Grimm #2
Plot by Jim Kouf & David Greenwalt
Script by Marc Gaffen & Kyle McVey
Art by Jose Malaga
Colors by Thiago Dal Bello
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Cover by Lucio Parrillo
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 12, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Based on the hit NBC television series Grimm, this comic book series takes Nick and team on all-new adventures and to all new places. Grimm #2 stays true to the show in almost every way imaginable. You can read the comic and almost hear the actors’ voices as you do. As with the television program, we seem to be introduced to new Wesen (pronounced “vessin”) all the time. But that’s only part of the story…

We start this issue with Nick (our resident Grimm and a police detective), Hank (his partner on the police force), and Monroe (a Blutbad clock connoisseur) in Vienna. Having recently traveled there to track down Nick’s mother and the three coins that she was hiding, they find themselves in the company of a badass female Grimm (who dresses as if she moonlights as a dominatrix) and the Resistance with whom she fights. Finding that his mother left him a clue to decode, he sets about trying to unlock the secrets within. Unfortunately, the Wesen army of the Royal families are hot on his trail. A little retreating, some sexual tension, and a whole lot of bullets later, we bear witness to what could be the end for some of our beloved team. Only time will tell because the issue ends at a very exciting part!

Red Sonja #76
Written by Brandon Jerwa
Art by Sergio Fernandez Davila
Colors by Salvatore Aiala Studios
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Lucio Parrillo
Edited by Joseph Rybandt
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 29, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja #76 begins a brand new five issue story arc by new writer Brandon Jerwa. Some BIG things happen this issue, and as usual, I’m not going to tell you what they are, but I WILL tell you why you should pick this book up!

Brandon Jerwa begins his run with a bang!! It’s unusual that a new writer can shake things up this much. The story starts as a normal Red Sonja adventure, but Jerwa incorporates some mystery into the action, which is a very welcome change and addition to the title. The action, which is plentiful, is fast and hugely entertaining. In this issue, through happenstance, he turns the heroin into a villain while still keeping the readers just as confused as Red Sonja. It all leads to a fantastic last page reveal that not only solves the mystery, but gets the reader VERY excited for the next issue.

Red Sonja: Atlantis Rises #4
Written by Luke Lieberman
Pencils by Max Dunbar
Colors by Mark Roberts
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover by Lucio Parrillo
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Red Sonja: Atlantis Rising #4 is a good, solid sword and sorcery comic. If you’re looking for classic She-Devil with a sword action, this is where you’ll find it. It does have some flaws, but you can overlook most of them.

Writer Luke Lieberman knows his Red Sonja, and it’s obvious in this book. He knows the character and her universe inside and out, and that helps make this an exciting, fun read. If you haven’t read the previous issues, you may be a little lost at first, but Lieberman does a great job catching you up in a natural way, through dialogue, which is a nice treat when you compare it to the many books that have recap pages or paragraphs inside the front cover. It’s all-out action and adventure, and it flows really nicely.

Lord of the Jungle #3
Written by Arvid Nelson
Illustrated by Roberto Castro
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Colors by Alex Guimaraes
Covers by Paul Reaud, Lucio Parrillo, and Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: April 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

If you like the character of Tarzan, you’re going to love Lord of the Jungle #3. Simply put, it’s a fantastic Tarzan story. Dynamite Entertainment is really turning their books up a notch creatively. Line wide, they are dismissed by many as just a licensed comic publisher, but honestly, if you take the time to READ their books, you’re going to find that a big percentage of them are well thought out, well-crafted comics.

In this issue, writer Arvid Nelson continues telling a great story that he started two issues ago. Yes, it’s origin-like, but not completely an origin, if that makes any sense. It will when you read the book.

Lord of the Jungle #1
Written by Arvid Nelson
Illustrated by Roberto Castro
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Colored by Alex Guimaraes
Covers by Alex Ross, Ryan Sook, Paul Renaud, and Lucio Parrillo
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $1.00

Just about everyone knows the basic premise behind the story of Tarzan. For some reason, that’s NOT the loincloth, he’s always been one of my favorite characters since I was a kid. That’s why, when I got the chance to review Lord of the Jungle #1, I jumped at it.

Writer Arvid Nelson had a pretty humongous task ahead of him. Since the 1940s pretty much any incarnation in any entertainment medium of the Tarzan character has been a bust. Thankfully, Nelson took what everyone knew about the character, chose the best parts, and wrote a comic.