Comic Book Creator Interview: KATIE SKELLY (MY PRETTY VAMPIRE, Fantagraphics Books)

Hello Comic Book Junkies and thank you for watching another awesome comic book creator interview. Today's interview is with Katie Skelly where she makes a special announcement, the first announcement ever about her upcoming book! Please check out the video to hear all about it! Katie's Website & Social Media: http://www.katieskellycomics.com http://www.instagram.com/skellyskelly... https://twitter.com/nurse_nurse

The Prisoner #1

Another Wednesday, another new comic book series hits the stands. Today marks the release of a new comic book series released by Titan Comics in celebrations of the 50 year anniversary of the British television show THE PRISONER co-created, written and directed by Patrick McGoohan of Scanners and Braveheart. The television show first aired 50 years ago today in 1968. This series is brought to us in a modern light by non other than Peter Milligan (X-Statix, The Mummy) and illustrated by Colin Lorimer (The Hunt, Harvest). Titan Comics also presents us with an amazing cover from Mike and Laura Allred, what better way to celebrate?

Naturally as this is written by Peter Milligan, I'm reading it so that means you better keep your eyes peeled for an interview with Mr Milligan on my Youtube Channel next week. For now you all will have to be content to watch the series trailer released by Titan until you hit your local comic book shop.

The original television series was sold and marketed as a spy thriller but was heralded for it's counter-cultural themes and surrealist setting. The physiological drama which combined elements of science fiction focused on a spy's imprisonment within a small village resort where people were known only as numbers. Milligan's story takes an updated approach and launches us further into the future rather than the past. How far into the future we cannot be sure as we follow an operative named Breen in the 21st Century, where global currency is no longer oil or gold. Information is now the source of all power.

Issue one of THE PRISONER is in stores today so don't think I'm going to be including any spoilers in this article! I feel I've already told you too much!! You're going to have to hit your local store to see what direction this story goes but I know you will not be disappointed. 

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Lucy Dreaming #1 & 2 (Boom Studios)

First Look at PERSEPHONE from Archaia & Boom Studios

In stores this May is a graphic novel I've been greatly anticipating called PERSEPHONE by Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky from Boom Studios & Archaia. The story "follows a young girl whose search for truth about her identity leads her on a journey deep into the Underworld". Here is your first look at the inside art. 

The Crow Memento Mori #1 & 2 (IDW Publishing)

CREATORS:
Roberto Recchioni (Author) • Moreno Dinisio (Colorist) • Werther Dell’Edera (Artist, Cover Artist) • Giovanna Niro (Colorist) • Matteo Scalera (Author, Artist) •Davide Furno (Cover Artist)

There's nothing quite like beginning a story by quoting the Old Testament. I quite enjoy Exodus myself but mostly because I do think that god is a more probably god, I mean a definite complete sadist. I'm of course an atheist if you have never picked that up from my articles. If I was a Christian I would be very much an Old Testament, god fearing lady because that is the most realistic version of god (Yahweh) unfortunately.

I have been a fan of The Crow series for well over two decades. It was one of the first comics I read, my grandmother had got a giant box of comics at a local garage sale and I would sit and read them. The first Spawn books were among them along with a lot of Conan, my parents didn't realize that comics weren't all for children. I was thrilled. So this is a new Crow story which revolves around a dead alter boy so at least the intro of bible quotes is appropriate and not just there for pretentious  drama. 

So if you've read the original Crow comic or even watched one of the many movies, then you already know the format. Man dies, man comes back to reap vengeance against those who have murdered him and his loved ones. Unfortunately there's no deviation here, a man is dead and so is his lover. Another story with women as plot devices rather than characters. Yay. 

Throughout the book however there are copious panels which both make you feel the distance the narrator feels from the living world, a constant observer but also mixed with panels that feel very intimate. You look at the narrator as if looking into a mirror. I can't help but feel an affinity and emotional understand of him despite his situation having NO possible resemblance to my own. I really enjoyed the artwork, the coloring was appropriate and the characters were distinguishable. 

However, politically I do not like this comic. The first moment of vengeance is reaped in issue one by a white Christian onto an Islamic seventeen year old who is of course one of the people involved in the bombing. Anything that vilifies Islam in favor of Christianity tends to turn my stomach. I really hoped this would be a vendetta against the Churches of Rome, not another religion. I was more impressed with issue two where Christianity isn't looking so hot and the father of the church is looking a very likely target for vengeance. 

I also want to mention that these issues felt short. VERY short in fact. I counted both issue one at 20 pages and issue two at 18 of actual content. Each issue has a preview of an upcoming IDW comic which takes up a significant page count. 

Interview with Sloane Leong on PRISM STALKER

Today I'm talking to Sloane Leong about her new Image Comic book series PRISM STALKER. You can get both issue 1 & 2 in stores today. Issue 3 is available May 9th.

If you haven't, please check out my review of issues 1 & 2 here:

Punks Not Dead #1 & 2 (BLACK CROWN)

(W) David Barnett (A) Martin Simmonds (CA) Annie Wu

Gotta love a title that throws in a nice Spinal Tap Reference. The title of the first story arc in this new series is Turn It Up To Eleven. BLACK CROWN editor Shelly Bond has been making all the right choices. PUNKS NOT DEAD is a unique new series on the imprint where David Barnett mixes reality with the supernatural. The story centers on  bullied youth "Fergie" who realizes he can see things other people cannot. He finds a new friend in the ghost of punk rock legend Sid Vicious. If that wasn't enough supernatural musings for you, we're also introduced to an eccentric lady who is head of the Department for Extra-Usual Affairs. That's a fictitious British department for taking care of haunting and dealing with things such as the occult. I actually wish it was real because I would be doing everything in my power to work there.

I have not previously seen any work from artist Martin Simmonds so this is my first time experiencing his talent. His work feels very fresh and modern. That's actually nearly the opposite of what typically catches my eye however I found myself becoming enamored with it as the pages carried me on. I will say that Sid looks exactly like the Sandman and he even has lovely black speech bubbles with white lettering. Familiar? Of course it feels familiar The Sandman can't claim ownership of this type of speech bubble. We've seen lots of supernatural characters being expressed this way. I suppose it's not of any real consequence. I can say that without the amazing coloring of Annie Wu, I likely wouldn't be nearly as enamored. I really hope Simmonds and Wu continue to work together for some time.

I'm curious as to why Sid Vicious was chosen as the ghostly companion. Of course a terrible role model and an awkward, trouble teen are a fun combo to witness. After only two issues however, Sid has actually made a somewhat positive impact. Although I can assume that the future of this story has some kerfuffle about to be unleashed involving Sid and the Department of Extra-Unusual Affairs, I wonder how it will all go down. It's a somewhat unusual story in general and none of the characters are particularly endearing or good in any way. Our main character Fergie is simply depressed and submissive to everyone around him which is the opposite of Vicious' care free, "fuck-it" attitude. I expect that their relationship will blossom with Fergie lashing out at the urging of Sid, but perhaps that all just too predictable. Regardless I will be reading on perhaps not so much for the story but for the art which has captured my attention so covertly. When you start out looking at page one thinking "this isn't really for me" and then manage to make it through two issues only to realize you've fallen in love with a new artist... that's a very silent take-over. That deserves everybody's attention.

PUNKS NOT DEAD hits a comic book shelf near you APRIL 18th.

THE REALM Vol 1 (Image Comics)

Hello! Today I'm reviewing Image Comics' THE REALM VOL 1 by Jeremy Haun and Seth M. Peck. Also, I've been streaming on Twitch so check me out over there!

Follow me on Twitch! http://www.twitch.tv/thefrogqueen