BATMAN No. 44
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]
STORY: Scott Snyder
WRITERS: Scott Snyder and Brian Azzarello
ART: Jock
COLORS: Lee Loughridge
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
COVER: Jock
VARIANT COVERS: Tony Daniel with Tomeau Morey (Green Lantern 75th Anniversary Cover)
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2015)
Rated “T” for “Teen”
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
“A Simple Case”
Once upon a time, American network television sitcoms occasionally offered up episodes that focused on timely and/or relevant events, issues, and topics (sex, teen pregnancy, gun violence, abortion, etc.). Such series installments came to be known as the “very special episode.”
There are a certain episodes that come to mind when I think of the “very special episode.” In “Diff'erent Strokes” (which personified the special episode), a bicycle shop owner grooms Gary Coleman's “Arnold Jackson” and Arnold's friend “Dudley Jackson” (Shavar Ross) for sexual assault. In “Family Ties,” Michael J. Fox's “Alex P. Keaton” loses his virginity to a woman who promptly dumps him, even though Alex had fallen in love with her after the encounter. In “Good Times,” Jimmie Walker's “JJ” was engaged to a young woman who uses hallucinogenic drugs (angel dust?) that leads to to her jumping through a bathroom widow to her death.
Writers Scott Snyder and Brian Azzarello and artist Jock, with the assistance of colorist Lee Loughridge and letterer Deron Bennett offer up what could be considered a “very special issue” of Batman. The story revolves around the police shooting of an unarmed young black man.
Batman #44 (“A Simple Case”) opens in the Gotham Marshes, near the old city limit. Fifteen-year-old Peter Duggio, a resident of the Narrows, is found dead. It looks as if he were dropped straight from the sky. At first, Batman suspects a supervillain, one of his “rogues gallery.” Then, it seems that Peter, an unarmed young black man, was shot by veteran Gotham City Police Department officer, Ned Howler. However, Peter's death is far more complicated, with the teen boy's demise being the center of a web of deceit and lies. And Bruce Wayne may be in that web.
I first heard about Batman #44 when it became a buzzed-about comic book story for a few days. It generated only a little fake controversy. The truth is that “A Simple Case” is not so much about a White cop shooting an unarmed Black kid, as it is about the entire, rotten, corrupted thing that a big city can become. Peter Duggio's death is the result of criminals, corrupted public officials, law enforcement, and system-wide failure, especially on the part of institutions.
Snyder and Azzarello seem to be say that individuals can make a difference because each person can offer his of her singular focus. On the other hand, institutions, agencies, organizations, etc. are made of multiple individuals and often cannot provide a singular focus where it is needed – in this case of needing singular focus, Peter Duggio.
The art by Jock is half graphical storytelling and half illustration. Snyder and Azzarello's story seems separate from Jock's art, but that does not take away from the story. Sometimes, Jock's art comes across as illustrations for an essay or piece of journalistic writing. Jock's art becomes comic book storytelling in those moments when Snyder and Azzarello focus on character drama and character interaction. Lee Loughridge's colors are moody, but also accentuate Batman's quest, giving it a sense of immediacy. The colors suggest that this story is a dark and moody thriller, but at times, Loughridge understands that the story needs a sense of hope.
Batman #44 is a nice change of pace for the series. Best of all, it is nice that the creative team offered more than something that is simply of the moment. Peter Duggio's story is timeless because it depicts problems that just won't go away.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Showing posts with label Brian Azzarello. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian Azzarello. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2015
Review: Batman #44
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Tuesday, November 24, 2015
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 25, 2015
DC COMICS
SEP150324 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #11 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
SEP150202 AQUAMAN #46 $3.99
SEP150320 ART OPS #2 (MR) $3.99
AUG150260 BATMAN 66 MEETS THE GREEN HORNET TP $14.99
SEP150196 BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #8 $2.99
SEP150257 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ROBIN SPECIAL #1 $2.99
SEP150252 BATMAN ENDGAME DIRECTORS CUT #1 $5.99
SEP150179 DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #1 $5.99
SEP150212 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #5 $3.99
SEP150209 DEATHSTROKE #12 $2.99
JUL150311 EARTH 2 HC VOL 06 COLLISION $22.99
AUG150265 EARTH 2 TP VOL 05 THE KRYPTONIAN $16.99
SEP150215 FLASH #46 $3.99
AUG150268 FLASH BY GEOFF JOHNS TP BOOK 01 $24.99
SEP150267 GRAYSON #14 $3.99
SEP150281 HE MAN THE ETERNITY WAR #12 $2.99
SEP150316 JACKED #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP150219 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #6 $2.99
AUG150174 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #5 $3.99
AUG150292 KITCHEN TP (MR) $16.99
SEP150225 OMEGA MEN #6 $2.99
SEP150273 ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #6 $3.99
SEP150279 SINESTRO #17 $2.99
SEP150245 SUPERMAN #46 $3.99
SEP150247 SUPERMAN LOIS AND CLARK #2 $3.99
SEP150243 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #23 $3.99
SEP150275 WE ARE ROBIN #6 $3.99
SEP150237 WONDER WOMAN #46 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
APR150332 ARROW TV ARSENAL AF $24.95
AUG150307 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES BANE AF $25.00
AUG150308 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES MAD HATTER AF $25.00
AUG150305 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES NIGHTWING AF $25.00
AUG150306 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES SCARECROW AF $25.00
JUN150343 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT CATWOMAN AF $24.95
MAY150291 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS JOKER & HARLEY QUINN STATUE $249.95
APR150346 GOTHAM CITY GARAGE HARLEY QUINN STATUE $349.95
SEP150324 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #11 (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
SEP150202 AQUAMAN #46 $3.99
SEP150320 ART OPS #2 (MR) $3.99
AUG150260 BATMAN 66 MEETS THE GREEN HORNET TP $14.99
SEP150196 BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #8 $2.99
SEP150257 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ROBIN SPECIAL #1 $2.99
SEP150252 BATMAN ENDGAME DIRECTORS CUT #1 $5.99
SEP150179 DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #1 $5.99
SEP150212 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #5 $3.99
SEP150209 DEATHSTROKE #12 $2.99
JUL150311 EARTH 2 HC VOL 06 COLLISION $22.99
AUG150265 EARTH 2 TP VOL 05 THE KRYPTONIAN $16.99
SEP150215 FLASH #46 $3.99
AUG150268 FLASH BY GEOFF JOHNS TP BOOK 01 $24.99
SEP150267 GRAYSON #14 $3.99
SEP150281 HE MAN THE ETERNITY WAR #12 $2.99
SEP150316 JACKED #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP150219 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #6 $2.99
AUG150174 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #5 $3.99
AUG150292 KITCHEN TP (MR) $16.99
SEP150225 OMEGA MEN #6 $2.99
SEP150273 ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #6 $3.99
SEP150279 SINESTRO #17 $2.99
SEP150245 SUPERMAN #46 $3.99
SEP150247 SUPERMAN LOIS AND CLARK #2 $3.99
SEP150243 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #23 $3.99
SEP150275 WE ARE ROBIN #6 $3.99
SEP150237 WONDER WOMAN #46 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
APR150332 ARROW TV ARSENAL AF $24.95
AUG150307 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES BANE AF $25.00
AUG150308 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES MAD HATTER AF $25.00
AUG150305 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES NIGHTWING AF $25.00
AUG150306 BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES SCARECROW AF $25.00
JUN150343 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT CATWOMAN AF $24.95
MAY150291 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS JOKER & HARLEY QUINN STATUE $249.95
APR150346 GOTHAM CITY GARAGE HARLEY QUINN STATUE $349.95
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Tuesday, November 17, 2015
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 18, 2015
DC COMICS
SEP150239 ACTION COMICS #46 $3.99
SEP150322 ASTRO CITY #29 $3.99
JUL150336 ASTRO CITY LOVERS QUARREL HC $24.99
JUL150307 BATMAN & ROBIN HC VOL 07 ROBIN RISES $24.99
AUG150262 BATMAN & ROBIN TP VOL 06 THE HUNT FOR ROBIN $16.99
SEP150260 BATMAN 66 #29 $2.99
SEP150195 BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #7 $2.99
SEP150259 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT GENESIS #4 $2.99
SEP150190 BATMAN EUROPA #1 $4.99
JUL150308 BATMAN THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $75.00
SEP150248 BIZARRO #6 $2.99
JUL150306 CATWOMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
SEP150321 CLEAN ROOM #2 (MR) $3.99
MAR158511 DC COMICS BOOK AND DVD BLU RAY SLIPCASE SET PI
SEP150213 DOCTOR FATE #6 $2.99
SEP150249 DOOMED #6 $2.99
SEP150214 EARTH 2 SOCIETY #6 $2.99
SEP150278 GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #6 $2.99
SEP150269 HARLEY QUINN #22 $3.99
SEP150221 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #6 $2.99
SEP150223 NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #14 $2.99
SEP150317 RED THORN #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP150229 SECRET SIX #8 $2.99
AUG150278 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 03 $14.99
JUL150319 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 03 CASUALTIES OF WAR $22.99
AUG150280 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02 WAR AND PEACE $16.99
AUG150296 SWAMP THING DARKER GENESIS TP (MR) $19.99
SEP150236 TELOS #2 $2.99
SEP150235 TITANS HUNT #2 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN150344 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT COMMISSIONER GORDON AF $24.95
MAY150284 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT RED HOOD STATUE $124.95
JUN150342 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ROBIN AF $24.95
MAY150286 DC ICONS BATMAN LAST RIGHTS AF $24.95
MAY150287 DC ICONS DEADMAN BRIGHTEST DAY AF $24.95
MAY150289 DC ICONS GREEN ARROW LONGOBOW HUNTERS AF $24.95
MAY150288 DC ICONS MISTER MIRACLE EARTH 2 AF $24.95
SEP150239 ACTION COMICS #46 $3.99
SEP150322 ASTRO CITY #29 $3.99
JUL150336 ASTRO CITY LOVERS QUARREL HC $24.99
JUL150307 BATMAN & ROBIN HC VOL 07 ROBIN RISES $24.99
AUG150262 BATMAN & ROBIN TP VOL 06 THE HUNT FOR ROBIN $16.99
SEP150260 BATMAN 66 #29 $2.99
SEP150195 BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #7 $2.99
SEP150259 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT GENESIS #4 $2.99
SEP150190 BATMAN EUROPA #1 $4.99
JUL150308 BATMAN THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $75.00
SEP150248 BIZARRO #6 $2.99
JUL150306 CATWOMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
SEP150321 CLEAN ROOM #2 (MR) $3.99
MAR158511 DC COMICS BOOK AND DVD BLU RAY SLIPCASE SET PI
SEP150213 DOCTOR FATE #6 $2.99
SEP150249 DOOMED #6 $2.99
SEP150214 EARTH 2 SOCIETY #6 $2.99
SEP150278 GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #6 $2.99
SEP150269 HARLEY QUINN #22 $3.99
SEP150221 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #6 $2.99
SEP150223 NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #14 $2.99
SEP150317 RED THORN #1 (MR) $3.99
SEP150229 SECRET SIX #8 $2.99
AUG150278 SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 03 $14.99
JUL150319 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 03 CASUALTIES OF WAR $22.99
AUG150280 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02 WAR AND PEACE $16.99
AUG150296 SWAMP THING DARKER GENESIS TP (MR) $19.99
SEP150236 TELOS #2 $2.99
SEP150235 TITANS HUNT #2 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN150344 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT COMMISSIONER GORDON AF $24.95
MAY150284 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT RED HOOD STATUE $124.95
JUN150342 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ROBIN AF $24.95
MAY150286 DC ICONS BATMAN LAST RIGHTS AF $24.95
MAY150287 DC ICONS DEADMAN BRIGHTEST DAY AF $24.95
MAY150289 DC ICONS GREEN ARROW LONGOBOW HUNTERS AF $24.95
MAY150288 DC ICONS MISTER MIRACLE EARTH 2 AF $24.95
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Tuesday, September 15, 2015
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 16, 2015
DC COMICS
JUN150323 100 BULLETS TP BOOK 03 (MR) $24.99
JUL150262 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT GENESIS #2 $2.99
MAY150231 BATMAN HC VOL 07 ENDGAME $24.99
MAY150233 BATMAN NOIR HUSH HC $39.99
JUL150254 BIZARRO #4 $2.99
JUL150207 BLACK CANARY #4 $2.99
JUL150209 CONSTANTINE THE HELLBLAZER #4 $2.99
JUL150216 DOCTOR FATE #4 $2.99
JUL150255 DOOMED #4 $2.99
JUN150297 FLASH SEASON ZERO TP $19.99
JUL150286 GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #4 $2.99
JUL150277 HARLEY QUINN #20 $3.99
JUL150219 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #10 $2.99
JUL150229 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #4 $2.99
JUN150304 NEW TEEN TITANS TP VOL 03 $19.99
JUL150235 PREZ #4 $2.99
JUL150280 ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #4 $3.99
JUL150240 SECRET SIX #6 $2.99
JUL150241 SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #14 $3.99
JUL150250 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #21 $3.99
MAY150248 SWAMP THING BY SCOTT SNYDER DLX ED HC $49.99
JUL150238 WONDER WOMAN #44 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
SEP140355 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ARKHAM KNIGHT AF $24.95
JUN150323 100 BULLETS TP BOOK 03 (MR) $24.99
JUL150262 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT GENESIS #2 $2.99
MAY150231 BATMAN HC VOL 07 ENDGAME $24.99
MAY150233 BATMAN NOIR HUSH HC $39.99
JUL150254 BIZARRO #4 $2.99
JUL150207 BLACK CANARY #4 $2.99
JUL150209 CONSTANTINE THE HELLBLAZER #4 $2.99
JUL150216 DOCTOR FATE #4 $2.99
JUL150255 DOOMED #4 $2.99
JUN150297 FLASH SEASON ZERO TP $19.99
JUL150286 GREEN LANTERN THE LOST ARMY #4 $2.99
JUL150277 HARLEY QUINN #20 $3.99
JUL150219 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #10 $2.99
JUL150229 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #4 $2.99
JUN150304 NEW TEEN TITANS TP VOL 03 $19.99
JUL150235 PREZ #4 $2.99
JUL150280 ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #4 $3.99
JUL150240 SECRET SIX #6 $2.99
JUL150241 SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #14 $3.99
JUL150250 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #21 $3.99
MAY150248 SWAMP THING BY SCOTT SNYDER DLX ED HC $49.99
JUL150238 WONDER WOMAN #44 $3.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
SEP140355 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT ARKHAM KNIGHT AF $24.95
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Tuesday, October 28, 2014
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 29, 2014
DC COMICS
JUL140274 100 BULLETS TP BOOK 01 (MR) $24.99
AUG140267 BATMAN ETERNAL #30 $2.99
JUN140263 DC COMICS ZERO YEAR HC (N52) $34.99
AUG140191 EARTH 2 WORLDS END #4 $2.99
JUN140266 GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 05 TEST OF WILLS (N52) $24.99
JUL140243 GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 04 DARK DAYS (N52) $16.99
AUG148354 HARLEY QUINN #5 2ND PTG $2.99
AUG140294 HARLEY QUINN ANNUAL #1 INTERNATIONAL ED $5.99
AUG140238 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #2 $4.99
AUG140235 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED ANNUAL #1 $4.99
AUG140221 NEW 52 FUTURES END #26 (WEEKLY) $2.99
JUL140282 PREACHER TP BOOK 06 (MR) $19.99
AUG140321 SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #3 $3.99
AUG140305 SINESTRO #6 (GODHEAD) $2.99
AUG140309 SWAMP THING ANNUAL #3 $4.99
AUG140371 VERTIGO QUARTERLY #1 YELLOW (MR) $7.99
AUG140239 WONDER WOMAN #35 $2.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
APR140328 BATMAN METALLIC MINI STATUE BY JIM LEE $99.95
APR140329 DC COMICS COVER GIRLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE 2ND ED $99.95
MAY140426 DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 2 CAPULLO RED HOOD AF $24.95
MAY140433 GREEN ARROW MINI PATINA STATUE $99.95
JUL140274 100 BULLETS TP BOOK 01 (MR) $24.99
AUG140267 BATMAN ETERNAL #30 $2.99
JUN140263 DC COMICS ZERO YEAR HC (N52) $34.99
AUG140191 EARTH 2 WORLDS END #4 $2.99
JUN140266 GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 05 TEST OF WILLS (N52) $24.99
JUL140243 GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 04 DARK DAYS (N52) $16.99
AUG148354 HARLEY QUINN #5 2ND PTG $2.99
AUG140294 HARLEY QUINN ANNUAL #1 INTERNATIONAL ED $5.99
AUG140238 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ANNUAL #2 $4.99
AUG140235 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED ANNUAL #1 $4.99
AUG140221 NEW 52 FUTURES END #26 (WEEKLY) $2.99
JUL140282 PREACHER TP BOOK 06 (MR) $19.99
AUG140321 SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #3 $3.99
AUG140305 SINESTRO #6 (GODHEAD) $2.99
AUG140309 SWAMP THING ANNUAL #3 $4.99
AUG140371 VERTIGO QUARTERLY #1 YELLOW (MR) $7.99
AUG140239 WONDER WOMAN #35 $2.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
APR140328 BATMAN METALLIC MINI STATUE BY JIM LEE $99.95
APR140329 DC COMICS COVER GIRLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE 2ND ED $99.95
MAY140426 DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 2 CAPULLO RED HOOD AF $24.95
MAY140433 GREEN ARROW MINI PATINA STATUE $99.95
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Friday, June 27, 2014
I Reads You Review: LOVELESS: A Kin of Homecoming
LOVELESS: A KIN OF HOMECOMING (Volume 1)
DC COMICS/Vertigo – @DCComics @vertigo_comics
CREATOR/STORY: Brian Azzarello
CREATOR/ART: Marcelo Frusin
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Will Dennis (original series)
COVER: Marcelo Frusin
128pp, Color, $9.99 U.S., $13.50 CAB (2006)
Suggested for mature readers
Loveless was a Western comic book series for mature readers published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. The series was created by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Marcelo Frusin. Loveless was published for 24 issues with the cover dates: December 2005 to May 2008. In addition to Frusin, artists Danijel Zezelj and Werther Dell'Edera also drew the series. Loveless was a monthly, ongoing comic book series that was apparently intended to run for four years, but was cancelled after two-and-half years.
Loveless began as a series that focused on a Confederate Civil War veteran who returns to his hometown and finds it under Union control. The veteran eventually becomes sheriff, as he continues to investigate the fate of his missing wife. While the early issues of Loveless focused on the veteran’s relationships with the townsfolk and other locals, the series eventually expanded its scope and themes.
Several years ago, probably around the end of Loveless’ publication, I used some Amazon credit to buy the first two trade paperback collections of Loveless. After misplacing the books, I found them and decided to read both and to review, at least, the first trade collection (for you, of course, dear readers).
Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming collects Loveless issues #1 to 5. All five issues were produced by writer Brian Azzarello, artist Marcelo Frusin, colorist Patricia Mulvihill, and letterer Clem Robins. The art for the cover of Loveless #1 was reused as the cover for Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming, but with new cover copy.
Loveless is set mainly in and around the town of Blackwater, Missouri. The series introduces Wesley “Wes” Cutter, a former Confederate soldier who returns to Blackwater, where he finds that Union soldiers occupy his house and his wife, Ruth Stokes, is missing. To regain his house, Wes starts killing Unions soldiers, but he isn’t the only former rebel killing soldiers. Another former Confederate leads a band of fellow rebels who do not accept that the Civil War ended. A man named Boyd leads this band of bushwhackers that are not only killing Union soldiers, but also Black people who live locally.
Jeremiah Trotter, a Northern businessman (a “carpetbagger”) wants to bring stability to the area. In spite of the protests of Union commander, Colonel Silas Redd, Trotter offers Cutter the job of sheriff, which he accepts. Perhaps, Cutter hopes the position will help him find answers about his missing wife and his missing younger brother, Jonny Cutter. Also, a former slave turned bounty hunter, Atticus Mann, enters the scene.
Writer Brian Azzarello offers an embarrassment of riches when it comes to intriguing characters. Lead character, Wes Cutter, is full of mystery, and with each page, he becomes more interesting rather than off-putting, which having too much mystery can sometimes do to a character. Having a lot of characters can be a little confusing when the narrative shifts back and forth in time, however, which the first fives issues of Loveless do quite a bit.
One thing about Loveless of which I am ambivalent is the violence. Artist Marcelo Frusin stages all of it in interesting ways, as if trying to create a graphical impression similar to that of film. In spite of that, the violence is sometimes tedious, to the point where instead of raising the ante, it just wears down the story.
Marcelo Frusin and colorist Patricia Mulvihill deliver some pretty art. In fact, the art is so good looking that the violence, the depictions of rape, and the portrayal of corpses (in various stages of damage and decay) seem odd, even out of place.
On the back cover of Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming is a quote from what is likely a favorable review. The quote mentions the term “spaghetti western,” which Loveless is not. Loveless, at least in the beginning, is a Western historical drama. It is more like one of those old Western television series from the 1950s and 60s (but with explicit violence, profanity, and sex) than it is like a Sergio Leone-Clint Eastwood film … or even like Django Unchained, a truer heir to Leone and Eastwood.
I plan to read the rest of Loveless. I am curious to see how this series turned out before being cancelled.
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
DC COMICS/Vertigo – @DCComics @vertigo_comics
CREATOR/STORY: Brian Azzarello
CREATOR/ART: Marcelo Frusin
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill
LETTERS: Clem Robins
EDITOR: Will Dennis (original series)
COVER: Marcelo Frusin
128pp, Color, $9.99 U.S., $13.50 CAB (2006)
Suggested for mature readers
Loveless was a Western comic book series for mature readers published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics. The series was created by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Marcelo Frusin. Loveless was published for 24 issues with the cover dates: December 2005 to May 2008. In addition to Frusin, artists Danijel Zezelj and Werther Dell'Edera also drew the series. Loveless was a monthly, ongoing comic book series that was apparently intended to run for four years, but was cancelled after two-and-half years.
Loveless began as a series that focused on a Confederate Civil War veteran who returns to his hometown and finds it under Union control. The veteran eventually becomes sheriff, as he continues to investigate the fate of his missing wife. While the early issues of Loveless focused on the veteran’s relationships with the townsfolk and other locals, the series eventually expanded its scope and themes.
Several years ago, probably around the end of Loveless’ publication, I used some Amazon credit to buy the first two trade paperback collections of Loveless. After misplacing the books, I found them and decided to read both and to review, at least, the first trade collection (for you, of course, dear readers).
Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming collects Loveless issues #1 to 5. All five issues were produced by writer Brian Azzarello, artist Marcelo Frusin, colorist Patricia Mulvihill, and letterer Clem Robins. The art for the cover of Loveless #1 was reused as the cover for Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming, but with new cover copy.
Loveless is set mainly in and around the town of Blackwater, Missouri. The series introduces Wesley “Wes” Cutter, a former Confederate soldier who returns to Blackwater, where he finds that Union soldiers occupy his house and his wife, Ruth Stokes, is missing. To regain his house, Wes starts killing Unions soldiers, but he isn’t the only former rebel killing soldiers. Another former Confederate leads a band of fellow rebels who do not accept that the Civil War ended. A man named Boyd leads this band of bushwhackers that are not only killing Union soldiers, but also Black people who live locally.
Jeremiah Trotter, a Northern businessman (a “carpetbagger”) wants to bring stability to the area. In spite of the protests of Union commander, Colonel Silas Redd, Trotter offers Cutter the job of sheriff, which he accepts. Perhaps, Cutter hopes the position will help him find answers about his missing wife and his missing younger brother, Jonny Cutter. Also, a former slave turned bounty hunter, Atticus Mann, enters the scene.
Writer Brian Azzarello offers an embarrassment of riches when it comes to intriguing characters. Lead character, Wes Cutter, is full of mystery, and with each page, he becomes more interesting rather than off-putting, which having too much mystery can sometimes do to a character. Having a lot of characters can be a little confusing when the narrative shifts back and forth in time, however, which the first fives issues of Loveless do quite a bit.
One thing about Loveless of which I am ambivalent is the violence. Artist Marcelo Frusin stages all of it in interesting ways, as if trying to create a graphical impression similar to that of film. In spite of that, the violence is sometimes tedious, to the point where instead of raising the ante, it just wears down the story.
Marcelo Frusin and colorist Patricia Mulvihill deliver some pretty art. In fact, the art is so good looking that the violence, the depictions of rape, and the portrayal of corpses (in various stages of damage and decay) seem odd, even out of place.
On the back cover of Loveless: A Kin of Homecoming is a quote from what is likely a favorable review. The quote mentions the term “spaghetti western,” which Loveless is not. Loveless, at least in the beginning, is a Western historical drama. It is more like one of those old Western television series from the 1950s and 60s (but with explicit violence, profanity, and sex) than it is like a Sergio Leone-Clint Eastwood film … or even like Django Unchained, a truer heir to Leone and Eastwood.
I plan to read the rest of Loveless. I am curious to see how this series turned out before being cancelled.
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2014
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 21 2014
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MAR140281 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #3 (MR) $2.99
JAN140355 BATGIRL HC VOL 04 WANTED (N52) $24.99
FEB140247 BATGIRL TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $16.99
MAR140244 BATMAN 66 #11 $3.99
MAR140218 BATMAN AND FRANKENSTEIN #31 $2.99
MAR140243 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #10 $3.99
FEB140258 BATMAN DEATHBLOW AFTER THE FIRE TP $14.99
MAR140210 BATMAN ETERNAL #7 $2.99
MAR140205 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 $3.99
MAR140207 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 COMBO PACK $4.99
MAR140220 BATWOMAN #31 $2.99
MAR140226 BIRDS OF PREY #31 $2.99
JAN140326 BLACK CANARY AND ZATANNA BLOODSPELL HC $22.99
FEB140292 EX MACHINA TP BOOK 02 (MR) $19.99
JAN140237 FOREVER EVIL #7 $4.99
JAN140242 FOREVER EVIL #7 COMBO PACK $5.99
MAR140236 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #31 $2.99
MAR140224 HARLEY QUINN #6 $2.99
FEB140149 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140151 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140152 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140154 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140255 MOVEMENT TP VOL 01 CLASS WARFARE (N52) $14.99
MAR140167 NEW 52 FUTURES END #3 (WEEKLY) $2.99
MAR140229 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #31 $2.99
MAR140248 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #5 $2.99
FEB140262 SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPER FRIENDS TP VOL 01 $19.99
MAR140230 SINESTRO #2 $2.99
MAR140204 SUPERGIRL #31 $2.99
MAR140189 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #11 $2.99
MAR140294 UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #5 (MR) $3.99
MAR140194 WONDER WOMAN #31 $2.99
MAR140281 AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #3 (MR) $2.99
JAN140355 BATGIRL HC VOL 04 WANTED (N52) $24.99
FEB140247 BATGIRL TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $16.99
MAR140244 BATMAN 66 #11 $3.99
MAR140218 BATMAN AND FRANKENSTEIN #31 $2.99
MAR140243 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #10 $3.99
FEB140258 BATMAN DEATHBLOW AFTER THE FIRE TP $14.99
MAR140210 BATMAN ETERNAL #7 $2.99
MAR140205 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 $3.99
MAR140207 BATMAN SUPERMAN #11 COMBO PACK $4.99
MAR140220 BATWOMAN #31 $2.99
MAR140226 BIRDS OF PREY #31 $2.99
JAN140326 BLACK CANARY AND ZATANNA BLOODSPELL HC $22.99
FEB140292 EX MACHINA TP BOOK 02 (MR) $19.99
JAN140237 FOREVER EVIL #7 $4.99
JAN140242 FOREVER EVIL #7 COMBO PACK $5.99
MAR140236 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #31 $2.99
MAR140224 HARLEY QUINN #6 $2.99
FEB140149 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140151 JUSTICE LEAGUE #30 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140152 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 (EVIL) $3.99
FEB140154 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
FEB140255 MOVEMENT TP VOL 01 CLASS WARFARE (N52) $14.99
MAR140167 NEW 52 FUTURES END #3 (WEEKLY) $2.99
MAR140229 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #31 $2.99
MAR140248 SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #5 $2.99
FEB140262 SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPER FRIENDS TP VOL 01 $19.99
MAR140230 SINESTRO #2 $2.99
MAR140204 SUPERGIRL #31 $2.99
MAR140189 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #11 $2.99
MAR140294 UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #5 (MR) $3.99
MAR140194 WONDER WOMAN #31 $2.99
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 9 2014
DC COMICS
JAN140371 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO TP (MR) $16.99
FEB140283 ASTRO CITY #11 $3.99
JAN140374 ASTRO CITY SHINING STARS TP $16.99
DEC130338 ASTRO CITY THROUGH OPEN DOORS HC $24.99
FEB140213 BATGIRL #30 $2.99
FEB140140 BATMAN ETERNAL #1 $2.99
FEB140284 COFFIN HILL #7 (MR) $2.99
FEB140168 CONSTANTINE #13 $2.99
DEC130299 EARTH 2 HC VOL 03 BATTLE CRY (N52) $22.99
JAN140344 EARTH 2 TP VOL 02 THE TOWER OF FATE (N52) $16.99
FEB140290 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #9 (MR) $2.99
FEB140223 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30 $2.99
JAN140383 JONAH HEX SHADOWS WEST TP (MR) $24.99
FEB140169 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #5 $2.99
FEB140294 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #3 (MR) $2.99
FEB140274 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #44 $2.99
FEB140193 SUPERBOY #30 $2.99
FEB140186 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 (DOOMED) $3.99
FEB140188 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 COMBO PACK (DOOMED) $4.99
FEB140177 WORLDS FINEST #22 $2.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
SEP130324 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS POWER RING AF $24.95
SEP130323 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS SUPERWOMAN AF $24.95
SEP130325 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ULTRAMAN AF $24.95
JAN140371 100 BULLETS BROTHER LONO TP (MR) $16.99
FEB140283 ASTRO CITY #11 $3.99
JAN140374 ASTRO CITY SHINING STARS TP $16.99
DEC130338 ASTRO CITY THROUGH OPEN DOORS HC $24.99
FEB140213 BATGIRL #30 $2.99
FEB140140 BATMAN ETERNAL #1 $2.99
FEB140284 COFFIN HILL #7 (MR) $2.99
FEB140168 CONSTANTINE #13 $2.99
DEC130299 EARTH 2 HC VOL 03 BATTLE CRY (N52) $22.99
JAN140344 EARTH 2 TP VOL 02 THE TOWER OF FATE (N52) $16.99
FEB140290 FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #9 (MR) $2.99
FEB140223 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #30 $2.99
JAN140383 JONAH HEX SHADOWS WEST TP (MR) $24.99
FEB140169 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #5 $2.99
FEB140294 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #3 (MR) $2.99
FEB140274 SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #44 $2.99
FEB140193 SUPERBOY #30 $2.99
FEB140186 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 (DOOMED) $3.99
FEB140188 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #7 COMBO PACK (DOOMED) $4.99
FEB140177 WORLDS FINEST #22 $2.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
SEP130324 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS POWER RING AF $24.95
SEP130323 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS SUPERWOMAN AF $24.95
SEP130325 DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS ULTRAMAN AF $24.95
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 12 2014
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DEC130339 ASTRO CITY #9 $3.99
DEC130259 BATGIRL #28 $2.99
DEC130250 BATMAN #28 $3.99
DEC130252 BATMAN #28 COMBO PACK (ZERO YEAR) $4.99
NOV130237 BATMAN DARK VICTORY TP NEW ED $24.99
DEC130324 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #11 $2.99
DEC130335 COFFIN HILL #5 (MR) $2.99
DEC130215 CONSTANTINE #11 (EVIL) $2.99
NOV130227 CONSTANTINE TP VOL 01 SPARK AND THE FLAME (N52) $14.99
OCT130243 FLASH HC VOL 03 GORILLA WARFARE (N52) $24.99
DEC130212 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #5 $2.99
DEC130274 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #28 $2.99
DEC138009 HARLEY QUINN #1 2ND PTG $2.99
DEC130293 INJUSTICE YEAR TWO #2 $2.99
OCT130287 INVISIBLES HC BOOK 01 DELUXE EDITION (MR) $29.99
DEC130226 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #3 $2.99
DEC130205 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #12 (EVIL) $3.99
DEC130207 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #12 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
NOV130243 LEGION OF SUPERHEROES GREAT DARKNESS SAGA TP NEW ED $24.99
NOV130232 LEGION OF SUPERHEROES TP VOL 03 FATAL FIVE (N52) $16.99
DEC130267 NIGHTWING #28 $2.99
NOV130247 POWER GIRL POWER TRIP TP $29.99
DEC130328 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #1 (MR) $2.99
DEC130289 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 ALIEN #3 $3.99
NOV130269 SPACEMAN TP (MR) $19.99
DEC130219 SUICIDE SQUAD #28 (EVIL) $2.99
DEC130247 SUPERBOY #28 $2.99
NOV130235 SUPERGIRL TP VOL 03 SANCTUARY (N52) $16.99
DEC130235 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #5 $3.99
DEC130237 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #5 COMBO PACK $4.99
OCT130235 VILLAINS MONTH 3D MOTION COMPLETE SET $199.99
DEC130339 ASTRO CITY #9 $3.99
DEC130259 BATGIRL #28 $2.99
DEC130250 BATMAN #28 $3.99
DEC130252 BATMAN #28 COMBO PACK (ZERO YEAR) $4.99
NOV130237 BATMAN DARK VICTORY TP NEW ED $24.99
DEC130324 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #11 $2.99
DEC130335 COFFIN HILL #5 (MR) $2.99
DEC130215 CONSTANTINE #11 (EVIL) $2.99
NOV130227 CONSTANTINE TP VOL 01 SPARK AND THE FLAME (N52) $14.99
OCT130243 FLASH HC VOL 03 GORILLA WARFARE (N52) $24.99
DEC130212 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #5 $2.99
DEC130274 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #28 $2.99
DEC138009 HARLEY QUINN #1 2ND PTG $2.99
DEC130293 INJUSTICE YEAR TWO #2 $2.99
OCT130287 INVISIBLES HC BOOK 01 DELUXE EDITION (MR) $29.99
DEC130226 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #3 $2.99
DEC130205 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #12 (EVIL) $3.99
DEC130207 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #12 COMBO PACK (EVIL) $4.99
NOV130243 LEGION OF SUPERHEROES GREAT DARKNESS SAGA TP NEW ED $24.99
NOV130232 LEGION OF SUPERHEROES TP VOL 03 FATAL FIVE (N52) $16.99
DEC130267 NIGHTWING #28 $2.99
NOV130247 POWER GIRL POWER TRIP TP $29.99
DEC130328 ROYALS MASTERS OF WAR #1 (MR) $2.99
DEC130289 SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 ALIEN #3 $3.99
NOV130269 SPACEMAN TP (MR) $19.99
DEC130219 SUICIDE SQUAD #28 (EVIL) $2.99
DEC130247 SUPERBOY #28 $2.99
NOV130235 SUPERGIRL TP VOL 03 SANCTUARY (N52) $16.99
DEC130235 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #5 $3.99
DEC130237 SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #5 COMBO PACK $4.99
OCT130235 VILLAINS MONTH 3D MOTION COMPLETE SET $199.99
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 18 2013
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OCT130216 ANIMAL MAN #26 $2.99
AUG130305 AUTHORITY HC VOL 02 $34.99
OCT130227 BATMAN 66 #6 $3.99
OCT130201 BATMAN AND TWO FACE #26 $2.99
OCT130226 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #5 $3.99
OCT130195 BIRDS OF PREY #26 $2.99
SEP130270 BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 03 CLASH OF DAGGERS (N52) $14.99
SEP130305 FABLES TP VOL 19 SNOW WHITE (MR) $16.99
OCT130135 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #3 $2.99
SEP130272 FURY OF FIRESTORM TP VOL 03 TAKEOVER (N52) $16.99
OCT130211 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #26 $2.99
OCT130185 HARLEY QUINN #1 $2.99
OCT130153 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #10 $2.99
OCT130204 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 $2.99
SEP130284 SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 $19.99
OCT130181 SUPERGIRL #26 $2.99
SEP130285 SUPERMAN VS MONGUL TP $14.99
OCT130263 TEEN TITANS GO #1 $2.99
SEP130274 TEEN TITANS TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY TO (N52) $14.99
OCT130139 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #6 (EVIL) $2.99
OCT130256 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS 100 BULLETS #1 (MR) $1.00
OCT130281 WAKE PART ONE #1 (MR) $9.99
OCT130154 WONDER WOMAN #26 $2.99
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JUN130317 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE $124.95
JUL130286 INFINITE CRISIS ARCANE GREEN LANTERN STATUE $124.95
JUN130306 INFINITE CRISIS ATOMIC WONDER WOMAN STATUE $124.95
SEP130329 JUSTICE LEAGUE SHAZAM AF $24.95
OCT130216 ANIMAL MAN #26 $2.99
AUG130305 AUTHORITY HC VOL 02 $34.99
OCT130227 BATMAN 66 #6 $3.99
OCT130201 BATMAN AND TWO FACE #26 $2.99
OCT130226 BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #5 $3.99
OCT130195 BIRDS OF PREY #26 $2.99
SEP130270 BIRDS OF PREY TP VOL 03 CLASH OF DAGGERS (N52) $14.99
SEP130305 FABLES TP VOL 19 SNOW WHITE (MR) $16.99
OCT130135 FOREVER EVIL ROGUES REBELLION #3 $2.99
SEP130272 FURY OF FIRESTORM TP VOL 03 TAKEOVER (N52) $16.99
OCT130211 GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #26 $2.99
OCT130185 HARLEY QUINN #1 $2.99
OCT130153 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #10 $2.99
OCT130204 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #26 $2.99
SEP130284 SHOWCASE PRESENTS STRANGE ADVENTURES TP VOL 02 $19.99
OCT130181 SUPERGIRL #26 $2.99
SEP130285 SUPERMAN VS MONGUL TP $14.99
OCT130263 TEEN TITANS GO #1 $2.99
SEP130274 TEEN TITANS TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY TO (N52) $14.99
OCT130139 TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #6 (EVIL) $2.99
OCT130256 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS 100 BULLETS #1 (MR) $1.00
OCT130281 WAKE PART ONE #1 (MR) $9.99
OCT130154 WONDER WOMAN #26 $2.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN130317 DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE $124.95
JUL130286 INFINITE CRISIS ARCANE GREEN LANTERN STATUE $124.95
JUN130306 INFINITE CRISIS ATOMIC WONDER WOMAN STATUE $124.95
SEP130329 JUSTICE LEAGUE SHAZAM AF $24.95
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 27 2013
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JUL130265 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 05 (MR) $49.99
SEP130255 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #7 $3.99
SEP130249 ALL STAR WESTERN #25 $3.99
SEP130189 AQUAMAN #25 $3.99
JUL130234 BATMAN & ROBIN HC VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $22.99
AUG130292 BATMAN & ROBIN TP VOL 02 PEARL (N52) $16.99
JUL130233 BATMAN INCORPORATED HC VOL 02 GOTHAMS MOST WANTED (N52) $24.99
AUG130293 BATMAN INCORPORATED VOL 01 DEMON STAR (N52) $16.99
SEP130236 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #25 $2.99
SEP130296 BEWARE THE BATMAN #2 $2.99
SEP130152 CATWOMAN #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130233 DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN #2 $3.99
SEP130157 FLASH #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130184 FOREVER EVIL ARGUS #2 $2.99
AUG130304 GREEN ARROW TP VOL 01 HUNTERS MOON $14.99
SEP130251 GREEN TEAM TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #6 $2.99
SEP130263 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #11 $3.99
AUG130307 JOKER CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME TP $16.99
SEP130178 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #25 (EVIL) $3.99
SEP130246 LARFLEEZE #5 $2.99
JUL130225 LOIS LANE A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
AUG130301 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS TP VOL 03 DEATH OF FAMILY (N52) $16.99
SEP130247 RED LANTERNS #25 $2.99
SEP130300 SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 SPECIAL EDITION (MR) $5.99
SEP130221 SUPERMAN #25 $2.99
JUL130224 SUPERMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
JUL130231 SUPERMAN HEL ON EARTH HC (N52) $29.99
SEP130240 TALON #13 $2.99
SEP130187 TEEN TITANS #25 (EVIL) $2.99
SEP130311 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #5 $2.99
SEP130289 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS Y THE LAST MAN #1 (MR) $1.00
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
OCT130311 BLACKEST NIGHT SINESTRO AS GREEN LANTERN BUST $24.95
JUL130280 DC COMICS THE NEW 52 SWAMP THING DELUXE AF $49.95
JUL130265 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 05 (MR) $49.99
SEP130255 ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #7 $3.99
SEP130249 ALL STAR WESTERN #25 $3.99
SEP130189 AQUAMAN #25 $3.99
JUL130234 BATMAN & ROBIN HC VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) $22.99
AUG130292 BATMAN & ROBIN TP VOL 02 PEARL (N52) $16.99
JUL130233 BATMAN INCORPORATED HC VOL 02 GOTHAMS MOST WANTED (N52) $24.99
AUG130293 BATMAN INCORPORATED VOL 01 DEMON STAR (N52) $16.99
SEP130236 BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #25 $2.99
SEP130296 BEWARE THE BATMAN #2 $2.99
SEP130152 CATWOMAN #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130233 DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN #2 $3.99
SEP130157 FLASH #25 (ZERO YEAR) $3.99
SEP130184 FOREVER EVIL ARGUS #2 $2.99
AUG130304 GREEN ARROW TP VOL 01 HUNTERS MOON $14.99
SEP130251 GREEN TEAM TEEN TRILLIONAIRES #6 $2.99
SEP130263 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #11 $3.99
AUG130307 JOKER CLOWN PRINCE OF CRIME TP $16.99
SEP130178 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #25 (EVIL) $3.99
SEP130246 LARFLEEZE #5 $2.99
JUL130225 LOIS LANE A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
AUG130301 RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS TP VOL 03 DEATH OF FAMILY (N52) $16.99
SEP130247 RED LANTERNS #25 $2.99
SEP130300 SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 SPECIAL EDITION (MR) $5.99
SEP130221 SUPERMAN #25 $2.99
JUL130224 SUPERMAN A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC $39.99
JUL130231 SUPERMAN HEL ON EARTH HC (N52) $29.99
SEP130240 TALON #13 $2.99
SEP130187 TEEN TITANS #25 (EVIL) $2.99
SEP130311 TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL #5 $2.99
SEP130289 VERTIGO ESSENTIALS Y THE LAST MAN #1 (MR) $1.00
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
OCT130311 BLACKEST NIGHT SINESTRO AS GREEN LANTERN BUST $24.95
JUL130280 DC COMICS THE NEW 52 SWAMP THING DELUXE AF $49.95
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
Batman Leads DC Comics in May 2013
Batman Continues to Be DC Entertainment’s Best-Selling Comic in May - as June Looks to Be All Things Superman
New digital and print publishing initiatives solidify DC Entertainment’s place as industry leader, innovator
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BATMAN #20 continued the popular comic book's three-month reign as the top-selling DC Entertainment periodical, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world.
The Batman story by the bestselling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo features the conclusion of the Dark Knight's two-part battle with the shape-shifting villain Clayface and serves as a prelude to June’s BATMAN #21 – the first part of “Zero Year,” the modern re-telling of Batman’s classic origin. Additionally, the month saw GREEN LANTERN #20, the critically-acclaimed conclusion of writer and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns’ epic nine-year run on the series, clock in as the top DC book in total dollars and the softcover graphic novel SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 as the top DC Entertainment collection in sales to comic shop retailers, according to Diamond.
In celebration of Superman’s 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment revealed plans befitting the most popular and enduring super hero of all time. The celebration kicks into high gear next Wednesday, June 12 with the launch of SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1, also from writer Snyder and legendary artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee.
Ahead of the theatrical release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Man of Steel” on June 14, DC Entertainment announced a partnership with comic book retailers, libraries and bookstores across America to declare Wednesday, June 12 “‘Man of Steel’ Day.” Fans visiting their local comic book retailers on “‘Man of Steel’ Day” will receive a free copy of an ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1 Special Edition comic book, one of the most acclaimed Superman stories ever by the award-winning and beloved creative team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.
“It’s a great time to be a fan of both Batman and Superman,” said Diane Nelson, President DC Entertainment. “The continued success of these iconic characters is further proof that DC Entertainment is the home to the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. For Superman’s 75th anniversary, we’re showcasing the character’s enduring greatness, from the first panel of ACTION COMICS #1 to next week’s SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1.”
This week also saw the company make two game-changing announcements in the areas of digital and print publishing. Earlier this week, Nelson and Lee unveiled DC2 and DC2 Multiverse — new digital innovations that will take comics to the next level of interactivity — at Time Warner’s “The Future of Storytelling” exhibition at the Time Warner Media Lab in New York. DC2 is a new feature that layers dynamic artwork onto digital comic panels, adding a new level of dimension to digital storytelling. DC2 Multiverse allows readers to determine a specific story outcome by selecting individual characters, storylines and plot developments while reading the comic, creating multiple options and end results for each digital comic chapter, leading the way in interactive comic book storytelling.
Additionally, plans were revealed for an epic month of September and beyond, as Lee and fellow Co-Publisher Dan DiDio announced that the company’s legendary villains would be taking over the entire publishing line as part of a month-long event aptly titled “Villains Month,” spearheaded by the seven-issue limited series FOREVER EVIL, from the powerhouse creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch, and spinning out of the conclusion of TRINITY WAR, a two-month crossover involving the three ongoing JUSTICE LEAGUE titles this summer. Each of the “DC Comics – The New 52” regular comic book series for September will focus on a key foe and answer the question: “What happens when the villains win?” Each “Villains Month” book will also feature a never-before-seen printing innovation: 3-D Motion covers. Featuring five layers of visual scenery and completely lenticular stock cover, the groundbreaking initiative creates an unparalleled sense of visual depth and brings to life the most beloved – and evil – characters in the DC Entertainment pantheon of characters. The 3-D Motion covers - paired with the universe-spanning saga that is FOREVER EVIL and “Villains Month” - give comic shop retailers and core fans of the company’s print business a great event with lasting value and an engaging story.
Vertigo kicked off the summer in fine form, with the launch of the horror-tinged THE WAKE, from Snyder and writer Sean Murphy in May and this week’s ASTRO CITY #1, from the classic creative team of writer Kurt Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist Alex Ross. The series leads a pack of notable debuts coming down the line for the genre-defying imprint, including this month’s 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #1 from the legendary team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso, July’s sci-fi adventure COLLIDER #1 by rising star writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez and renowned writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s TRILLIUM #1 in August. More Vertigo news – including details about Neil Gaiman’s much-anticipated return to the world of SANDMAN - will be announced throughout this year.
Just a few weeks ahead of the debut of the BEFORE WATCHMEN deluxe collections, digital sales of the classic WATCHMEN paperback increased in May during a two-week promotion with partner Kindle. This uptick was also seen in overall physical sales.
The New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller lists also featured a number of new additions from the DC Entertainment library, including DC Comics’ AQUAMAN VOL. 2: THE OTHERS, the second top-selling volume by JUSTICE LEAGUE’s dynamic creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artistic collaborators Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and THE AUTHORITY VOL. 1, from the iconic creative team of writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch.
MAD continues to bring humor to our lives daily on The Idiotical with parodies like “Drone Ranger” and “Obama and Christie: Jersey Shore BFFs.” And MAD Presents Superman #1, the Super Spectacular Summer issue featuring some of the most beloved Superman parodies and includes 7 new pages that put a uniquely MAD spin on the upcoming film, arrives in stores June 12.
The coming weeks will also see a refreshed and streamlined DC Entertainment website, featuring a homepage redesign, a more robust video section and enhanced, daily coverage and features of our products and news.
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
New digital and print publishing initiatives solidify DC Entertainment’s place as industry leader, innovator
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BATMAN #20 continued the popular comic book's three-month reign as the top-selling DC Entertainment periodical, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world.
The Batman story by the bestselling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo features the conclusion of the Dark Knight's two-part battle with the shape-shifting villain Clayface and serves as a prelude to June’s BATMAN #21 – the first part of “Zero Year,” the modern re-telling of Batman’s classic origin. Additionally, the month saw GREEN LANTERN #20, the critically-acclaimed conclusion of writer and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns’ epic nine-year run on the series, clock in as the top DC book in total dollars and the softcover graphic novel SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 as the top DC Entertainment collection in sales to comic shop retailers, according to Diamond.
In celebration of Superman’s 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment revealed plans befitting the most popular and enduring super hero of all time. The celebration kicks into high gear next Wednesday, June 12 with the launch of SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1, also from writer Snyder and legendary artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee.
Ahead of the theatrical release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Man of Steel” on June 14, DC Entertainment announced a partnership with comic book retailers, libraries and bookstores across America to declare Wednesday, June 12 “‘Man of Steel’ Day.” Fans visiting their local comic book retailers on “‘Man of Steel’ Day” will receive a free copy of an ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1 Special Edition comic book, one of the most acclaimed Superman stories ever by the award-winning and beloved creative team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.
“It’s a great time to be a fan of both Batman and Superman,” said Diane Nelson, President DC Entertainment. “The continued success of these iconic characters is further proof that DC Entertainment is the home to the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. For Superman’s 75th anniversary, we’re showcasing the character’s enduring greatness, from the first panel of ACTION COMICS #1 to next week’s SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1.”
This week also saw the company make two game-changing announcements in the areas of digital and print publishing. Earlier this week, Nelson and Lee unveiled DC2 and DC2 Multiverse — new digital innovations that will take comics to the next level of interactivity — at Time Warner’s “The Future of Storytelling” exhibition at the Time Warner Media Lab in New York. DC2 is a new feature that layers dynamic artwork onto digital comic panels, adding a new level of dimension to digital storytelling. DC2 Multiverse allows readers to determine a specific story outcome by selecting individual characters, storylines and plot developments while reading the comic, creating multiple options and end results for each digital comic chapter, leading the way in interactive comic book storytelling.
Additionally, plans were revealed for an epic month of September and beyond, as Lee and fellow Co-Publisher Dan DiDio announced that the company’s legendary villains would be taking over the entire publishing line as part of a month-long event aptly titled “Villains Month,” spearheaded by the seven-issue limited series FOREVER EVIL, from the powerhouse creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist David Finch, and spinning out of the conclusion of TRINITY WAR, a two-month crossover involving the three ongoing JUSTICE LEAGUE titles this summer. Each of the “DC Comics – The New 52” regular comic book series for September will focus on a key foe and answer the question: “What happens when the villains win?” Each “Villains Month” book will also feature a never-before-seen printing innovation: 3-D Motion covers. Featuring five layers of visual scenery and completely lenticular stock cover, the groundbreaking initiative creates an unparalleled sense of visual depth and brings to life the most beloved – and evil – characters in the DC Entertainment pantheon of characters. The 3-D Motion covers - paired with the universe-spanning saga that is FOREVER EVIL and “Villains Month” - give comic shop retailers and core fans of the company’s print business a great event with lasting value and an engaging story.
Vertigo kicked off the summer in fine form, with the launch of the horror-tinged THE WAKE, from Snyder and writer Sean Murphy in May and this week’s ASTRO CITY #1, from the classic creative team of writer Kurt Busiek, artist Brent Anderson and cover artist Alex Ross. The series leads a pack of notable debuts coming down the line for the genre-defying imprint, including this month’s 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO #1 from the legendary team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso, July’s sci-fi adventure COLLIDER #1 by rising star writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez and renowned writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s TRILLIUM #1 in August. More Vertigo news – including details about Neil Gaiman’s much-anticipated return to the world of SANDMAN - will be announced throughout this year.
Just a few weeks ahead of the debut of the BEFORE WATCHMEN deluxe collections, digital sales of the classic WATCHMEN paperback increased in May during a two-week promotion with partner Kindle. This uptick was also seen in overall physical sales.
The New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller lists also featured a number of new additions from the DC Entertainment library, including DC Comics’ AQUAMAN VOL. 2: THE OTHERS, the second top-selling volume by JUSTICE LEAGUE’s dynamic creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artistic collaborators Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and THE AUTHORITY VOL. 1, from the iconic creative team of writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch.
MAD continues to bring humor to our lives daily on The Idiotical with parodies like “Drone Ranger” and “Obama and Christie: Jersey Shore BFFs.” And MAD Presents Superman #1, the Super Spectacular Summer issue featuring some of the most beloved Superman parodies and includes 7 new pages that put a uniquely MAD spin on the upcoming film, arrives in stores June 12.
The coming weeks will also see a refreshed and streamlined DC Entertainment website, featuring a homepage redesign, a more robust video section and enhanced, daily coverage and features of our products and news.
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 10 2013
DC COMICS
DEC120363 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 04 (MR) $49.99
FEB130140 ACTION COMICS #19 COMBO PACK $4.99
FEB130162 BATGIRL #19 $2.99
FEB130151 BATMAN #19 $3.99
FEB130154 BATMAN #19 COMBO PACK $4.99
FEB130150 BATMAN AND RED ROBIN #19 $2.99
FEB130201 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #13 $3.99
DEC120324 BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 02 SCARE TACTICS (N52) $29.99
FEB130232 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #1 $2.99
FEB130179 CONSTANTINE #2 $2.99
FEB130192 DEATHSTROKE #19 $2.99
FEB130187 DEMON KNIGHTS #19 $2.99
NOV120295 DJANGO UNCHAINED #3 (MR) $4.99
JAN130310 FLASH CHRONICLES TP VOL 04 $14.99
FEB130173 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #19 (WRATH) $2.99
FEB130198 RAVAGERS #11 $2.99
FEB130249 SAUCER COUNTRY #14 (MR) $2.99
FEB130193 SUICIDE SQUAD #19 $2.99
FEB130143 SUPERBOY #19 $2.99
JAN130301 SWAMP THING TP VOL 02 FAMILY TREE (N52) $14.99
FEB130189 TEAM 7 #7 $2.99
FEB130190 THRESHOLD #4 $3.99
JAN130325 TINY TITANS TP VOL 08 AW YEAH TITANS $12.99
JAN130302 WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 01 LOST DAUGHTERS (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
FEB130259 AARDMAN BATMAN & ROBIN CLASSIC AF 2 PACK $39.95
DEC120363 100 BULLETS HC BOOK 04 (MR) $49.99
FEB130140 ACTION COMICS #19 COMBO PACK $4.99
FEB130162 BATGIRL #19 $2.99
FEB130151 BATMAN #19 $3.99
FEB130154 BATMAN #19 COMBO PACK $4.99
FEB130150 BATMAN AND RED ROBIN #19 $2.99
FEB130201 BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED #13 $3.99
DEC120324 BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 02 SCARE TACTICS (N52) $29.99
FEB130232 BATMAN LIL GOTHAM #1 $2.99
FEB130179 CONSTANTINE #2 $2.99
FEB130192 DEATHSTROKE #19 $2.99
FEB130187 DEMON KNIGHTS #19 $2.99
NOV120295 DJANGO UNCHAINED #3 (MR) $4.99
JAN130310 FLASH CHRONICLES TP VOL 04 $14.99
FEB130173 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #19 (WRATH) $2.99
FEB130198 RAVAGERS #11 $2.99
FEB130249 SAUCER COUNTRY #14 (MR) $2.99
FEB130193 SUICIDE SQUAD #19 $2.99
FEB130143 SUPERBOY #19 $2.99
JAN130301 SWAMP THING TP VOL 02 FAMILY TREE (N52) $14.99
FEB130189 TEAM 7 #7 $2.99
FEB130190 THRESHOLD #4 $3.99
JAN130325 TINY TITANS TP VOL 08 AW YEAH TITANS $12.99
JAN130302 WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 01 LOST DAUGHTERS (N52) $14.99
DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
FEB130259 AARDMAN BATMAN & ROBIN CLASSIC AF 2 PACK $39.95
Labels:
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Vertigo Review - SPACEMAN: The Deluxe Edition
SPACEMAN THE DELUXE EDITION
DC COMICS/VERTIGO – @vertigo_comics
WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Eduardo Risso
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill with Giula Brusco
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Dave Johnson (also series cover art)
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3552-9; hardcover
224pp, $24.99 U.S., $28.99 CAN
The comic book creative team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso is best known for the Eisner Award-winning comic book series, 100 Bullets, which was published from 1999 to 2009. The most recent Azzarello-Risso “collabo” is Spaceman, a nine-issue, science fiction comic book miniseries. Published by DC Comics’ imprint, Vertigo (also the home of 100 Bullets), Spaceman is set in a future in which the rising seas leave a significant portion of the planet a drowned world. In this time, an outcast tries to be a hero and finds fame a very dangerous thing.
Vertigo has collected all nine issues of Spaceman, plus a short story that appeared in Strange Adventures #1 (the 2011 Vertigo anthology one-shot) in the hardcover collection, Spaceman: The Deluxe Edition. The new book also includes sketches and preliminary art that Eduardo Risso executed for the series, and there are also samples of Risso’s final art for the series in pencil form.
Spaceman’s title character is Orson, a simian-like man. He was born as the result of the Spacemen program, NASA’s attempt to biogenetically engineer humans that could withstand space travel. Orson and his Spacemen “brudahs” (as he calls them) were born with expanded bone mass and flesh density so that they could withstand the zero gravity of prolonged space travel. Orson and a few of the Spacemen did travel in space, but once the public became aware of the program, the Spacemen were basically tossed aside.
Now, a hulking, lonely loser, Orson lives in “the Rises,” a Venice-like community of broken buildings still standing in areas flooded by seawater. Orson spends his days in a small boat, trawling for scrap metal and dreaming of a better life. Meanwhile, like the rest of the country, Orson finds entertainment in “realtee” (reality television shows), and the most popular one in the world is “The Ark.” This realtee focuses on wealthy couple, Marc and April, and the orphaned children who compete for a place in Marc and April’s adopted clan.
One of the children, Tara, a Filipino girl, is kidnapped. Fate brings Orson and Tara together, but money and fame bring together a coalition of self-serving factions, all vying to retrieve Tara. Suddenly, Orson’s need to save Tara has put his life in danger and also dug up a dark part of his past, which goes by the name of Carter.
Brian Azzarello has some good ideas in this series. Some may seem obvious, such as the notion that the Internet and hand-held devices will be the engines that drive television entertainment and not televisions and broadcast signals. Azzarello creates a future English language full of strange colloquialisms and slang. It is as if a Jamaican, a black kid from the streets, and Anthony Burgess formed a poetry-slam/rap trio. Spaceman is a richly conceived world, but I do question the series as a whole. In terms of the execution of this concept as script (or series of scripts), it is probably three issues too long, which hampers the overall narrative development. Spaceman is interesting, intriguing, and thoughtful, but somewhat flawed.
You can make an argument that the star in Spaceman is artist Eduardo Risso. Practically every page is a narrative painting, with panels imbedded in the pages like bejeweled drawings in a tapestry. Risso makes Azzarello’s gaggle of ideas practical as a graphical narrative. Suddenly, the theoretical and eccentric are actual, and the unique voice Azzarello designed is given full throat through Risso’s pencils and lush inking.
Of course, Spaceman: The Deluxe Edition is the best way to read this original science fiction vision. It is the best way to see this unique, but surprisingly possible future.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
DC COMICS/VERTIGO – @vertigo_comics
WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Eduardo Risso
COLORS: Patricia Mulvihill with Giula Brusco
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Dave Johnson (also series cover art)
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3552-9; hardcover
224pp, $24.99 U.S., $28.99 CAN
The comic book creative team of writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso is best known for the Eisner Award-winning comic book series, 100 Bullets, which was published from 1999 to 2009. The most recent Azzarello-Risso “collabo” is Spaceman, a nine-issue, science fiction comic book miniseries. Published by DC Comics’ imprint, Vertigo (also the home of 100 Bullets), Spaceman is set in a future in which the rising seas leave a significant portion of the planet a drowned world. In this time, an outcast tries to be a hero and finds fame a very dangerous thing.
Vertigo has collected all nine issues of Spaceman, plus a short story that appeared in Strange Adventures #1 (the 2011 Vertigo anthology one-shot) in the hardcover collection, Spaceman: The Deluxe Edition. The new book also includes sketches and preliminary art that Eduardo Risso executed for the series, and there are also samples of Risso’s final art for the series in pencil form.
Spaceman’s title character is Orson, a simian-like man. He was born as the result of the Spacemen program, NASA’s attempt to biogenetically engineer humans that could withstand space travel. Orson and his Spacemen “brudahs” (as he calls them) were born with expanded bone mass and flesh density so that they could withstand the zero gravity of prolonged space travel. Orson and a few of the Spacemen did travel in space, but once the public became aware of the program, the Spacemen were basically tossed aside.
Now, a hulking, lonely loser, Orson lives in “the Rises,” a Venice-like community of broken buildings still standing in areas flooded by seawater. Orson spends his days in a small boat, trawling for scrap metal and dreaming of a better life. Meanwhile, like the rest of the country, Orson finds entertainment in “realtee” (reality television shows), and the most popular one in the world is “The Ark.” This realtee focuses on wealthy couple, Marc and April, and the orphaned children who compete for a place in Marc and April’s adopted clan.
One of the children, Tara, a Filipino girl, is kidnapped. Fate brings Orson and Tara together, but money and fame bring together a coalition of self-serving factions, all vying to retrieve Tara. Suddenly, Orson’s need to save Tara has put his life in danger and also dug up a dark part of his past, which goes by the name of Carter.
Brian Azzarello has some good ideas in this series. Some may seem obvious, such as the notion that the Internet and hand-held devices will be the engines that drive television entertainment and not televisions and broadcast signals. Azzarello creates a future English language full of strange colloquialisms and slang. It is as if a Jamaican, a black kid from the streets, and Anthony Burgess formed a poetry-slam/rap trio. Spaceman is a richly conceived world, but I do question the series as a whole. In terms of the execution of this concept as script (or series of scripts), it is probably three issues too long, which hampers the overall narrative development. Spaceman is interesting, intriguing, and thoughtful, but somewhat flawed.
You can make an argument that the star in Spaceman is artist Eduardo Risso. Practically every page is a narrative painting, with panels imbedded in the pages like bejeweled drawings in a tapestry. Risso makes Azzarello’s gaggle of ideas practical as a graphical narrative. Suddenly, the theoretical and eccentric are actual, and the unique voice Azzarello designed is given full throat through Risso’s pencils and lush inking.
Of course, Spaceman: The Deluxe Edition is the best way to read this original science fiction vision. It is the best way to see this unique, but surprisingly possible future.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
Labels:
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
"Before Watchmen" - Watchmen Prequel Comic Books Announced
The following was taken from a DC Comics blog post written by David Hyde:
DC ENTERTAINMENT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES “BEFORE WATCHMEN”
This summer, DC Entertainment will publish all-new stories expanding on the acclaimed WATCHMEN universe. As highly anticipated as they are controversial, the seven inter-connected prequel mini-series will build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN, the bestselling graphic novel of all time. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be the collective banner for all seven titles, from DC Comics.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).
BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:
RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”
DC ENTERTAINMENT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES “BEFORE WATCHMEN”
This summer, DC Entertainment will publish all-new stories expanding on the acclaimed WATCHMEN universe. As highly anticipated as they are controversial, the seven inter-connected prequel mini-series will build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN, the bestselling graphic novel of all time. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be the collective banner for all seven titles, from DC Comics.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).
BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:
RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”
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Joe Kubert,
John Higgins,
Lee Bermejo,
Len Wein,
Watchmen
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The New 52 Review: WONDER WOMAN #1
WONDER WOMAN #1
DC COMICS
WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Cliff Chiang
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cliff Chiang
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.
Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman is perhaps the best known female superhero. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover date December 1941). Wonder Woman is a Princess of the Amazons (based upon the Amazons of Greek mythology) from Paradise Island, now known as Themyscira. Her powers include flight and super-strength, -speed, -stamina, and -agility, as well as being highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat.
With the exception of most of 1986, Wonder Woman has continuously appeared in her own comic book series for seven decades. As part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Wonder Woman returns in a new comic book series. Wonder Woman #1 (“The Visitation”) finds a young woman named Zola under assault by creatures from Greek mythology. Hermes sends her to Wonder Woman (she prefers “Diana’) for help, but Zola’s problems are bigger than anyone (on Earth) imagines.
The word here is “efficiency,” which results in one of the best of “The New 52.” As of this writing, I’d put it in the top three. Brian Azzarello’s story is smooth in its intensity with a script that moves the action through different locales as it brings together several characters and subplots into one might conspiracy.
It’s the same with the art by Cliff Chiang. The art captures the intensity of the story and its fast pace, but with solid composition and storytelling that belies the story’s anxious pace. Chiang’s Wonder Woman is a slim, athletic dynamo, and his figure drawing will make you believe that an Amazon is a real thing.
Wonder Woman is a comic book I want to read again.
A
DC COMICS
WRITER: Brian Azzarello
ARTIST: Cliff Chiang
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cliff Chiang
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.
Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman is perhaps the best known female superhero. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover date December 1941). Wonder Woman is a Princess of the Amazons (based upon the Amazons of Greek mythology) from Paradise Island, now known as Themyscira. Her powers include flight and super-strength, -speed, -stamina, and -agility, as well as being highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat.
With the exception of most of 1986, Wonder Woman has continuously appeared in her own comic book series for seven decades. As part of “The New 52,” DC Comics’ re-launch of its superhero line, Wonder Woman returns in a new comic book series. Wonder Woman #1 (“The Visitation”) finds a young woman named Zola under assault by creatures from Greek mythology. Hermes sends her to Wonder Woman (she prefers “Diana’) for help, but Zola’s problems are bigger than anyone (on Earth) imagines.
The word here is “efficiency,” which results in one of the best of “The New 52.” As of this writing, I’d put it in the top three. Brian Azzarello’s story is smooth in its intensity with a script that moves the action through different locales as it brings together several characters and subplots into one might conspiracy.
It’s the same with the art by Cliff Chiang. The art captures the intensity of the story and its fast pace, but with solid composition and storytelling that belies the story’s anxious pace. Chiang’s Wonder Woman is a slim, athletic dynamo, and his figure drawing will make you believe that an Amazon is a real thing.
Wonder Woman is a comic book I want to read again.
A
Labels:
Brian Azzarello,
Cliff Chiang,
DC Comics,
Matthew Wilson,
Review,
The New 52,
Wonder Woman
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