2016: For Better or Worse, the Year of the Reboot
By: Shawn Warner
It’s that time of the year again, when everyone gets a case of short term nostalgia and finds it oh so necessary to make lists; the ten best movies, the fifty best books and so it goes. Well, not to be outdone by those list making gadabouts, I sat down to compose my list of the best comic books of 2016. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics 1984)
Written by Bill Mantlo
Art by Sal Buscema and Gerry Talaoc
Letters by Joe Rosen
Colors by Bob Sharen
The Hulk is a first for many comic readers. When I was a kid there was a cartoon and a live action show. Everyone can connect with the “man inside the monster” story on some level, and being able to throw a car into space is pretty cool too. Continue reading
(Marvel Studios 2015)
Summary: Inhumans have begun popping up all over the globe now that the Terrigen strain has been released into the ozone. Continue reading
Marvel Studios 2015
Summary: Agent Phil Coulsen leads a ragtag group of agents through the mud as he fights Hydra and any other baddies that comes along the way. As our heroes learn to adapt to one another, and the changes happening around them the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Written by Jason Latour
Pencils and Inks by Robbi Rodriguez
Colors by Rico Renzi
Although this is the actual inaugural issue of Spider-Gwen’s on-going monthly series it reads more like a second issue to her first appearance in last year’s Edge of Spider-Verse #2. An ancillary series of one-shots each focusing on a different Spider-Powered character, the second issue of Edge of Spider-Verse written by Jason Latour with art by Robbi Rodriguez boasted the introduction not only of Spider-Gwen but, of the alternate universe that spawned her and the entire cast of quasi-familiar characters albeit some of them are only recognizable by name. Continue reading
Marvel Studios 2015
Summary: It’s 1946, WWII is over and Agent Peggy Carter finds herself working for the SSR. Begrudging the position of a pencil pusher, stranded in an era where the male presence runs basically everything, Carter secretly attempts to continue doing what she does best: being a secret agent. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Salvador Larroca
Color Artwork by Edgar Delgado
Cover by Adi Granov
Marvel’s return to publishing Star Wars titles has been a long time coming, but is off to a superb start with the flagship title drawing critical and fan accolades and now we have the first series to focus on the franchise’s most iconic and complex villain, Darth Vader. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Story by Matt Fraction
Art by David Aja and Raul Allen
Colors by Matt Hollingsworth
This series has been one of the biggest surprises of the entire Marvel Now undertaking; Matt Fraction and David Aja set the bar in the stratosphere at the very beginning and have consistently reached or surpassed that standard issue after stunning issue. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Written by Sam Humphries
Pencils by Ed McGuiness and Kris Anka
Inks by Kris Anka, Mark Farmer, Jay Leisten, and Mark Morales
Colors by Marte Garcia and Marcelo Malolo
Letters by Travis Lanham
Last year’s “The Trial of Jean Grey” marked the first time these two teams were paired up for a major crossover. In the time since that first event The Guardians of the Galaxy have become a bona fide part of the pop culture landscape, thanks mainly due to a huge blockbuster film that proved just how exciting and fun this group of cosmic misfits could be. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Writer – Peter David
Artist – Carmine Di Giandomenico
In light of the Earth shattering Secret Wars announcement from Marvel earlier this week, the cancellation of a little but loved series like X-Factor gets lost in the shuffle. This is most likely what led to the book being cancelled with this its 20th consistently well written and entertaining issue, it got lost in the Marvel Now shuffle, overshadowed by bigger books with more hype that were more tied into to the big crossover events.
(Marvel Comics, 2015)
Writer- Jason Aaron
Art- John Cassaday
Colors- Laura Martin
From the very second you open this book it feels like Star Wars and not just a Star Wars comic book, I mean Star Wars! From those now immortal words that have opened every one of the films and have since been etched into our brains as if by the laser sharp edge of a light saber, so begins this first issue, “A long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away…” Continue reading
Marvel Studios 2015
Summary: It’s 1946, WWII is over and Agent Peggy Carter finds herself working for the SSR. Begrudging the position of a pencil pusher, stranded in an era where the male presence runs basically everything, Carter secretly attempts to continue doing what she does best: being a secret agent. But everything comes at a cost, when Howard Stark appears to be selling his most dangerous inventions to the black market, Peggy is hired on to clear his name at all costs – even if it brands her a traitor. In the ensuing battle a new enemy arises, and those dear to Peggy continue to get hurt. How much of it can she take before she breaks?
(Marvel Comics, 2014)
Writers- Kieron Gillen & Marguerite Bennett
Artists- Phil Jimenez, Stephanie Hans, Tom Palmer & Romulo Fajardo
Angela made her Marvel debut back in issue 10 of the Age of Ultron event series, appearing more like a last minute addendum or ill-conceived afterthought than a heralded addition to one of the most celebrated cast of characters in modern history. Met with disdain by some fans and just plain disinterest by others, Marvel has done little to change many minds about this celestial wayfarer from the days of chromium covers and print runs more in line with creators’ egos than actual sales. The result of brilliant writer Neil Gaiman and upstart artist Todd McFarlane, Angela was originally part of the Spawn mythology first appearing in issue 9 of the original series then in her own three issue mini-series also written by Gaiman but, this time drawn by the vastly superior artist Greg Capullo. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2014)
Writer – Tom Taylor
Artist – Yildiray Cinar
Colors – Guru eFX
The inversion effects of the events taking place in Axis continue to wreak havoc upon the Marvel Universe turning heroes into villains and vice versa. Perhaps no other hero’s personality has been quite so adversely altered as Tony Stark; the once bright shining knight in high tech armor has pulled up stakes on his east coast digs and relocated to San Francisco, but that is the least of the changes that have turned Stark from hero to heel.
Tony has unleashed his perfection inducing Extremis 3.0 App on the populace of his new hometown, however, unfortunately for him Daredevil has made the exodus to the west ahead of him and DD does not like what Stark has planned for his city. With the even more arrogant and far more devious aspects of Tony’s personality coming to the forefront, profit has become his motivation over any of the altruistic ideals he had previously held in such high regard. Continue reading
*WARNING: SPOILERS!*
Captain America: The Winter Soldier completely redefines the playing field for what a successful superhero movie should be. Since the creation of Marvel Studios there has never been a better movie than the new saga about America’s illustrious Captain, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Filled with action-packed excitement, heart-wrenching drama, and exceptional visuals, Captain America: The Winter Soldier has completely reset the stage for every superhero movie that will ever follow. Continue reading
(Titan Comics, 2014)
Written by Various
Artwork by Various
Edited by Dave Elliot
*Suggested for a mature audience…and they ain’t lyin’.
For a long time I didn’t know what kind of music I liked. (Keep reading, this is actually going somewhere in the realm of comics.) I blame my grandpa for this, and not in a bad way. When I was a kid he would wake us with marching band music. Nothing rouses you out of bed at 6 a.m. like the dulcet tones of John Phillip Sousa or K.L. King. Continue reading
(Marvel Comics, 2014)
Written by Ales Kot
Artwork by Michael Walsh
Color Artwork by Matthew Wilson
Lettering by Clayton Clowes
To say Marvel is on a roll would be the understatement of the century; they are not only on a roll, but on a roll that spans film, television and comic books. No other Marvel title ties all of those worlds together better than Continue reading
Hello Bag and Boreders! What a lovely Monday morning. This is a new post that we are going to be throwing out every Monday on some of the things that are going on in the world of comics and entertainment. This will obviously be something that evolves as times moves on. Continue reading
(DC Comics, 2014)
Review by Galen Garner
Written by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti
Artwork by Chad Hardin & Stephanie Roux
Color Artwork by Alex Sinclair
Lettering by John J. Hill
Think about it! Harley Quinn as the landlord of an apartment building. How awesome would it be to live in a place where her crazy antics take place around you every day? Continue reading
(Dark Horse Comics, 2014)
Review by Jeremiah Kielman
Written by Tim Siedell
Artwork by Gabriel Guzman
Color Artwork by Michael Atiyeh
Betrayal. The clone once known as CT-5539. Having assumed the alias Hock Malsuum attempts to deal with the Jedi’s betrayal of himself and really all clones during the War. He goes about this in different ways during the course of his life. Continue reading
BAG & BORED 