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Off the Beaten Path

(editor's note: Can't get enough of Anthony? Click here to check out his special Manga column)

I call this my 17 column, mainly because if covers the many Dead @ 17 Titles. Does my recent interest in girl related titles scream single? Does my part time gig as a comic book reviewer scream single? Oh well, I still have Nara…..oh lovely Nara and now Zaya…mmmmmm Zaya.

Title-Dead@17 Protectorate

Publisher-ViperComics
Script-A Hamby
Artist-B Hall
Format- 3 issues
Shipping- ?
Age- 13 & older

The Basics- Sadly Josh Howard is only editing this series, not writing or handling any of the art. This three issue series explores the Protectorate, an organization devoted to keeping Hell in Hell. This is basically a prequel to Dead @17, giving the back story to Nara’s parents, and some of the Protectorate characters we meet in Dead @17. The story is campy - like a B movie, a B Horror movie. Very little witty banter is provided (for fans of the original series, witty banter is a must have) and our female lead leaves something to be desired, like strength, and character.

The Art- The characters have child-like facial features (read overly simple) and basic detail, almost as if it was an afterthought. I feel like the story was rushed, then someone said, “hey we need some illustrations, this is a comic book after all!” The coloring is too strong for my tastes, solid colors, not a lot of hues or shades. No depth. Missing is the pin-up girl, in her place is the B Movie Screamer. In my humble opinion, not a fair trade. The art in earlier series captured your eye and the story kept you coming back. Here the art disappoints and the story…

The Verdict- You don’t have to be psychic to know what’s coming…it sucks. I tried to like it, I tried to view it as an extension of the franchise, I tried, and tried and failed, just like the writer and artist did.

Title-Misplaced @ 17

Publisher-DDP
Script-Howard/Blaylock
Artist- Howard/Blaylock
Format- one shot (currently available @ Pulp Fiction the Store)
Age- 13 & older

The Basics- Alyssa meet Nara! Nara is the bad ass, very sexy, slightly misunderstood Zombie killer from Dead@17. Alyssa is the bad ass, very sexy, slightly misunderstood Alien/Robot killer from Realm77. Together they are Misplaced@17. Alyssa and Nara meet up (the story takes place after Misplaced #4 and before the Blood of Saints series in Dead@17) in a small town, both hiding out for separate yet similar reasons, and strangely enough, sharing an apartment. Alyssa is fresh from Realm77, and Nara is fresh from the grave. Together they are trying to pick up and lead normal lives, as normal as an alien and dead girl can in rural America. The story is fun, fast and light. It gets you hooked on both characters.

The Art- Both Blaylock and Howard took turns writing and illustrating this book. Unfortunately it appears Blaylock took on most of the illustrating chores; I say this because I like Howard’s art so much. Blaylock has his own style, a little more realistic in some cases, less in others. It is catchy, and entertaining, just not as sexy as Howard’s; still it flows nicely and both characters meshed well.

The Verdict- A good crossover story, staying true to each character and each storyline.

Title-Misplaced

Publisher-DDP
Script-Josh Blaylock
Artist- Josh Blaylock
Format- Ongoing
Shipping- ? Unsure
Age- 13 & older

The Basics- This series was originally published by Image (back issues still available) and is now at DDP, the home of the kick-ass female character. I have just started the series; Misplaced @17 got me interested in Alyssa and her plight. Alyssa is a misunderstood inhabitant of Realm77; an unusually strong, hard-headed inhabitant with special powers. For some reason she reminds me of Tank Girl. I love Tank Girl. I think Alyssa would too. The story starts out with Alyssa, a social outcast with odd habits she picks up from her dreams, trying to lead a normal life and figure out why she’s different. For some strange reason, she dreams of Earth, a planet she has never been to, and one her government denies the existence of. We find out there is a small conspiracy surrounding her, and when she starts asking questions, the fun begins.

The Art- Blaylock has a good style, the coloring is clean and bright, the whole feel is futuristic. The covers progressively get better and better; the cover on issue four is stunning. The characters are well drawn, the armor is detailed and the backgrounds seem alive.

The Verdict- A solid story, characters and illustrations. Buy it, support DDP and enjoy yourself.

Title-Black Harvest

Publisher-
Script- Josh Howard
Artist-Josh Howard
Format- ongoing
Shipping- good
Age- 15 & older

The Basics- Josh Howard’s newest outing, since completing Dead@17. Zaya Vahn, the main character, is a sexy teenage girl (like Nara, she has the suicide girls look) who was abducted three years ago, then mysteriously returned, slightly changed. Changed how? Uhm, that’s hard to explain. Is she good? Is she bad? What secrets do the townsfolk hold about her disappearance? Who held her and tortured her? Why is she back? This is a good old sci-fi horror story with some religious undertones. The story is well written, with a slew of interesting characters. The pace is maintained through the second issue, as the story becomes more engrossing and confusing. More questions, less answers, and more Zaya. That’s what I like.

The Art- Back to basics. The style that catapulted Dead@17 and Howard into the limelight is back. Sharp, sexy, violent and all at once innocent. The backgrounds are solid, the coloring is clean, and the reason we are all here…the characters are what we have come to expect, strikingly simple. Emotion and story are conveyed through the simplest brush strokes and details. Zaya is frail, innocent, violent, sexy, scared and strong all at once. She’s the preachers daughter, the hot one with the tattoo’s and bad (or good depending on if your male of female) reputation.

The Verdict- Hot violent females win me over every time, good or bad, I love them all. So will you.

Repent! < Get Black Harvest #1 for 50% off cover price if you mention this column > That's it.
Anthony Dominguez
www.anthonydominguez.com
myspace.com/anthonydominguez

(editor's note: In a bored moment Anthony flips through the current Marvel Previews and this is what happens - there is a reason we have him review alternative comics. His "regular" column will be back in a few days...)

The Marvel Previews book has arrived, oh joy! I happened to flip through it and was amazed at the shit they call comic books. First off, you can‘t review and rate your own shit! If you published it, you can‘t say it’s a fucking 10! I will most likely offend many of you with this column...happy reading.

Nick Fury’s Howling Commandoes- I don’t even need to read this one to know it’s bad!

X-Statik- Some of the worst art imaginable

Daughters of the Dragon- Sounds good and cheesy, looks like a bad 70’s TV show, can anyone say Blackxploitation?

Marvel Zombies- WTF!

Marvel Team Up- Refer to my tirade in the opening paragraph. A fucking 10! Are you kidding me?

Next Wave- Warren Ellis rules, at least he did until this book comes out.

Sable & Fortune- Big hair rules. nothing more needs to be said!

Powers #17- Finally this books getting good again, F I N A L L Y!

New Excalibur- Shit shoved between to sheets of paper.

Ultimate Extinction #1- Oh God! That’s what I think of that one! (Due to the over abundance of four letter words in this review, it has been edited- sincerely the editor)

Deadpool vs. Spiderman- Why? I ask why? Never mind I don’t really care about the answer.

Spiderman- There are at least 40 titles for him, he’s a superstar. Are any of them good? No, really I am asking...are any of them good?

Ultimate Spiderman #89- The cover looks like Ultimate Silver Sable is taking a dump on Spiderman. Cool.

Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman #4- This storyline is almost over, not soon enough. Not soon enough.

Marvel Knights Spiderman #22- Sadly the same synopsis was used for this title. How original.

Amazing Spiderman # 528- Once again the exact same synopsis. These titles suck so bad, they are afraid to tell you what they are about.

Spiderman Unlimited #13- Ohh, they call this one hilarious, with budding writers...sounds sad to me.

Spiderman Loves Mary Jane#- No shit! He does, really? Is this a veiled reference to marijuana?

Spiderman/Black Cat: Evil that men do #6- I don't care about this woman, at all. Not worth a dollar.

The Punisher- Read this, it’s GREAT. Sadly one of the few good titles in this poor preview.

Punisher vs. Bullseye- #3- They actually used a Mr.T quite in this review...Mr.fucking T.

New X-Men #22- How many fucking X-Men are there? 7000? They multiply like cockroaches.

X-Men 198- This is officially the 1 millionth X-Men title. Stop it already, just stop it!

Ultimate Fantastic 4/ X-men- The ultimate crossover, yeah right. The ultimate stink bomb I say.

Ultimate x-men #66- This got a 10? It sounds as my hero Homer Simpson would say "Booooorrriinnggg"

Black Panther # 13- Who cares.

Black Widow 2:the things they say about her # 5- The things who says? I have nothing to say about her, at least nothing good.

Daredevil #81- This book officially kicks ass, next to Punisher it’s the best in the lot!

Ghost Rider #5- Okay, next to Daredevil and Punisher this is the best book in the lot!

Wolverine #38- too much of a good thing as they say, will this storyline ever die? Or be completed? Ever!

Books of Doom #3- Doom the lost years, can we lose them again? This time stay lost.

Doc Samson #1- I cannot begin to explain how bad this looks and sounds. He looks like The Mage with bad green hair. Can we say "lawsuit?"

Fantastic Four/Iron Man: big in Japan #4- Aeon Flux (the new piece of shit) or even Squidbillies is drawn better than this masterpiece.

New Thunderbolts #17- I was happy when they all died the first time. When will they die again? Soon...please.

New Mangaverse- Your favorite hero's drawn manga style with a horrible storyline. Bad art, bad story, leave this one in Japan.

That's it.

Anthony Dominguez
www.anthonydominguez.com
myspace.com/anthonydominguez