Vertigo: Progetti Futuri 2.0

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PREVIEW: CLEAN ROOM #2



http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/clean-room-2-vertigo-2015

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PREVIEW: RED THORN #1



http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/red-thorn-1-vertigo-2015

[Azrael]

4/5

http://www.comicvine.com/reviews/red-thorn-1/1900-4310/

[Azrael]

What a difference an issue makes. Following a rushed debut, Gail Simone turns in an excellent, meticulously paced follow-up that's high on frights and even higher on intrigue. Building off the book's initially murky premise, Simone walks a tightrope of tension both physical and psychological, offering some uncomfortable insight into the book's titular Clean Room. We still don't get much in the way of concrete information, but what we do get is downright creepy. Simone doesn't waste time with teases or misdirection– she barrels into the book's horror elements full tilt, leading to a number of sinister happenings both real and imagined. Jon Davis-Hunt takes those instances and brings them to all-too-vivid life. Some of his character work can read a bit flat, but his design –namely the architecture of the Clean Room and the terrifying physical manifestations it conjures – is top notch. Good luck sleeping after this one. -Jeff

8.4/10

IGN

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Red Thorn is the story of Isla Mackintosh, a 20-something year-old who is investigating the mysterious death of her older sister more than two decades previous. Isla is an artist whose drawings come to life, and as that mystery deepens we discover that her power isn't the only fantastical thing about her otherwise normal life. It's an interesting world that's been crafted here, but unfortunately the creators don't delve into it enough in this first issue. Instead, the focus of much of this debut is put on a romance between Isla and a man she meets at a bar. It's not as gripping as the mysterious elements, but it's cute enough and Meghan Hetrick's art does a lot to sell that relationship, as she excels at human faces – particularly eyes. Overall, this is an enjoyable story that's evocative of some of the elements and tones of 2000s Vertigo, but not yet at the same "must-buy" level as some of the other recent Vertigo launches. –Levi

6.8/10

IGN

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Holly Black and Lee Garbett Discuss the Return of LUCIFER at Vertigo Comics



http://www.comicvine.com/articles/holly-black-and-lee-garbett-discuss-the-return-of-/1100-154230/

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RED THORN #1

3/5

http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-review/red-thorn-1-vertigo

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ASTRO CITY #29

4/5

http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-review/astro-city-29-vertigo

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PREVIEW: AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SECOND CYCLE #11



http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/american-vampire-second-cycle-11-vertigo-2015

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Red Thorn #1

Writer David Baillie has appeared in several Vertigo anthology publications to date, but is more likely to be known to readers as the writer on numerous 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Magazine issues. The Scottish writer draws upon his roots for his latest creator-owned work, dipping into some of that old time mysticism for a mystery/horror hybrid that speaks to the very imaginative demons that comic books are made of.

American Isla Mackintosh returns to her familial homeland to search for her missing sister. Isla's sister disappeared before she was born, yet she is compelled to carry out a detailed investigation with everyone that might remember her. As we discovered that everything is not quite right with the Glaswegian locale that Isla has found herself in, we also find out that Isla has her own secrets that she is having trouble keeping a lid on. Images she has created in the past have come to deadly life, and now that she is in Scotland, those powers are becoming less predictable.

One of the greatest strengths of Red Thorn is its initial pacing. It presents as a mystery, with allusions to Isla's sister disappearing never elaborated upon. It takes its time establishing the location, and slowly giving us an idea of how Isla not only found herself in this place, but what might actually compel her so fiercely. Her first memory of bringing a person she drew to life is as intriguing as it is frightening. It's somewhat ironic then that this same pacing is what trips up the book from being really great out of the gate, rushing a stack of exposition in the final few pages that could have been metered out over the course of the next issue or two. Baillie wants to immediately tie his story to an ancient set of gods, where the hints that something was amiss had been enough to keep us hooked.

While Meghan Hetrick's art opens with a dark and brooding couple of pages, what is most surprisingly is how joyful much of this work is. There is clearly an intimate knowledge of Glasgow on display here, with locally raised Baillie's script indicating some of the local tourist traps and local knowledge alike. The U.S.-based Hetrick worked from reference photos to bring some of the local club scene to life, but where she excels is in the creature features. A two-page spread that is meant to showcase Isla's sketchings actually indicates Hetrick's versatility. A shambling swamp creature is either going to be grotesque or adorable depending on your point of view, while another one of Isla's creations looks like she might have just stepped out of a Japanese manga.

There's a lot of promise in Red Thorn, especially if it takes the time to allow some of these individually great concepts to breathe on their own. Isla comes fully formed out of the gate, and the mystery it initially presents is genuinely compelling. The only issue is that Baillie undercuts some of his own drama by over-explaining a climax, albeit one that does neatly set us up for the next chapter.

Review by Richard Gray
'Rama Rating: 7 out of 10

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PREVIEW: JACKED #1



http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/jacked-1-vertigo-2015

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PREVIEW: ART OPS #2



http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/art-ops-2-vertigo-2015

[Azrael]

5/5

http://www.comicvine.com/reviews/art-ops-2/1900-4323/

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JACKED #1

4/5

http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-review/jacked-1-vertigo

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Jacked is a series that manages to be engaging despite the overly familiar nature of its premise. The series is basically a mash-up of Fight Club and Limitless, following a sad sack of a suburban family man who finds a chance to escape his midlife crisis thanks to a wonder drug that grants super-powers. This first issue hits a lot of predictable beats as it examines Josh Jaffe's miserable life, but the pacing and characterization are endearing enough to overcome those hurdles. As much as Josh is shown to be the architect of his own misery, and as obvious as it is that this new drug isn't the answer, it's hard not to root for the poor guy to become the hero he always wanted to be. Eric Kripke builds the foundation for a good, solid character arc to play out over the course of six issues. And he's aided significantly by the talented John Higgins. Probably best known for his work as colorist on Watchmen, Higgins both draws and colors this series. He brings a clean, orderly presentation to the page, but he also shows a willingness to play with form and color as Josh's is thrown for a loop by his burgeoning powers. -Jesse

7.6/10

IGN