Review: THE SHADOW/BATMAN #1

THE SHADOW/BATMAN, VOL. 1, No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT/DC Comics – @dynamitecomics @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Orlando
ART: Giovanni Timpano
COLORS: Flavio Dispenza
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: David Finch with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ethan Van Sciver with Jason Wright (B); Alex Ross (C); Dustin Nguyen (D); Brandon Peterson (E); Bill Sienkiewicz (F); Howard Porter with Hi-Fi (G); Giovanni Timpano with Flavio Dispenza; Howard Porter; Ethan Van Sciver; David Finch with June Chung; Alex Ross; David Finch; Giovanni Timpano; Robert Hack; Anthony Marques and J. Bone with Chris O'Halloran; Cory Smith with Tim Shinn; Cory Smith; Tyler Kirkham with Arif Prianto; Tyler Kirkham
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated “Teen+”

The Shadow created by Walter Gibson; Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Shadow/Batman: Part One

The Shadow is a fictional character that began life as a mysterious radio narrator, debuting on July 31, 1930 as the host of the radio program, “Detective Story Hour.”  Street and Smith Publications, publishers of Detective Story Magazine, hired writer Walter B. Gibson to create a character concept that fit The Shadow's name and voice and to also write a story featuring him.  The first issue of The Shadow Magazine went on sale on April 1, 1931.

DC Comics superhero Batman is a worldwide icon.  He first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated: May 1939).  Batman and his civilian identity, Bruce Wayne, are among the first characters to be inspired by The Shadow and his civilian guise, Lamont Cranston.  The Shadow and Batman would meet for the first time in Batman #273 (cover dated: November 1973).  This year, DC Comics and Dynamite Entertainment, the current publisher with the license to produce comics based on The Shadow, brought the two characters together, first in the six-issue crossover comic book miniseries, Batman The Shadow, from DC Comics.

Now, it is Dynamite's turn and it is offering a second six-issue miniseries, The Shadow/Batman.  It is written by Steve Orlando; drawn by Giovanni Timpano; colored by Flavio Dispenz; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

The Shadow/Batman: Volume 1 #1 opens with Professor Pyg in New York City causing chaos.  Batman has followed him to NYC to shut him down, but that upsets The Shadow, who believes that Batman should remain in Gotham City and leave the Big Apple to him.

However, these two dark avengers are about to discover that they are facing the “World's Greatest Evil,” and they may be no match for it.  Can the “World's Greatest Mystery” and the “World's Greatest Detective” (and the “world's most independent sidekick”) must put aside their differences and unravel the centuries' old conspiracy of the “Silent Seven.”

I did not read DC Comics' Batman The Shadow, so I wanted to make sure that I did not miss The Shadow/Batman.  I really like how writer Steve Orlando emphasizes dark moods, atmospheres, feelings, and emotions.  There is a deep sense of foreboding, and Orlando makes a convincing case that both The Shadow and Batman are not only vulnerable, but are also in danger of being destroyed.

Artist Giovanni Timpano's moody compositions and colorist Flavio Dispenz's gloomy colors recall the classic shadowy cool and noir sensibilities of The Shadow in his radio glory days.  The Shadow and Batman are in good artistic hands.

8.5 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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #2

THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #2 (OF 12)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
ART: Neal Adams
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Kenneth Rocafort
VARIANT COVER: Neal Adams with Tim Shinn
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2017)

Rated “T” for Teen

Kamandi created by Jack Kirby

“Nuclear Roar!”

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book created by writer-artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The series ran from 1972 to 1978, and starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future.  In this time, humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization.  In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.

The world of Kamandi returns in the new DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists.  Each issue will end with an cliffhanger.  The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger left behind by the previous creative team, before creating their own story and cliffhanger, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on.  The second issue of The Kamandi Challenge is written by Peter J. Tomasi; drawn by Neal Adams; colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Kamandi Challenge #2 (“Nuclear Roar”) finds Kamandi in Tiger City, where the great leader, Lord Caesar, is apparently about to activate a nuclear warhead.  None of the man-animals seem interested in Kamandi's warnings about the weapon, but no one expects a kind of Trojan horse.  Also, a unique Kirby creation makes an appearance, and it still (shockingly) works.

“Nuclear War” follows the cliffhanger that ended issue #1's “K -- is for 'Kill'!”  Simply put, The Kamandi Challenge #2 is a fun read, but lacks the punch of either of the two stories published in The Kamandi Challenge #1.  I like Neal Adams' art here; it is the best of his recent work that I have seen.  The compositions are big and capture the craziness and epic scale of Jack Kirby in his 1970s prime.

The story, however, reflects the weakness of a gimmick series like The Kamandi Challenge.  In coming up with a new chapter by starting from some other writer's previous chapter can be treacherous.  Even if a writer comes up with a way to resolve the previous writer's cliffhanger, the rest of his own story can meander or seem like filler as the writer tries to do his “own thing.”  That is what happens with “Nuclear Roar;” much of it seems like filler on the way to a cliffhanger ending.

I'm still going to keep reading, though.

B

[Afterword by Dan Abnett]

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.

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Review: THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #1

THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE No. 1 (OF 12)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Didio; Dan Abnett
PENCILS: Keith Giffen; Dale Eaglesham
INKS: Scott Koblish; Dale Eaglesham
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Bruce Timm
VARIANT COVER: Keith Giffen with Hi-Fi; Dale Eaglesham with Jason Wright
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Rated “T” for Teen

Kamandi created by Jack Kirby

“The Rules” and “K -- is for 'Kill'!”

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book created by writer-artist Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics. The series, which ran from 1972 to 1978, starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future, in which humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization.  In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.

The world of Kamandi returns in the new DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists.  Each issue will end with an cliffhanger.  The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger before creating their own, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on.

The Kamandi Challenge #1 opens with “The Rules” by the team of writer Dan DiDio and artists Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.  In a pastoral borough, a teenage boy awakens, late for the school bus.  Rushing to school, everything seems normal until the sky cracks opens and giant talking rats attack, revealing that nothing is what he thought it was.

“K -- is for 'Kill'!” is by the second creative team of writer Dan Abnett and artist Dale Eaglesham.  The story places the boy, Kamandi, in a world full of animals that walk and talk like humans.  Specifically in “Tiger City,” our young hero is thrown into the arena of blood sport and he must survive the giant man-ape, “Tiny”

I don't follow the part of the comic book Internet that breaks news about new comic book projects, not like I used to do.  I think I need to start again because I only recently heard about The Kamandi Challenge, and after reading The Kamandi Challenge #1, I know it would have been sad to have missed this fantastic first issue.

Telling a complete story in a single comic book might seem like a lost art in these last three decades of multi-issue story arcs produced in order to be collected into trade paperbacks – sometimes called graphic novels – for the bookstore market.  However, the two creative teams in The Kamandi Challenge #1 prove that they can tell a story that seems complete – even with a cliffhanger ending – in a single issue.

DiDio-Giffen-Koblish's 12-page introduction works as a standalone story and is a nice homage to Jack Kirby's visual and graphical art style.  I also wonder if the borough, burg, town depicted in the opening chapter is an homage to the early 20th century New York City in which Jack Kirby grew up.

The Abnett-Eaglesham team ably picks up the DiDio-Giffen-Koblish cliffhanger from “The Rules” and delivers a gem in “K -- is for 'Kill'!”  Dan Abnett turns his story into a flight of fancy set in world that is part old-school, EBR-style, pulp science fiction and part Planet of the Apes.  Using powerful, muscular compositions, Dale Eaglesham delivers art and storytelling that conveys both the bizarre nature of a world ruled by humaoid animals and the threat of weapons of mass destruction in a post-apocalyptic world that does not understand these lethal relics of war from the distant past.

It's obvious, isn't it?  I really enjoyed reading The Kamandi Challenge #1.  I can't wait for the second issue and I recommend this one.  It is the fun-to-read comic book for “all-ages” that many comic book readers keep saying they want.

A

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


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

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Review: SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #1

SCOOBY APOCALYPSE No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComic

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

PLOT/BREAKDOWNS:  Keith Giffen
DIALOGUE: J.M. DeMatteis
ARTIST: Howard Porter
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Nick J. Napolitano; Travis Lanham
COVER: Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Howard Porter with Hi-Fi;Dan Panosian; Neal Adams with Alex Sinclair; Joelle Jones with Nick Filardi; Ben Caldwell
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Waiting for the End of the World”

Based on a concept by Jim Lee; Scooby-Doo created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears and Iwao Takamoto

Scooby-Doo is a media franchise that began with the animated, Saturday-morning, television series, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” in 1969, which was produced by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera Production.  The series featured four teenagers:  Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers and Scooby-Doo, a talking Great Dane-ish dog.  Together, they solved mysteries involving supernatural creatures that usually turned out to be frauds.

That first series basically gave birth to numerous follow-up Scooby-Doo animated cartoon series that used the original as a pattern to one extent or another.  DC Comics recently launched a Scooby-Doo comic book that takes the characters introduced in “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” but largely reinvents the character relationships, personalities, histories, and their mission.  Entitled Scooby Apocalypse, the new comic book is based on a concept created by Jim Lee.  The comic book is written by Keith Giffen (plot) and J.M. DeMatteis (dialogue); drawn by Howard Porter; colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Nick J. Napolitano.

Scooby Apocalypse #1 (“Waiting for the End of the World”) finds Daphne and Fred at “The Blazing Man Festival.”  Daphne is the host of a once-popular television series, “Daphne Blake's Mysterious Mysteries.”  She hopes that an informant that she is supposed to meet at the festival will provide the lead to a story that will return the show to the big time.  Fred, her long-suffering cameraman, thinks that he and Daphne should move on to bigger things.

Nearby is Shaggy, a dog-trainer at a secret facility, and his trainee, Scooby-Doo.  A misunderstanding forces an encounter between Shaggy and Scooby and Fred and Daphne.  Now, both parties are about to hear an amazing story from Dr. Velma Dinkley who works for a secret government program, the Elysium Project.  What she tells them will change their lives.

I would not call myself a Scooby-Doo purist, but I probably am.  I am not crazy about anything that strays too far from “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-1970) and the follow-up series, “The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries” (1972-1973)  Thus, I am inclined to not like Scooby Apocalypse, and I had planned on not reading it.  However, word that some of the early issues were selling-out in various places piqued my interests.  I picked up some copies at a my local comic shop and turned to eBay for the ones I could not find there.

After reading the first ten pages, I was disgusted and even insulted, as a Scooby-Doo fan.  Then, I found myself intrigued by the goings-on inside the Project Elysium facility, and then, I bought in to this comic book.

I'd be lying if I called it great, but I really want to see where this goes.  I have the first four issues, and I think that will be enough to decide if I want to keep reading.  Honestly, I would recommend this first issue to any adult who is or was a fan of Scooby-Doo, reading it as a lark or out of curiosity.  Considering the creative team behind this, Scooby Apocalypse could be good.  The bonus story, “When Shaggy Met Scooby!” about the first meeting between fiction's greediest boy-and-his-dog combo is a novel spin on the classic animated cartoon comedy duo.

I'll review a future issue, dear reader, and I promise to keep it real, one way or the other.

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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Review: NEW SUPER-MAN #1

NEW SUPER-MAN No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Gene Luen Yang
PENCILS: Viktor Bogdanovic
INKS: Richard Friend
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Viktor Bogdanovic with Kelsey Shannon
VARIANT COVER: Bernard Chang
40pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Made in China” Part One

DC Comics is having a “Rebirth,” and that means lots of new comic book series.  One of the new titles is New Super-Man, which uses Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's original spelling for the Man of Steel, whom they named “The Super-Man.”  Even the “S” shield on this “New Super-Man” recalls Joe Shuster's original “S.”

New Super-Man is written by Gene Luen Yang; drawn by Viktor Bogdanovic (pencils) and Richard Friend (inks); colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  The series is set in China and introduces “The Super-Man of China.”

New Super-Man #1 (“Made in China” Part One) opens in Shanghai, China.  We meet our lead character, Kenan Kong, who is bullying rich kid, Luo Lixin.  However, Kenan ends up saving Luo from Blue Condor, one of Shanghai's first American-style supervillains and a dangerous dude to boot.  Kenan's interaction with Blue Condor brings him into contact with the Ministry of Self-Reliance, a meeting that will change his life in unbelievable ways.

It is not often that I call a comic book cute, even when describing children's comics, but New Super-Man #1 is cute.  It is an amusing, mildly intriguing, pleasantly entertaining comic book, and while I wouldn't go out of my way to read it, I will read it when the occasion arises – if for no other reason than that I am also intrigued by the Chinese versions of Batman and Wonder Woman.

The art by the team of penciller Viktor Bogdanovic and inker Richard Friend is gorgeous.  That alone tempts me to return to this title.  The New Super-Man has the potential to be a good book, especially with Gene Luen Yang as the writer, but something tells me that the series could just as easily become just another tepid superhero title.

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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Review: FUTURE QUEST #5

FUTURE QUEST No. 5
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jeff Parker – @JeffParker
ARTIST: Evan “Doc” Shaner; Craig Rousseau
COLORS: Hi-Fi; Jeremy Lawson
LETTERS: ALW Studios' Dave Lanphear
COVER: Evan “Doc”Shaner
VARIANT COVER: Steve Rude with John Kalisz
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“The Wheel of History” Part 5

Future Quest is a comic book series that re-imagines and re-interprets the classic sci-fi and superhero television series created by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera.  Published by DC Comics, Future Quest brings together the stars of the TV programs “Jonny Quest,” “Space Ghost,” “The Herculoids,” “Birdman,” “Frankenstein Jr.,” “The Galaxy Trio,” “The Impossibles,” and “Mightor.”

Future Quest is written by Jeff Parker; colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.  Evan “Doc” Shaner is the series' lead artist, with other artists stepping in for particular chapters and side stories, such as artist Craig Rousseau for this issue.  Future Quest centers on the cast of “Jonny Quest” (referred to as “Team Quest”), as they lead a struggle against the universal and time-line threat, Omnikron, and a plot by Quest adversary, Dr. Zin, to use the entity.

In Future Quest #5 (“The Wheel of History”), Team Quest and company try to figure out the meaning of a set of ancient cliff paintings.  They encounter agents of F.E.A.R. and also an old Quest adversary.  Plus, dinosaurs stampede and a hero is reborn.  Also, meet “The Impossibles” in the story “Code Name: Cobalt.”  Learn about their origin and meet someone who wants to be their newest member.

Future Quest #5 starts with what may be the best 12-issue set of pages that I have read all year.  “The Wheel of History” highlights why writer Jeff Parker and artist Evan Shaner are the heart and soul of Future Quest.  Other artists have shone well, but when Parker and Shaner are together, it's magic, man – at least for me.  It is not even close; Parker-Shaner is DC Comics' best creative team.

Parker and Craig Rousseau are also good on The Impossibles story, which is a nice read.  But when I recommend Future Quest, I'm pimping Parker-Shaner, the dynamic duo of DC's best comic book.

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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Review: FUTURE QUEST #4

FUTURE QUEST No. 4
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jeff Parker – @JeffParker
ARTIST: Jeff Parker; Ron Randall; Evan “Doc” Shaner
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: ALW Studios' Dave Lanphear
COVER: Evan “Doc”Shaner
VARIANT COVER: Paul Renaud
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“How the Mighty Fall!”

Future Quest is a comic book series produced by DC Comics that re-imagines and re-interprets the classic sci-fi and superhero television series created by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera.  Future Quest brings together the stars of the TV programs “Jonny Quest,” “Space Ghost,” “The Herculoids,” “Birdman,” “Frankenstein Jr.,” “The Galaxy Trio,” “The Impossibles,” and “Mightor.”

Future Quest is written by Jeff Parker; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.  Evan “Doc” Shaner is the series' lead artist, with artists Ron Randall and Steve Rude as frequent contributors.  So far, the main focus of Future Quest is the cast of “Jonny Quest” (referred to as “Team Quest”):  Jonny Quest; his adopted brother, Hadji; his father, Dr. Benton Quest; family bodyguard, Race Bannon; and, of course, Jonny's dog, Bandit.

Future Quest #4 (“How the Mighty Fall!”) opens on the world of Mightor as the hero faces the universal and time-line threat, Omnikron.  Meanwhile, Space Ghost sidekick, Jan, tries to remember her past, with some encouragement from Team Quest.  Two extra stories, “The Structure of Fear” and “Frankenstein Jr. Making Friends,” peak in on the evil Dr. Zin and the terror organization, F.E.A.R., and tells the origin story of Frankenstein Jr., respectively.

I eagerly tore through Future Quest #4 – another whirlwind reading tour of an issue of Future Quest.  I love this comic book because I love classic Hanna-Barbera sci-if/superhero series like “Space Ghost” and “Jonny Quest.”  I also love this series because writer Jeff Parker is gifted in his ability to create pop comics that recall the imaginative, weird, and escapist fun of comic books and TV cartoons past.  This issue, Parker even treats us to some of his comic book art with the story, “The Structure of Fear.”  I did not know that he could draw comics.

I must say that I think that Future Quest will read better, for many readers, in trade paperback form.  For various narrative and production reasons, Future Quest is told in chucks, interludes, chapters, flashbacks, back story, cutaways, etc.  It often seems that Future Quest can never give the reader enough of one thing because it has to jump over to another thing.

Still, Future Quest is DC Comics' best comic book right now.

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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Review: FUTURE QUEST #3

FUTURE QUEST No. 3
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted of Patreon.]

STORY: Jeff Parker – @JeffParker
ARTIST: Steve Rude
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: ALW Studios' Dave Lanphear
COVER: Steve Rude
VARIANT COVER: Karl Kerschl
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Vortex Tales: Birdman in: The Deadly Distance”

Future Quest is a comic book series produced by DC Comics that re-imagines and re-interprets the classic sci-fi and superhero television series created by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera.  Future Quest brings together the stars of the TV programs “Jonny Quest,” “Space Ghost,” “The Herculoids,” “Birdman,” “Frankenstein Jr.,” “The Galaxy Trio,” “The Impossibles,” and “Mightor.”

Future Quest is written by Jeff Parker; primarily drawn by Evan “Doc” Shaner; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.  So far, the main focus of Future Quest is the cast of “Jonny Quest” (referred to as “Team Quest”):  Jonny Quest; his adopted brother, Hadji; his father, Dr. Benton Quest; family bodyguard, Race Bannon; and, of course, Jonny's dog, Bandit.

Future Quest #3 offers two “Vortex Tales.”  “The Deadly Distance” is written by Jeff Parker; drawn by Steve Rude; colored by Steve Buccellato; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.  The story takes place just before the events depicted in Future Quest #1.  It finds Birdman in Southwest Utah where he joins Inter-Nation Security agent, Deva Sumadi, to battle what they call a “xenomass.”  This creature is really part of the alien Omnikron, which seeks to absorb everything.

The second of the “Vortex Tales” is “Mine-Crash!” and stars The Herculoids.  It is written by Parker; drawn by Aaron Lopresti (pencils) and Karl Kesel (inks); colored by Hi-Fi; and letterd by Dave Lanphear.  On the Herculoids home planet, Quasar, the strange heroes, Tundro, Zok, Igoo, and Gloop and Gleep, battle mining robots.  Now, it is time for Tarra and Zandor to the tell their son, Dorno, and the Herculoids the story of their previous life on Quasar's sister planet, Amzot.  They will reveal how the “Robot Uprising” affects them today.

Future Quest #3 is essentially a fill-in issue, but it gives readers a welcomed glimpse into the back story of the series' primary plot, while also providing what is essentially an origin story of “The Herculoids.”  Writer Jeff Parker is the chosen one, the storyteller who can take classic Hanna-Barbera sci-fi/superhero and bring them into the modern age.  That he has advanced these concepts in terms of character and drama is diamond icing on the golden cake.

Speaking on golden, Steve Rude, who was influenced by Hanna-Barbera, delivers wonderful storytelling in the Birdman tale.  There is a sense of dynamism that matches the classic Birdman cartoons, but the sense of drama Rude brings to the character is new.  Two decades as a comic book artist and Aaron Lopresti is still refining his art and craft.  With his work on this Herculoids short story, he may have made the case that if The Herculoids get their own comic book, he should be the artist.

Future Quest #3 delivers.  It is not an issue to set aside, and like the earlier two issues, it makes the case that this is the best comic book that DC Comics is currently publishing.

A

This comic book includes the story, “Vortex Tales: The Herculoids in Mine-Crash!” written by Jeff Parker; drawn by Aaron Lopresti (pencils) and Karl Kesel (inks); colored by Hi-Fi; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.

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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Review: DOOMED #1

DOOMED #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Lobdell
ART: Javier Fernandez
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Corey Breen
COVER: Javier Fernandez with Kyle Ritter
VARIANT COVER: Ken Lashley with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Doomed, I Say!”

Doomsday is a DC Comics character commonly associated with Superman.  A super-villain, Doomsday made his first full appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (December 1992), after making a cameo appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November 1992).  Created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens, Doomsday was the character that infamously “killed” Superman back in 1992.

In “The New 52,” the revamp of the DC Universe, Doomsday is apparently also connected to a virus.  The “DCYou” publishing event launches a new comic book about a college student who catches that virus.  The series is entitled, Doomed, and is written by Scott Lobdell, drawn by Javier Fernandez, colored by Ulises Arreola, and lettered by Corey Breen.

Doomed #1 (“Doomed, I Say!”) introduces Reiser, an affable student at Metropolis University.  He gets an internship at S.T.A.R. Labs in Metropolis, which he sees as a life-changing event.  What changes in Reiser's life is gaining the power to transform into Superman's most heinous adversary, Doomsday.

Doomed must be one of those “DCYou” diversity books.  Diversity in the DCYou means characters of color, but writers of non-Negro.  That might explain Reiser's blandness.  Honestly, I don't know what to say beyond some sarcastic remarks.  I am curious to see what happens to Reiser, but not enough to make a financial effort to obtain this book.  It is not bad, but I can't honestly give it a letter-grade.  If I do end up reading another issue of Doomed, I'll write about it just for you, dear reader.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Review: ALL-STAR SECTION 8 #1

ALL STAR SECTION 8 #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Garth Ennis
ART: John McCrea
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVER: John McCrea with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“I Often Wonder What the Vinters Buy”

One of the miniseries to come out of DC Comics' “DCYou” initiative is All Star Section 8.  This series focuses on a band of misfits that is called the “greatest superheroes of all time,” at least by the leader.  Apparently, this group was last seen in DC's 1990s action-crime series, Hitman.   All Star Section 8 is written by Garth Ennis and drawn by John McCrea, the creative team behind Hitman.  John Kalisz colors and Pat Brosseau letters All Star Section 8.

Stephen Speck is a bon vivant and art critc at the beginning of All Star Section 8 #1 (“I Often Wonder What the Vinters Buy”).  But alcohol reveals the truth; Stephen is befuddled hero, Sixpack, leader of the all-star team known as “Section Eight.”  Speck is desperate to rebuild Section Eight in order to face a deadly threat. He gathers old friends:  Bueno Excellente, Baytor and the seemingly reborn Dogwelder, and adds new members:  The Grapplah, Guts, and Powertool.  Still, Sixpack needs an eighth member.  Along comes the Dark Knight.

I read Hitman for about two years back in the 1990s, and I don't remember Section Eight.  I can't say I am interested in getting to know them, now.  I like Garth Ennis, but I think Hitman is the only comic book by the Ennis-McCrea team that I actually liked.  Most of the time, their mix of explicit violence and gritty, gross, grunge does nothing for me.

I don't get Ennis-McCrea's brand of humor, although I did find the Batman bits here to be funny.  However, I like Ennis enough to try another issue of All Star Section 8.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Bryan Hitch
PENCILS: Bryan Hitch
INKS: Daniel Henriques with Wade von Grawbadger and Andrew Currie
COLORS: Alex Sinclair with Jeromy Cox
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Bryan Hitch with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Bryan Hitch with Alex Sinclair; Howard Porter with Hi-Fi (Joker 75th Anniversary Cover)
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Power and Glory”

The Justice League is DC Comics' ultimate superhero team.  Conceived by Gardner Fox, the team first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #28 (cover dated: March 1960).  The Justice League received its own comic book series, Justice League of America (cover dated: October 1960), which is the name by which the team was known for decades.  The name “Justice League” was emphasized as a comic book title beginning with the debut of Justice League #1 (cover dated: May 1987).

The name Justice League of America (or “JLA”) returns bigger and badder than ever in the new “DCYou” series,  Justice League of America.  It written and drawn by Bryan Hitch; inked by Daniel Henriques (with Wade von Grawbadger and Andrew Currie); colored by Alex Sinclair (with Jeromy Cox); and lettered by Chris Eliopoulos.

Justice League of America #1 (“Power and Glory”) opens with the destruction of Earth and the death of Superman.  Say what?!  Superman has been summoned to The Infinity Corporation in New York City.  There, he meets Alexis Martin and an arrogant, self-declared genius named Vincent.  They have shocking news about the fate of existence and its connection to Superman.

Meanwhile, something powerful and hungry is spirited from “The Maw,” the super-max prison in Metropolis.  This creature will give Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, and Cyborg all they can handle and more.  Also, Aquaman has a date with a god in Atlantis.

In StormWatch Volume 2 #4, Bryan Hitch and writer Warren Ellis unleashed “widescreen comics” on American superhero comic book readers.  The costumed super-powered people were big.  The action was bigger, and the destruction was massive.  Bryan Hitch, obviously influenced by fellow British comic book artist, Alan Davis, took Davis stylish compositions and lush brushwork and made it heavy.  It was like Davis pumped up on P.E.D.s (performance enhancing drugs).  Ellis's big stories and Hitch's double-X-L art made StormWatch, a dumpster, frivolous Wildstorm comic book, an exciting read and a buzzed-about comic book.  Hitch would later bring widescreen to Marvel's The Ultimates, a re-imagining of the Avengers, written by Mark Millar.

Now, Bryan Hitch brings massive widescreen, as both writer and artist, to the Justice League.  Not only is the graphical storytelling in Justice League of America #1 big; the issue itself has 50 pages of story, which is massive compared to today's anemic 20 and 22-page comic books.  And, in a shared victory for both quantity and quality, Justice League of America #1 is worth the $5.99 cover price.

Hitch offers a story that is worthy of both the Justice League as a team and of its individual members.  “Power and Glory” isn't overly complicated, but it offers action in a epic manner that is similar to “Justice League” (2001-2004) Cartoon Network animated series.

I'm excited about Bryan Hitch's Justice League of America, which he apparently has been working on for more than a year before the series debuted.  Over my time of reading comic books, I have been ambivalent about the Justice League, but both Justice League and Justice League of America comic book series have made me more excited about this franchise than I have ever been.

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.

Review: EARTH 2: Society #1

EARTH 2: SOCIETY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was first published on Patreon.]

WRITER: Daniel H. Wilson
ART: Jorge Jimenez
COLORS: John Rauch
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Jorge Jimenez with John Rauch
VARIANT COVERS: Paulo Siquera and Cam Smith with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Planetfall”

Earth-Two began as a parallel universe to the mainstream DC Comics continuity.  Earth-Two first appeared in The Flash #123 (cover date: September 1961).  DC established Earth-Two during the 1960s as a way to explain how DC characters who had adventures in the 1940s could still be in their 30s in contemporary comics, with contemporary then being the 1960s.  Why was Batman still a young man in the 1960s when he had adventures in the 1940s?  Well, the Batman of the 1940s lived on Earth-Two.  The Batman of the 1960s lived on Earth-One, the modern or mainstream DC Universe.

Over the decades, the idea of Earth-Two changed.  Now, Earth-2 is about the world where the survivors of a war rebuild with the help of younger superheroes.  That is the setting of the new “DCYou” series, Earth 2: Society.  The series is written by Daniel H. Wilson (Earth 2: World's End), drawn by Jorge Jimenez (Earth 2: World's End, Arrow), colored by John Rauch, and lettered by Travis Lanham.

Earth 2: Society #1 (“Planetfall”) opens in New Gotham, the first city of Earth-2.  Batman is on the trail of Terry Sloan, a man of secrets pursued by many.  But it is an anxious time for the survivors of Earth-2’s war with Apokolips, who find themselves on a new world.  What are the intentions of Green Lantern, who seems different?  A flashback to “planetfall” may answer questions or simply raise more.

OK, my plan was to review all the new “DCYou” titles, but Earth-2: Society is the kind of comic book that makes me reconsider that.  Issue #1 is not bad, or particularly good, for that matter.  Perhaps, the point of the new “DCYou” is that not every book is created with “you” or me in mind.  That Earth-2: Society is not made for me is (if you will) no skin off my nose.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: STARFIRE #1

STARFIRE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
PENCILS: Emanuela Lupacchino
INKS: Ray McCarthy
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVERS: Emanuela Lupacchino with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Starfire created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

“Everything to Everyone”

Koriand'r, who is the female superhero known as Starfire, first appeared in DC Comics Presents #26 (cover date: October 1980), which contained the preview story that introduced The New Teen Titans.  Created by writer Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Starfire is an alien warrior, was a member of the Teen Titans, and is the love interest of Dick Grayson/Robin.

As part of the “DCYou” publishing initiative, there is new comic book featuring the character, and it is entitled, Starfire.  The series is written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, penciled by Emanuela Lupacchino, inked by Ray McCarthy, colored by Hi-Fi, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Starfire #1 (“Everything to Everyone”) opens in Key West, Florida.  Starfire is at the Key West Police Station where she is giving her origin story to Sheriff Stella Gomez.  Although she is busy preparing the locals for an approaching storm, Stella takes time to help Starfire find a place to live.  Hilarity ensues.  Meanwhile, darkness, both natural and otherwise, approaches.

This new Starfire comic book is interesting, but other than finding out about the unseen who or what that appears on the last panel of the last page, I am not sure that I will read another issue.  Starfire is not at all bad, and the art is pretty.  Starfire seems to be in keeping with DC Comics' apparent goal of making “DCYou” be about different types of books to attract new and/or different readers.

Starfire could almost be one of those new, updated Archie Comics titles.  Yep, Starfire now looks like a sex-ified Betty.  Still, I think that readers looking for “girl superheroes” will want to give this a try.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: SUPERGIRL #36

SUPERGIRL #36
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson
PENCILS: Emanuela Lupacchino
INKS: Ray McCarthy
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
COVER: Emanuela Lupacchino with Dan Brown
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Supergirl based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Crucible” Part 1

DC Comics character, Supergirl, is essentially the female counterpart of Superman.  The most familiar version of the character is Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, who was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino.  She first appeared in Action Comics #252 (cover date May 1959), although there were two earlier versions of the character that appeared in 1949 and in 1958.

I have not read a Supergirl comic book since I read The New 52's Supergirl #1 (“Last Daughter of Krypton”) just over three years ago.  I recently visited an area comic book shop where the owner likes to hand out free comic books to her customers.  That's how I ended up with my first Supergirl comic book in years, besides the Supergirl trade paperback I bought my niece several months ago.

Supergirl #36 (“Crucible” Part 1) opens in the aftermath of Kara's shenanigans with the Red Lanterns (of which I am not familiar).  She is living in New York City and working at Elixir Cafe.  Kara just wants to live on Earth among the regular folks.  Her cuz, Clark Kent a/k/a Superman, makes a surprise appearance, with the intent of giving some big brother-type advice to Kara.  However, he also was involved in some shenanigans (regarding the Doom virus), so maybe he can use some advice, too.  The real lessons for Kara/Supergirl, however, will come from the Crucible Academy, courtesy of three super-powered aggressors.

I probably would have kicked Supergirl #36 to the curb by placing it in a pile of unread comic books, due for removal at a later date.  But I took one quick look inside and was immediately impressed by the eye-candy art from the team of penciller Emanuela Lupacchino, inker Ray McCarthy, and colorist Hi-Fi.  Lupacchino is a skilled hand at compositions, and her figure drawing is strong.  McCarthy's inks give the art an Adam Hughes quality, creating a light-hearted approach to the story that captures Kara as a young woman in flux.  Hi-Fi's candy-painted hues bring the alien environments in the second half of the story to life.

Wow!  Surprised!  Supergirl #36 has tempted me to read more.  Maybe I shouldn't ignore Supergirl.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #6

"The Jim Lee Project"
JUSTICE LEAGUE #6
DC COMICS

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Jim Lee
INKS: Scott Williams with Sandra Hope, Batt, and Mark Irwin
COLORS: Alex Sinclair with Tony Avina and Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams, with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Rod Reis
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

So two months after I read the fifth issue, I finally read Justice League #6 (entitled “Part Six” or Justice League Part Six”). This new Justice League comic book series, launched the last week of August 2011, is essentially the flagship title of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero comic book line, which also began the last week of August 2011.

As the issue begins, seven superheroes: Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Cyborg, who are not part of a team and who are not all friends, have gathered to stop an alien invasion of Earth. Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Cyborg, in a united front, try to takedown the leader of this invasion, Darkseid. Meanwhile, on Darkseid’s world, Batman attempts to rescue Superman, who is being tortured by Desaad.

For this opening story arc of the new Justice League, writer Geoff John’s offers what is simply just one big battle that allows him to introduce his new version of the Justice League team lineup. It’s a fairly good story, but, it is also really a single-issue (at most, two-issue) story stretched to six issues i.e. trade paperback size.

To be honest with you, dear reader, I am following this series for Jim Lee’s art. When I review issues not drawn by Lee, you better believe that I got those as freebies. Back to Lee’s art: what glorious art it is! Lee summons his inner Jack Kirby by delivering pencil art full of super powers on display and super-beings in motion. Lee brings out the Kirby bat on such delicious splash pages and spreads as the one featuring Wonder Woman stabbing Darkseid in the eye, Superman flying into Darkseid’s midsection, and the Cyborg boom tube explosion. Ahhh, I think I need a cigarette.

A-

There is a Pandora back-up by Geoff Johns (writer), Carlos D’Anda (artist), Gabe Eltaeb (colors), and Sal Cipriano (letters).

I Reads You Review: ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #2

"Part Two"

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ARTIST: Sara Pichelli
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Kaare Andrews
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.
Rated T+

The result of the “Death of Spider-Man” Ultimate Comics storyline was that Peter Parker was killed. Miles Morales, a teenager of African-American and Latino heritage, is the new Spider-Man (or Ultimate Spider-Man II).

As Ultimate Spider-Man #2 (AKA Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #2) begins, Miles is testing his new powers, but he needs answers. What is happening to him? Can his pal Ganke help him? Meanwhile, Miles’ father reveals his and his brother’s (Miles’ uncle) troubled past.

Perhaps, I over-praised writer Brian Michael Bendis in my review of the first issue of Ultimate Spider-Man #1, and did so at the expense of artist Sara Pichelli. Bendis is good in this series, but so is Pichelli. First of all, she draws some of the most convincing looking Black people I’ve ever seen in American comic books. Secondly, she is perfect for Bendis’ character-heavy stories with their sometimes exceeding sense verisimilitude and realism.

Pichelli is also a master of drawing facial expressions and subtle gestures. The way she can shift, from panel to panel, the emotion or tone via a look, expression, or gesture from a character is uncanny. During Miles’ conversation with his father, the reader will understand exactly when Miles is shocked, confused, hurt, or when he wants to exclaim, “Say what?!” to his father.

Sara Pichelli is as important as Bendis in making Ultimate Spider-Man one of the top five superhero comic books currently being published (in my estimation, of course).

A

Ultimate Spider-Man #1 includes a backup feature that reprints pages from “A Moment of Silence” and “Heroes,” two of Marvel Comics’ 9/11 publications. These are pin-ups from Sam Keith, Richard Corben, Adam Kubert with Richard Isanove, Michael Avon Oeming, and Tom Raney and Scott Hanna with Hi-Fi

I Reads You Review: ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1

"Everybody's talking 'bout the new kid in town"

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1
MARVEL COMICS

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ARTIST: Sara Pichelli
COLORS: Justin Ponsor
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Kaare Andrews (Variant covers by Sara Pichelli and Justin Ponsor)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

I don’t read many titles from Marvel Comics, and it has been that way for the past seven years, at least. During the last decade, I’ve occasionally read titles from Marvel’s Ultimate line and, for the most part, enjoyed them. However, I had ignored the “Death of Spider-Man” Ultimate storyline which ran through most of this year. Peter Parker was killed, and Miles Morales, a teenager of African-American and Latino descent, is the new Spider-Man (or Ultimate Spider-Man II).

Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (AKA Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1) begins 11 months prior to the main story and is set at an Osborn Industries laboratory on Long Island. Norman Osborn is demanding that his latest hire, Doctor Markus, reverse calculate the specifications of a genetically altered spider. What spider? That would be the spider that bit Peter Parker and gave him his special powers; the spider’s genetic alterations were the result of Osborn Industries.

Eleven months later, Miles Morales and his parents are attending a lottery that will decide which Brooklyn, New York students get to attend the charter school, Brooklyn Visions Academy. Miles’ life, however, is about to take an even bigger turn because young Mr. Morales has a date with a special spider.

A few years ago, I started reading back issues of Static, one of the titles published by the comics publishing wing of Milestone Media, a company dedicated to bringing diversity in terms of race and ethnicity to comic book superheroes. Reading those early issues of Static, I was struck by how much they reminded me of the early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Now, I’m struck by how much this Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man reads like an early issue of Static. Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis has adapted, updated, and reworked the stories of many of the Spider-Man comic book writers that came before him, notably Lee and Ditko. Now, it seems as if he has taken the fresh style and urban tone of Static writers, the late Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington, III, and fashioned that for Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man. I kid you not; this Spider-Man comic book is an early issue of Static.

I don’t have a problem with that because (1) this is a good opening issue and (2) the story looks, reads, and feels right for a contemporary story of superhero fantasy in which the star is a person of color. This is an auspicious beginning, and I hope Miles Morales welcomes in new readers the way Peter Parker did 50 years ago.

A

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 includes a backup feature that reprints pages from “A Moment of Silence” and “Heroes,” two of Marvel Comics’ 9/11 publications: Bill Jemas (story), Mark Bagley (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Hi-Fi (colors), Sharpefont’s PT (letters); and Joe Quesada and Alex Ross (cover illustration)

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The New 52 Review: THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1

"Two are better than one"

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
DC COMICS

PLOT: Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone
SCRIPT: Gail Simone
ARTIST: Yildiray Cinar
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Ethan Van Sciver with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Firestorm is a superhero that was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom and appears in comics published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in the short-lived series, Firestorm, The Nuclear Man #1 (cover date March 1978), and was the alter ego of two men, Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein.

There was a second Firestorm series, Firestorm the Nuclear Man, and in issue #100 (cover date August 1990), Martin Stein became the sole identity behind Firestorm. In Firestorm #1 (cover date July 2004), the third series, African-American teenager, Jason Rusch, created by writer Dan Jolley and artist ChrisCross, became the new Firestorm. With the re-launch of the DC Comics superhero line, “The New 52,” a fourth Firestorm series arrives. This one stars Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch.

In The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 (“God Particle”), two high school students, who think that they are each from a different side of the social divide (but really aren’t that far apart), are about to come together in an amazing way. Ronnie Raymond is the golden boy quarterback at Walton Mills High School; a full-ride college scholarship would help his mother, who is a single-parent. Jason Rusch works for the school newspaper and is also from a single-parent home, as he lives with his father.

Jason makes an enemy of Ronnie, but before they can settle their differences, an elite team of killers invades their school and starts killing people. Suddenly, Jason is forced to introduce Ronnie to the world of Firestorm.

Some of the characters in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 need a conflict resolution specialist; others just need a visit from the Navy SEALs. Seriously, this is such a conflict-driven comic book; some of the conflicts quite harrowing and others simply typical high school melodrama. Writing partners Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone are holding onto much of Firestorm’s past, as far as I can tell, but conflict and dramatic tension are the elements that will hold readers – not the mythos.

Series artist Yildiray Cinar, however, may be the one who leaves the most indelible mark on The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men. He has a traditional drawing style that would have fit in well with the first two Firestorm comic book series. Cinar apparently gets a kick out of drawing the Firestorms and it shows. Even colorist Steve Buccellato turns in his best work in this issue on the Firestorm pages, using fiery reds, oranges, and yellows that seem to burst off the page. The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men has the potential to be a top tier book about a second (or even third) tier character.

B+

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-new-guardians-1.html
I VAMPIRE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-vampire-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/savage-hawkman-1.html
SUPERMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/superman-1.html
TEEN TITANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/teen-titans-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html

The New 52 Review: O.M.A.C. #1

O.M.A.C. #1
DC COMICS

WRITERS: Keith Giffen and Dan DiDio
PENCILS: Keith Giffen
INKS: Scott Koblish
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
32pp, Color, $2.99

OMAC is a superhero comic book created by Jack Kirby in 1974. The series was set in a near future where OMAC was a corporate nobody named Buddy Blank. An A.I. satellite called “Brother Eye” changed Buddy, via a “computer-hormonal operation done by remote control,” into the super-powered One-Man Army Corps (OMAC).

DC Comics is currently re-launching its superhero comic book line. Produced by Keith Giffen and Dan DiDio, a new O.M.A.C. series is part of that launch. O.M.A.C. #1 opens on a peaceful afternoon at the headquarters of Cadmus Industries, the corporate leader in genetic research and cutting edge medical technologies.

Jody Robbins is fretting over her boyfriend, Kevin Kho, also works at Cadmus, but is missing. Suddenly, O.M.A.C., a powerful behemoth of a creature, assaults the complex and begins tearing his way down through the lower levels. What is he seeking? And where is Kevin?

Over the course of his four-decade career, Keith Giffen has often showed the influence of Jack Kirby on his work. In O.M.A.C., Giffen blends the powerful compositions and graphic design of Kirby with his own sharp line work to create some of the best comic book art to come out of “The New 52.” Giffen captures the raw power of a creature like O.M.A.C. by depicting destruction on massive scale in panels both small and big and especially in a double-page spread that is… awesome. I think this is a book worth a second and third look.

A-

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

September 7th
ACTION COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/action-comics-1.html
ANIMAL MAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/animal-man-1.html
BATGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batgirl-1.html
BATWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwing-1.html
DETECTIVE COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/detective-comics-1-2011.html
HAWK AND DOVE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/hawk-dove-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-international-1.html
MEN OF WAR #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/men-of-war-1.html
STATIC SHOCK #1 2.99
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/static-shock-1.html
STORMWATCH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/stormwatch-1.html
SWAMP THING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/swamp-thing-1.html

The New 52 Review: FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Alberto Ponticelli
COLORS: Jose Villarrubia
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
COVER: J.G. Jones with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99

War of the Monsters Pt. 1: Monster Town, USA

DC Comics has a version of Frankenstein’s monster that is similar to the Boris Karloff monster in Universal Picture’s 1931 film, Frankenstein (directed by James Whale). The character first appeared in Detective Comics #135 (cover date May 1948) and was created by Edmond Hamilton and Bob Kane, based upon the character in Frankenstein, the novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

DC’s Frankenstein has been revamped a few times, the most recent being a version writer Grant Morrison made a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory. As part of DC’s re-launch of its superhero comics line, “The New 52,” the Seven Soldiers version of Frankenstein is the star of a new comic book series, Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

As Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1 opens, the demonic invasion of Bone Lake, Washington (population 4,500) begins. At S.H.A.D.E. (Super Human Advanced Defense Executive), Agent Frankenstein gets his marching orders… and a field team, although he insists he works alone. Not anymore, big fella! Meet the Creature Commandos: the amphibian/human hybrid, Dr. Nina Mazursky; the werewolf, Warren Griffith; the vampire Vincent Velcoro; and the mummy and medic, Khalis. But can even this uber-motley crew stop an invasion that doesn’t die, it multiplies?

Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. can come across as DC Comics’ version of the B.P.R.D. (Dark Horse Comics), Mike Mignola’s troubleshooters from his Hellboy franchise. Even if S.H.A.D.E. is a riff on B.P.R.D., Jeff Lemire, so far, can’t touch the inventive madness of Mignola and the writers that collaborate with him. If anyone on this S.H.A.D.E. creative team is close to Mignola and company’s lovely madness, it’s artist Alberto Ponticelli. He gives Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. a decidedly Eurocomics vibe, and the scenes in which he draws sci-fi tech, his art recalls legendary artist, Moebius, and that legendary manga, Akira.

Considering what Lemire did with Animal Man, I want to give Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. a chance because this could be a really inventive title. Ponticelli’s art will certainly be a joy to scrutinize.

B+