I have to start out by saying that I really love comic books.   They don’t rank up there with my wife and kids, but I love them.   I just think that it is a shame that so many people who supposedly love comics stay in their narrow paths and don’t broaden their horizons.   I used to be one of those “comic lovers” until I decided that I was okay with trying something new.   It takes a lot to get people out of their routine.   I myself am a creature of habit.   Every time they do some sort of software upgrade at work I become a wreck until I’m used to the changes.   Disruption of the flow is something that many people just avoid.   

I am by far a Marvel guy.   Even within the Marvel Universe I could narrow it down further and say that I’m an X-Men fanatic; going even deeper than that I would say that I could even be considered an Earth-616 continuity snob.   I don’t’ know how I had become this way.   I didn’t want to become a mindless drone that could only see one perspective, but I had.

Uncanny X-Men #5 was the first comic I ever read.   Finally finding the first 4 books in my dad’s collection I was hooked.   It was the 80’s and comics were not nearly as big as they are now.   But I was introduced to a universe and characters that went through so much diversity everything else in comics just seemed lame.   Over the next 20 years I would only read X-Men related titles primarily, dappling on occasion with an issue or new trend during the 90’s.   (My secret sin is that I love Ravage 2099.)   I just couldn’t find a reason to read anything else.   About that same time there was a new kid on the block that became instantly trendy, Image Comics.

I could see the appeal.   The first book I read was an issue of Spawn where Spawn tracked down a serial killing, child molesting, ice cream man and gave him what he deserved.   I don’t remember the issue but I remember the not that was stabbed into the bloody sack that contained the scum bag:   “He made boys scream, he made girls scream.   So I made him scream and scream and scream.”

This was like nothing I had ever seen before it was fresh, it was violent, it was graphic, and it was definitely new.

The entire comic industry went overboard with just about everything in the 90’s and it was common to see a bunch of titles you didn’t care to read sitting on the shelves because someone would eventually pick them up.   (Or they were recycled into toilet paper… *cough* Super-Pro *cough*.)   The newness of the Image titles died down partly due to the results of internal issues within the company.   I settled back into my comfort zone.   Phalanx Covenant had just ended and Generation X was my new hot read.   C’mon White Queen as a hero!   THAT IS RAD!

This stayed pretty much the same way with me.   If the title didn’t feature the X-Men or a mutant as the title character I didn’t read it.   Then the sickening thing happened.   Fox made a horrible movie and Marvel decided to capitalize by creating the Ultimate Universe.   I still haven’t to this day read an Ultimate comic.   I refused to sell out the rich continuity that I had become accustomed to.   I couldn’t accept the newness and the retelling of everything that I knew.   I know that this if funny considering I read the Exiles and love Mutant X.   But it is the way I have been and will always be about my favorite group of marvelous mutants.

Recently over the last couple years I started branching out though.   I accepted that there could be different things out there, there could be decent stories.   I even stuck with Green Lanter from the beginning of the Sinestro Corpse War to the beginning of Blackest night.   After it is all said and done, I still don’t care much for DC.   Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker got me interested in the Avengers, and that even is hit or miss for me sometimes.   I don’t think I’ll be picking up much after Siege.

One thing did change for me over the last year though.   I discovered the world of independent comics.   Remember Image in the 90’s?   Well the independent titles that I have been picking up are bringing back that newness I felt when I read Spawn or Shadow Hawk 15 years ago.   I have found excellent stories from relative and complete unknowns and also some epic creator owned properties from established writers.   The ideas didn’t follow the trends in Marvel or DC so they went out and found another publisher to print their grand designs.

I now try at least 1 new indie title a week, some I have latched onto, finding a permanent place on my pull list.   I’ve even become acquainted with the owners of a couple of the companies and gotten to know some of the creators and artists.   I’ll be reviewing much of their work on here as I have.  

I want to encourage people to take some stock in my reviews as with anybody else’s with these new titles.   Remember comic-viners, we are comic lovers too.   If we have good things to say about a book, it is probably worth picking up.   I will do my best to present interesting takes on these books.   I still keep everything spoiler free as usual and will always admit that there are books out there that just didn’t sit well with me, but were good for what they were.   Everybody likes something different.   How do you know you like it, if you don’t try it out?

Some of the things that you don’t get with your men in tights general comic flair can actually be some of the most exciting.   Horror, Zombies, Slasher, Suspense, Drama, Barbarians, Boobies, and Gore.   Anybody can find a flavor they like I’m sure.   So along with my reviews I think I’m going to start featuring an indie title a week in my blog as a recommendation for everybody willing to try.

Check out my reviews you'll find a gem for sure, here are 5 excellent books to start with: 
 
Massive Awesome #001
Publisher 215 Ink.
Writer: Stephen Lindsay
Art: Rolf Lejdegard

  Stephen Lindsay has done it again. The creator of Jesus Hates Zombies and Abe Lincoln Hates Werewolves proves his genius again; and made something that lives up to its title. Massive Awesome is exactly that. As a bonus we are also treated to a one-shot of Jesus Hates Zombies in the back of this book. The story is interesting, the dialogue is snarky and fun, and the art is amazing considering the subject matter. If you need an example, then I could summarize this review in 5 words: Bacon, Pickle, Ninja, Battle-Mech, and Zombie. However, something as massively awesome as MASSIVE AWESOME does deserve a little bit more.

The story opens inside a prison, filled to the brim with felons, one of the most concerning is a pickle that thinks he is a zombie. Sot the action starts as a jailbreak commences and we are introduce to the feature protagonist, BACON!!! This piece of fat laden, porky goodness has more skills than the entire cast of Napoleon Dynamite.

Even though the jailbreak was successful, the powers that be (you know the MAN, the government), force our duo into retirement. The quiet life of retirement doesn’t last long, even after our slice of hog hero gets dumped by his girlfriend, Bacon and his moderately mentally challenged side kick Pickle, get an opportunity to whoop some midget ninja ass.

Pintsize bad guys thrashed, the fight moves out side, where Bacon battles their leader in a huge mech-suit. Sadly he doesn’t last long, getting off two shots before falling in defeat to the razor sharp wit and fighting skills of Bacon. This big bad does leave behind a clue that Pickle discovers, and send the duo to Scotland.

The action in this book is mostly non-stop. The panels flow nicely and the art is unexpected, and excellent, rivaling that of classics like Ninja Scroll. Reading this story was almost like playing fun platform game with the Boss Battle at the end, then an opening for the next level. Then as an added bonus we get some good old Jesus and Lazarus team up.

Jesus Hates Zombies is already an awesome title on its own, getting the cursing Christ-man in here to defeat the Corpse Demon was just fun to read. JC does need to pick up a new wing-man though; the zombie Laz is just killing his game.

5 out of 5 cases of coronary heart disease!        
 

 Nightmares of the Macabre #3: Judge Jury Executioner
Writer: Josh “Bile” Cantrell
Artist: Thiago F. Castro
Publisher: Creators Edge Press

 For starters this issue of Nightmares of the Macabre is 80 pages of awesome. Instead of breaking up the story into parts you get all the gory details in one graphic novel/trade paperback book. Creators Edge Press and their publishers put out a high quality product that equals and surpasses many of the industry giants. The binding is nice, the cover is awesome to look at, and the page quality is top notch. It is worth every penny of the $16.99 price tag.

When I mentioned in previous reviews that Castro gets better with each issue, Judge Jury Executioner is where it looks like he starts to hit is stride. The gore in this book is unbelievable, the art compliments the story greatly, as some scenes even make you cringe. There are pages of vivid details that include no words, but the images tell all.

The writing from Cantrell is phenomenal as Cantrell takes a step back from his apocalypse niche and tackles something much more. This book is one part Hostel, one part Dexter, one part Saw, and the rest is just sick and twisted.

The story opens with a court case for a scumbag that goes free because the jury was bought off, threatened, and all together fixed. That doesn’t mean there is no justice for the convicted. We are taken to a warehouse with a twisted individual wearing a mask and butcher coveralls. He has picked the scum of the earth and decided to take the role of the story’s title, Judge Jury Executioner.

The things that he does to these people go beyond the gore of the pay to play cast of Hostel. He tries his best to methodically torture and punish these criminals in ways befitting their crime. Making works of art out of some of them, and completely dismembers other and Castro captures every detail.

Cantrell did at least give us a treat in the last panel as our butcher of bad guys is revealed. All in all this is top notch work from this artist/writer team.

4.5 out of 5 Heads in a Duffle Bag         
 

Wolfskin: The Hundredth Dream 
Writer: Warren Ellis

Art: Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarani

Publisher: Avatar Press

 Well this is what disappoints me about not seeing a new issue of Astonishing X-Men on the racks for months. Warren Ellis is a phenomenal writer. This new creator owned property, Wolfskin, is proving to be something epic in only its first issue. The narration and story telling is impressive and the art by Pagliarani is astounding. There are such visceral panels in this book that it puts some indy horror books to shame. You know the Prince Valliant comics that you find in your Sunday comics? Well this like those…if they were beyond awesome.

The story opens up with solid narration about the Dark Ages of Earth, a time period when technology has been slowly pushing out magic and mysticism from the world. Basically taking place in Europe the story is going to be following our raiding party on their voyage from what is now Britain to Scandinavia.

Yes I said raiding party. The opening of this story is like a dream team of party members coming together in an epic Role Playing game fantasy. There is the priest, the archer, the fire-mage, the tinkerer, and the title character, a barbarian. The thing that is interesting is that they are setting of on this voyage not for riches and glory, but to be free from a world of technology and just for the sake of adventuring.

The character introductions are interesting and Ellis keeps you involved in the book as you turn the pages. Seeing the monster that they are setting out to face (which reminds me of some recent iterations of the Void over in Marvel’s Siege story arc,) actually makes you wonder how these five men are going to fair any better than the army that has been fighting it.

If you are into D&D or fantasy role playing, a fan of Warren Ellis, like Conan, Hickman’s new S.H.I.E.L.D. series, or just want something that is a truly good read with outstanding art, this is a book to check out.

4.5 out of 5 Savagely Slain Rogues     
  
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents:Neverland #0 
Publisher:  Zenescope
Written: Joe Brusha 
Art: Jean-Paul Deshong    

 
4.5 out of 5 Lost Boys 

Bloke’s Tomb of Horror by Virus Comix

 Well This is an anthology book that I also fully reviewed, but I reviewed it a little differently so It doesn't fit in well with everything else as far as formatting. (someday I'll figure out how to make links on the pictures and zap you straight to my reviews or the volume page....ack technology, just more change I hid from.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Check them out, maybe find something else you think I should be reading and let me know.   (Note: There isn’t much on the indie seen that I haven’t peeked at.”