The Squidder #3

Writer – Ben Templesmith
Artist – Ben Templesmith

The Squidder and Seph battle their way through a squadron of squid to get to the former head temple of the Dark Father.  There they talk with the Squid Mother and learn that the Squidder is a unique being with DNA unlike anyone else’s and that he above any other person will be the only one able to defeat the Dark Father before he consumes our universe.  To do that he will also need a weapon and so he mates with Seph and not soon after, she gives birth to a mighty sword that in the hands of the Squidder will be the hammer needed to do the deed.  The Squidder is a book truly unlike anything else upon the stands today.  Being part horror, part Lovecraft, part post-apocalyptic tale and part adventure story, the issues just get crazier and crazier as the series rolls on.  Whatever Templesmith has going on inside his mind, needs to be put on paper more often as this series is just a whole lot of fun and pure absurd genius.  The Squid Mother is an interesting character and with the Squid Queen, shows us a little bit about how the hierarchy works in the Dark Father’s ranks.  The Squidder is your classic hero and a good man whether he admits it or not.  The best part of the book and the most original was the birthing of the sword.  It is doubtful any comic at the Big Two would have ever featured something like this in their books, but it was an incredible scene.  The Squidder is a fantastic comic, good in every way and one you should pick up if you have not already.

4 out of 5

Spider-Man 2099 #3

Writer – Peter David
Artist – Will Sliney
Colours – Antonio Fabella

Looks like Miguel is going to have to accompany Tiberius to Transabal so they might sell them an order of Spider-Slayers.  Of course Miguel thinks it is a bad idea.  Arriving at their destination, there is an assassination attempt and so it is up to Miguel to rescue his boss after Tiberius is kidnapped.  He does all right in that department, that is at least until the Scorpion shows up who also happens to be working for Tiberius.  Not only is Miguel stuck in a foreign land at the moment, he is beset on all sides by enemies that are not going to make things easy for him.  Peter David knows how to writer witty banter and this issue has a lot of it sprinkled throughout the book.  It was great to see Liz at the beginning of the issue throwing her weight around and supposedly not allowing her knowledge of Miguel’s secret to influence her decisions.  The artwork by Sliney looks as wonderful as always; especially his facial expressions which really drive home what our characters are feeling at any particular moment.  This issue was not as fun as the previous two, but it was still entertaining and the next issue should provide a lot of action if the cliff-hanger is anything to go by.

3.5 out of 5