Monday, July 31, 2017

I Reads You Juniors July 2017 - Update #50

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in French.

From PreviewsWorld:  Marvel announced its 53rd Marvel Legacy title, Captain America #695, from the creative team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.

From HowardCruse:  Noted Underground Comix cartoonist Howard Cruse is writing about his experiences as a cartoonist for "Playboy" magazines.

From BleedingCool:  Bryan Hitch teases something with Justice League and Justice Society of America.

From BleedingCool:  Here is an 8-page preview of "X-Men: Grand Design" from Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree).

From ICv2:  Marvel reveals 1,000,000 BC Avengers.

From BleedingCool: In October, Image Comics will publish 30 tribute covers for "The Walking Dead."

From BleedingCool:  Mark Buckingham and Steve Rude will be the creative team of DC Comics' "Manhunter vs. Sandman," replacing the announced creative team.

From CBR:  Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca, the creative team behind Marvel's excellent Darth Vader comic book that began in 2015, will become the new creative time of the main Star Wars comic book, beginning in the Fall.

From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston interviews recent Eisner Award winner, Sonny Liew.

From CBR:  As part of Marvel Comics' "Legacy" the Inhumans in the comic book series, "Royals" will get a redesign by Javier Rodriguez.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in French.

From MailChimp via The Comics Reporter:  IDW and French graphic novel publisher, Glenat, have joined for a venture called "Original Graphic Novel," which will produce original comic books to be published both in the U.S. and France.

From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics Bullpen legend, Flo Steinberg, died Sunday, July 23, 2017.

From BleedingCool:  David Avallone talks about bring pin-up/bondage goddess Bettie Page back to comics in Dynamite Entertainment's "Bettie Page."

From TheComicsReporter:  Another newspaper editorial cartoonist, Nick Anderson, has been fired.

SDCC:

From BleedingCool:  Veterans artists Keith Pollard and Ron Wilson win "Inkpot Awards."

From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller will write and John Romita, Jr. will draw "Superman: Year One."

From BleedingCool:  "Highlights" from Marvel boss, Joe Quesada's SDCC panel.

From BleedingCool:  There will be a Justice League/Doom Patrol Young Animal crossover comic book event.

From CBR:  The 2017 Eisner Award winners (for excellence in comics) have been announced.  Image Comics' "Saga" led with four wins.

From CBR:  Beloved Star Wars Expanded Universe character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is getting a comic book series from Marvel Comics.

From CBR:  IDW Publishing has announced the expansion of the "Black Crown" imprint, which is overseen by former Vertigo boss, Shelley Bond, including a book drawn by Love and Rockets' Gilbert Hernandez.

From Newarama:  Grant Morrison is writing sequels to two of his biggest hits, "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Wonder Woman: Earth One."

From CBR:  Ed Piskor, the creator of "Hip Hop Family Tree," is producing a six-issue history of the X-Men in the miniseries, "X-Men: Grand Design."

From TheComicsReporter:  Jeff Smith ("Bone") is releasing his first picture book through Scholastic Books.

From BleedingCool:  At the IDW/Top Shelf panel, a final "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" miniseries is announced.
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From CBR:  Image Comics studio, Top Cow, is rebooting Cyber Force, which was one of the debut Image Comics titles in 1992.

From Vulture:  A profile of Karen Berger's new line of comic books at Dark Horse, "Berger Books."

From BleedingCool:  Award-winning cartoonist, Box Brown, will produce a new comic book based on Nickelodeon's "Rugrats" for BOOM! Studios "KaBoom!" imprint.

From BleedingCool:  Steve Skroce, the comic book artist famous for storyboarding the film, "The Matrix," has a new comic book.  He is writing and drawing "Maestros" from Image Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Former editor of DC Comics' Vertigo line, Karen Berger, is now at Dark Horse.  Her new line, Berger Books, announces its initial titles.

From BleedingCool:  DC Super Hero Girls keeps getting bigger.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #126 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #127 in English.

From BleedingCool:  Mike Ploog will make the miniseries, "Thicker Than Blood," his final work as he moves on to retirement.

From ComicsBeat:  Jack Kirby and Stan Lee named "Disney Legends" at D23 Expo 2017.

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BLURB REVIEW:

Youngblood #2 (Image Comics – June 2017) by Chad Bowers and Jim Towe with Juan Manuel Rodriguez

I would like to be snarky and be cynical, but I have to admit that I am really liking this new Youngblood comic book.  Writer Chad Bowers is keeping things relatively simple, introducing new characters and reviving “classic” Youngblood characters.  I don't remember much about the original Youngblood series, but I like the way in which Bowers is bringing together the past while pushing forward with new blood.  Artist Jim Towe and colorist Juan Manuel Rodriguez are quite good on covers and splash pages, and I can see Towe's storytelling steadily improving.  Simply put, I like what Bowers and Towe are doing here and so far, I enjoy the read.

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From BleedingCool:  Scott Sndyer talks about his DC "Metal" comics.

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton details the history of "Super-Chief" in his latest DC History column.

From RichardSala:  Go and start reading "The Bloody Cardinal 2."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in French.

From BleedingCool:  More details on Sean Murphy's "Batman: White Knight."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Mobile - #88

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton gives you a Silver Age history of DC Comics' "Cave Carson," who now stars in "Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye."

From ICv2:  Marvel Comics' "Legacy #1" one-shot will lead into 53 new comic book titles.

From CBR:  Stan Sakai talks about his one-shot comic book that reunited his samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

From BleedingCool:  Will DC Comics make a move to return to publishing creator-owned comic books?

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124 in French

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Mobile #87.

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From BleedingCool:  Howard Chaykin responds to cover controversy.

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics and Howard Chaykin apologize and pull the planned cover art for "The Divided States of Hysteria #4."

From BleedingCool:  A tale of two covers - Black #3 and The Divided States of Hysteria #4.
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From GoFundMe:  Verteran comic book creator and World War II veteran Sam Glanzman is in hospice care and needs his readers' help.

From TCJ:  Sloane Leong offers a tribute to the webcomic, "Octopus Pie" (which I once reviewed for the ComicBookBin).


Saturday, July 29, 2017

Review: DOOM PATROL #2

DOOM PATROL No. 2 (2016)
DC COMICS/Young Animal – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gerard Way
ART: Nick Derington
COLORS: Tamra Bonvillain
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: Nick Derington
VARIANT COVERS: Mike and Laura Allred
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Mature Readers

Doom Patrol created by Arnold Drake

“Negative World” Part Two: “Brick by Brick 2”

The 2016 Doom Patrol is the latest iteration of DC Comic's Silver Age superhero team of the weird.  Part of the new DC Comics imprint, “Young Animal,” the new Doom Patrol is written by Gerard Way; drawn by Nick Derington; colored by Tamra Bonvillain; and lettered by Todd Klein.

Doom Patrol #2 (“Brick by Brick 2”) finds ambulance driver, Casey Brinke, and her partner, Samuel, getting the most peculiar emergency calls.  For instance, there is the raving lunatic who might be Larry Trainor.  Also, Robotman awakens; more Doom Patrol members from the past begin to appear, and there is a reunion and more extra-dimensional weirdness.

Gerard Way is certainly building his new Doom Patrol (DP) brick by brick.  With this second issue, however, there is just as much of the story becoming clear as there is of it remaining weird and vague.  Readers will like that more members of the original DP appear, as well as a somewhat infamous member.  After reading this second issue, I think that Grant Morrison's late 1980s, early 1990s Doom Patrol is the primary template for the Young Animals DP.  I don't yet know if that is a good thing, although I am a fan of Morrison's DP.

I still really like the art by Nick Derington.  No, I think I am falling in love with Derington's simple, clean style that looks like an indie comics version of Silver Age comic book art and also has a passing resemblance to the art of Chris Samnee.  It's great graphical storytelling simply because the art makes you want to keeping reading, being excited for each new page.

I am still recommending the Young Animal Doom Patrol.  Although I want more, I am not ready to give it a review grade.

[This comic book contains a “special sneak preview” of Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #1 by Gerard Way and Jon Rivera and Michael Avon Oeming.]

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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Friday, July 28, 2017

Review: GLITTERBOMB #1

GLITTERBOMB No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jim Zub – @jimzub
ART: Djibril Morissette-Phan
COLORS: K. Michael Russell
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon – @MarshallDillon
COVER A:  Djibril Morissette-Phan
COVER B: Steve Cummings and Djibril Morissette-Phan
VARIANT COVERS: Christian Ward; Djibril Morissette-Phan
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Glitterbomb created by Jim Zub and Djibril Morissette-Phan

Part 1: “Circular Homicide”

Glitterbomb is a new comic book series created by Jim Zub and Djibril Morissette-Phan.  Published by Image Comics, it is written by Zub; drawn by Morissette-Phan; colored by K. Michael Russell; and lettered by Marshall Dillon.  Glitterbomb is a horror story about fame and failure and focuses on a middle-aged actress struggling in Hollywood.

Glitterbomb #1 (“Circular Homicide”) introduces Farrah Durante, once the star of the television series, “Space Farers.”  Now, she is a middle-aged actress hunting for her next acting gig in an industry where experience is not as important as youth and fresh beauty.  A single mother to a pre-school son, Marty, Farrah finds her frustrations mounting, but that will lure something horrifying to her.

One of the best aspects of Jim Zub's writing is that he makes his characters' frustrations, dilemmas, and trials and tribulations resonate with the reader.  Farrah's troubles certainly seem genuine, which certainly made me sympathetic to her.  I don't know what to make of the horror element, but I am curious to see where that goes.

Newcomer artist Djibril Morissette-Phan is surprisingly polished, and his storytelling is sharp, efficient, and clear.  I must admit that I am also surprised by his skills as a cover artist.  I won't grade this series now, but I look forward to more issues.

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


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

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Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Review: AFTER HOURS Volume 1

AFTER HOURS, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Yuhta Nishio
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Sabrina Heep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9380-7; paperback (June 2017); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
160pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

After Hours is a yuri manga from creator Yuhta Nishio.  “Yuri” is “girls' love” manga, a genre which depicts romantic situations between female characters.

After Hours, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces 24-year-old Emi Asahina.  She is unemployed and does not know what to do with her life.  One night, she is supposed to meet her friend, Mayumi, at a night club, but discovers that Mayumi has ditched her for a guy... again.

Emi decides to hide in the corner of the club, because she really does not like the club scene.  When a guy tries to hit on her, she is rescued by a young woman who introduces herself as Kei, a DJ.  Kei seems determined to be friends with Emi, and by the end of the night Emi will discover just how far Kei wants that friendship to go.

I think that I'd heard of girls' love manga somewhere in the last decade or so of reviewing manga.  My VIZ Media rep sent me a copy of the first graphic novel in the After Hours manga series, giving me my first chance to read “yuri.”

After Hours Volume 1 did not shock me at all. The first volume of yaoi or boys' love manga that I read was pretty surprising, but I can't remember which manga it was.  The characters in After Hours are interesting because there seems to be some mystery about the leads, their motivations, and their plans.  Beyond that, they are not particularly strong characters... yet.  I anticipate lots of drama in this series, just going on a few cues and clues, so I want to see more of this.

B+
7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Monday, July 24, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 26, 2017

DC COMICS

MAY170198    ACTION COMICS #984    $2.99
MAY170199    ACTION COMICS #984 VAR ED    $2.99
MAY170200    ALL STAR BATMAN #12    $4.99
MAY170201    ALL STAR BATMAN #12 ALBUQUERQUE VAR ED    $4.99
MAY170202    ALL STAR BATMAN #12 FIUMARA VAR ED    $4.99
APR170417    AQUAMAN KINGDOM LOST TP    $16.99
MAY170205    BATGIRL #13    $3.99
MAY170206    BATGIRL #13 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170209    BATMAN BEYOND #10    $3.99
MAY170210    BATMAN BEYOND #10 VAR ED    $3.99
APR170437    BATMAN SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN TRINITY TP NEW EDITION    $19.99
MAY170290    BATMAN THE SHADOW #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY170292    BATMAN THE SHADOW #4 (OF 6) EPTING VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170291    BATMAN THE SHADOW #4 (OF 6) SALE VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170217    BLUE BEETLE #11    $3.99
MAY170218    BLUE BEETLE #11 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN170426    DC DESIGNER SER WONDER WOMAN BY ADAM HUGHES STATUE (RES)    $130.00
MAY170225    DETECTIVE COMICS #961    $2.99
MAY170226    DETECTIVE COMICS #961 VAR ED    $2.99
MAY170314    DOOM PATROL #7 (RES) (MR)    $3.99
MAY170315    DOOM PATROL #7 VAR ED (RES) (MR)    $3.99
MAY170229    FLASH #27    $2.99
MAY170230    FLASH #27 VAR ED    $2.99
APR170414    FLASH REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 01    $34.99
APR170413    FLASH TP VOL 03 ROGUES RELOADED (REBIRTH)    $16.99
APR170452    FROSTBITE TP (MR)    $16.99
MAY170241    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25    $3.99
MAY170242    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170247    HELLBLAZER #12    $3.99
MAY170248    HELLBLAZER #12 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170255    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11    $2.99
MAY170256    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #11 VAR ED    $2.99
MAY170298    KAMANDI CHALLENGE #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
MAY170299    KAMANDI CHALLENGE #7 (OF 12) VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170306    LOONEY TUNES #238    $2.99
MAY170316    MOTHER PANIC #9 (MR)    $3.99
MAY170317    MOTHER PANIC #9 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
MAY170308    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #28    $2.99
MAY170267    SUICIDE SQUAD #22    $2.99
MAY170268    SUICIDE SQUAD #22 VAR ED    $2.99
APR170438    SUPERMAN SAVAGE DAWN TP    $24.99
MAY170279    TEEN TITANS #10    $3.99
MAY170280    TEEN TITANS #10 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY170287    WONDER WOMAN #27    $2.99
MAY170288    WONDER WOMAN #27 VAR ED    $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 26, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

MAY178287    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #8 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
MAY170982    AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION OPERATION GALACTIC STORM TP    $39.99
MAY170849    BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #5    $3.99
MAY170881    BLACK PANTHER #16    $3.99
MAY170883    BLACK PANTHER #16 MCKELVIE CONNECTING VAR    $3.99
MAY170913    CABLE #3    $3.99
MAY170776    CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON #24 SE    $3.99
MAY170777    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #19 SE    $3.99
MAY170789    DEADPOOL #34 SE    $3.99
MAY178289    DEFENDERS #1 2ND PTG MARQUEZ VAR    $4.99
MAY170845    EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY170846    EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #3 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
MAY170946    EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN TP VOL 04 IVX    $16.99
MAY170899    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TELLTALE SERIES #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAY170901    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TELLTALE SERIES #1 (OF 5) GAME VAR    $3.99
MAY170885    GWENPOOL #18    $3.99
MAY170902    I AM GROOT #3    $3.99
MAY170918    ICEMAN #3    $3.99
MAY170831    INFAMOUS IRON MAN #10    $3.99
MAY170942    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES GENERATIONS (BUNDLE OF 5)    $45.00
JUN170002    MARVEL PREVIEWS VOL 04 #1 AUGUST 2017 EXTRAS (Net)    $1.25
MAY170794    MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #7 SE    $3.99
MAY170960    MIGHTY THOR TP VOL 02 LORDS OF MIDGARD    $19.99
MAY170862    MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #21    $3.99
MAY170951    NOVA RESURRECTION TP    $19.99
MAY170793    OCCUPY AVENGERS #9 SE    $3.99
MAY178290    OLD MAN LOGAN #25 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR    $3.99
MAY170873    PUNISHER #14    $3.99
MAY170974    RUNAWAYS TP VOL 05 ESCAPE TO NEW YORK NEW PTG    $14.99
MAY170769    SECRET EMPIRE #7 (OF 10)    $3.99
MAY170771    SECRET EMPIRE #7 (OF 10) SORRENTINO HYDRA HEROES VAR    $3.99
MAY170954    SLAPSTICK THATS NOT FUNNY TP    $17.99
MAY170852    SPIDER-GWEN #22    $3.99
MAY170971    SPIDER-MAN COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC TP VOL 05 NEW PTG    $39.99
MAY178288    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #1 2ND PTG CHEUNG VAR    $4.99
MAY170931    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #10    $3.99
MAY170897    THANOS #9    $3.99
MAY170961    UNCANNY AVENGERS UNITY TP VOL 04 RED SKULL    $17.99
MAY170947    UNCANNY X-MEN SUPERIOR TP VOL 04 IVX    $16.99
MAY178291    WEAPON X #4 2ND PTG LAND VAR    $3.99
MAY170908    WEAPON X #6 WMD    $3.99
MAY178292    X-MEN BLUE #5 2ND PTG ART ADAMS VAR    $3.99
MAY170801    X-MEN BLUE #8 SE    $3.99
MAY178293    X-MEN GOLD #5 2ND PTG SYAF VAR    $3.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for July 26, 2017

IDW PUBLISHING
APR170583    24 LEGACY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
APR170584    24 LEGACY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT #3 (OF 5) SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
MAR170560    ATOMIC ROBO PRESENTS REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES TP VOL 01    $17.99
APR170544    BACK TO THE FUTURE BIFF TO THE FUTURE #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
APR170545    BACK TO THE FUTURE BIFF TO THE FUTURE #6 (OF 6) SUB VAR    $3.99
MAY170453    GHOSTBUSTERS 101 #5 (OF 6) CVR A SCHOENING    $3.99
MAY170454    GHOSTBUSTERS 101 #5 (OF 6) CVR B LATTIE    $3.99
APR170628    MASK MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND TP VOL 01 MOBILIZE    $19.99
MAY170573    MY LITTLE PONY MOVIE PREQUEL #2 CVR A PRICE    $3.99
MAY170574    MY LITTLE PONY MOVIE PREQUEL #2 CVR B FLEECS    $3.99
MAR170507    REVOLUTIONARIES #6    $3.99
MAR170508    REVOLUTIONARIES #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR A    $3.99
MAR170509    REVOLUTIONARIES #6 SUBSCRIPTION VAR B    $3.99
MAY170458    STAR TREK BOLDLY GO #10 CVR A CALTSOUDAS    $3.99
MAY170459    STAR TREK BOLDLY GO #10 CVR B BADOWER    $3.99
MAY170389    TMNT ONGOING #72 CVR A WACHTER    $3.99
MAY170390    TMNT ONGOING #72 CVR B WHALEN    $3.99
MAY170382    TMNT USAGI YOJIMBO CVR A SAKAI    $7.99
MAY170383    TMNT USAGI YOJIMBO CVR B ARAGONES    $7.99
MAY170423    TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #8 CVR A LAWRENCE    $3.99
MAY170424    TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #8 CVR B ROCHE    $3.99
MAY170425    TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #8 CVR C WHALEN    $3.99