Showing posts with label Ethan Van Sciver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ethan Van Sciver. Show all posts

Sunday, December 2, 2018

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.

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


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 20, 2014

DC COMICS

JUN140219     BATMAN AND ROBIN #34 (ROBIN RISES)     $2.99
APR140275     BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED HC VOL 04     $24.99
MAY140377     BATMAN ARKHAM UNHINGED TP VOL 03     $16.99
JUN140209     BATMAN ETERNAL #20     $2.99
MAY140369     BATMAN INCORPORATED TP VOL 02 GOTHAMS MOST WANTED (N52)     $16.99
JUN140227     BATWOMAN #34     $2.99
APR140272     BRIGHTEST DAY OMNIBUS HC     $75.00
JUN140303     FABLES #143 (MR)     $2.99
JUN140243     GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #34     $2.99
JUN148151     HARLEY QUINN #0 DIRECTORS CUT 2ND PTG     $4.99
JUN140255     INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #2     $3.99
JUN140181     INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE #3     $2.99
MAY140365     JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK TP VOL 04 THE REBIRTH OF EVIL (N52)     $16.99
MAY140368     KATANA TP VOL 01 SOULTAKER (N52)     $19.99
MAY140408     LUCIFER TP VOL 04 (MR)     $29.99
JUN140145     MULTIVERSITY #1     $4.99
JUN140162     NEW 52 FUTURES END #16 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
JUN148150     NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #1 2ND PTG     $2.99
JUN140236     RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #34     $2.99
JUN140260     SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED CRISIS OF IMAGINATION #8     $2.99
JUN140247     SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #1     $3.99
JUN140206     SUPERGIRL #34 (DOOMED)     $2.99
JUN140178     TEEN TITANS #2     $2.99
JUN140291     TEEN TITANS GO #5     $2.99
JUN140184     TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA #14     $2.99
JUN140311     UNWRITTEN VOL 2 APOCALYPSE #8 (MR)     $3.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

FEB140310     BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM HARLEY QUINN STATUE     $124.95
FEB140312     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY JAE LEE     $79.95

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Albert Avilla Reviews: Justice League #0

Justice League #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank

The Shazam back-up story has been introducing us to the character of Billy Batson. We know that he is no goody two-shoes. He is a tough street kid who has a good heart, but the world he lives in has made him compromise his true nature to survive. Finally, the moment we have been anticipating: Billy meets the wizard. Through the conversation Billy has with the wizard, we learn Billy's philosophy on life. The duality of human nature is exposed in Billy. The wizard is at the end of his time and out of options, and he sees enough good in Billy to grant him the power of Shazam.

Of course, Billy gets the warnings and life advice, which he ignores. We get to see a kid on a joyride in a super human body. With great power comes great irresponsibility. When the moment that a hero is needed arrives, Billy naturally rises to the occasion. The story alludes to the magical nature of Shazam; this should not be glossed over because it signals that what we have is not a Superman clone. Magic should be the cornerstone of the character, giving him a uniqueness all his own – the powerhouse wizard. Give Shazam his own book. Johns is taking the character in an electric direction.

The art was good comic book art; it was not the strong point of the book. The cover and the Shazam splash page were great; the electricity and the Jack Kirby-like energy flowing from the lightning bolt on Shazam's chest gave Shazam a magical appearance. I liked the hoodie, too.

I rate Justice League #0 Buy Your Own Copy.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The New 52 Review: THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1

"Two are better than one"

THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN #1
DC COMICS

PLOT: Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone
SCRIPT: Gail Simone
ARTIST: Yildiray Cinar
COLORS: Steve Buccellato
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Ethan Van Sciver with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Firestorm is a superhero that was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom and appears in comics published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in the short-lived series, Firestorm, The Nuclear Man #1 (cover date March 1978), and was the alter ego of two men, Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein.

There was a second Firestorm series, Firestorm the Nuclear Man, and in issue #100 (cover date August 1990), Martin Stein became the sole identity behind Firestorm. In Firestorm #1 (cover date July 2004), the third series, African-American teenager, Jason Rusch, created by writer Dan Jolley and artist ChrisCross, became the new Firestorm. With the re-launch of the DC Comics superhero line, “The New 52,” a fourth Firestorm series arrives. This one stars Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch.

In The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 (“God Particle”), two high school students, who think that they are each from a different side of the social divide (but really aren’t that far apart), are about to come together in an amazing way. Ronnie Raymond is the golden boy quarterback at Walton Mills High School; a full-ride college scholarship would help his mother, who is a single-parent. Jason Rusch works for the school newspaper and is also from a single-parent home, as he lives with his father.

Jason makes an enemy of Ronnie, but before they can settle their differences, an elite team of killers invades their school and starts killing people. Suddenly, Jason is forced to introduce Ronnie to the world of Firestorm.

Some of the characters in The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #1 need a conflict resolution specialist; others just need a visit from the Navy SEALs. Seriously, this is such a conflict-driven comic book; some of the conflicts quite harrowing and others simply typical high school melodrama. Writing partners Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone are holding onto much of Firestorm’s past, as far as I can tell, but conflict and dramatic tension are the elements that will hold readers – not the mythos.

Series artist Yildiray Cinar, however, may be the one who leaves the most indelible mark on The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men. He has a traditional drawing style that would have fit in well with the first two Firestorm comic book series. Cinar apparently gets a kick out of drawing the Firestorms and it shows. Even colorist Steve Buccellato turns in his best work in this issue on the Firestorm pages, using fiery reds, oranges, and yellows that seem to burst off the page. The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men has the potential to be a top tier book about a second (or even third) tier character.

B+

September 28th
AQUAMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/aquaman-1.html
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/batman-dark-knight-1.html
BLACKHAWKS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/blackhawks-1.html
FLASH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-1.html
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-lantern-new-guardians-1.html
I VAMPIRE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-vampire-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/justice-league-dark-1.html
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/savage-hawkman-1.html
SUPERMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/superman-1.html
TEEN TITANS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/teen-titans-1.html
VOODOO #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/10/voodoo-1.html