Komik2u

After 8 books of Ghost Rider with Jason Aaron (Wolverine: Weapon X) and Jose Villarubia (New Avengers), the Russ Manning Award winner Tan Eng Huat joins critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent) in chronicling Frank Castle’s warfare against Norman Osborn’s The Cabal as the corrosive affects of their Dark Reign further degenerates the Marvel Universe. The last issue of Ghost Rider (Last Stand of Spirits of Vengeance) may seems to inflict Huat’s next project as some have said, whether it would be something related to Spiderman (least expected), Thor or The Punisher. Well, the truth quite surprised me and I doubt that Huat will keeps his touch on Ghost Rider to this coming book. This 6th issue of Punisher is expected for publish in June. The amazing cover is crafted by Mike McKone.

Preview by Marvel: The Hood’s crime organization has infected the entire world, and nowhere is it more prevalent than the streets of New York where, hidden within the decaying husks of abandoned buildings, the Hood has built his secret empire out of everyone’s sight including Osborn’s. Castle is the one man standing between the new kingpin of crime and total domination, but in order to save his home from the decay and corruption, The Punisher will first have to survive the rage of The Deadly Dozen!(?)

Buy Sailor Moon comic books here

The leading role of Sailor Moon is Usagi Tsukino, who lives as an ordinary middle school girl until she is found by a talking cat named Luna. Through Luna, Usagi learns that the world is about to be attacked by a Dark Kingdom that had appeared once before, long ago, and destroyed the kingdom of the moon. So that’s how the moon looks so ugly with thousands of craters, no? The Dark Kingdom’s artillery units must have produced excellent bombardment then. LoL!

Her dormant powers (alias Chakra, Qi, or the “others” type of power – which one?) are then awakened to defend the Earth against the coming invasion, and she is led to a number of friends who join her in the battle. When I was a kid, I seriously adored and loved Sailor Jupiter – the red headed chick in greenish costume.

Usagi fights using the unmasked identity of Sailor Moon, a superhero that can’t implement any kind of camouflage techniques at all, and as the story progresses she learns more and more about the enemies which face her and the evil force that is sending them. Gradually she discovers the truth about her own past life, and her destined true love – as usual girl stuffs. Personally, I feel that this pretty girl might be a good astronomer if she’s to retire from superhero industry since she had also discovered the possibilities for the future of the Solar System. New planet to replace Pluto, darl?

The plot spans five major story arcs, each of which is represented in both the manga and anime, usually under different names. These are the Dark Kingdom arc, the Black Moon arc (Sailor Moon R), the Infinity arc (Sailor Moon S), the Dream arc (Sailor Moon Supers), and the Stars arc (Sailor Stars). The anime series added an additional extra arc at the beginning of second season, and spent the early few episodes of Sailor Stars just to recap previous series.

Buy Ghost Rider comic books

It may sounds funny but the term created by Aaron -  ’Ghost Rider Survival Squad’ - might be appropriate enough how desperate are the last remaining spirits of vengeance who stand united against the vigilant Danny Ketch. The first half of this book is quite directive with flameheads clash. The urge look of the characters especially the Japanese spirit of vengeance, make it visually interesting, but it is not much more than an extended series of fight between the red and blue flames. Seriously, I am still thinking who’s behind the idea of creating this Japanese Rider who looks quite similar to Kaneda of Otomo Katsuhiro’s great Akira. Aaron or Huat?

Nowadays, there is a trend in the US mainstream comics in taking popular characters and rebrand  them with fresh and differentiated representation that seems to excite fans constantly without fail. This series is not to be excluded. Within Aaron’s mould, Ghost Rider has transformed from a tepid, light-horror road story into a twisted, mythic, grindhouse opera, thanks to the Tan Eng Huat’s artwork strokes.

Tan Eng Huat might not draw comics that look like the rest of the Marvel line, but Ghost Rider shouldn’t be so American at all time. A critic mentioned that Huat is like Mike Mignola brewed with Kevin O’Neill, which ultimately makes Ghost Rider look like a Hellboy spliced with LXG. Frankly speaking, I do love Jose Villarubia’s choice of tones, and it works perfectly well with Huat’s pencilling and inking.

Johnny Blaze and the new nun-turns-Caretaker, together with the Asian flamehead allies are on some sightseeing journeys through out the world in search of the remaining few Riders. Regardless whether they’re actually riding or not, this alliance hopes they may reach these clueless Riders before Danny Ketch. This issue is actually the first time we catch a good glimpse of Zadkiel and his ongoing war against Heaven armies, which does not interest me much. If Ghost Riders’ beliefs may be integrated one to another, Taoism to Christianity to Islam to Buddhism, why not the the Heaven’s armies? Shouldn’t they consist of various believers too? This book may be classified as Parental Advisory item, but the way I see this one, it’s so Christian. On a second thought, I think Aaron should have done proper homework before integrating the Riders’ beliefs.

Some may say that Huat seems to have settled in with the characters flawlessly, and Johnny Blaze is now in the hand of the right creative team. But I lightly doubt that as Huat will be only riding on the flameheads up to issue #32.

 
Buy Star Wars comic books

Han Solo is a character in the Star Wars universe. He was played by Harrison Ford in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The Star Wars Holiday Special, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Solo is introduced in A New Hope chapter as a roguish space smuggler who, through a twist of fate, becomes involved in the Rebel Alliance against the evil Galactic Empire. Over the course of this film and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Solo disguisely becomes a chief figure in the Alliance. George Lucas describes him as a lone ranger who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good. Sounds to me as Solo is depicting Lucas’s trait. No? LOL

Chewbacca or Chewie is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. In terms of the series’ narrative chronology, he appears in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He was portrayed in all four films by British actor Peter Mayhew, wearing a suit; the voice was composed of recordings of different animals, mixed together. Poor Mr. Mayhew as people didn’t publicly know not only how the Chewbacca cosplayer looks like, but also how his voice sounds like!

A towering Wookiee who stands at 2.28 meters tall, he is best known as the first mate of Han Solo’s ship, the Millennium Falconin the original Star Wars trilogy.

Buy Street Fighter 2 Turbo #3A comic book

This third book of Street Fighter 2 Turbo series close up the year 2008 with nice action-packed stories. The front part of the book describes how Fei Long’s passion changed as time goes by with respect to his difficulties in maintaining life. Street Fighter Tournament as expected, gives him the opportunity to at least honor the fighting arts instilled by his master if it could not salvage his mistake in directing life - leaving his passion.

Preliminary battle starts in Hong Kong!

The story starts with an immediate round for the first slot to Street Fighter finale. As expected, I like Cruz’s version of Adon than Alvin’s Muay Thai bloke. It is exciting to know that Dhalsim’s Katon ball is actually an illusion. It is quite funny to see Sagat acting calmly on the hierarchic seat as one of Bison’s highest subordinates. As the first part focus is mainly on Fei Long, the same goes with the preliminary rounds. All his open fight opponents which consists of the “Storm” grandma, the guillotine old freak, a black nin, a drunken master (Jackie??) and a Jet-Li wannabe are easily downed by his single shots. This episode ends with Chun-Li is well prepared for the open fight with opponents which some fans may refer them as the human version of Furious 5.

Cruz and Siu-Chong have done very well in shifting the Fei Long’s wandering story to the intense fights which sandwiched some plots of escaping Cammy White. As she possesses the same trait as Bison, the location of Delta Red is easily known. It’s just a matter of time for Cammy to retained her teammates back.

The back-up story of El Fuerte by Joe Ng is exciting me, getting to know that he is the die-hard fan of Street Fighter Alpha’s Mika! Although the shots are focused only in the Mexican cafe, Joe Ng managed to further his improvements and get it done well. Surely these back-up stories of Street Fighter IV are the best media for him to excel in his very first art on Street Fighter IV which is commencing this February. Certainly a nice Valentine gift for me! LOL

Coming this January is the most -awaited Street Fighter book this year - Street Fighter Legends: Chun-Li. The first issue by Siu-Chong and Omar Dogan is going to be an interesting one, not only for Chun-Li’s die-hards, but also cinema dashers as the Street Fighter motion picture of Chun-Li starred by Kristin Kreuk will be featured soon.

Buy Street Fighter 2 Turbo #3B comic book