Gangsta: Hidden History

I read Gangsta., Vol. 3

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

Review: WAYWARD #1

WAYWARD #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

STORY: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ART: Steve Cummings
COLORS: John Rauch and Jim Zub
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
COVER: Steve Cummings and Ross A. Campbell
VARIANT COVER:  Alina Urusov; Jeff “Chamba” Cruz; Adam Warren and John Rauch
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

Additional material by Zack Davisson and Kalman Andrasofszky

Jim Zub sent the ComicBookBin a PDF copy of the first issue of his new comic book series, Wayward, published by Image Comics.  I reviewed it for the Bin and am now posting a slightly altered version of that review for you, dear readers, on I Reads You.

Wayward is an intriguing new fantasy comic book series from writer Jim Zub (Skullkickers, Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller) and penciller Steve Cummings (Legends of the Dark Knight, Deadshot) and published by Image Comics.  The upcoming series focuses on a teen girl trying to start a new life only to find herself confronted by the ancient creatures that lurk in the shadows of Tokyo.

Wayward #1 (“Chapter One”) opens as Rori Lane arrives in Japan from Ireland.  She is the child of a Japanese mother and an Irish father.  Her parents divorced, and although she initially stayed in Ireland, she is now moving to Japan to live with her mother.

Moving halfway across the world from Ireland to make a new home means that Rori will have to make some cultural adjustments, but she is game.  Things are going well, and it seems as if she and her mother can live together.  However, things take a turn for the weird when Rori begins glimpsing signs, creatures, and other things that no one else can see.  Then, there is Ayane...

It seems as if the selling point of Wayward is to compare it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I received a PDF copy for review from series writer, Jim Zub, and on one page of the PDF is the tagline, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new generation.”  On the same page, Hellboy is referenced.  With the comparisons/references to Buffy and Hellboy, you might think Wayward is a Dark Horse Comics title.  In truth, Wayward's first issue makes a good first step towards being the long-running fantasy franchise that both Buffy and Hellboy are.

However, Wayward does also resemble, to one extent or another, urban fantasy comics published by DC Comics' imprint, Vertigo (particularly Crossing Midnight), and by VIZ Media (the sublime Natsume's Book of Friends).  In fact, the manga and Japanese comparisons are appropriate as Wayward's pencil artist, Steve Cummings, drew the OEL manga (American manga) titles, Pantheon High and Star Trek: The Manga, for TOKYOPOP.

Whether the creators hope for their new comic book to inherit the mantle of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or not, we can keep discussing in the future.  What I can say is that Wayward is a series with promise and with a promising lead character.  Rori Lane is the kind of misfit who isn't afraid of the big, mean world.  She doesn't seem like a young woman ready to run away, and in that, she is like Buffy.  Zub uses internal dialogue (via caption boxes) both to endear her to us and to make her journey of discovery our journey also.  I can tell by this winning first issue that some readers will be glad to be Rori's Scooby gang, and, if need be, her BPRD.  I am one of them.

The art by Steve Cummings, John Rauch, and Jim Zub is colorful and vibrant.  Wayward's Tokyo might be a crowded modern city, but it isn't drab or dull; the monsters in the shadows will make sure of that.  Cummings' storytelling is clean and straight-forward, which makes the magic and mystery stand out.

I think that Wayward will be different from the other titles that Image is publishing, and that's a good thing.  I think the Young Adult novel has finally made it to comics in the form of Wayward, and I think it will be one of the standout new titles of the year.

A-

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 August 27, 2014

DC COMICS

JUN140250    ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #16    $3.99
JUN140245    ALL STAR WESTERN #34    $3.99
JUN140170    AQUAMAN #34    $2.99
JUN140251    BATMAN 66 #14    $2.99
JUN140256    BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #13    $3.99
JUN140210    BATMAN ETERNAL #21    $2.99
MAY140234    BATMAN SUPERMAN #13    $3.99
MAY140237    BATMAN SUPERMAN #13 COMBO PACK    $4.99
JUN140300    BODIES #2 (MR)    $3.99
JUN140233    CATWOMAN #34    $2.99
MAY140379    DC UNIVERSE VS MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE TP    $14.99
JUN140301    DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #8    $2.99
MAY140403    FABLES TP VOL 20 CAMELOT (MR)    $19.99
JUN140166    FLASH #34    $2.99
MAY140372    GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS TP VOL 04 GODS MONSTERS (N52)    $16.99
JUN140230    HARLEY QUINN #10    $2.99
JUN140257    HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #16    $2.99
JUN140259    INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #10    $2.99
JUN140164    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #34    $3.99
JUN140163    NEW 52 FUTURES END #17 (WEEKLY)    $2.99
JUN140244    RED LANTERNS #34    $2.99
JUN140172    SECRET ORIGINS #5    $4.99
JUN140237    SINESTRO #5    $2.99
JUN140182    STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES GI ZOMBIE #2    $2.99
JUN140198    SUPERMAN #34    $3.99
JUN140202    SUPERMAN #34 COMBO PACK    $4.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
FEB140309    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS STARGIRL STATUE    $124.95
FEB140308    DC COMICS NEW 52 ARSENAL AF    $24.95
FEB140306    DC COMICS NEW 52 RED HOOD AF    $24.95
MAY140434    SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED BMB MINI FIGURES SER 3    $89.10

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 27, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

JUN140676    ALL NEW INVADERS #9    $3.99
JUN140640    ALL NEW ULTIMATES #7    $3.99
JUN140691    ALL NEW X-MEN #31    $3.99
JUN140645    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.4    $3.99
JUN148188    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #2 2ND PTG RAMOS VAR ANMN    $3.99
JUN148189    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 2ND PTG RAMOS VAR ANMN    $3.99
JUN140620    AVENGERS #34 SIN    $3.99
JUN140632    AVENGERS UNDERCOVER #9    $2.99
JUN140734    AVENGERS UNDERCOVER TP VOL 01 DESCENT    $15.99
JUN140693    CYCLOPS #4    $3.99
MAY140932    DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE TP    $16.99
JUN140672    FANTASTIC FOUR #9    $3.99
JUN140735    FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 01 FALL OF FANTASTIC FOUR    $15.99
JUN140622    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #18 SIN    $3.99
MAY140855    INHUMAN #4    $3.99
JUN140746    JESSICA JONES PULSE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $34.99
JUN140682    MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #29 SYU    $2.99
JUN140720    MMW ATLAS ERA TALES OF SUSPENSE TP VOL 01    $29.99
MAR140770    MMW MARVEL RARITIES HC VOL 01    $75.00
JUN148178    MS MARVEL #2 4TH PTG MCKELVIE VAR ANMN    $2.99
MAY140937    NEW WARRIORS TP VOL 01 KIDS ARE ALL FIGHT    $24.99
JUN148190    ORIGINAL SIN #2 2ND PTG TEDESCO VAR    $3.99
JUN148184    ORIGINAL SIN #5 2ND PTG TEDESCO VAR    $3.99
JUN148179    ORIGINAL SIN #5.1 2ND PTG KEOWN VAR    $3.99
MAY140777    ORIGINAL SIN #5.4    $3.99
JUN148185    ORIGINAL SIN #6 2ND PTG TEDESCO VAR    $3.99
JUN140747    OZ DOROTHY AND WIZARD IN OZ TP    $19.99
JUN140670    SAVAGE HULK #3    $3.99
JUN140710    SECRET SERVICE PREM HC KINGSMAN(MR)    $24.99
MAY140870    SILVER SURFER #5    $3.99
JUN140662    THUNDERBOLTS #30    $2.99
JUN140634    UNCANNY AVENGERS #23    $3.99
JUN140689    WOLVERINE #12    $5.99
JUN140702    WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #8    $3.99
JUN140732    X-FORCE BY KYLE AND YOST COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02    $39.99
MAY140931    X-FORCE TP VOL 01 DIRTY TRICKS    $17.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for August 27, 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

JUN140425    24 #5    $3.99
JUN140454    7TH SWORD #4    $3.99
JUN140352    BORDERLANDS FALL OF FYRESTONE #2    $3.99
JUN140380    CARTOON NETWORK SUPER SECRET CRISIS WAR #3    $3.99
JUN140381    CARTOON NETWORK SUPER SECRET CRISIS WAR #3 SUB VAR    $3.99
JUN140354    GHOSTBUSTERS #19    $3.99
JUN140358    GODZILLA RULERS OF THE EARTH #15    $3.99
JUN140445    ILLEGITIMATES HC    $24.99
JUN140440    KILL SHAKESPEARE MASK OF NIGHT #3    $3.99
JUN140451    MAGIC THE GATHERING COMP COLL HC    $49.99
APR140378    MARS ATTACKS DLX ED HC    $39.99
MAY148337    RAGNAROK #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAY148338    RAGNAROK #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAY148336    STAR TREK CITY O/T EDGE OF FOREVER #2 2ND PTG    $3.99
JUN140437    STAR TREK CITY O/T EDGE OF FOREVER #3    $3.99
JUN140438    STAR TREK CITY O/T EDGE OF FOREVER #3 SUB VAR    $3.99
JUN148220    THE LAST FALL #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
JUN140442    THE LAST FALL #2    $3.99
JUN140402    TMNT TURTLES IN TIME #3    $3.99
JUN140406    TMNT WORKS HC VOL 03    $49.99
JUN140415    TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #32 DAWN O/T AUTOBOTS    $3.99
JUN140409    TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE #2    $3.99
JUN140343    V-WARS #5    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 27, 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR140084    ARCHIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 10    $59.99
JUN140017    BALTIMORE WITCH OF HARJU #2    $3.50
APR140087    BLOOD BLOCKADE BATTLEFRONT TP VOL 06    $12.99
APR140085    BURROUGHS TARZAN SUNDAY COMICS 1934-1936 HC VOL 02    $125.00
JUN140030    CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #14    $2.99
APR140079    CONAN HC VOL 16 SONG OF BELIT    $24.99
JUN140073    CONAN THE AVENGER #5    $3.50
JUN140059    DEEP GRAVITY #2    $3.99
JUN140036    DREAM THIEF ESCAPE #3    $3.99
JUN140051    EMILY & THE STRANGERS BREAKING RECORD #3    $3.99
MAR140108    GAME OF THRONES FIGURE ARYA STARK    $24.99
MAR140107    GAME OF THRONES FIGURE ROBB STARK    $24.99
JUN140019    GOON OCCASION OF REVENGE #2    $3.50
JUN140043    GROO VS CONAN #2    $3.50
JUN140056    HALO ESCALATION #9    $3.99
MAR140008    HATSUNE MIKU UNOFFICIAL HATSUNE MIX TP    $19.99
APR140116    LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS GANONDORF    $124.99
APR140115    LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS LINK    $79.99
JUN140034    MASSIVE #26    $3.50
JUN140035    MIND MGMT #25    $3.99
JUN140037    PARIAH #7    $3.99
JUN140041    POP #1    $3.99
JUN140089    SIN CITY PLAYING CARDS (2ND ED)    $5.00
JUN140067    STAR WARS LEGACY II #18    $2.99
JUN140042    SUNDOWNERS #1    $3.50
JUN140058    TOMB RAIDER #7    $3.50
APR140046    X TP VOL 03 SIEGE    $14.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 27, 2014

IMAGE COMICS

JUN140539    BLACK SCIENCE #8 (MR)    $3.50
JUN148317    CHEW WARRIOR CHICKEN POYO #1 2ND PTG    $3.50
JUN148316    COWL #3 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.50
JUN140544    COWL #4 (MR)    $3.50
MAY140701    DREAM POLICE #4 (MR)    $2.99
JUN140548    DRUMHELLAR #8 (MR)    $3.50
JUN140504    FUSE TP VOL 01    $9.99
JUN140481    GENIUS #4 (MR)    $3.99
JUN140482    GENIUS #5 (MR)    $3.99
MAY140673    INVINCIBLE PROFILE BLACK T/S SM    $19.99
MAY140674    INVINCIBLE PROFILE BLACK T/S MED    $19.99
MAY140675    INVINCIBLE PROFILE BLACK T/S LG    $19.99
MAY140676    INVINCIBLE PROFILE BLACK T/S XL    $19.99
MAY140677    INVINCIBLE PROFILE BLACK T/S XXL    $21.99
JUN148268    LOW #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
JUN140553    LOW #2 (MR)    $3.50
JUN140555    MANHATTAN PROJECTS #23    $3.50
JUN140557    MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #13 CVR A OEMING    $3.99
JUN140558    MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #13 CVR B SANTOS & FREE    $3.99
JUN148240    OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #2 2ND PTG (MR)    $2.99
JUN140563    OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #3 (MR)    $2.99
JUN140567    REVIVAL #23 (MR)    $2.99
JUN140570    SAGA #22 (MR)    $2.99
JUN140497    SEX #15 (MR)    $2.99
JUN140577    SPAWN #246    $2.99
APR140532    THINK TANK BOX SET    $39.99
JUN140487    WAYWARD #1 CVR A CUMMING & CAMPBELL (MR)    $3.50
JUN140488    WAYWARD #1 CVR B URUSOV (MR)    $3.50
JUN140489    WAYWARD #1 CVR C CRUZ (MR)    $3.50
JUN140490    WAYWARD #1 CVR D WARREN & RAUCH (MR)    $3.50
JUL140461    WHITE DEATH HC    $14.99
JUN140588    WILDFIRE #3 CVR A LINDA SEJIC    $3.99
JUN140589    WILDFIRE #3 CVR B STJEPAN SEJIC    $3.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

APR140624    WALKING DEAD SER 3 PX RICK/ANDREA AF 2-PK CS    PI