Michael Turner’s All New Fathom #1
Written by Blake Northcott
Art by Marco Renna
Colors by John Starr
Letters by Zen
Covers by Peter Steigerwald, Marco Renna, John Starr, Alex Konat, Jordan Gunderson, Talent Caldwell, Michael Turner, Jon Sibal, Keu Cha
Aspen Comics
Release Date: February 8, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Fan favorite Blake Northcott begins her eight issue run on Aspen Comics’ flagship title Michael Turner’s All New Fathom #1 this month. We were happy to hear that Northcott was taking the lead on this comic as she has written a few articles here at Geeks of Doom and is like part of our extended family.

Therefore, having said that, it should come as no shock whatsoever that I chose to review this comic. And without further ado, let’s get to it shall we?

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Aspen Comics is offering up a limited-edition holiday exclusive for All New Fathom #6, which you can get from their online store, along with a special edition print of the comic book cover.

The St. Patrick’s Day Exclusive cover is by Michael Turner and Peter Steigerwald and is limited to 217 editions; the print measures 13 x 19 and is limited to 50.

Check out the St. Patrick’s Day cover/print for All New Fathom #6 here below.

Overtaken #1
Written by Frank Mastromauro
Illustrated by Marco Laurenzana
Colored by Wes Hartman
Lettered by Josh Reed
Covers by Marco Laurenzana, Peter Steigerwald and Siya Oum
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $1.00

Aspen Comics continues its ten year anniversary with the seventh comic book in their 10 for 10 — ten comics for one dollar — deal with Overtaken #1. The new title is Written by Frank Mastromauro and illustrated by Marco Laurenzana and Wes Hartman. Read on to find out if Overtaken has what it takes to succeed in the ever-evolving comic book industry.

When the universe was created, many alien races existed, all sharing some bit of DNA but evolving still. Those races fought one another; survival of the fittest. Today, Will and Jesse Harden have just moved from Chicago to the small, country town of Turtle Creek, MN to be near Jesse’s parents and for Will’s new journalism job. They may reside in a small town, but the cosmos is infinite, and it seems as though a universal history is beginning to repeat itself.

Fathom #2
Created by Michael Turner
Plot by David Wohl and Frank Mastromauro
Script by David Wohl
Pencils by Alex Konat
Digital Inks by Mark Roslan
Color by Beth Sotelo
Lettering by Josh Reed
Covers by (A) Alex Konat & John Starr, (B) Paul Renaud, (C) J. Scott Campbell, (D) Alex Konat & Peter Steigerwald
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The first thing I think of when I hear the name Michael Turner is fantastic artwork. And even now, five years after the loss of this great comic artist, his legacy lives on in Fathom #2. This is the fifth volume of the series and it has continued to be a beautiful tribute to the founder of Aspen Comics. I have no doubt he would be just as pleased with this as I was.

This issue starts off with a brief look at a very remote city that is populated by a race known as the Blue. Their leader, a terrifyingly beautiful woman, has been grooming a young girl as a weapon of enormous power by enhancing her already superior genetics. Half a world away, our protagonist, Aspen Matthews, has engaged in an undersea battle with half a dozen water-breathing combatants who seem hell bent on killing her. Using her innate powers of water manipulation, she attempts to disperse their attack. Unknown to Aspen, however, her opponents also have a few tricks up their sleeves, metaphorically speaking that is.

Dragon*Con 2012′s Aspen Comics panel was attended by co-owner and company president Frank Mastromauro, co-owner and company vice president of publishing Peter Steigerwald, creator Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika), and creator Alex Konat (Fathom).

Peter Steigerwald opened the panel with his traditional, loud, audience-participation, “ALOOOOOOHA!” Mastromauro followed with a 20-minute promotion of Aspen Comics’ upcoming releases which included details and cover art for Soulfire, Executive Assistant Assassins, Idolized, Homecoming, Kiani, Lady Mechanika, Charismagic, Broken Pieces, Michael Turner’s Fathom, Shrugged, Dead Man’s Run, Haunted City, Mindfield, and Zooiverse, which will most likely see a title change.

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.

Lady Mechanika #3
Created by Joe Benitez
Art by Joe Benitez
Colors by Peter Steigerwald
Aspen Comics
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $2.99

The third issue of a new comic is always difficult to accurately review. It’s often too soon to reveal any major plot twists, yet late enough to not be gaining momentum. This is the place that Joe Benitez’s Lady Mechanika finds itself.

Lady Mechanika #3 is a building block in an overall larger picture. This issue introduces new villains and interesting developments, but offers little in surprising content. This is not to say issue #3 is not impressive, because it is. Lady Mechanika #3 is the initial stages of something that could become a very compelling storyline.

Dead Man’s Run #0
Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Tony Parker
Colored by Peter Steigerwald
Lettered by Josh Reed
Covers by Tony Parker, Peter Steigerwald, Micah Gunnell
Aspen Comics
Release Date: November 2, 2011
Cover Price: $2.50

When the first page of a comic has someone buying beer, you just know it’s going to be a good read. Dead Man’s Run #0 has just that…of course, there is way more to it than that. It’s the prison break from Hell, literally. Our main guide through this short ride is Captain Romero, a man who is definitely no saint. Many references to his past are made, but none explain it. Mysterious, ashen-faced female Wardens and demonic Generals also add to the Hellish scene that we witness within the City of Corruption, located under the Pyramid. Sadly, the story pauses just as it gets started…but we all expect that in issue #0, right?