Friday, June 26, 2009

Mark Waid's The Incredibles


If you are into comics then you probably have heard of Mark Waid. He has done many great comics which include is claim to fame Kingdom Come printed under DC Comics. Now in conjunction with Boom! Studios he is writing a 4 issue mini series about Pixar's movie The Incredibles. And to say the least, it's great.

The story takes place after the movie in which you find out that Mr.Incredible is losing his superpowers. Instantly the story becomes a "Why did this happen" story that we have all experienced before, but this one does it very well.

Waid stays very close to the characters personalities. He manages to blend the teams "normal" life with their "super" life extremely well. This was a key point that at first I was afraid he would not achieve but he did it just as well as they did in the Pixar movie originally. The blend of these two lives a crucial to the story and to staying true to each characters personalities. It is almost erie how close Waid go to the characters.

We are now on the 3rd issue of the 4 issue mini series and each issue keeps getting better and better. I would urge anyone who likes the movie or just like fun comics in general to go out and pick up the first 3 issues asap.

Out of my Short Box

Want something to read but don't know what? I'll tell ya what you need to read!

Marvel 1985 - Written by Mark Millar.

Daredevil Yellow - Written by Jeff Loeb

The Umbrella Academy - Written by Gerard Way

Check 'em out! Which should you get? Well if you like a story where reality blends with the fiction of the Marvel universe then go and pick up Marvel 1985. But if you like a good romance story and a story about the rising of a superhero, then Daredevil Yellow is for you. Otherwise if you want a darker more offbeat comic about the destruction of the world and a group of dysfunctional superheroes that have to protect said world then Umbrella Academy is the way to go.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Heroes Con Day 3 coming soon!

If you are looking for day 3 of heroes con don't worry it will be up soon!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Heroes Con '09 - The Contingent


At Heroes Con I was able to meet the creator and writer for The Contingent as well as picking up the first issue. This issue was great read. The premise behind the comic is a school that teaches super human children to hone their abilities.

Now the first issue was basically an introduction of the series and specifically two characters. Miguel, a boy from Bolivia with abilities, and John Forkey who is, at this point in the story, someone who works for the school and recruits the people with abilities. It is a very smooth segue into the series that helps readers get to understand what kind of series they are getting into without forcing huge amounts of information onto the comic.

The art in the comic is great and colors are vibrant. Artist Zeu, draws in a way that emotion isn't just seen but it's felt and the colorist Javi Laparra uses bold colors that seem to pop of the page.

If you are looking for a good, clean, fun comic you should definitely pick up The Contingent.

Heroes Con '09 - Dark Reign

At the Dark Reign panel Marvel spoke about the upcoming events and as usual let the audience ask there questions. Here are the key points.

- Dark reign is having a series of one shots coming out that marvel calls The List. The one shots will be:
* Dark Reign:Wolverine - Written by: Jason Aaron
* Dark Reign:Hulk - Written by: Greg Pak
* Dark Reign:Amazing Spider-man
* Dark Reign:Daredevil - Written by: Andy Diggle
* Dark Reign:Avengers - Written by: Brian Bendis
* Dark Reign:Uncanny X-Men - Written by: by Matt Fraction
* Dark Reign:Secret Warriors - Written by: by Jonathan Hickman
* Dark Reign:Punisher - Written by: Rick Remender

- Also Dark Reign: Ares was also announced as a 3 issue mini series

Heroes Con '09 - Cosplay

Want to see a few cosplay pictures? Check out the photobucket!

Heroes Con '09 - Day 2


It's the second day at the con and it is still pretty good. I would definitely recommend this con to anyone who like comic books and conventions.

Now, I will admit its going to be a short post on day two because while they did have a lot of cool stuff, most of it was the same as yesterday, which isn't bad but you can just read the previous post if you want to know about convience, meeting people, etc.

One thing that I did notice was they do have a good amount of panels, but what made it kind of difficult was, a lot of the panels happened at the same time so one hour will have one or 2 panels going on while another hour has 4 or 5 panels going on. It felt a little unbalanced, but the panel topics were all interesting.

It did seem like today is the day for cosplay. In my previous post I mentioned how there was not a lot of cosplayers, but today there a bit more. It was great to see all of the costumes walking around the con.

Actually overall there were more people today (Saturday). Even with more people the con still felt very personal. This is the best part of the con and trust me there is a lot to like about this con. Meeting the creators was still just as easy, and some of the lesser known, more independent comics are still there to be read.

Again overall the day was pretty good, the con is very enjoyable and can't wait to go again tomorrow!

Heroes Con '09 - Key Points on the Marvel Panel

A panel about the Marvel Industry was held today with guest (from left to right) Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid, and The Marvel Editor. This was a light panel with some information on the future of the Marvel Industry as it pertains to the books coming out. There where a lot of questions asked, as this is the format of the panel, but below are some of the key points that the guest presented.

- Mark Waid is going to be writing a run of Dr. Strange taking place after losing his title of Sorcerer Supreme and trying to live his life. He is disconnected from his mystic powers, so using them for him is harder.

- Mark Waid is also doing a run of Spider-Man, with the tag line "Will he survive the gauntlet?". This arc in the Amazing Spider-Man run is said to bring back villains in Spider-Mans world such as Electro and Mysterio. This is to start in issue 611

- Ed Brubaker talked about his Captain America Reborn saying that "It is not a Deus Ex Machina if you've planned it." From what I here this is going to be a good run. I fully believe is previous statement and have faith in the fact that this will be a very good run of Cap. He couldn't say much but what he did say was it does start July 1st of this year

- There will be a run of Dr. Voodoo which was not spoken of due to the creative team not being there. But what we know is this run will start this year.

Heroes Con '09 - C.O.T.A : Children of the Apocalypse


Angel Comics had 100 issues of the first issue on sale at the con of their new comic C.O.T.A. After reading it, it is easy to see that this is going to be an exciting story to say the least. C.O.T.A has great art and a story as well. The comic is created and drawn by Roderick Thornton and written by Amanda McMurray and printed under Roderick Thornton's comic book company Angel Comics.

C.O.T.A takes place in a post apocalyptic world where an organization is fighting for the safety of humanity, but through an unfortunate turn of events, this organization is labeled as the villains.

This comic is full of action and full of characters that are interesting and move the story at a pace that is fast, but the speed feels almost like adrenaline. The missions this group runs are nothing short of epic. Everything feels so intense. It truly grabs the reader.

Now, I know that this overview of the comic is vague, but that is to prevent any spoilers. But if you want your own copy you are going to have to wait until August to pick up your first issue of C.O.T.A Children of the Apocalypse. It is worth the wait, and is going to be on my pull list starting this August.

Heroes Con '09 - Independent Web Comic

Want to read a web comic that has not missed a single update in the last 4 years? Well go to Sorcery101.net. Great fun, Great Art, stop reading this and start reading that!

Heroes Con '09 - The Quick on the Creators and Artists.

Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) - Ultimate Spider-Man, New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Powers. Brian Michael Bendis has is a strong writer. Some of the most popular title have been written by him and each of them are sure to please.

Matt Fraction (Writer) - Invincible Iron Man, Casanova. What makes Fraction so good of a writer is the way he presents the information to you. It's clean, clear, and consistent. His works are always top notch and this current run of Invincible Iron Man is nothing short of amazing.

Michael Alan Neleson (Writer)- Hexed, Fall of Cthulhu. I will admit I am very new to his works but his comic Hexed is fantastic. His ideas are innovative and exciting much like his style of writing. If you haven't checked it out already, be sure you pick up your copy of Hexed printed under BOOM Studios.

Mark Waid (Writer)- Kingdom Come, Irredeemable, Amazing Spider-Man. Clearly an established comic book writer in the industry, but for those of you who may have not had the pleasure to read any of his works should make it high up on your to-do list. Waid does an amazing job of sticking really close to characters personalities as well as letting the stories move at a pace that is easy to enjoy.

Nathan Edmondson (Writer)- Olympus. Nathan's run of Olympus is mystical. It is a great representation of what a unique comic should be. Each page of his story is exciting and fun. His style of writing leaves nothing to be desired. Its easy to read and easy to enjoy.

Mark Brooks (Artist) - Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers, Cable and Deadpool. His art is amazing. That's really all there is to it. He creates art that is bold and unique. Brooks has a style that many will be enjoyable for all.

Mark Bagley (Artist) - Ultimate Spider-Man, Thunderbolts. Bagley is a seasoned artist that is known for his art in Ultimate Spider-Man. He is a great artist that has a style that brings the characters to life. When reading his work it feel as if the characters are about to come of the page. This is more than any comic book could as for.

If you missed the previous post and want to know who these guys are, check out the Flickr!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Heroes Con - Meeting the Creators

Meeting the comic book creators is most comic book readers dream. At Heroes Con, it is so easy to meet the once who make the comics you love. Within one day I met Mark Waid, Mark Bagely, Mark Brooks (lots of Marks I know), Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Nathan Edmondson, Michael Alan Nelson, and more. This is more than just great. And it's not just sign and leave. They are all willing to talk to you, take pictures, answer your questions. It is all very personal.

Lines for some are long, but move quick and at the end of the day, it is totally worth it. If you forget something you wanted signed, it is very easy to find issue whatever for whoever to sign.

Finding these creators and artist isn't a scavenger hunt. The Heroes Con panphlet laysout exactly where each person is going to be.

It is a totally amazing experience that hopefully everyone will be able to enjoy.

Check out the Flickr for pictures of some of the people we saw on day 1! Only 8 pictures BUT! it's something and the next post will be about them so, now you can add faces to the names.

Heroes Con - Day 1 Overview


Day one of Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC was one of the best first days at any con I have been to. The Con is large, but doesn't feel crowded. This is one of the most personal cons out there. Meeting Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction and Mark Bagley, just to name a few, makes the whole experience fantastic. The wide variety of panels that happen at the con allows for attendees to have something to do just about every hour.

The con's dealer room was very good. Exhibitors held great deals, and most of which had very hard to find items. One notable price cut was the DC Direct Watchmen line each were 50 or 60 dollars as opposed to the $100+ most retailers sell them for. With the amount of exhibitors there it is almost impossible to find what you are looking for.

What wasn't seen at this con was cosplay. There was a few cosplayers here and there but over all there wasn't much of any. For some this is mildly disappointing because seeing the costumes are a big part of the con, but when this is the most disappointing part of the con then as a whole it's a great con.

The location of the con is convenient. Parking is everywhere, while it does cost some money, finding $10 all day parking isn't that hard and isn't to high of a price.

Overall, it feels that this con is more than just promising. It is fantastic. All you can do, all the people to meet, and the deals you can get are just great.

Check back tomorrow about day to!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Pre Heroes Con Info!



Just a heads up for the rest of this week I will be updating this blog about Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC! If you are interested check back tomorrow for the first day of Heroes Con!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Your Wednesday Funnies!

Good Fences, Good Neighbors.

It's pretty funny, not gonna lie.

Captain America Reborn?


Many of us have seen the cryptic ads in our Marvel comics with a star and a caption reading 'July 2009'. Well Marvel has finally let us know what that means. July 9,2009 Steve Rodgers comes back. Not like Marvel Zombies, but like Steve Rodgers being Captain America. I'm not sure how everyone who is reading comics feels about this or if it was to be expected, but if Steve Rodgers does come back, I feel that his death doesn't mean as much.

Cap's death put a whole lot of things into motion in the Marvel Universe. This Reborn series could be pretty good. Let's face it, Captain America should have died when he was frozen in WWII, so is him coming back really that much of a stretch? I am going to be looking forward to this to see how his return happens and how tactfully they do it. There is one good thing to take away from this, Ed Brubaker is going to be writing this. We can only assume sense he did kill him off in the first place, that he had some knowledge of his return and has a logical (logical in the sense of comic book world logic) explanation for Steve Rodgers return.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Captain America Issue #600


Issue 600 of Captain America will be released Wednesday, June 17 2009! This issue will be massive with 3 writers (Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid, and Roger Stern) 3 artists (Dale Eaglesham, Butch Guice, Luke Ross) and a cover done by Steve Epting and variant cover done by Alex Ross.

Needless to say, this comic will be a collectable. Everyone should just assume that this issue will be flying off of the shelves. If you are someone who wants to make sure they have this comic, they need to make sure they hit the comic book store this Wednesday!

Independent Comics and the Strength of the Industry

Independent comics could quite possibly be the most important part of the comic book industry. What these comics bring is more than just entertainment, but a sense of maturity. This maturity broadens the overall scope of the industry as a whole. What most readers realize is the sheer amount of comics out there make the whole culture intriguing, it makes us want to delve further into the world of comics.

What indie comics don't suffer from is censorship. To be mature you do not need to be vulgar and offensive, but some messages suffer from being censored. The level of maturity in these comics makes for an easy introduction for new, older comic book readers. These new comic book readers help strengthen the industry by purchasing more comics. While mainstream comics are great, independent comics serve to get a different demographic than what Marvel and DC strive for.

Independent comics can not only help the industry but also it can help create ideas that are not as predominant as superheroes and post-apocalyptic futures. There are a lot of very creative ideas in the independent culture that don’t get their 30 seconds of fame. If indie comics were to get larger in the overall industry, we could start seeing these original ideas surface. New ideas are always welcomed in the industry and most readers are looking for something new to peak their interest. Creating and surfacing new and inventive ideas will attract new readers of all types.

In short, there are a lot of comics out there, and the industry is strong. But with independent comics we can take it even further and make comics more than they are today.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Comicbook Movies! THE DEBATE!

I will admit, that I really have zero issue with comics being adapted into movies. No issue what so ever. Now...I know people hate it and to each their own but I think we all approach it for the wrong angle. Instead of hoping to see a carbon copy of a comic, you should expect to see a movie that mildly resembles the comic. For example, V for Vendetta. It was a good movie, but if the book was their source material then they got the wrong book. Some comics just have to much to them to be exactly like the novel, much like the Watchmen. Watchmen is arguably the most well known graphic novels amongst comic book fans. It's huge following put a lot of pressure on the movie to be accurate. Now, the book has so much to it, that if everything in the book was in the movie then, the movie would be 10 hours long. That would suck. For the most part the movie was pretty close to the book. No, it wasn't a giant squid at the end, but to me that would just be weird to see on the big screen anyway. We should give Zack Snider credit for what he did seeing as it wasn't as far of base as the previously mentioned V for Vendetta.


We all know since the original Hulk and Daredevil movies marvel put out, that they have been give a lot of backlash. It was a dark spot in their movie making time. Now comic book fans are all very wary of seeing another Marvel made movie. Then Iron Man came out, and it was awesome to say the least. No, it wasn't verbatim the comic, but it did provide for an entertaining movie. It seemed that this was one of Marvel's best movies they put out. They got it closer to feeling like the universe we all know sense they decided to include, S.H.E.I.L.D and Nick Fury. The Hulk do over, was also a really good movie, and again the feeling of a universe was instilled by having Tony Stark play a role, and they references to the super solider serum that made Steve Rodgers, Captain America. So, is it that these Marvel movies are better because they actually have the feel of a comic book universe? I'd say so. While, the elimination of a universe feel isn't the only thing that made Hulk and Daredevil not so good, I think if they tried to emulate the feel of the universe a little better, then the movie would have been appreciated much more by fans. Yes, the overall story is important, but it would me MORE appreciated NOT perfect (I felt I should clarify).

There are a lot of other comic books that where made into movies that missed the mark, and slapped the title on the theater marquee just to get some viewers but I'm not going into all of that. The point of this post is to express my thoughts on what we should expect in movies vs. what we want, and also what would make them better. Now, I will express an actual opinion I have about comic book characters in movies. While, they aren't going to be exact, they should be close. The characters build the story, changing a character could change the story. For example imagine if lets say...oh...Marvel gave....Deadpool optic blast and had his mouth forcefully shut, so the witty Wade Willison wasn't so witty. That would be crazy right?....Oh wait, It happened. Characters are the back bone of comics, first and for most the main characters AT LEAST should be close to the book. Giving Deadpool opitc blast is like taking away Spider-man's webbing, that just shouldn't happen.

So in short I feel that comic book movies should be taken with a grain of salt. I feel that we shouldn't go in expecting a carbon copy, we should expect some differences. I am DEFINITELY NOT saying we should like every comic book movie that comes out because some are just bad...plain and simple. But either way the debate will continue, companies will put out comic book movies just for the sake of putting out a movie. You may agree with me which is fine, you may disagree which, again, is also fine, but what I think is you all should discuss via comments!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Funnies!

So, since Wednesday is comic book day I'm going to post a comic I find. Here is one to start you off.

Like Father Like Son

REVIEW: Invincible #62

The aftermath of the Invincible War has been devastating. Atom Eve is hospitalized, Rexplode is dead, and cities are torn apart. With issue 62 things for Invincible just got worse. With his introduction in issue 61, you can tell that Conquest was going to be a powerful villain for Invincible. This issue you can see just how much of a challenge it will be for him.

Conquest's main reason for fighting is for the love of it. Robert Kirkmen does a great job of letting you see how intense and insane Conquest truly is. This issue is a quick read, but we get some drama that Kirkmen is so good at portraying. This sibling rivalry between Mark Grayson and Oliver are shown when, as usual, Oliver rushes head first into the fight with Conquest only to be dismissed immediately by Mark. Their mother is just as much of a nervous wreck as she normally is and Cecil is on a rampage trying to stop Conquest.


This issue is essentially all about the fate of Invincible and the world as well. The gravity of the situation is seen when you realize that by the end of the issue, it does not seem like Invincible can win the fight. Also, Cecil is back to using questionable resources that can help aid Invincible against Conquest, but have no chance of being completed in a timely fashion. It is hard to see how everyone will survive this one, or if anyone will, all that we know for sure is that Conquest is here, and he is creating all sorts of havoc.

Overall the issue was great, from start to finish it is a great fight between two of the most powerful beings seen in the Invincible universe. The art of Ryan Ottley is spot on as usual. The only thing that does hurt this issue is, it can be a little thin at times. What this means is, while the fights are good, it feels that their could have been a little more story relating conquest to the Invincible war or even more of why he is their outside of just wanting to fight. Regardless, the issue was great and is a great addition in the Aftermath era of the Invincible War. Kirkmen, as always, has done an amazing job at bringing suspense and fun into comic books.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Suddenly!

(Suddenly! sheds light on some of the lesser known characters in the comic book industry.)

Cloak and Dagger first appeared in Spectacular Spider-man in 1982 and later had their own 4 issue mini series in 1983 and has had several others sense then. Cloak (Tyrone Johnson) and Tandy Bowen (Dagger) met in New York after the two ran away from their homes only to be abducted off the streets by drug runners who experimented on them with a new drug. The drug subsequently gave them the powers they have today.

- Cloak has another dimension under his cloak, and has the ability to teleport. Due to the dimension he has within his cloak he experiences a hunger that only light can feed. He can feed on the "light" of other people who he captures under his cloak. When inside the cloak they are in another dimension which shows the person their absolute worst fears. In some comics it is stated that when someone passes through his cloak it can freeze the blood in their veins.






-Dagger has the ability to create daggers out of the light she produces and can purify anybody, cleansing them of addictions. Because she has so much extra "light" she can give some off to help control Cloak's hunger. She can also heal with her light.

Recently Cloak and Dagger can be seen in Marvel's Civil War and it is rumored that a five issue mini series of Cloak and Dagger will begin sometime this year (2009).

Monday, June 8, 2009

Face It Tiger...


Kirsten Dunst has finally confirmed that she will be returning to film Spider-Man 4. Dunst previously was unsure if she would return which cause , which some say, caused a little bit of a snag in the production of the movie. A script is yet to be completed and a villian has yet to be confirmed for Spider-Man 4, but rumors have spread saying it could be, Lizard, Caranage, or Morbius. As some of you may know Spider-Man 4 and 5 have been confirmed and will be filmed back to back. Which ever villian they choose for Spidey 4 could play a role in Spidey 5. Filming is, again, to take place in New York City as the previous movies. The script is being written by David Lindsay-Abaire and according to Sam Rami(director), it should be completed by the summer!

That's Just cool

The Funnies!

Check out Copper right here! A laid back and entertaining comic for all to enjoy. If you like this, you can check out the graphic novel Flight for some more.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Better Late Than Never

Want to see some pics from last years comic con in San Diego?

Check out our Flickr to see the photos!

I'm afriad of the internet, I've seen its true face....

Saturday Morning Watchmen



Found via YouTube!

Not Even If You Were The Last Man On Earth...


Brian K. Vaughan has taken an age old (and kinda harsh in my opinion) saying and turned it into a 60 issue master piece. I've read the first 31 issues, and I am completely hooked. The comic follows Yorick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand who happen to be the only ones in the world with a Y chromosome (hense Y the Last Man). The comic is epic and a great read. If you need something to read, and you didn't like what was in my short box (and even if you did like it), you NEED to pick this one up!

Out Of My Short Box

Need something to read, but don't know what? I pulled comics from my short box and here are three that you should check out.

The Walking Dead - Image Comics, Robert Kirkmen
Invincible - Image Comics, Robert Kirkmen
Spiderman Blue - Marvel Comics, Jeff Loeb

Walking Dead and Invincible are both on going comics that are in their 60ish issue, but with trades out in your local comic shop and book store catching up should be easy.

Wanna read the first issue of Invincible before you buy it? Then you should consider clicking here!

Wanna read the first issue of The Walking Dead before you buy it? Then you should consider clicking here!

Thanks to Image Comics for being...well...AWESOME!

Tell me what you think!

Heroes Con Anyone?!

So who all is going to Heroes Con? No not NBC Heroes, but a comic book convention in North Carolina this month. Can't go? Don't worry I can and I will be posting pictures and info about the con. June 19th-21st!

Check back soon!

Ultimate Spiderman From Beginning to End...Actually From End to Beginning...


So the nine year run of Ultimate Spiderman has come to an end. Now I have read EVERY...SINGLE...ISSUE...and I have to say, it was my favorite series. Brian Micheal Bendis is, and has always been, a fantastic writer probably my favorite. All that said, I was not...disappointed by the last issue but felt it was a little anti-climatic for the last issue of a nine year run. I know the end was a bit of a shocker but I just felt like a series that has gone on for so long that it should have gonna out with a steller issue, not just...an average issue. Don't get me wrong! I liked the issue, but thought it should have a little more excitment.

What some of you may not know is, that starting in July, Marvel is starting up their Ultimate Comics line, which is different then their Ultimate line. Ultiamte Comics will kick off with Ultimate Comics Spiderman. It is still written by Brian Micheal Bendis, but Peter Parker is NOT spiderman. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but I have A LOT of faith in the writer so I'm not so much worried as I am, intregiued. It will be interesting to see how this goes. Check out the pick below. It's some art work from Ultimate Comics Spiderman drawn by David LaFuente. Enjoy!



Saturday, June 6, 2009

Fallout Toy Works

So Peter Wentz (bassist and lyricist of Fall Out Boy) has come up with an idea for a comic based off of the Fall Out Boy song Tiffany Blews. The story is about a robot maker who risks it all after developing a robot named Tiffany which quickly becomes his obsession.

Personally, I think it sounds pretty cool....not because I am a huge fall out boy fan (yeah I said it), but because the idea and style seem really cool. Who knows this could be another awesome hit like the Umbrella Academy.

The comic is slated to come out September 2nd, 2009. It is printed under Image Comics.

Post your thoughts!

Wanna Read More?!

Check out Great Escape Comics and Games Newsletter for some more great articles. It's awesome trust me....and not just because I write for it....seriously...

Why Should I Read.....The Umbrella Academy!


I will be the first to admit that when I heard lead singer and front man of the Rock band My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way entered the world of comics with the Umbrella Academy, I was a little bit skeptical. Whether it was good or bad, everyone has had some experience of a mega star crossing entertainment mediums into a field very foreign their own. It took a while, but I finally went out and bought, The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite. By the end of the graphic novel I realized that this book, was amazing.

So what is The Umbrella Academy? The Academy is made up of seven super human adopted siblings, created by their distant, foster father with the intention of saving the world. That said, this isn’t about a team of super heroes who save the world for the good of mankind. This is about a team of super powered siblings in a dysfunctional family who save the world because somebody has to. Way does a great job of letting the reader feel the tension between the siblings and just how it affects them on a personal level. He does this in a way that makes you empathize with some of the characters and you feel a real connection with them. In addition, Way also does a fantastic job of using characters of a familiar archetype and making them feel polished and imaginative.

When you first open the book you will notice the unique art of Gabriel Bá that fits the style of the comic perfectly. He doesn’t just bring the characters to life, but everything within the panel as well. The action scenes are depicted with lots of movement and details that make the pages feel real, and in the drama scenes he brings the characters into focus to show the reader the characters true emotions. His art is just as important to the page as Way’s dialog. The two go hand-in-hand, and they come together to create a fantastic sense of realism and motion to the pages. Everything a comic should do.

The feel of the Umbrella Academy is dark and grungy. You begin to realize the kind of world they live in is almost not even worth saving. Their world emulates our own in the sense that it doesn’t take place in some fictional land (it takes place in our world), but it does seem to push some extremes onto the environment we live in so it can get a point across. It doesn’t seem forced or unnatural in fact, it fits the story great. You begin to feel that the Academy is the only team suited to save this world, because the world is just as dysfunctional as they are.

Their adventures seem to transcend the norm. From fighting murdering robots to fighting the Eiffel Tower itself, there is something new and fun on every page. The villains are as unique as the comic and the Apocalypse Suite introduces you to a variety of these villains each with their own sadistic needs in mind. What is interesting is each villain may not necessarily play a direct role in the overall plot of the story, but each one helps evolve the team’s back-story, which is just as important.

The six-issue story arc, The Apocalypse Suite, ties directly to its successor ,Dallas, in which the team gets themselves involved with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Way isn’t afraid to reuse ideas and turn them into his own. Dallas is proof of this, with his through back to past issues that we see as the focal point of many stories in modern media before, but he molds them into something new. He takes it to a whole new level in which the reader can’t predict the next move.

Dallas dives into the characters personalities and sheds more light on who they truly are. What you thought of some character in the Apocalypse Suite will change in Dallas. Way uses the same style of keeping the reader in the dark, as in its predecessor to form a very intriguing story that proves to be even more exciting than the Apocalypse Suite, which is a major accomplishment in its own.

In short, The Umbrella Academy is a fantastic comic with enough awards to prove it. Is it for everyone? No, but what is? If you have the extra money you should go pick it up. To say this book is imaginative, fun, and gorgeous would be an understatement. You have to read it to see for yourself. With the Apocalypse Suite already collected in a graphic novel, and with Dallas just reaching its end with a trade due out in October and a third story arc on the way, there is plenty for you to read and immerse yourself in.

First Post!

First! I'm so just kidding! Welcome to The Short Box! I'll be posting about comics, reviews, things I've heard, etc etc. Stay a while and read!

Enjoy!