Reviews

Published on May 5th, 2016 | by Richard Boom

FCBD 2016 Review: The OTHER Comics

Free Comic Book Day 2016 is a merry Xmas for all comic fans around the world. Comic Shop Owners can order promotional comics, previews and even special introductory issues of the best publishers listed under Diamond Publications. Comic Shop owners with a great heart for the good cause are handing out these comics on this very special Saturday.

ComicsForSinners also has a big heart and will try to give a lowdown on all comics that will be available on this special day and would love to know what comics you have gotten on May 7, 2016!

ComicsForSinners is pleased to showcase the comics that are NOT mainstream and NOT for kids 🙂

TITAN COMICS - ASSASSIN’S CREED FCBD 2016

Th3rdworld Studios: THE STUFF OF LEGEND

Now this is what you want in a FCBD-comic! This is new, exciting and sooooo ghastly good!

This is like a story of TOY STORY but more spooky. The toys of a boy come to live after their owner is taking away by dark tentacles and they will wage war to get their owner back.

The artwork is incredibly detailed, vivid, intense and done masterly!

Z2 Comics: COMICS LAB

An anthology! And a cool one!

– Hyper Force Neo: insane, off-key. My kids will love this

– Showside: a real 4th wall-breaking comic, part off-beat with odd art kids will love and part over-acting but with more comic-y art, with superheroes and silly banter 🙂

– Carver: just a big fight. Not sure what to think of it

– Indoctrination: a preview to a new series and if you like Ashley Wood or Ben Templesmith (but more crime noir then horror) you need to get hooked

– Legend: amazing artwork. So vivid and detailed! It showcases a new story “what if bio-warfare wiped out most of humanity and our domesticated animals are left in charge, ruling and rebuilding the world”. Now that IS intrigue! Artist Chris Koehler definitely has my attention!

– Sweetness: aliens come to Earth for our sugar. Watch how humans will react…

Black Mask: YOUNG TERRORISTS / WE CAN NEVER GO HOME

2-track story with WE CAN NEVER GO HOME starting out as a more regular story but with the introduction of a Bulletproof Girl it takes a mighty interesting leap out of the window.

YOUNG TERRORIST is a 3-part story with (I presume) one and the same female badass protagonist, during various phases of her life. First of all: the artwork by Amancay Naheulpan is just insanely detailed and among the finest I have ever seen. He should be on the DC or Marvel roster but I am happy to discover him right here. The story is tough, political, sadistic with a lot of mystery and some form of anarchy or rebellion attached to it. This is a must-have I fear!

Hide it for young kids though!

Titan Comics: ASSASSIN’S CREED

Two stories, twice the fun.

The story of Assassin’s Creed is well-known by now: set in a fictional era of real world events and following the centuries-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control and their indirect relation to an ancient species pre-dating humanity, whose society was destroyed.

In the Assassin’s story THE CHAIR we see just how important a chair is. The chair with which the Assassins can follow someone’s DNA back into history of their ancestors to find clues that can help them in the present day.

In the Templar’s story GREAT WALL tells of a Templar trying to make right on a moving train.

Both stories feel crucial, meaningful and are written as solid stories with just stunning art. If you like the games, these comics are a must-read. If you just like great comics, then also look no further!

Archie Comics: ARCHIE #1

If you know comics, you know about Archie Comics, about Betty, Archie, Jughead and all the good folks at Riverdale. You also know that those comics are old-school and just not happening to young folks anymore.

So they decided to start a new series ARCHIE as well as JUGHEAD with Mark Waid and Fiona Staples leading the way with a rejuvenated 4th wall breaking Archie comics. And it rocks. Intelligent dialogue, great art and a more NOW-feeling all together. <spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday>

The second story in this FCBD-setting is about Jughead, being a Jughead, even more then usual with the arrival of … <spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday>

Titan Comics: DR WHO

If you know Dr Who or you do not, this is essential reading. 4 completely NEW stories, some cartoony, some at an uncanny art-level, all are just great reads. Action and comedy go hand in hand in these sci-fi tales.

My personal favourite is the 10th Doctor story, in which you can get a taste about the traveling vehicle of the Doctors and their companions, namely the TARDIS. A vessel of virtual infinity it can move from A to B but also can act like a Haunted Mansion.

Valiant Entertainment: 4001AD Special

Valiant has characters that are off the charts, with talented writers and artists to back up the premise of each title.

With a prologue to a new inter-company crossover 4001AD with RAI, as well as astonishing previews to Bloodshot Island, Divinity, A&A and the sell-out hit FAITH, this FCBD-collection is just a thing you would want!

IWD: ROM #0

This issue has TWO stories. So do not fret out about that one name on the cover.

ACTION MAN is the prologue about how the old makes way for the new and how Noble becomes the new Action Man, ready to save the world!

ROM is the prologue to the new series in which ROM is introduced as well as his enemies the Dire Wraiths and how the Wraiths have been on Earth for such a long time and how war is coming. A great prologue, with solid writing and solid art, will make revamping this old franchise a sweet treat!

Bruce Lee Entertainment: BRUCE LEE THE DRAGON RISES

Bruce Lee is back! And with him comes… amnesia!

This #0 starts out ground running and does not let up until the final page! Go get it before it runs by you!

2000 AD

Seven short stories for the price of free! That’s some deal! If you are a 2000 AD fan, you need to try to get your mits on this.

Graphic India: Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness

Grant Morrison, possibly the hardest working writer in comics next to Bendis brings us Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness by Indian publisher Graphic India and art by Jeevan J. Kang. The art is more western than I’ve seen in some western comics and looks great. The issue is an intro somewhat similar to Thor’s origin,an arrogant god that needs to be humbled. I’d like to see how this continues. Added bonus is a script of the issue. Possibly filler but Morrison’s writing is always a joy to read so no problems there. The second part is “18 days” (again Morrison on writing duties and Mukesh Singh on art) a re-imagining of the Mahabharata myth and follows the course of the climactic war that concludes the age of the gods and begins the age of man. Fantastic detailed art and recommended if you have any interest in Indian myths.

Awake

Loving this artwork. Quite cartoony, but in a good way. Anthropomorphic animals, humans and aliens all combined in one comic. Albeit one that for the rest is a bit confusing. It introduces several stories in one issue, maybe cutting one would have been better, or having more history with these comics. This would have raised the quality a bit more.

Benitez Productions: Lady Mechanika

Joe Benitez has a history of producing some fantastic art but this is one gorgeous cover. Full of detail and vibrant colors.the rest of the issue has it share of great detail as well, cementing Benitez’ spot at the top of best artists in the business.
Three short stories, with the last one having a steampunk bird that has more detail in its design than most comics have in a year. P.I. Lady Mechanika looks to be one of the better FCDB comics around, so best buy the book!

Top Shelf: March

Congressman John Lewis is an American Icon. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement and his commitment to justice and nonviolence has brought him all the way into congress. This is his story. If you like biographies (co-written with Andrew Aydin, art by Nate Powell) then this is for you.

Spectrum

Created by and written by PJ Haarsma and actor Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Con Man) tells a tale of humans encountering aliens, aliens being hunted by their own leading to massive amounts of dead humans. This is what happened next

It’s clear that Tudyk is still a massive Firefly fan as the main character (Captain Raaker) is modeled after Captain Mal. Which is never a bad thing 😉 Speaking of which, Nathan Fillion is part of the creative team. This fast paced sci-fi thrill ride will be coming to your store soon and if the free issue is anything to go by, and if you like sci-fi, you’ll love Spectrum.

Aspen Comics: Worlds of Aspen 2016

In the past, all Aspen comics had their own little universe to play in. Aspen Comics has now changed things up and combined it all into one universe.
Art is, as always, very much influenced by Mike Turner. Meaning it’s pretty damn good! And for new readers it has a who’s who of the Aspen Universe so that you have an idea of what is going on.

Kodansha Comics: Attack on Titan

The global phenomena continues in comic form (notice I said comic, not manga). Recommended for fans of the original manga/anime.

Devil’s Due: MIX TAPE 2016

A mixed badge of stories, so to each their own. A tad on the 16+ side but still great stories!

Mercy Sparx Year One: Mercy is loose as a young girl and woo the demon or man to cross her path.

Solid art and writing. Loving this one!

Badger: Battling Putin will make him loose bigtime or earn the title of Ruler Of All Russias.

Mucho action, in your face and MMA-style. And cool to see someone battle Putin like this!

Squarriors: when the ‘event’ happened mankind got extinct and mammals gained rational thoughts and thinking. Warrying factions under squirrels and hawks make for an amazing sight, especially with this stunning artwork.

Space Goat Productions: DARK LILY AND FRIENDS

Space Goat has been proving to be a force to be reckoned with and with this collection of stories they make sure on any promise they have made.

Dark Lily: the first appearance of Lily in comics and what a thrill it is. Lily is a young girl living in a castle on the Moon and is just a regular gal really. One that takes a trip via a moonbeam and ends up on Earth. Now what?

Monster Elementary: little monsters going to school… acting up just like real kids with parents parenting just like real parents. The situations they get in: those are really very different!

Rocket Queen: awesome art and this story begs to read more, especially with that America-Anima style of art, with some nice tight pencils and great coloring.

Mage Inc: art and story look cool but not sure if I am getting a proper intro with this.

Hermes Press: THE PHANTOM

The guy in that purple uniform, living in the jungle on that magical island where lions and lambs play joyfully together. And which is his sanctuary from which he battles crime and injustice, leaving his skull-like mark on the faces he pounds.

Get a treat of some golden oldies while preparing for a new series coming this year!

Fantagraphics: LOVE AND ROCKETS

34 years and counting and the hit-series that is half done by Gilbert and the other half by Jaime Hernandez, featering myriads of characters all wrapped up in their relationships and thougths and angst and mysery and joy and of course adventures.

Read why this is a hit-series for 34 years and enjoy something else entirely in Black and White!

Scholastic: DREAMJUMPER

A kid who jumps into nightmares and dreams… a tad scary and a premise for some magical adventure is at hand.
This just might be that one hidden gem!

Oni Press: JUNIOR BRAVES OF THE APOCALYPSE

When a group of scouts come back from a camping trip, they discover that their village is overrun by mutants or zombies. And they need to use all their wits and their scout-skills to get out of this mess. Part GOONIES and part THE WALKING DEAD , this seems like one stunning adventure!

Mixed reviews by Ron van Rutten and Richard Boom.

About the Author

Richard Boom Richard is the driving force behind Comics for Sinners. His love and admiration for female comic book characters is virtually unparalleled, which immediately explains his biggest 'sin': his Hot Mummy fetish. This sketchbook theme is philogynistic in nature and even the source of his WIP comic book series "The Sisterhood".