Featured Post

HotShot Pickleball @hspickleball is Live on @kickstarter

Image
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 Rise of the Magi #3 @Marc_Silvestri @SumeyyeKesgin1 @TheThirdG


Rise of the Magi #3

The wall between the world of man and the world of magic has cracked. Two realities never meant to coexist are bleeding into each other with terrifying results. Unimaginable horrors that belong there have come here. But as Asa and his gang of thieves and murderers have discovered, horrors from the world of men have entered the realm of magic. And that may prove to be far, far worse.




Preview




Review


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


Cover & Solicit 4/5


This issue has 2 covers. Cover A is by Cover Artist Tina Valentino & Colorist Betsy Gonia (Witchblade) showing our heroes being chased by the goblin/troll horde. Cover B is by Stjepan Šejić (Aphrodite IX, Death Vigil), and shows our magic frog, well casting magic. Both are beautifully done but don't relate to events in the issue.

Art, Colors & Inking 4/5


The art for this book is by Sumeyye Kesgin and Tina Valentino. I'm not sure if Kesgin is overworked considering she has had backup artist the last two issues, but it seemed like Sumeyye's style wasn't shining thru like the past issues. While not bad I could see some differences and some of the cartoon look I liked in issue #0 has diminished. Also her lines in this issue seemed very broad and dark and at times details were lost. I did like the job Tina did on the second half of the issue, even if her style is slightly different and a little more rough than Sumeyye's. While it seems that I dislike the art, that's not true, the team as a whole does a great job and Betsy's colors are on point.

Layout & Flow 4/5


This issue has not one but two catch-up pages which helps new readers. This issues panels and art flows well and pacing works well. The issue jumps for a period back to Rune and even here it's well done and doesn't disrupt your reading.

Story 4/5


Marc Silvestri (The Darkness, Wolverine, Cyber Force) continues his magical adventure in this issue with Asa and April in New York. April is back to her old ways and uses Asa's Magical Frog to assist with stealing some food to eat. I was a little confused at first because Marc doesn't really let you know they are invisible until several pages in. Asa and April also talk about the Talis-Men who control the magical ability to create zip-holes, the same portal that Asa used to come to Earth, and how in the wrong hands they can be abused. Unfortunately their shopping trip doesn't go unnoticed and their pursuers from last two issues catch them in the market. Its fun to see the personalities Marc has given these two, especially when April has to lick the frog to cast a vision spell. We are next taken back to Rune where Asa's father is just learning about his missing Magical Frog. I love Marc's addition of the old WB' Michigan J Frog. Back in New York we find our duo fighting off the trolls, before escaping on a flying carpet. Unfortunately Asa has lost something in all the chaos, and the world may be in trouble because of it.

Verdict - 4 - (8/10) (Buy Rise of the Magi) SAVE 10%


This series has been good so far and issue #3 is no exception. The story that Marc Silvestri is telling along with Sumeyye Kesgin's art help take you on this magical ride. I didn't however care for the art as much in this issue, considering Kesgin had needed help in the past two issues, I'm not sure if she can't handle the load and her art suffers or if that new car feel has worn off. I did enjoy the job assistant artist Tina Valentino did on the second half and whose cover I really liked. Either way the art is still good and Betsy Gonia's colors are brilliant. This issue builds on the relationship between Asa and April, while also adding new story elements to keep you wanting more. With it only being the 3rd issue in this mini-series you still have time to jump on board this flying carpet ride.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

HotShot Pickleball @hspickleball is Live on @kickstarter

Bardsung: Tale of the Forsaken Glade by Steamforged Games Coming Soon to Gamefound

StarDriven: Gateway by Rock Manor Games Coming Soon to Gamefound