BLACK TERROR #2
Dynamite Entertainment
Alex Ross and Jim Krueger (Writers)/Mike Lilly (Art)

Wizard Assistant Managing Editor Andy Serwin: "The Black Terror hatches the most audacious plan in the history of comics, as he sets off to attack the White House, usurp President West from the seat of power and find his missing sidekick Tim, supposedly imprisoned below the Oval Office. Though a thinly veiled, somewhat preachy diatribe against the current, real-world administration's political policies (Take that, Dubya!), this libertarian issue of Black Terror sports earnest dialogue and exposition, and comes overflowing with outrageous super-heroics sure to feed the jones of any action junkie: After taking a bullet in the forehead to stop an assassin from killing President Truman in the early 1950s, fast-forward to the present, where the Terror storms the White House, fights off a brigade of troops, launches himself in the air with a pair of bazookas to hijack a helicopter, then freefalls into the White House! Big props to Lilly for his playful panel layouts and dynamic splash pages, while colorist Vinicius Andrade deserves kudos for his pleasing palette. That amazing art pair has Black Terror looking in the pink."


"Thanks for the kudos Andy...much appreciated...;)"
-Mike

4 Bullets: An above average comic. While it's not perfect, it's still well worth your time to pick this up and save it for future readings.

BLACK TERROR #2 -
Story: ALEX ROSS & JIM KRUEGER  Pencils: MIKE LILLY
Color: VINICIUS ANDRADE  Letters: SIMON BOWLAND 
Editor: JOE RYBANDT Publisher: NICK BARRUCCI of DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
"The Black Terror Goes to Washington" (part 2)

The Green Lama fails to talk the Black Terror out of openly warring against Washington D.C. in his search for his former young partner Tim. The situation brings back memories of a time when The Terror supported the President. It's that same rationale urging him forward to a finish by flag-enshrouded fists.

The narrative reveals a very thoughtful man that contrasts his violent, amazingly destructive actions. The Terror's narration teases a slow realization stemming from a metaphor involving infection and cancer. The parallels of the government corruption running the world and biochemistry sometimes are a little heavy-handed but fits the characterization. The pirate angle he starts to see is the better one, and it provides the symbolism in later scenes that seems natural for the Black Terror.

Lilly makes the Black Terror powerhouse, and he choreographs impressive battles fought against the military. He's also careful to show the Terror holding back. The Terror's not hunting the soldiers. He wants their leaders. These melees culminate in an awesome, larger than life strategy that builds on the Terror's resonance. This is a stunt that a top hero can get away with, not a third tier character.

Vincius Andrade's use of color accents the Terror's historical significance. His skull symbol glows a ghostly blue against his black uniform, and the Terror's often set against a backdrop of fire reds and oranges that represent his emanating anger. It's also interesting that the usually bright red, whites and blues of the patriotic heroes appear dimmer when the bearers of those hues stand against the Terror.

Ross, Krueger, Lilly and Andrade combine forces to make the second issue of The Black Terror an enjoyable, climactic actioner; though it's far from mindless. The narration shows the Terror's reasoning cutting through the muddle of ideas and viewpoints others may hold to define his actions perfectly.

Comics Bulletin's Ray Tate's Review of Black Terror #1.
THANKS RAY for the 5 outta' 5 Bullets!!!

5 Bullets: An exceptionally good comic book — an entertaining story that exceeds expectations and is a terrific example of the artform of comics.

 BLACK TERROR #1 -
Story: ALEX ROSS & JIM KRUEGER  Pencils: MIKE LILLY
Color: VINICIUS ANDRADE  Letters: SIMON BOWLAND 
Editor: JOE RYBANDT Publisher: NICK BARRUCCI of DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
"The Black Terror Goes to Washington" (part 1)

The Black Terror and the rest of the Superpowers have been labeled terrorists by the United States government. They'll get no help from the United Nations, and in the debut issue of Black Terror, the U.S. begins its assault against the heroes freed from Pandora's Box. Ross and Krueger do many things in a story that despite being part of a continuing title has a beginning, a middle and an end.

Suppose you didn't peruse the highly recommended Project Superpowers. Will you feel lost upon reading the first super-hero spin-off from that mini-series? No. The authors encapsulate the necessities on the first page, and they add further hints throughout the story.

Will the exposition bore you? No. The authors chose their words carefully to energize the narration, and Mike Lilly and Vinicius Andrade create inventive imagery. The sequence in which a patriotic garbed hero is hunted down by American forces is telling of the situation. Those who never read Project Superpowers need not fear being lost.

Will the reader's unfamiliarity with the main character hurt the enjoyment of his first solo adventure? No. I've seen the Black Terror. I thought he had a neat costume, and I knew the basics about the character thanks to reference sources such as Jeff Rovin's indispensable Encyclopedia of Super-Heroes, but I never read an original Black Terror adventure. The creative team glean the gist of the character and evolve resonance from his heroic actions. His characterization deepens with a horrible realization, which may or may not be an effect caused by his imprisonment.

The story starts out as a Superpowers tale. The team is still united. The government unleashes the eerie American Crusaders, a homogenous army based on the team's old friend, that float in a muddy brown battle scarred sky like dead burnt leaves caught on a breeze. The camera subtly moves away from the entirety and focuses on the Black Terror as he cuts out of the pack to save the life of a fan. It's an unusually smooth segue that also allows Krueger and Ross to give a mindset to the people that the Superpowers protect.

The visual departure distinguishes a different attitude. The Black Terror was introduced as part of a team in Project Superpowers. The heroes didn't come first and form the team. They were the team first, and this book, one of hopefully many, spotlights one of them. It's essentially a wide angle shot dropping down to a close-up.

The Black Terror's set piece benefits from beautiful props and cinematography. He fights a pack of Crusaders among pirate ships mounted in a museum, and the skulls and crossbones of ship and champion glow in the dark for an aesthetic optic effect that follows a theme started by the fan the Terror saved.

The American Crusader ambiguously reveals some information that instills in the Black Terror an almost berserker like rage. This behavior contrasts his identity and humble beginnings captured in flashback, which also remind the reader for what and whom he fights. Intriguingly, Ross and Krueger still use the essence of the character to evince that the potential for the Terror's resonance was always there.

Black Terror is another feather in the cap of the Ross/Krueger team. With Mike Lilly contributing artwork attentive to anatomy and dynamic motion and Vinicius Andrade's evocative colors, the beginning of a new super-hero renaissance may be imminent.

 

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 SIGNING AT JIM HANLEY'S UNIVERSE NYC!!!
Sorry for the last minute on this but I'll be signing at Jim Hanley's Universe on Wednesday from 5pm til. 7pm. I'll being signing Annihilation Conquest Quasar issues and the collected Annihilation Conquest Hardcover Book 1.  Also, I'll be sketching Quasar as well as any characters you 'd like! So bring those backing boards, sketchbooks or if you'd like...right onto your FLESH!!! Hope to see ya'll there!!!
Here's the link and all the info...http://www.jhuniverse.com/page/rvel/Events_and_News_at_JHU
DIVIDED THEY STAND!
Wednesday, May 21
5:00 to 7:00 PM
@ our Manhattan Store meet
CB CEBULSKI
ANDY SCHMIDT
MIKE LILLY (Annihilation Conquest: Quasar)
and
DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI (Cable)

 Hey All...just wanted to say last months NYC Comic Con was a tremendous success for Mike Lilly Studios. First off we got to catch up with many friends that we haven't seen in years, caught up with collegues and art lovers alike. Made new business contacts as well as a long commission list, which I'm already behind on. Hopefully, I'll make a big dent in them end of this month and next. A BIG THANK YOU to EVERYONE for stopping by my two tables and making the con the best and most successful one yet!
Also,  wanted to show the color version of the exclusive print I had at last months NYC Comic Con...

 Hey all...once again NYC Comic Con will be in full swing this weekend.
NYC COMIC CON!

There's so much more to see and do this year but if you get a chance...stop by my humble table in Artist Alley. It'd be a great chance to catch up with many of you...talk comics and all good things.
I'll be in Artist Alley C 30-31. Doing sketches, selling originals and I'll have an exclusive print on hand as well.
Hope everyone has a great con!!!

 Hey All,

A rarity for me...I'm selling a couple of my own personal sketch cards on eBay. 3 pen and ink Star Wars cards and a full color Thor card on my own personal card stock. Here's the listings....

Darth Vader Sketch Card
Stormtroopers Sketch Card
Boba Fett Sketch Card

Thor Sketch Card

If you could, spread the word to any sketch card fans and collectors. Thanks and best always...Mike Lilly

 

Just posting info on where to check out my work on the net. There are soooooo many sites...it's really ridiculous to keep track of...but I try to keep to the areas where most folk can find me. Here's a run-down...
My official website - www.mikelilly.com (mostly underconstruction but the portfolio and trading card art areas are chock full of my material and some of my best pencil pages from Marvel and DC Comics projects as well as my sketch card works.)
My current portfolio on ComicSpace - http://www.comicspace.com/mikelilly/
My MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/mikelillyart
My Original Art Dealer - http://www.serendipityartsales.net/lillyindex.html
Plus above you'll see a couple of buttons for 'my resume' on Linked.com and a portfolio of published works on Art Wanted.com. Just click on each button to check me out.