3400 Westgate Drive
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 490-7900
Open 11AM to 11PM today
Live chat
(919) 4970-7900
My orders My wish lists My profile My events
Sign in New account
Sign out
My orders My wish lists My profile My events
Sign in New account
Sign out
Signed in as
0 items 0
Trade in
Gift cards
Shopping cart 0
All All Comic books Card singles
Games Graphic novels Toys
All All Comic books Card singles
Games Graphic novels Toys
  • Games
    Board & card games Collectible card games Role-playing games Miniatures games Paints & modeling supplies Dice, tokens & mats
    Collectible card games
    Sealed packs & boxes Sleeves & storage
    Card singles
    Magic singles Magic buy list
  • Comics
    Comic book subscriptions Graphic novels Active titles Upcoming new titles Back-issues Issues by week Comics supplies
  • CCGs
    Collectible card games
    Sealed packs & boxes Sleeves & storage
    Card singles
    Magic singles Magic buy list
  • Toys
  • MoreCategories
    Games
    Board & card games Collectible card games Role-playing games Miniatures games Paints & modeling supplies Dice, tokens & mats
    Collectible card games
    Sealed packs & boxes Sleeves & storage
    Card singles
    Magic singles Magic buy list
    Comics
    Comic book subscriptions Graphic novels Active titles Upcoming new titles Back-issues Issues by week Comics supplies
    Other merchandise
    Gift cards
    Toys & statues
    Apparel Novelties Posters & art Sale Items
    Brick & mortar store
    Location Hours Events Beers on tap Discord
  • Gift cards
  • Help & FAQs
  • Sign in
  • Account
    My orders My wish lists My profile My events
    Sign in New account
    Sign out
    Signed in as
  • 0 items 0
    Trade in
  • Brick & mortar store
    Location Hours Events Beers on tap Discord
  • Events
You have an inactive comic book subscription. Click here to activate.
You have started a singles trade-in. It currently has 0 items with a credit total of $.00. Click here to submit.
News & features
Board Games: Learning is fun! 8/10/2024
Board Game: Party Time! 7/7/2024
Board Games: Bohnanza 6/20/2024
Comics: Sunny Spring Spectaculars 4/29/2024
Comics: Livin' On a Prayer 3/23/2024
Comics: Never Mind, Here's the Comics 2/8/2024
Comics: Wake Me Up When It's All Over 1/17/2024
Comics: It's Good for What Ails Ya 12/26/2023
Comics: Run to the Hills 11/3/2023
Comics: Let's Just Keep On Dancing 10/12/2023

Comics: I Wear My Sunglasses at Night

by Dee. 5/5/2022
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to another month of comic reviews! From Marvel, we have Doctor Strange: Nexus of Nightmares, from DC comes an issue of Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country, and from Artists, Writers and Artisans: The Joneses. Let's get to it.

Doctor Strange: Nexus of Nightmares (Marvel): Doctor Strange's dreams have been hijacked by Nightmare and it's particularly haunting because of the surreal quality of said nightmares. Mordo and Nightmare are poised to take over in Doctor Strange's weakened state. The Darkhold continues to be a source of sinister evil, and our villains are trying to get it.

This is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in reading Doctor Strange, considering how the story gives backstory for all the characters, rather than assuming that you have already been reading for a while. The script is from Ralph Macchio, Ibrahim Moustafa, and Neeraj Menon working together, and they make a killer one-shot.

The art also speaks tons, with a contrasting palette for the real world versus the dream world. Magic reigns supreme (forgive the pun) and dazzles the reader with the special effects. Though a bit wordy in order to give the appropriate background and motivations for the characters, it is still a worthwhile read.

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country (DC Comics): If you are a fan of the Sandman world and the cast of characters and the horror aspects of the series, you are in for a treat. The Corinthian, one of the universe's biggest baddies, is loose in the mortal world. If that wasn't bad enough, there's another nightmare-made-corporeal, but our main character Dream didn't make this one. Writer James Tynion IV (Woods, Wynd, UFOlogy) has lots of experience with writing horror, so this is a good fit for the setting.

The art, as always in a Sandman book, is excellent. Yanick Paquette and Lisandro Estherren (Strange Skies Over East Berlin, Redneck) provide bright panels with deep shadows, which sets the mood for this book. The art style changes for the characters walking through the world of dreams with more detail and solid colors, versus the more watercolored palette and lighter shadows in our earthly reality. My favorite panel provides a subtle reflection off the water of a docked boat, and it's details like that that make me appreciate the art even more.

The Joneses (Artists, Writers and Artisans): Also known as AWA, this independent creator-focused publisher is making waves with their titles. The Joneses might be a bit too soon to talk about deadly global pandemics, but it does have a positive spin on the occurrence: out of the chaos comes the Reborns, super-powered people (mostly) doing good. The family is all superpowered, and in hiding rather than go public and have to register with a community council. Family drama is present, and adding superpowers just increases the friction between the parents.

The art is realistic without being distracting, meaning the art doesn't look like it was superimposed over a photo of real people. I'm not a fan of art like that. The coloring is distinct for different characters, and the splash pages move the action along at a good pace. There are a few details of this world that I would like to see explored in future issues, so the world-building aspects of the writing are entertaining. Overall, a very interesting read.

Until next time, friends,
Dee
  • Your account
  • Your orders
  • Your subscription
  • Wish lists
  • Gift cards
  • Help
  • Contact us
  • Help main menu
  • Returns
  • Privacy & security
  • Brick & Mortar
  • Store location
  • Hours
  • Events
  • Discord
  • Subscriptions
  • Features
  • FAQs
  • Browse active titles
  • Title groups & crossovers
© 2017 Atomic Empire