THE X-FILES #0

Written by: Frank Spotnitz

Illustrated by: Brian Denham

Colors by: Kelsey Shannon

Letters by: Ed Dukeshire

Edited by: Shannon Eric Denton

September 2008

Synopsis:

The hit motion picture and television franchise returns to comics! With July’s release of the brand-new X-Files blockbuster, WildStorm joins Mulder and Scully in a previously untold story from the film’s co-writer and producer Frank Spotnitz! Don’t miss this supernatural epic so large it will leave you screaming for more

Pro:

Though I’m no X-Files fan, the look of the book really reflects what I see when I think about the tv show. Having an X-Files writer helps and I liked the look of it.

Con:

Though I believe Denham is a fine artist, there are more than several instances where you can tell what was light-boarded from a photograph. Particularly in the way the expressions of the Mulder and Scully characters look “dead eyed” and in at least one instance, it looks as though the photo’s were taken from several different years. In other cases, they just don’t look like they do in other panels. So, the likeness’ are not that great.

High Point:

Nice “X-Files” look to the book

Low Point:

Not so great in the likeness department. I’m sure you could spend hours finding the photo’s that were lightboarded.

Will I Acquire the Next Issue:

I doubt it. If I see it in the cheep bin, I might.

Review © Mark Robert Bourne

Art © Wildstorm

BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM! #1

Writer – Artist: Mike Kunkel

Lettering: Steve Wands

Editor: Jann Jones

Assistant Editors: Stephanie Buscema & Adam Schlagman

Cover: Mike Kunkel

September 2008

Synopsis:

Welcome to the brand-new, all-fun adventures of Billy Batson as the World’s Mightiest Mortal — Captain Marvel, from acclaimed writer/artist Mike Kunkel (Herobear)!

Thanks to a magical rift created when Captain Marvel battled Mr. Mind’s monsters, 14-year-old Theo Adam has been returned to Earth from banishment. For Theo, there’s just one problem: He can’t remember the magic word that gives him the powers of Black Adam. There’s only one solution: follow Captain Marvel and get the word out of his alter ego, 11-year-old Billy Batson.

Pro:

What’s great about this book is how it speaks to the reader and really bleeds pure joy. It’s a book that has a lot of energy behind it and you could tell that Mike Kunkel had a lot of fun doing it. The art style is totally based in Saturday Morning cartoons – the GOOD ones.

Con:

The problems I have with the book stem from the fact that too much is happening on one page – it is extremely cluttered. Plus some of the panels are really too small. I wish he would have not stuffed so much artwork/ panels into one page. I think the story suffered some from this, even though it was more “Origin” than story.

Kunkel’s art style is very Warner Bros. Animation and it really has a lot of energy to it. What bothers me most is it just a bit too sketchy and it would be nice to have an inker come in and solidify the art. It would be a difficult task because a lot of energy comes from that sketchiness but there are times when the artwork seems unfinished and it’s distracting.

High Point:

Amazing energy and a thrilling throwback to the great WB cartoons.

Low Point:

Too many panels per page. Artwork can be small and too sketchy.

Will I Acquire the Next Issue:

For sure.

Review © 2008 Mark Robert Bourne

Art © DC Comics