Review: NIGHTHAWK #1

NIGHTHAWK No. 1 (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
VARIANT COVERS: Rafael Albuquerque; John Tyler Christopher; Bill Sienkiewicz; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 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.

The “All-New, All-Different Marvel” event offers a new ongoing Nighthawk comic book.  This series focuses on an African-American version of Kyle Richmond from Earth-31916, who also uses the identity of Raymond Kane.  Nighthawk is written by David F. Walker; drawn by Ramon Villalobos; colored by Tamra Bonvillian; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Nighthawk #1 opens 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.  In fact, we find 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, will his partner, Tilda Johnson, as usual, helps with the robotics and technology Nighthawk uses.  Meanwhile, Kane faces a dirty offer from Dan Hanrahan; plus, a sinister figure returns.

Stunned.  I am truly stunned both by how much I like this comic book and by how good it is.  If DC Comics were not so afraid of letting African-American scribes write marquee titles, David F. Walker would be writing Batman now.  [Walker recently had a short stint as writer of the Cyborg comic book for DC.]  Although I am a fan of both Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, I think the cover art they provided for Nighthawk #1 is kinda whack.  When I first saw the cover, I looked at this comic book with disdain.

But something made me buy it.  Maybe, it is the buy-the-first-issue fanboy gene that made me do it, but whomever or whatever I have to thank – thank you, bitches!  I think that Walker is going to tackle issues surrounding themes of anger, aggression, rage, violence, political corruption, and corporate depravity.  So that makes David F. Walker's Nighthawk a smart buy.  Besides, the covers are going to get better, aren't they?

As artist, I like the choice of Ramon Villalobos, whose work on last summer's E is for Extinction (a Secret Wars title) wowed me.  You know what?  I'm going to highly recommend this book to you, dear readers.

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.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 17, 2016

MARVEL COMICS

DEC158239     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.2 BIANCHI 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150811     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8     $3.99
DEC150728     AVENGERS STANDOFF WELCOME PLEASANT HILL #1 ASO     $4.99
NOV150947     AVENGERS TIME RUNS OUT TP VOL 04     $19.99
NOV150924     CAPTAIN AMERICA HC WHITE     $29.99
DEC150812     CARNAGE #5     $3.99
NOV150938     CIVIL WAR WARZONES TP     $16.99
DEC158240     CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS #4 IBANEZ 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC158104     DARTH VADER #13 BROOKS 2ND PTG VAR VDWN     $3.99
DEC158105     DARTH VADER #14 BROOKS 2ND PTG VAR VDWN     $3.99
DEC158106     DARTH VADER #15 BROOKS 2ND PTG VAR VDWN     $3.99
DEC158241     DEADPOOL #5 MOORE 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150859     DEADPOOL AND CABLE SPLIT SECOND #3     $4.99
DEC158242     DOCTOR STRANGE #4 NOWLAN 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
NOV150943     E IS FOR EXTINCTION WARZONES TP     $15.99
DEC158243     EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #5 RAMOS 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150858     EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #7     $3.99
DEC150862     MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SEASON TWO #16     $2.99
DEC150864     MAX RIDE #4 ULTIMATE FLIGHT     $3.99
DEC150774     MIGHTY THOR #4     $3.99
DEC150732     POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #1     $3.99
NOV150952     PUNISHER VS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP     $34.99
DEC150795     SILVER SURFER #2     $3.99
DEC158244     SPIDER-GWEN #4 RODRIGUEZ 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150816     SPIDER-WOMAN #4     $3.99
DEC158245     SQUADRON SUPREME #3 ALEX ROSS 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150761     SQUADRON SUPREME #4     $3.99
DEC158107     STAR WARS #14 BROOKS 2ND PTG VAR VDWN     $3.99
DEC150866     STAR WARS #16     $3.99
DEC150838     STARBRAND AND NIGHTMASK #3     $3.99
DEC150788     STAR-LORD #4     $3.99
DEC158108     TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #2 FRANK CHO 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC158246     ULTIMATES #3 ROCAFORT 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
DEC150797     UNCANNY INHUMANS #5     $3.99
AUG150897     UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 03 OPENA CVR     $125.00
DEC150815     WEB WARRIORS #4     $3.99
NOV150955     X-MEN GAMBIT TP COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 01     $34.99
NOV150942     X-TINCTION AGENDA WARZONES TP     $15.99

Review CYBORG #1

CYBORG #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David F. Walker
PENCILS: Ivan Reis
INKS: Joe Prado
COLORS: Adriano Lucas
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Adriano Lucas
VARIANT COVER: Tony Harris
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Unplugged”

Cyborg created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Cyborg a.k.a. Victor Stone is a DC Comics superhero, part-man and part-machine. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appeared in a special insert in DC Comics Presents #26 (cover dated:  October 1980). Cyborg is best known as a member of the young superhero team, the Teen Titans.  However, in September 2011, DC Comics re-launched the DC Universe, rebooting its continuity.  Cyborg was reestablished as a founding member of the superhero team, the Justice League.

Although he was featured in a few Teen Titans spin offs, Cyborg never had his own comic book title.  With the launch of the “DCYou” initiative, he has one, aptly titled, Cyborg.  It is written by David F. Walker; drawn by Ivan Reis (pencils) and Joe Prado (inks); colored by Adriano Lucas; and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Cyborg #1 (“Unplugged”) opens “somewhere in another galaxy.”  This is the scene of a battle between the bestial “Technosapien” and the armor-wearing “Tekbreakers.”  The scene switches back to Earth, specifically S.T.A.R. Labs in Detroit, Michigan.  Outside, it is a scene of protests; inside, Victor Stone has returned to meet his father, Silas Stone, who is a noted scientist.

Victor hopes that his father can help him understand why the machine that gives him his Cyborg powers is evolving.  The problem is that this machine is also his body, and he needs to know what is causing these changes.

Cyborg #1 is intriguing.  Writer David F. Walker isn't offering anything groundbreaking here.  I expect that Walker will occasionally delve into the toxic relationship of the Family Stone.  There is also Sarah, a woman obviously in love with Victor, and she has spent too much time on the sidelines.  Of course, an alien threat looms on the horizon.

I'm reading Cyborg for a number of reasons.  First, I have been a fan of the character since I started reading New Teen Titans back in the day.  Secondly, he is one of the coolest African-American characters in comics, and one of the few who is both original and very powerful.  Thirdly, this new Cyborg comic book is thus far the only “DCYou” title written by an African-American writer.  In fact, it is the only DC Comics title currently written by a Black man.  So I got to support – good or bad, I want to support this comic book, although I think it will be good.  By the way, so much for the diversity of the “DCYou.”

Also, the art team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado has once again delivered stellar work.  I think I would buy this comic book just for their art.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

2015 Glyph Award Winners Announced; Dynamite's "Shaft" is Story of the Year

The Glyph Awards recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about Black people.  The 2015 Glyph Awards recognize comics made in 2014.  The winners were announced on Friday, May 15, 2015 at ECBACC in PhIladelphia. This is the 10th year for the Glyph Awards.

Some of the comics nominated can be read at http://peepgamecomix.com/

2015 Glyph Award winners:

STORY OF THE YEAR
• SHAFT; David F. Walker, Writer; Bilquis Evely, Artist

BEST COVER
• OFFSET #1 – THE MAN WHO TRAVELS WITH A PIECE OF SUGARCANE; Tristan Roach

BEST WRITER
• Keef Cross; DAY BLACK

BEST ARTIST
• Nelson Blake 2; ARTIFACTS

BEST MALE CHARACTER
• Bass Reeves; BASS REEVES: TALES OF THE TALENTED TENTH ; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
• Ajala Storm; AJALA A SERIES OF ADVENTURES; Robert Garrett, Writer; N Steven Harris and Walt Msonza Barna, Artists

RISING STAR AWARD
• Alverne Ball and Jason Reeves, Writers; Lee Moyer and Ari Syahrazad, Artists; ONE NATION: OLD DRUIDS

BEST COMIC STRIP OR WEBCOMIC
• KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist

BEST REPRINT PUBLICATION
• TECHWATCH; Chameleon Creations

FAN AWARD FOR BEST WORK
• ONENATION: SAFEHOUSE; Jason Reeves, Writer; Samax Amen and Deon De Lange, Artists

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

Review: NUMBER 13 #3

NUMBER 13 #3
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Robert Love and David Walker
PENCILS: Robert Love – @Robert33071
INKS: Dana Shukartsi
COLORS: Heather Breckel
LETTERS: David Walker
COVER: Robert Love with Christian Colbert
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

The story of Number 13 that began in Dark Horse Comics Presents comes to an end. Will Number 13 be back?

Number 13 is a comic book series created by Robert Love. Love draws the series and co-writes it with David Walker. This post-apocalyptic tale is set in a world where a plague, Monstrum Morbus (the monster plague), turned most humans into mutated monsters, the Infected (“the fected”), or killed them. Only a few humans remained unchanged, the Immune (“the mune”), but, in a sense, they did become monsters, as they slaughtered the fected and effectively ended the world. The story centers on a bionic amnesiac known as Number 13 (or Number Thirteen), who is trying to recover his past.

Number 13 #3 continues the story of a war that began 60 years after the end of the world. This war between “the mune” and “the fected” rages with new battles. Number 13, the boy who was created to end it all, is caught in the middle of a battle between The Professor, who created him, and Mother Goose, the manipulative and cunning leader of a band of Infected.

The Professor and his Servators, cyborgs created to hunt and kill the Infected, threatens Mother Goose in order to regain 13 from her. Meanwhile, a Servator accidentally evolves, and 13 comes of age, so to speak.

Over the course of reviewing Number 13, I have noted that I think that this series shows the influence on creator/artist Robert Love of Jack Kirby and John Byrne (himself influenced by Kirby). While reading Number 13 #3, I wondered if this comic book is what a black exploitation science fiction movie would have looked like.

Imagine this union in the 1970s: someone willing to finance such a film, a European director, some Vaughn Bodé conceptual and design work, and a cast of the hottest “Afro-American” actors. I think the resulting movie would have looked something like Robert Love’s Number 13, and that’s a good thing.

Influences aside, I like this series. It’s big, an epic story squeezed into the tight space of a comic book page, but given range by the design and layout that grabs inches wherever they can find it. With the spirit of the Saturday morning cartoons of decades past, Number 13 is fun and imaginative beyond what is expected of it.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: NUMBER 13 #2

NUMBER 13 #2
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Robert Love and David Walker
PENCILS: Robert Love – @Robert33071
INKS: Dana Shukartsi
COLORS: Heather Breckel
LETTERS: David Walker with Robert Love
COVER: Robert Love with Christian Colbert
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Robert Love formed Gettosake Entertainment with his brothers, Jeremy and Maurice, in 1998. Since then, he has worked on a number of comic books, including Fierce (with his brother, Jeremy).

Number 13 is a new comic book series from Robert Love that he co-writes with David Walker. This science fiction tale is set in a world where a plague, Monstrum Morbus (the monster plague), turned people into mutated monsters (“the fected”) or killed them. Only a few humans remained (“the mune”), but they became like monsters as they slaughtered the fected and effectively ended the world. The story centers on a bionic amnesiac known as Number 13 (or Number Thirteen), who is trying to recover his past.

Number 13 #2 opens 60 years after the end of the world. Number 13’s creator, the Professor, recounts the beginning of the plague and the war that followed. He continues his search for 13, his “son.” Meanwhile, Mother Goose, the leader of a small “kingdom” of the fected, continues her manipulation of 13, because she hopes to use him as a defense against the mune who hunt her kind. Meanwhile, some of 13’s new fected friends strike out on their own, only to fall into a trap.

As did the first issue, Number 13 #2 shows the influence on creator/artist Robert Love of Jack Kirby and John Byrne (himself influenced by Kirby). Love has taken his influences and created something new, something that also recalls Vaughn Bodé’s post-apocalyptic-set comics.

Number 13 is like a Saturday morning cartoon, but reflecting Barack Obama-era diversity in terms of the characters and players. After reading the first issue, I was careful not to over-praise. Now, I know I’m right. Number 13 is simply fun to read. I can’t get enough, and I want to spread the Robert Love all over your reading list.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: NUMBER 13 #1

NUMBER 13 #1
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Robert Love and David Walker
PENCILS: Robert Love – @Robert33071
INKS: Dana Shukartsi
COLORS: Brennan Wagner
LETTERS: David Walker with Robert Love
COVER: Robert Love with Christian Colbert
PIN-UPS: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jeffrey Kimbler
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Robert Love of Gettosake Entertainment has a new comic book. It is entitled Number 13, and Love co-writes the series with David Walker. The series is a dystopian science fiction tale set in a future world of mutants and those who hate and fear mutants. Into this world, a young bionic man, with no memory of his past, searches for answers and for his creator.

As Number 13 #1 opens, we learn that a plague, Monstrum Morbus (the monster plague), turned people into mutants, or into monsters, as their human brethren saw it. The human race became divided basically into the two groups: the mune (immune to the plague) and the fected (those infected with it). The violence between the two groups caused the end of the world, as we know it.

Sixty years after the end of the world, the fected are a race of mutants looking for safe haven. A small band of them find a young man who turns out to be a bionic amnesiac known as Number 13 (or Number Thirteen). Neither Number 13 nor his new friends know that they are about to become pawns in a great struggle.

In terms of style and graphics, Number 13 #1 bears a strong resemblance to the comic books Jack Kirby produced for DC Comics in the 1970s. In fact, Dana Shukartsi’s strong inks over Robert Love’s pencils create an art style that is something akin to John Byrne’s Kirby-influenced work, such as the excellent Byrne series, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World.

Of course, that means comic book art that pops off the page and a comic book that is a fun read. The first issue is raw in terms of storytelling, but this will get better. I think many readers will feel the way I do; by the time, I reached the last page, I immediately want to see the first page of the next issue.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux