COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JUL182349 20TH CENTURY BOYS TP VOL 01 PERFECT ED URASAWA $19.99
JUL181758 ANNIE SULLIVAN & TRIALS OF HELEN KELLER GN $12.99
JUL181759 ANNIE SULLIVAN & TRIALS OF HELEN KELLER HC GN $17.99
JUL181609 ARCHIE 1000 PAGE COMICS ROMP TP $14.99
JUL181612 B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #264 $6.99
JUL182100 BALLAD OF HALO JONES TP VOL 03 COLOR ED $9.99
JUL182399 BARAKAMON GN VOL 16 $15.00
JUN181979 BE YOUR OWN BACKING BAND GN FULL COLOR EDITION $12.00
JUL181748 BEST OF DON WINSLOW OF NAVY COLLECTION HC VOL 01 $29.95
JUL181575 BIG NATE GOES BANANAS TP $9.99
JUL181907 BLAMMO #10 (MR) $8.00
JUL182167 BLOODBORNE #5 CVR A MOORE (MR) $3.99
JUL182168 BLOODBORNE #5 CVR B KOWALSKI (MR) $3.99
JUL182169 BLOODBORNE #5 CVR C GAME ART (MR) $3.99
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JUL182024 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER YA NOVEL NEW SCHOOL NIGHTMARE $13.99
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JUN181369 CASPER CAPERS #1 SCHERER MAIN CVR $3.99
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JUL182016 CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #13 $3.99
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JUL181916 CHECK PLEASE HOCKEY HC GN VOL 01 (OF 2) $23.99
JUL181695 CHIEF WIGGUMS FELONIOUS FUNNIES #1 $3.99
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JUL182487 CITY GN VOL 03 $12.95
JUL181518 COLD WAR TP VOL 01 $14.99
JUL182488 DELINQUENT HOUSEWIFE GN VOL 01 $12.95
JUN182286 DEVILMAN GRIMOIRE GN VOL 04 (MR) $12.99
JUN181685 DF ACTION COMICS #1000 ROGOL ZARR HAESER SKETCH $80.00
JUN181702 DF AVENGERS #1 GREG LAND SGN $29.99
JUL182329 DISNEY MANGA NIGHTMARE CHRISTMAS ZEROS JOURNEY TP VOL 01 $15.99
MAR181931 DOCTOR WHO LOST DIMENSION TP VOL 01 $16.99
JUL182023 ENCOUNTER #6 $3.99
JUL181639 FATHOM KIANI TP VOL 03 BLADE OF VENGEANCE $9.99
JUL182319 GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #7 CVR A ERIC J $3.99
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JUL182199 GIRL WHO DANCED WITH DEATH MILL SAGA #2 (OF 3) CVR A IANNICI $5.99
JUL182200 GIRL WHO DANCED WITH DEATH MILL SAGA #2 (OF 3) CVR ORTEGA $5.99
JUL182369 GOLDEN KAMUY GN VOL 06 (MR) $12.99
JUN182144 HANGER MANGA GN VOL 02 $12.99
JUL182149 HELLICIOUS #3 (OF 6) CVR A MAIN WALLIS (MR) $3.99
JUL182041 HILDA & HIDDEN PEOPLE MOVIE TIE IN NOVEL $13.95
JUL182396 HINOWA GA CRUSH GN VOL 01 $13.00
JUL182028 HOME AFTER DARK GN $27.95
MAY182268 HOUR OF THE ZOMBIE GN VOL 07 (RES) $12.99
JUL182294 HOUSE OF WAXWORK #2 $3.99
JUL181729 IAN GN VOL 01 AN ELECTRIC MONKEY $11.95
JUL188259 ILLEGAL HC GN $19.99
JUL182011 INFINITY 8 #6 (MR) $3.99
JUL182433 INTERVIEWS WITH MONSTER GIRLS GN VOL 06 (RES) $12.99
JUL181986 JUNIOR HIGH HORRORS #1 $4.99
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JUL181988 JUNIOR HIGH HORRORS #1 CVR C FREDERICK $4.99
JUL181755 LITTLE GIRL #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.99
JUN181570 LOOKERS EMBER #11 (MR) $5.99
JUN181587 LOOKERS EMBER #11 EXPLOSIVE (MR) $5.99
JUN181590 LOOKERS EMBER #11 EXPLOSIVE NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181588 LOOKERS EMBER #11 EXPLOSIVE NUDE TORN (MR) $7.99
JUN181591 LOOKERS EMBER #11 EXPLOSIVE WINDY NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181585 LOOKERS EMBER #11 GGA HOMAGE (MR) $5.99
JUN181586 LOOKERS EMBER #11 GGA HOMAGE NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181576 LOOKERS EMBER #11 LUSCIOUS (MR) $5.99
JUN181577 LOOKERS EMBER #11 LUSCIOUS NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181571 LOOKERS EMBER #11 NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181579 LOOKERS EMBER #11 RED HOT (MR) $5.99
JUN181580 LOOKERS EMBER #11 RED HOT NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181583 LOOKERS EMBER #11 SEXY SPIES (MR) $5.99
JUN181584 LOOKERS EMBER #11 SEXY SPIES NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181581 LOOKERS EMBER #11 WORKOUT (MR) $5.99
JUN181582 LOOKERS EMBER #11 WORKOUT NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUN181573 LOOKERS EMBER #11 WRAP (MR) $5.99
JUN181574 LOOKERS EMBER #11 WRAP NUDE (MR) $7.99
JUL181511 LOST CITY EXPLORERS #4 $3.99
JUN181876 MAE VOL 2 #3 $3.99
JUL182448 MY BROTHERS HUSBAND GN VOL 02 (OF 2) (MR) $25.95
JUL182282 NINJAK VS THE VALIANT UNIVERSE TP $9.99
JUL182403 NO GAME NO LIFE PLEASE GN VOL 04 (MR) $13.00
JUL181971 NOODLEHEADS FIND SOMETHING FISHY YA GN $15.99
JUL181627 NU WAY #3 CVR A KONAT $3.99
JUL181628 NU WAY #3 CVR B GUNDERSON $3.99
MAY181460 OH S#!T ITS KIM & KIM #2 (MR) $3.99
JUL182097 PASSING FOR HUMAN GRAPHIC MEMOIR HC $28.00
JUL181502 PATIENCE CONVICTION REVENGE #1 CVR A FERRARI $3.99
JUL181503 PATIENCE CONVICTION REVENGE #1 CVR B HACK $3.99
JUL182436 PERSONA Q SHADOW OF LABYRINTH SIDE P4 GN VOL 03 $10.99
JUN181372 PINK PANTHER SURFSIDE SPECIAL #1 GREENAWALT MISTERJAW CVR $3.99
JUN181373 PINK PANTHER SURFSIDE SPECIAL #1 RETRO ANIMATION LTD ED CVR $9.99
JUN181374 PINK PANTHER SURFSIDE SPECIAL #1 ROPP CATCH A WAVE CVR $3.99
JUL182277 QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #10 CVR A SMART $3.99
JUL188767 QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #10 CVR C PRE ORDER ED $3.99
JUL182308 REVENGE OF WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6) CVR A VITORINO $3.99
JUL182309 REVENGE OF WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6) CVR B OTERO $3.99
JUL182310 REVENGE OF WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6) CVR C MCCOY $3.99
JUL182311 REVENGE OF WONDERLAND #3 (OF 6) CVR D SALAZAR $3.99
APR181777 REX ROYD SC (MR) $19.99
JUL182048 RICK & MORTY PRESENTS SLEEPY GARY #1 CVR A $4.99
JUL182049 RICK & MORTY PRESENTS SLEEPY GARY #1 CVR B MCGEE VAR $4.99
JUL182203 RIVERS OF LONDON WATER WEED #4 $3.99
MAY182026 SEA OF THIEVES TP $16.99
JUL182273 SHADOWMAN (2018) #7 CVR A ZONJIC $3.99
JUL182274 SHADOWMAN (2018) #7 CVR B MACK $3.99
JUL182275 SHADOWMAN (2018) #7 CVR C GANUCHEAU $3.99
JUL188768 SHADOWMAN (2018) #7 CVR D PRE ORDER ED $3.99
JUL181631 SOULFIRE VOL 7 #3 CVR A LADJOUZE $3.99
JUL181632 SOULFIRE VOL 7 #3 CVR B MARIA $3.99
JUN181975 STABBITY BUNNY #7 $3.99
JUN181287 STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #6 $3.99
JUL181751 TRENCH DOGS GN $18.95
JUL181544 TRUE STORIES #4 (MR) $5.99
MAY182148 UNDEAD MESSIAH MANGA GN VOL 01 $10.99
JUL181974 UNWANTED STORIES OF SYRIAN REFUGEES HC GN $18.99
JUL182291 VAGRANT QUEEN #4 CVR A ALTERICI (MR) $3.99
JUL182292 VAGRANT QUEEN #4 CVR B SMITH (MR) $3.99
JUL183052 WARHAMMER 40K OUTER DARK PROSE NOVEL SC $16.00
JUL183053 WARHAMMER 40K SAVIOUR IMPERIUM PROSE NOVEL SC $21.00
JUL183047 WARHAMMER CHRONICLES MASTERS OF STEEL PROSE NOVEL SC $21.00
JUL182382 WITCH PT 4 TRIAL OF ORACLE GN VOL 01 $11.00
JUL182383 WITCH PT 4 TRIAL OF ORACLE GN VOL 02 $11.00
JUL182384 WITCH PT 4 TRIAL OF ORACLE GN VOL 03 $11.00
JAN181135 ZOMBIE TRAMP ORIGINS HC (MR) $24.99
JAN181136 ZOMBIE TRAMP ORIGINS RISQUE HC (MR) $29.99
JAN181138 ZOMBIE TRAMP ORIGINS RISQUE SIGNED HC (MR) $49.99
JAN181137 ZOMBIE TRAMP ORIGINS SIGNED HC (MR) $39.99
MAGAZINES
JUL181738 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1631 $PI
JUN181737 FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #289 PINHEAD CVR $29.99
MAY182056 HOBBY JAPAN AUGUST 2018 $20.00
JUL182029 LOCUS #692 $7.50
JUN182040 PREDATOR OFFICIAL MOVIE SPECIAL #1 NEWSSTAND $9.99
JUN182041 PREDATOR OFFICIAL MOVIE SPECIAL #1 PX $9.99
BOOKS
JUL181764 ART OF WALT DISNEYS MICKEY MOUSE HC $40.00
JUL182094 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER POP CLASSIC ILLUS STORYBOOK HC $18.99
JUN181837 DC COMICS ANATOMY OF METAHUMAN HC $50.00
JUL181941 DC SUPER FRIENDS AQUAMAN LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK HC $4.99
JUL181942 DISNEY PIXAR INCREDIBLES LIITLE GOLDEN BOOK $4.99
JUL181766 DISNEY STAR VS FORCES OF EVIL MAGIC BOOK OF SPELLS HC (RES) $19.99
JUN181814 DOG MAN GN VOL 05 LORD OF FLEAS $9.99
JUL181674 GARFIELD COMP WORKS TP VOL 01 1978-1979 $25.00
JUL181756 GUTS ANATOMY OF WALKING DEAD SC $16.99
JUL182216 PREDATOR OFF MOVIE NOVEL MMPB $7.99
JUN182042 PREDATOR OFFICIAL MOVIE SPECIAL HC $19.99
MAY182275 SOUL LIQUID CHAMBERS GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99
JUL181772 STAR WARS COMPLETE VISUAL DICTIONARY UPDATED ED $40.00
[“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.”]
Monday, September 17, 2018
Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 1, 2018
Labels:
Alan Moore,
Archie Comics,
Art Book,
Book News,
Buffyverse,
comics news,
Diamond Distributors,
Disney,
Fantagraphics Books,
manga news,
Naoki Urasawa,
Pixar,
Star Wars,
TOKYOPOP,
VIZ Media
Friday, September 14, 2018
Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #94
SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 94
DC COMICS – @DCComics
STORY: Sholly Fisch; Darryl Taylor Kravitz; Terrance Griep
PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Karen Matchete; Scott Neely
INKS: Randy Elliot; Karen Matchete; Scott Neely
COLORS: Pamela Lovas; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Randy Gentile; Swands
EDITOR: Harvey Richards
COVER: Randy Elliot with Pamela Lovas
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2018)
Rated “E” for “Everyone”
Let's continue our journey through the renewal of my subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series. I recently received the ninth issue of that renewed subscription.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #94 opens with “Not Just Yeti” (written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Randy Elliot). Mystery Inc.: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have been called by the owner of “Benjy Kord's Rockin' Gym,” a climbing gym, to solve the mystery of a abominable snowman or “yeti” that his been plaguing his place of business.
No true yeti would hang around a place with faux rock-climbing walls, so who is the real culprit? It is Hy Pique, owner of a rival climbing gym; Vertigo, a young lady who is one of Benjy's former customers; or is it Benjy's former employee, Tom Buldown?
This issue has two reprint stories. The first is “The Freeloading Ghost” (written by Daryl Taylor Kravitz and drawn by Karen Matchete). [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #127 (February 2008).] As the story opens, Mystery Inc. has just solved “The Mystery of the Crystal Key Ghosts,” and part of the process of solving the case meant that those “annoying kids” and their dog had to exorcise the ghosts haunting the creepy mansion that was the epicenter of the mystery. Well, one of those ghosts is still around, and he wants a new home...
The second reprint story is “At Least That Beast” (written by Terrance Griep and drawn by Scott Neely). [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #145 (cover dated: August 2009).] The Mystery Inc. kids are in the Congo to help a friend, John Arkizi. It seems that the “Mokele-Mbembe,” the legendary dinosaur that lives in the swamps around nearby Lake Tele, is causing a ruckus. The mastermind behind the dinosaur's behavior seems to be a witch doctor, Kwaheri, who is using the “Mokele-Mbembe” to vex a local mining operation. But who is the real mastermind, and what is his true motivation?
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #94 is a really fun read. It is probably the best issue of this current subscription run, and the reason is the two reprint stories. The new story, “Not Just Yeti,” is a shamelessly weak piece of work on the part of the storytellers. The reprint stories are quite good, especially “The Freeloading Ghost,” a story that has the potential to launch a new Scooby-Doo series or animated film. I hope to get more Scooby-Doo comic books like issue #94.
A-
7.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
-------------------------
DC COMICS – @DCComics
STORY: Sholly Fisch; Darryl Taylor Kravitz; Terrance Griep
PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Karen Matchete; Scott Neely
INKS: Randy Elliot; Karen Matchete; Scott Neely
COLORS: Pamela Lovas; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Randy Gentile; Swands
EDITOR: Harvey Richards
COVER: Randy Elliot with Pamela Lovas
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2018)
Rated “E” for “Everyone”
Let's continue our journey through the renewal of my subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series. I recently received the ninth issue of that renewed subscription.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #94 opens with “Not Just Yeti” (written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Randy Elliot). Mystery Inc.: Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have been called by the owner of “Benjy Kord's Rockin' Gym,” a climbing gym, to solve the mystery of a abominable snowman or “yeti” that his been plaguing his place of business.
No true yeti would hang around a place with faux rock-climbing walls, so who is the real culprit? It is Hy Pique, owner of a rival climbing gym; Vertigo, a young lady who is one of Benjy's former customers; or is it Benjy's former employee, Tom Buldown?
This issue has two reprint stories. The first is “The Freeloading Ghost” (written by Daryl Taylor Kravitz and drawn by Karen Matchete). [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #127 (February 2008).] As the story opens, Mystery Inc. has just solved “The Mystery of the Crystal Key Ghosts,” and part of the process of solving the case meant that those “annoying kids” and their dog had to exorcise the ghosts haunting the creepy mansion that was the epicenter of the mystery. Well, one of those ghosts is still around, and he wants a new home...
The second reprint story is “At Least That Beast” (written by Terrance Griep and drawn by Scott Neely). [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #145 (cover dated: August 2009).] The Mystery Inc. kids are in the Congo to help a friend, John Arkizi. It seems that the “Mokele-Mbembe,” the legendary dinosaur that lives in the swamps around nearby Lake Tele, is causing a ruckus. The mastermind behind the dinosaur's behavior seems to be a witch doctor, Kwaheri, who is using the “Mokele-Mbembe” to vex a local mining operation. But who is the real mastermind, and what is his true motivation?
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #94 is a really fun read. It is probably the best issue of this current subscription run, and the reason is the two reprint stories. The new story, “Not Just Yeti,” is a shamelessly weak piece of work on the part of the storytellers. The reprint stories are quite good, especially “The Freeloading Ghost,” a story that has the potential to launch a new Scooby-Doo series or animated film. I hope to get more Scooby-Doo comic books like issue #94.
A-
7.5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
-------------------------
Labels:
children's comics,
DC Comics,
Hanna-Barbera,
Heroic Age,
Randy Elliot,
Review,
Scott Neely,
Sholly Fisch
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Review: THE DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA #2
THE DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA No. 2
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER/ARTIST: Howard Chaykin
COLORS: Jesus Aburtov
LETTERS: Ken Bruzenak
COVER: Howard Chaykin with Wil Quintana
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)
Rated “M / Mature”
The Divided States of Hysteria is the controversial new comic book series from renowned comic book creator, Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Midnight of the Soul). Chaykin's collaborators include colorist Jesus Aburtov and Chaykin's longtime letterer, Ken Bruzenak. Published by Image Comics, The Divided States of Hysteria is set in an America that is steadily being destabilized after the assassination of a sitting President and a worst-case terrorist attack that follows.
The Divided States of Hysteria #2 opens after seven pregnant women launched a terrorist attack using nuclear devices and a biological weapon that left much of New York City in ruins. Ambitious, ladder-climbing, CIA field officer, Frank Villa, is being blamed for the attack because he was supposed to prevent just such a thing from happening. New President of the United States, Michelle Taylor, fires Villa and contemplates having the Navy SEALs kill him. Even worse, Villa's wife, two children, and mistress are all dead because of the attack.
Now, Chandler Vandergylt, CEO of private prison corporation, River Run, Inc., is giving Villa a chance to help President Taylor help the country. And four mass killers: Henry John Noone, Christopher Michael Silver, Paul Evan Berg, and Cesare John Nacamulli, are going to help Villa help the President pull the country back together!
In his afterword to the second issue, Howard Chaykin says (basically) that if you don't like what he is doing in his new comic book, The Divided States of Hysteria, don't buy “the fucking book.” Ah, if only it were that easy. People are drawn to controversy, and this comic book is controversial. Just recently, Chaykin and Image Comics had to withdraw the cover art for the as-yet-unpublished fourth issue of this series after releasing an image of it as preview material for North American comic book distributor, Diamond Distributors.
See... this is not the 1980s when fannish comic book reviewers like Don and Maggie Thompson and R.A. Jones ran interference for Chaykin when people criticized Chaykin's legendary 1980s comic book, American Flagg! for, among other things, violence, racism, and objectifying women. [I think R.A. Jones even said he wished someone would objectify him.] Now, we have what we did not have in the 1980s, social media. Social media can amplify the voices of critics to the point that even the baddest, do-what-the-fuck-I-want comic book creator has to back down more than he ever thought he would. The Divided States of Hysteria is not going to get the honeymoon American Flagg! got.
All that aside, The Divided States of Hysteria is a surprisingly, really good comic book. It has a plausible, near-future, semi-dystopian scenario, and the second issue is a little more clear on who the players are, what's going on, and what might happen going forward.
I do think that Chaykin and (judging by this issue's letters' page) some of his readers are a bit naive about the divided state of America. America is a place divided by race, class, ethnicity, religion, etc. in its foundation. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution may say a lot of things, but at the end of the day, a lot of people don't believe that people whom they don't like are equal to them, nor should they be treated that way. There may have been times when the majority of White people in America were united. There may indeed have been times when a few Black people joined them, but the truth is that certain people were not allowed by the majority to join in on this unity.
The continuation of the bondage of African slaves and their descendants; the displacement of native tribes and the theft of their lands; and the limit of the franchise all basically established divisions in this country from its beginning. Billy Joel is right: we didn't start the fire. The divided states of hysteria is not an accident. It was a deliberately laid foundation. Rewriting history and pretending that there was a time when ALL of us were united as a county is not a reality; it is a part of an agenda.
I am not really interested in the points behind The Divided States of Hysteria... for now. I choose to enjoy it as near-future science fiction comic book with potential, rather than as a declaration of how we should be.
8.5 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.
-------------------
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER/ARTIST: Howard Chaykin
COLORS: Jesus Aburtov
LETTERS: Ken Bruzenak
COVER: Howard Chaykin with Wil Quintana
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)
Rated “M / Mature”
The Divided States of Hysteria is the controversial new comic book series from renowned comic book creator, Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Midnight of the Soul). Chaykin's collaborators include colorist Jesus Aburtov and Chaykin's longtime letterer, Ken Bruzenak. Published by Image Comics, The Divided States of Hysteria is set in an America that is steadily being destabilized after the assassination of a sitting President and a worst-case terrorist attack that follows.
The Divided States of Hysteria #2 opens after seven pregnant women launched a terrorist attack using nuclear devices and a biological weapon that left much of New York City in ruins. Ambitious, ladder-climbing, CIA field officer, Frank Villa, is being blamed for the attack because he was supposed to prevent just such a thing from happening. New President of the United States, Michelle Taylor, fires Villa and contemplates having the Navy SEALs kill him. Even worse, Villa's wife, two children, and mistress are all dead because of the attack.
Now, Chandler Vandergylt, CEO of private prison corporation, River Run, Inc., is giving Villa a chance to help President Taylor help the country. And four mass killers: Henry John Noone, Christopher Michael Silver, Paul Evan Berg, and Cesare John Nacamulli, are going to help Villa help the President pull the country back together!
In his afterword to the second issue, Howard Chaykin says (basically) that if you don't like what he is doing in his new comic book, The Divided States of Hysteria, don't buy “the fucking book.” Ah, if only it were that easy. People are drawn to controversy, and this comic book is controversial. Just recently, Chaykin and Image Comics had to withdraw the cover art for the as-yet-unpublished fourth issue of this series after releasing an image of it as preview material for North American comic book distributor, Diamond Distributors.
See... this is not the 1980s when fannish comic book reviewers like Don and Maggie Thompson and R.A. Jones ran interference for Chaykin when people criticized Chaykin's legendary 1980s comic book, American Flagg! for, among other things, violence, racism, and objectifying women. [I think R.A. Jones even said he wished someone would objectify him.] Now, we have what we did not have in the 1980s, social media. Social media can amplify the voices of critics to the point that even the baddest, do-what-the-fuck-I-want comic book creator has to back down more than he ever thought he would. The Divided States of Hysteria is not going to get the honeymoon American Flagg! got.
All that aside, The Divided States of Hysteria is a surprisingly, really good comic book. It has a plausible, near-future, semi-dystopian scenario, and the second issue is a little more clear on who the players are, what's going on, and what might happen going forward.
I do think that Chaykin and (judging by this issue's letters' page) some of his readers are a bit naive about the divided state of America. America is a place divided by race, class, ethnicity, religion, etc. in its foundation. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution may say a lot of things, but at the end of the day, a lot of people don't believe that people whom they don't like are equal to them, nor should they be treated that way. There may have been times when the majority of White people in America were united. There may indeed have been times when a few Black people joined them, but the truth is that certain people were not allowed by the majority to join in on this unity.
The continuation of the bondage of African slaves and their descendants; the displacement of native tribes and the theft of their lands; and the limit of the franchise all basically established divisions in this country from its beginning. Billy Joel is right: we didn't start the fire. The divided states of hysteria is not an accident. It was a deliberately laid foundation. Rewriting history and pretending that there was a time when ALL of us were united as a county is not a reality; it is a part of an agenda.
I am not really interested in the points behind The Divided States of Hysteria... for now. I choose to enjoy it as near-future science fiction comic book with potential, rather than as a declaration of how we should be.
8.5 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.
-------------------
Labels:
Howard Chaykin,
Image Comics,
Ken Bruzenak,
Review
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Review: THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #4
THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE No. 4 (OF 12)
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: James Tynion IV
ART: Carlos D'Anda
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Paul Pope with Lovern Kindzierski
VARIANT COVER: Carlos D'Anda
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)
Rated “T” for Teen
Kamandi created by Jack Kirby
“The Wild Wondrous West”
Created by Jack Kirby, Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book series published by DC Comics in the 1970s. Running from 1972 to 1978, the series starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future. In this time, humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.
Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization. In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.
The world of Kamandi returns in the DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists. Each issue will end with an cliffhanger. The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger left behind by the previous creative team, before creating their own story and cliffhanger, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on. The fourth issue of The Kamandi Challenge is written by James Tynion IV; drawn by Carlos D'Anda; colored by Gabe Eltaeb; and lettered by Clem Robins.
The Kamandi Challenge #4 (“The Wild Wonderous West”) finds Kamandi and his friend Vila in the clutches of the Jaguar Sun Cult. The cult members are feeding the pair to the cult's god, “The Great Jaguar,” which is several stories tall. If they escape this fire, waiting for them is the Kanga Rat Murder Society in the mad, mad, mad Outback.
“The Wild Wondrous West” follows the cliffhanger that ended issue #3's “Bug in Your Ear.” The Kamandi Challenge #3 packed more punch than the second issue. However, The Kamandi Challenge #4 lacks the freewheeling fun of the third issue. After reading the second issue, I suspected that this series could end up being hit and miss, simply because each new issue presented a new creative team, itself presented with the challenge of picking up some other team's story.
I am generally a fan of comic book writer James Tynion IV, especially his work on Batman titles, but I find “The Wild Wondrous West” to be little more than rehashed ideas from the original Planet of the Apes films series. Artist Carlos D'Anda's work here is more style than storytelling, and Gabe Eltaeb's garish coloring is static in the line of communication between the reader and the story. I will admit that I do like the last few pages of this story, because this is where the creative team seems to start to sparkle, so I look forward to where this cliffhanger ends up.
Its is not easy for The Kamandi Challenge creative teams in this series to come close to Jack Kirby's original vision of this concept. The Kamandi Challenge #4 exemplifies that.
[Afterword by Jimmy Palmiotti]
6.5 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.
--------------------------------
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: James Tynion IV
ART: Carlos D'Anda
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Paul Pope with Lovern Kindzierski
VARIANT COVER: Carlos D'Anda
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)
Rated “T” for Teen
Kamandi created by Jack Kirby
“The Wild Wondrous West”
Created by Jack Kirby, Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book series published by DC Comics in the 1970s. Running from 1972 to 1978, the series starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future. In this time, humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.
Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization. In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.
The world of Kamandi returns in the DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists. Each issue will end with an cliffhanger. The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger left behind by the previous creative team, before creating their own story and cliffhanger, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on. The fourth issue of The Kamandi Challenge is written by James Tynion IV; drawn by Carlos D'Anda; colored by Gabe Eltaeb; and lettered by Clem Robins.
The Kamandi Challenge #4 (“The Wild Wonderous West”) finds Kamandi and his friend Vila in the clutches of the Jaguar Sun Cult. The cult members are feeding the pair to the cult's god, “The Great Jaguar,” which is several stories tall. If they escape this fire, waiting for them is the Kanga Rat Murder Society in the mad, mad, mad Outback.
“The Wild Wondrous West” follows the cliffhanger that ended issue #3's “Bug in Your Ear.” The Kamandi Challenge #3 packed more punch than the second issue. However, The Kamandi Challenge #4 lacks the freewheeling fun of the third issue. After reading the second issue, I suspected that this series could end up being hit and miss, simply because each new issue presented a new creative team, itself presented with the challenge of picking up some other team's story.
I am generally a fan of comic book writer James Tynion IV, especially his work on Batman titles, but I find “The Wild Wondrous West” to be little more than rehashed ideas from the original Planet of the Apes films series. Artist Carlos D'Anda's work here is more style than storytelling, and Gabe Eltaeb's garish coloring is static in the line of communication between the reader and the story. I will admit that I do like the last few pages of this story, because this is where the creative team seems to start to sparkle, so I look forward to where this cliffhanger ends up.
Its is not easy for The Kamandi Challenge creative teams in this series to come close to Jack Kirby's original vision of this concept. The Kamandi Challenge #4 exemplifies that.
[Afterword by Jimmy Palmiotti]
6.5 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.
--------------------------------
Labels:
Carlos D'Anda,
DC Comics,
Gabe Eltaeb,
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Lovern Kindzierski,
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Review
Monday, September 10, 2018
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JUL181394 MECH CADET YU #12 $3.99
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MAY180362 BTVS SEASON 10 LIBRARY HC VOL 02 $29.99
MAY180354 CRIMINY TP VOL 01 $12.99
JUL180464 DISNEY FROZEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES #2 CVR A $3.99
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MAY180373 KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS TP $19.99
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MAY180323 ALCOHOLIC TENTH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION TP (MR) $19.99
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MAY180324 ANTHONY BOURDAINS HUNGRY GHOSTS HC (MR) $14.99
JUL180471 BPRD DEVIL YOU KNOW #10 $3.99
MAY180362 BTVS SEASON 10 LIBRARY HC VOL 02 $29.99
MAY180354 CRIMINY TP VOL 01 $12.99
JUL180464 DISNEY FROZEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES #2 CVR A $3.99
JUL180465 DISNEY FROZEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES #2 CVR B FRANCISCO $3.99
MAY180357 DRAGON AGE STOLEN THRONE DELUXE EDITION HC $29.99
JUL180468 JOE GOLEM #1 (OF 5) THE DROWNING CITY $3.99
MAY180373 KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS TP $19.99
JUL180423 MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 #1 CVR A NAUCK $3.99
JUL180424 MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 #1 CVR B VANCE $3.99
JUL180446 NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #6 CVR A (MR) $3.99
JUL180447 NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #6 CVR B MACK (MR) $3.99
MAY180364 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES HC GARDEN WARFARE VOL 02 $9.99
JUL180433 SEEDS #2 (MR) $3.99
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JUL180486 WORLD OF TANKS CITADEL #5 (OF 5) $3.99
Labels:
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comics news,
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Disney,
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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 12, 2018
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JAN180393 ABSOLUTE BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE HC $49.99
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JUL180631 CATWOMAN #3 $3.99
JUL180632 CATWOMAN #3 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180637 DETECTIVE COMICS #988 $3.99
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JUL180641 FLASH #54 $3.99
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JUL180655 HAWKMAN #4 $3.99
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JUL180609 HOUSE OF WHISPERS #1 (MR) $3.99
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JUL180657 IMMORTAL MEN #6 $2.99
JUN180582 JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 07 JUSTICE LOST $14.99
JUN180584 NIGHTWING TP VOL 06 THE UNTOUCHABLE $19.99
JUL180680 PLASTIC MAN #4 (OF 6) $3.99
JUL180682 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 $3.99
JUL180683 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180685 SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #29 $3.99
JUL180686 SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #29 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180688 SIDEWAYS #8 $2.99
JUL180617 SUICIDE SQUAD #46 SINK ATLANTIS $3.99
JUL180618 SUICIDE SQUAD #46 VAR ED SINK ATLANTIS $3.99
JUL180690 SUPERGIRL #22 $3.99
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JUL180692 SUPERMAN #3 $3.99
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JUL180699 TITANS #25 $4.99
JUL180700 TITANS #25 VAR ED $4.99
JUL180706 WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY #11 $3.99
JUL180707 WONDER WOMAN #54 $3.99
JUL180708 WONDER WOMAN #54 VAR ED $3.99
JUN180592 WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 06 CHILDREN OF THE GODS $16.99
JAN180393 ABSOLUTE BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE HC $49.99
JUN180567 ALL STAR BATMAN TP VOL 03 THE FIRST ALLY $16.99
JUN180561 BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP VOL 01 25TH ANNIVERSARY ED $19.99
MAR180337 BATMAN THE ARKHAM SAGA OMNIBUS HC $150.00
JUL180631 CATWOMAN #3 $3.99
JUL180632 CATWOMAN #3 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180637 DETECTIVE COMICS #988 $3.99
JUL180638 DETECTIVE COMICS #988 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180641 FLASH #54 $3.99
JUL180642 FLASH #54 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180655 HAWKMAN #4 $3.99
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JUL180609 HOUSE OF WHISPERS #1 (MR) $3.99
JUL180610 HOUSE OF WHISPERS #1 VAR ED (MR) $3.99
JUL180657 IMMORTAL MEN #6 $2.99
JUN180582 JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 07 JUSTICE LOST $14.99
JUN180584 NIGHTWING TP VOL 06 THE UNTOUCHABLE $19.99
JUL180680 PLASTIC MAN #4 (OF 6) $3.99
JUL180682 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 $3.99
JUL180683 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180685 SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #29 $3.99
JUL180686 SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #29 VAR ED $3.99
JUL180688 SIDEWAYS #8 $2.99
JUL180617 SUICIDE SQUAD #46 SINK ATLANTIS $3.99
JUL180618 SUICIDE SQUAD #46 VAR ED SINK ATLANTIS $3.99
JUL180690 SUPERGIRL #22 $3.99
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JUL180707 WONDER WOMAN #54 $3.99
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