#IReadsYou Review: BATTLE CHASERS ANTHOLOGY

BATTLE CHASERS ANTHOLOGY

IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Joe Madureira and Munier Sharrieff

PENCILS: Joe Madureira; Adam Warren

INKS: Tom McWeeney with Joe Madureira; Adam Warren

COLORS: Liquid!; Christian Lightner; Aron Lusen; Ryan Kinnaird

LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

COVER: Joe Madureira with Grace Liu

ISBN:  978-1-5343-1522-8; paperback (September 25, 2019)

32pp, Colors, 24.99 U.S.

Rated “T/ Teen”

Battle Chasers created by Joe Madureira

Battle Chasers is an American fantasy comic book series created by artist Joe Madureira.  Launched in April 1998, the series was sporadically published for nine issues over a period of a little over three years.  Battle Chasers #1 to #4 (cover dated: April to October 1998) were published by Image Comics' studio, Wildstorm Productions, via its “Cliffhanger” imprint.  Issues #5 to 8 (cover dated: May 1999 to 2001) were published by DC Comics via Wildstorm Productions and its “Cliffhanger” imprint.  The series returned to Image Comics for Battle Chasers #9 (cover dated: September 2001).  Although there was some art produced for a Battle Chasers #10, the issue was never published.

Well, Battle Chasers #10 finally arrives June 14th, 2023 (at least 21 years late) albeit with new series artist.  So I decided to go back and reread the original run, and there is a handy way to do that.

Battle Chasers Anthology, originally published in September 2019, collects every Battle Chasers comics story.  That includes Battle Chasers #1 to 9; the eight-page story from Battle Chasers Prelude (cover dated: February 1998); the 10-page story published in Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated (cover dated: Summer 1998); and the Joe Madureira-Adam Warren “Red Monika: Interlude” serial, which was originally published in Battle Chasers #6 and #9.

[This volumes also includes a 21-page sketchbook section; a 10-page pin-up and illustration gallery; and 27-page cover art gallery.]

Battle Chasers takes place in a “steampunk” nineteenth century-type fantasy world.  It focuses on five main characters.  The first is Gully, a ten-year-old girl who possesses a pair of magical gloves left behind by her father, the great warrior, Aramus, who disappeared.  Next is Garrison, a legendary swordsman and grieving widow; he has a powerful magical sword.  Knolan is a powerful 500-year-old wizard.  His companion is Calibretto, a towering “Wargolem,” who is also an outlaw and the last of his kind.

The four join forces to find Gully's father.  They must also stop four extremely powerful villains that were inadvertently released from imprisonment by the fifth main character, Red Monika, a rogue and a voluptuous bounty hunter.  Meanwhile, the legacy of Aramus, the machinations of King Vaneer of the Unified Territories, and the secrets of Knolan begin to poison everything and everyone around them.

THE LOWDOWN:  I was a huge fan of Joe Madureira a.k.a. “Joe Mad” in the 1990s.  I used to call him “the young master” because his talent, abilities, and art seemed to explode every few months into something even better and more beautiful.  I even collected multiple pages of Joe Mad's original art.

So I was ecstatic when his first creator-owned comic book, Battle Chasers, was announced in 1997.  I was so excited about Battle Chasers when it arrived in the spring of 1998 that I also bought one of the variant covers.  I enjoyed the series, but it was a bit hard to follow because … well, because Mad took two and a half years to deliver nine issues.  For instance, there was a 16-month delay between the publication of Battle Chasers #6 (August 1999, DC Comics) and #7 (January 2001, DC Comics).

In the end, Joe Mad abandoned the series to work in the video game industry and went on to co-found a video game company.  Eventually, he did return to Battle Chasers, and Battle Chasers Anthology was published in 2019.

It is through Battle Chasers Anthology that a reader can see how imaginative, inventive, and fun to read Battle Chasers was and is.  Having the series gathered in one book allows a reader to enjoy the series without waiting months or a year-and-half to read each chapter.  The story flows, so the overall narrative comes across as impressive and well-thought out, and except for some wonky names for people, places, and beings and some awkward dialogue, the script writing by Munier Sharrieff is really good.  Engaging plots, interesting character, and surprising cliffhangers make this an exciting and gripping read.  Battle Chasers is a wild gumbo of video games scenarios, Dungeons & Dragons, and anime and manga.  Still, it is original rather than being a pastiche, although on the surface, it might appear to be as such.

To that end, along with the end of his run on Marvel Comics' Uncanny X-Men, Battle Chasers is peak Joe Mad art.  His creature design for this series is still impressive, and there was nothing like it, at least in American comic books, back then.  Battle Chasers' character design is also quite good, simply because none of the lead characters or main supporting and guests character look remotely alike.

Like Tim Townsend did when he inked Joe Mad, Tom McWeeney uses his inks to control the wild energy and eccentricity that showed itself in Mad's comic book art after he left Battle Chasers.  In the 1990s, I thought that there were no better comic book colorists than Liquid Graphics a.k.a. Liquid!  Twenty years later, the studio's work on this comic book still looks amazing.  Even the lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft stands out as exceptional – even today.  I'm starting to believe that, in spite of their lateness, Battle Chasers and the other two original Cliffhanger titles were not only peak 1990s mainstream comic books but also a peak in mainstream comic books in general.

I wanted to read Battle Chasers Anthology just in case I decided to read the finally arrived Battle Chasers #10 (Image Comics).  I enjoyed this collection so much that I feel that I have to at least read this new issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of artist Joe Madureira and of his former comic book series, Battle Chasers, will want Battle Chasers Anthology.

A

[This volume includes an introduction by Jeph Loeb and an afterword by Joe Madureira.]

[MISC ART: Joe Madureira; Joe Madureira and Tom McWeeney with Liquid!, Joe Maduriera and Alex Garner; Joe Madureira and Vince Russell; Joe Madureira and Richard Starkings; Ed McGuiness and Liquid!; David Finch and Liquid!; Travis Charest and Richard Friend; Ed McGuiness and Jason Martin with Justin Ponsor; Travis Charest and Richard Friend with Liquid!; Joe Chiodo; Adam Warren with Liquid!; Humberto Ramos and Sandra Hope with Liquid!; J. Scott Campbell and Richard Friend with Liquid!.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #1

KING SPAWN #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis; Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue and back-up stories)
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez (King Spawn); Stephen Segovia (Haunt); Marcio Takara (Nightmare); Philip Tan (The Hero); Brett Booth (Gunslinger)
INKS: Javi Fernandez; Adelso Corona; Daniel Henriques
COLORS: FCO Plascencia (King Spawn); Andrew Dalhouse; Marcelo Maiolo; Peter Steigerwald; Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Andworld Design (King Spawn): Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Puppeteer Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; David Finch with FCO Plascencia; Sean Gordon Murphy; Brett Booth and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Donny Cates and Todd McFarlane
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Created by writer-artist Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).

Spawn was Albert Francis “Al” Simmons.  A career military man who becomes a highly capable assassin and dies a violent death.  He makes a deal with the devil, Malebolgia, in order to return to the living realm to see his wife one last time.  However, Al returns with almost no memories accept that his name is Al Simmons, and he learns that he is now a “Hellspawn” in service of Malebolgia.  Rebelling, Al Simmons, now “Spawn,” finds a new purpose in stopping evil.

Back in February (2021), Todd McFarlane announced his plans to build a larger, multi-character, interconnected, comic book universe based around his Spawn comic book – a “Spawn Universe.”  McFarlane also announced four new comic book titles coming out in 2021, with three of them continuing as regular monthly titles.  The first of the three titles, King Spawn, has arrived.

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.

King Spawn #1 opens at an elementary school in Seattle, Washington.  There, a bombing kills sixteen people, including fourteen children aged five and six years old.  Spawn and Jessica Priest (She-Spawn) surreptitiously attend the funeral of one of the children, and Spawn, enraged, tells Priest that he knows who committed this crime and that he is going after them.

The suspects include a legendary angel, Metatron, and perhaps, an underground religious group, “Psalms 137.”  Or maybe, the people behind the bombing are fans...

THE LOWDOWN:  I read Spawn #1 back in 1992, and I had mixed feelings about it.  Yet I was a fan and followed the series for another five or six years.

2021 finds me reading my a Spawn title first-issue for the first time since I read Curse of the Spawn #1 back in 1996.  I like the main story in King Spawn #1.  In fact, Sean Lewis has written the best first issue for an ongoing Spawn comic that I have read to date.  His dialogue is sharp and natural-like, which I can't say for Spawn creator Todd McFarlane's dialogue and exposition, which often describes things that we can see in the art.  Lewis' script is lean and mean, and Lewis does something at which McFarlane is quite good – make the reader feel for the victims.

I've always preferred my Spawn comic books to be drawn by McFarlane, but as a businessman from the beginning of Spawn, he really could not commit to drawing Spawn on a regular basis past the first two years of the original series.  However, Javi Fernandez's art and storytelling shares a sensibility with McFarlane's art that will satisfy me.

So far, I find that King Spawn #1 is the closest to what I will get to those early days of Spawn.  Also, the ending makes me want to come back for more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Spawn will want to read King Spawn.

[This comic book includes four back-up stories and “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” in which Todd McFarlane and Sean Lewis interview each other.]

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


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#IReadsYou Review: Marvel Comics' ALIEN #1

ALIEN #1
MARVEL

STORY: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Guru-eFX
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Jake Thomas
EiC: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: InHyuk Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Steve McNiven with Laura Martin; Peach Momoko; Ron Lim with Israel Silva; Todd Nauck with Rachelle Rosenberg; Patrick Gleason; Skottie Young; David Finch with Frank D'Armata; Salvador Larroca with Guru-eFX
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2021)

Parental Advisory

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon, based on a story that O'Bannon wrote with Ronald Shusett.  The film depicts a battle for survival between the crew of the commercial towing vehicle,  the space ship named “the Nostromo” and an aggressive deadline extraterrestrial creature, the “Alien” of the title, that is now known as a “Xenomorph.”

Alien, which went on to win an Academy Award, spawned a film franchise, beginning with writer-director James Cameron's 1986 science fiction action film, Aliens.  Alien also begat a media franchise, which included a comic book adaptation and also a novelization of the original film.  In 1988, Dark Horse Comics launched its first Alien comic book series, a 1988-89, six-issue comic book miniseries, entitled Aliens.  Dark Horse had the license to produce comic books based on the Alien franchise from 1988 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2020.

Marvel Comics announced in 2020 that it had obtained the license to produce comic books based on the Alien film franchise.  Marvel Comics recently launched the first comic book series, Alien.  It is written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson; drawn by Salvador Larroca; colored by Guru-eFX, and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  This new Alien comic book focuses on a recently retired security agent who once faced the Xenomorphs and may have to again.

Alien #1 opens in January of the year 2200 on the Epsilon Orbital Research and Development Station.  It introduces Gabriel Cruz, a man who has given his life to Weyland-Yutani as a defense agent.  He is retiring as the security agent for Weyland-Yutani's Epsilon Station.  With the help of his friend, a Bishop-model android, Cruz hopes to reconnect and patch things up with Danny, his estranged son.  However, Danny has dangerous and ulterior motives for reuniting with his father.

Once upon a time, Gabriel barely survived an alien attack.  And now, it seems that his encounters are far from over.

THE LOWDOWN:  I am a big fan of the Alien film franchise, and I have lost count of how many times I have watched James Cameron's Aliens, including a few times just recently.  I have seen both Alien vs. Predator films numerous times and will watch them many times more.

Early in Dark Horse Comics' run of Alien comic books, I was devoted to the company's output, but lost interest after several years.  I thought the new Marvel Comics' title would be a good time to start reading Alien comic book again, and I was right.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson whets the appetite with the promise of thrills to come while offering tasty teases of back story involving Gabriel Cruz.  Books about writing will always say that the writer should create strong characters and that the plot will develop from the characters.  Basically, the characters should act as the spine of the story.  I find the spine of this story, Gabriel and Danny, to be dull, and I have no interest in their crappy relationship.  On the other hand, the plot is quite strong.  Johnson makes Alien #1 a fun read when he focuses on the threat of the “Aliens” and on the looming disaster that will fully bring them into the story.

I would not call the art and graphical storytelling in Alien #1 peak Salvador Larroca.  For one thing, all the characters have faces that look like they underwent bad plastic surgery.  The compositions have a generic, Larroca clip art quality, but Guru-eFX's power-coloring and super-hues cover up the blemishes as well as any coloring can.

Still, Marvel's Alien #1 intrigues, especially if you, dear readers, are fans of the Xenomorphs.  I think I should keep reading … at least for the first story arc.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the Alien/Aliens film and comic book franchises will certainly want to try Marvel's Alien.

A-
7.5 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: RADIANT BLACK #1

RADIANT BLACK #1
IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kyle Higgins
ART: Marcelo Costa
COLORS: Marcelo Costa
LETTERS: Becca Carey
EDITOR/DESIGNER: Michael Busuttil
COVER: Michael Cho
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Marcelo Costa with Eduardo Ferigato; Marcelo Costa; David Finch, Jimmy Reyes, and Marcelo Costa; Goñi Montes
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (February 2021)

Rated “T+/Teen Plus”

“(Not So) Secret Origin”

Radiant Black is a new superhero comic book series from writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa.  The series focuses on a failed writer who discovers a cosmic force that changes his life.  Letterer Becca Carey complete the series' creative team.

Radiant Black #1 (“(Not So) Secret Origin”) introduces Nathan Burnett.  He just turned thirty-years-old, and things are not going great.  He is a failed writer, has two awful jobs, and has thirty-eight thousand dollars in credit card debt.  Nathan leaves Los Angeles and returns home to Lockport to live with his parents.

Reunited with his old pal, Marshall, he goes out for a night on the town.  This is the night Nathan discovers and unlocks something cosmic that changes his life.  This new thing seems totally unique, but there is more to it than Nathan can imagine.

THE LOWDOWN:  If what I am reading on the Internet is true, Radiant Black may the first entry in a new “shared universe” of superhero titles from Image Comics.  That made me interested in Radiant Black, although I would have read the first issue anyway.

Marcelo Costa's art and colors do look radiant, and Costa's graphical storytelling is straightforward and calm.  That's a good thing; it is as if this story is saying, “Let's not get ahead of ourselves, now!”

I'm not sure what pace writer Kyle Higgins will adapt in revealing Radiant Black's secrets, but there is something charming and sweet in the matter of fact way this first issue reveals itself.  There is an old-fashioned sense of wonder and discovery in Radiant Black, but it is new, at the same time, and I like that.  Even Becca Carey's lettering seems determined to keep everything simple, but moving.

I like Radiant Black #1, but I won't give it a grade, although it seems like something I should call “a perfect first issue.”  I feel as if I need to know more, and I think the second issue will throw lots more at me.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans looking for something new with a touch of classic in superhero comic books will want to try Radiant Black.

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


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: THE DARKNESS #1 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

THE DARKNESS #1 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
IMAGE COMICS/Top Cow Productions, Inc.

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Garth Ennis
PENCILS: Marc Silvestri
INKS: Batt (inking assistants: Joe Weems, Nathan Cabrera, Victor Llamas and various)
COLORS: Steve Firchow
LETTERS: Dennis Heisler
EDITOR: David Wohl
COVER: Marc Silvestri and Batt with Steve Firchow
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2020)

Rated M / Mature

The Darkness created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl

“Coming of Age”

The Darkness is a long-running comic book series created by artist Marc Silvestri, writer Garth Ennis, and editor David Wohl.  The Darkness focuses on Jackie Estacado, a mafia hit man who inherits “the curse of the Darkness.”  The character made his debut in Witchblade #10 (November 1996) before making his solo debut in his own series.

In celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Darkness #1 (December 1996), Image Comics and Top Cow Productions, Inc. are publishing The Darkness #1 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.  This one-shot comic book reprints the story contents from The Darkness #1 and also includes an interview, an essay, a five-page section reprinting select cover illustrations produced during the series first 16 years, and other material.

The Darkness #1 (“Coming of Age”) opens at night on the Lower East Side of New York City.  Tall, dark, and handsome mafia hit man, Jackie Estacado, has just executed his latest target in service of his boss, Don Franchetti.  This latest bloody move by the Franchetti mob starts a bloody skirmish with rival mobster, Don Tommy Marchianni.  Jackie, Don Franchetti's top enforcer, is caught in the middle.

But the young killer has bigger problems.  He is about to turn 21-years-old, and “The Darkness” is about to start calling for him.  And the “Angelus” is coming for him.

THE LOWDOWN:  I read the first 10 or 12 issues of the original run of The Darkness back in 1996-97, but I eventually grew bored with this comic book and stopped reading it.  I have to admit that I had high expectations for it.  After all, the writer was Garth Ennis, red-hot in the mid-1990s because of his DC Comics/Vertigo series, Preacher.  I was a huge fan of post-Marvel Comics Marc Silvestri.  I thought many the comic books that Silvestri drew for Marvel Comics looked awful because of his chicken-scratch drawing style.  But Image Comics-Marc Silvestri seemed like an entirely different artist, especially when Silvestri's pencils were inked by the great Scott Williams.

Yet every time I read The Darkness, I felt like Ennis and Silvestri were not really delivering on this concept's potential.  I understood that the universe of Silvestri's Top Cow Productions, Inc. was obsessed with some kind of angelic vs. demonic rivalry, similar to that of Jim Lee's Wildstorm Productions universe.  However, I didn't think that Ennis and Silvestri really understood where they could take The Darkness in terms of narrative.  In The Darkness, Ennis delivered a stillborn version of the usual outtakes from his ultra-violence wheelhouse.  Silvestri's art was an unimaginative spin on the grim-and-gritty riffs that everyone was stealing from Frank Miller's Batman comics.

I don't know if The Darkness every reached its potential.  Frankly, I didn't give a crap after I stopped reading the series, but on occasion, I would see an issue of The Darkness and wonder about it … I have to admit.

The Darkness #1 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition commemorates an anniversary that is only important to Top Cow because … let's be frank … it does not have much to commemorate.  The original Image Comics creators, Marc Silvestri among them, turned their studios into vanity project factories that produced poorly written comic books that featured the kind of art that only the artists and their sycophantic fans thought was great.  This is something that can be said of many of the artists associated with Image Comics first decade, for instance Rob Liefeld and J. Scott Campbell.

It is only in the last 15 years or so that Image Comics has delivered on the promise that the birth of the publisher offered to both comic book creators and readers.  The Darkness represents a placeholder in the evolution of Image Comics.  After the fanfare for their first wave of comic book series faded, some of Image's founders moved on to offering exciting new concepts.  For Jim Lee, it was Divine Right, and for Silvestri, it was The Darkness.  At least, The Darkness ran much longer than Divine Right.

The Darkness #1 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, as a package, is nothing special, but – and there is a big but – reading it again did remind me that The Darkness still has great potential.  I enjoyed re-reading this reprint of the first issue, and I might reread a few more of the original issues.  I still think that The Darkness is an outside-the-box comic book concept that could be an exceptional dark fantasy comic book.  But will it ever be that?  Does it matter?

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Top Cow Productions' comic books will want The Darkness #1 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.

6 out of 10

This issue contains the feature “Say Good Night to the 'Good Guy'” by Henry Barajas and Claire Napier.  This feature includes illustrations; an questions-and-answer session with Marc Silvestri and David Wohl; a bullet-point presentation about the publication, licensing, and merchandising success of The Darkness.

This issue also includes a gallery of cover art produced by the following artists and art teams for The Darkness:  Marc Silvestri, Joe Weems, and Peter Steigerwald; Joe Benitez, Joe Weems, and Dean White; Nathan Cabrera and Victor Llamas; Greg Hildebrandt and Tim Hildebrandt; Michael Turner, Joe Weems, and JD Smith; Joe Benitez, Joe Weems, and Richard Isanove; Clarence Lansang, Victor Llamas, and Matt Nelson; David Finch, Jason Gorder, and Matt Nelson; Brian Ching, Victor Llamas, and Matt Nelson; Mark Pajarillo, Danny Miki, and Matt Nelson; Dale Keown and Matt Milla; Lee Bermejo; Dale Keown; Rafael Albuquerque; Todd McFarlane; Jeremy Haun and John Rauch

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


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#IReadsYou Review: UNCANNY X-MEN #1 (2019)

UNCANNY X-MEN #1 (2019) – Legacy #620
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg, and Kelly Thompson
ART: Mahmud Asrar; Mirko Colak; Ibraim Roberson
PENCILS: Mark Bagley
INKS: Andrew Hennessy
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Leinil Francis Yu with Edgar Delgado
EDITOR: Jordan White with Darren Shan
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: David Finch with Frank D'Armata; Jim Cheung with Justin Ponsor; Scott Williams with Ryan Kinnaird; Carlos Pacheco and Rafael Fonteriz with Edgar Delgado; Joe Quesada with Richard Isanove; Rob Liefeld with Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; Dave Cockrum with Jason; Dave Cockrum
72pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (January 2019)

Rated T+

X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“Disassembled” Part 1; “What Tomorrow Brings” Parts One – “A Bishop Story”; Part Two – “A Jean Grey Story”; Part Three – “An Armor & Angle Story”; Epilogue

There is no point in trying to count the number of times that Marvel Comics has relaunched, reinvigorated, or quasi-rebooted its X-Men comic book franchise since 2001's New X-Men.  This week we got the third(?) Uncanny X-Men relaunch.

Uncanny X-Men 2019 is written by the team of Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg, and Kelly Thompson.  The artists and art teams will rotate, as the first nine issues of this new series will be published weekly.  The artists for this first issue are Mahmud Asrar (pencils-inks); Mirko Colak (pencils-inks); Ibraim Roberson (pencils-inks); and the team of Mark Bagley (pencils) and Andrew Hennessy (inks).  Rachelle Rosenberg colors and Joe Caramanga letters this first issue.

Uncanny X-Men #1 begins with the main story, “Disassembled” Part 1.  The story opens with Jean Grey having a dream about an invasion of multiple copies of Multiple Man, each one demanding the whereabouts of Kitty Pryde.  Meanwhile, Kitty is among the members of the X-Men who are suddenly disappearing.  Who is behind this mystery?  In a series of back-up stories, Bishop, Jean Grey & Storm, and Armor & Anole take on a foe capable of possessing people in the days leading up to the events depicted in the main story.

20th Century Fox's X-Men film franchise has had some spectacular successes and some failures since the franchise's first film, 2000's X-Men.  In that time, X-Men comic books have been mostly hit and miss.  There have been some interesting, even good series; All New X-Men, New X-Men, and X-Men: The Hidden Years come to mind.  However, the “golden age” of X-Men comic books was over by the mid-1980s, and the various owners of Marvel Comics have ruined the franchise by turning it into a cash cow that has vomited money.  A deluge of X-Men and X-Men-related ongoing series, miniseries, one-shots, specials, graphic novels, and reprint and archival publications in various formats, etc. were money makers.  The quality of these comic books varied wildly.  Some were good.  Some were mediocre.  Some were plain awful.

Personally, I think that without a radical rethinking of the X-Men concept, the best we can hope for is that maybe each new iteration of a flagship X-Men comic book, Uncanny X-Men or the recent X-Men: Blue and X-Men: Gold, can yield at least a year's worth of good comic books.  Gold and Blue barely did that.

I like that Uncanny X-Men 2019 will be weekly for its first nine issues.  I wish that Marvel and DC Comics published more weekly titles.  Rather than have a bunch of crappy Justice League titles, have one that is published weekly and features rotating casts and creative teams.  If Uncanny X-Men's writing team can maintain this first issue's sense of mystery and keep offering cliffhangers like the ones in this issue, then, this will be a fun run of nine issues.

So I have some hope, but, without going into spoilers, nothing in Uncanny X-Men #1 2019 suggests that this comic book will approach the first quarter-century of X-Men publications, which offered quite a few stories that went on to become classics.  But there is enough here to suggest that this could be a solid title.  I want to be surprised and delighted.

7 out of 10

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


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

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Review: SAVAGE AVENGERS #1

SAVAGE AVENGERS No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gerry Duggan
ART: Mike Deodato, Jr.
COLORS: Frank Martin
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebulski”
COVER: David Finch with Frank D'Armata
VARIANT COVERS: Simone Bianchi with Simone Peruzzi; Mike Deodato, Jr. with Frank Martin; Moebius; Skottie Young; Leinil Francis Yu with Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2019)

Rated “Parental Advisory”

Avengers created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Chapter One: “Once Upon a Time in the City of Sickles”

The Avengers are Marvel Comics' premiere team of superheroes.  Known as “Earth's Mightiest Heroes,” the team made its debut in The Avengers #1 (cover dated:  September 1963) and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Conan the Cimmerian is a “sword and sorcery” character created by Robert E. Howard (REH).  Conan first appeared in the pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  Conan lived in Howard's fictional “Hyborian Age” and was a mercenary, outlaw, pirate, thief, warrior, and eventually a king, but because of his tribal origins, some characters that encountered him thought of Conan as a barbarian.  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books with the series, Conan the Barbarian.

Conan the Barbarian teams-up with Wolverine, The Punisher, Venom, Elektra and Doctor Voodoo to give the Avengers a savage spin in the new comic book series, Savage Avengers.  This ongoing title is written by Gerry Duggan; drawn by Mike Deodato, Jr.; colored by Frank Martin; and lettered by Travis Lanham.  The premise of this team-up is that these heroes, anti-heroes, and villains must work together to put an end to the machinations of the evil wizards of Conan’s world who have start trading spells with The Hand, the infamous ninja organization.

Savage Avengers #1 (“Once Upon a Time in the City of Sickles”) opens with a famous opera singer who is kidnapped and spirited away to The Savage Land, specifically the “City of Sickles.”  There a menacing man known as the “Cult Leader” kills the opera singer and throws his body into a giant bowl.  This bowl is filled with the bloody and broken corpses of some of mankind's best artists, thinkers, and warriors.  But more is needed if this cult is going to summon a brutal dark god, “Jhoatun Lau, the Marrow God,” who resides on a mysterious planet beyond Pluto.

Meanwhile, Conan, looking for priceless jewel now in the Savage Land, runs into Wolverine.  Suddenly, two of the fiercest, most vicious, and most brutal warriors of two worlds will fight, apparently to the death.  Meanwhile, Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher makes a discovery that will summon his dark side.

I was interested in Savage Avengers when I read the first announcement about it, but I was not interested enough to read it right away.  I recently came upon a copy of Savage Avengers #1, and, after putting it off, decided to read it.  Wow, I must say I enjoyed it.  Most of this issue depicts a brutal, hack-and-slash, stab-and-stab-again battle between Conan and Wolverine.  Still, writer Gerry Duggan offers a dark and interesting scenario – a giant bowl containing a pool of blood and ofal – and a scary-sounding dark god.

As usual Mike Deodato, Jr. presents beautiful art.  His art is an illustrated symphony of sharp line work and precision crosshatching.  Deodato's graphical storytelling suggests classic horror comics, and Frank Martin's colors are the perfect accompaniment to Deodato's night music art.  Deodato and Martin's depiction of Jhoatun Lau makes the geek in me holler, Awesome!

Letter Travis Lanham also plays music, the ebb and flow offering different levels of intensity.  Lanham goes from intense and loud (Conan vs. Wolverine) to menacing intensity (the cult).  I'm shocked by how much I like Savage Avengers #1, but I am looking for more issues.

8 out of 10

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


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

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Review: THE SHADOW/BATMAN #1

THE SHADOW/BATMAN, VOL. 1, No. 1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT/DC Comics – @dynamitecomics @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Orlando
ART: Giovanni Timpano
COLORS: Flavio Dispenza
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito
COVER: David Finch with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Ethan Van Sciver with Jason Wright (B); Alex Ross (C); Dustin Nguyen (D); Brandon Peterson (E); Bill Sienkiewicz (F); Howard Porter with Hi-Fi (G); Giovanni Timpano with Flavio Dispenza; Howard Porter; Ethan Van Sciver; David Finch with June Chung; Alex Ross; David Finch; Giovanni Timpano; Robert Hack; Anthony Marques and J. Bone with Chris O'Halloran; Cory Smith with Tim Shinn; Cory Smith; Tyler Kirkham with Arif Prianto; Tyler Kirkham
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated “Teen+”

The Shadow created by Walter Gibson; Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Shadow/Batman: Part One

The Shadow is a fictional character that began life as a mysterious radio narrator, debuting on July 31, 1930 as the host of the radio program, “Detective Story Hour.”  Street and Smith Publications, publishers of Detective Story Magazine, hired writer Walter B. Gibson to create a character concept that fit The Shadow's name and voice and to also write a story featuring him.  The first issue of The Shadow Magazine went on sale on April 1, 1931.

DC Comics superhero Batman is a worldwide icon.  He first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated: May 1939).  Batman and his civilian identity, Bruce Wayne, are among the first characters to be inspired by The Shadow and his civilian guise, Lamont Cranston.  The Shadow and Batman would meet for the first time in Batman #273 (cover dated: November 1973).  This year, DC Comics and Dynamite Entertainment, the current publisher with the license to produce comics based on The Shadow, brought the two characters together, first in the six-issue crossover comic book miniseries, Batman The Shadow, from DC Comics.

Now, it is Dynamite's turn and it is offering a second six-issue miniseries, The Shadow/Batman.  It is written by Steve Orlando; drawn by Giovanni Timpano; colored by Flavio Dispenz; and lettered by Taylor Esposito.

The Shadow/Batman: Volume 1 #1 opens with Professor Pyg in New York City causing chaos.  Batman has followed him to NYC to shut him down, but that upsets The Shadow, who believes that Batman should remain in Gotham City and leave the Big Apple to him.

However, these two dark avengers are about to discover that they are facing the “World's Greatest Evil,” and they may be no match for it.  Can the “World's Greatest Mystery” and the “World's Greatest Detective” (and the “world's most independent sidekick”) must put aside their differences and unravel the centuries' old conspiracy of the “Silent Seven.”

I did not read DC Comics' Batman The Shadow, so I wanted to make sure that I did not miss The Shadow/Batman.  I really like how writer Steve Orlando emphasizes dark moods, atmospheres, feelings, and emotions.  There is a deep sense of foreboding, and Orlando makes a convincing case that both The Shadow and Batman are not only vulnerable, but are also in danger of being destroyed.

Artist Giovanni Timpano's moody compositions and colorist Flavio Dispenz's gloomy colors recall the classic shadowy cool and noir sensibilities of The Shadow in his radio glory days.  The Shadow and Batman are in good artistic hands.

8.5 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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Review: YOUNGBLOOD #1

YOUNGBLOOD No. 1 (2017)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Chad Bowers
ART: Jim Towe
COLORS: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
COVER: Jim Towe with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVERS: Rob Liefeld; David Finch; Chris Daughtry
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Rated T+ / Teen Plus

Youngblood created by Rob Liefeld

Youngblood Reborn – Chapter One: “What Happened to Man-Up?”

Youngblood is a superhero comic book series created by writer-artist Rob Liefeld.  Debuting in 1992, Youngblood was the first comic book series published by Image Comics.  Youngblood #1 (cover dated:  April 1992) was the highest selling independent comic book at the time of its first publication.

The series has been discontinued and revived a number of times, and on this, the 25th anniversary of Image Comics, we have the new Youngblood.  It is written by Chad Bowers; drawn by Jim Towe; colored by Juan Manuel Rodriquez, and lettered by Rus Wooton.

Youngblood #1 (“What Happened to Man-Up?”) begins with a young woman named Petra Gomez, and she is looking for her missing friend, Horatio, who is also the budding superhero, Man-Up.  Petra is also a budding superhero, who is known as “Gunner,” although she may be the new “Vogue.”  Her search and superhero activity will bring her into the circle of a few original members of the famous and infamous superhero team, Youngblood, perhaps, sooner than she wished.

Rob Liefeld took over two years and a half years to publish the original 11-issue run on Youngblood (#1-10 and a #0 issue).  I did not stick around that long, as I could not stomach Youngblood after four issues because it was such a terrible comic book.  I was absolutely crazy for writer Alan Moore and artist Steve Skroce's aborted run on a revamped Youngblood, published in early 1998.

Chad Bowers and Jim Towe's new Youngblood falls in the huge space that is between the quality of the Liefeld and the Moore/Skroce Youngblood series.  It is not as bad as Liefeld's run, nor is it anywhere near as good as the Moore/Skroce run.  Towe is good at storytelling, but his compositions lack polish and professionalism because he should not ink his own pencils, which is what he does on this first issue.  Towe could use a veteran inker, which would vastly improve the visual quality of the art.

Chad Bowers story is not great or really good for that matter.  However, Bowers' writing is not anywhere near the worst of Youngblood storytelling, and actually interests me enough that I will seek out at least one more issue.  Truthfully, if Bowers and Towe are up to it, they could produced a quality, long-running Youngblood series.  These two creators have potential, but Rob Liefeld and (I imagine) sales/finances may ultimately decide the fate of this latest Youngblood series.

[This comic book includes the bonus story, “As It Should Be” - story by Rob Liefeld; art by Liefeld (pencils) and Shelby Robertson (inks); colors by Juan Manuel Rodriguez; and letters by Rus Wooton.]

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


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

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 5, 2017

IMAGE COMICS
MAY170650    BEAUTY #16 CVR A HAUN & RAUCH (MR)    $3.99
MAY170651    BEAUTY #16 CVR B WHITE (MR)    $3.99
MAY170618    DARKNESS BATMAN 20TH ANNIVERSARY CROSSOVER COLL TP (MR)    $19.99
MAY170682    EXTREMITY #5    $3.99
AUG160639    JUPITERS LEGACY VOL 2 #5 (OF 5) CVR A QUITELY (MR)    $4.99
APR170742    LOOSE ENDS TP (MR)    $16.99
APR170834    MONSTRESS TP VOL 02 (MR)    $16.99
MAY170701    RAT QUEENS #4 CVR A GIENI (MR)    $3.99
MAY170702    RAT QUEENS #4 CVR B GIENI (MR)    $3.99
APR178255    RAT QUEENS #4 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAY170706    ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN #4 (MR)    $3.99
MAY170591    SACRED CREATURES #1 CVR A RAIMONDI (MR)    $4.99
MAY170592    SACRED CREATURES #1 CVR B JANSON (MR)    $4.99
APR170864    SAMARITAN VERITAS #2    $3.99
APR170872    SEVEN TO ETERNITY #7 CVR A HARREN & HOLLINGSWORTH    $3.99
APR170873    SEVEN TO ETERNITY #7 CVR B OPENA & HOLLINGSWORTH    $3.99
APR178975    SEVEN TO ETERNITY #7 CVR C IMAGE OF TOMORROW VAR    $3.99
MAY170719    SNOTGIRL #6    $2.99
APR170892    STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #25 (MR)    $3.99
MAR170786    SUN BAKERY #4 (MR)    $4.99
APR170747    TOKYO GHOST DLX ED HC (MR)    $39.99
MAY170730    WALKING DEAD #169 (MR)    $2.99
MAY170733    WAYWARD HC BOOK 02 (MR)    $39.99
MAY170735    WICKED & DIVINE #29 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR)    $3.99
MAY170736    WICKED & DIVINE #29 CVR B JOCK (MR)    $3.99
APR178260    WICKED & DIVINE #29 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99

Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #41

JUSTICE LEAGUE #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Geoff Johns
ART: Jason Fabok
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Jason Fabok with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVERS: David Finch and Jonathan Glapion with Brad Anderson (Joker 75th Anniversary Cover)
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“The Darkseid War” Chapter One: “God vs. Man”

I picked up the forty-first issue of Justice League because it was the first “DCYou” issue, but I had no intention of reviewing it.  However, I enjoyed it so much that I had to share the good news.  Could we have what is the beginnings of a second Justice League creative dream team?  Writer Geoff Johns, artist Jason Fabok, colorist Brad Anderson, and letterer Rob Leigh might make the answer in the affirmative.

Justice League #41 (The Darkseid War Chapter One: “God vs. Man”) opens with two mysterious figures (Kanto and Lashina) in the midst of an apparent killing spree.  Meanwhile, Mister Miracle is trying to discover what Darkseid is up to.

Steve Trevor is with the Justice League:  Wonder Woman, Batman, Cyborg, Flash, Shazam, and the Green Lanterns: Hal Jordan and Jessica Cruz, as they investigate a crime scene.  So why is the Justice League interested in what appears to be a mere homicide?  Meanwhile, Superman finds himself having to deal with Lex Luthor.  And who is Myrina Black?

“God vs. Man” is a first chapter that does not short the reader on awesome superhero fantasy-action theatrics.  Justice League #40 was the prelude to “The Darkseid War,” so issue #41 is free to go crazy, which writer Geoff Johns does.  I do get the feeling that Johns is going to do more than merely throw big fight scenes and spectacular sequences at us.  In this issue, he teases at the frailties, doubts, and past grievances and injuries of several of the characters.  My reading of it is that this big JL event will find much of its conflict originating from the interior lives of several of the main players.

I don't want to give short-shrift to artist Jason Fabok, because, as the artist, he is the “sequential artist” who builds that panels that we read and interpret.  I am still trying to get used to the idea of Fabok as the appropriate artist for a big superhero team book like Justice League.  His storytelling is good, but his style lacks the visual punch of someone like Jim Lee, who is perfect for a book like Justice League.  Still, I think Fabok could be the artist half of a memorable Justice League creative team.  “The Darkseid War” will tell if Fabok is the right guy.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 3, 2015

DC COMICS

APR150246     ACTION COMICS #41     $3.99
APR150177     BAT MITE #1     $2.99
APR150258     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #5     $3.99
APR150179     BATMAN BEYOND #1     $2.99
DEC140389     BATMAN NOIR THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS DLX ED HC     $34.99
APR150181     BIZARRO #1     $2.99
APR150227     FLASH SEASON ZERO #9     $2.99
MAR150270     GRAYSON HC VOL 01 AGENTS OF SPYRAL (N52)     $22.99
APR150228     GREEN ARROW #41     $2.99
MAR150279     GREEN ARROW TP VOL 03 THE TRIAL OF OLIVER QUEEN     $16.99
APR150273     GREEN LANTERN #41     $3.99
APR150222     JUSTICE LEAGUE #41 (NOTE PRICE)     $4.99
APR150235     LOBO #7     $2.99
APR150279     LOONEY TUNES #225     $2.99
APR150201     MIDNIGHTER #1     $2.99
APR150277     MORTAL KOMBAT X #7 (MR)     $3.99
APR150203     OMEGA MEN #1     $2.99
MAR150275     SWAMP THING TP VOL 06 THE SUREEN (N52)     $16.99
APR150243     WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1     $4.99
MAR150276     WORLDS FINEST TP VOL 05 HOMEARD BOUND (N52)     $14.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
JUN140317     BATMAN 75TH ANNIVERSARY ACTION FIGURE 4 PACK SET 2     $75.00
DEC140430     DC COMICS COVER GIRLS HARLEY QUINN STATUE     $99.95
DEC140439     WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY DAVID FINCH     $79.95

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 13, 2015

DC COMICS

MAR150257     ARROW SEASON 2.5 #8     $2.99
MAR150294     ASTRO CITY #23     $3.99
MAR150254     BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #4     $3.99
FEB150251     BATMAN ARKHAM RIDDLER TP     $19.99
NOV140293     BATMAN DARK KNIGHT UNWRAPPED DAVID FINCH DLX HC     $34.99
MAR150303     COFFIN HILL #18 (MR)     $2.99
MAR150159     CONVERGENCE #6     $3.99
MAR150191     CONVERGENCE AQUAMAN #2     $3.99
MAR150193     CONVERGENCE BATMAN SHADOW OF THE BAT #2     $3.99
MAR150195     CONVERGENCE CATWOMAN #2     $3.99
MAR150197     CONVERGENCE GREEN ARROW #2     $3.99
MAR150199     CONVERGENCE GREEN LANTERN PARALLAX #2     $3.99
MAR150201     CONVERGENCE JUSTICE LEAGUE INTL #2     $3.99
MAR150203     CONVERGENCE SUICIDE SQUAD #2     $3.99
MAR150205     CONVERGENCE SUPERBOY #2     $3.99
MAR150207     CONVERGENCE SUPERGIRL MATRIX #2     $3.99
MAR150209     CONVERGENCE SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL #2     $3.99
FEB150253     EARTH 2 WORLDS END TP VOL 01 (N52)     $29.99
JAN150396     FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 10 (MR)     $29.99
MAR150300     FABLES THE WOLF AMONG US #5 (MR)     $3.99
MAR150304     FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS #20 (MR)     $2.99
FEB150254     FOREVER EVIL TP (N52)     $19.99
JAN150368     GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 06 THE LIFE EQUATION (N52)     $24.99
FEB150255     GREEN LANTERN TP VOL 05 TEST OF WILLS (N52)     $17.99
MAR150251     INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR #1     $2.99
MAR150262     MORTAL KOMBAT X #6 (MR)     $3.99
DEC140391     ROBIN THE BOY WONDER A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC     $39.99
MAR150290     SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #57     $2.99
MAR150309     STRANGE SPORTS STORIES #3 (MR)     $4.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

NOV140352     DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS MERA STATUE     $124.95

I Reads You Review: WONDER WOMAN #36

WONDER WOMAN #36
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Meredith Finch
PENCILS: David Finch
INKS: Richard Friend
COLORS: Sonia Oback
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER/VARIANT COVER: David Finch and Richard Friend with Sonia Oback
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston

“War-Torn” Chapter 1

I have not read a Wonder Woman comic book since I read The New 52 re-launch, Wonder Woman #1, back in the fall of 2011.  There is a new creative team on the monthly Wonder Woman series:  writer Meredith Finch, penciller David Finch, inker Richard Friend, colorist Sonia Oback, and letterer Sal Cipriano.  So I decided to try this team's first issue.

DC Comics is adamant about not providing a synopsis on the first page of each issue of its comic books the way Marvel Comics does.  I think DC refuses to have a first-page synopsis simply because Marvel does it.  Anyway, beware of my synopsis because I had to do some research of my own.

Wonder Woman #36 (“War-Torn” Chapter 1) opens with the depiction of a rural village being destroyed by raging flood waters.  It is apparently just one of many villages destroyed by environmental catastrophes.  This springs Wonder Woman a.k.a. Diana and the rest of the Justice League:  Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg, into action.  Swamp Thing is also investigating these disasters, unbeknownst to the League.

Meanwhile, unrest stirs on Paradise Island (which DC has been calling Themyscira for years), the home of Wonder Woman/Diana and the Amazons.  Apparently, there was some kind of conflict on the island, and males, formerly forbidden, now reside there, which enrages some Amazons.  Diana is now the God of War, and in charge of Paradise Island because her mother, Queen Hippolyta, is now a clay statue (!).  That last thing is now also in a state of flux.

I had planned on reading more than one issue of Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's New 52 Wonder Woman and never got a round to it, though I still plan on doing it.  I am intrigued enough by this new Finch and Finch production to read more.  If anything, I love the art by Finch, Friend, and Oback.  It's gorgeous, and Finch's Wonder Woman recalls the pin-up girl art of his former Top Cow Productions stablemate, the late Mike Turner (may he rest in peace drawing nekkid pictures and near-nekkid pictures of the buxom beauties that share Heaven with him).

I think I'll make a harder (clears throat) attempt to follow Wonder Woman now.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: Justice League of America's VIBE #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg
PENCILS: Peter Woods
INKS: Sean Parsons
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER/VARIANT COVER: David Finch
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2013)

Rated T (Teen)

Vibe created by Gerry Conway and Luke McDonnell

I recently reviewed the Justice League Annual #2 (October 1984).  It introduced a comic book character named Paco Ramone, a breakdancer and local hero who went by the name, “Vibe.”  Paco had shockwave-casting powers, and those powers earned him a spot in the Justice League.  Paco would appear in the last three years of the original Justice League of America comic book series (1960-1987); then, he would be killed-off as the series came to a close.

Vibe is back.  He is cleaned-up, politically correct (hate that term), and has his own comic book series, Justice League of America’s Vibe.  [This series had already been cancelled by the time I read the first issue.]  In DC Comics’ The New 52, even dead, scorned, and marginal characters can get another chance to shine.

Justice League of America’s Vibe #1 is set in Detroit, Michigan and opens five years prior to the main story.  It introduces Francisco “Cisco” Ramon.  He and his older brothers, Armando and Dante, have a front row seat to Darkseid’s invasion of earth, which was chronicled in The New 52 re-launch of Justice League (2011).  Five years later, Cisco is still grieving a loss, when a stranger offers him the opportunity to get payback against a certain Parademon.  A hero named Vibe is born.

I was surprised to discover that DC Comics was publishing an ongoing series starring Vibe, a minor and notorious, but apparently well-remembered character.  Diversity in the hi-souse – Yay! Yay!  Seriously, Vibe?  But it turns out that Justice League of America’s Vibe is actually a pretty good comic book – at least the first issue is.

Peter Woods is a more-than-competent comic book artist, and he gives every panel here – even the character drama panels – a bit of dynamism.  Wood’s style is unspectacular, but he’s good with figure drawing – a must for a superhero comic book artist.

The writing by Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg is solid and even a little dazzling.  It is nothing distinctive or stand-out; this isn’t Alan Moore doing a Vibe makeover, after all.  There is enough intrigue and the characters are interesting.  I just may try to read the other nine issues of this now-cancelled series.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 21 2013

Digital Comics: Digital new releases available from your local comic book shop are marked below. [DIG] = Digital version available. [DIG/P+] = Print-Plus digital/print combo pack available. For more information, go to www.digitalcomicsreader.com.

IMAGE COMICS

JUN130530 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR A SEJIC [DIG] $2.99
JUN130531 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR B FINCH $2.99
JUN130532 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR C BASALDUA $2.99
JUN130533 APHRODITE IX #4 CVR D HAIRSINE $2.99
JUN130536 BOUNCE #4 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130436 CHEW TP VOL 07 BAD APPLES (MR) [DIG] $12.99
MAR130560 CHIN MUSIC #2 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAR130571 I LOVE TROUBLE #6 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
JUN130549 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #6 CVR A YOUNG [DIG] $2.99
JUN130550 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #6 CVR B SANTOS $2.99
JUN130557 REVIVAL #13 [DIG] $2.99
MAY130434 SAVAGE DRAGON #190 LTD ED DIGEST (MR) $3.99
MAY130575 THIEF OF THIEVES #16 (MR) [DIG] $2.99
MAY130516 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS LG $19.99
MAY130515 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS MED $19.99
MAY130514 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS SM $19.99
MAY130518 WALKING DEAD EZEKIEL HAS A TIGER T/S MENS XXL $22.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

MAY130580 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 AF PI
MAY130581 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 CONNOR AF PI
MAY130583 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 EDWARD KENWAY AF PI
MAY130582 ASSASSINS CREED SERIES 1 HAYTHEM KENWAY AF PI

DC Comics Rocks July Comic Book Sales Charts

Superman & Batman Team-up to Top Comic Book Sales Charts

DC Entertainment Dominates July with Impressive Results Coming out of Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Super Hero comic book sales soared in July with SUPERMAN: UNCHAINED #2 and BATMAN #22 continuing their reign atop the comic book sales charts at the #1 and #2 positions, respectively, moving DC Entertainment up the ranks as the month’s top publisher in dollars, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world. Additionally, JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 – the first part of “Trinity War,” a crossover that sees the three Justice League teams at odds – took the #4 spot.

The sales figures closed out a historic July for DC Entertainment (DCE), as the company rolled on after a momentous Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013. The show kicked off with the unveiling of a customized JUSTICE LEAGUE-inspired KIA Sorento—the final car in a series of 8 featuring each member of the Justice League—and launched a charity auction on eBay benefitting the We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. To date, the campaign has raised nearly $2.4 million.

Thousands of fans swarmed DCE’s massive booth, an all-star collection of Superman costumes from the character’s various film and TV incarnations, leading up to a star-studded celebration of Superman’s 75th Anniversary, which featured a special guest star: an original issue of ACTION COMICS #1 – the comic book that started it all and made Comic-Con International: San Diego possible. Warner Bros. Interactive (WBIE) also had a great Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013, offering fans hands-on playable stations featuring upcoming games Infinite Crisis, Scribblenauts Unmasked and Batman: Arkham Origins.

The news that was the talk of the town and beyond came courtesy of Man of Steel director Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance in Hall H to confirm that the next DC Super Hero movie is in pre-production, slated for a Summer 2015 release. Snyder also teased a potential storyline featuring two of DC Comics’ most iconic Super Heroes – Superman and Batman – together on the big screen for the first time!

“Superman and Batman are icons, pure and simple. Their popularity stretches across all media,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “Having them paired together on the big screen is something fans are extremely excited about, and seeing both heroes – and their team, the Justice League – topping the comic book sales charts is further proof of that.”

“Batman: Zero Year,” re-telling the origin of the Dark Knight in DC Comics – The New 52, continues to be a dominant force in terms of sales and critical acclaim, with the work of writer Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo raking in the accolades. As if that weren’t enough, Grant Morrison’s own, epic Bat-saga came to a close in July with the touching, shocking and always engaging BATMAN INC. #13, marking an end to the beloved seven-year tale with a major cliffhanger and press coverage including USA Today and The New York Post.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #22, the first part of the summer “Trinity War” crossover that pits the three Justice League teams against each other, pairs A-list writers Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire with the best artists in comics, including Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Mikel Janin. The story leads into this September’s FOREVER EVIL #1, by Johns and superstar artist David Finch – the first line-wide event in the history of DC Comics – The New 52. For a primer on “Trinity War” and FOREVER EVIL, fans can check out a special “Justice League 101” video – narrated by Johns himself – that gives fans a crash course on all things Justice League.

Over at Vertigo, issues #1 and #2 of THE WAKE by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy have sold out and gone back to press along with other key new launches like TRILLIUM and COLLIDER, making for an impressive 2013 for the genre-defying imprint. Writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s sci-fi love story TRILLIUM weaves together the lives of two souls separated by thousands of years and hundreds of millions of miles in a phenomenal, oversized flip book. In Fabletown, bestselling author Lauren Beukes – whose new novel The Shining Girls has been tabbed as a key summer read – hit the top 10 in graphic novel sales with FAIREST Vol 2: THE HIDDEN KINGDOM, revealing the story of Rapunzel in Japan.

“The second half of 2013 is going to be an exciting, innovative and important few months for us,” said Nelson. “From Neil Gaiman’s return to the world of Sandman, the fantastic 3-D Motion covers adorning our Villains Month titles and the epic crossover that is FOREVER EVIL, we hope fans are ready for a fun ride.”

July digital sales saw continued dominance of Digital First title INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US (ranking #1-4) while newly launched Digital First title BATMAN ’66 also scored strong sales during its first month of release, with three digital chapters ranking in the top 20 for the month (ranking #6, 13 and 17) . As the Trinity War event heats up several related Same Day Digital titles were popular in July including JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 (ranked #5), JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 (ranked #8), JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #22 (ranked #11) and TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA #1 (ranked #18). On the eBook front, following the dramatic Comic-Con film announcement there was a huge jump in month-over-month sales of Frank Miller’s BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

Fans visiting the DC Entertainment websites before Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013 were dazzled by newly-designed video sections, which featured an across-the-board switch to YouTube as the online video player for the site. The redesign and player switch helped bump up traffic for the site’s regular “Con Away From Con” coverage by 67 percent over the prior year.

DC Collectibles also had a great showing in San Diego with its “Con Exclusive” products including new “Super Best Friends Forever” figures and a Man of Steel variant statue posting strong sales.

On the book trade side, SOLO: THE DELUXE EDITION, BATMAN Vol. 2, BATMAN AND ROBIN Vol. 2, SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE Omnibus Vol. 1, BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN/SILK SPECTRE, BEFORE WATCHMEN: OZYMANDIAS/CRIMSON CORSAIR, SUPERMAN Vol. 2 appeared on The New York Times Hardcover Graphic Book Bestseller list while RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS Vol. 2, AQUAMAN Vol. 2, Vertigo’s SWEET TOOTH Vol. 6 all landed on The New York Times Paperback Graphic Book Bestseller list.

MAD Magazine had a very strong presence at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013, where Editor John Ficarra highlighted the upcoming release of INSIDE MAD - the follow-up to last year's #1 New York Times bestseller, TOTALLY MAD. The week after the convention, MAD released issue #522 while also preparing for the August release of issue #523, which will feature Spy vs Spy depicted as major figures on the cover for the first time. Meanwhile, THE IDIOTICAL blog continued their daily spoofs, including "A Public Service Announcement to the New Royal Parents."

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

"Justice League of America #1" Leads DC Comics' Feb. 2013 Charge

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 Tops February Comic Book Sales

DC Entertainment sees strong February numbers

BookScan numbers up 65 percent from 2012

Digital-to-print series INJUSTICE sells out in comic shops

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DC Entertainment (DCE), the largest English-language comic book publisher in the world announced today that JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1, written by the acclaimed Geoff Johns and drawn by superstar artist David Finch, was the best-selling comic book to specialty retailers in February 2013, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors. This caps off a hugely successful month for DCE – with robust sales coming via comic retail, book trade and digital channels.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 launched in February with a cover featuring the U.S. flag along with 52 variant covers, one for every state plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. DC Comics is currently sold out of 14 state covers, the digital combo pack and the collector’s bundles containing all the covers.

On the bookstore side, February saw DCE publish 15 out of the top 50 titles according to Nielsen Bookscan. Additionally, overall February book trade sales were strong, up 65 percent from last year. Notable sellers include: BATMAN: NIGHT OF THE OWLS, FABLES: CUBS IN TOYLAND Vol. 18 and JUSTICE LEAGUE Vol. 2.

On the digital comics front INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, the weekly digital-first comic based on the upcoming video game from Warner Bros. Interactive, continues to dominate the charts, selling four out of the top five digital books for the month and seven out of the top 10. BATMAN INC. #8, BATMAN #17 and JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 were also top sellers.

“February was a tremendous month for DC Entertainment, and the numbers show that fans are engaging with our stories across all platforms – from digital to retail,” said Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment. “We had a record-breaking 2012 in terms of sales, critical acclaim and visibility, including a near 50 percent increase in fan reach through our websites. Last year also represented our first full year of support and commitment to We Can Be Heroes, our philanthropic initiative to raise funds and awareness for the famine-stricken Horn of Africa. We are incredibly proud of where the business is and where we are headed in 2013.”

Hitting The New York Times Hardcover Bestseller lists in February, DC Comics titles included JUSTICE LEAGUE Vol. 2 appearing at #1, WONDER WOMAN Vol. 2, BATWOMAN Vol. 2, GREEN LANTERN: REVENGE OF THE BLACK HAND, BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS, Vertigo’s THE BOOKS OF MAGIC: DELUXE EDITION, and backlist favorites like BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE and ABSOLUTE BATMAN & ROBIN: BATMAN REBORN.

While over on The New York Times Paperback Bestsellers lists Vertigo’s FABLES vol. 18 arrived on the list at #1 and DC Comics JUSTICE LEAGUE vol. 1, SUICIDE SQUAD Vol. 2 and backlist favorite WATCHMEN all made appearances in February.

Earlier this month, DC Entertainment was acknowledged as the recipient of several Gem Awards including Comic Book Publisher of the Year, Backlist Publisher of the Year and Toy Manufacturer of the Year for 2012 for DC Collectibles. Notably, DC Collectibles spotlighted the We Can Be Heroes initiative with their We Can Be Heroes Justice League 7-Pack, which saw 10 percent of proceeds go to providing relief for the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa. The Gem Awards are recognized within the comic book industry as the pinnacle of sales achievement from Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels and pop culture merchandise.

The print comic book version of INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US #2 went back to press for a second printing, while over at DC Comics’ mature readers imprint Vertigo, DJANGO UNCHAINED #1, based on the Academy Award-winning Best Original Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, went back to press for a third printing.


About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Justice League #12

Justice League #12
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, David Finch
Inks: Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Jonathan Glapion, Mark Irwin, Matthew Banning, Rob Hunter, Joe Weems, Alex Garner, Trevor Scott

The Graves storyline comes to a conclusion. We learn that the spirits of the League's loved ones are really spiritual parasites called Pretas, and with their help, Graves starts to take the League down. Steve Trevor frees himself despite being on the edge of death to help the most powerful heroes on Earth. Once Trevor shows up the League realizes that they are not fighting the spirits of their loved ones. The League uses teamwork to defeat Graves; they are becoming the team that we expected.

This is a very eventful story. Green Lantern decides to quit the team as a sacrifice to protect the team's image. It is a sign of the times when you risk your life to save the world, and you have to consider how you are perceived by others while doing it. Green Lantern plays it off like it’s not a major concern, but we know how important the League is to him.

The major bombshell dropped on us is The Kiss. I glad the cover wasn't just sales hype. Superman kisses Wonder Woman in a moment of shared loneliness and understanding of how much they have in common. There will be debate about who kissed whom, but that is not the purpose of this review. Is it a moment of weakness or the beginning of the affair that will rock comicdom? I hope it is not a hook up; I couldn't live with the drama of Wonder Woman being Superman's baby mama. They are both young people, and everyone should have that passionate relationship that burns hot and quickly. It would be shocking if this actually leads to something meaningful. There is definitely story potential here. The New 52, what are you going to do? Blow the roof off the mother or shoot blanks?

All that needs to be said about the art is Jim Lee.

I rate Justice League #12 Buy Your Own Copy.