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Continuing our spotlight on #BlackComicsMonth, by arrangement with Vixen, we have some catching up to do. First FREE COMICS! Concrete Park Vol 1. is still free from Comixology or Dark Horse! FREE!!!!!   Also Free, a new selection of comics from B. Alex Thompson including Hass #1 and two issues of Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. […]

Writer:

David Walker

Artists:

Ivan Reis

Joe Prado

The machine that gives Cyborg his powers is evolving! The only problem is that machine is his body and he has no idea what’s causing these changes!

Can an ongoing series set in the New DC world really work for Cyborg? It’s a question that Ivan Reis and David Walker tackle in the first issue of the hero’s ongoing series. When he graduated from the Teen Titans and became an MVP in the Justice League world, Victor Stone took on new life. We’re closer to seeing the hero on-screen than ever before — as one of the fabled “seven” players in the JLA, now seems as good a time as any to spend intimate time with one of the newest characters on the League.

It may require a double take from the reader, but it is worth mentioning that Cyborg recently underwent a fairly massive redesign. While it is a little sad that the previous outfit, with its machine emblem and mostly black-and-white suit, has been retired, the new one by artist Ivan Reis is both slim and sleek. It is dismaying that the only artist that may actually be able to draw this correctly is Reis, as the new outfit is one of the most complicated and effective character designs featured in the DC You.

This directly ties into what might be the greatest strength of the comic: the intensive detail in Reis’ art. This story has incredible levels of polish that really shows the nuance demanded by a character shortchanged like Victor Stone. The initial splash recognizes Cyborg’s costumes and outfits from the New 52 to now, documenting just how much change Victor Stone has gone through over the years. Reis has had defining runs in the New 52 for quite some time on titles like Justice League and Aquaman, and even previously served to simplify Cyborg’s hulking Jim Lee design in the first couple of pages of his run on Justice League. I’m glad to see the artist put such great time and detail into this comic.

David Walker, writer of acclaimed Dynamite’s series Shaft, is the writer of Cyborg #1 and is someone who seems to understand the complicated tightrope he’s walking between the original Marv Wolfman version of Cyborg and the new version of this hero, who comes with a simplified backstory courtesy of the New 52. This new Cyborg is still hung up on some of the same things that the original version was. To be honest, it’s kind of nice to see him go through some of his previous struggles again, as it’s often easier to relate to the problems that younger characters go through.

Not to worry though, this Cyborg isn’t too young… he seems to be in his 20s. We mentioned it above, but this story makes Victor Stone’s newly redesigned body into a key plot point of the series. This is refreshing, as Cyborg has had a large number of previously unexplained costume redesigns in an extremely condensed period of time.

It’s really refreshing to to see frightening horror elements in a book like Cyborg as well.  Aquaman, another book drawn by Reis contains similar elements of terror. Not only that, but this first issue of Cyborg also gives the titular man-machine a brand new supporting cast, setting the series up for the long haul.

Ultimately, the creative team on this book attempts to tackle a lot in their first issue.  They have to introduce Victor to new readers while acknowledging his condensed history for the sake of established fans.  They set up his new team of sidekicks, lay down groundwork for a completely original villain, and ensure that that villain is one that only Cyborg can face.   The road Walker and Reis have chosen to take isn’t going to be an easy one — that being said, this first issue of Cyborg is a more than confident approach to the solo exploits of Stone. Here’s to a long run to come.

After powering down from Comic-Con team Beat needed a nap…or twelve. While we were away, the team continued to see visions of none-other-than Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman creeping through hallways at the Stately Beat Manor in which Team Beat takes residence. We tried to brush it off at first and stick to our legions of reviews, previews and news coming to the site. Our naps were becoming more frequent during the day, and we found certain items missing from the stash including lucrative and expensive key back issues in the collection. After an intense stake out fueled by the ideas we got from watching Ant-Man last weekend, one of our staffers managed to apprehend the vigilante and retrieve important pieces of our collection. We called the authorities, and while they were on the way Mr. Dodds turned to us and offered his staff picks for the week of 7/22/15.

Alex J.’s picks:

Archie Vs. Sharknado #1

Writer: Anthony C. Ferrante Art: Dan Parent

It’s that time of year in Riverdale! The end of the school year. Time for beaches, barbecues, fun in the sun and… sharknados!?! That’s right, get ready as Archie and the gang brave the storm of a tornado full a sharks that riffs off the pop culture phenomenon known as Sharknado! The story unfolds as sharknados are spotted on the ‘Feast’ Coast! Our heroines have to figure out how to get back to Riverdale, where the storm is about to hit next. Soon Archie and the gang go, go, go as they battle the Sharknado-ravaged Riverdale! Who will live? Who will die? Will this take a bite out of the end-of-the-year prom? Uh… probably! The comic book action is also concurrent with the plot of Sharknado 3 and hits stands right before the film’s premiere in July on Syfy. Written by the Sharknado trilogy director Anthony C. Ferrante with Dan Parent.

Sharknado. Archie. The match made in heaven. These two characters were made for each other — or so says Wesley Dodds, as the police were on the way. He pointed that Archie and Sharknado are both sort of niche franchises that continue the reign of awesomeness supported by the publisher’s interesting choice of titles right now. Dan Parent has been an excellent creator to lend talents to Archie and Anthony C. Ferrante, Sharknado director is writing the script for the series. This is one that you shouldn’t miss this week.

Cyborg #1

Writer: David Walker Art: Ivan Reis

The machine that gives Cyborg his powers is evolving! The only problem is that machine is his body and he has no idea what’s causing these changes!

Wesley wanted to support an old friend getting his own series set in the brand new DC Universe. He knew Cyborg as a Teen Titan and thoroughly supported him through his Justice League years. Now, it’s time for Cyborg to go off and do something different with the art of the fantastically amazing Ivan Reis and written by David Walker. Getting a creative team like for a character like this is something worth supporting at DC right now. Let’s put our money where our mouth is…if only for the stellar art of Reis and supporting his awesome costume design on Cyborg.

Kyle’s Pick:

Prez #2

Writer: Mark Russell Art: Ben Caldwell

With the election in chaos and a Congress mired in corruption, Twitter sensation @corndoggirl becomes the first teenaged President of the United States!

As you might have seen last month, I deeply enjoyed the first issue of the Prez relaunch, so much so that it probably was my favorite first issue of the entire “DC You” June set of releases. While at San Diego Comic Con, Hannah and I took the opportunity to meet Ben Caldwell and pick up a copy of his equally brilliant collaboration with Shannon Wheeler: God Is Disappointed In You. In reading that, I was quite taken by the even-handedness that Russell treated the Bible with. Prez takes a very similar approach with social media culture and American politics, and the result is refreshing and, at least based on one issue, quite hilarious. Don’t let this one slip through your grasp.

Alex L.’s Pick

Power Up #1

Writer: Kate Leth Art: Matt Cummings

It has been foretold that four noble warriors of incredible strength would be gifted with cosmic abilities at a moment of planetary alignment…which, yeah, something definitely went wrong here. Amie is a disaffected twenty something with a lot of attitude, Kevin is a washed-up athlete way past his prime, Sandy’s a mother of two teenagers, and Silas…is a goldfish. Just a normal goldfish. Are we sure we read that prophecy right?

Boom! Studios is billing this new title as Sailor Moon meets Scott Pilgrim.  As someone whose childhood crossed with both of these titles, Power Up strikes me as a WOA, a winner on arrival.  The premise is wacky and completely off-base (one of the leading characters is a magical goldfish), and Cummings’ art style, as seen above, is emotionally evocative while being adorably simple in nature.  Finally, the hilarious Kate Leth, of Kate or Die fame, has surely written a script that will have me counting stitches in a hospital bed, lamenting my lack of insurance.

1. Cinderella is a cyborg.
CINDER: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Once upon a time . . .  a fairytale went sci-fi.

You don’t have to wait until Cinder goes on-sale January 3, 2012 to read this futuristic fairytale. Find CINDER on NetGalley to read an Advance Reader’s Edition right now, for FREE!

This is actually the first picture I drew on my phone with the Magic Brush app. and you can see I was trying to figure out what in the hell these crazy brushes were and how to control them.