Toriko: Vegetable Sky!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 12

I posted a review at ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Albert Avilla Reviews - Daredevil: End of Days #1

Daredevil: End of Days #1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & David Mack
Pencils: Klaus Janson
Finishes/Paintings: Bill Sienkiewicz

(Spoiler Alert)
The story begins with a gruesome battle to the death between Daredevil and Bullseye. The fight scenes are down and dirty, no mercy, fights to the death with blood splattering across the panels. Daredevil meets his end by the way of a baton through the skull on the streets of Hell's Kitchen.

The story is told through the words of Ben Urich, the reporter of the Marvel world. Urich struggles to begin the story, but once he begins ,the story is gripping. We get a reporters view of the history of Daredevil intermingled with a friend's memories of a great hero. During his investigation of the story, we get to see the callous nature of the citizens of the city which has been a theme in Daredevil stories for decades. Urich paints a picture of a hero who protects Hell's Kitchen at all costs. A hero who crosses the line and kills his greatest enemy. In the closing scene, we see a red-eyed Daredevil looking down on Ben Urich. This issue gives me the feeling of a prologue to the story, and if the prologue is this good, then, the rest of the story better be on the money.

I'm looking forward to a classic Daredevil story, and I will be very upset (pissed like a mother f---) if it fails to live up to the standard that Bendis has set for himself. We don't need six issues of filler and a decent closing. A tour de force of ninja, gangster, super-villain violence wrapped by two covers is what I’m expecting, a story worthy of the character, Daredevil.

Klaus Janson and Bill Sienkiewicz are two industry greats who have made their names long before now, but it never hurts to try your best. Some pages make me say, Wow,” and others make me say, “Oww.” The balance of this book falls in the story more than the art.

I rate Daredevil End of Days #1 Buy Your Own Copy.

I Reads You Review: V FOR VENDETTA #1

V FOR VENDETTA #1

DC COMICS
WRITER: Alan Moore
ARTIST: David Lloyd
COLORS: David Lloyd, Siobhan Dodd
LETTERS: Jenny O’Connor, Steve Craddock
32pp, Color, $2.00 U.S., $2.95 CAN

So much for going out of print. DC Comics recently published a gift-box edition of the V for Vendetta trade paperback that includes the book and a plastic Guy Fawkes mask. This arrives about three years after DC Comics published a pricey “Absolute Edition” of V for Vendetta.

For those who don’t know: V for Vendetta is a comic book series written by Alan Moore and drawn by David Lloyd who provided most of the art for the series. The series is set in a dystopian, near-future United Kingdom after a nuclear war. It imagines a view of the 1980s and 1990s that is different from the same time period in our world. The series focuses on the activities of a mysterious masked revolutionary who calls himself “V.” Using elaborate methods and a theatrical style, “V” works to destroy the totalitarian government that rules over the U.K.

V for Vendetta originally saw publication as a serial in Warrior, a black and white, British comics anthology (1982-85). Warrior was cancelled in 1985, and V for Vendetta remained unseen until DC Comics began publishing V for Vendetta as a comic book series that reprinted the Warrior material in color and also published the new material that took the story to its conclusion. DC eventually collected the entire series, including some additional material, in trade paperback form under its Vertigo imprint.

I first read V for Vendetta back in the mid-1980s when I came across some issues of Warrior in the bowels of a comic book shop. I read both the V for Vendetta comic book series and the first trade paperback edition released by DC Comics. Since then, I’ve been meaning to read it again, but always put that off. The release of the gift-box trade encouraged me to re-read, at least, a little of V for Vendetta, although I didn’t buy the gift-box. Yes, I did think about buying that, but it seemed like a waste of money, really.

V for Vendetta #1 (September 1988) contains the first four chapters of the story (now called a graphic novel). In Chapter One: The Villain, we meet V and wannabe prostitute, Evey Hammond. In Chapter Two: The Voice, The Leader, ruler of fascist England demands that his subordinates find V after the mysterious figure blows up the Houses of Parliament. In Chapter Three: Victims, enter investigator Mr. Finch after V abducts the Voice of Fate. Chapter Four: Vaudeville, after Evey recounts her life and her experiences of the time the world changed, V passes judgment on the Voice of Fate.

When I first read V for Vendetta all those years ago, it left me stunned or, as people often say, I was blown away. Even after reading American Flagg!, comics by Moebius, and a smattering of independently published science fiction and fantasy titles, I was still not prepared for what V for Vendetta offered. A quarter-century later, the writing still engages me, and Lloyd’s elegant art, with its uncanny touch of realism without being a slave to realism, impresses me even more. Moore’s story and Lloyd’s art come together to create a graphical narrative that recalls Film-Noir and makes the story seem as much a mystery as it is a science fiction story.

In hindsight, we can take exception to this series’ ideas on how a limited nuclear war would effect the environment and the likelihood of how humans would live in its aftermath (or even survive it). Still, V for Vendetta seems like a reasonable scenario – from a socio-economic and political point of view. Reading it now, however, I think Moore’s character writing (along with Lloyd’s art) sells this series more than the near-future concepts, ideas, and setting.

Of course, the character, “V,” is remembered for his style and the theatrical manner in which he went about his activities. I think that the series works because all the characters, to put it simply, are interesting. There is such a sense of the melodramatic about them, with Moore heightening each one’s personalities and quirks so that they become visual cues. The Leader’s moodiness and rash temper, Mr. Finch’s blunt way of carrying out an investigation, and Evey’s near-hysterical survivor’s guilt are played for maximum effect. The characters are why V for Vendetta does not seem like just another post-apocalyptic tale. Instead, it reads and feels like a grand tale of politics and revenge that plays on the comic book page as if it were played on a stage.

Yes, V for Vendetta is still great.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Slam Dunk: For Victory

I read Slam Dunk, Vol. 24

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Albert Avilla Reviews: X-Treme X-Men #4

X-Treme X-Men #4
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Script: Greg Pak
Art: Paco Diaz

(Spoiler Alert)
Greg Pak writing about iconic X-Men characters in an alternate reality, bring it. The X-Men land in the Wild West. Xavier is a professional gambler who uses his telepathy to cheat. He crosses paths with Sabertooth and comes into his power while protecting himself. Evil Xavier takes over the town and oppresses the town. Good old fashioned Western Mutant action popping off every page. Sabertooth and some outlaws are harassing a mother and her son. Little Jamie starts popping claws. Team X-Treme saves the pair.

Wolverine lets himself get captured so that he can do some reconnaissance. Wolverine is in jail with his alternate reality father when Boss Xavier shows up with Colossus and Danger to take Wolverine. Dazzler and Nightcrawler arrive at the jail too late to save Wolvie, but they get Howlett out. Dazzler is left with the odds stacked against her as sheriff Cyclops and his posse, Wolverine, Sabertooth, Danger, and Colossus-riding a bison (hell, yeah, a bison!) are coming for her. She's rolling with ‘tween Nightcrawler, rug rat Wolverine, and the Xavier balloon.

The art was above average, but what I really enjoyed was Diaz's Flair for design. The industrialized West was fun. The characters were cool. The John Henry-style Colossus was awesome and he rides a bison. Xavier is all Wild West-bossed-up. Dazzler is fine as hell.

I rate X-Treme X-Men #4 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Batman the Dark Knight #0

Batman the Dark Knight #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Gregg Hurwitz
Pencils: Mico Suayan and Juan Ryp
Inks: Vicente Cifuentes

"Chill in the Air" (Spoiler Alert)

This story ventures away from the other #0 stories that I've read and tackles the origin of Batman from another angle. We see the traits that make Batman who is developed in his youth.

Early in his life, we see Bruce display the courage that will make him a hero when he returns to the scene of his parents’ murder. This is the determination that drives him throughout his life. Every step that he takes in his life moves him in the direction of finding his parents’ killer; there is nothing that will lead him astray. There is no one to push him to achieve his goal. He is a Spartan warrior living for battle. He allows no pleasures to distract him from his preparation. When the time comes for Bruce to face battle, he throws down on a biker gang. We don't see a bumbling idiot falling over himself. We see a master of hand to hand combat who takes down the gang without a bead of sweat.

Bruce is destroyed when he learns that his parents were not killed as part of a conspiracy, but for being in the wrong place when an alcoholic needed his next drink. The symbolism of his mother's pearls and father's watch shows how the death of his parents drives Bruce.

If you just look at the art, you are not impressed, but when you look at it in the context of the story, the art becomes an important tool in the telling of the story. The artist uses the details to help drive the story home.

I rate Batman the Dark Knight #0 Buy Your Own Copy.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Uncanny Avengers #1

Uncanny Avengers #1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: John Cassaday

(Spoiler Alert)

More uncanny people, who would not like it?

The story opens with the Red Skull implanting a mind control device into the brain of Avalanche and preaching his message of hate. Then, we cut to Xavier's funeral where Wolverine is giving the eulogy. Yes, Wolverine. Havok visits Cyclops in prison. I still get sick to my stomach at seeing how far he has sunken into depravity. Cap and Thor ask Havok to be the leader of the mutants. Yes, Cyclops's hotheaded brother. The three work together to stop a mind controlled Avalanche from tearing up Manhattan. Rogue and the Scarlet Witch have a little disagreement; then, Goat-Faced Girl and her team kidnap them. Yes, Goat-Faced Girl. The Red Skull has found a new source of power, Xavier's brain.

I enjoyed the story; it had action and drama. Remender does the little things that make a story great, but I do have some questions. You have two geniuses in Beast and Kitty Pryde, who would have had the sense to not eulogize a man of peace by saying you felt like killing someone. Where were the chairs at the funeral service? Why Havok as the leader of the mutants?

He has run from leadership roles most of his career. He didn't want the pressure of being on the team for many years. Let's ask Saddam's brother to lead Iraq; the public will go for that. Did they ask Ms. Marvel about putting Rogue on the Avengers? Rogue has a clean record. Who came up with the name Goat-Faced Girl? I can't wait to hear the explanation behind that name. The Skull had something to do with that.

The art was masterful. I could not ask for better. I have another question. Couldn't Cap ask Stark or someone at S.H.E.I.L.D. for better options than a chin strap and knee pads. Those knee pads look like the ones the floor man was wearing when he redid my floors.

I rate Uncanny Avengers #1 Buy Your Own Copy.