Showing posts with label Sean Murphy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sean Murphy. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #1

KING SPAWN #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis; Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue and back-up stories)
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez (King Spawn); Stephen Segovia (Haunt); Marcio Takara (Nightmare); Philip Tan (The Hero); Brett Booth (Gunslinger)
INKS: Javi Fernandez; Adelso Corona; Daniel Henriques
COLORS: FCO Plascencia (King Spawn); Andrew Dalhouse; Marcelo Maiolo; Peter Steigerwald; Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Andworld Design (King Spawn): Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Puppeteer Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; David Finch with FCO Plascencia; Sean Gordon Murphy; Brett Booth and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Donny Cates and Todd McFarlane
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane


Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).

Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons.  A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death.  He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time.  However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia.  Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.

Back in February (2021), Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.”  McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles.  The first of the three titles, King Spawn, has arrived.

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.

King Spawn #1 opens at an elementary school in Seattle, Washington.  There, a bombing kills sixteen people, including fourteen children aged five and six years old.  Spawn and Jessica Priest (She-Spawn) surreptitiously attend the funeral of one of the children, and Spawn, enraged, tells Priest that he knows who committed this crime and that he is going after them.

The suspects include a legendary angel, Metatron, and perhaps, an underground religious group, “Psalms 137.”  Or maybe, the people behind the bombing are fans...

THE LOWDOWN:  I read Spawn #1 back in 1992, and I had mixed feelings about it.  Yet I was a fan and followed the series for another five or six years.

2021 finds me reading my a Spawn title first-issue for the first time since I read Curse of the Spawn #1 back in 1996.  I like the main story in King Spawn #1.  In fact, Sean Lewis has written the best first issue for an ongoing Spawn comic that I have read to date.  His dialogue is sharp and natural-like, which I can't say for Spawn creator Todd McFarlane's dialogue and exposition, which often describes things that we can see in the art.  Lewis' script is lean and mean, and Lewis does something at which McFarlane is quite good – make the reader feel for the victims.

I've always preferred my Spawn comic books to be drawn by McFarlane, but as a businessman from the beginning of Spawn, he really could not commit to drawing Spawn on a regular basis past the first two years of the original series.  However, Javi Fernandez's art and storytelling shares a sensibility with McFarlane's art that will satisfy me.

So far, I find that King Spawn #1 is the closest to what I will get to those early days of Spawn.  Also, the ending makes me want to come back for more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Spawn will want to read King Spawn.

[This comic book includes four back-up stories and “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” in which Todd McFarlane and Sean Lewis interview each other.]

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



https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).


Monday, July 22, 2019

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 24, 2019

DC COMICS

MAY190374    ACTION COMICS #1013 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190373    ACTION COMICS #1013 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190380    BATGIRL #37 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190379    BATGIRL #37 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190381    BATMAN BEYOND #34    $3.99
MAY190382    BATMAN BEYOND #34 VAR ED    $3.99
APR190527    BATMAN BEYOND TP VOL 05 THE FINAL JOKE    $16.99
MAY190356    BATMAN CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8)    $4.99
MAY190357    BATMAN CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) VAR ED    $4.99
MAY190392    BOOKS OF MAGIC #10 (MR)    $3.99
DEC180680    DC DESIGNER SER WONDER WOMAN BY JENNY FRISON STATUE    $150.00
NOV180560    DC UNIVERSE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS BY JACK KIRBY HC    $150.00
MAY190403    DETECTIVE COMICS #1008 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190402    DETECTIVE COMICS #1008 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190404    DIAL H FOR HERO #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY190412    FLASH #75 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $5.99
MAY190411    FLASH #75 YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190416    FREEDOM FIGHTERS #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
APR190547    HELLBLAZER TP VOL 21 THE LAUGHING MAGICIAN (MR)    $24.99
APR190546    HOUSE OF WHISPERS TP VOL 01 THE POWER DIVIDED (MR)    $16.99
MAY190430    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #13 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190429    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #13 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190432    LOONEY TUNES #250    $2.99
MAY190435    MARTIAN MANHUNTER #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
MAY190436    MARTIAN MANHUNTER #7 (OF 12) VAR ED    $3.99
MAY190444    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #49    $2.99
MAY198771    SUPERMAN YEAR ONE #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG (MR)    $7.99
MAY190455    TERRIFICS #18 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99
MAY190454    TERRIFICS #18 YOTV THE OFFER    $3.99
MAY190461    WONDER WOMAN #75 CARD STOCK VAR ED YOTV THE OFFER    $5.99
MAY190460    WONDER WOMAN #75 YOTV THE OFFER    $4.99

Monday, May 27, 2019

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 29, 201+9

DC COMICS

NOV180600    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE WHITE KNIGHT JOKER BY MURPHY    $80.00
MAR190458    BATMAN LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH #1 (OF 3) (MR)    $5.99
MAR190459    BATMAN LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH #1 (OF 3) VAR ED (MR)    $5.99
MAR190500    CATWOMAN ANNUAL #1    $4.99
APR190003    DC PREVIEWS #14 JUNE 2019 EXTRAS    $PI
JAN190555    DC SUPER HERO GIRLS SPACED OUT TP    $9.99
MAR190505    DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #2    $4.99
MAR190475    DOG DAYS OF SUMMER #1    $9.99
JAN190585    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #10 (OF 12)    $4.99
JAN190586    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #10 (OF 12) VAR ED    $4.99
FEB190572    FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 06    $29.99
FEB190577    GREEN LANTERNS TP VOL 09 EVILS MIGHT    $19.99
NOV180599    HARLEY QUINN RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE BY FRANK CHO    $80.00
MAR190476    HEROES IN CRISIS #9 (OF 9)    $3.99
MAR190477    HEROES IN CRISIS #9 (OF 9) VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190592    LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT MICHAEL GOLDEN HC    $29.99
FEB190599    RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS TP VOL 02    $16.99
FEB190605    SHAZAM THE WORLDS MIGHTIEST MORTAL HC VOL 01    $49.99
MAR190478    SUPERMAN LEVIATHAN RISING SPECIAL #1    $9.99
MAR190555    WILD STORM #23    $3.99

Monday, April 8, 2019

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 10, 2019

DC COMICS

SEP180604    ABSOLUTE SCARLET HC (RES) (MR)    $75.00
JAN190650    ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS TP VOL 01 ACTION DETECTIVE    $16.99
FEB190478    BATMAN #68    $3.99
FEB190479    BATMAN #68 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN199262    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE BLIND BAG MINI FIGS W1 (18PC CS) (Net)    $90.00
SEP180641    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE WHITE KNIGHT BY SEAN MURPHY    $80.00
FEB190484    BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #4 (OF 6)    $4.99
FEB190485    BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #4 (OF 6) VAR ED    $4.99
FEB190487    CATWOMAN #10    $3.99
FEB190488    CATWOMAN #10 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN190665    CATWOMAN TP VOL 01 COPYCATS    $16.99
SEP180642    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS BATWOMAN AWAY UNIFORM VAR STATUE    $125.00
SEP180566    DEATH & RETURN OF SUPERMAN OMNIBUS NEW ED HC    $150.00
FEB190489    DETECTIVE COMICS #1001    $3.99
FEB190490    DETECTIVE COMICS #1001 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN190669    ELSEWORLDS SUPERMAN TP VOL 02    $34.99
FEB190497    FLASH #68    $3.99
FEB190498    FLASH #68 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN190676    FORTUNE & GLORY A TRUE HOLLYWOOD COMIC BOOK STORY TP    $14.99
FEB190508    HAWKMAN #11    $3.99
FEB190509    HAWKMAN #11 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190511    HOUSE OF WHISPERS #8 (MR)    $3.99
JAN190682    JUSTICE LEAGUE AQUAMAN DROWNED EARTH HC    $29.99
FEB190518    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #8    $3.99
FEB190519    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #8 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN190688    PLASTIC MAN TP    $16.99
FEB190526    RED HOOD OUTLAW #33    $3.99
FEB190527    RED HOOD OUTLAW #33 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190528    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #36    $3.99
FEB190529    SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #36 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190536    SUPERGIRL #29    $3.99
FEB190537    SUPERGIRL #29 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190538    SUPERMAN #10    $3.99
FEB190539    SUPERMAN #10 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN190698    SUPERMANS PAL JIMMY OLSEN BY JACK KIRBY TP    $29.99
FEB190541    TITANS #36    $3.99
FEB190542    TITANS #36 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190548    WONDER TWINS #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB190549    WONDER TWINS #3 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190544    WONDER WOMAN #68    $3.99
FEB190545    WONDER WOMAN #68 VAR ED    $3.99

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Review: BATMAN: White Knight #1

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT No. 1 (OF 8)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY/ART: Sean Murphy
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: Sean Murphy with Matt Hollingsworth
VARIANT COVER: Sean Murphy with Matt Hollingsworth
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Sean Gordon Murphy is a respected comic book creator, writer-artist, and artist, thanks to projects like Punk Rock Jesus, The Wake (with writer Scott Snyder), and Joe the Barbarian (with writer Grant Morrison).  I like Murphy's stylish art, striking graphics, and dramatic graphical storytelling.

Late last year, DC Comics launched an eight-issue event miniseries, Batman: White Knight, written and drawn by Murphy, colored by Matt Hollingsworth, and lettered by the amazing Todd KleinWhite Knight finds The Joker determined to save Gotham City from Batman, whom he believes has gone too far in his fight against crime and has become dangerous.

Batman: White Knight #1 opens with Batman imprisoned and in chains.  Flash back to a year earlier, The Dark Knight is engaged in another hot pursuit of The Joker.  Things get out of hand.  Batman brutally assaults The Joker while Commissioner Jim Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department stand by and watch.  Then, The Joker is seemingly cured of his insanity and homicidal tendencies.  Enter Jack Napier, Gotham's “white knight” who will save Gotham from its “dark knight.”

I'm intrigued.  Batman: White Knight #1 is all over the place as a first issue.  I think that there is a lot to take in because Sean Murphy decides to put the entire premise and central plot right out there to the reader without being coy and dividing the introductions and inciting events over the first two issues.  I think Murphy can show how truly innovative or inventive he is as a comic book creator in what he presents and by how he executes it.  I guess I mean by how much of the narrative over these eight issues is or is not story padding.

I usually like Matt Hollingsworth's work as a colorist, but I find his work in Batman: White Knight#1 to be garish and also counterproductive to the story.  Todd Klein's lettering is good... as it always is... because he is amazing.

I have issues #2 through 7, and I am thinking about reading the rest of this series in one sitting.  But it may be too tempting to wait for the final issue.

7 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.

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


Monday, July 31, 2017

I Reads You Juniors July 2017 - Update #50

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in French.

From PreviewsWorld:  Marvel announced its 53rd Marvel Legacy title, Captain America #695, from the creative team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.

From HowardCruse:  Noted Underground Comix cartoonist Howard Cruse is writing about his experiences as a cartoonist for "Playboy" magazines.

From BleedingCool:  Bryan Hitch teases something with Justice League and Justice Society of America.

From BleedingCool:  Here is an 8-page preview of "X-Men: Grand Design" from Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree).

From ICv2:  Marvel reveals 1,000,000 BC Avengers.

From BleedingCool: In October, Image Comics will publish 30 tribute covers for "The Walking Dead."

From BleedingCool:  Mark Buckingham and Steve Rude will be the creative team of DC Comics' "Manhunter vs. Sandman," replacing the announced creative team.

From CBR:  Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca, the creative team behind Marvel's excellent Darth Vader comic book that began in 2015, will become the new creative time of the main Star Wars comic book, beginning in the Fall.

From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston interviews recent Eisner Award winner, Sonny Liew.

From CBR:  As part of Marvel Comics' "Legacy" the Inhumans in the comic book series, "Royals" will get a redesign by Javier Rodriguez.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in French.

From MailChimp via The Comics Reporter:  IDW and French graphic novel publisher, Glenat, have joined for a venture called "Original Graphic Novel," which will produce original comic books to be published both in the U.S. and France.

From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics Bullpen legend, Flo Steinberg, died Sunday, July 23, 2017.

From BleedingCool:  David Avallone talks about bring pin-up/bondage goddess Bettie Page back to comics in Dynamite Entertainment's "Bettie Page."

From TheComicsReporter:  Another newspaper editorial cartoonist, Nick Anderson, has been fired.

SDCC:

From BleedingCool:  Veterans artists Keith Pollard and Ron Wilson win "Inkpot Awards."

From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller will write and John Romita, Jr. will draw "Superman: Year One."

From BleedingCool:  "Highlights" from Marvel boss, Joe Quesada's SDCC panel.

From BleedingCool:  There will be a Justice League/Doom Patrol Young Animal crossover comic book event.

From CBR:  The 2017 Eisner Award winners (for excellence in comics) have been announced.  Image Comics' "Saga" led with four wins.

From CBR:  Beloved Star Wars Expanded Universe character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is getting a comic book series from Marvel Comics.

From CBR:  IDW Publishing has announced the expansion of the "Black Crown" imprint, which is overseen by former Vertigo boss, Shelley Bond, including a book drawn by Love and Rockets' Gilbert Hernandez.

From Newarama:  Grant Morrison is writing sequels to two of his biggest hits, "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Wonder Woman: Earth One."

From CBR:  Ed Piskor, the creator of "Hip Hop Family Tree," is producing a six-issue history of the X-Men in the miniseries, "X-Men: Grand Design."

From TheComicsReporter:  Jeff Smith ("Bone") is releasing his first picture book through Scholastic Books.

From BleedingCool:  At the IDW/Top Shelf panel, a final "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" miniseries is announced.
-----------------------------------------------------

From CBR:  Image Comics studio, Top Cow, is rebooting Cyber Force, which was one of the debut Image Comics titles in 1992.

From Vulture:  A profile of Karen Berger's new line of comic books at Dark Horse, "Berger Books."

From BleedingCool:  Award-winning cartoonist, Box Brown, will produce a new comic book based on Nickelodeon's "Rugrats" for BOOM! Studios "KaBoom!" imprint.

From BleedingCool:  Steve Skroce, the comic book artist famous for storyboarding the film, "The Matrix," has a new comic book.  He is writing and drawing "Maestros" from Image Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Former editor of DC Comics' Vertigo line, Karen Berger, is now at Dark Horse.  Her new line, Berger Books, announces its initial titles.

From BleedingCool:  DC Super Hero Girls keeps getting bigger.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #126 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #127 in English.

From BleedingCool:  Mike Ploog will make the miniseries, "Thicker Than Blood," his final work as he moves on to retirement.

From ComicsBeat:  Jack Kirby and Stan Lee named "Disney Legends" at D23 Expo 2017.

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

Youngblood #2 (Image Comics – June 2017) by Chad Bowers and Jim Towe with Juan Manuel Rodriguez

I would like to be snarky and be cynical, but I have to admit that I am really liking this new Youngblood comic book.  Writer Chad Bowers is keeping things relatively simple, introducing new characters and reviving “classic” Youngblood characters.  I don't remember much about the original Youngblood series, but I like the way in which Bowers is bringing together the past while pushing forward with new blood.  Artist Jim Towe and colorist Juan Manuel Rodriguez are quite good on covers and splash pages, and I can see Towe's storytelling steadily improving.  Simply put, I like what Bowers and Towe are doing here and so far, I enjoy the read.

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

From BleedingCool:  Scott Sndyer talks about his DC "Metal" comics.

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton details the history of "Super-Chief" in his latest DC History column.

From RichardSala:  Go and start reading "The Bloody Cardinal 2."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in French.

From BleedingCool:  More details on Sean Murphy's "Batman: White Knight."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Mobile - #88

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton gives you a Silver Age history of DC Comics' "Cave Carson," who now stars in "Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye."

From ICv2:  Marvel Comics' "Legacy #1" one-shot will lead into 53 new comic book titles.

From CBR:  Stan Sakai talks about his one-shot comic book that reunited his samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

From BleedingCool:  Will DC Comics make a move to return to publishing creator-owned comic books?

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124 in French

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Mobile #87.

---------------------------------
From BleedingCool:  Howard Chaykin responds to cover controversy.

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics and Howard Chaykin apologize and pull the planned cover art for "The Divided States of Hysteria #4."

From BleedingCool:  A tale of two covers - Black #3 and The Divided States of Hysteria #4.
---------------------------------

From GoFundMe:  Verteran comic book creator and World War II veteran Sam Glanzman is in hospice care and needs his readers' help.

From TCJ:  Sloane Leong offers a tribute to the webcomic, "Octopus Pie" (which I once reviewed for the ComicBookBin).


Saturday, March 11, 2017

Review EMPRESS #1

EMPRESS No. 1
MARVEL COMICS/Icon – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Ive Svorcina
LETTERS: Peter Doherty
COVER: Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger with Dave McCaig
VARIANT COVERS: Stuart Immonen; Stuart Immonen with Dave McCaig; Skottie Young; Steve McNiven with Ive Scorvina; Sean Gordon Murphy with Marte Gracia
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2016)

Rated T+

Empress is a new comic book series created by writer Mark Millar and artist Stuart Immonen.  The series focuses on the wife of a ruthless galactic conqueror and her bid to escape with their children.  Empress will apparently be comprised of three six-issue story arcs.  Empress is written by Millar, drawn by Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by Ive Svorcina; and lettered by Peter Doherty.

Empress #1 opens on Earth 65 million years ago during the time of Earth's first rulers.  This is a civilization lost to us when people lived in gleaming cities at the same time dinosaurs still existed.  King Morax is the merciless ruler who executes his citizens with impunity.  His wife, Queen Emporia, has seen enough of her husband's monstrous ways.  She plots to take her three children:  a brash teenage daughter, Aine; a bookish 'tween son, Adam; and an infant son, Puck.  Loyal Captain Dane Havelock will pilot their escape ship, but even his skills may not be enough to keep them from the reach of King Morax.

In press interviews to promote Empress, Mark Millar said that he wanted to do a sci-fi comic book that was fun.  He wanted Empress to be more in line with the original Star Wars (1977) and not like Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), a dark and edgy tale that has been influential on modern science fiction films.  And yes, Empress is fun – very fun.

With its dinosaurs, gleaming cities, a merciless ruler, and interstellar travel, Empress recalls Alex Raymond's comic strip, Flash Gordon, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' seminal planetary romance, the Barsoom series (also known as John Carter of Mars).  Both Flash Gordon and John Carter were obviously influential on the space opera, Star Wars, which informs Empress to some extent.

At this early point in the narrative, the characters are largely unknown, but Millar gives us a clear, basic explanation of the lead characters' motivations.  What really thrills at this point is the sparkly art by Immonen, von Grawbadger, and Svorcina.  The graphical storytelling is clean, spectacular though not complex, and, quite frankly, pretty.

So, yeah, I'm recommending Empress.  I enjoyed this first issue more than I did the first issues of other recent Millar comics, Chrononauts and Huck.

A-

http://www.millarworld.tv/

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 16, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JUN150515     68 LAST RIGHTS #2 CVR A JONES & FOTOS (MR)     $3.99
JUN150516     68 LAST RIGHTS #2 CVR B FOTOS (MR)     $3.99
JUL158444     BEAUTY #1 2ND PTG     $3.50
JUL150585     BEAUTY #2 CVR A HAUN (MR)     $3.50
JUL150586     BEAUTY #2 CVR B TEMPLESMITH (MR)     $3.50
JUL158433     BEAUTY #2 CVR C RODRIGUEZ (MR)     $3.50
JUL150552     BIRTHRIGHT TP VOL 02     $12.99
DEC140726     DEATH VIGIL #8     $3.99
JUL150588     FADE OUT #9 (MR)     $3.50
JUL150589     FADE OUT TP VOL 02 (MR)     $12.99
JUL150590     INVINCIBLE #123     $2.99
JUL150591     ISLAND #3 (MR)     $7.99
APR150652     MANIFEST DESTINY #17     $2.99
JUL150593     NO MERCY TP VOL 01     $9.99
JUL150563     ODYC #7 (MR)     $3.99
APR150664     RAT QUEENS #12 (MR)     $3.99
JUL150595     SECRET IDENTITIES #7     $3.99
JUL158177     SEX CRIMINALS #11 2ND PTG SKETCH CVR (MR)     $3.50
MAY150540     SEX CRIMINALS #12 (MR)     $3.50
JUL150596     SHUTTER #15 (MR)     $3.99
MAY150529     SOUTHERN CROSS #5 (MR)     $2.99
JUL150600     TOKYO GHOST #1 CVR A MURPHY (MR)     $3.99
JUL150601     TOKYO GHOST #1 CVR B MURPHY (MR)     $3.99
JUL158445     WOLF #1 2ND PTG     $4.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS
JUL150688     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 AF     $15.99
JUL150691     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 ATHLON SPARTAN AF     PI
JUL150689     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 MASTER CHIEF AF     PI
JUL150693     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 SPARTAN 2 AF     PI
JUL150694     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 SPARTAN 3 AF     PI
JUL150692     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 SPARTAN 5 AF     PI
JUL150690     HALO 5 GUARDIANS SER 1 SPARTAN LOCKE AF     PI
JUL150695     TMP NFL SUPER BOWL PATRIOTS 3-PK     PI

Friday, August 7, 2015

Review: BATMAN #41

BATMAN #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[Originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Greg Capullo and Danny Miki with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Sean Murphy with Matt Hollingsworth (Joker 75th Anniversary Cover)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“Superheavy” Part One

RoboBatBunny?  June 2015 kicks off the latest new direction for DC Comics (of sorts).  It's called “DC You.”  So, even DC's most popular characters must take a new direction, to one degree or another.  Gone, gone o'form of Batman... and rise the battle-suit Batman!

Batman #41 (“Superheavy” Part One) opens with some kind of bio-electrical monster attacking Gotham City's Little Cuba neighborhood.  Sometime before that attack, however, Powers International (an advanced tech company) makes former Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon an offer that common sense tells him he should refuse.  But he really can't.  At the age of 46, Jim Gordon may be the only man who can bring to life the new Batman that Gotham needs right now.

Yeah, I want to be a hater.  A year and a half ago, I would agree with those who said that Scott Snyder is one of the best Batman comic book writers ever.  After the tedium that was “Endgame” and the naseum of the overly long “Zero Year,” I was only grudgingly willing to say that Snyder is one of the best Batman writers of the last two decades... maybe.  And then this new Batman thing...

But... and it's a big but (and I know that BellBivDevoe said “don't trust a big butt and a smile”), Snyder could do something really good with this new Batman.  Truth to be told, I have always been interested in Batman battle-suits and armor-suits (like the cool one in Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).  I can't help but be interested in Jim Gordon the superhero.  Let's slave our imaginations into this Batman's guidance system, and see where it goes... at least, for a little while.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for repritn and syndication rights and fees.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 10, 2015

DC COMICS

OCT140403     ABSOLUTE TRANSMETROPOLITAN HC VOL 01 (MR)     $125.00
APR150230     ARROW SEASON 2.5 #9     $2.99
JAN150364     BATGIRL HC VOL 01 THE BATGIRL OF BURNSIDE (N52)     $24.99
DEC148636     BATGIRL TP VOL 01 THE BATGIRL OF BURNSIDE (N52)     $14.99
APR150254     BATMAN #41     $3.99
MAR150278     BATMAN CATACLYSM TP NEW ED     $29.99
APR150248     BATMAN SUPERMAN #21     $3.99
FEB150278     BODIES TP (MR)     $16.99
APR150261     CATWOMAN #41     $2.99
APR150314     COFFIN HILL #19 (MR)     $3.99
APR150185     CONSTANTINE THE HELLBLAZER #1     $2.99
APR150263     DETECTIVE COMICS #41     $3.99
APR150191     EARTH 2 SOCIETY #1     $2.99
APR150317     FABLES THE WOLF AMONG US #6 (MR)     $3.99
APR150318     FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #21 (MR)     $3.99
APR150265     GOTHAM ACADEMY #7     $2.99
APR150271     HARLEY QUINN #17     $3.99
APR150231     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #3     $2.99
APR150233     NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #9     $2.99
MAR150281     NIGHTWING TP VOL 02 ROUGH JUSTICE     $19.99
APR150207     RED HOOD ARSENAL #1     $2.99
APR150280     SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #58     $2.99
APR150211     SECTION 8 #1     $2.99
APR150213     STARFIRE #1     $2.99
APR150319     STRANGE SPORTS STORIES #4 (MR)     $4.99
FEB150257     SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS HC VOL 06 SUPERDOOM (N52)     $24.99
MAR150272     SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS TP VOL 05 WHAT LIES BENEATH (N52)     $14.99
MAR150313     WAKE TP (MR)     $17.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

DEC140433     DC COMICS ICONS SHAZAM STATUE     $99.95
DEC140429     SANDMAN CHESS SET     $299.95

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I Reads You Review: CHRONONAUTS #1

CHRONONAUTS #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
ARTIST: Sean Gordon Murphy – @Sean_G_Murphy
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: Sean Gordon Murphy with Matt Hollingsworth
VARIANT COVERS: Matteo Scalera with Matt Hollingsworth; Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire; Dan Panosian; Fiona Staples; Ryan Ottley with Kelsey Shannon; Fabio Moon; Chris Weston
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (March 2015)

Rated M / Mature

Chrononauts is a new comic book series created by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, The Secret Service) and artist Sean Gordon Murphy (Punk Rock Jesus).  The series focuses on the world's first time travelers and the problems they encounter.

Chrononauts #1 introduces Corbin Quinn.  He is the star scientist in NASA's Temporal-Observation Program.  After testing several “temporal vehicle” prototypes, Quinn and his partner, Dr. Danny Reilly, are ready for their first manned-mission through time with the help of their “chrono-suits.”  Something goes wrong; some always goes wrong, and it is usually not so easy to fix.

Like much of Mark Millar's creator-owned comics outside of Marvel Comics, Chrononauts is the usual, glossy, high-concept piece featuring people who know a lot, but don't realize how much they don't know.  Chrononauts lacks the gall of Kick-Ass and the gleeful maliciousness of Nemesis; plus, it seems like a shiny makeover of the late Michael Crichton's1999 novel Timeline that was adapted into a 2003 film of the same title.

I suspect Millar will offer more surprises in the second issue, so I will give it a try (if I can find a second issue).  Sean Murphy is a good comics storyteller, but nothing he does here really piques my interest.  Murphy is the series co-creator, but virtually any veteran comic book artist could have drawn Chrononauts.  Maybe, Murphy will also surprise in the second issue.

http://www.millarworld.tv/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux on Patreon.


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


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 18, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JAN150668     ALEX + ADA #13     $2.99
JAN150560     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR A MURPHY & HOLLINGSWORTH (MR)     $3.50
JAN150561     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR B SCALERA (MR)     $3.50
JAN150562     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR C SHALVEY (MR)     $3.50
JAN150563     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR D PANOSIAN (MR)     $3.50
JAN150564     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR E STAPLES (MR)     $3.50
JAN150565     CHRONONAUTS #1 CVR F OTTLEY (MR)     $3.50
DEC140723     COWL #9 (MR)     $3.99
DEC140657     DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 02 KIDS OF THE BLACK HOLE (MR)     $14.99
JAN150568     INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #1 (MR)     $2.99
JAN150631     LAZARUS TP VOL 03 CONCLAVE (MR)     $14.99
DEC140674     MADAME FRANKENSTEIN TP     $16.99
JAN150586     MANHATTAN PROJECTS SUN BEYOND THE STARS #1     $3.50
DEC140677     NIGHTWORLD TP VOL 01 MIDNIGHT SONATA     $12.99
JAN150643     NIXONS PALS HC (MR)     $19.99
JAN150696     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #7 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140684     PROPHET TP VOL 04 JOINING     $17.99
DEC140752     PUNKS THE COMIC #5 (MR)     $3.99
JAN150575     RED ONE #1 (MR)     $2.99
JAN150651     REVENGE TP (MR)     $14.99
JAN150702     REYN #3     $2.99
DEC148638     RUMBLE #2 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.50
JAN150705     SATELLITE SAM #12 (MR)     $3.50
JAN150707     SECRET IDENTITIES #2     $3.50
JAN150621     SEXCASTLE OGN (MR)     $15.99
JAN150717     SPARKS NEVADA MARSHAL ON MARS #2     $3.50
OCT140766     SPREAD #6 (MR)     $3.50
DEC140764     STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #2 (MR)     $3.50
OCT140777     WITCHBLADE #181 CVR A REARTE     $3.99
OCT140778     WITCHBLADE #181 CVR B SEJIC     $3.99
JAN150725     ZERO #15 CVR A BERTRAM & MULLER (MR)     $2.99
JAN150726     ZERO #15 CVR B LEMIRE & MULLER (MR)     $2.99

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 4, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

NOV140563     APHRODITE IX CYBER FORCE #1 CROSS OVER SDCC SGN EXC     $20.00
DEC140720     BIRTHRIGHT #5     $2.99
NOV140645     COWL #8 (MR)     $3.50
NOV140646     DEAD AT 17 BLASPHEMY THRONE #6     $3.50
NOV140651     EAST OF WEST #17     $3.50
DEC140641     EGOS #5     $2.99
DEC140666     GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS TP VOL 02 A STAR IS BORN (MR)     $14.99
DEC140737     HUMANS #4 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140745     NAILBITER #10 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140599     NAMELESS #1 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140746     ODDLY NORMAL #5 CVR A FRAMPTON     $2.99
DEC140747     ODDLY NORMAL #5 CVR B JONES     $2.99
DEC140626     POSTAL #1 CVR A SEJIC     $3.99
DEC140627     POSTAL #1 CVR B GOODHART     $3.99
DEC140643     SAGA #25 (MR)     $2.99
SEP140751     SHELTERED #14 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140761     SINERGY #4 CVR A OEMING (MR)     $3.50
DEC140762     SINERGY #4 CVR B RIOS (MR)     $3.50
OCT140692     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S LG MEN     $19.99
OCT140691     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S MED MEN     $19.99
OCT140690     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S SM MEN     $19.99
OCT140693     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S XL MEN     $19.99
OCT140694     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S XXL MEN     $19.99
OCT140695     SOUTHERN BASTARDS BOSS BBQ T/S XXXL MEN     $19.99
OCT140686     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S LG MEN     $19.99
OCT140685     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S MED MEN     $19.99
OCT140684     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S SM MEN     $19.99
OCT140687     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S XL MEN     $19.99
OCT140688     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S XXL MEN     $19.99
OCT140689     SOUTHERN BASTARDS SAWWEET TEE T/S XXXL MEN     $19.99
NOV140541     SPAWN #250 CVR A MCFARLANE     $5.99
NOV140542     SPAWN #250 CVR B CAPULLO     $5.99
NOV140543     SPAWN #250 CVR C YOUNG     $5.99
NOV140544     SPAWN #250 CVR D JOCK     $5.99
NOV140545     SPAWN #250 CVR E MURPHY     $5.99
NOV140546     SPAWN #250 CVR F TAN     $5.99
NOV140580     STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #1 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140689     VELVET #9 (MR)     $3.50
NOV140700     WYTCHES #4 (MR)     $2.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

OCT142303     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 AF     PI
OCT142306     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 DEZ BRYANT AF     PI
OCT142308     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 LEVEON BELL AF     PI
OCT142305     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 MANZIEL AF     PI
OCT142304     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 NAMATH AF     PI
OCT142307     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 NICK FOLES AF     PI
OCT142309     TMP SPORTS NFL SERIES 35 RUSSELL WILSON AF     PI

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

2014 Eisner Award Nominations Announced

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2014 Nominees

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards

Comic-Con International is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2014. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from history (real and imagined) to science fiction to autobiography.

Three titles lead the list with more than 3 nominations each: Marvel’s Hawkeye, Image’s Saga, and DC/Vertigo’s The Wake. Hawkeye is nominated for Best Continuing Series, Best Writer (Matt Fraction), and Best Penciller/Inker and Best Cover Artist (David Aja). Saga has received nods for Best Continuing Series (which won the category in 2013), Best Writer (Brian K. Vaughan), and Best Painter and Cover Artist (Fiona Staples). And The Wake is nominated for Best Limited Series, Best Writer (Scott Snyder), Best Penciller/Inker (Sean Murphy), and Best Cover Artist (Sean Murphy/Jordie Bellaire). Bellaire is also nominated in the Best Coloring category, for her work on The Wake and on numerous titles for other companies.

Titles garnering 3 nominations include Fantagraphics’s Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 (Best Short Story, Single Issue, Writer/Artist for Jaime Hernandez), Top Shelf’s March: Book One, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Best Publication for Teens, Reality-Based Work, and Penciller/Inker), and Candlewick’s Bluffton: My Summers with Buster, by Matt Phelan (Best Publication for Teens, Graphic Album–New, and Writer/Artist).

Other titles with multiple nominations are East of West (Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta, Image), Nowhere Men (Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde, Image), Pretty Deadly (Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Ríos, Image), Sex Criminals (Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, Image), Hip Hop Family Tree (Ed Piskor, Fantagraphics), Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life (Ullie Lust, Fantagraphics), The Adventures of Superhero Girl (Faith Erin Hicks, Dark Horse), The Fifth Beatle (Vivek J. Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson, and Kyle Baker, Dark Horse), Richard Stark’s Parker: Slayground (Darwyn Cooke, IDW), Genius, Illustrated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth (Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell, LOAC/IDW), Rachel Rising (Terry Moore, Abstract Studio), The Art of Rube Goldberg (Abrams ComicArts), The Encyclopedia of Early Earth (Isabel Greenberg, Little, Brown), Watson and Holmes (New Paradigm), The Complete Don Quixote (Rob Davis, SelfMadeHero), When David Lost His Voice (Judith Vanistendael, SelfMadeHero), Hilda and the Bird Parade (Luke Pearson, Nobrow), and High Crimes (Monkeybrain).

Among publishers, Image and Fantagraphics top the list with the most nominations. Image has 17 plus 3 shared. In addition to the nods for Saga, East of West, Nowhere Men, Pretty Deadly, and Sex Criminals, nominated Image titles include Lazarus (Rucka and Lark) and Rat Queens (Wiebe and Upchurch). Fantagraphics’s 18 nominations—besides Love and Rockets, Hip Hop Family Tree, and Today Is the Last Day)—are spread among such titles as Good Dog (Graham Chaffee), Julio’s Day (Gilbert Hernandez), Goddam This War (Tardi and Verney), The Heart of Thomas (Moto Hagio), and several archival collections.

Dark Horse ranks third with 12 nominations (plus 1 shared), including 2 for publisher Mike Richardson (Best Anthology for Dark Horse Presents and Best Limited Series for 47 Ronin with Stan Sakai). IDW’s 9 nominations include 5 in the archival categories, with 3 of Scott Dunbier’s Artist’s Editions up for Best Archival Collection–Comic Books and 2 of Dean Mullaney’s Library of American Comics collections up for Best Archival Collection–Comic Strips. Mullaney has 4 nominations in all.

DC and its Vertigo imprint are next with 8 nominations plus 2 shared, the majority going to The Wake. Ranking next is SelfMadeHero with 7 nods (including 3 for When David Lost His Voice and 2 for The Complete Don Quixote), followed by Marvel’s 6 (plus 4 shared), led by Hawkeye. Drawn & Quarterly’s 6 nominations include books by Peter Bagge, Tom Gauld, Rutu Modan, and Art Spiegelman.

Other publishers with multiple nominations include First Second, Nobrow, and Top Shelf (4 each) and Abstract Studio, BOOM!, Candlewick, and TOON Books (3 each). Eleven publishers have 2 nominations each, and another 31 companies or individuals have 1 nomination each.

Individual creators with the most nominations are David Aja, Matt Fraction, Gilbert Hernandez, Sean Murphy, Matt Phelan, Nate Powell, and Fiona Staples, all with 3. Nineteen creators can boast of 2 nominations.

Named for acclaimed comics creator the Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 26th year of highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels. The 2014 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of comics retailer Kathy Bottarini (Comic Book Box, Rhonert Park, CA), author/educator William H. Foster (Untold Stories of Black Comics), reviewer Christian Lipski (Portland, OR Examiner), Comic-Con International board member Lee Oeth, library curator Jenny Robb (Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum), and Eisner Award-nominated cartoonist/critic James Romberger (Post York, 7 Miles a Second).

Voting for the awards is held online, and the ballot will be available soon at www.eisnervote.com. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is June 13. The results of the voting will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 25 at Comic-Con International.

The voting in one Eisner Awards category, the Hall of Fame (LINK), is already completed. The judges chose the nominees earlier this year, and voting was conducted online.

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are presented under the auspices of Comic-Con International, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contributions of comics to art and culture. Jackie Estrada has been administrator of the Awards since 1990. She can be reached at jackie@comic-con.org.


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 28 2013

DC COMICS

FEB130216 ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN BATMAN HC VOL 01 $99.99
JUN130249 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #4 $3.99
JUN130230 ALL STAR WESTERN #23 $3.99
JUN130292 AMERICAN VAMPIRE ANTHOLOGY #1 (MR) $7.99
JUN130163 AQUAMAN #23 $2.99
JUN130197 BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1 $4.99
JUN130193 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3 $3.99
JUN130196 BATMAN SUPERMAN #3 COMBO PACK $4.99
JUN130207 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23 $2.99
JUN130215 CATWOMAN #23 $2.99
APR130253 FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 07 (MR) $29.99
JUN130296 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #2 (MR) $2.99
JUN130169 FLASH #23 $2.99
JUN130232 GREEN TEAM TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #4 $2.99
MAY130258 HELLBLAZER TP VOL 06 (MR) $19.99
JUN130244 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #8 $3.99
MAY130232 JACK KIRBYS OMAC ONE MAN ARMY CORPS TP $19.99
JUN130154 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23 (TRINITY) $3.99
JUN130157 JUSTICE LEAGUE #23 COMBO PACK (TRINITY) $4.99
JUN130227 LARFLEEZE #3 $2.99
MAY130257 LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN OMNIBUS TP $29.99
MAY130223 LEGION LOST TP VOL 2 THE CULLING (N52) $16.99
JUN130283 MAD MAGAZINE #523 $5.99
JUN130225 RED LANTERNS #23 $2.99
APR130263 SANDMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 (MR) $150.00
JUN130189 SUPERMAN #23 $2.99
MAY130228 SWORD OF SORCERY TP VOL 01 AMETHYST (N52) $24.99
JUN130203 TALON #11 $2.99
MAY130217 TALON TP VOL 01 SCOURGE OF THE OWLS (N52) $16.99
JUN130240 TEEN TITANS #23 $2.99
JUN130297 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #2 $2.99
JUN130289 UNWRITTEN #52 (MR) $2.99
JUN130294 WAKE #1 DIRECTORS CUT (MR) $4.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

APR130283 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY NIGHTWING STATUE $124.95
APR130287 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY SEAN MURPHY $79.95
MAY130272 HUSH JOKER HARLEY STEALTH BATMAN AF 3 PACK $49.95


Saturday, August 10, 2013

I Reads You Review: The Wake #1

THE WAKE #1 (OF 10)
DC COMICS/Vertigo – @vertigo_comics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
ARTIST: Sean Murphy – @Sean_G_Murphy
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Sean Murphy with Jordie Bellaire
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2013)

Part One

The Wake is a new 10-issue miniseries created by writer Scott Snyder and artist Sean Murphy.  Snyder has described The Wake as a “deep-sea, sci-fi, horror epic, with elements of post-apocalyptic storytelling...”  The series follows a marine biologist who investigates new threats from the depths of the ocean.

The Wake #1 takes place in three different time periods.  Two hundred years in the future, a young woman and her dolphin companion are on a quest in a half-drowned city.  In the present, Lee Archer, a marine biologist in exile (sort of), is approached by Agent Astor Cruz of the Department of Homeland Security.  Cruz is calling upon Archer to examine and to give her analysis of something that was found at the bottom of the ocean.  The final chapter of the first issue takes place 100,000 years ago with a cave painter.

The Wake #1 is a great big tease.  In recent decades, comic books are published in which stories are “decompressed,” and those stories are told in arcs that can run five or six issues or more before the conclusion.  This means that comic book writers have to find ways to keep readers interested in buying multiple issues.  There are often single panels, scenes made of several panels, or sequences of pages that are more about sensation than storytelling.  Ultimately, a reader could pay $18 to $30 for what is basically a short story that is told as a 100+ page graphic narrative, so titillation is needed to give the reader a reason to keep buying future issues.

The Wake #1 barely classifies as a chapter.  It is bits and pieces of various prologues with some nice “gotcha” moments and shocking-reveal panels to make investing in a second issue seem worth it a comic book reader/comic book customer.  The Wake #1 is not a bad comic book.

Sean Murphy’s art that is published in color has a clean, attractive drawing style, and Scott Snyder is a good modern comic book writer.  Both have done quality and entertaining work, so on the reputation of the creators alone, The Wake is worth a look.  If lesser known or even unknown creators had created The Wake, I doubt Vertigo would be publishing it.  Maybe, Image Comics would.  That said, I do look forward to trying the second issue.

B

http://www.seangordonmurphy.com/
www.vertigocomics.com



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I Reads You Review: PUNK ROCK JESUS #1

"JAY-ZUS!"
PUNK ROCK JESUS #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/Vertigo - @vertigo_comics

WRITER/ARTIST: Sean Murphy – @Sean_G_Murphy
LETTERS: Todd Klein
32pp, B&W, $2.99 U.S.

Late last year, I reviewed Joe the Barbarian: The Deluxe Edition (DC Comics/Vertigo), the hardcover edition of Grant Morrison’s miniseries, Joe the Barbarian. I focused my review on series’ artist, Sean Murphy. Born Sean Gordon Murphy, the Brooklyn-based animator and comic book artist is best known for his work with DC Comics, including the Batman/Scarecrow: Year One miniseries and Hellbazer.

At the time, I said that Murphy should be a star, and I was right. His latest work, a creator-owned series (although DC owns the trademarks) proves that. Written and drawn by Murphy, Punk Rock Jesus is a new black and white, six-issue miniseries set in the near-future. It is about a reality television series starring a clone of Jesus Christ.

Punk Rock Jesus #1 opens on tragedy then moves on to some craziness. American entertainment conglomerate, Ophis, has a surprise coming Christmas 2019. They are producing a new TV reality show, “J2,” starring the first human clone in history, Jesus Christ. With a little Jurassic Park-style genetic manipulation plus the Shroud of Turin, Dr. Sarah Epstein, geneticist and environmentalist, will obtain and insert genetic material into a donor egg. Teen virgin, Gwen Fairling, will be the new “Virgin Mother.” The guy providing security for Ophis and its biblical Frankenstein project, however, is Thomas McKael, who has his own very dark past.

Murphy has fashioned a fascinating concept full of engaging characters that he uses to deliver biting sarcasm, sparkling wit, and sharp satire. Still, the true star here is Murphy’s black and white art. Murphy takes his rock solid draftsmanship and first-rate compositions and creates an incomparable graphic style. This is a potent visual language that brings the characters to life in a way that makes them pop off the page.

Murphy draws the characters in such a way that their personalities and attitudes come through plainly. It is clear that each is different from the other. Thomas McKael is a large, solid man – a pillar of bad-ass. He is all brooding with an aura of menace that is a halo of warning to the other characters. Slade, an Ophis executive, is obviously a slimy money-grubber. He is like Mitt Romney stripped of his friendly-entrepreneur veneer so that the reptilian, Mammon acolyte beneath is laid bare. Murphy visualizes Dr. Sarah Epstein as thoughtful and contemplative. She is the most sane and sensible of this lot, although she is the mad scientist here.

I wouldn’t call Punk Rock Jesus a punk comic book; Murphy is too polished and skilled to come across as either a rebel or an outlier. Still, Punk Rock Jesus’ attitude is closer to punk than most mainstream comic books.

Praise the Lord, this is a good one. I plan on being a loyal follower of this Jesus.

A-

http://www.seangordonmurphy.com/

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews JOE THE BARBARIAN: The Deluxe Edition

JOE THE BARBARIAN: THE DELUXE EDITION
DC COMICS/Vertigo

WRITERS: Grant Morrison
ARTIST: Sean Murphy
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Todd Klein
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2971-9; hardcover
224pp, Color, $29.99 U.S., $34.00 CAN

Sean Gordon Murphy is the New Hampshire-born, Brooklyn-based animator and comic book artist best known for his work with DC Comics, including the Batman/Scarecrow: Year One miniseries and Hellbazer. He has also had work published by Dark Horse Comics and Oni Press. I mention Murphy because he is ready to be a star. He should be a star, and a new hardcover comics collection testifies to that.

Joe the Barbarian is an eight-issue miniseries created and written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Sean Murphy with colors by Dave Stewart. Published during 2010 (cover date March 2010 to March 2011) by Vertigo, the DC Comics imprint, the series blended both high and epic fantasy with quest fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and juvenile fiction. Vertigo recently published Joe the Barbarian: The Deluxe Edition, a hardcover book which collects all eight issues of the series with supplemental material (script sample, sketches, script breakdowns, art progression, etc.)

The title character of the series is Joseph “Joe” Manson, Jr., a teenage boy with Type 1 diabetes. When his blood sugar drops, Joe enters a state of hypoglycemia, which means the glucose content in his blood is abnormally low. When he is hypoglycemic, Joe begins to hallucinate, and his mind imagines a fantasy world that is actually based on the design and floor plan of his house. This world is populated by his toys and other fantasy characters (superheroes like Superman and Batman, knights, dwarves, and also a Transformer-like toy, among others). One of the characters is an anthropomorphic rat named “Chakk,” a warrior/paladin that is the fantasy version of Joe’s pet white rate, Jack.

Alone in his house during a lightning storm, Joe enters a state of hypoglycemia, and the hallways and doorways of his big, dark house become vast kingdoms, mist-shrouded landscapes, and sinister gateways. And Joe is now the Dying Boy. He is the one legends claim will restore the Light and overthrow King Death, the one who wants to cover the world in darkness and turn the living into the dead. Joe is confused as to whether he is really a hero, or just in need of a soda to stop a series of hallucinations. Still, he must complete some kind of quest or his first adventure will be his last. Either way, Chakk/Jack is by his side.

As with much of Grant Morrison’s comic book work, Joe the Barbarian is not lacking in imagination and inventiveness. Even with its Tolkien-esque qualities, Morrison’s clever and inspired flourishes (such as how the house’s infrastructure shapes Joe’s hallucinations) stand apart as unusual. Still, as a whole, this series is like empty calories because there isn’t much substantive or mentally nutritious like… say… The Invisibles. Even as a metaphor, Joe the Barbarian doesn’t resonate, as it doesn’t have much worth grappling with metaphorically. There are some interesting set pieces and some ingenious panels here and there. Yes, Joe the Barbarian is entertaining, but that’s about it.

If I have to say that something in Joe the Barbarian blew my mind, I would say that it is the art of Sean Murphy. The compositions surpass Morrison’s ideas in terms of imagination, because, visually, Murphy’s drawings are what give Joe the Barbarian the feel that the story is a “flight of fancy” with consequence and significance. In addition, Murphy’s sustained high level of draftsmanship over eight issues is only surpassed by Jim Lee when considering comic books published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics.

Over time, trade collections of this series will undoubtedly attract readers because Joe the Barbarian is a brainchild of Grant Morrison. The art and the supplemental material, however, make Joe the Barbarian: The Deluxe Edition a portfolio of and showcase for the art of Sean Murphy.

B