Action Lab: Danger Zone Christmas comics for adults!

Looking for an adult Christmasy comic? Check out Action Lab Entertainment!

(Action Lab Danger Zone has some Kids Christmasy comics. You can check them out here.)

Sleigher: The Heavy Metal Santa Claus TPB

December 20, 2016

Writer(s): Rob Harrington
Artist Name(s): Axur Eneas (Art), Alessandro Alessi (Colors), Chas! Pangburn (Letters)
Cover Artist(s): Axur Eneas
128 pages

Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment

This is Spinal Tap meets a Rankin/Bass Christmas special!

The ultimate holiday tale for metalheads! Sleigher is the most recent heir of the “Santa Claus” mantle... even if it's not really his bag. He'd rather slam back bourbon than glasses of milk, and blast metal instead of carols. But when a long forgotten member of Santa's rogues gallery rears his ugly head to reap chaos and destruction, Sleigher may have found his true calling---dishing out a holiday ass whoopin!!!

Collects issues #1-4 of the high-octane holiday series!

Amazon-comiXology

 

Zombie Tramp Does the Holidays Paperback

May 10, 2016

Writer(s): Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin, Dean Rankine
Artist Name(s): Marcelo Trom, Dean Rankine
Cover Artist(s): Marcelo Trom
96 pages

Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment

Zombie Tramp is a special gal, she’s a zombie but she’s still got her brains, and supernatural powers too! So she recently had her own series of specials, where the undead queen made her way through the holidays many know and love one by one, in her unique style. And now you can collect all of those twisted tales in one special book!!

Special Notes:
Collects the three holiday specials, plus the hard to find short story from Itty Bitty Bunnies In Rainbow Pixie Candy Land!

Amazon

You can see some preview pages here (they are a little to risque to post ;)
https://goo.gl/K1s9tr

Comic Review: VAMPBLADE SEASON 2 #12 from Action Lab-Danger Zone

VAMPBLADE SEASON 2 #12

Writer(s): Jason Martin

Artist Name(s): Winston Young

February 21, 2018
24 pages

Publisher: Action Lab - Danger Zone

32 pgs./ M / FC

$4.99

Cover A – Winston Young Regular Cover (unlimited) 

Cover B – Winston Young Risqué Variant (limited to 2000)

Cover C – Tony Fleecs Artist Variant (limited to 1500)

Cover D – Tony Fleecs Artist Risqué (limited to 2000)

Cover E – Dan Mendoza Variant (limited to 1500)

Cover F – Dan Mendoza Risqué (limited to 2000)

It’s the climax of season two and even with Katie fighting alongside The Intergalactic Cross-Dimensional League of Vampblades, it’s unclear whether they’ll be enough to save Earth. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to take… all the blades!!!

Features 3 covers each with a risqué variant – including one by Dan Mendoza (Zombie Tramp, DollFace)!

I’ll Take That Comic with Extra Cheese!

It all started when a good friend of mine at I Smell Sheep said “Hey, Jonathan, you like comics, right? Why don’t you write some comic reviews?”

I said, “Okay, I do like comics. What would you like me to review?”

Suddenly my inbox was flooded with comic options. There were so many comic options. A lesser comic lover would have been overwhelmed, but not me! I picked….

Vampblade Volume 2 #12

It’s written by Jason Martin with artist, Winston Young. Why did I pick it? Was it the pretty girl in the form-fitting costume? Was it the cool blades coming out of her back and the blood everywhere? Was it the cool title that suggested vampires? Yes! Yes! And Yes! The cover delivers. It screams, “Pick me! Pick me!” Isn’t that what a good comic cover is supposed to do?

In order to review this issue, I had to read the three issues that come before it. So, I picked up issue nine and began to read the story arch. The story arch gripped me. I was like, “Let me go, story arch!” and the story arch was all, “Bwa ha ha ha! I’ll never let you go! You must read me through to completion!”

There are no vampires in the conventional sense in this story arch. A young comic book shop worker, Katie, has these blades that feast upon the villains that fall prey to them. There’s a really cool little imp creature involved. It’s a complicated process that makes the reader go from, “What the? Where are the vampires?” to “Ohhh! Vampblade! Very clever, comic book!”

Here is the story in a nutshell. There are aliens bent on destroying the earth. There big purple nasty looking aliens, the kind that just won’t listen to reason. Throughout the comic arc they have the upper hand. It looks like they’re going to win. I went from issue to issue saying, “What’s going to happen next?” (Luckily, I keep a Bluetooth earpiece in my ear so people don’t think I’m crazy.) Along the way I enjoyed a story that was full of action, humor, and cheesiness (not stinky cheese but the good kind). It’s the kind of stuff you want to find in a comic book.

Issue twelve is the deus ex machina episode. The alien invasion is in full swing. Things are as bleak as they can get, when suddenly, the whole dynamic of the comic book is changed forever. If it wasn’t so brilliantly done, I might have gotten mad. Needless to say, there is much fighting and those vampire blades all get a proper feeding.

The artwork is bold and colorful. It’s full of eye-catching reds and purples. Lots of action and plenty of Katie to feast the eye upon. My eyes came out of this story quite satiated. Check it out!

The story arch ends in a cliffhanger that actually left me curious about what happens next. I give this issue a solid four sheep. I highly recommend it for the comic reader who is just looking for a fun read. There might not be any conventional vampire but there is lots of action and lots of fun.


4 Sheep

Jonathan Harvey
Author of Shades of Plaid (A Very Unconventional Weekly Journey into Christian Living)
CreateSpace-Smashwords-kindle
Read my online comic The Terrible Turtle Conspiracy

Action Lab Entertainment Comics Coming April 2017

Action Lab comics are some of my favorites! They have something for everyone. Here is a sampling of what they offer...
The following titles will be available for purchase in April at comic shops everywhere!

ACTION LAB: DOG OF WONDER: VOLUME 2-WHERE MY DOGS AT?Writer(s): Vito Delsante and Scott Fogg
Artist Name(s): Reilly Leeds
Cover Artist(s): Jay Peteranetz
96 pgs./ E / FC $9.99

Action Lab’s adventure continues! After rescuing a falsely imprisoned dog in our last story arc, Percy and the Action Lab League set out to bring down a criminal dog racing ring! And not a hoax! Not an imaginary story! Percy’s secret is revealed and EVERYTHING CHANGES! Written by Scott Fogg and STRAY co-creator Vito Delsante with art by newcomer Reilly Leeds!! Collects issues 4 - 6!

amazon buy link

AMERIKARATE #2
Writer(s): Brockton McKinney, Corey Kalman
Artist Name(s): Devin Roth
Cover Artist(s): Devin Roth, Daniel Arruda Massa, April O’Neil 32 pgs./ M / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

Sam Kickwell has been thrown back into the high-stakes world of professional karating thanks to the ninja assassin who took his limbless brother’s life. But while he prepares for the fight of the century, he inadvertently comes kick-to-kick with FBI karate expert Cynthia Weaver. Will the two team-up to take down a megalomaniacal maniac…or will their sparks ignite a karate-fire that will consume them both?!

BLUE HOUR #5
Writer(s): Dino Caruso
Artist Name(s): Chad Cicconi
Cover Artist(s): Chad Cicconi
32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99
Blue Hour reaches its climactic conclusion, as open warfare breaks out between three factions among the human colonists and the Maasym. In a last desperate attempt to salvage the situation, Wardell is forced to make the ultimate choice to prevent genocide or extinction.

BRIGANDS VOL. 1
Writer(s): Ram V
Artist Name(s): Nick Barber, Alex Diotto, Jason Lewis, ROSH, Kel Nuttall
Cover Artist(s): Mukesh Singh
Collects BRIGANDS #1-5.
160 pgs./ T+ / FC $14.99
A rat-pack of medieval conmen, thieves, cut-throats, hasbeens and never-will-bes are set to carry out the heist of their lives. For some, it is a second chance at a better life. For others, it's the only chance they'll ever get. And in the treacherous world of BRIGANDS there are only two sureties to life; the steel in your hand and the promise of a dagger in your back.

DOLLFACE #4
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza & Bryan Seaton
Artist Name(s): Dan Mendoza
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza (regular and Tattered & Torn variants), Bill McKay, Victoria Harris, Xenia32 pgs./ M / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

The tables have turned now on Dollface and the gang, as Zombie Tramp tries to take each one of them out. Are Lila and Ivan ready to deal with such a powerful witch this early in the game?

HERO CATS OF SKYWORLD PT. 1 (HERO CATS #16)
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Omaka Schultz
Cover Artist(s): Omaka Schultz
Inks: Omaka Schultz
Colors: Julie Barclay32 pgs./ E / FC $3.99

A new beginning! Bandit is transported to the Crow King's realm and it's a land of magic, dark spirits, and fairies.

Featuring new Hero Cats - Lancelot, Sapphire, Newton, and Madalyn. This is a perfect starting point for new readers.

HERO CATS VOL. 5
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Kyle Puttkammer (Pencils), Tracy Yardley (Pencils), Sey Viani (Pencils), Marcus Williams (Pencils), Sarah Elkins (Inks), Brandon Page (Inks),Sigi Ironmonger (Colors), George Gant (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Jenny ParksCollects HERO CATS #13-15.
96 pgs./ E / FC $11.99

From the streets of Stellar City to the mountains of Mars, the Hero Cats prevail. This volume features a phenomenal tour of talented artists with new visions of familiar faces.

amazon link to Hero Cat 

INFINITE SEVEN #3
Writer(s): Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Arturo Mesa (Pencils), Geraldo Filho (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Arturo Mesa (Covers A, B, D, E), Josh Greathouse (Cover C)32 pgs./ T+ / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

Anthony has done the impossible by becoming the newest member of the Infinite Seven, Smash Brannagan. But can he survive his first mission? Training Day gets a new meaning as Anthony and Washington track the Sandsnake to Japan!

MIRACULOUS #12
Writer(s): Zag Entertainment
Artist Name(s): Zag Entertainment
Cover Artist(s): Zag Entertainment64 pgs./ E / FC $4.99

Arranged and Adapted by: Cheryl Black and Nicole D’Andria
Fred Haprele was supposed to play the part of a Mime at the premiere of a show, but his stand-in manages to have Fred miss the show. Betrayed, Fred gets akumatized and turns into Le Mime, determined to prevent the performance from happening.

MIRACULOUS VOL. 3 CLAWS OUT
Collects MIRACULOUS #7-9.
192 pgs./ E / FC $9.99

Ladybug and Cat Noir must battle against the Pharaoh, a super-villain with the powers of the gods of Ancient Egypt; Copycat, a Cat Noir lookalike who frames him for theft; and Timebreaker, who uses her powers of time travel to go back in time, which means double the Timebreaker and double the Ladybug! Will Ladybug and Cat Noir’s miraculouses finally fall into the hands of the nefarious Hawk Moth? There’s only one way to find out!

SPOTS ON, CLAWS OUT!

amazon buy link

PETER DAVID'S ARTFUL #5
Writer: Adapted by Nicole D’Andria from the Peter David novel
Artist Name: Laura Neubert
Cover Artist(s): Laura Neubert32 pgs./ A / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

Drina struggles to fight against her instincts. Meanwhile, Artful and Bram get into even more trouble! Who is friend and who is foe in the latest issue of legendary comic writer Peter David’s Artful?

SPENCER AND LOCKE #1
Writer(s): David Pepose
Artist Name(s): Jorge Santiago, Jr. (Pencils), Jasen Smith (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Jorge Santiago, Jr. (Cover A); Maan House (Cover B); Joe Mulvey (Cover C)32 pgs./ T+ / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

When his grade-school sweetheart is found dead, there’s only one friend Detective Locke can trust to help solve her murder — his childhood imaginary panther, Spencer. But when they face a vicious crime syndicate and memories from Locke’s traumatic youth, can this unlikely pair survive long enough to find the truth?

THE CIRCLE #5
Writer: Damon Clark
Artist Name(s): Alyzia Zherno
Cover Artist(s): Alyzia Zherno (Cover A), Damien Worm (Cover B)32 pgs./ M / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

Christian has taken down two and has three to go to break the circle. This is it, his last chance. If he can’t finish the job, his soul will be damned forever.

TOMBOY VOL. 3
Writer(s): M. Goodwin
Artist Name(s): Michelle Wong
Cover Artist(s): M.GoodwinCollects issues #9-12 of the hit series.
128 pgs./ T+ / FC $14.99

Addison's hunt leads her ever closer to a confrontation with the notorious Irene Trent, and the truth behind her mysterious powers. Fate finally pulls the Brody family back together, but the curse of their bloodline guarantees there are no happily ever afters for monsters. The exciting and epic conclusion to the twelve issue series!

amazon buy link

VAMPBLADE SEASON 2 #2
Writer(s): Jason Martin
Artist Name(s): Winston Young
Cover Artist(s): Winston Young (cover A-B), Celor (cover C-D), Pow Rodrix (cover E-F)32 pgs./ M / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)
Katie Carva is Vampblade, but now when she transforms, the blades are the ones in control… and the blades are really f$%#@d up! Consequently, so is Katie’s life!!

Features 3 covers (regular, artist, and 90s style), each with a risqué variant as well!

VORACIOUS: FEEDING TIME #5
Writer(s): Markisan Naso
Artist Name(s): Jason Muhr
Cover Artist(s): Jason Muhr (Cover A), Markisan Naso (Cover B)
32 pgs./ T+ / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)
"If you haven’t read Voracious yet, you better get right on it. Incredible story with just as incredible illustration.” (Sci-Clops.com)

Gus Horncrasher is determined to find Owen at any cost, but first he has to go through Captain Jim. Back in Blackfossil, the Sheriff begins to unravel Nate’s secrets, Starlee prepares to leave town and Maribel’s first encounter with Tony is revealed, as the second volume of VORACIOUS concludes.

Featuring a “Dead Leaves” variant cover by VORACIOUS writer Markisan Naso! Limited to just 500 copies!

ZOMBIE TRAMP #3
Writer(s): Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mendoza (cover A – regular, B), Marco Maccagni (cover C-D), Marcelo Trom (cover E-F)32 pgs./ M / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)
Xula continues her tests and obstacles to prove her worthiness to Kaiju Queen. But will she accept her final challenge?

Features 3 regular and risqué variants, including a pair of covers by series creator Dan Mendoza (DollFace)!!

amazon buy link

Comic Review: Ghoul Scouts: Night of the Unliving Undead #1 from Action Lab Entertainment

GHOUL SCOUTS: NIGHT OF THE UNLIVING UNDEAD #1 (4)
Writer(s): Steve Bryant
Artist Name(s): Mark Stegbauer, Jason Millet
Cover Artist(s): Mark Stegbauer, Mike Norton, Sean Izaakse32 pgs./ E / FC $3.99 (reg.), $4.99 (var.)

Action Lab

Something stranger than usual haunts Full Moon Hollow, Paranormal Capital of the World. Adults either can’t see it, can’t remember it, or go crazy from it. So when zombies attack during the Hemlock County Scouting Jamboree, only a group of misfits can save the Hollow. Be prepared. Be very prepared.

During the Hemlock County Scouting Jamboree there is a zombie attack. Five brave scouts end up joining forces and fighting their way back to town only to find it overrun by zombies. With a little sleuthing and a lot of zombie head smashing they try to figure out where the zombies are coming from and how to stop them.

I got a chance to read all four issues of this volume. Issue #1 will be released this June with the rest each month after. In issue #1 we meet each of the characters and see lots of zombie busting action. By issue #2 the gang is armed with a stick, bat, frying pan and potato launcher. The fast pace story offers touching moments, as the characters deepen their friendship, and fighting sequences. Kind of a mystery solving Scooby-doo type of story (but with real monsters). With the added bonus of kids that are respectful, smart and wanting to do the right thing.

The series is targeted at boys and girls 6-12. The artwork has just the right amount of creepiness without being scary, but still has a slight dark edge. The fighting scenes are full of sound words (crack, bam, fwoosh—that's the potato launcher) so you can enjoy the visuals, but some of the other scenes were dialog heavy. All the issues have bonus content at the end. Such as character bios, sketches, Full Moon Hollow facts and a pictorial about how the comic was made.

 

This is something that would also be appropriate in schools and libraries so think about requesting them. 

5 "Unliving Undead" Sheep

SharonS

Comic Review: Hero Cats Issue #1 Action Lab Comics

HEROCATS OF STELLAR CITY #1
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Marcus Williams
Cover Artist(s): Marcus Williams

32 pgs./ FC/ All Ages

Action Lab Entertainment
Avengers and Justice League move over! The cutest heroes on the planet have
arrived! Meet the Hero Cats of Stellar City in this spectacular first issue. Not your ordinary house
cats, they're a tactical action-packed covert team dealing with extraordinary threats to humanity in
ways that will amaze. Variant fold-out cover limited to 2,000 copies!

Hero Cats! How can you resist? Issue one is narrated by Cassiopeia, at cat living in an observatory with the Quest family in Stellar City. We learn her story and she introduces us to her cat team. We get a little insight into the type of trouble these cats are out to stop.

Hero Cats is either a spin-off or runs in conjunction with another comic, Galaxy Man. You get a few sneak peek pages of that world. It is also for kids of all ages.

The artwork is bright and crisp. It depicts lot of action and humor. This is great comic for kids and for parents to read to/with their elementary school kids.

There is also website and Facebook page dedicated to the feline heroes!

https://www.facebook.com/herocatscomics

http://herocatscomic.com/

If you would like to get your kids interested in comics then check out Action Lab Entertainment's website. There are lot of choices for kids and some really fantastic ones for girls with strong female heroines their age. Princeless has won many awards and recognition. I've reviewed some of that series on this site (here)

(For you adults out there, Action Lab has a mature line Danger Zone with some rock'n comics!)

I'm rating this on its fun factor for kids. As an adult...it's cute factor.

5 "hissing" Sheep

SharonStogner

I say this every time, but best freaking logo ever!

Interview: Jason Martin - President of Action Lab: Danger Zone

One of my favorite comic book small presses is Action Lab (Princeless, Skyward) and their mature readers imprint Danger Zone (Ehmm Theory, Double Jumpers). I thought it would be fun to talk to Danger Zone's president Jason Martin, but it was harder to track him down then Waldo in a candy cane factory, but I did it! We talk about the comic he wrote, Night of the 80's Undead, and growing up in the 80's. So put on your Vans or leg warmers and turn up your boombox!

Sharon: Could you tell our readers a little about yourself, Action Lab: Danger Zone and your comic Night of the 80's Undead?

Jason: I run the new mature readers imprint for Action Lab Entertainment, Action Lab: Danger Zone. Danger Zone is a very cool lineup of creator-owned books all featuring imaginative genre-vexing concepts.

Night of the 80’s Undead is my book which I write and color, with artwork by Bill McKay. It’s a three issue series, with issue 1 out, and issue 2 that’s just come out (on 10/9).

And just like the title suggests, it’s the story of a Russian zombie virus contaminated Colombian cocaine supply, that’s unleashed on a big Hollywood party circa 1986, and a group of teens who crash the party only to find they must now survive the escalating coke zombie carnage!!!

Sharon: When did you get the idea to have a zombie comic set in the 80’s?
Jason: In early 2011… I had exhibited at a convention in Seattle called ZomBcon, and had also recently published a comic, Zombie Tramp, and those two things convinced me it was silly to resist doing my own zombie comic book. I’m a big zombie/horror/genre fan, but thought the market was oversaturated with zombie concepts… I saw the light, was blessed by Romero, course corrected, and then quickly came upon the idea of 80’s icons as zombies!

Sharon: How did you hook up with the artist Bill McKay? Does he share your love of all things 80’s or did you have to teach him?
Jason: After coming up with the concept, I quickly also shaped a plot, and in the meantime I’d met Bill via DeviantArt and we’d been talking about collaborating… then, upon developing 80’s Undead, it was the perfect fit for his talents. Also, to your point, we’re both generation X, about the same age, so we were raised in the 80’s, and it’s all natural life experience/nostalgia on both our parts. I won’t say which one of us had a raging coke habit, or slaughtered the “undead” with automatic weaponry though…

panels from issue #2

 

Sharon: What would say was the best thing(s) we got from the 80’s? What is the worst?
Jason: The movies!!! Blockbusters, VHS horror, sci-fi, action, it was a golden era for pop culture film! No wait, video games!! No, no, personal computers!!!! Wait… old school rap!

As far as the flipside? I dunno, again in geek terms… probably the loss of the newsstand market for comics… we’re still trying to get mainstream readers back into the fold! (Sorry, I know things just got a bit dark there)

Sharon: If you could live the life of an 80’s celebrity who would it be?
Jason: Burt Reynolds! The Trans Am, the mustache, haingin’ out with Dom DeLuise?!?! Come on!
Fun Burt Reynolds trivia, did you know, he used to pull nose hair to turn on the waterworks for scenes that required crying? …I mean, the man gave us so much.

we will all take a moment to appreciate the 'stash 

Sharon: If you could go back in time and talk to your 80’s self, what would you tell him?

Jason: Buy stock in Apple, Starbucks, Marvel… keep a better eye on your pet dogs man… uh, don’t worry, new Coke is a gimmick… stuff like that.

Sharon: What’s next for you and Danger Zone?
Jason: Bill and I are finishing up issue 3 of 80’s Undead currently. Then I’ll have to carve out some time for a new project or two of my own… possibly a sequel? 
As far as Danger Zone, we’ve got our first volumes wrapping up and coming out in trade paperbacks, and then some new series debuting. Some really exciting stuff like Zombie Tramp volume 2, Bo Plushy Gangsta, Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land. Lots of great stuff!

Sharon: Thanks for taking the time!
Jason: Thank you, those were some really fun questions!

Action Lab: website-FB-twitter

Danger Zone: website -FB-twitter-tumblr 

About the author:
Publisher – Action Lab: Danger Zone
Creator – Night of the 80’s Undead, Super Real, Pulp Girls
Find everything 80’s Undead on my blog 
An artist, creator, and publisher, Jason first broke into the industry in 2005 with his self-published comic, Super Real. From there he moved on to publish works by other creators, in addition to completing Super Real as a graphic novel, and has done freelance art for clients including Marvel Comics, Cartoon Network, and more.

“I’m incredibly excited to take my efforts at showcasing boundary pushing, genre redefining material that I began with my Super Real Graphics to an even larger audience with the backing of the talented folks at ALE,” exclaims Martin. “I’m as passionate for comics as a person can be, especially the creative and quirky ideas born from creators with a story to tell in this graphic medium, and truly love working with them to share their visions and mine.”

Say hi to artist Bill McKay