#IReadsYou Review: THE SCUMBAG #2

THE SCUMBAG No. 2
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rick Remender
ART: Andrew Robinson
COLORS: Moreno Dinisio
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
DESIGN: Erika Schnatz
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Andrew Robinson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Matteo Scalera; Joshua Swaby with Moreno Dinisio
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(November 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

The Scumbag is a new comic book series from writer Rick Remender.  Described as a “comedy espionage series” by publisher Image Comics, The Scumbag's tagline reads, “The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it!”  The series features a rotating crew of illustrators.  Thus, artist Andrew Robinson; colorist Moreno Dinisio; and letterer Rus Wooton complete the current creative team.

The Scumbag introduces Ernie Ray Clementine.  He is a rundown, raggedy, filthy man.  He is a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted biker and ne'er-do-well with a fifth-grade education.  But thanks to a power-imbuing serum called “the Formula Maxima,” Ernie will be the only thing standing between humanity and total Armageddon... because he has suddenly become the world's most powerful super-spy.

The Scumbag #2 opens in “Simon's” dive bar, where Ernie Ray is regaling people with his recent supernatural adventures, which he, of course, thinks are drug hallucinations.  Then, Sister Mary of “Central Authority” shows up and starts barking orders … and offering things that Ernie Ray likes.  Meanwhile, Scorpoinus and “The Prosoma” make their golden move, which leads to a … monsters of rock misunderstand.

THE LOWDOWN:  I didn't have a lot to say about The Scumbag #1.  I have more to say about The Scumbag #2.  I like this issue's art team of illustrator Andrew Robinson and colorist Moreno Dinisio, which delivers some pretty art and some fast-moving storytelling.  Rus Wooton's lively letters continue to capture the right vibe for each particular issue – this time, action-comedy.

As I said before, I have enjoyed what few Rick Remender comic books I have read, and I found myself enjoying The Scumbag #1.  I really wanted to be cynical about the first issue, but I had to admit that I liked it.  I like The Scumbag #2 even more.  After introducing the concept, Remender continues the introductions, but while reading the second issue, I got the feeling of a writer freed up to do a little more action.  This issue is a wild ride, and I kinda wish that Sister Mary was the star of this series.  The pace of this issue seems more suited for her to be the star.

I don't know about The Scumbag comic book being “the next Deadpool,” as some have speculated.  However, it has the potential to offer a brief respite from the traumas of the world with some regularly delivered salacious fun, and it has already started to do so.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rick Remender, of mature comedy, and of reprobate-type anti-hero lead characters will want The Scumbag.

7.5 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/Remender
http://www.giantgenerator.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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 SCUMBAG #1

THE SCUMBAG No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rick Remender
ART: Lewis Larosa
COLORS: Moreno Dinisio
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
DESIGN: Erika Schnatz
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Lewis Larosa with Moreno Dinisio
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Andrew Robinson
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Jazz Apple Armageddon,” Part One

The Scumbag is a new comic book series from writer Rick Remender and artist Lewis Larosa.  Described as a “comedy espionage series” by publisher, Image Comics, The Scumbag's tagline reads, “The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it!”  Colorist Moreno Dinisio and letterer Rus Wooton complete the book's creative team.

The Scumbag #1 opens in New York City.  There, we meet Ernie Ray Clementine.  He is a rundown, raggedy, filthy man.  He is a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted biker and ne'er-do-well with a fifth-grade education.  But thanks to a power-imbuing serum called “the Formula Maxima,” Ernie will be the only thing standing between humanity and total Armageddon... because he has suddenly become the world's most powerful super-spy.

THE LOWDOWN:  I don't have a lot to say about The Scumbag #1.  I like the art team of Lewis Larosa and Moreno Dinisio, which delivers some pretty art.  These illustrations remind me of the painted comic book art found in some entries in the old “Marvel Comics Graphic Novels” line.  Rus Wooton's lively letters capture this series' comedy and spy-spoof humor.

I have enjoyed what few Rick Remender comic books I have read, and I find myself really enjoying The Scumbag #1.  No fan of Remender can afford to skip reading the first issue of The Scumbag, which some are speculating will be the next Deadpool.  That's all I have to say... except that I am determined to read The Scumbag #2.  I don't know about it being like Deadpool, but it has the potential to offer a brief respite from the traumas of the world with some regularly delivered salacious fun.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rick Remender, of mature comedy, and of reprobate-type anti-hero lead characters will want The Scumbag.

7.5 out of 10

Tuesday, October 20, 2020


https://twitter.com/Remender
http://www.giantgenerator.com/
https://twitter.com/lewislarosa
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: SPIDER-GWEN Ghost-Spider #1

SPIDER-GWEN: GHOST-SPIDER No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Seanan McGuire
ART: Rosi Kämpe
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Devin Lewis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Bengal
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Andrew C. Robinson; Paolo Rivera; Jee-Hyung Lee
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2018)

Rated  “T”

“Spider-Geddon” Part 1: “Uncharted”

Spider-Gwen created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez; based on Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

Spider-Gwen is a Marvel Comics title featuring a new version of Spider-Woman.  A spin-off character of the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker, the first Spider-Woman was Jessica Drew, and she debuted in Marvel Spotlight #32 (cover dated: February 1977).  Spider-Gwen is an alternate-universe version of the classic Spider-Man character, Gwendolyne Maxine “Gwen” Stacy, who first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (cover dated: December 1965), who is also an alternate-universe version of Spider-Woman.

On Earth-65, Gwen Stacy, not Peter Parker, is bitten by a radioactive spider that gives her powers and abilities associated with Spider-Man.  Gwen becomes the superhero, Spider-Woman.  However, Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is depicted as having a personality similar to that of Peter Parker, and she shares many of the conflicts that Parker is known for having.

Gwen/Spider-Woman got her first comic book series (5 issues), with the first issue cover dated February 2015, and a second series (34 issues), with the first issue cover dated October 2015.  Now, Gwen has a new comic book series, Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider.  It is written by Seanan McGuire; drawn by Rosi Kampe; colored by Ian Herring; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1 (“Uncharted”) finds Gwen back in the swing of things as Spider-Woman, although she learns via her encounters with the public that people call her “Spider-Gwen.”  While enjoying a meal with a friend, Gwen spots something odd.  It's Spider-Ham!  After meeting him, Gwen learns that the Inheritors are back, and Gwen has to join the other “Spiders” to battle them again.  This quick exit into the multiverse, however, will leave Gwen absolutely lost.

I have enjoyed most of the Spider-Gwen comic books that I have read.  Like the Mile Morales-Ultimate Spider-Man comic books, Spider-Gwen titles seem like and are indeed a fresh take on the core Spider-Man “mythos” and concepts.  Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1 starts a little soft, but the second half of this debut issue gets pretty intense.

I can learn to like the Ghost-Spider creative team of writer Seanan McGuire and artist Rosi Kampe, because while I enjoyed the team of writer Jason Latour and artist Robbi Rodriguez, I was not hung up on them.  Besides, McGuire and Kampe don't stray far, at least stylistically, from Latour and Rodriguez's work.  Letterer Clayton Cowles and colorist Ian Herring are doing good work, so I think that Spider-Gwen fans will be satisfied with this new title.  The ending of Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #1 makes me want to read the second issue.  This is not great debut, but it is good reading.

6 out of 10

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


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

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Review: Friendly Neighborhood SPIDER-MAN #1

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN No. 1 (2019)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
PENCILS: Juann Cabal; Marcelo Ferreira
INKS: Juann Cabal; Roberto Poggi
COLORS: Nolan Woodard; Jim Campbell
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Nick Lowe
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Andrew Robinson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Juann Cabal with Nolan Woodard; Joe Jusko
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2019)

Rated  “T”

Spider-Man created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee

“Mother of Exile: Part One”

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a Spider-Man comic book series that ran for twenty-four monthly issues (cover dated: December 2005 to November 2007) and one “Annual.”  A new volume of the series recently debuted.  The new series is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Juann Cabal; colored by Nolan Woodard; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  Marvel Comics promises that this new series will give readers “the most local Peter Parker ever” (CBR.com; October 5, 2018).

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1 opens with Spider-Man saving some neighbors.  Peter Parker is doing a lot of that, but his latest neighbor in need, a young woman named Leilani, is in some kind of weird trouble.  And the troublemakers hit really hard.  Plus, in a second story, Peter's Aunt May is having health issues that she is hiding from her dear nephew.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has potential.  I might keep reading just because of the ending of the first story.  The art by Juann Cabal is good, but not great, although it does look pretty under Nolan Woodard's smooth colors.  Travis Lanham's steady lettering centers the story and gives Tom Taylor's script a little bite and a little edge which it needs.

There is a second story, which is written by Taylor; drawn by Marcelo Ferreira and Roberto Poggi; colored by Jim Campbell; and lettered by Lanham.  As for this story:  I don't know why we need an Aunt May health scare arc.

6 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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Review: JIMMY'S BASTARDS #1

JIMMY'S BASTARDS No. 1
AFTERSHOCK COMICS – @AfterShockComix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Garth Ennis
ARTIST: Russ Braun
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Rob Steen
COVERS: Dave Johnson (A); Russ Braun with John Kalisz (B)
VARIANT COVERS: Terry Dodson with Rachel Dodson; Cully Hamner; Andrew Robinson; Mike Booth with Elizabeth Torque
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Mature Readers

Created by Garth Ennis and Russ Braun

“Get Daddy”

Jimmy's Bastards is a new comic book series from writer Garth Ennis and artist Russ Braun.  Ennis is known for the seminal DC Comics/Vertigo title, Preacher, and for his work on such titles as The Punisher and his controversial creator-owned title, The Boys.  Braun is known for his work on Vertigo titles like Fables, Fairest, and Jack of Fables.  On Jimmy's Bastards, John Kalisz is colorist and Rob Steen is letterer.

Jimmy's Bastards #1 (“Get Daddy”) introduces James “Jimmy” Regent, who is Great Britain's number one super-spy.  He has all the intrigue and adventure he can handle, and he has a license to shoot whomever he likes.  Jimmy can also perform whatever sexual acts he wishes on a veritable legion of beautiful and willing women.  His new partner, Nancy McEwan, isn't sold on his charms, though.  It turns out that she isn't the only one not so impressed with Jimmy.  Their is a new threat mounting against him and it is more personal than he can imagine.

I think that the central premise of Jimmy's Bastards is ripe with possibilities, but I don't like Jimmy Regent.  I think that he is supposed to be unlikable, but to me, he barely registers as a character.  Obviously, we will learn more about Jimmy in future issues (I hope).  I think that Nancy McEwan has more potential than Jimmy, but there will probably be some violence done to her in the end, ruining her full development.

I recommend Jimmy's Bastards to Garth Ennis fans, especially because I think the adversaries in this series will yield great fun.  Obviously, the second issue will reveal even more about this narrative than the first issue does.

[This comic book includes a six-page preview of Unholy Grail by Cullen Bunn and Miriko Colak.]

6.5 out of 10

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


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

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I Reads You Review: THOR #1

THOR (2014) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Jason Aaron
ART: Russell Dauterman
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER:  Russell Dauterman with Frank Martin
VARIANT COVERS:  Sara Pichelli with Laura Martin; Esad Ribic, Andrew Robinson; Alex Ross; Fiona Staples; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T+”

Marvel Comics' version of Thor is, of course, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  Marvel's the mighty Thor is the Asgardian god of thunder; possesses the enchanted hammer, Mjolnir; and is also a superhero, as well as being a member of The Avengers.

Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated August 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.  For most of his 52 years of existence, Thor has possessed Mjolnir, which, among other superhuman attributes, grants him the ability of flight and of weather manipulation.

Thor has possessed that “enchanted hammer” for most of his comic book existence, but there have been times when Thor:  the Prince of Asgard, the one true God of Thunder, and the Odinson, has not possessed Mjolnir.  One famous example of another being wielding Mjolnir was Beta Ray Bill, a character that debuted in The Mighty Thor #337 (cover dated: November 1983), the first issue of Walter Simonson's acclaimed run as writer-artist of The Mighty Thor.

Now, another new era of Thor begins.  Thor will be the “Goddess of Thunder.”  As part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative, there is a new ongoing Thor comic book series written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Russell Dauterman, colored by Matthew Wilson, and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Thor #1 (“If He be Worthy”) opens in the Norwegian Sea at the Roxxon Seabase.  It is about to be visited by some monstrous denizens of the deep, spurred on by an old adversary of Thor's.  Meanwhile, on the moon, Thor finds that no matter how hard or how often he tries, he cannot lift Mjolnir.  His father, Odin the All-Father, has returned and is not helping the troubling situation.  His wife and Thor's mother, Freyja the All-Mother, seems to have accepted this sudden wave of change.  The attack on the sea base makes Thor remember that he still has to be a superhero.  How will that work out for him without Mjolnir?

This year, I have been reading more Marvel Comics number-one issues than I have in a long time.  That's why I picked up the new Thor #1.  I am glad that I did; it's an exciting first issue.  I didn't think Thor in a state of ultimate humiliation could be such an enthralling character and compelling situation.  I didn't think I could yearn so much for him to be healed, but Jason Aaron's script is a thing of wonders.  Every scene hits the notes it needs to in order to make this new state of Thor work.

Now, I can't say that I am equally enthralled with Russell Dauterman's art.  I liked him more as the artist on the current Cyclops comic book series.  Dauterman is not bad here; maybe, the art just needs time to grow on me.  I'm curious to see what the second issue is like.  I think that's where the real force of change will be felt.  In the meantime, I recommend that readers at least try the first issue of this new Thor.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: GRAYSON #1

GRAYSON #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

PLOT: Tim Seeley and Tom King
SCRIPT: Tim Seeley
ART: Mikel Janin
COLORS: Jeremy Cox
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Andrew Robinson
VARIANT COVERS: Mikel Janin; Jock
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Dick Grayson is a DC Comics character best known as the first person to take on the identity of Robin, Batman's kid sidekick.  Robin/Dick Grayson was originally created by Batman's creators, artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and also artist Jerry Robinson.  Robin debuted in Detective Comics #38 (cover date:  April 1940).

Batman's a junior counterpart, Robin, was known as the “Boy Wonder,” during the first three decades of the character's existence.  The team of Batman and Robin is commonly referred to as the “Dynamic Duo” or the “Caped Crusaders.”  Over time, the men who wrote the Batman comic books depicted Dick Grayson as growing up, even graduating from high school and attending college.  Robin would go on to lead a group of teen characters and sidekicks called the Teen Titans.  Eventually, Dick Grayson relinquished the name Robin and became a new superhero, Nightwing (first appearance in Tales of the Teen Titans #43)

As Nightwing, Dick Grayson has been the star of two eponymous comic book series.  The New 52 version of Nightwing was canceled some months ago.  It was recently replaced by a new comic book series, entitled Grayson, that spins out of DC Comics' 2013-14 crossover event series, Forever Evil (which I did not read).

Grayson #1 finds Dick Grayson in a blond wig.  He is now known as “Agent 37,” and he works for an international spy organization known as Spyral.  Grayson has just hitched a ride aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway, where his target for acquisition is Dubov Ninel.  However, Agent 37 isn't the only one out to get Ninel, and even after he obtains him, there is a new player looking to take what Grayson just obtained.  [SPOILER Alert!]  Enter Midnighter.

I read a preview of Grayson #1 in another comic book (can't remember which one), and that preview intrigued me.  I was excited about the series and visited two comic book stores to find a copy of issue #1.  Having read it I can say that I don't think that I would pay to read Grayson again.

It is not that Grayson is bad.  It is entertaining, and I like the art by Mikel Janin with colors by the always good Jeremy Cox.  It's just that besides an appearance by Midnighter (of Stormwatch and The Authority fame), nothing else about this first issue excited me.  It's good; just not special enough for me to set aside the cash to buy it on a regular basis.  I must say that if I am excited by the guest star in a particular future issue, I might buy that issue.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 9, 2014

DC COMICS
APR140289    AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #4 (MR)    $2.99
APR140292    ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 06 FLESH AND BLOOD (MR)    $24.99
MAY140249    BATGIRL #33    $2.99
APR140276    BATMAN BRUCE WAYNE FUGITIVE TP NEW ED    $29.99
MAY140226    BATMAN ETERNAL #14    $2.99
MAY140253    BIRDS OF PREY #33    $2.99
MAY140399    COFFIN HILL #9 (MR)    $2.99
MAY140202    CONSTANTINE #16    $2.99
MAY140240    DETECTIVE COMICS #33    $3.99
MAY140243    DETECTIVE COMICS #33 COMBO PACK    $4.99
MAY140404    FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #12 (MR)    $2.99
MAY140156    GRAYSON #1    $2.99
MAY140261    GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33 (UPRISING)    $2.99
MAY140197    INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #2    $2.99
MAY140355    INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO #7    $2.99
APR140266    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 01 DANGEROUS (N52)    $16.99
MAY140169    JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #3    $3.99
MAY140172    JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #3 COMBO PACK    $4.99
MAY140182    NEW 52 FUTURES END #10 (WEEKLY)    $2.99
MAY140162    NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #1    $2.99
APR140258    NIGHTWING TP VOL 04 SECOND CITY (N52)    $14.99
MAY140406    ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #6 (MR)    $2.99
MAY140390    SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #47    $2.99
MAY140360    SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 LANTERN #4    $3.99
MAY140223    SUPERBOY #33    $2.99
MAY140216    SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #10    $3.99
MAY140218    SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #10 COMBO PACK    $4.99
APR140261    TALON TP VOL 02 THE FALL OF THE OWLS (N52)    $19.99
MAY140203    WORLDS FINEST #25    $2.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

DEC130367    DC COMICS SUPER HEROES GREEN ARROW BUST    $49.95

Valiant Comics for November 2013

VALIANT Solicitations for NOVEMBER 2013

UNITY #1
Written by MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Pullbox Exclusive Variants by BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, TRAVEL FOREMAN, PAOLO RIVERA and CLAYTON CRAIN
8-Bit Evolution Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Valiant Signature Series Variant by BART SEARS
Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS
B&W Sketch Variant by NEAL ADAMS
Blank Variant also available
Team USA Luge Variant also available

To kill a king, he has created an army.

The world's most dangerous man, Toyo Harada, has been struck by the one thing he never thought possible – fear. Halfway across the globe, a new power threatens to topple modern civilization and, to preempt the cataclysm that is to come, Harada will unite the most lethal, most volatile, most unforgiving team the world has ever known – UNITY. Their mission: defeat the warrior king armed with the universe's most powerful weapon. Kill X-O Manowar!

Be here when New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Justice League of America, Mind MGMT) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite (Justice, Journey into Mystery) launch Valiant's first-ever superteam into the landmark comic book event of the year with an all-new ongoing series in UNITY #1, featuring covers by a murderer's row of comics juggernauts – Doug Braithwaite, JG Jones, Bryan Hitch, Paolo Rivera, Clayton Crain, Travel Foreman, and Neal Adams!

You've heard the buzz, you've seen the reviews. If you still haven't jumped onto Valiant Comics, the time is now! This November, UNITY is the perfect entry point for new readers.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 13th!
--

X-O MANOWAR #19 (UNITY TIE-IN)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
Variant Cover by BART SEARS

All-new arc, all-new jumping-on point! X-O Manowar goes head-to-head against the forces of UNITY!

Aric of Dacia has fought to reclaim the ancestral lands of the Visigoths – and he has bled for it.  But nothing he has faced before can prepare him for the combined might of UNITY – and the deadly combination of Harada, Ninjak, Eternal Warrior and Livewire! New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern) and Eisner Award winner Cary Nord (X-O Manowar: Planet Death) reunite for a landmark, standalone story arc at the heart of UNITY.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 20th! 
--

QUANTUM AND WOODY #5
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by LEE GARBETT
Variant Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
Variant Cover by MIKE McKONE

All-new arc, all-new jumping-on point! All-new…problems?

Eric and Woody have had their lives turned upside down. What do you do when the most annoying person in your life is also the only thing keeping you alive? You move in with him! And his goat. And his barely legal clone girlfriend. Besides, every team of heroes needs a secret headquarters…and this one has a slightly used hot tub. Plus: Quantum meets his first true super-villain!

Attention fans and retailers: Look for the Quantum and Woody Vol. 1 TPB in stores the same day! Intro priced at only $9.99!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 6th! 
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ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #15
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by KHARI EVANS
Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant Cover by MICHAEL WALSH

WARNING: This is no longer a (FINGER QUOTES) "fun" comic.

Now that the Sect Civil War has begun, it is now a (FINGER QUOTES) "grim" and (FINGER QUOTES) "gritty" work of (REAL QUOTES) "sequential literature" with blood and headshots and naughty words (like "H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS") and if you squint real hard at the backgrounds, maybe boobies.

In this particular issue that will change the Valiant Universe forever*, the man now calling himself Dark Archer (NOTE TONAL SHIFT) must find his former partner Armstrong so they can reunite to stop the aforementioned Sect Civil War.

And there are almost no fart jokes.

Okay, one.

(* FOREVER = APPROX. 20 MINUTES)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 13th! 
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SHADOWMAN #12
Written by ALES KOT, CHRISTOPHER SEBELA, and NEIL DVORAK
Art by CLAYTON CRAIN, MICO SUAYAN, and NEIL DVORAK
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
Variant Cover by KEKAI KOTAKI

An all-star anthology of Shadowman tales from the Deadside and beyond!

Superstar artist Clayton Crain and a stellar roster of all-star creators bring you not one, not two, but three chilling Shadowman stories. Ales Kot (Suicide Squad, Zero), Christopher Sebela (Captain Marvel, Screamland), and Neil Dvorak (Easy Pieces) push the outer bounds of the world of Shadowman further than ever before! 

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 6th!
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ETERNAL WARRIOR #3
Written by GREG PAK
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by J.G. JONES
Variant Cover by RILEY ROSSMO

Save the Wizard!

Hungry for glory as the new Fist and Steel, the Eternal Warrior's daughter Xaran has started a war between the mysterious Houses that rule the world. Now, as Gilad struggles to contain his daughter's savage nature, two generations of Eternal Warrior race after the answers that lie between science and myth, rumor and legend, conquest and defeat.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 20th! 
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BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #16
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART
Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER
Variant Cover by CHRISCROSS

Sometimes gunslingers go out the hard way.

H.A.R.D. Corps has just experienced its first fatality. Bloodshot is severely weakened. He and Charlie are at each other’s throats. And the new rookies are a mess. It would be suicide to take on Harada now…so that’s exactly what they’ll do.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 20th! 
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HARBINGER #18
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by MICHAEL WALSH
Variant Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON

Nothing is what it seems when hyper-psychics go to war.

Scattered across their own mental landscapes, each one of the remaining Renegades must quest to unite with the others or be lost forever inside themselves. It will take courage, strength, imagination and an unwavering belief in one another if they're going to discover the dark truth behind their Perfect Day.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 13th! 
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QUANTUM AND WOODY VOL. 1: THE WORLD'S WORST SUPERHERO TEAM TPB
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Art by TOM FOWLER
Cover by RYAN SOOK

Those guys are the worst.

Once upon a time, Eric and Woody Henderson were inseparable. Adopted brothers. Best friends. Brilliant minds. Years later, they are estranged siblings, petty rivals, and washed-up failures. But when their father’s murder leads them into the throes of a life-altering scientific accident, Eric and Woody will find themselves with a whole new purpose – and a perfectly legitimate reason to wear costumes and fight crime. Go big or go home, folks! Quantum and Woody are coming! (And, yes, there is a goat too.)

Collecting QUANTUM AND WOODY #1-4 by creators James Asmus (Thief of Thieves) and Tom Fowler (Hulk: Season One), start reading here to jump into the action-packed, zeitgeist-shredding exploitation stunt comic that Comic Book Resources calls "yet another critically acclaimed hit for Valiant Comics."

$9.99/T+/112 pgs.
TRADE PAPERBACK
ISBN: 978-1-939346-18-6
ON SALE NOVEMBER 6th! 
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HARBINGER DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1 HC
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS, TREVOR HAIRSINE, MICO SUAYAN, BARRY KITSON, PHIL BRIONES, LEE GARBETT, PERE PEREZ, and MATTHEW CLARK
Cover by MICO SUAYAN

An oversized, deluxe hardcover collecting the landmark first year of Harbinger in the Valiant Universe!

Outside the law. Inside your head. You've never met a team of super-powered teenagers quite like the Renegades. Skipping across the country in a desperate attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, psionically-powered teenager Peter Stanchek only has one option left – run. But he won't have to go it alone. As the shadowy corporation known as the Harbinger Foundation draws close on all sides, Peter will have to find and recruit other unique individuals like himself… other troubled, immensely powerful youths with abilities beyond their control. Their mission? Bring the fight back to the Harbinger Foundation's founder Toyo Harada – and dismantle his global empire brick by brick…

Collecting the sold-out HARBINGER #0-14, the Harbinger Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 HC also comes jam-packed with more than 20 pages of never-before-seen art and extras, direct from the Valiant vaults.

$39.99/T+/384 pgs.
OVERSIZED HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-1-939346-13-1
ON SALE NOVEMBER 13th!
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VALIANT MASTERS: RAI VOL. 1 – FROM HONOR TO STRENGTH HC
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE
Art by JOE ST. PIERRE, PETER GRAU, and SAL VELLUTO
Cover by JOE ST. PIERRE

The legendary future of the Valiant Universe – back in print after 20 years!

4001 A.D. - Tohru Nakadai is the 42nd Rai, the spirit guardian of Japan. Infused with the energy of his ancestors and dedicated to the way of the samurai, Rai is sworn to the service of Grandmother – the personified artificial intelligence that governs the island nation of Japan. For forty generations Grandmother's benevolent dominion has endured, but in the wake of her sudden disappearance, Rai will become all that stands between his nation and all-out chaos. As humanist factions war with mechanist loyalists for control of the future, the masterless Tohru is about to become the first Rai that must choose for himself how best to defend his people, his family, and his honor.

Collecting RAI (1992) #1-8 in a deluxe hardcover format for the first time anywhere, revisit the future of the original Valiant Universe with Rai’s critically acclaimed, highly sought-after adventures from legendary creators David Michelinie (Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man), Joe St. Pierre (Spider-Man 2099), Peter Grau (Titans) and Sal Velluto (Bloodshot)!

$24.99/T+/184 pgs.
HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-1-939346-07-0
ON SALE NOVEMBER 27th!

Valiant Comics for August 2013

VALIANT Solicitations for AUGUST 2013

BLOODSHOT #0
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK (JUN131317)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MATT KINDT (JUN131318)
Wraparound Gatefold Variant by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (JUN131319)

Discover the declassified secret history of Project Rising Spirit’s Bloodshot program and its most successful soldier – as told by superstar creator Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, Justice League of America) and fan favorite artist ChrisCross (Superman/Batman)!

From the darkest days of World War II and Korea, and through the hell of Vietnam and Afghanistan, Bloodshot's origin leaves a bloody trail of discarded lives and forgotten families. But which memories are real? Which families? Which children? Is Bloodshot many men...or no man at all? Is he simply a soulless killing machine or something more? Who is responsible? And why have they engineered the most dangerous weapon ever conceived by man? This issue holds the answers…but also reveals that we may have been asking the wrong questions all along…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
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HARBINGER #15
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art & Cover by BARRY KITSON (JUN131326)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (JUN131327)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (JUN131328)
Variant Cover by RIAN HUGHES (JUN131329)

HARBINGER WARS AFTERMATH!

ALL-NEW ARC, ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT!

In the wake of Harbinger Wars, start reading here as Joshua Dysart and new series artist Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man, FF) begin the next year of Harbinger with a mind-bending trip to the outer limits of the Valiant Universe!

It’s been a brutal few months for Peter Stanchek and the Renegades, culminating in the harrowing events – and losses – of the Harbinger Wars.  But now the members of the team have woken up to the Best. Day. Ever. As Lou Reed sang, it’s just a perfect day, problems left all alone. But for Peter Stanchek – a kid who deserves a good day – something seems off…like all is not what it seems…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 14th!
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QUANTUM AND WOODY #2
Written by JAMES AMSUS
Art by TOM FOWLER
Cover by RYAN SOOK (JUN131320)
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER (JUN131321)
Variant Cover by RIAN HUGHES (JUN131322)

Off to a bad start!

Eric and Woody Henderson have accidentally blown up their father’s life’s work – and themselves along with it! Now, as their bizarre new superpowers begin to manifest, will they be able to outmaneuver the squad of trigger-happy cops that think Eric and Woody are to blame for their dad’s murder? Plus! The mysterious cabal targeting the world’s worst superhero team only gets creepier. Seriously, it's like an iceberg of creepy. Only 10 percent is showing! And Quantum and Woody are about to crash right the %$!@ into it!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 7th!
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X-O MANOWAR #16
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (JUN131323)
Variant Cover by DAVE BULLOCK (JUN131324)

Old soldiers, new enemies.

X-O Manowar and the Eternal Warrior. Once they were brothers-in-arms, comrades sworn to the same cause. But now they find themselves on opposing sides of a battle for the very fate of civilization itself. Aric of Dacia, and the immense power that he wields, have the potential to the plunge the world into a new era of war, and the only man who can broker a world peace also happens its to be its most fearsome warrior. But can Gilad settle this conflict with words rather than weapons? And does he know how? As the world watches, two of Valiant’s most fearsome heroes will meet once again – and the outcome of their latest clash will decide the fate of us all.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
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ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #12
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (JUN131332)
Variant Cover by JUAN DOE (JUN131333)

Caught in the jaws of the Faraway!

General Redacted has laid claim to the greatest secret in a time-lost dimension that’s practically built on ‘em. Must be a doozy, huh? Well, it’s big enough that Redacted and his army of alien greys are laying waste to anyone and anything that approaches their occupied lands of the Faraway. Now, it’s down to Archer & Armstrong to run the greatest infiltration/liberation/inebriation mission history has ever known, which would be a cakewalk if its wasn’t for all the UFOs, hostile natives and, of course, the dinosaurs. Yup, could definitely do without those dinosaurs.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 14th!
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SHADOWMAN #9
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON (JUN131330)
Variant Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON (JUN131331)

The deepest cut of all.

Jack suffers a devastating betrayal as Master Darque's ultimate plan stands revealed. Now, with the Brethren on the verge of wiping out Dox and the Abettors and the Deadside threatening to explode into our world, Jack will have to call on everything he's got to stop them…or lose everything trying.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 7th!
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X-O MANOWAR VOL. 3: PLANET DEATH TPB (JUN131325)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD and TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

The invasion is here – and X-O Manowar is the invader! From superstar creators Robert Venditti, Cary Nord and Trevor Hairsine, jump on board one of the year’s most ambitious series as X-O Manowar ignites an interstellar war and changes the landscape of the Valiant Universe forever!

Aric of Dacia, a fifth century Visigoth armed with the universe’s most powerful weapon, is all that stands between the Earth and all-out annihilation at the hands of the alien race that abducted him from his own time. Now, the day of Aric’s reckoning has finally come. As his Visigoth forefathers sacked Rome, Aric will take the battle directly to his oppressors on the Vine homeworld of Loam. He will decimate their armies, he will level their cities – and he will not stop until the whole of their empire is reduced to ash. This is PLANET DEATH!

Collecting the complete PLANET DEATH saga from X-O MANOWAR #9-14 by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Surrogates) and superstar artists Cary Nord (Conan) and Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis), start reading here to find out why X-O Manowar's one-man revenge mission has IGN declaring "X-O Manowar still kicks butt. Bring on Planet Death."

"Downright amazing." - Comic Vine

"Venditti continues to execute his vision with deadly precision. Everyone should be on board…" - Bloody Disgusting

Collecting X-O MANOWAR #9-14
ISBN: 978-1-939346-08-7

$14.99/T+/144 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
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VALIANT MASTERS: ETERNAL WARRIOR VOL. 1 – THE FIST AND STEEL HC (JUN131334)
Written by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JIM SHOOTER and KEVIN VANHOOK
Art by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JOHN DIXON and YVEL GUICHET
Cover by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH

For a thousand generations, Gilad Anni-Padda has defended the innocent and dealt out justice as the Eternal Warrior – the undying champion of the Geomancers, the Earth’s chosen Fist and Steel. An unsung veteran of every war ever waged, Gilad’s hard-fought quest from the ancient world to modern day Los Angeles is about to force him to the forefront of the Valiant Universe – and into a brand new kind of battle alongside the likes of Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and his own long-lost brother, Armstrong.

Featuring never-before-collected work by Eisner Award-winning comics legend Barry Windsor-Smith, along with all-time classic stories by Jim Shooter, Kevin VanHook, John Dixon and more, this Valiant Masters volume re-presents Eternal Warrior (1992) #1-7 and Archer & Armstrong (1992)/Eternal Warrior (1992) #8.

Collecting Eternal Warrior (1992) #1-7, Archer & Armstrong (1992)/Eternal Warrior (1992) #8.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-06-3

$24.99/T+/186 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 28th!

Valiant Comics Shipping in June 2013

VALIANT Solicitations for JUNE 2013

HARBINGER WARS #3 (of 4)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131270)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR131271)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131272)
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131273)

Introducing…H.A.R.D. Corps!

Las Vegas is burning, and the situation on the ground is about to go from bad to worse. With the firefight between the Harbinger Foundation, Bloodshot and the Renegades spiraling out of control, Project Rising Spirit has only one desperate option left to prevent the conflagration from spreading. It's time to bring the deep-black weapons development project – designation H.A.R.D. Corps – back online. But are they a scalpel or a sledgehammer? And can they be trusted with the enormous power they wield? What happens in Vegas may just destroy the rest of the Valiant Universe!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 12th!
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HARBINGER #13 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131274)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131276)
8-Bit Variant also available (APR131275)

HARBINGER WARS tie-in! The Renegades vs. Bloodshot!

At last, the battle you've been waiting for! But the Harbinger hunter called Bloodshot is a much more dangerous – and much more clever – foe than Peter Stanchek and the Renegades ever could have anticipated. Plus: what is the secret of Toyo Harada's first Harbinger War?

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 19th!
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BLOODSHOT #12 (HARBINGER WARS)
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY (APR131277)
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131279)
8-Bit Variant also available (APR131278)

HARBINGER WARS tie-in! It's payback time!

After Dr. Emanuel Kuretich freed Bloodshot from Project Rising Spirit, he promised Bloodshot that the answers to his identity would be found inside PRS' secret Nevada facility. He lied. Instead, Bloodshot discovered two dozen super-powered psiot children – children that Kuretich then manipulated him into setting free. Now that the kids are out and have ignited a Harbinger War in the middle of the Vegas strip, Bloodshot is all that stands between them and the opposing forces of Toyo Harada and Peter Stanchek. But Bloodshot hasn't forgotten about Kuretich. And he's about to reap his revenge.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 19th!
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ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #10
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (APR131281)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by JUAN DOE (APR131282)
Variant Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON (APR131284)
8-Bit Variant also available (APR131283)

ALL-NEW ARC! Archer and Armstrong and Aliens. Oh my!

Mary-Maria, Archer's arch-nemesis/love interest/adopted sister is back, ready to take over The Sect – by any means necessary. And what better way to seize control of the secret society of secret societies than by unlocking their most secretive of secrets on the secretest place on Earth? And who but the Valiant Universe's premiere team of conspiracy-busters can possibly stop her? Just when you thought this book couldn't get any weirder, Archer & Armstrong storm Area 51…and things get weirder still!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 5th!
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X-O MANOWAR #14
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by ARTURO LOZZI (APR131288)
8-Bit Variant also available (APR131289)

He has conquered. He has killed. But can he reign over PLANET DEATH?

Aric of Dacia came to Loam to exact his revenge against the alien race that captured and tortured his people. Now, Aric must make a choice that will affect both him and the future of the Valiant Universe forever. Don’t miss the jaw-dropping conclusion of PLANET DEATH and this monumental moment for the ongoing saga of X-O Manowar!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 26th!
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SHADOWMAN #7
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131285)
Variant Cover by DAVE JOHNSON (APR131287)
8-Bit Variant also available (APR131286)

There’s a dark light dawning over New Orleans.

Doctor Mirage talks to the dead. And right now, the dead are screaming, caught between the sinister will of Master Darque and the power of Baron Samedi. Will Shadowman and Mirage be able to defeat them both, or will New Orleans fall to the dead?

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE JUNE 5th!
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BLOODSHOT VOL. 2: THE RISE & THE FALL TPB
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by MANUEL GARCIA, ARTURO LOZZI & MATTHEW CLARK
Cover by ARTURO LOZZI (APR131280)

Assault on Project Rising Spirit!

Bloodshot is finally free of the memories that have haunted him since his awakening – but now even greater mysteries remain. Who was he before he was transformed into a walking weapon of mass destruction? And does he have a real family out there somewhere? Unfortunately, the only man with the answers is the former mastermind of Project Rising Spirit, the quasi-governmental science division that created him – and he’s just struck a devil’s bargain with Bloodshot. “Destroy your creators and I’ll reveal everything.” Well, almost everything…

Collecting BLOODSHOT #5-9 by acclaimed writer Duane Swierczynski (Birds of Prey) and artists Manuel Garcia (Black Widow), Arturo Lozzi (Immortal Weapons), and Matthew Clark (Avenging Spider-Man), Bloodshot's brutal, bullet-riddled tour of duty through the Valiant Universe continues right here in the second shock-inducing volume of the series that Complex calls "hard and heavy with each issue."

“A damn fine read…” – Ain’t It Cool News

“Beautiful… Bloodshot has proven its mastery.” – PopMatters

$14.99/T+/128 pgs.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-03-2
Collecting BLOODSHOT #5-9
ON SALE JUNE 26th!

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews: KING CONAN: The Phoenix on the Sword #1

"Old Man Conan"
KING CONAN: THE PHOENIX ON THE SWORD #1 (OF 4)
DARK HORSE COMICS

WRITER: Timothy Truman
ART: Tomás Giorello
COLORS: José Villarrubia
LETTERS: Richard Stakings & Comicraft
VARIANT COVER: Gerald Parel (Andrew Robinson-regular cover)
28pp, Colors, $3.50 U.S.

During his three-decade career in comic books, did the industry or the public ever consider Tim Truman A-list talent? By the breath and scope of his talent and his work, he certainly was/is, if it is even appropriate to categorize him with what are the usual and the standard in comic books. The terms “eclectic” and “diverse” seem a tad bit understated when describing Truman’s body of work.

Even as Lonesome Dove, Dances with Wolves, and Unforgiven made the Western cool again, Truman was looking at the past, present, and future of the Western and frontier storytelling (Jonah Hex, The Kents, Scout, Wilderness, etc.). Before Christopher Nolan and Guillermo del Toro, among others, were surprising people with their re-imaginations and interpretations of superheroes and classic fantasy characters, Tim Truman was bold and visionary on Hawkworld, JLA: Gatekeeper, and The Spider, among many.

In his comics, Truman, as a writer, artist, and writer/artist, offers muscular storytelling presented with surprising grace in beautiful graphics. So Truman is one of those rare creators who are actually ideal to create Conan the Barbarian comic books. Many are good, but few can capture both the splendor of Howard’s prose and the darkness and brutality of which this prose tells.

When it appeared in the cover-dated December 1932 issue of the famed pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales, “The Phoenix on the Sword” became the first published story featuring the character, Conan the Barbarian. Tim Truman as writer and Tomás Giorello as artist have adapted that story in King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword, a four-issue comic book miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. The fourth and final issue recently arrived in comic book shops shortly.

King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword #1 introduces us to a gray-haired Conan, King of Aquilonia, and to Pramis, a scribe who is chronicling the story of King Conan’s rule. Conan tells Pramis of a time early in his reign – a time of unrest – and the story travels back to that time.

Although Conan freed Aquilonia from a despotic king, he is now despised by Aquilonians, from the common man to the elite. Rinaldo, the poet and bard, who once sang his praises, now stirs unrest against Conan and is part of a plot to unseat Conan and replace him on the throne with a pure blood Aquilonian, Baron Dion. The mysterious Ascalante is the ringleader, but even more mysterious is Ascalante’s companion, a long-time enemy of Conan, the wizard Thoth-Amon.

I find King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword to be an unusual Conan story. It is not as if I haven’t read a Conan story like this – one that is a conspiratorial drama, but this is not the Conan comic book norm. There is more dark drama here than there is edgy drama; in fact, the only fight scene is Conan’s palace workout at the beginning of the story.

That is not at all a bad thing. Tim Truman fashions a story filled with political machinations and intrigue, but at its heart, it examines what happens when you get what you thought you wanted and then find it to be a prison. As a monarch, Conan is trapped, and the interesting twist that Truman gives this story is that his enemies may be about to get what they wanted, but in the worst way.

Truman has a wonderful collaborator in Tomás Giorello, who takes Truman’s script and transforms it into comic book art that is a tapestry of exotic backdrops, a striking cityscape, strange costumes, and shadowy backrooms (includes a fine double page spread). This art is not only perfect for Conan, but for just about any Robert E. Howard story. Giorello could probably deliver a stunning comic book vision of Tolkien.

This comic book also includes a 4-page preview of Conan the Barbarian #1 by Brian Wood, Becky Cloonan, Dave Stewart, and Richard Starkings & Comicraft, with cover art by Massimo Carnevale.

http://www.ttruman.com/