Polaris wants you to read comic books. Also a trailer for New 52 Red Hood and the Outlaws REDemption

Here is a funny little trailer I made with me as Polaris from X-men.

I also made a some what dramatic trailer for Red Hood and the Outcasts.

Enjoy :)

Batgirl - Volume 1: The darkest reflection (New 52)

Batgirl -  Volume 1: The darkest reflection (The New 52)
Simone, Gail (Author), Syaf, Ardian (Illustrator) Cifuentes, Vicente (Illustrator), Hughes, Adam (Illustrator)
Paperback, 144 pages    ISBN13: 9781401234751    
Published 2012 by DC Comics

“... just as Superman stands for unimpeachable hope and Batman for rigid justice, Batgirl stands for girls doing what the hell they want. ...she was a librarian, she rode a motorcycle decorated with chiffon ruffles...”  - Comic Alliance. Yes that is right everyones favourite batgirl, Barbara Gordon is finally back in DC Comics acclaimed The New 52 series.  Fan-favorite female author Gail Simone has reimagined Batgirl as a compelling relatable very human character complete with the doubts, fears and mental imperfections that occur in real life. 

Great for a first time comic book reader as this stunning adventure focuses on the tough but vulnerable character of Barbara Gordon in her role as Batgirl in her current conflicts and struggles without the need to get lost in a convoluted back story.

In this new adventure Batgirl has been freed of the boundaries of her wheelchair (by the miracle of modern medicine) and is back on the frontline of fighting crime in Gotham city, but this miraculous recovery is not without its downside, although she is physically fine and fighting villains she is struggling the PTSD from the violent attack in her past that left her paralysed.

Art by Ardian Syaf is highly detailed and realistic and refreshingly features depiction of a woman with a reasonable figure not super crazy waif like comic book women of the past.

Battle Angel Alita - Volume 01: Rusty Angel

Battle Angel Alita - Volume 01: Rusty Angel

Kishiro, Yukito (Creator, Author, Illustrator), Burke, Fred and Bell, Sterling and Thorn, Matt (Translation)

Paperback, 248 pages, ISBN13: 9781569310038

Published July 1995 by VIZ Media (first published September 1991)

This techno-punk manga style graphic novel follows the story of Alita, a cyborg who in the form of a young girl, while she tries to find her place in the world and also discover her past and where she came from.  It begins with a cybernetics doctor finding the head of a cyborg in a junk heap, and rebuilds the body. This becomes Alita. She soon discovers she has killer martial arts instincts and a physical aptitude for violence despite being a gentle caring soul, this leads her on a quest of self-discovery to find out where and why she was created.

Creator Yukito Kishiro makes you think about humanity, morality and what really is the difference machine without the story dragging and without sacrificing the gritty oppressive nature of the world. The art is all black and white but monumentally intricate with epic amounts of detail in world building and character creation. Giant cyborg warriors, to the face of human suffering are all expertly captured in Japanese manga style.

This well-paced expedition into the dystopian far future it grim at times but Alita is a thoroughly inspiring character reminding us all that even in the most desperate of times there is still hope while also featuring the compelling heroes’ journey about being afraid of one’s own nature. 

Captain Marvel - Voume 1: In Pursuit of Flight

Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight,
DeConnick, Kelly Sue (Author), Soy, Dexter (Illustrations) and Ríos, Emma (Illustrations)
Paperback, 136 pages, ISBN13: 9780785165491
Published January 1st 2013 by Marvel

The mightiest of Earth's heroes is back in this collection of the first 6 issues of the new incarnation of Captain Marvel. This time travel adventure follows the ace pilot Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel). This is the story of how she got her powers, changed her superhero name and is trying to fill the shoes of her fallen predecessor. In this action packed adventure Captain Marvel delves into a series of events in the past linked to the woman that inspired her military career.

Written by acclaimed female comic book author Kelly Sue DeConnick (responsible for comics such as Avengers and Pretty deadly), this graphic novel delivers girl power in the form of the tough and determined Carol Danvers and a cast of other kick ass women showcased in blazing battlefield action throughout history. This reimagining of the superheroine show cases bold and colourful artwork (some of which created by female comic artists Emma Ríos and Veronica Gandini.)

Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis

 

Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis

Kesel, Karl(Author), Dodson, Terry (Illustrations) and Badeaux, Brandon (Illustrations)
Paperback, 288 pages, ISBN13: 9781401245955
Published March 2014 by DC Comics

This flirty jaunt is the collection of HarleyQuinn (2000 series) #14-#25 where Harley (the Joker's former girlfriend) decides she has had enough of Gotham City and that it is time to spend a little quality time with the good citizens of Metropolis. With her best girl pal Poison Ivy in tow, the girls set out to wreak some havoc on the city the Man of Steel (Superman) calls home.

There is never a boring point in this action packed tale as you follow these two super villainesses in their mission to put down roots somewhere new. Fast paced action sequences showing off the superhuman powers of Ivy and amazing acrobatics of Harley paired with witty, snapping dialogue and hilarious one liners.

Dodson’s art is colourful and cute with a great amount of serious action vs kooky comic book funny moments. Badeaux art is more traditional western comic styles but suits the more intense tone of the landscapes in his section.

This book has a wacky assortment of adventure ingredients contained, from crazy love capers and fights with other flora based super women, to a trip down to hell and subsequent return as a ghost.

Harley and Ivy are sassy, confidant ladies who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble (possible as they are super villians) creating varied and often hilarious (sometimes sad/scary) adventures which are all set to the seemingly casual backdrop of ‘girls on an out of town adventure’ that their back and forth banter implies.

Red Hood and the Outlaws - Volume 1: REDemption (New 52)

Red Hood and the Outlaws - Volume 1 : REDemption
Lobdell, Scott(Author) and Rocafort, Kenneth(Illustrator)
Paperback , 160 pages, ISBN13: 9781401237127
Published November 2012 by DC Comics

Perhaps not the first graphic novel that would come to mind when thinking of strong female characters and not the most well known in pop culture is the Red Hood. Red Hood is the superhero persona chosen by Batman's former sidekick, Jason Todd and in this new adventure and new 52 reboot he is joined by failed hero Arsenal and the alien Starfire, who was a princess of Tamaraneans a prisoner of intergalactic war and is now on earth as her space ship has crashed here. Now these three ‘outlaws’ have decided to team up to save the world. The heroes are battling aliens, genetically modified monster, assassins and magic to try to stop an intergalactic war all while dealing with their own baggage and dealing with the of meshing these three strong personalities together.

Emotionally charged moments between Arsenal and Starfire, touching flashbacks between Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne, the way these are written and illustrated brings a new angle to these stories and fresh impact that connects these characters with the reader.

Kenneth Rocaforts art is colourful and dynamic, the story is moved along at a fast past with his sharp geometric patterning and flowing paneling. Even his use of colour and form in borders helps to give this compelling narrative momentum and depth.

Starfire is strong (powerful beyond belief alien princess!!) self confidant and seemingly 100% ok with herself emotionally, morally and physically. At times she seems cold and apathetic not associating emotional attachment with sexual activity (which results in her sleeping with some of the other characters) this puts her character firmly out of the field of ‘love struck team mate’ that so often occurs in comic books. 

A fast paced read with pulling the emotional punches without sacrificing the dynamic and extravagant fight scenes, crazy super powers included!

A NOTE ON STARFIRE

 In the new 52 reboot Starfire is drawn extremely sexy and with very liberal costumes. This has caused some controversy with readers saying that she is over sexualised and as far as calling her a ‘love bot’ or ‘real doll’ damaging female pride. I do not think this is the case and see the Starfire character as complex, powerful and compelling. One reviewer on Goodreads.com wrote -“..if you can't reconcile how it’s possible for a woman to be gorgeous, flaunt it, AND be a strongly compelling character with complexity then maybe the problem doesn't lie with how she's drawn...” 

Saga - Volume 1

 

Saga, Volume one

Vaughan, Brian K. (Author)and Staples, Fiona (Illustrator) 
Paperback, 160 pages, ISBN: 9781607066019    
Published in 2012 by Image (Berkeley, Calif.)

From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K Vaughan, (author of the hugely successful Y: The Last Man) comes this intensely personal story based in a sprawling stage of an inter-galactic war. This Sci-fi space opera come high fantasy epic follows the story of moth-winged Alana and ram-horned Marko; soldiers from opposite sides of a massive intergalactic war who simply want peace and anonymity to raise their daughter.

Lushly detailed illustrations deeply thought through character designs and immersive world building from veteran illustrator Fiona Staples will wow you while spacious layouts and accurate framing keep the focus on the personal element of the story despite the massive chaotic cosmos they exist within.

Together Vaughan and Staples have created a far-fetched fantasy world with a layer of gritty that makes this story entirely human and relatable yet, still highly alien and exciting.  The compelling and sometimes commonplace dialogue (including burping techniques) show Alana as a realistic new mother, juxtaposed with her wings and initial role as a solider come prison guard give you an impression of strength. Her witty dialogue paired with the image of Alana, baby on hip, revolver in hand cast her in a duplicitous light, of caring mother and wife but also as someone who is going to do what it take to survive.

 This duplicity of real life commonalities and far future marvels as well as the witty well timed dialogue efficiently mixed with some dramatic underlying themes  make Saga a must read.

Serenity - Volume 1: Those Left Behind

Serenity - Volume 1 : Those Left Behind 
Whedon, Joss(Author, Creator), Matthews, Brett(Author)and Conrad, Will(Illustrator)
Paperback, 96 pages, ISBN13: 9781593074494
Published January 24th 2006 by Dark Horse Books

The comic Serenity is based on the live action movie serenity which is based on the Tv show Firefly, sounds complicated I know but what it actually is..... is awesome. The show, move and the comic are written by Joss Whedon who is the creator of such cult classics as the Buffy the Vampire slayer and Angel TV series.  Serenity: Those Left Behind missing story that bridge the gap between the TV series “Firefly” and the movie “Serenity” however being familiar with the move/show is not a necessity to enjoy this comic romp into this western tinged, space pioneer type universe . 

This story follows the small freighter starship named “Serenity” and its crew always on the hunt for a mission that will earn them enough money to go off and live their life in peace. Serenity is crewed by a mish-mash of drifters and outsiders that come to form their own kind of family, from working class mercenaries to high class fugitives, the bonds that are formed by suffering , adventures and the clash of very different personalities is entertaining, realistic and emotionally involving. The crew and the interesting characters they get involved with are full of super strong women characters, from Zoe the solider and second in command on Serenity to River, the psychic teenager pilot of serenity the female characters are flawed, authentic and never in your face with the girl power.  

While this comic is full of humorous chemistry and witty dialogue, it also comments on the possible future of the world, making you think deeply about where we are headed as a species. The art is super realistic and captures the likeness of the movie actors and conveys their emotions nearly as accurately as the live action show its self.


Here is the trailer for the movie (the prequel to this comic but sequel to the TV show) Not confusing at all.....

 

Uzumaki - Vol 1: The Spiral

Uzumaki - Vol 1: Spiral into horror
Ito, Junji (Author, Illustration)and Oniki, Yuji (Translation)
Paperback, 208 pages       ISBN13: 9781569317143          
Published 2007 by Viz Signature 

Based in Kurôzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan follows the story of Kirie Goshima as she discovers that her town is infested by spirals which start to appear everywhere from clouds, pottery baking in a kiln, to whirlpools in creeks. This quickly becomes disturbing as the spirals start to appear on peoples bodies and inspire them to distort themselves. is slow paced with the emphasis on the growing threat of the madness spreading through the normally sleepy town.

While struggling to understand what is happening and figuring out how to survive the cosmic events unfolding Kirie is also dealing with a number of typical teenage problems ranging from jealous and bullying at school to communication problems with her withdrawn boyfriend Shuichi Saito. Strong, resourceful and determined, she is a nice change from some more stereotypical Japanese school girl characters found in manga.

The black and white illustrations are simple and anatomical for a manga but this works to its advantage displaying exceptional precision and beauty suspending disbelief, making what would normally be an outrageous premise seem terrifyingly realistic. 

This book is dark and strange but even if you don’t normally like horror, you will appreciate the vast amount of imaginative detail and grotesque beauty in Uzumaki.