Review: DREAM THIEF #2

DREAM THIEF #2 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Jai Nitz
ART/LETTERS: Greg Smallwood
COVER: Ryan Sook
MISC. ART: Kevin Nowlan, Rob Croonenborghs, Andrew MacLean, Ryan Browne, Jeremy Mohler
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Dream Thief is a new five-issue limited series from Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Jai Nitz (“Best Illustrated Narrative,” 2004) and artist Greg Smallwood. The series focuses on John Lincoln, whose body and mind become possessed after he dons a strange mask.

Lincoln is an Atlanta-based carouser and pot-smoker/connoisseur. He tends to get drunk and wake up in strange places; often those places are the bedrooms of women who are not his girlfriend, Claire. After a visit to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, John awakens, wearing an Aboriginal mask he stole from the museum. Now, John’s problems have been replaced by blood stains and an unsteady memory that suggests he’s been disposing of bodies. He’s even killed his girlfriend.

As Dream Thief #2 opens, John is still trying to deal with the spirits of the dead who possess his mind and body while he sleeps. Now, he has a head full of another dead man’s memories, a young man named Jimmy Oliver. Tossed out of the U.S. Army for being gay, Jim found love and a career in the grungy underworld of drugs and pornography. Now, the Dream Thief has to enter that world on a vengeful errand.

When Dark Horse Comics made a PDF of Dream Thief #1 available to reviewers, I read it on a lark because it was a first issue. That was a moment of fortune in my life as a comic book reader. Dream Thief is just a damn good comic book and a great read.

Jai Nitz has written a fine, creepy dark fantasy, and he has an engaging character in John Lincoln. Lincoln is even better as the “Dream Thief,” whom Nitz uses, in this issue, to tell a poignant story of a young man lost. Dream Thief is partly a lovely character story, one that recalls Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.

The scope of the talent of artist Greg Smallwood expands, practically with each page of this series. He draws Dream Thief as if it were a crime comic book, but he also captures the supernatural-infused nature of the narrative. I don’t think anyone could do a better job with Dream Thief than Smallwood is doing.

Comic book readers looking for excellence have a dream lover in Dream Thief.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Valiant Comics Shipping in May 2013

VALIANT Solicitations for MAY 2013

HARBINGER WARS #2 (of 4)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art & Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by LEWIS LAROSA
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Variant Cover by STEPHANE PERGER

The HARBINGER WARS heat up Las Vegas!

After decades of secret conflict, Toyo Harada has managed in one fell swoop to cripple Project Rising Spirit through the masterful manipulation of key players in the Valiant Universe. Now he wants the psiot children Bloodshot rescued from the bowels of a nightmarish PRS facility. Too bad. This rogue band of super-powered escapees have begun to call themselves GENERATION ZERO and they've declared a war of their own. First strike: Vegas, baby! And while PRS fashions a radical plan for getting the kids back, Peter Stanchek and the Renegades are following visions right into the heart of the Harbinger Wars.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 1st!
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HARBINGER #12 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS
Cover by AMY REEDER
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS

HARBINGER WARS: HARBINGER continues here!

Battle weary, the Renegades follow Peter Stanchek's strange dreams and visions into the Southwest American desert, unsure of what exactly they'll find. Under the duress of constant conflict, and led by the words of the Bleeding Monk – who bleeds but does not die – our band of teens begins to fray, barely even a cohesive group by the time they reach Las Vegas, Nevada – now rechristened "Psiot Nation." Here Peter and his crew come face to face with the Harbingers who have escaped from Project Rising Spirit’s prison…Harbingers who call themselves GENERATION ZERO.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 8th!
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BLOODSHOT #11 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY
Variant Cover by MATTHEW CLARK

HARBINGER WARS: BLOODSHOT continues here!

Everyone says they want what's best for the children... but Bloodshot's the only one who’s willing to fight for it. After a lifetime of lies, destruction and pain, he's vowed to use his extraordinary abilities to do one simple thing: keep these kids alive, even if they’re terrified of him. The war for GENERATION ZERO, however, has been waging longer than Bloodshot realizes. And what can one soldier do when he's up against two powerful, secret armies?

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 15th!
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X-O MANOWAR #13 (PLANET DEATH)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Variant Cover by RYAN SOOK

Part III of the explosive PLANET DEATH mega-event!

Aric discovers the Vine he intends conquer aren’t the only race on planet Loam, but will these surprise inhabitants offer him refuge or rivalry? Meanwhile, the Vine leaders plan their most devastating attack yet, one that will push the X-O Manowar armor to its limits and beyond. The stakes are raised and the table set for the epic battle from which no one—human or Vine—will emerge unchanged.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 15th!
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ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #0
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art & Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by LEE GARBETT
Wraparound Gatefold Variant by TOM FOWLER

The true story of the Epic (Fail) of Giglamesh!

Original series artist and Harbinger Wars superstar Clayton Henry returns to tell a tale of the early days of the man known as Armstrong! How early? How's ancient Ur sound? For the first time, the 100% true story behind the Epic of Gilgamesh can be told… A tale of three warrior brothers, the Anni-Padda – or as you may know them, ARMSTRONG, the ETERNAL WARRIOR and TIMEWALKER – on a quest to the mysterious Faraway to bring back its immortal Boon. What they find is a lost land full of danger, excitement – and the greatest secret of the Valiant Universe! Plus: this issue tees up the next arc of A&A, beginning this June in issue #10!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 8th!
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SHADOWMAN #0
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN & PATRICK ZIRCHER
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by KHARI EVANS
Wraparound Gatefold Variant by LEWIS LAROSA

The end has always been near.

Twenty five years ago, Josiah Boniface was the Shadowman, and he had more problems than simply Master Darque: things from beyond are trying to eat the world, the police are trying to send him to jail and now he's got to rescue Helena LeBretton from a murderous cult, whether she likes it or not.

A special standalone issue featuring art by comics superstar Trevor Hairsine, go back to the beginning to discover why this is the series IGN calls “all kinds of great” right here in Shadowman #0!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE MAY 1st!
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ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: X-O MANOWAR #1
ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: HARBINGER #1
ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: BLOODSHOT #1
ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1
ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: SHADOWMAN #1
ONE DOLLAR DEBUT: WAVE ONE (BUNDLE)

On May 1st, jump into all of Valiant’s ongoing series for only a dollar apiece!

Just in time for Valiant’s one-year anniversary and Free Comic Book Day 2013, Valiant is proud to announce a new line of reprints, re-presenting the sold-out first issue debuts of the series that launched the all-new Valiant Universe.

And try all five at once with the One Dollar Debut: Wave One bundle – a shrink-wrapped package containing all five #1 issues for only $4.95!

“We’ve been yelling from rooftops about how good this Valiant relaunch has been, so now’s the time to jump on board.” – MTV Geek

“The Valiant Entertainment relaunch is one of the best things to happen to superhero comics for a while." – Comic Book Resources

“Every book in Valiant's relaunched comic line is a really great comic book." – IGN

“Valiant means business…” – iFanboy

$1.00 each/T+/32 pgs. each
ON SALE MAY 1st!
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HARBINGER VOL. 2: RENEGADES TPB

Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by PHIL BRIONES, MATTHEW CLARK, KHARI EVANS, LEE GARBETT, BARRY KITSON and PERE PEREZ
Cover by MICO SUAYAN

Outside the law. Inside your head. Welcome to the Renegades.

Battered and broken after his escape from the Harbinger Foundation, telekinetic teenager Peter Stanchek only has one option left – run. But he won’t have to go it alone. Crisscrossing America with the only two people he can trust, Peter will have to activate a new team of super-powered recruits before Toyo Harada and his Harbinger shock troops can reach them first. Peter Stanchek. Zephyr. Kris. Flamingo. You’ve never met a team of super-powered teenagers quite like the Renegades. And, together, they’ll dismantle Harada’s global empire one brick at a time.

Collecting HARBINGER #6-10 by New York Times best-selling author Joshua Dysart and an all-star cast of comics’ top artistic talents, get ready for the second stunning volume of the series Ain't It Cool News calls "simply astonishing."

“Four words, ladies and gentlemen: Read this book NOW.” – Ain’t It Cool News
“A superb level of awesomeness.” – IGN

$14.99/T+/128 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-02-5
ON SALE MAY 22nd!
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VALIANT MASTERS: SHADOWMAN VOL. 1 - SPIRITS WITHIN HC
Written by STEVE ENGLEHART, BOB HALL, BOB LAYTON, JIM SHOOTER and More
Art by STEVE DITKO, BOB HALL, DAVID LAPHAM, DON PERLIN and More
Cover by DAVID LAPHAM

A deluxe hardcover collecting Shadowman’s legendary first appearance in the original Valiant Universe – featuring classic work by Steve Ditko, Steve Englehart, Bob Hall, David Lapham, Jim Shooter and more!

Jack Boniface nearly died one night – attacked by something out of a nightmare. But since that terrifying experience something has changed. Now, when darkness falls, a feeling comes over him, an urge to destroy the demons that would defile the New Orleans night. Wild, reckless, and hell-bent on eliminating evil in all its forms, Jack is now his city’s new protector – the nocturnal avenger simply called Shadowman.

This Valiant Masters volume collects SHADOWMAN (1992) #0-7 and material from DARQUE PASSAGES (1994) #1.

$24.99/T+/184 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-01-8
ON SALE MAY 29th!

Book Review: WAYNE OF GOTHAM

WAYNE OF GOTHAM
IT BOOKS/HarperCollins – @ItBooks

AUTHOR: Tracy Hickman
COVER: Ryan Sook
ISBN: 978-0-06-221986-2; paperback (December 4, 2012)
304pp, B&W, $15.99 U.S.

Tracy Hickman is a fantasy author and game designer, noted for his work on Dragonlance, including writing Dragonlance novels with Margaret Weis. Wayne of Gotham is a Batman prose novel written by Hickman and originally published in hardcover (June 2012). It Books recently released the novel in paperback.

Wayne of Gotham, which does not follow the Batman continuity currently used by DC Comics, finds Batman/Bruce Wayne embroiled in a case that ties into the murder of his parents and that also reveals a terrible secret from his father’s past. Wayne of Gotham is as good (if not better) than the Batman comic books being published today. As far as I’m concerned, it’s certainly more entertaining than the recent film, The Dark Knight Rises.

It begins when Batman finds himself confronted by a rash of vigilante attacks in which ordinary citizens take on criminals. The Dark Knight discovers that these citizens are not exactly in their right minds, and this includes Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon. Then, the clues and hints come, and Batman discovers that someone is leaving a breadcrumb trail of tantalizing hints about Wayne Empire.

This new mystery returns Bruce to the brutal murder of his father, Dr. Thomas Alan Wayne, and, his mother, Martha Kane Wayne. Now, Bruce is forced to learn things about his father’s life he never would have expected. There are ties to the Moxon crime family, including a friendship with, Lewis Moxon, the son of boss Julius Moxon. There is also a relationship with Ernst Richter, a controversial doctor at Gotham University.

While he tries to discover his true family history, Batman must face down the dark legacy of Wayne family history. He must battle old foes (like The Joker and Harley Quinn) and confront the man who is practically the only family he has left, Alfred Pennyworth. Even worse, Batman must uncover the secrets of the terrible thing born in the bowels of Arkham Asylum, a force called the Apocalypse.

Batman is usually the most interesting aspect of Batman stories and fiction, unless he is outshone by a villain, as the Joker did in two films, Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). In Wayne of Gotham, not only does Batman the costumed hero shine, but also Bruce Wayne the man, Alfred Pennyworth the family secret keeper, and Thomas Wayne the father. This is essentially an ensemble piece in which Batman may save the day, but when it comes to being intriguing, he doesn’t get “most” in front of his name. Hickman works the father-son conflict dynamic so well that Wayne of Gotham really is as much about the Wayne men as it is about Batman.

Hickman re-imagines Batman and Bruce Wayne’s history in a way that allows him to connect Thomas Wayne’s activities to the birth of Batman. Hickman doesn’t change much; he simply gives reason, motivation, and rationale to everything Batman and to everyone related to the Dark Knight.

This novel is brilliant, witty, and mad. This is a story that grabs the reader by the collar and drags him on an adventure across two time periods, the present and 1958. Along the way, readers get to see a version of Harley Quinn that is creepy and unsettling and a Joker that is as witty as he is murderous (sort of a mixture of Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the character with the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series).

There are so many twists, turns, and surprises that Wayne of Gotham is like a paperback thrill machine. In Tracy Hickman’s hands, the Dark Knight does indeed rise.

A

http://youritlist.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 28 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP120031 ANGEL & FAITH #16 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99

SEP120043 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #101 RETURN O/T MASTER #4 MIGNOLA $3.50

SEP120042 BPRD HELL ON EARTH #101 RETURN O/T MASTER #4 SOOK CVR $3.50

AUG120085 FORBIDDEN WORLDS ARCHIVES HC VOL 01 $49.99

SEP120022 GHOST #2 $2.99

AUG128234 JEREMIAH OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $24.99

AUG128338 JEREMIAH OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $24.99

JUL120063 KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE TP VOL 13 (MR) $12.99

SEP120019 RIPD CITY O/T DAMNED #1 $3.50

AUG120084 SILVER STREAK ARCHIVES ORIGINAL DAREDEVIL HC VOL 02 $59.99

SEP120051 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI PRISONER OF BOGAN #1 $2.99

The New 52 Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Peter Milligan
ARTIST: Mikel Janin
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

In the Dark Part One: "Imaginary Women"

Justice League Dark is a new Justice League comic book series that comes out of “The New 52,” the re-launch of DC Comics superhero comic book line. This series will focus on a more supernatural team than any Justice League series has previously done.

Justice League Dark #1 opens with Madame Xanadu finding “great wickedness” in the future during a tarot card reading. Meanwhile, a young woman named June Moone is literally beside herself so many times that she is on the run. Meanwhile, the Justice League, in the form of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg. take on an increasingly insane and insanely powerful Enchantress. Also, Shade the Changing Man and John Constantine are on the move.

I really wanted to like Justice League Dark because I like both the cast and series writer, Peter Milligan, but I can’t – not really or not yet. This first issue is all setup and the story hangs on stiff dialogue and stiffer exposition. The pencil art by Mikel Janin ranges from strong compositions to wooden figure drawing, with the former (thankfully) dominating. The cover by Ryan Sook is quite good, though.

I’m sure that Justice League Dark is going to be a dynamite book, but it isn’t, yet…

B-

The New 52 Review: DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1

"Alive, again"

DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Paul Jenkins
ARTIST: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Blond
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Deadman is a DC Comics character that first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 (cover date October 1967). Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Carmine Infantino, Deadman is the ghost of circus trapeze artist, Boston Brand, who performed under the name Deadman, a stage persona in which he wore a red costume and white corpse makeup. After he is murdered, Brand’s spirit is given the power to possess any living being by a Hindu goddess named Rama Kushna (a DC Comics version of Rama-Krishna), in order to search for his murderer and obtain justice.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” the classic 1970s and 80s series, DC Comics Presents (1978-1986) returns. In this new series, it is DC Comics Presents Deadman in “Twenty Questions,” a new storyline.

DC Comics Presents #1 gives a recap of Deadman’s origin, a flashback to Boston Brand, the arrogant trapeze artist shot down mid-performance. We see how he met Rama, essentially his patron goddess who points him down the path to redemption and balance. Now, Deadman has to enter the body of Johnny Foster, injured war vet, but Deadman has plans that may shock Rama, but will certainly shock us.

This first issue of DC Comics Presents is one of the wordier first issues of a comic book that I’ve read in some time. Bruthas and sistas, if you still don’t know what Deadman is about after reading this, you’ll never get it. Writer Paul Jenkins provides a detailed introduction to Deadman that he deftly ties into Deadman’s first “client,” the tragic war vet. And Jenkins does this without taking a big crap on Deadman’s history, keeping the character intact without committing some ridiculous re-imagining that completely changes an already-interesting character.

Not to forget the artist: Bernard Chang visually and graphically recalls classic 1960s and 70s Deadman without having to copy Neal Adams. The robotic coloring by Blond often gives Chang’s drawings surreal or ghostly touches, making Chang’s striking images even more striking. There is a combat flashback scene at the top of a page near the middle of this issue. It is such an arresting series of images that it is still on mind. I would say that sequence makes this issue or art team Eisner and Harvey Awards nomination worthy.

A

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html

I Reads You Review: ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #3

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES #3
IDW PUBLISHING

WRITERS: Ryan Sook, Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Timm, Jonathan Ross
ARTISTS: Ryan Sook, Bruce Timm, Tommy Lee Edwards
COLORS: Tommy Lee Edwards
LETTERS: Ryan Sook, John Workman
PIN-UPS: Stephanie Buscema, Joe Chiodo
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVER: Alex Ross (alternate cover by Dave Stevens)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

First appearing in 1982, The Rocketeer is a superhero created by the late writer/illustrator Dave Stevens. The Rocketeer takes inspiration from the Saturday movie heroes of the 1930s and 1940s, and his exploits are mainly set in Los Angeles in and after the year 1938. The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly, and Secord’s girlfriend, Bettie Page, is based upon real life, 1950s pin-up and fetish model, Bettie Page.

Over a 30 year period, The Rocketeer made infrequent comic book appearances in several publications from several publishers. The character debuted as a backup feature in the comic book, Starslayer, from the now-defunct Pacific Comics and made two appearances in Pacific's anthology, Pacific Presents. Afterwards, there was the Rocketeer Special Edition (Eclipse Comics), the Rocketeer Adventure Magazine (Comico Comics) and finally graphic novel collection from Dark Horse Comics

The Rocketeer is back in Rocketeer Adventures, a new anthology series from IDW Publishing. Edited by Scott Dunbier, Rocketeer Adventures features Rocketeer short stories (about 7 to 8 pages in length) from some of the premiere creators in American comic books.

Rocketeer Adventures #3 opens with “A Rocketeer Story” by Ryan Sook, which finds the Rocketeer taking on robbers at the premiere of a new film in which Bettie has a major speaking role. Writer Jonathan Ross and artist Tommy Lee Edwards introduce the “Junior Rocketeers” as girl power flexes its muscles. Stephanie Buscema and Joe Chiodo offer pin-ups. Writer and novelist Joe R. Lansdale and artist Bruce Timm present an illustrated prose short story and faux pulp tale, “Heaven’s Devils.”

“A Rocketeer Story” and “Junior Rocketeers” are nice, but nothing special. How does one follow up an issue that had a Darwyn Cooke Rocketeer story? Scott Dunbier somehow wrangled a Joe R. Lansdale/Bruce Timm joint – a short fiction piece with illustrations. I’ve always hated/dreaded finding a prose story in a comic book. I like short stories, but I don’t want to read one in a comic book. Am I obligated to read it, I always ask myself.

The seven-page story features a cover-like illustration and wide black and white illustrations by Timm, but Lansdale holds up his end. “Heaven’s Devils is a fun read with lots of salty language, and it features the subtly vivid prose that is a hallmark of the usually excellent Lansdale. Once again, the contributors to Rocketeer Adventures do right by Dave Stevens.

B+

Leroy Douresseaux on B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: MONSTERS #1

B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: MONSTERS #1 OF 2 (Series #80)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART: Tyler Crook
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Ryan Sook with Dave Stewart (Variant cover by Francesco Francavilla)
32pp, Color, $3.50

Welcome, Tyler Crook!

Crook is the artist on B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Monsters, a new two-issue B.P.R.D. miniseries. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is the organization charged with protecting America and the rest of the world from the occult, paranormal and supernatural in the world of Hellboy, the long-running comic book universe created by Mike Mignola.

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Monsters #1 finds Liz Sherman (Hellboy’s #1 female) ensconced in a trailer park and living in a trailer with Jeb and Todd (apparently while the Bureau’s off fighting giant bat-eared beasts in Texas). Liz is kicking hillbilly ass in that trailer park, but the darkness from which she’s trying to hide has also taking a liking to the white trash life.

I have never read a B.P.R.D. comic book, not a single one, although I’ve been putting off doing so for years. I started off with a good one in Hell on Earth: Monsters, although it didn’t start off that way. After the first few pages, I was bored and thinking, “This is not real B.P.R.D. or Hellboy.”

The art by newcomer Tyler Crook captures the sense of impending boom and doom weaved by writers Mike Mignola and John Arcudi. Crook’s drawing style, which has similarities to the styles of Kevin Huizenga and David Mazzuchelli, establishes Hell on Earth: Monsters as a story that takes place in a world like our own – earthy and even down and dirty, in which the supernatural is invading. I like the fact that this seems more like Hellblazer dark fantasy than there’s-magic-around-every-corner fantasy. This first issue also has a killer last act.

A-