So…. No Pr View last week…. and probably no PR View next week either!

Sorry about that.

Still to make it up to ya all we have gone and super sized this weeks helping!

And, thanks to the wonderful Filip Sablik of Top Cow (and a small suggestion from yours truly!), we are proud to be able to offer you previews of the Cows upcoming books as well as our regular Marvel offerings.

DC, Image, Dark Horse, IDW etc are you paying attention?

So lets get started!

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Ahh Freshmen. I missed this series first time around and ended up reading the trade almost by accident one day. And do you know what? It was excellent! Indeed, I highly recommend the first graphic novel as an entertaining read. To the best of my knowledge it is the only story to feature a relationship between a Superhero and his possessive, jealous potted plant. I kid you not!

So I missed it first time round… and guess what? I have missed it this time round as well!!! One of those books that has slipped past my radar. Which is a shame, because from this issue it looks like I would have enjoyed vol II too!

The main thing I loved about the first Freshmen was how it reminded me, in its style, of simpler times. It's almost got a kid of "Silver age" vibe to it.

Take the art work for example. Sure, its computer coloured, but the angles used, the layout of the frames the art style is so…. pure. See, it isn't the greatest art ever, by no means the worst art ever yet it just feels right!

Did that make any sense at all?

As for the story, well my inane ramblings above can be applied there as well. There is an innocence to the way the story is told - without the story being innocent.

Still not making any sense, am I?

(sigh)

Anyway, everything that I enjoyed about the first Freshmen seems to be present and correct here as well.

Obviously the story has progressed quite a bit and the characters have changed, but I don't feel out of my depth - as you can do when you are reading the last issue (I think - slipped under my radar remember!!) of a mini series and have not read any of the previous issues.

So to sum up - go and buy the original Freshmen, then go buy this when it comes out in a graphic novel. You will enjoy. Promise.

7 ½ /10
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I was really excited about this story when it was first announced. Then I read the first couple of parts and I was not so excited anymore. However, credit where credit is due, those of you who have stuck with it will not be disappointed by the final part. It certainly delivers in one way…. In fact I would go as far to say that this is a "must have comic" for anyone who considers themselves to be a Wolverine fan. It is just a damn shame that the very last page is so very poo!

The loose plot threads of this story are pulled together and the confrontation that has been promised throughout the tale is delivered here and it is very well done. Although it may be a little short for some people.

Bianch's art work ranges from the truly excellent to a little disappointing. He seems to draw excellent splash/action type images, but seems to be a little lost drawing the simple stuff, like Wolverine turning around, for example. There is one image that makes it look like Wolverine has developed the ability to turn his head, owl like, before you realise that he is in fact facing the correct way and has turned his head from the side to look face on!

I think a lot of credit should be given to the colourists on this book, Simone Peruzzi and Frank D'Armata along with the inkers, Bianchi himself and Andrea Silvestri. They work so well with Bianch's art work that I feel a lot of errors remain unseen as you tend to drool first, ask questions later! Still, I don't want to sound too critical here. After all, Bianch is still a "young gun" and has plenty of time to perfect his trade. He is likely to be one to keep an eye out for as I can see him getting better and better.

As for Loeb's overall story? Well let me put it this way. Having read this story arc, I have removed Ultimates from my standing order as he is writing the next arc! Not that his stories are truly terrible, it's just that on my current tight comic budget I am unwilling to risk the book not being as excellent as it has been. If it's better than I expect I will pick it up. But I do not have high hopes.

Loeb seems to have become an adequate super hero writer who is still cashing in on past glories. This is a damn shame, as his past glories are glorious indeed!!

So anyway. Wolverine fans MUST buy this book. People with a passing interest in Wolverine and the X books should buy it. The rest of us, well…

5 ½ /10 (should have been 6 ½ going on 7, but that last page is soooo damn cheesy it ruins the whole thing.)
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Captain Opinion Says:

Rocket Raccoon??!!! HE LIVES!!! I remember him from the old Transformers UK backup strips - which were no doubt reprinted from an American original - but Rocket Raccoon!!! He's a Raccoon - with a rocket!

Uhum…

Anyway. As regular readers will know I am all about Annihilation, Conquest or regular version. This of course, makes reviewing these books in an unbiased way, a little difficult.

Oh well. Never mind. I'll try.

Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it.

Seriously.

The great thing about Annihilation Conquest as a whole is how each of the mini series fills a different niche of story. Wraith is the dark, gothic esq loner story, Nova is the one superman vs. an army story, Quasar is the "working against the clock" story as well as the learning new powers and am I worth of such a legacy story and Starlord is the "unlikely band or desperados groups together" story. All these different story types will be woven together in to one epic tale in the Main story. I hope.

Anyway in our "unlikely band of desperados" story our main character is of course the Starlord. Peter Quill. His band consists of Marvel cast offs stretching from the X Universe to obscure 80's books (it's the raccoon baby!) and everything in between.

And you know what? Giffen makes it work!

Being Giffen he also manages to reference loads of other things, both from Marvel comics ("Just call me Sgt Fury") and other media drawing your attention to the fact that this is not an entirely original concept. Starlord even refers to them as being like the Dirty Dozen.

The fact that the similarities are commented on means you don't spend the whole time thinking "Hang on a sec, this is just like…." you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, as Geffin does it so well.

I think Timothy Green II art style is going to divide opinion, but it is certainly distinctive. That's been the other thing about this series. Each book has been allowed to expressive itself visually with very different art styles - yet they are clearly all working on the same story. See Spider-man the Other for how to achieve the opposite of this!!

Personally I like Green II's work on this although I can also see myself hating it if he drew something like Spider-man for example. With the right book this guy will fly. Much like Sam Keith - although the actual styles are vastly different.

So basically - buy it!

8/10
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I was a huge fan of his during his Gen X days, but I have since been quite disappointed with most of the work of his that I have seen. These two covers give me hope that he is getting back to his best. It would be great if he is.

As for the internal art? Well, to start with I thought "uh oh - they are going Manga again"… but they haven't. Which is good.

There certainly is an eastern influence present but it is nicely mixed with western styles to give a good rounded art style.

The only negative thing I would say about it is that Basri wants to draw Sara Pezzini as a "babe" and if you remember that she is due to give birth soon and that she is showing enough that when she was trying to hide it, people noticed and now she's wearing a top that rides up over her bump…. Well there should be more bump!! It's a very small point but it is something that I noticed. And when a company is doing such a good job of pulling their universe together in to one story, as Top Cow are at the moment, to many little mistakes can detract from all the good work being done elsewhere.

Still don't take my word for it - have a look for yourself with our 5 page preview of Witchblade #109!

As for the story, well Maraz continues to do what he has been doing so well of late and set up all the important elements for First Born. We have now seen Dani Baptiste in action on her own in New Orleans and this story serves to further strengthen her and Sara's relationship as well as move some key First Born characters in to their "starting blocks".

On its own its not going to set the world alight, but it is a good cohesive story that provides a solid foundation to First Born.

If you are thinking about getting First Born (and you really, really should be!) these two issues will give you just about all the set up you need whilst still giving you a solid Witchblade tale.

7/10
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Captain Opinion Says:

If ever there was one artist born to illustrate one story, then it has to be Stjepan Sejic painting First Born.

Some of the images in this book are of the "Oh My God" variety, and have to be seen to be believed. His take on the Darkness in this book left me almost breathless, it really is that damn good. I could quite easily spend this whole review just raving about his art work.

But I won't.

Instead - take a look for yourself. While you are looking try to remember that it gets even better latter on!

Impressed? You should be!

So it looks good - but how does it read?

Superbly, in a word.

Maraz manages to tie story lines from right across the Top Cow stable in to one place. As you saw in the preview, Cyberforce make an appearance. The villain from a recent Witchblade story is heavily involved and starts out just where she was last time you saw her.

The last time I saw a whole universe tied so neatly in to one comic was back in the days of Valiant, when Unity hit an unsuspecting world square between the eyes with a sledge hammer!

In my opinion, over the years, Top Cow has failed to capitalise on some truly excellent characters. They have come close with things like the Witchblade TV series, which was good, but not what fans of the comic wanted.

Now with the release of the Darkness video game and what looks to be one of the best company events in a while they are finally rising to their potential.

I had though that this was going to be a summer of Marvel for me, what with Annihilation and WWH, but Top Cow is going to be in there fighting for my money!

Try it. You will like it.

9/10