The Creature From the Black Lagoon is Getting a Sequel Comic!

Skybound (an imprint of Image) has been putting out a Dracula comic in partnership with Universal. Now, the latest horror movie monster to get a comic shall be none other than The Creature From the Black Lagoon! The sequel series shall be written by the stellar Ram V (whose Black Label Aquaman comic had a lot of underwater terror) in partnership with Dan Watters and Matthew Roberts shall provide art. I have a soft spot for the ol' creature and even own a Blu-Ray re-release of his classic picture from decades ago. I look forward to what will be titled, "Universal Monsters: Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives!," #1 when it is due to be released in late April. I wonder what other Universal monsters might get comics soon (the Invisible Man would be cool) and if we'll even see a crossover at some point? We shall see!

The First Two Issues of, "Aquaman: Andromeda," Are an Eerie Delight

"Aquaman: Andromeda," is a Black Label book from DC written by Ram V with art by Christian Ward. It is one of those snazzy magazine-sized comics DC sometimes does with their Black Label and as it is geared towards older readers has some F-bombs. The Black Label is what emerged from the remnants of Vertigo and while I don't read too much of the regular DC books I've really been liking the Black Label output. This, "Aquaman," comic with its mixture of a sci-fi and horror vibe has hooked my attention much like other Black Label titles.

The comic doesn't focus on Aquaman, instead having him serve more as an ominous force that exists in the Ocean, with our main characters being a crew on an experimental ship sent to explore a possible alien craft that has landed in the Ocean from outer space. Black Manta has been hired to inspect the craft as well and Aquaman clearly has an interest too. This results in a whole lot of folks converging in the second issue upon the mysterious vessel and a lot of things going horribly wrong in a most creepy manner.

Ram V fills the comic with a sense of dread, emphasizing how isolating and otherworldly the ocean can feel. Christian Ward's art is perfect too, portraying a cold and mysterious underwater landscape. Then in issue two, Ward gives the strange alien ship a bright and colorful yet menacing vibe. It's a fantastic mini-series so far and I can't wait to see where it goes as the ocean and what it contains only get more dangerous.

5 out of 5 stars.

The New, "Carnage," #1 is a Satisfyingly Creepy Read

I often don't like Carnage as a character. When they try to make him Marvel's symbiote-infused version of DC's Joker it just is awful. He's not, "Funny," he's a violent force of nature that is practically pure bloodlust due to a psychopathic killer having been bonded to an already violently vengeful symbiote. Carnage works when he is presented more as a horror character than as something funny. Therefore, when an ongoing, "Carnage," series was announced--not a one-shot, not a mini-series, but a theoretically long-term ongoing--I was concerned. Then I was Ram V was writing and relaxed a whole lot. I also saw Francesco Manna was doing the artwork and felt even more cautiously optimistic. Having read the first issue of, "Carnage," I will say I am pleased.

There was a, "Carnage Forever," one-shot that had a little backup story that helps set up some of this first issue (but you don't have to read it) and Ram V provides a story of a serial killer obsessed with Carnage and how good he is at killing. We see most of the story from the POV of detectives after the killer or the killer himself--but we never, "Hear," the thoughts of Carnage. He is presented as a terrifying and violent force that even a serial killer who admires him might not quite understand just what kind of risk he's in for summoning such being. Recent developments in Carnage's life are covered as well--recent comic events made him no longer, "Need," Cletus, apparently. Plus, Manna's artwork is perfect. It is incredibly gruesome and nasty when called for. This is a comic about dangerous people doing unpleasant things, and it excels at portraying that.

There is a backup story here too by David Michelinie (writing) and Ron Lim (on art) that brings a good scary vibe too. A young boy who wants the help of Carnage to get revenge discovers how Carnage is basically pure rage and rage is a dangerous thing to fully give into. It's a short but sweet little yarn with some skilled creators attached to it. A nice little back-up that fits the overall tone of this first issue, in other words.

"Carnage," #1 uses Carnage the best way it can--as something scary and violent. Ram V and Francesco Manna bring us a great first issue thanks to utilizing Carnage in the best way possible and the back-up by David Michelinie and Ron Lim serves as the perfect dessert to a delectably disgusting first issue. If you've been desiring a healthy dose of horror in your Marvel comics this should fit the bill.

5 out of 5 stars.

Marvel Is Announcing Various Comics and Some Caught my Eye

Marvel has been announcing new comics and creative teams. One that just was revealed and which has scant details so far would be, "The Death of Doctor Strange," which sounds ominous but also unlikely to actually happen as he's got that movie coming up--perhaps we'll be surprised. Jonathan Hickman stopped writing the main, "X-Men," title but will be doing, "Inferno," as Mystique goes and tries to burn everything the Mutants on Krakoa have built to the ground. Al Ewing and Ram V are both fantastic writers and will be taking on, "Venom," (art by Bryan Hitch) while Donny Cates is going to writing a new, "Hulk," comic with Ryan Ottley on art. If upon reading that you asked, "Wait, are Al Ewing and Donny Cates essentially swapping books/characters?" then the answer is yes, yes they essentially are.

Considering how amazing Al Ewing has been on, "The Immortal Hulk," I'm excited to see what he and Ram V have in store for, "Venom." I usually like Cates stuff so I'm hopeful for his, "Hulk," run but he has quite the act to follow after Ewing's stuff. Marvel probably has more stuff coming down the pipeline for the Fall, so we'll see what else is revealed these coming days.

DC Comics Has a, "Refresh," on the Way

The word, "Reboot," is apparently a dirty one this time, so DC announced today with The Hollywood Reporter they have a big, "Refresh," coming to their books. After, "Death Metal," finally wraps-up we get a two-month event in the form of, "Future State," which is honestly kind of filler but looks really fun nonetheless. After that, we kick off a new era in the form of the, "Infinite Frontier." There will be a variety of relaunched comics that are now solicited as a part of this and some look pretty cool (no Aquaman solo book, which is sad as he is a good character when written well). Is this a good jumping-on point for new or lapsed readers? A great time to quit DC? Just a soft relaunch that will boost sales a bit but then settle into a sense of normalcy? There is no way to know, but I am sure that I'd read the Hell out of a, "Swamp Thing," comic by Ram V, so there's one comic I'm excited for.