ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY/PENCILS: Patrick Gleason
INKS: Mick Gray
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Patrick Gleason with John Kalisz
VARIANT COVER: Robbi Rodriguez
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
“Year of Blood” Part One
Damian Wayne is the (illegitimate) son of Batman/Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and thus, the grandson of Batman villain, Ra's al Ghul, Talia's father. An unnamed male infant credited as Batman and Talia's child first appeared in the original graphic novel, Batman: Son of the Demon. Other writers would later compose speculative stories about the child's life. In Batman #655, writer Grant Morrison reinterpreted that child as Damian Wayne, the centerpiece of the story arc, “Batman and Son.”
Damian Wayne was eventually killed off and then resurrected. He is now the star of a new comic book, Robin: Son of Batman, which is part of the “DCYou” publishing initiative. It is written and penciled by Patrick Gleason, inked by Mick Gray, colored by John Kalisz, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.
Robin: Son of Batman #1 (“Year of Blood” Part One) opens in Bialya, where Damian/Robin is confronting Abush. The self-proclaimed king is holding Goliath (“Don't call him a man-bat”) prisoner. There will be bigger threats for Damian to face. The first is the revenge seeking daughter of Morgan Ducard a.k.a. “Nobody,” whom Damian apparently killed. Secondly, Damian will have to face his legacy as an al Ghul in the “Year of Blood.”
I am definitely adding Robin: Son of Batman to my reading list. Next to the Bat-Mite miniseries, Robin is, thus far, one of the “DCYou” titles that I have enjoyed reading the most. Writer-artist Patrick Gleason has created a story that reminds me of the international adventure that was a big part of Robin, the 1991 five-issue miniseries. I am intrigued and pleased that Gleason seems willing to dig into the darkness that is part of Damian Wayne the way Batman writers have obsessed over depicting the darkness within Bruce Wayne, especially over the last four decades
Even as a longtime comic book reviewer I have been reluctant to heartily recommend a superhero comic book title to all of my readers, even the ones who do not read superhero comics. Well, I heartily recommend Robin: Son of Batman to all of you – superhero, alt-comix, indie, and manga readers alike.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
[“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”]
Friday, September 4, 2015
Review: ROBIN: Son of Batman #1
Labels:
DC Comics,
John Kalisz,
Mick Gray,
Patrick Gleason,
Review,
Robbi Rodriguez
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Review: KOMOMO CONFISERIE Volume 1
KOMOMO CONFISERIE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Maki Minami
TRANSLATION: Christine Dashiell
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8139-2; paperback (September 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.
The works of manga creator, Maki Minami, include Kanata no Ao (Faraway Blue), S•A (Special A), and Voice Over! Seiyu Academy. VIZ Media is publishing her new series, Komomo Confiserie, under the company’s “Shojo Beat” imprint, with new volumes scheduled for release in print and digitally on a quarterly basis. Komomo Confiserie is available digitally via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores.
Komomo Confiserie focuses on Komomo Ninomiya. As a little girl, 6-year-old Komomo delighted in picking on 5-year-old Natsu Azumi, the son of her family’s pastry chef. Ten years later, her family fortune is lost, and 15-year-old Komomo has no place to live. She encounters Natsu again. He is a 15-year-old prodigy patissier who has returned to Japan to care for the family business, Méli-Mélo, a confiserie. Now, Natsu the master pastry chef will help Komomo, but only if she works for him at his new confiserie!
Komomo Confiserie, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) opens with a recollection of the past, 10 years earlier. Komomo is a spoiled princess, who picks on young Natsu. The truth is, however, that she loves the sweet treats the boy can prepare, even at his young age. In the present day, Komomo is broke, living in a boarding house, and keeps losing her wage-slave jobs.
Her savior arrives, and he even has a new place for her stay – right above the family confection shop. He's the boss, and now, he delivers the torments. Meanwhile, Natsu's pal from France, 23-year-old Yuri Lacroix, is coming to join the fun.
[This volume includes two bonus manga.]
I am not sure that I will enjoy the Komomo Confiserie manga as much as I enjoyed creator Maki Minami's previous manga, Voice Over! Seiyu Academy. But there is a chance that I will.
Komomo Confiserie Volume 1 introduces a heroine in Komomo Ninomiya that has potential. She is naive, but worldly. She is bedraggled, but determined to be on top again. She is a crybaby with the stiff spine of a stoic. Yes, Komomo Confiserie has potential, and I want to see what the next volume has to offer.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Maki Minami
TRANSLATION: Christine Dashiell
LETTERS: John Hunt
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8139-2; paperback (September 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.
The works of manga creator, Maki Minami, include Kanata no Ao (Faraway Blue), S•A (Special A), and Voice Over! Seiyu Academy. VIZ Media is publishing her new series, Komomo Confiserie, under the company’s “Shojo Beat” imprint, with new volumes scheduled for release in print and digitally on a quarterly basis. Komomo Confiserie is available digitally via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores.
Komomo Confiserie focuses on Komomo Ninomiya. As a little girl, 6-year-old Komomo delighted in picking on 5-year-old Natsu Azumi, the son of her family’s pastry chef. Ten years later, her family fortune is lost, and 15-year-old Komomo has no place to live. She encounters Natsu again. He is a 15-year-old prodigy patissier who has returned to Japan to care for the family business, Méli-Mélo, a confiserie. Now, Natsu the master pastry chef will help Komomo, but only if she works for him at his new confiserie!
Komomo Confiserie, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) opens with a recollection of the past, 10 years earlier. Komomo is a spoiled princess, who picks on young Natsu. The truth is, however, that she loves the sweet treats the boy can prepare, even at his young age. In the present day, Komomo is broke, living in a boarding house, and keeps losing her wage-slave jobs.
Her savior arrives, and he even has a new place for her stay – right above the family confection shop. He's the boss, and now, he delivers the torments. Meanwhile, Natsu's pal from France, 23-year-old Yuri Lacroix, is coming to join the fun.
[This volume includes two bonus manga.]
I am not sure that I will enjoy the Komomo Confiserie manga as much as I enjoyed creator Maki Minami's previous manga, Voice Over! Seiyu Academy. But there is a chance that I will.
Komomo Confiserie Volume 1 introduces a heroine in Komomo Ninomiya that has potential. She is naive, but worldly. She is bedraggled, but determined to be on top again. She is a crybaby with the stiff spine of a stoic. Yes, Komomo Confiserie has potential, and I want to see what the next volume has to offer.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
Christine Dashiell,
Maki Minami,
manga,
Nancy Thislethwaite,
Review,
shojo,
Shojo Beat,
VIZ Media
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Review: DCYou "BATMAN BEYOND #1
BATMAN BEYOND (2015) #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally published on Patreon.]
STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Bernard Chang with Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER: Kalman Andrasofszky
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Fingerprint
“Brave New Worlds”
The animated television series, “Batman Beyond,” debuted in January 1999. Set in a futuristic Gotham City (Neo-Gotham), the series introduced a teen-aged Batman, Terry McGinnis, a 17-year-old high school student. A reformed troublemaker, the athletic teen had a sense of personal justice, and circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.” Eventually, the elderly Bruce Wayne accepted Terry as the new Batman and guided the teen in his exploits.
This future Terry McGinnis Batman crossed over into DC Comics and eventually became part of its mainstream universe (the DCU). An older version of Tim Drake, the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin, has replaced McGinnis as the future Batman. Drake is now the star of the “DCYou” relaunch of Batman Beyond. This new Batman Beyond is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.
Batman Beyond #1 (“Brave New Worlds”) presents THE definitive future of the DCU (according to DC Comics). It is, however, different from the world of the original Batman Beyond. Tim Drake is a future Batman without Bruce Wayne to guide him. Drake fights to keep Neo-Gotham safe from Brother Eye, which destroyed the future.
Outside the safe confines of the city, Drake is about to meet a mysterious, but familiar ally who might be able to help Batman in the fight to raise humanity from an opponent that has already won. Meanwhile, Terry McGinnis' younger brother, Matt, wonders if, under different circumstances, his older brother would have given him the Batsuit.
I had misgivings about this new Batman Beyond series; I don't know why. However, the series is in safe hands with Dan Jurgens, who was one of the writers on The New 52: Future's End, the weekly event miniseries that was the precursor to this new Batman Beyond. Artist Bernard Chang offers solid storytelling, eye-pleasing compositions, and sharp graphic design that looks even better with Marcelo Maiolo's coloring. I think I will add Batman Beyond to my reading list.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally published on Patreon.]
STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Bernard Chang with Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER: Kalman Andrasofszky
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Fingerprint
“Brave New Worlds”
The animated television series, “Batman Beyond,” debuted in January 1999. Set in a futuristic Gotham City (Neo-Gotham), the series introduced a teen-aged Batman, Terry McGinnis, a 17-year-old high school student. A reformed troublemaker, the athletic teen had a sense of personal justice, and circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.” Eventually, the elderly Bruce Wayne accepted Terry as the new Batman and guided the teen in his exploits.
This future Terry McGinnis Batman crossed over into DC Comics and eventually became part of its mainstream universe (the DCU). An older version of Tim Drake, the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin, has replaced McGinnis as the future Batman. Drake is now the star of the “DCYou” relaunch of Batman Beyond. This new Batman Beyond is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.
Batman Beyond #1 (“Brave New Worlds”) presents THE definitive future of the DCU (according to DC Comics). It is, however, different from the world of the original Batman Beyond. Tim Drake is a future Batman without Bruce Wayne to guide him. Drake fights to keep Neo-Gotham safe from Brother Eye, which destroyed the future.
Outside the safe confines of the city, Drake is about to meet a mysterious, but familiar ally who might be able to help Batman in the fight to raise humanity from an opponent that has already won. Meanwhile, Terry McGinnis' younger brother, Matt, wonders if, under different circumstances, his older brother would have given him the Batsuit.
I had misgivings about this new Batman Beyond series; I don't know why. However, the series is in safe hands with Dan Jurgens, who was one of the writers on The New 52: Future's End, the weekly event miniseries that was the precursor to this new Batman Beyond. Artist Bernard Chang offers solid storytelling, eye-pleasing compositions, and sharp graphic design that looks even better with Marcelo Maiolo's coloring. I think I will add Batman Beyond to my reading list.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Labels:
Batman,
Bernard Chang,
Dan Jurgens,
DC Comics,
Marcelo Maiolo,
Review
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
I Reads You September Morn
It's another September 2015 to remember. 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.
Support me on Patreon.
All images and text appearing on this publication are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.
Support me on Patreon.
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 2, 2015
DC COMICS
JUL150259 BAT MITE #4 $2.99
JUL150263 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #8 $3.99
JUL150265 BATMAN BEYOND #4 $2.99
JUL150212 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #2 $3.99
JUL150269 DETECTIVE COMICS #44 $3.99
JUL150338 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #24 (MR) $3.99
JUL150222 FLASH SEASON ZERO #12 $2.99
JUN150293 FLASH TP VOL 05 HISTORY LESSONS (N52) $14.99
JUL150223 GREEN ARROW #44 $2.99
JUL150283 GREEN LANTERN #44 $3.99
JUL150218 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #9 $2.99
JUL150228 LOBO #10 $2.99
MAY150271 MAD MAX FURY ROAD TP (MR) $14.99
JUL150230 MIDNIGHTER #4 $2.99
JUL150289 MORTAL KOMBAT X #10 (MR) $3.99
JUN150294 NEW 52 FUTURES END TP VOL 03 $29.99
JUL150234 OMEGA MEN #4 $2.99
JUN150292 SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE NEW ED $19.99
MAY150269 SWEET TOOTH DELUXE ED HC BOOK 01 (MR) $29.99
MAY150250 WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 07 WAR TORN $24.99
JUN150295 WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 06 BONES (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JAN150429 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE DICK GRAYSON BY JOCK 2ND ED STATUE $79.95
APR150344 DC COMICS ICONS FIRESTORM STATUE $99.95
MAR150326 SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL STATUE BY CULLY HAMNER $79.95
JUL150259 BAT MITE #4 $2.99
JUL150263 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #8 $3.99
JUL150265 BATMAN BEYOND #4 $2.99
JUL150212 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #2 $3.99
JUL150269 DETECTIVE COMICS #44 $3.99
JUL150338 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #24 (MR) $3.99
JUL150222 FLASH SEASON ZERO #12 $2.99
JUN150293 FLASH TP VOL 05 HISTORY LESSONS (N52) $14.99
JUL150223 GREEN ARROW #44 $2.99
JUL150283 GREEN LANTERN #44 $3.99
JUL150218 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #9 $2.99
JUL150228 LOBO #10 $2.99
MAY150271 MAD MAX FURY ROAD TP (MR) $14.99
JUL150230 MIDNIGHTER #4 $2.99
JUL150289 MORTAL KOMBAT X #10 (MR) $3.99
JUN150294 NEW 52 FUTURES END TP VOL 03 $29.99
JUL150234 OMEGA MEN #4 $2.99
JUN150292 SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE NEW ED $19.99
MAY150269 SWEET TOOTH DELUXE ED HC BOOK 01 (MR) $29.99
MAY150250 WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 07 WAR TORN $24.99
JUN150295 WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 06 BONES (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JAN150429 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE DICK GRAYSON BY JOCK 2ND ED STATUE $79.95
APR150344 DC COMICS ICONS FIRESTORM STATUE $99.95
MAR150326 SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL STATUE BY CULLY HAMNER $79.95
Labels:
Batman,
comics news,
Cully Hamner,
DC Comics News,
DC Direct,
Diamond Distributors,
Flash,
Green Lantern,
Jeff Lemire,
Jock,
Superman,
Vertigo,
Wonder Woman
Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 2, 2015
MARVEL COMICS
JUN150743 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #3 SWA $3.99
JUL150725 AGE OF ULTRON VS MARVEL ZOMBIES #4 SWA $3.99
APR150911 ALL NEW X-MEN HC VOL 02 $34.99
APR150912 AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN HC VOL 02 $34.99
JUL150788 DAREDEVIL #18 $3.99
JUL150795 DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE LADY OF SHADOWS #1 $3.99
JUL150789 DEADPOOL VS THANOS #1 $3.99
JUL150796 FIGMENT 2 #1 $3.99
JUL150756 FUTURE IMPERFECT #5 SWA $3.99
JUL150794 GROOT #4 $3.99
MAY150705 HAIL HYDRA #2 SWA $3.99
JUN150727 HOUSE OF M #2 SWA $3.99
JUN150831 JESSICA JONES TP VOL 01 ALIAS (MR) $24.99
JUL150801 MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN AND BUCKINGHAM #1 $4.99
JUL150811 MOCKINGBIRD SHIELD 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1 $4.99
JUN150688 SILK #7 SWA $3.99
MAY150649 SILVER SURFER #14 SWA $3.99
JUN150741 SPIDER-ISLAND #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150757 SQUADRON SINISTER #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150717 STAR-LORD AND KITTY PRYDE #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150696 THORS #3 SWA $3.99
JUL150781 TRUE BELIEVERS CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 $1.00
JUL150779 TRUE BELIEVERS SPIDER-GWEN #1 $1.00
JUN150743 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #3 SWA $3.99
JUL150725 AGE OF ULTRON VS MARVEL ZOMBIES #4 SWA $3.99
APR150911 ALL NEW X-MEN HC VOL 02 $34.99
APR150912 AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN HC VOL 02 $34.99
JUL150788 DAREDEVIL #18 $3.99
JUL150795 DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE LADY OF SHADOWS #1 $3.99
JUL150789 DEADPOOL VS THANOS #1 $3.99
JUL150796 FIGMENT 2 #1 $3.99
JUL150756 FUTURE IMPERFECT #5 SWA $3.99
JUL150794 GROOT #4 $3.99
MAY150705 HAIL HYDRA #2 SWA $3.99
JUN150727 HOUSE OF M #2 SWA $3.99
JUN150831 JESSICA JONES TP VOL 01 ALIAS (MR) $24.99
JUL150801 MIRACLEMAN BY GAIMAN AND BUCKINGHAM #1 $4.99
JUL150811 MOCKINGBIRD SHIELD 50TH ANNIVERSARY #1 $4.99
JUN150688 SILK #7 SWA $3.99
MAY150649 SILVER SURFER #14 SWA $3.99
JUN150741 SPIDER-ISLAND #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150757 SQUADRON SINISTER #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150717 STAR-LORD AND KITTY PRYDE #3 SWA $3.99
JUN150696 THORS #3 SWA $3.99
JUL150781 TRUE BELIEVERS CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 $1.00
JUL150779 TRUE BELIEVERS SPIDER-GWEN #1 $1.00
Labels:
Avengers,
comics news,
Diamond Distributors,
Jim Zub,
Jonathan Hickman,
Mark Buckingham,
Marvel,
Marvelman,
Neil Gaiman,
Peter David,
Stephen King,
Thor,
Tim Seeley,
X-Men
IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for September 2, 2015
IDW PUBLISHING
JUL150383 DANGER GIRL RENEGADE #1 $3.99
JUN150428 JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS #6 $3.99
APR152728 OPEN SESAME CARD GAME $19.99
JUL150509 SKYLANDERS RIFT INTO OVERDRIVE HC $12.99
JUN150417 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #44 $3.99
JUN150460 WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK DAILY NEWSPAPER COMICS HC VOL 01 $39.99
JUL150383 DANGER GIRL RENEGADE #1 $3.99
JUN150428 JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS #6 $3.99
APR152728 OPEN SESAME CARD GAME $19.99
JUL150509 SKYLANDERS RIFT INTO OVERDRIVE HC $12.99
JUN150417 TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #44 $3.99
JUN150460 WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK DAILY NEWSPAPER COMICS HC VOL 01 $39.99
Labels:
Andy Hartnell,
comics news,
Diamond Distributors,
Disney,
IDW,
J. Scott Campbell
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