BotTalk Reviews

War of the Void Rivals! War begins, here in issue # 21 of Void Rivals! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman’s sci-fi comic that tells the tale of two crumbling planets linked by a “Sacred Ring” (it’s not Halo), their peoples at war for generations. When a member of each culture are stranded together, the two find they must put aside their differences if they want to survive. This story takes place in the so-called “Energon Universe”, Skybound Entertainment’s initiative to relaunch properties like Transformers and G.I. Joe within a shared universe that also happens to include the original characters and setting of Void Rivals. New ongoing artist Conor Hughes joins Kirkman and colorist Patricio Delpeche in this issue as Agorria and Zertonia stand at the brink of war! Darak and Solila’s efforts to bring forth Unity hit a big snag as Premier Zalilak returns from his spiritual sojourn and launches a full-on attack against Agorria. Meanwhile, Skuxxoid (our Skuxxoid) learns how to advance in the ran...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Andrea Milana (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Raptor (Cobra Falconer) continues his attack on Cover Girl and Baroness in Paris, relating briefly his origin.  Finally, he and Major Bludd are able to capture the duo.  At the Pit (The G.I. Joe command center), Risk expresses concern that Clutch is acting off to Duke, who brushes it off.  Meanwhile, Clutch talks more with Autobot Hound and promises to help him find the Autobots and more Energon.  At a prison facility, Mercer has broken in and found a rogue M.A.R.S. agent who helped fixed up Decepticon Starscream.  Destro tells Mercer to make sure the agent doesn't share the info.  In an undisclosed location, Major Bludd tells the Baroness and Cover Girl they must fight for their freedom, ending the issue on a cliffhanger.  Writing :  Williamson has done a good job making Raptor a bit more interesting.  He keeps the bulk of ...

A young red shirt nearly loses his eye to a Mugato.  He walks away with a discoloured eye and some scars that he hopes will appear intimidating.  Some time later he gets a new assignment with several other security officers. Someone has tapped into a Starfleet coms center and its their job to sort it out.  They will offer bait, then cut the data feed and see who comes to investigate.  The officers are fired toward the surface in torpedo casings, though two officers don't survive.  As the remaining team members regroup with the embedded officer on the planet, a Romulan Bird of Prey approaches. This is an interesting change of pace.  A comic focused on Red Shirts.  Of course fans know the joke.  Red Shirts are disposable on the Original Series and we get multiple panels of Red Shirt deaths.  Some gruesome, some funny.  Having them be self aware, that few ever live past thirty, was a good choice I think.  The story feels a bit more ma...

A seinen manga by Osamu Tezuka (Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements) Spoilers! Spoilers!  EPISODE 1: The Woman in the Box (Count Alucard/Dracula entrusts his mysterious niece, I.L/Aiel (pronounced "I’ll"), a vampire and actress who can change her physical appearance by slipping into her coffin, to a dispirited film director, Daisaku/Masterpiece Imari.) EPISODE 2: Moths (Can I.L cure Shihoko's husband from his freaky moth obsession?) EPISODE 3: The Messenger (I.L helps a cancer stricken woman find contentment one final time. Hyotantsugi (Gourdski) appears.) EPISODE 4: President Flareluno/Fralerno’s Treasure (Just before his execution, I.L will make Micronesia's former president believe that his Japanese wife Mayako never betrayed him. We get a The Reptile (1966) homage. Cornell Woolrich gets mentioned. Masami Fukushima, Shoji Otomo, Sakyo Komatsu, Hiroshi Manabe, Junnosuke Kishida, Tarō Okamoto and Shigeru Mizuki appear.) EPISODE 5: The Monster in Broc...

Who is the Worst Bot Ever?? You find out in this special trade-sized Transformers story by writer Brian "Smitty" Smith and artist Marz Jr. that follows the story of Ballpoint, a tiny Decepticon that turns into a pen! Ballpoint’s got a small body but a huge ego and his dream is for his Decepticon colleagues to finally recognize his contributions to the cause! Right... what is this then? This is a lighthearted tale for kids, and perhaps charming for some older Transformers fans as well. A parable told in humour about finding the people who value you and your place in the world. There’s nothing ground-shaking or particularly original to be found here, but there are some laughs to be had and fun, energetic art. If you want to introduce some younger children to Transformers or comic books in general, this is a good bet, as it skews towards that “Transformers: Rescue Bots” demographic. For older fans, there’s a couple of gags that landed for me, like the writer’s take on the Rumbl...

Sword-brothers, sword-sisters, your local spinner rack is once again showcasing another remarkable new issue of SSOC!  64 pulsating pages of barbaric savagery in black-and-white printed on newsprint! Inside this wonderful magazine you will find the following sparkling gems: Incredible art pin-ups: Conan the Barbarian by Valerio Giangiordano Kull of Atlantis by Geof Isherwood CONAN THE BARBARIAN & VALERIA OF THE RED BROTHERHOOD: THE SUNLESS ISLE part 1 by Patch/Patrick Zircher A direct follow-up to Robert E. Howard's Red Nails. Tascela, the princess of Tecuhltli lies impaled (by Valeria) on the floor. Old Tolkemec has been slain by Conan. The Xotalancas and the Tecuhltli have exterminated each other. Conan does NOT want to steal any of their possibly haunted jewels. Conan catches Valeria in his arms and they kiss. Conan thinks that they'll be on a ship before the Stygians open their ports for the trading season. The road to the coast is much too long. Conan of Cimmeria &...

Jim Zub's A Nest of Serpents part 2: Diamond in the Dirt It's Conan the Worm vs Krum-Va the Colossal. From his skybox, The Master of The Black Ring, Thoth-Amon and his buddies are barely being entertained.  Conan discovers that Krum-Va's ankle is his Achilles' heel. Conan kills Krum-Va and thus becomes the new slave-champion of The City of Magicians.  The power-hungry Athyr-Bast is pleased, finally one of her savage slaves is triumphant. The Lords of Kheshatta are taking notice too. To pass under the radar of the sorcerers, Conan uses a brilliant pseudonym: Amra from the Shemite city of Akbitana/Akbatana. Thoth-Amon wants to purchase the impressive Cimmerian, but Athyr-Bast prefers to keep the barbarian in her stable. Conan is not returned to his prison cell, he's told to "shower" for his mistress. In Athyr-Bast's chamber, the enchantress calls Conan her Diamond in the Dirt.  Off panel, Conan receives Weapon Training  (just like he did in the 1982 Cona...