Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for October 16, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG191463    ADVENTURE FINDERS EDGE OF EMPIRE #3    $3.99
JUN191323    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR A YOUNG (MR)    $4.99
JUN191324    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR B YOUNG RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUN191325    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR C MACCAGNI (MR)    $4.99
JUN191326    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR D MACCAGNI RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUN191327    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR E TMCHU (MR)    $4.99
JUN191328    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR F TMCHU RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUN191329    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR G CHATZOUDIS (MR)    $4.99
JUN191330    AMALGAMA SPACE ZOMBIE #1 CVR H CHATZOUDIS RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
JUL191517    APOCALYPSE GIRL VOL 2 PROVOCATION #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
AUG191625    ARCHIE #708 (ARCHIE & SABRINA PT 4) CVR A CHARM    $3.99
AUG191626    ARCHIE #708 (ARCHIE & SABRINA PT 4) CVR B CABRERA    $3.99
AUG191627    ARCHIE #708 (ARCHIE & SABRINA PT 4) CVR C PEREZ    $3.99
AUG191628    ARCHIE #708 (ARCHIE & SABRINA PT 4) CVR D PET PALS    $3.99
AUG191622    ARCHIE MARRIED LIFE 10 YEARS LATER #3 CVR A PARENT    $3.99
AUG191623    ARCHIE MARRIED LIFE 10 YEARS LATER #3 CVR B CHAYKIN    $3.99
AUG191624    ARCHIE MARRIED LIFE 10 YEARS LATER #3 CVR C SAUVAGE    $3.99
AUG191587    BABY BLUES COLLECTION TP SURVIVING GREAT INDOORS    $18.99
AUG192251    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #4 CVR B MEAD (MR)    $3.99
AUG192252    BLADE RUNNER 2019 #4 CVR C GUINALDO (MR)    $3.99
AUG192541    BOARDING SCHOOL JULIET GN VOL 08    $10.99
AUG191932    BRAIN BATS OF VENUS BASIL WOLVERTON HC VOL 02    $44.99
AUG191576    CHARLIE BROWN ALL TIED UP TP    $9.99
JUL192374    CREATURE GIRLS HANDS ON FIELD JOURNAL WORLD GN VOL 02 (MR) (    $13.99
AUG191684    CROSSED BADLANDS #5 CHICAGO VIP (MR)    $19.99
AUG192338    CULT CLASSIC CREATURE FEATURE #1 CVR A BIVENS (MR)    $3.99
AUG192339    CULT CLASSIC CREATURE FEATURE #1 CVR B TIM DANIEL (MR)    $3.99
AUG191848    DAKWAKADA WARRIORS GN    $20.00
JUL192149    DARK AGE #3    $3.95
JUL191433    DARK RED #7    $3.99
AUG191665    DEAD BEATS MUSICAL HORROR ANTHOLOGY GN    $19.99
AUG192455    DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION GN VOL 07 (MR)    $14.99
JUL191877    DF AMAZING SPIDERMAN #17 MAYHEW EXC    $29.99
JUN191712    DF MERRY MARVEL AUGUSTMAS SUPER COLLECTORS SET    $62.00
AUG191908    DF TRICK OR TREAT TRIO    $19.93
JUN191698    DF TRUE BELIEVERS SPIDERMAN VS HULK #1 SGN MICHELINIE    $69.99
AUG192409    DONT BE CRUEL TP VOL 08 (MR)    $12.99
AUG192430    DRIFTING CLASSROOM HC VOL 01 PERFECT ED UMEZZ    $34.99
AUG192352    ENVIOUS SIBLINGS & OTHER MORBID NURSERY RHYMES HC    $20.00
AUG191652    FATHOM VOL 8 #6 CVR A CAMPETELLA    $3.99
AUG191653    FATHOM VOL 8 #6 CVR B TURNER    $3.99
JUN191316    FEMFORCE #187    $9.95
AUG192456    FIRE PUNCH GN VOL 08 (MR)    $12.99
AUG192543    GRANBLUE FANTASY GN VOL 01    $12.99
JUL192346    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #32 CVR A  COCCOLO    $3.99
JUL192347    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #32 CVR B RIVEIRO    $3.99
JUL192348    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #32 CVR C ZALDIVAR    $3.99
JUL192349    GRIMM FAIRY TALES #32 CVR D SPAY    $3.99
AUG192356    GRIMM TALES OF TERROR 2019 HALLOWEEN ED CVR A VITORINO    $5.99
AUG192357    GRIMM TALES OF TERROR 2019 HALLOWEEN ED CVR B RIVEIRO    $5.99
AUG192358    GRIMM TALES OF TERROR 2019 HALLOWEEN ED CVR C SANTACRUZ    $5.99
AUG192359    GRIMM TALES OF TERROR 2019 HALLOWEEN ED CVR D REYES    $5.99
AUG192360    GRIMM TALES OF TERROR 2019 HALLOWEEN ED CVR E COCCOLO    $5.99
AUG191466    HERALD LOVECRAFT AND TESLA BUNDLES OF JOY #3    $3.99
JUL192536    HIMOUTO UMARI CHAN GN VOL 07    $12.99
AUG192554    HINAMATSURI GN VOL 05    $11.95
JUL199182    HOUSE OF X EASTMAN VAR    $20.00
JUL199183    HOUSE OF X EASTMAN VAR SGN    $40.00
AUG192010    IGNITED TP (MR)    $14.95
JUL192220    ILLUMINATI BALL HC (MR)    $29.99
JUL191793    ISLANDIA GN VOL 01 BOREAL LANDING    $13.95
AUG191776    JUNGLE FANTASY IVORY #1 CENTURY NUDE C (MR)    $24.99
JUL191438    KILLER GROOVE #5    $3.99
AUG192313    KILLERS #4 (OF 5) CVR A MEYERS    $3.99
AUG192314    KILLERS #4 (OF 5) CVR B NAKAYAMA    $3.99
AUG192315    KILLERS #4 (OF 5) CVR C LEONARDI    $3.99
AUG192316    KILLERS #4 (OF 5) CVR D FISH    $3.99
JUL198875    KILLERS #4 (OF 5) CVR E PRE-ORDER BUNDLE ED    $3.99
AUG191485    KILLSWITCH #1 CVR A SOZOMAIKA (MR)    $3.99
AUG191486    KILLSWITCH #1 CVR B ALTERICI (MR)    $3.99
AUG192583    KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA MASTER ED GN VOL 03    $34.95
AUG192446    KOMI CANT COMMUNICATE GN VOL 03    $9.99
AUG191833    LADY DEATH NIGHTMARE SYMPHONY #1 (OF 2) BALENT PREMIUM FOIL    $25.00
AUG191834    LADY DEATH NIGHTMARE SYMPHONY #1 (OF 2) NAUGHTY VAR CVR (MR)    $40.00
AUG191832    LADY DEATH NIGHTMARE SYMPHONY #1 (OF 2) RITUAL VAR CVR (MR)    $4.99
AUG191831    LADY DEATH NIGHTMARE SYMPHONY #1 (OF 2) STANDARD CVR (MR)    $4.99
AUG192321    LIFE & DEATH OF TOYO HARADA TP    $24.99
AUG192232    LIFE IS STRANGE #9 CVR A LEONARDI (MR)    $3.99
AUG192233    LIFE IS STRANGE #9 CVR B GAME ART (MR)    $3.99
AUG192234    LIFE IS STRANGE #9 CVR C TSHIRT (MR)    $3.99
AUG192235    LIFE IS STRANGE #9 CVR D INGRANATA (MR)    $3.99
AUG192236    LIFE IS STRANGE #9 CVR E BLANK VAR (MR)    $3.99
AUG192189    MIDNIGHT SKY #2 CVR A VAN DOMELEN    $3.99
AUG192190    MIDNIGHT SKY #2 CVR B VAN DOMELEN INVASION BODY SNATCHERS    $3.99
AUG191501    MIDNIGHT VISTA #2    $3.99
AUG191990    MONKEY & ROBOT HC GN    $17.99
JUN191411    MOON MAID #3 LTD ED VIRGIN ART CVR    $9.99
JUN191410    MOON MAID #3 MIRACOLO MAIN CVR    $3.99
JUN191891    OPERATION OVERLORD #4    $6.99
AUG191511    PLANET OF THE NERDS TP VOL 01    $17.99
MAY191872    PRE CODE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES HC VOL 01    $45.99
MAY191873    PRE CODE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES SLIPCASE ED VOL 01    $55.99
MAY191874    PRE CODE CLASSICS STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES HC VOL 01    $45.99
MAY191875    PRE CODE CLASSICS STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES SLIPCASE VOL 01 (    $55.99
AUG191691    PROVIDENCE COMPLETE SLIPCASE SET    $129.99
AUG192317    PSI-LORDS #5 CVR A TEDESCO    $3.99
AUG192318    PSI-LORDS #5 CVR B BARRIONUEVO    $3.99
AUG192319    PSI-LORDS #5 CVR C ALLEN    $3.99
JUL198877    PSI-LORDS #5 CVR D PRE-ORDER BUNDLE ED    $3.99
AUG191929    REINCARNATION STORIES HC KIM DEITCH    $29.99
AUG191971    REVENGER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL ONE SHOT (MR)    $4.99
AUG192124    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #2 CVR A LITTLE (MR)    $3.99
AUG192125    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #2 CVR B GOUX (MR)    $3.99
AUG192126    RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #2 CVR C LOOK CHARACTER SHE    $3.99
AUG191574    RISE OF THE TYRANT VOL 01 #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
AUG192222    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR A KERSCHL    $3.99
AUG192223    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR B DAMASO    $3.99
AUG192224    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR C RENZI    $3.99
AUG192225    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR D ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
AUG192226    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR E LAM    $3.99
JUL199093    ROBOTECH REMIX #1 CVR F BLANK SKETCH    $3.99
AUG191462    ROCK & ROLL BIOGRAPHIES GWAR    $3.50
AUG192172    SAGA OF THE JACK OF SPADES GN VOL 01 (OF 3) (MR)    $20.00
AUG192014    SCARE CITY HC    $14.95
JUL199184    SILVER SURFER BLACK #1 (OF 5) RODRIGUEZ VAR    $20.00
JUL199185    SILVER SURFER BLACK #1 (OF 5) RODRIGUEZ VAR SGN    $40.00
JUL191466    SPOOKHOUSE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL    $3.99
AUG192012    STRANGELANDS #4 (MR)    $3.99
JUL192232    TANK GIRL #7 CVR A PARSON    $3.99
JUL192233    TANK GIRL #7 CVR B BISHOP    $3.99
JUL192234    TANK GIRL #7 CVR C KANE    $3.99
AUG192461    THAT BLUE SKY FEELING GN VOL 03    $10.99
AUG192552    THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME GN VOL 11 (MR)    $12.99
MAY192088    TO LOVE RU DARKNESS GN VOL 12 (MR)    $12.99
AUG192448    TOKYO GHOUL RE GN VOL 13    $12.99
AUG191991    TOPSIDE GN    $14.99
JUN191844    UNPLUGGED AND UNPOPULAR GN    $12.99
JUN191845    UNPLUGGED AND UNPOPULAR HC GN    $19.99
SEP191455    VICTOR CROWLEY HATCHET HALLOWEEN TALES #1 CALZADA AM CVR (MR    $6.99
JUL192146    WILDCAT TP VOL 02 LONER    $19.99
AUG191639    WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #93    $7.99
AUG192353    YUNGBLUD PRESENTS TWISTED TALES O/T RITALIN CLUB TP    $21.99
AUG192193    ZINNOBER MORE FIRE ONE SHOT    $3.99
FEB191374    ZORRO SACRILEGE #4 HILINSKI POSSESSION CVR    $3.99
FEB191375    ZORRO SACRILEGE #4 VISIONS OF ZORRO B&W LTD ED CVR    $9.99
FEB191373    ZORRO SACRILEGE #4 WOLFER MAIN CVR    $3.99

MAGAZINES
JUL191844    007 MAGAZINE EXHIBITORS PRESSBOOKS SC VOL 03    $25.99
AUG191843    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1687    $PI
JUL191930    FILMFAX #155    $9.95
AUG192077    LOCUS #705    $8.99
MAY191998    MEGAMI AUGUST 2019    $20.00
APR192015    MEGAMI JULY 2019    $20.00
MAY191999    NEWTYPE AUGUST 2019    $20.00
APR192016    NEWTYPE JULY 2019    $20.00

BOOKS
JUL192011    A DIE HARD CHRISTMAS GIFT SET    $24.99
JUL191907    COMICS JOURNAL #304    $14.99
JUL192399    DRAGONS CROWN OFFICIAL ARTWORKS HC    $49.99
MAR191802    FRANK THORNE GHITA EROTIC TREASURY ARCHIVAL PX ED VOL 02 (MR    $150.00
AUG192024    GHOSTBUSTERS ECTOMOBILE RACE AGAINST SLIMER HC    $29.99
AUG192028    MARVELS SPIDER-MAN FROM AMAZING TO SPECTACULAR HC    $45.00
JUL192151    MERMAID IN THE BATHTUB GN    $22.99
JUL191794    RAINA TELGEMEIER MINI POSTERS    $12.99
JUL191795    RAINA TELGEMEIER MY SMILE DIARY    $14.99
JUL192551    SKELETON KNIGHT IN ANOTHER WORLD LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03    $13.99
AUG192036    STAR WARS MERRY SITHMAS POP UP BOOK    $15.99
AUG191854    STRANGER THINGS SC NOVEL SUSPICIOUS MINDS    $17.00
AUG192149    WHAT IS THE STORY OF DOCTOR WHO SC    $6.99
AUG192450    WORLD OF RWBY OFFICIAL COMPANION HC    $39.99
AUG191806    WORLD OF WARCRAFT POP UP BOOK    $65.00

Review: THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL #1

THE MAGNIFICENT MS.MARVEL No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Saladin Ahmed
PENCILS: Minkyu Jung
INKS: Juan Vlasco
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITOR: Alanna Smith
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Eduard Petrovich
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Elsa Charretier with Matthew Wilson; Babs Tarr
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2019)

Rated T+

Kamala Kahn created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Stephen Wacker, and Jamie McKelvie

Ms. Marvel is a Marvel Comics female superhero character.  The original version of Ms. Marvel was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Buscema.  First appearing in Ms. Marvel #1 (cover dated: January 1977), she was meant to be the female counterpart of Marvel's Captain Marvel (who first appeared in 1967).

The new Ms. Marvel is Kamala Khan (the fourth character to take the name Ms. Marvel).  Created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Stephen Wacker, and Jamie McKelvie, Kamala first appeared in Captain Marvel #17 (cover dated: November 2013).  She is a 16 year-old Pakistani-American from Jersey City, New Jersey.  She idolizes Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel (who is now the current Captain Marvel).  Kamala was given her own Ms. Marvel series, which premiered in February 2014, becoming Marvel Comics' first Muslim character to star in her own comic book.

2019 welcomes a new Ms. Marvel comic book series, The Magnificent Ms. Marvel.  It is written by Saladin Ahmed; drawn by Minkyu Jung (pencils) and Juan Vlasco (inks), colored by Ian Herring, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 (“Super Famous” Part One of Three) opens in “the far future” on “another world.”  An alien father tells his daughter a bedtime story of the legendary hero known as the “Destined One,” a hero from Earth who we know as “Ms. Marvel.”  Meanwhile, on present day Earth, Ms. Marvel is not feeling very much like a legend.  Her parents are about to confront her, and she is fighting crummy costumed villains, some of which dissolve into goo after she defeats them.

Salamed Ahmed is currently writing the recently launched Miles Morales: Spider-Man comic book.  Ahmed became the first writer other than Miles' co-creator, Brian Michael Bendis, to write an ongoing Miles Morales comic book series  Ahmed once again is filling big shoes by becoming the first writer other than Kamala Kahn's co-creator, G. Willow Wilson, to write an ongoing Kamala Kahn-Ms. Marvel comic book series.

Ahmed's inaugural issue of The Magnificent Ms. Marvel is filled with several delightful surprises, from the opening alien world-set prologue (of sorts) to the closing family drama shocker.  I don't want to spoil more than I already have, but everything in this comic book, especially the last three pages makes me want to come back for the second issue of The Magnificent Ms. Marvel.

Pencil artist Minkyu Jung and inker Juan Vlasco are a solid new Ms. Marvel art team.  Ian Herring's excellent coloring sets the perfect mood and atmosphere for each sequence and sub-plot in the first issue, especially on the first page.  As always, Joe Caramagna does solid lettering.  The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 promises an interesting new era for Marvel's first Pakistani-American superhero.

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: HOUSE OF WHISPERS #1

HOUSE OF WHISPERS No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Nalo Hopkinson
ART: Dominike “Domo” Stanton
COLORS: John Rauch
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: Sean Andrew Murray
VARIANT COVER: Bill Sienkiewicz
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

“Broken Telephone”

The Sandman Universe is a new line of comic books inspired by the dark fantasy comic books that Neil Gaiman wrote for DC Comics, in particular The Sandman (1989-1996) and The Books of Magic (1990-1991).  Neil Gaiman acts as a curator of the line, which currently includes four titles, The Dreaming, Books of Magic, Lucifer, and the subject of this review, House of Whispers.

House of Whispers is written by Nalo Hopkinson; drawn by Dominike “Domo” Stanton; colored by John Rauch; and lettered by Deron Bennett.  The series focuses on a tragic goddess who grants the wishes and counsels the souls of those who visit her in their dreams.

House of Whispers #1 (“Broken Telephone”) opens just outside a houseboat known as the House of Dahomey.  Uncle Monday of the Brotherhood of Teeth has come to visit the owner the houseboat, the goddess Erzulie Fréda.  This is also where souls of Voodoo followers go when they sleep.  They travel to Erzulie's houseboat where they can beseech the flirtatious and tragic Erzulie to grant them their hearts’ desires or where they can ask her to counsel them on their futures and fortunes.

From her perch in the bayou, Erzulie sees four human girls open a mysterious and magical journal.  This little book is filled with whispers and rumors that, if they spread, could cause a pandemic unlike any the Earth has seen.  Erzulie must discover the whereabouts of and then stop the conniver behind this plot, Erzulie's nephew, Shakpana.

We have Neil Gaiman to thank for bringing writer Nalo Hopkinson into The Sandman Universe fold.  Left to its own devices, DC Comics would not have chosen Hopkinson.  In twenty-five years of publishing hundreds of comic books and graphic novels, only a handful have been written by African-Americans, black writers, or writers of African descent.

What Hopkinson offers in this first issue is a dazzling array of colorful sequences, sparkling story elements, and fabulous characters.  Reading this comic book is like experiencing an African or African-American folk music festival full of fierce beats and infectious rhythms.

Artist Dominike “Domo” Stanton offers imaginative compositions that yield a style of graphical storytelling that is bursting with magic.  My eyes greedily took in every corner of the Domo's panels and observed every line for secrets.  John Rauch's colors enrich Domo's illustrations and even accentuate the eccentric to make this comic book truly a unique visual treat.

Deron Bennett's clever lettering pretends to be a rhythm section, but when I pay attention, I see Bennett's fonts giving Hopkinson and Domo's story that extra whatever it needs or even taking the lead in conveying the story.  Also, Sean Andrew Murray's gorgeous cover art makes this comic book hard to ignore on a store shelf.

I won't lie and say House of Whispers #1 is perfect.  Sometimes, it is so busy being different that the story gets lost in its House of Dahomey house party shenanigans.  Still, this may be the best of The Sandman Universe's debut quartet.

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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: THE DREAMING #1

THE DREAMING No. 1 (2018)
DC COMICS – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

[This review is posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Simon “Si” Spurrier
ART: Bilquis Evely
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER: Yanick Paquette with Nathan Fairbairn
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

“The Kingdom”

The Dreaming is a fictional place or realm appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.  It first appeared in The Sandman #1, (cover dated:  January 1989) and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth.  The Dreaming is the domain or kingdom of Dream (Morpheus and later, Daniel) of the Endless.

The Dreaming was the setting for a monthly comic series, The Dreaming, that ran for 60 issues (cover dated:  June 1996 to May 2001), published under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.  Vertigo is rebooting that comic book as part of a new line of comic books, The Sandman Universe, based on the work of writer, Neil Gaiman, who is also the curator of this line.  The Dreaming (2018) is written by Simon “Si” Spurrier; drawn by Bilquis Evely; colored by Mat Lopes; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series is set in a realm that must survive in the aftermath of the disappearance of its domain lord.

The Dreaming #1 (“The Kingdom”) finds Lucien the dream Librarian holding forth with his master, Dream's helm.  Where is Dream, he asks?  Dream has apparently abandoned his realm, and the result is that The Dreaming is a kingdom in chaos.  This place where stories are born now finds its walls slashed and bleeding.  Now, Lucien and the strange residents of The Dreaming must protect its broken borders alone.  The most worrying occurrences, however, are that Dora, a recent resident, is finding opportunity in this madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder, and in Dream's gallery, something new has started growing...

I think the art for The Dreaming #1, illustrations by Bilquis Evely and colors by Mat Lopes, is gorgeous, especially story page #10.  Letterer Simon Bowland's cascade of delightful fonts are eye candy.  I have no use for Si Spurrier's story and script.  It is 22 pages of meanderings and repetition of story elements already established.

I have a standard I apply to the work and storytelling of comic book writers.  Would an editor accept this work from a unknown writer who was pitching a comic book to that editor?  Or in the case of an established property belonging to that editor's employer (the publisher), would this script for an established writer be considered acceptable work if it were from an unknown writer who was trying to land a gig?  In the case of The Dreaming #1, the veteran scribe, Si Spurrier, got a pass from his editor that an non-established writer would not get.

Well, although I have enjoyed other comic books written by Spurrier, I won't give a pass to The Dreaming #1, if it means paying $3.99 for the mediocrity of future issues.  I hope for better.

4 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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1

THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Neil Gaiman
WRITERS: Simon “Si” Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters
ART: Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVERS: Dave McKean; Jill Thompson; Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair; Sam Keith; P. Craig Russell with Lovern Kindzierski; David Mack
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg

The Sandman is a DC Comics comic book series created by writer Neil Gaiman and artists Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg.  Published by DC Comics from 1989 to 1996, The Sandman ran for 75 issues, and tells the story of “Dream” of “The Endless.”  Also named Morpheus (as well as other names), Dream rules over the world of dreams.

DC Comics announced earlier this year an expansion and quasi sequel to The Sandman, “The Sandman Universe.”  This will be a line of four comic books that will launch in September and October of 2018.  The release dates are timed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sandman #1, which was covered dated January 1989, but released to comic book stores in October 1988.  It will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Vertigo imprint.

The Sandman Universe titles are a mixture of new and revived titles.  The first is The Dreaming (Sept. 5th), written by Simon “Si” Spurrier and drawn by Bilquis Evely.  The second is House of Whispers (Sept. 12), written by Nalo Hopkinson and drawn by Dominike “Domo” Stanton.  The third is Lucifer (October 17), written by Dan Watters and drawn by Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara.  The fourth is Books of Magic (Oct. 24), written by Kat Howard and drawn by Tom Fowler.

These four titles are previewed in the stand-alone anthology comic book, The Sandman Universe #1.  Neil Gaiman provides the story for this single-issue comic book.  Simon Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters write the scripts for previews of the respective titles they are writing.  Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, and Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara draw the art for the previews of the respective series they are drawing.  The Sandman Universe #1 is colored by Mat Lopes and lettered by Simon Bowland.

In The Sandman Universe #1, the denizens of The Dreaming discover that their master, the Lord of Dreams, is missing.  Now, Matthew the raven must traverse the realms and dreams of four characters:  Dora, Timothy Hunter, Erzulie (a voodoo deity), and Lucifer Morningstar (trapped in the body of an old man) to find Dream.  But does he want to be found?  What if he quit being Dream?

I enjoyed The Sandman Universe #1, but I would not call it an exceptional comic book.  It is a particularly well-produced preview comic book.  The best art, by far, in The Sandman Universe #1 is the work of Bilquis Evely, who is drawing The Dreaming, so I am putting this title on my reading list.

I want to try House of Whispers because I try to support Black writers of speculative and fantasy fiction, and the Jamaican-born, Canadian Hopkinson is a writer of color.  The House of Whispers preview in The Sandman Universe #1 is interesting and is the only truly unique offering in this comic book.  However, I must say that it did not quite connect with me the way I thought it would because of its various elements and ideas.

The Books of Magic preview did pique my interest; for obvious reasons, this is the closest thing to a Harry Potter comic book we likely will ever have.  I found the Lucifer preview to be a chore to read, taxing my patience for most of its six pages.

The Dreaming is both The Sandman Universe #1's framing sequence and the subject of a preview, which is good.  As I just wrote, Bilquis Evely's art is beautiful, and Evely's talent really shows on the killer last page she produces for this story.  As a preview of a line of comic books, The Sandman Universe #1 is as effective as it can be, but most of the effort is really up to the creative teams of the individual titles in the line.  I recommend this to readers interested in “The Sandman Universe” titles, but I doubt longtime fans of The Sandman comic book series will get much out of it.

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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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