FEATURE REVIEW ARCHIE COMICS' LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36

LIFE WITH ARCHIE #36

Publisher: Archie Comics

Writer: Paul Kupperberg

Artist: Pat Kennedy

Release Date: 7/23/2014

If you are astute, you’ll notice that I didn’t use the title for the particular story in this issue. There is a reason for that.

There is also a reason I waited to do this review.

***WARNING *** SPOILERS AHEAD***

If you’re a comic book fan, you probably already know what this issue is about – it’s been all over the comic book news sites for months.

If you don’t know what is special about this issue, and don’t want it to be spoiled, then I suggest you stop reading, rush out, and find a copy of this issue – if you can. This issue is very hard to find, I was fortunate to get mine and the variant covers. Of course, you can get the trade that reprints this issue and #37 follow-up.

Archie Comics called this issue a Landmark issue, and it is – for reasons beyond the main event that happens.

I waited to write this piece for a few weeks to give the issue and its event time to settle. That may seem silly, but really this one deserves that.

If you don’t know, what comes out of this book is this:

ARCHIE ANDREWS is dead.

Yes, Archie is dead. No Archie isn’t coming back – I don’t believe. That is what is being said.

The teenage Archie is still around, and will be published for years to come.

If you aren’t familiar with this Life with Archie series, it tells two tales of possible futures, one where Archie married Betty, and one where Archie married Veronica. Archie is an adult in this series, so the teenager lives on.

While this issue is about the Death of Archie Andrews, it is also about much more. It has a message and a purpose to it, steeped in events going on in the world around us right now.

The issue starts with Archie running through Riverdale, thinking about his life, how things have turned out, the future, and how good things are. It is written in such a way that even though Archie talks about his love for his family and WIFE, it is never revealed whom he is talking about in this story, Betty or Veronica.

The writing and the art show that it could be either one.

The story also touches on Kevin Keller and his husband – yes, if you didn’t know there is a gay Archie character – who is a rising politician and a gun control activist.

Threats have been made against the life of Keller, threats that are carried out at a party for Keller held at Pops (now owned by Jughead). Here someone tries to shoot Keller . . .

Only Archie dives in the way, taking the bullet meant for his longtime friend. Unfortunately, he also accepts the death that was meant for Keller.

A heroic Archie dies on the floor of his beloved hangout, sacrificing his life for a friend, surrounded by those he loved.

It is a landmark issues not just because of Archie’s sacrifice, but because it also touches upon the Gay Rights issue, and more prominently, the Gun Control/violence issue, two very prominent issues of our time.

Unfortunately, gun violence has killed a beloved character in Archie Andrew.

Unfortunately, gun violence has killed many beloved people in real life.

While the Death of Archie issue of Life with Archie was promoted in advance, this wasn’t a shock value death. They didn’t kill him in such a way that showcases a “how can we kill him and bring him back?” thought process.

This death was handled with Grace and Love.

Rating: 8

FEATURE REVIEW IMAGE'S WAYWARD #1

Wayward #1

Publisher: Image

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Steven Cummings

Release Date: 8/27/2014, ongoing series

Imagine if your parents divorced and you moved to a new country to live with one of them. Culture shock right? I bet a lot of you have experienced that.

Now imagine that you are attacked by giant turtles (think evil ninja turtles), and saved by a mysterious girl. A girl who won’t explain anything and quickly disappears after you buy her a milkshake. I bet that part hasn’t happened to you (if it has contacted me NOW!).

That is Rori Lane’s life, a half-Irish, half-Japanese teenager who has moved to Japan to live with her mother. She can somehow see odd red lines tell her where to go . . . Odd.

First thing out of the way: Wayward is a beautifully rendered book. Art, inks and colors are superb. The art style is a mix of traditional ‘western,’ or ‘American’ style, and manga style. Neither style overwhelms the other. The balance between them is near perfect.

The writing . . . hmm, this is where I see that some people may be down on Wayward. That is not because the writing is bad, but because this isn’t an epic, earth shattering first issue. You know what? It doesn’t have to be.

This #1 introduces the main character, gives us a journey she is on, gives us a resolution to that initial journey and starts Rori on a path to a new journey. This issue does everything that it needs to.

This is another solid start to another Image series. This is getting to be a habit with them.

Rating: 6.5

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW BOOM! STUDIOS'S CLOAKS #1

Cloaks

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Writer: Caleb Monroe

Artist: Mariano Navarro

Published: 9/3/2014

Cloaks is another in a recent rash of titles I have read that I am not sure what I think about it. The first issue is okay. There is nothing wrong with it, no gaping plot holes and the art is solid.

However, it is so by the numbers and done to death that it feels stale even though it is a new story.

The story is about Adam, an orphan introduced at the wake for Blackstone, his magician guardian. We learn that Adam is The Kid a New York Street magician, eventually arrested by a mysterious group who wants him to join them.

In the issues final reveal, the offer to join the group is made by Blackstone.

As I said, there is nothing wrong with Cloaks, it is a good first read, but is just a typical by-the-numbers book with stock characters.

That said, I will be reading the next issues, just to see where things go.

Rating: 5

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW DYNAMITE'S LADY ZORRO #1

Lady Zorro #1

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Writer: Alex De Campi

Artist: Rey Villegas

Release Date: 7/16/2014

Normally creating a female version of a male character is just a money grab, and sorta bla. Usually I stay away from them. However, I am a huge Zorro fan, so I wanted to check out Lady Zorro.

Lady Zorro is actually a supporting character that was introduced in Dynamite’s recent Zorro series. No, I am not talking about Lady Rawhide (also recently published by Dynamite). Lady Rawhide and Lady Zorro are two different characters. Even if both Ladies share the background of being introduced as Zorro characters (Rawhide back in the TOPPS Comics days).

Lady Zorro originally debuted as a supporting character in the main Zorro series, as a wandering and lost Indian woman who lost her family to the violence of Captain Gonzales’s soldier. This character doesn’t don the Lady Zorro identity until this first issue though.

In Lady Zorro #1, Zorro makes an appearance, asking for her help while he (Don Diego) must leave the area. She agrees.

Immediately she is in way over her head, adopts a Zorro type guise and finds herself thrust into conflict against German mercenaries and way out of her league.

The Artwork is impeccable, any fan of bad girl/good girl art will find plenty to love here.

The writing is solid as well, but is held back a little by a story that is by the numbers, and falls a little flat at times.

The real issue I have is the character herself. Lady Zorro was more compelling to me as the supporting character in Zorro. As often is the case, the supporting characters are more compelling and deeper then the main characters.

Can Lady Zorro carry a solo title? Only time will tell.

Even if it is by the numbers, it still is a rather entertaining action/adventure yarn. If you need your fix of a hot chick kicking ass, this will fill that for you.

Rating: 6

FEATURE REVIEW IDW'S THE SQUIDDER #1 BY TEMPLESMITH

The Squidder

Publisher: IDW

Writer/Artist: Ben Templesmith

Release Date: 7/16/2014, ongoing series

H.P. Lovecraft meets aliens, meets genetics? An interesting mix.

Squidder takes place in the future, after giant alien Squids have conquered the earth. Enough time has passed that a life and religion has developed around the The Squids, to the point where their invasion and the fight against them is believed by many to be a rebellion.

A Squidder is a type of genetically engineered solider designed to fight and kill the Squids. Our lead character is one of the last of The Squidders, perhaps the last. Old enough to know that the ‘rebellion’ was actually Earth fighting the Squid invasion. He should know, he was there and fought the Squids.

He is now a man looking for a way to die, but not believing he could ever find one. A mercenary, he is hired by a local ‘boss’ to retrieve his property – A Squid priestess whom he bought from another party. This disgusts the Squidder, who believes the priestesses are traitors to humanity.

He only agrees after the ‘boss’ threatens to dig up his wife and family.

Along the way, the priestess tells the Squidder a number of things, including a prophecy that may or may not have to do with him. Of course, he doesn’t believe her.
Templesmith’s artwork is top notch as usual. His writing is solid as well, but make no mistake; the real draw of this title is The Squidder himself. Nothing else matter other than his character, his journey. He is a nicely rendered character and suitably overwhelms the title.

My only drawback from these first two issues is a familiar feel. Genetically altered humans created to fight an alien race, and one is pre-destined from a prophecy? I’ve seen this before in a number of anime shows.

Rating: 6

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW IMAGE'S LOW #1, 2

LOW

Issues 1, 2

Publisher: Image

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Greg Tocchini

Release Date: 7/30/2014, ongoing series

I always write honestly, in anything I do. Whether it is articles, reviews, fiction, even if people don’t like what I have to say.

Honestly, the reason I picked up Low is that I like Rick Remender’s writing, usually.

The problem with honesty is that sometimes it hurt and you not sure what to say. That is how I feel reading the first two issue of Low.

Honestly, I don’t know what I think of the title . . . yet. I am not quite sure what is going on. So far, it falls into that little hidden space that doesn’t allow one to really know if they are reading something brilliant, or reading brilliance into something that isn’t there.

Low is by no means bad, but I can’t say it’s great, yet. It has done enough to pique my interest, and I will check out the next few issues to see where things are going.

The issue may be that nothing is clear yet. The story changes so much from the first to second issues that it is a little jarring.

I like Rick Remender as a writer, so I am willing to give a chance that the not so clear plot and story are be design.

Greg Tocchini art works well on Low, even if it isn’t world-shaking. It has a very nice, fluid like flow to it, and truly captures the feel of a culture that lives underwater. It gives the impression one is looking into an aquarium, the exact kind of feel Low needs.

Final Thought: More issues to read need.

Rating: NA

FEATURE REVIEW IMAGE'S THE WICKED AND THE DEVINE

The Wicked and the Devine

Publisher: Image

Writer: Keron Gillen

Artist: Jamie McKelvie

Release Date: 6/18/2014, ongoing series

The gods, from more than one ancient religion, return to earth every 50 years for 2 years. They have fun, raise hell and die. This seems to give the ultimate meaning to the phase, ‘Live hard, die young and leave a good looking copse.’

 It is also a hell of a fun ride so far three issues in.

Lucifer is a female god, in jail for supposedly blowing up a judge’s head by snapping her fingers. Only she claims innocence. Only one person believes her, a starry-eye college student, Laura, who makes a deal with Lucifer.

Now, Laura sets off to prove Lucifer’s innocence, if she is indeed innocent of the crime. Threw Laura’s eyes we learn more about the Gods and experience what she experiences. We see The Wicked and The Devine.

The Devine may be more wicked then the Wicked.

The Wicked and the Devine is more and less then what it seems. One may think that this is a title about the Gods, but they are not really front and center. This is a title more about Laura, what she experiences in her interactions with the Gods. It is also part crime book, as Laura delves deeper into the pantheon of Gods trying to discover who framed Lucifer.

One question remains, is Laura being set up, is Lucifer guilty after all?

The writing is Wickedly good, with a nice plot and well-defined characters. The art is Devine, looking crisp and clean like one thinks a god would.

Rating: 7

Final thought: Since when is Lucifer a god?

Ace Masters

FLSSH REVIEW IMAGE'S WILDFIRE #1

FLASH REVIEW

WILDFIRE #1

Publisher: Image

Writer: Matt Hawkins

Artist: Linda Sejic

Release Date: 6/11/2014, ongoing series

GMO. Do you know what that is? You do. Good. You don’t? Get ready to learn.

Wildfire is a title from Image that has something to speak about, the potential pitfalls of GMO. Issue #1 sets the groundwork for what could become an important statement – and I do not stay that lightly.

The creators have pulled off something very tricky – telling a story with a message, NOT a message telling the story.

Strong, compelling writing and beautiful art makes for a great read . . . and maybe more.

Rating: 7

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW IMAGE'S SHUTTER

SHUTTER

ISSUES 1 – 5

PUBLISHER: IMAGE

WRITER: JOE KEATINGE

ARTIST: LEILA DEL DUCA

RELEASE DATE: 4/9/2014, ongoing series.

I shudder when I think of Shutter. Well, not really . . . but almost.

Shutter is one of those frustrating properties. The kind I just can’t seem to connect with.

There is nothing wrong with Shutter. It is not bad, but I can’t say it is good either. It falls in the middle somewhere. The artwork is solid, and the writing is okay – even if I feel like there is a lack of urgency, given the events, in the story in general.

I just don’t connect with the book. I can’t seem to get emotionally invested in this title. I know what is going on. I get the story. I even understand the lead character, she is forced back into something she thought she left behind and wants nothing to do with. I get all that. I can even sympathize with her.

I just really feel nothing when it comes to Shutter, which is a shame. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t work for me.

The problem here is that I can’t say stay away from Shutter, nor can I encourage one to rush out and pick it up. It is not a book that I would recommend staying away from. I don’t feel like the $2.99 per issue was wasted. That said, I also can’t give it a required reading rating.

Rating: 5

My rating is more to do with my disconnect with this title, then the quality of the title.
Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW BOOK! STUDIOS CURSE#1

CURSE #1

PUBLISHER: BOOM! STUDIOS

WRITERS: Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel

ARTIST: Riley Rossmo, Colin Lorimer

I have just finished Curse #1, I planned to read the mini-series, but he next two issues on my pile are #’s 3 and 4. Somewhere along the line, I missed issue #2.

I have mixed feelings about Curse issue #1. Let’s get to the good stuff.

I have nothing but praise for the art of Curse. The characters look good and defined, the sequential storytelling is strong and the artistic layout of the panels and pages is strong. I especially like the intermixing of Black and White and Colors, done very well here.

The writing is good, but not quite up to par with the art.

This first issue does the basics of what needs to be done. Introduce the characters, gives us a reason to care, introduces the conflicts (yes there are two), and lays the groundwork for the next three issues of the mini-series.

It really doesn’t give a very clear picture of what is going on, but it gives enough info to pique interest.

The reason I am mixed is that I wanted more. I felt like the issue did what a #1 should do, but fell a little short. This feeling could, and hopefully will, be mitigated if the creative team builds upon this foundation. It could also be exasperated, if future issues leave me feeling the same way.

I plan on finding issue #2 and completing the mini-series. Along the way, discover whether I will be fulfilled or left wanting more.

Rating: 5

Ace Master

FLASH REVIEW DC/VERTIGO's FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics

Flash Review: FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics

Publisher: DC/Vertigo

Writer: Simon Oliver

Artist: Robbi Rodriguez

Release Date: Issue #1 7/31/2013, ongoing series.

I have read a lot of great reviews for FBP – so many that it almost made me scared to read the title. It can’t be THAT good, can it?

Dammit IT IS THAT GOOD. FBP is about physics going haywire and the government agents who try to set things right. Add in some intrigue, suspense, betrayal and good characters and you have a winning science experiment on your hands.

Everything in this title is beautifully haywire and the artwork is a perfect complement to the writing style and stories told.

Forget everything you know about physics and pick up FBP NOW to learn what you need to know going forward.

Don’t worry there are trades waiting for you if you can’t find single issues. And yes, the world will fall apart if you don’t read this series – that’s just Physics.

RATING: 8

Ace Masters

Issue 14 is on shelves NOW, as of last Wednesday (10/8/2014) – get it ASAP!

FLASH REVIEW IMAGE'S SEX CRIMINALS

FLASH REVIEW: Sex Criminals

Publisher: Image

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Chip Zdarsky

Release Date: Issue #1 2/5/2014, ongoing series.

I have just finished reading the first 8 issues of Sex Criminals (issue 8 is on shelves now, released last Wednesday). After I read the first issue, I wasn’t sure if what I read was complete crap, or utter brilliance. After issue 5, I knew what I had read.

Sex Criminals is unique, original, unlike anything I have read in comics before and utterly brilliant. Simply put Sex Criminals is one of the best titles I have ever read.

What would you do if you could stop time by having an orgasm?! Well, find a partner, commit crimes and try to save a library, of course. Duh!

It is a mature title though, so make sure to stash it in the woods somewhere (those who have read Sex Criminals will know what I mean).

Sex Criminals is required reading.

Rating: 9

Sex Criminals Issue 8 is on shelves NOW, as of last Wednesday (10/8/2014) – get it ASAP!

FEATURE REVIEW, ONI PRESS' THE LIFE AFTER

The Life After

Issues #1 & 2

Publisher: Oni Press

Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov

Artist: Gabo

The Life After is a book that makes one go ‘Hmm . . . what the hell is going on?’ So far, that is a good thing.

In the first two issues things are interesting, keeping you going and wondering. The lead Character himself is trying to figure out what is going on and we are right there with him.

Things get more interesting, and weirder, in the second issue when LEAD finds himself in a limbo for those who have committed suicide, and his guide is Hemingway. YES, that HEMINGWAY. Only he doesn’t remember committing suicide.

I won’t give anything away, but I loved the ending of the second issue, a little surprising and some people may call blasphemous.

The writing and artwork mesh well together, with the writing being the strongest point for me. The characters are well developed and the mystery of what is going on well handled. The art took a little getting used to, a little rough and gritty. The first issue felt like the artist was developing the style, and the style and look of the art is much better, and more even, in the second issue. It shows a nice level of growth.

This is a good concept that is so far nicely executed. But the problem with this kind of story is not the story, plot or execution, it’s the end game. What is the payoff going to be? Is going to live up to the interesting things going on in these first two issues?

Rating: 6.5

Ace Masters

NOTE: The Life After #4 is on shelves today (10/15), get it!

IDW's STAR MAGE #1

STAR MAGE #1

Publishers: IDW

Writer: JC De La Torre

Art: Ray Dillon

Published: 4/16/2014

This review is going to be short. I have only read Star Mage #1, so that is all I am reviewing.

The basic premise is this, a young boy finds out he is actually an alien that may have great powers (hence the Mage) and is about to be thrust into a galactic war.

The artwork is good, and the writing is okay.

My drawback with the title is the basic premise. Another story about a ‘human’ boy discovering he is an alien. This concept is past the verge of being overdone. I would like to say that the execution of the story in the first issue rises above the concept, but it doesn’t.

Star Mage isn’t bad; it just isn’t compelling enough to want to continue reading. Everything I read in this issue was easily predictable, and not in the good ‘I hope they do this’ way, but in the ‘I know what is going to happen’ way.

Execution of a concept is very important. Even an overdone concept can be executed in a way that makes it fresh and compelling.

Unfortunately, Star Mage doesn’t gel well, and fits into many of the past similar stories. It actually reminded me of a short-lived ‘80’s TV Show ‘The Powers of Matthew Star,’ albeit there are major differences.

This is by no mean a poor reflection on the writer or creative team. I would just say that Star Mage misses the mark.

Rating: 5

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW ARDDEN ENTERTAINMENT NECROMANTICAL #1

NECROMANTICAL #1 

Publisher: Ardden Entertainment

Writer – Massimo Rost

Artist – Stefano Cardoselli

Published: 5/7/2014

I have said in earlier pieces that I will never take personal shots or make comments about a creator, no matter how bad I think a book may be.

I will always give credit for at least creating the book and getting it out to the people, which is about all I can do with Necromantical.

Necro means dead . . . and that is what this book is: Dead.

Ardden Entertainment proclaims on the back cover: THE NEXT SCI-FI PHENOMNEN STARTS RIGHT HERE!

That is a major boast, and it is the first thing that turns me off this title right at the start. That kind of boast always makes me cringe. Unfortunately, for them, I think I can safely say the next sci-fi phenomenon doesn’t star here.

Why? First, one would have to produce something phenomenal . . . not an utter mess.
The book is called Necromantical . . . and it looks and feels like a dead rotted corpse.

The writing is a mess, not telling anything in the way of a story or really anything going on. Characterization is non-existent, pace and flow of the story seems an afterthought. It comes across like it wants to rely on its art to carry it.

Massive mistake. A poorly rendered cover gives a great preview of the art inside.Some may find something appealing in this art. Many may call is ‘stylistic.’ A few may even call it ‘pure art,’ instead of being honestly critical. The art is bad.

First and foremost, it fails on the most important level, it doesn’t tell a story. The art of a comic book has one main purpose, to get across the story using sequential pictures. If the art doesn’t do that, than nothing matters.

Beyond that, everything is muddled. It is hard to tell what is happening, to whom and to tell characters apart.

The inking style doesn’t help, which seems to be done simply as tracing and nothing else. The colors are monochrome, bland and muted.

This is a title I do not think is worth the money or your time.

Rating: 3

Ace Masters.


NOTE: This is an admitted old review, but I just looked it up and noticed that it seems #2 has yet to be released.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT

First thing I want to mention is that I am in Great Health, Great Spirits and have GREAT NEWS!

I have had my second angiogram since being released from the Hospital. I have been given the all clear and a clean bill of health. There has been no growth in the blood vessel and no return of the aneurysm. The doctors have scaled me back to only needing an Angiogram once a year. So, I don’t need another one until next September!

The second thing I want to say is that because of the aneurysm and recovery time, The Burning Mind was derailed. I planned an article a week and a review a week. But that didn’t happen. I have tried to get caught up with the reviews, but I am so far behind it is just getting ridiculous.

So, effective today, over the course of October, I will post all the reviews I currently have done, then I will put The Burning Mind in a two-month hiatus. It is not going away. It will relaunch on January 1, 2015.

For the love of comics.

Ace Masters.

NOTE: This is a short version of a full blog posted on State of the Master: http://thestateofthemaster.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-past-now-and-upcoming.html