Archie Comics’ Afterlife With Archie is being turned into a series for Disney+, with a release happening Halloween 2027. Now this series is from 2013, and the book’s all-star creative team included:
Artist & Colorist: Francesco Francavilla (Star Trek: The Last Starship & The Twilight Zone)
Letterer: Jack Morelli (Archie’s Big Book & DC Finest: Supegirl- Die And Let Live)
Now the series is going to a big group of Executive Producers, including:
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Jimmy Gibbons
Greg Berlanti
Sarah Schechter
Leigh London Redman
Jon Goldwater
Now the show’s description reads:
“A story that turns the all-American town of Riverdale into a zombie-overrun apocalypse — where the only thing scarier than the undead is trying to survive your teenage years. When a supernatural spell from a certain teen witch backfires, unleashing an army of the possessed dead upon Riverdale, Archie and his friends must fight to stay alive, testing the friendships, romances, and loyalties that have always held them together.”
Disney Kids & Family President, Ayo Davis, had this to say about the new series:
“‘Afterlife with Archie’ has always been about more than just zombies — it’s about the friendships, loyalty and humanity that make Riverdale worth fighting for. Roberto, Greg, Sarah and Jon have such a deep appreciation for these characters, and they’ve built something that’s equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. Fans are going to fall hard for this new version of the gang … and maybe scream a little too.”
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, Channing Dungey, also said:
“The world of ‘Archie’ and Riverdale is the gift that keeps on giving. To bring Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s incredible story to life with our partners at Berlanti Productions, Archie Comics and Disney+ is a thrill for all of us at WBTVG.”
EPs Greg Berlanti & Sarah Schechter also mentioned:
“We are so happy to reunite with Roberto on this exciting series that takes us back into the Riverdale world that we so love, and we are thankful to Disney+ and WBTV for giving us the opportunity to revisit some of our favorite characters in a unique and thrilling way. A special thank you to Jon Goldwater for letting us continue to play within the beloved ‘Archie’ universe and trusting us to bring Archie’s various stories to life.”
Afterlife With Archie comic creator and EP, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, brought up:
“This was the comic book that started it all. Before there was a ‘Riverdale,’ before there was a ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,’ there was ‘Afterlife with Archie,’ which I collaborated on with the best horror artist in the business, Francesco Francavilla. Getting to turn ‘Afterlife’ into a TV series for the amazing team at Disney+ with our incredible partners at Berlanti Productions, WB and, of course, Jon (Goldwater) and his ‘Archie’ family is truly a full-circle moment — and the ultimate dream project for me. Time to say a prayer for Archie, Betty, Veronica and the whole gang, ‘cause THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!”
Finally, EP Jon Goldwater added:
“I am absolutely thrilled to see the iconic ‘Afterlife with Archie’ come to life; this is a series that has meant so much to me since the first comic issue came out years ago. This was a series always destined for live-action and finally getting the chance to make that happen is like a dream come true. Not only that, getting back in the saddle to work once more with Roberto, Greg and Sarah truly feels like a homecoming. I’m so grateful to everyone at Disney+ for giving this series a chance and cannot wait for the zombie invasion to take over TV screens worldwide.”
This new series will be out Halloween 2027, and it sounds like it will be a creepy time.
The third season of HBOMax’s stunning series, ‘House of the Dragon,’ has exceeded expectations at every level. The storytelling, action, and filmwork has been otherworldly this season. While the show continues to meet viewer expectations in most areas, this week it struggled more than it has in previous episodes. Some of the storylines continue to work exceptionally well, while others haven’t truly figured out what they want to be or where they’re headed just yet. There’s still time, fortunately, to figure out those odds and ends with three episodes remaining. However, this episode felt more like a slow burn than fuel on a fire that is only going to get hotter.
Matt Smith & Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
Growing Pains
As the crown continues to gain weight, Rhaenyra continues to crumble under it. The strong Queen that audiences have come to know throughout the series is beginning to show cracks. She is convinced that there is plot against her, which in actuality there truly is. It’s how Rhaenyra is responding to these plotters that is of the most concern. Daemon calls her on it, all while dealing with the recent gruesome murders of the Gold Cloaks, leading to friction that permeates throughout the episode. Their bond is taking strain as Rhaenyra continues to struggle with her grief and her responsibility. The Queen repudiates Daemon’s insolence in the Septum, calling him out for his failure to find Vhagar and the murderers of his men. Vhagar is at the root of her struggles, as she continues to hold a loose grasp on the crown.
Rhaenyra’s desire to find Vhagar has Baela and Addam on a perpetual search for the massive and destructive dragon. Their proximity has created what feels like an interest that goes beyond that of uncle and niece, which would be on par with 95% of the relationships in the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe. Addam shows a tenderness to Baela that she seems to lack for herself as she still deals with her part in Jace’s death at the Battle of the Gullet.
Emma D’Arcy has been magnificent throughtout this season. They are truly embodying the grief that is crushing Rhaenyra. Yes, the crown and it’s responsibilites are a factor in her mental state, but it’s the sidelined grief that is taking the most toll. Matt Smith met them shot for shot with Rhaenyra and Daemon being pit against one another throughout the episode. Smith and D’Arcy portray a married couple remarkably well. From the smirks to the jabs, it stings, but it’s from a place of comfort, love and respect.
Phia Saban in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
The “Great” Escape Plan
Alicent is deadset on getting her and Helaena out of King’s Landing now that she has become aware of the child that Helaena bears. That, of course, is the right course of action as they are now in even more danger than they were before especially if she gives birth to a boy. Alicent attempts to provide Helaena with medicine to take care of the pregnancy using a concotion that was brought by Grand Maester Orwyle, who has shown an allegiance to the Hightowers. Unfortunately, Alicent and Helaena are continually stopped by Mysaria, who has caught onto Orwyle as well as Alicent. Finding what they think is a way out hidden in the walls, Helaena and Alicent find themselves trapped and in the dark as the episode drew to a close.
While this storyline seems to be spiraling a bit, it has also provided some of Phia Saban’s best work as Helaena. She was a marvel in her fierceness as she pushed back against Alicent’s attempt to get her to end her pregnancy. Helaena was even more fierce in her determination to not leave Jahaera. It feels like Saban’s talents quite often end up on the cutting room floor due to the weak nature of the Helaena character. This week we learned how untrue that sentiment is.
Fabien Frankel in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
Burning Bridges
Ser Criston Cole has a Stark and a Tully problem. What he thought he had under control was turned around on him and he’s found himself the leader of an army that finds itself more and more at odds with his decisions. Gwayne Hightower takes his leave of Cole after realizing that Cole had no desire to return to King’s Landing alive. It was his aim to die all along.
Cole’s storyline continues to be a major drag on an overall engaging show. There seems to be no real direction. As the arc’s need for a resolution grows closer, the showrunners just seem to be throwing whatever they can at the wall. The writing is lost and so is Cole. Audiences are finding themselves waiting for Cole to get the classic ‘Game of Thrones’ treatment. I know I am.
Matthew Needham and Tom Glynn Carney in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
An Unexpected Guest
The Adventures of Larys and Aegon continues to be one of the most prevalent and engaging storylines unfolding in ‘House of the Dragon’ to date. The honest way in which Larys is loses his patience with Aegon as his incessant whining continues to become more and more narcissistic provides proof that Aegon is no longer king. The pair continues to struggle in Rook’s Rest, falling out at times only to come back together out of their own necessity. Finally coming to terms with his station, Aegon relents and decides that it’s time to take a ship to Pentos. Tyland Lannister, very much alive after the Battle of the Gullet, ponders: “what ship?”
Throwing Tyland Lannister into the Aegon/Larys mix is one of my favorite writing decisions that this show has made. Of the various storylines that are unfolding, this one continues to be one of the most consequential as the show progresses and the fate of Westeros becomes more and more cloudy. Tom Glynn Carney continues to show his acting chops, continually finding a measure of humanity in what most consider a monster. Genuinely, I would watch a one hour season long series with just Larys and Aegon.
Gayle Rankin in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
The Halls of Harenhal
With Rhaenyra’s new bounty taking effect, Harenhal has seen a number of brigands coming to claim the head of Aemond and thus, the bounty. Alys Rivers, of course, makes this no easy task. Helping Aemond heal, she is playing similar mind games with him that she did with Daemon, however, with a slightly more Oedipal outcome. Aemond seems to be regaining his strength and Alys seems to have a new Targaryen to control.
This particular story arc has needed a bit of meat on the bone and this weak audiences received it with the return of Aemond Targaryen. The end game has yet to be seen, but there is a definite plan afoot with Alys as the puppet master.
James Norton and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Courtesy of Warner Bros Discovery.
Boy Meets World
The seasons pervailing villain seemed at first the most unlikely. Ormund Hightower has bunkered his army in and is dead set on making Daeron king, making every attempt to pour all of his shortcomings into an incredibly bright young person. Of Viserys’ children, Daeron seems to be the only one with the right temprament to lead, which also means he’s the least likely to do so. He outwits Ormund at a game, as Ormund struts his bravado, retelling the story of Dorne’s defiance of Aegon the Conqueror. Ormund has also been paying for the murder of the the Gold Cloaks, having them struck down in the streets, throats cut and bellies slashed. Hightower paying his assassin’s in his newly minted King Daeron coins.
It is a rarity in history that the RIGHT person end up on the thrown. Daeron, from what has been shown of him, seems wise, presenting as if he doesn’t actually want to be king for the right reasons, all reasons that would make him a good king. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth portrays Daeron with a clever timidness, afraid to anger Ormund, but bold in his convictions. The tragedy of Daeron now, eventually, becoming another victim of lesser men’s poor decisions will be one of those jarring moments audiences all remember from this saga.
Final Thoughts:
‘House of Dragon’ from week to week has been an absolute specatacle. It’s been engaging TV that has audiences hooked. While this week’s episode came a bit a short in some aspects, it still found a way to propel the story forward in a compelling enough way that has audiences, me included, locked in and ready to see what comes next.
There are stories that echo throughout time, leaving a lasting legacy that permeates through an infinite number of generations. The oft adapted, Homer epic, ‘The Odyssey’ is one such tale. Many have attempted to adapt or put their own spin on the story, from Armand Asante to a Jack Russell Terrier, but few have been able to truly grasp the heart of Homer’s story. Christopher Nolan, with his monstrous adaptation, has created the definitive version of what Homer saw in his mind as he put pen to paper. The film is a marvel of sound and sight, engulfing audiences within it’s story. If any film is a masterpiece, it is this.
Odysseus has angered the gods. Failing to abide by their rules and tricking the Trojans to their doom, Odysseus begins his journey home, only to be sent offcourse and decades behind his original estimated time of arrival. What Nolan has done with this film is not to be replicated. Serving tones of the film epics of the 1950’s with the modern capabilities of an IMAX cameras, Nolan has created one of this centuries next greatest films.
Matt Damon, Jimmy Gonzalez, and Himesh Patel in ‘The Odyssey.’ Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Cast By The Gods
The strength of ‘The Odyssey’ lies with it’s cast. This is one of the best acted films, performed by any cast, that I’ve ever seen. There are top to bottom career performers. Pick one and there are a million reasons why they’re a contender for this years “Best…” pick the category. Lupita N’Yongo as Helen of Troy is cathartic and broken, making the most of minimal screentime. Elliott Page is stunning and Jon Bernthal is astounding. There aren’t enough words of praise to be bestowed.
The stand out, of course, is Tom Holland. His turn as Telemachus is the best of his career and it isn’t close. He’s bold and uncontrolled, intelligent, but foolhardy at times. Holland was just transcendental. Finding himself swapping lines with Holland, John Leguizamo should be on the “Best Supporting” short list as of yesterday. Leguizamo does not get enough credit for his dramatic work. ‘The Odyssey’ would be a great time to see him get his flowers.
There would be no ‘Odyssey’ without Odysseus, nor Penelope for that matter. Matt Damon, who had SOME concerned upon his casting, plays Odysseus to perfection. Getting in, what looks like, the best shape of his life, Damon is effective at portraying Odysseus foolhardy bravado in a way that leaves him in a state that can be redeemed. Damon wears Odysseus pain on his face, helping to ground the tone of the film during Odysseus’ journey. Anne Hathway as Penenlope oozes strength. Her shared scene with Tom Holland when he returns from seeing Menelaus took my breath away. Her emotions were raw and uncut, engrave the statues now.
Benny Safdie in ‘The Odyssey.’ Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
An Epic’s Epic
‘The Odyssey’ is an epic. Christopher Nolan’s take on ‘The Odyssey’ is an Epic’s Epic. Meaning it is so massive in scope that it pushes the cusp of overwhelming. The sound pulsates throughout the theaters, thumping the chest of theatergoers. The feeling of being on the beaches of Troy permeating across the individuals strapped to their seats. Shot entirely in IMAX, it is essential that this film is seen in this format.
This film is deliciously Christopher Nolan. The style that makes Nolan, well, Nolan is apparent throughout ‘The Odyssey.’ I would argue that Nolan’s style is individually suited to create something of this size and scope. The film is pure cinematic beauty, meant to be savored and digested over it’s 3 hour run time, pacing itself in such a way that the time is never felt.
Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland in ‘The Odyssey.’ Courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Final Thoughts:
‘The Odyssey’ is as gargantuan in it’s scope as it is in it’s ambition. Fortunately for audiences, Christopher Nolan has given us his best piece of work with a cast that deserves every award that they are given. This movie is stunning and I can’t wait to see it again. I’m already planning my next viewing.
Now the first one in the series is called [SYSTEMS], and the book’s huge creative team includes:
Writers: Jonathan Hickman, Al Ewing, Ram V & Nick Spencer
Artists: Jason Howard, Langdon Foss, Stephen Green, Christian Ward, Nimit Malavia, Vanesa R. Del Rey, Jeremy Haun, Kristian Donaldson, Valentine De Landro & Andy Kuhn
Colorists: Frank Martin, Michael Garland, Brennan Wagner & Marissa Louise
Letterer: Rus Wooton
The book’s full description reads:
“Learn how Therrans life paths are decided by a single assessment at birth! Experience a royal duel on Heir, and learn the rules of the game! Join pirates on a high-seas adventure, as they search for the greatest treasure: Khor! Marvel at the great myths of the gods, from their birth to their twilight! Enjoy a meal at the finest Akvan restaurant, accompanied by the ultimate live entertainment: a proxy war of the Worshippers of Voda-In-Glory and the Crusaders against Voda-In-Damnation! But that’s not all. This and more will be explored in [SYSTEMS], the first sourcebook of the 3W/3M concept universe from comics writer Jonathan Hickman, which defines the primary governing systems of the universe (science, religion, magic, economics, civil, and culture) through twelve comic stories, text, and data pages.”
[SYSTEMS] releases February 2nd. Next is [MAPS], and this next book’s creative team includes:
Writers: Jonathan Hickman & Nick Spencer
Artists: Mike del Mundo, Mike Huddleston, James Stokoe & Juni Ba
Colorists: Michael Garland, Dave Stewart, Chris O’Halloran, Marissa Louise, Chris Sotomayor, Nick Filardi, Jonathan Hickman, James Stokoe & Lamar Mathurin
Letterers: Rus Wooton, Jonathan Hickman & James Stokoe
The book’s full description reads:
“The second in the graphic novel sourcebook series, [MAPS] serves as a comprehensive atlas of the 3 Worlds / 3 Moons universe, from the Khor-rich waters of Akva to the labyrinths of Therra to the seedy underbelly of Heir.
Featuring twelve comic stories from the minds of Jonathan Hickman, Mike del Mundo, Mike Huddleston, and Nick Spencer, alongside contributions from James Stokoe, Juni Ba, and many, many more, alongside troves of world-building lore, design pages, and yes, maps—this is the perfect shelf companion to your 3W/3M journey.”
[MAPS] releases April 6th. Finally, there is [HISTORIES], and this book’s creative team includes:
Writers: Jonathan Hickman & Nick Spencer
Artists: Mike del Mundo & Mike Huddleston
The book’s full description reads:
“The third and final volume in the deluxe graphic novel sourcebook series! Learn the comprehensive history and timeline of the 3 Worlds / 3 Moons universe in this essential edition collecting six incredible comic stories from the minds of Jonathan Hickman, Mike Huddleston, Mike del Mundo, and Nick Spencer, alongside a treasure trove of world building lore, data pages, and more!”
[HISTORIES] releases June 1st.
[SYSTEMS] Graphic Novel Cover By Mike Huddleston (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
[MAPS] Graphic Novel Cover By Mike del Mundo (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
[HISTORIES] Graphic Novel Cover (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Final Season Poster (Credit: Disney Channel)
So we start off with the season’s description, which reads:
“Billie, still reeling from losing Alex at the end of Season 2, discovers that the only way to rescue her mother is to reunite with her long-lost father. As her family bands together to find Alex, Billie realizes that their combined power is the only way the Russos can defeat the evil plaguing them.”
After the events of the Season 2 finale, I’m very interested to see where this final season is going to go. We also have the cast line for the new season as well, and that includes:
Selena Gomez (Alex Russo)
David Henrie (Justin Russo)
Janice LeAnn Brown (Billie)
Alkaio Thiele (Roman Russo)
Max Matenko (Milo Russo)
Taylor Cora (Winter)
Mimi Gianopulos (Giada Russo)
Brandon Micheal Hall (Damien Penwulf)
Jennifer Stone (Harper Finkle)
Gregg Sulkin (Mason Greyback)
Maria Canals-Barrera (Theresa Russo)
Ramon Reed (Silas Evilini)
Tobias Jelinek (Lord Morsus)
We also got the trailer, and it shows just how wild this season is going to be:
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 3 has it’s 4-part marathon event kicking off on Tuesday, August 4th at 8:00 PM on Disney Channel. The full season will drop onto Disney+ on August 5th.
Midnight Spider-Man, Midnight Fantastic Four & Midnight X-Men are the first series in Marvel’s new Midnight Universe, which is their new Horror Universe. The creative teams for the books include:
Midnight Spider-Man:
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artists: ScieTronc
Midnight Fantastic Four:
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Kev Walker
Midnight X-Men:
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Matteo Delia Fonte
Letterer: Cory Petit
We also learned what each Cover Theme is, and you can see those details below:
Cover A: Regular
The main series cover presented with the Cloaked Midnight trade dress.
Cover B: Midnight Bloodbath Variant
Blood-soaked covers showcasing the terror of the Midnight Universe.
Cover C: Midnight Special Variant
Spotlight covers showcasing Midnight reimaginings of Marvel Heroes new and old.
Cover D: Midnight Horror Homage Variant
Chilling covers inspired by iconic horror images.
Cover E: Midnight Gallery Variant
Prestige painted covers of the haunting Midnight Universe.
We also have the first details for the first issues of these series:
In Midnight Spider-Man #1 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and ScieTronc, Spider-Man discovers that with great power… comes something monstrous.
In Midnight Fantastic Four #1 by Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker, a scientist’s curiosity accidentally unleashes ancient terrors upon the world while also transforming himself and three others in strange and horrifying ways.
In Midnight X-Men #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte, the X-Men’s battle is no longer one of acceptance, but of survival…and blood.
The Cover Artists for both the main covers and the variants were also revealed, and include:
Steve Beach
Ryan Stegman
Peach Mokoko
Skan
Jeehyung Lee
Clayton Crain
Eric Canete
Inhyuk Lee
Ben Harvey
E.M. Gist
Leinil Frances Yu
Rafael Albuqerque
Dike Ruan
Bjorn Barends
Ito
Alessandro Cappuccio
Midnight Spider-Man, Midnight Fantastic Four & Midnight X-Men #1 releases October 7th.
Midnight Spider-Man #1 Cover C Midnight Special Variant By Peach Mokoko (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight Spider-Man #1 Cover D Midnight Horror Homage Variant By Skan (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight Spider-Man #1 Cover I Variant By Inhyuk Lee (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight Fantastic Four #1 Cover B Midnight Bloodbath Variant By Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight Fantastic Four #1 Cover C Midnight Special Variant By Ben Harvey (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight Fantastic Four #1 Cover H Variant By Leinil Frances Yu (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight X-Men #1 Cover B Midnight Bloodbath Variant by Ryan Stegman (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight X-Men #1 Cover D Midnight Horror Homage Variant By Bjorn Barends (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Midnight X-Men #1 Cover I Variant By Ito (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Punisher Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 features a classic Marvel team-up between the title characters as Frank Castle (AKA The Punisher) recruits our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler (AKA Spider-Man, AKA Peter Parker) to take down a powered up mob boss. Frank wants to train Spidey to make him a more efficient and more effective hero. Spidey wants to get Frank to stick to non-lethal methods. The result is a fun, odd-couple story that will appeal to fans of both the dark, brooding death-bringer and the ever-quipping web-slinger.
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Matteo Della Fonte
Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Writing
Dan Abnett knocked this book right out of Central Park! I don’t know how he did it, but Abnett managed to make this story feel like something I might’ve read in the 80’s. Spider-Man is cracking-wise while cracking heads and his quips are genuinely hilarious! The Punisher is the strong, silent type we’ve come to expect, but not to the extreme that most modern takes on the character portray him. He’s capable of communicating with words, but he’s stingy with them. It may be the best version of Frank Castle I’ve read even if it’s not the best Punisher, if that makes sense?
The villains are, oddly, throwaway characters made up for this story. With the deep well of characters available to pull from, it would have been a nice touch to use some recognizable faces or at least some deep cut characters. It’s a choice that does keep the focus firmly on our protagonists and their relationship as they try their best to work with each other.
Abnett does some of his best work here as he explores the stark contrast between two characters that, on the surface, have nothing in common. But the more they learn about each other, the more they start to see similarities that drive the relationship forward. It’s fresh and interesting and I’m excited to see where this is going.
Art
Source: Jonas Scharf & Alex Guimarães Marvel Comics
This was my introduction to Mateo Della Fonte and, I gotta say, this guy is fantastic! His style reminds me of the late, great John Cassaday mixed with a bit of John Buscema which added to that nostalgic feeling I mentioned earlier. There is a simple elegance that is on display, achieving some nice detail without excessive line work. Rachelle Rosenberg’s color work is gorgeous and artificially reproduces the old 4-color printing process while still feeling modern. The book is beautiful from cover to cover.
FinalThoughts
If you’re a fan of Spider-man or the Punisher or both, you will not be disappointed with this book. It delivers on every level. I had mid-level expectations because I thought this would be a cash grab by Marvel, capitalizing on the Punisher’s upcoming MCU feature film debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But, thank goodness, I was wrong. This is obviously a passion project by a creative team that loves these characters and poured their hearts onto the page. This made me feel things a comic hasn’t made me feel in decades. It feels effortless as if the characters wrote themselves. Don’t sleep on this one!
Man’s best friend transforms into a mutant vigilante team of mutts in this new series! This series has the feel of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) meets Biker Mice from Mars!
This debut issue of a new series from Curt Pires is a fresh new twist to some iconic teams from the 90’s as well as current day. This new series features a team of five dogs labeled as “mutts” who mutate into large versions of themselves. After their mutation they create a crime fighting team that is not highly favored by local authorities.
Issue one starts off with a very heartwarming scene with a new puppy and his owner. Things take a turn for the worst as the puppy gets lose from his property and captured by animal control. This is the turning point for the puppy as he meets his new “family” in the back of that animal control truck. This new family becomes the Super Mondo Mega Mutts!
The mutts go through some very intense training that plays a factor when a mysterious white dome appears in the city that no human exits once entering. Because of that the mutts go in to investigate what the dome truly is. This gives the mutts their mutations! But there is someone who is going to give the mutts a run for their money…
This new series is starting off so entertaining! The character dynamic of the mutts gives off Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle vibes, but as dogs! They are all mutated and each mutt has their own unique fighting style. I originally thought this book would be interesting for a younger reader, till I saw how graphic the fighting scenes are. Which makes this a great series for 90’s fans of TMNT, Street Sharks and Biker Mice from Mars.
The Writing
Curt Pires gets ahold of your attention from the first page! Making the narration so somber and heartwarming to readers who have ever had a new pet. Then in an instant he wreaks all the warm and fuzzy feelings. The story and character development within this debut issue stays true to the writing style I have come to love from Curt. Readers receive just enough plot and background to keep them interested and wanting more!
The Artwork
The art for this issue by Juan Gedeon and Graphikslava is entertaining to the eyes! The character definition is spot on capturing every muscle and furry detail with the mutant mutts! The coloration adds an entirely vivid visual effect that brings the panels to life. I especially enjoyed the panel with the mutts standing on a roof top completely shaded out. It gives iconic Batman the Animated Series vibes!
Variant Covers
Alex Diotto Variant
David Lafuente Variant
Karl Kerschl Variant
Juan Gedeon – Lost Dog Variant 1:10
David Lafuente Virgin Variant 1:20
Karl Kerschl Virgin Variant 1:50
Juan Gedeon – Bloody Virgin Variant 1:100
Final Thoughts
Super Mondo Mega Mutts is a must read! The story dynamic is proving to be yet another masterpiece from Curt Pires. The artwork portrays the tone of the story beautifully providing excellent visuals for the story. You do not want to miss out on this series and be left waiting for the trade to come months from now! Get this debut issue of Super Mega Mondo Mutts today!
Writer: Joshua Williamson; Artists: Andrea Milana & Lee Loughridge; Cover A: Tom Reilly; Cover B: Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr; Cover C: Ben Oliver; Cover D: Tonci Zonjic; Cover E: Andrea Milana.
The Story
In GI Joe #24, the unlikely alliance between the Joes and Cobra continues as they fight to overcome the mysterious common foe that is somehow attacking them using the physical manifestation of their darkest fears! Questions are raised, trust is breached and there just might be the spark of a forbidden romance that long time fans have been wondering about since issue #1 Also: What’s up with General Hawk?
Writing
This Energon Universe has been exceeding expectations since day one and the thing that impresses me the most is how tightly connected the story is between Void Rivals, Transformers, MASK and GI Joe without compromising each individually. The special sauce? Energon! The life blood of our favorite Cybertronians is also the catalyst of nightmares, the fuel for weapons of mass destruction and the source of hope for our heroes. So many of the wild, weird weapons and tech from old school Joe stories were just accepted. Like, “Okay, cool… but how?” Here, the answer is Energon. Joshua Williamson is arguably one of the greats and he continues to prove it with this series. His love for GI Joe is obvious with his inclusion of some deep cut characters and I really appreciate that he is not beholden to any previous continuity. One major benefit of this is that he can bring in characters that seemed odd or out of place as a member of GI Joe or Cobra and write them as independent players that may or may not align with either team. Pacing is solid, dialogue is spot on and this issue, like the others before it, has plenty of surprises that build up to a cliffhanger, leaving the reader salivating for the next issue.
Art
Image courtesy of Image Comics
Andrea Milana and Lee Loughridge are killing it! Milana is someone who can really become legendary. He excels in all phases: movement, relaxed conversations, conveying emotion, consistency, legibility, layout and visual storytelling with sequential art. A solid technician. This is not an easy thing to find nowadays with so many self trained artists out there. This issue really lets Andrea shine as a director, with one, silent, two-panel scene that literally made me smile, nod and say aloud “Okay, I see what you guys are doing!”
Loughridge’s colors keep the eyes moving in the right direction. He is someone who has mastered the art of color filtering. As Risk and Mercer battle this arc’s villain, there is a warm orange filter. For Destro and Baroness, a cooler magenta. Flashbacks are a monotone warm gray and once the conflict is resolved he switches to blues and yellows to separate. I didn’t really notice it at first, but I did notice how smooth the story flowed with so many moving parts. I thought it was weird that there were so many transitions with no courtesy captions or transition panels and yet I never felt confused about what was going on or where I was in the story. That is a testament to Loughridge and now I want to go back and read some of the other books he’s worked on to see if this is his signature or something unique to GI Joe because it really is cool as hell!
Final Thoughts
GI Joe has been a blast and this issue continues that trend. So if you’ve been a fan of this run, you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t given this Joe a go yet, I highly recommend it. You can read GI Joe from issue #1 without any prior knowledge. If you’re a long time fan, this is the GI Joe you’ve been waiting for. The one you deserve. What are you waiting for?
Overall Grade: 10/10
P.S. While not mandatory, I do recommend starting with these titles:
Void Rivals
Transformers
Cobra Commander
Duke
Destro
Scarlet
This is completely optional, but these titles will 100% enhance the experience.
