Review: PROWLER #1

PROWLER No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Sean Ryan
LAYOUTS: Javier Saltares
ART: Jamal Campbell
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Travel Foreman with Jason Keith
VARIANT COVERS: Mike Deodato & Frank Martin; Jamal Campbell
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated “T+”

The Prowler created by Stan Lee, John Buscema, and Jim Mooney

The Prowler is a costumed character in Marvel Comics.  He was created by Stan Lee, John Buscema, and Jim Mooney and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (cover dated:  November 1969).  The first version of The Prowler was an African-American teenager, Hobie Brown, who developed a high-tech battle suit.  Hobie used that suit to start a life of crime until Spider-Man convinced him to turn his life around.

The Prowler is a new comic book series featuring Hobie Brown and is part of Marvel Comics' “NOW!” initiative.  The new comic book is written by Sean Ryan; drawn and colored by Jamal Campbell with layouts by Javier Saltares; and lettered by Cory Petit.

The Prowler #1 finds the Prowler acting as a hero.  Such actions cause his colleagues to mock him, and draws the displeasure of his boss, The Jackal.  It is the Jackal who is responsible for bringing Hobie Brown back from the dead after he was accidentally killed by Electro.  However, The Prowler's latest assignment may prove to be his most dangerous since he returned.

I have heard of The Prowler over lo these decades of reading comic books.  I may have actually even read a few comics featuring this character, but nothing has really stuck with me.  This comic book is somewhat intriguing, but normally this would not be enough to keep me reading.

Now, I must be honest with you, dear reader.  I try to read and support comic books featuring African-American/Black characters, as I am African-American.  I try, but sometimes, I quickly give up on those comic books if they don't interest me.  The Prowler is on the side of being of little interest to me, but I will try another two or three issues.

The art by Jamal Campbell, which is obviously rendered with the aid of software, is colorful, but sometimes, it lacks character and substance, almost looking like semi-pro webcomics art.  Normally, this is enough to turn me away, but I'll stay down... for now.

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

-------------------------------------

Review: BLACK PANTHER #166

BLACK PANTHER No. 166
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Ta-Nehisi Coates
PENCILS: Leonard Kirk
INKS:  Leonard Kirk and Marc Deering
COLORS: Laura Martin
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Brian Stelfreeze
VARIANT COVERS: Jenny Frison; Ryan Sook; Chip Zdarsky; Mike McKone with Rachelle Rosenberg; Wes Craig with Tamra Bonvillain (based on the the Incredible Hulk #340 cover by Todd McFarlane and Bob Wiacek)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Rated “T”

“Avengers of the New World” Part 7

Black Panther is a Marvel Comics superhero.  He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover dated: July 1966).  Black Panther was T'Challa, the king and protector of the (fictional) African nation of Wakanda.  Black Panther was also the first Black superhero is mainstream American comic books.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an American writer and journalist.  This African-American commentator is also a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, political, and social issues, particularly as they regard to Black people in America.  Coates' second book, Between the World and Me (released in July 2015), won the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction.  In 2015, he was the recipient of a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Black Panther and Ta-Nehisi Coates (with artist and designer Brian Stelfreeze) came together last year in a relaunch of the Black Panther comic book series.  Marvel Comics is in the middle of a new publishing initiative, “Legacy,” and that changes the issue numbering for Black Panther (and for a number of Marvel Comics' titles).  Coates now produces Black Panther with artists Leonard Kirk (pencils and inks) and Marc Deering (inks); colorist Laura Martin; and letterer Joe Sabino.

Black Panther #166 is the seventh chapter of the “Avengers of the New World” story arc.  The gods of Wakanda, “the Orisha,” have gone missing.  In their absence, mystical portals have been opening and releasing deadly creatures, monsters, and mutants.  A figure known as Ras the Exhorter tells the people of Wakanda that the Orisha are dead and leads them to believe in a new god, “Sefako.”  As Black Panther leads his allies to rescue Asira, an old friend, an old enemy steps forward to claim the prize he has sought since the time when T'Challa's father, T'Chaka was both the king and the Black Panther.

In his legendary 1980s run on DC Comics' Swamp Thing, Alan Moore created a personality for the title character and built a world of supporting characters, bit players, and an intriguing fictional mythology that allowed Moore to explore Swamp Thing's character and motivations.  The result was once-in-a-generation comic book storytelling.  Luckily, Alan Moore influenced generations of comic book writers who came after him.

Taking what the Black Panther writers and artists created before him, Ta-Nehisi Coates is building, issue by issue, a world of the Black Panther that is part of, but is also separate and distinct from the rest of the “Marvel Universe.”  Coates is doing what Alan Moore did with Swamp Thing – create a fictional comic book world that is wealthy with possibilities and does not really need the main universe.  As evident in Black Panther #166, Coates is still in the building process.  There is always some new element or page of Wakanda's history that comes to the fore.  For various reasons, some obvious, the American comic book world has not caught on to Black Panther the way it did Alan Moore's Swamp Thing.  And it should.

Coates collaborators have been stellar since the beginning of this series.  New series artist Leonard Kirk's art makes for quiet but powerful graphical storytelling – explosive in scenes when Klaw unleashes his power and powerfully dramatic when the story delves into the past.  As usual, colorist Laura Martin knows how to color every panel and every sequence in a way that propels the drama of the story.  Joe Sabino's matter-of-fact lettering does not call attention to itself, but, as it recedes into the background, it pulls you down, down, down into this exciting story.

I can't wait for the next issue.

[This comic book includes a three-page character overview written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Wilfredo Torres; colored by Dan Brown; and lettered by Joe Sabino.]

A
9.5 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.

-------------------

Review: INFAMOUS IRON MAN #1

INFAMOUS IRON MAN No. 1 (2016)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Alex Maleev
VARIANT COVERS: Mike Deodato with Frank Martin; Anthony Piper; Esad Ribic; Mike McKone; Skottie Young; John Tyler Christopher
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated “T+”

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

Victor von Doom a.k.a. Doctor Doom, one of Marvel Comics most infamous villains, made his debut in The Fantastic Four #5 (cover dated: July 1962).  Iron Man is now one of Marvel Comics most popular characters, thanks in no small part to a series of hit movies and hit movie appearances beginning in 2008 with the Oscar-nominated film, Iron Man.  Also known as the “Golden Avenger,” Iron Man debuted in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated: March 1963), a little more than half a year after Doctor Doom first appeared.

Iron Man and Doctor Doom were never meant to be together, as Iron Man fights to save the world and to help mankind progress, while Doctor Doom wants to rule the world and subjugate humanity.  In the wake of the events depicted in Marvel Comics' event miniseries, Civil War II, there is a new comic book series that seeks to bring them together, Infamous Iron Man.  It is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Alex Maleev; colored by Matt Hollingsworth, and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Infamous Iron Man #1 finds Doctor Doom meeting with the members of his bad-guy collective, The Cabal.  But that was the old Doom.  Now, he is trying to save Maria Hill, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and also to comfort Dr. Amara Perera, the woman who loved Tony Stark.  What is Doctor Doom up to, and how and why does it involve Iron Man?

Infamous Iron Man writer Brian Michael Bendis does not need to give us a lot of information.  Just about anyone reading Marvel Comics these days knows that Doom is going to take on the mantle of Iron Man.  The most important thing about any comic book written by Bendis is not the hook, but the execution of his storytelling.  Will it work or will it be a failure?  Right now, it is working (as usual for me), and I want more.

I must admit that I am enjoying the art drawn by Alex Maleev, which looks gorgeous under Matt Hollingworth's subdued, earthy, natural-lighting-like colors.  Maleev's graphical storytelling has an exciting, yet mysterious vibe when combined with Hollingworth's colors.  Yeah, Infamous Iron Man is certainly worth your time, my superhero comic book readers.

A-

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------------------

Book Review: TOP 100 COMIC BOOK MOVIES

TOP 100 COMIC BOOK MOVIES
IDW PUBLISHING/Fantastic Press – @IDWPublishing

AUTHOR/EDITOR: Gary Gerani
COVER: Steven Chorney
ISBN:  978-1-63140-998-1; paperback – 8 1/2” x 11” (June 2017)
192pp, Color, $24.99 U.S., $33.99 CAN

Introduction by Kenneth Johnson

Top 100 Comic Book Movies is a nonfiction paperback book (8 1/2” x 11”) from author, comic book writer, and illustrator, Gary Gerani.  In this full-color book, Gerani (who co-wrote the cult horror film, Pumpkinhead) offers his list of the one hundred best films (theatrical and television) adapted from comic books and comic strips.  Top 100 Comic Book Movies, which was released in June of this year, is the fourth book in a series released by IDW Publishing imprint, Fantastic Press.

Top 100 Comic Book Movies covers films from early Hollywood, like the theatrical film serial, Flash Gordon (1936), to today's special effects extravaganzas, such as the films based on Avengers, Batman, X-Men, and Spider-Man comic books, to name a few.  Gerani provides historic overviews of what he thinks are the greatest works of the unique film genre of “comic book movies.”  Each film on the list is illustrated by a dazzling array of photographs, stills, full-color posters, and rare items.  This book reveals that after a shaky start, the comic book movie is a genre that has taken Hollywood and the movie-going world by storm, and the best may be yet to come.

Okay... you want me to be honest with you, dear readers, so here goes.  I don't think that there are enough comic book movies:  theatrical, television, or otherwise, that are good enough to make me want to make a Top 100 list.  Some of the films that Gerani includes in this book are movies that I like in part or in whole, but I don't find enough in them to be worth the bother of sitting down and ranking 1 to a 100.  But I do love me some Sheena starring Tanya Roberts (Gerani's #97).

That said:  I think Top 100 Comic Book Movies is probably an indispensable reference source for people who like comic book movies, want to begin to study them, or get to know about more of them.  Top 100 Comic Book Movies is a kind of goofy title, too fan-ish for its own good, and this title undersells how detailed this book actually is.

For the record, I don't agree with the order of a lot of this “best of” list.  [I should note that time considerations did not allow the author to consider such Summer 2017 comic book movies as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Wonder Woman for inclusion.]  I do agree with Gerani that Christopher Nolan's 2008 smash hit and Oscar-winner, The Dark Knight, is probably the best or #1 comic book movie, at least up to this point in time.  I would say that 1978's Superman: The Movie (Gerani's #3 pick) is the most important comic book movie of all time, because it bridged the promise of comic book movie's primitive past with the modern comic book movies made possible by the continuing advancements in cinema science and technology.

If some of your favorite movies did not make the top 100, Gerani has a list of other notable movies adapted from comic books and comic strips (pp, 194 to 198).  This is where some of my favorite adaptations (Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Virus) reside.  A book like this also needs a handy index, and Gerani provides one for us so we can discover upon what pages our favorite heroes and movies are mentioned or discussed.

Television writer, producer, and director (“Alien Nation,” “Bionic Woman,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” and “V”) Kenneth Johnson pens this book's introduction.  In it, he talks about the time he worked on the television movie, “The Incredible Hulk” (1977), and the long-running TV series (1978 to 1982) it inspired.  That is a nice little extra from Top 100 Comic Book Movies.

A-
7.5 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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

------------------------------------

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 6, 2017

DC COMICS

OCT170222    BANE CONQUEST #8 (OF 12)    $3.99
SEP170401    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 02 SOURCE CODE (REBIRTH    $16.99
OCT170225    BATMAN #36    $2.99
OCT170226    BATMAN #36 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170409    BATMAN AND ROBIN ADVENTURES TP VOL 02    $19.99
JUN170397    BATMAN NOIR THE COURT OF OWLS HC    $34.99
OCT170211    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT170212    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #1 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
SEP178923    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) 3RD PTG    $3.99
SEP178924    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8) 2ND PTG    $3.99
OCT170238    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #3 (OF 8)    $3.99
OCT170239    BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #3 (OF 8) VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170240    BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT170241    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #7    $2.99
OCT170243    CYBORG #19    $3.99
OCT170244    CYBORG #19 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170333    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT170334    DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY #4 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170215    DC UNIVERSE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2017 #1    $9.99
OCT170247    DEADMAN #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT170245    DEATHSTROKE #26    $3.99
OCT170246    DEATHSTROKE #26 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170259    GREEN ARROW #35    $3.99
OCT170260    GREEN ARROW #35 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP170403    GREEN ARROW TP VOL 04 THE RISE OF STAR CITY (REBIRTH) (RES)    $19.99
OCT170261    GREEN LANTERNS #36    $2.99
OCT170262    GREEN LANTERNS #36 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT170273    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT170274    HARLEY & IVY MEET BETTY & VERONICA #3 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170277    INJUSTICE 2 #15    $2.99
JUN170377    JACK KIRBYS FOURTH WORLD OMNIBUS HC    $150.00
OCT170337    JETSONS #2    $3.99
OCT170338    JETSONS #2 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170279    JUSTICE LEAGUE #34    $2.99
OCT170280    JUSTICE LEAGUE #34 VAR ED    $2.99
JUL170483    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA THE DETROIT ERA OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
SEP170418    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS HC    $24.99
OCT170294    NIGHTWING #34    $2.99
OCT170295    NIGHTWING #34 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170425    SHAZAM A NEW BEGINNING 30TH ANNIV DLX ED HC    $34.99
SEP170426    SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 07 THE DRAGONS HOARD    $19.99
OCT170310    SUPERMAN #36    $2.99
OCT170311    SUPERMAN #36 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170430    TEEN TITANS GO TP VOL 04 SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT    $12.99
APR170439    WATCHMEN THE ANNOTATED EDITION HC    $49.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 6, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

OCT170877    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VENOM INC ALPHA #1 (OF 1) GRANOV VAR A LE    $4.99
OCT170876    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VENOM INC ALPHA #1 (OF 1) LEG    $4.99
OCT170964    ASTONISHING X-MEN #6    $3.99
OCT170889    AVENGERS #674 LEG    $3.99
OCT171024    AVENGERS #675 BY ALEX ROSS POSTER    $8.99
OCT171025    AVENGERS #675 BY BROOKS POSTER    $8.99
OCT170843    BLACK BOLT #8 LEG    $3.99
SEP170998    BLACK BOLT TP VOL 01 HARD TIME    $17.99
SEP171001    CABLE TP VOL 01 CONQUEST    $15.99
SEP178741    CAPTAIN AMERICA #695 2ND PTG ALEX ROSS VAR LEG    $3.99
OCT170887    CAPTAIN AMERICA #696 LEG    $3.99
JUN171040    CAPTAIN AMERICA BY WAID & GARNEY OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
OCT170926    DOCTOR STRANGE #382 LEG    $3.99
JUN171047    DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 01    $34.99
SEP178742    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #146 2ND PTG LIM VAR LEG    $3.99
OCT170939    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #148 LEG    $3.99
OCT171026    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #150 POSTER    $8.99
OCT170929    GWENPOOL #23 LEG    $3.99
OCT170861    HAWKEYE #13 LEG    $3.99
OCT170875    ICEMAN #8 LEG    $3.99
OCT170959    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT170960    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #5 (OF 5) NOTO CHARACTER VAR    $3.99
SEP178743    IRON FIST #74 2ND PTG DEKAL VAR LEG    $3.99
OCT170912    IRON FIST #75 LEG    $3.99
SEP171022    MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ULTRON REVOLUTION DIGEST TP VOL 03    $9.99
SEP171017    PUNSHER EPIC COLLECTION TP CAPITAL PUNISHMENT    $39.99
SEP178744    SPIDER-MAN #234 2ND PTG BAGLEY VAR LEG    $3.99
OCT170906    SPIDER-MAN #235 LEG    $3.99
OCT170918    SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE #3 (OF 5) LEG    $3.99
OCT170976    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #9    $3.99
SEP171018    STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION NEW REPUBLIC TP VOL 03    $39.99
AUG171044    STAR WARS TP VOL 06 OUT AMONG THE STARS    $19.99
OCT171027    TALES OF SUSPENSE BY CHECCHETTO POSTER    $8.99
OCT170981    TRUE BELIEVERS ENTER THE PHOENIX    $1.00
OCT170980    TRUE BELIEVERS PHOENIX PRESENTS CYCLOPS & MARVEL GIRL    $1.00
JUN171041    X-MEN CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
OCT170942    X-MEN GOLD #17 LEG    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 6, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING

AUG170394    DONALD DUCK KINGDOM UNDER THE SEA TP    $12.99
SEP170522    JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS DIMENSIONS #1 CVR A FORD    $3.99
SEP170523    JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS DIMENSIONS #1 CVR B ROBADO    $3.99
SEP170577    JUDGE DREDD MEGA-CITY ZERO TP    $29.99
SEP170558    MICRONAUTS WRATH OF KARZA TP    $17.99
SEP170480    MONSTROUS COLL STEVE NILES & BERNIE WRIGHTSON TP    $24.99
MAR170623    MUMMIES CLASSIC MONSTERS OF PRE-CODE HORROR COMICS TP    $19.99
OCT170488    MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #61 CVR A PRICE    $3.99
OCT170489    MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #61 CVR B RICHARD    $3.99
JUL170658    STAR HAWKS HC VOL 02 1978-1979    $39.99
AUG170488    STAR TREK TNG MIRROR BROKEN #5 (OF 6) CVR A WOODWARD    $3.99
AUG170489    STAR TREK TNG MIRROR BROKEN #5 (OF 6) CVR B CALTSOUDAS    $3.99
SEP170511    TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TP VOL 02 DARKNESS WITHIN    $29.99
AUG170412    TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 14    $19.99
OCT170450    TMNT ONGOING #77 CVR A COUCEIRO    $3.99
OCT170451    TMNT ONGOING #77 CVR B EASTMAN    $3.99
AUG170388    UNCLE SCROOGE THIRD NILE TP    $12.99