Monday, July 4, 2022

DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for July 5, 2022

DC COMICS:

Action Comics #1044 (Cover C Derek Charm Pride Month Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman #125 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez), $5.99
Batman #125 (Cover B Jim Lee & Scott Williams Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Batman #125 (Cover C Gabriele Dell’Otto Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Batman #125 (Cover D InHyuk Lee Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Batman #125 (Cover E Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Batman #125 (Cover G Jorge Jimenez Wraparound Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover H Jock Foil Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover I Alex Garner Foil Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover J Chip Zdarsky Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover K Jim Lee & Scott Williams Black & White Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover L Blank Variant), AR
Batman #125 (Cover M Jorge Jimenez Failsafe Protocol Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman ’89 #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Joe Quinones), $3.99
Batman ’89 #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Julian Totino Tedesco Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman Beyond Neo-Year #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Max Dunbar), $3.99
Batman Beyond Neo-Year #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batman Detective Comics Volume 2 Fear State HC, $29.99
Batman Killing Time #5 (Of 6)(Cover A David Marquez), $4.99
Batman Killing Time #5 (Of 6)(Cover B Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Batman Killing Time #5 (Of 6)(Cover C Ben Oliver Card Stock Variant), AR
Batman Urban Legends Volume 2 TP, $24.99
Birds Of Prey Whitewater TP, $19.99
Black Adam The Justice Society Files Hawkman #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Kaare Andrews), $5.99
Black Adam The Justice Society Files Hawkman #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Photo Card Stock Variant), $6.99
Catwoman Volume 6 Fear State TP, $16.99
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover A Daniel Sampere), $4.99
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover B Juliet Nneka Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover C Rafa Sarmento Homage Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover D Mario Foccillo Card Stock Variant), AR
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover E Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), AR
Dark Crisis #2 (Of 7)(Cover F TBD Foil Variant), AR
DC Poster Portfolio Jenny Frison TP, $24.99
DC Vs. Vampires #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Guillem March), $3.99
DC Vs. Vampires #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $4.99
DC Vs. Vampires #7 (Of 12)(Cover C Lesley Leirix Li Card Stock Variant), AR
Flashpoint Beyond #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Mitch Gerads), $3.99
Flashpoint Beyond #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Xermanico Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Flashpoint Beyond #3 (Of 6)(Cover C David Marquez Card Stock Variant), AR
Flashpoint Beyond #3 (Of 6)(Cover D Doug Mahnke Card Stock Variant), AR
Green Lantern Volume 2 Horatius TP, $29.99
Joker #15 (Of 15)(Cover A Giuseppe Camuncoli), $5.99
Joker #15 (Of 15)(Cover B Dike Ruan), $5.99
Joker #15 (Of 15)(Cover C Brian Bolland), $5.99
Joker #15 (Of 15)(Cover D Guillem March), AR
Justice League Infinity TP, $16.99
Monkey Prince #6 (Of 12)(Cover A Bernard Chang), $3.99
Monkey Prince #6 (Of 12)(Cover B Marcus To Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Monkey Prince #6 (Of 12)(Cover C Kim Jacinto Card Stock Variant), AR
Multiversity Teen Justice #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Robbi Rodriguez), $3.99
Multiversity Teen Justice #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Stephanie Hans Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Nubia Queen Of The Amazons #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Khary Randolph), $3.99
Nubia Queen Of The Amazons #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Taurin Clarke Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Jessica Fong), $3.99
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Jenny Frison Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover C Claire Roe Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover D Alvaro Martinez Bueno Card Stock Variant), AR
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover E Sweeney Boo Card Stock Variant), AR
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover F Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), AR
Poison Ivy #2 (Of 6)(Cover G Jenny Frison Foil Card Stock Variant), AR
RWBY Justice League TP, $16.99
Suicide Squad Blaze #3 (Of 3)(Cover A Aaron Campbell), $6.99
Suicide Squad Blaze #3 (Of 3)(Cover B Valentine De Landro), $6.99
Suicide Squad Get Joker HC, $24.99

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Thursday, June 30, 2022

I Reads You Juniors: June 2022 - Update #70

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

BLACK COMICS - From TheCharlottePost:  Black creative talent is carving a place for itself in the American comic book industry.

DYNAMITE - From BleedingCoolDynamite Entertainment is fast selling out of its trade and hardcover collections of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's "The Boys."  The comic book series is currently a popular Amazon streaming television series.

SONY MARVEL U - From DeadlineEmma Roberts is joining Sony's Marvel Comics film, "Madame Web," which stars Dakota Johnson in the lead role.

DC/MILESTONE - From DCBlog:    Milestone Media's Reginald Hudlin describes the making of "Milestones in History", a giant-sized new comic book featuring the heroes of Milestone narrating the real-life stories of historical Black trailblazers.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics will republish and finish Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham's "Miracleman: The Silver Age," beginning Oct. 2022, with new material debuting Dec. 2022.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer, Warren Ellis, sidelined for two years by accusations of inappropirate behavior, will apparently return to comic books in 2023.

COMICS TO TV - From EWHulu has cancelled the Lamorne Morris' comedy, "Woke."  It is based on the life and work of cartoonist Keith Knight, who co-created the TV series.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From VarietyMarvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that the studio is returning to San Diego Comic-Con, although neither he not Disney clarified plans for the show.

ARCHIE COMICS TO TV - From Deadline:  In the wake of the 2023 end of The CW's "Riverdale" series, the network is looking at another Archie Comics series.  Actor Daniel Dae Kim's 3AD banner, Archie Studios, and Warner Bros. Television is developing "Jake Chang" based on a new Archie Comics character that will make his comic book debut in July.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   This October (2022), Marvel Comics will begin celebrating the 40th anniversary of Miracleman, the 1982 post-modern reboot of the British superhero, Marvelman, by Alan Moore and the late artist, Garry Leach.  This will launch "Miracleman #0," a giant-sized one-shot anthology that will include new work by the Miracleman team of Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham.

SONY MARVEL U - From Variety:  While promoting "Bullet Train," actor-producer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson talked about the experience of shooting Sony Picture's upcoming Marvel Comics film, "Kraven the Hunter."  Taylor-Johnson describes the character as an "anti-hero."

MARVEL STUDIOS - From WeGotThisCovered:   Fans muse about the success that Marvel Studios has had that other shared universes cannot match.

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolMarvel Studios President Kevin Feige will write the forward to "Avengers Assemble XXL," which collects the first twenty issues of Avengers in a high-falutin' edition.  It is the latest in Taschen's "Marvel Comics Library,"and is due in August 2022 in two editions.

BREAKING NEWS - From Deadline:  Two actors have died in an automobile accident involving the cast and crew of Netflix's "The Chosen One," which is based on the comic book by Mark Millar.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  This cover of DC Comics" "The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1" (of 3) is disappearing because it features a likeness of controversial actor, Ezra Miller, from "The Flash."  It also has a look at Ben Affleck's Batman.

IMAGE - From BaltimoreTimes:  Acclaimed television writer-producer and comic book writer, Rodney Barnes ("Killadelphia," "Nita Hawes' Nightmare Blog," "Star Wars: Lando"), is to receive the key to the City of Annapolis, Friday, June 24th.

MARVEL - From Marvel:  Marvel Comics is bringing back "Midnight Suns."  A new "Midnight Suns #1" arrives Sept. 9th from writer Ethan Sacks and artist Luigi Zagaria.  Blade and Wolverine are among the members.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book artist, Tim Sale, has died at the age of 66, Wednesday, June 15, 2022.  Sale was best known for his collaborations with writer, Jeph Loeb, especially the beloved 13-issue miniseries, "Batman: The Long Halloween" (1996-97).

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From IGN:  Via a social media post, actor Tom Hardy seems to confirm that the script for "Venom 3" is completed.  The writer is Kelly Marcel, who wrote "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," from a story by Hardy and Marcel.

IDW - From GamesRadar:  The latest title in IDW's original content initiative is "Crashed," a five-issue miniseries about a doctor who treats superheroes.  It is written by Matthew Klein and drawn by Morgan Beem, and the first issue arrives in September.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Arriving Sept. 13th, "Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary Special," a 96-page one-shot anthology will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of the TV character turned comic book and pop culture icon, "Harley Quinn."  Harley debuted in 1992 the "Fox Kids" animated series, "Batman: The Animated Series."

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Actress-singer Lady Gaga is in early negotiations to star in the sequel to "Joker," which reportedly may be a musical.

BOOK NEWS - From BleedingCool:  Starting on the April 1, 2023, Penguin Random House Publisher Services will take over the sales and distribution of all of Disney Publishing Worldwide books to bookstores, libraries, book clubs and online stores such as Amazon.  PRHPS will handle also distribution to all mass, trade and independent bookselling channels.  This covers titles from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, Fox, 20th Century Studios, National Geographic, and more

DC CINEMA - From DCComics:  Here is the first trailer for DC Film's "Black Adam" movie, which is due Oct. 31, 2022.

RUMOR/MARVEL STUDIOS - From VICE:  Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, who is rumored to be playing "Namor" in Marvel's upcoming, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," is interviewed by "Vice."  Huerta supposedly learned a Mayan language for the role.

THE SANDMAN - From DCComics:  Here is the first teaser trailer for Netflix's "The Sandman," based on the Neil Gaiman/DC Comics title.  It is due Aug. 5th, 2022.

From DCBlog:  "DC Blog" breaks down Netflix's "The Sandman" teaser trailer.

From BleedingCool:  Neil Gaiman answers questions of the Netflix series, "The Sandman."

comiXology - From TheBeatcomiXology's original series, "The Black Ghost," from writers Alex Segura and Monica Gallagher and artist George Kambadais, returns this summer with a new five-issue miniseries.

DC CINEMA - From TMZEzra Miller, star of Warner/DC Film's upcoming, "The Flash," is in trouble again. This time he is accused of controlling and grooming a minor female and providing her with drugs and alcohol.

IDW - From GamesRadar:  The site looks at IDW's new "Dungeons & Dragons" comic book, "Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft - Orphan of Agony Isle," which begins this month.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  Director Todd Phillips has announced a sequel to his Oscar-winning film, "Joker."

From Variety:  Despite changes in leadership at Warner Bros., there are still questions about DC Films.

RUMOR - From TheDirect:  Marvel Studios' reboot of the "Blade" film franchise may begin filming sometime in early July 2022.

THE SANDMAN - From WeGotThisCovered:  Actress Jenna Coleman will play a brand new version of John Constantine in Netflix's "The Sandman."  "She's a bit posh" says showrunner Alan Heinberg.

EN MEMORIAM - From Blabbermouth:  American fantasy artist, Ken Kelly, has died at the age of 76, Friday, June 3, 2022.  His paintings focused on sword and sorcery and other heroic fantasy subgenres. His early work included producing painted covers for comic book magazines from Warren Publishing and Skywalk Publications.  He also painted book covers, but Kelly may be best known for producing album cover art for a number or recording artists, most notably "Kiss" and "Manowar."

MARVEL STUDIOS - From YahooEntertainment:  Lady Gaga. Tom Cruise.  Behind the scenes of "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" with writer Michael Waldron.

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:  A brief history of Marvel Comics' editors-in-chief.

IMAGE - From BleedingCool:  Image Comics' imprint, Skybound will produce a five-issue comic book series based on the Shudder TV series, "Creepshow."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Who is in the new Justice League?... Mary Marvel? Supergirl?

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Manga publisher, Seven Seas Entertainment, has hired lawyers in order to deal with the recent union of its employees.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief and current Marvel executive vice-president and creative director, Joe Quesada, is leaving Marvel.

DC/MILESTONE - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics has announced a YA "Static" graphic novel, "Static Up All Night" by Lamar Giles and Paris Alleyne with N. Steven Harris.

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MAY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Action Lab Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  AWA Upshot for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Hulk Vs Thor: Banner of War" for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" solicitations for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May2022
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for May 2022
From BleedingCool:  Z2 Comics for May 2022

JUNE 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector DC Comics Graphic Novels for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Lev Gleason for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Banner of War" for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "X-Men" for June 2022 
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for June 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for June 2022

JULY 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Artists Elite Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2022
From GamesRadar:  DC Comics covers and solicitations for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Fairsquare Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal Magazine for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Star Wars" comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Merc Publishing for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Silver Sprocket for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vertical Comics for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for July 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for July 2022

AUGUST 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Asylum Press for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Comic House for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "A.X.E.: Judgement Day solicitations for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for August 2022
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for August 2022

SEPTEMBER 2022 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for September 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics solicitations for September 2022
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2022
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2022
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2022
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2022
 
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#IReadsYou Review: THE SILVER COIN #5

THE SILVER COIN #5 (OF 5)
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Michael Walsh
ART: Michael Walsh with Gavin Fullerton
COLORS: Michael Walsh and Toni Marie Griffin
LETTERS: Michael Walsh
EDITOR: Chris Hampton
COVER: Michael Walsh
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Maya McKibbin
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

The Silver Coin is created by Michael Walsh, Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky

“Covenant”

The Silver Coin is a horror comic book anthology published by Image Comics.  It is the creation of artist Michael Walsh and writers Ed Brisson, Jeff Lemire, Kelly Thompson, and Chip Zdarsky.  Each issue of this five-issue miniseries tells a tale of terror that is set in a supernatural world in which the mysterious “Silver Coin” changes the lives of those who take possession of it.  The fifth issue is written by Michael Walsh; drawn by Walsh with Gavin Fullerton; colored by Walsh and Toni Marie Griffin; and lettered by Walsh.

The Silver Coin #5 (entitled “Covenant”) goes back to the origin of the coin and its cruel curse.  In a small New England village, Rebekah Goode helps her neighbors with her special powers.  When a roving, witch-hunting minister, Cotton Dudley, comes to town, he manages to get Rebekah's friend, a simple girl named Martha, to speak ill of her friend – for the price of a silver coin.  Now, Dudley and Martha will see the true extent of Rebekah's power.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my reviews of the first four issues of The Silver Coin, I am a big fan of horror comic book anthologies.  That includes everything from the classic EC Comics titles to later titles like DC Comics' Ghosts and House of Mystery, Kitchen Sink Press's Death Rattle, and Approbation Comics' Amour, to name a few.

Now, dear readers, I will have the opportunity to keep telling you about The Silver Coin.  Series co-creator, Michael Walsh, announces at the end of The Silver Coin #5 that the miniseries will become an ongoing series with the release of the sixth issue.  Walsh closes out the miniseries arc of The Silver Coin with a powerful old-fashioned tale of weird fiction that is filled with betrayal and the dark craft of magic that can be both good and cruel.

I enjoy these one-off, standalone tales, but I wouldn't mind some more narrative meat on the bones of the stories of the Silver Coin.  This miniseries finale, “Covenant,” is a bit of fun, but the truth is that this 24-page tale does what classic horror comics short stories did in six to eight pages.  Still, let's see where the coin shows up next.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic horror comic book anthologies will want to spend The Silver Coin.

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/Mister_Walsh
https://michaelwalshcomics.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.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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Tuesday, June 28, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: RED ROOM: The Anti-Social Network #4

RED ROOM: THE ANTISOCIAL NETWORK #4
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

CARTOONIST: Ed Piskor
EDITOR: Eric Reynolds
COVER: Ed Piskor
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kayfabe; Jim Rugg; John Gallagher; Geof Darrow
MISC. ART: Preston Asevedo; Small Man Big Mouth; Andrew Gutierrez; Mike Manzi; David Lawless; Adam Lemnah; Anthony Negron; Charlie Franz; Ralph Bednarski; Vinny Olmstead; Tony Fero; Jay Daken; @Gigacrab; Jeff Brown; Slowhed; Dr. Ben Anthony; Yaakov Agrat; George Vega; Steve Meesey; Michael Murphy
32pp, B&W with some color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Red Room: The Antisocial Network is a four-issue comic book miniseries from cartoonist Ed Piskor.  It is part of an overall series, entitled Red Room, that will be published by Fantagraphics Books as three miniseries for a total of twelve issues.  Piskor is best known for Hip Hop Family Tree, a comic book that chronicles the early history of Hip-Hop culture.  It has been published in webcomic, graphic novel, and serial comic book form.

Red Room focuses on a murderous, dark web subculture in which a secretive audience pays with cryptocurrency so that it can view “murder for entertainment” in real time via webcam.  A “Red Room” is a place on the Internet with an encrypted I.P. address.  Each Red Room is a webcam stream where viewers can watch a “torture star” murder another human being in the most brutal, savage, vile, and stomach-turning ways.

Red Room: The Antisocial Network #4 opens with the notorious host of this comic book, “the Crypto-Currency Keeper.”  He informs his viewers that Red Rooms existed before the World Wide Web did and takes them back to the days of VHS and Betamax with a story entitled “Cyclical Terror!

This is the story of Raina Dukes.  Her father, Edward, was the victim of Red Room star, Donna Butcher.  The torture and murder of Edward was titled “Donna Butcher Gets Her Man!,” and was one of the most notorious snuff videos of the 1980s.  However, the tape was digitized for the Internet, gaining it an ever growing audience.  The death of her husband dragged on Raina's mother until the day she died.  Raina has been plotting her revenge for decades...

Pure Evil!” is the story of Evie.  Once she was Donna Butcher, and her Red Room exploits made her famous.  However, hubris and tax evasion led her to federal prison.  “Snuff Said!” is the story of the eventual meeting of a torture celebrity (Donna Butcher) and revenge seeking victim (Raina), so how will it all work out in the end, for both Evie/Donna and Raina?

THE LOWDOWN:  In “Morgue Files,” Ed Piskor's afterword for each issue of Red Room, he discusses how the spirit of EC Comics' publications shaped Red Room #4.  EC Comics was probably the first great comic book publisher that actually produced excellent comic books crafted by the best writers, artists, and editors.

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, war stories, crime stories, and tales of comeuppance:  EC Comics did it all with style and superb craftsmanship – and a little fine art.  EC's horror comic books also had a horror host/mascot.  The most famous may be “the Crypt-Keeper” from the classic EC title, Tales from the Crypt, which was the inspiration and source material for the HBO television series that ran from 1989 to 1996 and for two spin-off films.

EC Comics which had its heyday from 1949- to 1954 could not have published something like Red Room, as notorious as it comic books were.  However, Piskor's art and story are true to the spirit of EC, especially Red Room #4.  Piskor's compositions and page design are … I'm not sure if I have the words.  If he uses an assistant to help draw Red Room's pages, I would still call him incredible.  If he draws all this by himself, I'll call him “Muad'Dib.”  The craziness, the violence, the anger, the suffering, etc.:  it all comes through the powerful graphical storytelling of Red Room: The Antisocial Network #4.

This fourth issues proves that Red Room: The Antisocial Network is both one of the best debuts of 2021 and one of the best comic books of 2021.  Through the allegories, metaphors, and symbolism, this series has the gift of having a ring of truth and of being prophetic.  If the antics in Red Room seem silly and exaggerated to you, dear readers, your favorite news source can introduce you to the Ukraine.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Ed Piskor's work and of alternative comics as science fiction will want to read Red Room: The Antisocial Network.

A+

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


Buy and/or subscribe to Red Room here: https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/red-room

https://twitter.com/EdPiskor
https://twitter.com/cartoonkayfabe
https://www.youtube.com/c/cartoonistkayfabe
https://www.instagram.com/ed_piskor/
https://linktr.ee/edpiskor

https://www.fantagraphics.com/
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Monday, June 27, 2022

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for June 29, 2022

BOOM! STUDIOS

FEB220766 BASILISK TP VOL 02 $14.99
APR220666 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #9 (OF 12) CVR A GARNEY (MR) $3.99
APR220667 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #9 (OF 12) CVR B DEL MUNDO (MR) $3.99
APR220668 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #9 (OF 12) CVR C GARNEY FOIL (MR) $4.99
APR220669 BRZRKR (BERZERKER) #9 (OF 12) CVR D DEL MUNDO FOIL (MR) $4.99
APR220618 BUFFY 97 #1 CVR A KHALIDAH $7.99
APR220619 BUFFY 97 #1 CVR B HUTCHISON-CATES $7.99
APR220622 BUFFY 97 #1 CVR E BG VAR GANCHEAU $7.99
APR220640 POWER RANGERS UNLTD COUNTDOWN RUIN #1 CVR A $7.99
APR220641 POWER RANGERS UNLTD COUNTDOWN RUIN #1 CVR B FOIL $9.99
APR220716 SEVEN SECRETS #18 CVR A DI NICUOLO $3.99
APR220717 SEVEN SECRETS #18 CVR B DE LANDRO $3.99
APR220623 VAMPIRE SLAYER (BUFFY) #3 CVR A MONTES $4.99
APR220624 VAMPIRE SLAYER (BUFFY) #3 CVR B BLOOD RED FOIL STAMP VAR $5.99

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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 29, 2022

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB220356 EC ARCHIVES CONFESSIONS ILLUSTRATED HC $49.99
APR220293 HELLBOY & BPRD OLD MAN WHITTIER ONE-SHOT CVR A WALTA $3.99
APR220294 HELLBOY & BPRD OLD MAN WHITTIER ONE-SHOT CVR B MIGNOLA $3.99
FEB220293 LIEBESTRASSE TP $19.99
DEC210424 NOCTURNALS OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $29.99
APR220302 PEARL III #2 (OF 6) CVR A GAYDOS $3.99
APR220303 PEARL III #2 (OF 6) CVR B THOMPSON $3.99
OCT210262 SUMMER FIRES HC $24.99
FEB220289 TORSO TP $19.99

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Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for June 29, 2022

DYNAMITE

MAR220612 BOYS OVERSIZED OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 (MR) $99.99
MAR220613 BOYS OVERSIZED OMNIBUS SGN ED HC VOL 02 (MR) $199.99
FEB210829 DEATH TO THE ARMY OF DARKNESS TP $19.99
MAR220678 DRACULINA #4 CVR A TURNER $3.99
MAR220679 DRACULINA #4 CVR B BESCH $3.99
MAR220680 DRACULINA #4 CVR C MARCH $3.99
MAR220681 DRACULINA #4 CVR D KAYANAN $3.99
MAR220682 DRACULINA #4 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
APR228199 DRACULINA #4 CVR K FOC LEE HOMAGE ROYLE $3.99
APR228200 DRACULINA #4 CVR L FOC GUNDUZ $3.99
APR228201 DRACULINA #4 CVR M FOC STA MARIA $3.99
APR228202 DRACULINA #4 CVR N FOC LIN $3.99
APR220594 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR A ANDOLFO $3.99
APR220595 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR B LEIRIX $3.99
APR220596 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR C LINSNER $3.99
APR220597 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR D LAU $3.99
APR220598 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR E COSPLAY $3.99
APR228211 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR L FOC LEIRIX ULTRAVIOLET $3.99
APR228212 RED SONJA (2021) #10 CVR M FOC CASTRO $3.99
SEP210706 SACRED SIX TP VOL 02 WAR OF ROSES $19.99
MAR220751 SHEENA QUEEN JUNGLE #6 CVR K BESCH LTD VIRGIN $50.00
APR220454 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR A BROXTON $4.99
APR220455 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR B GARCIA $4.99
APR220456 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR C COSPLAY $4.99
APR220457 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR D BLANK AUTHENTIX $4.99
APR228193 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR G FOC MAINE $4.99
APR228198 VAMPIVERSE PRESENTS VAMP #1 CVR L RED BLANK AUTHENTIX $4.99

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