Nerdopolis

Buffy fans rejoice! Season eight is finally here, and it’s off to a great start. Starting more than a year after season seven, “The Long Way Home” is the first arc for the much anticipated season eight, and it’s easy to see that The Scoobies haven’t been sleeping on the job. After the events of the TV series finale, the Slayers now number in the thousands worldwide, and the gang has been busy recruiting and training them for their ongoing war against evil.

Issue 1 starts off with Buffy taking to the frontlines, leading a squad of Slayers up against a trio of truly terrific demons and setting up a mystery that we’ll surely be chasing after all season. While Buffy’s out doing what she does best, the Nick Fury-esque Xander stays behind at Slayer Command Central in Scotland, watching over little sister Dawn, who is dealing with a big problem of her own. Meanwhile the US Military is investigating the crater that used to be Sunnydale in hopes of finding something that’ll help them against the “Slayer Army” that they fear, and find something they do.

The art in this series is pretty amazing, the characters actually look like their on-screen counterparts, which is a big plus. The writing is great and the dialog between characters really feels like it belongs in an episode of Buffy, which it should, seeings how Joss Whedon is doing the first story arc.

I really can’t wait to see where this series heads in the future, but we can be sure that without the constraints of a tv show budget, it’ll be bigger and badder than we’re used to.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The cover pretty much says it all: Red Hulk! You read it right, a Red Hulk! At first I was taken aback by the gimmick and it all smacked of shades of Superman Red & Blue. I’m not really a DC fan, so it’s safe to say I avoided these issues like the bubonic plague. It was Ed McGuinness’s credit on the cover that finally tempted me to pick up Hulk #1, despite my apprehensions. I can safely say I do not regret the decision.

The series seems to revolve around the mystery of the Red Hulk- is this another form of Banner’s monstrous alter ego, another manifestation of his split personality disorder? Or is it something more sinister? Who is the Hulk? The first issue starts out with Doc Samson and She-Hulk investigating the scene of a murder of superhuman proportions that has decimated a small village in rural Russia. They are joined by Iron Man and Thunderbolt Ross. The issue also features an appearance by (and subsequent skirmish with) The Winter Guard- Crimson Dynamo, Ursa Major, The Red Guardian and Darkstar.

From the outset, Jeph Loeb has weaved an enthralling premiere issue to this series, never giving the reader all of the pieces of the puzzle and making promises of exciting answers to come. Mark my words, the cliffhanger ending will ensure that you go out and buy the next installment. McGuinness, as expected, does an amazing job of presenting the visuals in his trademark muscle bound style, a perfect fit for the ever-aggro giant that is the Incredible Hulk; now made doubly fearsome with burning embers for eyes and scarlet skin. It remains to be seen what the end result will be, but I will be following this one just to find out who this Red Behemoth is.

‘The Evil Dead’ is a 4 part comic adaptation of the Sam Raimi film of the same name.

For those who haven’t seen the film, here is the low-down on the first quarter of the comic. Those who have seen it and don’t want the story spoiled could just probably skip this section.

Ash and 4 friends are on there way to an abandoned cabin for a break, or as the Ash and his only other male friend, Paul put it; to get laid. A few minor mishaps threaten their journey, but they get there safely.

It’s all downhill from there. Scotty finds a tape recorder of the professor who owned the place prior to the group, and plays it. It turns out that the professor was working on some ruins of a tribe called the ‘Kan-Daar’, who possessed a book called the ‘Nacheron De’Manto’ which translates into ‘The Book of the Dead’. The tape continues to play, and an incantation is said by the professor which unleashes the Demons around the cabin and in the forest. As this is going on we see the professors own struggle with his possesed wife after he said it, so that’s pretty cool.

After this, they go to sleep except one of the girls named Cheryl, who is drawn out of the cabin and promptly raped by a tree. Comes back and everyone is shocked as she is all cut up, so Ash says he’ll take her back to the city. The bridge they cross is mangled, obviously by the demons. Now trapped, they hole up in the cabin and play…cards. To which the cliff hanger of the comic comes, Cheryl is possessed and is now a demon.

Now most of you will be thinking “A comic based on film starring Bruce Campbell and with Dark Horse at the helm, how could it go wrong?”

It doesn’t, thankfully. The Evil Dead comic is most probably better than the film thus far, in terms of story telling. As in the comic we get a slightly more in depth view of what is actually going, missed from the film due to a low budget no doubt. We have everything from the film and more with one exception; the name of the book of the dead is different. I don’t know why, but they made it different. The old name sounded cooler but this one sounds more authentic as it were. Other than that it has everything, including the rape scene by the forest. The art style is one I’m not too hot on, but it works well in the comic, to give it a very dark edge.

Excellent adaptation and comic, I recommend it.

4.5/5

The Annihilation event was probably my favorite event for ages; it’s what generally made me start buying comics on a regular basis instead of buying the odd graphic novel every couple of months. Maybe I should hate it for that, but I don’t as it kicked ass.

The follow up, Annihilation Conquest, hasn’t really lived up to the original thus far. With the Phalanx taking over what was left of the Kree Empire and shutting it off from the rest of the galaxy by putting a force field around it. We had our main heroes Nova, Quasar, Star Lord and newcomer Wraith. Nova was easily the best out of the four. But he has been cut out of the current Conquest comic. This left us with the other 3. Wraith was decent, not fantastic, but decent. Star lord was good. Quasar was a waste of money, pure and simple waste of money.
Now I get all three in one. We get a few twists here and there. A return for Adam Warlock and Ultron. Kree leader Ronan, Super Skrull and Wraith going to see Ravenous. The High Evolutionary blowing up a sun. But, the only gripe I have with it is they pay too much attention to Quasars story with Adam Warlock. I would love to see more of Wraiths and Star Lords as I haven’t a clue what is going on anymore in star lords; it just passes you by so quickly. But the cool thing about this is that three main fighting forces are aware of each other. They’ll meet up eventually I would assume, but its cool none the less.

In saying that, it IS improving and at a good rate, but I doubt it will reach the same heights as Annihilation did.

Freddy Vs Jason Vs Ash, what a title, shame the comic can’t live up to it.

As much as I would have liked to enjoy this comic, I didn’t. This comic is bad. The story line is passable for a Hammer Horror film. The characters don’t seem like their film namesakes. And the artwork is its only really good thing, but can’t float the comic alone against the other two.

In issue three, we are given two ‘Cliff-hangers’ of sorts. Jason is apparently given some sort of a functioning brain, and ash is in danger of being killed in his dreams by Freddy. The first one I and many other people couldn’t care less about and the second one is pretty obvious to what is going to happen, as nobody kills off the hero of the story 3/4 issues in, nobody.

This comic is pretty bad; its one that should be left well alone to fans of the three leads. Freddy is as lame as ever. Ash seems like he couldn’t care less, which is a new experience for me from a comic. Only cool thing about is Jason (Yeah, I know, Jason :\) ripping people apart, that’s it. Although if your into that stuff its done in a far superior fashion in the “Friday The 13th” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” comics and has a decent story.

Marvel Zombies Vol. 2 has been one of the surprises of the year. I, like many people, was wondering if Marvel was milking this cash cow too much and release a bad set of comics. I, like many people, was wrong. Marvel Zombies Vol. 2 surpasses the first volume and everything else that the cannibalistic zombie heroes have starred in before.

This is mainly due to the fact that the writers have given the zombies moral thinking. It sounds lame, but it’s what makes this comic so enjoyable. Morals or not, we all know that the zombies and the public will get what they crave as ex-heroes rip apart every food source they can find, a.k.a. humans.

A good foundation set in 2007 for the Marvel Zombies all but guarantees a stellar end for this volume.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ultimate X-Men 89 is a transitional issue, setting status quo for the next arc, tying off loose ends, that also manages to one-shot the Shadow King and show more about Storm’s past. Bishop is gaining the trust of his team, even Wolverine, which will obviously be put to the test some time in the near future. Finishing off the barely mentioned cloning Wolverine storyline was a good idea, and brings the Sabertooth/Wolverine family relationship back to the forefront. Reader’s always love to hear about Wolverine’s past, and if the Ultimate line can be more specific and less ridiculous than the main universe, Logan’s character will be the better for it.

The Shadow King was one of the more deadly foes of the X-Men, so his handling here seems a little quick, and him a little under-powered, but I doubt we’ve seen the last of him. This is also where we see the origin of the brood, cleverly sidestepping their alien roots, which really have no place in the Ultimate Universe (or at least Ultimate X-Men). We also see the resolution of the Beast/Wolverine/Storm love triangle, once again leaving Logan dumped for the good guy. Last time that happened, he tried to kill Scott, so it’ll be interesting to see his reaction this time. All in all, a well written issue that touches on a number of important plot points.

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