Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, fcbd, Free Comic Book Day 2015

A Comics Feast Second Helping! All The Free Comic Book Day Comics Reviewed, Part II

We ran the first twenty-five yesterday. Time for the full monty, the second twenty-five. And remember Free Comic Book Day is tomorrow! Here are the rest of our reviews:

Rabbids, Papercutz

This could well be my kids favourite comic of the day, I know it. Many, crazy rabbit-like cartoony creatures acting as agents of chaos, reflecting the desires and wishes of all those around them, and bookending this comic, with other kid friendly cartoons, from the Euro-indy Ariol to the CGI Garfield… but yes, I know that when I get home on Saturdaym it'll mostly be the Rabbids… Recommended for anyone who likes Minions.

Sonic The Hedgehog, Archie Action

Flip booking with Mega Man: Worlds Unite… and uh oh. You know how Marvel and DC have been up to their eyes with parallel, alternate universes? It seems that the Sonic The Hedgehog comic is about to go that way with Genesis Portals. This issue kicks that off, tying it into previous universe destructiveness along the way. Recommended for those who still can't get enough Convergence or Secret Wars in their lives and have to see the same idea invade other comic book realities – which is kind of the point.

Bongo Free-For-All Comics, Bongo

A series of shorts, with the visually manic Homer stealing the show in mid-roof repair. Less emphasis on the repair. But there's a lot to be said for Lisa's managesque journey to ancient Egypt as a Cleopatra figure immortalised for ll time n an unexpected way. Short, sharp, Simpsons funnies. And a world in which comics are distrubuted by Zirconium Comic Distributors… Recommended for those who take short trips to the bathroom.

Spongebob Freestyle Funnies, United Plankton

The Vic Reeves of cartoon series in comic book form. Unlike many comparable titles, this features a full length comic book story that, rather than wrapping u a sily idea in as few pages as possible, keeps going beyond natural levels of tolerance, before reclaiming its right to exist in a glorious fashion. One of the better comic books out tomorrow. Recommended for those for whom neon is just a little on the dull side.

Pokemon, Perfect Square

Three Pokestories from three Pokerealities based on the popular computer game, collectible card game, toys, anime and basically everything you can throw a Pokeball on.. The first starts off in traditional anime bombast before suddenly switching gears to something more poignant. But soon enough they start shouting and waving their arms a lot and giving me a headache. Recommended for those who hallucinate Pokemon in their daily lives.

March Grand Prix, Capstone

A preview of the graphic novel about a racing hare who… actually races cars. Anthropomorphic child fantasy, this comic also takes time to break out and explain actual car maintenance and what makes cars go in an unexpectedly but accessible technical fashion, using the fashion of cutaways and comic book instruction illustration, and despite it's fantastic surface is very much grounded in automobile reality. Recommended for young petrolheads.

Chakra The Invincible, Graphic India

Stan Lee might have been trying to recreate his success with Spider-Man in this Indian superhero comic book, but instead he's come something closer to the Captain Marvel and Marvelman comics, incredibly simple stories but with a breezy  kid friendly attitude throughout. And with the Chakra webtoons using Angry Birds as a way to get them on every phone and tablet out there, there could be a ready made audience waiting for this one…Recommended for those who will pick up anything with Stan Lee's name on it.

Overstreet's Comic Book Marketplace, Gemstone Publishing

It's surprising how little there actually is about the comic book marketplace in this volume. The highlight is a run through a collector of the Steve Epting covers of Captain America, in that we get to see the original artwork, but as a whole, this magazine has very little to say and certainly nothing to excite a new reader. Recommended for those who are already reading Overstreet's Comic Book Marketplace

Cleopatra In Space, Capstone

The opening of the first Cleopatra In Space graohic novel, in which the young Cleopatra is rocketed forward centuries and light years into a world of sentient talking cats and battles that are…not unlike challenges that her future self will have to face back in Acient Egypt. Except she hasn't actually faced them there yet. Will this be how she learns? Great cartooning skills with wide open pages and… talking cats. Lots to love. Recommended for those who think Bone should have had a female lead.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, Viz Media

A very successful and long running eighties manga from Shonen Jump, translated and published in the US now, it is unrepentant in dropping you in the middle of a Street Fighter style combat between martial art and magical art, though through all the bombast there is a seediness of line I would more associate with the sweatiness of Terry LaBan's work. The comic is now in hardcover and this is an attempt to swing you straight round into picking up the big boy. it is more impressive that the light-in-comparison Yu-Gi-Oh, also teased in this comic, but they show how much the rest of the US comics industry has to learn….

Jurassic Strike-Force 5, Silver Dragon Books

Again, a comic I have only ever seen at this time of the year, it's a long running Free Comic Book Day mainstay, with humanoid dinosaurs turned superheroic response team. Mediocre executuon, the truth is TMNT does this kind of thing so much better. It;s just that if you have a kid who is Dinosaurs! Dinosaurs! Dinsosaurs! then you probably can't do better than this. Recommend for those for whom being a Tyrannosaurus is a legitimate life plan.

Wonderland, Zenescope

Alice In Wonderland turned horror story, as ever these comics belie the reputation that Xenescope has delivering something far closer to Twilight Zone morality tales, with greed and desire reflected in horrific outcomes. The recent Marvel Black Vortex series could have just run a version of this short story and be done with it. Prepare to have tour preconceptions challenged. Recommended for those for whom Grimm, Once Upon A Time and Fables just isn't enough.

Hatter M: Love Of Wonder, Automatic Pictures

You wait ages for a grimdark retelling of Alice In Wonderland and you get two at once. This comic, previewing Volume 5 of the Hatter M graphic novels is a far darker, twistier story, courtesy of artist Sami Makonnen, in the Sienkiewicz/Wood/Templesmith school of comic book art, and clearly a major talent waiting to break out. It'sa great looking book as Wonderlandness breaks out across an England unprepared for its wickedness. Recommended for those who tink that Tim Burton could have done so much more.

The Tick, NEC

In Britain, Viz Comic has a character, Terry F*ckwit, who never realises what is going on around him, making up his own realities much to the extreme irritation of those around him. That is The Tick here – everything works out for him, and the world, but he is just making t up as he goes along, often working against any logical responses. Groo as a superhero. Basically, it's great, in fact it's ever better than it used to be. Also, free. Recommended for those who just want a fun comic and have forgotten hoe much fun this one is.

Worlds Of Aspen 2015,  Aspen

Aspen has been bumping up the amount and diversity of their titles of late, rather successfully it seems, and this book is there to reflect this. We have the relaunch of Fathom as Fathom Blue and a zero issue for Eternal Soulfire, as a flipbook. The latter is Science Vs. Magic in a Blade Runner Los Angeles with pixies, which is how they'll probably they'll pitch it, and it's a great read. While the relaunch of Fathom creates a teen superhero team that eschew costumes to be closer to Stan and Jacks original vision for the Fantastic Four, using the concept of close friends as family. The books are launching in June and July, and this is one of the better examples of giving a taste to a new audience. Recommended for those who really want to be young again.

Captain Canuck #0, Chapter House Comics

Apparently "The original guardian of the true north is back". It sounds like Jon Snow might get along with this guy. Sadly, I did not have previous knowledge of Captain Canuck. Happily, I found the whole idea of a Canadian national superhero fascinating and the book interesting. The book has plenty of information to introduce you to the "Equilibrium Operatives" who form a hero team, including the rather flashily clad Captain Canuck with a white body suit sporting red maple leaf patterns, in this return of a character who first appeared in 1975. The artwork is a little glossy for my tastes on the main storyline—which is to say it's very much in keeping with mainstream action comics—but the "Casefile" story that's included really captured my attention. For one thing, it's written and lettered by Ed Brisson. Sold. The artwork by George Freeman is gorgeous, harking back to classic design and making great color choices. This is a fun, engaging comic and even gives you options to order themed maple syrup. This comic is for you if you find humor as well as adventure in superhero comics and want to see some new antics.

Teen Titans Go! And Scooby Doo Team-Up #1, DC Comics

This contains a short from the series Teen Titans Go! from DC Comics tied in with the cartoon TV show, which means that it was perfect for me since I haven't read the comics before, but have seen the show a few times and have always been impressed by it. The art design and colors are very appealing, and I'm usually amused by the exact nature of the bickering and conflict that goes on among the characters. The comic is actually more impressive than I thought, almost mind-bogglingly high energy, the equivalent of a dense sugar fix in terms of visuals and sheer frenetic action. The middle of the book contains activity sheets for kids while the flipside of the book brings us a Scooby Doo Adventure Team-Up with the Justice League which is kind of…brilliant. Really bizarre and funny. What a crazy idea, one that certainly distorts your sense of fictional universes. This is tying in with an upcoming graphic novel of the same name and, well, it looks like it might be kind of great. This comic is for you if you like bright colors, high action, and quirky storytelling.

The Phantom, Hermes Press

Hermes Press brings to print classic collections, and this FCBD offering focuses on the Phantom, who I have only a passing knowledge of previously. But looking through this republished 1960's origin story for the Phantom, he of purple body suit and stripey underoos, and two stories, one from the Gold Key and another from the Charlton era, how awesome is he? I mean, if you consider yourself a comics hipster and embrace the retro, you should have started here. I really want a replica of his Phantom ring, too, though people would probably think it was a Punisher ring (oh, the ignorant masses.. see you can lord it over people if you read this). In all seriousness, this is a beautiful collection of stories that take us into the design world and concepts of a superhero who has influenced many since and if you want to see a hero having jungly adventures, including getting to see artistic renderings of volcanoes and remote locations as seen by the 60's mind, this is the place to be. This comic is for you if you think great linework is always cool in comics.

Steampunk Goldilocks #1, Antarctic Press

I was a little worried to read this one because I'm not a big fan of sexualized females in fairy tale stories, but then I recalled having read a comic in this line in the past where I noticed a virtually all female cast, as is the case here. In that context, the short-skirted and buxom characters are actually sending a different message to me, the reader, and that is a kind of celebration of the curvy figure as part of an aesthetic, one which is very artfully conveyed by Rod Espinosa. Just about every panel looks like a celebration of gene, costumes, accessories, and settings. There's also plenty of comic relief. Something that I particularly appreciated was the forcefulness of the characters in pursuing their goals—these are action characters not simply posed to be looked at, however much attention has been payed to the aesthetic. This comic is for you if you like fine illustration-style artwork, genre bending, and finding cosplay ideas.

Bodie Troll, Red 5 Comics

Just awwwwww. I mean really. This is an adorable comic, but the issue actually also contains stories from a series called Drone, and one from Creature Academy. Before I get into detail, I want to say that the artists on all three of these series are really promising. That's Jay Fosgitt, Randy Kintz, and Scott Bond, as well as their colorists who seem to be in top form too. I'm kind of at a loss as to why I hadn't seen any of these comics before since they are very striking and could easily be series you'd see from bigger publishers in terms of quality. Bodie Troll takes cutesy art style to a new level, reminding me of Smurfs, and also the Monchichi cartoon I used to watch as a kid (if anyone remembers that), set in a pseudo medieval fairytale world and featuring pretty much the world's cutest troll who tries to be scary. Well, he does drink beer as a kid so I'm not sure he's the greatest role model, though. The sci-fi series Drone has art pretty much to die for and a winning central robot figure facing combat. Creature Academy is another homerun in art and it we've got magic and occult mayhem in a sharply etched Disney-manga combo style. This comic is for you if you have strong aesthetic sensibilities and want to read stories that are new and different.

Attack on Titan, Kodansha Comics

I have not read Attack on Titan or seen the show. But I am Titan curious. I have seen very passionate speeches delivered by friends on the subject, but where do I start? It was really smart of Kodansha to produce such a neat little volume, complete with card covers, for FCBD. That isn't going to get thrown out or forgotten about easily, and is going to give readers the feel of picking up a manga volume if they haven't previously. It's an excellent envoy to the genre. The Titan story included here helps establish youth culture, family life, attitudes, and some significant events in the overall plot. The book actually contains quite a few Kodansha stories. I was particularly interested by the Vinland Saga preview, and may end up pursuing that before I read Attack on Titan. See what they did there? That was a successful FCBD sell for future reading. This comic is for you if you want to find new manga series to read but aren't sure which or if you have never read manga before but would like to start.

Defend Comics, CBLDF

Creators come together to spread awareness of the mission of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in this issue and the themes of stories appearing tie in with the idea of defending free speech. There's one from Gene Luen Yang, a Rabbids tale, Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula, a Beanworld story, an Archie Kevin Keller installment, a Dragons Beware! story, and an Olympian tale by George O'Connor. This is a great way to raise awareness among young readers of the importance of communication and free speech and also a primer on issues they'll deal with in the future a medium they are hopefully learning to love. Plus these are high-quality, entertaining and meaningful stories by some top talent. This may not be the comic you reach for first when you're with a child on FCBD, but maybe it should be. Wouldn't you rather them read stories that convey an important message than ones that deal with fluffier plot elements? And needless to say, adults can and should read this to. It'll keep your attention on how the medium can be used as its own spokesperson and why that needs to be encouraged and supported. This comic is for you if you are a human being and care about the future of comics and free speech. Pets might like it too.

2000AD, Rebellion

We all knew this would be one of the best values, and probably the best value of FCBD, as it was last year, as a large format 48 page full-color magazine. It does make me a little angsty that 2000AD is still hard to get right away in the USA when I'm exposed to its papery glory. We do have immediate digital access now each week, though, to the British-based science fiction comic anthology, which is a great thing. With pages so large you feel like you're falling into them, 2000AD is an immersive reading experience with top notch artwork and talent you'll recognize from other series as well. Dave Gibbons, Pat Mills, and Kevin O'Neill are all in this volume just to name a few. Stories feature Judge Dredd, a 3000AD set story, Death Rock, Nemesis the Warlock, Dr Sin, Dan Dare, and Slaine. That's a wide swath of science fiction, adventure, and occult themes well worth exploring. The artwork and color on Nemesis the Warlock alone, by O'Neill, will give you the sense this book was well worth taking home. If you read 2000AD you'll want this. If you know someone who's on the fence give it to them so they can experience it in tactile fashion. You really can't go wrong with this comic, and we should thank 2000AD for being so generous with the talent and the print size. This comic is for you because it's for you. Just trust me on that.

Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice, Super Genius, Papercutz

Well now, as announced at San Diego Comic Con last year, Papercutz' imprint Super Genius are bringing the Tekno Comics originally produced under the aegis of Neil Gaiman to print, starting with Lady Justice. And this book is that. Here's your chance to see some remastered vintage Gaiman concepts starting with Lady Justice. The back of this comic also advertizes the upcoming collections of Teknophage and Mr Hero, all long out of print. With the reassessment of the 90's in comics well underway, and the gathering of bodies of work around certain creators, these comics need to be brought back for readers to have a closer look at. Papercutz have a great deal of experience in handling material from previous or foreign publishers and presenting the comics in accessible and attractive ways, so I have no doubt these will be satisfying collections for any completist or curious soul. Even if you read Lady Justice back in the day, I think you'll be surprised by how vibrant the colors are and how kinetic the action remains in this comic. It's almost like it preserves a degree of commitment to the story that we don't see as often now in comics in favor of more fashionable restraint. This is our origin story for Lady Justice and it got my attention. It'll get yours too. This comic is for you if you want to see a strong concept that packs a punch given new life.

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Plants vs. Zombies, and Bandette, Dark Horse Comics

This all-ages offering from Dark Horse contains an Avatar: The Last Airbender story as seen on Nickelodeon, but I can't say that without adding that it's written by Gene freakin' Luen Yang and drawn by the artist who is all that, Carla Speed McNeil. The artwork is beautiful and the story, a "short" which is quite accessible entitles "Sisters", is remarkably complex for the short form. Kind of a perfect 10. The second story, Plants vs. Zombies is by Paul you heard me right Tobin (Dark Horse tends to do this, bring the talent), and Ron Chan, is the definition of wacky and visually engaging, while the final story, Bandette (hasn't that been nominated for an Eisner yet again?) is just almost painfully beautiful in the hands of Tobin and artist Colleen Coover. The latter follows the adventure of a youthful art thief and will put some culture and style into the life of any young reader. This time she's fighting the "Elegant Assassins" and plotting her own entertainment. This comic is for you if you want to see plenty of talent operating at the top of their game in high spirits. The kids in your life might like it too.

Have you made up your mind yet? Choose wisely on Free Comic Book Day, but most importantly read your comics, share them, and enjoy them while supporting your Local Comic Shop!

See the rest of our Free Comic Book Day 2015 coverage right here.

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