#IReadsYou Review: STATIC: Season One #1

STATIC (SEASON ONE) #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/Milestone Media

STORY: Vita Ayala
LAYOUTS: ChrisCross
FINISHES: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
COLORS: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Chris Conroy
PRODUCERS: Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan for Milestone Media
COVER: Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Shawn Martinbrough with Chris Sotomayor; Nikolas Draper-Ivey; Denys Cowan with Brad Anderson; Olivier Coipel with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S., (August 2021)

Rating: 13+

Milestone and Static created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle

Episode One: Trial by Fire

Milestone Comics was the publishing division of Milestone Media, and its comic book titles were published and distributed by DC Comics.  Milestone was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers, consisting of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle.  Milestone Media's founders believed that minorities were severely underrepresented in American comic books and wished to address this.  In 1993, Milestone Media launched its first four titles Icon, Blood Syndicate, Static, and Hardware, but DC Comics ceased publication of all Milestone Comics titles in 1997.

Static, Milestone's most popular superhero character, first appeared in Static #1 (cover dated: June 1993).  Static is Virgil Ovid Hawkins, an African-American teenage boy who is a member of a subspecies of humans with superhuman abilities known as “metahumans.”  Static's origin has changed since he first debuted, and now, he has gained his powers after an incident exposed him to a radioactive chemical, making Virgil capable of electromagnetic control and generation.

Both Milestone and Static are back with the launch of the new comic books series, Static (Season One), also known as Static: Season One.  The series is written by Vita Ayala; drawn by ChrisCross (layouts) and Nikolas Draper-Ivey (finishes); colored by Draper-Ivey; and lettered by Andworld Design.  The new comic book focuses on a bullied nerd who gains super-powers, only to discover that his enemy has also gained powers.

Static: Season One #1 (“Trial by Fire”) opens in Dakota City, USA in the aftermath of the “Big Bang.”  That incident happened at a “Black Lives Matter” rally that turned insane when the police released an experimental tear gas on the protesters.  Some people were maimed or died; others gained  stunning new abilities and powers.  Bullied nerd, 16-year-old Virgil Hawkins, gained powers.

Virgil has power inside him now, real power that he constantly hears and feels buzzing inside him.  He has the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields, but Virgil also has anger burning inside him.  One of his classmates, the bully Francis Stone, has already felt Virgil's power.  But Francis, who calls himself “Hotstreak,” also has power inside him, and he is ready for some payback.

THE LOWDOWN:  In the original 1990s Static, Virgil Ovid Hawkins was essentially a 1990s, African-American version of the early 1960s teenage Peter Parker/Spider-Man.  Like that classic character, Virgil/Static struggled at becoming a superhero and had to deal with what it did to his life.

Writer Vita Ayala and artists ChrisCross Nikolas Draper-Ivey present a Virgil Hawkins who is a Black teenager coming of age in this era of protests that was launched by the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, (May 25, 2020), murdered by the hands (and knee) of a White police officer.

Ayala presents Virgil as an African-American teen who may be bullied, but does not even understand the idea that he should defer, know his place, or be a second class citizen.  Will he fight back against those who attack him or turn the other cheek … or is there an entirely different path that others have not imagined?  After reading this first issue, I feel that Ayala is going to take us, dear readers, on a journey of questions and answers, but one also filled with superhero action.

The compositions and colors by Nikolas Draper-Ivey remind me of the quirky animation of the 2018 film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, crackling with eye-popping colors and striking graphics.  It is as if Nikolas wants us to feeling the shimmering, crackling, and buzzing inside Virgil.  ChrisCross (layouts) and Draper-Ivey move the story through this issue like an electric charge running along a line, and for the final page, Cross/Nikolas gives us a … static shock.  The drama, tension, and conflict practically bleed off the page.

I thought that I would like Static: Season One #1, but I am surprised by how much I like it.  By the end, I could have read another forty pages.  If Milestone fans were unsure about moving on, this first issue will make them happy for this re-imagining of a Black superhero for the BLM generation.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Milestone Comics will want Static Season One.

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

[This comic book has a tribute from Denys Cowan and Chris Conroy to the late comic book artist, John Paul Leon (1972-2021), who drew the first Static comic book.  This comic book also includes a “DC Nation” “Spotlight On” interview with Joshua Williamson about Infinite Frontier #1.]

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


https://twitter.com/definitelyvita
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https://twitter.com/DakotaUniverse
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#IReadsYou Review: BANKSHOT #3

BANKSHOT No. 3 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

STORY: Alex de Campi
ART: ChrisCross
COLORS: Snakebite Cortez
LETTERS: Alex de Campi
EDITOR: Aaron Walker and Randy Stradley
COVER: ChrisCross with Snakebite Cortez
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2017)

Bankshot is a five-issue comic book miniseries from writer Alex de Campi and artist ChrisCross.  Snakebite Cortez is the series colorist and de Campi is the letterer.  Published by Dark Horse Comics, the series focuses on an anti-hero Marcus King, part modern-day Robin Hood, part terrorist, part tech-enhanced super-human or both – on a mission of revenge.

Bankshot #3 takes place in two time periods.  First, the story returns to Tunisia, a decade earlier, where King recuperates in an unnamed hospital.  The revolutionary nanonite procedure that will help him walk again is already showing changes in King – in ways that are almost supernatural.  Jump forward to the present, King is in the Ukraine, tearing through the base of operations of The Dutchman, the man who left King for dead in North Africa, but just when King seems to have snatched victory...  Meanwhile, the CIA makes its boldest move yet against King.

I will keep saying it as long as they keep doing it.  Alex de Campi and ChrisCross are killing it with Bankshot... and then killing it again.  This is pure action-adventure like Jason Borne, James Bond, and Mission: Impossible movies with a dash of the novels of James Rollins.

Bankshot is a pop comic from the action, mercenary, noisy side of the pop comic house.  I like that Alex de Campi has focused on Marcus King's past from a decade earlier to establish him as a character,  but I have to admit that I have a blast when de Campi slams us with some fight comics.  She can get down in the dirt with male writers of action comic books; she is better than many male comic book writers who are allegedly top writers of violent action comic books.

ChrisCross' storytelling captures all the moods and the switches in pace and setting.  He visually and graphically creates a balance between the drama and suspense and the action and violence.  Boy, though, he can draw some wild and crazy fight scenes.  Hurry up, space-time; get us to #4

A
9 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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Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for November 22, 2017

DARK HORSE COMICS

SEP170042    ANGEL SEASON 11 #11    $3.99
SEP170043    ANGEL SEASON 11 #11 VAR    $3.99
JUL170168    BANKSHOT #4    $3.99
SEP170058    DEPT H #20    $3.99
JUN170074    GREGORY SUICIDE HC    $19.99
SEP170050    SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & LEGION OF EVIL #2 (OF 4)    $3.99
SEP170051    SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & LEGION OF EVIL #2 (OF 4) VAR    $3.99
SEP170111    TOMB RAIDER SURVIVORS CRUSADE #1 (OF 4)    $3.99

#IReadsYou Review: BANKSHOT #2

BANKSHOT No. 2 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Alex de Campi
ART: ChrisCross
COLORS: Snakebite Cortez
LETTERS: Alex de Campi
EDITOR: Aaron Walker and Randy Stradley
COVER: ChrisCross with Snakebite Cortez
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)

Bankshot is a new comic book series from writer Alex de Campi and artist ChrisCross.  Snakebite Cortez is the series colorist and de Campi is the letterer.  Published by Dark Horse Comics, this five-issue miniseries focuses on an anti-hero. Part modern-day Robin Hood, part terrorist, or both, Marcus King is on a mission of revenge.

Bankshot #2 takes place in two time periods.  First, a decade earlier, Marcus King was left for dead after the CIA tried to kill him during a mission in North Africa.  He awakens a paraplegic in a hospital in Tunisia, where a nurse, Leah Soraya, cares for him.  After another attempt on his life, Marcus finds shelter in facility where a Soviet scientist may have the miracle tech to restore Marcus.

In the present, Frank, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), plots to stop Marcus, who has stolen untold millions in cash and property from government agencies and wealthy corporations and individuals connected to the FBI and CIA.  Meanwhile, Marcus' incredible body is a subject of interest to a group of scientists and engineers.

Like a Tim Duncan bank shot, the Bankshot comic book is more hit than miss.  [If you don't know Tim Duncan, try Wikipedia and sometimes ESPN Classic.]  Alex de Campi and ChrisCross are, as they say, killing it... and killing it again.

It seems as if some of the best elements of the Blade, Jason Borne, James Bond, and Mission: Impossible movies are blended with a dash of the Iron Man comic books and movies to create something that looks different – for obvious reasons – and is unique.  This is also a comic book that takes on the troubles in the Middle East and North Africa and Russia and Eastern Europe and connects it to the corrupt American security state.  Then, on the pop comic side, Bankshot gives us a hero who can destroy whatever is rotten in international rottenness.

I like that Alex de Campi has focused on Marcus King's past from a decade earlier to establish him as a character, while only serving up the “super” Marcus in small doses.  De Campi is making us care about the man, who is just as important as the colorful hero man.  ChrisCross' storytelling captures all the moods and the switches in pace and setting, and visually and graphically creates a balance between the the drama and suspense and the wild action and violence.  Even after two issues, it is obvious that Bankshot should continue past this miniseries.

A
9 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 site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: BANKSHOT #1

BANKSHOT No. 1 (OF 5)
DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Alex de Campi
ART: ChrisCross
COLORS: Snakebite Cortez
LETTERS: Alex de Campi
COVER: ChrisCross with Snakebite Cortez
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Bankshot is a new comic book series from writer Alex de Campi and artist ChrisCross.  Published by Dark Horse Comics, this five-issue miniseries focuses on an anti-hero who is a modern-day Robin Hood or a terrorist or both.  Snakebite Cortez is the series colorist and de Campi is the letterer.

Bankshot #1 opens at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington D.C., the home of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Some FBI agents have just gotten the worst of Marcus King, who might be a terrorist.  The truth of Marcus King is probably an origin story than began in North Africa.  Now, Marcus will have to deal with an adversary who knows what the truth about Marcus King is and where that truth is buried.

I like the cover for Bankshot #1, which is drawn by ChrisCross and colorist Snakebite Cortez, because it looks like it was drawn by longtime comic book artist Paul Gulacy, who can draw a nice cover for sure.  I also enjoyed reading this first issue, but so much of the plot and narrative remain hidden in the shadows of battle scenes and tense meetings.

In Alex de Campi I trust, however, because of her recent comic books like No Mercy (Image Comics) and her unexpectedly thrilling crossover hit, Archie vs. Predator (Dark Horse Comics).  I think the best is yet to come in Bankshot.  I am enjoying ChrisCross' art, but the art is also cluttered in many panels, which is (say it with me!) static in the line communication between the story and the reader.  I look forward to the next issue.

B+
7.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Valiant Comics for August 2013

VALIANT Solicitations for AUGUST 2013

BLOODSHOT #0
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by DAVE BULLOCK (JUN131317)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MATT KINDT (JUN131318)
Wraparound Gatefold Variant by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (JUN131319)

Discover the declassified secret history of Project Rising Spirit’s Bloodshot program and its most successful soldier – as told by superstar creator Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, Justice League of America) and fan favorite artist ChrisCross (Superman/Batman)!

From the darkest days of World War II and Korea, and through the hell of Vietnam and Afghanistan, Bloodshot's origin leaves a bloody trail of discarded lives and forgotten families. But which memories are real? Which families? Which children? Is Bloodshot many men...or no man at all? Is he simply a soulless killing machine or something more? Who is responsible? And why have they engineered the most dangerous weapon ever conceived by man? This issue holds the answers…but also reveals that we may have been asking the wrong questions all along…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
--

HARBINGER #15
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art & Cover by BARRY KITSON (JUN131326)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (JUN131327)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (JUN131328)
Variant Cover by RIAN HUGHES (JUN131329)

HARBINGER WARS AFTERMATH!

ALL-NEW ARC, ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT!

In the wake of Harbinger Wars, start reading here as Joshua Dysart and new series artist Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man, FF) begin the next year of Harbinger with a mind-bending trip to the outer limits of the Valiant Universe!

It’s been a brutal few months for Peter Stanchek and the Renegades, culminating in the harrowing events – and losses – of the Harbinger Wars.  But now the members of the team have woken up to the Best. Day. Ever. As Lou Reed sang, it’s just a perfect day, problems left all alone. But for Peter Stanchek – a kid who deserves a good day – something seems off…like all is not what it seems…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 14th!
--

QUANTUM AND WOODY #2
Written by JAMES AMSUS
Art by TOM FOWLER
Cover by RYAN SOOK (JUN131320)
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER (JUN131321)
Variant Cover by RIAN HUGHES (JUN131322)

Off to a bad start!

Eric and Woody Henderson have accidentally blown up their father’s life’s work – and themselves along with it! Now, as their bizarre new superpowers begin to manifest, will they be able to outmaneuver the squad of trigger-happy cops that think Eric and Woody are to blame for their dad’s murder? Plus! The mysterious cabal targeting the world’s worst superhero team only gets creepier. Seriously, it's like an iceberg of creepy. Only 10 percent is showing! And Quantum and Woody are about to crash right the %$!@ into it!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 7th!
--

X-O MANOWAR #16
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (JUN131323)
Variant Cover by DAVE BULLOCK (JUN131324)

Old soldiers, new enemies.

X-O Manowar and the Eternal Warrior. Once they were brothers-in-arms, comrades sworn to the same cause. But now they find themselves on opposing sides of a battle for the very fate of civilization itself. Aric of Dacia, and the immense power that he wields, have the potential to the plunge the world into a new era of war, and the only man who can broker a world peace also happens its to be its most fearsome warrior. But can Gilad settle this conflict with words rather than weapons? And does he know how? As the world watches, two of Valiant’s most fearsome heroes will meet once again – and the outcome of their latest clash will decide the fate of us all.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
--

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #12
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (JUN131332)
Variant Cover by JUAN DOE (JUN131333)

Caught in the jaws of the Faraway!

General Redacted has laid claim to the greatest secret in a time-lost dimension that’s practically built on ‘em. Must be a doozy, huh? Well, it’s big enough that Redacted and his army of alien greys are laying waste to anyone and anything that approaches their occupied lands of the Faraway. Now, it’s down to Archer & Armstrong to run the greatest infiltration/liberation/inebriation mission history has ever known, which would be a cakewalk if its wasn’t for all the UFOs, hostile natives and, of course, the dinosaurs. Yup, could definitely do without those dinosaurs.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 14th!
--

SHADOWMAN #9
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON (JUN131330)
Variant Cover by ANDREW ROBINSON (JUN131331)

The deepest cut of all.

Jack suffers a devastating betrayal as Master Darque's ultimate plan stands revealed. Now, with the Brethren on the verge of wiping out Dox and the Abettors and the Deadside threatening to explode into our world, Jack will have to call on everything he's got to stop them…or lose everything trying.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 7th!
--

X-O MANOWAR VOL. 3: PLANET DEATH TPB (JUN131325)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD and TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

The invasion is here – and X-O Manowar is the invader! From superstar creators Robert Venditti, Cary Nord and Trevor Hairsine, jump on board one of the year’s most ambitious series as X-O Manowar ignites an interstellar war and changes the landscape of the Valiant Universe forever!

Aric of Dacia, a fifth century Visigoth armed with the universe’s most powerful weapon, is all that stands between the Earth and all-out annihilation at the hands of the alien race that abducted him from his own time. Now, the day of Aric’s reckoning has finally come. As his Visigoth forefathers sacked Rome, Aric will take the battle directly to his oppressors on the Vine homeworld of Loam. He will decimate their armies, he will level their cities – and he will not stop until the whole of their empire is reduced to ash. This is PLANET DEATH!

Collecting the complete PLANET DEATH saga from X-O MANOWAR #9-14 by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Surrogates) and superstar artists Cary Nord (Conan) and Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis), start reading here to find out why X-O Manowar's one-man revenge mission has IGN declaring "X-O Manowar still kicks butt. Bring on Planet Death."

"Downright amazing." - Comic Vine

"Venditti continues to execute his vision with deadly precision. Everyone should be on board…" - Bloody Disgusting

Collecting X-O MANOWAR #9-14
ISBN: 978-1-939346-08-7

$14.99/T+/144 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 21st!
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VALIANT MASTERS: ETERNAL WARRIOR VOL. 1 – THE FIST AND STEEL HC (JUN131334)
Written by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JIM SHOOTER and KEVIN VANHOOK
Art by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, JOHN DIXON and YVEL GUICHET
Cover by BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH

For a thousand generations, Gilad Anni-Padda has defended the innocent and dealt out justice as the Eternal Warrior – the undying champion of the Geomancers, the Earth’s chosen Fist and Steel. An unsung veteran of every war ever waged, Gilad’s hard-fought quest from the ancient world to modern day Los Angeles is about to force him to the forefront of the Valiant Universe – and into a brand new kind of battle alongside the likes of Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and his own long-lost brother, Armstrong.

Featuring never-before-collected work by Eisner Award-winning comics legend Barry Windsor-Smith, along with all-time classic stories by Jim Shooter, Kevin VanHook, John Dixon and more, this Valiant Masters volume re-presents Eternal Warrior (1992) #1-7 and Archer & Armstrong (1992)/Eternal Warrior (1992) #8.

Collecting Eternal Warrior (1992) #1-7, Archer & Armstrong (1992)/Eternal Warrior (1992) #8.
ISBN: 978-1-939346-06-3

$24.99/T+/186 pgs.
ON SALE AUGUST 28th!

The New 52 Review: THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1

"Two are better than one"

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
DC COMICS

PLOT: Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone
SCRIPT: Gail Simone
ARTIST: Yildiray Cinar
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Ethan Van Sciver with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Firestorm is a superhero that was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom and appears in comics published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in the short-lived series, Firestorm, The Nuclear Man #1 (cover date March 1978), and was the alter ego of two men, Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein.

There was a second Firestorm series, Firestorm the Nuclear Man, and in issue #100 (cover date August 1990), Martin Stein became the sole identity behind Firestorm. In Firestorm #1 (cover date July 2004), the third series, African-American teenager, Jason Rusch, created by writer Dan Jolley and artist ChrisCross, became the new Firestorm. With the re-launch of the DC Comics superhero line, “The New 52,” a fourth Firestorm series arrives. This one stars Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch.

In The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 (“God Particle”), two high school students, who think that they are each from a different side of the social divide (but really aren’t that far apart), are about to come together in an amazing way. Ronnie Raymond is the golden boy quarterback at Walton Mills High School; a full-ride college scholarship would help his mother, who is a single-parent. Jason Rusch works for the school newspaper and is also from a single-parent home, as he lives with his father.

Jason makes an enemy of Ronnie, but before they can settle their differences, an elite team of killers invades their school and starts killing people. Suddenly, Jason is forced to introduce Ronnie to the world of Firestorm.

Some of the characters in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 need a conflict resolution specialist; others just need a visit from the Navy SEALs. Seriously, this is such a conflict-driven comic book; some of the conflicts quite harrowing and others simply typical high school melodrama. Writing partners Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone are holding onto much of Firestorm’s past, as far as I can tell, but conflict and dramatic tension are the elements that will hold readers – not the mythos.

Series artist Yildiray Cinar, however, may be the one who leaves the most indelible mark on The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men. He has a traditional drawing style that would have fit in well with the first two Firestorm comic book series. Cinar apparently gets a kick out of drawing the Firestorms and it shows. Even colorist Steve Buccellato turns in his best work in this issue on the Firestorm pages, using fiery reds, oranges, and yellows that seem to burst off the page. The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men has the potential to be a top tier book about a second (or even third) tier character.

B+

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-new-guardians-1.html
I VAMPIRE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-vampire-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/savage-hawkman-1.html
SUPERMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/superman-1.html
TEEN TITANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/teen-titans-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html

I Reads You Review: MILESTONE FOREVER #2

MILESTONE FOREVER #2

DC COMICS

WRITER: Dwayne McDuffie

PENCILS/INKS: John Paul Leon (framing sequence)
PENCILS: Denys Cowan, ChrisCross
INKS: Prentis Rollins, Rob Still
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COLORS: Snakebite
COVER: Admira
48pp, Color, $5.99

Milestone was an imprint of DC Comics, active in producing comic books from 1993 through 1997. It was the creation of Milestone Media, a collective of African-American comic book creators. Milestone focused on comic books featuring minority characters, specifically African-American superheroes. Several titles appeared under the imprint, including Hardware, Icon, and Blood Syndicate. One of them, Static, was developed into an Emmy Award winning animated series, Static Shock.

After Milestone Media shuttered the imprint, Milestone’s characters mostly disappeared, although some made appearances in various DC Comics series. In the summer of the 2008, Dwayne McDuffie, a Milestone Media co-founder, announced that the Milestone characters would be merged into the DC Universe. That was a business decision, involving legal matters. Published early last year, Milestone Forever dealt with the fictional matters. It was a two-issue miniseries that provided the fictional depiction of Milestone’s universe, the “Dakotaverse,” merging with the DCU.

Milestone Forever focuses on a character named Dharma, the god-like being who initiated the “Big Bang,” the event that gave characters like Static their superpowers. Dharma believes that one of the Dakotaverse stars is the superhero who can save existence, thus, keeping Dharma from doing something dreadful. But which hero is the savior? In Milestone Forever #2, Dharma looks towards Hardware and Static. One is at a crossroads, however, and the other is having an adventure through his future.

As much as I liked the first issue of Milestone Forever, this second issue is a big improvement over the first. The first issue came across as a nostalgic piece of 1980s superhero fight comics, but #2 just seems nostalgic, a sentiment I share. The Hardware story, drawn by the incomparable Denys Cowan, and the Static story, drawn by the underrated ChrisCross, simultaneously celebrates the two characters in a low key way and pines for what was and will likely never again be.

Cowan’s art, great on its own, takes flight thanks to Snakebite’s fiery colors, and the art once again testifies to the potential that the Hardware comic book not only had but reached. Snakebite’s dazzling array of hues make the ChrisCross drawn story a tale that recalls both Static’s four-color foundation and its gritty take on it.

But Dwayne McDuffie must always get his due. He is a thoroughly underrated writer, and here, his magic is not in merging two universes, but rather in affirming that Milestone superhero comic books weren’t a stunt. They were the real fucking deal.

A-