BotTalk Reviews

Who's tight-lipped like the T-1000 Terminator, more menacing than The Mummy (1959), slicker than Swamp Thing, more indestructible than The Blob (1958), immortal like Caltiki (1959) and obscure like X the Unknown (1956)? It's The Sludge from the pages of Lion (a British weekly boys' comic)!  1965. Radiological pollution contaminates a Sargassum... The Sludge is born! The Sludge (a luminous, sentient jelly-like substance) covers and takes over a large commercial liner, everyone aboard abandons ship. Reporter Bill Hanley (more macho than Clark Kent) and photojournalist Rick Slade (more experienced than Jimmy Olsen) of the Montreal (in the Canadian province of Quebec) Argus (an homage to the Argus camera company? To the Canadair CP-107 Argus built in Montreal?) newspaper are our investigating heroes. The slimy, glowing vessel rams into the Port of Montreal, The Sludge oozes onto a pier, the liner disintegrates. The Sludge gives itself a spooky humanoid form. Photojournalist Ric...

The Free Comic Book Day prelude to this Fall's epic event: Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King! Jim Zub's Grim Tidings The Hyborian Age of Conan. The borderlands between Zingara and Argos, CONAN OF CIMMERIA and some sell-swords are fighting raiders. Next to the "CRAZED BIRD" tavern, Conan cripples one of the sell-swords for disrespecting a woman. Disgusted by the way the mercenaries are behaving, the chivalrous barbarian leaves Captain Keegan (an homage to The Adventures of Two-Gun Bob)'s unit. A servant of Thulsa Doom is seeking Conan, his mission: to slay the Cimmerian who slayed his master (way back in Conan the Barbarian (2023) #12). Looking at the ocean (Kathulos is know as "The Son of the Ocean"), Conan senses a forthcoming conflict. Montfaucon-d'Argonne, France in 1918 (from Robert E. Howard's Skull Face). American, World War I soldier Stephen Costigan (NOT Sailor Steve Costigan) survives the Meuse-Argonne offensive, he ends up in a field hosp...

eBook by Adam Rose Cover by Alex Horley (aka Alessandro Orlandelli) Chapter illustration by Patrick Zircher  From Titan Books and Heroic Signatures Spoilers! Spoilers!  In Althunia, young Kull of Atlantis is a slave of Eldor (clearly NOT the heroic guardian of the book of living spells) the Game Warden. The Althunian Skull Forest. A hunting party of FOUR men goes missing, sheep are being mutilated. Kull must find and terminate the culprit: the Beast of Skull Mountain, if he is successful in his mission, he'll be released from slavery. An elk points Kull to a hidden trail, Althunian runes on a tree indicate that the Skull Beast's den is above the clouds, so up the mountain Kull goes. Crows attack from above, Kull finds three decapitated wolves, Kull knows one of them: Tiber the Grey, Kull buries the three canines. Kull meets Orgon the Bounty Hunter who is also looking for the Skull Beast. FOUR decaying disciples/slaves of the immortal Beast: Gar (a diminutive of Garou?) and his...

eBook by Shaun Hamill  Dedicated to Shaun's father, Rick Hamill Cover by Guillem H. Pongiluppi  Chapter illustration by Patrick Zircher  From Titan Books and Heroic Signatures Spoilers! Spoilers!  Solomon Kane is tracking "something" dark and evil from England. The "something" wounds Solomon in the leg and leaves him to die in the woods outside of the village known as Tywyllwch/Darkness in Wales. It's Yuletide, Christmas eve.  Four children are missing: Tacy (Rees' platonic girlfriend), Matilde, Howell and Philipe. Rees (an homage to Martin Rees, the fifteenth Astronomer Royal?) finds Solomon in the snow and drags him to his home. Rees' father, Hughe (a physician who also has a wife (Elys) and a daughter (Judithe)) thinks that Kane is the culprit behind the kidnappings, he threatens to poison the Puritan. Kane mentions that Puritans do not celebrate Christmas. Someone masquerading as the Mari Lwyd (the Grey Mare from the South Wales wassailing folk c...

Novel by Shaun Hamill Dedicated to Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) Cover by Nick Marinkovich Chapter illustration by Patrick Zircher  From Titan Books and Cabinet Licensing LLC Also available unabridged on audiobook from Blackstone Publishing, read by James Fouhey  Spoilers! Spoilers!  Kane, the Puritan wanderer/adventurer, is now in his fifties, with the help of N'Longa the African shaman/sorcerer, he concentrates his efforts on hunting vampires wherever they may be. Solomon takes a break from relentlessly battling bloodsuckers, he goes to the village of Baumstadt in the Black Forest of Germany (Shaun Hamill adapts Solomon Kane: Death's Black Riders) and kills a beast with great skeletal wings (like the Eremite from Hellraiser (1987)) and its supernatural rider. Kane receives a letter from a childhood friend, Catherine Archer, who is now married to Enoch (an homage to the biblical figure), has 4 children and is living in the English Puritan village of Windsend in England....

CONAN & DRAGONERO part 1 (of 7): The Shadow of the Dragon While battling a gem stealing dragon (with a broken wing) in the Hyborian Age, Captain Conan and his soldiers are teleported by mysterious dark forces to Varliendár aka the "Land of the Dragons". Two moons are shining in the firmament. Algents (savage, mute, albino humanoids who inhabit the desolate ash plains of Varliendár) attack, two of Conan's comrades get killed. Even more Algents attack, Conan and his men run towards "The Great Wall aka Arcelonte", the immense barrier that extends from east to west along the northern border of Erondàr and separates it from Varliendár. The rest of Conan's comrades get slaughtered.  Conan is rescued by the Red Guards of the Wall, they think that Conan could be from the Kingdom of Raghnar. Conan is chained and incarcerated, a young sorcerer gives Conan a real-time translator pendant, so that they can communicate. Commander Deynar is in charge of the border outp...

aka Alien, Predator & Planet of the Apes CGD 2026 #1 (Comics Giveaway Day 2026). Strange visitors have arrived on the Planet of the Apes. Astronaut Arch overhears General Ursus proclaiming that "The only good human is a dead human!". Arch encounters wild humans, three soldier apes attack. Two of the apes start gunning down the men, a combistick/telescoping spear kills the third ape who was longing to lacerate a woman and her child, one of the other two apes starts shooting at the Predator, the Yautja slaughters the soldiers with his wristblades. What I did like: A sweet cover by Davide Paratore featuring Dr. Zaius! We get to see the statue of the Lawgiver. Arch says the famous George Taylor line: "It's A Mad House." from Planet of the Apes (1968). What I did not like: The ANSA (American National Space Administration) uniform of Arch is incorrect, the flag of the United States should be on her left shoulder. The Predator does not use his plasmacaster shoulder...

Sword-brothers, sword-sisters, your local spinner rack is once again displaying another brand new issue of SSOC!  Sixty-four startling pages of barbaric savagery in black-and-white printed on newsprint paper! Inside this magazine you will find the following: Art pin-ups: Bêlit the Queen of the Black Coast by Nick Marinkovich Conan the Barbarian by Jordan Raskin CONAN: DWELLERS OF THE OASIS part 1: Deserted Goods and Shifting Sands by Jim Zub and Ivan Gil (Conan: Scourge of the Serpent) It's only eight months after the events of "A Witch Shall be Born". Turan on the shores of the Vilayet sea. Conan is still the leader of a band of Zuagir bandits. Conan and his raiders decimate the Turanian soldiers of King Yildiz. Conan is still suffering from his wounds, he remembers Queen Taramis of Khauran, Salome (an homage to the one who asked for the head of John the Baptist), Constantius aka The Falcon, his crucifixion (as seen in the Conan the Barbarian (1982) movie), Olgerd Vladis...

A thrilling manga prequel to the hit anime Grendizer U! Spoilers! Spoilers!  The cosmic league of nations is ruled by the evil Kingdom of Vega. Planet Fleed/Euphor is protected by a formidable weaponized Mech, Grendizer/Goldorak. Seven invasions by the Vega Star Alliance were repelled by Grendizer. We are introduced to: Gau Su Uls (Duke Fleed's best friend, a lycanthrope from Planet Uls, son of King Uls and a Starker Knight academy student, an homage to Morros/Pollux from episode 71 of UFO Robo Grendizer (1975-1977) and TV Magazine (01/1976)) Duke Fleed (the young prince of Planet Fleed/Prince d'Euphor, the most accomplished Knight of the academy) King Fleed (Father of Duke) Queen Fleed (Mother of Duke) Princess Grace Maria Fleed/Phénicia (Younger sister of Duke) Cassado Zeola Whiter (a sadistic Starker Knight, an homage to Whiter/Sogrady from episode 24 of UFO Robo Grendizer (1975-1977)) Only Starker Knights can pilot "Dizer" mechs. Only the mightiest of the Knights ...

Anyway Gang is Canada's coolest Alternative/Indie Rock supergroup quartet ever assembled:  Chris Murphy (Sloan), Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club), Menno Versteeg (Hollerado) and Sam Roberts (Sam Roberts Band)! Additional guitars by Nixon Boyd (Hollerado). Trevor James Anderson and Gus van Go played some keys and guitars also.  Additional vocals by Alyson McNamara. Produced by Anyway Gang, Trevor James Anderson and Nixon Boyd. Additional production and mixed by Gus van Go and Werner F. Engineered by Nixon Boyd and Trevor James Anderson; Assistant Engineer: Zach Pepe. Additional Engineering by Mike Gnocato. Mastered by João Carvalho. Recorded at Noble Street Studios (Toronto) and at Banquet Sound recording studio (run by Nixon Boyd in Toronto). Cover art by Ben Marra. Band Picture by Calm Elliott-Armstrong.  Layout by Christina Zalec. A project funded in part by the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), the Government of Canada and Canada's private radi...

48 restored and fully colored pages of barbaric savagery! Inside this magnificent full-color magazine you will find the following: Classic remastered art pin-ups in stunning color: Conan the Barbarian by Jeffrey Catherine Jones from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #5 Conan the Barbarian by Tim Conrad from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #13 Conan, Bêlit & Red Sonja ad by Pablo Marcos from Savage Sword of Conan (1974) #23 BLACK COLOSSUS by Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala. (New Colors by GFB Group/GFB.it) The mysterious ruins of Kuthchemes. Shevatas (a Zamorian master-thief) finds a treasure. Thugra Khotan, the dark sorcerer who had reigned in Kuthchemes three thousand years ago, wakes up and kills Shevatas.  Khotan, who wants to rule the world, renames himself Natohk, the Veiled One; for his features were always masked.  Natohk amasses an army of nomads and teams-up with a rebellious Stygian prince (Katuman/Kutamun). Natohk lusts for princess Yasmela...

Doctor Doom wants General Ursus to be the new ruler of the Planet of the Apes. Doom gifts Ursus with a suit of armor. Zaius loses his cool, he fights with Cornelius and Dr. Zira. Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Cornelius, Zira and Zaius fish George Taylor's submerged spacecraft (The Icarus/Liberty 1) out of the water. Two Super-Apes (Peotor (orangutan) and Igor (baboon)) attack our heroes! Zaius calms and befriends the Super-Apes.  Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) deduces that they are on Earth... in the future. Ape City. Soldier Apes begin to shoot at the wrathful farmers who have seized the city. President Gaius (supreme leader of Ape City) decides not to flee from the angry mob. Ursus incinerates the guards of Gaius. The Red Ghost (Russian scientist Ivan Kragoff, the brain behind the farmer uprising/rebellion) knocks out Gaius. The reign of puppet President Ursus has commenced. What I did like: A letters page (Parcels of the Apes)! Marvellous covers by Greg Land/Rachelle Rosenb...

What you'll find inside McSweeney's issue no. sixty-nine: The New Toe by Zach Williams (A two-year-old grows an extra toe.) Asymptote by Siqi Liu (A widow and her daughter wait for the world to end.) 18 or 34 Miles from Perennial Square by Max Delsohn (A feral frank appears in the forest.) A Fable by John Lee Clark (Blind men and an elephant, reimagined.) Stuffed Cabbage Man by Julie Hecht (A writer remembers her neighbours.) This is Not Miami by Fernanda Melchor/Translated by Sophie Hughes (Dockworkers in Veracruz assist stowaways.) Scraps by Leila Renee (A heartbroken girl licks her wounds in a KFC.) True, False, Floating by Mel Kassel (Rib reading is the new palmistry.) An Audacious Man by Evan James (Daring to be bold.) The Reanimator by Mikkel Rosengaard (DMs from the dead.) The New Maite by Yohanca Delgado (A woman comes across a clone of herself.) The Starlight by Lydi Conklin (A pterodactyl crashes into a Pegasus and surmounting selfishness.) The Nominal Sca...

What you'll actually find inside this "parody of a grief manual" by Jason Roeder (a former senior editor and senior writer at The Onion): INTRODUCTION: Devastation Perfected Five Grieving Visualization Power Postures  A Short History of Grief CHAPTER I: Hospitals: Pregaming for Grief  A Hospital Who's Who Health Care Directives (treatments that may be used) Know Your Hospital Televisions Hospice Care Last Words That Wow Using a Last Word Service CHAPTER II: Fun with Aftermath  A List of Funerals, Caskets and Headstones Surefire Eulogy Starters Experiencing Grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) A Short History of The Never-Released Sixth Stage of Grief How Much Am I Allowed To Blame God? A State-By-State Breakdown Grief Speed Run Dealing with Regrets Visiting The Grave Rating Grief with The Chili Pepper System Dealing with Belongings (Keep, Sell, Donate, etc.) Grief and Toxic Relationships Grieving for Pets A Pupa Press "Books by Insects for Th...

eBook by Robbie MacNiven Cover by E. M. Gist  From Titan Books, Heroic Signatures & Conan Properties International LLC Spoilers! Spoilers!  Conan of Cimmeria is aware that a former cabin boy of Captain Zaporavo (killed by Conan in The Pool of the Black One) of the Wastrel is aboard the Heir of Argus.  Conan is also aware that the cabin boy is actually runaway Princess Elyka (the youngest daughter of King Codrin Saldius of Nemedia who fled Belverus (capital city of the kingdom of Nemedia)).  Conan joins the Zingaran and Argossean crew of the Heir of Argus in Messantia (capital port city of Argos). The captain of the Heir of Argus learns that Conan is wanted by Strom (who will die in The Black Stranger) of the Red Hand/King of the Barachans/Lord of the pirate city of Tortage. Brought in chains to Tortage, Conan makes sure that everyone hears that his cabin boy buddy is Princess Elyka.  Captain Gavrali (of Corinthia) kidnaps Conan (to sell him on Sark's Isle) a...

eBook by Cavan Scott Cover by Guillem H. Pongiluppi  Illustrations by Patrick Zircher  From Titan Books and Heroic Signatures Spoilers! Spoilers!  Solomon Kane is returning home to Devonshire, the Puritan hears laughter upon the moor. Green Hart tavern in Challaton Worthy (near Brambleheath). Solomon meets Henry Worle (a local woodcutter) who is wearing a charm made of rowan (a Faerie tree and a protection against pixy magic). Marcus Brampton and Gerald stumble into the tavern, victims of a sprite (fairies) attack. Little Masie Wilkins was left behind. Kane and Worle enter Whist Wood, they rescue Masie from a swarm of laughing pixies/Strikkan. Kane and Worle find the Fairyland gateway (a Whitethorn/Hawthorn and a Blackthorn/Sloe with their thorns tangled together). Solomon starts cutting down the Whitethorn, the Strikkan assail Kane and strip him of his axe and weapons and take Worle away.  Kane is pulled into the portal. In the realm of the Strikkan, Solomon sees a ...

Sword-brothers, sword-sisters, your local spinner rack is once again exhibiting another brand new issue of SSOC!  Sixty-four startling pages of barbaric savagery in black-and-white printed on newsprint paper! Inside this attractive magazine you will find the following: Puritanical art pin-ups: Solomon Kane by Luke Eidenschink Solomon Kane by Ace Continuado CONAN: THE BLUE ORCHID by Roy Thomas and Roberto de la Torre An ancient Hyrkanian castle on the Zaporoska river, recently seized by Yezdigerd the Prince of Turan. Atta of Shadizar (a Zamorian thief) and Conan cannot locate the Blue Orchid diamond (a gigantic jewel from Khitai, supposedly acquired months ago in Makkalet (Conan the Barbarian (1970) #26) by Yezdigerd), so Atta helps himself to a vase and some gems and Conan nicks a necklace. Zaria and three Hyrkanians (Sulimar, Arafam and Stafah/Stapha who are also interested in obtaining the Blue Orchid) witness Conan and Atta emerging from the river. Turanian horse archers kill th...

Spoilers! Spoilers!  CHAPTER 16 (book 3 of 18): A Farewell Drink The Bat (aka Kōmori) of Kai (a ninja assassin from the Takeda clan based in Kai Province who was disfigured by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) in Azuchi Castle) has arrived in Kanazawa. Hotaru (aka Firefly the female ninja) is now living with Maeda Keiji (inspired by real-life samurai Maeda Toshimasu (1543-1612)).  The Bat of Kai (who is Hotaru's former ninja tutor and an opium addict) drugs Hotaru to make her poison Keiji, she commits suicide via secret Seppuku. Keiji promises to slay ALL Kaga ninjas. CHAPTER 17: High on Rage Keiji cremates Hotaru's body.  Ninja master "Flying (tobi)" Kato (Kato Danzo (1503-1569)) of the Takeda clan (Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) wanted Danzo killed because he was too skilled) and the Fuma clan, kills some of Yotsui Shume (leader of the Kaga ninja army of Keiji's uncle. An homage to actor Jack Nicholson)'s men with his Tang sword (Tang Dao). The Bat of Kai challenges Keij...