Geiger TP Vol 4 Review

 

Creators: Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Publisher: Image Comics

Page Count: 152

Price: $16.99

Release Date: November 19, 2025

 

Tariq Geiger has a history of suffering. Cancer threatened to devour him. His experimental treatments and the radiation from bombs that destroyed his country turned Tariq into a living nuclear reactor. And he has killed people. Oh, so many people.

 

But Tariq has a lot to live for. Barney, the two-headed wolf, has proven a loyal companion. Nate, the Nuclear Knight, always seeks to cheer him. And then there is Zigzag, a three-eyed zebra foal, the latest addition to their little family. As they travel through the new American frontier, can Tariq find peace and fulfillment? Or will the living nuclear reactor always be consumed by anger? Let's grab some Boron dust, leap into Geiger TP Vol 4, and find out!

 

Story

Once, he helped charities build homes for the less affluent in his community. Now, Tariq Geiger has no home. For a moment, Tariq found a place he thought he could belong. But after the new King of Vegas tracked him there and threatened the community, Grover's Corners kicked Tariq out.

 

As they travel toward Lewistown, Montana, Tariq and Nate defend a couple from a gang. With their home destroyed, Nate suggests they seek sanctuary in Grover's Corners. Before they embark on their journey, the man and woman give Nate a bag filled with books. For years, Tariq sought solace in libraries. Now, these stories only remind him of the family he lost. And then there was Principal William Webb, who burned books because they reminded the inhabitants of Grover’s Corners of a world they could never reclaim.

 

In Geiger TP Vol 4, the pain and longing for what Tariq can never have become too much. Overcome by rage and sorrow, not even the boron rods Dr Molotov designed can prevent the radiation from escaping Tariq's body. The outburst of energy alerts a pursuer to their location. And like Tariq, he doesn't know who he is or where he belongs.

 

It's been a long time since Tariq and Nate bartered with the Sheriff of Silverton for Ash Arden’s location. But when they reach Lewistown in Geoff Johns’ story, Tariq realizes he doesn't want to be there. Pain has become so much a part of him that he cannot imagine a life without it. Nor does Tariq believe he deserves redemption. It doesn’t help that Ashley Arden is a puzzle Tariq needs to figure out in Geiger TP Vol 4. But what he thinks of himself or how many people he believes he failed don't matter. When trouble arises, Tariq protects people in danger, regardless of the circumstances.

 

Art

It’s been a long road, but they’ve finally made it. A robot in Army fatigues, a knight in plate armor, a two-headed wolf, and a three-eyed Zebra foal stand before tall wooden gates. Around them stretches a city wall composed of stone, wood, metal, and Wall-E's compressed cubes of salvage. The Nuclear Knight bangs on the tall wooden gate with his sword, while Junkyard Joe cradles Tariq in his metal arms. A woman gazes down from atop the wall, clad in a cloak and hood, an armored vest, shorts, and boots. Two boron rods rise from her back.

 

When darkness falls, Brad Anderson paints Gary Frank's art with a subdued palette. Yet when the sun rises, this new world comes alive with color. The bright sunlight seems a reminder of Dr Andrei Molotov's nuclear bombs that cast their fallout far beyond where they fell. Junkyard Joe and Ash Arden’s green attire proves a constant reminder of Tariq’s condition. Ashley's memories share the same hatred of the yellow-green radiance that burns inside Tariq. As she tries to help him, Tariq explodes with the all-too-familiar green energy. Yet, the two glowing people are not the only source of green that threatens Lewistown in Geiger TP Vol 4.

 

Rob Leigh places uppercase black letters in dialogue balloons that grow bold for intonation, enlarge for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Intense emotions distort balloons, while white letters in colored boxes share Junkyard Joe’s memories, off-panel dialogue, and dire warnings. Sound effects enhance Tariq’s outbursts of anger, Junkyard Joe’s struggle with his inner demons, and attackers who, like the King of Vegas, believe that whoever controls Geiger controls the world. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The former United States is an apocalyptic wasteland. While pockets of civilization survive, it is also home to the deformed organ people, gangs, Human traffickers, and religious extremists. In this lawless land, the warlords of Vegas and US President Griffin vie for power. Unlike them, Tariq Geiger wants a release from the power he wields. Instead, Tariq encounters treachery, betrayal, and more people he must sacrifice to save in Geiger TP Vol 4.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

 

 For more on this series, see my review of Geiger TP Vol 2

 

 

 

 and my review of Geiger TP Vol 3.

Geiger TP Vol 3 Review

 

Creators: Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

Penciler: Paul Pelletier

Inker: Andrew Hennessy

Colorists: Brad Anderson & John Kalisz

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $16.99

Release Date: June 4, 2025

 

After their battle with the Electrician, Barney feels down. Geiger and Nate wonder if the two-headed wolf will carry on. That night, Barney abandons their camp to protect and befriend a zebra. Geiger doesn’t want another mouth to feed. But Nate adores the three-eyed foal. So, the living nuclear reactor is responsible for four people. Can Geiger find the other glowing man like him and discover a cure for his condition? Or will the people hunting Geiger find them first? Let's grab some Boron dust, leap into Geiger TP Vol 3, and find out!

 

Story

Geoff Johns begins with a fight as Goldfield and other warriors try to capture Geiger. These knights regard Nate as a traitor. The Nuclear Knight understands the need to bring order to the post-apocalyptic wasteland. The warlords of Las Vegas safeguard civilization. They want the Glowing Man to unleash his immense power on their enemies. Before Nate sought redemption from Geiger, the Nuclear Knight served the warlords. Now, Nate protects isolated communities with his new friends in Geiger TP Vol 3.

 

As Geiger, Nate, Barney, and Zigzag travel to Lewistown, Montana, they find Nightcrawlers attacking people. When they realize the children donned radiation suits and risked the giant ants to find books, Geiger feels a link with them. Yet, the children also remind him of the family he lost. Before he became the Glowing Man, Geiger loved sharing his love of reading with his son and daughter. Like Geiger, these children’s parents mourn a world they can never have again. Unlike him, the community’s leaders disdain books.

 

After continuing Geiger's adventures with three recent issues, Geiger TP Vol 3 revisits the Glowing Man's origins. The two-issue story explains why the Russian bombs that decimated cities spread their mutation-producing radiation across the continental United States. Like the parents who fear the consequences of reading books, the Geiger: Ground Zero miniseries reminds us how often we perpetuate our ancestors' flawed legacies.

 

Art

While Nate cuts and thrusts with his sword, Geiger’s glowing skeleton slices through plate armor or breaks glass faceplates. As Geiger wields his control rods like truncheons, and the two-headed wolf bites and claws, the three-eyed Zebra foal watches. Paul Pelletier and Andrew Hennessy portray Geiger's battles with giant ants, repressive leaders, and the knights who seek Geiger as a wedding gift for the Queen and New King of Las Vegas.

 

Then, a Russian immigrant aids a military leader in Geiger TP Vol 3. Gary Frank peels away a quarter-decade to show Tariq Geiger’s fragile form before the radiation healed him. The art reveals why the military leader hunts the Glowing Man and, like Nate, how the Russian strives to relieve Geiger’s suffering.

 

Brad Anderson and John Kalisz lavish loaded palettes on Geiger TP Vol 3. Perhaps the brightest colors adorn a meeting in Las Vegas as the corpulent queen holds court. The warlords adopt iconic costumes from decades and centuries past. Subdued colors portray green-clad soldiers pursuing a glowing green skeleton through the gray night. Lamps illuminate the darkness as Tariq reads to his son and daughter. Sunlight helps a community glow when Geiger and Nate escort their children home.

 

Rob Leigh places uppercase black letters in dialogue balloons that grow bold for intonation, enlarge for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Intense emotions distort balloons, while colorful dialogue amplifies the action. Sound effects help us hear the Nightcrawlers’ clicking, Zigzag’s braying, knights battling, control rods hissing, and a cherished memory incinerating. Script excerpts, process art, and covers close out Geiger TP Vol 3. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The Glowing Man is a dangerous man to know. Befriending him also has its perils. Painful memories propel Geiger on a desperate hunt for a cure in Geiger TP Vol 3. Yet his strange condition has allowed the morose man to survive and protect others from gangs, scavengers, and the monsters that terrorize the American wasteland.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

This review first appeared at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

For a look inside see my preview of Geiger #7, the first issue in Geiger TP Vol 3. 

Redcoat #11 Review

 

Creators: Geoff Johns & Bryan Hitch

Inkers: Andrew Currie & Bryan Hitch

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Cover Artists: Bryan Hitch & Brad Anderson; Gary Frank & Brad Anderson; Inhyuk Lee

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

Simon's abusive father told his foster son he would never be good enough. When Simon embarked on a career as a British Redcoat, he sought to make a new life for himself by bringing the rebellious colonists back under England’s control. Simon shot George Washington in the head at the Battle Of Trenton on Christmas Day in 1776. Then, he watched the leader of the American Rebellion shrug off the wound and use magic to defeat Simon's army.

 

The Founding Fathers’ ceremony made Simon Pure immortal. But it also robbed him of a loving family, a successful career, or even a full belly. Worse, while the Founding Fathers promoted traditional religions like Christianity, they conducted secret occult ceremonies in churches to forge the United States. So, Simon has no reason to fight to preserve this sham of a country. But can Simon remain neutral amid the slaughter of a generation? Let's leap into Redcoat #11 and find out!

 

Story

Zeke can’t believe his luck. The Corporal has been entrusted with a crucial mission and awarded a promotion. The Sergeant must deliver a package to a Confederate General within two days. But in his elation, Zeke allows someone to trick him. So, in Redcoat #11, Zeke pursues the thief who stole his satchel. It holds the keys to his future and the cause he pledged his life to protect.

 

While Zeke legs it to protect his legacy, Simon's past prevents him from pursuing a better future. Still, after ninety years of crisscrossing the United States, Simon knows the lay of the land. Military leaders on both sides of the war need reliable couriers. Simon slips to and from battlefields faster than Paul Revere. Then, while other healthy Americans fight for their families, government, and beliefs, Simon chats up women in bars.

 

Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch’s story introduces a mysterious secessionist. The Cobbler wants the South to win the American Civil War. Redcoat #11 also brings back the Northerner, who will observe Simon in 1909. At least, that’s how history should run. But the Northerner carries an object with him. Like an amulet or talisman, the Northerner hopes it will signal when he has achieved his objective.

 

Art

A tattered Confederate flag flutters over Columbus, Georgia in 1864. A scruffy, overweight man carries a satchel bearing an elaborate seal. African American women and children toil in a textile factory. After an impertinent display, two soldiers pursue a thief past wooden buildings and wagons. A brilliant light briefly obliterates a tree-filled hill. Then, symbols glow above a still body in Redcoat #11.

 

As Andrew Currie and Bryan Hitch introduced Zeke amid his Confederate brethren with a two-page display, they introduce Simon amid a similar scene of grandeur. Simon’s redcoat outshines the American flag, muzzle flashes, and exploding ordinance. Amid the gray-clad cavalry charging infantry soldiers in dark blue uniforms, Simon’s coat seems equal to the Confederate flag in brilliance. Compared with the grays, browns, greens, and beiges of the textile factory, Simon’s redcoat, the women’s attire, and yellow candle sconces illuminate a similarly subdued bar. Brad Anderson paints the night green as Simon leaves Lincoln’s Tavern. Then memories flow on a blue tide as buildings burn, people fight, and Simon clutches a fading friend in his arms.

 

Rob Leigh fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters and beige scraps of parchment with their italicized cousins in Redcoat #11. Words grow bold for inflection, enlarge for volume, and never shrink. Violent emotion makes balloons pointy, while sickness turns them splotchy. The giant orange letters H and A fill a pointy balloon, but not with laughter. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Simon Pure has lived for over a century. He wears his red coat as a reminder of his past and avoids choosing sides in any conflict. Now, as he works as an independent courier amid the American Civil War, a strange wave of pain and memories flood his consciousness. Simon hasn’t died. But if he wants to keep living, Simon must choose between two mysterious employers in Redcoat #11.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

Hornsby And Halo #5 Review

 

Storytellers: Peter J Tomasi & Peter Snejbjerg

Colorist: John Kalisz

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Cover Artists: Peter Snejbjerg & John Kalisz; Gary Frank & Brad Anderson; Dean Haspiel

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 26, 2025

 

A hellish night united them, forcing Zachary to sprout a feathered wing to spirit a fiery Rose and his cat Pepper away. After resuming human form, Zachary uses his ingenuity to appease the unquiet dead and return them to the cemetery. But their transformations and evening assisting zombies leave both teens disturbed. Each thought they knew who they were. Now, they are unsure where they belong.

 

Zachary and Rose attend Warwick Valley Central School but have never been friends. After destroying Rose's sketchbook, Zach invaded Rose's bedroom to reclaim the burial goods she stole from the grave robbers. Zachary is a child of Heaven raised by fiendish undertakers. Rose is a child of Hell growing up with nurturing social workers. Can the two thirteen-year-olds help each other adjust to their supernatural puberty? Let's leap into Hornsby And Halo #5 and find out!

 

Story

Zachary is used to taking the blame. His parents may run the mortuary, but he does all the work. Like Cinderella and her stepsisters, Zachary slaves while his mom and dad play. He takes responsibility for the zombie invasion, weighed down by guilt over his parents’ thefts. But Zachary also picks locks and hotwires vehicles. In Hornsby And Halo #5, Rose becomes his conscience, pointing out consequences await those who groove to Judas Priest's famous song.

 

Like Zachary, the Adjudicator also feels guilty. He believes he failed to prepare the children for their Coming Out party. So, when agents from Heaven and Hell attempt to use the children to restart the War Between The Realms, Zachary and Rose aren't ready. The zombie invasion and their transformations freaked them out. Now, they can no longer distinguish reality from fantasy.

 

Peter J Tomasi and Peter Snejbjerg's story evokes parents ripping away the illusion of belonging. In Hornsby And Halo #5, the Adjudicator must find a way to get Rose and Zachary to trust him. But the young teens want nothing to do with him. Unlike Rose, Zachary can not lock horns with him. But, like Rose, he insists they belong with their human parents.

 

Art

The Sphinx towers over the children in the cemetery. Rose and Zachary are so desperate to wake up that when they pinch each other, both children scream and shake off the pain. Zachary, Rose, and the Adjudicator become reverse silhouettes before the blazing truck headlights. With one sweep of his hands, energy crackles across the graves, and the snow covering the reburied caskets smoothen. But, the moment the Sphinx takes his eyes off them, the teens vanish.

 

John Kalisz lavishes a bright palette on appealing characters caught in crisis. The little cemetery, old truck, and snow-covered town are just some of the beloved remnants of Americana that ground readers in fantastic events. The evening sky becomes a tapestry of grayish greens dappled with white amid the frantic, high-flying action. But in Hornsby And Halo #5, nothing is more eye-catching than the Sphinx. Pink, blue, and purple galaxy spin across its dark wings while its glowing yellow eyes link with the golden bands covering his forearms.  

 

Rob Leigh places uppercase letters into white and colored dialogue balloons. Letter size ranges from blessedly generous to accursedly small as the children confront a creature out of mythology. Enlarged and bold letters deform arrows and threaten balloon integrity. Flying stars enhance the children’s pain, while sound effects amplify their fright. But the emblem on a stolen truck reminds us Zachary and Rose tasted something forbidden. Their childhood is over, and scary adulthood awaits. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

After settling an undead uprising, Rose and Zachary hope to resume their lives. Neither feels like they belong. Still, that is all they know. In Hornsby And Halo #5, the shocks to their systems continue. On the cusp of physical, emotional, and social changes, the thirteen-year-olds discover that their peers aren’t their peers, their parents aren’t their parents, and their world isn’t their home.

 

Rating 9/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Geiger TP Vol 2 Review

 

Creators: Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $14.99

Release Date: February 5, 2025

 

Nate worked for the King of Las Vegas. He followed orders and punished those who broke the law. Seeking a more worthy life, Nate approaches the glowing man. But Geiger spurns him. Will Nate return to his former life? Or will the Nuclear Knight convince the glowing man to accept his aid? Let's leap into Geiger TP Vol 2 and find out!

 

Story

When Russia attacked the United States, Geiger couldn't get into their nuclear fallout shelter in time. His wife and children watched as the radiation interacted with his experimental cancer treatment, transforming Geiger into a living nuclear reactor. Now, Geiger wanders the land, wondering if he will ever find a cure for his condition.

 

Nate suggests a potential cure in Geiger TP Vol 2. After a quarter century, Geiger dismisses Nate's story as a fairy tale. When the Nuclear Knight tries to kill himself, Geiger takes pity on him. He may want Nate as much as Frodo wanted Gollum. Still, if Nate turns on him, Geiger doesn’t have to take him to Mount Doom to incinerate him.

 

The men and Barney follow a trail of breadcrumbs toward salvation. Geiger and his two-headed wolf look out for each other. Geiger and Nate seek information on a second glowing man while remaining alert for attackers, not knowing someone else pursues them.

 

The electrician is not the only danger in Geiger TP Vol 2. Radioactive fallout mutated people and animals. A president inhabits another White House. Still, he cannot cleanse the American wastelands of the nightcrawlers, crazed organ harvesters, or bosses who rule their territories.

 

Geiger TP Vol 2 speaks to our fears about the future. While warning us of threats to our way of life, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's story reminds us of the importance of kindness. Despite their differences, Geiger and his companions accept each other's foibles. And when they pursue those who have wronged others, Barney may take a bite out of crime, but Geiger and Nate often opt for mercy over justice.

 

Art

Bandits charge past a tilting McDonald's sign. People and horses wear respirators or transparent facemasks. Geiger hides his features with his hood and a book. When danger threatens, Geiger withdraws the boron rods embedded in his back. As Geiger hurls the radioactive batons, green energy suffuses him, and his burning face resembles a skull.

 

Two pairs of green lupine eyes watch as a man in armor approaches. He lifts his visor, revealing the cuts and burns covering the right side of his face. In Geiger TP Vol 2, the travelers hunt a man with a mask that evokes the Lone Ranger. A robot in army fatigues searches a house as memories fill his vision. Tumors and wounds cover mutants who eschew masks and sharpen their teeth. One evokes a savage Zaphod Beeblebrox.

 

As Brad Anderson lavishes a loaded palette on intense action scenes, dramatic encounters, and quiet character moments, Rob Leigh serves uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons. Words come in varying sizes and colors, while Barney's barks and growls reveal his personality. Amid the gunfire and explosions, Geiger's fiery hands sometimes evoke sadness, while red graffiti adorning a train car makes us smile. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Nuclear explosions blew up his life while curing his cancer. As he seeks a reunion with his family, Geiger helps those in need. In Geiger TP Vol 2, the stories he loves remind the living nuclear reactor of what he treasures and who he strives to be.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Ghost Machine #1 Review

 

Creators: Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Geoff Johns, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Ivan Reis, Peter Snejbjerg, Peter J. Tomasi & Maytal Zchut

Inker: Danny Miki

Colorists: Brad Anderson & Bjarne Hansen

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Cover Artists: Gary Frank & Brad Anderson; Bryan Hitch & Brad Anderson; Francis Manapul; Jason Fabok & Brad Anderson; Peter Snejbjerg; Ivan Reis & Brad Anderson; Ivan Reis & Steve Blackwell

Publisher: Image

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 24, 2024

 

A radioactive man traverses an apocalyptic wasteland. Wardens in an abandoned terraformed world wear helmets to control animals. Novelty store items wield unexpected power. A family travels back through the centuries to live among us amid a contest between Heaven and Hell. What do all these stories have in common? Let’s leap into Ghost Machine #1 and find out!

 

Stories

Geiger

Creators: Geoff Johns & Gary Frank; Colors by Brad Anderson

Geiger wanders post-apocalyptic America. He burns with radiation. Beside him trots a two-headed wolf. Many come to him for help. One, the nuclear knight, begs to assist him. But all that interests Geiger is another immortal named Redcoat.

 

Redcoat

Creators: Geoff Johns & Bryan Hitch; Colors by Brad Anderson

Redcoat was born in 1749. Colonists killed him in 1776. He awoke on the battlefield and has since fought in many wars. He’s met many historical figures, including Einstein and Annie Oakley. Every time Redcoat dies, his mind returns to a painful childhood memory. Then Redcoat awakens to fight another day.

 

In Ghost Machine #1, Geiger and Redcoat introduce several antiheroes who fight wars across time. As these stories interweave, so are the acts of these immortal warriors. A chart provides the timeline for each soldier's origin across a tapestry called The Unnamed, while biographies reveal insights into their histories and characters.

 

Rook: Exodus

Creators: Geoff Johns & Jason Fabok; Colors by Brad Anderson

Rook failed at farming. Now he’s a Warden. His helmet helps him command crows, ravens, and rooks. With Swine’s help, Rook searches for parts to repair a rocket and leave the planet. Swine isn’t sure he wants to leave Exodus with Rook. Dire Wolf argues they should build a new community among those who have not abandoned the terraformed world. Yet someone else hunts the three wardens long after the corporation that settled the planet fled. As with the Unnamed characters, short biographies provide insights into their histories and characters.

 

 

The Rocketfellers

Creators: Peter J. Tomasi & Francis Manapul

A 25^th-century family travels back to 2024. Neither his father, wife, or children are inclined to sacrifice their likes and interests. Still, Roland’s determined to forge them into a loving, supportive family. While doing this for personal reasons, Roland worries that Vertex will discover them.

 

In Ghost Machine #1, The Rocketfellers participate in the Time Zone Protection program. Perhaps the family protects our future. In any case, Roland must help them disregard traditions and perspectives that originate in their society and adapt to our less-advanced ways.

 

Hornsby & Halo

Creators: Peter J. Tomasi & Peter Snejbjerb; Colors by Bjarne Hansen

Zachary Halo and Rose Hornsby live in Warwick, New York. Zach is the child of angels who now lives with demons. Rose is a demon maturing among angels. While Rose's parents are loving, Zach struggles to please his adoptive mother and father. As the eleven-year-olds compete against each other, they reveal supernatural abilities.

 

In Ghost Machine #1, Heaven and Hell wonder whether nature or nurture will triumph. How the contest relates to peace between both realms is yet to become apparent. And how will mortals react when they notice Zachary and Rose’s superhuman abilities?

 

The Rocketfellers and Hornsby & Halo shelter under the Family Odysseys umbrella. Fact sheets provide the lowdown on each character. Even Rex--the Rocketfellers' family dog--gets a paragraph!

 

Hyde Street

Creators: Geoff Johns, Lamont Magee & Ivan Reis

Inks: Danny Miki

Colors: Brad Anderson

A boy blows a whistle to punish a rude man. A woman who has tried everything makes another attempt to lose weight. The items look like mass-produced gimmicks. How do these powerful objects influence the user, and what happens when wielded for evil purposes? Could using these artifacts hasten the apocalypse?

 

Ghost Machine #1 introduces all these stories arriving in comic shops in the upcoming months. Among this tempting array of appetizers, The Rocketfellers and Hornsby & Halo best resemble entrees. But all these appealing starters will tempt the palettes of readers hungering to discover a promising new storytelling universe.

 

Art

An elder sits on a rock, telling stories of Geiger, the Nuclear Knight, and Redcoat to children gathered around a campfire. They clutch cloaks or blankets over their antiradiation suits and gaze at each other through the visors of their helmets. Geiger doesn’t need a radiation suit. He strides through the wasteland, carrying two sticks across his back like ninja swords. He glows with green fire when angered.

 

American colonists surround Redcoat on a hill. Their rifles encircle his head. Redcoat smiles congenially, offering to change sides. Yet he awakens moments later amid the Revolutionary War as scavengers try to pinch his boots. A lifetime later, Redcoat awakens when people try to bury him. The Unnamed features appealing realism with vibrant colors.

 

Rook: Exodus catches Rook and Swine on the run. The Wardens charge through trees and fall off a cliff, pursued by a beast they cannot control. Water streams down their features and flies into their faces as they struggle through a stream. Grays and browns saturate this failed terraformed project. Yet Rook and Swine shine, thanks to nuanced coloring and detailed penciling.

 

Lavish penciling inscribes The Rocketfellers into our hearts in Ghost Machine #1. The limited color palettes shift by scene, while other panels offer full-spectrum coloring. Many images evoke paintings. Grandma appears via hologram. The art conveys rapid movement as the family leaves their clapboard home, boards their VW bus, and races to escape pursuit. A 25th-century blaster—stored in the dash—provides their only protection.

 

 

 

The soft tones of the limited palette imbue Hornsby & Halo with All Ages appeal. The art suits these young heroes as they compete against each other on the baseball diamond. While outshining their peers, they endure parents who view the world from a different paradigm.

 

Three sections comprise Hyde Street in Ghost Machine #1. Pages advertising novelty items evoke Bronze Age Comic advertisements for items children could purchase via mail. These give way to paintings of realistic art in which characters exude warmth and settings radiate vitality. Moments of action strike powerfully while danger menaces throughout.

 

Rob Leigh populates Ghost Machine #1 with a wide range of lettering. Sizes ranged from large to small, and styles from simple block font to italicized. Vibrant sound effects enliven every story, and Easter Eggs hint at linkages to others.

 

Thanks to Image Comics for providing a copy of this sixty-six-page issue for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Popular and promising creators introduce a lavish sampler of exciting stories in Ghost Machine #1. The oversized one-shot fires a salvo across the bows of local comic shops, warning readers to take heed and other storytelling universes to remain on High Alert.

 

Rating 10/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Savage Red Sonja #3 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Gary Frank & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 3, 2024

 

Red Sonja survived the tentacled beast that threatened her at the Keep of King Gresh. She left with his blood ruby but at the cost of Lucian and Celia's lives. What will Red Sonja do with the cursed stone upon her return? Let’s leap into Savage Red Sonja #3 and find out!

 

Story

The man who sold Red Sonja the map offers to buy King Gresh’s blood ruby. He claims he’ll pay more than anyone else. But wait, there's more! If she will procure its companion piece, he'll pay her far more than money.

 

Long ago, Red Sonja swore an oath that transformed her into a great warrior. Her brief time with Celia and the love Lucian bore for the red-haired maiden reminded Sonja of the life she might have lived. If she did as the map seller bids, could he free her from the lonely life of a death-dealing vagabond?

 

In Savage Red Sonja #3, the map seller claims he can. The blood ruby can wield great magic if reunited with King Gresh’s scepter. But if he's on the level, why didn't he mention its existence earlier? Dan Panosian's tale promises to grant the She-Devil With A Sword a second chance at happiness. Is the map seller more reliable than Queen Taramis of Shadizar, who promised Conan she would bring Valeria back to life in Conan The Destroyer? 

 

 

 

Art

The map seller finds Red Sonja sitting before a table heaped with food as Savage Red Sonja #3 begins. Despite her arduous journey through the wasteland, most dishes still look full. Unbidden, he sits across from her. He refills her tankard twice, then drinks from the bottle she ordered. Light from the fireplace illuminates his features. Yet darkness seeps into them when he asks if she killed the monster that haunted the wasteland and the Keep.

 

Red Sonja strides through the marketplace. Merchants drape fabric overhead and array walls with exotic goods. She follows Slayers from Shadizar into a building. A pig-shaped sign hangs over the door. While others dine, Sonja watches the slayers. Each lithe figure carries a spear. Capes flow around them, and lampshades adorn their heads. When Red Sonja takes a table, one slayer approaches her. Unlike the Three Storms that caused Big Trouble in Little China, a mask obscures the guard's features.

 

Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli employ a limited palette to achieve striking effects in Savage Red Sonja #3. Their colors breathe life into this small town perched at the edge of the wasteland and enhance the mood of Alessio Petillo’s scenes. The blood ruby shines brightly amid the map seller’s tale of King Gresh’s scepter. While red dominates scenes, is it significant that the guard who challenges Sonja also wears red?

 

 

 

Medium-sized uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. Dave Sharpe emboldens for intonation, while louder words are enlarged and colored. Sound effects accompany the battle. Yet Red Sonja's announcement, "Death is on the menu tonight," speaks most loudly. Take your best shot, Slayers of Shadizar! Red Sonja can take it!

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Red Sonja mourns those she tried to save, offers to release someone from an oath, and investigates those who crave King Gresh’s blood ruby in Savage Red Sonja #3. 

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

For more covers and preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.