REVIEWS AND STUFF
By Alex Ness
Last day of March, 2024
I have found out that I am still sick and it might well be cancer, but it might be something they can't figure out yet. As such my schedule might change. What the hell do I know, just thinking, I appreciate what I've had, and life is good.
Got a lot of feedback about the bit I wrote about Darrell Schweitzer, and he is quite beloved it seems. I had people thanking me for giving his ebay page and such. All I know, my experience has been quite good.
As I often do, I was asked in email by a reader to do another Q & A edition, but I think those I'll do now over at alexnessfictions.blogspot.com It is a less formal blog, and I want to keep Poplitiko more about the great media we have than how I think, feel or presume.
So this edition is reviews, new comics, and old.
MOON KNIGHT CITY OF THE DEAD #1 & 2
FROM MARVEL
Written by David Pepose
Art by Marcelo Ferreira
On Stands Now
I very much didn't expect the excellence that I found in this work. The writing in particular opened my mind to all the things I wanted to see in Moon Knight over the years. I think, after two issues, I can honestly say, this is the best written Moon Knight I've read, the concepts are hundreds times deeper than ever before, and while the art was good, it was better as an accompaniment to the story told. It delves into the after life, it questions the real world and the difference between the two worlds, the living and the dead, and it never has a moment that feels unnecessary.
Grade A+
MORTAL TERROR #1 & 2
From Dark Horse
Written by Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon
Art by Peter Bergting
On Stands Now
I didn't honestly know what to expect in this story, I thought, when buying it that I was supporting my friend Peter Bergting. But holy shit ... it is Victorian in feel, Mignola fans will feel the aura of his weirdness, but the underworld has a tier of power, where the evil and dangerous are balanced by the cursed but moral. The writing is really good, the coloring appropriate for the mood needed, and Bergting, my good friend, creates a world that goes so far beyond telling a story, I just LOVED this comic.
Grade A
MEDIEVAL SPAWN/WITCHBLADE
From Image
Written by Brian Haberlin and Brian Holguin
Art and cover by Brian Haberlin
Back issues
Two figures of darkness and legend meet, and are faced with the duty and honor of defending a community against a seemingly unstoppable foe. The story moves fast, the art is brilliant. I confess, as much as I do like Medieval Spawn, and have read some Witchblade and enjoyed it, I thought this would be a fascinating combination and meeting. It came out long ago, and I bought my set for almost nothing, and I would argue, for the cost, the writing, art, and overall concept entertained me throughout. I might not have the full knowledge and history of both characters, but here these two gather to defend a people or village, and work in ways that are well thought, well illustrated, and the whole concept is similar to a favorite movie of mine, but different enough. (Seven Samurai).
Grade B+/A-
DRACULA: VLAD THE IMPALER
From Topps
Written by Roy Thomas
Art by Esteban Maroto
Back Issues
I actually have been a Roy Thomas fan for almost the length of my life. His writing of this work came in response to the Topps Bram Stoker's Dracula as the real history behind the legend. I've also studied the history of Vlad Dracul, the leader of Wallachia, and an opponent of the Ottoman Turk empire. Vlad learned his cruelty from time as a hostage prince in the Ottoman Empire. His own people feared him, so, his fearsome warrior legend is accurate, but he was as cruel to the Ottomans as he was to his own. As a history work, it isn't accurate, and I do get that, it is character of history who has been polished or tarnished by legend and lore. I found other mistakes though, of fact. But I found the art less interesting, less vibrant and that hurt the work more than those factual mistakes in the narrative. Sadly, as I liked the work of the artist in prior works as well. There is truth here though, the real Vlad Dracul was more evil than any vampire.
GRADE C
I rarely try to torpedo a work with a bad review. However I got the series for a dollar, excited to do so, and still felt disappointed. I still love most of RThomas's works but this could have been much better.
I can be found on X, Bluesky or through email Alexanderness63@gmail.com. I accept hard copies, so when you inquire at any of these places, I'll follow through by telling you my street address.If you send hard copies for review I will try to always review them, but if you prefer to send pdf or ebooks to my email, I will review these at my discretion. I don't share my pdf/ebooks, so you can avoid worry that I'd dispense them for free to others.
My Creative Blogs:
5k poem blog AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
My personal blog AlexNessFiction.Blogspot.Com
Published works AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com/2007/01/My-Work.html
Social Media:
Bluesky
X/Twitter
All images are copyright © their respective owners, use is simply as fair use and no ownership rights to anyone else's work is asserted.
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