Review: The Lone Ranger and Tonto #3 (Dynamite Entertainment)

I have been a big fan of the Lone Ranger series by Dynamite Entertainment since it started, but I have to say that The Lone Ranger and Tonto #3 is the worst issue of any comic I have read in a long time.

I know this isn’t part of the Lone Ranger series proper, but considering the sporadic nature that the regular series comes out, this may be the first issue that someone picks up to read Dynamite’s Lone Ranger effort.   I think this particular comic might actually scare people away.

My first problem is with the art (which I always hate to comment on, since I can’t draw worth a damn).  It is very rough, more like colored sketches than actual art to me.  There are parts that are so rough that it’s difficult to tell who the characters are and what is happening from moment to moment.

As far as the story goes, it really didn’t make much sense to me.  I am not entirely sure if it was because of the art, but the entire plot seemed forced and really kind of silly.

Overall I was really disappointed in this issue.  If the Lone Ranger and Tonto series is supposed to help bridge the gap in-between the time that the regular series comes out, they are really going to have to do a much better job than this.

The Quick and the Read #10 – Random stuff

The Quick and the Read #10 – Random stuff

It has been a looooong time since I have done one of these, and I am going to do my best to try to do more.  I have stacks of comics I have read around the Fortress of Mozitude that I haven’t added to ComicBase and filed away for this very purpose

The only thing left to do is dive on in.

Buck Rogers #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) – I am not really sure what I expected to find reading this comic, but I didn’t find it.  I was a big fan of the Buck Rogers TV show from the late 70s\early 80s, so maybe subconsciously that was looking for here.  Now don’t get me wrong, this was a pretty good comic and I have seen A LOT worse, but this just didn’t “click” with me, so this is the last issue I am getting.

The Mighty #5 (DC Comics) – I got really tired of superhero deconstruction stories after a while, with everyone trying to recapture the popularity of Watchmen since it was first published back in the ‘80’s.  There has only been a handful worth reading over the years, like Kingdom Come and Powers just to name a few.  When this title was announced, I would have probably never touched it if Peter Tomasi hadn’t been writing it.  I have developed a great respect for his writing after what he did with Nightwing and the Green Lantern Corp books, so I just had to pick this up when it first come out.  Without spoiling anything, this issue probably really got me hooked on the series.  Peter Tomasi can really grab you with his writing, and Keith Champagne is no slouch.  If you are not reading this already, you should give the first trade a try.

Project Superpowers: Chapter Two #0 (Dynamite Entertainment) – I was intrigued by the first series (and I admit that most of that was because of Alex Ross being attached), it really has been interesting to see all of these forgotten heroes from the Golden Age and seeing what is done with them.  I didn’t read the mini-series that came out in-between the first series and this one, so I have kind of lost interest, but I thought I would give this a try.  This is still interesting as more and more heroes and villains come out of the woodwork, but it’s just not enough for me to keep buying it.  I doubt I would even get trades at this point, the “new comic smell” has worn off completely.

The Lone Ranger #17 (Dynamite Entertainment) – Now here is the one bright spot in this review, for the most part anyway.  I really enjoy this comic, and look forward to when it comes out, however sporadically.  I grew up watching Lone Ranger re-runs with my Dad (who actually met Clayton Moore when he was a kid), and have always loved the character.  When this title came out, I made sure that I get a copy for him too; and he really enjoys reading it.  Once again this was a great issue, and it was a joy to read.  I have a big problem with how often this comes out however.  I feel that this is the title that put Dynamite “on the map” so to speak, and they should really make an effort to put this out monthly on a consistent basis.  I have read comments from the creative team, and how they like to get an entire story arc “in the can” before they solicit it.  I can understand that, but you would think that after a while they would get caught up and have enough issues together to keep this monthly.  Maybe they should just go ahead and call this bi-monthly or quarterly and get it over with.

Well that’s it for this installment, until next time, keep them bagged and boarded!

Overdue Review – London Horror Comic #1 and 2

This is my last overdue review. I really hated that these reviews sat on my “desk” so long, I am hoping that my effort to finish them means something.

Anyway, here we go again.

London Horror Comic #1

Written by: John-Paul Kamath

Penciled by: Lee Ferguson

Inks by: Marc Deering

Letters & Book Design: by Matty Ryan

Colours by: Hi-Fi Design

Price: $3.99

Suggested for Mature Readers

I will start out by saying that I am not a big fan of horror comics, in fact,? I usually don’t even give them a second glance when I see them on the shelf.? This comic actually surprised me, the stories were good? and well thought out (though the last one I didn’t quite get).? A few of them had a funny side to them that was refreshing and I like how others tied back into comic book culture.? The art was good, thought maybe not my taste, but still well done.? Overall I really liked this issue and was glad that I gave it a shot.

London Horror Comic #2

Written by: John-Paul Kamath

Penciled by: Lee Ferguson

Inks by: Marc Deering

Letters & Book Design: by Matty Ryan

Colours by: Hi-Fi Design

Price: $3.99

Suggested for Mature Readers

First, I have to say that the cover on #2 was just a little disturbing.? Having that naked chic in the tub with that guy with the eyes all over him just made my brain all confused .? This issue surprised me too, the stories had just enough of a twist to make them interesting.? Once again the art was good, just not my style, which is just my opinion.? I know I can’t do any better, and I have certainly seen a lot worse in my time.? The one thing I didn’t like was the last story.? I didn’t find it very “horrifying” just damn cruel.

Overall, if you like the horror genre, then you will more than likely like these books.

When I went to the author’s website I discovered that he got hit by Diamond’s cut backs on minimum orders, so #3 would be the last issue of this series.? With that in mind, you will only be able to get #3 on his online store.? This series was different enough that I just might give that last issue a try when it comes out.

Overdue Review – The Manga Guide to Statistics

Before I start this review I have to apologize to the publisher and the author for taking so long to write this review.? When I agreed to do the review, I thought I had plenty of free time to complete it in a timely manner, and I soon learned otherwise.

With that that said, here is my review.

The Manga Guide to Statistics

Written by: Shin Takahashi and Trend-Pro, Co., LTD.

Publisher: No Starch Press (November 28, 2008)

Overall I really liked this book.? The art was well done and the underlying plot to make the book flow was interesting if not new.? I think the author did a great job of trying to make the examples in the book as real world as possible so that the concepts would be easy to understand.? It has been a long time since I have had taken any classes in statistics (or classes at all for that matter) , so I have to admit that after a while the math just made my head hurt.? When I started seeing some of those more complicated equations, I started having flashbacks to all those calculus classes I had in college, and I had to put the book down and take a nap.

If you know of someone that has to seriously learn this material however, I have a feeling that this book is just what they are looking for if they are having trouble.

Overdue Review – P-Brane: The Green Man

Here is the second in a series of comic reviews that I should have done a long time ago.

Though P-Brane: The Green Man really isn’t a “graphic novel” by the strictest sense of the word, it is more like a “photo” novel where photos? of real “actors” and objects are then manipulated to make the art of the book.

Even though this is an interesting concept, I didn’t really care for how it was done in this book.? In the books that I usually read the hand drawn art just flows better to me, while this book just looked like a slide show with speech balloons. ? To me this just looked sloppy and hashed together and really made it really hard to read.

As far as the plot goes, it all seemed like nothing that spectacular. ? Man wakes up with amnesia, is able to do incredible things without any explanation, alien invasion, serial killers killing evil men, etc..

Anyone that has read books or comics, or watched TV for any length of time will have already seen almost every element of this story before, just maybe not put together in this particular way.? The flow of the book was very disjointed to me, things jumped around quite a bit and it was difficult to follow.? As well as that, the plot went places that didn’t make any sense to me at all.? Especially the ending.? Every time I thought I had a handle of what was going on in this book, there would be another turn in the plot that didn’t make any sense to me.

The dialogue, in my opinion, was the worst part of this book.? It is barely two-dimensional, choppy and has barely any feeling in it.? I have the feeling that the photo thing is partly to blame.

I won’t go on any further, it’s pretty obvious that I…well… hated this book.? There I said it.

Being somewhat of a writer myself, I don’t like tearing up someone else’s work, but this was just horrible in my opinion.

Overdue Review – Ayre Force

It has been close to a year since I first got this from the publisher.? Even though the company doesn’t appear to be selling this book anymore, I said I would review it; so here we go.

First a little info about the book from its press realease:

AYRE FORCE Invades 2008 NY Comic Con

April 4, 2008

Bodog Entertainment’s first ever graphic novel AYRE FORCE to make debut at NY Comic Con, April 18 – 20

Digital entertainment giant Bodog Entertainment has expanded its already extensive wealth of entertainment offerings even further to include the release of its first ever action packed graphic novel AYRE FORCE.

Based on real people, AYRE FORCE reveals the hidden activities and past of Bodog’s billionaire founder, Calvin Ayre, as he leads a covert operations unit composed of Bodog Music artists Bif Naked, Jason Darr and Nazanin; Bodog Fight mixed martial artists Tara LaRosa, Jorge Masvidal and Trevor Prangley; and Bodog Poker players Evelyn Ng, David Williams and Josh Arieh. Ayre and the AYRE FORCE have been engaged in a years-long war with pharmaceutical magnate Janus Winter, attacking the illegal operations of Wintercorp all over the globe. Now, Janus has upped the ante by unleashing his genetically engineered, superhuman children on Calvin and his team, intending to put an end to the war between the AYRE FORCE and Wintercorp once and for all!

Assembled by an incredibly talented creative team, the people behind AYRE FORCE are Illustrator Shawn Martinbrough (How To Draw Noir Comics, Batman: Detective Comics, World War Hulk: Frontline), Writers Adam Slutsky (Maxim, Bluff Magazine) and Joseph Phillip Illidge (Batman), Color Artists Andrew Dalhouse (The Sisterhood) and Felix Serrano (Batman) and Letterer Marshall Dillon (Street Fighter: Alpha).

This does sound exciting doesn’t it?

Well there was a lot of action in this book, but I wasn’t too excited about it when I was done.? It was pretty cheesy and came off to me as more of advertisement for Bodog.com than anything else.? The mix of fiction and real life people was a little strange to say the least, and gave it a “dirty” feel; for lack of a better word.? I even felt a little guilty after I read it.

The plot and the dialogue reminded me a lot of the action films that Arnold Schwarzenegger did back in the 80’s, cheesy and a lot of one liners, just not done near as well.? So I guess if you like that kind of stuff you might like this, but I doubt it.

Overall I wouldn’t recommend this, even if you could still get a copy, despite the fact the proceeds were supposed to go to charity.? Since this book isn’t even relevant anymore, not really that much else to say about it.

The Quick and the Read #9 – Final Crisis Edition

Its been a while since I have done one of these, I have just been busy working on the book.? I decided to take a break and clean my writing “pallet” and write some reviews focused around Final Crisis and its tie-ins.

Final Crisis #4 – Up until this issue, this series has been practically impossible to figure out what was going on.? I know I am not alone on this.? After reading this issue, I think I finally understand what is going on now.? I have to say that this has been the best issue of this series so far, with some good scenes (even if some where a little cliché) that are just the kind of thing that reminds me of why I love comics. Overall the whole series has been a big disappointment when compared to the hype that followed it.? So far I have enjoyed all the “tie-in” series\one-shots with the “Final Crisis” banner a lot more.? Hopefully this will get better by the end, but somehow I doubt it, considering the drama that seems to be going on behind the scenes on this book.

FC: Submit #1 – I liked this issue, and I think it was a mistake not to convey somehow that it takes place before Final Crisis #4.? I read Submit after that issue, not knowing any better, and it would have made my reading of Final Crisis #4 a lot more enjoyable.? Even though this was a good story, some of the dialogue seemed a little cheesy at times and I think Morrison made Black Lightning sound a little bit too preachy. The only other thing that kind of bugs me is the idea of the newspapers, and heroes running around delivering them.? Having someone like the Ray do that I can understand, he can travel pretty fast, but having BL running around on foot with Justifiers everywhere is just kind of silly.? A little bit of a plot hole if you asked me.

FC: Revelations #3 of 5 – I really have been enjoying Greg Rucka’s work on this series, and I think the art really fits the overall tone of the book perfectly.? I am glad to see more being done with the new Question, I enjoyed what Rucka did with the Crime Bible series and I was happy to see that story continued here.? It was also good to see a new character like Radiant be introduced last issue.? It makes more sense to have another entity like the Spectre around but be sort of his opposite number.? I am looking forward to the next issue of this and see how things turn out.

FC: Rouges’ Revenge #3 of 3 – What can I say?? Johns delivered an excellent end to another awesome story. I am so glad things ended the way they did (trying to stay spoiler free here), but I don’t see how they could have ended any other way.? Regular readers of my blog know I love John’s work, so no need to go on about it here.? I will however say I would like to see more of Scott Kolins work, I didn’t appreciate it enough until I saw it again in this title.? He has a very gritty style that fit perfectly for this book.? This was one of the Final Crisis tie-ins that was definitely worth every penny.

FC: Legion of 3 Worlds #2 of 5 – Holy shit, this is the greatest comic I have read in a while.? Which is pretty much a given for me considering its 1) Johns writing, 2) Perez doing the penciling, and 3) its about the Legion.? This is like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one.? The obvious care and hard work that was put in this title just pours off the page.? I LOVE IT!!? I hate it when books are late, but if they need time on the next one, then so be it.? I am willing to wait for this kind of quality in this one case.

FC: Resist #1 – Here is another book I liked better than the series that it is tied to.? Rucka did a good job with this one, I really like the interaction with Mr. Terrific and the rest of the characters.? I have to admit I was beginning to wonder how the heroes were going to pull their asses out of the fire up until this issue, and I am actually looking forward to seeing one hell of a battle come out of this.

FC: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1 – Wow this comic is really something.? There is a lot of going on here, some of it might be lost on you if haven’t been reading the Secret Origins arc in Green Lantern, but it might not be too bad if you are picking this up cold.? Once again, Johns delevers a great Green Lantern story that I really enjoyed.? I am really looking forward to watching this play out in the GL titles, it should be a lot of fun.

Well that is it for now.? Next time I will either cover the New Krypton or Batman R.I.P. stuff I have read so far.

The Quick and the Read #8 – More comic book reviews so soon? You gotta be kidding me…

Here we are for another installment of comic book reviews that everyone has already commented on to death.? I realized that I had missed writing reviews and found the last installment therapeutic, so I made an effort to write up some more.? With the book gearing up again, I definitely need the practice.

Batman #678 – Morrison’s “Batman R.I.P.” story is getting freakier by the second, but I have to say that I am enjoying it, even though he is messing with Batman. I just love how he is sneaking in all of those classic pieces of Batman history that were at one time wiped out by the first Crisis.? I look forward to reading this title every month.

Final Crisis: Rouges’ Revenge #1 of 3 – Just another example of the quality comics that I expect from Geoff Johns.? Really good stuff that makes me wish Johns was back on the Flash, but I will settle for him taking over the Legion J? You listening DC??? Seriously, I really loved this first issue.? I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

Justice Society of America #17 – Once again, Johns wows me with his writing skill.? Not many writers can have this many characters to deal with and give them all such distinct personalities.? ? This is another title that I look forward to every month, and the homage to heroes past makes this one of my true favorites to read.? I highly recommend it.

Batman #1-3 – I am really torn on this series so far.? The story is interesting, but I have never really cared for Kelley Jones’ art.? I don’t hate it, but I don’t really like it that much either.? I doubt that I will hang around for 12 issues.

Tangent: Superman’s Reign #2-5 – I never read any of the Tangent stuff the first time around.? For whatever reason it never interested me.? I got the first issue of this series out of curiosity, and I have to say it is pretty good.? The history back up stories have been a good read as well.? I am glad that I stuck around.

Green Lantern Corps #26 – Peter Tomasi has really surprised me since he started writing this title.? He has been one of the few that I have seen that has been able to write the Green Lantern Corp since their rebirth a few years ago.? This issue was really good, and this is another title that I look forward to reading each month.

The Quick and the Read #7 – ACCCKKKK!! More Comic Reviews

Ok, I know it has been a while, but I have been crazy busy.? As well as the book starting up again, the Wife and I have a house guest for a while, my good friend Mike.? We worked together for a long time back in Washington St when I lived there, and have been friends ever since.

I helped him get a job where I work, since we had an opening that would be working with me, and I trust him more than anyone that isn’t family.? In fact, he is one of the few people on this earth that I would trust with my life.? That kind of friendship is very rare, and I am very glad that things worked out like they did.

We are a lot alike, and even call ourselves a “brother from another mother”.? This was his first week on the job, and I know that we are finally going to make some progress at work in making things better.? He is also a really great writer, so check out his blog if you get a chance.

Well enough about me, let’s get on to the reviews.? A lot of these have been out in a while, but the two of you that read this blog might be interested in my “unique” view on them.? Here we go.

Final Crisis #1-2: I have REALLY been disappointed in this series so far.? It seems really disjointed to me, and I had to read the first issue again to try to figure out what was going on in the second issue.? The whole New Gods rebirth thing and the way they are doing it, seems silly to me in a “jump the shark” kind of way.? This has been commented on a lot in other blogs, so there is no need to rehash it all.? The Martian Manhunter’s death was CHEAP and UNECESSARY.? As much as I liked the Barry Allen Flash, I think bringing him back is kind of cheap too, just something to sell books.? I cheered when they brought back Hal Jordan, and Oliver Queen, but their deaths weren’t good deaths and needed to be fixed.? Barry Allen’s death was a GOOD death.? He died saving the multiverse, for crying out loud!!? I know that the relaunch of the relaunch of the Flash character isn’t going like they planned, but I’m not sure bringing back Barry might not fix it if they don’t WRITE GOOD STORIES!!!

Trinity #1-8: I am little behind on this title since I am getting comics in the mail again, I have really been enjoying it.? I have always been a fan of Kurt Busiek since I read his Astro City stuff, and this series shows exactly why.? This series is already 100 times better than the mess that was Countdown.? I like what they are doing with the backup stories as well, I think it is a really good idea. Keep up the good work guys!

Astonishing X-Men #25 – I was a little disappointed with this issue after Whedon’s great run on this title.? Way to chatty for me, and it seemed that Ellis was trying to capture that dry wit that Whedon is so good at and failed miserably.? Not sure if I will keep getting this one.

Uncanny X-Men #500 – Now this was better than Astonishing X-Men #25, in my opinion.? Brubaker and Faction got me hooked on Immortal Iron Fist, and they might do the same here.? I like the “new direction” that Marvel is taking with the X-Men, I think it should’ve been done a while ago.? This should be interesting in the coming months.

Well that’s it for now, turn in for more soon!!

TOMASI ON NIGHTWING – NEWSARAMA

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