Songs for the Dead Book One - Review

 

Songs for the Dead Book One. 

Available on DrivethruComics.

Available on Amazon.

Or check your local friendly comic shop!

This one is a bit harder to review. I'll be honest I started off not really feeling it at all, something just didn't seem to click with me. But once I got into the story and it progressed past the first issue then things began to pick up. At the final page I was actually wanting more.

Everything in here revolves around the character of Bethany, a minstrel who wants so badly to be an adventurer, just like the ones she sings about. But she's young, not that experienced, oh and one more thing, she's a necromancer. Now not the evil brooding twisted type of necromancer many of us have grown to hate in roleplaying games. But the kind who can speak with and resurrect the dead but wants to help them find peace and justice. Only most folks don't like those who command the deceased no matter their intentions.

Of course not everything goes according to plan and she rapidly ends up prisoner of one Lord Rolland. This conniving bastard wants to use her to further his goals and plans which is something she wants nothing of. Things are looking pretty bleak until she meets up with Elissar, a seasoned fighter who is simply trying to get by in the world as a sword for hire. The two kick off an unlikely friendship as they go searching for those who will accept Bethany while getting a few coins along the way.

It's a great mix of humor, fantasy, some rough fantasy action and friendship. Something that is hard to pull off but they manage to do so. It even made my cynical self smile a little.

Written by Andrea Fort and Michael Christopher Heron. You can tell these two love the story and the characters they have created. So much detail and personality has been put into the main two characters that you gain a real sense of understanding by the end of this first volume. I just didn't think the writing was that solid in the first issue. But I will fully admit that after that it picks up rather quickly, almost as if they got their footing before taking off for the sprint. By issue three they're doing amazing and the final issue four just keeps on moving in that direction.

Artwork is done by Sam Beck. Again on that first issue I wasn't to hyped up for the artwork either. But he followed in the same steps as the writers and just got better as the story progressed. That and his particular style grew on me and it fit really well with the lightheartedness that is laced throughout the comic.

All in all I'm giving this one a solid four out of five stars. If that first issue could have captured the same energy and dynamic that was in the others then it would have been a five. But that start felt rough, like a hump to get over. In the end though I want to read book two, I'm actually looking forward to finding out what happens. That's what really matters. It gets that hook into the reader.

Pick it up for 7.99 right now over on DrivethruComics.

Mindfield Volume One - review

 

Mindfield Volume one is available from DrivethruComics 

Mindfield is a modern day psychothriller sat in the world of government espionage and psychic powers. The story revolves around a team of five people that have been recruited by the CIA and had their potential psychic abilities enhanced. All with the goal of fighting terrorism in a post-911 world where the rules have changed.

Most of the story is told through the eyes of Connor, the member of the team who has the most developed abilities. A man with trauma and loss in his past that sometimes make it harder to handle it new found abilities. He is our core protagonist in this story to give the reader an anchor to hold them in place throughout. The other team members are unique in personalities and how they handle their abilities.

The center of the action is focused on stopping a group of home grown terrorists who wish to gain access to a nuclear warhead. With a fanatical following and two very dangerously powerful psychic on their side to boot. It's not pretty when they finally begin to clash in open conflict which takes us from the real world and into that of the mind.

Plenty of government secrets, references to old programs that actually existed, and more shady motivations than you can shake a stick at. This comic series feels very much like what a modern day spy thriller should be like.

The artwork is great, hands down it stays consistent and shows us the story perfectly. Alex Konat and Saleem Crawford do the illustration and inks with John Starr pulling duty on the colors. A completely finished and smooth look is achieved between this trio.

On the writing J.T. Krul and he deliver in spade. The story flows perfectly from page to page keeping a brisk pace and just enough information to keep you interested. Dialogue feel natural between the character and you come away understanding each and every one of them. It feels like the work of a practiced comic veteran.

In the end I'm giving this one five stars. Very much worth picking up for a read, especially at the $9.99 price tag. I very much look forward to seeing more for Mindfield in the future. There is plenty of story to build on and avenues to explore. But I've always been a sucker for a good story involving psychic powers.

For the gamer out there this story could easily take place in Conspiracy X, Dark Matter or even DeltaGreen. 

Also, just to get this off my chest, I really wish companies would hire somebody to put their pdfs together better. Bookmarks to the individual issues in the trade would be a start. 

Helm Greycastle Book One review

 

Helm Greycastle Volume One a available on DrivethruComics.

The story of a man named Helm Greycastle and his party of adventurers who also seem to be a bit shady around the edges in what they do. Opening with a fight to retrieve an item to help a friend it quickly leads to a rescue mission to another world. With the goal of saving a young dragon prince who's been captured the crew must make their way through a culture they have never encountered before. One that Helm discovers he has a connection with. A mix of political intrigue and plain old sword and sorcery action takes place as they must negotiate with rulers and Gods.

The writing and pacing of the story felt off. Starting off with so many characters being introduced fast and furious with little time for the reader to even begin to know them. One right after the other without pause it seemed. Then there was some disconnect between what was being seen on the page, with what was happening in the text and how it related to the next few panels. I felt like I missed something multiple times.

Henry Barajas has a great story here and judging from his credentials can tell a great story. But it's hard to wade through this. I'm wondering if this shouldn't have been a few more issues longer with more time to showcase the characters and their motivations a bit more. So much information was just poured forth quickly with dialogue that didn't seem to flow.

Worldbuilding wise they have a great thing going here. It's interesting with lots of potential. The characters eventually liven up a bit and we begin to see what they are all about. But by the time it gets there it's been a slog already.

Art wise Rahmat Handoko delivers in a pretty solid fashion. Clean art all the way through and all the characters are captured as being unique on the page. You don't mistake one for the other over the course of a few pages. With the colorist Bryan Valenza backing him up it all worked out very well.

The game material presented in the back for use with the 5^th edition of Dungeons and Dragons appears to be functional and well done. I'm not an expert on the latest version of D&D but from what I understand this looks very usable. Again, the world presented is really great and this just backs that up. Tristan J Tarwater, Geoffrey Golden and Matt Hawkins look like they know their stuff and do a good job presenting the information in a clear format. Along with the art of Jen Vaughn splashing in through out to pull it together a bit more.

All in all I give this one a four out of five.   

Shadow Service Volume One - Review

 

Shadow Service Volume One. 

Available on DrivethruComics. 

Available on Amazon.

Or check your local comic shop. 

When you need a private investigator who is better than what they should be then apparently you should be calling Gina Meyers. A young witch who has a natural born ability to do her magic and is used to the dirtier side of the job. But she thought she was mostly alone in the world, now she finds out just how wrong that is.

This trade collects the first five issues of the series and is a great way to dive into the story. Meeting one of Gina's shadier employers known as Gideon Quill and one of her few friends the talking rat known as Edwin. Things are going normal until she runs into the supernatural organization known as Section 26 officially but as MI666 on the street.

Meeting others with high end dark powers that reveal to her a much larger darker secret demonic underground residing in London. She has to chose sides and alliances as more information comes to light about Gideon and the MI666 itself. One thing is for sure, she's in way more over her head than she's ever been before.

The art style of Corin Howell matches up perfectly for the task at hand. Sleek and clean without to much attention to detail to things that aren't important. But just the right amount for what you need to see. There are no wasted lines or overworked panels. With Triona Farrell doing the colors behind him it all clicks together very nicely. Very easy on the eyes and adding that perfect amount of depth to the art.

All the cover designs for the individual issues are at the end of the book. Every one of them an amazing work in themselves. Mixing some great horror design elements and lots of creepy vibes.

As for the writing Cavan Scott takes us on the journey at a brisk pace. Mixing in the current present day story line with flashbacks to backgrounds of the various characters involved. They keep it moving and there are no pages where you're just hoping for something to happen as information is just poured forth in a dull formula.

I can't wait to read the second volume to see where the story goes. So I'm giving this one five stars. A very pleasant surprise and enjoyable read.

For the gamer types (like me) this story also oozes with plenty of ideas to steal for games like UnknownArmies, Kult, Call of Cthulhu and pretty much any modern day horror game. Also being a comic it does give you the necessary visuals to show your players what they are up against.

Sla Industries - The Truth about Dark Night

 

More of my personal take of the Sla Industries setting. Let's look at Dark Night this time around.

Pick up Sla Industries 1st edition over on DrivethruRPG. 

The terrorist group/soft company known as Dark Night isn't quite what most would believe. They definitely aren't what Sla Industries wants you to believe. Let's start off with one thing, there are two Dark Night groups existing at the same time. 

First is the fake Dark Night. This is ran by Sla Agents working undercover as subversive terrorist agents. From the outside they look like they want to cause as much destruction and death as possible. The upper echelon is Sla loyalists who recruit those from downtown who are desperate to survive. They let them think they are in an actual subversive group when they are not. Carrying out specific missions whose actual end goals are to actually cover something up via destruction and mayhem along with some straight up assassination missions against those that get in the way of the bigger picture or are digging to deep into things they should not. 

Basically they do the dirty work that Sla Industries would rather not have their fingers on. Along with smearing the actual Dark Night organization with their heavy handed and high collateral damage activities. 

The actual Dark Night is a full on subversive/soft company organization. Their entire goal is to undermine the Company and shift the power balance so that others may gain footholds and pry the power from one single person into the hands of many. While they also do assignations, thefts and cause some collateral damage they are much more laser focused. Going after very specific targets while doing as little harms to any innocents who may be in the area. They also spread literature and information throughout downtown in an effort to sway the masses to their way of thinking. 

Also they offer a high reward for anyone that can deliver members of the fake Dark Night to them alive. Especially if they turn out to be any of the Sla Agents running that group. 

Now within the actual Dark Night organization is another group that is only known the higher ranking members. It's called Daylight and it's made entirely of undercover Dark Night agents that have infiltrated the company, people within the company who have decided to switch sides and their handlers. It's all kept very compartmentalized so many of them don't now of the others in case somebody is discovered. Even the handlers know the two or three they are assigned to. This group leaks out information, equipment, anything they can in order to aid the movement to take down Sla Industries. Most Dark Night members are completely unaware of the existence of Daylight.   

Sla Industries - The Truth in my Games part 2

 

Over on DrivethruRPG you can pick up Sla Industries 1st edition, Hunter Sheets 1 and Hunter Sheets 2.

Time for a little more about Necranthropes (called Necs for rest of article) in my version of the World of Progress in Sla Industries. First off, and this should be remembered at all times, they are not the good guys. Not even close. They are a race of creatures that are absolutely dripping in evil. The only reason they may look in the least like they are something else is because they are putting on an act. Intruder has a plan for them and until that plan is ready they are to appear loyal to Mister Slayer. 

Flux isn't exactly what it's claimed to be. Yes it's an energy that exists all around us. But it's created by the suffering and agony of living beings. Mort happens to be a perfect location to produce a nearly endless amount.

They have also found an alternative source of flux to draw upon. One that is refined and pure, that they enjoy so much better because it sets their senses on fire. That is by pulling the souls out of those who have been corrupted and abused. Those who have lost all hope, all innocence and are nearly just burned out husks of what they could have potentially been. Now while this may fit many who live in the downtown areas of Mort their absolute favorite supplier is the Skin Trade. 

The Trade sells it's 'remnants' of their 'product' to the Necs either for a tidy little price or in exchange for equipment and information. This also means the Necs will protect those in the trade who in the higher echelons of the company offices. Just so their thirst for this new form of flux can keep making it's way to them. Also it's a self serving circle as the actions of Trade also cause more suffering to keep the furnace of misery that is Mort burning endlessly.

After being drained the emancipated bodies of the victims are disposed of by a massive reality fold to a location off world (more on this in a future article). 

One last thing to remember. Even Bitterness is afraid of the Necs and what they may become.

Sla Industries - I found what? Part 2

 

Searching the bodies for clues and gear to turn in is always a good time in Sla Industries. But what else are you finding? Roll a D10

Thresher Pilot 

1 - 'Thresher Girls' pocket calendar. 

2 - A tin of gun oil.

3 - An identification guide to Sla Industries powered armor. 

4 - Cheap necklace with an imitation shark tooth on it.

5 - A cyanide pill in a small pouch.

6 - Pair of worn leather work gloves. 

7 - A wad of various connection wires.

8 - Pocket tool kit of ultra fine jewelers screwdrivers. 

9 - Small black box with a red button on it. 

10 - A mix tape of subversive grind metal bands. 

Suspected Prop

1 - Three severed fingers in a plastic baggie. 

2 - A pair of scissors with dark stains.

3 - Set of hot pink fuzzy handcuffs. 

4 - A bundle of downtown Mort bus passes, each with a different name.

5 - An ear wax removal kit.

6 - Piece of paper with a bunch of different times written on it.

7 - A snubbed nosed wooden pencil. 

8 - Five pairs of latex gloves, blue. 

9 - A crude, handmade lockpick kit.

10 - Membership card for the 'Happy Jacks' Halloween Jack fanclub.