Black Phoenix Vol. 2 - by Rich Tommaso (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A collection of long and short form comics, Rich Tommaso's one-man comics anthology magazine, Black Phoenix! Features stories from an array of classic Golden Age comic book styles and genres.

Black Phoenix is, at its core, a contemporary comics magazine featuring original characters and stories of various comics genres--all dreamed up by its sole author, Rich Tommaso. In this volume, you'll meet Venus The Love Goddess and read all about her many adventures in the whirlwind world of romance--as she attempts to play matchmaker to all of those in need. Wherever there's trouble--Texas, Hollywood California, The Planet Mars, or down south to Miami Beach--she is there to lend a helping hand. While in Miami Beach, Venus becomes acquainted with a group of young, sun-lovin' beachcombers--partly made up of the cast from Tommaso's Horror Of Collier County universe-- but also starring some new fiends, including a sexy crocodile girl and a vampire cat. Plus, more short stories about love and death. Don't miss this one!

Review Quotes

"There's more pure energy in this thing than any other comic this year. I could have read a thousand pages of this." - Matt Seneca, The Comics Journal

" The longtime Dark Horse- and Fantagraphics-published cartoonist Rich Tommaso deserves credit for continuing to find new places to go stylistically." - Tom Spurgeon, The Comics Reporter

"Rich Tommaso's cartooning possesses an innate and confident snap that grabs the eye and won't let it go. Rich seems to get better with every comic." - James Sturm, author of Market Day

"Tommaso's artwork is just stunning and highly original, while preserving many aspects of traditional cartooning. Each panel is constructed as carefully as a full-page spread with every crisp line of inking or block of color remarkably balanced." - Hannah Means-Shannon, Comicon

"The stories created by Tommaso reflect an incredible variety of genres and tones. While many comics creators tend to be pegged for the one thing they do best, Tommaso defies definition in this regard. He regularly tackles a wide array of stories, including horror, crime, thriller, and even funny animals. There's really no guessing what his next project might look like." - Chase Magnett

"Tommaso's art is skilled and lively, the color covers particularly fine, boasting eye-catchingly original graphic design. His dialogue is snappy, the narration low-key, in contrast to the frantic goings-on, with a nicely turned phrase ("Time is like an infinite sick day for me now...") here and there. " - Poopsheet

About the Author

Inspired by the crime and horror films of the 1970s - 1980s, artist/writer Rich Tommaso has effectively utilized those influences in his first two original titles at Image, DARK CORRIDOR and SHE WOLF. Having grown up during these same time periods, he's also been able to draw from his own life experiences to elevate and personalize his comics while simultaneously working within those classic genres.