Re:tro Re:view - Knights vs. Samurai #1!

The clash of feudal cultures with a touch of fantasy begins in Knights Vs. Samurai #1! The Spike documentary series, Deadliest Warrior, had such match ups of warriors and historical figures using science, computers, and effects. Though there were no knights vs. samurai battles in an episode. The creative team is David Dastmalchian and Fede Mele. Dastmalchian also wrote the Headless Horseman comic with Leah Kilpatrick. Mele has provided art for Spawn covers including Sam and Twitch: Case Files #7. Todd McFarlane is the creative director. The consultant is Theresa Matsuura who hosts the Uncanny Japan podcast. The cover of the first issue by Raymond Gay has the helmets of a knight and samurai facing each toher over a fierce battle of warriors and a dragon breathing fire! 

A closeup of eyes, a young knight, Charles Ward, carries a battle axe. There was a Charles Dexter Ward, who was a H.P. Lovecraft character. A dragon with a snake head and wings is latched onto a ship! He swings at the monster which is mocked by his brother, Bennett, hanging from a rope with his longsword. Bennett calls Charles “little brother” though he was born two minutes before him. He swings and slashes at the reptile’s cheek. In shadow, Bennett leaps to slay the dragon. Charles tosses his axe, a blur, then it buries into the creature’s neck! The dragon roars and then rears back. A nice merge of dragonslaying and a clipper ship out of sailing adventures. Bennett is about to say it was a good throw, then he is skewered by the beast’s tail! In an insert panel, a shocked face of Charles. The dragon sinks underneath the ship. Charles tries to reach out for his brother, but he falls over the bow into the sea. He wakes up screaming at the memory. 

Charles is in a cabin in the day. He is met by Sir Robert Jarrow, the commander of the royal army, and dresses to meet the duke. Charles has been knighted, he takes a staff which he strikes against poles, as they walk into the city. He doesn’t want awards for killing the dragon, Persa. The commander warns Charles about saying the duke only wants the glory. There is a young boy that looks at them. Next, a closeup of the duke’s laughing face. There is a pantomime showing a knight fighting a dragon which is set in front of dinner tables. A scene that seems like it is out of A Knight's Tale (2001). This is a renactment of the battle of the duke. A closeup of Emma, the woman sitting next to Charles. The duke announces that they have suffered from dragons, but the last dragon of the Northern sea was destroyed. Cheers go up. He knights and dubs Sir Charles the Dragon Butcher! 

The ceremony is interrupted by a man held by two knights. He is scrawny and the duke recognizes him as Baggi. The duke calls for doctors and then for Baggi to be brought to the counsel hall. Afterwards, Emma says to Charles that he had just come back from his expedition. Sir Robert then takes Charles to the counsel hall. It is a dark hall with trophies of a dragon head, a lion head, and the bed with Baggi attended by the doctors. The duke greets Sir Charles and tells him in confidence about a mission to send missioaries to the east. We see demons attack them, the duke describes them as a barbarians, and says that they enslave men and women. The samurai wore Men-yoroi masks like the helmet seen on the cover to look like oni to give strength. The duke’s advisor, Baggi, survived, and now he wants Charles to defeat the enemy so he can bring in missionaries. On 1549, the Portuguese Catholics first arrived in Japan. 

Charles accepts the mission. At sunset, he consoles Emma and says she wil be in charge of the building of their home. He promises to return before the first Autumn leaf falls. Charles says he has love for her and hatred of dragons. Emma says they’re extinct. A very quiet scene as we see the couple embrace in shadow as the sun sets. The next day, a massive ship is at port, Sir Robert says the captain, Morcart, is a pirate. They will follow the path set by Baggi, sailing in Norse waters to the Kara Sea (part of the Arctic Ocean), and finally to the “Devil’s Island.” The name given by the missionaries. A giant hauls a crate above him. Baggi is the guide, he is escorted to the ship by the duke, Charles asks the duke if Baggi is in any condition for a voyage. The duke says Baggi will bring the missionaries once Devil’s Island is conquered. The duke promises that his manor will be finished when Charles returns. 

He cheers on the Dragon Butcher, but then we see the tears on Emma’s face. The captain, Morcart, warns the crew that they can swim back. Charles says that Sir Robert had selected the crew. Morcart asserts that it is his ship, then has Charles make his announcement. Charles makes a speech that their mission will be fast, then they can return to their families, and also that Captain Morcart’s orders are to be followed. After the speech, the German knight, Wulfhelm, mocks it. Charles is defended by the giant, Mundric, interesting character, not many giant characters since Fezzic in Princess Bride (1987). Also coming to his defense is the lady knight, Ayleth, very cool, a knight like Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones. Charles tells them to be on the lookout for sea beasts and also to learn from the pirates since they may have a smaller crew! Morcart says that Wulfhelm and Baggi are the duke’s “untouchables.”  

#KnightsVsSamurai, #DavidDastmalchian, #FedeMele, #ToddMcFarlane, #TheresaMatsuura, #RaymondGay, #SirCharles, #DragonButcher, #Emma, #SirRobertJarrow, #Duke, #Baggi, # 

Singularity and Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1 Signings!

There were two signings today at the EyeForSound gallery for Singularity, a multi-media project, and at the Golden Apple Store was Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1. The Singularity signing had composer, Bear McCreary, and Serj Tankian from System of a Down. The entrance of EyeForSound features the Kavat Cafe with coffee drinks. On the walls was the exhibition, I Got Pictures On My Wall by Greg Watermann, which prints of System of a Down band members from Ozzfest in San Diego, the world tour in Moscow, and the Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas. These large prints are for sale. 

Bear McCreary and Serj Tankian at the Singularity signing, EyeForSound, author’s photo. 

Some of the merch sold was the book by Serj Tankian, Down with the System, System of a Down t-shirts and CDs, and the Bear McCreary project, Singularity. Information about the EyeForSound gallery is at: https://www.eyeforsound.com/ The Singularity merch had a vinyl record, graphic novel, and CD. The original rock concept album feaures Slash, Tankian, Rufus Wainwright, and many more collaborators. There is also a concert experience. Singularity is a bold endeavor by Bear McCreary and Mat Groom. It is about Blue Eyes, who moves from life to life in different forms. 

He finds a mysterious, golden woman who appears in brief lives. Surreal with touches of Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land (1961). The gallery features an outdoor patio area with comfortable chairs and tables. The signing was limited with groups at different times. McCreary and Tankian who were first rate gentlemen and took photos with everyone. The album and graphic novel are available now. Details about the Singularity can be found at: https://bearmccreary.com/thesingularity/ I had mentioned the Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1 at the Stranger Comics booth at L.A. Comic Con on October 5th. 

Rob Edwards, writer of Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls #1, Golden Apple, photo by the author. 

The first issue hit comic stores on November 13th. The second issue has a release date of December 4th so remember to put it on your pull list! It was interesting to go to Golden Apple since they always have copies from their previous signings. I also saw an actor for a popular sitcom at the signing. There were variant covers available at L.A. Comic Con. Today there was the regular cover by Caanan White and also a textless cover. Stranger Comics offered many trades of the Asunda titles from The Untamed to Tales of Asunda. 

Attending the signing was writer, Rob Edwards, artist Darrell May, Stranger Comics president, Sebastian A. Jones, and also executive producer Marvin Jones III. I was kinda surprised to see Jones III known as a rapper, he also played Tobias Whale on the Black Lightning show, and voiced Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)! Golden Apple has a 45th anniversary celebration next Saturday, November 23rd, with signings, food, and more! Check out: https://goldenapplecomics.com/ An incredible day of music, comics, and meeting some talented and friendly people!   

#EyeForSound, #Singularity, #MatGroom, #Slash, #RufusWainwright, #BearMcCreary, #SerjTankian, #SystemOfADown, #GoldenApple, #DefiantTheStoryOfRobertSmalls, #RobEdwards, #DarrellMay, #SebastianAJones, #MarvinJonesIII. 

Re:tro Re:view - Primer GN and #1!

Primer is a fun read and a great superhero to join the ranks of the DC Universe! I’ve always thought that the comic industry needs young reader titles that appeal to adults and kids. The closest I think is Power Pack, which had four young, sibling superheroes. It continued with the limited series, Power Pack: Into the Storm by original creators, Louise Simonson and June Brigman. Primer was a 2020 graphic novel targeted for young adults. In May, the chapters were made into a limited series. It is an interesting reversal of printing the comic after the trade paperback. In September, a three issue limited series, Primer: Clashing Colors, was released. Primer made a cameo in Teen Titans Academy #8 (2022) and joined the team in the final issue #15 (2022). 

Primer is the perfect title connected to paint, a layer to protect paint and also the literary term for an introduction to a subject, in this case, superheroes and comics! I think it is the perfect comic for young readers, non-comic readers, and veteran comic fans. Primer, “Primary Colors”, is by the writing team of Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski and the art is by Gretel Lusky. Muro is the writer for Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Krajewski has written for The Snoopy Show. Lusky is an animation character designer who has worked on Ian : A Moving Story (2018). Check out her artwork at https://gretlusky.com/ 

The cover of the graphic novel and first issue by Lusky has Primer, smiling and splattered with colors, spray can in hand, splotches of dripping color in the background, and spray cans by her boots. In a splash page, a woman in glasses, as well as other citizens give the classic Superman intro, “Look! Up in the sky!” A funny intro for a superhero book. It is actually a plane, a jet airliner with engines on fire! This also a nod to the first outing of Superman in the 1978 movie. An insert panel shows the pilots in panic. In her apartment window is Ashley Rayburn, 13 year old hero, holding her pink wig. 

Then, she takes out tubes of paint; Fire, Strength, and Invulnerability. Multiple powers are fun, Dial H for Hero, had ordinary people gain powers by using a magical dial. We find later that she has a total of 33 super powers! Another splash page as Primer leaps off her building to catch the plane. This page has creator credits in the first issue. Her leap gets her to crunch the fuselage of the jet. It hurtles towards a bridge and Ashley wonders what she will do with fire powers. She struggles to lift the jet with her right hand and then with her left hand unleashes a fire blast. The blast strikes the bay under the bridge and counters the jet’s fall! Clever. I like a hero that has work out using powers. 

She propels the jet with her fire power and over the head of the citizens. A mother wonders who is the superhero and her daughter shouts, “Rainbow Dash!” The My Little Pony pegasus! Primer has brought the airliner over the airport. She uses her boots to slow the plane’s descent. The jet races towards an unloaded plane! The two jets touch with a fuuny sound effect. Then, a splash page of Primer holding up the jet as she tells a startled baggage worker that he can grow up to be strong as a girl, funny! This flashes back three weeks to the building of a foster home at night. Ashley suddenly wakens shouting, “Dad! No!” An interesting memory that will have to be explored. Ashley sneaks out of the window and at a tunnel, begins spray painting by moonlight. 

Five Body Paints out of Five! 

#Primer, #PrimaryColors, #JenniferMuro, #ThomasKrajewski, #GretelLusky, #AshleyRayburn, #KitchNolan, #YukaNolan, #Luke, #MrsBoyd, #CalStrack 

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Review!

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 has Diana as the last Amazon from hell who stand in the way of demons taking the Earth! All In has a dark comic book universe with a twist on classic characters. This was in the All In special #1 by Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder. It divided into “Alpha” with art by Daniel Sampere and Dan Mora. It is the story of the Justice League becoming Justice League Unlimited, a nod to the 2004-2006 animated series. The flip book has “Omega” with art by Wes Craig which is the story of Darkseid leading to the creation of the Absolute universe. 

The special introduced the Absolute heroes and their series has launched including Absolute Wonder Woman with the series by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman. “The Last Amazon Part 1” is by Thompson and Sherman. Thompson is also the writer of the latest Birds of Prey series. Sherman’s art is also found in the “Arkham Academy” stories running in Batman: Urban Legends. Sherman provides the cover, Wonder Woman in her Absolute outfit, right arm with red tatoos, black armored left arm, with a Wonder Woman symbol and tiara, but upgraded like the fantasy series, Dark Knights of Steel with black fur coat mixed with the 1986 Dark Knight Returns. She rides a skeletal pegasus with red eyes flying over a city like Taarna from Heavy Metal (1981).  

The comic kicks off with a large panel of Gateway City, a city in California that was a base for Wonder Woman. It is a vision of a city by the bay with a pier extending from buildings blooming from hills, the detail and fine lines look like Kevin O’Neill art. The setting sun in an orange sky gives a pinkish sheen with light purple waters. Incredible work by colorist Jordie Bellaire. I also like the sights for the advert of Moulton Cove, Wonder Woman creator, William Moulton Marston, a partially covered mention for what looks like Gail, a tip of the cap to Gail Simone! This is disrupted by a screech! This has knocked down reporter, Allan, and his cameraman. 

The camera points to the pyramid-like object, a sinister, Hellraiser thing, hanging over the blue sky and beach! Allan reports about the object’s appearance when red creatures start to swarm from it! People start to run from the demonic, pterodactyl-like beasties called Harbingers. One red-haired woman with glasses covers her ears, then looks up, nice insert panels. This is a helmeted warrior with red pony tail riding the skeletal pegasus, Wonder Woman! She tears free her sword the size of Guts’ blade from the Berserk manga! I think this uniform is screaming out to be cosplayed. The panels sweep with Wonder Woman’s sword that slices through the demons! They shriek and begin flying after her. Then, she leaps off the hellish pegasus. She cuts through more of the Harbingers and the narration describes the princess. 

Wonder Woman lands taking off her helmet to take the demons’ blood to wipe across her eyes. A contrast to the gifts given to the princess; “Beauty. Grace. Compassion.” She crosses her black gauntlets and unleashes an almost eye scorching blast, white and pink that fills up the page! The signature move of Wonder Woman in the films called by Gal Gadot, the "Boosh!" This is the other gift, “the darkest of magicks”! It leads to a two page title and credit list, epic! We get “Years ago. The Wild Isle of Hell. Prison of the Great Sorceress Circe.” The long time foe of Wonder Woman was introduced in Wonder Woman #37 (1949)! Circe narrates that she was a ruler of the island, Aeaea, which was where she encountered Odysseus. Good mix of myth and superhero like George Perez’s run. The Wild Isle is in darkness as Circe begins to mold earth. 

Then, it seems like the sun shines, but it is presence of Apollo, the sun god. He holds a grey bundle and Circe rejects his command to kneel. Her hands and forearm are covered with the red clay like blood. He hands her the bundle which has a baby girl with blue eyes. He says she is Diana, Princess of Themyscira, and the last of the Amazons. Apollo says Zeus took her from them as punishment for crimes against the gods. I like the use of the original clay origin with the Zeus part from the Brian Azzarello run. I would like this origin in any future movies. Apollo says that Diana may never reunite with the Amazons that are exiled by Zeus for an eternity. Lastly, Apollo says, closeup of his over exposed face, that Circe can never say the word “Amazon.” He asks her to say it, but the word is distorted like the sigil in Agatha All Along. 

The sun god leaves unconcerned if Diana dies in hell. Circe is careless with the baby and her narration is that she is not a mother. A snake, like a channel of lava, slithers up to the rocky depression that holds Diana! Circe just watches as the serpent opens its fangs. It is is held by the baby and tossed away! This is a great echo of Hercules’ infancy where he strangled snakes sent by Hera. Circe is intrigued. She stirs a cauldron as baby Diana sees a red lizard. A series of panels as it blasts flames at Diana, she holds the beastie, then tells it “Nono” before taking as a plaything. The next pages showing Diana growing up in hell has Circe’s cave with cauldron. She starts to walk, Circe bathes her with a magical rain cloud, Diana plays with the snake, demonlings, and a tiny skeletal horse. Circe’s narration notes “How you fall in love with a child is by raising it.” 

Circe tucks in Diana opposite her bedding. The empty cave soon fills with shelves, candles, and books. She teaches Diana to read, answers her questions (addressed as mother!), and shows her magic. The cave has plants as decorations, the candles start to light up the walls, and then as a girl, asks her about a lost word. Circe summons a Cerebrus-like beast with a scorpion tail to challenge the teen girl Diana They practice magic. A dead Harbinger is found. Circe’s narration repeats the raising the child saying and then adds, “But letting them go is how you prove your love.” Brilliant writing that works with the clever panel layout and designs. This moves back to Gateway City where Wonder Woman sends Pegasus to patrol the perimeter while demon bodies carpet the ground! 

She walks up to a soldier and then orders him to evacuate the civilians. Her eyes have a demonic fire. Wonder Woman says the demons are just stunned. She falls under the shadow of a Kaiju-sized demon, Harbinger Prime, but she defies it with the Earth under her protection. She tells it she has the Athena Blade. Harbinger Prime has a split bill, three globes inside its black eyes, and it opens its Cthulhu-like maw. Wonder Woman holds back its roar behind the Athena Blade and sends Pegasus to burn it. She takes hold of its leg casting a spell, but Harbinger PRime blasts her with its eyes. Wonder Woman recovers as the Harbinger Prime commands its demons to rise. The demons shriek past her and in some inset panels Wonder Woman moves away from the demon takings its eye blast! She crosses her gauntlets and this sends the blast back at Harbinger Prime! It unleashes another blast that expodes, this sends Wonder Woman skittering across the beach. Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is an impressive comic with demons, myth, and a blend of different versions into one powerful Wonder Woman! 

Five Athena Blades out of Five! 

#AbsoluteWonderWoman,  #TheLastAmazon, #KellyThompson, #HaydenSherman, #WonderWoman, #Diana, #Pegasus, #Circe, #Apollo, #HarbingerPrime, #AllIn, #JoshuaWilliamson, #ScottSnyder, #Alpha, #DanielSampere, #DanMora, #JusticeLeagueUnlimited, #Omega, #WesCraig,    

Frankenstein Starring Boris Karloff GN Signing!

Today was the signing of the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Starring Boris Karloff graphic novel at Dark Delicacies! There was a number of the creative team for the graphic novel that attended, Story Adaptation and artist, Kerry Gamill, Art by El Garing, Script Adaptation, Robert Napton, and Executive Consultant, Sara Karloff. It is a stunning adaptation that has captured the Mary Shelley novel and the 1931 James Whale film that starred Boris Karloff. Thiis will be available on November 12th. 

Sara Karloff, Robert Napton, El Garing, and Kerry Gamill at the Dark Delicacies signing of the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Starring Boris Karloff graphic novel!, photo by the author.

The other graphic novel, Bram’s Stoker’s Dracula: Starring Bela Lugosi is available now to order, also highly recommended, by Gamill, El Garing, and Napton. They are part of the Legendary Comics Classic Monsters series. Also, it is always great to walk around Dark Delicacies and look at the books, magazines, toys, and other goods including the 30th anniversary t-shirt! 

       Toothsome’s Ozitavely Pink & Green Shake, delicious!, author's photo.

It was also an opportunity to stop by CityWalk. There was some Wicked merch at the Universal Studio Store; sweaters, shirts, and hats with Wicked and Shizz University logos. The website mentions that the costumes from the film would be at Universal Cinema starting November 7th, but I didn’t see them from the lobby. The special offering was aviable at Toothsome’s Chocolate Emporium. I was able to try Toothsome’s Ozitavely Pink & Green Shake. It is a strawberry and key lime milkshake with pink and green whipped topping. Plus, Strawberry and Oreo crumbs and a white chocolate disk with the Wicked logo. Very delicious.

#MaryShelleysFrankenstinStarringBorisKarloff, #KerryGamill, #ElGaring, #RobertNapton, #SaraKarloff, #BramStokersDraculaStarringBelaLugosi, #DarkDelicacies, #CityWalk, #Wicked, #UniversalStudioStore, #ToothsomesChocolateEmporium, #OzitavelyPinkAndGreenShake 

Storm #1 Review!

Storm #1 is one of the most beautiful comic books out today! She has been a fascinating character since her debut in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975). The landmark comic is by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, Ororo Monroe has had a few series since her 1996 series by Warren Ellis and Terry Dodson. This new series is by Murewa Ayodele, co-founder of the Nigerian comic book studio, Collectible Comics NG with artist, Dotun Akande. They worked together on Akogun: Brutalizer of the Gods, a stunning swords & sorcery comic that incorporates Yoruba mythology from West Africa.  Highly recommended. They also worked together on I Am Iron Man #1 (2023).

The artwork is by Lucas Werneck, the Stormbreaker artist, has worked on the limited series, Fall of the House of X which ended with #5 this year. The painted cover is by Mateus Manhanini which has Storm, lightning from her fingertips, in a swirl of sparkles and colors of a storm, above a sea. The promise of the cover is fulfilled in the comic pages. “Chapter One: “Grand Opening” by Ayodele and Werneck opens with Storm in a purple gown and headwrap, stunning. It begins with the question, “Who is Ororo Monroe?” This is a news commentator who covers Storm’s past. She walks up to a holographic projection of all of her different looks as a member of the X-Men. The commentator notes she was a pickpocket in Cairo, worshipped as a goddess, and then queen of Wakanda. 

Now she is an Avenger. Storm sees insert panels of her different costumes. This goes into panels that resolve to a golden door of more images of Storm. The reporter mentions that is morning in Atlanta, Georgia. The lead up of small to large panels then goes to the next page, a splash page of Storm in her new black costume with gold lining floating. Some images scream out for a poster! There is a title page of the title and credits, Storm, half in shadow. The comentator says that it is the grand opening of the Storm Sanctuary. We see hippopotamus in water, giraffes walking at the water’s edge, ramps, and structures around them. The fall of Krakoa is mentioned. We see Storm walk and then fly off panel. She reaches a massive wooden door. 

Storm closes her eyes, “Inhale” and then lets out an “Exhale”, Her arms are to the side as a bright light is before her. The camera flashes burst from shadowy reporters as Storm goes to a podium. Apart from the crowd is the reporter covering Storm’s announcment. This goes back to “Oklahoma City. Seven days ago.” We see the cooling towers of a nuclear plant and then an explosion! Closeup of Storm’s eyes crackling with electricity. Narration says that Storm was a child when she lost her parents. She flies in a black outfit carrying Frenzy with sunglasses, shirt with suspenders, and trousers. This is the former super villain, Joanna Cargill, who first appeared in X-Factor #4 (1986). I didn’t recognize her from the business clothes and new look. The designs are incredible. 

The aftermath has leveled the neighborhood like a natural disaster. Storm is in the air wreathed in lightning and we see a closeup of Frenzy landing in an epic splash page! The single art page is usually a showcase, but here is a epic introduction of the characters that tells the story. Frenzy notes that she can call in her X-Factor team. Then, she points out the shock wave. Storm channels her powers to half the shock wave! A family huddles amoungst some rubble and Storm descends to help them from it. Frenzy is lifting a mass of debris and says there is another shock wave. She lifts it upwards and holds out her hand, love it, and a worried bald man in an Orchis shirt draws back. Orchis is an organization to stop mutants. It was introduced in House of X #1 (2019). Storm holds out her hand and reminds Frenzy, “We save everyone.” 

There is beautiful two page spread which has scenes of Storm using her powers, Frenzy helping an older woman, Storm hugging a child, and then Frenzy lifting up more rubble as Storm bandages the leg of a boy. Then, Frenzy yells that there is another shock wave. Storm sees two shock waves coming, it is explained that Storm is controlling the air molecules to stop the shock wave. Still, a shard of a branch plunges into Storm's shoulder. She pauses and then painfully rips out the sharp branch. It is said that this was the "universe's first attempt" to take Storm's life! Ororo is on her knees recovering, Frenzy runs up to her, and then Storm use her power on the wound. She says that she has to stop the shock waves. Frenzy says her wound has to be treated, but a lightning strike  sends Storm away! She flies, her yellow headwrap torn away, lightning embracing her. 

She sees dead fish by a shore, torn trees, and animal skeletons, destroyed by the disaster. It looks like snow is falling on the shattered cooling towers. An explosion blasts Storm back. Frenzy sees the shock wave and sends the bystanders away. She then goes all Hulk slamming her hands together to counter the shock wave! Storm wipes away blood about to get back into action, but then doubles over vomits from what is said to be radiation poisoning! She stands up and picks up a broken metal door. She holds it up to protect herself, walks down stairs, to reach the reactor. A splash page shows the globe of radiation as a boy says he can't stop his power over the boides of researchers! It is explained that Storm knows that at the "day of adolescence" mutant powers can activate, sometimes without any control! The boy asks her to kill him. 

Five+ Shock Waves out of Five! 

#Storm, #GiantSizeXMen, #LenWein, #DaveCockrum, #WarrenEllis, #TerryDodson, #MurewaAyodele, #LucasWerneck, #DotunAkande, #AkogunBrutalizerOfTheGods, #IAmIronMan, #Frenzy, 

Dracula The Return: The Cult of the White Worm #2 Review!

Dracula has returned and now he starts paying for his resurrection by the White Worm! Dracula The Return: Cult of the White Worm is a four issue limited series crafted by Dacre Stoker and Chris McAuley. It is published by Scratch Comics and the copy was provided by the zoop rewards. The comic is available to order at comic stores for November 13th. The first issue covered the end of Bram Stoker’s novel. This had the hunters; Jonathan Harker, Arthur Holmwood, and John Seward. Jonathan slashes Dracula and the vampire drifts into dust. Quincey Morris died in the battle. Also with them is Mina Murray, who was freed from Dracula’s control, and Abraham Van Helsing. The dust, though, is collected by Renfield. He takes it to the cult of the White Worm and Dracula has made his return! 

“Chapter Two” features a cover by Mike Colins that has a closeup of a woman’s face, lit by spectral light, a finger tip of blood from her red lips with fangs! An epic cover! Stoker continues the story with McAuley with art by Chris Geary. Dark, foggy streets has a carriage move past a cemetary. It stops and we get a closeup of the rider, a woman in a gold mask, she is helped out by the driver. Then, the woman in black cloak tells him to wait until summoned. She walks away in fog, great effects by colorist Matt Soffe. The woman and the cold of the outside, seen in green, is watched by a man at a window in warm, almost hellish red. She has a door opened for her by a servant who says the countess is expected by the duke. Carmilla, who has taken off her cloak, revealing her evening dress. I love the name, Carmilla (1872) was a vampire novel by Sheridan Le Fanu that was published before Dracula (1897). 

Carmilla is met by the duke and she asks if the plans of her uncle is made. Duke Spencer says the ball has been arranged. He brings up if her uncle was nobility. We get Carmilla next to broken panels of her uncle, Vlad II, and his battle agains the Ottomans. In his armor, he cuts into his enemies, Carmilla says she joined him, and we see the blood pour into her mouth! She tells the duke that they are from the Dragon’s blood and wants their blood to join the British Empire. Duke Spencer says the Privy Council, Prime Minister, and Prince Regent will attend the ball. We see a series of thin panels of Carmilla and the duke’s faces, she draws him in close to kiss him. His eyes widen and then we see Carmilla revel with her claws as blood pools from the duke’s neck! In the mist, Mina is running with Jonathan as they are being chased. This is also seen in thin panels. Dark wolves with red eyes pounce on them. Mina sees the wolf shift into the face of Dracula. In the darkness of the mirror, he says this is the fate of those who defy him! 

Mina is startled awake. Jonathan sleepily asks what is the problem. Mina tells him it was a bad dream. She puts on a green dress and holds a letter. Mina goes to the lavatory and  wearily wipes the steam from a mirror. A grinning reflection looks back at her and arms pull her in! Evil reflections are a horror movie trope. In darkness, Mina looks up to see the form of Dracula tell her that she will fulfill his revenge in days. The transformation is very quick. A closeup of the morning paper, “Lady in White Stalks Highgate!” Arthur Holmwood asks Professor Van Helsing if it is “her”, Lucy Westerna. We see Van Helsing’s eyes as he says it is impossile. They had struggled to stake Lucy with elder wood and he took her head which he had stuffed with garlic. Arthur brings up her dress and the missing children. He says Lucy has returned. Van Helsing tosses away the paper and then says dark powers are capable of the impossible. Arthur wants to know if it is Lucy. 

We see the gloomy green of the cemetary as a lady in white walks through it.  An older colleague discusses an invention to oxgenate blood to Arthur. He could use it to stop night terrors in his patients. Arthur cheers to it and then Jonathan bursts in the door. He says Mina is gone. She left behind a letter, an invitation by the Duke of Devonshire to a Grand Masquerade Ball. Jonathan says that Mina was having nightmares. The bearded gentleman says he knows the Devonshires and can get an invitation. Bait by Dracula to the hunters. In shadows, Van Helsing and Arthur watch as the woman in white brings along a little girl to the Westerna tomb. Closeup of Lucy eying the men behind her. Van Helsing asks if Arthur has brought his pistol with the silver bullets. They enter the tomb lit by torches. Van Helsing realizes that the lit torches means they are expected! Arthur notices a trianble symbol on the mauseleoum wall. The same as on Dracula’s forehead on the first issue cover! 

Van Helsing presses against it, the symbol glows, and this opens stairs that they descend. A torch is held by Van Helsing. They are in a tomb of vampires that hiss! They rush away and find Lucy in white, pregnant belly?, over the child on a stone table. Van Helsing holds up a cross, but it has no effect on her. I get that the Cult of the White Worm has supercharged Dracula and his allies, but it seems strange that all of the weapons that can be used against the undead are useless. She says the family of Dracul are more powerful! Arthur is dragged under by the undead and fires his pistol. Van Helsing tries to drive them away with his torch. The pistol is emptied of bullets. Van Hesling is by himself! A gold devil mask of a host turns to see his guests. Masks are put on by Jonathan Harker. They are met by the host in the devil mask who says his name is Mephistopheles! The character in the form of actor, Henry Irving, was said to be an inspiration for Stoker in creating Dracula! A new villain, leader of the Cult of the White Worm? 

Dracula in a coat, seen from behind, faces a mirror which he detests. The White Worm says he posseses its soul and enters the mirror which drains him. This is followed by the first chapter of “Sherlock Holmes and the Unholy Pact”, a supernatural murder for the famous detective, with an illustration by David Hitchcock. “The Devil Within” is a story told in black and white. It features Henry Irving, obsessed with his part as Mephistopheles, he is discovered by Bram Stoker in a devil’s mask. This is the new villain? In a mirror, Bram sees the figure of Death on a chariot. He tells Henry that he doesn’t like the smell of sulphur and we see a hellish vision of the cholera epidemic which sulphur was used to ward off the evil. On stage, at practice, Henry is troubled by his performance.

Henry strikes an assistant and almost raises a column prop to smash on him! He is stopped by Bram and shrugs him off to walk away. At a strange room of ancient artifacts, Henry tells Brother Perdurabo that he wants to give a defining performance. Brother Perdurabo gives him a book with a dark ritual that may give him the secret. He must make a sacrifice, an innocent soul, that will make his acting last for ages. Henry wants to know more from Crowley, as in Aleistar Crowley, the English occultist! The last part has an except, March 18, 1897 of “The Dairy of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde.” It is about the dangers of exploring the dark part of human nature. This is something that ties this comic together, it strays into evil with dark powers, no counter like Stoker’s novel. The ties to vampire lore and Stoker's life is interesting, but this comic can really pull you into its darkness. “Chapter Two” brings the beginning of Dracula’s revenge, but the evil feels limitless.  

Four Stakes out of Five! 

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