comic book fan – Page 5 – Costas on Comics

Half Past Danger Review – World War 2, Noir, and Pulp Perfection

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.

The Way I See It… Wolverine Vol. 5 #1

Another Wolverine monthly? Yes — but this one is different. With Paul Cornell writing and Alan Davis on art, Wolverine Vol. 5 moves the character beyond the grumpy outsider stereotype. Refreshing, intriguing, and beautifully drawn. Here’s why I gave it a chance — and why you should too.

Wolverine gains one more monthly comic book — this one is Volume 5 of the original series.

Most comic fans are not pleased with the overexposure of Wolverine. He appears in so many comics that he often gets more spotlight than he deserves. Yes, he’s popular — but he’s not the only hero in the Marvel Universe.

This new title, though, is considered the core Wolverine book. It features a new numbering and, more importantly, a great creative team: Paul Cornell as writer and Alan Davis as artist. That’s the reason I read it.

Art

Alan Davis teams up yet again with inker Mike Farmer and colorist Matt Hollingsworth — delivering a stunning visual delight.

Davis has a unique, trademarked style that is recognisable wherever you see it. The inks and colours compliment his art perfectly, giving Wolverine a more superhero flair. Wolverine is now part of the Avengers and no longer just a popular outsider, so this glossy, polished art for a new beginning suits the book well.

Story

The story is Part 1 of a story‑line named Hunting Season — a perfect title for a Wolverine comic. But from the very first page, it seems Wolverine is the one being hunted and cornered.

Thanks to Paul Cornell, in just one issue we have more than a few twists and turns that thicken the plot and amp up the mystery of what new threat Wolverine will have to face.

Cornell gives Wolverine the chance to use his Avenger membership to state that he is here to help. This is refreshing — because after a while, it gets boring to see a misunderstood Wolvie growl and attack authority figures.

Witty comments and a sense of humour are also present in the dialogue — a skill Cornell knows how to use in clever ways.

We might also see a new supporting cast. We are introduced to a new female character, NYPD Detective Tomomatsu, who already knows Wolverine. Let’s hope she survives — because she seems like a cool addition.

Final Verdict

Overall, this may be another Wolverine comic — but it is refreshing. It moves the character to a new level, making him more of a hero, placing him in the real world, and not burdening him with heavy X‑Men or Avengers continuity.

It’s a Wolverine comic with no out‑of‑the‑blue team‑ups. It has beautiful art and an intriguing story.

Give it a chance. You will enjoy it.

My Unpublished Comics – Rough Sketches from ’97 to ’99A comic book draft

From 1997 to 1999, I tried to make my own comic book — one serious project and one small press comic drawn during quiet hours at a Greek coffee shop. Neither got published. Here are the rough sketches and the story behind them.

I’m uploading something that few people have seen.

From 1997 to 1999, I was trying to make a comic book. I knew someone back then, and we were both trying to create our own comic. He liked to write, and I liked to draw. He wanted to do something on a professional level, while I clearly wanted to do a small‑press, self‑published comic. I wasn’t confident enough in my drawing skills to make a comic and seek a publisher. I wanted to start small and develop my skills along the way.

So, daily, I focused most of my time on drawing my “serious” comic book pages. And during the quiet hours — when I was working in a traditional Greek coffee shop — I drew my small‑press comic pages.

The Pages

The following seven pages were the first issue. These are rough sketches, which I preferred to do as a plotline instead of writing it out.

The images after that are the first three pages from the second issue.

Unfortunately, neither of my attempts ended up being published.

pages of first issue

pages of second issue.

A Kind Request

Please be kind. I know these pages are not the best to look at — or the easiest to read if you don’t know Greek.

Hopefully, I will use these characters again at some point in the future.

Thank you for looking.

The Freaks – My 90s Superhero Team Inspired by Greek Mythology

In the late 1990s, I created a superhero team called the Freaks — five heroes inspired by felines, canines, fish, insects, and goats. Drawing from Ancient Greek mythology helped me avoid American superhero stereotypes. Here’s the final character design and the story behind them.

The following sketches show the final character design of five heroes I developed in the late 1990s. They are members of a team called the Freaks.

Inspired by the superhero comics I read, I started to draw my own heroes. By using and assimilating elements from Ancient Greek mythology, I tried to avoid — as much as possible — similarities to American superhero stereotypes. I just hope I was successful.

The heroes I designed represent:

Felines
Canines
Fish
Insects
Goats

I am thinking of adding two more characters that will represent reptiles and birds.

Cerberus – The Werewolf‑Like Hero

One of my characters is called Cerberus, named after the beast that guarded the gates of the Underworld in Greek myth. He is the one who looks like a werewolf.

I initially placed Cerberus on another team. You can see part of his origin in several pages in my next post.

What’s Next

Hopefully, I will use all these heroes in a present project someday.

Stay tuned!

My First Published Comic – Nightcrawlers (A 3‑Page Story)

Years ago, I published my first comic as an amateur artist — a three‑page story called Nightcrawlers, set in the late‑90s dance music scene. It appeared in a Greek fanzine. Here’s the story behind it, and why the collaboration ended after just one issue.

I’m posting my first published work as an amateur artist. I’m certain that some of you have already seen it — either online or as a sample from my physical portfolio.

This three‑page story was published in a fanzine. The theme of that issue was music from the late‑90s dance scene: jazz, techno, house, progressive trance, and so on. The fanzine was in Greek.

My aim was to show the evening adventures of these characters while they were out at a party or a nightclub — hence the title Nightcrawlers.

The Story of the First Issue

The story follows two young men, both around 21 years old, who are roommates.

Manos asks Giannis if he wants to go clubbing. Giannis refuses rudely — but when Manos mentions that Tonia (a mutual friend that Giannis likes) will be there, Giannis changes his mind.

All three go out, and they end up in a funny situation that escalates into a brawl. In the end, Giannis regrets ever going out.

What Happened After

Unfortunately, the collaboration did not go beyond that first issue. The guy who self‑published the fanzine had to do his military service, and I didn’t try to publish the rest of my ideas on my own.

I hope I make the time in the future to turn those ideas into comic book pages that I can post here. Maybe I will change the title and not focus so much on late‑night adventures in nightclubs. I’ll see.