Authors: Vehlmann & Bonhomme Age: 12 years and up Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm Number of pages: 48 colour pages Publication: October 2015 ISBN: 9781849182652
Price: £6.99 inc. VAT
Jean-Baptiste Poulain comes to Auvergne in central France to
investigate the deaths of two young women. Both were killed one year
apart in the same barbaric, ritual way, their bodies left near the Black
Virgin Chapel ... and the day approaches when another victim could turn
up. Unfortunately, he’s going to have to struggle against the locals’
superstitions, the hostility of the authorities, and the hatred all seem
to direct at the neighbouring gypsies.
I have to say that the art is almost a simplistic style but works very well. And the superb colouring style, using tones to set the various scenes, by DELF (cover credit, maybe? ) adds a great deal more impact. The story is VERY good. I'm not sure what I could write without having to add "SPOILER" beforehand.
It all seems to be the work of the Romani, of course....but just what is the priest's secret? Is he a "wrong 'un?" and will our hero survive being lashed to a tree in the freezing Winter with a killer's knife at his throat???
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIEEEEEE!
Sorry. Scared myself a bit there. Still, didn't wet my pants.
A very enjoyable read and my only gripe is that Colourist, Background Artist or Letterer -ALL need to be credited. Not doing so is an insult to their work -or just credit everyone on the inside page NOT the cover.
Authors: Dorison, Nury & Rossi Age: 15 years and up Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm Number of pages: 56 colour pages Publication: September 2015 ISBN: 9781849182614
Price: £7.99 inc. VAT
After the SPOOKS’ difficult mission in Cuba,
Morton Chapel has accepted Kathryn Lennox’s help in attempting to treat
his daughter, Megan. The girl has been catatonic since she witnessed her
father shoot her demented mother Madeleine. But Chapel speaks of
possession rather than insanity; an hypothesis the rational Kathryn
finds it difficult to accept. And Madeleine’s father, a mining industry
mogul, intends to exact his revenge from the SPOOKS leader.
If there is one thing any reader of Spooks should have learnt by now it is that nothing is ever clean-cut or easy and that cover is very haunting but doesn't prepare you for the story! And the art by Christian Rossi is just superb and I really want to find out whether this is water colour, ink wash or....gods forbid -art done on a computer!
I think that the only thing you need to write about this book is "Spooks". Its been fun and grim from 1-5 so looking forward to future stories! Big moustaches. Cannot go wrong with big moustaches.
BUY BUY BUY BUY -but not big moustaches. Those you have to grow.
Author: Yves Sente & André Juillard
Based on the Characters of E.P. Jacobs Age: 10 years and up Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm Number of pages: 72 colour pages Publication: September 2015
ISBN: 9781849182645
Price: £8.99 inc. VAT
1944. England is still locked in a struggle to
the death with Nazi Germany. But already a new threat looms among the
peaks of the Himalayas. For now, though, Squadron Leader Blake, having
saved London from a German prototype, is assigned to a top secret
mission, during which he meets with an old friend he hasn’t seen since
India: Philip Mortimer. Soon, the pair are introduced to an officer
working for Allied Intelligence: Colonel Olrik...
Well,this Olrik chap seems pleasant enough. Need to find out how Blake went from an RAF Squadron Leader to a British Army staff officer, albeit as part of Intelligence. There's a mystery for you military buffs out there!
Seventy-two pages for £8.99 isn't bad. This is a nice chunky read and if you do know your history you will know how what happens in the story reflects what was going on at the time (except for Blake going from Squadron Leader to...well, okay, it seems the Army didn't want to lose a man like Blake so made him an Army Captain. Very rum do!).
The art by Juillard, well, how much work did Etienne Schreder do? No,NOT credited on the cover which I feel is insulting an artist who is credited with "Background inking" -COVER CREDIT! And how about a COVER CREDIT for the wonderful colourist Madeleine DeMille? Schreder and DeMille are artists in their own right and should get cover credits. Sorry, just makes me angry.
That anger out of the way,this was, as usual, an enjoyable read!
Authors: Pierre Veys & Carlos Puerta Age: 12 years and up Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm Number of pages: 64 colour pages Publication: September 2015
ISBN: 9781849182522
Price: £8.99 inc. VAT
Manfred Von Richthofen is now flying over Russia, where his missions
escorting heavy bombers or strafing ground troops are doing considerable
damage. So much so that he’s eventually offered the opportunity to
transfer to the Western Front and pit himself against the best British
fighters. But a nasty surprise is waiting for him: among his new
colleagues is his old enemy Prince Friedrich. The foe in the air may not
be the most dangerous one…
Now well into World War One, this book cannot be faulted art-wise. Look at those pages below -almost like they are taken from a landscape work. The scenes, from the quiet and restive to ground and air action are so good that I actually said to myself, out loud, "why is Carlos Puerta drawing comics?!" Yes, very snobby I know but it wasn't meant to be taken that way. As an artist you take the work that pays you -if you want to eat! And Puerta does superb work here but I bet, somewhere, he has a lot of paintings and I hope people get to appreciate those.
And, yes, this is a fiction based on the life of Richthofen and I "mustn't get too picky about it" -so I don't. Story is interesting and if this series does win some award for art (obviously not outside Europe) then we have to give up.
Above...yep. That's me with the pointy winklepicker type shoes. That's Lassie 1 and my brother -who is reading a black and white comic I had purchased at Jarman's in Mina Road, St. Werburgh's. This must be around 1967/68.
The comic had a strip in which a greedy man had molten gold poured down his throat. Never sure if it was an Eerie reprint or not. Unlike The Purple Hood and The Adventures of Mark Tyme, this comic never survived any of the family moves after Sevier Street then Southmead.
Pity.
And, yes, that is an aluminium bath upon the wall- no indoor bathroom. Baths were in the kitchen. And the toilet was an outdoor one.
Sevier Street is where a lot of my mysteries solving began. I'd go back and scream: "Kid -GET A LIFE!!!"
Up-dated....or whatever.
A much earlier photo of me eating ice cream sat next to Ma in Sevier Street. The photo was taken by Mrs Bray -her husband was a taxi driver. They had a son,John. No idea where they are.
You can see the bath tub and kitchen doorway and to the left the blue coal shed door. Toilet shed is out of view!
That "pudding basin haircut...The Beatles have a lot to answer for!
Authors: Jean-Claude Bartoll & Renaud Garreta Age: 15 years and up Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm Number of pages: 48 colour pages Publication: October 2015
ISBN: 9781849182713
Price: £6.99 inc. VAT
Najah, after infiltrating the Mafia as part of Project Insiders, is
continuing her perilous mission: to identify the leaders of the High
Council of organised crime syndicates. She finds herself in Moscow with
her boss, Sam Nachez. Danger is everywhere, though. The Council’s chief
of security still suspects her, Russia is plagued with ultra-violent
power struggles ... and even her guerrilla past could catch up with her
at any time…
Let me just write that the fact there was been no further news on this series being picked up for US movie treatment shows how bad things have gotten in movie-land. If you recall the review of volume1 I mentioned that Jessica Alba's name was put forward to play the lead character. Yeah, Hollywood, you stick with constant reboots!
Naja looks good and that just hides the secret of what her task is and if you don't know...shame on you. But take a day off, Naja. Go to a political rally. Watch an assassination. Then its motorbikes, chases, gunfire, crashing helicopters and just what is the US President up to?
Happy ending, though, as Naja...oh. She's going to be executed.
Authors: Denayer & Van Hamme Age: 15 years and up Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm Number of pages: 56 colour pages Publication: November 2015 ISBN: 9781849182690
Price: £7.99 inc. VAT
Wayne Shelton has a sad duty to fulfil: give the heirs of his
deceased team members their share of the pay for the disastrous
Khalakjistan mission. But the solemnity of the task is quickly
shattered: two hitmen attempt to shoot him in South America, then a bomb
is placed under his car in the USA... Who exactly placed such an
extravagant price on Shelton’s head? And who’s the mysterious biker
trailing him?
Remember when mercenaries used to be the "scum of the earth" or, more politely, "soldiers of fortune" Remember Burton, Moore, Harris and Kruger in The Wild Geese"? Sigh. Nothing a hand grenade through a door or silenced automatic couldn't take care of. Ahhh. Simpler days.
And at least they used to be able to pay families of mercenaries who had been killed. Now you -well, rather, Shelton- have people out trying to kill him. Action and twists (what else!) and some really great artwork that is accentuated by the colour work of Bertrand Denoulet.
Must remember if I've any problems at customs to offer a bribe. What can go wrong?
In diesem Crossover-Klassiker der Superheldencomic-Historie ist der
mächtige außerirdische Beyonder fasziniert von den
Fähigkeiten der irdischen Helden. Also schickt er die
Avengers, Spider-Man, die X-Men, die
Fantastic Four und einige ihrer ärgsten Gegner auf
den fernen Planeten Battleworld, um dort gegeneinander Krieg zu
führen.
Der Klassiker komplett in einem Band
Die Mutter aller Superhelden-Events
Die perfekte Vorbereitung auf das 2016er Event "Secret Wars"
Authors: Morris Age: 8 years and up Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm Number of pages: 48 colour pages Publication: October 2015 ISBN: 9781849182683
Price: £6.99 inc. VAT
A gang operating around Nugget City is attacking stage coaches to
steal gold shipments. After rescuing the driver of one of them, Lucky
Luke arrives in town just in time to stop the murderous intents of a
cheat. Pursuing the scoundrel after an epic bar fight, Luke finds out
he’s a member of the gang, and will have to arrest him and the others
before riding on to new adventures on the other side of the Rio Grande.
I opened this up and...WHAT-??!!
The art style looks weird. I got used to the old style and how Luke looked and now this is more "cartoony"...I'm in two minds about this but it is still humorous. Still plenty of gags and vizuals and I guess I'm going to have to adapt my brain to this style.
Still a great series and I was shocked when my niece told me she had no idea who Lucky Luke was!!!
I was asked whether I had hear if the character Clea would be in the new Dr Strange movie? Well, believe it or not, I do not get consulted on these things!
I mean, if I were then there are two actresses I'd say ought to be in the running for the part of Strange's "love interest" and they are....
Essie Davis (Miss Fisher Mysteries)
Before you say a thing, Davis is a blond...or she was last week, I think. But what the hell. Great actress and incredible cheekbones.
Proof?
The other, obviously, is Cate Blanchett. Also a great actress and, just realised, also has great cheekbones. Theme somewhere here.
And I know everyone will have their own opinions so, without being rude about either of these two actresses -who would you choose?
And, Subzero, Ya Ya Han is not a contender. NO.
Oh, and, yes, I am old enough to still say "actor" (male) and "actress" (female) especially after seeing a recent conversation in which a person could not remember the name of the "actor" and kept shaking his head as his friend kept offering names -"Mel Gibson?" "No!" "George Cloony?" "No! The one with the legs!" And "The one with the legs? WTF you talking about???" long pause....."Oh -a woman?"
I know I've been ignoring you all. I missed you. I love you all. Anyone buys any of that crap needs certifying.
Word to the wise: you are not in a free country! Example:
I looked at the smiling snowman and art and I turn around: "So, nice,
friendly smiling snowman? Really? Compacted snow with a hat and carrot
nose and stone eyes is normal? Its supernatural. It is possessed by a
dark entity or demon and it wants to subvert your mind, possess you.
You'll do what it tells you to -it might even tell you to gouge out
peoples eyes, slaughter your family, burn the house down. It'll possess
your body until you are an inhuman, smelling, rotting corpse and die -or
some decent soul kills you -and that will NOT be pretty! Not such a
lovely, cheerful character now is it?"
Point made I turned and left.
Apparently, according to police, I am never to go back to that nursery
school.
EU bureaucracy at its worst!!!
Need to get my ears syringed, too. I went into a rage for ten minutes yesterday asking why we have to vote to "bum" someone. My sister pointed out the word was "bomb".
Still, Tennis, hey? Why are spectators to that, ahem, "sport", becoming such loud mouthed, noisy yobs? Even rugby crowds are better behaved...rugby fans are good folk at heart and its why you find fans from opposing teams mixed up in stands, still holding their drinks and lots of friendly banter.
Black Friday is now, through sheer business greed, "Black Friday Week" and even "Black Friday Fortnight"? Why?
Small shopkeeper opposite gets a loud of complaints because something he sells is "Ten pence cheaper at Asda!" and to follow that they say "Might as well get in the car and go there!" So, the item he is selling is 75p. You can buy it in Asda for 65p. Fair enough. Asda is about three miles away and if you catch the bus that's £1.50 there and £1.50 return. £3.00. Or by car -how much fuel are you using trying to drive around winding, busy roads? To save 10p? I know small shops charge more but that is because they cannot dictate terms to suppliers.
And a tax on Tampons "because they are a luxury item"??? Worst thing is I bet a woman was probably one of the people who approved that. I'm guessing because, usually, when you write or say that this is a typical moronic, arse-headed male thing to do someone says: "the decision was approved by Lady Shave's committee" -utter arse-headed morons.
PROTEST IN THE SUPERMARKETS SISTERS!!!!
I've taken two -TWO- of those tablets and Mr Floppy still hasn't woken up yet.No more buying meds from Kenyan Pharmacy Online.
COME ON, EVERYONE -SING!!!!!
The saints are crippled
On this sinners' night
Lost are the lambs with no guiding light
The walls come down like thunder
The rocks about to roll
It's The Arockalypse
Now bare your soul
All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
Rock 'n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock 'n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God's creation supernatural high
The true believers
Thou shall be saved
Brothers and sisters keep strong in the faith
On the day of Rockoning
It's who dares, wins
You will see the jokers soon'll be the new kings...
Authors: Morris
