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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Review: Solar Flare #4

This issue opens up with a flashback showing us how Brent and Jake became friends. Wait Brent sells kids weed? He looks like he's at least 7 or 10 so how does he already have access to that stuff plus both swear like truckers. I take it both their parents are messed up. Anyways we go back to present day where we see Jakes uncle or whoever shoot and kill the redneck hillbillies. Yep definitely would not hang out with this guy. I'm sure my other friend would like him a lot. Anyways next we get a scene where the murderous uncle thinks he knows everything and then the sciencetist tell everyone to what's really happening. I feel like one or both of those sciencetist will die later in the series. I'd say buy this issue but so far it doesn't seem like it's something worth reading unless you want to bore yourself to sleep. Artwork was ok. Story wise crazy and lame. I give this issue a 6 out of 10. Yay two more issues to go. Things I learned from this issue. Trust sciencetist cause they seem to know everything about everything.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Review: Spider-Gwen #12

This issue opens up with George Stacy yelling at Jean Dewolff over the phone. I'd say don't yell at her dude but he's definitely got reason to yell at her. Next we see the fight between Spider-Gwen and Frank Castle. And no I don't feel like spoiling it but it was definitely awesome. This issue ends on a very sad tone. To see who one the fight between Frank Castle and Spider-Gwen and to see why this issue ends on a sad note go buy and read this issue. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise great close for this arc. I give this issue a 10 out of 10. I feel so bad for Gwen Stacy. Things I learned from this issue. That Gwen Stacy really needs a hug at the moment and I wish I could give her one.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Review: Suicide Squad #3

This issue opens up with us seeing what's left of Captain Boomerang. Anyone else in the mood for some fried chicken? Also note to self don't go up against a kryptonian unless you want them to vaporiz you leaving only your feet. And I'm sure somehow they'll manage to bring Captain Boomerang back even though he should stay dead since that's what'd happen in real life. Anyways we see the suicide squad shooting at zod which is pretty much a waste of time since duh he's kryptonian. We also get to see Enchantress in action for a bit till she gets hit by Killer Croc. Well Harley Quinn has the right i- actually on second thought maybe not since a bunch of Russians in high tech suits just came down and shot at her. Good thing she got out alive. Later on we see Harley Quinn and Deadshot kill the high tech Russians. To see the new characters that get introduced and how this issue ends go buy and read it. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise feels like they're stalling a bit. I give this issue a 7 out of 10. I wonder how long it'll take for this story arc to be over with since they shorten it by adding in other stuff about the different suicide squad members in the last half of the issue. Things I learned from this issue. Don't mess with Katana unless you want her to stab you with her sword and trap your soul inside it.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Friday, January 27, 2017

Interview #34 With Electric Gecko

Last year I interviewed Electric Gecko. Hope you guys enjoy and check his stuff out.

1: What got you into comics?

Electric Gecko: Some of my earliest memories revolve around comics: reading comic strips in the newspaper, sifting through old silver age comics that I’d pick up at flea markets for a few quarters, that sort of thing.  The comic has always been a noble, inpsiring medium to me: a place where imagination ran unfettered.  I drew comics as a small child. As a teen, I devoted myself to ridiculous superhero titles now best forgotten.  And when I got to university and had some free time on my hands, I knew that I wanted to try my hand at a strip comic.  That’s where Puck began.

2: How'd you come up with the idea for Puck?

Electric Gecko: The exact (and highly complex) process of Puck’s creation is a long, odd tale that I explain in detail in Puck: Volume One. (Print and PDF editions available! Shameless plug!)  But to simplify it, let’s just say that I wanted to do a strip comic that was funny, offbeat, a little sexy, and generally unlike the bulk of what existed in strip comics at the time.  Nowadays, weird slice-of-life comics staring fantasy-type creatures are seemingly a mainstay of the internet, but back when I started, I’m proud to say that I was a bit of a pioneer.

3: How long has Puck been around?

Electric Gecko: Puck started as a student newspaper comic in the Silhouette, a weekly paper at McMaster University.  That was in 1998.  Yes, that was in the previous millennium.  That means this webcomic is old.  Like, old old.  Let’s put it this way: the first Puck website predated Google by a few years.  In internet terms, we’re talking ancient e-history here.  Puck is actually now older than I was when I started the comic.  That’s freaky to think about.

4: Would you ever want Puck to be a tv show or movie?

Electric Gecko: That would be cool – particularly a Puck TV show.  Puck is a slice-of-life comedy that I essentially made as a demented take on the television sitcoms of old.  You know, like Full House?  I could see Puck as a show like that, I think: Full House with more violence and pointy ears.  That said, I think the concept of a live action Puck show would be kind of horrifying.  Like that live action ‘The Tick’ show.  Remember that?  Nightmarish.  I’d want that thing to be animated, if at all possible.

5: How long does it normally take you to write a strip for Puck?

Electric Gecko: The writing part takes me no real quantifiable time.  The ideas for comics come to me when I’m doing other things, like eating or pooping.  What takes real time is drawing the comic (and inking the comic, and scanning the comic, and coloring the comic, and inserting word bubbles in the comic, and posting the comic).  From start to finish, I probably put in twelve to twenty hours a week on Puck. It’s not a great payoff for the time investment, really, given the fact that I only produce one comic a week.  If I were smarter, I would have chosen to draw the strip in a sloppier, quicker style that would have cut down on production time.  But I clearly wasn’t that smart.

6: Who's your favorite character and why?

Electric Gecko: Puck, the main character, would have to be my favorite.  She’s a rampaging redheaded nightmare.  She screams at bystanders and punches doctors and masterminds elaborate plans to put her sister-in-law in traction.   She’s not a good character, per se, but she is an interesting character, and I have to admit that I live somewhat vicariously through her.  I do not regularly threaten or attack those people who wrong me, but I dearly wish I could.  Puck does threaten and attack those people who wrong her.  Regularly.  And I find it somewhat cathartic.

7: How long is Puck going to be? Do you have a plot already mapped out?

Electric Gecko: Well, I started Puck in university, and it ran for three years as a student paper comic.  When my undergrad ended, I stopped the comic.  Then, ten years later, I was bored and started Puck back up again.  That was five years ago, and I’ve been going steady ever since.  I have no real plans to stop.   

Whenever I start a story arc, I already have it mapped out in my head, though I’m open to taking things in a different direction if I suddenly come up with a funnier idea.  Story arcs take a long time to finish when you only have four panels of content every week, however.  I started a basic little story arc a year ago, and fifty-two weeks later, I still haven’t finished it.  At that glacial rate of progress, I probably have enough stories in me to last me another twenty years, at least.  Though I might get bored or frustrated before then and call it quits.  Who knows?

8: What advice could you give to someone who wants to start writing their own comic series?

Electric Gecko: If you want to be a comic creator, I say that there’s really only one question that you should ask yourself: Am I having fun?  Well, are you?   Are you enjoying the process of creating and sharing your work?  Because if you are, then you’re in the right place; you’re doing the right thing.  If you aren’t having fun, then stop.  Immediately.  Find something else to do with your life, because let’s face it: comics have always been a terrible way to make money.  The market is small, the competition is fierce, and the internet’s taught everyone that entertainment is free now.  Starting up a comic is perhaps the second worst ‘get rich quick’ scheme I’ve ever heard, right behind starting up a metal band.  You need to do it for the love of it, because that’s probably the only reward you’re ever going to get.

9: What experiences have you learned from writing this series?

Electric Gecko: I’ve learned a lot about how the internet works, how to manage a website, how to advertise – boring stuff like that, which I actually find quite interesting.  Beyond the practical stuff, I’ve learned that people on the internet are actually 95% awesome.  Most people on the internet are friendly and supportive and encouraging.  You wouldn’t think that after looking at most Youtube comments, but I now realize that those hateful Youtube comments come exclusively from the tiny-minded idiot portion the population.  They’re only 5% of the total, so don’t be afraid to share your stuff out there.  Some people might hate it, sure, but lots of people will be supportive and encouraging, and that’s totally worth it.

10: What about this series makes it special to you?

Electric Gecko: Well, it’s special to me personally because of the characters.  I like my characters; I’ve been writing these characters for a long time now, and they feel sort of like family to me.  That said, if you asked the bulk of my male readers, I think that many guys who read my comic would say it’s special because of the humor and the art.  It provides the odd chuckle, and, well, there’s lots of drawings of pretty girls.  I unabashedly like drawing pretty girls.  So if you’re into that, then there’s that.

Beyond that stuff, though, I’d say that the thing which makes the comic most unique, in comparison to all the others out there, is fact that it that centers on themes and concepts that you don’t see given much attention in comics: themes like motherhood, and family dynamics.  It’s a comic with a ‘strong female lead’ who isn’t a ninja assassin or some teen warrior struggling to bring down a dystopian empire or some crap like that.  It’s a comic about an unemployed mother of two living in a sketchy neighborhood who’s just trying to get by.  There’s not a lot of that stuff out there in comics.

11: If you could date any comic book character who would you date and why?

Electric Gecko: I’ve been married for fifteen years and haven’t dated in forever, so I think I’m allowed to take a pass on this question.  And it’s a good thing I can pass on it, because it’s a hard, hard question.  All the comic characters that I find interesting, engaging and sexy would be really, really hard to live with on a daily basis.  And all the characters who would be really easy to live with are kind of boring.  Take the X-Men, for example.  Scott Summers and Jean Grey are the relatively responsible, kind, and well-adjusted types.  They would both be good to date, but damn it if they aren’t boring!  They’re like the dry toast of superheroes!  Hell, Jean Grey had to be possessed by an alien being and turned into a fiery genocidal demigod just to make her even remotely interesting.  Characters like Wolverine and Rogue, meanwhile, are damaged goods; they’d be really awful choices to date in real life.  They’d be all angsty and pained, and calling you ‘bub’ and sucking the life energy out of you.  They’d be awful people to live with, but damn it if they aren’t sexy.  I guess that’s why we don’t date comic book characters.

12: Where can people find you on the internet?

Electric Gecko: You can find my comic at www.puckcomics.com.  It’s where all the cool kids hang.

Review: Spider-Woman #10

This issue opens up with Jessica Drew going to a bar where apperently you have to drink and be quiet the whole time. Well this sounds like a lame bar. Note to self never go to Black Bolt's bar. So basically this whole issue is Jessica Drew chasing down visions that some inhuman predicted to see if they're all true which they are. Dam most people you see in movies who can tell the future normally get at least one thing wrong so this guy must be the best of the best. To see who dies and how this issue ends go buy it and read it. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise good. I give this issue a 8 out of 10. Well I'm sure Superman would be glad that The Hulk died since green things make Superman weak. Things I learned from this issue. Don't become an Avenger unless you want to deal with a lot of Civil wars and get killed by a former teammate.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Review: Solar Flare #3

This issue opens up with us finding out why Brent is trying to hide. Really redneck hillbillies. Dude they're carrying knives and bear bottles so they're probably really drunk which means you could easily beat the shit out of them but sure go and hide. Anyways we find out that they're all after him cause he slept with some dudes wife. I kinda believe him when he says he just talked to her. Like most redneck hillbillies overreact even if you just say hi to their wife. Later on we see Jake meet his famous science friend who's helping an old lady. To me it looks like she's fallen and can't get up but everyone is crowding around her and telling her that she'll be fine. We see Jake and some chick figure out how to get in the electric car and get the old ladies bag of pills. So now that you guys did that for her can you help her up? Wait don't walk away she's fallen and can't get up so you need to come back and help her up. To see how this issue ends go buy and read it if you want to be board. Artwork was ok. Story wise makes me feel stupid just reading it. I give this issue a 6 out of 10. Yay only three issues left. Things I learned from this issue. If you ever see a bunch of drunk redneck hillbillies just beat the shit out of them instead of getting all scared and hiding like a wimp.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Review: Plume Volume 2 ( Chapter #2 )

This issue opens up with a blast to the past where we see Magnus and his men go to the city of auru. While there Corrick tells Magnus about his past like how he got his powers and why he wanted to kill the first person he ever had to keep safe. To find out who that is and how this issue ends go buy and read it. Yes I know this a short review but I couldn't think of anything funny while looking back on what I read so hope you enjoy this short review. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise really good. I give this issue a 10 out of 10. Well I think if Vesper knew what happened when Corrick went back to the city of auru that she'd definitely want to go there. Things I learned from this issue. Don't go to the city of auru.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Review: The Unbelievable Gwenpool #6

This issue opens up with Gwenpool reading a Spider-Man comic. Yay a comic book within a comic book. Anyways we go to the present where Gwen is telling Miles Morales about the ultimate universe, secret wars which I hear was shit and about how his mom used to be dead but isn't now cause she's important. Anyways Gwen helps Miles find out who bombed the school. Dam superheros are almost just as bad as villans sometimes cause Spider-Man and Gwenpool just broke into this kids house, tried to kill him and then knocked him out. Anyways Gwenpool and Spider-Man have their fight. Dam seems 2016 is a bad year for superheros since they keep fighting each other. Anyways to see who wins the fight and how this issue ends go buy and read it. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise pretty good. I give this issue a 10 out of 10. I find it funny how everyone on the news called Gwenpool the pink ghost. Things I learned from this issue. Never let Spider-Man and Gwenpool into your house unless you want them to try and kill you and then knock you out and have a fight on your front lawn.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Review: Suicide Squad #2

This issue opens up with Amanda Waller and some chick from Nasa named Harcourt watching as the suicide squad swims around in freezing cold water. See this is why I'll never go to cold places like Antarctica cause chances are ice would break and I'd fall in snd drown in freezing cold water. Although I'm sure sciencetist would tell me that Antarctica isn't really that cold anymore because of global warming which I find to be a pile of shit. Next we see half our team use a rocket or a piece of their ship to break a wall in the prison or whatever so they can get in. Once in the aliens from the movie aliens attack them... um actually that's just Killer Croc with the rest of the suicide squad. Yay Harley Quinn didn't die :). I love her fight scene with Katana. Later on we see the suicide squad go into a room where they meet a chick with powers named Hack. Um really that's all you could come up with? We learn that Hack is a big fan of Harley Quinn. To see how this issue ends and who dies at the end go buy snd read this issue. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise slow. I give this issue a 8 out of 10. Glad Harley Quinn didn't die at the end of the issue :). Things I learned from this issue. Killer Croc swims real well in water. Wait shouldn't the cold have slowed him down though. Now I'm very confused.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Review: Silk #10

This issue opens up with Silk all bruised lying in a burning dumpster. Don't you hate when you get black out drunk, get the shit beat out of you and then thrown into a burning dumpster? Anyways we go back a few hours to when Silk got a letter from a friend telling her not to meet Black Cat again. Well she should have listened. I mean heck the letter was even in a red envelope which means the waring is dead serious. Anyways Silk doesn't listen and meets up with Black Cat again. Good thing she has S.h.i.e.l.d for backup just in case. Anyways Black Cat steals a teloporter and teloports her and Silk to a building with a bunch of villans who watch as Black Cat beats the shit out of Silk. Hey Silk make a mental note to study Black Cats moves and then practice with people so next time you can kick her asd instead of getting your ass kicked and landing in a burning dumpster. Later on we see a news broadcast where Mockingbird explains how Silk helped them by working undercover. To see how this issue ends go buy and read this issue. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise good. I give this issue a 8 out of 10. Don't you hate when your dead friend comes to visit you? Things I learned from this issue. Not to get black out drunk, get the shit beat out of me and thrown in a burning dumpster.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Review: Solar Flare #2

This issue opens up with Jake waking up to a bright light shining in through his bedroom window. I hate when that happens. Which is why I'm thinking of buying black trash bags and sticking them on my windows so the sunlight doesn't wake me up in the morning. We get a bunch of scenes of Jake trying to get all his electronics to work and having no luck. Well I know why but I'm sure it'll take him a year or more to find out. Later on we see Jake ride his bike till he comes across a store on fire. We find out that the reason the store is on fire is because a plane crashed into it. So him and some Brent guy lift some debris cause Brent thinks he heard someone. Wait you're joking right? He thinks he heard something from a dead body? I'm guessing he's the new ghost whisperer. Next issue he'll have boob implants and long hair the only thing he'll need is a vagina which he'll have to make himself because the solar flare screwed shit up. Oh my hell Jakes comment after he told Brent that him and his family could stay his parents house made me laugh out loud. Like literally. Like you do realize that you just saw a burning building that happened because a plane crashed into it yet you think your friend made it safely over on his flight? Ya no. Go back in your memories and think about what just went on and then get back to me when you can actually think. Anyways Jakes gets to his parents house where he tells his mom that he's having a crappy morning. I'm guessing it's cause he didn't work out. Like I'm pretty sure he'll say something like that next issue so I'll just assume that's why he's having a bad day. As for the dead guy from earlier I'm sure he's had the worst day by far so ya. To see how this issue ends go b- actually probably safe to not buy it yet. Artwork was ok. Story wise. Makes me feel like I'm reading something written by a five year old. I give this issue a 6 out of 10. Hopefully things actually get good in the next issue. Things I learned from this issue. Jake had a bad day. Hell his day is worse than the dead guys day he saw earlier.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Monday, January 23, 2017

Review: Web-Warriors #9

This issue opens up with us seeing what universes all our teammates are on. Note to self never touch the web of life and destiny even if it is to try and fix it cause chances are you'll screw things up and make it worse. We see Spider-Gwen ride a flying Spider-Man pig and get to meet the Sca-Vengers. Next we see Spider-Man Noir explaining to Spider-Ham and Pavitr what's been happening in his world and why he hasn't told them what's been happening. Back on Lady Rileys world we see some old people get attacked by electros who pretty much get their asses handed to them by Mayday Parker. I still want to try the finger sandwiches she made. Later on we Spider-Man Noir, Pavitr and Spider-Ham break into Oscorp and come face to face with a Harry Osborn that is also a Spider-Man. Yep this is definitely a new kind of weird. To see who Octavia Otto ask for help and how this issue ends go buy and read it. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise slow but in a good way. I give this issue a 10 out of 10. I love seeing Spider-Gwen happy :). Things I learned from this issue. Apparently there is a world where Harry Osborn is good. Though maybe he's pretending to be one so he can join them and kill them all when they don't expect it.

Sites to check out:
www.dirkmanning.com
www.facebook.com/blackboxtv
www.newcomicday.net
www.superknockedup.com
www.comicfrontline.com
www.amberunmasked.com

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Review: Plume Volume 2 ( Chapter #1 )

This issue opens up with Vesper asking some guy named Frederick if he'll keep some items safe for her. While he puts the stuff in a vault he also tells her how her mom died so many years ago which brings her to tears. I'd say Corrick should hug her but it'd probably burn her if he touched her so guess he'll have to make her smile somehow... um Corrick you making her mad about you keeping secrets is the opposite of making her happy. Anyways they go back to the place they're staying at and Corrick hands her her dads journal. Great you idiot now she sees that you tore some pages out. We learn that some guy named Frank Bennett was looking for the amulet ehen he killed Vespers mom and then we learn how Magnus killed all of Frank Bennetts group except for his son. To see who Frank Bennetts son is and how this issue ends go buy and read it or just wait for the kickstarter for volume three to come out so you can get all three volumes. Artwork was pretty good. Story wise slow but a good slow. I give this issue a 10 out of 10. I wonder why Corrick doesn't want her going to his city. Things I learned from this issue. If a girl is crying just make her mad so she'll stop crying. Heck that's what Corrick would obviously do.