Review: ROBOTECH #3

ROBOTECH No. 3
TITAN COMICS – @ComicsTitan

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Brian Wood
ART: Marco Turini
COLORS: Marco Lesko
LETTERS: John Workman
COVER: David Nakayama
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Karl Kerschl; Blair Shedo
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Titan Comics is currently publishing a new comic book series based on “Robotech” the 85-episode American animated television series, originally syndicated to U.S. back in the mid-1980s.  The new Robotech, which is a slight reboot of the franchise, is written by Brian Wood; drawn by Marco Turini; colored by Marco Lesko, and lettered by John Workman.

Robotech begins when a giant extraterrestrial vehicle crash lands on Macross Island in the South Pacific.  The people of Earth adapt the vessel's alien technology, which they call “Robotechnology,” including harnessing the alien vehicle, now called the Super Dimension Fortress (SDF-1).  It is the epicenter of “The Robotech Project” and of the city built around it, Macross City.  The arrival of an alien armada in the solar system forces the SDF-1 to initiate a “space fold” transporting it and a chunk of Macross City to the edge of the solar system.

Robotech #3 finds SDF-1 Captain Henry Gloval and his crew bringing the people and some of the infrastructure of Macross City unto the ship.  Rick Hunter and Lynn Minmei, who were on a part of Macross City caught in the space fold, are trapped deep in the bowels of the SDF-1.  Tired of eating rations while they wait for rescue, the duo tries something new.  Meanwhile, the alien armada tracks the SDF-1 believing that humans don't really understand the technology in their possession.

Robotech #1 was a fantastic first issue, and the second issue was not a let down.  Robotech #3 begins the process of impressing upon readers that this new Robotech comic book is not a fluke.  Brian Wood digs deep into the characters, and reveals a Lynn Minmei who is a modern woman, a leap from the being the waif and object of desire.  Captain Gloval and Roy Fokker are edgier, and Lisa Hayes and Claudia Grant, well... there's something more to them than they had before.

Even Marco Turini's art and storytelling suggest that this Robotech is something new.  Turini is visualizing space opera that recalls the SciFi Channel's mid-aughts take on “Battlestar Galactica” without loosing heart of Robotech; yeah, it's still a little cute.  My only complaint is that no single issue of Robotech is enough for me.  Can't wait for issue four – fanboy out.

9 out of 10

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


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

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Review: ROBOTECH #2

ROBOTECH No. 2
TITAN COMICS – @ComicsTitan

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Brian Wood
ART: Marco Turini
COLORS: Marco Lesko
LETTERS: John Workman
COVER: Nick Roche
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Karl Kerschl; Blair Shedo; Giannis Milonogiannis
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2017)

“Robotech” was an 85-episode American animated television series.  Production company and film distributor, Harmony Gold USA, distributed the series to television stations in the United States via syndication in the 1980s.  Producer, story editor, and developer, Carl Macek, created “Robotech” by adapting, combining, and editing three Japanese anime series:  “Macross” (full title, “Super Dimension Fortress Macross”) and two other anime series, “Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross” and “Genesis Climber Mospeada.”

Over a three-decade period, several entities have published comics based on the Robotech franchise, including the defunct Comico the Comic Company and DC Comics' imprint, WildStorm Productions.  Titan Comics brings Robotech back to comic books with the new series, Robotech.  It is written by Brian Wood; drawn by Marco Turini; colored by Marco Lesko, and lettered by John Workman.

Robotech begins when a giant extraterrestrial vehicle crash lands on Macross Island in the South Pacific.  A decade later, the people of Earth have adapted the vessel's alien technology, which they call “Robotechnology,” to advance human technology.  The ship is now known as the Super Dimension Fortress or SDF-1, and it is the epicenter of “The Robotech Project” and of the city built around it, Macross City.

Robotech #2 finds the Earth under siege by an alien armada.  In Macross City, talented but cocky pilot, Rick Hunter, has taken one of the SDF-1's Veritech fighters out of necessity.  Now, he and his passenger, Lynn Minmei, come face to face with a giant alien being, and neither is sure how to use the Veritech to fight the creature.  Meanwhile, aboard the SDF-1, Captain Henry Gloval comes to a shocking decision on using some of the ship's incredible Robotechnology.

Robotech #1 was a fantastic first issue; so is this second issue.  Like the first issue, I like Robotech #2 enough to highly recommend it to Robotech fans.  Once upon a time, I was a big Robotech fan; now, I have not engaged the franchise in decades, but this comic book has reignited my Robotech love.

Right now, I am looking for two things in this new Robotech comic book.  One, I want it to be a well-produced comic book with good writing, good art, and overall engaging storytelling.  Two, I want it to recall classic Robotech while also exploring new possibilities for the series and also going places the original might have, but did not.

So far, I'm getting both of those things from this very entertaining comic book.  It is as if Brian Wood and Marco Turini have mastered the 22-page comic book serial, delivering lively pop comic increments... so far.  In fact, this second issue is good enough to tease readers back for a third issue of Titan Comics' Robotech.

A
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 site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: ROBOTECH #1

ROBOTECH No. 1 (2017)
TITAN COMICS – @ComicsTitan

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Brian Wood
ART: Marco Turini
COLORS: Marco Lesko
LETTERS: John Workman
COVER: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau; Karl Kerschl; Blair Shedo; Michael Dialynas; The Waltrip Brothers; Andrew Leung; Luis Guerrero; Francisco de la Fuente; Miguel Mercado; Rachel Stott; Alex Ronald; Andre Lima Arajuo; Caspar Wijngaard; Mariano Laclaustra; Antonio Fuso; Douglas Franchin; Andy Cotnam; Pasquale Qualano
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2017)

In the 1980s, production company and film distributor, Harmony Gold USA, had the U.S. syndication rights to broadcast the Japanese animated (or anime) television series, “Macross.”  They hired producer, story editor, and developer, Carl Macek, to adapt the series for American audiences.

To meet television syndication requirements, Macek took “Macross” (full title, “Super Dimension Fortress Macross”) and two other anime series, “Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross” and “Genesis Climber Mospeada” and edited them together by using the concept of “Robo-technology” as the unifying element.  Thus, Macek created the 85-episode American animated TV series, “Robotech.”

Over a three-decade period, several entities have published comics based on the Robotech franchise, including the defunct Comico the Comic Company and DC Comics' imprint, WildStorm Productions.  Titan Comics brings the franchise back to comic books with the new series, Robotech.  It is written by Brian Wood; drawn by Marco Turini; colored by Marco Lesko, and lettered by John Workman.

Robotech #1 begins with a brief description of the arrival of the giant extraterrestrial vehicle that would come to be known as the Super Dimension Fortress or SDF-1.  It lands on Macross Island, and a decade later, the vehicle is the epicenter of “The Robotech Project” and Macross City has been built around the SDF-1.

Talented but cocky pilot, Rick Hunter, has arrived at SDF-1 to visit his “big brother,” Lt. Commander Roy Fokker, Veritech pilot and legendary leader of the “Skull Squadron” of the Robotech Defense Force.  This reunion is put on hold when multiple extraterrestrial vehicles arrive near Earth and some begin to enter the planet's atmosphere.  And SDF-1 springs into action on its own.

First, let me say that Robotech #1 is a fantastic first issue.  I love it, and I highly recommend it to Robotech fans.  Probably the first thing that this comic book does right is to use the first page to present the cast of characters with a brief description of each character and what he or she does.

Back in 2013, Dark Horse Comics launched a new Star Wars comic book, simply titled Star Wars.  Its story was set immediately after the events depicted in the original, 1977 Star Wars film (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope).  Brian Woods was the series writer, and he fashioned a Star Wars comic book that felt like an authentic, accurate, and canonical continuation of A New Hope.  Now, at least with this first issue, Woods makes Robotech seem like a reboot that will be genuine Robotech.  To me, Robotech #1 feels like the “Robotech” anime that I first encountered on those long-ago Saturday mornings via the recently launched Channel 15 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

I find myself really liking the art by Marco Turini and colors by Marco Lesko; it feels like authentic Robotech.  Turini's compositions clearly and ably translate Woods' concise and efficient script writing into clean sequences that introduce the conflict and tease the villains of this reboot without overwhelming the first issue with too much information.

In fact, this debut issue is good enough to tease readers back for a second issue of Titan Comics' Robotech.

A
8 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 site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Jeffrey Kaufman's "WHORE" graphic novel

WHORE TRADE PAPERBACK
ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT/Big City Comics Studio – @Zenescope

WRITER/CREATOR: Jeffrey Kaufman
ARTIST: Marco Turini
COLORS: James Brown
LETTERS: John Hunt
COVER: Felix Serrano and Jeffrey Kaufman; variant covers: Michael Golden and Felix Serrano; Alex Saviuk and James Brown; and Felix Serrano and Jeffrey Kaufman
ISBN: 978-1-937068-62-2; paperback
104pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

Jeffrey Kaufman wrote the graphic novel, Terminal Alice, and he has written for such comic books as Ant (Image Comics), Dragon Cross, and Tempest, among others. He is the founder of Big City Comics and Resurrection Studios. Kaufman is also a defense attorney and legal expert and is a cable news legal analyst who has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News, among others.

Whore is an original graphic novel from Kaufman and artist Marco Turini. Turini’s art has appeared in the Marvel Comics’ titles Squadron Supreme and Astonishing Tales. Published by Zenescope Entertainment, Whore centers on a downsized CIA agent who takes whatever sleazy jobs he can get in order to pay his bills.

Jacob Mars is a CIA black-ops specialist. He’s deadly. His dick is big (or so he says in his internal monologues). At 34-years-old, however, he is informed that the CIA no longer needs his services because of budget cuts. Still, the modern job market does have a place for him. Mars suddenly becomes an independent contractor for the agency that just fired him. He takes whatever jobs his “handler” offers. Sometimes, he uses his intelligence skills. Sometimes, he needs a firearm. One job will even require his penis.

Mars’ new career basically has him operating as if he were a whore. He is killing people on the government’s enemies list; that is when he isn’t taking high-paying jobs babysitting gay pop stars, spoiled mafia progeny, and show dogs. When an old friend is murdered, however, Mars takes on his biggest and deadliest mission.

The one thing that Whore definitely has going for it is that it is funny. I could see myself reading this every month. In fact, I wonder if what writer Jeffrey Kaufman really has in Whore is a series instead of a single graphic novel. Most of Mars’ assignments and jobs could stand on their own as single issue stories, if not as miniseries. Early on, the writing is a little clumsy, but once the narrative gets some momentum, the humor outshines any blemishes and even the cleverly staged violence.

Artist Marco Turini is no master draftsman and his compositions have an obvious awkwardness to them. What stands out about his art is Turini’s approach to drawing the human figure and face. There is a naturalism that not only makes each character unique, but also makes many of them look as if they were drawings of real people. There is a soldier that appears at the end of the last big battle scene; his face looks uncannily real. Then, there is the page featuring five sexy women. Although two of the women vaguely resemble one another, the individuality of each of the five women is stunningly evident.

When I received this review copy of Whore, I didn’t think it was something I really wanted to read. Now, I’d like more. This is the funniest fiction about CIA types since the Coen Bros.’ movie, Burn After Reading.

B+

www.facebook.com/jeffreykaufmanjr
www.facebook.com/BigCityComics
www.bigcitycomics.com
www.zenescope.com

Zenescope Entertainment Presents "Whore"

WHORE (One-Shot Graphic Novel)
On Sale: September 12th, 2012

Writer: Jeffrey Kaufman
Artist: Marco Turini
Colorist: James Brown
Letterer: John Hunt
Cover: Felix Serrano and Jeff Kaufman
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
ISBN: 978-1-937068-62-2
Diamond Order Code: JUL121329
Pages: 112
Price: $9.99

Description:
Jacob Mars would probably put a bullet in your head if you called him a "whore", but in simple terms, that's what he is. After getting downsized from the CIA, he takes any job he can to pay his debts and alimony. He isn't a bad guy by nature, but out of necessity, he has to live a life where things don't matter, as long as he gets paid. His motto, simply stated: "Every man has his price."


About Jeffrey Kaufman
Jeffrey Kaufman is a writer and founder of Big City Comics and Resurrection Studios. In addition, Kaufman is a nationally recognized legal expert and defense attorney, currently licensed in 18 states, and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and truTV's Disorder in the Court: The 20 Most Outrageous Courtroom Moments. As a writer, Kaufman's credits include Terminal Alice (published through Zenescope Entertainment) as well as Tainted (featuring Batwing artist Chris Cross).

Currently, Kaufman is actively filming and producing the documentary How to Fail in Comic Books (www.facebook.com/howtofailincomicbooks), set for release in 2013. His upcoming projects include the graphic novels Angel Falling and Whore, on sale September 2012, from Zenescope Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.bigcitycomics.com and www.facebook.com/bigcitycomics.