#IReadsYou Review: RED SONJA Black White Red #2

RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Jonboy Meyers; Jeff Parker; David F. Walker
ART: Jonboy Meyers; Natalie Nourigat; Will Robson
COLORS: Jonboy Meyers; Natalie Nourigat; Will Robson
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau; Natalie Nourigat; Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Lucio Parrillo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jonboy Meyers; David Nakayama; Tabitha Lyons (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Robert E. Howard

Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) saw the debut of a high fantasy, sword and sorcery heroine, Red Sonja.  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.

Red Sonja remained a fixture in comic books from then until about 1986.  In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring differing versions of the character.  One of those is Red Sonja Black White and Red, an anthology comic book featuring stories from well known comic book writers and artists, with the art presented in black, white, and red.

Red Sonja Black White and Red #2 is comprised of three stories.  The first is “Proelium Finalis” by Jonboy Meyers and Patrick Brosseau.  Next is “Edible” by Jeff Parker and Natalie Nourigat.  The final story is “Listen Close” by David F. Walker, Will Robson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.  I'll review each story separately.

THE LOWDOWN:   Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Red Sonja Black White and Red #2, which is the first issue of the title that I have read.  I have seen listings for it, but did not pay attention.

“Proelium Finalis” by Jonboy Meyers and Patrick Brosseau:
The plot involves “The Lemurians” who return from the bowels of the Earth in a bid to end both the Hyborian Age and the world of man.  They are led by the wizard, Kael Al-Ammon, but the humans are led by Red Sonja.

Meyers makes sure that Red Sonja's hair is red, but otherwise, he uses the color to splash across the pages of his sharp artwork in order to signify violence and gore. “Proelium Finalis” is a beautifully drawn comic book short story, but I'd like to see the team of Meyers and Brosseau smash us in the face with a miniseries version of this.

“Edible” by Jeff Parker and Natalie Nourigat:
The story introduces a tribe of humans that have settled in a valley with which they were not familiar.  Near the valley is a bog, and members of the tribe have gone into the bog and never returned.  The latest missing tribesman is a girl named Tanira or “Tan,” for short.  Once in the bog, Red Sonja discovers that a strange, seemingly unbeatable organism rules the area.

“Edible” is a clever story, and it is probably the closest that anyone will come to an all-ages Red Sonja story that is actually a Red Sonja story.  The pretty art is drawn by Natalie Nourigat in a clean style that readers will generally find in children's comics.

“Listen Close” by David F. Walker, Will Robson, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou:
“Listen Close” is a bedtime story about Red Sonja.  An African-American father tells the story to his red-haired daughter, who wants to be “just like Red Sonja.”  The “She-Devil with a Sword” has been summoned by King Assuman, who promises her great riches if she can rescue his bride-to-be, Ophelia, from a “vile creature.”  But there is more to this rescue mission than Red Sonja has been told...

“Listen Close” is this issue's second clever tale, and it is also blessed by Will Robson's ornate art with its detailed composition.  David F. Walker, who is currently known for his comic book, Bitter Root (Image Comics), offers a nice middle-grade appropriate Red Sonja tale.

It's hard to pick a favorite story of the three offered in Red Sonja Black White and Red #2.  Each story has at least one thing about it that I really like, so I'll just recommend the entire issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja will want to try Red Sonja Black White and Red.

A-

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


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#IReadsYou Review: POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #1

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David Walker
ARTIST: Sanford Greene
COLORS: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Sanford Greene
VARIANT COVERS: Kalman Andrasofszky; John Tyler Christopher; Sanford Greene; Theotis Jones; Chris Visions; Trevor Von Eeden with Rachelle Rosenberg; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2016)

Rated T+

“The Boys are Back”

Luke Cage, also known as “Power Man,” is a Marvel Comics superhero.  He was created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., and first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (cover dated: June 1972).  Cage was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, but he eventually gains superpowers in the form of durability, unbreakable skin, and superhuman strength.

Iron Fist/Daniel “Danny” Rand is a Marvel Comics superhero.  The character was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane, and first appeared in Marvel Premiere #15 (cover dated: May 1974).  An orphan and martial artist, Danny earned the power of a mystical force called the Iron Fist in the also mystical city of K'un Lun.

Both characters have starred in their own comic books series, but Luke Cage and Iron Fist have also been a duo and a team called Heroes for Hire.  There was also a long-running comic book series entitled Power Man and Iron Fist.  Thanks to the All-New, All-Different Marvel, Power Man and Iron Fist the comic book is back.  It is written by David Walker; drawn by Sanford Greene; colored by Lee Loughridge; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Power Man and Iron Fist #1 (“The Boys are Back”) opens with Luke and Danny on their way to meet Jennie Royce.  The former office manager of Heroes for Hire, Jennie has finished serving a prison sentence for murdering her abusive ex-boyfriend, Eugene Mason.  Jennie asks Luke and Danny to retrieve a family heirloom currently in the possession of a criminal, Lonnie Lincoln a.k.a. “Tombstone.”  Luke is adamant that he is not re-teaming with Danny Rand and that this mission to retrieve Jennie's heirloom is just a favor for a friend-who-is-like-family in need.  But, of course, it is not the easy.

One look at Sanford Greene's cover art for this new Power Man and Iron Fist #1, I knew that I would not like what was behind the cover.  I was wrong.  I really liked this first issue, and I am genuinely suspicious or ambivalent about first issues.

David Walker's story and script is off-beat in a way that makes this comic book stand out from the Marvel pack, in a way that Matt Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye did.  Sanford Greene's visual language for this comic book balances superhero action against an edgy kind of street-comedy and gritty drama that pushes back on easy classification.

I like this comic book, and I look forward to future issues.  Besides, David Walker and Sanford Greene are the Black/African-American creative team I have been demanding, so I gots to keep it real and read this comic book for several issues, at least.  So far, it looks like their work will help to choke the Jim Crow out of the American comic book industry

A-
7.5 out of 10

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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#IReadsYou Review: MARVEL COMICS #1000

MARVEL COMICS No. 1000
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Al Ewing and various
PENCILS: Various
INKS: Various
COLORS: Various
LETTERS: Various
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EiC: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Various
96pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (October 2019)

Rated T

Marvel Comics #1 (with a cover date of October 1939) was first published on Aug. 31, 1939.  It was the first comic book published by the company known as Timely Comics, a division of Timely Publications and a precursor of Marvel Comics.  Marvel Comics would eventually take on the title, Marvel Mystery Comics.

Using the publication date of Marvel Comics #1, Marvel Comics has been celebrating its 80th anniversary throughout 2019.  The biggest event of that celebration is a special comic book, Marvel Comics #1000.  This massive collaborative effort features 80 different creative teams and showcases classic Marvel Comics characters and some brand new ones.

Each page of Marvel Comics #1000 is a single-page vignette that is the contribution of one of the 80 creative teams.  The creative teams are a mixture of Marvel Comics luminaries (Roy Thomas, Chris Claremont, Alex Ross, to name a few), recent Marvel star creators (Jason Aaron, Joe Quesada), some rising Marvel creators (David F. Walker, Saladin Ahmed), some celebrities (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Neil Gaiman), and some inexplicable choices (J. Scott Campbell?!)

The guiding hand behind the story in this issue is Al Ewing, writer of the critically-acclaimed Hulk comic book series, Immortal Hulk.  The very first panel of Marvel Comics #1000 is based on a panel from Marvel Comics #1, and it is the beginning of this comic book's first one-pager, which is entitled “Eight Bells.”  It is written by Ewing; drawn by Steve Epting; colored by Frank D'Armata; and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles.  And while many of the one-pagers in Marvel Comics #1000 are about pivotal moments in Marvel Comics' past, the first one-page hints at an ancient conspiracy that runs through the history of the Marvel Universe.

“Eight Bells” recounts the introduction of the original Human Torch, an android by Professor Horton.  From there, Ewing unveils a mystery in the Marvel Universe, one centered around an enigmatic artifact known as the “Eternity Mask.”  Secret threads, secret connections, secret histories, and synchronicity, what is the mystery behind the Eternity Mask, an item that can take down both the powerful and weak  Who will wear the mask now?

In the Diamond Previews online write-up for Marvel Comics #1000, Marvel declares it features “The Greatest Talent Ever Assembled for One Story.”  Another line reads “...we have gathered together the greatest array of talent ever to be assembled between the covers of a single comic book!”  Marvel has also described the creative line-ups for this Marvel Comics #1000 as “some Marvel icons, some first-timers” and “80 luminary creative teams.”

I understand hype, but I also believe that whoever wrote this does not quite understand the actual meaning of the world “luminary.”  As for “the greatest talent ever assembled,” that is eye-rolling hype.  Most of the contributors to Marvel Comics #1000 are solid professions, but for the most part have not produced enough work or any work that would justify them being called “great talents” and certainly not luminary.  Also, the comic books that most of these new icons and “new luminaries” produce have contributed to the continued plummeting sales of comic books.  Neil Gaiman is obviously a luminary, and after a few puffs of burning bush, I might grudgingly call Jason Aaron a luminary.  But Matthew Rosenberg? – bitch, puh-lease.

For the record, here is a list of artists and writer-artists that have contributed substantially to Marvel Comics, but do not contribute to Marvel Comics #1000:  Art Adams, John Byrne, Sal Buscema, Paul Gulacy, Frank Miller, Andy Kubert, Bob Layton, Jim Lee, Joe Madureira, Todd McFarlane, Bob McLeod, Jon J. Muth, John Romita, John Romita, Jr., Bill Sienkiewicz, Paul Smith, Jim Starlin, Kent Williams, Ron Wilson, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Mike Zeck

Here are the writers who have contributed greatly to Marvel and are not in Marvel Comics #1000:  Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Joe Casey, J.M. DeMatteis, Matt Fraction, Steven Grant, David Michelinie, Mark Millar, Doug Moench, Grant Morrison, Ann Nocenti, Louise Simonson, and Marv Wolfman.

I can understand that there are a number of reasons why none of the above appear in Marvel Comics #1000.  Some may have declined, and others may have chosen not to because they are retired or are in poor health.  Others may have exclusive contracts with other publishers that prohibit them from committing any work for Marvel.  Some may have had scheduling issues, but I think many simply were not asked to contribute.

A Marvel Comics 80th anniversary book without John Byrne and Frank Miller is just fucking stupid.  I don't care what it took – even if someone had to get on his or her knees or drop trousers to convince them, Byrne and Miller had to be in this comic book.   It is because of the work that Byrne and Miller produced for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the mid-1980s that Marvel had a late 1980s.

And they couldn't get a Jack Kirby pin-up in this bitch?  The comic books that Bendis, Brubaker, and Millar produced in the 2000s contributed greatly to the history-making and astounding amounts of money Marvel Entertainment's owners are now making from film adaptations of Marvel Comics' stories and characters.  Bendis should have written the Miles Morales one-pager; because he didn't, I didn't even bother reading it.

There are some nice moments and pages in Marvel Comics #1000.  I thought the Joe Quesada-Kevin Nowlan Daredevil page was beautiful.  Other pages I liked:  Roy Thomas and Rod Reis's Wolverine page; Jim Zub and Nick Bradshaw's Blade page; and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Jessica Jones page, to name a few.

The good stuff in Marvel Comics #1000 is tainted by the absence of so many true Marvel Comics luminaries and icons.  Donny Cates is not a Marvel icon, nor is Gerry Duggan.  Sorry; not now, but maybe later – much later.  The powers-that-be at Marvel Comics should be honest.  Marvel Comics #1000 is not so much an anniversary celebration as their childish need to have a Marvel title reach a thousandth issue because DC Comics recently had two – Action Comics #1000 and Detective Comics #1000.  And Marvel was going to have their 1000 even if they had to fudge the numbers.

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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Review: BITTER ROOT #1

BITTER ROOT No. 1 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: David F. Walker and Chuck Brown
ART: Sanford Greene
COLORS: Rico Renzi and Sanford Greene
LETTERS: Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Heather Antos
COVER: Sanford Greene with Jarreau Wimberly
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mike Mignola; Denys Cowan and Don Hudson with Rico Renzi; Brittney Williams; Sanford Greene with Jarreau Wimberly
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

Rated M/Mature

Bitter Root created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene

Bitter Root is a new comic book miniseries from Image Comics.  It is created by writers David F. Walker and Chuck Brown and artist Sanford Greene.  It follows a family of monster fighters who are based in 1920s Harlem.  The rest of the creative team is composed of Rico Renzi who colors the book with Sanford Greene and Clayton Cowles who provides lettering.

Bitter Root #1 opens in New York City of the 1920s.  The Harlem Renaissance is in full swing, and at one of Harlem's hottest spots, “Sweet Pickin,” people are shaking their tail feathers.  But all is not well.  Supernatural forces are threatening humanity, and only the Sangerye Family can save New York and the world from the demon... the monster... the “Jinoo.”

Ma Etta does the root work to create the curing serum.  Blink assists her, but the young woman wants to be out in the field fighting monsters with the boys.  The burly and loquacious Berg puts young Cullen through his paces.  The family, however, is not as large in number as it used to be, worn down by tragedy and conflict.  They must heal and recover or watch the world be destroyed.

Black science fiction and fantasy – in film and television, in prose, and in comic books – is in full bloom.  Comic books like Black Panther, House of Whispers, and Jook Joint provide a regular and consistent view of black and brown faces in speculative and fantastic fiction.  Writer David F. Walker has been at the forefront of “Black Comics” thanks to his work on titles like Cyborg, Luke Cage, and Nighthawk, to name a few.

Walker and co-writer Chuck Brown, in Bitter Root, deliver a concept with quite a bit of potential.  Even after one issue, it seems that five issues will not be enough to contain what they have created.  I like the idea of hate being a thing that creates monsters, but Bitter Root seems to want to explore evil in ways that are layered if not complex.  Plus, there are the dynamics of the Sangerye Family.  They are four strong individuals, each one truly unique from the others, and all with glorious black and brown faces.

As an comic book artist and illustrator, Sanford Greene is bold and dynamic.  The influence and manga and anime on Greene's graphical storytelling is evident, even in Bitter Root.  Characters emote with kinetic ferocity and the suggestion of figures in motion here makes the characters move like a cat on a hot tin roof.  Green's storytelling is alive and hypnotic.  Is it okay to say that this is like crack for the comic book readers' eyes.  Greene's coloring, done with Rico Renzi, is equally heady and kinetic.

The ever reliable letterer, Clayton Cowles, also goes shaka zulu with his lettering.  A nervy story needs nervy lettering in order to be a nervy read, and Cowles work here is quite nervy.  Bitter Root keeps the black gold flowing in our “Golden Age” of “Black Comics.”  I recommend it and can't wait for the second issue.

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes text pieces by David F. Walker and Chuck Brown (“Bitter Truths: That ain't nothing but the Devil!”); Toni Morrison (excerpt from Beloved); and John Jennings (“Deep Roots / Rich Soil: Race, Horror and the Ethnogothic”).]

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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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15, 2019

IMAGE COMICS
MAR190071    BITTER ROOT TP VOL 01 FAMILY BUSINESS    $16.99
MAR198112    FAIRLADY #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR190204    FAIRLADY #2 CVR A BALBONI & LOUISE    $3.99
MAR190205    FAIRLADY #2 CVR B DEWEY    $3.99
MAR190206    FARMHAND #8 (MR)    $3.99
MAR190208    GIDEON FALLS #13 CVR A SORRENTINO (MR)    $3.99
MAR190209    GIDEON FALLS #13 CVR B WALTA (MR)    $3.99
MAR190217    KICK-ASS #14 CVR A FRUSIN (MR)    $3.99
MAR190218    KICK-ASS #14 CVR B FRUSIN (MR)    $3.99
MAR190219    KICK-ASS #14 CVR C BURNHAM (MR)    $3.99
MAR190220    LITTLE BIRD #3 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
NOV180161    LOW #22 CVR A TOCCHINI (MR)    $3.99
NOV180162    LOW #22 CVR B BRERETON (MR)    $3.99
MAR190085    MCMLXXV TP    $9.99
MAR190228    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #15 (MR)    $3.99
MAR190097    OUTER DARKNESS TP VOL 01 (MR)    $16.99
MAR190112    OUTPOST ZERO TP VOL 02    $14.99
MAR190231    PORT OF EARTH #10    $3.99
MAR190119    RAT QUEENS TP VOL 06 INFERNAL PATH (MR)    $16.99
FEB190238    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S LG    $30.00
FEB190237    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S MED    $30.00
FEB190236    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S SM    $30.00
FEB190239    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S XL    $30.00
FEB190240    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S XXL    $32.00
DEC189224    SAGA MARKO & ALANA #1 CVR T/S XXXL    $32.00
FEB190243    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S LG    $30.00
FEB190242    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S MED    $30.00
FEB190241    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S SM    $30.00
FEB190244    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S XL    $30.00
FEB190245    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S XXL    $32.00
DEC189223    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT T/S XXXL    $32.00
MAR190245    SKYWARD #13    $3.99
MAR190062    SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE COMP COLL TP VOL 01    $16.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 20, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

JAN190278    BITTER ROOT #5 CVR A GREENE (MR)    $3.99
JAN190279    BITTER ROOT #5 CVR B OLIVER (MR)    $3.99
JAN190280    BITTER ROOT #5 CVR C DEL MUNDO (MR)    $3.99
JAN190281    BITTER ROOT #5 CVR D RICHARDSON (MR)    $3.99
JAN190288    CRIMINAL #3 (MR)    $3.99
JAN190141    CROWDED TP VOL 01    $12.99
JAN198547    DIE #1 4TH PTG (MR)    $3.99
JAN190297    EVOLUTION #15 (MR)    $3.99
JAN190298    FARMHAND #6 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180038    JESUSFREAK HC    $17.99
JAN190126    LAZARUS RISEN #1 (MR)    $7.99
JAN190337    MIDDLEWEST #5 (MR)    $3.99
JAN190338    MONSTRESS #21 (MR)    $3.99
JAN190354    OUTPOST ZERO #8    $3.99
OCT180111    SEVEN TO ETERNITY TP VOL 03    $16.99
SEP180122    SUNSTONE OGN VOL 06 (MR)    $16.99
JAN190389    WARNING #5 (MR)    $3.99

I Reads You Juniors February 2019 - Update #94

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From Newsarama:  Tom Bilyeu, the co-founder of the protein bar company, Quest Nutrition, is starting a comic book company, Impact Theory.

From SoutheastMissourian:  Saturday, February 23, 2019, the city of Jackson, Missouri celebrated native son, Roy Thomas' comic book career.  Thomas was a writer and editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics and also a longtime writer at DC Comics.

From BoundingIntoComics:  Actor Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman/Clark Kent in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," roasted Comic Book Resources (CBR) after they wrote an article asking, “Man of Tomorrow: Does #Superman Need to be White?

From ANN:  An interview with Mikio Ikemoto, the artist of the "Boruto" manga, the sequel to "Naruto."

From Newsarama:  DC Comics will make those 100-page giant comics that are exclusive to Wal-Mart stores available to comic book shops.

From Newsarama:  Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" film won three Oscars at the 91st Academy Awards.

From Newsarama:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards last night (Sun., Feb. 24th).

From Newsarama:  Stan Sakai is taking his long-running comic book series, "Usagi Yojimbo," to IDW Publishing after 24 years at Dark Horse Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Ed Piskor's "X-Men: Grand Design" returns in May for his take on the "X-Tinction Agenda."

From Newsarama:  There will be an ongoing "Lois Lane" comic book from writer Greg Rucka and artist Mike Perkins.  There will also be a "Jimmy Olsen" comic book from writer Matt Fraction and artist Steve Lieber.

From GoodReader:  Shueisha Launches Global MANGA Plus Service, with 50 titles and 13 complete series.

From TheWeekUK:  Why Christians are outraged over DC Comics’ Jesus series

From Newsarama:  Batman will take on zombies in the new DC Comics series, "DCeased."

From Newsarama:  DC Collectibles will offer an exclusive version of its "Batman: Black and White" statue line to Walmart stores as 4-inch mini-figures.  The original versions were 9 inches.

From CBB:  Herve St. Louis launches a new webcomic, "Spit."  Here is strip #1 in English.
From CBB:  Spit webcomic, strip #1 in French.

From Newsarama:  Ivy Noelle Weir and Christina "Steenz" Stewart's graphic novel, "Archival Quality" (Oni Press) is the winner of the Fifth Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.

From Newsarama:  DC Comics unveils the complete story lineup for "Detective Comics #1000, which hits stories March 27, 2019.

From ANN:   Naoki Urasawa's Asadora! Manga Returns in April

From MetroUK:  Who is Gerard Way, the creator of "The Umbrella Academy" comic book.

From ANN:  Q Hayashida, the creator of the Manga, "Dorohedoro," has drawn a cover for "Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep," the comic book adaptation of Software's video game.  The "Bloodborne" comic book is produced by Ales Kot and Piotr Kowalski.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics relaunching rumors.

From SyfyWire:  DC Comics' 25 cent "Year of the Villain" special coming before Free Comic Book Day 2019.

From Endgadget:  "Shonen Jump" announced an apparently new cheaper subscription program.

From DreadCentral:  VIZ Media announces new Junji Ito manga for the fall, "No Longer Human."

From Newsarama:  Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica.

From Newsarama:  Writer Brandon Thomas and artist Khary Randolph bring their comic book, "Excellence," to Image imprint, Skybound.

From Newsarama:  Archie Comics is changing the name of its long-running "Archie" comic book series to "Archie and Sabrina."

From Newsarama:  DC Comics cancelled its upcoming and controversial comic book, "Second Coming."  Now, writer Mark Russell is looking for another publisher.

From Bustle:  What are the origins of "Alita: Battle Angel?"

From Deadline:  Aftershock Comics previews its upcoming series, "Mary Shelley: Monster Hunter."

From IGN:  DC Consumer Products has entered a three-year license with Todd McFarlane's McFarlane Toys to produce action figures based on the "DC Multiverse."  The first figures will appear in 2020 and be 6" to 12" posable figures.

From TCAF:  Horror manga master, Junji Ito, will be the featured guest and official poster artist of the 2019 Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF).

From Deadline:  Marvel TV and Hulu ink deal to produce a "Howard the Duck" "adult" animated series and a number of other animated series.  Kevin Smith will apparently oversee the "Howard the Duck" project.

From BleedingCool:  Is "The Exceptionals" a new Mark Millar Netflix project?

From Deadline:  Netflix and Sugar23 win a bidding war for film rights to "Faun," an upcoming short story from comic book writer and bestselling author, Joe Hill (a child of bestselling author, Stephen King).

From Newsarama:  Music from Marvel Studios' hit film, "Black Panther," wins two Grammys at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.  Its music received eight nominations overall.

From CBR:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" has won Best Animated Film at the 2019 / 72nd BAFTA Awards.  This  British Academy Award is the twenty-sixth major award the animated film has earned since its release in December 2018, according to CBR.

From Newsarama:  The most excellent Dan Brereton is seeking to publish his late 1990s giant monster comic, "Giantkiller," in a new edition.

From Newsarama:  Warner Bros. is developing a spin-off of its global box office hit, "Aquaman."  Entitled "The Trench," it will reportedly have a "horror-tone."

IN MEMORIAM:  From Newsarama:  Comic book colorist, James Rochelle, died at the age of 48, Saturday, February 2, 2019.  He worked long stints for WildStorm and CrossGen, making his debut on "Gen 13 #1 in 1994.  Rochelle also colored comic books for Marvel and DC Comics, to name a few.  Rochelle also worked extensively in the video industry.

From CriticalHit:  Rob Liefeld offers a peek at his last Deadpool comic book story, "Deadpool: Badder Blood."

From Newsarama:  Comic book writer David F. Walker is launching his own comic book company, Solid Comix.

From Newsarama:  Aaron McGruder revives his beloved comic strip, "The Boondocks," for a short run.  The six new strips are drawn by Seung Kim, the animator on Cartoon Networks, "The Boondocks" animated TV series.  There may be more to come.

From Newsarama:  Greg Cox will bring back the Court of Owls in the prose novel, "Batman: The Court of Owls."

From Deadline:  "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is a new "Turtles" film headed to Netflix.  It will not be associated with the current Nickelodeon series of the same title.

From CBR:  Actor Harry Lloyd will portray Professor X in the third and final season of FX's X-Men TV series, "Legion."

From BleedingCool:  Ben Dunn of Antarctic Press proposes a coalition of independent comic book publishers.

From BleedingCool:  The graphic novel, "Fun Home," and the manga, "Assassination Classroom," are being removed from high school libraries.

From TheWrap:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" won all seven awards for which it was nominated at the 2019 / 46th Annie Awards, including for "Best Animated Feature."  70 percent of best animated feature winners at the Annie Awards wins the "Best Animated Feature" at the Oscars.

From TheWrap:  "Black Panther" was one of three top winners at the 23rd annual Art Directors Guild Awards.

From PasteMagazine:  The most anticipated comics of 2019:  Part One and Two.

From ANN:  Yen Press announces licenses for six manga, three novels, and one art book.

From Newsarama:  Comic Books' 10 Most Game-Changing Black Superheroes

From ANN:  VIZ Media's SuBLime imprint for yaoi manga announced that it has licensed "Scarlet Beriko's Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamat" manga and plans to release it in print and digital this August.

From Crunchyroll:  The "Ultraman" manga will go on a two-month hiatus due to the health of Tomohiro Shimoguchi.

From ComicBook:  Lucasfilm gives some details on "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" tie-in comic books and novels.  Galaxy's Edge is an upcoming Disney resort.

From CBR:  Mike Grell is reviving his 1990s Image Comics title, "Maggie the Cat."  He will launch a Kickstarter to finish the series which saw only two issues published.

From Newsarama:  Mark Millar confirms a sequel to his [fantastic] miniseries, "The Magic Order."

From Newsarama:  Oni Press announces its Fall 2019 comics titles.

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

FEBRUARY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Full DC Comics catalog
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:   BOOM! Studios for Feb. 2019
From AdventuresinPoorTaste:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics solicitations for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for Feb. 2019
From BleedingCool:  First Second for Feb. 2019
From Seibertron:  IDW Publishing for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for Feb. 2019

MARCH 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Adhouse Books for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Avatar Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Avery Hill for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  Cave Pictures Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Devil's Due/1First Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertaiment for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Graphix for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Humanoids for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Impact Theory for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Force for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for March 2019

APRIL 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama:  01 First Second for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybooks for April 2019
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aftershock Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Amigo Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Caliber Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Cave Pictures Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Drawn & Quarterly for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Heavy Metal for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Humanoids for April 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Joe Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Keenspot for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2019
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for April 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for April 2019

MAY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Kevin Eastman Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Yen Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Zenescope Entertainment for May 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 20, 2019

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 23, 2019

DC COMICS

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 9, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

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NOV180158    KICK-ASS #11 CVR C SHALVEY (MR)    $3.99
NOV180159    LAST SIEGE #8 (OF 8) CVR A GREENWOOD    $3.99
NOV180160    LAST SIEGE #8 (OF 8) CVR B NEELY    $3.99
NOV180169    MURDER FALCON #4    $3.99
SEP188095    MURDER FALCON #4 CVR B HEAVY METAL VAR    $3.99
NOV180170    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #11 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180172    OUTER DARKNESS #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180174    PRODIGY #2 (OF 6) CVR A ALBUQUERQUE (MR)    $3.99
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NOV180185    SELF MADE #2 (MR)    $3.99
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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 12, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

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OCT188242    BITTER ROOT #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
OCT180144    BITTER ROOT #2 CVR A GREENE (MR)    $3.99
OCT180145    BITTER ROOT #2 CVR B SIENKIEWICZ (MR)    $3.99
OCT180146    BITTER ROOT #2 CVR C CHO (MR)    $3.99
OCT180147    BITTER ROOT #2 CVR D WOODS (MR)    $3.99
OCT180167    CEMETERY BEACH #4 (OF 7) CVR A HOWARD (MR)    $3.99
OCT180168    CEMETERY BEACH #4 (OF 7) CVR B IMPACT VAR (MR)    $3.99
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OCT180199    HEAD LOPPER #10 CVR A MACLEAN (MR)    $5.99
OCT180200    HEAD LOPPER #10 CVR B D ANGELO (MR)    $5.99
OCT180203    HEY KIDS COMICS #5 (OF 5) CVR A CAMERON (MR)    $3.99
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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 14, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

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Review: LUKE CAGE #1

LUKE CAGE No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David Walker
ARTIST: Nelson Blake II
COLORS: Marcio Menyz
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Rahzzah
VARIANT COVERS: Mike Deodato, Jr. with Frank Martin; Andre Leroy Davis; Tim Bradstreet; Neal Adams with Dave McCaig
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)

Rated T+

Luck Cage created by Archie Goodwin and John Romita, Sr.

Luke Cage, also known as “Power Man,” is a Marvel Comics superhero.  Cage was created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., and first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (cover dated: June 1972).  Cage was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, but he eventually gained superpowers in the form of durability, unbreakable skin, and superhuman strength.

As Power Man, Cage has been most associated with another superhero, his partner, Iron Fist (Daniel “Danny” Rand), and the duo was featured in the long-running Power Man & Iron Fist comic book series in the 1980s (with a new version being launched last year).  Cage is now also featured in a new solo comic book, Luke Cage.  It is written by David Walker; drawn by Nelson Blake II; colored by Marcio Menyz; and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Luke Cage #1 opens with our titular hero rescuing a very stupid young woman from a really gullible criminal.  Then, Luke gets some awful news.  Dr. Noah Burnstein, the man responsible for giving Luke his powers, has committed suicide, so he travels to New Orleans for Burnstein's funeral.  There, he meets Burnstein's colleague, the sexy Dr. Lenore Mornay, who tells Luke that there is more to Burnstein's death and to his scientific experiments than he may realize.

After the fun of Genndy Tartakovsky's recent four-issue miniseries, Cage!, the darker Luke Cage is a nice follow-up.  The mood is sinister in this comic book, and the threats of adversaries seem to surround the narrative.  Once again, David Walker shows his chops when it comes to writing dark, moody, but intense comic books featuring African-American characters.

Artist Nelson Blake II and colorist Marcio Menyz produced art that is too clean and brightly colored for what promises to be an edgy series.  This is not low quality storytelling by any means, but it does not work for David Walker's storytelling.  We'll see what the second issue looks like.

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.

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

Review: NIGHTHAWK #6

NIGHTHAWK No. 6 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David F. Walker
ARTIST: Ramon Villalobos
COLORS: Tamra Bonvillain
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Chris Sotomayor
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Parental Advisory

Nighthawk is a Marvel Comics character.  While there have been several versions of the character, the first Nighthawk was Kyle Richmond, initially a supervillain and also a member of the Squadron Supreme.  Richmond, as the original Nighthawk, debuted in The Avengers #69 (cover dated:  October 1969) with two other members of the Squadron Supreme.

Marvel's 2015-debuting event/publishing initiative, “All-New, All-Different Marvel,” offered a new ongoing Nighthawk comic book.  This series focused on an African-American version of Kyle Richmond from Earth-31916, who also uses the identity of Raymond Kane.  Nighthawk was written by David F. Walker; drawn by Ramon Villalobos (except for issue #5); colored by Tamra Bonvillian; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

The sales numbers on this Nighthawk series were apparently weak, and it was canceled after six issues, with the last issue being published about two months ago.  Nighthawk is set in Chicago, Illinois which is both roiled by racial strife and rotten with political corruption.  The city's streets, neighborhoods, and districts are Nighthawk's stomping grounds.  The first issue finds him stomping on the “True Patriots,” a White supremacist gang that deals in guns and meth production.  Nighthawk uses his physical and mental skills to destroy them, while his partner, Tilda Johnson, as usual, helps with the robotics and technology Nighthawk uses.

The series found Nighthawk trying to capture a serial killer called “The Revelator,” who is killing White people associated with the oppression of Black people in Chicago.  Nighthawk is also trying to discover the identity of the person who is using the True Patriots to flood Chicago with high-powered fire arms.  That would be powerful real estate mogul, Dan Hanrahan, who in turn uses Tom Dixon, a corrupt cop, as his go-between with the True Patriots.  However, Sherman Burrell, a good White cop, is trailing Dixon because he suspects that he is corrupt.

Nighthawk #6 finds Burrell fighting for his life after his final confrontation with Dixon.  Meanwhile, Nighthawk races to his final confrontation with The Revelator who believes that Nighthawk should be on his side.

I was truly stunned both by how much I liked Nighthawk #1 and by how high-quality it was.  I think that series writer David F. Walker is a fantastic emerging comic book talent.  I also think that if DC Comics were truly interested in African-American comic book writers, Walker would would be writing a few titles for them, even a Batman comic book.  [Walker recently had a short stint as writer of the Cyborg comic book for DC.]

To the end of Nighthawk, Walker does not disappoint.  He wraps up his six-issue Nighthawk series/arc with satisfying and tragic mayhem.  He also manages to make his readers realize how much potential this series had; if only it could have run for another six-issue arc.

As series artist, I liked Ramon Villalobos, whose work on Summer 2015's E is for Extinction (a Secret Wars title) wowed me.  He captured Walker's special mix of humor and the violence that made Nighthawk such an enthralling read.  In the end, I also learned to love the cover art by Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz (with colors by Chris Sotomayor), although I hated the first issue's cover

A

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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I Reads You Juniors September 2017 - Update #50

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