#IReadsYou Review: PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #2

PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #2
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (June 2020)

“Mercy and the Devil”

Gilbert “'Beto” Hernandez is the prolific half of the comic book creating duo, Los Bros. (the other half being his brother, Jaime Hernandez).  Gilbert and Jaime are the creators of Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), the seminal alternative comic book series, and perhaps, the greatest American comic book series of all time.

Gilbert has produced a number of solo projects including (the infamous) Blubber, Yeah! (with writer Peter Bagge), and Twilight Children (with the late Darwyn Cooke).  Gilbert's latest solo comic book project is the recently launched series, Psychodrama Illustrated.  According to publisher Fantagraphics Books, Psychodrama Illustrated is a new Love and Rockets spin-off focusing on the classic character, Rosalba Martinez, best known as “Fritz,” and on her extended family, especially Fritz's grand-niece, Dora “Killer” Rivera.  The series will feature stories about Fritz’s film career “that bend Fritz’s reality” and the “reality” of the comic book itself.

Psychodrama Illustrated #2 (“Mercy and the Devil”) opens not in the life of Fritz.  Instead, it opens in “Mercy and the Devil,” a strange movie about an ex-adult film actress (played by Fritz) and her grifter daughter, “Mercy” (played by Killer).  Mom and Mercy's relationship is played as if they are as all-American as... well, as mom and apple pie.  However, the specter of murder looms, and both mother and daughter have a penchant for taking men for the money.  But is one of the women taking men's lives as well as their money?  Or are both of them killer dames?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my review of Psychodrama Illustrated #1, I was and am a huge fan of Beto's Blubber comic book series.  I found Blubber to be in the tradition (or at least in the spirit) of Underground Comix with its brave and bold depictions of raunchy sex and surreal sexuality.

On the other hand, Psychodrama Illustrated comes across, if not personal, then, as the work of a visionary free to commit to paper whatever the hell he wants.  After all, the main narrative of Psychodrama Illustrated #2 takes place entirely inside the narrative of a film.  This is not the first time that one of Gilbert's stories takes place inside of a movie; many have, and some still do in Love and Rockets.  And this is a good thing, because Gilbert does it so well.

Gilbert is doing what he wants at his pace and in his way.  I find myself drawn to this series, and more so than with first issue.  I did not want Psychodrama Illustrated #2 to end.  After all, there is a strange allure to the combination of sex and death, and I am sure many men and women dream of engaging in sexual congress with a dangerous, even homicidal woman.  Yeah, the way Gilbert draws Fritz's gargantuan breasts annoys the f*** out of me, but in this comic book, I felt the most drawn to her that I have ever felt.

I am in love with “Mercy and the Devil,” and I want to experience... more of this particular kind of work from Gilbert.  I want whatever he wants do draw when it comes to Psychodrama Illustrated... and I could use some more right now.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Gilbert Hernandez's Love and Rockets comics will want to try Psychodrama Illustrated.

9 out of 10

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


https://www.fantagraphics.com/
https://twitter.com/fantagraphics
https://www.instagram.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.facebook.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLxEaspctVar287DtdsMww


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: NOW #1

NOW #1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONISTS: Gabrielle Bell; Sara Corbett; Antoine Cossé; Eleanor Davis; Kaela Graham; Sammy Harkham; Conxita Hererro; Malachi Ward and Matt Sheean; J.C. Menu; Rebecca Morgan; Tommi Parrish; Tobias Schalken; Dash Shaw; Noah Van Sciver; Daria Tessler; Nick Thorburn
DESIGN: Jacob Covey
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Rebecca Morgan
ISBN: 978-1-68396-052-2; paperback (September 2017)
128pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

NOW is a comics anthology series launched in 2017 by alternative comics (alt-comix) and art comics publisher, Fantagraphics Books.  Over its four-plus decades of existence, Fantagraphics has published what is probably the most diverse collection of comic book anthologies in the history of North American comic books.  That line-up includes such titles as Anything Goes, Critters, Mome, Pictopia, and Zero Zero, to name a few.

NOW #1 proves that Fantagraphics has not lost a step with age when it comes to anthologies.  I wish that everyone could read the introduction to the first issue written by NOW's editor, Eric Reynolds, even those who have not read this first issue.  It seems as if everything Reynolds hopes NOW could achieve is in evidence in NOW #1.  Reynolds wants to showcase “...as broad a range of quality comic art as possible...”

NOW #1 does that, so let's take a look at each cartoonist's contribution.

THE LOWDOWN:  The illustration that acts as NOW #1's cover art is entitled “Plan B on Easter Morning,” and it is produced by Rebecca Morgan.  It is a stylish, colorful, full-color illustration that is surreal and kooky, and it reminds me of the work of Aline Kominsky-Crumb.

“Constitutional” by Sara Corbett:
This is a beautiful piece featuring an elderly woman and her wily cat that has vivid green eyes.  This one-page comic has a striking graphical style, dazzling colors, and eye-catching patterns drawn on characters and objects.  I could see “Constitutional” being a cover for The New Yorker.

“21 Positions/The Final Frontier” by Tobias Schalken:
This is a pantomime comic featuring two characters, one female and one male, each alone and each on the opposite side of the page.  They are imitating the ways in which people hold and touch one another.  I am impressed by the figure drawing, and every time I look at this story, I feel some raw emotions emanating from the page.

“Hurt or Fuck?” by Eleanor Davis:
This is a black and white comic, drawn apparently with a lead pencil.  I like its composition, but I don't know what to make of it.  I don't want to read too much into it... or read the wrong thing...

“Scorpio” by Dash Shaw:
The incomparable Dash Shaw (Cosplayers) offers this story of childbirth on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (a.k.a. “The Day of the Clown”).  The intimacy and familiarity between the expecting couple feels genuine, and the story is warm and humorous.  I could read an entire graphic novel built around these characters.

“Dear Naked Guy In the Apartment Across from Mine Spread Eagle & Absent-mindedly Flicking his Penis While Watching TV,” by Gabrielle Bell:
This one-page comic is exactly what it says – a young woman sees her pudgy, naked neighbor lying in his bed and playing with himself every time she is in the kitchen of her (apparently) small apartment.  I read the neighbor as being aggressively passive-aggressive, but I'm not sure about the young woman (whom I'm assuming is the cartoonist).  Is she disgusted or distressed... “Dear Naked Guy...” is one of NOW #1's best entries.

“S.O.S. Suitcases” by J.C. Menu:
This 14-page, black and white, comic is a wild and woolly, surreal adventure tale that is alternative comics and neo-underground comix.  I think this story would be a perfect fit in a certain kind of comics anthologies:  from Zap Comix to Weirdo and from Zero Zero to... well, to NOW.

“Wall of Shame” by Noah Van Sciver:
This 15-page story is my NOW #1 favorite.  In an autobiographical slash slice-of-life comics story, Noah returns to his hometown of Denver, Colorado because the Denver Art Museum is holding an exhibition of his comics and illustrations.  Returning home, however, means a return to family... and a reunion with his younger brother, Jonah, a loud, shameless, womanizing, pussy-hound.

If I have encountered Van Sciver's work before, it could not have been much.  After reading “Wall of Shame,” I definitely want to read more it, especially anything like this story.  Once upon a time, I spent much of the 1990s reading the autobiographical, mock-auto-bio, and slice-of-life comics, comic books, and graphic novels produced by a number of alternative cartoonists and comic book creators, including Joe Matt, Seth, David Greenberger, and Julie Doucet, to name a few.

“Wall of Shame,” a very entertaining story, brings me back to those days.  That aside, this is a thoroughly engaging story of family ties, with Jonah as the kind of scene-stealing character that captures the imagination.  Noah leaves me wanting more.

“Untitled” by Tommi Parrish:
This lovely story is about two people talking about the struggles of understanding oneself when coming out as gay.  Reading this is like listening in on an intimate conversation, and at seven pages, this story is over much too soon.  After I read this, I could not stop thinking about the idea of “poisonous scripts,” which comes from the world of culture and pop culture and tells us what and how we should be, act, think, feel, live, etc.

“Pretend We're Orphans” by Kaela Graham:
This story has a delightful, picture book and fairy tale quality.  It works as a self-contained tale of imagination, but it would still be quite good as a piece from a larger work.”

“Songs in the Key of Grief” by Daria Tessler:
I feel like this is about Kurt Cobain.

“Here I Am” by Conxita Hererro:
This story is apparently based on an earlier work by cartoonist Gabrielle Bell, a contributor to Now #1.  I got nothing from it.

“Widening Horizon” by Malachi Ward (story/art) and Matt Sheean (story):
This is an intriguing science fiction comics short story.  I won't call it “alternative history,” because it reads like a classic science fiction short story that imagines a different past, present, and future.  Ward's beautiful clear-line drawing style perfectly captures the atmosphere of a story about spaceflight.

“Statue” by Antoine Cossé:
A stylish blend of landscape architecture, industrial design, Art Deco, and minimalism, “Statue” is a haunting tale that also manages to gleam with possibility.  I found that Cossé engaged my imagination with a story that challenged me to unravel its mysteries.  “Statue” is an example of a story that the reader can enjoy without having to know everything the cartoonist wants to convey.  I look forward to seeing more of this creator's work.

“I, Marlon” by Sammy Harkham:
The only reason that I know that the “Marlon” in “I, Marlon” is the legendary American actor, Marlon Brando, is because I recently read Michael J. Mann's massive biography of the actor, The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando.  Shockingly, Harkham's one-age comic (apparently produced in 2016) summarizes some key themes in Mann's 700+ page book, which was published in late 2019 (and took me several months to read).

“Untitled” by Nick Thorburn:
This is a comic strip that runs at the top of the back cover.  I like Thorburn's drawing style.

So, the final verdict on NOW #1 is that it is one of the best first issues of a comics anthology that I have ever read.  If the issues that follow NOW #1 are half as good as it is, then, NOW is a must-read series for serious comic book readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic alternative-comics anthologies will want to discover NOW.

9 out of 10

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


https://www.fantagraphics.com/
https://twitter.com/fantagraphics
https://www.instagram.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.facebook.com/fantagraphics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLxEaspctVar287DtdsMww


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #1

PSYCHODRAMA ILLUSTRATED #1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (February 2020)

Gilbert “'Beto” Hernandez is the prolific half of the comic book creating duo, Los Bros. (the other half being his brother, Jaime Hernandez).  Gilbert and Jaime are the creators of Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), the greatest American comic book series of all time.

Gilbert has produced a number of solo projects including (the infamous) Blubber, Yeah! (with writer Peter Bagge), and Twilight Children (with the late Darwyn Cooke).  Gilbert's latest solo comic book project is the recently launched series, Psychodrama Illustrated.  According to publisher Fantagraphics Books, Psychodrama Illustrated is a new Love and Rockets spin-off focusing on the classic character, Rosalba Martinez, best known as “Fritz,” and on her extended family.  The series will feature stories about Fritz’s film career “that bend Fritz’s reality.”

Psychodrama Illustrated #1 opens with a frontispiece (inside front cover) one-page comic in which Dr. Valus Droog breaks the fourth wall and informs the reader about Fritz.  [He also appear on the inside back cover.]  In the opening story, “False Modesty,” Fritz bumps into an old friend of her half-sister, Luba de los Santos, the classic L&R character known simply as “Luba.”

Fritz finds the gentleman starring at a one-sheet poster advertising the debut album from “Killer,” who is Fritz's grand-niece, Dora Rivera.  It seems that Killer is also a young actress, and she has replaced Fritz in “Hypnotwist 2.0,” a remake/reboot of one of Fritz's film, “Hypnotwist” (the tale of which was chronicled in Love and Rockets Vol. 2 #3).  When Fritz joins the production of the new film, will she really be able to fit in with Killer?  And what does Luba's friend want from Fritz...?

THE LOWDOWN:  I was a huge fan of Beto's Blubber comic book series.  I found it to be in the tradition (or at least the spirit) of Underground Comix with its brave and bold depictions of raunchy sex and surreal sexuality.

After only one issue, I don't quite know what to make of Psychodrama Illustrated, but I have to admit to you, dear readers, or at least the ones that already don't know, that I always love the work of Gilbert Hernandez.  [I feel the same way about Jaime Hernandez.]  I can say that Psychodrama Illustrated feels like the usual Love and Rockets comics starring Fritz, by which I mean that Beto gives us the breath and width of Fritz's character.  Fritz is always acting, in front of, behind, and on the side of the camera.  And she's always gonna f**k somebody (male, female, or otherwise), and here, one guy gets it and one (currently in prison) might get f****d.

“Inscrutable” is the word I most use to describe the late cartoonist Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters.  I will say the same thing about Fritz, and in Psychodrama Illustrated, I hope that Beto does not decide to illuminate to many of the mysteries of Fritz.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Gilbert Hernandez's Love and Rockets comics will have to have Psychodrama Illustrated.

8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: PORTRAIT OF A DRUNK

PORTRAIT OF A DRUNK
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONISTS: Olivier Schrauwen and Ruppert & Mulot
TRANSLATION: Jenna Allen
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
ISBN: 978-1-68396-289-2; 8.75 x 11 – trim size (April 2020)
188pp, Color, $29.99 U.S.

Portrait d'un buveur is a French graphic novel created by Belgian comics creator, Olivier Schrauwen, and the French comics duo of Ruppert and Mulot (Florent Ruppert and Jérôme Mulot).  It was published in France by Dupuis in 2019.  Fantagraphics Books recently published an English-language edition of Portrait d'un buveur as a hardcover graphic novel entitled Portrait of a Drunk, which is the subject of this review.

Portrait of a Drunk is the story of an 18th century guy named Guy Fleming.  A sailor, he is no master mariner.  A drunk, he manages to pass himself off as a carpenter aboard sailing vessels.  It would be just fine if he were an ordinary member of a sailing crew, but he is lazy, a liar, a coward, a thief, a drunkard, and, on special occasions, a killer.  He is not a swashbuckler, but he will unbuckle his pants to urinate wherever he can, including on bar counters and on people.  His story could be a grand tale of the sea with great battles, treasure-hunting adventures, and some gallows humor, but this is simply the portrait of a drunk.

The editor of the American edition of Portrait of a Drunk recommended the book to me, which under normal circumstances could be considered a conflict of interest.  But Portrait of a Drunk is such a joy to read and to experience.  It's fucking great, and you gotta say that shit like “Tony the Tiger,” growling and letting that growl roll over the word “great.”

First, I have to say that some have referred to the pairing of Olivier Schrauwen and the French duo of Ruppert and Mulot as a “supergroup.”  The term is often associated with rock music.  A supergroup comes together when members of two or more established rock bands unite to form an all-star band.  One of the earliest and most famous supergroups was “Cream,” which featured the pairing of Eric Clapton (formerly of The Yardbirds) with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker (formerly of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers).  I grew up on such 1980s supergroups as “Asia,” “The Firm,” “The Power Station,” and “Traveling Wilburys.”

I cannot say that the union of Olivier Schrauwen and Ruppert and Mulot is a comic book supergroup based on their past work, of which I am not familiar.  However, I am willing to call them a union made in comic book heaven after reading this one fantastic graphic novel, Portrait of a Drunk.

I did not read Portrait of a Drunk as a narrative told in two allegorical parts, “The Blowout” and “The Hangover,” which is apparently what it is.  Of course, it is obvious that multiple artists and storytellers worked on Portrait of a Drunk.  That can be seen simply in the mixture of color, black and white, and two-color art.  If there are two story lines or two parallel narrative threads, then, one of them is a stream of conscious-like, drunken adventure in which the reader tags along with Guy.  The other is like a side-story set in surreal shadow land or afterlife dimension where Guy's victims, accidental and otherwise, gather to observe him and also to plot against him.

Portrait of a Drunk is a great high-seas adventure.  It might seem dark, but quite the opposite.  It is a black comedy that takes many of the familiar literary elements and Hollywood ingredients of the high-seas adventure and strips away the glamour.  What is left is a bumbling, rough-and-tumble, violent, piss-laden adventure with someone who is such a drunkard that he needs professional help, the kind of which I assume did not exist in the 18th century.

Often in this graphical narrative, Schrauwen and Ruppert and Mulot don't even bother with panels.  They draw Guy bumbling from one side of the page to the other – row by row until he gets to the next page and starts all over again.  While Guy might be a drunk and a killer, but he is a comic book star, no less so that Spider-Man and Batman.  His adventure here is so... well, adventurous.  Colorful and exotic, we follow Guy from one port town to another, with stops at vibrant locales and in alien lands.

There is something so alluring in Olivier Schrauwen and Ruppert and Mulot fantastic bandes dessinées.  Perhaps, it is that they experiment with the medium and with comics and push past the boundaries of the expected.  Yes, Fantagraphics Books publishes comics for thinking readers, but it is just fine that high-falutin' comics, like Portrait of a Drunk, are as fun to read as say... Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

I can say with confidence that in this awful year of 2020, Olivier Schrauwen and Ruppert and Mulot's Portrait of a Drunk is one of the few truly magnificent graphic novels I have have come across.  And it is a fun summer read for me today, just as a Marvel comic book was for me decades ago.

10 out of 10

https://www.fantagraphics.com/
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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


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I Reads You Juniors February 2020 - Update #79

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

My "Birds of Prey" review is here.

From Newsarama:  At his C2E2 panel, Jim Lee has indicated that DC Comics will not replace the recently fired Dan DiDio as co-publisher... which leaves Lee as the DC's sole publisher and Chief Creative Officer (CCO).

COMICS TO FILM - From Newsarama:  Sony Pictures has released 12 new photographic stills from the film, "Bloodshoot," which stars Vin Diesel and is based on the Valiant Entertainment comic book.

From Newsarama:  Todd McFarlane has drawn Spider-Man (the character that brought him to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s) and Spawn (his signature creator-owned character) together for the first time.  McFarlane brings Spider-Man and Spawn together for his cover illustration for the 50th volume of the Overstreet Price Guide, due July 2020.

MANGA TO ANIME - From Deadline:  Funimation's animated feature film, "My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising," topped the Wed., Feb. 26th, 2020 daily box office with an estimated take of 1.7 million.

From BleedingCool:  There is more nuance than previously suggested regarding AT&T/Warner Bros., fired Dan DiDio, and DC Comics' 5G/Generation Five.

From BleedingCool:  Is Jim Lee ready to go from co-publisher to sole publisher at DC Comics in the wake of Dan DiDio's departure?

From Newsarama:  DC Comics' "The Sandman" and IDW Publishing's "Locke & Key" will crossover in a publishing event entitled, "Locke & Key: Hell & Gone - A Sandman Universe Crossover Event."

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DAN DIDIO - From BleedingCool: (UPDATE) - So Warner Bros. reportedly fired Dan DiDio as co-publisher of DC Comics for "cause," specifically for fostering a poor work environment.

From BleedingCool:  Dan DiDio speaks about his departure from DC Comics on Facebook.

From BleedingCool:  Co-publisher Dan DiDio is reportedly no longer at DC Comics.  Not much else is known.

From BleedingCool:  Some industry reaction to DiDio leaving DC Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Some more reaction from industry insiders about Dan DiDio's ouster from DC Comics.
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COMICS TO FILM - From Newsarama:  Photos allegedly from the set of THE BATMAN show the new "Batsuit" in the daylight.

From BleedingCool:  Abrams ComicArts announces more titles from its graphic novel line, "Megascope," which is curated by John Jennings.

FILM TO COMICS - From Newsarama:  The original version of the screenplay for the 1987 film, "Predators," will be adapted into a five-issue comic book miniseries by Dark Horse Comics.  "Predator: The Original Screenplay" will be based on the script entitled "Hunters" by brother John and James Thomas.

From SyFy:  Rising "Blerd" (Black nerd) star and comics creator, Che Grayson, talks to "SyFy Wire."

From ANN:  A doujinshi (amateur) manga artist in Japan has won her lawsuit against an IT company that operates doujinshi manga piracy sites.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Actor Ben Affleck says that he dropped out of his role as Batman/Bruce Wayne ("Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Justice League") for a number of reasons including his struggles with drinking alcohol.

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics is launching a young adult (YA) imprint, "Scoot."

COMICS TO TV - From Deadline:  Oscar winner Taika Waititi and Oscar-nominee Jude Law considering a TV adaptation of Oni Press' comic book, "The Auteur."

From Newsarama:  Mark Waid has been named publisher of Humanoids, the American publisher that reprints classic European comics.

From BleedingCool:  The 100 most ordered comic books ("Wonder Woman #750") and graphic novels ("Absolute Carnage") for January 2020.

From MissState:   Comic book writer, Benjamin Percy, will be a writer-in-residence at Mississippi State University.   Percy had a long tenure on DC Comics' "Green Arrow" and will be writing Marvel Comics' new "Wolverine" series.

From CBR:  Who are the 10 richest manga creators in Japan?

From GoodReader:  Digital manga sales increased by almost 30 percent in Japan in 2019.  Print sales declined for the 15th straight year.

From THR:  Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, two of the producers on the classic 1990s animated TV series, "Batman: The Animated Series," are writing a six-issue miniseries, "Batman: The Adventures Continue."  It will act as a continuation of the TV series.

DC CINEMA - From Newsarama:  Director Matt Reeves has a camera test of actor Robert Pattinson wearing the "Bat-suit" for the film, "The Batman," which is due June 25, 2021.

From Newsarama:  An oral history of the "X-Men" will be presented at SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas on March 13.

From Newsarama:  The project that Marvel Comics was teasing is a new ongoing comic book series from Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, and Yildiray Cinar.  It is "The Marvels," a team-up series that will span the entirety of Marvel Comics' publishing history and continuity.

DC CINEMA - From Newsarama:  For his performance as the title character in the hit film, "Joker," Joaquin Phoenix won the Oscar for "Best Actor" at the 92nd Academy Awards.  That was one of two Oscars the film won - the other being for "Best Original Score" by Hildur Guonadottir.

DC CINEMA - From ComicBook:  Warner Bros. is apparently renamed "Birds of Prey" (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)" to "Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey" which opened at the box office lower ($33.2 million) than expected ($40 to $50 million).

DC CINEMA - From BleedingCool:  The site has a list of comic book creators who were "thanked" for the contributions to the recent DCEU film, "Birds of Prey."

From TheLantern:  Apparently, Ohio State's "University Libraries" has the largest manga collection outside Japan.

From BleedingCool:  In 2017, comic book "fan," Matthew Sterling went to the 2017 Phoenix Comicon with the intention of shooting "Power Rangers" actor, Jason David Frank, and any police who got in his way.  Luckily the police were alerted and the wrestled Sterling to the ground on the first floor of the convention centre.  He was recently found “guilty except insane” and Judge Jennifer Ryan-Touhill sentenced Sterling to 25 years in the Arizona State Hospital.

IN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Longtime Archie Comics editor Victor Gorelick has died at the age of 78, Friday, February 7, 2020.  Gorelick started working in the art department at Archie Comics right out of high school.  He would go on to become Archie's editor-in-chief.

From Newsarama:  Longtime "Wolverine" writer, Larry Hama, is returning to the character for a tie-in to "Iron Man 2020."

From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics is teasing a "most ambitious series ever" from "Marvels" creators, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross with artist Yildiray Cinar.

From TampaBayTimes:  26 years after being convicted of obscenity (three charges) in Pinellas County, Florida, cartoonist and comic book creator, Michael Diana just got off probation.  Diana, now 50, is best known for his infamous "Boiled Angel" comics.

From Lionstooth:  Cris Siqueira interviews cartoonist and publisher, Eric Reynolds, of Fantagraphics Books, in a wide-ranging (but not too long) and fantastic interview.  Fans of alternative and small press comic books will find it quite informative.

DC TV - From Collider:  Actor Barry Keoghan has left FX's "Y The Last Man" as its leading man.  The series is of course based on the DC Comics/Vertigo comic book.

DC TV - From Deadline:  Benjamin Bratt has been cast in HBO Max's pilot for "DMZ," based on the DC Comics/Vertigo comic book series.

From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing will put "My Little Pony" and "Transformers" together for a major summer crossover event.

From Newsarama:  "Bad Idea" is a new comic book publisher made of Valiant Entertainment alumni.  They reveal their... bad idea.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' 2020 Free Comic Book Day giveaway, "Generation Zero," may start DC Comics' new timeline.

From Newsarama:  Former Valiant Entertainment types are involved with a new publishing venture that involves the name, "Bad Idea."

From Syfy:  The sites "Indie Comics Spotlight" falls on Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander's awesome vampire comic book series, "Killadelphia" (Image Comics).

From ComicBook:  "Birds of Prey" film director, Cathy Yan, breaks down the film's unique costumes.

From ComicBook:  There is a new report on how badly piracy has hurt the development of manga in Japan.

VALIANT CINEMA - From Newsarama:  Sony Consumer Products, Valiant Entertainment and Titan Books are teaming up for a novelization of "Bloodshot: The Movie."  Gavin Smith, who has written novels based on video games, will write the novel.

FOX MARVEL U - From Newsarama:  There is a new poster for "The New Mutants," the last of 20th Century's Fox's "X-Men" movies.  The poster apparently sports the new "20th Century Studios" logo that Disney created to rid itself of the "Fox" name.  The film is still due April 3rd...

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  "Joker" wins three awards at the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards in London.

DC CINEMA - From CBR:  The "Black Adam" film is rumored to introduce "Cyclone," the daughter of the original comic book version of "Red Tornado."

From BleedingCool:  No American has ever written for the "Doctor Who" TV series, and if one did, author and comic book writer, Joe Hill, would not be the first... according to a story Joe Hill tells.

From Newsarama:  Inker Dexter Vines has been diagnosed with cancer, and his friends have started a "GoFundMe" page to help with his expenses.

From ComicBook:  The special one-shot revival chapter of the manga, "Death Note" will be simultaneously release in Japan and the U.S.

From BleedingCool:  Silenn Thomas, the CEO of Frank Miller's production company, has some kind of "beef" with DC Comics.

JACK KIRBY - From CBR:  Jack Kirby died 26 years ago (Feb. 6th).  "CBR" takes a look at ten "forgotten characters" that "the King" created.

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FEBRUARY 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  February 2020 comics solicitations for 25 publishers
From Newsarama:  01: First Second for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybook for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Action Lab Entertainment for February 2020
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for February 2020
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for February 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for February 2020
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Random House for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Red 5 Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for February 2020
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for February 2020
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for February 2020

MARCH 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  March 2020 comics solicitations for 23 publishers
From Newsarama:  :01 First Second for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Action Lab Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Artists, Writer and Artisans for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Book for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for March 2020

APRIL 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Media for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Amigo Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Devil's Due for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2020


MAY 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  A full-list of titles available for "Free Comic Book Day 2020" on May 2, 2020.
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Aspen for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for May 2020
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Complex for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publihsing for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Storm King Productions for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2020

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Review: LOVE AND ROCKETS IV #3

LOVE AND ROCKETS VOL. IV No. 3
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez – @BetomessGilbert @xaimeh
ARTISTS: Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds – @earinc
COVER: Jaime Hernandez
BACK COVER: Gilbert Hernandez
VARIANT COVER: Gilbert Hernandez
36pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (July 2017)

Love and Rockets is the seminal alternative comic book series produced by brothers, Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez.  It has been published since 1982 by Fantagraphics Books, where it started out as a magazine-sized comic book that ran for 50 issues (1983 to 1996).  It later returned for a 20-issue run as a standard-sized comic book, (Vol II, 2001-2007), and then, it became an annual graphic novel series which ran for eight volumes, Love and Rockets: New Stories (Vol. III, 2008-2016).  [It is important to note that Gilbert and Jaime do not collaborate, and that each brother has his own characters and stories.]

In late 2016, Love and Rockets Vol. IV returned the series to its comic magazine format that fans of the original series fell in love with and probably still love and prefer.  I prefer the original format, but I understand that for various reasons the creators and publishers felt the need to initiate format changes at different times.

Under a front cover by Jaime, Love and Rockets Vol. IV #3 offers nine stories and vignettes, five by Gilbert (Beto) and four by Jaime.  On the Jaime side of things, the “Locas” girls' punk reunion has come to an end, but Maggie and Hopey still have the evening to chew the fat and also some hard questions about the past, the present, and the future.  What is “punk”?  What did it all mean?  What does it mean now?  What will it mean in the end?  Plus, a trip back to 1979 returns us to the days of young punk Locas.  And in the classic, sci-fi, Xaime section, sisters Lumina and Isla reunite as the Anima situation turns more intense.

Gilbert reveals episodes of the Doctor Who ripoff, “Professor Enigma.”  Fritz starred as “Missy,” the Prof.'s assistant, but will soon see her 10-year-old daughter take over the roll.  Also, Fritz's newly reunited twin daughters, Baby (Remedios) and Rosario, meet their grandmother, who is a classic Palomar character!

Love and Rockets Vol. IV #3 is the weakest issue of the new series, thus far.  The return to 1979 is a killer section, and I could feel it and the power of young Locas characters dominate my imagination even as I read the rest of this issue.  The segment featuring modern day Maggie and Hopey feels like it is in a holding pattern, waiting for something big to happen.

The “Professor Enigma” segments lack the classic weirdness of Gilbert's best B.E.M. and sci-fi/B-movie stories, although the back cover crackles with weird energy.  Once again, it takes a classic, old-school L&R character to electrify this issue and Gilbert's contributions.

Even if Love and Rockets Vol. IV #3 is the least of the lot early in this new Love and Rockets run, this is still mostly good stuff.  Jaime's “Anima” art is glorious and beautiful, and the storytelling is invigorating.  I certainly wanted more.  And once again, I must emphasize that Gilbert's back cover art is imaginative and cool.

7.5 out of 10

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.

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

Review: LOVE AND ROCKETS Volume 4 #2

LOVE AND ROCKETS VOL. IV No. 2
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez – @BetomessGilbert @xaimeh
ARTISTS: Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds – @earinc
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez
BACK COVER: Jaime Hernandez
VARIANT COVER: Jaime Hernandez
36pp, B&W, $4.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Love and Rockets, the seminal alternative comic book, produced by brothers Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez, has been published since 1982 by Fantagraphics Books.  It started as a magazine-sized comic book that ran for 50 issues (1983 to 1996) and later returned for a 20-issue run as a standard-sized comic book, (Vol II, 2001-2007).  Then, it became an annual graphic novel series which ran for eight volumes, Love and Rockets: New Stories (Vol. III, 2008-2016).  [It is important to note that Gilbert and Jaime do not collaborate, and that each brother has his own characters and stories.]

In late 2016, Love and Rockets Vol. IV returned the series to its comic magazine format that fans of the original series fell in love with and probably still love and prefer.  I prefer the original format, but I understand that for various reasons the creators and publishers felt the need to initiate format changes at different times.

Under a front cover by Gilbert, Love and Rockets Vol. IV #2 offers six stories, three by Gilbert (Beto) and three by Jaime.  The issue opens with “Fritz Haters Will Just Have to Be Patient,” (Gilbert) and focuses on Rosalba “Fritz” Martinez, international cult movie and television star.  She is still working through the divorce from her wife, Pipo.  However, the bigger event is final meeting Rosario, the until-now hidden twin of Fritz's daughter, Baby.

In “More for the Haters,” Rosario frets about meeting her twin sister, Baby, until Rosario's friend, Andres, forces the meeting.  In “Nowhere, USA,” now that Fritz is reunited with her “lost” twin daughter, Rosario, it is time to introduce the girl to Aunt Petra, Fritz's sister.

On the Jaime side of things, a reunited Maggie and Hopey are still at a punk reunion, but as things wind down, Maggie realizes that not many of the old punks remember her.  In “Forest Spirits,”  Tonta Agajanian is accompanied by her half-sister, Vivian “Frogmouth” Solis to a local forest.  When Vivian discovers that the local urban legend of the “forest spirit” might be real, she reacts differently from everyone else.  In the final story, everyone is asking, “Where is Anima?”

As I wrote in my review of the first issue, I knew that I would like the return of Love and Rockets to a magazine-sized publication.  There was and is something magical about Love and Rockets presented in magazine-size.  Although, both Gilbert and Jaime focus on different and/or new characters, Love and Rockets Vol. IV recalls in me the sensations of reading the original run of the series.

Gilbert's Fritz stories are often absurd, over-the-top, and farcical, yet the drama is potent.  The characters are achingly human, at times frivolous and hopeless, and at other times, lovable and loving.  The final two pages of “Fritz Haters Will Just Have to Be Patient” exemplify that, especially when Fritz tells her husband/baby daddy, “I'm not wearing panties.”

Maggie and Hopey are trying not to feel their age, no matter how much they show it, but there is beauty in the fact that they are still living and trying to enjoy life.  The power and freshness of “Locas,” (the first true Jaime Hernandez epic) now resides in the world of Tonta Agajanian, and while Maggie and Hopey might have slowed down, Jaime has not – at least according to these Tonta stories.

Love and Rockets Vol. IV #2 shows that L&R is not back; it never left.  Perhaps, Los Bros. have found vitality in a familiar format.

9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: BLUBBER #4

BLUBBER No. 4
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $3.99 U.S. (January 2017)

Gilbert “'Beto” Hernandez is the cartoonist, comic book creator, and graphic novelist best known for being one-half of the duo known as “Los Bros.” Gilbert and his brother, Jaime Hernandez, are Eisner Award (Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards) winners, and they have produced the seminal, alternative comic book series, Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), for the better part of four decades.

As a “solo act,” Gilbert (a.k.a. “Beto”) has also produced numerous original graphic novels and several comic book miniseries for publishers like Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Drawn & Quarterly, as well as for his original publisher Fantagraphics.  In 2015, Fantagraphics launched Beto's most recent solo offering, Blubber.

This black and white comic book series offers short stories and vignettes featuring a cast of misfits, monsters, and anthropomorphic types.  Beto also presents his usual mix of bizarre characters, strange stories, and outlandish sex and sexual acts, all hallmarks of his comix going back to the beginning of his public work.

Blubber #4 (which was released earlier this year) opens with the one-page comix about semen and barbecue, “Shit for Fuck,” starring X-25.  Then, in the “Tower of the Sindog” a mother and son each find their pleasure, but there is violence in that mummified love.  Then, you will never believe the adventures of “Red Tempest XXX.”

I gave rave reviews to Blubber issues #1 and #2, but I did not rave about Blubber #3, although I did enjoy it.  I won't rave about Blubber #4, although it is rave-worthy.  After reading this fourth issue, I am simply flustered by Gilbert's imagination because I am starting to believe that he owns some bottomless well of ideas.  From this well, he draws forth inventiveness that seems to spill over the rim of a metaphorical bucket.  Every time I think that Gilbert cannot top himself, I find another story and another – graphically graphic and visually splendid.

Blubber is a true Underground Comix; it is not just in that tradition of... It is the real thing.  Like classic Underground Comix, Blubber is a true comic book, as fun and fanciful as those old-timey comic books I read as a child... without the nose-dicks and the sucking of yard-long cocks.

Well, I have said this before:  Gilbert Hernandez is the best comic book writer in North America.  Well, he is also a pretty, damn good cartoonist, and Blubber needs to go above ground – perhaps riding high on a cock rocket like Slim Pickens' “Kong” in Dr. Strangelove.

9 out of 10

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


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

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

Review: BLUBBER #3

BLUBBER No. 3
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $3.99 U.S. (July 2016)

He is the cartoonist, comic book creator, and graphic novelist best known for being one-half of the duo known as “Los Bros.” Gilbert Hernandez and his brother, Jaime Hernandez, form the Eisner Award (Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards) winning team that has produced the seminal, alternative comic book series, Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics Books), for 35 years.

As a “solo act,” Gilbert (a.k.a. “Beto”) has also produced numerous original graphic novels and several comic book miniseries for publishers like Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Drawn & Quarterly, as well as for his original publisher Fantagraphics.  In 2015, Fantagraphics launched Beto's latest solo offering, entitled Blubber.

This black and white comic book series offers short stories and vignettes featuring a cast of misfits, monsters, and anthropomorphic types.  Beto also presents his usual mix of bizarre characters, strange stories, and outlandish sex and sexual acts, all hallmarks of his comix going back to the beginning of his public work.

Blubber #3 (which debuted in the summer of 2016) opens with Mr. Elvis on the inside front cover.  Other incarnations of the masturbating satyr appear throughout this issue.  Last issue's inside front cover star, “XXX Superstar Pupusi,” also returns.    The “Janx” take center stage in all their cock-sucking and orifice-penetrating glory.  Meanwhile, Max and his long dong try to show the defecating Snowman the spiritual side.

I gave a rave reviews to Blubber issues #1 and #2.  Unfortunately, Blubber #3 does not live up to its predecessors.  It does have its moments, such as the “Blubberoo” story and the strange goings-on at the “Blubber Club.”  However, the Janx story, “Circle of Life,” meanders rather than flow freely.  It has a dream like quality, but parts of it don't seem to belong, as if Beto took sections from four other stories and sewed them together for “Circle of Life.”

The “Root 66” strip is a gag, cute in its juvenile nature.  The Pupusi one-pager is like a nice after-dinner chocolate.  I may be a little down on Blubber #3, but there is enough good raunch and depravity to get me ready for #4

7.5 out of 10

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


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

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

Review: BLUBBER #2

BLUBBER No. 2
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS – @fantagraphics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Gilbert Hernandez
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Gilbert Hernandez with Paul Baresh
24pp, B&W, $3.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Gilbert Hernandez is the cartoonist, comic book creator, and graphic novelist best known for being one-half of the duo known as “Los Bros.” along with his brother, Jaime Hernandez.  Together, the two Eisner Award (Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards) winners have produced the seminal, alternative comic book series, Love and Rockets, for more than 30 years.  As a “solo act,” Gilbert (a.k.a. “Beto”) has also produced numerous original graphic novels and several comic book miniseries for publishers Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Drawn & Quarterly, as well as for his original publisher Fantagraphics Books.

In 2015, Fantagraphics launched Beto's latest solo offering, entitled Blubber.  This black and white comic book series offers short stories and vignettes featuring a cast of misfits, monsters, and anthropomorphic types.  Beto also presents his usual mix of bizarre characters and strange stories, a hallmark of his comix going back to the beginning of his public work.

Blubber #2 (which debuted in late 2015) opens with an inside front cover comic, “XXX Superstar Pupusi and Her Pals!” which is sprinkled with masturbation, fellatio, cock-sucking, and anal penetration.  The opening story is “T.A.C. Man vs The Pollum.”  T.A.C. (Tactical Advanced Commando) Man wears pro wrestling briefs and is kind of like the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents' Dynamo.  T.A.C. Man's boss, Mr. Hippy, orders him to fight “The Pollum,” a yeti/Bigfoot-type creature.  T.A.C.'s rival, Marshman, however, has his own plans versus the Pollum.  Penises and the various uses of them take center stage.

Also, it's the Froat versus the Loo in “Who Fears the Froat?”  Centurions (each one having what is essentially a micro-penis) arrive in a strange locale and use the local fauna to help them climax in “Sweet.”  Temperamental “Tamper” fights the Skrull-like “Junipero Molestat” in the story, “TAMPERRRRRR.”  In “Padre Puto,” the Padre and a few of his pals learn the dangers of using zombies for sexual pleasure.  And in “The Marsh Man's Folly,” T.A.C. Man and Marshman engage in a strenuous contest.

I gave a rave review to Blubber #1 about two years ago.  I wrote that it fascinated me and how I re-read much of it and that the one issue was not enough for me.  I even wrote that Blubber #1 reminded me of the ethereal and beautiful explorations contained in Moebius' Une jeunesse heureuse (released as a small leather-bound notebook, published in the 1990s).

I don't feel like raving about Blubber #2, but not because it isn't good.  I love it, but I might lose control and end up writing a piece that is the review equivalent of “spewing my goo.”  This is a fantastic comic book, a true heir to the freedom and ballsy attitude cartoonists and comix creators displayed in the classic Underground Comix of the 1960s and 1970s.

I often praise the stellar art of Beto's brother, Jaime Hernandez, but Beto is also a master cartoonist.  The figure drawing of Padre in “Padre Puto” suggests some incredibly precise inking, especially in the depictions of Padre's face, head, and hands.  Also, Beto can draw a pretty stout and firm erect penis, to boot, and his T.A.C. Man and Marshman battles are presented with excellence.

Yeah, I have the two issues of Blubber published since the second issue, and I am sure I will have something to say about them.  As I wrote of the first issue:  this crazy little comic book proves once again that not only is Gilbert Hernandez the best American comic book writer of the last four decades; he is also one of its essential visionaries.

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 syndication rights and fees.

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

I Reads You Juniors August 2017 - Update #68

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From BatmanNews:  Joelle Jones joins the creative team on the Batman comic book.

From BleedingCool:  Today's issue of "Black Panther and the Crew" (issue #6) is the final issue of the series.  However, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates says he will continue the Crew's adventures in the main "Black Panther" title.

From ICv2:  Hasbro is suing DC Entertainment over the "Bumblebee" name.  There is a "Bumblebee" Transformer and there is superhero and one-time Teen Titan named Bumblebee.

From MikeLynchCartoons:  A look at comic books featuring the late comedian, actor, and filmmaker, Jerry Lewis.

From BleedingCool:  Dave Sim to kill Cerebus again... if you care...

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #132 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #132 in French.

From ScreenRant:  The 15 most controversial comic book covers of all time - according to Screen Rant.

From CBR:  John Romita, Jr. offers details of "Superman: Year One," his miniseries with writer Frank Miller.

From CBR:  DC Comics is reviving a classic 1950s Superman PSA poster to discuss diversity and non-discussion.

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BLURB REVIEW:

Cable #1 (Marvel Comics – July 2017) by James Robinson and Carlos Pacheco with Rafael Fonteriz and Jesus Aburtov

Cable has been one Marvel Comics' most popular X-Men/mutant characters since his debut in New Mutants #87 back in late 1989/early 1990.  The character has been the star or co-star of a number of ongoing comic book series and miniseries.  I find him to be one of the least interesting of Marvel's merry mutants.  When I have purchased a Cable comic book, it was because of the art.

I think I was attracted to his new Cable #1 because of the cover, which is drawn by Dale Keown.  After nearly a quarter century, I still find Keown's unique drawing style to be eye candy.  However, I knew from the opening page that this comic book was going to be awful, and it is.  Whatever happened to James Robinson?  He was once one of the shining lights of comic book scribes, so much so that Hollywood came a-callin' for his writing skills.  Now, he cranks out listless scripts for Marvel secondary titles that are more like dumpster comics than publications from a major company.

Cable is part of Marvel's “ResurrXion” initiative to revive its X-Men line.  Half the “ResurrXion” titles suck, and Cable sucks ass.

Posted:  Saturday, August 26, 2017
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From BleedingCool:  Two more comic book stores are closing.

From ICv2:  "The Wheels on the Bus..." an interesting piece about the future of Marvel Comics.

From CBR:  15 Ways Marvel Comics' "Star Wars" comic books have changed the Star Wars universe.

From BleedingCool:  Rob Liefeld shows off a Wolverine drawing he did as a teenager - in style similar to John Byrne's.

From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books' Eric Reynolds has picked up the worldwide rights to "Dull Margaret," a graphic novel written by Academy Award-winning actor, Jim Broadbent.

From BleedingCool:  Retailers are boycotting Marvel Comics' "Legacy" lenticular cover scheme.

From CBR:  Marvel Comics solicitations for November 2017.

From CBR:  "Doomsday Clock #1" art teases arrival of Watchmen character, Rorschach.

From BleedingCool:  Chuck Dixon may now be the most published comic book writer of all time.

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics' November 2017 solicitations.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #131 in English.
From ComicBookBin:   New Johnny Bullet episode #131 in French.

From MultiversityComics:  Declan Shalvey talks about his upcoming Image Comics title, "Savage Town."

From BleedingCool:  November 2017 solicitations for Archie Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Nick Spencer leads the creative team for Marvel's "Not Brand Ecch."  The comic book is among a group of Marvel Legacy one-shots.

From CBR:  A preview of "Batman: Murder Machine."

From BleedingCool:  The original comic book art collection of singer/songerwriter Graham Nash brought in a lot of money.  This group of original art from Underground Comix earned over $1 million, especially Nash's collection of R. Crumb pages.

From ComicsReporter:  The 2017 Ignatz Awards nominees have been announced.

From BleedingCool:  Howard Chaykin had to change another cover for "The Divided States of Hysteria," this time #3.  And so you won't have to keep looking, on the girl's right butt cheek, Chaykin had used Prince's infamous "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince" symbol, which he removed for the final cover.

From BleedingCool:  Wizard Magazine will return at a print publication, for the first time since 2011.

From BleedingCool:  Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, and Gail Simone are among the the comic book creators contributing to "Mine," a comic book benefiting Planned Parenthood.

From TheWashingtonPost:  DC Comics' "Dark Nights: Metal" has a Vertigo surprise - Neil Gaiman's The Sandman.

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton looks at the 1960s "New Look" Batman in "DC Comics History."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #130 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #130 in French.

From BleedingCool: Gail Simone begins #ComicsHateNazis hash tag.

From Newsarama:  Mike Mignola is working on the end of the B.P.R.D., the paranormal defense agency in the Hellboy comic book franchise.

From ComicBookBin:  A review of "Generations: Phoenix and Jean Grey #1"

From TheBeat:  Can Christopher Priest and Phil Noto redeem Marvel's "The Inhumans."

From ImageComics:  Image Comics solicitations for October 2017.

From FlickeringMyth:  BOOM! Studios is bringing "Planet of the Apes" and "Kong" together in a comic book.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel to offer second printings of "Generations," "Weapons of Mutant Destruction," and "Darth Vader."

From BleedingCool:  The war over Stan Lee's "last" comic convention appearance.

From ComicBookBin: Deejay Dayton looks at the DC Comics History of "New Look" Superman of the mid-1960s.

From TheVillageVoice:  Marvel's "Secret Empire" with its fascist Captain America is the launch point for a discussion of the prevalence of dystopian storytelling.

From Patreon:  A review of the first issue of IDW 's new reboot of Robert E. Howard's "Kull," entitled "Kull Eternal."

From Negromancer:  VIZ Media announces its digital manga updates for August 2017.

From BleedingCool:  3 pages from "Spider-Gwen #25" a "Legacy" issue.

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton looks at mid-1960s "New Look" in the latest "DC Comics History."

From CBR:  Archie Comics is reviving its superhero title, "The Mighty Crusaders," and turns "Betty & Veronica" into bikers.

From BleedingCool:  Tom King says new "Mister Miracle" is the most ambitious thing that he has ever written.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will launch a new Harley Quinn comic book, "Harley Loves Joker," sometime at the end of the year.  Paul Dini and Jimmy Palmiotti will be involved and the series will be in the vein of "Batman: The Animated Series."

From CBR:  Why has Netflix gone all in on comic books?

From CBR:  "Batman" writer Tom King explains the importance of Kite Man.

From BleedingCool:  Jim Lee is sure that 15% to 45% of DC Comics' readers are women...

From CinemaBlend:  Karl Urban in talks to appear in a possible "Judge Dredd" TV series.

From BleedingCool:  Mark Millar announces that Netflix has bought his publishing entity, Millarworld.

--------------------------------
BLURB REVIEW:

Iceman #1 (Marvel Comics – August 2017) by Sina Grace and Alessandro Vitti with Rachelle Rosenberg

Iceman (Robert Louis Drake, also known as “Bobby Drake”) is one of the original X-Men, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby in 1963 for the comic book, X-Men.  Iceman has been the star of two four-issue miniseries (one published in 1984-85 and another in 2001-02).  He finally gets his own ongoing series with the simply titled Iceman, written by Sina Grace and drawn by Alessandro Vitti.

Judging by the first issue, this series will focus quite a bit on Bobby Drake's angst-filled family and romantic life.  I'm not interested.  I find Alessandro Vitti's art to be unattractive, another reason I will likely avoid future issues of this comic book.  This new comic book arrives as part of “ResurrXion,” Marvel's initiative to reinvigorate its X-Men line of comic books.  The problem, so far, is that half of these new titles are mediocre, and Iceman is one of them.

Posted:  Sunday, August 6, 2017
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From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #129 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #129 in French.

From ComicBookBin: Deejay Dayton looks at the Silver Age history of DC Comics villain, Eclipso.

From BleedingCool:  Beau Smith, the creator of "Wynonna Earp," will appear on the August 4, 2017 episode.

From TCJ:  Alex Dueben interviews Eurocomics legend, José Muñoz.

From CBR:  Meet the children of the Justice League in "Justice League #26."

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton offers his latest "DC Comics History" on Doom Patrol.

From BleedingCool:  Sean McKeever shares his pitch for a Wonder Girl series in 2006.

From BleedingCool:  Beginning in 2018, New York Comic Con will host the "Harvey Awards," which are currently hosted by Baltimore Comic-Con.

From CBR:  Dwayne McDuffie's widow sues over the planned revival of Milestone Media.

From BleedingCool:  J. Michael Starczynski - comic book writer, screenwriter, TV writer, novelist, producer - gives advice about writing for the big screen, TV, and comics.

From ComicBookBin:  In a new episode of "DC Comics History," Deejay Dayton looks "Strange Sports Stories," from the long-running comic book series, "The Brave and the Bold."

From ICv2:  TOKYOPOP is also in "The Nightmare Before Christmas" business.  It will publish the first ever comic book project to expand on the story of the original film, "The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey," in Spring 2018.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Books will release a comic book version of the Disney's YouTube cartoon, "The Nightmare Before Christmas: As Told by Emoji."