411’s Comic Reviews: Batman and the Outsiders #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Boba Fett #1 More

Hello and welcome to 411mania’s weekly Comic Book Review! Each week we’ll be serving up a warm dish of reviews (and previews) from Marvel, DC, and anything else that captures our interest. What did you pick up this week? Let us know in the comments.Want to write a review? If you can write at least one review a week, consistently, email me at [email protected]!

Mary Shelley, Monster Hunter #2

Preview by Steve Gustafson

Mary discovers not only that their mysterious host is a surgeon intent on reanimating the dead, but also that she’s a woman. Banished from a career in medicine because of her sex, Dr. Victoria Frankenstein has decided to create a manservant devoted to her success in a misogynistic world. The only thing she needs is a partner. Mary quickly sees the potential to carry on her late mother’s feminist work, but agreeing would mean betraying her closest companions, and becoming an accomplice to murder…

Brought to life by Adam Glass (ROUGH RIDERS, THE LOLLIPOP KIDS, Teen Titans) and Olivia Briggs (TV’s The Arrangement) with art by Hayden Sherman (COLD WAR, The Few, Wasted Space), Mary Shelley, Monster Hunter is historical fiction at its most
(After)shocking!

Once & Future #1

Preview by Steve Gustafson

BOOM! Studios revealed a first look at ONCE & FUTURE #1, an extra-sized issue kicking off an all-new limited series from New York Times bestselling writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Star Wars) and Russ Manning Award-winning artist Dan Mora (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Klaus), introducing retired monster hunter Bridgette McGuire and her unsuspecting grandson Duncan as they prepare for battle against a rising evil that plans to take over the country to bring it back to its former glory.

Duncan McGuire is having a terrible day and a terrible date when his grandmother’s retirement home calls with an emergency. Little does he know, the emergency is actually the emergence of a villain from Arthurian legend, being summoned back from the dead by a group of Nationalists to serve their cause. And the only person who knows how to stop them is . . . his grandmother, Bridgette McGuire, ex-monster hunter and lifelong badass. Duncan is soon swept up into a world of magic and myth as he comes face-to-face with the legends from England’s past and his own complicated family history, as he and his gran fight for their country’s future.

ONCE & FUTURE is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including Faithless by Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet; Abbott from Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä; Bury The Lede from Gaby Dunn and Claire Roe; Grass Kings from Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins; and Klaus from Grant Morrison and Dan Mora. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties including Joss Whedon’s Firefly from Greg Pak and Dan McDaid; Buffy The Vampire Slayer from Jordie Bellaire and David Lopez; Angel from Bryan Edward Hill and Gleb Melnikov; and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Ryan Parrott and Danielle Di Nicuolo.

Napoleon Dynamite #1

Preview by Steve Gustafson

Get ready for something more delicious than a pocketful of tots: the breaking news that IDW Publishing will be bringing Napoleon Dynamite, the beloved cult classic, to comic books in September!

Written by the sibling team of Carlos Guzman-Verdugo and Alejandro Verdugo (of the outrageous indie sensation Time Cheetah), with art by Jorge Monlongo (Adventure Time), the new four-issue Napoleon Dynamite series takes us back to Idaho, where Napoleon’s best friend Pedro is student body president. But the good times might not last when a fellow student accuses Pedro of cheating in the election. Can Napoleon and Deb use their special skills to clear their friend before the principal can “Impeach Pedro”?

“Napoleon Dynamite is a pop-culture staple, a coming-of-age cult classic that spoke to the weirdo in all of us,” says Alejandro Verdugo. “It’s an honor to have the chance to expand on the lives of Napoleon, Deb, and Pedro — characters that continue to resonate to this day. I still see people wearing ‘Vote for Pedro’ t-shirts!”

“With this new story, we’re focusing on matching the movie’s unique tone, finding that perfect blend of oddball comedy and charming slice-of-life drama. It’s certainly been a challenge but one we’re sure will pay off for long-time fans. And the best part: we get to rewatch a lot of Napoleon Dynamite!” says Carlos Guzman-Verdugo.

Editor Tom Waltz says, “Fifteen years ago, an unsuspecting world was introduced to the bizarre cinematic world of Napoleon Dynamite… and it was flippin’ sweet! And now we have the freakin’ awesome opportunity to show off our really good comic-book-making skills with a tale that picks up right where Napoleon and his friends left off. It’s almost like we borrowed Uncle Rico’s mail-order time machine… and it actually worked this time!”

Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Boba Fett #1

Review by Steve Gustafson

Has there been any character in history who has done less to earn their cool image and popularity? Of course there has but Boba Fett works best on a “less is more” basis.

I grabbed Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Boba Fett #1 because I’m a sucker for cool cover imagery. Everyone knows Fett and knows his reputation. He’s cool because he looks cool. It’s that simple. Plus, he’s one of only a few who could talk back to Darth Vader and not get the force choke.

I wasn’t expecting much from the issue and was surprised at how much it over-delivered. It uses the “less is more” principle and doesn’t try to get cute with Fett. They set up a nice western vibe and play to Boba’s strengths.

A simple story with great art. That’s perfect for Boba Fett. Greg Pak, Marc Laming and Neeraj Menon get it right and make this an easy one to recommend.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Batman and the Outsiders #1

Review by John Pumpernickel

To say I was excited for this issue would be an understatement. So much so that I didn’t even flip through the issue, just grabbed, paid, and read.

I wish I had flipped through the issue because I might have reconsidered grabbing this one.

Batman and the Outsiders #1 has an excellent premise and huge potential but this issue missed the mark. Writer Bryan Hill and artist Dexter Soy are certainly up to the task but never quite grab the reader with any sense of urgency or set up.

Yes, I know I’m judging this against my expectations and I’ll be coming back next issue to see how/if they build on what they gave us here. Which was minimal.

A first issue sets us up, introduces the important characters, and gives us a reason to care. I was looking for more reason to care outside my history with these characters.

An OK issue that could have been awesome with a couple of tweaks.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10

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