DC's New Talent Showcase #1 Review

New Talent Showcase #1

writer- various

artist- various

The New Talent Showcase came about after two workshops led by some of the best veteran writers and artists at DC Comics. DC held its Writer's Workshop Pilot Program from January to March in 2016. For 13 weeks, writers who were from various backgrounds but new to DC comics, exercised and honed their skills to create some of the strongest, “publish-worthy” stories the heads at DC had ever seen. And back in the Fall of 2015, current DC artists were invited to DC HQ in Burbank, California, where they went through extensive, week long, master classes; meetings with editorial staff; and discussions on craft with Jim Lee and Klaus Jansen.

Those two pilot programs paved a new world of talent development including a web-site, more workshops, and the product of all that hard work- DC's New Talent Showcase.

The Book The New Talent Showcase is a one-shot released in what used to be called a bookshelf format. It's 80 pages of beautiful art and story starring characters like Superman, Deadman, Hellblazer, Wonder Woman, and Harley Quinn. And each story leaves you wanting a little more. In fact, New Talent Showcase #1 reads like any other anthology book by DC. You expect the stories to continue next month in #2. But this book is not like any other anthology. It's a stepping stone for the kind of new talent you'll be seeing in the near future: the writers and artists who will prove to be the next wave of DC comic creators.

The book is intro'd with a great piece by Bobby Chase. She describes the inception of the book and wraps it up in one page. As a writer myself, I see this intro as a valuable thing. What the author is doing, is telling everyone that becoming a DC writer or artist isn't impossible. If it is your dream, don't give up. There are workshops and online resources that can get you closer to working for one of the greatest comic book companies in the world. All you have to do is get into one of those pilot programs and show them you have what it takes. Nobody ever said it would be easy, but at least it isn't impossible.

Years ago, writing or drawing for one of the major comics companies happened when you sent in art or scripts or showed them in person, after seemingly endless rejections. It's a tiring endeavor and not one for those who get discouraged easily. But at some point, comic book creators were a dime a dozen. Focus was less on the content and more on the holographic, glow-in-the-dark, foil embossed, scratch and sniff covers. Stories weren't always good, because there were so many books available and everybody could get a job working on one. Then companies stopped accepting submissions. The only way writers could get their script published was if they were already best-selling authors, film directors, or they ran the company. New Talent Showcase is breaking down that idea and shouting to the rooftops, “Hey, we're looking for fresh new talent! Show us your stuff!” And that's how I see it. DC Comics is challenging every writer or illustrator out there to become the next Scott Snyder or the next Jim Lee.

The Story and Art Let's take a look at some of the names and faces found in the pages of New Talent Showcase.

In Hellblazer: The Road to Hell and All That, John Constantine goes to Hell to try to bring back the father of the woman he loves. As messed up as it sounds, it's his way of doing something nice for her. The story is written by Adam Smith and rendered by Siya Oum. Smith nails the Constantine personae perfectly. The dialogue, the mannerisms... Smith knows his stuff.

Adam Smith had this to say about his experience writing the Hellblazer segment:

“Being a dude from the south writing a famously British character was pretty intimidating, and with Steve Dillon passing away I've been thinking a lot about how much Hellblazer meant to me as that right book at that right time in my life.”- Adam Smith

Smith couldn't be in better company. Siya Oum captures the gloom and tragedy that Constantine carries with him, and translates it perfectly into story art. Oum's style is serious and stunningly accurate and has me hoping to see more in future Hellblazer issues.

Christopher Sebela and David Messina's Deadman: Killing Time teaches us that just because Boston Brand is a ghost who does “good deeds” doesn't mean that he's going to find his way out of limbo any time soon. Messina's art is amazing ad perfect for Deadman. It stirs up eerie echoes from the spirit world and creates the right mood for any piece of dark graphic literature. Of course we have to remember that this is a comic book story starring a classic DC character. And Deadman is right up Christopher Sebela's alley.

“When I was a kid buying comics for the first time, I found Mike Baron and Kelley Jones' Deadman stories, which were so different from all the other Deadman stuff. Poetic and grotesque and emotional and creepy as heck. Those stories have burned themselves into my mind and have stayed there ever since.”- Christopher Sebela

It's obvious Sebela has an affection for the character of Deadman. He's really good about bringing the characters to life and making the reader feel sympathy for them. More Christopher Sebela on Deadman, please. And team him up with David Messina's art.

The Catwoman/Wonder Woman story, The Amazonian Job lays down some groundwork for a fantastic story arc. Wonder Woman hires Catwoman to steal a box that holds the power to destroy worlds. While the two get acquainted, that aforementioned groundwork is taking place. It seems Zeus has taken over a submarine, the USS Mount Olympus, and he wants that box of power for himself. One of the cool things about this story is that there's more to it. What we read is limited by the number of pages it's allowed. If this were any other anthology book, there'd be more to it next month. I want that book. I want to know what Catwoman and Wonder Woman are getting themselves into. I want to know what Zeus plans to do with the box and with the crew of the USS Mount Olympus. And I want to know what's going to happen when the ladies and Zeus bump heads. It's sure to be a clash of titans. Artist, Minkyu Jung's ladies are gorgeous. And there's action in every panel that Catwoman is in. Each page has a sense of motion and excitement running through it, and dread and darkness when Zeus appears.

When trying to decide which characters to use in her story for this book, Emma Beeby had a tough choice ahead of her. She was attracted to Catwoman's “bad girl” attitude and barbed one-liners, but she was also interested in Wonder Woman's strength and the mythology that goes along with her. Then it dawned on her to team them up. Emma knew that the two were nothing alike and that they went together in a story like vinegar and oil, but then Emma Beeby loves a challenge. This met this challenge and won. The Amazonian Job is a great story... or at least the beginning of one.

So that's a little about DC's New Talent Showcase. According to Editor Bobby Chase, this is going to be an annual event. So keep your eyes peeled and if you're interested in creating history, you might check out the DC Writer's Workshop.

And if you want a good read, you can get down to Blaqk Door in Fort Bragg and pick it up for $7.99 cover price.  Trust me, it's well worth it..

Thanos #1 By Eblison Grun for Blaqk Door Reviews

Thanos #1 by Eblison Grun

w- Jeff Lemire

a- Mike Deodato

“Thanos Returns. These are words heroes of the Marvel Universe never want to hear, but ones Marvel readers welcome with cheers. After all... who doesn't like a good villain?”- Jordan D. White, editor.

This is Eblison Grun for Blaqk Door Reviews.  We have something for everyone who loves really intense comics and lots of cosmic adventure.  From Lemire and Deodato, check out Thanos #1.

Before: In all the years I've been a fan of this big purple bad guy, this is one of my favorite Thanos moments. It's one of the things that sparked Civil War II. The Ultimates follow up on a tip by the Inhuman, Ulysses, that Thanos is up to something nasty. This causes a massive battle that leaves She-Hulk crippled and War Machine dead. The Ultimates succeed in battle but they lose so much in the end. Captain Marvel, who was in a relationship with James Rhodes (War Machine), goes off the deep end on a crusade that split the heroes of the Marvel U down the middle. Of course, they lock Thanos up tight. But what they should have done was kill him.

So, Thanos is back and I am totally stoked! I'd seen him in Marvel Comics throughout the 70's, but when I first became a fan was in 1990, with the classic Jim Starlin/Ron Lim run of Silver Surfer. Issue #37 was important for me. As a fan of the Surfer and a fan of the Starlin/Lim team-up, I became a fan of two characters that would later be huge in the modern Marvel Cinematic Universe. I'm talking about the Drax vs Thanos feud. Right away I loved both characters and still do, 26 years later. To me, in the 90's, Thanos was the darkest, ugliest, most evil thing Marvel had to offer. And I didn't see any hero that had the balls or the ability to actually defeat him. Silver Surfer could fight him and so could Drax the Destroyer, but those were always temporary. Nobody could do him in for good. Not in this universe.

Now: Now, after escaping his captivity by the Ultimates, Thanos has returned in his own ongoing series. Immediately, Thanos heads to his old stomping grounds, the stronghold of the Black Order. His lackey, Corvus Glaive, sits atop Thanos' throne and declares that he is prepared to die to keep it. If you know Thanos and love him like I do, this would send shivers up your spine. Thanos just grinned at Corvus Glaive and in a few panels, did the minion in without breaking a sweat. This scene, right here, made me giggle out loud. I don't do that while I read, but I did it here. It's just charged with such energy and such tension that a quiet response would have been impossible for me.

Meanwhile, across the galaxy, a member of Thanos' immediate family starts putting together strike-force to go kill the “Mad Titan”. So far, the names on the list are Starfox and Champion [of the Universe]. They know that what they're about to try is probably going to get them killed. If they don't do it, it's going to kill galaxies.

The Writing: The writing is freaking amazing. Jeff Lemire is one of the best names in horror and dark fantasy comics. He's gifted with this ability to reach into the reader's gut and pull out all the dread and and all the terror, and amplify it. His stories make me gulp as if I'm about to walk into a nest of 3 foot hornets, and all I have on me is a flashlight. His first issue of Thanos does just that. We know that something big is going to happen. A team is going to hunt him down, but they can't kill Thanos. Not any time soon. This is his book! And with Jeff Lemire at the helm, that strike-force of Marvel characters is heading into deep trouble. Lemire is the badass here. He has taken a deeply disturbed, psychotically twisted character and made him the protagonist.

The Art: Mike Deodato hasn't always been one of my favorite artists, but his work on Incredible Hulk, New Avengers, Original Sin, and now Thanos really has me appreciating this guy's style. He's good at the dark stuff. His backgrounds bring out the gloom in all situations and keep the reader very uneasy. In Thanos, he has taken Lemire's style of dread and has actually made it visible. It's in the throne room of the Black Order, Starfox's den of depravity, and most of all... the look on Thanos' face before he kills Corvus Glaive. The team of Lemire and Deodato is beyond perfect.

The Review: I can't say enough. It's exciting. It's creepy. And I know it's going to affect the Marvel Universe to its very core. So run down to your favorite comic/game store in Fort Bragg, Ca and pick up issue #1 of Thanos. If Blaqk Door doesn't have a copy, special order it. And never... ever... miss an issue.  

Jessica Jones #1 Review

Jessica Jones #1 (Marvel NOW!)

(w) Brian Michael Bendis

(a) Michael Gaydos; (c) David Mack

“Jessica Jones, a former costumed super hero, is now the owner and sole employee of Alias Investigations-- a small private investigative firm. But dark secrets from her super hero past haunt her, affecting her relationships and happiness.”

One of the new titles to ring in the Marvel NOW! Imprint, is none other than everyone's favorite ex-costumed hero turned PI. Jessica Jones returns in a new regular series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. This new self titled book gives us all the kick, all the punch, and all the misanthropic attitude of her debut series, the Marvel MAX title, ALIAS. They say you should never judge a book by it's cover, but here are four things on the cover of Jessica Jones #1 that tell fans of the original book that they won't be disappointed.

One: the name Jessica Jones. She's as hot as can be right now. Netflix has elevated her and some of the supporting cast (Luke Cage) to new heights, so there's practically nobody who hasn't heard of her. I shudder at the thought that ALIAS might have been forgotten, but with as much buzz as Jessica is getting these days, that's never going to happen. She's featured in, not one, but two TV programs and now has another comic book series all to herself.

Two: The names Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. These guys created Jessica Jones. They showed us how low a super hero could get, after falling from such heights. Jessica's past was created for the title but readers could see how she fit in to the whole Marvel mythos. She had a tragic origin, connections to mainstream heroes, and a seriously intense event that flung her to the pits of despair. That's classic Bendis, if not classic Marvel. As far as Gaydos' work, his simple style is rough and gritty in a way that sets a rough and gritty mood for the whole series. Seeing these guys back in action is a huge thrill.

Three: David Mack's cover art. David Mack is almost as much a creator on the book as the writer and artist. The mood of the book begins with the cover itself, and David Mack immediately brings life and beauty to the characters we grow to love and empathize with. We are betting that Mack is riding this series all the way, and this reviewer couldn't be happier. If a picture is worth a thousand words, his pictures are worth a thousand pictures each.

Four: The fourth thing on the cover of issue #1 is also going to be on every cover after this. The “Parental Advisory” warning isn't really a warning for true fans. It's a guarantee that Jessica Jones ain't holdin' back. ALIAS was an adult title. It fell under Marvel's MAX imprint, and was allowed to depict nudity, sex, foul language, violence, and the use of drugs. Those things weren't necessarily in ALIAS, but readers knew they could be. The MAX universe gave a reality to comics that never existed at Marvel before. We could actually believe that super powered people were real, and had sex, and smoked cigarettes, and cheated on their partners, and did all the things that real people do. That advisory isn't about “dirty stories.” It's about not softening the blows and telling a story that is going to knock readers on their asses. Jessica Jones fans know that.

The Story Now (just going to warn you a little, this contains some spoilers):

Jessica Jones doesn't have to pick up where any other series left off. In fact, it begins with the big question, “What the hell has she been up to?” With the Secret War rewriting the Marvel continuity, and Civil War II splitting loyalties, who knows what Jessica was doing. At one point, she was begrudgingly running a team of Avengers with her husband Luke Cage, but her priorities as a mother seemed to halt all of that.

Issue #1 begins with Gaydos' dark artistic style throwing the reader into a sense that something “not right” is going on or at least that something “not right” has already happened. And that's it. Jessica is being released from a high-security super prison called the cell. It's a floating jail high above the city. Questions? How about, what was she doing there in the first place? Or, who bailed her out? Since the person who got her released isn't there to pick her up when she's let out, Jessica jump off the platform, only to plummet into the cold waters below.

Jessica makes her way back to Alias Investigations where she avoids the message on her answering machine. She flips through her mail a little and finally decides to listen to the recording. As it turns out, it's from a potential client. Jessica Jones is back on the case. On top of all that, her ex Luke Cage, is sending the entire super hero community to pressure Jessica into telling him where their daughter is. That's right, the two had a baby together.

Pretty intriguing for a first issue. We get to see her world and how much it sucks. We get to see how badly she needs to find something like a new case to help her escape from her real life. And we get to see that she still has secrets, even from her former comrades. This is Brian Michael Bendis' world. He's the writer, the creator, the all powerful god of this little universe. And he's using his power to royally screw up Jessica's life.

How Is It?:

Jessica Jones is an amazing book. Right away, we feel Bendis doing his thing, weaving his writer's mojo. Readers familiar with the character will be comfortable and at home with this new title. They'll notice that the MAX appeal is still there and that Jessica Jones hasn't really changed much from who she was 15 years ago. And that goes for the character, the writing, and the art of the book.

 So, if you like modern noir, with a splash of super hero adventure, Jessica Jones is definitely your book. Go in to Blaqk Door on Main Street in Fort Bragg, and ask for it by name. The Blaqk Door staff is full of comics and game knowledge and will be sure that you're well taken care of. Ask them about putting Jessica Jones on a subscription pull list, so you'll be sure not to miss a single issue. They may even have an ALIAS graphic novel or other Brian Michael Bendis books for you to enjoy.   

ROM from IDW Review

ROM

plot and script- Christos Gage & Chris Ryall

art and colors- David Messina

“Far, far away, in another galaxy, the knights of the Solstar Order, defenders of justice and truth, have been ambushed by the evil magicians, the Dire Wraiths. The Solstar Order has prevailed and is now seeking out their scattered enemies.

One of the knights has followed the trail of the Dire Wraiths all the way to Earth. This one, the Dire Wraiths fear more than all others. This one has hounded them and kept them underground for centuries. This one alone could wipe them off the face of creation. He is ROM, Lord of the Solstar Order. ROM, the Wraithslayer.”

Previously...

In 1979, three men sold the design for their new toy figure to Parker Brothers, hoping it would be the next big thing in the world of action heroes. Originally called COBOL, Parker Bros. executives renamed the toy ROM and by December of that year, it had appeared on the cover of Time Magazine and gotten its own Marvel comic book. ROM proved not to be the hit toy Parker Brothers wanted it to be. In the end, ROM sold only about 200,000 units in the US and Parker Brothers decided to abandon it. One of the creators, Bing McCoy, blamed packaging and poor marketing. But whatever caused the toy's lack of popularity, there was no denying that ROM's appearance on the cover of Time Magazine wasn't very helpful. The article was entitled “Those Beeping, Thinking Toys,” and it pointed out ROM's stiff articulation and predicted that it would “end up among the dust balls under the playroom sofa.”

Despite the ROM toy tanking, one thing was certain... ROM had made a splash in the pages of the Marvel Universe. The book, ROM Spaceknight, ran from December 1979 to February 1986. It quickly became a fan favorite, giving ROM connections to characters like the Fantastic Four, Thor, Power Man and Iron Fist, and the Incredible Hulk. ROM even had encounters with Wolverine and the X-Men from time to time. It's the legacy of the comic book that has kept the property alive this long.

The Marvel comic was written by Marvel giant, Bill Mantlo and drawn by illustrator, Sal Buscema. The general plot was that ROM came from the planet Galador in pursuit of the Dire Wraiths, a shape-changing alien race bent on world-domination. ROM belonged to the order of Space Knights, specifically recruited for this threat. The series put him in touch with characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men and pit him against the Mad-Thinker and Galactus. And the Dire Wraiths showed up in multiple Marvel comics without ROM, including the X-Men. This not only cemented ROM's place in the Marvel Universe, but allowed the character to help build the universe they all existed in. It also made it possible for ROM to appearing his own series, a handful of cross-over events, several Annuals, and a pile of mini-series.

And now...

ROM #1 by Chris Ryall, Christos Gage, and Dave Messina streaks across our comic book shelves and back into the lives of kids and adults around the world. With great thanks to longtime ROM fan, Chis Ryall, IDW now has the reigns of the gallant Spaceknight. Once again, ROM is on Earth to defeat the evil Dire Wraiths, only this time... they've already invaded. No one can be trusted. The Dire Wraiths has taken position in local law enforcement and almost every other facet of society, and it's up to ROM alone to stop them.

This book is beautiful. I'm a fan of the original Marvel series, but even I'll admit that it now reads like a Hasbro toy advertisement. Still, the IDW reincarnation brings new life and new excitement to the 37 year old action figure. Ryall takes great care with creating the world around the character. He puts detail into everything down to the locations he uses and promises that the detail he puts into character backgrounds will have us relating to and fully believing in ROM and the supporting cast. ROM lands on Earth in the first issue and quickly destroys a group of Wraiths posing as US soldiers. This puts ROM on the law's naughty list, even though he's trying to keep the Earth from being fully taken over. Times have changed in comics writing style, and Ryall shows that it's only for the best. No disrespect to Bill Mantlo (a legendary genius), but I can already see that this time around, ROM is truly going beyond the stars.

As for the art, Messina handles everything with grace. His version of ROM is nearly identical to the Buscema version from Marvel. And his Dire Wraiths, though they are totally different from what they used to be, are a fine upgrade into the modern age of comics.

Here's something for Mantlo fans and fans of Parker Bros/Hasbro action figures from the 80s... IDW now has the licensing to not only GI Joe and the Transformers, but to M.A.S.K., Visionaries, and the Micronauts. There is a massive cross-over on the horizon, so keep a look out.

ROM #1 and #2 are at Blaqk Door in Fort Bragg, right now. IDW has done the universe a favor by bringing ROM back, and you'll be doing yourself a favor if you pick up this book.

Betrayal at House on The Hill Review

Betrayal At House On The Hill

by Bruce Glassco and Avalon Hill Games

for 3 to 6 players

game time approximately 1 hour

The Setting:

Welcome to an old abandoned mansion on the hill. Evidence of unspeakable horrors litter the decrepit rooms, and active spirits populate the dusty halls. You and your friends are here to investigate those spooky corridors and uncover whatever secrets the house holds. But be careful. Besides ghosts, ghouls, and other nightmare creatures, someone among you is a betrayer. A member of your group has lead you to the house for their own sinister agenda. Who is it and what evil deeds are they hiding?

The Setup:

At the beginning of the game, players will chose a Character Pentagon that will layout who their character is and what they're capable of. Each character has a set of stats: Might, Speed, Sanity, and Knowledge. Those stats are used when moving, fighting, and resisting mental strain. Sliders on the side of the pentagon indicate the level of each stat at any specific moment. Also in this game, there are three decks of cards- Omens, Events, and Items.  Omen cards are usually something supernatural and can possibly bring on the “Haunt” of the game. Events are things that happen and usually need the player to make a roll with a bonus to their stats as a result. And the Items cards can be tools or weapons the players might find to help them in their investigation or general survival once the “Haunt” happens. The house itself is mapped out by a series of tiles laid down as the players discover them. On the back of the tiles, the words Basement, Ground Floor, or Upper Floor tell players where to connect each tile as the rooms are discovered and the map grows.

The Haunt:

For the majority of the game, the players are merely exploring the haunted house. They may discover strange artifacts such as a porcelain mask or a sacrificial dagger, or they may bump into a crazed madman who has been locked away in the home for decades, waiting for his moment to escape. Also, players might stumble into a paranormal scene where two ghosts replay the bloody events that thrust them to their deaths. But as players draw Omen cards and roll against the Haunt Meter, the chance of something actually horrible happening becomes more and more imminent.

Once the player fails a Haunt roll, everything in the game turns upside down. Results on the Haunt chart in one of the manuals will direct players as to who the betrayer is and what the Haunt entails. Perhaps the betrayer needs souls to open a portal to the deepest depth of Hell, or maybe they are being manipulated to feed their friends to an evil demon. Once the Haunt kicks in, the betrayer will leave the room and read a section in a manual written specifically for the bad guy. That section will give the player everything they need to be a great evil villain. During that time the rest of the players will read a section from their own manual. This tells them all they need to know to win the game. All heck breaks loose and anything is possible.

Winning The Game:

Betrayal At House on The Hill can be considered a cooperative game, but when the Haunt happens it could end up that it's every player for themselves. Winning the game can go one of two ways. If you're the betrayer, completing your goal (whatever it may be) is the only way to win. For the rest of the group, it may be something like escaping the house before it crumbles apart, or killing the betrayer before they destroy everybody else. Either outcome, it's an amazing game that combines miniature figures, cards, dice, and a whole lot of fun and imagination.

Re-play Value:

The replay value of this game is better than most games out there. The layout of the house is never the same, which means the possibilities of encounters are extremely vast. Also, there are 50 different Haunts possible and each of those can vary depending on who is involved and what weapons and companions they might have with them.

You can buy Betrayal At House on The Hill at Blaqk Door or at most specialty game stores around the country. And if they don't have it in stock, ask them to rush an order just for you. We give this game thumbs up all across the board.

Update:

This fall, Avalon Hill Games is releasing it's first expansion to Betrayal at House on The Hill. Look for Widow's Walk coming to retailers soon.

“Just played Betrayal At House on The Hill for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it! I love all the different outcomes that are possible. It was really easy to learn and follow. I can't wait to buy it for my own collection. Very pleased and glad to have played it with friends.” - Tarah from Fort Bragg, Ca.

“The variety in Betrayal at House on The Hill is what makes it a genuinely fun game, and every time you play it is a new unique experience.” - Vance from Modesto, Ca.

“I love this game! I love everything about it! It's different every time you play. It's almost like Clue. I want to play this game 24/7!!!” - Rhi “Child Nightmare” Mendocino High School student, Mendocino, Ca.

“First time playing, and I'm impressed! I love the unknown element of the game. It's a really great experience for a large group of players. If you like the group dynamic and strategy games, then you'll really enjoy this game! Betrayal at House on The Hill is a game I'll certainly be buying now!” - Caedyn from Fort Bragg, Ca.

Uncanny Avengers #10

The Uncanny Avengers #10

writer- Gerry Duggan

artist- Pepe Larraz

There was a war between the Avengers and the X-Men. Captain America pooled together a group using members of both teams, in hopes of encouraging peace between them. After the Terrigen Mists leaked all over the place, killing mutants and turing seemingly normal humans into super powered beings, the team also included the Inhumans in an effort to cut some of the tension. This team was named, The Unity Squad.

Previously in the series:

Apparently, the Avengers believed that their old buddy, Hank Pym, was killed by his evil robot creation, Ultron. Not too long ago, Hank showed up explaining that he and Ultron had merged. Hank claimed that he was in full control of his new robot body, and he began working with the Avengers once again. Captain America was a bit skeptical of these claims and quickly called in Hank's ex-wife, the Wasp, for a little back up and some sneaky spy work.

...and Now:

In issue #10, the Unity Squad runs to the call of monsters attacking people in the New York City subways. After the clean up stage, the Wasp asks Hank Pym to sit with her someplace private where they can talk. There seems to be a lot of awkward, “So, what have you been up to?” and “Who gave you that necklace?” Then their conversation gets down to the nitty-gritty. Wasp asks Hank what really happened and he talks about compromise and how both he and the robot finally admitted that that they were at least a little bit at fault. Of course this conversation is Wasp's way of trying to extract information from Hank Pym, so when the two part company she reports back to Captain America that Hank flunked every test and that Ultron is the one controlling him.

This book rocks. Ultron has been around since the early days of the Avengers and in my mind, it's taken this long for him to be interesting. Sure he can control computers by uploading his consciousness into them, and sure he's damn near indestructible, but it gets old. Thanks to writer, Gerry Duggan, an all-new/all-better Ultron has invaded the Marvel Universe in a way nobody expected. For the most part, I love it when old characters are turned into something new. Hank Pym was once Ant-Man. He was also Giant Man. And then he was just Hank. Now he's Ultron, and the thing that everyone said would bite him in the ass, has. It's fearless comic book writing. Duggan's not afraid to mess with Avengers history and he's into creating it. This is why I think Uncanny Avengers is one of Marvel's comics that really kicks @$$! Oh, and for pop culture icon collectors, Wasp uses a Ghostbusters reference to trick Hank Pym/Ultron into outing himself. Anyway, don't be afraid to pick this book up. It's well written with some killer dialogue and the art by Pepe Larraz is a little cartooney, but overall full of flavor and appropriate.  So run down to Blaqk Door in Fort Bragg, Ca and pick up a copy.  You won't be sorry.

Scooby Apocalypse #1 Review

Scooby Apocalypse #1

writers- JM DeMatteis, Keith Giffen

artist- Howard Porter

If you haven't heard of the new Scooby-Doo comic from DC, it's about time you did. The Apocalypse is here and the Scooby gang are on the case. But this isn't the Scooby Gang of Hanna-Barbera's heyday. We're looking at a grittier, more modern version of the old favorite in a world that does horrific experiments on animals and creates deadly viruses in the guise of helping mankind evolve into higher beings. And the Apocalypse we're talking about isn't a bunch of grumpy old men in monster costumes. These monsters are the real deal.

Of course, it begins with an eye roll. Scooby-Doo is a classic and anyone who decides to mess with a classic deserves at least an eye roll. But the concept of Scooby Apocalypse seems to work. Daphne and Fred run an investigative mystery show on the knitting channel, Shaggy is a hipster janitor working for a lab that makes gadgets for the military, and Velma Dinkley is one of the scientists responsible for unleashing the most horrific chemical weapon on the public. And what about Scooby? He's what science calls a smartdog. It's kind of like a smartphone but with a little more bite.

Writers, J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen join forces with artist, Howard Porter on this one. They completely turn Hanna-Barbera's loveable spook chasers into one dark, grimy, and hauntingly awesome horror comic. In fact, to give you an idea, think a pinch of Scooby-Doo Where Are You?, mixed with a scoop of Resident Evil. I'm not kidding, this book is what comes out of the oven. The scripting is great, the art is top notch, and the fresh new take on an old classic icon is beautiful.

Some say, If it isn't brooke, don't fix it. And I agree. But I don't see this as fixing Scooby-Doo as much as offering an alternate version of the Scooby Gang. DC is conjuring up all sorts of Saturday Morning memories. Besides Scooby Apocalypse, readers can enjoy Future Quest, a cross-over story starring the cast of Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, The Herculoids, and a bunch of others many will remember from the late 60's early 70's cartoons. And Wacky Raceland is a dark and violent take on The Wacky Races. You might say, it's what happens when Penelope Pitstop finds her way to Fury Road.

So take a look at Scooby Apocalypse available at Blaqk Door. Issue #2 was just released this week, but you should still be able to find the first issue. If you can't, ask your favorite Blaqk Door employee to special order a few copies. It's a blast. And for those who like “easter eggs”, see if you can find Scooby-Dum and Scrappy-Doo in their one panel cameos. Just a little more nostalgia for the kid in all of us.

Legendary- A Marvel Deck Building Game

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game

Designed by Devin Low for Upper Deck Entertainment.

Our Outside the Cube review crew sat down for a game of Legendary recently, and that session proved that board games really can be addictive.

The game plays with 1-5 players and is suggested for ages 14 and up. On an average, a game will last about 45 minutes, not counting some setup.

Setup

The setup is fairly simple. Each player gets a deck of 12 cards consisting of 8 SHIELD Agents and 4 SHIELD Troopers. The player shuffles the deck and draws a hand of 6 cards. There are also cards called SHIELD Officers, Wounds, and Bystanders. Place those cards in their designated areas on the board. Next, pick a Mastermind card and place it on the board with its 4 Mastermind Tactics cards placed beneath it. Also, look to see which villains the chosen Mastermind always leads. Following that you'll set up the Villain deck by adding villain groups designated by the number of players you have.

Play

Playing the game is a two-fold task. As gamers play Legendary and fight villains throughout the city, they're also building the optimum deck. Ultimately, the best deck will win the game. Here's how it works: If you recall, each player starts with their deck of 12. They aren't going to start with any known heroes, but it'll be a handy stack of cards that can either recruit heroes or help battle enemies. The first player will start by turning a card from the villain deck. If it's a villain, it goes in the city section of the board. They will then play the cards in their hand. Again, the first hand will only consist of the basic SHIELD guys, but SHIELD Officers give recruitment points and the SHIELD Troopers offer attack points. So players could either recruit a hero from the hero section of the board or attack the villain, or possibly do both depending on how points of each they had in their hand. As recruitment takes place throughout the game, the deck grows from 12 SHIELD agents, to a larger deck of mixed superheroes and SHIELD agents. With this larger deck, players will find it easier to defeat some villains and they may even decide to take a shot at the Mastermind. Once the Mastermind is attacked 4 times, the game is won by the players. If events that are listed on the Mastermind's Scheme card are completed, the game is won by the bad guys. Players might start by recruiting their favorite hero team from comics, but they may also discover that forming a deck based on whatever special abilities certain cards have is the best strategy.

Review

Sitting down to play Legendary, I'll admit, I was a little worried about the complexity of the game. It sounded busy and easy to get lost in all of the various dynamics. I had nothing to worry about. It's a simple set of steps that flow easily: Flip a villain card, play your hand, recruit or attack, next player. The fun comes from collecting your team of familiar characters as well as going after familiar villains, and from defeating the Mastermind as a group. Legendary is definitely a cooperative effort while remaining a competition of “who has the best team.” Outside the Cube absolutely loves this game. The team combinations are countless, and there are ability combos within those teams that are also countless. The game could be played time and time again and never get the same outcome. And here's something for the really competitive gamer who has to know who the real winner is: Where this is a cooperative game and everyone plays to defeat the Mastermind, each player can add up the points of the individual villains they've defeated and decide who is the real winner. This game has something for everyone.

Extras

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game has a handful of expansions. For those who like the basic Marvel Universe, the standard game is great. But sets like Civil War, Fantastic Four, Dark City, and Captain America 75^th Anniversary can bring in more obscure but well loved character favorites as well as darker more sinister Masterminds.

Pick up Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game at Blaqk Door, in the heart of historical Fort Bragg, California. If you're a fan of comics, cards, or just having fun... you won't be sorry.