Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Comic Book Reviews

  • REVIEW: ‘Phenomena: Book One’ by Brian Michael Bendis, André Lima Araújo

    REVIEW: ‘Phenomena: Book One’ by Brian Michael Bendis, André Lima Araújo

    Editor’s Note: Ahead of the release of Phenomena: Matilde’s Quest later this month, Abrams sent us a physical copy of the first book to review.

    Phenomena, Vol. 1: The Golden City of Eyes by Brian Michael Bendis

    Brian Michael Bendis is responsible for helping to create some of the best comic characters in recent years, including Jessica Jones and Miles Morales. I enjoy his work and was thrilled when I had the chance to read and review Phenomena: Vol. 1 ahead of the release of Vol. 2. I admittedly hadn’t really heard of this title, and I’m a bit upset that I somehow allowed it to fly under my radar. It’s not one of my favorites of Bendis’, and I’m not quite sure what star rating I would give it, but I did enjoy it overall.

    The story follows a young kid named Boldon as he goes on the hunt for the Golden City. Early on in his journey, he stumbles upon a Cyper named Spike, and a mysterious character that seems keen to cause the duo plenty of trouble. The story is at times ridiculous, and other times, utterly charming, and yet, it manages to be an enjoyable ride despite its bumps. Boldon and Spike are great together; Boldon is reckless and Cyper is very much all business, no play. The addition of the mysterious character – who I’m not naming as to avoid spoilers – proves to be a great addition, too. They play well off of the two main characters and help to add more depth to the story.

    Phenomena: Vol. 1 is under a hundred and fifty pages, and yet, despite its short length, the story doesn’t always feel as though it’s fast-moving. This is, naturally, due to having to set up this world and its history and workings. But there’s still plenty to be established in this world, and by the end of the first volume, readers are sure to have more questions than answers. Something that should, hopefully, be tackled in the next installment now that the world has been established.


    One of the main issues in the book is the artwork inside of it. The artwork is well done – André Lima Araújo has crafted some fantastic linework in this graphic novel. However, the lack of color does make it difficult to really appreciate the story being told as a whole. Normally, I don’t mind when a graphic novel is in black and white. In fact, sometimes it does serve the story better. In this instance, though, the lack of coloring seems to work against the story. The shading isn’t all that defined. And honestly, it makes it hard to get captivated by the story in the end. There are battles that are hard to follow. The locations seem to be lifeless and bland. If there was even a slight pop of color, or perhaps even more defined shading, this book could be perfect.

    Overall: I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read. It’s short. It’s fun. And Spike is a great character.

  • REVIEW: ‘Keepers of the Cosmos’ is Raunchy Galactic Fun

    REVIEW: ‘Keepers of the Cosmos’ is Raunchy Galactic Fun

    Every generation is looking for their Star Wars. Something that transports them to another universe and sends them tumbling through a galactic adventure stuffed with fluffy, lovable characters and charmingly heroic leads. A tale made for everyone, that inspires children to be better adults and adults to unlock their inner child. On the surface, it may seem like this is the goal writer Adam Barnhardt had in mind while crafting Keepers of the Cosmos, the latest comic from publisher Scout Comics. However, after reading the series’ first two issues, this is assuredly not the case. Instead, Keepers of the Cosmos is raunchy, daring, and definitely not for kids. It refuses to be for everybody, and it’s miles better for it.

    Keepers of the Cosmos features a group of intergalactic peacekeepers traversing the galaxy’s last frontier and doling out their own unique forms of justice; so on paper, it definitely has the trappings of a typical space-bound romp. Yet, the end product is so much more than standard fare. The series is ripe with sci-fi goodness but manages to ground itself with wildly human characters. From the get-go, Keepers introduces its main cast as deeply flawed individuals, giving the story a relatable sense of humanity that draws the reader in immediately. Part of keeping with that humanity involves the use of quite a bit of debauchery, something that stamps the comic with Barnhardt’s signature comedic flair and officially brands it as Guardians of the Galaxy for full-grown adults.

    Keepers also does an impressive amount of world-building for a new book, constructing a new universe with surprising efficiency and speed. In only a few short pages, readers will meet a fairly large, merry band of misfits and likely hop on board their adventure with comfortable ease. There is action and romance aplenty, and artist Agung Prabowo proves adept at laying out exciting splash pages that jump at the reader and demand they pay attention. In fact, Prabowo’s character design is one of the book’s highlights, accurately playing on expected sci-fi tropes while remaining fresh and exciting. The colorful and vibrant universe made possible by Barnhardt and Prabowo is one readers will want to continue exploring for a long time to come.

    Ultimately, Keepers of the Cosmos is both fresh and familiar. It’s full of love for decades of intergalactic storytelling, with plenty of nods for the most die-hard fans, while still fiercely molding its own path toward originality. Barnhardt and Prabowo’s style works together seamlessly, blessing Keepers with a distinct brand of comical chaos. It’s an excellent read for those who are looking for something exciting and different and would like to support an original voice in the industry.