Showing posts with label Witch Doctor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Witch Doctor. Show all posts

November 25, 2012

Witch Doctor - Brandon Seifert & Lukas Ketner


Lukas Ketner
“Preventative medicine -- for the apocalypse?”. In a world in which magic and science coexist, the only way to prevent the planet’s destruction is by following the instructions of the doctor… of Witch Doctor. But who is this man and why has he been chosen to cure Earth? Doctor Vincent Morrow is a Sorcerer General, someone who combines the best of two worlds, the cold rationality of science with the uncanny spells of magic. In the best tradition of characters such us Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics Sorcerer Supreme who studied medicine before learning the mystic arts), Doc Macabre (IDW’s specialist in the arcane) or even Doctor House (the best analytic mind and an incomparable talent for figuring out a patient’s personality as well as their illnesses), Vincent Morrow is a man fighting against demons, vampires or monsters, using his intellect and his ability to solve impossible medical mysteries.

Writer Brandon Seifert decided to “show you the monsters you’re familiar with in ways you’ve never seen– by grafting the weirdest stuff in the natural world to them”. Inspired by the most peculiar aspects of biology, Brandon does an extraordinary creative exercise, treating monsters as real living organisms; and combining all that with Vincent Morrow’s ability to get rid of any nasty diseases. Every supernatural threat out there is considered a disease, that can be affected by the Earth’s immune systems (sunlight will turn a vampire into ashes, trolls will turn to stone, gargoyles into dust, and so on), but sometimes a medical intervention is necessary, and that’s when Witch Doctor comes in: to destroy the supernatural menaces that nobody else could defeat.

In Witch Doctor # 0 (published as a backup feature in The Walking Dead # 85 in May 2011), we see Doctor Vincent Morrow callously experimenting on a parasitoid vampire, much to the chagrin of his helper, the paramedic Gast. What kind of substances could we find in a vampire’s fang? Brandon has the answer: “vasodilator, anticoagulant, and an anesthetic”. All of these elements would be necessary for a vampire to immobilize his prey and suck their blood. All the scientific explanations are skillfully balanced with black humor… so when Gast complains about the doctor’s heartless methods he gets accused of being a post-mortem rights activist. 

In the four issue miniseries Witch Doctor fights against demonic possession, fairies hatching their eggs and creatures of the Black Lagoon. We’ve all seen films like “The Exorcist”, but when Vincent Morrow is dealing with possession he has a rather medical approach to it. For him, a demonic possession is akin to an infection, and he has more than one way to fix that, even when he finds a case of super-parasitism “one host, more than one parasite”.

For all intents and purposes, this is our world, except that every monster and demonic creature exist here. But there is something else, there are creatures of indecipherable nature that not even the doctor can fully comprehend, such is the case of Penny Dreadful, the girl / entity that works for the doctor as his anesthesiologist. Two minds coexist within her, one comes from the netherworld and one has still some traces of human rationality. In order for her to survive she must feed on all the mythical creatures that the doctor sees on a daily basis. 

The origin of all this supernatural evil is partly based on H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos; Brandon states that millions of years ago gigantic alien creatures known as the Archaeons landed on our planet, their sole presence was enough to cause a cataclysm that meant the extinction of the dinosaurs, and for millions of years these Archaeons have been hibernating, although just like with any living creature, the microscopic organisms that resided in them had enough biological independency to keep on living. And all supernatural beings are somehow linked to these primordial extraterrestrial bacteria. There are some who think the Archaeons might awaken in our era, and that would certainly mean the end of the world. 
Lukas Ketner

I found especially fascinating how Brandon affirms certain theories about the Archaeons and the fact that they are much more powerful than gods: “gods metabolize worship, awe, fear”, and if you think about it, it’s true. Every religion consists necessarily on at least one -if not all- of these sine qua non conditions: you worship a god, or you admire a god or you fear a god. Gods need that, they need human souls and worshipping to exist. The Archaeons are so powerful that they need none of that.  

Issues # 0, 1 and 2 are great self-conclusive stories that tell us everything we need to know about this world while making us feel intrigued and seduced by the characters. Issues # 3 and 4 are a 2-part story that delves into the fish people (creatures that resemble the classical monster from the Black Lagoon), here we learn more about the Archaeons and Vincent Morrow’s destiny. After the miniseries, there was a one-shot titled “Resuscitation” which starts by mimicking a very well-known urban legend: a man wakes up in a bathtub filled with ice and he has in incision… he’s probably missing a kidney. Except, in this case, we see a man that has had one kidney replaced by a mummified kidney extracted from an old Egyptian deity that has been embalmed for centuries. 


Brandon is a great writer with a lot of imagination. He has truly created an entire world, and that’s no easy task. Better yet, he has created a very fascinating universe and he has reconciled magic with science. And that’s what I said in the letter that was published in the Resuscitation one-shot: “I’m fascinated by a whacky world in which science and magic can coexist, in which eerie creatures and sinister doctors can quarrel in the most unexpected ways”. 

Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner work so good together that at moments it is evident they are close friends. Obviously they share the same interests and passions. Personally, I can’t possibly imagine another artist in charge of Witch Doctor. Lukas Ketner is also new in the business, but he has more talent than a lot of pencilers working for the big two. For starters, he has done something that isn’t always easy for an artist: he has exceled doing both, interior art and covers. Some artists are great doing covers but not so good on interior art, and vice versa. Lukas, however, does a superb job in every of the six covers of Witch Doctor. We have to admire the creepy expression of Witch Doctor on issue # 0 and the riveting designs of his medical artifacts, instead of a stethoscope he has a mystic eye and instead of a regular injection he has a golden needle with jewels in the shape of a skull. There is so much thought and beauty in Lukas designs, he manages to give weight to elements that, due to their fantastic nature, would probably float away. In his hands, the sword Excalibur is real, and even an umbrella made of angels and devils desiccated flesh is real too. 

In the four covers of the miniseries Lukas plays with white backgrounds to enhance the impact of what we see in the foreground. In the first cover we have the contorted body of a boy possessed by a demon and the doctor trying to figure out what’s going on. This is a cover so strong that you would buy the book based solely on that image. And that’s what covers should accomplish, and that’s what many artists forget nowadays. The second cover is so beautifully inked that it could work perfectly as a black and white illustration; surely Lukas Ketner has been influenced by masters such as Bernie Wrightson and other legendary creators. In the third cover we see the doctor performing an autopsy, I absolutely love the way Lukas pays homage to the Creature of the Black Lagoon (plus, the gooey consistency of what the doctor is holding in his hands is awesome). In the fourth cover, we see the doctor holding Excalibur and a group of silhouettes that force us to imagine what kind of monstrosities he has to fight against. Finally, the Resuscitation one-shot is really amazing. The human skeleton and all his inner organs and veins are exposed, we can see what’s inside of us and that is always very discomforting (unless, of course, you’re in med school), the bandages in the corners are also a very nice touch.
Parasitoid vampire / vampiro parasitoide
There’s so much thought put into every drawing Lukas does. I know this project was years in the making, and that really shows. No detail has been overseen, no design is simplistic. I’ve heard other authors talking about their projects using the expression “years in the making” and after reading those comics I feel like they’ve been wasting their time, because for some people “years in the making” means not paying attention to an idea for a long time. For Brandon and Lukas it’s the opposite, it’s an example of how one can develop an idea over a long period of time. And the result, like a good wine, had to go through a maturing process before being released. This month a new miniseries of Witch Doctor begins. Will it be just as great as the previous issues? Hell yeah!
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Demonic possession / posesión demoníaca
"¿Medicina preventiva -- para el apocalipsis?". En un mundo en el que la magia y la ciencia coexisten, el único modo de prevenir la destrucción del planeta es seguir las instrucciones del doctor... del Doctor Brujo. ¿Pero quién es este hombre y por qué ha sido elegido para curar la Tierra? El doctor Vincent Morrow es un gran hechicero, alguien que combina lo mejor de dos mundos, la fría racionalidad de la ciencia con los extraños conjuros de la magia. En la mejor tradición de personajes como Doctor Strange (el Hechicero Supremo de Marvel, quien estudió medicina antes de aprender las artes místicas), Doc Macabre (el especialista de lo arcano en IDW) o incluso Doctor House (la mejor mente analítica y un incomparable talento para descifrar la personalidad de un paciente así como sus enfermedades), Vincent Morrow es un hombre que lucha contra demonios, vampiros o monstruos, usando su intelecto y su habilidad para resolver imposibles misterios médicos.
Fairy / Hada

El escritor Brandon Seifert decidió "mostrarte los monstruos que te son familiares en formas que nunca has visto- insertando en ellos las cosas más extrañas del mundo de la naturaleza". Inspirado por los más peculiares aspectos de la biología, Brandon realiza un extra-ordinario ejercicio creativo, tratando a los monstruos como organismos vivientes reales; y combinando todo ello con la habilidad de Vincent Morrow para deshacerse de las enfermedades fastidiosas. Cada amenaza sobrenatural es considerada una enfermedad, que puede ser afectada por el sistema inmunológico de la Tierra (la luz del sol convertirá a un vampiro en cenizas, a los trolls en piedra, a las gárgolas en polvo, etc.), pero a veces la intervención médica es necesaria, y esa es la tarea del doctor: destruir las amenazas sobrenaturales que nadie más podría derrotar. 

En Witch Doctor # 0 (publicado en las páginas finales de The Walking Dead # 85 en mayo del 2011), vemos al doctor Vincent Morrow experimentando cruelmente con un vampiro parasitoide, algo que enerva a su ayudante, el paramédico Gast. ¿Qué tipo de substancias podríamos encontrar en el colmillo de un vampiro? Brandon tiene la respuesta: "vasodilatador, anticoagulante y un anestésico". Todos estos elementos serían necesarios para que un vampiro pueda inmovilizar a su presa y chuparle la sangre. Todas las explicaciones científicas están hábilmente balanceadas con humor negro... así que cuando Gast se queja de los métodos insensibles del doctor, es acusado de ser un activista a favor de los derechos post-mortem.
Penny Dreadful eating / Penny Dreadful comiendo

En la miniserie de cuatro capítulos de "Witch Doctor", él lucha contra posesiones demoníacas, hadas que incuban sus huevos y criaturas de la Laguna Negra. Hemos visto películas como "El exorcista", pero cuando Vincent Morrow se encarga de una posesión tiene un enfoque bastante médico. Para él, una posesión demoníaca es afín a una infección, y tiene más de un modo de curarlas, incluso cuando encuentra un caso de súper-parasitismo "un huésped, más de un parásito".

Se debe resaltar que este es nuestro mundo, excepto que cada monstruo y criatura demoníaca existen aquí. Pero hay algo más, hay criaturas de naturaleza indescifrable que ni siquiera el doctor puede comprender del todo, tal es el caso de Penny Dreadful, la chica / entidad que trabaja con el doctor como su aneste-sióloga. Dos mentes coexisten en ella, una viene del inframundo y la otra aún tiene algunos restos de racionalidad humana. Para que ella sobreviva, debe alimentarse de las criaturas míticas que el doctor ve a diario.

El origen de todo el mal sobrenatural se basa en parte en los Mitos de Cthulhu de H. P. Lovecraft; Brandon señala que hace millones de años, gigantescas criaturas alienígenas conocidas como los Archaeons aterrizaron en nuestro planeta, su sola presencia causó el cataclismo que significó la extinción de los dinosaurios, y por millones de años estos Archaeons han estado hibernando, aunque como pasaría con cualquier criatura viva, los organismos microscópicos que residían en ellos tenían suficiente independencia biológica para seguir viviendo. Y todos los seres sobrenaturales están de algún modo vinculados a estas bacterias extraterrestres primordiales. Algunos piensan que los Archaeons podrían despertar en nuestra era, y eso significaría el fin del mundo.
Creatures of the Black Lagoon / criaturas de la Laguna Negra

Me pareció fascinante cómo Brandon afirma ciertas teorías sobre los Archaeons y el hecho de que son más poderosos que los dioses: "los dioses metabolizan la adoración, el asombro, el miedo", y si lo piensan es cierto. Toda religión consiste necesariamente en al menos una -si no todas- de estas condiciones sine qua non: adoras un dio, o lo admiras o le temes. Los dioses necesitan eso, necesitan almas humanas y adoración para existir. Los Archaeons son tan poderosos que no necesitan nada de eso.

Los números 0, 1 y 2 son historias auto-conclusivas de gran nivel que nos dicen todo lo que necesitamos saber sobre este mundo mientras que nos hace sentir intrigados y seducidos por los personajes. Los números 3 y 4 son una historia de 2 partes que explora a la gente pez (criaturas que se asemejan al clásico monstruo de la Laguna Negra), aquí averiguamos más cosas sobre los Archaeons y el destino de Vincent Morrow. Luego de la miniserie hay un número especial titulado "Resucitación" que empieza imitando una bien conocida leyenda urbana: un hombre despierta cubierto de hielo en una tina con una incisión... es probable que le falte un riñón. Excepto, en este caso, vemos a un hombre a quien le han reemplazado un riñón con un riñón momificado extraído de una antigua deidad egipcia que ha sido embalsamada hace siglos.

Brandon es un escritor grandioso con mucha imaginación. Ha creado un mundo entero, algo que no es una tarea fácil. Mejor aún, ha creado un universo muy fascinante y ha reconciliado magia con ciencia. Y eso es lo que dije en mi carta que fue publicada en Resucitación “Estoy fascinado por un mundo loco en donde la ciencia y la magia coexisten, en donde criaturas tenebrosas y doctores siniestros pueden luchar de las formas más inesperadas”.
Mummified kidney / riñón momificado

Brandon Seifert y Lukas Ketner trabajan tan bien juntos que por momentos se hace evidente que son buenos amigos. Obviamente comparten los mismos intereses y pasiones. Personalmente no me puedo imaginar a otro artista a cargo de Witch Doctor. Lukas Ketner también es nuevo en el negocio, pero tiene más talento que muchos de los dibujantes que trabajan para Marvel y DC. Para empezar, ha hecho algo no siempre es fácil para el artista: he demostrado excelencia tanto en el arte interior como en las portadas. Algunos artistas son buenos haciendo carátulas pero no tan buenos en el arte interior, y viceversa. Lukas, sin embargo, hace un trabajo soberbio en cada una de las seis portadas de Witch Doctor. Tenemos que admirar la expresión macabra en Witch Doctor # 0 y el cautivador diseño de sus artefactos médicos, en vez de un estetoscopio tiene un ojo místico y en vez de una inyección tiene una aguja dorada con joyas en forma de cráneo. Hay tantas ideas y belleza en los diseños de Lukas, él se las arregla para darle peso a elementos que, por su naturaleza fantástica, probablemente flotarían. En sus manos, la espada Excalibur es real, e incluso el paraguas hecho con carne disecada de ángeles y demonios es también real.

En las cuatro portadas de la miniserie, Lukas juega con un fondo blanco para resaltar el impacto de lo que vemos en un primer plano. En la primera portada tenemos el cuerpo contorsionado de un niño poseído por un demonio y al doctor intentando resolver la situación. Esta es una portada tan fuerte que podrían comprar el cómic sólo gracias a esta imagen. Y eso es lo que las portadas deben hacer, y eso es lo que muchos artistas olviden hoy en día. La segunda portada está tan bien entintada que podría funcionar a la perfección como una ilustración a blanco y negro; sin duda, Lukas Ketner ha sido influenciado por maestros como Bernie Wrightson y otros creadores legendarios. En la tercera portada vemos al doctor realizando una autopsia, me encanta el modo en el que Lukas rinde homenaje a la Criatura de la Laguna Negra (además, la consistencia viscosa de lo que el doctor sujeta en sus manos es tremenda). En la cuarta portada, vemos al doctor sujetando Excalibur y un grupo de siluetas que nos obliga a imaginar qué tipo de monstruosidades está por enfrentar. Por último, el especial "Resucitación" es más que asombroso. El esqueleto humano y todos sus órganos internos y venas están expuestos, podemos ver lo que está dentro de nosotros y eso siempre es algo incómodo (a menos, por supuesto, que estudiemos medicina), las vendas en las esquinas son un buen toque.

Hay mucho pensamiento en cada uno de los dibujos de Lukas. Sé que este proyecto estuvo en proceso durante años, y eso es algo que se ve. Ningún detalle ha sido descuidado, ningún diseño simplificado. He escuchado a otros autores hablar sobre sus proyectos usando la expresión "años en proceso" y luego de leer esos cómics siento que han estado desperdiciando su tiempo, porque para algunos "años en proceso" significa no prestarle atención a una idea por mucho tiempo. Para Brandon y Lukas es lo opuesto, es un ejemplo de cómo una idea se puede desarrollar en un periodo largo de tiempo. Y el resultado, como un buen vino, tenía que pasar por un proceso de maduración antes de salir a la venta. Este mes comienza una nueva miniserie de Witch Doctor. ¿Será tan grandiosa como los números previos? Sí, demonios.

December 17, 2011

November comic books / cómics de noviembre

Rodin Esquejo
And now it’s time to talk about November comic books: Kick-Ass 2 # 5 was even more violent and shocking than the previous issue, but that didn’t prevent Mark Millar from writing a couple of very moving moments. I loved it. The Kapow Guinness special was also a pleasant surprise, each frame has been illustrated by a different artist, and I had so much fun recognizing the styles of dozens of pencilers. As usual, Image titles have been quite good, and I’ll be reviewing a couple of them in the following days. Meanwhile, feel free to make suggestions about the titles that I should review first. And now without further ado, here you have November comics as per solicitations.

CALIGULA #5 (OF 6) (MR)
Cover: Jacen Burrows Writer: David Lapham Art: German Nobile  David (CROSSED) Lapham delivers another blood drenched chapter in the saga of the most feared Roman Emperor of all time, Caligula!  A young boy, once naive to the hedonistic ways of the Roman upper class, finds that the only way to kill a god is to learn all of its secrets.  But there is only so much slaughter and suffering that a soul can endure?even one bent on avenging the murder of his parents.  A modern master of horror, Lapham will take you into the darkest corners of the soul and reveal the madness within.  Hot new talent, German Nobile, illustrates this no-holds-barred ride down the road to Hell.  Caligula #5 is available with a Regular cover by Jacen Burrows, a Wraparound cover by series artist German Nobile, and a special Golden age of Rome retailer incentive cover.


FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #1
Covers: Alex Ross (75%), Paul Renaud (25%), Francesco Francavilla (1-in-10), Wagner Reis (1-in-25) Writer: Eric Trautmann Artist: Daniel Lindro The year is 1934, a time of two-fisted swashbuckling, of fearsome threats and wild adventure-and of ever-growing threats on the horizon. Three valiant humans -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov -- are plucked from the Earth, traveling to the distant planet Mongo. Their exploits are legendary, battling the machinations and terror schemes of the dreaded emperor Ming, the All-Seeing Ruler of Mongo. But they did not fight alone? Written by Eric Trautmann (Vampirella, Red Sonja), from a story and designs by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Project: Superpowers), and illustrated by Daniel Lindro.


GENERATION HOPE #2
Written by KIERON GILLEN Penciled by SALVA ESPIN Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL Variant Cover by GREG HORN 'The Future is a Four-Letter Word' The Fifth Light has destroyed Tokyo, which can't be good for the X-Men and mutant relations in general. Hope and her crew are in terrible trouble and it's looking like Cyclops and Wolverine can't get them out of it. Don't miss the shocking twists and turns of the new X-Book that everyone is talking about!


INVINCIBLE #84
story ROBERT KIRKMAN art / cover RYAN OTTLEY After all he's done, everything he's lived through... how does Invincible pick up the pieces and continue on as if nothing has changed® The answer is... he can't.


KAPOW GUINNESS
Plot by MARK MILLAR Written by PAUL CORNELL, Keiron Gillen & MORE! Art by FRANK QUITELY, DAVE GIBBONS, JOHN ROMITA JR., LEINIL YU,  JOCK, Olivier Coipiel, SEAN PHILLIPS, DUNCAN FERGRADO & MORE! In April 2011,  Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Dave Gibbons, John Romita Jr, Leinil Yu, Paul Cornell, Andy Diggle, Jock, Duncan Fegrado, Sean Phillips and over fifty other comic-book creators joined forces with Kapow to break not one but TWO Guinness World Records - the fastest comic-book ever produced and the biggest number of creators working on a single comic. The Kapow Special stars Superior and was written, penciled, inked and lettered in less than 12 hours. PLEASE NOTE: All proceeds from the sales of this comic will go to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital in Scotland and the print-run for this book will be limited to just 10,000 copies. 32 PGS./Rated Mature


KICK-ASS 2 #5 (MR)
Written by mark millar. Pencils & Cover by john romita jr. For Dave Lizewski and the self-made superheroes of NYC, sh*t just got really real. The Red Mist, now known as the Mother****er, has assembled his own team of Toxic Mega-***** and they're striking the heroes where they're most vulnerable: Their loved ones. If Kick-Ass wants to put a stop to the supervillain rampage, he's going to need the help of Mindy McCready, the one and only Hit-Girl.
32 PGS./Mature …$2.99


MORNING GLORIES #14 (MR)
Run!


MUDMAN #1
It’s the first day back at school for Owen Craig, and it’s not going too well. He’s been run over, got detention, and his police officer father has been taken prisoner by armed bank robbers.
And now his body seems to be turning into mud…


PC CAST HOUSE OF NIGHT #1 (OF 5)
Kent Dalian (W), P. C. Cast (W), Kristin Cast (W), Joelle Jones (A), Karl Kerschl (A), Jenny Frison (Cover), and Steve Morris (Variant cover) Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you are marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood. o The magical world of New York Times best-selling authors P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast comes to comics! Five million novels sold and legions of loyal fans!


SECRET AVENGERS #19
Written by WARREN ELLIS Pencils by MICHAEL LARK Cover by JOHN CASSADAY Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant. RUN THE MISSION. DON'T GET SEEN. SAVE THE WORLD. In the decadent and crumbling city of ANIANA, in the Eastern European country of SYMKARIA, a local drug lord is planning to sell something mysterious to the Shadow Council.  The Secret Avengers cannot risk that, or an interception after the fact -- they must get to the drug lord before the handover, and take whatever the goods are.  Their covert mission uncovers something utterly unexpected, ancient and terrible and a threat to the entire world... 32 PGS./Rated T+


SEVERED #4 (MR) 
“STEALING HOME” A young ambitious runaway encounters a travelling salesman with sharp teeth and a hunger for the innocent.
SCOTT SNYDER (American Vampire, Batman, Swamp Thing), SCOTT TUFT and ATTILA FUTAKI (Percy Jackson) are back with 2011’s most terrifying horror series. SEVERED.


THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #2
Suspended from school for putting a bully in the hospital, Luther spends his days figuring out his newfound abilities and getting to know Petra, his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, it’s not going to last long with The Librarian killing his way toward Luther and those that he loves.


UNCANNY X-MEN #543
No one can stop Colossus! The Juggernaut has become Kuurth, Breaker of Stone, one of the Worthy. Now more powerful than ever, one of the X-Men’s greatest enemies rampages through San Francisco. To stop him, Colossus makes a deal with the demon lord Cytorrak—the being that imbued Juggernaut with his power. Can this deal be one Colossus can back out of at the fight's end? Prepare for the clash of two unstoppable forces! Part 4 (of 4).


UNWRITTEN #31
The game-changing, twice-monthly epic called "Tommy Taylor and the War of Words" begins now! Tom Taylor goes to war against the cabal that has tormented, imprisoned and tried to destroy him – and it's far more than just a war of words! To have a hope of winning, Tom must use every weapon he can get hold of, but even storybook magic carries its own risks. And for a story unlike any you've ever seen, one issue a month isn't enough! In the special, standalone .5 issues, Tom's crusade plays out against the backdrop of the cabal's sinister secret history and delves deep into the dark past of some of the series' major players. When it's all over, very little will remain Unwritten."


WALKING DEAD #91 (MR)
Andrea still mourns for Dale.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #44 (MR)
Everything is changing – starting now! It’s all been leading up to this, folks! Nobody is safe. Nothing will ever be the same. The biggest, most explosive story-arc in the history of this series starts right here, in this issue.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #45 (MR)
It’s all been leading up to this. No one is safe. Not even our hero, Rick Grimes.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #46 (MR)
The bloodbath continues. No one is safe.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #47 (MR)
Mother and Child. No one is safe.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #48 (MR)
Dead and buried.


WITCH DOCTOR #4 (OF 4)
story BRANDON SEIFERT  art / cover LUKAS KETNER  It's Dr. Morrow's toughest challenge yet: a magical malpractice hearing!  Mystics Without Borders wants answers.  Why did the case of the 'Patient from the Black Lagoon' go so wrong® What's the biological secret of the Deep Ones, and their connection to the 'Great Old Infections'® And how do you fight an epidemic that's turning people into fish-people® Find out, in the finale of the debut miniseries from Robert Kirkman's Skybound Originals line! 'WITCH DOCTOR has the potential to be the next great horror story in the comic industry.' - Bloody Disgusting.

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¡Cómics de noviembre! Kick-Ass 2 # 5 fue más violento e impactante que el número anterior, pero además Mark Millar escribe un par de momentos realmente conmovedores. Me encantó. El especial Kapow Guinness fue una simpática sorpresa, cada viñeta es ilustrada por un artista diferente, y me divertí mucho indentificando los estilos de docenas de dibujantes. Como siempre, los títulos de Image fueron bastante buenos, así que reseñaré un par de ellos en los próximos días. Mientras tanto, siéntanse libres de sugerir qué títulos debería comentar en primer lugar.

CALIGULA #5 (OF 6) (MR)
Un nuevo y sangriento capítulo comienza: un joven inocente, desligado de los modos hedonistas de los nobles romanos, descubre que la única manera de matar a un dios es encontrar todos sus secretos.


FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #1
El año es 1934, una época de aventuras y peleas, de temerarias hazañas y amenazas en el horizonte. Tres valientes humanos -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden y el doctor Hans ZARKOV van de la Tierra hasta el planeta Mongo.


GENERATION HOPE #2
El futuro es una palabra de cuatro letras… La quinta luz ha destruido Tokio, Hope y los suyos están metidos en un buen lío.


INVINCIBLE #84 
Después de todo lo que ha hecho, todo lo que ha vivido, cómo podrá INVINCIBLE reunir lo que queda y seguir como si nada hubiese pasado.


KAPOW GUINNESS
Más de cincuenta autores participan en este ejemplar, el cómic creado a mayor velocidad de todo el mundo. Todo un récord mundial.


KICK-ASS 2 #5 (MR)
Para Dave y sus colegas de NYC, las cosas se van a la mierda. El némesis de Dave ha reunido un equipo despiadado que ataca a los héroes donde más son vulnerables: sus seres queridos. ¿Ayudará HIT-GIRL a Dave?


MORNING GLORIES #14
Es la hora de huir.


MUDMAN #1
Es el primer día tras su regreso al colegio y a Owen Craig no le está yendo nada bien. Ha sido atropellado, castigado; su padre ha sido tomado prisionero por criminales. Y ahora su cuerpo se está convirtiendo en lodo.


PC CAST HOUSE OF NIGHT #1 (OF 5)
Hasta hace poco, ella era una estudiante de secundaria normal; sus preocupaciones eran las notas, los chicos y las rupturas. Pero las prioridades cambien cuando un vampiro te marca, cuando ingresas a la academia de la Casa de Noche, y cuando tienes que descifrar una nueva jerarquía, afinidades hacia elementos mágicos y cambios fisiológicos.


SECRET AVENGERS #19
Cumplir con la misión. No ser vistos. Salvar el mundo. En una decadente y ruinosa ciudad de Europa del Este, un traficante planea vender algo misterioso al Concilio de las Sombras. Los Vengadores deben impedir esta venta, y en esta misión secreta descubrirán más de un secreto.


SEVERED #4 (MR)
Un fugitivo joven y ambicioso se encuentra con un vendedor viajante que posee dientes de tiburón y ansias por la carne inocente.


THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #2
El colegio lo suspende por mandar a un abusivo a un hospital. Luther dedica un día entero a descifrar sus nuevas habilidades y a conocer a Petra, su nueva enamorada. Desafortunadamente, lo bueno durará poco.


UNCANNY X-MEN #543
¡Nadie puede detener a COLOSSUS! JUGGERNAUT se ha convertido en el destructor de la roca. Ahora, más poderoso que nunca, uno de los más grandes enemigos de los X-MEN devastará San Francisco.


UNWRITTEN #31
Tommy Taylor y la Guerra de los Mundos comienza ahora. Tommy Taylor se enfrenta contra la cábala que lo ha atormentado, aprisionado y herido. La única esperanza para ganar es utilizar todas las armas posibles, pero incluso la magia de los libros conlleva riesgos.


my final version / mi versión final
WALKING DEAD #91 (MR)
Andrea todavía está de luto.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #44 (MR)
Todo está cambiando. Nada permanecerá igual.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #45 (MR)
Nadie se salvará, ni siquiera Rick.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #46 (MR)
El baño de sangre continúa.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #47 (MR)
Madre e hijo están en peligro.


WALKING DEAD WEEKLY #48 (MR)
Muerto y enterrado.


WITCH DOCTOR #4
Este es el más grande reto del Doctor Morrow: una auditoría mágica sobre mal praxis médica. Los Místicos Sin Fronteras quieren respuestas. ¿Qué salió mal en el caso del Paciente de la Laguna Negra? ¿Cuál es el secreto biológico de las criaturas de lo profundo? ¿Y cómo combatir una epidemia que convierte a la gente en gente-pez?

July 15, 2011

June comic books / Cómics de junio

Exactly one day after my birthday, my DCBS package arrived home: 20 new comics that I would read in a couple of days. Here they are, as per solicitations:
50 GIRLS 50 #1 
story FRANK CHO & DOUG MURRAY art AXEL MEDELLIN cover FRANK CHO Hot on the heels of his blockbuster New Ultimates run, FRANK CHO teams with Co-writer DOUG MURRAY (The 'Nam) and artist AXEL MEDELLIN (ELEPHANTMEN) to unleash a new universe-spanning sci-fi epic! Join in the fantastic voyage of the Space Vessel ESS Savannah and her beautiful crew as they fight their way from hostile aliens and exotic worlds, searching for the wormhole that will take them to their ultimate destination: Home. 


ALL WINNERS SQUAD BAND OF HEROES #1   
Written by Paul Jenkins Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico Cover by MICO SUAYAN It's World War II super-action as Captain America heads up a top-secret, all-hero unit of the U.S. military! But a mystery surrounding the Band of Heroes rears its ugly head in the present…and you won't believe how deep it goes. Join the wartime adventures of the toughest, most exceptional band of soldiers in American military history, in this series by acclaimed writer Paul Jenkins (SENTRY: FALLEN SUN) and rising star Carmine Di Giandomenico (INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ANNUAL, IRON MAN 2.0)! 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #6 (OF 9) 
Written by ALLAN HEINBERG Pencils & Cover by JIM CHEUNG THE SCARLET WITCH RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE!  With her memory and her powers finally restored, The Scarlet Witch returns to Avengers Mansion for a revealing reunion with Clint Barton and a fiery reckoning with the Avengers that provokes the Beast, Jessica Jones, and the mutant detectives of X-Factor to join the crusade.  But will the Scarlet Witch continue the decimation she began in 'House of M'?  Or will she become the new mutant messiah? 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


CALIGULA #2 (OF 6) (MR) 
David (Crossed) Lapham unveils a new tale of ancient Rome and the most feared emperor of all time.  The one name that still speaks volumes of how absolute power can corrupt - Caligula.   After his assassination attempt goes horribly and horrifyingly wrong young Junius finds himself taken in by Caligula, who renames him Felix, meaning 'lucky one', and becomes the Emperor's pet, confidant, whipping boy, lover, apprentice, and biographer. Caligula lavishes money and women on Felix one minute than beats him the next. Felix must play along if he's to find out the secret behind Caligula's mysterious supernatural power over life and death. Virgin blood ceremonies, gladiator fights rigged for added brutality, and dinner parties where guests are randomly slaughtered, is there any limit to Caligula's depravity? Can Felix keep his focus and sanity in the face of so much misery and horror? A modern master of horror, Lapham digs deep into the world of Rome 37 AD and offers a unique epic of sin. Joined by new talent German Nobile who promises to serve up fully-painted pages dripping with blood, this all-new, full-color series will be six issues of evil that will make any Crossed fan smile with glee. For in the age of Caligula, all roads lead to Hell. Caligula #2 is available with a Regular cover by Jacen Burrows, a Wraparound cover by series artist German Nobile, and a special rare Golden retailer incentive.


EX MACHINA #41 (MR)
Written by Brian K. Vaughan Art by Tony Harris & Jim Clark Cover by Tony Harris It's the beginning of a new storyline - one that will finally reveal the true source of the Great Machine's strange powers! As New Year's Eve approaches, Mayor Mitchell Hundred makes a shocking announcement while the retired Super Hero's past returns to haunt Times Square. On sale April 22 • 32 pg, FC MATURE READERS


HERC #1 
The son of Zeus returns.


FLY #1 (MR)  
What if there was a drug that gave you the power to fly? How far would you go to possess it and who would you hurt to get your next fix? This is the story of Eddie Patron. Eddie was trying to live a normal life. A rundown broken life but a normal life nonetheless. But Eddie has a secret and that secret is coming back to haunt him and his life will never be the same again. From the mind of Raven Gregory, writer of Image Comics THE GIFT, the Wonderland trilogy and The Waking comes the latest brand new ongoing tale of horror and first tale of a world where the superheroes aren't heroes at all. Featuring 4 covers by superstar artists Ebas (Witchblade, Grimm Fairy Tales), Artgerm (Batman, Bird's of Prey), Eric J (JSA, Rex Mundi), and a Tyler Kirkham cover (Green Lantern Corps, Stryke Force, The Gift) as an exclusive. Don't miss what is guaranteed to be the hottest new series of the year! ONLY $2.99!!! As an added bonus retailers who order 20 copies of cover A get 5 additional copies free. 


HACK SLASH #5 CVR B ESQUEJO (MR) 
story TIM SEELEY art KYLE STRAHM cover B RODIN ESQUEJO  Guest-artist KYLE STRAHM (We Will Bury You) steps in as the skull-faced mystery woman Fantomah comes to Cassie and Vlad for help. But, what could a super powerful goddess, known for her horrible (yet creative) methods of tormenting evil doers, need with a teenage girl and a mutant with a machete? 


KIRBY GENESIS #1  
(W) Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross (A) Jackson Herbert, Alex Ross (C) Alex Ross (3 Covers, 33% Each), Ryan Sook (1-in-5), Paul Renaud (1-in-10), Dale Keown (1-in-15) KIRBY: GENESIS explodes into action! A message to space has been heard and answered -- but what has come to Earth isn't what anyone would expect! As cosmic visitors begin to be revealed to the world, a deadly battle begins -- and three ordinary people are caught up in it. Featuring: Captain Victory, Silver Star, the Glory Knights and more -- and this is just the beginning! Superstars Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross bring Jack 'King' Kirby's creations to life in a way you'll never forget! This is the beginning! This is the GENESIS!


LAST MORTAL #1 (OF 4) 
Story JOHN MAHONEY & FILIP SABLIK, art & cover THOMAS NACHLIK  Alec King is a born loser.  A small time criminal who has never succeeded at anything in life and whose fear of failure has crippled him. When his only friend, Brian, the brains and charm of their two-man operation, convinces Alec to help him with a hit contract on a mayoral candidate his life unravels to rock bottom. But sometimes we need to hit rock bottom to begin the climb towards a better day… 


MORNING GLORIES #10 
Story NICK SPENCER, art JOE EISMA, cover RODIN ESQUEJO  Since enrolling at Morning Glory Academy, perhaps no new student has been through more than Jade. But it turns out, sadly, this is one girl who is no stranger to pain and suffering - learn more about who she is, what she's been through, and what the Academy wants with her right here! 


RED MASS FOR MARS #4 (OF 4) 
story JONATHAN HICKMAN art & cover RYAN BODENHEIM 'FRATERNITY'-The smashing conclusion to the tale of Mars as the fate of the world hangs in the balance and the one person who could save the Earth must make his decision. SEPTEMBER 10 • 32 PAGES • FC


RUSE #1 (OF 4) 
Written by Mark Waid Art by MIRCO PIERFEDERICI Cover by BUTCH GUICE & MIKE PERKINS Variant Cover by MITCH BREITWEISER Renowned as the Victorian world's greatest detective, Simon Archard is the most intelligent of men. But when he crosses paths with the mysterious and enchanting Emma Bishop, has the smartest man in the world met his equal? Brought to readers by superstar writer Mark Waid (Amazing Spider-Man) and red-hot artist Mirco Pierfederici (Tron: Original Movie Adaptation), this is the new comic series that'll leave you breathless. 32 PGS./Rated T+


SIGIL #1 (OF 4) 
Written by MIKE CAREY Penciled by LEONARD KIRK Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURJEVIC Variant Cover by ED McGUINNESS In the war for forever, time is only an?obstacle. Warriors jump from century to century, their battlefields span all of history but have led them to a stalemate. But now a 16 year old girl from present-day South Carolina will turn the tide. The symbol on her chest makes her part of this war, but will she save us or damn all of creation? New York Times best-selling scribe Mike Carey (Age of X, The Unwritten) and Leonard Kirk (New Mutants) begin the next great comic epic. 32 PGS./Rated T+ 


SAMURAIS BLOOD #1 (OF 6) (MR)  
story OWEN WISEMAN art NAM KIM, MATTHEW DALTON & JESSICA KHOLINNE cover JO CHEN In an era when lineage defined you, three teenagers must make their way through the world hiding their identities in order to find their destinies. As their village burns behind them, they are headed for a city they'd heard about only in stories. The three young samurai must now struggle to stay alive and take vengeance on the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan and the only world they'd ever known. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance, or they will they fall on the swords of fate? 


SHIELD #1  
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN Penciled by DUSTIN WEAVER Cover by GERALD PAREL Historical Variant Cover by DUSTIN WEAVER The most acclaimed book of 2010 is back in 2011! The second volume of S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived and Jonathan Hickman (FANTASTIC FOUR) and Dustin Weaver (X-MEN) are making the second volume of S.H.I.E.L.D. even better than the first! In this issue, the secret history of Michelangelo. He has been pulling the strings for years and is now becoming the prime mover. Can he keep Da Vinci and Newton from killing each other and destroying the Brotherhood of the Shield? Don't miss this new start of the book that everyone is talking about! 40 PGS./Rated T+ 


THAT HELLBOUND TRAIN #1 (OF 3)  
Robert Bloch, Joe and John Lansdale (w) Dave Wachter (a) Menton Matthews III (c) Take a trip back in time on Robert Bloch's That Hellbound Train! Join Martin, an out-of-luck orphan, as he struggles to fulfill the American dream. As Martin comes of age, fate conspires against him at every turn. On the verge of giving up hope, our young protagonist is visited by a monstrous train, one whose conductor might just have a ticket to fame and riches... if Martin is willing to pay the price! Scribes Joe and John Lansdale (30 Days of Night: Night, Again) and artist Dave Wachter bring this unique tale of American folklore to life! 


WITCH DOCTOR #1 (OF 4)  
story BRANDON SEIFERT art & cover LUKAS KETNER HOUSE M.D. MEETS FRINGE IN THE FIRST SKYBOUND ORIGINAL FROM ROBERT KIRKMAN's NEW COMICS IMPRINT! Meet Vincent Morrow, a doctor looking for a vaccine... for the apocalypse! In this stand-alone first issue, a family needs Dr. Morrow's help with their son's illness: Demonic possession. But when Morrow attempts an experimental cure, he discovers the boy's disease isn't all spinning heads and pea soup - it's like nothing you've seen before! Horror gets a brain transplant in WITCH DOCTOR, the book WARREN ELLIS calls 'Mental.' 


WALKING DEAD #86 (MR) 
story ROBERT KIRKMAN art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN  How do we deal with what comes next?


WOLVERINE #1
Written by JASON AARON Penciled by RENATO GUEDES Cover by JAE LEE Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN Variant Cover by PAUL SMITH Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC Sketch Variant Cover by JAE LEE Blank Variant Cover also available! Acclaimed author JASON AARON (ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE, WEAPON X) and superstar artist RENATO GUEDES (Action Comics, Adventures of Superman) launch an all-new ongoing Wolverine series as Wolverine goes to hell… literally! Someone's out to destroy Wolverine-permanently-and they may have succeeded. But if Wolverine's soul is in hell, how is his body terrorizing those closest to him? 40 PGS./Parental Advisory 


______________________________________________


Exactamente un día después de mi cumpleaños, llegó a mi puerta el paquete de DCBS: 20 cómics nuevos que leería en tan sólo un par de días. Ahí van.


50 GIRLS 50 #1
Empieza el fantástico viaje del bajel espacial ESS Savannah y de su atractiva tripulación. Encontrarán extraterrestres hostiles y mundos exóticos.


ALL WINNERS SQUAD BAND OF HEROES #1    
El Capitán América lidera un grupo secreto en WWII.


AVENGERS CHILDRENS CRUSADE #6 (OF 9) 
Con su memoria y poderes restaurados, la Bruja Escarlata regresa a la mansión de los Vengadores. ¿Continuará la misión que provocó su caída o se convertirá en la nueva adalid de la comunidad mutante? 


CALIGULA #2 (OF 6) (MR) 
Tras sobrevivir a un intento de asesinato, Félix se convierte en el confidente de Calígula, en su mascota, en su aprendiz, en su biógrafo, incluso en su amante. Ceremonias con sangre de vírgenes, peleas con gladiadores y fiestas donde los invitados son asesinados al azar. ¿Hay límites para la  depravación de Calígula? ¿Podrá Félix mantener su cordura?


FLY #1 (MR)
¿Y si existiese una droga que te diera el poder de volar? ¿Qué tan lejos irías para conseguirla y a quién harías daño con tal de tener la próxima dosis? La vida de Eddie ha sido triste pero normal. Pero él tiene un secreto que lo acosa y ahora su vida no volverá a ser la misma… nunca más. 


EX MACHINA #41 (MR)  
Se revela el origen de los poderes de la Gran Maquinaria. 


HERC #1  
Regresa una vez más el hijo de Zeus. 


HACK SLASH #5    
¿Qué podría buscar una poderosa diosa en la agencia de una chica joven y su compañero, un mutante con un machete?


KIRBY GENESIS #1  
El mensaje espacial ha sido escuchado y respondido. Pero nadie podría imaginar lo que arribará a la Tierra. La llegada de los visitantes cósmicos da inicio a una batalla mortal. Y tres personas ordinarias se ven involucradas.


LAST MORTAL #1 (OF 4)  
King es un fracasado. Un criminal de poca monta que nunca ha dado el gran golpe. Cuando su único amigo Brian, el cerebro detrás de sus operaciones, le sugiere asesinar a un político todo empeorará.  


MORNING GLORIES #10  
Tal vez ningún otro estudiante ha padecido tanto como Jade. Pero resulta que Jade ya conocía el dolor y el sufrimiento. ¿Cuál es su pasado?


RED MASS FOR MARS #4 (OF 4)  
El relato de Marte llega a su conclusión. El destino del mundo está en la balanza: él único capaz de salvar la Tierra debe tomar una decisión. 


RUSE #1 (OF 4)  
Conocido como el más grande detective victoriano, Simon es el hombre más inteligente. ¿Qué sucederá si conoce a la misteriosa Emma? 


SAMURAIS BLOOD #1 (OF 6) (MR) 
En una era definida por los linajes, tres adolescentes deben descubrir su lugar en el mundo ocultando sus identidades para encontrar su destino. Cuando su aldea es incendiada se dirigen a una ciudad que conocen solamente por historias. Allí los tres jóvenes samuráis buscarán venganza.


SHIELD #1 
La historia secreta de Miguel Ángel… él ha estado actuando de manera encubierta todo este tiempo, pero ¿podrá evitar que Da Vinci y Newton se maten el uno al otro, y salvar así a la Hermandad de SHIELD? 


Avengers Children's Crusade
SIGIL #1 (OF 4)  
En la guerra por la eternidad, el tiempo es solamente un obstáculo. Los guerreros viajan de un siglo a otro, sus campos de batalla se extienden a lo largo de la historia pero siguen empatados en la lucha. Hasta que una chica de dieciséis años, en Carolina de Sur, entra en el conflicto. 


THAT HELLBOUND TRAIN #1 (OF 3) 
Martin es un desafortunado huérfano que lucha por alcanzar el sueño americano. Cuando está a punto de rendirse, este joven sube a un monstruoso tren que podría traerle riqueza y fama pero ¿a qué precio?


WALKING DEAD #86 (MR) 
¿Cómo sobrellevar lo que ocurrirá ahora?


WITCH DOCTOR #1 (OF 4) 
Conoced a Morrow, un doctor que busca una vacuna… para el apocalipsis. Cuando una familia necesita la ayuda del doctor para salvar a su hijo de una posesión demoniaca, la cura experimental de Morrow será letal.  


WOLVERINE #1  
Alguien quiere destruir a WOLVERINE para siempre.