True Believers: Conan: Serpent War #0 - The Valley of the Worm (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you some uuum.... worm realness as a might warrior attempts to take it down. Let us dive in!

The story is somewhat of a beautiful metaphor for a person named James Allison, who is dying, where he is transported into a dream to the land of Niord where he is engulfed in a battle between tribes. It's sad as there is a real sadness in that when an attempt to slay the worm fails, his life in the real world diminishes too which is a beautiful mirror to look at it. 

The art itself is sending my wig with the fine detailing of the abs and pecs... I mean the ferocity and savagery of the lit-er-ral slayage. I like that the women do get their hands dirty too. The art styling of what resembles Big Foot (I always knew BF existed!) calls upon the big worm who is in fact really terrifying and got my boots quaking. The detailing of the creature is astonishing!

It's kind of ironic that a whole tribe is slain in the most gruesome way bar one who is spared which equates to world peace after an agreement has been carried out between the two tribes. More to the fact that the that Gorm (the person spared) is, in fact, a woman after James astonishingly calls them an "old woman". She wasn't even sporting a bra. I never knew the #freethenipple campaign started this early and living for it!

But anyway, euphemism count:

• Tom-toms throbbed
• Gorm's great hole in the earth
• From the shaft, there rose something -- inhuman
• Hands that held the wierdling pipe

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Asgard gets a mention! (Albeit probably not the one I'm thinking of but still!). James and I are on a first-name basis

True Believers: Conan: Serpent War #0 - The Valley of the Worm (originally printed as Supernatural Thrillers #3)

Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway - scripters

Gil Kane - artist

Ernie Chua - inker

Adapted from a story by Robert E. Howard

Marvel - publisher

True Believers: X-Men - Kitty Pryde & Emma Frost #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you some White Queen realness as the X-Men encounter the Hellfire Club in person for the very first time. Let's dive in!

I read this during my teen years so I'm very well acquainted with this issue and it also marks the first appearance of Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost! The story is a strong one as there are many different facets that come together from the projected visions Jean Grey experiences to a mysterious group that observes them that is the Hellfire Club. I love that it all ties in centrally (which will eventually lead into the Dark Phoenix saga) as I feel like what it leads to a very big sha-bang!

The themes of doing what's right against the morals as seen in Colossus is quite strong in the issue and it's a theme that crops up multiple times in the X-Men series. I love how nobility, integrity and honesty in the lines being blurred with the characters especially in characters of Colossus (ironically it's also why the relationship ended between him and Kitty due to her being underage). The theme carries over with Professor X returns as he leads with the baby basics while Cyclops argues that they've grown from their experiences on the field.

The Hellfire Club clothing line always so fierce with their period style quality to them which exude premier class to them. This is shown when Emma Frost steps on to the scene to ultimately finish the job of capturing the X-Men that her lackies failed in doing. It feels like a wonderful metaphor of sending the pawns in first but the queen being the powerful piece comes in to finish the job (like Chess which is so prevalent in the X-Men world. The society is cut-throat when she orders the execution of said lackies which really shows off her character as being one not to be messed with. 

The issue introduces the sweetheart Kitty who is just about understanding the world around her with her sparky and inquisitive nature but throws up some caution to the wind. Being so young, she does pick things up so quickly in that she steps up to go gung-ho in saving the X-Men from their chapter. It beautifully sets up a character you know is going to be full of spunk.

The issue cements the greatest love story of all time (well, except ummm... Romeo and Juliet and umm... Catherine and Heathcliff) with the development of Scott and Jean's love story. 

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Don't mess with Colossus as he's about to be taken.

True Believers: X-Men - Kitty Pryde & Emma Frost #1 (originally printed as Uncanny X-Men volume 1 #129)

Chris C;aremont and John Byrne - writers

Terry Austin - inker

Tom Orzechowski - letterer

Bob Sharen - colourist

Roger Stern - editor 

Jim Shooter - editor-in-chief

True Believers: X-Men - Betsy Braddock #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you SLAY realness as nefarious villain throw some shady illusions at Betsy to take on her brother Captain Britain. Let's dive in! 

I actually own the first two volumes of Captain Britain so this is somewhat of familiar grounds to me. The story itself starts straight off the bat into action along London's Regent Street as the Cap takes down some no-dogooders with assistance lady cop friend. I love how offbeat it seems to have this futuristic car scaling up the buildings of Regent Street but I'm living for it. 

Love that the settings are so closer to home as it moves to the South Bank where we find Brian's date interrupted by his sister and then ummm... things escalate real quick. I love how things just jump from one calm walk down the South Bank and bam! A plane crash!

The art style is beautifully drawn with the backdrops minimal at best but brings the subject more in focus such as the entrance of Dr Synne or even the walk on the snowy grounds of the South Bank. The monster illusions brought up by Dr Synne is beautifully drawn giving a frightening depth to them especially when Brian envisions what resemble hells and it's dwellers. 

Can't miss this out as Brian has a Jen Walters/She-Hulk moment:

The contrast between when Brian is hit with the illusions and slowly succumbing to it is shown in his body language and the coloured background design which is a beautiful detail to have added in.

The character of Dr Synne is really fun to watch as he randomly pops up and wrecks havoc on the Braddocks. Love his seemingly illusionary powers as he shoots these trance laser from his eyes as well as taunts Brian at every show interval. 

Love how Brian seems to have adopted the powers of a millisecond thought as Betsy hurtles towards him with an axe (she really her brothers a good run for their money with it): 

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Brian and I are on a first-name basis.

True Believers: X-Men - Betsy Braddock #1 (originally printed as Captain Britain volume 1 #8 - 10)
Chris Claremont - writer
Herb Trimpe and Fred Kida - artists
Irving Watanabe - letterer
George Roussos - colourist
Larry Lieber - editor

True Believers: Annihilation - Quasar #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you some Hulk goodness as he's being homed at this friend's apartment while their friends feel unease and calls upon their friends. Let's dive in!

You kind of feel bad for Hulk after being 200 issues and trouble always seems to follow him. The guy can't catch a break! The story itself is ridden with subplots which ties everything together from the life of Bruce Banner/Hulk. It does play off like a soap drama with Betty Ross's marital woes coming into the fold. It's also the issue when Marvel Man changes his name to Quasar which feels like an outlier to the main story until it's strung together by Samson and General Thunderbolt.

The issue itself introduces the character of Trish to me which I believe that I've not come across with the years I've been reading Marvel. Oh boy, though when she was going through her story of having a supervillain father, losing an arm in an arranged car explosion and dabbling in the mystic arts, trouble is her middle name. Like girl get a new hobby! Love her character though despite her flaws as she offers softness and warmth which compliments the changing mood of the Hulk. 

When the Machine Man comes into play, I almost forgot how he almost looks like one of Scooby's villains and in fact, there is an unmasking to reveal that it's just a framing to get to come out to play. 

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Who doesn't want to see Hulk go after the Machine Man!

True Believers: Annihilation - Quasar #1 (originally printed as Incredible Hulk volume 1 #234)

Roger Stern - writer

Sal Buscema & Jack Abel - artists

John Constanza - letterer

Elaine Heinl - colourist

A.L. Milgrom - editor

Jim Shooter - editor-in-chief

Dollar Comics: Detective Comics #554 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you some na-na-na-na-na-na-na Batman (and oh, Robin as well) and hear Black Canary cry. Let us dive in!

The story follows that there is some dodgy stuff going on at the pier where something is bring smuggled in or rather. Detective Sergeant Bullock steps on the scene and calls on the help of Batman and Robin. The story is intricately woven with you think you know where it is going vibe but it's not going there. The ending of this actually throws me off and creates more questions! 

The art compliments the story with his grainy grittiness quality to it. There was a very powerful moment with Batman and his assailant where it was just pure action underwater - no words - and it formed a really powerful moment in the issue.

Spoiler alert: it seems that a passport was created for someone to get them off Gotham to Naples but they already have prior deportation sentence to said country on the ship that Batman and Robin took down with Bullock. I'm guessing it was all a ruse to extend the stay in Gotham.

Bullock basically asks the question everyone's been thinking in that Robin is slightly on the young side. This is further emphasised earlier when Bruce when he was about to say that Robin is past his bedtime until he got interrupted. Jason is a young boy who wants to play video games but fights really dangerous crimes. This does play on the dynamics of Batman and Robin when they provide different perspectives on situations in the issue.

The second story is of Black Canary and Green Arrow. Black Canary's character is beautifully built and you could say that she fly the nest - wink wink. It's literally that as she lives through her mother's torment (psychic link) and trauma brought about by Pyra and she has to learn to grow from it. It so happens that Black Canary is a seamstress of fireproof material and goes hunting for Pyra. She also so happens to pick the same building that situates her own adversary Bonfire, the city's fire chief and of course, Green Arrow. She can add strong intuition on to her list of powers. 

She too has a very strong striking moment in that she lets out her Canary Cry, which is such a beautiful metaphor of her mother's scream has become a strength of power to grow from it. 

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Bruce and I are on a first-name basis.

Dollar Comics: Detective Comics #554 (originally printed as Detective Comics #554)

Batman: Port Passed

Doug Moench - writer

Klaus Janson - artist

Todd Klein - letterer

Len Wein - editor

The Black Canary and Green Arrow: Crazy from the Heat II: The Past is Prologue

Joey Cavalieri - story

Jerome Moore - pencils

Bruce Patterson - inks

Bob Lappan - letters

Shelley Eiber - colours

Len Wein editor

True Believers: X-Men - Jubilee #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! The X-women need a much-needed break from superheroing to week and untuck but it doesn't go accordingly to plan as they take on the M Squad. Hun, let's dive in!

Right off the bat, we're introduced to the illustrious Jubilee and girl, she wanna have fun and fun she is! The introduction is quite - ummm - explosive with her doing leaps and bounds with some sparkles thrown here and there to the haters when she was giving slaying in the mall. I feel like the X-Men really does need a fun character to add to the dynamic to shake things up (it's a shame where the character has been taken now). And that's where we shift to the X-Men where the X-women need that much-needed fun themselves and takes themselves to the very same mall. This is actually reminiscent of an episode I watched in the X-Men animated series where they just take a break (which doesn't always go accordingly to plan, of course. Can they ever really take a break?).

The other standout characters for me are Dazzler who single-handedly brings "girls, they wanna have fun" vibes and bringing Storm out of her shell with none other than a stripper! Get it, girl! Rogue's character is further explored which is fun to watch as the persona that she absorbed from Ms Marvel comes out to play which I've never seen before. I've seen Rogue pretty much lose it with the number of different powers she's absorbed but I've never seen her lose control to giving a different character her due. Storm makes an interesting comment which I find rings true is that for every action there is always a consequence. This is such a nice moral to have to the story.

The M Squad - OMG! Who called the discount Ghostbusters? It reminds me when Storm actually had a lit-ter-ral lightsaber battle with Calisto in the X-Men animated series. The Squad even comes with a mutant containment grid which uses what resembles photon beams. They're quite fun and of course there to give the issue more of that comedic respite. I wonder if they ever make another appearance in the Marvel continuum. 

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Girls, they wanna have fu-un!

True Believers: X-Men - Jubilee #1 (originally printed as Uncanny X-Men volume 1 #244)

Chris Claremond - writer

Marc Silvestri - penciler

Dan Green - inker

Glynis Oliver - colourist

Tom Orzechowski - letterer

Bob Harras - editor

Tom DeFalco - Mall manager

True Believers: Annihilation - Nova #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing you Nova origin realness as Richard Rider takes the mantle. Let's dive in!

I'm a fan of the Annihilation titles so Nova frequented those comics a lot but I never actually read his origins - I simply just know he exists. I love how he is like a teenage underdog which I find keeps the story relatable and grounded. I love that he will stand up to the bully and others stand up for him too which I feel like we need more in this world - to stand up to bullies. This in itself is aided in chapters (don't think I've seen this for quite some time!) in which it provides milestones for the rite of passage of Richard's journey.

I love how the doctor doesn't question Richard Rider's spasm magically levitates off the bed. I do love a maxi challenge but this is too a whole different level - wig! Not only that, but Richard also seems to have taken to his newfound powers lit-er-really to the next level by quickly grasping them within a few pages.

A character worth mentioning is Richard's beau Ginger (well, she hopes anyway) who is always there for him but forgets all that with a drop of her hat (girl, can't blame ya) after she believes that he stood her up (instead he is actually superhero-ing). You know it just shows her being human and that she isn't too polished herself which the same could be said for Richard as there is a very brief moment when his mind goes to evil and quickly turns back to good. 

I absolutely love how he questions stuff like having powers is the stuff of sci-fi when he also mentions that he lives in the same world as Spider-Man and Iron Man!

The villain of the story is Zorr who the original Nova lost his family to and he - spoiler alert - takes him down in the end so I'm guessing he just needed time to not only transfer their power to someone but to build a weapon in the meantime or it just doesn't make sense!

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Potential for a worldly adventure with cosmic proportions - count me in! Richard and I are on a first-name basis. 

True Believers: Annihilation - Nova #1 (originally printed as Nova volume 1 #1)

Marv Wolfman - concept/story/editing

John Buscema & Joe Sinnott - artists

Joe Rosen - letterer

Michele Wolfman - colourist

True Believers: Absolute Carnage - Separation Anxiety #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! This time I'm bringing some Venom realness in that he is being imprisoned and a breakout is underway from some beings he may be familiar with. Let's dive in!

To start off, the comic feels like an internal monologue for Eddie Brock's thoughts which I love as it's a departure from the loud brashness of comics that come off the slugfest of Spider-Man comics. The thoughts are captured in short text boxes providing I would say a clear passage for the real horrors of his ways. It's cathartic in that it shows his repentance and remorse which is a very welcome change from myself (he's always really shown a level of nobleness). I love the way that the internalised thoughts foreshadow his strengths in that he's been bound up despite being separated from his Symbiote (with good reason as we later find out).

The story propels forward movingly between the apparent strong connection between Eddie and his Symbiote which for the first time that I've seen be called the "other". This connection provides Eddie with strengths to break the shackles which were nice to see that the bond wasn't just established physically but I'm guessing psionically too? This adds layers of depth to both the characters of Eddie and the Symbiote that felt natural seeing that they fused together biologically. The story is aided by Spider-Man's appearance in which Eddie accepts his past actions and wishes to redeem and rectify it, which I found was an awwww moment. There's not an Eddie Brock story without him getting naked - hubba hubba!

There's always got to be that secondary character in the form of Mr Ellis who has to get the scoop for the papers. I've already dealt with Hobbs in a Thor storyline but another one! HIs plot point is to just become a hostage.

The art style is amazing with the movements of the Symbiotes form as they take down the facility holding Eddie captive. Love the shard panels which forms the unhinged nature of Eddie's conflict but changes, when it is called for, which was an excellent touch!

Subscibe? Ummm ya!

Eddie and I are on first-name basis now x

True Believers: Absolute Carnage - Separation Anxiety #1 (originally printed as Venom: Separation Anxiety #1)

Howard Mackie - writer

Ron Randall - penciler

Sam DeLaRosa - inker

Ken Lopez - letterer

Tom Smith - colourist

Danny Fingeroth  - editor 

True Believers: Absolute Carnage - Mania #1 (re:view)

Welcome to a whole new adventure with... a comic for your dollar! Robertson, a person with so much to prove, investigates a strange going-on when someone calls out for help in a bunker in the middle of some antarctic. Let's dive in!

The issue is giving me The Thing-vibes as it's set in Antarctica with all-round horror elements. Not much is given away but of course, if you link the two with being a Venom comic, you can kind of guess that Symbiotes are involved. It's just a different type of alien infection you can say!

Some of the art doesn't feel right in a horror piece but it does pull it off in a strong manner especially when she finds a room where it's been totally ransacked. The expressions are very emotive and even the dog has strong emotions. I also love the extra element of the dogs barking as they sense a disturbance being more attuned to their surroundings. Saying that actually gives me the chills and there's one particular panel that just gives me the creeps. Furthermore, the question posed is of who (or what!) was truly calling out for her help at the base.

The characterisation of Robertson does feel refreshing, more so in a Marvel environment where I am so accustomed to characters, I immediately recognise. Robertson feels more grounded as she keeps it real with her emotions and finding in herself to do what's right. She characters actually been given multiple dimensions by the first half of the issue.

It ends with a true cliffhanger as the person she brings back starts convulsing. They've been infected by an alien - called it!

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There's a lot of suspense, underlying horror and humour in this issue mixed in with a likeable character in Robertson. I want to read more!

True Believers: Absolute Carnage - Mania #1 (originally printed as Venom volume 1 #1)
Daniel Way - writer
Francisco Herrera - penciler
Carlos Cuevas - inker
Studio F - colourist
Dave Sharpe - letterer
John Miesegaes - editor 
Axel Alonso - supervising editor
Marvel - publisher