Reviews (14)

The Infinate Saga......
I wish that Jim Starlin had the oppertunity to illustrate this one. It brings all his former characters together. Warlock, Thanos,Pip the Troll. George Perez brings a new perspective to his characters.

This one has it all. The destruction of the universe as we know it. It doesn't get any better than this! Lady Death returns for a shock ending that should have stuck. If Marvel didn't revive Thanos, it would have been have a fitting end to the deadly character. He exists at the end of the story.....but there is a twist I won't tell you about.

Thanos vs. Warlock in Epic Showcase of Cosmic Entities
Marvel so rarely gets epic crossovers right. For every "Dark Phoenix"(Perfection!) there is one or more "Secret Wars" (sadly dissapointing). "Infinity Gauntlet" does a nice job of showcasing not just Earth's mightiest beings, but the Universe's as well. Galactus, Living Tribunal, Watcher, etc. all make appearances.

Anyone who enjoys a story on a cosmic-scale will certainly enjoy this one. It wasn't on par with "The Inhumans" but it brought together characters I hadn't seen since the Silver Surfer's solo comic in the late '80s and its worth the read. Recommended.
Also recommended: "Avengers Forever", another not-quite-perfect all-star hero fest.

Wonderful!
When the Infinity Gauntlet saga originally happened, I was in my comic collecting prime. I missed out on most the saga, sadly, because I was in an area where it was quite hard to get a good selection of comics. I bought a few tie-in issues from other series and sort of pieced together what was going on. The only thing I remember is knowing the Infinity Gauntlet was coming in advance, because an issue of Quasar (my favorite comic at the time. Please don't laugh at me about that.) showed Thanos with the Gauntlet, as he attempted (unsuccesfully) to destroy a super-powerful villian you've never heard of called Maelstrom. (If you care at all, the Quasar series was called Cosmos in Collision and ended with the universe nearly being destroyed. I really wish they'd reprint that one as well, but Quasar has never been, and likely never will be, popular enough to warrant something like that.)

This collection, though, is great. All of the original issues of Infinity Gauntlet in one. All the "intergalactic biggies" are there like Uatu (The Watcher), Galactus, Eternity, Death, Living Tribunal and a few more. (Noticeably absent are Infinity and Oblivion.)

I particularly enjoyed the scene where all the galactic biggies ganged up on Thanos and started beating him senseless. Or they tried to, anyway.

As far as I know, this is one of Marvel's earliest multi-comic title sagas. (Secret Wars came before it, though. And DC also had done Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985.) Whereas Secret Wars was kind of disappointing, Infinity Gauntlet showed how it should be done. Not bloated and taking well over a year to play out (as CoIE did) and not having a misuse of a good idea (as Secret Wars did), Infinity Gauntlet was nearly as perfect as a concept like this can be.

So, now all I'm waiting for is a graphic novel of it's followup story (happening a few years later on), Infinity Crisis. (Not nearly as good, but gives a certain closure and definitely ends the chance of anymore Infinity storylines. Well, as definite as you can get in the Marvelverse, anyway.)

disapoints
This is supposed to be one of those classic Marvel storylines. You can tell they were trying to write it that way. And it does have some interesting moments (turning Wolverine to rubber) but as a whole it isn't just that great. You get a lot of minor characters who are all powerful doing major things. It's just not that great of a story.

Starlin's Madness
I grew up reading the author's Warlock series reprints in the eighties. Those were masterful and powerful stories. The series climaxed with a cosmic battle involving the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Spider-man and Warlock. If you're a teenage brat it doesn't get any better than that.

Until this story. Starlin writes this one so deftly and so utterly over the top that you walk away stunned. The premise? The dark demi-god Thanos controls the fate of the universe with his Infinity Gems. The players include X-Men, Avengers, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Warlock, Dr Strange. If you like to see things blow up, Starlin delivers. (The universe becomes an immense battlefield for the alien gods.) If you want to see someone at last handle the psychology of a super-villain in a convincing manner, Starlin delivers. (Why is Thanos so bad? Jim answers loud and clear.) And if you want a plot that's both formulaic but new, this one delivers. (Like Star Wars.)

I also enjoyed the Infinity War series, so I hope Marvel reprints that one. ... Read more

Book Description

This hardcover volume features many key introductions, including Proteus (the evil son of Professor X), Gambit (who enjoyed a large fan-following in the hit X-Men cartoon) and Phoenix (the dark split personality of Jean Grey). The X-Men are cut to the emotional core as they battle their way through an obstacle course of deadly trials. First, Professor Xavier -- the mentor of the X-Men -- is forced to confront his past sins when his own son explodes into a destructive force. The question is, will he sacrifice his team to save his son? Then, the X-Men face another internal conflict when Jean Grey turns to the dark side.To save themselves, and the world, will the X-Men strike down their own teammate? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

New generation of writers out to destroy comics....
These new stories by Millar contain terrible Kubert drawings and story plots that go no where. They play more like a video game rather then a comic and are the work of people who are more like internet geeks then serious writers. No wonder comic book sales are dead and less then 2,000 comic book stores are still open nationwide.

Los mutantes recontados
La idea del Universo Ultimate que tan bien le esta saliendo a la Marvel, es adaptar sus historias clasicas al entorno actual con la finalidad de atraer nuevos lectores. Es decir, todos sabemos lo geniales que son los mutantes de Stan Lee pero reconozcamos que no atraen lo suficiente a nuevos lectores.
Asi, esta version Ultimate incorpora varios cambios menores que al final hacen un gran cambio, por ejemplo en las personalidades de los personajes, su origen, etc. Y todo eso hace una gran lectura. El escritor es Mark Millar, la actual estrella de la editorial Marvel que ademas ha escrito a los geniales Ultimates y los dibujantes son los hermanos Adam y Andy Kubert que se complementan muy bien el uno al otro. En resumen, buenos autores logran una estupenda historia.
Este tomo de tapa dura tiene los primeros 12 numeros de la coleccion Ultimate X-men:
- del #1 al #6: Tomorrow People, como se reclutan a los nuevos X-men y la pelea contra la version mas malvada de Magneto que se haya visto.
- del #7 al #12: Return to Weapon X, con la aparición estelar del Ultimate Samuel Jackson, perdon, quise decir Nick Fury.
Altamente recomendable para quienes pensaron que no se podian hacer nuevas historias de mutantes, para quienes no tienen nada de los X-men en su coleccion y para quienes llegan a los X-men por la pelicula.

Keep it real
The creators of Ultimate X-men did a very smart thing. They started all the way over. Considering Ult. X-men starts off anew, they can do what they wish with the story. Unlike X-treme and New X-Men which have plots so Twisted, it doesn't feel like the X-Men at all. They changed a few things in this series, like how Wolverine joined. Also Colossus and Storm take Angel's place as one of the first X-men. Making a team of 6 instead of 5. Magneto and the Brotherhood are pretty much the same. These books are solely based on story. Theres action, but its kinda far between.

The Weapon X Program tries to "recruit" the X-Men
Despite the title and the cover art for this second trade paperback volume in the "Ultimate X-Men" series (collecting issues 7-12), "Return to Weapon X" does not focus on the character of Wolverine. True, he is a key part of the solution for the predicament our Merry Mutants have found themselves in this time around, but Weapon X is now a big time secret government program run under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury that has a rather impressive little roster of mutants in its service: Juggernaut, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Sabertooth. Think of them as the government's answer to the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and that pretty much accounts for all of the mutants belonging to groups at this point in the series.

Despite being on a first name basis with the President of the United States, Xavier's School for Gifted Children is hit by Colonel Wraith and his shock troops, both human and mutant. Now Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and the others will serve the greater good and help the government fight fire with fire (the only good mutant is a mutant with a neural implant). Of course, since this is a comic book, the person in charge of this government program is psychotic and perfectly willing to do anything to do anything to get the job done (or did I mention already that Wraith was in charge?). The main part of the story arc has to do with the X-Men regaining their freedom, but this is also mixed up with Wolverine's search for his past and Nick Fury's search for an illegal genetic operation violating the Superhuman Test-Ban Treaty.

I think that one of the main strengths of the Ultimate comic books is that they emphasize story arcs that take multiple issues (six in this case) so that a dozen issues into the series we have only dealt with two major stories instead of a self-contained episode with a new villain every single month. This should help the well from running dry too quickly. Writer Mark Millar along with Penciller Adam Kubert (with Tom Raney & Tom Derenick) and Inker Art Thibert (with Scott Hanna, Joe Kubert, Danny Miki, & Lary Stucker) are having fun tweaking the "original" X-Men stories and creating some new dynamics (e.g., Storm is interested in Hank McCoy, Nightcrawler does not speak English) so I think that those who have been reading the X-Men since issue #1 of "The Uncanny X-Men" (or issue #1 of "The Giant-Size X-Men") will enjoy the differences more than neophytes and appreciate the way key stories resonant (e.g., Jean Grey is Marvel Girl and not Phoenix when she steps over the line this time around).

"Return to Weapon X" is not as good as the first volume in the series, but it is hard to compete with Magneto when you talking about the X-Men, whichever version of the group is involved. Millar's story is certainly complex enough and you can see all sorts of things being set up for down the road. As long as you are not offended by the very existence of the series, you should find "Ultimate X-Men" or any of the other titles in the Marvel series to be at least entertaining and quite possibility compelling. At the very least, you should be able to appreciate the tweaking.

Awesome!
An alternate X-Men universe is perhaps the best way for newer readers to come to terms with the characters that have amazed many throughout the years. The familiar characters get a stylish upgrade. Jean Grey with red, spiky hair? Cyclops with a goatee? Iceman with a bandana? You get them all here! Fantastic artwork with a reasonably paced storyline. The X-Men's battle with Magneto's Brotherhood of the Evil Mutants opened its first chapter. A highly recommended read. ... Read more

Book Description

As the adolescent sidekicks of the world’s most powerful heroes, Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl, and Impulse have fought alongside their mentors in many battles. But when Cyborg, a former teen hero, realizes that this new generation of super-heroes needs to be guided and trained, he recruits the young adventurers into the new Teen Titans. Now as Earth’s future champions begin working together as a unified team, they quickly learn the true consequences of the path they have chosen. Featuring Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and the Flash, this action-packed volume includes the Teen Titans inaugural adventures as they face off against the deadly mercenary Deathstroke, contend with the fanatical villainy of Brother Blood and take on the heroes of the Justice League. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

WAY Better than that Teen Titans Go Crap!
I was originally turned off the Teen Titans comics because of the atrocious TV series, but the front cover of this collection intrigued me because of the inclusion of Robin and the former Young Justice group. When I bought it, it totally exceeded my expectations. The story starts after the death of Troia, and it chronicles the first adventures of the newly formed Teen Titans, with Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven, Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash (Formerly Impulse) and Superboy as they take on Deathstroke and the JLA. Now I am a Teen Titan Fan, and I can't wait for the next Teen Titan graphic novel. (It's kinda hard to get subscriptions to comics in the Philippines.)

Titanic Tempest
I first got hooked on Teen Titans when my best friend's father gave me some issues of The Titans. I really got interested when I heard that they were re-launching Teen Titans. One day, I was in a comic-book store and I found Teen Titans: A Kid's Game sitting on a shelf. I waged an internal debate as to whether or not I should buy it, and the side that wanted the collection won. So I bought it, and I haven't regretted it at all. I loved everything about this collection: the union of the new Teen Titans, the character development, and the unexpected twists. If you ever see this collection, buy it! Don't take my word for it; buy it and read it for yourself.

A Superhero Team Book Done Right
Geoff Johns has always been a master of telling these sort of classic superhero stories, while making them exceptable for today's readers, whose tastes have changed, and this tale of young superheroes joining together and trying to find their way in the world with the guidance of those who were once in their position is some of the best work he's done.

The stories in this collection are fun and exciting, but still have emotion and character development. There are twists and cliffhangers, and some classic moments, some comedic, and some eery. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Ultimate excellence!
Ultimate Six
The Concept: Part Ultimate Spiderman, Part Ultimates- the characters of these two books serve to highlight the books true stars- the Ultimate villains. The book presents a unique look at the Ultimate rouges gallery.
The Good: Fans of both book will find there is something for everyone here. Whether it is the continuing development of Peter Parker, or the widescreen cimatetic epic battles for the fans of the Ultimates. Bendis does a superb job of keeping the pages, and the suprises comming. I am confindent many a fan will find themselves glued to thier seat.
The art is by newcomer Trevor Hairsine. The good news is that his art is like Brian Hitch- it is epic, conveys lots of detail, and strength.
The Bad: Mr. Hairsine is not Brian Hitch. Oh he is good, and I look foward to his next projects, but if you read this expecting the slick, and scarily realistic blockbuster art of Hitch you will be disapointed. Some of the action gets a bit cluttered, and Hairsine's art is very slightly reminiscent of another Europeon artist- igor Kordey.
Overall: A smart, suspensful,and suprising rollercoaster of a book. The Ultimate line at its very best.

Recreated Sinister Six
This story is very complicated and for fans who haven't read any Ultimate Spider-man or Ultimates books, don't get this one. There is a little background information that you'll need to understand this. First, Spider-man is about sixteen and has faughten each of the villains he is up against: Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Kraven, and Sandman (note: thats only five villains!) The Ultimates are a super-team to help fight mutant terrorists. They're just improved Avengers. They include Captain America, Giant Man, Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Iron Man, and Thor. Ok, now the story starts with Ultimate Spider-man #46 where Spider-man fights the Sandman. Later, the story branches out to a SHIELD contaiment prison for the five Spider-man villains. They team up and break out of the prison. They then kidnap the young teen and threaten to kill his aunt if he doesn't cooperate. The team becomes....The Six! The showdown with the Six and the Ultimates begins! Which side will Spider-man fight on???

Should be a stand alone, not #9
This graphic novel is listed as #9 in the Ultimate Spider-Man series, but really only contains one Ultimate Spider-Man comic in it with the other six being Ultimate Six comics.

I grabbed it eagerly hoping for more Ultimate Spider-Man, but the storyline picked up more of the convoluted typical comic fare than the simple-sweet personal style of Ultimate Spider-Man. The art after the first issue isn't typical of that series either, and is made up entirely of the more "realistic" art of Ultimate Six that leaves something to be desired if you're a fan of Ultimate Spider-Man's style up to this point.

Overall it's #9 in the list of these graphic novels, but if you were to skip it there's only a minor detail leading into what will be in #10 that you will have missed (and will pick up soon from there anyway). Since my interest is much more toward Ultimate Spider-Man than what Nick Fury and the Ultimates are up to these days, I found this graphic novel to be very disappointing both in story and art when all I wanted was more Spidey.

Aside from the first issue in the book and its action introduction of The Sandman, the rest is forgettable and not up to par with the eight that preceeded it.

Ultimate Showdown
This is a great story, but I wish the whole thing had been drawn by cover artist John Cassady. Trevor Hairsine is definitely not a bad artist, but sometimes his art seems a little rushed and inconsistent. And also.... why the hell can't the Ultimate Six be in full costume? Yeah yeah yeah it's more realistic that way but I'd choose entertainment over realism anyday, as far as comics go. So basically if this thing had been drawn by Cassady and the villians had their costumes on (except for Sandman - I'd let that slide) I'd love this collection 10 times more. And for crap's sake, Spider-Man, put on your damn mask.

....but yeah, the story is good. Cheers!

The Ultimates battle the Ultimate Six as Spider-Man watches
In 1964 when Stan Lee and Steve Ditko did the first annual for "The Amazing Spider-Man" they came up with a story called "The Sinister Six," which had the web-head going up against Doctor Octopus, the Sandman, the Vulture, Electro, Mysterio, and Kraven the Hunter. In order to rescue Betty Brant and find Aunt May, Spider-Man has to tackle six of his greatest villains working together and to make things really interesting he has to do it while he has apparently lost his powers. Also appearing in the book in the most minor of roles are Dr. Strange, the Fantastic Four, Captain America, the X-Men, Giant Man and Wasp, who have really nothing to do with our hero defeating the villains (one by one it turns out, with Ditko getting to do a splash page of each battle) and saving the day.

"Ultimate Six" is a seven part miniseries that brings together the Ultimates and Ultimate Spider-Man from Marvel's (you guessed it) Ultimate line of comic books, and it seems to me that scripter Brian Michael Bendis, penciler Trevor Hairsine, and inker Danny Miki are doing an updated version of that first "Spider-Man" annual. In keeping with the mission statement of the Ultimate universe to do things with a twist in a bigger way whenever possible, the Ultimate Six have two key rosters changes. Gone are Mysterio and the Vulture to be replaced by the Green Goblin and (surprise) Spider-Man himself. After all, Norman Osborn knows that Spider-Man is really Peter Parker and threatening Aunt May is enough to get our young hero (who is about 16 at this point) to do anything to make sure she stays alive.

The other big change, as you would expect, is that the Ultimates (the new and improved Avengers) do not sit on the sidelines and show up to save the day. The roster assembled at this point consists of Captain America, Giant Man, Iron Man, Wasp, Thor, Hawkeye and the Black Widow, under the direction of Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Note: If you have not been reading either "The Ultimates" or "Ultimate Spider-Man" you are going to be woefully lost with this trade paperback.) The super villains were all being held at a S.H.I.E.L.D. containment center and when they escape Fury sics the Ultimates on them (Thor vs. Electro is a neat idea). But the bad guys manage to destroy the Ultimates' stronghold, the Triskelion, and kidnap Peter Parker. The big show down comes on the lawn of the White House as the battle comes down to the Green Goblin and Spider-Man, although not exactly the way you would expect. It seems Norman thinks of Peter as the son he never had (which will be interesting news to Harry to be sure).

This mini-series will appeal to fans of the Ultimates more than Spider-Man, although it has obvious consequences for the Ultimate Spider-Man story line. After all, Bendis, Hairsine and Miki are correct that Spider-Man is not going to be able to handle these five "mutant" villains (yes, one of them gets a power upgrade), especially if they fight as a team, which, this time they do. One of the key elements of the Ultimate universe is the government's concern with illegally obtained super powers and the idea that the next big war will be fought against mutants (Peter is going to be drafted into the Ultimates as soon as he turns 18). In dealing with the flip side of this, "Ultimate Six" also gets into the distorted psyches of the villains. Once I got used to the idea that Spider-Man was going to be a spectator for most of the action I was able to get with the program. Besides, I like the idea that Spider-Man really is in way over his head at this early stage in his superhero career. The scene were Captain America confronts Spider-Man is a good indication of how far over the rainbow we are in this story from the traditional Marvel universe, which is a main part of the appeal of the Ultimate titles. ... Read more

Book Description

Deep into the 21st century, the line between man and machine has been inexorably blurred as humans rely on the enhancement of mechanical implants and robots are upgraded with human tissue. In this rapidly converging landscape, cyborg super-agent Major Motoko Kusanagi is charged to track down the craftiest and most dangerous terrorists and cybercriminals, including "ghost hackers," capable of exploiting the human/machine interface by re-programming human minds to become puppets to carry out their criminal ends. When Major Kusanagi tracks the cybertrail of one such master hacker, the Puppeteer, her quest leads her into a world beyond information and technology where the very nature of consciousness and the human soul are turned upside-down and inside-out. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

An intelligent story with beautiful artwork
The story in Ghost in the Shell is very complex with many ways of interpeting what has happened. I liked the way the story takes you to another place where morals are different but the human spirit remains even if it is in an android. The questions that come up are not always answered and I enjoyed coming up with my own answers. The art enhances the effect. Shirow draws with so much detail the average person could go insane trying to find all the little details. Most of the book is black and white but the colored parts are rich with energy and reminded me of another manga story, Akira. While the story does slow down at times the ideas more than make up for it.

influenced
hey ,it inspired mamoru oshii to make ghost in the shell, the cult classic anime film,which also inspired the wachowski brothers-the dropping green digits at the begining and the landing and breaking roof scene,may ring your bell- to make the hit movie the matrix,reloaded and the up coming revolutions.and it's all thanks to this man masamune shirow.
the book is an action comedy,a lot of comedy,unlike it's film,with the same theme of the film though,should we consider an A.I. and cyborgs a life form,plus more detailed stories of the cyborg cops routine life.there are even some cameo from other shirow's characters from his other books,like the appleseed characters in page 21 and the cat sisters ,from dominion:tank police,page 161.
influential,fun ,informative and enjoyable book.and it's all illustrated and written by one person.nice
p.s. check out the fifth panel in page 161,a small box,written on it"masamune shirow's original artwork,all you can carry 100 yen"funny.

Excelent manga makes excelent anime.
The manga of GITS is as good as the anime, and it was the groundwork for it. There was more stuff in the manga you didn't see in the anime like how the Soviet Union was competing against Japan in the production of humanesque robots with human brains. Though I could have done without the goofy faces when the characters got mad or overly happy. If you love the GITS anime, you'll love the manga.

A massive work
Ghost in the Shell is peak era Shirow material. Without doubt the culmination of his science fiction work. The story takes place in the classic "near future" cyber-punk setting [much like that of William Gibson's Neuromancer with a dash of Appleseed] and focuses on Section 9 a kind of domestic Rainbow 6. The art is mind-blowing. Shirow's ability to capture movement is superior among comic artists anywhere. His action sequences are breath taking. Good enough to keep you starring at the page long after you've read the content. Most of the characters are classic military/para-military types. Batou is my favorite. He is bold, reckless and overly aggressive but never particularly serious. Kusanagi works well as the main character, calculating and insightful. The story itself is difficult to summarize. The cases [and/or case?] move at a phrenetic pace -- it may take two or three times reading a section to understand what happens. The shear complexity and scale of this work is truly impressive. So much so you will still find additional plot details re-reading it. Even with the TV series and two movies based on the story there is still plenty of material in the graphic novel to tell more. The plot however is more intelligent than deep. Exploring the intricacies of technology and shooting people isn't deep thinking no matter what people tell you. Cyber-punk as a whole just isn't deep stuff and Ghost in the Shell is no exception. If you want "deep" read the Bible this story isn't deep -- it is intelligent. Ghost in the Shell rarely touches on morality or true philosophy. Questions are asked but conclusions aren't often drawn and if so the answers are not clear. Shirow himself seems to take for granted the reader understands the technology of the story and rarely takes time out to explain things outside the scope of the story itself. There is an Index of sorts in the back and you are best off reading it first. All in all this is a seriously good piece of work and will survive as such long after the genre itself is dead.

Japan's Neuromancer
Ghost in the Shell is a written and artistic masterpiece - wonderfully written, beautifully drawn, and very deeply researched (read the Author's notes and see what I mean @_@). It seriously is not far away from the same realm that the likes of Neuromancer had treaded several years before it.

Several decades into the future (2030, to be exact), medical, computer and robotic advancements have placed humans completely dependent on technology to survive. Humans are often augmented with robotic/cybernetic parts, or even completely converted into robots, retaining only their brain (the main character, Motoko Kusanagi, is all robotic except for her spinal cord and parts of her brain). Because of this, the meaning of a human soul is even more skewered than before, now called a "ghost" for ethical reasons and just being politically correct. If necessary, the person can still look just like a normal human being - the only thing distinguishing them from a regular human is their weight (aside from tearing them apart and peeking at their insides). What's ironic, though, is that the highly-trained technicians building and maintaining these robots are mostly sexy nurses in very... "revealing" outfits. This may be Shirow's style after all, but I find it really funny in the end XD

Since the world is still far from perfect, there is still law enforcement and military forces around to keep the civil from the uncivil. This is where Section Nine of Shinhama's Public Security comes in - the highly secretive and covert team which most of the characters are employed and involved with. They deal with the usual terrorists and cybercriminals (hackers and such), but when they start to get on the track of the Puppeteer (one of the worlds' most notorious hackers), things start to really get dicey, and not just with the people inside the book. You'll really get a thorough mind-bending when you're done with this (I'm wondering how many times Shirow had to re-write the ending because of how deep it really is).

Which is where I come to it's only bad part: the orderlyness. Shirow throws out these new plotlines and story figures at whim, confusing the reader to no end. Let's not even forget the explanations to everything, especially at the very end. I HIGHLY recommend reading this a few times to get the gist of everything - you are DEFINITLY going to need it.

But that is only a minor scratch to the finely crafted diamond that is the final product. I would recommend this manga to any person who even has a REMOTE interest in science fiction, and even if they haven't read or watched anything from Japan. I wouldn't be suprised if this would become required reading for a highly-esteemed University class. ... Read more

Book Description

Created by Kenturo Miura, Berserk is manga mayhem to the extreme - violent, horrifying, and mercilessly funny - and the wellspring for the internationally popular anime series. Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Berserk asks for no quarter - and offers none! His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned - and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Best Manga series EVER!
After recently finishing the anime series I went and baught the manga. And man does the manga kick ass. It's ten times better then the anime. PLus it's more violent too. This manga is slightly different then the series such as the Fairy Puck who never showed up in the anime.

Over all this is one of those mangas were you'll be like "aww man what next what next!!". I personaly love the manga...alot.S

Sadly When I asked the person at the comic/manga store about when volumes 13-ect ect would come out in the US...I asked him this cause I really wanted to know what happend after episode 25 of the anime. Sadly he told me it would be about 4 to 5 years by the time volumes 14 through on and on would come out here. Sadly There are only Volumes 1-3 out.
But luckily I got to go to AnimeExpo 2004 and they had all the volumes and they were only 5 BUCKS!! So I baught a few of em' even though they were in japanes but hey I know japanes so I don't need to worry about it. And from going to Volume 13 I can def tell you this manga is for MATURE AUDIENCES especcially how Caskas rape is much more graphic in the manga then the anime.

But thats Not the point here. Overall Volume 1 of berserk is (excuse me for this) F-d up big time and awesome too. This series is just Brilliant and very very cool especially the plot with a new Behiret. The manga is a def must buy for Berserk fans.

I am on voume 14 of the manga right now and alot of things have happend.

For one I can tell you is that Caska is now insain (literally)
Caska gives birth to a demon child! If you see something grotesque on the floor in volume 1 when Guts is in that prison thats Caska's child if You Didn't know. And that's all I can tell you. And in volumes 13 you finally see how Guts and Caska escaped that "Hell" they were in.

So far this is shaping up to be the BestManga series ever.
Once you finish volume 1 go and immediatly buy voulme 2. 2 is sooooo much more better and more action too. And Guts fights that giant worm that rickert saw in the anime and that Pipin got cut in half with in the Manga.

Put simply this series ROCKS

GET IT! NOW!!!

Later

Unaltered Perfection
Berserk finally comes to America and it is almost completely unaltered (except for the English translation of course). I was fearing that the Berserk manga would have its sound effects translated but, thankfully, that is not the case. I, personally, hate the sound effects being translated. Unfortunately, from reading the other reviews, I am not in the majority. The biggest problem with translating sound effects is that you have to erase part of the picture. Just flip through a copy of GTO by TOKYOPOP to see what I am talking about. In order to erase the Japanese characters, they erase huge chunks of the picture. This is my biggest gripe with the GTO manga and I feel as if I am not getting the most orignal form of the manga as possible. Not translating the dialogue also cuts costs, as another reviewer noted. I am also waiting for anime companies to realize fans want the most unaltered forms of their favorite anime and stop wasting time and money creating English dubbed language tracks that inflate the price of anime videos. I think the perfect solution is for readers of manga to learn the measley 46 Katakana characters that make up the majority of Japanese sound effects. Another solution is to write the English translation for the soundeffects within the Japanese sound effects when they are big, which is also found in GTO. For smaller sound effects, put them around the Japanese sound effects or outside the panel. Whatever the solution, keep the original artwork and sound effects untouched!

Berserk kick @$$ series
Ordered this book last week, after hearing about it. I own the box set of the first 6 dvds and had to have more. I have yet to read this book, and will post an update when I do so. The one thing I do want to comment on is the condition I got the book in. I am still tempted to send it back, it arrived today with a huge bend right down the middle. I for one like my collections in mint condition.

On a side not, the box set is a must own. I know I won't be let down by the books.

Just about the best manga series I've ever read...
The detail of the drawings is magnificient. The story is well thought out and fascinating. The characters are complex and thoroughly developed. And, there's true suspense--bad things happen to good people and good things happen too--in this extra dark story you never really know where it's going till after it gets there.

Most mangas I read for 'fun'--the story is predictable & the characters are 2-D but it's cute or pretty, entertainment popcorn if you will. This one, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter in the story and I truly care about the characters. In a vast manga collection, this one is a standout.

Berserk isn't for everyone. The violence quotient is off the scale and all of it is depicted in full detail--the squeamish should avoid this title like the plague. It's also not a manga for the impatient. It's nearly three volumes in before the story proper starts to unfold. It is all eventually tied together so that the plot and character decisions make sense--but readers have to spend a good long time wandering about in the dark before that happens.

If you're tired of boyscout heroes and you're always looking for something new and different, Berserk is a must read. Words can not describe the brilliance that is this manga. Best just read it yourself, or watch the anime, which is very similar--it just moves along a lot faster at the expense of some of the details found in the comic.

FYI: Berserk is up to 25 volumes in Japanese and the story is still on going. Many of the major plotlines are still unresolved, so the series could still go off track in the later chapters--but through volume 25 it's very good.

Dark Horse's edition had perfectly decent translations. Not translating the sound effects was a little cheap, but I don't think it made much difference. Most of the sounds you could guess from context anyway.

Great comic, but some problems with the production
Like most of the previous reviewers, I picked this book up after having seen the anime, so my overall positive impression was of course pre-shaped to some degree. On other sites I've read a few semi-negative reviews by people who HAVEN'T seen the anime--these reviewers complained that the main character Guts is never fleshed out as a character sufficiently for the reader to feel like rooting for him, but rather is presented as little more than a self-centered thug who hunts the monstrous "apostles" for reasons which remain impenetrable. Based solely on this first volume, I can see what they mean--in fact, this was very much my own response to the first episode of the anime. However, I would strongly recommend that readers entirely new to the material stick with it for at least another volume or two before passing judgement, as the story becomes infinitely more complex and nuanced as the backstory is filled in and you get why things are the way they are (and Guts is the way he is) as the book begins.

A couple of other things to be aware of if ordering this book sight-unseen: Dark Horse has printed Berserk in the original Japanese format, with the pages reading right-to-left and back-to-front. While some readers do find this annoying, I had no problem adjusting to it, and ultimately I found I actually preferred it for various reasons. What I DID find annoying, however, was that they translated the text but not the sound effects. I understand this is a cost-cutting measure--normally the sound effects must be laboriously redrawn in English, and this costs $$ in production. However, in many cases the sound effects are an integral part of the storytelling--some sequences don't entirely make sense without them (such as the opening sequence of Berserk). So while I'm happy this is a cheaper-than-average graphic novel as it is, I'd personally be willing to pay a few extra dollars per volume if it meant having a more complete translation. A high-quality book like this really deserves the full treatment. ... Read more

Book Description

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... The events and players are very familiar but something isn't quite right. Luke Skywalker valiantly attacks the Death Star, fires his torpedoes - and they miss their mark! Welcome to a Star Wars you never imagined, a Star Wars shattered, a Star Wars where the possibilities are ENDLESS! Dark Horse Comics is proud to introduce Star Wars: Infinities - A New Hope, the first in a series of non-continuity Star Wars stories which are sure to delight Star Wars fans of all ages.Taking off from the end of events in the movie Star Wars: A New Hope, Infinities readers will follow Luke, Han, Leia, Threepio, and Artoo on a journey every bit as action-packed and fantastic as the original Star Wars trilogy. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Parallel Star Wars
I used to be a regular reader of Dark Horse's Star Wars comic books, but my interest in them has dropped off quite dramatically over the past couple of years. It's mainly due to there being far too many of them for any mere mortal to be able to follow without losing his mind! Thank God I never got into collecting 'X-Men' comics...

Anyway, thanks to this Star Wars funnybook glut, nowadays I only read the ones that really stand out and/or grab my attention. This particular entry, 'Infinities', an alternate-timeline 'Star Wars' story, looked promising. Although alternate-reality plots aren't particularly new to the sci-fi genre (especially 'Star Trek') or comic books, this was the first time to my recollection that the Star Wars universe has attempted this oft-tried gimmick.

The story, starting with Luke failing to destroy the Death Star, is fairly easy to follow, and features several interesting new takes on the many famous moments from the classic film trilogy, as well as a few brief bits from Episode I. I wasn't too hip to the pacing of the story, however; it seems to end too abruptly. This series would've worked a bit better had they spread it over six issues, rather than four. The renderings are of standard quality- very good, but nothing particularly spectacular. The likenesses of most of the characters look somewhat like their live-action counterparts, but not uncannily so. And, like just about every other four-color creation that's put out by a major publisher nowadays, the color separation's computer-enhanced. Still, as a fairly fun bit of light reading, 'Infinities' does a competent job. All in all, it's not a half-bad waste of time for the ardent Jedi wannabe.

Fair bit o' warning, though: if you do read this and like it, be careful if & when you introduce this to your fellow geekin' Star Wars fanboys. This baby's started more arguments among my 'Warsie buds over what 'really' would've happened in an alternate Star Wars timeline than our debates about what methods we'd use to administer a slow, painful death to Jar Jar Binks! Then there's my buddies' outrage over the fact that Boba Fett is nowhere to be seen in this illustrated tome, but that's another story...

'Late!

Solid Reading for Star Wars fans
If you are one of those folks with a vivid imagination and have played "what if" scenarios in your mind for Star Wars: ANH over the years, this comic is good for you.

The story is generally solid and the artwork is decent. The book only gets 4 stars though for the end parts, which I found a little strange with a little bit of unexplained information.

But still worth it for most star wars fans!

Intersting concept that falls a little short
For the hardcore Star Wars junkie the appeal of the 'Infinites' series is immediately apparent. Who amongst us isn't curious to see how alternative scenarios would've played out in the Star Wars universe should certain key events not have taken place. In this volume readers are presented with the intriguing scenario on what happens when Luke Skywalker fails to blow up the Death Star as we've come to know based on events in Episode IV. Readers are taken through an epic arc that would've encompassed 3 full movies but somehow seem boiled down to general thumbnail sketches thanks to the cramming of this storyline into four issues of 22 page comics. Surely this series should've been stretched out a bit more to fill in the blanks and to embellish the drama a bit more.

With that being said, it's still worth your while to read through this series if you find the idea of such alternate-scenarios in the Star Wars universe to be of interest.

Superb!
I never thought I'd get into the comic books, but after reading and enjoying Star Wars Tales, I decided to give this one a try too, and I was certainly not dissapointed! The story is done very tastefully, showing what logically would have happened if the attempt to destroy the Death Star had failed. The characters are right on, and the concept of Leia on the dark side is just to cool to resist. The conclusion made the whole book; and I'm sure any true Star Wars fan would agree. Like most comic books it's a little pricy, but well worth it.

Info on ESB
I havent boughten ANH yet, but in the new ESB one it pictures Boba Fett w\o his mask... ... Read more

Book Description

From the creator of Babylon 5 and Jeremiah comes the greatest superhero epic in recent years! J. Michael Straczynski and a team of the best and brightest artistic talents in the industry unite to tell the saga of 113 strangers united by one event they will never forget. This super-hero tour-de-force is collected, beginning to end, in one massive bookshelf volume. Follow the super-powered "Pederson Specials" as they grow up, live, love, die, and ultimately try to save the world. One of the greatest comic series ever is now available for your bookshelf! ... Read more

Book Description

In the weeks before the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, as the Death Star is readied for its fateful first mission, a power-hungry cabal of Grand Mofs and Imperial Officers embark on a dangerous plan to kill Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and seize control of the Empire! When word that a "Jedi" has made an appearance on a backwater world lures Vader away from his master, the cabal makes its move. But even the galaxy isn't enough of a prize to sate the ambitions of some of the conspirators, and before long the would-be assassins are turning on one another. Their plans are further complicated by the actions of bounty hunter Boba Fett. And, of course, they may have fatally underestimated the cunning of their primary target: Emperor Palpatine! This is the first in a new line of graphic novels set during the early days of the Rebellion, when the Empire controlled the galaxy! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Stunningly Mediocre!
I have been singing the praises of dark horse for their run of excellently done Star wars based comics. That is why I was stunned at how poorly done this one was. The story is a mediocre telling rated at 2.5. Pencils are a 3, but coloring is just plain dull. There is not one page that makes you say WOW. I will certainly be more careful in my purchases of comics colored by Curtis Arnold and Dave Stewart in the future as they rate a 2.5 for this rush job. The best part of the comic is the pencil work of Ryan Benjamin, he gets a 4. Hopefully he gets teamed with a better group next time out.

Buy out of desperation, and for nothing less
Simple observation cannot deny the cold truth of Empire: Betrayal. This is mediocre meat, a comic so laudably bland as to be purchased only for the determined collector or just curious buyer. And with so many peculiarities and problems here, preferably not at all.

The art is a mixed meal that incites disappointment. You have page after page of lacklustre illustration and dull colouring, interspersed with these intermittent panels of admirable artwork. The Star Destroyer shot, a familiar and faithful rendition from a movie screenshot, is one that certainly stands out. Strangely, I thought background scenery was actually rendered better and with more creativity than the foreground activity that is the primary focus of a reader.

Apparently there was some difficulty drawing the Padme character. Her hairline was so far back from forehead it brought reminders of Nomi Sunrider, a character from another comic whose half-bald head was most prominent. We also get that blasted face again you'll recognise it from the Mara Jade comic and the Imperial officer's face used for most Imperial officer faces there. Character poses were too often puerile and didn't parallel that character's speech. Like Vader trying to explain something to his Emperor, reaching out to him with one had; like his combat posture that too often just depicts him awkwardly bent. And of course, the Jedi girl was boobed up big, rather conspicuous when the rest if her attire is very covered.

Adding itch to scratch was the dialogue. Just as bad as the lines from Tales of the Jedi, the depth of character dialogue can be summed up as food without flavour, not just flavour missing from food. So many one-sentence lines, so many simple worded conversations as to render speech bubbles a waste of time. The Emperor had some damn good lines in Dark Empire; here he was as stale as the storyline.

That is, if you desire to call a cadre of top Imperial execs plotting the coup of the Sith themselves, as though such reality was possible. This comic lacked a cast readers could identify with. No exploration of the Imperial schemers, no insight to cybernetic Trachta, who was on comradely terms to Palpatine for three decades. They are just there, double-dealing each other, unknown other than name.

Scenes apparently flow they swift here, and without starting them with a new page they can get a bit too fast. You'll be reading the schemers, then abruptly a Vader scene, which is repeated over. Boba Fett was thrown in at the end for no other reason than to have an excuse to feature him for a few pages. His exclusion would have made little difference. And why now, after a couple decades, would Vader ponder his loyalty to his master, that he should flashback to his apprentice childhood?

What is the master plan for ridding themselves of the galaxy's two deadliest individuals? Lure Vader away, as though a contingent of troopers and riffraff would actually succeed where countless Jedi failed. Then---and the part I thought I had misread---march into the throne room and arrest Palpatine! But don't jump for the escape pods just yet, it gets better. You can't say the spastic-brained officer had no idea Palpatine has elite Royal Guardsmen or that he's a Sith, the plotters do say they want to end the Sith reign. And when Palpatine lets loose that lightning, what did that officer think was going to happen?

Overall, this is by far a comic better borrowed than bought, if these aspects are of concern for you. The art is far below par than what it can be these days, character dialogue way to simple and short, and a storyline with no surprises thrown in make this comic lacking behind better peers. ... Read more

Book Description

When a bomb explodes in a Hell's Kitchen pub, Frank Castle embarks on a deadly mission that pits him against two rival gangs.One thing is certain: The Punisher won't be pulling his punches!One of comics' most provocative writers takes one of comics' most provocative characters in a new direction - any direction he wants! Collecting PUNISHER #7-12. ... Read more

Book Description

An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: there is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living. This volume follows our band of survivors as they set up a permanent camp inside a prison. Relationships change, characters die, and our team of survivors learn there's something far more deadly than zombies out there: each other. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether she's weaving hilarious, sprawling tales while babysitting the terrible tot Alvin, keeping her chubby chum Tubby and his clubhouse cronies in line, or making nice with the friendly ghost she catches reading "People Stories" in her bedroom, Little Lulu is both "Everygirl" and an undeniable one-of-a-kind! Dark Horse Books is proud to present, for the first time ever, the complete run of John Stanley and Irving Tripp's legendary run of classic Marge's Little Lulu comics in convenient, reader-friendly paperback volumes. Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the most classic comics ever published, Little Lulu is an all-ages treasure, with stories funny and fresh enough to stand the test of time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

First 5 Little Lulu Comics
While this is 'volume 3' of Dark Horse Comics' reprint series of Little Lulu, it actual reprints the first 5 of the 10 "Four Color" Little Lulu comics (#74, 97, 110, 115, 120) which were published before Little Lulu got her own title.Hopefully volume 4 of the series will reprint the last 5 of the Four Color issues. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very good
This graphic novel is a collection of some fifteen (if I counted correctly) stories set in the Star Wars universe. These stories range from the silly to the fascinating, while the artwork ranges from the simplistic to the sublime. My personal favorite was Incident at Horn Station, in which an unnamed Jedi frees a world from the grip of a murderous tyrant.

Overall, I thought that this was very good book, one that I highly recommend to any Star Wars fan.

enjoyable read with my son
At 224 this is a large comic. Since Dark horse has had trouble producing comics with good binding I was concerned about this offering. The one I have is OK, but these were made in china, where the binding problems exist. The older ones made in Canada were OK.

It was fun to read some of these with my son. For most people I think they will consider these to be 2 to 3 stars in quality, I'll round up to 3 since my son enjoyed them.

16 tales of struggle and intrigue
The first story Extinction, is almost worth the purchase price by itself. We Mara Jade, the Emperor, Vader and a tremendous, 15 page light saber fight.

The second story takes us back to Qui-Gon and Obiwan shortly before QGs death.

The pencils very in quality from 2 stars for some stories, to 3.5 for others. The inking varies from 2 stars to 4. None of the artwork is exceptional. The strength of the book is that there are stories that will interest you, and passable artwork. To bad that the fact that different artists were assembled into one book of stories din't produce a higher quality product due to the competition along! It didn't seem to. By the looks of it, some were trying to complete their work faster, not better.

At 224 this is a large comic. Since Dark horse has had trouble producing comics with good binding I was concerned about this offering. The one I have is OK, but these were made in china, where the binding problems exist. The older ones made in Canada were OK.

It was fun to read some of these with my son. For most people I think they will consider these to be 2 to 3 stars in quality, I'll round up to 3 since my son enjoyed them.

A great read for any Star Wars fan!
If anything, this first volume is even more entertaining than Volume 2. The spoofs are funny, the serious stories deep and interesting, and overall it stays true to the spirit of Star Wars. My favorite was probably the one detailing Darth Vader's conflict with the Dark Woman, but I could find something awesome about every story in this volume. This is a comic book, but it's well put together and durable, so it gets a definite five stars from me. Good for all ages.

Something For Every Star Wars Fan!
Even the most jaded fan will love this collection! The stories range from poignant to absurd (but funny!), and the Darth Vader/Dark Woman tale by Ron Marz is required reading. A top-notch collection that every SW fan should have. ... Read more

Book Description

At the end of World War II, American costumed-adventurer Lobster Johnson led an Allied attack on Hitler's space program, but not before the Nazis were able to launch the first man into space. Now, after sixty years, Hellboy is partnered with an artifical man - a Frankenstein's monster implanted by Bureau scientists with a bomb - to travel to the ruined castle in Norway to intercept the returning capsule, and its single passenger. . .the conqueror worm. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Between Death And Life
At one time, in the 80's, I had a comic book collection numbering in the 1,000's. Thanks to the first Superman film, his exploits were among my "must buys" every month. However, for economic reasons and due to the rigors of college, I stopped collecting comics on a regular basis by the time this storyline first saw print in single issue format in the 90's. Special events in my favorite heroes "lives" may briing me out of retirement for a brief time-if I was intrigued enough. Even though, I knew it was an event, that was in part, created to boost sales-The Death Of Superman story qualifies as too cool to pass up. When I was out looking in the bargain bin in a comics shop, I came across all three parts of the story as trade paperbacks, at a good price, given that I forged ahead...

The story picks up right after Superman's deadly battle with Doomsday. Originallly titled Funeral For A Friend and published in single issue format, I must admit that World Without A Superman, is the most satifying part of the trilogy. All of the contributing Superman writers in the book have a handle on the characters. All of Superman's secondary characters and heroic "guest stars" get a chance to have a few moments. Even though the ultimate outcome of the man of steel's return was never really in doubt. The writing is very effective and I imagine that if the world really had superpowered beings to lose-it would go something like this. Lois Lane's grief is captured in a real way, even as not so real things are going on around her. At it's core, the story will resonate, even as I said, the outcome is never in doubt. Lex Luthor and Supergirl play key roles as well. The different writers do a fine keeping everything connected, which can sometimes be problematic, as seen in part III

As with the other books in the trilogy, the art varies, throughout the graphic novel. There's no doubt that the work done here was completed by some talented folks, it's just that some of the art stands out more than over the rest. The work by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding is among the best. There crisp style serves the multipart story quite well. There are a number of panels that I would not mind framing if I could

The book is the best in the trilogy of trade paperbacks. This is one that I'm glad I own There are 240 pages in the collection

The Aftermath of The Lost Battle
What happens when a Superman dies? This is the second trade paperback after The Death of Superman. The series was orginally titled Funeral For A Friend. Basically, it picks up after Superman's death. We watch how many lives are touched by it everyone from a street peddler to his parents. When I started reading comics in 1993, I picked up part three of this series. The scene that did it for me was when his parents decided to hold their own memorial and bury the things that meant that most to him (things that included a teddy bear and a baseball glove). This is the middle block between the Death and the Return. It is worth a read.

Get this now!
Superman has met his match with one of the strongest. tries his hardest to save this new world. You must get this comic The death of superman, the return of superman and hunter/prey. these are the best comic books you will ever read and it is definetly worth the money.

Touching
Hot on the heels of perhaps one of the most controversial takes on the Superman charcater, DC takes us to a world where life continues without a Superman's presence. It points how the Man of Steel held against his people and other heroes. A number of the World's Finest make their appearance. Even Batman, who is known to be the coldest and most calculating of all heroes makes a cameo here, which just reverbetates the power of the storyline. A great deal is discussed about Big Blue's influence on a number of people, but the most touching and the true driving force of all this was how the people close to Supes's alter ego react. Lois, his parents and even Jimmy Olsen are portrayed to view the loss and each scene with any of them sure makes you think how these people looked up to the big man. The story does bridge the gap between Bog Blue's death and return. Since this is a trade paperback, collecting individula comics, DC had to do this as part of a marketing plan to hold their audience captivated after Superman's death. they could not bring him back full blast, which is rediculous to say the least, so they bring out a human story that can be considered the other side of the action motivated coin of his death.

A truy touching tale, portraying the love and meaning of how life can trul feel like after the death of a dear one.

Landmark collection.
World Without a Superman is a landmark issue in the medium of comics, giving depth to the Death of Superman series. This collection is essential to truly get the full impact of the death and eventual rebirth of a pop cultural icon. ... Read more

Book Description

In the depths of galactic space, a foolish and arrogant young Jedi awakes an ancient, deadly power. This seductive evil will lead him down a path that will make him a Dark Lord of the Sith, and his darkling power will make the very galaxies tremble. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Electric, explosive, and definitly worthy of buying.
This comic is filled with exciting adventures, and action-packed scenes, this is a must reader in the star wars universe, and the scenes with Exar Kun, the evil Dark Lord of the Sith is great. I recommend this comic to all fans.

I THINK I CAN
I am reviewing Tales of the Jedi Dark Lords of the Sith, ISBN: 1569710953 A TPB comic published Feb 1996 covering individuals issues 1 through 6 of the Dark Horse comic series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith written by Tom Veitch and KJA. It has the same Hugh Fleming cover as the comic shown in Amazon as Titan books ISBN 1840231297 published nov 1999.

The Art and coloring are still the older style and get about 2.5. the story, as Tom Veitch tells us is intended to reflect what was revealed in Holocrons that are discovered 1,000's of years later. In particular, they foreshadow what happens to Luke Skywalker in dark empire. This is an intense and serious contribution to the star wars Galaxy, and my version is over 100 pages. I think it is worthwhile, and I did like it better the second time I read it, especially if you later read the Jedi Academy Book Trilogy by Kevin J Anderson, I Jedi and Dark Empire by Dark Horse.

There is also an audio tape version of this comic that is a complete dramatization, rather than just a reading; I am reviewing Audio book ISBN: 1565111990 - In short, the dramatization format can be hard to follow at times, but I thought that overall they did a good job - 3 stars.

Greatest Star Wars comic ever...
Except issue 6. I think Kevin Anderson wrote this one, with the corny lines "HE HAS A SITH AMULET! THEY'RE DEADLY!" and "I wonder who that man is? I feel like I will learn much from him!" and "Dace is dead! I told him." The Jedi in the final issue seem to be Supermen, unfallable. The story shows a young Jedi turn to the Dark Side because of the death of his master and another Jedi, Exar Kun turn to the Dark Side because he was just plain dumb. No really, he was. His Jedi Master told him not to go looking into The Sith because he is too young. Maybe he should have listened to the crab Master, I mean he IS A MASTER right? The art is good, except for issue 6. I don't know what happened, but issue 6 can not be part of the series. It is just awful, awful writing and art. The lightsabers are blue sticks. Seriously, they put NO effect into them at all. The coloring is poor on everything too. When it shows lasers or effects, its just 2 colors and not a variety of colors.

Turn to the dark side!!
I like this book. I like the way the evil sith spreads across the galaxy and threatens the existance of the old republic. I like how John Sygan performs the voice of Ulic Qel-droma. I like how Exer-kun resurrects the dark lords of the sith. I love the dark side. Both in human nature and in Star Wars. This book is very cool. The audio drama is also cool. This book is highly recommended to all future Star Wars fans. This is Kevin J. Anderson at his best. Turn to the dark side.

Best of the Series
This is the Tales of the Jedi story arc at an early stage, and in my opinion its best. The writing, while not great, is steady and constant. The art by Chris Gosset also helped make the comic, and his prescence in the last issue is sorely missed. The story is pretty good, especially for one that mishmeshes as much as this does. They do form an interesting parallel nonetheless, one enhanced by Goesset's artwork.

As I said, this is probably the strongest of the TotJ series. Its storyline is the best defined by far, and Gosset's art is very effective. The follow-up is a bit dissapointing, as is the rest of the series in my opinion. Still ,its a nice history lesson and a view into the ancient Jedi. Reccomended. ... Read more