Three #3
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Ryan Kelly
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered by Clayton Cowles
Cover by Ryan Kelly and Jordie Bellaire
Image Comics
Release Date: December 11, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

In Three #3, events quickly begin to take shape. Three slaves are on the run; 300 from a failing nation are on the hunt; and an outcast seeks revenge. Writer Kieron Gillen, illustrator Ryan Kelly, and colorist Jordie Bellaire return with a new installment of this action-induced, ancient political thriller.

Helot slaves Klaros, Damar, and Terpander are on the run after their fatal encounter with a Spartan Ephor and his military envoy. Wondering whom Klaros really is – considering his excellent fighting skills and tracking knowledge – Damar and Terpander see it in their best interest to continue following his lead. On their trail is Spartan King Kleomenes II who begrudgingly leads an expedition of 300 Spartan soldiers. Meanwhile, sent back to Sparta for his cowardly act of running from the slaughter, Arimnestos is furious with his new-found title of “Trembler” and acts quickly and alone to restore his good name.

Quantum and Woody #5
Written by James Asmus
Illustrated by Ming Doyle
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered by Dave Lanphear
Covers by Andrew Robinson, Lee Garbett, David Lopez, and Mike McKone
Valiant Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

James Asmus continues writing duties for Quantum and Woody #5 along with illustrator Ming Doyle and colorist Jordie Bellaire. Fresh off their first adventure, the two misfit brothers who’ve accidentally gained super powers are taking on life together — and this time they’ve brought a pet goat along for the ride!

Upon realizing that the bracelets Eric (secretly the superhero named Quantum) and Woody both wear force them to rejuvenate their powers every 24 hours or else they’ll perish, the brothers put aside their differences and move in together. Unfortunately for Eric, Woody — acting like an immature child as always — invites a beautiful clone of the evil scientist who killed their father to live with them. The two men soon begin to grasp the notion that having powers is quite the adjustment. Meanwhile, there are blatantly evil happenings going on all over the city and someone very close to Eric wishes to take advantage of his new found abilities.

Numbercruncher #1
Written by Si Spurrier
Art by PJ Holden
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Covers by Simon Parr
Titan Comics
Release Date: July 17, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Numbercruncher #1 is an extremely well-written comic. The writing flows well, and reads better than most other comics I have read. The story is a little boring, more so because it seems more like a prologue than its own story.

The main character, Bastard Zane, hates it in the afterlife. He works for the karmic accountancy. The afterlife is all about numbers, and the Divine Calculator, Zane’s boss, keeps it running smoothly. This is done by maintaining the smooth running of a “re-circulation” of souls, reincarnation.

Tom Strong And The Planet Of Peril #1
Written by Peter Hogan
Pencils by Chris Sprouse
Inks by Karl Story
Color by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Todd Klein
Cover by Chris Sprouse and Karl Story
Vertigo Comics
Release Date: July 31, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Initially, I was astounded that this character was being produced by Vertigo Comics, renowned for it’s darker and more edgy comics. I was curious if the title character was going to be drastically changed from the earlier incarnations. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that most everything in Tom Strong And The Planet Of Peril #1 was the same as it was before. I was even more excited to see that this series picked up shortly after the last one ended.

I’ve not read everything Tom Strong has been in but I’m quite familiar with the hero. I’ve always felt he was akin to one of my favorite pulp heroes, Doc Savage. Much like the Man of Bronze, Tom has a certain aura about him that immediately commands respect and compliance. Both possess genius level intellects and are formidable physical specimens, as well. But unlike Savage, Tom Strong is a bit more than the perfect human, he’s a lot closer to a superhuman. First and foremost, he’s over a hundred years old and barely looks middle-aged. Other abilities include strength beyond that of a mortal and a constitution that rivals that of a demigod.All in all, he’s the epitome of a pulp action hero, even though he was created in 1999.

Womanthology: Space
Written by Bonnie Burton, Sandy King Carpenter, Alison Ross and Stephanie Hans, Ming Doyle, Stacie Ponder, Blair Butler, Joelle Sellner, Ellise Heiskell, Robin Furth, Rachel Edidin, Jennifer de Guzman, Jody Houser, Devin Grayson, Christine Ellis, Barbara Randall Kesel, Allison Pang, Laura Morley, Cecil Castellucci, and Kiala Kazebee

Illustrated by Jessica Hickman, Tanja Wooten, Stephanie Hans, Jordie Bellaire, Stacie Ponder, Alicia Fernandez, Jean Kang, Maarta Laiho, Carli Idhe, Sophia Foster-Dimino, Leigh Dragoon, Sally Thompson and Kathryn Layno, Lindsay Walker, Elva Wang, Diana Nock, Chrissie Zullo, Sara Richard, Kel McDonald, and Isabelle Melancon

Colored by Jordie Bellaire and Ronda Pattison

Lettered by Rachel Deering, Robbie Robbins, Amauri Osorio, and Isabelle Melancon

Cover by Renae DeLiz
Series Edited by Mariah Huehner
Collection Edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $24.99

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that women receive enough of the limelight within the comic book industry; thankfully, artist Renae DeLiz (The Last Unicorn) came up with a fantastic way to showcase a variety of fantastic female talent and IDW jumped on board. Womanthology: Space is the collected addition of the first five issues of the monthly ongoing series of the same name. Building off of the success of DeLiz’s first venture with the graphic novel Womanthology: Heroic, Womanthology: Space is an amalgamation of short comics with the overarching theme of “space” created solely by established and up-and-coming female creators. Check out my impressions of some of the best and worst that this anthology has to offer!