Review: THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL #1

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

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

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

Rated T+

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.5 out of 10

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


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

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Review: DOOM PATROL #1

DOOM PATROL No. 1 (2016)
DC COMICS/Young Animal – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gerard Way
ART: Nick Derington
COLORS: Tamra Bonvillain
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: Nick Derington
VARIANT COVERS: Brian Bolland; Sanford Greene; Jaime Hernandez; Babs Tarr; Brian Chippendale
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (NOVEMBER 2016)

Mature Readers

Doom Patrol created by Arnold Drake

“Happy Birthday, Casey Brinke” Part One: “Brick by Brick”

The Doom Patrol is a DC Comics superhero team.  The original version of the Doom Patrol first appeared in the comic book, My Greatest Adventure #80 (cover dated:  June 1963).  DC Comics apparently officially credits writer Arnold Drake as the creator of the Doom Patrol, but writer Bob Haney, artist Bruno Premiani, and editor Murray Boltinoff also contributed to the creation of the original concept and team.

The first Doom Patrol consisted of super-powered misfits who had abilities (or “gifts”) that caused them alienation and trauma.  However, there have been many incarnations of the Doom Patrol since the first group that more or less work along the same lines or share the spirit of the original  The most famous iteration of the Doom Patrol since the original would probably be the one created and written by Grant Morrison that first appeared in Doom Patrol (Vol. 2) #19 (cover dated:  February 1989).

There is a new version of the Doom Patrol.  It is part of the new DC Comics imprint, “Young Animal,” which is “curated” and overseen by Gerard Way.  Way is the creator of the comic book series, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse Comics), and is also a lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band, My Chemical Romance.  The new Doom Patrol is written by Way, drawn by Nick Derington, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, and lettered by Todd Klein.

Doom Patrol #1 (“Brick by Brick”) introduces Casey Brinke.  Maybe, she's a “space case,” but, for sure, she is a hot-shot ambulance driver.  However, goings-on in other dimensions will make her weird even weirder, including meeting a new roommate.

This first issue of Young Animal's Doom Patrol is certainly intriguing, but there is nothing here that will make me, dear reader, convince you to buy the first issue.  This is not a bad story, but Gerard Way spends so much time teasing that he only has enough space to do one other thing, make Casey Brinke likable.  That is something.  I am a longtime fan of the Doom Patrol, so I was going to try this comic book for at least a few issues.  Casey Brinke makes me think a few issues are a decent investment.

I do really like the art by Nick Derington.  His simple, clean style recalls small press and indie comics released by publishers like Drawn & Quarterly, Oni Press, SLP, etc.  The popularity of artists like Bruce Timm and the late Darwyn Cooke, whose slick styles recall comic books from an earlier era, made it possible for the rise of artists like Babs Tarr and Chris Samnee in superhero comic books.  In fact, Derington reminds me of Chris Samnee.

The fact that this is Doom Patrol and that I like the style and design of Nick Derington's graphical storytelling and art means I will be back for more.  Perhaps, I can highly recommend the Young Animal Doom Patrol to you at a later date.

[This comic book contains a “special sneak preview” of Shade the Change Girl #1 by Cecil Castellucci, Marley Zarcone, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and Saida Temofonte.]

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2015

DC COMICS

JUN150228     ACTION COMICS #43     $3.99
JUN150218     ALL STAR SECTION 8 #3     $2.99
JUN150193     ARROW SEASON 2.5 #11     $2.99
JUN150239     BATMAN #43     $3.99
JUN150230     BATMAN SUPERMAN #23     $3.99
JUN150245     CATWOMAN #43     $2.99
JUN150180     CONSTANTINE THE HELLBLAZER #3     $2.99
JUN150167     DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #1     $3.99
JUN150186     EARTH 2 SOCIETY #3     $2.99
JUN150321     FABLES THE WOLF AMONG US #8 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150254     GOTHAM ACADEMY #9     $2.99
JUN150191     GREEN ARROW #43     $2.99
APR150294     GREEN ARROW ARCHERS QUEST DELUXE ED HC     $24.99
MAY150266     HELLBLAZER TP VOL 11 LAST MAN STANDING (MR)     $24.99
JUN150200     JLA GODS AND MONSTERS #1     $3.99
JUN150174     JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #12     $3.99
MAY150244     LOBO TP VOL 01 TARGETS     $14.99
JUN150272     MORTAL KOMBAT X #9 (MR)     $3.99
JUN150211     NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #11     $2.99
JUN150216     RED HOOD ARSENAL #3     $2.99
JUN150276     SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #60     $2.99
MAY150243     SECRET ORIGINS TP VOL 02     $19.99
JUN150219     STARFIRE #3     $2.99
MAY150247     SUPERMAN KRYPTON RETURNS TP     $16.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
FEB150303     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BATGIRL BY BABS TARR     $79.95
APR150345     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS RED LANTERN BLEEZE STATUE     $99.95
FEB150300     DC COMICS ICONS GREEN LANTERN STATUE     $99.95
JAN150422     DC COMICS MOTHER BOX PROP REPLICA     $59.95
FEB150305     DC COMICS SUPER HEROES CATWOMAN BUST     $49.95
MAR150323     FLASH TV REVERSE FLASH RING     $34.95
MAR150322     FLASH TV STATUE     $129.95
MAR150327     WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY ROBERT VALLEY     $79.95

I Reads You Review: BATGIRL #35

BATGIRL #35
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher – @cameronMstewart @BrendenFletcher
ART: Babs Tarr – @babsdraws
BREAKDOWNS: Cameron Stewart
COLORS: Maris Wicks
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cameron Stewart
VARIANT COVERS: Babs Tarr; Kevin Nowlan
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Burned”

Of the many incarnations of the character, Batgirl, the best known and most popular is Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.  Barbara is the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon, and she first appeared in 1966, introduced in Detective Comics #359 (entitled “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl”) in a story written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Carmine Infantino.

DC Comics recently launched a new era of Batgirl-Barbara Gordon with the creative team of writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher, artist Babs Tarr, colorist Maris Wicks, and letterer Jared K. Fletcher.  From the start, this looks like its going to be an exciting and invigorating new era.

Batgirl #35 (“Burned”) opens as Barbara moves to the other side of the bridge from Gotham City to the hip Gotham borough, Burnside.  She has a new roommate, Frankie, and is continuing to work on her graduate degree.  This should be a fresh start, but trouble rears its ugly head.  All around her, laptops and hand-held devices are disappearing, including her own.  Plus, Barbara's former bestie, Dinah Lance/Black Canary, has shown up on her new doorstep.  Then, there's Riot Black.

It is hard not to like the spiffy new Batgirl, and I didn't resist.  Like recent Batman-related launches, Grayson and Gotham Academy, Batgirl is mostly free from being connected to continuity.  The new-direction Batgirl is not quite a Batman version of the classic 1960s sitcom, “That Girl.”  Still, Batgirl looks as if it will focus on the life of a young woman who is on the cusp of adulthood while still preparing for it.

I am enamored with Babs Tarr's art, with its Darwyn Cooke's inflection.  I also thought of Jaime Hernandez's Locas stories enjoying the art.  Being similar to Cooke and Xaime are good things, as far as I'm concerned, so I plan on reading more of this new-era Batgirl.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.