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HotShot Pickleball @hspickleball is Live on @kickstarter

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Pick Your Pickle and Prepare for Puns: Pickleball's Board Game Just Launched. A fast, fun, irreverent board game that celebrates the joy of Pickleball. Fans of silly puns, pickles, and fast-paced games alike have a new game to add to their list of must-haves: HotShot Pickleball. This delightful card-drawing board game is quick to learn and gives a surprising amount of opportunity to lightly strategize as you race to the ball and attempt to hit it back over the net to your opponent. The debut release from indie studio Midnight Trading Co., HotShot Pickleball was made while game designer Robert Gelb was recovering from an Achilles injury sustained, ironically, by playing Pickleball. For those who haven’t heard of pickleball, it's the fastest-growing sport in the world, with over 32 million players last year. HotShot Pickleball is a lively, family-friendly game that combines the fun of the sport with a cast of quirky, pickle-themed characters like Stew Cumber, Kim Chee, and Corni...

Featured Review: @TopCow Cyber Force #8 @Marc_Silvestri @TopCowMatt @ImageComics


Cyber Force #8

STRYKER UNARMED

What humanity remains of Morgan Stryker? Is he more man… or is he more a machine of death?




Preview


See the 9-page preview of Cyber Force #8

Review


See the Review Rating Overview page for more information on how I rate each comic


Cover & Solicit 5/5


This issues cover is beautifully drawn by the legendary Marc Silvestri, and colored by Sunny Gho (Powergirl, Artifacts, Secret Warriors). The first time I saw the preview sketch when it was solicited, I knew it was going to be even better with Gho's colors. It depicts a simple shot of Killjoy making a heart with her hands (aww she loves us, or well would love to kill us).

Art, Colors & Inking 4/5


Like last two issue, the art in this issue is continued by Marco Turini (Squadron Supreme, Ant Unleashed) who took over for Marc Silvestri. Marco's art again has me on the fence. The characters look good, and he draws the techno-cybernetics great but there seems to be a lack of detail. I also found some flaws with a few facial expressions. Again I'm not a fan of the coloring done by both Andy Troy (Spawn, Wolverine Origins) and Arif Prianto (Witchblade, Mind the Gap, Anita Blake) in this issue. It may be due to have two colorists but some panels were bright and looked great others other were dark and overshadowed. I also didn't care for the "emergency scene" in CDI where everything was washed in red. While it seems like I don't like the art it's not horrible and still very appealing.

Layout & Flow 5/5


I really appreciate that Top Cow takes the time to put in the little previous issue pages. While yes it does take one page away from the comic it helps not only new readers get involved but also for everyone else as this is almost a bi-monthly title with the delays and it's been a few month since we last read issue 7. The pacing throughout was great and easy to follow. Unlike last issue this one seemed to pick up the pace, but not in a bad way. Marco also did a great job of layout and pacing his art during the issue. Jumping from an action scene to a talking one didn't distract and the flow seemed natural.

Story 5/5


Marc Silvestri (Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, The Darkness) amazes me with each issue. This issue starts with a flashback to five years ago and Velocity talking to her best friend via text. Little does she know it isn't who she thinks it is. Because her parents have to keep her in isolation, they have created a team to be her imaginary best friend. Marc does a nice job telling this part of the story, giving small hits that I suspect he will expand on later. There is a short segway with Cassandra still holding her mother hostage and we learn that Stryker's team has been located. Next we find Velocity on the run trying to get the serum from last issue. Unfortunately it seems their movements haven't gone unnoticed and she is chased by local thugs. We also get a small sidebar where Robert explains to Stryker why he never mentioned his daughter to him. Meanwhile Velocity is trapped between the thugs and a literal brick wall. While this whole chase might come off excessive and to some pointless, I feel Marc did a great job of showing the difference between the classes, basically the haves and the have-nots. Velocity even tries to bribe her way out with money. Luckily she is saved by Aphrodite before returning to the team. While the issues cover and the buildup from the last two issues almost make it out to be an issue involving Killjoy we really don't get to see her until the end of the issue when she finally breaks into the main floor of CDI.

Verdict - 4.7 - (9.5/10) (Buy Cyber Force) SAVE 10%


Again this was a fast paced issue and a lot of action happening. Silvestri's story telling and Turini's art makes it work without being rushed or overwhelming. While most of the issue is just Velocity being chased, Marc used it to add a lot of depth and background to the world Cyber Force lives in. I'm just blown away by this series and if you haven't started reading this series you should be.

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