Aftershock Comics Reviews (Multiple)
Reviews on the following new Aftershock comics in the order I read them:
Rough Riders: Ride or Die (1-4)
Animosity (20)
Dark Red (2)
Dead Kings (4)
Descendent (3)
Relay (5)
Lollipop Kids (4-5)
Stronghold (3)
A Walk Through Hell (9)
Oberon (3)
Volition (5)
Individual series information can be found here
Rough Riders: Ride or Die
Issues: 1-4
Rating: 5/5 stars
First, reading the entire series at once is GREAT.
The subseries begins in 1906 with Alice Roosevelt’s wedding. In issue 4, she becomes a favorite character.
Houdini KNOWS magic is real but comes across some demonic activity (which aligns really well with the rise of seances at the time) that is focused on Teddy Roosevelt.
Side note: Actually, the Christian themes running through these books are fantastic. We have real Latin exorcising the demons (albeit from H.P. Lovecraft and not a priest), seances opening doors to real demons, and they end up in purgatory seeking out the head soul seeking out Roosevelt. Adam Glass is SPOT on.
Anyway, Houdini seeks out Roosevelt, the Rough Riders band together again to determine just what this Dutch Spirit called Buck Rider is and why he (it?) is after Teddy.
Or, really, his family.
- The slam wall showing a hatred for Teddy made me say aloud “oh my goodness.”
- I love the cover for issue 2. However, I’m sad that Monk isn’t featured on the covers. What is he over Edison?
- I find the hypothesis that Lovecraft actually saw spirits in purgatory to be quite interesting.
- Teddy’s great-great grandfather is the kind of person who is despicable.
The panels in issue 3 are phenomenal.
In issue 4, I also love Jack.
Animosity
Issue: 20
Rating: 4/5 stars
*chuckles* Sandor saying “Colonel Sanders gotcher tongue?” to a chicken is quite funny.
The Halloween house spread on pages 2-3 is fantastic.
The snakes want Jesse to help them understand why the Wake happened. And they use magic and witchcraft. It’s very worrisome.
There is a lot of darkness (in a different sense than what had originally been there) in this additional twist. I truly worry for Jesse’s wellbeing.
Dark Red
Issue: 2
Rating: 3.7/5 stars
So. That cover means I can’t bring this to work! Hahahahaha
Chip is ready to leave town now that he’s been found by the “Nosferatu mafia,” which is the most appropo explanation for the group.
Kamille is with a vampire named Victor who wants to move his cadre into Fall’s End for a defensible stronghold.
Oh, and by the way, Victor is a nasty Nazi.
Chip [fortunately] does NOT like this. HIS TOWN! CHIP GO VAMPIRE HULK.
The last page really made me laugh. That is some great art there!
Dead Kings
Issue: 4
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Well. Maria sure is glad she’s not an Oprichnik.
She and Sasha get to Sochi to free Gena...who is quite resourceful himself.
The end /seems/ to be a cliffhanger but I’m not too sure about that.
Yet, it is Aftershock. Their authors, like George R. R. Martin, will kill off people we don’t expect.
Descendent
Issue: 3
Rating: 3.9/5 stars
It’s not quite a 4 for me, because I feel like I’m missing information that I forgot from the first two issues.
We learn that a Puritan cult devoted to perfectionism, the “American ideal” was the forerunner of the Nazis are still working on purging the world of witchcraft.
The latter of which seemingly sounds good but they are...well, they are the forerunners of the Nazis and their extremism is utterly terrifying.
They’ve infiltrated the FBI and are taking kids, children of witches.
The reader knows more than the characters which heightens the suspense in this story.
Relay
Issue: 5
Rating: 4/5 stars
We get the origins of how the Relay system was established on Earth as well as the trials and pressures Donaldson went through...400 years ago. One of the Indrix offers the man the System in order to integrate Earth into an interstellar ecosystem.
What I really like with Donaldson’s character is that he doesn’t deny his mistakes, his past sins. He also is able to explain what he’s learned from them and how he’s worked to atone (namely by creating the Anti Relay Alliance). Greed and ignorance are very dangerous things, but reality hits and Donaldson realizes something:
When all is illusion, who/what can you trust?
He trusts himself and he trusts in creativity. He trusts that we typically learn from our mistakes.
He trusts that the Relay causes us to be mindless, soul-sucked automatrons.
And now, Jad, Vic, and others need to make their own decisions.
I don’t like that Donaldson is willing to sacrifice anyone in order to destroy the monoliths.
I find it interesting that the Relay alters genetic makeup in such a way that blood is rainbow colored.
The Lollipop Kids
Issues: 4-5
Rating: 5/5 stars
So much happens in these two issues.
Mia’s been a Lollipop kids for years and does what she can to protect her family and the other Kids (as heir apparent)...until evil comes anyway.
Morgan Le Fey, fairy Queen of Avalon, wants Excalibur, but Mia and Nick set out to find it to defeat her--and the Gingerbread Hag and other monsters.
Because, yes, the sword is in NYC, which is interesting and different.
These are monsters to us, but they are Morgan’s friends. A lack of past forgiveness and sins defining who they are almost makes the reader feel bad for Morgan. I can’t help but relate it to how the Devil talks to us and makes us feel for evil.
Bloodlines run strong in this series, not only through the monsters but also through Nick and Mia.
Nick and Mia on the phone with their dad while fighting witches made me laugh.
“Math is music and music is math” - Nick in Issue 5 (p. 6)
I love how much he is able to help Mia with pattern recognition and with history. It’s so much fun!
And I actually like the idea of most homeless in Central Park being Lollipop kids whose dreams drove them there, even though they consciously forget being a Kid.
I am all for the end not actually being the end. MORE PLEASE!!!
Stronghold
Issue: 3
Rating: 3/5 stars
I am so glad the title is on the first page and not randomly tossed in the middle.
It is quite interesting that Michael can sense energy signatures.
Claire Emmering is bloody awesome, and DEFINITELY knows how to hide under the Holdmother’s nose.
The pages after Michael meets Claire’s father are unique and awesome, even while the story proves he IS the Zealot.
The end is odd and other than what I mentioned I feel a bit ‘blah’ towards the story.
A Walk Through Hell
Issue: 9
Rating: 2/5 stars
The rating is this low because I was so confused throughout the entire thing, even though I read this twice.
The rating is this high because it was mostly linear and things somewhat seemed to make more sense until they didn’t. I’m glad I listen to the Aftershock Central Podcast because that helped--there are definitely two takes on how the timeline goes here.
The beginning is nasty even while seeing simple movie props. And seeing the warehouse in the light, without the oddities, is pretty nice.
Meanwhile, we get Driscoll’s….story? Past story? I don’t even fully know. But she can smell a rat and is certain that a person named Tom knows too much about a random strange file.
Oberon
Issue: 3
Rating: 4/5 stars
Oberon will risk his sanity and life to save Bonnie in the labyrinth. So the question is--why her?
He does think that Titania wants him dead and Bonnie back, and that the girl will help him reclaim the kingdom, but there is so much more going on than that.
From how Oberon makes him sound, his father must have been a caustic tyrant.
The webs within webs are very interesting.
Volition
Issue: 5
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
I may not have written down much for this, but it really drives the story forward with the relationships between characters, and linking the past and present. We learn where the voice in Amber’s head is coming from, how she ended up in her position, and the future that is in store.
I also think we learn of Hale’s true feelings for her.
There is kind of a cliffhanger at the end as the truths about Rust unfold even more.
Rough Riders: Ride or Die (1-4)
Animosity (20)
Dark Red (2)
Dead Kings (4)
Descendent (3)
Relay (5)
Lollipop Kids (4-5)
Stronghold (3)
A Walk Through Hell (9)
Oberon (3)
Volition (5)
Individual series information can be found here
Rough Riders: Ride or Die
Issues: 1-4
Rating: 5/5 stars
First, reading the entire series at once is GREAT.
The subseries begins in 1906 with Alice Roosevelt’s wedding. In issue 4, she becomes a favorite character.
Houdini KNOWS magic is real but comes across some demonic activity (which aligns really well with the rise of seances at the time) that is focused on Teddy Roosevelt.
Side note: Actually, the Christian themes running through these books are fantastic. We have real Latin exorcising the demons (albeit from H.P. Lovecraft and not a priest), seances opening doors to real demons, and they end up in purgatory seeking out the head soul seeking out Roosevelt. Adam Glass is SPOT on.
Anyway, Houdini seeks out Roosevelt, the Rough Riders band together again to determine just what this Dutch Spirit called Buck Rider is and why he (it?) is after Teddy.
Or, really, his family.
- The slam wall showing a hatred for Teddy made me say aloud “oh my goodness.”
- I love the cover for issue 2. However, I’m sad that Monk isn’t featured on the covers. What is he over Edison?
- I find the hypothesis that Lovecraft actually saw spirits in purgatory to be quite interesting.
- Teddy’s great-great grandfather is the kind of person who is despicable.
The panels in issue 3 are phenomenal.
In issue 4, I also love Jack.
Animosity
Issue: 20
Rating: 4/5 stars
*chuckles* Sandor saying “Colonel Sanders gotcher tongue?” to a chicken is quite funny.
The Halloween house spread on pages 2-3 is fantastic.
The snakes want Jesse to help them understand why the Wake happened. And they use magic and witchcraft. It’s very worrisome.
There is a lot of darkness (in a different sense than what had originally been there) in this additional twist. I truly worry for Jesse’s wellbeing.
Dark Red
Issue: 2
Rating: 3.7/5 stars
So. That cover means I can’t bring this to work! Hahahahaha
Chip is ready to leave town now that he’s been found by the “Nosferatu mafia,” which is the most appropo explanation for the group.
Kamille is with a vampire named Victor who wants to move his cadre into Fall’s End for a defensible stronghold.
Oh, and by the way, Victor is a nasty Nazi.
Chip [fortunately] does NOT like this. HIS TOWN! CHIP GO VAMPIRE HULK.
The last page really made me laugh. That is some great art there!
Dead Kings
Issue: 4
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Well. Maria sure is glad she’s not an Oprichnik.
She and Sasha get to Sochi to free Gena...who is quite resourceful himself.
The end /seems/ to be a cliffhanger but I’m not too sure about that.
Yet, it is Aftershock. Their authors, like George R. R. Martin, will kill off people we don’t expect.
Descendent
Issue: 3
Rating: 3.9/5 stars
It’s not quite a 4 for me, because I feel like I’m missing information that I forgot from the first two issues.
We learn that a Puritan cult devoted to perfectionism, the “American ideal” was the forerunner of the Nazis are still working on purging the world of witchcraft.
The latter of which seemingly sounds good but they are...well, they are the forerunners of the Nazis and their extremism is utterly terrifying.
They’ve infiltrated the FBI and are taking kids, children of witches.
The reader knows more than the characters which heightens the suspense in this story.
Relay
Issue: 5
Rating: 4/5 stars
We get the origins of how the Relay system was established on Earth as well as the trials and pressures Donaldson went through...400 years ago. One of the Indrix offers the man the System in order to integrate Earth into an interstellar ecosystem.
What I really like with Donaldson’s character is that he doesn’t deny his mistakes, his past sins. He also is able to explain what he’s learned from them and how he’s worked to atone (namely by creating the Anti Relay Alliance). Greed and ignorance are very dangerous things, but reality hits and Donaldson realizes something:
When all is illusion, who/what can you trust?
He trusts himself and he trusts in creativity. He trusts that we typically learn from our mistakes.
He trusts that the Relay causes us to be mindless, soul-sucked automatrons.
And now, Jad, Vic, and others need to make their own decisions.
I don’t like that Donaldson is willing to sacrifice anyone in order to destroy the monoliths.
I find it interesting that the Relay alters genetic makeup in such a way that blood is rainbow colored.
The Lollipop Kids
Issues: 4-5
Rating: 5/5 stars
So much happens in these two issues.
Mia’s been a Lollipop kids for years and does what she can to protect her family and the other Kids (as heir apparent)...until evil comes anyway.
Morgan Le Fey, fairy Queen of Avalon, wants Excalibur, but Mia and Nick set out to find it to defeat her--and the Gingerbread Hag and other monsters.
Because, yes, the sword is in NYC, which is interesting and different.
These are monsters to us, but they are Morgan’s friends. A lack of past forgiveness and sins defining who they are almost makes the reader feel bad for Morgan. I can’t help but relate it to how the Devil talks to us and makes us feel for evil.
Bloodlines run strong in this series, not only through the monsters but also through Nick and Mia.
Nick and Mia on the phone with their dad while fighting witches made me laugh.
“Math is music and music is math” - Nick in Issue 5 (p. 6)
I love how much he is able to help Mia with pattern recognition and with history. It’s so much fun!
And I actually like the idea of most homeless in Central Park being Lollipop kids whose dreams drove them there, even though they consciously forget being a Kid.
I am all for the end not actually being the end. MORE PLEASE!!!
Stronghold
Issue: 3
Rating: 3/5 stars
I am so glad the title is on the first page and not randomly tossed in the middle.
It is quite interesting that Michael can sense energy signatures.
Claire Emmering is bloody awesome, and DEFINITELY knows how to hide under the Holdmother’s nose.
The pages after Michael meets Claire’s father are unique and awesome, even while the story proves he IS the Zealot.
The end is odd and other than what I mentioned I feel a bit ‘blah’ towards the story.
A Walk Through Hell
Issue: 9
Rating: 2/5 stars
The rating is this low because I was so confused throughout the entire thing, even though I read this twice.
The rating is this high because it was mostly linear and things somewhat seemed to make more sense until they didn’t. I’m glad I listen to the Aftershock Central Podcast because that helped--there are definitely two takes on how the timeline goes here.
The beginning is nasty even while seeing simple movie props. And seeing the warehouse in the light, without the oddities, is pretty nice.
Meanwhile, we get Driscoll’s….story? Past story? I don’t even fully know. But she can smell a rat and is certain that a person named Tom knows too much about a random strange file.
Oberon
Issue: 3
Rating: 4/5 stars
Oberon will risk his sanity and life to save Bonnie in the labyrinth. So the question is--why her?
He does think that Titania wants him dead and Bonnie back, and that the girl will help him reclaim the kingdom, but there is so much more going on than that.
From how Oberon makes him sound, his father must have been a caustic tyrant.
The webs within webs are very interesting.
Volition
Issue: 5
Rating: 4.25/5 stars
I may not have written down much for this, but it really drives the story forward with the relationships between characters, and linking the past and present. We learn where the voice in Amber’s head is coming from, how she ended up in her position, and the future that is in store.
I also think we learn of Hale’s true feelings for her.
There is kind of a cliffhanger at the end as the truths about Rust unfold even more.