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Continued After the Next Page #022: Planning Panels and Conventioning in the Windy City and Ithaca

Continued After the Next Page #022: Planning Panels and Conventioning in the Windy City and Ithaca

Posted on by Bob Harrison

In the “before times”, people would come to the gathering place and wander the concourse taking in the sights purchasing shiny wares with no fear of deadly disease. That was three years ago. Are we back to that point? Probably not, and probably not for a while still, but we are getting closer.

Comic convention season is back in full force. That break in con scheduling that we normally have from before the December holidays until late February didn’t really happen this year. Most people seems to be willing to return to the circuit with little concern for the pandemic creating coronavirus. The best part of this is that my social media feeds are not filling up with tales of infections or even the dreaded con-crud.

All of this has me even more excited to begin my 2023 convention season in a couple of weeks. Your intrepid correspondent will be part of the press contingent at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, more commonly known by its geek friendly acronym C2E2. I will be walking the floors all three days talking to exhibitors and fans and checking out some of the interesting panel programming.

However, the most exciting panels, in my not so humble opinion, will take place on Sunday April 2, 2023. I will be hosting two panels a Reed event for the first time in my career, and I am beyond excited. Continue reading “Continued After the Next Page #022: Planning Panels and Conventioning in the Windy City and Ithaca” →

Black’s Myth from Ahoy Comics Is Set To Return in 2022

Black’s Myth from Ahoy Comics Is Set To Return in 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This is fantastic news from Ahoy Comics. Black’s Myth by Eric Palicki and Wendel Cavalcanti was a severely underrated series from 2021. We are super excited to see that there will be new content with the original creative team. We also recommend checking out the trade paperback of the first series which is being distributed this month. The story is terrific for noir mystery fans with magical flair. Check out the press release below for more details and quotes.

Press Release:

The Acclaimed, Punk Rock Horror Series Returns Later This Year, 

(2/9/2022) Ahead of the trade paperback release of the acclaimed BLACK’S MYTH graphic novel by writer Eric Palicki (Atlantis Wasn’t Built For Tourists) and artist Wendell Cavalcanti (BlackAcre), Syracuse-based comic publisher AHOY Comics has announced that the creative team, including star cover artist Liana Kangas (Trve Kvlt, Star Wars Adventures, She Said Destroy, BLACK AF: Devil’s Dye), will return for an all new BLACK’S MYTH series, to be released by AHOY Comics later this year. The acclaimed, punk rock horror comic follows the adventures of werewolf PI Janie Jones “Strummer” Mercado and her charming djinn assistant Ben Si’lat as they solve crimes in the “supernatural underground” thriving in Los Angeles.

The first volume of BLACK’S MYTH will be collected as a trade paperback in bookstores on February 15th and in comic book shops on February 16th 2022 and will feature an introduction by CHEW co-creator, writer John Layman. In this volume, when the case of a lifetime falls into Strummer’s lap, it’s up to her and her charming djinn assistant Ben Si’lat to figure out just how many silver bullets have been used. (And just where do silver bullets come from, anyway?)

In the upcoming series, the son of the mysterious Rainsford Black has gone missing while searching for a grimoire dating to the 1600s which would allow him to summon demons to hunt and add to the elder’s growing collection of trophies. Now it’s up to Strummer and Ben to find him — but as always, the case is less clear cut than it seems on the surface.

“Our first story belonged to Strummer and Ben, but we called the book Black’s Myth for a reason, and we have so much more of Rainsford Black’s story to reveal,” said writer Eric Palicki. “What compels him to hunt (and collect) monsters, and what kind of case could possibly bring Strummer back into his orbit? Volume 2 promises answers, along with the return of everyone’s favorite Minotaur.”

“Werewolf, Djinn, vampires, Minotaur, Los Angeles, the Dodge Charger, and Grim — attaboy! I missed you guys. Here we go again!” said artist Wendell Cavalcanti.

“I am beyond thrilled to give the people what they want: the further adventures of Strummer and her band of mythological misfits,” said editor Sarah Litt. “The reception to the first book blew us all away and I believe the second series will be even better. The entire team is returning and I am delighted to be working with them again — truly some of the most talented people in comics.“

Just like the last volume, the latest BLACK’S MYTH series will feature covers by Liana Kangas (Trve Kvlt, Star Wars Adventures, She Said Destroy, BLACK AF: Devil’s Dye). Said Kangas: “I’m back, back, back again, baby!”

Preview Reviews for the Week of November 24, 2021: Good Boy #1 and Black’s Myth #5

Preview Reviews for the Week of November 24, 2021: Good Boy #1 and Black’s Myth #5

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.

This week we have two books to review for you. The first is Good Boy #1 from the Source Point Press, and the other is Black’s Myth #5 from Ahoy Comics.

You can find these books at your LCS on November 24, 2021. Pick them up for your long weekend.

Good Boy #1
Source Point Press
Written by Christina Blanch & Garrett Gunn
Art by Kit Wallis
Colors by Wallis
Letters by Dave Lentz
Cover Art by Nick Bradshaw

Original Solicitation:

Set in a world where humans and dogs are equals, Good Boy is a thrill-packed treat for anyone who loves action, dogs, and good stories.

Flint Sparks and his human Jon, both former mercenaries, have settled down in quiet retirement from an industry where the job is supposed to be forever. But, unlike anyone before, they found a way out. However, this new life, filled with peace and joy, is not to be. In the dead of night, some of their former “colleagues”, who disagree with their decision to retire, break into their home and murder Jon, leaving Flint alive in the bloody aftermath.

That was their FIRST mistake.

But don’t worry – they haven’t seen anything yet

PCS Review:

This story, which is clearly a take on the John Wick movie franchise, is super fun. It is bombastic and action packed. The tone of the story has a strong beat of determination. The writing pair of Christy Blanch and Garrett Gunn have developed a compelling tale of vengeance. There is a sense that the reader may know where this story will end from the get go, and that is still ok. It is so interesting that you want to see it through. The book is full of heartfelt emotion with some different types of humor sprinkled in to keep it light enough. It is a well written book.

Kit Wallis really completes this book. The thematic color scheme combined with over-the-top action sequences are just breathtaking. Every page of this book is perfectly laid out and moves the story forward. There is care, thoughtfulness, and fantastic art in each panel.  The lettering by Dave Lentz is really well done. While the dialogue is generally sparse, the narration boxes are excellently crafted and placed.

I haven’t been as excited for a new series as I am for this one in a while. Now that it is finally coming out. You won’t want to miss it.

Black’s Myth #5
Ahoy Comics
Written by Eric Palicki
Art by Wendell Cavalcanti
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover by Liana Kangas

Original Solicitation

Final issue of the hit werewolf crime story! Will Strummer figure out who shot her? Is it the same person who stole the bullets? Will there be a “why” to go with the “who?” Will Ben and Aster ever get their beer?

Find out in the thrilling conclusion of Black’s Myth!

PCS Review

This review is a combination piece for both the final issue and the series itself. Both are excellent. This series, a black and white noir detective story with magical creatures, has been delivering high quality issue after issue. The finale give the reader a fantastic conclusion to the mystery that has been explored for the previous four issues.

Eric Palicki writes entertainingly wry humorous dialogue. The characterization of the lead characters is tenderly crafted by both Palicki and Wendell Cavalcanti. Cavalcanti’s ability to render an immersive visual experience with just black and white pages is truly masterful.

This book is smartly crafted and woefully underhyped. This issue marks the end of what I can only hope is the “first” arc. The world building in the series is excellent. I do not want this to be the end of our time with these characters. While I highly recommend this issue, the trade paperback for the series is already solicited for February.  Check it out.