#IReadsYou Review: NEMESIS RELOADED #4

NEMESIS RELOADED #4 (OF 5)

IMAGE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Jorge Jiménez

COLORS: Giovanna Niro

LETTERS: Clem Robins

EDITOR: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Jorge Jiménez with Giovanna Niro

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Brett Booth; Jorge Jiménez

28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2023)

Rated M / Mature

Nemesis created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

Nemesis Reloaded is a five-issue comic book series from writer Mark Millar.  It is a soft reboot of Nemesis, Millar's 2010-11 four-issue comic book miniseries that he created with artist Steve McNiven.

Nemesis: Reloaded is drawn by Jorge Jiménez; colored by Giovanna Niro; and lettered by Clem Robins.  In the new series, Nemesis has plans for Los Angeles and its ruling class.  By the time he is done, the city won't be the same, nor will its top politicians.  And maybe the secrets of Nemesis will be revealed.

Nemesis Reloaded #4 opens in Los Angeles, a city under siege and on fire.  Nemesis has one more score to settle – with retired and disabled former cop, Maggie Cheung – before he moves on to his primary target.  That would be the cop-turned-district attorney, Joe Costello, the mayor-elect of Los Angles.

By Nemesis's command:  people cannot leave their houses or a nuclear bomb will go off in a secret location.  Everyone remains in lock down. Now, the penultimate chapter prepares to give way to the final showdown.

THE LOWDOWN:  In my earlier reviews of Nemesis Reloaded, I talked about how those issues fit into the tradition of the groundbreaking and daring comic books of the 1980s, especially of the early to mid-1980s.

Years ago, I read an article which stated that the people who published comic books back in the 1940s believe that the primary readers of comic books were children who were not bright and adults who were morons.

One might argue that quite a few adults who read comic books, then and now, are crazy – euphemistically or certifiably.  For instance, I'm crazy enough to imagine elaborate revenge fantasies in which I hurt people who have hurt me personally and especially professional.  I'd love to tie them in a chair and burn them alive.  Then, I'd mow down every law enforcement and first responders that showed up to rescue my burning victim(s).  And whadda-u-know!  There's a comic book where the main character does precisely that.

Seriously, writer Mark Millar and artist Jorge Jiménez have embraced the crazy.  If the publishers of the 1940s were right about their readers (they weren't), then, comic books should go all out to be wild, weird, and wonderful. If there is some truth to crazy, then, why not do crazy comic books.  Mark and Jorge have brought the bat-shit crazy of 1980s comic books like Elektra: Assassin and American Flagg! back in full effect with the crazy, balls-to-the-wall, Nemesis: Reloaded, especially this fourth issue.

When Nemesis walks out of that burning building and starts killing cops and then, confronts Mayor Joe, well, it was exhilarating.  Nemesis: Reloaded isn't mere entertainment; it is pure, unashamed, weird fiction that triggers and activates its readers.  This ain't just another comic book; it is the kind that goes after that dangly thing in the back of your throat (hip hop reference).  That's why you want to read Nemesis Reloaded #4 on the way to reading the entire series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of comic books that make readers beg for more will desire Nemesis Reloaded.

A+

10 out of 10

You can buy the NEMESIS: RELOADED trade paperback here from AMAZON.

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

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#IReadsYou Review: EVIL ERNIE VOLUME 3 #1

EVIL ERNIE VOLUME 3 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Scott Lobdell
ART: Ariel Medel
COLORS: Candice Han
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Brett Booth
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Arthur Suydam; Ken Haeser; Jamie Biggs; Stuart Sayger; Brett Booth
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Rated Teen+

Evil Ernie created by Brian Pulido and Steven Hughes

Evil Ernie is a super-villain fictional character created by writer Brian Pulido and the late artist Steven Hughes.  He first appeared in Eternity Comics' Evil Ernie #1 (cover dated: December 1991).  Evil Ernie was Ernest Fairchild, a boy who became an undead psychotic killer.

Evil Ernie is now the property of Dynamite Entertainment.  The character gets a new comic book series in Evil Ernie Volume 3.  It is written by Scott Lobdell; drawn by Ariel Medel; colored by Candice Han; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  The new series focuses on a good kid who, after being mortally wounded, must “pay down his new lease on life” by serving as a part time fixer for a death cult.

Evil Ernie Volume 3 #1 opens in Potsdam, New York at the scene of a most horrific road accident.  But first, there is some back story.  Ernest Gleckman is an 18-year-old sophomore at Potsdam University (NY).  He is both a goody-two-shoes and something of an anomaly.  Ernest loves to sing Satantic-themed heavy metal music, but he is just the nicest guy.  He does not want his girlfriend, Candace, to kiss him in public, but she is not the only young woman who wants to kiss him.

But life is about to change for Ernest.  He is going to meet his dark side.

THE LOWDOWN:  Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Evil Ernie Volume 3 #1, which is the first Evil Ernie comic book that I have ever read.

As someone who has ignored every single Evil Ernie comic book that I have ever encountered, I can say that Scott Lobdell, the writer of this new series, makes me curious about what comes next in the latest incarnation of this character.  Lobdell is not one of my favorite comic book scribes, but I have enjoyed a number of comic books that he has written, and this could be one of them.

Artist Ariel Medel has a graphic style that reminds me of the art of former comic book artist, J. Scott Campbell, which is not necessarily a good thing.  Medel's art seems inappropriate for even Lobdell's script for this first issue, and Candice Han's colors seem off here.  But we'll see... and I could be wrong.  After all I want more.

So, I'm curious to see where Scott Lobdell takes this.  I think you will, also, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Evil Ernie will want to read Evil Ernie Volume 1.

B

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


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#IReadsYou Review: RED SONJA Volume 6 #1

RED SONJA VOLUME 6 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Mirka Andolfo and Luca Blengino
ART: Giuseppe Cafaro
COLORS: Chiara Di Francia
LETTERS: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
COVER: Mirka Andolfo
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jan Anacleto; Joseph Michael Linsner; Erica D'Urso; Brett Booth; Mirka Andolfo; Tabitha Lyons (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2021)

Rated Teen+

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

“Mother” Chapter One

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.

Red Sonja remained a fixture in comic books from then until about 1986.  There have been several ongoing Red Sonja comic book series, and the latest, Red Sonja Volume 6, is under the guidance of popular Italian comic book creator, Mirka Andolfo.  It is written by Andolfo and Luca Blengino; drawn by Giuseppe Cafaro; colored by Chiara Di Francia; and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Red Sonja Volume 6 #1 opens in Hyperborea, and its story begins in a village, ransacked and set on fire.  It's residents dead, and the dregs from the forces of “Three-Eyes Shezem,” digs among the ruins for scraps.  Suddenly, the She-Devil with a Sword is upon them.  For she has traveled for two months from Massentia to arrive at this village.

Red Sonja's prize is a particular child, bearing curious white tattoos.  Her name is “Sitha,” and she turns out to be the village's only survivor, but she really does not belong there, according to Zondryck.  He is the one who has sent Sonja to find the child.  Now, Sonja has a travel companion, and their journey to Massentia will bring them across hardened ice, imposing mountains, dangerous forests, and the kind of people that make them dangerous.

THE LOWDOWN:   Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is Red Sonja Volume 6 #1, which is the latest of several Dynamite Entertainment Red Sonja comic books that I have recently read.

The only Mirka Andolfo comic books that I have read are the first two issues of her recent maxi-series, Deep Beyond (Image Comics).  I am happily adding Red Sonja Volume 6 to that.  The story by Andolfo and Luca Blengino is straightforward with lots of Red Sonja-style ultra-violence.  There is, however, a surprising hook in Sonja as she plays something of a mother to a child who is more than she seems.

The art and storytelling by Giuseppe Cafaro flows like water and reflects the mercurial nature of the secrets and back story behind narrative.  Chiara Di Francia's colors also capture the wild and secretive nature of this first chapter, with Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's lettering providing a steady beat.  I am very surprised by this first issue, and I am interested enough to come back for more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Red Sonja and Mirka Andolfo will want to try Red Sonja Volume 6.

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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#IReadsYou Review: THE SCORCHED #1

THE SCORCHED #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis; Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue)
ART: Stephen Segovia; Paulo Siqueira
COLORS: Ulises Arreola; Nikos Koutsis
LETTERS: Andworld Design (King Spawn)
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Puppeteer Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Brett Booth and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with Dave McCaig; Don Aguillo; Marc Silvestri and Todd McFarlane with Peter Steigerwald; Ryan Stegman and Todd McFarlane with Peter Steigerwald
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).

Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons.  A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death.  He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time.  However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia.  Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.

Back in February 2021, Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.”  McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles.  The last of the three monthly titles, The Scorched, has arrived.

The Scorched is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Stephen Segovia and Paulo Siqueira; colored by Ulises Arreola and Nikos Koutsis; and lettered by Andworld Design.  The Scorched features the debut of the “Spawn Universe's” first superhero team.

The Scorched #1 opens somewhere in Russia.  Medieval Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, Jessica Priest/She-Spawn, and Redeemer are trying to save two young women, Odessa Turgnev and Natasha Gorky, from the clutches of Russian Colonel Kruschev.

Before this, however, see how Spawn brought them together.  Or did he?  Who made whom?  Plus, Gunslinger Spawn takes on the “Locust Rangers” in Crowheart, Wyoming.  And Al and Terry argue and debate, again.

THE LOWDOWN:  I read Spawn #1 back in 1992, and I had mixed feelings about it.  Yet I was a fan and followed the series for another five or six years.  I've always expected more of it...

2021 saw the expansion of the Spawn publishing line and the full birth of the “Spawn Universe.”  Writer Sean Lewis is emerging in this new era as the most consequential writer of Spawn comic books since the creator-master himself, Todd McFarlane.  McFarlane's storytelling is full of craziness, in the tradition of classic comic book weirdness and in the vein of the madness that was and is Robert E. Howard.  Lewis embraces that craziness and, using his own inventive turns, delivers high-octane fight comics, dark fantasy violence, and edgy, angry character drama.  It wouldn't be Spawn without some monsters and some edgy people.

The art team of Stephen Segovia and Ulises Arreola and the team of Paulo Siqueira and Nikos Koutsis each deliver in a solid way, and the latter's textured illustrations and painterly colors stand out.  Andworld Design's matter-of-fact lettering delivers the real foot up the ass to your imagination.  The Scorched #1 is an excellent start and is the kind of first issue that will bring readers back for more of … whatever craziness is to come.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Spawn will want to read The Scorched.

[This comic book includes four back-up stories and “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” in which Todd McFarlane looks back at the beginning and at the year's covers.]

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


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#IReadsYou Review: CYBERFORCE #1 30th Anniversary Edition

CYBERFORCE #1 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
IMAGE COMICS/Top Cow Productions

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Eric Silvestri
ART: Marc Silvestri
COLORS: Joe Chiodo
LETTERS: Mike Heisler
EDITOR: Cynthia Sullivan
COVER: Marc Silvestri and Scott Williams with Joe Chiodo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Priscilla Petraites; Brett Booth
46pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2022)

Rated T+/Teen Plus

Cyberforce created by Marc Silvestri

“The Tin Men of War” Part One

Cyberforce was one of Image Comics debut titles, and it was created by one of Image Comic' founding members, Marc Silvestri.  Cyberforce #1 (cover dated: October 1992) was the first issue of a four-issue miniseries.  It introduced a team of mutants who had their mutant abilities enhanced with cybernetic implants as the result of experimentation.  Volume 2 of Cyberforce ran for 35 issues from 1994 to 1997.  Since then, Cyberforce has returned in 2006, 2012, 2015 and 2018.

Image Comics has published a commemorative edition of that first Cyberforce #1 from 1992.  Cyberforce #1 30th Anniversary Edition reprints the story contents of Cyberforce #1 and also includes an illustrated sixteen page section focusing on the early history of Image Comics.  Cyberforce #1 is written by Eric Silvestri; drawn by Marc Silvestri; colored by Joe Chiodo; and lettered by Mike Heisler.

Cyberforce #1 opens in New York City – the inner city.  Velocity, a young woman who is a mutant, is on the run.  It seems that she is being hunted by “C.O.P.S.” (Cybernetic Operatives for Protection and Security), and their leader, Ballistic, a female cybernetic operative.  These operatives are in the service of Cyberdata, a monolithic multinational conglomerate which creates cybernetically enhanced resistance fighters.

Luckily for Velocity, there is a team made up of such fighters who escaped from Cyberdata.  They are Ripclaw, Heatwave, Stryker, Cyblade, and Impact.  They are known as “Cyberforce,” and they may be Velocity's only hope to avoid the clutches of Cyberdata.

THE LOWDOWN:  Initially, Cyberforce was not my favorite Image Comics superhero title.  That was Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.s, but over the years, I have come to really like Cyberforce.  I think the original Cyberforce miniseries is the best early Image Comics' title and is also one of the best superhero comic books of the early 1990s.

Cyberforce is obviously inspired by Uncanny X-Men.  Cyberforce creator, Marc Silvestri, was the lead artist on that title from 1987 to 1990.  I think Cyberforce once had the potential to rival the X-Men, but in the end, average writing and mediocre Silvestri copycat artists, as well as middling spin-offs dragged this potential franchise down.

Cyberforce #1 30th Anniversary Edition is a celebration of a particular time, when the debut of Image Comics offered so much promise for creator-owned superhero comic books.  Over time, Image Comics would gradually become a home for a wide variety of genres of creator-owned comic books, especially in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and action genres.  However, Cyberforce #1 30th Anniversary Edition remembers the beginnings of Image Comics, and for some of us, those beginnings will always be special.

Also, 1992's Cyberforce #1 is just a damn good first issue.  Yes, writer Eric Silvestri seems to be squeezing a tad too much information into the first issue, but he makes this first issue and the world it introduces seem like the place to be.  Marc Silvestri's art lacks the polish that it would usually get from the inks of Scott Williams.  Still, his dynamic layouts and the steadiness of his drama make for engaging graphical storytelling.

Joe Chiodo's muted colors add a sense of realism to the story.  Mike Heisler's letters catch the shifting tones and intensity of the narrative that sell the story.  The result is a memorable first issue.

Sometimes, I dream that Cyberforce will be mine, and I will finally bring them to the heights they deserve.  Well, while a fanboy is dreaming, older fans can celebrate with Cyberforce #1 30th Anniversary Edition and new readers can discover something they might like.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Top Cow and of the early years of Image Comics will want to read Cyberforce #1 30th Anniversary Edition.

A
★★★★+ out of 4 stars


[The comic book includes 16-page section of back matter:

“30 Years of Cyberforce” by Lisa Wu looks back at the early days of Image Comics and Top Cow.  It is comprised of a Q&A with Marc Silvestri, Scott Williams, David Wohl, and Brian Haberlin.  It also includes examples of original art and color guides.

“Cyberforce Through the Years”: this is comprised of a cover gallery from various Cyberforce publications; character sketches by Marc Silvestri; art related to trading cards; storyboards for an unproduced Cyberforce animated television series; photos of toys; and miscellaneous images.]

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


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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #1

KING SPAWN #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis; Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue and back-up stories)
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez (King Spawn); Stephen Segovia (Haunt); Marcio Takara (Nightmare); Philip Tan (The Hero); Brett Booth (Gunslinger)
INKS: Javi Fernandez; Adelso Corona; Daniel Henriques
COLORS: FCO Plascencia (King Spawn); Andrew Dalhouse; Marcelo Maiolo; Peter Steigerwald; Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Andworld Design (King Spawn): Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Puppeteer Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; David Finch with FCO Plascencia; Sean Gordon Murphy; Brett Booth and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Donny Cates and Todd McFarlane
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).

Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons.  A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death.  He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time.  However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia.  Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.

Back in February (2021), Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.”  McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles.  The first of the three titles, King Spawn, has arrived.

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.

King Spawn #1 opens at an elementary school in Seattle, Washington.  There, a bombing kills sixteen people, including fourteen children aged five and six years old.  Spawn and Jessica Priest (She-Spawn) surreptitiously attend the funeral of one of the children, and Spawn, enraged, tells Priest that he knows who committed this crime and that he is going after them.

The suspects include a legendary angel, Metatron, and perhaps, an underground religious group, “Psalms 137.”  Or maybe, the people behind the bombing are fans...

THE LOWDOWN:  I read Spawn #1 back in 1992, and I had mixed feelings about it.  Yet I was a fan and followed the series for another five or six years.

2021 finds me reading my a Spawn title first-issue for the first time since I read Curse of the Spawn #1 back in 1996.  I like the main story in King Spawn #1.  In fact, Sean Lewis has written the best first issue for an ongoing Spawn comic that I have read to date.  His dialogue is sharp and natural-like, which I can't say for Spawn creator Todd McFarlane's dialogue and exposition, which often describes things that we can see in the art.  Lewis' script is lean and mean, and Lewis does something at which McFarlane is quite good – make the reader feel for the victims.

I've always preferred my Spawn comic books to be drawn by McFarlane, but as a businessman from the beginning of Spawn, he really could not commit to drawing Spawn on a regular basis past the first two years of the original series.  However, Javi Fernandez's art and storytelling shares a sensibility with McFarlane's art that will satisfy me.

So far, I find that King Spawn #1 is the closest to what I will get to those early days of Spawn.  Also, the ending makes me want to come back for more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Spawn will want to read King Spawn.

[This comic book includes four back-up stories and “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” in which Todd McFarlane and Sean Lewis interview each other.]

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


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I Reads You Review: SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair, John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee, Bruce Timm, Dave Johnson, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Neal Adams, Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Lee Bermejo, Brett Booth
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Last year, DC Comics unleashed a new ongoing Superman comic book series to coincide with the release of Man of Steel, the 2013 relaunch of the Superman film franchise.  Superman Unchained is from burning-hot writer Scott Snyder and superstar-for-over-two-decades artist Jim Lee with his longtime inker, Scott Williams.

Superman Unchained #1 (“The Leap”) opens with a brief (kind of) prologue that takes place in Nagasaki, Japan on April 9th, 1945.  We move to the present (which seems like a near-future) and find Superman trying to stop a space station called the Lighthouse from causing an epic catastrophe when it crashes to Earth.

Superman has suspects for the Lighthouse event, which include Lex Luthor (on his way to prison) and a cyber terrorist group known as Ascension.  The Man of Steel is probably wrong on his suspects, and there is a lot that he doesn’t know.  But Superman doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Superman Unchained #1 is one busy comic book.  Scott Snyder, obviously in love with his dialogue, packs this first issue with so much talk and exposition.  This first issue is like a box of “Raisin Bran” (or one of its knock-offs) infested with raisins – just too much of a good thing.  The story is a slick piece of sci-fi-lite, complete with digital displays and shiny tech.  The story, however, doesn’t really get hot until the last page of “The Leap.”  Of note, there is also a two-page epilogue drawn by Dustin Nguyen.

Speaking of busy, that’s Jim Lee’s pencils.  Lee draws so much anemic line work and so many scritchy-scratch lines that we should be thankful for Scott Williams ability to rein in Lee’s excesses and eccentricities.  As usual, Alex Sinclair’s colors turn the art into comic book eye candy.  I have to admit that I’ll be back for future issues.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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Albert Avilla Reviews: Red Hood and the Outlaws #0

Red Hood and the Outlaws #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artists: Pasqual Ferry, Ig Guara, Brett Booth

The Joker's Robin? The origin of Jason Todd as Robin. Lobdell is one of the best storytellers in comics. Poor, old Jason is raised by a hoodlum dad and a drug addict mom. Dad dies in prison, and mom overdoses. Jason does what he has to in order to survive. Batman takes him in, and he becomes Robin. He is a tough, gritty, brutal Robin.

Finds his mother in the Middle East, but this is a set up by the Joker. Jason goes in half-cocked; gets himself killed. Jason is resurrected by Talia al Ghul. This is a better resurrection than the previous one. Good job New 52. Then we get the old satellite dropped on our heads; The Joker shows up at the end of the story to tell us that Jason's rise to become was orchestrated by him.

This shocker made me respect Scott Lobdell just a little more. Another way to intertwine the characters of the Red Hood and the Joker. Lobdell is a masterful storyteller and I have been enjoying his work. I look forward to what he'll be doing with these characters and their rich backgrounds. We'll keep our fingers crossed, and possibly the team will expand its membership.

The only thing that I need to say about the art is look at Starfire on the cover.

I rate Red Hood and the Outlaws #0 Buy Your Own Copy.

The New 52 Review: TEEN TITANS #1

"Not your or your father's Teen Titans"

TEEN TITANS #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Scott Lobdell
PENCILS: Brett Booth
INKS: Norm Rapmund
COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

The Teen Titans is a DC Comics superhero team that has existed in several different incarnations. The first incarnation of the Teen Titans unofficially debuted in The Brave and the Bold #54 (cover July 1964) as a sort of “junior Justice League,” when Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad, the sidekicks of Justice League members, Batman, the Flash, and Aquaman respectively, teamed up to defeat a villain.

The group was first called the “Teen Titans” in The Brave and the Bold #60 (cover July 1965), when they were joined by Wonder Girl (Donna Troy), the younger sister of Wonder Woman, who was also making her first appearance in a comic book. Teen Titans #1 (cover date February 1966) was the beginning of the Titans own series and was published until 1973. The series has a short revival in 1976-78.

The New Teen Titans #1 (cover date November 1980) re-launched the concept and ran for 16 years (during which there were two name changes and a second #1 issue). There was a second Teen Titans (1996-98) and a series called The Titans (1999-2002). Geoff Johns launched a third series called Teen Titans (2003-11), and there was a second series called Titans (2008-11).

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” we have a fourth series entitled Teen Titans. Teen Titans #1 (“Teen Spirit”) opens with Kid Flash making an ass of himself. Next, Red Robin’s sanctum, a penthouse in Lex Towers, gets the invasion treatment from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. Robin has uncovered some kind of conspiracy against metahuman youth, so he turns to Cassie Sandsmark, who insists that he not call her Wonder Girl.

This new Teen Titans seems to be one of “The New 52,” titles in which the writer has been allowed to ignore most of what has come before him. It would not be an exaggeration to say that what Scott Lobdell has wrought puts a lie to 47 years of Teen Titans comic book publishing history. Practically everything that is directly connected to The Brave and the Bold #54 is kaput.

That said, Teen Titans is an entertaining comic book, and I’d like to read future issues. If anything, this is the best art Brett Booth has delivered in ages. His art, sort of a retarded bastard child of Art Adams and Jim Lee’s styles, has grown more ridiculous looking with each passing year – until now. Credit Norm Rapmund’s inking.

Meanwhile, the new Kid Flash looks to be an excellent, perhaps even popular, supporting character – as long as he remains a supporting character. This isn’t the Teen Titans I remember, but I could read this.

B

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
SUPERMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/superman-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html