Showing posts with label Tom Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Taylor. Show all posts

Monday, November 27, 2023

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 29, 2023

MARVEL COMICS

SEP230667 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN GANG WAR FIRST STRIKE #1 $5.99
SEP230668 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN GANG WAR FIRST STRIKE #1 JOEY VAZQUEZ $5.99
AUG239109 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN GANG WAR FIRST STRIKE #1 SPIDER-MAN 2 VAR $5.99
AUG230985 AVENGERS WEST COAST EPIC COL VOL 02 LOST IN SPACE TIME TP $44.99
SEP230717 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 $4.99
SEP230719 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 BJORN BARENDS KNIGHTS END VAR $4.99
SEP230721 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 NIC KLEIN STORMBREAKERS VAR $4.99
SEP230718 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 PHIL JIMENEZ VAR $4.99
SEP230720 CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 RON FRENZ AVENGERS 60TH VAR $4.99
AUG230982 EXCALIBUR EPIC COLLECT TP VOL 09 YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED $49.99
AUG230971 GHOST RIDER TP VOL 03 DRAGGED OUT OF HELL $19.99
AUG230979 GROOT UPROOTED TP $15.99
SEP230616 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 $5.99
SEP230622 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 100 COPY INCV INSIGNIA VIR VAR $5.99
SEP230618 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 ANNIE WU MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS VAR $5.99
SEP230621 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 INSIGNIA VAR $5.99
SEP230619 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 RON LIM VAR $5.99
SEP230617 HOWARD THE DUCK #1 SKOTTIE YOUNG VAR $5.99
AUG230975 IMMORTAL X-MEN BY KIERON GILLEN TP VOL 03 $15.99
AUG230986 IRON MAN EPIC COLLECT THE WAR OF SUPER VILLAINS TP VOL #6 $44.99
SEP230663 LUKE CAGE GANG WAR #1 $4.99
SEP230665 LUKE CAGE GANG WAR #1 ELENA CASAGRANDE STORMBREAKERS VAR $4.99
SEP230666 LUKE CAGE GANG WAR #1 PHIL NOTO VAR $4.99
SEP230664 LUKE CAGE GANG WAR #1 SERGIO DAVILA CONNECT VAR $4.99
SEP230701 MARVEL ZOMBIES BLACK WHITE BLOOD #2 $5.99
SEP230704 MARVEL ZOMBIES BLACK WHITE BLOOD #2 LUCIO PARRILLO VAR $5.99
SEP230653 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #12 $3.99
AUG239110 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #12 BIOMECHANICAL SUIT SPIDER-MAN 2 $3.99
SEP230654 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #12 SALVADOR LARROCA KNIGHTS END $3.99
SEP230789 MOON KNIGHT #29 $3.99
SEP230790 MOON KNIGHT #29 INHYUK LEE LAST DAYS OF MOON KNIGHT VAR $3.99
SEP230724 MS MARVEL NEW MUTANT #4 $3.99
SEP230725 MS MARVEL NEW MUTANT #4 BENJAMIN SU HOMAGE VAR $3.99
SEP230726 MS MARVEL NEW MUTANT #4 CHRIS SAMNEE TEAM HOMAGE VAR $3.99
SEP230727 MS MARVEL NEW MUTANT #4 PHIL NOTO VAR $3.99
SEP230696 PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE #3 $5.99
SEP230698 PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE #3 ADAM KUBERT VAR $5.99
SEP230697 PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE #3 WHILCE PORTACIO VAR $5.99
SEP230761 REALM OF X #4 (OF 4) $3.99
AUG230989 SPIDER-MAN BY TOM TAYLOR TP $34.99
SEP230656 SPIDER-WOMAN #1 $4.99
SEP230658 SPIDER-WOMAN #1 BENGAL VAR $4.99
SEP230661 SPIDER-WOMAN #1 EJIKURE SPIDER-WOMAN VAR $4.99
SEP230660 SPIDER-WOMAN #1 KAEL NGU KNIGHT`S END VAR $4.99
SEP230855 STAR WARS OBI-WAN KENOBI #3 $4.99
SEP230857 STAR WARS OBI-WAN KENOBI #3 PERE PEREZ VAR $4.99
AUG230987 THUNDERBOLTS DARK REIGN TP $39.99
SEP230777 UNCANNY X-MEN #142 FACSIMILE EDITION $4.99
SEP230778 X-MEN BLUE ORIGINS #1 $5.99
SEP230780 X-MEN BLUE ORIGINS #1 EM GIST MYSTIQUE VAR $5.99
SEP230779 X-MEN BLUE ORIGINS #1 RUSSELL DAUTERMAN VAR $5.99

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Tuesday, February 15, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: BATMAN: The Detective #1

BATMAN: THE DETECTIVE #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS

STORY: Tom Taylor
ART: Andy Kubert
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Ben Abernathy
COVER: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; Riccardo Federici
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2021)

Rated: Age 13+

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“Batman The Detective” Part One


Batman: The Detective is a new six-issue comic book miniseries.  It is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Andy Kubert; colored by Brad Anderson; and lettered by Clem Robins.  This miniseries takes Batman on a harrowing, action-packed European adventure, in which he will meet new allies … and new enemies.

Batman: The Detective #1 opens 36,000 feet above Lancashire, England aboard Wayne Airlines, Flight 89.  It is flying from Gotham City to London with 147 passengers when tragedy strikes – and it is all Batman's fault.  This very personal and deadly message draws Batman out of Gotham to investigate, but waiting for him is an old ghost and also a name – “Equilibrium.”  This story guest-stars Knight (Beryl Hutchinson) and introduces the new Squire (Amina).

THE LOWDOWN:  Many acclaimed artists have drawn a Batman comic book or comic book series.  My favorites tend to be artists who left their mark on Batman during the last three and a half decades of the twentieth-century:  Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, Frank Miller, and David Mazzuchelli.  The twenty-first century has offered an entire new roster of Batman artists for me to love, including an artist who has been drawing some of the most beautiful Batman comic book art for the last 15 years, Andy Kubert.

I bought a copy of Batman: The Detective #1 so that my imagination could enjoy some gorgeous Andy Kubert Batman art, and I am still thumbing through the pages of this comic book.  Kubert's aquiline and muscular Batman/Bruce Wayne is like a coiled big cat.  My favorite Kubert Batman pages are those splash pages and partial splash pages in which Kubert fills those pages with a larger-than-life Batman or a larger-than-life character, sometimes wearing a Batman-like costume.  [Early in Kubert's run as the artist of the ongoing Batman comic book series, he drew a massive Bane in a Batman costume.  Wow!]

As for the story, Tom Taylor offers a clever gimmick and hook.  Still, I think Batman: The Detective #1 is mostly flat until the second half of the story.  There is, however, potential here, but not enough for me to spend $19.95 U.S. plus tax to read the remaining five issues.  Andy Kubert is the reason that I am giving this comic book a high grade.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Andy Kubert's Batman art will want to try Batman: The Detective.

B+
7 out of 10

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


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

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Monday, May 3, 2021

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 5, 2021

MARVEL COMICS

OCT200683    ALL-NEW WOLVERINE BY TOM TAYLOR OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
OCT200684    ALL-NEW WOLVERINE BY TOM TAYLOR OMNIBUS HC KUBERT DM VAR    $100.00
MAR210610    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #65    $3.99
MAR210606    AMERICA CHAVEZ MADE IN USA #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR210607    AMERICA CHAVEZ MADE IN USA #3 (OF 5) COLA VAR    $3.99
FEB219064    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #1 (OF 4) 2ND PTG GLEASON VAR    $4.99
MAR210578    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #3 (OF 4)    $4.99
MAR210579    CARNAGE BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD #3 (OF 4) EASTMAN VAR    $4.99
NOV200616    COMPLETE KIRBY WAR AND ROMANCE HC ROMANCE DM VAR    $125.00
NOV200615    COMPLETE KIRBY WAR AND ROMANCE HC WAR CVR    $125.00
MAR210725    DAREDEVIL #30 POSTER    $8.99
FEB210692    DEAD MAN LOGAN COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $29.99
MAR210724    FANTASTIC FOUR #32 POSTER    $8.99
MAR210594    HELLIONS #11    $3.99
MAR210497    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7)    $5.99
MAR210507    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) ARTGERM VAR    $5.99
MAR210501    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) BAGLEY TRADING CARD CENTER VAR    $5.99
MAR210500    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) BAGLEY TRADING CARD VAR    $5.99
MAR210506    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) CASSARA STORMBREAKERS VAR    $5.99
MAR210504    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $5.99
MAR210502    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) COELLO GATEFOLD VAR    $5.99
MAR210505    HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7) PACHECO SQUADRON SUPREME VAR    $5.99
MAR210722    HEROES REBORN BY MARK BAGLEY POSTER    $8.99
MAR210633    IMMORTAL HULK #46    $3.99
MAR210634    IMMORTAL HULK #46 BENNETT HOMAGE VAR    $3.99
MAR210604    IRON FIST HEART OF DRAGON #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR210605    IRON FIST HEART OF DRAGON #5 (OF 6) PETROVICH VAR    $3.99
FEB210688    KING DEADPOOL TP VOL 02    $15.99
NOV200605    KULL SAVAGE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS HC BROOKS CVR (MR)    $125.00
NOV200606    KULL SAVAGE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS HC WHELAN DM VAR (    $125.00
MAR210593    MARAUDERS #20    $3.99
FEB210685    MS MARVEL BY SALADIN AHMED TP VOL 03 OUTLAWED    $17.99
MAR210723    SHANG-CHI #1 POSTER    $8.99
FEB210701    SQUADRON SUPREME TP HALL DM VAR NEW PTG    $34.99
FEB210700    SQUADRON SUPREME TP ROSS CVR NEW PTG    $34.99
MAR210658    STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA DIRECTOR CUT #1    $5.99
MAR210653    STAR WARS WAR BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA #1    $3.99
MAR210657    STAR WARS WAR BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA #1 ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAR210655    STAR WARS WAR BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA #1 MCNIVEN CRIMSON VAR    $3.99
MAR210656    STAR WARS WAR BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA #1 YU VAR    $3.99
MAR210642    STRANGE ACADEMY #10    $3.99
MAR210643    STRANGE ACADEMY #10 ART ADAMS CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT VAR    $3.99
MAR210587    THANOS QUEST MARVEL TALES #1    $7.99
MAR210640    THE UNION #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR210641    THE UNION #5 (OF 5) GARBETT VAR    $3.99
MAR210575    THOR AND LOKI DOUBLE TROUBLE #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
NOV200621    VENOM BY MICHELINIE AND MCFARLANE GALLERY EDITION HC    $44.99
NOV200607    VENOMNIBUS HC VOL 01 BAGLEY CVR NEW PTG    $125.00
MAR210551    X-MEN CURSE MAN-THING #1    $4.99
MAR210552    X-MEN CURSE MAN-THING #1 ZITRO VAR    $4.99


Saturday, October 31, 2020

I Reads You Juniors October 2020 - Update #100

"Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page

DC FUTURE STATE - From TheBeat:   A first look at "Nubai," the classic Wonder Woman character as she will be in DC Future State's "Immortal Wonder Woman."

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  A beginner's guide to DC Comics horror.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group will team up with independent book publisher Chooseco to create a line of official "Choose Your Own Adventure" graphic novels adapting classic titles from the long-running line of "Choose Your Own Adventure" books.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Comics previews its 2021 middle grade (9-12 years old) graphic novel releases... including a "Hellblazer" title.

COMICS - From ESPN:  Former Chicago Bear, Lance Briggs, is one of the creators of a superhero graphic novel, "The Trap."

DC COMICS - From BusinessInsider:   Two Black former DC Comics editors describe the career obstacles they faced, from white leadership saying they'd never be promoted to their achievements being undercut.

MANGA - From GamesRadar:   TOKYOPOP will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the "Resident Evil" video game with an original graphic novel that ties into the game, "Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The next "Marvel Made" high-end, archival book will focus on the X-Men work of famed comic book scribe, Chris Claremont.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From BleedingCool:  August 2021, Fantagraphics Books will publish a collection of Jaime Hernandez's cartoon illustrations of women wrestlers, "Queen of the Rings: Wrestling Drawings.  Hernandez and his brother, Gilbert, are the creators of "Love and Rockets."

DC TV - From TheWrap:   Here is a first look at Jason Todd's Red Hood "supersuit" as seen in HBO Max's "Titans" Season 3.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Apparently, DC Comics did not drop UCS Comic Distributors.  UCS dropped DC.

DC TV - From Deadline:   The CW's reveals two new photos of the new Batwoman, Javicia Leslie, as "Ryan Wilder" in a redesigned "Bat-suit."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  The artists working on the video game, "Mile Morales: Spider-Man" (for PS4 and PS5), are going to draw variant covers for four of Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man" titles shipping in November 2020.

COMICS - From Diamond:   Here is Diamond Comic Distributors "Top 100 Comics: September 2020."  "Venom #28" takes the top spot.

CONVENTION - From TheBeat:   Virtual Baltimore Comic-Con 2020 is live.

DC TV - From GamesRadar:   The CW's new "Batwoman," "Ryan Wilder," will appear in Batgirl #50, the final issue of that series.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics has revealed its "Marvel vs. Aliens" variant covers for January 2021.  And yes, I am talking about "Alien" film franchise.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Ted Adams' Clover Press will republish the entire 18-issuue run of Steve Niles and Scott Hampton's "Simon Dark" comic book series.  It was published by DC Comics/Vertigo from 2007 to 2009.

COMICS TO FILM - From Deadline:  MGM acquires the screen rights to the comic book, "Mercy Sparx," the creation of Josh Blaylock.

DC CINEMA - From IGN:   Actor Jared Leto who played "the Joker" in the film, "Suicide Squad," will reportedly return as the character in "Justice League: Snyder Cut."

MANGA - From BookRiot:   What is the difference between lesbian manga and "Yuri" manga?

MARVEL COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Today's (Wed., Oct. 21st) Marvel Comics includes tributes to "Black Panther" star, the late Chadwick Boseman.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Bleeding Cool talks to Image Comics star Todd McFarlane, Part One.
 
From BleedingCool: Bleeding Cool talks to Image Comics star Todd McFarlane, Part Two.
 
From BleedingCool:  Bleeding Cool talks to Image Comics star Todd McFarlane, Part Three.
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DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics UCS Comic Distributors; the last day to order DC from UCS is November 29, 2020.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Marco Rudy is using Kickstarter to fund his hand-painted original graphic novel, "RDW."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Oscar-winning screenwriter, John Ridley, has been writing comic books on-and-off for two decades.  In January, he writes for Marvel Comics for the first time when he contributes to the "Wolverine: Black, White and Blood" anthology.

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Actor Michael B. Jordan and his production company, Outlier Society, join Reginald Hudlin on the "Static Shock" feature project for Warner Bros.  The film will be based on the DC/Milestone Media comic book, "Static." 

DC TV - From EW:  Actress Adrianne Palicki on starring in NBC's unaired pilot for a "Wonder Woman" TV series back in 2011.

DC COMICS - From FortressofSolitude:   Opinion: Why DC Comics' "Rorshach" is bad news for the comic book industry.

COMICS - From BusinessInsider:  How AWA, a comic book company founded by former Marvel executives, survived the COVID-19 pandemic after launching in March.

MANGA - From ScreenRant:  Yen Press has released a preview of its upcoming manga-graphic novel, "Leia: Princess of Alderaan."

COMICS - From TheBeat:  So Andrew Rev and Terrific Production have turned out to be what many comic book people expected them to be. 

DC FUTURE STATE NEWS:

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will make all their "Future State" comic books returnable for comic book stores.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Future State Superman and Justice League January 2021 solicitations

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   DC Future State Batman January 2021 solicitations

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" reveals the Next Batman, the fate of Bruce Wayne, and a whole new line of titles

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  "DC Future State" details.

DC Comics - From THR:   DC Comics is starting 2021 by looking into the future of its superhero universe with "DC Future State," a two-month publishing event (January and February 2021) that offers glimpses at what might be coming for Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League.
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DARK HORSE - From THR:   Dark Horse Comics will release "Avatar: The Next Shadow" in 2021.  It will be the first official continuation of James Cameron's 2009 film, "Avatar."

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   Yen Press Announces 11 New Titles at NYCC Metaverse

MARVEL TO FILM - From Messenger:  Luke Hemsworth, the 39-year-old brother of actor, Chris Hemsworth, would love to play Wolverine.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Georges Jeanty is the new artist on Marvel's USAgents comic book that Christopher Priest is writing.

STAN LEE - From WashPost:   The paper's website has a great piece entitled, "Five myths about Stan Lee" by Abraham Riesman.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  The publisher's website offers a free preview of "Rorschach #1," which is due in stores October 13th.

MARVEL -From BleedingCool:   Artist Ryan Ottley is leaving "The Amazing Spider-Man" with issue #850 simply because he feels its.

DC TV - From Variety:  HBO Max has given a greenlight to a "Green Lantern" TV series and has ordered 10 episodes.  The series will focus on a number of Green Lanterns, including Guy Gardner and Jessica Cruz.

COMICS - From TheBeat:   Denton J. Tipton will head Heavy Metal's recently launched creator-owned impront, "Magma Comix." Tipton was formerly the managing editor at IDW Publishing.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press announced the "Sword Art Online Platinum Collector's Edition," a deluxe limited edition box set of the iconic "Sword Art Online" light novel series written by Reki Kawahara with illustrations by abec.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics movies "Eternals #1" January 2021 from November 2020.

OGN - From THR:  Penguin Random House has acquired the publication rights to writer Tom Taylor and artist Jon Sommariva's graphic novel "Neverlanders," which is inspired by "Peter Pan." 

From GamesRadar:  Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva's "Neverlanders" is part of a two-book graphic novel series.

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COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author, N.K. Jemisin, is also the writer-creator of the DC Comics title, "Far Sector."  Now, she is a member of the 2020 class of MacArthur Fellows, which comes with a five-year stipend.

SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  There is a trademark battle over the terms, "Comicsgate"... if you care.

DIAMOND - From BleedingCool:  For the UK market, Diamond UK will continue to distribute DC Comics titles.

COMICS TO MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  "Why Spider-Man 3 And The Flash Have Me Concerned About The Future Of Comic Book Movies" by Dirk Libbey

MARVEL-HULU - From BleedingCool:  Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt share info on the Hulu animated series, "Marvel's M.O.D.O.K."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Spider-Gwen" co-creator, Robbi Rodriguez, will help Valiant Comics relaunch "Harbinger."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Super hot variant cover artist, Peach Momoko, has signed on as a "Marvel exclusive" artist...reportedly. 

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics has announced "Marvel Stormbreakers,"its next "generation" of elite (mediocre) artists.

MANGA - From WhyThe:  A  list of cyberpunk manga.

DIAMOND - From TheBeat:   For the first time since the "Great Suspension" (when Diamond Comic Distributors stopped distributing product due to the COVID-19 shutdown), there is a Diamond monthly sales chart.  Marvel holds all top ten spots for August 2020, although it should be noted that DC Comics is no longer distributed by Diamond.

COMIC SHOPS - From NYDailyNews:   After being closed due to COVID-19, "Loot," the children's comic book shop in Brooklyn, NYC, has reopened.

COMICS - From Leader:   TidalWave Productions is producing a second comic book about Netflix's hit series, "Tiger King."

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Lucky retailers will receive a rare copy of Spawn #311 with a black and white variant cover tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman ("Black Panther").

MANGA - From ComicBook:  "One Piece" manga creator, Eiichiro Oda, may be pondering not producing another manga after he concludes "One Piece."

MANGA - From BookRiot:  The website offers "a glossary of manga" terms for manga newcomers.

DARK HORSE - From ComicYears:   Dark Horse Comics has announced a comic book adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel, "Norse Mythology," adapted by Gaiman and frequent collaborator, P. Craig Russell.

IN MEMORIAM - From LATimes: Cartoonist Joaquin Salvador Lavado, who worked under the pen name, "Quino," has died at the age of 88 in Mendoza, Argentina, the city where he was born.  He was best known for the satirical comic strip, "Malfada" (1964-1973), which starred a six-year-old girl named Mafalda.  The strip was very popular in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world.

DC COMICS - From DCComics:  DC provides a six-page preview of "American Vampire 1976 #1."

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Now, that DC Comics has left Diamond Comic Distributors, Image Comics has taken advantage and moved up to the #2 spot in Diamond marketplace share... behind Marvel, of course.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   Yen Press announces "King of Eden" manga.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Really talented 1990s comic book artist, Aron Wiesenfeld, explains why he left comics.

MANGA - From ComicBook:  The complete run of the manga, "Shaman King," will be available for digital download at comiXology and for the Kindle beginning Oct. 6th.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   Emmy-winning actress, Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files," "The Crown") is producing a comic book with artist, Gary Yap."  Entitled "55," the series will raise money for charity, and the first issue is now available through comiXology and the Kindle.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From FantaBlog:  "Tenacious D" (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) were on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to promote their hot graphic novel, "Post-Apocalypto."

DC TV - From EW:  Actor Victor Morf, recently of Fox's "Gotham," has been cast as "Victor Zsasz," a villain in Season 2 of The CW's "Batwoman."

CONAN - From THR:  Netflix has acquired the rights to produced a TV series based on the "Conan the Barbarian" property.

DC TV - From Variety:   Season Two Batwoman star, Javicia Leslie, unveils first look at he new Batsuit.

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OCTOBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From 1stComicsNews:  AfterShock Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for October 2020

NOVEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Abaze for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press/Lion Forge for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for November 2020

DECEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for December 2020 

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Chapterhouse for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for December 2020

From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for December 2020

JANUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  AWA for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2021 
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics - King in Black for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Titans Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for January 2021
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for January 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for February 2021


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Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Review: DCEASED #1

DCEASED No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
PENCILS: Trevor Hairsine; James Harren
INKS: Stefano Gaudiano; James Harren
COLORS: Rain Beredo
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
EDITOR: Ben Abernathy
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S./ U.S. (July 2019)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“Going Viral”

DCeased is a new six-issue comic book series from DC Comics.  It chronicles the heroes of the DC Universe and their desperate struggle to end a techno-virus that is turning the people of earth into engines of destruction.  The first issue of the series is written by Tom Taylor.  It is drawn by Trevor Hairsine, (pencils), James Harren (pencils/inks); and Stefano Gaudiano (inks).  Colorist Rain Beredo; letterer Saida Temofonte; and editor Ben Abernathy complete the creative team.

DCeased #1 (“Going Viral”) opens with the Justice League ending their latest battle against evil New God, Darkseid, and his legion of Parademons.  The League:  Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Black Lightning, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Nightwing have had enough of Darkseid's invasions of Earth, and Batman warns him against returning again.  Darkseid's parting words, uttered as he retreats, are ominous enough that they should be accompanied by an equally ominous musical arrangement.

It seems that during the battle, the Parademons have taken possession of Justice League member, Cyborg, for their boss.  Now, Darkseid and his master torturer, DeSaad, have a plan to merge the half of the anti-life equation in their possession with the half inside Cyborg.  And their plot requires the participation of the New Gods' avatar of Death, Black Racer.  But the best laid schemes o' DC mice and New Gods...  Darkseid is about to unleash something that is beyond monstrous.

I was cynical about DCeased.  I am no longer a fan of event comic book miniseries that feature large cast of superheroes and/or supervillains.  I started to hear whispers and grumblings, however, that DCeased was a good read, and guess what boys and girls?  It really is.

Unlike many first issues that tease so much that they barely introduce the plot or even all the main characters, DCeased #1 gets right to the point.  Writer Tom Taylor serves up the main course, handing out the meat for the beast.  I don't know if this entire miniseries will be good, but damn, we have quite the first issue – with a killer-ass last page, too, boo!  And it all reads well under letterer Saida Temofonte's fear-inducing fonts of the living dead.

I really like artist James Harren's eight-page New Gods' segment, which is pivotal to the story.  Colorist Rain Beredo covers Harren's illustrations with garish, acid-dropped, nightmarish colors.  Together, Taylor, Harren, and Beredo create comic book ickiness.  Meanwhile, Trevor Hairsine and Stefano Gaudiano focus on drawing the apocalypse with glee.

So, yeah, DCeased #1 is a real-deal good comic book, the anti-life antidote for the cynical comic book purchaser.  So let's hope this series stays good.

9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Review: STAR WARS: Age of Resistance - Finn #1

STAR WARS: AGE OF RESISTANCE – FINN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
ART: Ramon Rosanas
COLORS: Guru eFX
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Phil Noto
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Elia Bonetti; Mike McKone with Guru eFX; Glyn Dillon (Concept Design Variant Artist)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Rated T

“Infestation”

Finn is one of the new Star Wars characters that appear in the “sequel” film series.  Finn debuted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).  Finn was a stormtrooper of the “First Order,” and he was known as “Designation FN-2187.”  Finn was shocked by the cruelty of the First Order that he witnessed on his first mission.  He escaped the First Order and eventually joined “the Resistance.”

Marvel Comics is currently publishing a new Star Wars maxi-series project that is comprised of three series:  Star Wars: Age of Republic and Star Wars: Age of Rebellion (both of which have been completed, and the new series, Star Wars: Age of Resistance.  This project will span 30 issues in total (reportedly), with each issue spotlighting one hero or villain from one of three particular Star Wars eras:  Republic (prequel trilogy), Rebellion (original trilogy), and Resistance (sequel trilogy).

Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 is the first release in the Age of Resistance series.  It is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Ramon Rosanas; colored by Guru eFX, and lettered by Travis Lanham.  This comic book is set before the events depicted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and offers a look at the origins of Finn's doubts about his life as a stormtrooper.

Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 (“Infestation”) opens on “Starkiller Base.”  We meet FN-2187, a young First Order stormtrooper.  Like his partner, FN-3761, FN-2187 is a janitor, and he has a mop in his hand, even when he meets the mysterious Kylo Ren.  His commander, Captain Phasma, orders the two stormtrooper janitors to join a cleaning crew.  Upon arrival, however, 2187 and 3761 discover that the members of this cleaning crew are holding weapons instead of mops.  There seems to be some kind of pest control issue, but how will that lead FN-2187 to question everything?

I have not read all the “Age of” Star Wars comic books that Marvel Comics have released (as of this writing).  I read only two of the Age of Republic titles, but I read five of the Age of Rebellion titles because the “Age of Rebellion,” otherwise known as the “original trilogy” era, is the Star Wars time period I truly love.  I have not made up my mind about how much I want to delve into the Age of Resistance comics.  I do really like the Resistance's heroic trio of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, but I can't say I care much for characters like Captain Phasma and General Hux.

I like Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1.  Like the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader entries in this series (or series of series), Finn #1 gives us a look at the development of Star Wars figure's character and personality.  Clearly, something had been going on in Finn's mind that led him to take the actions that separated him from the First Order, as seen early in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  You know, there are the makings for a potentially high-quality Star Wars comic book series in Finn's life before his debut in “Episode VII.”

Although I like this story, “Infestation,” it is not anything heavy.  Tom Taylor offers something sweet and gentle that does not rock the continuity boat.  I like Ramon Rosanas' art, and Guru eFX's color effects, which are nice against the somewhat muted colors.  There is also something sweet and gentle in Rosanas' graphical storytelling and in Guru's coloring that makes me like this comic book more than I probably should.  As I usually say, letterer Travis Lanham has been providing excellent work on these AOR titles, and continues to do so here.

I can't say that Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 will make me read all the Age of Resistance titles, but I like this enough to give all of them at least a cursory glance.

[This comic book includes the text piece, “I'm Gonna Call You Finn,” by Bryan Young.]

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Friday, July 12, 2019

Review: Friendly Neighborhood SPIDER-MAN #1

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN No. 1 (2019)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
PENCILS: Juann Cabal; Marcelo Ferreira
INKS: Juann Cabal; Roberto Poggi
COLORS: Nolan Woodard; Jim Campbell
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Nick Lowe
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Andrew Robinson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Juann Cabal with Nolan Woodard; Joe Jusko
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2019)

Rated  “T”

Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

“Mother of Exile: Part One”


Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a Spider-Man comic book series that ran for twenty-four monthly issues (cover dated: December 2005 to November 2007) and one “Annual.”  A new volume of the series recently debuted.  The new series is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Juann Cabal; colored by Nolan Woodard; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  Marvel Comics promises that this new series will give readers “the most local Peter Parker ever” (CBR.com; October 5, 2018).

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1 opens with Spider-Man saving some neighbors.  Peter Parker is doing a lot of that, but his latest neighbor in need, a young woman named Leilani, is in some kind of weird trouble.  And the troublemakers hit really hard.  Plus, in a second story, Peter's Aunt May is having health issues that she is hiding from her dear nephew.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has potential.  I might keep reading just because of the ending of the first story.  The art by Juann Cabal is good, but not great, although it does look pretty under Nolan Woodard's smooth colors.  Travis Lanham's steady lettering centers the story and gives Tom Taylor's script a little bite and a little edge which it needs.

There is a second story, which is written by Taylor; drawn by Marcelo Ferreira and Roberto Poggi; colored by Jim Campbell; and lettered by Lanham.  As for this story:  I don't know why we need an Aunt May health scare arc.

6 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Review: X-MEN: Red #1

X-MEN: RED No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
ART: Mahmud Asrar
COLORS: Ive Svorcina
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Travis Charest
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mahmud Asrar with Ive Svorcina; John Tyler Christopher; Phil Jimenez; Phil Jimenez with Nolan Woodard; Rob Liefeld; Skottie Young; Pepe Larraz with Edgar Delgado
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2018)

Rated T+

X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“The Hate Machine” Part 1: “Heal the World”

Last year, Marvel Comics launched a publishing event, entitled “ResurrXion,” in an attempt to shoot new life in its moribund X-Men line of comic books.  This initiative involved the debut of several new X-Men comic book titles, including the color-coded X-Men: Blue and X-Men Gold.

Still trying to pump life into the X-Men, Marvel has launched a new X-Men color-coded comic book, entitled X-Men: Red.  It will feature an X-Men team led by the resurrected, original Jean Grey, also known at times as Marvel Girl and Phoenix/Dark Phoenix.  This new comic book is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Mahmud Asrar; colored by Ive Svorcina; and lettered by Cory Petit.

X-Men: Red #1 (“Heal the World”) opens with Heather, a young mutant, being hounded by a mob of neighbors who want to kill her because she is a mutant.  Her rescuers are Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Gentle, Namor, Trinary, Honey Badger, and Wolverine (Laura Kinney).  Two months earlier, Jean Grey, newly brought back to life, decides that in order to protect mutants from a world that still hates them, she will need to find a way to protect the entire world.  Of course, not everyone wants that.

Once upon a time, someone who thought they were being smart “man-splained” to me that corporations existed to provide goods and services.  I didn't say anything at the time, but I firmly believed that many corporations, if not most, existed first and foremost to make money for their major stockholders and chief executives, officers, and/or managers.  That includes corporations that own comic book publishers like Marvel Comics.

I imagine that in the early 1980s, the people that called the shots noticed how popular the Marvel Comics title, Uncanny X-Men, had become with readers and how its story of a band of mutants who fought for a world that hated and feared them really resonated with fans.  That love had turned Uncanny X-Men into the top-selling comic book, at least in North America.  So why make a lot of money from just one X-Men comic book title when Marvel could make a even more money with more X-Men publications?

First it was one graphic novel... or two, and then, an X-Men spin-off series and a miniseries featuring the most popular X-Men character (Wolverine).  What started as a few X-Men and X-Men-related spin-offs became a trickle, then a stream, and the stream became a deluge.  I think Marvel officially started ruining the X-Men, not when it became a franchise, but specifically when that franchise launched the comic book, X-Factor (cover dated: February 1986).

In the three decades plus since the debut of X-Factor #1, there have been many quality X-Men publications, but most X-Men comic books have been, to be generous, average at best.  The X-Men went from being something special into nothing more than a cynically exploited cash cow for whatever money-grubbing corporation or CEO that owned Marvel Comics at any given time.

Writer Tom Taylor tries to recall the halcyon pre-X-Factor days of Uncanny X-Men in X-Men: Red.  Writer Marc Guggenheim tries to recall the storytelling of the classic X-Men scribe, Chris Claremont (who is arguably still the best X-Men comic book writer ever) with X-Men: Gold, but the results are mixed.  I feel like being cynical and saying that it is too late to make X-Men great again, but Taylor seems to be on to something here.  I would like to see where this goes.

I do think that artist Mahmud Asrar is already delivering excellent work.  I don't need to wait and see with Asrar; I am already declaring his art and graphical storytelling here a winner.  I think Asrar's illustrations, which are beautifully colored by Ive Svorcina, make this issue's story, “Heal the World,” seem as if it is indeed part of a promising larger story.  I have considered Asrar a star-creator in the making since I first saw his art in The New 52 title, Supergirl (2011).

So I see red, X-Men: Red that is.  I will keep reading as long as Taylor and Asrar are making something that seems special like the Uncanny X-Men at its speak from mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.

8 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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Friday, October 27, 2017

Review: GENERATIONS: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1

GENERATIONS: WOLVERINE & ALL-NEW WOLVERINE No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Tom Taylor
ARTIST: Ramon Rosanas
COLORS: Nolan Woodward
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Jorge Molina
VARIANT COVERS: Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire; Olivier Coipel
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated T+

Wolverine created by Len Wein and John Romita, Sr.

“The Best”

Generations is the currently ongoing 10-issue anthology, weekly comic book series published by Marvel Comics.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The third issue is Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine, which brings together the classic Wolverine/Logan of X-Men fame and his clone-daughter, the All-New Wolverine, Laura Kinney.  This comic book is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Ramon Rosanas; colored by Nolan Woodard; and lettered by Cory Petit.

Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1 (“The Best”) opens in Tokyo, Japan. Wolverine is cutting his way through a horde of The Hand's zombie ninja.  They stand between him and his kidnapped daughter, Akiko.  There is a problem, however; Wolverine is about to lose and die.  Suddenly, in steps a young woman, unknown to Wolverine, but wearing familiar clothes and also bearing metal claws.  This Wolverine-like young woman is different, but like Logan, she is the best at what she does.  Two Wolverines will need to be the best if they are to survive an old enemy.

The purpose of Generations: Banner Hulk & Totally Awesome Hulk #1 was for Bruce Banner to tell the Totally Awesome Hulk/Amadeus Cho that he would not be able to escape all the tragic aspects of the curse of the Hulk.  Generations: Phoenix & Jean Grey found two women reluctant and/or incapable of telling each other everything they knew about the curse of The Phoenix

Generations: Wolverine & All-New Wolverine #1 is mainly just a slice-and-dice Wolverine adventure featuring the classic Wolverine and the All-New Wolverine.  It is, however, a well-executed Wolverine slice-and-dice story via the efforts of writer Tom Taylor and artist Ramos Rosanas.  The only creators who could have done better than Taylor-Rosanas are some combination of Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and David Mazzuchelli; the team of Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.; and finally Barry Windsor-Smith by himself.

I could have done without the mushy stuff at the end.  Part of me wants Marvel to let Wolverine be Wolverine.  That would be the stone cold killer of the early “new” X-Men of the mid-1970s, and not the Logan softened from being part of the X-Men family and by the tragedy of Jean Grey/The Phoenix.  That said, I like this action-packed, violent fight comic and its surprising guest appearance.

A-
7.5 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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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Review: ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #1

ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Tom Taylor
ART: David Lopez and David Navarrot
COLORS: Nathan Fairbairn
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Bengal
VARIANT COVERS: David Lopez; Art Adams with Peter Steigerwald; David Marquez with Marte Gracia; Keron Grant (Hip Hop variant cover)
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Parental Advisory

Laura Kinney is a Marvel Comics character.  She is best known as X-23, a female clone of classic X-Men character, Wolverine.  X-23 was originally created by writer Craig Kyle for the Saturday morning animated television series, “X-Men: Evolution” (Season 2, Episode 11).  X-23 made her first appearance in Marvel Comics in the comic book, NYX #3 (cover dated: February 2004).

Like Wolverine, X-23 has a healing factor, superhuman strength, senses, speed, agility, and reflexes. She also has retractable, adamantium-coated bone claws in her hands (two per hand rather than the three per hand that Wolverine has) and also in her feet.

After Marvel's Secret Wars event miniseries, X-23 succeeded Logan/Wolverine as the star of the current ongoing Wolverine comic book series.  That new series is entitled All-New Wolverine and is written by Tom Taylor, drawn by David Lopez and David Navarrot, colored by Nathan Fairbairn, and lettered by Cory Petit.

All-New Wolverine #1 finds Laura and her boyfriend, the X-Men's Angel (the young, time-displaced Warren Worthington, III), in Paris trying to stop an assassination.  Their showdown with the assassins takes them to the Eiffel Tower.  Laura's opponents are formidable, but the identity of one of them shocks Laura, but does not necessarily surprise her.

The first issue of All-New Wolverine is fairly straight-forward:  stop the assassination.  Everything else is just set-up for future issues.   Still, All-New Wolverine #1 is an enjoyable read, an old-fashioned action-adventure, superhero fight comic.  Tom Taylor does not dazzle readers with character drama the way he did in the short-lived, but excellent Superior Iron Man.

The art by David Lopez and David Navarrot is fast-paced and kinetic; the graphical storytelling really sells the action, but also captures the intimacy of a flashback featuring Logan and Laura.  I did not plan on reading this series beyond the first issue, but I think that I will keep reading it for a bit.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

I Reads You Review: SUPERIOR IRON MAN #1

SUPERIOR IRON MAN (2015) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Tom Taylor
ART: Yildiray Cinar
COLORS: Guru-eFX
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Mike Choi
VARIANT COVERS: Yildiray Cinar; Tom Fowler with Brad Anderson; Mike Perkins with Andy Troy; Sara Pichelli; Alex Ross, Ty Templeton; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

“Be Superior” Chapter 1: Nightmare Scenario

Superior Iron Man is a new Iron Man comic book series, launched as part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative.  The series follows the events depicted in the miniseries, Avengers & X-Men: Axis.  One of the changes to come out of that story is that Tony Stark a/k/a Iron Man now has a changed personality.  A more sinister Tony Stark has special plans for the world.

As Superior Iron Man #1 (“Nightmare Scenario”) opens, She-Hulk is fighting a new villain that calls himself “Teen Abomination.”  The Lady Green Behemoth gets a helping hand from Iron Man, but all isn't as it appears.  Meanwhile, Stark has launched a new app called “Extremis 3.0.”  This is a techno-virus designed to make people the very best they can be – physically, at least.  This is the dawn of a new day in San Francisco...

I didn't expect much from Superior Iron Man #1, but I also hoped that it would be good and that I would enjoy it.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I often read the first issue of a new comic book series and decide not to even try the second issue (the recent Deathlok, for example), but I have already purchased the second issue of Superior Iron Man.

Tom Taylor's script is clever and filled with mystery and also with a sense of dread that really awful things are coming.  I like Yildiray Cinar's matter-of-fact storytelling and his conservative Bryan Hitch-like style.  The art emphasizes the darkness beneath the pretty surface, a darkness that is going to get really ugly, really soon.  There is potential here for Taylor and Cinar to be one of the great Iron Man creative teams, and I hope that comes to pass.  I recently decided not to give first issues a letter grade, but I am going to break that new policy for Superior Iron Man.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.


Friday, December 20, 2013

DC Comics and Madefire Team on Batman Digital Graphic Novel

Batman Arrives on the App Store in Epic New Interactive Graphic Novel ‘BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS – A DC2 MULTIVERSE GRAPHIC NOVEL’

Groundbreaking Storytelling Experience Created by DC Entertainment and Madefire Based on Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s New Game BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS

Blockbuster Digital First Comic INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US Also Re-mastered for Madefire Platform with new Motion and Sound Elements

BURBANK, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DC Entertainment, the most prolific digital comic book publisher, and cutting edge digital studio Madefire unveil a new partnership today that will take digital comics to the next level of interactivity through a new app, BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS – A DC2 MULTIVERSE GRAPHIC NOVEL. The new iOS app is the first DC2 MultiVerse title featuring a multi-path reading experience. The graphic novel tells the prequel story to the recently released game from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS.

BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS – A DC2 MULTIVERSE GRAPHIC NOVEL immerses readers into the world of Batman through dynamic artwork and action sounds integrated with a full soundtrack. The graphic novel is divided into eight chapters available for individual purchase or as an entire series. A new chapter will arrive every two weeks and each will offer dozens of possible story outcomes, with multiple story branches. Some choices will successfully lead to Batman’s next mission and carry through to the following week’s episode. Other choices could have deadly consequences. Readers who complete the series will be rewarded with two skins for the BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS game: Injustice Batman and the exclusive New 52 Metallic Batman. Or, customers can purchase a series pass in advance and be rewarded with both skins upfront.

“DC2 MultiVerse is the latest in a series of innovations that demonstrates how we work with digital partners like Madefire to organically enhance comics and the digital storytelling art form,” stated Jim Lee, Co-Publisher, DC Entertainment. “With the launch of the BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS – A DC2 MULTIVERSE GRAPHIC NOVEL app, fans can choose the destiny of their characters – and follow both Batman or his rogues gallery of Super-Villains, all within an immersive reading experience tied to the actual game through prequel storylines and an exclusive skin.”

“We have supercomputers in our pockets – we should expect more than just scanned in print,” stated Ben Wolstenholme, Madefire CEO. “It is immense to have DC Entertainment bring Batman and Superman onto the Madefire platform.”

As part of its new partnership with Madefire, DC Entertainment’s blockbuster Digital First title INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US has been re-mastered and features new, innovative storytelling elements including dynamic artwork and sound effects. The newly re-imagined INJUSTICE comic provides the perfect opportunity for fans to revisit the record breaking series prior to its return in January 2014 with all new chapters written by red hot, up-and-coming scribe, Tom Taylor. INJUSTICE is available for download on the Madefire app as well as on deviantART.com, the largest creative community in the world.

About DC Digital:
In addition to offering its Same-Day-Digital print line-up, DC Entertainment’s unparalleled line-up of Digital First titles includes DC2 titles BATMAN ’66, and TEEN TITANS GO!, along with INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, SMALLVILLE, the BEYOND series, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, BATMAN: LI’L GOTHAM, and SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED: A CRISIS OF IMAGINATION. Additionally, DC Entertainment has the most expansive digital distribution of all comic publishers, including deals with comiXology, Kindle Store, iBookstore, Google Play, Nook Store and now Madefire.

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About Madefire
Founded in 2011 by Ben Wolstenholme, Liam Sharp and Eugene Walden, Madefire provides artists and writers a publishing solution for iOS and web reading allowing them to build their stories in an exciting new format called Motion Books. Madefire has signed with top publishers in the comics and graphic novel industry to create Motion Books with their top IP, including DC Comics, Dark Horse, IDW, Top Cow, Boom, and iTV Studios America. Madefire is backed by Toni Schneider at True Ventures, The CEO of Automattic makers of WordPress, with angel investors including Sina Tamaddon, former Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Inc--both of whom are on Madefire’s Board of Advisors. The Advisory Board also includes industry leaders Mike McCue, CEO and Founder of Flipboard, Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen, the bestselling graphic novel of all time, and Bill Sienkiewicz, widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators of sequential art. For more information go to madefire.com.

About BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS Game
Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by WB Games Montréal, BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young, unrefined Batman as he faces the defining moment of his early career and sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships. The game is available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii U™ system and Windows PC.

BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS software © 2013 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.


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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