Burning Mind Review: Sea Of Stars #1

As PROMISED The Burning Mind is back and returns with my thoughts on:

Sea of Stars #1

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS

Writers: Jason Aaron & Dennis Hallum

Artist: Stephen Green

Colorist: Rico Renzi

Letters & Design: Jared K Fletcher

Editor: Will Dennis

If nothing else Sea of Stars is another in Image’s long and deep line of sci-fi/space fantasy, with what feels like an ‘80’s style vibe to them. I love that. It feels like a story that could have produced by Charles Band or Roger Corman once-upon-a-time.

That I love.

Sea of Stars is about a long-haul Space Trucker and his acting-out young, misses his mother son who get separated when their ship is torn apart by an unknown, giant space creature and the father is swallowed whole!

Yes, you read that right!

Somehow the son gains the ability to breathe and survive in open space, while the father – having somehow survived being swallowed – begins a desperate search for his son.

I’m going to get right to my favorite thing about Sea of Stars – the #$% $#%^ awesome coloring. Yes, the best thing in this title is Rico Renzi’s coloring – and that is saying a lot because the art and inks are top notch too. But the coloring puts this issue over for me.

The issue is fast-paced, full of emotion, rife with danger, a few weird moments and even a what-the (???) reveal. Renzi’s coloring follows through on every story point and showcases what the characters feel in his coloring, and makes the already stellar art come alive even more.

Stephen Green delivers with excellent art that really lays out the story and showcases its intensity right off the bat. Yet, even when the story gets intense and action packed, Green’s art is clear and easy to follow.

If there is any part of this issue that lags it’s the story. It does what it needs to, to get the story going and set up what is to come. The structure of the issue is good, dialog is nice and there is – thank you – a sense of urgency when things go wrong.

The problem is, it feels sorta been-there-done-that. There is the twist that somehow Kayden, the young son, finds he can survive in space, so that needs to be where the story has to go.

Over all this is a solid first issue and very fast paced start to Sea of Stars, and I love the urgency ingrained in the story, even if it does follow the motions somewhat. A sense of urgency is what is missing from most stories now days, so that is welcome.

Of course I have to mention the coloring again. Rico Renzi’s coloring rocks Sea of Stars.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

As I wrote this my thoughts on Sea of Stars actually improved. I don’t think Sea of Stars #1 is quite required reading, but I think it’s a title people need to check out. In the end it stayed with me more than I thought.

RATING: 6.5

BLOG RETURN ANNOUNCEMENT – JULY 1ST

The Blogs Are Back!

Starting Monday, July 1st with WrestleMentary!

When I originally announced this current Blog Hiatus, I said ALL my Blogs would return starting July 1st with WrestleMentary. Then, a few weeks later I mentioned pushing that return back to my Birthday, July 27th. Well, I’m changing that again and going back to the original plan: July 1st

As of Monday, July 1st the Blogs will return from Hiatus starting with Wrestlementary.

From there all the Blogs (except Wrestlementary) will return on the originally planned 2019 Monthly Schedule.

• Wednesday, 7/3 – THE BURNING MIND
• Thursday, 7/11 – THIS IS A TRUE STORY
• Friday, 7/19 – WHAT I WATCH I REVIEW
• Sunday, 7/28 – RAW FLESH
• Wednesday, 7/31 – STATE OF THE MASTER

There is no set posting schedule for Wrestlementary as their will be more than one monthly post. So the schedule will be more random. There will however be regular WWE Coverage focused around the time of PPVs or the dreaded “Super Shows.”

As for the rest of the year, the Blogs should follow the following schedule. Though, there may be times I post a little more often.

POSTING SCHEDULE – REMAINDER OF 2019

• 1ST Wednesday of each Month – THE BURNING MIND
• 2ND Thursday of each Month – THIS IS A TRUE STORY
• 3RD Friday of each Month – WHAT I WATCH I REVIEW
• 4TH Sunday of each Month – RAW FLESH
• Last Day of each Month – STATE OF THE MASTER
• WrestleMentary: Random Posts

See you July 1st,

 - Ace

The State of the Blogs May 2019

Okay, this State Of is going out across all my Blogs. It’s a companion piece to my State of the Master.

I am far behind on all my Blogs because of my shoulder, and at times – I must admit – myself allowing my shoulder issues to stop me.

I started this year with great plans, but didn’t . . .

As I wrote in my State of the Master Blog, effective immediately I’m in going into Focus Mode and Catch Up Mode. I have to do this.

Originally, the plan was to officially suspend until July 1st. But that has changed due to an emergency.
My dog, Zoie, had to undergo emergency surgery to be spade (which was never done) and remove a breast growth. She is recovering now, and we have found out the tumor was a low-grade cancer, but it has all been removed.

This was very stressful on her, me and Mom. So I put everything to the side to take care of the little girl. She is doing fine right now and gets her cone and stitches removed Monday, May 13th. I could do no less for Zoie as she is the one who got my mom the day I collapse in the back yard from the Aneurysm, if not for her I may have died. 

That said, I am now suspending the Blogs until their return on my Birthday: Sunday, July 27th. The day the Blogs will return with RAW FLESH . . . and move forward from there.

As originally stated I will try and post on the original 2019 schedule from that point on AND post on a Catch Up Schedule, posting all the stuff from this year that hasn’t been posted.

Yes, I will be writing, editing and prepping all the Blog Posts I have missed up to that point.

I’ll also be getting caught up on projects this year that I have gotten behind on.

This is the LAST Time I will be doing this and suspending the Blogs. It’s something I have to do, for myself and to move forward.

Later,

Ace Masters.

OUTPOST ZERO #1 to 6

RECENT ISSUE #6
PUBLISHED 1/16/2019

PUBLISHER: IMAGE COMICS

WRITER: SEAN McKEEVER

ARIST: ALEXANDRE TEFENKGI

COLORIST: JEAN-FRANCOIS BEAULIEU

Welcome to Outpost Zero, the smallest town in the universe. The people there work the land, go to the fights every Friday night, and tuck their children into bed-but the Outpost is no place for dreams or aspirations. To survive is ambitious enough. As Alea and her friends graduate to adulthood on a frozen world never meant to support human life, something stirs. Something sees… Explore the mysteries and wonder of the Frost . . .


That is the official write-up for OUTPOST ZERO, the series itself and issue one.

Though, to be honest, they left out of few key words:

Absolutely Engaging, Fantastic

Requiring Read!

Hey, I just started off this piece with what should be my final thoughts. But that’s okay. I wanted to get it out of the way first that this is a title that everyone should be reading.

There are three key reasons everyone in comicdom should be reading this title:

THE ART

The art of ALEXANDRE TEFENKGI may not be as stunning as some people may be used to for Image – but stunning artwork that blows one away is often misleading and flat. It often focuses on the art over the script and fails to connect.

Tefenkgi doesn’t fail to connect – if anything it feels like reconnecting with an older style that values the story and characters over the flash. That is the greatest strength of his art: It connects us to the story, and the characters.

As with any good art it layouts of the story and the characters have distinct looks – but this art goes a little deeper. Tefenkgi doesn’t just make his characters look different and distinct, he makes them feel different.

He has truly found a way not just to show us what the characters look like and how they act, but to also bear a bit of their soul, with the subtle bits that reveal who we all are.

THE WRITING

Can we get SEAN McKEEVER another Eisner, please!

Seriously, his writing on this is ridiculously good. Somehow he has taken a premise that could, and rightfully should, have worn thin by issue six, and somehow it still feels fresh.

Outpost Zero is a science-fiction, coming-of-age, conspiracy theory, survival against all odds story about the decedents of a crashed Gen-Ship surviving on an Ice World, with only a dome to protect them. It is a world where everyone must do their role, or no one survives.

As a giant ice storm hits – Steven – one of three close teen friends leaves the dome and goes into the storm, leaving behind his friends, and an outsider he was close with, to wonder why? A why that may lead them to a place better left alone.

In truth, you can forgot everything in those last two paragraphs, and Image’s official write-up. Why? Because there is one thing that will keep you coming back each issue: The Characters.




McKeever does what any good writer should do, and what any good story should be about – The Characters over everything. Outpost Zero is not about the events that happened – it’s about how the events affect and shape the characters.

Characters that once you read this series, will be the reason you come back. You will not just want to learn what they learn on their journey – you’ll want to learn who they are as well.

Hell, in Issues five and six we learn something new about a character never specifically revealed before, but makes perfect sense for him.

TO KEEP IT GOING!

This is the third reason to read this title! To keep the sales up to a level that will keep this series going!

Outpost Zero is the best kind of comic possible – of any genre.

FINAL THOUGHT:
SEE ABOVE

RATING: 8.75

Burning Mind Review - Turok #1

TUROK #1

PUBLISHER: DYNAMITE

WRITER: RON MARZ

ARIST: ROBERTO CASTRO

COLORS: SALVATORE AIALA

LETTER: A DIFFERENT WORLD STUDIOS’ TROY PETERI

Thank You, Ron Marz, Roberto Castro and team.

I am a big Turok, Son of Stone fan. Not just going back to the original Valiant Comics, but going all the way back to the original Gold Key Series my father got me into through back issues when I was young (early 80’s).



I say Thank You for these simple facts:

1. Turok is finally set in his proper time.

2. Even though we only get a glimpse of Honkers – this first issue feels like the Turok of old.

3. With all the different incarnations of Turok in the 21st Century, I feel this is the best since the early Valiant run. Even if it is only the first issue.

Across the board I find this issue to be strong, well-written, well-paced and excellently drawn.

In this issue we are dropped right into the middle of Andar, Turok’s brother, in custody of US Soldiers – whose Captain is Hell-Bent on capturing Turok. So much so that he proclaims that he would follow them to the “Gates of Hell.” (Careful there.)

It is Turok’s rescue of Andar and their fleeing from the soldiers that leads to them discover a portal – a doorway to The Lost Land (and HONKERS)!

This is an alternate take on the original origin – in which Turok and Andar stumbled across the Last Land while hunting.

This adds a new dimension to the Turok mythos – perhaps. Now Turok and Andar have an enemy from their own world to deal with, bringing added danger to the Lost Land and honkers they will eventually have conflict with.

A very pleasing first issue that does its jobs – reintroduces a familiar set of characters and premise, with a new twist and sets the stage for what is to come.

Ron Marz’s script is strong and set things up nicely.

Roberto Castro’s art is excellent as always, bolstered by stronger color from Salvatore Aiala.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This feels like the Turok I once fell in love with, and haven’t seen in a long time.

RATING: 8.5

Required reading for Turok Fans.

Everyone else, check it out too.

MARVEL COMICS - CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

PUBLISHER: MARVEL

WRITER: JASON AARON

ARTIST: MAHMUD ASRAR

COLORIST: MATTHEW WILSON

LETTER: VC’S TRAVIS LANHAM

Conan is BACK!

Not that he ever really went anywhere, but his wandering ways? for the last 15 years took him to the far reaches of the Land of Dark Horse. Now though, his Warrior ways have brought him back to the Universe of Marvel.

He prospered well in the Land of Dark Horse, so is his return to Marvel a path best left untread?

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CONAN 

PART ONE

THE WEIRD OF THE CRIMSON WITCH

Maybe so, as Jason Aaron and gang have promised us a Tale of The LIFE and DEATH of our Cimmerian Legend.

And they strive to deliver as this story literally starts with Conan’s Birth!

Conan himself is a very blunt, straight-forward, honest speaking person with a take-life-by-the-horns personality.

This first Story Arc has much in common with Conan – It’s tell you what story it is going to give you, then grabs you by the throat and drags you straight into said story. You won’t even noticed the story is choking the life out of you until the very last panel, when you may shed some tears and realize this just might actually be the tale of the Life and DEATH of Conan.

While for us, the reader, we may be witnessing the triumphant return to Marvel, Conan may wish he stayed at the land Dark Horse a little longer.

Issue #1 hits all the right notes with Conan – The Character of Conan himself is right – at each stage of his life he is shown – The Artwork has the right edginess and grittiness that a Conan story needs, and the colors emerges us into the dark world Conan inhabits.

Mahmud Asrar’s art and Matthew Wilson’s colors combined to give Conan and great look and feel – embodying the age Conan lived in. This isn’t a slick, pretty looking book, nor should it be. A Conan story should find beauty in brutality – and this art does just that.

Jason Aaron’s script is dead on: Conan just doesn’t look right – thanks to Mahmud Asrar – but he feels right, and this feel like a Conan story – warts and clichés all in.

The script is damn good, the artwork just as brutally good, making this a Marvelous return.

The best thing about this first issue is that we don’t just get Conan The Barbarian – we get CONAN THE KING as well.

We see Conan at two important stages of his life – the young Wild Barbarian and the Older Wiser King-by-his-own-hand. Aaron handles this well, it is the same Conan, but in his writing of The King, he subtly shows us the difference between the Barbarian and the King – and the similarities.

But don’t stop with The LIFE and DEATH of Conan! No. Keeping turning the pages, dear reader. After the art ends, another tale begins. The first part of BLACK STARLIGHT, by John C. Hocking, a Novella in twelve parts. Make sure to read this, it is right on par with The LIFE and DEATH of Conan. The shining part of this story it that it showcases the oft overlooked intelligence of Conan.

Final Thoughts:

MARVEL fans rejoice, Conan’s wandering has brought him back to the Universe.

Conan fans rejoice – he is in Beautifully Brutal hands.

REQUIRED READING

RATING: 9

The State of the Burning Mind for 2019!

Okay, alright. I messed up and failed to get this up yesterday, so here it is now!

I think it’s good to get this first miss of the year out of the way. Think it is as an IMAGE schedule!

So, here it is (still written for yesterday’s date, I didn’t change that.)

Today is Wednesday, January 2nd of 2019. Yesterday came the launch of an entirely New Year, and with this second day of this New Year comes the full force relaunch of The Burning Mind. This isn’t like previous relaunches where I ended up behind and relaunched to get caught up.

This is a complete relaunch of the Burning Mind from scratch.

With this relaunch some info must be given and questions you have must be answered: Most importantly, What is the Burning Mind and What Will I Write About?

The Burning Mind was originally a bi-weekly column at Comics Bulletin (www.comicsbulletin.com) where I wrote my thoughts, opinions and rants on the comics industry. I also did a series of ‘How to Articles.’ For reasons that are not worth mentioning, the column ended after a few years in 2012.

In 2014 I resurrected the column as a Blog. I continued writing about comics with the same fever I did when writing for Comics Bulletin. But was never able to get into a set schedule after a medical issue. In August of 2018, I put it into Hiatus, with the plan being to get things straight and relaunch from Scratch in 2019.

And Here it is!

THE BURNING MIND IS BACK!

When originally resurrected as this Blog the plan was to do Weekly Comic Book Reviews of titles from my Pull List, and bi-weekly Articles, Opinions and Rants, unfortunately it didn’t always go that way. Combine getting taken down by a medical issue weeks after the launch of the Blog in 2014, and trying to write other Blogs as well (and other projects), I never really got on track.

As of today, I am given this one more shot, starting this (and my other Blogs) over with the start of the New Year.

As of today, Wednesday, January 2, 2019 the plans is this:

1 Monthly Blog Post on the First Wednesday of Each Month.

A Minimum of 1 Post Per month for 12 minimum for the year. That is the plan as of this moment, with subjects ranging from How To, General Opinion, Censorship, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Comic Book Movie Reviews and even chronicling the creation of comic book titles I am working on. Of course there will be my trademark rants as well.

I WILL get the monthly pieces done, and hope to get even more posted.

Weekly (Mostly Indie) Comic Book Reviews posted each Saturday.

There is no doubt I will get this done weekly, as it is often a pleasure to write these, even reviews of the titles I don’t like. So, expect this weekly.

These will be reviews of a title released THAT Wednesday. As it has been before, it will continue to be mostly Indie Titles that I will review.

Also, except to see the return of Flash Reviews, which are quick 300-words or less thoughts on titles, written and/posted on no set schedule. These can be any title, from any time.

So, in summary, Burning Mind is my blog where I, Ace Masters, will share my passion and love of comics in, at a minimum, monthly blog posts and weekly comic book reviews.


Who Is Ace Masters and What Have I Done?
Ace Masters is I. Writer, Publisher, Poet, Indie Filmmaker, Comic Book Creator, Actor and all-around lover of almost everything Comic Books. That love of Comics has driven this blog in the past and will do so well into the future. In fact it drives a large portion of my life.

I have written and published comic books in the past (Masterpiece Comics). I have also written for any number of small press companies and still trying to make the big boys take notice. I have a few hundred short story credits to my name, have written and directed a number of short films, starred in many more and have had plays produced.

I’ve even won a few awards along the way!

What I Will Write About?

Simple Answer: The Love of Comics

Complex Answer: The Love of Comics

I will write about anything that has to do with comics. Anything. The Creation of Comics, how people view comics, the care of your comic book collection, the business side of comics, the so-called controversial side of comics, and Comic Book Reviews!

I may even return to my one time series of ‘The Art of the Business of Comics’ series started many years ago, and never finished.


Why You Should Care?

A shared love of comics. If you’re here, you either love comics too, or are interested in this greatest medium of them all.

Passion. Passion is why you should care. Passion is what drives me to write, and what I will instill into every piece.


What Do I Want From You?

Oh yes, I want something from you. Something very precious: A little bit of your time and a little bit of your thoughts.

First, I want you to read The Burning Mind.

But . . . I don’t just want you to read this blog, but interact as well. I want comments and thoughts. I want you to tell me what you think of my posts and about comics in general. There’s a comment section, use it!

I also welcome any suggestions for ideas for future posts! Yep, I may write a piece based on your ideas – in which I will give you credit.

Who knows, if you have a really good idea, I may ask you to guess write the Blog!


Indie Creators! Want You Comics Reviewed?!

Indie Comic Creators, if you want your comic reviewed here on The Burning Mind, just let me know! Contact me directly at acemasters@gmail.com. I’ll accept hardcopy or digital for review.


In the past, I had a tradition of ending my articles by asking a question, which always led into the next article . . . in this case blog . . . so here it is, the Burning Question:

What do you think when you think Comics?

Until Next Time,

Ace Masters

Blog (s) On Hiatus

I’ve said this before, I will say it again: HERE WE GO AGAIN.

In August I put out a Blog Statement announcing I was putting my Blogs to a Monthly Schedule for the remainder of 2018 – excluding Raw Flesh.

The plan was to put them back on track on 2019.

Not long after posting that, after much consideration, I decided to put all Blogs, including RAW FLESH, on hiatus until 2019.

This was supposed to have been announced weeks ago, but didn’t happened because I was sick and spent Halloween in the hospital with pneumonia. Getting better was a more of a priority then posting.

In the New Year, the Blogs will return starting from scratch. I need to prioritize certain things and this is the best decision at the moment – and will be better for the Blogs in the long run.

Upon their return The Burning Mind, This Is A True Story, What I Watch I Review and Raw Flesh will be posted on a Monthly Basis. As the year progresses and things play out I may post more often, perhaps even moving back to a bi-weekly or weekly schedule.

Right now, a monthly schedule will be best.

I will however return to doing the Burning Mind weekly Reviews each Saturday.

Wrestlementary will be handled differently – an actual format for Wrestlementary will be figured out and announced later.

All Blogs Will Return with ‘State of’ initial posts on:

• Monday, December 31st – State of the Master
• Tuesday, January 1st – Wrestlementary
• Wednesday, January 2nd – The Burning Mind
• Thursday, January 3rd – This Is A True Story
• Friday, January 4th – What I Watch I Review
• Sunday, January 6th – Raw Flesh

Then, they will resume being posted on what is (for now) planned as the regular Schedule:

• The Burning Mind – Wednesday, January 9th; Then the FIRST Wednesday of Each Month
• This Is A True Story – Thursday, January 17; Then the SECOND Thursday of Each Month
• What I Watch I Review – Friday, January 25; Then the THIRD Friday of Each Month
• Raw Flesh – Sunday, January 27th, Then the FOURTH Sunday of Each Month
• State of the Master – The Last Day of Each Month
• Wrestlementary – TBA

So, for January expect two posts per Blog, then monthly after that. With Wrestlementary’s schedule to come.

I will still be making periodical postings to Facebook and Twitter with updates as we close in on the New Year.

Thanks.

Ace Masters.

DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE #2

Charles Band’s

DOLLMAN 

KILLS 

THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE

#2

Publisher: Full Moon Comix

Pulling Strings         Animal Lover
Written By Shawn Gabbon        Written by Brockton McKinney
Art by Daniel Pascual         Art & Colors by Jason Strutz
Colors by Simon Robins Letters by Micah Myers
Letters by Micah Myers

They make comics for many different audiences: Children, Teens, Adults, Sci-fi, Horror, Super-Heroes of course.

DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE is a comic made for the Cool Kids.

In this 2nd Issue we have two more Killventures as Brick Bardo continues his quest to destroy the evil plaguing our world by going after the Puppets of Tulon and the Castle Freak.

The most surprising appearance here is the Castle Freak, who is not a Full Moon character with a strong lineage – just one film.

In Pulling The Strings – Dollman tracks down the current man in control of Tulon’s Puppets and finds a very unique way to deal with the Puppets – something so simple, no one has ever tried it!

In Animal Lover, Castle Freak finds himself in the crosshairs of Dollman, in a surprisingly tough Kill for Mr. Bardo.

With two stories again this issue, do not expect long drawn out stories. The plot of these stories is right there in the series Title. Instead, one word really covers what you get here:
INTENSE!

These are well written, action packed pieces that deliver fast paced, intense action, while given us an insight into Bardo, and showcasing his intelligence. In fact, In Pulling The Strings, Bardo uses more brain than brawn to defeat the puppets.

The art work by Daniel Pascual and Jason Strutz delivers right alongside the writing, intense and fast paced, yet well laid out and tells the story. Jason Strutz’s art especially delivers in Animal Lover as the sketchy style captures the feel of the Castle Freak character.



A damn good 2nd Issue . . . that leaves us will a hint as to who is up next . . . as Dollman plans on making a house call to a Doctor . . .

Could that be Doctor Mordrid? Or maybe Re-Animator?!?

Final Thoughts:

Good, Killing Fun.

RATING: 7

The Burning Mind - A Blog Statement

I have recently posted the full Blog Statement on Facebook and my State of the Master Blog (Read Here: http://thestateofthemaster.blogspot.com/2018/08/state-of-master-blog-statement.html)

This is more or less a condensed version for The Burning Mind – even though I just announced a return from Hiatus. But The Burning Mind is not going on Hiatus again, just a slight change for the remainder of 2018.

The Burning Mind will be going monthly for the remainder of 2018, starting September – The Fourth Wednesday of each Month.

In December I will decide whether to keep it monthly, or try going back to the originally planned bi-weekly schedule for Articles and keep the Reviews weekly.

Oh, on that note the Burning Mind Comic Book Reviews will remain weekly, every Saturday. That won’t change.

Later,

Ace.

HEY KIDS! COMICS!

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer & Artist: Howard Chaykin
Colorist: Wil Quintana
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Cover: Don Cameron

Um, Wow. Dead pan look to face, unsure how to feel or think.

This is how I felt after reading the first issue of Howard Chaykin’s HEY KIDS! COMICS!

There is no doubt in my mind that this might be the most polarizing title I have read in years, if not possible the most controversial.

What is HEY KIDS! COMICS!? It’s kind of hard to explain, especially in a nut shell.





It explores the Dynamics of comic book history through the eyes of a handful of creators starting at the end of World War II through to the 1980’s.

It’s a very harsh and brutal take, but possibly very real as well. Showcasing the struggles of creators to find work, keep work, and do meaningful work, while deriding the work they often do (Sci-Fi, Super Hero, Horror) as kid’s stuff.

Be forewarned, a lot of the creator opinions expressed in the title toward super heroes, sci-fi and horror are not kind. That doesn’t mean they are Chaykin’s opinion, but the opinion of the characters.

The title is obviously based on real life comics’ history, but fictionalize. The characters in the title based on actual people and the talked about rivalry between ‘Verve’ and ‘Yankee Comics’ is reminiscent of DC and Marvel.

My problem is that I’m not sure what I think of the book – and that is neither good nor bad.

The art itself is amongst the best of Chaykin’s career. It is a beautifully drawn and realized title. The artwork seems subdued and restrain for Chaykin, but still recognizable as his own.

It’s the story that leaves me unsure. It jumps around a lot over a few decades, but a story like this has to do that. Expecting something linear is wanting. The characters are well done and the strongest part of the writing.

It may by the characters themselves and what they express about comics that leaves me unsure as to how I feel.

There is one thing I am sure about, this title will stay with you long after reading and won’t soon be forgotten. It could be the kick in the ass the comic book industry needs, and the last thing we want.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Unsure. I need to see what Chaykin does next issue. However, I do suggest everyone read this book, if for nothing more to see a different, perhaps more real, take on comic book history then normally presented.

Ace Masters.

DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE!

PUBLISHERS: Full Moon Comics

OUT OF THE BOX FAMILICIDE
Written By: Shawn Gabborin Written By: Brockton McKinney
Art By: Daniel Pascual Art & Colors By: Bridgit Connell
Colors By: Simon Robins Letters By: Micah Myers
Letters By: Micah Myers


Welcome to my favorite new comic book of the Summer! It may not be the best, but it is my favorite.

DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE!

Yes, Brick Bardo is back and bad ass as ever.

To any Full Moon Fans (and perhaps Cult Movie Fans), Brick Bardo needs no introduction. For others, here’s the skinny – Brick Bardo is an alien cop known on Earth as DOLLMAN because he’s only 13 inches tall. He originally debuted in 1991 in the Full Moon Features film DOLLMAN played by Tim Thomerson.

This first issue consists of two stories: the 20-page feature Out of the Box and the 5-page Familicide.

I will tackle Familicide first. In this story Brick Bardo sets his sights on Head of The Family. This story is the weaker of the two, but still lives up to the title of the book: DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE!

At only five pages it is very fast paced, feels a little choppy and page three seems weird. The artwork is nice, even if Brick doesn’t quite look like Tim Thomerson.

Overall it’s a nice back up piece to the main feature.

OUT OF THE BOX is where Full Moon Fans may go nuts.

This main story features DOLLMAN versus DEMONICS TOYS! Yep!

This is a very solid piece with good artwork and a script that delivers. Shawn Gabborin uses the twenty pages of script he has very well, telling a story of four idiots looking to bring for the Demonic Toys Master and gain incredible power.

Of course it goes wrong and DOLLMAN shows up!

You can probably figure out the rest – it’s right there in the title!

The #1 thing this #1 issue does it showcase that the Full Moon characters from their movies all exist in the same reality. Brick goes after Demonic Toys (again) and Head of the Family in this issue.

What’s next? If the blurb at the end of Familicide is true one of the stories in #2 will see Bardo face off against the little terrors from PUPPET MASTER!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If you are a Full Moon Fan, Horror or Cult Movie Fan there are three things you need to do:

1. Find your closet Comic book Shop (If you don’t already know it)
2. Walk, Drive or find some way to the shop.
3. Part with $4 and change and BUY this title.
4. Go home, read, enjoy.

Of course, if they don’t have any copies of DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE!, let Brick Bardo know and he’ll deal with them.

RATING:

Familicide: 6
Out of the Box: 8

Overall: 7.5

DOLLMAN KILLS THE FULL MOON UNIVERSE! Is REQUIRED reading.

WHY COMICS?

***** SPECIAL NOTE: I am officially back to writing for The Burning Mind with this piece. It was supposed to go up weeks ago but didn’t as July spiraled out of hand (https://thestateofthemaster.blogspot.com). Here it is now, with much more to follow. ACE *****

Why Comics?

To many this would be a very steep and complex question. Not so much to me.

Whole books have been written on this exact subject: Why Comics? Hell, I could probably write a book about it, but I will kept my thoughts to this piece and try and make this nice and tight. Not so complex either.

Usually, when the ‘Appeal’ of comics is discussed by many writers the focus is on the following ideals: World-Building and Myth-Making. The idea that comic books and super-heroes are the Modern Greek Gods (and Norse and Egyptian Gods), and that in there lies their appeal: Superman, Captain America these are the modern myths of our age and we worship them.





I know that is a very condensed and not very accurate summary of that line of thought, but it’s not a line of thought I buy into. Not after the age of ten.

That line of thought is very limited and actually downplays what comics are and can be.

Why?

Because it really only covers the appeal of Super Heroes. Not comics in general. That line of thought doesn’t apply to something like Strangers in Paradise, Y, The Last Man or the works of Robert Crumb.

It basically says that we need something larger than life to believe in, and it limits the comic book universe and its appeal to the DC and Marvel Universe’s, and the scattering of Non-DC and Marvel popular super-heroes.

I originally started to write this piece on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 11th, on that day the titles I picked up included: BPRD: DEVIL YOU KNOW; FARMHAND; IT CAME OUT ON A WEDNESDAY; LITTLE GIRL; NU WAY; OUTPOST ZERO; PORT OF EARTH; RAT QUEENS; RELAY; RESIDENT ALIEN; SCOOBY APOCALYPSE; SHE COULD FLY

While an argument could be made for Myth and World-Building ideas, none of these titles can be claimed under the Greek Gods line of thought. They maybe be fantastical adventure, supernatural or sci-fiction, but there’s no spandex to be seen.

In fact, Port of Earth goes for a more realistic and gritty style – far away from Super Heroes.

I am not discounting the idea of World-Building, Myth-Making and the super-heroes are the Modern Greek Gods line of thoughts. It has its place, but really only when applied to super-heroes, not the whole industry as a whole.

To apply that to the entire art form is limiting, arrogant and ignores a large portion of what is published.

Because Comics are more than Super-Heroes, more than just World-Building, Myth-Making and Modern Greek Gods.

Comic book are the Ultimate Art Form.

Why Comics? Because anything is possible. ANYTHING!

There literally is no story that cannot be told in the realm of comic books. A slew of unfilmable novels have been adapted as comic books – especially the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

If one can think and write it, one can draw it – it can be created.

You don’t have to worry about big budget, lots of equipment’s or the many factors that face film. Hell you don’t even need a computer.

You only need these:

Pencils, Paper, Ink, maybe markers or brush, and Imagination

With Imagination being the most important part. Keep one thing in mind, Imagination does mean just sci-fi, fantasy, horror or Super-Hero – it means anything. It takes imagination to write crime and drama as well.

The Ultimate Art form. Anything is possible.

It’s been proved time and time again, from Vertigo Comics to Art First Comics. Super-Heroes and beyond.

But, there is one thing the Ultimate Art Form where Anything is Possible must do, and can do, better than anything else:  Create the Emotional Connection

Anything. ANYTHING. Can be done in comics.

• Crime: Check out the HardCase line coming from Titan Comics.
• Drama: Try Vertigo Comics.
• Horror: Harrow Country, the works of Richard Corben. 
• Sci-Fi: Saga
• Zombie: Walking Dead

Anything is possible in comic books. Which mean anyone can find something they connect with.

In truth, anything IS done comic books.

It isn’t just the comic titles that connect with the reader . . . The emotional connect goes beyond just the Work itself and the Fan. Comic Books do something nothing else does: it connects the Reader with other Readers and the Readers with the Creators.

Every heard of San Diego Comic-Con; Phoenix Comic-Con; London Comic-Con? The Comic Book industry has more conventions than any other industry(s) in the world.

These are not like Doctor Conventions, or Writer Convention, or Film Markets – that really only cater to people in the industry.

Comic Conventions have evolved greatly, but they were created with one purpose in mind: To connect fans with each other and with the creators of their beloved characters and titles.

In the end it doesn’t matter what draws you to comics: Super-heroes; Indie Vibe; A certain Creator or the Art itself. Because it all boils down to one thing: You’ve emotionally connected with something or someone’s work.

The Emotional connection is what is important. Not the World-Building, Not the Myth-Making. It’s the connection.

In comic books ANYTHING is possible.

In Comic Books EVEYTHING and EVERYONE can be connected.

Why Comics? Check the World over: San Diego, Phoenix, New York, Montreal, London, Tokyo, Brazil, Moscow – It’s Connects us all.

What’s wrong with that?

Ace Masters.

Burning Mind State of June 27, 2018

Well, I (and we) are down this Burning Path again. Once again I allowed myself to leave the path and go from Burning to ALL WET.

I had big plans for this year, including the Burning Mind, but didn’t get them off the ground to well.

In fact January was supposed to be Woman In Comics Month for the Burning Mind! I posted a RANT Part 1, but then nothing.

As I mentioned in my State of the Master Blog (https://thestateofthemaster.blogspot.com/), I am making a number of changes in my life. Prioritizing my writing and projects are among those changes – actually focusing and doing them.

The Burning Mind – fueled by my LOVE of Comic Books is one of those top Priorities to focus on.

That begins NOW.

Next Wednesday July 4th, the Burning Mind returns as I will answer the Burning Question WHY COMICS?

And as I have in the past, I will return to doing weekly comic book reviews of an Indie Title from my Pull List, posted each Saturday.

As I have tried to do in the past, and will do now, I will post a comic book related blog (article) every other Wednesday, and possibly more often than that. I have a lot I would like to talk/write about and it isn’t always current news or hot topics.

I plan on writing about anything and everything comic book related – including my previous planned pieces on Women In Comics.

See you July 4th.

Ace Masters.

UNDERDOG 1975

PUBLISHER: AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY

All Stories Written By: Steve Skeates

With Art by George Wildman

As I child, teenager and young adult I loved Underdog – with many great memories of the series. A few years ago I picked up the Complete Series Box Set, but have yet to watch it for fear that it won’t live up to my memories. Something that has happened far too often.

I have, however (oddly enough) read American Mythology’s Underdog. I’ve liked it so far.

So when Underdog 1975 was released, of course it made its way into the read pile.

According to American Mythology the first two stories in Underdog 1975 (The Rubber Duck and Dog’s Worst Enemy) are unpublished stories from what would have been issue #24 of the then Gold Key Comics Series in the 1970’s, the second half of the issue is reprint of materials from issue #23.

Here in is my problem with Underdog 1975 – it makes me want to break out that complete series box set and binge the whole thing. Yep. This is a collection of great little Underdog stories that remind me of what I loved as a kid and felt like exactly how I remember Underdog.

Of course, these stories where written back when Underdog was still fresh and still had a grasp on the people involved in the comics.

The basics are here: good writing, competent art, and a challenge for our hero to overcome. Plus a healthy little does of Underdog’s superego.

Let’s not forget the Rhyming either!


The formula is simple: A villain presents a threat (to others or Underdog himself) that Underdog must face and defeat. Sometimes he does so easily, other times he must overcome an unforeseen challenge.

Either way, easy or a challenge, he wins the day in the Underdog way!

They may seem a little simplistic to many people today, but sometimes simple is best.

In the front matter American Mythology wrote that these are some of the ‘most wonderful kids’ books ever published.’ I agree and disagree.

Children will love them, but so will adults who are still children at heart.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
“There’s no need to fear, Underdog is Here!”

Read Away, Don’t Be Sinister, Do It Today!

RATING: 8 – Required Reading!

Battlestar Galactica vs Battlestar Galactica

Publisher: Dynamite
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Johnny Desjardins
Colorist: Mohan
Letter: Taylor Esposito

When I found out here was going to be a Battlestar Crossover I thought ‘Great! More Classic BattleStar,’ at least. Peter David writing is a major plus for me.

I have to admit I am a major fan of the original. The newer version was okay, but the way they ended the series killed it completely.

No matter which series you prefer (or both for some), I can almost guarantee this first issue is not going to be what you expect. It’s sure as FRACK wasn’t anything like I thought it would be.

Straight to the point, this first issue is Classic Hour, with the New Battlestar not even touched upon until the last page. As the story goes in this first issue, it seems like what is happening in the Classic BSG leads to involving the new BSG.

How? That’s not completely clear, and maybe by design. It is Peter David writing after all, he almost always delivers in the end.

This issues features two ‘Chapters,’ the first one dealing with the Galactica, but with the Pegasus and the legendary Commander Cain. This is the part that seems to put everything in motion, as Commander Cain answers a call for help from a strange and unique planet, and finds someone waiting that may change everything.

Someone who knows who he is and the search for Earth.

A True Cylon!

In Chapter Two we join the Galactica as it is attacked by a new form of Cylon Raiders, who quickly flee with the appearance of an radiation anomaly that turns into a wormhole that swallows the Galactica.

Leading Both Adamas to wonder what the FRAK is going on?!

Some people may be disappointed that this isn’t a Star-Shattering first issue that redefines everything about both BSGs. Get over yourselves. This issues does what it is supposed to do, set the stage for what is to come, wet our appetite and makes us ask: What The Hell?

Better yet, it makes us want an answer to that question.

The script is tight and well done. My only complaint is some of the dialogue feels more New BSG then Classic.

Johnny Desjardins art is nice, but doesn’t really work as well as I would like. It feels to bombastic and overboard and remind me of early 90’s McFarlane. To me, the characters don’t look like their actor counterparts, in fact sometime they look much bigger.

Commander Cain looks nothing like Lloyd Bridges did, for example.

FINAL THOUGHT:
Overall a solid read. I’m looking forward to where this is going.

RATING: 6.5

Women and Female Characters in Comics! They do EXIST YOU $%^&#!@!!! PART 1

Welcome to 2018 and the Return of The Burning Mind.

For anyone who has read the blog before, you probably know the drill.

To anyone new, here is the short version. I am Ace Masters. This is The Burning Mind. Here I write about comics – anything I feel that is worth writing about. I also do weekly reviews of titles on my Pull List.

There, that’s it.

Now, in my hiatus piece back in November, I mentioned I was going to kick off 2018 by making January ‘Women in Comics’ Month here at The Burning Mind. So that is exactly what I am going to do. Initially, I announced I would kick off the year with a Review of the Documentary She Makes Comics, but that has changed.

I am going to END this month with my thoughts on She Makes Comics. This documentary sparked my desire to do this when I finally watched it in October. So I decided to save that for last.

I have decided to kick off 2018 and my personal ‘Women in Comics’ Month with one of my well known rants.

So forgive if this sound incoherent and rambling, it is a rant.

Women and Female Characters in Comics! They do EXIST YOU $%^&#!@!!!

PART 1

(Artist: Sara Pichelli)

Despite what mainstream media would like to portray, or at least showcase in their willful ignorance of our industry. There are very talent female creators in the comic book industry, and they are not that hard to find.

This is a sad fact: main stream media when covering comics rarely talks about women creators or female characters. In fact I’ve seen ‘news’ coverage that downplay that there are female creators in comics. This is a deliberate disservice.

Women are all over the spectrum of the industry: artists, inkers, writers, colorist, letters, editors, publishers! They are out there, and they are not THAT hard to find. They work for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, IDW, and throughout the indies.

A sadder fact is this: Many comic book readers can’t name a female creator who doesn’t work for DC or Marvel or isn’t employed by any of the Big Indies (Dark Horse, IMAGE, IDW, Dynamite). Even then most can only name female creators who work on titles they read.

This is also a disservice. Albeit, not willful ignorance.

There are women creators throughout the comic industry. And YES, editors and publishers are creators too – without them no comics could be created.

What I want to do right now, is put out a list of Female Creators, this is just a list of Female Creators who worked on titles I picked up last Wednesday, December 27th.

(Artist: Arianna Florean)

• Delilah S. Dawson – Writer; Arianna Florean – Artist – Star Wars Adventures #5 from IDW
• Grace Park, Desinger – WWE Comic Book – Boom Studios
• Annalise Bissa – Assistant Editor, THANOS – Marvel Comics
• Heather Antos – Assistant Editor, STAR WARS – Marvel Comics
• Sara Pichelli – Artist and Inker, Spider-Men II – Marvel Comics
• Kathleen Wisneski – Assistant Editor, Spider-Men II, Spider-man/Deadpool – Marvel Comics
• Rochelle Rosenberg, Color Artist, Ben Reilly, Marvel Comics
• Allison Stock – Assistant Editor, Ben Reilly – Marvel Comics
• Sara Brunstad – Assistant Editor, Black Panther – Marvel Comics
• Adele Matera – Colorist, Jessica Burton – Editor, Amoona Saohin – Associate Art Editor, Doctor Who, 10th Doctor – Titan Comics

13 Women, across the disciplines that create comics, 9 titles, 4 publishers – one of them Marvel Comics, the rest Indies.

As I wrote above, this is only a list out of titles on my personal pull list that came out last Wednesday, December 27th. It doesn’t included any women who worked on titles I don’t get – which means this list is actually much bigger.

And this only is from titles that came out on one week – not the entire month.

Yes, I have not listed Gail Simone here, or any other Top A-list Female talent (except for maybe Sarah Pichelli). In any industry if all you do is focus on the top most well-known talent, you do a disservice to all the talent.

With all respect to all women in the comic book industry if all I did was focus on Gail Simone and the most well-known female creators, that would be the easy way out. I want to do more than that, I want to showcase that there are women working in every facet of the Industry.

And again, my list here is only a very small sample.

NEXT TIME: There are a lack of Female Characters in Comics, right!? Right?

Women and Female Characters in Comics! They do EXIST YOU $%^&#!@!!!

PART 2

 - Ace Masters

It Is Time for the Hiatus

Hello All,

Well, another year is almost over, with yet another looming upon us. A never ending cycle of an end, leading into a beginning – even if it is only in our minds.

Still, new beginnings can be good, and as I do every year, I start planning for the New Year around this time, and wrap up the old. Once again, the Burning Mind blog ran afoul of my many other projects and aspects of my life and I got way behind. I kept up with many of the reviews I wanted to do, but not much else.

So, as of today (Wednesday, 11/1) – as in past years – Burning Mind is going on Hiatus until January 3rd.

When Burning Mind does return, expect this: January will be Women in Comics month. Unfortunately, that is nothing official, just me doing this. In January I will discuss Women in Comics, which will include a Review/My thoughts on the documentary She Makes Comics.

See yea in 2018!

Later,

Ace.

EUGENIC

Publisher: BOOM Studios

Written By:
James Tynion IV

Illustrated by:
Eryk Donovan

I really don’t know how to properly explain the terror I felt by the time I finished reading this issue. I mean that word as well: TERROR.

I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing. After reading the back matter ‘Behind the Scenes,’ I have come to believe my reaction – good or bad – is exactly what James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan wanted.

To that I say, congratulations. Part of me also wants to say #$%^ You!

You’ll understand once you read the book. And you NEED to read the book.




Okay, let me disconnect from my emotional reaction for a minute and end the rant.

As an actual comic book Eugenic is excellent, the story, art, colors, dialog, they are all right on the mark. Scarily so. It is quite noticeable that a lot of thought and work went into craft this piece of art. I call it art, because only a true work of art could invoke this level of emotional reaction.

The book has a very standard, done to death, boring concept: A virus has ravaged the earth and a scientist has discovered a cure. See, standard, old, boring . . .

Terrifying. There are at least three reveals in this issues, and a few different themes. Each reveal takes us further down a path of no return.

Themes dealt with including: playing god, science run amok, and the cure being worse than the disease.

If left on its own Eugenic #1 could stand the test of being a great book. But it is ONE OF THREE. Yet, this ONE is its own self-contained story.

It took guts to turn this tale from a potential typical sci-fi/horror splatter tale, into what it is. It took just as much for BOOM not to demand changes into something more mainstream acceptable.




I wish I could say this is just a cautionary tale that could never happen. It might not be though. There are people in the world trying to do exactly what is showcased in Eugenic right now.

FINAL THOUGHT:
Best single issue I have read all year.

Required Reading.

RATING: 9

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter #1

Publishers:
Hammer Comics
Titan Comics

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Tom Mandrake

Somehow I missed all mention of this title and didn’t know about it until about a week before it hit shelves. Once I learned, I quickly scrambled to make sure my LCS put it on my pull list so I could get my excited hands on my copies of ALL the covers.

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter starring Horst Janson, John Cater and Caroline Munro is my favorite Hammer Horror film period. And that is saying a lot considering I have a huge Hammer Film collection. So when I say I was excited when I learned of this title that is no understatement.

But does it deliver?

The title opens with Kronos and his companions (Prof. Grost and Carla) hunting down a vampire, then finding themselves helping out a city with a peculiar vampire problem of their own. The story takes place only a few months after the film and is narrated by Carla, who is still new to this ‘vocation.’

For those not familiar with the original 1970’s film, Carla’s narration gives enough back story without overwhelming the narrative.





The book gets off to a fast-paced, action packed start and only slows down to allow for the setup of the real story and the characters to determine what might really be going on.

The best part of this for me is that very little has seemed to change with the main characters from the movie. Carla is a beautiful, tough-as-nails woman with a chip on her shoulder and fiery will. Prof. Grost is the wise hunchback mentor and occult expert who perhaps talks too much.

Kronos is a stoic, almost mythical figure, who only talks when he needs to and seems to have something supernatural about him, himself. But also know that even he needs help.

Tom Mandrake’s art is solid as always, with properly muted colors that mimic the Hammer look by Sian Mandrake. Carla looks like Caroline Munro (Thank You)!

My only minor issue with the art is that Kronos looks MUCH bigger than Horst Janson.

Dan Abnett’s script is solid, or at least becomes solid. While the story presented so far has no issues, and what characterization we have is good for the characters (matching the film), it’s the dialog that I have problems with.

The dialog in the first quarter of Kronos is a little stiff and unnatural. It just doesn’t feel right. The good thing is, this changes as we go along and the dialog flows better by the end of issue one.

Of course the issue ends on a cliff hanger, promising more action, danger and horror for Kronos and crew.

I have no idea if this is a mini-series or planned as an ongoing, but only time and sales will tell.

FINAL THOUGHT:
Nice first issue. It captures the feel of the original movie and should appeal to Hammer fans. May struggle to find a wider audience though.

A good introductory issue, but only the following issues will truly reveal how good this tale is.

RATING: 6