The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor

Title:
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor

ISBN:
978125000838

Price:
$14.99

Publisher/Year:
Thomas Dunne Books, 2011

Writer:
Robert Kirkman, Jay Bonansinga

Rating:
4.5/5

If you’ve been reading the ‘Walking Dead’ comic books (and if you haven’t
then you really should) then you won’t need me to tell you just who the
Governor is and the influence that he has had on the lives of Rick Grimes and
his friends. I’m prepared to bet that a number of you are thinking, ‘the
Governor, what a bastard...’ right now.



If you’re not reading the comic books and are just watching the TV series
instead, you know that you will see the Governor be a major focus in season 3.
He’s too evil a character not to feature in one form or another and I’m pretty
confident in saying that you all have some great television headed your way
when he turns up. It’ll be near the knuckle stuff though, you have been
warned... (FYI At the time of writing this review, season 3 just started.)



Zombie media is great at showing the reader (or viewer, whatever) how a
character can develop in certain ways when faced with the all-encompassing fear
of a zombie apocalypse. People are thrown back on their own resources and will
often have to do unspeakable things if they want to survive another day; they
will often end up a completely different person to how they began. The Governor
differs here in that when we first meet him he is already capable of some pretty
sickening stuff. So... what happened? Was the Governor always like this or did
something happen, during those early days of the zombie uprising, that forced
him down a particular path?



Robert Kirkman has teamed up with thriller writer Jay Bonansinga to fill in
that gap and the result is just what you would expect from the creator of ‘The
Walking Dead’. You’re going to need a strong stomach to read this book but it’s
more than worth it in the end.



The dead are walking and Philip Blake’s life will never be the same again. The
only constant let over (from a former life that already seems like a dream) is
his seven year old daughter Penny and Philip will do whatever takes to make
sure that she survives.



Rumor has it that refugee centers are being set up in Atlanta so Philip and
Penny aim to make their way there along with Philip’s brother and two old high
school friends. Atlanta isn’t far away, as the crow flies, but in a new world
where the dead are looking to eat the living... Atlanta is now a lot further away
than anyone thought. Our band of survivors will do whatever they can to get to
the city but not only are there thousands of zombies in the way but Atlanta
might not be as safe as everyone thought. Philip Blake’s problems are only just
beginning...



Every so often I’ll come across a book where I’ll find myself stopping and
thinking, ‘what the... did I just read that?’ You know what I mean; the writer
really goes for the throat and you find yourself physically shocked by what’s
happening on the page. ‘The Rise of the Governor’ is not one of those books,
preferring instead to take things to another level and set out to shock you
pretty much every couple of pages. And it succeeds. ‘The Rise of the Governor’
makes for visceral, bloody and downright brutal reading that I just couldn’t
put down. Kirkman and Bonansinga’s team up proves that Kirkman’s creation can
live just as well on the printed page as it does in the comic book.



That’s not to say that it’s all perfect though. The journey that Philip Blake
makes is arduous to say the least and one development led me to wonder whether
Kirkman and Bonansinga took pity on the group and decided to let them rest up
for a bit. The safe shelter that they find is a little too safe and drastic
action is needed to move them on and keep the story flowing. Therein lies the
problem, it’s clear that the plot needs to keep moving and one particularly
powerful scene (seriously, the weather gets involved and everything!) is
rendered nothing more than a really transparent plot device there to kick-start
the plot. Talk about being taken right out of a book (which was hitherto really
easy to get into) and having it shown for what it is...



This is a real shame as the rest of the book, both before and after this point,
absolutely rocks and I’m eager to see how Kirkman and Bonansinga tie the next
two books into the ongoing ‘Walking Dead’ continuity (although it’s not a
hundred percent clear whether the book will tie into the comic book plot or
that of the TV show, my money is on the comic book personally).



When the dead start trying to eat bits of the living, civilization crumbles
fast and that puts a lot of pressure on the people trying to live in the ruins.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the characters of Philip and Brian Blake, two men
just trying to do the right thing by the people that they love. Kirkman and
Bonansinga throw everything they can at Philip in particular and you can’t help
but root for him as he struggles to overcome another setback (and discovers
levels of savagery that he was previously unaware of), even though long term
fans will know how his story ultimately plays out. Or will they? There is one
hell of a twist, right at the end, which casts new light on everything and
makes prospect of the next two books just that little more enticing.



Before you get to that bit, there is a whole wasteland of the zombie apocalypse
to work your way through; jammed full of zombies and the worst elements of what
is left of humanity. Kirkman and Bonansinga use this backdrop to great effect,
pulling no punches in showing us just how tough life has suddenly become for
Philip and his friends. ‘The Rise of the Governor’ is full of frantic moments
where streets suddenly fill up with zombies, cars break down and safe shelter
is proved to be anything but. Kirkman and Bonansinga set out to show us just
what people will do to survive and Philip Blake learns some hard lessons along
the way. For the reader... Prepare to feel your heart race like mad and
remember to breathe every now and then, this is a book where it’s all too easy
to take a breath and forget to let it out.



‘The Rise of the Governor’ comes to a clanking halt mid-way through but stays
in fifth gear long enough for it not to be a major issue; there are more than
enough shocks and zombies to keep you going. I cannot wait for the next book.

Free Comic Book Day 2013

Where will you be?

System's We Play: World of Darkness (Classic)

World of Darkness (Classic):



Back in the early 90's, I was introduced to a couple of supernatural RPG's that I thought were interesting. I even got the main book from Werewolf: The Apocalypse for 50% off from my local book store because the front cover was torn. (Fans who remember the 1st edition, softcover will get a chuckle from this.) Between that and the 2nd edition of Vampire: The Masquerade, White Wolf had my attention. It wasn't until my friends started a Mage: The Ascension group that I actually played in the World of Darkness... and I have never regretted this first step.



The World of Darkness started with 5 core games...

Vampire: The Masquerade-



This was the first game from the World of Darkness line. You are vampires descended from Caine. (Yes, this game draws from a biblical origin story.) In modern times, you either live to maintain your hold on what is left of your humanity, or you embrace that you are beyond the concept of humanity.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse-



In Werewolf, you typically portrait a warrior of Gaia (defender of the Earth) against the corruption of the Wyrm. There are other were-creatures you can choose from as well, such as cats, spiders and crows. You fight for honor, glory and wisdom to raise yourself in Gaia's army of shape-shifters.

Mage: The Ascension-



An inner power has awoken inside of you, but there are those who would either exploit your power or kill you for it. Mage is probably the best game in the World of Darkness if you want a player vs. "The Man" game as you try to keep yourself safe from a government group known as The Technocracy.

Wraith: The Oblivion-



Death is not the end, but just a new beginning. Something is keeping you from the afterlife that is promised after you die, and this ties you the world you once knew. Your new home, known as the Shadowlands, is a dark image of the world you once knew. You seek your redemption while others would seek to keep you where you are or use you as something else.

Changeling: The Dreaming-



Faeries from childhood stories are real, and they have been living amongst you without your knowledge. Better yet, you've also started to understand that you're one of them. Fueled by creativity and imagination, Changelings are hidden from the real world but still need to work within it. Be careful not to stray down the wrong path and get stuck in the world fueled by banality lest you lose your Fae self.







And then came the additions to provide a little flavor to the World of Darkness...

Kindred of the East-



Not quite the same of the traditional vampires we're aware of. Asia has its own spin of vampires, spirits and shape-shifters, and it all started here.

Hunter: The Reckoning-



With all these supernatural creatures running wild in the World of Darkness, there has to be a group of people who can offset them. Where each of the individual games have their counterpart (perceived "good vs. evil"), the Hunters are out to cleanse the world. Armed with powers and abilities of their own, Hunters don't see themselves as part of the problem but rather as the ultimate solution.

Mummy: The Resurrection-



In the 1st edition of Vampire: The Masquerade, we're introduced to Mummies. Now, here they are expanded with a ton of extra powers and abilities that will overpower just about any group. If a Mummies body dies, no worries. The spirit moves on to the Shadowlands until the body is repaired.

Demon: The Fallen-



If having Mummies weren't overpowering enough for your game, you can add a healthy dose of "evil" to your games. Even though I have some of the books for this game in my collection, I have yet to actually participate in a Demon game.













To add a little extra flavor to the original line of games, White Wolf also published a Dark Ages series that included Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, Fae and Inquisitor. These are great for the World of Darkness feel in a less modern time frame. I think these were created in light of the favorable response to Vampire: The Dark Ages.



There were a few off-shoots that were published but never that popular. Vampire: The Victorian Age (set in the late 19th century), Werewolf: The Wild West (set in the 19th century), Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade (set in the late 15th century) and Wraith: The Great War (set during and immediately after World War I).



Other than Demon, I have either played or ran games and.or characters
from every single game in the World of Darkness. This is perhaps my
favorite of all systems. It's easy to learn and each individual game
within the system has a well thought out back story.

G.I. Joe: Reinstated

Title: G.I. Joe: Reinstated

ISBN: 1582402523

Price: $14.95

Publisher/Year: Image, 2002

Artist: John Larter

Writer: Josh Blaylock

Collects: G.I. Joe Vol. 2 #1-4

Rating: 3/5

Marvel Comics began producing a G.I. Joe comic book back in 1982, the same
year Hasbro rolled out the new 3 ¾” line of Joe action figures. The series was
a big hit and would be one of Marvel’s top sellers for many years and spawn
several companion titles such as G.I. Joe Special Missions and G.I. Joe
European Missions. But as the popularity of the toy line waned, so did the
popularity of the comic and the title was finally canceled in 1994 after 155
issues. G.I. Joe lay dormant for seven years until resurrected by Devil’s Due
in 2001. “G.I. Joe Reinstated” re-prints those first four issues where we see
the Joe team brought out of the mothballs to once again face off against
arch-nemesis, Cobra. But this was not the G.I. Joe of twenty years ago which
was squarely aimed at the young boys who played with the action figures. This
was a grittier, edgier Joe, fully immersed in our modern world of terrorism and
9/11.



Reinstated begins deep in the Florida Everglades at the base of Dreadnok leader
Zartan. Zartan hosts a meeting of Cobra dignitaries including the Cobra
Commander, the Baroness, Major Bludd, Destro, Dr. Mindbender, Tomax, and Xamot.
These diverse and ego-maniacal personalities instantly begin squabbling over
power as the Cobra Commander presents Cobra’s newest weapon…nanite technology
which he claims will infect and destroy virtually anything it’s introduced
into, whether it’s mechanical or organic. Destro manages to usurp power and
imprison the Cobra Commander. But military has been keeping an eye on Zartan in
the form of Snake Eyes’ apprentice Kamakura, who relays his information to Joe
command. After seven years the Joe team is reassembled with Duke, Flint,
Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Shipwreck, Gung Ho, Mainframe, Spirit, and
more…We catch up with the Joe team and learn that Snake Eyes and Scarlett were
to be married but Snake left three weeks before the wedding. We also learn
rather humorously that Bazooka is no longer quite fit for active duty.



The Joe team begins their assault on Zartan’s base but it is all a ruse to draw
the Joe team in. Scarlett and Snake Eyes are captured and several members of
the Joe team, including many new recruits are infected with the nanites.
Furthermore, Cobra has begun infecting infrastructure in the U.S., hitting government
installations, communications networks, and other targets, resulting in
widespread damage and chaos. Cobra’s plan is then to play the good guy and save
the day so the government will be in their debt. The Joe team must now find a
way to battle this new technology and save the men and the nation from Cobra’s
latest threat.



Reinstated was an extraordinary story and a great way to bring back the Joe
team. Far from the more implausible Marvel stories, Reinstated handled the
seven year absence logically with the various Cobra members quibbling over
power. Meanwhile on the Joe side we are given some meat to the past seven years
that the Joe team had been disbanded. While it would have been great to see a
bit more of what’s happened to the team in that time, it was at least nice to
see the subject handled intelligently. And in a plot right out of today’s
headlines we hear that people are protesting in Washington over the Joe Teams
attack on the Cobra base. Kudos to Josh Blaylock for playing up the whole
sympathizing with the terrorists angle as many people today have done with
Al-Quida. Steve Kurth and John Larter provide the striking artwork putting the
finishing touches on this great trade collection. Devil’s Due had done a great
job of balancing staying true to the characters Marvel and Hasbro introduced
and updating them for 21st century readers. I like having the stories aimed at
a more mature audience than the “G” rated Marvel material. Clearly, G.I. Joe is
in good hands at Devil’s Due.

Wolverine Volume 2: Coyote Crossing

Title: Wolverine Volume 2:
Coyote Crossing

ISBN: 0785111379

Price: $11.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2004

Artist: Leandro Fernandez

Writer: Greg Ruka

Collects: Wolverine (Vol 3)
#7-11

Rating: 3/5

This isn’t a storyline that does much to advance the Wolverine mythos. It’s
not about his past or his returning memories or his eternal fight with
Sabretooth or anything like that. It’s a stand-alone storyline in which Wolvie
is forced to face the fact that he’s stuck somewhere between being a man and an
animal. The story itself is about Logan dealing with the leader of a Mexican
gang and being tailed by the DEA agent who made her first appearance in the
previous Wolverine story arc, “The Brotherhood”. I won’t go into the story,
because a lot of it is meant to surprise you, but I will say that this story
does a LOT to establish Logan’s humanity. Even after killing dozens of men in a
rage, he is forced to deal with the fact that he’s not all animal… nor is he
all man. This is a nicely complex character development story that I enjoyed
immensely.



The art is also better, IMO, than Robertson and Palmer’s work on “The
Brotherhood.” I know Wolvie’s short and stocky, but I don’t like art that makes
him look like he just stumbled out of his cave. The art in “Coyote Crossing”
captures his stature, but also conveys the elegance and ease of movement that
he’s known for. I’m a bit ambivalent on the fact that his face looks a lot like
Hugh Jackman’s; I prefer a bit more separation between the movie and comic
‘verses, but I really like that he’s drawn with long hair. That needs to be
done more often.

Signatures

For many people who collect comic books, signatures add to the personal value of an individual issue. There are also those who feel that unless you go through a professional grading service like CGC or PGX to authenticate and encapsulate your comic, so many people believe that a signature doesn't add anything, but rather detracts from the potential value.



I am personally of two minds about getting my books signed by authors, artists or someone simply related to the book in my collection. I have included several pics and scans of comics I have in my collection that are signed.

Cable: Blood and Metal #1-



Signed by John Romita, Jr. at a Portland Comic Book Show in 1994. At the time, autographs from artist's of Romita's caliber were $0.25 each, with all proceeds going to charity. This was the first time I got a chance to actually chat with an artist whose work I was not only familiar with, but was also a fan of.

Uncanny X-Men #197-



Signed by John Romita, Jr. at the very same comic show. With the increase of comic cons in the pacific northwest, I wonder what the chances are of having Romita come back? My inner child yearns for this day.

New Mutants #100-



Signed by Fabian Nicieza at a Portland Comic Book Show. As with John Romita, Jr., it was great to meet and chat with Nicieza. Just as I liked Romita's art, so to did I appreciate Nicieza's writing.

Lady Death: Swimsuit Special #1 (Red Velvet Cover)-





Signed by Brian Pulido at an Emerald City Comic Con. Unfortunately, I don't have any special memories around this signature. When I couldn't attend, I sent a box of comic to a friend to get them signed. As much as I value Pulido's signature on this specific issue, I wish there was a story behind it similar to what happened at ECCC 2012.



I'm thankful that I was able to connect with Pulido in 2012. To me, it makes up for not being able to meet him when this specific issue was signed.

The Walking Dead #100 (SDCC Previews Exclusive Black & White Cover)-



Signed by Robert Kirkman at San Diego Comic Con. This is actually a comic that I purchased at Wizard World Portland 2013 and don't have a good story about meeting Kirkman. In 2012, he was at ECCC... but every time I passed the Image tables, he was nowhere to be seen. Although this was a great find for me, that is the sum total of my memories for this specific issue.

X-Force #25-



Signed by Fabian Nicieza at a Portland Comic Book Show and then later signed in 1996 by Greg Capullo at a comic book show in Seattle. This show was very memorable because Capullo and Todd McFarlane were doing promo's for the Spawn cartoon on HBO. There's a funny story about how I first met Greg, that I promised that I would never tell again.

Ultimate X-Men #38-



Signed by Brian Michael Bendis at the same Emerald City Comic Con that Brian Pulido was at. This was part of the box of issues I had my friend take to get signed. To date, I have not had the chance to meet Bendis personally. I'd like to.

Ghost Stories-



Signed by Adam Hughes at the first Emerald City Comic Con I attended... I believe it was in 2006. I remember this well because there was a small line at his table in the morning before he actually "opened" to do signings. His assistant mentioned that it was the first time that had happened. Hughes is one of my favorite artists and when Ghost was first released, it was part of my monthly pull list at my LCS.

Ghost #4-



Signed by Matt Halley and Tom Simmons at the Portland Comic Book Show in 1996. A crossover with Barb Wire and Adam Hughes didn't do the art. As much as I like this issue, I really believe that Hughes would've made a deeper impact by adding his art.



I remember buying my first print from Halley. It was of Gambit from the X-Men. I still have it in an old photo album.

Daredevil #64-



Signed by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev at the Emerald City Comic Con that I was unable to attend. While I'm not a huge fan of Maleev's work, I do like how he drew Black Widow for this cover.

Dawn: Convention Sketch Book 2005-



Signed by Joseph Michael Linsner at the Emerald City Comic Con in 2007. I know that I wasn't at this particular ECCC but I don't recall if this was the same year that Brian Pulido and Brian Michael Bendis were there. Love to meet Linsner in person some day.

Bluntman & Chronic-



Signed by Mike Allred at a Portland Comic Book Show. Even though I can't remember the year, I do remember that I had a table there and was actually selling and I sent my wife (at the time) to get signatures while I tended to the table. This was the year that the show was actually on the floor of the Memorial Coliseum instead of the exhibition hall where it normally was.

Grendel Tales: Four Devils, One Hell #6-



Signed by Matt Wagner at a Portland Comic Book Show. I think this may have been in 1996 because I want to believe that it was the same year that I went to Seattle and met Greg Cappulo. I'm not entirely certain, but as a long time fan of Grendel, it was incredible to finally meet Wagner.





















I guess the key takeaway from this is that no matter if you feel that signatures add a monetary value or not, each one contains a story of how the signature was obtained and/or came to reside in your collection. I know people who, like me, appreciate the story behind the signature. There are also many who prefer to "insure" their investment in a signature by having the comic graded and the autograph officially certified. As a collector and as someone who occasionally sells comics, I can respect that. For me, I only have 1 issue that I've had signed and graded:

Catwoman #51-



Signed by Adam Hughes at Emerald City Comic Con. This is by far my favorite cover. I even bought a large print of this also signed. If I had enough money, I would probably have more of my signed issues graded to keep them safe. This specific issue means a great deal to me and it holds a special place in my collection.

Stumptown Comics Fest 2013

10th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest

April 27 and 28, 2013 • Oregon Convention Center

Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-6 

Stumptown Comics Fest - Saturday pass


Stumptown Comics Fest - Sunday pass


Stumptown Comics Fest - Weekend pass

I plan to be there, will you?