BotTalk Reviews

Spoilers! Spoilers!  The Angry Planet part One (Script: Alan Hebden. Art: Massimo Belardinelli. Reprinted in JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE 493) CHAPTER 1 (2092 AD. Mars is The Angry Planet. A monopolistic megacorp (MARS Incorporated) wants to own the fourth planet from the Sun. Matthew Markham (a Marshy/Marshie i.e. a human born on Mars, an independent farmer (like Luke Skywalker)) refuses to have his land prospected by MARS Inc. for peanuts. To force Matt into selling his land... MARS Inc. stops their deliveries of water from Earth to Matt's farm.) CHAPTER 2 (Matthew will represent the Martian colonists/farmers that are being ruined and exploited by MARS Incorporated. Matt will go to the United Nations (on Earth) to plead for an independent planet. Vince (a friendly Earthling) flies Matt to Earth.) CHAPTER 3 (Earth's gravity is too much for the Martian-born Matt, he is put in a gravity-defying water tank. The richest man in the galaxy and the President of MARS Inc. (Hugo Kray) sends hi...

CONAN & DRAGONERO part 7 (of 7): The Demon from Tarantia (chapter two) CONAN OF CIMMERIA and IAN ARANILL kill the hideous creatures of the eldritch demon, they arrive at the temple, Ian fights the demon while Conan restores the giant chalice to its original position, Conan puts the gems back in the chalice and the demon is sent back to its dimension.  Myrva Aranille (Ian's little sister) passes through a magic portal (created by Alben the Wizard from the Order of the Luresindi) to gather her brother. Ian thanks Conan and leaves with his sibling. Dragonero is now back home near the maritime city of Solian, he celebrates his return with Gmor Burpen (an Orc, Ian's best friend), Sera (a She-Elf from Frondascura), Alben and his sister. Back in the Hyborian age, Conan enjoys a night of drinking.  What I did like: An unused cover layout from Lorenzo Nuti showcasing Conan & Dragonero in action. Ian Aranill is an homage to Jeff Bridges as Jack Lucas from The Fisher King (1991)....

Story : After a brief flashback with Lara and Emma climbing the Himalayas, we are back in  the present on Cobra Island with the Joes (Lara, Shipwreck, Outback, Stalker, Helix and Recondo as they approach the freighter. Destro and the Baroness are able to figure out what the Joes are looking for and prepare to search the freighter while a team of Iron Grenadiers heads to engage the Joes. The team is pinned down until help arrives from the air drop team (Hit & Run, Snake-Eyes and Alpine). After taking out the Grenadiers, Lara finds a hidden passageway in the rocks and her and Shipwreck head in.  Writing : a nice second issue, with some good action, plot and suspense to go with it. We learn a bit more of Lara’s background and why she’s on her mission. It’s also nice to see a well balanced field team that makes mostly sense with some characters who don’t get a lot of time in the series, like Hit & Run (Light Infantryman) and Alpine (Mountain Trooper). One thing that does s...

Story : It’s full blown action as MASK tries to rescue Scott Trakker (Matt Trakker's son) from the clutches of V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem). Nash Gorey with the Outlaw shows up as well. While Miles Mayhem and VENOM are forced to retreat, they do end up with something valuable.  Writing : This issue is mainly just fast-paced action. We get to see all the current MASK and VENOM characters and vehicles going at it. Nash Gorey and the Outlaw are introduced, a couple of later additions to the toy line.  General Flagg also makes an appearance, along with mentions of Energon, which help keep the series connected to both the ongoing G.I. Joe and Transformers series.  While this is mainly an action issue, it leaves off on a couple of nice cliffhangers.  It’s also nice to see that Matt is more than just a super scientist type, he also studies people and can figure out how they’ll react.  Art : Really solid art. Not only do we get to see the vehicles in acti...

General Ursus forces a Mutant (a mutated human telepath) to make the Predator (an alien Yautja warrior) his and Dr. Zaius' slave. Arch (the ANSA astronaut) blows up her crashed spaceship (and the Gorilla soldiers of General Ursus who were sniffing around for weapons) and grabs all the futuristic guns lying around. Cornelius and Zira bring some primitive humans to The Mutants of the Forbidden Zone (the ruins of New York City). Cronus (another Mutant) utilizes his telepathic powers to teach the primitive humans how to use the futuristic guns. Will Arch and her new army of Mutes and Mutants be able to stop Ursus and his mind-controlled Predator from exterminating all humans? What I did like: Sumptuous covers by Stonehouse & Salvador Larroca/Morry Hollowell! What I did not like: Astronaut Arch has completely forgotten that she is on a rescue mission.  Still no smart aleck giant brains in jars aka The Inheritors. Very disappointing. Where is Mendez XXVI!? Needed more Minister Sabian...