Category Archives: Reviews

Magic #4 Reveals Who is Behind the Assassination Attempt!

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Magic: The Gathering comes to comics courtesy of BOOM! Studios. Magic #4 reveals the conspiracy and the difficult task that stands before our Planeswalkers.

Story: Jed MacKay
Art: Ig Guara
Color: Arianna Consonni
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

comiXology
Kindle
Zeus Comics
TFAW

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Review: Magic #2

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Magic: The Gathering comes to comics courtesy of BOOM! Studios. Magic #2 keeps the focus on the assassination attempts and bombings while diving a bit more into the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Story: Jed MacKay
Art: Ig Guara
Color: Arianna Consonni
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

comiXology
Amazon
Kindle
Zeus Comics
TFAW

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

A Gentle Rain is a relaxing puzzle of a game

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Take a deep breath, and relax… we’ve done unboxing and “how to play” videos for A Gentle Rain and now it’s time for the review!

A Gentle Rain is a meditative solo or cooperative strategy game designed to instill calm and tranquility. It’s a beautiful game that’s simple to learn, quick to play, and as relaxing as it intends to be.

The game from Kevin Wilson and Mondo Games is available now from MondoShop.com and will be available in retail stores nationwide beginning May 2021.

Mondo Games provided Board Game Today with a FREE copy for review

Miniature Wargaming: The Movie Teaches the History of the Hobby and Shows Its Heart

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Miniature Wargaming: The Movie

The world of miniature wargaming is massive. Today, it’s a multi-million dollar business that spans the world. I myself have been a miniature wargame player for about 25 years. I began with Warhammer 40,000 just as the second edition launched and to this day have the first miniature I purchased (an Ork Goff Nob). I consider myself well-versed in the industry so went into the documentary Miniature Wargaming: The Movie intrigued with what I might learn.

It’s an interesting documentary that does an admirable job in condensing the massive industry and vast amount of games into a 1 hour and 46 minute film. And, impressively, it does it quite well.

What’s interesting about the film is that it has a clear thematic arc in the various phases of miniature wargaming, pre-World War II, Post World War II to Games Workshop, Kickstarter/e-commerce, and then YouTube. There’s a fantastic focus on not just the world but also how the time impacted the industry.

But beyond an overview of the industry, the games, the publishers, the film also dives a bit into the “scene”. Two individuals plan for a tournament they’re attending. Another two individuals talk about UK Games Expo that they’ll be exhibiting at. While much of the movie is an overview, its these segments that deliver a bit of heart, especially as one developer struggles to get his board game to audiences. There’s also some dips into what the games and community gives back to individuals. Some interviewed hint at dark times in their lives and that gaming helped get them through it by connecting with others.

And that’s the unexpected thing about the film.

There’s a focus on how this fun hobby has members who struggle and it’s the hobby that helps them get through that. The first half of the film gets you caught up about the world but the latter half brings the heart. It’s a pivot that hits viewers as it creates a human element to the film. It takes what is a documentary about a commercial venture that one can argue is superficial, and shows that it’s anything but. This is a hobby that means so much to so many and it’s a hobby that involves connections with others.

What starts, and was expected to be, a documentary about the miniature wargame community turns into something so much more. It’s a touching film about a community brought together through a shared love of something. There’s highs and lows… and a lot of heart. It doesn’t attempt to do much. There seems to be a recognition you could do a full length film on any of the topics it touches upon, so it doesn’t attempt it.

Miniature Wargaming: The Movie is an impressive introduction to the hobby but it’s so much more. It brings a human aspect to it all. It brings emotion to an industry ruled by rules. While not a perfect film, I walked away knowing more about the industry and its history and also recognizing why the hobby means so much to me as a player. It’s something I’ve struggled with during the pandemic and general isolation for the entire time. Miniature wargaming is an escape from the stress of things. That can be the modeling aspect of it, getting immersed in the world, learning new rules, or playing the game. Any and all of those achieves that. It’s a way to connect with others over a shared love of something. Most importantly, it’s a way to have fun.

Rent or Own: Amazon – Google – Apple TV – Vimeo – Vudu

Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion Delivers a Very Mediocre Adventure

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Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion

I’ve never played a game of Gloomhaven. I’ve heard good things about the legacy dungeon crawler but it’s a commitment I don’t have time for. Beyond the fantasy setting, I know little of the world and after reading Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion, I’m not sure I know all that much.

Welcome to the City of Gloomhaven. A city we don’t get to see much of as a lot of the comic takes place within a bar. The Jaws of the Lion are a the top of the hierarchy of the city, but their latest job goes sideways. Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion takes us through the group’s adventure in segments told from a different member’s perspective.

I’m not sure if it was high-hopes for a new comic series based on a board game or the interest in a “new” property being expanded to comics, but the potential of the debut issue feels squandered. Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion is one that feels more focused on fans of the property than an introduction to that property for all, that also is entertaining for fans.

Written by Travis Mcintire, the comic has a fine concept, a band of adventurers talking about a job gone wrong. But, there’s little setup and little to make us care about the characters. The adventure is just that, a fairly generic adventure with a different set of characters. We’re not given much background on any them, their powers, race, really anything. Unless you know the world or the specific characters, it all feels a bit lost. There’s some personality in each but beyond one’s unique dialogue they’re all pretty basic fantasy characters with a different look.

The teaser text for the comic hinted at punk bands, drug dealing street gangs, and a dark God sleeping underneath the city. None of that’s really here at all. There’s some things danced around but as far as the city, we see the inside of a bar and the direct outside of it again leaving us with a very generic premise of a comic.

With art by Tyler Sowles and lettering by Justin Birch, the art too is interesting but doesn’t quite click for me. The design, class, and race of the characters are something that appealed to me. But the action itself felt a little lackluster and the scenes within the tavern outright boring. With a story that doesn’t give much background about the characters, the art needed to deliver a bit more to clue readers in. Birch’s lettering stands out a bit for its unique style concerning one character made of bugs. That was the most intriguing design of the entire comic.

Gloomhaven: Fallen Lion had a lot of potential as a comic. Something different such as an introduction to the game and its elements might have stood out. But, as presented, this is a pretty boring presentation of the world and its characters. Any interesting elements feel sucked out leaving us with a generic fantasy story that’s been done so much better elsewhere.

Gloomhaven created by Isaac Childres
Story: Travis Mcintire Art: Tyler Sowles Letterer: Justin Birch
Story: 6.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Read

Source Point Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Source Point Press

Review: Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3

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Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3

After the shocking reveal of the last issue, it’s hard for Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3 to top it. So, it doesn’t even try. Instead, the issue focuses on the battle ahead in its two stories. It also continues to deliver insight into the champion and leader of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar.

Writer Kieron Gillen continues the dual narrative focusing on the kid that “Marneus Calgar” was and the man Marneus Calgar is. It’s an interesting use of the two time periods as Gillen shows the growth of the character in subtle ways. In the past, we have a green individual who is full of heart but not wise on tactics. In the present, Calgar is a brilliant tactician but also somewhat cold.

The dual stories provide an interesting balance to the issue. We get to see growth in the character from youth to adult. It also dials things back in some ways from the previous one. It’d be difficult to top that issue’s reveal so instead Gillen doesn’t even try. Instead he focuses on Tacitan and where he came from to where he is now using the reveal to further the story. That allows a shift in the narrative in that Calgar’s estate goes from a location to defend due to nostalgia and it being “home” to it being another tactical tool to use. The switch goes from defending one’s home to a cold, calculated move. It’s a great shift that forces you to rethink the first issue and the estate’s introduction.

Gillen does shift things in some ways using the visuals. Games Workshop is known for its violent imagery and while the series has danced around it, Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3 ups the action. New shocking reveals? That’s been done. Now it’s time for the ultra violence. Bodies explode in red explosions as Calgar and his Ultramarines light up the enemies. Bodies drop in the past as Tacitan uses his wits to escape the worshippers of Khorne. Blood flies in crimson glee.

Artist Jacen Burrows handles the violent dance with colors from Java Tartaglia and lettering by Clayton Cowles. Burrows and Tartaglia delivers over the top imagery as bodies explode from bolter fire. The issue almost makes up for the lack of violence in the previous two. It’s over the top in a humorous way delivering more of the violent imagery Games Workshop and Warhammer 40,000 are known for.

What the artistic team and Gillen really pull off is the awe of the Space Marines. The introduction of the Ultramarines to Tacitan is done so in reverence and almost angelic reveal. The scene is handled in a surprising way for multiple reasons. We get to see the abilities of just one Ultramarine but for those that are long time 40K fans, we question actions too. Tacitan has been “exposed” to the corrupting powers of Chaos and yet is saved by the Ultramarine instead of being purged as a possible heretic. There’s more to this story and hopefully Gillen addresses what feels like an intentional decision.

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #3 doesn’t bring the surprises like the previous issue but it ups the action. We get crimson gore flying across panels in a dance of explosions. We get to see Calgar, in both ages, do what he does best, kick Chaos’ ass. The series has been a fun one for me as a long-time fan for Warhammer 40,000 and with each issue the creative team has upped the fun bit by bit.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Jacen Burrows
Color: Java Tartaglia Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2

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Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2

It’s rare where I get to a moment in a comic and make an exclamation out loud. Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2 delivers a “holy shit” moment that’s sure to send shockwaves through the Warhammer 40,000 fandom. It’s an unexpected reveal that changes everything we know about a character.

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2 is based on the tabletop miniature game by Games Workshop. It follows Marneus Calgar during his “modern day” battle against the evil forces of Chaos Space Marines. It also has the character reflecting on his childhood and how he became a Space Marine. It’s an exploration of a time we know little about the character. In the game, his recounted exploits are his time as a Space Marine and the numerous heroic moments he participated in as he climbed up the leadership to be the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines.

Gillen fleshes out the history of Calgar as he is trained by Crixus before he undergoes his tests to maybe become a Space Marine. As a young man, not even a teenager, he’s put through battles and training that risks his life. He’s joined by three friends and numerous strangers who come and go in their training. It’s a perilous journey and we see the nobility of the young man as he keeps his eyes on the goal of becoming a Space Marine. In every scene, at every move, there’s a chance of death or injury. We read to see what carnage awaits him in his training and how the character takes his first steps into legend.

And then Gillen delivers a twist that’s unexpected in every way… One I’m not spoiling.

Jacen Burrows‘ art has grown on me. Joined by Java Tartaglia on color and Clayton Cowles on lettering, the art is pretty solid when it comes to the past. The Chaos Space Marines are still lacking in their menace but overall the art feels a bit tighter and improved on the first issue. While it’s still not the grim dark of classic Games Workshop art, it also delivers just enough to fit as a Marvel comic. There’s some fantastic panels though that are sure to inspired model makers in recreating scenes or poses of characters. The past sequences do stand out though as Burrows seems to be a bit more comfortable winging it with a time and world that’s not as based on design and art we’ve seen over and over. The coloring too is a bit darker fitting the “mood” of Warhammer 40K a bit more.

Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar #2 delivers one hell of an ending. I gasped out loud and immediately had to check to make sure this reveal was brand new. It completely upends so much of what we know making Marneus Calgar much more than Captain America in Power Armor. This is a second issue that completely outdoes its debut and should create a hell of a lot of buzz.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Jacen Burrows
Color: Java Tartaglia Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 10 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Unboxing/Review: Infinity: Betrayal

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The world of Corvus Belli‘s Infinity comes to comics with Infinity: Betrayal from writer Víctor Santos and artist Agustin Graham Nakamura.

In a hidden base deep in the jungles of planet Paradiso, Imperial Agent Adil Mehmut must determine whether his prisoner, special operative and former hero Ko Dali, is a traitor to her country and the whole human race, or an alien that has impersonated her to divide humanity.

We open up and show off the “limited edition” release which includes an exclusive miniature of the protagonist: Ko Dali.

Get your copy:
Game Nerdz
Miniature Market
Corvus Belli

Corvus Belli provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Constellations – the Game of Stargazing and the Night Sky Review

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Constellations: The Game of Stargazing and the Night Sky is a card-based game that gives 2-4 players the chance to explore our amazing night sky, the science and mythology behind stars and constellations, and have fun competing as they piece together the constellations in the night sky as they collect the correct star cards.

Based on real science and constellations players draw Star Cards, which represent the seven types of stars classified by astronomers. Each constellation requires a unique combination of star types to place in the sky.

A great game that combines STEM and games this is one that you’re able to learn while you play!

Orders yours now!

 

Xtronaut provided Board Game Today with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Quarto is a Micro Game with Lots of Strategy

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Quarto is an abstract strategy game featuring wooden pieces where your goal is to get four in a row based on various characteristics of the pieces. Think tic-tac-toe to the next level.

For 2 players, the game is for those ages 6 and up and takes about 20 minutes per game.

We run you through why we picked up the game at PAX Unplugged and why you should make it a part of your game collection.

You can buy two version:
Regular or Mini

 

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

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