The Eternals roam the earth again in the Marvel universe!

Eternals#1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: John Romita Jr.





The Return of Eternals!
by The Inqusitive Critiquer


In 1976, Jack Kirby had a vision with a title involving gods from the outer reaches of the universe. How would these immortals interact with the humans? Neil Gaiman the award winning science fiction writer with John Romita, Jr., artist extraordinaire team up to re-introduce, Ikaris, Mercury, Sersi, Thena, and the evil Druig better known as The Eternals.

When you are a sleep deprived medical internist at a psychiatric hospital, sometimes you can dream very bizarre dreams. In this situation, Mark Curry's dream is a reality check into immortality. During your daily rituals of life, have you ever wondered, “What is my purpose or can I make a difference in someone's life? Supposed there is an unexpected chance, you have an opportunity to make a difference. You have this capacity, but you do not realize it. You may possess great power beyond the extent of a mortal. A well-refined person who asks these very questions approaches Mark. Mark, it seems is not interested in the man's blabbering. Ike Harris is his name. He is trying to stir up memories from the mind of Mark Curry. Ike Harris tells Mark how he is an indestructible being, put here by aliens to preserve and safe guard the planet.

This excess of information is more than anyone can decipher at one meeting. It takes the mugging of Ike Harris and his explanation of the Celestials and the Deviants for Mark to re-consider that Ike was maybe telling the truth. On the other hand, Mark is convinced that this person is delusional and severely deranged than he thought. Maybe Curry needs another nap and a visit from the Sandman to ponder over what Ike Harris is trying to convey to him.

John Romita's artistic images are rich and fulfilling. The storyboards and spread pages erupt with believability and emotion. The inking by Danny Miki assisted by Tim Townsend adds excellent depth to the panels. The coloring by Matt Hollingsworth, along with Dean White and Paul Mounts is bold, bright and adds to the energy of the detailed cosmic scenes. The story by Neil Gaiman is poignant and thought provoking. This incredible remerging of the characters from the mind of Jack Kirby gains suitability and situate The Eternals return into the Marvel universe. Gaiman positioned them right in the fold of the civil war storyline with an underline sub-plot of public announcements that all heroes are to register under the government’s law. This is an extraordinary first issue and great reading for fans of these two incredible creative geniuses.

This monumental first issue of the six-issue mini-series receives a fan rating of five.

A great new Independent Title!

The Last Sin of Mark Grimm #1
Publisher: Silent Devil Productions, Inc.
Writer: M. Sean McManus
Artist: Chris Moreno

In a city filled with corruption, one investigator is taking the law into his hands. He is defiant against the police chief. Upholding the laws from the law book is not one of his freestanding rules. On this night, Mark Grimm may have committed his last sin.

Mark Grimm is a stand-alone police detective who is gritty and a crack shot with a pistol. Grimm's chief thinks he is a crackpot. Grimm is fresh on the heels of Pluto. Pluto is the crime lord in the underbelly side of the city. Grimm resembles the western style of The Vigilante and The super detective Dick Tracy. He wears a transistor watch radio and slings a holster on his hip. Grimm's Night is full of unsuspected turns. His girlfriend Audrey is kidnapped by Pluto' sinister looking rogues. Grimm while trying to save his girlfriend miscalculates firing his weapon and shoots an unsuspecting target.

Innovative writing by M. Sean McManus keeps the reader intrigued about this dark film noir detective. The mystery and action as well as intrigue of the characters abound in this story. The drawing by Chris Moreno tightly blends his penciling with his inking. The dark panels present an eerie underworld atmosphere. This is an immensely first-rate Independent comic. The first issue is a grand introduction about the hard-edged detective, which readers will enjoy. Silent Devil Productions will attract new readers with this title.

This title deserves an inquisitive rating of four.

An overlooked 2005 Crossover Jewel! JLA/Cyberforce!

JLA/Cyberforce
Publishers: DC/Top Cow
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artists: Don Mahnke, Norm Rapmund

Cyber freaks are put to rest by JLA/Cyberforce.

In 1992, Marc Silverstri and other artists defected from Marvel and started an independent comic company called Malibu comics. One of the first titles to roll out was Cyberforce #1 written by Eric Silverstri and drawn by Marc Silvestri who is now the CEO of Top Cow productions inc.

Cyberforce then consisted of five team members, RipClaw, Cyblade, Stryker, and Impact, Ballistic was a villain in the early issues trying to recruit Velocity to the villainous team named Cyber Data. The team has altered but the attraction of readers from 1992 still peak particular interest in this mighty team. Now it is 12 years later and they re-emerge teaming up with the most definitive team in comic book history DC Comics the Justice League of America.

The former member Ripclaw, succumbing to a virus can raise the dead with a source call Godtech. The Cyberforce team and the JLA both arrive and locate Ripclaw in Budapest Hungary. The un-dead monsters controlled by Ripclaw attack the military. They accuse each other about the massacres of the attack. Martian Manhunter calms the storm with his telepathic ability and senses Velocity is not giving all the relevant details to the situation. As the combined forces battle the cyber monsters, Ripclaw fights alongside his un-dead warriors. His former friends with the help of the JLA defeat him. This happens with a cost of the Martian Manhunter as Ripclaw tried to infuse with the virus the Martian Manhuter dies. A unanimous decision had to be made to use Godtech, and recapture Ripclaw and bring him back to his true self, or rescue the Martian Manhunter's life. The decision belonged to Velocity and consequently the fight for the authority of Godtech between the super teams eventually reached the boiling point of fighting proportions.

A fascinating story written by Joe Kelly keeps the reader salivating after reading every page. The artwork by Doug Mahnke along with inks by Norm Rapmund visually enhances the storyteller’s panels with quasi-expanding detail of the cyber-infested mutations. The stunning pencil work is intricate and accurately presented. The panels explored great fighting action between the teams. The confrontation between the teams was worth buying this title in itself. The dialogue between the heroes as they are battling between themselves is indicative of the in-depth personas of each character. E.g. as Batman and Cyblade get ready to go hand to hand Batman exclaims “what are the chances you and I can talk through this” Cyblade's response was “ probably not very good Dammit…and I was going to ask you out”.

Readers are so use to seeing the same old rivals it is good to revel in a confrontation of a unique situation in comics in a good quality crossover. I am an avid fan of crossovers not because I can see who can be pitted against whom, but give the reader a dream like scenario of what if? (Not to take anything from the Marvel title) and how would it play along in another publications universe. A great emotional story of loyalty between teammates and a scenario with Cyberforce realizing when a fellow teammate has gone astray your true friends you. Once admired and respected during their most daunting time.

Once again, Top Cow and DC comics have a fantastic one-shot and a nice build up to the re-launch of the Cyberforce title, which was re-launched in March of 2006.

This title deserves an inquisitive rating of five stars.

Cyberforce Reborn!

Cyberforce #0

Publisher: Top Cow
Writers: Marc Silverstri & David Wohl
Pencils: Marc Silverstri
Inks: Matt Banning, Joe Weems, and Eric Basaldua

Cyberforce #0 are the preludes to the launches in March 2006!

When you are in a situation with your back up against the wall, what should you do?
RipClaw and Velocity are dying of a virus and need help to reverse the effects; everything thought into the analysis has failed. Their only hope is to find a cure before perishing. Deceit is lurking around the corner by the crew that has taken both to the bitter outskirts of Antarctica to find the source named Godtech. They fight the crew to provide themselves more time.

Months later, another Russian ship searches for survivors. Only to recognize the party of the Russian ship frozen dead. The crew finds a diary by Velocity and uncovers something more sinister.

This was a great prelude to the re-launch of Cyberforce. The artwork by Marc Silverstri was amazing as ever. The real joy is the coming of the crossover by DC Comics and Top Cow, which was JLA/Cyberforce!

This title receives an inquisitive rating of three.

THE FRONTLINES OF WAR!

Civil War: Frontline# 1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artists: Ramon Bachs, Steve Leiber, Ken Kobayashi



The world is changing with the Civil War between masked heroes and the sovereignty of the Government! In a world of paranoid plot theories, none can be more aware of an individual donning a disguise and protecting civilians from villains. Is this vigilantism; is it the protocol of a citizen's arrest? Are some people even aware who this people are and how they systematically operate!

Civil War: Frontline #1 is a title that will have the faithful reader right in the thick of war with the dividing lines between Captain America and Iron Man. The title has three mini-tales all surround from the occurrences of Civil War #1.

The first story Embedded spirals out from the events after the government wanted the heroes to register and reveal their identities. Spiderman wanted to offer his reasons for wearing a disguise. Spiderman visited a reporter who constitutionally put the record strait about Spiderman’s worries for his family and spouse if he would reveal his identity. Iron Man makes an unprecedented announcement to the worldwide television audience. This story is worth picking up this title alone. The second tale Accused visits the potential consequence of what happened with Speedball and the New Warriors.

The third is story is a montage featuring Spiderman and an anonymous poem from 1944 concerning the official law 9066 by the president. The executive law 9066 was to detain Asian-Americans and send them to wartime relocation camps. This was the largest controlled migration in Modern American history.

This is a fantastic reading companion to the Civil War event, which, is spreading through out all the Marvel titles. The Artwork by the various artists in each story captures the writer’s thoughts respectively. This story has not yet begun to touch the surface of the political statement against the heroes and the other citizens on the frontline in this critical time within the Marvel universe. Which side will you choose?

This title definitely deserves an inquisitive rating of four!

Another Great one Gone!

The incredible Alex Toth has Passed here is my Appreciation!














AN APPRECIATION

ALEX TOTH

JUNE 25 1928 –MAY 27 2006

I was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of the great comic book and animation artist Alex Toth. While growing up and living in the urban city of Washington D.C. I had many opportunities to play basketball, or play at the playground but reading Comic Books and Television was my forte. Alex Toth’s work was present in both mediums and I had the opportunity to experience his artistry in both. I am forty-five years old and for at least thirty of those years I have been touched by the skill of this artisan.

Alex Toth was one of my favorite artists of all time. I was a huge fan and enjoyed Mr. Toth’s drawing style. His trademark cleft in the chin of many of his male characters was the signature little identifier to me, that he was the artist drawing the comic. Mr. Toth’s facial drawings of the characters were so distinctive in detail and expression. His action panels were fluid and thrilling. Mr. Toth influenced me in many ways with his art form. The earliest impression he had on me was the cartoon show Clutch Cargo! The amazing stills and frames of the characters in outer space were fascinating. I viewed different worlds and people which was amazing, it was as if I could touch them. The next influential moment was viewing my all time favorite Alex Toth creation the Hanna-Barbara cartoon character Space Ghost. As you looked at many Hanna-Barbara cartoon shows Mr. Toth’s expertise shinned in such shows as: Johnny Quest, and The Herculods. In the 1970’s the cartoon “Superfriends” premiered on TV. Once again, the talents of Alex Toth were as visible and distinctive as ever in the animated drawings of the popular DC comic’s characters. The story “Death flies the haunted sky” which he drew in Detective Comics #442 is one of my all time favorites. I have the book in my collection I will treasure this book always. After reading, I begin to appreciate his artistry as a storyteller.

As a Comic Reviewer Contributor, you always wish you could interview your hero or your favorite creator or artist. Alex Toth was my wish. If I could have interviewed him, I would tell him this. Mr. Toth Thank you for all you have done for me! Thank you for making me happy with your visions of adventure, and heroism. Thank you for making me believe in heroes like you!

To his family, Thank you for having the http://tothfans.dynu.com/ web site so, the many fans who knew of him and first time fans can experience his lifeworks. Alex Toth will be missed very much.