Comics

I'm a sucker for a good steampunk story. There's a certain irresistable charm to the notion of high technology in such a low-tech world as the Victorian era. And that is, naturally, what is up in the world of MYCROFT HOLMES AND THE APOCALYPSE HANDBOOK, written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld.

After Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina's boyfriend, saw into her secret life and was killed and eaten by witches for doing so, Sabrina's been understandably a bit...perturbed. But thanks to the intervention of another witch at school, Ms. Porter, Sabrina gained a spell of necromancy to return Harvey from the dead. And now, it's date night!

Alas, what Sabrina doesn't realize is that Harvey's body is back, but Harvey's not in it. Instead it is occupied by the spirit of her father, Edward Spellman, and he's very proud of the results of his experiment--Sabrina, the offspring of witch and mortal. And he's also got an eye out for revenge against his enemies, which would seem to include Sabrina's aunts, Edward's sisters Hilda and Zelda Spellman.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

In news that may very well break the Internet, if not classic television itself, Warner Bros. Animation has announced that the late ADAM WEST can be heard one last time voicing the Caped Crusader in BATMAN VS. TWO-FACE, with none other that STAR TREK's WILLIAM SHATNER voicing the duplicitous double-profiled double-dealer, Harvey Dent!

Here's the news released earlier today:

DC deciced to take a page out of Marvel's playbook, and leaked some huge news to the Washington Post this morning.

Dream from Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN will be appearing in DARK NIGHTS: METAL #1,  

From the WASHINGTON POST:

As special as “Metal” was shaping up to be, [Scott] Snyder was aiming to make the story unforgettable.

That was the moment he decided to reach out to writer and comic-book legend Neil Gaiman.

Like I said about CAPTAIN AMERICA #25, this comic felt really special. Everything is moving in a real positive direction with the heroes all rallying together for a final battle led by Sam Wilson. It made me exciting to read the last two issues of SECRET EMPIRE and really curious where Marvel is going to head in LEGACY. A few years ago, it seemed like Marvel was heading in this direction with THE HEROIC AGE, but that sort of fell to the wayside. Hopefully, this time they follow through entirely. 

I know a lot of people are down on Marvel for a lot of reasons.  But there are always a lot of Marvel books I enjoy each month.  That said, this issue promises a bold new optimistic direction for the Marvel universe.  I definitely hope they follow through with that.  If so LEGECY will truly be something special.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

• FIRST STRIKE #1 - I have been playing catch up on IDW's Hasbro line. I actually only read REVOLUTION a few months ago. I don't love all the series, but ROM, MICRONAUTS, REVOLUTIONARIES, and ACTION MAN (which needs to come back) have all been excellent, so I will likely give this a shot.

Generations: Totally Awesome Hulk & Banner Hulk

Continuing our interview with Mike Grell, who will be accepting his induction into the Wizard World Hall of Legends this month in Chicago. In this installment, we discuss Mike's work on JON SABLE and stories from the headlines--and Mike's short-lived armed standoff with Nazis! Click here to read the prior installment of this interview series.

Continuing our interview with Mike Grell, who will be accepting his induction into the Wizard World Hall of Legends this month in Chicago. In this installment, we discuss Mike's work on GREEN ARROW, an effort that arguably set the tone for the CW television series, ARROW insofar as Oliver Queen's shift to a more lethal approach in the use of his weapons. (Click here to read part one of this interview series.)

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

Really small shopping list this week!

At the August 2017 Wizard World in Chicago, veteran comic artist and storytelling legend Mike Grell will be inducted into the Wizard World Hall of Legends.

When I heard of the hall, I wondered why it wasn't called the more traditional "Hall of Fame." But after speaking with Mike on some of the touchstones of his career that led to this induction, I have to admit that "Legends" is exactly the right word. We think our readers will agree after they've hear the same stories.

In an interview too big for one publication, Critical Blast is proud to bring you the first of a three-part interview with Mike Grell.

Saw a headline on Hollywood Reporter this morning reporting a NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS sequel coming in 2018.  But, I opened it up to find out that this sequel is a graphic novel coming from TokyoPop, not a new movie.

It's taken almost 25 years, but Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is finally going to get a sequel — but it won't be happening on screen.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

Originally scheduled for release on July 26th, it was announced at yesterday’s SDCC Robotech panel that a minor distributor delay has pushed it back to August 3rd.

Producer Carl Macek was tasked with adapting the anime for the US Market. To meet syndication​ ​requirements, Macek skillfully edited three Japanese anime series (Super Dimension​ ​Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry​ ​Southern Cross and Genesis Climber MOSPEADA) and created the concept of Robo-technology, to tie them together into one epic​ ​85-episode saga.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

Getting quite a few books this week, but most of them are long running series in the middle of arcs, so not a lot jumping out at me as “you need to talk about this book.”

(July 14, 2017) Titan Comics is pleased to announce that Robotech #1 Cover A by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau has sold out at distributor level and is now going to a second print. This new printing of Issue #1 features a variation on the original cover by Artgerm with Lynn Minmei winking, and hits stores on Wednesday August 23 with issue #2.

On July 26, the story continues as Titan bring Carl Macek's original vision full circle. Taking into account every iteration of the series, this new Robotech #1 casts a fresh eye over classic characters like Rick Hunter, Lisa Hayes, Lynn Minmei, Roy Fokker, Claudia Grant, and Henry Gloval.

Titan's all-new Robotech series returns to Macross Island, where it all began! Brian Wood, Marco Turini and Marco Lesko have crafted a thrilling new tale that’s perfectly accessible to new fans, as well as providing a deeper layer of twists forold-school protoculture addicts!

On July 26th, 2017 Titan Comics will release the first issue of an on-going series that will re-imagine the anime classic: ROBOTECH!

Brought to America by Carl Macek, via Harmony Gold, ROBOTECH was a story set in the future (for the 80's) that dealt with love, acceptance and the understanding of different culture's. While the series may not have aged well, the story and characters still hold a special place in many hearts.

This re-imagining of the series promises to stay true to the foundation of the original story while inserting "deep level" twists to keep older fans engaged. The trailer features interior art with heart pounding music, which played an important role in the animated series.