Monday, May 6, 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2019

IMAGE COMICS
FEB190053    BLACKBIRD TP VOL 01    $16.99
MAR190057    COPRA TP VOL 02 (MR)    $19.99
MAR190197    CURSE WORDS #21 CVR A BROWNE (MR)    $3.99
MAR190198    CURSE WORDS #21 CVR B (MR)    $3.99
DEC180236    DEADLY CLASS #38 CVR A CRAIG (MR)    $3.99
DEC180237    DEADLY CLASS #38 CVR B MCCREA (MR)    $3.99
MAR190261    DIE DIE DIE AF 2-PACK (BLOODY)    $60.00
MAR190260    DIE DIE DIE AF 2-PACK (COLOR)    $60.00
MAR190016    EXCELLENCE #1 CVR A RANDOLPH & LOPEZ    $3.99
FEB198633    EXCELLENCE #1 CVR B VISIONS OF EXCELLENCE VAR RANDOLPH    $3.99
FEB190071    FREEZE TP VOL 01    $12.99
MAR190210    GUNNING FOR HITS #5 (MR)    $3.99
MAR190211    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR A FRANCAVILLA (MR)    $4.99
MAR190212    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR B B&W FRANCAVILLA (MR)    $4.99
MAR190213    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR C CONNER (MR)    $4.99
FEB190151    ICE CREAM MAN #12 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
FEB190152    ICE CREAM MAN #12 CVR B LOTAY (MR)    $3.99
MAR190214    INFINITE DARK #6    $3.99
MAR190226    MURDER FALCON #8 CVR A JOHNSON & SPICER    $3.99
MAR190227    MURDER FALCON #8 CVR B HEAVY METAL VAR POPE    $3.99
MAR190139    SAVAGE DRAGON AS SEEN ON TV TP (MR)    $24.99
MAR190238    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR A GRUMMETT & KESEL    $3.99
MAR190239    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR B PEREZ    $3.99
MAR190240    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR C WIERINGO    $3.99
MAR190251    UNNATURAL #9 (OF 12) CVR A ANDOLFO (MR)    $3.99
MAR190252    UNNATURAL #9 (OF 12) CVR B CAVAZZANO (MR)    $3.99
MAR190254    VINDICATION #4 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

MAR190950    AGE OF CONAN BELIT #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR190937    AGE OF X-MAN APOCALYPSE AND X-TRACTS #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV181006    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN STRACZYNSKI OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $125.00
MAR191037    AVENGERS BY MCGUINNESS POSTER    $8.99
FEB198762    AVENGERS NO ROAD HOME #8 (OF 10) 2ND PTG BARBERI VAR    $3.99
FEB190843    CAPTAIN AMERICA #10    $3.99
FEB190844    CAPTAIN AMERICA #10 JOHNSON ASGARDIAN VAR    $3.99
MAR190888    CAPTAIN MARVEL #5    $3.99
MAR190889    CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 MAXX LIM MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR    $3.99
MAR190952    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #6    $3.99
FEB190989    DECADES MARVEL 80S TP AWESOME EVOLUTIONS    $24.99
MAR190904    DEFENDERS MARVEL FEATURE #1 FACSIMILE EDITION    $4.99
MAR190869    FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #6    $3.99
MAR190870    FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #6 NEXON MARVEL BATTLE LINE    $3.99
MAR190844    INVADERS #5    $3.99
MAR191038    MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS BY ARTHUR ADAMS POSTER    $8.99
FEB190878    MARVELS ANNOTATED #3 (OF 4)    $7.99
FEB190880    MARVELS ANNOTATED #3 (OF 4) ALEX ROSS VIRGIN VAR    $7.99
FEB190879    MARVELS ANNOTATED #3 (OF 4) DELLOTTO VAR    $7.99
NOV181010    MMW SAVAGE SHE-HULK HC VOL 02    $75.00
NOV181011    MMW SAVAGE SHE-HULK HC VOL 02 DM VAR ED 274    $75.00
MAR191035    SAVAGE AVENGERS BY FINCH POSTER    $8.99
MAR190948    SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #5    $3.99
FEB190992    SPIDER-GWEN GHOST-SPIDER TP VOL 01 SPIDER-GEDDON    $15.99
MAR191039    SPIDER-MAN BY STEGMAN POSTER    $8.99
MAR190882    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #50    $4.99
FEB190985    STAR WARS AGE OF REPUBLIC TP VILLAINS    $17.99
MAR190963    STAR WARS AOR BOBA FETT #1    $3.99
MAR190965    STAR WARS AOR BOBA FETT #1 CONCEPT VAR    $3.99
MAR190986    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #32    $3.99
MAR190871    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR190874    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #2 (OF 5) JONGJU KIM MARVEL BATTLE LINES    $3.99
MAR190872    SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN #2 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
FEB191005    THOR BY JASON AARON COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01    $39.99
MAR190851    TRUE BELIEVERS INVADERS #1    $1.00
MAR190852    TRUE BELIEVERS IRON FIST COLLEEN WING #1    $1.00
MAR190820    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #44 SUJIN JO MARVEL BATTLE LINES VA    $3.99
MAR190819    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #44 WR    $3.99
MAR190913    UNSTOPPABLE WASP #7    $3.99
MAR190914    UNSTOPPABLE WASP #7 SUJIN JO MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR    $3.99
FEB198763    WAR OF REALMS #1 (OF 6) 2ND PTG DAUTERMAN VAR    $5.99
MAR190799    WAR OF REALMS JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #2 (OF 5) WR    $3.99
MAR190794    WAR OF REALMS NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 (OF 4) CAMUNCOLI CONNEC    $3.99
MAR190793    WAR OF REALMS NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 (OF 4) WR    $3.99
MAR191036    WAR OF REALMS NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS BY BILLY TAN POSTER    $8.99
MAR190944    X-FORCE #7    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR191961    5 WORLDS GN VOL 03 RED MAZE    $12.99
MAR191962    5 WORLDS HC GN VOL 03 RED MAZE    $20.99
MAR191974    AFTERBURN CROSSFIRE #1 (OF 4)    $3.95
MAR191406    AM ARCHIVES MARK OF ZORRO 1949 1ST APP #1 LTD ED CVR    $9.99
MAR191405    AM ARCHIVES MARK OF ZORRO 1949 1ST APP #1 MAIN CVR    $3.99
MAR192210    ANONYMOUS NOISE GN VOL 14    $9.99
FEB191435    ARCHIE #704 CVR A FISH    $3.99
FEB191436    ARCHIE #704 CVR B JARRELL    $3.99
FEB191437    ARCHIE #704 CVR C DOW SMITH    $3.99
MAR191819    ATOMIC FRENCHIE GN VOL 02    $14.99
MAR191484    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #270    $6.99
MAR191465    BETTY & VERONICA #5 (OF 5) CVR A LANZ    $3.99
MAR191466    BETTY & VERONICA #5 (OF 5) CVR B ANWAR    $3.99
MAR191467    BETTY & VERONICA #5 (OF 5) CVR C MARLIN    $3.99
MAR191371    BEYONDERS TP VOL 01 (RES)    $14.99
MAR192192    BLACK CLOVER GN VOL 15    $9.99
MAR192128    BLACK KNIGHT TP VOL 01    $19.99
MAR192190    BLACK TORCH GN VOL 04    $9.99
MAR191856    BOOK OF WEIRDO R CRUMB HUMOR COMICS ANTHOLOGY HC (MR)    $39.95
MAR191969    BRINK TP VOL 03    $15.99
MAR191385    BRONZE AGE BOOGIE #2    $3.99
MAR191809    CARMEN SANDIEGO GN VOL 01 STICKY RICE CAPER    $10.99
MAR191810    CARMEN SANDIEGO HC GN VOL 01 STICKY RICE CAPER    $21.99
FEB192196    CASE CLOSED GN VOL 70    $9.99
MAR191874    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #20    $3.99
MAR191873    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL TP VOL 04 SLIPSTREAM DREAM    $14.99
JAN191563    CAVEWOMAN KABBITS CLUB ONE SHOT (MR)    $3.99
JAN191564    CAVEWOMAN KABBITS CLUB ONE SHOT CVR B MASSEY SPEC ED PARTIAL    $PI
JAN191568    CAVEWOMAN KABBITS CLUB ONE SHOT CVR F JAMES TAYLOR LTD NUDE    $PI
JAN191569    CAVEWOMAN KABBITS CLUB ONE SHOT CVR G FABIO ANDESON VAR CVR    $PI
MAR191318    CEREBUS WOMAN    $4.00
MAR191515    CROSSED BADLANDS #1 SAN DIEGO (MR)    $5.99
MAR191516    CROSSED BADLANDS #14 NEW YORK (MR)    $5.99
MAR191520    CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #4 (OF 7) FAN EXPO (MR)    $5.99
MAR191780    DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER HC VOL 04 WAY STATION    $24.99
FEB192178    DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION GN VOL 05 (MR)    $14.99
MAR192193    DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA GN VOL 06    $9.99
JAN191791    DISTANT WORLDS GN VOL 02 EPISODE 2    $11.95
JAN192113    DOCTOR WHO 13TH TP VOL 01    $16.99
MAR192191    DR STONE GN VOL 05    $9.99
MAR192171    DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 05    $9.99
JAN191555    DRUIDS PATH ONE SHOT    $9.99
MAR191525    ESCAPSE FROM BITCH MOUNTAIN TP    $13.95
FEB191358    EXILIUM #5 (OF 6)    $1.50
MAR191504    FATHOM TP VOL 01 WORLD BELOW STARTER EDITION    $12.99
FEB192180    FIRE PUNCH GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
FEB191948    FISH EYE TP    $13.99
JAN192021    GHOST HOG GN    $12.99
JAN192022    GHOST HOG HC    $21.99
MAR192194    HAIKYU GN VOL 32    $9.99
MAR192120    HELLCHILD BLOOD MONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR A SALAZAR    $3.99
MAR192121    HELLCHILD BLOOD MONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR B RIVEIRO    $3.99
MAR192122    HELLCHILD BLOOD MONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR C SPAY    $3.99
MAR192123    HELLCHILD BLOOD MONEY #2 (OF 4) CVR D WHITE    $3.99
MAR192289    HITORIJIME MY HERO GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
JAN199078    HONOR AND CURSE #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
FEB191655    IAN GN VOL 03 BLIETZBRIEG    $11.95
FEB191359    ICYMI #4    $0.99
JAN192380    INSIDE MARI GN VOL 03 (OF 9)    $12.95
MAR191775    ISLAND BOOK GN    $22.99
FEB191360    IT CAME OUT ON A WEDNESDAY #6    $1.99
MAR192169    JOJOS BIZARRE ADV 4 DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE HC VOL 01    $19.99
JAN191580    JUNGLE COMICS #1 DENHAM VAR    $9.99
JAN191579    JUNGLE COMICS #1 DORMAN VAR    $34.99
JAN191578    JUNGLE COMICS #1 MAIN CVR    $3.99
FEB192179    JUNI TAISEN ZODIAC WAR GN VOL 04    $9.99
MAR192195    KAGUYA SAMA LOVE IS WAR GN VOL 08    $9.99
MAR192212    KAKURIYO BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS GN VOL 03    $9.99
MAR191676    KATUSHA GN    $36.00
NOV181432    LAST SPACE RACE #4    $3.99
MAR191902    LONG CON #9    $3.99
DEC181793    LOVE TOWN #3    $4.99
JAN191792    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 72 MARCEL DALTON    $11.95
FEB192195    MAGI GN VOL 35    $9.99
FEB192305    MAGICAL GIRL SPECIAL OPS ASUKA GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
JAN192268    MEGA MAN MASTERMIX TP VOL 01    $19.99
FEB191949    METALSHARK BRO #1    $3.99
FEB191361    MIDNIGHT MYSTERY #4 (OF 4)    $1.50
FEB191362    MIGHTY MASCOTS #1 (OF 3)    $1.50
MAR192331    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING GLORY OF THE LOSERS GN VOL 12    $12.95
JAN192070    MONARCHS BINGE TP    $14.99
MAR191988    MOTEL UNIVERSE HC GN    $21.95
MAR191368    OBERON #4    $3.99
MAR192173    ONE PIECE GN VOL 90    $9.99
MAR192172    ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 16    $9.99
FEB191758    OUTDOORS GN    $22.50
JAN191559    PICO PICO ADVENTURES GN    $9.99
FEB192171    PROMISED NEVERLAND GN VOL 09    $9.99
MAR192089    QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) TP VOL 02 SEPARATION ANXIETY    $19.99
OCT181954    RAID TP (MR)    $16.99
FEB191449    RALPH FILMORE REVISED HC GN    $19.95
MAR191532    ROK OF THE REDS GN    $26.95
FEB191986    SHADES OF MAGIC #5 CVR A IANICIELLO    $3.99
FEB191987    SHADES OF MAGIC #5 CVR B CASSARA    $3.99
FEB191988    SHADES OF MAGIC #5 CVR C NOVEL STYLE    $3.99
JAN192015    SHADOW ROADS #7    $3.99
MAR192214    SHORTCAKE CAKE GN VOL 04    $9.99
FEB192200    SLEEPY PRINCESS IN DEMON CASTLE GN VOL 06    $9.99
MAR192174    SNOW WHITE WITH RED HAIR GN VOL 01    $9.99
JAN191793    STORY WITHOUT A HERO GN    $13.95
FEB192197    TAKANE & HANA GN VOL 08    $9.99
JAN191776    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #115 19TH ANNV PHOTO CVR ED (M    $19.99
NOV182084    THESE SAVAGE SHORES #4 (MR)    $3.99
MAR191409    THREE STOOGES ASTRO NUTS #1 CHEESE CVR SHANOWER    $3.99
MAR191411    THREE STOOGES ASTRO NUTS #1 PHOTO B&W LTD CVR    $9.99
MAR191410    THREE STOOGES ASTRO NUTS #1 PHOTO CVR    $3.99
MAR191753    TONGUES #2    $13.00
FEB191656    TWENTY YEARS AFTER GN    $15.95
MAR192197    TWIN STAR EXORCISTS GN VOL 15    $9.99
FEB191971    TWIZTID HAUNTED HIGH ONS DARKNESS RISES #1 EASTMAN VAR (MR)    $3.99
FEB192081    WASTED SPACE #9 (MR)    $3.99
FEB192199    WATER DRAGON BRIDE GN VOL 09    $9.99
FEB192174    WE NEVER LEARN GN VOL 03    $9.99
FEB191759    WINDOWPANE GN    $29.99
FEB192146    WORLDS GREATEST FIRST LOVE GN VOL 12 (MR)    $12.99
FEB192201    YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 17    $9.99
FEB191451    ZOOHUNTERS #4 CVR A STEIGERWALD (RES)    $3.99
FEB191452    ZOOHUNTERS #4 CVR B BENITEZ (RES)    $3.99

MAGAZINES
JAN192159    ALTER EGO #158    $9.95
FEB192025    BACK ISSUE #112    $8.95
MAR191665    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1664    $PI
MAR191736    FAMOUS MONSTERS ACK-IVES #1 GODZILLA    $16.99
MAY181796    HEAVY METAL #293 CVR A GRECO PAGLIA (MR)    $8.95
MAY181797    HEAVY METAL #293 CVR B BEEPLE (MR)    $8.95
MAY181798    HEAVY METAL #293 CVR C GIM (MR)    $8.95
MAR191674    MONSTER BASH MAGAZINE #36    $8.99

BOOKS
FEB191760    AFTER MAN ZOOLOGY OF FUTURE HC    $34.99
FEB192182    ART OF NAUSICAA OF VALLEY OF WIND HC    $34.99
MAR191823    BACK TO THE FUTURE RACE THROUGH TIME HC    $29.99
FEB191541    DAN BRERETON NIGHT OWLS ARTBOOK HC    $29.99
MAR191683    DISNEY PIXAR CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA NEW ED HC    $16.99
MAR191791    DISNEY PIXAR TOY STORY 4 LIITLE GOLDEN BOOK    $4.99
MAR191684    DISNEY PIXAR TOY STORY 4 OFFICIAL GUIDE HC    $9.99
MAR191959    KARATE KID POP CLASSIC ILLUS STORYBOOK HC    $18.99
MAR191320    MY ADVENTURES AS AN ILLUSTRATOR DEFINITIVE ED    $40.00
FEB192192    NIER AUTOMATA SHORT STORY LONG NOVEL SC    $14.99
MAR191680    RIVERDISH UNAUTHORIZED CASE FILES OF RIVERDALE SC    $22.99
FEB192316    TORADORA LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05    $13.99

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Review: JEEPERS CREEPERS #1

JEEPERS CREEPERS, VOLUME 1 No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Marc Andreyko
ART: Kewber Baal
COLORS: Jorge Sutil
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
EDITOR: Matt Idelson
COVER: Kelley Jones with Doug Hazlewood
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kewber Baal with Schimerys Baal
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 25, 2018)

Rated “Teen+”

Jeepers Creepers created by Victor Salva

Jeepers Creepers is a 2001 horror film written and directed by Victor Salva.  The film takes its name from the 1938 song "Jeepers Creepers" (which is featured in the film) and tells the story of two siblings who become the targets of a demonic creature in rural Florida.  Salva wrote and directed a sequel, Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003), and a third film, Jeepers Creepers 3 (2017), which is set in a time period between the first and second films.

The adversary in all three films is an ancient creature known as “the Creeper” that awakens every 23rd spring for 23 days.  During this awakening, the Creeper feasts on human body parts, which then form parts of the creature's own body.

Dynamite Entertainment recently obtained the license to produce comic books based on the Jeepers Creepers film, and the result is Jeepers Creepers Volume 1.  This new comic book series is written by Marc Andreyko; drawn by Kewber Baal; colored by Jorge Sutil; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

Jeepers Creepers, Volume 1 #1 introduces Devon James, an American college graduate student just arriving in Mexico.  He is there to work on his graduate thesis (“The Cross-Cultural Appearances of the Dragon in North American Mythology from the Aztecs to Today”).  When he arrives at the archaeological site, “The Lost Aztec City of Teotihuacan,” Devon decides that he should not act like a regular tourist and follow the tour guide.  Instead, he summons his inner Indiana Jones without realizing the danger in which he is putting himself.

Twenty pages of actual story for a cover price of $3.99 is long-term, slow suicide for the American comic book market.  For instance, Jeepers Creepers #1 offers some effective teasing, and that is what 20 pages of a first issue comic book narrative is today – a cock tease.  The teasing is so good here that I am ready for the second issue, and I imagine fans of the Jeepers Creepers films will also enjoy this comic book.  But 20 pages for $3.99...  I am emphasizing price point and page count because I think that they will negatively effect this new comic book's reception.  But this is a really good comic book.

Marc Andreyko's script diverges from the mythology of the films, but in a way that would still connect it to overall narrative of the franchise.  Kewber Baal, whom I remember from Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies (Approbation Comics), offers imaginative compositions, while Jorge Sutil's colors create the perfect Jeepers Creepers atmosphere and mood.  Taylor Esposito's lettering is all-around effective because he makes the dialogue and first person narration seem like one flowing conversation, although one floats in word balloons while the other sits in caption boxes.

Yes, the creative team of Jeepers Creepers #1 has delivered a first issue will make readers want to come back for more.  I know I want more.  I hope 20 pages/$3.99 does not hold some of us back.

8 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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Book Review: THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX

THE GIRL IN THE GLASS BOX
HARPER (HarperCollins Publishers) – @HarperCollins @HarperBooks

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: James Grippando – @James_Grippando
ISBN: 978-0-06-265783-1; hardcover (February 5, 2019)
368pp, B&W, $27.99 U.S., $34.99 CAN

The Girl in the Glass Box is a 2019 legal thriller from author and attorney James Grippando.  It is Grippando's 27th novel and also the 15th novel starring Grippando’s Miami-based, criminal defense attorney, Jack Swyteck.  Grippando was the 2017 winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction (for 2016's Gone Again – Jack Swyteck #12).  In The Girl in the Glass Box, Swyteck lands right in the middle of the contentious immigration debate when he takes the case of woman who fled the violence of Central America with her young daughter.

The Girl in the Glass Box finds attorney Jack Swyteck on a shopping trip/Cuban culture lesson with his grandmother, his “Abuela.”  By the time, the visit is over, Jack is representing Julia Rodriguez.  Julia and her teenage daughter, Beatriz, escaped bloodthirsty gangs, random violence, and Julia's abusive husband, Jorge Rodriguez, back in El Salvador and now, live in Miami.  After Julia rebuffs her American boss' unwanted sexual advances, he sicks ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on her.

Stuck in detention, Julia must rely on the talented and versatile attorney Jack Swyteck, to free her from and to keep her out of ICE detention.  However, not only is Jorge in Miami, but also Hugo Martinez, another complication in her life.  The bodies are piling up, and danger is even closer to Julia and Beatriz than either realizes.  Can Jack and Theo Knight, Jack's best friend and former client, really help mother and daughter?  To do so, they will have to put their own lives in danger.

I read my first Jack Swyteck novel, Blood Money, back in 2013 when it was first published.  Now, I expect the first quarter of every year to bring me a new Swyteck thriller.  Although James Grippando does publish a book annually, sometimes he delivers a book that is not about Swyteck or does not center on him.

I thought last year's A Death in Live Oak was probably Grippando's most daring and thrilling Swyteck novel to date.  While it may remain so, The Girl in the Glass Box is now Grippando's most thrilling.  It moves fast and is like the prose equivalent of an action movie car chase.  The last 120 pages (Chapters 48 to 77) are pure pot-boiler, except the pot isn't sitting on a stove; it's being heated by a flamethrower.  I read these chapters as if my life depended on it.  I just couldn't stop, and I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish The Girl in the Glass Box, one of the most effectively thrilling legal thrillers that I have ever read.  Holla!

Grippando always accounts well for his lead character, Jack, and his close family and friends, but with The Girl in the Glass Box, Grippando focuses in on what are essentially the guest stars in this novel:  Julia, Beatriz, and Cecilia (Julia's sister), especially.  This mother-daughter-sister-auntie dynamic is a kind of a love triangle, and Grippando delves into the complications that are natural to such a relationship.  The author also depicts the reality that these women are recovering from a traumatic past.

I wondered where James Grippando would take this series after the complicated and poignant ending of A Death in Live Oak.  The Girl in the Glass Box shows that both the author and his star are just hitting their strides.

10 out of 10

www.jamesgrippando.com

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Review: MARVEL RISING #0

MARVEL RISING No. 0
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Devin Grayson
ART: Marco Failla
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITORS: Heather Antos and Sarah Brunstad
COVER: Helen Chen
28pp, Color, $0.00 U.S. (June 2018)

Marvel Entertainment announced a “new animation universe,” entitled “Marvel Rising.”  From what I have gathered, reading articles here and there, is that this is a multi-platform franchise.  It will feature a diverse line-up of Marvel Comics superheroes:  Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Quake, Spider-Gwen, Lockjaw, America Chavez, Squirrel Girl, Patriot, and Inferno.  I think Captain Marvel will be involved in “Marvel Rising,” to one extent or another.

In a video, Sana Amanat, Marvel's Director of Content & Character Development said, “We wanted to show the world that these heroes are important to the Marvel Universe, that there is a character for every kind of Marvel fan out there.”  You can view the video via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HTPCTtkWoA

“Marvel Rising” will include digital animated short films (focusing on Spider-Gwen) and a feature-length animated film, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, for release sometime in the second half of 2018.  One of the platforms in this multi-platform is comic books, and beginning in June the first of four Marvel Rising comic books, Marvel Rising: Alpha, will debut.

Marvel Rising #0 is a free comic book that previews the Marvel Rising comic books.  I found it in my local comic book shop Wednesday, April 25, 2018.  It is written by Devin Grayson; drawn by Marco Failla; colored by Rachelle Rosenberg; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  The story focuses on Doreen Green a.k.a. the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Kamala Kahn a.k.a. Ms. Marvel.

The story opens in New York City at the “Howard Anthony Stark Institute for Technical Excellence,” where Doreen Green is a volunteer in a teaching programming.  Her latest pupils are a group of New Jersey high school students that includes Kamala Kahn.  Things go immediately wrong when gun-wielding agents of A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) invade the institute, and their targets are the students.  Now, the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel will have a chance to discover how much fun the two of them can have working together.

When I first heard of “Marvel Rising,” I wondered if it was Marvel's answer to DC Entertainment's (DC Comics) "DC Super Hero Girls" action figure franchise, which includes a series of apparently popular and (sometimes) bestselling graphic novels.  I think “Marvel Rising” is a way to introduce new readers who are not white males to Marvel Comics by offering comic books that feature non-white male characters, for the most part.

Of the eight characters featured on the cover of Marvel Rising #0, six are female characters of various ages and ethnicities.  There is one young black male and one young white male.  The 10-page story featured in this comic book focuses on two female characters, Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel, who is a Pakistani-American.  From what I can tell, the four Marvel Rising comic books will feature a group of characters comprised of six females, two males, a dog (the Inhuman Lockjaw), and a squirrel that must be a mascot or something to Squirrel Girl.

As for the 10-page story, it is not something great, but it is what American comic books need more – a fun superhero story that can be enjoyed by young readers and maybe even open-minded older readers.  Broad, fun comic books is something writer Devin Grayson does well.

The art by Marco Failla is pretty and features strong compositions and good storytelling.  As usual, Rachelle Rosenberg covers the art in pretty colors, and Clayton Cowles delivers effective lettering that sells the pace, tone, and mood of the story.

Dear readers, get thee to a comic book story and get the free Marvel Rising #0.  I know I want more Marvel Rising comics and look forward to the summer releases.

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 reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Juniors April 2019 - Update #90

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From EW:  Jim Starlin, the comic book writer-artist, who created Thanos, the master villain of the last two Avengers films, has a cameo appearance in "Avengers: Endgame."  He talks about his experience on-set and experiences with Thanos over the year.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Kubert's grandson, Orion Zangara, is drawing a graphic novel.  Zangara is the nephew of Adam and Andy Kubert.

From Newsarama:  Writer/diectors Phil Lord and Chris Miller each won an Oscar for their work on the animated film, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."  Now, they have signed a five-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPE) to develop live-action and animated shows including "a suite of TV series" based on Sony's Spider-verse movies.

From Newsarama:  There is a sequel to Hiroaki Samura's "Blade of the Immortal" manga. It is scheduled to debut May 25, 2019 issue of Kodansha's "Monthly Afternoon" magazine in Japan. The sequel is titled "Mugen no Junin - Bakumatsu no Sho" (which translates to English roughly as Blade of the Immortal: Bakumatsu Arc).  Samura isn't writing or drawing the new project, but is reportedly involved in the development.

From BleedingCool:  The news that Milestone Media co-founder Michael Davis had died is a hoax.

From THR:  David Marquez has left Marvel Comics to sign an exclusive deal with DC Comics.

From Variety:  "Avengers: Endgame" Obliterates Records With $1.2 Billion Global Debut

From Vimeo:  "A Warren Ellis Production" production card slash / bumper

From BleedingCool:  Another school board, another lame attempt to remove "Fun Home."

From Newsarama:  The nominations for the 2019 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been announced.

From Newsarama:   Audible has announced that it has one of Stan Lee's final projects, the audio drama "Stan Lee's Alliances: A Trick of Light," set for release this June.

From Newsarama:  The DC Universe app has more than 21,000 comic books available for digital reading.

MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book historian and publisher (under his "Pure Imagination" imprint), archivist, and artist, Greg Theakston, reportedly died, Monday, April 22, 2019.  He was also known for a process that DC editor Dick Giordano named after him.  This process was called "Theakstonization," which bleached published comic book pages of color, leaving just the black and white, to be recolored for republishing purposes. Before digital scanning and manipulation, this was apparently the best way to get clear copies of artwork for which no original art still existed.  This process was used for many archival comic book projects.

From ANN:  VIZ Media announced that it has licensed Hisato Murasaki's "Persona 5" manga and will release the first volume in winter 2020.

From FlickeringMyth:  Seven Seas Entertainment will release Hisao Tamaki's 2010 "Dirty Pair" manga in a single omnibus edition in December 2019.

MEMORIAM - From JapanToday:  Manga writer, Kazuo Koike, died at the age of 82, Wednesday, April 17, 2019.  He was known for writing "Lone Wolf and Cub," "Crying Freedom," and "Lady Snowblood."

From ComicBook:  Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel" has made more money at the worldwide box office than any "Batman" movie.

From BleedingCool:  Will the average cost of a Marvel Comics comic book be twenty-five cents a page?

From Newsarama:  Newsarama's George Marston offers a list of the "Top 10 Bunny Superheroes of All Time."

From Newsarama:  Wizard World has added three new conventions events for the rest of 2019 and cancelled one (Boise, Idaho, which was scheduled for July 19-21).

From Newsarama:  David Petersen, creator of the "Mouse Guard" comic book, hopes that the film will find a new home, after Disney cancelled it.

From Newsarama:  Jim Starlin's "Dreadstar" will be collected in omnibus editions.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics to publish "facsimle editions" of classic "X-Men" comic books.

From BleedingCool:  Comic book legend Roy Thomas writes an open letter to DC Comics about money he is due for the appearance of characters he co-created in TV series.

From Newsarama:  Kickstarter and Kodansha are united to encourage more manga creators in Japan.

From BleedingCool:  James Murdoch, son of media magnate, Rupert Murcoch, has invested in Bill Jemas' media start-up, "Artist, Writers & Artisans."

From BleedingCool:  One of Marvel's 80th anniversary one-shots is "Captain America & The Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle" by Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway.

MEMORIAM - From Crunchyroll:  Manga artist, Kazuhiko Katou a.k.a. "Monkey Punch," has died April 11, 2019.  As Monkey Punch, he was best known for creating the "Lupin III" manga.

From MonkeysFightingRobots:  Marc Guggenheim's "Wolverine vs. Blade" comic book will finally see the light of day in July 2019.

From Deadline:   Mark Millar and Netflix name the next Millar comic book, "Space Bandits," a female-led, sci-fi comic book.

From BleedingCool:  The latest on the Richard Meyer vs. Mard Waid lawsuit.

From Newsarama:  The "Birds of Prey" movie has wrapped filming.

From Newsarama:  "Saga Compensium One" will collect issues #1 to 54 of Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples' "Saga" comic book series.  The entire series will apparently run for 108 issues.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics to run Mother's Day and Father's Day 2019 promotions.

MEMORIAM - From Newsarama:  Comic book writer James Hudnall has died.  He was known for his work on "Harsh Realm" and "Espers."

From Newsarama:  Chuck Dixon's revival of "Airboy" is being revived by It's Alive.

From Motherboard:  "Pepe the Frog" creator, cartoonist Matt Furie, is suing media troll Alex Jones and his site, Infowars, over the use of Pepe for its white supremacist merchandise.  Motherboard has highlights from Jones' 159-page deposition for the suit.

From Newsarama:  Kyle Higgins has signed a deal to write and direct a film version of his Image Comics series, "Hadrian's Wall."

From ComicBook:  Director Joe Russo, who has helmed "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Endgame" with his brother, "Anthony," does not rule out directing a DC Comics film.

BOX OFFICE - From THR:  "Shazam" leads the 4/5 to 4/7/2019 weekend box office with an estimated take of $53.5 million debut.

REVIEW:  From Patreon:  Read my review of "Shazam!," a thoroughly delightfully film that I highly recommend.
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From WeGotThisCovered:  Actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says that his "Black Adam" movie will begin filming in about a year.  "Black Adam" is part of the "Shazam" universe.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will release its entire Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age library on DC Universe.

From Newsarama:  The lastest video from Marvel's "The Pull List" offers a preview of the "House of X" and "Powers of X" comic books.

From Newsarama:  DC Comics will reprint the original comic books stories created for the DC Wal-Mart 100-page giant comic books for comic book shops this summer.

From ANN:  Although the most recent volume of the "Fruits Basket" manga recently ended, creator Natsuki Takaya will produce three new short stories.

From Newsarama:  After a woman made "assault allegations" against comic book writer, Jai Nitz, Dark Horse Comics has cancelled its publication of Nitz's "Astro Hustle."

From MovieWeb:  Apparently, Disney has confirmed that "The New Mutants" will keep its August 2nd, 2019 release date.

From Newsarama:  Todd McFarlane has announced that Jim Lee will produce art for Spawn #300.

From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing and Yoe Books announces a new line of Marvel Comics collections.   They will be large-format hardcovers focusing on the "finest art" published over Marvel's history.

TRAILER - From HuffPost:  Warner Bros. has released the first teaser trailer for Todd Phillip's "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role.

From Newsarama:  Erik Larsen has announced that he will return to Marvel Comics to produce some work, his first for Marvel in 17 years.

From Nerdist:  The comic book history of the SHAZAM! Family.

From Nerdist:  The history of all 9 Captain Marvels; plus, how Marvel Comics got the trademark on the name "Captain Marvel."

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From Spokesman: Longtime Batman fan, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, has written the forward for the "80 Years of Batman Deluxe Edition" book.

From BleedingCool:  Movie star Jim Carrey has been an active satirical cartoonist for the past few years.  His recent Benito Mussolini cartoon drew the ire of the facist devil's granddaughter, Alessandra Mussolini.

From Newsarama:  All modern Valiant Comics titles are available on a USB stick at the cost of $60.

MEMORIAM - From Newsarama:  Crossgen Comics founder Mark Alessi has died at the age of 65.  An early 1990s tech entrepreneur, Alessi founded Crossgen in 1998, but the company was bankrupt by 2004.  Disney bought the company later that year.

From YahooEntertainment:  DC Universe's streaming series, "Swamp Thing" will debut May 31, 2019.

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APRIL 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama:  01 First Second for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybooks for April 2019
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aftershock Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Amigo Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Caliber Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Cave Pictures Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Drawn & Quarterly for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Heavy Metal for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Humanoids for April 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Joe Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Keenspot for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2019
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for April 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for April 2019

MAY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:   All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Kevin Eastman Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Yen Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Zenescope Entertainment for May 2019

JUNE 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  June 2019 comic book publisher solicitations for June 2019
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybooks for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  American Mythology for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for June 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for June 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for June 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZMedia for June 2019

JULY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybooks for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  American Mythology for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for July 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Nobrow Press for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for July 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for July 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZMedia for July 2019

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