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Monday, April 25, 2022
Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 27, 2022
Sunday, January 31, 2021
I Reads You Juniors: January 2021 - Update #105
by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
"Support Leroy on Patreon.
MARVEL - From GamesRadar: The host of the "Phoenix Force" will lead to the new "Heroes Reborn."
AWARDS - From BleedingCool: Some Angouleme Comics Prizes were announced today.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Marvel is relaunching its "Marvel Masterworks" line. The trim size will be 6x9 with a price point of $15.99 U.S. - apparently.
DC CINEMA - From Variety: "Justice League" the "Snyder Cut" will debut on HBO Max on March 18th, 2021.
AWARDS - From BleedingCool: The "32nd GLAAD Awards" nominations are out, and that includes a comic book category.
DC TV - From GamesRadar: Netflix has announced a new group of actors that will portray characters in its series adaptation of DC Comics/Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman."
DARK HORSE COMICS - From BleedingCool: Dark Horse will publish a line of graphic novels collecting the superhero comics of YouNeek Studios. The comics are centered around African stories produced by African creators.
BLACK COMICS - From BleedingCool: Coming Soon: "The Access Guide to the Black Comic Book Community."
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: The much teased about "Heroes Reborn" from Marvel Comics is a 2021 event in which writer Jason Aaron and artist Ed McGuiness imagine a world in which the Avengers never assembled.
COMICS - From CBR: Legendary TV and radio host, Larry King, died Sat., Jan. 23rd. Comic book readers may not know that he made several cameo appearances in comic books.
MANGA - From ANN: Seishi Kishimoto, the creator of the manga, "O-Parts Hunter," will launch a new manga, "Monster no Isha," later this year. Seishi is the twin brother of Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of "Naruto."
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Brian Michael Bendis is no longer an exclusive creator to DC Comics.
COMICS TO ANIMATION - From Deadline: Amazon's adult animated series based on Robert Kirkman's comic book, "Invincible," has a premiere date. The series will begin streaming, Friday, March 26, 2021. This article also includes a "first look clip" video preview from "Invincible."
HEROES REBORN - From BleedingCool: A fourth glimpse at Marvel's "Heroes Reborn."
From BleedingCool: A third glimpse at Marvel Comics' new "Heroes Reborn."
From BleedingCool: A second glimpse at Marvel Comics' new "Heroes Reborn."
IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool: Image announces a new horror comics anthology, "The Silver Coin." The stories will take place in a shared universe.
DC MANGA - From CBR: The site talks about its hopes and fears for DC Comics/Kodansha Comics "Batman: Justice Buster" manga.
DC TV - From BleedingCool: Joe Baron will be the showrunner for the HBO Max series that will be set in the universe of director Matt Reeves' upcoming film, "The Batman."
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics has unveiled a teaser for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25, which "kicks off the Clone Saga."
COMICS - From BleedingCool: The works of Raina Telgmeier dominate "The New York Times Bestseller List" in the graphic novel categories
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Bookstores saw a 29 percent increase in graphic novel sales in 2020.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics offers a preview of its "Alien #1" comic book, story by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and art by Salvador Larocca
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Has Marvel cancelled "The Punisher" ... completely?
CHARITY - From GoFuneMe: Brian Lightle, the son of the recently deceased comic book artist, Steve Lightle, has started a "Go Fund Me" page to help with Steve's final expenses.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: DC Comics has provided a 7-page preview of "Man-Bat #1," which hits stories February 2nd, 2021.
IMAGE COMICS - From THR: The site has the first trailer for Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa's "Radiant Black" superhero comic book from Image. The series is set to debut Feb. 10th, 2021.
IN MEMORIAM - From NPR: Bestselling African-American novelist, Eric Jerome Dickey, has died at the age of 59, Sunday, January 3rd, 2021. If comic book fans remember him, it is because he wrote the 2006 X-Men miniseries, "Storm" that was drawn by artist David Yardin and Lan Medina.
IN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: According to social media reports, comic book artist, Steve Lightle, has died at the age of 61 of cardiac arrest and COVID-19 complications. He was best known for his work on "Legion of Super-Heroes" and "Doom Patrol in the 1980s. He drew interior art and cover art for "Flash" in the 1980s. 1990s, and 2000s.
NEWSPAPER COMICS - From TheDailyProgress: A look book at 1995, the year newspaper comics changed.
COMICS - From TheThings: Oscar and Grammy-winning rapper, Eminem, apparently has a huge comic book collection. He reportedly also has a copy of the rare "Amazing Fantasy #15," which features the first appearance of Spider-Man.
INTERNATIONAL COMICS - From CBR: 10 Comics From The Philippines That Deserve Your Attention
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Jeff Lemire says that he was two "Black Label" projects for DC Comics.
DC COMICS - From ComicBook: With "Future State," DC Comics reveals major changes to the character, "Black Lightning."
MARVEL - From Newsarama: "The Marvels," Kurt Busiek's sprawling story across the history of Marvel, is back on for a April 2021 debut.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Today's Marvel Comics (Jan. 6th) carry a tribute to former Marvel Comics publisher, Mike Hobson, who died in November.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Thanks to "sold out" first and second printings before they were released, "Star Wars: The High Republic #1" will get a third printing. Marvel Comics may have over 200,000 orders for the first issue.
VIZ MEDIA - From ScreenRant: The original "Star Wars"manga will be part of "The High Republic" line, "Star Wars: The Edge Balance," which will be published by VIZ Media.
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: John Ridley talks about the future of "Next Batman" beyond DC "Future State."
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Over 100,000 orders for Marvel Comics' "Star Wars: The High Republic #1."
DC CINEMA - From ComingSoon: Reports seem to indicate that actor Michael Keaton, who played Batman in two films, 1989's "Batman" and 1992's "Batman Returns," will be the Batman in Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, replacing Ben Affleck, who has been Batman for several years now. Other DCEU films include the "Wonder Woman" films and "Aquaman."
BLACK COMICS - From NYT: "The New York Times" profiles Ken Quattro and his new book about the lost black comic book artists, "Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books."
MANGA - From TimeOut: The Italian fashion house, Gucci, has released a collection of fashion and apparel featuring Japanese manga character, Doraemon, entitled "Doraemon x Gucci."
DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered: Filmmaker Kevin Smith says the ending of Zach Snyder's "Justice League" event film sets up for a sequel.
MANGA - From ANN: Reports indicate that Stefan Koza, who provides the English translation for VIZ Media's publication of "Jujutsu Kaisen," has been arrested in Virginia for possession and distribution of child pornography.
MARVEL - From Marvel: Marvel offers a new Kelly Thompson prose story featuring Kate Bishop-Hawkeye story.
BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool: Keanu Reeves' graphic novel, BZRKR, is due October 2021 from BOOM! Studios.
DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool: Dark Horse Comics has announced that it will publish Dave McKean's upcoming graphic novel, "Raptor: A Sokol Graphic Novel," July 2021.
MANGA - From Previews: VIZ Media's Amy Yu talks about editing the hit manga, "Spy X Family."
MANGA - From ComicBook: Season Two of "The Promised Neverland" anime will tell new "canon" stories not seen in the manga original.
NEWSPAPER COMICS - From ComicYears: A look back at the final episode of the classic newspaper comics strip, "Calvin and Hobbes," 25 years after its publication.
COMICS - From ScreenRant: How COVID-19 changed the comics industry in 2020.
MANGA - From CBR: A look at the hot new "Shonen Jump" manga, "Phantom Seer."
DC COMICS - From TheBeat: DC Round-Up: 2020, the end of an era.
COMICS TO FILM - From MovieWeb: Comic book writer and filmmaker, Kevin Smith, says he was once pitched a movie adaptation of comic book creator, Joe Simon's "The Fly," with actor and comedian Chris Rock as the lead.
MARVEL - From ComicBook: The site looks at the latest chapter of the Marvel manga, "Deadpool Samurai," which involves a "Demon Slayer" reference.
DC COMICS - From Newsarama: A preview of "DC Generations: Shattered #1."
COLLECTORS - From YouTube: The "Comic Art LIVE" Episode #23 live stream welcome comics original art collector, Jim Warden, who is also an art dealer through his "D.O.A." (Distinctive Original Art).
From comiXology: The outstanding American manga and science fiction comic book, "Grey," is now on-sale as a digital comic at comiXology.
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Monday, November 30, 2020
I Reads You Juniors November 2020 - Update #95
"Support Leroy on Patreon.
Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:
DC CINEMA - From ArsTechnica: "Justice League: The Snyder Cut" black and white trailer - released Nov. 17th, 2020.
DC TV - From HBOMax: See HBO Max's "Titans" Season 1-Episode 1 ("Titans," 2018) for free - for the time being.
From HBOMax: See HBO Max's animated "Harley Quinn" Season1-Episode 1 ("Till Death Do Us Part," 2019) for free - for the time being.
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DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: DC Comics is re-imagining "Batman" character, "Poison Ivy" for the Summer 2021 young adult graphic novel, "Vines 'N Roses."
DC TV - From DCBlog: Anna Diop of HBO Max's "Titans" shows off "Starfire's" new costume.
DC COMICS - From DCComics: Here is the "Future State" page.
From DCBlog: DC Future State Takes You Beyond Tomorrow
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: A 1939 copy of Detective Comics #27, which features the first appearance of Batman, sold for $1.5 million via Heritage Auctions.
MARVEL - From GamesRadar: Of the comic books that Marvel Comics is cancelling is its comic book adaptation of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
UK COMICS - From 2000AD: A look at Pat Mills and Rafael Busom's "Sugar Jones," as "The Best of Sugar Jones" collection arrives.
BOOKS - From BleedingCool: Book publisher Penguin Random House has fellow publisher, Simon & Shuster," for 2 billion dollars. That has created a mega-publisher and mega distributor with ramifications for comic book publishers.
DARK HORSE - From TheBeat: Dark Horse Comics will publish an original graphic novel from famed comics cover artist and illustrator, Dave McKean. Entitled "Raptor: A Sokol Graphic Novel," it will feature his first creator-owned character.
DC TV - From DCBlog: HBO Max will stream, "DMZ," the four-part television adaptation of the Vertigo comic book series, "DMZ" (2005-12) from writer Brian Wood and artist Riccardo Burchielli.
MANGA - From GamesRadar: Sony's investment arm, "Sony Innovation Fund," has reportedly invested in the new digital manga service, "Mangamo."
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: A 7-foot tall statue of Batman is now on display in downtown Burbank, California.
DC COMICS - From Deadline: DC Comics will introduce its first non-binary hero in "Kid Quick," who will appear in DC's holiday-themed comics anthology, "DC's Merry Multiverse."
COMICS - From THR: Writer Steve Niles, the creator of "30 Days of Night," has formed a multi-platform production company, "Monster Forge Productions," with artist Shannon Eric Denton.
DC TV - From Variety: The CW is cancelling its superhero TV series, "Black Lightning," after its upcoming Season 4.
MARVEL - From Previews: Marvel Comics releases a trailer for the first chapter of "Enter the Phoenix," the new Avengers story line that opens in "Avengers #40."
DC CINEMA - From Deadline: Warner Bros. will release "Wonder Woman 1984" Dec. 25th, 2020 in U.S. and to stream on HBO Max. The film will reportedly be released overseas on Dec. 16th.
DISNEY BOOKS - From SFWA: The Walt Disney Company apparently is not paying royalties owed to veteran novelist Alan Dean Foster for books he wrote and that they now own.
DC CINEMA - From WeGotThisCovered: Actress Amber Heard played "Mera" in Warner Bros.'s hit film, "Aquaman" (2018). Rumors say the studio will expand her role in the sequel and possibly develop a Mera film for her. The latter is reportedly contingent on continued favorable rulings for Heard in her long-running and ugly legal battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp.
COMICS TO TV - From ComicBook: Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan says that there is still a chance is notorious character from "The Walking Dead," Negan, might still get a spinoff TV series.
MARVEL - From GamesRadar: Hasbra has said that the Transformers and the X-Men will crossover in some way in 2021 as part of its "Tranformers Collaborative" line.
DC CINEMA - From BloodyDisgusting: Zack Snyder teases a new look for Jared Leto as the "Joker" in "Justice League."
MANGA - From ANN: Revered manga creator, Naoki Urasawa, who is best known for manga such as "Monster" and "20th Century Boys," says that he is making an anime.
MANGA - From Kotaku: Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto, will start writing the sequel, "Boruto," beginning with Chapter 52. Ukyo Kodachi has been writing the series since Chapter 1.
DC TV - From Deadline: The CW is developing a "Wonder Girl" TV series and the series lead may be a Latina.
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Vixen will apparently be the first feature in DC's upcoming digital anthology comic, "Truth & Justice."
COMICS - From GamesRadar: Kaare Andrews talks about his new teen superhero, "E-Ratic."
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Eisner Award-winning artist, Sanford Greene, said in an interview that he is working on comics projects with Patton Oswalt and Milestone Media.
DC CINEMA - From Variety: Director James Gunn confirms that Sylvester Stallone has joined his film, "The Suicide Squad."
DC CINEMA - From Deadline: Apparently, there is still lots of debate about the release date and release platform for "Wonder Woman 1984." It involves Christmas Day, HBO Max, PVOD, etc.
DC COMICS - From DCComics: DC provides a preview of "Week One" of the "Justice League: Endless Winter" event, which begins with titles shipping December 8, 2020.
DC COMICS - From THR: DC Comics has announced a new anthology series, "Truth & Justice." It will launch digitally with print releases to follow. The series will showcase "the catalog of characters in the DC library."
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Is DC Comics leaving comic book shops and quitting conventions?
IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool: Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank's creator-owned series, "Geiger," will be published by Image Comics.
MARVEL - From Inverse: An article about the comic book that inspired the upcoming Disney+ series, "WandaVision." That would be Tom King's "The Vision" miniseries.
DC TV - From Deadline: The CW is developing a "Black Lighting" spinoff series for the character "Painkiller," which actor Jordan Calloway will play. The series will be developed via a "backdoor pilot," which is when an episode of an existing TV series (in this case "Black Lightning") will introduce Painkiller.
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: All Batman publications from now through September 2021.
MANGA - From BleedingCool: Japanese comic book publisher, Enmaku is publishing their first mini-series, Ninja World USA, aimed at the US market and released digitally on the 20th of November.
MARVEL - From BET: Adidas And Marvel Will Release Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sneakers
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: More senior DC Comics staff has reportedly been laid off
CONVENTIONS - From BleedingCool: ReedPop is moving the next editions of both "Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and "Emerald City Comic Con" (ECCC) to December 2021.
MARVEL - From BleedingCool: Legendary X-Men writer, Chris Claremont, will be part of Marvel Comics' upcoming "X-Men: Legends" ongoing series.
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Rumor says that writer Geoff Johns and artist Jason Fabok will produce a one-shot sequel to their mega-hit miniseries, "Batman: The Three Jokers."
FANTAGRAPHICS-DISNEY - From BleedingCool: Fantagraphics Books will collect the the "Uncle Scrooge" comics of beloved Disney comic book artist, William Van Horn, in "Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: Pie in the Sky: Disney Masters Vol. 18."
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: Marie Javins is now the full Editor-in-Chief at DC Comics.
DC COMICS - From ComicBook: Karl Kerschl introduces the newest Robin, "Mia 'Maps' Mizoguchi." She will debut in the upcoming "Batman: Black and White" relaunch.
MARVEL - From ComicBook: Marvel publisher John Nee is no longer with the company. Nee was among a number of Disney employees furloughed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
BIDEN-HARRIS! - From BleedingCool: Comics creator react to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris winning the 2020 Presidential election.
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: DC Comics will collect writer Jesse Leon McCann and artist Min Sung Ku's "Krypto the Superdog" (2006-07) comic book series as a graphic novel in its "DC Kids" line.
MANGA - From 411Mania: Yen Press announces Nov. 10 digital launch for Tetsuya Naito manga, "New Japan Academy."
DISNEY - From MousePlanet: Writer John Korkis reprints an interview he conducted with classic Mickey Mouse newspaper comic strip artist, Floyd Gottfredson.
DC COMICS - From DCComics: The publisher provides an exclusive first look at "Justice League #56," which arrives in story on or around Tues., Nov. 10th.
COMICS - From CBR: Acclaimed comic book writer, Grant Morrison, comes out as non-binary.
TOYS-COLLECTIBLES - From BleedingCool: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to the 1980s with FiGPiN enamel pins.
COMICS - From CBR: Dianne Buscema-Gerogianis is trying to recover multiple pieces of original comics art that was created by her father, the late great John Buscema. The art work was recently stolen from her family.
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: The site has a preview of DC Comics' upcoming "Punchline #1"
DARK HORSE - From BleedingCool: Mike Mignola announces a line of books collecting "essential" Hellboy comics, "Hellboy Universe Essentials."
DC TO FILM - From YahooEntertainment: Actor Joe Manganiello post a photo of himself sporting the blue mohawk that he will wear as the villain"Deathstroke" in Zach Snyder's "Justice League."
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: The site reports rumors that say that DC Comics may be abandoning the idea of single "DC Universe." It would be replaced by a kind of "omniverse" in which characters and comic books would have their own universe or at least play fast and loose with history.
COMICS UK - From 2000AD: The new episode of "The 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Lockdown Tapes" podcast features artist Greg Staples, who has worked in comic books, video games, and movies and on "Magic: The Gathering" cards.
MARVEL - From ScreenRant: How Marvel Comics' monsters changed the face of comic book heroes.
DC COMICS - From Newsarama: Writer James Tynion IV is working on a second "Batman family" title for 2021.
COMICS TO FILM - From ShadowandAct: Wesley Snipes denies that he tried to strangle director David Goyer on the set of the 2004 film, "Blade: Trinity," a claim made by co-star, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt.
INTERVIEW - From TheBeat: Joe Grunenwald interview comics writer, Peter Milligan, about his new comic book, "Happy Hour" (Ahoy Comics).
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: George Perez's "Wonder Woman" gets the "Absolute" treatment. "Absolute Wonder Woman: Gods And Mortals" will reprint Perez's classic run on "Wonder Woman #1-14" from 1986 and 1987 as well as his Wonder Woman work for "Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #26" and the "Who's Who Update 1987 #1-3." 360 pages long, for $125, the volume will be published on the 20th of July, 2021.
FANTAGRAPHICS - From Forbes: The site takes a look at Fantagraphics upcoming three-volume box set, "The Complete Hate," which collects the totality of Peter Bagge's seminal alt-comix series. That includes all the issues of "Hate" (1990-98) and the "Hate Annuals" (1999-2011).
DC COMICS - From BleedingCool: DC Comics announces new young adult graphic novel and hero with, "Whistle: A New Gotham Hero," due May 2021.
COMICS - From BubbleBlabber: A look back at Bongo Comics' "Treehouse of Horror" comic books, which are, of course, based on "The Simpsons" TV series' annual special episode of the same name.
MARVEL - From ValdostaDailyTimes: A look back at "The Ulimates."
MANGA - From CBR: 10 Forgotten Manga Written By Legendary Creators Before Their Most Famous Works
MARVEL - From GamesRadar: With the news of the casting of the Disney+ "Moon Knight" series, the site offers "Who is Moon Knight and what are his powers?"
SCANDAL - From BleedingCool: Tony Gushee, the owner of "Apache Comics & Toys" of Mesa, Arizona, is facing a murder trial!
PALESTINE - From BleedingCool: In an interview for the CBC (Canadian state broadcaster) with acclaimed comics creator, Joe Sacco, the title of one of Sacco's most acclaimed works came up, "Palestine." Later, the mention of the word "Palestine" was both censored and apologized for.
DC COMICS - From BusinessInsider: Two Black former DC Comics editors describe the career obstacles they faced, from white leadership saying they'd never be promoted to their achievements being undercut.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: A beginner's guide to DC Comics horror.
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DC FUTURE STATE:
From GamesRadar: What is DC saying about the post "Future State" Batman title?
From GamesRadar: DC Future State "Flash" will be part of a gender-swapped "Teen Titans."
From TheBeat: A first look at "Nubai," the classic Wonder Woman character as she will be in DC Future State's "Immortal Wonder Woman."
From BleedingCool: DC Comics will make all their "Future State" comic books returnable for comic book stores.
From GamesRadar: DC Future State Superman and Justice League January 2021 solicitations
From GamesRadar: DC Future State Batman January 2021 solicitations
From GamesRadar: "DC Future State" reveals the Next Batman, the fate of Bruce Wayne, and a whole new line of titles
From GamesRadar: "DC Future State" details.
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NOVEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool: Abaze for November 2020
From BleedingCool: AfterShock Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Ahoy Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Archie Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Behemoth Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: BOOM! Studios for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Dark Horse Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: DC Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Hero Collector for November 2020
From BleedingCool: IDW Publishing for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Image Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Oni Press/Lion Forge for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Scout Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Titan Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Valiant Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Vault Comics for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Zenescope Entertainment for November 2020
From BleedingCool: Antarctic Press for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Archie Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: BOOM! Studios for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Chapterhouse for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Dark Horse Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: DC Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Image Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Oni Press for December 2020
From 2000AD: Rebellion Comics for December 2020
From BleedingCool: Titan Comics for December 2020
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Tuesday, September 22, 2020
#IReadsYou Review: THE SANDMAN #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Neil Gaiman
ART: Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg
COLORS: Robbie Busch
LETTERS: Todd Klein
EDITOR: Karen Berger
COVER: Dave McKean
48pp, Color, $2.00 U.S., $2.50 CAN, £1.20 UK (January 1989)
“Suggested for Mature Readers”
The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg
“Sleep of the Just”
The Sandman is a DC Comics comic book series created by writer Neil Gaiman and artists Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg. Published by DC Comics from 1989 to 1996, The Sandman ran for 75 issues, with the first issue cover dated January 1989 (although it was published in October 1988) and the last issue, March 1996.
Sandman #1 (“Sleep of the Just”) introduces the character “Dream” of “The Endless.” Also named Morpheus (as well as other names), Dream rules over the world of dreams. This first issue is written by Gaiman; drawn by Keith and Dringenberg; colored by Robbie Busch; and lettered by Todd Klein, with the cover illustration produced by Dave McKean (who had worked with Gaiman before Sandman).
Sandman #1 opens June 6th, 1916 in Wych Cross, England. Dr. John Hathaway, senior curator at the Royal Museum in London, arrives at “Fawney Rig,” the manor house of Roderick Burgess. Also known as the “Daemon King,” Burgess is the “Lord Magus” of the “Order of Ancient Mysteries,” an occult group. Hathaway has been stealing books and manuscripts from the museum for Burgess, who needs them in order to create the incantation for a particular summoning ritual.
On the evening of June 6th, Burgess plans to hold a ritual that will end death in the world by capturing and imprisoning the personification of “Death,” of the Endless. However, the ritual will not go as Burgess plans, and he will capture and imprison another of the Endless, Dream. Burgess is not fully aware of what and whom he has captured, but he is determined to make Dream submit to his will. Burgess is also not fully aware that his prisoner has all the time in the world... and beyond.
I think Sandman had reached its fourth or fifth issue by the time I starting hearing from other comic book readers how good it was. I do remember seeing pre-release in-house ads for Sandman #1 in other DC Comics titles. Whatever issue I first read amazed and blew me away so much that I started looking for back issues, and I was quickly able to find all the early issues, including the first issue.
I have previously read Sandman #1 once as an individual comic book and at least twice in collected form via the first Sandman trade paperback, The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes. DC Comics is shortly to launch a line of comic books under the banner, “The Sandman Universe.” A recently release stand-alone comic book, The Sandman Universe #1, introduces those titles. For the first time in probably two decades, I decided to read Sandman #1 again as a kind of preparation for the The Sandman Universe.
Sandman #1 stands the test of time, as far as I am concerned. Todd Klein's lettering for this first issue still evokes the fonts and lettering on old parchment and in aged books and texts that are sacred, profane, and mysterious. The production, printing, and color separation of the time only barely manages to capture the vivid weirdness and screwy surrealism of Robbie Busch's coloring.
Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg are not my favorite “Sandman artists.” [I lean towards P. Craig Russell.] I am fan of Keith's, though, and I love the funky graphic sensibilities of the Keith-Dringenberg team. Their art recalls DC Comics' horror and dark fantasy comic books of the late 1960s and early 1970s, but this team also seems to be creating a new visual language for a new kind of comic book writer.
That new kind of writer of that time was Neil Gaiman. Over its seven years of publication, Sandman (or The Sandman) evolves into a comic book that embraces fairy tales, folk tales, legends, myth, religion and more. This first issue is the one that began the change. “Sleep of the Just” looks like the kind of prose fiction written by Edgar Allen Poe or H.P. Lovecraft or by some author who wrote weird fiction and horror stories between the time of Poe and Lovecraft. As the story progress through this first issue, however, Gaiman begins the move beyond what influences him and starts to tell stories of fantasy and myth in a new voice, spoken via a medium, the comic book, that is, despite the status quo, always ready for a challenge.
Sandman #1 is one of the most important individual issues of a comic book ever published in the United States. Hopefully, what it wrought can inspire The Sandman Universe to aspire for excellence, if not greatness.
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 syndication rights and fees.
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Monday, June 29, 2020
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 1, 2020
AUG190641 ABSOLUTE FOURTH WORLD BY JACK KIRBY HC VOL 01 $150.00
MAR200623 BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM NEW EDITION TP (RES) (MR) $19.99
FEB200549 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS PARAGONS RISING DLX ED HC $17.99
MAR200659 NIGHTWING YEAR ONE DELUXE ED HC $29.99
MAR200661 RED HOOD OUTLAW TP VOL 03 GENERATION OUTLAW $16.99
Monday, December 30, 2019
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 1, 2020
MAY190468 ABSOLUTE DEATH HC NEW ED (MR) $99.99
OCT190495 ACTION COMICS #1018 $3.99
OCT190496 ACTION COMICS #1018 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
OCT190499 BATGIRL #42 $3.99
OCT190500 BATGIRL #42 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190505 BATMAN BEYOND #39 $3.99
OCT190506 BATMAN BEYOND #39 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190638 BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS TRANSFERENCE TP $29.99
OCT190652 BIRDS OF PREY HUNTRESS TP $19.99
OCT190597 BOOKS OF MAGIC #15 (MR) $3.99
NOV190003 DC PREVIEWS #21 JANUARY 2020 EXTRAS $PI
OCT190521 DETECTIVE COMICS #1018 $3.99
OCT190522 DETECTIVE COMICS #1018 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190607 DIAL H FOR HERO #10 (OF 12) $3.99
SEP190470 DIANA PRINCESS OF THE AMAZONS TP $9.99
OCT190618 DOLLAR COMICS BATMAN #613 $1.00
OCT190599 DREAMING #17 (MR) $3.99
OCT190527 FLASH #85 $3.99
OCT190528 FLASH #85 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
OCT190537 HARLEY QUINN #69 $3.99
OCT190538 HARLEY QUINN #69 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190675 INJUSTICE VS THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE TP $16.99
SEP190500 JOKER HARLEY CRIMINAL SANITY #2 (OF 9) (MR) $5.99
SEP190501 JOKER HARLEY CRIMINAL SANITY #2 (OF 9) VAR ED (MR) $5.99
OCT190555 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #18 $3.99
OCT190556 JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #18 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190563 LOIS LANE #7 (OF 12) $3.99
OCT190564 LOIS LANE #7 (OF 12) VAR ED $3.99
OCT190565 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #11 (OF 12) $3.99
OCT190566 MARTIAN MANHUNTER #11 (OF 12) VAR ED $3.99
OCT190571 RED HOOD OUTLAW #41 $3.99
OCT190572 RED HOOD OUTLAW #41 VAR ED $3.99
OCT190489 SUPERMAN GIANT #1 $4.99
OCT190587 TERRIFICS #23 $3.99
OCT190588 TERRIFICS #23 VAR ED $3.99
SEP190472 WONDER WOMAN WARBRINGER TP $16.99
Monday, December 2, 2019
DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 4, 2019
APR190525 ABSOLUTE DARK KNIGHT III THE MASTER RACE HC $125.00
OCT190501 BATMAN #84 $3.99
OCT190502 BATMAN #84 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
OCT190611 BATMAN UNIVERSE #6 (OF 6) $4.99
OCT190484 BATWOMAN SUPERGIRL WORLDS FINEST GIANT #1 $4.99
SEP190560 BLACK ORCHID TP NEW EDITION (MR) $19.99
OCT190604 COLLAPSER #6 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
OCT190483 CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #8 FACSIMILE EDITION $3.99
OCT190517 DEATHSTROKE #50 $4.99
OCT190518 DEATHSTROKE #50 VAR ED $4.99
OCT190615 DOLLAR COMICS BIRDS OF PREY #1 $1.00
OCT190598 DREAMING #16 (MR) $3.99
JUN190587 FINAL CRISIS OMNIBUS HC NEW ED $150.00
OCT190531 GEN LOCK #2 (OF 7) $3.99
OCT190533 GREEN LANTERN BLACKSTARS #2 (OF 3) $3.99
OCT190534 GREEN LANTERN BLACKSTARS #2 (OF 3) VAR ED $3.99
OCT190535 HARLEY QUINN #68 $3.99
OCT190536 HARLEY QUINN #68 VAR ED $3.99
SEP190578 HAWKMAN TP VOL 02 DEATHBRINGER $16.99
OCT190479 INFECTED DEATHBRINGER #1 $3.99
OCT190545 INFERIOR FIVE #4 (OF 12) $3.99
MAR190580 INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $125.00
OCT190551 JUSTICE LEAGUE #37 $3.99
OCT190552 JUSTICE LEAGUE #37 VAR ED $3.99
SEP190586 JUSTICE LEAGUE BY SCOTT SNYDER DLX ED HC BOOK 01 $39.99
OCT190561 LOIS LANE #6 (OF 12) $3.99
OCT190562 LOIS LANE #6 (OF 12) VAR ED $3.99
AUG190673 MAN AND SUPERMAN DELUXE ED HC $19.99
OCT190481 NEW YEARS EVIL #1 $9.99
SEP190599 SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW 15TH ANNIV DLX ED HC $49.99
SEP190600 SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN DLX ED HC $39.99
OCT190612 SUPERMAN UP IN THE SKY #6 (OF 6) $4.99
SEP190603 TEEN TITANS DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINUS AGENDA HC $24.99
OCT190614 WONDER WOMAN COME BACK TO ME #6 (OF 6) $4.99
OCT190609 YOUNG JUSTICE #11 $3.99
OCT190610 YOUNG JUSTICE #11 CARD STOCK VAR ED $4.99
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Review: THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Neil Gaiman
WRITERS: Simon “Si” Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters
ART: Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVERS: Dave McKean; Jill Thompson; Jim Lee with Alex Sinclair; Sam Keith; P. Craig Russell with Lovern Kindzierski; David Mack
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2018)
“Suggested for Mature Readers”
The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg
The Sandman is a DC Comics comic book series created by writer Neil Gaiman and artists Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg. Published by DC Comics from 1989 to 1996, The Sandman ran for 75 issues, and tells the story of “Dream” of “The Endless.” Also named Morpheus (as well as other names), Dream rules over the world of dreams.
DC Comics announced earlier this year an expansion and quasi sequel to The Sandman, “The Sandman Universe.” This will be a line of four comic books that will launch in September and October of 2018. The release dates are timed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sandman #1, which was covered dated January 1989, but released to comic book stores in October 1988. It will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Vertigo imprint.
The Sandman Universe titles are a mixture of new and revived titles. The first is The Dreaming (Sept. 5th), written by Simon “Si” Spurrier and drawn by Bilquis Evely. The second is House of Whispers (Sept. 12), written by Nalo Hopkinson and drawn by Dominike “Domo” Stanton. The third is Lucifer (October 17), written by Dan Watters and drawn by Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara. The fourth is Books of Magic (Oct. 24), written by Kat Howard and drawn by Tom Fowler.
These four titles are previewed in the stand-alone anthology comic book, The Sandman Universe #1. Neil Gaiman provides the story for this single-issue comic book. Simon Spurrier, Kat Howard, Nalo Hopkinson, and Dan Watters write the scripts for previews of the respective titles they are writing. Bilquis Evely, Tom Fowler, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, and Max Fiumara and Sebastian Fiumara draw the art for the previews of the respective series they are drawing. The Sandman Universe #1 is colored by Mat Lopes and lettered by Simon Bowland.
In The Sandman Universe #1, the denizens of The Dreaming discover that their master, the Lord of Dreams, is missing. Now, Matthew the raven must traverse the realms and dreams of four characters: Dora, Timothy Hunter, Erzulie (a voodoo deity), and Lucifer Morningstar (trapped in the body of an old man) to find Dream. But does he want to be found? What if he quit being Dream?
I enjoyed The Sandman Universe #1, but I would not call it an exceptional comic book. It is a particularly well-produced preview comic book. The best art, by far, in The Sandman Universe #1 is the work of Bilquis Evely, who is drawing The Dreaming, so I am putting this title on my reading list.
I want to try House of Whispers because I try to support Black writers of speculative and fantasy fiction, and the Jamaican-born, Canadian Hopkinson is a writer of color. The House of Whispers preview in The Sandman Universe #1 is interesting and is the only truly unique offering in this comic book. However, I must say that it did not quite connect with me the way I thought it would because of its various elements and ideas.
The Books of Magic preview did pique my interest; for obvious reasons, this is the closest thing to a Harry Potter comic book we likely will ever have. I found the Lucifer preview to be a chore to read, taxing my patience for most of its six pages.
The Dreaming is both The Sandman Universe #1's framing sequence and the subject of a preview, which is good. As I just wrote, Bilquis Evely's art is beautiful, and Evely's talent really shows on the killer last page she produces for this story. As a preview of a line of comic books, The Sandman Universe #1 is as effective as it can be, but most of the effort is really up to the creative teams of the individual titles in the line. I recommend this to readers interested in “The Sandman Universe” titles, but I doubt longtime fans of The Sandman comic book series will get much out of it.
7.5 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 syndication rights and fees.
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