Magi: Dark Djinn

I read Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 8

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

I Reads You Review: MAGNETO #1

MAGNETO (2014) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER:  Cullen Bunn
ART:  Gabriel Hernandez Walta
COLORS:  Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER:  Paolo Rivera
VARIANT COVERS:  John Cassaday, Mike Del Mundo; Gurihiru, Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2014)

Parental Advisory

When The X-Men #1 debuted in 1963 (cover date: September 1963), this comic book first issue introduced Professor Charles Xavier a/k/a “Professor X” and his small circle of students: Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Warren Worthington III, Henry “Hank” McCoy, and Bobby Drake.  Prof. X and his students were “mutants,” people born with genetic mutations that gave them abilities far beyond those of normal humans.

The five students had code names:  respectively, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, The Angel, Beast, and Iceman.  They were the X-Men, a band of costumed adventurers who protected normal mutants from the deprivations of evil mutants, while trying to foster peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans.

The X-Men #1 also introduced an evil mutant, Magneto, the master of magnetism.  Wielding his awesome powers that, among other things, allowed him to control and manipulate metal objects, Magneto became the X-Men's arch-nemesis – their chief adversary.  Over time, however, Magneto would become, on occasion, an ally and even a member of the X-Men.

Magneto, I believe, is the most complex and interesting super-villain in the world of Marvel Comics.  He has been the star of his own comic book series, and earlier this year, Marvel's All-New Marvel NOW! publishing initiative offered the debut of a new comic book series, Magneto, written by Cullen Bunn, drawn by Gabriel Hernandez Walta, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by Cory Petit.

Magneto #1 opens in Cape Girardean, Missouri, where a witness to a murder committed by Magneto recounts the terrible experience to the police.  Meanwhile, Magneto is in Beloit, Kansas plotting the next move in his series of attacks against those who persecute mutants.  He knows that powerful forces are monitoring of his activities and are setting traps, but he is not aware of everyone watching him...

The easiest way to describe the new Magneto comic book series is to recall one of the most acclaimed X-Men films, 2011's X-Men: First Class.  Early in the film, Magneto (played by actor Michael Fassbender) embarks on a search-and-destroy mission aimed at his Nazi concentration camp tormentors.  Basically, writer Cullen Bunn takes that Magneto and reworks the character a bit in order to feature him in a solo series set firmly in the Marvel Universe.  In fact, artist Paolo Rivera's striking cover art for Magneto #1 recalls Fassbender's Magneto, but without any hair on his head.

I like this new Magneto comic book.  Walta's art has a crime comic aesthetic similar to the work of Edward Risso in DC Comics' 100 Bullets series and Darwyn Cooke in the Parker graphic novels.  Bunn's script even recalls hard-boiled, pulp fiction that featured hard, edgy, dangerous men who deliver justice, cold and without mercy or remorse.  I think I will follow this series for awhile.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Deadman Wonderland: Scar Chain vs. Undertakers - Round 2

I read Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 5

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

I Reads November 2014

Welcome to November 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.

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

I Reads You Review: WYTCHES #1

WYTCHES #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
ARTIST: Jock
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: Clem Robins
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2014)

Rated M / Mature

Wytches is a new comic book series from DC Comics superstar writer, Scott Snyder (Batman, American Vampire), and artist Jock (The Losers).  It presents an alternative version of witches as creatures called “wytches,” which are ancient, terrible, powerful, and hungry.

Wytches #1 opens in early September 2014.  The book introduces a teenager named Sailor Rooks, a girl beset by trauma and tragedy.  Her father is children's book author, Charles Rooks, and her mother, Lucy, is wheelchair bound.  The Rooks relocated because of a killing in which Sailor was involved, but the teen knows that her reputation or infamy has proceeded her.  That is not the only thing that has followed Sailor.

I thoroughly enjoy Scott Snyder's work on The New 52 relaunch of Batman (with artist Greg Capullo), which is surprising because I did not expect much for the series after reading their Batman #1.  Jock has created some comic books that I have liked... I guess.  I only bought Wytches #1 because I currently have an itch for number one issues published by Image Comics, which is Wytches' publisher.  Because the comic book shop I frequent sold out of Wytches #1, I had to pay $4.99 to get a copy from Mile High Comics.

Oh, yes, it was worth the extra two bucks plus postage to get this comic book.  I have decided to stop giving grades to number one issues.  Sometimes, I am conservative and give number one issues a lower grade than they deserve.  Sometimes, I am so surprised by a first issue that I really become to generous with the accolades and grading.

However, I am tempted to ignore my new policy and give Wytches #1 an A+, but I am going to stay the course like George H.W. Bush.  The concept is hugely intriguing, and Jock's art, with its bold, slashing brush work and jagged and edgy compositions, delivers some striking, bone-chilling, blood-curdling moments visuals and graphics.  I have to have the next issue, even if it is at Mile High Comics prices.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: Matsuri Hino Presents LAST NIGHT - Vampire Knight Illustrations

MATSURI HINO PRESENTS LAST NIGHT: VAMPIRE KNIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Matsuri Hino
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7605-3; hardback (October 2014); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
44pp, B&W, $15.99 U.S., $18.99 CAN, £9.99 UK (for graphic novel and art book set)

Vampire Knight is a shojo manga series written and drawn by manga creator, Matsuri Hino.  VIZ Media recently published the final graphic novel collection of the series with the release of Vampire Knight Volume 19, on October 14, 2014.  Vol. 19 was released in a regular edition graphic novel and also a “Limited Edition” with an alternate cover.  The Limited Edition is actually a two-book collection that includes a hardcover mini art book entitled, Matsuri Hino Presents Last Night: Vampire Knight Illustrations.  [The Vampire Knight “Night Class” Manga Box Set 2, to be released November 4, 2014, will also include a copy of Last Night.]

Last Night contains over 40 full-color illustrations drawn and colored by Hino.  Most of these illustrations appeared in LaLa, the Japanese manga magazine in which Vampire Knight was originally serialized.  Many of the series' characters appear in these illustrations, but the characters which are most depicted are, of course, Vampire Knight's (un)holy trinity of and love triangle:  Yuki Cross, Zero Kiryu, and Kaname Kuran.

Is the packaging price of Vampire Knight Limited Edition 19 money well spent?  Well, my generous VIZ Media rep gave me both the single-volume regular edition and Limited Edition set.  The Limited Edition costs $6 more than the regular edition, and Last Night is worth the extra six bucks, especially if you, dear reader, are a fan of Matsuri Hino's illustrations.

Hino's moody, pouting, and contemplative vampires are gorgeous.  Other than their school uniforms, little of the characters' clothing could be “off the rack,” unless the clothes are off a rack found in an acclaimed fashion designer's personal work place.  These are fashion icon vampires.  As we leave the world of Vampire Knight, Last Night is the kind of neato item we might grab before we turn off the lights on our way out.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Reads: WAYWARD #3

WAYWARD #3
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

STORY: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ART: Steve Cummings – @stekichikun
COLORS: John Rauch and Jim Zub with Tamra Bonvillain – @John_Rauch and @TBonvillain
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon – @MarshallDillon
COVER: Steve Cummings and Ross A. Campbell
VARIANT COVER: Jorge Molina
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

Additional material by Zack Davisson (@ZackDavisson) and Steve Cummings

Writer Jim Zub sent an advanced review PDF copy of the third issue of Wayward to comics media people, and the ComicBookBin was one of the recipients.  I decided to also share the good news about Wayward with you, dear reader.  I really appreciate the chance to read advanced comics, but when the comic book is something as good as Wayward, I almost feel honored to receive it.

Wayward is the intriguing new fantasy comic book series from Zub and penciller Steve Cummings.  Published by Image Comics, Wayward focuses on Rori Lane, a half-Irish/half-Japanese teen girl who is trying to start a new life in Japan, only to find herself connected to the magic and ancient creatures that lurk in the shadows of Tokyo.

As Wayward #3 (“Chapter Three”) opens, Rori can sense a storm is brewing – both naturally and supernaturally.  She still isn't fitting in at school, but she's found a homeboy, of sorts, in Shirai, a teenaged boy who can “eat ghosts.”  Meanwhile, somewhere else in Tokyo, a stranger man senses a “rogue weaver.”  Also, enter Nikaido, and someone whom Rori knows has a secret.

Clearly, Wayward is attracting readers, and I think that is because Jim Zub is slowly introducing readers to a world of magic and intrigue.  Perhaps, it is a really big world, and the only way for Zub to do right by his creation is to work through the characters.  They confront the magic in bits and pieces, rather than having to face an epic, wide-ranging magical conspiracy all at once.  Zub knows that if we buy into the characters first, we will also accept the supernatural that they encounter as they encounter it.

Yes, someone says the word, “magic,” in this chapter, but artist Steve Cummings perfectly blends the magical, the supernatural, and the otherness into a solidly real world of mundane tasks and ordinary living.  Cummings is going to make us invest in this world, by recognizing its relationship to ours.  Cummings' art is kind of teaching our imaginations to feel the difference between an ordinary world in which magic just might be as legitimate a part of the world as anything else.

Yeah, it's not fluke.  Wayward is one of the best new titles of the year.  Plus,  Zack Davisson offers another hugely informative essay on the mythology of Japan in “The Magical Foxes of Japan.”

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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