The Helix Comic Book

 

Script and Lettering: Ryan O'Conner
Art and Colouring: Naomi Bolger
Running Series - Issue 1
Full Colour
The Helix is a self-published Irish comic book from two Dublin born debutant creators; Ryan O'Conner and Naomi Bolger. Set in California 2024, The Helix is about a group of teenage mutants (with the exception of Louise, the hyperactive cute 12 year old, with Telekinesis) all of which have their own unique powers.

The story is introduced with the group enjoying a nice day in the park, eating ice-cream and having a laugh. The day is suddenly interrupted by a really loud BOOM! Worried the group nominate Kyle the one with the looks, panache, flight and healing powers to go and investigate. He reluctantly agrees and this is where all the madness kicks in. The mutants encounter another group of super villain terrorists called Atom. Esper and Hellstrike who are literally blowing up the park in a fight with a mysterious character called Trident.

I finished reading it last night, and considering it is the creators' first published work it makes for a very enjoyable read. The artwork perfectly compliments the writing and the book is funny and intelligently put together. Atom is a really cool witty and careless villainess who immediately became one of my favourite characters. The style of the comic book seems to combine elements of Pokemon and manga with a European twist. It oozes innocent charm but in so doing it never becomes childish and is likely to appeal to teens and adults alike. I found it a little rushed for a first issue but enjoyed the content enough to look forward to the next issue.

The book contains some concept art from Naomi and some interesting character illustrations done by friends of the creators. This is a nice touch and in my opinion is a good technique by self-publisher to get the interest rolling before the book hits the shelves.
If you love independent and self-published comics, then The Helix definitely deserves a shot.  

The Helix is available from Forbidden Planet; Dublin.
For more info kindly go to http://wwwfacebook.com/thehelixcomic
Review by Charlene Bennett
Edited by Chris Le Galle 

 

Dez Skinn & Chris J Thompson to appear at Malta Comic Con!!

Innovator, Writer, Editor and Publisher Dez Skinn and

Pop Culture King Journalist Chris J Thompson Join the Impressive Guest Line up for Malta Comic Con 2012!

September 7th 2012, Malta

Wicked Comics the organisers of the annual Malta Comic Convention (MCC) and the promoters of comic culture world wide are proud to announce innovator, writer
editor and publisher Dez Skinn and pop culture king journalist Chris J. Thompson as their guests to the forthcoming MCC which this year is going to happen on
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012 at St. James Cavalier (all floors), Valletta between 10am and 6pm on both days.
With 42 years of experience in the comic industry and more awards and honours than one dares mention Dez Skinn influence on and contributions to the British comic landscape remains unrivalled. Often referred to as the British "Stan Lee",
Dez can best be described as one possessing the Midas touch. From IPC weeklies Buster, Whizzer & Chips and Cor!! to running Marvel UK and launching such titles as Doctor Who Weekly, Starburst – the world’s longest running SF & Fantasy Film Magazine, Hulk Comic and Hammer's House Of Horror, 16 years editing trade magazine Comics International, creating Warrior comics magazine and founding Quality Communications a vehicle responsible of launching properties such as V for Vendetta he created in 1982 and still steers to date, Dez has simply done it all! Also the author of two books; Comix: The Underground Revolution and Comic Art Now,

Dez is currently providing consultancy services to outside publishers, putting together the pilot issue for a new international comics magazine and co-writing a new feature film.

"Dez Skinn is a stalwart of the UK comics landscape, a publisher, an innovator and commentator. Without 'Warrior' magazine, which Dez created, there would have been no 'V for Vendetta', no reinvention of Miracle/Marvel Man. Groundbreaking creators such as Alan Moore and Alan Davis - amongst myriad others - might not have had the chance to find their unique voices enabling them to grow into the renowned creators they are today. 'Comics International' has similarly spotlighted new talent amongst its columns, features, news and reviews. A regular at comic conventions, Dez has more experience in the field than pretty much anybody else I know." Liam Sharp (Marvel/DC Comics) and MCC 2010 guest.



Chris J. Thompson is an internationally recognised comics retailer, journalist, podcaster and speaker who has attended and spoken at conventions across three continents including San Diego Comic Con where he has a yearly panel.


You can
hear him on The Orbiting Pod and Pop Culture Hound podcasts; see his work at First Comic News, Bleeding Cool and various other sites and follow him via Twitter
@popculturehound.

"Chris Thompson has been an avid supporter and permanent fixture in the MCC since 2010. During MCC 2011 Chris and fellow journalist Taylor Lilley virtually led all the talks, discussion panels and Q&A sessions, a role they will be reprising this year.

Through the various mediums he works in Chris is constantly assisting Wicked Comics and promoting the Malta Comic Con. With each visit to MCC Chris returns with a new stock of Maltese comic books to sell in England. On top of all this Chris always works closely with us, gives us sound advice and not only helps us secure some of the most esteemed guests but also helps us co-ordinate some of the most sought after activities during the convention. Throughout the years Chris has been an invaluable source of help, an inspiration in challenging times, an ambassador of both the MCC and Malta at large, and a great friend. This year we decide to invite him as
a guest as a small token of appreciation for all his sterling work. Simply put with out him the Malta Comic Con would not be the commendable and successful convention
it is today." Chris Le Galle co-founder of Wicked Comics.
Official Website:

http://www.maltacomic-con.com

For more information, additional images, press passes to the Malta Comic Con and interviews with Wicked Comics or our guests kindly contact Chris Le Galle on

chrislegalle@gmail.com

Be sure to check out the Malta Comic Con Website! Its amazing, I have learned of so many great comic creator's since I started to follow the site. Chris Le Galle and the Wicked Comics crew have done so much to support the Comic book industry its awh inspiring!!

Well hello everyone! My latest reads have all been brilliant and also All Comic Books!

Iv read 5 books in the past month, 3 being small press and Irish Independantly made.

Nestor issues #1 & #2 By Martin Greene and Writer Mike Lynch hit the shelves and online store Indy planet recently, Two fantastic issues with gorgeous illustration. Nestor is a Dublin City based comic book about a vampire who's seeking vengence for his girlfriend who he finds dead in their Dublin city home. Filled with hate and rage he sets out after the men who killed her only to find himself making more of a mess of things when he meets a girl named Sara. I cant give too much away because its a short story so I will leave it up to you to get the book and read it yourslves. I quite enjoyed both issues, I thought they were written very well and I think anyone who is into vampire's will really enjoy the version of vampire Martin has created.

The next book I read was Mark Millar's graphic novel Superior.
Superior is about a 12 year old boy named Simon Pooni who lives a normal life reading comic books and watching his hero Superior on the big screens and he is the best on his basketball team, until one day he gets diagnosed with multible sclerosis and he ends up in a wheelchair and goes blind in one eye. Simon prays every night to have his old life back. One night he gets visited by a talking monkey named Ormon who grants Simon his wish but turns him into Superior! All Ormon has to say to Simon is "All will be explained in one week" so without giving away anything, alot of crazy, funny and sad things happen throughout the course of this book but millar brings you on a great journey and really makes you feel for the character's.

Well in my last post I was talking about the release of Zombie's Hi #6 which came out the 20th of this month. ZH is also Irish made by a crew based in Derry Northern Ireland. This issue was featuring a surprise, something they never did in past issues so its worth seeking out. I read issue #6 a few days ago, Its brilliant, its coupled with a few short stories one being by the writer of Nestor Mike Lynch. All 3 stories are very well written and their really witty, funny and serious all rolled into one. There was a few different artists on bored like there always is in ZH and all of the art is amazing, there is so much talent that it's inspiring.

Last but not least was a really good graphic novel adapted from "The house of night series" By PC Cast and Kristen Cast called House of nght Legacy. It goes back a few books to were the main character Zoey Redbird first got marked and joined the House of Night school for Vampire fleglings. Zoey needs to learn about each of the elemental powers she possess's Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit before she can commit to her first ritual of the dark daughters. This book was really good, infact I enjoyed it so much I would love if they brought the whole series out in comic book form because I enjoyed the books but I found it was more entertaining with the illustration that compilmented it so well. But that's just my opinion. If your a House of Night fan then go get this book, you'll love it!

Well that's all for now I hope you enjoyed my rambling enough to want to read one of these stories and if you do then Happy reading!  :) I would also love to know what your thoughts are on any of these stories or any other story you've read, I'm always on the lookout for new things to read. Until next time Excelsior!



Zombies...

I'm sooo Happy to say that Zombie's Hi Issue 6 featuring Artist Anthony "Amazeballs" O'Neill and Writer Mike Lynch's story (The Heist) hits the shelves on the 20th of August!! It is also an honour to say that I will be featured as a Zombie on the last page and Anthony done an amazing job at making me and the rest of the story look gory, gooey and zombilicious! Pencils by Anthony,and inks by Joe Cambell.

The Heist By Mike Lynch
Art, Anthony O'Neill

Keep an eye out for this one!! The Zombie Hi crew have done an amazing job with these books there not worth missing out on!!

Well, Its been a while

I havent been on this part of the oul blog ina while because honestly I have bearly read a thing in the past couple of months due to glasses and the part were I have none so....I have one book to tell u about which is an old book that came out in 1984 Its called "The wasp factory" By Iain Banks

I'm actually just going to write the intro to the book which is on the back and let you guys see why I got interested straight away!

'Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different and more fundamental reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a year after that I did for my cousin Esmerelda, more or less on a whim. That's my score to date. Three. I haven't killed anybody for years, and I dont intend to ever again. It was just a stage I was going through.'

Well for me it was a very good and strange ride, I really couldnt tell where the author was going with this book which for me is good because I love mind boggling stories and, this was definitly one. I'm giving the book 9/10 and the reason I docked it one mark was because of the ending, Now it was good and very original and I also probably should have seen it coming but I kind of feel like it was lacking in some area.

Anyway if any of you guys have read it and care to give your opinion that would be great and if you havent read it yet you should pick up a copy!

America's Got powers comic-book

Howdy! My most recent read was a really good ones so I thought I would share it!

I read The very recently released comic book "America's got Powers" By Tv presenter Jonathan Ross and Marvel&DC artist Bryan Hitch.
Its a very original and gripping peice of work, the first page pulled me in, not only because B.H is an amazing illustrater but because jonathan ross is an excellent writer! I just read issue 1 of 6 The 2nd issue will be released in May.

This is my signed copy of the comic!

Edgar Allen Poe

Haya peoples... I have been sooo lazy the past couple of months! I haven't read many books at all just a couple of comic books,

But just recently I read my first ever Edgar Allen Poe short story "The Black Cat" And I have to be totally honest, it made me realise just how bullshit most of the crap I read really is!! Edgar had an amazing way of writing and I really wish there was more modern writers out there that are similar to him. (If anyone knows of any plz let me know i would really appreciate it!)

The black cat was intense, shocking and creepy I loved it! I also read his poem "The Raven" Last night and fell in love with it he was so cool I can imagen Vincent Price reading that out it would be awsome :)

Anyways thats all I have for now, There's not much point in reviewing the story because Poe is so old most people know his stuff already!