July, I Reads You (2014)

Did you say, "Jew!"

Woody Allen joke?  It's July 2014.  Welcome to I Reads You, a ComicBookBin web and sister publication (www.comicbookbin.com).  We write about the things we read:  mostly comic books, comics, and related books.  Sometimes, we’ll write about or link to other topics:  typically books, politics, and entertainment.  Thanks for visiting; y'all come back now!

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I Reads You Review: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.1

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Dan Slott
ART: Ramon Perez
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos with Joe Caramagna
COVER: Alex Ross
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2014)

Rated T

Learning to Crawl: Part One: The Show Must Go On

The core Spider-Man comic book series, The Amazing Spider-Man, has returned.  This All-New Marvel NOW series returns with a partner series of sorts, a side-series that retells the story of the early days of Peter Parker’s career as Spider-Man.  Entitled The Amazing Spider-Man 1.1 (Learning to Crawl: Part One), this series is brought to readers by writer Dan Slott, artist Ramón Pérez, colorist Ian Herring, and letterers Chris Eliopoulos and Joe Caramagna.

Learning to Crawl: Part One: The Show Must Go On opens shortly after Peter Parker as Spider-Man confronts the man who shot and killed his beloved Uncle Ben (Benjamin Parker) to death.  Peter is now in a position where he must put on his Spider-Man costume in order to help his family, where he once wore it as part of a secret new life.  As Uncle Ben’s funeral approaches, Peter remains unaware of how people perceive him and his alter-ego, but those perceptions will make his life even more complicated.

The art by Ramón Pérez for The Amazing Spider-Man 1.1 recalls the art of Steve Ditko that first brought Spider-Man to life more than 50 years ago.  This is an effective visual style that makes The Amazing Spider-Man 1.1 seem like a comic book that was published during the early days of Marvel Comics, instead of merely being a comic book tied into the launch of The Amazing Spider-Man 2014.

Writer Dan Slott uses this comic book to get inside Peter Parker’s head and to take an intimate look at the struggles of a 15-year-old boy more as a teenaged boy than as a superhero.  Whenever Slott brings Spider-Man into the story, it is in the context of teen Parker and not as teen superhero.  This emphasis on Peter is best exemplified in this issue when Peter is faced with his late uncle’s generosity at time when he knows that he and Aunt May could use the money Uncle Ben once gave away to those in need.  I look forward to more of this series.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: LOVELESS: A Kin of Homecoming

LOVELESS: A KIN OF HOMECOMING (Volume 1)
DC COMICS/Vertigo – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

CREATOR/STORY: Brian Azzarello
CREATOR/ART: Marcelo Frusin
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Will Dennis (original series)
COVER: Marcelo Frusin
128pp, Color, $9.99 U.S., $13.50 CAB (2006)

Suggested for mature readers

Loveless was a Western comic book series for mature readers published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics.  The series was created by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Marcelo Frusin.  Loveless was published for 24 issues with the cover dates:  December 2005 to May 2008.  In addition to Frusin, artists Danijel Zezelj and Werther Dell'Edera also drew the series.  Loveless was a monthly, ongoing comic book series that was apparently intended to run for four years, but was cancelled after two-and-half years.

Loveless began as a series that focused on a Confederate Civil War veteran who returns to his hometown and finds it under Union control.  The veteran eventually becomes sheriff, as he continues to investigate the fate of his missing wife.  While the early issues of Loveless focused on the veteran’s relationships with the townsfolk and other locals, the series eventually expanded its scope and themes.

Several years ago, probably around the end of Loveless’ publication, I used some Amazon credit to buy the first two trade paperback collections of Loveless.  After misplacing the books, I found them and decided to read both and to review, at least, the first trade collection (for you, of course, dear readers).

Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming collects Loveless issues #1 to 5.  All five issues were produced by writer Brian Azzarello, artist Marcelo Frusin, colorist Patricia Mulvihill, and letterer Clem Robins.  The art for the cover of Loveless #1 was reused as the cover for Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming, but with new cover copy.

Loveless is set mainly in and around the town of Blackwater, Missouri.  The series introduces Wesley “Wes” Cutter, a former Confederate soldier who returns to Blackwater, where he finds that Union soldiers occupy his house and his wife, Ruth Stokes, is missing.  To regain his house, Wes starts killing Unions soldiers, but he isn’t the only former rebel killing soldiers.  Another former Confederate leads a band of fellow rebels who do not accept that the Civil War ended.  A man named Boyd leads this band of bushwhackers that are not only killing Union soldiers, but also Black people who live locally.

Jeremiah Trotter, a Northern businessman (a “carpetbagger”) wants to bring stability to the area.  In spite of the protests of Union commander, Colonel Silas Redd, Trotter offers Cutter the job of sheriff, which he accepts.  Perhaps, Cutter hopes the position will help him find answers about his missing wife and his missing younger brother, Jonny Cutter.  Also, a former slave turned bounty hunter, Atticus Mann, enters the scene.

Writer Brian Azzarello offers an embarrassment of riches when it comes to intriguing characters.  Lead character, Wes Cutter, is full of mystery, and with each page, he becomes more interesting rather than off-putting, which having too much mystery can sometimes do to a character.  Having a lot of characters can be a little confusing when the narrative shifts back and forth in time, however, which the first fives issues of Loveless do quite a bit.

One thing about Loveless of which I am ambivalent is the violence.  Artist Marcelo Frusin stages all of it in interesting ways, as if trying to create a graphical impression similar to that of film.  In spite of that, the violence is sometimes tedious, to the point where instead of raising the ante, it just wears down the story.

Marcelo Frusin and colorist Patricia Mulvihill deliver some pretty art.  In fact, the art is so good looking that the violence, the depictions of rape, and the portrayal of corpses (in various stages of damage and decay) seem odd, even out of place.

On the back cover of Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming is a quote from what is likely a favorable review.  The quote mentions the term “spaghetti western,” which Loveless is not.  Loveless, at least in the beginning, is a Western historical drama.  It is more like one of those old Western television series from the 1950s and 60s (but with explicit violence, profanity, and sex) than it is like a Sergio Leone-Clint Eastwood film … or even like Django Unchained, a truer heir to Leone and Eastwood.

I plan to read the rest of Loveless.  I am curious to see how this series turned out before being cancelled.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Yu-Gi-Oh: Zexal - Line World!!

I read Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Vol. 5

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: DANGER GIRL: Mayday #2

DANGER GIRL: MAYDAY #2
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

WRITER:  Andy Hartnell
PENCILS: John Royle
INKS: Eeshwar
COLORS: Romulo Fajardo
LETTERS: Neil Uyetake
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVER: John Royle and Eeshwar with Romulo Fajardo
VARIANT COVERS: John Royle and Eeshwar with Romulo Fajardo (subscription cover)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2014)

I loudly declared my return to reading Danger Girl comics with my review of the first issue of Danger Girl: Mayday.  Written by Andy Hartnell and drawn by John Royle, it is the latest entry in the comic book series created by artist J. Scott Campbell and Hartnell back in the 1990s.

Mayday focuses on one of the original Danger Girl stars, Natalia Kassle, revealed to be a traitor in the Danger Girl organization.  In the first issue of Danger Girl: Mayday, a team of rogue brigands finds an unconscious Kassle during a battle on Hammer Island.

Danger Girl: Mayday #2 opens in the Kingdom of Bhutan in South Asia.  There, Kassle lives among a group of women, a sisterhood, as she gradually regains her physical fitness.  Recovering her memories remains a problem.  However, she has a new ally, April Mayday, who seems to know quite a bit about Natalie and is determined to make her the most dangerous woman in the world… again.

As soon as I saw Danger Girl: Mayday #2 on the new release shelf of my “local” comic book shop, I grabbed it.  I wanted to see if I would like it as much as I liked the first issue.  I do.  I’m intrigued and want to know what is the big mystery, hiding behind Natalie’s return and those who want to control her.

Yeah, thus far, this comic book is pretty inconsequential and lacking in substance.  Comics should be good, of course, but comics should also be fun, and Danger Girl: Mayday is more of the latter than it is of the former – but it is, in a way, both.  John Royle’s art is a joy to behold, and I found myself flipping through the book several times just to look at the art.  I plan on finding the third issue of Danger Girl: Mayday.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 25 2014

DC COMICS

APR148268     ACTION COMICS #31 2ND PTG (DOOMED)     $3.99
APR140245     ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #14     $3.99
APR140240     ALL STAR WESTERN #32     $3.99
APR140176     AQUAMAN #32     $2.99
APR140209     BATMAN #32 (ZERO YEAR)     $3.99
APR140212     BATMAN #32 COMBO PACK (ZERO YEAR)     $4.99
APR140246     BATMAN 66 #12     $3.99
APR140252     BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #11     $3.99
FEB140246     BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 04 THE WRATH (N52)     $24.99
MAR140251     BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS TP VOL 03 EMPEROR PENGUIN (N52)     $16.99
APR140208     BATMAN ETERNAL #12     $2.99
MAR140272     BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS CRIMSON CORSAIR TP     $19.99
APR140228     CATWOMAN #32     $2.99
MAR140290     DEAD BOY DETECTIVES TP VOL 01 SCHOOLBOY TERRORS     $9.99
APR140173     FLASH #32     $2.99
APR140226     HARLEY QUINN #0 DIRECTORS CUT     $4.99
APR140253     HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #14     $2.99
FEB140260     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US HC VOL 02     $19.99
MAR140265     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US TP VOL 01     $14.99
APR140247     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #6     $2.99
MAR140175     JUSTICE LEAGUE #31     $3.99
MAR140177     JUSTICE LEAGUE #31 COMBO PACK     $4.99
APR140170     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #32     $3.99
APR140238     LARFLEEZE #12     $2.99
APR140165     NEW 52 FUTURES END #8 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
APR140239     RED LANTERNS #32     $2.99
APR140172     SECRET ORIGINS #3     $4.99
APR140231     SINESTRO #3     $2.99
APR140188     SUPERMAN #32     $3.99
APR140193     SUPERMAN #32 COMBO PACK     $4.99
APR148269     SUPERMAN DOOMED #1 2ND PTG     $4.99
APR148270     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #8 2ND PTG (DOOMED)     $3.99
MAR140291     TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL TP     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

DEC130359     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE HARLEY QUINN STATUE     $79.95
JAN140397     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS POISON IVY STATUE     $99.95
DEC130365     DC COMICS ICONS CYBORG 1/6 SCALE STATUE     $99.95
JAN140393     DC COMICS NEW 52 EARTH 2 FLASH AF     $24.95
JAN140395     DC COMICS NEW 52 EARTH 2 GREEN LANTERN AF     $24.95
JAN140394     DC COMICS NEW 52 EARTH 2 THOMAS WAYNE BATMAN AF     $24.95
JAN140399     FLASH VS GORILLA GRODD PATINA MINI STATUE     $124.95
JAN140401     WHITE LANTERN 1:1 SCALE POWER BATTERY PROP W RING     $199.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 25 2014

MARVEL COMICS

APR140727     ALL NEW DOOP #3     $3.99
APR140701     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #4     $3.99
APR140672     ALL NEW ULTIMATES #4     $3.99
APR140679     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 ANMN     $3.99
APR140774     AVENGERS AI TP VOL 02 12000 AD     $16.99
APR140666     AVENGERS UNDERCOVER #6 ANMN     $2.99
APR140738     DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE #4     $3.99
APR140652     DEXTER DOWN UNDER #5     $3.99
APR140634     FANTASTIC FOUR #6 SIN     $3.99
APR140717     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #16     $3.99
APR140715     MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #27 SYU     $2.99
APR140760     MMW HUMAN TORCH TP VOL 01     $24.99
APR140711     MS MARVEL #5     $2.99
APR140664     NEW AVENGERS #20 ANMN     $3.99
APR140660     NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 ANMN     $4.99
MAR140757     NEW AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 03 OTHER WORLDS     $24.99
APR140700     NEW WARRIORS #6     $3.99
APR140640     ORIGINAL SIN #3.1     $3.99
APR140639     ORIGINAL SINS #2     $3.99
APR140648     SAVAGE HULK #1     $3.99
APR140677     SPIDER-MAN SPECTACULAR #1     $4.99
APR140779     SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP TP VOL 02 SUPERIOR SIX     $19.99
APR140669     UNCANNY AVENGERS #21 ANMN     $3.99
APR148212     UNITED STATES OF MURDER INC #1 2ND PTG OEMING VAR (MR)     $3.99
APR140782     WHAT IF TP AGE OF ULTRON     $16.99
APR140731     WOLVERINE #9     $3.99
APR140739     X-FORCE #6     $3.99
APR140776     X-MEN TP VOL 02 ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT     $39.99