Sunday, January 1, 2017

I Reads You New Year 2017

Happy New Year! Let's do this again with more reviews.  We hope to surprise.


Thursday, December 29, 2016

Review: INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1

INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Mike Deodato with Frank Martin
VARIANT COVERS: Gabriele Dell'Otto; Marco D'Alfonso; Skottie Young; John Tyler Christopher
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2016)

Rated “T+”

I did not know that a few years ago it was revealed that Tony Stark was adopted as a baby by Howard and Maria Stark (in Iron Man #17 – 2013 series).  Tony's quest to uncover his legacy is at the heart of the new Iron Man comic book series, International Iron Man.  It is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Alex Maleev; colored by Paul Mounts; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Who is Tony Stark, really?  International Iron Man #1 begins the quest to discover the answer to that question.  The story opens with Iron Man in Sofia Bulgaria at the “Monument to the Soviet Army.”  He has just got his butt kicked.  His mind drifts back 20 years earlier when Tony was a student at the University of Cambridge.  That is where he met Cassandra Gillespie, a mysterious young woman from an even more mysterious family that is marked for death.

I have never been a big fan of Iron Man, not the way I heart for Spider-Man (Parker and Morales), Batman (and Robin), and certain X-Men.  One Iron Man book is enough for me, and that one is currently Invincible Iron Man, which is also written by Brian Michael Bendis.  I guess this is my way of saying that I did not feel particularly moved by this first issue of International Iron Man.

Bendis and Alex Maleev are remembered for their run on Daredevil last decade, so fans of that comic book may rejoice at the chance to see if this team can do for Iron Man what it did for that book.  I wouldn't know what they did, as I have never read a single issue of the Bendis-Maleev Daredevil.

So I'm coming from a place of ignorance in some ways.  Apparently, Doctor Doom will play a part in this series, and while traveling the globe, Iron Man will discover things about the Marvel Universe that he did not know existed.  I'm kinda intrigued.  I may keep reading International Iron Man, but I won't go out of my way.  So how is that for a review?

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Review - Yoshitaka AMANO: Illustrations

YOSHITAKA AMANO: ILLUSTRATIONS
VIZ MEDIA– @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

ARTIST: Yoshitaka Amano
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
DESIGNER: Fawn Lau
EDITOR: Leyla Aker
COVER: Yoshitaka Amano with Fawn Lau
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8957-2; paperback, (August 2016)
132pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN, £12.99 UK

Born in 1952 in Shizuoka Prefecture,Yoshitaka Amano is a Japanese artist, character designer, and illustrator.  He is a scenic designer for live theater and film and a costume designer.  Amano first came into prominence in 1967 as a 15-year-old working for Tatsunoko Production, first working on the anime adaptation of Speed Racer.  He later became the creator of such iconic and influential characters as Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets) and Honeybee Hutch, to name a few.

In the 1980s, Amano soared to fame for his work on covers and interior illustrations for books, the most famous example of such work being his cover and illustrations for author Hideyuki Kikuchi's book series, Vampire Hunter D.  In 1987, Amano began his association with the Final Fantasy video game by designing characters and visual concepts.  Some American readers may know Amano for working with author Neil Gaiman on the award-winning illustrated book, The Sandman: The Dream Hunters.

Now, VIZ Media celebrates the remarkable career of this famed artist with a new art book, Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations.  This 8.5” x 11” softcover volume (which has an illustrated dust jacket) is an overview and survey of Amano's career.  This book includes several color illustrations from Amano's work on Final Fantasy covering a period of just over two decades.  Fans of Vampire Hunter D will delight over the eight pages of paintings, illustrations, and studies from the famed vampire media franchise.  There are also several pages of Amano's illustrations and art for other book series.

Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations also includes the transcript of a conversation between Amano and graphic artist Akira Uno, who once worked with Amano as an art director.  There is a 10-page section featuring Amano's sketches of men and women, and also several pages of anime character designs, fine art, and other work.

I have to say that Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations is a beautifully designed book, but it would have to be because of its subject matter.  Amano's work is so beautiful, colorful, imaginative, and just damn gorgeous; how could a book about him afford to be unpretty?  So the people who put Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations created a colorful and color-infused book that is befitting of an incredible artist, illustrator, and designer.

I must say that I am disappointed that there are no examples of Amano's early work on Speed Racer, nor are their any examples of Amano's work with Neil Gaiman on The Sandman.  The truth is that even this beautiful volume cannot capture the enormity of a talent like Yoshitaka Amano, nor the expanse of his output.  So, yeah, Yoshitaka Amano: Illustrations is a vivid teaser of a survey and overview that will encourage you the reader to go out and look for more.  I do want more.  Once again, VIZ Media has published a fantastic, high-quality art book.

A

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, December 26, 2016

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

DC COMICS

SEP160340    52 TP VOL 02    $34.99
OCT160158    ACTION COMICS #970    $2.99
OCT160159    ACTION COMICS #970 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160160    ALL STAR BATMAN #5    $4.99
OCT160161    ALL STAR BATMAN #5 JOCK VAR ED    $4.99
OCT160162    ALL STAR BATMAN #5 SHALVEY VAR ED    $4.99
OCT160169    BATGIRL #6    $2.99
OCT160170    BATGIRL #6 VAR ED    $2.99
MAR160314    BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES NBA HARLEY QUINN AF    $28.00
OCT160167    BATMAN BEYOND #3    $2.99
OCT160168    BATMAN BEYOND #3 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP160339    BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 03    $19.99
OCT160177    BLUE BEETLE #4    $2.99
OCT160178    BLUE BEETLE #4 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160320    CLEAN ROOM #15 (MR)    $3.99
SEP160367    CLEAN ROOM TP VOL 02 EXILE (MR)    $14.99
OCT160259    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) (RES)    $5.99
OCT160260    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) BURNHAM VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
OCT160262    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) CHAYKIN VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
OCT160261    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) JANSON VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
OCT160264    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) LEE VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
OCT160263    DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #7 (OF 8) MILLER VAR ED (RES)    $5.99
JUL160449    DC DESIGNER SER THE FLASH BY FRANCIS MANAPUL STATUE    $130.00
OCT160185    DEATHSTROKE #9    $2.99
OCT160186    DEATHSTROKE #9 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160189    DETECTIVE COMICS #947    $2.99
OCT160190    DETECTIVE COMICS #947 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160193    FLASH #13    $2.99
OCT160194    FLASH #13 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160322    FROSTBITE #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
OCT160278    FUTURE QUEST #8    $3.99
OCT160279    FUTURE QUEST #8 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT160205    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #11    $2.99
OCT160206    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #11 VAR ED    $2.99
JUN160299    HARLEYS LITTLE BLACK BOOK #5    $4.99
OCT160211    HELLBLAZER #5    $2.99
OCT160212    HELLBLAZER #5 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP160345    JLA TP VOL 09    $29.99
OCT160150    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT160151    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #2 (OF 6) CONNER VAR ED    $3.99
OCT160152    JUSTICE LEAGUE SUICIDE SQUAD #2 (OF 6) DODSON VAR ED    $3.99
SEP160352    METAMORPHO TWO WORLDS ONE DESTINY TP    $14.99
OCT160249    MOTHER PANIC #2 (MR)    $3.99
OCT160250    MOTHER PANIC #2 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
SEP160370    SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE TP BOOK 02 (MR)    $29.99
OCT160284    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #21    $2.99
SEP160354    SECRET SIX TP VOL 02 THE GAUNTLET    $16.99
OCT160273    SIXPACK & DOGWELDER HARD-TRAVELIN HEROZ #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT160282    SUPER POWERS #2 (OF 6)    $2.99
OCT160256    SUPERGIRL BEING SUPER #1 (OF 4)    $5.99
OCT160233    TEEN TITANS #3    $2.99
OCT160234    TEEN TITANS #3 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160235    TITANS #6    $2.99
OCT160236    TITANS #6 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT160275    VIGILANTE SOUTHLAND #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
OCT160241    WONDER WOMAN #13    $2.99
OCT160242    WONDER WOMAN #13 VAR ED    $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Diamonds for December 28, 2016

MARVEL COMICS
OCT168630    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #21 2ND PTG ALEX ROSS VAR    $3.99
OCT168094    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #1 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR NO    $4.99
OCT168095    AVENGERS #1.1 2ND PTG KITSON VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT161020    AVENGERS ENDLESS WARTIME TP    $19.99
OCT168631    BLACK PANTHER #8 2ND PTG STELFREEZE VAR    $3.99
OCT160913    BLACK PANTHER #9    $3.99
OCT160914    BLACK PANTHER #9 RIVERA CONNECTING E VAR    $3.99
OCT168096    BLACK PANTHER WORLD OF WAKANDA #1 2ND PTG RICHARDSON VAR NOW    $4.99
OCT160951    BLACK WIDOW #9    $3.99
OCT168097    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #7 2ND PTG HANS VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT160879    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #8    $3.99
OCT160895    CARNAGE #15    $3.99
SEP161000    CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8)    $4.99
SEP161003    CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8) C VAR    $4.99
SEP161004    CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8) CASSADAY VAR    $4.99
SEP161001    CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8) CHO VAR    $4.99
SEP161002    CIVIL WAR II #8 (OF 8) NOTO VAR    $4.99
OCT168099    CLONE CONSPIRACY #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG DELLOTTO VAR    $3.99
OCT160967    DEADPOOL TOO SOON #3 (OF 4)    $4.99
OCT160921    DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERERS SUPREME #3    $3.99
OCT160971    ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT160974    ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM #3 (OF 5) CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
OCT160973    ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM #3 (OF 5) GRANDT CONNECTION VAR    $3.99
OCT160719    EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #17 IVX    $3.99
OCT160933    GHOST RIDER #2    $3.99
OCT160881    GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #3    $3.99
SEP161102    GUIDE MARVEL UNIV AGENTS SHIELD SEASON 3 CARTER SEASON 2    $3.99
OCT161033    HEROES POWER WOMEN MARVEL ALL NEW MARVEL TREASURY ED TP    $15.99
OCT160788    HULK #1 NOW    $3.99
OCT168632    INFAMOUS IRON MAN #2 2ND PTG MALEEV VAR    $3.99
OCT160853    INFAMOUS IRON MAN #3    $3.99
OCT168098    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 2ND PTG CASELLI VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT161021    INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 01 REBOOT    $17.99
OCT168633    JESSICA JONES #2 2ND PTG MACK VAR    $3.99
OCT160993    MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN VS SINISTER SIX #6    $2.99
OCT160970    MAX RIDE FINAL FLIGHT #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT160873    MIGHTY THOR #14    $3.99
OCT160944    MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #14    $3.99
OCT161012    MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR TP VOL 02 COSMIC COOTIES    $17.99
AUG161006    NEW AVENGERS AIM TP VOL 03 CIVIL WAR II    $19.99
OCT161019    NIGHTHAWK TP HATE MAKES HATE    $17.99
OCT161013    NOVA HUMAN ROCKET TP VOL 02 AFTERBURN    $15.99
OCT160848    PROWLER #3 CC    $3.99
OCT160824    ROCKET RACCOON #1 NOW    $3.99
OCT160888    SPIDER-MAN #11    $3.99
OCT160887    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #12    $3.99
OCT160891    SPIDER-WOMAN #14    $3.99
OCT161007    SPIDER-WOMAN TP VOL 02 SHIFTING GEARS CIVIL WAR II    $15.99
OCT161010    SPIDEY TP VOL 02 AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL    $17.99
OCT160988    STAR WARS #26    $3.99
OCT161017    STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION TP VOL 01 CLONE WARS    $39.99
OCT168634    THANOS #1 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT160936    THUNDERBOLTS #8    $3.99
OCT161014    THUNDERBOLTS TP VOL 01 THERE IS NO HIGH ROAD    $17.99
AUG161005    TOTALLY AWESOME HULK TP VOL 02 CIVIL WAR II    $17.99
OCT168807    ULTIMATES 2 #1 2ND PTG FOREMAN VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT160886    UNCANNY AVENGERS #18    $3.99
OCT160898    UNCANNY INHUMANS #17    $3.99
OCT168806    VENOM #1 2ND PTG SANDOVAL VAR NOW    $3.99
OCT160959    X-MEN 92 #10    $4.99


IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

IDW PUBLISHING

OCT160394    GI JOE (2016) #1    $3.99
OCT160396    GI JOE (2016) #1 BLANK SKETCH CVR    $3.99
OCT160400    GI JOE (2016) #1 MICRO COMIC VAR    $4.99
OCT160395    GI JOE (2016) #1 SUBSCRIPTION VAR A    $3.99
OCT160480    LOVE IS LOVE    $9.99
OCT160415    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND #2    $3.99
OCT160416    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND #2 SUB VAR A    $3.99
OCT160417    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND #2 SUB VAR B    $3.99
OCT160419    ROM #6    $3.99
OCT160420    ROM #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR A    $3.99
OCT160421    ROM #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR B    $3.99
OCT160422    ROM #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR C    $3.99
SEP160448    STAR TREK CLASSIC UK COMICS HC VOL 02    $49.99
OCT160550    STARFALL BOARD GAME (C: 0-1-2)    $29.99
SEP160395    TMNT ULTIMATE COMIC ART POSTER BOOK TP    $19.99
OCT160412    TRANSFORMERS TILL ALL ARE ONE #6    $3.99
OCT160413    TRANSFORMERS TILL ALL ARE ONE #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
OCT160465    X-FILES (2016) #9    $3.99
OCT160466    X-FILES (2016) #9 SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 28, 2016

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT160022    ALIENS DEFIANCE #8    $3.99
OCT160019    ALIENS VS PREDATOR LIFE AND DEATH #1 MAIN PALUMBO CVR    $3.99
OCT160020    ALIENS VS PREDATOR LIFE AND DEATH #1 VAR TENG CVR    $3.99
AUG168422    ART OF GEARS OF WAR 4 HC (C: 0-1-2)    $49.99
AUG160114    BLADE OF IMMORTAL OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 (MR) (C: 1-1-2)    $19.99
AUG160020    BTVS ADULT COLORING BOOK (C: 0-1-2)    $14.99
OCT160067    HARROW COUNTY #19    $3.99
OCT160054    SERENITY NO POWER IN THE VERSE #3 (OF 6) JEANTY VAR    $3.99
OCT160053    SERENITY NO POWER IN THE VERSE #3 (OF 6) MAIN    $3.99
AUG160060    SMITE THE PANTHEON WAR TP (C: 0-1-2)    $14.99
OCT160071    TARZAN ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP160137    WITCHER 3 WILD HUNT WOLF WALL SCULPTURE (C: 0-1-2)    $49.99
OCT160063    WITCHFINDER CITY OF THE DEAD #5    $3.99