Tales of Science Fiction: The Standoff #1,3-5

Title: John Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction: The Standoff # 1
Publisher: Storm King Comics
Series Created by: John Carpenter and Sandy King
Writer: David J. Schow
Artist: Andres Esparza
Colors: Sergio Martinez
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
AR Variant Cover by: Tim Bradstreet & The AR Firm 
Editor: Sandy King
Price: $ 3.99 US
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Website: www.stormkingcomics.com
Comments: An explosion at a prison called Tattersall causes all kinds of trouble. Prisoners are free and have hostages. Elaine and Chaz are special agents there to help the local authorities. Bonner is the prisoner in charge of the others and he is a cold blooded killer. 
  The two FBI agents are professional. Elaine tries to make the situation more relaxed but there is no doubt she is in charge. 
  The horror starts as two escaped prisoners find something not normal. One look at it and you will feel fear. Things escalate fast. There are some fantastic visuals. 
  The weird stuff is already happening. Insects are in the air and they are illustrated as strange looking things even alien looking. What happens when they sting someone is a mystery as to its implications. What do these alien insects want? 
  The ship is an awesome sight. 
  There is lots of tension between the authorities and the prisoners. Will any of them survive? Terror has come to Tattersall prison. 


Title: John Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction: The Standoff # 3
Publisher: Storm King Comics
Series Created by: John Carpenter and Sandy King
Writer: David J. Schow
Artist: Andres Esparza
Colors: Sergio Martinez
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
Editor: Sandy King
Price: $ 3.99 US
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Website: www.stormkingcomics.com
Comments: The prison is a mess prisoners have hostages, guards are trapped and there are aliens loose. 
  The alien insects are so beautifully illustrated. The colors are amazing on them. The bigger versions are frightening things in the shape of men.
  Something has gone down before with these aliens. There was a cover up. Now though with the prison and prisoners and of course the aliens all running loose it looks like it would be hard to cover this up. Conrad is the expert on ET's the only wrong with that is there are not just ET's there are many prisons to deal with to.
  The aliens do have an agenda but there is a mystery still to them. 
  The alien insects really standout they are deadly and very hard to stop as they are small. The art now brings across with how they are illustrated just how dangerous these things are. You do not want to get stung. 


Title: John Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction: The Standoff # 4
Publisher: Storm King Comics
Series Created by: John Carpenter and Sandy King
Writer: David J. Schow
Artist: Andres Esparza
Colors: Sergio Martinez
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
Editor: Sandy King
Price: $ 3.99 US
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Website: www.stormkingcomics.com
Comments: The blue gun toting aliens are impressive looking. Bonnie has hostages in the prison with cops outside and guards and aliens inside he is stuck. These are not just ordinary aliens they have possessed human hosts. 
  Then a firefight breaks out and the bullets are flying fast and furious. 
  This comic does play out like a sci-fi horror movie. It could easily be adopted in to a full length movie or even a mini series. 
  Agent Elaine Farris, Conrad Gant, and Wayne Jessup along with a few others make there way inside the prison and there they encounter the aliens. Elaine has plans ready to stop them though others may die to. The suspense is building up, how far will these aliens go? What is their ultimate goal and can they be stopped. You will be waiting breathlessly for the next and last issue to find out. 


Title: John Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction: The Standoff # 5
Publisher: Storm King Comics
Series Created by: John Carpenter and Sandy King
Writer: David J. Schow
Artist: Andres Esparza
Colors: Sergio Martinez
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Cover Art: Tim Bradstreet
Editor: Sandy King
Price: $ 3.99 US
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Website: www.stormkingcomics.com
Comments: Right away the scene is set. This is a sci-fi comic with a touch of horror and it is made to grab your attention and pull you in. 
  It is aliens vs police vs cons. Everyone has an agenda the bomber jets though decide things. 
  As things move along they have become hard to follow exactly what is going on and who is who. The ending is anti-climatic nothing ground shattering happens. it is left kind of as a cliffhanger ending but  done very subdued. 
  The comic is illustrated at night so it is dark. The colors you do see do pop out at you. 
  This issue does move along with not a lot happening. Everyone seems to just be milling about. Even after the bombs fall things do not pick up. At the end you are left wondering is this the end? 

Richard Vasseur