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Articles by Ryan Balkam
Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti Reunite for New HARLEY QUINN Miniseries!
The creative team that transformed Harley Quinn forever returns to shake up her world once more—and this time, the gloves are off! Harley Quinn has avoided Gotham City ever since she broke up with The Joker and found a home, and a kind of family, in Coney Island.
The Forgotten Children (Detective Comics #1017 Review)
DETECTIVE COMICS #1017 Writer: Tom Taylor Artist: Fernando Blanco Colorist: John Kalisz Letterer: Travis Lanham Publisher: DC Rating 9/10 Tom Taylor is one of those writers that can wallop you with an emotional punch every time he writes a book. Just look at what he did in DCeased. He was able to give such powerful, poignant moments that pull on your heartstrings all while set in a "zombie" apocalypse full of death.
A Dark Night In Spiral City (Skulldigger & Skeleton Boy # 1 Review)
SKULLDIGGER & SKELETON BOY #1 Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Tonci Zonjic Colorist: Dave Stewart Letterer: Steve Wands Publisher: Dark Horse Rating: 10/10 New Black Hammer books are always good news and this might just be the best spin off yet. If you're not familiar with the world of Black Hammer, I highly suggest you go pick up the first volume of the main series. This whole world is a love letter/homage to the world of superheroes. It's also becoming perhaps my favorite superhero universe.
Sentient (GN Review)
SENTIENT Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Gabriel Walta Letterer: Steve Wands Publisher: TKO Studios Rating: 9/10 TKO is back with their second wave of books. If you're not familiar with them I suggest you head over to https://tkopresents.com and check them out. They're "binge" model is fantastic. I've already read their first wave and I can't wait to dive into the second. Being a huge Lemire fan, I preordered this book the day it was announced. I didn't even have to read the description.
Little Town of Horrors (Family Tree #1 Review)
FAMILY TREE #1 Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Phil Hester Colorist: Letterer: Publisher: Image Comics Rating: 9/10 To say I'm a Jeff Lemire fan would be putting it mildly, he's in my top favorite writers working in comics today. Having been responsible for some of my g=favorite books, I'm always excited when he announces a new project. So when he announced this book I was absolutely thrilled.
The Unexpected Sacrifice (Flash #81 Review)
FLASH #81 Writer: Joshua Williamson Artist: Scott Kolins Colorist: Luis Guerrero Letterer: Steve Wands Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 10/10 FLASH FACT: Joshua Williamson killed it on this issue. He has once again cemented himself in my top 3 favorite Flash writers. It's still unbelievable to me that more people aren't talking about this book. Maybe they're aren't as many Flash fans out there as I would think.
Death Around Every Corner (Flash #80 Review)
FLASH #80 Writer: Joshua Williamson Artist: Scott Kolins Colorist: Luis Guerrero Letterer: Steve Wands Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 9/10 With the Speed Force on the brink of death, The Black Flash hunting the remaining two new force users and Hunter Zolomon breathing down his neck, it will take every ounce of his heroism and skill to come out of this one victorious.
Dan Watters Gets Poetic and Post Apocalyptic With Coffin Bound
Dan Watters has been making waves with his latest book Coffin Bound. A book being hailed for it's surrealism mixed with a post apocalyptic world and a touch of Shakespearean tropes on acid. This book has been one of the most unique books being published at Image and I think everyone should be reading it. But that's not all he's writing. He's also writing the Lucifer book over at DC for the Sandman Universe of books.
Ed Brisson: From the Depths of Hell to Krakoa (Talking Ghost Rider & New Mutants)
Ed Brisson is back at it again. He's launching 2 of my favorite franchises, Ghost Rider and New Mutants. When I heard he was launching a new Ghost Rider book, I immediately reached out to him. Being the awesome dude that he is, he happily obliged. Little did I know he was also gonna be able to tease a little about his part in the upcoming relaunch of NEW MUTANTS as well. These are 2 books that have been on my radar since they were announced. Hope you guys enjoy the info that Brisson shared with us.
Who Are the Secret Six? (Batman/Superman #1 Review)
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #1 Writer: Joshua Williamson Art: David Marquez Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez Letterer: John J. Hill Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 9/10 After months of waiting it's finally here. Being a huge Joshua Williamson fan, to say I was excited would be putting it mildly. I absolutely love the way he writes Batman, so when it was announced he was launching this book I thought it was a perfect match. Not to mention the fact that I've been waiting for a good book starring the World's Finest.
CAFU Enters a New Realm with Jane Foster: Valkyrie
CAFU is one of the best artist in the game right now, his pen name is derived from the initials of his real name, Carlos Alberto Fernandez Urbano. After making a name for himself at Valiant, he took on work at almost every major publisher. His latest work on JANE FOSTER: VALKYRIE, is perhaps his best work yet. with breathtaking visuals he helps elevate this book to new heights. Come see what he has to say about his new project and what it's like working on this iconic character.
Who Gets the Last Laugh? (The Batman Who Laughs #7 Review)
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #7 Writer: Scott Snyder Artist : Jock Colorist: David Baron Letterer: Sal Cipriano Publisher: DC Comics Rating 9/10 SPOILERS AHEAD The conclusion this twisted tale has reached it's conclusion, As Snyder has long eluded, "Batman Always Wins", which makes this story that much more of a mindf**k, since it's our Batman going up against the damn near unbeatable Batman Who Laughs.
The Flash #75 (Review): Hope Renewed, An Uncertain Future
THE FLASH #75 Writer: Joshua Williamson Artists: Howard Porter, Scott Kolins and Christian Duce Colorists: Hi-Fi Color and Luis Guerrero Letterer: Steve Wands Publisher: DC Comics Rating: 10/10 This is it, the conclusion to the retelling of Barry Allen's origin. Did it stick the landing??? Hell yeah it did!!! Williamson has a deep understanding of the entire Flash mythos and it becomes more evident with each passing issue.
The Comic Lounge Picks of the Week (7/24)
By the time you guys read this, SDCC will be over. After the slew of new announcements leading into the con and the amazing new series announced there. It's an exciting time to be a comic fan. If you want to hear more check out the post I did where I cover the best that SDCC had to offer, including the Eisner winners. Anyways let's get into this weeks picks. Once again, it's DC and Marvel heavy, but once you see the picks you'll know why. FLASH #75 The conclusion to "Flash Year One" is here.
Joshua Williamson Talks Flash, Batman/Superman and More
Williamson has quietly become one of the most prolific writers in comics. He writes some of the most entertaining comic books being published today. Whether it's his work at DC or his creator owned stuff at Image, you can always be sure you're getting your money's worth. Ever since he helped relaunch FLASH for the "Rebirth" initiative, it has consistently been one of the best books in DC's lineup.
My God's Funnier Than Yours (Loki #1 Review)
LOKI #1 Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith Artist: Oscar Bazaldua Colorist: David Curiel Letterer: Clayton Cowles Publisher: Marvel Rating: 8/10 If you're anything like me, then you're yearning for anything Thor related after the Asgardian sized hole left after the conclusion to WOTR. Well I have terrific news for you, Loki now has his own series, again. After dying, he returned and brutally killed his father Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, and heroically helped to save Midgard.
Stephanie Hans Goes All In on DIE
Stephanie Hans has had one of the biggest years in comics. Her series DIE (Image Comics) with writer Kieron Gillen has been one of them most talked about new series in years. Her unique style has created one of the most visually stunning books being published today. When I had the chance to pick her brain a little about this fantastic series, I jumped on it. If you're like me, and the rest of us at The Comic Lounge, I'm sure you want more also.
Reaver #1 (Review): High Fantasy, Blood, with a Dash of Hell's “Dirty Half-Dozen“
REAVER #1 Writer: Justin Jordan Artist: Rebekah Issacs Colorist: Alex Guimaraes Letterer: Clayton Cowles Publisher: Image Rating: 8/10 When this book was first announced I jumped up and down for joy. It seemed as if the whole left by Game of Thrones would finally be filled. Well this is more than I could have hoped for. With their debut issue, Justin Jordan and Rebekah Issacs have masterfully set up the world of REAVER.
Talking GHOSTED IN LA with Sina Grace
If you know Sina Grace, then you know he has a knack for writing some of the best slice-of-life comics. Filled with humor and great dialogue. When his new book GHOSTED IN LA was announced, I knew I had to read it. I could talk about how great the book was but it would probably be easier if you checked out my review that's up on the blog. After reading the book, Sina was gracious enough to answer a few questions about the inspiration behind the book and what to expect moving forward.
The Comic Lounge Picks of the Week (7/10)
Holy crap!!! I think this might be one of the best weeks of new comic books in recent memory. After two amazing debut series last week, SEA OF STARS and NO ONE LEFT TO FIGHT, we see have even more new series to be excited about. Not only do we have a new issue of EVENT LEVIATHAN and CRIMINAL, but we start the final arc of Aaron's THOR. Plus we have four, that's right, four new #1's. We have the BITTER ROOT: RED SUMMER SPECIAL #1, BLACK HAMMER/JUSTICE LEAGUE, UNEARTH and REAVER.
Sea of Stars #1 (Review): A Father and Son Separated by Stars
SEA OF STARS #1 Writers: Jason Aaron & Dennis Hallum Artist: Stephen Green Colorist: Rico Renzi Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher Publisher: Image Comics Rating: 9/10 Being a father of a 4 year old little girl, I find myself being drawn to father/son or father/daughter stories more than ever. They strike a chord that they didn't used to, prior to me having a kid. This story is incites a heartwarming feeling and a sense of wonder that I haven't experienced in a long time.
War of the Realms #6 (Review):The Mother of Storms
WAR OF THE REALMS #6 Writer: Jason Aaron Artist: Russel Dauterman Colorist: Matt Wilson Publisher: Marvel Comics 10/10 SPOILERS AHEAD WOW!!! I'm seriously at a loss for words right now. The sheer magnificence and scope of this sprawling epic is unmatched in my eyes. Jason Aaron, Russel Dauterman and Matt Wilson have cemented themselves in comic book lore with their amazing event series WAR OF THE REALMS.
Russell Dauterman Talks Thor and Finishing WOTR
Over the past few years, Russell Dauterman has quickly become one of the industry's top artists. He began his career in comics as the artist of the BOOM! Studios series, SUPURBIA. He went on to draw NIGHTWING at DC and CYCLOPS for Marvel. Since then, Russell has drawn covers, illustrated interiors, and designed characters for various comic book titles and publishers. It was his work on THE MIGHTY THOR with Jason Aaron that catapulted him to superstardom.
The Comic Lounge Picks of the Week (6/26)
OK after a somewhat quiet week, last week, this week has 2 big conclusions to fantastic mini-series. There are a lot of great books coming out this week, so it was pretty hard to narrow down the titles that are must reads. But no book is bigger than WAR OF THE REALMS. This has been a long time coming. Not to mention we finally see the end of BATMAN DAMNED, the inaugural Black Label book.
The Batman Who Laughs #6 (Review): The Knight Is Dark and Full of Terrors
THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #6 Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Jock Colorist: David Baron Publisher: DC Comics 9/10 How do Snyder and Jock keep doing this? Every issue of this series has gotten better and better. They have created one of the best horror books that DC has ever seen, and it's a Batman book. We are seeing a Batman the likes of which have never been seen before.
Justin Jordan Talks REAVER, Writing and More
Justin Jordan first gained worldwide acclaim with THE STRANGE TALE OF LUTHER STRODE, an action comic he co-created with artist Tradd Moore. After the success of that book, he's went on to work with almost every major comics publisher. Two books at DC which were loved by fans were his runs on GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS and SIDEWAYS. One thing that he's always done was keeping his feet firmly planted in the creator-owned world.
Flash #71 (Review): The Once and Future Flash
FLASH #71 Writer: Joshua Williamson Art: Howard Porter Colors: Hi-Fi Publisher: DC Comics 9/10 This issue continues right where we left off, with Barry meeting his future self after accidently raveling to the future. Only two issues in to "Year One" and already this has become one of Williamson's best arcs. This is such a fun story and a welcome break from current DC events.
The Comic Lounge Picks of the Week (5/22)
WOW!!! Last week was such a great week in comics. Jason Aaron continues to show why his Thor run will go down as one oft he greatest runs in the history of comics. WAR OF THE REALMS has been the best event series in years. I'm just saying, I think it's better than CIVIL WAR. Even with all of it's tie-ins, which have also been really good. This isn't a series you should miss. Ok enough about WOTR.
Flash #70 (Review): An Origin Retold
FLASH #70 Writer: Joshua Williamson Art: Howard Porter Colors: Hi-Fi Publisher: DC Comics 4/5 When this storyline was first announced, I had mixed feelings. Not many people have been able to recapture that same feeling you get when you read BATMAN:YEAR ONE. While this could have come of as a cheap marketing ploy, it's far from that.
Sina Grace: The Man With Ice In His Veins
Sina Grace is the gained notice around the industry with his work on his autobiographical SELF-OBSESSED, and NOT MY BAG, which he wrote and illustrated. He's gone on to work with many of the major publishers since then working in many different capacities. Over the past couple of years he has written a beloved run on ICEMAN. He had the tough job of writing Iceman after he "came out", and he did it masterfully. He gave us a reason to be excited about an Iceman book.
Scott Snyder Talks Batman, Creator Owned, and his epic plans on Justice League
Scott Snyder has long been one of my favorite writers. His run on Batman is by far one of the best runs on the character of this generation. He, along with Greg Capullo, created an epic run and are set to reunite on the character this May in BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH. He's currently writing the BATMAN WHO LAUGHS mini-series, which continues to sell out at comic book stores every where.
Interview with Writer/Artist Tim Seeley
Tim Seeley is not just an amazing writer, but a talented artist as well. He illustrated G.I. JOE in the early 00's as well as LOVEBUNNY & MR. HELL for Devil's Due and Image Comics. His writing is where I first discovered his work though. He has worked on many books over at DC as well as creator owned books. When he helped launch GRAYSON, a fresh take on Dick Grayson, it quickly became one of the most unique books in DC's lineup.
Kelly Thompson: Talking About X-Men, Captain Marvel and More
Over the past few years Kelly Thompson has taken the comic world by storm. From her Eisner nominated work on the Kate Bishop starring HAWKEYE at Marvel to hear work on JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS over at IDW, she has continually been a major force in the industry. This past January she inked an exclusive deal with Marvel and since then has taken on some major projects. She recently helped relaunch UNCANNY X-MEN with fellow writers Ed Brisson and Matthew Rosenberg.
Steve Orlando Talks About His Take On Martian Manhunter
Steve Orlando has thrilled us with comics such as MIDNIGHTER, SUPERGIRL, and JUSICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. Well today sees the release of MARTIAN MANHUNTER. This is a day for Martian Manhunter fans to rejoice. Steve has often spoke of his love for the character and it shows every time he talks about this new book. This story is shaping up to be on of the definitive takes on the character. Steve's awesome ideas paired with the unbelievable art of Riley Rossimo, make this a must read book.
Martian Manhunter #1 (Review): A New Side of the Manhunter From Mars
MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1 Written by: Steve Orlando Art by: Riley Rossmo Colored by: Ivan Plascencia Published by: DC Comics 10/10 This week sees the much anticipated return of Martian Manhunter to a solo book. He has starred in great solo series in the past by outstanding creators such as John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake, Rob Williams and more, and now we can add Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo to that list.
John Timms: Talks Harley Quinn
John Timms is a relative newcomer to the comics scene, but he's been at this for years. He hooked up with Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner on their Kickstarter, DELETE, and from their has quickly become a household name with his work on HARLEY QUINN. Working on such a big name like Harley Quinn is a dream job, and John has been enjoying every minute of it. After Jimmy and Amanda left the book, John stayed on with new writer Sam Humphries.
Denys Cowan: Legendary Artist and Co-Founder of Milestone Media
Denys Cowan is one of the most celebrated artists in the comic book industry. After graduating from the High School of Art & Design, his first published work was for DC Comics on WEIRD WAR TALES #93. His career really took of when he joined Dennis O'Neil on THE QUESTION. The book was a critical success. From there he went on to work on books for both Marvel and DC, such as BLACK PANTHER, DEATHLOK, DETECTIVE COMICS, GREEN ARROW, STEEL, and many more.
Ed Brisson: Talking About Uncanny X-Men Relaunch and More
Ed Brisson is a comic book writer first garnered attention on his self published work such as MURDER BOOK. Since then he has gone on to write great runs on books like IRON FIST, OLD MAN LOGAN, and CABLE over at Marvel. He's currently wrapping up EXTERMINATION, which deals with the time displaced 'Original Five' X-Men. This week, along with fellow writers Kelly Thompson and Matthew Rosenberg, he will help relaunch the long awaited return of UNCANNY X-MEN.
Dead Kings #1 (Review)
AfterShock has quickly gained a reputation for delivering great stories by some top talent creators. This book is no different. This is Steve Orlando's first book from the publisher and it was one of the best debuts from the publisher and Steve as well. This book has an awesome premise of a world ravaged from a Techno-Magic war that happened 30 years ago. The story opens with the birth of twins, Sash and Gena, during a time when giant machines were you used in war.
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