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The last time comics author Brian Michael Bendis worked with his longtime collaborator, artist Alex Maleev, the result was Scarlet, a two-volume series that was dark and dystopian, telling the tale of a corrupt police state and a new American civil war. The second volume hit in 2016, as the Donald Trump presidency began, seemingly presaging the darker moments of the last several years.

“I promised Alex the next one will be fun,” Bendis recalls.

Now, the writer, who is perhaps most associated with his best known creation, Spider-Man Miles Morales, is back with that “fun one,” a six-issue miniseries from Dark Horse Comics titled Masterpiece that reunites him with Maleev for the first time since 2016. The story takes Bendis back to his crime story roots while offering a bevy of original colorful characters with the writer’s patented snappy dialogue.

The story centers on a brilliant, orphaned 16-year-old girl named Emma,...

Brandt made a promise to his grandfather, when he was just a kid: come back to visit, ten years after “Oiji-Chan” dies, under a particular tree.

When you’re a kid, you agree to a lot of things like that. Adults say that something is really important, and you say “Ok.” Maybe it is important, maybe you actually remember it decades later – maybe a lot of maybes.

Brandt did remember. Probably because it was a good excuse to run away; his marriage with Alice is crumbling, now that he’s in his early thirties, and the anniversary of his grandfather’s death is as good a reason as any to head back to the rural Japanese landscape where he grew up.

Ghost Tree is about what he finds there. As the title implies, it’s not just a tree – this is a book in which there are real ghosts, and...

What's better than a classic vampire versus werewolf fight? Jughead: The Hunger vs. Vampironica #1 hit shelves today! Also in today's Comics Corner: Spawn #296, Adam Green's Hatchet: Vengeance #2, and Ghost Tree #1.

Jughead: The Hunger vs. Vampironica #1: "In the world of Jughead The Hunger, there are no vampires, having been wiped out in their great war with the werewolves. In the Vampironica universe, the opposite is the case, as it was the vampires who were the victors. So what happens when these two eternal enemies are brought together again? Whatever it is, it can’t be good for poor ol’ Jug and Vampironica, you can count on that much."

For more information, visit Archie Comics' website.

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Spawn #296: "Series: Spawn

Published: April 24, 2019

Diamond ID: FEB190211

Age Rating: T

Imprint: Todd McFarlane Productions

Cover price: $2.99

“The Life And Deaths Of Al Simmons,” Part One The road to Spawn’s record-setting 300th issue Begins Here!

Comic Book Reviews: Marvel Comic Book Round Up New Comic Series!

With 2016 starting off strong for Marvel, the company soon seemed to lose its way as it headed into the summer season with company wide crossover, Civil War II. Suddenly books which had previously been doing well, started to dip as they were roped into the major event that was not getting the best of reviews. Characters were suddenly being written completely different from how they were previously acting with little to no explanation; story content was dropped or pushed to the side to make way for the Civil War II connections. All of this, and DC had just launched its Rebirth line up. While DC was learning from their New 52 mistakes, and attempting to bring their characters back to a more recognizable state, Marvel was putting all their eggs into Brian Michael Bendis Civil War II basket. The result?...

Some of you who read my Facebook posts might have already seen this, but I think that it’s important enough to repeat the story. It’s from the “See Something, Say Something” school.

Yesterday I was walking down the block to the store and I passed a parked car with two dogs in it and all the windows closed, including the sunroof. It was 95 degrees here in Bayonne, which meant that inside the car it must have been at least 10 degrees hotter. I went into the restaurant on the corner and asked if anyone owned this car. No. So, what to do? I waited about five minutes to see if the owner came back – nope. So I called the police. I’m happy to say they showed up immediately. They went from door-to-door up and down the street, and to the storefronts to see if they could find the owner.

Comic Book Reviews: Marvel Round-Up Week 07-20-2016

After a nice vacation overseas, I’ve returned to see how much has Civil War II invaded the nice worlds of my favorite comic book series! In some cases it’s bad! And in others, not so bad. Regardless, I know a bunch of big changes are coming to the Marvel U, and Civil War II is just the tip of the iceberg. So sit back, read some reviews and see if anything strikes your fancy this week!

A-Force #7

Story: Kelly Thompson Art: Ben Caldwell, Scott Hanna Colors: Ian Herring

Review: We are finally getting the wrap up issue of the Countess Saga! Not an official name, just what I’m calling it. For the past several issues, we’ve seen the team completely fail to stop the Villainess and become powerless to the mind controlled Nico. Well no more! Kelly...

This week a Civil War Erupts and makes no sense, we gets some Wolverines actions (Logan and Laura), The Avengers deal with a galactic foe! The Punisher kills some bad guys (what else is new?) and Moon Knight just might be crazy! Read on to get some insight into this week’s Marvel Comics!

Click on the images for a larger view.

Civil War #1

Story: Brian Michael Bendis Art: David Marquez

Review: I don’t really get why this event is happening. I mean I get it in the sense of Captain America: Civil War is out in theaters and Marvel is I’m sure hoping to gain some traction from that, I get that the previous Civil War event was a big deal and its sort of “resurrection” during Secret Wars was popular, and I guess in the end Marvel just absolutely had to do another Civil War (See the term “Cash Grab”). However,...

Two words could be used to describe comics in 2015: scandal and rebirth. The scandals happened off the pages at both companies large and small, and the rebirth happened in the comics themselves.

Graphic Policy reported that former Dark Horse Comics editor-in-chief Scott Allie bit writer Joe Harris (X-Files Season Ten) at the Boom! Studios party at San Diego Comic Con, and he was demoted to “executive editor” even though an assault of this kind would be grounds for dismissal at almost any other company. There was also another ethical breach at Dark Horse when The Rainbow Hub journalist Emma Houxbois reported that former Bleeding Cool editor Hanna Means-Shannon broke a Dark Horse-related story while it was under embargo and didn’t disclose the fact that she was taking a job with the company.

Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso’s dismissal of African-American comics fans and creators when asked why...

Ms. Marvel #1

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Adrian Alphona

Colors by Ian Herring

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Published by Marvel Comics

Ms. Marvel #1 opens with a confident burst of fangirl glee as Kamala Khan maneuvers around a crowded alley before leaping into action with the All-New, All-Different Avengers in a beautiful two page splash from lead artist Takeshi Miyazawa. Kamala is truly living her dream as she fights bad guys with the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. She loves and admires these superheroes as much as me and other readers. G. Willow Wilson’s writing is filled with a lively energy and squeeing with the line “I’m a freakin’ Avenger” encapsulating Kamala’s joyful approach to heroism. But then the grid layout returns in a montage of what Kamala’s life is really like as she struggles to balance school work, solo and team superhero adventures,...

E Is For Extinction #2

Written by Chris Burnham and Dennis Culver

Drawn by Ramon Villalobos

Colored by Ian Herring

Published by Marvel Comics

Just imagine how great (and it is pretty darn spiffy as it is) Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run could have been if when Frank Quitely couldn’t have drawn the book, Ramon Villalobos would have been around to fill in. E Is For Extinction #2 makes the argument that Villalobos would have been the equal, if not superior, artist. Chris Burnham, Dennis Culver, and Villalobos take a Secret Wars tie-in, even if the Secret Wars aspect is just a thin tangent, and spin a What If? tale that doesn’t need its tie-in raison d’etre. What If Magneto Won is all it needs. What if Cyclops, Emma and Wolverine were losers in personality as well as in the mutant race? That last one may be a...

2015 has been quite the eclectic year for comics, and this fact is reflected in our top ten list. Image Comics continues to be the true house of ideas with books ranging from a feminist twist on exploitation films to a murder mystery set in 1940s Hollywood and even a Lgbtq-friendly parody of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Even though they are in the middle of big events (Convergence and Secret Wars), DC and Marvel respectively still have room for offbeat takes on their iconic or not so iconic characters and are represented on this list along with Valiant, which has attracted a veritable Murderer’s Row of creator to shape and develop their shared universe.

Here are the top ten comics of 2015 so far.

10. Wytches (Image)

Wytches #4-6

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Jock

Colors by Matt Hollingsworth

Wytches is without a doubt the best new horror comic of the year.

Ms. Marvel #13

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Takeshi Miyazawa

Colors by Ian Herring & Irma Knivila

Published by Marvel Comics

Since its release last year, Ms. Marvel has stood as one of the most subversive and earnest teenage superhero books coming out of either of the Big Two. It’s drawn in fans both old and new who never dreamed to see a teenage Pakistani-American girl don superhero tights and stand up against injustice in her own home city. The book has been charged with the fury of Millennials sick of being told they’re the social rot that marks the downfall of society. Even when conveying to traditional cynical comic book marketing, like a Wolverine team-up, the title kept its identity and worked something that was editorially mandated into a natural extension of Kamala Khan’s development. As Ms. Marvel has done its best to ignore typical female superhero tropes,...

All-New Hawkeye #1

Written by Jeff Lemire

Art by Ramon Perez

Colors by Ian Herring

Published by Marvel Comics

There are two Hawkeyes in the Marvel Universe. Clint Barton, the original article, who has been carrying the bow, arrows, and occasionally a purple mask since he was a member of “Cap’s Kooky Quartet” back in the 1960s. However, he also passed down his bow and name to Kate Bishop, the most competent member of the Young Avengers back in the mid-00s when the Superhuman Registration Act was still a thing. They went their separate ways during Matt Fraction and Dave Aja’s Hawkeye run, but storytellers Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez along with colorist Ian Herring bring both Hawkeyes together in All-New Hawkeye #1 through a dual narrative structure, different, yet complementary art styles, and a heavy helping of banter.

From the first page, Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez put...

Ms. Marvel #12

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Elmo Bondoc

Colors by Ian Herring

Published by Marvel Comics

This month, Ms. Marvel ships twice, and issue number twelve comes as a Valentine’s Day special where Jersey City’s latest and greatest superhero must contend with the mischievous Loki. While not the most perfect of issues and all around skippable, it’s a humorous romp for Kamala Khan and what is hands down one of the strangest team ups in recent memory.

The story begins when Loki, Agent of Asgard, is sent by his All-Parents down to a pocket of Midgard often overlooked by the gods, New Jersey. The Inventor’s machinations have drawn their attention, and they ask the problem child of all the ten realms to seek out any remaining followers in Kamala’s high school. What follows are misunderstandings, ill-fated romances, and magic trickery aplenty. While...

Ms. Marvel #11

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Adrian Alphona

Colorist by Ian Herring

Published by Marvel Comics

This week G. Willow Wilson concludes her inaugural arc on the excellent Ms. Marvel. For the last year, Kamala Khan has been slowly unraveling the manic plot of the Thinker, a humanoid parakeet with a massive intellect and equally large ego. These latest issues especially have launched Ms. Marvel from being a diverse yet small curiosity into a prideful rallying point for millennial angst as the Thinker’s true goal is to use young people as a cheap source of energy. It’s now up to Kamala Khan and her improvised team of Jersey City kids to stop the Thinker once and for all.

This issue wastes no time as it jumps right into the story. This finale is a well suited ending to this first arc. It has Kamala finally emerging as a hero proper,...

5. The Empty Man (Boom!)

The Empty Man #1-6

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Vanessa R. Del Rey

Colorist: Michael Garland

Cullen Bunn is unique. If nothing else can be said about him, he is certainly unique. The Empty Man shows the full extent of Bunn’s ability. The series focuses on two detectives as they struggle to sort out the mystery surrounding a series of suspicious deaths and murders. The deaths are connected by the strange hallucinations experienced by the perpetrators, as well as their last words “The Empty Man made me do it”. The Empty Man is unpredictable because it follows so very few tropes. Nothing like this series has been seen before, and readers will be asking themselves the same question over and over: Who is the Empty Man? (Or “What the F*ck?”).

Bunn’s series is still in its infancy, so can be said without spoiling the twisting,...

Spider-Man and the X-Men #1

Story by: Elliot Kalan

Art by: Marco FalliaColors by: Ian Herring

Letters by: Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Wolverine is dead to begin with. How permanent is his death remains to be seen. For the time being though, Wolverine’s possessions have been collected and his last wishes read. The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning will never be the same. As his replacement, Wolverine has chosen Spider-Man to fill the position of Guidance Counselor for a rather erhm, Special Class of mutants.

The premise of this series has potential. Wolverine fears there is a mole in the school and he needs someone he can trust to look into the matter when he is gone. Since Wolverine puts his trust in so few people, Spider-Man is, in a sense, the most logical choice give the friendship they built in Wolverine and the X-Men. Spidey isn’t...

Edge of Spider-Verse #5

Writer: Gerard Way

Art: Jake Wyatt

Colours: Ian Herring

Letters & Production: Clayton Cowles

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Purchase: http://marvel.com/comics/issue/50963/edge_of_spider-verse_2014_5

The Edge of Spider-Verse series has thus far given readers many great, original and exciting new takes on the Spider-Man mythos. From Spider-Gwen to Dr. Aaron Aikman, these new characters have been a treat for the pro-arachnid community. Looking to go out with a bang, Marvel has saved the best for last with their final installment Edge of Spider-Verse #5 and the introduction of Sp//dr.

The book marks the Marvel debut of writer Gerard Way. For some he is the former front man of My Chemical Romance, and for others he is the Eisner Award winning writer of Umbrella Academy. Way brings a lot of elements from his last story, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, to the table. Issue #5 tells the tale of Peni Parker,...

Ms Marvel hits its eighth issue, and it's a great one, Will writes...

"That's half of heroing. Noticing things."

Ms Marvel has been one of this year's breakout titles - if you're not been reading it, hit those back issue bins and make that right. I'm going to try and hold back my blatant gushing during this review (you can pretty much read that in my review for Ms Marvel #7) and just take a look at this great comic book.

For those who did read my review of #7, you may remember I was not so keen on that particular issue, feeling that after such a strong run it lacked the emotional punch I've come to expect from this book. #8 more than makes up for that, and delivers one of this runs strongest offerings yet. 

Following up on her short team up with Wolverine, Kamala Khan is now searching for The...

Now this is more like it. Will salutes an excellent issue of Ms Marvel...

"That's half of heroing. Noticing things".

Ms Marvel has been one of this year's breakout titles - if you're not been reading it, hit those back issue bins and make that right. I'm going to try and hold back my blatant gushing during this review (you can pretty much read that in my review for Ms. Marvel #7, here) and just take a look at this great comic book. For those who did read my review of #7, you may remember I was not so keen on that particular issue, feeling that after such a strong run it lacked the emotional punch I've come to expect from this book. #8 more than makes up for that, and delivers one of this run's strongest offerings yet.

Following up on her short team up with Wolverine, Kamala Khan is now searching...

Wolverine makes a great contribution to the latest issue of Ms Marvel. Here's Will's review of a solid issue seven...

"Kamala Khan has always felt different". 

Ms Marvel has been a standout comic for me this year. It has got pretty much everything I want from a book - comedy, heart, ridiculous violence, and a kick-ass female lead thrown in as well. Kamala Khan is a great character, and it has been really rewarding to read G Willow Wilson's gentle coming of age story. 

We pick up with Kamala as she is about to be attacked by a giant alligator, sent by a cockatiel clone of Thomas Edison (really - no joke). This issue is the second part of a team-up with the now powerless Wolverine. It does feel like Wolverine has spent the last few years being thrown into every book possible (Including Storm #2, which I also reviewed this...

Amazing Spider-Man #1

Written by Dan Slott, Christos Gage, Joe Caramagna, Peter David, Christopher Yost

Pencilled by Humberto Ramos, Javier Rodriguez, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Chris Elioupolos, Will Sliney, David Baldeon, Ramon Perez

Inked by Victor Olazaba, Alvaro Lopez, John Dell, Cam Smith, Jordi Tarragona

Colors by Edgar Delgado, Javier Rodriguez, Antonio Fabela, Jim Charalampidis, Ian Herring, Rachelle Rosenberg

Published by Marvel Comics

At an overstuffed 64 pages, Marvel spares no expense to welcome back Peter Parker as Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #1. There is a lead story with Spider-Man naked half the time, and six backup stories that re-introduce villains, like Electro and Black Cat, catch up with allies like Kaine, or tell a story set in Peter’s past. This is a lot of material to tackle in one review, but overall, Amazing Spider-Man #1 is a strong reintroduction to Peter Parker as Spider-Man. There is a big emphasis on humor as basically every...

Ms. Marvel #2

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Adrian Alphona

Colors by Ian Herring

Letters by Vc’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Jamie Mckelvie

Published by Marvel Comics

Belief in oneself is one of the truest powers a hero can possess. Sure, it might sound a bit backwards to assign confidence as a heroic trait, but without confidence, without self-assurance, without self-preservation, a hero will falter. Superhero comics can teach all sorts of wonderful ideals to their readers. Focus leads to success. Respect breeds respect. Mystery supersedes identity. Selflessness guides heroism, but how can one maintain selflessness as well as self-confidence? That is the question at the heart of G. Willow Wilson’s Ms. Marvel and also the reason for it being one of the most exciting new comics series’ out there.

Issue two of Ms. Marvel picks up right where the first left off. Kamala awakens in Jersey...

Ms. Marvel #1

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Adrian Alphona

Colors by Ian Herring

Letters by Vc’s Joe Caramagna

Standard Cover by Sara Pichelli & Justin Ponsor

Published by Marvel Comics

One of the seeming goals of Marvel Comics’ recent Marvel Now! initiative has been to put more female-centric titles on the stands. Black Widow, Elektra, and She-Hulk are all currently headlining their own series, along with two teams of female-centric X-Men (in X-Men and Uncanny X-Force). In March, they will be joined by Captain Marvel, a relaunch of the title which recently saw Carol Danvers, longtime Ms. Marvel, elevated to the rank of Captain Marvel (a name previously held by a male character mostly remembered for dying of cancer in the early 80s). This left the Ms. Marvel name up for grabs, and with Ms. Marvel #1, a seventh female-centric title joins Marvel’s title list. Oh, and the new Ms.

Alyssa Milano wears many hats. She’s a cheating wife, a witch, the Boss (arguably)… and a comic-book writer.

Milano has collaborated with writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, artist Marcus To, colorist Ian Herring, and letterer Deron Bennett to create a new graphic novel called Hacktivist, a “fast-paced cyber-thriller” that follows a pair of Silicon Valley wunderkinds who lead a secret double life. By day, Ed Hiccox and Nate Graft are the founders of an innovative social media company; by night, they’re a notorious team of hackers.

“I’m very involved with in global activism and philanthropy. I...

Pretty much the comic book Oscars, the 2012 nominations for the Eisner awards have been announced. There is quite are large showing from Marvel in the superhero department, not so much from DC. Surprising, considering the company’s high profile New 52 relaunch. Save for Jeff Lemire’s nomination for Best Writer, most of DC’s nomination are pre-relaunch, or from their Vertigo imprint which has been left untouched by the New 52. The nominations are usually as controversial as the Oscars, with books and whole companies being left out, much to fans, sometimes, anger and confusion.

A full list of the nominations are below, courtesy of Bleeding Cool, and the award will take place at this years San Diego Comic Con.

Best Short Story “A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture,” by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve #12 (Drawn & Quarterly) “Harvest of Fear,” by Jim Woodring, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo) “The Phototaker,...

As many of you may already know, each and every year, awards distributed at San Diego Comic Con to a few select (and noteworthy) nominees who are chosen by retailers and professionals in the comic book industry. The ceremony is better known as the Eisner Awards which is now heading into its 24th year with some great talent in the running. One of the most loved titles in this year’s nominee list is Marvel’s Daredevil, picking up 6 nominations that include Best Continuing Series, Best Single Issue, Best Writer (Mark Waid), Best Cover Artist (Marcos Martin), and Best Penciller/Inker Team Marcos Martin, and Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera). DC also scored some decent recognition with their iZombie Vertigo series, gathering 3 nominations (Cover Art, Coloring, Inker/Penciller) for the creative team.

You can check out the full list of nominees below.

Eisner Award Nominees 2012

Best Short Story

“A Brief History...

The new doc-format TV series "Battle Castle", hosted by Dan Snow, from Vancouver-based Parallax Film Productions , currently airs on History Television.

The series offers real castle location shooting, re-enactments, CGI reconstructions, bloody battle scenes and a rousing musical score :

"...'Battle Castle', is an interactive, medieval journey into castle engineering, bloody siegecraft and epic clashes that transforms mere mortals into legends, taking viewers over six one-hour timeslots to Syria, France, Spain, Wales, Poland and England, exploring the stories of six castles including 'Crac des Chevaliers', 'Chateau Gâillard', 'Dover', 'Conwy', 'Malbork' and 'Malaga'..."

"Battle Castle" executive producer, director Ian Herring and producer Maija Leivo arranged for London-based Ballista Media Inc. to co-produce the series, with a 'convergent media component' co-produced by Agentic Communication Inc. in collaboration with Starlight Runner Entertainment, noted for their 'trans-media' work on "Tron", "Transformers" and "Avatar".

The result is a high-concept website, episodic motion comics and a browser-based adventure game.

Last year’s graphic novel and Tpb Top 10, was filled with some modern classics including Parker: The Outfit, Northlanders, Scott Pilgrim, and Beasts of Burden, so 2011’s offerings have a lot to live up to. As with last year’s this chart will only contain books released in 2011 that I have personally read.

1: Daytripper | Vertigo | Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá

Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá can do no wrong, and Daytripper is their best and most personal work to date. The Brazilian twins tell the story, or rather stories, of writer Brás de Oliva Domingos; each chapter is a day in the life of Brás, with each day ending in the same way. Daytripper is one of the most poignant comics I have ever read, chapter 8 especially, which is odd as Brás is absent for that story. I look forward to seeing how Moon & Bá follow this. I should also...