Avengers Vs X-Men #1 review {Comics}

Image copyright of Marvel Comics

After the #0 prologue, the Marvel event of the year kicked off properly last Wednesday with Avengers Vs X-Men #1, an issue that wastes no time in getting right to the point. 

With Bendis helming this issue, we're treated to his usual witty dialogue that made his Avengers book so great, yet not sacrificing the characters in the process. While the core of the event will take place over twelve bi-monthly issues, Bendis isn't dragging this one out, bringing the Phoenix force to Earth and pitting Avenger against mutant.

The action is split evenly between the Avengers camp, where the gang is tracking the arrival of the Phoenix, and the X-Men, where Scott Summers is preparing Hope for when the galactic entity inevitably comes for her. Immediately we're given the rift in attitudes towards the impending arrival, with Summers batting for the Phoenix team, believing it will trigger a rebirth in the mutant population, and the Avengers wanting to detain it. The issue culminates in the gauntlet being thrown down by the respective leaders of each group: Captain America and Cyclops, meaning next issue promises our first taste of Avengers on X-Men action.

Romita's art is good, but not without its minor inconsistencies, as some perspectives are off and for some reason Hope's head seems to fluctuate in size, but maybe that's just me. The pencils also seem less detailed than they usually are in Romita's books, but fortunately Laura Martin's colours shine through with a bold and vivid palette.

Avengers Vs X-Men #1 is well-paced and narrated, contrasting the Avengers' grand story with the X-Men's relatively small one. Working with so many characters is difficult, but the issue makes it work and gives a clear reason why Marvel needs the biggest hitters on the circuit to handle an event of this magnitude. The exchange between Cap and Cyclops towards the end is much reminiscent of Civil War, making it feel like a real event, unlike Fear Itself.

Bone up on your Dredd before the gamebook hits iOS this month {Gamebooks}

It seems that 2012 is the year of Judge Dredd, what with the new film adaptation hitting theatres in September, a brand new range of books containing classic Dredd tales is released and Tin Man Games is bringing out a gamebook at the end of April. But who is this enigmatic character and why should you care?

I've met many people who have heard of Judge Dredd but have never actually read any of his comics. Usually they will say: "Ah yes, that terrible film with Rob Schneider and Rocky," which is a response that kills me a little inside. If you're going to be exposed to any Dredd fiction, the film is not a good way to go.

So just who is this Judge Dredd character then?


The easiest way to describe Dredd is to say that he's judge, jury and executioner. He's a futuristic lawman, patrolling the streets of Mega-City One, a sprawling city that takes up the entire East Coast of North America and then some. Currently it's the year 2134 and Mega-City One is governed by the Justice Department, a dictatorship that rules by enforcing its own brand of hardcore justice, the Judges being at the frontline of dishing out said justice. Judges, like Dredd, have the power to sentence criminals on the spot without trial, often sending them to the 'cubes' for a number of years in detention, often much more than the crime warrants.

Dredd is the best of the best. A clone of Chief Judge Fargo, the founder of the Judge System, he is the one that the criminals fear. He wields a lawgiver pistol and rides a lawmaster, a huge motorbike fitted with machine guns, la laser cannon and AI. He's noted for never removing his helmet, as he is seen as an embodiment of justice.

Where can I read Judge Dredd stuff?


Nowadays, there are plenty of ways you can follow the epic stories of Dredd. 2000AD, the galaxy's greatest comic, was the first place Dredd appeared and his escapades still continue to this day. Brits can pick it up weekly from their local newsagents, but others will have to download digital copies from sites like DriveThruComics and ClickWheel. Similarly, the monthly Megazine can be downloaded from ClickWheel, which is much more focused on the Dredd universe. Rebellion has released a number of great trade paperbacks you can find online or from high street bookstores. I highly recommend reading the Judge Dredd Case Files series, which collects full story arcs in huge and relatively cheap tomes. Well worth the price.


But will I like Dredd comics?

If you like anti-heroes, epic storylines, a deep background that's easy to jump into and great writing, then you will love Judge Dredd. Also: mutants.

OK, I'm sold. Can you recommend a starting point for me?


The Complete Case Files 01 is probably the best introduction for new readers, as it collects stories right from the beginning of Dredd's run. Also, if you get it digitally, it's on £5.99, which is an absolute bargain for a 320 page graphic novel. The great thing is that you can usually jump into any Dredd story arc in 2000AD or the Megazine, as they're written in an accessible way.


So how about this gamebook, eh?


The Judge Dredd gamebook by Tin Man Games will hit the App Store at the end of the month and, you can probably guess, I'm hugely excited about it. I imagine that the game will give a good introduction to Dredd and his world, so you probably won't have to read any of the comics beforehand, but I reckon if you do you will get more out of the game.

Solo adventures don't have to be lonely {T&T}

Currently I'm working on the mega-solo I have planned for release this year. While I'm writing it I'm having a lot of thoughts about how we commonly approach solitaire adventures for T&T with a view to give the player a different yet familiar experience.

Typically a T&T solo has one protagonist (the player), an aim and usually some NPCs. Much of the time they take place inside a dungeon, like in Deathtrap Equaliser or Depths of the Devilmancer where you're essentially going from room to room killing things and taking their loot. The munchkin playstyle works well for T&T due to its tongue-in-cheek feel and simple combat mechanics. However, more often than not the adventures contain no notable NPCs that journey and form a bond with the player. While solitaire adventures are made just for those times when you can't get a group together, there's no reason why the book can't make it feel like there are other players in the game. This is what I'm trying to accomplish in my upcoming solo.

Basically, there are two major story arcs to the solo depending on your actions at the beginning of the game. Each route will 'assign' a notable NPC or two to travel with the player, developing their stories and personalities as the story unfolds. Sometimes it's nice to speak to an NPC, rather than just killing everything in your path.

What do you think? Do you prefer the 'lone wolf' aspect of solos or would you like some characters to bond with?

Frankenstein becomes the first classic interactive e-book on iPad {Gamebooks}

Shambling onto iPad and iPhone this month is the macabre tale of Frankenstein, but with a twist: the reader controls the narrative. 

Gamebook authors Dave Morris and Jamie Thomson have taken the original text of Mary Shelley's classic novel and added an interactive element that allows the reader to delve deeper into the plot and characters.

Published by Profile Books, Frankenstein is the first interactive rendition of a well-known book on the iOS format and it promises to entertain both book-lovers and gamers alike.

Profile’s digital publishing director Michael Bhaskar says: ‘Over the centuries Frankenstein has inspired films, plays and dozens of imaginative ventures – from graphic novels to musicals. How appropriate that it should inspire this new artform – a digital literary experience. Dave and Jamie set the bar when it comes to interactive storytelling and inkle are setting the technology agenda. This is the start of a whole new way of telling classic stories.’

To gamebook fans, Morris and Thomson are familiar names, having penned the world famous Fabled Lands books which have also been made into mobile apps. 


But while Fabled Lands was all about roleplaying a dice rolling, Frankenstein offers a more artistic approach to the genre:


 "Maybe you remember gamebooks or choose-your-own novels?" Say Morris and Thomson, "If so, put those right out of your mind. Frankenstein is way more than that. It’s an art installation made up of story fragments, where the reader can explore the text, creating a unique and personal experience of this rightly world-famous work and developing a direct relationship with the main characters. That’s why we’re describing it as interactive literature – it’s a truly new kind of novel for the digital age."


Inkle, the company who designed the app are confident that Frankenstein will deliver something totally revolutionary: "I genuinely believe people will look back at Frankenstein and say, that’s the moment when everything changed."


Frankenstein will hit the iTunes App Store this month. 

Trailblazers! is out now {T&T}

First off, sorry for the lack of posts. I've been really busy with work lately as well as stuff for Trollish Delver Games. Anyway, it's a four-day weekend for me so expect plenty of posts.

Stuart Lloyd is back with his next solo adventure for T&T Trailblazers! which is available on DriveThruRPG. 


Stuart has been producing some top notch solos over the past few months like Temple of the Fool God and Khazan City Chaos. Trailblazers! sees delvers of levels 1 to 2 head into the forbidding wilderness to seek adventure and engage in monster-slaying good times.

Also, don't miss out on his awesome April A-Z, where he has conducted interviews with personalities in the gamebook industry.

Tunnels & Trolls MMO on the horizon {T&T}

I don't usually talk about video games on this blog, but this is an exception to the rule. Tunnels & Trolls is being turned into an MMORPG, complete with everything that you love about the game including kindred and locations in Trollworld.


The game's working titles is Tunnels & Trolls: Rise of the Serpent God, and the story is said to revolve around the god-wizard Zweetz, who has created his own race of Cyruks to take over Trollworld. Players will have the chance to serve the Death Goddess herself as they embark on a massive adventure to destroy Zweetz once and for all.

The developer, Andris, has said that the new MMO will keep the same feel of the T&T tabletop game, right down to the unbalanced characters: "Don't think you can solo the game with a Fairy," said a spokesperson, "We will be keeping the same stats as in the [tabletop] game along with the same character types. Warriors will still get double hits on their armour and rogues can only learn new spells from wizards."

It's clear that Lichgames want to make TTROTSG as true to the source material as possible and I for one am hugely excited to play.

There's no word on release date yet, but I'll keep giving you all the news as it comes.