'Ryder' a perfect storm of entertainment

Radical's latest offering is quite a wild "Ryde."

Indeed, "Ryder on the Storm" is the type of book that changes direction constantly and has more layers than an onion. Just when you feel you have the story and players figured out, everything gets turned upside down.

Indeed, the first issue has a whopping 52 pages of story and writer David Hine expertly makes use of every one of them.

The result is a horror story worthy of Steve Niles, a crime story worthy of Christos Gage and dialogue worthy of Brian Michael Bendis.

There is also a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a riddle. It is so involved and so deep Batman and Sherlock Holmes would both be challenged by it if they teamed up.

Luckily, Mr. Ryder - he doesn't like to give his first name - is on the case and he is quite simply the best he is at what he does. To liven things up, he has a rival.

As the story begins, Ryder is investigating a reported suicide of a man who looks as if he had everything to live for. Peculiar thing is, instead of a gun, noose or poison to do himself in, it looks as if he used a power drill! To burrow an incredible eleven holes in his skull!

Could anyone withstand that much pain? The answer would appear to be a resounding no, until a hallucinatory amphetamine that allows people to withstand incredible pain is found and complicates matters, as does the woman who reported the "suicide," Katrina Petruska.

With it's complexity, mood and attention to detail, "Ryder on the Storm" may be radical's most movie-worthy property. Especially since Petruska is reminiscent of the femme fatale Ava in Frank Miller's "A Dame to Kill For" and just screams to be played by Angelina Jolie.

Toss in gorgeous art, a noir mood, demons and a cliffhanger ending that makes your jaw drop and you will feel like you got a bargain paying the $4.99 cover price.

More price reductions

In more good news for penny-pinched comic fans, Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada told Newsarama.com that it was likely Marvel will reduce the price on a good number of its books from $3.99 to $2.99. This announcement comes after DC had announced it w ould reduce prices for virtually its entire line.

Additionally, Radical president/publisher Barry Levine announced that his company is reducing the price of individual issues and pretty much chucking their "Bigger Books, Bigger Value" campaign.

"We're going back to doing $3.99 and $2.99 books," Levine told Comics Guy. "We feel that works better."

Activist starting new strip

Local activist Van Stone told Comics Guy he is starting a new strip called "Team Monster Values."

"It is based on values such as hard work and caring," Stone told Comics Guy. "We are teaching positive values using rhymes poetry and artwork. Preventing bullying and recycling are two of the issues we will deal with in the strip."

Hulk bashing back to TV?

First, it was announced that "Wonder Woman" is coming back to the small screen. Now, the other character remembered for an iconic '70s TV show is likely coming back as well.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Hulk is one of two properties in the early stages of development under Marvel's new TV division headed by Jeph Loeb ("Smalville," "Heroes").

Many feel remaking the classic Bill Bixby/Lou Ferrigno show is risky, especially since other remakes of classic '70s genre fare like "The Bionic Woman" have died quick and painful deaths.

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