I Reads You New Year 2017

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Review: INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Mike Deodato with Frank Martin
VARIANT COVERS: Gabriele Dell'Otto; Marco D'Alfonso; Skottie Young; John Tyler Christopher
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

I did not know that a few years ago it was revealed that Tony Stark was adopted as a baby by Howard and Maria Stark (in Iron Man #17 – 2013 series).  Tony's quest to uncover his legacy is at the heart of the new Iron Man comic book series, International Iron Man.  It is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Alex Maleev; colored by Paul Mounts; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Who is Tony Stark, really?  International Iron Man #1 begins the quest to discover the answer to that question.  The story opens with Iron Man in Sofia Bulgaria at the “Monument to the Soviet Army.”  He has just got his butt kicked.  His mind drifts back 20 years earlier when Tony was a student at the University of Cambridge.  That is where he met Cassandra Gillespie, a mysterious young woman from an even more mysterious family that is marked for death.

I have never been a big fan of Iron Man, not the way I heart for Spider-Man (Parker and Morales), Batman (and Robin), and certain X-Men.  One Iron Man book is enough for me, and that one is currently Invincible Iron Man, which is also written by Brian Michael Bendis.  I guess this is my way of saying that I did not feel particularly moved by this first issue of International Iron Man.

Bendis and Alex Maleev are remembered for their run on Daredevil last decade, so fans of that comic book may rejoice at the chance to see if this team can do for Iron Man what it did for that book.  I wouldn't know what they did, as I have never read a single issue of the Bendis-Maleev Daredevil.

So I'm coming from a place of ignorance in some ways.  Apparently, Doctor Doom will play a part in this series, and while traveling the globe, Iron Man will discover things about the Marvel Universe that he did not know existed.  I'm kinda intrigued.  I may keep reading International Iron Man, but I won't go out of my way.  So how is that for a review?

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.

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Review - Yoshitaka AMANO: Illustrations

YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS
VIZ MEDIA– @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

ARTIST: Yoshitaka Amano
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
DESIGNER: Fawn Lau
EDITOR: Leyla Aker
COVER: Yoshitaka Amano with Fawn Lau
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8957-2; paperback, (August 2016)
132pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN, £12.99 UK

Born in 1952 in Shizuoka Prefecture,Yoshitaka Amano is a Japanese artist, character designer, and illustrator.  He is a scenic designer for live theater and film and a costume designer.  Amano first came into prominence in 1967 as a 15-year-old working for Tatsunoko Production, first working on the anime adaptation of Speed Racer.  He later became the creator of such iconic and influential characters as Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets) and Honeybee Hutch, to name a few.

In the 1980s, Amano soared to fame for his work on covers and interior illustrations for books, the most famous example of such work being his cover and illustrations for author Hideyuki Kikuchi's book series, Vampire Hunter D.  In 1987, Amano began his association with the Final Fantasy video game by designing characters and visual concepts.  Some American readers may know Amano for working with author Neil Gaiman on the award-winning illustrated book, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters.

Now, VIZ Media celebrates the remarkable career of this famed artist with a new art book, Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations.  This 8.5” x 11” softcover volume (which has an illustrated dust jacket) is an overview and survey of Amano's career.  This book includes several color illustrations from Amano's work on Final Fantasy covering a period of just over two decades.  Fans of Vampire Hunter D will delight over the eight pages of paintings, illustrations, and studies from the famed vampire media franchise.  There are also several pages of Amano's illustrations and art for other book series.

Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations also includes the transcript of a conversation between Amano and graphic artist Akira Uno, who once worked with Amano as an art director.  There is a 10-page section featuring Amano's sketches of men and women, and also several pages of anime character designs, fine art, and other work.

I have to say that Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations is a beautifully designed book, but it would have to be because of its subject matter.  Amano's work is so beautiful, colorful, imaginative, and just damn gorgeous; how could a book about him afford to be unpretty?  So the people who put Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations created a colorful and color-infused book that is befitting of an incredible artist, illustrator, and designer.

I must say that I am disappointed that there are no examples of Amano's early work on Speed Racer, nor are their any examples of Amano's work with Neil Gaiman on The Sandman.  The truth is that even this beautiful volume cannot capture the enormity of a talent like Yoshitaka Amano, nor the expanse of his output.  So, yeah, Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations is a vivid teaser of a survey and overview that will encourage you the reader to go out and look for more.  I do want more.  Once again, VIZ Media has published a fantastic, high-quality art book.

A

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.

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

DC COMICS

SEP160340    52 TP VOL 02    $34.99
OCT160158    ACTION COMICS #970    $2.99
OCT160159    ACTION COMICS #970 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160160    ALL STAR BATMAN #5    $4.99
OCT160161    ALL STAR BATMAN #5 JOCK VAR ED    $4.99
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OCT160169    BATGIRL #6    $2.99
OCT160170    BATGIRL #6 VAR ED    $2.99
MAR160314    BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES NBA HARLEY QUINN AF    $28.00
OCT160167    BATMAN BEYOND #3    $2.99
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SEP160339    BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 03    $19.99
OCT160177    BLUE BEETLE #4    $2.99
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OCT160320    CLEAN ROOM #15 (MR)    $3.99
SEP160367    CLEAN ROOM TP VOL 02 EXILE (MR)    $14.99
OCT160259    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) (RES)    $5.99
OCT160260    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) BURNHAM VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
OCT160262    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) CHAYKIN VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
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JUL160449    DC DESIGNER SER THE FLASH BY FRANCIS MANAPUL STATUE    $130.00
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OCT160241    WONDER WOMAN #13    $2.99
OCT160242    WONDER WOMAN #13 VAR ED    $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Diamonds for December 28, 2016

MARVEL COMICS
OCT168630    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #21 2ND PTG ALEX ROSS VAR    $3.99
OCT168094    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR NO    $4.99
OCT168095    AVENGERS #1.1 2ND PTG KITSON VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT161020    AVENGERS ENDLESS WARTIME TP    $19.99
OCT168631    BLACK PANTHER #8 2ND PTG STELFREEZE VAR    $3.99
OCT160913    BLACK PANTHER #9    $3.99
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OCT160973    ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM #3 (OF 5) GRANDT CONNECTION VAR    $3.99
OCT160719    EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #17 IVX    $3.99
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SEP161102    GUIDE MARVEL UNIV AGENTS SHIELD SEASON 3 CARTER SEASON 2    $3.99
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OCT160788    HULK #1 NOW    $3.99
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AUG161006    NEW AVENGERS AIM TP VOL 03 CIVIL WAR II    $19.99
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OCT160988    STAR WARS #26    $3.99
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OCT160936    THUNDERBOLTS #8    $3.99
OCT161014    THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 01 THERE IS NO HIGH ROAD    $17.99
AUG161005    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK TP VOL 02 CIVIL WAR II    $17.99
OCT168807    ULTIMATES 2 #1 2ND PTG FOREMAN VAR NOW    $3.99
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OCT160898    UNCANNY INHUMANS #17    $3.99
OCT168806    VENOM #1 2ND PTG SANDOVAL VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT160959    X-MEN 92 #10    $4.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT160394    GI JOE (2016) #1    $3.99
OCT160396    GI JOE (2016) #1 BLANK SKETCH CVR    $3.99
OCT160400    GI JOE (2016) #1 MICRO COMIC VAR    $4.99
OCT160395    GI JOE (2016) #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR A    $3.99
OCT160480    LOVE IS LOVE    $9.99
OCT160415    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND #2    $3.99
OCT160416    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND #2 SUB VAR A    $3.99
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OCT160419    ROM #6    $3.99
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SEP160448    STAR TREK CLASSIC UK COMICS HC VOL 02    $49.99
OCT160550    STARFALL BOARD GAME (C: 0-1-2)    $29.99
SEP160395    TMNT ULTIMATE COMIC ART POSTER BOOK TP    $19.99
OCT160412    TRANSFORMERS TILL ALL ARE ONE #6    $3.99
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OCT160465    X-FILES (2016) #9    $3.99
OCT160466    X-FILES (2016) #9 SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT160022    ALIENS DEFIANCE #8    $3.99
OCT160019    ALIENS VS PREDATOR LIFE AND DEATH #1 MAIN PALUMBO CVR    $3.99
OCT160020    ALIENS VS PREDATOR LIFE AND DEATH #1 VAR TENG CVR    $3.99
AUG168422    ART OF GEARS OF WAR 4 HC (C: 0-1-2)    $49.99
AUG160114    BLADE OF IMMORTAL OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 (MR) (C: 1-1-2)    $19.99
AUG160020    BTVS ADULT COLORING BOOK (C: 0-1-2)    $14.99
OCT160067    HARROW COUNTY #19    $3.99
OCT160054    SERENITY NO POWER IN THE VERSE #3 (OF 6) JEANTY VAR    $3.99
OCT160053    SERENITY NO POWER IN THE VERSE #3 (OF 6) MAIN    $3.99
AUG160060    SMITE THE PANTHEON WAR TP (C: 0-1-2)    $14.99
OCT160071    TARZAN ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP160137    WITCHER 3 WILD HUNT WOLF WALL SCULPTURE (C: 0-1-2)    $49.99
OCT160063    WITCHFINDER CITY OF THE DEAD #5    $3.99