I Reads You Juniors March 2020 - Update #76

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COVID-19 AND COMICS:

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics plans to forge ahead with releasing its publications both in print and digitally... by whatever means necessary... as comics market is halted by COVID-19.

From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics says that starting April 1st it will not monthly comics books in digital form until they are widely available in print.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics has provided Diamond Comic Distributors with an extension concerning the money Diamond owes Marvel.

From Newsarama:  Diamond Comic Distributors will cease distributing products beginning with the April 1st, 2020 release date and will resume at a later unknown date.

From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing has announced that it will suspend publications of its titles slated to be released in the month of May 2020.

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SONY MARVEL U - From Newsarama:  Sony has pushed its Marvel film, "Morbius," from July 31, 2020 to March 19, 2021.

IN MEMORIAM - From CartoonBrew:  The Mexican artist and cartoonist, Roman Arambula, has died at the age of 83, Wednesday, March 19, 2020.  In the 1970s, he first began drawing Donald Duck comic books for Western Publishing and then, in 1975, Arambula began drawing the syndicated "Mickey Mouse" newspaper comic strip, which he would do until 1990.  He also worked extensively in the animation industry.

COMICS TO FILM - From DigitalSpy:  Actor David Harbour says that the 2019 "Hellboy" reboot film failed before filming on it began.  Harbour played the title character in the film which was a box office bomb.

DC TV - From Newsarama:  Ahead of the release of DC Universe/TheCW's "Stargirl," Geoff Johns, the creator and showrunner for the series, pens a personal letter.

IN MEMORIAM - From Variety:  French illustrator and comics artist, Alberto Uderzo, has died at the age of 92, Tuesday, March 24, 2020.  Uderzo and French comics writer-editor, Rene Goscinny, created the long-running French comics series, "Asterix."

DC CINEMA - From TheWrap:  Warner Bros. executives are in preliminary discussions to make their big, tentpole summer movie release, "Wonder Woman 1984," a digital release in light of movie theater closures due to COVID-19.

Marvel - From Marvel:  Marvel introduces the new "New Warriors."

ARCHIE - From THR:  This June, the Archie Comics gang teams-up with Flash Gordon in "Archie Meets Flash Gordon."

DC TV - From Deadline:  A production assistant on The CW's "Batwoman" was injured on-set and paralyzed.

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Warner Bros. will make "Birds of Prey" and "Just Mercy" early digital home entertainment releases - August 24th, 2020.

From BleedingCool:  Indie comics publisher and creator, Jason Reeves, talks about Black/African-American indie comics and more.

MARVEL - From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics is rush-soliciting a "Black Widow" comic book in anticipation of Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" film is due May 1st.

CORONAVIRUS:

From Newsarama:  Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Dynamite Entertainment joins Image Comics in making its March-shipping products that are distributed by Diamond Comic Distributors, full returnable on the part of comic book retailers.

From Newsarama:  DC Comics employees are among the WarnerMedia employees asked to stay home due to coronavirus concerns.

From Newsarama:  2020 WonderCon in Los Angeles, which was scheduled for April 10th to 12th, has been postponed indefinitely.

From Newsarama:  Warner Bros. Television has suspended production on The CW's "Riverdale" TV series due to coronavirus fears.

From BleedingCool:  ACE Comic Con Northeast  in Boston is delayed/cancelled due to coronavirus fears.  The show was to take place this month and will try to move to October.

From Newsarama:  Diamond Comic Distributors has cancelled its April 14th to 16th 2020 Retailer Summit.

From Newsarama:  NYC's MoCCA Arts Festival, scheduled for April 4th and 5th, has been postponed.

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FOX MARVEL U - From THR:  "The New Mutants" is one of three films that have had their release dates pushed back by Disney due to coronavirus fears.

BATMAN - From Newsarama:  Here is a look at the "Batman" and "Batman-related" comic books due for June 2020.

SONY MARVEL U - From TheWrap: Robert Orci, one of the genius screenwriters behind "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (2014), is writing a Spider-Man spin-off movie for Sony Pictures.  Details about the project or character are being kept under wraps.

IN MEMORIAM - From Newsarama:  "Golden Age" comic book artist Allen "Al" Bellman has died at the age of 95, Monday, March 9, 2020.  Bellman was known for his work with Timely Comics (the forerunner of Marvel Comics) and drew stories featuring "The Human Torch" and the "Young Allies," among others. Bellman left comic books in the early 1950s, but he later became a regular on the comic book convention circuit.

From Newsarama:  Here is a look at the "Superman" publications being solicited for sale in June 2020.

From THR:  Mariko Tamaki will take over as writer of DC Comics' "Wonder Woman" ongoing series, beginning with Wonder Woman #759.

From Newsarama:  Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok's long-awaited miniseries, "Batman: 3 Jokers," will finally arrive when the first issue hits stores June 17, 2020.

From ComicBook:  Warren Ellis thanks fans for the success of the animated series, "Castlevania" (Netflix), for which he is a writer-producer.

From PA:  Penn College is featuring an art exhibition of World War II era comic book covers, "Victory for a Dime: The Fighting Comic Books of the Second World War."

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Ben Affleck, who until recently played Batman, says the 2017 film, "Justice League" was plagued with "one problem after another."

MANGA TO FILM - From GameSpot:  A list of Easter eggs and manga references in the recent hit anime film, "My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising."

From SeattleTimes:  The site celebrates the 30th anniversary of cartoonist Peter Bagge's seminal comic book series, "Hate," which was published by Fantagraphics Books.

From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment offices preps for the release of the "Bloodshot" movie.

IN MEMORIAM - From Newsarama:  Comic book artist Frank McLaughlin has died at the age of 84, Wednesday, March 4, 2020.  Although he worked for Marvel, DC Comics, Archie Comics, and Valiant Comics, McLaughlin is best known for his work for Charlton Comics and for creating the Charlton character, "Judomaster."

BOOK NEWS - From Newsarama:  Marvel/Asmodee's line of prose novels featuring Marvel Comics characters has announced four debut novels:  "Domino: Strays," "Doctor Doom: The Harrowing of Doom," "Legends of Asgard: The Head of Mimir," and "Legends of Asgard: The Sword of Surtur."

From DCBlog:  Writer Tom King talks about his new maxi-series, "Strange Adventures."

From Worth:  Investor James Murdoch (son of Fox News' Rupert Murdoch) talks about his investment in the comic book start-up, AWA (Artists, Writers & Artisans).

From SoraNews24:  Regard "scanlations," one manga artist says that she cannot afford to offer her work for free.

DC TV - From Newsarama:  The "Stargirl" TV series will debut May 11th on the "DC Universe" streaming service and on May 12th on The CW.

THE BATMAN - From Deadline:  Director Matt Reeves has posted images of "The Batmobile" with Robert Pattison as "Batman" standing next to it.

From Newsarama:  Warren Ellis' planned reboot of WildStorm's "WildC.A.T.s" is not happening.  It was to be the third entry in Ellis' reboot of the WildStorm Universe, which began with "The Wildstorm" (24 issues) and continued in "The Wildstorm: Michael Cray."

STAR WARS - From Movieweb:  This article offers a few details on Marvel Comics' "Star Wars: The High Republic" comic book, which will be written by Cavan Scott, and will be part of the over "The High Republic" publishing campaign.

From Cleveland.com:  This is a profile of comic book writer, Tony Isabella, who created the DC Comics' character, Black Lightning.  Isabella is set to appear on the season finale of The CW's current "Black Lightning" TV series.

From ANN:   Japanese publishers Shueisha and Shogakukan announced that they are posting back issues of some manga magazines digitally for free for a limited time, due to many schools, venues, and events in Japan temporarily closing due to concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus illness.

FOX MARVEL U - From Newsarama: There is a new TV spot for the final film in 20th Century Fox's "X-Men" franchise, "The New Mutants," that finds the young mutants on lock-down.

From LATimes:  Jaime Hernandez is among the finalists for the "40th Annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes."

From CBR:  The site has previews of every DC Comics' title arriving Wed., March 4th.

From Newsarama:  Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates will end his four-year run as the writer of Marvel's ongoing "Black Panther" comic book series.

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Director James Gunn celebrates the end of film for "The Suicide Squad" with a large group photo of the entire cast and crew.  Gunn also talks about how filming came at a hard time in his life.

COMICS TO ANIMATION - From Crunchyroll:  One of the "Crunchyroll Originals" is an animated series based on Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield's webcomic, "FreakAngels," which has been collected as a series of graphic novels.  The link leads to a press release that includes a trailer introducing the eight new series.

From KyodoNews:  "Paidon" is a manga plotted and designed by artificial intelligence (A.I.) that learned the artistic style of the late Osamu Tezuka, the creator of "Astro Boy."  It is being published in Japan Thurs., Feb. 27th in the magazine, "Morning."

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MARCH 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  March 2020 comics solicitations for 23 publishers
From Newsarama:  :01 First Second for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Action Lab Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Artists, Writer and Artisans for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Book for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for March 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for March 2020
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for March 2020
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for March 2020

APRIL 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Media for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Amigo Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Devil's Due for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for April 2020
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for April 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2020

MAY 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  A full-list of titles available for "Free Comic Book Day 2020" on May 2, 2020.
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Aspen for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Behemoth Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for May 2020
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Complex for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publihsing for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  Storm King Productions for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for May 2020
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for May 2020
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2020

JUNE 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for June 2020
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Source Point Press for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for June 2020

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#IReadsYou Review: DOWNFALL

DOWNFALL
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Inio Asano
TRANSLATION: Jocelyn Allen
LETTERS: Joanne Estep
EDITOR: Pancha Diaz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0936-6; paperback (February 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
246pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN, £9.99 U.K.

Reiraku is a manga created by Inio Asano, the author of such manga as Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction and Goodnight Punpun.  Reiraku was published in the Japanese manga magazine, Big Comic Superior (Shogakukan), from March 10 to July 28, 2017.  VIZ Media is publishing an English language edition of Reiraku as a single-volume graphic novel, entitled Downfall, released under the VIZ Signature imprint.

Downfall (Chapters 1 to 7 to Final Chapter) introduces Kaoru Fukuzawa, a successful manga artist.  He recently finished his breakthrough series, “Goodbye Sunset,” and the fifteenth and final tankobon (graphic novel) collection of the series has just been released.  Although Fukuzawa has ended his manga, he does not know how to start a new one.

All that matters in the manga industry, Fukuzawa believes, is selling copies.  Sales of “Goodbye Sunset” collections had been slipping towards the end, and Fukuzawa believes that such cruel realities of the industry have destroyed his “pure love” for manga.  Also, Fukuzawa's marriage to Nozomi Machida, a manga editor, seems to be failing, and she appears to be moving on from him to work with new manga artists.  If Fukuzawa can figure out the formula for creating a new hit manga, will everything be okay?  Can he fill the void inside himself?  Or maybe Fukuzawa himself is the problem.

The Downfall manga, like some of Inio Asano's other manga, is about self-absorbed young men.  They tend to be cruel to others in ways that they themselves might not recognize... if they bothered to care.  Sex is defined only by these young men's needs, as seen by the number of young women with whom Fukuzawa's “engages” and by how he ultimately treats them.

The Downfall Graphic Novel is the portrait of the manga artist as a “monster,” in the context of his relationships with those closest to him personally and professionally.  Downfall is not so much about watching a guy fall apart as it is about him fulfilling a prophecy; years prior, a “cat-eyed” woman already told him what he was and would be.  I think Kaoru Fukuzawa's “downfall” had already begun by the time readers meet him in the present day of the story.

The English translation by Jocelyn Allen captures the essences and layers of Asano's earthy and blunt dialogue with its sense of realism.  Asano's beautiful, textured art tells the story in a painfully human style, alternating between intimate and aloof.  Allen's translation gets that the dialogue is what drives the story and is what defines the conflict between characters.

The lettering by Joanne Estep is both elegant and precise, and Estep seizes upon Fukuzawa's unrelenting self-absorption.  Once again, Inio Asano has produced a powerful story of a calamitous personality, and the English edition is an engaging, absorbing read.

9 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: NEW MUTANTS #1

NEW MUTANTS No. 1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman
ART: Rod Reis
COLORS: Rod Reis
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebulski”
COVER: Rod Reis
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Nick Bradshaw with Morry Hollowell; Stanley “Artgerm” Lau; Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Tom Muller
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; New Mutants created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod

“The Sextant”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963) introduced readers to a professor and his students, all of whom had unique powers and abilities because they were “mutants.”

The New Mutants #1 (cover date:  March 1983) was the launch of the first ongoing spin-off series of the X-Men.  The New Mutants was a group of teenage mutants who were both students at Xavier's School for Gifted Children and superheroes-in-training.  The original team of New Mutants first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants (cover date:  December 1982).

This past summer (2019), writer Jonathan Hickman revamped, rebooted, and re-imagined the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles.  The new series were Excalibur, Fallen Angels, Marauders, X-Force, X-Men and the subject of this review, New Mutants.

New Mutants 2020 is written by Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman; drawn and colored by Rod Reis; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  This relaunch of the New Mutants goes in a science fiction direction and features classic New Mutants and new characters on an adventure in the deep reaches of space.

As New Mutants #1 (“The Sextant”) opens, Professor X and Storm welcome Rahne Sinclair, the mutant codenamed “Wolfsbane,” back into the world... into their new world:  Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state.  Rahne is reunited with a mixture of familiar New Mutants teammates (Sunspot, Mirage, Karma, Magik, and Cypher) and some new friends (Chamber and Mondo) for a new kind of adventure.

One original family member is missing, Sam Guthrie a.k.a. “Cannonball,” who is with his family in the outer space territory of the Shi'ar Empire.  Well, these New Mutants want their teammate back, so fortunately (or unfortunately) they are going to get a ride to somewhere near Shi'ar space aboard the space ship, “The Starjammer.”  However, its crew of pirates, “The Starjammers,” especially their captain, Corsair, is an unsavory group.  And a mission in space alongside the Starjammers is often bad news... the fact of which these young mutants seem oblivious.

What writers Ed Brisson and Jonathan Hickman offer in New Mutants #1 could develop into something quite entertaining.  Still, much of this first issue made me say, “meh.”

On the other hand, the art and coloring by Rod Reis, which recalls the work of classic New Mutants artist, Bill Sienkiewicz, made me want to keep reading.  It is beautiful enough to encourage me to come back for more... maybe.

I can say that the ending of New Mutants #1 is a good cliffhanger, so I raised my final grade from the grade (a “C”) that I was originally going to give this issue.

5.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE Volume 10

THE WATER DRAGON'S BRIDE, VOL. 10
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Rei Toma
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Abby Lehrke
LETTERS: Monaliza de Asis
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0503-0; paperback (July 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

The Water Dragon's Bride is a shojo romance and fantasy manga from writer-artist Rei Toma (creator of Dawn of the Arcana).  It was serialized in the Japanese shojo manga magazine, Cheese!, from 2015 to 2019.  VIZ Media published an English-language edition of the manga as an 11-volume graphic novel series from 2017 to 2019.

The Water Dragon's Bride focuses on Asahi.  She is a modern-day girl who is pulled into a pond and is whisked away to a strange and mysterious new land.  She meets a boy, Subaru, the son of a prominent family from a nearby village, but his mother immediately dislikes Asahi and plots to sacrifice her to the god of the Great Lake.  The Water Dragon God wants Asahi to be his wife, and though she refuses, some locals still see her as a priestess.

As The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 10 (Chapters 37 to 40) opens, the Water Dragon God has transferred his powers to Asahi.  Now, the “water priestess” is going to put an end to the god of darkness, Tokoyami's plot to cover the world in darkness.  First, Asahi is going to have to change the heart of Kurose, a boy from her world, who is the god of darkness' pawn.

Then, Asahi is confronted with another problem.  Why has the Water Dragon God fallen asleep?  Can she save him?

[This volume includes the four-panels comics, “The Water Dragon God's Chill Zone” and bonus manga.]

THE LOWDOWN:  The Water Dragon's Bride manga can sometimes suffer from a sense of the sameness.  However, as the series approaches its conclusion, it recovers some of the edginess it showed in its earliest chapters.

The Water Dragon's Bride Graphic Novel Volume 10 is the penultimate volume of the series.  Like the previous two volumes, it is out to offer surprises.  Creator Rei Toma digs deep into Kurose's despair and also reveals more about the first moments in the human boy's relationship with the god of darkness (whom the boy named “Tokoyami”).  Toma also confronts the status quo of the relationship between her star-crossed lovers, Asahi and the Water Dragon God.

So the series is headed for a substantial ending (hopefully) that will probably be consequential.  I would be surprised if Toma gave us only easy answers as she resolves this relationship.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rei Toma will want to try the “Shojo Beat” title, The Water Dragon's Bride.

A
8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.



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BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for March 25, 2020

BOOM! STUDIOS

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JAN201362    JIM HENSON DARK CRYSTAL AGE RESISTANCE #7 CVR A FINDEN    $3.99
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DEC191235    ONCE & FUTURE TP VOL 01    $16.99

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 25, 2020

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV190284    ART OF DOOM ETERNAL HC    $39.99
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JAN200329    TOMORROW #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN200373    WITCHFINDER REIGN OF DARKNESS #5 (OF 5)    $3.99

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 25, 2020

DC COMICS

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JAN200525    BATGIRL #45    $3.99
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JAN208776    BATMAN #90 2ND PTG    $3.99
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NOV190711    CANTO TP VOL 01 IF I ONLY HAD A HEART    $19.99
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SEP190162    ANALOG #10 CVR A O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
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Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 25, 2020

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

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#IReadsYou Review: MARVEL COMICS #1000

MARVEL COMICS No. 1000
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Al Ewing and various
PENCILS: Various
INKS: Various
COLORS: Various
LETTERS: Various
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EiC: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Various
96pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (October 2019)

Rated T

Marvel Comics #1 (with a cover date of October 1939) was first published on Aug. 31, 1939.  It was the first comic book published by the company known as Timely Comics, a division of Timely Publications and a precursor of Marvel Comics.  Marvel Comics would eventually take on the title, Marvel Mystery Comics.

Using the publication date of Marvel Comics #1, Marvel Comics has been celebrating its 80th anniversary throughout 2019.  The biggest event of that celebration is a special comic book, Marvel Comics #1000.  This massive collaborative effort features 80 different creative teams and showcases classic Marvel Comics characters and some brand new ones.

Each page of Marvel Comics #1000 is a single-page vignette that is the contribution of one of the 80 creative teams.  The creative teams are a mixture of Marvel Comics luminaries (Roy Thomas, Chris Claremont, Alex Ross, to name a few), recent Marvel star creators (Jason Aaron, Joe Quesada), some rising Marvel creators (David F. Walker, Saladin Ahmed), some celebrities (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Neil Gaiman), and some inexplicable choices (J. Scott Campbell?!)

The guiding hand behind the story in this issue is Al Ewing, writer of the critically-acclaimed Hulk comic book series, Immortal Hulk.  The very first panel of Marvel Comics #1000 is based on a panel from Marvel Comics #1, and it is the beginning of this comic book's first one-pager, which is entitled “Eight Bells.”  It is written by Ewing; drawn by Steve Epting; colored by Frank D'Armata; and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles.  And while many of the one-pagers in Marvel Comics #1000 are about pivotal moments in Marvel Comics' past, the first one-page hints at an ancient conspiracy that runs through the history of the Marvel Universe.

“Eight Bells” recounts the introduction of the original Human Torch, an android by Professor Horton.  From there, Ewing unveils a mystery in the Marvel Universe, one centered around an enigmatic artifact known as the “Eternity Mask.”  Secret threads, secret connections, secret histories, and synchronicity, what is the mystery behind the Eternity Mask, an item that can take down both the powerful and weak  Who will wear the mask now?

In the Diamond Previews online write-up for Marvel Comics #1000, Marvel declares it features “The Greatest Talent Ever Assembled for One Story.”  Another line reads “...we have gathered together the greatest array of talent ever to be assembled between the covers of a single comic book!”  Marvel has also described the creative line-ups for this Marvel Comics #1000 as “some Marvel icons, some first-timers” and “80 luminary creative teams.”

I understand hype, but I also believe that whoever wrote this does not quite understand the actual meaning of the world “luminary.”  As for “the greatest talent ever assembled,” that is eye-rolling hype.  Most of the contributors to Marvel Comics #1000 are solid professions, but for the most part have not produced enough work or any work that would justify them being called “great talents” and certainly not luminary.  Also, the comic books that most of these new icons and “new luminaries” produce have contributed to the continued plummeting sales of comic books.  Neil Gaiman is obviously a luminary, and after a few puffs of burning bush, I might grudgingly call Jason Aaron a luminary.  But Matthew Rosenberg? – bitch, puh-lease.

For the record, here is a list of artists and writer-artists that have contributed substantially to Marvel Comics, but do not contribute to Marvel Comics #1000:  Art Adams, John Byrne, Sal Buscema, Paul Gulacy, Frank Miller, Andy Kubert, Bob Layton, Jim Lee, Joe Madureira, Todd McFarlane, Bob McLeod, Jon J. Muth, John Romita, John Romita, Jr., Bill Sienkiewicz, Paul Smith, Jim Starlin, Kent Williams, Ron Wilson, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Mike Zeck

Here are the writers who have contributed greatly to Marvel and are not in Marvel Comics #1000:  Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Joe Casey, J.M. DeMatteis, Matt Fraction, Steven Grant, David Michelinie, Mark Millar, Doug Moench, Grant Morrison, Ann Nocenti, Louise Simonson, and Marv Wolfman.

I can understand that there are a number of reasons why none of the above appear in Marvel Comics #1000.  Some may have declined, and others may have chosen not to because they are retired or are in poor health.  Others may have exclusive contracts with other publishers that prohibit them from committing any work for Marvel.  Some may have had scheduling issues, but I think many simply were not asked to contribute.

A Marvel Comics 80th anniversary book without John Byrne and Frank Miller is just fucking stupid.  I don't care what it took – even if someone had to get on his or her knees or drop trousers to convince them, Byrne and Miller had to be in this comic book.   It is because of the work that Byrne and Miller produced for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the mid-1980s that Marvel had a late 1980s.

And they couldn't get a Jack Kirby pin-up in this bitch?  The comic books that Bendis, Brubaker, and Millar produced in the 2000s contributed greatly to the history-making and astounding amounts of money Marvel Entertainment's owners are now making from film adaptations of Marvel Comics' stories and characters.  Bendis should have written the Miles Morales one-pager; because he didn't, I didn't even bother reading it.

There are some nice moments and pages in Marvel Comics #1000.  I thought the Joe Quesada-Kevin Nowlan Daredevil page was beautiful.  Other pages I liked:  Roy Thomas and Rod Reis's Wolverine page; Jim Zub and Nick Bradshaw's Blade page; and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Jessica Jones page, to name a few.

The good stuff in Marvel Comics #1000 is tainted by the absence of so many true Marvel Comics luminaries and icons.  Donny Cates is not a Marvel icon, nor is Gerry Duggan.  Sorry; not now, but maybe later – much later.  The powers-that-be at Marvel Comics should be honest.  Marvel Comics #1000 is not so much an anniversary celebration as their childish need to have a Marvel title reach a thousandth issue because DC Comics recently had two – Action Comics #1000 and Detective Comics #1000.  And Marvel was going to have their 1000 even if they had to fudge the numbers.

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.


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#IReadsYou Review: THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS

THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS
RANDOM HOUSE/Random House Graphic – @RHKidsGraphic

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST: Johan Troĩanowski
TRANSLATION: Anne Smith and Owen Smith
ISBN: 978-0-593-11840-5; paperback (January 21, 2020)
272pp, Color, $12.99 U.S., $17.99 CAN

Demographic: Middle-Grade

The Runaway Princess is a new, full-color, paperback graphic novel from Random House Graphic (or RH Graphic).  This is Random House's new imprint that publishes picture books, graphic novels, and other books that use graphics to tell a story.  [For the record, I use the term “graphical storytelling” to describe stories that use graphics (like lettering and sound effects), pictures, drawings, and illustrations (sometimes in sequence) to drive the narrative.  That includes the stories found in comics, comic books, comic strips, graphic novels, manga, etc.]

The Runaway Princess is comprised of three stories.  The first is “The Princess Runs Away (And Makes Some Friends).”  It stars Robin, the princess of the kingdom of Seddenga.  The story opens with the Queen and Elias, a royal household member, searching the royal castle for Robin.  After all, it is time for the princess' etiquette lesson with Elias.  They can't find her, but they are sure that she is nearby.

However, Robin is not a princess who will stay quietly and obediently at home.  This fiery red-haired girl is the kind of princess who will run away to have her own adventures, and this princess can’t resist the lure of adventure.  So Robin leaves the royal city of “Renoir” and heads out for adventure.  In “the Ogre's Forest,” she meets four brothers:  Paul, Matt, Lee, and Omar, and after avoiding the ogre, Robin leads her new friends to the city of “Noor,” where “the Aquatic Festival” is in full swing.  But can this adventurous princess and these lost boys handle all the (mis)adventure and strange beings that will come their way?

In the second story, “The Princess Runs Away Again (By Accident This Time),” Robin, Paul, Matt, Lee, and Omar are frolicking in the castle gardens when Robin falls into a secret passage.  The brothers are determined to find and rescue their friend, but Robin has already made a new friend, Plum, a curious girl with a thing for pumpkins.  But neither Robin nor the brothers realize that they are in “the Kingdom of Darkness” and that there is more to Plum than she has revealed.

In the third story, “The Princess Tries to Stay in One Place (But the Weather Doesn't Cooperate),” Robin finds Paul, Matt, Lee, and Omar playing aboard a small, sea-worthy boat that is land-ridden in a grassy meadow, so she joins them for some play.  When a sudden storm lifts the boat and carries it to an unknown land, the children have to find their way home.  In this adventure, the quintet encounters the eccentric scientist, inventor, and collector, Professor Dandelion; giant trees; the “Doodlers;” and a group of treasure-obsessed pirates that sail aboard a ship-in-a-bottle.

I can unequivocally say that RH Graphic's The Runaway Princess is one of the best kids' graphic novels that I have ever read.  I would probably have to go way out of my way and way overboard to find something wrong with it.  But first some background:

RH Graphic's The Runaway Princess is an English language collection of the French graphic novel series, Rouge.  Rouge is a comics series that began in 2009 and was written and illustrated by Johan Troĩanowski, a French comics and graphic novel creator.  In 2015, French publishing house, Makaka Éditions, published the first book collection (or graphic novel) of Rouge comics, entitled Rouge – Petite princesse punk.  That was followed by Rouge et la sorcière d’automne (2016), and Rouge - Lîle des Gribouilleurs (2017).  In the original comics, The “runaway princess'” name is “Rouge.”

RH Graphic's The Runaway Princess collects all three Rouge books in one handy, gorgeous paperback volume at the very reasonable cover prince of $12.99.  If you, dear readers, are considering purchasing The Runaway Princess, know that it shares characteristics with classic children's literature such The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wind in the Willows, to name a few.  The three stories contained in this book also recall the stories of the Brothers Grimm and other classic fairy tales, especially the ones that Walt Disney turned into beloved animated feature films.

Johan Troĩanowski is a hugely imaginative and inventive storyteller.  I remember a writer once saying that The Wizard of Oz is such a perfect children's tale because things just happen without explanation, as if children were imagining the story.  The Runaway Princess works that way.  Troĩanowski imagines so many wonderful things and places and characters, and they do not seem frivolous or like throwaway characters.  Each thing and every person seems to have some back story – his, hers, or its own tale outside of Robin, Paul, Matt, Lee, and Omar's story.

The illustrations are doused in bright, vivid colors that make the art and story almost seem to leap off the page, as if the story contents of The Runaway Princess are coming to life.  There are also a few times in each of these three adventures when Troĩanowski asks the readers to help move the adventure forward.

The Runaway Princess is aimed at “middle-grade” readers, which I guess means readers ages 8 to 12, but over the decades, children have learned to read by reading comic books.  I think a child younger than eight who wants to tackle The Runaway Princess can handle it.  So yeah, The Runaway Princess might be the first great children's graphic novel of 2020.  I highly recommend it to readers young, older, and young at heart.

[This book also includes a back section featuring Johan Troĩanowski's preliminary art for the series, such as character sketches and story page sketches.]

10 out of 10

Website: https://www.rhkidsgraphic.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RHKidsGraphic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhkidsgraphic/

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


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