A LETTER TO YOU:

As the self-proclaimed "Ben Urich" of Boston comic book and geek culture, myself and my esteemed colleagues at VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA work around the clock to provide you with up-to-date, pertinent comic book and geek culture news! We discuss a plethora of graphic novel titles from the mainstream labels like Marvel, DC, Valiant and Image, to interesting indie publications both local, (Boston, MA), and nation-wide! Whether it be comic books, comics-based tv or movies, anime, gaming or who knows what else that makes you tick.. I am confident you will find it here at THE VIGILANT GEEK! Thanks so much to loyal fans of the blog and podcast, as well as you newcomers. I hope we all keep having fun and never grow up.

Your's Truly,

Andrew Puzak, THE VIGILANT GEEK

WE LOVE FEEDBACK:

EMAIL US!: thevigilantgeek@gmail.com


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Sunday, December 13, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE TWENTY: MARVEL UPDATE

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE TWENTY: MARVEL COMICS UPDATE


Secret Wars cover art by Alex Ross



All-New, All-Different Avengers cover art by Alex Ross


               Welcome back true believers!! This week, Andrew and Holden give you the 411 on what the heck's going on over at Marvel Comics, with their SECRET WARS event still not coming to a close until January, and the "All-New, All-Different Marvel publishing initiative put into place just last month! There's a whole new Marvel Universe out there to explore, and the guys here at Vigilant Geek Media make for the perfect tour guides!! Marvel titles discussed include: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, THE ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS, DOCTOR STRANGE, UNCANNY AVENGERS, DEADPOOL, EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN, UNCANNY INHUMANS, THOR, HAWKEYE, CAPTAIN AMERICA and much, much more!!







Doctor Strange cover art by Alex Ross



The Amazing Spider-man cover art by Alex Ross





Wednesday, December 2, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE NINETEEN: STAR WARS!!

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE NINETEEN: STAR WARS





The Force Awakens opens in theaters December 18th




                     In conclusion of SCIENCE FICTION MONTH here at THE VIGILANT GEEK, Andrew, Holden, special guest New England stand-up comedian Nathan Burke and special guest New England stand-up comedian Mark Gallagher celebrate what might be the greatest sci-fi franchise of all time, STAR WARS!!! The guys discuss the Star Wars comic books published by Marvel Comics, some of the most prominent Star Wars cartoons, and each installment of the six-film epic motion picture adventure! All of this chatter leads up to an in-depth discussion of the new Star Wars film set to be released in theaters December 18th, THE FORCE AWAKENS!! Come listen to what the guys over at VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA have to say about the STAR WARS Universe, and THE FORCE AWAKENS!








The epic and ever-expanding STAR WARS Universe!!








Friday, November 20, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE EIGHTEEN: SCI-FI FILMS

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE EIGHTEEN: SCI-FI FILMS












         Welcome back to week three of the VIGILANT GEEK SCI-FI MONTH!!! This week, join Andrew and Holden as they take you through a cosmic tour of some of the most classic science fiction motion picture events of all time! This tour includes sci-fi flicks like ALIEN, PROMETHEUS, PREDATOR, ROBOCOP, TERMINATOR, BLADERUNNER, THE MATRIX, JUPITER ASCENDING, AVATAR, AEON FLUX, TRANSFORMERS, 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY and much, much more!! Click the link below and enjoy!!














Sunday, November 15, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE SEVENTEEN: SCI-FI T.V.

The Vigilant Geek Podcast

Episode Seventeen: Sci-Fi Television Series








Welcome back weary space travelers!! As THE VIGILANT GEEK SCI-FI MONTH continues, this week Andrew and Holden of Vigilant Geek Media, along with New England stand-up comic Nathan Burke, discuss their favorite sci-fi television series, including FIREFLY, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, RICK AND MORTY, DOCTOR WHO, STAR GATE and much, much more!!! Click the link below and enjoy!!












Tuesday, November 10, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE SIXTEEN: SCI FI MONTH!!

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE SIXTEEN: NOV is SCI FI MONTH!!











Happy November to our vastly growing gang of vigilant geeks!! With the stress of the holiday season now approaching, it is important to take a few minutes every now and then to escape the rat race of reality and relax. Whenever I try to escape from my stressors for a few moments, I usually like to escape into deep space! I know I am not alone in this, and that is why Holden and I have decided to deem November as the inaugural VIGILANT GEEK SCIENCE FICTION month!!! During the month of November, we will be providing you with articles and podcasts on a variety of sci-fi related subjects, such as the best sci-fi reads from Marvel, DC, Valiant and Image Comics, great sci-fi televisions series such as Firefly, Star Trek, Agents of SHIELD, The Twilight Zone and Doctor Who, as well as epic sci-fi films!! I will also be reviewing the next installment of BOSTON COMICS ROUNDTABLE and RIVERBIRD STUDIOS infamous sci-fi comic book anthology, Outbound Volume II. All of this will lead up to the epic STAR WARS podcast episode the last week of the month, in preparation of the new STAR WARS: The Force Awakens motion picture to be released in theaters December 16!! I hope all you spacemen and women out there enjoy what we have in store for you this month, it's gonna be a real doozy!! Click the link below and enjoy!!











Friday, October 23, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE FOURTEEN: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL pt. one

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST:

EPISODE FOURTEEN: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL PART ONE:

THE SCARIEST GRAPHIC NOVEL READS!!!












            Welcome back boys and ghouls, to an exciting and captivating VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST HALLOWEEN SPECIAL. In part one of the Halloween special, Andrew and Holden of Vigilant Geek Media discuss the scariest graphic novels to read in preparation for halloween this year, including, Swamp Thing, Spawn, Sandman, Lucifer, Preacher, Hellblazer, The Walking Dead, From Hell, Batman: Haunted Knight, American Vampire, Wytches, The Wake, and much, much more! Click the link below and enjoy:








Thursday, October 15, 2015

Homegrown Horror: Boston's "Hellbound V: The End of Comics"

Homegrown Horror (2nd Edition)
Boston's Own "Hellbound V: The End of Comics"

"Hellbound V: The End of Comics" cover art by: Roho 




CREATED AND PRESENTED BY THE KNIGHTS OF THE BOSTON COMIC BOOK ROUNDTABLE:






AND PUBLISHED BY ROHO OF RIVERBIRD COMICS:





             Welcome back my fellow graphic novel gurus to another edition of The Vigilant Geek. I am your host, The Vigilant Geek....  Well, now that we've taken care of the niceties, let me introduce this week's indie review. Straight from the heart of my hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, and presented by the brave and noble "knights" of the Boston Comics Roundtable and Riverbird Comics, I am thrilled and chilled to provide my take on the final installment of the popular BCR horror anthology, Hellbound. Ladies and germs, I am proud to present to you all: Hellbound V: The End of Comics.


              Quite a few months have gone by since I've done a BCR review, (see Homegrown Horror: (1st Edition) Hellbound Vol. 3: Darkness, and also Venturing Outbound: Outbound Volume One), but once I got my hands on Hellbound V upon its December 2014 release, I new I had a publication that would get the blood pumping again. Just taking in the intricate and highly-detailed cover art done by Hellbound anthology legend and Riverbird Comics frontrunner Roho was enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up before I opened the book. In regards to what happened when I opened this bone chilling collection of horror tales, I have taken a little time to talk about each story below:







Brunch

By: Alison Burke and Tara Harris




        Brunch, by Alison Burke and Tara Harris, is perhaps the best beginning to any horror compilation I have ever read. It starts out with two girls just sitting outside, eating meats on sticks. It appears to be just an average day in the city. However, when the reader unfolds the page, the scenario is anything but average, as a giant, squid-like monster has destroyed Boston!!




Monster Hunt

By: Ben Doane



            This brilliantly fun horror/comedy blend is the handy work of Ben Doane. The story begins with preparations for the local "monster hunt," where the whole town is shining their new pitchforks and getting ready for the big community event. However, when this year's monster calls in for a personal day, due to some advice from his therapist, the monster hunt organizer must find a replacement. This leads to a terrible afternoon for the organizer's assistant Steve, who is asked to fill in as the monster, and to "take his face off." When Steve complies reluctantly, he finds himself left alone in the woods with his face actually detached as the organizer goes to fire the starting pistol!




A History of the Hollywood Musical

By: Dan Mazur


          
            A History of the Hollywood Musical, written and illustrated by BCR veteran Dan Mazur, is perhaps one of the smartest stories in the anthology, and also one of my definite favorites. An apocalyptic, end of the world scenario is depicted brilliantly through a dog that locks himself in his underground bunker after what is clearly shown on the television as a nuclear war and watches every hollywood musical he owns on video until he's seen them all. Once our canine friend has watched all of his videos and eaten all of the food he had stored away, he then goes upstairs, opens the front door and walks outside into the irradiated atmosphere. This was a very dark tale, but it was very brilliantly told through the use of the medium.




The Death of Love

Written by: Stephen Cartisano
Illustrated by: Ellen T. Crenshaw




















          



                    The Death of Love, written by Stephen Cartisano and illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw, is the ultimate tale of deception, and how karma always comes around to the deceivers. Our story unfolds at a nightclub called, "Life After Death," where a sleepy club owner named Aaron is always on the lookout for "new meat." However, when Aaron accidentally nudges the arm of a sexy lady named Bethany, his search for "new meat" was called off for the night. As Aaron and Bethany get acquainted, Aaron tries to impress her by taking her to the V.I.P. section to drink and dance the night away. This seems like an average night out for a couple of single youngsters, but when Aaron takes Bethany back to his apartment for some intimacy, he bites off a little more than he bargained for, as Bethany, fangs exposed, bites him in the neck! Aaron thinks nothing of the "love bite" until the next morning. The overconfident club owner, not knowing he was bitten by a vampire, opens the shades and is burned to death by the sunlight, proving that those in a constant search for "new meat" will eventually end up becoming "dead meat," or, uh, ash..



Somebody Else

Written by: Patrick Flaherty
Illustrated by: Brenton Barnes



          This uniquely horrific tale of telepathic turmoil, written by Patrick Flaherty and illustrated by Brenton Barnes, takes place in a lab where people's brainwaves are tested and recorded for data analysis, or so it may seem. A man walks in to test his brainwaves based on a working environment, and based on the things that he says during the testing, it is clear that he is an apathetic, lazy employee who likes to, "see what he can get away with." However, when the brainwaves are manipulated by an evil scientist that works at the facility, an inferno is created in the building across the street! Worst of all, since the scientist was able to transfer the brainwaves of the lazy employee into the minds of the firefighters responding to the scene, the same apathy is shown during the emergency, creating a scenario where the firefighters are passing the buck and not doing their jobs. When the woman who works with the scientist finds this out, it is too late, as the evil scientist strikes her to the ground with a baton! Somebody Else is a chilling depiction of what it would be like if brainwaves could really be transfer from person to person, and also how scary things could be if the wrong brainwaves were transferred to the wrong people!






Blood and Breakfast

By: Bonesteel


























              



             Blood and Breakfast, by Bonesteel is an eerie, morbid tale taking place inside a desolate roadside diner where two blood thirsty siblings have turned the local eatery into the local morgue. The "Madre" has met the siblings at the diner to figure out what the siblings want. However, when the siblings demand to get in on Madre's gun-running operation, the Madre decides the gruesome twosome was bad for business. The Madre gives them one last piece of advice, "acclimate to the real world before before it puts you six feet under." The serial killer siblings choose to disregard this advice, offing the Madre and sticking her corpse in a dumpster, then deciding to, "burn this world to the ground until they put us six feet under." Blood and Breakfast is a vivid look into the minds of two psychopathic killers who happen to be brother and sister, and made for a suspenseful, enticing read.




Consummation:

Written by: E.J. Barnes
Illustrated by: Clayton McCormack


























          Everyone has been in that "honeymoon" period of a relationship, where both partners are so infatuated with one another, they smother each other and make everyone around them sick. However, in Consummation, written by E.J. Barnes and illustrated by Clayton McCormack, this scenario has escalated tenfold! As two long lost lovers unite in the wilderness, their love for one another cannot be  shown in a simple kiss. These two cannot get enough of each other, so much so that they seem to feel the need to break skin! As the two continue to unravel each other's epidermis's, they whisper sweet, creepy nothings at each other such as, "don't ever stop," and "never leave me." As the two lovers, now skeletons, gaze into each other's eyes one last time, they proclaim, "you complete me," leaving readers wondering, is some love just too much love? I think it's safe to say that in this case, definitely!











Thursday, October 8, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE THIRTEEN: DC COMICS UPDATE

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE THIRTEEN: PARTS ONE AND TWO:

DC COMICS UPDATE


The Flash gives a thumbs up as he swoops in and sweeps Batgirl off her feet, and away from a disgruntled dynamic duo! (Batgirl Flash Variant Cover)





As the DCYOU kicked off, a much less powerful Superman, (powers nerfed by his newest power, which consists of an atomic blast), is seen sizing up the new "Robo-Batman," (Jim Gordon takes the mantle as the Dark Knight with unbelievable tech and corporate backing). Any books featuring either of these characters are absolutely flawless right now!




Hello again my faithful comics people! This week, tune in as Andrew and Holden discuss the current events amidst the DC Comics Universe, including, but not limited to titles such as Justice League, JLA, Superman, The Flash, Batman, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Cyborg, Midnighter, Omega Men, Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Secret Six, We Are Robin and much, much more!! Click the link below and enjoy!!












Sunday, September 27, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE TWELVE: ANIME: ATTACK ON TITAN

The Vigilant Geek Podcast

Episode Twelve: Anime: Attack on Titan







Hello again my fellow geeks, nerds, fanboys and girls, etc, etc! Do you happen to be into Anime/Manga? Are you curious about getting into these amazing artistic mediums? This is a podcast for you! Join Andrew and Holden of VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA, along with special guest Nathan Burke, (New England stand-up comedian, owner/operator of HOTCAST STUDIOS), as they breakdown the vast world of manga and anime! Also, listen to an in-depth analysis of epic anime, ATTACK ON TITAN!! Click the link below, kick up your feet and enjoy!!







Wednesday, September 23, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE ELEVEN: VALIANT COMICS

The Vigilant Geek Podcast

Episode Eleven: Valiant Comics









Tune in to another captivating episode of the VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST, where Andrew Puzak and Holden Orme of VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA discuss all things VALIANT COMICS. This includes an in-depth history of the label, as well as reports on Valiant titles such as X/O Manowar, Bloodshot, Archer and Armstrong, Shadowman, Harbinger, Imperium, Quantum and Woody, Ninjak, Rai, Unity, Eternal Warrior and much, much more! Click the link below and enjoy!!











Monday, September 14, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE TEN: MOVIES

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST:
EPISODE TEN: MOVIES





           This week, Andrew and Holden of Vigilant Geek Media, along with special guests New England stand-up comic Nathan Burke and New England stand-up comic and movie aficionado Mark Gallagher, discuss anything and everything pertaining to the world of films. Part One of the podcast deals mostly with the evolution of the superhero movie, while Part Two explores other movie genres such as comedy, action and sci-fi. Click the link below and enjoy! 



Mad Max: Fury Road


Jack Nicholson's Joker in 1989's Batman

"It would have been a BEAUTIFUL DISASTER." - Mark Gallagher- THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST



EPISODE TEN: PARTS ONE AND TWO: MOVIES


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE NINE: IMAGE COMICS

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE NINE: IMAGE COMICS









                   Welcome back ladies and germs to yet another captivating episode of "THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST!" This week, Andrew and Holden of VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA tackle everything involving the unique and successful label of IMAGE COMICS! This includes titles such as SAVAGE DRAGON, SPAWN, THE WALKING DEAD, WITCHBLADE, SAGA, DECENDER and so much more!! Click the link below and enjoy!




Thursday, September 3, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE EIGHT: WWE

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE EIGHT: WWE





            This week, Andrew and Holden of VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA, along with special guest, New England stand-up comedian and pro-wrestling aficionado Nathan Burke, discuss all things WWE, including a recap of last week's Summerslam event and their top five favorite wrestlers of all time! Click the link below and enjoy!









Tuesday, August 25, 2015

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST: EPISODE SEVEN: INDIE COMICS

THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST

EPISODE SEVEN: INDEPENDENT COMICS






This week on THE VIGILANT GEEK PODCAST, Andrew and Holden of VIGILANT GEEK MEDIA review and discuss the cream of the crop in regards to local, (Boston, MA), independent graphic novel publications. If you are interested in seeing what is out there in the independent community in regards to quality independent comics worth buying, this is the podcast you need to listen to. Click the link below and enjoy!









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
or
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.







MYSTERY MAN: 








www.hbcomics.com



RED ANVIL COMICS:







THE MIGHTY TITAN: 


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





www.redanvilcomics.com