#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #6

KING SPAWN #6
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue)

PENCILS: Javi Fernandez

COLORS: FCO Plascencia with Ulises Arreola

LETTERS: Andworld Design

EDITOR: Thomas Healy

COVER:  Jonathan Glapion

VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Javi Fernandez

28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

One of them is King Spawn.  This series is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling the members of a dark conspiracy that wants to force him to accept his crown.

King Spawn #6 opens after the shocking revelation that the “Disruptor” is Jason Wynn, the late director of the U.S. Security Group … and Al Simmons' former boss … who betrayed him.  Wynn wants Spawn to open the “Dead Zones” and to embrace his destiny as “King Spawn.”

Spawn simply wants to remember the wrongs everyone has done to him … all of them.  Meanwhile, another secretive organization prepares for Spawn's fate.

THE LOWDOWN:  King Spawn continues to be the best Spawn spin-off comic book to date.  It is so fun to read; nothing against other comic books in the Spawn line, but King Spawn is … king.

Writer Sean Lewis' poison pen/keyboard offers mean-spirited, angry, violent, crazy, demented and sometimes inappropriate scenes, plots, and subplots.  And that's all I ever wanted.  Lewis is proving to be a true spawn of Hell, a writer determined to activate every bit of dark potential in Spawn.

Javi Fernandez's art and storytelling recalls the early glory days of Todd McFarlane's Spawn art.  Sure some of this art will get him banned in Texas school and public libraries.  Some of it may even cause him to end up in Hell, side by side with Billy Kincaid.  In the meantime, however, Javi is giving Hell-spawned readers their hellish delights.

Tonight, a vampire might be floating outside your house, scratching on your window.  It will be holding a copy of King Spawn #6 just for you.  Seriously, this is a fantastic comic book, and it always, always leaves me wanting more.

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

[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” which is an interview of King Spawn writer, Sean Lewis.]

A

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


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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #4

KING SPAWN #4
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Javi Fernandez
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.  And that someone want to make Spawn a king.

As King Spawn #4 opens, it's the showdown between Spawn and one of his oldest and vilest enemies, the child killer, Billy Kincaid.  But this mutha is supposed to be burning in Hell!  So why is he here?  And why is he so happy to face Spawn again … even if the outcome will be awful for him.

Meanwhile, Medieval Spawn and Jessica (She-Spawn) are globetrotting hunter-killers of terrorists.  So why are the locations of their fights so familiar?  Plus, there is a warning from Mother Nature.

THE LOWDOWN:  King Spawn continues its impressive debut as the most impressive Spawn spin-off comic book to date.  Sean Lewis presents Spawn in all his raging glory, unleashing ultra-violence, even when he knows that this is what his adversaries want.  This is the way Lewis builds a sense of mystery and of anticipation, so we know something good and crazy is coming.

Javi Fernandez's art and storytelling capture the craziness, dragging us along in Spawn's wake.  So vivid is Fernandez's storytelling that you, dear readers, might feel icky … or delighted … if a bordello of blood is your thing.  And if you don't get it, FCO Plascencia's colors present the violence in living color.

King Spawn is still ruling, so won't you consent to be ruled.  Seriously, this is a good … superhero comic book.

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

[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” takes a look at series artist Javi Fernandez's process, specifically focusing on how Fernandez produced the double-page spread (pp. 17-18) for this issue.]

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #3

KING SPAWN #3
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Jonathan Glapion
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane; Javi Fernandez; Bjorn Barends
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (October 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.  And that someone want to make Spawn a king.

As King Spawn #3 opens, Spawn and Terry talk strategy, but Terry's demands that Spawn reveal the whereabouts of his daughter, Cyan, opens old wounds.  Their feud will have to wait, however, as the world is beginning to come undone at the seams, and the pace is picking up.  The underground religious terrorist group, “Psalms 137,” launches attacks around the globe.

Spawn sends his agents to those hot spots, but he saves one trouble area for himself.  Spawn prepares for a reunion with one of his oldest enemies, Billy Kincaid.  But has Spawn become too enraged to realize that all of this is about making him a king, or is he just too busy slaughtering to give a f**k?

THE LOWDOWN:  When I first read Spawn #1 back in 1992, I thought that it had the potential to be a long-running title, and lo these many years, it is still running through comic book solicitations lists.  I thought that its spin-offs would also have potential, but I never found one that really grabbed onto what made the original Spawn so great.

King Spawn, only in its third issue, is the first Spawn comic book spin-off to really get to the heart of Spawn.  Spawn deals with themes related to redemption, but at its core is a war between dark forces, in which both the “dark” sides and the “light” sides are those very dark forces.  Innocent humans are caught between the warring sides and they suffer greatly.  Their fates are unjust, often resulting in brutal and savage deaths.  Spawn is the force that seeks justice for the suffering and, when necessary, gets bloody vengeance for the dead.

I have been praising the creative team of writer Sean Lewis and artist Javi Fernandez because they have created the first great Spawn comic book to come after the original Spawn.  Lewis's scripts are violent and deranged – gleefully so.  Fernandez draws Lewis' script into comic book art and storytelling that unflinchingly delivers the rage and the anger, but is also as cool as the other side of the pillow.

In a way, I don't like what Sean and Javi have done to me.  Every time I finish an issue, I am ready to turn tricks … if that would just get me the next issue right away.  I'm a King Spawn crack ho, so won't you join me, dear readers.

Seriously, though, King Spawn is one of Image Comics' very best titles.

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

[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” which features “The Evolution of Redeemer.]

A+

10 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
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https://twitter.com/ImageComics
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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: THE SCORCHED #1

THE SCORCHED #1
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis; Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue)
ART: Stephen Segovia; Paulo Siqueira
COLORS: Ulises Arreola; Nikos Koutsis
LETTERS: Andworld Design (King Spawn)
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Puppeteer Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Brett Booth and Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with Dave McCaig; Don Aguillo; Marc Silvestri and Todd McFarlane with Peter Steigerwald; Ryan Stegman and Todd McFarlane with Peter Steigerwald
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (January 2022)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

The Scorched is written by Sean Lewis; drawn by Stephen Segovia and Paulo Siqueira; colored by Ulises Arreola and Nikos Koutsis; and lettered by Andworld Design.  The Scorched features the debut of the “Spawn Universe's” first superhero team.

The Scorched #1 opens somewhere in Russia.  Medieval Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, Jessica Priest/She-Spawn, and Redeemer are trying to save two young women, Odessa Turgnev and Natasha Gorky, from the clutches of Russian Colonel Kruschev.

Before this, however, see how Spawn brought them together.  Or did he?  Who made whom?  Plus, Gunslinger Spawn takes on the “Locust Rangers” in Crowheart, Wyoming.  And Al and Terry argue and debate, again.

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

2021 saw the expansion of the Spawn publishing line and the full birth of the “Spawn Universe.”  Writer Sean Lewis is emerging in this new era as the most consequential writer of Spawn comic books since the creator-master himself, Todd McFarlane.  McFarlane's storytelling is full of craziness, in the tradition of classic comic book weirdness and in the vein of the madness that was and is Robert E. Howard.  Lewis embraces that craziness and, using his own inventive turns, delivers high-octane fight comics, dark fantasy violence, and edgy, angry character drama.  It wouldn't be Spawn without some monsters and some edgy people.

The art team of Stephen Segovia and Ulises Arreola and the team of Paulo Siqueira and Nikos Koutsis each deliver in a solid way, and the latter's textured illustrations and painterly colors stand out.  Andworld Design's matter-of-fact lettering delivers the real foot up the ass to your imagination.  The Scorched #1 is an excellent start and is the kind of first issue that will bring readers back for more of … whatever craziness is to come.

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

[This comic book includes four back-up stories and “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” in which Todd McFarlane looks back at the beginning and at the year's covers.]

A-

★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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

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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #2

KING SPAWN #2
IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane (additional dialogue)
PENCILS: Javi Fernandez
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Thomas Healy
COVER:  Don Aguillo
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia; Javi Fernandez
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (September 2021)

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

King Spawn is written by Sean Lewis with Todd McFarlane; drawn by Javi Fernandez; colored by FCO Plascencia; lettered by Andworld Design.  King Spawn finds Spawn battling one of his old adversaries, but it is someone only Spawn knows that exists.  And that someone want to make Spawn a king.

King Spawn #2 opens in the wake of a bombing at an elementary school in Seattle, Washington.  The bombing killed sixteen people, including fourteen children, aged five and six years old.  An underground religious group, “Psalms 137,” seem to be the culprits behind this attack, but what do they really want – beyond killing more children or “innocents?”

Al Simmons is filled with rage because he knows that someone is slaughtering children in order to draw Spawn out into the open.  He is so angry that he even calls upon a former friend to help him, but he does not want  his current crew helping him, which includes Jessica Priest, the newly minted “She-Spawn.”  However, there is an even darker reunion afoot.  One of Spawn earliest and most despicable adversaries returns, as a showdown in Washington, D.C. looms.

THE LOWDOWN:  I mentioned in my review of the first issue of King Spawn that I read Spawn #1 back in 1992, and while I had mixed feelings about it, I found myself following the series.  I was a dedicated reader and followed the series for another five or six years.

King Spawn #1 was the first time I read a Spawn first issue since I read Curse of the Spawn #1 back in 1996.  I guess I was waiting for the return of the king because after reading this second issue, I can say that King Spawn is fucking awesome.  Hell, no!  I'm not going to use the phrase, “freaking awesome,” when I know that King Spawn is “fucking awesome.”  Bitch, please! dear readers.  I'm keeping it real for your hard earned money.

Writer Sean Lewis has taken the inspired madness and crazy potential of those early years of the original Spawn and used that to turn King Spawn into a must-read.  Lewis' script for the second issue has taken Al Simmons from one angry man to one crazily vengeful man.  Lewis has also made Spawn something like the best of Frank Miller's Batman of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and of Steven Grant's The Punisher of the 1980s.

I love Javi Fernandez's art.  His graphical storytelling shares a sensibility with McFarlane's, which was more dark fantasy than vigilante fiction.  Fernandez's balances his art with both a clear-line style and with heavy textures, which makes for a fuller and richer story.  The darkness and the violent action explode off the page, but the character drama is equally forceful.

FCO Plascencia's Hell-spawned hues allow the story to operate under multiple moods and atmospheres which convey the shifting realities of the story.  Meanwhile Andworld Design's quiet lettering imparts the action and drama with a steady beat that carries the imagination through this narrative.

I heartily recommend King Spawn.  It has activated me to find my way back to the original Spawn series and to prepare for the upcoming new Spawn titles.

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

[This comic book includes “Spawning Ground” Presents “The Breakdown,” which features an interview with Javi Fernandez.]

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
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.

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

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#IReadsYou Review: KING SPAWN #1

KING SPAWN #1
IMAGE COMICS

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

Rated: “T/ Teen”

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


https://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane
https://mcfarlane.com/
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 affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: SPAWN #300

SPAWN #300

IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Todd McFarlane with Scott Snyder (Chapter 2)

PENCILS: Greg Capullo (Chapter 1); Todd McFarlane (2); Jason Shawn Alexander (3) J. Scott Campbell (4); Jerome Opeña (5)

INKS: Todd McFarlane with Jonathan Glapion and J. Scott Campbell

COLORS: FCO Plascencia; Brian Haberlin; Peter Steigerwald; Matt Hollingsworth

LETTERS: Tom Orzechowski

EiC: Jon Goff

COVER: Todd McFarlane

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane; Greg Capullo; Greg Capullo and Todd McFarlane; J. Scott Campbell; Jerome Opeña; Jason Shawn Alexander; 

72pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Spawn created by Todd McFarlane

Spawn is a superhero/antihero character that stars in the long-running comic book series, Spawn.  Published by Image Comics since its first issue, Spawn is Image's longest running title and, in terms of number of issues, is one of the longest-running independently-published comic book series in American comics history.  [When I use the term, “independently-published,” I mean that it is not published by a comic book publisher like Marvel or DC Comics that is owned by a media conglomerate.]

Created by writer-artist and Image co-founder, Todd McFarlane, Spawn first appeared in Spawn #1 (cover dated: May 1992).  Spawn is Albert Francis Simmons.  He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and he went on to work for the United States Secret Service and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  Simmons joined the U.S. Security Group as a highly capable assassin, but is murdered during a mission.

Because of his life as an assassin, Simmons is sent to Hell where he made a deal with Malebolgia, one of the major Lords of Hell.  Simmons agreed to become a “Hellspawn” (an officer in Hell's army) and to serve Malebolgia if he is allowed to see his wife, Wanda, one last time.  While Malebolgia does return Simmons to Earth as a creature named “Spawn,” he stripped Simmons of his memories.  Eventually, Spawn decided to break his agreement Hell, and then, began a long campaign to stop the forces of evil.

Spawn has reached its three-hundredth issue, and like he did for Spawn #100 and Spawn #200, McFarlane adds big names to this special issue's creative team.  That includes DC Comics' superstar, Scott Snyder, as co-writer; superstar comic book artist Greg Capullo; rising star, Jerome Opeña; artist Jason Shawn Alexander; and variant cover hustler, J. Scott Campbell.  Colorists FCO Plascencia, Brian Haberlin, Peter Steigerwald, and Matt Hollingsworth join longtime Spawn letterer Tom Orzechowski to complete the creative team.

Spawn #300 opens in Kearney, Nebraska, where the Johnston family is having its annual family reunion during the first weekend of August, as it has for the last twenty-six years.  What is different this year is that there is a killer among them.

Meanwhile, Spawn continues his mission to free humanity from the clutches of both Heaven and Hell.  Having already freed his own ass, Spawn is without his allies from Hell, and Heaven sure hasn't stopped being his enemy.  Now, Spawn must face two of his oldest adversaries, the Clown and Violator.  While Spawn fights to survive to the next stage of his struggle, new allies, however, are emerging...

I was a Spawn reader from the first issue back in 1992.  I even read spin-off miniseries and ongoing series like Angela (Image Comics, 1994-1995), Curse of the Spawn (Image Comics, 1996-1999), and Spawn/WildC.A.T.S. (Image Comics, 1996).  I stuck with Spawn for almost six years.  Why did I quit?  The story never really seemed to be going anywhere, and the story was stuck in a rut.  It was always about Spawn either pining for his life as Al Simmons or struggling against his destiny as a “Hellspawn,” a member of the officer corps that would lead the forces of Hell.

Twenty-seven years later, Spawn has not changed much.  Spawn is still struggling against Hell, but now he sees Hell and Heaven as interchangeable adversaries.  Spawn wants to lead humanity in a war against both sides in order to free itself, as he did.

Todd McFarlane, like many of his Image Comics cohorts, launched Image with comic books that looked like superhero comics.  However, these superheroes were military types – special operatives, secret agents, mercenaries, etc., and the stories featured the kind of action and violence of military science fiction and fantasy.  Quite frankly, the initial Image Comics titles were closer to movies like James Carmeron's Aliens (1986) and select titles from actor-screenwriter Sylvester Stallone's filmography (especially the Rambo film series) than they were like classic comic books.  Sure, some Image titles had a passing resemblance to Marvel and DC Comics titles.  Cyberforce and WildC.A.T.s shared elements with Marvel's X-Men, and Spawn had more than a passing resemblance to Batman, especially to the Batman of Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  Still, Image Comics was introducing new kinds of superheroes to the American comic book artists.

The problem was that Todd McFarlane and his Image colleagues were never really good at the techniques of writing comic books.  They were all about big action-oriented illustrations that depicted violence and characters in action-figure poses.  Comics uses graphics, including illustrations, to tell stories.  Pretty art, overwrought, “detailed” art, and striking visuals does not really tell a story.

However, it is good to see the art team of Greg Capullo (pencils) and McFarlane (inks) back together.  The Capullo-McFarlane team drew most of the issues of Spawn that I read, so their reunion in Spawn #300 gives me a nice feeling of nostalgia.  Nothing else in this issue registers with me, although I must say J. Scott Campbell is perfectly utilized here.  The chapter that Campbell draws, which introduces “She-Spawn,” epitomizes the low-brow, exploitation, speculator-market crap heap from which Campbell emerged on his way to being a “superstar creator” and comic book “legend.”

The coloring and lettering in Spawn #300 are of professional quality but don't make the issue feel like the landmark it should be.  In the end, I did find some things in Spawn #300 that I liked, enough to make me be generous with me grading.

★★★ out of 4 stars

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

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#IReadsYou Review: BATMAN: Last Knight on Earth #3

BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH No. 3 (OF 3)
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVER: Rafael Albuquerque
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (February 2020)

Mature Readers

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Parts (Eight) “The Signal” and (Nine) “The Doorway”

Batman: Last Knight on Earth was a three-issue comic book miniseries written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo (pencils) and Jonathan Glapion (inks).  Colorist FCO Plascencia and letterer Tom Napolitano complete the creative team.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth was the second release in DC Comics' then new prestige and event publication imprint, “DC Black Label.”  Batman: Last Knight on Earth follows a younger version of Bruce Wayne/Batman as he travels a ruined Earth, with the bottled, still-alive head of The Joker in tow, trying to find the mysterious power that devastated the world.  Eventually Batman learns that the master of this scorched Earth, known as Omega, is apparently another younger version Wayne/Batman.  He also reunites with several former allies, including, Dick Grayson-Nightwing, the former Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon, Diana/Wonder Woman, and Duke Thomas, to name a few.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth #3 opens with a flashback to the old days, as Batman and Commissioner Gordon ignite a new Bat-signal.  Then it is back to the future as Batman gathers his allies for an assault on Omega.  Batman and Joker will attempt to infiltrate Wayne Tower, Omega's base of operations, and Diana will lead the allies and Owls to Arkham Island where the a mind-control signal is broadcast from inside Arkham Asylum.  But there are adversaries awaiting both fronts of Batman's mission, and this last knight will learn the true identity of Omega.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are the most popular Batman writer-artist team of this still young twenty-first century, and they are also among the most prolific of the last 50 years.  I can say that Snyder-Capullo is thus far the best Batman creative team of these new times.

Snyder's Batman reminds me of the Batman/Bruce Wayne that Frank Miller and artist David Mazzuchelli introduced to readers in the Batman: Year One story arc (originally published in the comic book, Batman, issues #404-407).  He is young, fresh, and determined with a somewhat humanitarian bent, but is still a fist or boot for justice.

Capullo's Batman is sleek and youthful, a combination of science fiction and technology character design mixed with Batman's original pulp fiction origin (in particularly, Walter Gibson's The Shadow).  Inker Jonathan Glapion keeps Capullo's clean-line clean.

FCO Plascencia's colors blend superhero pop-art style with the science fiction comics futuristic dreams of Moebius.  Letterer Tom Napolitano letters for the end of the world, but still fashions a comic font so that The Joker and his dialogue can stand out in the edginess with splashes of color.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth #3 is an emotional finale to a quality Batman comic book miniseries.  I think Snyder and Capullo are saying that from time to time, like clockwork, Batman and his mission turn sour.  Then, it is a time for renewal, and that is the story Batman: Last Knight on Earth tells.  And in our world, the Batman line of comic books sometimes turns stale and over the past 80 years, there are have been renewals, revamps, and reboots.  Is it time for another?

8 out of 10

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


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

#IReadsYou Review: YEAR OF THE VILLAIN SPECIAL #1

DC'S YEAR OF THE VILLAIN SPECIAL No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

EDITOR: Mike Cotton; Marie Javins
COVER: Greg Capullo and FCO
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jim Cheung with Tomeu Morey; Alex Maleev; Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
32pp, Color, 0.25¢ U.S. (July 2019)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

DC Comics' “Year of the Villain” is a crossover comic book event that officially kicks off in July 2019 with Year of the Villain: The Offer.  Although the beginnings of the event have already been hinted at in regular DC Comics titles like Action Comics, on May 1st, 2019, readers got a first look at “Year of the Villain” a specially priced comic book.

DC's Year of the Villain Special #1 is a .25¢ special preview comic book.  It contains what are essentially the three opening or prologue chapters of “Year of the Villain.”  They are “Doom,” “Leviathan,” and “Justice.”  The final eight pages of this comic book comprise an article that offers text pieces, art, sketches, and a list of 20 individual comic book issues that lead up to the official beginning of “Year of the Villain.”

The following paragraphs include a brief synopsis and review of each of the three chapters offered in DC's Year of the Villain Special #1:

“Doom”

STORY: Scott Snyder
ART: Jim Cheung
COLOR: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Marie Javins

Amanda Blake Waller, the leader of multiple clandestine agencies, including “Task Force X” (a.k.a. The Suicide Squad), has arrived at the White House for a meeting with the President of the United States.  What she finds instead is Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom.  Luthor has an offer to make Waller and every supervillain on Earth.

I wasn't planning on reading “Year of the Villain,” but this tense, exciting, eight-page piece got me interested in this event.  I generally don't like comic book events, but...  Plus, there is a shocking ending, and I rarely can resist the lovely art of Jim Cheung, in this case, expertly colored by the great Tomeu Morey.

“Leviathan”

STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART: Alex Maleev
COLORS: Alex Maleev
LETTERS: Josh Reed
EDITOR: Mike Cotton

Batgirl has arrived in Seattle to join Green Arrow in battling Merlyn.  However, Merlyn is desperate to tell them something... until Leviathan arrives.  Later, Robin (Damian Wayne) has a shocking question to ask his father, Batman.

This chapter does not start off that strongly; then, it explodes.  Plus, the last panel with Damian offers an explosive surprise.  Oh, and I can't resist the team of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.

“Justice”

STORY: James Tynion IV
ART: Francis Manapul
COLOR: Francis Manapul
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Marie Javins

The Justice League is at the “Universe's End,” trying to save the Gorathian System from the void.  With so much mind-bending rescues to make, Superman announces that it is time to make the League grow.  Which heroes will get the call?  Batman has a simple answer.

If you are still in doubt about “Year of the Villain,” this eight-page treat will put those doubts to rest.  I think you will want to at least sample some more.  Plus, this story offers lovely Francis Manapul art.

DC Insider: Year of the Villain

WRITER: Andrew Serwin
EDITOR: Mike Cotton

There is a lot of information here.  The lists of pertinent comic books that readers will need to fully enjoy the beginnings of “Year of the Villain” will make preview comic book a must-have.

8 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: BATMAN: Last Knight on Earth #2

BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH No. 2 (OF 3)
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVER: Jock
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Mature Readers

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Parts (Five) “Who's There?,” (Six) “The Miracle,” (Seven) “Paradise”

Batman: Last Knight on Earth is a three-issue comic book miniseries written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo (pencils) and Jonathan Glapion (inks).  Colorist FCO Plascencia and letterer Tom Napolitano complete the creative team.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth is the second release in DC Comics' new prestige and event publication imprint, “DC Black Label.”  The series follows Batman as he travels a ruined Earth, with the bottled, still-alive head of The Joker in tow, trying to find the mysterious power that devastated the world.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth #2 opens as Batman awakens from a nightmare featuring Joe Chill, the man who killed Bruce Wayne's parents.  During Batman and Joker's continued travel, they encounter what is left of the Flash, the Unknown Soldier, and the Swamp Thing.  They also encounter the strange union of the Scarecrow and Bane, and more.  Then, it's off to “The Plains of Solitude” where Batman meets two old friends.

However, things are not what they seem when that reunion with old friends also comes with the appearance of a familiar super-villain, who may be the cause of the devastation of the Earth.  Finally, “Omega” the master of this scorched Earth, steps forward, and Batman learns that this monster has an uncomfortable connection to him.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are the most popular Batman writer-artist pairing of this still young twenty-first century, and they are also among the most prolific of the last 50 years.  Snyder has portrayed Bruce Wayne as young and sleek with a humanitarian bent.  Snyder's Batman seems like a continuation of the Batman/Bruce Wayne that Frank Miller and artist David Mazzuchelli introduced to readers in the Batman: Year One story arc (originally published in the comic book, Batman, issues #404-407).  In artist Greg Capullo's Batman, science fiction and technology sit side by side with dark conspiracy and horror.  Capullo's clean-line style makes Batman and his world seem fresh, thanks to the contributions of inker Jonathan Glapion.

So is Batman: Last Knight on Earth Snyder and Capullo's Batman swan song?  If it is, this miniseries will only make readers want more.  Hugely imaginative and possessing high tension, Last Knight on Earth presents shocking twists and heart-breaking turns that don't seem contrived.  Snyder makes Batman so human and so vulnerable, and Capullo's sharp illustrations present eye-catching hellish landscapes designed to break us down as Batman's journey heightens his sense of guilt

FCO Plascencia continues to offer colors that recall the late Moebius' color art; the colors are pretty, but they smack that apocalyptic ass.  Tom Napolitano letters the end of the world, but saves some clever fonts in order to make the Joker's silliness seem genuinely funny.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth #2 is a fine middle issue, and teases an excellent final issue.  If you are only reading one Batman comic book, then, this is the one to read.

8 out of 10

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


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

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#IReadsYou Review: BATMAN: Last Knight on Earth #1

BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH No. 1 (OF 3)
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
EDITOR: Mark Doyle
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVER: Jock
56pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (July 2019)

Mature Readers

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Parts (One) “The Cave,” (Two) “The Right Hand,” (Three) “The Asylum,” (Four) “Echolocation”

Batman: Last Knight on Earth is a new three-issue comic book miniseries written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo (pencils) and Jonathan Glapion (inks).  Colorist FCO Plascencia and letterer Tom Napolitano complete the creative team.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth is the second release in DC Comics' new prestige and event publication imprint, “DC Black Label.”  The series follows Batman as he travels a ruined Earth, trying to find the mysterious power that devastated the world.

Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1 opens with Batman facing a strange crime wave in Gotham City.  There are no victims.  For the past 363 days, someone has drawn a chalk line across a different, random five-foot stretch of Gotham – every morning.  The next day, it is gone and replaced by a new chalk line somewhere else.  Batman has discovered the chalk lines have something to do with him, and the answer to this mystery seems surprisingly to be at “Crime Alley,” the place where Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered.

After he wakes up in Arkham Asylum, however, as a young man, a sane young man, Bruce Wayne realizes that he has never been Batman.  And the world, destroyed by an unspeakable force, really needs Batman.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are not only the most popular Batman writer-artist pairing of this still young twenty-first century; they are also among the most prolific of the last 50 years.  Snyder has portrayed Bruce Wayne as young and sleek with a humanitarian bent and Batman as being closer to Iron Man than to Frank Miller's Batman the Dark Knight.  In fact, I would say that Snyder's Batman/Bruce Wayne is really a continuation of the superhero/alter-ego pair Miller and artist David Mazzuchelli introduced to readers in the Batman: Year One story arc (originally published in the comic book, Batman, issues #404-407).

Greg Capullo's illustrations during his run with Batman presents a Gotham City where the Justice League fit as well as the Joker does.  Science fiction and technology sit side by side with dark conspiracy and horror.  Even Capullo's clean-line style makes Batman and his world seem fresh, thanks to the contributions of inker Jonathan Glapion.

FCO Plascencia colors this book as if he were coloring Moebius' art, with colors that shimmer, shine, and glow.  Tom Napolitano, who apparently does not contribute enough to have his name on the cover of this comic book, is one of the most distinctive and talented letters in comic books.  Neapolitan makes the shifting settings and surreal-like turns in plot coalesce into a single narrative.

That is the championship creative team that Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1 has.  I am reluctant to spoil anything in this first issue.  The sudden changes in plot and setting are bracing and promise a Batman story that may indeed by memorable... and worthy of the ambitions of DC Comics' “DC Black Label” imprint.

If Batman: Last Knight on Earth is going to be a “last Batman story” it should be better than most “last particular superhero” stories.  Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1 alone is quite a humdinger.

8 out of 10

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


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

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Review: DCEASED #1

DCEASED No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tom Taylor
PENCILS: Trevor Hairsine; James Harren
INKS: Stefano Gaudiano; James Harren
COLORS: Rain Beredo
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
EDITOR: Ben Abernathy
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S./ U.S. (July 2019)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

“Going Viral”

DCeased is a new six-issue comic book series from DC Comics.  It chronicles the heroes of the DC Universe and their desperate struggle to end a techno-virus that is turning the people of earth into engines of destruction.  The first issue of the series is written by Tom Taylor.  It is drawn by Trevor Hairsine, (pencils), James Harren (pencils/inks); and Stefano Gaudiano (inks).  Colorist Rain Beredo; letterer Saida Temofonte; and editor Ben Abernathy complete the creative team.

DCeased #1 (“Going Viral”) opens with the Justice League ending their latest battle against evil New God, Darkseid, and his legion of Parademons.  The League:  Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Black Lightning, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Nightwing have had enough of Darkseid's invasions of Earth, and Batman warns him against returning again.  Darkseid's parting words, uttered as he retreats, are ominous enough that they should be accompanied by an equally ominous musical arrangement.

It seems that during the battle, the Parademons have taken possession of Justice League member, Cyborg, for their boss.  Now, Darkseid and his master torturer, DeSaad, have a plan to merge the half of the anti-life equation in their possession with the half inside Cyborg.  And their plot requires the participation of the New Gods' avatar of Death, Black Racer.  But the best laid schemes o' DC mice and New Gods...  Darkseid is about to unleash something that is beyond monstrous.

I was cynical about DCeased.  I am no longer a fan of event comic book miniseries that feature large cast of superheroes and/or supervillains.  I started to hear whispers and grumblings, however, that DCeased was a good read, and guess what boys and girls?  It really is.

Unlike many first issues that tease so much that they barely introduce the plot or even all the main characters, DCeased #1 gets right to the point.  Writer Tom Taylor serves up the main course, handing out the meat for the beast.  I don't know if this entire miniseries will be good, but damn, we have quite the first issue – with a killer-ass last page, too, boo!  And it all reads well under letterer Saida Temofonte's fear-inducing fonts of the living dead.

I really like artist James Harren's eight-page New Gods' segment, which is pivotal to the story.  Colorist Rain Beredo covers Harren's illustrations with garish, acid-dropped, nightmarish colors.  Together, Taylor, Harren, and Beredo create comic book ickiness.  Meanwhile, Trevor Hairsine and Stefano Gaudiano focus on drawing the apocalypse with glee.

So, yeah, DCeased #1 is a real-deal good comic book, the anti-life antidote for the cynical comic book purchaser.  So let's hope this series stays good.

9 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 UNEXPECTED #1

THE UNEXPECTED No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Orlando and Ryan Sook
PENCILS: Cary Nord
INKS: Mick Gray and Wade von Grawbadger
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
EDITOR: Katie Kubert
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2018)

Rated “T” for Teen

The Unexpected created by Steve Orlando and Ryan Sook

Call of the Unknown: Part One – “Punch First”

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

The Unexpected is the eighth and final release in “The New Age of DC Heroes.”  The series is written by Steve Orlando and Ryan Sook; drawn by Cary Nord and Ryan Sook (pencils) and Mick Gray and Wade von Grawbadger (inks); colored by FCO Plascencia; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  The Unexpected focuses on a group of unlikely heroes who are called to action across the Multiverse in the wake of the events depicted in Dark Nights: Metal.

The Unexpected #1 (“Punch First”) introduces Janet Fals.  She was a paramedic killed in the line of duty.  Civil Solutions, “ a futurist arms developer,” revives Janet giving her a new heart – something called “the Conflict Engine.”  Every 24 hours, she has to feed the Conflict Engine a fight or violence... or she dies.  Janet Fals is now known as the super-powered entity, “Firebrand.”

In her new life, Firebrand uses the name “Ronan,” and works at a VA hospital.  When a new and strange patient starts causing trouble, Ronan has to become Firebrand to deal with the Bad Samaritan, Neon the Unknown, Ascendant, and Viking Judge.

I don't know how much of this book is drawn by Ryan Sook and how much is drawn by Cary Nord.  I do know that Mick Gray and Wade von Grawbadger are two of the best inkers working in American superhero comic books today.  The result is that The Unexpected has the most beautiful art of any of “New Age” titles, which is quite a feat.  Many of the initial art teams on the “New Age” books turned out some pretty art, and some of the secondary teams have also delivered attractive illustrating.  Colorist FCO Plascencia and letterer Carlos M. Mangual complete what is a top-notch graphics and graphical storytelling team on The Unexpected.

Unfortunately, The Unexpected offers a terrible story and only a serviceable script.  It offers the kind of pointless bombastic action that plagues event comic books that Marvel and DC Comics publish every time they and comic book retailers need a sales bump.  Bombastic action over anemic character writing:  hope that works for you if you want to like The Unexpected.  I would be surprised if The Unexpected lasts 12 issues, which is a pity.  This is one good-looking comic book.

3.5 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: REBORN #1

REBORN No. 1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Millar – @mrmarkmillar
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Nate Piekos of Blambot
COVER: Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Greg Capullo; Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion with FCO Plascencia; Jock; Frank Cho with Laura Martin; John Cassady with Paul Mounts; Todd McFarlane with FCO Plascencia
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S. (November 2015)

Rated M / Mature

Reborn is a new comic book miniseries from Mark Millar and Greg Capullo.  An action-fantasy, Reborn is set in a world where people go to fight for survival... after they die!   Reborn is written by Millar; drawn by Capullo (pencils) and Jonathan Glapion (inks); colored by FCO Plascencia; and lettered by Nate Piekos.

Reborn #1 opens in Minneapolis, 2002, the scene of a tragedy.  In 2016, we meet Bonnie Black, a 78-year-old woman intimately connected to that tragedy.  She believes that she is very close to the end of her life, and that death will come like a light being switched off.  But there is another life waiting for her, and that life may not be lived in Heaven or Hell.

For me, Mark Millar's creator-owned miniseries are hit (Kick-Ass, Empress) or miss (Huck).  So far, I think Reborn is leaning towards hit.  Its central conceit – that people go somewhere after death where their past (the good, the bad, and the ugly) await them – is creepy, but intriguing.  I am sure that Millar has even crazier stuff to reveal beyond Reborn #1, so I am ready for more.

Artist Greg Capullo is good in his first substantial post-New 52 Batman work.  So he can draw something other than Batman!  He mixes real-world-styled compositions with video game faux-reality with ease, but his storytelling in the fantasy world is a bit muddled.  That can be fixed in future issues, which I intend to read... and maybe tell you about.

www.millarworld.tv

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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: 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.

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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.

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Review: BATMAN #41

BATMAN #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[Originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Greg Capullo and Danny Miki with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Sean Murphy with Matt Hollingsworth (Joker 75th Anniversary Cover)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

“Superheavy” Part One

RoboBatBunny?  June 2015 kicks off the latest new direction for DC Comics (of sorts).  It's called “DC You.”  So, even DC's most popular characters must take a new direction, to one degree or another.  Gone, gone o'form of Batman... and rise the battle-suit Batman!

Batman #41 (“Superheavy” Part One) opens with some kind of bio-electrical monster attacking Gotham City's Little Cuba neighborhood.  Sometime before that attack, however, Powers International (an advanced tech company) makes former Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon an offer that common sense tells him he should refuse.  But he really can't.  At the age of 46, Jim Gordon may be the only man who can bring to life the new Batman that Gotham needs right now.

Yeah, I want to be a hater.  A year and a half ago, I would agree with those who said that Scott Snyder is one of the best Batman comic book writers ever.  After the tedium that was “Endgame” and the naseum of the overly long “Zero Year,” I was only grudgingly willing to say that Snyder is one of the best Batman writers of the last two decades... maybe.  And then this new Batman thing...

But... and it's a big but (and I know that BellBivDevoe said “don't trust a big butt and a smile”), Snyder could do something really good with this new Batman.  Truth to be told, I have always been interested in Batman battle-suits and armor-suits (like the cool one in Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).  I can't help but be interested in Jim Gordon the superhero.  Let's slave our imaginations into this Batman's guidance system, and see where it goes... at least, for a little while.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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