Tag: GREENLIGHT COMICS
Written by Mark Miller and illustrated by Sean Gordon Murphy.
Reviewed by Tyrone Burns.
Think Back to the Future with Bill and Ted having a baby, then that baby gets reported to police because its on steroids. That’s Chrononauts!
Have I got your attention?
If it isn’t clear, Chrononauts is a blast. Just sit back, open the pages up and switch off that part of your brain that acknowledges what could and couldn’t happen if this was in real life. Chrononauts is for the reader that wants fun and action over realism.
Lately, I’ve not been able to finish a comic book volume in one sitting, but Chrononauts demanded it. It keeps a smile on your face from beginning to end and for myself that makes it a must read.
Let’s talk more about the story.
Two best friends:-
Corbin Quin: one of the smartest minds on earth and the main creator of the time machine.
Danny Reilly- hot shot, acts first, thinks later kind of guy.
You can see even early on that these two guys are each other’s world. Its top gun bromance to the max and it’s awesome. The quickness in how each other reacts to make sure the other is ok is commendable (I have to start being a better friend).
Corbin in cooperation with NASA has created a type of satellite that can go back into anytime in the past. With specially designed suits he is able to go back into time himself. When testing his baby out and diving back in time in an attempt to record Christopher Columbus founding of America, he encounters a hitch. Veering off course in time and space its up to Danny to go in an rescue his best friend.
Not everything is as simple as it seems though, and what follows is a crazy roller coaster ride that jumps through time to monumental moments in history.
You get the feeling Mark Miller is having a lot of fun when writing this. Compared to his more darker comics in the past, Chrononauts is more of a light, short tale filled with the kind of sensibilities of old. Where a lot of comics today are heavily based around politics and proper science, Mark Miller embraces comics of yester-year with fun/action made first priority.
What would you do if you could travel through time and space? Would you stick with the ‘prime directive’ and change as little as possible?
Chrononauts plays with the reader’s keen eye as we get to witness along with Corbin and Danny some pretty significant moments in time. At one point they have a rather humorous encounter when witnessing the birth of Christ.
It’s in these great moments that the art shines. If the art wasn’t on point with some of these time periods encountered, then the excitement would of been lost.
Thankfully though Sean Gordon Murphy does a fantastic job of drawing backdrops. Whether it be a beautiful vista in Paris or ancient Egypt, he manages to draw the scope beautifully.
After a stressful day it’s nice to sit down and read something that just takes your mind off things. Plus after reading I guarantee you will feel better for it.
Fables Vol 1.
Are you an old school Disney fan? Did Beauty and the Beast both terrify and enchant you as it did me? Does Snow White’s relationship with the Seven Dwarfs confuse you? Did Maleficent’s harrowing death in Sleeping Beauty haunt your dreams? Do you remember being a child acting as the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk yelling FEE-FI-FO-FUM or was that just me? These classic Fairy Tales were made famous in the last century thanks to family friendly Disney films that were written well before their movie adaptations, and were originally much darker and full of mature themes.
The Fables series continues that dark tone but with a modern twist. The time period is near present day and most of the Fairy Tale creatures we know and love are now living in New York. These famous characters have to live among us non magical folk (Mundanes) in disguise. Pushed out of their magical worlds by an enemy only known as the Adversary and his army. The remaining magical beings were forced into hiding in the only place the Adversary doesn’t seem bothered with; the Mundane world.
Being a video game fan at heart I remember playing Telltales The Wolf Among Us (based in the Fables Universe) a year ago and loving it. I had been introduced to the world and these famous characters in a new and surprisingly logical light I wasn’t expecting. The game was cleverly done and I remember promising myself I would read the comic series to see if it matches the games intelligent story and fresh approach to old faces.
Who Killed Rose Red? That is the question that starts the comic series off. The who did it, detective/crime vibe I get from the story reminds me of old TV classics like Columbo and Quinsy.
In Vol 1 you closely follow Sheriff Bigby Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf) as he goes on an interesting journey to find out who killed Rose Red (Snow White’s sister).
We meet new and old faces along the way and I can guarantee that there are a couple that are shown in new ways that will totally surprise you. Sometimes I was In shock with how they treated old classic characters to then think and realise …. the new interpretations actually make perfect sense and stay very much true to the original characters personalities.
Fables Vol 1 collects issue 1 to 5 and is a great read if you love old school fantasy or not.
Planetes Volume 1
Holy Smackaronies! I just could not put this book down. While in Greenlight Comics I remember picking this book up and reading the synopsis, right below that there are some high praise quotes from well respected websites and people including Archie vs Predator! writer Alex De Campi who said Planetes is “My favourite sci-fi comics series of all time”. It was then I thought to myself “well this book should be worth a read” and thank goodness I picked it up. It wasn’t just worth the read, it is now my top read so far this year!
“I respect the selfish dreamers. Without them, space would still be a mystery.”
That is a line from about half way in this epic manga series written and drawn by Makoto Yukimura and it really sets up the tone of Volume 1’s story. Each chapter beautifully opens with a few full colour pages; It just blows my mind this book was written and drawn by the same person. So much talent and thankfully it is all on show on every page.
The journey within is set over the course of 3 years and though based around a team of Astronauts, the story mainly focuses on Hachiroto (Hachi) and his quest/obsession to own his own spaceship. The rest of the team include Yuri: A wise man with a tragic past. He is sort of the ‘Grown up of the group’. Fee: The comedy of the crew. If she isn’t piloting the DS-12 (their Garbage Truck Ship) she is smoking… hell sometimes she is doing both. Tanabe: The heart of the Bunch. Her importance comes more into play as Volume 1 concludes.
I said to a friend that Planetes is like the movie Gravity except with a deeper story and a stronger heart.
The Japanese are geniuses when it comes to putting multiple themes in one story without it losing focus and direction.
There are moments that are funny, silly, terrifying, heartfelt and sad.
I won’t forget the story I read. It touched me and left me with so much to think about.
Why do “the selfish dreamers dream? Why is it when we are living our dream we then dream of home?
Those are just some of the questions the book asks and I am so thrilled there is more to the story than shown thus far.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi or human exploration and contemplation you need to read Planetes.
This is now my favourite read this year and it is gonna have to take something mighty good to knock this off my number 1 spot.
Hail
Issue 1 and 2
Are you curious like I am? Are you wondering if there is any good Comic Books written and made by some of us Adelaidians? Then you should check out Hail.
Hail from Local Writer Miranda Richardson follows the story of Lena. A highly relatable girl who though introverted has an eagerness to stand up to the injustice she sees around her. One way she is achieving this is by working as a Lawyer; however being behind a desk for most of her day for leaves within her an emptiness. Lena feels like there is more she should be doing to help people. But what and how?
Within the first few pages of issue one and highly hinted on the cover art, we can see there is more to Lena than meets the eye. She has a power she doesn’t yet quiet understand. Sadly for her, Lena’s power seems to happen at spontaneous moments.. but if she could control this power, then her dream to truly help people may become a reality.
The Art is beautifully done, simplistic in design but easily conveys the tone, mood and feelings page by page.
Hail’s individual issues are short but they succeed in that they leave you thinking, relating, and eager to see what happens next.
I am impressed thus far and keen to pick up issue 3.
Good Job Writer Miranda Richardson and Artist Rosanna Lam. Adelaide should be proud!
