Cinder & Ashe #1 DC

Title: Cinder & Ashe #1
Publisher: DC

A gun for hire duo who solve problems in A -Team fashion.  However unlike Hannibal and co. this is a far more gritty tale of an ex Vietnam Vet from the French Quarter and Vietnamese street orphan.

A good read, doesn’t try to hide the dirt and desperation of the war and it’s consequences on ordinary people, but doesn’t lull into a full on tale of woe either.  After reading this I will be on the lookout for the other titles in the mini series.

I was surprised at the graphic nature of some of the events in a DC title, but well done to them for not trying to sugar coat this story, or try to turn it into a superhero tale (it may still do but don’t think so).

Written by Gerry Conway who has worked on loads of main stream comics, defiantly has become a writer I will look out for.

You can buy Cinder & Ashe #1 from my ebid store

or check out amazon for more Gerry Conway titles

Caliber First Cannon of Justice #1 Radical Comics

Title: Caliber First Cannon of Justice #1

Publisher: Radical Comics

One of the first publications from this house, they wanted to emulate the more adult story telling of European and British comics than the American counterparts.

This is the tale of a mystical weapon in the hands of a part French part Indian warrior on a shaman’s quest to find the wielder of the weapon that would bring law to the wild west.

Deals in part with the way settlers and the rail companies dealt with the tribes, also begins to deal with the immigrant railroaders but that story arch seemed to disappear in the first book.

A lot happens in this first chapter, a little too much I feel as you don’t really get time to get to grips with what’s going on.

Still though the story and art are quality and well worth checking out.

To buy Caliber First Cannon of Justice #1 click on the link to Boarder Comics

Have a look at Hercules: The Knives Of Kush from radical as well at Amazon

Obergeist Ragnarok Highway #1 Image

Title: Obergeist Ragnarok Highway #1

Publisher: Image Minotaur

The first book from Minotaur under Image publishing.

Based upon the Nazi doctors of world war 2 and their experiments on the Jews during that period.  This story is about their hunt for the creation of super soldiers who can use ESP.  

Portrays the sickness and depravity that the regime did to people during that dark period, and it does it well without glorifying the gore or trying to put any funny twist that some comics try to lighten the book.  Pulls no punches and makes no apologies as the deeper question it poses is can a monster who sees the light redeem their soul.

Not for children, a definite for adults comic and a good read, but not a light one.

Buy Obergeist Ragnarok Highway from Boarder Comics

Or check out Dan Jolley’s work for Manga Warcraft Legends

Starblazer #105 The Conquerors of Earth

What doesn’t this comic have, It has time travel, battles, aliens and a world war 2 bomber plane.

A really fast paced quick and enjoyable read.  There is lots of scope for the story to be developed further, however the picture libraries were not designed for ongoing story lines, they were mostly created as 1 off stories with the only link being the title.

There is more than a reference to Wells and War of the worlds, however one of the characters talks about Lovecraft and that is how the story bridges into the pilots from another time surviving on a futuristic conquered Earth.

Starblazer have always been good reads, and the quality of story and art are always great.  Try something new and if you haven’t seen these comics before you get a lot for a relatively cheap price and I think if you like Sci Fi you wont be disappointed with this.

Buy Starblazer #105 from Boarder Comics

Or you can try Starblazer Adventures Game from Amazon

Brath #1 Crossgen Comics

This is a 5 star comic all the way, the story is brilliant the artwork is top notch and the worst shame is that it has fallen foul to the curse of Crossgen.  Why no other publisher has picked this title up and re-issued the original story line and then finished it is beyond me.  

This takes place in a fictitious world but mirrors our own with the empire playing the part of the Romans and Urelanders the Celts.  You see the world predominately through the Urelanders and their war chief Brath.  Written by Chuck Dixon it is in line with a lot of his work for Crossgen with work done on The Path and Way of the Rat and a good way from his work for DC.  

If you like your fantasy or ancient history then this is for you.  The battle scenes are immense and give you an epic movie feel.  The characters are well flushed out and rounded with flaws and traits, and if this series had been able to develop would defiantly be a must buy as there is clearly long legs to the tale. 

You can Buy Brath from Boarder Comics
Chuck Dixon has worked on a number of different genres and titles 
you can find GI Joe from 365Games which Chuck wrote

Tales of the Witchblade #6 Top Cow Image

Stand alone tales from the Witchblade.  This is set in the Roman Empire period in an occupied village where the locals are brutalised by the Roman conquerors.  This also reveals some of the history of the Witchblade and how she came into being from the Druids.

There is also a really good twist at the end of the book,  This was a real page turner to be fair.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and liked the historical aspect to it, but didn’t feel I missed out by not reading 170 other Witchblade issues.  

Have a try of this if you like a good fantasy historical read.

You can buy this comic from Boarder Comics
or get Witchblade Complete Collection DVD from Amazon

Battlefields Dear Billy Series Dynamite Entertainment

Battlefields Dear Billy Series

Dynamite Entertainment

This series part of the Garth Ennis Battlefields Books is simply put amazing.  It is a story that will haunt you and live with you for a long time.  The entire Battlefields comics are where Garth shows his forte as a comic writer, but Dear Billy is set apart for it’s tale of the absolute horrors of war, not just the gore which some focus on.

Set around a nurse on the Pacific front of World War 2, it delves into the hatred war causes and it’s destruction on a personal level.  The action sequences are short as the story is about the medical staff dealing with the fallout of the battles, and I think writer and artist have done a brilliant job of balancing it right so not to distract from the story.

Defiantly a comic for mature adult audience, not for graphic nature but more for the understanding of what is going on.  You can see influences of Charlie’s War in this tale, but it is not a clone of that great work.  

You can Buy Dear Billy by clicking on the link 
Find more Garth Ennis Battlefields TPB Volumes @ 365Games

Commando Comic 1910 The Death Squad

Commando Comic 1910

The Death Squad

A German SS squad operating behind allied lines in WW2.  One of the best stories from this prolific producer of War comics.  This is the tale of a fanatical group dedicated to killing all that stood against them and a group of soldiers that hunted them down.

This is a perfect starter for someone to get into Commandos, or the dedicated collector.  I like this tale as it was more gritty and almost could have been written for the Fleetway War or Battle series which tended to be more bloody and gritty than Commando.

Buy The Death Squad here off Ebid.