Spoilers

Written, illustrated and cover art by Liam Sharp.

The penultimate issue of this mini series and Daily Read was the fifth issue by Liam Sharp. Sharp has been extremely excellent in the tale he is weaving with Merlin, futuristic robots, and Arthur.

Once again, the narration is done by Amber and her quippy manner makes this exposition-heavy issue fly by with a better pacing than you would have guessed.

This issue focuses upon Merlin’s problems in the past and Arthur’s aging and his ambition. Because of his ambition, Arthur was losing his main goal, which was protecting magic.

We see Amber and Daryl wind up in the past too, in order to escape the future killer robot. She is naked much of the book.

There is only one issue left, so we will have to see how this will wrap up.

Spoilers

Written, illustrated and cover art by Liam Sharp.

So issue three is centered on the building of Stonehenge and Merlin’s part in doing it. It was a fascinating issue that I really enjoyed. This gave us more with Merlin than we had gotten before, which was nice, because I had not felt as engaged with that part of this story as much as I had with Amber.

And it sure seemed as if these two timelines are going to cross now, thanks to Stonehenge.

The art continues to be sensational, beautifully rendered and stunning.

We are half way through the series and it feels as if it is just about to really get started.

Issue four tomorrow.

Spoilers

Written, illustrated and cover art by Liam Sharp.

The story continued with its dual timelines. In one, Merlin convinces King Aurelius to begin construction on Stonehenge. In the other, Amber reunites with Daryl in Brighton. Little do they know that future Mor-Dreadnaughts are coming for them.

I have really liked the manner in which this story is being presented, even if I find it challenging to follow at times. I like a good challenge and this feels compelling and engaging.

Daryl deserted Amber at a point in the past, returning a year later at Halloween.

The art is fabulous once again. The painting style of Liam Sharp works so well with this book. There were a couple of pages that were drawn more like a cartoonish style, which was quite a divergent path in the book. Those three pages were drawn by Sharp’s daughter, Matylda McCormack-Sharp.

The story continues to feel epic as each issue builds a little more. Issue three tomorrow!

Spoilers

Written, illustrated and cover art by Liam Sharp

This is the second short series for the Daily Read. Back in March, I did a daily read of the Vertigo series by Gail Simone called Clean Room which went eighteen issues. I read one issue a day and did a write up for each. It has been four months and I have picked up a new (old) series that will work for this.

When I picked up Starhenge Book Two: A Kiss for Atticus #1, I figured that there would have been a previous series. I went to eBay and found the first series. It arrived earlier this week and, I thought this morning, that I could do a Daily Read with the new series.

So I read #1 tonight. I think this has a lot of potential. There is a future character name Merlin sent back to Arthurian times. There are several time frames involved in this story as it seems as if it was being narrated by a woman in the present time named Amber Weaving.

Everything that I have read in this first issue makes me think that this is a real epic story.

The art by Liam Sharp is beautiful. I loved the layout of several of the panels which form a larger pic that I thought was so cool.

I am engaged with the story even though something like this may be a challenge to get into it.

Tomorrow, I will read #2. Six total issues.

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“A Bridge to Nowhere”

The final issue of Clean Room Vol 1 came to an end and, thankfully, it wrapped up the story in a nice, tight roll.

I was very worried that the series would end without sufficient closure, perhaps canceled by the cruel fates, leaving the threads a dangling. However, my fears were unjustified as this brought everything to an extremely satisfying conclusion.

The finale found the final showdown between Astrid and Derica, which turned out to be more one sided than I expected. I should have guessed that Astrid was in complete control of the situation. Of course she was.

We found out even more proof that Capone is one bad ass m-fer. I am so pleased that she made it through the conclusion.

The story of Chloe made perfect sense and what Astrid had Chloe do at the end also worked for this story. I loved having Spark make his return and play a huge role in the finale. I also loved having the brothers Havelin on site and brandishing a big piece of wood. Avil returned too and the idea of some threesomes between him, Chloe and Killian is mind-blowing.

I’ve been reading this series for the past 18 days and I am very pleased with the ending. It was satisfying and placed the characters that I have grown to love in great places and it works as an ending.

Thanks to Gail Simone for her creativity and storytelling skills. This was a fabulous series that I truly enjoyed.

The Daily Read will pause now for awhile until the next series presents itself. This was a fun time with comics and there is little better than that.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover arty by Jenny Frison

“Waiting for the Stars to Fall”

The penultimate issue of this first series in the Daily Read category sees Astrid re-establish control over her #1 Fan, Artus. He spent the first half of the book making himself seem superior to the “critter” but he took things a step too far and Astrid decided that enough was enough and she brought this little creep down big time while coming to rescue Chloe and Killian.

However, the big throwdown is still coming as Derica is on her way to have a massive confrontation with Astrid. This is just after Astrid is informed by Artus that the way to destroy the Entities was to exorcise the child.

That sounds like a big war in the finale.

I have to say that I am worried that the series did not come to a clean conclusion. Was it canceled and so the storyline was left dangling? That would not be what I want.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Assisted Living”

Woah!

I know I mentioned that last issue was a filler issue, a look at someone outside of the main arcs of the book.

Man, did that change.

Issue #16 just went to town. Brutal. Violent. Vicious.

While Chloe and Killian are trapped in the memories inside the Clean Room, Artus Greenhand is calling for Astrid.

Then an assault was underway on the building. The creatures were after Capone, who just showed how much of a bad ass she is. They were after Anika, and Capone made it there in time to put an axe through the creature’s head. The Surgeon came to kill Duncan, but he got surprised by the Haverlin boys and some baseball bats.

Astrid’s crew was stepping things up, big time. Even with that, there was a feeling of hopelessness going on in the book.

Some of it may have come from the unsettling conversation between Astrid and the entity in control of the baby Derica. This was disturbing as it gets, with the baby reaching out and asking Aunt Astrid to hold it. Creepy.

This issue was packed to the gills with action and gore after a slower filler issue #15. This was a powerful issue with so many shout out loud moments. It was such a big time book and there are only two more issues to go.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Illustrated by Sanya Anwar

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Interlude: All the Pretty Edges”

This series took a strange detour.

In what felt like a filler issue, we met Mary, a young woman whose husband Ian, was showing up to her after his death in a bungie jumping accident.

Mary wound up in the organization run by Astrid Mueller, but it really did not have anything to do with the story that we have spent the last 14 issues following.

It did take a side of the organization and looked at it in a different manner, with a different POV than what we have been used to. It was an interesting tale of Mary, but I am not sure the purpose of the issue.

We had a different artist, Sanya Anwar, doing the art, but it looked like this was the only issue that she had done in this first volume.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“One Step Over the Abyss”

Astrid’s #1 fan has arrived at the Clean Room with supposedly information on the baby Derica, who spent the first several pages of this issue being horrendous. The imagery of the bridge with the human faces was nightmare fuel if I have even seen any.

The new duo of Astrid and Chloe split apart as Chloe went to see her brother Peter. Meanwhile, Chloe and Killian tried to voir dire the #1 fan.

Artus Greenhand is the name of the #1 fan and he is a piece of work. With hair just like Astird, we discover immediately that this guy is dangerous. He is a serial killer and looks on women as “critters.”

He also seemingly can control the Clean Room, which is not a good thing, as he left Chloe and Killian in a memory facing himself.

I have to say that the relationship between Astrid and Chloe seemed to take a sudden switch here and I am not sure that I think it is earned. Chloe, in particular, had real anger toward Chloe and it does not feel as if that was as resolved as it is being shown to be. However, I do think the relationship between Chloe and Killian worked extremely well and feels as if it makes more sense.

Of course, the whole “intercourse” bit was really funny.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover Art by Jenny Frison

“Time and Tide”

Interestingly enough, we got a new artist for the book. Walter Geovani is the new artist replacing Jon Davis-Hunt. I had not seen an announcement in issue #12 that there was going to be a change. I did not look closely though so it could have been there.

We see a side to Astrid this issue that we had not seen before. She was ready to punish Killian and Duncan in the Clean Room because of their betrayals last issue. However, at the last minute, she reconsidered and rushed back to them. I was surprised by Astrid’s change of heart, but I did like it very much.

Then, Astrid went to Chloe and asked her to join her as one of her rooks. Chloe demanded the truth from Astrid, and… she gave it to her! I couldn’t believe that either.

Then, Astrid brough Chloe to the Clean Room where her niece, the daughter of her brother who had shot her, was at, and the little girl showed off her own evil possessed power, killing a guard. The final shot of the toddler was creepy as heck as she says to Chloe that Philip says hello.

Philip was, of course, Chloe’s fiancé who had shot himself in the head after reading Astrid’s book.

I feel that Astrid and Chloe are forming a bond, at least to work together. I am still not sure if I should trust Astrid, but I have to say I am getting there.

Five more issues to go. This has been awesome.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Red Inventory”

Things are flying along.

There is a meeting of the Honest World Foundation Board, called by Wenuka, to try an take control away from Astrid.

Meanwhile, Astrid is still in the mountains with Capone, trying to gage her loyalty. Astrid believed she could be a traitor, sent to the mountain to try and finish her off.

It was shown clearly that Capone was loyal as she prevented a sniper from killing Astrid, though the sniper that was sent seemed to lack any real skills in the subject.

Chloe was able to get herself into the Clean Room with Killian to try to save Spark. While inside the Clean Room, the real traitor was revealed… Duncan.

The battle between Duncan and Killian was dope. However, in the end, it took Spark controlling the Clean Room to stop Duncan.

The only way Spark could do that was to reclaim the darkness. The final shot of Spark with an evil grin plastered across it was both scary and sad at the same time.

Things are moving quickly with this book. Only 7 more issues to go.