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Wacky Wizard Games Imprint and Three New Games Announced by @wwizardgames

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Wise Wizard Games announced the launch of Wacky Wizard Games, a new brand imprint focused on family-friendly, lightweight games. Three games are planned for release in 2024 as part of this new brand imprint: Star Realms Academy, Caution Signs, and Pack the Essentials. If you are interested and attending PAX Unplugged they will have prototypes of Caution Signs and Pack the Essentials. "We are super excited to be adding this new family friendly product line to our catalog. We wanted to maintain the focus of Wise Wizard Games on strategy card and dice games with geeky themes, and have created Wacky Wizard Games as an umbrella for lightweight games with a more whimsical, cute vibe," shared Debbie Moynihan, COO of Wise Wizard Games. Star Realms Academy Forge your own star realms, overloaded with cuteness! A kid friendly but still fun for grown-ups version of the popular Star Realms deckbuilding game for 2 players. A little less math, no reading necessary, but still tons of fun! 

Imagination Centre Reviews: @Marvel's X-Men, Iron Man, Infinity


Here are today's Guest Reviews by John McCubbin from Imagination Centre for Marvel's; X-Men #3, All-New X-Men #14, Iron Man #14, and Infinity #1. I have also added my rating after each review. If you have any questions about my rating or want to discuss anything just leave me a comment.


See the Review Rating Overview page for more information on how I rate each comic.


X-Men #3 - Primer: Part 3 of 3


The X-Men find out what Arkea is capable of, and the phrase "rampaging horde" comes to mind.


Can Arkea be defeated? Can the X-Men take down one of their own, if that's what it takes?


Meanwhile, what's up with Sublime and Rachel? What's up with Bling and Cipher? What's up with Jubilee and Bling?


Preview



A Little Rushed


In the short time this series has been out it has done nothing but amaze me, as although I thought it'd be good, it's been outstanding. It is also becoming one of my favourite series, and although I wasn't planing on getting it after Battle of the Atom if it stays this way I'll definitely be keeping it.

Plot

As Storm, Rachel Grey, Psylocke, Sublime, Jubilee, and Shogo head for Budapest in search for Arkea, Kitty Pryde, and the students of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning have their own problems.

Review

This was a great issue, but at the same time it was a a slightly disappointing way to end the first story arc, and although I wanted to love it, I could only manage to like it a lot. Brian Wood did however do a good job with this issue, as it had action, and mystery, but at the same time it was a little rushed, with too much happening in the one issue, and this story should have been at least one issue longer. I also felt that Wood's didn't need the team to realise that they're a new team, as it would have felt more natural if they were an all girl team by just coincidence. Wood's did however also hint that this story may continue by leaving unanswered questions, and I hope they're continued on at a later date.

Olivier Coipel once again produced outstanding art, and it's a shame he couldn't stay on this series any longer than three issues. One of the best things about Coipel's artwork is how he draws people, and more so their expressions, as he adds so much depth to characters, with it being so easy to notice what their feeling, and he showed this perfectly on baby Shogo, as it's not always easy to show what a baby is feeling without having them crying, or laughing. Coipel did however also do a good job of both the action, and layouts, as both were very dynamic, and suspenseful, whilst also adding depth, and tone to the issue, with the action also adding excitement.

Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Imagination Centre

My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 5/5
Verdict - 4.6 - 
(Pre-Order X-Men TPB Vol. 1 Primer) SAVE 20%


All-New X-Men #15


Love is in the air!


Cyclops heart and future start to fade before his eyes.

Preview



Fun and Romance


This has been a series that I've been enjoying since it started, and although it's not always been consistent, it's always been fun. I have also been even more excited about the X-Men series in general after the announcement of Battle of the Atom, which I'm seriously looking forward to.

Plot

As the young Iceman, and Cyclops head out for a while, the young Jean Grey spends time with Beast, learning more about how he feels about her.

Review

This was not one of the better issues in this series, but it was still a brilliant issue, being a fun stand alone issue prior to the start of Battle of the Atom. Brian Michael Bendis did a great job of developing these characters, and I loved seeing them just relaxing, and having fun, as with Battle of the Atom just round the corner they won't have much time for that. I also loved the slightly controversy that Bendis added to this story, as although it's not proper controversy, it's bound to have mixed responses, and although I'm somewhat in the middle, I look forward to seeing where it goes, and if it will affect the Battle of the Atom crossover.

I wasn't too sure whether I liked the art in this issue or not, as it was much different than either Stuart Immonen, or David Marquez' art. I did however overall enjoy the art, feeling that David Lafuente's cartoon like style suited the fun tone of this issue. The detail in Lafuente's art was however amazing, and he did a great job wit the the characters, as although I wasn't a fan of how he drew Wolverine, he drew the younger characters perfectly, and especially Iceman who he already had experience drawing during his time on Ultimate Comics Spider-Man. Lafuente also did a great job with the characters emotions, making it easy to tell what the characters are feeling. I also loved the vibrant colors from Jim Campbell.

Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Imagination Centre

My Rating



Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 4/5

Verdict - 4.1 - (Buy All-New X-Men #15) SAVE 10%


Iron Man #14 - The Secret Origin of Tony Stark: The Best Offense Part Two


MORE MIND-BLOWING REVELATIONS AS "THE SECRET ORIGIN OF TONY STARK" CONTINUES!

Free at last, all IRON MAN has to do is fight a robot who can take over his armor at any time and avoid one of the universe's greatest bounty-hunters...DEATH'S HEAD.

An impossible choice at the edge of space will decide the fate of two worlds. Who lives? Who dies?

And can TONY STARK somehow find a way to avoid his destiny...

Preview



Story Finally Starting Becoming Good


This has been a very poor series, as although it was poor prior to first dropping the series following issue 5, it hasn't been much better since, and this storyline has been a bit disappointing. This second half does however look to have more promise, but it may be to little, to late.

Plot

Iron Man (Tony Stark) has temporarily escaped from 451, but 451 uses Death's Head to track Tony down.

Review

This was a terrific issue, and probably the best in the series so far, definitely being the best in this storyline so far. Kieron Gillen did a great job on this issue, reminding me why I used to consider him as a good writer, as this has probably been the best work he's done since the start of Marvel NOW! It was very suspenseful, and dramatic, having tons of drama, and atmosphere, having become the kind of series I'd hoped it would've been by now. It didn't however have any proper action in it, though the tone of the issue, as well as the suspense made up for that. The dialogue was also great, adding depth to the story, as well as more drama, and tone.

I've had mixed feelings about Greg Land's art over the course of this series, as although there have been quite a few poor moments, he has shown that he can produce marvellous art. He once again showed this during this issue, as it would appear that with the lack off female characters there isn't much he can disappoint me with (as I dislike how every female character he draws looks like a glamour model). I loved the way Land handled the character emotions, with them feeling very natural, and realistic, with even 451, and Death's Head showing some emotion. I also enjoyed the dynamic feel of Land's art, but he did slightly disappoint by going back to the awkward smiles that he usually draws on people.

Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Imagination Centre


My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 3/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 4
 - (Buy Iron Man #14) SAVE 10%


Infinity #1


The oversized kickoff to the year's most anticipate Blockbuster summer event, chaning the way you view the Marvel Universe!

The outbreak of war on two fronts: Earth and Space, with our heroes torn between them.

The world-shattering return of Thanos!

Includes material from FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: INFINITY

Preview



Everything Dies


This has been a series that I've been looking forward to for some time now, as with the disappointment of Age of Ultron, as well as the brilliant build-up in both Avengers, and New Avengers series I'm hoping that Marvel will deliver an amazing event.

Plot

Whilst the Builders head for Earth, Corvus Glaive sends an Outrider to hunt for information for Thanos, and the Avengers learn of the Builder's arrival.

Review

This was a brilliant start to this event, and although the issue wasn't perfect, it shows a lot of hope for it's future, and looks to be the start of something great. Jonathan Hickman has done a great job of building the start of this story, allowing people who haven't been following Avengers, or New Avengers to get a grasp of what's to come in this story without being too confused. He has however also thought of the people who have been reading them series, as this is a great continuation, and all the build-up that has been happening since the start of both series looks to be worth it. Hickman also added some suspense, and drama, but the mystery mainly ruled out, and he did a tremendous job of starting this story.

The art on this issue was simply outstanding, and when I heard that Jim Cheung would be one of the artists working on this series I was over the moon, as I love his work. His art was very highly detailed, with very few minor imperfection, which you'd only really notice if you were looking for them. I also loved how Cheung drew all the characters, and especially Thanos, and the Outrider, as both looked awe-inspiring. The Outrider just looked mean, and Alien like, whilst still being unique, whereas Thanos simply looked the powerhouse that he is, looking maniacal, and sinister. I also loved the layout of Cheung's art, as it added depth, and that along with the way he drew the space sequences made this issue very dynamic.

Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Imagination Centre


My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 4/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 5/5
Verdict - 4.6
 - (Buy Infinity #1) SAVE 10%

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John McCubbin is a blogger at http://imaginationcentre.blogspot.co.uk/ and a comic book reviewer at Comic Vine. The use of this review has been authorized by the original author.

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