I Reads You Review: JONNY QUEST #1

JONNY QUEST #1
COMICO The Comic Company

WRITER: Doug Wildey; William Messner-Loebs
PENCILS: Doug Wildey; Steve Rude
INKS: Doug Wildey; Mike Royer
COLORS: Doug Wildey; Matt Wagner
LETTERS: Doug Wildey; Bob Pinaha
PIN-UPS: Steve Rude; Marc Hempel and Mark Wheatley; Bill Willingham and Terry Austin
32pp, Color, $1.50 U.S., $2.25 CAN (June 1986)

“Jonny Quest” was a science fiction and action-adventure animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Screen Gems.  The series was created and designed by comic book artist, Doug Wildey.  “Jonny Quest” was broadcast on ABC in prime time for one season in 1964–1965 for a total of 26 episodes.

“Jonny Quest” focused on Jonathan “Jonny” Quest, an 11-year-old boy who accompanies Dr. Benton C. Quest, his genius scientist father, on extraordinary adventures.  Roger T. “Race” Bannon was a special agent from the governmental agency, Intelligence One.  A pilot, Race was also Jonny’s tutor, as well as his bodyguard, as the (presumably) U.S. government feared that the boy could be kidnapped.  Jonny’s best friend was Hadji Singh, a streetwise, 11-year-old orphan from Calcutta whom Dr. Benton Quest adopted as his son.  Jonny has a pet, Bandit, a small white dog.

There have been comic book adaptations of “Jonny Quest.”  In 1964, Gold Key Comics published Jonny Quest #1 (cover dated: December 1964?), which retold the first TV episode, “Mystery of the Lizard Men.”  The Grand Comics Database lists a single-issue Jonny Quest comic book published in Australia in 1976.

Beginning in 1986, Pennsylvania-based comic book publisher, Comico The Comic Company (or just Comico), began publishing a Jonny Quest comic book with all-new stories, using the original TV series as a template.  Jonny Quest ran for 31 issues, with two issues of the Jonny Quest Special, and three issues of Jonny Quest Classic.  Drawn by Doug Wildey, the “Classic” series retold three “Jonny Quest” TV episodes:  “Shadow of the Condor,” “Calcutta Adventure,” and “Werewolf of the Timberland.”  There was also Jezebel Jade, a three-issue miniseries starring Jade, a female combination soldier-of-fortune, mercenary, spy, etc. who appeared in the 1965-65 series and had (has) some kind of romantic relationship with Race.

Some months ago, on eBay, I bought a bundle of 1980s comic books that were published by independent publishers.  What I really wanted were the issues of Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents included in this auction lot, but I was surprised to find the first issue of Comico’s ongoing Jonny Quest series.

Jonny Quest #1 contains two interconnected short stories.  The first is “The Sands of Khasa Tahid,” written and drawn by “Jonny Quest” designer/creator, Doug Wildey.  Jonny, Hadji, and Race are traveling across the desert of an unnamed North African country.  Their destination is the Chandarkin Oasis, which is the location of an ancient city buried beneath its sands… or so goes Dr. Quest’s theory.  The machinations of longtime Quest adversary, Dr. Zin, is about to put this trio in an explosive situation.

The second story is “City of Lost Time,” which is written by William Messner-Loebs and drawn by Steve Rude and Mike Royer.  Dr. Quest, Race, and the boys head towards the uncovered city of Khasa Tahid, with Jezebel Jade along for the ride.  They aren’t the only ones looking to discover the lost city’s secrets, which are about to reveal themselves to two curious boys.

I read this comic book around the time it was first released.  I liked it, but not enough to keep reading the series.  I’m not sure how many issues after the first issue I read, if I read any at all.  Looking back, Jonny Quest #1 is good, but not great.  I was a huge fan of the old TV series, and Doug Wildey’s opening story captures the graphic and visual sensibilities of the show, obviously, as Wildey created the show.  The second story has some nice ideas, especially about the unseen denizens of the Khasa Tahid, but it is truncated.  It needed to be a full-issue story, at least.

This time around, however, I do plan to try to read more of the series, especially the “specials” and Jonny Quest Classics.  Jonny Quest #1 turned out to be a nice “bonus” in that eBay lot I bought.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

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Review: THE STRAIN #5

THE STRAIN #5
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
SCRIPT: David Lapham
ART: Mike Huddleston
COLORS: Dan Jackson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: E.M. Gist
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (June 2012)

Part 5: “Origins”

Dark Horse Comics previously made PDF copies of all 11 issues of its horror comic book series, The Strain, available to comic book reviewers on its mailing list.  This offer was part of DHC’s promotional effort for the follow-up series, The Strain: The Fall.  I took up that offer and reviewed all 11 issues of The Strain for the ComicBookBin.

I have previously posted my reviews of The Strain, issues #1 through 4, here on the “I Reads You” blog.  Over the course of the coming weeks, I will post the reviews of issues 5 to 11 on this blog in conjunction with the broadcast of “The Strain,” the television adaptation of the original novel.  The first episode aired on Sunday night, July 13, 2014 on cable channel, FX, with each new episode airing the following Sunday.

Thus far, I think the first two issues The Strain comic book were better than the first two episodes of “The Strain” TV series.  However, I found that the third episode, “Gone Smooth,” (Sunday, July 27, 2014) matched the intensity of the comic book.

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Published by Dark Horse Comics, The Strain is an 11-issue comic book adaptation of the 2009 vampire novel, also entitled The Strain, from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, Hellboy) and novelist Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves).  The adaptation is scripted by David Lapham, drawn by Mike Huddleston, colored by Dan Jackson, and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Strain’s lead character is Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).  Eph heads the Canary Project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats.   With his second-in-command, Nora Martinez, Eph has found such a threat.  It begins at J.F.K. International Airport in New York City, where a Boeing 777 went dead silent after landing, while inside, almost all the passengers and crew were dead.

The Strain #5 opens at the 17th Precinct Headquarters in a holding cell.  There, Professor Abraham Setrakian tells fellow cellmate, Gusto, a story that takes them back in time.  It begins in 1927 in Romania.  Young Abraham is a woodworker whose life is about to be turned upside down by the Nazis.

Moving forward to 1942, Abraham is imprisoned at the Treblinka Death Camp.  His skills keep him alive, but he discovers another threat – the monstrous Sardu.  That’s where the battle between good and evil really begins, and where Abraham’s bid for freedom will determine the fate of many.

Writing comic book reviews of the various issues of The Strain have been easy.  Writer David Lapham and artist Mike Huddleston are a good team.  Lapham decompresses the story, but the narrative pace moves with ever increasing urgency, heightening the sense of drama, especially the moments of violence.  Huddleston brings it to life with compositions full of details that create atmosphere, but most especially embody what each moment is supposed to be.

Lapham and Huddleston’s efforts have earned readers’ notice.  Fans of horror comic books must try The Strain.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Toriko: Four-Beasts!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 22: Four Beasts

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

I Reads You Review: LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #1

LEGENDARY STAR-LORD #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Sam Humphries
PENCILS: Paco Medina
INKS: Juan Vlasco
COLORS: David Curiel
LETTERS: VC’s Joe Caramagna
COVER: Paco Medina
VARIANT COVERS: Mahmud Asrar, Nick Bradshaw, David Marquez, Sara Pichelli, Valerio Schiti, Ryan Stegman
28pp, Color, $3.99 (September 2014)

Rated “T”

Star-Lord a/k/a Peter Quill is a Marvel Comics superhero and science fiction character.  Star-Lord was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Steve Gan and first appeared in Marvel Preview #4 (cover dated: January 1976).  Quill is the son of a human mother and an alien father, and he assumes the mantle of Star-Lord, an interplanetary policeman.

After sporadic appearances, Star-Lord was revamped (or reinvigorated) for his appearance in Annihilation (2006) and Annihilation: Conquest (2007).  He became the leader of the space-based superhero team, Guardians of the Galaxy, for the 2008 re-launch/revamp of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series.

Marvel Studios’ new film, Guardians of the Galaxy, is about to open in movie theatres, so it makes sense, from a sales perspective, for Marvel Comics to take characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book and give them their own series.  Thus, both Rocket Raccoon and Star-Lord have new titles.  Legendary Star-Lord is written by Sam Humphries, drawn by Paco Medina and Juan Vlasco, colored by David Curiel, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Legendary Star-Lord #1 opens in Colorado, 20 years in the past.  We observe Peter Quill on the day of his mother, Meredith Quill’s funeral.  Cut to the present where we find Peter Quill as Star-Lord, outmanned and outgunned by the Badoon.  Star-Lord is a wanted man with a price on his head, and the Badoons get a second prize, the Mandalay Gem, which Quill has in his possession.  Escaping the Badoon might be easy, but facing his past will be a mess for Star-Lord.

I didn’t expect much from Legendary Star-Lord, but I liked it.  It has a lone gun, private eye, cowboy, freelance dude vibe that works, mainly because Peter Quill is an attractive character.  I figure that another issue or two will tell me if this series is really worth following for the (relatively) long haul.

I must say that I like Paco Medina’s art with Juan Vlasco’s Steve McNiven-like inks.  To the readers who liked the space opera/space fantasy style of the recently launched Cyclops comic book, I say give Legendary Star-Lord a try.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads This August 2014 Event

It's August 2014.  Guardians of the Galaxy!  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.

All images and text appearing on this publication are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #47

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #47
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Michael Kraiger
PENCILS: Dave Alvarez; Scott Neely
INKS: Dave Alvarez; Scott Neely
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Rob Leigh
EDITOR: Aniz Ansari
COVER: Scott Neely and Candace Schinzler-Bell
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

I recently received the latest issue of my Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? subscription.  I bought the subscription via a fundraiser held by my nephew’s school last year, which involved selling magazine subscriptions.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #47 opens with “Comic Convention Card Tricks” (written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Dave Alvarez).  Mystery Inc. is attending Mega-Pop Con (“The world’s largest gathering of pop culture!”).  Scooby-Doo and Shaggy are there for the comic books and the food, of course.  Daphne is looking to add to her collection of Fuzzies Dolls.  Fred wants to meet the star of his favorite science fiction television show, “Doc Whatzisname.”

Velma is at the convention to put her “keen strategic mind” to use in the “World Championship Tournament” of her favorite role-playing card game, “Monster Mania.”  But the gang’s fun is interrupted when monsters from Monster Mania come to life to plague the tournament.

“Night Marchers” (written by Michael Kraiger and drawn by Scott Neely) opens with Mystery Inc. in Hawaii so that Daphne can attend the “Conference on Polynesian Paranormal Phenomena.”  Of course, the gang can’t escape a mystery, especially after Shaggy and Scooby meet the ghostly procession known as the “Night Marchers.”

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #47 is unusual in that Velma is the spark in both the cases Mystery Inc. confronts.  The gang is at Mega-Pop Con and in Hawaii because of events in which Velma is participating.  Perhaps, this catches my attention because I am always curious about Velma beyond her place in Mystery Inc.  Who is she and what is her family like?  What are her hobbies?

Beside that, “Comic Convention Card Tricks” is a severely under-developed story.  Once again, it is one of those Scooby-Doo short stories that needed more space.  “Night Marchers,” which I’m assuming is the reprint story this issue (from Scooby-Doo #77), is a fun read, if for no other reason than its Hawaiian setting.

As a side note:  the setting of “Comic Convention Card Tricks” is Mega-Pop Con, which is obviously a stand-in for the legendary, annual San Diego Comic-Con International.  In conjunction with Comic-Con International 2014, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #47, in addition to the regular edition, comes with an exclusive Comic-Con variant cover edition.  Get yours if you can.

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 July 30, 2014

DC COMICS

MAY140353     ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #15     $3.99
APR140277     AME COMI GIRLS TP VOL 02 RISE OF BRAINIAC     $14.99
MAY140189     AQUAMAN ANNUAL #2     $4.99
MAR140253     BATMAN DARK KNIGHT HC VOL 04 CLAY (N52)     $24.99
APR140257     BATMAN DARK KNIGHT TP VOL 03 MAD     $16.99
MAY140229     BATMAN ETERNAL #17     $2.99
APR140285     BATMAN LIL GOTHAM TP VOL 02     $12.99
APR140260     BATWING TP VOL 04 WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (N52)     $16.99
MAY140392     BODIES #1 (MR)     $3.99
MAY140374     DC COMICS PRESENTS BATMAN ADVENTURES #1     $7.99
MAY140244     DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #3     $4.99
MAR140282     DOOM PATROL OMNIBUS HC (MR)     $150.00
MAY148231     HARLEY QUINN #1 5TH PTG     $2.99
MAY140245     HARLEY QUINN #8     $2.99
MAY140173     JUSTICE LEAGUE #32     $3.99
MAY140176     JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 COMBO PACK     $4.99
MAY140185     NEW 52 FUTURES END #13 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
MAY140265     RED LANTERNS ANNUAL #1     $4.99
MAY140397     SANDMAN OVERTURE #3 COMBO PACK (MR)     $4.99
MAY140393     SANDMAN OVERTURE #3 CVR A (MR)     $3.99
MAY140394     SANDMAN OVERTURE #3 CVR B (MR)     $3.99
MAY140257     SINESTRO #4     $2.99
JUN140254     SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL #5     $4.99
MAY140412     VERTIGO QUARTERLY #1 MAGENTA (MR)     $7.99
APR140303     WAKE #10 (MR)     $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB140305     DC COMICS NEW 52 POWERGIRL & HUNTRESS AF 2 PACK     $44.95
FEB140304     INJUSTICE BATMAN VS JOKER 2 PACK AF     $29.95