Let's cut all the babies in half!

American Vampire #15 *****
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Cover Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Publisher: Vertigo

Holy shit on a shish kebab. If you want lessons on how to create a brilliant book, you read this one. This arc has taken this series to a whole new level in so many ways. For the first part, this story has been absolutely fantastic. There's a new breed of vampire, or rather a very old breed that has gone unnoticed, and apparently they can wound Skinner. How sweet of a plot twist is that? (No pun intended) Pearl, sweet Pearl, is on her way to save her beloved Henry, but after that reveal I can only imagine she's being led into a trap. Speaking of Henry, he and his army pals have all been herded into some type of torture building. This whole story is so flipping amazing. And the art is absolutely gorgeous. Albuquerque has stepped it up a whole mess of notches for this arc and this issue. There are a whole mess of vampire stories out right now, across all mediums, but by far this story stands out as brilliant. Snyder and Albuquerque, issue after issue, redefine everything you know about vampires and not only that, but the vampires are then integrated into world history. Absolutely riveting stuff here.

I think you're probably too young and too stupid to be scared.

Generation Hope #7 ***
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salvador Espin
Cover Artist: Salvador Espin and Morry Hollowell
Publisher: Marvel

I can't exactly put into words what it is about this series that isn't grabbing onto me. I think a large part is that I find these characters to be tremendously boring. The lights, who I still find to be highly unoriginal, are just so cutoff from the rest of the X-Men, both emotionally and physically. Normally I wouldn't really have a problem with a team that works independently, but let's get one thing straight, this gang is a team of kids. I don't understand what direction the writers are trying to go with this series, but I'm still hoping that we get an inkling of that sometime soon.

Writer's Pull List 05-25-11

Hey guys! It's time for the pull list. Our chance to let you know what we read and your chance to let us know if we should be reading something else.

Arnab's Note: You may have noticed my reviews haven't gone up yet. It's because I've been a tad busy graduating. Fear not, they will be posted soon.

Matt's Note:  First, congrats to Arnab! Second, I hope to be getting a new job soon, which should hopefully make me hate life less and thus blog more.


Arnab's List: 
DC
Detective Comics #877
Gotham City Sirens #23
Green Arrow #12
Green Lantern #66
Green Lantern Corps #60
Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10
Marvel
FF#4
Uncanny X-Men #537
X-Men Legacy #249
Vertigo
American Vampire #15
Image
Walking Dead #85


Matt's List:
DC

Gotham City Sirens #23

Green Lantern #66
Green Lantern Corps #60
Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10
IDW
Dungeons and Dragons #7
Marvel
Secret Avengers #13
Uncanny X-Men #537
X-Men Legacy #249
Vertigo
American Vampire #15

Writer's Pull List 05-18-11

Hey folks! It's that time again, the time for us to let you all know what we will be reading and reviewing. It's also the time for any of you to recommend anything you think we should be reading.

Arnab's Note: It feels like I'm reading more and more books every month.

Matt's Note: This is a week late all because of me. Sorry folks. The proper one for this week will also be up momentarily.

Arnab's List:
DC
Batman #710
Batman and Robin #23
Batman: Gates of Gotham #1
Teen Titans #95
Thunder Agents #7
Marvel 
Generation Hope #7
Namor First Mutant Annual #1
Uncanny X-Force #10
X-23 #10
X-Factor #219
X-Men Giant-Size #1
X-Men Prelude to Schism #2
TopCow
Last Mortal #1

Matt's List:
DC
Batman #710
Batman and Robin #23
Booster Gold #44

Marvel 
Generation Hope #7
Uncanny X-Force #10
X-Factor #219
X-Men Giant-Size #1
X-Men Prelude to Schism #2
Avengers #13
Invincible Iron Man #504

Bring him home

Chew #27 ****
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Cover Artist: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image

One of the best things about this series, in my opinion, is that even after two years the creative team has the ability to surprise use readers at every turn. With this issue we get a bit of a flash forward preview of what is in store for us and it is all exciting stuff. I think, if done properly, a flash forward is a great way of setting up the upcoming story lines. It gives readers an idea of what's to come, but it also builds up a whole bunch of tension and anticipation, all good things in my opinion. Issue after issue, this series kills it every single time, in both the writing and the art.

Writer's Pull List 5-11-2011

Hey everyone!  Did you make it to free comic book day?

Here it is, our weekly list of the things we're reading. Let us know if we are crazy for our choices, or if there's some gem out there we're both missing.

Arnab's Note: I am pretty excited about this week's batch of books.

Matt's Note: Thor was great fun for the comic geek. Stay until after the credits for a teaser for Avengers that I thought was awesome.

Arnab's List:
DC
Batman Incorporated #6
Birds of Prey #12
Flash #12
Flashpoint #1
Red Robin #23
Marvel
FF #3
New Mutants #25
X-Men #11
X-Men Legacy #248
Image
Chew #27
Undying Love #2

Matt's List
DC
Batman Incorporated #6
Birds of Prey #12
The Flash #12
Flashpoint #1
Red Robin #23
Superman #711
Marvel
New Mutants #25
X-Men #11
X-Men Legacy #248

You have become a greater man than I

Undying Love #2 ****1/2
Writers: Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman
Artists: Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman
Cover Artists: Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman
Publisher: Image

I know by now a great deal of you no longer want anything to do with vampires, but if you're not reading this, then you're truly missing out. Now, technically this issue is set to be released this Wed. but because I had the great opportunity of meeting these guys at FCBD, I also got an early copy. And because I've read it already, I know what I'm talking about when I say you should pick this book up. Issue #1 is already in it's third printing, so that should mean something.
As I was saying. Not only is this a great, and different, take on vampires but what sells this book is the storytelling ability, in both the writing and the art (which, by the way, the same two guys do both.) There is a significant amount of violence, which is to be expected, but it just works with the story. The underlying story though, is a love story, and it is apparent, even amidst the severed body parts and gushing blood.

Free Comic Book Day

So as most of you know by now, Saturday was Free Comic Book Day.  My local comic book store, Collector's Paradise, has a fantastic event every year. They recently opened a second store, so this month they had two major events. Unfortunately, I could only get to one store. Check out some pictures after the jump!

Writer's Pull List 5-4-11

Hey everyone! And a happy Star Wars day to you all! You've found yourself in a galaxy far far away, wait no, this is just our pull list. Our way of letting you know what you should be reading, what we're reading, and what we'll be reviewing.

Arnab's Note: No note, wait no. Saturday is free comic book day, so find a participating Local Comic Book store and have fun!

Matt's Note: Brightest Day and Age of X are over, so let's gear up for Schism and Flashpoint.



Arnab's List: 
DC
Superboy #7
Marvel
Fear Itself #2
Uncanny X-Force #9
X-Men Prelude to Schism #1
Top Cow
Artifacts #7

Matt's List:
DC
Superboy #7
Batman Beyond #5
Marvel
Uncanny X-Force #9
X-Men Prelude to Schism #1

You have to find a way to get me to that island

American Vampire #14 *****
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Cover Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Publisher: Vertigo

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record whenever I talk about this series. Henry and his army pals do a little bonding, before trouble sneaks up on them. Never having seen Skinner before is a major setback for these guys and it's actually a fact that I had forgotten about. I am so damn excited for Pearl getting into the action. I am a sucker for a badass female and Pearl is one of them. Snyder has done an amazing job of getting the readers to be emotionally invested in these characters. his characterizations and personal touches make reading this book a fantastic experience. Rafael Albuquerque's art continues to get better and better with every issue. If you had asked me in the beginning if his art could have gotten better I would have been hard pressed to say yes. But this issue is proof that his work can and is constantly getting better.