In the third installment of the official Diablo III comic book, our mopey hero returns home seeking the punishment he has been craving since the first issue.

The issue begins on a cool note, as a band of Khazra goat demons argue with the thugs who are pursuing Jacob. In a truly creepy moment, the thugs’ leader, Ivan, starts bleeding from his facial orifices as he strikes a bargain with the demons.

It soon becomes apparent that Ivan is possessed by a sinister force—a force that offers to make the Khazra great again if only they will reveal Jacob’s location. The Khazra spend about five seconds contemplating the offer before declaring that Jacob and his wizard friend, Shanar, are hiding beneath them.

Thankfully for Jacob, Shanar has some more nifty wizard tricks up her sleeve, and she deploys several new in-game spells, including Mirror Image and Electrocute. Meanwhile, Jacob engages in some expository combat with Ivan that reveals that the madness affecting Jacob’s people is apparently spread by blood.

A well-placed lightning bolt from Shanar knocks Ivan to the ground, which gives Jacob an excellent opportunity to rid himself of the madman who has been pursuing him for the past three issues. Common sense suggests that it might be a good idea for him to use his flashy magic sword to lop off Ivan’s head. Sadly, common sense is not Jacob’s strong suit.

Instead of killing Ivan, he uses his sword to carve glyphs into his chest. Shanar is naturally confused, and Jacob explains that he will return to his home city of Staalbreak with Ivan and the other thugs so that he can face justice for killing his father.

The problem is, Jacob’s plan is epically stupid. I understand that he feels guilty about killing his father (he has, after all, been moaning about that since the first issue), but the idea that he will find justice back home is just laughable.

He knows his people are suffering from an insanity-inducing plague of unknown, but undoubtedly sinister, origin, yet he is willing to let them sit in judgment of him. That is not nobility. That is not ‘doing the right thing.’ It is a logic fail of titanic proportions, and Jacob richly deserves the slap that Shanar administers to try to jolt some sense into him.

Naturally, things go to Hell as soon as Jacob returns home. The townspeople start to stone him as soon as he enters the city. He is dragged before the constable (who has the face of a demonic Kewpie doll) and is cheerfully informed that there will be no trial. Jacob was found guilty as soon as he fled the city. Jacob begs for a chance to address the people, and the constable agrees, provided Jacob surrenders his super powerful magic sword.

Because Jacob has all the common sense of a head of cabbage, he agrees to this proposal and is promptly hung from a gibbet by his wrists. The townspeople start stoning him again, and they refuse to listen to his attempts to warn them about the plague. He spends an entire night hanging from the gibbet before Shanar saves his sorry butt once again.

Throughout the issue, readers have cause to question Jacob’s intelligence. If he did not know about the blood plague, then his decision to return home to face justice would seem noble, but he knows something is rotten in Staalbreak. He watched his father go crazy. He saw Ivan and his minions eat a boar while it was still alive.

Heck, he even heard Ivan speaking in the voice of a demon! All these things suggest that Jacob’s countrymen are under the influence of something nasty, but he seems oblivious to the danger he faces. He apparently believed that all he had to do was address the people, and they would realize that something evil was afoot. Calling him naïve would be the understatement of the year.

This is the second time Jacob’s masochistic guilt has gotten him into a dicey situation from which Shanar has had to rescue him. We can only hope he has finally learned his lesson.

The article Diablo III Sword of Justice: Issue 3 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

I hate to say it, but I think Issue 7 is where Season 9 jumps the shark. Issue 6 tempted us with a potentially juicy plotline with plenty of character development. But in this issue, Buffy and Spike kvetch about their relationship for the billionth time, giant bugs fly around in spaceships, and the issue ends on a truly facepalm-worthy note.

At the end of issue 6, Buffy decided to have an abortion after discovering that she had become pregnant. Rather than follow up on that dramatic decision right away, Issue 7 opens with a pointless scene involving Buffy’s inane roommates (apparently, their names are ‘Tumble’ and ‘Anaheed,’ but I prefer to think of them as ‘Hipster Chick’ and ‘Guy Who Looks Like Stephen Stills from Scott Pilgrim’).

Earlier, they freaked out when they learned that they were living with the Slayer and decided to vote her out of the apartment a la Survivor. But lo and behold, both of them ended up voting in Buffy’s favor when push came to shove. They go to tell Buffy about her reprieve, only to find her stuff in boxes.

It turns out that Buffy has found some new digs. She is now living on an alien spaceship belonging to Spike, her on-again/off-again vampire sex toy. Not only does Spike have a spaceship, but it is crewed by a bunch of giant talking bugs. After some more pregnancy angst (which seems like more of a plot device than genuine emotion), Buffy segues neatly into relationship angst with Spike.

Buffy whines about her desire for a normal life, Spike complains that Buffy is using him, and I roll my eyes because we have all heard this conversation a billion times before. Seriously, these two are stuck in some sort of emotional Groundhog Day where they are doomed to have the same arguments over and over — and over again. Come to think of it, that pretty much describes all of Buffy’s relationships.

Since this is, after all, an issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there has to be a battle. Sure enough, Detective Dowling soon comes under attack by a bunch of zompires. Like all law enforcement officials in the Buffyverse, he is incompetent and unable to defend himself, so he radios Spike for help. Spike naturally obliges (he is, after all, the new Sensitive Spike™, complete with soul), though he makes Buffy stay behind because of her ‘condition.’ Buffy watches the battle from aboard the spaceship until she remembers that she is the title character and jumps into the fray.

Naturally, she kicks butt, and afterward she and Spike end up having a romantic scene amidst the carnage, and we get to see them natter on about their relationship some more. *Sigh* Just as it is revealed that they both want normal lives, Plot Contrivance rears its ugly head, and a random zompire jumps up and rips Buffy’s arm off. Instead of screaming frantically before passing out due to blood loss, Buffy just stands there looking confused. No, it is not because of her hardy Slayer constitution. Apparently, Buffy is a robot!

This issue felt like a gigantic letdown. Having Buffy grapple with an unexpected pregnancy could have interjected a strong human element to the comic. Instead, we are subjected to a mélange of tired tropes. Spike’s spaceship and its bug crew seem like they were lifted from the pages of a bad sci-fi comic, and Buffy-like robots were done to death on the TV show. To series newcomers, the ending might have been a shock, but series veterans are liable to roll their eyes at yet another Buffybot.

In one of the last panels, ‘Buffy’ says that “I think this means I’m not pregnant,” which suggests that writer Andrew Chambliss could be using the Buffybot as a way to extricate himself from the Buffy-is-pregnant plotline. I suppose it could have been worse: she could have woken up and realized it was all just a dream. Still, it will be a shame if such an intriguing plotline is cut short so abruptly.

The article Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 9, Issue 7 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Throughout her young life, Buffy has faced all sorts of challenges. Not only has she saved the world innumerable times, fought a smorgasbord of vicious hellspawn, and experienced the drama of romancing the undead, but she has also come back from the dead on two separate occasions. This is a woman who has literally been there, done that. But now the Powers That Be have decided to throw a new challenge at her: a baby.

At the end of the last issue, we saw a shocked Buffy contemplating a positive result on a home pregnancy test. In this issue, Buffy struggles to come to terms with the fact that she is going to have a baby. An unplanned pregnancy would be frightening enough for any woman, but for Buffy, it is even more catastrophic. Being a Slayer pretty much precludes her from having a normal life, even in this crazy post-Seed world.

Buffy ends up turning to Robin Wood, who fans may remember as the principal of Sunnydale High during the final season of the TV show. His mother Nikki was a Slayer too, and she also found herself unwed and pregnant. She wrestled with the question of whether or not to have her baby.

Robin tells Buffy how stressful it was having a Slayer for a mother. Each night he would lie in bed, waiting to see if his mother would actually make it home alive. Nikki’s Watcher offered her the chance to put down her stake and give up slaying, but in the end she could not resist her calling. That proved to be her undoing, and she was eventually killed by Spike.

Robin’s tale naturally makes Buffy doubt the wisdom of having a baby, but he insists that she can do it. He points out that she has already been through so much more, and that she has a close-knit bunch of friends who will help her out. Buffy, however, does not share his optimism, and the issue ends with her deciding to have an abortion.

Spike has some scenes of his own in this issue, and we are reminded once again that he still has feelings for Buffy. It looks like he may have finally screwed up the courage to tell her how he feels, but his announcement is preempted by her decision to have an abortion. Which is really too bad, considering it might have ended one of the series’ more annoying subplots. I have never been a fan of Spike, and his incessant angst over his relationship with Buffy got old a long time ago.

I was starting to have my doubts about Season 9, but this new storyline has me interested again. It could have very easily become a Very Special Episode, but scriptwriter Andrew Chambliss handles the material sensitively without resorting to melodrama or histrionics. The new focus on real-life issues reminds me of vintage Buffy, and it will be interesting to see how the writers handle Buffy’s pregnancy.

Personally, I would love to see her actually have the baby. It would take the series in an interesting new direction, and it would certainly be a lot more interesting than if she just decides to have an abortion. It would be nice if Buffy finally got to be a full-fledged adult, and motherhood might just do the trick.

The article Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season 9, Issue 6 Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi -Force Storm is a comic set 36,000 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) where Luke Skywalker destroyed the first Death Star.

This first issue sets up the world in which readers can become familiar with the re-imagined origins of the Je’daii. An Issue Zero was actually released that depicted the various buildings, pre-hyperspace ships, organizations and characters that readers would come to know in Dawn of the Jedi Issue #1.

Well written by John Ostrander with penciling by Jan Duursema, this comic reads and looks fantastic. With inking by Dan Parsons and Coloring by Wes Dzioba, the vividness of the characters almost jump off the page in their lifelike movements. Lettering was done by Michael Heisler. There are two covers available from artists Jan Duursema and Gonzalo Flores. The story was conceived by both Jan Duursema and John Ostrander.

The opening of the comic, after the set up by Issue #1, is 12 years after the end of the Despot War. This was a war in which the Je’daii fought in order to defend against the growing war path that Queen Hadiya, Queen of Shikaakwa was spearheading. In the end, she fell at Kaleth, the temple of knowledge.

The Je’daii take her actions and look for resemblances in her once noble goals to unify a nation. In her, they see a loss of balance and so strive to understand the ways of the force and how it binds the universe in equality.

The Balance of the Force is another essential element to the Dawn of the Jedi comic series. As issues progress, it is likely that the polarization between the light and dark sides of the force will become more and more prevelent. Master Ketu, an adult who is watching over two children, appears to be the narrator to the founding of the Je’daii. He speaks to the children of the balance of the force, about the balance in all things and that they should focus on balance even as they are in conflict.

A precursor to the Jedi Code, the Je’daii code is different in that it seeks balance between harmony and chaos rather than only harmony and no chaos at all as with the later Jedi Code, not to mention the sith code. The Je’daii code therefore includes tenants that accept the feeling of hatred and fear, as long as hatred and fear are not the only existing emotions a Je’daii feels.

In balance, a Je’daii feels hate but also feels love, they know chaos and they know harmony and are therefore immortal in the force. Meanwhile on another planet called Tatooine, another sort of conflict waged. Dawn of the Jedi Force Storm follows the tale of Force Hound Xesh.

A Force Hound is, much as the name describes, a seeker of Force Sensitive individuals on planets that the Rakatan Infinite Empire seeks to control. Force Sensitive’s are found and then destroyed. Xesh is owned by Predor Tul’kar, a Rakatan overlord.

The Rakatan Infinite Empire is a government that currently seeks the destruction and enslavement of other cultures. As an Empire they cull Force Sensitive’s when possible, likely to remove competition and take only a select few to become Forces Hounds to hunt for other Force Sensitive’s within the galaxy. What weapons will these Force users utilize since the only sword wielding of any kind in Dawn of the Jedi will involve real steel rather than light particles.

It seems then, that through the force, Master Ketu and Xesh therefore will eventually clash. The first issue gives clues to the exciting next issue that will come as Xesh and his master Predor Tul’kar set out to hunt a new planet of Force Sensitive’s, possible Master Ketu on Tython itself. As the first issue comes to a close it seems as if conflict is imminent and only time will tell who will be the victor.

The article Star Wars- Dawn of the Jedi, Force Storm #1, Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Fans of Avengers Vs. X-Men has a lot to look forward to this April; new covers are ready to the upcoming issues. First, as the Phoenix Force continues its crash course towards Earth during the blockbuster comic event of the year, Avengers Vs. X-Men, Iron Fist learns that he has a shocking connection to the all-powerful embodiment of rebirth and destruction.

But what does that mean for his team? Find out in New Avengers #25 from the blockbuster creative team of Brian Michael Bendis & Mike Deodato, available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app.

Next, as the Marvel Universe sits in-between the crosshairs of the all-powerful Phoenix Force, Thor leads the Secret Avengers to space to face the cosmic entity head on. Will their plan work or has Captain America thrown the team into a suicide mission? Find out in Secret Avengers #26 from critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender and fan favorite artist Renato Guedes available in comic shops worldwide. With a cover by living legend Alan Davis, no fan can miss this.

And it does not stop here. The biggest names in the industry pit the largest super hero franchises against one another for the biggest war in comics history. To celebrate this blockbuster event, Marvel has your first look at the Avengers Vs. X-Men #2 Bradshaw Variant by red-hot artist Nick Bradshaw. With the opening salvo fired, the time for talking is over. What side does Wolverine choose and what decision will Hope make that may turn the tide of the war… just as it begins?

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

The article Avengers Vs. X-Men Will Explode this April appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Dark Horse Comics has released Issue 4 of their ongoing continuation of the cult TV show, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. When we last left our heroine, she had been betrayed by her erstwhile ally, Severin. The issue begins with a flashback showing Severin working his mojo on a vampire in a bid to gain information about his girlfriend, Alessandra. He seems to be able to steal magic from vampires, but in doing so, he kills the underlying human.

A mysterious stranger told Severin that he needed to destroy Buffy. As he lunges to attack her and steal her power, he taunts her in typical Buffy-villain fashion. As they grapple, both the San Francisco Police Department and her former vampire love interest, Spike, converge on her. The former plan to arrest her, while the latter is trying desperately to save her.

This issue turned out to be a bit of a letdown, actually. The writers seemed to be treading water throughout much of the text, and the fight between Buffy and Severin was not terribly dramatic. A bunch of panels showing Severin gripping Buffy while mysterious green energy dances around them does not make for a very compelling fight. It almost felt like the fight scenes were being used as filler in between the scenes that were happening elsewhere in the city.

I do not want to give away too many spoilers, but the end of the issue wraps up the ‘Buffy as fugitive’ plot arc in a way that just felt rushed. It seemed to end because the writers needed it to end, rather than ending in a natural fashion.

The dialogue also seemed to suffer in this issue. There were a number of instances where writer Andrew Chambliss seemed to be trying too hard to capture Joss Whedon’s famed Buffyspeak (worst line of the issue: “I’ve just got to keep with the fighty until you use up all your snap, crackle, and pop.”) With Whedon, it seemed natural; with Chambliss, it tends to feel contrived.

In my review of Issue 3, I noted that the characters sometimes did not resemble the actors who played them on TV. That problem is even more pronounced in Issue 4. Willow has a brief walk-on part towards the end, but you would be hard-pressed to tell that she was once played by Alyson Hannigan. Buffy’s resemblance to Sarah Michelle Gellar is also at an  all-time low in this issue, and she still tends to look like she is twelve years old.

OVERALL GRADE: B-

The article Comic Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 – Issue 4 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The second printing of “The Good: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5, a collection of Issues #14-18, has come out this November 30, almost exactly five years after its original publication in 2006. Featuring an all-new design for the cover illustrated by author, Eric Powell, the second edition of “Wicked Inclinations” offers a humorous and action-packed look into the world of The Goon.

Volume 5 opens with a brief background of one of The Goon’s allies, The Buzzard, who has discovered the Priest’s real name. Armed with this information, he successfully scares The Priest into not calling up any more of the undead, but The Priest is determined, and he manages to create an unholy army of minions set on destroying The Goon.

Meanwhile, Goon and his friend, Franky, defend their territory from several local crime families, as well as help the owner of the bar they frequent from a powerful gypsy bent on getting revenge.

For someone who hasn’t read the first four volumes of “The Goon” series, the beginning comes off as being very serious and a little dark. But as the story continues, the humor shines through. Although it can be easy for humor to overpower or detract from a relatively serious plot, Powell manages to keep the tension going, while at the same time encouraging his readers to have a few laughs along the way.

Originally, Powell had planned on making Issue #18 an independent piece called “Satan’s Sodomy Baby,” but word got out about its possibly blasphemous nature, and it began to be boycotted even before its release. As a result, Powell ratcheted up the offensive content and Dark Horse Comics released it separately as a one-shot.

The title on the cover was changed to “Satan’s **** Baby” with a parental advisory sticker on the front, and plastic wrapping was put on it so no one could accidentally be offended by browsing through its pages. Because of the controversy, “Satan’s **** Baby” will never be put into a collection, but Powell does reference it in “Wicked Inclinations.” Franky finds a copy of the comic and makes several humorous comments about it to Goon.

Eric Powell is most well-known for his work in “The Goon” series, but he has also been involved in a number of other popular comic series such as, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, and The Incredible Hulk. Powell is a talented writer and author, and both abilities shine through in “Wicked Inclinations.”

Stirring violence mixed with humor that is often irreverent, “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” is a riveting and amusing journey into a mix of 30’s noir, zombies, and fantastic creatures. The winner of the 2005 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication and Best Ongoing Series, this comic is a must-read for anyone looking for a high-quality humorous tale.

The article “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5 Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Fans of the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer spinoff Angel will have yet another taste of post apocalyptic London with Angel and Faith. Set after the death of Giles and Angel’s return to sanity, he is joined by Rebel Slayer Faith Lehane. The two combat the forces of evil in a post Twilight world where earth is completely cut off from magic after the events of Buffy Season Eight.

Fans will remember that in season eight, Angel and Buffy were manipulated into giving birth to an apocalyptic dimension called Twilight. During these events Angel adopts the villain name Twilight in order to combat Buffy after she inherits godlike superpower. There’s no confusion with sparkly vampires here, that’s for sure.

In Live Through This issue number 4, Angel is still haunted by the acts of horror he committed during Twilight with the death of Rupert Giles hanging over his head constantly. At this point he is knee deep in his quest to bring Giles back from the dead. Angel is bereft of his usual bevy of ally’s Buffy Summers, Dawn, Xander Harris and Willow Rosenberg.

His one remaining ally has thus far been the surprising but steadfast Faith Lehane. A slayer just like one other, she breaks more rules than she keeps but is loyal to the fight against evil. She is not only his partner on this adventure but also his insurance policy, which Angel openly admits. Should he ever become so obsessed, he knew within reason that Faith would knock some sense into him.

In fact, Angel seems to be counting on it. She notices how Angel’s personality changes, adopting some rather bookish reading habits. Nash and Pearl, the sibling demons who crossed over onto earth, are magic users that battle Angel at every turn. They take pride and joy in making his life difficult while advancing their plot for the next supposed step in evolution.

Their view of Angel as a traitor to their cause is less evident in this issue but they still threaten Angel that they have more power than he’d seen before. Far from being the standard issue enemy the character of Nash is protective of his sister and Pearl definitely has a sensual quality about her.

Whistler, fellow demon to Nash and Pearl, is more diabolical than his campy nature would seem. His long history with Angel further complicates matters since it was he who initially convinced Angel to take the mantle of Twilight in the first place. The character of Whistler himself has evolved over time, his true face of vengeance against Angel showing through.

His work with the demon siblings his brought him a vial of Mohra Blood, the Blood of Eternity for his nefarious purposes. One concern is that this series should remain fresh and original, rather than devolve into a campy mess of vamp vs demon combat. The emotional elements of the 4th issue, little as they are, serve to highlight the storyline and its characters.

The 4th issue in this series is available now, with issue #5 releasing on December 28th, now available for pre-order here through Dark Horse Comics. Fans will want to keep a watch for this series on the rise since issues 6 and 7 are also available for pre-order as well.

Written by Christos Gage with artwork from Rebekah Isaacs, coloring by Dan Jackson and cover art by Steve Morris, this is a great team that has worked on the Angel and Faith series since the very beginning. With mastermind creator Joss Whedon having provided an excellent backdrop with tons of characters that makes for a very easily advancing plot line.

The next few issues seem to be shaping up for a grand showdown of epic proportions with a few hidden surprises being foreshadowed to fans in these recent pages.

The article Comic Review: Angel and Faith Issue #4 (Steve Morris Cover) appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Although Diablo III has been postponed until 2012, fans of the series can tide themselves over by picking up the first issue of Sword of Justice, which hits the shelves this week. Set in the same dark-fantasy world as the game, SoJ is a five-issue comic series published by DC Comics which takes place during the twenty years that elapsed between the ending of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and the beginning of Diablo III.

The issue starts with a nice little summary of the overarching story of the Diablo universe.  Sanctuary (the world of mortals) was created by angels and demons as a place of refuge. Despite the best intentions, Sanctuary was almost destroyed twice, and each time it owed its salvation to Tyrael, the Archangel of Justice.

We then segue out of the past and into the present, where a young wanderer is confronted by an old beggar who claims to be able to see the future. He knows that the young man’s name is Jacob and that he is being pursued by hostile men. He tells Jacob to seek out a mysterious mountain.

At first, Jacob doesn’t believe the old man’s ramblings, but after almost dying of thirst in the desert, he stumbles upon the mountain that the old seer described. Inside, there’s a great cave whose walls are carved with scenes from his past, and a shining sword protrudes from the stone.

Seeing the scenes on the wall bring back painful memories for Jacob, and the reader finally starts to understand what the young man is running from. Video game tie-ins often leave a lot to be desired, but SoJ manages to be a compelling read. Scriptwriter Aaron Williams has a done a nice job with Jacob’s characterization, and he has a knack for incorporating subtle humor into the dialogue.

The story he’s crafted appears promising, and it will be interesting to see how SoJ fits in with the storyline of Diablo III when it’s finally released. The art, however, may not be to everyone’s liking. If you’re one of the fans who thinks that Diablo III isn’t dark and gritty enough, then you might want to steer clear of SoJ.

Joseph Lacroix’s work is visually appealing, but his highly-stylized drawings may not appeal to those looking for gritty realism. All in all, SoJ is a promising addition to the world of Diablo. It could have easily become a cliched ‘young warrior finds a magic weapon’ story, but it looks like they’ve managed to create something fresh and new.

The article Diablo: Sword of Justice Issue 1 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.