True Believers: Empyre - Mantis No 1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you origin goodness in the form of the Vision and Mantis. Let's dive in.

And so the story begins with giving us some hex realness with her amazing po-wah! It's ended with her trainer Harkness giving us chic psyches which actually befittingly and beautifully transitions into the next story in which takes place outside Earth. This employs a unique style of storytelling of origins which I really love. I'm wondering if there is actually room for characters being able to revisit their origins in a meta way which will also offer fresh insights but that's a whole other conversation.

It's pretty interesting to see Vision's origins as the original Human Torch as he was an android that was also part of the Invaders. From that, I'm not really clued up and this does offer a fresh undertaking of the origin which flows well in an Avengers comic. Same could be said for Mantis but it's only the groundworks of her origins that was placed into view but not her full. In fact, it was also in part a Skrull vs. Kree origin story which was actually something else that I was consciously aware of but did not know of how it came about.

The artwork is amazing with great visuals especially coming off the strong origin stories of the Vision and Mantis. The staffs that they hold to travel back into their times offers a gorgeous and unique way of providing hot strong semblances of art against the backdrop of space visuals.

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The comic forms a unique form of storytelling coupled with great intergalactic visuals that offers a strong foundation for the origin stories of the Vision and Mantis. It ends on strong suspense on how the Skrull vs. Kree origin story links into Mantis's origin.

True Believers: Empyre - Mantis No 1 (originally published as Avengers Vol 1 # 133)
Steve Englehart - author
Sal Buscema & Joe Staton - artists
Tom Orzechowski - calligraphy
Phil Rachelson - Colouring
Len Wein - editor

True Believers: Conan the Barbarian #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing Conan the Barbarian. The only Conan the Barbarian I know of is Arnold Schwarzenegger so it'll be great to delve into another reiteration of Conan.

The comic delves into the formed relationship Conan have with the leader of a tribe when he sees him pounced by an innumerate amount of enemies (three to be exact). The rest is history!

Let's talk characters! For starters, Conan is quite the character who keeps it real and I find strong admiration in his honesty, valiancy and courage which is beautifully sprawled throughout the comic. The character traits help propels the story and plot along for a poignant ending, which is solidified by his relationship of the character Olav who he helps aid in combat.

The leader Volf of the opposition doesn't seem to share these traits so it's good to see the contrast which accentuates the contrast between them. It's a shame though as this was further explored as they seem to become secondary characters going towards the end.

The art style seems great and the combat seems ruthless and should I say - ahem - barbaric with Conan's swipes and animalistic movements. Character and scenic designs are amazing with strong expressions throughout. One thing I noticed though is the backgrounds are a solid colour of different variations from green to blue to yellow. I tried to link it to what was happening in their respective panels but the mood seems quite different to even link them together.

The second half of the comic takes a turn with flying demons, twists and turns. An introduction of the Shaman and Tara seems to have thrown the comic into a whole new world with literally a history lesson as well as envisioning Conan's future too. This might actually explain the solid coloured backgrounds as a foreshadowing of the trippy adventure Conant and co take in the second half.

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There's a lot of character building to simply fall in love with Conan that yeah, I'm pretty much invested to see where he ends up going next.

True Believers: Conan the Barbarian No 1 (originally published as Conan the Barbarian #1)
Stan Lee - editor
Roy Thomas - writer
Barry Smith - artist
Dan Adkins - embellisher
Sam Rosen - letterer

True Believers: The Criminally Insane - Bullseye #1 (re:view)

Welcome to another world of adventure with a comic for your dollar! The story follows Daredevil as he tackles down a mysterious villain named... Bullseye!

I last read the classic tales of Daredevil in the Mighty World of Marvel in the mid-2000s and actually read each text from panel to panel with such glee. This comic was just that reminder of why I loved reading Daredevil.

The art of Daredevil's movements with that alone offers pure joy to watch him swoosh with his kick and flicks. This becomes more pronounced when he uses his environment to his aid. One scene in particular pretty much defines it for me where he uses a car to his advantage in kicking out the goon out of it. This is in contrast to Bullseye who employs more of a dramatic flair which might explain it as it comes to the final full-page panel.

It's interestingly enough my first time seeing him have a hood which actually does get caught up in the crowd. Cue the Edna Mode's no - uh - hoods!

There's so much going on in this comic with the main story, side story, back story and all kinds of story getting up in that grind. The main story I find becomes deterred slightly by the side story which almost becomes a side thought rather than an afterthought as it was such a brief moment that with one blink you'd miss it. The back story though is beautifully illustrated of how Bullseye comes about which serve to elevate the story even with so much going on in one issue.

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There's a lot to take away from this issue and it's left on a deafening (excuse the pun) cliffhanger!

Published: True Believers: The Criminally Insane - Bullseye #1 (originally published as Daredevil #131)
Marv Wolfman - writer/editor
Bob Brown & Klaus Janson - artists
Michele Wolfman - colorist
Joe Rosen - letterer

Genders: Shaping and Breaking the Binary exhibition at Science Gallery (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... genders! I actually went to this exhibition some time ago but what better time (and a lot of it) to get it up in this house. Let's dive in!

The exhibition is a journey I would say into the insights of different artists as they explore gender through their mediums. It's funny as it would seem to be a transcendence from what it would stand for in society or breaking down the notions and barriers. 

The exhibition programme is done in black and white which I'm guessing purposely plays on the irony that gender is not so much of that anymore. It's not about male or female, masculinity or feminity and physical biology but rather that it goes beyond. This is shown in each artist chosen mediums to convey this that each identifies their gender such as Cibelle Cavalli Bastos's IN≠BODY: EXXO/REAL(I)T.Y #aevtardeprogram. 

The exhibition serves as great education and insight into different aspects of genders such as Sadé Mica's Gotta do this first and Grace in the garms which used textile clothing to bind and the chest/breast which many trans men and non-binary people used to deal with body dysphoria. 

Proving more a versatile exhibition, it not only invites attendees to view art in an open way but it also seeks to involve from the virtual reality gaming experience of Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley's WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT to the social context of the spoken and smell experience of Sarah Jury, Behrooz Shahriari and Rachel Sutela, Elvia Wilk and Sissel Tolaas's nnother.

Gotta do this first and Grace in the garms by Sadé Mica

Ties That Bind by Gaby Sahhar

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley

'... on being allergic to onions', we read Susan Leigh Star by Nina Wakeford

Milik Bersama Rekombinan (Recombinant Commons) by Mary Maggic

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