[“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”]
Monday, December 5, 2022
Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2022
Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2022
Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for December 7, 2022
--------------
DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for December 6, 2022
----------------------
Thursday, December 1, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: FANTASTIC FOUR: Full Circle
FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE
ABRAMS COMICARTS
STORY: Alex Ross
ART: Alex Ross
COLORS: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
LETTERS: Ariana Maher
EDITORS: Charles Kochman and Tom Brevoort
COVER: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6167-6; hardcover with dust jacket (also an eBook); 8 1/2 x 11 (September 6, 2022)
64pp, Color, $24.95 U.S., $31.99 CAN, £17.99 U.K.
Fantastic Four created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
The Fantastic Four #1 (cover dated: November 1961) is the comic book that basically started what we know of today as Marvel Comics and the “Marvel Universe” of superheroes. The Fantastic Four was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, with Lee writing the story for the first issue and Jack Kirby drawing that first issue.
Returning to the Lee-Kirby era, Fantastic Four: Full Circle is a new original graphic novel from writer-artist Alex Ross. Published in an oversize format, 8½ x 11, Full Circle features the Fantastic Four (FF): Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Thing (Ben Grimm). In a story that is a sequel of sorts to a classic issue of the Fantastic Four, the members of the team find themselves fighting for survival in the Negative Zone, an alien universe composed entirely of anti-matter. The rest of Full Circle's creative team is comprised of Josh Johnson, who colors this comic book with Ross, and letterer Ariana Maher.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle opens on a rainy night in the Baxter Building, the Manhattan home of the FF. Ben is making himself a sandwich when an intruder suddenly appears in the team's living quarters. Upon investigation, they discover that the intruder is a man who once masqueraded as Ben Grimm. They soon discover that the man is a human host, used to deliver a swarm of invading parasites – carrion creatures composed of “Negative Energy.”
What is the purpose behind this invasion, and who is behind it? Now, the Fantastic Four have no choice but to journey into the heart of the Negative Zone, an alien universe that is parallel to Earth's universe and is composed entirely of anti-matter. They not only risk their own lives, but also the fate of the cosmos? Is there any hope for this journey, or will they discover hope?
THE LOWDOWN: I like that Fantastic Four: Full Circle has a direct connection to the Fantastic Four's vintage era (as I call it) when it was produced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Full Circle directly connects to and is a resolution of Fantastic Four #51 (cover dated: June 1966). Entitled “This Man... This Monster!,” the story pit Reed Richards against an unnamed scientist who gives himself the powers and appearance of The Thing. The scientist's plan is to kill Richards, but those plans ultimately force him to save Reed's life while condemning himself to a sorry fate.
Full Circle returns to “This Man... This Monster!” in a deeply intimate way, or, at least, that is the way it comes across to me. In terms of graphics, illustrations, and colors, Full Circle is a direct descendant of the Lee-Kirby Fantastic Four. If Fantastic Four #51 is the parent, then, Full Circle is the child. Jack Kirby's dynamic, cosmic infused compositions are newly infused with the modern flourishes of the techno-marvels of software graphics and colors. Alex Ross even gives Stan Lee's chatterbox expositions new life simply by multiplying them in Full Circle, and Ross' take feels authentic. When one of the Fantastic Four speaks, their dialogue reads as if it were written by Stan the Man himself.
Alex Ross’s art in Full Circle is a combination of impressive line work and layers of brushwork that seems to sway like drapery. Ross and Josh Johnson color Full Circle in fluorescent shades: blues, greens, oranges, and purples. Their color choices also recalls the visuals and graphics of the “Pop Art” comic book movement (or moment) of the 1960s, somewhat similar to writer-artist Jim Steranko's work for Marvel, such as Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., in the late 1960s.
For a long time, I have described the comic books published in the 1960s by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, especially Marvel, as having a sense of wonder and mystery, of science/magic and hope, and of discovery and exploration. The modern comic book series that best exemplifies that is the late Darwyn Cooke's 2004 comic book miniseries, DC: The New Frontier.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is both an homage and a return to a time when Marvel's comic book titles were about discovering the new. [Now, they are about IP maintenance and continuity, which is mostly fractured.] I love Ariana Maher vintage-styled lettering and the throbbing coloring that Josh Johnson commits with Alex Ross. All of it connects past and present.
I love that Alex Ross has presented Fantastic Four in this larger than usual format. Here, Ross' big, almost widescreen art both captures and replicates the big spirit and cosmic yearnings of Jack Kirby's best work on the Fantastic Four. I want to avoid spoilers, but I love Full Circle's ending, with its emphasis on hope, reconciliation, and peace.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is published as the launch of “MarvelArts,” a new collaborative line of books between Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts. Abrams tells us that in MarvelArts “nothing is impossible and anything can happen.” I hope that this means that Abrams ComicArts will not just publish anything. Future publications should be as ambitious and as classically Marvel as this debut.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the Fantastic Four and of Silver Age Marvel Comics will want Fantastic Four: Full Circle.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://www.alexrossart.com/
https://twitter.com/thealexrossart
https://www.instagram.com/thealexrossart/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/alexrossart
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTPXeCUinfh6RDdmcn1co9g
https://www.abramsbooks.com/imprints/abramscomicarts/
https://twitter.com/abramscomicarts
https://www.abramsbooks.com/
https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://www.marvel.com/
https://www.marvel.com/comics
https://www.comixology.com/Marvel_Comics
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
-----------------------
Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
I Reads You Juniors: November 2022 - Update #53
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.
NEWS:
IMAGE COMICS - From FirstComicsNews: The Eisner Award nominated comic book series, "Killadelphia," from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander, hits a major milestone and series turning point today with the release of the series’ 25th issue and the beginning of a new storyline, its fifth.
MARVEL STUDIOS - From TheWrap: There won't be a "Namor" solo movie ... yet. Universal Studios owns certain rights to the character.
From CBR: James Gunn explains his casting of Kevin Bacon as "Kevin Bacon" in "Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special."
DC CINEMA - From DCBlog: Lorne Balfe talks about composing the score for the recent DC film, "Black Adam."
DC COMICS - From CBR: DC Comics has unveiled its next line-wide sham ... err ... event, "Dawn of DC." It will begin in January 2023 in Action Comics #1051 and will see the launch of 20 new titles over the next year.
MILLARWORLD - From CBR: Writer and Netflix executive Mark Millar talks about his new comic book, Night Club, and also Netflix, manga, and comic book prices.
NEWSPAPER COMICS - From Cleveland: Tom Batiuk is retiring his newspaper comic strip, "Funky Winkerbean," from syndication after more than 50 years of producing it. The last syndicated strip is scheduled to appear December 1, 2022. However, Batiuk also announced that he will occasionally produce new Funky stories that will appear on his website.
SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Variety: Amazon is officially moving forward with multiple live-action shows based on the Marvel characters controlled by Sony. The first is entitled "Silk: Spider Society."
IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool: Writer Rodney Barnes ("Killadelphia," "Nita Hawes' Nightmare Blog") and artist Alex Lins are launching "Monarch" at Image Comics in February 2023. The comic book features a cast of young characters caught up in an alien invastion of Compton, CA.
MILLARWORLD - From ComicCon: A five-page preview of Mark Millar and Juanan Ramirez's "Night Club #1 (Image Comics), which is due December 14th.
BLACK PANTHER - From THR: The site looks at the numbers behind "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.".
From Here: Leroy Douresseaux's review of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
EN MEMORIAM - From ComicBook: The voice actor Kevin Conroy has died at the age of 66, Thursday, November 10th, 2022. He is best known for his voiceover work as "Batman/Bruce Wayne" in the beloved animated television series, "Batman" also known as "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992-95). He would reprise the role numerous animated series and films, including in "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" (1993), "Batman Beyond" (1999-2001), and "Justice League" (2001-04) and most recently in a 2009 episode of "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?"
From DCBlog: DC Comics mourns the passing of noted Batman voice actor, Kevin Conroy, who died at the age of 66, Wed., Nov. 10th.
------------------------
BOOK NEWS - From Truthout: At HarperCollins, workers have gone on strike and are demanding a living wage from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
DC STUDIOS - From Deadline: Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav introduced new DC Studios co-chairmen and CEOs, James Gunn and Peter Safran, via a global Zoom meeting.
DARK HORSE - From ICv2: Dark Horse Comics CEO, Mike Richardson, in an interview says that periodical comics may have outlived their usefulness.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Spanish comic book artist, Carlos Pacheco, has died at the age of 60, Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Pacheco was best known for his work on such Marvel Comics titles as "Age of Ultron," "Avengers Forever," 'Fantastic Four," and "Uncanny X-Men," to name a few.
DC TV - From DCBlog: The cast of HBO Max's "Titans" talks about the upcoming Season 4.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo talk about their new "Batman/Spawn" crossover comic book for DC Comics.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: English comic book artist, Kevin O'Neill, had died. He was best known for co-creating "Nemesis the Warlock" and "Marshal Law" with writer Pat Mills and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with writer Alan Moore.
From 2000AD: The site offers a heavily illustrated obituary for the recently deceased Kevin O'Neill.
MILLARWORLD - From CBR: Sleepwalker Studios has released a trailer for its film, "Kick-Ass: The Reboot," it fan film based on Mark Millar and John Romita's comic book franchise, "Kick-Ass."
COMICS - From Journal: Neil Gaiman announces that he and his wife, Amanda Palmer, are getting a divorce.
DC TV - From Deadline: Netflix has apparently greenlit a second season of "The Sandman," its hit adaptation of Neil Gaiman and company's beloved comic book, "The Sandman."
EN MEMORIAM - From TCJ: Writer Andrew Farago offers a memorial to Vincent Makoto Palani Kukua or Vincent Kukua, for short, the cartoonist and comic book production artist, who died at the age of 45, Friday, October 4, 2022. He was known for his behind-the-scenes work at Image Comics, Black Mask Studios, and Oni Press.
DC TV - From Variety: Antonio Campos will be the showrunner of HBO Max's "Arkham Asylum" TV series, based on the DC Comics property.
#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #3
IMAGE COMICS
STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER: Jonathan Glapion
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane; Javi Fernandez; Bjorn Barends
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (October 2021)
Rated: “T/ Teen”
Spawn created by Todd McFarlane
Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn. Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).
Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons. A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death. He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time. However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia. Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.
Back in February (2021), Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.” McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles. The first of the three titles, King Spawn, has arrived.
King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design. King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists. And that someone want to make Spawn a king.
As King Spawn #3 opens, Spawn and Terry talk strategy, but Terry's demands that Spawn reveal the whereabouts of his daughter, Cyan, opens old wounds. Their feud will have to wait, however, as the world is beginning to come undone at the seams, and the pace is picking up. The underground religious terrorist group, “Psalms 137,” launches attacks around the globe.
Spawn sends his agents to those hot spots, but he saves one trouble area for himself. Spawn prepares for a reunion with one of his oldest enemies, Billy Kincaid. But has Spawn become too enraged to realize that all of this is about making him a king, or is he just too busy slaughtering to give a f**k?
THE LOWDOWN: When I first read Spawn #1 back in 1992, I thought that it had the potential to be a long-running title, and lo these many years, it is still running through comic book solicitations lists. I thought that its spin-offs would also have potential, but I never found one that really grabbed onto what made the original Spawn so great.
King Spawn, only in its third issue, is the first Spawn comic book spin-off to really get to the heart of Spawn. Spawn deals with themes related to redemption, but at its core is a war between dark forces, in which both the “dark” sides and the “light” sides are those very dark forces. Innocent humans are caught between the warring sides and they suffer greatly. Their fates are unjust, often resulting in brutal and savage deaths. Spawn is the force that seeks justice for the suffering and, when necessary, gets bloody vengeance for the dead.
I have been praising the creative team of writer Sean Lewis and artist Javi Fernandez because they have created the first great Spawn comic book to come after the original Spawn. Lewis's scripts are violent and deranged – gleefully so. Fernandez draws Lewis' script into comic book art and storytelling that unflinchingly delivers the rage and the anger, but is also as cool as the other side of the pillow.
In a way, I don't like what Sean and Javi have done to me. Every time I finish an issue, I am ready to turn tricks … if that would just get me the next issue right away. I'm a King Spawn crack ho, so won't you join me, dear readers.
Seriously, though, King Spawn is one of Image Comics' very best titles.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Spawn will want to read King Spawn.
[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” which features “The Evolution of Redeemer.]
A+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imagecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Comics-Inc/178643148813259
https://www.twitch.tv/imagecomics
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmaKLo0FXWIPx-3n6qs3vQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.