Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Review: GENERATIONS: Iron Man & Ironheart #1

GENERATIONS: IRON MAN & IRONHEART No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Marco Rudy, Szymon Kudranski, and Nico Leon
INKS: Syzmon Kudranski, Will Sliney, Scott Koblish, and Nico Leon
COLORS: Marco Rudy, Dean White, and Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Skan
VARIANT COVERS: Marco Rudy; Olivier Coipel with Laura Martin; Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers with Paul Mounts and Joe Frontirre
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Iron Man created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby

“The Iron”

Generations is an event miniseries from Marvel Comics.  It is a planned 10-issue anthology, published weekly.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The sixth issue is Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart, which brings together two versions of a classic Marvel Comics character, Iron Man.  The first is the classic Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, who first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover date: March 1963).  The second is Ironheart, who is Riri Williams, a teen prodigy and genius engineer.  This issue of Generations is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Marco Rudy, Szymon Kudranski, and Nico Leon (pencils) and Syzmon Kudranski, Will Sliney, Scott Koblish, and Nico Leon; colored by Marco Rudy, Dean White, and Paul Mounts; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 (“The Iron”) opens with Ironheart experiencing free fall in a darkened sky.  Riri soon discovers that much of the tech and many of the features of her Ironheart suit do not function well or do not fuction at all.  Riri realizes that she is somewhere else, but she cannot believe that she is in the future.  She does not want to believe it when she meets some strange Avengers.  She still does not want to believe it when she meets this world's Sorcerer Supreme – Tony Stark!  He is going to show her a far-flung future of possibilities for her.

It took me six issues of Generations, so it is Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 that convinces me that Generations has a running theme that revolves around mentors and mentorship, teachers and teachable moments, father-figures and mother-figures, and even predecessors.  Some entries in Generation do it better than others, but every issue has at least one moment in which one character stands as an example for another.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 is, thus far, the best of series, which is what I said about the Hawkeye Generations last week.  So I am surprised by how much Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 affected me.  It is philosophical; almost spiritual in an odd way.  This is written by Brian Michael Bendis, so there is a lot of conversation between future Tony Stark-Sorcerer Supreme (who popped up in two recent issues of Bendis and Alex Maleev's Infamous Iron Man) and Riri Williams.

Many comic book people (with agendas) have blamed Marvel Comics' recent sales slump on “diversity” characters, with Riri Williams probably being the most notorious.  Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 can be read as Bendis' manifesto, one that says... no declares... that Riri ain't going nowhere.  She isn't disappearing because she is the future.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 has a large art team of seven artists and colorists, but they are what makes Bendis' story work.  The design of these pages have a funky flower child/love generation appearance that reminds me of Neal Adams' classic X-Men run, J.H. Williams, III's art for Alan Moore's Promethea, and Jon J. Muth's art for the old Marvel/Epic Comics' Moonshadow.  These different artists and art teams come together to create a 30-page story in which disparate visual styles actually become a seamless visual poem that flows like a perfectly written pop song.

Make mine Marvel.  This is what Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 convinces me I should do.  We can have new versions of classic Marvel characters.  We can have both – the originals and the new ones.  Here, Tony Stark encourages Riri Williams to reach for the stars, so we can have both characters in Iron Man armor.  Yes, we can.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, October 31, 2017

I Reads You Juniors October 2017 - Update #59

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From BleedingCool:  Tim Sale, known for his Batman work, especially "Batman: The Long Halloween," is talking about returning to Batman and is eyeing two projects.

From BleedingCool:  Liam Sharp is drawing an ongoing Batman/Wonder Woman comic book.

From DailyJSTOR:  An article about Ezra Jack Keats, the man whose "Snowy Day" book helped diversify children's books.

From BleedingCool:  Bryan Talbot's new graphic novel, "Grandville: Force Majeure," uses anti-spoiler technology.

From PREVIEWSWorld:  Grant Morrison talks about his BOOM! Studios comic book, Klaus and The Cris in Xmasville #1.

From Crunchyroll:  Shinobu Ohtaka's manga, "Magi," is nearing its end.

From TheNational:  Japan's manga sector gets a tech makeover.

From CBR:  Writer Matthew Rosenberg talks about why "The Punisher" is moving into the "Marvel Legacy" era as "War Machine."

From BleedingCool:  Rick Remender really wants you to read his comic book, "Black Science" (Image Comics).

From MangaTokyo:  "Fullmetal Alchemist" creator finally made her first TV appearance.

From ComicBook:  The surprising comic book origins of "Playboy."

From NewPressNow:  A local poet laureate produces a graphic novel.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #140 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #140 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Liam Sharp has a new comic book coming out in February 2018.  It's a mystery.

From IndianapolisRecorder:  Tyeesha Bradley is creating comics. [Beautiful art. - Leroy]

From BleedingCool:  Rob Liefeld vs. Diamond Comic Distributors.

From CBR:  Was "The Walking Dead" comic book going to feature aliens?

From FocusTaiwan:  The government of Taiwan plans on spending the equivalent of $33 million US over the next four years to develop its manga sector.

From TheHypedGeek:  "Saint Seiya: Next Dimension" returns next spring.

From BleedingCool:  Avatar Press announces January 2018 solicitations.

From Crunchyroll:  The "One Piece" manga has sold 430 million copies worldwide.

From BedfordandBowery:  "The Unquotable Trump" puts President Trump's words in the mouth of actual comic book villains.

From Mainichi:  The "Lost Manga" of Edo period artist Katsushika Hokusai is published.

From BleedingCool:  Lion Forge Comics announces its January 2018 comic book solicitations.

From BleedingCool:  Raina Telgemeirer's new graphic novel, "Drama," has been banned by an entire educational district in Texas.

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet episode #139 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet episode #139 in French.

From CBR:  Three characters from the hit "Wonder Woman" film join the Wonder Woman comic book.

From BleedingCool:  Warp Graphics of Richard and Wendy Pini and "Elfquest" fame has applied for a trademark for the name, "Futurequest," similar to DC Comics' "Future Quest."

From GizmodoUK:  The horror manga of Junji Ito will become an anime anthology called, "Collection."

From BleedingCool:  [One of my favorite writers - Leroy] Jim Zub answers a loaded questions about how he broke into Marvel Comics as a writer with class and perfection.

From TheVillageVoice:  The 41 freakiest cosplayers of New York Comic Con 2017 - according to the Voice.

From Philly.com:  Ta-Nehisi Coates ("Black Panther") is joining artist Jen Bartel to produce a new comic book starring the X-Men's "Storm."

From BlackEnterprise:  The business of Black comic books, comics produced by creators of color.

From ABC2News:  From Annapolis, Maryland, a profile of local boy Rodney Barnes who is writing Marvel Comics' "Falcon."

From PawhuskaJournal:  Nonprofit promotes literacy through comic books.

From CBRBlog:  The death of one character in "The Walking Dead" comic book will be used for another character on the "The Walking Dead" TV series.

From KARE11:  Students use comic books to teach cyber bulling awareness.

From WordBallon:  The blog features a podcast interview in which NBA legend and Hall of Fame basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, talks about being a lifelong comic book fan.

From BleedingCool:  So Spider-Man was Jack Kirby's idea, so says Mark Evanier.

From Previews:  Dynamite Entertainment has gained a license to produced comic books based on the 1988 horror film, "Pumpkinhead."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #138 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #138 in French.

From BleedingCool:  There has been a fire at the Charles Schulz Museum.

From FlickeringMyth:  Titan Comics will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic British TV series, "The Prisoner," with a new comic book.

From ComicBook:  VIZ Media announces two new Pokemon manga.

From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP announces that it will produce original comics based on Walt Disney properties and will release English editions of Japanese manga based on Disney properties.

From RollingStone:  Square Enix turning manga in VR comics.

From BleedingCool:  Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici announce a new comic book from Image Comics, "Oblivion Song."

From WeGotThisCovered:  Marvel Comics announces "Old Man Hawkeye."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will feature to longtime writer/editor Len Wein in the comic books on sale today, Wed. Oct. 4th.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #137 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #137 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Nnedi Okorafor and Andre Lima Araujo will launch a Black Panther digital comic book, "Black Panther: Long Live the King."  It will be available on comiXology and Kindle beginning December 13th.

From ComicBook:  The live-action play based on the manga, "Blue Exorcist" releases its first visual.

From JakartaPost:  Hiro Mashima looks back on his recently ended epic fantasy manga, "Fairy Tail."

From MangaTokyo:  A Tokyo airbnb features a house with 2500 volumes of manga.

From BleedingCool:  At the upcoming 2017 New York Comic Con, you can have lunch with comic book artist J. Scott Campbell for the price of $455 or $1495.

From ComicsBeat:  Kwanza Osayjefo, the co-creator of the comic book series, "Black," talks about that comic book and its past, present, and future.

From SyFyWire:  A thief was arrested trying to sell vintage copies of Amazing Spider-Man #1 and X-Men #1 that he stole.

From DiversionsoftheGroovyKind:  An essay about Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson's Batgirl and Robin splash pages from the late 1960s.


Monday, October 30, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

DC COMICS

MAR170415    ABS JUSTICE LEAGUE WORLDS GREATEST SUPERHEROES HC    $75.00
AUG170330    AQUAMAN THE ATLANTIS CHRONICLES DLX ED HC    $49.99
SEP170359    BANE CONQUEST #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
SEP170274    BATMAN #34    $2.99
SEP170275    BATMAN #34 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170319    BATMAN DETECTIVE REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 01    $34.99
AUG170271    BATMAN THE DARK PRINCE CHARMING HC BOOK 01    $12.99
AUG170172    BATMAN THE DEVASTATOR #1 (METAL)    $3.99
AUG178987    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) 2ND PTG    $3.99
SEP170355    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8)    $3.99
SEP170356    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170349    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170350    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS #1 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170360    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #5    $2.99
SEP170287    CYBORG #18    $3.99
SEP170288    CYBORG #18 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170387    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170388    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #3 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
JUL170470    DC GREATEST HITS BOX SET    $39.96
MAY170376    DCTV LEGENDS OF TOMORROW ATOM AF    $28.00
MAY170377    DCTV LEGENDS OF TOMORROW WHITE CANARY AF    $28.00
MAY170375    DCTV THE FLASH KID FLASH AF    $28.00
AUG170273    DEADMAN #1 (OF 6) GLOW IN THE DARK ED    $4.99
AUG170274    DEADMAN #1 (OF 6) STANDARD ED    $3.99
SEP170285    DEATHSTROKE #25    $3.99
SEP170286    DEATHSTROKE #25 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170301    GREEN ARROW #34    $3.99
SEP170302    GREEN ARROW #34 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170297    GREEN LANTERNS #34    $2.99
SEP170298    GREEN LANTERNS #34 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170357    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170358    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #2 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170366    INJUSTICE 2 #13    $2.99
SEP170385    JETSONS #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170386    JETSONS #1 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170257    JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 METAL    $2.99
SEP170258    JUSTICE LEAGUE #32 VAR ED METAL    $2.99
MAY170370    JUSTICE LEAGUE MOVIE BATMAN STATUE    $150.00
AUG170324    JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 04 ENDLESS (REBIRTH)    $16.99
SEP170317    NIGHTWING #32    $2.99
SEP170318    NIGHTWING #32 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170327    SUPERMAN #34    $2.99
SEP170328    SUPERMAN #34 VAR ED    $2.99
AUG170317    SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS TP VOL 04 THE NEW WORLD (REBIRTH)    $19.99
AUG170344    TWO FACE A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC    $39.99
AUG170328    VERY DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH HOLIDAY TP    $16.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

SEP170958    ASTONISHING X-MEN #5    $3.99
SEP170900    AVENGERS #673 LEG    $3.99
AUG171036    AVENGERS BY BENDIS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 03    $39.99
SEP170951    BLACK BOLT #7    $3.99
AUG171042    BLACK PANTHER BY HUDLIN TP VOL 01 COMPLETE COLLECTION    $39.99
SEP170802    CAPTAIN AMERICA #695 LEG    $3.99
MAY170937    DEADPOOL AND X-FORCE OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
AUG171017    DEADPOOL WORLDS GREATEST TP VOL 10 SECRET EMPIRE    $17.99
AUG171032    GENERATION X TP VOL 01 NATURAL SELECTION    $17.99
SEP170868    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #146 LEG    $3.99
SEP170934    ICEMAN #7 LEG    $3.99
SEP170952    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP170953    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #4 (OF 5) NOTO CHARACTER VAR    $3.99
SEP170916    IRON FIST #74 LEG    $3.99
AUG178500    LEGACY FREE NOVEMBER PREVIEWS SPOTLIGHT (BUNDLES OF 25) (NET    $5.00
JUL171194    MARVELS THOR RAGNAROK ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE HC    $50.00
SEP170962    OLD MAN LOGAN #30    $3.99
SEP170946    PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #6    $3.99
SEP170891    POWER PACK #63 CHRISTOPHER TRADING CARD VAR LEG    $3.99
SEP170889    POWER PACK #63 LEG    $3.99
AUG178699    SPIDER-GWEN #24 2ND PTG RODRIGUEZ VAR    $3.99
SEP170809    SPIDER-MAN #234 LEG    $3.99
MAY170936    SPIDER-MAN CLONE SAGA OMNIBUS HC VOL 02    $125.00
SEP170973    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #7    $3.99
MAY170940    UNCANNY INHUMANS HC VOL 02    $34.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

JUL170536    ANGRY BIRDS FLIGHT SCHOOL HC    $12.99
AUG170529    ATOMIC ROBO SPECTRE OF TOMORROW #1 CVR A WEGENER    $3.99
AUG170530    ATOMIC ROBO SPECTRE OF TOMORROW #1 CVR B WIEDLE    $3.99
JUN170552    BERNIE WRIGHTSON ARTIFACT ED HC CVR A    $125.00
JUN170553    BERNIE WRIGHTSON ARTIFACT ED HC CVR B    $125.00
AUG170520    BRUTAL NATURE TP VOL 02 CONCRETE FURY    $17.99
AUG170436    CLUE #5 CVR A SOMMARIVA    $3.99
AUG170437    CLUE #5 CVR B DANIEL    $3.99
AUG170438    CLUE #5 CVR C BALDARI    $3.99
AUG170385    DUCKTALES #2 CVR A GHIGLIONE    $3.99
AUG170386    DUCKTALES #2 CVR B GHIGLIONE    $3.99
AUG170439    GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #245 CVR A GALLANT    $3.99
AUG170440    GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #245 CVR B ROYLE    $3.99
JUL170641    KILL SHAKESPEARE TP VOL 05 PAST IS PROLOGUE JULIET    $17.99
JUL170661    MAN FROM THE GREAT NORTH HC    $24.99
AUG170457    MASK FIRST STRIKE #1 CVR A JOHNSON    $3.99
AUG170458    MASK FIRST STRIKE #1 CVR B KYRIAZIS    $3.99
AUG170408    MY LITTLE PONY TREASURY ED PONIES OF DARKWATER CVR A PRICE    $9.99
AUG170466    OPTIMUS PRIME #12 CVR A ZAMA    $3.99
AUG170467    OPTIMUS PRIME #12 CVR B COLLER    $3.99
AUG170468    OPTIMUS PRIME #12 CVR C GRIFFITH    $3.99
AUG170477    REVOLUTIONARIES TP VOL 02 POWER & GLORY    $15.99
JUN170448    ROM #14 CVR A GRENO    $3.99
JUN170449    ROM #14 CVR B DORIAN & BUSCEMA    $3.99
JUN170450    ROM #14 CVR C GRIFFITH    $3.99
JUN170451    ROM #14 CVR D MANCO    $3.99
SEP170484    TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS II #1 CVR A SCHOENING    $3.99
SEP170485    TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS II #1 CVR B WACHTER    $3.99
AUG170513    WORMWOOD GOES TO WASHINGTON #2 (OF 3) CVR A TEMPLESMITH    $3.99
AUG170514    WORMWOOD GOES TO WASHINGTON #2 (OF 3) CVR B TEMPLESMITH    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV160116    GAME OF THRONES THREE EYED RAVEN SNOW GLOBE    $99.99
JUN170064    GRANDVILLE FORCE MAJEURE HC    $24.99
JUN170111    HATSUNE MIKU FUTURE DELIVERY TP  01    $10.99
JUL170117    MASSIVE NINTH WAVE GN VOL 01    $19.99
JUL170184    ONCE & FUTURE QUEEN TP    $14.99
SEP170081    USAGI YOJIMBO #163    $3.99
AUG170067    WITCHER ADULT COLORING BOOK TP    $14.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 1, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

AUG170628    CROSSWIND #5 CVR A STAGGS (MR)    $3.99
AUG170629    CROSSWIND #5 CVR B STAGGS (MR)    $3.99
AUG170630    CROSSWIND #5 CVR C WALKING DEAD #54 TRIBUTE VAR (MR)    $3.99
AUG178503    CROSSWIND #5 CVR D B&W WALKING DEAD #54 TRIBUTE VAR (MR)    $3.99
SEP170722    ELSEWHERE #4 CVR A KESGIN & RILEY    $3.99
SEP170723    ELSEWHERE #4 CVR B GODLEWSKI & RILEY    $3.99
SEP170724    EXTREMITY #8    $3.99
SEP170600    GRAVEDIGGERS UNION #1 (MR)    $3.99
JUN170824    INVINCIBLE FIGURE PIN    $10.00
AUG170690    LAZARUS X PLUS 66 #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
SEP170609    NO 1 WITH A BULLET #1    $3.99
SEP170757    PAPER GIRLS #17    $2.99
SEP170783    SPREAD #23 (MR)    $3.99
AUG170740    STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #29 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170794    WALKING DEAD #173 (MR)    $2.99
JUL170972    WALKING DEAD HILLTOP FACTION 4 INCH PATCH    $10.00
JUL170968    WALKING DEAD HILLTOP FACTION KEYCHAIN    $10.00
JUL170974    WALKING DEAD KINGDOM FACTION 4 INCH PATCH    $10.00
JUL170970    WALKING DEAD KINGDOM FACTION KEYCHAIN    $10.00
AUG170759    WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS HC VOL 07 (MR)    $100.00
AUG170760    WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS S&N ED HC VOL 07 (MR)    $150.00
JUL170973    WALKING DEAD SAVIORS FACTION 4 INCH PATCH    $10.00
JUL170969    WALKING DEAD SAVIORS FACTION KEYCHAIN    $10.00
JUL170975    WALKING DEAD SURVIVORS FACTION 4 INCH PATCH    $10.00
JUL170971    WALKING DEAD SURVIVORS FACTION KEYCHAIN    $10.00