The Thing (2002) – Throwback 20

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

No, you’re not misremembering, we did already do a throwback to The Thing this year, and yes, the film is much older than twenty years old. This time we’re covering the sequel video game that came out as part of the film’s 20th anniversary, and is now celebrating its own 20th anniversary. It really doesn’t help that so many things in this franchise all have the same name.

In 2000, American video game publisher Universal Interactive were given the task of looking through the back-catalogue of films that Universal Pictures had the rights to, to try and find something that could be made into a video game. Whilst they had a plethora of properties to choose from (and it starts to boggle the mind to think of some of the games that could have come out of that!) the one that had them the most excited was John Carpenter‘s The Thing.

Before production on the game could even begin, Universal and Konami announced it to the public, stating that it would be a sequel to the film, rather than an adaptation. They also revealed that it would be for ‘next gen’ consoles, such as the Xbox, and Playstation 2, as well as getting a handheld port. Sadly, when the game released the handheld versions never surfaced, with only the console and PC editions of the games ever reaching players.

The Thing was developed to be a third-person action horror game, where players take control over a US Special Forces soldier who’s sent in to investigate the remains of Arctic Outpost 31. The player is joined by three other computer controlled characters who make up the rest of your four man squad. These characters can be soldiers, who are better at combat; engineers, who are able to make repairs; and medics, who have an infinte supply of health kits. However, this isn’t just a simple squad based shooter, as it is possible that any member of your team, or even the entire team, could become infected, changing into an alien entity.

The game utilised a new feature called the ‘fear/trust system’ to try and bring some of the paranoia of the film to the game. The NPCs would follow your orders as long as they trusted you, and each of them has their own level of trust that you have to build up by providing them with weapons and ammunition, medical kits, and by proving that you’re not infected yourself. If the level of trust your team has for you decreases they can refuse to follow your orders, and if it gets low enough they could attack you, believing that you may be a creature in disguise. There is also the chance that your teammates could become infected, and you’d have to keep a close eye on them at all times. Whilst the system was pretty unique, and worked well enough, there were enough kinks in it that the cracks do show through, and there are times it doesn’t work as intended. Despite that, it remains a pretty unique feature that sets the game apart.

The game’s story picks up some time after the film, with the player character being sent to the ruins of Outpost 31 to try and find out what happened. There you explore what’s left of the base, as well as getting to find small things from the film, such as Blair’s UFO, MacReady’s recordings, and the frozen body of Childs. This area of the game acts as an introduction to the main mechanics and game-play, and it’s something of a training level that’s made to feel like part of the main story.

From here, the game takes you to the remains of the Norwegian outpost seen briefly in the film, where you have to fight your way through a variety of Thing creatures. The game uses small enemies called Scuttlers, which are made from severed limbs, and larger creatures called Walkers, which are hulking, human sized monsters. The game also includes a number of boss creatures that are much bigger and tougher too. At the remains of the Norwegian outpost you begin to uncover a larger conspiracy hidden beneath the snow and ice, and discover a plot that would put the entire world at risk unless you’re able to stop it.

Despite the fear/trust sequence not being quite perfect, and some criticism that the graphics weren’t as good as they could have been, the game received some pretty positive reviews upon release. The game ended up being praised for its story and the action set-pieces it gave players, as well as for expanding the series in a new direction. The story was liked enough that John Carpenter approved of it, and even voiced one of the characters in the game, alongside veteran X-Files actor William B. Davis, who played yet another shady character involved in conspiracies and alien shenanigans. There were initial plans to continue the story on, thanks to the game’s popularity, but this was unfortunately shelved when the studio went into receivership the year after the game was released.

If you’re a fan of The Thing and want to see an interesting scenario for a sequel, or if you’re a fan of horror games who wants something a bit more fast paced and action oriented than your average survival horror, or you’re just down to try our a game that you might have missed when it first came out, The Thing is a pretty solid and enjoyable experience that’s fun to play even two decades on.

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DC Saved By The Belle Reve #1 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

There's a lot of specials and annuals from DC this week, an the one-off DC Saved By the Belle Reve might be one of the more enjoyable ones on offer. This 80-page collection brings together eight short stories that deal with schools in the DC universe, and features some fun characters and touching moments too.

The first story, 'Sophomore Year' is all about Gotham Academy, and fans of that series will probably want to pick this book up just for this. Knowing nothing about these characters or their stories, I was honestly quite lost in this, and didn't really engage with it beyond taking it as an okay story about some kids sneaking around their school trying to check out their new zombie groundskeeper.

'High School Lows' takes a Suicide Squad made up from the more memorable members that appeared in the movies and has them infiltrate a school to find their target. You have Katana working in the library, Peacemaker as the gym teacher, and Harley Quinn as a guidance counsellor; which all makes a kind of sense. But when Weasel ends up working as the new lunch lady and King Shark ends up teaching English (even explaining the past tense of 'Nom') you know something weird is going on. This is a fairly fun short with some good laughs along the way.

The Super Sons return in 'Back To School' which sees Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne returning to school after their summer break. The two of them meet a new student, who's being bullied because they're non-binary. Damian tries to teach them how to fight back, whilst Jonathan talks to them about rising above stuff and turning the other cheek, and come the end Sydney ends up using a bit of both. This was a pretty nice story that seems to introduce the kids to queer identities (something that will be important to both in their futures) and there's a great moment with Jonathan about embracing who you are that feels perfect for him. There are some nice messages in here, and Damian arriving to school in a helicopter blasting out the Imperial March was pretty amusing.

'Earn It Back' is a nice story about Green Arrow learning how to be the best kind of parent to Roy Harper that takes us back to the silver age, complete with dodgy costumes and things like the arrow cave, arrow car, and arrow jet. It's nice to get to see more of their parent child dynamic as it's something that has kind of been forgotten now that Roy is older.

The Tiny Titans appear in 'Piece Making', which sees the kids arrive at Belle Reve prison, thinking it's a farm they have a flyer for, and meeting members of the Suicide Squad. It's a bit weird seeing the adult oriented concept of the Squad meshing with the Tiny Titans, and luckily it doesn't stick around too long so you don't really have to think about it too much. Fans of the Tiny Titans will probably like it.

'This Is Why' deals with Black Lightning and his time as the Secretary of Education under President Luthor, and we get to see a lot of Jefferson as a teacher, the relationships he has with his students, and the great work that he's done. It does a lot to justify why a decent man like him would work for a criminal president, and following Trump being the US President going back to a President Luthor story really does land different.

'How Angels Are Made' is a great Azrael short story that could easily tie into the current series (especially as it's by the same author), and takes a look at the past of Jean Paul Valley, and reveals that his programming by the Order of St Dumas happened a lot earlier than he first thought. This feels like the only story in the bunch that actually could be part of the DC Universe, and has any kind of impact or bearing outside of this book. I wouldn't be surprised to see this short story included in Azrael books at some point.

The final story in the bunch 'Night Off' follows a teenage Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson as they attend prom together. However, along the way their limo gets attacked by armed thugs and Mr Freeze, and the two teens are forced to suit up and take action; making them late to the prom. This story is okay, though doesn't really seem to line up with the characters actual histories or timelines. But as a standalone story its decent enough.

DC Saved By the Belle Reve is a fun, enjoyable anthology book that has a lot of different stories on offer, and will appeal to a lot of different readers thanks to the different styles, characters, and tones on offer.

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Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #2 – Comic Review

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

The second issue of the new Dark Horse comic series, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories feels like an improvement over the debut issue as we join Luke and Leia as they scout out a snowy world for signs of Imperial occupation.

This new story, written by Cecil Castellucci, definitely seems to have more of a point to it than the first issue, which ended up feeling kind of lacklustre and seemed to gloss over a lot of things. This story has a much tighter focus on the two main characters, and also introduces us to a new world and a new group of people under the thumb of the Empire. The Rebel Alliance know that the Empire sometimes stops off on the remote outpost on the planet Banas, where they refuel their ships. Believing that this could one day be used as a larger staging area, the Alliance sends Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa to investigate the area. They’re hoping to either find a local who would be willing to spy on the Empire for them, or see if it would be worth installing their own people.

Whilst they’re expecting a light Imperial presence, they’re shocked to find a full garrison, and a mining operation that’s using the local population to dig up important resources. Forced to try and hide to avoid the new Imperial patrols, Luke and Leia have to make a dangerous trek across the cold and mountainous planet in order to get back to the Rebel Alliance.

It’s a fairly simple kind of story, one that I think those who’ve read similar Star Wars stuff, like Star Wars Adventures, will be familiar with. A couple of our heroes go to a planet, find the bad guys are already there, and have to sneak their way back to freedom, getting into a fight or two along the way. And whilst the stories in this series are canon, they’re never going to really be anything big. We’re not going to have huge moments that will reverberate through the rest of the saga happen in an anthology comic series designed for younger readers. As such, Castellucci keeps things kind of small, and focused more on the character than anything else.

There are some nice moments where we learn more about Leia and her childhood, and get some insight into her relationship with her father, and these are the kind of things these stories can do well. We also get to see a much more impatient Luke then we usually do, and it gives the impression that these events would take place not long after the fourth film, and that he’s still very much the eager farm boy, rather than the Jedi Knight he will become. Leia’s haircut also looks a lot like one of Padme’s from the prequel films, which is a nice touch.

The art on this issue is done by Megan Huang, and whilst it’s simple and neat, there are a lot of nice details thrown in that make the comic look really good. There’s the already mentioned Padme hair style, but when Luke and Leia are wandering through the town or hiding out in one of the shops there’s always stuff around them to check out, tiny details hidden away. Plus, the design of the aliens on Banas are really cool; kind of goat-like, but very different from the Gotals. Their thin, hoofed legs are cool, and their tiny horns and floppy ears are a great design choice.

Overall, this was a definite improvement on the first issue, and I think it showcases a bit better the kind of stories that this series is going to do well. Hopefully the trend will continue, and the next issue will be even better, but even if it stays at this level it’ll remain a decent, entertaining read.

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Harley Quinn Annual 2022 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

The final part of the current, weekly Harley Quinn story is here, and it honestly doesn't feel like anything really special. The other annuals I've read so far this week weren't great, but felt different. The Flash took a step away from the main story to do something else, and the Wonder Girl one was special because there is no Wonder Girl book at the moment. But this? This is just another, regular issue of Harley Quinn that has a small back-up story tacked onto the end to bump up it's length.

The bulk of this issue is the conclusion to the 'Task Force XX' story that's been going on all month, with the team having come together, gotten some new weapons, and beginning their assault on the alien menace. This fight takes them to Blackgate Prison, where the alien has taken over the prisoners and staff. The team fight their way through them, and Killer Frost uses her powers to suck the life force out of the alien, saving the day.

And that's about it. The issue is heavy on the action and light on characterisation, and there's not a huge amount here. There's so little to be given to the characters that it actually starts to get a little confusing, as Verdict seems absolutely fine working alongside Harley, taking orders from her, and even puts herself in danger to save her and buy her time. And last issue she still hated her. Where did this turn come from? I get that she's probably putting her feelings about Harley to one side to win the day, but there's no explanation given for this.

And yet again, Harley feels relegated to being a side character in her own title, as she spends much of the issue shouting nonsense, drawing on downed enemies, and acting like she's the leader. She's honestly quite annoying here, and this story seems to be highlighting some of the worst aspects of Harley. It's like the writer is trying to make her the DC equivalent of Deadpool, and it just makes for a shallow, annoying, uninteresting character. She's been the best this series when there's been some real depth to her, but that's absolutely lacking here.

The back-up story feels incredibly tacked on too, and if anything it feels like the first dozen or so pages from the start of the next story arc thrown in here. The book feels like the annual is just the final issue of the 'Task Force XX' story with the opening scenes of the next issue stuck together to make the desired page length. It doesn't feel like an annual at all. Annuals have to feel like something special, this really doesn't.

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The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries From A Hidden World by Aliya Whiteley - Book Review

 

'Aliya Whiteley has always been in love with the wondrous and bizarre world of fungi - from a childhood taking blurry photographs of strange fungal eruptions on Exmoor to a career as a writer inspired by their surreal and alien beauty. This love for fungi is a love for life, from single-cell spores to the largest living organism on the planet. A love that stretches from Aliya's lawn into orbit and back again via every continent.

'Fungi can appear anywhere, from desert dunes to frozen tundra. They can invade our bodies and thoughts; live between our toes or our floorboards; they are unwelcome intruders or vastly expensive treats; symbols of both death and eternal life. But despite their familiar presence, there's still much to learn about the eruption, growth and decay of their interconnected world.

'In this intoxicating and endlessly surprising journey, Aliya Whiteley shares the secret life of fungi - extraordinary organisms that we have barely begun to understand.'

I'd never really thought about mushrooms and fungi much before reading this book, beyond thinking that they were kind of cool. I'd come to like eating mushrooms in the last few years, I was aware of them being used in fiction such as The Last of Us and Matango, and I'd thrown a Circle of the Spore druid into my Dungeons and Dragons game for my characters to play with; he's a tortle called Agaricus with a shell covered in mushrooms that glow in the dark. I kind of love that grumpy old mushroom lover. But other thank having the passing opinion that fungi are cool I hadn't really given it much attention.

The Secret Life of Fungi feels like the perfect kind of introduction book for learning a bit more about the weird and wonderful world of fungi without having to learn fancy names, or getting into the science behind it all. Aliya Whiteley doesn't seem interested in giving a big scientific dive into fungi, but instead just wants to share a bit of her love for the things.

We get a nice little introduction in which Aliya tells us a story about walking the Devon coast with a camera as a child, taking photos of mushrooms she found along the way (something I myself have been doing this week on my holiday in Wales!). It inspired a fascination with fungi that would go on for years, inspiring her creative writing, and encouraging her to write this book. 

From here we get small snapshots of different types of mushrooms and fungi, we learn about the dangers of picking random mushrooms, the locations in which they grow and the things they need to do so, and the sometimes symbiotic relationships they have with other organisms. This is done in small chapters, only a handful of pages, that are written in a very casual, conversational way that makes the information Aliya is giving across feel easy to understand. 

And this is one of the best things about this book, that it doesn't really feel like you're reading a book. It felt like I was sitting down having at chat with Aliya, with her excitedly telling me amazing fungi facts and sharing her love for the subject. It wasn't ever like reading a text book, or attending a talk, it felt cosy and personal; and it made much more enjoyable to read. 

My only real criticism of the book (and it really isn't one if I'm being fair), is that I found it too short. I enjoyed reading it that much that by the time it came to and end I was sad to see it go. I was having so much fun learning about fungi fro Aliya that I could have read twice as much. And I think that finding a book that you're sad to see go, that you'd happily read more of, and that invigorates you to want to learn more about a subject speaks volumes to the quality of it.

The Secret Life of Fungi was a hugely enjoyable read that took a subject I had a passing curiosity about and made me want to earn more. It made me see the wonder and joy in fungi; an often overlooked and ignored form of life that's truly fascinating. And for that, I love this book.

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Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

The final chapter of the Warworld saga, which has been going on for a long while now, has finally arrived, and Superman and Mongul final face off once again.

The battle to free Warworld has reached its climax, and we get to follow three different threads as the fight comes to a close. In one we follow Natasha, Orphan, and Leonath fight their way towards one of the sun engines that power Warworld; which they're hoping to transform into a blue sun to power up Superman and the Phelosians. 

This fight really shows why it was a good thing to bring Orphan onto their side, as he easily deals with the troops massed before them, giving the trio a moment to breathe and consider their plan. Unfortunately, that moment doesn't last long, and Leonath, dying from bullet wounds, runs into the sun engine to complete the mission, giving his life in the process. Honestly, this was a really sad moment, and I'd come to really like Leonath over the course of this story. I wasn't expecting his to come back to Earth after this and hang out with Nat, but it would have been nice if he could have lived to see the victory he fought hard for.

Speaking of fighting hard, the rest of Superman's team are having to deal with their former friends, as Omac has switched sides, Lightray has died and has been resurrected as a monster, and Apollo has machines in his head making him fight for Mongul. Luckily, thanks to some trickery from Manchester Black, Apollo removes the machines from his skull, and rejoins his husband. Omac, realising that he's on the wrong side, gives his life to stop Lightray and seems to bring her back to life in the process.

This was probably the least interesting part of the issue, but each member of the team does get a small moment to shine, and everyone gets something to do. Which is more that can be said about some team books.

The big event, however, is Superman and Mongul. Unfortunately, it looks like Kryl-Ux has been working for Mongul this whole time, and has turned on our hero. However, it seems like he's just been working with Mongul until he's able to find a way to kill him himself. Thus Whilst Superman and Mongul fight, Kryl-Ux sneaks in and deals a killing blow to the tyrant. Now something of a villain himself, Kryl-Ux departs.

It feels like this isn't going to be the last we see of Kryl-Ux, especially thanks to the small scene towards the end when he messages the president of the United Planets. It seems like this whole Warworld story might just have been an origin for this new character, and that we might be having to deal with him more in future stories. If so, it's something that I wasn't expecting from the story, but is a decent way to take things.

We then get celebrations across Warworld as people are freed from their slavery, and Superman and his team get to go home; where Clark sweeps Lois up into the air above the clouds, where they kiss as the sunrises.

This is a story that has been going on, or building for almost a year and a half, and has had some big effects on the DC universe, such as Jonathan stepping up to become Superman in his father's absence. As such, it feels like a real conclusion as it comes to a close, and Superman return to Earth feels like a big moment. 

I'm going to be interested to see how Superman settles back into being on Earth, and what he thinks of what Jonathan's been doing since he was gone. I'm also looking forward to seeing how sweet and wholesome he is towards his son and his boyfriend; because you know Clark is going to be one hugely proud father.

Big things come to a close, and big new things are on the horizon, and it's been a great journey.

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In the Coils of the Labyrinth: An Arkham Horror Novel by David Annandale

 

'Professor Miranda Ventham is having bad dreams – nothing new in 1920s Arkham – but hers are horrifying glimpses of a dark future. Now seriously ill, she books herself into the new sanatorium, Stroud Institute. With luck, the town’s eldritch taint won’t reach her there. And yet the nightmares worsen. With the aid of her friend, parapsychologist Agatha Crane, they delve into the background of the sanatorium’s enigmatic director, Donovan Stroud. Plagued by doubts, delusions, and terrifying visions, Miranda must unravel the shrouded history of the Strouds before she is trapped in a labyrinthine nightmare. Something sinister lurks at its heart, and it longs to be set free.'

Hospitals are pretty scary places, and having to stay in one because you're too sick to get by on your own is probably one of the more frightening experiences that most people will come up against at some point in their lives. So when the hospital you're staying in starts to have strange things happening it it, gives you freaky nightmares, and may be connected to otherworldly beings intent upon the destruction and subjugation of mankind, it's not going to be a fun time.

In the Coils of the Labyrinth isn't your average Arkham Horror title. It's a book that plays things pretty close to its chest for much of the novel, and relies on a more subtle, insidious kind of horror to get under your skin.

It tells the story of Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University. She lives alone in her modest apartment, teaches literature, and has a decent, enjoyable life. However, as she begins to grow more and more sick, she has to face the possibility that perhaps she's suffering from more than just a simple cold. When she gets diagnosed with tuberculosis she has the choice of either going to the local hospital, or trying out the new Stroud Insitute, a building that Miranda has watched slowly constructed on a plot of empty land in the middle of the city.

Having heard that patients at the hospital haven't been doing too well, and that the new Stroud Institute has had a few successes with its more unusual methods, Miranda decides to take her chances at the Institute. When she arrives she finds a building that's brand new, but that looks like it's been there for decades or more, ancient and modern at the same time. The interior layout is filled with twists and turns that seem designed to confuse. And she begins to have strange dreams about the place. Whilst she does begin to improve at the Institute, the uneasy feelings she has only intensify when more and more usual stuff starts to happen. Convinced that there's more to the Stroud Institute than there first appears, Miranda becomes determined to get to the bottom of it.

One of the things that this particular story does it capture the strange feeling of being sick. I'm sure we've all had at least one time when we can remember being sick enough that reality seemed to bend and warp around you. Whether it's a fever making patterns on the wall move, being convinced that someone's there to hurt you, or even just being that sick that you think you're going to die. Illness can have horrible effects on the mind. And David Annandale uses this to torment both Miranda and the reader. There are times in this novel where you start to question what you've read. Did that really happen, or was it just Miranda's illness messing with her?

And this is where the book excels, as taking those mundane moments, of living through hospital, of being stuck in your bed for hours at a time, unable to do anything, unable to talk to people, going through the same routines over and over and feeling like nothing is improving, and making them even worse by injecting the paranormal. If it wasn't for the fact that Miranda has a friend in the outside world who's investigating and finding paranormal horrors this story could believable pull a twist where there was nothing wrong at all.

Speaking of her ally, I have to talk a bit about Agatha Crane, her friend and fellow professor at Miskatonic. An expert in parapsychology, Agatha latches onto Miranda's stories of her experiences, having lived in Arkham for years she knows that the city is more than it first appears. Using her ability to actually get around in the real world, Agatha is able to do the legwork that Miranda can't and gets to go off on a particularly great side-adventure that's easily my favourite part of the book.

I won't spoil it too much, but Agatha and her husband, Wilbur, set off on a journey that will take them around the world, investigating ancient sites, and dealing with horrors that can bend and warp reality. They are some of the more tense and action heavy parts of the book, and also have the more overt horror elements, and it's great seeing an older couple getting into adventures and scrapes like that; especially Wilbur who is absolutely not equipped for it, but supports his wife through anything. I would love to see more stories with the two of them involved.

In the Coils of the Labyrinth is a slow, insidious horror that plays more on fears of hospitals and loss of health than having cthulian monsters chasing people down corridors (though there is some of that), and stands out amongst the other entries in the series. It takes risks, and tells a very different kind of story about two women rising up to take on forces beyond their comprehension. It might not be for everyone, it might freak you out a bit too much, but for me, it was a wonderfully twisted reading experience. 

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Wonder Girl Annual 2022 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

So the Wonder Girl annual is a bit of a weird one. It's story is split all over the place, and with four different artists working on the book it never manages to feel like a coherent whole.

The issue begin strong enough, with the best part of the issue, with a history for Jerry the Pegasus. Jerry has been Yara's partner since her solo series, but we've had relatively little info about him. Here we get a pretty dark and sad backstory for him that makes it so that you'll never really look at him the same way again.

The rest of the issue sees Yara head to a festival to try and find Joao, one of the guys that she was flirty with in her series. Unfortunately for her, since they last saw each other he's gotten himself a girlfriend. However, Yara's amazon sisters recognise the woman as The Cuca, an evil magic being.

The Cuca reveals herself to the group and a fight ensues. Meanwhile, monster begin to attack the amazon city of Akahim, which might be connected with The Cuca. We also get flashbacks to The Cuca's origin, and how she became cursed.

There's really about four different things happening in this issue, and whilst Jerry's story is nicely kept to one side as a prologue, the other three intercut with each other at multiple points, jumping from narrative to narrative. Each segment also has its own artist, and you end up changing between three different artists too.

The biggest problem is, none of the stories here feel particularly interesting. It feels a lot like this issue is trying to tidy up hanging plot threads from the previous Wonder Girl run, but there's not really much let to do that for. We didn't know where Jerry came from, but he didn't really need an origin. Joao and Yara were flirty with each other and then we never saw him again, but I didn't really need to see him again as he brought little to the series. And The Cuca was featured in maybe a panel or two in one issue and made a vague threat-like thing, so she's back now, but I'd honestly forgotten about her.

Yara is an interesting and fun character, but I think she needs her world to be better built. This issue shows off that the supporting cast that surround her aren't really that well defined, nor interesting. Her intro series was pretty short, and since then she's been in parts of other peoples stories. It feels like she needs to be the focus a bit more.

Hopefully Yara will be back again, and that we'll keep seeing more from her as she's a character I really do like; but this issue doesn't really do much to show her off.

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Dark Horse – New Releases!

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

Dark Horse have a lot of new books out this week, with a variety of titles on offer. There are some superhero comics, some dark religious horror, and a couple of romance titles too – a little bit of something for everyone!

Love and War

Love and War has something of a unique flavour to it. It has the feel of a sports manga, where everything is focused around this one game, where everyone’s lives are centred on it, and even the world seems to care about it to a degree that feels unrealistic. In the case of this story, it’s tug of war, with rival schools all competing in huge, televised competitions for championships in huge arenas that seem built purely for tug of war. But it also has a very European setting, with everything taking place in an unspecified country somewhere in Europe that has visual qualities taken from places like Sweden, Austria, and northern Italy.

The story centres on Domo, a member of the Aster Academy tug of war team. We begin at the start of a new school year, where Domo learns that the team captain, his friend Gabe, has left to join one of the rival schools. Worse, he hasn’t spoken to Gabe since they kissed last year. Learning that the boy he loves is gone, Domo tries to focus on tug of war, but faces challenges there when both he and Jocasta have been signed up as co-captains, and he is going to have to compete for the position. And when a new student, dancer Emil, joins the team, Domo finds himself falling in love all over again.

Love and War is a very queer book. All of the romances that take place here are gay ones, the book doesn’t shy away from putting LGBTQ+ relationships at the front and centre of this sports romance series. And as you can imagine, this being a sports competition book focused on teens in love, it does get a bit intense. Everything is high stakes here, with futures, reputations, and dreams constantly on the line. Andrew Wheeler does a good job of capturing that teenage feel of everything being hugely important, and I’m not entirely sure if everything in this world is focused around tug of war, or if we’re just seeing it that way because that’s how our characters see it.

The artwork, by Guillermo Saavedra, Killian Ng, and C.R. Chua, is all nicely presented, with clean line-work and a nice colour palette that draws upon pastel shades a lot. The scenes where we’re outside and we get to see the city and all of the huge buildings and fancy sights are some of the best moments in the book, with everything else being decent. If you’re a fan of sports dramas, teen drama, or romance, this book will probably have some appeal for you.

Virtually Yours

The second romantic title this week, Virtually Yours does things a little differently, and feels more like your average rom-com than high octane school sports drama. In this story we meet two adults struggling through some hard times in their life. Eva Estrella is living at home with her parents, trying to find a job in journalism, whilst her overbearing mother fawns over Eva’s pregnant, married sister, badgering Eva about when she’s going to get her life in order. To try and get her mother off her back Eva signs up to Virtually Yours, a new online dating service with a twist.

Virtually Yours provides its users with the appearance of being in a relationship without ever having to be. You get photos of your partner, proof that you’ve gone on dates, and flowers and gifts can be sent to your work or home. The aim is convince the others in your life that you’re not desperately single. Eva ends up matching up with Max Kittridge, a former child movie star who’s going through a messy divorce from a wife who used to abuse him, and is working at Virtually Yours to try and get some financial stability. The two of them get on well on the app, using fake names, but when Eva and Max end up becoming friends in real life without even realising they know each other, and romance begins to bloom, things get a bit more complicated.

I get the feeling that Jeremy Holt, the book’s writer, has a thing for romantic comedies, as Virtually Yours follows a lot of the conventions of the genre. The book has people who find their lives missing romance, who end up falling for someone, but things get complicated, there are misunderstandings, people from their past mess things up, there are the best friends there trying to help. It features all of that; but despite having a lot of the hallmarks of the genre it never feels dull, or like it’s just ticking boxes. A lot of this is down to the charm and care that Holt puts into their writing, and the way they bring the characters to life.

The book’s art is provided by Elizabeth Beals, and looks really nice. Beals puts a lot of care and attention into all of the scenes, and there’s always a ton of tiny detail and things filling the backgrounds. It never feels like things are happening in a void, in blank panels where only the character exists. It’s a fully realised world, and you’ll spend a decent amount of time just checking out all of the details that make it feel bigger and lived in. This is a great book that has very little tension or drama, and feels much more people focused. If you like rom-com stories this is one that you’re going to love.

Daisy

Daisy is a much darker book than the others on this list, and defintiely falls into the realm of horror. Telling the story of a woman searching for her missing son, who’s been gone for years, we learn about a small town and the strange religion that they’ve developed. Daisy Phillips is a giant of a girl, towering feet above those around her. She’s been told that she’s descended from angels, and that she may hold the key to speaking the language of God, which will enable her to reshape reality.

The biggest problem is she, and the rest of the town’s children, don’t want to be pawns in the religious experiments of the adults, and they’re tired of being used, changed into twisted, painful forms. With the help of this now desperate mother, and magic from beyond our world, Daisy believes that she will be able to go against the church and their charismatic leader.

Daisy is an odd story. It’s steeped in Christian religious mythology, and tries to do some of its own things, creating this weird kind of hybrid between things that feel familiar, and things that seem wholly unique. There are times that the narrative seems to be trying to make a point about religious fervour, of how cult-like followings can harm innocent people, with literal children forced to live in agony here. But the book never really fully commits itself, and tries to walk this line between that and religious dogma being real. Perhaps one of the worst things, for myself, that Colin Lorimer does here, however, is to make the people who have been cursed because of their ‘dark souls’ be deformed and disabled. It feels incredibly ableist to say that those with physical deformities, those who use mobility aids and limb braces, are the way they are because God looked at them and saw they were evil and wanted the outside to reflect that. It didn’t sit right with me at all.

The book’s visuals are very good, and Colin Lorimer also provides the art along with colourist Joana Lafvente, and there are some truly visually disturbing scenes, such as monstrous biblical giants, undead animals, and people without skin. The book embraces the gore and the visceral horror, and puts those images front and centre. Whilst I personally found parts of the narrative hard to understand, and did not like the ableist parts of the book, some horror fans might enjoy it.

Black Hammer Omnibus Volume 1

Black Hammer is a series that will appeal to fans of superheroes, who want something a bit different from your average hero story. It doesn’t tell the story of heroes saving the world, nor does it try to reinvent the genre with twists on the themes like evil heroes; instead it gives us a character-focused mystery story that feel like a love letter to the Golden Age of comics.

Black Hammer tells the story of a group of superheroes who vanished saving the world from total destruction by the Anti-God (Galactus mixed with Darkseid) ten years before. There’s Abraham “Abe” Slamkowski, also known as Abraham Slam, a street level fighter; Gail Gibbons, aka Golden Gail, who transforms into a super powered kid when she says the magic word Zafram; Mark Marz, the alien shape-shifter from Mars; Joseph Webber, who transforms into the hero Black Hammer when he picks up his magic mallet; Colonel Weird, an astronaut detached from material reality; the alien robot TLK-E WLK-E, more commonly referred as Talky-Walky; and the witch Madam Dragonfly. These heroes didn’t die like everyone thinks, however, and are instead stuck on a farm in a small town.

The group have been unable to leave the area around the farm, Black Hammer having tried and died in doing so, and have been stuck there for ten years, trying to find a way home and make a life for themselves. No one in town has heard of these or any heroes before, and some of their powers don’t work as they should, with Gail being stuck as a child despite being in her fifties. As they reach their tenth anniversary stuck together, relationships begin to fray, mysteries deepen, and help tries to find them.

Black Hammer is, at its heart, a supernatural mystery. It feels like a Twilight Zone story, with the small town that you can’t leave. And as the book unfolds and we learn more it starts to become obvious that things here aren’t quite right, and that there’s something really bad going on. All of this is between extensive flashbacks to the heroes’ past lives as both civilians and heroes, which feed into the events in the present and helps to flesh out the character and the world. Jeff Lemire does an excellent job at weaving all of the disconnected threads together to make this hugely engaging narrative, and a world you want to know more about.

As a fan of superhero comics, there’s also a lot here to love, as there are nod and winks to all kinds of things. Gail is a reverse Captain Marvel/Shazam; Mark Markz is Martian Manhunter; Black Hammer is a cross between Thor and the New Gods; and Colonel Weird is Adam Strange with a bit of Flash Gordon mixed in. The covers are made to look like older, Golden Age books, with banners and titles that match some well known Marvel and DC images. It feels steeped in comic history, and it clearly loves the genre.

There are a few different artists who worked on this book, as it gathers together the first twelve issues and a giant sized annual, but the majority is done by Dean Ormston, who has a wonderful style that captures the feel of Golden Age books, but has a darker, more down to earth feel that also works well with some of the more horror elements that pop up from time to time. If you love superhero stories, or if you’ve gotten tired of seeing the same kind of thing from the genre time and time again, Black Hammer is a book for you. It’s a love letter to the history of comics wrapped up in an amazing character focused mystery.

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The Flash Annual 2022 - Comic Review

 

Originally published on Patreon

I've been really enjoying The Flash since Future State, with Wally having taken over the reigns whilst Barry has been off doing wild stuff in the multiverse. His family are great, there have been some fun stories, and there's lots of intrigue and genuinely wonderful moments. This years annual, however, might be one of the worst issues of The Flash I've ever read.

So, first off, those hoping for some cool Flash action in this issue, or even good character moments, this is not the book for you. Very, very little happens here. This is because the vast majority of this issue is taken up by Linda's new novel; which Wally reads through. And oh boy is Linda an awful writer.

Her book tells the story of a young woman who wants to become a writer, who sets out with a plan to become the best in the field, but whose life gets dragged off course slightly over the years. She has a failed marriage, and has become a reporter instead of a writer; but eventually finds herself enjoying her life.

One day the woman is investigating a series of cattle mutilations, when a huge monster appears and starts to attack. She's rescued by a red headed man who's basically the Rocketeer, who kills the monster. She and the man are transported aboard his spaceship, which looks like a cheap Enterprise-D knock-off, where she meets a guy who looks like Captain Cold, and another who's a Green Arrow engineer.

The ship comes under attack from a black hole, and a giant golden space cobra, and they teleport away as the ship is destroyed. They end up in the home of their employer, a space magician, who is behind the attack. He's going to make the black hole giant to destroy all life in the universe. Eventually the woman manages to stop him, save the day, and romances the dashing space hero.

So everything in Linda's story is just fucking awful. The book goes on for multiple chapters like it's a regular literary fiction, before taking a turn into b-movie sci-fi schlock. Every situation is more ridiculous than the last, with characters and plot that makes no sense, and the absolute worst self insert character ever created. And apparently not only does Wally love this, but the book is getting published and Linda's going on a big book tour. Books must be seriously shit in the DC universe if this is an example of a potential best-seller.

A good 75% of this book was given over to Linda's writing, and it was honestly some  of the worst stuff I've ever read. If I wasn't invested in this series already I'd have put the book down and skipped it. And I kind of wish I had. The only thing that happens here that feels like it has any baring on anything, or could even matter, is that Linda and Wally suddenly think that perhaps Linda could be pregnant. Whilst this could explain the reason why she suddenly developed speedster powers, it's the only thing to come from the issue that has any kind of weight or purpose. And it could have been done in half a page.

It honestly feels like Jeremy Adams didn't get told there was going to be a Flash annual until the last minute, realised his story was already planned out for future issues, so had to throw something together that is mostly a throwaway. Either that, or this is supposed to some kind of comedy, but if that's the case none of it ever actually lands.

I truly hope that this isn't an indication of how the series is going to change going forward, because it the regular book turns into this The Flash will go from one of my favourite reads each month to my most hated.

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