Hexagon comics:The End of the Partisans

 

 

7x10 squarebound trade paperback,

88 p.

b&w

ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-491-7; US$15.95

 

Story by  Jean-Marc Lofficier; art & cover by Mario Guevara

1945. World War II is over, but a new, even more terrible conflict is about to erupt.

From San Francisco to Borneo, via London, Paris, Senegal, the Caucasus, and Iraq, the Partisans are forced to return to service, risking their lives to thwart the designs of the mysterious Egyptian god Set...

Featuring Apollo, Baroud, Count Saint-Germain, Corsak, Dan Diamond, the Guardian of the Republic, the Senegalese Guard, Imhotep, the Black Lily, Red Feather, Sadko, Tanka, Wazilla, and Xiu Kappa!

Bonus: a 20-page portfolio gallery of all the Partisans by Mario Guevara.

Over the last 10 months I have not had a very good time and not lifted a pen to draw anything for months. I even put off wanting to review these books but I am glad I relented.

I love that cover. art and the text design works well with it. Guevara has a rather sketchy looking style combined with what looks like a wash of some kind. I may be wrong but who knows.  The one thing I will write is that I have always been a little 50-50 when it comes to Guevara's style but I think that with this book his work is the best I have seen to date. I loved it and it actually got me comic art interested again.

There is a little guide to Partisan members but then.... oh, then come the pin up pages. Gorgeous and I wish I had room on my walls as I'd definitely print these out as posters (maybe one day). The art actually reminds me, if you are old enough you will know what I mean, 1970s black and white comic magazines and I have fond memories of the ones from Atlas Seaboard!

As for the stories well, Lofficier does all the writing so it all flows well keeping characteristion good and the pacing of action well done. Having one person in overall charge of writing and planning out storylines helps -a bit like Roy Thomas used to do at Marvel. Lofficier seems to keep things fresh and he has a good selection of French Golden and Silver ages characters to select from.

That freshness in the story and the artwork is something a comic fan should be interested in and if I had to say "buy this one" to see what is going on at Hexagon this would be the one. It really is fun and action and we get to see the inception of an idea for something called C.L.A.S.H.

Check out the Hexagon site and if you want to buy a copy please consider buying from the company as it helps them.

Hexagon Comics: Ivan Karine, The Original Captain Ukraine

 

squarebound trade paperback, 

64 p. 

b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-462-7. US$12.95

https://www.hexagoncomics.com/shop-ivan-karine-the-original-captain-ukraine.html

IVAN KARINE, THE ORIGINAL CAPTAIN UKRAINE CLASSIC

 THE DEMONS OF AZOV

- YEGOR BORKINE

Art by Vincenzo Chiomenti

cover by Alfredo Macall

With this special issue, we commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the character of Ivan Karine, which first appeared in the pages of Rodeo No. 138 in February 1963, under the pen of the great Italian artist Vincenzo “Enzo” Chiomenti.

Those ignorant or gullible enough to believe the current Russian propaganda to the effect that Ukraine was merely an administrative division of Russia, and not a people in its own tight, with its own culture and tradition, should reflect upon the fact that 62 years ago, between drawing two western series, a great Italian artist felt sufficiently inspired by the great Ukrainian people to devote an entire series to the adventures of their heroes.

Ivan Karine takes place in 17th century Ukraine and Russia, two vast lands populated by Russians, Tartars, Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, Turks, Romani and Cossacks, all ruled by the Tsars. It is in this exotic setting that its hero, Kochevoy (Captain) Ivan Karine, a Zaporozhian Cossack, seeks to uphold justice and protect the proverbial widows and orphans. Ivan also operates as a secret agent for Tsar Peter the Great (1672-1725). Ably assisted by the gigantic Cossack Piotr Mironov, and the young and ingenious Pavlo Gavrile, he undertakes mission after mission, each one more dangerous than the last, in the service of good.

Now travel back in time to the turbulent 17th century and let’s enjoy the adventures of the first, the original Captain Ukraine

Someone told me they would not buy the Captain Ukraine comic because of the current "problems" in that region. I asked whether he had actually looked the book up online to see what it was about? He had not.  So I explained and even sent a couple of scanned pages to show him.

Folks, this a good old fashioned historical adventure comic and that should be enough. There's a nice cover and inside you can see  Macall's pencil illo it is based on -that is some fine pencil work.  Vincenzo Chiomenti's art is nicely done and is the kind of style you might find in British or some European comics of the silver age when black and white ruled supreme.

Chiomenti's stories are fun and full of action and some readers not familiar with European history might be surprised by the Tartars and Turks and their involvement in the region. Did I just make this sound like a dull history book??  It is not.  I love the big trap that opens up and sends the enemy into the moat. It's more a cross between the movie Taras Bulba and the TV serial The Flashing Blade (but without the groovy theme song).

Nice informative intro and a text feature on Chiomenti and, something I really like to see, a photo of the man himself.

Lovely fun read.

Please remember if you can order direct from Hexagon.

Cinebook: Yoko Tsuno 21 - The Celestial Boat

 

Author: Roger Leloup

Age: 12 years and up

Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm

Number of pages: 48 colour pages

£8.99 incl VAT

ISBN: 9781800441873

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/yoko-tsuno-celestial-boat-p-4603.html

Yoko and her adopted daughter Morning Dew are on their way to China when the man sitting next to them on the plane collapses. Right before, he tells them that ‘the Seventh Tooth of the Dragon hides a treasure’. 

After consulting a local historian, they learn that the Tooth is a mountain, and the ‘treasure’ is, in fact, the tomb of an emperor’s wife who died in the 11th century, at the age of six. A sad tale that will soon have Yoko and Dew travelling to the past once more!

When I got the first Yoko Tsuno book to review I wanted to get it out of the way. It was a"Kiddies book with a feamle character" and one that I thought not that worth bothering with. So quick review and move on.

I was wrong of course.

Space travel. Time travel -there is a whole universe of unique stories and characters. If you want to put it in simple terms Yoko gets up to the sort of thing Dr Who does!  Leloup's work is getting even better and the colours are so nice and easy on the eye.  Look at the cover. Not a single fault in the art that I can see and I really do think more people need to startknowing about Yoko Tsuno.

We have time travel; hang gliding -in the 11th century of course!-, ships colliding and the "fourth wife" not turning out to be quite who Yoko thought. If I write too muchit is going to give away the whole ending but I'll just say that this story is an example of a Consistency Paradox as we interested in Temporal Paradoxes call it. Buy the book. Read the story and you will see what I mean.

Just for kids? Well if I enjoyed it at my age then I'll just write "A comic book adventure for all ages" (that is not even a reference to time travel!).

Cinebook Ltd Lucky Luke Dakota 1880

 

Authors: Appollo and Brüno
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 64 colour pages
£11.99 incl VAT  

 ISBN: 9781800441927

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/lucky-luke-dakota-1880-p-4601.html

In this homage to the legendary Lonesome Cowboy, Appollo and Brüno, through seven short stories linked together in a single narrative, give us a glimpse of Lucky Luke’s life before he became the righter of wrongs we all know. 

As a mere employee of a stagecoach company, he embarks on a dangerous journey from Dakota to California during which he’ll meet several remarkable characters, several of whom will make it into the history books – and alter his life forever. edes him, and when the townspeople ask him to investigate a hold-up in place of the sheriff – none other than James Bone – the tension ratchets up another notch …  

I have no idea what "nd alter his life forever. edes him, " in the Cinebook site means!  Might be "His reputation precedes him"? It would make sense.

Now, if you are a fan of Lucky Luke then this book may come as a bit of a shock to you -if you read Wanted: Lucky Luke you might be prepared! 

https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2022/05/cinebook-wanted-lucky-luke.html

The art style is what can only be described as very European in style and that is not a bad thing. Lots of colour use to enhance scenes The art also relies a lot more on solid black than the more traditional Luke books do. 

When I opened the book first I thought "Oh bloody hell what have they done?" and put it back down. In fact, picking it up again two days later I quite enjoyed it. This is not the gag riddled Luke but a slightly more serious take on the character -at one point we see him having been "neck-tied" to a tree. The stories all build up a back story of Lukes life although I do wonder if old time fans will like this?  I suppose the easiest way of readsing this is to say the Luke in these stories are an alternative universe version.  For me I immediately switched off any connection with the more humorous Lucky Luke and read this as a grit-and-all Western.

The stories are all well written and paced and build up the character well. I kept seeing him as a young James Stewart!  Luke's interaction with indigenous people that looked like it was heading to  violence...you'll have to see. Nice twist.  The hanging, the teaching a young man to use a gun all works in well with traditional Western tropes and gave a fascinating read.

Talking of which: the text feature is an interview with Gustav Frankenbaum about the old dime novel Westerns and their connection to Lucky Luke.

All-in-all it was a good read and if you are a Luke fan give this a try as you may have heard the wrong things about this t6ake on the character.  Recommended and, PLEASE, order direct frokm Cinebook!

Cinebook: Billy and Buddy 10 -Walks on the Wild Side

 

Authors: By Christophe Cazenove, illustrated by Jean Bastide

Age: 8 years and up

Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm

Number of pages: 48 colour pages

£8.99 incl VAT

ISBN: 9781800441866

Cinebook order page https://www.cinebook.co.uk/billy-buddy-walks-wild-side-p-4600.html?osCsid=dludftu0igoqhq2vm3lln4ech5

 

Anyone who knows dogs knows this: walkies is a sacred moment. It’s communion with the master, exploration of the environment, exercise, socialising … There isn’t a pooch in the world who doesn’t go nuts at the sound of that leash being readied. But when the doggy in question is as cunning and mischievous as Buddy, the whole thing can turn into a complicated process for the master – if he’s even allowed to come along, that is!

April 2024 was the last Billy and Buddy I saw. Yep. vol. 9 and I have to admit over two years later it is hard to get enthusiastic. The art is nice and clean, colourful and at times can bring a smile to the face. Dog bath time...yep. Wash 'em down and watch as they find the nearest dirt patch to roll in. It's fun and the gags and story is noty over complicated but I know from past comments that this is a book "for children of all ages"!

And why not? We are in a (expletive word) grim world and if a comic or comic album can get you away from that for a few minutes then go for it. Adults didn't stop reading comics because they grew up but because they were told they were adults and comics were for children. 

I often think that I should have changed my art style and stayed in Europe.Oh, the lovely colour work is done by  Luc Perdriset and Jean Bastide. Buy it for the kids...or yourself!

Cinebook: Harry Dickson 3 -The Red-Eyed Vampire

 

Authors: Luana Vergari and Doug Headline, from a story by Jean Ray; illustrated by Onofrio Catacchio

Age: 12 years and up

Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm

Number of pages: 56 colour pages

£10.99 inc. VAT

ISBN: 9781800441880

Please consider buying direct from the publisher –it helps them survive!

https://www.cinebook.co.uk/harry-dickson-eyed-vampire-p-4602.html?osCsid=u2fncsc7lqqukd59gc321v1v06

 

Harry Dickson’s skills were instrumental in getting blood-thirsty killer ‘the Red-Eyed Vampire’ arrested. The detective is invited to the small German town where the murderer was from to witness his execution. However, he cannot help but wonder whether somebody else was controlling the ‘Vampire’ before abandoning him.

When an attempt is made to break into the condemned man’s cell the night before his death, Dickson knows that the investigation is not over yet …

Yes, it is the classic and very delightful “Detective solves the case and catches the murderer but…” plot.  Will Dickson find out what was going on and whether someone or…some thing was behind Ebenezer Krank controlling things? You will need to buy this book to find out and I will admit I spotted Sherlock Holmes in panel 1 page 5….IT WAS HIM!!!

Onofrio’s art is the sexiest four colour eye candy I have seen in a long time. The characters the scenes all work so well that, yes, I did go through it twice (liar –it was three times). And.. colour wise the work of Ooshima makes things even more incredible looking –I’m sure I’ve mentioned Ooshima’s work in a previous review?

Add the story into the mix (which would not have existed without the script based on an original story by Jean Ray)  and you have everything you need for a quiet night in reliving the era when you were no real detective unless you had a trench-coat, an assistant, smoked a pipe and had a concealed weapon (rightly it should be a Webley revolver but then again Americans insist that it should be a “snub-nosed 38” –so common).

Love it. I think I am inspired to watch Rathbone and Bruce’s Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Claw later!

We Are All Trump..... and we all have luxuriant hair

 

Ben R Dilworth

21pp

A4

Black and white (printers could not get a bright enough orange so,,,)

£10.00 UK (non UK countries prices are on the store front)

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/trump/paperback/product-gjz86me.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

He is the GREATEST President the United States has ever known!

He has made the United States Truly respected around the world!

He has created world peace!

The most beautiful women in the world WANT him!

He makes $2234,992,000per minute!

He lives in a golden palace that was formerly bland and white.

He is President Trump......

...uh, he's currently sleeping face down in a plate of classic American bacon and eggs.

Yes, Black Tower does do satirical cartoon stuff. Hey, if I sell a book anywhere I still have to pay US taxes. So I have a "voice". Well, in case of any legal ramifications or potential drone strikes  on the old Tower I have to give full credit to Ben Dilworth. He dunnit I am just an innocent publisher.

Prepare for what some have called "***** hilarious!"  (I am not talking about my or anyone else's hairline -we are talking....TRUMP! And you know....we are all Trump. Except me. Yay. Go me!