Watson and Holmes. A Study in Black. Karl Bollers (Writer), Rick Leonardi, Larry Stroman (Art), Paul Mendoza & GuruEFX, Archie Van Buren, Jay David Ramos (Colours), Taylor Esposito, Dave Lanphear, Nicole McDonnell, Wilson Ramos Jr. (Letters) New Paradigm Studios (2013)

A hugely enjoyable and engaging alternative Sherlock Holmes story that confidently moves the cast to different time and context. John Watson is a medical intern in the Convent Emergency Center , Harlem , New York  where he meets Sherlock Holmes who arrives inquiring about a patient who has just been brought in. Holmes makes a suggestion regarding the patient that Watson follows up and this pushes him to visit Holmes at  Hudson's Bookshop, 221b Baker Street Harlem. The case and Watsons's involvement develops very nicely as an extensive and very dangerous conspiracy becomes clear and arrives at a very satisfactory conclusion.
The cast are superb. The headline is that both Watson and Holmes are New York African Americans and the story has a powerful New York context.  What matters is the joyous confidence with which Karl Bollers has written Watson and Holmes, the way that they interact with each other, respond to changing circumstances and in particular the way that John Watson is developed and presented is a huge pleasure. They are utterly true to themselves and their context, the essential details of a Sherlock Holmes story are presented with tremendous understated skill, none are blatantly highlighted and shoved at the reader, they are stitched firmly into the story. Best of all is the key relationship between Watson and Holmes, it is natural and unforced, the motivations for both that underlie their friendship is neatly set up.
The art by Rick Leonardi in the main story is a pleasure to read, it is full of details that firmly anchor the cast in a physical location, the cast are expressive, the body language is eloquent. The cast, including the walk on parts, are all individual, there are no generic characters. They all demand the readers attention without crowding out the action. The quiet moments are as interesting as the action, the cast are interested in what they are saying and that brings the reader into the moment.
In the Epilogue, Larry Stroman's art is distinctively different and equally effective, he captures the tension that runs through a sharp and bitter story that packs a considerable punch in a short space.
The colouring captures the emotional tones of the story and highlights the relevant details with subtle care and craft. This is a noir version of Holmes, the story is dark and even in the light of day there are deep shadows. The colouring shifts tones that track the tone of the story without shouting it, they frame the action and engage the reader.
This is a superb Holmes story, confidently taking the ideas and using them in a engaging and enjoyable way, a pleasure.

Valen the Outcast. Volume 2: Death Eternal. Michael Alan Nelson (Writer), Matteo Scalera (Art), Archie Van Buren (Colours), Ed Dukshire (Letters), BOOM! Studios (2012)

Superb conclusion to a story that puts heart into sword and sorcery without ever compromising on the action. Valen Brand, undead ex-king of Oakhaven is on a journey to recover his soul from the necromancer Korrus Null with his companions Zjanna and Alexio Cordovan. After an encounter with Furies who hate trespassesr on thier seas and a battering meeting with the ghost of his wife, Valen and the other finally make landfall. Their troubles, of course are only starting as the threats they face, including a skulk, a group of women warriors who Zajanna used to belong to, are nothing to the danger they face when they arrive at the court of Korrus Null.The action never flags, the reveals are clever and meaty, the finale surprising and very fitting.
What had started out as a great sword and sorcery action story with a smart plot, engaging cast and tremendous action develops in a most unexpected and satisfying way. The action is as fast as ever, what changes is that as the plot reveals itself it also adds depth and force to the cast, giving them a more resonant context for their actions and reactions. The story becomes more than straightforward recovery and revenge, love,loss, grief and the depths of friendship all come to the fore without every being plastered onto the the story. They arise naturally from the cast and the way choices they make under dreadful circumstances.
Sword and sorcery trades in simple big stories and concepts and Michael  Alan Nelson has a confident sure grasp of this, at the same time he has realised that action give you the room for more subtle moments that add force to the swordplay.
Matteo Scalara'a art is angular and explosive where required and great at the detail as well, This range means that the full scope of the story can be shown, the action when it comes is not just physical, it is a reflection of the character and their choices. The is a great deal of interplay between the cast that gets the sly detail of face and body language to get right and Matteo Scalara provide it.
Archie Van Buren's colours glow and are simply fantastic, they give an extra dimension to the whole story, they highten the contrast where needed, the pick out details and give definition to the context. They capture the heightened  and deliberately alien context that sword and sorcery works best in. Ed Dukeshire's letters are unobtrusive and effective when required and smashingly effective when just the right sound effect is called for.
The women of the skulk are dressed in the usual skimpy garments that are absurd for any fighter, there is minimal protection and maximum exposure. In a small and very telling moment a smart explanation is provided for it. The whole combined story resonates with this kind of thoughtful respect for the reader, small details that take the cast and the story seriously enough so that the reader is taken seriously too. A great story and a wonderful comic.

Valen the Outcast. Volume 1:Abomination. Michael Alan Nelson (Writer), Matteo Scalera (Art), Archie Van Buren (Colours, Ed Dukeshire(Letters), Trevor Hairsine (Cover Art). BOOM! Studios (2012)

A classic sword and sorcery story with a really strong idea driven by first rate execution. Valen Brand, once king of Oakhaven is killed and resurrected by Korrus Null as his undead slave. With the help of an old friend Valen breaks the hold that Korrus Null had on him and sets off to reclaim his soul from the necromancer. Oakhaven has splintered after his death as rival fight each other for power, all are united in their hatred and disgust for the undead ex-king. This makes his journey across Oakhaven rather difficult and his needs the help of Zjanna, who helped him escape the leash on Korrus Null and a drunken smuggler, Cordovan.The action is forceful and sharp, the reveals are very well staged, there are enough nicely set up lose ends and story hooks to give the story depth and force.
Originality is not a major requirement for sword and sorcery, it is the execution that carries the weight and in this case Michael Alan Nelson executes the story with tremendous flair and conviction. The twist that the hero is a self-aware zombie looking to recover his soul and exact his revenge on a wonderfully nasty villain is great. It gives the rest of the story a slightly off-kilter edge that is never squandered or, thankfully, overused. The rest of the classic pieces are all in place, the beautiful female witch warrior and the drunken outlaw who is handy enough in a fight, they too are given a chance to be characters as much as cliches. The whole cast is lively and vigorous which is vital in a story like this, there is very little room for ambiguity in such a straight driving narrative, what is needed is that the cast have a relish for their roles. Best of all Valen himself is given the opportunity to show why he was genuine leader in his living days, the same force of character and ability to inspire loyalty is still there. This gives his quest a nice bite against the the repulsive Korrus Null.
Matteo Scalera's art takes a little getting used to, his page layouts are not always obvious, they do have an energy that captures the and amplifies the momentum of the story. The cast are given individual identities and move with menace and grace as required. The colours by Archie Van Buren are astonishing, they gather the story and the art and raise everything up to fever pitch. This is a story that needs to be told at full volume and the colours give it that, from blinding lights to cunning shadows, the world gets a feel that is dirty, hard edged and dramatic in all the right proportions. Ed Dukeshires letters are a subtle and enjoyable pleasure, they never obscure the action while they give added depth to the cast.
Wonderful fun. The quote on the cover suggests an "Undead Conan", a great idea which this comic has no need to try and use, it has its own splendid, bloody life and deserves the credit for it.