#IReadsYou Review: WONDER TWINS #1

WONDER TWINS No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mark Russell
ART: Stephen Byrne
COLORS: Stephen Byrne
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
EDITORS: Mike Cotton and Andy Khouri
COVER: Stephen Byrne
VARIANT COVER: Dustin Nguyen
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2019)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Wonder Twins created by Hanna-Barbera and Norman Maurer

“It Gets Weirder”

Just in case you, dear reader, do not want to read this entire review, let me say quickly that the first issue of Wonder Twins is not worth your $3.99.  It would not be a good deal even at .99¢ for a digital copy.

“The Wonder Twins” were characters that appeared in “The All-New Super Friends Hour” (September 1977 to September 1978).  Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for the ABC television network, “The All-New Super Friends Hour” had a run time of one hour and was composed of about 4 animated shorts per episode.  The Wonder Twins debuted in “The Joy Ride” segment of the debut episode of “The All-New Super-Friends Hour” (“The Brain Machine / The Joy Ride / The Invasion of the Earthors / The Whirlpool”).

On the TV series, the Wonder Twins were brother, Zan, and sister, Jayna, extraterrestrials twins from the planet, Exxor.  They had shape-shifting powers, with Zan being able to turn into inanimate things (like a bucket of water) and Jayna being able to transform into living creatures (like a camel).  Zan and Jayna were being trained as apprentice superheroes by the members of the Super Friends.  The siblings also had a pet, Gleek, a blue alien monkey.

The Wonder Twins made their comic book debut in Super Friends #7 (cover dated: October 1977).  DC Comics published a comic book version of “Super Friends,” the 1973-74 animated TV series that preceded “The All-New Super Friends Hour.”  The comic book ran for 47 issues from 1976 to 1981.

The Wonder Twins return to comics in a new series from DC Comics' young readers imprint, “Wonder Comics.”  Entitled Wonder Twins, the six-issue miniseries is written by Mark Russell; drawn and colored by Stephen Byrne; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.

Wonder Twins #1 (“It Gets Weirder”) opens at Morris High School, which extraterrestrial twins, Zan and Jayna, attend.  Their classmates know that they are aliens on Earth, and the twins have to deal with the same problems most high school teens usually confront.  Zan and Jayna are also more or less apprentices of the Justice League – in large part because of Superman.  The rest of the League, however, are wary of the twins.  Then, a troublesome, impossible villain starts causing some trouble.

I was a fan of writer Mark Russell's short-lived “DCYou” comic book series, Prez.  It was one of the best and smartest comic books that offered political and social satire recently published in the United States.  Imaginative and sharp, Prez lampooned corporate culture and interests as much as it savaged American national politics.

Wonder Twins #1 is neither sharp nor funny.  If I had to compare it to a flavor, I would say that Wonder Twins #1 is bland, even flavorless.  It is more flat and uninspired than it is of poor quality.  The art by Stephen Byrne is so monotone that it might have been produced by a clip-art generator rather than by an actual human being.  The color is... yeah, you get it... uninspired.  Even Dave Sharpe's lettering is not as sharp as usual.  And Dustin Nguyen's variant cover art is ugly.

I don't want to give Wonder Twins #1 a failing grade (an “F”) or even a “D.”  This comic book reads like filler material, something produced to revive a trademark for business purposes, so it deserves the ultimate average grade...

4 out of 10

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


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


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Review: THE SHADOW/BATMAN #1

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

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

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

Rated “Teen+”

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

Shadow/Batman: Part One

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8.5 out of 10

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


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

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Review: SUPER SONS #3

SUPER SONS No. 3
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
ARTIST: Jorge Jimenez
COLORS: Alejandro Sanchez
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Jorge Jimenez with Alejandro Sanchez
VARIANT COVER: Dustin Nguyen
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; Superboy created by Jerry Siegel

“When I Grow Up...” Part Three: “Sibling Rivalry”

They are the sons of Superman and Batman.  Damian Wayne (or Damian al Ghul) is the son of Batman/Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul (the daughter of Batman nemesis, Ra's al Ghul).  There was an unnamed infant in the 1987 graphic novel, Batman: Son of the Demon.  In Batman #655 (cover dated: September 2006), writer Grant Morrison reinterpreted the infant as Damian Wayne, and he eventually became the fifth character to assume the role of Robin, Batman's crime fighting partner and sidekick.

Jonathan “Jon” Samuel Kent is the son of Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane.  He first appeared in the comic book Convergence: Superman #2 (cover dated: July 2015) and was created by Dan Jurgens.  Jon is now the latest version of Superboy and first appeared as Superboy in Superman #2 (cover dated: September 2016).

Jon and Damian are the newest teen superhero team-up and are the stars of their own comic book, a kind of modern World's Finest entitled, Super Sons.  It is written by Peter J. Tomasi; drawn by Jorge Jimenez; colored by Alejandro Sanchez; and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Super Sons #3 (“Sibling Rivalry”) finds Superboy fighting Batman, and Robin fighting Superman.  WTF?!  And Robin is fighting Superboy, and Superboy is fighting Robin! Of course!  An explanation, at least for the first fight, comes from Sara Duffy of the “Super Duffys!”  Her tale, however, comes with a powerful and dangerous young villain, Kid Amazo.

Super Sons is part of a vanguard that signals a gilded age of teen superhero comic books from the “Big Two,” Marvel and DC Comics.  From Miles Morales Spider-Man and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel to the recent Future Quest and The Unstoppable Wasp, there are a wealth of cool titles from DC Comics and Marvel Comics featuring young heroes, adventurers, and superheroes.  Super Sons is among the best of these super teens.  Super Sons continues to entertain me and... dare I say... dazzle me.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi finds comedy gold in Jon Kent and Damian Wayne's bickering.  Tomasi also creates a tense rivalry between the two that would make it seem that they hate each other or are certainly annoyed by each others presence.  That gives this comic book a dramatic punch, making it as edgy as comic books featuring adult superheroes, but without the adult drama and violence

Artist Jorge Jimenez elastic, anime drawing style and Alejandro Sanchez's vibrant colors give this full-color adventure a sense that something is always happening – jumping and jiving.  Jimenez's strong storytelling and compositions make this a superhero comic book about children that is as intense as superhero comic books featuring grownups.

I have high hopes for issue #4...

A

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: SUPER SONS #1

SUPER SONS No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
ARTIST: Jorge Jimenez
COLORS: Alejandro Sanchez
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Jorge Jimenez with Alejandro Sanchez
VARIANT COVER: Dustin Nguyen
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

When I Grow Up... Part One

Jonathan “Jon” Samuel Kent is the son of Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane.  He first appeared in the comic book Convergence: Superman #2 (cover dated: July 2015) and was created by Dan Jurgens.  Jon is also the latest version of Superboy and first appeared as Superboy in Superman #2 (cover dated: September 2016).

Damian Wayne (or Damian al Ghul) is the son of Batman/Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul (the daughter of Batman nemesis, Ra's al Ghul).  Damian was an unnamed infant in the 1987 graphic novel, Batman: Son of the Demon.  In Batman #655 (cover dated: September 2006), writer Grant Morrison reinterpreted the infant as Damian Wayne, and he eventually became the fifth character to assume the role of Robin, Batman's crime fighting partner and sidekick.

Now, Jon and Damian are the newest superhero duo and have their own comic book, Super Sons.  It is written by Peter J. Tomasi; drawn by Jorge Jimenez; colored by Alejandro Sanchez; and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Super Sons #1 finds Jonathan Kent preparing for another day of school, which includes dealing with bullies.  However, it is difficult for Jon to have an ordinary day when his pal is Damian Wayne.  Clark and Lois may think that their son should go to bed early on a school night, and Bruce Wayne may think that Damian should hold to his school work promise.  The boys think differently, but will two truant 'tween heroes find more trouble than they can handle in Metropolis?

Just from reading articles around the World Wide Web, I gather that many people consider the better part of the last two decades to be a new “golden age” in American comic book publishing.  I certainly think that the last five years have been some kind of gilded age for teen superhero comic books.  From Miles Morales Spider-Man and Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel to recent Future Quest and The Unstoppable Wasp, there are a wealth of cool titles from DC Comics and Marvel Comics featuring young heroes, adventures, and superheroes.

Yeah, this is just the first issue, but I have high hopes for Super Sons.  Writer Peter J. Tomasi is a reliably quality writer of superhero comics, and I liked the way he handles Damian Wayne.  I think that artist Jorge Jimenez may be the star creative force here.  His drawing style seems like a quirky smoothee blend of anime, Joe Madureira, and Patrick Gleason.  Yet his graphical style makes this story read like an adventure tale as much as it reads like a traditional superhero comic book.  I heartily recommend this comic book, especially for teen readers, because I think the teen me would have been crazy about a Superboy-Robin comic book.

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: THE FLINTSTONES #1

THE FLINTSTONES No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComic

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Russell
ARTIST: Steve Pugh
COLORS: Chris Chuckry
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Steve Pugh
VARIANT COVERS: Ivan Reis with Marcelo Maiolo; Walter Simonson with Steve Buccellato; Dustin Nguyen; Dan Hipp
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“A Clean Slate”

The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time animated television series, produced by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera Productions.  When it debuted on ABC September 30, 1960, it was the first American animated prime-time TV series.  A situation comedy, “The Flintstones” is an anachronistic and fantastic depiction of a working-class, Stone Age family, led by patriarch, Fred Flintstone, who has a wife, Wilma, and eventually a daughter, Pebbles.

The series juxtaposes what was then modern life (the late 1950s to mid-1960s) with a faux Stone Age setting.  Modern technology (such as cars and home appliances) have fanciful Stone Age versions, which sometimes involve animals and creatures that did not live in the Stone Age (like dinosaurs).

DC Comics has reinvented “The Flintstones” as part of its line of comic books that are reinvented and re-imagined versions of Hanna-Barber animated television series.  The Flintstones is written by Mark Russell; drawn by Steve Pugh, colored by Chris Chuckry, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.

The Flintstones #1 (“A Clean Slate”) is set 100,000 years ago in the town of Bedrock.  The story's focus is on Fred Flintstone, a brawny and muscular veteran of the “Paleolithic Wars.”  He is an employee of Slate's Quarry, where he has just been named “Employee of the Month.”  His boss, Mr. Slate, the owner of Slate's Quarry, has recently hired three male Neanderthals.  [Fred, Mr. Slate, and the people of Bedrock are Homo Sapiens.]  Mr. Slate wants Fred to train them, but each man has a different outlook on life, which may cause problems in their approach to dealing with the Neanderthals.

The inspiration for the 1960s TV series, “The Flintstones,” is the 1950s television comedy, “The Honeymooners.”  After reading The Flintstones #1, I believe the influence for the re-imagined Flintstones, at least in part, may be the 21st century television series, “Mad Men” (2007-2015), which is set during the early 1960s, when “The Flintstones” aired.  I also found a few scenes in this first issue that reminded me of similar scenes in the Oscar-winning film, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).

I think “The Flintstones” comic book focuses on a military combat veteran trying to make his way in a post-war society in which there is a business boom and a rise in consumerism.  People are less about “us” and more about “me,” and I will paraphrase a character in this first issue.  People want others to do their killing and their dirty work.  In that vein, I think The Flintstones comic book also makes allusions to the post-war lives of Vietnam veterans (such as was done in the films, The Deer Hunter and Coming Home).  You can even throw in the veterans of the 21st century “Middle East” wars and the nebulous “(Global) War on Terror.”

I am intrigued because the writer of The Flintstones comic book is Mark Russell, the writer of the deadly sharp satirical comic book, Prez (2015), from DC Comics.  “The Flintstones” animated series was a comedy, but The Flintstones comic book re-imagining is like a period workplace and domestic drama.  I am comfortable with grading this first issue, and I want more.

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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I Reads You Review: DESCENDER #1

DESCENDER #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

WRITER: Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Dustin Nguyen
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Dustin Nguyen
VARIANT COVER: Jeff Lemire
36pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2015)

Rated T+ / Teen Plus

Book 1: Tin Stars

Descender is a recently-launched science fiction comic book created by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dustin Nguyen.  It is set in an indeterminate, distant future and focuses on child-like android.

Descender #1 (“Tin Stars”) introduces a section of the galaxy where there is a group of nine “Core Planets” known as “The United Galactic Council” (UGC).  The nine Core Planets are Niyrata, Phages, Mata, Sampson (home of the “original colonists from Old Earth”), Knossos, Silenos, Amun, Gnish, and Ostrakon.  The story opens on the planet Niyrata (the “Hub World”).  There, we meet Dr. Jun Quon, the man acknowledged as the inventor of “modern robotics.”  Dr. Quon is about to face a “Harvester,” a robotic situation that is both awesome and devastating.

The second character of focus is found on “The Moon of Dirishu-6,” home of the Dirishu Mining Colony.  We meet Tim-21, a robot from the “Tim” android series.  Meant to be a “child companion bot,” Tim is about to become a very important robotic boy.

When Descender #1 debuted in March of this year, it was a fast sellout.  Apparently, part of the buzz around Descender was that it had already been optioned for film.  [That's the whole point of publishing a creator-owned comic book through Image, right?]  Luckily, I found “Heroes Corner Comics and More,” a comic book shop that still had copies of recent hot Image Comics titles.  [It's located in Harvey, Louisiana – on the “Westside” of New Orleans.]

I just read this first issue, and now, I don't really see what the fuss was all about.  Descender #1 is mostly borrowed ideas, and Tim seems like nothing more than a character that didn't make it into Steven Spielberg's 2001 film, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence.  Descender is by no means bad, but I am not impressed, nor do I find myself especially titillated to read more.  It doesn't help matters that I am not enamored with Dustin Nguyen's wispy, watercolor-like art, and here, it is similar to how he drew the “kids” comic book, Batman: Li'l Gotham, a painfully obvious cash-in on all-things Batman.

I don't see myself pumping hard to find future issues.  Maybe, it gets really better...

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux; support on Patreon.


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

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 4, 2015

IMAGE COMICS

JAN150598     68 JUNGLE JIM GUTS N GLORY ONE SHOT CVR A JONES & FOTOS (MR)     $3.99
JAN150599     68 JUNGLE JIM GUTS N GLORY ONE SHOT CVR B VAN DYKE & FOTOS (     $3.99
AUG148160     ALEX + ADA TP VOL 02     $12.99
JAN150572     BIG MAN PLANS #1 (MR)     $3.50
JAN150622     BIRTHRIGHT TP VOL 01 HOMECOMING (MR)     $9.99
JAN150671     BLACK SCIENCE #12 CVR A SCALERA & DINISIO (MR)     $3.50
JAN150672     BLACK SCIENCE #12 CVR B MURPHY & HOLLINGSWORTH (MR)     $3.50
NOV140579     DARK ENGINE #5 (MR)     $3.50
JAN150567     DESCENDER #1 CVR A NGUYEN (MR)     $2.99
DEC148386     DYING AND THE DEAD #1 2ND PTG     $4.50
JAN150681     EGOS #6     $2.99
JAN150687     GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS #6 CVR A BROWNE (MR)     $3.50
JAN150688     GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS #6 CVR B MOORE (MR)     $3.50
JAN150593     NAILBITER HACK SLASH HACK SLASH NAILBITER ONE SHOT (MR)     $4.99
JAN150641     NAILBITER TP VOL 02 BLOODY HANDS (MR)     $14.99
DEC148405     NAMELESS #1 2ND PRINTING (MR)     $2.99
JAN150694     NAMELESS #2 (MR)     $2.99
JUL140569     RAT QUEENS #9 (MR)     $3.50
DEC140754     REVIVAL #28 (MR)     $3.99
JAN150704     SAGA #26 (MR)     $2.99
DEC140766     SUPREME BLUE ROSE #7 (MR)     $2.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 20, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

JUN140651     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #6     $3.99
JUN140639     ALL NEW ULTIMATES #6     $3.99
JUN140704     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #12     $3.99
MAY140944     CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION SOCIETY SERPENTS TP     $34.99
JUN140619     DAREDEVIL #7 SIN     $3.99
MAY140946     DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 06     $15.99
JUN140660     DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU #4     $3.99
JUN140697     DEADPOOL DRACULAS GAUNTLET #7     $3.99
JUN140694     DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #3     $3.99
JUN140669     ELEKTRA #5     $3.99
MAY140940     JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY GILLEN TP VOL 02 COMPLETE COLL     $34.99
MAY140936     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD TP VOL 01 TRUST ME     $19.99
JUN140698     MAGNETO #8     $3.99
JUN140636     MIGHTY AVENGERS #13     $3.99
JUN148106     MS MARVEL #1 6TH PTG PICHELLI VAR ANMN     $2.99
JUN148088     MS MARVEL #4 2ND PTG MCKELVIE VAR     $2.99
JUN148089     MS MARVEL #5 2ND PTG ALPHONA VAR     $2.99
JUN140673     MS MARVEL #7     $2.99
JUN140630     NEW AVENGERS #23     $3.99
JUN140615     NOVA #20 SIN     $3.99
JUN140614     ORIGINAL SINS #5     $3.99
MAY140933     PUNISHER TP VOL 01 BLACK AND WHITE     $17.99
JUN140708     SAVAGE WOLVERINE #22     $3.99
JUN140633     SECRET AVENGERS #7     $3.99
JUN148086     SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 2ND PTG BIANCHI VAR ANMN     $3.99
JUN140705     STORM #2     $3.99
MAY140934     WINTER SOLDIER TP BITTER MARCH     $16.99
JUN140685     WOLVERINE ANNUAL #1     $4.99

I Reads You Review: Batman #28

BATMAN #28
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Derek Fridolfs
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Dustin Nguyen
VARIANT COVER: Howard Chaykin and Jesus Aburto
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2014)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have begun the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics: cover dated May 1939).  Part of DC Comics’ year-long celebration is the launch of the new, year-long, weekly comic book series, Batman Eternal.  The series launches on April 9, 2014 and will apparently consist of 60 issues.

Batman Eternal will feature Batman, his allies, and Gotham City, and will be written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley.  Writer John Layman was originally scheduled to write for Batman Eternal.  Although he is no longer associated with the project, the work he finished before departing will apparently still be seen in the first 12 issues.  Batman Eternal will work in tandem with the ongoing, regular Batman comic book series, which is written by Scott Snyder.

Batman #28 offers a preview of Batman Eternal.  It contains a 24-page story entitled “Gotham Eternal.”  The story opens in a near-future Gotham, where a mysterious young female infiltrates The Egyptian, “the only nightclub left in New Gotham.”  She runs afoul of a group of heavies who seem to run the club.  How do Batman and Selina Kyle fit into this scenario, and what does the young female need so badly that she would risk her life to enter this club?

I’m intrigued by Batman Eternal.  Why, you ask?  Well, I’ve been a life-long Batman fan, and I am excited about the 75th anniversary.  And although I have never bought very many of them, I am always curious about weekly comic book series.  Batman #28 hints at a dark, dystopian-lite future that finds Batman imperiled.  So, what the heck?  I’m in.

Batman #28 includes a six-page preview of American Vampire: Second Cycle – WRITER: Scott Snyder; ARTIST: Rafael Albuquerque; COLORS: Dave McCaig; and LETTERS: Steve Wands

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair, John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee, Bruce Timm, Dave Johnson, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Neal Adams, Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Lee Bermejo, Brett Booth
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Last year, DC Comics unleashed a new ongoing Superman comic book series to coincide with the release of Man of Steel, the 2013 relaunch of the Superman film franchise.  Superman Unchained is from burning-hot writer Scott Snyder and superstar-for-over-two-decades artist Jim Lee with his longtime inker, Scott Williams.

Superman Unchained #1 (“The Leap”) opens with a brief (kind of) prologue that takes place in Nagasaki, Japan on April 9th, 1945.  We move to the present (which seems like a near-future) and find Superman trying to stop a space station called the Lighthouse from causing an epic catastrophe when it crashes to Earth.

Superman has suspects for the Lighthouse event, which include Lex Luthor (on his way to prison) and a cyber terrorist group known as Ascension.  The Man of Steel is probably wrong on his suspects, and there is a lot that he doesn’t know.  But Superman doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

Superman Unchained #1 is one busy comic book.  Scott Snyder, obviously in love with his dialogue, packs this first issue with so much talk and exposition.  This first issue is like a box of “Raisin Bran” (or one of its knock-offs) infested with raisins – just too much of a good thing.  The story is a slick piece of sci-fi-lite, complete with digital displays and shiny tech.  The story, however, doesn’t really get hot until the last page of “The Leap.”  Of note, there is also a two-page epilogue drawn by Dustin Nguyen.

Speaking of busy, that’s Jim Lee’s pencils.  Lee draws so much anemic line work and so many scritchy-scratch lines that we should be thankful for Scott Williams ability to rein in Lee’s excesses and eccentricities.  As usual, Alex Sinclair’s colors turn the art into comic book eye candy.  I have to admit that I’ll be back for future issues.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

I Reads You Review: BATMAN: Li’l Gotham #2

BATMAN: LI’L GOTHAM #2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs
ART/COVER: Dustin Nguyen
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2013)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was a critical and sales success, likely even beyond what anyone expected.  In response, DC Comics, in what can only be described as an unleashing, started releasing Batman publications that ran the gamut from new ongoing comic book series and miniseries to original graphics novels and special editions.  It also seemed as if anything about Batman that had once been fit to print was fit to be reprinted – sometimes in cheap editions and other times in expensive hardcover books and archival editions.

The year 1988 saw the publication of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s one-shot comic book/graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke, and also the formal announcement of a Batman movie scheduled to be released during the summer of 1989.  After that, DC Comics literally flooded the market with Batman publications, apparel, and assorted merchandise.  With limited capital, comic book shops chose Batman, but to do so, many apparently cut orders elsewhere.  In my experience, that elsewhere turned out to be fewer orders of comic books from independent, alternative, and small press publishers.

Fantagraphics Books co-publisher Gary Groth described, in The Comics Journal, all the Batman products as “bat guano.”  If I remember correctly, Groth wasn’t calling this Batman stuff “crap,” because it was necessarily awful in terms of quality.  Perhaps, he meant “crap,” as in “Look, at all this shit!”

So...

Batman: Li’l Gotham is another of DC Comics’ digital-first comics (read using an app on a PC, smart phone, tablet, or other hand-held device).  The series features diminutive or child-like versions of characters from the world of Batman comic books.

Batman: Li’l Gotham #2 collects Chapters 3 and 4 of the series.  The first story (Chapter 3) takes place during the Christmas season.  Batman and Nightwing team-up (1) to stop a well-intentioned, but misguided plot by Mr. Freeze and (2) to find the missing children’s choir of Saint Peter Academy.

Chapter 4 stars the Gotham City Sirens:  Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy.  After a rendezvous with Batman, Catwoman-Selina Kyle is ready to sit back and relax on New Year’s Eve.  Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, however, insist that Selina Kyle join them on a crime spree – that will be for the benefit of man and beast, of course.

Pretty art, pretty weird.  That’s the best way that I can describe what I read in Batman: Li’l Gotham #2.  Chapter 3 pulls off the unusual hat trick of being poignant, creepy, and well-intentioned.  I can’t figure out what is the intended audience for this story (or comic book).  Chapter 4 is just lame.

Co-writer and artist Dustin Nguyen pulls off the cute with his “chibi” versions of Batman characters.  But is this a kid’s comic book or just another way for DC Comics to exploit Batman and take cash from their suckas... I mean, customers?

I think there have been four issues of Batman: Li’l Gotham published as of this writing, and maybe, I would like them more than I do #2 if I had the chance to read them.  But either way, Batman: Li’l Gotham seems more Bat-crap – more Bat-guano.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 10 2011

DC COMICS

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Leroy Douresseaux on BATMAN: TIME AND THE BATMAN

BATMAN: TIME AND THE BATMAN

DC COMICS

WRITERS: Grant Morrison and Fabian Nicieza
ARTISTS: Tony S. Daniel, Cliff Richards, Andy Kubert, Frank Quitely, David Finch, Richard Friend, and Scott Kolins
COLORS: Ian Hannin, Alex Sinclair, Tony Aviña, Brand Anderson, and Peter Steigerwald
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher and Travis Lanham
COVER: David Finch and Scott Williams
EXTRAS ART: Mike Mignola, Kevin Nowlan, Dave Stewart, Shane Davis, Sandra Hope, Barbara Ciardo, Juan Doe, Dustin Nguyen, Guillem March, Tim Sale, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Philip Tan
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2989-4; hardcover
128pp, Color, $19.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN

DC Comics recently published a hardcover comic book collection entitled Batman: Time and the Batman. It collects Batman issues 700 to 703 with some extras, including variant covers and a peak inside the Batcave rendered with 3-D modeling.

There is also a gallery of Batman illustrations, a portfolio of sorts entitled “Creatures of the Night: A Batman Gallery.” I won’t say that this gallery is worth the cost of the book, but it is worth at least a quarter of this book’s cover price. There are two hot pieces from Dustin Nguyen and a striking piece by Guillem March, among others.

Batman: Time and the Batman is essentially a bridge story arc that connects Batman R.I.P., Final Crisis, and Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne to one another. In the opening chapter, “Time and the Batman,” the three Batmen: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Damian Wayne fight the past, present, and future. Batman’s most dangerous adversary, the Joker, and a few others use the Maybe Machine, the invention of Professor Carter Nichols, to raise hell in Gotham City across decades.

Next, in a missing chapter of R.I.P., Batman faces Darkseid and trap that will have him doubting his own mind and perceptions and also lost in time. Finally, in “The Great Escape,” the new Batman and Robin face the Gateway Genius and Damian is confronted by how little he knows about his father. It is a sentimental and highly-enjoyable story from the underrated Fabian Nicieza and artist Cliff Richards.

I recently saw an article that began by describing Grant Morrison as a god to fans, and yes, I’m tired of hearing about fanboy gods. Still, there is reason to love some Grant Morrison because his current run on Batman has been so much fun to read. Let’s face it, pretty much every Batman comic book since Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns has lived in the shadow of (ominous music) The Dark Knight Returns.

To me, at least, Grant Morrison’s Batman is more Dennis O’Neil than it is Frank Miller, but what defines Morrison’s Batman is what defines most of his work, imagination. From page to page, the reader never really knows what to expect and from panel to panel the reader never knows what will come out of the characters’ mouths. After 70 years, Batman can be forgiven for suffering from sameness. In Morrison’s hands, Batman is fresh and bouncy. I swear that when I read this I sometimes think that the whole Batman universe is brand new.

Now, this doesn’t always work that way. “R.I.P. – The Missing Chapter” is a rambling mess; it’s the kind of nonsensical, tie-in comic that is the poster child for why crossover events have been done to death. On the other hand, “Time and the Batman,” the opening story, is sparkly and energetic. The story dances across the pages, as Morrison takes us from one Batman to the next (including Batman Beyond).

Most of this book is good, and although the “missing” chapter of R.I.P. is a true blue misfire, Batman: Time and the Batman is a Grant Morrison Batman book to have.

B+

Leroy Douresseaux on BATMAN BEYOND: HUSH BEYOND

BATMAN BEYOND: HUSH BEYOND

DC COMICS

WRITER: Adam Beechen

PENCILS: Ryan Benjamin
INKS: John Stanisci
COLORS: David Baron
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Dustin Nguyen
EXTRAS ART: J.H. Williams III
ISBN: 978-1-4012-2988-7; paperback
144 Color, $14.99 U.S., $16.99 CAN

Batman Beyond was an Emmy Award-winning animated series. It began life in January of 1999 on The WB Television Network and ended in May of 2002, after three seasons and 52 episodes. Set in the year 2039, it starred a new, younger Batman, with high school student Terry McGinnis wearing a new Bat-suit. The original Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, guided Terry from their base of operations, the Batcave.

DC Comics published a Batman Beyond comic book from 1999 to 2001. Batman Beyond returned to comic books last year. Batman Beyond: Hush Beyond is a new trade paperback from DC Comics. It collects Batman Beyond (2010) #1-6, which were written by Adam Beechen, penciled by Ryan Benjamin, and inked by John Stanisci, with covers by Dustin Nguyen.

As the story begins, someone has escaped from Cadmus Labs in Neo-Gotham, and its trifling Director Amanda Waller is trying to keep things hush-hush, in spite of protests from research scientist, Nora Elliot Reid. From the beginning, the escapee leaves a trail of bodies behind him, all of them connected to the original Batman.

In his updated, hi-tech Bat-suit (now with invisibility and jet propulsion), Terry McGinnis takes on a foe who knows everything about him, and this couldn’t have come at a worse time. Terry and his mentor/boss, Bruce Wayne, are at odds over Terry’s job performance, and Terry has been running on little or no sleep. As he tries to uncover the secrets of this killer, he seeks help from Batman’s original sidekicks, but one of them holds a grudge. Terry’s investigation also leads him into conflict with a mysterious new Catwoman, who doesn’t like The Bat the way the original did. And the streets say that someone who was supposed to be dead is back with a vengeance – Hush.

I have mixed feelings about the original Batman: Hush, written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Jim Lee. Half of it was quite good; the other half was cold and robotic. Adam Beechen, the writer of this new Hush storyline, has written an old-fashioned potboiler/cliffhanger serial. This is a flat out, excellent read.

Sometimes, I couldn’t read this thing fast to appease my hunger to know what was on the next page. Some of the ideas here are familiar, done hundreds of times before in other Batman comic books, but here, it is the execution that makes Hush Beyond such a thrill to read. Beechen is at his best in this story when he lets Terry and Bruce get raw with each other about their opinions of each other’s job performance. Plus, there is a big red herring and twist here that will shock and confuse the reader – in a good way.

A-

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

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