Monday, November 13, 2017

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 15, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP170055    BRIGGS LAND LONE WOLVES #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP170056    BRIGGS LAND LONE WOLVES #6 (OF 6) VAR    $3.99
JUL170193    CALL OF DUTY ZOMBIES TP    $19.99
SEP170035    JENNY FINN #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
SEP170045    NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS SHADOWS #9 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170046    NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS SHADOWS #9 VAR (MR)    $3.99
SEP170033    RASPUTIN VOICE OF DRAGON #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP170034    RASPUTIN VOICE OF DRAGON #1 (OF 5) VAR    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 15, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

SEP170706    BLACK SCIENCE #33 CVR A SCALERA & DINISIO (MR)    $3.99
SEP170707    BLACK SCIENCE #33 CVR B TAN (MR)    $3.99
SEP170708    BUTCHER BAKER RIGHTEOUS MAKER TP (MR)    $17.99
SEP170717    CURSE WORDS #10 CVR A BROWNE (MR)    $3.99
SEP170718    CURSE WORDS #10 CVR B FRISON (MR)    $3.99
SEP170613    DARK FANG #1 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170719    DESCENDER #26 CVR A NGUYEN    $3.99
SEP170720    DESCENDER #26 CVR B INTERLOCKING LEMIRE & NGUYEN    $3.99
JUL170791    EAST OF WEST #35    $3.99
SEP170638    EVOLUTION #1 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170725    FAMILY TRADE #2    $3.99
SEP170727    GENERATION GONE #5 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170739    HORIZON #16 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170744    INVINCIBLE #142 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170746    KILL THE MINOTAUR #6 (MR)    $3.99
SEP178184    MAESTROS #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
SEP170750    MAESTROS #2 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170751    MAGE HERO DENIED #4 (OF 15)    $3.99
AUG170702    POSTAL #24 CVR A GOODHART (MR)    $3.99
AUG178666    POSTAL #24 CVR B WITCHBLADE VAR (MR)    $3.99
SEP178185    REALM #2 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
SEP170760    REALM #3 CVR A HAUN & FILARDI (MR)    $3.99
SEP170761    REALM #3 CVR B JONES & MADSEN (MR)    $3.99
SEP170659    REGRESSION TP VOL 01 WAY DOWN DEEP (MR)    $9.99
SEP170766    RETCON #3 (MR)    $3.99
AUG170715    RINGSIDE #13 (MR)    $3.99
SEP170798    WICKED & DIVINE #33 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR)    $3.99
SEP170799    WICKED & DIVINE #33 CVR B DAUTERMAN (MR)    $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for November 15, 2017

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

SEP171769    AB IRATO TP VOL 01    $24.99
SEP171033    ACTIONVERSE ONGOING #3 STRAY CVR A IZAAKSE    $3.99
SEP171034    ACTIONVERSE ONGOING #3 STRAY CVR B GOLDING    $3.99
SEP171035    ACTIONVERSE ONGOING #3 STRAY CVR C ARANDA RAMOS    $3.99
SEP171697    ADRIFT GN (MR)    $14.95
SEP171343    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #17    $3.99
SEP171344    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #17 SUBSCRIPTION MARRA VAR    $3.99
SEP171853    AFTER EDEN TP    $9.95
JUN172091    ALIEN BOUNTY HUNTER #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL171521    AMORY WARS GOOD APOLLO TP VOL 01 (MR)    $14.99
SEP171871    ART MASTERS SERIES GN VOL 06 MAGRITTE THIS IS NOT BIOGRAPHY    $14.99
SEP171482    ASH VS AOD #5 (OF 5) CVR A SCHOONOVER    $3.99
SEP171483    ASH VS AOD #5 (OF 5) CVR B VARGAS    $3.99
SEP171484    ASH VS AOD #5 (OF 5) CVR C QUALANO    $3.99
SEP171197    ASPEN UNIVERSE DECIMATION #2 CVR A RENNA    $3.99
SEP171198    ASPEN UNIVERSE DECIMATION #2 CVR B PANTALENA    $3.99
SEP171810    ASTERIX AND THE CHARIOT RACE HC    $17.99
SEP171089    BABYTEETH #6 (MR)    $3.99
JUL172036    BAD MACHINERY POCKET ED GN VOL 03 CASE SIMPLE SOUL    $12.99
SEP171143    BIG BOX OF BIG NATE BOXED SET    $39.00
SEP172025    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #3 CVR A ROCAFORT    $3.99
SEP172026    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #3 CVR B VILLAINS PALOSZ    $3.99
SEP172027    BLOODSHOT SALVATION #3 CVR C BATTLE DAMAGED ANACLETO    $3.99
JUL171485    BOLIVAR ORIGINAL HC    $29.99
SEP171085    BRILLIANT TRASH #1 CVR A MIKE NORTON    $3.99
SEP171086    BRILLIANT TRASH #1 CVR B TIM SEELEY    $3.99
JUN171170    CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST #2 CLASSIC ROPP CVR    $3.99
JUN171171    CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST #2 HOMAGE JOURDAN CVR    $3.99
JUN171169    CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST #2 SPOOKY GALLAGHER MAIN CVR    $3.99
SEP171766    CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #4    $3.99
SEP171770    CLOUDIA AND REX TP    $9.99
AUG172204    CORPSE PARTY BOOK OF SHADOWS HC (MR)    $30.00
JUL171251    CRYPT OF HORROR #34    $29.95
SEP171790    DEAD OF WINTER #4    $3.99
SEP171675    DEEPAK CHOPRAS BEYOND TP    $12.99
FEB171619    DF HULK #1 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #23 COMICXPOSURE B&W SET    $89.99
FEB171607    DF WALKING DEAD #163 BLOOD RED GAUDIANO SGN    $20.03
APR171716    DF WALKING DEAD #167 BLOOD RED GAUDIANO SGN    $20.03
APR171717    DF WALKING DEAD #167 ELITE GOLD GAUDIANO SGN    $89.99
SEP171154    DILBERT TP DILBERT GETS RE ACCOMMODATED    $14.99
SEP172095    DIMENSION W GN VOL 08    $13.00
SEP171709    DISNEY PRINCESS #15    $3.99
JUN171894    DIVINICA #3    $3.99
AUG172011    DOCTOR WHO 12TH YEAR THREE #9 CVR A CALDWELL    $3.99
AUG172012    DOCTOR WHO 12TH YEAR THREE #9 CVR B PHOTO    $3.99
MAY171177    DREADFUL BEAUTY ART OF PROVIDENCE TP (MR)    $19.99
SEP171612    DYLAN DOG MATER DOLOROSA GN (MR)    $12.99
SEP171401    EMBER #0 BEAUTIFIED GOLD LEATHER (MR)    $19.99
JUL171980    FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 62    $10.99
SEP171282    FENCE #1    $3.99
AUG178918    FENCE #1 FOC INCV SHANEN PAE VAR    $3.99
SEP171283    FENCE #1 WADA VAR    $3.99
SEP171610    FINDING MOLLY AN ADV IN CATSITTING GN    $24.99
AUG171207    FLAYED GN    $14.95
SEP172103    FORBIDDEN SCROLLERY GN VOL 01    $13.00
SEP171733    FRAU FAUST GN VOL 02    $12.99
SEP171611    FRESH ROMANCE GN VOL 02    $24.99
SEP171499    FRUIT NINJA #3 (OF 3)    $3.99
JAN171941    FUN SPIES PUZZLE SOLVERS & CENTURY CROSSWORDS GN    $24.95
SEP171155    GET FUZZY TREASURY TP CATABUNGA    $18.99
JUL171528    GOLDIE VANCE TP VOL 03    $14.99
AUG171542    GREATEST ADVENTURE #7 CVR A NORD    $3.99
AUG171543    GREATEST ADVENTURE #7 CVR B SMALLWOOD    $3.99
AUG171544    GREATEST ADVENTURE #7 CVR C CASTRO    $3.99
JUL172368    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #10 CVR A CHEN    $3.99
JUL172369    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #10 CVR B REYES    $3.99
JUL172370    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #10 CVR C GARVEY    $3.99
JUL172371    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #10 CVR D DIAZ    $3.99
JUN162043    GRIMM FAIRY TALES COLORING BOOK BOX SET    $34.99
SEP171129    HATCHET #1 LTD ED PHOTO CVR (MR)    $5.99
AUG171933    HEAVENLY BLUES #4    $3.99
SEP171400    HELLINA SCYTHE #1 GOLD LEATHER (MR)    $39.99
SEP171951    HERCULES WRATH O/T HEAVENS (STATIX) #4    $3.99
AUG171065    HERO CATS MIDNIGHT OVER STELLAR CITY TP VOL 02    $11.99
AUG171948    HOLY CORPSE RISING GN VOL 04    $12.99
JUL171633    IZNOGOUD GN VOL 14    $13.95
SEP171448    JAMES BOND FELIX LEITER HC    $24.99
SEP171449    JAMES BOND KILL CHAIN #5 (OF 6) CVR A SMALLWOOD    $3.99
SEP171454    JAMES BOND TP VOL 01 VARGR    $17.99
SEP171512    JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES DOG MEN #6 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
AUG171423    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED TASTY (MR)    $9.99
AUG171425    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED TASTY ADULT (MR)    $9.99
AUG171424    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED TASTY NUDE (MR)    $9.99
SEP171403    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 FAUNA NUDE EAGER BEAVER (MR)    $9.99
SEP171402    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 FAUNA NUDE PERFECTION (MR)    $9.99
AUG171428    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 FAUNA NUDE REAR VIEW (MR)    $9.99
AUG171429    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 FAUNA NUDE STRIPPING (MR)    $9.99
AUG171426    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #1 VIXENS (MR)    $9.99
AUG171427    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #1 VIXENS NUDE (MR)    $9.99
SEP171404    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #2 VIXENS NUDE AGGRESSIVE (MR)    $9.99
SEP171405    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #2 VIXENS NUDE BOLD (MR)    $9.99
JUN171396    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #4 CENTURY NUDE CVR (MR)    $39.99
SEP171409    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #4 FAUNA (MR)    $9.99
SEP171411    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #4 FAUNA ADULT (MR)    $9.99
SEP171410    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #4 FAUNA TOPLESS (MR)    $9.99
JUL171585    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS #5 CENTURY NUDE (MR)    $39.99
SEP172115    KAKEGURUI COMPULSIVE GAMBLER GN VOL 03    $15.00
AUG171066    KID SHERLOCK TP VOL 01    $14.99
AUG171563    KILLER INSTINCT #2 CVR A CINAR    $3.99
AUG171564    KILLER INSTINCT #2 CVR B LAU    $3.99
AUG171565    KILLER INSTINCT #2 CVR C ADAMS EXC SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
AUG178324    LCSD 2017 ANIMOSITY THE RISE HC    $19.99
MAY178234    LCSD 2017 ROBOTECH KERSCHL SUPER PACK    $20.00
JUL172037    LETTER 44 TP VOL 05 BLUESHIFT    $19.99
AUG171646    LITTLE NEMO IN PALACE OF ICE & FURTHER ADVENTURES HC    $19.95
SEP171406    LOOKERS EMBER #1 BIKINI (MR)    $9.99
SEP171407    LOOKERS EMBER #1 BIKINI NUDE (MR)    $9.99
SEP171289    MECH CADET YU #4    $3.99
SEP171290    MECH CADET YU #4 SUBSCRIPTION TO VAR    $3.99
JAN171354    MICHAEL TURNER SOULFIRE TP VOL 05 PANDEMONIUM    $19.99
SEP171901    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #1 CVR A MACK    $3.99
SEP171902    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #1 CVR B MCGINNIS    $3.99
SEP171903    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #1 CVR C VON BUHL    $3.99
SEP171904    MINKY WOODCOCK GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI #1 CVR D PHOTO    $3.99
SEP171066    MISBEGOTTEN RUNAWAY NUN #3 CVR A CASE (MR)    $3.99
SEP171067    MISBEGOTTEN RUNAWAY NUN #3 CVR B BAILEY (MR)    $3.99
SEP171332    MISFIT CITY #7    $3.99
SEP172058    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING GN VOL 03 GLORY OF THE LOSERS    $12.95
SEP171523    NANCY DREW HARDY BOYS TP THE BIG LIE    $19.99
SEP172019    NINJA-K #1 CVR A HAIRSINE    $3.99
SEP172020    NINJA-K #1 CVR B TROYA    $3.99
SEP172024    NINJA-K #1 CVR F PRE-ORDER ED BUNDLE VAR    $3.99
SEP171351    OVER GARDEN WALL ONGOING #20    $3.99
SEP171352    OVER GARDEN WALL ONGOING #20 SUBSCRIPTION OMAC VAR    $3.99
SEP172125    PANDORA HEARTS COMPLETE TP COLLECTORS BOX SET    $230.00
SEP171524    PATHFINDER WORLDSCAPE HC VOL 02    $19.99
SEP171920    PENNY DREADFUL #7 CVR A CADWELL    $3.99
SEP171921    PENNY DREADFUL #7 CVR B PHOTO    $3.99
SEP172113    POLAR BEAR IN LOVE GN VOL 01    $15.00
AUG171072    PRINCELESS RAVEN YEAR 2 #1 LOVE AND REVENGE    $3.99
AUG178842    PRINCELESS RAVEN YEAR 2 #1 LOVE AND REVENGE CVR B    $3.99
SEP171255    PROVIDENCE #1 (OF 12) WEIRD PULP (MR)    $9.99
SEP171256    PROVIDENCE #2 (OF 12) WEIRD PULP (MR)    $9.99
SEP171257    PROVIDENCE #3 (OF 12) WEIRD PULP (MR)    $9.99
SEP171254    PROVIDENCE ACT TWO COMP BOX SET (RES) (MR)    $139.99
AUG171102    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1 CVR A LOGAN (MR)    $3.99
AUG171103    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1 CVR B HACK (MR)    $4.99
AUG171104    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1 CVR C WILLIAMS PAINTED (MR)    $3.99
AUG171105    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1 CVR D MANGUM KILL (MR)    $3.99
AUG171106    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #1 CVR E PHOTO (MR)    $3.99
SEP171152    REDS PLANET GN VOL 02 FRIENDS & FOES (RES)    $9.99
SEP171153    REDS PLANET HC GN VOL 02 FRIENDS AND FOES    $19.99
JUL171328    REICH #12 (OF 12) (MR)    $4.00
JUL172078    REM 8 #5 (MR)    $3.99
SEP171097    ROUGH RIDERS TP VOL 02 RIDERS ON THE STORM    $17.99
SEP171739    SEVEN DEADLY SINS GN VOL 23    $10.99
SEP171538    SHEENA #3 CVR A MORITAT    $3.99
SEP171539    SHEENA #3 CVR B SANAPO    $3.99
SEP171540    SHEENA #3 CVR C BUCHEMI    $3.99
SEP171541    SHEENA #3 CVR D COSPLAY    $3.99
SEP171043    SHINOBI NINJA PRINCESS LIGHTNING ONI #3    $3.99
SEP171269    SIMPSONS COMICS #241    $3.99
SEP171545    SKIN & EARTH #5 (OF 6) CVR A HAND    $3.99
SEP171546    SKIN & EARTH #5 (OF 6) CVR B CROUCH    $3.99
SEP171706    SKINNED HC GN    $24.99
AUG171957    SLUMBERING BEAUTY GN VOL 01    $12.99
SEP171873    STARDUST NATION GN    $19.95
SEP171900    STRANGE & MYSTIFYING STORY GN VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
AUG171468    SUGAR BOOGARZ #1    $3.99
AUG171648    TOYS TALKING HC    $12.95
SEP172098    TRINITY SEVEN 7 MAGICIANS GN VOL 11 (MR)    $13.00
AUG171430    UNHOLY #1 CENTURY CREATION SET (MR)    $149.99
SEP171088    UNHOLY GRAIL #4    $3.99
SEP171741    UQ HOLDER GN VOL 12    $10.99
SEP171430    VALERIAN GN VOL 19 AT EDGE OF GREAT VOID    $11.95
SEP171752    VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER VOL 2 #4 (RES)    $3.99
JUL172189    WARHAMMER 40000 FALLEN #2 (OF 4) CVR A SONDRED    $3.99
JUL172190    WARHAMMER 40000 FALLEN #2 (OF 4) CVR B QUALANO    $3.99
SEP171096    WORLD READER TP VOL 01    $17.99
SEP171748    WRAPPED UP #2 MAIN MCMAHON CVR    $3.99
SEP171749    WRAPPED UP #2 MCGINTY WRAPAROUND CVR    $3.99
SEP171297    WWE SURVIVORS SERIES 2017 SPECIAL #1    $7.99
SEP178079    WWE SURVIVORS SERIES 2017 SPECIAL #1 FOC INCV DOE VAR    $7.99
SEP172121    YOUR NAME GN VOL 02    $13.00
JUN172095    ZOJAQAN #2    $3.99

MAGAZINES
SEP172244    LOCUS #682    $7.50
SEP172245    STAR TREK MAGAZINE DISCOVERY SPECIAL NEWSSTAND ED    $9.99
SEP172246    STAR TREK MAGAZINE DISCOVERY SPECIAL PX ED    $9.99

BOOKS
AUG171962    A LITTLE PRINCESS ILLUS SC    $11.99
SEP172209    BOOK OF ALIEN AUGMENTED REALITY SURVIVAL MANUAL HC    $40.00
SEP172185    CARTOON COUNTY MY FATHER FRIENDS GOLDEN AGE MAKE BELIEVE    $27.00
SEP172204    FAERIE HANDBOOK ENCHANTING COMPENDIUM BY FAERIE MAGAZINE    $35.00
SEP171472    GUMBY IMAGINED HC    $34.99
SEP172212    HANAZUKI BOOK OF TREASURES HC    $12.95
SEP172189    HARVEY COMICS COMPANION SC    $39.00
AUG172335    INCREDIBUILDS HARRY POTTER SORTING HAT DLX MODEL W BOOK    $19.99
AUG172337    INCREDIBUILDS SUPERMAN DAILY PLANET DLX MODEL W BOOK    $19.99
SEP172192    OH MY GOD THEY PRINTED THAT SC    $25.00
SEP172091    RE ZERO SLIAW EX DREAM LION KING LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $14.00
SEP172088    SO IM SPIDER SO WHAT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $14.00
SEP172193    SUPERGIRL YA NOVEL AGE OF ATLANTIS    $13.99
SEP172059    TOKYO GHOUL ILLUSTRATIONS HC ZAKKI    $24.99
JUL171680    UNDISPUTED STREET FIGHTER HC    $39.99
SEP173059    WARHAMMER 40K EYE MEDUSA PROSE NOVEL SC    $16.00
SEP173060    WARHAMMER 40K JAIN ZAR PROSE NOVEL SC    $16.00
AUG172193    YOUR NAME ANOTHER SIDE EARTHBOUND HC LIGHT NOVEL    $20.00

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Review: THE WILD STORM: Michael Cray #1

THE WILD STORM: MICHAEL CRAY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Warren Ellis
WRITER: Bryan Hill
PENCILS: N. Steven Harris
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Steve Buccellato
VARIANT COVER: Gene Ha
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+”

Michael Cray created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi

“Michael Cray – Chapter One”

Started by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, WildStorm Productions was one of the founding studios of Image Comics.  The WildStorm Universe was the fictional shared universe of comic books published by WildStorm and debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover dated: August 1992).

Jim Lee sold WildStorm Productions and his intellectual properties to DC Comics in 1999, and eventually the WildStorm Universe was folded into the DC Universe (DCU) proper.  It can be argued that the most interesting and perhaps, most influential comic books to come out of the WildStorm Universe came after that sale.  Those books were written by Warren Ellis (StormWatch, The Authority and Planetary).  Ellis is currently relaunching the characters, concepts, story lines, etc. of the Wildstorm Universe in his comic book, The Wild Storm, with artist Jon Davis-Hunt.

The first solo spin off series in the relaunch of “The Wild Storm” is The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  It is written by Bryan Hill with Warren Ellis contributing story.  The series is drawn by N. Steven Harris (pencils) and Dexter Vines (inks); colored by Steve Buccellato; and lettered by Simon BowlandMichael Cray also known as the professional assassin, Deathblow, first appeared in the comic book, Darker Image #1 (cover dated: March 1993).

Michael Cray seeks revenge against International Operations (I.O.) for the death sentence with which its has basically trapped him.  The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 finds Cray with an offer of help.  Christine Trelane will give him support, resources, medical aid, and a home, but she has targets that she want Cray to take out.  It starts with that sociopath Silicon Valley billionaire, Oliver Queen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  One reason is that in terms of story pacing and in graphical style, Michael Cray is like The Wild Storm comic book.  Writer Bryan Hill writes a script that allows the story to breathe, which in turns allows the reader to enjoy the surprises and shocks and the edginess the script delivers.  Just the Oliver Queen segments are quite enjoyable and enjoyably tart.

N. Steven Harris' compositions and the sharp inking Dexter Vines lays on them are similar to Jon Davis-Hunt's clean drawing style in The Wild Storm.  Harris and Vines deliver good storytelling while graphically tying their work to Ellis and Davis-Hunt's flagship title.  I like The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 and will be back for more.

A
8 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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Book Review: DEFINING MOMENTS IN BLACK HISTORY: Reading Between the Lies

DEFINING MOMENTS IN BLACK HISTORY: READING BETWEEN THE LIES
HARPERCOLLINS/Amistad – @HarperCollins @AmistadBooks

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

AUTHOR: Dick Gregory – @IAmDickGregory
ISBN: 978-0-06-244869-9; hardcover (September 19, 2017)
256pp, B&W, $24.99 U.S.

Dick Gregory was an African-American comedian, civil rights activist, and entrepreneur.  Born Richard Claxton Gregory on October 12, 1932 in St. Louis Missouri, Gregory was also a writer and social critic.  Gregory died on August 19, 2017, a month before the release of what would be his final book, Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies.

Gregory was a pioneering stand-up comedian because of his “no-holds-barred” comic sets in which he addressed and mocked bigotry and racism.  Although he initially performed primarily before black audiences at segregated clubs, Gregory became one of the first black comedians to successfully cross over to white audiences.  He became the first black comedian to both perform on “Tonight with Jack Parr” and to sit on the couch and talk to host Jack Parr.

In Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies, Dick Gregory uses his trademark acerbic wit, incisive humor, and infectious paranoia as the basis by which he views key events in the history of Black America.  Defining Moments in Black History is a collection of five thoughtful, provocative essays, and an insightful introduction and epilogue.  Gregory discusses everything about Black people in America, from the diaspora and slavery to civil rights and Black Lives Matter, to Black historical figures and modern Black celebrities.

I first knew Dick Gregory as a comedian, and soon came to know that he discussed everything from entrepreneurship to the diet and eating habits of Black folks.  When I discovered that Gregory was involved in the Civil Rights Movement and that he was also a social critic, I found that I had a hard time imagining him as merely a comedian.  I was always interested in what Gregory had to say, and what he had to say was always provocative and almost always insightful.  Because he was a friend of and worked with civil rights luminaries like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Medgar Evers, I saw him as a person I needed to hear.

In 1964, Gregory became involved in the search for three missing civil rights workers:  James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, who vanished in Philadelphia, Mississippi.  Gregory played a large role in forcing the FBI to find the three young men's bodies.  After meeting with a local sheriff, Gregory became convinced that he (Neshoba County Sheriff Lawrence A. Rainey) was complicit in the men's disappearance and with their deaths.  So obviously, Gregory wasn't just any black guy on stage telling jokes.

Defining Moments in Black History reflects that.  Gregory discusses the connection between money and slavery and the importance of Nat Turner's revolt.  He offers numerous examples of how solidarity was important to the progress of Black people in America.  To Gregory, the “Atlanta Compromise;” the founding of groups like the NAACP and the Urban League; and the actions of people like Rosa Parks, the Pullman Porters, the Little Rock Nine, and Shirley Chisholm (to name a few) brought Black people together to make change for Black people.

Gregory is also a believer in conspiracies, so readers may be uncomfortable with his ideas about “the truth” behind the death of Michael Jackson and public fall from grace of Bill Cosby and Tiger Woods.  I found the conspiracy essays a little embarrassing, but I am always willing to at least listen to a man like Gregory when he has a conspiracy he wants to discuss.  However, that should not keep readers from understanding the central arguments behind Defining Moments in Black History.  Gregory's argument is that “White supremacy” is the game being played on Black people in America.  The ones doing the playing are wealthy and powerful white people, according to Gregory, and he argues that even poor white people don't understand White Supremacy.

Gregory says that in order to fight the forces aligned against them, Black people must believe in themselves, in their beauty, in their strength, in their intelligence, and in their ability to learn and grow intellectually.  In this book, Gregory makes clear that he thinks Black people often do not think highly of themselves, accept stereotypes, and are even self-destructive or at least do things that are mostly bad for them.

I agree.  I see Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies as a final gift from a man who straddled the most important moments of Black history for the last six decades.  It is a book of history, a book celebrating Black perseverance, and a book that both encourages and warns.  The fact that we have President Donald Trump is a sign that we have not heeded such warnings.  Maybe Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies has to scream at us.

A
9 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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Thursday, November 9, 2017

Review: Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1

BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ADVENTURES No. 1
IDW PUBLISHING/DC Comics – @DCComics @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Matthew K. Manning
PENCILS: Jon Sommariva
INKS: Sean Parsons
COLORS: Leonardo Ito
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER: Jon Sommariva
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kevin Eastman with Tomi Varga; Ciro Nielli; Hilary Barta with Jason Millet; Ty Templeton; Ben Bishop; Alex Kotkin; Ken Haeser; Steve Lavigne and Peter Laird with Ben Bishop; Tony Fleecs; J. Bone; Ian Nichols; Dario Brizuela; Eddie Nunez; Derek Fridolfs with Heather Breckel
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2016)

“The Face of Two Worlds”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as TMNT and Ninja Turtles) are a media empire that began with four fictional characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.  The comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (cover dated: May 1984), introduced four teenage anthropomorphic turtles (meaning they walk and talk like humans).

Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael were adopted by an anthropomorphic rat, Master Splinter, who was their sensei and who trained them in the art of ninjutsu.  The Turtles live in the sewers of New York City and battle every bad guy from petty criminals and overlord-mastermind types to alien invaders and mutated creatures.

DC Comics and IDW Publishing united last year to publish the crossover comic book, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Now, IDW Publishing has just released the second such crossover, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.  It is written by Matthew K. Manning; drawn by Jon Sommariva (pencils) and Sean Parsons (inks); colored by Leonardo Ito; and lettered by Shawn Lee.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 (“The Face of Two Worlds”) opens in the Turtles' New York City, where we find them fighting crime in their own unique way.  Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Batman is trying to find out why select denizens of the infamous prison, Arkham Asylum, are disappearing and sometimes returning... and telling strange tales.

When I first heard about the first Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover comic book (published by DC Comics), I wanted to read it, of course.  However, I was and still am cynical about crossover comic books, so I did not expect much from Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I was more than pleasantly surprised.  It is one of the best inter-comic book company crossover comic books that I have ever read.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #1 takes its leads from those “Adventures” comic books.  Back in 1992, a syndicated animated television series named “Batman” debuted.  Commonly known as “Batman: The Animated Series,” it featured Batman in a visually striking manner that recalled the art and design of the 20th century's early decades and also the early years of Batman comic books.  DC Comics published a comic book based on “Batman: The Animated Series,” entitled “Batman Adventures,” which was also friendlier and more open to younger readers than regular Batman titles.  Since then, other comic books based on animated TV series have followed the lead of Batman Adventures, including IDW's (which has the license to publish TMNT comic books) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures is certainly an “Adventures” comic book.  Honestly, I have mixed feelings about such comic books, so I am not as excited about this new comic book miniseries as I was about Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was darker in tone and more like Eastman and Laird's early TMNT comic books, with their raw, edgy, DIY aesthetic.  However, I want to give Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures a chance.  I want to see where this is going.  Truthfully, I would like to see Batman and the Ninja Turtles crossovers past this new series

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, November 8, 2017

Review: MARVEL LEGACY #1

MARVEL LEGACY No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
ART: Esad Ribic with Steve McNiven
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
ADDITIONAL ARTISTS: Chris Samnee; Russell Dauterman; Alex Maleev; Ed McGuinness; Stuart Immonen and Wade von Grawbadger; Pepe Larraz; Jim Cheung; Daniel Acuña; Greg Land and Jay Leisten; Mike Deodato, Jr.; David Marquez
COVER: Joe Quesada and Kevin Nowlan with Richard Isanove
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross; Mark Brooks; John Tyler Christopher; Mike Deodato, Jr.; Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson; Greg Land with Frank D'Armata; Amy Reeder; Skottie Young
64pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Marvel Legacy #1 is a new one-shot comic book from Marvel Comics.  I don't really know its purpose, other than what I read on the Internet.  After a year of reportedly falling sales of its comic books, Marvel does what it and DC Comics normally do:  initiate a reboot or a re-launch or hit-the-refresh/restart button, etc.  Such a rehash... I mean such a refresh is usually preceded by some kind of large scale publishing event, as it was here.  I guess that was the Secret Empire miniseries and the corresponding tie-ins and spin-offs.

SO I'LL SAVE YOU SOME TIME:  Marvel Legacy #1 has a few entertaining moments, with the best being the Wolverine reveal.  Some of it piqued my interest, but most it fell flat for me.  If you are looking for something exceptional, great, memorable, etc., Marvel Legacy #1 is not it, and it certainly is not worth the $5.99 cover price.  That said, you only need to keep reading this review if you usually enjoy my ramblings...

So here we go again; Marvel Legacy #1 launches the next big start-over.  I have read a lot of web commentary in which people compare this comic book to DC Comics' DC Universe Rebirth from last year.  I don't see the resemblance, and Rebirth has purpose and direction (at least to me), whereas Marvel Legacy #1 reads like a bunch of teasing and anticipation balled up together.

Marvel Legacy #1 has an omniscient narrator, Valeria Richards, the second child of Reed Richards and Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four.  She talks about legacies and begins her narration “One Million Years Ago.”  Something happened back then; that something plus some more bad stuff is coming back today.  Get ready.

Yep, that's it – something wicked this way comes, eventually.  The main story is written by Jason Aaron and drawn mainly by Esad Ribic, with some of it drawn by Steve McNiven.  Interspersed between segments of the main story are some one and two-page excerpts from upcoming Legacy launches – like Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's upcoming run on Captain America (Steve Rogers).

That's what this is all about, right?  A return to original i.e. traditional i.e. “white” characters.  Some believe that Marvel angered its aging white male fan base by recasting too many of its characters as black, Latino, Asian, female or some combination thereof.  Here's an anecdote for you.  For years, white male comic book readers told me that they did not want white comic books or black comic books, but they wanted good comic books.  Okay... Black male Spider-Man, Black female Iron Man, White female Hawkeye, Pan-Asian Muslim Ms. Marvel, White lady Thor are the leads of some very well written comic book series.  I know that because I read them.  But whiny White comic book retailers, clueless comic book corporate middle management, and fans who don't read books they complain about are driving this need for Marvel Comics to reset.

But the real villains here are Marvel Comics' shitty editorial decisions, arrogant management, piss-poor publishing plans, and virtually non-existent marketing.  Marvel Legacy #1 exists for the same reasons Marvel NOW, All-New Marvel NOW, and Marvel Now & Laters existed – all of the above and Marvel's addiction to the sales bump it gets from #1 issues.

Marvel Comics publishes too many comic books and has been doing so for 30 years.  Many of those comic books exist because Marvel will throw a lot of money at “star creators” to produce comics; or because someone will come up with some cute gimmick; or simply to grab more market share; or because a hit Marvel Studios movie will mean launching 10 new comic books directly, indirectly, vaguely, and/or even tangentially related to the movie.  Baby Groot the comic book series, y'all.

Too many titles frustrate readers for various readers, but especially because they cannot keep up with all those new comic books.  Marvel Legacy #1 is another pretend fix for symptoms that arise from Marvel's poor decision making.  That decision making needs a cure; the symptoms will go away after the cure.  For all Marvel's talk of a return to classic Marvel storytelling, next year it will do something like recast all its characters as Buddhists golden retrievers.

Marvel Comics' real legacy is that, no matter who owned Marvel, they never appreciated the artists and writers who really created the characters and stories that made Marvel a business and cultural force.  They held on tightly to Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and more while being dismissive of the talent, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, that drew those characters into existence.  Did it ever occur to those bosses how many more great characters and stories creators like Kirby and Ditko would have created for Marvel had the bosses acknowledged them financially and personally in a manner befitting people who multi-million dollar franchises?

So Marvel Legacy #1 epitomizes Marvel's real legacy – the short-sighted, self-serving choices instead of the long term choices that come with more risk and less immediate gratification.  Plus, Marvel Legacy #1 is just another comic book, fast food hamburger off the corporate conveyor belt – granted that there is some rather nice art inside.

C
4 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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