(4 of 5 for nice intergalactic sci-fi) Orbital is pretty good, even if it uses some well-known schemes and tropes, so far. But I still enjoy that, it's(4 of 5 for nice intergalactic sci-fi) Orbital is pretty good, even if it uses some well-known schemes and tropes, so far. But I still enjoy that, it's well fitted into its own world (which is a variation to classic multi-galactic-races collective narrative). The art is fine, feels "European" and works for the story well. I thought that I would be able to say more, but after the first "book", which is some fifty pages of comics (so something like double-issue), which is not much and we only get basics and the start of the story. But I like where it is cut - quite a cliffhanger, but it's more like a clean cut from the whole thing than an "orchestrated" episodic one, like with regular issues. ...more
(4,4 of 5 for best sci-fi drama with robots) Kill Lock describes space society which is formed by sentient robots of different classes and purposes. A(4,4 of 5 for best sci-fi drama with robots) Kill Lock describes space society which is formed by sentient robots of different classes and purposes. And those who deviate are punished by Kill Lock. This brings us to the drama of four very different robots linked together in life and death, looking for a way out. It explores morality, law, good and evil in simple and beautiful ways. The art is excellent, the style reminds me of concept arts from sci-fi games. I like it even if I would appreciate it to be a bit less messy and in action scenes less chaotic. But the story is the main hero of this comic. It's great, with perfect tempo and graduating to the finale with excellence. I love how turned out all that playing with classic tropes and archetypes. The drama between robots on the edge of their society is well written, for me, it's way better than Lemire's similar "small tragic people and their big problems". This is hidden comics gem....more
(4,5 of 5 for thrilling action-spy comics) Yes, the second part is just a second half of the whole thing. The art is still good, the story is still per(4,5 of 5 for thrilling action-spy comics) Yes, the second part is just a second half of the whole thing. The art is still good, the story is still perfect and engaging. I loved the ending and totally enjoyed this comic....more
(4,1 of 5 for a nice storyboard for another Black Mirror episode) I like that utopia to dystopia scenarios so this hit the right string for me. Proper (4,1 of 5 for a nice storyboard for another Black Mirror episode) I like that utopia to dystopia scenarios so this hit the right string for me. Proper sci-fi, good story, very close to "Black Mirror" stuff (with the theme, social/ethic/corporate criticism, the depressing atmosphere and a rather bitter end) and I like that too. Maybe a bit too close, but I would make a bet that I saw this exact premise somewhere. But the story is very well written and executed, the art is very much what I like for European comics. And I must appreciate the story/page count criterium. The execution of the story perfectly fits the number of pages. That looks like a natural thing, but it is not. I see both not enough and too many pages more often than I would like and it always leads to unsatisfying reading. Luckily with Paris 2119, the length-to-story fits perfectly. As a sci-fi fan, I enjoyed and recommend this comic....more
(2,6 of 5 for TKO disappointing me again) This TKO Short story is really short because at least 1/3 of the issue are the bonuses (not worth it). The re(2,6 of 5 for TKO disappointing me again) This TKO Short story is really short because at least 1/3 of the issue are the bonuses (not worth it). The rest is a "run-of-the-mill" sci-fi story, which the average sci-fi fan saw multiple times in way better execution. This is basically just a trope template in comics. It feels like a draft of a bigger story, which unfortunately didn't get the whole book but they published the draft anyway. The art is not any better, but it would need some of the artist aces to save these comics from a two-star rating. ...more
(4.0 of 5 for nice horror series with an excellent story, underperforming art and somehow unsatisfying ending) I must appreciate the originality of the(4.0 of 5 for nice horror series with an excellent story, underperforming art and somehow unsatisfying ending) I must appreciate the originality of the story and the quality of the storytelling. This is a major upside of this series. The quality of the horror aspect is also good. Omnipotent evil works usually best for the comics medium, but making horror series long is always at risk to just dilute the fright, which Lemire fights very well. 27 issues is a long run, so considering that Lemire did a great job. On the opposite, I never got used to Sorrentino's art. If the panel design is solely him, kudos for that, but besides that, the art itself is quite a letdown for me. But still, it is comics horror series worth trying. ...more
(2,5 of 5 for Dragonball-ZzzzZzzzZzzz) I'm a sucker at giving TKO a chance even if most of the titles are not even miss, they're terrible. Well and thi(2,5 of 5 for Dragonball-ZzzzZzzzZzzz) I'm a sucker at giving TKO a chance even if most of the titles are not even miss, they're terrible. Well and this wasn't hit either. I love sci-fi or futuristic series, but most authors usually go overboard in some direction and it ends usually bad. This is not the case. This case is even worse. The idea is interesting, but its main issue is that the author just can't the tale. This is action superpower sci-fi and it's surprisingly most of the time boring. Do you know how some comics can combine the best of comics and manga? Do you wonder where the other half goes? Some would say they ended in the trash, but The Pull looks just like someone took the wrong halves from the trash and whoa, The Pull appeared. There is too much narrative or dialogues/monologues, in wrong places and usually weakly written. I had a hard time to finish this comic because just a few pages made me asleep. So again - good idea but poorly executed with decent art which isn't helpful at all. My suggestion: avoid....more
(3,3 of 5, the middle rating for Middlewest) I looked forward to this series. I like urban fantasy, and this is a bit laced with sci-fi, so even better(3,3 of 5, the middle rating for Middlewest) I looked forward to this series. I like urban fantasy, and this is a bit laced with sci-fi, so even better. The art also looks lovely. So I didn't expect the story, or the execution of it will be the main issue. The basic is simple, nothing innovative, but good. Runaway kid from his family demons, kind of literally. But all that filling was bland and the story moved me forward by teasing on the end of each issue. This may be working for reading-by-issue, but it's rather annoying than anything else together in one book. I will give a chance to the second book, maybe there would be a bit of sorting out the story to my taste, but now it's mainly like something simple and stupid for small kids....more
(4,5 of 5 for thrilling "blade runner with briefcase" comic) I looked forward to this and I'm not disappointed. The art looks excellent, I love contras(4,5 of 5 for thrilling "blade runner with briefcase" comic) I looked forward to this and I'm not disappointed. The art looks excellent, I love contrast thick inks combined with not saturated colouring, good scenes and austere panelwork and it's perfect. Very "Sean Murphy" like and that's my sweet spot in comics art. It even looks like "updated Transmetropolitan" sometimes, and the story/setting has this feel too, but it's less futuristic. The story is fun, thrilling, full of action, well-executed storytelling so I just dig into it and had trouble stopping. The first and second book is just the whole story cut in half, and so far it just looks like I can copy-paste this as a comment for a second when I'm done... I couldn't recommend it enough. It's clever, well thought, great worldbuilding, spy/crime/action with some comedy bits. Awesome art. Just go read it....more
The plot itself is nothing new - dystopian future, absolute capitalism and rebelling androids. The story, stripped of art, is material for one issue (The plot itself is nothing new - dystopian future, absolute capitalism and rebelling androids. The story, stripped of art, is material for one issue (30 pages) tops. What is really important about this comics is Geof Darrow. His art is insane. The gore, death toll and destruction level is so high, it's not even shocking anymore. The amount of details is insane. The amount of objects in one panel is usually way above any expectation (not talking about whole two-pages. Finding Waldo is child's play in comparison with that). It's both awesome and annoying for me. Because the amount of objects is just forced way up. Garbage in car, parts in every mechanical thing is way above making any sense. Despite that I admire the dedication ant it gives me extra points to give fourth star to this....more
(4,3 of 5 for the energetic finale, which may be needed a little bit of extra space) With this second half, DWJ stepped on the gas pedal and drove the (4,3 of 5 for the energetic finale, which may be needed a little bit of extra space) With this second half, DWJ stepped on the gas pedal and drove the story to a higher speed most of the time. And it felt good, really good. The downside is you just got into it, just fly through the pages and suddenly there is the end. I think even the DWJ didn't see it coming, because the ending felt like it needed more space to close the things, so DWJ at the last issue just decided to do some hints and wrapped it up. But as with all good stories, as a reader, I grew into the characters and just wanted a little bit of proper "closure"....more
(4 of 5 for a nice post-apo sci-fi/fantasy) DWJ brought us fresh and energetic drama from an interesting world, where (as in much post-apo sci-fi/fanta(4 of 5 for a nice post-apo sci-fi/fantasy) DWJ brought us fresh and energetic drama from an interesting world, where (as in much post-apo sci-fi/fantasy) after long wars of greater "ancestors" which ended with the apocalypse, there were raised some flying islands where new "clans" dwells. And DWJ demonstrates to us that war is a vicious circle that needs to be broken. The worldbuilding is "just enough" to tell the story, which is OK here because the story is fast-paced and don't let you have much space to wander and think. And the story is good, nothing groundbreaking, but very well written. There is one major flaw in it for me - the stupid/rebellious teenager. This trope is about the one person who takes a niff and does something irrationally (usually run, or takes action into his own hands), which brings a key advantage to the enemy. Sometimes it's incredibly stupid, sometimes it just feels off and like a writer's tool to shuffle the cards a little. In DWJ case it's not that bad, but over the years I grow allergic to this trope. I see it coming all the time and most of the time it's completely unnecessary. Otherwise, Extremity is so far a great read, DWJ's art is my favourite, evermore with Spicer's colouring....more
Well, I got bit excited to read this one, and thanks to that I ended disappointed. The art is nice and colourful, rather mainstream, clear shiny one. Well, I got bit excited to read this one, and thanks to that I ended disappointed. The art is nice and colourful, rather mainstream, clear shiny one. The story itself is also interesting. But the whole thing feels like some comic book about some historical event. It feels real, but it have big weak spots and not too much excitement. If it would be book based/describing on real history, this would be expected (and overlooked) issue. But without in on my mind it is bit annoying....more
