By Kevin Hoskinson Things are about to get even weirder for a traveling circus in Mad Cave Studio’s newest series, “Show’s End.” The book starts in 1928, right before the Great Depression, in Levington, Georgia. A couple have been living with a monster locked in a cage in their basement. That monster was supposed to be their child, but after […]
By Staff Reports The Action Lab Entertainment series COLD BLOOD SAMURAI has been receiving lots of praise from comic book outlets, and for good reason. This volume collects all six issues of the lavish creator-owned series from European creators Massimo Rosi and Ludovica Ceregatti, the enchanting story of a samurai salamander who finds himself in the middle of an invasion and a war between […]
By Nolan P. Smith When a new Millarworld book hits the shelves, fans should listen. The track record for amazing titles cannot be denied: Kick-Ass, Chrononauts, Huck, Prodigy, Kingsmen: The Secret Service- the list goes on. So when Space Bandits hit, you know I had to take notice. From Mark Millar, Matteo Scalera, Marcelo Maiolo, and Clem Robins, the first […]
By Daniel Schwartz Warning: Spoilers for Transformers/Ghostbusters #1 below. Peanut Butter and Bananas. Pineapple and Pizza. Some things seem like they should not go together, but end up being really good when they are. Welcome to the world of IDW’s Transformers/Ghostbusters. Two childhood favorite franchises that seem like they should never come together are combined for an amusing and entertaining […]
By Kevin Hoskinson This chapter in the life of Spencer and Locke comes to its shocking conclusion in the last issue of Action Lab Danger Zones “Spencer & Locke 2”. In this sequel, Detective Locke and his partner Spencer have been on the trail of a psychotic killer named Roach Riley, who is wreaking havoc through the city. Star reporter […]
By Nolan P. Smith It’s been a while, and do I have a project for you! It is time once again to turn to the excellent crowdfunding website Kickstarter and shine the light down on a very deserving project, a project that needs YOUR help to become a reality. Let me welcome you back to the world of The Foreigner. […]
By Kevin Hoskinson Punk’s story continues to get more mysterious, brutal and intense in the latest issue of Valiant Comic’s “Punk Mambo.” Over the past few issues, we’ve been on the journey with Punk from the Louisiana Bayou to the mysterious Voodoo underbelly of Haiti. Searching for her Loa (strange creatures from Voodoo lore), she teams up with Voodoo Queen […]
By Nolan P. Smith Staff Reporter (Victor Valley)– With more than 110,000 expected attendees, Anime Expo (AX) is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world. With an emphasis on anime, manga, cosplay and more, the convention will once again return to the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 4th-July 7th, with a preview night on July 3rd. […]
By Nolan P. Smith Pastrami Nation’s Nolan Smith and Jason Smith sit down with Linebreakers David McKean and Denton Heath and talk about Dan Mendoza’s Zombie Tramp, Avengers Endgame’s return to the theater, plus giveaways that end July 5th at 8:00 p.m. PST! Leave a comment to enter!
By Nolan P. Smith I love comic books, of course. But I also love anime and manga just as much. So when Dark Horse announced No One Left to Fight as ‘inspired by Dragon Ball,’ I was intrigued and a bit nervous. Those are enormous shoes to fill, even for a title inspired by the storied anime franchise. What we […]
By Nolan P. Smith One team is the premier supergroup in the DC Universe; the other is a universe displaced shell of the world’s greatest heroes. Thanks to DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics, we get the crossover I never thought would happen: Black Hammer/Justice League comes together for the Hammer of Justice. From Jeff Lemire and Michael Walsh, the […]
By Pablo Martinez I personally always enjoyed a story that involved planetary travel and imagining the different kinds of creatures that could exist outside of our small planet. Would there be any wars, famines, or would those planets with it hosts be thriving in peace? Sonata #1 comes in with a story set on exploring those thoughts. Published by Image […]
By Kevin Hoskinson From Action Lab comics comes “This Love So Brief,” a collection of personal stories by comic book artist and writer, Fred Chao. Originally from the California Bay Area, Fred had had his ups and downs, especially when it came to his career and relationships. His whole life he wanted to be a comic book artist, but he […]
By Staff Reports Vault Comics is thrilled to announce a surprise Vault Vintage variant cover for Sera and the Royal Stars #1. Drawn by Nathan Gooden and designed by Tim Daniel, this Vault Vintage cover pays homage to Curt Swan & Neal Adams’ 1969 cover to Adventure Comics #381 from DC Comics.. Begun in 2018, the Vault Vintage cover line […]
By Nolan P. Smith I love checking out new comic book publishers. So when I heard that TKO Studios was going to be at a local convention, I made it a point to drop by and see what they had to offer. I purchased two of their collections to see how they are, the first one I picked being The […]
By Nolan P. Smith Imagine growing up with technology out of your reach, thanks to a strict parent. No technology, no toys, no friends. So as an adult, when you meet someone who is there for you, talks to you, laughs at your jokes- naturally, you make a connection. But what if that person was a VR assistant inside a […]
By Jason R. Smith Photos by Adrienne Smith and Jason R. Smith There is one word to sum up our time at the Washington State Summer Con – wow! Taking place at the Washington State Fairgrounds, there is no shortage of space. From autograph alley to the vendor and artist section there is a huge amount of space and walking […]
By Kevin Hoskinson Roach Riley’s rampage continues in the fascinating third issue of “Spencer & Locke 2”, tearing a city apart and leaving behind a trail of collateral damage, both physical and mental. The last time we saw Detective Locke and his imaginary partner Spencer, it seemed like it could be the end for them. Locke was on trial before […]
By Nolan P. Smith Comic books aren’t all capes and epic battles. They can also be trips down memory lane, friendship, and murder. Welcome to the world of Dead End Kids, from Source Point Press. The book is written by Frank Gogol, with art by Nenad Cviticanin, and letters by Sean Rinehart, reuniting the team from Grief, also published by […]
By Nolan P. Smith The world of comic books is so vast and diverse. From superheroes to space cats, from television series continuations to heroes in a half shell, the landscape of the comic book industry is amazing right now, if you know where to look. Sure, the big two publishers like Marvel and DC put out amazing titles, as […]
By Nolan P. Smith (Victor Valley)– I didn’t know what to expect when I saw the solicits for Highwayman from Top Shelf/IDW. The cover looked great, and the premise of the story intrigued. So I took the dive and picked up the graphic novel. What I got was far more than a walk down the street: I got the journey […]
By Laura Streppone Angel, the vampire, non-vampire, with a soul, is living to see another day in the new Twenty-First Century, with his return thanks to BOOM! Studios, a publishing house owned by 20th Century FOX. Angel, a character created originally by Joss Whedon, who also created the highly well known Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is being reimagined by writer […]
By Staff Reports Artist and writer John Allison (Giant Days, Bad Machinery) colorist Sarah Stern (Star Wars Adventures, Zodiac Starforce), and letterer Jim Campbell (Giant Days, LadyCastle) welcome you to Steeple, a land where the world isn’t as black and white as it may appear. Tredregyn Parish – in a sleepy Cornish coastal town fabled for its cursed origins, a […]
By Kevin Hoskinson Punk Mambo has bitten off more than she can chew, and the story continues in Valiant Comic’s “Punk Mambo” issue #2. Last issue saw Punk Mambo, a Voodoo Priestess from the London punk scene, fighting her way through the bayou and losing her Loa, Aye. The Loa are spiritual creatures from Voodoo lore that are intermediates between […]
By Kevin Hoskinson The trial of Spencer and Locke begins in the second issue of part two of the series. And it is easily one of the most thrilling issues of the saga so far. In the last issue, Detective Locke was dealing with the aftermath of his actions from the first part of the series. He was suspended from […]
By Nolan P. Smith To coincide with my review of Drawing Blood from Kevin Eastman Studios, get ready for some feline fury as the comic book co-created by fictional character Shane Bookman is now a one-shot in real life! Enter the Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls. From Kevin Eastman and David Avallone, with art by Kevin Eastman and Troy Little, this […]
By Nolan P. Smith Kevin Eastman helped give the world one of its most beloved pop culture franchises: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was a phenomenon that transcended comic books and became multiple animated series, live action films, and a marketing juggernaut. Eastman is back with a new independently published book, Drawing Blood, which takes parts of his life […]
By Nolan P. Smith Contrary to popular belief from my friends, I am quite the religious guy. I have faith in God, in Heaven, and the afterlife that awaits us. But what if the ultimate reward turned out to be more like a cheap timeshare with a hostel instead of a mansion? Then you are in the right mindset for […]
By Nolan P Smith I am not familiar with Ahoy Comics, but when I saw just the cover to The Wrong Earth at my comic shop, it made me want to learn more. It’s a dimension-spanning story of super heroics, two sides of the same coin, but one side has some serious anger issues. From writer Tom Peyer and art […]
By Kevin Hoskinson Nobody is in control. No matter how much you think you are, you are not in control. Eventually, everything becomes obsolete. From Black Mask studios comes “Nobody Is In Control,” a book about conspiracies that would make “The X-Files” proud. When Richard, a retired talk radio DJ, comes across somebody running through his yard, his first instinct […]