I Reads You Juniors July 2020 - Update #100

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COMICS - From Previews:  NBA and NCAA champion and pro basketball legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, will write the introduction to Z2 Comics upcoming graphic novel about ground-breaking jazz musician, Charlie "Bird" Parker.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics just charged $4.99 for a comic book with 20 pages of story.

TOP SHELF - From AJC:  The real-life comic book hero that was the late Congressman John Lewis.

COMICS TO TV - From Variety:  The site has a preview of the second season of Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" (based on Gerard Way's comic book series), which starts today (July 31st).

BOOKS - From BleedingCool:   The late Lin Carter's "Flashing Swords!" fantasy anthology book series is coming back... But some authors are already asking that their stories be removed from the upcoming "Flashing Swords! #6."

MANGA - From ANN:  Manga Planet, the digital manga platform, has obtained three more licenses from publisher, Thirdline, which will give Manga Planet a total of five new offerings in August 2020.

STAR WARS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Si Spurrier accepts a 2020 GLAAD Media Awards as a representative for the creative team of the Marvel Comics titles, "Star Wars: Doctor Aphra."

FRANK MILLER - From CBR:  Legendary comic book creator, Frank Miller, is being sued over the TV rights to two of his biggest creator owned properties, "Sin City" and "Hard Boiled."

COMICS - From TheBeat:  Pantheon won the rights, at auction, to cartoonist Ben Passmore's upcoming "graphic history" of Black activism, "Black Arms to Hold You Up."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Dave Sim will reprint his long-running "Cerebus" comic book in a series of hardcover editions through Waverley Press.  The first book will collected will be "High Society."

IMAGE - From BleedingCool:  The team of writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips will release three full length graphic novels in 2021, according to Brubaker's newsletter.

MARVEL TV - From Deadline:  Actor Peter Shinkoda claims the former head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb, made anti-Asian comments during production of the Marvel/Netflix series, "Daredevil."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  A planned Batman comic book by writer Warren Ellis and artist Declan Shalvey has been cancelled.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The rumor is that Marvel Comics may have cancelled its planned "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" comic book adaptation.

IDW - From BleedingCool:  IDW talks about its publishing projects for the rest of the 2020 and into 2021.

DC COMICS - From CBR:  Here is some preview art from writer Geoff Johns and artist Jason Fabok's "Batman: Three Jokers."

FOX MARVEL U - From THR:  Director Josh Boone and the cast of "The New Mutants" reveal the opening scene of the movie.  The film, one of the last of Fox's "X-Men" films produced before Disney bought the studio, is still due to be releases August 28th... 2020...

DC CINEMA - From THR:  Director Zack Snyder talked about the "Snyder Cut of Justice League," his edit of his 2016 film, "Justice League," which ended up being finished by director Joss Whedon.

EISNERS - From BleedingCool:  The winners at the "Will Eisner Awards Comic Industry Awards 2020" were announced Friday night, July 24th.

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2020 - VIRTUAL:

From Deadline:  The breaking film news has a page dedicated to San Diego Comic-Con 2020.

From YouTube:  Thursday, July 7/23, 4:00pm — Teaching and Making Comics - Virtual Panel
Ebony Flowers (Hot Comb), Roman Muradov (Vanishing Act), Trina Robbins (Flapper Girls), and Sophie Yanow (The Contradictions) are four vital cartoonists who have taught classes on comics themselves. They speak with James Sturm (Off Season) about their teaching philosophy, and how teaching has transformed their perspectives on the comics canon and their own work.

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From Variety:  The Hollywood news site lists its "best panels of panels of SDCC."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Actor Oscar Isaac (Star Wars' Poe Dameron) is part of the creative team of a "Head Wounds: Sparrow," a graphic novel from Legendary Comics.

IDW/MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  IDW will publish the four-issue, biweekly Marvel Comics kids' comic, "Marvel Action: Chillers," beginning in October 2020.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The site has info on the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan applications filed by comic book companies.

IDW/MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  A hot rumor is that IDW Publishing plans to publish a weekly Marvel Comics anthology comic books series aimed at young readers.

MANGA - From ABSCBN:  In Japan the long-running volley manga, Haikyu!!, recently ended with Chapter 402.

MARVEL - From ComicBook:  Marvel Comics is using its "Free Comic Book Summer" push to tease the future of the X-Men.

VALIANT - From BleedingCool:  Writer Jeff Parker and artist Javier Pulido are the creative team behind Valiant's 2021 relauch of its "Ninjak" franchise.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics will publish Mark Russell's Jesus Christ comic book, "Second Coming," which was originally to be published by the Vertigo Comics imprint until DC Comics cancelled it.  The series is now called "Second Coming: Only Begotten Son."

DC TV - From TheBeat:  Neil Gaiman gives out some details on Netflix's in-development TV adaptation of Gaiman's beloved comic book series, "The Sandman."

IMAGE COMICS - From TheBeat:   The new twice-monthly comic book series, "The Walking Dead" deluxe will present the series in color for the first time.

COMICS TO TV - From Variety:  Actors Zachary Queinto and Khary Payton have joined the voice cast of the Amazon prime animated series adaptation of Robert Kirkman's comic book, "Invincible."

IN MEMORIAM -  From CNNPolitics:  Iconic American Civil Rights Movement leader and comic book creator, Congresmman John Lewis (D-Georgia), has died at the age of 80, Friday, July 17, 2020.  Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and he was one of the "Big Six" leaders of the groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington.  Lewis played many key roles in the movement, including being one of the original 1961 Freedom Riders.  With his Congressional staffer, Andrew Aydin, as co-writer, and with Nate Powell as artist, Lewis created the "March" graphic novel trilogy, which chronicled the Civil Rights Movement through Lewis' perspective.

From IReadsYou:  Leroy Douresseaux's review of "March Book One."

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FRANK MILLER - From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller shows off some concept art from "Cursed," his book project that is an upcoming Netflix series.

DC TV - From YahooEntertainment:  "Stargirl" actress, Anjelika Washington, said that early in her career she confronted a producer about providing her with a stunt double... in blackface.

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  The superstar comic book that BOOM! Studios will unleash on the world later this year is "BRZRKR," written by Keanu Reeves(!) and drawn by Alessandro Vitti.

DC Comics - BleedingCool:  "Batgirl #50," "Justice League Odyssey #25," and "Batman And The Outsiders #17" are the final issues of those series.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Kevin Shinick and artist Clayton Henry will be the new creative team on "Flash" later this year.

FCBD - From IBPost:  "Free Comic Book Day 2020" is now "Free Comic Book Summer" every Wednesday.

COMICS TO STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix is producing an animated TV series based on Stan Sakai's long-running comic book series, "Usagi Yojimbo."  The TV series will have the title, "Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles."

MEXICAN COMICS - From Tor:  The website, "Tor," offers a brief history of Mexican horror comic books.

ARCHIE COMICS - From THR:  Archie Comics has made a deal to produce superhero comic books based on characters the late comic book legend, Stan Lee, created after he left Marvel.

TELEVISION - From Variety:  Grant Morrison talks about his adaptation of the 1932 novel, "Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley), for NBCUniversal's streaming service, "Peacock."

WATCHMEN - From THR:  DC Comics has announced a 12-issue comic book series starring popular "Watchmen" character, Rorschach.  "Rorschach" the comic book will be written by Tom King, drawn by Jorge Fornes, colored by Dave Stewart, and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

DC COMICS - From THR:  DC Comics will release "Wonder Wonder 1984 No. 1," a special comic book that will act as a prologue to the upcoming film, "Wonder Woman 1984," which has seen its release delayed several time.  The comic book will debut in Walmart stores before receiving a wider release.

7/14 - SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  In the wake of allegations against Warren Ellis, Image Comics has removed from its website the article, "An Oral History of the Warren Ellis Forum."

7/13 - SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  There is a new website, SoManyOfUs.com, in which women share their stories of allegedly being groomed by noted comic book writer, Warren Ellis.

7/12 - SCANDAL - From TheDailyBeast:  The website has a new article the comic book industry's "sexual misconduct crisis."  The author argues that the industry is "running precisely as designed."
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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Stjepan Sejic has made all six volumes of his erotic romance comic book, "Sunstone," available as a free PDF.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC is uniting with longtime "G.I. Joe" writer, Larry Hama; "Poison Ivy" writer, Amy Chu; and "Farmhand" creator Rob Guillory, for a new comic joint project called "Outta This World."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The tale of the forgotten comic book and manga tie-in to the 2004 film, "Blade: Trinity."

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  The launch later this year of Tom Taylor's "Seven Secrets #1" may be BOOM's biggest ever launch of a creator-owned comic book series.

COVID-19  - From TheBeat:  Which comic book companies received small business COVID-19 PPP (Payment Protection Program) loans?

DC TV - From THR:  Spinning out of director Matt Reeves' "The Batman" film will be a HBO Max TV series similar to the fan-favorite comic book series, "Gotham Central."  Terrence Winter, the creator of "Boardwalk Empire," will write and executive produce the series.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel and Scholastic, the largest producer of graphic novels in the U.S., have united in a multi-year, multi-graphic novel deal to produce a line of graphic novels for middle grade readers.  They will be released under Scholastic's "Graphix Media" line, and the first release will be a Spider-Man original graphic novel, "Miles Morales: Shock Waves."

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios has signed artist Jenny Frison to a deal to produce 20 covers, likely of the variant cover kind.

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios signed a deal with artist Mirka Andolfo to produce 12 cover illustrations.

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios signed a cover art deal with artist Miguel Mercado.

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios has signed a cover art deal with Japanese comics creator and cover artist, Peach Momoko.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The future of Superman, Jonathan Kent, and "5G" at DC Comics.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  "Plastic Man: Rubber Banded - Deluxe Edition," a hardcover collection of Kyle Baker and Scott Morse's 2004 Plastic Man comic book, will come with an actual rubber band.

DC TV - From Variety:  Actress Javicia Leslie will replace actress Ruby Rose as the series lead in the second season of The CW's "Batwoman."  Leslie will play a new character named Ryan Wilder, who will replace Rose's "Kate Kane" as Batwoman.

COMICS - From Looper:  Comic book artist, Kaare Andrews, talks about transitioning from comic books to film directing.

COMIC STRIPS - From GamesRadar:  Retired cartoonist Gary Larson draws his first new episodes of his beloved comics strip, "The Far Side," in 25 years.

IMAGE COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Image Comics is teasing a big crossover comic book event for November 2020.

BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD:  The July 7th installment of the "2000AD Thrill-Cast Lockdown Tapes" features a podcast interview with British comics legend, Bryan Talbot.

BLACK COMICS - From DW:  A brief history of Black superheroes

COMICS TO TV - From Inverse:  Comic book writer Greg Rucka insists that comic books are not just fodder for movie adaptations.  He even claims that he did not create the comic book, "The Old Guard" to be movie fodder and that he DID NOT want it to be a movie. [As Eminem said, "Go 'head, girl. Run that game.]

SCANDAL - From TCJ:   Journalist Michael Dean offers a detailed history of sexual misconduct and bullying at the CBLDF, with an emphasis on alleged drunk and disorderly lout, Charles Brownstein.

From BleedingCool:  The site has some additional details and recent developments concerning the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).

From TheBeat:  Also, the Cody Pickrodt, Whitney Taylor et al lawsuit and counter-suit were settled out of court last month.

COMICS - From CBR:  Christopher Priest reflects on his career and how he wants to be known as a "comic book writer" and not necessarily a "black comic book writer," which he is.

COMICS - From FandomWire:  The "comic book industry" is dying.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Dave Sim is going to republish "Spawn #10."  He wrote and Todd McFarlane, who created Spawn, drew the issue which Image Comics published in 1993.  The issue featured a crossover between Spawn and Cerebus, the character created by Sim.

DC TO TV - From Variety:  The DC Universe series, "Stargirl" has been renewed for a second season, but it will be exclusive to the broadcast network, The CW," and its digital platforms.

DC TO STAGE - From BleedingCool:  In 1972, DC Comics was going to produce a musical stage show starring the Justice League Of America aimed at the student college circuit.  It never happened.

COMICS TO TV - From BleedingCool:  Is Disney+ casting an actress to play "Echo," the "Daredevil" character created by David Mack and Joe Quesada?  Mack certainly seems to think so.

SOCIAL MEDIA - From IGN:  Georgia State University visual effects student, Julian Bass, gets attention with his TikTok video, including from former Disney CEO Bob Iger.  Of course, he gets attention from jealous people too.

MARVEL COMICS - From IGN:  The licenses to produce comic books based on the iconic sci-fi film properties, "Alien" and "Predator," are moving from Dark Horse Comics to Marvel Comics.

SONY MARVEL U - From YahooEntertainment:  Gina Prince-Bythewood was supposed to direct a movie starring Marvel Comics' Spider-Man line characters, Black Cat and Silver Sable, for Sony Pictures.  Now, Prince-Bythewood says that Sony does not believe the movie, entitled "Silver and Black," could work without an appearance by Spider-Man.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  At "Anime Expo Lite," Yen Press announces new manga and light novel titles for December 2020.

BLACK COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Here Comes A New Challenger: BIC Distro Brings Black Comics To Retail

DC CINEMA - From CBR:  "Justice League" producer Jon Berg denies the accusations that "Justice League" actor, Ray Fisher, made against himself, Geoff Johns, and director Joss Whedon.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press announces six new manga title acquisitions.

MANGA - From ANN:  When the 21st volume of the historical manga, "Ooku: The Inner Chambers" debuts in early 2021 in Japan, it will be the final volume of the series by the acclaimed and prolific creator, Fumi Yoshinaga.  VIZ Media is publishing the series in English.

MANGA - From Bounding:  UDON Entertainment has announced that it will publish the final three volumes of the "Persona 4" manga later this year.  VIZ Media is currently publishing the "Persona 5" manga.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  "Justice League" actor, Ray Fisher (Cyborg) accuses director Joss Whedon of abusive behavior on the set of "Justice League."

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Is there a new "Watchman" comic book coming from writer Tom King?

LCS-COVID-19 - From BizJournal:  Local comic book retailers face COVID-19 challenges — and industry upheaval.

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COMIC BOOK INDUSTRY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SCANDAL:

SCANDAL - From TheBeat:  On the heels of harassment allegations against comic book figures like Jason Latour, Scott Allie, and Cameron Stewart, to name a few, comes new allegations against veteran writer, Scott Lobdell.

SCANDAL - From TheBeat:  Dark Horse Comics and its biggest star, Mike Mignola, release statements about their editorial pal, Scott Allie, who is allegedly a serial abuser.

SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  Charles Brownstein Resigns as Executive Director of the CBLDF (about damn time!).

SCANDAL - From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer and artist, Cameron Stewart, becomes the latest comics creator whose career hits a snag because of abuse allegations.  DC Comics withdrawn an unannounced comics project by Stewart from their schedule.

6/26- From TheBeat:  There are sexual misconduct allegations against comic book writer-artist, Jason Latour.

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JULY 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for July 2020
From ComicsPit:  BOOM Studios! for July 2020
From Comicon:  DC Comics for July 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for July 2020
From ComicsPit:  IDW Publishing for July 2020
From CBR:  Image Comics for July/August 2020
From Scout:  Scout Comics for July 2020
From AllComics:  VIZ Media for July 2020
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for July 2020

AUGUST 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  AWA for August 2020
From CBR:  DC Comics for August 2020
From FirstComicsNews:  IDW Publishing for August 2020
From Seibertron:  IDW Publishing's "Transformers" solicitations for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2020
From CBR:  Marvel Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  PS Artbooks for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2020
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2020

OCTOBER 2020 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Albatross Funnybooks for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Behemoth Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for October 2020
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for October 2020



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Comics, Magazines, and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 9, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR181843    5 WORLDS GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $12.99
MAR181844    5 WORLDS HC GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $20.99
MAR182074    AJIN GN VOL 11 DEMI HUMAN    $12.95
MAR181782    AKISSI TALES OF MISCHIEF GN    $14.95
MAR181182    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #261    $6.99
FEB181031    BACKWAYS #5    $3.99
MAR181073    BETROTHED #3    $3.99
MAR181156    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR A VAUGHN    $3.99
MAR181157    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR B ANWAR    $3.99
MAR181158    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR C CABRERA    $3.99
MAY171199    CALEXIT #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV171866    CAPTAIN HARLOCK DIMENSIONAL VOYAGE GN VOL 03    $12.99
MAR181763    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #10    $3.99
MAR181762    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL TP VOL 02    $14.99
MAR181765    CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #7    $3.99
MAR181200    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR A VAZQUEZ    $3.99
MAR181201    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR B RANDOLPH    $3.99
MAR181966    COMIC BOOK STORY OF BASEBALL GN    $18.99
JAN181808    DALSTON MONSTERZZ GN    $19.95
JAN181614    DF INCREDIBLE HULK #714 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
FEB181511    DF WEAPON H #1 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
MAR181635    DISNEY MASTERS HC VOL 01 SCARPA MICKEY MOUSE DELTA DIMENSION    $29.99
NOV171917    DOCTOR WHO 11TH SAPLING HC VOL 03 BRANCHES    $22.99
MAR181753    ENCHANTED CHEST HC    $17.99
JAN181091    FEMFORCE #182    $9.95
MAR181751    GAME FOR ADVENTURE YR GN VOL 03 CHAVO THE INVISIBLE    $6.99
MAR181760    GHOST MONEY #10 (OF 10) (MR)    $3.99
NOV171216    GOLD DIGGER #252    $3.99
MAR181736    HAPPINESS GN VOL 07    $12.99
MAR181564    HELL HIGH GN (MR)    $15.00
MAR181907    HOLLISTON FRIENDSHIP IS TRAGIC GN    $5.99
MAR181622    JELLY VAMPIRE GN VOL 01    $19.99
FEB181306    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED IVORY ADULT (MR)    $39.99
NOV171873    LORD MARKSMAN & VANADIS GN VOL 06    $12.99
FEB180955    LOVE AND AARDVARKS #1 (OF 1)    $4.00
NOV171874    MAGICAL GIRL SITE GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
MAR181781    MEAN GIRLS CLUB PINK DAWN HC GN    $20.95
MAR181572    MUSHROOM FAN CLUB HC    $17.95
DEC171719    MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR GN    $19.99
DEC171706    OUT OF NOTHING GN    $22.99
JAN181664    REAL DEAL #8 (MR)    $8.00
MAR181785    RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO GN VOL 08 MANGA    $11.95
MAR181917    ROBOTECH #9 CVR A EDWARDS    $3.99
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MAR181075    ROUGH RIDERS RIDE OR DIE #4 (MR)    $3.99
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MAR181378    SMASH HC GN VOL 02 FEARLESS    $18.99
JAN181861    SMOKETOWN #7    $3.99
MAR181229    SPONGEBOB COMICS #80    $3.99
MAR182186    STAR WARS BLOCK HC    $16.99
MAR181934    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR A LEON (RES)    $5.99
MAR181935    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR B TV SHOW (RES)    $5.99
MAR181936    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR C HEBB (RES)    $5.99
MAR181742    SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING GN VOL 10    $12.99
JAN181157    THE THREE STOOGES TP VOL 02    $19.99
FEB181775    TO LOVE RU GN VOL 07-08 (MR)    $19.99
MAR181623    VERONA GN VOL 01    $24.99
MAR181921    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR A NAKAYAMA (RES)    $3.99
MAR181922    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR B SVENDSON (RES)    $3.99
MAR181923    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR C MAGILL (RES)    $3.99
FEB181914    WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR HC DLX ED    $49.99
JAN181650    ZAGOR THE ORIGINS GN    $23.99

MAGAZINES
JAN182187    HOBBY JAPAN APR 2018    $20.00
DEC172099    MEGAMI MAR 2018    $20.00
DEC172098    NEWTYPE MAR 2018    $20.00
MAR182212    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 NEWSSTAND ED    $9.99
MAR182213    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 PX ED    $9.99
FEB181079    STEAMPUNK GLAMOUR GAZETTE #1    $3.99

BOOKS
FEB182103    ANIME IMPACT MOVIES SHOWS CHANGED WORLD JAPANESE ANIMATION (    $27.99
MAR182164    BATMAN HAS A PLAN READ TO READ HC    $17.99
MAR182170    DOCTOR WHO WHO OLOGY REGENERATED ED OFFIC MISCELLANY HC    $19.99
NOV171884    GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05    $13.99
MAR182153    HOLLYWOOD BEACH BEAUTIES 1930-1970 HC    $30.00
MAR182191    I AM GANDHI GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY SC    $8.99
FEB181836    INFINITE STARS SF ANTHOLOGY SC    $19.95
MAR182158    LOIS LANE TRIPLE THREAT YA SC NOVEL    $9.95
MAR182190    PHOEBE & HER UNICORN BOARD BOOK TODAY ILL BE A UNICORN    $7.99
MAR181952    RIG MMPB    $14.95
MAR182154    SERAPH PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLAN AMATO HC (MR)    $40.00
MAR182162    SUPERGIRL YA NOVEL VOL 02 CURSE OF ANCIENTS    $13.99
MAR181904    UNFINISHED SC 3 POEMS    $10.00
FEB182089    WORLD OF READING THESE ARE THE AVENGERS SC    $4.99

Review: THUNDER Agents, 50th Anniversary Special

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was first published by Patreon.]

WRITERS:  Larry Ivie; Len Brown; Dan Adkins
PENCILS: Wally Wood; Steve Ditko; Dan Adkins; Garry Leach
INKS: Wally Wood; Dan Adkins; Tony Coleman; Garry Leach
COLORS: Jason Millet
LETTERS: Victor Gorelick
MISC. ART: George Perez with Ronda Pattison; George Tuska with Ronda Pattison; Jerry Ordway with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum; Steve Ditko and Greg Theakston with Ronda Pattison; George Perez and Dave Cockrum with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum and Murphy Anderson with Ronda Pattison; Steve Ditko and Will Blyberg; Bob Layton; Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur with David Baron; Dave Sim with David Baron
EDITORS: Greg Goldstein and Michael Benedetto
COVER: Dan Adkins with Jason Millet (based on Wally Wood and Dan Adkins' cover for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3)
SUBSCRIPTION COVER: Andrew Pepoy with Jason Millet (based on Wally Wood's cover for Incredible Science Fiction #33)
64pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (July 2015)

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents created by Wally Wood and Len Brown

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was a team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics from 1965 to 1969.  The original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were an arm of the United Nations.  The name, T.H.U.N.D.E.R., is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents the comic book series ran for 20 issues.  Tower Comics gave the two of the most popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Dynamo and NoMan, each his own short lived comic book series.  After the demise of Tower Comics, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters did not appear in new comic book stories until the early 1980s, which was the beginning of a series of sporadic efforts to create T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics over the next three decades.  Beginning in 2010, DC Comics published a short-lived ongoing T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents series and a miniseries.  In 2013, IDW Publishing published another short lived T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book series.

In spite of decades of short-lived iterations, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents still have fans and admirers, and I am one of them.  In fact, 2015 is the 50th anniversary of their first appearance in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 (Tower Comics; cover dated: November 1965).  So I was excited to discover that IDW had published a one-shot comic book, entitled T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special.

Despite their checkered comic book publishing history, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics have featured the work of a number of talented writers and artists.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special celebrates the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, some of their classic stories, and a selection of work from acclaimed and popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. creators.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special reprints four Tower Comics-era stories.  “First Encounters,” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 (November 1965), introduces the devices that give super-powered T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents their powers.  Dynamo shines in two stories:  “D-Day for Dynamo!” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 (cover dated: January 1966) and “Master of Evolution” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4 (cover dated: April 1966).

One of the best known T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents stories is also reprinted here.  That is “A Matter of Life and Death,” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 (cover dated: August 1966).  Some comic book historians and fans believe that this story features the first meaningful and long-lasting depiction of the death of a major character, in this case, Menthor, in a comic book.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special also reprints the art Garry Leach drew for a story that deals with the aftermath of Menthor's death on Dynamo.  I am assuming that this story, written by the late George Caragonne, was originally produced for Deluxe Comics' short-lived T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents revival, a comic book series entitled Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

I don't want to describe the four Tower Comics stories as “quaint and charming,” which is how I sometimes describe comics from the Silver Age and earlier.  I think that these stories are actually quite good, and they reveal that Dynamo is a dynamic character, one whose potential has never and will likely never be reached, unless someone dedicated to comic books saves the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special also offers just under 20 pages of illustrations, pin-ups, cover art, and preliminary art by classic comic book artists, like George Perez and two now deceased artists, Dave Cockrum and George Tuska, among others.  This comic book is like a short love letter to fans of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.  It does seem a bit inadequate, but fans can get more T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Companion (from TwoMorrows Publishing).  In the meantime, we can enjoy the comic book-sized T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special for what it is.  It is a special comic book commemorating a group of comic book characters whose 50 years of existence is probably the shortest half-century in American comic book history.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

WRITER:  Phil Hester
ARTIST: Andrea Di Vito
COLORS: Rom Fajardo
LETTERS: Shawn Lee
COVER: Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur with David Baron
COVER RIA: The Sharp Brothers
COVER RIB: Dave Sim
SUBSCRIPTION VARIANT COVER: Dave Sim with David Baron
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2013)

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was a team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics from 1965 to 1969.  The original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were an arm of the United Nations.  Their name, T.H.U.N.D.E.R., is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents the comic book series ran for 20 issues.  Two of the most popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Dynamo and NoMan, had short lived series.  After the demise of Tower Comics, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters did not appear in new comic book stories until 1983.  For the next four or five years, five different entities published T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics.  Except for a brief appearance in the 1990s, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents did not appear in new stories until DC Comics published a short-lived ongoing series and a miniseries beginning in 2010.

Now, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are at IDW Publishing.  The creative team of the 2013-launched T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book series is writer Phil Hester (Godzilla, Wonder Woman) and artist Andrea Di Vito (Dungeons & Dragons).

The first issue of IDW’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents had sold out by the time I made it to a comic book shop.  From the information I’ve gathered from the Web, IDW’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a reinvention of the concept and characters, to one extent or another.  I have grown weary of the term, “re-imagination,” because pop culture concepts and franchises that are re-imagined often seem as if they are not really the result of imagination.  It is as if the people behind some of these new versions just make arbitrary changes and tweek some things for the sake of “modernization.”

Thus, far I can’t really tell how much T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents has been changed.  Apparently the new series begins like this:  The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents are dead, or will soon be.  It is up to new recruit Dynamo to master the incredible but lethal power of the Thunderbelt (which gives him his power) in time to rescue his teammates from the mysterious Iron Maiden, a classic T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents adversary.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 (The Judgment Tower, Part Two: “Embrace of the Iron Maiden”) opens as Dynamo makes his landing in “the disputed territory of Kashmir” (a sort of barren, rocky landscape that resembles parts of Pakistan or Afghanistan).  He must rescue Agents NoMan and Lightning from a secret T.H.U.N.D.E.R. station that is now under the control of the Iron Maiden.  Dynamo immediately meets someone who is supposed to be an ally, but seems too suspicious to trust.

There are only 20 pages of story in this 28-page comic book.  Dynamo lands in Kashmir, meets someone, penetrates his target, and gets captured.  Plus, some people talk and scheme.  What it took writer Phil Hester fifteen pages to do with Dynamo, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko would have done in three pages – tops, and with more imagination.

This comic book is not awful; it is just a story stretched too far.  It is a short story padded to be graphic novel-like.  It is boring.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is supposed to be a superhero action comic book, but this is stiff and phony.  Andrea Di Vito’s art is rigid, awkward, and clunky.  I must admit, however, that I do like the art Phil Hester drew for the cover.  In fact, Di Vito should go away.  Hester should become at least the pencil artist and give up the writing to someone else.

I think I may try another issue of this series.  I hope that IDW does not turn this T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book into a B.L.U.N.D.E.R.

C-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.