Fearless Dawn # 1 - Free Comic Book Day

Writer/Artist: Steve Mannion

Publisher: Asylum Press

Published: May 2010

Probably one of the more provocative covers for a free comic book in recent years. Fearless Dawn is a superhero of sorts. She's, she's, well I'm not 100% sure, but she has a weird bat/antler type hat, a leather vest, leather slacks, tattoos, and a whole of fiestyness - which make her a superhero in my books!

In the eight page preview, she's storms Manitoba (?), to take down illegal suppliers of the deadly COMBAT DRUG! Basically she mows down a bunch of nazi type individuals, with the last page having her confront a drugged up baddie. Good stuff. The art is a nice blend of pin-up cheesecake with visceral action. Mannion seems to like drawing attractive ladies fighting military-esque monsters. Which is awesome.

The remainder of the issue has more previews of Asylum Presses other works. There are some good stuff...but to me Fearless Dawn is the highlight. Check the site for more in yo face awesomeness. But before you head on over, check out some kick-ass art below.

Daughters of the Dragon # 1 of 6

Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Khari Evans
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2006

Running a bit behind...Daughters of the Dragon has Colleen Wing & Misty Knight working as bailbondswomen. However some of their clients (see below), end up stealing from someone they shouldn't steal from, and Misty and Colleen are forced to clean up the mess.

Fantastic Four # 565: Don't Eat Valeria!

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2009

Ok, the FF take on a giant tentacle monster. The kids are at risk, and the townsfolk besieged by the monster are not what they seem. Nuff said.

Epic Illustrated # 22: Marada the She-Wolf in 'Wizard's Masque'

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Publisher: Marvel
Published: February 1984

Epic was a relatively short lived magazine published by Marvel. It allowed Marvel to avoid the Comics Code and create stories of a more mature theme. Issue # 22 has a number of stories, but it also has Marada the She-Wolf battling the most dreaded of monsters: the tentacled Gyatria. While sleeping, Marada's companion Arianrhod attempts to create a portal to whisk herself home. Unfortunately for her she opens door that lets things pass that should not pass.


Marada attacks the beast, only to be dragged to the spaces in between spaces. (Ugh, I can't believe I just wrote that!)

The beast transports Marada to what appears to be a land right out of Arabian Nights. It is here that she befriends Taric Redhand (who just so happens to cop a feel during a battle.)
But don't worry folks, he gets his just reward for such an indiscretion!


Before his untimely death, he advised Marada to seek out Jaffar the Wizard:




Too bad for Marada though.

Just goes to show: Can't never trust a wizard named Jaffar.




More Comix 365 articles:  

Pigeons From Hell

Dork #11

Doctor Strange: The Oath # 4 of 5

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist/Colorist: Marcos Martin/Javier Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel
Published: March 2007

If you've been reading my blog the last few days, I've been devoting my entries to focus on monsters that have tentacles. I'm not sure what it is, but it seems that monsters with tentacles are very freaky. Not as bad as spiders, but freaky nonetheless.

Issue # 4 of The Oath has Dr. Strange furthering his quest to find a cure for his assistant Wong. Night Nurse is along for the ride, keeping her eye on both Dr. Strange and Wong. Unfortunately for the trio, the Marrakant Hellguard has invaded New York and destroyed Night Nurses hospice. This beast has defeated all previous Sorcerers Supreme that it has fought, but today he's gonna learn a lesson from a New York Sorcerer Supreme!


Probably the best line of the issue is when Night Nurse storms the Hellguard, only to be whisked away by it. Dr. Strange remarks: "This is why I never joined the Avengers." (Jokes on him!! wink nod.)


The issue ends with Dr. Strange confronting his shadow nemesis - you won't believe who it is!

Daredevil # 186

Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Klaus Janson
Publisher: Marvel
Published: September 1982

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Today it's a comic on everyone's favorite blind defender of justice (who just so happens to be Irish). Issue # 186 is a perfect issue to celebrate a day more often or not responsible for the first quarter of the years stupidities because it has one of the stupidest villains I've ever seen: The Stilt Man!!


Who is easily defeated by Daredevil by fiddling with the balance do-hicky. (I personally would have swept the leg.)

Crash!!


Who? Daredevil or Stilt Man?

Doctor Strange: The Most Mystical Hero of All! Treasury Edition

Writers/Artists: Various
Publisher: Marvel
Published: 1975

I picked up this gem in St. John's NL for $5! The book itself is 13" by 10" printed on sweet sweet old comic pulp print. You know the kind! The kind that given a little more time, will soon capture the smells of whatever room and life they are exposed to. I hope my comics someday will smell like bacon and Old Spice (as those are the smells that best embody my true essence). It has 8 reprints of Dr. Strange and 1 pin up. The stories range from 1966 to 1973 and include:

1. The End at Last! (Dr. Strange vs. The Dread Dormammu)
2. The Origin of the Ancient One!
3. The End of the Ancient One!
4. To Dream - Perchance to Die! (Dr. Strange vs. Nightmare)
6. Face to Face with the Magic of Baron Mordo!
7. The Cult and the Curse!
8. Finally, Shuma-Gorath!

The last one has Dr. Strange battling a giant tentacle thingy with a giant eyeball. Over the years I've really taken a bizarre liking to horrific monsters being inspired by Lovecraft. That guy really detested tentacle like things. There's a game based off his writings called Arkham Horror. I used to play it when I lived in St. John's. It was an interesting game, in that, unlike most games that can be fairly easy to defeat, this game was insanely hard. The monsters were tough to beat, and more often than not, to live you had to run away, lest you die or go insane.

One time when we were playing, I was the female Jewish author character (can't remember her name), and not even half way through the game, I had gone insane twice, and my only weapons were a .45 hand gun and a bottle of whiskey. This was amusing on so many levels.

Eternals # 4

Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Publisher: Marvel
Published: October 1976

90 seconds is not nearly enough time to describe how awesome Jack Kirby is. Kirby is one of those guys that has this endless stream of ideas that he was able to convey on paper. His artwork snaps, crackles, and pops. Each panel is a joy to behold.

Take for instance Eternals # 4. Not a major standout issue in the Kirby cannon, but even when it is standard Kirby work it still looks frickin' fantastic! The story has New York under attack by demon deviants. Ikaris is on the offensive to repel the demonic hordes, but soon falls prey to a 'brain mine'. Sersi, meanwhile has troubles of her own when she is attacked at her apartment. She uses her powers to turn her attackers into lizards. The issue ends with the Arishem ready to levy some cosmic justice on humankind.

Futurama # 33: Attack of the 50-Foot Amy

Writer: Ian Boothby
Artist: Carlos Valenti
Publisher: Bongo Comics
Published: May 2007

I'm a bit behind in my blogging, so I'm going to try a new thing till I catch up: THE 90 SECOND REVIEW!

Today has Amy being doused with a spray that makes her grow till she is the size of King Kong. As can be expected the issue has scenes parodied straight out of King Kong. Also Bender starts emulating - 90 seconds are up!!!! Enjoy some scans:

Twas' Bender that killed the beast. 

More Comix 365 articles:  

Fearless Dawn

Liberty Comics #2

Funny Book # 2

Writers/Artists: Jason, Martin Kellerman, Michael Kupperman, David B., Paul Hornschemeier, Jordan Crane, Mark Martin, R. Kikuo Johnson, Megan Kelso, Johnny Ryan, John Pham, Joe Daly, Max
Publisher: Fantagraphics
Published: May 2006

Another edition of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY MADNESS. This is Fantagraphics addition, and as you can plainly see above, it's got some of their top talent. Check some scans:

Fantastic Four # 543

Writers: Dwayne McDuffie, Stan Lee, Paul Pope
Artists: Mike McKone, Nick Dragotta, Mike Allred, Paul Pope, Andy Lanning & Cam Smith
Publisher: Marvel
Published: January 2007

Another Paul Pope entry today. I figure I got's to just get all my Pope comics on this beast so I can start focusing on other comics.

Fantastic Four 543 has 3 tales. The only one I was really concerned with was Pope's (of course). The story is a classic grudge match between ol' Spidey and Flame Brain. One of the greatest dynamics to come out of the Marvel Universe was the rival between the spoiled Human Torch and everyman Spider-Man. The two of them can really get at each others nerves, and Pope delivers on this front.

The other stories involve Stan Lee, Mole Man, and a retrospective of the FF via candid interviews with Marvel Heroes. What I don't quite get was when Stan Lee became less and less of a creator and more and more of a comic character? He's almost Robert Crumbish in his utmost desire to be depicted as a character in the world he helped create (less the fetishes, sex, and bizarre confessions). I suppose he has the absolute right to do this, and he is somewhat of a comic book character in his interviews, so I guess I should just shut my mouth before some Marvel Acolyte starts pasting my blog with hate...