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Monday, August 12, 2024
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for August 14, 2024
Monday, April 1, 2024
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for April 2, 2024
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Monday, August 14, 2023
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for August 15, 2023
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Sunday, January 17, 2021
#IReadsYou Revew: AMERICAN MONSTER #1
AMERICAN MONSTER #1
AFTERSHOCK COMICS – @AfterShockComix
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Juan Doe
COLORS: Juan Doe
LETTERS: Juan Doe
COVER: Juan Doe
VARIANT COVERS: Dave Johnson; Alexis Zuritt; Phil Hester
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2016)
For mature readers
American Monster created by Brian Azzarello
Chapter 1: “American Monster”
American Monster is a new ongoing comic book series created and written by Brian Azzarello (DKIII: The Master Race) and drawn by Juan Doe. The series is set in a small Midwestern town beset by corrupt cops and violent rural gangs and focuses on a mysterious newcomer with mysterious intentions.
American Monster #1 opens at night in a palatial rural estate in the which the inhabitants are about to experience a home invasion. Meanwhile, a behemoth of a man gets off a bus, seeking food and lodging. His horribly scarred face spooks the locals, and his taciturn manner makes it difficult for the townsfolk to discover his identity and intentions.
The first time I read Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's seminal crime comic book series, 100 Bullets (DC Comics/Vertigo), I was spellbound. It was a magical reading experience, and yes, I used the world “magical.” I read the first two trade paperback collections in one weekend, and I was practically desperate to find individual issues.
I wouldn't call my reading experience with American Monster #1 as magical. This first issue is intriguing and vague, as are so many first issue these days, whether it be for ongoing titles or miniseries. American Monster #1 is too dark and brutal to evoke feelings of a face sprinkled by fairy dust. But I want more American Monster real bad, daddy. I need my second-issue fix real soon.
Seriously, I think Juan Doe's clean drawing line and stylish, but matter-of-fact storytelling is perfect for bringing this ugly, taxi-to-the-dark-side story that Azzarello is spinning. This ain't no Dark Knight Bat-guano, fill-the-corporate-coffers comic book. American Monster promises the real Brian Azzarello, the dangerous storyteller who has just got off the bus in comic book town.
[This comic book also includes a preview of the comic book, “Strayer #1,” by writer Justin Jordan and artist Juan Gedeon.]
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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Monday, January 11, 2021
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for January 12, 2021
100 Bullets Omnibus Volume 1 HC, $150.00
American Vampire 1976 #4 (Of 9)(Cover A Rafael Albuquerque), $3.99
American Vampire 1976 #4 (Of 9)(Cover B Mirka Andolfo), AR
Batman The Chalice TP, $19.99
Birds Of Prey Hero Hunters TP, $29.99
Future State Dark Detective #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Dan Mora), $5.99
Future State Dark Detective #1 (Of 4)(Cover B John Paul Leon Card Stock Variant), AR
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Future State Green Lantern #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Clayton Henry), $5.99
Future State Green Lantern #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Jamal Campbell Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Justice League #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Dan Mora), $5.99
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Future State Justice League #1 (Of 2)(Cover C Jim Lee Wonder Woman 1984 Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Kara Zor-El Superwoman #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Paulina Ganucheau), $3.99
Future State Kara Zor-El Superwoman #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Alex Garner Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Robin Eternal #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Emanuela Lupacchino & Irvin Rodriguez), $3.99
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Future State Superman Wonder Woman #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Lee Weeks), $3.99
Future State Superman Wonder Woman #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Jeremy Roberts Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Superman Wonder Woman #1 (Of 2)(Cover C Movie Poster Art Wonder Woman 1984 Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Teen Titans #1 (Of 2)(Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $3.99
Future State Teen Titans #1 (Of 2)(Cover B Dustin Nguyen Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Teen Titans #1 (Of 2)(Cover C Gabrielle Dell’Otto Wonder Woman 1984 Card Stock Variant), AR
Heroes In Crisis The Price And Other Stories TP (New Edition), $19.99
Sweet Tooth The Return #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Jeff Lemire), $3.99
We Found A Monster TP, $9.99
Monday, August 31, 2020
Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 2, 2020
JUN200236 ASCENDER #12 (MR) $3.99
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JUL200197 COFFIN BOUND #6 (MR) $3.99
MAR200128 COMP WITCHBLADE HC VOL 01 (MR) $49.99
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JUL200204 FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #3 $3.99
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Monday, June 15, 2020
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 17, 2020
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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 17, 2020
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Monday, June 8, 2020
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for June 10, 2020
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Monday, June 1, 2020
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 3, 2020
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FEB200554 DC GOES TO WAR HC $39.99
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FEB200444 DETECTIVE COMICS #1022 CARD STOCK LEE BERMEJO VAR ED $4.99
FEB200509 FAR SECTOR #6 (OF 12) $3.99
FEB200523 JOHN CONSTANTINE HELLBLAZER #6 (MR) $3.99
JAN200653 JOKER 80 YEARS OF THE CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME HC $29.99
FEB200414 LAST GOD SOURCEBOOK #1 $4.99
OCT190681 LEGION OF SUPER HEROES SILVER AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 $99.99
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FEB200505 WONDER WOMAN #756 $3.99
FEB200506 WONDER WOMAN #756 CARD STOCK MIKEL JANIN VAR ED $4.99
Monday, February 10, 2020
Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 12, 2020
DEC190156 20XX #3 (MR) $3.99
NOV190128 ASCENDER #9 (MR) $3.99
DEC190159 CLOCK #2 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC190178 MOONSHINE #16 (MR) $3.99
NOV190161 POSTAL DELIVERANCE #7 (MR) $3.99
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DEC190195 SONATA #8 CVR A HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR) $3.99
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DEC190067 TARTARUS #1 CVR A COLE $5.99
DEC190068 TARTARUS #1 CVR B CHRISTMAS $5.99
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
#IReadsYou Review: BATMAN: Damned #3
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Azzarello
ART: Lee Bermejo
COLORS: Lee Bermejo
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Lee Bermejo
VARIANT COVER: Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair
48pp, Color, $6.99 U.S. (August 2019)
Mature Readers
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Batman: Damned is the three-issue comic book miniseries written by Brian Azzarello, drawn by Lee Bermejo, and lettered by Jared K. Fletcher that launched DC Comics' “DC Black Label” prestige imprint. Published in an over-sized softcover format (8.5” x 10.875”), Batman: Damned #1 gained attention and created controversy when it was discovered that the art included a depiction of Bruce Wayne/Batman's penis. There have been reports on various comic book news sites that the later issues of the series were delayed so that portions of the story could be redrawn to remove potentially controversial content.
Suddenly, what was supposed to be a “mature audience” imprint, DC Black Label, had to tone down its content and attitude. Supposedly, some announced projects for the imprint were canceled or were being rewritten – to be toned down. Sadly, Batman: Damned #2, which seemed like filler material, could have used the depiction of a good stiff penis (say, Deadman's) to liven up the proceedings.
The central focus of Batman: Damned is that The Joker is dead, and that maybe Batman is the one who killed him... But Batman cannot remember, and there may be some sinister and thus far unknown force that done the deed. Are John Constantine and Deadman Batman's true allies in solving this mystery? And why is Batman recalling such a horrifying version of his youth, especially concerning his late (and murdered) mother, Martha Wayne?
Batman: Damned #3 opens with Batman in a grave. And Swamp Thing thinks Batman should not trust John Constantine. Now, Batman must face his worst nightmares and the stunning truth about the death of The Joker.
I don't want to spoil Batman: Damned #3, although it has been out for about two weeks now. I can say that the title is literal, and that it has a stunning ending. I did suspect that Batman was an unreliable narrator, because he was dead, so...
I can also say that the art by Lee Bermejo's art is as beautiful ever. In fact, in terms of story, Bermejo does his best work of the series in Batman: Damned #3 with this powerful graphical storytelling. Jared K. Fletcher's lettering is simple, yet so evocative and powerful. Brian Azzarello, after delivering empty, tattered Gothic trappings, gives us a powerful finale this is actual storytelling.
I think the problem with Batman: Damned is that Brian Azzarello had an idea for what is essentially a story that belongs in a Batman Annual or in one of those 48 or 64-page Batman “Elseworlds” comic books. Anything more than 100 pages, which the total page count of Batman: Damned exceeds, is simply a story stretched too thin and is a consumer product that is not honestly released to consumers.
So, at least they got Batman: Damned #3 mostly right. In fact, this last issue is good enough to warrant a sequel – of a certain page count, of course.
7.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Monday, December 23, 2019
BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for December 25 or 26, 2019
AUG191384 FAITHLESS TP (MR) $17.99
Monday, December 2, 2019
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 4, 2019
APR190525 ABSOLUTE DARK KNIGHT III THE MASTER RACE HC $125.00
OCT190501 BATMAN #84 $3.99
OCT190502 BATMAN #84 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
OCT190611 BATMAN UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6) $4.99
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OCT190604 COLLAPSER #6 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
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OCT190612 SUPERMAN UP IN THE SKY #6 (OF 6) $4.99
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OCT190609 YOUNG JUSTICE #11 $3.99
OCT190610 YOUNG JUSTICE #11 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
Monday, November 11, 2019
Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 13, 2019
SEP190165 BATTLEPUG #3 CVR A NORTON & PASSALAQUA $3.99
SEP190166 BATTLEPUG #3 CVR B ALEXANDER & NCT $3.99
SEP190021 FAMILY TREE #1 (MR) $3.99
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SEP190196 HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #10 CVR A SHALVEY (MR) $3.99
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SEP190069 LA VOZ DE MAYO RAMBO TP $16.99
SEP190054 MOONSHINE #13 (MR) $3.99
SEP190206 OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #21 (MR) $3.99
JUL198333 REAVER #3 2ND PTG (MR) $3.99
SEP190211 REAVER #5 (MR) $3.99
AUG190239 REDNECK JULY TEETH PIN $10.00
AUG190240 REDNECK PRIDE PIN $10.00
SEP190212 SEA OF STARS #5 $3.99
SEP198113 SPAWN #301 2ND PTG (MR) $4.99
AUG190233 TELLTALE WALKING DEAD WALKER SCREAM T/S SM $30.00
SEP190222 TREES THREE FATES #3 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Review: BATMAN: Damned #2
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Azzarello
ART: Lee Bermejo
COLORS: Lee Bermejo
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Lee Bermejo
VARIANT COVER: Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair
48pp, Color, $6.99 U.S. (February 2019)
Mature Readers
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Batman: Damned is a new three-issue comic book miniseries written by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Lee Bermejo. Published in an over-sized softcover format, it is the inaugural series for DC Comics' new prestige and event publication imprint, “DC Black Label.” Letterer Jared K. Fletcher is the other member of Damned's creative team.
The central focus of Batman: Damned is that The Joker is dead, and that maybe Batman is the one who killed him... But Batman cannot remember, and there may be some sinister and thus far unknown force that done the deed. Are John Constantine and Deadman Batman's true allies in solving this mystery?
In Batman: Damned #2, Batman recalls memories of a troubling time in his childhood, and it has something to do with his late mother, Martha Wayne. Meanwhile, The Dark Knight’s descent into the madness of Gotham City’s decadent underbelly continues, and that includes a trip to a club called “The Cavern,” where Etrigan the Demon is a hip-hop artist – a rapping demon! Plus, a number of supernatural DC Comics characters make appearances... while a strange Bat-signal haunts the sky over Gotham City.
Some describe comic books as a storytelling medium of word and pictures, and some call comics and comic books “sequential art.” I call comics a kind of graphical storytelling in which the story is conveyed to readers via illustrations and graphics that tell a story.
Brian Azzarello writes the story that artist Lee Bermejo illustrates into the comics medium. Azzarello is one of American comic books' most popular and acclaimed writers of the past 20 years. In some ways, Azzarello is still coasting on the strength of his breakout and most famous work, the crime comic book, 100 Bullets. That award-winning comic book is largely the reason that Azzarello gets to write prestige projects like Batman: Damned.
If I were nice, I would describe Azzarello's story for Batman: Damned as pretentious. I don't feel like being nice right now, so I will call it mostly junk. Batman: Damned may be one of those death dream narratives in which the protagonist or the character through which the story is told is dying. His story is really a long period of subjective time that passes in an instant because it is the hallucination of dying man's mind or consciousness. Probably the most famous example of this is Ambrose Bierce's short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (first published in 1890). A more recent and popular example is the 1990 film, Jacob's Ladder, which stars Tim Robbins as Vietnam vet who believes that he has returned home when he is actually dying after being injured in combat. Nothing Azzarello has done so far in Batman: Damned is anywhere as interesting as that film or Bierce's story.
The member of this creative team that makes Batman: Damned worth seeing (if not reading) is artist Lee Bermejo. His Gotham City is a hell-scape that hints at the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. Much of Batman: Damned's art recalls the best comic book artists who have drawn horror comic books, including Bernie Wrightson and Graham Ingels. I also see similarities to the comic book art of the great Glenn Fabry, the legendary Brian Bolland, and the sublime Dave McKean. Bermejo makes Batman: Damned #2 exactly what DC Comics describes – a veritable Grand Guignol.
Batman: Damned #1 became much talked about because of Bermejo's painted depiction of Bruce Wayne's penis in the story. As good as Bermejo's art is in the second book, I wish DC Comics would have encouraged him to draw another dick – maybe Deadman's. Batman: Damned #2 would matter more if it contained more comic book character penis
5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Review: BATMAN: Damned #1
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Brian Azzarello
ART: Lee Bermejo
COLORS: Lee Bermejo
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Lee Bermejo
VARIANT COVER: Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair
48pp, Color, $6.99 U.S. (November 2018)
Mature Readers
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Batman: Damned is a 2018-19 three-issue comic book miniseries written by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Lee Bermejo. Published in an over-sized format, it is the inaugural series for DC Comics' new prestige and event publication imprint, “DC Black Label.” Letterer Jared K. Fletcher is the other member of Damned's creative team.
Batman: Damned #1 opens in an ambulance where we find Batman on a stretcher. He is dead or near death when he suddenly revives and makes his escape. The Joker is dead, and maybe Batman finally killed him. Or is it some sinister and thus far unknown force that done the deed?
The problem is that Batman can't remember, and what he does remember does not jibe with what information he can get. John Constantine and Deadman aren't helping. Now, Batman will have to go into the sordid and seedy underbelly of Gotham City to find the truth, and where he goes is dark... and maybe hot as hell.
I am a fan of artist Lee Bermejo. I particularly like the way he draws Batman's costume, which remind me of the World War I army uniforms that British “dough boys” wore. However, his art for Batman: Damned #1 looks like pieces for a portfolio or art exhibition as often as it looks like graphical storytelling. It does not help story matters that Brian Azzarello's script reads like something composed by a kid in a high school creative writing program to accompany pieces in an art show.
No one seems like a reliable narrator in this first issue, especially John Constantine who, if not the narrator, provides voice over narration, one that reads as if this comic book were an episode of a true crime television series. Honestly, the only interesting thing in Batman: Damned #1 are the four “shots” of Bruce Wayne's nicely shaped penis, which have caused quite a bit of consternation in various comic book corners of the Internet.
Once again, an event comic book does not live up to the hype, or, in this case, the hype delivers on controversy rather than on storytelling. Even if he or she were talented, an unknown or novice writer could not get an editor to accept a script like the one for Batman: Damned #1.
Keep humpin' that chicken, DC Comics; maybe, you can keep manufacturing high first issue sales before readers catch on to the fact that they should not believe the hype. Still, I hope the second and third issues of Batman: Damned (which will not make their original announced release dates) are better.
5 out of 10
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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