Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 9, 2020

IMAGE COMICS

JUL200035    ICE CREAM MAN PRESENTS QUARANTINE COMIX SPEC #1 (MR)    $5.99
JUL200215    MARKED #7 CVR A HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
JUL200216    MARKED #7 CVR B HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
JUL200225    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #27 (MR)    $3.99
JUN200117    OUTER DARKNESS CHEW TP (MR)    $12.99
JUL200228    REAVER #11 (MR)    $3.99
JUL200234    STEALTH #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUL208174    UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #7 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 9, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

APR200988    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #48    $3.99
APR200989    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #48 BAGLEY VAR    $3.99
JUN209038    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #48 GURIHIRU HEROES AT HOME VAR    $3.99
JUL200636    CAPTAIN MARVEL #21    $3.99
JUL200638    CAPTAIN MARVEL #21 BACHALO SPOILER VAR    $3.99
JUL200637    CAPTAIN MARVEL #21 FRISON EMPYRE VAR    $3.99
JUN209041    CAPTAIN MARVEL #21 GURIHIRU HEROES AT HOME VAR    $3.99
JUL200650    EMPYRE AFTERMATH AVENGERS #1    $4.99
JUL200651    EMPYRE AFTERMATH AVENGERS #1 DODSON VAR    $4.99
JUL200652    EMPYRE AFTERMATH AVENGERS #1 LAND VAR    $4.99
JUL200646    EMPYRE FALLOUT FANTASTIC FOUR #1    $3.99
JUL200649    EMPYRE FALLOUT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 ALEX ROSS TIMELESS VAR    $3.99
JUL200647    EMPYRE FALLOUT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 CARNERO VAR    $3.99
JUL200648    EMPYRE FALLOUT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 DAVIS VAR    $3.99
JUN200666    GHOST RIDER TP VOL 02 HEARTS OF DARKNESS II    $17.99
JAN201036    HEROES REBORN RETURN OMNIBUS HC    $125.00
FEB200812    MAGNIFICENT MS MARVEL #14 OUT    $3.99
APR200919    MARAUDERS #12    $3.99
MAR201003    MARVELS SPIDER-MAN BLACK CAT STRIKES #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR200996    RAVENCROFT #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL200626    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5)    $5.99
JUL200634    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5) BLANK VAR    $5.99
JUL200632    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5) CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $5.99
JUL200633    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5) CLASSIC PHOTO VAR    $5.99
JUL200629    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5) COIPEL SPIDER-MAN VAR    $5.99
JUL200631    RISE OF ULTRAMAN #1 (OF 5) YOUNG VAR    $5.99
JAN201067    RUNAWAYS BY RAINBOW ROWELL TP VOL 05 CANNON FODDER    $19.99
FEB201070    SILVER SURFER EPIC COLLECTION TP RESURRECTION    $44.99
MAR201047    STAR #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR201049    STAR #5 (OF 5) ANKA FORESHADOW VAR    $3.99
FEB201071    STAR COMICS TOP DOG COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $39.99
JAN201037    STAR WARS AGE OF RESISTANCE HC    $34.99
JUN209231    STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #1 3RD PTG VILLANELLI VAR    $3.99
JUN209232    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #3 2ND PTG IENCO VAR    $3.99
JUN209249    STRANGE ACADEMY #2 3RD PTG RAMOS VAR    $3.99
JUN209250    THOR #1 3RD PTG KLEIN VAR    $4.99
JUN209233    THOR #3 4TH PTG KLEIN VAR    $3.99
JUN209234    THOR #4 3RD PTG KLEIN VAR    $3.99
APR200911    TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN EMPATH #1    $1.00
APR200912    TRUE BELIEVERS X-MEN GREYCROW #1    $1.00
FEB200936    WEB OF VENOM WRAITH #1    $4.99
FEB200937    WEB OF VENOM WRAITH #1 RYP VAR    $4.99
APR200895    X-FACTOR #3    $3.99
APR200921    X-FORCE #12    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for September 9, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JUN201238    AGGRETSUKO #6 CVR A AMIN    $3.99
JUN201239    AGGRETSUKO #6 CVR B CALTSOUDAS    $3.99
JUL201006    ASH & THORN #5 (MR)    $3.99
JUL201136    ATLAS AT WAR HC GN (RES)    $65.00
JUL201395    AWKWARD PAUSE GN    $19.99
JUL201061    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #284    $7.99
JUL201203    BABY SITTERS CLUB COLOR ED GN VOL 08 LOGAN LIKES    $12.99
JUL201088    BAD MOTHER #2 (MR)    $3.99
JUN201549    BANG DREAM GIRLS BAND PARTY ROSELIA STAGE MANGA GN VOL 01 (R    $12.99
JUL201017    BIG NATE GERBIL ATE MY HOMEWORK GN    $11.99
JAN202322    BL METAMORPHOSIS GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUL201417    BLACK HEROES OF WILD WEST HC YA GN    $16.95
JUL201416    BLACK HEROES OF WILD WEST SC YA GN    $9.99
JUL201206    BUNBUN & BONBON HC GN #1 FANCY FRIENDS    $22.99
JUL201205    BUNBUN & BONBON SC GN #1 FANCY FRIENDS    $7.99
JUN200821    CAGASTER GN VOL 02    $12.99
JUL201045    CASPER ONE SHOTS READERS SET    $19.99
JAN202309    CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC ACCELERATOR GN VOL 10 (RES)    $12.99
MAR202290    CLOVER KODANSHA HC OMNIBUS    $34.99
JUN201089    DEMENTIA 21 BOX SET HC VOL 01 & 02 (MR)    $60.00
JUL201207    DOG MAN GN VOL 09 GRIME & PUNISHMENT    $12.99
JUL201208    DOG MAN HC GN W DUST JACKET VOL 09 GRIME & PUNISHMENT    $24.99
JAN202310    DRAGON GOES HOUSE HUNTING GN VOL 04 (RES)    $12.99
JUL201276    DRY FOOT #1 (RES)    $3.99
FEB202282    DUNGEON BUILDER LABYRINTH MODERN CITY GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
JUL201100    EDDIES WEEK GN    $14.00
JUL201598    EDENS ZERO GN VOL 09    $10.99
JUL200955    FIVE YEARS OMNIBUS HC    $39.99
JUL200954    FIVE YEARS OMNIBUS SC    $29.99
JUL201659    FLY ME TO MOON GN VOL 01    $9.99
JUL201556    HEATHEN TP VOL 03    $14.99
JAN202315    HIGH RISE INVASION GN VOL 06 (RES) (MR)    $19.99
FEB202285    HOW HEAVY ARE DUMBBELLS YOU LIFT GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
JAN202317    HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD GN VOL 07 (MR)    $12.99
JUL201176    ICHIRO GN    $16.99
JAN202318    IDEAL SPONGER LIFE GN VOL 05    $12.99
JAN202319    IF ITS FOR MY DAUGHTER DEFEAT DEMON LORD GN VOL 05    $12.99
MAR202301    IM STANDING ON MILLION LIVES GN VOL 07 (MR)    $10.99
JUL201411    JOHN CARPENTERS NIGHT TERRORS GRAVEYARD MOON GN (MR)    $14.99
JUL200994    JOIN THE FUTURE #5    $3.99
JAN202321    KING OF FIGHTERS NEW BEGINNING GN VOL 02    $12.99
JUN200993    LADY MECHANIKA TP VOL 06 SANGRE    $17.99
FEB202287    MAGICAL GIRL SITE GN VOL 12 (MR)    $12.99
FEB202289    MAKEUP IS NOT JUST MAGIC MANGA GUIDE TO SKIN CARE GN    $13.99
FEB202291    MISS KOBAYASHIS DRAGON MAID GN VOL 09    $12.99
JAN202324    MY MONSTER SECRET GN VOL 20    $12.99
JAN202327    NAMELESS ASTERISM GN VOL 05    $13.99
JUL201211    NAT ENOUGH GN VOL 02 FORGET ME NAT    $12.99
JUL201212    NAT ENOUGH HC GN VOL 02 FORGET ME NAT    $24.99
FEB201599    NOBODY IS IN CONTROL TP (MR)    $16.99
JUL201213    OWLY COLOR ED GN VOL 02 JUST A LITTLE BLUE    $10.99
JUL201214    OWLY COLOR ED HC GN VOL 02 JUST A LITTLE BLUE    $22.99
JUL201652    PERSONA 4 GN VOL 12    $13.99
JUL201019    PHOEBE & HER UNICORN GN VOL 12 VIRTUAL UNICORN EXPERIENCE (C    $11.99
JUL201703    POKEMON SUN & MOON GN VOL 08    $4.99
JAN202330    RE MONSTER GN VOL 04 (RES) (MR)    $12.99
JUL201086    RESISTANCE #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUL201712    RIN-NE GN VOL 35    $9.99
JUL201217    ROALD DAHL WITCHES GN VOL 01    $14.99
JUL201218    ROALD DAHL WITCHES HC GN VOL 01    $24.99
JUL201572    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #3 CVR A VITORINO    $3.99
JUL201573    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #3 CVR B TOLIBAO    $3.99
JUL201574    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #3 CVR C OTERO    $3.99
JUL201575    ROBYN HOOD JUSTICE #3 CVR D COCCOLO    $3.99
FEB202294    SAINT SEIYA SAINTIA SHO GN VOL 10    $12.99
FEB202295    SARAZANMAI REO & MABU GN    $12.99
JUN201513    SAYONARA FOOTBALL GN VOL 01    $12.99
APR202468    SAZAN & COMET GIRL OMNIBUS GN    $24.99
JUL201375    SEANCE TEA PARTY GN    $12.99
JUL201376    SEANCE TEA PARTY HC GN    $20.99
JUL201177    SHERLOCK BONES GN VOL 08 NATURAL HISTORY MYSTERY    $7.99
JUL201178    SHERLOCK BONES HC VOL 08 NATURAL HISTORY MYSTERY    $17.99
JAN202331    SHOMIN SAMPLE ABDUCTED BY ELITE ALL GIRLS SCHOOL GN VOL 12 (    $12.99
JUL201704    SPLATOON MANGA GN VOL 10    $9.99
JUL201215    SQUIDDING AROUND GN VOL 01 FISH FEUD    $7.99
JUL201216    SQUIDDING AROUND HC GN VOL 01 FISH FEUD    $22.99
JUL201278    STARGAZER #1 (OF 6) (RES)    $3.99
JUN201185    STUDENT AMBASSADOR GN VOL 01 MISSING DRAGON    $15.00
APR202066    STUFF OF LEGEND CALL TO ARMS #4    $3.99
APR202240    SUE & TAI CHAN GN VOL 01    $12.99
JAN201620    SURVIVAL FETISH TP VOL 01 (RES)    $19.99
JUN200865    SWEET HEART #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JUL201634    THERAPY GAME GN VOL 02 (OF 2) (MR)    $12.99
JUL201551    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #2    $3.99
JUN209033    VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE #2 FOC MACK VAR    $3.99
JUN201331    VLAD DRACUL #3 (OF 3)    $6.99
JUL201557    WASTED SPACE TP VOL 03 (RES)    $17.99
APR202248    WITCH HAT ATELIER GN VOL 06    $12.99
JUL200863    WYND #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG    $4.99
JUL201705    YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 15    $9.99
JUL201392    ZERO DAY THREAT #4 (RES)    $3.95
JUN200869    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR A MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
JUN200870    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR B MACCAGNI RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUN200871    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR C MCCOMB (MR)    $4.99
JUN200872    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR D MCCOMB RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUN200873    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR E YOUNG (MR)    $4.99
JUN200874    ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #73 CVR F YOUNG RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUL201028    ZORRO GALLEON OF DEAD #1 CVR A MARTINEZ (RES)    $3.99
JUL201029    ZORRO GALLEON OF DEAD #1 CVR B WOLFER (RES)    $4.99
JUL201030    ZORRO GALLEON OF DEAD #1 CVR C PULP LTD ED (RES)    $9.99
JUL201031    ZORRO GALLEON OF DEAD #1 CVR D CENTURY LTD ED (RES)    $29.99

MAGAZINES

JUL201128    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1725  (RES)    $PI
APR201758    G FAN #128    $7.95
JUN200972    HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #56    $9.95
MAR201963    KITCHEN TABLE MAGAZINE #3    $9.99

BOOKS

FEB201953    AGGRETSUKO FIGURINE WITH SOUND & BOOK KIT    $12.95
JUN201656    ARCHDEMONS DILEMMA HOW LOVE ELF BRIDE LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06    $14.99
JAN202334    AT NIGHT I BECOME A MONSTER NOVEL SC    $13.99
JUL201393    DONALD & FAKE NEWS HC    $19.99
JUL201234    FLY ON THE WALL HYBRID NOVEL (RES)    $16.99
JUN201657    IF FOR MY DAUGHTER DEFEAT DEMON LORD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 09 (    $14.99
JUN201658    INFINITE DENDROGRAM LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 07    $14.99
FEB202301    INVINCIBLE SHOVEL LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01 (MR)    $13.99
JUL201018    LITTLE BIG NATE NO NAP BOARD BOOK    $7.99
JUL201286    MARVEL STORYBOOK COLLECTION HC    $17.99
JUL201352    MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES TEN MIGHTY HEROES BOARD BOOK (C    $12.99
JUN201659    MY NEXT LIFE AS VILLAINESS ROUTES LEAD DOOM SC NOVEL VOL 02    $14.99

DC Comics from Lunar/UCS Distributors for September 8, 2020

DC COMICS:

Animal Man By Grant Morrison 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Volume 2 HC, $39.99
Aquaman Volume 3 Manta Vs Machine TP, $17.99
Basketful Of Heads HC, $24.99
Batman #90 (Jorge Jimenez 3rd Printing Black & White Variant Cover), $3.99
Batman #92 (Cover D Jorge Jimenez Punchline Retailer Appreciation Variant), AR
Batman And The Outsiders #16 (Cover A Tyler Kirkham), $3.99
Batman And The Outsiders #16 (Cover B Michael Golden), AR
Batman Detective Comics Volume 2 Arkham Knight TP, $17.99
Batman The Adventures Continue #1 (Of 6)(Dave Johnson 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Batman The Adventures Continue #2 (Of 6)(Sean Murphy 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $3.99
Dark Nights Death Metal Trinity Crisis #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Francis Manapul), $5.99
Dark Nights Death Metal Trinity Crisis #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Kyle Hotz), AR
DC Classics The Batman Adventures #4, $1.99
Flash #761 (Cover A Howard Porter), $3.99
Flash #761 (Cover B In-Hyuk Lee), AR
Green Lantern Season Two #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Liam Sharp), $3.99
Green Lantern Season Two #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Howard Porter), AR
Hawkman #27 (Cover A Mikel Janin), $3.99
Hawkman #27 (Cover B Gerardo Zaffino), AR
Joker Harley Criminal Sanity #5 (Of 9)(Cover A Francesco Mattina), $5.99
Joker Harley Criminal Sanity #5 (Of 9)(Cover B Mico Suayan), AR
Justice League Odyssey #24 (Cover A Jose Ladronn), $3.99
Justice League Odyssey #24 (Cover B Jung-Geun Yoon), AR
Last God #3 (Kai Carpenter 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $4.99
Nightwing #74 (Cover A Travis Moore), AR
Nightwing #74 (Cover B Alan Quah), $3.99
Superman #25 (Cover A Ivan Reis & Joe Prado), $5.99
Superman #25 (Cover B Bryan Hitch), AR
Superman #25 (Cover C Ivan Reis Synmar Card Stock Variant), AR
Wonder Woman #762 (Cover A David Marquez), $3.99
Wonder Woman #762 (Cover B Joshua Middleton Card Stock Variant), AR
Wonder Woman #762 (Cover C Mikel Janin Liar Liar Card Stock Variant), AR

#IReadsYou Review: ONE-PUNCH MAN Volume 17

ONE-PUNCH MAN, VOL. 17
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: ONE
ART: Yusuke Murata
TRANSLATION: John Werry
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITORS: Jennifer LeBlanc; John Bae
ISBN: 978-1-9745-0461-4; paperback (August 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

One-Punch Man is a Japanese superhero franchise that began as a webcomic created by the writer-artist ONE.  Later, ONE joined artist Yusuke Murata to create a digital manga remake of One-Punch Man, and it began publication on Shueisha's Tonari no Young Jump website in 2012.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the digital manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint, beginning in 2015.

One-Punch Man focuses on Saitama, who wants to be a hero.  Beginning his superhero training when he is 22-years-old, he becomes a hero when he is 25.  He really does not look like a superhero, with his lifeless facial expression, bald head, and unimpressive physique.  But he beats the snot out of super-villains with one punch, and he even has his own disciple, the young cyborg, Genos (who really does not need any training).

As One-Punch Man, Vol. 17 (Chapters 88 to 88; entitled “Because I'm the Bald Cape?”) opens, Gara, the so-called “Hero Hunter,” has recovered from the beating he got from the heroes, “Bang” and “Bomb.”  Still, Gara's wounds are life-threatening, so he is in need of a rescue.  Enter the centipede mega-monster, “Centichoro!”  Bang and Bomb are powerless against this kaiju, and even Genos struggles against the creature.  Enter the legendary hero, “King,” with his pal, Saitama.  Which one will stop Centichoro's unstoppable rampage?

Meanwhile, at Hero Association headquarters, Mr. Nakiri rages that his son, Waganma, the child kidnapped by the Monster Association, remains a captive.  But can his “Nakiri Private Force” do more to free his son than the heroes have done?

[This volume includes a bonus manga chapter, “Confidence,” and also bonus illustrations and bonus comics.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The One-Punch Man manga remains my favorite superhero comic book.  Like the shonen manga, My Hero Academia, it is a Japanese take on the American superhero comic book.  As much as I like My Hero Academia, I am crazy in love with One-Punch Man.

One-Punch Man Graphic Novel Volume 17, like Vol. 16, is pure battle manga.  However, Vol. 17 contains one of the most exhilarating sequences featuring Saitama in action that this series has ever had.  The ten-page “Se-Ri-Ous Punch!” sequence exemplifies artist Yusuke Murata's impressive skill.  I'm not sure anyone is as good at drawing fight comics as he is right now.

John Werry's translation for the chapters contained in Vol. 17 reveal the complicated nature of the relationships on both sides of this hero-monster battle.  No one is pure to his cause, and many cannot be trusted.  Some characters may be more neutral than anything, and Werry brings out the increasingly gray nature of this group of flawed characters.  So, yes, this is a joy to read, as both a superhero comic and as a shonen character melodrama.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of shonen battle manga and of superhero comic books will love the “Shonen Jump” title, One-Punch Man.

A
9.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



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

#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #104

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #104 (2010)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Scott Cunningham; John Rozum
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds; Karen Matchette; Matt I. Jenkins
INKS: Scott Jeralds; Karen Matchette; Matt I. Jenkins
COLORS: Rock Candy; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Mike Sellers; Rob Clark Jr.
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Michael Siglain (reprint); Harvey Richards (reprint)
COVER: Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2020)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Get on Board”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I renewed my subscription (for a second time), and this is the sixth issue of my third subscription run that I have received.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 opens with “Get on Board,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Jeralds.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have responded to a call from Toni, a young woman who is running the skateboarding event,  the “Z Games” (a stand in for the real-world extreme sports event, “The X-Games”).  It seems the games are being haunted by a gremlin with the power to destroy the competitors' skateboards.  Can Mystery Inc. put an end to this gremlin and save the games?

The second story, “The Creature from the Rainbow Waterpark,” is, as usual, a reprint and is written by Scott Cunningham and drawn by Karen Matchette.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #121 (cover date: August 2007).]  On the road and looking for a chance to get away from the heat of the summer, the gang stops at “Rainbow Waterpark,” and immediately discover that some kind of fish-monster is plaguing the park.  The park's owners, “the Rainbow Twins,” brothers Allen and Alfred, blame a rival park.  But is there more to this monster attack sabotage?

The third story, “Car-Tastrophe,” is also a reprint story and is written by John Rozum and drawn by Matt I. Jenkins.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #153 (cover date: April 2010).]  When Mystery Inc. is on the road and the Mystery Machine blows a gasket, the gang calls into the talk show, “Car Chat,” on the National People's Radio network.  Brothers Tim “Cling” Thunk-It and Roy “Clang” Thunk-It dispense the automobile repair advice, and lately, Fred has had to call them quite often.  However, when a mysterious caller, naming himself “The Phantom of the Air,” starts haunting them over the air, the Thunk-It brothers turn to Mystery Inc.  Can the gang solve this radio mystery and catch a wily phantom?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 is probably the best issue of this series that I have read in at least a year.  “Get on Board” is not a standout story, although I like the skateboarding competition setting and having the “monster” be a gremlin that dresses like... a “skater boy.”  The solution to “The Creature from the Rainbow Waterpark” involves one of those “mazes for kids” puzzles that are includes in some comics and magazines aimed at young readers.

“Car-Tastrophe” is what makes Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 an exceptional entry in this series.  The “Car Chat” radio show is a spoof of the real-life “Car Talk” radio show that aired on National Public Radio (NPR) from 1977 to 2012.  This story also spoofs NPR with National Peoples Radio, and the “Thunk-It Brothers” spoof Car Talk's “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers” (who were really brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi).  If you, dear readers, remember “Car Talk,” this story will work for you and come across as funny.  If you are not familiar with the show, I am not sure that this story will really work for you.

I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 to fans of Scooby-Doo comic books with a heartier-than-usual recommendation.  So, until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+
7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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

#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #3

KILLADELPHIA #3
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshal1 Dillon
LOGO/GRAPHIC DESIGN: Brent Ashe
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Matteo Scalera
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(January 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Sins of the Father” Part III: “Abaddon”

Killadelphia is a new comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander (Empty Zone).  The series focuses on a police officer who falls into a lurid mystery, one which reveals that the corrupt, but historical city of Philadelphia is vampire-ridden.  Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.

James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. is a Baltimore Police Department beat cop who comes home to deal with the final affairs of his recently murdered father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr.  Jimmy hated his father, who is not dead, but is of the undead.  Now, they're working together to stop an apocalypse – son and vampire dad!

Killadelphia #3 (“Abaddon”) finds the Sangster boys and Jose Padilla, the chief medical examiner, cleansing the city morgue of its cadavers-turned-vampires.  This team-up, however, does not hide the estrangement between Jim, Sr. and Jim, Jr., and Padilla's honeyed words of peace and calmness may not change that.

Meanwhile, John Adams... the second President of the United States and the “Vampire King,” ruminates on his history.  He remembers how he came to be what he is and thinks on the evolution of his plans to build a society not defined by money, race, and class.  But what happens when you use the same old flawed ideas to build something new... or when your partners decide to go their own way?

Killadelphia #3 remains a thrilling, ass-kicking vampire comic book series, but I like that writer Rodney Barnes turns the narrative inward, as the two fathers, Jim, Sr. and John Adams, are forced to reap what they sow – at least, mentally and philosophically.  I like the haves/have-nots dynamic that plays itself out in who gets turned into a vampire and who does the turning.  However, I like what I see as Barnes' consideration of the costs people pay because of the hubris and the narcissism of powerful men.

Back in the 1980s, the peak work of comic book artist and illustrator, Bill Sienkiewicz, was some of the best, if not the best painted comic book art.  Many of Sienkiewicz's individual pages looked like individual paintings, while still propelling the narrative and also being graphical storytelling.

Jason Shawn Alexander, especially in Killadelphia #3, presents some pages that are like stand-along paintings, each with its own message, while being part of the larger narrative.  That would be story-pages 14-15, 19, and 22.  Luis Nct's coloring remains electric and alive – like something bad come alive.  Marshall Dillon letters rhythmically, creating a melody of blood and history and of sex and death.

In my review of Killadelphia #2, I wrote that if Killadelphia #3 was as good as the first two issues, I would begin to suspect that there was something supernatural about this comic book's creative team.  So...

10 out of 10

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


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