Showing posts with label Paul Dini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Dini. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

#IReadsYou Review: CREEPSHOW #1

CREEPSHOW #1 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS/Skybound

STORY: Chris Burnham; Paul Dini & Stephen Langford
ART: Chris Burnham; John McCrea
COLORS: Adriano Lucas; Mike Spicer
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
EDITORS: Alex Antone and Jon Moisan
COVER: Chris Burnham with Adriano Lucas
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Declan Shalvey; Vance Kelly; Robert Hack; Bryan Silverbax; Ivan Tao; Felix Morales; Tone Rodriguez; Joseph Schmalke; Rob Csiki; Skan Srisuwan; John Giang; David Mack; Miguel Zapata; Chinh Potter; Tyler Kirkham; Tony Max; Steven Russel Black; Ciro Nieli; Casey Parsons
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (September 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Creepshow is a new horror comic book anthology series from Image Comics.  It is a TV-tie in to the horror anthology television series, “Creepshow,” that currently streams on “Shudder” and later airs on the cable TV network, “AMC.”  Of course, both the comic book and TV series are descendants of the 1982 horror and comedy film, Creepshow, which was directed by the late George A. Romero and written by Stephen King.  Each issue of Creepshow the comic book will feature different creative teams with uniquely horrifying (and sometimes horrible) standalone stories.

Creephow #1 contains two stories.  The first is “Take One,” which is written and drawn by Chris Burnham and colored by Adriano Lucas.  The second story is “Shingo,” which is written by Paul Dini and Stephen Langford; drawn by John McCrea; and colored by Mike Spicer.  Both stories are lettered by the great Pat Brosseau.  Creepshow's horro host, “The Creep,” narrates the story.

THE LOWDOWN:  I'm going to summarize and review each story separately:

“Take One” by Burnham, Lucas, and Brosseau:
It's Halloween night.  Scaredy-cat Phil is wearing a poorly made mummy costume, and he is trick-or-treating with his asshole friends, Nate and Erik.  They come upon the house of the late Mr. Xander, who apparently died the way he treated his neighbors.  Well, although his house is dark, there is a bowl of full-size candy bars on the porch.  “Take One” says the sign in the bowl, so what will happen if Phil, Nate, and Erik help themselves to more?

I love Halloween stories – prose and comics.  That said, “Take One” is an embarrassment.  The punishment does not fit the crime, and the level of violence is neither comic horror nor scary horror.  I have enjoyed some of Burnham's work (Nameless, Secret Wars: E is for Extinction) in the past, but “Take One” is lame horror trying to pass for clever.

On the other hand, I have to admit that Burnham's art and Lucas' colors are nicely atmospheric.  Too bad it's wasted on a wack-ass story.

“Shingo” by Dini & Langford, McCrea, Spicer, and Brosseau:
As the story opens, Sandy Clark is angry, determined, and desperate to find a party entertainer for her daughter, Fiona's birthday party.  It looks as if Fiona's dad, Tom Clark, has also come up short.  Enter Shingo; he (or it) is the party entertainer with the appetite to make any party unforgettable.

After the fumble of “Take One,” I didn't expect much from “Shingo.”  I know that many consider Paul Dini a “legend” for his work on the 1990s animated TV series, “Batman” a.k.a. “Batman: The Animated Series.”  However, I find his comic book work to be hit or miss or miss or mediocre.  I don't know how the collaboration between Dini and Langford worked, but “Shingo” is brilliant.

It is everything that comic horror or horror comedy should be.  It's crazy, wacky, satirical, farcical, droll, and witty and also have an batty monster.  The title boogey is “Shingo,” who is like a gleefully mean-spirited blend of PBS's “Barney,” the purple dinosaur from PBS' long-running “Barney & Friends” TV series, and a mangy “Teletubby” (from the British PBS import TV series, “The Teletubbies”).  The ending and the final-girl-heroes are the double cherries on top.

Artist John McCrea, a master of blending the comic, the violent, and the horrifying, makes this story sing.  Other artists could make this story work, but not as well as McCrea, who also gets some perfect coloring from Mike Spicer.

“Shingo” saves Creepshow #1, and my grade for this issue reflects “Shingo” and not so much “Take One.”  I think “Shingo” has the potential to be a good horror movie in the vein of director Michael Dougherty's 2015 film, Krampus.  And I would be remiss if I didn't say that Pat Brosseau's lettering throughout this issue is outstanding.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic horror comic book anthologies will want to read Creepshow.

[This comic book includes an afterword by Greg Nicotero, the executive producer of Shudder's “Creepshow.”]

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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Monday, March 2, 2020

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 4, 2020

DC COMICS

JAN200509    BATMAN #90    $3.99
JAN200510    BATMAN #90 CARD STOCK FRANCESCO MATTINA VAR ED    $4.99
AUG190702    BATMAN VS HARLEY QUINN BATTLE STATUE SECOND EDITION    $375.00
NOV190529    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT DELUXE EDITION HC    $49.99
JAN200595    DAPHNE BYRNE #3 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
JAN200596    DAPHNE BYRNE #3 (OF 6) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN200619    DOLLAR COMICS JLA YEAR ONE #1    $1.00
JAN200624    DOLLAR COMICS SWAMP THING #57    $1.00
JAN200605    DREAMING #19 (MR)    $3.99
DEC190400    FLASH #750    $7.99
DEC190401    FLASH #750 1940S NICOLA SCOTT VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190402    FLASH #750 1950S GARY FRANK VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190403    FLASH #750 1960S NICK DERINGTON VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190404    FLASH #750 1970S GARCIA LOPEZ VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190405    FLASH #750 1980S DELL OTTO VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190406    FLASH #750 1990S MATTINA VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190407    FLASH #750 2000S JIM LEE VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190408    FLASH #750 2010S FRANCIS MANAPUL VAR ED    $7.99
DEC190409    FLASH #750 BLANK VAR ED    $7.99
JAN200545    GEN LOCK #5 (OF 7)    $3.99
JAN200548    HARLEY QUINN #71    $3.99
JAN200549    HARLEY QUINN #71 FRANK CHO VAR ED    $3.99
NOV190550    JACK OF FABLES THE DELUXE EDITION HC BOOK 03    $39.99
JAN200555    JUSTICE LEAGUE #42    $3.99
JAN200556    JUSTICE LEAGUE #42 CARD STOCK MIKEL JANIN VAR ED    $4.99
JAN200559    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #19    $3.99
JAN200560    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #19 SKAN VAR ED    $3.99
JAN200563    LOIS LANE #9 (OF 12)    $3.99
JAN200564    LOIS LANE #9 (OF 12) BILQUIS EVELY VAR ED    $3.99
JAN200612    MYSTERY IN SPACE #75 FACSIMILE EDITION    $3.99
NOV190499    ORACLE CODE TP    $16.99
DEC190577    ROBIN YEAR ONE TP NEW EDITION    $19.99
JAN200506    STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 (OF 12)    $4.99
JAN200508    STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 (OF 12) BLANK VAR ED    $4.99
JAN200507    STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 (OF 12) EVAN SHANER VAR ED    $4.99
JAN200615    SUPERMAN GIANT #2    $4.99
DEC190433    SUPERMAN VILLAINS #1    $5.99
OCT190695    WONDER WOMAN SPIRIT OF TRUTH HC (RES)    $17.99

Saturday, February 29, 2020

I Reads You Juniors February 2020 - Update #79

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

My "Birds of Prey" review is here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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Saturday, March 23, 2019

Review: YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE

YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally published on Patreon.]

STORY: Kyle Higgins; Tim Seeley; Mairghread Scott; Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing; Paul Dini; Mark Russell; Steve Orlando; Alisa Kwitney; Phil Hester; James Robinson
PENCILS: Kelley Jones; Giuseppe Camuncoli; Bryan Hitch; Javier Fernandez; Guillem March; Frazer Irving; Nick Klein; Stephanie Hans; Mirko Colak; John McCrea
INKS: Kelley Jones; Cam Smith; Andrew Currie; Javier Fernandez; Guillem March; Frazer Irving; Nick Klein; Stephanie Hans; Mirko Colak; John McCrea
COLORS: Michelle Madsen; Tomeu Morey; Nathan Fairbairn; Trish Mulvihill; Dave McCaig; Frazer Irving; Nic Klein; Stephanie Hans; Michael Spider; John Kalisz
LETTERS: Rob Leigh; Clayton Cowles; Carlos M. Mangual; Sal Cipriano; Travis Lanham; Tom Napolitano; Dave Sharpe; Clem Robins
COVER: Kelley Jones with Michelle Madsen
80pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (April 2018)

Rated T+ for “Teen Plus”

Young Monsters in Love in a one-shot, comic book anthology and holiday special from DC Comics.  A comic book celebration of Valentine's Day 2018, Young Monsters in Love presents 10 tales of twisted love and strange romance starring some of DC Comics' most most infamous monster and dark fantasy characters (although Swamp Thing, who is one of them, is in a different story).

Young Monsters in Love opens with Dr. Kirk Connors a.k.a. “Man-Bat” trying to find love again, but in the story “Nocturnal Animal,” he will learn that sometimes you have to stopping loving the one who will not stop loving you.  Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. proves that Frankenstein has the soul of a poet, but will his “Bride” see that in “Pieces of Me.”

Superman gives a helping hand to Solomon Grundy in “Buried on Sunday,” but Superboy does not feel the love.  The Teen Titans' Raven has to take it to the dance floor in “The Dead Can Dance.”  Deadman takes a bullied child into his care and helps victim and victimizer in “Be My Valentine.”

Swamp Thing discovers that he can't have anything nice, even love, in “Heart-Shaped Box.”  Long-time friends and Doom Patrol haters, Monsieur Mallah & The Brain have to face the truth in “Visibility.”  I, Vampire is featured in “The Turning of Deborah Dancer.”  The Demon goes to Hell for one more kill in “To Hell and Gone.”  Finally, the Creature Commandos get bad news from the home front in “Dear Velcoro.”

In a recent article for The Washington Post, the author (Geraldine DeRuiter of everywhereist.com) offers a heart-breaking story, entitled “I thought my bully deserved an awful life. But then he had one.” that is also a great read.  She discovered that the boy who bullied her in school, a boy she always wished bad for, was actually murdered when he was 25-years-old.  She wondered, in this time when the culture has the long knives out for bullies, if we forget that bullies may need help as much, if not more, than their victims.

Without spoiling it, this is more or less the theme of writer Paul Dini and artist Guillem March's Deadman story, “Be My Valentine.”  First, to my imagination, it feels like a classic Deadman story from the 1960s, written by either Arnold Drake (Deadman's creator) or Jack Miller and drawn by either Carmine Infantino or Neal Adams. Secondly, Dini and March's story is one of the best comic book stories about bullying that I have ever read.  It alone is worth Young Monsters in Love's cover price of $9.99.  Colorist Dave McCaig and letterer Sal Cipriano also do some of their best work in creating a graphical package that is classic cool.

Young Monsters in Love is full of wonderful stories besides “Be My Valentine.”  Five of them are truly greats comic book short stories, including the powerful “Heart-Shaped Box” and “Visibility.”  Two are quite good, including the Creature Commandos story, which is my first reading experience of these characters.  Three of these stories are not as well executed as they could have been, including the opening Man-Bat story.

I usually ignore DC Comics' holiday specials, but Young Monsters in Love makes me think that I should not be so quick to dismiss them.  So if you missed it, dear readers, run back to your local comic book shop and find Young Monsters in Love.

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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, December 17, 2018

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 19, 2018

DC COMICS

OCT180480    AMERICAN CARNAGE #2 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180481    AQUAMAN #43    $3.99
OCT180482    AQUAMAN #43 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180485    BATMAN #61    $3.99
OCT180486    BATMAN #61 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180551    BATMAN EUROPA TP    $16.99
OCT180488    BATMAN KINGS OF FEAR #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP180545    BATMAN TP VOL 08 COLD DAYS    $16.99
JUN180573    BEFORE WATCHMEN OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
OCT180490    CATWOMAN #6    $3.99
OCT180491    CATWOMAN #6 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180492    COVER #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
OCT180493    COVER #4 (OF 6) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
OCT180495    DAMAGE #12    $2.99
SEP180565    DC MEETS HANNA BARBERA TP VOL 02    $16.99
SEP180568    DOOM PATROL TP VOL 02 NADA (RES) (MR)    $16.99
JUL180754    FLASH THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 NEW ED    $99.99
OCT180470    FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1 (OF 12)    $3.99
OCT180471    FREEDOM FIGHTERS #1 (OF 12) VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180510    HARLEY QUINN #56    $3.99
OCT180511    HARLEY QUINN #56 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180579    HELLBLAZER TP VOL 04 THE GOOD OLD DAYS    $16.99
OCT180517    JUSTICE LEAGUE #14    $3.99
OCT180518    JUSTICE LEAGUE #14 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180591    JUSTICE LEAGUE WORLDS GREATEST HEROES BY ROSS & DINI TP    $29.99
OCT180521    LUCIFER #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180522    MAD MAGAZINE #5    $5.99
SEP180595    NEW CHALLENGERS TP    $16.99
OCT180525    NIGHTWING #55    $3.99
OCT180526    NIGHTWING #55 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180527    PEARL #5 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
OCT180532    SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #96    $2.99
JUL180781    SUPER SONS OMNIBUS HC    $75.00
OCT180543    TEEN TITANS #25    $4.99
OCT180544    TEEN TITANS #25 VAR ED    $4.99
MAY180594    WONDER WOMAN DIANA PRINCE CELEBRATING THE 60S OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
SEP180621    WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 07 AMAZONS ATTACKED    $19.99

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Review: Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica #1

HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS – @DCComics @ArchieComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko
ART: Laura Braga
COLORS: Tony Avina and Arif Prianto
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Kristy Quinn
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVERS: Adam Hughes
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Costume Drama” Part One

DC Comics villain, Harley Quinn, originated as a character on the animated television series, “Batman: The Animated Series” (FOX Network, 1992).  Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley debuted in the episode “Joker’s Favor” (September 11, 1992), as a female sidekick of The Joker and his eventual accomplice.  Harley made her first comic book appearance in The Batman Adventures #12 (cover dated: September 1993), DC Comics’ comic book spin-off of the animated series.

Poison Ivy (whose real name is Pamela Lillian Isley) is a DC Comics supervillain and an adversary of Batman.  Created by Robert Kanigher and Sheldon Moldoff, Poison Ivy first appeared in Batman #181 (June 1966).  Beginning in “Batman The Animated Series,” Poison Ivy has been depicted as a close associate and girl pal of Harley Quinn's, probably beginning with the “Batman: The Animated Series” episode “Harley & Ivy” (1993).

Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge are better known as Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica in the world of Archie Comics.  Betty first appeared in Pep Comics #22 (cover dated: December 1941) and Veronica first appeared in Pep Comics #26 (cover dated: April 1942).  The duo are depicted as “best friends and worst enemies” (the original frenemies?) mainly because Veronica, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy man, has been Betty's rival for Archie Andrews affections since she debuted 75 years ago.

DC Comics' Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy and Archie Comics' Betty and Veronica come together in the new six-issue crossover comic book, Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica.  This comic book series is written by Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko; drawn by Laura Braga; colored by Tony Aviña and Arif Prianta; and lettered by Deron Bennett.

Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica #1 opens with Hiram Lodge, businessman and industrialist (and Veronica's father), announcing his intention to turn the Riverdale wetlands reserve, Sweetwater Swamp, into a new development.  That development will include the free college, “Lodge University,” and the “shopping, dining, and entertainment destination, “Lodge's Sweetwater Centre.”

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Poison Ivy isn't taking the announcement of Lodge's plans with any happiness, because she says that Sweetwater Swamp is a unique ecosystem that is home to rare species of plants.  With Harley Quinn in tow, Poison Ivy heads to Riverdale to stop Hiram Lodge.  What these villainous anti-heroines don't realize is that the trip will reveal two rivals who may be more than a match for them, Betty & Veronica.

I am a longtime Archie Comics fan, so I like Betty & Veronica, of course, with a preference for Betty Cooper.  I have mixed feelings, however, for Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy; I can take them or leave them, depending upon the work in which they appear.  And I can leave this comic book.

Yes, Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica is written by two accomplished writers; one of them is the co-creator of Harley and is an Emmy-winning television writer-producer, Paul Dini.  On the other hand, I have found much of Paul Dini's comic book output to be mediocre work, as this seems to be.  I will admit that this comic book has potential, but this first issue is average comic book product.

The art is mediocre, too; artist Laura Braga seems to be doing some kind of unfortunate copy of the style of comic book artist, Adam Hughes, the creative force behind the current Betty & Veronica comic book.  The coloring here represents the bad side of comic book coloring software; the coloring looks like smudged pastels, spoiled milkshakes, and faded candy-coated paint.

I know there is an audience for this, but for two such venerable characters (Betty & Veronica) and two such popular modern characters (Harley & Ivy), a better effort than Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica #1 should have been made.

4.5 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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Monday, October 30, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

DC COMICS

MAR170415    ABS JUSTICE LEAGUE WORLDS GREATEST SUPERHEROES HC    $75.00
AUG170330    AQUAMAN THE ATLANTIS CHRONICLES DLX ED HC    $49.99
SEP170359    BANE CONQUEST #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
SEP170274    BATMAN #34    $2.99
SEP170275    BATMAN #34 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170319    BATMAN DETECTIVE REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 01    $34.99
AUG170271    BATMAN THE DARK PRINCE CHARMING HC BOOK 01    $12.99
AUG170172    BATMAN THE DEVASTATOR #1 (METAL)    $3.99
AUG178987    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) 2ND PTG    $3.99
SEP170355    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8)    $3.99
SEP170356    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170349    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170350    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS #1 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170360    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #5    $2.99
SEP170287    CYBORG #18    $3.99
SEP170288    CYBORG #18 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170387    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170388    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #3 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
JUL170470    DC GREATEST HITS BOX SET    $39.96
MAY170376    DCTV LEGENDS OF TOMORROW ATOM AF    $28.00
MAY170377    DCTV LEGENDS OF TOMORROW WHITE CANARY AF    $28.00
MAY170375    DCTV THE FLASH KID FLASH AF    $28.00
AUG170273    DEADMAN #1 (OF 6) GLOW IN THE DARK ED    $4.99
AUG170274    DEADMAN #1 (OF 6) STANDARD ED    $3.99
SEP170285    DEATHSTROKE #25    $3.99
SEP170286    DEATHSTROKE #25 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170301    GREEN ARROW #34    $3.99
SEP170302    GREEN ARROW #34 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170297    GREEN LANTERNS #34    $2.99
SEP170298    GREEN LANTERNS #34 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170357    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170358    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170366    INJUSTICE 2 #13    $2.99
SEP170385    JETSONS #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170386    JETSONS #1 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170257    JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 METAL    $2.99
SEP170258    JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 VAR ED METAL    $2.99
MAY170370    JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE BATMAN STATUE    $150.00
AUG170324    JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 04 ENDLESS (REBIRTH)    $16.99
SEP170317    NIGHTWING #32    $2.99
SEP170318    NIGHTWING #32 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170327    SUPERMAN #34    $2.99
SEP170328    SUPERMAN #34 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170317    SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS TP VOL 04 THE NEW WORLD (REBIRTH)    $19.99
AUG170344    TWO FACE A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC    $39.99
AUG170328    VERY DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH HOLIDAY TP    $16.99

Thursday, August 31, 2017

I Reads You Juniors August 2017 - Update #68

Support Leroy on Patreon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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BLURB REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Posted:  Saturday, August 26, 2017
--------------------------------------------------

From BleedingCool:  Two more comic book stores are closing.

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

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

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

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

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

From CBR:  Marvel Comics solicitations for November 2017.

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

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

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics' November 2017 solicitations.

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

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

From BleedingCool:  November 2017 solicitations for Archie Comics.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From BleedingCool: Gail Simone begins #ComicsHateNazis hash tag.

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

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

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

From ImageComics:  Image Comics solicitations for October 2017.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted:  Sunday, August 6, 2017
---------------------------------

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #129 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #129 in French.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Monday, February 27, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 1, 2017

DC COMICS

JAN170231    AQUAMAN #18    $2.99
JAN170232    AQUAMAN #18 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170237    BATMAN #18    $2.99
JAN170238    BATMAN #18 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170251    CYBORG #10    $2.99
JAN170252    CYBORG #10 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170346    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #23    $3.99
SEP160387    DC SUPER PETS BAT COW PLUSH FIGURE    $15.00
SEP160388    DC SUPER PETS CRACKERS & GIGGLES PLUSH TOY 2 PACK    $25.00
JAN170350    DEATH OF HAWKMAN #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN170351    DEATH OF HAWKMAN #6 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
JAN170412    EVERAFTER FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES #7 (MR)    $3.99
JAN170413    EVERAFTER FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES #7 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN170352    FALL AND RISE OF CAPTAIN ATOM #3 (OF 6)    $2.99
JAN170339    FLINTSTONES #9    $3.99
JAN170340    FLINTSTONES #9 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN170265    GREEN ARROW #18    $2.99
JAN170266    GREEN ARROW #18 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170269    GREEN LANTERNS #18    $2.99
JAN170270    GREEN LANTERNS #18 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170277    HARLEY QUINN #15    $2.99
JAN170278    HARLEY QUINN #15 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170361    INJUSTICE GROUND ZERO #7    $2.99
JAN170285    JUSTICE LEAGUE #16    $2.99
JAN170286    JUSTICE LEAGUE #16 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC160412    LUCIFER TP VOL 02 FATHER LUCIFER (MR)    $16.99
JAN170357    MIDNIGHTER AND APOLLO #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN170293    NIGHTWING #16    $2.99
JAN170294    NIGHTWING #16 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170410    SAVAGE THINGS #1 (OF 8) (MR)    $3.99
JAN170372    SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL #6 (MR)    $3.99
JAN170373    SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL #6 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN170345    SUPER POWERS #5 (OF 6)    $2.99
JAN170220    SUPERMAN #18    $2.99
JAN170221    SUPERMAN #18 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC160393    ZATANNA BY PAUL DINI TP    $39.99

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 4, 2015

DC COMICS

SEP150256     BAT MITE #6     $2.99
SEP150193     BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #5     $2.99
SEP150258     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #10     $3.99
JUL150305     BATMAN ARKHAM TWO FACE TP     $19.99
AUG150264     BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT TP VOL 05     $16.99
MAY150234     BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT SAGA HC     $49.99
JUL150312     BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 01     $19.99
SEP150254     DETECTIVE COMICS #46     $3.99
SEP150217     GREEN ARROW #46     $2.99
SEP150276     GREEN LANTERN #46     $3.99
AUG150242     HARLEY QUINN & POWER GIRL #5     $3.99
AUG150169     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARKSEID WAR FLASH #1     $3.99
AUG150171     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARKSEID WAR SUPERMAN #1     $3.99
SEP150220     LOBO #12     $2.99
AUG150269     LUTHOR TP     $14.99
SEP150222     MIDNIGHTER #6     $2.99
SEP150282     MORTAL KOMBAT X #12 (MR)     $3.99
AUG150276     ROBIN TP VOL 01 REBORN     $19.99
JUL150333     SANDMAN OVERTURE DELUXE ED HC (MR)     $24.99
SEP150283     SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #13     $2.99
SEP150230     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #16     $3.99
JUL150341     SUICIDERS HC VOL 01 (MR)     $22.99
SEP150328     SURVIVORS CLUB #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP150319     UNFOLLOW #1 (MR)     $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

MAY150294     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE HARLEY QUINN STATUE BY DINI     $79.95
JUN150331     FLASH TV CENTRAL CITY POLICE BADGE     $29.95

Sunday, February 3, 2013

I Reads You Review: ZATANNA: Everyday Magic

ZATANNA: EVERYDAY MAGIC
DC COMICS/Vertigo - @DCComics

WRITER: Paul Dini
ARTIST: Rick Mays
COLORS: Brian Miller
LETTERS: Comicraft
COVER: Brian Bolland
48pp, Color, $5.95 U.S., $9.95 CAN

Zatanna Zatara, better known as simply, “Zatanna,” is a DC Comics character. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman Vol. 1 #4 (October–November 1964). She is the daughter of the character, Zatara (Giovanni “John” Zatara), and like her father, she is both a stage magician and a real magician.

Published by Vertigo, the DC Comics’ imprint, Zatanna: Everyday Magic is a 2003 stand-alone, one-shot comic book from writer Paul Dini and artist Rick Mays. Everyday Magic finds Zatana in sort of a career and midlife crisis. For one thing, she wants more name recognition for her show; after all, she is a real magician using real magic, and not a stage magician wowing the audience with illusions and tricks.

Meanwhile, back in her home base of San Francisco, ex-lover John Constantine has run afoul of Nimue Ravensong, a Goth girl and user of some edgy, dark magic. Now suffering from one hell of a curse, Constantine is crashing on Zatanna’s couch and crashing her attempt at a new love life with Hal Cook, the regular guy who’s fallen under her spell.

At the time he probably pitched Zatanna: Everyday Magic, Paul Dini, an Emmy-winning writer of animated television programs, was a marquee writer. He perhaps could have gotten just about any comic book project that he proposed published. He was (and still is), after all, also an acclaimed comic book scribe.

Well, Zatanna: Everyday Magic is just about anything. It pretends to be a supernatural romantic comedy, or supernatural romance and comedy, or comic romance. However, it isn’t really romantic, but it is mildly amusing in the way mediocre, average, and/or harmless comedies are. As romantic leads, not one character in this trite concoction has any spark. In fact, Dini can add this nugget to his trophy shelf of achievements: he’s actually made Constantine boring, a witless fan-fiction version of a character who almost always has spark.

If you mixed some lolicon with the way Matt Wagner drew his early Grendel comic books, you’d have Rick Mays’ art for Zatanna: Everyday Magic. This chunky, cutesy style must be appropriate for something, but Mays’ art is just as clueless as Dini’s story. Brian Miller’s robotic coloring is pointless.

Even Brian Bolland’s cover is bland, which is shocking considering all the stunning cover images that Bolland has produced for American comics book over the better part of the last 30 years.

I don’t know why I bought this comic book, Zatanna: Everyday Magic, some 10 years ago. I recently found it while looking through a box of unread stuff. There are a few nice moments, so I finally extracted some of my $5.95 out of it.

D+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Monday, June 4, 2012

I Reads You Review: ROCKETEER ADVENTURES VOL. 2 #2

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES VOL. 2 #2
IDW PUBLISHING

WRITERS: Tom Taylor, Paul Dini, Walter Simonson
ARTISTS: Colin Wilson, Bill Morrison, John Paul Leon
COLORS: Dave Stewart, Serban Cristescu
LETTERS: Robbie Robbins, Chris Mowry, Shawn Lee
PIN-UP: J. Scott Campbell with John Rauch
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVERS: Darwyn Cooke (A, C), Dave Stevens (B)
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

Inspired by the Saturday matinee movie heroes of the 1930s and 40s, The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly. The Rocketeer’s adventures are set mainly in Los Angeles in and after the year 1938. The character was created by artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens, who died in March of 2008.

After a long absence from comics, The Rocketeer returned in 2011 in Rocketeer Adventures. Edited by Scott Dunbier and published by IDW Publishing, this four-issue, anthology comic book was a tribute to Stevens and featured Rocketeer short stories (about 7 to 8 pages in length) from some of the premiere creators in American comic books. The tributes continue in Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2.

Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 #2 opens with “Work to Do,” story by Tom Taylor and art by Colin Wilson, which places The Rocketeer on a European battlefield with a job to do. In “Betty’s Big Break,” writer Paul Dini and artist Bill Morrison take our hero to the set of a B-movie where he becomes a “Rocket Rustler,” much to Betty’s chagrin. Writer Walter Simonson and artist John Paul Leon send The Rocketeer flying like a flying monkey to save a special young lady in “Autograph.”

I found the first issue of Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 to be a tad bit over the top as a tribute to a respected, deceased artist. Why? While honoring Dave Stevens’ memory, the slam bang action that is The Rocketeer lost its pop and became like something preserved in amber and golden hues. Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 #2 is different. These three Rocketeer stories read like real Rocketeer stories and not tributes meant to be placed in the burial chamber of some great figure’s tomb.

“Work to Do” is a gritty battlefield fantasia with heart and pop. As for the second story: I’ve long been perplexed with the popularity of Paul Dini’s comic book work. I’m sure that he has an entire wing devoted to him at the Academy of the Overrated. I have found enjoyment in a few of his comic book stories; “Betty’s Big Break” is one of them. I think it would make an excellent graphic novel if expanded. I don’t know if Walter Simonson has ever disappointed me; if he has, it was not by much. “Autograph” moves like an action movie, and its references to the late 1930s are wonderful.

I don’t think that I have to say anything about the artists who drew these stories. They are all consummate professionals and their graphic storytelling and art are sparkling. On the other hand, that J. Scott Campbell pin-up is rather ordinary. It’s like something Campbell would knock off while sitting at a convention table. Of course, he would over-charge for it, though it’s worth no more than 25 bucks.

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