Book Review 246 // The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard.

We are nearing the end of our adventures with Conan, and I can't help but feel a little sad. It has been a joy to read these in order and watch as Howard progresses the character and builds upon previous ideas. This is a unique title as it was originally written as a series and then squashed together to make the book. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Title: The Hour of the Dragon

Author: Robert E. Howard

Blurb: Written in the 1930s as a serial for Weird Tales, the famous pulp magazine, Hour of the Dragon is the only novel by Howard featuring his greatest creation, Conan the Barbarian. This powerful novel of violent adventure has spawned many imitations in the genre over the years, including a series of best-selling paperbacks which, in imitation of Howard, continued the adventures of Conan.

Conan is at the pinnacle of his career in this story, having roamed the imaginary prehistoric world of Hyborea and, with native cunning and sheer force, fought his way to the throne of Aquilonia. He is the archetype of the invincible warrior: tough, fearless and incredibly strong.

As the novel opens, King Conan is captured by the magic of the evil sorcerer Xaltotun, whom Conan's enemies have raised from the dead, after three thousand years, for the express purpose of removing Conan from the throne. Conan's armies are so unprepared to battle Xaltotun's sorcery that they are routed on the battlefield and Aquilonia is conquered.

Conan is secretly released from prison by a slave girl who loves him, and he fights his way out of the dungeon catacombs to freedom, defeating a giant murderous ape who blocks his way. In the course of his escape, he overhears a secret meeting and learns that the source of Xaltotun's power is a mysterious jewel, the Heart of Ahriman, which Xaltotun's allies have stolen from him to insure their control over him.

Conan resolves to track the jewel across the barbaric landscape of Hyboria, destroy Xaltotun and regain his kingdom.

Format: 296 pages, E-book (you can find it on my affiliate store)

Review

Strange to read a multiplot story in one go as a book. If you read it as a series over months, the story would flow better. But in this set-up, it felt like a lot of jumping forwards was happening and a loss of time. But as a story, I personally really enjoyed it. It feels like Howard is finding his stride and embracing previous ideas in this tale. People may dislike its similarities to other tales, but I can see how Howard tries to improve upon previous attempts.

With a longer flowing story, we can enjoy events you wouldn't usually get in a short tale. We get full-scale battles, well-rounded villains, and encounters. We also still have plenty of space for creature features and treacherous allies. I enjoyed the quest, as Conan has to move through many personas to seek a magical jewel that will end the reign of the evil wizard. It allowed our kingly Conan to revisit his Barbarian days and his old life as a pirate and polish up on his thieving skills. Pirate Conan is my favourite version of the hero.

Though it is a highlight, it acts as a double-sided blade, and due to so much travelling, we lose the joy of the location. In his short stories, Howard has done a fantastic job of describing a place. But with this constant changing of the site gives us no chance to enjoy this aspect of his writing. But overall a great read that I would happily enjoy again.

How to Paint a Tabletop Ready Ryza Magos Dominus - Warhammer 40K

 

How to Paint a Tabletop Ready Ryza Magos Dominus. Here's a quick, straightforward how-to-paint video showing how I painted a Ryza Magos Dominus. The technique is straightforward and designed to make models look good from 3ft away (i.e. on the tabletop).

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Imperium Magazine Issue 25 - Defensive Perimeter - Review & Battle Report

Imperium Magazine Issue 25 - Defensive Perimeter is the next installment as I run all 80 Battle Reports from the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium collection from Hachette Partworks and Games Workshop.

This will all be a part of the Imperium playlist: YouTube. Hit the subscribe button to not miss out.

For each issue, I will bring you a fully painted battle report. Using that issues figures/terrain (if they have some) and rules. As well as a quick overview of the magazine. Got any questions, please do ask!

Imperium Magazine Issue 25 - Defensive Perimeter. Has us learning all about Necron Immortals, the Royal Courts of both the Imperium and Necrons, before visiting the realms of Ultamar and the Forgeworlds. We then build and paint the Immortals before heading into the bat reps.

The Battle Report will see us pit Ten Necrons, 5 Immortals and a Royal Warden against a Lieutenant and 10 Assault Intercessors. Who will win?

The series is currently at 18-10 to the Necrons.

Thank you for reading and watching. Remember to subscribe; it means the world to me.

How to paint Necron Immortals

Audio Review 128 // Malediction by C Z Dunn

With the release of The Lion and a resurgence of the Dark Angels, I felt the need to listen to a Dark Angel tale. I have enjoyed the Gav Thorpe-crafted novels about this chapter, so taking the risk on a different author is a concern, made slightly worse by choosing a C Z Dunn story (sorry, but his stories are very safe and dull so far). Can this change my mind?

Title: Malediction (Amazon Store)

Author: Christian Z. Dunn

Narrator: Seán Barrett, Rupert Degas

Blurb: On the world of Amadis, veteran Imperial Guard officer Regan Antigone is being honoured for his role in the planet’s liberation from the forces of Chaos, some twenty-five years earlier. But when his old comrade, Master Tigrane of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter, arrives to join the festivities and asks to hear the glorious tale told once more, Antigone seems flustered. With the details of his account cast under close scrutiny and with the judgement of the Imperium hanging over him, will his noble reputation remain intact?

Review

Well, this wasn't what I expected at all. The cover hints at Dark Angels the back hints at Dark Angels, but what we get instead is a story about a Planetary defence force Officer. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a lore-filled tale, but I had a Dark Angel itch that did not scratch.

The story is about an Officer being honoured for a battle he survived 25 years earlier. But the character is unworthy of the honour, and this is made clear early in the storytelling. But the reasoning is left unclear - which was nice to be left guessing what truly happened. It would also seem that the news of this honour has reached the ears of a Veteran Dark Angel who was there and who is suspicious of what information this Officer might have of the battle.

Turns out the truth is rather intriguing, especially to a Dark Angel seeking the truth about his "fallen" brothers (hint, hint). As always these Black Library audio dramas bring amazing voice acting and sound effects, allowing you to be transported somewhere else. This was an enjoyable listen, but I wish it had been more honest about it all. The cover is misleading, and the lack of Dark Angels maybe even affected my overall enjoyment. I can't help but be led back to: "Never judge a book by its cover".

Have you listened to this? Let me know your thoughts.

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Book Review 224 // Dancing Chickens by Edward Byrant

Next up on my adventures into Modern Horror comes from Edward Byrant titled Dancing Chickens. I know very little about this author, and following a quick google, I know even less now. So let us go blindly into the dark corners of this title.

Okay, this story did not hit home with me. I didn't get horror from it at all. It came across as Sci-fi with a lot of real-life thrown in. Definitely not a highlight in the collection.

The title follows Ricky, a runaway who dreams big of escaping. He is in an abusive relationship built on manipulation, and while this is all happening, we have giant Alien crafts floating over every major city. A plot element that is never given depth.

As the story progresses, we learn of Ricky and his ongoing abuse and how he just wishes that the aliens who scoop him up and take him away from it all. This narrative comes to a head at a house party where Ricky watches a guest using a Chicken as a puppet and making it dance. This disgusts most of the guests and causes Ricky to finally flee. It is at this point that the aliens decide to make contact, and they do so through Ricky. Basically turning him into a puppet of their will and showing that the aliens view us like the chicken puppet.

Sadly I found the whole thing dull and the ending lacklustre. A little disappointed, to be honest.

Book Review 209 // Missing in Action Dan Abnett

 

Back on the Dan Abnett train. For me, Abnett is 40k from a human viewpoint. He is very good at keeping us grounded in a galaxy of vengeful gods and superhuman soldiers. I hope this will kick off my reading once more, as I have been struggling on that front of late.

Title: Missing in Action (Eisenhorn #1.5)

Author: Dan Abnett

Blurb: Investigating a series of murders leads Inquisitor Eisenhorn into the clutches of a Chaos cult in this short story set between Xenos and Malleus, previously available in the Eisenhorn Omnibus.

Style: Ebook (buy the whole trio of novels on Kindle)

Review

The refresher to get us from Xenos into Malleus. We join Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn as he recovers from injuries dealt out in Xenos. To get back to work, the Inquisitor and his team head to the planet of Sameter to deal with a low-threat, straightforward case. Which seems to go off without any issues. Unfortunately, that wasn't the only case on the planet, and soon he is involved in a ritual mutilation case that seems to be centred around a Chaos Cult.

Ultimately an Arbite (police) style adventure, we soon get some gun-blazing action as the Cult will have to be purged. Overall classic Abnett with Characters I love reading about. Highly recommend this!

Book Review 199 // The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

Seems like an age ago when I read the first title, but I finally found the second in the Dark Tower series titled The Drawing of the Three. I hope this will be an enjoyable read and bounce me into wanting to buy the third.

Title: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2)

Author: Stephen King

Blurb: While pursuing his quest for the Dark Tower through a world that is a nightmarishly distorted mirror image of our own, Roland, the last gunslinger, encounters three mysterious doorways on the beach. Each one enters into a different person's life in contemporary New York.

Here he links forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean and the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes in a savage struggle against underworld evil and otherworldly enemies.

Once again, Stephen King has masterfully interwoven dark, evocative fantasy and icy realism.

Buy via Amazon

Details: 463 pages, Paperback

Review

So what to say about dark fantasy, Stephen King's novel. Well, not much sadly. The book picks up from the first (always a good start) and has the Gunslinger continuing his march to the Dark Tower. But the fun Western-themed setting and Desert is gone replaced by a beach full of weird lobsters.

Ultimately as we slowly watch Roland die, he passes through three strange not really there doors, that allow him into the World that was. Here he gets to share a body and help guide them through their troubles before whisking them into his world. By doing this Roland starts to collect a ragtag group of companions to hopefully help reach the tower.

Now, this title has some highlights, but ultimately this was a slow, filler piece. It felt like he had to introduce new characters into the series, so just stuffed this title and its magic doors in. I am sure I am missing something with this title, so if I am please let me know.

Definitely an improvement in writing style from King compared to the short stories. But I feel more connected and excited by book one compared to this one. I have been warned multiple times that book three onwards the series improves so I am going to risk it and try and find book three at a thrift store but honestly I am in no rush.

Have you read this title? What are your thoughts? Let me know.

Book Review 198 // The Racer by Rock Forsberg

I've sat on this title for way too long. And when you consider this one of my most popular reads of late, I am ashamed for having waited so long. Time to enter the Antigravity Racing League and discover the beginning of these fun stories. Side note: it is accessible on Forsberg's website for free (link below).

Title: The Racer: Antigravity Racing Story (Antigravity Racing League)

Author: Rock Forsberg

Format: Kindle Edition Read for Free here.

Blurb: The Racer: An Antigravity Racing Short Story.

A gifted sixteen-year-old antigravity racer gets an opportunity to rise to the global league, but when the competition gets dirty, he must learn that there's more to success than running fast on the track.

Review

Can't lie. This was a quick read. I should have started with this title before hitting the series, but hindsight is a fantastic gift. 

It is a classic coming-of-age teenage drama piece, as we follow a teenager as he attempts to progress through the antigravity leagues. We have mentors, rivals, challenges and important life lessons along the way. With it being a short story, it was sometimes easy to forget who was who, but you soon catch on. The title itself had an easygoing flow, which made reading it a pleasure and Forsberg is definitely moving into my top three to-read authors of 2022.

I plan to try out some of his other sci-fi and see where that can take us. But for now, all I can say is; to go download this, read it, and if you enjoy it purchase his opening title in the series, the Entrant.

As always, I appreciate you taking a moment to read this, and anything you do to support my channels is greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

Book Review 195// First & Only (Gaunt's Ghosts #1) by Dan Abnett

Finally, I am getting around to some more Dan Abnett and the Gaunt Ghosts. I have left this way too long. Which is truly a shame, and I plan on fixing this asap. So shut the feth up and get in it!

Title: First and Only

Author: Dan Abnett

Fluff:

In the Chaos-infested Sabbat system, Imperial Commissar Gaunt must lead his men through as much in-fighting amongst rival regiments as against the forces of Chaos.

For a thousand years, the Sabbat Worlds have been lost to the Imperium, claimed by the dread powers of Chaos. Now, a mighty crusade seeks to return the sector to Imperial rule. And at the forefront of that crusade are Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the Tanith First and Only – better known as Gaunt’s Ghosts. Trapped in the grinding trench warfare of Fortis Binary, the Ghosts find themselves drawn into a conspiracy to assassinate the crusade’s leader, Warmaster Macaroth. With enemies all around them and no one to trust, Gaunt and his men must find a way to save the Warmaster and prevent the Sabbat Worlds Crusade from falling into anarchy – even if it means waging war on their supposed allies.

Publisher: Black Library

Buy on Kindle via Amazon

Format owned: 320 pages Hardback Omnibus.

Review

Here we begin the re-read of the entire Gaunts Ghosts series. Returning to the first title is strange, as I was sure I remembered it well. I didn't and rereading it opened my eyes to so much I had missed.

First and Only came out hot on the heels of the stories from Inferno! Magazine. Mainly set on the Forge World of Fortis Binary, the men of Tanith face off against a chaotic, corrupted planet. The action is brutal throughout, and it soon becomes apparent that there is more to fear from their allies than the enemy.

Weirdly, this is book one, as Ghostmaker does a better job of introducing the characters. But I assume the nature of the short story reads was something Black Library wasn't willing to risk the series opener on. Luckily all the main characters are here, and all are starting to shine in this novel. We also get an obvious direction on how the stories will progress later. It is a classic underdog tale, and from book one, you are rooting for the Tanith, and I am already excited for the next title. Great start to a series that has brought me so much joy over the years.

As always, thanks for reading!

Comic Review 198 // Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 10: Driving Force

Welcome back with the end of the Obi-Wan series. I find my Star Wars interest waning too. We had a good run on these titles, but I feel I need a break. So after today's review, expect me to hop back into the works of 2000 AD again.

Title: Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 10: Driving Force

Author: Delilah S. Dawson

Fluff: Join Princess Leia, Poe Dameron, BB-8, Rey, and more in these middle-grade graphic novel adventures!

First, with hotshot Resistance pilot Poe Dameron captured by pirates, it's up to BB-8--and Rapier Squadron--to save the day! Then, in this story set before A New Hope, Princess Leia Organa faces the most challenging task of her young life: teaching Amilyn Holdo how to drive a speeder! But both learn an important lesson after finding themselves in the dangerous lower levels of Coruscant. And finally, witness one of the many lessons Rey learned from Luke Skywalker during her time on Ahch-To. 

Format: Paperback, 80 pages

Publisher: IDW Publishing

Review

I feel the series has lost its way. Though obviously aimed at a younger audience, the first few comics offered action, intrigue and some more depth to the universe we all love. But the later issues just seem to push the same formula repeatedly, and it comes across as lazy and forgettable, sadly.

This issue is average at best. This one has no stand-out story, just a lot of action, light, kid-friendly adventures. Now I'm not saying it is all bad. In no way is this the worst one in the series, and it did have some high points. For example, the Leia and Holdo story was funny and managed to stay true to the characters. Along with this, we get a BB-8 rescuing Poe again story (yawn) which though formulaic, did start to share more info on Kare Kun, which was excellent.

But sadly, these snips were not enough to save the comic. The Rey story was disappointing, to be honest, and not worth the page time. The stories are way too short to hold attention or be necessary. This leads us to an ultimately average comic. If a completionist do read, if looking for something fun, go elsewhere.

Book Review 189 // The Pro by Rock Forsberg

I'm excited today as we get the second entire novel for the Anti-gravity League Racing by Rock Forsberg. After working with Forsberg on reviewing his first book, The Entrant, I was very fortunate to be gifted this title.

Let's jump into this exciting title:

Title: The Pro 9 (Antigravity Raving League #2)

Author: Rock Forsberg

Fluff: He knew the life of a professional racer was hard, but he didn't expect to be dodging lasers and missiles.

Zane Silvering, the youngest professional racer in the Antigravity Racing League, competes with his powerful craft on vertigo-inducing rollercoaster circuits across the galaxy.

He signed up for the toughest racing in the universe, and this season he has a new coach, who is more like an army drill instructor, and new teammates, who seem more like enemies. Soon Zane finds himself out of the racing lineup and at odds with his girlfriend.

To get a chance at the championship, he must navigate intergenerational power games, use his flying skills in dogfights with killing lasers, deal with the shady women of his past and, of course, beat the best of the universe on the track.

When it all comes together, Zane must make a hard decision: how far is he willing to go?

If you like underdog stories, awe-inspiring galactic trekking, and high-adrenaline racing (think F1 in space), The Pro will keep you strapped to your seat until the finish line.

Want to buy? Go direct to Forsberg's website: Rock Forsberg Website

Review

Firstly this title is part of the Anti-gravity League series; so far, I have only read The Entrant (book 1) and The Street (book 1.5, a short story). If you haven't read those reviews, please do. I quickly fell for the setting, which reminds me a lot of the old computer game Wipeout. Set in a future with multiple worlds and humaniod alien races. 

The lead character is Zane Silvering, a young racer with dreams of winning the championship. After an intriguing first season (The Entrant), Zane has realized there is a much wider galaxy out there and that being a racer will be rough. With the second season drawing near, Zane finds himself in a newly merged team where he has to fight once more for a spot on the starting line. With this, he has a new coach that seems to favour his own racers. Will Zane get back onto the team in time to win the championship?

If his professional life was complicated, then his personal life is absolute chaos! Zane may lose it all with a failing relationship, new love interests, criminal activities, and family drama, taking up necessary practice time. Can this young man do what it takes to survive and win the ARL.

Overall I loved the title. As I started reading the first page, I was instantly absorbed into the racer lifestyle. The pacing was fast and exciting, and the ending was action-packed and heartbreaking at times. I really hope this isn't the last we hear of Zane. Compared to book one, I would say the racing took a bit of a back seat with the main story happening out the grid, but this in no way took away from the drama. It was nice to see returning characters and new ones appear within the tale and help keep the story fresh and exciting. Overall a stunning read, and now to read the opener, The Racer.

I highly recommend giving Rock Forsberg a chance, and I hope you will enjoy his titles as much as I have. If you have read any of the titles, drop me a comment. I want to know!

Cheers for reading.

**Rock Forsberg: If you are reading this. Thank you for including me in this amazing chance to read such a stunning series. I can't wait for the next one.

Book Review 187 // A Light Beam for Faith: The Making of A Restorer

Something a little different this Friday. I discovered a new Ottawa-based Sci-fi writer releasing her first book, and after a quick chat, I decided to treat myself to the kindle version of the title. I hope you will take a moment to read and, if interested, treat yourself to a copy.

Title: A Light Beam for Faith: The Making of A Restorer

Author: E.K. Highland

Fluff: She’s not waiting for a hero to come to save her; instead, she becomes her heroine. Hazel’s world comes crashing in front of her in an instant during a family trip to Mont-Tremblant. What she doesn’t know is that she is from the stars, and so it’s no wonder she must return to find the answers she seeks.

She embarks on a trek aboard the Imperial Bona Fides, the mothership of the Alpha Cygnians people. With the help of her best friend Zita and the others she will meet along the way, she will journey to places she never knew existed. Hazel will learn to tame her fears and become the woman she wants to be.

This is the story of different worlds that must learn to co-exist. They must all put their differences aside, and with a bit of faith, they will all witness a new dawn. We are all compelled to be inspired when faith is with us.

Review

I was convinced to give this a try as a local author wrote it, and it is essential to support new voices and broaden my reading. All I can say is that I am glad I did. We join Hazel, your average girl living in the year 2334. She has a classic back story of a father disappearing and a strange twist of an alien ship kidnapping her twin sister during a holiday at a local resort. During this kidnapping, Hazel's mother is drugged via injection and forgets who she is and who her children are. Now alone, Hazel is forced to attempt to find her father, and through this adventure, we watch her grow into a strong, inspiring adult.

A lot is going on in the book, and the book's central theme is co-existence and the importance of life. Will there be more in the series? Who knows, but I'm interested to find out.

This book wasn't what I expected at all, and though not my regular sci-fi read, I enjoyed it.

Book Review 186 // No Use for Good Men (Short Story) by Guy Haley

Enjoying these Black Library short reads, I fear this story is tempting me into the crime series they have been creating of late. Here is the fluff for No Use for Good Men.

Fluff: 

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is a vast city… The urban sprawl of murder and corruption. A den of vice and illicit deeds where the law fails, and justice is fleeting.

Glutted merchant-kings turn the wheels of industry, feeding the engine of war on distant worlds while the lowly dream only of survival. As the gilded prosper, hidden behind their fortress walls, the masses must find a place within the underbelly. But regardless of station, whether criminal or law-keeper, one fact remains true – this city is dirty, and no one escapes it without a little sin. For in Varangantua, there are no good men.

Review

Damn, this was good if quick read. Guy Hayley does excellent work in bringing the City of Varangantua alive. It is a depressing place where good people are crushed under the iron fists of gangs and corruption. How the people survive is beyond me, and the complete feeling of powerlessness the law enforcement faces is just numbing. Order is a fleeting dream that seems to slip further away every day.

As I mentioned, though, it was a quick read, but it was enough to add the series to my to-be-purchased list, and that alone speaks volumes to how good a read this was. I will review as soon as I have that title and have consumed it.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Book Review 181 // The Street (ARL) by Rock Forsberg

Following on from The Entrant comes The Street. I enjoyed The Entrant last year, and this short story is a free download after completing it. Unfortunately, I forgot I had this until recently, so I dived into wanting an excellent palette cleanser!

Title: The Street

Author: Rock Forsberg

Series: Antigravity Racing League - 1.5

Page Count: 95

Format: Ebook

Review

This title picks up on Zane's adventures straight after the ending of The Entrant and sees Zane headed back to Amera for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. He has the summer period of a few months to recoup before heading back into the league to secure a new spot on the newly merged team (which I hope will be the theme of the Pro).

Of course, we get to catch up with Zane's family and friends, but we also get to see the progression of his love for Elodie, who is actually an essential part of this story. But as a life off the track becomes dull, Zane finds himself being drawn into the world of the legal street racer.

It is great to watch this young man struggle with pride, honour, duty (issues we all faced in our younger years). Does he hurt his ego and do the right thing, or does he lie until he is cornered with no way out? Of course, Zane chooses the second option, and we join him as he attempts to fix everything. This is definitely a story about character growth and the realization that if Zane is to progress, he needs the help of those closest.

This story also made me really enjoy the character Elodie; she went from being a side NPC of little interest into being what I believe will be a critical character in Zane's life. I really hope the story has a continued role for her to play.

I am excited for The Pro now and can't wait for this to come out. But until then, I am currently downloading the Racer (a prequel) and will hopefully have that completed soon. As always, I thank you for stopping by and reading; until next time, cheers!

Comic Review 186 // Return to Vader's Castle

I had so much fun last week with Tales from Vader's Castle that I had to dive into the following collection. Cleverly named Return to Vader's Castle.

Title: Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle

Written by: Cavan Scott

Illustrators: Francesco Francavilla, Megan Levens, Nicoletta Baldari, Kelley Jones & Charles Paul Wilson III.

Fluff: Return to Vader's Castle for a spooky spin on your favourite villains from a galaxy far, far away...

This exciting graphic novel explores the hidden corners of the Star Wars universe. It features a wretched hive of scum and villainy, including Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Jabba the Hutt, Grand Moff Tarkin, Asaji Ventress--all under the shadow of Darth Vader!

Fans will be excited to discover these creepy stories by fan-favourite writer Cavan Scott, with art by the greatest talent from across the galaxy, including Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brokenshire, Francesco Francavilla, Kelley Jones, Megan Levens, and Charles Paul Wilson III!

Buy Now: Amazon.ca

Format: Paperback, 120 pages

Review

I like that this is a straight-up sequel to Tales from Vader's Castle. It jumps straight into the sideline story of the first and sees us join the Rebel Thom Hudd in a torture chamber, having been captured by Vanee - the servant to Lord Vader.

The artwork is very similar to the first book, which is excellent, and the flow of the stories is also very much the same. This time though, it is mostly Vanee telling them, and they focus on the "bad guys" of the Star Wars universe. I loved that we got Darth Maul, Jabba the Hutt, Asajj Ventress and Tarkin stories. It is nice to see their viewpoints of the war now and again.

Though I understand the formula needed to stay the same, it felt a bit flat in this title. The excitement, I guess for me, had been used up. The thrill of exploring Vader's Castle had disappeared as we instead watched Hudd attempting to flee and the stories themselves lacked a valid link to the plot. A lack of "moral" was missing in the stories' scenarios.

Darth Maul's tale was definitely a standout piece. It was great to see him in his insane spider format in the garbage world. I had only ever witnessed this stage of his character in Clone Wars, so it was great to revisit again. Tarkin's was a close second, though very much revenge of Frankenstein it made a good chase for how ruthless Tarkin is how he will let nothing stand in his way.

Overall an enjoyable read, but just not as good as part one. But maybe that is my fault for going back to back with these titles. Maybe with a gap in reading, I may have had a different opinion. Ah well, power of hindsight.

As always, cheers for reading along!

Judge Dredd - Demo-bots

Had a lot of fun with this Warlord Games, 2000 AD Judge Dredd - DemoBot. This is one of the larger models in the 2000 AD line, but wow, is it a stunning model. It definitely had a weak point with the chain, which, unfortunately, my two-year-old could break, but after a little bit of superglue, I was able to repair and create an exciting look model.

I hope you will enjoy the video and give me a like and a follow over on Youtube.

Some Rule Pointers

DemoBots are designed to knock down buildings, and it's too bad if any 'fleshy ones' are buried in the rubble. They are also incredibly slow, with their Ponderous Special Rule ensuring they cannot perform Sprint double actions. Not only that, but when using a DemoBot to charge an opponent, players must roll two D6 and add the lowest result to their Move stat.

Their Rivet Guns can offset this lack of speed (maximum range 12", Power 5, Aimed Fire only). Still, with a +5 modifier on their Demolition Hammers and the Piercing and Rending special rules on their Power Drills, a DemoBot only truly shines in melee.

I can't wait to get this on a table, killing fleshy ones. I hope you enjoyed the video and will come back soon for the next update.

Cheers

Comic Review 182 // 2000 AD Prog 1335

Oooooo excited for this epic double Judge Dredd alien feature. With two cover options! The main cover is by Jock and is the blog post's main image above. It features Judge Dredd shouting while an alien Queen roars in the background. This is portrayed in a stunning orange pallet and really stands out. Then the follow-up image below is by Chris Blythe and shows Dredd about to be swarmed by xenomorphs in a more relaxed colour scheme. Both are very visually striking, and I think Jock's piece takes the win just. I am honestly hoping for an epic finish to the tale.

Okay, straight into the thick of it with Judge Dredd vs. Aliens: Incubus Part 15. It has been a wild ride, lots of action to the series, and this issue does not let up. We get a great scene where Dredd has accepted his fate and gunslinger-style attacks the Queen Alien. This, of course, pisses off the entire nest, it is at this point Judge Giants' team arrives, and we get a Mechanismo vs Queen punch up! The droid loses big time, losing the Nuke it was carrying. With little choice left, Dredd attempts to purge the nest with lava, and it is at this point that I will stop with spoilers. Go read it yourself! It is an excellent ending to great series, and I really hope the follow-up stories stay strong as this was an epic way to reintroduce myself to the prog formats.

Unfortunately, we follow up this incredible story with V.C.s Charon. I can't get into this series! Luckily this is also the last tale for them and has the team attempting to slingshot the Gravity of Pluto's Moon Charon. Unfortunately for the team, their ship is hit, and they plunge into the planet's gravity before disappearing. I assume there is book three, but I am not sad to this end. It is a definite miss for me.

Atavar II Part 7. After attempting to find the Wosk, Atavar and Worldbeaker are left playing chase as they seek out the Wosk who believe their God has arrived to save them. Turns out the giant mass at the core of Rim space is anything but Godly! Turns out the Wosk has invited the bringer of death to all things organic! Great way to end this series. We have gone from searching for an ally to discovering the end of all! After a rough start with this series, I ultimately have grown to enjoy this. Hopefully, Book 3 isn't too far away.

And just like that, we reach an end. A solid book; sad to see the end of the Alien crossover and Atavar but delighted to say farewell to the V.C.s. Let me know what you think of the comic. I love hearing your thoughts.

Until next time cheers for reading!

Comic Review 181 // Alien Vol. 1 Bloodlines by Philp Phillip Kennedy Johnson

I just can't stay away from the Alien franchise. This time we get to enjoy Marvels' first outing with the series. Will this be a success or suffer a lot like Dark Horse did over the years.

Title: Alien, Vol. 1: Bloodlines

Author: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Artist: Salvador Larroca

Commercial Fluff: The iconic cinematic terror makes its Marvel debut! Gabriel Cruz gave his life to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation — almost literally, thanks to an alien attack that he barely survived! Recently retired, Cruz is trying to patch things up with his abandoned son with the help of his friend, a Bishop-model android. But his re-entry into civilian life is not going smoothly…, and his encounters with the deadly Xenomorphs are far from over! Now, Cruz has only one chance to save his son from the horrific fate he barely escaped. The clock toward total collapse is ticking. The aliens are loose! Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca team up for an all-new tale of the sci-fi/horror titan that has terrified audiences for decades. No one is safe. No one is innocent. And no one can hear you scream.

Format: 144 pages, Paperback

Buy Now: Amazon Link

Review

Going, to be honest, and straight-up say it wasn't that bad! Yes, it has issues, but it is not worse than Dark Horse Comic versions. Like most Alien tales, the story is generic; of course, we have the "evil" company, Androids and loose Xenos. There are also a few good plot twists that better people will realize before I did. But ultimately, there is nothing new, and to be truthful, I didn't care.

I found it interesting that they added an Apex alien instead of using the Praetorian class alien? But the real standout piece was showcasing new hybrids; the goat-style one was cool and extreme Headbanger metal of them. But like many people, I don't truly understand the idea of this humanoid xenomorph; I am hoping it will all be explained, but it seems forced in when a classic Queen Mother could have the same effect. The design seemed wrong to me, but I am willing to see what they do with it.

The human and Android characters were pretty throw-away for me and, for the most part, flat apart from Bishop, who always makes me smile. I'm not really sure where volume two will take us?

So, where do I sit on this title? Above average, worth reading and wasting a lazy Sunday on but not a go-to must recommend. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

Audio Review 64 // Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White

My audible listening schedule has been knocked off course of late. But I did just finish this new to me Alien title. The Cold Forge. So let's not waste time filling up on incinerator fluid and head straight in.

Title: Alien: The Cold Forge (Aliens / Predator / Prometheus)

Author: Alex White

Narrator: Michael Braun

Commercial Fluff: A dramatic new Alien novel, as Weyland-Yutani seeks to recover from the failure of Hadley's Hope and successfully weaponize the Xenomorphs.

With the failure of the Hadley's Hope, Weyland-Yutani has suffered a devastating defeat--the loss of the Aliens. Yet there's a reason the company rose to the top, and they have a redundancy already in place. Remote station RB-323 abruptly becomes their greatest hope for weaponizing the Xenomorph, but there's a spy aboard--someone who doesn't necessarily act in the company's best interests. If discovered, this person may have no choice but to destroy RB-323... and everyone on board. That is if the Xenomorphs don't do the job first.

Review

This new generation of Alien books is killing it. I am really enjoying the series's direction since Prometheus, and this book definitely adds to the series. It reads exactly how I imagine Aliens would be written for a modern-day audience.

The main characters are worthy of remembering and fulfilling the classic archtypes. Then in classic Alienverse style, they are all given the piece of shit character trait and spend too much energy undermining each other rather than attempting to survive. The author does a great job capturing these very human traits that make us scarier than the xenomorphs. The two key characters are focused more on greed and selfish acts than helping others survive. This type of villainy is what I enjoy about the alien franchise and Weyland Yutani in general; it just brings back Burke-style persona.

The story has everything an alien fan needs. We have a secret Weyland Yutani Project; we have Xenomorphs, a ragtag team of expendable crew, synthetics and, of course, facehuggers! It is everything this franchise represents, and I love it.

Highly recommend reading/listening to this story. If you are interested in this, please use this link to purchase off Amazon, as I will get a kickback! Link to Amazon

Comic Review 170 // Aliens: Resistance by Brian Wood

Xenomorph fans rejoice! We have more Aliens content for you this week with Aliens: Resistance. I discovered this title in my local library (support and check out you're local), now I knew of its existence due to having completed the Aliens: Defiance Volume One and Two. I remember not being blown away by the characters or the writing, so I am nervous going into this. I am excited to see Amanda Ripley as I am seriously enjoying Alien Isolation at the moment on Youtube.

Here are the details.

Title: Aliens: Resistance
Author: Brian Wood

Illustrations: Robert Carey (Illustrations)
Page Count: 96 pages
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Fluff:
An evil corporation's secret bio-weapons program puts all of humanity at risk. Ellen Ripley's daughter must fight the horrific xenomorph threat.

Following Alien: Isolation, Amanda Ripley is kept silent by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation about the xenomorph threat. Enter Zula Hendricks, an Ex-Colonial Marine, in need of Ripley's help to expose a sinister bio-weapons program. The duo teams up against the sinister corporation's upgraded arsenal as they journey through space from the research lab to a test facility designed to keep the darkest atrocities secret!

Critically acclaimed writer Brian Wood (The Massive, DMZ, Briggs Land) returns to Aliens to pen the strenuous efforts of Ripley and Hendricks to bring down the Weyland-Yutani weapons program. With hair-raising art by Robert Carey (Power Rangers, The Phantom).

Collects Aliens: Resistance 1-4 comic series.

Review

This comic series drops in after the Game Alien: Isolation in the grand timeline of things. It, of course, follows Amanda Ripley and reintroduces Zula Hendricks, an Ex-Colonial Marine. They are teaming up to expose Weyland-Yutani's bio-weapon program in this title. Image ragtag team vs the evil corporation.

This comic kind of has it all; we have space adventures, xenomorphs, androids and nuclear bombs; we also have colony ships full of soon-to-be victims and, of course, the puppet masters Weyland-Yutani.

But it turns out even with all the best parts, we have a bit of a dud. The writing is dull, leading to a failure to capture my imagination. The characters seem to not mesh or even like each other. Then combine this with xenomorphs that don't feel like a threat, and the story rapidly becomes dull. This was a real shame as I found myself zoning out as I read the story. With a weak story, you hope for incredible artwork to carry it, and sadly this failed as well. The planet that the story was set on was impressive at times and could make me pause for a moment, but the characters themselves seemed so plain and doll-like, faces lacked emotion, and for most of the comic, they seem 100% dead behind the eyes. 

Ultimately Aliens: Resistance, felt rushed and maybe it was? It just seemed like it was all thrown together last minute to fill a gap in the publishing schedule and attempt to cash in on some success from the game. It lacks in plot, direction and artwork. So I have to say this is a miss for me.

Typically I would link to Amazon now and a buy it links. But I'm not today as you deserve better. Instead, head to my Youtube channel and support me there.