Black Panther: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda #1 Review

Black Panther: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda #1:

     Thousands of years ago, a small element of Wakandans took to the skies and found themselves at the farthest reaches of the cosmos. These pilgrims established a colony that was isolated from their planet and their people. Strangers in a strange land, they sought to adapt to the unforgiving deep space environment, and the endless threats they faced from within and without. The result: a powerful, far-reaching, galactic empire with many, many peoples under its feet. No longer does Wakanda seek only to defend itself; now, its method is security through ruthless conquest. But one man will rise to stand against them. One man who has forgotten his name, and his past - but he has not forgotten the taste of FREEDOM. For liberty to arise, The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda must fall!

    Ta-Nehsisi Coates astounds with this first installment of this thrill-inducing sci-fi epic, Black Panther: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda!! Coates starts off succinctly and effectively by giving the reader a quick bit of the Empire's backstory in the caption boxes, and then he slams us right into the action, introducing us to our protagonist as he bravely endeavors to throw off the shackles of slavery. Our nameless hero seems very familiar to us in this very unfamiliar, futuristic, draconian Wakandan empire. Coates adeptly lures us into empathizing with the hero, and for me, that's the hook. I was intrigued by the protagonist and found that I was eager to journey with him. As the story continued to unfold, I was left confused in a good way, full of questions. Could these possibly be the characters I know and love from Wakanda? Is our amnesiac hero T'Challa? Could this be an alternate timeline or a new story set in the future? Or maybe the Wakanda detachment that spawned this empire left Earth some time ago, and this is actually happening right now (given that time passes more quickly on Earth due to gravitational time dilation)? So many questions only made me hunger for answers and search for clues that, along with Coates' tight plot and characterizations, kept me glued to each panel on each wonderfully rendered page penciled by master comics artist, Daniel Acuña. 

   Coates is definitely breaking new ground here. He is effectively taking a fictional African country that was never conquered nor colonized and he is turning it into a bellicose empire that ruthlessly does both these things quite well and without remorse. It is a captivating idea. My sincerest hope is that Coates thoughtfully guides us through a deep exploration of how a peace-loving, sovereign state degenerates into a warlike entity hellbent on procuring its own safety and survival through merciless conquest. In essence, it is a huge role-reversal; indeed, this is (MCU) Eric Killmonger's plan come to absolute fruition on a scale that not even he could have imagined. I have GOT to see where this goes. Black Panther: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda just CLAWED its way right to the top of my monthly pull list. 

RATING: 10 out o 10!

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The Curse of Brimstone #1 Review

The Curse of Brimstone #1 from DC Comics -

    Life ain't fair. The Appalachian town of New York Hills is living proof of that. Once, it was a town of smiling neighbors, Sunday picnics, and hardworking, coal-mining families; but now, it's a poor, dying, forgotten place. The coal has gone. The factories are gone. The schools are closed, and hope is in short supply. To down-on-his-luck country boy, Joe Chamberlain, New York Hills is more than a forgotten, sunken place: it's a trap -  a trap that he'd do anything for his family to be able to escape. That type of desperation is a spark that can start a fire that burns the world down. Hell can smell that desperation from a universe away. And it has. And it's coming for Joe...Coming with an offer he can't refuse.

   Justin Jordan kills on this supernatural scorcher from DC Comics, The Curse of Brimstone! Jordan starts out by introducing us to a protagonist so realistic and human that it is nearly impossible for the reader not to empathize with him, to share his frustration, pain, and his desperation. We all know the situation of so many in Appalachia and the widespread lack and poverty due to an absence of economic opportunity. Justin Jordan gives that pain life and a voice on the page. Joe is a good ole boy, not an angel, but certainly no devil. Joe pines for the good ole days, longs for better days, and better ways to keep his family taken care of. That desperation is so powerful that something evil, ancient, and dark has caught its scent, and it is heading straight for New York Hills and Joe Chamberlain. Neither the town nor Joe will ever be the same. It's a great premise with a deeply human protagonist in a realistic world filled with a supporting cast that Justin Jordan really takes his time to flesh out well before getting into the supernatural elements of the tale that are teased in the fiery, gut-punch of a first page. However, it's the very subtle, well-articulated social commentary woven into the story that really makes it shine for me. It's in the low places - the places brought down by lack of economic opportunity, poverty, crime, and illegal narcotics trafficking and addiction - that the flames of desperation are fanned highest. It's these places - places where hope runs low, and frustration runs high - that are the most vulnerable to religious charlatans, lying politicians, radical rabble-rousers, and all manner of con-men, who promise them what they most desire. This book exposes that very human vulnerability without vilifying it, and without turning away from the consequences of its gratification. The Curse of Brimstone is effective in its delivery of its moral: there is always a price, and sometimes, you're not the only one who has to pay. I totally dig it. Philip Tan's art shows shades of John Totleben's pencils on The Saga of Swamp Thing - sketchy, but refined, and darkly atmospheric. Love it.

  And now...

   So, let's deal with it. Brimstone is very reminiscent of Marvel's Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) in some ways - from his origin (a dark deal for the right reasons) to his fiery powers and blazing appearance. I could be totally wrong, but it looks like DC is streaming out new heroes that are updates and possibly, improvements on Marvel characters. The Terrifics = The Fantastic Four; The Silencer = The Punisher; Sideways = Spider-Man; Damage  = The Hulk, etc.. Each seems a tiny bit derivative, but they are so well-written that I have enjoyed most of the New Age of Heroes debuts, and I am becoming more excited about where this is all going with each new first issue that I read. Pretty sneaky, DC...And pretty awesome.

RATING: 10 out of 10.

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The Silencer #1 Review

The Silencer, from DC Comics -

      Honor Guest seems to be an unassuming, pretty, blonde, suburbanite mom living the middle-class American dream. The cute, well-behaved kid, the doting real-estate agent husband who knows his way around a kitchen, the spacious, but practical home, two nice cars...Yes, Honor seems to have it all. It's the life she's always dreamed of - and she's in danger of losing it all. You see, Honor has a past. It's a past soaked in pain, in power, and in murder and blood. And it's come looking for Honor, and the ones that she holds most dear. No, Honor is not at all what she seems to be - she is much more; and, much more vicious and capable than her loved ones could ever dream. Honor just wants her life to be filled with the peace that she's enjoyed for the last half-decade, but no one can stop what's coming...Not even her mentor and friend, The Daughter of The Demon, Talia Al-Ghul. Hell is barreling down upon them both - and Honor is the only one standing between her family and total annihilation. Pretty, blonde, suburbanite mom, Honor Guest, must go back into the box, and The Silencer, one of the world's most deadly assassins, has to come out to play one more time. And The Silencer ALWAYS plays to win.


    Dan Abnett is back (without Andy Lanning, sadly), to pen this high-octane actioner...The Silencer! Abnett is on point, crafting a first issue that gives us just enough information to suck us into this mysterious protagonist's world.  I actually cared about her and I sympathized with her plight and motivations, while at the same time I clamored hungrily for more about her past, and wanted to see her engaged in more insane, brutal action. Honor Guest is very interesting and a whole lot of fun on the page - she's a deadly killer who is also a loving wife and mother. It's an uncomfortable juxtaposition of tenderness and a capacity for extreme brutality - a juxtaposition of what some might associate with the masculine (aggressive) and feminine (nurturing) natures. I find it quite fascinating, even though it is a trope that has been explored before in films like Geena Davis' and Samuel L. Jackson's "The Long Kiss Goodnight." I look forward to seeing how the killers from Honor's past affect her life, what she loses, and what she can salvage - as well, as exploring her past and her connection with Talia Al-Ghul even more. Even though I am not a fan of John Romita, Jr.'s art, he does a stellar job here, giving The Silencer #1 a layout that has a feel that I can only describe as cinematic in its style and execution. I could see The Silencer used as a standalone DC film, or maybe even as a part of The Suicide Squad. Who knows? Whatever the case, Dan Abnett and Romita, Jr. have created a new and fascinating character that I want to watch develop and evolve. The Silencer #1 is worth every penny of its cover price - we may be looking at a whole new take on Marvel's Punisher. Recommended.

RATING: 9 out of 10.

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Sideways #1 Review

Sideways #1 from DC Comics - 

    Derek James is a high-school sophomore with a secret. He and his mother were in Gotham at ground zero when a huge mountain emanating a strange energy fell from a rift in the sky and nearly split the city in two. In that moment, Derek fell through a tear in the Earth, falling, spiraling, hurtling into an unknown place where he was bathed in the mountain's energy until he finally fell back on Earth. Now, Derek can create small rifts in space-time and go anywhere he wants. With the help of his friend and fellow social outcast, Ernestine, Derek has gotten himself a cool new disguise and is ready to go from social outcast to superhero super-stardom on the internet. But Derek's precious plans come to a crashing halt when a hulking alien shows up to inform Derek that he is a threat to the universe's existence and for that, he has been...SENTENCED TO DEATH!!

    Dan DiDio and Justin Jordan pen this fun, classic superhero origin story, Sideways #1. DiDio and Jordan don't waste any time and get right to it - the very first time that we even see Derek, our protagonist, he's already in his superhero costume. From there, in the short 20 pages of this comic (plagued by way too many ads), we are introduced to our guy's backstory, his superhero origin story, his family, his (small) social circle, the challenges of his everyday life, and what just may turn out to be his arch-nemesis, or not. Who knows? The point is that DiDio and Jordan made a herculean and very effective effort to make this character really interesting, and very likable, rather quickly. Derek is an adopted kid with doting parents who is just trying to figure life out and get through another day. His superpowers have hit him unexpectedly and given him the opportunity to actually feel like he matters. Of course, he's trying to be a social media juggernaut, and course, he'd choose to use a mask - he loves his parents and he'd never want any harm to come to them, nor to his bestie, Ernestine. The world may see a bit of a slacker and a bit of carelessness in Derek, but I see a kid who just wants to matter and take care of those he loves. He just hasn't figured it all out yet. I dig that. I remember being that kid. Kenneth Rocafort lays down some pretty sketchy, kinetic work that is well complemented by Daniel Brown's vivid colors. Rocafort's design for Sideways is a bit Spider-Man-y, which is not off-putting, but rather intriguing. Will this kid be the DCU's answer to Spider-Man? Could be. I wouldn't mind that. All in all, Sideways #1 was a fun, fast, read that captured and held my attention and sparked my imagination. I was annoyed when I got to the last page; I wanted more. And that's how I know that this book has serious potential. Looks like Sideways will be opening a new rift...One that leads right to my pull-list.

RATING: 9 out 10.

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Full Black Panther Interview With Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ryan Coogler

Read what happens when Marvel does something magical.

    MC gathers two juggernaut creatives together in the same room for a fun, and very enlightening interview: luminary and author, Ta-Nehisi Coates, who is currently penning Marvel's hit comics series, Black Panther (vol 6), and Captain America, and the brilliant Ryan Coogler, screenwriter, producer and director responsible for the hit film, "Creed," and of course, Marvel's own blockbuster film, "Black Panther"!!

   Here is the interview, scanned in its entirety, from Black Panther (vol 6), #170. You're welcome. Enlarge and ENJOY!!

    

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Damage #1 Review

Damage #1 from DC Comics -

   A soldier, Ethan, has been subjected to a dangerous experiment to turn him into the ultimate weapon for the U.S. Army; however, since the weapon is a man, it is, of course, a bit unpredictable. Ethan joined the Army to become a soldier, to serve his country - but Damage, the hulking, inhuman, nearly indestructible wrecking machine that he becomes has an agenda of his own: he wants to be free, whether Ethan agrees or not. Damage has overpowered Ethan's control, broken free, and has hurtled himself into Atlanta, Georgia, a densely populated American city, and begun wreaking untold havoc on anything that stands in his way. The only thing that's restraining him is Ethan's embattled psyche - but once the shadowy military unit that thinks it owns Damage comes trying to put Damage down, Ethan's moral code may not be enough to stop the bodies from hitting the floor...And things will only get worse when Amanda Waller shows up with her psycho-filled Suicide Squad!

   Robert Venditti pens this Hulk-like tale of DC Universe destruction! And it is a doozy! The action cranks up to "11" pretty quickly as Damage busts out of Ethan, and military control, and hurtles himself full speed into Atlanta, Ga. Even the award-winning Atlanta trauma hospital, Grady, gets a mention in the book! I dig those real-world elements. Even though the soldier-turned-monster-by-military-experiment schtick is a stale one, I enjoyed the idea of each one of these entities trapped inside the body of the other, actively trying to impose their will one upon the other, until metamorphosis occurs, giving either one or the other more control temporarily. The constant power struggle will exhaust them both in some way, and it will definitely serve to bring lots of drama into the pages of Damage. That is a good thing. Drama is necessary when dealing with beings this powerful in comics, and it takes great writers to be able to create drama and execute it on the page with the help of great artists. And this book does have a great artist, Tony S. Daniel, who does it real big here with powerful spreads, epic explosions, insane fight scenes, and busy panels. Daniels took his WOW! pills before letting his pencils loose on this book. Besides all this, Damage seems to have a crazy, jealous nemesis in one Major Liggett who has a real mad-on for Ethan because he feels he should have been Damage. And there's the mysterious Colonel Jonas who, unlike Waller, seems a bit torn between human decency, the dirt she has to do to protect her country and her loyalty to her soldiers (including Ethan). However, with all its great parts - the art, the man vs. monster dilemma, drama, and an interesting supporting cast, the story does have some issues. We know next to nothing about Ethan, Damage, or any of the supporting cast. There is no back-story, no reason for Damage's rage, nothing about the shadowy military unit Ethan's attached to, nothing on Damage's origin, nor Ethan's - just escape and all-out action. As much as Damage interests me, this first story does at times feel like a bunch of sound and fury signifying a whole lotta nothing. I find no real emotional connection to any of the characters. Hopefully, that changes. Hopefully, Damage becomes an integral part of DC's New Age of Heroes, and more than just a Hulk clone in a team that ends up resembling Marvel's Avengers - because THAT would be WAY beyond unfortunate...And just a bit pathetic.

RATING: 7 out of 10, with an added .5 for potential awesomeness.

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