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Reviews

Krakin’ Krakoa #125: X of Swords Post-Game (Live w/ Blerd Without Fear and The Cerebros)

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Did X of Swords live up to the hype? What predictions did we nail? Was there anything missing that we wished would have been included? Where do we go from here? How do you feel about the ending of X of Swords and what it means for X-Men comics moving forward! I talk all things X of Swords with Ernie and Verno!

Spoilers for discussed comics may follow!

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Wonder Woman: Dead Earth Review!

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Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a DC Black Label book by writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer, and Rus Wooton, and it’s a weird comic book. The premise is very straight forward: Princess Diana of Themyscira wakes up in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and has to uncover the mystery of what went wrong and protect the remains of humanity. On the surface, the hook isn’t really all that different from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Last Knight on Earth, but what really set it apart was Daniel Warren Johnson spearheading this book.

Johnson’s Shonen influence and work on Murder Falcon and Extremity really make him an exciting artist; his work conveys an over the top momentum and action that is a really fresh presence on a big two book. And objectively, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth is a visually stunning book and plays so perfectly into Johnson’s strengths as an artist. The story and plot are where it gets a bit dicier. At its core Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, is a story around the notion of second chances told really effectively, but its problems come when the story is put within the context of DC Comics’ fascination with overly grim settings, and the broader mythology of Wonder Woman & her meta-textual themes and context in the real world. [Read more…] about Wonder Woman: Dead Earth Review!

DAREDEVIL: The Elektra Saga – Exploring A Ninja-Noir Tragedy

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If Frank Miller’s time on Daredevil is defined by one storyline, it’s likely “The Elektra Saga,” a running plot thread that laced through his entire run as writer on the title, dipping in and out of Matt Murdock’s life and interlocking with other running storylines.

As we’ve previously discussed, Miller’s Daredevil run from 1981 through 1983 completely reshaped the character of Daredevil and is largely composed of two narratives – The rise of The Kingpin and the arrival of Elektra. Miller and collaborator Klaus Janson slowly interweave these two elements, expanding Daredevil mythology and smashing it against a darker, grittier urban crime element until they ignite in tragedy. [Read more…] about DAREDEVIL: The Elektra Saga – Exploring A Ninja-Noir Tragedy

“I live, I burn with life” | Reviewing Conan the Barbarian by Kurt Busiek & Cary Nord Omnibus

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This omnibus collects a series that claims to be a fresh retelling of classic Conan the Barbarian tales. A concept I was a little apprehensive about at first. I think my recollection of Conan was like anyone else’s: muscles, blood, swords, chainmail bikinis, evil sorcerers, more muscles, and maybe a bloody ax if it happens to be nearby.

Do we need more of this? I wondered as I lifted the cinderblock of a book. Are there no lawyers left in the world?

But on the other hand, if you cleaned up Conan, what would be left? What if gratuity is all that made it fun? The truth is, we’ll never know these answers, because “cleaning up” was not their approach here. And neither was making the thing I remembered. [Read more…] about “I live, I burn with life” | Reviewing Conan the Barbarian by Kurt Busiek & Cary Nord Omnibus

Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 22 – X of Swords Destruction #1!

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Editor’s Note: Tarot Readings are a major thematic and stylistic component of the 2020 X-Men comics event, X of Swords. Since it’s not a field I know, I’m excited to bring in a specialist to provide unique readings based in the Tarot connections of the story. We’ll be running these Tarot examinations following each of the event’s 22 parts. Enjoy!

The Journey of the Fool is concluding in major arcana number 21, The World, an so is X of Swords in Destruction #1. But is this and ending or just the beginning? [Read more…] about Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 22 – X of Swords Destruction #1!