New Comic Book Day : 8/25/10

Vagina Days of Summer
Another slow day: Black Widow #5 , Wonder Woman #602

1 Black Widow #5 (marvel) by Marjorie Lui , art : Daniel Acuna

    The conclusion to the 5 issue arc " The Black Rose" came to a conclusion. It was a good arc overall , but I felt this final issue was missing something. It felt rushed and heavily editted down to fit the 24 page deadline. Definitely should've been a 40 pager at the least , give Marjorie Liu a proper send off on this series. Daniel Acuna's art was so immaculate and stunning in this arc , soft colours , striking imagery , it all meshed with Lui's writing so well.

   SPOILERS:

     I didnt like how she escaped from the chair. They built it up to a point where I was thinking "how the fuck is she going to get out of this one?".. turns out , lights go out and she disapears from the chair... MAGIC! of whatever. Part of the great cliff hanger along with being locked into the chair was the Bucky America arrest of Black Widow.. then in this one , it was blown over with little explanation in either it was a rouse or a misunderstanding.. I had to re-read it to see if I missed something. Again hence why I felt it was rushed , not enough detail and commentary. 

 SPOILERS OVER

   Marjorie Lui is leaving Black Widow now , Im not sure who's taking over but Ill be sticking around. Even though she's a Secret Avenger and associated heavily with the Marvel universe I really like the non super powered -super hero- espionage kind of stories. Black Widow is as deep and mysterious as Wolverine , this is one of Marvel's underrated new on going series and I hope the new guy doesnt drop the ball on this.

Next issue is a new arc so perfect for a jumping on point for noobs. 

2. Wonder Woman #602(dc) by J.M.Straczynski art: D. Kramer , E. Pansisca

   I completely understand that old school Wonder Woman fans arent too thrilled about the current arc. I get it , I feel the same way about stuff Im old school about.. but since Im not an old school WW comic fan , this is a spectacular story so far.

  They're taking Diana back to her roots and reinventing her before our eyes and kickstarting the next phase of her life. Im still bleh about the costume , I may not have read her comics but I know enough of her to appreciate the classic outfit. Its the red boots , Id be less gay about this if she had the red boots. They've leveled her down a bit , she cant fly , she doesnt have the Superman like strength but she's still pretty bad ass.

     Anyhoo.. so her home has been trashed and the Amazons are on the run , WW has come back as the savior. She needs to rediscover her roots and discover herself.. she's like a person whom drifted so far away from her family and needs to re-establish her background   In the mean time she kicks some serious ass , and reminds us that her new look hasnt softened her core up at all. She's still the baddest amazon on the face of the planet.

  Ill be adding to my pull.



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New Comic Book Day : 8/18/10

Next couple weeks will be slow , today is the slowest day I will ever see unless I quit. Today's pull: Chew #13 ,

1. Chew #13 (image) by John Layman , art: Robert Guilory

First off , this cover is fucking sweet daddy awesome! too bad its not Chu on it. Otherwise I would frame this faster than a spazzed out nimrod.

This was a fantastic issue , a couple laugh out loud moments , the plot thickens , the story is moving perfectly... what else can I say that everybody else is now realizing ? Chew is the goddamn shizznats. 


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Because of the slow week , here's IGN's latest article Top Indie comics

I totally agree with 1 and 2. Walking Dead and Chew... lovvvinnngg it *in gay broadway voice*
 , Im also enjoying Scarlet. I plan on collectin Locke and Key in trade.

1.  The Walking Dead(image)
2.  Chew (image)
3.  Hellboy(dark horse)
4.  Killer (archaia)
5.  Casanova(icon)
6.  Invincible (image)
7.  Locke & Key (idw)
8.  Scarlet (icon)
9.  GI Joe: Cobra(idw)
10. The Goon (dark horse)

Cant say enough about Chew and Walking Dead its all I talk about in comics. Im not the only guy going ape shit over this. CHECK IT OUT!!!

Weekend Trade: The Surrogates

 The Surrogates (top shelf) by Robert Venditti , art & colour: Brett Weldele 

First and foremost .. the movie is the shits. Read the graphic novel first then watch the movie for shits and giggles to appreciate the GN even more. Sorry Bruce Willis but it stunk.

The Surrogates book was sensational. Absolutely brilliant sci-fi/crime/thriller , the writing , the story , the characters , the art , the colour , the overall feel and look. Amazing.

The vigilante for the anti-surrogate movement , Steeplejack

genre: Sci-fi , crime-thriller , mystery ,

The plot: The year is 2054 , people can now live their everyday life through an artificial embodiment called surrogates , where you adopt an android replicant body and control it from the confines of your home. There is a mysterious figure whom is destroying people's surrogates , trying to evoke a revolt against this lifestyle and bring back the hands on humanity that has been lost. The main protoganist is a detective Lt Harvey Greer whom investigates this serial crime spree against "surries" as they call them. This leads onto a wild goose chase and the mystery slowly unravels itself..

 The prophet of the anti-surrogate movement. Its David Koresh gone reggae.

me:     Again ..I fuckin loved it. I remember when this came out and it was being buzzed about , I was tempted to go buy this comic back then , took 4 years for me to finally get to reading this.

     The under layering theme of accepting mortality and accepting nature's aging process. The surrogate is a metaphor for the loss art of social interaction to the internet but also for superficial self image we tend to lose priorities.  Harvey's wife had a small but powerful role in the theme. I just embraced the sci fi aspect of this book , it was just enthralling , the concepts and the ideologies .. so thought provoking.

     The pacing was perfect.. just perfect. The crime solving and detective work which leads up to action sequences done so eloquently just kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Im pretty sure I shat myself just a little during a couple parts. 

Buy/Borrow/Bury:
Buy. This would be a excellent addition to any library.

I bought mine for $7 on sale so the value is there , but if you cant find one on sale and dont feel like paying cover price , borrow this and get your hands on this , this must be read if you're into sci-fi.

Bury this if you have zero interest in sci-fior graphic novels but I strongly encourage to keep an open mind and never shut the door on any genre or medium.

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Why I hate the movie? SPOILERS

- The casting. From Willis to his wife to Canter ... this movie was horribly casted. Greer is an older , fatter dude.. there's a bunch of actors I easily picture in the lead role better like Dennis Franz for example. His wife is suppose to be older and fat too , she was young and skinny.. just a little unhealthy. Too much budget wasted on bigger names , this was an indy comic that should've went with an indy cast. 

- The wife should've died , it was more impactful in the book when the wife killed herself , the statement was made. I really hated that they opted for play it safe ending caz we dont want to upset the morons. 

- The elimination of Steeplejack , the main antogonist was changed completely for a twist ending.Steeplejack was a great piece of science fiction and mystery.. I understand the desire for the Shalayman shocker points of a movie but c'mon.. that was the back bone of the graphic novel.

-  The direction , the movie had no identity , the pacing was way off and it completely dropped the ball on some of the under tones of the book. It felt rushed and lost at times. Weak screen play can do that I guess.

- The Dreads were heavily underplayed in this movie , the set choices were horrible.. broaddaylight in the park does nothing for the tone of the book. It should've been shot at night at the least.

- the decision to alter the role of Canter for the big twist ending. It sounds exciting in idea but you should've just stayed true to the book. It would've played out better.

- In the end , the graphic novel was better. This underwhelms me therefore Im disappointed and dont like it. 

New Comic Book Day: 8/11/10

solid pull today: The Calling: The Cthulhu Chronicles #2 , Hack Slash #3 , Morning Glories #1 , Zatanna #4 , Birds of Prey #4 , Dungeons and Dragons #0 ....

I also picked up Surrogates tpb for $7! , $23 reg. price 16 bucks off!!, a surprise sale item.. sweet deal for a book I've been wanting to check out. Ignore Bruce Willis' movie abomination. Still have a few graphic novels I have to catch up on before i get to this guy.

1. Morning Glories #1(image)by Nick Spencer , art: Joe Eisma , Rodin Esquejo

premise: Mysterious prep school "Morning Glory Academy" recruits 6 new kids. The comic focuses on these 6 kids , their relationships with each other and their interaction with this academy. Many weird , creepy occurances begin to arouse suspicion of the academy , and the kids begin to unravel these mysteries.

me: PICK OF THE WEEK. I. Loved. It. The character intros were one of the better ones I've seen , every character got a quick intro done in the style that suites their personality. this totally reminded me of Marvel's Runaways , a bunch of oddball teens thrown together but thats where the similarities end. These kids arent super heros ...not revealed yet at least but they're just "regular" kids and its the Academy thats the abnormal entity in this comic. There's so many questions that are asked , so many mysteries that need to be unveiled , thankfully this is an ongoing series , which means they'll take their time developing characters and plot.. this has potential oozing out its ear , I anxiously wait for #2...

am I getting #2?: Yes.

Does this make the $10 pull?: Yes.

price/value: 3.99 .. 44 pages debut issue. Solid value.

2. Dungeons and Dragons #0 (IDW) by John Rogers , art: Andrea Devito

premise: Its a comic book about a Dungeons and Dragons adventure. It also includes #0 for another D&D title called "Dark Sun.". Its your typical group of adventurers including a knight class leader , a dwarf warrior , a elf archer , a spunky rouge thief , and an altered species chick as the mage..together they delve into quests and adventures. Simple.

me: Im an old school dungeons and dragons nerd , and Im also a comic book geek.. this was so awesome. I admit its nothing I would recommend to the general public but for me this is such pure unadulterated nerdy fun. Its a  little cliched for part of the party caz you have the grumpy warrior dwarf  and the elf archer , the human knight whom is trying to be a great hero. I really liked that they made the mage this new race ... looks like a friendly demon , she's got horns and a tail. It is what it is and its good , it offers me a nice change up for a weekly pull.

Will I be gettting no.1?: yes.

Does this make my $10 pull?: it was a buck.. it probably would.

price/value: $1 = you get two #0 issues in this. Harken back to review of Scourge #0 for 2.50 which was  horrible value. Again I emphasize this is targetted for me but D&D not only did it right in context of a #0 but value wise.. thank you IDW.

3. Hack Slash: My First Maniac #3/4(image) by Tim Seeley

   This was a solid issue and integral part to the series. All Im saying was .. I was genuinely surprised and shocked with their little "twist" towards the end. Im not sure how I feel about the art decision to draw Cassie cartoonish when she's emotionally vulnerable or happy , she looks like an Archie character. Cassie is back to her gritty , goth like self when she's down to ass beatings and hunting killers. The overall pacing was good , kept your interest peeked throughout right up til the "twist" ... the cliffhanger is solid caz there's no fucking way Im missing  the finale #4 next month. No F'n way.
 

4. Cthulhu Chronicles #2(boom)by J. Stokes , M.A.Nelson , art: C. Possenti

   This ended up being a middle filler of a story arc. It doesnt pay off well as an individual issue but when the arc is complete and the trade paperback comes out , it will hopefully fit in gently. They're moving at a slower pace, Im not sure if this is a 4 part or 5 parter but the intensity has to pick up. It doesnt say on the cover , but Im hoping it goes on a little longer.

5. Birds of Prey #4 (dc) by Gail Simone , art: Ed Benes

Runner Up PICK OF THE WEEK
    Faptastic finish to the 4 part series ...OR IS IT? its suppose to conclude but it just leads on to the next arc which is directly related. The Barbara Gordon story was concluded as was the Penguin's but the main arc with White Canary.. its to be continued! The battle of the Canaries was epic , the banter was tantalizing , the pacing between all three story lines was done to perfection. *muah* this has snowballed into of the best titles going right now.. LOVE IT.




6. Zatanna #4(dc) by Paul Dini , art: Chad Hardin

Disappointment of the Week

     I was a little underwhelmed overall , especially with the art , not a fan of Hardin as of right now. It looked rushed or just lazy , there were no pages with amazing art , this really felt like a rushed project art wise. I felt Hardin took away from the story , nothing extraordinary to the plot , its your cliched superhero cliff hanger but it works here I guess caz Im still buying in but Hardin needs to go or pick it up.

*UPDATE: I read this again , the story read a little better the second time around but I still dont like Hardin's art. 

New Comic Book Day: 8/4/10 part 2

Here are the continuing issues I picked up yesterday....

1. I Zombie #4 (Vertigo) by Chris Roberson , art: Michael Allred

   This series really picked up in this issue , so many gaps were filled , this was a pivotal issue. Individually each issue seems to awkwardly move at its own pace but collectively everything pieces together smoothly. For the art its like Chew where Robert Guillory's art was looked over to start by many but it grew on you as does Allred's penciling. I wasnt too keen on the art when I first indulged into this but it grew on me though I always felt it suited the genre and title. I really enjoy the ambiance of the book , the campy retro feel of it and it doesnt lose its whimsical allure. We finally get a sense on what the fuck is happening with everybody's role and what direction we're headed not that it detracted from the comics before. The lead character Gwen is making me a necrophiliac for fuck sakes.

Am I still on for the ride?: Yes.

does this make my $10 pull?: I think it does , its a contender in a tough week.

value/price: 2.99 .. its a good book. Esp if you're looking for some variety in your pull. Again we're at the point where you might be better off waiting for the trade but all 4 issues are readily available still.


2. Secret Six #24 (DC) by Gail Simone , art: J. Caliafore

   This was a kick your feet up and have a good ol time issue. The last two SS issues have been stand alones , great opportunity to jump on for noobs , well not really but they havent begun an epic arc or anything is what I meant. An alternate universe look at the Secret Six if they were in the wild west. This isnt a time travel thing , its a "what if" type of alternate universe thing. It feels like Gail Simone is using the characters like a play group and doing different skits for these filler issues. I really loved the ending , if you know me , endings like this win me over like a fat chick giving hand jobs.

Im sticking around?: Yes , this is still DC's best kept secret , excuse the pun.

Does this make the $10 pull: Its a strong contender for sure.

price/value: 2.99 .. I had a blast with this issue , a solid single issue buy at $3.

3. S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 (Marvel) by Jonathan Hickman , art: dustin Weaver

    This might be Marvel's best kept secret in their line up. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been a pleasant surprise so far , it was completely nothing like I thought it was going to be when I first picked up #1. This is a deeper book than your normal superhero book , in fact I would say this is the smartest super hero book you'll read this year. You'll need to remain sober when reading this. Here's an official summary...

The main story of the first issue is set in 1953, when S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nathaniel Richards and Howard Stark enlist a young man named Leonid with unspecified superpowers into the organization, taking him to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s High Council in the Immortal City under Rome. The High Council reveal that they know "the final fate of Man", and their mission is to ensure nothing threatens the world before this occurs. They have chosen Leonid because he has a destiny

      The lead character Leonid meets with fricken time travelling Leonardi Da Vinci , with flashbacks show other founding members of SHIELD like Imhotep , Isaac Newton , battling the likes of Galactus and Appocolypse. Doc Brown will need to sit down for this series... its a must read. Even if you dont like it , its one of those you have to see for yourself kind of deals.

Am I sticking around ?: Yes , its one of the few Marvel titles that survived my purge.

Does this make my $10 pull: Another strong contender , I would have tough decisions to make.

price/value: 2.99.. easily one of Marvel's best buys in their line up. A $3 book that feels deeper and more elaborant than most of the $4 books they carry.


4. Mindfield #0-2 (Aspen) by JT Krul , art: Alex Konat , Saleem Crawford

Premise: The CIA has a new agency for national security.. telepathic cops or "thought police" as they describe themselves. It focuses on two partnered agents,  Conner and Erika , and their journey on and off the job with their gifts.

me: Im absolutely enjoying this series. Its dictating its own pace , introducing all the players and devices that partake in this series , its setting the tone for hopefully a long on going series. Connor and Erika and their new team are fairly likeable as they'll earn some sympathy from you... but on duty thoguh both are telepaths  Connor is the thinker and Erika is the muscle. Its not blowing the pages off the book but its keeping me glued page for page.

Will I continue?: Yes indeed.

Price/value: 2.99.. good value. Full 30+ pages of Mindfield.

New Comic Book Day: 8/4/10 part 1

 Solid week: Nancy In Hell #1 , Murderland #1 , Whispers in the Wall #1 , Baltimore: The Plague Ships #1 , IZombie #4 , Secret Six #25 , Shield #3 ,

1. Nancy In Hell #1/4 (Image) by Elle Torres , art by Juan Jose Ryp

premise: Nancy is killed by a crazed killer and ends up in hell. Hell isnt what you think it is caz everybody ends up there.. I mean everybody! there is no heaven. Its a F'ed up world with soul eating beast and zombies  you fight off to maintain your sanity/humanity. Then there's this bad mother fucker who hunts all the free roaming souls like Nancy.. but Nancy is fighting back! a suprise guest at the end to leave you hanging for #2...

me: I enjoyed it from a "I also liked Tank Girl the movie" perspective , the premise is nothing original  but it works. You can re-use cliched ideas but you gotta do it right which usually means keeping it simple. Right from the first page you know who Nancy is and what she's all about , the landscape is laid out quite well , done nicely , you shouldnt get lost in the plot at all. The art is stellar , it gets the dirty deeds done. Clank a beer , bottoms up and enjoy ...

Do I play on getting #2?: I would like to.

If I had $10 does this make the pull?: tough week , I dont think it does.

price/value: 2.99 ... this felt like a standard $3 book. I dont have too many complaints.

2. Murderland #1 (Image) by Stephen Scott , art by David Hahn

premise: A "loving" couple taking up a career as hired assassins or vigilante ass kickers , I havent figured that out yet. Arabber and Meth the two main characters are the hitmen team and we follow them on some jobs. In doing so they also reveal more surprises of their own in terms of "talents" and "abilities". We see their relationship on and off the job and everything in between...

me: I had a good time with this. The art was smooth and the story was nicely laid out , there wasnt a big cliff hanger but I dont think thats what they were looking for in #1. This is a brand new series , so slow intro was called for. Im open for this series to win me over .. still looking for a "WOW" moment or someone to latch onto. My mind wasnt melted from any stand out awesomeness

am I getting #2?: Yes. Im giving this the trial.

Does this make the $10 pull?: hmmm I dont think so , not this week. Tough week.

price/value: 2.99 .. It was decent value , its your standard $3 book I'd say.

3. Whispers In The Walls #1/6 (Humanoids) by David Munoz , art by

premise: Little girl gets placed in asylum/orphanage/centre for god knows what , its part of the mystery. This building is an old building with lots of horrid history. They say the walls whisper to you , the little girl one night hear's the voice and follows its lead to uncover the mystery of this place. During her stay she befriends a mysterious boy despite being told she's the only child in the facility , her new friend takes her to meet other "phans".. this story unravels before your eyes then the next thing you know your eyes are pooping with joy.

me: *My Pick of the Week* This title caught my eye all week , I was ecstatic to pick up the last or only issue on the stand. I really liked this , I like it more than butter melted in bacon fat  , the art was fantastic , the mood was eerie and spooky perfect for the story. Scooby Doo should be investigating this place. The bad guy in this genuinely creeped me out , this guy should be chasing Shags and Scoobs through the halls. The story writing was hook and sinker too , the story of this little girl is so perplexing and cryptic that you cant help but follow her on her journey to unveil the truth. Thank god this is a long 6 part series. I cant wait for #2... want want want

Will I get #2? YES.

Does this make the $10 pull?: yup.

price/value: 3.50 ... this was a very good book from an Indy publisher. Not only did i feel it earned its keep but I didnt mind paying the extra cents to support these titles.

 4.Baltimore:The Plague Ships #1/5(Dark Horse)by Mignola / Golden , art: Ben Stenbeck

premise: A spinoff from the Baltimore novel series. WWI is over but the vampire plague rages on , Lord Baltimore is obsessed with finding the source and ending the madness. In doing so he must travel on the plagued ships to find his mystery man he seeks... and oh yeah kill vampires , a shit load of them.

me: I liked it caz I like this genre, didnt knock me out of the park though. I enjoyed it but am I hanging on the edge of my seat? do I like Lord Baltimore? not really. Lord Baltimore wasnt designed particularily well , maybe he can win me over in the up coming issues but I found him ...boring and I didnt care for him. This story is missing some heart and soul in its characters , its lead character to be exact.

will I buy #2?: if its a weak week , Im not enthusiastic about it though. Again , Im open for redemption , still lots of comic to go.

Does this make the $10 pull?: No. It was a tough week for competition.

price/value: 3.50.. its ok value. You expect a little more bang for the buck for debut issues frmo established pubs.

Special Tuesday Comic edition : HeavyInk reviewed

My first shipment from HeavyInk arrived , here's a quick review for Heavy Ink ...


If you dont want to watch my review , here's a quick overview...

The Pros-

• cheap shipping. For standard shipping to Canada its 2.50 for 3+ comics or 1+ graphic novel. Only a buck if you're in the states.
• 20% off cover prices for all new comics
• no taxes
• dollar for dollar exchange rate , not even comic shops in Canada offer this.. we get some bullshit exchange rate despite a 95+cent dollar.
• they have a good selection of new comics and in stock too. Easy to deal with staff , they'll answer your questions pronto. 

The Cons-

• Their standard shipping can take anywhere between 7-21 days with postal service. No tracking option. Though they have faster shipping options for more money.
• They dont offer bags and boards for extra security for comics though mine were mint and the packaging is pretty solid , the books are wrapped in brown paper to reduce friction.

Conclusion: I highly recommend HeavyInk to my fellow Vancouver comic book geeks needing to pick up some recent back issues or suscribe to new issues. Ill say again , its cheaper to buy online from this place 4000 miles away in Massachusetts than it is to walk 5 blocks to a local comic shop. Have some patience and  faith in Cliff Claven to get the job done but your comics will get there. 

My purchase: Here's cut and paste of my bill

* Hack Slash My First Maniac #2 ($2.80)
  * I Zombie #2 ($2.39)
  * Mindfield #1 ($2.39)
  * Secret Six #19 ($2.39)
  * Zombies Vs Cheerleaders #1 ($3.19)
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  Subtotal: $13.16
       Tax: $0.00
  Shipping: $2.49
     Total: $15.65
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$15.65 was charged to your credit card.

The savings are ridiculous eh? works out to be $3.12 for each comic.

I will only review one comic caz the rest I can do as an updated series review like for Mindfield Ill review it as a #0-2 package , Secret Six #19-22 , Hack Slash #1-4 , IZombie #4 comes out tomorrow so Ill give an updated review tomorrow.
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Zombies vs Cheerleaders #1 (Moonstone) by Steven Franks , art by various artist

premise: the title says it all. A zombie outbreak in a highschool and cheerleaders along with their shady principal are the last survivors... ensue the bloodshed...

me: Premise sounds fun and cant miss comic ecstasy? I was rather disappointed with the lack of cheerleader vs zombie action , that encounter was barely 2 pages and it was brief and quick. They didnt make use of the artist and the concept of this cheezy title. In a deep market of zombie comics this will get lost and buried in about.. what were we talking about?

Will I get #2?: probably not but Im always open for redemption.

If I had $10 does this make the pull?: No.

Value/price: 3.99.. I paid 3.20 and still felt a little gypped. Definitely not a $4 comic , it would be bleh at $3.. this should've been a 2.50 comic. With online discounts consumers should've really only paid $2 for this.
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weekend paperback pick up: 8/1/10

Im finally caught up!!! in paperbacks that is.. vol.13 is going on right now in comic book form (v.13 due Nov./10). I also read The Stuff of Legend vol.1 The Dark.

The Walking Dead vol.11 , 12by Robert Kirkman , art by Charlie Adlard

NO SPOILERS
         It goes without saying that some tragedy will occur in these volumes .. people die , faces are shot , heads are beheaded ,.. shit happens. Its the way it goes in the world of the Walking Dead. They run into shit that messes around with your head and challenges you to think in their part. My mind has officially been conditioned for Walkind Dead thinking because Im less and less surprised by the shenanigans that occur and find myself spending less time trying to reason with their decisions and just accepting and comprehending them as they go. 
     By the time vol.12 ends , aside from being left with your balls hanging out , you'll want to take a step back and just see how far these fuckers have come. Just see how things have changed. Your brain would excrete itself if it was possible.
       I really dont need to rate this series at this point. Even if there were to be a weak volume , are you going to skip it? fuck no. So soon as Kirkman starts to wane Ill let you know , otherwise assume this is all essential reading for The Walking Dead...

The Stuff of Legend: Vol1 The Dark by Mike Raicht , Brian Smith , art by Charles Paul Wilson III

NO SPOILERS
Premise: Its 1944 Brooklyn New York , a young boy is kidnapped by the Boogeyman into his world called " The Dark ". The boy's toys awaken(same rules as Toy Story) in horror as they watched the whole abduction take place. Some of the toys decide to rescue the boy back from the Boogeyman by entering The Dark.When the toys cross over into The Dark , they fully transmorph into their true selves and discover their true potential....

Here's the sequence where the boy gets taken by the dark grasp of The Boogeyman

This book is just mind blowingly awesome. Its Toy Story with an edge , with heart , with grit , with character , with purpose .. its amazing. The art is dark and gripping , the story compels you beyond your imagination. The moment these freaky toys speak , you're not creeped out or rolling your eyes , your drawn and subdued to them as they are to each other. You cannot take your eyes off each page and you move forward with them every step of the way...

The boy's favourite toy soldier , The Colonel , rallies the troops for a quest to save the boy. 

I love this book. Im currently collecting volume 2 and I hope there's a volume.3 .. this world is just magnificant , its a little bit Oz , a smidge of Wonderland , a cackle of Middle Earth. Its like Oz and WOnderland for the elaborate world of fantasy and esoteric landscape with so many bizarre characters in this realm. Its like Middle of Earth for the fellowship they bonded to rescue the boy from evil forces that oppose them. Just like LOTR they must learn  this notion of putting the greater cause before your own. The end result is this hybrid world that leaves you breatheless and craving for more.

 The art is so beautiful to look at. 

More beautiful art work and layout of this hidden gem.

The fierce chaos as the group engages into battle during their quest. You can see their altered form in the dark.

     The characters are so well written , from the moment they move off the bookshelves and  explode into the dark. These characters grab your nuts hostage and never let go. You will know each of their characteristics and personalities by the time you close that last page , and you will feel what they feel.

    What else can I say? This would have melted my face and stained my underpants if I was a kid discovering this insane tale. Im fricken losing my mind waiting for Vol.2 The Jungle to be released one part at a time. Ill probably buy vol.2 again as a collected paperback caz I definitely want the set or just a hardcover collected edition when its all said and done.

buy/borrow/bury: Buy/Buy/Buy. This book should be owned by everybody. Again even by some chance you dont like it , its such a beautiful book to own and have on your coffee table or lend out. At $13 this is such a great bargain , the artwork alone is worth the price of admission , its such high quality to boot. I recommend this purchase with the highest regard I can possibly give.