Friday, April 8, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #15

KILLADELPHIA #15
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander with Well-Bee (pp 9-10)
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Paul Pope
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(July 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Killadelphia and Elysium Gardens created by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander

“Home is Where the Hatred Is” Part III: “Manifest Destiny”


Killadelphia is an apocalyptic vampire and dark fantasy comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander and is published by Image Comics.  At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.”  Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.

Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. and his father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr., thought to be dead.  He is actually a vampire.  Now father and son lead a ragtag team comprised of a medical examiner, a dead president, and a rebellious, but special young vampire (Tevin Thompkins a.k.a. “See Saw”) in a bid to save Philly from an ambitious and murderous former First Lady.

As Killadelphia #15 (“Manifest Destiny”) opens, there is a new vampire player in town, and it's another “Founding Father” and former president.  Meet Tom Jefferson.  He has a tale to tell, philosophically, of course, and he is making a claim on the throne.

Elsewhere, Toppy and the rest of Abigail Adams' inner circle invade the Sangsters' sanctum.  Oh, they also want to know where See Saw has gone, but isn't that his body, all curled up on the floor?  Meanwhile, See Saw is meeting important religious figures like Jesus (who is Black), but he may have to go back to an original god to get the help and the answers he seeks.

THE LOWDOWN:  Killadelphia hits the midway point of its third story arc, “Home is Where the Hatred Is.”  After the pyrotechnics of the previous story arc, “Burn Baby Burn,” this new story line started with a focus on family – damned and otherwise, but now, its pyrotechnics begin.

I find myself endlessly fascinated by writer Rodney Barnes' plots, but sometimes, I really get a chance to admire how he drops history, religion, culture, politics, and philosophy, scattered like drops of enlightening blood throughout his scripts.  That he has brought Thomas Jefferson into play shows that Killadelphia is not growing cold, but will keep surprising and scaring us.

Artist Jason Shawn Alexander and colorist Luis Nct dance through Barnes' script bringing each scene or sequence into life with its own unique look.  From lurid to luminescent, Killadelphia is a comic book of different worlds and different textures and moods and not a place where things are from a melting pot...

Killadelphia #15 is a another great chapter, and you should be reading it, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.

[Killadelphia #15 has a backup feature: “Elysium Gardens” Part 8 “The Power of One” by Rodney Barnes, Chris Mitten, Sherard Jackson, and Marshall Dillon]

A+
10 out of 10

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


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http://rodneybarnes.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Thursday, April 7, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: ROBIN #1

ROBIN #1 (2021)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Joshua Williamson
ART: Gleb Melnikov
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Paul Kaminski
COVER: Gleb Malnikov
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Gleb Melnikov; Riccardo Federici; Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; Jeehyung Lee
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2021)

Rating: Age 13+

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson

“Versus the World!”


One of the most famous sidekicks in pop culture, Robin is a DC Comics superhero character.  The original Robin's civilian identity was Dick Grayson, the ward of millionaire Bruce Wayne and therefore the sidekick of Wayne's superhero alter ego, Batman.  Robin/Dick Grayson was originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson and first appeared in Detective Comics #38 (cover date:  April 1940).  Eventually, Dick Grayson became a new superhero, Nightwing, and over the last 30 years, there have been other Robins.

Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, and thus, is also the grandson of Batman villain, Ra's al Ghul, Talia's father.  An unnamed male infant credited as Batman and Talia's child first appeared in the original graphic novel, Batman: Son of the Demon (1987).  Other writers would later compose speculative stories about the child's life.  In Batman #655 (cover dated: September 2006), writer Grant Morrison reinterpreted that child as Damian Wayne, the centerpiece of the story arc, “Batman and Son,” in which he became the fifth character to assume the role of Robin.

As part of DC Comics' “Infinite Frontier” initiative, Damian Wayne is the star of a new ongoing comic book series, simply entitled Robin.  It is written by Joshua Williamson, drawn and colored by Gleb Melnikov; and lettered by Troy Peteri.  In this new series, Damian wants to prove that he is the greatest fighter in the world (DC Universe).

Robin #1 opens with the search for Damian Wayne.  Batman, Nightwing, Tim Drake/Robin, Orphan, Stephanie Brown, and Oracle can't find him.  It seems Damian is as “off the grid” as a person can be.  Elsewhere, Damian is taking on Sir Edmund Dorrance a.k.a. “The King Snake,” who, like Damian, is searching for the “League of Lazarus.”  It is this league that holds the “League of Lazarus Tournament.”  Held every 100 years, this secretive tournament gathers the best fighters in the world.

That is where Damian thinks he can prove that he is the best fighter in the world, but first, he will have to find the secret island where it is held.  That means he will need to win a special marker, and The King Snake wants that marker, too.

THE LOWDOWN:  It seems that if Damian Wayne a.k.a. “Robin” is going to have an ongoing comic book series, it should not simply be another entry in the “Batman family” of titles.  Damian needs a goal or a mission.  His quest to be the best by taking on the world's most deadly combatants sounds like a good idea.  What is even better is that Damian's hubris and his lack of knowledge of those that he will face present obstacles and conflicts that are comic book narrative gold.  So, in this first issue, writer Joshua Williamson offers a good set-up slash introductory chapter that will keep readers interested – at least for a few issues.

The art by Gleb Melnikov is stylistically appropriate for this series, but Melnikov's compositions are wild, untamed, and untrained.  He isn't anywhere near being called a draftsman, and his illustrative techniques … well, he is weak on the techniques of graphical storytelling.  I don't mean to say that he cannot tell a story using the medium of the comic book; the storytelling is clear, while the drawing is a bit chaotic.  On the other hand, his Robin #1 cover art is beautiful, and I have seen some of Melnikov's cover art and single-page illustrations, and they are also visually and/or graphically striking.

Melnikov's influences show, and to be honest, every page and some times every panel shows a new influence.  I see Art Adams and early Joe Madureira.  There is some early Tony S. Daniel – think the Tony Daniels of The Tenth (Image Comics).  There is some Jim Lee and a little Rob Liefeld.  I think Gleb Melnikov has the potential to become a superstar artist, and the process of doing a monthly comic book title may bring that out.  Right now, as I've already stated, his drawing is raw, but, at the same time, I must admit that he is already a sharp colorist.

Troy Peteri's lettering also provides a nice balance to the tone of the story.  He creates a steady rhythm that heightens the intensity of the violent, Mortal Kombat-like battles.  So, this new Robin comic book is definitely worth another look or two.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Damian Wayne will want to read Robin.

A

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


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, April 4, 2022

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for April 6, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

FEB220692 ALICE EVER AFTER #1 (OF 5) CVR A PANOSIAN $3.99
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FEB220773 JIM HENSONS STORYTELLER SHAPESHIFTERS #2 CVR A KHALIDAH $4.99
FEB220774 JIM HENSONS STORYTELLER SHAPESHIFTERS #2 CVR B MANHANINI $4.99
FEB220733 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #13 CVR A MERCADO $4.99
FEB220734 MAGIC THE GATHERING (MTG) #13 CVR B HIDDEN SPARK INTERMIX $4.99

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 6, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB220312 APACHE DELIVERY SERVICE #4 (OF 4) CVR A JENKINS $3.99
FEB220313 APACHE DELIVERY SERVICE #4 (OF 4) CVR B THOMPSON $3.99
DEC210421 EC ARCHIVES GUNFIGHTER HC VOL 01 $49.99

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for April 6, 2022

DYNAMITE

JAN220613 BARBARELLA #8 CVR J CHEW LTD VIRGIN $50.00
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JAN220662 RED SONJA (2021) #7 CVR I ANDOLFO LTD VIRGIN $50.00
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NOV210542 RED SONJA PRICE OF BLOOD #1 FINCH COLOR CROWDFUNDER CVR $50.00
NOV210543 RED SONJA PRICE OF BLOOD #1 FINCH LINE ART CROWDFUNDER CVR ( $50.00

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for April 6, 2022

IDW PUBLISHING

JAN220024 FCBD 2022 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG $PI
DEC210512 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #291 CVR A WILLIAMS II $3.99
DEC210513 GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #291 CVR B GALLANT $3.99
FEB220404 ROCKETEER THE GREAT RACE #1 (OF 4) CVR A GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ $4.99
FEB220405 ROCKETEER THE GREAT RACE #1 (OF 4) CVR B STEPHEN MOONEY $4.99
FEB220406 ROCKETEER THE GREAT RACE #1 (OF 4) CVR C SKETCH CVR $4.99
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OCT210421 TRANSFORMERS IDW COLLECTION PHASE 3 HC VOL 02 $59.99

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 6, 2022

IMAGE COMICS

FEB220203 FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #19 CVR A SAMNEE & WILSON $3.99
FEB220204 FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #19 CVR B FINCH & MCCAIG $3.99
FEB220205 FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #19 CVR C SMITH $3.99
FEB220206 FIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #19 CVR D JUNG GI $3.99
FEB220040 LEGO NINJAGO GARMADON #1 (OF 5) CVR A VUONG $3.99
FEB220041 LEGO NINJAGO GARMADON #1 (OF 5) CVR B VUONG $3.99
JAN228795 LEGO NINJAGO GARMADON #1 (OF 5) CVR C BA $3.99
FEB220224 LITTLE MONSTERS #2 CVR A NGUYEN (MR) $3.99
FEB220225 LITTLE MONSTERS #2 CVR B ZONJIC (MR) $3.99
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