 by Brian LeTendre
I am really digging the new FF series. not only does it feature a colorful cast of characters, including Dragon Man, She Hulk and Medusa.
In this issue, Dragon Man notices that Medusa and Bentley-23 have disappeared, and the gang begins a search that brings the Inhumans into the picture. Meanwhile Darla Deering has become the target of the Yancy Street Gang, who see her as trying to replace The Thing. It’s another fun-filled story installment that feels more akin a Scooby-Doo epsiode than a Marvel superhero book. And that’s one reason I love it.
The most amazing thing about this issue though, is fill-in artist Joe Quinones. It’s not easy to step in for Mike Allred, but he does an amazing job, keeping the feel of the book consistent. Now, much of this has to do with laura Allred’s coloring as well, but Quinones really does capture the spirit of Allred’s stuff, which is so important to this book
FF continues to be one of the most fun books in the Marvel universe right now. Here’s hoping the Fantastic Four stays away a lot longer.
4 out of 5 Lockjaws
 by Matman
There was a lot of controversy a few years back when J.J. Abrams was given the task of bringing 'Star Trek' to a new crowd and fan base. What hit the screen was an incredible movie that blended crazy sci fi action with incredible characters. Now, the follow up!
'Star Trek Into Darkness' is a film made for mainstream audiences and that is not a complaint, but I think a complement. Star Trek isn't for everyone the way Star Wars is but this movie is more than posturing, space fights and crazy special effects.
The entire cast returns to tell the further adventures of the USS Enterprise. Terrorist John Harrison (played amazingly by Benedict Cumberbatch) has declared war on Starfleet and it is up to the crew to go get him on the Klingon's home world of Qo'noS (pronounced Cronus). What is incredibly exciting here is the fact that this is the beginning stages of the Klingon Empire. In fact Starfleet head Marcus (played by Peter Weller) eludes to the fact that since the discovery of the Klingons, Starfleet should be more of a military organization than a science and exploration.
I don't want to go into any particulars of the story because they're are a few nice surprises that i don't wanna spoil, but let me just tell you it works...it all works!
Chris Pine as Captain Kirk is amazing and brings so much depth to the role; he plays it serious but with a bit of Shatner thrown in for good measure. My man crush Zachary Quinto as Spock is just as good, if not more emotional. I know Vulcan's arent emotional but after you see the movie you'll see what I mean. The play between the two is perfect.
The only problem I had with the movie is that there isn't enough time to let other characters get to spread their wings like Karl Urban as McCoy, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu and Zoe Saldona as Uhura. Now add to the cast 'uber hottie' Alice Eve and you have a full house.
You need to run out now and see this movie! This is a film that will grab you within the first few seconds and not let you up until the very end.
Thank you J.J. Abrams for making me love Star Trek. And my advice to you is simple; what you did making this movie, do the exact same thing for your first Star Wars film. Just replace Klingons with Jedi and you should do fine.
Matman Rating: 5 out of 5 Bad Robots!
by Brian LeTendre
Animal Man #18 ended with quite a shocker, as Buddy Baker's son Cliff died. As you might imagine, for a family that was already pushed to the breaking point through the events of Rotworld, such a heartbreaking loss pushed them over the edge.
This issue is a very sad one, as we watch Buddy’s family fall apart before our eyes. Jeff Lemire does a great job of conveying the cycle of emotions that buddy goes through as he first loses his son, and then the love of his life. The real star of this issue is artist Steve Pugh though, as every single page of this issue feels heavy. Lemire doesn’t bog things down with dialogue, he lets Pugh carry the story, and it really pays off.
It’s hard to imagine things getting worse for Buddy coming out of Rotworld, and it will be interesting to see where Lemire goes with a character who can’t help but be transformed by the recent events in his life.
4.5 out of 5 Tragedies
 by MatmanBuck Rogers has a long and incredible history in both print in film! If you were lucky enough to pick up the Free Comic Book Day 'Buck Rogers 25th Century A.D.'.
Written and drawn by Rick Yager,we get two complete stories originally printed in 1936 and 1937. Here you get to see Buck and Wilma Deering as he was introduced and dare i say it...it's purely magical.
Up next is a few pages of memorabilia featuring some of the coolest toys, books and film posters celebrating our favorite hero from the 25th Century.
The biggest treat in this comic in the reproductions of the first seven Buck Rogers newspaper strips from 1929. Here you see what people saw almost 80 years ago.
Then we get a look at the two new Buck Rogers books coming out this summer. First is the collection of the 1980's Western Publication, based on the hit TV show starring Gil Girard and Erin Gray.
And if that wasn't enough... Hermes gives us a glimpse into their new monthly series coming in August, 'Buck Rogers' written and drawn by Howard Chaykin. This series will be based on the original 1920's - 1930's Buck Rogers and with Chaykin's art promises to be exciting!
To find out more, go to www.HermesPress.tumblr.com
 Press Release
Big Dog Ink and Knightingail comic creator/writer/producer, Wayne Gardiner, are overjoyed to announce that Knightingail: Shadow Divisions will be released nationally in comic book stores this coming July. Knightingail: Shadow Divisions is an all-ages, fantasy-adventure comic book series that will be released as a 6-issue monthly mini-series from July to December 2013.
Knightingail: Shadow Divisions continues the adventures of Knightingail where the first mini-series volume, Knightingail: The Legend Begins, left off. Knightingail and her four Centurion companions must use their combined powers to destroy Luceus and his invading army. At first, they find that their combined powers are able to easily overcome the evil Whitesticks, Lava Dogs, and fire and acid breathing Dracons. However, the stresses of war soon bring their toll on the five over-worked Centurions, and divisions erupt between even the closest of friends. Taking advantage of these divisions, Luceus contracts with a tribe of assassin warriors called the Shadow Ravens to assassinate the isolated Centurions. Sicari, Queen of the Shadow Ravens, leads the assault herself against the a lonely and distraught Knightingail, who must somehow find the will to survive and re-unite her friends once more.
Knightingail: Shadow Divisions will include the same phenomenal, full-color artwork seen in the first volume. Mel Joy San Juan is the new penciller/inker on the series who brings the same amazing details and expressive facial emotions to Knightingail and the other characters (as seen in the first few pages of dynamic artwork from the series). Colorist Katrina Mae Hao returns from the first volume to bring her breath-taking color artwork to the world of Knightingail. Both artists were contracted through Glass House Graphics, who provided the artistic talent for the first Knightingail series.
Knightingail: Shadow Divisions will also feature amazing cover artwork. Keeping with Big Dog Ink tradition, two covers will be released nationally in stores. The Cover A artwork will be provided by interior artists Mel Joy San Juan and Katrina Mae Hao. Cover B artwork will be illustrated by the amazing team of Nathan Seals and Kate Finnegan (issues 1-3) and Val Hochberg and Kate Finnegan (issues 4-6). Both artists teams on the Cover Bs provide a unique Disney-Manga like full-painted art style. In addition, Wayne Gardiner has contracted with top comic cover artists to provide variant chase covers for this series. Illustrators contracted so far include Dawn McTeigue, Jen Broomall, Mike DeBalfo, and Nei Ruffino with colors being provided by Ula Mos and Nei Ruffino.
The McTeigue/Mos covers are particularly special because their covers for issues 1-6 connect together to form one large battle image. There were be two variants of these amazing covers. The first will be a limited edition set of 250 of each cover released at comic book conventions throughout the summer. In addition, there will be a variant edition of these covers with new drawings and new colored artwork released as a limited edition of 100 Jesse James Comic exclusive. The artwork for both of these connecting cover sets are truly dynamic but also capture the fun, heroic, and fantasy world of Knightingail.
If you enjoyed Knightingail: The Legend Begins, creator Wayne Gardiner promises an even more thrilling and dynamic story in Shadow Divisions. Now that the world is established, this series launches fiercely into the challenges, perils, and anguish that result from war. There will be much larger and epic battles only hinted at in the first volume. Wayne also retains the emotionally charged and sometimes hilarious dialogue that passes between Knightingail and her friends. However, new readers will not have to have read the first volume in order to enjoy Shadow Divisions. Wayne weaves a narration monologue by Knightingail throughout the first issue introducing new and continuing readers to everything they need to know to appreciate the events of this new series.
Anyone can check out amazing artwork from this new series either on the Knightingail website (www.Knightingail.com) or on the Knightingail Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Knightingail.Comic). A free 5-Page preview of Knightingail: Shadow Divisions #1 is currently posted on the Knightingail website for fans to get a first look at the amazing artwork and story from this new series.
Press Release
Dark Horse announced today that two of the hottest names in comics, writer Fred Van Lente and artist Ariel Olivetti, will reunite for a Conan epic like no other!
In Conan and the People of the Black Circle, a four-issue miniseries set a decade after the current Conan ongoing series, fans will find Conan like they’ve never seen him—fully painted by Olivetti!
“I’m thrilled to be working from one of the best Conan stories Howard ever wrote, with the most interesting female lead and one of the Cimmerian’s most compelling adversaries,” stated Van Lente. “But what I’m most excited about is seeing what Ariel Olivetti does with my scripts—he was born to draw Conan, and his painted artwork should attract anyone who doesn’t know anything about Conan or Robert E. Howard but just loves things that are awesome.”
Assassins, dark magic, and a beautiful noblewoman mean trouble for the Cimmerian barbarian unlike he’s ever seen in this full-tilt escapade through the mountains of Afghulistan!
With The Legend of Conan in development with Universal Studios, Dark Horse’s Conan is essential reading.
Conan and the People of the Black Circle #1 is on sale October 16 in comic shops everywhere.
 by Matman
The comic book world of Green Lantern has been fortunate with some incredible stories due to fairly consistent creative teams.
Green Lantern # 21 - Join new writer Robert Venditti (Constantine) and new artist Billy Tan (X - 23) as they tell the tale of Hal Jordan leading the Green Lantern Corps again.
Green Lantern Corps # 21 - John Stewart looks within the Corps to find the enemy. Written by Robert Venditti and Van Jensen with art by Bernard Chang (DC Universe Presents).
Green Lantern New Guardians # 21 - Writer Justin Jordan (Team 7) and artist Brad Walker (Guardians Of The Galaxy) tell the tale of Kyle Rayner as he tries to save the universe.
So if you've loved the books in the past because of Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and the others who made it such a strong line than you owe it to them and the new creative teams to give them a chance to tell some incredible stories.
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