Review: Brain Boy #2

I continue to enjoy Brain Boy.  I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: I love myself a superhero story!  This series continues to be a lovely blend of humor and kick-ass psychic action in classic superhero style.

Actually, I feel like this is the first issue that really embraces that classic form of humor.  Brian Boy #1 had a very different spirit to its humor, it was more snide, dry and sarcastic.  This had more of a one-liner feel to the jokes.  There is nothing wrong dry humor, I rather like it, but for something which grew out of a 1960’s comic it doesn’t feel right.  However, I am a little off put by the change in tone.  I don’t know, maybe it won’t feel so awkward when next to one another in a volume.

I really like the progression in this story.  We start off where the last issue ended with Brain Boy faced with a psychic, possibly more powerful than he and by the time the issue ends, he’s facing a threat of a very different nature.  In the mean time, we see a glimpse of his relationship with the closest thing he has to family, and meet the mysterious Faraday.  There are some comic writers that I am consistently impressed with how much content, and even more the variety of content, some writers can work into 24 pages.

The art still strikes me.  Maybe this just a continuation of my love for superheroes, but it’s the powers that always get me.  Psychic powers are, in theory, unseen, so an artist is given a chance to depict them as they please.  As such, every artist draws them differently and personally I think R. B. Silva does a great job.  It’s nothing groundbreaking or unique, but a number of good choices were made.

I definitely recommend this comic, $2.99, as most comics are.  If you didn’t read the beginning I suggest you go and snag it too.  I’m already looking forward to the next issue, but a little sad knowing that it will end this story.  But what’s this?  A Brain Boy #0 approaches?  Huzzah!

Matthew Bryant, a.k.a. Baker Street Holmes, is a writer and the lead editor for the Red Shirt Crew.  If he could have any superpower, he would want retractable wings.  Then he would go troll the Vatican.  You ca follow him on Twitter at @BStreetHolmes or email him at HMCrazySS@gmail.com.

Review: Brain Boy #1

I’ve been a fan of Brain Boy since he first reappeared in Dark Horse Presents #23 (he had a brief, 6 issue run with Dell Comics in the ’60s) and was pleasantly surprised to see that this month saw the start of a three issue story just about him!  I was not disappointed, and am already antsy to get my hands on the next issue.

I’ve commented before, but I am a sucker for a superhero.  Growing up, I always wanted super powers (Hell, if someone out there knows how I can get some now, send me an email to the address at the bottom).  But unfortunately, reading through Dark Horse Presents issues has yielded few supers.  It did however give me Brain Boy and I have been loving it ever since.

Matt Price is a psychic.  A powerful one.  Because of this ability, he has been trained by Albright Industries and contracted out to the United States Secret Service.  But sometimes, sometimes it goes wrong (actually, every time we get a story arch, because if everything went according to plan, it wouldn’t be very interesting, now would it?)

This issue, more so than the Dark Horse Presents short series, touches on Price’s life as a psychic.  He is bored by people and approaches them arrogantly, because they can’t surprise him.  Usually.  We see some of the over-confidence in this issue.  Honestly, the idea of a super hero being either a super nice guy, or a gruff antihero is to rough for my tastes, and I prefer the character in the middle.

I really liked this issue, and it makes me really excited for issues 2 and 3.  At least two other supers to deal with, and they’ve both bested him once a piece already.  If you are a superhero fan, check it out, it’s fantastic and totally worth getting for $2.99.

Matthew Bryant, a.k.a. Baker Street Holmes, is the lead editor and a writer for the Red Shirt Crew.  If you are offering superpowers, he would prefer retractable wings or magic, but will accept powers of all kinds.  Unless they would cause him to die, like only being able to breathe in a mercury rich environment or the ability to remove his head, but not protecting him from bleeding out when it happens.  You can follow him on Twitter at @BStreetHolmes or email him at HMCrazySS@gmail.com.

RSC Podcast with Trilbee

This week on the Red Shirt Crew Podcast, MaristPlayBoy and BakerStreetHolmes are joined by special guest Trilbee from Trilbee Reviews! Listen in as they discuss the EA Sim City debacle, piracy, superhero movies, Orson Scott Card, the PS4, and the future of pretty much everything we cover on this site. Enjoy!

Trilbee is a hat wearing pop culture critic and reviews media on Geekvision.tv and Youtube. Follow him on Twitter at @TrilbeeReviews and subscribe to him on Youtube.

Chase Wassenar, aka MaristPlayBoy, is the Lead Editor and Founder of the RSC. You can read his other articles at ToyTMA, follow him on Twitter at @RedShirtCrew, or email him at theredshirtcrew@gmail.com. 

Matthew Bryant, aka Baker Street Holmes, is an editor for the Red Shirt Crew.  You can follow Matthew on twitter at @BStreetHolmes or e-mail him at HMCrazySS@gmail.com.