100 Word Hits – Comic Reviews #13
Welcome to the latest installment of our 100 Word Hits column, in association with comics retailer The Unreality Store, in which Matthew De Monti brings us short, sharp reviews of the latest books to hit comic stores over the past month or so!
Alien Vol.2 #1
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson | Art by Julius Ohta
The second volume of Kennedy Johnson’s Alien epic begins in typically brutal fashion with the aliens ripping through the population of Tobler-9, a showcase planet belonging to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Yes, those guys again! Cut to Europa-5 and there’s a group of androids living out an idyllic existence that’s about to be shattered by the United System army. Turns out the U.S needs their help to get something off Tobler-9. Some kind of alien egg…
A great opener setting up this new story arc and what a beauty of a cover by Bjorn Barends!
Rating: 9/10
Sirens Gate #1
Written and Drawn by Shannon Maer
Superstar cover artist Shannon Maer brings his undisputed talent to comic creating for the first time.
There’s a fight with a shadowy figure to open up the issue, some scantily clad women pole dancing and chatting in a strip club, a mysterious summons to a spooky house and a fight with a werewolf.
Maer’s art is great in places but the real oddity is the page layout. Gone is a traditional panel format and speech bubbles in favour of a fluid art placement with floating dialogue. It may prove to be highly innovative in future but it’s not for me.
Rating: 6.5/10
Stuff of Nightmares #1
Written by R.L. Stine | Art by A.L. Kaplan
In the tradition of Tales From The Crypt, Stine & Kaplan begin this issue with an introduction by The Nightmare Keeper. As he wanders through his room full of curios from nightmares his attention settles on the statue of small deformed child and so his story begins.
It’s a classic tale of mad scientists and horrific experimentation gone wrong. The story follows a traditional path and the ending is no surprise but this is a genuinely entertaining read and Kaplan’s art perfectly fits Stine’s script. It wasn’t quite scary enough to give me nightmares, but there’s hope the next issue might!
Rating: 8.5/10
Sacrament #2
Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Marcelo Frusin
In the far-flung future where religion is outlawed and science reigns, the services of faithless priest Father Vass are required to exorcise a demon from Professor Czajka. But Vass can only sketchily remember his first and only exorcism to date and has to undergo memory retrieval at the Mnemorium. As an additional incentive, Chief Marlov has Sister Rais imprisoned and at the mercy of the guards. Will Vass regain his faith in time to exorcise the demon?
This reminded me a little of the Father Shandor strip from the great Warrior magazine. It’s a fantastic read. Seek it out!
