Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 15, 2019

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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 15, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
JAN191433    ABERRANT SEASON 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR A LEON DIAS (MR)    $3.99
JAN191434    ABERRANT SEASON 2 #2 (OF 5) CVR B LEON DIAS (MR)    $3.99
SEP181363    ABERRANT VOL 01 (MR)    $14.99
MAR191678    ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ & FRESHMAN FORCE WHO DIS ONE SHOT    $5.99
FEB191770    ALL TIME COMICS ZEROSIS DEATHSCAPE #0 (MR)    $3.99
MAR192230    ANGELS OF DEATH EPISODE 0 GN VOL 02    $13.00
MAR192229    ANNE HAPPY GN VOL 09 UNHAPPY GO LUCKY    $13.00
MAR191653    APPALACHIAN APOCALYPSE #5    $3.99
MAR191480    ARCHIE GIANT COMICS GALA GN    $9.99
SEP181356    ATHENA VOLTAIRE GOLDEN DAWN TP    $14.99
MAR191628    BELLADONNA #3 COSTUME CHANGE A (MR)    $8.99
MAR191629    BELLADONNA #3 COSTUME CHANGE B (MR)    $8.99
MAR191630    BELLADONNA #3 COSTUME CHANGE C (MR)    $8.99
MAR191631    BELLADONNA #3 NUDE & NAUGHTY A (MR)    $9.99
MAR191632    BELLADONNA #3 NUDE & NAUGHTY B (MR)    $16.99
MAR191633    BELLADONNA #3 NUDE & NAUGHTY C (MR)    $16.99
MAR191634    BELLADONNA #4 COSTUME CHANGE A (MR)    $8.99
MAR191635    BELLADONNA #4 COSTUME CHANGE B (MR)    $8.99
MAR191636    BELLADONNA #4 COSTUME CHANGE C (MR)    $8.99
MAR191637    BELLADONNA #4 NUDE & NAUGHTY A (MR)    $9.99
MAR191638    BELLADONNA #4 NUDE & NAUGHTY B (MR)    $16.99
MAR191639    BELLADONNA #4 NUDE & NAUGHTY C (MR)    $16.99
MAR191485    BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #273    $6.99
AUG181435    BLACK BETTY TP VOL 02    $14.99
FEB192298    BLANK CANVAS SO CALLED ARTISTS JOURNEY GN VOL 01    $13.99
MAR191654    BLESSED MACHINE #3    $3.99
MAR192029    BLOODBORNE #12 CVR A WORM (MR)    $3.99
MAR192030    BLOODBORNE #12 CVR B YOSHIOKA (MR)    $3.99
MAR192031    BLOODBORNE #12 CVR C GAME ART (MR)    $3.99
FEB192286    BLUES FOR LADY DAY GN STORY OF BILLIE HOLIDAY    $14.95
MAR191418    CASPER CAPERS #4 LTD ED CVR    $9.99
MAR191417    CASPER CAPERS #4 SCHERER MAIN CVR    $3.99
FEB191856    CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #18    $3.99
MAR192231    CHIOS SCHOOL ROAD GN VOL 04    $13.00
MAR191505    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 (MR)    $6.99
MAR191510    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 ANCIENT TOME PREMIUM CVR (MR)    $9.99
MAR191506    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 CODE PRU CVR (MR)    $6.99
MAR191508    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 MODDED CVR (MR)    $6.99
MAR191507    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 PERFECT UNION CVR (MR)    $6.99
MAR191509    CINEMA PURGATORIO #18 VAST CVR (MR)    $6.99
MAR191518    CROSSED ANNUAL 2013 C-DAY BONUS (MR)    $9.99
MAR191521    CROSSED BADLANDS #1 C2E2 RETAILER BONUS (MR)    $19.99
MAR191517    CROSSED BADLANDS #11 MID OHIO VIP (MR)    $19.99
MAR191511    CROSSED BADLANDS #50 COED DREAD A (MR)    $8.99
MAR191512    CROSSED BADLANDS #50 COED DREAD B (MR)    $8.99
MAR191513    CROSSED BADLANDS #50 COED DREAD C (MR)    $8.99
MAR191514    CROSSED BADLANDS #50 COED DREAD D (MR)    $8.99
MAR191519    CROSSED FAMILY VALUES #4 (OF 7) NEW YORK VIP (MR)    $19.99
MAR191522    CROSSED PSYCHOPATH #1 (OF 7) PHOENIX VIP (MR)    $19.99
JAN191443    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR A MACCAGNI    $4.99
JAN191444    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR B MACCAGNI    $4.99
JAN191445    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR C CELOR (MR    $4.99
JAN191446    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR D CELOR RIS    $4.99
JAN191447    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR E HARRIGAN    $4.99
JAN191448    DANGER DOLL SQUAD PRESENTS AMALGAMA LIVES #2 CVR F HARRIGAN    $4.99
NOV181517    DEVILS #2 (MR)    $3.99
FEB191715    DF KISS END #1 FORNES RARE VIRGIN B&W EXC    $75.00
FEB192299    DIDNT I SAY MAKE MY ABILITIES AVERAGE GN VOL 03    $12.99
MAR192232    DIMENSION W GN VOL 14 (MR)    $13.00
OCT181313    DOUBLE JUMPERS TP VOL 02 FULL CIRCLE JERKS (MR)    $14.99
JAN192024    DREAM DADDY DAD DATING COMIC BOOK TP    $19.99
FEB192301    EVE X EVE GN (MR)    $13.99
MAR191500    FATHOM VOL 8 #1 CVR A CAMPETELLA    $3.99
MAR191501    FATHOM VOL 8 #1 CVR B TURNER    $3.99
MAR191447    FLASH SC YA NOVEL VOL 01 HOCUS POCUS (RES)    $8.99
MAR191935    FUZZY BASEBALL HC GN VOL 01    $12.99
MAR191862    GENDER QUEER MEMOIR GN    $17.99
MAR191655    GEORGE MCDONALDS LIGHT PRINCESS #4    $3.99
MAR191793    GLITCH GN VOL 01    $14.99
MAR191794    GLITCH HC GN    $26.99
FEB191840    GODZILLA AFTERSHOCK HC GN    $24.99
DEC181558    GOLD DIGGER #263    $3.99
MAR192234    GRAINELIERS GN VOL 03    $13.00
OCT181314    GUNCATS TP VOL 01    $14.99
MAR192228    HAPPY SUGAR LIFE GN VOL 01    $13.00
MAR191640    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 FETISH FASHION A (MR)    $8.99
MAR191641    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 FETISH FASHION B (MR)    $8.99
MAR191642    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 FETISH FASHION C (MR)    $8.99
MAR191643    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 NUDE & NAUGHTY A (MR)    $9.99
MAR191644    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 NUDE & NAUGHTY B (MR)    $16.99
MAR191645    HELLINA SCYTHE #2 NUDE & NAUGHTY C (MR)    $16.99
FEB191661    HELLWITCH HELLBOURNE #1 ED BENES PREM FOILCVR ED (MR)    $25.00
FEB191660    HELLWITCH HELLBOURNE #1 HELLQUEEN CVR ED (MR)    $7.99
FEB191662    HELLWITCH HELLBOURNE #1 RISQUE CVR ED (MR)    $40.00
FEB191659    HELLWITCH HELLBOURNE #1 STANDARD CVR (MR)    $7.99
MAR192235    HINOWA GA CRUSH GN VOL 02    $13.00
JAN192435    HOLY CORPSE RISING GN VOL 07    $12.99
MAR191936    HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3IN1 VOL 01    $14.99
FEB192303    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD GN VOL 04 (MR)    $12.99
FEB192074    IMPERIUM DLX HC    $59.99
MAR191868    INFINITY 8 #12 (MR)    $3.99
MAR191967    INVASION 1984 TP    $19.99
MAR192236    IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON FAMILIA LYU GN VOL 03    $13.00
MAR191966    JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 33    $24.99
MAR191903    KAIJUMAX SEASON 4 #6 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
MAR192239    KISS & WHITE LILY FOR MY DEAREST GIRL GN VOL 09    $13.00
JAN192259    KONOHANA KITAN MANGA GN VOL 04    $12.99
FEB191567    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED ANGRY (MR)    $19.99
FEB191568    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED COSMIC (MR)    $19.99
FEB191569    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED HEADLIGHTS (MR)    $19.99
FEB191570    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED LOVELY (MR)    $19.99
FEB191571    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED NOCTURNAL (MR)    $19.99
FEB191572    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED REAR VIEW (MR)    $19.99
FEB191573    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED VAMP (MR)    $19.99
FEB191574    LADY DEATH APOCALYPSE #1 ORIGINAL SKETCH ED WET (MR)    $19.99
MAR192240    LAID BACK CAMP GN VOL 06    $13.00
MAR192073    LIFE & DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #3 (OF 6) CVR A SUAYAN    $4.99
MAR192074    LIFE & DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #3 (OF 6) CVR B GANUCHEAU    $4.99
MAR192075    LIFE & DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #3 (OF 6) CVR C JOTHIKUMAR    $4.99
FEB198909    LIFE & DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #3 (OF 6) CVR D PRE-ORDER BUNDLE    $4.99
MAR192250    LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA GN VOL 03    $10.00
MAR192070    LIVEWIRE #6 CVR A ROCAFORT    $3.99
MAR192071    LIVEWIRE #6 CVR B SNYDER III    $3.99
MAR192072    LIVEWIRE #6 CVR C DOE    $3.99
FEB198910    LIVEWIRE #6 CVR D PRE-ORDER BUNDLE ED    $3.99
MAR192140    LOVE IN LIMBO GN VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
FEB192304    MAGICAL GIRL SITE GN VOL 09 (MR)    $12.99
FEB192307    MASAMUNE KUNS REVENGE GN VOL 10    $12.99
MAR191904    MORNING IN AMERICA #3    $3.99
FEB192306    MY MONSTER SECRET GN VOL 16    $12.99
JAN192445    OJOJOJO GN VOL 02    $16.99
MAR191854    ON THE RUN IN ANCIENT CHINA GN    $11.99
MAR191855    ON THE RUN IN ANCIENT CHINA HC GN    $15.99
MAR198405    ORPHAN AGE #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR191369    ORPHAN AGE #2    $3.99
MAR192241    OVERLORD GN VOL 10 (MR)    $13.00
MAR191383    PLANET OF THE NERDS #2 (MR)    $3.99
MAR192198    POKEMON SUN & MOON GN VOL 04    $4.99
FEB191306    PRINCELESS BOOK 8 PRINCESSES #2    $3.99
MAR192211    RADIANT GN VOL 05    $9.99
MAR192242    RE ZERO SLIAW CHAPTER 3 TRUTH ZERO GN VOL 07    $13.00
MAR192213    RECORD OF GRANCREST WAR GN VOL 03 (MR)    $9.99
MAR192215    REQUIEM OF THE ROSE KING GN VOL 10    $9.99
MAR192124    ROBYN HOOD OUTLAW #4 (OF 6) CVR A MASTRAZZO    $3.99
MAR192125    ROBYN HOOD OUTLAW #4 (OF 6) CVR B SALAZAR    $3.99
MAR192126    ROBYN HOOD OUTLAW #4 (OF 6) CVR C DIPASCALE    $3.99
MAR192127    ROBYN HOOD OUTLAW #4 (OF 6) CVR D SPAY    $3.99
MAR191468    SABRINA TEENAGE WITCH #2 (OF 5) CVR A FISH    $3.99
MAR191469    SABRINA TEENAGE WITCH #2 (OF 5) CVR B GANUCHEAU    $3.99
MAR191470    SABRINA TEENAGE WITCH #2 (OF 5) CVR C IBANEZ    $3.99
FEB192282    SAILOR MOON ETERNAL ED VOL 04    $27.99
FEB192309    SAINT SEIYA SAINTIA SHO GN VOL 06    $12.99
FEB191869    SAMURAI CHEF TP    $15.99
MAR191779    SCIENCE COMICS CARS ENGINES THAT MOVE YOU HC GN    $19.99
MAR191778    SCIENCE COMICS CARS ENGINES THAT MOVE YOU SC GN    $12.99
MAR191327    SEAFOAM FRIEND FOR MADISON #1 CVR A    $3.99
MAR191328    SEAFOAM FRIEND FOR MADISON #1 CVR B    $3.99
FEB191870    SERIOUS TP    $15.99
FEB192310    SERVAMP GN VOL 12    $12.99
FEB191989    SHADES OF MAGIC PRINCE OF STEEL PACK    $20.00
MAR192245    SHOULDER A COFFIN KURO GN VOL 07    $17.00
MAR191886    SILENT INVASION GN VOL 02 GREAT FEAR    $16.99
MAR191942    SMURFS GN VOL 25 GAMBLING SMURFS    $7.99
FEB192311    SORCEROUS STABBER ORPHEN GN VOL 01 HEED MY CALL PT1    $12.99
DEC181561    STARS END #4 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAR191811    STATES OF MIND GN TP (MR)    $14.95
MAR192139    STRANGE & MYSTIFYING STORY GN VOL 07 (MR)    $12.99
MAR192248    THOUGH YOU MAY BURN TO ASH GN VOL 05    $13.00
DEC181723    THRESHOLD ALLURE #2 FIFTY SHADES NUDE (MR)    $89.99
MAR191523    UBER #0 ENHANCED ED IT BEGINS (MR)    $9.99
MAR191524    UBER #1 IT ENDS (MR)    $9.99
JAN191671    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 (MR)    $5.99
JAN191676    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 ATTITUDE (MR)    $5.99
JAN191677    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 ATTITUDE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191692    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 BEACH BABE (MR)    $5.99
JAN191693    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 BEACH BABE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191681    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 BLOWN AWAY (MR)    $5.99
JAN191682    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 BLOWN AWAY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191674    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 FEMME FATALE (MR)    $5.99
JAN191675    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 FEMME FATALE NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191678    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 HUNTED (MR)    $5.99
JAN191679    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 KILLER BODY (MR)    $5.99
JAN191680    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 KILLER BODY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191672    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191698    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 STUNNING (MR)    $5.99
JAN191699    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 STUNNING NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191694    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 SULTRY (MR)    $5.99
JAN191695    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 SULTRY NUDE (MR)    $7.99
JAN191689    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 WRAP (MR)    $5.99
JAN191690    UNHOLY ARGENT VS ONYX #0 WRAP NUDE (MR)    $7.99
MAR191866    WORMWORLD SAGA TP VOL 03 KINGSPEAK    $9.99
MAR192199    YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 11    $9.99
MAR191731    ZAGOR THE ALIEN SAGA GN    $34.99
FEB191334    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR A MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
FEB191335    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR B MACCAGNI RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
FEB191336    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR C MCKAY VAR (MR)    $4.99
FEB191337    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR D MCKAY RISQUE LTD ED (MR)    $4.99
FEB191338    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR E MENDOZA RISQUE LTD ED (MR)    $4.99
FEB191339    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #59 CVR F MENDOZA RISQUE LTD ED B (MR)    $4.99
OCT181327    ZOMBIE TRAMP TP VOL 15 DEATH ZOMBIE TRAMP    $14.99

MAGAZINES
FEB191917    2000 AD PACK APRIL 2019    $22.40
MAR191666    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1665    $PI
MAR192098    CREEPS #19 (MR)    $5.95
JAN192026    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL #52    $11.99
FEB191919    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #407    $13.00
MAR191880    LOCUS #700    $8.99

BOOKS
FEB191815    ART & MAKING HANDMAIDS TALE HC    $39.95
MAR191822    ART OF HARRY POTTER MINI BOOK OF CREATURES HC    $11.99
MAR191660    ART OF TOY STORY 4 HC    $40.00
MAR191824    DC COMICS DETECTIVE COMICS COMP COVERS MINI HC VOL 02    $11.99
MAR191659    DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS 100 GREATEST MOMENTS HC    $24.99
MAR191825    DC COMICS WONDER WOMAN COMP COVERS MINI HC VOL 02    $11.99
MAR192222    DEATH MARCH PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY NOVEL SC VOL 08    $14.00
MAR192223    GOBLIN SLAYER LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 07    $14.00
FEB192313    HOW REALIST HERO REBUILT KINGDOM LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03    $13.99
MAR191681    I AM KIND ABE LINCOLN BOARD BOOK    $7.99
MAR191682    I AM UNSTOPPABLE AMELIA EARHART BOARD BOOK    $7.99
MAR191679    INSIDE FAMILY GUY ILLUSTRATED HISTORY HC    $34.99
MAR191978    LEGO HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS HANDBOOK W MINI FIGURE    $12.99
FEB192314    MONSTER GIRL DOCTOR LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04 (MR)    $14.99
FEB192315    MUSHOKU TENSEI JOBLESS REINCARNATION LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01 (    $13.99
JAN198509    NEIL GAIMAN SLEEPER & THE SPINDLE SC    $9.99
MAR192224    OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 10 (MR)    $20.00
MAR192225    SISTERS ALL YOU NEED LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04    $14.00
MAR191820    STRANGE HIGHWAYS ILLUSTRATED NOVEL HC    $35.00
MAR192226    STRIKE THE BLOOD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 12    $14.00
MAR191448    SUPERGIRL SC YA NOVEL VOL 01 AGE OF ATLANTIS (RES)    $8.99
MAR192227    SWORD ART ONLINE NOVEL SC VOL 16    $14.00
MAR192220    TORTURE PRINCESS FREMD TORTURCHEN NOVEL SC VOL 01    $14.00
MAR192221    WOLF CHILDREN AME & YUKI LIGHT NOVEL HC    $20.00

Review: RED SONJA / TARZAN #1

RED SONJA / TARZAN No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Gail Simone – @GailSimone
ARTIST: Walter Geovani
COLORS: Adriano Augusto
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Adam Hughes
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Aaron Lopresti; Walter Geovani with Dee Cunniffe; Sergio Davila with Dinei Ribeiro; Sergio Davila; Jae Lee; Jim Balent
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2, 2018)

Rated Teen+

In the Marvel Comics publication, Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated February 1973), writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith created a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine.  She was named Red Sonja and was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Conan the Cimmerian's creator, Robert E. Howard.

Tarzan is one of the most famous fictional characters in the world.  Tarzan was an orphan and the archetypal “feral child,” and in this instance, he was raised in the African jungle by great apes.  Tarzan was born a noble, John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, but he rejects civilization and lives in the wilds of Africa as a heroic adventurer.  Tarzan was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and first appeared in the novel, Tarzan of the Apes, which began serialization in All-Story Magazines in 1912, before it was published in book form in 1914.  Tarzan would go onto to be a multimedia star, appearing in films, television, comic books, etc.

Red Sonja and Tarzan come together for the first time in the new crossover comic book miniseries, Red Sonja / Tarzan, from Dynamite Entertainment.  It is written by Gail Simone; drawn by Walter Geovani; colored by Adriano Augusto; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series finds Red Sonja (The She-Devil with a Sword) and Tarzan (Lord of the Jungle) caught in a deadly conflict with a man whose very name inspires fear in even the most powerful people.

Red Sonja / Tarzan #1 opens in Australia in 1921, revealing the exploits of the evil “great White hunter,” Eson Duul.  A year later, outside London, Tarzan clashes with Duul, a first step, which unbeknownst to Tarzan, begins a game of death between the two formidable men.  Meanwhile, in the “Hyborian Age,” Red Sonja has her own unpleasant encounter, one that will leave her broken and crossing the oceans of time in order to get revenge.

Pencil ink artist Walter Geovani and color artist Adriano Augusto deliver some nice illustrations and storytelling in Red Sonja / Tarzan #1, and they are quite good at conveying the multiple shifts in settings and time that this story requires.  Letter Simon Bowland uses his fonts and balloons to give this story a sense of hysteria that imparts the sense of many of the characters' state of desperation.

However, the star of this creative team is Gail Simone.  She may be a fan-favorite, but I consider her an underrated and under-appreciated comic book writer.  If she were not under-appreciated, she would have been writing flagship comic books like Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men, and Star Wars (for Marvel) and Superman, Batman, and Justice League (for DC Comics).

Simone is adept at quickly establishing the personalities of her characters and at defining their motivations for her readers.  Simone totally sells the idea of Red Sonja, that same She-Devil with a Sword, as a woman who has been soundly defeated, especially mentally.  Simone makes Duul so evil that I could order a drone attack on the bastard myself, and I am not a supporter of drone warfare.

Gail Simone is going to make Red Sonja / Tarzan a must-read, event crossover comic book.  It is worth fighting in your local comic book shop over a last copy.

9 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.

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Review: SURFACING: Depth Perceptions #2

SURFACING: DEPTH PERCEPTIONS No. 2 (OF 4)
APPROBATION COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: B. Alex Thompson – @ApproBAT
ART: Nenad Cviticanin
COLORS: Santtos
LETTERS: Krugos
EDITOR: John Ward and Denise Thompson
COVER: Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz
24pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (2017; digital release date – January 3, 2018)

Rated: “M” for Mature / 17+ Only (comiXology)

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is a four-issue comic book miniseries from Approbation Comics.  It tells the story of Marcus Wright, a young man who visits an oceanic research facility directed by his childhood friend, Anton Parker, who has a business deal to offer Marcus.  The facility has captured a mermaid-like creature, and Marcus finds himself caught in the mystery of this creature and of its captivity.  Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is written by B. Alex Thompson; drawn by Nenad Cviticanin; colored by Santtos; and lettered by Krugos.

Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2 opens with Marcus engaging in an extensive conversation with the mermaid, who eventually gets the name “Becca.”  Anton warns Marcus that “it,” as he calls Becca, has the ability to “mess” with his mind and to manipulate people.  To squash Marcus' admiration for the creature, Anton reveals some of the events that occurred before he arrived.

The first issue of Surfacing: Depth Perceptions is one of the prettiest comic books Approbation Comics has published to date, and the second issue is equally pretty.  The cover for both issues #1 and #2  feature gorgeous illustrations and shimmering colors by Cesar Grego and Alivon Ortiz.  The interior art by Nenad Cviticanin gets better with each chapter, as his cleanly drawn line art reveals a confident storyteller.  In fact, Cviticanin's graphical storytelling conveys the range of emotions writer B. Alex Thompson depicts in this issue.

Among independent comic book creators, B. Alex Thompson is one of the best at writing naturalistic dialogue for genre comic books, including fantasy and horror tales.  Writing naturalistic dialogue makes the characters seem like personalities rather than being props (in fantasy) or victims (in horror).  The conversation between Marcus and Becca makes it seem as if they are two twenty-somethings on an apparently successful first date.  I had to remind myself that they were actually a human and a creature of fantasy on a futuristic research facility.

The second half of this issue does indeed offer genre intrigue and mystery.  I have to say that I am surprised, although I should not be.  B. Alex Thompson usually delivers high-quality genre storytelling, and he certainly delivers in Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2.

8.5 out of 10

Buy Surfacing: Depth Perceptions #2 at comiXology.

www.ApprobationComics.com
www.AlexThompsonWriter.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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: LUKE MCBAIN Volume 1

LUKE MCBAIN VOL. 1
12-GAUGE COMICS – @12gaugecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: David Tischman
ART: Kody Chamberlain – @KodyChamberlain
COLORS: Kody Chamberlain
LETTERS: Ed Dukeshire
EDITOR: Keven Gardner
COVER: Brian Stelfreeze
ISBN: 978-098369372-7; paperback – 6.5 x 0.3 x 10 inches (July 21, 2012)
112pp., Colors, $14.99 U.S.

Trace Adkins is a Grammy-nominated singer and also an actor.  A decade ago, Adkins joined 12-Gauge Comics president, Keven Gardner; comic book writer, David Tischman; and comic book artist-designer, Kody Chamberlain, to bring to life a new comic book hero, Luke McBain.

The character appeared in the 2009-10, four-issue miniseries, Luke McBain.  It was written by David Tischman; drawn and colored by Kody Chamberlain; lettered by Ed Dukeshire, with cover art provided by Brian Stelfreeze.  In 2012, the miniseries was collected in the trade paperback, Luke McBain Vol. 1.  The series focuses on the title character who returns to his small Southern hometown after a long stint in prison and confronts his powerful family.

Luke McBain is set in the small town of Eden, Louisiana, (population 14,983).  Eden is where Luke McBain returns after a 14-year hitch in prison for a crime he did not commit.  Luke's brother, Paul, is running the family business, McBain Timber Mill.  The mill is the town; it controls the town.  People either work there or work in jobs that depend on the business.

By the time Luke returns, Paul has made himself rich.  He has modernized the mill, which means fewer jobs for the town.  With jobs gone, the result has been that local shops have closed.  Closed shops and fewer jobs have made the people of Eden angry and scared.  No one can do anything about that... except Luke, the only one who knows Paul’s secret.  Reunited with his beautiful ex-girlfriend, Callie Flack, Luke McBain does what he has always done, fight for what is right.  The hardest choice Luke McBain will have to make, however, is just how far he will go to stop Paul.

Honestly, I had never heard of Luke McBain, neither the miniseries nor its trade collection.  I recently attended the Lafayette edition of the Louisiana Comic Con 2019 and visited local comic book creator and artist Kody Chamberlain's table.  I wanted to buy something, and I spotted Luke McBain Vol. 1 and bought a copy, which Kody autographed for me.  [When I first bought this comic book, I thought it was a recent publication.]

Luke McBain reminds me of the character, “Robert “Gator” McKlusky,” which the late actor, Burt Reynolds, played in one of my all time favorite films, White Lightning (1973).  Like “Gator,” McBain is the kind of guy who can navigate the contentious social-economic byways of the small Southern town, and he can fight his way past the dangerous hired thugs that seem to populate such places (at least in Southern-set crime fiction).  Like Gator, McBain ain't afraid of the local law, personified in Eden by Eden's Sheriff Chris Morrison.

Although Luke McBain has only appeared in one comic book series thus far, David Tischman, plays him as an emerging figure, as if the best is yet to come.  I think one thing that will surprise readers, as it did me, is how restrained McBain can be, although he never really backs down from a fight.

In the hands of Kody Chamberlain, Luke McBain, story and title character, are a quite storm, a force of nature that blows into a town that could use a sandblasting.  This comic book reminds me of Larry Watson's 1993 novella, Montana 1948, which was published as a hardcover book, in the way it plays with the dark secrets within a family that has two strong-willed and estranged brothers.

Chamberlain makes Luke McBain dark and edgy, like Watson's story, with his highly-stylized, but also photo-realistic illustrative style.  Chamberlain also brings flexibility to Luke McBain.  The concept can come across as a standard Southern crime-action story with a hero that is more type that character.  In the rhythm of the narrative and with his coppery-noir coloring, Chamberlain tells the story in a manner that is offbeat.  The reader does not exactly get the expected story of a guy who returns to his small Southern hometown for some payback.

Luke McBain Vol. 1 isn't a great work of Southern gothic or Southern crime, but Tischman and Chamberlain keep it interesting by never giving us the expected.  Ultimately, the resolution is surprising and satisfying in a way that makes me think Luke McBain has more stories in him.

7 out of 10

[This book also includes a selection of back matter that reprints Brian Stelfreeze's cover art for the series and Kody Chamberlain's character sketches for the series.]

https://www.12gaugecomics.com/luke-mcbain
https://twitter.com/12GaugeComics
ttps://www.facebook.com/12gaugecomics

https://twitter.com/KodyChamberlain
https://www.facebook.com/KodyChamberlainCreative/
https://www.instagram.com/kodychamberlain/

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


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

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Review: THE IMMORTAL MEN #1

THE IMMORTAL MEN No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Jim Lee and Ryan Benjamin
INKS: Scott Williams and Richard Friend
COLORS: Jeremiah Skipper and Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Carolos M. Mangual
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2018)

Rated “T” for Teen

The Immortal Men created by James Tynion IV and Jim Lee

“The End of Forever” Part 1

DC Comics has launched a new superhero comics initiative, “The New Age of DC Heroes,” coming out of its Dark Nights: Metal event miniseries.  This line of comic books will consist of eight new comic book series:  The Curse of Brimstone, Damage, New Challengers, Sideways, The Silencer, The Terrifics, The Unexpected, and the subject of this review, The Immortal Men.

The Immortal Men is created by James Tynion IV and Jim Lee.  The series is written by Tynion; drawn by Lee and Ryan Benjamin (pencils) and Scott Williams and Richard Friend (inks); colored by Jeremiah Skipper and Alex Sinclair; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  The series focuses on a young man who is an emerging metahuman and who may also be the last hope for the survival of a group of immortal heroes.

The Immortal Men #1 introduces Ghost Fist, Reload, Stray, and Timber.  They are the last of the “Immortal Men,” protecting humanity from the shadows since the dawn of time.  The Infinite Woman, The Hunt, and the “Bloodless,” are in the process of destroying everything about the Immortal Men.  Their most important target just may be the Immortal Men's savior, Caden Park,  a young man plagued by visions of another world.

The problem with DC Comics' “The New Age of Heroes,” is that while some of the writers and artists involved in this new line are some of the most popular comic book creators, they are not necessarily the most imaginative and inventive.  Sorry, dear readers, to inform you of this.  I love Jim Lee's art, but he has built a career out of drawing some of the most popular comic book characters ever created:  X-Men and The Punisher for Marvel and Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Justice League, etc. for DC Comics – all created by other people.  When Lee created his own “universe” of comic book creations, the result, the “Wildstorm Universe,” was mixed, with characters that are not iconic or legendary... or particularly popular, for that matter.

The grade of “B-” that I am giving The Immortal Men #1 is generous because I am a fan of both Lee and this series co-artist, Ryan Benjamin.  However, this concept is mediocre material that is a rehash of other people's work, ideas, and concepts – Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary and Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, for example.

Yet, I am intrigued by The Immortal Men.  I hope that James Tynion IV can deliver a better script than what is in this issue; he is certainly capable of it, as I have enjoyed quite a bit of his writing.  The problem is that in a distressed market, as the comic book Direct Market currently is, star creators put their names on comic book product that they would not accept for publication from unknown or new comic book creators – such as The Immortal Men.

5.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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