Dueling Review

It’s time to take a trip into the past and see what life was like for Peter Parker when he had the black spider-suit (you know, before it turned out to be an evil symbiote). No, we aren’t reading a back issue, but instead Symbiote Spider-Man #1

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SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #1

Writer: Peter David

Artist: Gred Land

Publisher: Marvel

Cover Price: $4.99

Everyone knows that Spider-Man’s infamous black suit would someday become the wicked web-slinger called Venom — but what happened BEFORE Peter Parker discovered the black suit’s sinister secret? Find out in this dynamic tale from comics legends PETER DAVID and GREG LAND! Set during the original “Black Suit Saga,” this is an all-new tale that pits the wall-crawling wonder against that most mystifying of menaces…MYSTERIO!

The undead have invaded O-Town! What will Rocko and his friends do now?

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ROCKO’S MODERN AFTERLIFE #1

Writer: Anthony Burch

Artist: Mattia Di Meo

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 3, 2019

Something is turning the good people of O-Town into mindless zombies and Rocko wants nothing to do with it. He barricades himself and Spunky in their home and is determined to outlast the hoards outside. But desperate times calls for desperate measures when Rocko’s best friend Heffer becomes infected, Rocko will have to risk it all to save his friends and his city.

This is it! 1000 issues in the making! Batman at 80! This week we take a look at Detective Comics #1000 from DC Comics.

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DETECTIVE COMICS #1000

Writers: Peter J. Tomasi, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Dini, Warren Ellis, Geoff Johns, Tom King, Dennis O’Neil, Christopher Priest, Kevin Smith, Scott Snyder, Others

Artists: Doug Mahnke, Neal Adams, Greg Capullo, Tony S. Daniel, Steve Epting, Kelley Jones, Andy Kubert, Alex Maleev, Dustin Nguyen

Publisher: DC Comics

Cover Price: $9.99

SOLICITATION: After 80 years, it’s here-the 1,000th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, the title that literally defines DC! This 96-page issue is stacked with an unbelievable lineup of talent that will take you on a journey through Batman’s past, present and future…plus a sensational epilogue that features the first-ever DC Universe appearance of the deadly Arkham Knight! But who is under the mask? And why do they want Batman dead? The incredible future of Batman adventures begins here!

There is a kingdom… an invisible kingdom that exists in a far-flung star system. Will we dive deep into the conspiracy of Invisible Kingdom #1 from Dark Horse Comics? Let’s find out.

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INVISIBLE KINGDOM #1

Writer: G. Willow Wilson

Artist: Christian Ward

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 20, 2019

Set in a in a far-flung star system, this new epic sci-fi monthly saga tells the tale of two women-a young religious acolyte and a hard-bitten freighter pilot-who separately uncover a vast conspiracy between the leader of the system’s dominant religion and the mega-corporation that controls society. On the run from reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair of rebels risk plunging the world into anarchy if they reveal the truth. But when your beliefs betray you, what choice is there left?

Here is your chance to go back to the beginning and see how it all began! IDW Publishing presents Transformers #1, and we review on this week’s Dueling Review show.

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TRANSFORMERS #1

Writer: Brian Ruckley

Artist: Angel Hernandez, Ron Joseph

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Cover Price: $3.99

A NEW ERA DAWNS! In the infinite universe, there exists a planet like no other: Cybertron! Home to the Transformers, and a thriving hub for inter-stellar commerce, it is a world brimming with organic and constructed diversity. Immense structures line its landscape. Mechanical giants roam across its surface. Starship-sized titans orbit its skies, keeping a constant protective watch above and below. Ancient Transformers merge into its very fabric. Small, mysterious creatures skulk in its shadows. It is a truly amazing realm, long untouched by war, and exuberantly reaching for the stars. This is the Cybertron that Optimus Prime and Megatron vie for in this bold new origin-a world of seemingly endless peace! All that changes when Bumblebee and Windblade take a newly-forged Cybertronian on his first voyage through this world of wonders-they are confronted by the hard reality of the first murder to have occurred on Cybertron in living memory!

A cataclysm? Zombie hordes? 19th century Asia? Let’s find out if Ronin Island #1 meets or exceeds the hype!

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Ronin Island #1

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Writer: Greg Pak

Artist: Giannis Milonogiannis

Letterer: Simon Bowland

Colorist: Irma Kniivila

Cover Artists:

Main Cover: Giannis Milonogiannis

Preorder Cover: Ethan Young

Incentive Cover: David Lafuente

Unlocked Retailer Variant: Kris Anka

Price: $3.99

Synopsis:

After a mysterious attack wipes out the major cities of 19th century Japan, Korea, and China, survivors from all three lands find refuge on a hidden island and build a new society.

Hana, the orphaned daughter of Korean peasants, and Kenichi, son of a great samurai leader, have little in common except for a mutual disdain for the other. But these young warriors will have to work together when an army invades the island with shocking news: there is a new Shogun and the Island is expected to pay fealty in exchange for protection from a new enemy…a mutated horde that threatens to wipe out all humanity.

Award-winning writer Greg Pak (Firefly, Mech Cadet Yu) and artist Giannis Milonogiannis (Prophet) present a story that examines how we move forward when our past divides, set against the backdrop of a post-disaster 19th century Japan.

 [su_quote cite=“Matthew’s Thoughts”]Solidly crafted, well-drawn and interesting in both an adventure story and a quasi-historical perspective. You gotta read this book, folks.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=“Stephen’s Thoughts”]Oh… this is goooooooood. [/su_quote]

Q is once again messing with the crew of the Enterprise, and we are going to see if this mega-Star Trek crossover lives up to our expectations in this week’s review of Star Trek: The Q Conflict #2 from IDW Publishing.

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STAR TREK: The Q Conflict #2

Writer: Scott Tipton, David Tipson

Artist: David Messina

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: $3.99

It’s Captain vs. Captain vs. Captain vs. Captain in the most high-stakes scavenger hunt the galaxy has ever seen as Picard, Kirk, Janeway, Sisko and their teams compete for the amusement of their godlike tormentors. The biggest Star Trek crossover event ever continues here!

The crew of The Original Series, The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine meet for the first time! Written by fan-favorite Star Trek scribes Scott & David Tipton! Each issue has two interconnected covers by David Messina in his return to Star Trek!

 [su_quote cite=“Matthew’s Thoughts”]I’m not bothered by the unusual likenesses (and they are a bit unusual throughout the issue) and I have to say I enjoy the scrambled teams gimmick, which I did NOT see coming. I just think that Janeway having Riker, Kira and Scotty gives her a huge advantage, and this thing should be over already based on that trio.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=“Stephen’s Thoughts”]I’m always good with a good Star Trek multi-show crossover, and this issue doesn’t disappoint. The character’s voices are captured well, and the gimmick of the competition has me interested in going forward with the rest of this series. I do wonder why some of the characters look so… rotund, though?[/su_quote]

[su_signoff]

Abel and the fox have made it to the carnival, but what trouble will they find, and will Matthew and Stephen like this issue?

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MIDDLEWEST #4

Writer: Skottie Young

Art: Jorge Corona

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: February 20, 2019

Cover Price: $3.99

Abel and the fox have wandered into a small-town carnival where they should be able to find the healer they seek. While they search, Fox teaches Abel that survival sometimes means bending the rules a bit.

 [su_quote cite=“Matthew’s Thoughts”]

I have literally ZERO idea what is going on here, but I enjoy the dialogue and the characters, especially the talkin’ fox. What even is this? I’m going to have to find the first three and figure it all out.[/su_quote][su_quote cite=“Stephen’s Thoughts”]This is a really good series, and this issue brings our hero closer to his goal. Or at least I hope it does. There is so much anger in Abel, I hope his quest to remove that part of his father from him will end with a good ol’ happily ever after.[/su_quote]

It is the Bruce Campbell crossover you’ve always dreamed of! This week, Ash Williams meets Elvis as they do battle against Bubba Ho-Tep!

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ARMY OF DARKNESS BUBBA HOTEP #1

Writer: Scott Duvall

Artist: Vincenzo Federici

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Cover Price: $3.99

SOLICITATION: Two cult classics clash for the first time in an epic crossover miniseries: ARMY OF DARKNESS VS. BUBBA HO-TEP. Ash embarks on a soul-searching road trip to Texas on a hunch that Elvis Presley may still be alive and kicking (and supposedly vanquished a mummy)! What follows is a series of universe-spanning events that involve an Elvis jumpsuit with special time-travel abilities, a trip to 70’s Vegas, plus the reveal of an evil new Book of the Dead, the Necronomicon Ho-Tep. Has Ash met his ultimate match when trading barbs with a 4,000-year-old, foul-mouthed mummy who sucks souls? Can his idol Elvis mentor him through a mid-life crisis before it becomes his final crisis? Join the adventure in a road-tripping, time-hopping groovy tale!

What will we learn about the Female Furies that we haven’t learned before? We’re about to find out in DC Comics’ newest series Female Furies #1 by Cicil Castellucci and Adriana Melo.

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FEMALE FURIES #1

Writer: Cicil Castellucci

Artist: Adriana Melo

Publisher: DC Comics

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: February 6, 2019

All their lives the Female Furies have been raised to be the meanest, most cunning and most ruthless fighting force on all of Apokolips. So why are Granny Goodness’ girls left behind every time the men go to war? With the might of New Genesis hanging over the planet, and the Forever People making mincemeat out of Darkseid’s army, Granny thinks it’s about time that changed.

And so, Big Barda, Aurelie, Mad Harriet, Lashina, Bernadeth and Stompa set out to beat the boys at their own game. Little do they know the game is rigged-and one accidental murder could spell disaster for them all!

FEMALE FURIES is an exciting new miniseries starring some of Jack Kirby’s coolest Fourth World characters by the writer of SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL and the artist of PLASTIC MAN!

RATED T+