Thank you Avril Brown for the wonderful review. Just a portion below.

 "As with any excellent comic, the art and writing need to be on the same wavelength, and never have Hutomo’s pencils and Sherman’s words flowed together so succinctly than in this issue. With his dramatic angles and grainy lines, Hutomo delivers beautiful panels well suited for such visceral story-telling. If there are science fiction, war story and drama comic fans out there who have yet to pick this up, now is the time to get into SHRAPNEL and enjoy a truly great comic. 

http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/02/27/shrapnel-3.aspx

"All in all this Solar System War of the Earth Alliance versus some independent colonies is an intriguing book that keeps you looking forward to the next issue."

 http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-and-worst-of-last-week_24.html

"Only two issues into its run, Shrapnel has become one of our regular “must read” favorites. In a far future – one in which issues may parallel our own time – Earth’s forces are attempting to expediently subjugate the last free human colony. Standing against them is only a small force of over-matched locals and one tough, smart woman. The main character, Samantha Vijaya, is a former war hero, one of Earth’s elite Marines. She had gone into seclusion and taken a new identity, but circumstances forced her to take up armed struggle, this time against her former compatriots. The results are as moody as they are action filled. "

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=267&ai=80317

"The scope of this story is nothing short of epic, and artist Bagus Hutomo’s big-screen visuals hammer that point home; the battle sequences are absolutely breathtaking. Despite all the massive battlemechs and armored marines though, this is still a character driven story with very human elements driving it - the desire for equality and freedom, and the willingness to fight for it. True to form for Radical Publishing, this inaugural issue is being offered for a budget introductory price - 48 pages for $1.99, and it’s well worth the money. "

http://chud.com/articles/articles/18202/1/THOR039S-COMIC-COLUMN---021809-EDITION/Page1.html

Bill Sherman provides and in depth review that covers the events and style of the series. No fancy soundbites and a good look at what to expect from reading the series.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/02/14/120034.php

Issue #2 goes on sale February 18th!

 "The battle scenes are savagely gory and well constructed. The characters are very brutal but lively and entertaining. Admira Wijaya’s art is magnificent! Where did they find this guy! I’m down with anything involving Steranko. This was a darker look at Greek Mythology. We need to keep an eye on Radical! Grade A"

 http://www.mania.com/new-novel-from-philip-k-dick_article_112761.html

"For those craving a classic tale of the bloody price of freedom, look no further than SHRAPNEL"

http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/02/08/shrapnel-2.aspx

Comics Bulletin have the latest review on the upcoming title. Look for it on sale February 18th."War is hell, and Shrapnel does its best to show us what that hell would look like if it were happening years into the future. Definitely look for this one on the shelf. It’s worth it, and double worth it if you can get an issue with the Barbarella -esque cover A. You’ll know it when you see it."

http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/123424137438703.htm

"This is a great beginning to a sci-fi comic series. I can compare this story and look to a number of reputable sci-fi properties on the market now (Halo, Battlestar Galactica, and Armored Core), but this book pulls together action and character in a combination all of its own. With 48 pages in this first story, the story and the art really breathe, and the reader gets all of the benefit here. We get a strong glimpse into this universe without any mind-numbing info dumps along the way."

http://www.projectfanboy.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2180

"People looking for science fiction, especially with a bit of a harder edge, should check this one out."

 http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showthread.php?p=677325

Great in depth review by Jerome Maida. A simple soundbite doesn't do justice to this great writeup. See what I've selected below and definitely read the full review to see why you should pick up a copy today.

 "Likewise, Radical has taken what at heart is a basic story and used the book to serve notice that they will not only survive but thrive in a marketplace in which Marvel and DC dominate in a similar fashion to the Solar Alliance, in which small companies fight for shelf space and in which numerous companies with plentiful talent and funding have bitten the dust."

 "So if you want a book that's different, with a heroine to root for, that reads and looks like a film and that packs a whopping 48 pages in between its covers for only $1.99, "Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising" No. 1 is for you."

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20090119__Shrapnel__writing___art_give_it_a_sharp_edge.html

"Hardcore science fictions fan should not miss this."

 http://comics.ign.com/articles/942/942513p1.html

Different Podcast this time from ComicBookPage.com. This time they review Radical Publishing's Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #1. For those that don't wish to hear the podcast but know what the reviews were, you can check out Bob Bretail's blog link also.

 Podcast

http://www.comicbookpage.com/Podcast/?p=267

 Blog

http://thedailyblog.dcbservice.com/?cat=87

Radical Comics: Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #1

(W: M. Zachary Sherman A: Bagus Hutomo)

Bob: 5/5 John: 4/5

$1.99 – 48 pgs – 4.1 cents/page (color)Wow!

What a great book! Radical hits another one out of the park with this 48 page premiere issue to get people on board at a very reasonable cost. This has beautiful art and a great sci-fi story set on Venus (the Switzerland of the Solar System) when the more oppressive government running most of the rest of the solar system is getting ready to swoop in & take over. Our heroes are set to defend Venus. 48 pages was a good idea, as it gave enough story to get the ball rolling and really get me into the tale, I’m really looking forward to #2 now.

Shrapnel #1 (of 5) – See my detailed review here. Jump in from the first issue of this terrific new series from Radical Comics. It is the beginning of a trilogy about a Solar War. It has touches and Blade Runner and Gattaca to it, but is just a good book that reads like a true graphic novel. Plus this book is 48 pages of story and art for $1.99, in a grim economic environment you have to love a company giving you a shot at reading a new book for such a bargain.

 http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/01/best-to-worst-of-last-week.html

AICN is showing a lot of love for Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising. Besides doing an interview and review a couple of weeks ago, we also got a new review this week. The previous review praised the book and I this new one takes praise to a whole new level. I'll just give a start to the review and let you follow the link and continue from there.

 "Sometimes you just judge a book by its cover, or at least its price tag. I saw SHRAPNEL on the shelf, with a delightful price of $1.99, and a picture of a bad-ass gun-toting girl and a giant painted mechanized war machine behind her, and I snatched it up. And I’m glad I did."

 New review

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39759#2

 Older review of the first two issues by Ambushbug

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39569#11

"It’s a fairly solid little militant sci-fi book with some pretty painty art. "

 http://comicpants.com/2009/01/wednesday-number-ones-1709/

Great review for those wondering if they should make the purchase.

 "Overall Grade A – Shrapnel delivers a high octane future war story with characters that you want to know.Run out to your local store and get this book. For $2 it is the best bang for the buck on the stands and starts off 2009 on a positive note."

 http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/01/spotlight-review-shrapnel-1.html

"Radical Comics' new series of miniseries, SHRAPNEL, is a multi-layered commentary on military and politics set in a future that is not very different from our own reality, and that's what makes it so damn scary. It is altogether plausible that this is what we have in store for us in the future if we are lucky enough not to kill each other before then. In SHRAPNEL, instead of warring nations, we have warring planets in our solar system. Planets break away from a universal union. The military shows its force in the form of big, giant robots of some very cool designs. And politics go on as usual, except instead of men in suits and military uniforms playing with the lives of entire countries, they gamble with the lives of whole planets. This is a large scale saga, fitting for the son of Carl Sagan, Nick Sagan, to tackle and prove that he was taking notes from his sci fi pioneer of a pop. Writing credits also go to Mark Long and M. Zachary Sherman (a former marine, whose experience shows in the authentic style of writing the military). As usual from Radical, the art is superb. There are some scenes where marines battle large tank machines battle big giant robots that clang and blast right off the page and into your lap (watch the nads, ya bucket of bolts!). I'd say this was another winner from Radical, but it's the reader who is the real winner here with an intense and intelligent story partnered with art that makes your eyes drool. SHRAPNEL #1 will be available January 7th. Don’t miss it."

 http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39569#12

"Generally speaking, with Sherman’s wit and a blend of a haunted past, futuristic fights, and a potential romance in the heat of war is plenty to catch and capture one’s attention."

http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/01/06/shrapnel-1.aspx

"Shrapnel epitomizes everything that SiFi comics should be. "

http://twelvefingers.com/2009/shrapnel-aristeia-rising-1-review-covers-trailer/

"It represents Radical Publishing’s biggest initial commitment to a project today. Why? Because it is, in a word, epic. "

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=267&ai=78604