FEATURE REVIEW: IVAR, TIMEWALKER

PUBLISHER: VALIANT
WRITER: FED VAN LENTE
ART: CLAYTON HENRY

I am a major Valiant fan from the old days, those old days being their first existence, even back to the WWF (not E) Battlemania books they produced before becoming the Valiant Universe people know. Ivar is the last of the original characters I have been waiting to make the jump to series.

For those who don’t know, in this universe as in the original, Ivar Anni-Padda is the eldest of the Anni-Padda brothers, the Eternal Warrior and Armstrong being the other two, and he has the ability to time travel, hence the name TimeWalker.

In this first issue of his new series we join the story as Ivar Anni-Padda shows up at the lab door of Dr. Neela Sethi, he claims he is there to save her, and prevent her from accidently inventing Time Travel, for the moment at least. However, who is he really looking to save? Is he trying to prevent her from creating something, or BECOMING something?

Fred Van Lente’s writing is good as usual, and Clayton Henry’s art hits the mark.
However, I have some mixed feeling about this issue. The story is solid, the pacing is near perfect and the characterization of Ivar and Neela is really good. Van Lente’s dialog is snappy as well. He does a good job of keeping the reader as confused as Neela is, leaving even a smart person wondering What The . . .

The reasons I have mixed feeling is some of it feels a little too standard and been there done that. For some reason Stan Lee’s The Traveler, from Boom! A few years ago, came to mind. Also, for some odd reason, this first issue and Ivar’s character reminded me a lot of Doctor Who. Especially the ‘running’ part. At times I felt like I was watching an episode of the good Doctor.

Another small issue I had was with Ivar’s personality. He does have one, and he seems well rounded. The problem is he comes off as the stereotypical ‘eccentric’ time traveler, another Doctor Who type feature. As it seems this is the goal, well done. It just seems like that makes Ivar ‘part of the crowd.’

The best thing about issue one is how we jumped right into the story and got going. No time is wasted on backstory, origins or explaining who Ivar is. Yes, as Ivar and Neela are escaping the pending threat, Ivar explains how he travels through time, but that is about it. Since Ivar is already an established character there is no need to waste time with what many readers will already know.

FINAL THOUGHTS: A good enough first issue that left me wanting it to be a little more. A ‘familiar’ feel holds back what promises to be a good first story arc.

RATING: 6

COMIC BOOK FAKERS

NOTE: Just a quick comment, this past week's review was done in conjunction with Drawn to Comics it was for Star Wars #1 and can be read here:  http://drawntocomics.com/star-wars-1-marvel-welcomes-home-old-friend/

Okay, this is one of my trademark rants. Something I just need to get off my chest. I know this will offend some people, but I just don’t care.

COMIC BOOK FAKERS

We’ve all meet them, the people who claim to love comic books, but have never actually read one. This has only grown ten-fold in the last decade with the plethora of comic book adaptations. It can be quiet annoying at times.

I once meet a man at a comic book stores many years ago who made the bold claim of being the “Biggest Superman fan in the world.” Yes, those were his exact words. Superman (’77) is/was his favorite film of all time. However, he had never read the comic books. Not one.

I recently had a date that quite disappointed me. She talked herself up as a comic book fan, quiet beautiful and nice personality. During the date it turned out she didn’t read comics, and doesn’t like them. She just likes the movies.

Here is my point, if you like the films, GREAT. Please, continue to like them. But do not confuse being a fan of comic book movies with being a fan of comic books. If you don’t read comic books, how are you a fan?

I’m not really saying this to offend anyone. It is just annoying to me. Especially when I run into people who contradict something I say because it didn’t happen in the movie that way.

Case in point, a complete stranger once interrupted lunch to ‘correct’ me, and tell me that it was Mary Jane who was thrown off the bridge, not Gwen Stacy. Obviously a fan of the movie, but never read the comics.

What’s worst is those people who jump on comics because they are the ‘cool’ in thing. True fans were reading long before comics became ‘in,’ and will continue to do so long after they are ‘out.’

Just my rant.

Ace Masters

FEATURE REVIEW - Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952 #1, 2

PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
WRITER: John Arcudi & Mike Mignola
ARTIST: Alex Maleev

I have two admissions to make about Hellboy. First admission, I didn’t start reading Hellboy until after I watched the two live-action movies. Second admission, I am not a huge Hellboy fan, I actually prefer the B.P.R.D. stories and Abe Sapien. I still read Hellboy though.

Okay, confession time over.

I didn’t review issue one of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952, so quick thoughts right now. The time is 1952, eight years after Hellboy was summoned by Rasputin. The Professor gathers his team for a mission in Brazil, and tells them Hellboy is going along.

One team member is particular seems very against it, but the Professor is adamant, even going against his own rules. Archie, Hellboy’s friend and leader of the team, informs Hellboy he is going.

This is a good first issue, well-paced and takes the time to introduce all the characters, plot, and subplots, in play without rushing the story.

Thus begins Hellboy’s first mission!

Issue #2

What a mission Hellboy is on, to solve a series of grizzle supernatural murders. After a priest is killed trying to act by himself, Hellboy is put in charge of taking care of a small boy. Take care of the boy, Hellboy does and this thrusts him into action when a demon comes looking for the child.

Hellboy jumps into action like a pro, handling the situation as good as one could for never being in the thick of action before. The timely arrival of his teammates saves Hellboy and drives the demon off.

We end with Hellboy giving chase and finding himself in a potentially explosive situation caused by one of his teammates.

How good is Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. 1952? Two words: DAMN GOOD. The first issue sets the stage and characters and the second issue dives right in expanding the plot, setting up possible multiple mysteries and dangers and roars into the action.

1952 hits every point head on. John Arcudi and Mike Mignola’s writing is very good with the strong point being the characters. The characters are natural and real, from personalities to speech they create actual people, not caricatures.

I am a fan of Alex Maleev, and his art style is a perfect fit for Hellboy. He knows how to tell a story with his art and help enhance it.

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you’re a Hellboy fan, this is a must read. If you’re a casual fan, pick it up and see Hellboy’s first mission.

For anyone else, just read it and see how good it is.

RATING: 7

FEATURE REVIEW - Star Trek - Planet of The Apes

Star Trek - Planet of The Apes

The Primate Directive

Publisher: BOOM! Studios – IDW
Writer: Scott Tipton and David Tipton
Artist: Rachael Stott

What a minute . . .???

This is real?

I love Star Trek. I love Planet of the Apes. I never thought I would ever see a Star Trek, Planet of the Apes Cross Over. I don’t know if I even considered one at any time.

But it works, thanks mostly to the built in mechanics of Star Trek. Star Trek, has a long history with alternate reality stories, so this works. If it didn’t, this would be a hard sell.

Let’s get to the art first, it is very tricky drawing a licensed title and having to make characters look like their actor counterpart, but Rachael Stott does a great job. The artwork on this books is awesome. It is well drawn, sleek, smooth and feels like Star Trek.

Not once did I feel that I wasn’t looking at Sulu, Uhura, Spock or Kirk. Or apes.

Every aspect of the art is dead on, from Stott’s line work, to the very nice inking and the vibrant colors, it captures the feel of the Classic ‘60’s Star Trek perfectly.

I’ve mentioned that twice now? That it feels like Star Trek. What about the Apes?

This first issue mostly deals with the Enterprise crew and how they find their way to the Planet of the Apes. The Apes we do see look great. I assume we will see more of them in the second issue, at which point we will see if the art also captures Planet of the Apes.

This issue does a very good job up setting up what is to come. That is the job of a first issue, after all.

After a brief glimpse of an Ape dealing with a shadowy figure, we cut to Uhura and Sulu in disguise as Klingons to secure information about Klingon plans. It is nice, and odd, to see Uhura and Sulu doing the job that the TV show would normally have Spock and Kirk doing.

The information they secure proves the Klingons are up to something and leads Kirks and crew to an alien technology far beyond the Federation or the Klingons.

Technology that allows the Klingons to travel, but to where is unknown until Kirks orders the Enterprise ‘into the rift.’

To Kirk’s shock, the Enterprise finds itself orbiting Earth.

To those who know their Star Trek, you will see familiar story elements, especially A Private Little War and Errand of Mercy, plus the return of an old foe.

This issue really kicks off this cross over in a good way. It leaves you wanting more, and looking forward to the next issue(s). It also poses some intriguing questions, such as who is behind the advance technology. Though, for Kirk, I’m sure a more pressing question will be, “Why are their damn dirty apes on my world?”

The art is great, the writing is very good and all the characters look, act and sound like they should. Something some Star Trek comics have failed to achieve.

This looks to be the start of a solid series that may pull off something near impossible. A GOOD sci-fi dream cross over.

Rating: 7.5

WHAT ARE COMICS?

Hello All. Welcome back.

Last week I planned on posting my first review of 2015, unfortunately, I had a technical issues between my laptop and tablet and that review somehow disappear into the ether. So, that review, Star Trek Planet of the Apes Primate Directive, will go up this Saturday, along with this week’s planned review either Saturday, or Sunday.
Today I am posting my first opinion piece of 2015. After the events of last year, it feels good to be doing this.

Today’s piece is

WHAT ARE COMICS?

That is a wildly opening ended question, isn’t it?

In the strictest sense, comic books are an infusion of multiple artistic disciplines and the written (typed) word to present a world of characters and exhibit their stories, either in traditional print or digital format.

Of course I am sure that you understand that is not what I mean here.

‘What Are Comics’ in the more personal meaning, is my goal. This particular definition of comic books changes for everyone. For this piece, I will explain what comics are to me.

WHAT ARE COMICS? I can cover that in one word, however silly it may seem: Everything.

I live, breath and eat comic books. Seriously. As much as I love film and consider myself a cinephile, comic books top them.

Now ‘everything’ is bit extreme admittedly, but it is close. What is one reason for my love of comic books? My father.

My father introduced me to comics when I was young: Specifically Magnus Robot Fight (which at that time were Reprints) and Spider-man. My father passed five years ago, but I still have many comics that he owned, and read titles he first bought me. It is something that still connects me with him.

Not just as a fan, but as a creator as well, there is one massive thing that comics are to me: The Ultimate Storytelling venue.

Anything can be done in comics. Absolutely anything. Whatever your imagination can conjure, comics can release.

Unlike TV and Film, which are limited by the artificial constraints leveled upon them by producers, distributors, theaters, time slots, etc., Comic Books have little of those constrains.

The ultimate constraint on comic books is the imagination and talent of the creators involved.

Another positive with comics is, if you want, you can produce and release them yourself, without the use of a major publisher. You can submit your title to Diamond Comics independently, publish through your own website and even on the convention circuit. And, of course, you can publish digitally.

If you go this route, your only other constraint is a budget.

Comic Books can, and have for a century, created worlds that are considered unfilmable by TV and Film standards.

Want proof? How about the current TMNT/Ghostbusters and Star Trek/Planet of the Apes crossover titles? When do you think you would ever see those ‘Coming to a theater near you?’

Comic books even surpass what can be done with novels, because of the infusion of Art and Words. The art can reveal what words only describe.

That is what comic book are to me, the Ultimate Creative Venue. I know that any type of story I want to read, can be found in comics. Any type of story I want to create, I can do so in comics.

I write this not with spite toward Film, TV and the Prose word, but with love for Comic Books. I am in fact a filmmaker and actor, writer of short stories and novels and comic book creator. However, my love for comic books surpass films, TV and novels.

Comic books still have the one thing that Films, TV and Novels have lost along the way: A Sense of Wonder.

Ace Masters.

Welcome Back!

Thanks for being here and welcome to the New Year.

First off, I hope everyone had a great holidays, Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate or don’t celebrate.

Mine was great.

Well, Today is January 1, and as Promised back in December, The Burning Mind is back on, the holiday hiatus is over.

While this is the first post of the 2015, the Burning Mind’s official return will be marked by my first review of the year. I will have a review up of STAR TREK PLANET OF THE APES: THE PRIMATE DIRECTIVE #1 up sometime tonight, which was released yesterday.

Yes, there is an official Star Trek, Planet of the Apes Crossover! I LOVE COMIC BOOKS!

Speaking of posting reviews, I will get straight to the main subject here: Burning Mind’s Posting Schedule.

As it stands right now, my schedule is planned to be what it should have been last year, weekly reviews, random flash reviews and bi-weekly articles/opinion pieces.

REVIEWS
WEEKLY FEATURE REVIEWS
Weekly Feature Reviews are 500 word reviews that will be done once a week, on every Saturday. I will review one title from my pull list from that week’s Wednesday releases. My reviews will mostly focus on Indie Books. They will not always be positive.

Flash reviews are 125 word reviews that will be random review of titles I want to say something about, on no set schedule. I may do a couple of flash reviews a week, or none at all for weeks.

For more info on my reviews, please read this piece: http://skullablaze.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-word-on-reviews.html

ARTICLES/OPINION

The plan is to write bi-weekly pieces to be posted every Wednesday. These pieces will run the gambit of subjects concerning comic books, from the past to the present. Whatever I want to discuss honestly.

These pieces will start Next Wednesday, January 7.

There are associated Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/theburningmind?ref=bookmark) and Twitter (twitter.com/theburningmind) with this blog, please feel free to follow on both social media sites. Updates to this blog will be posted on both.

Information will be posted on both Facebook and Twitter, which may not be posted here.

In the past I have not covered NEWS on this blog because of the high amount of new sites on the web, this may change in the future, but I would prefer to keep this blog as my personal output. However, I have decided that I will share articles, news and links on both Facebook and Twitter. It may not be often, but news of some worth, I will share.

To a lesser degree I will also share updates on my personal comic projects.

I also have other plans for the Burning Mind I hope will comes to pass. I will mention those at a later date as I work on details.

I encourage feedback! Please leave comments and let me know what you think. The only thing I ask is to keep it civil, no personal attacks, no swearing without reason. If you like what I wrote, let me know. If you don’t, then let me know.

I want the dialog.

This year is going to be much different then 2014, for starters, I don’t plan on having an aneurysm.

Let’s talk some comics!

Ace Masters