Comics: Free Comic Book Day: VIZ Media 2014

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

Among the 2014 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) sponsored comics that I had gotten, I picked this one out of curiosity for the "All You Need Is Kill" story. This was the basis for the 2014 American film, Edge of Tomorrow. This comic contains two stories namely; All You Need Is Kill and Terra Formars.

All You Need Is Kill

Story by: Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Adaptation by: Nick Mamatas

Illustrated by: Lee Ferguson

Rated: Parental Advisory, Explicit Content

Haikasoru

VIZ Media

This story starts with Keiji Kinya fighting mimcs. These creatures are alien ecoforming bombs that are set to take over our planet. Fighting these creatures over and over again is the fate of Keiji as he reawakens each time to the same exact moment whenever he is killed. Loops are what they call this event that happens to people like him. This story is a short teaser that ends with Rita, another person who experiences loops, as she kills the mimics responsible for her father's death.

The first story is a nice teaser. It has an interesting plot that centers on an alien invasion by creatures that are quickly replicating stem cells that imitates the organism it encounters. Who are Earth's defenders? Well they are individuals who experiences the loop whenever they die and the mission is still left unaccomplished. This teaser can really make you buy the novel, manga or watch the movie and see how the story goes on.

Terra Formars

Excerpt from "Chapter 1: An Encounter with the Known"

Story by: Yu Sasuga

Illustrated by: Ken-ichi Tachibana

Rated: M for Mature

VIZ Signature Edition

VIZ Media

The second story is a shorter teaser compared to the first one. The setting this time is Mars. The characters are a bunch of astronauts from different countries. The story starts with the astronauts' encounter with alien life forms that inhabit Mars. This teaser ends with one of the female character's neck being snapped backwards by the alien.

This second story is confusing for me. Yes, they showed the list of characters on the 1st page of the story. Yes, it was established that they are in Mars. What I don't get is what are their purpose there. They were supposed to pick up any remains, in which I don't know what. I guess I only got surprised as one of them got killed, well almost since I think she has a few more breaths left in her.

This FCBD 2014 comic from VIZ Media was a half enjoyable one. The only thing in common between these two stories is that they both have encounters with an alien life form. It was mostly the first story that I enjoyed reading. I guess that could be attributed to the fact that I understand the plot of the 1st story more than the 2nd one. I would recommend that you purchase the complete story of All You Need Is Kill rather than Terra Formars.

More of Haikasoru can be seen at:

htttp://www.haikasoru.com

More of VIZ Media can be seen at:

http://www.viz.com

Comics: Free Comic Book Day: FUBAR 2014

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

This is just one among the 2014 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) sponsored comics that I had gotten. Its interesting plot of the involvement of zombies that the U.S. had encountered in their action of killing Osama Bin Laden is definitely a head turner for this comic. It contains two stories namely The Ace of Spades and Zero Dead Thirty.

The Ace of Spades

Story by: Chuck Dixon

Illustrated by: Jeff McComsey and Steve Becker

Rated: Mature Content

FUBAR Press

This story tells of the two operations done in pursuit of Sadam Hussein. Operation Urgent Surprise and Operation Red Dawn were carried out in Adwan, Iraq under the leadership of Captain Kuber. The search was done on one of Sadam's Palaces. Mike, one of the U.S. soldiers on board for the operation uses a deck of cards to identify important individuals surrounding Sadam, who was assigned to the ace of spades card. He had captured Doctor Ahmet Hafeez, a nine of hearts for the deck, who was identified to be involved in the creation of bio weapons. Little do they know that they will set loose all hell in that palace.

The first story is a good introduction on how zombies could have come about in this fictional accounts of the steps undergone in the occurrence of Sadam's death. It includes the use of biological weapons in the event that a palace is suddenly seized by the U.S. military forces. It strikes a thought on the possibility that zombies might have been included in their development of biological weapons since that idea would never reach the top officials. Thus, in return would create an exchange of little or none of the existence of such absurd weaponry that would be briefed to the military.

Zero Dead Thirty

Story by: Chad Lambert

Illustrated by: Jeff McComsey

Rated: Mature Content

FUBAR Press

The second story is a shorter one compared to the first. This time it involves the pursuit of Osama bin Laden. He is codenamed as Geronimo in Operation Neptune Spear that was conducted in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The search for every room was done until it ended with a man in a turban being killed. Identified by a woman and a child in the same room that the guy that was just killed is Osama, the U.S. navy seals reported back that Geronimo is K.I.A. However, after a few moments, a reanimation occurred that lead to one of the U.S. seals to decapitate the body of Osama. Thus, reporting back that Geronimo is K.I.A. again. This story ends with a speech from the U.S. President Barrack Obama.

I could say that I got lost in some of the dialogues here whenever someones asks about Osama. The initials repeatedly used to ask if Osama is the one dead on the floor or where is his head is often U.B.L. I just don't get the letter U. Well anyways, it gives a literal perspective from a piece of the speech delivered by Pres. Obama by saying that they had cut off their enemy's head.

This FCBD 2014 comic from FUBAR Press is an enjoyable one. From what I've learned from the contents of this comic is that FUBAR mostly creates fictional histories that involves zombies. Well that concept fitted nicely in this event in our history. Mostly the things that got me confused was from the second story. There's a strange thing that I've noticed with regards to the ones worn on the eyes by these U.S. pursuit team. They have these four ocular lenses that I really can't place on what the two additional oculars are for since the human body only has two eyes. Well aside from those stuffs from the second story, everything was an enjoyable read for me.

It is still a good thing that these are just fictional accounts of our history. If these accounts had indeed happened, it might have been FUBAR for us if zombies are now used as a biological weapon.

More of FUBAR Press can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Zombie FUBAR"

Twitter: @fubarpress

www.fubarpress.com

Events: Experiencing FCBD 2014

Free Comic Book Day, or to make it short FCBD, is a unique experience for me. FCBD started in North America as a way to give back to comic lovers who continue to support comics. It aims to give back to comic book lovers and supporters by giving away free comics every first saturday of May. Last May 3, 2014 is the first FCBD experience that I had. Even though the first time I had known of this event was last year (2013), it was only this year that I had gotten a taste of what this event really feels like. Lines were crazily long outside comic book stores just to get hold of the goodies first before the best ones ran out. Well with comic book stores giving out freebies and conducting sales on their items, you really don't want to miss out on this opportunity.

I only had two destinations for FCBD 2014. They are the Precious Pages' bookstore in Starmall Las Piñas and Comic Odyssey in Alabang Town Center. I can actually make it to 3 stores since the Precious Pages' bookstore in Starmall Alabang is just within my vicinity. However, I only went to those two I mentioned since the weather was too hot to commute any further.

First stop would be the Precious Pages' book store where to my amazement I'm the first in line to get a free Black Ink Comic. So I still had a lot of choices and ended up picking Book 1 of Dark Side. This is one good move that Precious Pages had done in order to further promote Black Ink Comics. I might say that they are really keen on introducing themselves as one of the publishers of komiks in our local bookstores.

The last stop for my FCBD 2014 experience is Comic Odyssey. I was really honored to have been among those who were given the privilege to have the 2014 FCBD sponsored comics be reserved till 6 p.m. for me to be picked up. It was really a treat especially since it includes being able to have 3 comics reserved. Because the Alabang branch of Comic Odyssey entitles only 1 comic to be given away per customer. However, there were two customers who were allowed to get 3 comics since they were the first two guys standing in line at the doors of the Alabang branch of Fully Booked around 7 a.m.

It was around 11 a.m. when I got to Fully Booked and the number of people for the comics were outstanding. It reminds me of Indieket, not much of Komikon due to the number of people that were around. Well the comics left were still plenty but I'm guesing that is the half or a third of whats left during that time. But no one will argue that here in the Philippines that it is at the Fully Booked branch at the Fort who holds the biggest events and caters the largest crowd. It was a crazier one, since the first person in line for that branch was there at 2:36 p.m. one day before the doors will open for the FCBD event. Crazy right? Imagine falling in line for 18 hours before they let you in to get the goodies. Well the things you do for your hobby or passion.

FCBD was really worth experiencing. I could say it is not only a way to give back to comic lovers. But I think more of it as a great marketing strategy to increase the number of readership for comics. No one would back down from a freebie right? Especially if you happen to be lucky and pass by a store that gives away more than 2 free comics and you still are left with titles that interest you.

Here are the things that I got from Free Comic Book Day 2014:

• Dark Side ~ Book 1: 2:00 AM
• Ron Mendoza and Erwin J. Arroza
• Black Ink Comics
• The Ace of Spades
• Chuck Dixon, Jeff McComsey and Steve Becker
• Fubar Press
• Zero Dead Thirty (inside The Ace of Spades)
• Chad Lambert and Jeff McComsey
• Fubar Press
• All You Need Is Kill
• Nick Mamatas and Lee Ferguson
• Haika Soru
• Terra Formars (half comic of All You Need Is Kill)
• Yu Sasuga and Ken-ichi Tachibana
• Haika Soru
• Duel Identity (half comic of Pandora's Blogs)
• Elaine Lee and Francis Nuguit
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Pandora's Blogs
• David Campiti, David Lawrence, Jinky Coronado and Larry Tuazon
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Tesla (half comic of Way Ward Sons)
• Terry Keefe, David Lawrence and Bong Dazo
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Way Ward Sons
• Benn R. Powell
• Red Giant Entertainment

Events: Free Comic Book Day 2014

Aside from the numerous warehouse sale that happens this week, I guess this is another important event for a comic lover like me which is the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) that occurs yearly.

This is an event that is participated by a lot of comic book stores in many countries wherein comic books are given for free. Well not all are free, the FCBD sponsored ones are among those that are free. Conducted along with this is the sale among the different graphic novels, posters, and other merchandises.