Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 17, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

NOV171217    ADVENTURE FINDERS #3    $3.99
NOV171375    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #19    $3.99
NOV171376    ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #19 SUBSCRIPTION VEREGGE VAR    $3.99
AUG171146    ALAN DRACON #4 (OF 6) (RES)    $3.99
JUL172281    ALIEN BOUNTY HUNTER #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV171156    AMAZING AGE #5 (OF 5)    $1.50
NOV171262    ASPEN UNIVERSE DECIMATION #4 CVR A    $3.99
NOV171263    ASPEN UNIVERSE DECIMATION #4 CVR B    $3.99
OCT171114    BEAST NO MORE ONE SHOT (RES) (MR)    $3.99
NOV172121    BELLE BEAST HUNTER #1 (OF 6) A CVR VITORINO    $3.99
NOV172122    BELLE BEAST HUNTER #1 (OF 6) B CVR TOLIBAO    $3.99
NOV172123    BELLE BEAST HUNTER #1 (OF 6) C CVR SANTACRUZ    $3.99
NOV172124    BELLE BEAST HUNTER #1 (OF 6) D CVR RIVIERO    $3.99
NOV172125    BELLE BEAST HUNTER #1 (OF 6) E CVR BLANK SKETCH    $10.00
NOV171150    BRILLIANT TRASH #3    $3.99
NOV171205    CALL OF THE SUICIDE FOREST #1 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
NOV171754    CATALYST PRIME SUMMIT #2 MAIN CVR    $3.99
NOV171761    CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #6    $3.99
AUG171347    COMPLETE OKKO TP    $39.99
OCT171817    CRAZY QUILT SCRAPS & PANELS ON WAY TO GASOLINE ALLEY HC    $70.00
OCT171883    DISNEY MANGA PIRATES CARIBBEAN DEAD MAN CHEST GN    $12.99
NOV171157    DOPPELGANGER #2    $1.50
NOV171665    EC FELDSTEIN KRIGSTEIN BRADBURY MASTER RACE HC    $29.99
NOV172155    FANCY POP DESIGN SC    $49.95
NOV171355    FENCE #3    $3.99
NOV171749    FIFTY FREAKIN YEARS OF FREAK BROTHERS TP (KNOCKABOUT) (RES)    $12.99
NOV171898    FLUTTER GN VOL 03    $14.99
NOV171103    FORCE #3    $3.99
SEP171324    GIANT DAYS NOT ON THE TEST EDITION HC VOL 02    $34.99
NOV171158    GO WEST #1 (MR)    $1.50
AUG171196    GOLD DIGGER #249    $3.99
OCT171783    GOLDEN TIME GN VOL 09    $12.99
SEP171427    GOMER GOOF GN VOL 02 ITS A VAN GOOF    $11.95
NOV171841    GREY AREA THIS ISLAND EARTH TP    $19.99
NOV171838    HILO GN VOL 04 WAKING THE MONSTERS    $13.99
NOV171526    JAMES BOND THE BODY #1 CVR A CASALANGUIDA    $3.99
NOV171348    JIM HENSON STORYTELLER FAIRIES #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
NOV171349    JIM HENSON STORYTELLER FAIRIES #2 (OF 4) SUB SCHIPPER VAR    $3.99
OCT171096    JIMMYS BASTARDS #6 (MR)    $3.99
NOV171105    JUPITER JET #2 CVR A MATSUYA    $3.99
SEP178059    JUPITER JET #2 CVR B ST ONGE    $3.99
OCT171476    KILLER INSTINCT #4 CVR A CINAR    $3.99
OCT171477    KILLER INSTINCT #4 CVR B LAU    $3.99
OCT171478    KILLER INSTINCT #4 CVR C ADAMS EXC SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
NOV171303    KONG ON PLANET OF APES #3    $3.99
NOV171305    KONG ON PLANET OF APES #3 CLASSIC PULP DALTON VAR    $3.99
NOV171304    KONG ON PLANET OF APES #3 CONNECTING MAGNO VAR    $3.99
SEP171521    LIBRARIANS #3 CVR A MOLINE    $3.99
SEP171522    LIBRARIANS #3 CVR B JAKE STONE PHOTO    $3.99
NOV171229    LOS VALIANTS GN    $14.95
OCT171788    MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 01    $13.99
NOV171793    MADE MEN #5 (MR)    $3.99
OCT171535    MALEFIC #4 (OF 8)    $4.99
NOV171790    MARIA HOLIC GN VOL 13    $11.95
NOV171323    MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #23    $3.99
SEP171038    MIRACULOUS #19 KUNG FOOD    $4.99
OCT171045    MIRACULOUS #20 CVR A    $4.99
OCT171046    MIRACULOUS #20 CVR B    $4.99
NOV171106    MIRACULOUS #21 CVR A REFLEKTA    $4.99
NOV171107    MIRACULOUS #21 CVR B REFLEKTA    $4.99
NOV171131    MISBEGOTTEN TP VOL 01 RUNAWAY NUN    $14.99
NOV172050    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING GN VOL 04 GLORY OF THE LOSERS    $12.95
NOV171159    MR CRYPT #3 (OF 3)    $1.50
NOV171215    MUTTS SPRING DIARIES TP    $9.99
OCT171792    MY MONSTER SECRET GN VOL 09    $12.99
OCT171794    NON NON BIYORI GN VOL 09    $12.99
NOV171877    ORANGE FUTURE TP (MR)    $12.99
SEP171429    ORBITAL GN VOL 07 IMPLOSION    $13.95
NOV171750    PACIFIC RIM AFTERMATH #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP171631    POGO COMP SYNDICATED STRIPS HC VOL 04 VOTE POGO (RES)    $45.00
OCT171047    PRINCELESS RAVEN YEAR 2 #3 LOVE AND REVENGE CVR A PAMFIL    $3.99
OCT178075    PRINCELESS RAVEN YEAR 2 #3 LOVE AND REVENGE CVR B SUHNG    $3.99
OCT171071    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #3 CVR A LOGAN (MR)    $3.99
OCT171072    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #3 CVR B WILLIAMS (MR)    $3.99
OCT171073    PUPPET MASTER CURTAIN CALL #3 CVR C MENDOZA DOLLFACE CVR (MR    $3.99
OCT171490    RED SONJA #12 CVR A CALDWELL    $3.99
OCT171491    RED SONJA #12 CVR B DOE    $3.99
OCT171492    RED SONJA #12 CVR C GUERRA    $3.99
OCT171493    RED SONJA #12 CVR D COSPLAY    $3.99
OCT171494    RED SONJA #12 CVR E ARAUJO EXC SUBSCRIPTION VAR    $3.99
NOV171238    RIVERDALE DIGEST #6    $6.99
NOV171939    RIVERS OF LONDON CRY FOX #3    $3.99
NOV171942    ROBOTECH #6 CVR A MILONOGIANNIS    $3.99
NOV171943    ROBOTECH #6 CVR B ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
NOV171944    ROBOTECH #6 CVR C YUNE    $3.99
NOV172115    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) A CVR VITORINO    $3.99
NOV172116    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) B CVR CASAS    $3.99
NOV172117    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) C CVR GARVEY    $3.99
NOV172118    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) D CVR SPAY    $3.99
NOV172119    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) E CVR COLAPIETRO    $3.99
NOV172120    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #1 (OF 6) F CVR BLANK SKETCH    $10.00
SEP171142    ROGUES TP VOL 04 ODD PARENTHOOD    $19.99
NOV171367    RUGRATS #4    $3.99
NOV178068    RUGRATS #4 FOC COLORING BOOK MONLONGO VAR    $3.99
NOV171368    RUGRATS #4 SUBSCRIPTION NAUJOKAITIS VAR    $3.99
NOV172052    RWBY GN    $14.99
NOV171595    SHEENA #5 CVR A THIBERT    $3.99
NOV171596    SHEENA #5 CVR B SANAPO    $3.99
NOV171597    SHEENA #5 CVR C SANTUCCI    $3.99
NOV171598    SHEENA #5 CVR D COSPLAY    $3.99
NOV171112    SHINOBI NINJA PRINCESS TP VOL 02 LIGHTNING ONI    $14.99
NOV171294    SIMPSONS COMICS #242    $3.99
MAR171863    SKY MASTERS O/T SPACE FORCE COMP DAILIES HC    $49.99
NOV171693    STAINED TP    $15.99
NOV171097    STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #1    $3.99
NOV172001    STREET FIGHTER RELOADED #5 (OF 6)    $0.99
NOV171470    TALES FROM THE OUTER RIM GN    $9.99
NOV171206    TALES OF ROGUES #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUL171391    TEETHER #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUL171336    THE LAST HUNT #4    $3.99
NOV171886    TO LOVE RU DARKNESS GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
NOV171887    TO LOVE RU GN VOL 03-04 (MR)    $19.99
NOV171965    UNDER (STATIX) #2 (OF 2)    $5.99
AUG171148    UNLEASH TP VOL 01 (MR)    $19.99
NOV171484    VALERIAN GN VOL 20 ORDER OF THE STONES    $11.95
NOV171485    VALERIAN GN VOL 21 TIME OPENER    $15.95
NOV171745    WAITING FOR SPRING GN VOL 04    $10.99
NOV171746    WAKE UP SLEEPING BEAUTY GN VOL 02    $12.99
OCT171527    WARLORD OF MARS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02 (MR)    $29.99
APR171674    WILL EISNER SPIRIT CORPSE MAKERS #5 (OF 5) CVR A FRANCAVILLA    $3.99
NOV171769    WRAPPED UP #4 MAIN MCMAHON CVR    $3.99
NOV171770    WRAPPED UP #4 STANTON WRAPAROUND CVR    $3.99
NOV171312    WWE #13    $3.99
NOV171313    WWE #13 RICHES ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99

MAGAZINES
SEP172242    007 MAGAZINE PRESENTS EXHIBITORS PRESSBOOKS    $25.99
OCT172123    007 MAGAZINE PRESENTS EXHIBITORS PRESSBOOKS VOL 02    $25.99
OCT171754    2000 AD PACK DEC 2017    $13.50
OCT172111    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #520    $11.99
NOV172244    FILMFAX #150    $9.95
OCT171755    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #391    $13.00
NOV172245    LOCUS #684    $7.50
OCT172114    SCREAM MAGAZINE #46 (MR)    $8.99

BOOKS
SEP171307    BILL & TED MOST EXCELLENT ADULT COLORING BOOK SC    $16.99
OCT172078    DOCTOR WHO COMP HIST HC VOL 60 11TH DOCTOR STORIES    $18.99
NOV172224    I AM HARRIET TUBMAN YR HC    $14.99
NOV172194    NIGHT NIGHT GROOT BOARD BOOK    $7.99
OCT172062    RAW MATERIAL BY ELIZA IVANOVA HC    $49.95
OCT172061    RAW MATERIAL BY ELIZA IVANOVA SC VOL 01    $34.95

Review: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 (2017)

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Stefano Caselli
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Stefano Caselli with Marte Gracia
VARIANT COVERS: Jeff Dekal; Adi Granov; Mike McKone with Jason Keith; Tom Raney with Frank D'Armata; Skottie Young; John Tyler Christopher
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2017)

Rated “T+”

Iron Man created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby

It seems just like yesterday I was reviewing a new Iron Man comic book series (Invincible Iron Man) and just a few days before that I was reviewing an earlier new Iron Man series (Superior Iron Man).  Each one came as part of a new Marvel Comics publishing initiative.

Speak of the Marvel devil, there is a new Marvel publishing event/initiative, NOW!, and that comes with the new Invincible Iron Man comic book.  The series is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Stefano Caselli; colored by Marte Gracia; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  And there is a new Iron Man, she is teenage wunderkind, Riri Williams, the first African-American female to wear an Iron Man uniform.  She is Ironheart!

Invincible Iron Man #1 finds Riri putting her self-made Iron Man armor to the test against an embittered mutant, Animax.  We also take a trip into Riri's past and get to witness the curious return of someone who has been watching Riri for some time.

I have high hopes for this latest version of Invincible Iron Man because of writer Brian Michael Bendis.  Over the last several years, Bendis has done amazing work with an African-American character, Miles Morales, the “Ultimate” Spider-Man.  In Morales, Bendis created a fully-realized Black male comic book character, and he wrote Miles as such an engaging and intriguing young fellow that I was often more interested in Miles as Miles than Miles as Spider-Man.

I don't know if Bendis will make Riri Williams more interesting as Riri than as Iron Heart, but right from this first issue, it is clear that Riri is the kind of character who will charm this comic book reader.  Once again, Brian Michael Bendis proves to me why he is the best writer of superhero comic books over the last 20 years.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #593

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN No. 593
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Stefano Caselli; Alex Maleev
COLORS: Marte Gracia; Alex Maleev
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Adi Granov
VARIANT COVERS: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer with Matt Yackey; John Tyler Christopher with Stefano Caselli and Marte Gracia; Mike McKone with Rachelle Rosenberg; Chip Zdarsky; Jack Kirby with Frank Giacola
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+”

Iron Man created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby

“The Search for Tony Stark” Part One

One could be forgiven for thinking that there was a new Iron Man #1 comic book of some type every year, and that would not be far from the truth.  I think that going back to 1999, there have been close to 10 Iron Man #1's of one type or another, if not more.

Thanks to Marvel Comics' new “Legacy” initiative, Iron Man goes back to its original numbering (plus several relaunch numbers) and the result is Invincible Iron Man #593.  The creative team behind the most recent Invincible Iron Man relaunch (which was just a year ago) remains for the “Legacy” launch.  That would be writer Brian Michael Bendis; artist Stefano Caselli; colorist Marte Gracia; and letterer Clayton Cowles, with International Iron Man and Infamous Iron Man artist/colorist, Alex Maleev joining the team.

With Tony Stark out of commission (following events depicted in Civil War II), Riri Williams, a teenage girl and genius, and Victor Von Doom, formerly the super-villain Doctor Doom, have taken on the mantle of Iron Man.  Riri does so as the armored hero, Ironheart.

As Invincible Iron Man #593 opens, Tony Stark's comatose body has disappeared.  Riri joins Amanda Armstrong (Tony's birth mother); Mary Jane Watson (chosen by Tony to run Stark Industries); and Friday (an artificial intelligence Tony created to help him) in the search for Tony Stark.  They better hurry!  Stark Industries' Board of Directors is making bold moves.  Meanwhile, the Infamous Iron Man Victor von Doom has to find some escaped prisoners.

I had high hopes for the 11-issue run of Invincible Iron Man starring Riri Williams, and writer Brian Michael Bendis delivered.  Riri is the most fascinating female character of color in superhero comic books since the X-Men's Storm, specifically during the first decade of Storm's existence as written by Chris Claremont.  Riri is a well-developed character, and would be fascinating even if she were not in a superhero comic book.  Her imagination and inquisitiveness are infectious; I want to learn with her and be by her side inventing stuff.

But many of the white dudes that read comics and control the means of production (allegedly) ain't having it.  It is time to bring the white Iron Man back.  Seriously, Brian Bendis writing about Riri the armored character “Ironheart” in Invincible Iron Man and about Victor von Doom trying to be good guy as Iron Man in Infamous Iron Man did some stellar work.  In my decades as a Marvel Comics reader, I have never read better Iron Man comic books than what Bendis wrote, and he was doing it twice a month.

Bendis recently announced that he has signed as an exclusive creator with DC Comics, leaving Marvel after nearly 20 years.  I don't know who will replace him on Iron Man, and I don't think the new writer (who will obviously be a white male) can match Bendis.  If he does, I doubt he can do it on two monthly books.

So this first issue of “The Search for Tony Stark,” which is probably Bendis' last Iron Man story arc (for a while at least), is a nice start, and the ending of this issue is quite intriguing.

A
8 out of 10

Thursday, December 21, 2017


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

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Review: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #789

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 789
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Dan Slott
PENCILS: Stuart Immonen
INKS: Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: Marte Gracia
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross (based on art by John Romita); Steve Ditko with Michael Kelleher
32pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated  “T”

Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

“Fall of Parker” Part 1 – “Top to Bottom”

In a previous review, I stated that there were were three comic book series to start with the title and issue number, The Amazing Spider-Man #1, beginning with the original in 1962.  I wrote that as I began my review of the fourth regular comic book to have that title and issue number – the third in 16 years and the second in three years.  Two years later, facing reportedly plummeting sales, Marvel Comics has launched its “Legacy” initiative, which would bring Marvel titles back to their original issue numbering.

So we come to The Amazing Spider-Man #789 (“Top to Bottom”) and the beginning of a “back to basics” story arc, entitled “Fall of Parker.”  It is written by Dan Slott; drawn by Stuart Immonen (pencils) and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by Marte Gracia; and lettered by Joe Caramagna; with cover art by Alex Ross.  Before we move on with this review, I don't think The Amazing Spider-Man #789 is any different from what The Amazing Spider-Man #33 (2015) would have been.

The Amazing Spider-Man #789 opens in the aftermath of the fall of Spider-Man/Peter Parker's behemoth tech company, Parker Industries.  Parker is basically living on a couch in the apartment of Bobbi Morse, who is the superhero, Mockingbird.  Everyone, mainly the general public and customers of Parker Industries tech and software, hates Peter Parker.  Then, Parker decides that being the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man will cure his ills, but nothing every really works out perfectly for puny Parker and Spidey.

The recent movie Spider-Man: Homecoming makes it clear that high school Peter Parker/Spider-Man is such an attracting and lovable character.  After all, that is the original version of the character that creators Steve Ditko and Stan Lee gave us back in 1962.  Post-high school Spider-Man is also immensely likable, but, over the decades, that Peter Parker has been such a mixed bag, entirely the fault of various writers.

Adult Peter Parker, as depicted by writer Dan Slott, has been interesting, mostly.  However, the last two years, Slott has played Peter Parker as less the lovable loser, hard-luck guy and more like Tony Stark.  That, in turn, has made Spider-Man a kind of tech-driven, Iron Man-like hero.  Stark-ish Parker is cute as a novelty.  Spider-Man as a jet-setting, international hero is also nice – as a novelty.

Spider-Man is a regular guy superhero.  Yes, the character has extraordinary and weird powers, but the civilian Peter Parker is the guy who looks out for his family and protects and serves his family.  While Parker has always been depicted as a scientific genius, playing hero-by-gadget isn't Spider-Man, who has always seemed to be about service and personal sacrifice.

So, what about The Amazing Spider-Man #789?  It's just a run-of-the-mill story which suggests or hints at nothing but the status quo.  More accurately, it is just another first chapter in an eventual trade paperback collection.  While “Fall of Parker” could turn out to be an exceptional story arc (which I doubt), the first chapter in The Amazing Spider-Man #789 represents the mediocrity that has unfortunately also been part of the Marvel recent “Legacy.”

[This comic book includes a Spider-Man “Legacy” overview short story written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Mark Bagley (pencils) and John Dell (inker); colored by Dan Brown; and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.]

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 or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SWEET BLUE FLOWERS Volume 2

SWEET BLUE FLOWERS, VOL. 2
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page

MANGAKA: Takako Shimura
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: John Werry
LETTERS: Monalisa De Asis
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9299-2; paperback (December 2017); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
360pp, B&W, $24.99 U.S., $33.99 CAN, £16.99 UK

Sweet Blue Flowers is a yuri manga from creator Takako Shimura.  “Yuri” is “girls' love” manga, a genre which depicts romantic situations between female characters.  Sweet Blue Flowers is a coming-of-age manga that depicts love and friendship between two girls, Akira Okudaira and Fumi Manjome, attending separate high schools.

As Sweet Blue Flowers, Vol. 2 (Part 3: Chapters 14 to 18; Part 4: Chapters 19 to 25) begins, Kyoko Ikumi invites a group of her friends to join them at the summer home of her fiance, Ko Sawanoi's family.  There is camping, ghost stories, and horseback riding, and there is time for Fumi to confirm her romantic feelings for Akira.

Later, Akira and her drama club prepare to perform a play at her high school, Fujigaya Women's Academy High School.  Now, a freshman girl, Haruka Ono, wants Fumi to play a part... because she is probably in love with Fumi.

[This volume includes an afterword and the following “Little Women” bonus stories:  “Kuri and Komako, Part 1,” “Orie and Hinako,” and Kuri and Komako, Part 2,” and Shinako and Kaoruki.”]

I have not read many yuri manga titles.  The Sweet Blue Flowers manga is the second yuri manga that I've read, following creator Yuhta Nishio's After Hours (also published in English by VIZ Media).

Sweet Blue Flowers Graphic Novel Volume 2 is, like the previous volume, filled with so many young female characters.  It can be hard to keep up with them, but creator Takako Shimura makes each one so vivacious and engaging.  Also, rather than be catty and completely melodramatic, the characters are full of budding romance and yearnings.  Yes, this can sometimes be teen-soapy, but mostly it is full of interesting characters.

A
8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #89

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 89
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Rob M. Worley; Brett Lewis
PENCILS: Scott Gross; Anthony Lewis
INKS: Scott Gross; Dan Davis
COLORS: Scott Gross; Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Ryan Cline
COVER: Scott Gross
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2018)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Let's continue to enjoy the fruits of the renewal of my subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  I recently received the fourth issue of that renewed subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #89 opens with “Panic at the Pizza Palace” (written by Rob M. Morley and drawn by Scott Gross).  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are in New York City and have stopped at “Poldo's Pizza Palace,” which Shaggy declares has the best pie in all of NYC.

Things have changed, however; siblings Franco and Sabry are now the owners, and Franco prefers to serve a new kind of pizza with different toppings.  Franco says that modern pizza toppings, like banana and kale, are the new art form.  The ghost of the pizzeria's original owner, Gerolamo Piredda, hates this new art pizza and is threatening to burn Poldo's to the ground.

The second story is “Good Ghost Haunting” (written by Brett Lewis and drawn by Anthony Williams and Dan Davis), a story originally published in Scooby-Doo #42 (cover dated: January 2001).  The story finds Mystery Inc. at Plymouth Institute of Technology for its annual technology fair, where students compete for scholarships and research grants.  Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo are attending the fair, hoping to find new technologies to help them in their crime fighting.  The problem is that the ghostly “Salem Witch Hunter” is stealing at the fair, and so it is another ghostly mystery for the gang to solve.

“Panic at the Pizza Palace” is drawn by one of the great modern Scooby-Doo comic book artists, Scott Gross (who also provides the cover art for this issue), and it is actually a pretty good story.  I think the reason it resonates with me is that the mystery turns on family strife to which many of us, especially those dealing with inheritance, can relate.  Plus, I just love that Scott Gross art.

“Good Ghost Hunting” also deals with the “rightful owners” theme.  The crooks' method of operation is clever, although many readers will solve the mystery of that ghost pretty quickly.

And it happens again.  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #89 makes me excited about the next issue.  I really enjoy reading this series.  I think I need to find some back issues.

A-
7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 10, 2018

DC COMICS

NOV170219    ACTION COMICS #995    $2.99
NOV170220    ACTION COMICS #995 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV170229    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #18    $3.99
NOV170230    BATGIRL AND THE BIRDS OF PREY #18 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT170358    BATMAN BEYOND TP VOL 02 RISE OF THE DEMON (REBIRTH)    $16.99
OCT170364    BATMAN SHADOW OF THE BAT TP VOL 03    $24.99
OCT170366    BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE TP NEW ED    $14.99
JUL170499    DC DESIGNER SER SUPERMAN BY NEAL ADAMS STATUE    $150.00
NOV170251    DEADMAN #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
NOV170255    DETECTIVE COMICS #972    $2.99
NOV170256    DETECTIVE COMICS #972 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV170260    FLASH #38    $2.99
NOV170261    FLASH #38 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV170253    GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #7    $2.99
NOV170271    HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36    $2.99
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