#IReadsYou Review: SPY X FAMILY Volume 1

SPY X FAMILY, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Tatsuya Endo
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Casey Loe
LETTERS: Rina Mapa
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1546-6; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
220pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Spy × Family is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo.  It has been serialized biweekly for free on the Shōnen Jump+ application and website since March 25, 2019.  VIZ Media began publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint in June 2020.

Spy × Family, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces a mysterious man known as “Twilight.”  He is the master spy of the country of Westalis.  A man of a hundred faces, Twilight has extraordinary combat, memory, and information processing skills.  His latest mission takes him to Westalis' neighbor to the east, The People's Republic of Ostania.  There is a fragile truce between Westalis and Ostania, but a political leader named Donovan Desmond threatens that and foments war.  Twilight's mission is to get close to Desmond and to spy on his activities.

To do that, Twilight must pose as a family man!  One problem is that Twilight has never been a family man.  So how does he end up with a wife named “Yor Briar” and an elementary school-age daughter named “Anya?”  Heck, the even bigger questions are does he know that Yor is a ruthless assassin and that Anya is a telepath?

[This volume includes bonus material, “Spy × Family Confidential Files,” which is comprised of bonus comics, a character profile, and a “thank you” to the art and production staff of Spy × Family.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The title of the Spy × Family manga is apparently pronounced “Spy Family.”  That's appropriate because the series will apparently focus on the family as being more than just a cover for the activities of Twilight, ostensibly the series' lead character.

Spy × Family Graphic Novel Volume 1 is a strong first volume for a series that seems a bit eccentric merely on the basis of the premise and turns out to be a bit eccentric upon reading.  The art is elegantly drawn with sharp, precise line work, but it is drawn to suggest a sense of humor in the story.  The graphical storytelling is witty and sly, and the danger and violence is no more than what readers would find in a shonen manga like Nisekoi: False Love.  The art for Spy × Family makes me think of something like a manga adaptation of a Daniel Craig James Bond movie overseen by the legendary American animation filmmaker, Chuck Jones, at the height of his graphic style.

Casey Loe offers a strong English-language adaptation in this first volume of Spy × Family, which is dialogue heavy.  Loe conveys the sly wit and deadpan humor that underpins the action in these first five chapters of the series.  And, as usual, letterer Rina Mapa gives elegant art some elegant lettering.  Yes, Spy × Family is series worth revisiting

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of secret agents and of international intrigue will want to spy on the “Shonen Jump” title Spy × Family.

8 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.

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#IReadsYou Review: HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP Volume 1

HOW DO WE RELATIONSHIP?, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Tamifull
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Joanna Estep
EDITOR: Pacha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1174-1; paperback (June 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £7.99 UK

How Do We Relationship? is a “yuri” manga from creator Tamifull.  Yuri manga feature love stories in which the romantic lead characters are both female and are both lesbian.  Yuri manga, sometimes referred to as “Girls' love” manga, can also feature explicit depictions of lesbian sex.

How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 9) introduces Miwa Inuzuka, a shy young woman who is an incoming college freshman.  She accepts that she is a lesbian, but other than having had a “huge crush” on a girl in high school, she has never dated.  During “Matriculation Day,” Miwa bumps into Saeko Sawatari, an outgoing and brash young woman who immediately attaches herself to Miwa.

The two students eventually stumble into “going out” as a couple, but each has a different way of presenting themselves and different ideas about presenting each other in public.  Miwa wants to be secretive about their relationship, while Saeko always seems on the verge of blurting it out.  Will their clash of personalities be an impediment to true love?

[This volume includes bonus manga; an “Author Note” in manga form; and a “Commentary Track” comic.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The How Do We Relationship? manga is not my first experience with yuri manga.  I am currently reading A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow (also from VIZ Media) and a few months ago, I read Éclair Blanche: A Girls' Love Anthology that Resonates in Your Heart (Yen Press), a recent installment in the Éclair yuri anthology series.

How Do We Relationship? Graphic Novel Volume 1 reminds me of another yuri series, the music and nightlife-themed After Hours (also from VIZ Media) in that After Hours focused on the complications of what happens after the two young women become a couple.  In her author's note, creator Tamifull says that she is interested in reading about romance that depicts what happens after the romantic leads decide to become a couple.

In truth, shojo manga, especially those set in high school, often end when the high school girl and boy decide to officially become a couple after overcoming the obstacles that kept them from being a couple.  How Do We Relationship? deals with the compromise, misunderstandings, spats, and self-interested calculations that are part of real-world relationships.  Tamifull takes a deep dive into all that is fair in love and war, but it does not make How Do We Relationship? any less romantic.

The translation and English adaptation by Abby Lehrke captures the yearning and longing of Miwa and Saeko to love each other and to be loved.  Tamifull deftly depicts passion without depicting sex in Vol. 1, which is exemplified in the moment in which Saeko tells Miwa that she thinks Miwa is passionate.  Miwa is shocked because she equates passion with the act of sex.  However, Miwa's passion in the way she seeks things out and in which she explores new things, even as she struggles with how far she should go with Saeko... and how fast.

I am genuinely curious to see where Tamiful is taking this story.  This first volume of How Do We Relationship? ends with a kind of romantic cliffhanger, but I see more complications ahead.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of yuri manga will want to read How Do We Relationship?

7.5 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 reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Juniors September 2020 - Update #91

"Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates has written a tribute to the recently deceased "Black Panther" actor, Chadwick Boseman," and it appears in today's Marvel Comics titles.

CONVENTIONS - From TheBeat:   The LA Comic-Con is apparently happening as an in-person event, Dec. 11-13, 2020.  Tickets are currently on-sale.

COMICS - From TheBeat:  New comic book publisher, Bad Idea (launched by former Valiant Comics bosses), will launch in 2021 with five titles.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  In Japan, Akira, Vol. 1 is getting its 101st printing.  And it's cover price is still listed at what it was for the first printing - between 1400 and 1600 yen (about $13 to $15 U.S.).  It is the first collection by Japanese publisher, Kodansha, to be reprinted 100 times.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson's long-running, on-again/off-again comic book, "Astro City," may have a new publisher and a new format in the near future.

DARK HORSE - From CBR:   Dark Horse Comics will be publishing Mike Mignola's ("Hellboy") coronoavirus charity sketches in an oversized hardcover book in March 2021.

MARVEL - From CBR:  Marvel Comics reveals four of its 40 variant covers for its upcoming "Eternals #1."

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Image Comics is apparently telling retailers that Rick Remender's new comic book, "Scumbag," is the new "Deadpool."

DC CINEMA - From THR:   Actor Aldis Hodge is in final negotiations to appear as DC Comics' character, "Hawkman," in New Line Cinema's DC Comics movie, "Black Adam," in which Dwayne Johnson will play the title role.

MARVEL - From SlashGear:  Marvel Comics reveals its horror-themed variant covers for Halloween2020.

ARCHIE COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Archie Comics has announced that its comic books will be available as digital editions at comiXology the same day they will be available as print editions in comic book shops - starting immediately.  Archie is the first major American publisher to make this move.

DC TO TV - From Variety:  HBO Max has ordered a new TV series, "Peacemaker," which is a spinoff of director James Gunn's upcoming film, "The Suicide Squad."  John Cena will star.

COMICS TO TV - From Variety:  Amazon has order a spin-off of its hit series, "The Boys," which is based on the Garth Ennis-Darick Robertson comic book.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Gerry Conway has some really good ideas about fixing the American comic book industry.

MARVEL TV - From YouTube:  Here is a trailer for Hulu's "Helstrom" series, based on the Marvel Comics character.  The series debuts Oct. 16th on Hulu.

DC TV - From THR:  The upcoming sixth season of The CW's "Supergirl" will be its final season.  The final season is scheduled to debut in 2021.

MANGA - From FinanceRewind:   Shueisha will hold Jump Festa Event online on December 19-20

WATCHMEN - From Variety:  HBO's miniseries, "Watchmen," becomes the first comic book adaptation to win a top prize at the Primetime Emmy Awards, in this case, "Best Limited Series," one of 11 wins from its 2020 high of 26 nominations.

BATMAN - From DCComics:   Today is September 19, 2020 and it's also BATMAN DAY 2020!

DC ANIMATED - From THR:  HBO Max has renewed the "Harley Quinn" animated series for a third season.  The series had been originally streamed on "DC Universe."

DC COMICS - From THR:  The TV streaming service, "DC Universe," will become a comics-only platform, rebranded as "DC Universe Infinite, and launch in January 2021.

WATCHMEN - From Deadline:   At the Television Academy Honors: ‘Watchmen’ Creator Damon Lindelof Urges Hollywood To Spotlight “Hidden, Buried, Camouflaged” Stories

DC TV - From Deadline:  "Lucifer," based on the DC Comics titles, was cancelled by Fox two years ago, but has found a second life on Netflix where it recently topped Nielsen's streaming ratings for the week of Aug. 17th to 23rd.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media has announced the impending arrival of the manga, "Moriarty the Patriot," a spin-off and alternate take on the Sherlock Holmes canon.

BOOM STUDIOS - From FlickeringMyth:  Amazon Prime's TV series, "The Expanse," will be adapted into a comic book miniseries.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From ScreenRant:  Chloe Zhao, director of Marvel's "Eternals" film, says the movie will have manga influences.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics celebrates 50 years of legendary writer Chris Claremont in December with the "Chris Claremont Anniversary Special."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  The site offers a piece on the best Black Widow stories of all time.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Roy Thomas, the most important and greatest writer in the 50-year history of "Conan" comic books will contribute to Marvel Comics' anniversary book, "King-Size Conan #1."

DC COMICS - From YahooEntertainment:  DC Comics announced Thursday that Beyonce is one of 17 women who will be profiled in an upcoming graphic novel.  "Wonder Women of History" will document females working in politics and government, science and technology, business and sports.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  Actor Jason Momoa ("Aquaman") shows support for Ray Fisher in his dispute in a Warner Bros. investigation.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From ComicBook:  According to sources... actor Jonathan Majors has been cast as "Kang the Conqueror" in the next "Ant-Man" movie.

AWARDS - From TheBeat:  The winners of the "2020 Ignatz Awards" for small press comics have been announced.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  There may be "big writer changes" at DC Comics in 2021.

DC FANDOME:

From DCFanDome:  It's back, Sat. Sept. 12, 2020!

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics publisher Jim Lee again confirms that "5G" or "Generation Five" is not happening.

From IGN:  HBO Max has renewed the "Doom Patrol" live-action TV series for a third season.

From IGN:  Superman will have a new "super-suit" in the upcoming TV series, "Superman & Lois," from The CW.

From DCFanDome:  There is a panel slash game show for "The Suicide Squad" at DC FanDome.

From Deadline:  The DC Universe animated series, "Young Justice" will get a new title for its fourth season, "Young Justice: Phantoms."

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DIGITAL COMICS - From TheBeat:  Chuck Austen returns to comics with the "comiXology Original" miniseries, "Edgeworld."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  Everything you need to know about Kamala Kahn/Ms. Marvel.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "Wonder Woman 1984" has been moved to a Chirstmas Day 2020 release, vacating the recently planned Oct. 2nd release date.

COMICS - From MoneyControl:  Comics flourish on crowdfunding sites, drawing well-known creators.

MANGA - From ANN:  PC maker Mouse Computer began streaming a 3D anime promotional video for Inio Asano's Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction manga on Wednesday.

MANGA - From Crunchyroll:  Yen Press will publish the pro-wrestling manga, "New Japan Academy," as a digital release beginning in October.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  New DC Comics general manager, Daniel Cherry, aims to "leverage the cultural power" of company for "increasingly diverse global fan base."

COMICS TO TV - From EW:  "The Walking Dead" television series, based on the long-running Image Comics title, will end with Season 11.  A spin-off featuring the popular Daryl and Carol characters is being developed.

From TheDailyBeast:  What killed "The Walking Dead" TV series.  [It's an interesting article and I agree with some of it.]

From THR:  What to expect from the end of "The Walking Dead."
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DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "Wonder Woman 1984," currently slated to open Oct. 2nd, may have its release date moved again... to help "Tenet."

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  The Batman anthology comic book series, "Batman: Black and White" will return as a six-issue, prestige format miniseries.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  DC Comics "Generations" event will return in a one-shot, "Generations: Shattered #1."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Christian Cooper, who was caught up in an infamous incident in Central Park, is turning that is a free digital comic book for DC Comics.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Avatar Press sells out of its "Cinema Purgatorio" box set.

MARVEL - From Previews:  There is a trailer for Marvel Comics' new "Master of Kung Fu" comic book, "Shang-Chi #1."

COMICS SALES - From ICv2:  The top 20 comics for August 2020 in terms of comic shops "point of sale" data.  "Batman: Three Jokers #1" is #1.

EC COMICS - From ICv2:  Taschen will publish the 592-page "The History of EC Comics" in October.  The first printing will be a numbered first edition of 5000 copies, and the book will way over 13 pounds.

BATMAN DAY - From DCComics:  The publisher has a hub for all things "Batman Day 2020."

KICKSTARTER - From BleedingCool:   There is a crowdfunding campaign to fund a comic book adaptation of what is alleged to be a version of the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast," that was written by notorious fantasy-horror author, H.P. Lovecraft.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Black people are at the top of two of the top five North American comic book publishers:  Daniel Cherry at DC Comics and Nachie Marsham at IDW Publishing.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  The feud between "Justice League" actor Ray Fisher and Warner Bros. Pictures continues.

MANGA - From ComicBook:   VIZ Media to bring "Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun" to readers next year.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press Announces "ID: Invaded #Brake-Broken Manga."

IDW - From GamesRadar:  IDW Publishing will continue to give comic book shops COVID-19 help through 2020.

COMICS - From Polygon:  6 big superhero comic book shakeups coming this Fall.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  The filming of director Matt Reeves' "The Batman" has been halted due to star Robert Pattinson's positive test for COVID-19.

COMICS - From TheBeat:  Nachie Marsham is the new publisher at IDW, and Veronica Brooks is vp of creative affairs.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From Bust:  The site looks at Trina Robbin's new book, "The Flapper Queens: Women Cartoonists of the Jazz Age."

DC COMICS - From THR:  DC Comics hires former Activision eSport executive, Daniel Cherry, as "General Manager."

MARVEL - From LATimes:  "Marvel Voices: Indigenous Voices #1" is a new Marvel Comics titles that hopes to improve Native American representation.

MANGA - From GeekTyrant:  A look at all the manga coming out from VIZ Media in November and December 2020.

HARVEY AWARDS - From CrunchyrollNews:  A look at the manga nominated at the 2020 Harvey Awards' "best manga" category.

COMICS - From BlackEngineer:  The site goes inside Lion Forge Comics

BLACK HISTORY - From 9to5Google:  The September 1st, 2020 "Google Doodle" honors Jackie Ormes who drew the first nationally-published newspaper comic strip drawn by a Black woman.

COMICS TO FILM - From Collider:  Warner Bros. is fast-tracking its film adaptation of Mark Millar and Steve McNiven's 2010 comic book miniseries, "Nemesis" (Marvel/Icon).

FANTAGRAPHICS - From PW:  Katie Skelly talks about her upcoming true-crime graphic novel, "Maids" (Fantagraphics).

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IN MEMORIAM - From Variety:  The actor Chadwick Boseman has died at the age of 43, Friday, August 27, 2020, after a four-year battle with cancel.  Boseman was best known for playing T'Challa/Black Panther in Marvel Studios' 2018, Oscar-winning, recording-setting film, "Black Panther."  Boseman also appeared in a number of biopics:  Jackie Robinson in "42" (2013); James Brown in "Get on Up" (2014), and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall" (2017).

From TheStar:  "We lost our own superhero." How Chadwick Boseman — as a Black superhero on the big screen — made families feel seen.

From CJME:  Comic book fans reflect on the death of "Black Panther" star, Chadwick Boseman.

From KITVHonolulu:  Chadwick Boseman had a unique ability to breathe life into legendary characters.

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SEPTEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2020

OCTOBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From 1stComicsNews:  AfterShock Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for October 2020

NOVEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Abaze for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press/Lion Forge for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for November 2020

DECEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for December 2020 

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Chapterhouse for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for December 2020

From 2000AD:   Rebellion Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for December 2020

From BleedingCool: VIZ Media for December 2020

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#IReadsYou Review: FARMHAND #15

 

FARMHAND #15
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rob Guillory
ART: Rob Guillory
COLORS: Rico Renzi
LETTERS: Kody Chamberlain
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Burt Durand
COVER: Rob Guillory
32pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(April 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Farmhand created by Rob Guillory

Chapter 15: “The Knowledge of Good and Evil”

Farmhand is a dark fantasy comic book series from comic book creator, Rob Guillory.  Guillory is also known for his award-winning tenure on the long-running comic book, Chew (Image Comics), with writer John Layman.  Farmhand is written and illustrated by Guillory; lettered by Kody Chamberlain (who also designed the Farmhand logo); and currently colored by Rico Renzi.

Farmhand's central character is Ezekiel “Zeke” Jenkins, a husband, father, and graphic designer and illustrator.  He returns to his hometown of Freetown, Louisiana with his wife, Mae, and their children, Abigail and Riley.  Zeke's father, Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins, and sister, Andrea (“Andy”), own and operate “Jenkins Family Farmaceutical Institute.”  The “farm” grows plant-based replacement human organs and tissue, and once upon a time, people, especially transplant recipients, saw this as a miracle.  But, since he returned, Zeke has discovered that the great miracle hides a great evil.

Early in Farmhand #14, Zeke gets a call from Randall Lafayette, summoning Zeke to “Uncle Randy's” house for some information exchange.  While there, Zeke has some kind of seizure and collapses to the floor unconscious.

Farmhand #15 (“The Knowledge of Good and Evil”) opens to find Zeke in some kind of dream state or some place between life and death.  And he sees it all – everything that happened that fateful day between his father, Jed; his late mother, Anna; and his father's partner, Monica Thorne.

When he regains consciousness, Zeke joins Randy, and the two head to the church of longtime family friends, Pastor John “Tree” Moore and his wife, Nancy.  Also, gathered at the church are Jed and eventually, Mae and Andrea... and of course, Monica.  Ms. Thorne wants to show herself – all her power and her army.  And nothing will be the same again.

THE LOWDOWN:  Farmhand #15 concludes Farmhand's third story arc, “Roots of All Evil” (a.k.a. Season Three), which began with issue #11.  Like plant life, Farmhand is ever-growing and evolving with a cycle of life and death that brings about change.  [Season One is Farmhand #1-5, “Reap What Was Sown” and Season Two is Farmhand #6-10, “Thorne in the Flesh.”]

“Roots of All Evil” is about revelation, however, more than it is about change.  Yes, there are new characters, but some of the most crucial moments of Farmhand's back story explode out of the ground, the way those amazing mutant crawfish explode out of the pond in Farmhand #12.  Farmhand's origin story seems to be about its own take on the Biblical bite of the apple, but there is more to the knowledge in “the knowledge of good and evil” than any one chapter can tell.  So I would not be surprised to see a future issue of Farmhand return to the events of the flashback depicted in issue #15

I have thought of Rob Guillory's storytelling as brilliant since the day I first got a preview of Farmhand #1, but it turns out that I had no idea of what was really coming.  It is hard to believe, but I must believe it since I have read it with my own eyes.  Every issue of Farmhand is fresh from the garden of Guillory's imagination, and each one offers something new or some new things.  While I await the next bumper crop, dear readers, you must go back to the beginning and discover Farmhand.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of dark fantasy fiction will want to be a Farmhand.

[This comic book also includes the one-page comic, “Freetown Funnies,” by Burt Durand.]

10 out of 10

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


https://robguillory.com/
https://twitter.com/Rob_guillory
https://www.instagram.com/rob_guillory/


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

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#IReadsYou Review: JOHN CONSTANTINE Hellblazer #1

JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER #1
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Simon “Si” Spurrier
ART: Aaron Campbell
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Aditya Bidikar
EDITOR: Chris Conroy
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: John Paul Leon
VARIANT COVER: Charlie Adlard
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2020)

“Ages 17+”

John Constantine created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben and Jamie Delano & John Ridgway

“A Green and Pleasant Land, Part One”

John Constantine is a DC Comics character, an anti-hero, magus, con man, troubleshooter, and occult detective.  He was originally created by writer Alan Moore and artists Steve Bissette and John Totleben as a supporting character in the horror comic book series, The Saga of the Swamp Thing (1982), first appearing in issue #37 (cover dated: June 1985).  John Constantine starred in his own comic book series, Hellblazer, which ran for a quarter-century, beginning with Hellblazer #1 (cover date: January 1988) and ending with Hellblazer #300 (cover date: April 2013).  In Hellblazer (the first of  four series), the character was further defined and refined by writer Jamie Delano and artist John Ridgway.

John Constantine: Hellblazer is the fifth and newest John Constantine comic book series.  It is written by Simon Spurrier; drawn by Aaron Campbell; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Aditya Bidikar.  John Constantine: Hellblazer and its one-shot prologue (of sorts), The Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer, brings John Constantine back to the mature-readers, supernatural setting in which the character existed for the first three decades.

John Constantine: Hellblazer #1 (“A Green and Pleasant Land, Part One”) finds John Constantine back in London, after being abroad for quite some time.  Constantine is a bit perturbed to discover that London has changed enough that his jokes offend everyone.  The young people speak a language and a slang that the now-old-man Constantine does not.  And the young women don't drop their panties as soon as John starts working his charm.

However, there is someone who really wants Constantine.  K-Mag, also known as “the Haruspex,” is the kingpin of a local drug gang, “the Ri-Boys.”  K-Mag dabbles in magic, but he is apparently not strong enough to stop a supernatural force that tears apart any Ri-Boys trying to sell drugs in a local public park.  That's where John is supposed to help...

I thought that The Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer was, except in a few places, a disappointing and mediocre comic book.  Thus, I only bought John Constantine: Hellblazer #1 because I usually buy the first issue of a Constantine comic book, but I did not expect much from it.  Surprise, surprise:  I am glad that I tried this new first issue.

In John Constantine: Hellblazer #1, Simon Spurrier's story recalls the classic, gritty, noir-ish, dark fantasy vibe of the original Hellblazer comic book.  It is as if Spurrier is doing his best Jamie Delano  impersonation.  This first issue is by no means perfect.  I am a little perplexed about the characters and the plot of “A Green and Pleasant Land,  Part One,” but I still am intrigued.

Artist Aaron Campbell is also doing his best John Ridgway impersonation in recalling the alluring, occult vibe of Ridgway's early art on the original Hellblazer.  Campbell's storytelling is gritty, scratchy, and looks like cinematography in post-World War II, American urban crime films.  Jordie Bellaire's coloring brings out the danger and the dangerous atmosphere in this story.  Letterer Aditya Bidikar changes the fonts in ways that convey the dark mode and darker moods of this tale.

So I intend to read more John Constantine: Hellblazer.  I have hopes – hopes that this new series can pick up where the original Hellblazer left off in 2013.

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.

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