DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 3, 2019

DC COMICS

MAY190375    ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #12 (OF 12)    $3.99
APR190442    BATGIRL #36    $3.99
APR190443    BATGIRL #36 VAR ED    $3.99
DEC180679    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY KENNETH ROCAFORT    $80.00
APR190531    BATMAN DELUXE ED COLL HC BOOK 04    $34.99
MAY190390    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY190391    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III #3 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
DEC180683    DC GALLERY ARKHAM ASYLUM BATMAN COWL (AUG188732)    $90.00
APR198793    DCEASED #1 (OF 6) 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAY190397    DCEASED #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY190399    DCEASED #3 (OF 6) CARD STOCK HORROR VAR ED    $4.99
MAY190398    DCEASED #3 (OF 6) CARD STOCK VAR ED    $4.99
MAY190396    DEATHSTROKE #45 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190395    DEATHSTROKE #45 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190367    DOOM PATROL WEIGHT OF THE WORLDS #1 (MR)    $3.99
MAY190405    DREAMING #11 (MR)    $3.99
MAY190408    FEMALE FURIES #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY190413    GREEN LANTERN #9    $3.99
MAY190414    GREEN LANTERN #9 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY190418    HARLEY QUINN #63 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190417    HARLEY QUINN #63 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
APR190556    JOKER TP BLACK LABEL    $14.99
APR190557    JSA BY GEOFF JOHNS TP BOOK 03    $39.99
MAY190426    JUSTICE LEAGUE #27 CARD STOCK YOTV VAR ED THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190425    JUSTICE LEAGUE #27 YOTV VAR ED THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190371    LOIS LANE #1 (OF 12)    $3.99
MAY190372    LOIS LANE #1 (OF 12) VAR ED    $3.99
MAR190595    RED HOOD OUTLAW TP VOL 01 REQUIEM FOR AN ARCHER    $19.99
APR190566    SUICIDE SQUAD KATANA THE REVENGE OF COBRA TP    $16.99
MAY190363    SUPERMAN UP IN THE SKY #1 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR190511    WILD STORM #24    $3.99

Review: SIDEWAYS #1

SIDEWAYS No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan DiDio and Kenneth Rocafort
DIALOGUE: Dan DiDio and Justin Jordan
ART: Kenneth Rocafort
COLORS: Daniel Brown
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2018)

Rated “T” for Teen

Sidways created by Kenneth Rocafort and Dan DiDio

“Fun and Games”

DC Comics has launched a new superhero comics initiative, “The New Age of DC Heroes,” coming out of its Dark Nights: Metal event miniseries.  This line of comic books will consist of eight new comic book series:  The Curse of Brimstone, Damage, The Immortal Men, New Challengers, The Silencer, The Terrifics, The Unexpected, and the subject of this review, Sideways.

Sideways is written by co-creator Dan DiDio, co-creator Kenneth Rocafort and Justin Jordan; drawn by Rocafort; colored by Daniel Brown; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  Sideways focuses on a Puerto Rican high school junior who can create rifts in midair to leap through dimensions at will.

He accidentally fell through a rift into the dark matter dimension (as seen in Dark Nights: Metal).  Sideways #1 finds Derek James invading the personal space of his girlfriend, Ernestine a.k.a. “Ernie.”  She knows about Derek's power to create rifts in midair.  She is the one who designed and created the uniform that allows Derek to become the new superhero, “Sideways.”  Derek dons his new costume and goes “rifting,” introducing the world to what it means to go “Sideways.”  Not everyone or every entity is exciting about that.

I enjoyed the first “New Age of DC Heroes!” comic book, Damage, but I did not enjoy the second one, The Silencer.  “Sideways” is a little better than The Silencer.  I am overly fond of artist Kenneth Rocafort's overly cute drawing style.  However, the story has some potential.  All I can tell you is that I am genuinely curious about Sideways.  I don't think that it will be a great comic book, but if the creators try something different from the same-old-DC/Marvel-Comics, this could be unique.

Seriously, y'all, we can hope.

5.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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.

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

Review: SUPERMAN #1

SUPERMAN No. 1 (2016)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
PENCILS: Patrick Gleason
INKS: Mick Gray
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray with John Kalisz
VARIANT COVER: Kenneth Rocafort
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Son of Superman” Part One

The last time I reviewed an issue of Superman it was to express my opinion on Superman: Rebirth, of which I had mixed feelings.  Because of DC Comics' current publishing event-slash-initiative, Rebirth, there is a new first issue of Superman, and while I planned on reading this relaunch, I had no plans on reviewing it.  I finally stop putting off reading...

Superman #1 (“Son of Superman” Part One) is written by Peter J. Tomasi; drawn by Patrick Gleason (pencils) and Mick Gray (inks); colored by John Kalisz; and lettered by Rob Leigh.  It focuses on the GenX, post-Crisis/pre-New 52 Superman/Clark Kent.  Clark lives with his wife Lois Lane and their son, Jonathan, on “The Smith Farm” in Hamilton County, which is 300 miles north of Metropolis.

Yes, the Kents go by the name Smith, as they try to have a normal life, although Kent has taken on the mantle of this world's Superman (a long story).  Meanwhile, Jonathan is starting to chafe at all the secrecy, and young Kent's anxiety gets worse when surprising guests visit the Smiths, including Kathy Branden, the daughter of their new neighbors.

I was surprised by how much I liked Superman #1 (2016).  Since Clark Kent is a bit reticent or perhaps introspective about being Superman again, the Man of Steel has an air of foreboding and mystery about him.  When he does let his hero flag or, in this case, cape fly, there is a sense of majesty about him.  For the time being, writer Peter J. Tomasi is bringing a sense of wonder to Superman – something the title has lacked in recent years, but should always have.

Artists Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray are delivering quality work that reminds me of Steve Rude's work on Superman (and Batman) in the 1990 World Finest miniseries (written by Dave Gibbons).  I think Gleason and Gray's work on the recent Robin: Son of Batman was sharper, but I like what they are doing here.  I think this new Superman series has great potential.

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.

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

I Reads You Review: TEEN TITANS #1

TEEN TITANS #1 (2014)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Will Pfeifer
ART: Kenneth Rocafort
COLORS: Dan Brown
LETTERS: John J. Hill
COVER: Kenneth Rocafort
VARIANT COVERS: Cliff Chiang; Joe Quinones
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Blinded by the Light” Part 1

DC Comics has once again relaunched the Teen Titans franchise.  I was a huge fan of the best Teen Titans rebirth, The New Teen Titans, which first appeared in DC Comics Presents #26, before debuting in The New Teen Titans #1 (November 1980). The series, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, ran from 1980 to 1996.  For awhile, The New Teen Titans was DC Comics' X-Men-like powerhouse, but I think the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths was the start of its downfall into irrelevance.  [For a number of reasons, including a refocus on core DC Comics franchises such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, but that's for another discussion.]

The recently launched Teen Titans comic book series is written Will Pfeifer, drawn by Kenneth Rocafort, colored by Dan Brown, and lettered by John J. Hill.  The Teen Titans roster is Red Robin (Tim Drake), Beast Boy, Raven, Bunker, and Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark).  It is the second Teen Titans series of The New 52.

Teen Titans #1 (“Blinded by the Light” Part 1) finds the team taking on a school bus hijacking.  According the terrorist-like hijackers' leader, their target is really S.T.A.R. Labs, with the children on the bus merely being pawns.  Of course, the Teen Titans can easily handle such criminals, but are our heroes missing the bigger picture – a larger conspiracy.

A friend of mine who read Teen Titans #1 before I did told me that he did not like it, and he is a longtime Teen Titans fan.  I am really a fan of the Teen Titans from their Silver Age origins to The New Teen Titans.  I am not particularly interested in the various Teen Titans (and Titans) series that came afterward.  I did not care for this Teen Titans #1.

Will Pfeifer tries to write these Titans as cool-under-pressure, up-to-date, and on the cutting-edge of everything.  They actually come across as contrived and about as cool as plastic do-dads.  They are more a collection of character traits and personality quirks than they are real characters.  Kenneth Rocafort's art is crowded, and reading it is like trying to see through a television picture beset by static.  Dan Brown's coloring is just decoration.

I don't have anything against the Cassie Sandsmark Wonder Girl, originally created by John Byrne and introduced back in Wonder Woman (Vol. 2) #105 (cover dated: January 1996), but I prefer Donna Troy.  I like the costume that Raven wears, but I prefer the pre-New 52 character.  You know what:  I don't think these Teen Titans are for me.  Maybe others will enjoy it; maybe I'll even try another issue or two.

C

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 July 16, 2014

DC COMICS

APR140254     BATMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC     $39.99
MAY140227     BATMAN ETERNAL #15     $2.99
MAY140251     BATWOMAN #33     $2.99
APR140259     BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 04 THE CRUELEST CUT (N52)     $16.99
MAR140252     DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN DELUXE ED HC (N52)     $24.99
APR140295     DJANGO UNCHAINED TP (MR)     $16.99
MAY140401     FABLES #142 (MR)     $2.99
MAY140263     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #33     $2.99
MAY140248     HARLEY QUINN INVADES COMIC CON INTL SAN DIEGO #1     $4.99
MAY140350     INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #1     $3.99
APR140255     JOKER A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC     $39.99
MAY140183     NEW 52 FUTURES END #11 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
MAY140256     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #33     $2.99
MAY140160     ROBIN RISES OMEGA #1     $4.99
MAY140359     SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #7     $2.99
MAY140224     SUPERGIRL #33     $2.99
APR140273     SUPERGIRL TP VOL 04 OUT OF THE PAST (N52)     $14.99
MAR140263     TALES OF THE BATMAN JH WILLIAMS III HC     $49.99
MAY140164     TEEN TITANS #1     $2.99
APR140262     TEEN TITANS TP VOL 04 LIGHT AND DARK (N52)     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JAN140403     DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ARMORED LEX LUTHOR DLX AF     $49.95
DEC130369     SUPERMAN BLACK POOL CUE     $199.95
DEC130370     SUPERMAN ICONIC POOL CUE     $199.95

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 12 2014

DC COMICS

JAN140375 ASTRO CITY #10 $3.99
JAN140297 BATGIRL #29 $2.99
JAN140290 BATMAN #29 (ZERO YEAR) $4.99
JAN140292 BATMAN #29 COMBO PACK (ZERO YEAR) $5.99
JAN140363 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #12 $2.99
OCT130247 BATMAN UNWRAPPED BY ANDY KUBERT DELUXE ED HC $34.99
JAN140370 COFFIN HILL #6 (MR) $2.99
JAN140256 CONSTANTINE #12 (EVIL) $2.99
JAN140381 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #8 (MR) $2.99
JAN140314 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #29 $2.99
JAN148030 GREEN LANTERN RED LANTERNS #28 2ND PTG $2.99
JAN140267 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #4 $2.99
JAN140246 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13 (EVIL) $3.99
JAN140248 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
NOV130226 JUSTICE LEAGUE TRINITY WAR HC (N52) $29.99
JAN140332 LEGENDS DARK KNIGHT 100 PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #2 $9.99
DEC130345 LUCIFER TP VOL 03 (MR) $29.99
JAN140306 NIGHTWING #29 $2.99
JAN140384 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #2 (MR) $2.99
JAN140364 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #43 $2.99
JAN140335 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 ALIEN #4 $3.99
JAN140288 SUPERBOY #29 $2.99
JAN140276 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #6 $3.99
JAN140278 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #6 COMBO PACK $4.99
NOV130234 WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 04 WAR (N52) $22.99
DEC130308 WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 03 IRON (N52) $16.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

OCT130308 DC COMICS COVER GIRLS HUNTRESS STATUE $99.95
OCT130306 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS JOHNNY QUICK & ATOMICA AF $24.95
OCT130307 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS OWLMAN AF $24.95
OCT130309 SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL STATUE BY ROCAFORT $79.95

Albert Avilla Reviews: Red Hood and the Outlaws #13

Red Hood and the Outlaws #13
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Art: Timothy Green II
Cover: Kenneth Rocafort and Blond

(Spoilers)
First, the cover has nothing to do with the story, unless I completely missed the boat, but damn, that is a nice cover.

The Tamaran War with the Blight comes to a smashing conclusion. The story focuses on the heroic efforts of Starfire to defeat the Blight. Arsenal is telling the story which gives an insight into the characters. Starfire does not disappoint on any level. She is a true hero willing to sacrifice for the greater good, fight with a warrior's heart, and love abundantly. She is what Red Hood and Arsenal need in their struggle with their baser sides. The team's powerhouse is also one of the most beautiful characters in comics. What more can we ask for?

Lobdell lets her go all out on the Blight which he does not do very often; the power she wields is awesome to behold. When we think that Starfire is going to wreck another level and violence on the Blight Lord, she instead kills him with love. With Lobdell it’s not all about the main characters; he allows peripheral characters to contribute to the story. The plotline involving the Dominator DePalo is another opportunity for Lobdell to develop Starfire's character. Lobdell makes us care about a member of one of the vilest races in the DC Universe. That's the way to end a story arc with hard hitting action and a little foreshadowing.

The art is a visual delight. It carries its share of the story load. Blackfire's battlesuit is slamming. The scene when DePalo is remembering Starfire leaving to come to Earth is effective. The colors are muted in contrast to the bright colors in the rest of the story, giving the feel of a memory.

I rate Red Hood and the Outlaws 13 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter Ranking

Albert Avilla Reviews: Superman #0

Superman #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Art: Kenneth Rocafort

Every End Has a Beginning (Spoilers)
This story goes way before the New 52. Superman is telling the story of his parents before Krypton was destroyed. Jor-El is exploring beneath the planet's surface confirming that Krypton is dying. He also finds something living at the planet's core. He is attacked by slime creatures and has to risk his life to return to the Science Center. He returns home to learn that Lara is pregnant.

At the same time, the research center is destroyed by an explosion. Terrorists capture Lara and threaten to kill her. Surprise, terrorist! Lara is old school – Kung Fu style – I can handle my damn-bad-self. Lara takes down the terrorists in a superb scene of martial violence. We learn that the terrorists are part of a Doomsday Cult that is trying to get Jor-El to join them, but Jor-El sends them to the phantom zone. In the epilogue, we learn that a herald proclaims that Krypton will be given a second chance. The fate of Krypton lies in the hands of Superman.

I don't know how much of this story is of The New 52, but dang, I like it. Superman has a legacy of heroism. He is inspired by two heroes that are his parents. His father is a super-genius scientist. His mother is a physician who'll stab you and miss the vital organs. I wish my mom was a ninja or a Navy SEAL; then, I would have really talked that stuff on the playground. Thanks for those homemade muffins, Mom. That was an unexpected twist. Lara was lovey-dovey-wifey one moment, and in the next, she's a martial artist mama.

Thank you, Mr. Lobdell, for not making this a political melodrama about Jor-El fighting the system to save the planet. I prefer the action-thriller with heroes trying to defeat a doomsday cult. I actually want to keep reading to see how this turns out.

The science fiction feel of the art accents the story. The coloring goes further than this medium requires; a simpler approach to the lighting and shading may be more effective.

I rate Superman #0 Buy Your Own Copy. [Al-O-Meter #2 (of 5) Ranking]

The New 52 Review: RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1

"OEL DC"

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Scott Lobdell
ARTIST: Kenneth Rocafort
COLORS: Blond
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

The Red Hood is an alias used by various adversaries of Batman. Before the Joker was the Joker, he was the Red Hood in Detective Comics #168 (February 1951). Jason Todd, the second Robin, became the Red Hood after being resurrected. Todd was in fact killed by the Joker in the famous storyline, Batman: A Death in the Family (Batman #426-429).

As part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Jason Todd gets his own comic book, Red Hood and the Outlaws, with Todd leading a group of antiheroes. As Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 (“I Fought the Law and Kicked its Butt!”) opens, Red Hood undertakes a mission to rescue Roy Harper AKA Arsenal from a prison in the Middle Eastern country of Qurac.

They later join fellow Outlaw, Koriand’r AKA Starfire, the former Teen Titan, on the island of St. Martinique. While Roy and Kori… frolic, Jason gets a visit and dark news from Essence. What has happened to the All Caste?

Visually, Red Hood and the Outlaws mostly looks like an OEL manga (original English language) from TOKYOPOP (or maybe even Del Rey Manga). When it comes to drawing Starfire, artist Kenneth Rocafort offers pretty much what those Top Cow pin-up comic books did in the mid-1990s Barbie doll mixed with Pamela Anderson proportions and weird hair. The art and coloring is at its worst during the opening sequence, where the inking creates a hodge podge of ugly line work and confusing textures.

As for the story, writer Scott Lobdell spins a yarn that is no better or worse than early Image Comics – an action comic book focusing on babes, boobs, and shootouts. It’s not bad; it’s just nothing special. Too many of “The New 52” are like this, and when a publisher is making a big push like this, there should be as little mediocrity as possible.

C+

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html