Fantastic Universes

“Breath Of Shadows” – Book One Writer: Rich Douek Artist: Alex Cormack Letterer: Justin Birch Published by IDW - Suggested for mature readers Review by Steve J. Ray It’s no secret that I’m a horror fan; so, when I was given the chance to look at a brand-new independent horror comic, published by the lovely people at IDW, I jumped at the chance. I’m glad I did, because  Breath Of Shadows  looks like it’s going to be a keeper. Here’s the publisher’s synopsis: " It’s 1968. On the fast track to becoming one of his era’s most iconic rock stars, Jimmy Meadows should be basking in the glow of newly acquired wealth and fame. Instead, crushed by the weight of a debilitating heroin addiction, Jimmy is on the verge of losing everything, until an old friend tips him off to an unorthodox treatment method hidden in the depths of the South American jungle. With fair-weather friends, local opportunists, and industry sycophants in tow, Jimmy sets off in search of what he’s sure will be a mirac...

  Article by Adam Ray So who wants to be king of the pirates? The One Piece TCG has finally hit our shelves. It builds on that fan favourite anime that never seems to end, bringing colour identity cards and incremental cost based resources to a franchise about a powerful teen with Stretch Armstrong powers. Quick disclaimer! This article is going to assume you're a sad card gamer nerd like me who knows how to play the One Piece TCG. If you would like a how to play primer, mention it in the comments below and I can gladly cover it. Mechanically, One Piece TCG owes itself a lot to Digimon, with mechanics like Rush and Blocker on cards, using a small stack of cards to represent Life (instead of Security) to which those cards have effects when revealed (Trigger or Security). One Piece also feels a fair bit like Magic to me. Instead of Lands, you have Don!! which you turn 90 degrees to pay for costs on cards. The Counter step during combat feels very close to the Stack in Magic or the Re...

“Dark Spaces: Wildfire” Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Hayden Sherman Color Artist: Ronda Pattison Letterer: AndWorld Design Published by IDW Review by Steve J. Ray I’m one of those people that loves surprises. This week I got one of the best ever, in the form of  Dark Spaces: Wildfire .  This recently completed five-issue mini-series features one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It was created by one of the best (and nicest) writers on the planet, along with an art team that has pulled together to create something so fresh and original, that It's left me craving more. Here's the synopsis, from Penguin Random House: "Legendary writer Scott Snyder presents DARK SPACES - a thrilling new anthology series exploring our deepest fears of the unknown, beginning in the smoldering hills of California in DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE ! Six weeks into the slow burn of the historic Arroyo Fire, a crew of women from an inmate firefighting program are risking everything on the frontlines...

“ Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ” Adapted by John Reppion and Mark Penman: moorereppion.com/johnreppion m-d-penman.co.uk moorereppion.com/greenknight Review by Steve J. Ray First of all, let me start by saying that I’m a huge fan of Arthurian Legend and Grail lore. I’m saying this not to put anyone off reading this great book, but to encourage them. This graphic novel adaptation of the classic tale is so fun to read that anyone will love it. This book’s accessible to readers aged twelve to two hundred, whether they previously knew anything about the ancient tales, or not. These stories have been part of British culture and heritage for centuries and have been adapted, shared, expanded upon, celebrated (and sometimes ruined) hundreds of times. As a comics fan, I’ve seen and read many adaptations, continuations, and dramatizations featuring Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table over the years. The 1980s gave us  Camelot 3000 , by Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland, and more recent...

  Article by Adam Ray First announced at Anime NYC 2022, Kodansha USA reveals a tremendous slate of new print licenses including all-new series, premium editions, box sets & more, all set to debut Fall 2023. Take a look below for the full list of the amazing manga coming in the next year. All of Kodansha's Fall 2023 print titles will be available to purchase at local and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more! For more information on these as well as any other Kodansha USA manga, visit kodansha.us. Fall 2023 New Print Licenses Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir By Koma Warita Illustrated by Riku Tsuchida Created by ZAG with Toei Animation Return to Paris with Marinette and Adrian in the manga of the beloved animated series, now streaming on Netflix!  Marinette is your typical high school student. She's cheery, a bit awkward, and a little clumsy. But what’s not so typical is, she can transform into a superhero! Disguised as ...