Comics
Review: ‘The Goon Volume 12: Them That Raised Us Lament’
Laugh-out-loud and with plenty of action, The Goon Volume 12: Them That Raised Us Lament makes for an entertaining read. While playing tribute to B-movies, writer/artist Eric Powell adopts a cartoony style that is well-worth your attention. By the time you finish reading, you’re definitely going to become a fan of “The Goon” series.
WRITTEN BY: Eric Powell
ART BY: Eric Powell
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: February 20th, 2013
What you have here is a collection of short tales that provide depth and insight into The Goon. Readers will find out more about the Goon’s family tree in “The True Life Story of Kizzie The Iron Maiden.” The next tale, “The Death Of The Goon” is a hilarious parody about superheroes and the comic book industry. “The Devil’s Drag Race” is the most exciting with its over-the-top and zany car chases. Breaking the pattern and steering away from the Goon, Mr. Opus’ origin tale explains why he hates his enemy so much.
In “The True Life Story of Kizzie The Iron Maiden,” what I really enjoyed about Powell’s writing is how he tugs at the heart strings, while hitting his mark with the comedic timing. Readers are introduced to Kizzie, who has grown up with a violent brother and a poor family. Everyone is counting on Kizzie but no one is there for her. Years later, when her brother drops off an unwanted baby at her doorstep, Kizzie isn’t sure whether to take care of the infant or walk away. Even though she isn’t his birth mother, Kizzie raises the Goon as if he were her own son.
Powell injects zany humor into some bizarre situations. “The Death Of The Goon” is a hysterical point of view about being an independent creative force in a money-making industry. Powell turns the Goon into a crime-fighting superhero, wearing tight spandex and carrying a belt with ridiculous gadgets. Even though the message is satirical, it never dives into mean-spiritedness. At its core, Powell’s message is about being true to yourself and not selling out.
My favorite is “The Devil’s Drag race” because it is a hilarious spin on road movies and car chases. When The Devil conjures up the race of a lifetime, the Goon has to drive his busted-up car while being chased by unholy drivers. After being whipped with a chain by a masked motorcyclist, the Goon performs death-defying stunts. The most exciting panels are when the Goon swerves his car and jumps over an explosion.
In his origin tale, Mr. Corpus self-narrates how he ended up becoming on the Goon’s hit list. Making for an interesting and complex antagonist, Mr. Corpus doesn’t see himself as the bad guy. He is always wondering, “Why are you applauding the man who is ruining my life?” Having an excuse for everything, Mr. Corpus didn’t force anyone to drink the poisonous spell; he only gave them instructions. Powell uses of blue and white shades of color to distinguish the past from the present.
“The Goon Volume 12: Them That Raised Us Lament” is an enjoyable collection of tales mixed with outrageous humor, action-packed sequences, and tons of heart. “The Goon” is insane, wacky, and wonderful all at the same time.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jorge Solis
Comics
‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics
Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.
Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.
In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”
The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”
Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”
“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.
Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”
Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.
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Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover
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Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)
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Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)
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Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)
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Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)
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Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)
Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
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