I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).
Monday, May 6, 2013
La Corda d'Oro: The Final Volume
I read La Corda d'Oro, Vol. 17
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).
I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Review: SHAME: Pursuit
RENEGADE ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
WRITER: Lovern Kindzierski – @Lovern
ARTIST: John Bolton
LETTERS/COVER DESIGN: Todd Klein
ISBN: 978-0-9868200-5-2; paperback (April 24, 2013)
64pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.
With his cousin Chris Chuckry, Lovern Kindzierski founded Digital Chameleon. The company revolutionized the art of creating comics by making Photoshop and computer coloring the industry standards. Kindzierski also writes comic books. His latest project is Shame, a series of three graphic novels that he writes and John Bolton draws and paints. Published by Renegade Arts Entertainment, the first book, Shame: Conception, was released in 2011. The second book, Shame: Pursuit, was recently published.
Shame is set in the Middle Ages, described as the infancy of humanity’s spiritual development. The series focuses on two witches, Shame and Virtue. Shame is Virtue’s mother and daughter, and Virtue is Shame’s mother and daughter – as far as I can tell. Their father is Slur, the willowy and physically shifting demon of ignorance. Shame imprisoned Virtue in Cradle Mound, a jail made of thorny vines and guarded by flesh-eating plants, monstrous birds, and Harpy-like nannies.
Shame: Pursuit finds Shame waging war on the world, destroying her rivals who are magic users and killing anyone else who gets in her way. Slur is always nearby to encourage Shame or prick her nerves. Meanwhile, Virtue comes closer to breaking free of Cradle Mound, but she will need help. That comes in the form of Merritt, a brave young warrior who is not quite like other warriors.
It is like nothing I’ve read in quite a while. Shame: Pursuit is a doozy, and I had a difficult time figuring out what was going on because I had not read the first book, Conception. I didn’t even know that this series existed until Renegade Arts Entertainment sent me a copy of Pursuit for review, although I think I had heard of Renegade Arts before I received the book.
I find the characters to be quite attractive and engaging, especially the lovable Merritt. Everyone, except Merritt, seems to be so devious and deceptive. Also, the story is weird, like a Ralph Bakshi animated fantasy film.
I really like the art for Shame by comic book artist and painter John Bolton, whose work I’ve admired for ages. There is a dreamy quality to his art that is ideal for fantasy storytelling. Bolton has been one of the few artists whose paintings for comic books are as effective as comic book art drawn traditionally with pencils and with pens and brushes for inking.
Bolton paints Virtue with a photorealistic touch, giving her the qualities like that of a model who walks the runway for the biggest shows and gets the all the magazine covers. What Bolton does with Merritt’s facial features, physique, and clothes is uncannily, eerily natural and genuinely human. I say witchcraft is involved in this man’s art.
Strange as Shame: Pursuit is, I want to find the first book, and I would like to read the final book.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
"Batman #19" Tops April 2013 Diamond Comic Distributors Charts
BATMAN #19 Tops All Comic Book Sales for April
On the eve of historic ZERO YEAR storyline, Batman titles remain firmly planted atop comic book shop, bookstore and The New York Times bestseller lists
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The dark, evocative and dramatic Batman stories of critically-acclaimed writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Greg Capullo continued to catapult the iconic vigilante to the top of the sales charts in comic shops and bookstores in the month of April, announced DC Entertainment, the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world. April 2013 saw BATMAN #19 and DETECTIVE COMICS #19 clock in as the top-selling periodicals in units and dollars, respectively, to comic shop retailers, according to the world’s largest comic book distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors.
Batman’s success in the bookstore market was also impressive, with the Dark Knight taking four of the top 20 graphic novels in dollars and units, according to Nielsen Bookscan – including BATMAN VOL. 2: THE CITY OF OWLS, BATMAN VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS and BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS – all featuring the work of the unstoppable team of Snyder and Capullo.
“Greg and Scott know Batman. Their work on the character falls under ‘instant classic’ – edgy, cinematic and suspenseful. They get to the core of what fans look for in a Batman story, and the response has been amazing. The best part? They’re just getting started,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “At the same time, Batman as a character and icon continues to be one of our hottest sellers, whether it’s a digital title or game like INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, the epic anniversary issue that was DETECTIVE COMICS #19 or graphic novel collections of his adventures. If it’s Batman, it’s a success.”
BATMAN #19 was the first of a two-part tale spotlighting the New 52 debut of a key Batman rogue, the mysterious Clayface, and set the stage for BATMAN #21 – the beginning of the sure-to-be-historic BATMAN: YEAR ZERO storyline, a modern reinterpretation of Batman’s iconic origin, also by Snyder and Capullo. The storyline promises to give fans a unexpected look at how Bruce Wayne took his first steps toward becoming Batman.
As if pulling back the curtain on Batman’s formative days wasn’t enough in June, Snyder will be joining forces with DC Comics Co-Publisher and legendary comic book artist Jim Lee for SUPERMAN UNCHAINED, a new series featuring the hero’s classic supporting cast, villains and an all-new, all-powerful threat. Fans can get a glimpse of what’s to come in the series at their local comic shops tomorrow, as participating stores will be distributing copies of DC Comics’ Free Comic Book Day titles, which include the SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON SPECIAL EDITION #1 (featuring a lead story by DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns) and the DC NATION SUPER SAMPLER #1, for our younger readers.
Batman’s presence was also felt in the accolades department, as BATMAN VOL. 2: CITY OF OWLS and DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS made The New York Times Hardcover Bestseller lists. Also on the list were the DC Comics titles EARTH 2 VOL. 1: THE GATHERING, and Vertigo titles AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 5 and 100 BULLETS: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR. Making their debuts on The New York Times’ Paperback Bestsellers lists are DC Comics titles SWAMP THING VOL. 2: FAMILY TREE and WORLDS’ FINEST VOL. 1: THE LOST DAUGHTERS OF EARTH 2, and Vertigo titles PUNK ROCK JESUS and THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 7: THE WOUND.
On the digital side, INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US dominated the sales chart in April, taking each spot of the top 15 selling titles. INJUSTICE is a true phenomenon, driving double digit sales percentage increases for the top 20 titles across all major distribution platforms: comiXology, Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store. INJUSTICE print issues also continue to sell well, with each issue released to-date going back for additional printings.
Also in April, DC Entertainment launched a first-ever crowdfunding initiative for its We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. The crowdfunding initiative has already raised more than $120,000 by offering fun donation perks for fans, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences like hanging out with Geoff Johns at San Diego Comic-Con and a private hometown screening of MAN OF STEEL. For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org
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. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched www.WeCanBeHeroes.org —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.
On the eve of historic ZERO YEAR storyline, Batman titles remain firmly planted atop comic book shop, bookstore and The New York Times bestseller lists
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The dark, evocative and dramatic Batman stories of critically-acclaimed writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Greg Capullo continued to catapult the iconic vigilante to the top of the sales charts in comic shops and bookstores in the month of April, announced DC Entertainment, the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world. April 2013 saw BATMAN #19 and DETECTIVE COMICS #19 clock in as the top-selling periodicals in units and dollars, respectively, to comic shop retailers, according to the world’s largest comic book distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors.
Batman’s success in the bookstore market was also impressive, with the Dark Knight taking four of the top 20 graphic novels in dollars and units, according to Nielsen Bookscan – including BATMAN VOL. 2: THE CITY OF OWLS, BATMAN VOL. 1: THE COURT OF OWLS and BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS – all featuring the work of the unstoppable team of Snyder and Capullo.
“Greg and Scott know Batman. Their work on the character falls under ‘instant classic’ – edgy, cinematic and suspenseful. They get to the core of what fans look for in a Batman story, and the response has been amazing. The best part? They’re just getting started,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “At the same time, Batman as a character and icon continues to be one of our hottest sellers, whether it’s a digital title or game like INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, the epic anniversary issue that was DETECTIVE COMICS #19 or graphic novel collections of his adventures. If it’s Batman, it’s a success.”
BATMAN #19 was the first of a two-part tale spotlighting the New 52 debut of a key Batman rogue, the mysterious Clayface, and set the stage for BATMAN #21 – the beginning of the sure-to-be-historic BATMAN: YEAR ZERO storyline, a modern reinterpretation of Batman’s iconic origin, also by Snyder and Capullo. The storyline promises to give fans a unexpected look at how Bruce Wayne took his first steps toward becoming Batman.
As if pulling back the curtain on Batman’s formative days wasn’t enough in June, Snyder will be joining forces with DC Comics Co-Publisher and legendary comic book artist Jim Lee for SUPERMAN UNCHAINED, a new series featuring the hero’s classic supporting cast, villains and an all-new, all-powerful threat. Fans can get a glimpse of what’s to come in the series at their local comic shops tomorrow, as participating stores will be distributing copies of DC Comics’ Free Comic Book Day titles, which include the SUPERMAN LAST SON OF KRYPTON SPECIAL EDITION #1 (featuring a lead story by DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns) and the DC NATION SUPER SAMPLER #1, for our younger readers.
Batman’s presence was also felt in the accolades department, as BATMAN VOL. 2: CITY OF OWLS and DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2: SCARE TACTICS made The New York Times Hardcover Bestseller lists. Also on the list were the DC Comics titles EARTH 2 VOL. 1: THE GATHERING, and Vertigo titles AMERICAN VAMPIRE VOL. 5 and 100 BULLETS: THE DELUXE EDITION BOOK FOUR. Making their debuts on The New York Times’ Paperback Bestsellers lists are DC Comics titles SWAMP THING VOL. 2: FAMILY TREE and WORLDS’ FINEST VOL. 1: THE LOST DAUGHTERS OF EARTH 2, and Vertigo titles PUNK ROCK JESUS and THE UNWRITTEN VOL. 7: THE WOUND.
On the digital side, INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US dominated the sales chart in April, taking each spot of the top 15 selling titles. INJUSTICE is a true phenomenon, driving double digit sales percentage increases for the top 20 titles across all major distribution platforms: comiXology, Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store. INJUSTICE print issues also continue to sell well, with each issue released to-date going back for additional printings.
Also in April, DC Entertainment launched a first-ever crowdfunding initiative for its We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. The crowdfunding initiative has already raised more than $120,000 by offering fun donation perks for fans, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences like hanging out with Geoff Johns at San Diego Comic-Con and a private hometown screening of MAN OF STEEL. For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org
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. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched www.WeCanBeHeroes.org —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.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Review: The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #5
CANDLE LIGHT PRESS/Warning Comics – @candlelightpres
CARTOONIST: Carter Allen
24pp, Color, $2.99 US (2013)
Let’s all go on a sea cruise, right?
She can match up with just about any space opera heroine, and she’s back. Nikki Harris, the Cybermation Witch, makes her annual comic book appearance in The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch #5, entitled “Hell on the High Seas.” This time around, Nikki is on a working vacation, but the work turns out to be a bit tougher than she expected.
Nikki Harris has traveled to the planet, Qua. This water world is a “pleasure planet of the colonial worlds,” and is apparently a popular destination with tourists the universe over. Among Qua’s most popular attractions are the hydrocruisers, which are ocean-going party vessels. Nikki has booked passage on one of them, the Pontoppidan.
However, Nikki isn’t onboard just to par-tay. She’s tracking another passenger, Dr. Elias DuHarm, who could lead her to a cabal that supports the Voyd, the alien horde that has invaded Earth. Vacation turns to terror, however, and it’s “Die Hard on a boat,” when Nautilie attacks.
The Adventures of Nikki Harris the Cybermation Witch is a digitally-produced comic book series. Writer/artist Carter Allen renders the images, graphics, and texts using a computer and software. Early on in the series, the Nikki Harris comics, visually and graphically, seemed as stiff as early computer-produced comic book efforts (remember Shatter from First Comics?).
The most recent Nikki Harris color comic books are different. The art pops off the page, and even Allen’s compositions, with their Spartan production and design values, occasionally take on an exotic quality. Nikki’s brash personality and cowboy-hero persona come at the reader like one of her combat moves. This quirky, but sparkling sci-fi, super-chick series will grow on you, and you’ll be waiting for next issue.
A
www.candlelightpress.com
www.nikkithewitch.com
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
Friday, May 3, 2013
Review: THE SHADOW: Year One #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics
WRITER: Matt Wagner
ARTIST: Wilfredo Torres
COLORS: Brennan Wagner
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVERS: Matt Wagner (A), Alex Ross (B), Chris Samnee (C), Howard Chaykin (D)
The Shadow created by Walter B. Gibson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.
The Shadow began as the mysterious narrator of the radio series, Detective Story Hour. Then, pulp writer Walter B. Gibson, under the pen name Maxwell Grant, fully developed the character into the one we know, the mysterious crime-fighting vigilante with psychic powers. The Shadow became a pop culture icon. The character is no stranger to comics, having debuted in a daily newspaper comic strip in 1940 and also starring in a comic book series that ran during the 1940s, entitled Shadow Comics.
In 2012, The Shadow returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment. Dynamite’s latest release featuring the dark avenger who knows about fear lurking in hearts is The Shadow: Year One, a new miniseries from writer Matt Wagner and artist Wilfredo Torres. The adventure begins in Cambodia, 1929 and moves to New York City on October 30, 1929. That’s when wealthy, world traveler and adventurer, Lamont Cranston, becomes The Shadow and begins a war on crime in America.
As The Shadow: Year One #2 opens, The Shadow rescues Margo Lane, a mobster’s sex toy (a.k.a. “piece of ass”) from that mobster’s goons, Vinnie and Sal. You see, Ms. Lane is or was Guiseppe “Joe” Massaretti’s lover, but he didn’t need her services anymore and wanted to get rid of her permanently. Surprisingly, Ms. Lane recognizes her rescuer. Meanwhile, a young reporter continues to track Cranston, as a mob war begins.
Writer Matt Wagner uses The Shadow: Year One #2 to establish what are likely to be the dominate plot lines of this miniseries. This is a dialogue-heavy issue, so the emphasis is on establishing the personalities, conflicts, motivations, etc. of the cast – besides The Shadow. Surprisingly, Wagner’s exposition (which appears in the caption boxes) is stiff and kinda dull. This is surprising because Wagner, a veteran writer/artist and comic book scribe, is usually in top form. So far, The Shadow: Year One has not been anywhere near his best work.
This issue, the art by Wilfredo Torres looks like a broken-down version of David Mazzuchelli’s art for Batman: Year One. The compositions are arthritic, and the figure drawing is awkward. Both Wagner and Torres are capable of better, and I’m sure or I hope they will deliver better in future issues.
B-
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
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