Jim's Other Comic Book Reviews for the Week of 3/28/2018

Hello and welcome to my new weekly column featuring reviews of some non-DC comic books.  I have been doing a Patreon show (this week's show is HERE) for a bit now and this will be where I give a quick review for the books featured on the show and perhaps a couple more as a bonus.  Alright, enough talking, let's get on with the reviews:



Hit-Girl #2 Review

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Ricardo Lopez Ortiz
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I have reviewed both issues of this new series on the Patreon show and it has quickly become one of my favorite books hitting the shelves right now.  Is it a guilty pleasure?  Sure, but who doesn't love a little ultra-violence, pop culture humor, and even more ultra-violence?!?  Issue #1 was all about Hit-Girl getting a new partner and this issue shows her and Mano wrecking house and taking down scumbags and coked up crocodiles.  There are mentions of Batman and the continuation of the whole Suicide Squad subplot that got really, really dark by the end. While this was more of a setup issue, the mystery of what Mindy is up to with Mano's little brother and how long Mano will stay among the living are just a couple of the reasons to come back for the next issue.

Bits and Pieces:

Mark Millar and Ricardo Lopez Ortiz have me hooked with their ultra-violent continuation of Hit-Girl as she continues her Columbian "vacation".  The art is great and the story, while more setup than the awesome first issue, has me hooked.  If you don't mind microwaved bad guys and a nod to Tom King's Batman, you should check this one out.

8.5/10

Breathless #1 Review


Writer: Patrick Shand
Artist: Renzo Rodriguez
Publisher: Black Mask Studios
Release Date: March 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I always try to check out #1's (#1's are for Jim!) and this one took me by surprise.  What started out seeming like an SJW look at pharmaceutical companies jacking up the prices of medication became something a whole lot more.  The key to it all is the awesome characterizations by Patrick Shand.  I immediately fell in love with the lead, Scout and her best friend and co-worker, Grace-Eisley.  Renzo Rodriguez's art kicks total ass and seriously, if you like books that turn things upside down and end up nothing like what you thought you were originally getting into, this one is for you.  I really don't want to spoil too much, but if you like X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and conspiracy theories, check this one out.

Bits and Pieces:

Breathless #1 came out of nowhere to be one of my favorites I read this week.  Patrick Shand doesn't save the twist for the cliffhanger, but instead shoves you into a world you need to know more about with characters you care about immediately.  Renzo Rodriguez's art is crisp and clean goodness and I can't wait for next issue!

8.5/10 

Shadowman #1 Review

Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Stephen Segovia
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Release Date: March 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I have not read a Shadowman comic before this one and while I understand that my lack of knowing a lot of what's going on here lies on my shoulders, I could have used a little more guidance from Andy Diggle.  That being said, my confusion isn't what upset me the most about this issue as I actually enjoyed the book more as it progressed.  My biggest problem was that I was rather bored for the first half of the issue.  It picks up once Alyssa is joined by Jack, the Shadowman, but the story left me feeling like an outsider and I'm not sure I want to be part of the club anyway.  If you are a Shadowman fan or someone looking for a book steeped in voodoo, this might be more your bag, but as it stands, I don't think I will continue on with this one.

Bits and Pieces:

I always like to give new #1s a go, but Andy Diggle and Stephen Segovia didn't give me enough here to make me want to continue with this series.  It does seem set up for Shadowman fans with some callbacks and continuations, but newcomers might find themselves lost and confused.  I was both of those, but unfortunately, I was also bored with a large portion of the issue as well.

5.5/10

Rick and Morty #36 Review

Writer: Kyle Starks, Josh Trujillo
Artist: Marc Ellerby
Publisher: Oni Press
Release Date: March 28, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I am a fan of Rick and Morty and while I say that, the delays between seasons are killing me and I have even mentioned to Eric that I'm worried I will just stop caring before we ever see another new episode.  That's why I have picked up the occasional comic and for the most part, I've enjoyed this series enough.  This issue is all about Jerry and while I love the sad sack, seeing him get beat up, stuck in a bear trap, sexy dance for a cop and help a bank robbery gone horribly wrong kind of loses the spirit of what makes him such a great character.  It's supposed to be a comedy of errors, but there isn't much comedy and it never ties itself together in the end.  The backup doesn't get much better as we see a Rick hair salon that's hiding an evil secret.

Bits and Pieces:

This issue of Rick and Morty is all about the awful things that could happen, but really, I'm not sure why we want to see it.  Yes, the show and this comic are based on the characters we love, but know are awful, but at least we get a bunch of laughs out of it.  I didn't get any laughs from this issue and that there should be a crime.  The best thing about this book is you can pick and choose which issues to get and I'd suggest not to pick this one up.

5.0/10