Archon: Battle of the Dragon #3
Written by John J. Perez
Art by Marco Maccagni
Action Lab Entertainment
Marco Maccagni’s art, cartoonish, but sharp continues to be a series highlight, as it well-suits the comedic story line by writer John J. Perez.
The story, for those not into the first two issues is about fantasy races such as trolls and gnomes and dragons inhabiting a huge casino resort in the modern world.
It’s quirky, but so far it works.
In this issue we find there is actually a department within the police to deal with fantasy races, itself populated with races familiar to any Dungeons & Dragons table.
Certainly there are some questionable dealings at the hotel, so there will be a police story element moving forward.
It is a fun ride, and well worth jumping into to see where the story goes.
Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker #2
Writer: Tom DeLonge and Ben Kull
Art: Djet
Magnetic Press
A storyline which mucks around in the wonderful world of dreams, and the equally intriguing realm of nightmares is one I am likely to be drawn to.
The dual realms allow for the creation of a world as fantastical as the mind of the writer. In the case of Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker #2 writers Tom DeLonge and Ben Kull have still to really develop the dream world to the extent I would like, and given this is a three issue run I suspect they never will, at least on this run.
Instead, the writing duo is focused on baddies from the dream realm making their way to our realm where we are awake.
It is a neat idea, which may not be completely original, but it works just fine.
Djet’s art work is again outstanding, always a huge plus.
Overall this is a great series, one I highly recommend, and I do hope it goes beyond the short run series, because there is so much potential when you have the dream realm to explore.
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. #1
Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art by Alex Maleev
Dark Horse Comics
Along with a very select few other indie creations; Spawn as an example, Mike Mignola’s creation Hellboy is about as iconic as it gets.
I’m a fan of both the creator, digging the new work on ‘Joe Golem’, and of course Hellboy.
The big red guy with the broken horns, spiked tail, and big pistols, is dramatic visually.
Alex Maleev renders Hellboy in a style here that is not quite Mignola, but is in the same vein, so that is comforting.
Writers Mike Mignola & John Arcudi are weaving a great tale through Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952. Not that this is the best Hellboy story ever, but it doesn’t have to be either.
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Hellboy book I have not liked, so there just are not very many even mediocre tales.
This one is a cut above the middle ground though.
As you would expect there is a religious aspect, and of course military, regular, fun Hellboy fare.
If you are not yet a regular fan of all things Hellboy, shame on you by the way if you fall into that category, then jump in here and become a fan. This is as good a spot as any.
Johnny Red #2
Writer by Garth Ennis
Art by Keith Burns
Titan Comics
Fighter plane dogfights in WWII over the Eastern Front, can you ask for much more as a backdrop to a comic book?
I certainly think not.
And writer Garth Ennis uses that premise to weave a great story, an unlikely hero far from home, leading a rag tag crew to excel in the skies against insurmountable odds with the fate of supply lines to beleaguered Russian troops hanging in the balance.
The band of unlikely pilots is effective, but they don’t exactly fly by the rules, and in the military rules are generally seen as more important than even results.
So you can imagine the friction that happens, and what interesting dynamics Ennis has to work with.
And then there is the art of Keith Burns. It’s excellent. It fits the story, and reflects the amazing aerial battles of the war.
This is just an excellent title, and issue #2 is an amazing extension of that.
