Review- JOHN CARPENTER'S ASYLUM VOL. 2

JOHN CARPENTER'S ASYLUM VOL. 2 (Storm King, First Printing, 2016; Softcover)

Collects John Carpenter's Asylum #7-14 (cover dates July, 2014- May 25, 2016)

Writers: Sandy King and Trent Olsen

Artists: Tom Mandrake (#7, 8) and Leonardo Manco (#8-14)

Colorists: Sian Mandrake, Leonardo Manco, Marjana Sanzone, and Nick Percival

As anyone who watches Horror movies knows, John Carpenter is the cream of the crop. His audio and visual cues have become the standard in Horror that so many others have aped. It is appropriate that Asylum is cinematic in feel and tone. This could have just as easily been a television show on FX or Netflix, but it's in comic form instead. Religion and ultimate battles between good and evil are pet themes for Carpenter, and it's played out here on a more personal scale.

In the series' second arc Beckett and Duran arrive in a small town to root out the mystery of a pattern of child abductions which have been going on for decades. All signs point to a larger evil than just a child abductor, and it turns out that they are right. While the arc was finished with #14 it doesn't seem like this series has truly ended. Hopefully we'll see a return of this series someday. Time will tell.

John Carpenter came to Detroit this past summer for a rare live performance and I missed it. I was in the throes of a major upheaval in my personal life at that time and couldn't make it. I regret not seeing him live but at the end of the day there was no other choice. Such is life, and life goes on.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- A hardcover version of this book exists but I must have missed the boat, as I was in the midst of relocating when this book was released and wasn't spending money on much of anything.

Paper stock: Glossy coated stock. Not super glossy but not matte, either.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Matte finish with spot varnish. The logo and creator names on the front cover are embossed, an elegant touch on a softcover. 

Review- JOHN CARPENTER'S ASYLUM VOL. 1 and #7-9

JOHN CARPENTER'S ASYLUM VOL. 1 (Storm King Comics, 2014; Hardcover)

Collects John Carpenter's Asylum #1-6 and an exclusive twelve page prologue (cover dates 2013- 2014)

Writers: Sandy King, Bruce Jones, and Trent Olsen

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

This is a reread, since I gladly double dipped after buying the single issues. Reading it as a trade as opposed to bi-monthly singles has a different vibe. I honestly preferred reading it in installments, which may sound strange coming from someone who almost exclusively buys collected editions. I guess it was the down time between issues making me wonder what was coming next as opposed to reading it all in one sitting. This is the comic book equivalent of watching a television series week in and week out as opposed to binge-watching the entire season on DVD or whatever. 

This title is one the best things going on in comics right now, a no-nonsense story with beautiful artwork by the vastly underrated Leonardo Manco. It's a good old-fashioned demonic possession, battle of good versus evil with the fate of the world hanging in the balance type of tale. 

While the price point may seem a bit high for a six issue book ($34.99 MSRP), there is an exclusive twelve page story as well as plenty of DVD-style extras (character sketches, etc.) in the back of the book. Also, Storm King is an independent company, so the economy of scale afforded to larger publishers is not there. There is a softcover available for the more budget-minded fan. This is a very nice book that I am proud to add to my collection.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- The covers are collected as a cover gallery in the back of the book, making it difficult to know where to break.

There are two sketch cards included, a nice and completely unexpected touch.

Paper stock: Thick glossy coated stock.

Binding: Perfect binding. It is a bit stiff but loosens up with play.

Hardback cover notes: Thick glossy casewrap lamination. The logo is embossed with foil stamping.

John Carpenter's Asylum #7-9 (cover dates July- December 9, 2014)

Note: #9 actually released in January 2015.

Writers: Sandy King and Trent Olsen

Artists: Tom Mandrake (#7 and most of #8) and Leonardo Manco (part of #8 and all of #9)

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

I have been lackadaisical in my reviews as of late, sometimes forgetting to review something that I read. Case in point being these issues. #7 and 8 are something of a bridge between the first arc and the second, focusing on King Leo on his journey to the Barrens. #9 is the first part of the second arc. Beckett and Duran are now wandering the country, with their journey takes them to the small town of Arlington where something is stealing children. Great stuff. I look forward to seeing where it goes next.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

Review- John Carpenter's Asylum #6

John Carpenter's Asylum #6 (Storm King, cover date 2014, released June 4, 2014)

Writers: Sandy King and Trent Olsen

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

This title has backed itself into a dangerous corner. The high quality is no longer a pleasant surprise, it has become par for the course. The bar has been raised, makers of Horror comics! I am of course being tongue in cheek. I savor and enjoy each issue of this title, reading it twice in a row.

The conclusion of this round in the battle between good and evil has reached epic, almost biblical, proportions. Ancient good fighting ancient evils . It could come off as preachy or corny but thankfully it is not. It's hard to do this sort of thing without coming off as either Dungeons & Dragons, Death Metal nerd demonology or, worse yet, Christian Metal holy righteousness.

The conclusion to the first arc is really the beginning of something much bigger. I am so happy to see this series continue, as I was wondering what the goal was after the first arc concluded. This series could do what American Horror Story does, where the entire setting changes from one “season” to the next. For now it appears that it will continue on with this setting.

Beginning with #7 we get a two issue, two-part sidebar story with artwork by the incredible Tom Mandrake! Then the second arc will begin with issue 9, where Leonardo Manco's artwork returns. When it comes to Mandrake and Manco, one is an apple and one is an orange but they are both delicious.

The folks over at their Facebook page recently posted that there will be a trade paperback solicited in July for an October release. Seeing as how the bulk of this blog is dedicated to collected editions, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be picking that one up! To all of my fellow trade waiters, this is your chance to find out what I have been gushing about for the past year or so. I know what I will be giving everybody for Christmas...

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5. 

Review- John Carpenter's Asylum #5

John Carpenter's Asylum #5 (Storm King, 2014)

Writers: Bruce Jones with Sandy King and Trent Olsen

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

A mere seven weeks since issue four was released comes the latest installment of John Carpenter's Asylum. Jackson's demon is playing a game of demonic possession leapfrog with Daniel Beckett, Father Leone, and Detective Duran. This being a Horror comic, it should come as no surprise that someone in the cast could meet an untimely end, and yet there you have it. Someone does die...only I won't tell you who. I was kind of shocked by it, and there is a great sequence where it happens. I can't provide any images this time out because most of them would tip the hand that this issue holds. Sorry to be so vague, but this is one that you will have to read for yourself.

The flashback sequence is incredibly effective, with the coloring (or lack thereof) giving it a grainy old film stock quality. Leonardo Manco and Kinsun Loh have once again outdone themselves. Their “camera angles” are more effective than most films these days. The edits that snap in your mind are more visceral than they would be in any movie. I have to admit that I would love to see this brought to life on a screen at some point, but for now I am thrilled that it is the exclusively in comic book medium. The quality hasn't budged an inch in five issues. I can't wait for the next issue!

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

Review- John Carpenter's Asylum #4

John Carpenter's Asylum #4 (Storm King, no cover date. Copyright 2013 even though issue wasn't released until February 12, 2014.)

Writers: Bruce Jones with Sandy King and Trent Olsen

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

Evil is real and it is everywhere. Ancient evils, forgotten evils. Why, even the fate of this very issue was halted by evil. This issue was scheduled for release the day before Thanksgiving, but was derailed by Hurricane Haiyan and the resulting health problems with colorist Kinsun Loh. Then the holidays, which caused the printer and Diamond Comics Distributors to dally. Then the flipping Polar Vortex, which snarled many things in America. Finally, finally, I got the issue in my hands this week. To use an old Alan Moore-ism, no one in five years' time will care that issue 4 was three months late, they will only care if issue 4 was good. And it is.

The battle between good and evil continues to heat up, with Father Leone seemingly the only one even remotely prepared to do battle with it. As glimpses of Hell creep into the mind of Father Beckett you can almost feel the heat, as his possession grows more complete. This series remains a great read, and I only hope that I won't have to wait three months until the next issue. 

 

There is an almost cinematic quality to the framing in many of the scenes in this issue, courtesy of artist Leonardo Manco. You can almost feel the whiplash edits and imagine a nanosecond camera angle change, something all the more impressive when you consider that these are static images on a page. I really do feel that comic books are the ultimate storytelling medium. You have the visuals of a movie combined with the depth of a book. I might be what you would call biased. Your mileage may vary.

Why can tiny Storm King sell a comic for $3.99 with heavy duty paper and an even heavier cover with no advertisements while Marvel and DC sell comics with cheaper paper (and...shudder...self covers) and the comic being one third ads for the same price? I know that I'd rather drop four bucks on this than anything either one are doing these days.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

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Review- John Carpenter's Asylum #3

John Carpenter's Asylum #3 (Storm King, 2013; no cover date- released on October 9, 2013)

Writer: Bruce Jones

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

To quote Keanu Reeves in The Matrix: WHOAH. This series hasn't exactly wasted a lot of time in the first two issues, but things really get moving this month. Not only does it hit the fan like a bloody stump, but it gets shredded and splatters everywhere. Detective Duran and Father Beckett find themselves in way over their heads, and I can't see them getting out of this mess.

Everything is high quality as usual for this series. Leonardo Manco and Kinsun Loh are beasts. Every panel is a camera angle, and every panel is perfect. I also have to give mad props to letterer Janice Chiang. I admittedly loathed her style in the '80s and '90s, but she has truly perfected her craft here. Lettering is one of those subtle things that can make or break a story. You might not think that something so seemingly insignificant could be as important as the words or the brushstrokes, but you would be wrong. It can make the difference between being readable and being really enjoyable. Bravo!

This title is among the best on the stands today, and is one of the few titles so compelling that I must read it every month as opposed to waiting for the trade...which I will also buy if and when it is released.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

Reviews- John Carpenter's Asylum No. 2 and Planet of the Apes: Before The Dawn

John Carpenter's Asylum No. 2 (Storm King, no cover date, released August 7, 2013)

Writer: Bruce Jones

Artist: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

Outstanding! Some comic books feel cinematic in scope, with each panel being a movie screen shot. Some comic books are blatant “pitches” trying to get their “IP” noticed by a studio so that they can cash in and make a movie “based on the graphic novel”. Then there's this title, which John Carpenter and company could have made as a movie but instead chose the comic book medium to present it in. 

Things move at a breackneck pace, and there are scene changes that plant a sharp edit/cut in your head. This comic “moves” in my mind as I read it. Great comic books always do, and this is certainly great. Leonardo Manco's artwork is as top notch as ever, Jones' script is clear and concise, and Loh's coloring has the perfect balance between grimy and polished.

I am loving the whole age-old evil, demonic possession versus defrocked priest, good versus evil for the fate of the world vibe of this series. I can't wait for issue 3!

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5. 

Planet of the Apes: Before The Dawn (Boom Studios, cover date July, 2013)

My homeskillet and curator of http://alldaycomics.com/, Mike Hansen, picked this up at the San Diego Comic Con and gave it to me for the cost of postage. This was one of those freebies that people scoop up and usually flip on eBay, but Mike, who knows what an Apes nut I am, passed it along to me for free. Major, major thanks, Mike!

For those of you who are having a hard time procuring a copy, fret not. This is available as a free web comic. Just use that thar Google button on yer Internet machine. 

This comes with a cardstock cover, although it is stapled like a regular comic book. There are 6 pages which are a collage of images from various sources filling in the gaps between the reboot and this second installment of the reboot franchise. I loved the reboot and am beyond pumped about Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, out next summer. The Apes films and the Apes comics from Boom can seemingly do no wrong!

Reviews- MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE #5 and JOHN CARPENTER'S ASYLUM #1

Morbius The Living Vampire #5 (Marvel, cover date July, 2013)

Writer: Joe Keatinge

Artists: Richard Elson with Carlos Rodriguez

Colorist: Antonio Fabela

The battle for Brownsville continues, with the players being Morbius and the Rose. Morbius has roused the support of the people, and on the surface it looks like he is a hero. But the Rose has an ace up his sleeve, and it will be Morbius who loses. The last few pages point to an interesting new development. Things are moving along at a slower pace this time out. There was a lot more dialogue, but in this case it was necessary to move the plot forward. It's not like Keatinge was wasting double page spreads on breakfast table conversations or anything, so I'm still in. 

I am sad. I've read online that issue 9 will be the last issue for this series. I've waited a long time for a proper Morbius series, and all that I can say is that I've done my part by buying this series. Morbius has never had much luck in the sales department, although he did it make it through 33 mostly cringe-worthy issues in the '90s (1-12 or so were pretty good; it was really the later issues that were abysmal). Oh well. I'll be double dipping and buying the trade paperback of this series, A Man Called Morbius, when it is released later this year.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4 out of 5. 

John Carptenter's Asylum #1 (Storm King, 2013- no cover date, released on May 29, 2013)

Writer: Bruce Jones

Artists: Leonardo Manco

Colorist: Kinsun Loh

The gist: Detective Jack Duran is on a seemingly routine call when he crosses paths with wayward priest Daniel Beckett and what may or may not be Satan himself, or one of his minions at the very least. We have demonic possession and murder for a first act. I'm in for the second act.

Everything about this series is first class. The writing, the artwork, the coloring. I am shocked to say that I even enjoyed Janice Chiang's lettering, as her '90s work was horrible. Here, everything is crisp and clean. Cripes, even the paper is great. 

Leonardo Manco is so underrated as an artist. I “discovered” him on Radical's criminally neglected Driver For The Dead, and I fail to understand why we don't see more of his work. My only guess is that it takes him a long time to draw like this. Writer Bruce Jones is an industry veteran, writing the infamous Jenifer for Creepy (with artwork by Bernie Wrightson).

I would recommend picking up the single issues of this series, as there is no guarantee of a trade paperback release with small press publishers like this. I hope that there is one down the road, though; I'd buy it.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.