KISS # 1, 2

Kiss # 1, 2

Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Amy Chu
Art: Kewber Baal

This title should have been subtitled: Music From The Elder. It sure takes a lot of cues from that Epic concept album. It starts out with narration that are lyrics from ‘A World Without Heroes’ and our central location is ‘Blackwell’ City. Presented in such a way that evokes ‘Mr. Blackwell, you can go to Hell.’

The plot is simple and ageless: A city in a post-apocalyptic world that seem idealistic threatens to have its secrets revealed by four teenagers who stumble upon the truth, Twins Noa and Eran and their friends, Adi and Alex. In this cases the truth is brought to them by the Avatars of the original city ‘Elders:’ The Demon, Starchild, Celestial and Catman.



The story is simple and overdone, but makes some sense considering the source material. However the writing itself doesn’t quite hold up. There are a few jumps in logic and holes that make one scratch their head.

Case in point: When the current Elders are informed that someone has trespassed in the forbidden areas, they seemed shocked – with one claiming it impossible. In the same scene, one of the same Elders orders the Twins to be brought to them. If the Elders were shocked at the news, how would they know about the Twins? Unless this is resolved later, it’s a jump in logic.

The story is tried, true and trodden, and the writing just above average, the art saves this title.

The line art, the coloring especially and the inking, combine to make KISS look great. The art makes up for the faults in the writing, and we end up with a title that is beautiful to look at.

But if the art saves the title, Lettering, Editing and Quality Control knock it down. All of these are poor on the first issue. The Lettering is the issue, it is nice and easy to read, but the word balloons often point to the wrong character.

Once, or twice are passable errors, but this was enough times that it became problematic and weakened the story. At first I was unsure who was named what, or talking about what. It caused a lot of confusion, and lowered any enjoyment.

This is unacceptable, and should have been caught long before going to print. That an Editor’s job.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As with almost all KISS comics, it is basically KISS ARMY only.
I wanted to give these two issues a glowing review, but I can’t. Great to look at, but average writing and word balloons issues drag it down.

RATING: 4.75

Wolf Cop #1

Publisher: IDW

Writer: Max Marks
Art: Arcana Studios

I loved Wolf Cop the movie. I bought the Blu-Ray as a blind buy when it came out, and it is still on the shelf. So, when I saw a listing for Wolf Cop the comic, I was stoked.

I was almost let down, but not in the end. The beginning is a bit rough, with some harsh dialogue and rough art. But once the story gets going, things start flowing. The story picks up and gets better and the dialogue gets a lot better.















In this issue Wolf Cop and his buddy are on the run and good old Wolfie is drunk. After being attacked by a biker gang, they discover the Meat Locker. At the meat locker there is a man who is eating the flesh of humans, and who has something in common with Wolf Cop, only bigger.

Why the book is not without its flaws, like the movie it is just a fun ride. It also captures the spirit, tone and characters from the movie – which is a plus.

Therein lies the book’s big drawback. One has to know the movie to know Wolf Cop. There is no explanation of who he is.

Well, here’s my solution: Go buy the Blu-Ray and watch the damn movie.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Fun issue that gets off to a rocky start, but delivers in the end.

RATING: 6.5

Vampire Hunter D: Message From Mars #1

Publishers: Stranger Comics
Writer: Brandon Easton
Artist: Michael Broussard

Vampire Hunter D! I love D, and I only found out about this comic about a month before its release through a post on Google. That was also the first time I had ever heard of Stranger Comics.

According to the Back Matter in the issue, and some research, this is based upon an unpublished short story by D Creator, Hideyuki Kikuchi entitled Message From Cecile.

In Message From Mars we witness D arrive on Mars and fight his way through vampires looking for his new ‘employer.’ This is the framing story to the main plot, which is told in flashback style as a woman named Cecile ‘addresses’ D about past event events and how she can see the future – which includes D killing her.




These past events include learning of the nuclear holocaust on Earth and seemingly how vampires came to Mars.

This issue is very strong across the board. The Writing, Art and Colors all shine, and one can tell this is something they worked hard on.

All the elements one wants from D are here. His Stoic personality, yet kindness and his seeming flawless skill, and his contentious relationship with Left Hand.

What really makes this book standout beyond the writing and the art is the colors. This is a type of story in which coloring is very important, and here the colors are sharp, crisp and beautiful. Especially in D’s first fight at the start.

Vampire Hunter D fans rejoice – and get both Left and Right hands on this title now.

Therein lies the only drawback of this first issue. D himself. If one is unfamiliar with D, his time in the book might be confusing. However Cecile’s part of the story should entice new readers into D’s world.

FINAL THOUGHT:
This is an excellent first issue and looks to be a good entry into the D Mythos.

RATING: 7.5

HAMMER COMICS: The Mummy #1

Publisher: Titan Comics
Brand: Hammer Comics

Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Ronilson Freire
Colors: Ming Sen
Letters: Simon Bowland

You might have noticed HAMMER COMICS above the book’s title on any of the cover images. You may have also noticed I listed Brand: Hammer Comics. Yes, Hammer Comics.

Hammer Films is back, in the form of Hammer Comics. As a major fan of Hammer Films, I was excited to read about the Hammer Comics brand, so I will try to not be biased or go Fan Boy.

(BUY THIS COMIC NOW! NOW! 

IT’S HAMMER! HAMMER!!)

Hammer Horror films were universally renowned for three things: Strong Script, Great Production Values, and near perfect Atmosphere. AKA: The Hammer Style.

The Mummy, is an update of the mummy story, bringing the Hammer Style to comics in the 21st Century.

Here is the strongest point of this issue: It feels like a Hammer Film. It truly captures the Hammer Style. Our creative team here has a great understanding of Hammer, if not love.

In The Mummy, a group of Englishmen use females with the Mark of Kharis (The Mummy from Hammer’s original film played by Christopher Lee) as a vessel in an ancient Egyptian ritual to invoke Palimpsest and gain extended life.

Peter Milligan’s script is dead on. Even the dialogue feels like an old Hammer Film. The story is strong, pacing good and it is filled with the right amount of mystery to leave us wondering just what is going on.

Ronilson Freire art is awesome. Ming Sen’s Color shine and make the art stand out even more. Even the lettering by Simon Bowland is a step above.

It makes sense. If Hammer Films were known for great production values, then Hammer Comics should be known for great art.

Even if this wasn’t labeled Hammer Comics, I would still like the overall package. But I have to admit, the Hammer Label give it a little more cred.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
HAMMER! HAMMER! HAMMER!

RATING: 7.5

MAYDAY #1

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Alex De Campi
Art by Tony Parker, Blond

Mayday is a thriller title about two young soviet agent in the ‘70’s sent the good old USA to kill a defector. The only problem is, they get caught up in the California life style.

Well, that is the only problem with the story in the first issues, but not the only problem with this title in General.

I really didn’t care for this title overall. I didn’t find any part of it to be thrilling, or a thriller, or compelling in any way. I felt the story meander with too many threads and too many characters. There was no focus, little structure and it felt like the story didn’t know what kind of story it is supposed to be.

What I disliked the most was the characters. There is no one in this book that feels like a real person, much less a likeable character. The two young soviet agents seem inept – they go off parting (girl’s idea) rather than doing their job. The two lead FBI Agents from back east seem more like a miss-matched comedy duo and make no sense. The lead LA FBI Agent is a grandiose, refers to himself in the third person idiot.

Nothing about Mayday spoke to me. I found nothing compelling to draw me in and want to read future issues. I felt more like it was pushing me away.

It is a spy thriller? Is it a spoof? It is a surreal LSD Trip? Mostly I found it to be just there, sorta of in the way.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Didn’t speak to me. Average book at best.

RATING: 4.5

MARK MILLAR'S REBORN #1

*NOTE – This review was initially written before issue 2 was released this past Wednesday. It has not been re-written to include thoughts on issue 2.*

REBORN #1

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS (Millar World)
WRITTEN BY: Mark Millar
Art: Greg Capullo
Inks: Jonathan Glapion
Colors: Fco Plascencia

I have not been kind to Mark Millar series over the last few years (I have never read KICK-ASS). The last few I have checked out, I never read past the first issue. I’ve also never reviewed them for Burning Mind.

I picked up REBORN as a blind buy – only having read a blurb online – I didn’t realize it was a Mark Millar title until I picked it up to read it. If I had, I may have passed on it. Once I saw his name in the bottom corner of the cover, I shuddered.

Prematurely as it seems, for I actually liked this first issue. It does what a first issue should do: Hook you. There are no answers to anything in this issue, in fact it doesn’t even give you any idea of what is going on.

As a characters says on page three, “There’s no time to Explain.” Explanations can be

forthcoming in the next issue. In truth there is a lot to explain, what the Hell is going on, and why does our main character Bonnie die in a stroke ward in her 70’s and wake up in the middle of a medieval looking battlefield only to be saved by her long dead father? Oh, and she looks like she did in her 20’s.

What world are we in?

Yes, lots of questions. But none of it matters. The world can be set up, and the explanations start come issue two. Mark Millar took a different route here, in issue one we get introduced to Bonnie.

Bonnie is 78, living in a stroke ward, and afraid of dying. Over this first, we get to learn who Bonnie is and we see the last few days of her life, her death, and her REBORN. It is written in such a way that we hear her thoughts. It isn’t narration we read, it is her thinking to herself as her time comes up.

It is a brief character study, as we learn who Bonnie was, a daughter, teacher, wife mother, in her last days. Then we witness her death, rebirth and the beginning of who she needs to be NOW.

If this story ended on page thirteen it would stand alone as a great end-of-life piece.

Greg Capullo’s art shines in this title as some of the best work I have ever seen from him. The art is nice and smooth, and not over detailed like some of his other stuff. This is not the “MacFarlane Clone” Capullo art.

I want to make special mention of Jonathan Glapion’s inks. Specially his inks on the elder Bonnie on pages seven and eight. These are a great piece of work. The inks are very fine, very smooth and add the perfect amount of detail. They are not too thick and don’t overwhelming the art or the wrinkles on Bonnie face. In other hands, the fine detail may have been blotted out with too thick of lines.

Fco Plascencia colors are also very good, giving good weight to the art and inks.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is an excellent first issue across the board. The story going forth though is going to be starkly different. Hopefully, they can keep the quality up.

RATING: 7.5 – Highly Recommended.