Following the success of Chrono Mechanics, veteran comic book creator Art Thibert is once again returning to his Image Comics roots with Black and White Volume 2 – Man Vs. Machine. A follow up to 2020’s Black and White (which we reviewed here), Man Vs. Machine is the 60-page conclusion to the origin story of the Black & White characters.
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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,
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We recently highlighted the comedy of Steve Inman, an internet funny man who makes light of tragic events by providing play-by-play voice over akin to a major sporting event. Whether he is voicing over politics, fist fights, or even violent riots, Inman’s sports announcer-type commentary is a great way to achieve cathartic release from otherwise distressing circumstances. Last time, we
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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
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Publisher Aksys Games recently announced Blazing Strike, an all-new 2D fighting game coming in spring 2022 to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Steam PC. Developed by RareBreed Makes Games, Blazing Strike is hoping to recapture the greatness of 90s arcade fighters. Here is the official breakdown of Blazing Strike from Aksys, followed by some screenshots of the game. Inspired by
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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
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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
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Publisher Deep Silver recently announced the reformation of Free Radical Design, the studio responsible for the TimeSplitters series, and that development of a new installment in the TimeSplitters franchise will begin “in the coming months.” Based in Nottingham, England, this new incarnation of Free Radical Design includes multiple members of the original team, including FRD founders Steve Ellis and David
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Independent comic book creator Aaron Calimeri launched a crowdfunding campaign for MRDR WPN, a 20-page project presented in glorious black and white. Co-written by Calimeri and Adam AF and featuring illustrations by Rafael Chrestani, MRDR WPN is described as “paramilitary biopunk action comic book.” Here’s the official plot synopsis taken from the MRDR WPN Indiegogo campaign page: While on a
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Welcome back to Monochrome May, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of all things colorless and achromatic! Today we’re going to review the black and white bargain buy, The Swan King. Published in 2020 by Alterna Comics as a “One-Dollar One-Shot”, The Swan King is a 19-page, standalone story written and illustrated by Wentland and lettered by Wes Locher. Set in the
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Less than a day remains in the ABSOLUTE. Book 2 crowdfunding campaign by Unhinged Entertainment. Created by Jason Bascom, ABSOLUTE. is a stylish fantasy adventure presented in black and white. The project is already fully funded, so now all Bascom has to worry about is the stretch goals and fulfillment. Piece of cake, right? Here’s the pitch taken from the
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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
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Publisher Curve Digital recently announced that Neon Giant’s cyberpunk-inspired shooter RPG The Ascent is scheduled to release on 29 July for Steam PC, Xbox One, and SeXbox. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass on day one. You can check out The Ascent’s latest trailer below followed by the breakdown of the game from Curve Digital. The Ascent
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Today, I’m unboxing Crusade Comics’ Shi Haikyo by Billy Tucci, Steven Peros and Gardenio Lima. We reviewed the first crowdfunded Shi book, Return of the Warrior in December (spoilers: we liked it), so hopefully Haikyo maintains the same level of quality. You can check out the Shi Haikyo unboxing video below. I appreciate all feedback – positive, constructive, or colorful.
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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
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After a strong post-release push, Rise Again Comics’ Monster M.D. finally reached the blessed “six figures” milestone, raising more than $100k via Indiegogo. Monster M.D. creator Von Klaus made the announcement via social media, where he thanked his backers and fans. Written by Klaus and illustrated by Marco Maccagni, Monster M.D. is a mature but lighthearted take on several classic
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SNK and developer TiMi Studios recently released the first gmaeplay trailer for Metal Slug Code: J (title tentative), a new installment in the classic arcade action franchise developed specifically for mobile (that’d be iOS & Android). A release date has yet to be announced, but the trailer looks promising so far… if TiMi can work out a mobile control scheme
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Over the weekend, the Indiegogo campaign for Indie Volt Revolt ended successfully, having raised 193% of its original funding goal. Created to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Indie Volt podcast network, Indie Volt Revolt is a 100+ page anthology featuring the work of over two dozen artists. One of the more unique aspects of the book (in addition to
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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
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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
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On Friday, renowned comic book creator Ethan Van Sciver announced that his independent publishing house ALL CAPS Comics would be publishing future books by Richard C. Meyer, including the yet untitled Jawbreakers 4. Meyer and his own venture, Splatto Comics, currently have several books in the hopper awaiting fulfillment (including the third Jawbreakers book, Grand Bizarre). The ALL CAPS publishing
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XSEED Games has confirmed that the western release for Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed is now scheduled for 20 July 2021, exactly two months following the Japanese release. Standard editions of the game will be available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC (via Steam, GOG and the Humble Store) for $39.99. There are also multiple special editions of the
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There are only a few days remaining to back issue one of Secret Comics Presents, a 22-page horror anthology book published by- you guessed it- Secret Comics. Written by Nasser Rabadi (Stardust, ASYL) and featuring illustrations by Jason Robinson (Spawn), Secret Comics Presents includes four separate tales of terror presented with stark black and white artwork. Here’s the official pitch
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Top Secret Press recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Sword of Justice issue 3, the final part of the three-issue miniseries. Written and illustrated by Silvio Spotti and featuring colors by Veronica Lopez, Sword of Justice is a sci-fi/fantasy adventure set in the distant future. Here’s the official plot synopsis taken from the Sword of Justice Kickstarter campaign page: Backers
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SNK Corporation recently shared the latest character reveal trailer for The King of Fighters XV, this time featuring Leona Heidern (voiced by Seiko Yoshida). A member of Ikari Warriors Team and adopted daughter of team leader Heidern, Leona has been a KoF mainstay since her first appearance in King of Fighters 96. You can check out the Leona Heidern reveal
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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
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As part of the Digital Dragons ‘Indie Celebration’ showcase, game publisher Digerati Digital recently announced that a free demo for Severed Steel is now available to download and play via Steam. Severed Steel is a highly stylized first person shooter (FPS) featuring “bullet time” slow motion sequences, a stunt system, and destructible voxel environments. The demo includes: Six arcade mode
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Game publisher Eastasiasoft recently announced that retro-inspired, twin-stick shooter Trigger Witch is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and SeXBox in summer 2021. The game will be available via each respective platform’s digital storefront, as well as in physical format thanks to PlayAsia. Developed by New Zealand studio Rainbite, Trigger Witch is set in a world “where magic
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Veteran animator John Celestri recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Bloodwing Angel, a 52-page graphic novel that began life as web comic. Written and illustrated by Celestri (He-Man, The Star Wars Christmas Special), Bloodwing Angel is a supernatural fantasy inspired by the book of Job (it’s in the Bible, ya’ heathens!). Here’s the official pitch taken from the Bloodwing Angel
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Spike Chunsoft recently announced that they are hard at work developing a new action RPG based on the manga Made in Abyss. Titled Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, the game will be available for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Steam PC sometime in 2022. The storyline will include a faithful adaptation of the original manga, as well as
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