Review: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (2015) No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: David Marquez
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: David Marquez with Justin Ponsor
VARIANT COVERS: Adi Granov, Ryan Stegman with Richard Isanove; Sara Pichelli with Jason Keith; Mahmud Asrar with Sonia Oback; Valerio Schiti with Jason Keith; Nick Bradshaw with Paul Mounts; Bruce Timm; Skottie Young; Brian Stelfreeze; John Tyler Christopher; Yasmine Putri; Dale Oliver photographed by Judy Stephens
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2015)

Rated “T+”

I was very happy with the most recent “new” Iron Man comic book series, Superior Iron Man, that was launched in 2014 as part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative.  As part of the “All-New All-Different Marvel,” there is a new Iron Man comic book, and it is entitled Invincible Iron Man.  This new series is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by David Marquez; colored by Justin Ponsor; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Bendis and Marquez were the creative team of the second Miles Morales Spider-Man comic book, and Invincible Iron Man was the title of an Iron Man (2008) comic book written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Salvador Larroca.  I loved me some Miles, but I did not read a single issue of the Fraction-Larroca Iron Man, although I still plan to do so.

Invincible Iron Man #1 opens with an former A.I.M. operative trying to make a deal with Madame Masque.  Meanwhile, Tony Stark is enjoying some shop time and finally finishes him newest armor, his best armor.  He will need this new suit as enemies old, new, and transformed step forward.

This breezy first issue of Invincible Iron Man makes it difficult to be particularly critical or adoring of it.  But I do like it, and will read future issues.  I enjoy the Bendis-Marquez team, and if this first issue is any indication, I will enjoy this duo again.  Still, I don't know if this Iron Man comic book will be a particularly memorable one, which is something I can say about Superior Iron Man.  Knowing Bendis, I should have an idea soon.

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.

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I Reads You Review: HARLEY QUINN #0

HARLEY QUINN #0
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
ART:  Amanda Conner, Becky Cloonan, Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Stephane Roux, Dan Panosian, Walter Simonson, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Bruce Timm, Charlie Adlard, Adam Hughes, Art Baltazar, Tradd Moore, Dave Johnson, Jeremy Roberts, Sam Keith, Darwyn Cooke, Chad Hardin
COLORS: Paul Mounts, Tomeu Morey, John Kalisz, Lovern Kindzierski, Alex Sinclair, Lee Loughridge, Dave Stewart, Alex Sollazzo
LETTERS: John J. Hill
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVER: Stephane Roux
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (May 2014 – second printing)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Harley Quinn created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm

DC Comics began publishing a new Harley Quinn comic book series by writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti and artists Chad Hardin (pencils and inks) and Alex Sinclair (colors) at the turn of the year.  As a tie-in to the new series, DC published Harley Quinn #0, which was also written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Harley Quinn #0 is essentially a stand-alone, anthology comic book.  This issue has a single narrative, which basically breaks the fourth wall, allowing Harley Quinn and Connor and Palmiotti to interact.  The two sides are arguing about the type of artists that should draw Quinn and her adventures.  The anthology part is that 17 artists draw at least one page of the 20 pages of story in Harley Quinn #0.  Amanda Conner draws the opening two pages, and Chad Hardin, the artist of the new ongoing Harley Quinn series, draws the three pages that end the story.  That leaves 15 pages for the 15 other artists.

I am a fan of many of the artists contributing to Harley Quinn #0, and some of them are familiar to me, but only in passing.  I grabbed a second printing of Harley Quinn #0 as soon as I read the names of the artists listed on the cover.  I was most looking forward to seeing art by Jim Lee and Bruce Timm, but was somewhat disappointed by their contributions.  The best page is by Walter Simonson – transposing his classic version of Manhunter onto Harley Quinn.

The biggest surprises for me were Stephane Roux, Dan Panosian, and Jeremy Roberts, and Tradd Moore’s page makes me want to see more of his work.  Of course, I am always happy to see anything by the genius named Darwyn Cooke.  I have one question for Harley: can we do this again?

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair, John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee, Bruce Timm, Dave Johnson, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Neal Adams, Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Lee Bermejo, Brett Booth
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Last year, DC Comics unleashed a new ongoing Superman comic book series to coincide with the release of Man of Steel, the 2013 relaunch of the Superman film franchise.  Superman Unchained is from burning-hot writer Scott Snyder and superstar-for-over-two-decades artist Jim Lee with his longtime inker, Scott Williams.

Superman Unchained #1 (“The Leap”) opens with a brief (kind of) prologue that takes place in Nagasaki, Japan on April 9th, 1945.  We move to the present (which seems like a near-future) and find Superman trying to stop a space station called the Lighthouse from causing an epic catastrophe when it crashes to Earth.

Superman has suspects for the Lighthouse event, which include Lex Luthor (on his way to prison) and a cyber terrorist group known as Ascension.  The Man of Steel is probably wrong on his suspects, and there is a lot that he doesn’t know.  But Superman doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Superman Unchained #1 is one busy comic book.  Scott Snyder, obviously in love with his dialogue, packs this first issue with so much talk and exposition.  This first issue is like a box of “Raisin Bran” (or one of its knock-offs) infested with raisins – just too much of a good thing.  The story is a slick piece of sci-fi-lite, complete with digital displays and shiny tech.  The story, however, doesn’t really get hot until the last page of “The Leap.”  Of note, there is also a two-page epilogue drawn by Dustin Nguyen.

Speaking of busy, that’s Jim Lee’s pencils.  Lee draws so much anemic line work and so many scritchy-scratch lines that we should be thankful for Scott Williams ability to rein in Lee’s excesses and eccentricities.  As usual, Alex Sinclair’s colors turn the art into comic book eye candy.  I have to admit that I’ll be back for future issues.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #3

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #3
IDW PUBLISHING

WRITERS: Ryan Sook, Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Timm, Jonathan Ross
ARTISTS: Ryan Sook, Bruce Timm, Tommy Lee Edwards
COLORS: Tommy Lee Edwards
LETTERS: Ryan Sook, John Workman
PIN-UPS: Stephanie Buscema, Joe Chiodo
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVER: Alex Ross (alternate cover by Dave Stevens)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

First appearing in 1982, The Rocketeer is a superhero created by the late writer/illustrator Dave Stevens. The Rocketeer takes inspiration from the Saturday movie heroes of the 1930s and 1940s, and his exploits are mainly set in Los Angeles in and after the year 1938. The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly, and Secord’s girlfriend, Bettie Page, is based upon real life, 1950s pin-up and fetish model, Bettie Page.

Over a 30 year period, The Rocketeer made infrequent comic book appearances in several publications from several publishers. The character debuted as a backup feature in the comic book, Starslayer, from the now-defunct Pacific Comics and made two appearances in Pacific's anthology, Pacific Presents. Afterwards, there was the Rocketeer Special Edition (Eclipse Comics), the Rocketeer Adventure Magazine (Comico Comics) and finally graphic novel collection from Dark Horse Comics

The Rocketeer is back in Rocketeer Adventures, a new anthology series from IDW Publishing. Edited by Scott Dunbier, Rocketeer Adventures features Rocketeer short stories (about 7 to 8 pages in length) from some of the premiere creators in American comic books.

Rocketeer Adventures #3 opens with “A Rocketeer Story” by Ryan Sook, which finds the Rocketeer taking on robbers at the premiere of a new film in which Bettie has a major speaking role. Writer Jonathan Ross and artist Tommy Lee Edwards introduce the “Junior Rocketeers” as girl power flexes its muscles. Stephanie Buscema and Joe Chiodo offer pin-ups. Writer and novelist Joe R. Lansdale and artist Bruce Timm present an illustrated prose short story and faux pulp tale, “Heaven’s Devils.”

“A Rocketeer Story” and “Junior Rocketeers” are nice, but nothing special. How does one follow up an issue that had a Darwyn Cooke Rocketeer story? Scott Dunbier somehow wrangled a Joe R. Lansdale/Bruce Timm joint – a short fiction piece with illustrations. I’ve always hated/dreaded finding a prose story in a comic book. I like short stories, but I don’t want to read one in a comic book. Am I obligated to read it, I always ask myself.

The seven-page story features a cover-like illustration and wide black and white illustrations by Timm, but Lansdale holds up his end. “Heaven’s Devils is a fun read with lots of salty language, and it features the subtly vivid prose that is a hallmark of the usually excellent Lansdale. Once again, the contributors to Rocketeer Adventures do right by Dave Stevens.

B+