Plot:
Madam Raven has a frightening vision that leaves her shaken and she demands that the circus close immediately. One by one the four elementals' presence is felt by Madam Raven and their combined power shatter a mirror and an ancient chained chest explodes unleashing a great darkness upon the world.
Story by Brian Holguin.
Pencils by Angel Medina.
Inks by Kevin Conrad.
Color by Brian Haberlin, Laura Depuy and Dan Kemp.
Lettering by Comicraft's John Roshell.
KISS REFERENCES
Page 1 (Frame 4): Ace's make-up on far left.
Reference: Ace Frehley.
Page 6 (Frame 2 and everytime we see Madam Raven's hand): Madam Raven rings spell Alive.
Reference: From the album: KISS Alive! (1975).
Page 6 (Frame 5):Animalize cover on tablecloth.
Reference: From the album: Animalize (1984).
Page 6 (Frame 5): Japanese logo.
Reference: This is the KISS Japanese logo.
Page 7 (Frame 1): Asylum written upside down on the wall.
Reference: From the album: Asylum (1985).
Page 7 (Frame 5): Dirty Living written at the top a the far right building.
Reference: From the album: Dynasty (1979), song #4, Dirty Livin'.
Page 7 (Frame 5): The ring of the guy at the far left has the shape of a heart with DR written in it.
Reference: From the album: Rock And Roll Over (1976), song #3, Calling Dr. Love.
Page 7 (Frame 7): Killers written on the wall far right.
Reference: From the album: KISS Killers (1982-Japanese Import).
Page 7 (Frame 7): Strutter beer can.
Reference: From the album: KISS (1974), song #1, Strutter.
Page 8 (Frame 1): Revenge album cover as the far left wall.
Reference: From the album: Revenge (1992).
Page 8 (Frame 2): Duece written on the wall.
Reference: From the album: KISS (1974), song #7, Deuce.
Page 8 (Frame 3): A dark light is coming written with blood on the wall.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Page 9 (Frame 2): The guy kneeling is wearing a shirt with Carr 91 written on his back and he's with a fox.
Reference: The guy looks like Eric Carr (same hair) and 91 was the year he passed away of course the fox was his character.
Page 9 (Frame 4): Elder knocker as Madam Raven's earring.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981).
Page 11 (Frame 1): Dynasty written on a building.
Reference: From the album: Dynasty (1979).
Page 11 (Frame 3): Beth as the name of a store.
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #8, Beth.
Page 11 (Frame 3): Help! He's trying to break loose!.
Reference: From the album: Lick It Up (1983), song #6, All Hell's Breakin' Loose.
Page 13 (Frame 6): I call upon the power of the elder, whose fate is bound to mine.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981).
Page 15 (Frame 1): Fortunado's wearing the official KISS leather jacket.
Reference: No explanations necessary.
Page 19 & 20: All the eight frames are placed in a way to make the word KISS.
Reference: No explanations necessary.
This issue is the first one of a four part series. This first issue doesn't reveal a lot of things, maybe the start of the end of the world or the destruction of the Psycho Circus and ends with the probable appearance of the Four-Who-Are-One to save the universe. Very cool issue, it's great to see that the comic can ride from independant issues to 3 or 4 part stories. Great cover, all four covers of this series makes one big cover when put side to side.
Plot:
The Four-Who-Are-One gather to discuss an emerging evil that threatens to engulf the world. They agree that action must be taken, no matter what the cost. At the circus, a great storm announces the coming of the "Dark Light," a power that will remake the world in its image and Kismet learns that none of the lost souls can leave the circus without perishing. Led by the Nightmare King, who emerged from the madness of a young man named Joshua Childe, the hordes of Chaos taint the world with formless evil, spreading quickly to all ends of the globe. Only the Four-Who-Are-One stand in their way.
Story by Brian Holguin.
Pencils by Angel Medina.
Inks by Kevin Conrad.
Color by Brian Haberlin, Laura Depuy and Dan Kemp.
Lettering by Comicraft's John Roshell.
KISS REFERENCES
Page 1 (Frame 1 & all along the story): The realm of The Elder.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981).
Page 1 (Frame 4): Fox make-up on the floor and all the other KISS members make-up.
Reference: Eric Carr and KISS.
Page 2 & 3 (Frame 1): Sometimes unholy fire is needed to cleanse the world.
Reference: From the album: Revenge (1992), song #1, Unholy.
Page 2 & 3 (Frame 1): Still, I must confess that.
Reference: From the album: Carnival Of Souls-The Final Sessions (1997), song #10, I Confess.
Page 6 (Frame 2): I tattoo.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #11, I.
Page 6 (Frame 3): Strutter beer.
Reference: From the album: KISS (1974), song #1, Strutter.
Page 7 (Frame 2):
All hell'z breaking loose! written on the wall.
Reference: From the album: Lick It Up (1983), song #6, All Hell's Breakin' Loose.
Page 7 (Frame 8): Dark light written on the wall.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Page 8 & 9 (Frame 1 & all along the story): The nightmare king, lord of dark light...
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #2, King Of The Night Time World.
Page 8 & 9 (Frame 1): The nightmare king, lord of dark light...
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Page 8 & 9 (Frame 1): Killer written on the wall.
Reference: From the album: Creatures Of The Night (1982), song #8, Killer.
Page 8 & 9 (Frame 5): Christine 16 written on the top of a building.
Reference: From the album: Love Gun (1977), song #2, Christine Sixteen.
Page 15 (Frame 3): The demon Lord of the wasteland.
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #3, God Of Thunder, second verse, I'm the lord of the wastelands.
Page 19 (Frame 1): And so, one by one, the little creatures left their...
Reference: From the album: Creatures Of The Night (1982).
Page 19 (Frame 1): ...oathing and shouthowling their scofful threats.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #8, The Oath.
Page 20 & 21 (Frame 1): Dark light nightmare rust machine.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Second issue of a four part series. Things don't look good for the Psycho Circus. We see Joshua Childe as the Nightmare King who's trying to take over the universe, while the Four-Who-Are-One decide not to let that happen. Again the story is revealed little by little, it makes it more exiting to read and wait the release of the next issue.
Plot:
Blackwell, Tiberius, Stargrave, and Fortunado lie dying while the Four-Who-Are-One deal with the destruction of their respective realms. They battle the Nightmare King's minions in their dimensions and then continue the fiery battle into the earthly dimension as the Elders try to save their Psycho Circus counterparts.
Story by Brian Holguin.
Pencils by Angel Medina.
Inks by Kevin Conrad.
Color by Brian Haberlin, Laura Depuy and Dan Kemp.
Lettering by Comicraft's Dave Lanphear.
KISS REFERENCES
Page 1 (Frame 1 & all along the story): The Elder.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981).
Page 5 (Frame 3): The lord of the wasteland looks across this realm...
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #3, God Of Thunder, second verse, I'm the lord of the wastelands.
Page 5 (Frame 5): I shall have revenge!
Reference: From the album: Revenge (1992).
Page 7 (Frame 2 & all along the story): ...hordes of the Nightmare King inch forward.
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #2, King Of The Night Time World.
Page 10 (Frame 1): ...holding the teeming armies of dark light at bay.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Page 15 (Frame 3): You're going to live forever.
Reference: From the album: Hot In The Shade (1989), song #7, Forever.
Page 17 (Frame 1): How does it feel to look upon your destroyer and know its power...
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976).
Third installement of a four part series. Finally, the Four-Who-Are-One confront the Nightmare King and he starts to morphs into a strange and strong creature, the last issue of this series will tell us all. Again the authors are really doing a good job to keep us on the edge of our seats.
Plot:
With all of reality at stake, Madam Raven calls upon an ancient incantation to revive the Four-Who-Are-One just as the Nightmare King's minions prepare to invade the Psycho Circus. The Elders correct the past transgression that gave the Nightmare King all of his power in the first place. Meanwhile, Joshua Childe's dreams come to an abrupt end.
Story by Brian Holguin.
Pencils by Angel Medina.
Inks by Kevin Conrad.
Color by Brian Haberlin, Laura Depuy and Dan Kemp.
Lettering by Comicraft's Dave Lanphear.
KISS REFERENCES
Page 1 (Frame 2 & all along the story): ...called the Nightmare King who has murdered a world.
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976), song #2, King Of The Night World.
Page 1 (Frame 3): ...swept away by unholy fire, all at the brutish...
Reference: From the album: Revenge (1992), song #1, Unholy.
Page 4 (Frame 3): ...this carnival of lost souls was home to the Elder and protected...
Reference: From the album: Carnival Of Souls-The Final Sessions (1997).
Page 4 (Frame 3 & all along the story): ...this carnival of lost souls was home to the Elder and protected...
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981).
Page 5 (Frame 1): ...for those who dwell within.
Reference: From the album: Psycho-Circus (1998), song #2, Within.
Page 6 (Frame 1): Raise your glasses, my friends.
Reference: From the album: Psycho-Circus (1998), song #7, Raise Your Glasses.
Page 7 (Frame 1): ...gave birth to their own destroyer!
Reference: From the album: Destroyer (1976).
Page 8 (Frame 5): ...abandoning their secret oath.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #8, The Oath.
Page 8 (Frame 5): ...shall be bathed in my dark light!.
Reference: From the album: Music From "The Elder" (1981), song #6, Dark Light.
Page 14 & 15 : An Ace of spades on the Demon right boot (on your left).
Reference: Ace Frehley.
Page 20 (Frame 3): Criss as a name of a shop.
Reference: Peter Criss' band before he re-join KISS was named Criss.
Page 20 (Frame 6): Ankh and star drawn on a balloon on far right.
Reference: Vinnie Vincent and Paul Stanley.
Page 21 (Frame 5): You move on to the next world.
Reference: From the album: Paul Stanley (1978), song #2, Move On.
Last issue of this four part series. The questions of the 3 last issues are answered here. I was a little dissapointed with the ending of it. There's no real ending, but that's how the comic goes, KISS are "spirits". Great four part series though.