Cosmic Book News

In the past two weeks DnA have not only revitalized their Heroes For Hire run, they have begun a whole new era of comic goodness on New Mutants! Who says lightening doesn’t strike twice?! An all new direction is just what this book needed and there is no better team to spin a book for

"This week on Redemption Island we have two winners — Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning!"  Finally, after the last few issues of sub-par writing and even worse visuals, Heroes For Hire fans can rejoice that the dynamic duo are back in full swing again! Not since issue three has this book felt as fun and

Issue nine of Remender's outstanding run, takes a break from the high octane, banter filled stories to give most of the team a well deserved breather – as I said – most of the team! With great trepidation, the team stays behind as Wolverine takes the spotlight and does a favor for none other than

The Serpent has chosen those he has deemed "Worthy" — and the world will pay the price for knowing fear! Book two of Fear Itself, though not as stunning as issue one, does exactly what a second chapter should — set up an insurmountable challenge laced with a cacophony of chaos! Devastation reigns supreme as

Brian Cohn has been arrested for the murder of a child, a murder he didn’t commit. His life has always been a struggle, fraught with mental abuse and later — full blown schizophrenia. So it is difficult for him to fathom just how he got into this mess, let alone why the detective assigned to the case just slid him a razor blade from across the police precinct interrogation table. Maybe it has something to do with the fact Detective Robert Neville enjoys making stitch work dolls out of little girls bodies.

Chapter five of Echoes is as disturbing and prolific as the first four issues were. It entices you to follow along as a man is slowly dragged into a situation he has literally no control over, and we as readers, get to sit back and enjoy every grotesque moment.  Joshua Hale Fiakov has created a world that makes you question preconceptions of the genre. “Of course the schizo did it, he was off his meds man!” But within the pages of Echoes, the flaws of a disturbed man do not make him the typical deranged killer, on the contrary, he becomes the perfect scapegoat for someone far more cunning than he would ever be. The notion that those with mental instabilities are to be feared while people of authority are to be revered as heroes in the eyes of a community are thrown away — leaving a feeling of paranoia that subtly settles into your psyche. Those that are to protect us from villainy just have better skills on how to get away with the very things they are trained to stop. It is a notion that has been done many times before, but in such an intimate medium as comics — it becomes far more disheartening and realistic.

I have said it before during my review for issue three, but Rahsan Ekedal is an artistic genius that sets up a page layout like no other! The splash page that encompass pages two and three, tells the entire sadistic story of Det. Neville without a single word. Each individual box shows an aspect seen somewhere within the past four issues but reveals just how malicious and diabolical Det. Neville has been “behind the scenes” of this twisted tale. It is a rare artistic concept concocted by an artist that is grossly under appreciated. 

Marvel keeps telling us at the CBN offices to vote with our dollars — well I have! My four bucks goes to a book that is not written by a conglomerate at a weekend retreat. It goes to a book that has minimal press, a smaller print line and a far better product than anything I have seen in awhile from the big two! So I am taking this time to implore you to pick up this book! If you can’t find the first couple of issues, it’s okay, the trade will be out soon and I beg you to pick one up. Fialkov has said he has ideas for an Echoes Vol. 2, but it is up to us to help that come to fruition. So, second guess that sixteenth Wolverine book and pick up something that will shock your perceptions of what a comic should be.

This is not just Horror at it’s best — it’s comics at it’s best!