I was going to do a review of the demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum, but getting screeshots to keep the article from looking boring was more trouble that it was worth. No screeshot button that I know of, and does anybody know how I can hear sounds easily when every screen recorder program I tried insists I don’t have a “sound device”, even when the promo says it records the same sound that comes out of the speakers? I really wish my old computer hadn’t crapped out on me.
So the webcomic I planned to do next week shall be done this week instead. The Action Age Comics folks just put out the final part of their new welcome addition to the multiverse, so it’s time to grab you fish and chips and head for jolly old England. (Unless you’re already there, in which case how do you people stand living your very own Truman Show 24/7? Oh, and thanks for Doctor Who.) Tonight I bring you intrigue, danger, action, panties, and things that go boom as only the Action Age can bring you. Click the logo below to check out…
Look, kids, COLOR! It’s about time one of the titles I’m interested in was in color. My previous enjoyment from this group were Impossible (which I’ve reviewed in the Showcase before) and Danger Ace (reviewed back on Free Comic Book Day, since that’s when they dropped it). Those were both black-and-white except for the cover. Now we get some glorious color from Steve Downer, and it’s oh so pretty.
That's right, you're going on vacation, which usually means you'll fight evil without pay.
Written by Chris Sims of The Invincible Super Blog, Woman of A.C.T.I.O.N deviates from his previous Action Age title, The Chronicles of Solomon Stone, with its lack of monsterness. Not really into the monster thing, but British spies like Penelope Devlin I can get behind.
…
I should rephrase that. But I won’t.
If you take this story seriously, not only will you not “get it”, but you’ll miss the whole point of the Action Age project. These comics are designed to be action packed fun cookies, and they taste like chocolate. OK, the metaphor sort of broke down near the end, but that’s pretty much the Action Age.
"Yes, I know what my name...oh."
Penny Devlin (don’t call her “Dreadful” if you value your remaining kidneys) is a great character. She’s like a female James Bond, back when it was fun, but she doesn’t sleep with anyone in this story, so maybe nothing like James Bond. I don’t know; I don’t do the “spy” thing that often. Penny has a great personality and artist Chris Piers makes her the sexy kind of dangerous.
To be drawn as Matt Smith in issue #2?
You have to love her brother, Ricky Devlin, Man of A.C.T.I.O.N.. Sure, he’s a bigger British spy stereotype than Austin Powers, but with better teeth and a lot more fun. Also doesn’t sleep with anyone. Does Sims even know what a British spy does? Saves the world with neat secret gadgets, and sleeps around. Don’t you watch movies? Oh, and he’s “played” by Doctor Who‘s soon to be regenerated out star, David Tennant. He and Bentley so need a spin-off comic.
He once crocheted his own WMD.
And what about the names we have here. The “Advanced Counter-Terrorist Intelligence and Operations Network”. What a name. And while I’m not sure what D.E.A.T.H. is short for, the only name more fitting comes from the chief agent we meet, Dr. Killswitch. How the James Bond people ever missed out on that name I’ll never know. Not to mention the evil plot involved. It’s brilliant (as a story) in it’s stupidity (as an evil plan).
Don’t miss out on checking these preliminary sketches for Penny, the not-so-good Doctor, and the underling uniform.
While I wish they’d get some classic superheroing in this thing, the Action Age Comics people are still successful at their goal; fun action stories with great characters and making the wackiest things possible work in the story. I’m betting you’ll see more of these creators reviewed in the Saturday Night Showcase.
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