I had started reading comics at the age of 9 because there weren’t enough animations on television and I didn’t like the ones that were already there. I did not expect it but I started to like reading comics, they intrigued my imagination which I expressed through drawing and I advanced my drawing skills by studying the art in the comic books. You can say that out of necessity I got into comics. They were there for studying and to read in my spare time but eventually, I fell in love with them!
At the age of 13, my eye caught a comic book which had an amazing cover with the most realistic art hanging by a peg next to the entrance of my local corner store. I was transfixed and I was standing there for several seconds studying and building up a story for what I saw on the cover. As I returned home I could not forget it so I went back and bought it!
It was a superhero comic translated from English to Greek and it featured 3 comics from Marvel – the Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants and Alpha Flight! On the cover was the New Mutants and the comic was named X-Men.
I was amazed by how good the creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne were so I loved the X-Men, I was fascinated with Alpha Flight this new Canadian superhero team that John Byrne was introducing, but I identified immediately with the New Mutants!
The New Mutants were a bunch of teenagers trying to fit in while feeling moody, awkward and outcasts but they had superpowers! Yes at that age I felt just like that and I wished I had superpowers too but also and mostly I just wanted to have friends just like them!
Chris Claremont had succeeded to build for each and one of them a true personality and Sal Buscema’s art was the type I called “realistic”…they seemed so authentic and real to me and that hooked me. As I grew older I continued to read their stories as they grew up and became X-Force and up to today I’m still following Dani’s, Sam’s, Berto’s, Rahne’s, Amara’s and Xi’an’s adventures wherever they might be featured.
My love for the New Mutants is big and great. They got me hooked on comics and I will always feel fortunate for that. I will always read their stories and it will be like visiting old friends.
If you are fans of the New Mutants I believe you will understand my passion.
For you who are not I strongly suggest to read their stories, I’m sure you will enjoy them as much as the rest of us
I’m a big fan of the New Mutants, I was 13 years old when I first read issue 4 of volume one and since then I have been following how their stories progress in different comic book titles. So obviously I had to read the newest limited series about them that came out.
New Mutants: Dead Souls is a 6 issue limited series written by Matthew Rosenberg, penciled & inked by Adam Gorham and coloured by Michael Garland. Issue one came out in May 2018 and issue six which was the final issue of the limited series came out in October 2018.
The limited series focuses on a new set of team members from the New Mutant history. This new roaster consists of Karma, Magik & Wolfsbane three of the original members, Boom Boom & Rictor who joined the original team along the way and are better known as members of X-Force, Strong Guy & Prodigy who are the newest additions. This wasn’t a roaster I was looking forward too especially as I did not see how these characters are linked and how they will interact with each other.
Luckily Rosenberg wove such a story rich with threads of the New Mutant and X-Men history. I was so glad how the characters seemed so true both as to what I knew of them and also in how they have matured and evolved without dismissing the continuity that has defined them.
The art by Gorham was very much to my taste, a bit of gritty/realistic as l like to call it. It has a lot of detail and cool face expressions and what l absolutely enjoyed was that each character had his distinctive look and style which made them different and recognizable. It’s not easy to achieve this.
I really enjoyed this limited series which I did not like at the beginning for the choice of its team roaster but I loved it for the character interaction and for the continuous history and true continuity mentions, it made a good story even better. But l wish it did not end the way it did. It seemed more of a cliffhanger for a next issue then a nearly tied up story.
Its not a comic book series for a jump on point for new readers or a fresh start of reintroducing the New Mutants but I do believe its a great comic book for long-standing fans.
I would definitely suggest it for hardcore New Mutant and X-men fans, you will absolutely enjoy it.
What I am currently reading on Marvel Unlimited is the Immortal HULK, written by Al Ewing and penciled by Joe Bennet with colours by Paul Mounts and inks by Ruy José Each issue has covers by Alex Ross! Up to now I have read three issues which I liked them so much that I though I should spread the word.
Issue one of the Immortal Hulk was interesting although I did think I have seen this approach to the character before.
With issue two I had the impression on how the storyline would go, it had a darker feeling to it almost a touch of a horror movie which I liked a lot.
And issue three was simply entertaining!!! One story said by the point of view of four people which means each view was portrayed by the unique style of four different artists Leonardo Romero, Paul Hornschemeier, Marguerite Sauvage and Gary Brown with Joe Bennet doing the framing sequence! It was an amazing issue and I enjoyed reading every single page of it.
Al Ewing is reintroducing the dynamic duo personalities of Bruce Banner and Hulk in a way that I believe will entertain both old and new readers and Joe Bennet’s art is just perfect, defined and detailed!
I will be back for issue four and I strongly suggest for you to check it out.
Blek and Asterix are back. Two Greek-translated comics I grew up reading — one borrowed from a cousin, the other discovered by chance during a summer holiday. Different paths, same joy. So glad to read them again.
I’m so glad that these two comics have made a comeback. Blek is published by Μικρός Ήρως and Asterix by Μαμούθ Comix.
I don’t remember which of the two I read first, but Blek and Asterix were two comics I would read occasionally when I was a kid. Both were translated into Greek as ΜΠΛΕΚ and Αστερίξ.
Asterix
The very first time I read Asterix was when I was about 11. My cousin lent me all the issues that had been published up to then.
What a blast. The art was amazing and the stories were such humorous adventures. It was a sad day when my cousin — after repeatedly asking me to give the comics back — finally came over and picked them up herself. She had actually borrowed them from her best friend, who understandably wanted them back.
Blek
Blek was a comic I picked up by chance because I didn’t have anything else to read during my summer holiday at my dad’s village. It was an anthology of comics — I wasn’t that interested in Blek’s adventures, but I was amazed by several other comics featured in it, like Aria and The Leopard from Lime Street.
Why I Read Them Occasionally
The reason I read them only occasionally was simple: my pocket money wasn’t enough to buy all the comics that were coming out. Later, they stopped being published altogether.
So I’m happy that I can read them again now — as an adult who still feels as excited as a kid.
I picked up Half Past Danger not knowing anything except its cool retro cover. What I found was a one-man creative tour de force by Stephen Mooney — gripping art, unexpected story turns, and a feeling I hadn’t experienced since childhood. Here’s why I can’t wait for issue #2.
When I sat down to read this comic, I didn’t know anything about it other than that it had a cool cover — like a movie poster with a retro look. I always pick a comic for its cover, and a quick blurry run through the pages is a sell for me. I didn’t check if there was a full creative team on this comic, so you can imagine my surprise when I realised it was solely done by one really creative artist.
Usually I would make a quick introduction, but there are so many cool elements that I can’t do the usual. First, I have to say what a thrilling surprise this comic is. How each page was gripping and made me anticipate the next. How it left me with a most satisfying and entertaining feeling that bubbled inside me for hours later. I was pleasantly surprised many times — the comic never went the way I expected, and the art’s storytelling nailed it every time.
The vibe and thrill this comic gave me is similar to what I felt as a kid when I first started reading comics, when I used to absorb every aspect of the art, page after page.
Yes, it’s that good. I can’t wait for issue #2 to come out — and I’m saying this with a certainty that I haven’t felt about a comic in years.
Now that I’ve released all my enthusiasm, let me give credit to who is behind this great comic: Half Past Danger.
Stephen Mooney is an artist who has worked on several comics for IDW over the past several years. Half Past Danger is his creator‑owned comic, and for issue one he is the sole creator. Thankfully, IDW gave the green light and published this comic — yet another cool decision from this publisher.
I’m not sure if this comic will be a long‑running monthly or just a set of limited series, but I’d be pleased with either. Even in issue #1 alone, there are so many elements that can be explored that the title could last for many years and still be interesting.
The Story
The story is set in World War 2, and its central character is Sergeant Thomas Michael Flynn. Sergeant Flynn is a military man with a roguish flair. He has the ability to survive, not take unnecessary risks, and above all, protect his squad. So you can imagine his devastation after he loses his whole team during a reconnaissance mission on an unknown island in the East Pacific.
As they avoid engagement with a Nazi base they come across unexpectedly, they decide to return to base with what they’ve found — only to fall into even greater danger. The whole team is killed except Flynn, who manages to escape with the information he has discovered.
This is only the introduction, not the end of the story. It continues two months later in a New York bar as Flynn drinks away his sorrow. What follows is even more unexpected: Flynn is approached by three individuals who seem to be part of a secret organisation. The encounter ends in an unbelievable bar brawl when Flynn refuses to talk to them.
I won’t go into details about the lethal danger or who the individuals are, because that would spoil the surprises waiting for you in the comic. I’ll only say a few words: predators, powerhouse, master of martial arts, witty intelligence covered by femme fatale beauty — hope I haven’t given anything away.
Writing & Art
Mooney has crafted a story that features elements of war action, noir settings, and pulp aspects of the unknown and unexpected — all combined beautifully in one issue. The dialogue is realistic, smart, and witty. You don’t have to read it twice to understand it, but you will, just to enjoy what’s been said again.
He also builds mystery around the situations his hero, Sgt. Flynn, has been in. Nothing is fully revealed, yet it remains intriguing and gripping thanks to the way the story unfolds with the help of the art.
The art complements and delivers every aspect of the story, from the biggest to the smallest details. It’s dynamic, with perfect storytelling showing action scenes brilliantly from panel to panel. Each panel is essential to the flow — it gives a cinematic visual feeling, but better.
There’s also a good sense of humour that provides comic relief, made more obvious and entertaining by small details in the art: expressions, body language, and subtle movements. Pencils, inking, colouring, and lettering have all been thoroughly applied by Mooney to give us readers a visual delight.
Final Verdict
In general, Stephen Mooney has succeeded in creating a great issue #1, leaving the best of impressions and gripping us enough to want more. I strongly suggest reading this comic. Start from the beginning, because I’m sure it will only get better, and Sgt. Flynn will become the new hero everyone is raving about.
Read this comic and spread the word about how good it is.
Costas on Comics 