My review of the Coming of Crow by Joel Jenkins. An excellent read!

 The Coming of Crow is a 308 page collection of short stories, written by Joel Jenkins, and published in October of 2014 by PulpWork Press. The collection features Jenkins' character, Lone Crow, in a series of interconnected short stories. Set in the Old (and, I might add, very weird) West, Crow is a Native American bounty hunter, and is the last of his tribe. As he travels across the land, Crow comes across a number of famous faces, including both Wyatt Earp and Bass Reeves.


While Crow's skill as a manhunter is known both far and wide, his knack for solving problems of a supernatural nature tend to set him apart from others in his profession, and subsequently brings him to the attention of the secretive Miskatonic University. Working both on his own, and on the behalf of his erstwhile employers, Crow faces down a great number of unnatural creatures. Whether it be demons, werewolves, immortals, or things from another plane of existence, Crow and his blessed Colt Peacemaker have encountered them all, and sent them packing. Throughout these encounters, Crow remains unflappable, and manages to overcome every obstacle set in his path, no matter how otherworldly it may be.


The author relates Crow's adventures in a classic adventure style, with realistic Western settings, charismatic characters, and more supernatural bogles than you can shake a stick at. He includes a number of secretive cults that are working to unleash their blasphemous gods on the universe, a nod to HPL (via REH's contributions to the Mythos), along with a number of equally secretive ancient societies that are attempting to stop the madmen (and women) from letting loose Hell on Earth. Miskatonic University is but one of these societies, and the author's portrayal of the university, and its faculty, is a bit different than other fictional versions of the institution. As a whole, the university's representatives seem much more mercenary in their dealings than usual, and the characters, quite frequently, have just enough knowledge about a situation to assure their own doom. That is, until Crow steps in, and manages to pull their collective fat out of the fire. Despite his heroism, Crow is still looked down upon, seen as a 'witless savage' by many of the characters he encounters, including a number of his employers. He usually ignores such stupidity with stoic resolve, but it was a great pleasure to watch many of these bigots get their just desserts, and come to a much deserved bad end.


I mentioned REH (Robert Ervin Howard, the creator of Conan and sundry other characters, and a fellow Texan) a little earlier, and the author's writing raises the ghost of that esteemed fellow, with Crow's travels reminding me very much of my favorite REH character... Solomon Kane. I'm not saying that the collection is derivative, in any way, I'm saying that the two characters share a similar soul, and a similar raison d'etre. Plus, I'm trying to give the author one of the highest compliments I can bestow, the best way I know how, being that I cut my teeth on REH's characters, and he remains one of my go-to authors when I want to experience pure adventure storytelling. Jenkins manages to create a character and universe that evoke the same feeling that I had as a young man when first discovering adventure fiction, and for that, I owe him my wholehearted thanks. With a quick moving and to-the-point style, plenty of blood-and-fire, and weirdness galore, The Coming of Crow is an absolute page-turner. I was shocked to realize that it was a 308 page release, as the various adventures flew by so quickly, that I was done in almost no time at all. Very enjoyable reading, and highly recommended...


Here's where you can pick up the release. Here's Joel's author page on Amazon. Here's the publisher's site. Finally, here's an interview with the author that was conducted by Derrick Ferguson. And on that note, I suppose I'll be signing off. As usual, happy reading!

My review of Creeping Dawn: The Rise of the Black Centipede by Chuck Miller. A unique and rewarding tale of adventure.

 Creeping Dawn: The Rise of the Black Centipede is a 196 page novel, written by Chuck Miller, and published by Pro Se Press. The story details the origin and early adventures of a pulp style vigilante, known as the Black Centipede, and is set forth in the form of a memoir written by the titular character. The memoir has been written by the Black Centipede in an effort to cut through the decades of propaganda that has surrounded his adventures, and reveals the truth behind his origin and early adventures.


The tale begins in the 1920's, when the character is still a young boy, and details his fateful encounter with Lizzie Borden in the town of Fall River, describing the strange friendship that grows between the two of them. The secret behind the murders of Lizzie's family is ultimately revealed, and young William Lee Williams' feet are set on a new path, one which will see him become the masked vigilante known as the Black Centipede. The bloody night that begins his journey also introduces him to his greatest nemesis, lover, and friend, Bloody Mary Jane Gallows. Avowed enemies when they are apart, their relationship changes drastically when they are in close proximity, as they are inexorably drawn to each other in an almost mystical fashion.


After the events at Fall River, young William cuts all ties with his family, except for his corrupt Grandfather who is a backroom power broker residing in the metropolis of Zenith. Inserting himself into the old man's circles, he quickly becomes one of his Grandfather's most trusted agents, all the while building up his own network of contacts and sources of monetary funding. Eventually, having trained himself in any number of both esoteric and martial regimens (and having robbed his Grandfather of all his resources, along the way), William feels ready to finally complete his transformation into the Black Centipede. The time has come to wage war both more commonplace criminals, along with the ever-growing ranks of supervillains that are appearing in Zenith. Along the way, he might even be able to further piece together (and understand) the events that brought the Black Centipede, along with Bloody Mary, into being...


While the framework of the story is pure pulp, Miller takes the tale in a much stranger (and ultimately, more rewarding) direction, allowing his characters to move beyond the usual borders of the pulp style. Much of the overall narrative is hard-charging action, but the author combines interludes of humor, esoteric events, and off-the-wall character development to swing the entire story decidedly off-kilter. And that's a good thing. Certainly lacking a cut-and-dried sense of good versus evil, the story has much more to offer, with many of the characters being capable of actions that are both good and bad. The main character admits that he is drawn to the inherent violence that comes part-and-parcel with his occupation as a masked vigilante, and that many of the hoi polloi are absolutely beyond his comprehension, while still working towards their benefit. His nemesis/friend/lover, Bloody Mary Jane Gallows was birthed as a mindless construct of horrible vengeance, but still had the willpower to attempt to live as a normal human being for a number of years, and chooses to come to the rescue of her greatest enemy (and only friend and equal, their relationship is very complex) despite knowing that he is the only one capable of ending her existence. Allies and enemies are static, at best, and all of them seem to move through an ever-shifting world of shadows... Much like the one that we all exist in.


The author has a knack for blending in both authentic historical events, and actual characters from these time periods into the narrative, which work to reinforce and ground the story into pseudo-reality, adding a sheen of believability to the fictional narrative. Couple this with some of the character's more inexplicable actions, when faced with an utterly logical course of action, and you get a novel that explores the human condition, disguised as a retread of old pre-war pulp vigilante stylings. Make no mistake, I love the New Pulp genre to no end, but seeing an author take it in an inventive new direction is a decided pleasure, and an absolute revelation of where the genre can go from this point on. One last note, I love the way the author can allude to a number of no-doubt epic adventures, in a single aside from the main character. If Miller was held to filling in the backstory of his character, in an absolute sense, readers would be entertained for a number of decades, at the very least. All told, this is highly recommended reading.


With both fast-paced action sequences, esoteric interludes, and a realistic portrayal of human nature, this is a story that is a bit off-center, and all the better for it. Chuck Miller takes a tried-and-true genre in a totally unexpected direction, and stamps his name all over the genre of New Pulp fiction. A total mind-trip, this is a story that must be experienced firsthand. Highest compliments and best wishes for a vital, and truly unique, ongoing series!


Here's where you can pick up a copy of the release. Here's the publisher's site. Pop by and take a look around! Finally, here's a link to an interview that my friend Derrick Ferguson did with the author. It's a couple of years old, but check it out, nonetheless! With that, I'll be signing off... Zero-signal... Happy reading, all!

My review of Milton Davis' novel From Here To Timbuktu. A really impressive tale!

 From Here To Timbuktu is a 217 page steam-funk novel by Milton Davis, which is set in an alternate timeline, and was released as a e-novel in March of 2015. Steam-funk is a variation of the steam-punk genre, with many of the same trappings that one would expect, told mainly from an African and African-American point of view. Here's a short interview with the author, over at YouTube, where he explains the genre more fully. As someone who has been reading (and enjoying the hell out of) the steam-punk genre, along with adventure fiction and pulp/New Pulp fiction for quite some time, the one thing lacking in my enjoyment of these genres has been a lack of strong, well-written heroes/heroines of color (with some notable exceptions). Milton Davis' novel admirably fills this gap, with a burst of full-on action, detailed/engaging characters and settings, along with an organic and fluid style of narrative that invariably draws the reader deep into his fictional universe.


Set in an alternate timeline, in the year of 1870, the young country of Freedonia is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial. The Haitian Revolt of 1791-1804 has succeeded far beyond its participant's greatest hopes, and after spreading to America, Freedonia is founded in its wake. Deacon Ezekiel Culpepper is one of the residents of this young country, trying to settle down and lead a normal life, but he never seems to be able to escape the blood-and-fire of his past life as a soldier. While he attends church during the day, he surreptitiously works as a bounty-hunter to makes ends meet, lacking any real desire to operate the family farm that was left to him. The skills that he learned as a soldier serve him far better in his secondary profession, and he wholeheartedly admits to himself that he will never be able to run a fully functioning farm on his own, nor does he want to...


Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Famara Keita labors to complete his task. A horro (Soninke for Warrior) from the kingdom of Mali, Famara has been given the duty of recovering an ancient book that was stolen from the Elders of his people. The book contains technological secrets that are far beyond the current capabilities of the nations of the world, and it would be an absolute disaster if it fell into the wrong hands. After seeking the book for over two years, his quest is close to an end, if he can manage to overcome the forces of the greedy and murderous El Tellak, leader of the Ihaggaren people. El Tellak seeks to sell the book to the newly formed Prussian empire, adding another adversary to the list of those that the horro must overcome, but the most deadly one is still to come... El Tellak's sister, Menna, a deadly assassin and a bitter rival of her brother for the leadership of their people. The various factions are in place, the prize has been revealed, and all will soon come together in a thrilling, globe-trotting adventure, as our two heroes and their allies combine forces to preserve the world as they know it...


With this release, Milton Davis crafts a detailed, many-faceted world, and populates it with interesting and relatable characters, along with some truly loathsome villains that revel in their actions. A world which inexorably draws the reader into its mythos, and absolutely begs for an expansion of the setting and characters, with future entries in this setting being an absolute must have. The dialogue is natural and free-flowing, the core personalities of the characters well-defined, and the background settings are vividly rendered. The action sequences are equally sharp and detailed, never becoming muddled or confusing around the edges of the scene, and usually don't call for too much of a suspension of disbelief. After being introduced to the characters, and reading about their capabilities and individual skill-sets, you come to believe that they are fully capable of pulling off their various exploits. The story is streamlined and fast-moving, with the 217 page novel racing by, largely due to the author's accessible style of writing. Really good stuff...


I'll briefly respond to some of the negative points that I've seen online, regarding this release. Yes, it does have some typos that could have been cleaned up by a full-time editor, and no, it doesn't detract from the reading experience, at least as far as I go. I noticed them, here and there, and kept reading. They weren't egregious enough to affect my appreciation of the story, and I quickly moved past them. This is a small press, so just move on down the line, and appreciate a well-told story. There has also been some talk about the nature of the end-game, and how it plays out. While not being a confidante of the author, or aware of his mindset, I'll put forth a theory. One, the two warriors are absolutely death-on-wheels, so the final events take place as they should. Two, this is a classic setup for a sequel, as some things happen off-camera (if you'll allow me to mix metaphors), and other events only add to the apparent certainty of a sequel. So stop complaining, my friends, and keep your fingers crossed for a series set in this world, with these characters. If you won't, I will...


To sum up my thoughts on this release, Davis has crafted a wonderfully engaging tale of adventure, populated by characters that are fully-formed, lovingly rendered, and sadly missing from a large swath of published genre fiction. With an intricately-detailed setting, a history that is rife for future expansion, and a knack for creating characters that are both relatable, and easily assimilated into the reader's psyche, this is recommended reading. All told, it's one of my favorite stories that I've read in quite some time. Do yourself a favor and check it out...


Here's where you can get the Kindle edition of the story. Here's the publisher's FB page, where you can find more quality stories. And here's the publisher's website. With that said, I'll sign off... As usual, happy reading, all!

My review of Jim Beard's GI Joe Adventure Team: Mystery of the Sunken Tomb. Really good stuff!

GI Joe Adventure Team: Mystery of the Sunken Tomb is a new e-novella by Jim Beard, published through Kindle Worlds, and available on Amazon.com. The version of the toy line on which the novel is based was released after the original Joe line (the characters invariably being soldiers), and the modern Joe team, who are a specialized CT unit formed to fight the global terrorist organization known as Cobra. The Adventure Team was more focused on exploration, expanding global knowledge of humanity's history (while disregarding both borders and factionalism), and the development of new technologies for the benefit of the human race.


Led by GI Joe (hereafter referred to as Joe in this review), a former military man, the team consists of a number of experts in their respective fields, including archaeology, aeronautics, and mechanical design. New recruits are handpicked by Joe, and face a grueling training regimen that is uniquely designed to bring out the best in each potential team member, while also shoring-up any inherent weaknesses which they might possess. Each man operates independently of the group on a regular basis, but when the call comes in through their coded radio receiver, the Adventure Team unites, springing into action like a well-oiled machine!


The story starts with Joe in the middle of a black-bag job, searching for a missing missile payload containing ultra-secret spy technology, which has crashed somewhere in the ocean's depths. Working for unnamed government contacts, he finds what he is searching for, but in so doing also stumbles across a mind-blowing find... Sunken ruins off the coastline of California, which appear to be ancient Egyptian in nature, and may change the course of history as we know it! Sending out a call to his team, the men come together to research this seemingly impossible find, never realizing that they have stumbled upon something that is much more dangerous than they can ever imagine.


Jim Beard has an absolute talent for swift-paced action stories, and this one is no exception. That said, the pace is a bit slower in this release than in some of his other works, although this isn't a bad thing. It allows the characters and situations to be more fully realized, and the slow escalation of certain elements of the story adds a great deal of nuance to the tale, while working alongside the full-tilt action scenes to push the story to another level. A wicked element of mystery (what did you expect, it's in the title) shrouds the story, present in both the team itself, in their shocking archaeological find, and in the cultish adversaries that seek to keep them from their goal.


One of the best things about the story is the villains. Throughout the beginning of the story, the team's adversaries are natural things, including the sharks that surround the sunken ruins, and a tropical storm that is bearing down on their camp. This changes as the story moves along, with the men gradually becoming aware that a more sinister group has set their sights on the ruins, attempting to recover a powerful artifact that has lain hidden there for centuries. The mystery of this group is never fully explained, although there is a tantalizing hint about what they truly are towards the end of the story, which sets up a possible sequel. The leader of the villains is as ruthless as he is mysterious, caring not an iota for anything other than the power he will gain after completing his long-held goal, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to secure the artifact that is waiting within the ruins. Granted, many of these points apply to any well developed group of adversaries in a good story, but I really enjoyed the way the author gradually worked them into the narrative, and the hints about them towards the end of the story were very much appreciated, while still maintaining the aura of mystery around the group. To put it simply, well done!


To sum up, one might ask why you, as a potential new reader of this title, should pick this story up, especially if you have no formative experience with the characters that are depicted within the story. Well, here's my list of reasons... The story is well-written, dynamically told, with both flowing action-sequences and cliff-hanger endings, which are derived from the pulp style of storytelling. As mentioned in the above paragraphs, there is an aura of mystery that permeates the tale, quite deliciously so. The feeling of high adventure and the mysteries of the unknown are part and parcel to this release, and the journey is both loads of fun, and quite reminiscent of watching an old-time serial, although one set in a more recent time period. For a quick visual reference, think of the Jonny Quest series, without the boyish misadventures of Jonny and Hadji, instead being totally focused on a team of highly-trained experts investigating the mysteries of the unknown. For those that love adventure, mystery, and vanishing into a much more welcome head-space, this is recommended reading.


Here's a couple of primers to the characters involved in the story, starting with Jim Beard's blog post about the release. And here's some background about the Adventure Team, over at Wikipedia. Here's Jim's blog, where you can keep up with what he's currently working on, and here's his fan page on Facebook. Stop by and say hello! Finally, here's where you can pick up the release (Kindle edition), and here's his author page on Amazon, so swing by and take a look around! As usual, happy reading, and goodnight!

My review of Fandemonium, a novel by Rick Schindler. Excellent reading...

Fandemonium is a 400 page novel written by veteran journalist, Rick Schindler, published in 2013 by Wattle Publishing. An avid comic book collector and fan, this is Schindler's first novel, and is set against the backdrop of the comic book industry.


Heavily satirical in its look at the underpinnings of the business that surround comics, Schindler skewers egomaniacal creators, weak-willed  publishers, the corporations that are all about the bottom line, and the obsessive fans.


Beneath it all is a love note from a long time fan of comics, both celebrating the overblown spectacle that sometimes surrounds the industry, and poking fun at the more absurd goings-on that occasionally take place.


The story follows events that take place after Ray Sirico, one-time writer extraordinaire, is tasked with writing a story that will end with the death of his most popular character, Skylord. Sirico is a shell of his former self, done in my drugs, alcohol, and the weight of his own ego. The once great writer can barely focus long enough to make it to the corner store, much less write a script on deadline. Yet, in his mind, he still believes that he has one last shot at making it back to the big time. He happily imagines writing the triumphant return of Skylord from the dead, and drinking in the accolades from an adoring audience of fans. The only thing is, the new owners of Colossal Comics have no intention of bringing the character back to life, they are instead using his death as a revenue generating ploy, while simultaneously giving notice to the fans that their comics have a new, more modern edge.


Both points are extremely important to the new owners, Nebula Communications, so important that they've intentionally left the volatile Sirico out of the loop. Colossal Comics has been bleeding money for years, which led to them being easy pickings when Nebula stepped in and bought them out, and the publicity of a beloved hero's death is one of their plans to begin recouping the company's financial losses. Another reason for the downward trend of Colossal has been the departure of star artist Tad Carlyle to form his own company, Fireburst Comics, taking with him a large part of Colossal's readership. The heroes being portrayed by Tad and company are seen as gritty, edgy, and overwhelmingly cool; with Colossal's heroes being seen as establishment figures with which the younger readership has lost touch. This is a last ditch effort to win back readership, put the company in the black, and put Colossal back on the map. The first key is getting the fans attention, whetting their appetites for the forthcoming release, so the announcement of the event will take place at the premier comic event... Fandemonium!


There is an enormous cast of characters, different subplots being drawn together, and intriguing backstory contained within the 400 pages of Schindler's novel, so much so that I could write about it endlessly. The above synopsis hardly does the novel justice, but there's too much contained in the story to go into depth. Suffice it to say, the book is densely plotted, with oddball characters popping out of its seams, featuring both laugh-out loud moments, and truly poignant scenes. The author has a knack for making even his most unlikable characters relatable beings, usually through flashbacks that explore why they are who they are... The dialogue moves from being highly naturalistic to the extreme of swimming in purple prose, and is, as a whole, one of the best aspects of the release. The overall examination of the various character's journeys, from fresh-faced and full of fire, to jaded, deluded shells of their former selves is also highly fascinating.


Another strength is the author's efforts to ground this in (an absurd, but at times, spot-on) reality, which encompasses many chapter interludes; everything from interoffice memos, to media reports, to records of obsessed fan's internet searches. Add all of this up, and you have an extremely well thought out (and executed) piece of fiction. Or is it? When it comes down to it, this story moves from strength to strength, without putting all it's money on one horse... It contains humor, tragedy, and human fallibility, along with everything in-between... Like life itself. I laughed at the presentation of a number of stereotypes found within our tribe, sighed and shook my head at any number of wrong moves that pushed the characters further along their path to unerring oblivion, and came away immensely satisfied after turning the final page. While being set in a microcosm, the behaviors and events depicted apply to the macrocosm of our society, with names being changed and faces being blurred to protect the identities of the guilty... Our friends, our neighbors, and humanity as a whole. The entire novel works, when viewed from the surface, but if one starts digging deeper... You might just find a surprising, multifaceted, lush portrayal of the human condition in its depths. If I haven't been obvious enough with my incessant gushing, this is highly recommended reading. Enjoy!

Here's my review of the rather excellent comic collection, 'Orc Stain', written and illustrated by the multi-talented James Stokoe. Great stuff!

Front cover art for the collection by James Stokoe.

Orc Stain Volume #1 is a a 168 page collection, written and illustrated by James Stokoe, and published by Image Comics. Collecting the first five issues of the ongoing series of the same name, the story takes place in a fantasy setting, in a world overrun by hordes of fractious orcs. Immediately chafing at any sort of authority, drawn to looting and 'punch-ups', the orcish horde is divided into many different factions, and may declare 'Poxa-Gronka' (an all out war of revenge against any orc that has slighted the individual) at a moment's notice. Knowing that the orcs are divided in nature, the rest of the world has fortified themselves behind strong walls, and have bided their time, hoping for the hordes to eventually kill themselves off. The strategy, while not a winning one, has admittedly kept the other races from being swallowed up. Unfortunately for them, this is all about to change...

Interior art by James Stokoe.

A new force has risen in the far south, and the self-appointed Orc Tzar has managed to do what none of his predecessors have ever managed... Namely, to unite a great number of the various factions of orcs into a cohesive army, growing in number by the day. His goal is to unite the whole of orcdom, and rule over the entire world as lord and master, but first he needs to claim an elusive treasure to seal his mastery of the world. As his fractious hordes decimate city after city, he finally comes across an aged seer, who relates to the Tzar a prophecy... That, although possessing the location and the land that the treasure is contained within, the Orc Tzar lacks the key to open the treasure's prison. The key to obtaining what he seeks is a one-eyed orc, currently abroad in the realm, who also will become the Tzar's nemesis. Cursing all prophecies, the maddened orc rips her head from her shoulders, and sends his most trusted agents out into the world to gather all of the one-eyed orcs that they can find. One way or another, he will find the key that he needs, and he WILL become ruler over all of the realm.

Interior art by James Stokoe.

Into this mess of a world steps the rather literally named One Eye, an orc whose utmost talent is being to crack any puzzle, any prison, with but a blow of his hammer. With his single eye, he can see the various lines that tie physical objects together, and identify the true weak spot of the structure. A wanderer, who values loot more than fame won in battle, and the vengeance that is the price of fame, One-Eye is a most singular orc. One that seems to almost grasp the difference between right-and-wrong (gasp!), and as such, someone that stands apart from the large amount of his species. Initially, he is introduced as searching for loot, with his newly acquired (untrustworthy) partner, Pointy Face. After he is double-crossed by his partner, and sentenced by the local orc hetman to have his gronch (An orc's junk, part trophy, part coinage. It is what it is...) chopped off to pay his debt, One Eye uses his talent to escape, pay back his duplicitous partner, and ingratiate himself with the aforementioned hetman. Unfortunately, by not killing Pointy Face, he opens himself up to the vendetta of the Poxa-Gronka, and unknowingly plays right into the hands of the Orc-Czars agents, who eventually capture him and haul him off to meet his fate. One-Eye's future doesn't seem so bright, does it? Add in a pissed off swamp rumba, Pointy Face following close behind and swearing to cut off his gronch, and the challenge of the ultimate heist, and all bets are off on his ability to remain among the living...

One-Eye reflecting on orcish society. Interior art by James Stokoe.

James Stokoe's original idea for this story came about after a long conversation, with a number friends, about the rather one-sided portrayal of orcs in The Lord of the Rings series. His thoughts drifted across such concepts as, do the orcish hordes only act as they do because they know nothing else, and if there was a different path revealed to them, would the orcs embrace this new way of living?
Is their way of life more of an issue of the environment that they exist in, one in which there is no other demonstrable alternative path to take, or are they inherently evil beings? Out of this conversation came the original 10 page short which, eventually, morphed into this excellent ongoing series.

Art by James Stokoe.

Stokoe's story of a decidedly odd orc, one that seems to have developed a rudimentary moral code of conduct, who shuns the never ending brutish cycle of his fellow orcs, is a great deal of fun. On another level, it is also quite thought provoking, as One-Eye is basically a stranger in a strange land, a man (orc) who can see in a land of the blind. The story is full of action, dark humor (you have no idea how many times I laughed out loud while reading this), and more action than you can shake a gronch at (yes, I went there)! Double and triple-crosses are abundant, the story is rife with mysterious undercurrents, and you get to see orcs behaving as only orcs can... What's not to like, I ask you?

Art by James Stokoe.

One-Eye is the central character of the story, but supporting characters, and antagonistic ones, such as a sociopathic swamp rumba, the local bad man (orc), Pointy Face, and the mysterious would be emperor, the Orc Tzar, are not given short shrift. The characters grow into themselves as the story moves along, as Stokoe builds on their inherent personality traits, expanding on the depth and breadth of each of his main players. As the story progresses, the setting also expands, as the author continues to open up his unique world. Shifting between multiple character's perspectives, the pace varies between the dynamic and a more moderate flow, as it accommodates itself to the overall needs of the plot. All in all, some very good stuff,

Art by James Stokoe (magnificent, isn't it).

Let's get to the artwork, shall we? Stokoe employs a highly intricate style, both in his character work and, especially, in his detailed and crowded background art. While being uniquely his own, a point of reference for readers would be a number of the artists of Metal Hurlant/Heavy Metal magazine, especially later works by Jean Giraud and the works of Philippe Druillet. The exquisite detail is highly appreciated, and is what drew me to this release, initially. Stokoe's depiction of the action is equally intricate, and flows along organically. His panel placement and overall layout of the story is inspired, while the outre colors of the release dazzle the reader's eye. Really outstanding work, which ranks up there with some of the best work by Giraud, Druillet, Corben, and Nino. Absolutely love it...

Interior art by James Stokoe.

When it comes down to it, this is a highly original, well executed fantasy collection, with both story and art working at a higher level. Stokoe's tale of an outcast in a world that he did not make, or ask to be a part of, resonates on many different levels. Humorous, action-packed, and a entertaining read, Orc Stain has become one of my favorite fantasy comics, and one of my favorite comics, period. Just don't let the kids get a copy, as there is a decent amount of nudity, violence, and gronch chopping. Highly recommended to adults of all stripe, and I hope you enjoy this release as much as I did. Happy reading! You can pick up the release here. Swing by and pick up a copy of this excellent release!

My review of 'The Infinite Horizon' by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto. An exceptional, powerfully told graphic release...

Cover art for the collection by Phil Noto.

The Infinite Horizon is a 184 page graphic collection published by Image Comics, which was released in April, 2012. It collects Gerry Duggan (story) and Phil Noto's (art) Eisner-nominated miniseries, in its entirety. The release is a modern retelling of the story of Odysseus, set in a world which has gone through a cataclysmic collapse. Stranded on the far side of the world, an unnamed soldier struggles to make his way back home to his waiting wife and son.


An unnamed soldier leads his men against enemy fighters in Syria. He has come to realize that he is doomed to always survive each encounter, win through each battle, but still lose everything, in the end. His men know this, but the brass and the politicos are deluded into thinking that the war can still be won. Heading back to base, his disgust with the entire situation overwhelms him, and he loses control, mercilessly beating a civilian contractor that accosts him. Given no choice by his actions, his superiors are forced to lock him in the brig. When he is finally released, the story truly begins...

Interior art by Phil Noto.

Human society has suffered a world wide collapse, and soldiers are being recalled from around the world. America is under martial law, and the unnamed soldier and his men are needed to deal with the unrest at home. They are firstly tasked with holding the airport while civilians are evacuated from the war zone. As the last transport leaves, the men realize that they are on their own, and will have to make their way back home by any means that they can. They begin to make their way across the desert, leaving behind the first of many dead companions, swallowed by the desert sands.


Thus begins the long journey home for the companions. Along the way, they will help those that they can, fight a cyclops, defeat the siren's call, and lose many of their number. Will they survive, and if they do, will there be anything left for them after their return to their homeland? It matters not, for in the end, they would rather die on the journey than never attempt it. And so they press forward, moving stolidly towards their goal, journeying forever onwards and seeking the end of the infinite horizon...

Interior art by Phil Noto.

The story by Gerry Duggan takes a classic tale, turns it about, and sets it on its feet in modern times, in a setting that feels close enough to touch. The unnamed protagonist has been used as a tool by others for too long, and has been burned to the quick by the violence that he has both witnessed, and participated in. The futility of it all has come to him, finally, and he realizes that there will be no end to the killing. All he want is to get himself and his men home, but that wish proves to be a more daunting task than they ever imagined.


On the home front, events are even worse than abroad. Flooding, disease, and the collapse of the societal infrastructure has led to mass panic, and worse, as neighbor turns against neighbor. The strong feel free to prey on the weak, now that society's chains have been shrugged off, and everything that man has built is collapsing around them. Duggan takes his character's and tosses them into a raging fire; those that emerge have grown stronger, and become more complete beings. Along the way, many good people die...

Interior art by Phil Noto.

Duggan effortlessly moves the story's focus from the soldiers on their long trek home, back to events in their homeland, showing the travails that their loved ones are undergoing. He creates a number of sympathetic characters for the readers to focus upon, and then leads them through hell. The story is less about the horrors and futility of war, and more about how humanity, in general, react to the overwhelming violence that surrounds them in the story. Some see the futility of it; others see it as an opportunity; and some, out of fear and/or hate, choose to support the machinations of evil men. The story, while not enjoyable, in a 'fun' sense, is powerfully written and engaging. The events are not for our amusement, but stand as a possible warning of what might come to be. By the time that you reach the end of the journey, your hands will be shaking, your eyes will be burning, and you will vow to yourself to not read this again... Until the story calls you, once again, and your hand creeps towards the book, opening it of its own volition...

Cover art for issue #5 by Phil Noto.

Phil Noto's art is depicted in a clean, spare style, with a minimal use of shading. His dynamic action sequences and the emotive facial features of his characters are exceptional. The line work is strong and clean, while his panel composition definitely propels the story forward. His character designs give us, instead of fantastic heroes that are fated to save humanity, just normal human beings. The great unwashed mass, the average joe, the neighbor next door... Perfectly suited to this story, his art is the finishing touch that takes the release to another level. It shows us as we are, and reminds us that, although their are villains amongst us, heroes may reside in places all unlooked for. A face is just a face, its what lies behind it that truly matters.


This story really hit me hard, on many different levels, and, initially, I was convinced that I would only read it once. The events were just too plausible, in today's world, and I didn't think that I could deal with them again. Until I reread it, and reread it again... As I alluded to before, this is not a 'fun' story, but one that is powerfully told, one that will stick with the reader over time. If you're like me, you'll be coming back to it, seeking to glean answers to unasked questions, hoping to find something that you may have missed within the narrative. Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto have combined to create a singular release, one that will haunt the reader, and one that is highly recommended.


Pick up a copy of the release here.

A review of the absolutely wonderful web comic, NIMONA, by Noelle Stevenson. Loved it!

Nimona and Lord Ballister Blackheart. Art by Noelle Stevenson.

Nimona is a free web comic, written and illustrated by Noelle Stevenson, which was originally launched in June 2012. Rights to the comic have been purchased by HarperCollins, who are releasing a 272 page graphic collection on May 19, 2015, which will include an exclusive epilogue to the series. As of now, the web comic is still free to read, in its entirety, and can be found at http://gingerhaze.com/nimona.


Nimona introduces us to Lord Ballister Blackheart, a former hero in training, who has turned to villainy. During a joust with his best friend, Ballister lost his right arm in a highly questionable 'accident', after seemingly prevailing in the joust. Rejected as 'damaged goods' by his mentors, he turns to the one avenue left open to him... Super science-based villainy! Unfortunately for Ballister, while being a more than capable scientist, he is a fairly incompetent supervillain. His former best friend, and current nemesis, the annoyingly heroic Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin (Hero-at Large for the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics) constantly arrives to foil Ballister's most well planned schemes. When faced with such catastrophic setbacks, what's an upstanding criminal genius to do?
The answer to the question is, of course, find a suitably villainous sidekick.

I'm not a kid... I'm a shark! Interior art by Noelle.

One day, utterly unlooked-for, a young girl named Nimona walks into Ballister's life. Seemingly starstruck by the master villain, all Nimona wants in life is to be his apprentice, along with breaking lots of things and possibly blowing a few people to smithereens... While he initially doesn't want anything to do with the proposition, Ballister soon learns that the girl is a powerful shapeshifter, and the beginnings of a suitably villainous master plan start to form in his mind. Nimona might very well be the key to his final victory over those that have abandoned and rejected him. Unbeknownst to the frantically plotting master criminal, Nimona has a great number of secrets of her own, and might be a bit too much for Ballister to handle. Then again, who cares, as long as the annoying golden-boy Sir Ambrosius takes it in the pants!


Noelle Stevenson's story of a third-rate supervillain (whose heart really isn't in it, after all), who is suddenly catapulted to a level of success by the sheer elemental force that is Nimona, is pure whimsical goodness. Ballister doesn't want to be a villain, which is why most of his previous schemes failed; without the betrayal by his best friend and confidant, he would have never taken to the path that he currently walks. Despite his golden-boy facade, Sir Ambrosius is a little boy at heart, who doesn't want to accept the fact that he was the ultimate instrument of Ballister's downfall. All he wants is to have things go back to the way they were, and everyone to live happily ever after, a wish which he knows (deep inside himself) can never happen.

Nimona feels positively about robbing banks! Interior art by Noelle.

Into this backdrop of coerced betrayal and unfortunate choices walks Nimona, who is no stranger to hardship and betrayal, in her own right. At times mysterious, mercurial, and laugh out loud funny, she is an entirely engaging character that shines through the comic's landscape. Ballister and Ambrosius are both complicated characters, but Nimona's mysterious history more than trumps their intricate backstory. While the story has plenty of humor contained within its pages, Noelle explores many different themes with this release. All three of the main characters can be seen in the tragic sense, and the triangle that is set up between the three, only serves to reinforce this notion. The use of propaganda is also explored in the story, as the Institution paints one picture of Ballister and Nimona, Ballister attempts to respond, while a number of the characters attempt to interfere with Nimona and Ballister's newly formed friendship. All of this goes on through various press releases to the government sponsored media. While this strip could have worked on a solely humorous level, the addition of a detailed history for each character, along with compelling emotional interaction between the main characters propels it to another level. Nuanced, intricate, tragic, humorous.... these are all good terms to describe Nimona. A highly engaging story, one that is rock solid at every level, is another way to describe the release. Thank you, Noelle.

Ballister doesn't like breaking rules- but Nimona does! Art by Noelle.

Let's get to the art. Noelle's brisk, sketchy style entirely engages the reader's eye. It is, in equal aspects, cartoonish and whimsical, while her characters and the setting are highly unique. The action and movement are presented dynamically, while the emotional aspect of the various situations is poignant. Her character designs are all together her own, and carries over to her other projects (A Lumberjanes shout out! Go check it out!). Panel placement is used for maximum effect, and, overall, the strip flows along wonderfully. While having a number of flashback sequences and holiday specific interludes, none of these detract from the pace of the story. Instead, they are valued additions to the overall plot, which open up windows into the character's core personalities and motivations. Beautiful work...


Here's some final thoughts about Nimona... This work wasn't assigned to me, sent to me by the creator of the comic, or recommended in any way. I stumbled across it, and immediately fell in love. The story and art work hand-in-hand to create an entirely enthralling story, a story that has become a favorite. Whether it be the overall story that is being told, the visual depiction of said story, or the underlying influences that are present within Nimona, I've become a wholehearted fan. If you want a little fun and whimsy in your life, check this out. If you want something more intricate, murky, and weird in your life, you should also be reading this. All in all, this was an entirely enjoyable and nuanced series, and I'm hoping for many more stories set in this universe, with these characters. Highly recommended...

The main cast of our tale. Art by Noelle.

Well, here we are at the end of another review, where I urge you to go out and buy the wonderful release that I just wrote about. Urge, urge! Go out and buy, buy! Seriously though, the collection won't be out until May 2015, so head over to http://gingerhaze.com/nimona and read it for free. If you want to experience the release with all the bells and whistles, head over to Amazon, where the hardcover collection is available for pre-order (and it includes an all new, exclusive epilogue to the story). You know you want to! That's it, time for me to sign off... Happy reading, all!