Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for May 20, 2020

DYNAMITE

FEB201193    RED SONJA #15 CVR A LEE    $3.99
FEB201194    RED SONJA #15 CVR B LINSNER    $3.99
FEB201195    RED SONJA #15 CVR C BOB Q    $3.99
FEB201196    RED SONJA #15 CVR D LAMING    $3.99
FEB201197    RED SONJA #15 CVR E DECOBRAY COSPLAY    $3.99

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for February 5, 2020

DYNAMITE

NOV198729    RED SONJA #13 CASTRO BONUS FOC VAR    $3.99
DEC191163    RED SONJA #13 CVR A JAE LEE    $3.99
DEC191164    RED SONJA #13 CVR B LINSNER    $3.99
DEC191165    RED SONJA #13 CVR C BOB Q    $3.99
DEC191166    RED SONJA #13 CVR D LAMING    $3.99
DEC191167    RED SONJA #13 CVR E COSPLAY    $3.99
DEC191168    RED SONJA #13 CVR F ANWAR    $3.99
NOV198736    VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #5 CASTRO COLOR FOC BONUS VAR    $3.99
DEC191215    VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #5 CVR A PARILLO    $3.99
DEC191216    VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #5 CVR B OLIVER    $3.99
DEC191217    VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #5 CVR C SEGOVIA    $3.99
DEC191218    VENGEANCE OF VAMPIRELLA #5 CVR D COSPLAY    $3.99

Review: THE DREAMING #1

THE DREAMING No. 1 (2018)
DC COMICS – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

[This review is posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Simon “Si” Spurrier
ART: Bilquis Evely
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER: Yanick Paquette with Nathan Fairbairn
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

“The Kingdom”

The Dreaming is a fictional place or realm appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.  It first appeared in The Sandman #1, (cover dated:  January 1989) and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth.  The Dreaming is the domain or kingdom of Dream (Morpheus and later, Daniel) of the Endless.

The Dreaming was the setting for a monthly comic series, The Dreaming, that ran for 60 issues (cover dated:  June 1996 to May 2001), published under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.  Vertigo is rebooting that comic book as part of a new line of comic books, The Sandman Universe, based on the work of writer, Neil Gaiman, who is also the curator of this line.  The Dreaming (2018) is written by Simon “Si” Spurrier; drawn by Bilquis Evely; colored by Mat Lopes; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series is set in a realm that must survive in the aftermath of the disappearance of its domain lord.

The Dreaming #1 (“The Kingdom”) finds Lucien the dream Librarian holding forth with his master, Dream's helm.  Where is Dream, he asks?  Dream has apparently abandoned his realm, and the result is that The Dreaming is a kingdom in chaos.  This place where stories are born now finds its walls slashed and bleeding.  Now, Lucien and the strange residents of The Dreaming must protect its broken borders alone.  The most worrying occurrences, however, are that Dora, a recent resident, is finding opportunity in this madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder, and in Dream's gallery, something new has started growing...

I think the art for The Dreaming #1, illustrations by Bilquis Evely and colors by Mat Lopes, is gorgeous, especially story page #10.  Letterer Simon Bowland's cascade of delightful fonts are eye candy.  I have no use for Si Spurrier's story and script.  It is 22 pages of meanderings and repetition of story elements already established.

I have a standard I apply to the work and storytelling of comic book writers.  Would an editor accept this work from a unknown writer who was pitching a comic book to that editor?  Or in the case of an established property belonging to that editor's employer (the publisher), would this script for an established writer be considered acceptable work if it were from an unknown writer who was trying to land a gig?  In the case of The Dreaming #1, the veteran scribe, Si Spurrier, got a pass from his editor that an non-established writer would not get.

Well, although I have enjoyed other comic books written by Spurrier, I won't give a pass to The Dreaming #1, if it means paying $3.99 for the mediocrity of future issues.  I hope for better.

4 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 syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1

THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Neil Gaiman
WRITERS: Simon “Si” Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters
ART: Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVERS: Dave McKean; Jill Thompson; Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair; Sam Keith; P. Craig Russell with Lovern Kindzierski; David Mack
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg

The Sandman is a DC Comics comic book series created by writer Neil Gaiman and artists Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg.  Published by DC Comics from 1989 to 1996, The Sandman ran for 75 issues, and tells the story of “Dream” of “The Endless.”  Also named Morpheus (as well as other names), Dream rules over the world of dreams.

DC Comics announced earlier this year an expansion and quasi sequel to The Sandman, “The Sandman Universe.”  This will be a line of four comic books that will launch in September and October of 2018.  The release dates are timed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sandman #1, which was covered dated January 1989, but released to comic book stores in October 1988.  It will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Vertigo imprint.

The Sandman Universe titles are a mixture of new and revived titles.  The first is The Dreaming (Sept. 5th), written by Simon “Si” Spurrier and drawn by Bilquis Evely.  The second is House of Whispers (Sept. 12), written by Nalo Hopkinson and drawn by Dominike “Domo” Stanton.  The third is Lucifer (October 17), written by Dan Watters and drawn by Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara.  The fourth is Books of Magic (Oct. 24), written by Kat Howard and drawn by Tom Fowler.

These four titles are previewed in the stand-alone anthology comic book, The Sandman Universe #1.  Neil Gaiman provides the story for this single-issue comic book.  Simon Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters write the scripts for previews of the respective titles they are writing.  Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, and Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara draw the art for the previews of the respective series they are drawing.  The Sandman Universe #1 is colored by Mat Lopes and lettered by Simon Bowland.

In The Sandman Universe #1, the denizens of The Dreaming discover that their master, the Lord of Dreams, is missing.  Now, Matthew the raven must traverse the realms and dreams of four characters:  Dora, Timothy Hunter, Erzulie (a voodoo deity), and Lucifer Morningstar (trapped in the body of an old man) to find Dream.  But does he want to be found?  What if he quit being Dream?

I enjoyed The Sandman Universe #1, but I would not call it an exceptional comic book.  It is a particularly well-produced preview comic book.  The best art, by far, in The Sandman Universe #1 is the work of Bilquis Evely, who is drawing The Dreaming, so I am putting this title on my reading list.

I want to try House of Whispers because I try to support Black writers of speculative and fantasy fiction, and the Jamaican-born, Canadian Hopkinson is a writer of color.  The House of Whispers preview in The Sandman Universe #1 is interesting and is the only truly unique offering in this comic book.  However, I must say that it did not quite connect with me the way I thought it would because of its various elements and ideas.

The Books of Magic preview did pique my interest; for obvious reasons, this is the closest thing to a Harry Potter comic book we likely will ever have.  I found the Lucifer preview to be a chore to read, taxing my patience for most of its six pages.

The Dreaming is both The Sandman Universe #1's framing sequence and the subject of a preview, which is good.  As I just wrote, Bilquis Evely's art is beautiful, and Evely's talent really shows on the killer last page she produces for this story.  As a preview of a line of comic books, The Sandman Universe #1 is as effective as it can be, but most of the effort is really up to the creative teams of the individual titles in the line.  I recommend this to readers interested in “The Sandman Universe” titles, but I doubt longtime fans of The Sandman comic book series will get much out of it.

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 syndication rights and fees.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 2, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

AUG190914    ABSOLUTE CARNAGE IMMORTAL HULK #1 AC    $4.99
JUL198668    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #28 2ND PTG WALKER VAR    $3.99
AUG190998    BIZARRE ADVENTURES #1    $4.99
AUG191000    BIZARRE ADVENTURES #1 CONLEY VAR    $4.99
AUG190954    BLACK CAT #5    $3.99
AUG190955    BLACK CAT #5 DODSON MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
AUG191082    CHAMPIONS #10    $3.99
JUL191116    CONAN CHRONICLES EPIC COLLECTION TP RETURN TO CIMMERIA    $39.99
AUG191015    CONTAGION #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
AUG191016    CONTAGION #1 (OF 5) BROWNE VAR    $3.99
JUL191102    COSMIC GHOST RIDER DESTROYS MARVEL HISTORY TP    $17.99
JUL198661    DAREDEVIL #10 2ND PTG FORNES VAR    $3.99
AUG191083    DAREDEVIL #12    $3.99
AUG191084    DAREDEVIL #12 CONNER MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
APR190944    DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER BOX SLIPCASE TP SET (MR)    $250.00
JUL191020    DOCTOR STRANGE #20    $3.99
JUL191021    DOCTOR STRANGE #20 MOMOKO IMMORTAL WRPAD VAR    $3.99
AUG191028    FANTASTIC FOUR #15    $3.99
AUG191029    FANTASTIC FOUR #15 JSC MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
AUG191026    FUTURE FOUNDATION #3    $3.99
AUG191027    FUTURE FOUNDATION #3 GARBETT MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
AUG190978    GHOST RIDER #1    $4.99
AUG190985    GHOST RIDER #1 BLACK BLANK VAR    $4.99
AUG190979    GHOST RIDER #1 KING OF HELL KUDER VAR    $4.99
AUG190981    GHOST RIDER #1 RAHZZAH WRAPAROUND TEASER VAR    $4.99
JUL198662    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 2ND PTG SMITH VAR    $3.99
JUL198663    HOUSE OF X #1 (OF 6) 4TH PTG LARRAZ VAR    $5.99
AUG190870    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6)    $4.99
AUG190874    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) CAMUNCOLI FORESHADOW VAR    $4.99
AUG190876    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $4.99
AUG190873    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) COELLO CHARACTER DECADES VAR    $4.99
AUG190875    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) GARRON CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
AUG190872    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) PICHELLI FLOWER VAR    $4.99
AUG190877    HOUSE OF X #6 (OF 6) YOUNG VAR    $4.99
JUL198664    IMMORTAL HULK #21 3RD PTG VAR    $3.99
JUL190959    IMMORTAL HULK #24    $3.99
APR190949    IMMORTAL HULK HC VOL 01    $34.99
JUL191103    MAJOR X TP    $24.99
JUL191123    MAN-WOLF COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $39.99
APR190952    MARVEL ART OF STAR WARS HC    $50.00
JUL190881    MARVEL COMICS #1001    $4.99
JUL190883    MARVEL COMICS #1001 GLEASON WRAPAROUND VAR    $4.99
APR190948    MARVEL UNIVERSE BY ROB LIEFELD OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
APR190937    NAMOR SUB-MARINER BY BYRNE AND JAE LEE OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
APR190938    NAMOR SUB-MARINER BY BYRNE AND JAE LEE OMNIBUS HC DM VAR    $125.00
AUG191074    OLD MAN QUILL #10 (OF 12)    $3.99
JUL198666    POWERS OF X #1 (OF 6) 4TH PTG SILVA VAR    $5.99
AUG191090    PUNISHER #16    $3.99
AUG191091    PUNISHER #16 ORTEGA MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
JUL191028    RUNAWAYS #25    $3.99
AUG191043    SAVAGE AVENGERS #6    $3.99
MAR191001    SPIDER-MAN FAR FROM HOME HC ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE    $50.00
JUL198665    SPIDER-MAN VELOCITY #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
AUG190958    SPIDER-VERSE #1    $3.99
AUG190961    SPIDER-VERSE #1 ADAMS 8 PART CONNECTING VAR    $3.99
AUG190960    SPIDER-VERSE #1 CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
JUL191068    STAR WARS #72    $3.99
JUL191069    STAR WARS #72 CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
AUG191128    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #37    $3.99
AUG191129    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #37 MUIR GREATEST MOMENTS VAR    $3.99
AUG191077    SWORD MASTER #4    $3.99
AUG191078    SWORD MASTER #4 BENGAL MARY JANE VAR    $3.99
JUN191038    THANOS OGN HC INFINITY ENDING    $24.99
AUG190889    TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN BISHOP #1    $1.00
AUG190888    TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN KITTY PRYDE & EMMA FROST #1    $1.00
JUL198667    VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER #2 2ND PTG CAFU VAR    $3.99

Review: RED SONJA / TARZAN #1

RED SONJA / TARZAN No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Gail Simone – @GailSimone
ARTIST: Walter Geovani
COLORS: Adriano Augusto
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Adam Hughes
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Aaron Lopresti; Walter Geovani with Dee Cunniffe; Sergio Davila with Dinei Ribeiro; Sergio Davila; Jae Lee; Jim Balent
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2, 2018)

Rated Teen+

In the Marvel Comics publication, Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated February 1973), writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith created a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine.  She was named Red Sonja and was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Conan the Cimmerian's creator, Robert E. Howard.

Tarzan is one of the most famous fictional characters in the world.  Tarzan was an orphan and the archetypal “feral child,” and in this instance, he was raised in the African jungle by great apes.  Tarzan was born a noble, John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, but he rejects civilization and lives in the wilds of Africa as a heroic adventurer.  Tarzan was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and first appeared in the novel, Tarzan of the Apes, which began serialization in All-Story Magazines in 1912, before it was published in book form in 1914.  Tarzan would go onto to be a multimedia star, appearing in films, television, comic books, etc.

Red Sonja and Tarzan come together for the first time in the new crossover comic book miniseries, Red Sonja / Tarzan, from Dynamite Entertainment.  It is written by Gail Simone; drawn by Walter Geovani; colored by Adriano Augusto; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series finds Red Sonja (The She-Devil with a Sword) and Tarzan (Lord of the Jungle) caught in a deadly conflict with a man whose very name inspires fear in even the most powerful people.

Red Sonja / Tarzan #1 opens in Australia in 1921, revealing the exploits of the evil “great White hunter,” Eson Duul.  A year later, outside London, Tarzan clashes with Duul, a first step, which unbeknownst to Tarzan, begins a game of death between the two formidable men.  Meanwhile, in the “Hyborian Age,” Red Sonja has her own unpleasant encounter, one that will leave her broken and crossing the oceans of time in order to get revenge.

Pencil ink artist Walter Geovani and color artist Adriano Augusto deliver some nice illustrations and storytelling in Red Sonja / Tarzan #1, and they are quite good at conveying the multiple shifts in settings and time that this story requires.  Letter Simon Bowland uses his fonts and balloons to give this story a sense of hysteria that imparts the sense of many of the characters' state of desperation.

However, the star of this creative team is Gail Simone.  She may be a fan-favorite, but I consider her an underrated and under-appreciated comic book writer.  If she were not under-appreciated, she would have been writing flagship comic books like Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men, and Star Wars (for Marvel) and Superman, Batman, and Justice League (for DC Comics).

Simone is adept at quickly establishing the personalities of her characters and at defining their motivations for her readers.  Simone totally sells the idea of Red Sonja, that same She-Devil with a Sword, as a woman who has been soundly defeated, especially mentally.  Simone makes Duul so evil that I could order a drone attack on the bastard myself, and I am not a supporter of drone warfare.

Gail Simone is going to make Red Sonja / Tarzan a must-read, event crossover comic book.  It is worth fighting in your local comic book shop over a last copy.

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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for November 14, 2018

D. E.

SEP181204    GREEN HORNET GENERATIONS TP    $19.99
SEP181132    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3 CVR A CASSADAY    $3.99
SEP181133    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3 CVR B SHALVEY    $3.99
SEP181134    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3 CVR C WALKER    $3.99
SEP181135    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3 CVR D MOUSTAFA    $3.99
SEP181136    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3 CVR E BOB Q    $3.99
SEP181146    LONE RANGER VOL 3 #2 CVR A CASSADAY    $3.99
SEP181173    RAINBOW BRITE #2 CVR A GANUCHEAU    $3.99
SEP181174    RAINBOW BRITE #2 CVR B CLASSIC    $3.99
MAY181172    RED SONJA 45TH ANNIVERSARY FOIL TRADING CARD BOX  C: 0-    $PI
MAY181173    RED SONJA 45TH ANNIVERSARY FOIL TRADING CARD PACK  C: 0    $PI
AUG181276    ROBOTS VS PRINCESSES #3 CVR A CHAPUIS    $3.99
SEP181255    SHADOW #1 ALEX ROSS REMARK    $499.99
SEP181254    SHADOW #1 JAE LEE REMARK    $193.10

I Reads You Juniors May 2017 - Update #35

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Welcome to the I Reads You blog.  It's May 2017.  This post and its updates will offer news and blurb reviews.

From BleedingCool:  Spawn creator Todd McFarlane crashes a DC Comics panel at Megacon to confront an old Spawn cohort.

From TheComicsReporter:  2017 Reuben Award and NCS Divisional winners have been announced.

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Episode #119.

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Episode #119 in French.

From ComicBastards:  A review of "Samaritan Veritas #1" (Image Comics).

From BleedingCool:  Jae Lee announces his new creator owned series, "Fey," at Phoenix Comic Con.

From BleedingCool:  Some news on the firing of X-Men editor Daniel Ketchum at Marvel Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Bryan Hitch will write and draw Justice League beginning with issue #32 after writing and drawing an extra-sized #25.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Dark Nights: Metal" gets the front cover of upcoming "Diamond Previews."

From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston offers the history of a book currently called "Monsters" by Barry Windsor-Smith.


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

Spawn #273 (Image Comics – May 2017) by Todd McFarlane and Szymon Kudranski with Fco Plascencia

I have not read a new issue of Spawn since Bill Clinton was president, but I have wanted to and just kept putting it off.  On a recent visit to a “local” comic book shop, I spied a single copy of Spawn #273 sitting on the shelf.  I swear that thing was calling to me.

I read Spawn for years, although I thought it was a mediocre comic book.  I kept reading it in hopes that it would get better, which it never did, although I always enjoyed the art of Greg Capullo, who drew Spawn during most of the time I read it.

I still find all of McFarlane's exposition in panels to be stiff and stilted, but the dialogue deserves at least a grade of “B.”  The story is about a mysterious vigilante called “The Soul Crusher” and also concerns Cyan Fitzgerald, the daughter of Spawn/Al Simmons ex-wife, Wanda, and her husband, Al's best friend, Terry Fitzgerald.  I have to say that those two story lines intrigue me enough to make me want to buy another issue.  [My regular shop generally does not carry McFarlane publications, which will hamper my efforts.]

So all this time later, I find that Spawn is actually a good read.  Who knew?  People who read it, I guess!

Posted:  Monday, May 22, 2017


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

From CBR:  The "Batman and Justice League" manga will launch June 19th, 2017 in Japan's "Champion RED" magazine.


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

Weapon X #1 (Marvel Comics – June 2017) by Greg Pak, Greg Land, and Jay Leisten with Frank D'Armata

Although this is only first issue, I can tentatively say that the latest incarnation of the “Weapon X” comic book is probably the second really good X-Men comic book to come out of Marvel's current X-Men franchise revival.  The series premise seems to be that original Wolverine, now known as “Old Man Logan,” will lead a team to investigate the clandestine military project, known as “Weapon X,” which was thought to be disbanded.

In the first issue, Wolverine... oops... Logan (can't help myself) gets sliced-and-diced pretty badly, but he does notice that the slicers are using bladed weapons similar to that of Lady Deathstrike.  Logan figures that if he can find Deathstrike, then he can find his assailants, but first he has to convince an old buddy to join him on this hunt.

So I'm really intrigued by Greg Pak's story, and I have finally figured out that I usually like what Pak writes.  Greg Land and inker Jay Leisten are a good comic book art team, and well, their storytelling makes me want to come back for more.

Posted:  Thursday, May 18, 2017
--------------------------------


From BleedingCool:  R.I.P. - British comic book creator, Edmund Bagwell, has died at the age of 50.

From Bleeding Cool:  Geoff John reveals "Doomsday Clock," a miniseries pitting Superman vs. Dr. Manhattan of "Watchmen."

From icv2:  R.I.P. - The "Golden Age" horror artist, Jay Disbrow, died on May 2, 2017 at the age of 91.  He was a prolific artist drawing pre-Code horror comics.  Fantagraphics Books published his "The Flames of Gyro" in 1979.  And from 2000 to 2005, he published his Flash Gordon-like adventure strip, "Aroc of Zenith," on the Internet.

From BleedingCool:  Scott Snyder will leave All-Star Batman sometimes next year.


-------------------------------------
BLURB X-MEN REVIEWS:

X-MEN: GOLD #1 (Marvel Comics – June 2017) by Marc Guggenheim, Ardian Syaf, and Jay Leisten with Frank Martin

“Back to Basics” Part 1:  On the Interwebs, I have come across people saying that X-Men: Gold is writer Marc Guggenheim's return to the halcyon days of the X-Men when Chris Claremont wrote Uncanny X-Men.  Claremont wrote X-Men/Uncanny X-Men beginning with X-Men #94 in 1975 until the early 1991 when he quit the franchise.  Not all of those days were gold.  Quite frankly, after John Byrne left as co-plotter/penciller with Uncanny X-Men #143, Claremont long run, as basically the solo writer, was inconsistent.  There were some good stories, but also a surprising amount of mediocrity and redundancy, with only a few high points, high mostly because of artists like Paul Smith, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Alan Davis.

Judging only by this first issue, Guggenheim seems to be summoning the average days of Claremont.  But hey, this is only the first issue; still, I don't hold out hope.  I think that it will be obvious by the third issue if X-Men: Gold will be exceptional or be what most recent X-Men comic books have been, average at best.

On the other hand...

X-MEN: BLUE #1 (Marvel Comics – June 2017) by Cullen Bunn, Jorge Molina and Matteo Buffagni with Matt Milla

Now, this is an X-Men comic book in the best sense of that description.  It has the original X-Men fighting an early X-Men adversary, and I am a total sucka for Juggernaut.  Writer Cullen Bunn gets it where Marc Guggenheim in X-Men: Gold doesn't get it – or at least not yet.  When you can't be imaginative, inventive, and original when it comes to writing the X-Men, be shocking and surprising.  And Bunn delivers shocks and surprises here that are sweet, and he made invent later.

This first issue is simply a joy to read and it has a snazzy cover by Art Adams (who delivers good comic book cover art about 9 out of 10 times).  I am not crazy about the art team of Molina & Buffagni, but I'll tolerate them if the upcoming issues deliver on the last page of the main story; deliver on the back-up story; and deliver on “More Things to Come in X-Men Blue.”

Posted:  Wednesday, May 10, 2017
-----------------------------------------


From ComicsBeat:  Heidi MacDonald on the recent DC Comics editorial alignment.

From BleedingCool:  Updates on the Ardian Syaf controversy regarding hidden messages he placed in his art for "X-Men: Gold #1."

From YahooMovies:  Robert Kirkman, creator of "The Walking Dead," apologizes for a death in issue #167 of the comic book.

From DCComics:  Read the press release: "DC Entertainment Expands Editorial Leadership Team."

From BleedingCool:  Take a look inside "Dark Days: The Forge," the prequel to DC Comics' event "Dark Nights: Metal."

From TheBristolBoard:  An online portfolio of unusual John Buscema art, unusual for the late artist who was known for his long association with Marvel's "Conan the Barbarian" and short stint as the first artist on the first "Wolverine" solo comic book series.

From Kickstarter:  Cartoonist Shaenon K. Garrity has a Kickstarter. (from "The Comics Reporter)

From BleedingCool:  Apparently, Marvel destroys Las Vegas in  "Secret Empire #2.

From BleedingCool:  This Jim Lee cover art for "Dark Nights: Metal" will be on a metallic cover.

From BleedingCool:  The "Love is Love" anthology added to list of 2017 Eisner Award nominees.

From YahooTV:  Marvel Comics, in a statement to ABC News, says that it hears fans' concerns about the Hydra-Captain America.

From TIME:  If you are wondering about Marvel Comics' "Black Panther and the Crew," here is an interview "Time Magazine" did with series writer, Ta-Nihisi Coastes.

From ComicCon:  The 2017 Eisner Award nominations have been announced.

From BleedingCool:  Writer Matthew Rosenberg wanted Eisner props for Khary Randolph for his "Black" covers.

From StarTribune:  Neil Gaiman says "American Gods" rooted in Wisconsin-Minnesota weirdness.

From BleedingCool:  Greg Capullo offers a pencil sketch of Wonder Woman from the upcoming "Dark Nights: Metal."

From GoFundMe:  Writer James Hudnall really needs your help. [Thanks to "The Comics Reporter" for the heads up.]

From PeterDavid:  Another comic book creator/writer is in distress, Peter David. [Thanks again to "The Comics Reporter."]

From YahooTV:  Did you like Starz's "American Gods" TV series' debut?  Here, is a recap from the site.

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

JUN150825     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 04 GRAVEYARD SHIFT     $15.99
JUN150686     ANT-MAN LAST DAYS #1 SWA     $3.99
JUN150773     CAPTAIN MARVEL AND CAROL CORPS #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150733     CIVIL WAR #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150787     DEADPOOLS SECRET SECRET WARS #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150763     E IS FOR EXTINCTION #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150731     HANK JOHNSON AGENT OF HYDRA #1 SWA     $3.99
JUN150836     INHUMANS BY PAUL JENKINS AND JAE LEE TP NEW PTG     $34.99
JUN150830     IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON TP VOL 02 REDEMPTION     $17.99
JUN150694     MAGNETO #21 SWA     $3.99
JUN150839     MARVEL UNIVERSE ALL NEW AVENGERS ASSEMBLE DIGEST TP VOL 02     $9.99
JUN150805     MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN WEB WARRIORS #10     $2.99
JUN150710     MARVEL ZOMBIES #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150777     MODOK ASSASSIN #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150835     NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF HATE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP NEW PTG     $34.99
JUN150771     OLD MAN LOGAN #4 SWA     $3.99
MAY150827     RETURN OF LIVING DEADPOOL TP     $16.99
JUN150809     SHIELD #9     $5.99
JUN150693     SPIDER-WOMAN #10 SWA     $3.99
JUN150789     STAR WARS LANDO #3     $3.99
JUN150821     STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION RISE OF SITH TP VOL 01     $34.99
JUN150824     UNCANNY AVENGERS TP VOL 01 COUNTER EVOLUTIONARY     $17.99
JUN150778     WHERE MONSTERS DWELL #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150828     WOLVERINES TP VOL 04 DESTINY     $15.99
JUN150761     X-MEN 92 #3 SWA     $4.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 19, 2015

DC COMICS

JUN150317     ASTRO CITY #26     $3.99
JUN150250     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #7     $3.99
JUN150236     BIZARRO #3     $2.99
JUN150178     BLACK CANARY #3     $2.99
MAY150240     CONSTANTINE TP VOL 04 THE APOCALYPSE ROAD TP     $14.99
JUN150184     DOCTOR FATE #3     $2.99
JUN150237     DOOMED #3     $2.99
MAY150265     FAIREST TP VOL 05 THE CLAMOR FOR GLAMOUR (MR)     $14.99
MAY150238     GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT TP VOL 01 WE DO NOT SLEEP     $14.99
MAY150236     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 06 STORMING THE GATES     $14.99
JUN150268     GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #3     $2.99
JUN150261     HARLEY QUINN & POWER GIRL #3     $3.99
JUN150195     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #8     $2.99
JUN150202     JLA GODS AND MONSTERS #2     $3.99
JUN150172     JUSTICE LEAGUE #43     $3.99
JUN150289     MAD MAGAZINE #535     $5.99
JUN158277     MAD MAX FURY ROAD MAX #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $4.99
JUN150207     MARTIAN MANHUNTER #3     $2.99
MAY150268     NAMES TP (MR)     $16.99
JUN150262     ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #3     $3.99
JUN150223     SECRET SIX #5     $2.99
JUN150225     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #13     $3.99
APR150303     SUPERMAN HC VOL 06 THE MEN OF TOMORROW     $24.99
JUN150232     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #20     $3.99
JUN150275     TEEN TITANS GO #11     $2.99
JUN150226     WONDER WOMAN #43     $3.99
APR150306     WONDER WOMAN BY GEORGE PEREZ OMNIBUS HC     $75.00

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB150302     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY BRYAN HITCH     $79.95
FEB150297     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 BATMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150299     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 CATWOMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150296     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 SUPERMAN AF     $24.95
FEB150298     DC COMICS DESIGNER JAE LEE SER 1 WONDER WOMAN AF     $24.95

Review: "Batman Eternal #52" Offers a Great End to a Great Series

BATMAN ETERNAL #52

STORY: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV (with Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, Tim Seeley)
SCRIPT: James Tynion IV
ART: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira; Robson Rocha and Guillermo Ortego; David Lafuente; Tim Seeley; Ray Fawkes
COLORS: Allen Passalaqua; Gabe Eltaeb; John Kalisz; John Rauch
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

SPOILER ALERT

The conclusion of the weekly Batman epic, Batman Eternal, is here.  First, shout out to all the creative people who played a part in bringing us this year-long adventure.  Batman Eternal #52 is one of those inspiring stories that makes you remember why you're a Batman fan.

This is a story about heroes, both super and everyday.  Batman is brought to the lowest point that we have seen him.  He is tortured and beat-down to within an inch of his life.  He is a beaten man, deprived of all his technology.  What saves him is the inspiration of others.

In a wonderful piece of writing, the writers have Jim Gordon make an impassioned speech to the people of Gotham to come to Batman's rescue.  Then, we truly see that Batman is eternal.  Even if he would have died at the moment, his legacy would have lived on.  It never comes to this because all the people who Batman has inspired come to his rescue.

This is the aspect of Batman that sets him apart from other superheroes.  Batman is an inspiration to others to find the strength to fight against unimaginable odds for the greater good.  The admirable thing about the story is it concluded with action and put the happy ending stuff all in one issue.  I hate to waste my money on an issues that are all happy endings.

Overall, this is a good ending to 52 weeks of DC's greatest character, giving us mystery, intrigue, and action in epic proportions.  This team of writers needs to take that deep breath and do whatever they do to reward themselves when they accomplish the monumental task.

There are so many artists on the Batman Eternal creative team; some deserve praise; some don't.  I'll leave it to the beholder to decide for themselves.

I rate Batman Eternal #52 Buy Your Own Copy (#2 on the Al-o-Meter)

The text is copyright © 2015 Albert Avilla. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: DJANGO/ZORRO #1

DJANGO/ZORRO #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT/Vertigo (DC Comics) – @dynamitecomics

WRITERS: Quentin Tarantino and Matt Wagner
ART: Esteve Polls
COLORS: Brennan Wagner
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Reginald Hudlin
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVERS: Francesco Francavilla (Cover B); Matt Wagner with Brennan Wagner (Cover C)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Dynamite Entertainment, in association with DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, present an exciting new comic book miniseries based on licensed properties,  Django/Zorro.  Django Freeman, the hero of Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning film, Django Unchained, joins forces with Don Diego de la Vega, better known as Zorro, the legendary fictional character created in 1919 by New York–based pulp writer Johnston McCulley.

For almost a century, Zorro (the Spanish word for “fox”) has appeared in countless movies, television series, comic books, and stories.   Django/Zorro is the first new story starring Django Freeman since his film debut almost two years ago.  [Vertigo did publish a comic book adaptation of Django Unchained as a miniseries, beginning in 2013, so this isn't Django's first comic book appearance.]   Django/Zorro is written by Quentin Tarantino and Matt Wagner, drawn by Esteve Polls, colored by Brennan Wagner, and lettered by Simon Bowland.

Django/Zorro #1 opens several years after the events depicted in Django Unchained.  According to the back story to this series (provided by Dynamite), Django is still a bounty hunter.  He has settled his wife, Broomhilda, near Chicago, and is working in the western states to avoid the bounty on his head back east.  As the story begins, Django encounters the aged and sophisticated Don Diego de la Vega and his man-servant, Bernardo.  Django, of course, does not know that Don Diego is also Zorro.

After Django shows his shooting skills with a pistol, Don Diego hires him as a bodyguard.  Django is fascinated by this unusual older man, who reminds him of a deceased old friend (King Schultz).  Don Diego is also the first White man who seems unconcerned with Django's skin color.  Now, Django will follow his new boss on an adventure in which he will discover that slavery in these United States isn't just for Black folks.

First, I have to say that Esteve Polls is one of those comic book artists perfect for drawing comic book Westerns.  The Spanish artist's style and storytelling recall the late, great artist of Western comic books, John Severin.  In this first issue, Matt Wagner's script merely teases what his and Tarantino's story will offer in later issues, but still, it is a very good tease.  As first issues go, this is the kind that entices you to keep reading.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 20, 2014

DC COMICS

JUN140219     BATMAN AND ROBIN #34 (ROBIN RISES)     $2.99
APR140275     BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED HC VOL 04     $24.99
MAY140377     BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED TP VOL 03     $16.99
JUN140209     BATMAN ETERNAL #20     $2.99
MAY140369     BATMAN INCORPORATED TP VOL 02 GOTHAMS MOST WANTED (N52)     $16.99
JUN140227     BATWOMAN #34     $2.99
APR140272     BRIGHTEST DAY OMNIBUS HC     $75.00
JUN140303     FABLES #143 (MR)     $2.99
JUN140243     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #34     $2.99
JUN148151     HARLEY QUINN #0 DIRECTORS CUT 2ND PTG     $4.99
JUN140255     INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #2     $3.99
JUN140181     INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #3     $2.99
MAY140365     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK TP VOL 04 THE REBIRTH OF EVIL (N52)     $16.99
MAY140368     KATANA TP VOL 01 SOULTAKER (N52)     $19.99
MAY140408     LUCIFER TP VOL 04 (MR)     $29.99
JUN140145     MULTIVERSITY #1     $4.99
JUN140162     NEW 52 FUTURES END #16 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
JUN148150     NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #1 2ND PTG     $2.99
JUN140236     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #34     $2.99
JUN140260     SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #8     $2.99
JUN140247     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #1     $3.99
JUN140206     SUPERGIRL #34 (DOOMED)     $2.99
JUN140178     TEEN TITANS #2     $2.99
JUN140291     TEEN TITANS GO #5     $2.99
JUN140184     TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #14     $2.99
JUN140311     UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #8 (MR)     $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB140310     BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM HARLEY QUINN STATUE     $124.95
FEB140312     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY JAE LEE     $79.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 11 2013

MARVEL COMICS

JUL130682 ASTONISHING X-MEN #67 $3.99
JUL130578 AVENGERS #19 INF $3.99
JUL130608 AVENGERS ARENA #15 $2.99
JUN130684 AVENGERS ARENA TP VOL 02 GAME ON NOW $15.99
JUN130696 AVENGERS IRON MAN TP FIRST SIGN $34.99
MAY138368 AVENGERS VS X-MEN BY YOUNG POSTER NEW PTG $8.99
JUL130627 CAPTAIN AMERICA #11 $3.99
JUL130726 CAPTAIN AMERICA BY PACHECO POSTER $8.99
JUL130683 DEADPOOL #16 $2.99
JUN130699 ESSENTIAL AVENGERS TP VOL 09 $19.99
JUL130647 FANTASTIC FOUR #12 $2.99
JUL130643 FEARLESS DEFENDERS #9 $3.99
JUL130633 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #13 $3.99
JUN130679 INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK PREM HC VOL 02 GODS AND MONSTER NOW $24.99
JUL130593 INFINITY HUNT #1 $3.99
APR130713 INHUMANS BY PAUL JENKINS AND JAE LEE HC $39.99
APR130712 IRON MAN BY KURT BUSIEK AND SEAN CHEN OMNIBUS HC $125.00
MAY130708 KICK-ASS 3 #3 (MR) $2.99
JUL130653 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #18 $2.99
JUL130582 MIGHTY AVENGERS #1 INF $3.99
JUL130728 MIGHTY AVENGERS BY LAND POSTER $8.99
JUN130691 SHIELD BY STERANKO TP COMPLETE COLLECTION $34.99
APR130716 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 01 $34.99
JUL130727 THOR BY GARNEY POSTER $8.99
JUL130615 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #30 $3.99
JUN130687 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 02 $15.99
JUL130686 UNCANNY X-FORCE #11 $3.99
APR130741 UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 NEW PTG $99.99
JUL130679 WOLVERINE #9 $3.99
JUN130686 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN BY JASON AARON TP VOL 06 $17.99
JUL130666 X-MEN #5 $3.99

Review: The Black Bat #2

BLACK BAT #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

WRITER: Brian Buccellato
ARTIST: Ronan Cliquet
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Rob Steen
COVERS: Jae Lee (A), Joe Benitez (B), Ardian Syaf (C), Billy Tan (D), Marcos Martin (subscription cover)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

“The Black Bat” was a character that appeared in Black Bat Detective Mysteries, a short-lived, 1930s pulp magazine, published for six issues. The first Black Bat is thought to have had an influence on The Batman, either through Bob Kane (the man solely credited with creating Batman) or Bill Finger (the first Batman writer and essentially the co-creator of the character) or both. There was also a second version of The Black Bat, influenced by the first.

Dynamite Entertainment recently returned this pulp hero from the 1930s to comics. Dynamite’s The Black Bat comic book stars Tony Quinn, a brash defense attorney for the mob who compromises his ethics for financial gain. When Tony refuses to commit murder, his gangster employers torture and blind him. It is a covert agency that rescues and gives Quinn a chance to make amends. Tony dons a cape and cowl and becomes the Black Bat in a quest of redemption to right the wrongs of his past

The Black Bat #2 opens with Tony as the Black Bat about to break up a drug shipment for the city’s drug lord, Oliver Snate. Tony’s baptism in fire becomes literal when a moral dilemma complicates the mission. Meanwhile, anger in the city continues to rise over the unsolved case of the missing policemen.

The first time I saw images of the cover art for The Black Bat #2, I was struck by how much it all looked similar to various Batman images and graphics. [I wonder how many times you can poke the lion that is DC Comics’ legal department?] Actually, instead of Batman, The Black Bat #2 reads like a blending of Doug Moench’s Moon Knight and Mike Baron’s The Punisher, and I rather enjoyed it.

Writer Brian Buccellato is more than competent, offering familiar “street level” comic book tales, with a character made interesting because his determination is matched by his ignorance. Ronan Cliquet is also more than competent as a graphical storyteller, and his composition and page design is nice. Cliquet’s art improves Buccellato’s script in terms of storytelling.

I liked The Black Bat #2. I might read future issues, but as I have access to digital review copies from Dynamite Entertainment, that declaration might be something of a cheat. Still, The Black Bat has promise.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux