Greetings, friends! Time for some more reviews. This time we have four comics up to bat: Willow Creek #1, Starship Troopers #8, the Tag: Cursed trade paperback and Project Superpowers #2. Let’s get get it ON!

Willow Creek #1 - It’s about damn time we are treated to an honest-to-evilness werewolf story. This issue both reads great and looks great, setting up for a not-surprising, but very fitting final panel. Although there’s no real mystery as to what or who is doing the gruesome killings, the story runs at an excellent clip– never letting up and drawing the reader into its scary, color de-saturated world. Just looking at it makes my mouth water. My compliments to the chefs!

Starship Troopers #8 - Part 4 of the Bad Blood story arc brings us the best overall Starship Troopers package yet. Sure, that mortal Tony Lee can spin a solidly amazing tale when he was on it, but the art was… less than satisfactory. Cy Dethan has been carrying this title well enough, and the art by Paul Green is a valuable asset indeed. The story itself is action-packed claws-to-the-face fun that doesn’t take any time to let up. Everything meshes very nicely, and there’s the promise of Christian Beranek and Tony Lee coming along for the ride next issue. If you are looking for some good military sci-fi drop-ship delivered in a pretty package, this book is for you. Also, I love the new alien guys. They look mighty tasty.

Tag: Cursed (TPB) - First off, let me declare that Keith Giffen came up with one of the most interesting and original ideas ever where horror comics are concerned. I just don’t think you mortals out there appreciate Tag enough. You should. What you need to do right now is go pick up the first Tag collection; catch up a little. I’ll wait… Okay– I’m done waiting. Luckily, you don’t really need to read the first volume to get into the second (but don’t let that be an excuse, dammit). Cursed continues Ed’s grim yet incredibly entertaining tale, and this time it’s years later and he wants to stop the curse. Mike Leib and Chee make for a great team, with Chee’s art in top form as per usual Chee Fare (Chee, you always have a place to crash should you ever show up in my neck of the Underworld woods). Really, if you are into cool stories and kick-ass horror, you are doing yourself the equivalent of bathing in battery acid by not reading Tag. Get to it. Battery acid hurts.

Project Superpowers #2 - I usually save the superhero stuff for Demogorgon and Nergal to read and argue over as it’s usually not my cup of virgin’s blood. However, for this title I will make an incredibly brutal exception. Alex Ross and Jim Krueger have come up with quite possibly my favourite superhero comic in eons, if not ever. We’re only 3 issues in (counting the excellent #0), so don’t break out the party hammers yet. But I’m willing to bet this book keeps up the intense steam it has created for at least an arc or two. Hopefully longer! I’m in love with this title, make no bones about it. It’s a “ground up” creation that speaks to the superhero nerd in all of us. Plus, the interior art by Carlos Paul gives us Alex Ross’ vision perfectly. The notes in the back of the issue are a nice touch, too. From characters, to the dialog, to the illustrations, to everything else: this is a title not to miss, people. Oh, and Dynamic Forces being a big, bad evil organization? Brilliant. And Black Terror? Love him. Just go out acquire this, okay!?

That’s all for now. I hope to have another update soon. Until then, just remember: It isn’t easy being green, but it sure is easy being evil!
(Lawful or Aberrant, in case you’re wondering… Though being NE can be fun.)

Yr. Dread Liege,
Lord Orcus