#IReadsYou Review: EXCALIBUR #1

EXCALIBUR No. 1 (2019)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tini Howard
ART: Marcus To
COLORS: Erick Arciniega
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebuski”
COVER: Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kris Anka; Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Tom Muller
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2019)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“The Accolade of Betsy Braddock”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team comprised of individuals with unique powers and abilities granted to them because they are “mutants.”  Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer-editor Stan Lee, the X-Men debuted in the comic book, The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963).

Since the mid-1980s, there have been numerous X-Men spin-off comic book series.  One of them is Excalibur, which featured an off-shoot of the X-Men based in the United Kingdom.  The series was created by writer Chris Claremont and writer-artist Alan Davis, and it debuted in Excalibur Special Edition #1 (1987), also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.  The ongoing series, Excalibur, debuted in 1988 and ran for 125 issues, ending in 1998.

Over its six decades of existence, the X-Men comic book franchise has been revived, revamped, relaunched, and re-imagined.  The latest remodeling came via a pair of six-issue miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of 10”), which were written by Jonathan Hickman.  Afterwards, October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles, although all except one bore titles that had been previously used.  The new series are Fallen Angels, Maruaders, New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men, and the subject of this review, a new version of Excalibur.

Excalibur (2019) is written by Tini Howard; drawn by Marcus To; colored by Erick Arciniega; and lettered by Cory Petit.  The new series will feature a new Captain Britain, along with team members:  Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, Rictor... and Apocalypse.

Excalibur #1 (“The Accolade of Betsy Braddock”) opens in “The Otherworld,” specifically “Camelot.”  The Otherworld is being rocked by war, and Arthur Pendragon is missing.  Arthur's half-sister, the sorceress Morgan Le Fay, has named herself “Queen Regent,” because of Arthur's status and the state of the rest of the royal family.  Le Fay is also incensed that a gateway to Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state, has polluted her scrying pool.

Meanwhile, Betsy Braddock is leaving her brother, Brian Braddock a.k.a. “Captain Britain,” and Braddock Academy in Maldon, England, for the mutant paradise of Krakoa.  However, there, she is about to be reunited with an unpleasant family member who has been revived in “The Hatchery.”  Plus, the war in Otherworld is about to force huge changes in Betsy's status quo.

Apparently, Excalibur will focus on the magic angle in the new mutant status quo.  I am interested, but not $3.99 or $4.99 cover price-interested.  There were a few things caught my notice, but half of this comic book was a chore to read.  Honestly, there is nothing about Excalibur #1 that says this series will run longer than twelve issues.  Writer Tini Howard offers a script that seems more like a stumbling of scenes clumsily stuck together.

Artist Marcus To offers pretty if not exceptional art, but his storytelling is clear... or at least clearer than Tini Howard's.  Erick Arciniega slathers on the colors like a drunk trying to paint all the china in a china shop.  Cory Petit's lettering is pretty much a single font that, if read it long enough, could cause the comic book reading equivalent of snow blindness.

Yeah, Excalibur #2 better throw it down for real...

3.5 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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JUNE 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for June 2020
From TheBeat:  Archie Comics for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2020 [REVISED]
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2020
From ComicsBookCase:  DC Comics for June 2020
From Dynamite:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for June 2020
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for June 2020
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for June 2020 [REVISED]
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for June 2020 [REVISED]
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for June 2020
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for June 2020 [REVISED]
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
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for June 2020 [REVISED]

JULY 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for July 2020
From ComicsPit:  BOOM Studios! for July 2020
From Comicon:  DC Comics for July 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for July 2020
From ComicsPit:  IDW Publishing for July 2020
From CBR:  Image Comics for July/August 2020
From Scout:  Scout Comics for July 2020
From AllComics:  VIZ Media for July 2020
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for July 2020

AUGUST 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  AWA for August 2020
From CBR:  DC Comics for August 2020
From FirstComicsNews:  IDW Publishing for August 2020
From Seibertron:  IDW Publishing's "Transformers" solicitations for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2020
From CBR:  Marvel Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  PS Artbooks for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2020


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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 1, 2020

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#IReadsYou Review: VAL X LOVE Volume 8

VAL × LOVE, VOL. 8
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

MANGAKA: Ryosuke Asakura
TRANSLATION: Ko Ransom
LETTERS: Rochelle Gancio
ISBN: 978-1-9753-0900-8; paperback (April 2020); Rated “M” for “Mature”
194pp, B&W, $13.00 U.S., $17.00 CAN

Val × Love is a Japanese manga series by Ryosuke Asakura.  It has been serialized in Square Enix's shonen manga magazine, Monthly Shonen Gangan, since December 2015.  Yen Press is publishing an English-language edition of the manga in North American as a graphic novel series.

Val × Love focuses on Takuma Akutsu, who has had a scary face every since he was a child.  Terrified of human contact, Takuma just wants to live a quite life.  However, Takuma receives a revelation from Odin, the lord of Asgard, that the world will end soon and that it is on Takuma's shoulders to save the world.  Odin sends his nine daughters, the nine Valkyries, also known as the “Satome Sisters,” down to Earth.  Now, Takuma must raise their fighting level and practice “Val Love.”

As Val × Love, Vol. 8 (Chapters 41 to 45) opens, little Kururi-chan's all grown up.  After she put on a magic helmet, Kururi grew from an adorable kid sister to a rebellious teenager.  Now, it will take all Takuma's wiles to help Kururi gain experience points and level up.  This is especially true when a monster invades the city, and Kururi's weapon, “Rossweisse” the cannon, is much needed.

One high school student and nine Valkyries can make a household budget tight, so when the girls take on a part time job, Takuma tags along.  They'll need his protection because their part time jobs involve them being shrine maidens!  Plus, Shino wants to clean her master's “sword,” and Mutsumi is recruited to be one-half of an idol duo.

[This volume includes bonus manga.]

The Val × Love manga is a surprisingly risque comic fantasy.  I am having a hard time imagining these buxom and/or curvy girls as Valkyries.

Val × Love Graphic Novel Volume 8 is an entertaining read.  I did not have too hard a time figuring out the series – thanks to Google and Wikipedia.  Although there is some internal mythology dealt with in Vol. 8, especially at the end, most of this volume is a collection of comic situations built around Takuma and the sisters working together.

Ko Ransom offers a frothy English-language translation, but readers might not pay too much attention to only reading.  I don't think that I have ever read a manga that featured so many cartoon depictions of female breasts in a variety of sizes and shapes as Vol. 8 does.  This volume is T&A, with a heavy emphasis on the T – titties galore, indeed.  But creator Ryosuke Asakura has fashioned an endearing comedy that might grow on me and you, dear readers, the more we read it.

7 out of 10

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


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

#IReadsYou Review: STAR WARS: The Legends of Luke Skywalker #1

STAR WARS: THE LEGENDS OF LUKE SKYWALKER: THE MANGA, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

MANGAKA: Akira Fukaya and Tikashi Kisaki; Haruichi; Subaru; Akira Himekawa
ORIGINAL NOVEL: Ken Liu
TRANSLATION: Satsuki Yamashita
EDITOR: Fawn Lau
COVER: Akira Himekawa
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1584-8; paperback; 5 3/4 × 8 1/4 – trim size (January 2020); Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
212pp, B&W, $14.99 U.S., $19.99 CAN

The Star Wars media and merchandising franchise has been hugely popular over the time since the debut of the original film, Star Wars, some 43 years ago in 1977.  Some of that popularity is the reason that there has been, except for a few years, at least one comic book publisher producing Star Wars comic books since 1977.

One of the latest is Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga.  This is a single-volume graphic novel containing four manga short stories set in the Star Wars universe.  The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga  focuses on four characters who have encounters with the elusive Jedi Luke Skywalker.  The stories is this book are adapted by Japanese manga artists:  Akira Himekawa, Haruichi, Subaru, and the writer-artist team of Akira Fukaya and Takashi Kisaki from The Legends of Luke Skywalker.  This is the 2017 young adult novel by award-winning author Ken Liu's that is also part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi book series.

The writer-artist team of Akira Fukaya and Takashi Kisaki starts the volume off with “The Starship Graveyard.”  The story stars a young gunner aboard a Imperial Star Destroyer who finds himself face to face with a mysterious rescuer who may or may not be the legendary enemy of the Galactic Empire, Luke Skywalker.  Haruichi's story is “I, Droid,” in which a newly enslaved construction droid finds himself in the company of an unusual pair of droids that seem to know one another.  They may also have a connection to someone who might save them all, Luke Skywalker.

In “The Tale of Lugubrious Mote,” Sabaru chronicles the adventures of a “mole-flea of Kowak” and how he helped Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker during a legendary moment in Star Wars history.  Finally, the manga-ka duo, Akira Himekawa (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess), take readers into the “Big Inside” of an “exogorth” [The “giant space slug” in The Empire Strikes Back is an exogorth.]  In the story, a young biology student and Luke Skywalker must escape from inside a creature from which few beings escape.  Along the way, the duo will discover the “Master Weavers” of “the Luminous Mist.”

THE LOWDOWN:  I have been looking forward to reading Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga since I first heard of it a few months ago.  I have not read Ken Liu's original novel, and I don't plan to.  I have nothing against Liu, and I am not at all familiar with his work.  I simply have not read any Star Wars novels that have been published since The Walt Disney Company revamped the Star Wars line of novels to make every one of them fit in “Star Wars canon.”

The Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga graphic novel is a good read.  The stories are not great, but Liu managed to create a version of Luke Skywalker that feels authentically fearsome, legendary, mysterious, and unknown.  That is no small feat as, obviously, Luke Skywalker is so familiar to fans of Star Wars.  In fact, Luke Skywalker has been my favorite Star Wars character ever since I first encountered him over four decades ago.

The art in “The Starship Graveyard” is rough, even ugly at times, but the story is fun to read.  The heroic arc of the young Imperial gunner is quite captivating.  “I, Droid” is okay, but I can see fans of Star Wars droids really getting into it, although it doesn't do much for me.  “The Tale of Lugubrious Mote” is a fun, throwaway, and ultimately nonsensical spin and take on the part of the film, Return of the Jedi (1983), that deals with Jabba the Hutt.  I would describe it as a young readers' Star Wars “Legends” or non-canon story rather than as a young adult tale.

By far the best story in Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga is Akira Himekawa's “Big Inside.”  It reads like one of those weird stories that Marvel Comics published in its Star Wars comic book series from the 1970s and 80s.  The art is beautiful, of course, because Himekawa always delivers beautifully, drawn, lyrical art that conveys a sense of history, magic, mystery, and romantic adventure.  “Big Inside” has all that and also feels like a non-canon Star Wars story because of its mystical take on “the Force.”

Honestly, I would not recommend this Star Wars manga to all fans of Star Wars comic books, unless I knew what kind of Star Wars comic books they liked.  I would, however, recommend Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga to any readers always on the lookout for Star Wars manga.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Star Wars manga and fans of Luke Skywalker will want to try Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga.

6 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: A WITCH'S PRINTING OFFICE Volume 1

A WITCH'S PRINTING OFFICE, VOL. 1
YEN PRESS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mochinchi
ART: Yasuhiro Miyama
TRANSLATION: Amber Tomasaitis
LETTERS: Eric Hickman
ISBN: 978-1-9753-3146-7; paperback (December 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
194pp, B&W with some color pages, $15.00 U.S., $19.50 CAN

Mahoutsukai no Insatsujo is a fantasy manga that began as a digital manga written and illustrated by Mochinchi.  Later, Yasuhiro Miyama became series artist, and it began serialization in the manga magazine, Dengeki G's Comic, until the magazine was discontinued.  Yen Press is publishing an English-language edition of the manga in North America as a series of graphic novels entitled, A Witch's Printing Office.

A Witch's Printing Office, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) introduces Mika Kamiya, a young woman who is a comic nerd.  Returning home from a recent “Comiket” (a real-life event also known as “Comic Market”), Mika is about to enjoy her haul of comics when she is whisked away to a strange fantasy land.  This is a world similar to the kind that would be the setting of an RPG (role-playing game), but Mika wants to return home.

Searching for a spell that will send her home, Miya Kamiya becomes a young businesswoman.  First, she establishes Protagonist Press, a publishing house that focuses on spell books, scrolls, summoning contracts, and other magical tomes.  She hopes that one day one of those presented to her for publishing will contain the spell she needs.  Then, in a world full of wizards and witches, she decides that she needs to gather them all in one place.  So, Miya starts “Magiket” or “Magic Market,” a place where authors, publishers, and creators and makers of spells can sell magical tomes to witches, wizards, mages, and magic users of all skill levels.  Perhaps, in this market, she can meet someone who has the spell that will transport her home.

[This volume includes miscellaneous back matter in the form of comics, illustrations and text.]

The A Witch's Printing Office manga is not the first time I have come across a manga about a young woman involved in the business of creating and selling magical spells.  It is the first one that has as one of its most important settings, a book festival, fair, and flea market.

A Witch's Printing Office Graphic Novel Volume 1 presents a narrative with a definite goal, something for which writer Mochinchi should get some extra credit..  The heroine is involved in ventures that will allow her to peruse a wide range of magical spells while she hopes to find the spell that will transport her home.  However, the characters are not that well-developed in the chapters that comprise this first volume, even Miya Kamiya.  I would like to see a more in-depth look at the characters in future volumes of this interesting fantasy manga.

The art by Yasuhiro Miyama is beautiful.  Layered, textured, and toned, Miyama's illustrations give the world of A Witch's Printing Office weight and substance.  The art presents a rather engaging graphical storytelling package that is made even better by the English edition lettering by Eric Hickman.  The story potential and the art make A Witch's Printing Office worth another read.

7 out of 10

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


https://yenpress.com/
https://twitter.com/yenpress
https://www.facebook.com/yenpress/
https://www.instagram.com/yenpress/
https://yenpress.tumblr.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23045551-yen-press


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


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

#IReadsYou Review: FARMHAND #11

FARMHAND No. 11
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rob Guillory – @Rob_guillory
ART: Rob Guillory
COLORS: Taylor Wells
LETTERS: Kody Chamberlain
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Burt Durand
COVER: Rob Guillory with Taylor Wells
32pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(November 2019)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Farmhand created by Rob Guillory

Chapter 11: “Rootwork”

Farmhand is the (incredible) dark fantasy comic book series from comic book creator, Rob Guillory.  Guillory is also known for his award-winning tenure on the long-running comic book, Chew (Image Comics), with writer John Layman.  Farmhand is written and illustrated by Guillory; colored by Taylor Wells; and lettered by Kody Chamberlain (who also designed the Farmhand logo).

Farmhand's central character would appear to be Ezekiel “Zeke” Jenkins, a husband, father, and graphic designer and illustrator.  He returns to his hometown of Freetown, Louisiana with his wife, Mae, and their children, Abigail and Riley.  The old family business was “Jenkins Family Farm.”  The new family business is “Jenkins Family Farmaceutical Institute,” operated by Zeke's father, Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins (who could be the lead character), and Zeke's sister, Andrea.  The “farm” grows plant-based replacement human organs and tissue, and once upon a time, people, especially transplant recipients, saw this as a miracle.  But, now...

Farmhand #11 (“Rootwork”) opens many many years before the present day.  Jedidiah and his wife, Anna, with baby Andrea in tow, are hosting a crawfish boil.  Their guests are Randall and Dolly Lafayette, Nancy and John “Tree” Moore, and Monica Thorne.  Monica is the biomedical engineer and botanist who would help Jed design the seed of a possible apocalypse, and even back then, the blood was trying to tell...

In the present day, Randall Lafayette's useless son, Tiberius, helps Jed so that he can visit the former Hoodoo woman and prophetess, “Grandmomma” a.k.a. “Auntie Janice.”  Once upon a time she foretold Jed's future, which turns out to be... rooted in the past.

Farmhand #11 launches Farmhand's “Season Three,” so to speak – the series' third story arc.  Farmhand is set in Freetown in the state of Louisiana.  Louisiana is a state established by multiple “racial,” ethnic, religious, and cultural groups – indigenous, immigrant, invader, and enslaved – long before it became part of the then still new United States.  Instead of being a bunch of ingredients or a selection of “tapas,” Louisiana is an elaborate gumbo, one in an evolving state of neo-cuisine

Some people say they “don't believe” in “interracial relationships,” with many emphasizing that this is the command of their favorite holy book.  Yet a Black person and White person can still come together and conceive a child, despite anyone's belief to the contrary.  It is sort of like the purity of your rose garden being an illusion; other plants will come a knockin' regardless of your beliefs.  Barriers and purity standards are labels and enclosures that are more man-made than they are natural.

Farmhand's dark fantasy is made of blood magic and green magic, of bloodlines and roots that break on through the barriers and borders, erasing any kind of red-lining.  In this comic book, people foolish enough to believe that they can control and divide get caught up in Farmhand's version of “The Twilight Zone.”  In the “Farmhand Zone,” humanity is the common denominator.  All are vulnerable, aggressive, and damned.

I think Rob Guillory's storytelling is brilliant.  He defies conventions and labels.  In every issue, he shows his characters in a different light.  He seems to be moving beyond heroes and villains and beyond the just and the unjust.  Everyone is trouble and in trouble.

And I can't stop reading.  I never know what to expect from Farmhand, the best ongoing comic book series in America.

[This comic book also includes the one-page comic, “Freetown Funnies” by Burt Durand.]

https://robguillory.com/
https://twitter.com/Rob_guillory
https://www.instagram.com/rob_guillory/

10 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 June 24, 2020

BOOM! STUDIOS

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