Showing posts with label Duncan Fegredo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Duncan Fegredo. Show all posts

Thursday, August 31, 2023

I Reads You Juniors: August 2023 - Update #65

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

FANTAGRAPHICS - From TheNewYorker:  The great Francois Mouly and the great Daniel Clowes take a tour through Clowes' mind in conjunction with the impending release of Clowes' upcoming graphic novel, "Monica" (Oct. 3rd).

DARK HORSE - From ScreenRantMike Mignola's "Hellboy" takes on a giant robot version of himself in the three-issue miniseries, "Giant Robot Hellboy."  Written by Mignola with art by Duncan Fegredo, the series launches in October 2023.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer-artist Sina Grace talks about his upcoming Superman young adult graphic novel, "Superman: The Harvests of Youth." It's set to be released Oct. 3rd.

From DCBlog:  Writer Tom King talks about his new series, "The Penguin," focusing on the legendary Batman villain.  "The Penguin #1" is now in stores.

IDW - From ComicsBeatHeidi MacDonald looks at the implosion of IDW Publishing's line of creator-owned comic books, "IDW Originals."

DC CINEMA - From CNet: Warner Bros.'s recent superhero film, "The Flash," starts streaming on Max during the early hours of Fri., Aug. 25th, tomorrow.

EN MEMORIAM - From CBR:  American comic book artist, Dan Green, has died at the age of 70 after a long illness.  Green is best known as the long-running inker on John Romita, Jr.'s pencil art on "Uncanny X-Men," beginning in 1983. He continues inking the series when Marc Silvestri became the series artist.  He would also ink Silverstri's art during a run on the "Wolverine" ongoing, and would return to ink Romita, Jr. on "Uncanny X-Men #300."  Green also used watercolors to paint the well-remembered 1986 Doctor Strange graphic novel, "Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa," which was written by J.M. DeMatteis.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Taika Waititi directed "Thor: Ragnarok" (the third in the series) and "Thor: Love and Thunder" (the fourth), and he is letting fans know what he would do in a hypothetical "Thor 5."

BLUE BEETLE:

From Variety:  Warner Bros.'s DC Comics' film, "Blue Beetle" tops the 8/18 to 8/20/2023 weekend box office with an estimated take of 25.4 million dollars.

From Here:  A review of "Blue Beetle" by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You."

From DCBlog:  A look at the DC Comics' "Easter eggs" in "Blue Beetle."

From BleedingCool:  Which comic book creators were credited and which were not in the "Blue Beetle" end credits?

From GamesRadar:  The site has an interview with "Blue Beetle" director, Angel Manuel Soto, in which he says that DC Studios co-boss James Gunn did not have much say in the final cut of the film.

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DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  "The Flash" starts streaming on Max Fri., Aug. 25th.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Joshua Williamson talks about the origins of the "Knight Terrors" event.

COMICS - From BlackScifi:  Writer Greg Anderson Elysee and artist David Brame have announced their new comic book series, "Hammer," with a preview of interior art and developmental sketches.

DC STUDIOS - From Variety:  Despite what actress Gal Gadot has said about developing "Wonder Woman 3," there are apparently no plans for such a film ... according to sources.

COMICS - From ComicsBeat:  "Heavy Metal" magazine may be dead, but that hasn't been officially confirmed.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Veteran comic book inker, John Floyd, died at the age of 61, Monday, July 10, 2023, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.  As a youngster, John published his own fanzine, and he would go on to graduate from The Kubert School.  He is best known for his working inking such comic book legends as artists, Barry Windsor-Smith and Denys Cowan.  He was the inker on "Batman: Gotham Knights" (2000-06) for its first 49 issues.  John was also a comic book artist, colorist, and letterer.  Floyd also worked in the film industry as a production and storyboard artist, contributing to such films as "Rambing Rose" (1991), "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992), and Oscar-winning "Django Unchained" (2012).

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Tom Taylor and artist Nicola Scott talk about how DC's future is in the hands of the "Titans."

DC STUDIOS - From ComicBook:  Current cinematic "Wonder Woman," actress Gal Gadot, says she is developing "Wonder Woman 3" with DC Studios' co-bosses, James Gunn and Peter Safran.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Newsarama:  "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse," the third film in in Sony Pictures animated Miles Morales/Spider-Man film series, has been delayed indefinitely.

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JULY 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Band of Bards for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Fairsquare Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Extreme Venomverse" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Summer of Symbiotes" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  T-Pub for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Udon Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Webtoon Unscrolled for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Whatnot Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for July 2023

AUGUST 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Aardvard-Vanaheim for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Black Mask Studios for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for August 2023
From BleedindCool:  CEX Publishing for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Media for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics X-Men's "Fall of X" for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Fall of X" checklist and solicitations for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Summer of Symbiotes" for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics from August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Whatnot Publishing for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for August 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000 AD for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for September 2023

OCTOBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Band of Bards for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Fairquare Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Transformers" title for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Massive for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for October 2023
From BleedingCool:  Zenescape Entertainment for October 2023

NOVEMBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "Batman" titles for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents LLC for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Avengers" for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for November 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2023

DECEMBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "G.I. Joe" comics for December 2023

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Wednesday, August 11, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #11

KILLADELPHIA #11
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander with Luis Nct
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Duncan Fegredo
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(December 2020)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Burn Baby Burn” Part V: “Changing the Story”


Killadelphia is a comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander.  At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.”  Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.

Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr., who comes home to Philly to deal with the final affairs of his recently murdered father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr.  Not dead, but undead, the father joined the son, the chief medical examiner (Jose Padilla), and a rebellious vampire to lead the battle that saves Philly from the vampires.  But that was just the first battle, and this is an apocalypse.

Killadelphia #11 (“Changing the Story”) opens with the second president of the United States, John Adams, languishing in the … “Afterlife.”  He was the mastermind of a vampire revolution, but he was thwarted by several individuals, one being Tevin Thompkins.  Now, a kind of surrogate son offers a kind of surrogate father a way back.

Elsewhere, the real father-son duo, the Sangster boys, settle into the reality of doing-it-one-more-time.  Meanwhile, there is a change of story for John Adams' queen-of-the-damned-wife when she recounts her love for another damned … wife (so to speak).

Meanwhile, the rebellion born within the rebellion takes a turn.

THE LOWDOWN:  As I first write this review, it is Christmas Week 2020.  Killadelphia #11 hits comic book shops Wednesday, December 23rd, two days before the Christmas … of the apocalypse.  And just as we dread a mutation from across the pond, Killadelphia's story mutates.

Writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander work as if they were a single unit.  The work of each has merged into a single powerful graphical storytelling narrative that has made Killadelphia the best vampire comic book in a long time … if not the best vampire comic book ever published in North America.

Of course, Luis Nct's fiery colors burn stronger than ever, and Marshall Dillon's lettering keeps order in the streets of Killadelphia.  Sometimes, I think that I am running out of ways to praise this wonderful comic book.  Oh, hold on!  Have I said that the final issue of the story arc (issue #12) is 40 pages long?!  If Beale Street could talk, it would tell you to read Killadelphia right away.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.

10 out of 10

Killadelphia #11 has a backup feature:
“Elysium Gardens” Part 4 “By Any Means Necessary”
Story: Rodney Barnes
Art: Jason Shawn Alexander
Layouts: Sherard Jackson
Letters: Marshall Dillon

The back-up feature, “Elysium Gardens,” first opens on the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California on April 28, 1962 and then, moves to Sicily, 827 A.D.  Now, the story moves … back to the future or present in L.A.  After hearing a eulogy/speech given by Malcolm X, Angela/Zubiya and her pack decide to use their curse as a key to “Black Liberation.”

Well, I certainly didn't expect an appearance by Malcolm X … even in a comic book that features President John Quincy Adams.  And Jason Shawn Alexander's uncanny depiction of Malcolm captures the soul of this man's public crusade.  I think that is all I can say … at the moment.


https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes
https://twitter.com/jasonshawnalex
https://twitter.com/luisnct
https://twitter.com/MarshallDillon
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
http://rodneybarnes.com/

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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Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).


Friday, June 11, 2021

#IReadsYou Review: THE SCUMBAG #4

THE SCUMBAG #4
IMAGE COMICS/Giant Generator

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Rick Remender
ART: Eric Powell
COLORS: Moreno Dinisio
LETTERS: Rus Wooton
DESIGN: Erika Schnatz
EDITOR: Will Dennis
COVER: Eric Powell
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Roland Boschi with Moreno Dinisio; Duncan Fegredo
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(January 2021)

Rated “M/ Mature”

“Snowblower Indemnity” Part 4


The Scumbag is a comic book series from writer Rick Remender.  Described as a “comedy espionage series” by publisher Image Comics, The Scumbag's tagline reads, “The fate of the world rests in the hands of the worst person on it!”  The series features a rotating crew of illustrators.  Artist Eric Powell; colorist Moreno Dinisio; and letterer Rus Wooton complete the current creative team.

The Scumbag introduces Ernie Ray Clementine.  He is a rundown, raggedy, filthy man.  He is a profane, illiterate, drug-addicted biker and ne'er-do-well with a fifth-grade education.  However, he meets Sister Mary and “Central Authority” and inadvertently absorbs the power-imbuing serum called “the Formula Maxima.”  Now, Ernie is the only thing standing between humanity and total Armageddon... because he has suddenly become the world's most powerful super-spy.

The Scumbag #4 opens in the sky in a flying car with Ernie Ray, Sister Mary, and “A.I. doll,” Pam.  They plan to infiltrate a party being thrown at the mansion of “The Prosoma,” leader of the reactionary cabal, Scorpionus.  However, “Mr. Prosoma” isn't clueless about his party being crashed, and he has an offer to make.

THE LOWDOWN:  I didn't have a lot to say about The Scumbag #1.  I had a little more to say about The Scumbag #2.  I said that with The Scumbag #3 the series had hit its stride.  The Scumbag #4 may offer some of Rick Remender's sharpest political, social, and racial commentary yet.

Remender distillates white privilege, the one percent, reactionary millionaires and billionaires, and the titans of industry, tech, and fossil fuels into one self-promoting asshole.  It is scary that there are people similar to Prosoma in the real world, but Remender has turned this type into a most excellent comic book villain.

Artist Eric Powell and colorist Moreno Dinisio have a field day with the orgy scenes; I'm still shocked.  And letterer Rus Wooton is quite good at lettering crazy talk, of which there is a lot.  We're approaching the end of the first story arc, so this is no time to stop reading The Scumbag.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Rick Remender, of mature comedy, and of reprobate-type anti-hero lead characters will want The Scumbag.

8 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/Remender
http://www.giantgenerator.com/
https://twitter.com/lewislarosa
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


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

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

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s). 


Monday, September 24, 2018

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 26, 2018

DARK HORSE COMICS

JUL180515    AMERICAN GODS JACKS CROCODILE BAR COASTER SET (RES)    $9.99
JUL180480    BEASTS OF BURDEN WISE DOGS AND ELDRITCH MEN #2 (OF 4) CVR A    $3.99
JUL180481    BEASTS OF BURDEN WISE DOGS AND ELDRITCH MEN #2 (OF 4) CVR B    $3.99
JUN180306    DISNEY PRINCESS JASMINES NEW PET HC    $7.99
MAY189271    DISNEY ZOOTOPIA FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE HC    $7.99
JUL180441    GAMMA #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN180363    HELLBOY WILD HUNT TP 2ND ED    $14.99
JUL180450    MODERN FANTASY #4 (OF 4)    $3.99
JUN180337    MOEBIUS LIBRARY INSIDE MOEBIUS HC VOL 03    $39.99
MAY180393    MST3K COASTER SET    $9.99
MAY180355    ROCKET ROBINSON SECRET SAINT TP    $14.99
JUL180485    STARCRAFT SCAVENGERS #3    $3.99
MAY180356    STEVEN UNIVERSE ADULT COLORING BOOK TP VOL 01    $14.99
JUL180419    STRANGER THINGS #1 CVR A BRICLOT    $3.99
JUL180420    STRANGER THINGS #1 CVR B ALBUQUERQUE    $3.99
JUL180421    STRANGER THINGS #1 CVR C LAMBERT    $3.99
JUL180422    STRANGER THINGS #1 CVR D SATTERFIELD PHOTO VAR    $3.99
MAY180350    USAGI YOJIMBO TMNT TP COMPLETE COLLECTION    $17.99

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Review: SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL #1

SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL No. 1
DC COMICS/Young Animal – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Cecil Castellucci
ART: Marley Zarcone
COLORS: Kelly Fitzpatrick
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
COVER: Becky Cloonan
VARIANT COVERS: Duncan Fegredo; Tula Lotay
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Mature Readers

Shade created by Steve Ditko

“Earth Girl Made Easy” Chapter 1: “Running Off to the Great Blue”

Shade is a weird DC Comics character created by Steve Ditko that first appeared in the comic book, Shade the Changing Man #1 (cover dated:  June 1977).  The series focused on Rac Shade, a secret agent from a world in another dimension who comes to clear his name of a treason charge which carries a death sentence.  Over the decades since the character first appeared, Shade has been reworked and re-imagined by other comics creators.

Now, Shade the Changing Man gets the “Young Animal” treatment and becomes Shade the Changing Girl in a new comic book series from DC Comic's Young Animal imprint.  The comic book is written by novelist Cecil Castellucci; drawn by Marley Zarcone; colored by Kelly Fitzpatrick; and colored by Saida Temofonte.

Shade the Changing Girl #1 (“Running Off to the Great Blue”) opens in the hospital room of Megan Boyer, a brain-dead teenage girl.  However, an alien teen girl, an avian named Loma Shade, decides to take possession of Megan's body.  Not everyone, however, is happy to see the 16-year-old Megan back on her feet.  Meanwhile, on Loma's home world of Meta, someone wants the “Madness Vest” found.

Like Doom Patrol, the first Young Animal title to hit comic book stories, Shade the Changing Girl's inaugural first issue is about introduction, teasing, and some vagueness.  However, writer Cecil Castellucci grounds Shade the Changing Girl #1 with some edgy, background supporting character drama.  Castellucci writes “Young Adult” novels, but she is known in comic books for her superb, two-volume graphic novel series, The P.L.A.I.N. Janes, so she knows her way around the dark side of teen politics and high school society.

Shade the Changing Girl artist Marley Zarcone offers some of the most imaginative comic book art that I have seen in quite awhile in mainstream superhero comic books.  Vivid and trippy, Zarcone's graphical storytelling goes afar, but not so far that the story turns into a shallow mess of surrealism right out of high school poet's notebook.  I look forward to future issues.

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This comic book contains the comics short story, “Cryll's Big Surprise” by Natalia Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez with Saida Temofonte and Laura Allred.]

Meanwhile, Gilbert and Natalia Hernandez offer a cute and clever back-up story.  I hope this is not a one-off for this team.

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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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 21 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

NOV110051 AXE COP TP VOL 03 $14.99

JAN120074 BPRD HELL ON EARTH LONG DEATH #2 FEGREDO CVR $3.50

DEC110057 BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS HC VOL 03 $34.99

JAN120089 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10 STAPLES VAR CVR $7.99

JAN120088 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10 YEATES CVR $7.99

DEC110061 EERIE PRESENTS HUNTER HC $19.99

DEC110059 GOON #38 $3.50

NOV118143 GOON TP VOL 06 CHINATOWN & MYSTERY MR WICKER (NEW PTG) $15.99

JAN120085 RAGEMOOR #1 $3.50

JAN128223 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #0 2ND PTG $3.50

JAN120097 STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #2 $3.50

DEC110071 STAR WARS OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 03 LOST SUNS $18.99

DEC110072 STAR WARS OMNIBUS OTHER SONS OF TATOOINE TP $24.99

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dark Horse Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 1 2012

DARK HORSE COMICS

OCT110062 ARCHIE ARCHIVES HC VOL 04 $49.99
OCT110064 CLASSIC MARVEL CHARACTERS #4 DAREDEVIL $49.95
SEP110046 CLASSIC MARVEL CHARACTERS FF #1 MR FANTASTIC $49.95
NOV110047 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8 DONALDSON VAR CVR $7.99
NOV110046 DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8 FEGREDO CVR $7.99
AUG110057 MASS EFFECT PLAYING CARDS $4.99
SEP110041 MIGHTY SKULLBOY ARMY TP VOL 02 $14.99
DEC110066 STAR WARS DAWN OF THE JEDI #0 $3.50

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Review: SWEETS: A New Orleans Crime Story

"Murder, my sweet?"

SWEETS: A NEW ORLEANS CRIME STORY
IMAGE COMICS

CARTOONIST: Kody Chamberlain
INTRODUCTION: Duncan Fegredo
ISBN: 978-1-60706-413-8; paperback
120pp, Color, $14.99 U.S.

Kody Chamberlain is a Lafayette, Louisiana-based graphic designer turned comic book artist. He drew a backup feature for IDW’s 30 Days of Night and was the artist on two issues of BOOM Studio’s three-issue horror miniseries, Tag. He also received critical acclaim for his creator-owned comic, Punks (with writer Joshua Hale Fialkov).

Sweets was a five-issue comic book miniseries written and drawn by Kody Chamberlain and published by Image Comics beginning in 2010. The series was recently collected in the trade paperback, Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story. Set in the days before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina, Sweets follows a grieving detective as he tries to uncover the identity of a spree killer terrorizing New Orleans.

In the story there is a killer on the loose in New Orleans, one who sometimes leaves pecan pralines at the crime scene, so he is called “Sweets.” The investigation is dropped in the lap of New Orleans Police Detective Curt Delatte, who is still grieving the loss of his daughter, Katie (Kaitlin M. Delatte) in a car crash. His boss, Lt. Palmer is not really sympathetic; he just wants Sweets found, especially with the mayor becoming exceedingly insistent that the police catch Sweets after he kills one of the mayor’s pals.

Delatte and his partner Jeff Matthews, who protects Delatte’s job and acts as a sort of filter between Delatte and Palmer, navigate the exotic streets and neighborhoods of the Big Easy. Along the way, they meet an eccentric cast of characters and discover that Sweets may act as spree killer or even a serial killer, but there is more to his game than anyone realizes.

I have to say that Sweets’ basic story will be recognizable to anyone familiar with detective fiction, films, television, or even comic books. The troubled detective, his ass of a police superior, the destined-for-tragedy partner, the absolutely nuts and/or ruthless mass killer, and the gritty setting: this all has a very loud ring of familiarity. Also, I am not as enamored with the dialogue in this series as Duncan Fegredo, who provides an introduction to this volume, is. Then, there is that crazy ending that recalls Polanski’s Chinatown and Antonioni’s Blowup.

Because the detective story is so common and well worn, a storyteller must find a unique angle upon which to execute the story, and Kody Chamberlain does. This unique angle is New Orleans. Sweets is not just another Film-Noir pretense. Chamberlain presents a fictional New Orleans that is colorful and exotic even while it is gritty. It is a city of striking eccentricities, but in places it resembles both cookie-cutter bland and decaying urban landscape. This New Orleans’ sweetness can be candy or poison.

Chamberlain also offers interesting juxtapositions of characters and of character relationships. For instance, Curt Delatte works kind of a razor’s edge. On one side is a city bureaucracy that demands justice after a favored son gets snuffed, and on the other side is an aspect of the city that doesn’t really index death by social status. Death comes for all.

Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story is truly unique in crime fiction. New Orleans, however, has been done to death. I would like to see Kody do more crime comics, and I’m sure that between Thibodaux and Lafayette, he can find characters and settings to set the world of crime comics on fire.

A-

Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story also reprints an interview of Kody conducted by the comic book website, Newsarama and a sketchbook section of preliminary art and thumbnails, among other things. There is also a script-to-art section, showing how the comic book went from script to breakdowns to pencil art to finished art.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on HELLBOY: THE FURY #3

HELLBOY: THE FURY #3 OF 3 (SERIES #57)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola
ART: Duncan Fegredo
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
32pp, Color, $2.99

It’s a killer ending in a killer series that sees Hellboy’s killing! Say what?!

Hellboy: The Fury #3 is about endings. This issue sees an end to the collaboration of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Duncan Fegredo, which yielded the Hellboy story arcs Darkness Calls (2008), The Wild Hunt (2008-2009), and The Storm (2010). This issue brings an end to Hellboy’s battle with Nimue the Queen of Witches, which pitted the hoary hosts of monsters against the ghostly knights of England, led by a World War I vet who lived long enough to be King of England for a day.

The big ending in this third and final issue of Hellboy: The Fury is [SPOILER that many readers already know] that Hellboy is killed.

Imagine the battle between Hellboy and Ogdru Jahad in the last act of the 2004 Hellboy movie turned into page after page of beautiful comic book art and still capturing the fluid CGI movement and action of the film. That’s Hellboy: The Fury – Ragna Rok ‘n’ roll, y’all!

In The Fury, Fegredo draws giant battles that are as good as anything drawn for Marvel and DC Comics big event series, from Crisis on Infinite Earths to now. So much of this story’s power is told through the art. Mignola relies on Fegredo’s art (which recalls both Mignola and Jack Kirby) and graphics to convey the drama and setting, while using relatively little dialogue or even captions. In that way, this story is both quite and thunderous – the perfect balance for a visual epic fantasy. The masterful coloring of Dave Stewart makes it all even more beautiful.

A


Saturday, August 20, 2011

I Reads You Review: HELLBOY: THE FURY #1

HELLBOY: THE FURY #1 OF 3 (Series #55)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola
ART: Duncan Fegredo
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart (Alternate cover by Francesco Francavilla)
32pp, Color, $2.99

I read the second issue of the new three-issue Hellboy miniseries, Hellboy: The Fury, before I read the first. Since then, Dark Horse Comics provided PDF copies of all three issues. I enjoyed the second issue a lot, but was somewhat lost. Now, after reading the first issue, the story all makes sense, and the storyline pleases me even more than the first time I read it.

Hellboy: The Fury is the conclusion the union of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo, the Hellboy artist for the past few years. The Fury also brings an end to the story arc that began in Hellboy: Darkness Calls (2008) and continued in The Wild Hunt (2008-2009) and The Storm (2010).

In Hellboy: The Fury #1, Hellboy takes on Nimue, the Queen of Witches, who now calls herself Badhbh Macha Mor-Rioghain, the Goddess of War. Meanwhile, Alice Monaghan, Hellboy’s new lady friend, learns the story of George Washbrook, a World War I vet about to play a pivotal and fantastic role in the war between Nimue and her forces and Hellboy, who by the way is a descendant of King Arthur and is therefore the King of Britain.

I had fun reading this. It’s been years since I read a Hellboy series (about 9 years in fact). The mixture of Mignola’s moody, imaginative storytelling and Duncan Fegredo sterling graphics and pictures creates an arcane fantasy epic full of Kirbyesque crackling energy and out of this world creatures and beings. The special effects and CGI wizards of 21st century cinema could not surpass the visions here. Hellboy: The Fury is, right out of the gate, a wild ride and I want on this ride.

A

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Leroy Douresseaux on HELLBOY: THE FURY #2

HELLBOY: THE FURY #2 (OF 3)
DARK HORSE COMICS

STORY: Mike Mignola
ART: Duncan Fegredo
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
32pp, Color, $2.99

I have not read Hellboy since Hellboy: Conqueror Worm (2001). I loved Hellboy and still do, but I just seemed to drift away from finding and buying Hellboy comics.

If I understand correctly, the new three-issue Hellboy miniseries, Hellboy: The Fury, is the conclusion the union of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Duncan Fegredo. Apparently, The Fury brings an end to the story arc that began in Hellboy: Darkness Calls (2008) and continued in The Wild Hunt (2008-2009) and The Storm (2010).

In Hellboy: The Fury, Hellboy leads the undead army of England against the Queen of Blood, Nimue (also Queen of Witches), and her army of the damned. Hellboy: The Fury #2 opens with Alice Monaghan in England. She witness a raging battle between the forces of good and evil, as the battlefield fills with dead monsters and knights. Meanwhile, Hellboy has a battle royale with the Queen of Blood’s champion.

The moody, imaginative storytelling that comes most to mind when I think of Hellboy is absent from Hellboy: The Fury. Mignola’s mind has conjured a story full of gigantic, kinetic action sequences that are right out of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films.

Comics tell their stories in words, pictures, and graphics, and artist Duncan Fegredo unleashes and transforms Mignola’s arcane, eccentric storytelling with both vigor and imagination. From the first panel to the next and the next after that, Fegredo portrays Armageddon and monster throw downs with surprising beauty and inventive design. Fegredo has riffed on Mignola’s style since he has taken the Hellboy creator’s place in drawing Hellboy to life, which makes sense. Still, Fegredo is true Hellboy, while managing to be true to himself by producing both beauty and good storytelling. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have the masterful coloring of Dave Stewart.

Anyway, I’m trying to catch up on Hellboy because I’ve missed a lot, but that isn’t stopping me from loving The Fury.

A