A comiXologist recommends…
THE EXPANSE: ORIGINS #1
The Expanse: Origins #1 is a prequel. Yes, I am aware of the sentiment that comes with uttering that word. Prequel. Ugh. It does make one feel like they’re watching Anakin talk about sand, or pod-racing. Though there is a difference between a “bad” prequel and a “good” one; I would categorize The Expanse: Origins as one of the good.
Origins is a series of four issues focusing on the four major characters of The Expanse series of novels. This first issue focuses on the backstory of the captain of The Rocinante, James Holden, and his time as a lieutenant in the United Nations Navy.
Having only cursory knowledge of the characters, the books, and the show, I read The Expanse: Origins #1 as a primer, to see if the characters would be intriguing enough for me to revisit the books and to finish them with this new interest. Issue 1 portrays a man who is not right for the military, yet he is there by choice. There is an event that unfolds which shows Holden is in the right, but the restrictions and restraints of command are not for him.
Yes, Holden eventually becomes a Captain. Yes, he involves himself in a major conflict. Of this, I am aware, but how does this short backstory come into play with his future self? Do the events that occur in Origins predict the character and actions to come?
Beginning with The Expanse: Origins provides a unique opportunity for those of us who are not fully involved with The Expanse novels – we can read from the absolute beginning. For those who have finished the latest book, Origins is more – more content, more backstory, more connection to the characters.
Will I be returning to the novels? Yes. Will I be read the remaining Origins stories? Of course. Will I continue to wish that we were 200 years into the future commanding a spaceship? Damn right.
Dane Cypel really wishes he can command a spaceship. If it was named Enterprise, that would be even better.
A comiXologist recommends…
THE RIFT #1 by Don Handfield, Richard Piers Rayner, and Leno Carvalho
The Rift #1 is the new Red5 property presented by Hawkeye or, as we also know him, Jeremy Renner. While I do not know what “presented by” means in this case, there is no other title with an Academy Award nominee attached to it, so it must be interesting. Luckily, it is.
We open on a mundane, middle-America setting: Kansas, present day, mother and son riding in a car going to… somewhere not important. When all of a sudden, CRASH! BOOM! WHIZ! Something on fire falls out of the sky and crashes before them! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Superman? No, it’s a plane. To be exact it is a vintage P-40 Warhawk, right out of 1936.
Like many first issues, The Rift #1 is a quick foray into a new world with a mysterious question that needs to be answered. In this case, how did a World War II fighter pilot flying in Southeast Asia transport to modern day Kansas? Of course, our mother/son duo are stuck in the middle of this conflict while a secret government agency tracks down the strange time-traveler in order to avert a world-ending crisis.
If you are looking for answers, you will not find any in this issue. Instead you will find a story that raises many more questions. I would like to know why the government always has to be so secretive about these odd phenomena when they pose such a deep threat.
Here’s to hoping that The Rift continues to be intriguing and different from the norm.
Dane Cypel feels like a time traveler sometimes, especially after sleeping for 10 stright hours.
A comiXologist recommends…best of 2016 edition!
Wow. What. A. Year.
Despite all of the “wonderful” things that have occurred throughout, I present three things that will certainly help end the year on a better note. These three books are harrowing tales of heroism, intrigue, and really excellent art.
Warlords of Appalachia #1-3 (BOOM!)
Warlords is a simple tale of an America that has been torn apart after a second civil war. Kade, the protagonist, leads a guerrilla war against a group of tyrannical augmented federal soldiers. Seemingly cornered, outgunned, outmanned, and hopelessly lost, he and his fellow rebels continue the fight against these overwhelming odds. Warlords is a fun “what if” that turns the alternate future tale on its head. Issue #4 will be releasing in January, so make sure to catch up on it all now.
Head Lopper Vol. 1: & The Island Or A Plague Of Beasts (Image)
Head Lopper is goofy, weird, and downright fun. When I first saw this book, I was hesitant. It looked too strange, too far from my norm, but when I got into it, it was charming and comedic. The titular head lopper, Norgal, is simple. He slashes. He fights. He is a hero. There is not much too him. It is the side characters, though, that really make it; in particular Agatha The Blue Witch. Her quirks and side comments are perfectly-timed and witty… and she is just a severed head.
The Sheriff of Babylon Vol. 1: Bang. Bang. Bang. (DC)
Sheriff is a tale of conflicting worlds centered within the invasion of Iraq in the early 2000’s. There are two protagonists, Chris and Sofia, with very different outlooks and motivations. Chris is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type; loyal, idealistic, and almost-typical. Sofia, on the other hand, is complex, incredibly strong-willed, and very complicated. This first volume has an overwhelming tension that builds, and builds, until the eventual release, which then prompts the second volume.
There were some good things about 2016, so do not lose all hope.
Dane Cypel realized that there was a common theme amongst these books after he finished writing this. There is a distinct lack of Sci-Fi, but maybe 2017 will be better with that.
A comiXologist recomends…
DOCTOR APHRA #1 by Kieron Gillen and Kev Walker
I am usually not fond of expanded universes. More often than not, the expanded universe goes off the rails. Concepts, philosophies, and ideals that are presented in the source material often fall to the wayside as less developed elements come into play. Doctor Aphra #1 appears to be on a different course.
Coming off the heels of the Vader series, Doctor Aphra #1 follows the eponymous character into her life and her specific world. Aphra is not a hero, in fact she is cold-blooded and ruthless. I like villains, so this was welcome. So much of the story felt familiar; the call-backs, the set-up, even the team. It all feels and reads like archetypal Star Wars. This familiarity will certainly speak to fans.
What this series does especially well is to provide a different perspective. Much like the upcoming film, Rogue One, Doctor Aphra #1 shows a different character in a different place. It is fun to see someone who is more self-serving/Imperial-aligned than the usual scoundrel-with-a-heart. The Rebellion has been done SO much, we know the names of the characters who take out the trash on the light Rebellion cruiser that was in some of the background shots in Return of the Jedi. Yeah, the Empire are the bad guys, but delve into that more. Give us a new take in this rebooted universe.
Doctor Aphra #1 is doing that- so here is to hoping it continues on that journey.
Dane Cypel would much rather be in Starfleet than the Imperial Navy, but we all know being on any kind of spaceship would be worth it.
A comiXologist recommends…
GHOST RIDER #1, by Felipe Smith, Danilo Beyruth, and Tradd Moore
Ghost Rider returns with the release of Ghost Rider #1. An object from space, Amadeus Cho and the all-new, all-different Wolverine make an appearance in this new story for the Spirit of Vengeance.
The issue has a lot going on, and being unfamiliar with the character, left many questions. It is not an origin, which for a #1 is refreshing to see. Instead, this takes place at some random point after the character has been established. [Editor’s note: Check out All-New Ghost Rider for Robbie Reyes’s Ghost Rider origin story!] There is an endearing scene at the beginning where Robbie is teaching his younger brother about car mechanics and for most of the issue, the Spirit of Vengeance is not vengeance-ing; he is being a brother. Of course, SOME conflict needs to be introduced and it is, in the form of some odd purple space-goop.
Perhaps the strangest point of this issue is the part with Amadeus Cho. In a story about Ghost Rider, why is the Ghost Rider not involved with an object that has crashed from space in his town? Instead, Cho (as the Hulk) takes on a mutated mouse who then escapes and wreaks havoc. While this alien menace is stirring trouble, Robbie and his brother get ice cream and run into a gang. While it provides an interesting aside, why are the Hulk and Wolverine there? The next issue will certainly go into this further so I would like to see how it all plays out.
My familiarity with Ghost Rider comes from the hilariously awkward Nicholas Cage films, so I went into this issue thinking it would be similar. It was not. It was confusing at times, but it was a fun read, especially with the Smith/Moore adventure at the end. It is worth a read.
Dane Cypel’s only involvement with ghosts was busting them with a proton pack. The Ghost Rider, though, seems like he would fight back if he was going to be busted.
A comiXologist recommends…
YAKUZA DEMON KILLERS #1 by Amit Chauhan and Eli Powell
Yakuza Demon Killers #1 was not on my radar, at all, but a suggestion from a coworker proved intriguing. The title in itself sounds odd – Yakuza Demon Killers? Are the Yakuza secretly hunters of demons? Is the main character somehow a part of this criminal group? In all honesty, the title makes the book seem TOO over the top, TOO goofy, TOO cliché, but my gut reaction could not have been more wrong.
Yakuza begins with a heist. The two characters planning it, of course, are painted as woefully inept. On the third page, Ochita vomits from an overdose and passes out in said spewed pool of stomach fluid. Yum. She is accompanied by Rizzo, an American transplant who has a penchant for motorcycles and man-buns. The two are a criminal pair with history and this time around they have found their new big score. The big score is an ancient and magical katana, so I suppose cliché was somewhat accurate, but it does not necessarily detract from the story.
The most compelling part of this first issue is the art. Powell’s line work and Russell’s colors create a unique and stylized world. In particular, this style feels familiar and similar to Sean Murphy’s work on Tokyo Ghost and Chrononauts. Having loved the art of Chrononauts, the art in Yakuza made it more accessible and familiar. There are some aspects, like the demonic realm, that could have been more developed and perhaps more colorful, but the gist is received- they are demons, they are evil and gross. It is heavy on the shadows and spot-blacks but it works, it makes everything moody and dark- considering the subject of the material, it makes complete sense.
Yakuza Demon Killers #1- very little yakuza, lots of demons, and vomit. All around a worthy read.
Dane Cypel is not a demon killer or a yakuza. He is a member of Starfleet though, so at least it’s something.
A comiXologist recommends…sex, drugs, and violence!
MAYDAY #1 by Alex de Campi, Blond, and Tony Parker
Mayday #1 is difficult to explain, or even review. It is part Cold-War-thriller, part erotica, and part psychedelic drug trip. It sets up a story similar to the show The Americans, with two deep cover Russian intelligence agents on duty in the United States. As with any type of “spy thriller,” there was a sense of intrigue and danger along with a deep ideological divide. But there is more to Mayday.
This story begins with the archetypical spy elements, but quickly becomes a more primal cat and mouse game. Unlike most Western-produced spy fiction, the protagonists are Communist Russians, although being embedded in the United States allows the author to craft personas that feel American. Any sense of them being Russian is somewhat lost, their mission of bringing down the “capitalist devils of the United States” is lost. They come off more as lost and disillusioned American teens.
Halfway through this first issue, things take yet another turn. Explicit nudity and drugs take the forefront. Pinks, greens, and blues begin to twist and merge in odd shapes on the page like hallucinations. The book goes from classic thriller, to something unexpected and entirely different.
I recommend this title for the sole reason that it took me away from my comic-comfort-zone. So, if you are looking for something very different, read Mayday #1 – you just might like it.
Dane Cypel is not a deep cover Russian agent, or any type of secret agent, much to his chagrin.
A comiXologist recommends…
WARLORDS OF APPALACHIA #1
Written by Phillip K. Johnson
Art by Jonas Scharf
I have had to wait weeks to say anything about Warlords of Appalachia #1. It came in a while ago and the description alone had me hooked- a second Civil War, Kentucky is the last holdout as it fights against the United States, and the coming of a character described as a “feudal warlord”. How does this not sound awesome?
Immediately, I recalled reading Vertigo’s DMZ and being intrigued about a premise where the United States is torn in two between two ideologically opposed factions. The idea of the Free States of America fighting against a corrupt system spoke to me; placing the story in a demilitarized Manhattan provided an even more interesting background to this larger conflict. Warlords of Appalachia is able to achieve the same with, of all places, Kentucky.
Of course, the backstory in Warlords is a little more complex. This first issue introduces the players, the factions and the key points of the story. This story revolves around nationwide religious turmoil, a “zombie-creating” drug, and the U.S. military acting as an occupying force. It was unclear how all of these elements seem to coexist, or even why they coexist. It also has the roots of a “freedom-fighter” story. The main character, Kade, is a family-man whose family is ripped away from him, thus sparking a journey of revenge and justice. Even with these small parts of an overall story- I want to know why they exist together and more about it all.
Warlords is already a complex story with an intricate strata of players, intentions, relationships and motivations. It is a story where bigger, more current, questions will likely be addressed through metaphor and allegory. With that being said, I will continue to issue two because I really want to know why Kade’s son is blue.
Dane Cypel is not from Kentucky, he’s from New Jersey… and there is NOTHING wrong with that!
A comiXologist recommends… Head Lopper Vol. 1
Written by Andrew MacLean, art by Andrew MacLean and Mike Spicer
“That book is weird. Good, but weird.”
When I first said I was going to cover Head Lopper Vol. 1, that was the reply I got, and it happened to be incredibly accurate. At first glance, the art is striking, but off-putting. It looks too-simple. Too animated. Too Adventure Time-y, though its extremely stylized nature is intriguing and eye catching. Since issue #1 it had been on my watch-list, but I had not read it. I was ultimately confused; could a dark fantasy story float with this cartoony look?
To answer this question, it took a decapitation, an evisceration, a call to action, and a seemingly nuanced plot, all within the first issue, to convince me that yes, this story can float. On the surface, the character of Head Lopper, or Norgal, presents himself as the noble, yet savage, Viking akin to the various heroic figures from the Prose Edda. To counter this archetypal hero, is Agatha the Blue Witch, a severed head whom Norgal carries. The two form a relationship like that of R2-D2 and C-3PO, or Batman and the Joker, if they ever teamed-up as a pair.
Agatha happens to be the best part of the story. Despite being without a body, she has a wit and charm that brings the reader in more. Norgal is cool, yes, but we have seen his type before; Agatha, becomes so much more and is integral to the story, to the world, and to the ultimate plans of the evil antagonist.
Head Lopper Vol. 1 is a whimsical read. The story is not deep, but the art keeps it entertaining. The character designs, the world, the little bits of scenery that help tell the story kept me in.
Yeah, we have seen this story before, but this time around it is a little different, a little amusing, and a lot of weird.
Dane Cypel is trying to play into his Viking heritage and grow a beard similar to Norgal, though it is nowhere as impressive. For now…
A comiXologist recommends…dying historic on the Furry Road.
Written by Alan Martin, art by Brett Parson
Goofy. Irreverent. Beautiful. And just plain weird, Tank Girl: Gold #1 aims to amuse and please.
Having not read the contents of Tank Girl: Two Girls, One Tank, I came into this issue cold. It had been awhile since I had read Tank Girl; the last time was in 2012 and reading Jim Mahfood’s Everybody Loves Tank Girl. Which is excellent, by the way. Tank Girl: Gold has the charm and lewdness that is often found in a Tank Girl book, though I found Gold to appeal to me more.
Comparing it to Everybody, Gold is more refined. Not refined in, it has more class; that is certainly not the case. Instead, it is as if the author and illustrator knew what they wanted to do, did it, and had an amazing time doing it. Martin brings the comedy and feel that is common in the Tank Girl franchise. Nothing is sacred, everything can be commented on, referred to, made fun of, and ultimately made into a joke. For example, Booga must travel the Furry Road as punishment. Like the Fury Road it plays upon, the Furry Road is just as perilous but much more vulgar.
What I enjoy more than the crude humor and incessant cursing is the art. Brett Parson knocks it out of the park- it is rough enough to channel Mahfood, but clean and stylized to exist on its own and stand out. While there are times I had wished there was more color, the muted, drab tones contrast the vivid, animated style; all of which fits the Tank Girl universe well.
Tank Girl: Gold #1 makes me want to go back and read Two Girls, One Tank. The story may exist on its own, but knowing the backstory can only add more.
Dane Cypel has not traveled the Fury Road or Furry Road. He has traveled I-95, which is comparable to both.
A comiXologist recommends… that you stand back, Jill!
Written by Dan Abnett, Art by Moritat
Aliens: Life and Death #1 feels familiar and fun. Of all of the Alien movies, spin-offs and games, Aliens remains my favorite. Ripley grows as a character and becomes more complex. Plus, the Colonial Marines are cool, the hordes of aliens are terrifying, and all of these come together to expand upon the original film. After Aliens, well, we won’t talk about that.
Life and Death #1, is worth mentioning; outside of a comic specifically focused on Ripley, this is the next best thing.
Right away, you are thrown into the action. Action is something that the author Dan Abnett knows from his various Warhammer 40K titles, so the Alien franchise appears to be an intelligent fit. The characters are introduced through adversity, where the reader gets the sense of who they are by how said character reacts. While this is good for the short term, it leaves the reader wanting more: What happened before? What is the background of the characters? How did they get there? Why are they there? Who are they? Perhaps this will be addressed in issue #2. I hope it is.
Many of the books I recommend are ones where I say, it starts off with many questions that are unanswered. Aliens: Life and Death #1 certainly fits into that category. I believe that it is also the nature of serialized storytelling – in order to entice the reader to continue buying a book, it must leave the reader yearning for more. Life and Death does that, though I may be interested because I like the franchise and the subject matter.
This issue starts off well, but I need to know more, especially with the characters, so hopefully #2 will deliver.
Dane Cypel is not a Coloinal Marine and has never been to LV-426, which is a shame but also a good thing.
A comiXologist Recommends
Sheriff of Babylon #10 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, cover by John Paul Leon, Vertigo/DC
The Sheriff of Babylonis superb. There is not much more I can say, the book is absolutely excellent and should be read by everyone. Staff Pick over.
I suppose I can expand upon this. When I say superb, I am judging in in a realm that has many, many entries. We’ve all seen and read them- the post 9/11 tale in either Iraq or Afghanistan, showing the trials and tribulations of the American G.I., or C.I.A. agent, or of the regular person of those countries. In each of these stories, we are presented with sides that are fairly “cut and dry”, “black and white”. There is a distinct sense of “us” versus “them”. Whether it be the audience it is intended for, or the overall sentiment of our place in those warzones, there is a distinct lack of a “grey area”.
Sheriff of Babylon, brings this “grey area” by telling an overall more complex and interesting story. In general, good and bad are extremes, and it is easy to tell a story of one against the other when the extremes are involved. We can clearly feel and connect with the “good” (or the “bad” if that is your inclination) while also being entertained by the extreme methods one or the other use to accomplish their goal. That is why the middle is often overlooked- with the thought that the middle is not AS entertaining. Though Babylon rides that middle-of-the-line and makes it entertaining. It takes complex, moderately-based characters and places them in the extremes. This makes the overall story and characters more… real. I care more about them. I care more about the situations. And it helps me understand a frightening and intense situation that I have very little experience with.
Most books that are out really do not excite me as much as Sheriff of Babylon. It is intriguing, interesting, and illustrated beautifully. When I saw that issue #10 was up for a Staff Pick this week, I jumped on it. It is superb.
Dane Cypel is not a sheriff and has never been to Babylon. He is a production coordinator at comiXology.
A comiXologist Recommends
Predator Vs. Judge Dredd Vs. Aliens #1 @darkhorsecomics
by John Layman and Chris Mooneyham
What do the Predator, Aliens, and Judge Dredd have in common? If you answered, they were movies, you are correct- if you answered they are all in the same comic, then you are even MORE correct. The Predator and Alien have clashed before, here comes Judge Dredd enforcing post-apocalyptic law.
Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens evokes an image of grandiose conflict, though issue one is a tamer, archetypical series-beginner. It sets up the environment and the characters and attempts to hook the reader by showing off just enough to want more.
It begins with animal/human hybrids hunting the Predator. Yes, the Predator is the prey and is hunted by creatures straight from the Island of Doctor Moreau. These events do not occur on a lush tropical island, though. It takes place in Alabama. While I can suspend disbelief, it is difficult to justify why a Predator, an Alien, and a Judge would be in Alabama.
I am hoping that despite this location, they make their way to the Mega City. Perhaps the story unfolds with the Judge capturing the Predator and bringing him back as a prisoner, when the Predator is somehow infected with an Alien parasite…
Think of that! An Alien-Predator hybrid running amok through the Mega City, as the Judge and the Predators try to track it down. Somewhere along the line both parties join forces! … That is the story I want to see- a Predator-Judge alliance where they hunt Alien-hybrids. I HOPE issue two will get into that more.
And I will stick around for issue two. There’s enough within the book to have me interested and get my imagination going. It is, overall, a fun idea. While I am sure the story is not “canon” and it does not fit into any type of expanded universe, it exists similar to Archie vs. Predator. It is a solid “What If” where the creative team can have fun, try something new, and take chances. It is something I would like to see more of.
Dane Cypel is a production coordinator at comiXology. Did you know that the Predator’s species are called the Yautja? Neither did he, until now.
A comiXologist Recommends
Rick and Morty: Li’l Poopy Superstar #1 @onipress
Writing/Artwork- Sarah Graley
Mr. Poopybutthole.
OOO-weeee. Just… let that name sink in. Let it linger there on your mind for a hot second. What types of vivid images does it conjure? It is a veritable smorgasbord of disgusting, confusing, and downright gross things- though Oni’s Lil’ Poopy Superstar #1 is none of these.
Plopped from the scenes of Rick and Morty is a coming of age tale of love, loss, and what it means to be a three foot-tall-thing-who-is-not-parasite-construct.
The first issue of this series begins in ambiguity. There was a constant feeling of longing. Throughout the first three-quarters I kept asking, when is something going to happen? There is, of course, the required set up, but the meat of the story does not occur until the final pages of the issue. Unlike the show, which is paced extremely well and delivers the dialogue in a rough, improvisational way, this spinoff is more refined and calculated. Whether that is good or bad, we will have to read more to see- but it is promising.
When I write “promising” – I mean, I do not want to wait till issue six to find out what is going on. Without ruining too much, this tale is focused on two things: who or what is Mr. Poopybutthole and where does he come from? For the time being, that is all I need to be interested. The line is baited and cast and now I am ready to be hooked. So, ignore the things I wrote in the previous paragraph, this focus on Poopybutthole’s backstory is all I want. So will this make me come back for issue #2, yes. Issue #3? Maybe. Issue #4? Hopefully more than issue #3.
The primary Rick and Morty comic series began in a similar way and I am still reading that comic. It is quirky, it is lewd, and it has a chance to delve into this universe further. A Rick and Morty movie will not happen anytime soon and Season 3 is still a ways away, so if you love the series, then this should be on your list. And by should, I mean it must.
So do it. Buy it now. Do it. DO IT.
OOO-weee.
Dane Cypel is a production coordinator at comiXology and not a frequent guest of any podcast. Funny they’re called podcasts when no one really talks about their flashy new iPod anymore.