Crowdfunding Review: “Xenozoic” by Mark Schultz (Monochrome May Special)
A crowdfunding review of Xenozoic by Mark Schultz
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Scams, Damned Scams, and Crowdfunding – When Creators Fail to Communicate
Today marks a thousand days since backers of Zoe Quinn’s Project Tingle received an update on the game. Having raised over $85 thousand from over two thousand backers via Kickstarter, the all-but-canceled full motion video adventure game was originally scheduled to deliver in February 2017, and the last update to backers was sent on 30 August 2018. This is certainly
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Starblades” (Kyle Ritter, ALL CAPS Comics)
As a new contributor to The Splintering, my first order of business is to thank them for giving me the opportunity to review the greatest entertainment medium in my opinion, comic books. I’ve collected comics for over 47 years and I’ve published comics for 6 years. It’s a long-time passion of mine (some might say obsession, and I can’t dispute
Read moreSit DOWN Sunday Comic Book News Livestream – 27 May 2021 Edition
On the latest installment of Sit DOWN Sunday (hosted on Patrick Thomas Parnell’s YouTube channel Riot Press Productions), The Splintering founder Blake Worrell got another chance to discuss recent comic book news with Parnell and The Splintering’s own George Travlos. This week, we discussed the latest news on Parnell’s Ultra Star campaign, the next chapter in Diamond Comics Distribution drama,
Read moreSmall Packages – Good Things? Meet “Mini-Comic Bundles” (Interview, Monochrome May Special)
In late 2020, independent comic book creators Aaron Guzman and Jason Alexander launched a monthly subscription service for Mini-Comic Bundles, collections of miniaturized comics small enough to put in your pocket. We were fortunate enough to get a chance to discuss this unique project with both creators. As always, the answers below are represented as closely to “as written” as possible
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Maverix: Decimation” (NTM Comics)
I am making my debut venture into comic book reviews with Maverix: Decimation. I am new to crowdfunding comics and comics in general, but have enthusiastically jumped in and backed 30 campaigns to date. Maverix: Decimation is the first comic book that I have received from any of the campaigns that I have backed in the last 6 months. Coincidentally, this
Read moreReview: “Black and White Remastered” (Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to The Splintering’s Monochrome May event! Today we’re cheating a bit on the whole “Monochrome” thing to feature Black and White Remastered, a completely redrawn and enhanced version of Art Thibert’s superhero comics originally published in the mid-90s by Image and made possible today by a successful crowdfunding campaign.*Written and illustrated by Art Thibert and co-written by Taylor
Read moreRetro Review: “Mortal Kombat” (Nintendo Game Boy, Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to Monochrome May, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of black and white entertainment! Given the recent release of the latest Mortal Kombat feature film, we thought we’d take this opportunity to look at another abysmal MK abortion in the form of Mortal Kombat for the Nintendo Game Boy! Released by Acclaim on September 13, 1993 (aka “Mortal Monday“), the
Read moreUnder the Radar: “Dark Horse Presents” #1 – The First Appearance of Concrete (Monochrome May Special)
Welcome to a special Monochrome May edition of Under the Radar, a segment where we spotlight comic books that don’t have the widespread attention of the comic book community that they should. Today, we’ll be looking at the black and white comic book Dark Horse Presents #1, which not only launched the flagship anthology series from Dark Horse Comics, but
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “More Lethal” (King Toad Comics, Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to Monochrome May, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things chiaroscuro! Today we’ll be reviewing the crowdfunded action/sci-fi comic book More Lethal by King Toad Comics. For those of you not familiar with the “crowdfunding review” format, we grade a crowdfunding campaign on four distinct categories: Book Content and Quality Communication and Fulfillment Packaging and Shipping Stretch Goals
Read moreSit DOWN Sunday Comic Book News Livestream – 16 May 2021 Edition
On the latest installment of Sit DOWN Sunday (hosted on Patrick Thomas Parnell’s YouTube channel Riot Press Productions), The Splintering founder Blake Worrell got another chance to discuss recent comic book news with Parnell and The Splintering’s own George Travlos. This week, we discussed the latest news on Parnell’s Ultra Star campaign, Starlight Cats creator Shane Davis joined in to
Read moreReview: “Winter War” (Caliber Comics – Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to The Splintering’s Monochrome May event! Today we’re featuring Winter War, a 99-page, historically-based graphic novel published by Caliber Comics in 2014 that collects issues 1-4 of the original miniseries.* Spoilers ahead! Winter War covers the conflict between Soviet Russia and Finland during the winter of 1939-1940. Scripted and penciled by Kurt Belcher, Winter War ventures into rare
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “ASYL” (Secret Comics, Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to Monochrome May, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of everything black, white, and gray in between! Today we’ll be reviewing the crowdfunded vampire horror comic book ASYL by Secret Comics. For those of you not familiar with the “crowdfunding review” format, we grade a crowdfunding campaign on four distinct categories: Book Content and Quality Communication and Fulfillment Packaging and
Read moreBacklog Review: “Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition” (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC – Monochrome May Special)
Welcome back to The Splintering’s Monochrome May event! Today we’re going to pick apart Bracket Games’ Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition, a visual novel for the Nintendo Switch.Three Fourths Home tells the story of a young woman named Kelly who is talking to her family members over a cell phone as she drives to their home. If that doesn’t sound
Read moreSit DOWN Sunday Comic Book News Livestream – 2 May 2021 Edition
On the latest installment of Sit DOWN Sunday (hosted on Patrick Thomas Parnell’s YouTube channel Riot Press Productions), The Splintering founder Blake Worrell got another chance to discuss recent comic book news with Parnell and The Splintering’s own George Travlos. This week, we discussed the latest news on Parnell’s Ultra Star campaign, The Splintering’s Monochrome May event, plus a slew
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Only Death Can Save Us” (Russ Leach)
Crowdfunding review of Only Death Can Save Us – Book One: Keystone by Russ Leach
Read moreSit DOWN Sunday Comic Book News Livestream 25 April 2021 Edition
On the latest installment of Sit DOWN Sunday (hosted on Patrick Thomas Parnell’s YouTube channel Riot Press Productions), The Splintering founder Blake Worrell got another chance to discuss recent comic book news with Parnell and War Party creator Justin Murphy and Lumina Vhox creator José Garcia. This week, we discussed the Spring ComicsGate art auction, the modern state of comic
Read moreTop Ten Crossover Storylines in Comic Book History
What is a comic book crossover storyline? Well, it’s a comic book story that travels through at least two (but often more) different titles. For example, the classic Avengers/Defenders War took place between the two titles during the 1970s and is still talked about to this day by loyal fans. A crossover could also have one centric title, with several
Read moreCrowdfunding Review: “Monster M.D.” (Rise Again Comics)
Just what the doctor ordered, or a prescription for disaster?
Read moreLooking Back at Red Valkyrie’s First “Underground Art Auction” (Interview)
As packages of original art continue to arrive at homes across the country – nay, the world – we are reminded that two weeks ago something very special happened. The first (of many) “Underground Art Auctions” was hosted via livestream on the Red Valkyrie YouTube channel, forever opening up a new avenue for artists to seek exposure and make a
Read more“Black Sun” Creator Joseph Abbott Talks Samurai, Myth, and Learning From Past Failures (Interview)
Independent comic book creator Joseph Abbott recently launched his second Indiegogo campaign, this time for Black Sun, a samurai action adventure featuring creatures from Japanese legend. We were fortunate enough to get a chance to discuss his campaign, which is available to support here. As always, the answers below are represented as closely to “as written” as possible with only minimal edits. The Splintering:
Read more“BEARDZZERKER” Creator Don Chin Talks Heavy Metal, Keanu, and What He Really Thinks of Millennials! (Interview)
Veteran comic book creator and Parody Press founder Don Chin recently launched his second Indiegogo campaign, this time for BEARDZZERKER, a parody of Boom Studios’ BRZRKR book featuring Keanu Reeves. We were fortunate enough to get a chance to discuss his campaign, which is still available to support here. As always, the answers below are represented as closely to “as written” as possible with
Read moreComic Review: “White Ash Presents – Glarien” (Scout Comics)
First off, it admittedly took me a bit longer than I would have like to finish this review, but White Ash Presents: Glarien is a one-shot issue, so it’s not like we’re two or three issues behind, or anything. Thank God for the little things. The issue is based on the White Ash universe created by Charlie Stickney several years
Read moreRetro Review: The Death and Return of Superman (SEGA Genesis, Easter Special)
It’s that time of year again. The time when we believers all take a step back and remember the sacrifice. We remember the selflessness. We remember the death and resurrection of our lord and savior, Superman, the last son of Krypton.
Read moreAbout That Review…
While we here at The Splintering try to have fun and embrace escapism as much as possible, sometimes we may go too far and miss the mark. Following our retro review of Captain America and the Avengers for SEGA Genesis, we received literally tens and tens of messages of concern from our readers. Literally. You see, in the text of
Read moreMel Allen Takes Mythology to the Cosmos in “Nephilim Squadron” (Interview)
Independent comic book creator Mel (Hex) Allen recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Nephilim Squadron, a full color, science-fiction fantasy epic inspired by ancient mythology. He also has an e-mail sign-up list for his next project (here), a collected edition of all of the Nephilim Squadron books so far. We were fortunate enough to get a chance to discuss his
Read moreSit DOWN Sunday Comic Book News Livestream – 28 March 2021 Edition
On the latest installment of Sit DOWN Sunday (hosted on Patrick Thomas Parnell’s YouTube channel Riot Press Productions), The Splintering founder Blake Worrell got another chance to discuss recent comic book news with Parnell and Mermaids creator Adam Post. This week, we discussed Marvel leaving Diamond Comic Distributors, Netflix’s plans to produce a series based on Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR comic,
Read morePixel to Cel: “Fatal Fury – The Motion Picture”
And, we’re back! Last time in Pixel to Cel, I covered two early 90s OVAs (Original Video Animations) that were packaged together by Viz in 1999 as Double Impact covering the first two installments of the Fatal Fury video game franchise. This time, we’re roaring out the gate with Fatal Fury The Motion Picture (1994), released by Viz to the
Read moreRetro Review: “Superman” (SEGA Genesis)
To celebrate this week’s release of Justice League: the Snyder Cut on HBO, we’re polluting cramming The Splintering chock full of content for Justice League-related games. In consideration of high political tensions in the United States, we’re also going to attempt to make this review 100% politics-free. Without further ado, let’s see how truth, justice, and the American way fare
Read moreJake Adams Thrashes Onto Indiegogo with “Cobalt”
It is becoming increasingly popular for critics to focus on the topic of “accessibility” in entertainment. I often hear detractors demanding that works of fiction be made more accessible to very specific focus groups while simultaneously disparaging them for failing to appeal to broadly diverse audiences. I find it quite ironic that the modern media, obsessed with reducing whole casts
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