• SDCC 2010
• Comics

by Arcee on 07.31.10

Recently, I received a new trade paperback from the people at Top Cow to review for them. Titled Top Cow: First Look, this TPB had previews for six new properties set to be released by Top Cow this coming year. Admittedly, I was very excited when I saw what it was because I am always interested in new materials that enter the industry. It is always fun to see what new stories are waiting out there for me as a fan to discover. So collecting them all in one TPB is all ready a big plus in my book. But there was an even bigger surprise waiting for me in this TPB as the last two stories previewed here are going to be published under the recently resurrected Minotaur Press, a label once run by Top Cow that began in 2000 before fading out of production and featured properties that were out of sync with the main Top Cow Universe. Ending the TPB are two features that give quick previews for two other Top Cow TPB now on sale.

Genius

The first story featured in First Look, Genius tells the story of a young woman born in gang riddled South Central Los Angeles who may turn out to be the most brilliant military strategist this generation. Working her way to consolidate power in the area only one inquisitive officer has any idea what may really be happening as the gangs of the area ready themselves for a war with the police department. Written by Marc Benardin and Adam Freeman with art by Afua Richardson, this former Pilot Season winner seems solid enough in this preview. The writing in this series was something that felt very real and fluid. The art is the only thing that bugs me a bit here. It seems almost a blend of the anime style with western styles and a bit of urban art themes. I can see how it plays to this title, but it can be a little distracting sometimes. Overall this title is a solid 3 out of 5.

Sunset

When a former Vietnam Vet’s past catches up with him, it is his family that pays the price. Now with no one left for him in this world, this seemingly unassuming old man decides to take the fight directly to the man responsible for the murder of his loved ones. Deciding how the sunset years of his life will end, is this really the last hoorah for a once proud Marine? Written by Christos Gage with art by Jorge Lucas and Felix Serrano, Sunset is a story that mirrors something I have seemingly read before (*cough* A History of Violence *cough*) but am still excited about in this series. The writing in this series is solid and fluid while the art, while not my favorite style, definitely works here to show the grittiness of what is to come. I definitely want to read this series when it is released, because honestly is it really that bad being compared to that story I named? I give this one 4 out of 5.

Mysterious Ways

The story of a former cop gone to prison for murdering a man, Mysterious Ways really didn’t give the readers a whole lot of information as to what the story is about. I get that there is a gruesome murder and the prime suspect is the main character of the story, but that is about it. His ex-fiancé gives him shit about his life, his court ordered psychiatrist doesn’t believe him, and some crazy looking old man seemingly helped him escape from the police after he was confronted about the murder of an FBI agent’s girlfriend. Written by Jason Rubin with art by Tyler Kirkman and Sal Regla, I will admit that this was my least favorite story in the TPB. While the story has a cool concept and all, there was not enough of it in the preview to really make me care. Instead it seemed to rely heavily on the art by Kirkman and Regla, which I will say is pretty good. I just need more than pretty pictures and a cool concept to work with. This one gets a 2 out of 5.

Black Vault

When the space shuttle program is suddenly reactivated, a few members aboard the International Space Station have some questions about it. Then again so do some of the flight crew on the shuttle. They seem to be delivering a team of meteorologist and a new weather imaging compartment to the station, but neither they nor their new addition to the craft are all that they are cracked up to be. What is the dangerous secret being hidden in the top secret compartment and just how exactly does it relate to the escalating war on terror back on Earth? Written by B. Clay Moore with art by Nelson Blake II and Dave McCaig, Black Vault is definitely my favorite story in the TPB. The story is full of intrigue and leaves you enticed to pick up the story when it is released, and the art is simply beautiful especially this one sequence of scenes near the middle of the story. This is a solid 5 out of 5.

Echoes

Just how much control do you really have over the power and imagination of your brain? That is something I found myself asking myself after I finished reading Echoes, the first story in the Minotaur Press section of the TPB. It tells the story of a young man who needs medication to help him control the hallucinations his brain creates. But when his dying father entrust him with finding a deep dark secret of his, will he finally snap when he realizes the murderous history of his family or is he simply destined to carry on the twisted life that his father started years before. Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov with art by Rahsan Ekedal, Echoes is a chilling and terrifying look into not only the persona of the main character, but even one’s self. The story is amazing and the art does everything to compliment the overall feel of the story. I give this one 4 out of 5.

Last Mortal

So you have a fucked up life. All your life you have done the bad things that lead you down even worse paths. And you only have one friend in the whole world. But now you kill your best friend in a job gone wrong. You have no options left to you so you take your gun, put it under your chin, and pull the trigger. Thing is, you don’t die. What do you do now? That is exactly what happens to the main character in Last Mortal. He must now decide how to live his life knowing that he may never see an end to it. It is an interesting idea and it is written well by John Mahoney and Filip Sablik. Adding to the enjoyment of this story is the complimentary art provided by Thomas Nachlik. This is exactly the kind of book that I expect to see from the Minotaur Press imprint. This story gets 4 out of 5.

The last two story previews collected in this TPB are the first couple of pages from the Darkness: Accursed Volume 1 TPB and the Witchblade Volume 1 TPB. There is nothing really special about them except for the fact that they give a quick history lesson as to how the Darkness power and Witchblade came into being. Like I said, nothing really special, but it is a real treat to see the extraordinary art of those books in this TPB.

Overall, Top Cow: First Look is a great jumping on point for the next wave of books being brought to you by Top Cow. Six great first issues and two great previews really round out this trade very well. And for only $4.99, it really is a good value. I believe that this is one trade that shouldn’t be missed.