I'll let you know if it does.

Outcast # 1-6 added

Archie's first couple of issues are on, which I'm looking forward to reading.

Thanks to Comixology Unlimited I decided to read a title I'd almost bought on sale but didn't.

Now I'm glad I read before I bought, cause I would've regretted buying it.

God Hates Astronauts sounds ok but the execution left me cold. I couldn't even finish the first issue.

The tagline, which didn't copy, reads "stories that stick".

Indeed they do.

Another quality small publisher. The first solicits I read were underwhelming, and like most of you, have limited funds to devout to my addiction.

Again, Comixology Unlimited comes to the rescue and allows me to sample their products.

I've previously mentioned in an earlier post how surprised and satisfied I was reading Daomu.

There are 4 other titles listed and I've read them all with brief notes here.

I'm listing these in alphabetical order, as that's how I read them as they appeared.

So, we're starting off with "bad" news before good, in this case.

Not BAD, but the least enjoyable of everything else I've read. Not bad necessarily, but not the genre I prefer, and to be fair, these are only the first 2 chapters, giving just a taste of what to expect.

All summaries are from CU.



A mysterious evil crosses a peaceful valley in search of they elusive and mysterious saint of light, Luminae. But she is protected by a sisterhood of warriors and witches who will stop at nothing to insure Luminae's safety. When one of the sisterhood disappears, however, the rest place themselves on high-alert... clearly there is Darkness on their heels...

This has both story and art by Bengal, someone I've not encountered before reading these Magnetic Press titles.

I've liked his other work, and the artwork here not quite as compelling. Again, probably just my personal bias. The story, however, is not as clear and coherent as the others I read. I'd be inclined to buy and re-read the others, but not so much this one. The girls are on the run and that's pretty much all I got out of the first two issues. These didn't grab me, but YMMV.



The story of the pilot and his assistant controlling their huge mech in a battle to defend a city from another alien tech. Cool premise, but what really hooked me was the appealing art and willing to try this with my CU.

In a future where civilization is defended by giant, humanoid vehicles known as "Meka", two pilots learn to deal with the consequences of their unquestioning dedication to military duty as their vehicle is incapacitated in the center of a once-thriving city they themselves turned into a war zone!

Written by JD Morvan (Sillage, Zaya) and illustrated by Bengal (Naja, Luminae).

Bengal does what he does best, illustrating, and leaving the story to JD Morvan. Very good combination that really conveys the rock em sock em on a gigantic scale feel of skyscraper-sized robots fighting each other against a skyline that looks like a model train set. The point of view and scale are reinforced from the human perspective both inside the giant mech and later outside trying to fend for themselves.



Naja is the perfect killer because she feels nothing... literally. Her body registers no pain, nor does her heart, coldly executing jobs given to her by her mysterious boss, known only as "Zero." When another killer in Zero's organization targets Naja for elimination, she has no choice but to fall off the grid and seek answers, as bloody as they might be...

Written by international creative powerhouse JD Morvan (Sillage, Zaya) and illustrated by French sensation Bengal (Meka, Luminae)!

The same team that gave us Meka, this time telling the story of a stone cold assassin and her life of control and isolation. Better than I otherwise would've expected having read many other female assassin stories, from Elektra, to Kabuki, Whisper, Lady Shiva, Black Widow, the Executive Assistants, and more.



In the Dream World, power and adventure belong to the Lucid Dreamers, while Night Terrors haunt the troubled and the helpless. A lucky few are watched over by mysterious guardians. The protectors of our shared unconscious lives are known as...

...Dream Walkers.

Latchkey brothers Jonas and Alan Anderson have discovered a Universe beyond our own, one that can only be reached through dreams. A tangible world filled with fantastic and frightening things, accessible only to those lucky few with the ability to lucid dream. There, they will find not only mind-blowing adventure, but the key to a vast secret history and their role in the protection of The Waking World.

Conceived and written by Multi-platinum recording artist Tom DeLonge (Blink182, Angels and Airwaves) and Ben Kull (Father of the Pride, Mission Hill), and illustrated by animation sensation Djet, this original comic series reveals an epic, ageless race for Immortality, Power, and Purpose.

The comic book prequel to the award-winning animated short film!

I like the premise but the execution here was lacking and instead of struggling thorugh, I simply gave up about half way through. Not to my taste, though I'd be interested to see if the animated short would be better.

An unusual miss for me from MP, though I'm sure others will like this.



Who do superheroes go to when they need to unload? Dr. Ego, psychotherapist for the superhero community! Welcome to the world of the deeply disturbed, where with great power comes great anxiety, angst, and expectations!

Written and illustrated by Caio Oliveira (No More Heroes, Prophet Hill), with colors by Lucas Marangon (Star Wars, Hellcyon), pinups by Ben Caldwell, Sanford Greene, Tony Shasteen, Bengal, Joyce Chin, Brent McKee, Chandra Free, Michael O'Hare, Gary Erskine, Edgar Delgado, and more!

Cover by Eisner Award-winner Glenn Fabry!

Sounds cool and it is. Another unknown writer / artist to me, Caio Oliveira, but one I'd read again. Some dark underlying spoofing here, but that's what makes it appealing. Smart of them getting Glenn Fabry for the cover as this has a Vertigo-esque feel to it.




Zaya is a retired secret agent trying to make a life for herself outside of the organization known as SPIRAL. But a mysterious cybernetic assassin is hunting Spiral agents across the planetary sprawl… could she be next?

Nice story of a single mom / retired spy being called back for duty and the struggles of protecting her children, saying good-bye to the sister who will watch over them, and her resumption of doing what she had to do for country.

Once again, the story is by Jean-David (JD) Morvan, and the art is by Huang Jia-Wei with a fine line fusion of Euro and Asian influences.

Overall, I'm very impressed with Magnetic Press and probably wouldn't have known about these gems without Comixology Unlimited.

Birthright Vol. 1: Homecoming by Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas




"For the Rhodes family, losing their son was the most devastating thing that could have occurred... but it couldn't prepare them for what happened when he returned.

Skybound's newest hit turns fantasy into reality in this all-new series from the creator of NAILBITER and GHOSTED. Pick up this introductory-priced collection and see what everyone's talking about!"

The art is nice here and the premise is good, but, fantasy is very touch and go with me. I'm open to it but it has engage me, which this didn't, unfortunately. FWIW, 93 Comixology readers have given it an average of 5/5 stars.




Fear Agent Vol. 1 by Rick Remender & Tony Moore




"When downandout alien exterminator Heath Huston stumbles upon an extraterrestrial plot to commit genocide against the human species, he must put down the bottle and resume his roll as a peacekeeper... as the last Fear Agent. This volume collects Fear Agent #1 #4 and sports new cover art! ""Fear Agent is absolutely everything I love about comics in one fantastic package."" – Matt Fraction, Casanova, Iron Fist, The Punisher"

I meant to buy this cause I've liked, really liked, Rick Remender's Strange Girl, Deadly Class and Black Science. I'm looking forward to reading his Tokyo Ghost as well.

Tony Moore is most famous for The Walking Dead, of course, and his Jack Davis-influenced style. Met him at a con and he was a great gentleman. Really like his stuff.

Having said that, Fear Agent didn't do it for me. Just too generic. Felt like a prelude to bigger better projects.

5/5 stars average from 25 Comixology readers.




Strange Fruit #1 by Mark Waid & J.G. Jones




"What's to Love: Two of the industry's most respected and prolific creators come together for the first time in a deeply personal passion project. J.G. Jones (52, Wanted, Y: The Last Man) and Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Superman: Birthright, Kingdom Come) take on a powerful, beautifully painted story set during the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Strange Fruit is a challenging, provocative examination of the heroic myth confronting the themes of racism, cultural legacy, and human nature through a literary lens, John Steinbeck's classic novel, Of Mice and Men.

What It Is: It's 1927 in the town of Chatterlee, Mississippi, drowned by heavy rains. The Mississippi River is rising, threatening to break open not only the levees, but also the racial and social divisions of this former plantation town. A fiery messenger from the skies heralds the appearance of a being, one that will rip open the tensions in Chatterlee. Savior, or threat? It depends on where you stand. All the while, the waters are still rapidly rising..."

This has ruffled some feathers as it's not "politically correct" with Waid & Jones trying to give a fairly accurate portrayal of the time period, but, I love what I've read ! My advice is don't read this if you're easily offended, but if post-Civil War turn of the century behavior and language, including the "n" word, don't deter you from enjoying this powerful work, then I wholeheartedly endorse it.

Brave to Boom! Studios for publishing this. It reads very well and J.G. Jones' work almost has a Rockwell-esque feel to it.

120 Comixology readers gave it an average of 4/5 stars




Kabuki vol. 1 #1 by David Mack




"Fear the Reaper will give you a glimpse into the origin of the Japanese government assassin known as Kabuki. Kabuki is one of a handful of field agents o the Noh who keeps the Yakuza in check and the politicians honest. Kabuki Volume 1: Circle of Blood is Mack's first published Kabuki story. It was completed and released at age 21, while he was in college, and turned in for his senior writing thesis."

I've known David Mack's work for years, and admire it, but have always seen Kabuki as kind of just another bad girl character from back in the day, a trend that really exploded with the success of Frank Miller's Elektra, and followed by Lady Death, Shi, Purgatori, Cry For Dawn, etc.

If not for Comixology Unlimited, and free access to this material, I would never have read this, and that would be a shame. To say I'm very, very surprised at how good this is would be an understatement. I'm definitely going back and getting more of this. Even more amazing is the fact that this was done while he was in college makes it even more incredible. Kabuki is a character that's been around a long time, and now I get it. Another thing that sets this apart is that she's sort of legendary like the Batman : is she real or not ? Strictly a propaganda character, myth, a Public Service Announcement given humanoid form by the government, or something else ? There's also more than one Kabuki, and they work to balance the power between the Yakuza and the politicians.

Fascinating

Rated 5/5 stars on average by 1 Comixology reader (before I voted).




Key of Z by Chondra Echert & Claudio Sanchez, with interiors by Aaron Kuder and covers by Nathan Fox




"New York City is down but not out - the zombie apocalypse has destroyed much of the city, but hard-boiled humanity hangs on. But with the survivors divided into warring factions, and the undead hiding behind every corner, only one man can walk the streets alone: Nick Ewing. His murdered wife and child, from the grave, give him the strength to continue his vendetta against the king of Yankee Stadium. The complete collected hit series from Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez, Chondra Echert, hot new talent Aaron Kuder, and cover artist Nathan Fox."

Decent concept, though pretty similar to an AMC show IIRC. Aaron Kuder's early work here, and I can see the seeds of greatness being planted here. Nathan Fox's covers are good as well.

Having said that, this was decent, but only slightly above average IMO. Nothing to bring me back.

8 Comixology readers give it an average of 4/5 stars




Black River by Josh Simmons




"Josh Simmons returns with his first full-length graphic novel since 2007's acclaimed House. A group of women, one man, and two dogs are making their way through a post-apocalyptic world in search of a city that supposedly still has electricity and some sort of civilization. Along the way, they go to a comedy club, take a drug called Gumdrop, and encounter gangs of men who are fools, lunatics, or murderous sadists. In other words, all manner of terrors. Josh Simmons is one of the field's most distinctive voices in the genre of horror (The Furry Trap, House), and this full-length graphic novel is his best work yet, echoing director John Carpenter's perfect tick-tock pacing, as well as Shirley Jackson's ability to transcend genre and turn it into literature.

Josh Simmons has concocted a hellish world in which madwomen roam a post-apocalyptic landscape - but its battlescars are nothing compared to the self-obliterating hell of their own minds. A horrifying, unforgettable vision." - Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women)"

A graphic novel, graphically, showing the exploits of a gang mostly composed of women, banding together in desperate survival in a brutal world. Violent, savage, and cruel. Fantagraphics never disappoints.

A solid read you won't forget.

18 Comixology readers give it an average of 4/5 stars




Clockwerx Vol. 1: Forge by Jason Henderson, Izu & Tony Salvaggio, with art by Jean-Baptiste Hostache




"A non-stop Steampunk thrill ride featuring giant robots and set in Victorian London. London, 1899. A series of mysterious deaths on the shipping docks have an ex-Scotland Yard officer on the hunt for clues. What he uncovers is a war between a huge corporation and a renegade group of individuals, with both parties fighting for a powerful new energy source. A cross-Atlantic collaboration between American authors Jason Henderson and Tony Salvaggio, and French illustrator Jean-Baptiste Hostache."

This is from Humanoids, the publisher of Metal Hurlant, the European magazine that inspired Heavy Metal. That right there is extremely heavy.

Gravitas

Heavy Metal is a mixed bag to be sure, but Humanoids is solid. I'm way more inclined to read or buy a Humanoid work than practically any other publisher or imprint. It's up there with Fantagraphics, and that's about the most ringing endorsement I can give.

Ok, so Clockwerx is a steampunk adventure.

Steampunk is way cool, but it's rarely been done well.

This does it. Beautiful art, engaging story.

Looking forward to reading more.

3 Comixology readers gave it an average rating of 4/5 stars




The Metabarons Vol. 1: Othon by Alexandro Jodorowsky with art by Juan Gimenez




"A grand scale space opera about family, sacrifice, and survival told within an immense universe, both in scope and originality. A must-read cult spin-off of The Incal, by Moebius and Jodorowsky, centering around the fascinating lineage of the ultimate warrior. This collection introduces the Metabaron's bloodline and reveals the origins of their deep-seated principles. Find out the source of the family's vast wealth, learn why every Metabaron has cybernetic implants, and why the only way to become the next Metabaron is for him to defeat his own father in a mortal combat. Follow each successive generation as it struggles to overcome the forces amassed against it in a galaxy corrupted by greed, power, and terror. A true classic in the pantheon of graphic storytelling and Science Fiction as a whole."

Humanoids

Moebius' name attached to this is what really got my attention. I've heard about it for years. What art I've seen is gorgeous, and the colors melt in my hungry eyes.

In addition, this helps to establish the foundation of the Metabarons family epic. Can't wait to read the next volume.

If you've ever liked science fiction, ever, I give this the highest recommendation.

101 Comixology readers give this an average of 4/5 stars

I'd be surprised if you didn't like it.

I've read the first issues of both and liked them very much.