Thursday, December 27, 2018

Review: THE RUFF AND REDDY SHOW #1

THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Howard Chaykin
ART: Mac Rey
COLORS: Mac Rey
LETTERS: Ken Bruzenak
COVER: Howard Chaykin with Wil Quintana
VARIANT COVER: Mac Rey
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

Ruff and Reddy: A Cautionary Tale in Six Parts Part One

“The Ruff and Reddy Show” (also known as “Ruff and Reddy”) was an animated television series made by Hanna-Barbera Productions (H-B Productions) for NBC.  It was also the first animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera.  “The Ruff and Reddy Show” premiered in December 1957 and ran for fifty episodes until April 1960, comprising three seasons.  “Ruff and Reddy” followed the adventures of Ruff, a smart and steadfast cat, and Reddy, a friendly and brave (but not too bright) dog.

DC Comics has been reinventing and re-imagining classic Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoons in new comic book series since early 2016, the best example being Scooby Apocalypse, which is “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” with an apocalyptic twist.

“The Ruff and Reddy Show” is the latest classic H-B series to get a DC Comics re-imagining.  The Ruff & Reddy Show is a six-issue comic book miniseries.  It is written by Howard Chaykin; drawn and colored by Mac Rey; and lettered by Ken Bruzenak.

The Ruff & Reddy Show #1 opens in the 1950s and finds America caught between communist/Russia hysteria and the comfort of post-WWII economic prosperity (which white people who are of the Silent Generation or are Baby Boomers call “the good old days”).  On television, “The Ruff and Reddy Show” is a hit, but its stars are not necessarily in the best place.  Ruff and his comedy partner, Reddy, are “celimates,” and neither guy really likes the other.  When everything falls apart, are they ready to try something new to get back to the top of the entertainment mountain?

Considering that this is written by Howard Chaykin, it is surprisingly unimaginative.  The Ruff and Reddy Show also shares a setting that is similar to Satellite Sam (Image Comics), the series Chaykin produced with writer Matt Fraction.  I was somewhat interested in Satellite Sam, but not enough to really seek out the series past the first issue.  I am even less interested in The Ruff and Reddy Show; it just seems like DC Comics is really reaching in its (forced?) effort to re imagine the Hanna-Barbera library.  It seems as if Chaykin favors the lost potential or possibilities of the past (this series and his other work set post-WWII) while holding the actual potential and possibilities of the present in disdain?

Also, the story is lost in all the dark colors and black space created by artist Mac Rey.  Rey's art looks like the work of someone who misunderstands Maurice Noble and uses illustration software to make ugly Maurice Noble-inspired art.  I don't know if I will read the second issue, but I do know that The Ruff & Reddy Show #1 is not worth its $3.99 cover price.

3.5 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.

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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Review: MAESTROS #1

MAESTROS No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER/ARTIST: Steve Skroce
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Fonografiks
COVER: Steve Skroce
VARIANT COVERS: Pia Guerra; Geof Darrow with Dave Stewart
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Maestros is the new comic book series from writer-artist Steve Skroce.  Skroce has produced a number of comic books over a career that is almost three decades long, including the recent miniseries, We Stand on Guard (Image Comics).  Skroce's most famous work may be as the storyboard artist for the Oscar-winning film, The Matrix (1999).

Maestros #1 opens in the magical realm of Zainan, where the monstrous wizard, Mardok, is directing the brutal destruction of the royal family.  Meanwhile, on Earth, there is a young man named Will who can wield magic.  Instead of doing great things with his magic, however, Will is helping enormously rich men... become enormous.  Now, Will's mother, Margaret, has returned to bring Will back to his destiny – a destiny that has been problematic for him.

In the synopsis that Image Comics provides for Maestros #1, it includes a quote from award-winning writer, Brian K. Vaughan, Skroce's We Stand on Guard collaborator.  The quote read, "MAESTROS is a masterpiece, with one of the best first issues I've ever read. Steve is somehow an even greater writer than he is an artist. Get ready for your new favorite comic." [END]

I have to kind of agree on the first part.  This is one of the best first issues that I have read, at least over the last several years.  There are 34 pages of story and I could have easily read another 34; in fact, I am anxious (“jonesing”?) for the second issue.  Maestros #1 is exciting, imaginative, funny, witty, and delightfully bursting with surprises.

As well written as this is, I am not sure that Skroce could be a better comic book writer than he is a comic book artist, and he is a really good comic book writer – a natural at writing a comic book script.  As a comic book artist, Skroce, is so damn good – he is a freak as a artist – that he would have to become the greatest comic book writer of all time to surpass his illustrative skills.  Skroce produces some of the most visually striking comic book art and graphics, and his graphical storytelling, from the quietest moments to the fastest action scenes – are potent, to say the least.

Perhaps, we should not separate Skroce as a writer and an artist.  He is a comic book cartoonist who produces graphically and visually engrossing comics, and Maestros #1 suggests that this might be his mightiest work yet.

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.

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Monday, December 24, 2018

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for December 26, 2018

BOOM! STUDIOS

OCT181262    BONE PARISH #5    $3.99
OCT188294    BONE PARISH #5 (OF 12) FOC CROOK INCV    $3.99
SEP181310    BONE PARISH TP VOL 01 DISCOVER NOW EDITION    $14.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 26, 2019

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT180285    HELLBOY AND BPRD 1956 #2 (OF 5)    $3.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 26, 2018

DC COMICS

SEP180541    BATMAN BEYOND TP VOL 04 TARGET BATMAN    $14.99
SEP180575    GREEN ARROW WAR OF THE CLANS ESSENTIAL EDITION TP    $29.99
SEP180596    NIGHTWING TP VOL 07 THE BLEEDING EDGE    $19.99
SEP180611    SUPERMAN REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 03    $34.99

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for December 26, 2018

DYNAMITE

OCT181120    MARS ATTACKS #3 CVR A FRANCAVILLA    $3.99
OCT181121    MARS ATTACKS #3 CVR B COLEMAN    $3.99
OCT181122    MARS ATTACKS #3 CVR C MARRON    $3.99
OCT181123    MARS ATTACKS #3 CVR D HACK    $3.99
OCT181124    MARS ATTACKS #3 CVR E SCHWEIZER SUB VAR    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 26, 2018

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT180680    GO-BOTS #2 CVR A SCIOLI    $3.99
OCT180681    GO-BOTS #2 CVR B SHAW    $3.99
OCT180637    MARVEL ACTION AVENGERS #1 SOMMARIVA    $3.99