Naruto: The 411 on Volumes 1 to 43

I read Naruto: The Official Character Data Book

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews: RED SPIKE VOLUME 1

RED SPIKE VOLUME 1
IMAGE COMICS/BENAROYA PUBLISHING

CREATORS: Michael Benaroya and Jeff Cahn
STORY: Jeff Cahn with Dave Elliot
SCRIPT: Jeff Cahn
ARTISTS: Salvador Navarro and Mark Texeira
COLORS: Ifansyah Noor of Imaginary Friends Studios
LETTERS: John Aitken
COVER: Mark Texeira
ISBN: 978-1-60706-487-9, paperback
144pp, Color, $14.99 U.S.

From Benaroya Publishing, Red Spike is a comic book miniseries created by Michael Benaroya and Jeff Cahn. Written by Cahn and drawn by Salvador Navarro and Mark Texeira, the series is set in a secretive black operations program called Project Red Spike. The entire five issues of the miniseries were recently collected in the trade paperback, Red Spike Volume 1.

Project Red Spike, like many over a 70-year period, was started as a program to create the first super-soldier. Using a process that manipulates and regulates the adrenal gland in human males, Project Red Spike actually succeeded in creating a super-soldier, and they did it twice. Now, Colonel Moyer, the hard-nosed prick who controls Red Spike, is testing the limits of his two new super-human toys, Gregory “Greg” Dane and Matt Cutler. But there are complications, of course.

Greg is having an affair that turns into a full romance with Dr. Margaret Downey, the woman who is supposed to be monitoring his (and Matt’s) mental health. Dane isn’t exactly the obedient solider, and as his behavior grows more insubordinate, he clashes with the straight-arrow Matt Cutler, who obediently follows orders and instructions. Colonel Moyer, who now sees Dane and Cutler as his property, seeks to further experiment with the limits of how much Red Spike can alter these two young men. Meanwhile, Henry Coughlin, formerly directly involved with Project Red Spike, plots to wrest control of the program from Moyer.

My first encounter with Red Spike was the third issue. I noted that it had the “rock solid plotting found in tightly-written, big-budget action movies.” I also mentioned that it had “elements of Captain America and the Jason Bourne films,” and that “it most reminds me of Universal Soldier, the 1992 Van Damme film.” I wrote, “Like the Van Damme films from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Red Spike is violent and testosterone-filled, but with a humanist lead character who fights because he must.”

Now, that I’ve read the entire miniseries in Red Spike Volume 1, I have to reassess. As a whole, personally, I find the series lacking in action scenes, considering that this book is about a super-soldier program. Artist Salvador Navarro and Mark Texeira offer a few nicely composed fight scenes that left me really wanting more.

This is not to say that Red Spike is overall lacking in pleasures. Despite what the covers for the miniseries suggest, Red Spike is a science fiction/military drama mixed with the elements of a workplace drama and a political soap opera, and it is fun. I enjoyed the backbiting and squabbling. Writer Jeff Cahn sometimes cut back and forth between two scenes, each scene featuring a character doing something to defeat the other character. This reminds me of the best inter-office politics moments of the 1995 film version of Clear and Present Danger.

In my earlier review, I describe the art by Navarro and Texeira as “uninspired” and wrote that it “put a damper on my enjoyment” of the series. Now, that art seems perfect for what Red Spike really is, which is a thriller more than it is an action comic book.

http://www.benaroyapublishing.com/

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews: KING CONAN: The Phoenix on the Sword #1

"Old Man Conan"
KING CONAN: THE PHOENIX ON THE SWORD #1 (OF 4)
DARK HORSE COMICS

WRITER: Timothy Truman
ART: Tomás Giorello
COLORS: José Villarrubia
LETTERS: Richard Stakings & Comicraft
VARIANT COVER: Gerald Parel (Andrew Robinson-regular cover)
28pp, Colors, $3.50 U.S.

During his three-decade career in comic books, did the industry or the public ever consider Tim Truman A-list talent? By the breath and scope of his talent and his work, he certainly was/is, if it is even appropriate to categorize him with what are the usual and the standard in comic books. The terms “eclectic” and “diverse” seem a tad bit understated when describing Truman’s body of work.

Even as Lonesome Dove, Dances with Wolves, and Unforgiven made the Western cool again, Truman was looking at the past, present, and future of the Western and frontier storytelling (Jonah Hex, The Kents, Scout, Wilderness, etc.). Before Christopher Nolan and Guillermo del Toro, among others, were surprising people with their re-imaginations and interpretations of superheroes and classic fantasy characters, Tim Truman was bold and visionary on Hawkworld, JLA: Gatekeeper, and The Spider, among many.

In his comics, Truman, as a writer, artist, and writer/artist, offers muscular storytelling presented with surprising grace in beautiful graphics. So Truman is one of those rare creators who are actually ideal to create Conan the Barbarian comic books. Many are good, but few can capture both the splendor of Howard’s prose and the darkness and brutality of which this prose tells.

When it appeared in the cover-dated December 1932 issue of the famed pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales, “The Phoenix on the Sword” became the first published story featuring the character, Conan the Barbarian. Tim Truman as writer and Tomás Giorello as artist have adapted that story in King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword, a four-issue comic book miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. The fourth and final issue recently arrived in comic book shops shortly.

King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 introduces us to a gray-haired Conan, King of Aquilonia, and to Pramis, a scribe who is chronicling the story of King Conan’s rule. Conan tells Pramis of a time early in his reign – a time of unrest – and the story travels back to that time.

Although Conan freed Aquilonia from a despotic king, he is now despised by Aquilonians, from the common man to the elite. Rinaldo, the poet and bard, who once sang his praises, now stirs unrest against Conan and is part of a plot to unseat Conan and replace him on the throne with a pure blood Aquilonian, Baron Dion. The mysterious Ascalante is the ringleader, but even more mysterious is Ascalante’s companion, a long-time enemy of Conan, the wizard Thoth-Amon.

I find King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword to be an unusual Conan story. It is not as if I haven’t read a Conan story like this – one that is a conspiratorial drama, but this is not the Conan comic book norm. There is more dark drama here than there is edgy drama; in fact, the only fight scene is Conan’s palace workout at the beginning of the story.

That is not at all a bad thing. Tim Truman fashions a story filled with political machinations and intrigue, but at its heart, it examines what happens when you get what you thought you wanted and then find it to be a prison. As a monarch, Conan is trapped, and the interesting twist that Truman gives this story is that his enemies may be about to get what they wanted, but in the worst way.

Truman has a wonderful collaborator in Tomás Giorello, who takes Truman’s script and transforms it into comic book art that is a tapestry of exotic backdrops, a striking cityscape, strange costumes, and shadowy backrooms (includes a fine double page spread). This art is not only perfect for Conan, but for just about any Robert E. Howard story. Giorello could probably deliver a stunning comic book vision of Tolkien.

This comic book also includes a 4-page preview of Conan the Barbarian #1 by Brian Wood, Becky Cloonan, Dave Stewart, and Richard Starkings & Comicraft, with cover art by Massimo Carnevale.

http://www.ttruman.com/

Excel Saga: Mission: Isshiki Impossible

I read Excel Saga, Vol. 23

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

I Reads You Review: ARCHIE #631

"Jungle Fever"
ARCHIE #631
ARCHIE COMICS

SCRIPT/PENCILS: Dan Parent
INKS: Rich Koslowski
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
COLORS: Digikore Studios
COVER: Dan Parent
32pp, Color, $2.99

The CBS Saturday morning animated series, Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space (originally broadcast during the 1972-73 television season), was very important to me. It was the singular work that introduced me to and got me interested in comic books, science fiction, and all-things-fantasy. By the time I discovered that there was such a thing as a Josie and the Pussycats comic book, the title had been discontinued.

During a recent infrequent visit to a comic book shop in the region, I was scanning the shelves for a copy of Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 #1, when I spotted the cover of Archie #631. I saw its depiction of Archie Andrews cradling Pussycat Valerie Smith as the two kissed, and I quickly snatched the comic off the shelf.

Apparently, Archie and Valerie have been eyeing each other for some time, much to the chagrin of Archie’s longtime, dual love interests, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge. Now, Valerie, her parents, and her little, brother Trevor AKA “Trev,” are moving to Archie and gang’s hometown of Riverdale. Now, that Archie and Valerie are closer, their fledgling romance takes flight. Not everyone is happy, but maybe Archie’s friends and Valerie’s band mates will just have to deal.

The Archie Comics creator of which I’m most acquainted is Dan DeCarlo, and I think of him when I think of Archie Comics. I can, however, learn to really like Dan Parent, who scripts and pencils Archie #631. He modernizes the characters and settings, but retains the eternally retro charm that is inherently Archie. The story moves at a lively pace and the dialogue and characterizations are funny and even a bit peppery, while staying in the zone that is Archie Comics’ version of “all ages.”

I bought Archie #631 because Josie and the Pussycats are in it, but I didn’t plan on really liking it. Dan Parent makes me want more.

http://www.archiecomics.com/

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 25 2012

DC COMICS

FEB120229 ALL STAR WESTERN #8 $3.99

FEB120288 AMERICAN VAMPIRE #26 (MR) $2.99

FEB120165 AQUAMAN #8 $2.99

FEB128197 BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #2 2ND PTG $3.99

JAN120303 BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01 $29.99

FEB128194 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #4 2ND PTG $2.99

FEB120193 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #8 $2.99

DEC110318 BLACK ORCHID DELUXE EDITION HC (MR) $24.99

FEB120227 BLACKHAWKS #8 $2.99

FEB120169 FLASH #8 $2.99

FEB120173 FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #8 $2.99

FEB120279 GEARS OF WAR #23 $2.99

JAN120322 GEARS OF WAR TP BOOK 02 $14.99

JAN120307 GOTHAM CENTRAL TP BOOK 04 CORRIGAN $19.99

FEB120209 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #8 $2.99

FEB120215 I VAMPIRE #8 $2.99

FEB120214 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #8 $2.99

FEB120278 MAD MAGAZINE #515 $5.99

FEB120286 NEW DEADWARDIANS #2 (OF 8) (MR) $2.99

FEB120177 SAVAGE HAWKMAN #8 $2.99

OCT110255 SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE SPECTRE TP VOL 01 $19.99

FEB120295 SPACEMAN #6 (OF 9) (MR) $2.99

OCT110250 STORMWATCH HC VOL 01 $29.99

FEB120182 SUPERMAN #8 $2.99

JAN120313 SUPERMAN SECRETS OF THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE TP $19.99

FEB120230 TEEN TITANS #8 $2.99

FEB120280 UNCHARTED #6 (OF 6) $2.99

FEB120226 VOODOO #8 $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 25 2012

MARVEL COMICS

FEB128183 AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB120619 ASTONISHING X-MEN #49 $3.99

FEB120662 ASTONISHING X-MEN EXALTED PREM HC $19.99

FEB128178 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 2ND PTG BAGLEY VAR WITH DIG CDE $3.99

FEB120549 AVENGERS ROLL CALL $4.99

FEB120531 AVX VS #1 (OF 6) $3.99

FEB120606 BATTLE SCARS #6 (OF 6) $2.99

FEB120584 CAPTAIN AMERICA #10 $3.99

FEB120583 CAPTAIN AMERICA AND HAWKEYE #629 $2.99

FEB120679 DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE BIG BREAK TP $16.99

FEB120580 DAREDEVIL #11 OMEGA $2.99

FEB120560 DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER WAY STATION #5 (OF 5) $3.99

FEB120681 DARK TOWER TP BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL $19.99

FEB120690 DARKHAWK CLASSIC TP VOL 01 $24.99

FEB120694 ESSENTIAL DAREDEVIL TP VOL 01 NEW ED $19.99

FEB120695 ESSENTIAL HULK TP VOL 04 NEW ED $19.99

FEB120663 FEAR ITSELF WOLVERINE NEW MUTANTS PREM HC $24.99

FEB120594 FF #17 $2.99

FEB120689 INCREDIBLE HULK PARDONED TP $39.99

FEB120604 MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 $2.99

FEB120589 MIGHTY THOR #13 $3.99

FEB120656 MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 03 $24.99

FEB120657 MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 03 DM VAR ED 41 $24.99

FEB120614 MOON KNIGHT #12 $3.99

FEB120540 NEW AVENGERS #25 AVX $3.99

FEB128182 SCARLET SPIDER #3 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB128184 SECRET AVENGERS #21.1 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB128185 SECRET AVENGERS #22 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $3.99

FEB128175 SECRET AVENGERS #23 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $3.99

FEB120543 SECRET AVENGERS #26 AVX $3.99

FEB120671 SPIDER-MAN FLYING BLIND PREM HC $19.99

FEB120638 SUPERCROOKS #2 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99

FEB120615 TWELVE #12 (OF 12) $2.99

FEB120558 ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #9 WITH DIG CDE $3.99

FEB120684 ULTIMATE COMICS X ORIGINS TP $19.99

FEB120545 UNCANNY X-MEN #11 AVX $3.99

FEB128179 WINTER SOLDIER #1 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB128180 WINTER SOLDIER #2 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB128181 WINTER SOLDIER #3 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99

FEB120629 WOLVERINE #305 $3.99

FEB120685 WOLVERINE WOLVERINE'S REVENGE TP $16.99

NOV110608 X-FORCE TOY SOLDIERS PREM HC $29.99

NOV110609 X-FORCE TOY SOLDIERS PREMIERE HC DM VAR ED 88 $29.99

FEB120621 X-MEN LEGACY #265 $2.99

FEB120668 X-MEN WAR MACHINES PREM HC $19.99