#IReadsYou Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #4

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #4 (2023)

TITAN COMICS/Heroic Signatures

STORY: Jim Zub

ART: Roberto de la Torre

COLORS: Dean White

LETTERS: Richard Starkings of Comicraft

EDITOR: Matt Murray

COVER: Roberto de la Torre

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Giada Marchisio; Nick Percival; Cary Nord; Roberto de la Torre

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2023)

Suggested for mature readers

“Bound in Black Stone” Part IV: “Vengeance of the Lost”

Conan the Cimmerian was born in the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard (REH), first appearing in the magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books via the title, Conan the Barbarian. With only a few pauses, Conan comic books have been published for the better part of five decades.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures are the new producers of Conan comic books, and they start with a new Conan the Barbarian series.  It is written by Jim Zub; drawn by Roberto de la Torre; colored by Dean White and José Villarrubia; and lettered by Richard Starkings.  The new series finds Conan returned to his homeland of Cimmeria just when it faces a terrible new threat.

Conan the Barbarian #4 (“Vengeance of the Lost”) opens inside the Citadel of Black Stone.  There, Conan sinks into the depths of the abyss beneath the black altar.  Now, Conan will learn the secrets of the band of undead Picts known as the “Tribe of the Lost.”  In order to find victory, Conan must hear the words of Brule, Chieftain of the Borni Tribes.  Is this legendary figure a wraith or salvation?  And can he point Conan towards victory?

THE LOWDOWN:  Titan Comics has been providing me with PDF copies of their publications for review for several years now.  Conan the Barbarian #4 is a recent arrival.

I am happy to see that Titan's new Conan the Barbarian series ends its first story arc after only four issues.  If I had my way, other comic book publishers would do this more often.

As I said in my review of the earlier three issues of this series, Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' revival of the Conan the Barbarian comic book series is definitely edgier than Marvel Comics' 2019 revival.  Writer Jim Zub has recalled the ass-thumpin, p***y-pounding, blood-splattering pulp storytelling of Roy Thomas.  Zub's ending to this first story arc is his own dark and mysterious concoction that offers escape more than total victory for Conan.

Artist Roberto de la Torre has brought Zub's script for this final chapter to comic book life in a veil of magic, smoke, and mysticism, whereas the earlier issues were all fire, blood-and-guts, and mountain-leveling thunder.  Dean White brings the magical mists of confusion to de la Torre's art, while Richard Starkings' lettering gives it the ominous soundtrack that it needs.

Seriously, dear readers, if you love Conan comic books, you will hate yourself for denying yourself this new Conan the Barbarian.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Conan comic books will want to try Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' Conan the Barbarian.

[This comic book includes the essay, “Robert E. Howard and His Ages Undreamed Of” Part Four, by Jeffrey Shanks.]

A

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

https://titan-comics.com/

https://twitter.com/ComicsTitan

https://www.instagram.com/titancomics/

https://www.facebook.com/ComicsTitan

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------

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#IReadsYou Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #3

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #3 (2023)

TITAN COMICS/Heroic Signatures

STORY: Jim Zub

ART: Roberto de la Torre

COLORS: Dean White

LETTERS: Richard Starkings of Comicraft

EDITOR: Matt Murray

COVER: Doug Braithwaite

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Patrick Zircher; Max Von Fafner; Roberto de la Torre; Doug Braithwaite

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2023)

Suggested for mature readers

“Bound in Black Stone” Part III: “The Fortress”

Conan the Cimmerian was born in the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard (REH), first appearing in the magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books via the title, Conan the Barbarian. With only a few pauses, Conan comic books have been published for the better part of five decades.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures are the new producers of Conan comic books, and they start with a new Conan the Barbarian series.  It is written by Jim Zub; drawn by Roberto de la Torre; colored by José Villarrubia; and lettered by Richard Starkings.  The new series finds Conan returned to his homeland of Cimmeria just when it faces a terrible new threat.

Conan the Barbarian #3 (“The Fortress”) opens as Conan and Brissa of the Pictish Gurian Tribe enter the citadel of black stone that has risen from the frosty ground of Cimmeria.  They are following figures swathed in hooded robes that are seemingly the escorts of the band of undead Picts known as “Tribe of the Lost.”

Along the way, Conan and Brissa discover a band of Cimmerians imprisoned in a rock-hewn cell.  Now, joined by a trio of Cimmerian warriors:  Hydallan, Mago, and Tormey, Conan makes his move on a skull-clad priest and the source of the undead plague.

THE LOWDOWN:  Titan Comics has been providing me with PDF copies of their publications for review for several years now.  Conan the Barbarian #3 is the latest.

As I said in my review of the first two issues of this series, Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' revival of the Conan the Barbarian comic book series is definitely edgier than Marvel Comics' 2019 revival.  Writer Jim Zub has recalled the ass-thumpin, p***y-pounding, blood-splattering pulp storytelling that recalls Roy Thomas.  The spirit of Conan's eccentric (perhaps, mad) creator, Robert E. Howard in every word of Zub's scripts.

I'm trying to find the words to describe the storytelling of artist Roberto de la Torre.  He brings Zub's script to comic book life with fire, black magic, and mountain-leveling thunder.  De la Torre's art feels like a true inheritor to the comic book master of Conan, the late John Buscema (1927-2002).  Dean White brings out the magic in de la Torre art, while Richard Starkings' lettering gives it the thunderous soundtrack that doesn't quit.

Whew! Time for a cigarette.  Seriously, dear readers, if you love Conan comic books, you will hate yourself for denying yourself this new Conan the Barbarian.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Conan comic books will want to try Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' Conan the Barbarian.

[This comic book includes the essay, “Robert E. Howard and His Ages Undreamed Of” Part Three, by Jeffrey Shanks.]

A+

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

https://titan-comics.com/

https://twitter.com/ComicsTitan

https://www.instagram.com/titancomics/

https://www.facebook.com/ComicsTitan

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 (2023)

TITAN COMICS/Heroic Signatures

STORY: Jim Zub

ART: Roberto de la Torre

COLORS: Dean White

LETTERS: Richard Starkings of Comicraft

EDITOR: Matt Murray

COVER: Alan Quah

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Roberto de la Torre; Gerardo Zaffino; E.M. Gist, Dan Parent

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2023)

Suggested for mature readers

“Bound in Black Stone” Part II: “Homeland!”

Conan the Cimmerian was born in the pulp fiction of Robert E. Howard (REH), first appearing in the magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books via the title, Conan the Barbarian. With only a few pauses, Conan comic books have been published for the better part of five decades.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures are the new producers of Conan comic books, and they start with a new Conan the Barbarian series.  It is written by Jim Zub; drawn by Roberto de la Torre; colored by José Villarrubia; and lettered by Richard Starkings.  The new series finds Conan returned to his homeland of Cimmeria just when it faces a terrible new threat.

As Conan the Barbarian #2 (“Homeland!”) opens, Conan and Brissa of the Pictish Gurian Tribe watch from the shadows as what is left of “Hauler's Roam,” an outpost in Northern Aquilonia, is destroyed by the “Army of the Lost.”  Also known as the “Tribe of the Lost,” this band of undead Picts has unleashed other-worldly carnage … and Conan's homeland, Cimmeria, is next.

It may be too late to save Cimmeria, but Conan will try, and what he cannot save, he will brutally avenge.  However, Conan and Brissa may not be prepared to face the true darkness behind the Army of the Lost when it finally begins to reveal itself.

THE LOWDOWN:  Titan Comics has been providing me with PDF copies of their publications for review for several years now.  Conan the Barbarian #2 is the latest.

Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' revival of the Conan the Barbarian comic book series is definitely edgier than Marvel Comics' 2019 revival.  I did not find the latter worth the cover price, although the stories were mildly amusing.  On the other hand, Titan and Heroic's revival leaves me stunned.  In Conan the Barbarian #2, writer Jim Zub has composed the best-written Conan comic book that I have read in probably a decade.  This Conan has ripped my bodice in a way not done since Tim Truman, Tómas Giorello, José Villarrubia, and Richard Starkings were putting it down hard on their comic book adaptation of Robert E. Howard's sole Conan novel, Hour of the Dragon, a decade ago.

Zub's script reads like a Conan novel, full of intimate details and pulpy, two-fisted action-adventure.  Boots are knocked, and heads are lopped off; still, the story has depth beyond the obvious thrills.

The art and storytelling by artist Roberto de la Torre brings Zub's script to comic book life with fire and black magic.  De la Torre's art here resembles of mix of the late John Buscema's Conan the Barbarian comic books and the late Joe Kubert's Tor comics.  At this rate, de la Torre will soon be in the pantheon of great Conan comic book artists and storytellers right next to Buscema, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Tómas Giorello, to name a few.  With the lovely colors of Dean White and the hoary lettering of Richard Starkings, this new Conan is visually and graphically savage.

I like Conan enough to have watched three Conan films:  Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the Destroyer (1984), and Conan the Barbarian (2011), many times.  So I won't lose interest in this new Conan the Barbarian comic book, and I will keep singing its praises.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Conan comic books will want to try Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures' Conan the Barbarian.

[This comic book includes the essay, “Robert E. Howard and His Ages Undreamed Of,” by Jeffrey Shanks.]

A+

10 out of 10

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

https://titan-comics.com/

https://twitter.com/ComicsTitan

https://www.instagram.com/titancomics/

https://www.facebook.com/ComicsTitan

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: X-FORCE #1

X-FORCE No. 1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Benjamin Percy
ART: Joshua Cassara
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITORS: Chris Robinson and Lauren Amaro
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Dustin Weaver
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Juan Jose Ryp with Jesus Aburtov; Adi Granov; Tom Muller; Todd McFarlane with Jason Keith
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Parental Advisory

X-Men created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee; X-Force created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza

“Hunting Ground”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  In The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963), readers were introduced to a group of characters that had unique powers and abilities because they were “mutants.”

Summer 2019, Marvel published writer Jonathan Hickman's revamp, reboot, and re-imagining of the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles, although all except one, bore titles that have been previously used.  The new series were Excalibur, Fallen Angels, Marauders, New Mutants, X-Men, and the subject of this review, X-Force.

This new X-Force comic book is written by Benjamin Percy; drawn by Joshua Cassara; colored by Dean White; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  According to Marvel, the new X-Force team is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the mutant world.  One-half is the “intelligence branch;” that would be the group of Beast, Jean Grey, and Sage.  The other half is “special ops,” with a unit composed of Wolverine, Kid Omega and Domino.

X-Force #1 (“Hunting Ground”) opens with a question.  What happened to Domino?  Meanwhile on Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state that is a home for all mutants, Wolverine is hunting for predators on an island where there should be none.  As he says, however, there is always a predator, and “...when you're safe, you're soft.”  Black Tom Cassidy feels something bad coming, even if Professor X says otherwise.  But this new mutant world would not need an “X-Force” in a perfect world, and this is not a perfect world...

The original X-Force team first appeared in New Mutants #100 (cover dated: April 1991) and was the creation of writer-illustrator Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza.  The team's first leader was the mutant, Cable, and X-Force took a more militant and aggressive approach towards its enemies than did the X-Men did as a team.

In this first issue, writer Benjamin Percy takes that to heart, and his story makes X-Force #1 a potboiler from page one to the last.  I don't want to spoil anything, although as I write this review, X-Force #1 is about two months old.  Still, I do want to say that “Hunting Ground” offers surprises and thrills throughout.  Of the four “Dawn of X” first issues that I have read thus far, this one is easily the best.

Joshua Cassara's art is gritty and dark and his graphical storytelling has that sinister edge that reminds me of Grant Morrison's lovely science fiction-conspiracy comic book series, The Invisibles (DC Comics/Vertigo).  Dean White's coloring is correctly garish and gives this story a nightmarish and apocalyptic feel.  There is a disquieting mood in letterer Joe Caramagna's mostly quiet lettering for this first issue, which is just right.

I definitely plan to read more of this new X-Force, even if its just the first trade paperback collection.  I feel safe in recommending it to you, dear readers.

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: BLACK PANTHER #1

BLACK PANTHER No. 1 (2005)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER:  John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson with Dean White
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S., $4.25 CAN (April 2005)

“Who is the Black Panther?” Part One

The Black Panther, also known as T’Challa, is a Marvel Comics character and was the first black superhero to appear in mainstream American comics.  Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover dated:  July 1966).

On occasion, I have come across some Black Panther comic books that I have liked, and Black Panther has appeared as a guest or co-star in other comic book series that I find memorable, such as in Fantastic Four #241, during John Byrne's incredible run as writer-artist during the early to mid-1980s.

Still, the Black Panther comic book that I have loved the most did not arrive until early 2005.  That year, Marvel Comics launched a new Black Panther series under the “Marvel Knights” (MK) banner.  It was written by Reginald Hudlin, a movie director and producer, who was best known, at the time, for directing House Party (1990) and Boomerang (1992).  He would go on to earn a best picture Oscar nomination as one of the producers of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained (2012).  This Black Panther comic book was drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Dean White; and lettered by Chris Eliopoulos.

Black Panther #1 (“Who is the Black Panther?” Part One) opens in the Black Panther home land, the central African nation of Wakanda, during the 5th century A.D.  The story also visits Wakanda during the 19th century.  It seems that these are two moments in Wakandan history when the mysterious nation ably defended itself from outside raiders.  In the early 21st century, however, outside forces seek to penetrate the defenses and veil of Wakanda, this time successfully.

Within the last year, Marvel Studios has announced that it is producing a Black Panther feature film; has cast an actor to play Black Panther/T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman); and has selected a director for the film (Ryan Coogler).  So I decided to re-read 2005 Black Panther #1 again, which I had not read since it was first published.  It would be a start to rereading as much of that series as I could before Black Panther makes his first feature film appearance in the upcoming film, Captain America: Civil War.  Another reason for me to revisit this series is the anticipation of author, journalist, and political and cultural commentator, Ta-Nehisi Coates' upcoming work on the character.

I think what I like about Black Panther #1 is that it makes Wakanda and the legacy that is Black Panther so bad-ass.  Of course, Reginald Hudlin delivers a stellar script, full of enthralling action and mystery.  John Romita, Jr.'s pencils are some of his most stylish art, and Klaus Janson's stellar inking strengthens the compositions and storytelling.  Dean White's colors make the story seem as if it is on fire, almost too hot to handle for the imagination.  The Ohio Players said Fi-Ya!

However, it is the sense that the Black Panther mythos is as powerful as any other Marvel superhero mythos or world, and that makes this comic book so cool.  Black Panther is not a token, and he is more than historical.  His is a world within the larger world of the Marvel Universe with which others will have to reckon.  This is the gift that Reginald Hudlin gave to Black Panther.  Hudlin picked up on the strong work that Christopher Priest began in his 1998 Black Panther, which was the first step in making Black Panther a major character, for reals, and Hudlin kept it too-real for some readers slash haters.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, I hope you can make the Panther's claws sharper than ever.

A

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


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

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Review: THE SILENCER #1

THE SILENCER No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

SCRIPT: Dan Abnett
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Sandra Hope
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Sandra Hope with Dean White
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2018)

Rated “T+” for Teen Plus

The Silencer created by Dan Abnett and John Romita, Jr.

“Code of Honor” Part 1

DC Comics has launched a new superhero comics initiative, “The New Age of DC Heroes,” coming out of its Dark Nights: Metal event miniseries.  This line of comic books will consist of eight new comic book series:  The Curse of Brimstone, Damage, The Immortal Men, New Challengers, Sideways, The Terrifics, The Unexpected, and the subject of this review, The Silencer.

The Silencer is written by co-creator Dan Abnett; drawn by co-creator John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Sandra Hope; colored by Dean White; and lettered by Tom Napolitano.  The Silencer focuses on a woman who was once an assassin, but now lives a normal life with a normal family.

The Silencer #1 introduces a woman who is super-strong, highly trained, and armed with devastating, stealthy, meta-human abilities.  Once she was “The Silencer,” a virtually invincible assassin.  Now, The Silencer is Honor Guest, a woman who loves her life as wife to her husband, Blake, and as a mother to their young son, Ben a.k.a. “Jellybean.”  However, the arrival of Killbox signals that the “Underlife” lives on and that Leviathan wants Honor back.

I am a fan of artist John Romita, Jr., and he draws some impressive moments in this comic book.  I am a fan of colorist Dean White, and he delivers some candy-coated hues here.  I am a fan of letter Tom Napolitano, and he usually adds some punch to the dialogue and exposition, which is needed here.

Despite an impressive cover, The Silencer #1 is an OK first issue, but there is not much here, beyond the efforts of the graphics creative team, to entice readers to return for a second issue.  The Silencer #1 reads like one of those muscle-bound, big-gun comic books that were almost half of Image Comics' initial input in the early to mid-1990s; think Youngblood, Wetworks, Codename: Strykeforce, etc.

This new age of heroes is new in names only, and is not particularly interesting.

5 out of 10

[This comic book includes a preview of The Immortal Men by Jim Lee and James Tynion IV.]

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


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

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Review: NIGHTWING The New Order #1

NIGHTWING: THE NEW ORDER No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Kyle Higgins
ARTIST: Trevor McCarthy
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Clayton Cowles
COVER: Trevor McCarthy
VARIANT COVER: Paul Pope with with Lovern Kindzierski
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Nightwing created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Chapter One

DC Comics character, Dick Grayson, first appeared as Batman's kid sidekick, Robin, in Detective Comics #38 (cover dated: April 1940).  Decades later, writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez transformed Grayson from Robin into the adult character, Nightwing, first appearing in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (cover dated: July 1984).

Nightwing has been appearing in his own comic books since a 1995 one-shot and miniseries and an ongoing series that began in 1996.  A new Nightwing six-issue comic book miniseries, entitled by Nightwing: The New Order, looks at the future of the character.  It is written by Kyle Higgins; drawn by Trevor McCarthy; colored by Dean White; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Nightwing: The New Order #1 opens in Gotham City in the year 2040.  Dick Grayson is the leader of a government task force called “the Crusaders,” which hunts people with superpowers.  Since the year 2028, superpowers have been eliminated and outlawed.  However, Grayson is about to face the Crusaders' wrath, the same way he has directed it at so many others.

The allure of Nightwing: The New Order for me is that it features Nightwing, my favorite Robin.  It is kind of thrilling to see that he has evolved into the kind of authoritarian monster that it is plausible to believe Batman would become.  Irony is not dead, and the direction of the series is telegraphed early in the series.  I think Nightwing: The New Order could end up being dark and tragic, or writer Kyle Higgins could surprise us.  I hope he surprises us.

The art by Trevor McCarthy shows flourishes here and there, some nice page design, stylish figure drawing, and solid composition, although that is somewhat crowded.  That makes the storytelling a bit tight, and this story seems to need to explode, which it may do later.

Still, I think that Nightwing: The New Order is a Batman-related title to watch.  It has potential, and does not seem like cynical sales exploitation.

7 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: HIT-GIRL #1

HIT-GIRL No. 1 (2018)
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mark Millar
ART: Ricardo Lopez Ortiz
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: Melina Mikulic
COVER: Amy Reeder
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kim Jung Gi with Sunny Gho; Rafael Albuquerque; John Romita, Jr. with Dean White; Rob Doyle
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2018)

Rated M/Mature

Hit-Girl created by Mark Miller and John Romita, Jr.

Hit-Girl is a comic book vigilante character created by Mark Miller and John Romita, Jr.  She first appeared in the comic book series, Kick-Ass (2008) and is Mindy McCready, a 'tween girl trained from an early age by her late father to be a costumed superhero and assassin.

Hit-Girl appeared in all three initial Kick-Ass comic book miniseries and also appeared in her own five-issue miniseries, Hit-Girl (2012, Marvel Comics/Icon).  Mark Millar announced last year that he was bringing Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl back in new miniseries.  The new Hit-Girl is written by Millar, drawn by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz; colored by Sunny Gho; and lettered by Melina Mikulic.

Hit-Girl #1 opens in Palmire, Columbia, South America.  We meet hit man Fabio Mendoza a.k.a. “Mano.”  A member of “Perros de Guerra,” the notorious gang, Mano is on his way to prison where he will begin serving 10 life sentences.  But Hit-Girl has what she thinks is a better deal for Mano.  She is still trying to find a new Kick-Ass to replace the retired original, but has Hit-Girl chosen the right, right-hand-man replacement?

I am not crazy about the cover art for Hit-Girl #1, drawn by Amy Reeder.  I really dislike the interior art by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz; my imagination does not want to read it.  And it pales in comparison to the art of Hit-Girl's originator, John Romita, Jr.  Millar's story does have some intriguing bits in this first issue... or maybe I'm just reaching.

But I love Hit-Girl, so I will make the best of this comic book.  You never know what surprises Mark Millar will pull out of his writer's hat, and Ortiz's art might grow on me.  And again, maybe I'm reaching...

5 out of 10

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


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

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Review: GENERATIONS: Iron Man & Ironheart #1

GENERATIONS: IRON MAN & IRONHEART No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis
PENCILS: Marco Rudy, Szymon Kudranski, and Nico Leon
INKS: Syzmon Kudranski, Will Sliney, Scott Koblish, and Nico Leon
COLORS: Marco Rudy, Dean White, and Paul Mounts
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Skan
VARIANT COVERS: Marco Rudy; Olivier Coipel with Laura Martin; Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers with Paul Mounts and Joe Frontirre
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated T+

Iron Man created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby

“The Iron”

Generations is an event miniseries from Marvel Comics.  It is a planned 10-issue anthology, published weekly.  Each issue is written and drawn by a different creative team, and each issue will feature a different team-up of a classic Marvel superhero with his or her modern-day counterpart.  The series is meant to unite the legacy of classic Marvel Comics characters with the next generation of heroes as both move into the future of Marvel Comics storytelling.

The sixth issue is Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart, which brings together two versions of a classic Marvel Comics character, Iron Man.  The first is the classic Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, who first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover date: March 1963).  The second is Ironheart, who is Riri Williams, a teen prodigy and genius engineer.  This issue of Generations is written by Brian Michael Bendis; drawn by Marco Rudy, Szymon Kudranski, and Nico Leon (pencils) and Syzmon Kudranski, Will Sliney, Scott Koblish, and Nico Leon; colored by Marco Rudy, Dean White, and Paul Mounts; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 (“The Iron”) opens with Ironheart experiencing free fall in a darkened sky.  Riri soon discovers that much of the tech and many of the features of her Ironheart suit do not function well or do not fuction at all.  Riri realizes that she is somewhere else, but she cannot believe that she is in the future.  She does not want to believe it when she meets some strange Avengers.  She still does not want to believe it when she meets this world's Sorcerer Supreme – Tony Stark!  He is going to show her a far-flung future of possibilities for her.

It took me six issues of Generations, so it is Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 that convinces me that Generations has a running theme that revolves around mentors and mentorship, teachers and teachable moments, father-figures and mother-figures, and even predecessors.  Some entries in Generation do it better than others, but every issue has at least one moment in which one character stands as an example for another.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 is, thus far, the best of series, which is what I said about the Hawkeye Generations last week.  So I am surprised by how much Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 affected me.  It is philosophical; almost spiritual in an odd way.  This is written by Brian Michael Bendis, so there is a lot of conversation between future Tony Stark-Sorcerer Supreme (who popped up in two recent issues of Bendis and Alex Maleev's Infamous Iron Man) and Riri Williams.

Many comic book people (with agendas) have blamed Marvel Comics' recent sales slump on “diversity” characters, with Riri Williams probably being the most notorious.  Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 can be read as Bendis' manifesto, one that says... no declares... that Riri ain't going nowhere.  She isn't disappearing because she is the future.

Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 has a large art team of seven artists and colorists, but they are what makes Bendis' story work.  The design of these pages have a funky flower child/love generation appearance that reminds me of Neal Adams' classic X-Men run, J.H. Williams, III's art for Alan Moore's Promethea, and Jon J. Muth's art for the old Marvel/Epic Comics' Moonshadow.  These different artists and art teams come together to create a 30-page story in which disparate visual styles actually become a seamless visual poem that flows like a perfectly written pop song.

Make mine Marvel.  This is what Generations: Iron Man & Ironheart #1 convinces me I should do.  We can have new versions of classic Marvel characters.  We can have both – the originals and the new ones.  Here, Tony Stark encourages Riri Williams to reach for the stars, so we can have both characters in Iron Man armor.  Yes, we can.

A
9 out of 10

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


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

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Review: DARK NIGHTS: Metal #2

DARK NIGHTS: METAL No. 2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2017)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

Dark Nights: Metal is the current comic book event miniseries from DC Comics.  The series will run for six issues, and will include at least 19 individual tie-in issues.  Some tie-ins will be original one-shots and others will be issues of currently ongoing comic book series (such as Teen Titans and Suicide Squad, to name two).  Two of the tie-ins have already been published, Dark Days: The Forge and Dark Days: The Casting.  The first “Metal” title was published on June 14, 2017 (The Forge) and the final entry in the event (Dark Nights: Metal #6) is scheduled to be published February 14, 2017.

Dark Nights: Metal introduces the “Dark Multiverse,” and is written by Scott Snyder and drawn (pencil art) by Greg Capullo, the creative team behind The New 52 relaunch of the Batman ongoing title.  The rest of the creative team includes inker Jonathan Glapion; colorist FCO Plascencia; and letterer Steve Wands.

Dark Nights: Metal #2 finds the Justice League – Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash, and Cyborg – in hot pursuit of their teammate, Batman.  The Dark Knight Detective, however, is determined to address his crisis on his own and to protect his teammates from the really bad thing that is coming to Earth.  Thus, conflict is born and the League battles Batman.  From the Amazon rain forests to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, friend fights friend.  Can the Batman and Justice League stop what is coming... what may be destined?

I was not enjoying Dark Nights: Metal #2 quite as much as I did the first issue; then, baby Darkseid shows up, and how can I not love that? Then, there is the killer ending and... the arrival.  I must say that I find the inclusion of Neil Gaiman's Sandman (Daniel? or Morpheus?) to be contrived, but the other guest cameos (Green Arrow, Gorilla City) are quite nice.

Dark Nights: Metal is big, but not bloated, which is what I found Marvel Comics' Secret Empire to be.  Secret Empire has so much stuff going on, more than I wanted to follow, so I didn't read it past the zero issue.  On the other hand, Metal is so is like a streamlined rocket racing in a straight line past omens and portents to the big, freakin' dark arrival.

I think the other thing that is in Metal's favor is that its creative team was The New 52 Batman creative team for the better part of four years.  Thus, Metal actually seems like a continuation of something concrete in the DC Universe, something will not be re-birthed and rebooted away – Snyder and Capullo's Batman.  Metal validates that Batman comic book series, and Batman is the anchor for this big event which might mean something important to the DCU for some time to come.

A
8 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.

---------------------------

Review: Dark Nights: METAL #1

DARK NIGHTS: METAL No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“Metal”

Dark Nights: Metal is the new comic book event miniseries from DC Comics.  The series will run for six issues, and will include at least 19 individual tie-in issues.  Some tie-ins will be original one-shots and others will be issues of currently ongoing comic book series (such as Teen Titans and Suicide Squad, to name two).  Two of the tie-ins have already been published, Dark Days: The Forge and Dark Days: The Casting.  The first “Metal” title was published on June 14, 2017 (The Forge) and the final comic book (Dark Nights: Metal #6) is scheduled to be published February 14, 2017.

Dark Nights: Metal introduces the “Dark Multiverse,” and this miniseries is written by Scott Snyder and drawn (pencil art) by Greg Capullo, the creative team behind The New 52 relaunch of the Batman ongoing title.  The rest of the creative team includes inker Jonathan Glapion; colorist FCO Plascencia; and letterer Steve Wands.

Dark Nights: Metal #1 finds the Justice League – Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash, and Cyborg – prisoners of Mongul.  He controls the superheroes via special armor and forces the Justice League to entertain him and a stadium full of Braalians by fighting as gladiators.  Thus far, the League has defeated its opponents, but Mongul is about to introduce newer and more powerful creatures.  The team needs to escape because there is trouble on Earth:  an attack on Gotham City and an ages-old secret on Blackhawk Island – a secret that will shake the foundations of the Multiverse now and forever.

Of course, dear readers, you remember the 2012 film, The Dark Knight Rises, the third film in Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY.  [I think Warner Bros. requires that it be written all in caps.]  Every scene and sequence in that film seemed to build to some crescendo – a crescendo that never happened.  Hans Zimmer's score kept pounding and director Chris Nolan kept building his self-important cinematic “masterpiece” until its contrived ending arrives without ever delivering that crescendo.  That movie was like one long, massive, elaborate chicken-choking session without the explosive payoff.

Luckily, Scott Snyder knows how to build his Bat-crescendo, but he does not build towards one big climax.  Dark Nights: Metal is a mystery, thriller, and horror story that uses scenes and sequences to create anticipation – some are loud and big and others are simply tense.  Snyder offers clues and secrets; and the prize is not necessarily a crescendo.  Maybe, Metal finishes with a series of big reveals, and/or maybe, in the end, it adds something new to the DC Comics Universe.

As for artist Greg Capullo, well, we finally get our Capullo-drawn Justice League comic book.  I like that Metal is more like a Justice League comic book than it is like Crisis on Infinite Earths-style event.  Capullo's storytelling feels immediate, tense, and tight like a particularly good Justice League comic book and, once again, less like one of those loud, bloated, out of control company-wide event comic books (say, Marvel's Secret Empire.)

So let's say that Dark Nights: Metal #1 gets it right by creating anticipation rather than exploding in our hands after only three strokes... I mean, three pages.

A
8 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.

---------------------------

Review: ALL-STAR BATMAN #5

ALL STAR BATMAN No. 5
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Danny Miki, Tom Palmer, Sandra Hope, and Richard Friend
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
VARIANT COVERS: Jock; Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“My Own Worst Enemy” Finale

All-Star Batman is the recently launched Batman comic book that is written by superstar writer Scott Snyder and drawn by superstar artists and hot up-and-coming comic book-drawing talent.  The first story arc, the five-issue “My Own Worst Enemy,” is drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Danny Miki (inks); colored by Dean White; and lettered by Steve Wands.

In “My Own Worst Enemy,” Batman and Harvey Dent/Two-Face are on a 498-mile journey to a house, where young Bruce Wayne and young Harvey Dent lived together as almost-brothers for a short while.  Now, Dent wants to go back to that house to find something that will be life-changing for him.  As a threat to keep Batman from interfering, Two-Face has promised to publicly reveal the dark secrets of Gotham's criminal overlords.  Now, Batman and Harvey Dent/Two-Face, with Batman's new partner, Duke, in tow, fight to reach their destination with some of Gotham's most lethal killers on their heels.

All-Star Batman #5 (“My Own Worst Enemy” Finale) opens with Batman and Two-Face practically at the last miles of their destination.  However, Batman is battered and the KGBeast wants to batter him some more, forcing Batman to protect both his and Duke's lives, as well as the life of Two-Face.  Now, Batman must outwit his pursuers and Two-Face, while back in Gotham, Commissioner Jim Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department are just feet away from discovering the secrets of the Batcave.

While I did not always like every issue of Scott Snyder's 2011 to 2016 run on Batman, I do believe that his off-beat storytelling did serve to liberate Batman the character from a 25-year malaise.  This rut resulted because practically every DC Comics editor and most Batman writers chose to follow the tone of Frank Miller's seminal Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Snyder made the Dark Knight/Detective less Batman-as-Clint Eastwood and more Batman-as-Bruce Wayne-on-a-mission.  Snyder returned the man to Batman, showing the humanity in the hero.  Snyder carried that over into All-Star Batman, where Snyder depicts a Bat-Man in stories that are action-thrillers.  All-Star Batman's tone and graphic aesthetic is almost like the “wide screen” action of Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch's The Authority from the 1999-2000.  However, in All-Star Batman, Snyder cops the edgy, speedy, thrill-ride, action movie aspect of Chris Nolan's “The Dark Knight” trilogy, especially 2008's The Dark Knight.

Of course, Snyder needs a graphical storyteller and comic book artist that can pull that off.  John Romita, Jr. does big.  He does edgy.  He does kick-ass.  Here, Romita is cinematographer, designer, art director/set decorator, and stage director.  Danny Miki's electric inking adds the zing.  And yeah, Dean White is still smashing booty with his coloring.  Even Steve Wands' lettering is explosive.

A

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


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

--------------------

Review: ALL-STAR BATMAN #2

ALL STAR BATMAN No. 2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.; Declan Shalvey
INKS: Danny Miki; Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Dean White; Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
VARIANT COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White; Jock; Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (November 2016)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 2

In my review of the first issue of All Star Batman, I wrote that I found Scott Snyder's run on Batman to be inconsistent, mostly because the story arcs were too long, with some issues within each arc reading like story padding.  Still, Snyder was wildly inventive in his run on Batman; often it seemed as if he were finding ways to advance Batman, a character that was moribund.  For 25 years, most writers of Batman comic books were merely wiping up the vestiges of Frank Miller's bomb, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

So here comes the new Batman comic book, All Star Batman.  It is written by Scott Snyder and is currently drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Danny Miki (inks); colored by Dean White; and lettered by Steve Wands.  And it is looking like it could be Snyder's best Batman work.

All-Star Batman #2 (“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 2) opens with Jim Gordon and Detective Harvey Bullock about to embark on the raid of a home, an event that will seemingly change their lives as much as it will the owner of the house.  Two days before that raid, Batman and Two-Face/Harvey Dent continue their journey that Two-Face does not want to continue.  A who's who of Gotham's worst criminals and the roster of Batman's rogue's gallery are trying to help Two-Face get his cessation.  Back in Gotham, a trio is going to make a really dangerous decision to “help” Two-Face.  They are going to call on the services of a killer who is an absolute beast.

After reading the first two issues of All Star Batman, I've started to do the dangerous thing and think too much.  I'm thinking that Snyder seems in full bloom writing this series.  It is as if All Star Batman frees him of the expectations, history, and continuity of the flagship Bat-title, Batman.  With this new title, Snyder can do what he wants, and since this is a showcase for the superstars and the up-and-comers, perhaps, editorial will let Snyder run wild.

The result is a Batman comic book that is simply fun to read.  It is action-packed and kick-ass.  The villains are larger than their ordinary fictional lives.  Batman is a Dark Knight, but rather than rehash Frank Miller's Clint Eastwood-Dirty Harry'ish Batman, Snyder offers a Batman with a sly wit that can cut to the bone quicker than his gauntlets and boots can break bones.  This is the Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry Batman – the All Star Batman.  And, hey, we love to pay for all-stars, so this is the Batman comic book you should be reading.

Of course, it is good that there is an all-star art team to bring Snyder's writing to graphical story slash comic book life.  In fact, John Romita, Jr. seems to have gained new life since he moved from Marvel Comics to DC Comics.  Romita is doing his best work since Kick-Ass (with writer Mark Millar), and he is drawing with a lust for life and Miki is inking him with gusto.  Then, White is coloring the fuck out of this comic book.  With this art team, Snyder can't let up.

The back up story, “The Cursed Wheel” continues.  Written by Snyder and drawn by Declan Shalvey.  It is edgy where “My Own Worst Enemy” is big and spectacular, but this second story is holding its own and has a killer cliffhanger.

A

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


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

------------------------

Review: ALL-STAR BATMAN #1

ALL-STAR BATMAN No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.; Declan Shalvey
INKS: Danny Miki; Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Dean White; Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
VARIANT COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White; Jock; Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2016)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 1

When I first read The New 52 Batman #1, which was written by Scott Snyder, I found it enjoyable, but I did not think of it as a comic book that I had to follow every month.  I actually preferred The New 52 version of Detective Comics, written and drawn by Tony S. Daniels.  Daniels' run on Detective Comics was over in about a year, while the Snyder-written and Greg Capullo-drawn Batman became a bestselling, critically-acclaimed hit.

I returned to Snyder-Capullo Batman for the start of the “Zero Year” story line (Batman #21).  It started off brilliantly, with at least three superb issues, but “Zero Year” came to define everything that was bloated about the second half of Snyder's run as writer on the Batman flagship comic book.  The story arcs were too long, and while each arc had at least one fantastic issue, many of the other issues were story line padding or read like filler material.

Now, here comes DC Comics' latest publishing event/initiative, “Rebirth,” and with it comes a new Batman comic book, All Star Batman.  This series will be written by Scott Snyder and drawn by “superstar” artists and hot up-and-comers.  The first story arc is drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Danny Miki (inks); colored by Dean White; and lettered by Steve Wands.

All-Star Batman #1 (“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 1) opens at Auggie Mac's Diner, somewhere in the Midwest.  The bustling restaurant's routine of serving comfort food to regular Joes and Janes is interrupted by a pitched battle between Batman and the team of Firefly and Killer Moth.  Why are they fighting, other than the fact that they are hero vs. arch-enemies?  Well, it involves Two-Face, and Batman may find that no one is on his side this time.

So count this as one of those fantastic first issues of a Batman story arc that Scott Snyder does so well.  Hell, if you are just looking for a darn good read and don't mind that it ends on a to-be-continued, you could not go wrong with All Star Batman #1.  Romita, Jr. and Miki make a dynamite art team, and Dean White's rich hues are eye-candy colors.  I have flipped through this book several times over the past few days; graphically, it is that pretty.

All Star Batman #1 includes a second story, written by Snyder and drawn by Declan Shalvey.  It has an intriguing premise, although it is not hell-bent action as the lead feature.  Still, it adds to my excitement about All Star Batman.  Hopefully, this opening arc does not start to feel like it is running too long and is bloated.  But really, what is going to change?  Thus far, Snyder has gotten nothing but encouragement from readers, the fan press, and the powers-that-be at DC Comics, so why should he change what he is doing?  This is not necessarily a rhetorical question.

A

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


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

-------------------------

Review: SUPERMAN #41

SUPERMAN #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Gene Luen Yang
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Karl Kerschl (Joker 75th anniversary cover)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Before Truth” Part 1

DC Comics' new-look slash new-direction, “DCYou,” not only means the launch of new comic book series, but it also means a change for ongoing titles.  One of those titles taking on a new direction is Superman, featuring the debut of acclaimed graphic novelist, Gene Luen Yang, as the series' new regular writer.  The art team of Superman remains the same as it has been for the last year:  John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks), with colorist Dean White and letterer Rob Leigh.

Superman #41 (“Before Truth” Part 1) opens with a tease of what is to come for Superman.  The story returns to the “present” with Clark Kent still dealing with the changes in his Superman powers and abilities.  Something else that is new in Kent's life is unknown figures who sends mysterious text messages that offer tips about the kind of illegal activities that Superman fights.

One tip guides Kent and Jimmy Olsen, who now knows that Clark is Superman, to the underground factory of a black market, hi-teach weapons dealer.  It is indeed a hot and accurate tip, but what are the real motives of this “unknown source?”  And how does it affect Superman's future?

Although I am aware of Gene Luen Yang's work, I have never read any of it.  I was curious about how he would approach Superman, but I expected only a minor change in tone.  Boy, was I wrong.  Everything about Superman #41 seems fresh and, in some instances, new.  This is a Superman that looks forward, with hope and possibility and ready for whatever comes with change.  I think that Superman has always been about tomorrow, about hope, and about the new.  The character grows moribund when the status quo takes hold for years at a time.

In fact, I think that Yang is a better Superman writer for John Romita, Jr.  Previous Superman writer, Geoff Johns, played to Romita's ability to summon the spirit of Jack Kirby in creating king-sized brawls between super-powered beings.  Yang plays to Romita's strengths as a storyteller who is both inventive and imaginative, also to his ability to change mood, tone, and atmosphere within a single chapter.  So this new direction for Superman is about both Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr.

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.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Captain America #7

Captain America 007
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Rick Remender
Pencils: John Romita Jr.
Inks: Klaus Janson, Scott Hanna
Colors: Dean White

Spoilers!

This is the best kept secret in comics, and it should not be. Get your !@#&%#$ out there and buy this book.

This is the seventh issue since the re-launch, and Remender has not given us a chance to catch our breath. The action has been kinetic. Cap has been stretched to his super soldier limits, and he has never hesitated in his assault on evil. Cap is being attacked on every level possible.

Zola’s mutates, and Jet has tested Cap’s fighting skills with brute force and superior physical abilities. Zola is taking over Cap’s body from within. Cap’s emotions have been wrecked by the kidnapping of his son, Ian. All of this is occurring in a hostile environment that requires super-human effort to survive. The only person that Cap has to depend on through these trying times is himself. Cap doesn’t sit back and moan about his situation; he is concerned about the faith of others. He pushes himself beyond his limits to make a difference.

Remender is telling an epic for the ages, and this issue continues what began in the previous issues. Cap keeps battling against all obstacles. He defeats Captain Zola. He fights Jet again, but leaves the fight to save a Phrox from becoming a Zola mutate. This inspires Jet to help Cap. She tells Cap that Zola City is actually a battle station, and that Zola is planning to attack Earth with a mutate army that will infect the Earth with the consciousness of Zola. This could have been the end of the story, leaving us filled with anticipation, but, no, the story continues. Cap pulls his demolished body off the ground to save his son. Then glazat! Cap is shot by his son. Double-thriller ending! Remender is giving us an epic for the ages. This is a great family story wrapped in kick-ass action.

Romita’s art is visual ecstasy. My copy is in horrendous condition from me repeatedly looking at the art.

I rate Captain America 007 Recommend It To A Friend. #1 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter

Albert Avilla Reviews: Avengers #2

Avengers #2
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Jerome Opena
Cover: Dustin Weaver & Justin Ponsor
Variant Covers: Esad Ribic; John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Dean White

“We Were Avengers” (Spoilers)
I lamented Bendis leaving the Avengers, but do not worry. Marvel’s greatest heroes have been put in capable hands. Hickman has won me over with a simple roll call story. You know: a story that comes around every so often when the Avengers lineup is changing.

First, we have the core group, the movie Avengers. If you don’t know who they are, then, I suggest that you go watch the DVD; I think it’s out. Next, we have the super popular Wolverine and Spider-man; two characters who have that never-stop-until-you-die fighting spirit. The two characters that I’m glad they have a spot on the team are Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman, no relation to Spider-Man. The Falcon is on the team; as Cap’s partner, this should be his home. It would be cool if Tony would give him an upgrade. What ever happened to Redwing?

The best hand-to hand-fighter in the Marvel Universe is on the team, The Master of Kung Fu, Shang Chi. Bringing youth to the team are Sunspot and Cannonball, the team supreme within the team. Manifold will make anywhere possible; I want to go on vacation with the dude. I want to see the pyramids when they where being built. Smasher puts the Avengers on a level with the Imperial Guard; I can’t wait for an Avengers-in-space story. Captain Universe brings awesome power to the team. The final player in the game is Superman, Oh, sorry! I mean Hyperion. Come on, we know that Hyperion is Marvel’s Superman. Think about it, Superman in the Avengers; get ready for some big time throwing down.

I enjoyed the humor. It is a good idea to keep the past lives of Smasher, Captain Marvel, and Hyperion under wraps for now; I’m expecting some good future stories. The Avengers have definitely gotten bigger. The villainous forces of Marveldom better step up their plotting and scheming.

The rest of the story gives the origin of Ex Nihilo and Abyss. They begin their transformation of Earth, and Cap marshals the new team for their attack on Ex Nihilo. It’s going to be on.

The art is unique in the good way; Opena’s style is beautiful. The coloring is detailed without giving the art that puzzle piece look. The character’s expressions are appropriate and related to the character’s emotions.

I rate Avengers #2 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter Ranking.

Albert Avilla Reviews: Captain America #1 (Marvel NOW)

Captain America # 1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Rick Remender
Pencils: John Romita
Inks: Klaus Janson
Colors: Dean White

Castaway in Dimension Z (Spoilers!)
When I first saw the promos for the new Captain America title, I wasn't looking forward to the Dimension Z storyline. That's my P.C. way of saying they are about to filty-farn up my favorite character. Don't be like me; don't judge the story before you read it. Once I start reading, I do so with an open mind.

This seems to be the beginning of a good story arc. The story begins with a flashback to Steve Rogers' boyhood, where his father is abusing his mother. We learn that Cap gets his courage from his mother. Remender makes a contribution to the legacy of Captain America in the first issue. We quickly get into some action as Cap battles an eco-terrorist, the Green Skull; he should know better to call Cap out like that. Cap saves Manhattan from destruction, just another day at the office.

Shocker, Sharon Carter proposes to Cap. Cap should have made Sharon a respectable woman years ago. People got married back in Steve's day. Cap is a proponent of old fashioned values; well, it’s time to step up to the plate. He should have started his family years ago. Who would be a better father and husband than Captain America? Sharon knows a good man is hard to find, and she is not letting this one get away.

Then, Cap is going on a mission without any intel, the perfect formula for surprise. No sooner than Cap gets on the secret subway, he's captured and drugged. Cap wakes up in a lab to find himself in the hands of Arnim Zola. Zola wants the super-soldier serum, and he's taking it the hard way. Zola wants the serum for his daughter and his well-designed son. Of course, Cap escapes in the most thrilling way possible and saves or kidnaps the baby, depending on your point of view. Cap finds himself trapped in Dimension Z with an infant to care for; that's what you get for doing what's right before you think it through. Cap gets a proposal and now, he has a baby to care for. Where is Mr. Remender leading Cap? I know it's the first issue, but this new direction has me hyped. Change is not always a bad thing, when it's done right.

Marvel is going top shelf with Romita Jr. doing the art. The visual aspect of the comic is astounding. Romita Jr. delivers quality no matter the setting; he rises to the challenge.

I rate Captain America # 1 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter Ranking

Leroy Douresseaux Reviews: CLiNT #12

CLiNT #12
TITAN MAGAZINES

WRITERS: Mark Millar, Frankie Boyle, Nathan Edmondson, and Mark Sable
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr., Mike Dowling, Tonci Zonjic, Leinil Yu, and Paul Azaceta
INKS: Tom Palmer, Mike Dowling, Tonci Zonjic, Gerry Alanguilan, and Paul Azaceta
COLORS: Dean White, Jamie Grant and Jim Devlin, Sunny Gho, and Matt Wilson
LETTERS: Chris Eliopolous, Clayton Cowles, and Thomas Maur
98pp, Color, $6.99 U.S., £4.25 UK

In 1987, a young Mark Millar wrote to comic book artist (and sometime writer) Dave Gibbons, who was ascendant with the attention of the legendary comic book series, Watchmen. In his letter, Millar suggested that he and Gibbons collaborate, and Gibbons was gracious in his reply. Both letters are reprinted in CLiNT #12 as part of an interview of both men as they tease their upcoming project, “The Secret Service.”

CLiNT is a comics and comics culture magazine edited by superstar comic book writer Mark Millar and published by Titan Magazines. Every issue of CLiNT contains actual comics and interviews related to comics, as well as the occasional piece on movies and pop culture. It is a newsstand British comic or “boys comic” magazine in the tradition of 2000AD (among others) that serializes multiple comics. However, most of the comics in CLiNT have been published in comic book form prior to their CLiNT appearance.

CLiNT #12 comes with some big news from the publisher. The magazine will now be released in the United States at the same time as it is in the United Kingdom, in this instance, November 23rd in the U.S. and November 24th in the U.K.

As with previous issues, CLiNT #12 includes a chapter of Millar and John Romita, Jr.’s Kick-Ass 2 (Chapter 12). It is deranged as ever, but Millar manages to create a poignant moment or two, basically by dropping some consequence-of-actions on the characters. The second Millar offering is Chapter 7 of Superior, which is penciled by Leinil Yu. It is a superhero fantasy drama/comedy about a crippled boy who gets to be the comic book superhero he loves. It is strange and is darker in tone than its brightly colored art would suggest.

Thanks to a summary page, I have a better idea of what is going on in Rex Royd from stand-up comic and writer Frankie Boyle. But it still seems to me like a masala of Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Brian Bendis post-modern superhero ideas. There is also the conclusion of writer Nathan Edmondson and artist Tonci Zonjic’s Who is Jake Ellis?, which was recently published as a comic book miniseries by Image Comics. I read it and had no idea what was going on because I had not read the earlier issues. I like Zonjic’s art, though.

My favorite comic in this issue is Graveyard of Empires from writer Mark Sable and artist Paul Azaceta, which is being published as a miniseries by Image Comics. A war comic, Graveyard of Empires is set in Afghanistan at a small American base, F.A.C. Alamo, and focuses on the servicemen, their boredom, fear, and pastimes. It’s very good, and reminds me of the Oscar-winning film, The Hurt Locker. I don’t know how I will feel about it later because it is apparently a zombie comic, although zombies don’t appear in this installment.

The issue ends with a “Badass Cinema” article by Vern (http://www.outlawvern.com/) gives readers an overview of “Arthouse Badass.”

A-

http://www.clintmag.com/

#IReadsYou Review: KICK-ASS (Hardcover Collection)

KICK-ASS

MARVEL COMICS/ICON
WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Tom Palmer
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
INTRODUCTION: Rob Liefeld

Kick-Ass was an eight-issue miniseries from writer Mark Millar (The Ultimates, Wanted) and artist John Romita, Jr. (The Amazing Spider-Man) published under Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint. Kick-Ass is also a graphic novel serialized as an eight-issue miniseries, perhaps, the first of a series of Kick-Ass graphic novels. Before I read it, I thought that I might like Kick-Ass, but after reading the recently published hardcover collection of the series, I can say that I absolutely love it.

The series focuses on Dave Lizewski, a normal teenager and comic book fan, who decides to put on a costume and become a superhero. The first time he plays hero, some thuggish black teens beat Dave’s ass into a coma. Dave’s second mission becomes an Internet sensation, from which he takes his superhero name, Kick-Ass. Dave is cognizant of what he is doing and understands the impact of his actions, especially after his activities spawn a wave of copycats, including a rich teen who calls himself, Red Mist.

However, with Kick-Ass’s popularity skyrocketing because of viral videos and because of those very same superhero copycats, Dave becomes hooked on this new lifestyle and addicted to the adrenal rush and danger that lifestyle entails. Then, Dave meets another costumed duo playing superhero, the extreme violence, father-daughter duo of Big Daddy and the sword-wielding Hit Girl. They play for keeps, cutting a bloody path through the world of mob boss, John Genovese a.k.a. Johnny G. Suddenly, being Kick-Ass may be more than Dave bargained for.

Early in the series, Kick-Ass is funny, sarcastic, and poignant in the way quality drama about the trials and tribulations should be. Then, the first time Dave becomes Kick-Ass and springs into action, the entire narrative turns vulgar, obscene, and deranged… in a way that is an absolute joy to read. Suddenly, John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Tom Palmer’s (inks) ugly art made sense. Visually, what these artists did was tell Millar’s story as a graphic narrative in the only way that would make it work. They had to produce comic art that could capture the rundown neighborhoods and gritty environments in which Dave lived. That art also had to depict the sudden and ferocious violence and its gruesome aftermath that defines the world of Kick-Ass.

The deeper into this crazy, kooky narrative I want, the more I wondered why Millar doesn’t do more of this. In fact, if comic book publishers want to attract more young male readers, they may want to consider publishing books like Kick-Ass, which could appeal to the guys who like 300 and Inglourious Basterds. I sat in a theatre watching Basterds with two young guys sitting a few seats from me, and they howled with delight and encouragement every time the characters did violence to one another. Those are probably shoo-in readers of comics like Kick-Ass.

DC Comics has spent the better part of a decade trying to find order in its fictional DC Universe and its 70 years of continuity. New readers won’t bother with comic books that navel-gaze like that. They will want comics that… dare I say it… kick ass. I don’t know what the hell Marvel Comics is doing – re-launching, re-imagining, and generally trying to make every two-bit character shiny enough for Hollywood… when they should just… kick ass?

All they need to do is look to this hot mess from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. Kick-Ass is an inglourious basterd, and we need more Kick-Ass.

A

Buy Kick-Ass