Sketch Series 02: Punko Turt

From last Spring's Flywheel Zine Fest in Holyoke MA USA.

Title: Sketch Series
Issue: 02: Punko Turt

Another from a batch of uncredited micro-mini comics I picked up at Flywheel Zine Fest. This book uses only three illustrations to introduce Punko Turt, a combination of pumpkin and turtle, that bears a slight resemblance to Pokemon's Bulbasaur. Punko Turt uses its pumpkin vine to catch small ghosts. A single line of caption explains Punko Turt's ongoing battle against evil.

This was very cute, and the one line of text hit with unexpected gravitas.

Rating: 6/10

Captain America #233

From the Random Box of Unread Comics.

Title: Captain America
Issue: 233
Date: May, 1979
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Roger McKenzie
Artist: Sal Buscema, Don Perlin
Colorist: Nel Yomtov
Letterer: Rick Parker
Editor: Roger Stern

Steve Rogers is caught between Harlem mobsters and a gang of white supremacists wielding high-tech weaponry. To make matters worse, a mind-controlled Sharon Carter is leading the charge for the National Force.

The story quickly moves away from its political implications as the mind control aspect takes center stage and a villain gets a big reveal, followed by an extra bit of a twist to end things.

Steve shows some good emotion as he grapples with the possible fate of Sharon, but the use of generic villain tropes  (and traps!) detracts a bit in terms of keeping my interest.

Rating: 5.5/10

Orfina Volume 1

From the tbr shelf. Not sure where I got this one.

Title: Orfina
Issue: Volume 1
Date: 2005
Publisher: CMX
Writer: Kitsune Tennouji
Artist: Kitsune Tennouji
Editorial Director: Jim Lee

A young soldier fleeing the forces of an advanced militant nation is taken in by the royal family of a peaceful kingdom, and it's discovered that the soldier appears nearly identical to that kingdom's princess. The princess and the resistance fighter become best friends from the moment they meet, but the forces of the invading nation, Granze, are closing in, unleashing destruction with guns and fire dragons which the armies of Cordia have no defense against.

The story in this opening volume turns grim pretty quickly as the folk of Cordia fight a brave, but losing battle against the invaders and Princess Orfina and her "twin", Fana, must flee for their lives.

There was some good character development, particularly in the relationship between Orfina and Fana, and lots of room for future plot complications. This was a solid start, and the artwork was lovely.

Rating: 7.5/10