Nocterra #2 Review by Anthony Andujar Jr

Publisher: Image Comics

Genre: Horror/Sci-fi

Writer: Scott Snyder 

Artist: Tony Daniel 

Colors: Tomeu Morey 

Lettering: Andworld Design

    Val travels to Neon Grove along with her passengers, in search of some items to help aid her on the journey that lies ahead. Time is against Val as her brother’s condition worsens, making him get one step closer to becoming the very creatures that dominate the dark hellscape that they live in. Meanwhile, Blacktop Bill and his dark forces are following Val’s trail, not so far behind. 

      This issue, Val finds herself in Neon Grove, a port station where ferrymen find supplies left behind by others to recharge their rigs and stock up on whatever items necessary for long trips within this nightmarish world. Snyder spends some time showing more bits and pieces of Val’s backstory before the big “PM” event that transformed the world into the dark reality that it became. Readers get a glimpse as to why Val’s attitudes and philosophies shaped her worldview and decision making. But there are some interesting twists that are revealed that make the journey that Val embarks a worthwhile investment. 

  One of the best things about this issue is the antagonist Blacktop Bill. Snyder does a great job at creating mystery around this character. Whenever he shows up on the page, he just exudes this fear of the unknown. While he may have some personality, there isn’t much known about him, other than what he was hired for, and even then, there isn’t much about him that is revealed, making him a captivating silhouetted antagonist. In regards to the entirety of the issue, it’s a well paced book, taking the time to allow characters and story to play out, developing mystery and tension that lends itself to the world that Snyder and co have crafted. This leaves readers wanting to see more of this world and Val’s journey.

   As for the art of the book, Tony Daniel’s artwork is stunning and possibly might be the best work he has made in his career thus far. Daniel’s line and ink work is accompanied by Morey’s gorgeous color work, making the world of Nocterra a visual feast to read through. The entire art team delivers a lived in world that feels thought out and lived in. And the lettering by Andworld Design compliments the art and writing, making the book a pleasurable reading experience, allowing for everything to breathe. 

Admittedly, this world that the entire creative team has developed, has all the right elements for a video game. It all makes for some interesting stuff. It’s safe to say that Snyder and company are providing a really interesting story that retains investment in where they take Val next in the journey to restore the world. This book feels like a nice return to form compared to Snyder’s later DC work, and one can hope that he keeps the quality and consistency all the way to the very end. Nocterra issue 2 is worth adding to your Wednesday pull list

Bliss #6 Review by Anthony Andujar Jr

Publisher: Image Comics

Genre: Fantasy/Crime

Writer: Sean Lewis  

Artist:Caitlin Yarsky 

Colors: Ari Pluchinsky

    As Perry searches frantically to save his father Benton from the Goddess Lethe, a victim from Benton’s past hunts for him seeking justice. Perry must find the very thing that could save his dad from Lethe’s clutches. What is it that caused the rift between Perry and Benton, and how will the actions of the past affect their future?

    Sean Lewis continues to build on this fantasy story that is very grounded in the themes of regret, trauma and potential redemption. As much as there is a fantasy aesthetic that surrounds the story, the plot and the three dimensional characters that make the book a captivating read. Benton’s actions for what he did as horrible as it is, is something that anyone with a loved one or a parent could relate to. And Perry’s emotional journey and feelings towards his father and circumstances is one that many can identify with. 

    The characters are fallible yet have a charm to them that keeps you invested in their mission to save each other from the terror of Lethe, and from their own pasts. Lewis knows when to plant sparks of humor and drama, making the book a gripping read and almost makes you forget that it’s a fantasy book. And that’s what makes this so Lewis’s writing so great. We get to see what happened to Perry and his father and how the event they suffered from still bare consequence for their futures. 

  As for the artwork, Caitlin Yarsky and Ari Pluchinsky do a great job as an artist/colorist duo. Yarsky’s expressive characters and gesture work gives each character personality and weight, making each character uniquely different from the other. Pluchinsky joins this issue providing color work, and does a great job at preserving the visual continuity that was conveyed in the color work of the previous issues. Both artists create an atmospheric world that feels lived in, and mesmerizing for the reader to follow. 

    

   For those new to Bliss, or somewhat curious, if you dig the concepts of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sandman, Breaking Bad or anything related to fantasy of that combination, then this book is for you. I definitely recommend adding this book to your pull list. 

Beasts of Burden #1 Review by Anthony Andujar Jr

 Publisher: Dark Horse

Genre: horror/adventure 

Writer: Evan Dorkin & Sarah Dyer  

Art: Benjamin Dewey 

Lettering: Nate Piekos

    Emrys, the elder leader of the canine supernatural team known as the Wise Dogs, tells a tale about a previous case that he and his then human companion Jonathan Hope investigated during the late 40s. A supernatural curse has been reviving the dead, turning them into disembodied creatures that plague the streets of occupied Japan. Emrys and his team of supernatural investigators aim to find the source of this supernatural plague before it consumes all life. 

    As someone who has never read the previous series prior, it’s safe to say that reading this first issue has me convinced that I should change that. Evan Dorkin has been writing the previous entries of this series for sometime now, and with Sarah Dyer also co-writing this series, they do a great job at making the characters entertaining and the story engaging. The main protagonist is Emrys, an old english sheepdog that is the elderly statesmen of the Wise Dogs group. 

    Emrys is intelligent, knowledgeable and noble, and he has all of these great qualities that make him interesting to follow as a protagonist that happens to be a dog. Some of my fave moments in this book is his relationship with his companion, Johnathan Hope. Dorkin and Dyer do an excellent job at displaying the kind of trust and bond between Emrys and Hope as a human/canine pair, and their interactions with others are entertaining to read.

   Benjamin Dewey handles the art and color work. While his layouts are great, I think what made his work standout more is his color work. Dewey provides the line work with a painterly aesthetic that is beautiful to look at. His layouts provide enough space for the colors to compliment the tone of the book, visually complimenting the narrative as a mystery, horror, adventure comic of its kind should have.

   The lettering by Nate Piekos is well placed, never getting in the way of the art, allowing for both to work in tandem in service of the book. It’s often refreshing to find a book such as this that has the right balance of humor, horror, mystery and adventure all rolled up into one book. If you’re into stories involving pets, Hellboy, or John Carpenter’s The Thing, then you’ll definitely enjoy this book. I recommend adding this to your pull list and I look forward to the next issue. 

Green Lantern #1 Review by Anthony Andujar Jr

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne 

Artist: Dexter Soy and Marco Santucci 

Colors:Alex Sinclair 

Lettering: Rob Leigh

      It’s a new era for the Green Lantern title as the book returns with a new series centered on the legendary Green Lantern, John Stewart. The United Planets have gathered to dictate who will be more suited for protecting the cosmos. This leaves the Guardians of the Universe and Oa in a difficult position should they lose their ability as the primary protectors of the universe. With a universal paradigm shift, what will become of the Green Lantern Corps? And how will John Stewart and his crew navigate this ever changing landscape?

   When Geoffrey Thorne was announced the writer of this title, he gained a lot of attention. Whether that helped the book doesn’t matter because right off the bat, Thorne shows that he is a worthy writer on Green Lantern. When it comes to Green Lantern, Hal Jordan has been the headliner that’s always at the forefront. But over the last twenty years, many identify and yearn for John Stewart to headline a series where he can be at center stage. And while he’s had his moments in the spotlight, it usually always dimmed faster than it shined, until now. 

   Thorne kicks off the book with a bang, displaying the current state quo of the corps and Stewart. He plays around with some interesting concepts in regards to the guardians and their place in the universe. For so long they’ve often supervised the universe, but now for the first time, they’ll have a planetary committee supervise them. It’s a fascinating concept that hasn’t been toyed with, and the choices that Thorne makes an engrossing story worth a reader's attention. 

  Personally, I really enjoyed Thorne’s handling of John Stewart and his relationships with his fellow lanterns such as Keli, and Simon Baz. Each of the characters are endearing, with different personalities that feel more like a family than an actual team. And that is a good thing. Oftentimes, the lanterns have always been displayed as comrades in arms, but Thorne gives the lanterns a familial approach that feels more personable and worthwhile to follow. The conflicts that occur within the story in regards to the place of the Guardians, the resistance towards them and the necessities of them shows promise for what Thorne aims to deliver going forward with the series. 

    In regards to the art work, Dexter Soy was a perfect choice to kick start the book. He does a fantastic job providing action with his layouts, giving the book a scale fitting of a summer blockbuster. While Soy does his job in that arena, Marco Santucci delivers in making the courtroom scenes of the United Planets as captivating as the action that both he and Soy deliver. And with Alex Sinclair on color duties, and Rob Leigh’s lettering,  it truly is the cherry on top of this emerald cake of a book. If you’re a fan of John Stewart, Justice League Unlimited, or the Green Lantern’s, but have been out of touch or looking for a good time to jump in, this book is a great place to start! I highly recommend adding this to your pull list this week. 

American Dreams #3 Review by Anthony Andujar Jr

Publisher: Short Fuse Media Group

Writer: Daniel Kalban  

Artist: Dody Eka   

Inker: Tebe Andry 

Colorist: Warnia Sahadewa 

Letterer: Matt Bowers

 

      As Jake begins a new career working at his sister's job, as Harry Houdini’s new showman. But in the midst of nightly success, sinister foes lurk the streets of New York. Aleister Crowley is hired to assassinate a reporter that has exposed the exploitation of labor workers in the slums of the city. The kind of Slums that Jake previously worked in before gaining his abilities. But Crowley has more in mind for the meta humans of New York. What is Crowley planning? And what does he  have in store for Jake and those that oppose him?

   This issue was a surprisingly enjoyable issue. Kalban spends a bit more time on Jake’s new environment as Houdini’s fellow entertainer, and seeing how this has earned appreciation from his family. Despite having such powers, and entertaining the masses, it doesn’t earn him much favor from his father. Kalban continues to weave historical figures into the story, intersecting different characters into Jake’s journey, delivering an amusing reading experience. Jake gets to use his powers more, and dons the costume in addition to facing off against some foes that challenge him. Admittedly, much about Jake’s powers are still unknown, and I only hope some of those elements are explained at some point over the course of the overall story. But for this issue, it doesn’t detract from the super heroic pulp action that Kalban delivers. This issue felt a bit more in line with issue 1, delivering some solid character moments, and pacing compared to issue 2. 

   As for the art, Eka delivers some good page real estate, especially with the action set pieces. I’d imagine that Eka had an enjoyable time illustrating some of those moments, and with Andry’s inks and Sahadewa’s color work, it shows. Much of Sahadewa’s color work shines in this issue, displaying a sense of power as Jake showcases his other abilities in action. Bowers lettering is easy to comprehend and accompanies the art more seamlessly, making this an enjoyable read throughout. This was a good read that is on par with issue 1. I definitely recommend checking this issue out. Kalban has introduced some interesting players into the series, generating more curiosity at how all of these characters will shape Jake’s journey as a person and an up and coming superhero.

American Dreams #2 review by Anthony Andujar Jr

 Publisher: Short Fuse Media Group

Writer: Daniel Klalban 

Artist: Dody Eka   

Inker: Tebe Andry 

Colorist: Warnia Sahadewa 

Letterer: Matt Bowers

    After awakening from his slumber, Jake must accept his new reality, one where he is no longer a regular human being, but something more. As Jake comes to terms with his new abilities, there are shadowy forces at work who seek to recruit those that have been affected by the experiment that Edison unleashed unto New York City. Who is trying to recruit the meta humans? Why was Jake chosen to become one? And will he discover the reason in time before others fall victim to the other meta’s?

      After the successful first issue, it can be understandably difficult to follow up immediately with a stronger entry. Things that I found enjoyable about this issue: I enjoy much of the character moments in this story. Jake is trying to cope with his abilities, and how his powers affect aspects of his life. I very much enjoy much of those elements that Kalban scripts within this story. Admittedly, there are some elements in the story that personally didn’t work for me, such as the driving force, or the entity that endowed Jake with his newfound abilities.

    I felt that it was a bit odd that Jake got his powers from an entity that is the spirit of America. The thought of that concept made me wonder, does that mean that there are other entities that have spirits based on their own flags and countries too? If Kalban made the entity be the spirit of righteousness or goodwill, I think that would have landed better. But given that this is a comic based in the 1900’s, and Kalban is channeling the sensibilities of superheroes of that time, it works for the story (even if it isn’t my cup of tea as a concept). 

As for the rest of the book, Kalban takes his time with Jake’s new reality as a meta human that’s just trying to support his family. The series of events that occur felt a bit rushed, yet despite some of the pacing, it’s still an enjoyable read. And much of what happens within the story is justifiable. Kalban displays how Jake uses his powers in times of crisis, and how those powers affect his career choices. While issue 2 is not as strong as the first issue, it’s still an enjoyable read, especially as some new players enter the fray, promising to make life complicated for Jake and those around him. 

As for the art, Eka does a fine job with the layouts by displaying some great gesture work, action, and character acting. Andry, and Sahadewa do a good job with the ink and color work, complimenting Eka’s line work. In regards to the lettering, Bowers does a good job in this issue, giving more room for the art and letters to coexist. I’d imagine that when Eka was illustrating this issue that there was a lot more thought in giving more space for Bowers to apply the lettering so that they wouldn’t for attention, and thankfully, they work in tandem in this issue. Personally, While I felt that there were concepts and ideas that could have been better, the issue itself was still an entertaining read. Kalban shows readers what becomes of Jake and his powers and introduces new characters that aim to challenge Jake’s abilities. It’s a fun issue and worth checking out. I’m looking forward to what Kalban and company deliver in issue

American Dreams #1 review by Anthony Andujar Jr

 Publisher: Short Fuse Media Group

Writer: Daniel Kalban  

Artist:Dody Eka  

Inker: Tebe Andry 

Colorist: Warnia Sahadewa 

Letterer: Matt Bowers

   American Dreams is a superhero comic based In an alternate history of the 20th century,  centered around aspiring illustrator, and Jewish immigrant, Jake Gold.  Gold dreams of being an illustrator, but lives with the reality of working in a sweatshop to support his family.  When he isn’t working his day job, he’s often involved in rival gang activity. Despite this harsh reality, Thomas Edison aims to make his goals a reality by using the designs used by then employee, Nikola Tesla to harness power from another dimension. Dreams and reality collide as the lives of Jake, Edison, and New York are changed forever!

       It’s always a mix bag when reading indie comics. Some indie comics don’t find their feet until issue 2 or 3, but every now and then, some books surprise and garner interest right at the start of their first issue. Thankfully, this is one of books that gets you right from the start. While this is a superhero book, it doesn’t rush into superheroics right off the bat. That’s all thanks to Daniel Kalban’s efforts to tell a tight story about character rather than pure spectacle. 

  Kalban goes to great lengths to introduce readers to Jake, and the world he lives in as a Jewish immigrant living in the 1900’s. For anyone that knows their general history of comic book creators and superheroes. Jake is very much a representative of many illustrators of that time that tried to pursue a living working in art, namely comics. It’s easy to see why Kalban would choose this as an element to Jake’s motivations as a character. One might say that in some cases, Jake might remind people of Jack Kirby, who was an illustrator, that worked on comics at a time when it was looked down upon, but when it came time to fight in the streets, was always ready to tussle. 

    Jake is a likeable character that is just trying to do right by his family, but struggles to pursue his dream. It’s a theme that many can relate to in this day and age of any color, or creed. Aside from Jake, there are other characters that Kalban plays into the story that are all based on historical figures such as Thomas Edison, JP Morgan, Harry Houdini among others. He does an expert job at weaving these characters narratives together, showing how each of these characters intersect in one fashion or another, which makes for an appealing read. The story is tight and never forgets to focus on these characters and their motivations, making it worth the time to invest reading the chain of events that unfold throughout the book. 

  The art done by Dody Eka, coupled with Tebe Andry’s inks and Warina Sahadewa’s colors is stellar. They do a good job working together in tandem to bring the story to life, giving the book a visual flair that exudes the essence of its setting and time. The layouts by Eka are beautifully done, and the inks and colors that accompany it really make this book shine as much as the writing. Matt Bowers does a decent job lettering the book. There are some pages where the lettering sometimes clutters the art, but not so much so that it detracts from the book, as it serves its purpose to guide the reader through the story as it should. Overall, this was a surprisingly great start to a promising comic book series! I highly recommend giving this book a shot. If you’re a fan of Captain America and Superman, a superhero fan, or a curious reader that’s looking for something a little different, then I think this book will scratch that itch. I definitely recommend checking this book out. I look forward to the next issue!

You can read my reviews for American Dreams issues 2 and 3 by clicking the link below.

American Dreams #2 Review: https://thecomicssurfer.blogspot.com/2021/04/american-dreams-2-review-by-anthony.html

American Dreams #3 Review: https://thecomicssurfer.blogspot.com/2021/04/american-dreams-issue-3-review-by.html