What Lurks in the Longbox? #35: The Comicverse #2 !

The Comicverse #2
Awakening Comics
$4.00, B&W, 24 pgs.
Writer: Bianca Alu-Marr
Artist: Steve Peters

There are always interesting people to be found at your neighborhood comic book store.  They could be customers, the store owner, or even a visiting comic book artist doing a signing.  Part of the store experience is meeting fellow fans and chatting about upcoming plotlines, your favorite artist, or the next big comic-related movie.  

With the incredible variety of people to be found at these retail establishments, have you ever wondered what would happen if someone took their store and moved it to...let's say, outer space?

Well, wonder no longer.

The Comicverse is a fun and imaginative series about a comic shop that is literally in space.  Reiko Starr is the owner of The Comicverse, a comic shop that is located on the Tianhtar Space Station, a prime location for visits from many different types of alien species.  Like many store owners, Reiko and his employee Ying Starr (a friendly, if somewhat lazy dragon) have to contend with comic fans, unruly customers, and even the occasional flirtation with a female customer.  However, this particular store also has visitors with the potential to cause a little more property damage than your average "fanboy." 

As mentioned in my review of the first issue (published in Comics Buyer's Guide #1689), the store allows its patrons to actually customize their comics.  This process is done by the use of "smart paper" that allows molecules to set permanently after the customer decides which comic book they want.  Unfortunately, the smart rack device (which has a mind of its own) is not always in the mood to service customers, or create new comics, which can create challenges for Reiko and his staff.

In this issue, one of the store's customers is a little short on funds to pick up his weekly stash of new comics (haven't we all been there before?)  As is often the case in real life, the customer offers a barter deal: an entire case of "Zoom" Energy Drink in exchange for his pile of comics.  Reiko is reluctant, but agrees to the deal as part of a promotional offer where customers can get free drinks for checking out the store.  Unfortunately, Ying forgets to inform Reiko that there is only one thing worse than giving an energy drink to a shape shifter: giving an expired energy drink to a shape shifter.  If you've ever seen the effects of sugary soda on a young child, you probably have an idea what happens next, but I'll avoid the full details, as it has to be seen to be believed. 

In the backup story, Steve Peters gives a nice shout-out to Free Comic Book Day as it's celebrated on a space station.  Just like on Earth, customers enjoy free comics, getting sketches and having their picture taken with their favorite comic characters. 

As a special bonus, this issue also features a detailed specifications sheet on the Tianhtar Space Station, as well as some of the characters featured in this issue.  This book is sheer fun, and one of the most enjoyable and original titles currently on the indie scene.  If your local comic store doesn't carry The Comicverse, check out www.awakeningcomics.com for ordering information for the first two issues of this series, as well as updates on upcoming issues!

What Lurks in the Longbox? #34: Revelations #3

Revelations #3 
Here After Press
$3.99, Color, 32 pgs.
Writer: Louise Cochran-Mason
Artists: Barry Southworth, Scott Shriver

I previously reviewed Revelations in the pages of Comics Buyer's Guide Magazine #1692 back in August 2012.  Co-Creator Barry Southworth recently sent me the next issue of this fascinating series involving demons, lawyers, angels, serial killers and a secret war between good and evil. 

Just to bring new readers up to speed, here is a portion of my review from CBG #1692:

Mackenzie Rollins is a lawyer whose total lack of ethics allowed her to get the nation's most prolific serial killer acquitted.  Perhaps it's just the next logical step when she discovers she is part demon, and then receives a set of retractable spikes (which often pop out during the most inopportune times).

Mackenzie soon discovers she is a member of an inhuman race called the Andrahon, which are involved in a war between Heaven and Hell.  Her quest for answers leads back to the serial killer with whom she senses a connnection with.  In the meantime, Mackenzie also has to deal with a clandestine group called The Third Sphere Assembly.  They have an interest in her, and the unique venom that comes from her spikes.  While fatal to humans, they are absolutely irresistible to demons.

The third chapter of "M Theory" takes the storyline further and makes note of the fact that just because Mackenzie Rollins is the main character, doesn't automatically make her one of the good guys.  After reading this issue, the realization suddenly hit that there really isn't anyone in this book that would fit the definition of a hero, which makes the series even more interesting.  Even the detectives assigned to investigate the connection between Rollins and serial killer Arnold Langford are not the most well adjusted people, as evidenced by the last couple pages of this issue.

Writer Louise Cochran-Mason begins to flesh out Arnold Langford in a little more detail, and provides more information on the origins and motivations of the Andrahon.  As the relationship continues to develop between Rollins and Langford, it's up to readers to interpret whether Mackenzie's interest is personal, or just a method of obtaining more information about the creature she is gradually transforming into. 

Additional details will also be revealed, such as how a 15th century poet is connected to the Andrahon, and readers will start to get a sense of just how far back the existence of these creatures actually goes.  

Where Mackenzie Rollins' twisted journey takes her next is anyone's guess, but it promises to be an interesting one.  As always, Mackenzie's agenda is known to no one...but herself. 

What Lurks in the Longbox? #33 - Glee Meets Archie!

Archie #641 - Archie Meets Glee
Archie Comics
$2.99, color, 32 pgs.
Written by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Artists: Dan Parent, Rich Koslowski

So here's what you missed on Glee:

Brittany thinks she has an imaginary friend that only appears in her locker and looks just like Artie, but it's actually a genius named Dilton Doiley that lives in another dimension known as the "Archieverse," or as his friends call it: Riverdale.  Meanwhile, Santana is mad at Rachel for convincing Mr. Schue to increase the number of rehearsals for regionals.  While Dilton continues to observe a group of teenagers that can break out into song anywhere at a moment's notice, he notices the similarities between his friends in Riverdale and these students in Lima, Ohio.  But then in Riverdale a football flies through the window of Dilton's lab and smashes into his "Portal-Porter," causing an explosive rift in the space-time continuum.  Now Dilton, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie have been transported to McKinley High, while Rachel, Quinn, Brittany, Puck, Blaine and Mercedes find themselves stuck in Riverdale.  If that's not bad enough, Veronica gets a quick lesson from the football team on what happens to new members of the glee club, even though she's not really a member.

And that's what you missed on...GLEE! 

Archie #643 Variant Cover

I mentioned in my last blog posting that Archie Comics are currently publishing some of the most creative comics on the planet.  Once again, this "crossover event" is self-contained within one title and limited to a small number of issues, so it will not break the budget for any reader. 

The possibilities for this storyline are endless.  You can already see the claws coming out for an epic Veronica vs. Santana showdown, and it's questionable how long Jughead can survive living in a place where Pop's Chocklit Shoppe no longer exists. 

And that's just the start. 

Just think about the characters that haven't even appeared yet.  Will Ms. Grundy meet her match with Coach Sylvester?  How will Mr. Weatherbee's methods of running a high school clash with Principal Figgins' philosophies?

In addition, the story is in the capable hands of Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, which should make it even more fun, considering his combined experience with writing for both Marvel Comics and the Glee television series itself.  
 
No one knows how Dilton will fix this mess, and return all of the lost students back to their respective home dimensions.  One thing is for sure though: The journey will be an interesting one, and both dimensions' students stand to learn a lot from each other. 

The first chapter of the Archie/Glee crossover is on sale now!

What Lurks in the Longbox? #32 - The Best Comics You're Not Reading!

Archie Comics continues to smoke the competition in storytelling, value and pure creativity,  Unlike other publishers, this company's "events" are not about forcing the reader to buy dozens of various titles to get the whole story.  In most cases, the story is self-contained within one title and limited to a small number of issues.  If there are variant covers, they are usually produced in the same volume as the "regular" cover.  This means no premium price, which in turn means readers can choose the cover they prefer (or both, if they so choose), without worrying about their comics buying budget. 

Over the past couple years, Archie has released fun and creative crossover events with everyone from rock band legend Kiss, to the cast of American Idol, and even the President of the United States.

This year will be no exception, as the Archie Gang prepares to meet the cast of the Glee television series, and then two of the most popular video game characters on the planet will square off against each other, as Mega Man meets Sonic the Hedgehog in the "Worlds Collide" crossover event.  For those readers that prefer a slightly more serious Archie story, there's the monthly Life with Archie: The Married Life publication, which started as a spin-off from the "Archie Gets Married" storyline that was published in 2009.  Each issue features two stories, one from the parallel universe in which Archie married Veronica, and the other from the universe where Archie married Betty.  The series is written by veteran comic book creator Paul Kupperberg, and has featured great art by Norm Breyfogle, Fernando Ruiz and others.  The magazine format is also a great value for the money, with issues running upwards of 64 pages for only $3.99, which is often the cover price for a typical 22 page comic from "The Big Two." 



Mega Man takes on Sonic in the upcoming Spring crossover event.

If that isn't enough, Archie fans can also look forward to this year's Free Comic Book Day offering, as the publisher releases a free 92 page World of Archie digest for the tenth anniversary of the day that serves as the comic industry's national holiday.  If you haven't checked out Archie comics lately, you owe it to yourself to grab a few titles at your local comic shop, and find out what you've been missing! 

The Riverdale gang meets the McKinley High gang this Spring!


 

What Lurks in the Longbox? #31 - The New Deadwardians!

The New Deadwardians
DC/Vertigo Comics
$14.99, color, 176 pgs.
ISBN-10: 1401237630 
Written by: Dan Abnett
Artist: I.N.J. Culbard

This eight issue mini-series about a zombie outbreak in England at the turn of the twentieth century would be interesting on its own.  Adding a societal class structure of vampires and their human servants to the mix, however, is what makes The New Deadwardians unique. 

George Suttle is the Chief Inspector of the Homicide Squad, although his deductive talents are wasted in a society where murders are rare.  Suttle has the makings of a good detective, but with most of the population already dead (either vampire or zombie), he has little motivation to excel at his job.  When Scotland Yard dispatches Suttle to investigate an actual murder, he finally has an opportunity to use his talents.  The murder victim is a vampire, whose mysterious death does not follow any of the normal rules that govern a vampire’s existence.        

It’s a different scenario where people become vampires, but continue living their normal daily lives, while trying to cope with the absence of familiar needs like sleep and hunger.  Even more interesting is that even in this alternate take on post-Victorian England, many of the same social issues exist.  In this reality, the struggle for women's suffrage and equal rights is more about being allowed to take "The Cure" (becoming a vampire), rather than the right to vote in an election.  The series is also an interesting study on the relationship between the vampires and the "servant class," which consists of the remaining humans that have not gone the route of either vampire or zombie. 

The entire mini-series is available in trade paperback format at your local comic shop, and is easily one of the most innovative Vertigo series of the past couple years.  It's definitely worth a look, even if the undead genre is not your cup of tea (no pun intended). 

What Lurks in the Longbox? #30 - Untold Tales

Untold Tales of PunisherMax #5
Marvel/Max Comics
$3.99, color, 28 pgs. 
Writer: Skottie Young
Artists: Mirko Colak, Norman Lee, Rick Ketcham

Cancelled comics never actually die; they just come back with “untold tales” of the title character.  Untold Tales of Punisher Max has been an enjoyable series featuring one-shot stories by creators that might not have otherwise had the chance to show their own perspective on comics’ most infamous vigilante, including crime novelists like Megan Abbott and Jason Starr.

In this issue, a son’s desire for revenge brings him face to face with the man that killed his father.  The story raises an interesting question: What happens to the family members of Frank Castle’s victims?  It’s a theme not usually explored with this character, and Skottie Young handles the story in a unique fashion.  The Punisher appears mostly in shadows throughout the story, taking on the role of the ultimate bogeyman in the boy’s eyes. 



Not all of the Punisher's victims are easily categorized as "bad guys."

 

Despite the “Explicit Content” warning that is commonly seen on Max titles, this issue would be acceptable for most audiences.  The exception is just one word of profanity that doesn’t really serve any purpose, other than to mandate the rating change.  Is it really necessary? 

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While I'm on the subject of The Punisher, I am once again recommending the superb Jason Aaron/Steve Dillon PunisherMax series that ran for 22 issues from January 2010 to February 2012.  This series features some of the most intense and definitive Punisher storylines ever published, which is saying a lot considering the legacy of Garth Ennis' run on the previous volume of the series.  Aaron also took several classic Marvel villains and successfully brought them into the MAX Universe, including The Kingpin, Bullseye and Elektra.  When the series was approaching its final issue in late 2011, an online interview with Jason Aaron discussed how the series was not so much a cancellation, as it was a planned ending to the storyline.  Aaron stated "PunisherMax is ending, the way I always intended.  It was not cancelled." 

 

Cincinnati Comic Expo 2012

Cincinnati Comic Expo 2012 – “Unleash Your Inner Geek”        

My review of CCE 2012 is featured in this month's issue of Comics Buyer's Guide #1698, but in case you don't get a copy, here is the online version!

The third annual Cincinnati Comic Expo (CCE) was held on September 22^nd and 23^rd, 2012, at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati.  For a relatively small show that started out at Xavier University’s Cintas Center just two years ago, the show has grown at an incredible rate.  With dozens of dealers, artists and fan groups, it now rivals veteran regional shows like Wizard Mid-Ohio Con and the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE). 

With top comic and media talent, plus unique attractions such as “sci-fi speed dating,” this show is holding its own in the highly competitive pop culture convention industry.  For this year, the guest of honor spots were shared between artist legend George Perez, and an amazing “Swamp Thing Reunion” that featured creators Thomas Yeates, John Totleben, Rick Veitch and Stephen Bissette.  This reunion was an incredible accomplishment for CCE, because none of these creators, with the exception of Yeates, had appeared at a convention for more than a decade.  The long lines for sketches and autographs were made more pleasant, thanks to representatives of The Cincinnati Symphony Pops Orchestra, who gave out concert passes to fans, and played selections from popular musical scores, such as Superman and Star Wars.



John Totleben, Thomas Yeates and Rick Veitch signed and sketched for fans during the "Swamp Thing" Reunion!

Media guests included Actor Chandler Riggs from The Walking Dead TV series and Jason David Frank from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series.  Also attending was Star Wars Light Saber Choreographer Nick Gillard, who conducted a “Jedi Training” session for fans.  Several comic book publishers were also in attendance, including Arcana Publishing, Devil’s Due and Skystorm Studios. 

CCE 2012 also provided a family friendly atmosphere with the Sunday “Kids Con” event, which featured Star Wars Padawan Training, a Lego Scavenger Hunt, face painting, raffles, and much more.  Artists from several “kid-friendly” comic titles were also in attendance.  Children’s book illustrator Dave Aikins, known for creating dozens of books featuring characters like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Squarepants was there, and Mike Norton from Young Justice did free sketches for kids.
 

My son Jordan was thrilled to get a free Beast Boy sketch from Artist Mike Norton!

Another unique attraction at this convention was the opportunity to play vintage arcade games for free, including Ms. Pac-Man, X-Men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  All of these classic machines were brought to the show floor courtesy of Arcade Legacy, a local business that offers both vintage and modern video gaming at hourly and daily rates.  Their website boasts “7,800 square feet of arcade gaming goodness, with sixty plus arcade and pinball cabinets.” Convention attendees apparently loved the idea, as the arcade machines were busy throughout the weekend, especially the ones that could be played by two or three people at the same time.

My son Jordan got to play several vintage arcade games, courtesy of Arcade Legacy.

Of course no comic convention would be complete without a large variety of comic dealers, and CCE had plenty of them.  Vendor merchandise ranged from Golden Age and original art, to modern comics and variant covers at bargain prices.  In addition to more than 30 comic dealers, there were dozens of other vendors selling art supplies, glasses, buttons, t-shirts and non-sports cards.  One of the more unique vendors was Cincinnati Bricks, an online Lego marketplace that sells individual pieces (or “bricks”), complete sets and other product that is often exclusive to the European market.   

Brett Pinson of Boomtown Press brought his animation style cell art to the show!

As I’ve mentioned in prior reports, convention experiences can be more fun when you turn the trip into a complete family vacation, or even a quick day trip.  Cincinnati is just minutes from the Kentucky border, which means lots of possibilities for additional fun, such as The Newport Aquarium, Big Bone Lick State Park and the sleepy town of Rabbit Hatch, where you can have a barbeque pulled pork sandwich for breakfast, check out the old fashioned general store, and even visit with the town’s mayor, who is (literally) a dog. 

CCE 2012 was a great success, and before the convention even started, the first big name guest was already announced for 2013.  Art Balthazar, known for his beloved Tiny Titans comic series, is scheduled to appear at next year’s show, and more guest announcements are expected soon.  The convention’s catch phrase, “Unleash Your Inner Geek” was embraced by all, and this reviewer is looking forward to next year’s convention!

Comic Creators Rob Worley and Paul Storrie