I have been following Kulbir’s posts in the House of Flying Scalpels for a while now and I was more than pleased to tell him one of why favourite stories of comics that he would then review.
As a long standing fan of the X-Men and the Dark Phoenix Saga being the reason I was hooked on superheroes I could not suggest anything else, that was the first thing that popped into my head when he asked me.
Continue reading “Tagging the Walls”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.
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 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.
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.
One comic changed everything. X-Men #14, translated into Greek by ΜΑΜΟΥΘ COMIX in 1987. Bigger format, stunning art, three stories. Magneto on the first page. I’ve never looked back.
The comic book that got me hooked on superhero comics was X-Men issue #14.
It was a Greek translation published by ΜΑΜΟΥΘ COMIX (Mamouth Comix) way back in 1987. It was so different from all the other comics I was reading at the time — the format was bigger, it had coloured pages, and it featured three superhero stories.
The stories were written almost a decade before I got the chance to read them, but they still felt so fresh. The art was stunning.
On the cover was the original artwork from New Mutants #4 — an amazing cover by Bob McLeod, featuring the whole team with horror on their faces as they tried to escape a collapsed building.
The first story was from The Uncanny X-Men, written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne. I vividly remember the first page: Magneto in a powerful, commanding stature.
I was hooked, inspired, and entertained — ever since
I still love reading it after all these years.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Costas on Comics 