Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE No. 1 (2018)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Jim Cheung
INKS: Mark Morales
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Rebecca Taylor
COVER: Jim Cheung with Laura Martin
VARIANT COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (Early August 2018)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“The Totality” Part One

The Justice League (also known as Justice League of America or JLA) is DC Comics' premiere superhero group.  Conceived by writer Gardner Fox and first drawn by artist Mike Sekowsky, the Justice League first appeared as a team in The Brave and the Bold #28 (cover dated:  March 1960).  The seven original members were Superman, Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman.  The team received its own book with the debut of Justice League of America #1 (cover dated: October 1960).

For the third time in seven years, Justice League debuts with a new first issue.  This new Justice League 2018 is written by Scott Snyder.  This debut issue is drawn by Jim Cheung (pencils) and Mark Morales (inks); colored by Tomeu Morey; and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Justice League #1 opens with a comet of golden light streaking across space... and across several periods of time.  Next, there is a glimpse of the Justice League's “Hall of Justice.”  Then, we find Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and Hawkgirl lead fellow superheroes, including Cyborg and Mr. Terrific, into a fight against bands of Neanderthals that have been biologically and technologically advanced by Justice League supervillain, Vandal Savage.  However, the arrival of some familiar supervillains and arch-nemesis and of something wicked/mysterious this way comes makes a League victory seem Pyrrhic.

Since 1985, DC Comics turns to a cosmic event to either save itself financially or to simply increase sales with a high-profile publishing event.  And quite frankly, I am not interested in another Scott Snyder, time-spanning, multi-universal conspiracy.

But I enjoyed the art in Justice League #1.  I will read any comic book story drawn by Jim Cheung, whose pencils are nicely inked by Mark Morales in this issue.  Tomeu Morey, as usual, colors with the power of Shaka Zulu, turning in such beauty that I was willing to wade through a story in which I had no interest.  Letterer Tom Napolitano, for the umpteenth time, makes the unreadable quite readable.

I have to admit this:  I will keep reading Justice League (2018), if future art teams are as good as the one in Justice League #1.

5.5 out of 10

[This comic book includes a preview of Teen Titans #20 by Adam Glass, Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, and Rob Leigh.]

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BATMAN BEYOND #1

BATMAN BEYOND No. 1 (2016)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Ryan Sook
VARIANT COVER: Martin Ansin
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“The Return” Part One: “Escaping the Grave”

The animated television series, “Batman Beyond,” debuted in January 1999.  Set in a futuristic Gotham City (Neo-Gotham), the series introduced a teen-aged Batman, Terry McGinnis, a 17-year-old high school student.  A reformed troublemaker, the athletic teen had a sense of personal justice, but circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.”  Eventually, an elderly Bruce Wayne accepted Terry as the new Batman and guided the teen in his exploits.

This future Terry McGinnis-Batman crossed over into DC Comics and eventually became part of its mainstream universe (the DCU).  Although he was briefly replaced as future Batman by an older version of Tim Drake (the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin) McGinnis is back as Batman of the future in the Rebirth relaunch of the comic book series, Batman Beyond.  This new series is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Travis Lanham.

Batman Beyond #1 (“Escaping the Grave”) opens in Jokerz Town.  This is a downtrodden neighborhood in Neo-Gotham ruled by a gang that calls itself the Jokerz.  Terry's friend, Dana Tan, is held prisoner by the leader of the Jokerz, Carter.  He is plotting to return life to the corpse of Batman's ultimate adversary, The Joker.  Terry is ready to take on the gang, but he is ready to be Batman again.

I plan on reading future issues of this incarnation of Batman Beyond because it is one of my review assignments for the @ComicBookBin.  DC Comics provides CBB with PDF copies-for-review of most of its titles.  On my own, I am not sure that I would be a regular reader of Batman Beyond; I tried to get into the 2015's DCYou relaunch of the series (which featured Tim Drake as Neo-Gotham's Batman), but it did not intrigue me enough to make the effort to find or buy issues, beyond the first issue, which I actually liked.

I am a little intrigued by this Jokerz story line, but the story does not grip me.  Writer Dan Jurgens' script is professionally competent, but lacks imagination, so the result is pedestrian work.  Bernard Chang's art and Marcelo Maillot's colors result in unattractive art, but competent storytelling.  Honestly, if this book does not improve, it will be little more than just more Batman product.

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: NEW SUPER-MAN #1

NEW SUPER-MAN No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gene Luen Yang
PENCILS: Viktor Bogdanovic
INKS: Richard Friend
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Viktor Bogdanovic with Kelsey Shannon
VARIANT COVER: Bernard Chang
40pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Made in China” Part One

DC Comics is having a “Rebirth,” and that means lots of new comic book series.  One of the new titles is New Super-Man, which uses Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's original spelling for the Man of Steel, whom they named “The Super-Man.”  Even the “S” shield on this “New Super-Man” recalls Joe Shuster's original “S.”

New Super-Man is written by Gene Luen Yang; drawn by Viktor Bogdanovic (pencils) and Richard Friend (inks); colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  The series is set in China and introduces “The Super-Man of China.”

New Super-Man #1 (“Made in China” Part One) opens in Shanghai, China.  We meet our lead character, Kenan Kong, who is bullying rich kid, Luo Lixin.  However, Kenan ends up saving Luo from Blue Condor, one of Shanghai's first American-style supervillains and a dangerous dude to boot.  Kenan's interaction with Blue Condor brings him into contact with the Ministry of Self-Reliance, a meeting that will change his life in unbelievable ways.

It is not often that I call a comic book cute, even when describing children's comics, but New Super-Man #1 is cute.  It is an amusing, mildly intriguing, pleasantly entertaining comic book, and while I wouldn't go out of my way to read it, I will read it when the occasion arises – if for no other reason than that I am also intrigued by the Chinese versions of Batman and Wonder Woman.

The art by the team of penciller Viktor Bogdanovic and inker Richard Friend is gorgeous.  That alone tempts me to return to this title.  The New Super-Man has the potential to be a good book, especially with Gene Luen Yang as the writer, but something tells me that the series could just as easily become just another tepid superhero title.

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: DCYou "BATMAN BEYOND #1

BATMAN BEYOND (2015) #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally published on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Bernard Chang with Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER: Kalman Andrasofszky
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Fingerprint

“Brave New Worlds”

The animated television series, “Batman Beyond,” debuted in January 1999.  Set in a futuristic Gotham City (Neo-Gotham), the series introduced a teen-aged Batman, Terry McGinnis, a 17-year-old high school student.  A reformed troublemaker, the athletic teen had a sense of personal justice, and circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.”  Eventually, the elderly Bruce Wayne accepted Terry as the new Batman and guided the teen in his exploits.

This future Terry McGinnis Batman crossed over into DC Comics and eventually became part of its mainstream universe (the DCU).  An older version of Tim Drake, the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin, has replaced McGinnis as the future Batman.  Drake is now the star of the “DCYou” relaunch of Batman Beyond.  This new Batman Beyond is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.

Batman Beyond #1 (“Brave New Worlds”) presents THE definitive future of the DCU (according to DC Comics).  It is, however, different from the world of the original Batman Beyond.  Tim Drake is a future Batman without Bruce Wayne to guide him.  Drake fights to keep Neo-Gotham safe from Brother Eye, which destroyed the future.

Outside the safe confines of the city, Drake is about to meet a mysterious, but familiar ally who might be able to help Batman in the fight to raise humanity from an opponent that has already won.  Meanwhile, Terry McGinnis' younger brother, Matt, wonders if, under different circumstances, his older brother would have given him the Batsuit.

I had misgivings about this new Batman Beyond series; I don't know why.  However, the series is in safe hands with Dan Jurgens, who was one of the writers on The New 52: Future's End, the weekly event miniseries that was the precursor to this new Batman Beyond.  Artist Bernard Chang offers solid storytelling, eye-pleasing compositions, and sharp graphic design that looks even better with Marcelo Maiolo's coloring.  I think I will add Batman Beyond to my reading list.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for July 16, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

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The New 52 Review: DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1

"Alive, again"

DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Paul Jenkins
ARTIST: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Blond
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Deadman is a DC Comics character that first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 (cover date October 1967). Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Carmine Infantino, Deadman is the ghost of circus trapeze artist, Boston Brand, who performed under the name Deadman, a stage persona in which he wore a red costume and white corpse makeup. After he is murdered, Brand’s spirit is given the power to possess any living being by a Hindu goddess named Rama Kushna (a DC Comics version of Rama-Krishna), in order to search for his murderer and obtain justice.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” the classic 1970s and 80s series, DC Comics Presents (1978-1986) returns. In this new series, it is DC Comics Presents Deadman in “Twenty Questions,” a new storyline.

DC Comics Presents #1 gives a recap of Deadman’s origin, a flashback to Boston Brand, the arrogant trapeze artist shot down mid-performance. We see how he met Rama, essentially his patron goddess who points him down the path to redemption and balance. Now, Deadman has to enter the body of Johnny Foster, injured war vet, but Deadman has plans that may shock Rama, but will certainly shock us.

This first issue of DC Comics Presents is one of the wordier first issues of a comic book that I’ve read in some time. Bruthas and sistas, if you still don’t know what Deadman is about after reading this, you’ll never get it. Writer Paul Jenkins provides a detailed introduction to Deadman that he deftly ties into Deadman’s first “client,” the tragic war vet. And Jenkins does this without taking a big crap on Deadman’s history, keeping the character intact without committing some ridiculous re-imagining that completely changes an already-interesting character.

Not to forget the artist: Bernard Chang visually and graphically recalls classic 1960s and 70s Deadman without having to copy Neal Adams. The robotic coloring by Blond often gives Chang’s drawings surreal or ghostly touches, making Chang’s striking images even more striking. There is a combat flashback scene at the top of a page near the middle of this issue. It is such an arresting series of images that it is still on mind. I would say that sequence makes this issue or art team Eisner and Harvey Awards nomination worthy.

A

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html