I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
I Reads You Review: BATMAN AND ROBIN: Batman Reborn – The Deluxe Edition
DC COMICS
WRITER: Grant Morrison
PENCILS: Frank Quitely, Philip Tan
INKS: Frank Quitely, Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: Alex Sinclair, Pete Pantazis
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
EXTRA ART: Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Philip Tan, J.G. Jones, Andy Kubert with Chris Chuckry, Tony S. Daniel with Ian Hannin
COVER: Frank Quitely and Alex Sinclair
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2566-7; hardcover
168pp, Color, $24.99 U.S., $29.99 CAN
I see the last 26 years of DC Comics as an onslaught of events, launches, re-launches, etc., especially the last 10 years. It seems as if the powers at DC and also the writers, artists, and editors who are looked upon with favor have been restarting, destroying, making-over, re-imagining, revamping, re-jiggering and remaking every corner of the DC Universe, every character in the DC catalog, and every page of comics ever published by DC Comics.
Out of the 2008-09 conflagration that was “Batman: R.I.P.,” Final Crisis, and “Battle for the Cowl,” came a new Batman comic book series, Batman and Robin. Bruce Wayne was no longer Batman. Bruce was dead/missing/lost in time and the Bat-mantle was picked up by the original Robin, Richard “Dick” Grayson, and the new Robin (#4) was Damian Wayne, Batman and Talia al Ghul’s lovechild.
The new Batman and Robin debuted in Batman and Robin #1 (cover date August 2009). The series was created by Grant Morrison and the first three issues were drawn by Morrison’s All-Star Superman collaborator, Frank Quitely. Like All-Star Superman and the other Morrison/Quitely joint, New X-Men, Batman and Robin was snazzy and jazzy compared to the dark-dark that has mostly been Batman since Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. The Richard Grayson Batman is light-hearted and more conscious about violence and the Damian Wayne Robin is more like the scowling, Dirty Harry Batman.
The first six issues of Batman and Robin (which was re-launched during DC Comics’ “The New 52), are collected in the 2010 hardcover, Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn – The Deluxe Edition. The book collects two storylines: “Batman Reborn” (#1-3) and “Revenge of the Red Hood” (#4-6); the latter is penciled by Philip Tan. The book also includes a 16-page section in the back of the book, entitled “Batman Redrawn” which includes art, character and costume designs, and some text about the creation, graphics, and design of the new series.
Originally, I only read the first issue of the series. I thought it was excellent, and it reminded me of the start-off-with-a-bang that was Morrison and Quitely’s New X-Men #114 (cover date July 2001). Rereading Batman and Robin #1 for the first time in over two years, I have to admit that I didn’t find it as sparkly as I did the first time. That surprises me because every time I reread New X-Men #114, which I do every few years, I love it as much as I did the first time. And boy, did I love it.
In “Batman Reborn,” the new Dynamic Duo takes on Professor Pyg, a villain with a predilection for changing people’s faces. He is the boss of an extreme circus based in Europe, but he is also a creator of and dealer in designer drugs. “Revenge of the Red Hood” pits Batman and Robin against rivals who want to replace them, Red Hood and Scarlet. The twist is that Red Hood was Robin #2, the tragic Jason Todd. Todd, who claims to want to really cleanup Gotham City, actually brings more trouble to the city with his antics.
Although it ultimately goes out with a whimper, the “Batman Reborn” storyline is imaginative. It’s not Morrison’s best work (The Invisibles), but it is some of the most colorful and inventive Batman comics, probably since the Batman comic books of the 1950s and 1960s. Quitely’s intricate line work in All-Star Superman needed color to give it texture and form. In “Batman Reborn,” ragged brushwork pushes Alex Sinclair’s colors aside, so that the color is just that – color. Quitely’s artwork would look lovely reprinted as a black and white comic book. The clotted blacks and scratchy lines give Batman and his Gotham City milieu a screwy, but unique neo-Noir touch.
“Revenge of the Red Hood” is hodge-podge of character conflicts that don’t interest me enough to analyze them. The art by the usually good Philip Tan is ugly. With that in mind, overall, I think of this collection, Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn – The Deluxe Edition, as being another DC Comics event that does not live up to the hype or to some readers’ expectations (like mine). This isn’t essential Batman or essential Grant Morrison, but Batman and Morrison fans will want to sample it.
B
2012 Eagle Awards Open for Nominations
Nominations Open for 2012 Eagle Awards
Do you want to boost the profile of your favourite comic of 2011? Would you like the opportunity to shine the spotlight on those artists and writers who really grabbed your attention last year? Well, now’s the time!
Nominations are now open for the 2012 round of the world-famous Eagle Awards. They will remain open until midnight (GMT) on 1 February... and if you want to make your voice heard, the sooner you head on over to http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/ the better.
Once the nominations close, the top five nominations in each category will be verified before being moved forward to the voting round. That gets underway on 15 February, so let us know who you want to see honoured this year!
The 2012 awards will be presented on Friday, 25 May at the MCM London Comic Con, which this year runs from 25-27 May at Excel London. Once again, the big night will also be streamed live to the world via http://www.mcmbuzz.com/
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s most prestigious fan-selected awards, giving the entire comics community the opportunity to vote for the finest publications and brightest talent of the past year, with categories covering the whole world of comics, including manga, movies and web comics.
“All nominees will be invited to the Awards Ceremony with the winners offered the opportunity to give an acceptance speech,” commented Eagle Awards chair Cassandra Conroy. “The full list of 2012 winners will be released to the world at midnight on 26 May.”
For general Eagle Awards enquiries, please contact info@eagleawards.co.uk
For press information/interviews, please contact press@eagleawards.co.uk
To buy tickets to the MCM London Comic Con at Excel London on 26-28 May, please visit: https://www.mcmexpostore.com/store/
ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established awards. Acknowledged as the pre-eminent international prizes, they have been featured on the covers of leading US and UK titles across the last 28 years ranging from Uncanny X-Men and Swamp Thing to MAD Magazine and 2000 AD.
Unique in the comics industry in that they reflect both the professional and the reader’s choice, the Eagle Awards consists of two distinct stages:
(i) A Nominations Round allows the entire comics community to choose their favourites.
(ii) The top five nominations then appear on the voting form for the readers and fans to choose from, thus focusing the voting public on the main contenders resulting in no wasted votes.
ABOUT THE MCM LONDON COMIC CON:
MCM London Comic Con is organized by the MCM Expo Group as one of a number of pop culture events in their portfolio. London Comic Con is supported by major media companies such as Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Disney, Nintendo, Manga Entertainment, SFX and NEO to name but a few.
Taking place each May and October at London’s massive ExCeL exhibition centre, the MCM London Comic Con is now the main focus and must-be event for UK fans and industry to attend to promote new releases and forthcoming productions whether comics, movies, videogames, DVDs or books.
Over the last decade, the MCM London Comic Con has grown into the one UK show that is not to be missed. To find out more, visit http://www.londoncomiccon.net/
Web: http://www.mcmexpo.net/
Mailing Address: MCM Expo Group, PO Box 38727, London, E10 7YH, UK
FOLLOW:
www.twitter.com/mcmexpo
FRIEND:
www.facebook.com/mcmexpo
WATCH:
www.youtube.com/mcmexpo
Do you want to boost the profile of your favourite comic of 2011? Would you like the opportunity to shine the spotlight on those artists and writers who really grabbed your attention last year? Well, now’s the time!
Nominations are now open for the 2012 round of the world-famous Eagle Awards. They will remain open until midnight (GMT) on 1 February... and if you want to make your voice heard, the sooner you head on over to http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/ the better.
Once the nominations close, the top five nominations in each category will be verified before being moved forward to the voting round. That gets underway on 15 February, so let us know who you want to see honoured this year!
The 2012 awards will be presented on Friday, 25 May at the MCM London Comic Con, which this year runs from 25-27 May at Excel London. Once again, the big night will also be streamed live to the world via http://www.mcmbuzz.com/
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s most prestigious fan-selected awards, giving the entire comics community the opportunity to vote for the finest publications and brightest talent of the past year, with categories covering the whole world of comics, including manga, movies and web comics.
“All nominees will be invited to the Awards Ceremony with the winners offered the opportunity to give an acceptance speech,” commented Eagle Awards chair Cassandra Conroy. “The full list of 2012 winners will be released to the world at midnight on 26 May.”
For general Eagle Awards enquiries, please contact info@eagleawards.co.uk
For press information/interviews, please contact press@eagleawards.co.uk
To buy tickets to the MCM London Comic Con at Excel London on 26-28 May, please visit: https://www.mcmexpostore.com/store/
ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry’s longest established awards. Acknowledged as the pre-eminent international prizes, they have been featured on the covers of leading US and UK titles across the last 28 years ranging from Uncanny X-Men and Swamp Thing to MAD Magazine and 2000 AD.
Unique in the comics industry in that they reflect both the professional and the reader’s choice, the Eagle Awards consists of two distinct stages:
(i) A Nominations Round allows the entire comics community to choose their favourites.
(ii) The top five nominations then appear on the voting form for the readers and fans to choose from, thus focusing the voting public on the main contenders resulting in no wasted votes.
ABOUT THE MCM LONDON COMIC CON:
MCM London Comic Con is organized by the MCM Expo Group as one of a number of pop culture events in their portfolio. London Comic Con is supported by major media companies such as Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Disney, Nintendo, Manga Entertainment, SFX and NEO to name but a few.
Taking place each May and October at London’s massive ExCeL exhibition centre, the MCM London Comic Con is now the main focus and must-be event for UK fans and industry to attend to promote new releases and forthcoming productions whether comics, movies, videogames, DVDs or books.
Over the last decade, the MCM London Comic Con has grown into the one UK show that is not to be missed. To find out more, visit http://www.londoncomiccon.net/
Web: http://www.mcmexpo.net/
Mailing Address: MCM Expo Group, PO Box 38727, London, E10 7YH, UK
FOLLOW:
www.twitter.com/mcmexpo
FRIEND:
www.facebook.com/mcmexpo
WATCH:
www.youtube.com/mcmexpo
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Naruto: Peace Viaduct
I read Naruto, Vol. 54: 54: Viaduct to Peace (Naruto (Graphic Novels))
I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).
I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 4 2012
DC COMICS
NOV110125 ACTION COMICS #5 $3.99
NOV110128 ACTION COMICS #5 COMBO PACK $4.99
NOV110166 ANIMAL MAN #5 $2.99
AUG110277 ANNOTATED SANDMAN HC VOL 01 (MR) $49.99
SEP110181 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT HC VOL 01 GOLDEN DAWN DLX ED $24.99
OCT110245 BATMAN THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TP $19.99
NOV110144 BATWING #5 $2.99
NOV110196 DC COMICS THE NEW 52 PRESENTS THE DARK #1 $7.99
NOV110138 DETECTIVE COMICS #5 $2.99
NOV110118 GREEN ARROW #5 $2.99
NOV110187 HAWK AND DOVE #5 $2.99
NOV110151 HUNTRESS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV110231 IZOMBIE #21 (MR) $2.99
OCT118138 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 5TH PTG $3.99
NOV110108 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #5 $2.99
NOV110179 MEN OF WAR #5 $3.99
NOV110177 OMAC #5 $2.99
NOV110137 PENGUIN PAIN AND PREJUDICE #4 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV110160 RED LANTERNS #5 $2.99
NOV110223 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #17 $2.99
OCT110253 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY TP VOL 01 $29.99
NOV110185 STATIC SHOCK #5 $2.99
NOV110171 STORMWATCH #5 $2.99
NOV110218 SUPERNATURAL #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV110164 SWAMP THING #5 $2.99
NOV110236 SWEET TOOTH #29 (MR) $2.99
NOV110125 ACTION COMICS #5 $3.99
NOV110128 ACTION COMICS #5 COMBO PACK $4.99
NOV110166 ANIMAL MAN #5 $2.99
AUG110277 ANNOTATED SANDMAN HC VOL 01 (MR) $49.99
SEP110181 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT HC VOL 01 GOLDEN DAWN DLX ED $24.99
OCT110245 BATMAN THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE TP $19.99
NOV110144 BATWING #5 $2.99
NOV110196 DC COMICS THE NEW 52 PRESENTS THE DARK #1 $7.99
NOV110138 DETECTIVE COMICS #5 $2.99
NOV110118 GREEN ARROW #5 $2.99
NOV110187 HAWK AND DOVE #5 $2.99
NOV110151 HUNTRESS #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV110231 IZOMBIE #21 (MR) $2.99
OCT118138 JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 5TH PTG $3.99
NOV110108 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #5 $2.99
NOV110179 MEN OF WAR #5 $3.99
NOV110177 OMAC #5 $2.99
NOV110137 PENGUIN PAIN AND PREJUDICE #4 (OF 5) $2.99
NOV110160 RED LANTERNS #5 $2.99
NOV110223 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #17 $2.99
OCT110253 SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY TP VOL 01 $29.99
NOV110185 STATIC SHOCK #5 $2.99
NOV110171 STORMWATCH #5 $2.99
NOV110218 SUPERNATURAL #4 (OF 6) $2.99
NOV110164 SWAMP THING #5 $2.99
NOV110236 SWEET TOOTH #29 (MR) $2.99
Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 4 2012
MARVEL COMICS
NOV110476 AVENGERS ACADEMY #24 $2.99
OCT110718 AVENGERS ACADEMY TP VOL 02 REAL WORLD $19.99
NOV110507 AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 $4.99
AUG110696 AVENGERS X-MEN PREM HC BLOODTIES $24.99
AUG110697 AVENGERS X-MEN PREM HC BLOODTIES DM VAR ED 82 $24.99
NOV110504 AVENGERS X-SANCTION #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV110487 DEFENDERS #2 $3.99
NOV110635 ENDERS GAME ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP $29.99
NOV110648 ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 04 NEW ED $19.99
NOV110474 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #6 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT110712 FEAR ITSELF PREM HC $34.99
NOV110541 HULK #47 $2.99
AUG110692 HULK WORLD WAR HULKS HC $29.99
AUG110693 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 02 $34.99
NOV110546 PUNISHER #7 $2.99
AUG110698 SPIDER-MAN MASQUES PREM HC $24.99
AUG110699 SPIDER-MAN MASQUES PREM HC DM VAR ED 83 $24.99
OCT110719 STAND TP VOL 02 AMERICAN NIGHTMARES $19.99
NOV110554 STRIKEFORCE MORITURI WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1 $0.99
NOV110555 THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #3 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV110551 THUNDERBOLTS #168 $2.99
NOV118069 UNCANNY X-FORCE #18 2ND PTG OPENA VAR $3.99
NOV110575 UNCANNY X-FORCE #19.1 $2.99
NOV110563 UNCANNY X-MEN #4 $3.99
NOV110556 VILLAINS FOR HIRE #2 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV110562 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #1 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV110574 X-23 #20 $2.99
NOV110581 X-CLUB #2 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG110694 X-FORCE HC VOL 02 $34.99
NOV110570 X-MEN #23 XREGB $3.99
AUG110706 YOUNG MARVELMAN CLASSIC PREM HC VOL 02 $34.99
NOV110476 AVENGERS ACADEMY #24 $2.99
OCT110718 AVENGERS ACADEMY TP VOL 02 REAL WORLD $19.99
NOV110507 AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 $4.99
AUG110696 AVENGERS X-MEN PREM HC BLOODTIES $24.99
AUG110697 AVENGERS X-MEN PREM HC BLOODTIES DM VAR ED 82 $24.99
NOV110504 AVENGERS X-SANCTION #2 (OF 4) $3.99
NOV110487 DEFENDERS #2 $3.99
NOV110635 ENDERS GAME ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP $29.99
NOV110648 ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 04 NEW ED $19.99
NOV110474 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #6 (OF 12) $2.99
OCT110712 FEAR ITSELF PREM HC $34.99
NOV110541 HULK #47 $2.99
AUG110692 HULK WORLD WAR HULKS HC $29.99
AUG110693 INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 02 $34.99
NOV110546 PUNISHER #7 $2.99
AUG110698 SPIDER-MAN MASQUES PREM HC $24.99
AUG110699 SPIDER-MAN MASQUES PREM HC DM VAR ED 83 $24.99
OCT110719 STAND TP VOL 02 AMERICAN NIGHTMARES $19.99
NOV110554 STRIKEFORCE MORITURI WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE #1 $0.99
NOV110555 THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #3 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV110551 THUNDERBOLTS #168 $2.99
NOV118069 UNCANNY X-FORCE #18 2ND PTG OPENA VAR $3.99
NOV110575 UNCANNY X-FORCE #19.1 $2.99
NOV110563 UNCANNY X-MEN #4 $3.99
NOV110556 VILLAINS FOR HIRE #2 (OF 4) $2.99
NOV110562 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN ALPHA AND OMEGA #1 (OF 5) $3.99
NOV110574 X-23 #20 $2.99
NOV110581 X-CLUB #2 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG110694 X-FORCE HC VOL 02 $34.99
NOV110570 X-MEN #23 XREGB $3.99
AUG110706 YOUNG MARVELMAN CLASSIC PREM HC VOL 02 $34.99
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