Rin-ne: Crescent Moon Hall

I read RIN-NE, Vol. 13

I posted a review at ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

I Reads You Review: THE ROCKETEER/THE SPIRIT: Pulp Friction #2

THE ROCKETEER/THE SPIRIT: PULP FRICTION #2
IDW PUBLISHING with DC Entertainment – @IDWPublishing and @DCComics

WRITER:  Mark Waid
PENCILS: Loston Wallace
INKS: Bob Wiacek
COLORS: Hi Fi Designs
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVER: Paul Smith with Jordie Bellaire
SUBSCRIPTION VARIANT COVER: Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens (who died in March of 2008), created the comic book character, The Rocketeer.  Cliff Secord is a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack.  Donning the jet pack and a helmet, Secord becomes “The Rocketeer,” and begins a series of adventures set mainly in Los Angeles, beginning in the year 1938.

Legendary cartoonist Will Eisner (who died in January of 2005) created The Spirit, a comic book character that first appeared on June 2, 1940 in what readers called “The Spirit Section.”  This was a 16-page, Sunday newspaper supplement or insert that was carried in various newspapers from the 1940s and to the early 1950s.  Once known as Detective Denny Colt (believed by some to be dead), The Spirit is a masked vigilante who fights crime in Central City.

IDW Publishing (in association with DC Comics) brings the two characters together in a new comic book miniseries entitled, The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction.  The series is written by Mark Waid and drawn by various artists.  Pulp Friction unites the two characters, as they try to solve a murder case.  The corpse of Alderman Tommy Cunningham, Central City politician, is found in Los Angeles, which is impossible, because he should not be in L.A.

The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction #2 opens with the Central City contingent:  The Spirit, Commissioner Dolan, and Ellen (the Commissioner’s daughter), at odds with our L.A.-based friends: The Rocketeer, actress Betty (Cliff Secord’s lady), and airplane mechanic Peevy (Cliff’s friend and partner).  The girls are using their feminine wiles to both agitate and excite.

Meanwhile, The Spirit’s mysterious nemesis, the Octopus, plots with Benedict Trask, who seems to be trying to become the first of what we now call a media mogul.  Their plotting involves a surprise attack on our heroes.

Having Mark Waid write the first ever team up of The Rocketeer and The Spirit, as is the idea of uniting them in the first place, is a no-brainer.  Waid is good with Golden Age characters, of which both these classic comics characters are.  Here, Waid’s comics script is a nice brew of fisticuffs, high-flying derring-do, and pulp crime fiction with an occasional bit of innuendo.  Is that a rabbit in your pocket, Mr. Second?...

I thought Paul Smith was going to be the series artist, but that seems not to be the case, as this second issue and the third are drawn by different artists.  Loston Wallace, who provides the pencil art (which Bob Wiacek inks), is good enough.  His style is acceptable for this kind of story, and his storytelling is good.  The most important thing is that he does not make the transition from Paul Smith a disaster.

I’m ready for the next issue of The Rocketeer/The Spirit: Pulp Friction.  Tune in tomorrow.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Dogs: Bullets and Carnage - Mother and Mother

I read Dogs, Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

I Reads You Review: TRILLIUM #2

TRILLIUM #2
DC COMICS/VERTIGO – @DCComics and @vertigo_comics

CARTOONIST: Jeff Lemire
COLORS: Jose Villarrubia (pp 1-19) with Jeff Lemire (p. 20)
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Jeff Lemire
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (November 2013)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

Chapter 2: “Binary Systems”

Trillium is a new science fiction comic book from DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint.  This eight-issue miniseries is created, written, and drawn by cartoonist and graphic novelist, Jeff Lemire.  Lemire described Trillium as “a time-spanning science fiction love story…” (Defy 2013 Preview – DC Comics)  The series focuses on scientist Dr. Nika Temsmith, who is an expert in xeniology (a kind of archeology), and is set in the year 3797, a time that finds humanity living in different solar systems.

Mankind is facing extinction because of a smart virus named “The Caul,” but a white-colored flower called, Trillium, can possibly save humankind.  Trillium thrives on Atabithi, and Nika is negotiated with the Atabithians, when an event tosses her back in time to the ear 1921.  There, she meets British World War I veteran and explorer, William Pike, at “the Forbidden Temple of the Incas.”

Trillium #2 (“Binary Systems”) opens with two humans from different millennia, unable to communicate with one another.  Nika thinks that she has been transported to another star system.  Pike thinks the strange woman before him is possibly part of a rival team of Norwegian explorers that is also looking for the legendary Incan temple.  What happens when they learn the truth about who, what, and when?

In my review of Trillium #1, I admitted that I am sometimes reluctant to grade or pass judgment on a first issue.  However, I was not shy about expressing my feelings and thoughts on the first issue of Trillium.  I still friggin’ love this comic book, and Trillium #2 proves that this series is really as good as I think it is, thus far.

I never thought I would enjoy a comic book that is almost entirely about two people who cannot understand each other’s language and can barely communicate, but I did, in this case.  I felt as frustrated as the characters are depicted as being, but I found that frustration to be hugely entertaining and compelling.

Jeff Lemire is giving us one of the best comic books of the year.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Naruto: World of Dreams

I read Naruto, Vol. 63: World of Dreams

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

I Reads You Review: AMAZING X-MEN #1

AMAZING X-MEN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Jason Aaron
PENCILS: Ed McGuinness
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC’s Joe Caramagna
COVER: Ed McGuinness and Marte Gracia
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2014)

Rated T+

“The Quest for Nightcrawler” Part 1 of 5

There is a new X-Men comic book series.  It is entitled Amazing X-Men, and the creative team is writer Jason Aaron and artist Ed McGuinness.  There are two things about Amazing X-Men that are noticeable.  The first is that classic “New X-Men” character Nightcrawler is the focus of the book, at least for the first story arc.  The second is that this title has a humorous bent.

Nightcrawler was created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, although the character first existed in Cockrum’s sketchbook before the artist “gave” the character to Marvel Comics.  Nightcrawler debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (cover date May 1975), the comic book which reintroduced and re-launched the X-Men comic book series.  I did not know it, but Nightcrawler was killed off during the “X-Men: Second Coming,” event storyline in Uncanny X-Force #26 (cover date April 2010).

Amazing X-Men #1 opens “somewhere beyond the realm of the flesh,” where we find Nightcrawler.  He does not seem as happy as one would expect of someone who has received the heavenly reward he believed would one day be his.  Nightcrawler may feel conflict, but his paradise is about to see some conflict.  Enter Azazel!

Meanwhile, Angelica Jones, the mutant known as Firestar, is trying to start her first day on the teaching staff of the Jean Grey School.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, is so busy.  It seems that something of a furry blue invasion of the school has commenced.

The X-Men starring in Amazing X-Men are Wolverine, Storm, Beast, Warbird, Angel, Iceman, Rachel Grey, and Firestar with Nightcrawler coming soon.  I’m inclined not to like this book.  It is silly instead of funny, and the adventure is strained and phony.  I do like that writer Jason Aaron is playing with the idea of Wolverine and Storm as friends/teammates with benefits. (whether that is “true” or not).  Aaron seems as if he has some good ideas about how to use Beast and Warbird.

Still, this book is superfluous, which is a word I can also use to describe Ed McGuinness’ squishy, marshmallow-y art.  McGuinness can draw pretty, but, here, his compositions yield bland storytelling.  Honestly, it is Marte Gracia’s colors that make this art pop off the page.

I’d like this book to be good, so I think I will try another issue...

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 13 2013

DC COMICS

JUL130228 AQUAMAN HC VOL 03 THRONE OF ATLANTIS (N52) $24.99
AUG130295 AQUAMAN TP VOL 02 THE OTHERS (N52) $14.99
SEP130303 ASTRO CITY #6 $3.99
SEP130149 BATGIRL #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130143 BATMAN #25 (ZERO YEAR) $4.99
SEP130146 BATMAN #25 COMBO PACK (ZERO YEAR) $5.99
SEP130260 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #20 $3.99
SEP130297 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #8 $2.99
SEP130301 COFFIN HILL #2 (MR) $2.99
SEP130195 CONSTANTINE #8 $2.99
SEP130287 DC COMICS ESSENTIALS GREEN LANTERN #1 (N52) $1.00
SEP130307 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #5 (MR) $2.99
SEP130180 FOREVER EVIL ARKHAM WAR #2 $2.99
SEP130159 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130262 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US ANNUAL #1 $4.99
JUL130242 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US HC VOL 01 $19.99
AUG130306 JOE KUBERT PRESENTS TP $19.99
SEP130174 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #9 (EVIL) $3.99
SEP130177 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #9 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
SEP130194 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #9 $2.99
SEP130193 KATANA #9 $2.99
SEP130153 NIGHTWING #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
AUG130296 RED LANTERNS TP VOL 03 THE SECOND PROPHECY (N52) $19.99
APR130220 SILVER AGE TEEN TITANS ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 (RES) $75.00
SEP130261 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #19 $3.99
SEP130186 SUICIDE SQUAD #25 (EVIL) $2.99
SEP130219 SUPERBOY #25 $2.99
SEP130204 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #2 $3.99
SEP130207 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #2 COMBO PACK $4.99
AUG130299 SWAMP THING TP VOL 03 ROTWORLD THE GREEN KINGDOM (N52) $16.99
SEP130200 WORLDS FINEST #17 $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

JUN130318 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY MR HAMMER HARLEY QUINN AF 2 PK $39.95
JUN130319 BATMAN ARKHAM CITY SICKLE AND PENGUIN AF 2 PK $39.95
MAY130280 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE JOKER STATUE BY GREG CAPULLO $79.95
JUN130311 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS BLACK ADAM AF $24.95
MAY130269 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN THE KISS STATUE $249.95