Showing posts with label Eddy Barrows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddy Barrows. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Review: MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1

MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Rob Williams
PENCILS: Eddy Barrows
INKS: Eber Ferreira
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Dan Panosian
VARIANT COVER: Eric Canete
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“Weapon!”

The Martian Manhunter a.k.a. J'onn J'onzz is a DC Comics superhero.  This sci-fi hero was created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa and first appeared in Detective Comics #225 (cover dated: November 1955).  J'onn, a native of Mars, is also one of the seven original members of the Justice League of America.

Now, with the advent of the “DCYou” publishing event, J'onn J'onzz has a new ongoing comic book series.  Martian Manhunter is written by Rob Williams, drawn by Eddy Barrows (pencils) and Eber Ferreira (inks), colored by Gabe Eltaeb, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Martian Manhunter #1 (“Weapon!”) opens with a prologue wherein a group of children visit a strange man named Mr. Biscuits.  Meanwhile, the Martian Manhunter is trying to save an airliner from crashing, all the while unleashing a psychic call for help.  At the Justice League Watchtower, Superman, Flash, and Cyborg are having a little difficulty believing what they are witnessing, while war zones erupt and terrorists unleash multiple attacks.  An alien invasion begins.

Martian Manhunter #1 is another of those DCYou launches that I avoided reading even though it was in my reading slush pile.  I regret that now, as the second issue has already arrived in comic book shops, and I might not be able to get a copy.  Obviously, I enjoyed reading this first issue, and it could be the start of a tremendously good title.

I might be wrong.  Perhaps, I should wait to read another issue, but it seems to me, after only one reading, that series writer Rob Williams has unleashed something big.  If the rest of this story arc is as good as the opening chapter, it will be the kind of big, event story that should launch something.  You know:  the way Flashpoint launched The New 52.

I love, and I do mean love, the art by the team of Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira.  It is old-fashioned and textured, not relying on the colorist to provide texture, such as “feathering.”  Still, colorist Gabe Eltaeb manages to shine anyway, with a color palette that establishes a dark mood, the sense of a world under siege by things not of this world.

Wow!  I want more Martian Manhunter.

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, September 28, 2011

The New 52 Review: NIGHTWING #1

NIGHTWING #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Kyle Higgins
PENCILS: Eddy Barrows
INKS: JP Mayer
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Dick Grayson, Batman’s original Robin, first appeared in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940). Grayson would eventually retire as Robin and take on his own superhero identity, Nightwing, a character that first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July 1984). Grayson became the new Batman for a year (two years in publishing time), but as part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comic book line, he is back as Nightwing.

Nightwing #1 (“Welcome to Gotham”) opens with Nightwing swinging over Gotham City. Dick Grayson has decided to live in the rougher section of town in order to be closer to the action, and he gets plenty of action. First, he visits Haly’s Circus, for whom his late parents were acrobats. Next, a vicious new villain is on the prowl to kill.

Nightwing #1 is a straightforward action and fight comic. The character stuff, such as the visit to Haly’s Circus, is empty and devoid of the emotions Kyle Higgins thought he was hitting, but the fights have, shall we say, kick. The art team of Eddy Barrows (pencils) and JP Mayer (inks) is good and features strong composition and solid drawing. I’ve never heard of Barrows, but I want to know more about him now.

I would describe Nightwing as currently being at the top of the middle of the pack, mainly because of the art.

B+

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html