Witchdoctor 1

by Brandon Siefert, Lukas Ketner ; Image Comics

Our hero here is a mystical doctor, taking a pseudomedical approach to the supernatural, here dealing with the traditional possessed kid. He wears a white coat and talks about parasitical infection by demons, and comes accompanied by a paramedic and some sort of weird anaesthesiologist, a mystical girl.

Reed Gunter 1

by Shane & Chris Houghton ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 21-Jun-11

This is a lighthearted fantasy cowboy strip, in which Reed and his companion bear have adventures. This issue a female rancher is having problems with a giant snake eating her cattle. It was originally self-published in B&W, but is now in full colour – apparently there are four issues to be reprinted, then it moves on to new material.

Super Dinosaur 1

by Robert Kirkman, Jason Howard ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 26-Apr-11

I’m not sure that the writer’s name will attract the right audience to this: it’s aimed at a young audience, and it hits its target pretty well. It feels as much like an animated TV show as a comic, really, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes one before long.

Undying Love 1

by Tomm Coker, Daniel Freedman ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 22-Apr-11

This is an impressive debut issue. The mode is sort of Buffyish, a horror vampire adventure story, though without any of the humour, and for once the attempt to step into that peerless territory doesn’t make your heart sink.

Elephantmen: Man and Elephantman 1

by Richard Starkings, Axel Medellin ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 20-Apr-11

This is kind of a fake #1, and it fooled me. It’s sort of #30, really (and next issue is #31), but at least they give you a decent text intro so you know where you are: with some human/animal (mostly not elephants) hybrids created for a war that has now ended, and these ex-soldiers are struggling for a place in human society. Well, apparently they are – we see only one crude sign of any prejudice, and plenty of success.

Madman: All-New Giant-Size Super Ginchy Special

by Mike Allred, Misc. ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 15-Apr-11

Immediate warning: the Allred content here is one 18-page story. The rest is stories by other creators, plus loads of pin-ups.

Nonplayer 1

by Nate Simpson ; Image Comi

Martin Skidmore — 08-Apr-11

This appealed because the drawing looked so lovely – the trailed comparison was Moebius, and I see that, but it reminded me a little more of Miyazaki on Nausicaa. These comparisons do of course overrate it some, but many of the panels are beautiful, there are a few very good faces, and the creature, costume and scenery designs are strong.

Tags: Image, Nate Simpson, Nonplayer

The Intrepids 1

by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Scott Kowalchuk ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 10-Mar-11

I’ve moaned a lot recently about comics devoid of inspiration or vitality. This looked to have a decent idea, and I liked the look of the style a lot. I was quite hopeful that it would be enjoyable. I am now very disappointed.

The Mission 1

by Jon & Erich Hoeber, Werther Dell'Edera; ; Image Comics

Martin Skidmore — 02-Mar-11

Hitchcock once described suspense something like this: if a bomb under a table goes off, that’s a shock. If the viewer sees it there, the timer counting down, the people around the table not knowing it’s there, it’s suspense. The Hoebers haven’t quite grasped this.

Echoes 1

by Joshua Hale Fialkov, Rahsan Ekedal ; Image Comics, Top Cow

Peter Campbell — 25-Jan-11

Initial expectations: this comic is going to be pretty awful. The pitch – son discovers his father was a serial killer – didn’t promise a great deal, and the serial killer angle is so overused now that the mere mention of it induces stupor. How surprising then to discover that this is intelligently written and drawn, and is certainly one of the best comics found amongst those I’ve randomly sampled of late.

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