Guarding the Globe, Volume 1: Under Siege
Written by Robert Kirkman & Benito Cereno
Pencils by Ransom Getty & Kris Anka
Inks by Ransom Getty, Cliff Rathburn, Jonathan Glapion, Russell Jackson, and Kris Anka
Colors by Thomas Mason, Ron Riley, Rex Stabbs and FCO Plascencia
Letters by Russ Wooton
Editor: Sina Grace
Cover by Todd Nauck & John Raunch
Image Comics
Release Date: August 29, 2012
Cover Price: $16.99

Guarding the Globe, Volume 1 is an interesting comic. I didn’t have anything invested in the characters or the book itself, but I was pleasantly surprised. But, not as much as I’d wanted to be.

Writers Robert Kirkman and Benito Cereno sure know how to write a giant, sprawling superhero team vs super villain team epic, earth shattering story. I just wish I cared a little bit more. And I wish it wasn’t so cluttered. My first problem was that I barely knew any of the characters in the book, which, I’ll admit, was my fault. I’m not a huge fan of the Image Comics’ superhero universe, so almost all of these characters were foreign to me. That being said, I wish they would’ve spent a little more time introducing the characters…because there are a TON of characters in this book. It boils down to a double-page spread with each character getting a “This is…Kaboomerang!”

The Waling Dead #97
Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
Image Comics
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

The Walking Dead #97 is the first issue in the highly anticipated “Something To Fear” story arc, which was announced back in February. Death and destruction are coming for Rick and the survivors and writer Robert Kirkman has made it clear that this time, there is a lot to lose. For several issues now, Kirkman has been building to this moment through a series of brash decisions made by his protagonists. The coming storm is the result of those decisions and to quote Wyatt Earp, “You called down the thunder, well now you’ve got it.”

When people speak about The Walking Dead, inevitably someone will bring up the point that “it is not really about zombies.” There is definitely some truth to that statement, especially in light of the comic’s current events. Issue after issue, Rick and his gang have become increasingly desperate. It is obvious that after all the loss and death, that there would be a breaking point for the survivors. In the past few issues Kirkman has depicted this despair as Rick’s veiled grasp at optimism. With food running low and winter coming the survivors have been backed into a corner. As it is with most threatened animals, instead of finding a way to escape, they simply attack.

The Walking Dead #95
Written by Robert Kirkman
Pencils, Inks and Cover by Charlie Adlard
Gray Tones by Cliff Rathburn
Image Comics
Release Date: March 28, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

When Rick and his gang of survivors first found a secure and safe community, Robert Kirkman began to construct an illusion of safety. For a while, it seemed as if The Walking Dead was going to end on a good note, Rick felt safe, Carl was healthy and most of the survivors were as content as one could be during the apocalypse. However, as soon as things seemed at harmony, Kirkman began pulling loose the threads that constructed the very same sense of amity. The Walking Dead #95 is the culmination of the slow unraveling that has been occurring since the survivors stumbled upon their new community. This issue finally shreds all hope for survival and introduces us to a brand new hell.

Super Dinosaur #9
Written by Robert Kirkman
Pencils & Colors by Jason Howard
Inks by Cliff Rathburn
Letters by Rus Wooton
Image Comics
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Cover Price: $2.99

There’s a lot missing from Super Dinosaur #9. Like the Super Dinosaur theme song. Super Dinosaur toys. Super Dinosaur t-shirts. Super Dinosaur breakfast cereal. Super Dinosaur the 3-D ride. Super Dinosaur Underoos and of course, Super Dinosaur: The Flame Thrower. But, for the comic itself — it’s pretty much all there.

Robert Kirkman writes a great issue of a licensed property comic that never was a licensed property. Yes, this book is aimed at kids, but for someone like myself, and any reader who’s over the age of about 16, it reads like that comic you picked up when you were a kid. GI Joe, Masters of the Universe, Visionaries, Transformers, Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whatever it was that we watched on TV or played with in the yard and then that one day we discovered that there was a comic book to go with it!! And we ate that comic up with a spoon!!! That’s the same feeling I got when reading this comic.