Pads & Panels

Title: Cthulu Tales Vol. 4: The Darkness Beyond

Publisher: Boom Studios

Writers: Raven Gregory, Sam Costello, Robert Tinnell, Jeff Lester, Mark Rahner, Michael Alan Nelson, Christopher Sequeira, Christine Boylan, Luke Burns, William Messner-Loebs, Shane Oakly

Artists: Sergio Carrera, Axel Medellin Machain, Milton Sobriero, Chee, Unai, Aritz, W. Chewie Chan, Roger Langridge, Andrew Ritchie, David Hitchcock

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

Cthulu Tales Vol. 4: “The Darkness Beyond” is the most recent collection of comics from Boom Studios’ monthly series Cthulu Tales. Collecting issues 9-12, the book features 11 stories from a bevy of authors and artists based on the Cthulu mythos of writer H.P. Lovecraft. Since there are so many different stories, writers and art styles on display here, there’s no shortage of variety. Unfortunately in this particular volume, the results are definitely a mixed bag. There are a few notable standouts, though. (more…)

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Title: Invincible Volume Four: “Head of the Class”

Publisher: Image

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artists: Ryan Ottley, Bill Crabtree

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Trade #4, “Head of the Class,” is the largest trade of the first four volumes, compiling six issues of the comic, plus the Image Summer Special #1. It’s also the most scattershot of the bunch. In the wake of the events of the third trade, Invincible is trying to piece together his life, both on the personal end (with his mother, school and friends) and his role as the planet’s premiere defense system now that Omni-Man has left the planet and the new Guardians of the Globe are failing to live up to expectations. The small stories included are rather amusing – such as an underwater marriage with fish people that Invincible is thrown into – but the fourth trade is one of those Robert Kirkman uses to plant the seeds of later events. So, it’s a bit of bearing with the build-up rather than receiving the payoff, but it’s still relatively entertaining. Fortunately, Ryan Ottley’s art really hits his stride around this point, and the trade provides some of the most interesting visual storytelling in the series yet. (more…)

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