Comics Round-Up # 6

This is the return of an old feature from my blog, in which I discuss the comics that I have been buying and reading each week.  It's by no means comprehensive or definitive about what's available, just what I've picked up.

SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL # 8

Written by: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated by:  Marley Zarcone
Inked by:  Ande Parks
Coloured by:  Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by:  Saida Temofonte
Cover by:  Becky Cloonan
Published by:  Young Animal

Little Runaway, Part 1: In the City.   16 year old Megan Boyer, possessed by the extraterrestrial Loma Shade, and equipped with the reality distorting Madness Coat has run away to Gotham City.  Learning about life in the big city, while inadvertantly causing havoc everywhere she goes.

Shade, the Changing Girl is one of the best comics to come out of the Young Animal strand from DC Comics.  The lost in the big city storyline is amusingly told, mixed with memorably surreal images.  The character of Shade is sympathetic, if not always likeable.  She causes a lot of damage to the people around her, albeit without choosing to.  The comic also has alien characters which look and act... alien. 

SECRET EMPIRE:  UPRISING # 1

Written by:  Derek Landy
Art by:  Joshua Cassara
Colour Art by:  Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettered by:  VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover by:  Meghan Hetrick
Published by:  Marvel

With America dominated by the fascist Hydra, shockingly assisted by Captain America, Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, decides to recruit some younger heroes to infiltrate the Hydra Youth Choir and stop Captain America by any means necessary.

Secret Empire is the current Marvel "event" storyline, and I haven't really been keeping up with it, in fact this is the first of the books that I've read, although I was still able to follow it without any trouble.  It is an entertaining issue, with debate about the ethics of spying, and potential murder, lightened with humour and some fun superheroics.  The artwork is moody and effective with a good feeling for light and shadow.

ALIENS: DEAD ORBIT  # 2

Writing, Art and Lettering by:  James Stokoe
Published by: Dark Horse

The crew of a space station orbiting a remote planet rescue survivors from a derelict spaceship.  Needless to say, the survivors have not come alone...

This is pretty much what you would expect from an Aliens comic, with a lot of running around corridors and some satisfyingly gory chestburster scenes. What really sets it apart is the stunningly detailed artwork from James Stokoe, who also wrote and lettered the comic.  It's perfect if you want a traditional, straight forward Aliens comic.

PICK OF THE WEEK:         

SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL # 8