Showing posts with label Bryan Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bryan Hill. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: FALLEN ANGELS #1

FALLEN ANGELS #1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Bryan Hill
ART: Szymon Kudranski
COLORS: Frank D'Armata
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebulski”
COVER: Ashley Witter
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Gabriele Dell'Otto; Greg Land with Frank D'Armata; Pepe Larraz with David Curiel; Rob Liefeld with Romul Fajardo, Jr.; and Tom Muller
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; Fallen Angels created by Jo Duffy and Kerry Gammill

“Bushido”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963) introduced readers to a professor and his students who had unique powers and abilities because they were “mutants.”

One of the X-Men spin-off titles was Fallen Angels.  Created by writer Jo Duffy and artist Kerry Gammill, Fallen Angels was more accurately a spin-off of the X-Men spin-off, The New Mutants.  The Fallen Angels was a team that featured two New Mutants, Sunspot and Warlock, and Boom-Boom of X-Factor.  The team's only appearance was in the eight-issue miniseries, Fallen Angels (cover dated:  April to November 1987).

This past summer (2019), writer Jonathan Hickman revamped, rebooted, and re-imagined the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles.  The new series are Excalibur, Marauders, New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men, and the subject of this review, Fallen Angels.

Fallen Angels 2020 is written by Bryan Hill; drawn by Szymon Kudranski; colored by Frank D'Armata, and lettered by Joe Sabino.  Fallen Angels focuses on the outsiders of Krakoa, mutants who don't belong in paradise because of their anti-heroic pasts.

Fallen Angels #1 (“Bushido”) opens as Kwannon does something bad.  Meanwhile, on Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state, Psylocke is in a state of meditation, in this new world of “Mutantkind,” unsure of her place in it.  But she gets a warning, a demand that she face a new threat, a god named “Apoth,” and it seems as if Psylocke's past is starting to come back to her.  Seeking the aid of Mr. Sinister and gathering the mutant warriors, Cable and X-23, to her side, Psylocke begins her personal mission of revenge.

I have come across commentary on the inter-webs that Fallen Angels is the best of the first wave of “Dawn of X” titles.  I am sorely disappointed to say that I have practically nothing to say about it.  The first issue barely registers with me, which is surprising.  I am a fan of Bryan Hill's writing, and his potent, forceful storytelling always moves something in me.  I'll check in on Fallen Angels later, but I still think that fans of this new X-Men direction should check out at least the first issue of all six titles.  In the meantime, I don't have a grade for Fallen Angels #1.

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


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

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Monday, August 24, 2020

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 26, 2020

MARVEL COMICS

FEB200912    2020 FORCE WORKS #3 (OF 3)    $3.99
FEB200913    2020 FORCE WORKS #3 (OF 3) BROWN VAR    $3.99
APR200965    2020 IWOLVERINE #2 (OF 2)    $3.99
APR200966    2020 IWOLVERINE #2 (OF 2) JOHNSON VAR    $3.99
FEB201008    AERO #10    $3.99
APR200985    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #47    $3.99
APR200986    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #47 BAGLEY VAR    $3.99
JUN200665    ANT-MAN WORLD HIVE TP    $15.99
MAR201109    AVENGERS BY HICKMAN COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01    $34.99
MAR201050    DAREDEVIL ANNUAL #1    $4.99
MAR201051    DAREDEVIL ANNUAL #1 SHALVEY VAR    $4.99
APR201093    DAWN OF X TP VOL 07    $17.99
APR200871    EMPYRE AVENGERS #3 (OF 3)    $3.99
APR200872    EMPYRE AVENGERS #3 (OF 3) MEDINA VAR    $3.99
JUN200657    EMPYRE CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 (OF 3)    $3.99
JUN200658    EMPYRE CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 (OF 3) GUICE VAR    $3.99
FEB201052    FALLEN ANGELS BY BRYAN HILL TP VOL 01    $17.99
JUN200659    FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #1 (OF 4)    $4.99
JUN200662    FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #1 (OF 4) ART ADAMS VAR    $4.99
JUN200663    FANTASTIC FOUR ANTITHESIS #1 (OF 4) MCGUINNESS VAR    $4.99
MAR200929    GHOST-SPIDER #10    $3.99
MAR200897    HELLIONS #3    $3.99
JUN200667    HOUSE OF X POWERS OF X TP    $44.99
JUN208566    IMMORTAL HULK #35 2ND PTG ALEX ROSS VAR    $3.99
APR200967    IRON MAN 2020 #6 (OF 6)    $4.99
APR200969    IRON MAN 2020 #6 (OF 6) BIANCHI CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
APR200970    IRON MAN 2020 #6 (OF 6) RON LIM VAR    $4.99
APR200971    IRON MAN 2020 #6 (OF 6) SUPERLOG HEADS VAR    $4.99
JUN200672    IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP FURY OF FIREBRAND    $39.99
APR201116    MARVEL COMICS TP WORLD OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW    $34.99
JUL200002    MARVEL PREVIEWS VOL 05 #3 SEPTEMBER 2020 EXTRAS    $1.25
MAR200982    SPIDER-MAN NOIR #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR201068    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #3    $3.99
NOV190951    STERANKO IS REVOLUTIONARY KING-SIZE HC    $125.00
JUN208567    STRANGE ACADEMY #1 3RD PTG RAMOS VAR    $4.99
APR201100    THE END TP    $24.99
JUN208568    THOR #2 4TH PTG NIC KLEIN VAR    $3.99
MAR200893    X-FACTOR #2    $3.99
MAR200872    X-MEN #11 EMP    $3.99
MAR200873    X-MEN #11 KUBERT EMPYRE VAR EMP    $3.99
APR201110    X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP PROTEUS    $39.99
MAR200885    X-MEN GOD LOVES MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT #2 (OF 2)    $4.99
MAR200886    X-MEN GOD LOVES MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT #2 (OF 2) ANDERSON VA    $4.99

Monday, November 18, 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 20, 2019

IMAGE COMICS
AUG190172    CROWDED #10 CVR A STEIN BRANDT & FARRELL    $3.99
AUG190173    CROWDED #10 CVR B STERLE    $3.99
SEP190057    EXCELLENCE TP VOL 01    $16.99
SEP190187    FARMHAND #11 (MR)    $3.99
SEP190037    HEART ATTACK #1 (MR)    $3.99
AUG190190    ICE CREAM MAN #16 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
AUG190191    ICE CREAM MAN #16 CVR B RAE (MR)    $3.99
AUG190076    KILL OR BE KILLED DLX ED HC (MR)    $49.99
AUG190079    LITTLE BIRD FIGHT FOR ELDERS HOPE HC (MR)    $29.99
SEP198325    MARKED #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
SEP190201    MARKED #2 CVR A HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
SEP190202    MARKED #2 CVR B HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
SEP190108    MIDDLEWEST TP BOOK 02 (MR)    $16.99
SEP190047    OLYMPIA #1 (OF 5) CVR A DIOTTO & CUNNIFFE    $3.99
SEP190048    OLYMPIA #1 (OF 5) CVR B WARD    $3.99
SEP190207    OUTER DARKNESS #12 (MR)    $3.99
SEP190073    POSTAL DELIVERANCE TP VOL 01 (MR)    $14.99
SEP190210    PRETTY VIOLENT #4 (MR)    $3.99
SEP190213    SFSX SAFE SEX #3 (MR)    $3.99
AUG190225    WEATHERMAN VOL 2 #5 CVR A FOX (MR)    $3.99
AUG190226    WEATHERMAN VOL 2 #5 CVR B ROBINSON (MR)    $3.99
AUG198093    WEATHERMAN VOL 2 #5 CVR C JOHNSON (MR)    $3.99

Monday, October 7, 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 9, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

AUG190167    BATTLEPUG #2 CVR A NORTON & PASSALAQUA    $3.99
AUG190168    BATTLEPUG #2 CVR B FLEECS    $3.99
JUL190100    CAMP MIDNIGHT GN VOL 02    $16.99
AUG190170    COFFIN BOUND #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUL190125    EAST OF WEST #43 (RES)    $3.99
JUL190132    ICE CREAM MAN #15 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
JUL190133    ICE CREAM MAN #15 CVR B HORVATH (MR)    $3.99
AUG190196    OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #20 (MR)    $3.99
FEB190171    OLIVER #4    $3.99
AUG190197    OUTER DARKNESS #11 (MR)    $3.99
AUG190199    POSTAL DELIVERANCE #4 (MR)    $3.99
AUG190200    PRETTY DEADLY RAT #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
AUG190203    REAVER #4 (MR)    $3.99
AUG190110    RED HOOK TP VOL 02 WAR CRY (MR)    $17.99
JUL190148    REDNECK #24 (MR)    $3.99
JUL199181    SEA OF STARS #2 2ND PTG    $3.99
AUG190213    SONATA #5 CVR A HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
AUG190214    SONATA #5 CVR B HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)    $3.99
JUL190084    SPAWN #301 CVR A MCFARLANE    $4.99
JUL190085    SPAWN #301 CVR B CAPULLO    $4.99
JUL190086    SPAWN #301 CVR C VIRGIN CAPULLO    $4.99
JUL190087    SPAWN #301 CVR D ALEXANDER    $4.99
JUL190088    SPAWN #301 CVR E CRAIN    $4.99
JUL190089    SPAWN #301 CVR F OPENA    $4.99
JUL190090    SPAWN #301 CVR G VIRGIN MATTINA    $4.99
JUL190091    SPAWN #301 CVR H PARODY MCFARLANE    $4.99
JUL190092    SPAWN #301 CVR I B&W MCFARLANE    $4.99
JUL198671    SPAWN #301 CVR K ROSS    $4.99
JUL198672    SPAWN #301 CVR L VIRGIN ROSS    $4.99
JUL198673    SPAWN #301 CVR M SIENKIEWICZ    $4.99
JUL198674    SPAWN #301 CVR N VIRGIN SIENKIEWICZ    $4.99
JUL198675    SPAWN #301 CVR O CAMPBELL    $4.99
JUL198676    SPAWN #301 CVR P VIRGIN CAMPBELL    $4.99
JUL198708    SPAWN #301 CVR Q BLANK SKETCH CVR    $4.99
AUG190062    THOUGHT BUBBLE ANTHOLOGY 2019    $3.99
AUG190221    THUMBS #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $4.99
AUG190223    UNEARTH #4 CVR A RIVAS (MR)    $3.99
AUG190224    UNEARTH #4 CVR B STRAHM (MR)    $3.99

Monday, September 23, 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 25, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

JUL190096    BATTLE CHASERS ANTHOLOGY TP    $24.99
MAY190034    BLACK SCIENCE #43 CVR A SCALERA (MR)    $3.99
MAY190035    BLACK SCIENCE #43 CVR B ROBINSON (MR)    $3.99
JUN198802    BLACK SCIENCE #43 CVR C SCALERA & DINISIO (MR)    $3.99
JUL190118    CRIMINAL #8 (MR)    $3.99
JUN190035    CYBER FORCE AWAKENING TP VOL 03 (MR)    $16.99
JUL190081    DEADLY CLASS #40 CVR A CRAIG (MR)    $3.99
JUL190082    DEADLY CLASS #40 CVR B HARREN (MR)    $3.99
APR190137    EVOLUTION #18 (MR)    $3.99
JUL190105    MONSTRESS TP VOL 04 (MR)    $16.99
JUL190107    PAPER GIRLS TP VOL 06    $14.99
JUL198335    PRETTY VIOLENT #1 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
JUL190145    PRETTY VIOLENT #2 (MR)    $3.99
JUL190149    RIDE BURNING DESIRE #4 (OF 5) CVR A COKER (MR)    $3.99
JUL190150    RIDE BURNING DESIRE #4 (OF 5) CVR B HILLYARD (MR)    $3.99
JUL190177    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S LG    $30.00
JUL190176    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S MED    $30.00
JUL190175    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S SM    $30.00
JUL190178    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S XL    $30.00
JUL190179    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S XXL    $33.00
JUL190180    SAGA ALANA BUBBLEGUM T/S XXXL    $33.00
JUL190078    SFSX SAFE SEX #1 (MR)    $3.99
JUL198362    WHITE TREES #1 (OF 2) 2ND PTG (MR)    $4.99
JUL190173    WHITE TREES #2 (OF 2) (MR)    $4.99

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Review: BLACK LIGHTNING/HONG KONG PHOOEY Special #1

BLACK LIGHTNING/HONG KONG PHOOEY SPECIAL No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Bryan Hill
PENCILS: Denys Cowan
INKS: Bill Sienkiewicz
COLORS: Jeromy Cox
LETTERS: Janice Chiang
EDITOR: Jim Chadwick
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Jeromy Cox
VARIANT COVER: Chris Cross with Gabe Eltaeb
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2018)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Black Lightning created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden

“Revenge of the God Fist”

Black Lightning is a DC Comics superhero.  Created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Trevor Von Eeden, the character first appeared in the comic book, Black Lightning #1 (cover dated:  April 1977).  Black Lightning is the civilian, Jefferson Pierce, an African-American school teacher who originally obtains electrical or lightning-based power via technology.  [His origin has since been changed.]  Black Lightning was DC Comics third African-American character, and the first one to star in his own comic book series.

“Hong Kong Phooey” was a half-hour, Saturday morning animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. It was broadcast on ABC from September 7, 1974, to December 21, 1974.  The main character was Hong Kong Phooey, an anthropomorphic dog character who fought crime as a martial-arts hero.  He had a secret identity, a clumsy and mild-mannered janitor named Penrod “Henry” Pooch also known as “Penry.”  Hong Kong Phooey and Penry had a pet/sidekick, a striped cat named “Spot,” who was sly and talented.

DC Comics has been re-imagining Hanna-Barbera characters in ongoing comic book series, miniseries, and one-shots and specials since early 2016.  Black Lightning and a re-imagined Hong Kong Phooey are united in the one-shot comic book, Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special.  It is written by Bryan Hill; drawn by Denys Cowan (pencils) and Bill Sienkiewicz (inks); colored by Jeromy Cox; and lettered by Janice Chiang.

Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special #1 (“Revenge of the God Fist”) opens in Metropolis in the year 1976.  Here, we find Black Lightning getting beaten up by the supervillain team-up of Professor Presto, Bronze Tiger, and Cheshire.  [Professor Preston a.k.a. “The Malevolent Magician” was a villain that appeared in the original “Hong Kong Phooey” TV series.]

Later, Black Lightning's civilian alter-ego, Jefferson Pierce, is summoned by an old acquaintance, Penry.  When he returned from Vietnam, Penry, the kung fu master who is an anthropomorphic dog, opened his own inner city detective agency.  Penry tells Jefferson a tale of the darkest kind of “wushu magic.”  Generations ago, a monk bound a demon and forced it to teach him the most powerful wushu technique, “the Way of the God Fist” (or “God Fist” for short).  Although he realized how dangerous the God Fist was, the monk did not want it to die with him.  So he made a scroll with the secrets of the God Fist written on it, and he divided that scroll into three sections.  Penry inherited one third of the scroll.

Presto wants to revive the scroll and already has two sections of it, and now, he makes his move against Penry.  Bronze Tiger and Cheshire even attack Rosemary, a friend of Penry's who teaches kung fu.  [Rosemary was a character and friend of Penry in the original animated series.]  Now, Penry leads Black Lightning and Rosemary in a bid to stop Presto from gaining the God Fist and using it to destroy the world.

I have enjoyed some of DC Comics re-imaginings of classic characters from Hanna-Barber animated TV series from the period of the late 1950s to the 1970s.  I really like this re-imagining of “Hong Kong Phooey” via Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special #1.  I credit some of the success of this comic book to writer Bryan Edward Hill.  I enjoyed his standalone Miles Morales' Spider-Man Annual #1 (2016).  [In fact, I was shocked how much I liked it.]

It is not so much that Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special #1 features a great story as it is that the story is inventively conceived and executed.  I would go so far as to say that this comic book presents the groundwork for what could be a cool Black Lightning comic book miniseries or series, written by Bryan Edward Hill, of course.

I am also a big fan of both pencil artist Denys Cowan and inker Bill Seinkiewicz.  Separately, Cowan and Seinkiewicz are great artists; together, they make a cool art team.  I like the gritty style they have concocted for this story, which is the perfect visual mood for this 1970s-era kung fu tale.  Colorist Jeromy Cox brings some needed brightness to this story, and veteran letterer, Janice Chiang, perfectly paces this story with her smallish lettering and balloons that somehow make an impact without being obtrusive and showy.

BACKUP STORY:  The Funky Phantom in “Spectre of the Gun”

STORY: Jeff Parker
ART: Scott Kolins
COLORS: Tony Avina
LETTERS: Janice Chiang
EDITOR: Jim Chadwick

The Funky Phantom was a Saturday morning cartoon that was televised on ABC from September 1971 to September 1972.  Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, this “Scooby-Doo” knock-off featured three teenagers and their dog who solved mystery with a ghost and his cat.  The ghost was an American patriot named Jonathan Wellington "Mudsy" Muddlemore who died inside a grandfather clock where he was trapped during the American Revolutionary War.

Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special #1 contains a backup story, “Spectre of the Gun,” a re-imagining of “The Funky Phantom.”  Written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Scott Kolins, this story only uses Jonathan Muddlemore.  The story opens at some kind of gun rights slash Second Amendment rally.  The grandfather clock containing Muddlemore's skeleton is on stage, and Jason Blood (also known as “The Demon”), summons Mudsy's spirit from the skeleton.  So how will this former American rebel, soldier, and patriot react to this new world of modern gun rights?  Hilarity ensues.

There is nothing special about Kolins art or Tony Avina's coloring of it.  Even Janice Chiang's lettering does not stand out.  None of it is bad work; it just is not particularly special.

However, Jeff Parker's story is an excellent bit of satire, and I must commend Parker for the intensity in which he skewers gun rights extremists.  His disdain for people who insist that the United States Constitution grants them the right to posses military-style weapons is also admirable and brave.  Among comic book fandom is a strain of reactionary and right-wing extremism, sexism, and racism that has been vocal enough to scare some comic book creators and to even get a few creators dismissed from assignments (Chuck Wendig, to name one).

I am a fan of Jeff Parker and have immensely enjoyed quite a bit of his work.  “Spectre of the Gun” is the cherry on top of Black Lightning/Hong Kong Phooey Special #1's chocolate, kung fu ice cream sundae.  I wish DC Comics could serve up another sundae of this type.

9 out of 10

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


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

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Monday, July 1, 2019

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 3, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

MAY190051    ANALOG #6 CVR A O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY190052    ANALOG #6 CVR B O SULLIVAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY190057    BIRTHRIGHT #37    $3.99
MAY190059    CROWDED #7 CVR A STEIN BRANDT & FARRELL    $3.99
MAY190060    CROWDED #7 CVR B EPSTEIN    $3.99
MAY190048    GASOLINA TP VOL 03 (MR)    $16.99
MAY190083    MAN-EATERS #10 CVR A MITERNIQUE    $3.99
MAY190084    MAN-EATERS #10 CVR B MITERNIQUE    $3.99
APR190054    MONSTRESS HC VOL 01 (MR)    $49.99
MAY190038    POSTAL DELIVERANCE #1 CVR A SEJIC (MR)    $3.99
MAY190039    POSTAL DELIVERANCE #1 CVR B IENCO (MR)    $3.99
MAY190023    SEA OF STARS #1 CVR A GREEN    $3.99
MAY190024    SEA OF STARS #1 CVR B MIGNOLA    $3.99
MAY190099    SECTION ZERO #4 (OF 6) CVR A GRUMMETT & KESEL    $3.99
MAY190100    SECTION ZERO #4 (OF 6) CVR B DODSON    $3.99
MAY190101    SECTION ZERO #4 (OF 6) CVR C CALDWELL    $3.99
MAY190028    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR A SCALERA (MR)    $3.99
MAY190029    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR B SCALERA (MR)    $3.99
MAY190030    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR C LEGENDS VAR CHAYKIN  (MR)    $0.75
MAY190031    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR D HITCH (MR)    $3.99
MAY190032    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR E PICHELLI (MR)    $3.99
MAY190033    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR F BLANK VAR (MR)    $3.99
APR198796    SPACE BANDITS #1 (OF 5) CVR G CHAREST (MR)    $3.99
APR198093    THUMBS #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG (MR)    $4.99
MAY190108    THUMBS #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $4.99
APR198094    WALKING DEAD #192 SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ED    $3.99
MAY190111    WALKING DEAD #193 (MR)    $3.99

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Review: KILLMONGER #1

KILLMONGER No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Bryan Hill
ART: Juan Ferreyra
COLORS: Juan Ferreyra
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Wil Moss
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Juan Ferreyra
VARIANT COVERS: Jason Pearson; Larry Stroman and Mark Morales with Jason Keith
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2019)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; Killmonger created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler

Parental Advisory

“By Any Means” Part One of Five

Erik Killmonger is a Marvel Comics supervillian and an enemy of Marvel's Black Panther.  Born N'Jadaka, the son of N'Jobu, Killmonger was created by writer Don McGregor and artist Rich Buckler and first appeared in Jungle Action (Vol. 2) #6 (cover dated:  September 1973).  Killmonger, with an altered origin story, appeared in Marvel Studios film, Black Panther (2018), and was portrayed by actor Michael B. Jordan.

Killmonger is the star of his first comic book series, a five-issue miniseries also entitled Killmonger.  It is written by Bryan Hill; drawn and colored by Juan Ferreyra; and lettered by Joe Sabino.  The series will explore how and why Killmonger dedicated his life to revenge.

Killmonger #1 begins with an overview of the epic battle between Erik Killmonger and Black Panther/T'Challa (presumably the one depicted in the Black Panther film).  The series then moves to the past, on the day that N'Jadaka leaves the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and spurns all the many incredible job offers he has received.  Instead, N'Jadaka heads to New York City to kill Ulysses Klaue a.k.a. “Klaw.”  However, his plans go awry, and he meets the NYC crime boss who may change the course of his life... if Killmonger lets that happen!

I am somewhat intrigued by this Killmonger miniseries.  I like Bryan Hill's story, and Juan Ferreyra's illustrations have a painterly quality that plays up Hill's story with its atmosphere of tragedy and tragic destiny.  However, I must say that I feel as if Killmonger is the Black Panther-related title that I don't have to have.

Killmonger is nice, but I am not passionate about it the way I was about Black Panther spin-off titles like Black Panther: World of Wakanda and Black Panther and the Crew.  I can and will recommend Killmonger to Black Panther completists, even if I don't immediately claw my way back to it.

6 out of 10

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


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

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Monday, May 6, 2019

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2019

DC COMICS

FEB190557    ASTRO CITY AFTERMATHS HC    $24.99
MAR190467    BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1 (RES)    $3.99
MAR190469    BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1 BLANK VAR ED (RES)    $3.99
MAR190468    BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1 VAR ED (RES)    $3.99
OCT180627    BATMAN ANIMATED GRAY GHOST AF    $28.00
OCT180628    BATMAN ANIMATED HARDAC AF    $28.00
OCT180629    BATMAN ANIMATED SCARECROW AF    $28.00
OCT180630    BATMAN ANIMATED TWO FACE AF    $28.00
MAR190495    BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #5 (OF 6)    $4.99
MAR190496    BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #5 (OF 6) VAR ED    $4.99
MAR190498    CATWOMAN #11    $3.99
MAR190499    CATWOMAN #11 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180562    CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS COMPANION DLX HC VOL 02    $75.00
MAR198244    DETECTIVE COMICS #1001 2ND PTG    $3.99
MAR190501    DETECTIVE COMICS #1003    $3.99
MAR190502    DETECTIVE COMICS #1003 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR198246    DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8 (OF 12) 2ND PTG    $4.99
MAR190510    FLASH #70    $3.99
MAR190511    FLASH #70 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR190521    HAWKMAN #12    $3.99
MAR190522    HAWKMAN #12 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR190524    HOUSE OF WHISPERS #9 (MR)    $3.99
MAR190531    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #9    $3.99
MAR190532    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #9 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190589    JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 GRAVEYARD OF GODS    $19.99
MAR198245    NAOMI #4 2ND PTG    $3.99
FEB190570    PEARL TP VOL 01 (MR)    $16.99
MAR190543    RED HOOD OUTLAW #34    $3.99
MAR190544    RED HOOD OUTLAW #34 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190532    SHAZAM #5    $3.99
FEB190533    SHAZAM #5 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB190468    SIX DAYS INCREDIBLE STORY OF D DAYS LOST CHAPTER HC    $24.99
MAR190549    SUPERGIRL #30    $3.99
MAR190550    SUPERGIRL #30 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR190560    WONDER TWINS #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR190561    WONDER TWINS #4 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
MAR190556    WONDER WOMAN #70    $3.99
MAR190557    WONDER WOMAN #70 VAR ED    $3.99

Monday, April 29, 2019

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 1, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

MAR190940    AGE OF X-MAN PRISONER X #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB198469    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 2ND PTG RAMOS VAR    $3.99
MAR190830    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20.HU    $3.99
FEB190997    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY NICK SPENCER TP VOL 03    $15.99
FEB190993    ART OF WAR OF REALMS TP    $34.99
FEB198470    AVENGERS NO ROAD HOME #7 (OF 10) 2ND PTG MEDINA VAR    $3.99
FEB190990    BLACK PANTHER KILLMONGER TP BY ANY MEANS    $15.99
MAR190824    CHAMPIONS #5 MAXX LIM MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR WR    $3.99
MAR190823    CHAMPIONS #5 WR    $3.99
MAR190886    COSMIC GHOST RIDER DESTROYS MARVEL HISTORY #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR190887    COSMIC GHOST RIDER DESTROYS MARVEL HISTORY #3 (OF 6) SHALVEY    $3.99
MAR190941    DEAD MAN LOGAN #7 (OF 12)    $3.99
MAR190947    DEADPOOL #12    $3.99
FEB190996    DOCTOR STRANGE BY MARK WAID TP VOL 02 REMITTANCE    $17.99
MAR190946    DOMINO HOTSHOTS #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB191004    GAMBIT KING THIEVES COMPLETE COLLECTION TP    $34.99
FEB198517    MAJOR X #1 (OF 6) 2ND PTG LIEFELD VAR    $4.99
MAR190931    MAJOR X #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB190991    MAN WITHOUT FEAR TP DEATH OF DAREDEVIL    $15.99
MAR190842    MARVEL TALES AVENGERS #1    $7.99
MAR190919    MARVEL TEAM-UP #2    $3.99
MAR190883    MEET THE SKRULLS #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
FEB191006    MS MARVEL EPIC COLLECTION TP WOMAN WHO FELL TO EARTH    $34.99
MAR190909    PUNISHER #11    $3.99
MAR190910    PUNISHER #11 MAXX LIM MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR    $3.99
MAR190757    SAVAGE AVENGERS #1    $4.99
MAR190758    SAVAGE AVENGERS #1 DEODATO TEASER VAR    $4.99
MAR190879    SPIDER-GWEN GHOST SPIDER #8    $3.99
MAR190880    SPIDER-GWEN GHOST SPIDER #8 NEXON MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR    $3.99
MAR190958    STAR WARS #65    $3.99
MAR190967    STAR WARS AOR HAN SOLO #1    $3.99
MAR190969    STAR WARS AOR HAN SOLO #1 CONCEPT VAR    $3.99
MAR190971    STAR WARS AOR HAN SOLO #1 PAREL HEROES VAR    $3.99
FEB198143    STAR WARS MAY THE 4TH PREVIEWS (BUNDLE OF 25)    $PI
MAR190849    TRUE BELIEVERS AVENGERS ORIGIN OF MANTIS #1    $1.00
MAR190850    TRUE BELIEVERS HULK WEDDING OF RICK JONES #1    $1.00
MAR190956    TRUE BELIEVERS STAR WARS DARTH MAUL #1    $1.00
MAR190954    TRUE BELIEVERS STAR WARS EWOKS #1    $1.00
MAR190957    TRUE BELIEVERS STAR WARS REBEL JAIL #1    $1.00
MAR190955    TRUE BELIEVERS STAR WARS THRAWN #1    $1.00
MAR190933    UNCANNY X-MEN #17    $3.99
JAN199156    WAR OF REALMS #2 (OF 6) 2ND PTG FERREYRA VAR    $4.99
MAR190767    WAR OF REALMS #3 (OF 6) CAMUNCOLI CONNECTING REALM VAR    $4.99
MAR190768    WAR OF REALMS #3 (OF 6) CHECCHETTO YOUNG GUNS VAR WR    $4.99
MAR190771    WAR OF REALMS #3 (OF 6) HEEJIN JEON MARVEL BATTLE LINES VAR    $4.99
MAR190769    WAR OF REALMS #3 (OF 6) IZAAKSE INTERNATIONAL VAR WR    $4.99
MAR190765    WAR OF REALMS #3 (OF 6) WR    $4.99
MAR190781    WAR OF REALMS STRIKEFORCE DARK ELF REALM #1 REIS VAR WR    $4.99
MAR190780    WAR OF REALMS STRIKEFORCE DARK ELF REALM #1 WR    $4.99

Monday, December 31, 2018

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 2, 2019

DC COMICS

NOV180390    ACTION COMICS #1006    $3.99
NOV180391    ACTION COMICS #1006 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180398    BATGIRL #30    $3.99
NOV180399    BATGIRL #30 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180406    BATMAN BEYOND #27    $3.99
NOV180407    BATMAN BEYOND #27 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180554    BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS TP BOOK 02    $24.99
SEP180552    BATMAN PRODIGAL TP NEW ED    $24.99
SEP180557    BATMAN SHADOW THE MURDER GENIUSES TP    $16.99
NOV180416    BOOKS OF MAGIC #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180568    DARK DAYS ROAD TO METAL TP    $19.99
NOV180428    DETECTIVE COMICS #995    $3.99
NOV180429    DETECTIVE COMICS #995 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180438    FLASH #61    $3.99
NOV180439    FLASH #61 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180583    HAL JORDAN & THE GLC TP VOL 07 DARKSTARS RISING    $19.99
NOV180457    HEROES IN CRISIS #4 (OF 9)    $3.99
NOV180458    HEROES IN CRISIS #4 (OF 9) VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180461    HEX WIVES #3 (MR)    $3.99
JUN180578    HOUSE OF MYSTERY THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $99.99
NOV180464    INJUSTICE VS THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
SEP180590    JINX TP NEW ED (MR)    $29.99
NOV180472    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #4    $3.99
NOV180473    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #4 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180453    OLD LADY HARLEY #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
SEP180600    POWERS TP BOOK 02 NEW ED (MR)    $29.99
NOV180484    RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #11 (OF 12)    $3.99
NOV180488    SCARLET #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
NOV180491    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #45    $2.99
NOV180494    SILENCER #12    $2.99
OCT180612    SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE DELUXE ED HC    $29.99
OCT180615    SWEET TOOTH TP BOOK 03 (MR)    $24.99
NOV180507    TERRIFICS #11    $2.99
NOV180509    TITANS #32    $3.99
NOV180510    TITANS #32 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180619    WILDSTORM MICHAEL CRAY TP VOL 02    $16.99
NOV180517    WONDER WOMAN #61    $3.99
NOV180518    WONDER WOMAN #61 VAR ED    $3.99

Friday, November 23, 2018

Review: CYBER FORCE #1

CYBER FORCE No. 1 (2018)
IMAGE COMICS/Top Cow Productions – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Matt Hawkins & Bryan Hill
ART: Atilio Rojo
COLORS: Atilio Rojo
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
COVER: Marc Silvestri
VARIANT COVER: Atilio Rojo
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2018)

Rated M/Mature

Cyber Force created by Marc Silvestri

Cyberforce was one of the Image Comics debut titles, and it was created by one of Image Comic' founding members, Marc SilvestriCyberforce #1 (cover dated:  October 1992) was the first issue of a four-issue miniseries that 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.  Cyberforce returned in a six-issue miniseries in 2006 and made two more returns, in 2012 and 2015.

The series returns in a new reboot, entitled Cyber Force.  It is written by Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill; drawn and colored by Atilio Fojo; and lettered by Troy Peteri.

Cyber Force #1 opens in a modern world defined by the technology that humanity has created.  Now, a super-powered terrorist calling herself(?) “the Savior of Worlds” or simply “the Savior” strikes at the heart of that human technological progress.  One of the few survivors of this terrorist's attacks is a man named Morgan Stryker.  Mortally wounded, Stryker can be saved, but at the cost of his humanity.  Now, his daughter, Carin, will have to make that decision for both her father and for herself.

I ignored the 2006 and 2012 returns of Cyberforce/Cyber Force, and I didn't even know about an apparent 2015 digital-only version.  Still, I decided to try this new Cyber Force #1; something said that this could be good, and once upon a fan boy dreary, I was a fan of Cyberforce.

Well, the new Cyber Force is indeed quite good.

Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill's story is intriguing, and I am a fan of Hill from The Wildstorm: Michael Cray, currently from DC Comics.  I think the big draw in this new series is illustrator and colorist, Atilio Rojo.  Rojo's compositions are exciting and imaginative, with panels displaying a variety of angles and drawing perspectives.  The colors are vibrant and sell the idea that this series is set in a near-future world of trans-humanism and constantly emerging technology.  Troy Peteri's lettering matches nicely with Rojo's vivacious storytelling.

Cyber Force looks to be a nice mix of the old Cyberforce and the new, with an emphasis on the new.  The original series concept offered the promise of being new and exciting, and it mostly did not deliver.  For some reason, I feel that this Cyber Force is more likely to pay off on the original's promise of being dark, edgy, and futuristic.  I really want that to be true.

[This issue contains the following:

– a five-page preview of Aphrodite V by Bryan Hill and Jeff Spokes.  This

– an interview of Matt Hawkins, Bryan Hill, and Atilio Rojo conducted by Brittany Matter.]

8.5 out of 10

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


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

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


Monday, November 19, 2018

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 21, 2018

DC COMICS

SEP180422    AMERICAN CARNAGE #1 (MR)    $3.99
SEP180423    AMERICAN CARNAGE #1 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
SEP180416    AQUAMAN #42 (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
SEP180417    AQUAMAN #42 VAR ED (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
AUG180587    AQUAMAN WAR FOR THE THRONE TP NEW ED    $12.99
SEP180452    BATMAN #59    $3.99
SEP180453    BATMAN #59 VAR ED    $3.99
MAY180609    BATMAN BLACK & WHITE THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS STATUE    $80.00
AUG180603    BATMAN BY MANAPUL AND BUCCELLATO DLX ED HC    $39.99
AUG180600    BATMAN KNIGHTQUEST THE SEARCH TP    $19.99
AUG180608    BRAVE AND THE BOLD BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN HC    $24.99
SEP180461    COVER #3 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
SEP180462    COVER #3 (OF 6) VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
SEP180464    DAMAGE #11    $2.99
SEP180482    HARLEY QUINN #54    $3.99
SEP180483    HARLEY QUINN #54 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG180625    HARLEY QUINN BY KESEL & DODSON DLX ED HC VOL 02    $29.99
AUG180627    HARLEYS LITTLE BLACK BOOK TP    $24.99
SEP180489    INJUSTICE 2 ANNUAL #2    $4.99
SEP180418    JUSTICE LEAGUE #12 (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
SEP180419    JUSTICE LEAGUE #12 VAR ED (DROWNED EARTH)    $3.99
SEP180491    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #5    $3.99
SEP180492    JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #5 VAR ED    $3.99
AUG180629    JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS TP    $16.99
AUG180630    JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 01 THE TOTALITY TP    $17.99
AUG180632    LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT NORM BREYFOGLE HC VOL 02    $49.99
SEP180496    LUCIFER #2 (MR)    $3.99
AUG180637    MOTHERLANDS TP (MR)    $16.99
SEP180499    NIGHTWING #53    $3.99
SEP180500    NIGHTWING #53 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180501    PEARL #4 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
JUL180773    POWERS TP BOOK 01 NEW ED (MR)    $29.99
SEP180510    SIDEWAYS #10    $2.99
AUG180644    SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 03    $34.99
SEP180518    TEEN TITANS #24    $3.99
SEP180519    TEEN TITANS #24 VAR ED    $3.99
SEP180520    TEEN TITANS GO #31    $2.99

Monday, October 22, 2018

Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for October 24, 2018

D. E.

AUG181190    ARMY OF DARKNESS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL ONE SHOT    $4.99
AUG181191    BETTIE PAGE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL ONE SHOT    $4.99
AUG181245    JAMES BOND THE BODY HC    $24.99
AUG181124    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR A SAYGER DEMON    $3.99
AUG181125    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR B SAYGER STARCHILD    $3.99
AUG181126    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR C SAYGER CATMAN    $3.99
AUG181127    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR D SAYGER SPACEMAN    $3.99
AUG181128    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR E BUCHEMI    $3.99
AUG181129    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR F SANAPO TRICK TREAT    $3.99
AUG181130    KISS BLOOD STARDUST #1 CVR G PHOTO    $3.99
AUG181290    LEGENDERRY RED SONJA TP VOL 02 STEAMPUNK ADVENTURE    $19.99
AUG181121    MARS ATTACKS #1 BLANK AUTHENTIX ED    $10.00
AUG181110    MARS ATTACKS #1 CVR A MANDRAKE    $3.99
AUG181111    MARS ATTACKS #1 CVR B COLEMAN    $3.99
AUG181112    MARS ATTACKS #1 CVR C MARRON    $3.99
AUG181113    MARS ATTACKS #1 CVR D HACK    $3.99
AUG181114    MARS ATTACKS #1 CVR E SCHWEIZER SUB VAR    $3.99
AUG181193    RED SONJA HALLOWEEN SPECIAL ONE SHOT    $4.99
AUG181218    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR A ANACLETO    $3.99
AUG181219    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR B SEGOVIA    $3.99
AUG181220    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR C PAGULAYAN    $3.99
AUG181221    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR D JUSKO    $3.99
AUG181222    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR E VAMPIRELLA COSPLAY    $3.99
AUG181223    VAMPIRELLA DEJAH THORIS #2 CVR F DEJAH THORIS COSPLAY    $3.99
AUG181194    VAMPIRELLA HALLOWEEN SPECIAL ONE SHOT    $4.99
MAY181124    VAMPIRELLA ROSES FOR DEAD #2 (OF 4) CVR A LINSNER (MR)    $3.99
MAY181125    VAMPIRELLA ROSES FOR DEAD #2 (OF 4) CVR B TUCCI (MR)    $3.99

Monday, March 26, 2018

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 28, 2018

IMAGE COMICS

JAN180701    BEEF #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180709    BLACK MAGICK #11 CVR A SCOTT (MR)    $3.99
JAN180710    BLACK MAGICK #11 CVR B FERNANDEZ (MR)    $3.99
JAN180716    COPPERHEAD TP VOL 04    $16.99
JAN180600    CYBER FORCE #1 CVR A SILVESTRI (MR)    $3.99
JAN180601    CYBER FORCE #1 CVR B ROJO (MR)    $3.99
JAN180727    DAYS OF HATE #3 (OF 12) (MR)    $3.99
JAN180678    GASOLINA TP VOL 01 (MR)    $16.99
JAN180748    HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #6 CVR A SEELEY (MR)    $3.99
JAN180749    HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #6 CVR B GUITIERREZ (MR)    $3.99
JAN180750    HIT-GIRL #2 CVR A REEDER (MR)    $3.99
JAN180751    HIT-GIRL #2 CVR B B&W REEDER (MR)    $3.99
DEC178232    HIT-GIRL #2 CVR C NGUYEN (MR)    $3.99
JAN180762    INVINCIBLE TP VOL 25 END OF ALL THINGS PART 2 (MR)    $16.99
NOV170776    MANIFEST DESTINY #34 (MR)    $3.99
DEC178712    REALM SPEC ED HC VOL 01 (MR)    $39.99
JAN180692    REALM TP VOL 01 (MR)    $9.99
JAN180812    REDNECK #11 (MR)    $3.99
JAN180696    RETCON TP VOL 01 REVERSE ENGINEERED (MR)    $9.99
JAN180641    SAGA #50 CVR A STAPLES (MR)    $2.99
JAN188081    SAGA #50 CVR B VIRGIN CVR (MR)    $2.99
JAN180839    VOID TRIP #5 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99

Sunday, December 31, 2017

I Reads You Juniors December 2017 - Update #61

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From Newsarama:  December 28th 2017 was Stan Lee's 95th birthday and industry pros wished him a happy birthday.

From ComicBook:  Batman co-creator, the late Bill Finger, had a street in New York City named for him - "Bill Finger Way."

From ComicBook:  Dr. Strange is apparently set to become the "God of Magic."

From BleedingCool:  The Max Landis story that was removed from The DC Holiday Special 2017 is available again on digital copies bought via comiXology.

OBIT - From BleedingCool:  British comic book creator and artist, Jim Baikie, died at the age of 77, Friday, December 29, 2017.  A mainstay of the venerable British comics magazines, "2000AD," Baikie created the alien science fiction comic strip, "Skizz" with Alan Moore.  He also created with Moore the comics, "The First American," for Moore's America's Best Comics (ABC) line.

From TheBeat:  In his column, "Tilting at Windmills #266, Brian Hibbs writes an open letter to new Marvel Comic EiC C.B. Cebulski, with some good suggestions for the publisher - that will ultimately be ignored.

From BleedingCool:  A list of rumors about upcoming creator changes at Marvel, including Nick Spencer on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

From AldotCom:  Alabama.com profiles Alabama favorite son, Jason Aaron.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Weapon X" comic book could become "X-Men: Black."

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics is launching an app that will allow fans to create their own comics - which Marvel will completely own.

From ComicBook:  There is a controversial "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" cover that has fans fuming.

OBIT - From Newsarama:  Veteran comic book inker, Victor Llamas, has died at the age of 41, Friday, December 22, 2017.  He broke into the industry via Top Cow and inked then emerging artists like David Finch and Joe Benitez.  There is a GoFundMe page here to help his family with expenses.

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COMIC BOOK THEFTS:
From ABCActionNews:   Thousands of dollars in comic books stolen from IDC Comics Toys & Collectibles in Avon Park, Florida.

From BostonHerald: $20,000 in comic books stolen The Hall of Comics store in Southborough, Massachusetts.

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From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #148 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullete episode #148 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Sony Would Have Liked the Rights to a Gay Miles Morales Spider-Man.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis announces that his "Punisher" comic book, "Punisher: End of Days," has been cancelled, as well as some of his other Marvel projects of which we have never heard.

From BleedingCool:  Rumor is that Brian Michael Bendis will write a Superman book in 2018.

From Mashable:  This article explains the difference between the 2003 film, "Old Boy," and the manga from which it was adapted.

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive is bringing back Trina Robbins' long out-of-print graphic novel, "The Silver Metal Lover" with a Kickstarter campaign.

From CBLDF and LatuffCartoons:  Lawyers for Turkey‘s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pressure Twitter to delete the content of 80 of Brazilian cartoonist, Carlos Latuff's posts, including 11 of Latuff's ‘toons,

From ScienceFiction:  Gail Simone has advice for aspiring comic book writers.

From FortressofSolitude:  An embarrassing (and typical) "best comic books of 2017" list.

From NYT:  The New York Times profiles a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comic book store, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, that promotes diversity.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Quesada takes to Twitter to discuss Marvel Comics' recent cancellation of titles starring LGBTQ characters, characters of color, and female characters.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Glass examines the victims of the Marvel Comics cancellation bloodbath.

From BleedingCool:  Writer David L. Walker has confirmed that his "Luke Cage" series is being cancelled due to low sales.

From CBR:  The site ranks every comic book movie in 2017 from worst (Netflix's "Death Note") to best ("Logan").

From Newsarama:  The "Black Comic Book Festival" is back.  According to Newsarama:  "The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has opened registration for its "6th Annual Black Comic Book Festival" that will be held on January 12-13, 2018 at the Schomburg Center. Registration is free and open to the public and is available at schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com."

From THR:  Joe R. Lansdale has announced a comic book prequel to his prose novella, "Bubba Ho-Tep," which inspired a 2002 cult film from director Don Coscarelli (creator of the "Phantasm" film franchise).

From WashPost:  Novelist Brad Meltzer has also written comic books, like "Justice League" and "Identity Crisis" for DC Comics.  Now, he is announcing a graphic novel about "Ghandi."

From MyAJC:  Two brothers launch a line of Black superhero comic books in hopes to catch the upcoming "Black Panther" movie wave.

From Crunchyroll:  Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of the manga, "Naruto," has a new manga due next year.  Japanese fans caught to see a sneak preview of draft pages from the upcoming and still unnamed manga.

From BleedingCool:  Japan's "Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha) is running a "Marvel manga" contest to recruit new talent.

From BleedingCool:  Trade paperback and collections from Dynamite Entertainment for March 2018.

From BleedingCool:  The DC Comics imprint, "Young Animal," curated by Gerard Way ("The Umbrella Academy") will be relaunched in March with four new titles.

From JeffLemireBlog:  Acclaimed writer, Jeff Lemire, talks about his plans for 2018.

--------------------------------------------
From BleedingCool:  In Lafayette, Louisiana, comic shop owner, Teresa Moran, is trying to buy the shopping center, where her store, Acadian Comics & Collectibles, is located.  She has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise one million dollars.  [I know Teresa Moran a.k.a. "Miss Teresa," and her shop is the descendant of the comic shop I first patronized when I entered college. - Leroy]

From GoFundMe:  Teresa Moran's GoFundMe page to buy a shopping center.

--------------------------------------------
From Kotaku:  The "Terra Formars" returns to Japan's "Young Jump" next April.

From Newsarama:  Yen Press March 2018 solicitations.

From Newsarama:  A first look at "Rise of the Black Panther #1."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #147 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #147 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Marc Silvestri's "Cyber Force" returns (again) with Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill writing and Silvestri "overseeing" the project.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel announces a digital first Avengers comic books, "Avengers: Back to Basics," written by Peter David.

From BleedingCool:  Editorial changes are happening at DC Comics, including for the Superman line, which Brian Michael Bendis will apparently join as a writer (Action Comics?).

From Gizmodo:  The site explains Patreon's recent fee change announcement, which has caused an uproar.  The changes will affect small press and indie comics creators who use the platform.

From IrishTime:  Controversial film director Takashi Miike talks about how important manga was to his generations of boyhood.

From KotakuAustralia:  The best selling manga of 2017 in Japan - actually December 5, 2016 to November 27, 2017.  "One Piece" is #1.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #146 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #146 in French.

From BleedingCool:   An article about calculating history and the sale of the color cover proof for Action Comics #1 - the one that introduced Superman.

From IGN:  What the Star Wars comic books and novels can tell us about "The Last Jedi."

From BleedingCool:  Upcoming "Power Rangers" comic book will featuring killing off of some Rangers.

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics will release "Dave McKean: Short Film as a hardcover  book and a Blu-ray.

From ComicBook:  "One Piece" creator Eiichiro Oda makes a statement about his manga's record breaking sales.

From DangerousMinds:  A look at the comic book story that inspired John Carpenter's 1988 film, "They Live."

From ComicBook:  The "Hunter x Hunter" manga returns next year (2018) in Japan's "Weekly Shonen Jump."

From LRMOnline:  Kouhei Horikoshi, the creator of the manga, "My Hero Academia," will create a poster that brings Star Wars and his manga together.  The poster will appear in a February 2018 issue of "Weekly Shonen Jump."

From Kotaku:  "Junji Ito Collection" is an upcoming anime series that will adapt the super-creepy horror comics of mangaka, Junji Ito.

From LawOfficer:  Police officer Greg Granderson creates a comic book as an outreach to kids.

From ComicBook:  Marvel announces a six issue New Mutants miniseries, "New Mutants: Dead Souls."

From SideshowToys:  Sideshow talks to pretend comic book artist J. Scott Campbell about his new line of statues/figures from Sideshow.  They call Campbell a legend, apparently not really knowing what a legend actually is.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #145 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #145 in French.

From Twitter/BBCArchive:  This archival video is from a 1975 BBC profile of the great and influential artist, Frank Hampson, who created the classic British sci-fi comic, Dan Dare.  Hampson apparently had been experiencing hardship at the time.

From BleedingCool:  When a monthly Batman comic book artist lives on the edge of poverty.


Monday, December 25, 2017

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 27, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

OCT170658    BEAUTY #18 CVR A HAUN & FILARDI (MR)    $3.99
OCT170659    BEAUTY #18 CVR B MACDONALD & FILARDI (MR)    $3.99
OCT170566    BONEHEAD #1    $3.99
OCT170672    GASOLINA #4 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170674    GLITTERBOMB FAME GAME #4 (OF 4) CVR A MORISSETTE-PHAN (MR)    $3.99
OCT170675    GLITTERBOMB FAME GAME #4 (OF 4) CVR B MERCADO (MR)    $3.99
OCT170676    GOD COMPLEX #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170678    HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #3 CVR A SEELEY (MR)    $3.99
OCT170679    HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #3 CVR B GIFFORD (MR)    $3.99
OCT170693    MOTOR CRUSH #9 CVR A TARR    $3.99
OCT170694    MOTOR CRUSH #9 CVR B STEWART    $3.99
OCT170696    OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #32 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170708    REDNECK #8 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170715    SAGA TP VOL 08 (MR)    $14.99
OCT170726    SAVAGE DRAGON #230 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170734    UNDERWINTER FIELD OF FEATHERS #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT170735    VOID TRIP #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Review: THE WILD STORM: Michael Cray #1

THE WILD STORM: MICHAEL CRAY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Warren Ellis
WRITER: Bryan Hill
PENCILS: N. Steven Harris
INKS: Dexter Vines
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz with Steve Buccellato
VARIANT COVER: Gene Ha
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T+”

Michael Cray created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi

“Michael Cray – Chapter One”

Started by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, WildStorm Productions was one of the founding studios of Image Comics.  The WildStorm Universe was the fictional shared universe of comic books published by WildStorm and debuted in WildC.A.T.s #1 (cover dated: August 1992).

Jim Lee sold WildStorm Productions and his intellectual properties to DC Comics in 1999, and eventually the WildStorm Universe was folded into the DC Universe (DCU) proper.  It can be argued that the most interesting and perhaps, most influential comic books to come out of the WildStorm Universe came after that sale.  Those books were written by Warren Ellis (StormWatch, The Authority and Planetary).  Ellis is currently relaunching the characters, concepts, story lines, etc. of the Wildstorm Universe in his comic book, The Wild Storm, with artist Jon Davis-Hunt.

The first solo spin off series in the relaunch of “The Wild Storm” is The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  It is written by Bryan Hill with Warren Ellis contributing story.  The series is drawn by N. Steven Harris (pencils) and Dexter Vines (inks); colored by Steve Buccellato; and lettered by Simon BowlandMichael Cray also known as the professional assassin, Deathblow, first appeared in the comic book, Darker Image #1 (cover dated: March 1993).

Michael Cray seeks revenge against International Operations (I.O.) for the death sentence with which its has basically trapped him.  The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 finds Cray with an offer of help.  Christine Trelane will give him support, resources, medical aid, and a home, but she has targets that she want Cray to take out.  It starts with that sociopath Silicon Valley billionaire, Oliver Queen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of The Wild Storm: Michael Cray.  One reason is that in terms of story pacing and in graphical style, Michael Cray is like The Wild Storm comic book.  Writer Bryan Hill writes a script that allows the story to breathe, which in turns allows the reader to enjoy the surprises and shocks and the edginess the script delivers.  Just the Oliver Queen segments are quite enjoyable and enjoyably tart.

N. Steven Harris' compositions and the sharp inking Dexter Vines lays on them are similar to Jon Davis-Hunt's clean drawing style in The Wild Storm.  Harris and Vines deliver good storytelling while graphically tying their work to Ellis and Davis-Hunt's flagship title.  I like The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #1 and will be back for more.

A
8 out of 10

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


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

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