#IReadsYou Review: JOHN CARTER OF MARS #1

JOHN CARTER OF MARS, VOL. 1 #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Chuck Brown
ART: George Kambadais
COLORS: George Kambadais
LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry
EDITOR: Nate Cosby
COVER: Junggeun Yoon
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Jonathan Case; George Kambadais; Marat Mychaels; Sebastian Piriz; Guillem March; Piper Rudich; Ryan Kincaid; Johnny Desjardins; Rachel Hollon and David Turner (cosplay)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2022)

Rated Teen+

Based on the characters and stories created by Edgar Rice Burroughs

John Carter is a character that first appeared in the serialized novel, Under the Moons of Mars (The All-Story, 1912), written by Tarzan creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.  When it was first collected and published in hardcover, the novel was re-titled, A Princess of Mars (1917), the first of Burroughs' “Barsoom” novels, which were set on Barsoom, a fictional version of Mars.

John Carter is a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who is transported to Mars via “astral projection.”  There he gets a new body that is similar to the one he leaves behind on Earth.  John makes several trips back and forth between Earth (which the Martians call “Jasoom”) and Barsoom, and Dejah and John are married and have two children.

John Carter first appeared in comic books in the early 1950s and continues today as a comic book character via Dynamite Entertainment.  His latest comic book series is John Carter of Mars.  The series is written by Chuck Brown; drawn and colored by George Kambadais; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.  In the new series, a re-imagining of and a sequel to the original “Barsoom” novels, John Carter is back on Earth and discovers that Martians are being transported to Earth while humans are being transported to Mars.

John Carter of Mars #1 opens on Barsoom.  John Carter is enjoying his reward – domestic life with his wife, Dejah Thoris (the Princess of Mars), and their son.  Suddenly, for the first time in ages, he is whisked back to Earth, but he isn't the only one.  It is 1919, and Carter is back in his old mansion estate.  There, he finds himself in a fierce battle with Green Martians that have also been transported to Earth.  And they are determined to make trophies of his head and limbs.

Meanwhile, a young Black U.S. Army officer, Lt. Fred Hines, and his friend, Charlie, have arrived at the estate to investigate the disappearance of his wife, Thai, a Civil War historian who has studied John Carter's journals.  She is also one of the humans missing on Earth that may have been transported to Mars.  Fred and Charlie are shocked to find John Carter alive and fighting for his life, a fight they must now join.

THE LOWDOWN:  In July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  One of them is John Carter of Mars #1.  It is the first solo Dynamite John Carter comic book that I have read.

Simply put, writer Chuck Brown has created in John Carter of Mars #1 the kind of comic book that I could not stop reading.  What a blast!  It may be the freshest take on John Carter, if not ever, then, in a long time.  Brown simultaneously reinvents Burroughs influential series and also may well revitalize interest in it.  Brown has also created a comic book that can be enjoyed by many ages – from middle school to old school readers.

George Kambadais's art and coloring remind me of the work of Bruce Timm, and the graphical storytelling hops from one page to another like a lit fuse.  It has a classic comics feel with a sense of wonder and mystery.  My only complaint is that I wish I could see Kambadais' work for issue #2 now, so, of course, I am highly recommending John Carter of Mars.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dynamite's Barsoom comic books will want to try John Carter of Mars.

[This comic book includes “Dynamite Dispatch,” which features an interview with writer Tom Sniegoski.]

A+
★★★★+ out of 4 stars

Buy the JOHN CARTER OF MARS trade paperback here at AMAZON.

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


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#IReadsYou Revew: POST AMERICANA #3

POST AMERICANA #3 (OF 6)
IMAGE COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Steve Skroce
ARTIST: Steve Skroce
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Fonografiks
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2021)

Rated M / Mature

Post Americana is a six-issue miniseries written and drawn by Steve Skroce and published by Image Comics.  Post Americana is set in a dystopian future and focuses on two rebels' attempt to save an area called the “Wasteland” from a rogue President of the United States.  Colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Fonografiks complete Post Americana's creative team.

Post Americana  has two settings.  The first is “The Bubble,” an installation inside the Cheyenne Mountains that is the most sophisticated super-bunker in the world.  Inside, Nathaniel Hawksworthe, the new President of the United States, plans to use the bunker's resources to build the “New America” by basically paving over the second setting, the “Wasteland.”  Determined to stop Hawksworthe are Mike, a hapless rebel, and Carolyn, a deadly Wasteland girl, who is already hellbent on revenge against the denizens of the Bubble.  But Carolyn and Mike will have to survive the Wasteland in order to save the Wasteland.

As Post Americana #3 opens, after surviving “The Followers of the Path,” cannibal blood cult, Caroline and Mike are looking for a safe place.  Perhaps, they have found it in the gilded cage of Caroline's surrogate fathers, Eddy and Gene.  Plus, we learn the history of Caroline, how she meet Eddy and Gene, and why she seeks to destroy the Bubble.  Mike also reveals his history as a rebel and what happened to the world at the end of the 23rd century that led to the creation to the Bubble.  Why and how did the rich take over?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my review of Post Americana #1, I am a fan of writer-artist Steve Skroce's mainstream comics work, especially “Blood Debt” (May 2000 to August 2000), a four-issue story arc he produced for the original Wolverine ongoing comic book series (the one that began in 1988).  In my review of Post Americana #2, I expressed joy that Skroce gave readers the fun of a cannibal holocaust-shindig.

Post Americana #3 is the series' most revealing issue yet.  I'll call it the “history issue,” and if you like, back story, dear readers, you will love this third issue, as there is a lot of history and back story … and a rather shocking surprise regarding Caroline.

As usual, Skroce gets excellent assistance in creating this fine edition of his latest comic book.  That includes superb coloring from Dave Stewart and story-driving lettering from Fonografiks.  I can't wait for the fourth issue.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Steve Skroce's comics and of post-apocalyptic sci-fi will want Post Americana.

A
9 out of 10

[This comic book features a four-page sneak preview of the upcoming comic book, Karmen #1, by Guillem March.]

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


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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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Review: RAGMAN #1

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

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ray Fawkes
ART: Inaki Miranda
COLORS: Eva de la Cruz
LETTERS: Josh Reed
COVER: Guillem March
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Ragman created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert

Chapter One: “Return Fire”

Ragman is a DC Comics superhero and vigilante of the mystical variety.  He first appeared in the comic book Ragman #1 (cover dated: August/September 1976) and was created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert.  The first Ragman was a man named Rory Regan, and he was also Jewish.  The character returns in the new six-issue miniseries, Ragman.  It is written by Ray Fawkes; drawn by Inaki Miranda; colored by Eva de la Cruz; and lettered by Josh Reed.

Ragman #1 (“Return Fire”) opens six months earlier “somewhere in the Israeli desert.”  Rory “Twig” Harper is part of a five-man military unit that is raiding a “holy temple” built into a cliff side.  Hidden deep within this temple is a tomb containing a great treasure.  Just when these men are sure they have found the treasure, a rival unit attacks, and Sarge, Miller, Droopy, and Frank are killed.  Now, Rory is back in Gotham City and plagued by the death of his partners.  He battles his survivors guilt, not realizing that something from within the tomb has followed him home.

I think that Warner Bros. Pictures and its sister corporate types, including DC Comics, should stop using the term “visionary” to describe the hacks, freelancers and contractors they hire to produce entertainment.  Warner Bros. frequently refers to Zack Snyder as a “visionary,” when all he is is a film director in love with special effects, explosions, and Michael Bay.  Is Ray Fawkes and Inaki Miranda's “re-imagining” of Ragman really “visionary?”  Probably not.  So clearly the Warner Bros. c1an should avoid the word until they understand it or recognize someone whose work actually typifies the word.

Now, I am not saying that Ragman #1 is not an interesting comic book because I am curious about where this story is going.  I love Guillem March's gorgeous cover art for this first issue.  The opening sequence in the tomb is very exciting and a little scary.  I don't care for the group counseling session scenes.  I'm not a big fan of group counseling scenes in the stories I read (or movies and TV I watch).

There are some interesting nuggets in Fawkes' story.  Miranda is a solid artist, and his creature designs are good.  The coloring overwhelms Miranda's art, however.  But... I'll give the second issue a try.  I recommend this to people who are fans of the character, if such fans exist.

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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Albert Avilla Reviews: Talon #0

Talon #0
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Plot: James Tynion IV and Scott Snyder
Writer: James Tynion
Art: Guillem March

The Long Run (Spoilers!)

When I first looked at the cover, I was thinking, what is this corny B. S.? After reading the story, that is a faded memory soon to be completely lost in the recesses of my mind. No, my thoughts are that Talon is the best new character to come bursting on the scene this month. Everything that I saw as a joke is now awesome in my sight.

In the opening scene, we find eight-year-old Calvin Ross, Talon, locked in a dog kennel by his sick father. His flair for the art of the escape emerges and an escape artist is born. Talon tells his origin during his own failed assassination. Young Calvin escapes to Haly's Circus to become an apprentice to an escape artist and eventually becomes a star in his own right. Calvin is taken by The Court of Owls to be trained to become a Talon. Calvin is won over by The Court of Owls with promises of fighting evil. To become a Talon, Calvin must kill the present Talon. Calvin is quilt ridden after killing the Talon. He continues to amaze The Court by being the first to escape their Labyrinth and becoming the new Talon.

On his first mission, Talon is ordered to kill a twenty-three-year-old heiress and her two-year-old daughter. Instead, Talon rescues Casey and Sarah Washington and once again performs an amazing escape. He is now a target of The Court. The Talon sent to kill Calvin makes the mistake of testing Calvin's skills by locking him in the trunk of a car and dumping it in the river. Calvin once again escapes and defeats the Talon. Now a man on the run, Talon must continue to escape The Court of Owls.

Talon has the potential to be the next big thing. Snyder and Tynion have overcome my prejudgments by creating a fresh new character. Talon’s unique skills take him from being a circus act to an assassin to a hero. Calvin Ross's heroism is demonstrated by his ability to rise above evil's influence throughout his life. Talon does not allow himself to become a victim of circumstance, but fights to forge his own path into heroism. A hero arises from The New 52.

The art is an integral part of the story. It does its part to demonstrate the enormity of the forces arrayed against Talon and the difficulty of the tasks he must accomplish. The immensity of the structures in comparison to Talon is symbolic of the position that Talon finds himself in his struggle against The Court of Owls.

I rate Talon # 0 Buy Your Own Copy. #2 (of 5) on Al-O-Meter Ranking

The New 52 Review: CATWOMAN #1

"Bringing sexy back to the DC Universe"

CATWOMAN #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Judd Winick
ARTIST: Guillem March
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
32pp, Colors, $2.99

Catwoman is a DC Comics character associated with the Batman franchise. The best known Catwoman is Selina Kyle, who was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Kyle first appeared in Batman #1 (Spring 1940) as The Cat.

The character has been a super-villain, but she has also had a complex love-hate relationship with Batman that is sometimes romantic. Since her appearance in Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli’s Batman: Year One, Catwoman has been something of an anti-hero that skirts the fine line between daring good girl and criminal bad girl. Most of the time, she is a thief and cat burglar.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, “The New 52,” Catwoman, who has had a few series of her own, gets a new one. As Catwoman #1 (“…and most of the costumes stay on…”) opens, Selina Kyle’s apartment is destroyed, leaving her homeless. Determined to discover who is after her, Selina takes a job in a bar that caters to Russian mobsters, where she gets information that puts her onto her next burglary. Plus, there is a visit from Batman.

I have finally found a Judd Winick-scripted comic book that I enjoyed – Catwoman #1, although this first issue is mainly set-up for a longer storyline. Still, there isn’t much that is imaginative here in terms of ideas: Russian mobsters and a torrid scene between the Bat and the Cat – nice but familiar.

What makes this series look unique is the art by Guillem March, which is covered in luscious colors by Tomeu Morey. By chance, I discovered March because he drew a pin-up that appeared in a hardcover collection I reviewed. I’ve been crazy about his work since then. I look forward to his run on Catwoman enough to take a chance that Winick will entertain me – even if he only rehashes other people’s crime fiction ideas and plots.

By the way, the controversial, tawdry stuff ain’t as scandalous as some are making it out to be. It’s fairly tame considering all the leather, rubber, and vinyl involved.

B+

September 21st
BATMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batman-1.html
NIGHTWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/nightwing-1.html
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/red-hood-and-outlaws-1.html
WONDER WOMAN #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/wonder-woman-1.html