#IReadsYou Review: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: The Golden Child #1

DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: THE GOLDEN CHILD No. 1
DC COMICS/Black Label

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Frank Miller
ART: Rafael Grampá
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: John Workman and Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Rafael Grampa with Pedro Cobiaco
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair; Joelle Jones with Dave McCaig; Rafael Grampa with Pedro Cobiaco; Paul Pope with Jose Villarrubia
32pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (February 2020)

Ages 17+

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (also known as DKR) was a four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman.  Published by DC Comics in 1986, this prestige-format comic book was written by Frank Miller; drawn by Miller (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Lynn Varley; and lettered by John Costanza, with the book covers drawn by Miller and Varley.

DKR told the tale of a 50-year-old Bruce Wayne, long retired as Batman, who dons the cape and cowl again to take on a new crime wave in Gotham City.  When an institutionalized Joker discovers that Batman has returned, he revives himself and begins a new crime wave of craziness.  Batman also battles Superman who is trying to force Batman back into retirement.

DRK was a smash hit, and from the time of its publication, it became a hugely influential comic book, especially on the editorial mindset of DC Comics.  There have been sequels to DKR, as well as other comic books set in its “universe.”  The most recent DKR comic book is Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child.  It written by Frank Miller, drawn by Rafael Grampá; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by John Workman and Deron Bennett.  The Golden Child finds the heirs to the legacy of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel taking on adversaries of their predecessors.

Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child #1 opens three years after the events depicted in the nine-issue miniseries, Dark Knight III: The Master Race (2015-2017).  Lara, the daughter of Wonder Woman (Diana) and her consort, Superman, has spent that time learning to be more human.  After spending her life with the Amazons of Paradise Island, however, Lara has a great disdain for humans.  Carrie Kelley, the former Robin, has been growing into her new role as The Batwoman, after Bruce Wayne/Batman finally retired.

The Batwoman has been battling the Joker and his gang of Joker clones, who are in full rage as the day of the U.S. presidential election approaches.  [Although he is not named, President Donald Trump's image and presence are prominent throughout this comic book].  But Joker has found a new partner in a terrifying evil that has come to Gotham – Darkseid.  Now, Lara and Carrie must team-up to stop two evils, but their secret weapon, young Jonathan, “the golden child” (Lara's brother and Diana and Superman's son) is also the object of Darkseid's murderous desire.

I really like Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, but not because of Frank Miller's story.  It is a hot mess of sound and fury signifying nothing.  It is like someone's incorrect idea that the sound of Jack Kirby is not big (in relation to Darkseid, a character he created), but is histrionics.  Miller does offer a few good ideas, and he is one of the few mainstream comic book creators that could get away with not only casting Donald Trump in a DC Comics title, but also portraying him in an unflattering light.  Teaming-up Joker and Darkseid is not one of Miller's good ideas, and Miller's portrayal of Lara and Jonathan is a mixed bag.  But I can tell that Miller really loves Carrie Kelley, a character he created in DKR.  She is glorious as The Batwoman.

No, I don't love Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child because of Frank Miller.  I love it because of Rafael Grampa, the Brazilian film director and comic book artist.  Grampa's style in Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child is a mixture of Frank Miller's graphic style in both Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and in his Sin City series of miniseries and one-shot comic books and also of Scottish comic book artist Frank Quitely's graphic style.

Grampa's gorgeous illustrations and compositions look even better under Jordie Bellaire's inventive coloring and varietal of hues.  But even all that pretty art can't create superb graphical storytelling from Frank Miller's mish-mash of a story, except in a few places – the Batwoman sections of course.  Carrie Kelley is absolutely spectacular in the double-caped, leathery Bat-suit, which also looks like an actual man-sized bat.

Well, you can't get everything, although John Workman and Deron Bennett also deliver some fine-looking lettering.  So I'll be satisfied with Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child #1 being one of the beautifully drawn and illustrated comic book one-shots that I have ever read.

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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#IReadsYou Review: WOOF WOOF STORY... Volume 2

WOOF WOOF STORY..., VOL. 2
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGA-KA: Koikuchi Kiki
ORIGINAL STORY: Inumajin
CHARACTER DESIGN: Kochimo
TRANSLATION: Wesley O'Donnell
LETTERS: DK
ISBN: 978-1-9753-0856-8; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
180pp, B&W, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir! is a Japanese light novel series created by author Inumajin and illustrated by Kochimo.  Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko (an imprint of Kadokawa Shoten) began publishing the series in late 2017.  Artist Koikuchi Kiki produces a manga adaptation of the novel series, which Kadokawa began publishing on its digital manga reading service, ComicWalker, in February 2018.  Yen Press began publishing an English-language adaptation of the manga in 2019.

[In this review, I sometimes shorten the title, Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir!, to Woof Woof Story.]

Woof Woof Story begins with the story of Routa Okami, an office worker and “corporate slave” who is working himself to death.  He has a crazy wish in which he says, “I just want an easy life, even as some rich person's dog...”  One day Routa drops dead in the middle of his busy office.  A goddess heard Routa's wish and brings him back to life as a pampered pooch, a companion for a wealthy young woman named Mary... But Routa isn't just any dog, he is a enormous, white, wolf-like creature, and he has supernatural powers!

As Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir!, Vol. 2 (Chapters 8 to 12) opens, Routa's pampered-pooch life is in jeopardy.  Every year, around the same time, Mary falls gravely ill, and this year, it seems life-threatening.  Doctor Hecate says a rare medicinal flower, “the wyrmnil,” can help Mary, and if they can find fully potent samples of the flower, Hecate believes that she can cure Mary of her ailment for good.

However, “the wyrmnil” is named so because it is guarded by a fearsome dragon, and it falls on Routa to obtain the flower.  To cure Mary and to maintain his lifestyle, Routa will have to do some actual work for a change!  And his partner in the quest for the wyrmnil is non-other than the swords woman, Zenobia, who is looking for an excuse to kill Routa!

[This volume includes an “Afterword” and “Translation Notes.”]

The Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir!manga is new to me.  I hadn't even heard of the light novel series, but being familiar with novel is not necessary to enjoy the manga.

Woof Woof Story: I Told You to Turn Me Into a Pampered Pooch, Not Fenrir! Volume 2 is a very enjoyable read.  I was not expecting much from it.  I don't know what the rest of this series offers, but Vol. 2 is a quality volume.

Vol. 2 starts off as a playful romp with buxom, naked girls whose naughty bits are always drawn as being obscured or conveniently covered up – typical “fanservice.”  When Mary falls ill, the story moves to pure melodrama, but when Routa and Zenobia begin their journey, the narrative suddenly gets a surge of energy via conflict and adventure.

Zenobia is conflicted because she respects Routa's devotion to Mary, but she senses his powers and believes that they are an evil threat to Mary.  Routa turns out to be very resourceful and has powerful abilities, and he is both brave and lazy.  Manga creator Koikuchi Kiki balances Routa's desire for the easy life with his sense of duty and self-preservation.  I find myself drawn to him, mainly because there seems to be more to Routa than it obvious.  I can also say that about Woof Woof Story; this is a manga that is worth a second look.

7 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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#IReadsYou Review: BLUE FLAG Volume 2

BLUE FLAG, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Kaito
TRANSLATION: Adrienne Beck
LETTERS: Annaliese Christman
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1302-8; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
224pp, B&W, $12.99 US, $17.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Ao no Flag is a high school romance manga written and drawn by Kaito.  The manga was serialized on the online manga magazine, Shonen Jump+, from February 2017 to April 2020.  VIZ Media is publishing Ao no Flag as a paperback graphic novel series, entitled Blue Flag, under its “VIZ Signature” imprint.

Blue Flag focuses on an unassuming high school student named Taichi Ichinose.  It is his senior year at Aohama High School, and he finds himself in the same class as shy Futaba Kuze, of whom he has conflicted feelings.  Taichi and Futaba begin to fall in love, but each has a same-sex best friend – Taichi's Toma Mita and Futaba's Masumi Itachi – who are in love with them.

As Blue Flag, Vol. 2 (Chapters 6 to 12) opens, it is time for Aohama High's school festival.  Toma accepts the position of cheer squad captain on the condition that Taichi and Futaba participate.  The problems are that Taichi does not want to participate, and that Futaba is deathly afraid of performing a cheer in front of the student body.  Later, Masumi makes a series of surprising confessions to Taichi about her “boyfriend.”  Plus, Toma, the captain of the school's baseball team, looks for success at the high school summer tournament

[This volume includes the bonus story, “After the Festival.”]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Blue Flag manga is not any one thing.  It is a mixture of genres and themes:  romance, high school drama, coming-of-age, shonen, LGBTQ, and light comedy.

Blue Flag Graphic Novel Volume 2 is my first experience with the series.  The series is so easy to read that readers do not have to read the first volume to understand the story.  I would, however, recommend that due to the ending of Vol. 2 readers at least start the series with the second volume and not start with the third volume.

Kaito presents characters that are likable, even lovable, simply because the four leads have genuinely different personalities.  That makes the desire, yearning, self-doubt, and internal and external conflict feel real because the characters are truly seeing things from their own different points of view.  This is a high school romance that has dramatic heft.  As usual, readers get a superb English translation from Adrienne Beck that makes every thing resonate with the reader.  Also as usual, Annaliese Christman's lettering sets the tone for individual moments as well as for larger scenes.

I am utterly shocked by how much I like this second volume of Blue Flag.  Honestly, I didn't expect much because of the title and Vol. 2's cover illustration.  Neither hints at how powerful the story is.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of coming-of-age stories and of LGBTQ-themed manga will want to read the “VIZ Signature” title Blue Flag.

10 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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#IReadsYou Review: NIGHTSCHOOL: The Weirn Books Collector's Edition 1

NIGHTSCHOOL: THE WEIRN BOOKS – COLLECTOR'S EDITION 1
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST:  Svetlana Chmakova
TONES: Dee DuPuy
LETTERS: JuYoun Lee
ISBN: 978-1-9753-1289-3; paperback (May 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
396pp, B&W with some color, $24.00 U.S., $31.50 CAN

Nightschool: The Weirn Books is an American or original English-language (OEL) manga written and illustrated by Svetlana Chmakova.  A supernatural fantasy, Nightschool first appeared as a 24-chapter serial in the monthly manga magazine, Yen Plus, from 2008 to 2010.  Yen Press later collected the manga in a four-volume graphic novel series.

In anticipation of the impending release of Chmakova's new graphic novel, The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods, Yen Press is collecting the four Nightschool: The Weirn Books as two mini-omnibus paperback graphic novels.  Nightschool: The Weirn Books Collector's Edition 1 collects Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) and Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Vol. 2 (Chapters 7 to 12) in one book.  Collector's Edition 2 will collect Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Vol. 3 and Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Vol. 4 in one book.

Nightschool: The Weirn Books Collector's Edition 1 is the subject of this review.  Nightschool focuses on Alexius “Alex” Treveney, a 13-year-old “weirn” (a particular breed of witch).  Talented, Alex has always been home-schooled, but she is about to have a reason to go to a public school.

Alex's older sister, Sarah Treveney, works at PS 13W, where there is a “Dayschool” and a “Nightschool.”  Sarah is the new “Nightkeeper” at “Nightschool,” the place where vampires, werewolves, and weirns learn the fundamentals of everything from calculus and spell-casting.  When Sarah vanishes and all memory and evidence of her existence is erased, Alex is determined to get to the bottom of it.

What better place to start than Sarah's place of employment, Benjamin Theron Nightschool a.k.a. PS 13W.  Sneaking into Nightschool is difficult, however, so Alex must enroll at the school.  Is she prepared for what she mind find, which includes conspiracies, broken seals, and a secret conflict between the city's supernatural communities?

[This volume includes the “Afterwords” for Volumes 1 and 2]

I requested a copy for review of The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods shortly after I received a press release announcing it.  Later, I received a box of review copies and a copy of Nightschool: The Weirn Books Collector's Edition 1 was among them.  Initially I thought Nightschool was the new Weirn Books title.  But the cover images did not match, and Nightschool seemed, to me, bigger than it should be if it were new release.

Several minutes of Internet research later, I discovered Nightschool: The Weirn Books, of which I had never heard, although I had heard of Svetlana Chmakova.  I did not know what to make of it upon first glance, but after reading Collector's Edition 1, I now know what to make of it.  Nightschool is a fantastic young readers graphic novel, and I am confident that it is a comic book that I would have read if such comics existed when I was a middle-grade, YA, and teen reader (which they didn't).

One of the first things that surprised me was that, although Alex is the story's main character, her aunt, Sarah Treveney, seems to be the dominate player for much of the story's first six chapters.  Chmakova reveals more of her personality than she does of Alex's.  Sarah is a peacemaker, and although she often seems meek, she is clearly open to new ideas (such as creating school activity clubs for the Nightschool students).  When she disappears, I genuinely regretted seeing her go.

Alex dominates the remainder of the first six chapters and of Chapters 7 to 12.  Although she has bouts of fear, Alex is a strong and forceful character; she is bold and takes initiative.  That boldness is what allows us to discover the other characters and subplots as well follow Alex.

Besides Alex or perhaps connected to her, Chmakova has a lot going on in these first 12 chapters, which are breezy, enthralling reads.  However, she offers enough characters, settings, and plot lines stuffed in 12 chapters for 24 chapters.  If Nightschool were not such a good read, that would be a problem.  A lot of the elements in these first 12 chapters:  names, groups, connects, relationships, obligations, conflicts, etc. are needlessly oblique and mysterious.  You know, there is nothing wrong with using a caption box in which to indicate the name of a character or group.

Still, I love Nightschool: The Weirn Books Collector's Edition 1.  I could read the second collection right this minute.

8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a "I Reads You"


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The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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