Good interview with the writer of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising regarding Shrapnel and his upcoming work.

http://comicnews.info/?p=6124

First of two recent interviews from the writer of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising. Good look at how M. Zachary Sherman first started writing for comics following an impressive career in digital effects in a lot of the biggest movies of the past decade along with a good insight on the main character in Shrapnel and how the series has come together.

 http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/articles/mshermaninterview

In a week full of big titles, Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #4 rises in the eyes of Jim Martin to be among the best. If you follow the series but haven't read the latest issue, this and the other reviews in the prior posts should convince you.

"I love the scope of the story as it involves the entire solar system and Samantha is such a strong character that you can’t help but to root for her. This issue sets the table for the conclusion of the first part of the proposed trilogy and has done a good job of setting up the showdown to come."

http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/04/best-and-worst-of-last-week.html

Andrea Speed from Comixtreme.com reviews the latest issue of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising and gives it an almost perfect score.

"The space battle sequence is great looking, just what digital art was made for. Solid military sci-fi. Rating: 4/5"

 http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46796 

Jim Martin from Comics And... recently interviewed M. Zachary Sherman regarding his career and writing Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising. Great interview that offers insight into the Samantha character.

http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-with-m-zachary-sherman-writer.html

The Scoop from Diamond has this to say regarding the recently released 4th issue of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising.

"Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising become one of our regular 'must read' series after just two issues, and this one just reaffirms that view. With healthy doses of Halo, Starship Troopers, Roman legions and epic storytelling, the story of Samantha Vijaya, former war hero and formerly one of Earth’s elite Marines, continues to explode with tension and all-out action. The series was created by Mark Long and Nick Sagan, and it’s written by M. Zachary Sherman and illustrated by Bagus Hutomo. If you’ve missed the previous issues, don’t wait for the collected edition. Hunt them down and read them now."

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=267&ai=81645

"Sherman continues to create a well-rounded action comic interspersed with tragedy, wit and heart. Sam is a joy to read, and her continued strength in facing her past and attempting to do right by the people who have entrusted her with their lives proves her to be a believable and inspirational heroine. The art hit new levels of awesome in this issue with Hutomo creates pages with the look and feel of a ‘Firefly’ aerial fight. You can practically feel the zap of battle lasers and hear the screeching metal as full pages of ships and soldiers fight and die in battle. An exciting fourth issue, leaving the reader anxiously anticipating the conclusion to see what else Sam will have to sacrifice for her men, their freedom, and the lives of everyone on the planet."

http://reviews.comicswaitingroom.com/2009/03/31/shrapnel-4.aspx

The latest issue of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising of course. Here are their comments

"Shrapnel #4 (of 5) – This series is building and building and the great thing about it, is that it is only the first story that is over after issue #5 as the series is a trilogy. Radical’s comics most ambitious series to date."

http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-im-getting-wednesday-april-1.html

Great review by Richard Caldwell regarding the 4th issue.

"The full scope and potential of this story is coming into play here, with allusions to what is going on in other parts of the galaxy, and additional hints at earlier struggles in the seemingly never-ending war for freedom. The fast paced violence and realistically grim dialogue present an excellent view of the harshness of survival, of the ever-looming death that is reaping a mother of a harvest amidst the mechanized battlesuit warfare and exploding orbital spaceships. As I said in a review for a previous issue, this is what a future war SHOULD look like, what it should FEEL like. The claustrophobia of impossible odds, well portrayed.
The art, digitally painted as such, has grown as the series progresses. The storytelling is better defined, the POV more clear and resolute. Some of these pages are just plain beautiful. There is a wonderful pedigree of imagination and vision employed here.Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising may be concluding soon enough, but Vijaya’s war is just beginning, and I honestly look forward to further tales of this bleak but hopeful futuristic narrative. Radical is getting it right."

http://comicnews.info/?p=5283

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 M. Zachary Sherman talks Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising on the Johnny Gigawatt podcast show M. Zachary Sherman, writer of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising was recently on the Johnny Gigawatt podcast to talk about Radical, the writing process, Shrapnel, the new America's Army book and much, much more!

http://johnnygigawatt.com/?p=591

"Each page, each scene serves the purpose of moving the story forward and writer M. Zachary Sherman deserves credit for bringing a greater focus. There’s no sense of rambling with characters that have no meaning. This is Sam’s book. She drives the story and her humanity has an effect on those around her, even her enemies. With the grand diatribes on politics and technology wisely left behind, this is a more accessible entry into this title, as the nitty gritty of war breaks the surface. Sherman is a skilled writer. Creating empathy for comic book characters is never easy, especially new ones, but he does that here, without going overboard. Every character, even the face of the enemy is painted with multiple dimensions. There are no cardboard cut outs, and when Sam unloads emotionally on her sister, and describes her past to a fellow soldier, it all seems real. That last scene in particular reminded me of Quint’s fantastic recounting of the shark attack he witnessed in WWII, in Jaws, in that it’s a lengthy, but well told story of loss amidst brutality."

 

http://extrasequential.com/2009/03/02/shrapnel-aristeia-rising-3-review/

"Shrapnel #2 (of 5) – Radical continues to impress with series after series [Photo]after series. While they are not releasing a lot of books per month, they are releasing quality products. The first issue of Shrapnel was a great set-up and I’m looking forward to more."

http://comicsand.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-im-getting-wednesday_16.html

The comic comes out this Wed (Feb 18th) but AICN has the inside scoop on why you should buy this right away.

"If you haven’t yet given this title a chance, pick up the first two issues and join the war party. SHRAPNEL # 2 not only has the best cover of the month, the title itself has become my favorite new series of 2009."

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

There is a lot of love for Radical Publishing's newest series. Here is just a portion of someone that really, really, really likes Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #1

 

"I loved it, really loved it--like I’m going to take it everywhere I go and demand that people place an extra seat at the table for it. I’ll read it until the gloss wears off the pages. Honestly, this is one the best books I’ve reviewed, and I wish the best of luck to the creative team on the future issues. I’m certainly looking forward to them."

 

Read the rest here: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/123152566680971.htm

Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising writer, M. Zachary Sherman, discusses the series with Newsarama. Issue #1 is on sale today (Jan 7th) and retails for only $1.99 for 48 story pages.


http://www.newsarama.com/comics/010907-Shrapnel-Sherman.html

Back at the San Diego Comic-Con, the Electric Playground interviewed M. Zachary Sherman, the writer of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising about the new Radical series. See the full trailer for Shrapnel on our website and check out Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising #1 on January 7th, 2009!

http://elecplay.com/episode/view/episode/81/season/18/segment/3

Co-creators Mark Long and Nick Sagan, along with writer M. Zachary Sherman, talk to CBR about Radical Publishing's newest series and show the first 22 pages of the 48 page first issue of Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18940