Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 25, 2020

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV190284    ART OF DOOM ETERNAL HC    $39.99
NOV190199    BLACK HAMMER JUSTICE LEAGUE HAMMER OF JUSTICE HC    $29.99
NOV190288    COURAGEOUS PRINCESS TP VOL 02 UNREMEMBERED LANDS    $14.99
JUL190415    DANGANRONPA 2 GOODBYE DESPAIR TP VOL 01    $12.99
JUN190368    DISNEY FROZEN (YA RETELLING) TP VOL 01    $12.99
JAN200323    HIDDEN SOCIETY #2 (OF 4) CVR A ALBUQUERQUE    $3.99
JAN200324    HIDDEN SOCIETY #2 (OF 4) CVR B TOCCHINI    $3.99
JAN200313    STRANGER THINGS INTO THE FIRE #3 (OF 4) CVR A KALACHEV    $3.99
JAN200314    STRANGER THINGS INTO THE FIRE #3 (OF 4) CVR B GORHAM    $3.99
JAN200315    STRANGER THINGS INTO THE FIRE #3 (OF 4) CVR C PEARSON    $3.99
JAN200329    TOMORROW #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
JAN200373    WITCHFINDER REIGN OF DARKNESS #5 (OF 5)    $3.99

BOOM! Studios from Diamond Distributors for November 13, 2019

BOOM! STUDIOS

JUL191354    ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 TP VOL 01 (RES)    $19.99
JUL191353    BEN 10 ORIGINAL GN MECHA MADNESS    $7.99
SEP191266    BUFFY VAMPIRE SLAYER ANGEL HELLMOUTH #2 CVR A FRISON    $3.99
SEP191267    BUFFY VAMPIRE SLAYER ANGEL HELLMOUTH #2 CVR B CONNECTING MON    $3.99
JUL191306    FIREFLY STING ORIGINAL GN HC    $19.99
SEP191261    FOLKLORDS #1 (OF 5) CVR A SMITH    $3.99
SEP191262    FOLKLORDS #1 (OF 5) CVR B FEGREDO    $3.99
SEP198069    FOLKLORDS #1 (OF 5) FOC MORA VAR    $3.99
SEP191300    GHOSTED IN LA #5 CVR A KEENAN    $3.99
SEP191301    GHOSTED IN LA #5 CVR B GRACE VAR    $3.99
JUL191322    GIRL ON FILM ORIGINAL GN    $19.99
SEP191284    GO GO POWER RANGERS #25 CVR A MAIN JLOU    $3.99
SEP191285    GO GO POWER RANGERS #25 CVR B MERCADO VAR    $3.99
SEP198072    GO GO POWER RANGERS #25 FOC MAD VAR    $3.99
SEP191282    RONIN ISLAND #8 CVR A MILONOGIANNIS    $3.99
SEP191283    RONIN ISLAND #8 CVR B PREORDER YOUNG VAR    $3.99
AUG198824    SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN #2 (3RD PTG)    $3.99

Review: STAR TREK: Waypoint

STAR TREK: WAYPOINT (TPB)
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Donny Cates; Sandra Lanz; Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore; Sam Maggs; Maighread Scott; Cecil Castellucci; Vivek J. Tiwary; Scott Bryan Wilson; Cavan Scott; Simon Roy; Corinna Bechko; Gabriel Hardman
ARTISTS: Mack Chater; Sandra Lanz; Gordon Purcell; Rachel Stott; Corin Howell; Megan Levens; Hugo Pretus; Caspar Wijngaard; Josh Hood; Simon Roy; Christopher Herndon; Gabriel Hardman
COLORS: Jason Lewis and Dee Cunniffe; Sandra Lanz; Jason Lewis; Mark Roberts; Sarah Stern; Fran Gamboa; Caspar Wijngaard; Simon Roy; Christopher Herndon; Dee Cunniffe
LETTERS: Andworld Designs
PIN-UPS: Marc Laming with Chris O'Halloran; Mark Buckingham with Charlie Kirchoff; Gordon Purcell with Jason Lewis: David Malan; Daniel Warren Johnson; David Messina; Cat Staggs; Zachary Baldus; Tony Shasteen; Simon Roy; Tom Whalen; Gabriel Hardman; Dave Dorman
COVER: Josh Hood with Triona Farrell
ISBN: 978-1-68405-017-8; paperback, 6 5/8” x 10 3/16” (November 2017)
160pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $25.99 CAN (November 28, 2017)

When it debuted on NBC on September 8, 1966, the science fiction television series, “Star Trek,” was like nothing that came before it.  Created by Gene Roddenberry, “Star Trek” followed the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), a “starship,” as it traveled through the Milky Way galaxy during the future-decade of the 2260.

The series depicted the adventures of Enterprise's crew, led by Captain James T. Kirk.  Kirk was assisted by six prominent crew members:  first officer and science officer, Spock; chief medical officer, Leonard “Bones” McCoy; chief engineer, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott; communications officer, Nyota Uhura; helmsman Hikaru Sulu; and navigator Pavel Chekov.

When NBC broadcast Star Trek's final episode on June 3, 1969, fans of the television show refused to let it go.  In a sense, that ending was the beginning of what is a five-decade old, worldwide, multi-platform media franchise.  One of those platforms is comics, beginning in 1967 with the publication of Star Trek comic books by Gold Key Comics.

IDW Publishing is the current license-holder (since 2006) with the rights to produce and publish comic books based on the various Star Trek films and television series.  Last year, IDW announced Star Trek: Waypoint, an anthology comic book series that would offers stories featuring the crews and characters from the first five Star Trek television series:  “Star Trek (The Original Series),” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.”

In November 2017, IDW published the trade paperback, Star Trek: Waypoint, which collected the comics short stories published in Star Trek: Waypoint issues #1-6.  This collection reprints 12 stories and features the creative efforts of more than 40 writers, artists, colorists, and letterers.

Story highlights include “Puzzles,” which is set in the world of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and finds Captain Geordi La Forge and his crew of Datas taking on a massive cube-shaped starship and its obstinate artificial intelligence.  Original Trek character, Lt. Uhura makes a surprising and curious friend in”Daylily.”  Science and coffee save the day in the “Star Trek Voyager” in the story, “The Wildman Maneuver.”

The crew of the “Deep Space 9” try to understand Bajoran tradition in “Mother's Walk.”  Captain Jonathan Archer (“Star Trek: Enterprise”) discovers “The Fragile Beauty of Loyalty.”  The unknown and the new and Spock's replacement vex the crew of the classic “The Original Series” crew in “The Fear” (a “Star Trek: Phase II” story).

I vaguely remember the Star Trek: Waypoint miniseries (2016-2017), but I mostly ignore Star Trek comic books.  Over the decades that I have read comic books, I have read a few Star Trek comic books, here and there, but I never really warmed to them.  When IDW sent me a copy of the Waypoint trade paperback for review, I kinda looked forward to reading it.  I forced myself to start with the first story, which I hoped would build some momentum that would help me read the entire book.

Wow, was I shocked.  I didn't know that Star Trek comics could be as good as the stories contained in this book.  I consider five of the twelve stories:  “Puzzles,” “Daylily,” “Mother's Walk,” “Come Away Child,” and “The Fear” to be great stories that would be worthy of being turned into episodes of their respective Star Trek TV series – if those series were still being produced.  Two other stories, “The Fragile Beauty of Loyalty” and “The Rebound Effect” are close to being exceptional.  The five other stories are of varying degrees of quality – novel, funny, and offbeat.

“Puzzles” is the first really good story I have read that is written by Donny Cates, who became a hot property off his Image Comics vampire comic book, Redneck.  I read the first two issues of Redneck and the first issue of Cates' Babyteeth (AfterShock Comics), and none of them impressed me.  So I was was pleasantly surprised by the imagination of “Puzzles.”

I adore “Daylily,” which is written, drawn, and colored by Sandra Lanz and lettered by Andworld Designs.  The story reminds me of the short-lived NBC Saturday morning animated series, “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” which I loved as a child.  Plus, this story stars my sci-fi fantasy boo, Uhura.

I highly recommend this book to people who read Star Trek comic books.  I would also suggest that Trek fans in general give this book at least a cursory glance.  I think that will be enough to encourage one to purchase Star Trek: Waypoint.

9 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL #1

SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL No. 1
DC COMICS/Young Animal – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Cecil Castellucci
ART: Marley Zarcone
COLORS: Kelly Fitzpatrick
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
COVER: Becky Cloonan
VARIANT COVERS: Duncan Fegredo; Tula Lotay
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Mature Readers

Shade created by Steve Ditko

“Earth Girl Made Easy” Chapter 1: “Running Off to the Great Blue”

Shade is a weird DC Comics character created by Steve Ditko that first appeared in the comic book, Shade the Changing Man #1 (cover dated:  June 1977).  The series focused on Rac Shade, a secret agent from a world in another dimension who comes to clear his name of a treason charge which carries a death sentence.  Over the decades since the character first appeared, Shade has been reworked and re-imagined by other comics creators.

Now, Shade the Changing Man gets the “Young Animal” treatment and becomes Shade the Changing Girl in a new comic book series from DC Comic's Young Animal imprint.  The comic book is written by novelist Cecil Castellucci; drawn by Marley Zarcone; colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick; and colored by Saida Temofonte.

Shade the Changing Girl #1 (“Running Off to the Great Blue”) opens in the hospital room of Megan Boyer, a brain-dead teenage girl.  However, an alien teen girl, an avian named Loma Shade, decides to take possession of Megan's body.  Not everyone, however, is happy to see the 16-year-old Megan back on her feet.  Meanwhile, on Loma's home world of Meta, someone wants the “Madness Vest” found.

Like Doom Patrol, the first Young Animal title to hit comic book stories, Shade the Changing Girl's inaugural first issue is about introduction, teasing, and some vagueness.  However, writer Cecil Castellucci grounds Shade the Changing Girl #1 with some edgy, background supporting character drama.  Castellucci writes “Young Adult” novels, but she is known in comic books for her superb, two-volume graphic novel series, The P.L.A.I.N. Janes, so she knows her way around the dark side of teen politics and high school society.

Shade the Changing Girl artist Marley Zarcone offers some of the most imaginative comic book art that I have seen in quite awhile in mainstream superhero comic books.  Vivid and trippy, Zarcone's graphical storytelling goes afar, but not so far that the story turns into a shallow mess of surrealism right out of high school poet's notebook.  I look forward to future issues.

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This comic book contains the comics short story, “Cryll's Big Surprise” by Natalia Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez with Saida Temofonte and Laura Allred.]

Meanwhile, Gilbert and Natalia Hernandez offer a cute and clever back-up story.  I hope this is not a one-off for this team.

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


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

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Review: DOOM PATROL #1

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

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

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

Mature Readers

Doom Patrol created by Arnold Drake

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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