics, especially that I find when it starts off when she's off for a hunt for food which with lack of words explains her character to a lot of degrees. It also allows time and breath to take on the sheer beauty of the art (it's a stunner, doll). The art plays on the subjects with strong shifts on use of blurs and focus, which helps creates a gorgeous piece that is extremely easy to follow. There's a stunning single page when the character goes Avatar Ang which is a splendour to marvel at. 

The writing is really easy to follow even with the shifts in panels. It's beautifully juxtaposed with the story and even with the tidbits of saying which helps to serve the chapter really well. The main thing I found hard to follow is whenever they speak in their language and is of course translated into a box, the box is very small and hard to read at times, which in contrast to the main speech bubble texts.

The writing puts the main character Iyanu on a relatable on many levels with being able to independently work your way around the world, learning and discovering new things and being able to pick yourself up after falling. Seems to become almost like an anecdote for my life. I would definitely enjoy this in my teens as I am now.

Subscribe: YAAAASSSSS

It's a yes from me, the artwork I find is different from the stuff I read at the moment and I'm loving the read. I want to see where I head next with Iyanu!

Iyanu: Child of Wonder - Chapter One (YouNeek Studios) Halloween ComicFest edition
Roye Okupe - Creator, writer and art director
Godwin Akpan - Illustration
Spoof Comics - Letters

Spider-man #1 by J.J. Abrams & Henry Abrams RE:VIEW

Oh golly gosh, there's no describing how this can hit you in the feels. If you haven't picked up a copy, I highly recommend that you do so. I'm thinking from reading it that it'll be another Spider-Man origin story but it's a really twisted alternative take to it.

From the beginning of the issue, the emotion just hits high straight off the bat with a fall of a hero and the death of a beloved character. There's an interesting placement of a stuffed rabbit which forms of a foreshadowing of what's to come. I found this to be a subtle but great motif to the tragic ending of the character (which is absolutely shocking how they die and what is done to them after).

The dramatisation of the beloved characters rides high straight off the bat of the beginning. I guess what hits home for me is seeing a hero so powerless but in iterations, I've seen in the past it seems so out of place, but this fits in nicely. There's a shocking event that happens at the beginning that is really messed up and subtly hinted by the placement of a ragged rabbit doll foreshadowing what is to come. It comes to a character that I find to love from my childhood and it just seems so surreal to see it happen abruptly. 

The writing and styling work beautifully together such as from the beginning, there is less speech which makes for a higher impact of the build-up to the scene or when Peter and Ben Parker are having a heart-to-heart with overlapping speech bubbles to show the rapid-line fire of exchanges.

Subscribe? Yaaaassss!

I love a good Spider-Man origin so will see how the characters shape up in the series! 

Star Wars: Boba Fett No 1 Halloween Comic Fest 2019 (RE:VIEW)

Boba Fett on the hunt for next hit list and I'm so here for it. Someone better lay out a hearse as I am ready to lay in it!

It starts off with a strong introduction to the character I would say, even with an outsider peering in they would say Boba Fett is the bomb. Moral of the story: don't mess with Boba Fett (amen). 

The plot and story, I would the force is strong with this one - ahem - it was absolutely wonderful to read as I propelled from page to page quickly and succinctly going through the speeches, art and panelling, which really aided the whole comic as a whole. Well, here's the formula I came up for the comic so sit tight: easy-to-follow and the really high-paced fun action equals a recipe to a thoroughly entertaining read.

Another thing to point out is the sound effects: a 10 out of 10! You got your BLAAAMMM, you got you BRZZAAM and you got your YAAAASSSS (the last bit I made up). It was slightly interesting choices to make for such sounds but I'm here living for them. Then hit me with a double spread page of that high-class sound effects why don't you!

Let's get to the final shot where I have found my new phrase for life "I hunt bounties." (Can literally apply to anything in life)

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