Comic Nation

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Straight on the success of everything that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We get this amazing trade telling the “Secret” history of the evil Foot Clan.

The combination of history and folklore that is so rooted in Japan that it’s almost a historical lesson in Japanese culture. Yet it never comes off as smug or “weeaboo” (Total nerd of Japanese culture). Instead the story is smart and exciting and balances the present and the past.

The look of the Turtles in this tale is a little more gritty, but keeps their dialogue true to each member of the team. The art is outstanding and fits with the scheme of the story. Everything is a massive attack even though most of this is just a history lesson. I wish we could get this in other comics but I will take what I can get.

I give the Secret History of the Foot Clan a 4/5 and a must read for all TMNT fans. This is so far the best story ever told about the TMNT ever!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret History of the Foot Clan TPB
Story: Mateus Santolouco, Erik Burnham
Art: Mateus Santolouco
Cover: Mateus Santolouco
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $17.99
Release Date: Wed, June 12th, 2013

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Set in the 1800′s American frontier, a woman by the name of Whisky Jill must protect a young boy with innate abilities that his original captors seek to exploit. Together they go on a spiritual journey that shows both the light and dark sides of humanity, and attain enlightenment.

Well that’s what it says on Comixology and the truth is I had no idea what I was going to be reading when I opened up the comic. Bikini Cowboy is one part Adult Swim and one part Pixar. The art is done almost like rough sketches for an animated film.

Yet for some reason it works on all levels, this Comic is so much fun and easy on the eyes. At parts it feels like an 1800’s version of Tank Girl. This comic book has all the elements needed to be a huge franchise success.

So if anyone out there is thinking is this book really that good should just go and download it now and you can read for yourself. If they cleaned up a bit of the language it would be a huge sell to someone like Disney to turn a bikini cowboy (Think Brave meets a cowboy surfer girl) into the next Disney super star.

This book is a solid 5/5 and should be read right now!

Buy it here! www.comixology.com/BIKINI-COWBOY-Vol-1

Bikini Cowboy
Published: Fresherluke
Cover: Fresherluke
Written: Fresherluke
Art: Fresherluke
Page Count: 377 Pages
Digital Release Date: 05/08/2013
Age Rating: 9+ Only

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

This is the second issue in the three issue arc; I once again am struggling with the art. As far as story goes it’s really solid and fans who love books like Bleach and InuYasha should fall in love with this story. I just feel the art work lets it down too much.

I hope that at some point in time we could get an amazing animated film out of this, time will tell. If I had to pick a director I’d have to say Sayo Yamamoto (Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, Eureka Seven, High School of the dead and Panty & Stocking with garter belt)

I will not tell you anything about this book only because it is such a solid read and you really should just pick it up and read for yourself.

Here is Dark Horse’s official release statement:

American McGee’s re-envisioning of Red Riding Hood takes shape as this all-new story. The brave young warrior Kani battles a gauntlet of fantastic mythical beasts inspired by Japanese folklore. However, things are not what they seem, and danger lurks where Kani least expects it!

Justin Aclin (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Vasilis Lolos (Conan the Barbarian)!

Based on the hot new game by American McGee’s Spicy Horse Games!

RED RIDING HOOD REIMAGINED!

I still can’t see the appeal of an artist who at any given time can’t properly draw a hand or keep eyes consistent enough that they look almost human. Akaneiro; the path of cloak and wolf is really a great read but has no art to help sell it. I give issue #2 a 3/5 only because of how great the story is.

Akaneiro #2
Writer: Justin Aclin
Artist: Vasilis Lolos
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover Artist: Shu Yan
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: June 26, 2013
Format: FC, 32 Pages
Price: $3.99
UPC: 7 61568 22674 4 00211

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

What more can I say… I am now officially tongue tied. In fact, I wish I could just publish all the pages of this issue and just let you have at it yourself. Ok I can’t actually do that. (The editor doesn’t want to get in trouble )
Captain Midnight is another amazing 40′s character. (Why do the 1940′s superheroes just seem so much fun?) He is a war hero, a man out of his element lost in the year 2013. You know the drill, but even knowing the drill doesn’t take away from an exciting new book.

You will learn all about his past and how he ended up in the future, a future that isn’t all that impressive to him. The story has some great killer art work from Ibáñez (Defenders, Swamp Thing) and Pérez (Archer and Armstrong, Harbinger, Smallville S11) and Joshua Williamson’s (Masks and Mobsters, Voodoo, Xenoholics) solid writing.

If the following issues live up to this #0 one then add this to your pull list immediately!

I am giving Captain Midnight 4/5 with the hopes that issue 1 will be 5/5 crossing fingers.

Captain Midnight #0
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Victor Ibáñez, Pere Pérez
Colorist: Ego
Cover Artist: Raymond Swanland
Genre: Superhero, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: June 19, 2013
Format: FC, 32 Pages
Price: $2.99
UPC: 7 61568 22972 1 00011