Haunted
Issues #1 & 2
Written by Scott Chitwood
Illustrated by Danny Luckert
Colered by Ivan Plascencia
Lettered by Troy Peteri
Cover by Danny Luckert
Red 5 Comics
Release Date: April 30, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50

Thirteen years ago the barrier between the spiritual realm and earth was torn open. Now ghosts and demons and shades roam the earth every night. Humanity has been reduced to brutal scavengers. Young Sarah McCallister is the epitome of self-interested survivors, until she runs into a scientist and pastor who think they can close the rift and save the world in Haunted.

Red 5’s producer Scott Chitwood steps into the writing role for this four-part mini-series. And in the first two issues of Haunted he creates a unique mid-apocalyptic ghost-world that captures an incredible sense of hopelessness. Humanity, as embodied in Sarah, is just trying to survive. Every night the ghosts come out, and every night the human race shrinks just a little more.

Bad Dreams
Issues #1-5
Written by Gary Winnick
Illustrated by Gary Winnick
Covers by Gary Winnick
Red 5 Comics
Release Date: April 23, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50

Mary wakes up in a dream world with her teddy bear and no memory. In the surreal, whimsical, and bizarre world of Bad Dreams, Mary soon finds herself set on a journey to free Mother Night from her imprisonment, so sleep can once again return to the dreamworld. She is joined by Nimrod, Sir Spanks (a Night Mouse Knight), Spide, and Shroom… all who seem to know just a little bit more about her than she does.

Bad Dreams is a surreal, all-ages comic. It has all the right mixes of fantasy, fairy-tale, mythology, and mystery thrown into the mix. Mary, our protagonist functions as a kind of everyman (or everywoman) who is inexplicably pulled into a conflict that she’s not really involved with. She must continue forward, though, because a mysterious and vindictive woman is after her and will stop at nothing to prevent the Mother Night’s release from her imprisonment.

Neozoic: Trader’s Gambit #1
Written by Paul Ens
Illustrated by Jae Korim
Colored by Ivan Plascencia
Lettered by Troy Peteri
Cover by Jae Korim
Red 5 Comics
Release Date: April 24, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

How would our lives have been different if a meteorite meant to strike Earth and wipe out the dinosaurs was thrown off of its original trajectory and hit the Moon instead? Written by Paul Ens with illustrations from Jae Korim, Neozic: Trader’s Gambit #1 is the sequel to Red 5 Comics’ Neozic. This story continues to explore a very different world from our own “” an alternate timeline that mixes fantasy-esque monarchies with science fiction and modern day elements “” on an Earth where dinosaurs still exist alongside the likes of humans and telepathic beings.

After the battle against the Talpid and the destruction caused by mind-controlled dinosaurs, the people of Monanti City are trying to rebuild their home. Also attempting to refill their ranks is the Predator Defense League (PDL), led by the newly appointed General Mitch Clawson. These protectors of Monanti are forced to train the rebel social outcasts who helped save the city; unfortunately, it seems to be quite the difficult endeavor. Meanwhile, two members of the PDL, Lilli and Petra, travel with Milo “” a young, powerful telepathic Talpid girl “” to a foreign land, accompanying a trade convoy. On the way, the group encounters and must deal with an unwanted surprise.

It’s time once again for another glorious Free Comic Book Day! It’s that most special day of the year when you can stroll down to your local comic book dispensary and partake in any number of comics (usually 3, unless you’re in the Underoo set, in which case most good stores will load you up), all for the price of nothing. It’s a great day to celebrate comics and to say thank you to your friendly neighborhood comic book store, and for them to say thanks to you. Many stores will be having special signings and appearances from local comic book people, or some other kind of festivities, so be sure to find a local store, even if you’re not a big comic fan. And bring the kids along if you have any. Any good store will have activates with them in mind, and you can maximize the free stuff you get if you bring a child with you.

And if you are a big fan already, try to buy something from the store you go to on Free Comic Book Day. I know that sounds like it defeats the purpose of the day, but the stores have costs associated with getting the comics they had out, and the owners sure will appreciate putting a little money in the coffers to recoup those costs.

Seven Percent #1
Created by Luke Keith
Written by Jeremy Fiest
Art by Jarreau Wimberly
Red 5 Comics
Release Date: February 27, 2013
Cover Price: $1.99 (digital)

Seven Percent #1 (aka 7%) is the latest title from Red 5 Comics. I like this company because it’s one of the few companies out there that doesn’t rely solely on super-heroes to survive. However, although they do have a nice mix of genres in there titles, this is one comic that they maybe should’ve spent a little more time developing.

Writer Jeremy Fiest tries to create a brand new science fiction franchise in this book, but unfortunately, he comes up a little short. He does a pretty good job explaining the history of this post apocalyptic version of Earth, but the real problem lies in the story he’s telling now. You’re not clear until half way through the book about just who the enemy is, and by that time, you’ve really stopped caring. There are some interesting characters in this book, and I’m almost interested in what happens to them, but Feist packs SO much story in this book, that I get the feeling that it’s going to be quite a while before we get any real meat on these characters.