Showing posts with label Chris Burnham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Burnham. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

#IReadsYou Review: CREEPSHOW #1

CREEPSHOW #1 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS/Skybound

STORY: Chris Burnham; Paul Dini & Stephen Langford
ART: Chris Burnham; John McCrea
COLORS: Adriano Lucas; Mike Spicer
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
EDITORS: Alex Antone and Jon Moisan
COVER: Chris Burnham with Adriano Lucas
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Declan Shalvey; Vance Kelly; Robert Hack; Bryan Silverbax; Ivan Tao; Felix Morales; Tone Rodriguez; Joseph Schmalke; Rob Csiki; Skan Srisuwan; John Giang; David Mack; Miguel Zapata; Chinh Potter; Tyler Kirkham; Tony Max; Steven Russel Black; Ciro Nieli; Casey Parsons
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Creepshow is a new horror comic book anthology series from Image Comics.  It is a TV-tie in to the horror anthology television series, “Creepshow,” that currently streams on “Shudder” and later airs on the cable TV network, “AMC.”  Of course, both the comic book and TV series are descendants of the 1982 horror and comedy film, Creepshow, which was directed by the late George A. Romero and written by Stephen King.  Each issue of Creepshow the comic book will feature different creative teams with uniquely horrifying (and sometimes horrible) standalone stories.

Creephow #1 contains two stories.  The first is “Take One,” which is written and drawn by Chris Burnham and colored by Adriano Lucas.  The second story is “Shingo,” which is written by Paul Dini and Stephen Langford; drawn by John McCrea; and colored by Mike Spicer.  Both stories are lettered by the great Pat Brosseau.  Creepshow's horro host, “The Creep,” narrates the story.

THE LOWDOWN:  I'm going to summarize and review each story separately:

“Take One” by Burnham, Lucas, and Brosseau:
It's Halloween night.  Scaredy-cat Phil is wearing a poorly made mummy costume, and he is trick-or-treating with his asshole friends, Nate and Erik.  They come upon the house of the late Mr. Xander, who apparently died the way he treated his neighbors.  Well, although his house is dark, there is a bowl of full-size candy bars on the porch.  “Take One” says the sign in the bowl, so what will happen if Phil, Nate, and Erik help themselves to more?

I love Halloween stories – prose and comics.  That said, “Take One” is an embarrassment.  The punishment does not fit the crime, and the level of violence is neither comic horror nor scary horror.  I have enjoyed some of Burnham's work (Nameless, Secret Wars: E is for Extinction) in the past, but “Take One” is lame horror trying to pass for clever.

On the other hand, I have to admit that Burnham's art and Lucas' colors are nicely atmospheric.  Too bad it's wasted on a wack-ass story.

“Shingo” by Dini & Langford, McCrea, Spicer, and Brosseau:
As the story opens, Sandy Clark is angry, determined, and desperate to find a party entertainer for her daughter, Fiona's birthday party.  It looks as if Fiona's dad, Tom Clark, has also come up short.  Enter Shingo; he (or it) is the party entertainer with the appetite to make any party unforgettable.

After the fumble of “Take One,” I didn't expect much from “Shingo.”  I know that many consider Paul Dini a “legend” for his work on the 1990s animated TV series, “Batman” a.k.a. “Batman: The Animated Series.”  However, I find his comic book work to be hit or miss or miss or mediocre.  I don't know how the collaboration between Dini and Langford worked, but “Shingo” is brilliant.

It is everything that comic horror or horror comedy should be.  It's crazy, wacky, satirical, farcical, droll, and witty and also have an batty monster.  The title boogey is “Shingo,” who is like a gleefully mean-spirited blend of PBS's “Barney,” the purple dinosaur from PBS' long-running “Barney & Friends” TV series, and a mangy “Teletubby” (from the British PBS import TV series, “The Teletubbies”).  The ending and the final-girl-heroes are the double cherries on top.

Artist John McCrea, a master of blending the comic, the violent, and the horrifying, makes this story sing.  Other artists could make this story work, but not as well as McCrea, who also gets some perfect coloring from Mike Spicer.

“Shingo” saves Creepshow #1, and my grade for this issue reflects “Shingo” and not so much “Take One.”  I think “Shingo” has the potential to be a good horror movie in the vein of director Michael Dougherty's 2015 film, Krampus.  And I would be remiss if I didn't say that Pat Brosseau's lettering throughout this issue is outstanding.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic horror comic book anthologies will want to read Creepshow.

[This comic book includes an afterword by Greg Nicotero, the executive producer of Shudder's “Creepshow.”]

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imagecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Comics-Inc/178643148813259
https://www.twitch.tv/imagecomics
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmaKLo0FXWIPx-3n6qs3vQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

DARK KNIGHT III: The Master Race #7

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE No. 7
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Andy Kubert
INKS:  Klaus Janson
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair; Klaus Janson with Dave McCaig; Howard Chaykin with Jesus Aburto; Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn
32pp (plus 16-page insert), Color, $5.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Dark Knight III: The Master Race (also known as DKIII) is the second sequel to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (also known simply as The Dark Knight Returns or DKR), the landmark, four-issue comic book miniseries.  Published by DC Comics in 1986, DKR was written by Frank Miller; drawn by Miller (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Lynn Varley; and lettered by John Costanza.  DKR focused on a 50-year-old Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement and resumes his crime-fighting role as Batman.

DKIII is written by Brian Azzarello and DKR's Frank Miller; drawn by Andy Kubert (pencils) and DKR's Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Brad Anderson; and lettered by Clem Robins.  DKIII finds Batman united with Superman to stop a murderous group of people from Superman's home planet, Krypton, from taking over the Earth.

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7 opens in the aftermath of the battle in and over Gotham City, pitting Batman, Superman, and their allies against the “master race” of Kryptonians from Kandor.  And Batman is dead... or is he?  Superman has an idea about reviving his old friend.  Meanwhile, Quar, the leader of the Kryptonians, moves to strengthen his hold on Lara, the daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman, who has sided with the Kryptonians.  He wants her to do something for him...

I have to say that I enjoyed reading DKIII #7 more than I did issue #6.  I have found DKIII to be wildly inconsistent.  It is sometimes intense and gripping; other times, it is contrived and ridiculous – often within the same issue.

What is the difference with #7?  I think that this issue consolidates subplots and relationships, as the narrative prepares to move into the final acts of the series.  This issue is the first one that clearly depicts Lara's ambivalence, but also emphasizes that much of this story is about Lara's side of the family, in particularly her father, Superman.  Going forward as a reader, an issue like this one makes me feel more confident about the eight and ninth issues of Dark Knight III: The Master Race, the final two issues.

Dark Knight Universe Presents: Strange Adventures #1 (Insert comic book)
STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Frank Miller
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair

I have not really enjoyed these mini-comics inserted into the center of each issue of DKIII, but I like this issue's “Strange Adventures” that focuses on Green Lantern and two denizens of Thanagar.  The interplay of the items that give these heroes their power with the mounting danger of their adversaries makes this a gripping mini-thriller with a nice ending.

A-

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

------------------------

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 16, 2016

IMAGE COMICS

JAN160532     13TH ARTIFACT ONE SHOT     $3.99
JAN160633     BEAUTY TP VOL 01 (MR)     $9.99
JAN160543     EMPTY ZONE #6 (MR)     $3.50
JAN160588     HUCK #5 CVR A ALBUQUERQUE     $3.50
JAN160589     HUCK #5 CVR B ALBUQUERQUE     $3.50
JAN160667     HUMANS TP VOL 02 HUMANS TILL DETH UP (MR)     $15.99
JAN160590     INJECTION #8 CVR A SHALVEY & BELLAIRE (MR)     $2.99
JAN160591     INJECTION #8 CVR B SHALVEY (MR)     $2.99
JAN160594     LEGACY OF LUTHER STRODE #5 (MR)     $3.50
DEC150597     LOW #12 CVR A TOCCHINI (MR)     $3.99
DEC150598     LOW #12 CVR B TOCCHINI (MR)     $3.99
JAN168230     MONSTRESS #3 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.99
JAN160599     MONSTRESS #4 (MR)     $3.99
DEC150638     NAILBITER HC VOL 01 THE MURDER ED (MR)     $34.99
NOV150663     NAMELESS HC (MR)     $24.99
OCT150540     ODYC #10 (MR)     $3.99
DEC150649     PHONOGRAM TP VOL 03 IMMATERIAL GIRL     $14.99
NOV150632     RAT QUEENS #15 (MR)     $3.99
JAN160550     ROCHE LIMIT MONADIC #1     $3.99
JAN160617     STARVE #7 (MR)     $3.99
JAN160622     SYMMETRY #4 CVR A IENCO     $3.99
JAN160623     SYMMETRY #4 CVR B IENCO     $3.99
NOV150706     WITCHBLADE BORNE AGAIN TP VOL 03     $14.99

Friday, February 12, 2016

Review: E IS FOR EXTINCTION #4

E IS FOR EXTINCTION No. 4
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Chris Burnham and Dennis Culver
ARTIST: Ramon Villalobos
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Ian Bertram with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: James Harren
28pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2015)

“Supernova”

Rated T+

The four-issue comic book miniseries, E is for Extinction, is one of the “Secret Wars Battleworld” comic books that are connected to Marvel Comics' eight-issue event miniseries, Secret Wars, from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Esad Ribic.  It is written by Chris Burnham and Dennis Culver; drawn by Ramon Villalobos; colored by Ian Herring; and lettered by Clayton CowlesE is for Extinction is a re-purposing of the 2001 New X-Men story arc, “E is for Extinction,” from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

In the world of E is for Extinction, Charles Xavier has killed himself.  Magneto carries on his legacy at “The Atom Institute,” a school for exceptional students – both mutant and human alike.  However, Magneto has been hiding an object of incredible power, a Phoenix Egg.  He has also been using the object's power to weaken the original X-MenCyclops, Emma Frost, and Wolverine.  After a massive fight at The Atom Institute between various mutant factions, the Phoenix Egg hatches and reveals... Cassandra Nova... returned to fight her arch-nemesis – Charles Xavier.

I was so in love with E is for Extinction #1 that I was sure that the rest of the series could not live up to the hype of my review of the first issue or my own expectations.  Actually, it did both.  It is one of the most imaginative X-Men stories of the last two decades, and it also does its source material, the original “E is for Extinction,” proud.  I like Ramon Villalobos' crusty take on Frank Quitely's drawing style of the original story.  In fact, Chris Burnham and Dennis Culver take Morrison's X-Men in more far-out places than one would expect from writers who are not Morrison.

Another surprising thing, E is for Extinction is funny (as was the 2001 story).  Its sparkling sense of humor permeates even the most gruesome battles in this story.  It is as if E is for Extinction #4 revels in the idea that the antagonists in this series cannot see that their actions, well-intentioned or not, are making their goals unreachable.  It's a shame that there will not be more of this (I assume), but a trade collection will make this exceptional comic book series available for even more readers to discover it.  And E is for Extinction deserves to be discovered, my X-Men readers.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Review:: E IS FOR EXTINCTION #1

E IS FOR EXTINCTION #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITER: Chris Burnham
ARTIST: Ramon Villalobos
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Ian Bertram with Dave Stewart
VARIANT COVER: James Harren
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2015)

“Relax and Be Replaced

Rated T+

When the Chris Claremont-John Byrne run on The Uncanny X-Men came to an end with the epilogue that was issue #143 (cover date:  March 1981), it was if the series were waiting for the next great thing to happen to it... at least, I can see that in hindsight.  But nothing great, at least in any sustained way, happened... until two decades later.

Grant Morrison began his tenure as an X-Men writer on New X-Men #114 (cover date:  July 2001) with the three-part story, “E is for Extinction.”  It took 20 years, but I think that this was the next great step for the X-Men after landmark run produced by Byrne-Claremont.  With his partner, artist Frank Quitely, changing the graphical storytelling language of the X-Men, Morrison tore down the X-Men and allowed them to make the next big evolutionary leap for which the series had been straining to make in the aftermath of “The Dark Phoenix Saga.”

Alas, it was not to be, even Morrison could not recreate that spark-as-big-bang that was “E is for Extinction.”  It did not help that Quitely was (and still is) not the kind of artist that can produce art for a monthly publishing schedule past three issues.  And truthfully, Quitely was Morrison's equal in taking the X-Men to new places.  After New X-Men #114-116, the series was quirky and different, but hardly revolutionary or evolutionary, for that matter.  The New X-Men never fully reached the promise offered by “E is for Extinction.”

2015:  Marvel Comics is revamping or relaunching its publishing line.  But first, they are going to make lots of money with the multiverse destroying event miniseries, Secret Wars, and a veritable fleet of tie-in and spin-off comic book series.  Each series is set in a part of “Battleworld,” which is all that is left of the multiverse.  I am ignoring those comics for the most part but...

I could not ignore the cover for a comic book entitled E is for Extinction.  This “Secret Wars Battleworld” comic book takes Morrison and Quitely's classic story and takes it to new places, much as the original once did for the X-Men comic book.   E is for Extinction is drawn by Ramon Villalobos, who is copying Quitely's style in the best way.  Ian Herring provides colors, and Clayton Cowles is the letterer.  Best of all, the writer of E is for Extinction is Chris Burnham.  He is the artist and co-creator with Grant Morrison of the comic book, Nameless (published by Image Comics).  Like Quitely, Burnham is brilliant at taking the craziness of Morrison's writing and translating it into comic book art that does more than just tell a story.  Burnham creates new worlds of new times and new essences.

It is Burnham who takes the possibilities of  “E is for Extinction” the story arc and delivers on that potential with E is for Extinction the comic book.  E is for Extinction #1 (“Relax and Be Replaced”) opens with the event that give Magneto victory over Charles Xavier – Professor X.  “X years later,” Magneto guides the New X-Men from “The Xavier Memorial Educational Nexus” a.k.a. “The Atom Institute.”  He has a new attitude about the future of homo superior and normal humans, and he's got something growing in the basement to serve his cause.

When he isn't at home in District X, the Beast is at “Mutopia Medical Center,” where he can tell normal human men how many of their sperm carry the “X-gene.”  Meanwhile, at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Cyclops and Emma Frost are living as X-Men-past, as their powers dim.  They have a plan to get their mojo back, but it means they need to get the band back together...

Ramon Villalobos brings Chris Burnham's story to life as the kind of comic book storytelling that refuses to be ordinary.  Villalobos makes Quitely's style practical and also visually striking and bracing.  I am flabbergasted.  I wanted to read this E is for Extinction comic book, but I did not expect to get this fantastic comic book that keeps me flipping through it pages.

I have more praise for it, but I better save it for issue #2.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact the author for syndication rights and fees.


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

I Reads You Review: NAMELESS #1

NAMELESS #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Grant Morrison – @grantmorrison
ARTIST: Chris Burnham – @TheBurnham
COLORS: Nathan Fairbairn
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
LOGO/DESIGN: Rian Hughes
COVER: Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn
VARIANT COVERS: Tony Moore; Nathan Fox with Jordie Bellaire; Jonathan Hickman; Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (February 2015)

Rated M / Mature

“Shit Rains Down”

Nameless is a new horror and science fiction comic book from writer Grant Morrison and artist Chris Burnham.  Published by Image Comics, Nameless is colored by Nathan Fairbairn and lettered by Simon Bowland.

Nameless #1 (“Shit Rains Down) opens with shocking violence.  An astronomer kills his wife and two children before he hangs himself with barbed wire.  A second family gets wiped out; maybe the husband did it – the husband who yells “Zirom Trian Ipam Ipamis,” as the police carry him away.

Meanwhile, an occult hustler who has named himself, “Nameless,” fights the Veiled Lady for the “Dream Key.”  But his biggest task may be the job that is forced upon him – to save the Earth from a malevolent asteroid named “Xibalba.”

The first half of Nameless #1 is a mixture of familiar Grant Morrison tropes – conspiracies and occultism – with some leftovers from The Invisibles and H.P. Lovecraft.  Morrison throws that into a word processing blender and presses the puree button when he really should have used the pulse setting.  The first time I read the first half of Nameless, I did not understand what was happening in the story.  I thought, “How will I review this mess.  I have no idea what's going on.”  I was still confused after reading the first half a second time.

After a third and fourth reading, however, I found the first half of Nameless to be strangely beautiful.  I thought (or imagined) that I was seeing new things in the story and art that I had not seen before.  The Frank Quitely-like art by Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn's gorgeous coloring makes for some eye-catching graphics.  Together, story and art offer graphical storytelling that presents dreams and visions as if they were the gosh-darn-purtiest vacation spot in all of comic book land.

The rest of Nameless #1 is conventional, for the most part, but still intriguing.  I am quite determined to read the second issue of Nameless, sellouts be damned.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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



Sunday, October 12, 2014

I Reads You Review: THE MULTIVERSITY #1

THE MULTIVERSITY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Grant Morrison
PENCILS: Ivan Reis
INKS: Joe Prado
COLORS: Nei Ruffino
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Nei Ruffino
VARIANT COVERS: Chris Burnham with Nathan Fairbairn (after Joe Shuster); Bryan Hitch with Alex Sinclair; Grant Morrison
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“House of Heroes”

The Multiversity is the latest comic book event series from DC Comics.  It is also a long-awaited event series, as this project was first announced several years ago.  The Multiversity is a limited series consisting of interrelated one-shot comic books set in the “DC Multiverse.”  Specifically, this is the Multiverse as it exists after The New 52, the re-launch of the DC Comics Universe that occurred in 2011.

If I understand correctly, the series will be comprised of eight comics.  Grant Morrison will write all eight, but each comic book will be drawn by a different artist.  The first issue, The Multiversity #1, is written by Morrison, drawn by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, colored by Nei Ruffino, and lettered by the great Todd Klein.

The Multiversity #1 (“Hall of Heroes”) opens in a college dorm room, where a young African-American man is trying to understand what may be a haunted comic book.  The story moves to Earth-7, where Nix Uotan, the Superjudge and last of the Multiversal Monitors, saves a superhero, Thunderer, from certain doom at the hands of five demonic invaders:  Dame Merciless, Hellmachine, Lord Broken, Demogorounn, and Intellectron.

Meanwhile, Superman of Earth-23 finds himself spirited away to the Monitor Watchstation, also known as Valla-hal the “House of Heroes.”  Here, the greatest heroes of Fifty-Two worlds have been summoned to protect the Multiverse.  None of them have any idea of what they face.

If I had to guess (and I have to since I'm trying to communicate with you, dear readers, through this review), I would guess that The Multiversity is influenced by DC Comics' now-legendary comic book crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths.  I think the JLA/JSA crossover events that occurred in the original Justice League of America comic book series, every year from 1963 to 1985, also inspires The Multiversity.  In fact, I have read a few of those annual crossover stories, and The Multiversity #1, in terms of storytelling and in Ivan Reis' art, reminds me of them.

Basically,  The Multiversity #1 is old-school DC Comics (pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths) mixed with Grant Morrison's penchant for weirdness and mythology, and his... taste... for Alan Moore and Michael Moorcock.  It's a fun read.  I don't know if this event is meant to be world(s)-shattering, but it sure doesn't seem like it.  It's more goofy fun than anything else.

I won't lie to you.  This is far from a great comic book, but it is, for the most part, good.  You know, there are enough Black and African-American superheroes in The Multiversity #1 to make a Tarzan movie or at least, a Milestone Media comic book, so I can't help but like it.  I am going to follow this series in its entirety because of this first issue, although I had planned on not reading past the first issue.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 18 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IMAGE COMICS

JUL130514 APHRODITE IX #5 [DIG] $2.99
JUN130463 BOMB QUEEN DLX ED HC VOL 03 (MR) [DIG] $24.99
JUL130519 BOUNCE #5 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130441 CENTURY WEST OGN (MR) [DIG] $7.99
MAY130409 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR A SILVESTRI [DIG] $2.99
MAY130410 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR B SEJIC $2.99
MAY130411 CYBER FORCE #6 CVR C CHRISTOPHER $2.99
APR130533 DARKNESS #115 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
JUL130450 FIVE GHOSTS TP VOL 01 HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY $9.99
JUL138232 GHOSTED #2 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
JUL130525 GREAT PACIFIC #10 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130457 LOST VEGAS TP $14.99
JUL130530 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #7 CVR A OEMING [DIG] $2.99
JUL130531 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #7 CVR B SANTOS $2.99
JUN130551 MIND THE GAP #14 CVR A ESQUEJO [DIG] $2.99
JUN130552 MIND THE GAP #14 CVR B MCDAID $2.99
JUL130428 MORNING GLORIES #31 (MR) [DIG] $3.50
JUL130461 MORNING GLORIES DLX HC VOL 02 $39.99
JUL130535 PETER PANZERFAUST #14 [DIG] $3.50
JUN130559 SAVAGE DRAGON #191 (MR) [DIG] $3.99
JUL130488 WALKING DEAD SPANISH LANGUAGE ED TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
JUL130415 ZERO #1 CVR A WALSH & MULLER (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUL130416 ZERO #1 CVR B CLOONAN (MR) $2.99
JUL130417 ZERO #1 CVR C BURNHAM (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JUL131904 TMP 2013 BALTIMORE RAVENS CHAMP 3PK AF SET PI


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The New 52 Review: BATWING #1

BATWING #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Judd Winick
ARTIST: Ben Oliver
COLORIST: Brian Reber
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99

Batwing is the Batman of Africa. Created by Grant Morrison and designed by Chris Burnham, the character first appeared in Batman Incorporated. As part of DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Batwing is officially a title character.

Batwing #1 (“The Cradle of Civilization”) follows David Zamvimbi A.K.A. Batwing, an officer with the Tinasha Police Department. Zamvimbi is investigating a series of brutal murders connected to the drug trade in Tinasha. At the same time, Batwing meets his match in a machete-wielding, masked villain called Massacre who kills at will.

I saw preview art for Batwing by series artist Ben Oliver that was released during Comic-Con International, and it looked glorious in black and white. Now, as presented in the actual comic book, Oliver’s art has been defaced by Brian Reber’s horrid coloring, which looks like a slush of watercolors and color markers. This ghastly coloring job only emphasizes how vague the background details are; in fact, Oliver draws little and sometimes nothing in the background.

Judd Winick’s feeble storytelling matches the vague art. Hiring a Black man or woman or African to write this comic book wouldn’t kill DC… or would it? An African-American or African would bring a fresh perspective to this book, which really needs one. Under Winick, Batwing, even if it mildly entertains, will probably end up being just more Bat-guano.

C

August 31st
FLASHPOINT #5
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/flashpoint-5.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-1.html

September 7th
ACTION COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/action-comics-1.html
DETECTIVE COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/detective-comics-1-2011.html
HAWK AND DOVE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/hawk-dove-1.html
STORMWATCH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/stormwatch-1.html

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Crack Comics #63 Appears 61 Years Later

THE NEXT GOLDEN AGE

Image Comics continues the NEXT ISSUE PROJECT with CRACK COMICS #63

In December, another Golden Age classic will get its next issue with the NEXT ISSUE PROJECT: CRACK COMICS #63.

The NEXT ISSUE PROJECT: CRACK COMICS #63 picks up where Quality Comics' CRACK COMICS #62 left off in 1949, with all-new stories by modern day creators. The all-star line up includes ALAN WEISS (Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, Tom Strong), ERIK LARSEN (SAVAGE DRAGON, Amazing Spider-Man), HERB TRIMPE (The Incredible Hulk, BPRD: The War on Frogs), PAUL MAYBURY (POPGUN, COMIC BOOK TATTOO), TERRY AUSTIN (Uncanny X-Men, Superman Adventures, Green Lantern), ADAM McGOVERN (Dr. Id), PAOLO LEANDRI (Dr. Id) & CHRIS BURNHAM (OFFICER DOWNE, ELEPHANTMEN). Weiss provided the cover, and MIKE ALLRED (MADMAN) contributed a gorgeous variant cover.

"The NEXT ISSUE PROJECT is for any fan of comics, not just fans of Golden Age books," says editor Erik Larsen. "Often, the promise of Golden Age comics -- where creators were making up the rules as they went along and were blazing new trails -- was more exciting than the reality of Golden Age comics, where creators were essentially mimicking some of the same dull formulaic writing found in other mediums at the time. Everyone who contributed to CRACK COMICS #63 was intent on fulfilling the promise of the Golden Age and delivering a book that was more than a mere homage, but also a thrilling glimpse of what comics could be -- if only creators were allowed to run wild with the characters they were handed! These creative dynamos jumped at the chance to present their own take on these Golden Age heroes and demonstrate comics' true potential!"

NEXT ISSUE PROJECT: CRACK COMICS #63: Captain Triumph! The Clock! Spitfire! Molly the Model! Alias the Spider! Space Legion! Some of the greatest creations from yesterday are brought back to life by some of the greatest creators of today! Fans have marveled over the years as, one by one, characters from comics' Golden Age have been revived for a modern audience. The NEXT ISSUE PROJECT is an ongoing series that continues a classic discontinued title for a modern audience! All stories are complete, self-contained and cool as all hell! All books are Golden Age sized, but these aren't simply an homage to Golden Age comics: They're updated classics by modern masters for a new generation!

NEXT ISSUE PROJECT: CRACK COMICS #63 (Weiss: OCT100451; Allred: OCT100452), a 48-page full-color Golden Age sized comic book for $4.99, will be in stores December 22, 2010. Previous issues of Next Issue Project -- NEXT ISSUE PROJECT #1: FANTASTIC COMICS #24 (OCT071967) and NEXT ISSUE PROJECT #2: SILVER STREAK COMICS #24 (OCT090364) -- are available now.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Joe Casey and Chris Burnham Present "Officer Downe"

JOE CASEY AND CHRIS BURNHAM GET DOWNE

Forget the Comics Code: Joe Casey and Chris Burnham get violent in OFFICER DOWNE

Writer JOE CASEY (Godland) and artist CHRIS BURNHAM, the team responsible for the cult hit NIXON'S PALS bring a whole new kind of crime comic with OFFICER DOWNE, a one-shot available from Image Comics this July. OFFICER DOWNE features a police officer who won't let anything -- including death -- stop him from taking down the worst criminals in town.

"This book is the antidote for the event comic that takes waaaaaayyy too long to tell too little story -- the "talky" alterna-comic that lacks the proper amount of mayhem -- and any of the company-owned pabulum that they try to pass off as entertainment," exclaims Casey. "You have the right to remain silent... and experience a *true* hero for our times.”

OFFICER DOWNE walks the eternal beat and delivers the eternal beat-down! Much more than man...he is policeman! It's hyper-violence on the mean city streets, from JOE CASEY and CHRIS BURNHAM -- an all-new one-shot in which a lone Badass With A Badge takes on the scourges of the criminal underworld! Not even death itself can stop this powerhouse of justice! Officer Downe is one cop that'll keep coming back for more...even from beyond the grave!

OFFICER DOWNE, a full-color 48-page one-shot for $4.99, will be in stores July 14, 2010.


Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Archaia Graphic Novels Now in Stores

THE KILLER VOL. 2 HARDCOVER
(W) Matz (A) Luc Jacamon

While trying to avoid the kinds of personal entanglements that make the life of a professional assassin all the more difficult, our Killer exacts what he hopes will be his revenge on those that have sent his life and career into its long and downward spiral back into humanity. Collects issues #5-10 of the acclaimed series The Killer.

Full Color $24.95 176 pages Mature Readers (series contains Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Graphic Violence, and Adult Content)

ROBOTIKA VOL. 2: FOR A FEW RUBLES MORE HARDCOVER
(W) Alex Sheikman and David Moran (A) Alex Sheikman (COL) Joel Chua

Niko, the Steampunk Samurai in search of a soul, returns with Yuri Bronski and Cherokee Geisha. Join the Three Yojimbos on their latest adventure as they journey deeper into the Badlands of this bleakly dystopian future world, where sometimes the one and only currency that can satisfy a debt is blood. Welcome to the future… Collects the four-issue miniseries.

Full Color $19.95 144 pages Mature Readers (Series contains Graphic Violence and Adult Content)

GUNNERKRIGG COURT VOL. 2: RESEARCH
(W/A) Tom Siddell

Annie and Kat begin their second year at Gunnerkrigg Court! Parts of Annie's past are revealed, as well as mysteries that tie back to the origins of the Court itself. Finding a secret tomb of ancient robots beneath Kat's workshop leads the two friends to question how they are linked to the mysterious ghost that attacked Annie the year before. And as a new Medium In Training, Annie is able to visit the powerful trickster god Coyote in Gillitie Forest, a visit that reveals more than she ever imagined. The second collection of the award-winning Web series!

Full Color $26.95 296 pages All Ages

DAYS MISSING HARDCOVER(W) Phil Hester, David Hine, Ian Edginton, Matz (A) Frazer Irving, Chris Burnham, Hugo Petrus, Lee Moder (COV) Dale Keown

From Roddenberry Productions, the creators of Star Trek, comes a story about the hidden pages of human history. Since the dawn of time, a being has existed whose interaction and interference with mankind has shaped human development. His powers of time and intellect have allowed him to secretly remove certain critical days from the historical record. Their stories have never been told. Their details have never been documented. Their existence is not remembered. But the occurrences of these days have forever changed the course of humanity’s evolution. These are the Days Missing from our existence, and they are about to be revealed… Collects all five issues of the hit mini-series and includes a Foreword by Warren Ellis, cover gallery, design sketches and interviews with the creators.

Full Color $19.95 160 pages Teen +13 (Series contains material suitable for Teen Readers age 13 and above)

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Elephantmen #25 is a Jam Comic

A MAMMOTH SPECIAL ISSUE

Some of the industry's best artists contribute to ELEPHANTMEN #25
Richard Starkings' ELEPHANTMEN turns 25 (issues, that is) in style! Each page of the issue is drawn by a profoundly talented guest artist, representing some of the best talent in comics.

The superstars contributing to ELEPHANTMEN #25 include (in order of appearance in the issue): Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween), Moritat (Elephantmen, The Spirit), Gabriel Bautista (Popgun), Duncan Rouleau (Metal Men, The Great Unknown), Sheldon Vella (Kill Audio, Supertron), Dave Gibbons (Watchmen, Martha Washington), Dougie Braithwaite (Justice), Gary Erskine (Dan Dare), Steve Buccellato (Battle of the Bands), Whilce Portacio (Spawn, Image United), Ian Churchill (Hulk), Shaky Kane (The Bulletproof Coffin), Raul Trevino (Final Incal), Boo Cook (Judge Anderson), Paul Grist (Jack Staff), Ladrönn (Final Incal), Marian Churchland (Beast), André Szymanowicz (Sushi Nachos), David Hine (The Bulletproof Coffin, Strange Embrace), Chris Burnham (Nixon's Pals) and Aaron Kuder, Brandon Graham (King City), Dan McDaid (Jersey Gods), Tom Scioli (Godland), Pia Guerra (Y the Last Man), Axel Medellin (50 Girls 50), and Rob Steen (Flanimals).

ELEPHANTMEN #25: THE BIG PICTURE is told entirely in splash pages and chronicles the history of the Elephantmen from one man’s point of view, making it a great jumping-on point for new readers!

ELEPHANTMEN #25 (DEC090405), a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in stores on April 21, 2010.

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

-----------

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Gene Roddenberry's Day Missing Goes Digital

Press release from Archaia Entertainment:

ARCHAIA TO DIGITALLY DISTRIBUTE RODDENBERRY'S 'DAYS MISSING' EXCLUSIVELY ON IVERSE COMICS


FANS CAN DOWNLOAD ‘DAYS MISSING’ #1 FOR FREE ON THE iPHONE OR iPOD TOUCH

Expanding their partnerships with proven digital comics distributors to meet the growing demand for more digital content, Archaia and Roddenberry Productions announced that the “digi-bution” of all five issues of last fall’s critically acclaimed, science fiction miniseries Days Missing is now exclusively on iVerse Comics’ free application. Issue #1, written by Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and drawn by Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory), is currently available for free on the site and issues #2-5 will be available for $1.99 in the coming weeks.

Days Missing tells the stories of a mysterious being known as “The Steward.” His ability to literally “fold” days of time has allowed him to secretly remove critical days from our shared history that have forever changed the course of mankind…or so he thinks. In these missing days, The Steward battles Frankenstein, the Spanish conquistadors and artificial life forms, among other history-shaping forces.

Days Missing digital issues #2-5 will each be available for $1.99 and will roll out weekly starting Jan. 27. The schedule is as follows:

Days Missing #2 – Jan. 27
Days Missing #3 – Feb. 3
Days Missing #4 – Feb. 10
Days Missing #5 – Feb. 17

“Archaia is committed to reaching the mass audience with our sophisticated content in multiple formats,” said PJ Bickett, President of Archaia. “With digi-bution, we are able to reach an audience 10 times larger. Now throw in the fact that it is Days Missing, co-developed with Roddenberry Productions, and you have an instant winner!”

“Roddenberry has always been a name associated with technology and innovation. We are thrilled to continue this journey with Archaia and offer fans the opportunity to consume this extraordinary story on a unique digital platform,” said Roddenberry’s Head of Development and Days Missing Creator Trevor Roth.

“Archaia is the perfect kind of publishing partner for iVerse,” said iVerse Media CEO Michael Murphey. “Archaia has a rich and diverse catalog with some amazing properties like Days Missing…which we’re very excited to release on the iPhone.”

The digi-bution of Days Missing will ramp up to the debut of the Days Missing deluxe hardcover ($19.95, 160 pages, ISBN 1-932386-84-X), which will feature a host of extras and back-matter material, including a foreword by the legendary Warren Ellis. It is scheduled to be on sale in comic shops on Feb. 24 and in bookstores on March 2.

Archaia’s digital strategy will continue with the launch of an Archaia Store app at the end of February, powered by iVerse Media. The store will contain a complete list of Archaia’s archived products as well as exclusive digital content. More information to follow soon.

About ‘Days Missing’
Archaia and Roddenberry Productions brought together four all-star creative teams to each work on standalone, reader-friendly issues of Days Missing that tie into the overall mini-series story arc. The writer/artist teams include: Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory) for issues 1 and 5; David Hine (Batman: Battle for the Cowl) and Chris Burnham (X-Men: Divided We Stand) for issue 2; Ian Edginton (Stormwatch) and Lee Moder (Legion of Super-Heroes) for issue 3; and Matz (The Killer) and Hugo Petrus (Wolverine: First Class) for issue 4. The legendary Dale Keown (The Incredible Hulk, Pitt) provided the main covers to each issue. Blair Butler from G4’s “Fresh Ink Online” said Days Missing was “one of the best things that came out this year” and Aint It Cool News’ Ambush Bug said it “is sci fi at its best and well worth checking out.”

About Archaia Entertainment, LLC
Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including such popular Eisner-Award winning titles as Mouse Guard and The Killer, as well as Awakening, Gunnerkrigg Court, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium Rain, God Machine, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim Henson Company library and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content.

For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (twitter.com/archaiacomics).

About Roddenberry Productions
Roddenberry Productions is a science-fiction leader with a tradition of groundbreaking entertainment and quality merchandise. Originally founded in 1967 by Gene Roddenberry, the company has since led a steady stable of science fiction successes including Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda and, most notably, the Star Trek brand. Roddenberry Productions continues to produce entertainment for all audiences, employing a viewer-centric creative process and resulting in insightful visions of humanity. Its merchandising business is based on quality and authenticity providing memorabilia for fans in today’s new multimedia generation. Roddenberry Productions has set itself apart by creating content that surpasses mere entertainment; it acknowledges the intelligence of audiences by challenging them to think, question and explore the world, and those potentially beyond.

About iVerse Media, LLC
iVerse Media, LLC is a digital distributor of comic books for mobile platforms. Established in 2008, iVerse has quickly emerged as an innovator and leader in the mobile publishing field. Partnerships with high-profile brands like Archie Comics, and leading industry publishers like IDW Publishing (”Star Trek”), BOOM! Studios (”Farscape”), Ardden Entertainment (”Flash Gordon”), Red 5 Comics (”Atomic Robo”), Ape Entertainment (”Super Human Resources”), and many more have made it possible for iVerse to surpass one million downloads in under 9 months of releasing content into the iPhone App Store. iVerse is principally located in Waco, Texas. [END]

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Archaia Offers "Days Missing" for Pre-order

Press release from Archaia:

ARCHAIA AND RODDENBERRY ANNOUNCE DELUXE ‘DAYS MISSING’ HARDCOVER

GRAPHIC NOVEL COLLECTS ALL FIVE ISSUES PLUS A HOST OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN EXTRAS

Combining Archaia’s longstanding commitment to producing high-quality hardcover graphic novels and Roddenberry’s goal to produce sophisticated, intelligent and entertaining science fiction in the tradition of Star Trek, the companies announced today they will publish a deluxe Days Missing hardcover that collects all five issues of the critically acclaimed mini-series plus a host of extra features, available in February 2010.

The Days Missing hardcover is available for pre-order now through comic retailers (Diamond Item Number DEC09 0662) and online outlets like Amazon.com (ISBN 1-932386-84-X). (To find your nearest comic shop, visit www.comicshoplocator.com.)

Days Missing tells the stories of a mysterious being known as “The Steward.” His ability to literally “fold” days of time has allowed him to secretly remove critical days from our shared history that have forever changed the course of mankind…or so he thinks. In these missing days, The Steward battles Frankenstein, the Spanish conquistadors and artificial lifeforms, among other history-shaping forces.

Archaia and Roddenberry Productions brought together four all-star creative teams to each work on standalone, reader-friendly issues of Days Missing that tie into the overall mini-series story arc. The writer/artist teams include: Phil Hester (Firebreather, The Darkness, Green Arrow) and Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin, Seven Soldiers of Victory) for issues 1 and 5; David Hine (Batman: Battle for the Cowl) and Chris Burnham (X-Men: Divided We Stand) for issue 2; Ian Edginton (Stormwatch) and Lee Moder (Legion of Super-Heroes) for issue 3; and Matz (The Killer) and Hugo Petrus (Wolverine: First Class) for issue 4. The legendary Dale Keown (The Incredible Hulk, Pitt) provided the main covers to each issue.

The extra features in the Days Missing hardcover include:• A foreword written by the legendary Warren Ellis, award-winning creator of graphic novels such as Fell, Ministry of Space, Planetary and Transmetropolitan.
• A gallery featuring all 16 covers of the five issues.
• A collectible poster on the reverse side of the dust jacket, joining together all of Frazer Irving’s complete chase covers to Days Missing.
• Interviews with all of the writers and Roddenberry Productions’ Trevor Roth , creator of Days Missing.
• Revelation of the secret code contained in the Days Missing logo.
• A stat sheet of The Steward, plus a tour of his library.
• The evolution of a comic page, from script to pencils, inks and colors.

Here is what the critics are saying about Days Missing:
“One of the best things that came out this year.”
– Blair Butler, G4’s Fresh Ink Online
“Innovative and cool.”
– Brendan McGuirk, Newsarama.com
“A rare treat.”
– Christopher Baggett, TheHomeWorld.net
“Poetic…beautiful…impressive.”
– Sara Lima, ComicVine.com

About Archaia
Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including such popular Eisner-Award winning titles as Mouse Guard and The Killer, as well as Awakening, Gunnerkrigg Court, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium Rain, God Machine, Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing, The Jim Henson Company library and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content.

For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (twitter.com/archaiacomics).

About Roddenberry Productions
Roddenberry Productions is a science-fiction leader with a tradition of groundbreaking entertainment and quality merchandise. Originally founded in 1967 by Gene Roddenberry, the company has since led a steady stable of science fiction successes including Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict, Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda and, most notably, the Star Trek brand. Roddenberry Productions continues to produce entertainment for all audiences, employing a viewer-centric creative process and resulting in insightful visions of humanity. Its merchandising business is based on quality and authenticity providing memorabilia for fans in today’s new multimedia generation. Roddenberry Productions has set itself apart by creating content that surpasses mere entertainment; it acknowledges the intelligence of audiences by challenging them to think, question and explore the world, and those potentially beyond. [END]