Wednesday, April 2, 2014

I Reads You Review: MINISTRY OF SPACE #1

MINISTRY OF SPACE #1 (OF 3)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ARTIST: Chris Weston
COLORS: Laura DePuy
32pp, Color, $2.95 U.S., $4.63 CAN (April 2001)

Cleaning my house and digging through boxes will yield treasures… or maybe comic books I forgot I had.  I found copies of Ministry of Space, the three-part, alternate history miniseries written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Chris Weston.  The first two issues of Ministry of Space were published by Image Comics in 2001, with the third and final issue not being published until 2004.

First, a quick historical overview:  near the end of World War II, the United States, through the program, Operation Paperclip, recruited the scientists of Nazi Germany for their scientific expertise.  This is how the U.S. advanced its defensive missile and rocket and space programs.  The U.S. wanted to deny these Nazis’ knowledge to the United Kingdom and especially to the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.), which did manage to capture some German scientists.

Ministry of Space #1 introduces an alternate-Earth history in which British soldiers and operatives reached the German rocket installations at Peenemünde ahead of the U.S. Army and the Soviets.  Thus, the Brits get the Nazi rocket science brain trust.  With this acquisition of key German personnel and Nazi technology, Sir John “Jacko” Dashwood, Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force, creates the Ministry of Space.  This ministry’s mission is to develop British space technology and to claim space for “King and Country and the British Empire.”

Ministry of Space #1 has an interesting premise.  It certainly makes me wonder if our world would be better off if the British had won the space race.  Then, I remember the British Empire, its mass murder of indigenous people for their natural resources, and the “White man’s burden.”  So was the British Empire better or worse than the American and Soviet empires?  You can consider that a rhetorical question, if you wish.

Premise aside, Ministry of Space #1 is sometimes aloof, sometimes tepid, but despite Dashwood’s machinations, surprisingly positive, as if to suggest that there is hope for mankind in Dashwood’s plans.  Chris Weston’s art, with its retro feel, and Laura DePuy’s colors recall Frank Hampson’s Dan Dare.  Ministry of Space also reminds me of the delightful British color adventure and genre films of the 1950s and 1960s that I watch on Antenna TV.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

DC COMICS

FEB140189 ACTION COMICS #30 (DOOMED) $3.99
FEB140166 AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS #1 $2.99
DEC130307 BATMAN 66 HC VOL 01 $19.99
JAN140349 BATMAN BEYOND BATGIRL BEYOND TP $14.99
FEB140216 BATWING #30 $2.99
FEB140201 DETECTIVE COMICS #30 $3.99
FEB140203 DETECTIVE COMICS #30 COMBO PACK $4.99
FEB140175 EARTH 2 #22 $2.99
FEB140287 FAIREST #25 (MR) $2.99
JAN140369 GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO TP (MR) $24.99
FEB140178 GREEN ARROW #30 $2.99
FEB140220 GREEN LANTERN #30 $2.99
FEB140222 GREEN LANTERN #30 COMBO PACK $3.99
JAN140379 HINTERKIND TP VOL 01 (MR) $9.99
DEC130297 JUSTICE LEAGUE HC VOL 04 THE GRID (N52) $24.99
JAN140339 JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 03 THRONE OF ATLANTIS (N52) $16.99
FEB140273 LOONEY TUNES #218 $2.99
FEB140230 MOVEMENT #11 $2.99
FEB140231 STORMWATCH #30 $2.99
JAN140353 SUPERMAN RED SON TP NEW EDITION $17.99
FEB140232 SWAMP THING #30 $2.99
FEB140295 TRILLIUM #8 (MR) $2.99
FEB140171 TRINITY OF SIN THE PHANTOM STRANGER #18 $2.99
FEB140244 VAMPIRE DIARIES #4 $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

NOV130289 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS BIZARRO AF $24.95
NOV130288 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS DEATHSTORM AF $24.95
NOV130292 WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY GEORGE PEREZ $79.95



Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

MARVEL COMICS

JAN148241 ALL NEW INVADERS #2 2ND PTG MUKESH VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130759 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN FAMILY BUSINESS OGN HC $24.99
FEB140794 BLACK WIDOW #5 $3.99
FEB140792 CAPTAIN AMERICA #19 $3.99
FEB140798 CAPTAIN AMERICA WINTER SOLDIER #1 DIRECTORS CUT $4.99
FEB140810 DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE #1 $3.99
JAN140800 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 01 COSMIC AVENGERS $19.99
FEB140694 INHUMAN #1 ANMN $3.99
FEB140745 LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #3 ANMN $2.99
FEB140727 MAGNETO #2 ANMN $3.99
JAN140807 MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN TP FIGHT NIGHT $16.99
JAN140786 MARVELS CA WINTER SOLDIER ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE HC $49.99
FEB140799 MARVELS GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PRELUDE #1 $2.99
FEB140743 MOON KNIGHT #2 ANMN $3.99
FEB140741 NEW WARRIORS #3 ANMN $3.99
JAN148242 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #3 2ND PTG SHAW VAR $3.99
NOV130710 OZ HC WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ NEW PTG $24.99
JAN140781 PAINKILLER JANE TP PRICE OF FREEDOM (MR) $19.99
JAN148244 PUNISHER #1 2ND PTG GERADS VAR ANMN $3.99
JAN148245 PUNISHER #2 2ND PTG GERADS VAR ANMN $3.99
FEB140802 PUNISHER #4 $3.99
JAN148243 SHE-HULK #1 2ND PTG WADA VAR ANMN $2.99
FEB140757 SHE-HULK #3 ANMN $2.99
JAN140803 SPIDER-MAN FIRSTS TP $34.99
FEB140797 STAR LORD TEARS FOR HEAVEN TP $7.99
NOV130716 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN HC VOL 02 $34.99
FEB140774 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #200 BAGLEY CVR $4.99
FEB140775 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #200 MARQUEZ CVR $4.99
FEB140759 WHAT IF AGE OF ULTRON #1 $3.99
NOV130704 X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE OMNIBUS COMPANION HC $99.99


IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB140456 GATE WAY #4 (FORMERLY PURGATORY) $3.99
JAN140429 GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS #13 $3.99
DEC130396 JUDGE DREDD CAM KENNEDY COLLECTION HC VOL 02 $49.99
JAN140492 JUDGE DREDD MEGA CITY TWO #3 $3.99
FEB140377 MONSTER & MADMAN #2 $3.99
JAN140462 ROCKY & BULLWINKLE CLASSICS GN VOL 01 STAR BILLING $17.99
JAN140485 ROGUE TROOPER #2 $3.99
FEB140423 SINISTER DEXTER #5 $3.99
JAN140473 STAR TREK GOLD KEY ARCHIVES HC VOL 01 $29.99
DEC130433 STAR TREK STARDATE COLL HC VOL 02 UNDER COMMAND PIKE $49.99


Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB140089 1 FOR $1 ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #1 $1.00
FEB140068 ANGEL AND FAITH SEASON 10 #1 MAIN CVR $3.50
FEB140023 BAD BLOOD #4 $3.99
DEC130109 BRODYS GHOST TP VOL 05 $7.99
DEC130099 BUZZKILL TP $14.99
NOV130071 EDEN TP VOL 14 ITS AN ENDLESS WORLD (MR) $12.99
FEB140082 EDGAR ALLAN POES PREMATURE BURIAL ONE SHOT $3.99
DEC130108 FATIMA BLOOD SPINNERS HC $19.99
DEC130085 FEAR AGENT TP VOL 01 RE-IGNITION (2ND ED) $9.99
AUG130117 GRIMM PLAYING CARDS $4.99
FEB140080 GRINDHOUSE DOORS OPEN AT MIDNIGHT #7 $3.99
FEB140024 JUICE SQUEEZERS #4 $3.99
FEB140075 LOBSTER JOHNSON GET LOBSTER #3 $3.99
DEC130144 LONE WOLF & CUB OMNIBUS TP VOL 04 $19.99
DEC130142 NG EVANGELION SHINJI DETECTIVE DIARY TP VOL 02 $9.99
FEB140056 TERMINATOR SALVATION FINAL BATTLE #5 $3.99
FEB140071 VEIL #2 (MR) $3.50


Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

IMAGE COMICS

FEB140498 68 RULE OF WAR #1 CVR A JONES (MR) $3.99
FEB140499 68 RULE OF WAR #1 CVR B CRAIN (MR) $3.99
FEB140500 68 RULE OF WAR #1 CVR C BLANK SKETCH (MR) $3.99
JAN148302 ALEX + ADA #2 2ND PTG $2.99
JAN148303 ALEX + ADA #3 2ND PTG $2.99
JAN148304 ALEX + ADA #4 2ND PTG $2.99
FEB140588 APOCALYPSE AL #3 CVR A KOTIAN & FARMER $2.99
FEB140589 APOCALYPSE AL #3 CVR B OLIVETTI $2.99
FEB140592 ARTIFACTS #36 (MR) $3.99
JAN140576 BLACK SCIENCE #5 (MR) $3.50
JAN140549 CLONE TP VOL 03 $12.99
NOV130418 ELEPHANTMEN #55 (MR) $3.99
FEB140485 FIELD #1 (MR) $3.50
JAN148309 FUSE #1 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
FEB140607 INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #12 $2.99
JAN148000 NOAH LTD S&N HC ED $200.00
DEC130586 PRETTY DEADLY #5 (MR) $3.50
JAN140612 REVIVAL #19 (MR) $2.99
OCT130621 SECRET #7 $3.50
FEB140508 SELF OBSESSED ONE SHOT $3.99
FEB140515 SHOTGUN WEDDING #1 (MR) $3.99
NOV130523 SIDEKICK #6 CVR A MANDRAKE & HIFI (MR) $2.99
NOV130524 SIDEKICK #6 CVR B ANDRASOFZKY (MR) $2.99
FEB140632 STARLIGHT #2 CVR A SIENKIEWICZ (MR) $2.99
FEB140633 STARLIGHT #2 CVR B PARLOV (MR) $2.99
JAN140568 WALKING DEAD ABRAHAMS ARMY T/S LG WOMEN $19.99
JAN140562 WALKING DEAD ABRAHAMS ARMY T/S MED MEN $19.99
JAN140561 WALKING DEAD ABRAHAMS ARMY T/S SM MEN $19.99


Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for April 2 2014

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN141292 ACG CLASSICS COLL PACK ADV INTO UNKNOWN ED $129.99
JAN141291 ACG COLL WORKS ADV INTO UNKNOWN SLIPCASE ED VOL 06 $64.99
JAN141293 ACG COLL WORKS FORBIDDEN WORLDS SLIPCASE ED VOL 05 $64.99
JAN141295 ACG COLL WORKS OUT OF THE NIGHT SLIPCASE ED VOL 03 $64.99
FEB141081 ADVENTURE TIME FLIP SIDE #4 MAIN CVRS $3.99
FEB141474 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #19 PULLBOX MOLINA $3.99
FEB141473 ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #19 REG LAROSA $3.99
JAN141129 ASH & THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #5 $3.99
JAN141460 BAR MAID #4 A CVR TUCCI (MR) $3.50
JAN141461 BAR MAID #4 B CVR QUALANO (MR) $3.50
FEB141280 BATTER UP CHARLIE BROWN HC $9.99
JAN141012 BEAUTIFUL SCARS HC $19.99
FEB141396 BEN 10 OMNIVERSE GN PARALLEL PARADOX $7.99
DEC130859 BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS BETTY & VERONICA TP VOL 01 $9.99
JAN140872 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #222 $3.99
JAN141260 BLACK METAL GN VOL 03 $11.99
FEB141510 BLEACH GN VOL 60 $9.99
JAN141376 BLOODSHOT DLX ED HC VOL 01 $39.99
FEB140962 CALIBAN #1 (MR) $3.99
FEB140964 CALIBAN #1 TERROR CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140963 CALIBAN #1 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB141336 CHICAGOLAND DETECTIVE AGENCY GN VOL 06 MIDTERM NIGHTS SCHEME $6.95
FEB140967 CROSSED BADLANDS #51 (MR) $3.99
FEB140970 CROSSED BADLANDS #51 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140969 CROSSED BADLANDS #51 TORTURE CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140968 CROSSED BADLANDS #51 WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
JAN141310 DANCE IN VAMPIRE BUND OMNIBUS VOL 05 (MR) $19.99
FEB141035 DEAD LETTERS #1 $3.99
FEB141250 DF TWILIGHT ZONE #1 FAT JACKS COMICRYPT B&W EXC $30.00
JAN141312 DICTATORIAL GRIMOIRE GN VOL 03 RED RIDING HOOD (MR) $13.99
FEB141513 DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR TP VOL 02 $19.99
DEC130811 FINAL PLAGUE #5 (MR) $2.99
FEB141096 GARFIELD #24 $3.99
FEB141547 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #96 A CVR LAISO (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
FEB141548 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #96 B CVR MYCHAELS (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
FEB141549 GFT GRIMM FAIRY TALES #96 C CVR REI (AOFD) (MR) $2.99
FEB140992 GOD IS DEAD #10 (MR) $3.99
FEB140993 GOD IS DEAD #10 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140994 GOD IS DEAD #10 END OF DAYS CVR (MR) $3.99
FEB140995 GOD IS DEAD #10 ICONIC CVR (MR) $3.99
DEC130829 GOLD DIGGER #209 $3.99
FEB141525 HANA KIMI 3IN1 TP VOL 08 $14.99
FEB141523 HAPPY MARRIAGE GN VOL 05 (MR) $9.99
JAN141046 HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS GN $16.95
JAN141296 HARVEY HORRORS COLL PACK WITCHES TALES HC ED $129.99
SEP131279 HARVEY HORRORS COLL WORKS BLACK CAT MYSTERY HC VOL 04 $47.99
JAN141298 HARVEY HORRORS SOFTIE COLL PACK $64.99
SEP131281 HARVEY HORRORS WITCHES TALES SOFTIE TP VOL 04 $24.99
FEB141389 HELLO KITTY GN SURPRISE $7.99
FEB141298 HIDDEN CHILDS STORY OF HOLOCAUST HC GN $16.99
FEB141514 HUNTER X HUNTER GN VOL 32 $9.99
FEB141526 LIBRARY WARS LOVE & WAR GN VOL 11 $9.99
JAN141209 LOCAS TP VOL 01 MAGGIE THE MECHANIC (NEW PTG) $18.99
DEC131079 MARK WAID GREEN HORNET #11 $3.99
FEB141100 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR LET FREEDOM RING GN $11.99
FEB141399 MAX STEEL GN HAYWIRE $7.99
FEB141509 NARUTO GN VOL 65 $9.99
JAN140923 NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD AFTERMATH TP VOL 02 (MR) $19.99
FEB141515 NURA RISE O/T YOKAI CLAN GN VOL 20 $9.99
SEP131213 PHANTOM COMP DAILIES HC VOL 01 1936-1937 DLX ED $49.99
FEB141402 POKEMON BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 15 $4.99
SEP131282 PRE CODE CLASSICS WEIRD MYSTERIES HC VOL 02 $47.99
FEB141470 QUANTUM & WOODY #9 PULLBOX RANEY $3.99
FEB141469 QUANTUM & WOODY #9 REG FOWLER $3.99
JAN140821 RACHEL RISING #24 $3.99
DEC131047 RED SONJA #8 FRISON CVR $3.99
DEC131048 RED SONJA #8 RUFFINO CVR $3.99
FEB141190 RED SONJA AND CUB ONE SHOT $4.99
FEB141053 REVELATIONS #4 (MR) $3.99
DEC131068 SHADOW YEAR ONE #8 CVR A WAGNER $3.99
DEC131069 SHADOW YEAR ONE #8 CVR B ROSS $3.99
DEC131070 SHADOW YEAR ONE #8 CVR C SAMNEE $3.99
DEC131071 SHADOW YEAR ONE #8 CVR D CHAYKIN $3.99
DEC130953 SHAHRAZAD #4 $3.50
OCT130794 SKYWARD #6 $2.99
FEB141324 SLEEP OF REASON GN (MR) $30.00
JAN141315 STRIKE WITCHES MAIDENS I/T SKY GN VOL 02 (MR) $12.99
FEB141056 SUICIDE RISK #12 $3.99
FEB141524 SWEET REIN GN VOL 02 $9.99
FEB141337 TAO LITTLE SAMURAI GN #1 PRANKS & ATTACKS $6.95
FEB141338 TAO LITTLE SAMURAI GN #2 NINJAS & KNOCK OUTS $6.95
FEB141339 TAO LITTLE SAMURAI GN #3 CLOWNS & DRAGONS $6.95
FEB141340 TIB & TUMTUM GN VOL 02 MY AMAZING DINOSAUR $7.95
FEB141511 TORIKO GN VOL 21 $9.99
FEB141137 TUROK DINOSAUR HUNTER #3 $3.99
FEB141392 UGLYDOLL GN MY HERO $7.99
FEB141527 VOICE OVER SEIYU ACADEMY GN VOL 04 $9.99

MAGAZINES
FEB141029 BLEEDING COOL MAGAZINE #10 (MR) $4.99
OCT131520 COMIC BOOK CREATOR #4 $8.95
FEB141652 COMIC SHOP NEWS #1398 PI
DEC131440 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #29 DETECTIVE COMICS #362 $20.00
JAN141525 DC BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA FIG COLL MAG #30 CLASSIC TV SERIES BAT $20.00
DEC131444 DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIG COLL MAG #54 OCEAN MASTER BLACK PAWN $16.00
JAN141547 DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #471 $9.99
OCT131541 G FAN #105 $6.95
FEB141645 HI FRUCTOSE MAGAZINE QUARTERLY #31 $7.95
NOV131454 HOBBY JAPAN FEB 2014 $16.60
JAN141562 LOCUS #638 $7.50
DEC131445 MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #3 WOLVERINE WHITE KNIGHT $16.00
DEC131446 MARVEL CHESS FIG COLL MAG #4 LOKI BLACK BISHOP $16.00
JAN141551 MONSTER BASH #21 $8.99
JAN141539 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 25 #2 CAPTAIN AMERICA WINTER SOLDIER CV $5.99
OCT131515 STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG COLL MAG #12 AKIRA CLASS $20.00
NOV131431 STAR TREK STARSHIPS FIG COLL MAG #13 JEM HADAR CRUISER $20.00

BOOKS
FEB141532 BATTLE ROYALE REMASTERD SC NOVEL $16.99
FEB141533 BATTLE ROYALE SLAM BOOK SC $14.99
FEB141067 JIM HENSONS LABYRINTH HC NOVEL $19.99
JAN141523 MADELINE & GENEVIEVE MINIATURE BOOK KIT $9.95
DEC131413 MARVEL ENCYCLOPEDIA HC 75TH ANNIV ED $40.00
NOV131373 ORIGINS OF COMICS FROM WILLIAM HOGARTH TO WINSOR MCCAY HC $50.00