Monthly Archives: May 2012

Dollhouse: Epitaphs (2012)

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[ Watching Game of Thrones Currently: Watching Game of Thrones ]

Quote:
Did I mention how much I hate this apocalypse?

 

This book collects the Epitaphs one-shot and the following five issue mini-series. It was written by Andrew Chambliss, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon. All three were also involved with the writing on the TV series upon which the book was based and especially on the two season finales that were set in the same post apocalyptic world. The art was by Cliff Richards and Andy Owens with some exceptional covers by Phil Noto.

The story has two strands. The first follows Maggie, Zone and Griffin as the brain wiping apocalypse starts, turning those that answer phones into ferocious killers or docile imbeciles, how they survive and meet up and their continued fight for survival in the face of the increasing escalation of mind control from the Rossum Corporation. The second follows a young boy Trevor as his uncle is imprinted with the personality of Topher’s assistant Ivy who is working with Alpha to try and raise a resistance army against Rossum. Trevor meets up with Alpha to find he is the only recruit along with some other Ivys but undeterred joins with Alpha in search of Echo and a means to resist the imprinting process. But they must fight their way to her as the Rossum Corporation is also looking for her.

I was a fan of the TV series and thought it had more high points than low, though it could be patchy at times, but when they stuck to the story arc it was generally excellent. This story is a reasonable addition to the canon without being spectacular. The best part was the return of Alpha and his struggle with his demons – but probably that has as much to do with my love for Alan Tudyk’s portrayal of the character. The problem with the story is that it doesn’t really add a whole extra to the mythology of the show so while I enjoyed it I hope Dark Horse commissions a longer mini-series or ongoing series that will allow the writers to go beyond the confines of the TV show .

Stuff received 5/7/12

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Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

Houston Astros 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

Promo copy:

Houston Astros: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is a five-DVD showcase featuring four classic full television broadcasts plus and all-new documentary special Astros Memories. From the roof-raising euphoria of the Astrodome to the open-air adoration of Minute Maid Park, the cascade of emotions and joys are relived as four Essential Games of the Houston Astros are presented on DVD. Collect the most iconic games of the Houston Astros as they celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2012!

    Disc 1: 9/26/1981 – Nolan Ryan’s 5th no-hitter
    Disc 2: 9/25/86 – Mike Scott no-hitter (clincher)
    Disc 3: 2005 NLDS Game 4- Astros beat Cardinals to clinch berth in World Series (All 18 innings!)
    Disc 4: 6/28/07 – Biggio’s 3,000th hit (5-hit performance)
    Disc 5: Astros Memories. Astros Memories salutes Jimmy Wynn, Jose Cruz, Nolan Ryan, Cesar Cedeno, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Beyond the individual heroics this DVD celebrates the 1980 and 1986 seasons and playoff runs, and magical 2003 and National League pennant-winning 2005 seasons. Loaded with Bonus Features!

The Sisters Grimm: Book Nine: The Council of Mirrors
by Michael Buckley
Art by Peter Ferguson

Promo copy:

In the final volume in the Sisters Grimm series, Sabrina, Daphne, and the rest of the Grimms and their friends must face off against the Master to decide the fate of Ferryport Landing—and the world. When Mirror fails to escape the barrier using Granny Relda’s body, he turns to his plan B: killing all the Grimms so that the magical barrier collapses. In the meantime, Sabrina has gathered the other magic mirrors as advisors on how to deal with their mortal enemy. They tell her to join forces with the Scarlet Hand against Mirror, in exchange for offering all the citizens of Ferryport Landing their freedom. This final chapter is the end of the road for several beloved characters, but the conclusion is sure to satisfy devoted fans of the series.

Pathfinder Tales: Song of the Serpent
by Hugh Matthews
Cover by Adrian Smith

Promo copy:

To an experienced thief like Krunzle the Quick, the merchant nation of Druma is full of treasures just waiting to be liberated. Yet when the fast-talking scoundrel gets caught stealing from one of the most powerful prophets of Kalistrade, the only option is to undertake a dangerous mission to recover the merchantlord”s runaway daughter – and the magical artifact she took with her. Armed with an arsenal of decidedly unhelpful magical items and chaperoned by an intelligent snake necklace happy to choke him into submission, Krunzle must venture far from the cities of the merchant utopia and into a series of adventures that will make him a rich man – or a corpse!

Leviathan
Written by Ian Edginton
Art by D’Israeli

Promo copy:

In 1928 the largest cruise liner the world has ever seen is launched. With a crew and passenger complement totalling nearly 30,000 people the Leviathan is bound for New York. However, it never reaches the Big Apple and simply… disappears!

Twenty years later – with the Leviathan stranded on an unearthly sea – Detective Sergeant Lament begins to investigate the mystery at the liner’s heart. What he discovers will change his world forever — but it might just bring the Leviathan home.

Stuff received 5/7/12 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

Batman: Gates of Gotham (2012)

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[ Listening to Spiritualized Currently: Listening to Spiritualized ]

Quote:
I have to admit – I’m not impressed.

 

This book collects the five issue Gates of Gotham mini-series. It has a number of creators involved. The story was by Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins with the dialogue by Kyle Higgins with Ryan Parrott on the last three issues. The art was mainly by Trevor McCarthy except for issue 4 where the art was by Dustin Nguyen and Derec Donovan.

Batman has to deal with a bombing campaign in Gotham targeted at landmarks associated with the founding families of the city – the Waynes, Elliots and Cobblepots. With Robin, Red Robin and Black Bat all helping, Batman discovers a vendetta that stretches back to the end of the 19th century when the expansion of the city was at its height. He must stop the bomber before half the city is destroyed by floods.

This story is set before the DC universe reboot and is set after Batman: RIP and after Bruce Wayne’s return and the set up of world wide Batman franchises. So it features Dick Grayson as Batman with Bruce’s son Damien as Robin. And this is one of the problems of this book for me. Yes Bruce Wayne was always going to be a tough act to follow as Batman but you would think that if anyone could pull it off it would be his one time protege, Dick Grayson. Not only did he train under Batman in his time as Robin but he moved on and became a hero in his own right. However, in this story he is almost crippled by self-doubt and would be lost without Tim Drake to help him crack the case – of course he is not helped by the bitter Robin criticising him at every turn. Also the story, despite having four writers working on it, is just not very inspiring – the plot is pedestrian and the new villain boring and formulaic. All in all a bit of a disappointment. The only real bright spot was the art by Trevor McCarthy, whose work I have not seen before but enjoyed looking at here – though why they took an issue away from him is beyond me.

Book received 5/3/12 Pyr edition

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Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived at the Geek Compound.

The Night Sessions
by Ken MacLeod
Cover by Stephan Martiniere

Promo copy:

A bishop is dead. As Detective Inspector Adam Ferguson picks through the rubble of the tiny church, he discovers that it was deliberately bombed. That it’s a terrorist act is soon beyond doubt. It’s been a long time since anyone saw anything like this. Terrorism is history….After the Middle East wars and the rising sea levels—after Armageddon and the Flood—came the Great Rejection. The first Enlightenment separated church from state. The Second Enlightenment has separated religion from politics. In this enlightened age there’s no persecution, but the millions who still believe and worship are a marginal and mistrusted minority. Now someone is killing them. At first, suspicion falls on atheists more militant than the secular authorities. But when the target list expands to include the godless, it becomes evident that something very old has risen from the ashes. Old and very, very dangerous…

Lance of Earth and Sky (The Chaos Knight, Book Two)
by Erin Hoffman
Cover by Dehong He

Promo copy:

Vidarian Rulorat, a captain without a ship, faces the con­sequences of opening the gate between worlds. Elemental magic is awakening across the planet after centuries of dormancy, bringing with it magically powered wonders including flying ships and ancient automata. After decades of peace, empires leap into war over long-disputed territory as their technologies shift—and on top of it all, Ariadel, Vidarian’s one great love, isn’t speaking to him. Called into service by the desperate young emperor of Alorea, Vidarian must lead skyships in a war against the neighboring southern empire, train the demoralized imperial Sky Knights to ride beasts that now shapeshift, master his own amplified elemental magic, and win back Ariadel—all without losing his mind.

Compounding his task is a political minefield laid by the Alorean Import Company, which may or may not be fomenting war across the world, and a shapeshifter that bonds to Vidarian during his early attempts to subdue the rogue birdlike seridi. And, as always, the Starhunter, goddess of chaos, is never far from Vidarian’s heels, inexorably guiding him toward her own concern: the lance of earth and sky.

Cuttlefish
by Dave Freer
Cover by Paul Young

Promo copy:

The smallest thing can change the path of history.
The year is 1976, and the British Empire still spans the globe. Coal drives the world, and the smog of it hangs thick over the canals of London.

Clara Calland is on the run. Hunted, along with her scientist mother, by Menshevik spies and Imperial soldiers, they flee Ireland for London. They must escape airships, treachery, and capture. Under flooded London’s canals, they join the rebels who live in the dank tunnels there.

Tim Barnabas is one of the underpeople, born to the secret town of drowned London, place of anti-imperialist republicans and Irish rebels, part of the Liberty—the people who would see a return to older values and free elections. Seeing no farther than his next meal, Tim has hired on as a submariner on the Cuttlefish, a coal-fired submarine that runs smuggled cargoes beneath the steamship patrols, to the fortress America and beyond.

When the Imperial soldiery comes ravening, Clara and her mother are forced to flee aboard the Cuttlefish. Hunted like beasts, the submarine and her crew must undertake a desperate voyage across the world, from the Faeroes to the Caribbean and finally across the Pacific to find safety. But only Clara and Tim Barnabas can steer them past treachery and disaster, to freedom in Westralia. Carried with them—a lost scientific secret that threatens the very heart of Imperial power.

Book received 5/3/12 Pyr edition was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon