Invisible Republic #1, 2

*** SPECIAL NOTE: This was originally planned for Saturday 4/25, but is late due to me putting projects aside to take care of my mother with her injured foot. ***

Publisher: Image

Writers: Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko

Art: Gabriel Hardman

I didn’t review issue one for this blog, in fact I only read it the Tuesday evening before issue two hit the shelves, to see if I even wanted to pick up issue two Wednesday morning.

My brief thought on issue one? Two Words: REQUIRED READING. Rating 8.5. A near perfect first issue.

So, guess what? I picked up issue two that Wednesday morning, read it that Wednesday evening.

How does it compare two issue one? Two Words: REQUIRED READING. Rating 8.5. A near perfect second issue.

This is politically tinged science-fiction done right. Is there a lot of science involved?  No. In fact much of the science isn’t that advanced, which I love. Paper plays a major roles in these two issues! This is really more futuristic fiction.

A reporter, Croger Babb, is on the planet Avalon covering the fall of a Dictator named Arthur McBride. As Avalon wallows in chaos Babb discovers a journal written by an unknown McBride cousin, Maia Reveron, that revels dark secrets.

Croger Babb is our disgraced hero, seemingly looking for the story they may redeem him. Why he is disgraced is not revealed just yet. The broken world of Avalon, trying to pull itself together, seems the perfect fit for Babb. The Reveron journal seems to be the perfect story to fix Babb, but perhaps not the story Avalon wants told.

Invisible Republic is a stellar title through two issues. We are along for Babb’s journey to redeem himself, and through the journal may get a glimpse into the mind of a dictator.

Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko have created gold with Invisible Republic. This is the best new title of 2015.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Required Reading.

RATING: 8.5

Puppet Master #1, 2

Publisher: Action Lab!/Danger Zone
Writer: Shawn Gabborin
Artist: Michela Da Sacco

Somehow I missed the first issue of Puppet Master, don’t ask me how that flew under my radar.

For those who don’t know Puppet Master was a series of horror film from Charles Band and Full Moon Entertainment, the fact that it took so long to make the jump to comics is amazing.

It has made good on that jump though. These first two issues of Puppet Master are damn good. Not great, but good. Just like the films they are based on, good genre horror films.

If one is familiar with the Puppet Master films, then one will love this series. The greatest compliment it can be given is that it feels like a Puppet Master story, hell like one of the films themselves. It follows along the same structure Charles Band himself set out twenty plus years ago.

The writing is solid, with the best part being the character development. The artwork is excellent, bringing everything to life.

Action Lab! are the guys behind this title, and they have been putting out some great stuff. Another hit for these guys.

FINAL THOUGHT: Puppet Master fans Rejoice! Others, check it out and learn why you should fear puppets.

RATING: 6.5