Homecoming #1
Written by David Wohl and Scott Lobdell
Art by Emilio Laiso
Colors by Brett Smith and Stefani Rennee
Letters by Josh Reed
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August, 15, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Hunter Wilson is your typical American geeky high school student. He worries about getting good grades and getting a date for the big dance, plays lots of video games, and has a blonde attractive alien lady show up stark naked in his swimming pool. Wait, what?? I smell a premise. Thankfully, it is in an endearing one in the capable hands of writers David Wohl and Scott Lobdell who seem to really dig aliens and teenagers in the least creepy way possible.

To to set up Homecoming #1, readers are given a magazine article from ten years ago which explains that a mother and daughter went missing under unusual circumstances. It seems it could have been Mom’s abusive boyfriend or an alien spacecraft. When Celeste Lee, the little girl who disappeared ten years ago, shows up at Hunter’s house with only the knowledge that she was with scary folks, she has returned to her old home for a reason, and has super powers, it is obvious which culprit for the kidnapping seems to be the best choice.

Idolized #1
Written by David Schwartz
Pencils by Micah Gunnell
Colors by David Curiel
Letters by Josh Reed
Editor Vincent Hernandez
Cover by Arthur Adams, Michael Schwartz and Joe Benitez
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August 8, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t think that Aspen Comics would stick around long after the unfortunate passing of founder Michael Turner. But, they’ve done a good job keeping the fire burning and I was actually surprised at how much I liked Idolized #1!!!

Writer David Schwartz does a FANTASTIC job writing this comic! I’m guessing that he watches a lot of reality TV, because to me, the dialogue, premise, and execution of the issue was almost perfect. And he knows how to combine it perfectly with the superhero genre. From start to finish this is a great comic. It’s a perfect blend of reality and super heroics and a really fun read. It’s got a great shock ending, that I honestly didn’t see coming. There’s an origin that takes up about a quarter of the book, and that’s a little standard, but it read well and was entertaining. This book was a VERY pleasant surprise.

Charismagic #5
Created & Written by Vince Hernandez
Character Designs & Illustrations by Khary Randolph
Additional Pencil Assists by Lori Hanson
Colors by Emilio Lopez
Letters by Josh Reed
Covers by Khary Randolph & Emilio Lopez, Siya Oum, and Nicola Hwang
Aspen Comics
Release Date: March 7, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

One thing you can always expect from Aspen Comics is that they will be visually appealing. Charismagic #5 is no exception that rule, not on any level. I have never read nor reviewed any other issues in this series, but it definitely looks like an Aspen book and one that would have pleased the founder, Michael Turner (R.I.P.).

In the sky above Costa Rica, we find Samsun doing battle with a phoenix (one of the Guardians of the wizard Kon). We quickly move to see Hank, our hero, being directed by Sudana to focus his magical powers. After a small, but meaningful, mistake he finds that his abilities are far beyond anything he had ever imagined. Sparkles and the Guardians make their way towards the Temple, meeting up with Hank and Sudana on the way.

Dead Man’s Run #1
Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Tony Parker
Colored by David Curiel
Lettered by Josh Reed
Aspen Comics
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

I love it when a single issue of a series excites me as much as a long form trade. First issues tend to be largely exposition, especially when dealing with brand new characters. How many times have you recommended a series to a friend by using the qualifier ‘Just wait until a few issues in, that’s when it gets going!’. It takes a skilled writer to both introduce and excite right off the bat, and that’s exactly what Greg Pak has done with issue one of Aspen Comics’ Dead Man’s Run.

Haunted City #2
Written by Chap Taylor and Peter Johnson
Art by Michael Ryan
Colors by Kelsey Shannon with Peter Steigerwald and Beth Sotelo
Letters by Josh Reed
Covers by Michael Ryan, Alex Konat, and Micah Gunnell
Aspen Comics
Release Date: February 1, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Haunted City #2, but whatever it was, I didn’t find it. In fact, I didn’t find much of anything here. Writers Chap Taylor and Peter Johnson kind of fall short on this issue. Having never read the first issue I went in blind, and even though I read the recap page, I didn’t have any idea what the book I was reading was about. Fast forward to the end of the issue, I still don’t.