Comics: Break On Through to the Other Side
by Dee. 8/23/2018
Hey all:I've got a few previews for you this month, as well as some reviews! First up, Adventures of the Super Sons, followed by Marvel's long-awaited Infinity Wars (2018). Next is Stranger Things, and our final selection is Norroway. Let's dive in!
Adventures of the Super Sons (DC Comics): These are the adventures of Superboy (Jonathan Kent) and Robin (Damian Wayne) during their summer break. Or as Jon likes to call it, the Summer of Super. This is a quick moving issue, and as there are only 12 parts to this maxi-series, they need to get through the plot pretty quickly. Their foes are quickly revealed to be tweenish versions of many iconic villains (sons of Joker, Lex Luthor, daughter of Captain Cold, etc.)
I'd recommend this for teens, mostly because of the mild swearing used by Damian (no surprise here). This is a light-hearted and funny comic, with lots of bright color and minimal shadows. If you are looking for a quick summer read, this is the right comic series for you.
Infinity Wars (2018) (Marvel Comics): Infinity Wars is here! After a brief recap for those who haven't read the prelude issues, we jump into the thick of things with the Guardians of the Galaxy torn apart, and the Infinity Watch being created. There are some familiar faces, from Stephen Strange to Iron Man and the Black Widow. I would highly suggest reading the prequel comics (not just because they are entertaining) to get more context. We also get an answer to the identity of the mysterious Requiem, who first showed up in Infinity Wars Prime.
Stranger Things (Dark Horse): This is a four issue miniseries exploring the first season's trip by Will Byers into the Upside Down. This comic does have a narrator voice as well as Will talking to himself and the use of flashbacks. The color scheme is similar to the show, as the colors are muted and overall dark. The environment and characterization is also faithful to the original material.
Written by Jody Houser (webcomic Cupcake POW!, Orphan Black, Faith) and illustrated by the artist team (Stefano Martino, Keith Champagne, Lauren Affe and Nate Piekos), they do a great job depicting the stark horror of the Upside Down, the bleak atmosphere and the Demigorgon.
Release Date: September 26, 2018.
Norroway (Image Comics): This is a graphic novel due to come out this November, and it looks really cool. The story is based on a classic Scottish fairy tale, and as an interesting side note, the writer/artist team are sisters.
Sibylla, a girl looking for something more than just a husband when she goes to a fortune teller. She sullenly asks about her future husband, and is surprised by the answer: she is fated to marry the Black Bull of Norroway. Since the Black Bull was cursed by his savage behavior as a knight, he was cursed to be an actual (talking) animal.
Sibylla has a difficult time being shoved into the middle of an adventure, with the brusque Bull leading the way. The environment is Scottish wilderness, and the beauty of it comes through in every panel. The art is beautiful, and the color palette is diverse, ranging from cool blue-toned scenes to stark black and red scenes, showing significant storytelling through the art as well as the dialogue.
Trade Release Date: November 7, 2018.
Later,
Dee