Posts

Book Review: Dark Spaces: Wildfire

Image
“Dark Spaces: Wildfire” Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Hayden Sherman Color Artist: Ronda Pattison Letterer: AndWorld Design Published by IDW Review by Steve J. Ray I’m one of those people that loves surprises. This week I got one of the best ever, in the form of  Dark Spaces: Wildfire .  This recently completed five-issue mini-series features one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It was created by one of the best (and nicest) writers on the planet, along with an art team that has pulled together to create something so fresh and original, that It's left me craving more. Here's the synopsis, from Penguin Random House: "Legendary writer Scott Snyder presents DARK SPACES - a thrilling new anthology series exploring our deepest fears of the unknown, beginning in the smoldering hills of California in DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE ! Six weeks into the slow burn of the historic Arroyo Fire, a crew of women from an inmate firefighting program are risking everything on the frontlines

Fan Retrospectives: Vision: Part 8: Victorious

Image
Writer Tom King and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta created a strange premise for the old-school Avenger Vision. They gave him a family. On paper, Vision with family hijinks sounds ridiculous and cheesy, but instead, it turned out to be a haunting, character-defining master class on comic storytelling. Let's break down 2015's Vision series. "Victorious" Writer: Tom King Artist: Gabrielle Hernandez Walta Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: VC's Clayton Cowles Review by Eric Lee The next chapter of Vision introduces the last member of the Vision family who will be important to the plot: Victor Mancha. Victor is not an original character, but has a long storied history in the excellent Runaways comic. Initially, Victor was created by Ultron- which makes him technically Vision's younger brother. In The Runaways , it turns out that Victor was supposed to be a sleeper agent who is supposed to gain the trust of the superhero community, join the Avengers

Oh Snap! The World's Quickest Primer For Marvel Snap

Image
Marvel Snap Review Review by Adam Ray Now, I play a lot of card games. A lot of my internet and in person identity is tied up in the fact that I've played practically every trading and collectible card game under the sun. Even online card games are not safe from my grasp. So when I see a card game win Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards , I have to sit up and take interest. Marvel Snap is the online collectible card game by those guys that make the comics, and mobile game developers Nuverse and Second Dinner. It has taken the fast paced online card game design ethos of Hearthstone, the rough game play of Artifact, (most of) the polish of Magic the Gathering Arena, but very shrewdly decided not to follow their predatory “free to play, pay to win model”. It bothers me how good Marvel Snap is. Comics in Card Form Your favourite Marvel characters have made it into a single collectible card each. Not like other card games where the same character gets a different epithet to co

Fan Retrospectives: Vision: Part 7: I Too Shall Be Saved by Love

Image
Writer Tom King and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta created a strange premise for the old-school Avenger Vision. They gave him a family. On paper, Vision with family hijinks sounds ridiculous and cheesy, but instead, it turned out to be a haunting, character-defining master class on comic storytelling. Let's break down 2015's Vision series. "I Too Shall Be Saved by Love" Writer: Tom King Artist: Michael Walsh Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: VC's Clayton Cowles Review by Eric Lee This next chapter of Vision focuses on Vision's relationship with Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff. Not only is it a good recap of 50 years of storytelling, but it also serves in stark contrast between Vision and Virginia's relationship. "I Too Shall Be Saved by Love" The title "I Too Shall Be Saved by Love" is actually a quote from  Avengers #147 . There, Scarlet Witch needed to overcome the seductive powers of the Serpent Crown to save Vision f

Preview: Breath Of Shadows #1

Image
“Breath Of Shadows” – Book One Writer: Rich Douek Artist: Alex Cormack Letterer: Justin Birch Published by IDW - Suggested for mature readers Review by Steve J. Ray It’s no secret that I’m a horror fan; so, when I was given the chance to look at a brand-new independent horror comic, published by the lovely people at IDW, I jumped at the chance. I’m glad I did, because  Breath Of Shadows  looks like it’s going to be a keeper. Here’s the publisher’s synopsis: " It’s 1968. On the fast track to becoming one of his era’s most iconic rock stars, Jimmy Meadows should be basking in the glow of newly acquired wealth and fame. Instead, crushed by the weight of a debilitating heroin addiction, Jimmy is on the verge of losing everything, until an old friend tips him off to an unorthodox treatment method hidden in the depths of the South American jungle. With fair-weather friends, local opportunists, and industry sycophants in tow, Jimmy sets off in search of what he’s sure will be a miracle c

We Are On A Cruise: A One Piece Structure Deck Upgrade

Image
  Article by Adam Ray So who wants to be king of the pirates? The One Piece TCG has finally hit our shelves. It builds on that fan favourite anime that never seems to end, bringing colour identity cards and incremental cost based resources to a franchise about a powerful teen with Stretch Armstrong powers. Quick disclaimer! This article is going to assume you're a sad card gamer nerd like me who knows how to play the One Piece TCG. If you would like a how to play primer, mention it in the comments below and I can gladly cover it. Mechanically, One Piece TCG owes itself a lot to Digimon, with mechanics like Rush and Blocker on cards, using a small stack of cards to represent Life (instead of Security) to which those cards have effects when revealed (Trigger or Security). One Piece also feels a fair bit like Magic to me. Instead of Lands, you have Don!! which you turn 90 degrees to pay for costs on cards. The Counter step during combat feels very close to the Stack in Magic or the Re