Comic Review: Our Friend Satan

Our Friend Satan
Written by: Dominic L. March
Picture: Michael Murawski , Luke Lalko
Publisher: Timof and silent partners
November 2016
Series : Our friend Satan 

Number of pages : 120
Size : 210  x295 mm
Binding : Paperback
Printing : color
ISBN-13 : 9788365527257
website

Prince of Darkness is going through a midlife crisis. He can not meet the inflated expectations of the modern world. He spends his nights roaming the Hell in a bathrobe and drowning sorrows in vodka. However, a meeting with disillusioned Satanists becomes the straw that poured camel's back. Satan suing the Catholic Church for libel and travels to Earth to clear his name in court.

I ran across the Our Friend Satan's Kickstarter project over the summer and after reading the first 20 pages I knew I wanted to help support it. The concept began as a screenplay, but there wasn't enough money to follow through. The creators had enough storyboard material to make a graphic novel instead.

You can read the first 24 pages here

I really liked the premise: Satan is suing the Catholic Church for deformation of character. But the Pope thinks Satan is no longer scary enough to drive people to the church and he has an idea for a bigger, badder, mechanical Satan. While Satan is on Earth for his trial, hell is being run by Satan's top security officer, Beelzebub. There is the idea that if they can clean hell up a bit, they might get a vacation. And this is where "Scooter" comes in...a robotic vacuum cleaner. Problem is, Scooter becomes sentient and then all *cough* hell *cough* breaks loose!

The story is well written and much more complex than I thought, with mulitple plot threads running simultaneously. The artwork is sharp and bright with an emphasis on facial expressions.

Unfortunately, you can't get Our Friend Satan in English, yet! I got a copy because it was a kickstarter special. The creators are looking for a publisher for the US market for release in 2017. You can read the first 20 pages, in English here. Be sure to keep this one on your radar.

5 "Who uses tentacles and horns?" Sheep

SharonS

About the Creators:

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Dominik L. MARCH
idea, script, artistic director
Brain satanic worship. Polish lives in Gotham City - Lodz. I never planned to do comics, but the Prince of Darkness was not proper to refuse. During the day, wandering aimlessly, searching for the meaning of life (and chestnut). At night, he leads a crusade condemned the infernal abyss.

ŁUKASZ Lalko
color, sketch, outline, special effects
Space traveler, being a senior (Poznan). He joined us to art to fill the void left by the bodies, which had lost in the Andromeda. In his youth he was mainly interested in the disintegration of the planet, today focuses on drawing (read: everything will git until he finished his crayons).

MICHAL MURAWSKI
adaptation, sketch, outline
Apparently the amount raised strokes led to the bankruptcy of half Lodz dealers. Inglorious hero of the failed operation to separate man from Wacom. Gray eminence ATL-u. Father, businessman, philanthropist. Shun wafers.

Book Review: Black-Winged Tuesday (The Tuesday Series Book 1) by A.B. Rayn

Black-Winged Tuesday (The Tuesday Series Book 1)

by A.B. Rayn
January 18, 2012
318 pagesUnlucky in life, twice as unlucky in the after-life? About ten seconds after terminally unlucky Herman Morrie arrives in the afterlife, his expectations are broadsided by the eighteen-wheeler of reality. Heaven and Hell are real, and the choice - Good, Bad, or Neutral - is up to him. And no sitting around harp-strumming, either - there's work to be done helping other poor souls back on earth.

He makes the only choice a straight-laced, regular guy could make - to become a Good guardian angel - only to find out he's got a Bad for a partner and his choice is... probationary.

In his struggle figure out what it really means to be Good in this topsy-turvy new world, he'll have to face were-beavers, old sweethearts, archangels, and even Lucifer himself. And still, death may turn out to be the best thing that's ever happened to him.

BLACK-WINGED TUESDAY is a genre-bending romp through the afterlife, complete with "laughter, evil, and blush-worthy erotic intrigue."

Fans of Christopher Moore, Douglas Adams, and Tom Robbins will love this irreverent comedy. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, pick up Black-Winged Tuesday today.

Picture this...you're in your living room sitting on your couch and a jet engine falls from the sky and smashes you and your belongings into just a smear on the basement floor. Freaky accident huh? Well, for Herman Morrie it's just another unlucky Tuesday. You see, Tuesday's are his unlucky days and this was apparently (and hopefully) his last one!

This book reminded me of one of my favorite (but too short lived) TV series called "Dead Like Me". Anyone out there see it? Addicting! I was hooked on that show and was hooked from the first chapter in this book. Fun, snarky, well penned and engaging...many of my hallmarks for a good story.

Herman Morrie (even the name sounds unlucky), deceased, now must learn to navigate the here-after with a smart-aleck mentor and some luscious fallen angels. Assigned as a guardian angel he has about a year (?) to decide if he wants to be on the "good" side or the "bad" side. There are perks to both and apparently it is up to him to decide what color wings he will eventually end up with. You even find yourself questioning just which side you would choose if you were in his position!

Great scenes, great characters and great storyline will keep you turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. I know there are more episodes to come in this debut series and I, for one, will be highly anticipating the next installment!

Getting 4.25 sheep

Jeanie G

About the Author:

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I write paranormal fiction because I like to see the ordinary in the extraordinary and vice versa. I write across several genres - from erotic romance to comedic fantasy, and my most fervent wish is that you find things in my work that surprise and delight you.

Book and Series Review: Sins of the Warrior (Grigori Legacy #4) by Linda Poitevin

Sins of the Warrior (Grigori Legacy #4)
by Linda Poitevin

Paperback, 436 pages

September 18th 2015

by Michem Publishing

Heaven and Hell are at war

The clock is ticking

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis’s niece is missing and pregnant with Lucifer’s child, her sister has descended into madness, and the human race has begun a relentless spiral toward self-destruction that Alex is desperate to stop. Now Michael, the Archangel she holds responsible for Earth’s plight, has returned—and he’s demanding her help to track a missing god.

Heaven is losing

Fighting for the very survival of his own realm—and that of humanity—Michael’s only chance to defeat Hell lies in returning Heaven’s long-lost daughter to her throne before it’s too late. But first he’ll have to convince Alex to help him—and to keep her out of Seth’s clutches long enough for her to do so.

There can be no right choices

In a desperate bid to save both their worlds, Alex and Michael must put aside their animosity and find a way to work together in the face of increasingly impossible decisions…and unimaginable sacrifices.

amazon

Sins of the Warrior is the conclusion to the Grigori Legacy series, one of my all time favorite dark urban fantasies. Telling readers who have been following this series they should read this one is kind of preaching to the choir. Talking about the events that happen would reveal spoilers for you and anyone that might want to try this series. So I'm gonna tell you why I love this series and why you should give it a go.

This is an excerpt from my review of Sins of the Lost (book #3). I feel like I can't describe the series as a whole any better than I did then.

"There are all sorts of urban fantasy to choose from. I love the snarky heroine who is kicks the bad guy’s butt, gets the hot hero (eventually) all within a unique and multi-faceted world. But I also love the drama of dark urban fantasy. Poitevin’s Grigori Legacy series is that kind of story. In a fight between heaven and hell there can be no real winners, only degrees of losing. Sometimes you can’t have what you desire and must make hard sacrifices for little reward, and sometimes love doesn't heal, it destroys. Poitevin’s series is a passionate and emotionally powerful written story combined with a gritty urban fantasy detective mystery".- review

I know Linda struggled with writing this book. Deciding how to end such an epic saga. Even though it was an almost 2 year wait for the final book, I'm glad she took her time. While I was holding out for a certain miracle that didn't happen (sigh), I can say it was the right ending and I am happy with it. Well as happy as you can be after an apocalypse.

Linda writes beautiful and emotional prose and puts a new twist on the mythos of hell vs heaven. It will break your heart at times but it is worth the ride.

Sins of the Angels (book #1) amazon link

The Grigori Series gets 5 "It's the end of the world as we know it..." Sheep

SharonS

About the author:

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Linda Poitevin is the author of the dark urban fantasy series, The Grigori Legacy, from Ace/Roc Books. Linda lives near Ottawa, Canada’s capital, and in her other life is wife, mother, friend, gardener, coffee snob, freelance writer, and zookeeper of too many pets. When she isn’t writing, Linda can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.

Sheep Book Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes (A Broken Destiny Novel)

By: Jeaniene Frost 

302 Pages

New Adult/Paranormal with Romance

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate. 

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse--her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her. 

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate...no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between....

This story was almost too soft around the edges for my usual tastes. I like them dark, dirty, with strong characters and dropping the action bombs Michael Bay style. Give me fast, hard and edgy. Then hit me with the men and woman who can hammer that nail home and deliver the double tap to the written dome. 

Frost is a writer who can bring all this to the table and more. While I had to remind myself this is a "new adult" genre book, I would have liked a bit more character depth and romance with my story. That being said though, this one kept me coming back to turn the pages with record speed. What we do get is delivered with the ease that only Frost can orchestrate. She's a goddess at this craft and I worship her every word! 

The Beautiful Ashes takes the reader from the comfort of the human world and into the dark and dirty pits of the demons and their "pets". When you walk into the darkness, you may not come back the same. I loved it! There is a whole world out there that we dont know about and this journey takes you there. Several times. 

Along the way you meet some fascinating side characters which help pull the whole story off. This was a great start to a new series, however lacking of romance but opening up this author to a younger crowd. 

If you're looking for something a little dark, yet not overstuffed with romance, then check this one out. I'm invested and can't wait to read the next edition! 

Getting 4 Sheep 

KD 

Sheep Book Review: Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

Succubus Revealed, by author Richelle Mead, is the sixth and final story in her Georgina Kincad series. The end has finally arrived and after all the back and forth between Seth and Georgina how will it end? I was thankful for what I got but would have liked just a little bit more....

Plot:

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations...to Las Vegas.The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle - and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it - no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won’t include the one man she’s risking everything for...

After a few years dipping into the world of this book series I have become completely invested in this story arc. Each character, both good and bad, made their way into my heart. I wanted to tear into this book like a mad woman, but had to slow down and take each page one at a time. Book six takes us deeper into the mysterious contract Georgina entered centuries ago, and while hints have been made in previous books about the validity of said contact, until now we didn't know the specific details. Finally, Succubus Revealed gives the whole story for expectant readers...

Georgina and Seth's relationship has been off and on so far, and as Hell heats things up this dynamic couple may just crumble under the pressure. Again. The one and only thing that's bugged me throughout this whole series was the fact that after Georgina cheated on her husband centuries ago, she does the most selfish thing possible and not woman up to her mistake. Instead she takes the chicken way out and sells her soul to Hell in exchanged for everyone in her human life having no memory of her. I get that she was a kid and all that back when she did this, but for Georgina having lived for many decades and not matured at all was irritating. When push came to shove this gal would just take off and leave everything behind, again and again.

Now Georgina's FORCED to face the music and it's pretty nice to finally read that after all these years she's grown up enough to do it. *Semi-Spoiler alert* BUT Seth makes a bad call at the end when he takes off to an event rather then stick around after another life-changing event goes down. Not sure if I truly believed his character would act that way but it's what the writer went for. *End of semi-spoiler alert* My man-cake Carter's character has been one of my favorites this entire saga, I love that guy. Even grunged out and smashed from an all-nighter I'd still follow his Angel butt anywhere! So much happens between Roman and Jerome that I didn't see coming, it's emotional in parts and well worth the wait.

These books are wonderfully written and full of snarky snappy remarks from a bunch of immortals that make you laugh. It's a bittersweet ending, though, and while I loved reading the final chapter it broke my heart a little too. I'll hold high hopes for a spin off series and more Carter!

Getting 4 'I love boxed wine' Sheep

KD