Tag: comic books

Jessica Jones Vol 1: Uncaged by Brian Michael Bendis (Writer) Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

A gritty graphic novel showing the darker side of the Marvel Universe, writer Brian Michael Bendis brings to life one of the world’s most beloved characters in recent years, Jessica Jones. The story of a woman with a haunted past and a dark secret comes to life in this amazing noir style graphic novel. Here is the synopsis:

After a decade, Jessica Jones is back in her own solo series! A lot has changed in the Marvel Universe and there are many secrets hiding in the shadows – secrets only a special woman like Jessica Jones can hope to uncover. Alias Investigations is open for business, and of all the many mysteries to discover, her new case may be the most dangerous one! This blistering new series is filled with haunting revelations from Jessica’s past, and answers to some of the biggest questions about the new Marvel NOW! universe! From Jessica Jones’ original creators comes an all-new chapter in the world-famous private eye’s ongoing adventures!

COLLECTING: JESSICA JONES 1-6

I loved this graphic novel. The series brings the gritty nature so many fans have fallen in love with over the course of two seasons on the Netflix series of the same name, while also incorporating the larger Marvel Universe in new and unexpected ways. Twists and turns take Jessica on a lonely journey, alienating not only her friends and allies, but the man she loves as well. Filled with humor, action and a budding mystery within the Marvel Universe, this comic brings the story like only Jessica Jones could. Arguably one of the most complex and strong female characters in the Marvel Comics Universe, the artists and writers did a fantastic job of breathing life into the hero. Exploring a multiversal mystery uncovered by Jessica and a complicated family dispute all while working on her latest case, Jessica is shown in a very real, volatile and emotional state that readers will instantly fall in love with.

Overall this was a wonderful story, filled with passion, superhero goodness and a powerful character you can really invest in. If you guys haven’t pick up this incredible graphic novel Jessica Jones Vol 1: Uncaged by Brian Michael Bendis today!

Rating: 10/10

Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Michael Gaydos (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Colourist), Cory Petit (Letterer), David W. Mack (Cover Artist)

 

USNA: The United States of North America Books One and Two by Harry Kalensky, Davey Longworth, Allan Stanleigh 

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In a world where politics has taken a much larger role than ever before, politically charged works of fiction are becoming much more prevalent. One such book stuck out to me, and that was the graphic novel series USNA: The United States of North America. In both books one and two of the series, the future is dominated by advanced technology and a continent formed into one nation, and a small group of rebels who hope to return their nation to the people, and not the military council that now rules. Here is the synopsis:


An action filled multi-character drama, this graphic novel tells about a time in the future when our two great countries, Canada and the United States, have amalgamated and there is a growing discontent. Family farms have been replaced by huge corporate farms that exploit the bulging prison populations for labor. Severe drought has led to food shortages and rationing in the cities. Young adults are being conscripted to fight in the Cent-Am wars while a groundswell of rebellion is building. The rebels want to return to a time when the policies of the government represented the best interests of the people, not the best interests of those who govern. To lead their movement, the rebels are planning the return of their leader, the exiled former prime minister of Canada, Samuel Stern. To combat this threat, a new organization has been created by the administration of USNA. It’s a covert homeland security force: the Strategic Home Alliance Defense Organization (S.H.A.D.O.). Operating on the fringes of the law, their mission is simple: locate and eliminate any rebel activity using deadly force if necessary. This is the story of the people’s fight against tyranny in our own backyard.


A mixture of science fiction, political fiction and espionage thriller, this story showcases a future where two nations become one, and the rule of law makes corporations the dominant force, not the lower class who help build businesses or the farmers who’s entire lives depend on the land they farm. This graphic novel series does a fantastic job of showing multiple points of view, from the naive widow who is shown the real world for the first time to the optimistic rebel leader to the tough as nails military general who is as ruthless as he is cunning. 


The artwork in this graphic novel is beautiful, bringing a sort of noir realism like Frank Miller’s Sin City to a fast-paced, action packed world where boarders have all but evaporated on our continent. The plot is both familiar and new, exploring a new topic but giving a reassuring formula of a small, ragtag group of rebels who must become heroes to free the people under the corrupt thumb of a military based government. 
Overall, this is a must read graphic novel series, which showcases the lengths a government may go to exert control over a nation and the strength of the men and women who yearn to give freedom back to the people. USNA: The United States of North America is a wonderful series from a talented group of writers and artists who I hope to see more work from in the future. Pick up your copy of USNA: Books One and Two today!
USNA: The United States of North America https://www.amazon.com/dp/098097013X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_X.-MzbPXS8CK8

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Boylord Issues #1-2 by Nathan Peabody Review:

After a rather successful trip to San Francisco Comic Con, I had the pleasure of meeting several artists, writers and publishers. One such creator
was Nathan Peabody, and I was given copies of the first two issues of his growing science fiction and fantasy series, Boylord.

This comic-book series follows a young boy named Ettan, who is a part of the Utopian society of cat-like species known as pranans. His home planet
of Vareenya is millions of years old, and his people can live thousands of years. They have six pairs of DNA that give them advanced abilities,
and they are known as a force for good. Having uprooted their home planet years earlier to a more peaceful part of the galaxy, Ettan lives a
life of peace and harmless adventure. However soon Ettan finds himself thrust into a perilous adventure filled with demons, war-bound humans and
a ticket straight to hell itself. If you want to know the incredibly detailed backstory for this story, I will include a link to Boylord’s website
here: http://www.boylord.com/read-me/

The artwork is simply beautiful. While Nathan Peabody created and wrote Boylord, artist Manuela Soriani brought the vast story to visual life.
With breathtaking visuals that perfectly outline the beautiful and graceful pranans  or the gritty and visceral look of the demonic forces that
threaten young Ettan, these two issues really blend the genres of science fiction and fantasy well, and even threw in a drip of horror in for
good measure.

Overall, this is an incredible story and wonderful comic book that deserves recognition. The beautiful artwork is a perfect pairing with a strong
story that is addictive and fun to read. These first two issues are a perfect introduction into this vast galaxy that holds endless possibilities
for stories down the road, and not only should you guys pick up your copies of issues 1 & 2 of Boylord, but if you enjoy the story and want to
see more, I recommend you check out this Kickstarter campaign to continue the story and get the next chapter of this story created. Follow the
link below to support the Kickstarter campaign, and be sure to pick up your copies of Boylord by Nathan Peabody today!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boylord/boylord-chapters-3-and-4

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DC Comics Rebirth #1 Review:

One of the most intricate storylines to be introduced to the great DC comics mythology has got to be DC Comics Rebirth. In issue #1, written by
Geoff Johns, showcases a deep plot that explains a lot of the rewrites and storylines that have been written since the incredible Flashpoint
storyline. Focusing on a time and reality displaced Wally West, who is on the verge of being absorbed into the speed force, the issue showcases
both past and present storylines and shows that after the events of Flashpoint, before time could right itself, an all-powerful being took
10 years away from the heroes, destroying relationships and removing legends and heroes altogether. Wally is the only one who remembers the
original timeline, and he must race to find someone who can bring him out of the speed force before he dies, for it’s not only his life on the
line, but the entire multiverse as this being still looms large as a threat to the heroes.

Now the twists and turns in this story were absolutely amazing. The emotional core that comes with Wally’s story and his struggle to save his
universe and correct what’s been broken makes the issue all worthwhile, and the big twist that comes with the revelation of a new power in the
multiverse makes this an unforgettable issue. Both longtime and new fans of DC Comics will feel a strong connection to this new storyline, and
the future looks bright with one of the most creative comic books in recent history. Geoff Johns did a wonderful job writing this story and if
this is any indication of what the coming story will entail, fans are in for a big treat. Be sure to tune into the latest developments with
DC Comics Rebirth in the months to come!

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Deadpool Vol 1 : Dead Presidents (Marvel NOW!) Vol. 1: 1-6) by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan Review:

It’s an undead history lesson as dead US Presidents find themselves brought back to the land of the living, and there’s only one hero who has
the skills to take them on. Unfortunately, Captain America was busy, so they got Deadpool instead. That’s right, the Merc with a Mouth stars in
this six issue volume in the Marvel NOW! series, after S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits Wade Wilson to take out the undead Presidents, from George Washington
and Abraham Lincoln to Gerald Ford. With these monstrous National Icons running loose and destroying everything in site, it’s up to the smart-ass
merc to use his charm and bullets to take them out and put them back into the ground.

The artwork is beautiful in this collection, and the writing is both hilarious and action-fueled. Getting to see history used in humorous
dialogue and having it twisted in this dark tale is awesome, and fans will also enjoy the tie in to the larger Marvel universe as a whole. This
is a classic Deadpool story arc and is not to be missed, so be sure to read your copies of this book today!

Username: Evie by Joe Sugg Review

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Wow! That was my first reaction when I opened up to the first page of Joe “ThatcherJoe” Sugg’s first ever comic book/graphic novel,

Username: Evie. The artwork is just gorgeous, and the stark contrast between the dark, ominous scenes and the warm, heartwarming scenes was
something to behold.

The story revolves around a young girl named Evie, who is considered a social outcast in school and feels alone in the world, (save for her
father). Worried about his daughter, the father creates a unique virtual world for Evie to escape into, giving her a chance to escape the
vicious real world and create a more pleasant, inviting experience to help her grow as a person. Yet when an unexpected visitor threatens to
corrupt the world her father created, Evie must venture forth and find a way to stop the corruption and save her world, and herself in the
process.

Full of heart, emotion, action and great characters, Username Evie is a phenomenal read. The characters are wonderfully developed and
people that are identifiable to a lot of young teens out there, and the story moves at a fast yet invigorating pace that allows the reader to
invest in the book fully. I found myself unable to put it down and was able to finish it almost immediately, and I know that I will be
visiting the world created in Username: Evie a whole hell of a lot more in the future. I can only hope that more books from Mr. Sugg are
planned for the future, so make sure you pick up your copy of Joe Sugg’s “Username: Evie” today!

FOX’s Gotham Pilot Preview

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One of falls most anticipated new shows has definitely got to be FOX’s Gotham. Having recently been given a special screening of the show’s highly anticipated pilot, we were delighted to see the great story that unfolded and showcased the direction the show would take fans. Exploring the formative years before Batman started saving lives in Gotham, the show follows new police detective James Gordon, played by the incredibly talented Ben Mackenzie, and his journey into exploring the dark underbelly of the corrupt city of Gotham. After the tragic murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Gordon and his partner, Harvey Bullock, played by Donal Logue, begin traversing the crime ridden city, uncovering clues to the killer’s identity and turning over stones that may be better left unturned. Organized mobsters, corrupt police and city officials, and a city where the corrupt thrive and the innocent submit or die, Gotham is a gritty crime drama that is a mixture of old school noir and true to form comic book storytelling. The drama also does a fantastic job of introducing some of Gotham’s most notorious villains and vigilantes before they became said villains and vigilantes. Gotham premieres Monday, September 22nd, 2014 on FOX!

On Request Magazine Comic-Con 2014 Highlights

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Each year, we here at On Request Magazine like to highlight the best to come out of the annual Comic Con convention out of San Diego, CA. This year is no different, and we have quite a few great tidbits to talk about this year.

1) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice revealed a small teaser for fans at the Warner Bros panel at Comic Con this year, showcasing Ben Affleck as Batman, wearing some sort of power armor and standing atop a rooftop in Gotham on a stormy night. Batman switches on the bat signal, and as he does, the light reflects off of a floating Superman, glaring at Batman with his eyes glowing red. Batman’s eyes glow white, and the two stare one another down, until the footage cuts to black. The scene is very reminiscent of the classic story, The Dark Knight Returns, and is sure to promise one of the biggest moments in both Comic Book and Film history. Also on display for the convention, panel, and the public was the first look at Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and while director Zach Snyder has confirmed he has yet to film any scenes of Gadot as Wonder Woman and that she is still working out to build her muscle tone, the picture shown gave fans a great glimpse at the Amazon warrior we are sure to see in the film, and although the color scheme is a bit darker in tone than expected, don’t be surprised if either during the course of the film or towards the time Justice League comes out, the costume gets  bit more color to match the more classic blue and red costume from the comics.

2) Marvel’s annual Hall H panel produced quite a few tidbits. While footage is yet to be revealed to the public and won’t be for quite some time, fans were given a glimpse at Ant-Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was announced that Evangeline Lilly would be playing Hope Van Dyne and Corey Stoll would be playing Yellowjacket, the main antagonist in the film Ant-Man. The cast was at hand to reassure fans and give a short glimpse into the films future, which showcased Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang using the Ant-Man suit to break into Pym’s company on behalf of Pym, in order to retrieve the suit designs taken from Yellowjacket during a hostile takeover of his company.

The biggest reveals came during the Avengers panel, where everyone except Scarlett Johansson was in attendance to showcase some new footage from the film. The footage showed the common humor that goes into a Marvel film, with a group of Avengers trying to lift Thor’s hammer, before Ultron arrives in one of Iron Man’s broken down suits, claiming that the only way to save humanity was to wipe it out completely. The footage showed a haunting scene that seemed to depict Iron Man, kneeling by Captain America’s broken shield and the rest of the Avengers lying dead all around him. The scene was haunting, and seems like death is coming for some of our favorite heroes.

Two big announcements came from the panel as well. The first was confirmation that Josh Brolin would indeed be playing the master villain behind the scenes, Thanos. The actor showed up wearing Thano’s Infinity Gauntlet and playing to the crowd with the Avengers in front of him. The second announcement came afterwards, when it was announced that Guardians of the Galaxy would be getting a sequel before it even opened in theaters, with the second film set for 2017. Not surprising given the amazing numbers coming in for it’s opening weekend.

3) The big winners from Comic Con TV came from DC, who not only announced that Arrow’s third season would feature heroes Ray Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, Katana, and Wildcat, but that the main villain of the season would be none other than ancient master assassin Rha’s Al Ghul, the leader of the League of Assassins. Also shown was new DC shows Gotham, which will focus on the years before Bruce Wayne became Batman, with a young Jim Gordon navigating Gotham as a homicide detective and the cities future villains paving their own origins. Also included was The Flash, which will showcased on of DC’s biggest superheroes and a Justice League founding member, and Constantine, DC’s first foray into their supernatural storyline and characters.

4) Also in attendance were the last panels and showings of shows like True Blood and Sons of Anarchy, which are currently or going to air their final seasons this year. True Blood previewed a bloody path towards their finale, while Sons of Anarchy promised a bloody path of vengeance for lead character Jax. For those of you who haven’t seen the last season’s finale, go watch it and see why he’s out for revenge, but know that the final season is sure to include the death of most of our favorite characters, and no one is safe, not even Jax himself.

Comic con was full of amazing trailers, pictures, previews, reviews, cosplay, hello’s and goodbyes. For more on the annual event, check out our website and this blog to see everything we covered during the event!

Comic-Con 2014 Has Begun

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Hello there loyal readers and viewers, this is Anthony Avina with On Request Magazine, and today marks the beginning of Comic-Con 2014. This weekend we will be reporting the latest news, rumors, updates, trailers, video, photos and more as they come our way. Make sure to stay tuned to this blog or our website for the latest news to come out of San Diego this weekend!