Winter City
Written by Patrick Purcell and Carl Purcell
Art and Color by Pablo Verdugo Munoz and David Aravena Riquelme
Winter City Productions
Release Date: May 16, 2012
Cover Price: $1.99

Winter City is the physical representation of the word “gritty.” When comics like Spawn and Preacher were hitting shelves, they were always described as “dark,” “violent,” and of course “gritty.” Winter City is a love letter to those comics that set the bar for the dark places comics could take us. For their time, Spawn and Preacher shocked readers with their darkness. Now in 2012, as readers, we have become desensitized to acts of violence carried out on comic panels. It takes completely atrocious brutality to provoke a reaction from Generation Y. Winter City‘s need to emulate classic “gritty” comics, is its biggest flaw. For a comic that clearly wants to be seen as hyper-violent and shocking, Winter City is surprisingly tame [...]

Skullkickers #14
Written By Jim Zubkavich
Art By Edwin Huang
Color By Misty Coats
Image Comics
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

A portion of the official description of Skullkickers #14 reads, “Secrets revealed. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun…” and continues on 12 more times. It is no surprise to say that this issue of Skullkickers is about one thing and one thing only. The gun. There has been much hype surrounding issue 14 since the secrets of Baldy and his gun were teased at Image Comic Expo. Well, now it’s here and rest assured Skullkickers fans, secrets are in fact revealed. Skullkickers #14 doesn’t dance around the secrets either. Questions are answered as directly as a gunshot that will leave your mind blown [...]

The Waling Dead #97
Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
Image Comics
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

The Walking Dead #97 is the first issue in the highly anticipated “Something To Fear” story arc, which was announced back in February. Death and destruction are coming for Rick and the survivors and writer Robert Kirkman has made it clear that this time, there is a lot to lose. For several issues now, Kirkman has been building to this moment through a series of brash decisions made by his protagonists. The coming storm is the result of those decisions and to quote Wyatt Earp, “You called down the thunder, well now you’ve got it.”

When people speak about The Walking Dead, inevitably someone will bring up the point that “it is not really about zombies.” There is definitely some truth to that statement, especially in light of the comic’s current events. Issue after issue, Rick and his gang have become increasingly desperate. It is obvious that after all the loss and death, that there would be a breaking point for the survivors. In the past few issues Kirkman has depicted this despair as Rick’s veiled grasp at optimism. With food running low and winter coming the survivors have been backed into a corner. As it is with most threatened animals, instead of finding a way to escape, they simply attack [...]

Frankenstein Alive, Alive! #1
Written by Steve Niles
Art by Bernie Wrightson
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Steve Niles is a master of horror comics. His ability to craft deeply frightening, personal horror stories is second to none. Niles is able to capture the darkest moments that any person can experience and reduce them to a conversation or a handful of panels. So, when it was announced that he would be working on a Frankenstein comic with IDW, it was not all that surprising. Frankenstein is just as synonymous to horror as Dracula or zombies. The shocking part of Niles’ Frankenstein comic, Frankenstein Alive, Alive #1 came from the content within the comic. Instead writing Frankenstein Alive, Alive #1 as a horror comic, Niles has infused this comic with a story about sorrow, despair, and the agony of being a monster [...]

FUBAR-The Devil’s Dance Floor
Story and Art by Jeff McComsey
Cover and Pin Ups by Steve Becker
Fubar Press
Release Date: May 5, 2012 (In-Stores)
Release Date: April 17, 2012 (Digital Download)
Cover Price: Free!

I have to admit, at first the idea of reviewing a comic that will be coming out for free on Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) seemed odd to me. That is, until I realized just how many free-of-charge offerings will be up for grabs on FCBD. FUBAR: The Devil’s Dance Floor is one of those offerings, and with no price tag, this comic is a no-brainer when it comes to picking up comics on FCBD.

It is not stretch to say that the zombie genre has been done to “death” in comics. However, with the hordes of zombie comics that lurch their way onto shop shelves every week, there is at least one that stands above the rest. FUBAR: The Devil’s Dance Floor seems to intentionally go out of its way to avoid tired gross-out bits that are so commonly found in this type of comic, and instead focuses on an interesting story [...]

Dogs of Mars
Trade paperback
Story by Johnny Zito, Tony Trov and Christian Weiser
Art by Paul Maybury
Image Comics
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Cover Price: $15.99

Dogs of Mars is a comic rooted in restraint. Nearly every panel of this Sci-Fi horror comic is a detailed study in delicacy. Everything from relationships to brutal violence is explored in Dogs of Mars. Yet, none of it is fully exposed to us as readers. When many comics sprint from one extreme to the next, Dogs of Mars plants the first seeds of terror from page one. The result is a completely visceral experience that will leave you checking to make sure your doors and windows are locked.

Dogs of Mars has a pace and tone that should exist organically in this genre of comic yet rarely does. Writers Johnny Zito, Tony Trov, and Christian Weiser have crafted something that will genuinely make you uneasy. That sense of discomfort is in part due to the fact that the writers of this comic have done everything in their power to alienate the reader. Characters are far from home, on an uninhabitable planet and they are being hunted. These are not careful calculating aliens hunting the unfortunate astronauts either. These are rabid and vicious beasts with snapping jaws that will eviscerate everything that comes in their path [...]

Marksmen TPB
Story by David Baxter and Dave Elliott
Script by Dave Baxter
Art by Javier Aranda, Jessica Kholine and Garry Leach
Cover by Tomm Coker
Image Comics
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Cover Price: $15.99

There is a delicate balance between interjecting a message subtly into a story and becoming overly preachy. In some ways, a compelling story has to contain substance and a level of depth to justify itself to readers. On the other hand, when an author has his characters shout from a podium about a hot button issue, it can become tiresome very quickly. Throughout this entire comic, Marksmen walked that line between tactful narrative and evangelization. The creative team behind this comic is enormous, so I can see why some ideas may come off stronger than others. The problem is that, when you are dealing with a comic of this scope, a cohesive tone is paramount. Marksmen would be an incredible and fun comic, if only it would stop telling us what bad people we are [...]

The Goon #39
Created by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 25, 2011
Cover Price: $3.50

Eric Powell is unhappy with Marvel and DC. In fact, he is so annoyed by mainstream superhero comics that he wrote an entire issue about it. The Goon #39 seems to be the culmination of all of Powell’s frustrations with hero comics and the comics industry in general. This issue is a deconstruction of everything that Powell feels is wrong with mainstream publisher’s marketing techniques. Goon takes a break from cracking zombie skulls for an issue, and instead takes down the The Big Two. Powell attempts to bring every irritating thing about mainstream comics to light in this issue. The problem with this is, when you swing at every slow pitch, you are bound to miss a few [...]

King of The Unknown
Created by Marcus Muller
Art by Marcus Muller
King of The Unknown
Release Date: Available Now

Webcomics typically fall into two categories: either they are rough homemade projects that rely on humor and a compelling story to make up for a lack of art, or they are polished, professional-looking comics that feature a very abstract concept that has relatively no mainstream appeal. The webcomics that can find the space in between those two categories tend to be the ones that generate an audience. Off the top of my head, I can think of several webcomics that have jumped the gap from D.I.Y projects to independent masterpieces including, Evan Dahm’s Rice Boy and Ben Costa’s Shi Long Pang. King of The Unknown falls into that harmonious middle ground as well with polished artwork and thoughtful storytelling. Marcus Muller has created a comic that has ties to mainstream audiences, yet stays true to the roots of the webcomic community [...]

I’ll Take You To The Moon & Leave You There
Created by Skuds Mckinley
Art by Skuds Mckinley
BatShit Art
Release Date: April 11, 2012
Cover Price: $8.00

As a society, we tend to retain only the fondest memories of being young and in love. What lurks beneath those memories is a fundamental truth that, if possible, we would like to forget. The truth is that growing up and loving someone is terrifying, a fact that sometimes hurts too much to acknowledge. I’ll Take You To The Moon & Leave You There is a testament to those moments that slip between our subconscious and are, with any luck, forgotten for good. From isolation to addiction, indie creator, Skuds Mckinley, explores the darkest corners of the human experience in this book [...]

Secret #1
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Ryan Bodenheim
Image Comics
Release Date: April 11, 2012
Cover Price: #3.50

In the case of Secret #1, I clearly judged this comic by its cover. The inclusion of actual photograph on a comic book cover is not something you see often. The cover of Secret #1 grabbed my attention the first time I saw it. The ghostly white set of teeth clenched around a sea of black tendrils was haunting. Luckily for me, I do not live to regret picking up this book based on its cover. Secret #1 is a tense and masterfully crafted first issue from an extremely talented young team.

Secret #1 plays out much like the opening scenes of a James Bond movie. We are first introduced to an unlucky C.E.O who has just had some information forcefully removed in a home invasion. Immediately after that, the rest of the comic takes place in a private meeting with some of Washington’s most powerful men, who are just learning that their private security is “shit.” The man delivering this information is known as Mr. Miller, who by all accounts is a private security expert with a few darker things planned for the future [...]

Skullkickers #13
Written by Jim Zubkavich
Art by Edwin Huang
Colors by Misty Coats
Image Comics
Release Date: April 4, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Skullkickers finally returns after a 4-month hiatus with a new story arc that promises to shed some light on the mysterious origins of our favorite mercenaries. Skullkickers #13 is the jumping on point for this new storyline and it dedicates itself to establishing a solid foundation for the rest of the saga. The trademark violence of Skullkickers is largely absent from this issue. Yet Skullkickers #13 gives readers something much more gratifying than blood and guts.

The most powerful moments in comics occur once we, as readers, realize that our heroes are vulnerable. The moment that Batman emerges from the rubble with Jason Todd’s body is so iconic for this reason. For the first time, we are shown that maybe the men and women in our comics are not without fear and loss. For 12 issues Skullkickers has thrown the mercenary duo in front of nearly every kind of monster, ghoul, and goblin with nary a scratch. Issue 13 is one of the first times that writer Jim Zubkavich paints one of his characters as a less than invincible super man [...]

Danger Club #1
Script by Landry Q. Walker
Art by Eric Jones
Colors by Michael Drake
Image Comics
Release Date: April 4, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

Children fighting to the death and generally beating each other to pulp has never been as popular as it is now. With Mark Millar wrapping up Kick-Ass 2, and The Hunger Games movie in theaters, under-age battles are fresh in the public’s mind. Danger Club #1 introduces readers to a new brand of teen violence with super-powered youths dropping one another like a bag of rocks. However, at the moments that Danger Club #1 risks being gratuitous, the comic pulls back and shows restraint. Yes, this comic is not lacking in viciousness and, yes, it is graphic. But, while comics like Kick-Ass use violence for shock and awe, Danger Club #1 uses it to punctuate an idea [...]

The Walking Dead #95
Written by Robert Kirkman
Pencils, Inks and Cover by Charlie Adlard
Gray Tones by Cliff Rathburn
Image Comics
Release Date: March 28, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

When Rick and his gang of survivors first found a secure and safe community, Robert Kirkman began to construct an illusion of safety. For a while, it seemed as if The Walking Dead was going to end on a good note, Rick felt safe, Carl was healthy and most of the survivors were as content as one could be during the apocalypse. However, as soon as things seemed at harmony, Kirkman began pulling loose the threads that constructed the very same sense of amity. The Walking Dead #95 is the culmination of the slow unraveling that has been occurring since the survivors stumbled upon their new community. This issue finally shreds all hope for survival and introduces us to a brand new hell [...]

Monocyte #3
Written by Kasra Ghanbari and Menton3
Art by Menton3
IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

The Monocyte series has a certain level of charm based on the fact that the dialogue of this book is so intellectual that it is oftentimes incomprehensible. From the dark and textured artwork of Menton3 to the profound script of Kasra Ghanbari, Monocyte screams ‘NOT FOR EVERYONE!’ That being said, Monocyte #3 is by far the most linear issue of this comic to date. Even though this comic may seem intimidating to newcomers, if you give it chance, Monocyte will change what you expect from comics.

Monocyte #3 deals explicitly with the origin of Azrael’s favorite death dealer, Monocyte. It is a bold move by the creative team to interject an origin story on only the third issue. Luckily this gamble pays off [...]

The Goon #38
Written by Eric Powell
Art by Eric Powell
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Just when I thought I had Eric Powell pegged as a comic creator who could not tackle serious content, he turns around and puts out The Goon #38. Goon doesn’t make an appearance in this issue, but surprisingly the comic works well without him. Issue 38 is a stand-alone issue that tells the story of Goon’s Aunt Kizzie and her troubled past. Powell sets aside the head cracking and knife in eye jokes for an issue of The Goon with surprising amounts of depth and emotion [...]

Yesterday, we posted cosplay photos from WonderCon 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, along from photos from cool stuff being shown off at the booths in the exhibition hall.

Now, we have some more cosplay photos for you – this time it’s some of the Sunday attendees of the Con – along with some shots of everyone’s favorite droid, R2-D2.

Check out the photos from Sunday here below. Click HERE for all of our coverage from the convention [...]

Even on a Sunday the floor of this year’s WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center is abuzz. Dominating the landscape of the exhibition hall are the booths of comic publishers DC, IDW, and Archaia.

But, quite possibly the best booth at the Con so far is the one for HBO’s Game of Thrones television series. Fans of the show can have a gruesome photo taken with their head digitally impaled on a spike. The photos feature the iconic and apt phrase from Game of Thrones, “The King Can Do As He Likes.”

At the DC booth, the massive publisher showcased the latest in DC Direct figures from the upcoming Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. Among the figures were Bane, Batman, and Catwoman in her full costume. In addition, DC looks to be teaming up with New Era to produce Batman vs Bane hats — the hats feature the dark knight and bane slugging it out in the streets of Gotham [...]

The Amazing Spider-Man panel was by far one of the most anticipated panels for WonderCon 2012. Though the panel lacked lead actor Andrew Garfield or any big reveals, a several minute long trailer gave some deep insight into the film’s emotional elements.

At a glance the film looks to be dealing with Peter as a young man who has lost his parents and the emotional repercussions of such an event. That is not to say the trailer did not have some incredible action choreography laced throughout. Of note were a few never before seen scenes of Peter training in what looked like an abandoned warehouse, with his newfound powers. Most of the new scenes involved Spider-Man swinging through city streets and one scene in which Spider-Man taunts a would be car thief. The trailer (description below) encompassed everything that is Spider-Man [...]

The Snow White and the Huntsman panel at WonderCon 2012 on Saturday began with E! movie personality Ben Lyons introducing director Rupert Sanders and actresses Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron.

Sanders began with an explanation as to how he managed to stay true to the original material of Snow White, saying he wanted to maintain the authenticity of the original while bringing it to a new and contemporary audience.

Stewart, who plays Snow White, when asked what portion of the film she was most proud of said that she was impressed with how delicately Sanders handled the entire process as a director [...]