#IReadsYou Review: RED SONJA Black White Red #7

RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #7
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone; Shannon Watters; Bob Q
ART: Jonathan Lau; Ro Stein; Bob Q
COLORS: Kike J. Diaz; Ted Brandt; Bob Q
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Phil Hester
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joshua Sway Sway; Bob Q; Phil Hester; Gracie the Cosplay Lass (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Robert E. Howard

Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) saw the debut of a high fantasy, sword and sorcery heroine, Red Sonja.  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.

In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring differing versions of the character.  One of those is Red Sonja Black White and Red, an anthology comic book featuring stories from well known comic book writers and artists, with the art presented in black, white, and red.

Red Sonja Black White and Red #7 is comprised of three stories.  The first story is “Blood on Snow,” which is written by Ron Marz; drawn by Mirko Colak; and colored by Kike J. Diaz.  The second is “Unbowed,” which is written by Phil Hester and drawn and colored by Heidi Blair.  The third story is “Sonja's Gambit,” which is written Amy Chu and drawn and colored by Andres Labrada.  All the stories are lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.

I'll comment on each story individually.

THE LOWDOWN:   In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Red Sonja Black White and Red #7, which is the sixth issue of the title that I have read.

“Blood on Snow” by Ron Marz, Mirko Colak,  Kike J. Diaz, and Jeff Eckleberry:
The story opens in snowy Nordheim.  Wounded, Red Sonja finds herself pursued by the men of the chieftain she just killed.  The She-Devil with a Sword takes shelter in an ancient temple.  Now, the two sides face off, but whose blood will stain the snow?

“Blood on Snow” is a classic Red Sonja tale pitting her against men with murder on their minds.  The story has a cool monster twist, and it is effectively done with nice art by Mirko Colak.  Also, this could be a classic Conan tale.

“Unbowed” by Phil Hester, Heidi Blair, and Jeff Eckleberry:
Red Sonja has a mission – return the body of a former teacher to the convent they both once called home.  The path she takes brings her into conflict with the “Wolf Clan.”  Can Red Sonja make it?  Is the She-Devil with a Sword like her late teacher, unbowed?

“Unbowed” is one of the best stories I have read in this anthology series.  Heidi Blair's art captures the subtly poignant mood that Phil Hester gives this story.  However, don't think for a minute that “Unbowed” lacks hacking and slashing.  It is simply that the drama here is so strong.

“Sonja's Gambit” by Amy Chu, Andres Labrada, and Jeff Eckleberry:
The story opens somewhere near the southern border Hyrkania.  Thamyris, a queen, traps Sonja in a magical game of chess.  Unfamiliar with the game, Sonja must make a gambit...

I like Andres Labrada's art in this story, and although “Sonja's Gambit” isn't a great Red Sonja tale, it is a nice little magical story.

It is hard for me to pick a favorite story from the offerings in Red Sonja Black White and Red #7.  I'll go with “Unbowed,” although “Blood on Snow” is a close second.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja will want to try Red Sonja Black White and Red.

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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

"Red Sonja Black White Red #7 is reprinted in the hardcover collection, RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED VOL. 2, which is available at Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: ELVIRA in Horrorland #1

ELVIRA IN HORRORLAND VOLUME 1 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone
ART: Silvia Califano
COLORS: Walter Pereya
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Dave Acosta
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Dave Acosta; John Royle; Silvia Califano
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2022)

Rated Teen+

Chapter One: Bloch Party

In 1981, actress and model Cassandra Peterson created the “horror hostess character,” known as “Elvira.”  Elvira gradually grew in popularity and eventually became a brand name.  As Elvira, Peterson endorsed many products and became a pitch-woman, appearing in numerous television commercials throughout the 1980s.

Elvira also appeared in comic books, beginning in 1986 with the short-lived series from DC Comics, Elvira's House of Mystery.  In 2018, Elvira returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment.  Elvira's latest comic book series is Elvira in Horrorland Volume 1.  The series is written by David Avallone; drawn by Silvia Califano; colored by Walter Pereyra; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.  The series finds Elvira trapped in the Multiverse of Movies.

Elvira in Horrorland Volume 1 #1 (“Bloch Party”) opens in the aftermath of Elvira's adventures with the ghost of the late, great film legend, Vincent Price (see Elvira Meets Vincent Price).  Part of those adventures included the discover that all movies create their own little “pocket dimensions.”

Now, Elvira finds herself in the pocket dimension belonging to one of the most famous horror films of all time, directed by one of the most influential and greatest filmmakers of all time.  That should be wonderful for Elvira, except that the movie includes an infamous and famous brutal murder in a shower.  To return to her own world, Elvira just has to find a “magical remote control” (Hello, Pleasantville), but can she really let things play out in this pocket dimension the way they are supposed to?  Well, there wouldn't be an entire comic book if she didn't.

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Elvira in Horrorland Volume #1, one of many Dynamite Elvira comic books that I have read and enjoyed.

By now, anyone who is a regular reader of my comic book reviews know that I adore Elvira comic books written by David Avallone and published by Dynamite Entertainment.  So, it is best just to move on, although I should note that I was surprised to see David make an extended reference to the notorious and pointless remake of the film that Elvira visits this issue.

Artist Silvia Califano superbly captures the spirit of this “pocket dimension” and conveys a sense of humor that I think only the best MAD Magazine satirists and parody masters could pull off.  Califano's art even resembles Howard Chaykin's peak art from the 1980s, especially the 1986 miniseries now known as The Shadow: Blood and Judgment.  Califano's sense of style and mood are superb, with the storytelling really having a sense of movement.

Taylor Esposito's lettering stabilizes the storytelling, bring order to the madcap, and colorist Walter Pereya certainly adds a jarring note at the right time.  Of course, I expected this creative team to pull this off.  Of course, I expected Elvira in Horrorland #1 to be good.  Now, I expect you to go out and buy it and other Avallone Elvira productions.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Elvira and of David Avallone's Elvira comic books will want to read Elvira in Horrorland Volume 1.

[This comic book includes “Dynamite Dispatch” May 2022, which features an interview with writer Jordan Clark.]

A+

10 out of 10

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

There is a Kindle edition of ELVIRA IN HORRORLAND available at Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: BETTIE PAGE and the Alien Agenda Volume 6 #2

BETTIE PAGE AND THE ALIEN AGENDA VOLUME 6 #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Ani-Mia
ART: Celor
COLORS: Farah Nurmaliza
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
EDITOR: Matt Idelson
COVER: Joseph Michael Linsner;
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Josh Burns; Stephane Roux, Jimmy Broxton, Ani-Mia; Celor; Ken Haeser
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2022)

Rated Teen+

Bettie Page (1923–2008) was an American model who gained notoriety in the 1950s for her pin-up photos.  She is still referred to has the “Queen of Pinups,” and her shoulder-to-armpit-length jet-black hair with its trademark bangs and her blue eyes have inspired generations of artists, illustrators and comic book artists.

In 2017, Dynamite Entertainment made Bettie Page the star of her own comic book miniseries.  The latest is Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda Volume 6.  It is written by Ani-Mia; drawn by Celor; colored by Farah Nurmaliza; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  The series finds Bettie searching for answers concerning an alien conspiracy.

Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda Volume 6 #2 opens at the Saqqara Necropolis, Egypt.  Bettie and her team, Professor Sofia Villannueva and Kim Young-Ja, arrive via helicopter at the pyramid of Djoser.  There, they meet their guide, Reynolds, and his associates, Ahmed and Karim, who will provide protection during the journey inside the pyramid.

They will need it, as Djoser is filled with treasure and deadly traps.  But Bettie and company have to be here to find the clues that will take them to their next clue location … if they survive Djoser.

THE LOWDOWN:   In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  The latest is Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda Volume 6 #2, which is the fifth issue of a Dynamite Bettie Page comic book that I have read.

Writer Ani-Mia previously wrote the miniseries, Bettie Page and the Bigfoot Bandits, which I did not read.  Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda has an easy pace, but Ani-Mia uses that pace to trick readers.  This series is sedate until it turns to lightning and this issue as some explosive moments.

Celor's calm and smooth art belies the fierce nature of this series.  Celor captures the spirit of fictional grave robbers and treasure hunters like the beloved cinematic archaeologist, Henry “Indiana” Jones.  Celor draws a page turner – an irresistible page turner, and the best thing that colorist Farah Nurmaliza does is accentuate the mood while staying out of Celor's way.

Dear readers, if you are into the legends surrounding the Roswell crash, you may be interested in trying Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda.  I, for one, love this comic book.  I am ready for the third issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Bettie Page comic books will want to try Bettie Page and the Alien Agenda Volume 6.

A

★★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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This comic book miniseries has a trade paperback collection, BETTIE PAGE: ALIEN AGENDA, and it is available at Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: FARMHAND #17

FARMHAND #17
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Rob Guillory

ART: Rob Guillory

COLORS: Jean-Francois Beaulieu

LETTERS: Kody Chamberlain

GRAPHIC DESIGN: Burt Durand

COVER: Rob Guillory

28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(May 2022)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Farmhand created by Rob Guillory

Chapter 17: “The Bridge”

Farmhand is a 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; lettered by Kody Chamberlain (who also designed the Farmhand logo); and currently colored by Jean-Francois Beaulieu.

Set in and around Freetown, Louisiana, Farmhand focuses on the Jenkins family: Ezekiel “Zeke” Jenkins; his wife, Mae; their children, Abigail and Riley; Zeke's father, Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins; and sister, Andrea (“Andy”).  Once upon a time, “Jenkins Family Farmaceutical Institute” used stem cell biotechnology to grow plant-based replacement human organs and tissue.  Once upon a time, transplant recipients saw this as a miracle.  Now, Zeke and the rest of the world see the miracle as a curse.

Farmhand #17 (“The Bridge”) opens with a wish it was once upon a time – a vision of what could have been.  But this is the world of the Jedidiah transgenic seed...  In this real world, Zeke and the family are living the trailer park life, and Zeke is feeling the full 12-year-old rage of his daughter, Abigail.  These are all the complications of a plague begun by his father's “science.”

At the institute, Zeke has to hear crazy theories from Walter Sparrow.  But the crazier words come from old Joe Thibodeaux, a man to whom Zeke gives a ride home.  By the end of the ride, Zeke will know some crazy shit – all of it about himself.

THE LOWDOWN:  In the two years since the publication of Farmhand #15, Rob Guillory may have used that time to really think about Farmhand.  Already a tight concept, it has returned, crazier and more inventive than ever.  Farmhand #16 revealed just how far off the moss-ridden rails this series had gone.  Readers were introduced to a world not ready for the post-apocalypse – not when the apocalypse, so green and pretty, was still happening.

Farmhand #17 reveals that even Guillory's collaborators are on that wacky weed.  Colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu turns the colors of Farmhand nightmarish for Zeke's mind-numbing dreams and visions.  Then, he flushes the daytime world or “reality” in neon and dayglo-inspired inebriation.  With his lettering, Kody Chamberlain impossibly creates a volume for Farmhand – a mixture of fonts both ordinary and demonic.  In a way, Chamberlain is pumping up the volume to cacophony – all the better to “hear” the lunacy of this series.

With Farmhand, there is practically a surprise on every page.  Rob Guillory is pruning our expectations because it is actually a good thing not to know what to expect from your favorite comic books.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of dark fantasy fiction and of great comic books will want to be a Farmhand.

A+

10 out of 10

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


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"Farmhand #17" is collected in FARMHAND VOLUME 4: THE SEED, which is available at Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: RED SONJA Black White Red #6

RED SONJA BLACK WHITE RED #6
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone; Shannon Watters; Bob Q
ART: Jonathan Lau; Ro Stein; Bob Q
COLORS: Kike J. Diaz; Ted Brandt; Bob Q
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry; Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Jae Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Lesley Leirix Li; Jonathan Lau; Jae Lee; Saphire Nova (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Robert E. Howard

Conan the Barbarian #23 (cover dated: February 1973) saw the debut of a high fantasy, sword and sorcery heroine, Red Sonja.  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith, Red Sonja was loosely based on “Red Sonya of Rogatino,” a female character that appeared in the 1934 short story, “The Shadow of the Vulture,” written by Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), the creator of the character, Conan the Cimmerian.

In 2005, Dynamite Entertainment began publishing comic books featuring differing versions of the character.  One of those is Red Sonja Black White and Red, an anthology comic book featuring stories from well known comic book writers and artists, with the art presented in black, white, and red.

Red Sonja Black White and Red #6 is comprised of three stories.  The first is “The Daring Rescue of Prince Maximilian (Beloved of All the Peoples),” which is written by David Avallone; drawn by Jonathan Lau; colored by Kike J. Diaz; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The second is “Morgona the Crimson,” which is written by Shannon Watters; drawn by Ro Stein; colored by Ted Brandt; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  The third is “The Giant,” which is written, drawn, and colored by Bob Q and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

THE LOWDOWN:   In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Red Sonja Black White and Red #6, which is the fifth issue of the title that I have read.

“The Daring Rescue of Prince Maximilian (Beloved of All the Peoples)” by David Avallone, Jonathan Lau, Kike J. Diaz, and Jeff Eckleberry:
Envoys from the Kingdom of Levkoy have approached Red Sonja.  They offer gold if she can rescue their beloved Prince Maximilian from six brigands.  But things are not as they seem, and Red Sonja wonders if she should make a different, if not better deal.

Writer David Avallone offers a nice twist on the sword and sorcery mercenary tale with “The Daring Rescue of Prince Maximilian (Beloved of All the Peoples).”  The treat here, however, is Jonathan Lau's gorgeous art.  Not only does it recall classic Barry Windsor-Smith era and John Buscema era Conan the Barbarian, but Lau also offers inventive and eye-catching page design.

“Morgona the Crimson” by Shannon Watters, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, and Jeff Eckleberry:
Red Sonja has recently discovered that when she rescues someone they thank her as … Morgona the Crimson!  And the people she helps are so grateful that they gift her food and livestock.  Who the hell is Morgona the Crimson?

Once upon a time, I would have ignored “Morgona the Crimson.”  Over the last three decades, however, I have heard so many horrible tales of identity theft (and also “unauthorized use of an access card) that this story resonates with me.  Shannon Watters' tale is timely and visceral, and Ro Stein's art captures both a sense of dark comedy and Sonja's frustration.  Plus, this tale has a gag cartoon quality that is hard to resist.

“The Giant” by Bob Q and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou:
A fortune teller warns Red Sonja of her demise if she takes on “the Guardian,” a giant that guards a crossing.  After her initial confrontation with the Guardian, Sonja wonders.

“The Giant” has nice art and a clever resolution.  I would like this story to be longer because I want to know what happens afterwards...

It is hard for me to pick a favorite story from the offerings in Red Sonja Black White and Red #6.  I'll call it a tie between “The Daring Rescue of Prince Maximilian (Beloved of All the Peoples)” and “Morgona the Crimson.”

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja will want to try Red Sonja Black White and Red.

A

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

You can find these stories and more in the hardcover trade collection, RED SONJA: BLACK, WHITE, RED VOL. 2, which is available at Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: RONIN BOOK II #1

RONIN BOOK II #1

FRANK MILLER PRESENTS LLC

STORY: Frank Miller

LAYOUTS: Frank Miller

ART: Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques

LETTERS: John Workman

BOSSES: Frank Miller, Dan DiDio, and Silenn Thomas

COVER: Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques

VARIANT COVER: Frank Miller

56pp, B&W, 7.99 U.S. (November 2022)

Ronin created by Frank Miller

Ronin is a six-issue comic book miniseries published between 1983 and 1984 by DC Comics.  The series was written and drawn by Frank Miller, with Miller's artwork painted by Lynn Varley.  Ronin takes place in a near-future New York City, a dystopia in which an unnamed ronin (in Japan, a samurai without a master) and his mortal enemy, the demon “Agat,” are reincarnated.  The series also features a security officer, Casey McKenna, “The Aquarius Corporation” and its artificial intelligence, “Virgo,” which may hold the true secrets of the ronin and Agat.

Late last year, Frank Miller's new publishing concern, Frank Miller Presents, launched a sequel to Ronin.  Entitled Ronin Book II, the series is written by Miller; drawn by Philip Tan (pencils), Daniel Henriques (inks), and Miller (layouts); and lettered by John Workman.  The new series follows Casey McKenna and her infant son, Billy, as they travel across a ravaged America.

Ronin Book II #1 finds Casey dreaming of her trials and tribulations.  The world is a vampire (so to speak), and the artificial intelligence, Virgo, still haunts Casey's life.  Now, she has a baby boy, and they must traverse the ravaged landscape of America.  However, sinister evils and the old ghosts still abound, one in the form of the infamous Agat.

THE LOWDOWN:  When the launch of Frank Miller Presents was announced to much fanfare in the spring of 2022, I was interested.  After all, Frank Miller was one of the first comic book creators whose name I learned when I started reading comic books in high school.  I found Daredevil #189 (cover dated: December 1982) in one of those comic book three-packs, I fell in love with Miller and his collaborator, Klaus Janson.  Their union would be made rock-solid (solid as a rock!) when the duo collaborated on the 1986 miniseries, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Between Daredevil and Batman, Frank Miller unleashed his landmark six-issue miniseries, Ronin.  It blended the Japanese comics (manga) with the French comics (bande dessinée) that influenced Frank Miller.  I would say that the work of French comic book creator, Jean “Moebius” Giraud, had the biggest influence on Ronin's artwork and narrative style.  Ronin was essentially Miller's Moebius comic book slash graphic novel.

In its press offerings, Frank Miller Presents has stated that Ronin Book II “captures all the energy and excitement of the original series, taking the characters and world into a direction all its own.”  I can accept that, but after reading Ronin Book II #1, I believe that a sequel to Ronin is at least 30 years too late.  Why?

Well, Ronin Book II #1 looks and reads like a comic book drawn by either Todd McFarlane or Jim Lee in the early 1990s.  That would include McFarlane's 1990-launched Spider-Man series and his Image Comics' title, Spawn (1992), and Lee's 1991-launched X-Men series and his Image title, WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams (1992).

Ronin Book II #1 reads like McFarlane's “BOOM BOOM BOOM” script for Spider-Man #1 (cover dated: August 1990), and Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques' art could be a catalog of Jim Lee's pencil art inked by Scott Williams, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Portacio, and just about every art assistant in the former Homage Studios gang.  There is indeed some beautiful panoramic black and white art, especially towards the end of the story, but...

What's it like to read this first issue.  Well, the guy who wrote powerfully in the 1980s is not as powerful now.  I wouldn't call Ronin Book II #1 incomprehensible, but I would say that it is incomprehensible that Miller thinks he can get away with a new series that seems like nothing more than a shoddy riff on the legendary manga, Lone Wolf and Cub.  So Miller may be taking Ronin Book II in “a direction all its own,” but I hope that the rest of the series does not read like old Todd McFarland and Jim Lee comics.

I don't know if I will buy any more issues of this series.  I may be too curious – because its Miller and Ronin – to just ignore Ronin Book II.  Also, I'm being generous with the grade I'm giving it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Frank Miller and of his Ronin comic book will want to at least sample Ronin Book II.

B-

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

"Ronin Book II" is now known as "RONIN RISING" and is available is both a hardcover and manga paperback edition via Amazon.

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#IReadsYou Review: SAVAGE TALES: Winter Special One-Shot

SAVAGE TALES: WINTER SPECIAL ONE-SHOT

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Scott Bryan Wilson; David Avallone

ART: Max Fuchs; Eman Casallos; Mariano Benitez Chapo; Hamish Munro-Cook

COLORS: Gab Contreras; Adriano Augusto; Adrian Woolnough; Jorge Sutil

LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

COVER: Arthur Suydam

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2022)

Rated Teen+

Savage Tales is the title of an anthology comic book series that has been used by both Dynamite Entertainment and Marvel Comics (twice).  Dynamite recently brought its version back as a series of one-shot comic books.

Savage Tales Winter Special One-Shot contains four short comics stories.  There is a Draculina story, “Juicing with the Devil,” which is written by Scott Bryan Wilson; drawn by Max Fuchs; and colored by Gab Contreras.  Next up is a John Carter & Dejah Thoris story, “A Honeymoon on Mars,” which is written by David Avallone; drawn by Emas Casallos; and colored by Adriano Augusto.  Third is Vampirella story, “Crypt Junkies,” which is written by Wilson; drawn by Mariano Benitez Chapo; and colored by Adrian Woolnough.  Last is a Captain Gullivar Jones story, “His War Chapter II,” which is written by Avallone; drawn by Hamish Munro-Cook; and colored by Jorge Sutil.

All four stories are lettered by Taylor Esposito.  I am reviewing each story separately.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, the marketing department at Dynamite Entertainment has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Savage Tales Winter Special One-Shot, which is the second time I have read a Dynamite Savage Tales comic book.

Draculina in “Juicing with the Devil” by Scott Bryan Wilson, Max Fuchs, and Gab Contreras:

Story:  A skinny young man is transformed from weakling to muscular strongman – by a demon.  The cost for this is that the transformed human must join his demon benefactor in a wrestling match against Draculina...

My thoughts:  This is a delightful story, very well drawn and colored.  The writer perfectly captures both the desperation and subsequent self-delusion of a guy who finally gets everything he thought he wanted and more.

John Carter & Dejah Thoris in “A Honeymoon on Mars,” by David Avallone, Emas Casallos, and Adriano Augusto:

Story:  An aerial outing sends John and Dejah on a rescue mission, but the result is the revelation of John Carter's savage past – one that is longer than he expected.

My thoughts:  This story is beautifully drawn by Emas Casallos and colored by Adriano Augusto in a way that remind me of stories from issues of old Heavy Metal and Epic Magazine.  Writer David Avallone deftly reconciles or perhaps, redeems John Carter of some of his past military affiliations, with emphasis on one in particular.

Vampirella in “Crypt Junkies” by Wilson, Mariano Benitez Chapo, and Adrian Woolnough:

Story:  Trash TV junkie, Vampirella, has a chance to appear on her favorite reality television series, “Crypt Junkies.”  The show basically breaks into sealed graves, tombs, crypts, etc. in order to “see the wonders inside.”  But maybe no one should be opening the "Grave of Omuo."

My thoughts:  This is another very well drawn story, and it really conveys the power and tragedy of writer Scott Bryan Wilson's clever tale.  I'd call “Crypt Junkies” one of the few original comic book stories that genuinely mixes the styles of Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft.

Captain Gullivar Jones in “His War Chapter II” by Avallone, Hamish Munro-Cook, and Jorge Sutil:

Story:  The story opens in France, September 1918.  The Earth man, Gullivar Jones, who once adventured on Mars, is now returned to Earth and trapped in the muck and mire of World War I.  He can wish himself away from this and return to Mars, but now, how is life on Mars?

My thoughts:  Gullivar Jones is the science fiction military man created by Edwin Lester Arnold.  Jones made one literary appearance in the 1905 novel, Lieut, Gullivar Jones: His Vacation.  Now, writer David Avallone is giving him new life in the medium of comics.  I think what Avallone is doing is creating a sequel to a character that was short-lived, or he is, at least, giving new life to an abandoned character.  In two chapters, he and Munro-Cook have breathed new life into Captain Gullivar Jones in a way that is true to old-timey science fiction and is also an intriguing reboot.  What makes me anticipate more of this is that the possibilities are endless … or at least Avallone and Munro-Cook think so.

Wow.  This issue is full of excellent stories, all well lettered by award-winning letterer, Taylor Esposito.  If I have to reluctantly pick a favorite comics story from Savage Tales Winter Special One-Shot, I will have to make a difficult choice.  I think I will go with “Crypt Junkies,” if only for the fact that it feels like it has potential to be a media franchise, but my eye is also on Gullivar Jones.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of anthology comic books will want to read Savage Tales: Winter Special One-Shot.

A+

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SAVAGE TALES #1

SAVAGE TALES #1 ONE-SHOT (2022)
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Scott Bryan Wilson; David Avallone
ART: Mariano Benitez Chapo; Will Rios; Al Barrionuevo; Hamish Munro-Cook
COLORS: Adrian Woolnough; Dinei Ribero; Jordi Escuin Llorach
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: Arthur Suydam
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Liam Sharp; Rafael Kayanan; Arthur Suydam
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2022)

Rated Teen+

Savage Tales is the title of an anthology comic book series that has been used by both Dynamite Entertainment and Marvel Comics (twice).  Dynamite recently brought its version back as a one-shot comic book.

Savage Tales #1 One-Shot contains four short stories.  The first is a Vampirella tale entitled, “Horrible People Doing Horrible Things To Horrible People,” and is written by Scott Brian Wilson; drawn by Mariano Benitez Chapo; and colored by Adrian Woolnough.  Next, is an Allan Quatermain tale, “Missionaries of Madness,” written by David Avallone; drawn by Will Rio; and colored by Dinei Ribero.  The third is a Red Sonja story, “The Executioner's Sword,” written by Scott Brian Wilson; drawn by Al Barrionuevo; and colored by Jordi Escuin Llorach.

The final entry is a Captain Gullivar Jones story, “His War,” written by David Avallone; drawn by Hamish Munro-Cook; and colored by Dinei Ribero.  All four stories are lettered by Taylor Esposito.  I'll review each story separately.

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, the marketing department at Dynamite Entertainment has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Savage Tales #1 One-Shot, which is the first time I have read a Dynamite Savage Tales comic book.

“Horrible People Doing Horrible Things To Horrible People” by Scott Brian Wilson, Mariano Benitez Chapo, Adrian Woolnough, and Taylor Esposito:

Enjoying a drink in a bar, Vampirella meets an interesting fellow drinker who has interesting things to say about horrible people doing horrible thinks to other horrible people.  At least, he thinks its interesting.  Now, Vampirella is about to hand out a lesson in morality.

I Reads You says:  I don't really remember any Vampirella tales from back in the Warren Publications days.  Maybe, I need to buy some back issues.  Anyway, this excellent tale by Scott Brian Wilson apparently recalls the good old days of Vampirella.  The comeuppance Vampirella delivers does remind me of the fate of characters in the few original Warren comics short stories that I have read.  Wilson offers enough brutality to make a reader feel pity for a man who likely does not deserve any, which I think makes this tale a winner. Mariano Benitez Chapo's smooth art gives the story a sense of impact; he makes the punishment mean something.

“Allan Quatermain and the Missionaries of Madness” by David Avallone, Will Rio, Dinei Ribero, and Taylor Esposito:

It is Durban, Africa, year 1883.  The legendary big game hunter, Allan Quatermain, has come across a massacred village, and he knows who the culprits are.  They call themselves “Servants of the Great Old Ones,” but they don't know that they are Quatermain's latest big game.  Will his search for these “murderous missionaries, however, lead Quatermain to his own doom?

I Reads You says:  Of course, Allan Quatermain is author H. Rider Haggard's (1856-1925) fictional big game hunter.  Writer David Avallone's idea of bringing Quatermain into the realm of H.P. Lovecraft's domain is actually a good one, and I hope to see more.  Will Rio's art and storytelling make “Missionaries of Madness” seem more like a Western than an African-set tale.  This is also a welcomed bit of newness.

“The Executioner's Sword” by Scott Brian Wilson, Al Barrionuevo, Jordi Escuin Llorach, and Taylor Esposito:

Upon passing through a village, Red Sonja discovers that the local executioner has a very special sword which he uses to kill the condemned.  But which, the executioner or his weapon, is cursed with an insatiable hunger?

I Reads You says:  It is easy to create a good Red Sonja comics short story because the character is so special and has existed for so long that these stories practically write themselves.  It is not easy to create a great Red Sonja comics short story; I know this because I have read enough to know.  On writer Scott Brian Wilson's part, “The Executioner's Sword” is great story and an excellent piece of story craftsmanship in forging a morality tale in which the “She-Devil with a Sword” seems merciful and just rather than vengeful – which she often is.

Al Barrioneuvo's moody art conveys the sense of malaise and doom that hangs over the village in which the story is set.  Barrioneuvo pulls off a rarity.  He creates a Red Sonja who is different in spirit from every other Sonja, and that is something, indeed.

“His War” by David Avallone, Hamish Munro-Cook, Dinei Ribero, and Taylor Esposito:

Once upon a time, Captain Gullivar Jones was swashbuckling his way across Mars.  Now, he is back on Earth and in the pit of the Great War (World War I).  Is this return to Earth Gullivar's new beginning, and is it something he really wants?

I Reads You says:  Captain Gullivar Jones is the science fiction military man created by Edwin Lester Arnold (1857-1935).  By bringing Jones back to Earth to fight humanity's war, writer David Avallone creates the idea that his lead character needs healing and redemption.  Beyond that, I can't say much.  “His War” is more like a taste of a larger work, and this taste makes me think that the story could work as a graphic novel, prose novel, or even as an intriguing screenplay.  Hamish Munro-Cook's art and graphical storytelling thoroughly sells the idea of man now grounded from his former fantastic realities.

If I have to reluctantly pick a favorite comics story in Savage Tales #1 One-Shot, it is a difficult choice.  I think I will go with “The Executioner's Sword,” which is the most genuinely emotional and, dare I say it, human story of this publication.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of anthology comic books will want to read Savage Tales #1 One-Shot.

[This comic book includes “Dynamite Dispatch” July 2022, which features an interview with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson about his new James Bond comic book series.]

A

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


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#IReadsYou Review: ELVIRA Meets Vincent Price #5

ELVIRA MEETS VINCENT PRICE #5
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone
ART: Juan Samu
COLORS: Walter Pereyra
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito with Elizabeth Sharland
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Dave Acosta
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Dave Acosta; Juan Samu; Anthony Marques and J. Bone
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2022)

Rated Teen+

Chapter Five: “Final Girl Lost”

In 1981, actress and model Cassandra Peterson created the “horror hostess character,” known as “Elvira.”  Elvira gradually grew in popularity and eventually became a brand name.  As Elvira, Peterson endorsed many products and became a pitch-woman, appearing in numerous television commercials throughout the 1980s.

Elvira also appeared in comic books, beginning in 1986 with the short-lived series from DC Comics, Elvira's House of Mystery, which ran for eleven issues and one special issue (1987).  Eclipse Comics and Claypool Comics began the long-running Elvira: Mistress of the Dark from 1993 to 2007.  In 2018, Elvira returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment in the four-issue comic book miniseries, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, that actually ran for 12 issues.

Vincent Price (1911–1993) was an American actor and a legendary movie star.  Price was and still is best known for his performances in horror films, although his career spanned other genres.  Price appeared in more than 100 films, but he also performed on television, the stage, and on radio.  Thus, he has two stars on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” one for motion pictures and one for television.

Elvira and Vincent Price team up for the first time in the comic book miniseries, Elvira Meets Vincent Price.  The series is written by David Avallone; drawn by Juan Samu; colored by Walter Pereyra; and lettered by Taylor Esposito with Elizabeth Sharland.  The series found Elvira and Price searching for a long-lost cult movie, “Rise of the Ram,” and trying to save the world from destruction at the hands of the ancient Egyptian god, Amun-Ra.

Elvira Meets Vincent Price #5 (“Final Girl Lost”) opens somewhere in Hollywood.  In the wake of saving the world from whack-ass Egyptian gods, Elvira and Vincent are enjoying a night of board games.  Then, Elvira gets an urgent call from her agent.

A friend, Darlanne Wing, a “scream queen” actress, is missing, and the leading suspect is horror movie mogul, Stanley Saliva.  Saliva, who produces “The Crawling Creep” films, in which Darlanne stars, has been stalking her for some time.  So Elvira and Vincent join forces again and travel to Saliva's creepy mansion.  To find Darlanne, the duo will to literally break the fourth wall and enter the world of a slasher movie.  Can Elvira and Vincent save Darlanne and themselves before Vincent has to depart for the spirit world?

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Elvira Meets Vincent Price #5, which is the fifth issue of the series that I have read and one of many Dynamite Elvira comic books that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Well, all good things must come to an end, although whenever one David Avallone Elvira series disappears, another is just around the corner.  This time around, however, it is a little bittersweet.  Elvira Meets Vincent Price reminded me of how much I miss Vincent Price, who has been dead for a little over three decades.  From time to time, I'll see a genre film or television series, and I'll suddenly think that Vincent would be wonderful in it.

This final issue is filled with Avallone's sparkling dialogue and zany antics.  Juan Samu draws it all in a lovely mercurial graphical storytelling style that is part comic horror and part bromance.  Walter Pereyra's colors add a lovely vintage touch to the art and storytelling.  All of it is nicely wrapped up in a lettering bow by Taylor Esposito and Elizabeth Sharland.

Elvira Meets Vincent Price is a winner, and as Avallone tells us inside the story, the trade collection of this series will be here sometime in the near future.  It is a chance to relive the series or discover its golden touch.  My slight sadness is tempered by the fact that there is another series headed our way.  Dynamite, Elvira, and an Avallone-led creative team are comic book platinum.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Elvira and of Vincent Price and of David Avallone's Elvira comic books will want to read Elvira Meets Vincent Price.

A

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


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#IReadsYou Review: ELVIRA Meets Vincent Price #4

ELVIRA MEETS VINCENT PRICE #4
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: David Avallone
ART: Juan Samu
COLORS: Walter Pereyra
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito with Elizabeth Sharland
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Dave Acosta
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Dave Acosta; Juan Samu; Anthony Marques and J. Bone
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated Teen+

Chapter Four: “Inglorious Bastet”

In 1981, actress and model Cassandra Peterson created the “horror hostess character,” known as “Elvira.”  Elvira gradually grew in popularity and eventually became a brand name.  As Elvira, Peterson endorsed many products and became a pitch-woman, appearing in numerous television commercials throughout the 1980s.

Elvira also appeared in comic books, beginning in 1986 with the short-lived series from DC Comics, Elvira's House of Mystery, which ran for eleven issues and one special issue (1987).  Eclipse Comics and Claypool Comics began the long-running Elvira: Mistress of the Dark from 1993 to 2007.  In 2018, Elvira returned to comic books via Dynamite Entertainment in the four-issue comic book miniseries, Elvira Mistress of the Dark, that actually ran for 12 issues.

Vincent Price (1911–1993) was an American actor and a legendary movie star.  Price was and still is best known for his performances in horror films, although his career spanned other genres.  Price appeared in more than 100 films, but he also performed on television, the stage, and on radio.  Thus, he has two stars on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” one for motion pictures and one for television.

Elvira and Vincent Price team up for the first time in the comic book miniseries, Elvira Meets Vincent Price.  The series is written by David Avallone; drawn by Juan Samu; colored by Walter Pereyra; and lettered by Taylor Esposito with Elizabeth Sharland.  The series finds Elvira and Price searching for a long-lost cult movie, “Rise of the Ram,” because it contains an incantation that can save the world from destruction at the hands of the ancient Egyptian god, Amun-Ra.

Elvira Meets Vincent Price #4 (“Inglorious Bastet”) opens at “The Pyramid Fields of Abu Sir.”  Vincent Price has been vanquished … or so it seems.  Now, all that stands between Amunet and her plans to revive her hubby, Amun-Ra, from the “Western Lands” is Elvira, screenwriter Ahmed Alhazred, and Anipe the tour guide.

As Amunet reads “The Spell of the Final Day” from “The Book of the End of All Things” scroll, Elvira has a reunion with someone who can help her.  Amun-Ra rises and the entire world watches, via a “Deathflix” stream.  Will Vincent return in time to help save the day?  Can Vincent return?

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Elvira Meets Vincent Price #4, which is the fourth issue of the series that I have read and one of many Dynamite Elvira comic books that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

In my review of Elvira Meets Vincent Price #3, I said that I could read another 100 pages of that delightful comic book.  I feel the same way about this fourth issue.  The witty and perfectly humorous writing of David Avallone and the pitch-perfect comedy storytelling of Juan Samu make this final issue a total winner.  If there were justice in comic book awards, Avallone and Samu would at least get some kind of nomination as best writer-artist team.

The sterling painterly colors of Walter Pereyra and the spry lettering of Taylor Esposito with Elizabeth Sharland complete this superb creative team.  While we await the fifth and final issue of this series, dear readers, let's enjoy the afterglow of the fantastic Elvira Meets Vincent Price #4.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Elvira and of Vincent Price and of David Avallone's Elvira comic books will want to read Elvira Meets Vincent Price.

A+

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


https://twitter.com/DAvallone
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https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
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The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50th Anniversary

KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOFTCOVER

MOONSTONE BOOKS

STORY: David Avallone; Jonathan Maberry; Peter David; R.C. Matheson; Kim Newman; Tim Waggoner; Steve Niles; Rodney Barnes; Gabriel Hardman; James Aquilone; Nancy A. Collins; James Chambers

ART: Julius Ohta; Marco Finnegan; J.K. Woodward; Paul McCaffrey; Clara Meath; Szymon Kudranski; Jonathan Marks Barravecchia; Gabriel Hardman; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;

COLORS: Zac Atkinson; Szymon Kudranski; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;

LETTERS: Tom Napolitano; Tom Napolitano with DC Hopkins

EDITOR: James Aquilone

COVER: Colton Worley

MISC. ART: Jerry Ordway with Zac Atkinson; J.K. Woodward; Dan Brereton

ISBN: 978-1-946346-14-8; paperback (October 21, 2022)

188pp, Color, $24.99 U.S.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is a 188-page comic book anthology that celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the former ABC television series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.”  This graphic novel is edited by James Aquilone and published by Moonstone Books.

“Kolchak: The Night Stalker” was a television series that blended horror, fantasy, and science fiction.  It aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season for a total of 20 episodes.  The series was preceded by two ABC television movies, The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973).

The TV series and two movies followed wire service reporter named Carl Kolchak, who was played by the late actor Darren McGavin (1922-2006).  Kolchak worked for the Chicago branch of the Independent News Service (INS), a small news wire service.  He often investigated mysterious crimes and events and they were usually caused by forces, creatures, monsters, entities, etc. that were of supernatural, science fiction, and/or fantastic origins.  Carl Kolchak was created by the late writer, Jeff Rice (1944-2015).

2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the debut of “The Night Stalker” TV movie (specifically January 18, 1972).  To commemorate that anniversary, editor and publisher, James Aquilone, launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for an anthology graphic novel telling all-new comics stories that would span Carl Kolchak's entire career as a reporter of the supernatural and as TV’s greatest monster-hunting reporter.

The result was a hugely successful campaign and the eventual release of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  This special 188-page graphic novel is comprised of 12 all-new stories that chronicle the adventures of the intrepid Carl Kolchak from the 1930s to the early 2000s.

The stories are written by a stellar line-up of novelists, television writers, and comic book scribes.  The list includes David Avallone, Rodney Barnes, James Chambers, Nancy A. Collins, Peter David, Jonathan Maberry, and Steve Niles, to name a few.  The artists include Jonathan Marks Barravecchia, Szymon Kudranski, Paul McCaffrey, Julius Ohta, J.K. Woodard, and Colton Worley, to name a few.

THE LOWDOWN:  There is more than one edition of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel, including one that will contain a series of prose stories featuring Carl Kolchak.  My review will be of the 188-page “Cover A” paperback edition that contains the 12 stories and a short illustration gallery of variant cover art.

First, allow me to gush, dear readers.  If Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is not the best horror comics anthology of the 21st century that I have read, it is definitely in the top three.  I can't think of a better one that I've encountered over the last twenty-plus years.

It is bracketed by a fine opening story and a pitch-perfect closing story.  The opening tale, writer David Avallone and artist Julius Ohta's “The Funny Place,” introduces a young Carl Kolchak who is coming into his own.  Avallone does not make the mistake of doing what the film, Solo: A Star Wars Story,” did and show us the origins of every single habit for which television viewers and fans would come to know Kolchak.  I'd like to see Avallone and Ohta produce a YA graphic novel expansion of their take on young Carl Kolchak.  I know it likely won't happen, but a fanboy can dream...

The closing story, writer James Chambers and artist Paul McCaffrey's “The Last Byline,” is masterstroke as a concluding story in an anthology.  It recalls Kolchak's debut, The Night Stalker; is a summation of his work and motivation; and is a fitting end … with his boots on.

In between, the writers and artists introduce new spins on the adventures of Carl Kolchak, such as Nancy A. Collins' and Warwick Caldwell-Johnson's “The Sin Feeder” and Jonathan Maberry and Marco Finnegan's “The White Lady.”  Writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jonathan Marks Barravecchia summon the spirit of original “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” episode, “The Zombie,” with the superb “Voodoo Child.”  It is a timely rumination on the pervasive poverty of black and brown inner city neighborhoods and also police violence, with a seeding of George A. Romero's “Dead” films.

I actually cannot pick a personal favorite story from Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel because they are all so damn good.  “The Nest” by Tim Waggoner and Clara Meath may be the sweetest.  I unequivocally endorse Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  I think the version that I am reviewing costs $32 to purchase from James Aquilone's Monstrous Books website.  I am sure, dear readers, that some of you have spent much more on reading material that is not nearly as good as this book.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Carl Kolchak and of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” will very much want Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.

[This volume includes introductions by R.C. Matheson and James Rice.]

A+

10 out of 10

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

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The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Book Review: Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic

MASTERS OF MAKE-UP EFFECTS: A CENTURY OF PRACTICAL MAGIC

WELBECK PUBLISHING

AUTHORS: Howard Berger and Marshall Julius

DESIGN: Russell Knowles; Darren Jordan

EDITORS: Ross Hamilton and Roland Hall

ISBN: 978-0-80279-001-6; hardcover – 9” x 11” (September 20, 2022)

320pp, Color, $39.95 U.S., £30.00 U.K.

Forward by Guillermo Del Toro; Afterword by Seth MacFarlane

Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic is a film history and art book from authors Howard Berger and Marshall Julius.  Berger is a special make-up effects artist with over 800 feature film credits.  With Tami Lane, Berger won the “Best Make-up” Academy Award for their work on the 2005 film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Julius is a London-based film critic, blogger, broadcaster and author, whose previous books include Vintage Geek (September Publishing, 2019) and Action! The Action Movie A-Z (Batsford Film Books, 1996).

Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic is an illustrated oral history of the art form of make-up effects, celebrating the make-up artists and acclaimed make-up effects masters from the world of both film and television  The authors take their readers into that fascinating world via untold stories from the sets of both popular and cult films and television.  Read the tales behind the make-up and effects on such films as An American Werewolf in London, Star Wars, Pan's Labyrinth, and The Thing, to name a few.  Visit the sets of such TV series as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Doctor Who,” “Star Trek,” and “The Walking Dead,” to name a few.

THE LOWDOWN:  In Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic, there are 293 stories over 15 chapters.  I counted.  That made Masters of Make-Up Effects one of my most difficult book reviews – if not the most difficult.  There is just so much good stuff for film fans and movie buffs that reading it can sometimes feels like sensory overload.

First, I'll mention something that absolutely delighted me.  Co-author Marshall Julius pens an introduction that recounts an interview he conducted with his then-future co-author, Howard Berger, in 2006.  It ended with Berger applying his make-up effects magic on Julius, and the result of that magic...  Well, you have to buy Masters of Make-Up Effects to find out what it is.  [If you are a movie fan, you really should already have this book.]

Masters of Make-Up Effects contains hundreds of photographs, a few of which I was familiar.  However, the vast majority were new to me – these photographs of actors, directors, and, of course, the make-up and effects artists who are the stars of this book.  Yes, I have seen make-up special effects legend, Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow), in film and on television for decades.  However, the other photographs put faces on these make-up effects and make-up artists I only knew as names on screen, on the Internet, and in books.  This includes masters such as Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Greg Nicotero, Dick Smith, David White, Kevin Yagher, and Louis Zakarian, to name a few.

Seeing a photo of Stuart Freeborn and another of the members of his Star Wars “creature crew” was almost a religious experience.  Thank you, Howard and Marshall, for that.  Freeborn and company were the people behind Chewbacca and the creatures of the “Mos Eisley cantina sequence” in the first Star Wars.  In 1982, I saw Star Wars in a pre Return of the Jedi re-release.  That Saturday afternoon, I followed Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi into that “wretched hive of scum and villainy” and movies were never the same for me after that.  So finally seeing the artists behind it is a big deal.

While trying to find a way to talk about all these photos, it was then that I realized that Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic is not only a book of photographs, but it is also a book of stories.  If you like science fiction, fantasy, and horror films and television, this book of stories is for you and the fans in your life.  The storytellers include the great Robert Englund, Rick Baker, Doug Bradley, Bruce Campbell, Nick Dudman, Toni G, Doug Jones, John Landis, James McAvoy, Greg Nicotero, Sarah Rubano, and Tom Savini, to once again name a few.

One does not need to be a fantasy film fan to love this book.  After all, film and TV dramas also require make-up effects and make-up artists.  Chapter 13 is entitled “Reel Lives” and focuses on the make-up work behind films based on real-life figures.  Actors have to be made up to resemble historical figures like Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins in 2012's Hitchcock); Judy Garland (Renée Zellwegger in 2019's Judy); and Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady), to name a few.

I bought this book almost a few months ago, and I find myself repeatedly returning to it.  I can't get enough of the photographs or the stories.  Howard Berger and Marshall Julius have created an important book in Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic, both for what it is and for what it may mean in the future.

As more people discover this book, some because of a second printing, they will realize that it is a gem.  Over time, it will become an important resource for reference and scholarly research.  Movie and television fans, put those unused gift cards from Christmas and the holidays to use and buy Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers who are fans of the magic that is movies will want a copy of Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic.

A+

10 out of 10

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

https://www.welbeckpublishing.com/

https://twitter.com/welbeckpublish

https://www.instagram.com/welbeckpublish/?hl=en

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Book Review: THE SACRED BRIDGE

THE SACRED BRIDGE – (A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel #7)

HARPERCOLLINS

AUTHOR: Anne Hillerman

ISBN: 978-0-06-290836-0; hardcover (April 12, 2022)

336pp, B&W, $26.99 U.S., $33.50 CAN

The Sacred Bridge: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel is a 2022 hardcover original novel from author Anne Hillerman.  It is the seventh novel in her “Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito” book series, which began with Spider Woman's Daughter (2013).

This series is a continuation of the “Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee Series” written by Hillerman's late father, bestselling author, Tony Hillerman (1925-2008).  The original series is the basis for “Dark Winds,” a television series from the cable network, AMC, and its streaming service, AMC+.  In The Sacred Bridge, Chee and Manuelito each investigate an unusual murder.

Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito and her husband, Sgt. Jim Chee, are enjoying a vacation, but Bernie leaves early.  Jim Chee’s stay in beautiful Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell has a deeper purpose. He is on a quest to unravel a sacred mystery his mentor, the legendary police officer, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, stumbled across decades earlier.  Chee's journey takes a dark turn when, after a prayerful visit to the sacred Rainbow Bridge, he spots a body floating in Lake Powell.  The dead man is Curtis Walker, a Navajo with a passion for the canyon’s ancient rock art.  However, Curtis lived a life filled with many secrets, including an affair with a married woman and double-crossing one or more potential business partners.  In his mission to discover why Curtis died and who is responsible, Chee's will put his own life at risk.

Back at their home base of Shiprock, Bernie is driving home when she witnesses a black Mercedes sedan purposely kill a hitchhiker.  The search to find the killer leads her into an undercover investigation at KHF – “K'é Happy Farm,” a cannabis farming operation that was supposed to benefit the Navajo Nation.  However, the place is surrounded by mystery and rumors and also reports that workers are shooting dogs.  Even the guy who is supposed to own the place, Dino Begay Perez, is missing.  Bernie discovers a dangerous chain of interconnected revelations involving KHF.  It is an evil that jeopardizes both her mother and sister, Darleen, and puts Bernie in the deadliest situation of her law enforcement career.

THE LOWDOWN:  I have been crazy about Anne Hillerman's work since I first read Spider Woman's Daughter.  I had read two of her late father, Tony Hillerman's novels a long time ago, so I requested a review copy of Spider Woman's Daughter from HarperCollins when it was offered to reviewers back in 2013.  It was a fortuitous decision, as the “Manuelito, Chee & Leaphorn” series is one of my favorite modern literary series.

I don't know if I would call The Sacred Bridge a turning point in the series, but the story does suggest that big changes are ahead for both Bernie and Chee.  While Joe Leaphorn does not appear in the novel (although he plays an indirect part in the plot), Hillerman also hints of a big change for him.

Of all the books in this series, The Sacred Bridge is the one that I would most describe as a crime thriller or a suspense thriller.  Both mysteries that confront the lead characters are filled with danger, and it seems that their lives are always under threat.  It is not a spoiler to say that both come close to being killed, and Chee's case is filled with heartbreak that will vex some of the characters long after the story ends.  In Bernie's case, the characters end with hope and reunion.

As I have done with the previous books, I am heartily recommending The Sacred Bridge.  As usual, I was sad when I finished the last page.  I always want more, and, dear readers, if you give this book a chance, you will want more, also.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:   Fans of Anne Hillerman and of her late father, Tony Hillerman, will want to read The Sacred Bridge.

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

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

https://www.annehillerman.com/

https://twitter.com/harperbooks

https://www.instagram.com/harperbooks/

https://twitter.com/HarperCollins

https://www.harpercollins.com/

The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved.  Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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