Crowdfunding Review: “The Cryptidnals” (656 Comics, Monochrome May Special)
A review of the crowdfunded campaign “The Cryptidnals” by 656 Comics.
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Comic Review: “In Our Dreams Awake” Issue 1
The Kickstarter campaign for John McGuire’s In Our Dreams Awake issue 1 (here) is now in its final days of funding.* The book is a blend of multiple genres and art styles, all tied together by the broader themes of love and questioning reality. The story of In Our Dreams Awake follows Jason Byron, a man who falls asleep in
Read moreTaking Modern Video Game Rating Systems to Task (Opinion)
Avid SEGA/Sonic fan and friend of the site Zealous FoX has never been one to pull punches when it comes to expressing his opinion on gaming. He recently unleashed a righteous tirade targeting modern game rating regimes (both the ESRB and Pegi), and we at The Splintering felt like it was worth posting in its entirety here (with permission, of
Read moreReview: “Taito Milestones” (Nintendo Switch)
No Arkanoid, no Bubble Bobble, no Space Invaders, no Darius… How does one create a Taito Milestones arcade collection without those games? While some are available on other collections, it’s very strange to have a collection of classic, 1980s Taito arcade games without them (Fully acknowledging that the original Space Invaders was released in the 70s). Instead, Taito Milestones (published
Read moreReview: “Flat Kingdom: Paper’s Cut Edition” (Xbox)
Originally created thanks to crowdfunding, Fat Panda Games’ 2D platformer Flat Kingdom: Paper’s Cut Edition is making the jump from PC to consoles thanks to publisher Ratalaika Games.* The eternal battle between 2D and 3D has come to the peaceful Flat Kingdom. Now a brave warrior named Flat must venture into unfamiliar 3D landscapes to collect six magical jewels, rescue
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Absolute” by Jason Bascom
Today we’ll be reviewing the crowdfunded comic book campaign Absolute Book 2 by Jason Bascom.
Read moreRetro Review: “Streets of Rage 2” And Why It Sucks
Streets of Rage 2. Geez, what a joke. I know a lot of you SEGA dorks out there just love your Streets of Rage 2. I myself still have my original Genesis cartridge as a relic from the 16-bit console wars, but I have to tell you, it’s not as good as you remember. Don’t believe me? Come along, friends, and
Read moreReview: “Star-Spangled Squadron” Issue 1 (Ascendant Comics)
What started in 2020 as a table top role-playing game, the Ascendant Universe has now graduated to the esteemed medium of comic books. Do you sense sarcasm? Maybe. Certainly modern comics have fallen far from their heights decades ago, but thankfully for you, dear reader, Ascendent Comics’ first book Star-Spangled Squadron (which is now crowdfunding via Indiegogo here) isn’t trying
Read moreReview: Rob Arnold’s “Replicator” Issue 3 Drops from Down Under
With shipping delays from Down Under, the third installment of Rob Arnold’s action-packed Replicator series has finally landed in US backers’ hands. I received my perks weeks ago, packaged in the Aussie version of a Gemini mailer and sealed with Arnold’s trademark, black wax embossed logo with a metallic skull. Being new to the series, I backed the featured catch-up
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Ed Gein: Demon Hunter” Issue 1 (Reload Comics)
Indie comics is a place where people can create books based on many different subjects, far beyond the common fare of superheroes and vigilantes. Lucifer Storm is one such writer that has some interesting ideas, as evidenced by his first campaign, Lady Satan: An Angel in a Killer Dress, where the main character is a stripper who turns vigilante to
Read moreReview: “Moto Roader MC“ (PS4)
In gaming eras immemorial, there was a little console known as the TurboGrafx-16 (aka the PC Engine outside of the United States). Despite never gaining much traction in the West, the PC Engine was a strong 16-bit contender in Japan. Among the well-regarded RPGs and shoot ’em ups (or shooters, as we called them back then) that graced the TG-16,
Read moreReview-ish: Joe M. Sonntag’s “Reaper Destroyer” (Superior Press)
Joe M. Sonntag took a page out of Sean Ahrendt’s playbook and participated in a “trunk sale” to crowdfund his Reaper Destroyer ashcan. People who wanted to get a comic con-style preview of his upcoming crowdfunded venture were asked to reach out to him via one of his social media accounts to order one. After paying $20 (shipping included) this
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Ultra Star” (Riot Press Productions)
Ultra Star was the first issue of a solo-owned IP that Parnell decided to bring to crowdfunding, and is the first campaign of Patrick Thomas Parnell’s that I have backed. He has done four previous campaigns surrounding his Johnny Phantasm IP, for which he is the co-creator and artist. Johnny Phantasm’s abstract art style and Beetlejuice-meets-Scarface story never really appealed
Read moreComic Review: “Black Bishop” (Evoluzione Publishing)
Who will win the game of spies, superheroes and assassins? Today we’re going to take a look at Black Bishop, at 32-page one-shot comic published by Evoluzione. Some story spoilers will follow! Written and created by Marcel Dupree, co-written by Guido Martinez and illustrated by Gaurav Shrivastava, Black Bishop is an action-packed spy adventure set in a world where governments and
Read moreRemembering Comic Book Creator Marshall Rogers On His Birthday, January 22
Remembering Comic Book Creator Marshall Rogers On His Birthday, January 22
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Alien Alamo” (Compass Comics)
Today we’ll be reviewing the crowdfunded comic book campaign Alien Alamo by Compass Comics.
Read moreRetro Review: “Psycho Dream” (Super Famicom)
Good day, fellow psychos. Today we’re going to take a look at Psycho Dream, a side-scrolling action game developed by Riot and published by Telenet in 1992 for the Nintendo Super Famicom (aka the Super Nintendo in the US). Psycho Dream is set in a sci-fi inspired alternate reality, one where a new form of entertainment known as “D-Movies” have
Read moreScratching the Surface With Mavrs: Politics in Manga
When you write a story that is so blatantly political, one with the express intent of pushing propaganda on an audience, can you really blame a reader for avoiding it? Recently Screenrant published an opinion piece discussing how manga has always had political connotations. I – for one -had no idea that a story could be political or that an
Read moreThrowback Review: “Dark Nemesis – New Year’s Evil” (DC Comics, Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s celebration of all things gold, frankincense and myrrh. Written by Dan Jurgens and featuring artwork by CrissCross (aka Chris Williams), the book is part of DC Comics’ “New Year’s Evil” event of late 1997/early 1998, which was a loosely knit set of tie-in books that highlighted some of the biggest DC villains, like
Read moreBacklog Review: “Hieronymous Bash” (Xbox 360/Xbox Live Indie Games, Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome back to The Splintering’s Jolly Jinglings holiday event! Nothing is more to foundational to the Christmas season than the war between heaven and hell, so today we’re going to take a look at a little-known indie game from the Xbox Live Indie Game (XBLIG) catalogue, Hieronymous Bash! The Lord’s heavenly hosts have descended from on high… to unleash a
Read moreReview: “LionMan” (POW! Comics)
Lions and hyenas and public schools, Oh my! Written and illustrated by Rick Hannah, LionMan is a 50-page fantasy graphic novel with a supernatural hero that feels like a blend of Etrigan the Demon and Black Panther… and a bit of Shazam, too… at what point does the “Blank meets blank” go too far? (Probably when you have to ask,
Read moreReview: “Jingle Belle: The Fight Before Christmas” (Dark Horse Comics, Jolly Jingling Special)
Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s holiday celebration of all things yuletide cheer! Today, we’re going to look at Jingle Belle: The Fight Before Christmas, a three-story anthology one-shot published by Dark Horse Comics in 2005. Some spoilers will follow. For those unaware of the character, Jingle Belle Kringle is a playful blonde teenage elf. She also happens to
Read moreReview: “Clockwork Aquario” (PlayStation 4)
Guess which video game now holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of “longest time between a video game project start and final release?” Okay, that’s an easy one since we’re reviewing the game, but yes, it’s Westone Bit’s Clockwork Aquario, which began development in 1991 as an arcade game, and is now finally being released for the Nintendo
Read moreReview: “6Souls” (Nintendo Switch)
Sometime I wonder if I’m getting too old for this s#!+… Last week, Ratalaika Games released 6Souls for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, SeXbox and Steam PC. Developed by BUG-Studio, 6Souls is a 2D platformer with challenging level design and retro-inspired aesthetics.* 6Souls begins as Jack and his faithful dog Butch set off to do some treasure hunting
Read moreReview: “Scary Christmas” (American Mythology Productions, Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome back to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things merry and bright! Today, we’re going to take a look at Scary Christmas issue 1, a black and white anthology comic published by American Mythology Productions in 2019. It covers all kinds of joyous and cheerful Christmas themes, such as ultra-violence, naked ladies, cannibalism, you know – wholesome
Read moreReview: “Black Friday” (Scout Comics, Jolly Jinglings Special)
Welcome to Jolly Jinglings, The Splintering’s holiday celebration of all things merry and bright! Today, we’re going to kick off the season by taking a look at Black Friday, a three-issue miniseries written and colored by Jon Clark, illustrated by Travis Williamson and published by Scout Comics.* There will be light spoilers ahead. Black Friday is named for the Friday
Read moreReview: “Faraday Protocol” (Nintendo Switch)
Have you ever been to an escape room? Did you like it? Do you kind of wish you could do an escape room with the use of an electric gun that can be used to solve various puzzles need to overcome in order to escape? If so, then Faraday Protocol is right up your alley!* The basic premise of Faraday
Read moreHow Editorial Interference at DC Diminished One of the Finest Pages of Comic Book Art Upon Publishing
The story of how the final splash page of Spectre #20 was altered and ultimately diminished due to editorial interference.
Read moreReview: “Gynoug” (PS4)
Ratalaika Games has been on a roll with their efforts to introduce old-school shooters to modern audiences. Following October’s release of Gleylancer, Ratalaika is once again tapping the 16-bit archive to bring Gynoug (aka Wings of Wor in the US) back to life.* Originally released in 1991 for SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, Gynoug is a horizontal shoot ’em up that blends elements
Read moreReview: “Panorama Cotton” (Nintendo Switch)
*Disclosure: A copy of Panorama Cotton was provided to The Splintering for the purposes of this review. With that disclosure out of the way, I would like to now say, “THANK YOU” to ININ Games for the review copy of Panorama Cotton! I enjoyed the heck out of this game! I guess I spoiled the outcome of this review up
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