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Supe-De-Do!

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According to Google Translate: CREATIVE CREATIONS THAT MAKE HEAVY LEAVING THE JOKE KORMI ….
I have no idea what’s happening in Russia right now but between the image at the left, which is an ad for an artist named Boby, and their superhero team, The Guardians, which is the most batshit crazy thing I’ve ever seen, they are clearly hell bent on taking over the world. The Guardians is the most Soviet thing you’ll ever see. Right down to the machine gun wielding bear. Never let it be said I didn’t hip you to new and exciting shit. If Russia isn’t your bag, and I can certainly understand why that may be so, then click THIS LINK superhero movies in Japan and other fun films involving dinosaur riding Nazis from the moon. That last group is an American offering. Go figure. But, for the rest of you, I give you this. Here are the upcoming superhero related shows that will debut from now through 2018. Thanks to Movie Pilot for the list.

The Defenders

Release date: 08/18/2017
Showrunner: Marco Ramirez

Cast: The Defenders unites the stars of Marvel’s Netflix shows, including Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones, Mike Colter’s Luke Cage, and Finn Jones’s Iron Fist. The show will also feature Elodie Yung as the resurrected assassin Elektra, and introduce us to Sigourney Weaver’s mysterious villain, Alexandra.

Season: 1
Next up from Marvel Television, #TheDefenders is the hotly anticipated climax of all their Netflix shows to date. The eight-episode series will unite a ragtag band of heroes against the threat of the Hand — and a dark, dangerous figure that looms in the shadows…

The Tick

Release date: 08/25/2017
Showrunner: Ben Edlund

Cast: Peter Serafinowicz will take center-stage as the Tick, with Griffin Newman and Valorie Curry as Arthur and Dot Everest.

Season: 1
Amazon’s live version of #TheTick — which has gone from comic to cartoon to live-action superhero series — is set to debut on August 25th. An underdog accountant will discover a criminal conspiracy, and find himself teaming up with a strange superhero…

The Inhumans

Release date: 09/29/2017
Showrunner: Scott Buck

Cast: Starring Anson Mount as the silent Inhuman monarch Black Bolt, with Iwan Rheon as Maximus the Mad. We’ll also be seeing Serinda Swan as Medusa, Ken Leung as Karnak, Isabelle Cornish as Crystal, Eme Ikwuakor as Gorgon, Mike Moh as Triton, and Sonya Balmores as Auran. Ellen Woglom’s role is currently unknown.

Season: 1
Possibly Marvel’s most high-risk show to date, #Inhumans has been produced thanks to a ground-breaking deal between Marvel, ABC, and IMAX. The first two episodes will premiere on IMAX cinemas worldwide from September 1st, with the series airing from the 29th.

Krypton

Release date: Fall 2017
Showrunner: Damian Kindler

Cast: Krypton stars Cameron Cuffe as Seg-El and Georgina Campbell as Lyta Zod. Other major cast members include Ian McElhinney as Val-El, Elliot Cowan as Daron-Vex, and Ann Ogbomo as Alura Zod.

Season: 1
Hot on the heels of Gotham, #Krypton promises to be a unique sci-fi superhero show. It charts the desperate attempts to save the doomed world of Krypton — and we’ve been promised some surprise guest-stars. In an exciting twist, it seems Krypton is the only DCTV show to actually be set in the #DCEU!

Gotham

Release date: 09/21/2017
Showrunner: Bruno Heller

Cast: Gotham stars Ben McKenzie as Commissioner Gordon, with David Mazouz as the young Bruce Wayne and Camren Bicondova as Selena Kyle. Other key figures include Sean Pertwee’s Alfred, Robin Taylor’s Penguin, and Cory Michael Smith’s Riddler.

Season: 4
Darker and grittier than your standard DC fare, #Gotham is the story of Batman before he was Batman. By all accounts, Season 4 is going to be an important chapter in the life-story of David Mazouz’s young Bruce Wayne, as he takes some major steps on the road to becoming the Dark Knight.

Lucifer

Release date: 10/02/2017
Showrunner: Tom Kapinos

Cast: Lucifer stars Tom Ellis as the titular figure, with supporting cast including Lauren German as Chloe Decker and Lesley-Ann Brandt as Mazikeen.

Season: 3
#Lucifer is returning for a super-sized third season, with four episodes migrating into Season 3. Let’s face it, Lucifer adds a tremendous sense of range to the network superhero TV shows — it’s one of the few to dive deep into the idea of magic and mysticism!

The Gifted

Release date: 10/02/2017
Showrunner: Matt Nix

Cast: The Gifted focuses in on the Strucker family: Reed (Stephen Moyer), Caitlin (Amy Acker), Lauren (Natalie Alyn Lind), and Andy (Percy Hynes White). Confirmed X-Men include Blink (Jamie Chung), Polaris (Emma Dumont), and Thunderbird (Blair Redford).

Season: 1
The continuity of the #XMen universe is a thing of mystery, so we don’t yet know whether or not #TheGifted is actually part of the same universe as any of the films. Whatever the truth may be, though, Matt Nix’s show promises to dive straight into the heart of the mythos — in a world that hates and fears mutants.

Supergirl

Release date: 10/09/2017
Showrunner: Andrew Kreisberg, Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner

Cast: Melissa Benoist takes center-stage as Supergirl, with Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Mehcad Brooks as Jimmy Olsen, and David Harewood as the Martian Manhunter. We can expect to see more of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman, while Calista Flockhart is returning as a series regular for Season 3.

Season: 3
Nobody was surprised to hear that #Supergirl had been renewed for a third season: it’s one of the most successful superhero TV shows around! Melissa Benoist has captured our hearts as the Girl of Steel, even if the close of Season 2 has given poor Kara Danvers yet another dose of tragedy. Where will the show go from here?

The Flash

Release date: 10/10/2017
Showrunner: Greg Berlanti

Cast: Grant Gustin plays the scarlet speedster, with supporting cast including Danielle Panabaker’s Killer Frost, Candice Patton’s Iris, Jesse L. Martin’s Joe West, and Carlos Valdes’s Sisco.

Season: 4
Season 3 of #TheFlash ended with a bang and with an unexpected departure, leaving Team Flash in quite a predicament. By all accounts we’re about to see the Scarlet Speedster enter a season with a villain who isn’t a fellow speedster; comic book villain Devoe, a.k.a. The Thinker, was teased throughout The Flash Season 3, so expect at least a passing appearance from him.

Legends Of Tomorrow

Release date: 10/10/2017
Showrunner: Phil Klemmer

Cast: With hints that the cast is about to change significantly — we’ll have to wait and see!

Season: 3
After a tremendous Season 2 finale, what’s next for #LegendsOfTomorrow? Unlike the rest of the #Arrowverse, this is one show that doesn’t mind killing characters off (although, given the concept of time-travel, that doesn’t rule out their returns). Showrunner Phil Klemmer has been teasing that we can expect the team to change shape in Season 3, and the only thing that has to remain is the Waverider. Season 3 is due to air an hour later, showing immediately after The Flash, so it’s going to be interesting to see if it gets a little darker.

Arrow

Release date: 10/12/2017
Showrunner: Marc Guggenheim

Cast: Arrow stars Stephen Arnell as Green Arrow, with recurring cast including Emily Bett Rickards’s Felicity, Colton Haynes’s Roy Harper, and John Barrowman’s Malcolm Merlyn.

Season: 6
Although every year is the beginning of a new story for the flagship #DCTV series #Arrow, that’s especially the case for Season 6. After all, the five years of island flashbacks have come to an end, meaning the show has to take a slightly different approach. With the show moving to a later time slot, will it get even darker?

The Punisher

Showrunner: Steve Lightfoot

Cast: The Punisher sees Jon Bernthal reprise his famous role, while Deborah Ann Woll returns as Karen Page. It’s also set to introduce us to Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Micro.

Season: 1
Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as the widely acclaimed #Punisher, and he’s sure to cut a bloody swathe through the Marvel Universe’s criminal underworld! One of the show’s directors recently let slip that it’s due to stream in November.

Runaways

Release date: 11/21/2017
Showrunners: Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage

Cast: Boasting a massive cast, the heroes are Rhenzy Feliz (Alex Wilder), Lyrica Okano (Nico Minoru), Virginia Gardner (Karolina Dean), Ariela Barer (Gert Yorkes), Gregg Sulkin (Chase Stein), and Allegra Acosta (Molly Hayes).

Season: 1
How many kids have thought their parents were evil? Brian K. Vaughan’s dearly-loved #Runaways told the tale of a group of teenagers who learned that their parents were actually super-villains — and it only got more dramatic from there!

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Release date: 11/24/2017
Showrunners: Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen

Cast: Starring Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson and Chloe Bennet’s Quake, the cast is rounded out by Ming-Na Wen’s Agent May, Elizabeth Henstridge’s Simmons, Iain De Caestecker’s Fitz, Henry Simmons’s Mack, and Natalia Cordova-Buckley’s Yo-Yo.

Season: 5
#AgentsOfSHIELD has been renewed for a fifth season, and many fans fear this will be the end of the line for Coulson and his team. ABC President Channing Dungey recently revealed that the series will begin airing “right after” the 8-episode-long Inhumans, meaning we can expect the show to return on November 24th. It’s expected to air its 22-episode-season mostly uninterrupted, which means we’re likely to see an explosive tie-in with Avengers: Infinity War — not least because Season 4 closed with a tease that the show is heading to space!

Black Lightning

Release date: Fall 2017
Showrunner: Greg Berlanti

Cast: Starring Cress Williams as the main man, the show also features China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams as Black Lightning’s daughters and Christine Adams as his ex-wife.

Season: 1
Recently receiving a full series order, The CW’s #BlackLightning is believed to stand apart from the Arrowverse. A first trailer promises a superhero show that’s a lot grittier than the standard CW fare, so we’re eagerly awaiting further details!

Legion

Release date: February 2018
Showrunner: Noah Hawley

Cast: Expect familiar faces, including Dan Stevens’s David Haller, Rachel Keller’s Syd, Jean Smart’s Melanie Bird, Katie Aselton’s Amy Haller, and — of course — Aubrey Plaza’s sinister Shadow King.

Season: 2
The first season was head-spinning and trippy in the extreme, but we’ve now learned what to expect from Noah Hawley’s #Legion. Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with David imprisoned by a mysterious force, and the Shadow King loose once again. One thing’s for sure with Legion, though; you won’t ever be able to predict which direction this show will take.

Cloak and Dagger

Release date: 2018
Showrunner: Joe Pokaski

Cast: Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph star in this intriguing new show.

Season: 1
One of Marvel’s more surprising new shows, #CloakAndDagger is clearly being geared up as one of Freeform’s flagship shows. It promises to blend superhero action with teenage angst in all the best ways!

Daredevil

Release date: 2018
Showrunner: Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez

Cast: Charlie Cox returns as Daredevil, and we can expect Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page and Elden Henson as Foggy.

Season: 3
The flagship of Marvel’s Netflix shows, #Daredevil Season 3 was teased at last year’s SDCC — but won’t arrive until next year. It’s going to be interesting to see how The Defenders changes Matt Murdock’s status quo.

Jessica Jones

Release date: 2018
Showrunner: Melissa Rosenberg

Cast: Expect Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones and Rachael Taylor’s Patsy Walker to return, while there are good odds Wil Traval’s Nuke will play a major role.

Season: 2
The first season of #JessicaJones was a dark, brooding psychological drama. Now that Kilgrave’s out of the way, though, the show’s going to have to adapt as Jessica Jones faces a new threat — and works to solve the mystery of her own powers.

Luke Cage

Release date: 2018
Showrunner: Cheo Hodari Coker

Cast: Mike Colter’s Luke Cage returns, but we really don’t know much about the series’ secondary characters to date.

Season: 2
Rounding out next year’s Marvel Netflix shows, #LukeCage will see Mike Colter reprise his role as the hero of Harlem. As the timeline of the Marvel Netflix shows relentlessly advances nearer to the events of Captain America: Civil War, though, Luke Cage’s superhero life is surely about to get a lot more complicated!

New Warriors

Release date: 2018

Showrunner: Unknown, but there are strong rumors Kevin Biegel is near a deal to sign up as showrunner

Cast: Unknown

Season: 1
Mixing up the Marvel range all the more, #NewWarriors promises to be a teenage comedy about a young group of wannabe heroes. In a move that indicates the youthful target demographic, Marvel has blended the original comic book concept with the unbeatable Squirrel Girl!

Titans

Release date: 2018
Showrunner: Greg Berlanti

Cast: Brenton Thwaites as Dick Grayson a/k/a Robin a/k/a Nightwing, Anna Diop as Starfire and Teagan Croft as Raven

Season: 1
Launching DC’s OTT range, #Titans promises to bring the fan-favorites to life! We don’t yet know much about the project, so keep your eyes peeled for details…

Iron Fist

Release date: Unknown (possibly 2018)
Showrunner: Raven Metzner

Cast: Finn Jones is reprising the starring role of Iron Fist, joined by Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing and Simone Missick’s Misty Knight

Season: 2
#IronFist Season 1 may have been panned by the critics, but it was a ratings success. As a result, at #SDCC2017 Marvel announced a second season, but switching things up by replacing showrunner Scott Buck with Raven Metzner, a martial-arts fan who’s best known for Sleepy Hollow. Filming is due to start later this year, raising the intriguing possibility that we may get four Marvel Netflix shows next year!


Listen to Bill McCormick on WBIG (FOX! Sports) every Friday around 9:10 AM.
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Stuff We’re Paying Attention To

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Here’s looking at you kid.
Researching, and then writing, every article up here is a time consuming process. Not only do we verify the links we post here, we ensure that any links contained in the original articles we cite also lead readers to credible sources and not just some blog run by an intellectually challenged penguin. additionally, we answer all emails from readers and people who listen to my weekly guest shot on The Big Wake Up Call. Follow that up with the fact that I’m a professional sci-fi writer, and you can see how time could get a little crunched. And yet we persist. Not for any grand mission but because it’s fun. And part of that fun is finding new creators to share with you. And you. And, of course, you. We could never forget you.

But not you. You’re creepy.

Everyone else is welcome to continue reading.

The first thing you want to check out is The Spatial Shard by G. Russell Gaynor. It’s the prelude to the Edgeworld Series and it’s a rocking good read. Starting with a prison break, where readers have no clue who the good or bad guys are, or even what species, the book essentially starts in the middle of the story and then works its way back from there. It’s a fun technique and a great way to introduce readers to this universe.

The best thing about The Spatial Shard is that it, unlike many contemporary YA books, doesn’t talk down to its readers. It may not delve into the science behind its worlds but neither does it avoid some harsh truths characters are forced to face. For example, Imogene Amanda Schultz a/k/a Genie, has to deal with a mom who keeps redefining what it means to be dead, all while trying to come to grips with the titular shard who has embedded itself in her brain. Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention her little brother being a border line ninja and a slew of really nasty people who want what’s inside her.

In the tried and true tradition of YA novels the book focuses on a group of kids who grow, and learn, together. That is about the only traditional thing about it. The multi-verse it explores is fascinating. The ramifications of it are a great prelude for what’s to come in future books. And, best of all, the villains operate in gradations of gray. There may be hope for them yet. Or not. We’ll all just have to keep reading to find out.

Click the link above to get your copy and join Genie and her friends on their exciting journey.

Next on your list should be Super Ready Battle Armor by Bradley Adan & Michael Milham. This comic book series is a fascinating mix of old and new. The art hearkens back to the glory days of Love and Rockets while the story telling weaves between surrealism based messianic and urban angst.

The book starts out by introducing us to a neat dude named Infector, Fector to his friends, and a bizarre scientist named Professor Insanus. Infector has the ability to see how much life people have left. Later, after a brutal fight leaves his best friend, B. A., dead in an alley we are introduced to other abilities he has. I won’t give away the ending but Fector is forced to make some life changing choices on his own behalf and on the unwilling behalf of others.

Super Ready Battle Armor is a pleasant surprise all around. The characters are well written and interesting and the art is engaging and edgy. Click on the link above to make new friends and order your copy.

If you’re looking for even more, amazingly cool, indy stuff to make your world better, and all your neighbors jealous, just click here to check out other comics and novels we’ve reviewed.

We’ll delve back into science and stuff later. For now, check out these talented new creators and feel better about yourself.


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Your Holiday Shopping Guide

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Unwrapping locally sourced gifts has never been more fun.

I understand the allure of shopping at big box joints. You know what you’re getting, you know the price will be cheap, and you’re not all that concerned about quality. You also end up in long lines, have the exact same product everyone else has, and, when all is said and done, have purchased a thing that will have no meaning beyond the immediate gratification. Kind of like fast food, but with slightly more health benefits. Today I’d like to offer you an alternative to that. You won’t even need to get out of your Barca Lounger. You can support independent artists simply by having an internet connection. And, bonus, you’ll look smarter, and be cooler, than all your neighbors when you’re done.

This Might Hurt a Bit – Steve Silver
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Steve since before God lost his tennis shoes. Folks have been hectoring him to write his many stories out in a book and now he has. While, ostensibly, a book about being a bouncer, it is far more than that. He tells the story of what it was like growing up poor, living with a divorced mom when such a thing was still a scandal, and how he came through it all knowing how to knock your fucking teeth out or give you a hug, depending on the situation. Steve’s style is as raw as the stories. Absolutely worth your time.

Paintings by Graham Elvis
Besides being a founding member of, internationally renowned pop icons, The Elvis Brothers, Graham is also a visual artist worthy of your attention. Vibrant pop-scapes layered with meaning are a fine addition to any home.

Hybrid Zero by Cyril Brown
Called the “last web comic you’ll ever need,” Hybrid Zero is an eye popping blast into the future you always feared, but secretly hoped, could exist. Rude, raunchy, and beautiful, this is exactly the kind of artistic product the internet was built for.

Clarity Girl by Chris Thomasma
Yes, I wrote some of the stories attached to this comic book series, but those are a small part of the universe Chris is creating. Clarity Girl is a wonderful way to introduce younger readers to an exciting adventure built around diverse characters who love, and respect, each other. Plus, it’s got giant robots. What more could you ask for?

Apparel by Crixtopher Edwin Uregbu
Crixtopher is a young, South African, artist who has combined his talents with a keen, commercial, instinct. His work is both eye catching and meaningful. He is using the money he earns to put his way through college, just like that stripper your dad likes but for real this time, and manages to highlight social issues along the way without being preachy. You’ll be the best dressed person this holiday if you grab one of his shirts. and, I guarantee you, no one else will even try to out-cool you.

Out of the Wreck I Rise: A Literary Companion to Recovery – Neil Steinberg & Sara Bader
Addiction takes many forms and is often relegated to some dirty secret families are loathe to discuss. Steinberg, a popular columnist at the Chicago Sun Times, and Bader, creator of Quotenik.com and an editor for the Princeton Architectural Press, craft a book woven with stories and quotes from those who’ve been through it. Most notably Steinberg himself. If you, or someone you know, is working through recovery this book can help you on the journey with a combination of laughter, honest insights, and gut punching clarity.

Isle Squared Comics
This company, founded by Chuck Amadori, is dedicated to sexy, surreal, comics. I’ve reviewed Pale Dark, Bang Bang Lucita, Tether, and Empress and have only scratched the surface. With taut writing, and art that more resembles paintings than comics, there isn’t a bad issue here. If you like your titillation both visual and visceral, this is the place for you.

Art by Shay Jones
A popular, and widely sought, vocalist, Shay has also made a name for herself creating sculpted paintings and other works of art. Her personal creations tend to be expressions of her deep faith and are the kinds of things which make you feel better about being a human no matter your beliefs. She also accepts custom commission requests.

Delinquent Records
Goth and Glam never died. They just went to Alabama to spark an underground revolution. Delinquent has been pushing edges since 1986 and shows no signs of letting up. Pretty much any band with long hair and lipstick has made its way onto their roster at one point or another. With a deep catalog, and continuing new releases, they can satisfy all those urges you never knew you had.

Bloodshot Records
Home to a style of music where punk, country, soul, pop, bluegrass, blues and rock n roll mix and mingle and mutate (their words), Bloodshot has been the place to go if you’re looking for innovative music created by amazing musicians. Impress your friends, quash your enemies, and enjoy some of the coolest shit around.

EZYWRK Music Group
If you’re like me, although the odds are you aren’t, you’re tired of boring hip hop. The nice people at EZYWRK agree. I first discovered them a couple of years back when they began working with, Chicago’s very own, Kidd Bode, and have been stalking everything they do ever since. From hardcore rap to pop influenced hip hop, they bring a breath of fresh air to every release. If you want to be a fan of rap again click their link.

I’m not going to list individual bands since that would take years and I’d still end up missing someone. Instead the labels I’ve posted have deep, indy, roots and solid connections to Chicago’s music scene. You can’t go wrong by supporting them or any of the other creators I’ve listed above.

Oh well, as long as you’re still here, I may as well throw my hat into the ring. In 2015 I made the conscious decision to be more than a blogger, and occasional article dude, and delve, full time, into writing. Why not? I’d lost my job, my home, and pretty much everything else I could think of. It seemed like a good time to try something new. Obviously something old wasn’t working. So I jumped into the deep end and managed to stay afloat. Along the way I’ve managed to write everything from a children’s story to some of the most disturbing sci-fi around.

And there’s more on the way. Personal bonus? I found a girlfriend by impressing her with my throbbing brain. Much to my surprise life is pretty damn good. In other words, you can now wander over to Bill McSciFi, yes – that’s really the name of my site, and read short stories for free, buy other stuff I hope you’ll like, and get to know a little bit more about my literary side.

So there you go. A great way to support independent artists of all stripes without having to put on pants. If even that much effort is too much for you, just send me your credit card and I’ll take care of the rest.

I’m kidding. Don’t send me your fucking card. I’d just use it for stupid shit like food and you wouldn’t have the gifts you so sorely need.

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah Ya’ll!

Photo from the shoot that brought us Rudy Ray Moore’s This ain’t No White Christmas.


https://vimeo.com/33441787
Listen to Bill McCormick on WBIG (FOX! Sports) every Friday around 9:10 AM.
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Lucita, a Girl Who Go Bang Bang

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When the knives go Bang Bang you know you're having fun.
When the knives go Bang Bang you know you’re having fun.
These indy-comic reviews are really making me new friends. People seem to like being introduced to new artists and artists seem to like being introduced to new people. In other words, if you’re a comic creator looking for a review, feel free to email us. We make a simple deal with all authors. We will never post a bad review. If we don’t like it we’ll tell you, but that’s it. No one here at World News Center is into trying to ruin careers. Especially when those people tend to come back and become J.K. Rowling or someone like that.

Today we’re going to take a look at another Chuck Amadori release. Unlike his horror based stories of before this one is a, mature themed, action adventure piece set in the old west. Without further preamble, let’s just dive right in.

BANG BANG LUCITA
Issues 1 & 2 reviewed here.
Suggested “M” for Mature rating for brief nudity and some coarse language.

The heroine of the story is a cook named Lucita who is treated like dirt by a bigoted bar owner. He acts as though Mexicans and Native Americans are subhuman. He doesn’t appreciate her culinary or social skills.

The story begins with the arrival of President Ulysses S. Grant in the dusty town of Harrisburg, somewhere in the old west. He’s met by the bar owner whom he takes and immediate dislike to him. Grant is, accurately, portrayed a military man who has great respect for those he’s faced. He’s also portrayed as a man with all the skills of Rambo, much to the delight of the story.

The story begins with the kidnapping of Grant’s wife, Julia, who benefits from the comic tradition of making historical women beautiful. In real life she was a tad plain.

The kidnapping occurs at an official dinner honoring Grant’s arrival. The kidnappers are stone cold killers. Just when things look their darkest, Lucita comes to the rescue. It’s then we’re introduced to her catch phrase, BANG BANG, which she utters as she throws a knife through the skull of one of the kidnappers.

That’s just the intro.

As you might imagine this is an action packed adventure.

The art, by Edson Alves, is bold and clean. The colors, by Nimesh Morarji, pop off the page. The combination of their skills highlights the story perfectly. You get the feel of the old west being a real world place and not the romanticized, color washed, version as it’s normally portrayed.

Simply put, BANG BANG LUCITA, is a fun romp through historical fiction. You’ll like the story, fall in love with Lucita (who comes across like a sane version of an ex of mine whom she’s a dead ringer for), and never look at Ulysses S. Grant the same way again. This is definitely worth your time and money.

Bang Bang Lucita Creative Team:
Chuck Amadori – Writer/Letterer/Editor Twitter: @zarran67 & @PaleDarkComic
Edson Alves – Artist
Nimesh Morarji – Colorist Twitter: @nimeshmorarji

Series created by Chuck Amadori & Nimesh Morarji

Digital Copies
Print Copies

ISLE SQUARED COMICS
ISLE SQUARED COMICS is an Indie comic book imprint.

Current titles: PALE DARK, TETHER, PROTECTOR VIXI, SNAKE, XIBALBA, EMPRESS & BANG BANG LUCITA.


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The Lord is Thy Shepherd, Or Is It?

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The Shepherd: Apokatastasis
The Shepherd: Apokatastasis
These indy-comic reviews are really making me new friends. People seem to like being introduced to new artists and artists seem to like being introduced to new people. In other words, if you’re a comic creator looking for a review, feel free to email us. We make a simple deal with all authors. We will never post a bad review. If we don’t like it we’ll tell you, but that’s it. No one here at World News Center is into trying to ruin careers. Especially when those people tend to come back and become J.K. Rowling or someone like that.

Today’s review is a little something different. There is no way to review this story without reviewing the authors. Andrea Lorenzo Molinari is a theologian. As of this writing, his son, Roberto Xavier Molinari is an undergraduate majoring in physics. The plot is based on a nightmare Andrea had involving the death of his son. Yeah, “happy” is not a word I’m going to use here today. The book exists because said child badgered his poor father into memorializing it. The world of graphic novels is a better place due to that kid.

To gather a little better idea of what you’re getting into I’m going to start at the end, in the post-script which appears after issue number five. There, they explore, and explain via historical context, the concept of apokatastasis. It is a Greek noun, that part’s easy, but it’s also an underlying principle of various philosophies. That part’s hard. Essentially it means a complete restoration, a reconstitution, re-establishment and/or return.

So, we’ll start there. The protagonist of the book, Lawrence, opens the story by walking through a graveyard, hounded by a hellish wolf/dog, and explaining that he really hopes you like ghost stories. He has a good reason for that hope. He’s dead.

The story is told entirely through Lawrence’s eyes, usually in the first person, and, as a technique, it works surprisingly well. The graveyard I mentioned earlier is where his mortal remains have been laid to rest, if not his soul.

He walks the nether realm between the living and the dead looking for the soul of his son who died of an accidental overdose. That’s a simplistic rendition of a plot that encompasses death in its myriad forms; suicide, murder, natural, you name it. And Lawrence deals with, or simply deals, them all.

His trek takes him to meet with his late father and to learn the powers of a shepherd’s staff amulet that he wields on his quest for revenge against those who caused his son’s death.

Like all good Greek epics, The Shepherd: Apokatastasis is a story of discovery. Each adventure teaches the protagonist, and those who are in his tight circle of associates and family, a new lesson at every turn until they come, collectively, to the final revelation.

That last word is used purposely for, like St. John the Divine, Lawrence has seen things he can never unsee and which have an immediate effect on the real world. Even his fate, as an inter-dimensional prisoner, echoes the fate of St. John.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot here but, suffice it to say, it brings a theologians’ perspective, and the heart of an adventurer, to a story that could have been ponderous. Instead it moves briskly along weaving traditional comic tropes with quotes from Gregory of Nyssa to Virgil’s The Aeneid, with a shout out to Shakespeare in the intro, in a manner that keeps the reader engaged, enlightened, and entertained, without coming across as pretentious. Or requiring the reader to have a masters degree in theology.

The art, by Ryan Showers (pencils/ inks) & Heather Breckel (colorist), is detailed and clean in the scenes where Lawrence is alive and washed and haunting over the rest of the book. Each choice gives the book a more realistic feel than you might expect from a ghost story.

Overall, The Shepherd: Apokatastasis, is an excellent read which, like the time I saw AI and ended up in a movie lobby arguing the nature of a soul with a priest, will have you talking to your friends about something more meaningful than sports.

Yes, there truly are such wonders. And the first step to discovering them may be when you read The Shepherd: Apokatastasis.

CREATIVE TEAM for The Shepherd: Apokatastasis
Andrea Lorenzo Molinari is co-writer and co-creator.
Roberto Xavier Molinari (writer/ creator)
Ryan Showers (pencils/ inks)
Heather Breckel (colorist)
Jacob Bascle (letters and logo design)

NOTE: The COLORS for the COVERS for Issues 4 and 5 were done by Mike Stefan.

Creative direction, and art production services, for The Shepherd: Apokatastasis were provided by Jason Dube and Scattered Comics Studios of Sacramento, CA.

Purchase The Shepherd: Apokatastasis

You Local Comic Book Shop: Diamond Previews (the Item Code is NOV151223)

Caliber Comics Online

Amazon (Issues 1-5)

Comixology (digital; pdf of Issues 1-5 and collected edition)

DriveThruComics (digital; pdf of Issues 1-5 and collected edition)

Google Play (digital; pdf of Issues 1-5 and collected edition)

The Shepherd: Apokatastasis Cool Merchandise


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