Comic Book Review: The Goddamned #4 - Image Comics (2016)

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by r.m. Guera

Cain has been captured and is being crucified by Noah.  While up on the cross, Cain is having thoughts about what he should be doing with this life that won't end.  He speaks with a child that reminds him of what he needs to do.

I'm glad The Goddamned is back.  It seems like it's been a while since this book was last out so I had to jog the old memory bank to remember what was happening in this series.  It didn't take long and this book sets up the next one quite nicely.  Issue four still has the violence and cursing and plenty of blood but you can see that there will be plenty more in the upcoming issues.

r.m. Guera is such a great choice to draw The Goddamned.  There is a level of grittiness and brutality in this book that is unwavering and the art matches astoundingly.  The Goddamned is not for the squeamish so be ready for it.  The comic book is only four issues in so you can still catch up.

I got the variant cover by Skottie Young(pictured).

What are your thoughts on The Goddamned?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?  Please comment below or find us on social media.    

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Comic Book Review: Star Wars #17 - Marvel Comics (2016)

Book IV, Part II
"Rebel Jail"

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Leinil Francis Yu

Sunspot Prison has been taken over leaving Princess Leia and Sana Starros together to team up to try and take it over while keeping their star prisoner, Dr. Aphra, safe.  Meanwhile on the Smugglers Moon, Nar Shaddaa, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo are trying to hustle some money together.

Jason Aaron continues to write brilliant stories for the Star Wars series.  Each book has meaning and leaves you with just enough to keep you coming back for more.  I particularly liked the job Luke Skywalker and Han Solo took.  It now makes sense why, when Princess Leia goes into her insulting tirade in "The Empire Strikes Back," Han is really only offended by being called scruffy.

Leinil Francis Yu is the artist for this wonderful looking book.  It's always a pleasure to read a comic when great stories are coupled with great art.

What are your thoughts of Star Wars?  What comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?  Please let us know in the comment section below.

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Comic Book Review: The Goddamned #3 - Image Comics (2016)

"Before the Flood" - Issue 3

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by rm Guera

Cain continues on the quest to help a woman find her son who has been captured by Noah's murderous caravan.  We are also given flashbacks to Cain's childhood when the Earth, while no longer considered Paradise, was much more beautiful than it is presently within the book.

Cain shows he has a heart but still a distaste for God.  Like the previous two books, there is plenty of violence and harsh language.  This is a brutal book and I look forward to reading every bit of it.  Jason Aaron is wonderful when it comes to story telling and has a fantastic way of keeping you enthralled and anticipating the next issue.

rm Guera's artwork is tailored to this bloody brutality.  The story and art go remarkably well together.  I highly recommend picking up these issues from your local comic shop before everyone else finds out how good they are.

What are your thoughts on The Goddamned?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to read and review?  Please leave your comments below.

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Comic Book Review: Star Wars #15 - Marvel Comics (2016)

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mike Mayhew

Luke Skywalker is in possession on Obi-Wan Kenobi's journal.  This book chronicles a time when Luke was young and how Obi-Wan would protect him without Luke ever knowing.

I really enjoyed the change of pace with the Star Wars comic book this month.  Coming off the terrific Vader Down story line, it was nice to read a one off story that still sheds some backstory light on some of our favorite characters.

We get to see Obi-Wan not as content as one might think being a hermit.  We also get to see a young Luke Skywalker and delving into his psyche more.  We are treated with the fact that even at a young age, Luke wants more from life than just being a farmer on Tattooine.  Obi-Wan tries to provide that life at a distant.

Star Wars #15 makes for a great comic book, even if you haven't read issues 1-14.  As long as you have seen the movies, you will be fine following this story and I felt it was absolutely enjoyable.

What are your thoughts on the Star Wars comic books?  What other comic series would you like the Maskerpiece Theatre bloggers to review?  Please leave your comments below or let us know through the many forms of social media.

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Comic Book Review: Darth Vader #13 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Salvador Larroca

Vader Down: Part 2 of 6
Darth Vader is under attack after his ship was brought down on the planet Vragos Vos.  The rebels, despite the numbers, do not seem to be much of a match for the Sith Lord.  Han Solo and Princess Leia disagree about where priorities should be.  Leia remembers what happened to her home planet of Alderaan and Han's loyalties are tied to Luke.  Luke finds he and R2-D2 have crash landed near an old Jedi temple.  Aphra and her droids makes their way to Vragos Vos.

The Star Wars/Darth Vader series continues to wow me.  The intertwining stories that are so separate yet woven together is an absolute joy to read.  In the Vader Down #1 review, I was hoping there would be interactions with the characters from Darth Vader's comic book series and the characters from the Star Wars books.  At the end, we get just that!

***Cue the speculation of Aphra as Rey's mother.***

Okay, put down your light sabers, that's a blog and/or podcast for a different day.  We are only in part two of the Vader Down story line and it's been nothing but action and suspense.  Many of the comic book events that I read are a lot of build up and then action at the end.  Not so with Star Wars.  Action, a little more action, comical bantering and then more action.  Grab some popcorn but keep your buttery fingers off the pages.  You're in for a wild ride!

What are your thoughts on the Darth Vader comic book series?  Are you enjoying Vader Down?  What other comic books would you like the Maskerpiece Theatre bunch to review?

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Comic Book Review: Vader Down #1 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mike Deodato

Darth Vader is on his way to Vragos Vos to find Luke Skywalker.  Once there, he meets a rebel fleet and takes them on by himself.

The Darth Vader series has been one of my favorite comic book series going and now it has moved into the Star Wars series as well.  Vader Down is the beginning to the ultimate six issue tie-in.  I know I normally complain about any comic book that is over $3.99 in price.  This doesn't seem to be an ongoing title so I'll forgive the one-off ridiculous price.

 Seeing Vader taking on a fleet of rebel X-Wing fighters was awesome and his eventual take down was remarkable.  The entire rebel army on Vragos Vos get word that Vader is down and Princess Leia sends everyone after him.  You can imagine how Han Solo feels about this.

Luke is down as well and it should be interesting to see if/when he and Vader cross paths. I'm also looking forward to seeing other characters from each book such as  Aphra, BeeTee and Triple Zero from Darth Vader's book interacting with Han Solo, Princess Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2 from the Star Wars books.

What are your thoughts on Vader Down?  How are you liking the Star Wars comic books?  What other comic book series' would you like the Maskerpiece Theatre squad to review?

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Comic Book Review: The Goddamned #2 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron
Art by r.m. Guera

Noah continues his quest across land with the animals he has collected in preparation for the flood.  Cain finds an unlikely ally as he looks for something that can possibly kill him.

I loved the first issue of The Goddamned and issue two continues the awesomeness.  Cain is continuing his travels across what looks like a barren wasteland.  He meets a woman who has lost her son to Noah's group and he is reluctant to assist.

The action is absolutely brutal.  If you like comics that are overtly violent, than pick up the first two issues of The Goddamned.  Jason Aaron is authoring a bloody tale that doesn't show any signs of letting up on the ferocious barbarity.

What are your thoughts on The Goddmaned review?  What other comic book titles would you like to see reviewed by the staff at Maskerpiece Theatre?  Leave your comments below.

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Comic Book Review: Star Wars #11 - Marvel Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Stuart Immonen

Luke Skywalker is forced to fight in a Gladiator-style event by Grakkus the Hutt on the moon Nar Shadaa, Leia and Han are in a ship with Han's "wife" on the way to attempt a rescue of Skywalker, C3-PO and Chewbacca are on the moon looking to get into the arena where Luke is about to fight for his life.

Did you get all that?  There is a ton of action in this comic book and it is non-stop!  Star Wars and Darth Vader are my clear favorites when it comes to Marvel Comics.  Taking place between episodes IV and V, we are seeing what our favorite rebels are up to and what kind of trouble they find.  

Chewbacca and C3-PO are still together and I really like that dynamic.  I truly enjoy that we have no subtitles for Chewie and everything is based on how others respond to him.  Han and Leia's relationship is being put to the test and it's been awesome to read their lines.

I'm a huge fan of Jason Aaron's writing and I'm excited every time I get to pick up a book from this series.  Stuart Immonen has been wonderful for this series, having to draw many different settings and lots of action with magnificent facial expressions.

You can read the first few issues on the Marvel Unlimited app, but you'll have to get the past six months at your local comic shop or online.  This is an extraordinary series and a great way to quell your Star Wars appetite as you wait for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters later in December.

You can read more of my blogs here on Maskerpiece Theatre and also on http://cinemaheadcheese.blogspot.com/

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Comic Book Review: The Goddamned - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by r.m. Guera

Cain has been alive over 1600 years and is forced to walk the Earth.  He's not a real big fan of God and he curses him every chance he gets.  

Taken from the biblical tale, Jason Aaron is telling the story of Cain and his struggle of being forced to live on Earth as the inventor of murder.  Cain must deal with barbarians and other monsters in this tale.  To say this book is violent would be the 2015 winner of "Understatement of the Year."  Page upon page of killing and maiming.  It's truly an incredible find.  

r.m. Guera is able to tell Jason Aaron's story from the visual aspect extraordinarily well.  Blood, guts and other stuff that comes out of the body are prominently on display panel after panel after panel.  

The first book is called "Before the Flood" so I'm sure you can guess who else we might be running into with this first issue.

If you want to get started on a series from the start, run to your closest comic book shop and pick up issue one of "The Goddamned" right away!

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Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.