By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

A washed up cop, bodies of dead and abuse children, flashes of moments that could only be interpreted as schizophrenia. This is the story told in this first issue.

“He sleeps, and in sleeping he dreams of small, distorted clouds like crippled children, twisting and crawling across a sky the color of sewer water.”

A once hard-working detective is now alone. He drinks and smokes way too much. His life is in a dilapidated state. And he knows all too well what it all means. All these dynamic images would classify under any well written drama be it on TV, in a book or in a movie.

Yet it’s in the first issue of a comic book, not just any comic book, it’s a Crow comic. James O’Barr has found his rhythm again and these last few crow books are all over the map and all over time.

This story written to take place in the 1970s feels and acts just like as if you are there. This book is a solid 5/5 and should be read right now!

Follow me on Twitter @AltMIndz

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

If you have read my other reviews you will know that I am a sucker for all these great Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. I just recently gave The Secret Origin of the Foot a 5/5. This issue stars Old Hob, He is a creation from  IDW’s editor-in-chief, Chris Ryall. Yet reading him in this issue you feel like you should already know him.

He loosely reminds me of Hallocat from Archie Adventure Series (bio from turtlepedia.wikia.com):

Hallocat (previously known as ‘Pookey’ before the mutation) was a truckers pet cat, his owner had been illegally dumping toxic waste for a chemical plant whose foreman did not want to dispose of the waste properly in an effort to cut costs. One day, Pookey got under the foreman’s feet, tripping him. In a fit of anger, the foreman picked him up and threw him into a vat of toxic waste (which was actually mutagen).

And this is Old Hob‘s origin (Also from turtlepedia.wikia.com):

Old Hob was a stray cat that came across the Turtles and Splinter after they were dropped by the pair of ninja that had stolen them from Stockgen. The mutagen that was included with them had spilled, and Old Hob had come in contact with the agent as well. He tried to scurry off with a pre-mutated Raphael. Old Hob’s eye was clawed out by Splinter. He would later mutate and team up with Baxter Stockman to get revenge on Splinter and the Turtles. Since the mutagen Old Hob came into contact was contaminated, he was sent to bring in the other mutants, alive or dead, in order to get the mutagen samples from their blood. He was put in charge of a street gang and tried multiple times to take down Splinter and the Turtles.

Old Hob is telling his origin story in a very film Noir style, He has a hatred for humans and a greater hatred for Master Splinter. This story is very existential in its delivery and so typical in its structure. This doesn’t take away from the character at all.

Most Comic book villains fall prey for this very set up, Old Hob may not be The turtles version of Doctor Doom but he most certainly isn’t Paste Pot Pete! He will be a force to be reckoned with.

I am hoping this story picks up and we learn what his plans are. For this I am giving Old Hob a solid 3/5 and once again IDW makes us love being a Turtle !!!!

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

Follow me on Twitter @AltMindz

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

Follow me on Twitter @AltMIndz