Curious to know what some of the new Image/Boom!/Vault issues releasing this week are like? Look no further than the latest edition of this segment!
Yes you read that right, a couple issues from Vault are now in the mix!
The issues covered this week are:
All reviews will be spoiler free.
Deadbox #1
I need another issue to properly decide how I feel about this series, but all in all I thought this was a good issue. I say that because there wasn't a whole lot of story in this issue itself, but that ending definitely has me intrigued for what's going to happen next. There was a certain eerieness to this issue that meant I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but with each page turn I was getting more and more curious.
Like when you know it's a horror movie but things are eerie yet too quiet, something strange is about to happen. I've heard some great things about Russell as a writer and I really should check out more of his stuff, but I loved the commentary he put in, very relevant and just made the issue and the setting all the more real and eerie. The artwork and the colours by Tiesma and Popov were also really nice and I look forward to seeing more of their work in future issues. Definitely intrigued to see where this goes it was a good read.
The Last Book You'll Ever Read #2
First of all, absolutely love that cover. I'm a sucker for covers with awesome and unique composition like this, and this one is just so great I adore the fluidness of it and just in general the art style. Right from the title I was intrigued and needed to know what this book was about and it hasn't disappointed yet, this just continues to be such a fun idea for a book, in a sinister Black Mirror kind of way. There wasn't even that much going on that progressed this from the first issue, but yet I'm really interested to see what happens.
In general there's something unnerving about Olivia, she's seemingly very calm and worry free about the whole situation regarding what's happening in the world, the protesters against her readings, her just casually going on a book tour like nothing's happening and how it all comes back to the book. Nothing else to say really, liking the story, the art, just in general definitely worth a read.
Mamo #3
Just going to be blunt now, please go read this series. At least check out the eventual trade when it comes out, it's so much fun. I'm not sure if I've ever described a comic as soothing before, but that's definitely the word I would use to describe this series. That comes largely from the art style, such smooth textures and nice beautiful colours I absolutely love it. As a complete package this series has the feeling of a chilled out animated film you'd watch on a rainy afternoon for some fun, and I know that might be oddly specific but genuinely that's what this book feels like to me.
It's a fantasy story, but only lightly, nothing too ridiculous or over the top, but just a solid story idea that's been executed wonderfully through these issues and continues with another lovely issue. Love how the dynamic between Jo and Orla develops in this issue and just as the series goes on, and the ending has me excited for the next issue, check this out.
The Me You Love in the Dark #2
I described the first issue as "Hauntingly beautiful" and that is a feeling that is present in this issue as well, actually more so. Fully settled in, Ro is now completely alone in the house. Sort of.
This is one of those series where if you're looking for action, you're not going to find it here. There is a, not scary but haunting atmosphere that is excellently built up in this issue. It's interesting, there's no other people apart from Ro, and there are many scenes of her out in the open highlighting the size and emptiness of the rooms. Yet it feels like a very personal read. There are quite a few panels that make you feel like you're the one spying on Ro, putting you in the place of this ghost entity or whatever that seems to be keeping her company.
Something about the combination of Corona's art and Beaulieu's colouring makes the issue really work visually, the style is just perfect. The contrast between the light and the dark is excellently done, and when colour does appear it's striking and just really nicely stands out. Take the mostly black cover, with how the white title stands out and the dashes of orange in the trade dress and the window of the house, as well as the candle. Just simply gorgeous. Throughout the issue even when it's just darkness, it's not just solid black, as it were, it's textured and really feels like it's got a life of it's own. It's not the sort of book to slap you round the face with how great it is, it's a lot more subtle, more finessed, where I thought initially I didn't have much to say about the issue but once I got into it my thoughts about this started pouring out. Another brilliantly haunting issue, the more I talked about it the more I realised how much I loved it and the general craft of it.
Ordinary Gods #3
It's a shame because I'm really enjoying Higgins' other Image series at the moment Radiant Black, but something about this just isn't clicking for me. I really like the ideas and the concept here, it's some really neat really cool fantasy stuff. Especially with the nice art style, been loving the colours and the all around regal feel of the design work. But it's slightly confusing to me still, and obviously you want the reader to have questions to build the intrigue and keep them coming back for more, but part of me feels like I just don't get it.
I go through the pdf again and get it more, think maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, but I do genuinely find it confusing at times, and not in a intriguing mystery kind of way, but a muddled and messy kind of way. I like the extra prose at the end, that added to the issue and the reading experience, but I don't know. Even if I think about it and think I've got it something just still isn't clicking for me.
The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #4
In a similar way to my Mamo #3 review, this is your monthly reminder to check out Six Sidekicks! Or at least buy the trade when it comes out. What else can I say about this series that I haven't already said. It's just a good, solid fun indie book. Nothing mind bending or darkly disturbing or whatever, and while there are some awesome indies going on right now, a lot of them are quite heavy reads and this is such a refreshing read in the mix.
It's a classic example of a book where when trying to convince someone to read it, you coudl easily pitch it in a sentence or two. But the book takes that brief pitch and runs with it magnificently. Loving everything about this book, especially the extra stuff at both ends of the book, it makes the world of the story feel so much more real and makes it such an enjoyable read. There's only a couple issues left so I'll be sad to see it go but I'm excited to see how it eventually wraps up.
Trover Saves the Universe #2
Is it fair to describe this series as the comics equivalent of a sugar rush? If that wasn't present to you in the first issue it definitely is here. Love that Days of Future Past homage cover, one thing I noticed was that the pdf for this issue was incredibly high quality. So much respect to Tess Stone for doing basically almost everything on this comic, writing, art, lettering and the cover. The art is so bright and vibrant and just generally dynamic, there's so much going on in every panel but it doesn't feel sloppy or overcrowded, just like an awesome animated show on the page.
So I described this as the comics equivalent of a sugar rush and wow do I believe that enough to say it again. I haven't played the game but I love Rick and Morty so this issue continues to nicely capture that over the top chaotic energy of the show. Feels like something that could come straight from interdimensional cable. It's definitely not going to be for everyone, too over the top for some people but that's understandable. A nice fun very energetic read, looking forward to seeing where this goes over the next few issues before it wraps up.
This article was written by JoeLovesComics, who you can follow over on Twitter for (albeit shorter) thoughts on comics he loves.
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