X-statix presents DeadGirl #1-5

Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artists: Nick Dragotta-Mike Allred
Colorist: Laura Allred

This phenomenal mini-series meets a dead end! This mini-series written by Peter Milligan is Great and whimsical with some very funny issues involving dead heroes and villains. The dialogue is fantastic! The cameo stars from the netherworld battle his or her own hell trying to help Dr. Strange in defeating a villain named “The Pitiful One.” From the very first issue threw issue number five the artistry and the exceptional talents of Nick Dragotta and Mike Allred draw the reader’s attention visually into this epic featuring character trapped in Hell.

I recommend this great series highly for the quirky and funny dialogue with a supernatural spin. In addition, fans see a reunion involving members of the now defunct X-statix team, and some of Marvel’s characters from the past that have met their end. This title is one of my picks for comic mini-series of the year!

I give this mini-series an Inquisitive rating of five.

Grounded #1-6

Publisher: Image
Writer/Creator: Mark Sable
Artist: Paul Azaceta
Colorist: Nick Filardi

When I was a young kid, I was always dreaming of how it would be nice to forget about my childhood problems. As a young male, I was sort of out of the norm among my peers.
I was a bookworm, nerd what have you! While other kids played out doors, I stayed put with my trusted friends. My heroes from the comic books. I could always count on these characters not to tease me, give a message of hope, and rile my imagination.

Mark sable writes a story of unique adolescence life featuring the courage of young Jonathan who lives in the real world. Jonathan learned the real world might also include the surreal world of comics. This young lad loved the characters in the comic named The Pantheon. He so loved them that in time he would pretend to role-play as some of his own imaginary heroes. Until he discovered that, his father was a super hero. As he had suspicions about his father one day he decided to jump out the window to play his fathers bluff. However, unfortunately disaster happened. His father could do nothing but to watch his son fly out the window to the street below.

Jonathan attends a high school where other teens have super powers and the teachers who are all former villains had sinister plans to take the kids powers away from them. Old wounds where re-opened by nemesis of the past, and the courage of Jonathan emerges in this great mini-series. I loved the mini-series I was sad it had to end. The Grounded mini-series is great reading for all ages it has action and very emotional dialogue between the characters. The artist Paul Azacta pencils are darkly inked and have an unmistakable roughness to his style that makes it his own. This is one of my picks for comic book mini-series of the year!

I give mini-series and inquisitive rating of five.

BOMB QUEEN #1-4

Publisher: Shadowline/Image
Writer/Artist: Jimmie Johnson
Colorist: Angel Marin

Bomb Queen is the epitome of what a female villain should be. She is a conniving, egotistical, sultry, and sexy vixen. (Ahh! my kind of women, no offense to my wife of course) This series explodes with mayhem and action from the opening panels with the introduction of Bomb Queen in issue number one of the sexy dictator, until the climatic final panels in issue number four is explosive. This title was so exhilarating it was BOOMING hot! This title in appearance is for Mature readers and has a hands on appearance and feel too it. (Watch those too) it is pure enjoyment for comic fans especially readers who love their characters on the dark and sexy side! "Lady Death, Shi, Banshee, Cheetah".

This mini-series is worth checking out I give this an inquisitive rating of five!

Two Legendary Characters! Two Legendary Titles!

For over sixty years these two Characters have been a mainstay at each respective publisher. The big two Marvel and DC comics. Both titles and the Characters have had a resurgence in popularity as well as Title sales. Here is some Inqusitive insight on their latest titles.

Captain America #18

WRITER: ED BRUBAKER
ARTIST: STEVE EPTING
PUBLISHER: MARVEL

Captain America is a very busy hero these days. (See Civil War #1 review on this blog!) Cap is in London searching for Winter Soldier (aka. Bucky). He asks for help from The INVADERS team members Union Jack and Spitfire. Twenty-First Century Blitz: PART 1 is a great jumping on point if you have not been reading the adventures of Captain America lately.

Ed Brubaker stories and the artwork of Steve Epting has catapulted this character and this Marvel Title to new heights. I truly have enjoyed the new direction in Captain America’s Attitude he is the definitive hero defending America wearing the Red White and Blue. Great surprises await you. The continuing mental bickering between The Red Skull trying to control the mind of General Lukin is enough to peak interest in this title. Who will dominate the mental war between them! Maybe we will get some insight when I give an Inquisitive review at the end of this story arc in Captain America #21. Great surprises await you!

So readers I give this title an Inquisitive rating of four!

All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #4

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Publisher: DC

As readers know, Frank Miller’s writing style is dark but poignant. Miller wrote such titles as Robocop, Sin City, and of course, The Dark Knight graphic novels. When Miller wrote The Dark Knight stories, he depicted Batman as a menacing enforcer of justice. The Dark Knight persona from his graphic novels moves fluidly into this title. He depicted Batman what he really is and what he has become after witnessing the murder of his parents: a grieving maniac destined to fight crime and injustice in Gotham City. So now after Dick Grayson witnesses the death of his parents Batman takes him under his wing. (Ok I know a bat has a wing) Believe me readers once Dick Grayson figures out Batman is not as crazy as he really is, Robin the boy Wonder will be just as messed up as Batman himself.

Issue number four storyline continues after the events in issue number three. No, I am not going to retrace what happened in issue number three. I will tell you that Black Canary guest starred in that issue. This story centers on young Dick Grayson’s first night in the bat cave. I implore readers to check out this issue. Jim Lee’s penciling of the bat cave will leave you awe struck. The panels of the bat cave will make you believe this legendary place does exist. Batman should really consider renting out the Bat Cave for special events. That is all I can say on that matter. The Inking by Scott Williams is great! The coloring by Alex Sinclair is amazing which fills the panels with ambiance and depth. The title started with a lot of buzz around the world of comics, rather the title lost a little steam but know readers are catching on to this to this remarkable title. Time will tell.

I give this title and Inquisitive rating of five.

An Inquisitive Question by The Inquisitive critiquer.

I was wondering with all the little fury flying rodents in the Bat Cave How does Batman keep the Bat mobile clean of bat poop?

Three tales of everyday life!

Love and Rockets #16
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Writers/Artist: Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez

The creators of Love and Rockets has once again presented a jewel of an issue involving the favorite characters loyal readers adore!


FINE TO VERY FINE
After having had her way with Ray in the morning,Vivian departs for the day and kicks Ray out of the house to run errands. The good news for Ray is she mentioned that a mutual friend is having a Comic-Con party later in the evening. Once at the party Ray’s comical misadventures (while trying to woo a cute woman) is uneasy for this middle-aged man. The attraction to this woman’s derriere and her panties lines causes Ray to have a happy evening. Who is this mysterious woman? Why it’s Maggie. This is a hilarious tale of a middle-aged man’s social experience at the expense of others. This is another normal day in the life of Ray Dominquez with Vivian and Maggie along for the ride.

DOWN IN HEAVEN starring The Kid Stuff Kids
Sister Killer and Brother Jimmy are discussing “What happens if you do not go to heaven? After the discussion, they have questions for their mom Guadalupe Reyna. She tells the story how she meet Killer’s father Hector. Guadalupe happens to be the niece of Fritz the cult-film star. The great pacing of the flashback stories sets up the final part of this four-part tale which is Hector falling in love with Guadalupe's best friend Sandy and the strange fascination they both share for the Cult-film star Fritz.

Day-by-Day with Hopey
When do you realize a relationship is over? Hopey is experiencing just that!
Hopey is featured in this story titled “Sunday is put your Gun down day” Have Hopey’s free-spirit lifestyle cost her a relationship?

I have not read the title Love and Rockets in quite some time. This cult title for Mature Readers has been selling off the comic shop racks since it was first published in 1981. The creative team of Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez has put this new series back in hands of eager fans. The creative team’s is well known for the visually gratifying artwork, social storytelling along with the quirky and imaginative believable characters this is why it is so popular among worldwide fans for over twenty-five years. The popularity of this title has positioned Fantagraphics Books as one of the most noticed independent publishers in the world today.

I give this title an Inquisitive Rating of FIVE, ARIBA!

INQUISITIVE RATING SYSTEM

Hey everyone!

Here is the rating system of The Inquisitive Critiquer.

Rating scale: 1-not inquistive, 2-so-so inquisitive, 3-seems inquisitive, 4-very inquisitive, 5-superbly inquisitive

"THE WEDDING TO COME"

Black Panther #15

Love is bliss, especially when you are the King of Wakanda, T'challa and maybe his bride to be Ororo a member of the X-men known as Storm.

This enchanting tale is full of action and romance. It is the beginning of the "Wedding of the Century" or is it? Reginald Hudlin's story is filled with the expectations of a normal wedding proposel by T'challa to Ororo, but readers and fans you will soon learn that many situations keep the reader in suspence. Soctt Eaton's pencils and the Inking of Klaus Janson gels Hudlin's story into a great tale. This creative team is making this title not just noticed by the loyal fans but new fans as well. New Readers are feverishly buying back issues to catch up from those stories and finding themselves immersed by this series.

I think many "Good" stories are coming your way from Marvel's Black Panther.

I give this an Inquisitive rating of Five.

Bluff & Tales from a Forgotten Planet #O

Narwain publishing's contibution is a kid friendly title "Bluff" backed with the Sci-Fi story "Tales from a forgotten planet". Bluff is about the adventures of an adorable pit bull and his best buddy, who happens to be a flea. Giovanni Masi and Yoshiko Wantanbe bring this delightful title to children of all ages, including grown ones (smile).

The Inquisitive critiquer give this title a rating of four.

TWO REVIEWED FROM "FREE COMIC BOOK DAY"

Liberty Girl #O

Heroic Publishing contribution to "Free comic book day" was Liberty Girl.

This exciting title will launch in July and I think is a great read. Dennis Mallonee writes about the return of a herorine from the past. Liberty Girl returns to foil a bank robbery to unbelieving eyes. The pencils by Daerick Gross is open and clean. The inking by Jeff Brennan is tight and smooth. The colors by Tom Luth give an air brush look to the charecters. This will be a great title to pick up and check out when published.


The Inquistive Critiquer gives this is a inquisitive reading rating of four.

Welcome to Story-Arc Blog!

Hello All,

Welcome to Story-Arc blog where I review Non-Fiction Books, Comic Books and Graphic Novels.

I am The Inquisitive Critiquer.

I will be reviewing these books and others from different mediums and give an insight on novels available to inquisitive readers.

This is a blog site for fun and informaition. Next time you visit I will have my first postings for you!

See you soon!

The Inquisitive Critiquer!