Comics: The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ~ Issue 1 (Cover Review)

Retailer Exclusive Preview Edition Cover: Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer

Cover A: Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer

Cover B: Ryan Sook

(Preview Edition Cover, Cover A and B)

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Sid Kotian

Color by: Bill Farmer

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics

I included the cover used for the retailer exclusive preview edition of this issue. The only thing that I didn't collect was cover C made by Ryan Sook. That cover is mostly the line art of cover B which was made by the same artist.

The retailer preview and cover A basically have the same illustrations made by the same artists. This cover features Al and a few characters from the 1st issue. It is a simple and a bit ordinary cover for an issue #1 comic.

Cover B, made by Sook, has a little more story in it. It features the destruction of Los Angeles as all sorts of creatures emerge from below the depths of the earth.

I would choose to have the standard cover A for the first issue of Apocalypse Al. The illustrations in cover A surpasses cover B. This is because of the better representation of the comic that deals with the end of the world in a humorous way.

"I love L.A. Beverly Hills on one side, demonic creatures on the other. Sometimes it's hard telling the two apart." - Allison "Al" Carter

More of Apocalypse Al can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: http://www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: http://www.imagecomics.com

Comics: Afterlife with Archie ~ Issue 2 (Cover Review)

Cover A: Francesco Francavilla

Cover B (Variant): Tim Seeley

Cover C (2nd Printing Variant): Francesco Francavilla

(Cover A, B and C)

Story by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Illustrated by: Francesco Francavilla

Rated: Teen+, Violence and Mature Content

Archie Comics

Yes I'm a fan of this series that's why I decided to collect the different variants of every singles of Afterlife with Archie. As long as they are not more than $10 or Php. 500 for each variant cover. The first two covers for Afterlife with Archie #2 were sold last November 20, 2013. The 2nd printing was released shortly on January 1, 2014.

The covers made by Francavilla, cover A and C, were nice. Interestingly they both have Jughead say EEAARRCHIEE!

The variant cover, cover B, made by Seeley is the best one for this issue. It shows a chest view of Archie in which most of the colors were just plainly gray scale colors with splatters of orange-colored blood in some areas.

If you are keen on following this series but without any interest in collecting all the different variants, I suggest that the variant cover made by Seeley, cover B, is the best choice to have as a single. It just gives a more silent thought on the story for this issue. I guess I may prefer it that way unless they make another variant cover in which the scene that involves an apple is the one drawn.

"This Is How The End Of The World Begins..."

More of Afterlife with Archie can be seen at:

www.afterlifewitharchie.com

Comics: Ten Grand ~ Issue 2 (Cover Review)

Cover A: Ben Templesmith

Cover B: Bill Sienkiewicz

(Cover A on the left, Cover B on the right)

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Ben Templesmith

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics

I finally got the other cover for the 2nd issue of Ten Grand. For the 2nd issue, the two different covers were made by Ben Templesmith and Bill Sienkiewicz. The first cover that I was able to purchase was Cover B, which I had used to make the review for the 2nd issue of this comic. It took several weeks before I finally stumbled upon Cover A.

I'll first go over to the 1st cover. In here, the art looks to have been made mostly by pencil. In here, it showed the scene wherein Joe dies and has been given that precious 5 minutes with his love one, Laura. The artist has indeed managed to capture that scene depicting that precious moment, which is a nice event from this issue to be used as the cover. The only downside for me with this cover is the same concerns that I had with the irregular proportions that the artist did to Laura, which I also mentioned on the review of the 1st issue of this comic. It seems strange for me to see Laura, as drawn by Templesmith, to have large hands, which in this case is seen thru the large right hand. I guess it would have been a bit better if the hands were smaller in size. Just the right size or should I say the norm for a woman at the very least, since that is what I had been picturing since it was said over and over in the 1st issue that Laura was really beautiful.

On the other hand, Cover B's art appears to have been made thru the use of watercolors. In here, the scene is a combination of the three characters of the story. It is composed of the angel, whom Joe simply calls as Angel; Laura who appears to be in heaven; and Joe in which he is seen to be holding a gun.

In comparison among the two, I'd say that I prefer cover A more than cover B. It is because of the scene that it highlights for this issue of the comic. It shows the very root of the story despite a plot which involves angels and demons. It shows the unending and undying love of Joe to Laura, in which it is to be regarded literally in this story.

"Love is the only thing worth dying for. I should know. I've done it plenty of times." - Joe Fitzgerald

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: www.imagecomics.com