PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
AUG110001 PREVIEWS #277 OCTOBER 2011 PI
COMICS
JUN110927 28 DAYS LATER TP VOL 05 GHOST TOWN $12.99
JUL111225 ARON WARNERS PARIAH #3 (OF 4) $3.99
JUL110843 B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #218 $3.99
JUL111267 BAKUMAN TP VOL 07 $9.99
AUG111091 BEST AMERICAN COMICS HC 2011 $25.00
JUL111270 BLEACH 3-IN-1 ED VOL 03 $14.99
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AUG110997 BOYS #59 (MR) $3.99
JUN110875 CALIGULA #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
JUN110876 CALIGULA #4 (OF 6) WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
AUG110859 CHOPPER #1 (OF 5) (MR) $2.99
JUN111193 CLASSICS ILLUS HC VOL 14 WUTHERING HEIGHTS $9.99
JUN110900 CODE GEASS QUEEN GN VOL 03 (RES) $10.99
JUN110965 DARKWING DUCK TP VOL 03 FOWL DISPOSITION $14.99
APR110881 DEFINITIVE IRREDEEMABLE HC VOL 01 $74.99
AUG110831 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IRIS VOL 2 #4 CVR A FRANCISCO $3.50
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JUL111146 FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 15 $10.99
JUN110940 FARSCAPE TP VOL 05 RED SKY AT MORNING $12.99
JUL110777 FRACTURE #3 $3.99
JUL111280 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3-IN-1 ED VOL 03 $14.99
JUN111316 GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #8 A CVR GARZA (MR) $2.99
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AUG111018 HARK A VAGRANT HC (MR) $19.95
JAN111159 JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES FOOL MOON #4 $3.99
JUL110844 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #174 $3.99
JUN111159 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #178 (NOTE PRICE) $5.99
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JUL111228 MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE GN COLL VOL 01 (OF 2) $15.99
JUL111265 NATSUMES BOOK OF FRIENDS TP VOL 09 $9.99
JUL111148 NEGIMA OMNIBUS GN VOL 02 (MR) $19.99
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JUL111174 STAR GAZING DOG GN $11.99
MAY111268 TEZUKA BOOK OF HUMAN INSECTS HC (MR) $21.95
AUG110920 THE RINSE #2 $3.99
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JUN111362 DC BLACKEST NIGHT FIG COLL MAG #11 DEATHSTORM $14.00
JUN111363 DC BLACKEST NIGHT FIG COLL MAG #12 JADE $14.00
MAY111332 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #88 STARMAN $14.00
MAY111333 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #89 HUSH $14.00
JUN111364 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #90 BLUE DEVIL $14.00
JUN111365 DC SUPERHERO FIG COLL MAG #91 BRAINIAC 5 $14.00
JUN111393 HOBBY JAPAN SEP 2011 $16.60
JUN111386 MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #29 $9.98
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The New 52 Review: AQUAMAN #1
AQUAMAN #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Ivan Reis
INKS: Joe Prado
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: Nick J. Napolitano
32pp, Color, $2.99
Aquaman is a DC Comics superhero created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger. Aquaman debuted in More Fun Comics #73 (cover date November 1941) and, for the better part of two decades, was the star of backup features in DC’s anthology titles. Beginning in Adventure Comics #260 (cover date May 1959), the character was given an origin story, new powers, and a supporting cast.
With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Aquaman returns in a new self-titled comic book series. In Aquaman #1 (“The Trench” Part One), Aquaman returns to the public eye, but people still consider him a joke and/or are very curious about him. Meanwhile, trouble rises from the ocean depths.
What can I say about Aquaman #1? It’s all tease and setup. The art is nice, although the coloring is a bit garish. Writer Geoff Johns spends most of this issue dealing with how fans perceive Aquaman, addressing that through peripheral characters who mock (cops, restaurant patrons) or question (the self-appointed journalist blogger) Aquaman. How Aquaman’s powers work or his status in Atlantis is really fanboy stuff. The real conflict and dramatic tension will come from the invasion, and that’s pushed off for another issue. Of course, that’s how it works in padded, write-for-the-trades land. This is not a first issue; it's a "#0" issue.
C+
Monday, October 3, 2011
The New 52 Review: CAPTAIN ATOM #1
CAPTAIN ATOM #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: J.T. Krul
ARTIST: Freddie Williams II
COLORS: Jose Villarrubia
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
32pp, Color, $2.99
Captain Atom is a comic book superhero created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko. Captain Atom first appeared in Space Adventures #33 (March 1960) from Charlton Comics. He was Allen Adam, a military official caught in a scientific experiment and “atomized.” Allen acquired superhuman strength and endurance and the ability to fly and to project energy blasts, and he could also reform his body.
The character was later acquired by DC Comics and inserted into the DC Universe that came into being after Crisis on Infinite Earths. His civilian identity became Air Force pilot Nathaniel Adam, who had the same powers as the earlier Captain Atom. With the re-launch of the DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Captain Atom is back in a new comic book series.
As Captain Atom #1 (“Evolution of the Species”) opens, Captain Atom is in Chicago taking on what looks to be a four-story tall suit of battle armor. Suddenly, his powers do something quite shocking – something that shocks even the good Captain. Back at the Kansas-based Continuum, Atom learns some surprising/troubling news about himself and his new powers. Captain Atom is not, however, the only thing evolving.
Readers who dig into details and study comic book history know that Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s classic comic book series, Watchmen, began as a project to revive some of the Charlton Comics characters to which DC Comics had then recently obtained ownership. Eventually, the main cast of Watchmen was based upon some Charlton superheroes. Watchmen’s usually-naked, blue-skinned, godlike Dr. Manhattan was based upon Captain Atom.
The bosses at DC Comics really haven’t made it a secret that they want sequels and prequels to Watchmen. Captain Atom, with his blue-skin and Ken® doll anatomically incomplete nakedness, is now like a version of Dr. Manhattan that DC can more freely play with for the time being. And the way writer J.T. Krul plays with Captain Atom, judging by the first issue, could be interesting, and I’m certainly curious about the direction of this series.
Meanwhile, the art by Freddie Williams II (pencils/inks) and the always-interesting Jose Villarrubia (colors) has an odd, but catchy quality. I’d like to see this book continue just to get more of their art… or they could get another assignment.
B
September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BIRDS OF PREY #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/birds-of-prey-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/dc-comics-presents-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/legion-of-super-heroes-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html
The New 52 Review: BIRDS OF PREY #1
BIRDS OF PREY #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Duane Swierczynski
ARTIST: Jesus Saiz
COLORS: Nei Ruffino
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, 2.99 U.S.
Birds of Prey began as a 1995 one-shot comic book entitled Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey. The series followed the adventures of Oracle, the former Batgirl Barbara Gordon who was wheelchair bound and Dinah Lance AKA Black Canary. With the re-launch of DC Comics superhero line, “The New 52,” Birds of Prey returns in a new series with Black Canary in the lead and Ev Crawford AKA Starling her partner.
Birds of Prey #1 (“Let Us Prey”) opens in Gotham City. Gotham Gazette reporter, Charlie Keen, has been tracking Black Canary for two weeks, and the “source” for his info on Black Canary has led him to church. However, this wild-goose chase has also led him into a trap, or perhaps Charlie’s just bait to lure Canary and Starling into a trap. Or maybe they’re the bait.
Birds of Prey scribe Duane Swierczynski has fashioned a brisk crime thriller filled with snappy dialogue, crisp flashbacks, and slick action set pieces. It feels more like 100 Bullets than a superhero comic book, at least for this debut issue. Artist Jesus Saiz does his best Steve Dillon, which may be why this also feels like Garth Ennis-lite, which isn’t a bad thing.
I like to give a superhero comic book credit for being clever. The Birds of Prey creators may also deserve credit for giving superheroes a Vertigo spin that won’t alienate Birds of Prey from the rest of The New 52.
B+
September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/dc-comics-presents-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/legion-of-super-heroes-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The New 52 Review: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Paul Levitz
ARTIST: Francis Portela
COLORS: Javier Mena
LETTERS: Pat Brosseau
COVER: Karl Kerschl
32pp, Color, $2.99
The Legion of Super-Heroes is a DC Comics superhero team whose adventures are set the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Comics Universe. The team first appeared in Adventure Comics #247 (cover date April 1958) and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.
In that comic book, the original Superboy meets three teenagers from the 30th century: Lightning Boy, Saturn Girl, and Cosmic Boy, who were members of a “super-hero club,” called the Legion of Super-Heroes. The trio formed the club with Superboy as an inspiration, and for a long time, the Legion was closely associated with Superboy (the version that was Superman as a teenager).
With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” the Legion of Super-Heroes gets a new series (in what seems like the tenth time in 10 years). Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (“Renegade World”) finds members of the Legion on Panoptes, a military “Watchworld,” from where the United Planets keeps an eye on the Dominators’ Empire. Now, there is a problem and contact with Panoptes has been lost. Chameleon Boy, Dragonwing, Phantom Girl, Ultra Boy, and Chemical Kid embark on a stealth mission to discover if anything is wrong on Panoptes. Something is.
I was an avid Legion of Super-Heroes reader from the mid to late 1980s, and, of course, my favorite writer of Legion adventures was Paul Levitz. This first issue of the new Legion of Super-Heroes series is written by Levitz, although I didn’t find anything here that reminded me of the good old days. Half of this issue is a collection of scenes offered to catch readers up on the Legion, but there isn’t much story in these scenes. The Panoptes plotline is actually good, and I wish more of this issue had been devoted to it.
The art, which is a joint venture by Francis Portela (pencils/inks) and Javier Mena (colors) is quite pretty. The colors shimmer like a candied kaleidoscope, and the compositions and quality of the drawing are tight with few cracks. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a strong and long-lasting Legion of Super-Heroes series.
B+
September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/dc-comics-presents-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html
The New 52 Review: DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1
DC COMICS PRESENTS # 1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Paul Jenkins
ARTIST: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Blond
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.
Deadman is a DC Comics character that first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 (cover date October 1967). Created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Carmine Infantino, Deadman is the ghost of circus trapeze artist, Boston Brand, who performed under the name Deadman, a stage persona in which he wore a red costume and white corpse makeup. After he is murdered, Brand’s spirit is given the power to possess any living being by a Hindu goddess named Rama Kushna (a DC Comics version of Rama-Krishna), in order to search for his murderer and obtain justice.
With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” the classic 1970s and 80s series, DC Comics Presents (1978-1986) returns. In this new series, it is DC Comics Presents Deadman in “Twenty Questions,” a new storyline.
DC Comics Presents #1 gives a recap of Deadman’s origin, a flashback to Boston Brand, the arrogant trapeze artist shot down mid-performance. We see how he met Rama, essentially his patron goddess who points him down the path to redemption and balance. Now, Deadman has to enter the body of Johnny Foster, injured war vet, but Deadman has plans that may shock Rama, but will certainly shock us.
This first issue of DC Comics Presents is one of the wordier first issues of a comic book that I’ve read in some time. Bruthas and sistas, if you still don’t know what Deadman is about after reading this, you’ll never get it. Writer Paul Jenkins provides a detailed introduction to Deadman that he deftly ties into Deadman’s first “client,” the tragic war vet. And Jenkins does this without taking a big crap on Deadman’s history, keeping the character intact without committing some ridiculous re-imagining that completely changes an already-interesting character.
Not to forget the artist: Bernard Chang visually and graphically recalls classic 1960s and 70s Deadman without having to copy Neal Adams. The robotic coloring by Blond often gives Chang’s drawings surreal or ghostly touches, making Chang’s striking images even more striking. There is a combat flashback scene at the top of a page near the middle of this issue. It is such an arresting series of images that it is still on mind. I would say that sequence makes this issue or art team Eisner and Harvey Awards nomination worthy.
A
September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
BLUE BEETLE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blue-beetle-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html
Saturday, October 1, 2011
The New 52 Review: BLUE BEETLE #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Tony Bedard
PENCILS: Ig Guara
INKS: Ruy Jose
COLORS: Pete Pantazis
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Tyler Kirkham and Sal Regla with Nate Eyring
32pp, Color, $2.99
The superhero Blue Beetle first appeared in Mystery Men Comics #1 (cover-dated August 1939) from the publisher, Fox Comics. The original Blue Beetle was Dan Garret, a rookie police officer who used special equipment, a bulletproof costume, and a super-strength formula to fight crime. In Captain Atom #83 (cover-dated November 1966), Charlton Comics introduced the best known Blue Beetle, Ted Kord. Kord was a student of Dan Garret’s and also an inventor who used special gadgets to fight crime.
After DC Comics bought the rights to the Charlton characters, the Ted Kord Blue Beetle starred in several series for the next two decades. The most recent Blue Beetle, Jamie Reyes, debuted in 2006 and is a Latino teenager who uses alien technology. “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, gives Jaime Reyes a new comic book series. Blue Beetle #1 (“Metamorphosis, Part One”) opens a long time ago, as The Reach destroys a world in Space Sector 2. Readers will recognize that the soldiers of The Reach look like Blue Beetle. They are soldiers created by blue Scarabs.
Present day, the most important thing on Jaime Reyes’ mind is Brenda Del Vecchio’s party. However, the festivities are at Brenda’s aunt’s house, and Jaime’s parents don’t want their son in the home of Doña Cardenas. But a teen will do what a teen has to do, and Jaime is racing to the party with his pal, Paco. However, this car ride is heading to a date with super-villains and a certain scarab.
Simply put, Blue Beetle #1 is a top-notch superhero comic book and a great read. Writer Tony Bedard squeezes quite a bit of narrative into 22-pages, from the origins of the scarab that gives Blue Beetle his powers and uniform to the environment in which series star Jaime Reyes lives. Plus, Bedard includes two good battle scenes.
Bedard’s script allows penciller Ig Guara to show off his broad compositional and design skills in creating diverse settings: alien worlds, outer space battles, teen melodrama, and super-powered fights. These are four essential set pieces from the superhero comic book catalog, which Guara draws with a deft touch and captures with sharply defined emotion and explosive action. Blue Beetle should be a hit.
A-
September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
CATWOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/catwoman-1.html
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-corps-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
SUPERGIRL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/supergirl-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html
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