The Sandman Volume 10: The Wake

Title: The Sandman Volume 10: The Wake



ISBN: 1563892790

Price: $19.99

Publisher/Year: Vertigo, 1999

Artist: Michael Zulli, Jon J. Muth, Charles Vess

Writer: Neil Gaiman

Collects: Sandman  #70-75



Rating: 3.5/5

In the final installment in Gaiman’s Sandman series, we read the story of Dream’s wake. Or at least, the three first chapters are about Dream’s wake. We meet up with a number of people who we were introduced to in previous installments, and even get a few cameos of other DC comic book characters (Clark Kent, Batman, etc.).

The last three chapters in the book are all stand-alone stories in the Sandman universe. I think this book was one of the stronger ones in the series… but that said, it wasn’t without its flaws. I really wish the three standalones had been included elsewhere in the series, because the series ended so perfectly after the wake. SO perfectly – normally, I hate the sort of endings that implies everything was a dream, but since the series is about Dream of the Endless, WELL, it was so very, very fitting.

I also quite liked the fact that we got to see other characters again – though I have to admit that because there are so many characters and it’s taken me so long to read through the book, I forgot who half of the characters were… Whoops.

I feel like I have to go back and reread the rest of the series again.

As for the last three chapters… well, they could not capture my interest. It felt as if the story was over before reading them, so even though I tried to get into them, I already had that sense of closure and they felt… well… unnecessary for me.

Wish that this had ended after the third chapter, In Which we Wake…. it was a perfect ending to the series right there. The rest seemed like “oh yeah, I forgot to tell you this story.” Anyway, other than that, was totally a solid ending to a wonderful series.

Kurt Busiek’s Astro City Family Album

Title: Kurt Busiek’s Astro City Family Album



ISBN: 1582400342

Price: $19.95

Publisher/Year: Image, 1998

Artist: Brent Eric Anderson

Writer: Kurt Busiek

Collects: Kurt Busiek’s Astro City Volume
2 #1-3 & 10-13



Rating: 3/5

This trade has four distinct stories and their only connection is that they
happen in Astro City.



In the first story, a man and his two daughters move to Astro City from
Boston. They are trying to get used to seeing all of the super folk and the
super level fighting around them. The man, Ben Pullam, and his daughters are
all normal people and Ben feels quite inadequate compared to the super people,
at least at first.



The second story centers, finally, around actual super people: Astra who is
the 10-year old, super powered girl of the First Family. Astra and the rest of
the First Family live in their own place with lots of technological gadgets and
away from other people. Astra wants to know other kids and to play ordinary
kids’ games, so she decides to go on her own adventure in a nearby school.
Unfortunately, her parents are worried sick about her and think that she’s been
kidnapped. We also get the First Family’s brief background story.



Then another one issue story which is about supervillain called the Junkman.
He was a successful toy designer until he was put on retirement and decided to
design gadgets for his own good. His first robbery is a success but somehow
that’s not enough for him.



A bit longer story centers on Jack-in-the-Box. He meets his three sons which
have all come from a possible future. One of them has modified himself through
cybernetics in order to kill his father. The son is embittered and somewhat
insane because his father died before he was born. The second son is also just
as embittered and somewhat insane. However, he has studied Jack, and what Jack
has said and done has become a religion to him. The second son is out to bring
bloody justice to every law breaker and when he realizes that Jack doesn’t want
him to kill anyone; he teams up with the first son and tries to kill their
father.



Jack realizes that his eventual death will have dire consequences to his
family and has to re-think being hero all over again.



The final short piece is about an animated cartoon character Leo and his sad
story in Hollywood and outside it.



All of the stories were at least interesting. I enjoyed especially Astra’s
tale because of the obvious parallels with Fantastic Four. I was a bit
surprised that she looks completely like a human, though, when her grandfather
is the prince of Animal-Men and her father looks like Ben Grimm. Then again,
all comics’ women look the same, even when they aren’t mammals.

Marvel Zombies Return

Title: Marvel Zombies Return



ISBN: 9780785142775

Price: $24.99

Publisher/Year: Marvel, 2009

Artist: Nick Dragotta, Andrea Mutti, Jason Shawn Alexander, Richard Elson,
Wellinton Alves, Scott Hanna

Writer: Fred Van Lente, David Wellington, Jonathan Maberry, Seth Grahame-Smith

Collects: Marvel Zombies Return
#1-5, Marvel Spotlight: Zombies Return

Rating: 3/5

After disappearing for the 3rd and
4th series, the original Marvel Zombies return for this series Marvel Zombies
Return. This series takes place right after the events of the story in Marvel
Zombies 2 when the infected superheroes are thrust through the time and space
gate. They now find themselves displaced on Earth-Z in different times - past,
present, and future. This new development gives the series a new sense of
vitality as a whole group of writers and artists have been brought on board to
craft each of the series individual chapters which each focus on a different
infected Marvel character (Ch. 1 - Spider-Man, Ch. 2 - Iron Man, Ch. 3 -
Wolverine, Ch. 4 - Hulk, and Ch. 5 - the Avengers).

Although each individual chapter
focuses on a different character, there is a unifying story to be told as
zombie Spider-Man tries to redeem himself by ridding the world of the zombie
plague once and for all. As written by Fred Van Lente, David Wellington,
Jonathon Maberry, and Seth Grahame-Smith, this story is as strong as the
previous entries in the series. On board in the art department is Nick Draotta,
Andrea Muth, Jason Shawn Alexander, Richard Elson & Wellington Alves, and
Scott Hanna whose artwork compliments each of their assigned chapters. This is
a series that could have easily gone wrong but the final product is one that
the Marvel Zombie fans should be proud of.

This graphic novel collection is
also one of the best as it not only provides all the covers for the individual
issues but also has extensive interviews with many of the creators behind the
series which include Van Lente, Mark Millar, Victor Gischler, and
Grahame-Smith. Whether Marvel continues to mine the fertile franchise or not
this would be a great way to go out on a high note.

Death: The Time of Your Life

Title: Death: The Time of Your Life



ISBN: 1563893339

Price: $12.99

Publisher/Year: Vertigo, 1997

Artist: Chris Bachalo, Mark Buckingham

Writer: Neil Gaiman

Collects: Death: The Time of Your
Life #1-3, A Death Gallery, Sandman: A Gallery of Dreams

Rating: 4/5

Neil Gaiman has a wonderful gift of
taking the profane and giving it life.  I have been slowly making my way
through Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels thoroughly enjoying the rich and
mystical world he has created.   

One of my favorite characters in his
series is the Sandman’s older sister Death.  Other personifications of
Death have been of a man in a dark cowl carrying a scythe.  Many stories
about Death are of how the Grim Reaper was outwitted, as death is something to
avoid, escape and cheat.

As he has done time and time again
Gaiman takes the myth and turns it on its head.  Gaiman’s Death is a
perky, optimistic and loving woman.  She dresses like a goth but does not
have a gothic temperament.  Instead of being menacing she welcomes you
into death with a loving embrace and a smile.  It is odd to describe the
character of Death to be as full of life but she is

The Time of your life is a spin-off
from the Sandman comics focusing solely on the character of Death. 
Foxglove and Hazel, other characters from the Sandman comics, appear as
well.  In this issue Foxglove has become a famous rock-star and Hazel is a
stay at home mother, pretending to be Foxglove’s secretary rather than her
lover.  Hazel's tries to make a deal with Death to extend a life and
Foxglove travels to the shadowlands save Hazel.  This issue takes the
reader through a journey of life, death and dreams.  It is explained that
there is no balance to death, no taking of one life for another, as death is
inevitable.

The graphic novel is illustrated
beautifully and it is easy to see how Gaiman and his team have created a series
that is widely praised and timeless.  I thoroughly enjoyed the deeper
exploration of Death’s character with an issue to herself and no Sandman. 
Four out of five stars.

Updated list of trades in my collection

I recently found a cache of trades that I either haven't seen in years and thought I had sold, lost or never had. Because of this, I wanted to post an update of my collection; starting with a list of the trades that I have already posted reviews for.



Publisher Title # Variant Publish Date

• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1 A - The Long Way Home 11/1/2007


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2 A - No Future for You 6/1/2008


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 3 A - Wolves at the Gate 11/1/2008


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 4 A - Time of Your Life 5/1/2009


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 5 A - Predators and Prey 1/1/2009


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 6 A - Retreat 1/1/2010


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 7 A - Twilight 1/1/2010


• Dark Horse Buffy the Vampire Slayer 8 A - Last Gleaming 1/1/2011


• Dark Horse Gear School 1 10/1/2007


• Dark Horse Gear School 2 9/1/2010


• Dark Horse Ghost: Nocturnes 1 5/1/1996


• Dark Horse Grendel: Red, White, & Black 1 8/1/2005


• Dark Horse Guild 1 11/1/2010


• Dark Horse Hellboy: Masks and Monsters 1 10/1/2010


• Dark Horse Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom nn 4/1/2000


• Dark Horse Serenity 3 A - The Shepherd's Tale 11/1/2010


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Infinities - A New Hope nn 2/1/2002


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Infinities - Return of the Jedi nn 7/1/2004


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Infinities - The Empire Strikes Back nn 2/1/2003


• Dark Horse Star Wars: The Force Unleashed nn 8/1/2008


• Dark Horse Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II nn 1/1/2010


• DC Azrael: Death's Dark Knight 1 1/1/2010


• DC Batman R.I.P.: The Deluxe Edition 1 1/1/2009


• DC Batman: Sword of Azrael 1 1/1/1993


• DC Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne Deluxe Edition 1 1/1/2011


• DC Blackest Night 1 1/1/2010


• DC Brightest Day 1 1/1/2010


• DC Brightest Day 2 1/1/2011


• DC Death of Superman 1 1/1/1993


• DC Final Crisis 1 1/1/2009


• DC Gotham City Sirens 1 A - Union 1/1/2010


• DC Gotham City Sirens 2 A - Songs of the Sirens 1/1/2010


• DC Identity Crisis 1 1/1/2005


• DC Infinite Crisis 1 12/1/2007


• DC Superman: Earth One 1 1/1/2010


• DC Superman: The Black Ring 1 1/1/2011


• DC Superman: World Without A Superman 1 1/1/1993


• DC Watchmen nn 1/1/1987


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 1 1/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 2 3/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 4 1/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 5 1/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 6 1/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 7 1/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe 1 7/1/2009


• IDW G.I. Joe Season 2 1 A - Cobra Civil War Volume 1 10/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 1 2/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra 1 A - Cobra Civil War 12/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra 4 A - The Death of Cobra Commander 1/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds 1 1/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Origins 1 9/1/2009


• IDW G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes (2010) 1 4/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Special Missions 1 6/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Special Missions 2 10/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - Official Movie Adaptation nn 7/1/2009


• IDW Infestation nn 12/1/2011


• IDW Spike: After the Fall nn 2/1/2009


• Image Bluntman & Chronic 1 12/1/2001


• Image Walking Dead 1 J - Days Gone Bye 1/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 2 E - Miles Behind Us 12/1/2006


• Image Walking Dead 3 E - Safety Behind Bars 1/1/2009


• Image Walking Dead 4 E - The Heart's Desire 1/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 5 C - The Best Defense 1/1/2009


• Image Walking Dead 6 A - This Sorrowful Life 4/1/2007


• Marvel Cable and the New Mutants 1 6/1/1992


• Marvel Captain America: The Death of Captain America 1 1/1/2007


• Marvel Dark Avengers 2 A - Molecule Man 1/1/2010


• Marvel Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia 1 1/1/2009


• Marvel Dark X-Men nn 1/1/2010


• Marvel Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America nn 1/1/2007


• Marvel Marvel Zombies: Dead Days nn 1/1/2009


• Marvel Secret Invasion nn 1/1/2009


• Marvel Secret Wars 1 1/1/2011


• Marvel Secret Wars II nn 1/1/2011


• Marvel Siege nn 1/1/2010


• Marvel Siege Prelude 1 1/1/2010


• Marvel Spider-Man: Back in Black nn 1/1/2008


• Marvel Spider-Man: Election Day nn 1/1/2009


• Marvel Spider-Man: The Other nn 1/1/2006


• Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man 1 A - Power and Responsibility 4/1/2001


• Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man 2 E - Learning Curve 9/1/2004


• Marvel Ultimate X-Men: Ultimate Collection 1 1/1/2006


• Marvel What If?: Civil War nn 1/1/2008


• Marvel Wolverine: Weapon X nn 1/1/2009


• Marvel X-Men: Messiah Complex nn 1/1/2008


• Marvel X-Men: Phoenix Rising 1 1/1/2011


• Marvel X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda 1 9/1/1992


• Top Shelf Blankets 1 7/1/2003


• Vertigo Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love nn 1/1/2010


• Vertigo Death: The High Cost of Living 1 1/1/1994


• Vertigo Death: The Time of Your Life 1 1/1/1997


• Vertigo Fables 1 A - Legends in Exile 1/1/2002


• Vertigo Fables 2 A - Animal Farm 1/1/2003


• Vertigo Fables 3 B - Storybook Love 1/1/2004


• Vertigo Fables 4 A - March of the Wooden Soldiers 1/1/2004


• Vertigo Fables 5 A - The Mean Seasons 1/1/2005


• Vertigo Fables 6 A - Homelands 1/1/2005


• Vertigo Fables 7 A - Arabian Nights (and Days) 1/1/2006


• Vertigo Fables 8 A - Wolves 1/1/2006


• Vertigo Fables 9 A - Sons of Empire 1/1/2007


• Vertigo Fables 10 A - The Good Prince 1/1/2008


• Vertigo Fables 11 A - War and Pieces 1/1/2008


• Vertigo Fables 12 A - The Dark Ages 1/1/2009


• Vertigo Fables 13 A - The Great Fables Crossover 1/1/2010


• Vertigo Fables 14 A - Witches 1/1/2010


• Vertigo Fables 15 A - Rose Red 1/1/2011


• Vertigo Fables 16 A - Super Team 1/1/2011


• Vertigo Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall 1 1/1/2006


• Vertigo Hellblazer: India nn 1/1/2010


• Vertigo Hellblazer: Stations of the Cross 1 8/1/2006


• Vertigo Hellblazer: The Family Man nn 1/1/2008


• Vertigo John Constantine Hellblazer: All His Engines 1 1/1/2006


• Vertigo John Constantine Hellblazer: Empathy is the Enemy 1 1/1/2006


• Vertigo John Constantine, Hellblazer: Reasons to be Cheerful nn 1/1/2007


• Vertigo Lucifer 1 A - Devil in the Gateway 1/1/2001


• Vertigo Lucifer 2 A - Children and Monsters 1/1/2001


• Vertigo Lucifer 3 A - A Dalliance with the Damned 1/1/2001


• Vertigo Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere 1 2/14/2007


• Vertigo Preacher 1 A - Gone to Texas 1/1/1996


• Vertigo Preacher 2 B - Until the End of the World 1/1/1997


• Vertigo Preacher 3 G - Proud Americans 1/1/2004


• Vertigo Preacher 4 E - Ancient History 1/1/1998


• Vertigo Preacher 5 E - Dixie Fried 1/1/1998


• Vertigo Preacher 6 E - War in the Sun 1/1/1999


• Vertigo Preacher 7 F - Salvation 1/1/1999


• Vertigo Preacher 8 E - All Hell's A-Coming 1/1/2000


• Vertigo Preacher 9 E - Alamo 1/1/2001


• Vertigo Sandman 1 M - Preludes & Nocturnes 1/1/1995


• Vertigo Sandman 2 L - The Doll's House 1/1/1990


• Vertigo Sandman 3 J - Dream Country 1/1/1995


• Vertigo Sandman 4 K - Season of Mists 1/1/1992


• Vertigo Sandman 5 H - A Game of You 1/1/1993


• Vertigo Sandman 6 H - Fables and Reflections 1/1/1993


• Vertigo Sandman 7 G - Brief Lives 1/1/1994


• Vertigo Sandman 8 G - Worlds' End 1/1/1995


• Vertigo Sandman 9 G - The Kindly Ones 1/1/1996


• Vertigo Sandman 10 F - The Wake 1/1/1997


• Vertigo Sandman: Endless Nights 1 1/1/2003


• Yen Press Twilight: The Graphic Novel 1 3/1/2010

And here's everything else in my collection that I've either read and haven't posted a review of or have yet to read:

Publisher Title # Variant Publish Date

• America's Best Comics League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 1 1/1/2000


• America's Best Comics League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 2 12/1/2003


• Boundless Comics Lady Death: Origins 1 11/1/2010


• Chaos Lady Death: The Reckoning 1 7/1/1994


• Dark Horse Fray 1 A - Future Slayer 11/1/2003


• Dark Horse Ghost Stories 1 4/1/1995


• Dark Horse Lone Wolf 2100 1 A - Shadows On Saplings 1/1/2003


• Dark Horse Serenity 2 A - Better Days 10/1/2008


• Dark Horse Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... 1 A - Doomworld 6/1/2002


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Darth Maul nn 5/1/2001


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace nn 5/1/1999


• Dark Horse Star Wars: General Grievous nn 12/1/2005


• Dark Horse Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire nn 1/1/1997


• DC Arkham Asylum 1 1/1/1989


• DC Batman and Son 1 1/1/2007


• DC Batman Cacophony 1 11/1/2009


• DC Batman Versus Predator: The Collected Edition 1 4/1/1993


• DC Batman: Battle for the Cowl 1 1/1/2009


• DC Batman: Battle for the Cowl Companion 1 1/1/2009


• DC Batman: Bloodstorm 1 11/1/1994


• DC Batman: Hush 1 5/1/2003


• DC Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Tenth Anniversary Edition 1 12/1/1996


• DC Batman: The Long Halloween 1 1/1/1997


• DC Batman: The Widening Gyre 1 1/1/2010


• DC Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader 1 1/1/2009


• DC Crisis on Infinite Earths 1 12/1/2000


• DC Joker 1 1/1/2008


• Devil's Due G.I. Joe 1 A - Reinstated! 1/1/2002


• Devil's Due G.I. Joe: Dreadnoks Declassified nn 1/1/2007


• Homage Comics Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Family Album 1 9/1/1996


• Homage Comics Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Life in the Big City 1 8/1/1996


• Icon Kick-Ass nn 1/1/2010


• IDW Angel 1 A - Immortality for Dummies 7/1/2010


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 1 7/1/2008


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 2 9/1/2008


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 3 1/1/2009


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 4 7/1/2009


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 5 9/1/2009


• IDW Angel: After the Fall 6 A - Last Angel in Hell 5/1/2010


• IDW Angel: Not Fade Away nn 1/1/2009


• IDW Angel: Smile Time nn 8/1/2009


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 8 1/1/2010


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 9 8/1/2010


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 10 12/1/2010


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 11 3/1/2011


• IDW Classic G.I. Joe 12 7/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe 2 2/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe 3 7/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe 4 1/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe 5 8/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero 2 7/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra 1 10/1/2009


• IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra 2 10/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Cobra 3 A - Serpent's Coil 3/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Origins 2 2/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Origins 3 8/1/2010


• IDW G.I. Joe: Origins 4 1/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: Special Missions 3 1/1/2011


• IDW G.I. Joe: The Best of Snake Eyes nn 7/1/2009


• IDW Spike 1 A - Alone Together Now 4/1/2011


• IDW Spike: Shadow Puppets nn 12/1/2007


• Image Chasing Dogma 1 6/1/2001


• Image Clerks 1 7/1/2001


• Image Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? The Definitive Collection 1 1/1/2000


• Image Walking Dead 7 A - The Calm Before 9/1/2007


• Image Walking Dead 8 B - Made to Suffer 1/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 9 B - Here We Remain 1/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 10 B - What We Become 8/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 11 A - Fear the Hunters 1/1/2010


• Image Walking Dead 12 A - Life Among Them 1/1/2010


• Kitchen Sink Crow 1 4/1/1989


• Marvel Daredevil 7 A - Hardcore 1/1/2003


• Marvel Daredevil Visionaries: Kevin Smith 1 1/1/2000


• Marvel Dark Avengers 1 A - Assemble 1/1/2009


• Marvel Dark Reign: Accept Change nn 7/8/2009


• Marvel G.I. Joe 3 8/1/2002


• Marvel G.I. Joe: Order of Battle 1 1/1/1987


• Marvel Marvel Mangaverse 3 A - Spider-Man: Legend of the Spider-Clan 1/1/2003


• Marvel Marvel Mangaverse 4 A - X-Men: Ronin 1/1/2003


• Marvel Spider-Man vs Venom 1 1/1/1990


• Marvel Spider-Man: Carnage 1 6/1/1993


• Marvel Spider-Man's Tangled Web 3 1/1/2002


• Marvel Spider-Man's Tangled Web 4 1/1/2003


• Marvel Spider-Woman nn A - Agent of S.W.O.R.D. 1/1/2010


• Marvel Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra 1 1/1/2003


• Marvel Ultimate Origins nn 1/1/2009


• Marvel Ultimates 1 A - Super-Human 8/1/2002


• Marvel Ultimatum (2009) 1 1/1/2009


• Marvel Wolverine (2003) 1 A - The Brotherhood 1/1/2003


• Marvel Wolverine (2003) 2 A - Coyote Crossing 1/1/2004


• Marvel Wolverine: The Origin 1 1/1/2002


• Marvel X-Force/Cable: Messiah War 1 1/1/2009


• Marvel X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Prelude nn 5/1/2011


• Marvel X-Men: Evolution 1 1/1/2002


• Marvel X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga 1 1/1/1991


• Marvel X-Men: X-cutioner's Song 1 1/1/1994


• Marvel X-Treme X-Men 2 A - Invasion 1/1/2003


• Pantheon Maus: A Survivor's Tale 1 B - My Father Bleeds History 1/1/1992


• Pantheon Maus: A Survivor's Tale 2 A - And Here My Troubles Began 9/1/1992


• Slave Labor Graphics (SLG) Publishing GloomCookie 1 1/1/2001


• Slave Labor Graphics (SLG) Publishing Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut 1 8/1/1995


• Top Cow Witchblade: Deluxe Collected Edition 1 1/1/1997


• Vertigo Constantine: The Hellblazer Collection 1 2/1/2005


• Vertigo Death: At Death's Door 1 1/1/2003


• Vertigo Hellblazer: Hooked nn 1/1/2010


• Vertigo John Constantine, Hellblazer: Joyride nn 1/1/2008


• Vertigo John Constantine, Hellblazer: The Gift 1 1/1/2007


• Vertigo Sandman: The Dream Hunters nn 10/1/1999

I think I may have missed some trades that I've actually posted reviews for. If you find any on either list that are miscategorized, please let me know so I can make the change. As you can see, I still have a lot of work ahead of me. Thank you for all your support.

Infestation

Title: Infestation



ISBN: 9781613771068

Price: $34.99

Publisher/Year: IDW, 2011

Artist: David Messina, Nick Roche, Giovanni Timpano, Gary Erskine, Casey
Maloney, Kyle Hotz, Antonio Campo

Writer: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Mike Raicht, Scott Tipton, David Tipton, Erik
Burnham, Jason M. Burns

Collects: Infestation #1-2, Transformers: Infestation #1-2, G.I. Joe: Infestation #1-2, Star Trek: Infestation #1-2, Ghostbusters: Infestation #1-2

Rating: 2/5

While reading this trade, all I
could think is that IDW was trying to capitalize on what Marvel has with the
Marvel Zombie line of trades. I think they were hoping to draw pop culture
interest by using Transformers, G.I. Joe Star Trek and Ghostbusters where Marvel
simply used their classic characters. I don’t feel that they had the same draw
that Marvel did.

The art is okay for this trade,
even though I suspect that they didn’t utilize the already existing artists
from the specific titles. I’ll be honest that I don’t follow any of the regular
titles of than G.I. Joe. I think this fact should have been a key indicator of
the level of quality contained within. If they didn’t have enough faith to put
the professionals who drawn these characters on a frequent basis, then there’s
probably not much hope for the series.

Each section has a different spin
on how the infection is spread, with the connection being a vampire named Brit
from a group called CVO. That’s where it all begins, and that’s where it
ultimately “ends”… or does it. The ending leaves it very open to future
infestations.

There’s not much that can be said
about this particular trade. You could live well enough with or without this
trade in your collection. I’m not convinced that it adds enough to give it a
glowing nod to go out and have you add it, but it also doesn’t detract.

The Walking Dead Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life

Title: The Walking Dead Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life



ISBN: 9781582406848

Price: $14.99

Publisher/Year: Image, 2010

Artist: Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Collects: The Walking Dead #31-36

Rating: 4/5

How many happy moments can you expect when Volume Six of The Walking Dead series is titles: This Sorrowful Life? The trio of Rick, Michonne, and Glenn are still being held in the small, fortified section of the town of Woodbury by a man who calls himself Governor. Things are not going well.



You can’t unbreak an egg, and Robert Kirkman has stomped on the whole damn dozen. The level of disturbing imagery eclipses the previous volume: The Best Defense. The zombie makes a few appearances as well after being relegated to the background for a while.



Plainly put very little that occurs in this arc of the story leaves you with any ‘warm fuzzies’. The Governor is twisted and sadistic. In short, a perfect villain. A few new supporting characters are dropped in , bt this is the episode that defines Michonne. I don’t do spoilers, but I will say that it is quite possible that her elevator doesn’t provide service to the top floor.



It’s been a while since I mentioned Cliff Rathburn and it is worth a line or two here to express just how fantastic he is a t rendering some very gruesome scenes. There are occasions where I have to struggle in discerning some of the female characters, but overall, his work adds a very visceral and cinematic quality. If I’m being completely honest, until Walking Dead the only graphic novels or comic books I’d read since the Sgt Rock days of my childhood was Sin City. This series has acted as a gateway for me, shedding light on such wonderful offerings as Marvel Zombies, Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake conversion, and the Dark Elf (Drizzt) stories by R. A. Salvatore.



By the end of This Sorrowful Life there is a sense of impending doom hanging over the story. If you were following the story closely by this point (which I was) you wonder if the next volume will be the dramatic, If not tragic, finale. Since there are at least five more volumes (volume sixteen was recently compiled and released) I’m not giving anything away.



This Sorrowful Life lives up to its title and cinches tight the emotional bonds between reader and character. If Kirkman has taught us anything, it’s that heartbreak has to be on the horizon.