The Vigilant Geek: BOSTON COMIC CON 2015: INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEWS

BOSTON COMIC CON 2015:

A VERY "VIGILANT" RECAP: PART THREE

INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEWS

Welcome back to the third installment of THE VIGILANT GEEK review, BOSTON COMIC CON 2015: A VERY "VIGILANT" RECAP: PART THREE. In this final part of the review, I will discuss some of the finest independent publications I and my colleague Holden Orme were able to get our hands on during the con. Check out all of the BCC 2015 indie reviews below:

THE ROADHOUSE SONS: DANGEROUS GAMBLES / RENEGADE PT. 1:

**REVIEW TO BE POSTED A.S.A.P.**

CREATED AND MASTERMINDED BY: J.H. Sanderson

WRITER / LAYOUTS / ILLUSTRATION: Allison Barrows

ILLUSTRATION / COVER ART / PAINTINGS: Romas

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Alexandra Kukalis

PRODUCER: Mia Moravis

PUBLISHED BY: COMPACT

RETURN TO RANDER:

STORY & ART BY: Tony Sedani

Volume One of Return to Rander by Tony Sedani now available in trade paperback!

This fresh, new, epic adventure written and drawn by Tony Sedani has been raved about in past VIGILANT GEEK book reviews. This series even took home the award for "Best Independent Story Arc 2014," in last year's VIGILANT GEEK AWARDS, (see THE VIGILANT GEEK AWARDS 2014). The book had very strong influences from both the wild west and eastern asian, (dare I say samurai?), archetypes. The first scene of the first issue of The Lone Savior kicks off in a classic western saloon with a shady character buying a beer for a man about to meet his doom. I immediately felt like I was in the middle of an opening scene to one of Sergio Leone's classic "spaghetti westerns," except instead of the dastardly Lee Van Cleef sending the beer over to the man in peril, it was the cold, calculated Matador!

This story arc, which is the complete brainchild of Sedani, really blew me away. It is by far the most original idea I have seen in a long time. Also, Sedani's art and writing styles have a certain ability of taking the reader out of reality and into the realm Sedani created. Will our hero find Rander some day? I am itching all over to find out in the next story arc! Buy the Return to Rander: Volume One: The Lone Savior trade paperback out now at returntorander.com.

THE RED EDGE GHOST: A Return to Rander Tale:

The Red Edge Ghost: A Return to Rander Tale, By Tony Sedani

In this riveting R2R short, we get to learn a little more about the character of Sheriff Blane. As Blane revisits a spot he ritually goes to once a year upon personal reflection, a place known as "Red Edge," we see first hand what kind of a man Blane truly is, how he carries himself and what he stands for. It might have been the whiskey, or the ghost of a man Blane once knew may have fired a crucial shot from beyond the grave.. The shot that saved Blane from his mortal doom yet again.. Either way, Blane believes his life was spared for a reason, and vows that, "This will be the last of the whiskey, and I'll leave it for you three, (his deceased family members). I'll see you all next year. I got five points to protect."

Buy your Return to Rander books and get caught up on the epic tale at:

www.returntorander.com

RUNNERS:

**REVIEW TO BE POSTED A.S.A.P.**

STORY & ART BY: Sean Wang

www.runnersuniverse.com

www.seanwang.com

CZARFACE:

STORY: Seamus Ryan, (A.K.A Esoteric)

PENCILS AND INKS: Gilberto Aguirre Mata, (El Ultimo Codice)

LETTERING AND COLORS: Emilio Aguirre Mata

PUBLISHED BY: CZARTEL

He's big, he's mean, he's made of metal... HE's CZARFACE!!

Whether he's hard at work on his serious anti-bullying campaign, hunting down the evil Dr. Yorgo and his lackeys, or selling used clothing on Ebay, Czarface is sure to shock and excite crowds of all ages!! Inspired by the music of Inspectah Deck of The WU-TANG CLAN, with witty stories by ESOTERIC and excellent vintage-style artwork by Gilberto Aguirre Mata and Emilio Aguirre Mata, this light-hearted ode to the classic superhero comic book holds nothing back. Just remember, much like the WU-TANG CLAN, "CZARFACE AIN"T NUTHIN TA F#$% WIT!"

Purchase a copy of CZARFACE, as well as the music that inspired the comic book, at:

www.czarface.com

TWO REDHEADS AND A DEAD BLONDE:

CREATED AND WRITTEN BY: Lloyd L. Corricelli

ARTWORK: Alex Cormack

PUBLISHED BY: SKY COP STUDIOS

Holding down the crime noir genre in the local indie comics scene is novelist Lloyd L. Corricelli’s “Two Redheads and a Dead Blonde.” Based off of Corricelli’s crime novel with the same title, this edge-of-your-seat crime caper follows retired U.S. Air Force criminal investigator Ronan Marino through the mean streets of Lowell, MA as he attempts to find the killer who murdered his girlfriend in cold blood. As Ronan delves deeper into his investigation, more trouble seems to find him at the most inopportune moments, forcing him to call upon allies on both sides of the law. The plot thickens exponentially at the turn of each page, and readers are left with excruciating suspense at the end of issue #4. Will Ronan crack the case? I for one am dying to find out in the issue #5 finale, set to be released Fall 2015.

ISSUE #3:

Issue #3 kicks off with our hero Ronan infiltrating AAA escort service, the last place of employment for his deceased girlfriend Karen. With only a minimal amount of violence projected towards the AAA management, Ronan retrieves Karen's old client list and begins interrogating every person on it, including a Medford police chief of questionable moral value. However, these interrogations lead to big time Boston irish mob boss, Duffy Fitzpatrick, sending some muscle over to Ronan's house to "take care of him." An exciting physical struggle between Ronan and Duffy's gigantic thug leaves Ronan only one option for survival, which is to squeeze the giant thug's eyes right out of their sockets! After Ronan barely escapes with his life, he starts to wonder if his investigation into the death of a woman that was not honest to him from the start is something that is worth losing his life over.

ISSUE #4:

Issue #4 is perhaps the most exciting and suspenseful issue of this Ronan Marino caper yet! The issue starts off with Ronan opening a mysterious package left on his doorstep, revealing a very raunchy pornographic video that Karen and her friend Cassie took part in. Though this upsets Ronan for a few moments, he did not fall of the old turnip truck yesterday. It is clear to Ronan that irish mob boss Duffy Fitzpatrick, who owns AAA escort service, among many of the local and state police, is attempting to attack Ronan's heart, instead of his body, (which failed in issue #3 btw), by showing him Karen's pornographic material. However, our hero will not be taunted like this! After confronting Cassie at Max's bar in Lowell, he finds out that Karen had one last high profile client, sleezeball congressman Dan Lavalle. Once Ronan provides Cassie with a safe place to stay up in the woods of Maine, he is back on the hunt for Karen's killer, starting with the good congressman! However, when intel becomes scarce and leads run short, particularly after a late night shoot out in which the Medford Police chief is murdered by masked thugs, Ronan is left with a lot of explaining to do in a room filled with state troopers. When the troopers fail to believe Ronan's crazy story, things start to look bleak for Ronan and the few Lowell Police officers that have joined the cause. That is, until Ronan discovers a crucial piece of evidence that was overlooked from the beginning! I cannot handle the anticipation in waiting for the issue #5 finale to come out in Fall 2015.

To purchase your own copy of Two Redheads and a Dead Blonde, among other Ronan Marino mysteries, go to:

AuthorLloyd.com

HELLENA:

**REVIEW TO BE POSTED A.S.A.P.**

ROBIN HOOD: OUTLAW OF THE 21ST CENTURY:

**REVIEW TO BE FINISHED A.S.A.P.**

This thrilling and original take on the classic literary anti-hero is the handy work of writer Matt Dursin, (leaguepodcast.com), artist Mark Vuycankiat and their creative team. In this new version of the tale however, readers won't find Dursin's Robin Hood prancing around Sherwood Forest with his bow and arrow and little green tights. This time the "Prince of Thieves" is dawning a sleek overcoat and carrying enough firepower to make a strong run at Fort Knox!

HOMELESS COMICS:

HEALED:

CREATED AND WRITTEN BY: George O'Connor

ARTWORK: Griffin Ess

What we DO know is that illness and disease are bad. What we DON'T know is how bad things could get without them! Imagine a world where human beings were essentially "Healed" of all life-threatening diseases and illnesses. The only way humans would be able to die in this scenario would be from unnatural or man-made causes. This curse, (which may seem like a blessing to some.... at least at first), on the human race quickly becomes a grim, horrifying picture created by writer George O'Connor and artist Griffin Ess of Homeless Comics. This absolutely brilliant story gives indie readers some freaky insight on the repercussions that could occur throughout the world if the human race were truly "Healed." O'Connor gives us all a glimpse of what could happen to such societal groups and entities in this given scenario such as the clergy, the terminally ill, the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, senior citizens and a whole lot more! Healed is by far the smartest indie read of Boston Comic Con 2015, and comes very highly recommended. This is a must-read for anyone looking to understand how amazing independent publications can be! Overall, Homeless Comics had some top notch publications on display this year. I can't wait to see what else these graphic novel gurus come up with in years to come.

BABY:

CREATED AND WRITTEN BY: George O'Connor

ARTWORK: Griffin Ess

This tale of a colossal misunderstanding between man and sea monster, created and written by George O’Connor and illustrated by Griffin Ess of Homeless Comics, brought big laughs and epic fun to the indie comics scene this year. This four-issue series, perfectly lettered and beautifully colored, follows the strife one baby sea monster goes through while simply attempting to find his mommy! Things all come to a head on the shores of Atlantic City, NJ as Baby, a retiring police detective on his last day of work and an impulsive, narcissistic crypto-zoologist all attempt to do what they feel is necessary when Baby causes commotion and destruction while taking his first steps along the Vanness Boardwalk! The quality and detail of the artwork alone make this publication a must read this year; and with a story this fun and creative, I’m going to insist that you go pick it up and give it a read! I guarantee “Baby” will not disappoint!

ISSUE #3:

Issue #3 of BABY came hot off the press just in time for this past Boston Comic Con, and let me tell you first hand, this story that has been so exciting and entertaining thus far has sure not let up at all. Issue three displays the happenings in Atlantic City after Baby is in captivity at the hands of Dr. Trent Headley, the tale's narcissistic, ignorant cryptozoologist. It seems that Dr. Headley is much more concerned with his fifteen minutes of fame at a press conference in the wake of Baby's captivity, rather than the welfare of Baby. The press conference ends up being a disaster for Dr. Headley as reporters proceed to ask him simple questions regarding the new species now confined to an aquarium tank. Dr. Headley was not even able to answer the question of, "what are you feeding the monster?" This is mainly due to the fact that Headley has not fed Baby anything, nor has he even done the tiniest bit of research since he captured the sea-beast. Dr. Headley's concerns about how he looks on camera fall to the wayside as the reporters begin to notice just how sad and miserable Baby appears to be in the tank. Meanwhile, Frank the police detective has made his way out of the evidence locker he locked himself in and has tried to show a shred of bravery during his last day before retirement from the force. However, Frank's efforts might have been too little, too late. I am excited and anxious to see how this story concludes and what happens to Baby in the issue #4 finale of this incredibly fun publication.

Purchase your own copies of HEALED and BABY, among other Homeless Comics publications at:

www.homelesscomics.com

BAD KIDS PRESS:

**REVIEW TO BE POSTED A.S.A.P.**

GALACTIC WRESTLING FEDERATION (GWF):

ROTTEN ROOTS:

HB COMICS:

VINDICATION:

STORY: Chris Hebert and Alan Hebert Jr.

WRITTEN, CREATED and LETTERED BY: Chris Hebert

PENCILS AND INKS: Daniel White

COLORS: Team HB

FONTS: Blambot

Who in their right mind doesn't love superhero team-ups? Chris Hebert and Alan Hebert Jr. have delivered exactly that. However, this is no ordinary team-up. Most superhero teams, such as the X-Men or the Justice League, meet, train, learn how to work together and then go off and fight their adversaries as a well-organized strike team with grace and fortitude. These four misfit heroes on the other hand, had no knowledge of each other until they were all captured by a mysterious foe and his cybernetic resources. As we join Surge, Pitchshift, Imogen and Speedfire while they are in captivity, the reader gets a small glimpse of how each hero found him or herself in this predicament, and in turn, the reader gets to know a little about each character and their meta-human abilities. For instance, Surge has the ability to absorb immense quantities of energy, Pitchshift can manipulate and focus sound waves, Imogen has the ability tocommand powerfully-concentrated beams of light and Speedfire can travel at unmatched speeds as well as generate and manipulate fire.

LAZERMAN:

This publication completely surpassed my rather low initial expectations. When I picked up volume one, (which collects issues #1-4 and contains Lazerman's first story arc, "This Man, This Lazer"), I thought to myself, wow, this is the nerdiest looking superhero I have ever laid eyes upon... and "Lazerman" is such a lame character name. "Are these guys for real?" I said to a buddy of mine. Well, I was soon to find out that Chris Hebert and Alan Hebert Jr. of HB Comics were most definitely for real; and what they created in Lazerman, (as well as the other HB Comics publications), was pure graphic novel gold! This brilliant tribute to the classic comic book superhero was an absolute blast to read, and now I'm completely hooked on the "HB Universe"!

This story follows the trials and tribulations of Alex Sanders, a young college freshman and comic book geek in New York City who obtains power of an outrageous magnitude after attending a laser demonstration at a New York City science museum and is struck by the laser due to a mishap backstage involving a treacherous foe. After that fateful event, Alex realized that he can actually project laser beams from his fists, materialize force fields and of coarse fly! Dubbing himself appropriately as "Lazerman," Alex then threw on the finest yellow spandex that his best friend Walter was able to supply him with and flew out his dorm room window to go find evil-doers to thwart! Alex may have had a rough start to his new superhero career, but after finding himself face-to-face with a dangerous villain ironically calling himself "Razorman," he picks the hero gig up pretty fast. In the end, Razorman is no match for Lazerman, and Alex finally gets to live out his one big dream: saving all of NYC as a real life superhero, just like the heroes he's idolized in comics all of his life!

This publication was more than just a great story and a great tribute to the classic superhero. The softcover itself is of the utmost quality, with incredible penciling and inking. Also, the book is published in full color, and the coloring is simply phenomenal! Lazerman was the best surprise I have had the privilege to receive all year, and it's witty quips and puns throughout the story imprinted a permanent smile on my face throughout the entire read. Be on the lookout for this and more from the Lazerman title. The Hebert brothers and their staff at HB Comics aren't showing any signs of slowing down, and as far as I am concerned, their label is the next big thing in indie comics.