Comics: The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ~ Issue 2

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Sid Kotian

Color by: Bill Farmer

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover A by Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer)

The Plot:

Aided by Ultimate Darkness, Al continues her search for Francis Walther, the guy who currently have the book of keys. Her search brings her to the cyberworld. As Ronnie says it, the cyberspace is a place where the supernatural world and the world of the internet mix. Who knew that the internet could be a gateway to the paranormal world.

The Good:

This 2nd part of the 4 part miniseries is definitely a nice read. Injecting the internet to be a gateway to some paranormal world is a nice move. This is the first time that I had seen this idea be used in a comic book.

The 4 page preview of Dream Police at the end was a nice closing for this issue.

The Bad:

We are still left hanging as to why imps suddenly appeared and chased Al down the road.

The Verdict:

This is an enjoyable 2nd issue from Apocalypse Al. However, I might not recommend it that much. Personally, it just felt to be an average type of story. This issue had fallen short for my enthusiasm for this series.

"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: 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: The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ~ Issue 1

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Sid Kotian

Color by: Bill Farmer

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover A by Sid Kotian and Bill Farmer)

"I have to move fast, if I hesitate even a second longer, I'll lose focus and be trapped forever in this... this... toilet!" - Allison "Al" Carter

This is another goodie given to us by Joe's Comics in partnership with Image Comics. It centers on Allison "Al" Carter, a private investigator specializing in the end of the world, or more specifically preventing it.

In this 4 part miniseries, it starts with the almost end of the world. This is brought about by summoning the eater of the worlds with the use of the seal of Balthazar. Luckily Al prevented the world from ending too early. A case is later given by Mike Rose, a former investigator, in which the end of the world is at stake. This time it is due to the possession of the book of keys by an individual wanting to open the doorway to hell. As Al encounters a prophet, dreamscape, Mister Abernathy and even Ultimate Darkness, who knew Los Angeles could be any more dangerous as demonic creatures roam Beverly Hills day and night.

Straczynski couldn't possibly resist in giving us stories that involves doorways to hell. As Joe in Ten Grand goes to it and Al in Apocalypse Al tries to prevent it from opening, I'd say this doorway might once again appear in the future stories that Straczynski will write. As for the illustrations of Apocalypse Al, they are well made by the two artists. They really contributed a lot in making Apocalypse Al a funny story that deals with paranormal investigations major in apocalypse.

On the back cover of the comic, I like the idea that the artist had done by having 3 vertical panels at the back of Al. In these panels, Max Rose, the former investigator; Max, the prophet; and Ultimate Darkness were drawn.

The only thing that I just don't get is that Al was seen to be wearing boots before entering dreamscape. However, as she exits it she is seen to be wearing what she calls as sensible shoes.

So far, I am really excited for the future issues of Apocalypse Al. This is a nice deviation from the dark stories backed up with heavy thoughts and feelings that Straczynski gives us in Ten Grand.

"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: The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ~ Issue 1 (Retailer Exclusive Preview Edition)

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: Sid Kotian

Color by: Bill Farmer

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"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

I got this comic by chance while shuffling through a box of new comics in Filbar's in Festival Mall, Muntinlupa City. I was so amazed to have found this comic since I know that it would not be out in the shelves till next month (February 2014).

I bought this comic for the same price it will be sold by comic bookstores. It was also to my amazement that they had sold it to me since it was a retailer's copy, which I failed to notice on the front cover due to my surprise in finding this a month in advance. But still, it is a keeper since it would be a rare opportunity for me to just suddenly buy this off the shelf of a comic bookstore.

The difference with this retailer exclusive preview copy from the issue to be released next month is that the contents are not colored. It is only the front and the back cover of the comic that is colored by the artist. It really teases a lot by giving a preview on the art and the story of this new comic with the color being left out. In this preview I could personally say that this looks interesting. One could get the feeling that this might be a bad choice, but I think this might be due to the lack of color that it has.

I'll do the review for the story after I get a copy of the comic with full color next month. So far I'd say that you should try to browse this preview copy in a comic book store nearby. Try to buy it if they would allow you. But if they won't, well just browse through it and you might get interested in following this new series from Joe's Comics.

More of The Adventures of Apocalypse Al can be seen at:

Joe's Comics: www.studiojms.com

Image Comics, Inc.: www.imagecomics.com