What Is Techno Again?

Showcase: August ’10

Chocolate, mummies, and guts. A fairly unusual combination, but it makes for a great round of graphic novels. This month’s Showcase at Impulse Creations includes reviews of Sweet Tooth, Atomic Robo, and Berserker.

“Sometimes ruthless, sometimes eerily moving, Sweet Tooth‘s post-apocalyptic vision unfolds through the eyes of its innocent main character.” - Sweet Tooth Vol. 1: Out of the Deep Woods

“The blatantly silly creation, colorfully illustrated by Scott Wegener, pokes fun at comic books, science fiction, and monster movies galore.” - Atomic Robo Vol. 1: Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne

“Jeremy Haun dresses airborne body parts with enough visceral pow to make Wolverine look twice.” - Berserker Vol. 1

Tags: Atomic Robo, Berserker, Impulse Creations, Showcase, Sweet Tooth
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: July ’10

Celebrate this Independence Day with Madame Xanadu, Robin, and … Fig. Kick back and enjoy the food and fireworks with a few graphic novel recommendations.

“A fascinating journey, Disenchanted retells world-shaping moments with Madame Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger hiding behind the curtains.” - Madame Xanadu Vol. 1: Disenchanted

“Writers Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty polish off a short series of old-fashioned detective yarns … with a classic, moody Gotham City shade.” - Robin: Year One

“Creators Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham … construct a house and story of gothic imagination.” - House of Mystery Vol. 1: Room & Boredom

Read the full reviews at Impulse Creations.

Tags: DC, Disenchanted, House of Mystery, Impulse Creations, Madame Xanadu, Robin, Room & Boredom, Showcase, Vertigo, Year One
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: May ’10

Satisfy your graphic novel fix with this month’s Showcase, newly posted on the Impulse Creations forums. The article features reviews of Days Missing, Hellboy: Wake the Devil, and All-Star Batman and Robin: The Boy Wonder.

“… The stories never feel restricted to its sci-fi genre despite the overarching phenomena.” - Days Missing Vol. 1

“Mignola binds these stimulating elements into one hell of a book … By the time readers notice the terror that has been wrought, they’ll be chained to the crossroads, caught between a bleeding Iron Maiden and Rasputin’s vengeance.” - Hellboy: Wake the Devil

“… Simply classic … The first volume boldly demands its place on your bookshelf.” - All-Star Batman and Robin: The Boy Wonder Vol. 1

Tags: All-Star Batman and Robin, Days Missing, Hellboy, Impulse Creations, Showcase, Wake the Devil
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | 1 Comment »

Showcase: March ’10

More graphic novel love has exploded on Impulse Creations—and trust me, it’s not as violent as it sounds. In this round I discuss Starman Omnibus Vol. 2, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vol. 1, and I Kill Giants Vol. 1. Hop over and read the reviews now.

“James Robinson flicks a cosmic rod and revives the dusty Starman legacy, brushing up the dents and polishing over the comic’s outdated visage with modernistic flair.” - Starman Omnibus Vol. 2

“Dick’s novel and thus, this comic, serves a heavy dose of sci-fi lingo and progressive notions thick with literary speak—a requisite that the light of mind should consider before taking the plunge into Dick’s world.” - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Vol. 1

“Plenty of snuggly kids’ stories hit shelves. Nearly all of them douse their pages with make believe, as they should, but few truly shower them with magic.” - I Kill Giants Vol. 1

Tags: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, I Kill Giants, Impulse Creations, Philip K Dick, Showcase, Starman
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: February ’10

Okay, so it’s been awhile. I’ve been hitting some bumps with the Showcases lately, but finally I’ve published another one at Impulse Creations. I hope you enjoy the reviews of The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1, The Umbrella Academy: Dallas, and Mouse Guard Vol. 2: Winter 1152. Happy reading!

“Kirkman’s work wisely keeps you in the dark so that you’re as lost and uninformed as the survivors—and itching for more.” - The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 1

“Opening Dallas inspires an innovative adventure that satisfies readers’ lonely craving for amazing comics. History could use more books like The Umbrella Academy.” - The Umbrella Academy: Dallas

“Despite his elaborate, perhaps excessive fashion, Peterson rises as a pensive word smith whose storytelling touches our hearts with wondrous ease.” - Mouse Guard Vol. 2: Winter 1152

Tags: Impulse Creations, Mouse Guard, Showcase, The Umbrella Academy, The Walking Dead
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: November ’09

November comes to an end at Impulse Creations with another graphic novel Showcase. It’s been a mild month here in Pennsylvania, and hopefully everyone stuffed their gobs on Thanksgiving. Before long New Year’s will be upon us, so get crackin’ on spreading that cheer.

Anyway, to read the full article … well, you know what to do. But here’s a few teasers first. (I hope you like the new look!)

“Brian Azzarello’s 100 Bullets Vertigo series shoves one hundred untraceable bullets and a gun in your hands, arms you with a flawless vendetta, and points you in the right direction.” - 100 Bullets Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call

“… The Chained Coffin and Others lathers on the ancient spooks and chills …” - Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others

“… suddenly we understand how the Man of Steel got so … well … legendary. He experiences the bizarre, pulls off the impossible, and all the while never loses sight of the miraculous life that knits the universe together.” – All-Star Superman Vol. 2

Tags: 100 Bullets Vol. 1, All-Star Superman Vol. 2, Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others, Impulse Creations, Showcase
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »

Showcase: October ’09

It’s that time again: Another Showcase article has hit the Impulse Creations forums. There’s no theme this time around (feel free to make one up for me), just a trio of good, random trades for you to spend your cash on if you so wish, my fellow comic book addicts. So here’s the line-up: Air Vol. 2: Flying Machine, Return to Wonderland, and Nova Vol. 1: Annihilation Conquest. Below are some teasers, but you can read the full article over at Impulse now.

“Air sucks you in from the beginning, rising above the mundane with genuine moments that will make you smile and exhilarate you at the same time.” - Air Vol. 2: Flying Machine

“Return to Wonderland continues the mad legacy of Alice by revealing its tenebrous history and taking us even further down the rabbit hole into a merciless world rich with creativity and its fair share of bloodshed that does more than add lifeless gore to the pages.” - Return to Wonderland

“Like the often reckless but brave Richard Rider, Annihilation Conquest never loses speed and always comes packing the heat.” - Nova Vol. 1: Annihilation Conquest

PS: Return to Wonderland makes me want to go hit up American McGee’s Alice again.

PPS: Air just makes me sick, though. I’m not fond of heights.

PPPS: Worldmind reminds me of a TomTom.

Tags: Air Vol. 2: Flying Machine, Impulse Creations, Nova Vol. 1: Annihilation Conquest, Return to Wonderland, Showcase
Posted in Comics, Impulse Creations, Writing | No Comments »