Some thoughts on this weeks comics from IDW – Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #2, Go-Bots #1, Judge Dredd: Toxic #2, Night Moves #1 & Sukeban Turbo #1
Dick Tracy: Dead Or Alive #2
The pop-art event of 2018 continues! Dick Tracy begins the herculean task of ridding the city of its crooked cops and bizarre mobsters, but has he bitten off more than he can chew this time? The iconic comic-strip hero reimagined for the 21st century through a retro lens by the superstar team of Michael Allred, Lee Allred, Rich Tommaso and Laura Allred! Bizarre villains! Crooked cops! Gunfights galore! Cover art and co-written by Eisner Award-winning superstar Michael Allred (Madman, iZombie, Silver Surfer, Batman ’66)! Illustrated by Rich Tommaso (Spy Seal, Dry County) with Michael Allred inks!
Lee Allred – Writer
Michael Allred – Artist, Cover Artist, Variant Cover Artist
Rich Tommaso – Variant Cover Artist
This issue follows on nicely from the beginning of the series. Dick Tracy is mopping up the town, but the crooked cops aren’t helping him very much! The build up is really well done, and the addition of all that extra money rolling around does make things harder for Tracy. I like that he’s got some allies – even some that he doesn’t know yet, but the build is really good. The ending is quite obvious, but it does set up nicely for the last two issues. The art continues to be fun, with some good looks on the characters, making them recognizable to their names. Dick Tracy’s disguise as a sailor was an especially nice touch.
Go-Bots #1
Go-Bots have changed our way of life. Leader-1 is a self-aware fighter jet on a hostage rescue mission with his partner, Commander Nick Burns. Scooter is the personal transport and best friend to undergrad A.J. Foster. Turbo is Matt Hunter’s transforming race car in the hottest sport in America, Go-Bot Racing. Cy-Kill is the champion of the illegal, underground Go-Bot Fighting League. A sophisticated sci-fi epic from the visionary creator that brought you Transformers vs. G.I. JOE. They say they’re here to help us, but are they here to replace us? From the creative mind that brought you IDW’s Transformers vs. G.I. JOE! Visionary creator Tom Scioli unleashes his imagination on the bizarre, absurd, and wonderful world of Go-Bots!
Tom Scioli – Writer, Artist, Cover Artist
Dash Shaw – Variant Cover Artist
Benjamin Marra – Variant Cover Artist
I loved Go-Bots as a kid. I’m pretty sure I have an old video of them somewhere in my loft! Nevertheless, I was a little worried with this announcement! I didn’t need to be. This was a fun (re)introduction to the Go-Bots, giving us the set up, as well as the threat. There are slight changes. No Gobotron or different planets, but the feeling behind it is still there. The art adds to that – part gimmick, and part nostalgia it works with this series. The characters are well rounded, and we get a good look at their temperaments and personalities – the addition of the humans work well too!
This is a good start to a series that I hope gets stronger!
Judge Dredd: Toxic #2
Acclaimed British writer Paul Jenkins takes his first shot at Judge Dredd! The death of a genetically modified waste worker has sparked anti-immigration fervor, leading to toxic sludge and widespread panic spilling into the streets of Mega-City One. Cutting satire and gritty action from writer Paul Jenkins (Hellblazer, The Inhumans) and artist Marco Castiello (Star Wars)! Covers by Jenkins’ Peter Parker: Spider-Man teammate Mark Buckingham (Fables, Marvelman)! Painted variant covers by concept artist John Gallagher (The Flash, Supergirl)!
Paul Jenkins – Writer
Marco Castiello – Artist
Mark Buckingham – Cover Artist, Variant Cover Artist
John Gallagher – Variant Cover Artist
This issue ups the tension in the city from the previous issue. Not only is there a lot of anti-alien sentiment going on. That in itself is explosive, but there is also explosive toxic waste! Dredd and the Judges are trying their best, but it seems that they are just going from one crisis to another. It’s well done and a lot to take in, but it does seem to be benefiting from the larger (i.e. non-2000AD-format) standard.
The art work is really slick with some nice scenes and lighting too. I’m enjoying this story and like where it is heading!
Night Moves #1
Noir meets horror as small-time Vegas hustler Chris Dundee finds himself tangled in a web of danger and the occult. He’s been on the wrong end of a pair of brass knuckles plenty of times, but this time he might be dealing with the devil himself. Special extra-long first issue at regular price! From the mind of VJ Boyd, co-executive producer of S.W.A.T. and producer of Justified, comes a fantastic new noir-ish tale!
V.J. Boyd – Writer
Clay McCormack – Artist
Chris Burnham – Cover Artist
This was a very interesting read. It reads like a hard-boiled crime read, but there’s something more to it! There’s police, grifters, shootings, but the supernatural undercurrent is there. It’s hinted at really well, with some interesting commentary about religion. I liked the notes about believing in the devil too. The art is well done, with some pretty gruesome scenes – especially the priests.
I like the way this was all built up, and the story telling side is a really good trope – how reliable will he be as a narrator though? I liked the final three panels – setting up for next issue well!
Sukeban Turbo #1
Shelby and her three best friends rule the streets of Brooklyn-and everyone in the neighborhood knows not to mess with the Sukeban Tribe. Inspired by the Japanese girl gangs of the 1970s, the teenagers ride scooters, armed with golf clubs and cash from selling drugs, and terrorize their classmates, parents, and anyone who dares defy them. But when they attack a classmate who hasn’t paid what she owes, things start to get messy-and not in the fun way. Written by Sylvain Runberg (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and featuring art by Victor Santos (Violent Love)!
Sylvain Runberg – Writer
Victor Santos – Artist, Cover Artist
Claire Roe – Variant Cover Artist
This was an interesting read, and I read it without reading the solicitation above! I like to do that sometimes! The girl gang is an interesting idea, and it looks like they may have gone too far! I like the set up of it all, as the attack seems to be a minor part of the story. Yes there is something more going on, and I wonder where that is going, and how it links to the girls. This was well told with an interesting hook at the end. I like the art and colouring style too!
