Comics
[Comic Review] Valiant Entertainment Releases 04/22/15
Reviewed by Brady Steele. The Valiant Entertainment Universe bounces back triumphantly this week by nailing three titles and making them all uniquely great. Ninjak #2, Divinity #3 and Ivar, Timewalker #4 are all fantastic reads worth your time and money. I’m going to cram in all the good stuff into one nice review for your reading pleasure.
Ivar, Timewalker #4 WRITTEN BY: Fred Van Lente ART BY: Clayton Henry
Ninjak#2 WRITTEN BY: Matt Kindt ART BY: Clay Mann & Butch Guice
Divinity #3 WRITTEN BY: Matt Kindt ART BY: Trevor Hairsine
PUBLISHER: Valiant Entertainment
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: 22 April 2015
First up is Ivar, Timewalker #4, written by Fred Van Lente and art by Clayton Henry. Once again, writer Van Lente takes something as tried and tested as time travel and makes a story so utterly unique that it will baffle and amaze you until the end. Henry’s art, as always, impresses with its duality of simplicity in line work but combined with superb detailing. The main character, Ivar, is scarcely in this issue at all. His would becohort, Neela, sets out to prove she can change history and the outcome is one remarkable and troublesome lesson to learn.
Second on our list (in no particular order because all these books are impressive) is Ninjak #2, written by Matt Kindt and art by Clay Mann and Butch Guice. This is a smooth, suave ninja / spy thriller of a series and it’s only the second issue! There are so many minute details spread all over this series, from the introduction / recap page at the start to the sly maneuvering in front and behind of his foes to the back-up new spy tales by the great Butch Guice. The story moves nice and quick and slick enough to pay attention and re-read it again to see how the past and present of Ninjak are all playing into one another.
Thirdly, we have Divinity #3, written (again) by Matt Kindt and art by Trevor Hairsine. The would-be Omni-powerful cosmonaut takes on Unity, all of the mightiest warriors the Valiant Universe can dish out to neutralize the uncertainty he represents. Kindt in one instance takes a typical fight and makes it into a multi-layered and fascinating look at how power can be used to eliminate adversaries without throwing a punch. Riveting work. Catch up if you aren’t up to speed to see how breathtaking the art by Hairsine has been so far.
I normally would expand elaborate how each of these titles is worth your attention. I think if you want to try this shared comic book universe out, any of the Valiant Next books are exceptional gateways into this refreshing world. Each book is so utterly different from the other and yet the greatest thing they all share in common is that they are great reads. Pick them up and catch up to the Valiant Universe.
Ninjak #2 Score: 9/10 Skulls
Divinity #3 Score: 9/10 Skulls
Ivar, Timewalker #4 Score: 9.5/10
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Mr. Steele enjoys all things comics and imagination-based. Using his lifetime of comic-fu-dom for good, he imparts his knowledge for the universe to enjoy and for you, dear readers, to pass it on.
Twitter: @mrbradysteele
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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