Just because a story is full of tropes doesn’t mean it’s bad. Consider Demon Archives, by Daniel Sharp and Sebastian Piriz. Postapocalyptic future? Check. Members of a troop being picked off one by one, by an unknown enemy? Check. A.I. who may or may not be on the heroes’ side? Check.
And yet, much of it moves along quite nicely, including an exciting battle scene. Still, certain questions remain to be answered. Tim and Mulele weigh the pluses and minuses.
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Tim came back from his Tim Across America trip with an assortment of comics, including a couple from the New York Aspiring Comics Creators Club, and trove of self-published books that he bought at Isotope Comics, including one about a feline pirate captain. This week, he and Mulele read through those comics and review them:
Captain Kitten #2 by Jemma Salume
The Nomad Church #1 by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey
Jerks in Space #1 by John Karnes
Torchbearer vol 0.25 by Nicholas Dedual and Dennis Calero
Nippy Wallaboosh #3 by Jamie Cosley
Sara Rising #1 by Emilio Rodriquez, James Rodriquez, Michele St. Martin, and Wilson Ramos
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A slimy gambler goes up against the Devil, betting his soul vs. half the money in the world. Score! He’s then approached by some people who promise him a great reward if he funds their plans. He joins them, going up against (and beating) the hapless Devil repeatedly. It’s hard not to have some sympathy for the Devil when he keeps getting trounced by a slimeball. Tim and Mulele take on Ross May and Brett Wood’s Devil Dealers.
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This week, the comic that shows there’s definitely an “I” in “Immune system”! In Biowars, the body’s defenses against disease appear as egotistical, infighting super heroes. And… very nice art, and… Hmm, something missing here. Tim and Mulele give this comic a proper physical.
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Irya is a boy in a unidentified country. His brother has just left, saying he’s going to “farm”. Then, Irya moves rocks by telekinesis. Wait, what? Tim and Mulele discuss Bits Fair, a Web comic that’s basically good, but could use some tweaking — in terms of the writing, and other things as well…
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We all know the appeal of stories with twist endings. But what exactly constitutes a twist ending? And what other factors do you need to make it work? Brandon joins Tim and Mulele to discuss Neil Gibson’s Twisted Dark, vol 1.
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Tim and Mulele discuss more comics Dale sent us from L.A., including “Jingles are for Losers” by Jared Samms; “Dark Mouse” #6 and “A Mouse to Sea” from Nathanial Osollo and Evan Spears; “Start Your Day with a Smile” from Amanda Millar; “Deadeye” and “The Gifted” by Nathan Gooden and Damian Wassel; and Thi Bui‘s “Labor” and “Backwards”.
Also in this episode: science, religion, literature, and pop culture battle it out in Tom Gauld’s “You’re All Just Jealous of my Jetpack“!
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A man is kidnapped from his home and taken to a secret facility, where a mysterious pale man tells him he’s in deep trouble for supposedly committing serious crimes. In fact, a fellow prisoner tells him, he — and they — “fit the profile.” For what? Is keeping your audience in the dark, as in Chuck Amadori and Ruvel Abril’s Pale Dark, about the plot the best way to draw them in? Tim and Mulele discuss.
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Sortafellas, a comic submitted to us by Ed M., is set on the mean streets of 1970s New York; a police “bag man” goes to “Junkie Central” to pick up bribe money for his superiors. Having seen only 10 pages, Mulele & Tim aren’t quite sure where it’s going, but would like to see more!
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You wake up to discover that the zombies have attacked, and you now have super powers! Lots of other stuff has also happened, but some of it stays frustratingly off-panel in Bounty Hunter #0, by Sean Koury and Scott Twells!
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