[“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”]
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Dynamite Entertainment Announces "Dynamite Originals" Comics Imprint
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
#IReadsYou Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
#IReadsYou Review: BIG GAME #1
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
I Reads You Juniors: October 2023 - Update #60
You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.
NEWS:
DISNEY - From BleedingCool: "KugaliInk" is a new graphic novel imprint that is the joint project of Disney Hyperion and Kugali, a pan-African entertainment company. The imprint will celebrate African voices and be focused on middle-grade readers. KugaliInk's first graphic novel will be "Akanni" by Jessica Tagbajumi (2025), to be followed by "Runeless" by Bill Masuku.
EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Comic book artist Steve Erwin has died at the age of 63, Wednesday, October 25, 2023. Erwin was best remembered for co-creating DC Comics' "Checkmate" with writer Paul Kupperberg and the DC Comics' character, "Gunfire," with the late writer, Len Wein. In 1991, he joined writer Marvel Wolfman to launch the "Deathstroke the Terminator" comic book series, with Erwin drawing 23 of the series first 34 issues and the series second "Annual" issue.
COMICS - From GamesRadar: Comic book maestros Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones are teaming up for a series of graphic novels about the secret history of Dracula. They are currently crowdfunding "Dracula: Book One: The Impaler."
IMAGE - From BleedingCool: Todd McFarlane announces 10 more Spawn-related comic book titles for 2024.
MOVIES - From Variety: Author and comic book writer, Benjamin Percy ("Wolverine"), has sold the film rights to his novella, "American Criminal," to Amazon MGM Studios.
DC COMICS - From GamesRadar: DC Comics will celebrate Black History Month 2024 with a new installment of its "DC Power" anthology, a one-shot dedicated to showcasing Black characters and creators. Black History Month is observed all February long, with "DC Power 2024" arriving just a bit early at the tail end of January.
MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety: Director Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) reveals that he quit X-Men: The Last Stand when he discovered that Fox was going to trick Halle Berry into signing to appear in the film with a fake "Storm" script that the studio would later discard.
NYCC - From BleedingCool: At New York Comic Con 2023, Yen Press announced 15 upcoming manga and light novel publications.
NYCC - From AIPT: Writer Rick Remender's Image Comics' label, "Giant Generator," has signed several big name comic book artists to exclusive contracts, including J.G. Jones, Daniel Acuna, and Bengal, to name a few.
NYCC - From THR: Director Matthew Vaughn revealed that he is working on a reboot of the "Kick-Ass" film franchise. It is based on the Mark Millar-John Romita, Jr-created comic book franchise that has yielded two films, Kick-Ass (2010) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).
NYCC - From BleedingCool: Korean-American actor, Don Lee, is joining writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jae Lee for the comic book, "Project Sterling North." Just as the BRZRKR comic book uses co-creator Keanu Reeves' likeness so will "Project Sterling North" uses Lee's likeness.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Comic book writer, J.M. DeMatteis, who co-created "Creature Commandos" (with artist Pat Broderick), says that he met with DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn about Gunn's animated "Creature Commando" series.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Action Comics will be kicking off a brand-new storytelling initiative in 2024. DC announced "Superman Superstars," a year-long string of stories that will be told in the pages of Action. From January through December of 2024, the book will feature a rotating array of writers and artists, who will be teaming up on mini arcs, including comic book stars Jason Aaron and Joshua Williamson.
NYCC - From ComicCon: Mad Cave Studios is moving into publishing comic books based on licensed properties. At NYCC, Mad Cave announced the creative teams for those series. Cullen Bunn and Chris Batista on "Gatchaman" and Steve Orlando and Tommy Lee Edwards on a spin-off series. Writer Jeremy Adams tackles "Flash Gordon."
NYCC - From THR: Comic book creator, Rob Liefeld, has joined Philip J. Silvera, the stunt coordinator for "Deadpool" (2016) to produce a proof-of-concept trailer featuring his character, "Bloodstrike." The hope is that the trailer will revive interest from filmmakers and studios in a "Bloodstrike" film.
NYCC - From ComicBook: Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced that they have partnered to release a range of comic books and graphic novels inspired by some of Warner's most popular franchises and characters. The initial slate of titles are planned to be released across multiple formats and will be based on "The Flintstones," "Jonny Quest," The Powerpuff Girls," "Space Ghost," "ThunderCats," "We Bare Bears," and The Wizard of Oz.
NYCC - From ComicBook: After 14 years, DC Comics is reviving the "Elseworlds" imprint (beginning in 2024) with the following titles:
EN MEMORIAM - From THR: Comic book writer and artist, Keith Giffen, has died at the age of 70, Monday, October 9, 2023. Giffen may be best known for his work on DC Comics' "Legion of Super-Heroes," working on various LoSH series from 1982 to 1998, with the most famous work being "The Great Darkness Saga" storyline. Giffen also co-created several characters, including Marvel Comics' "Rocket Raccoon," DC's "Lobo," and the "Jaime Reyes" incarnation of the character, "Blue Beetle," which appeared in the 2023 film, Blue Beetle.
NYCC 2023 - From THR: Oscar-nominated actor, Tom Hardy, is joining acclaimed comic book writer, Scott Snyder (Batman), in the creation of a new 12-issue comic book series, "Arcbound." Hardy has the title of "creative collaborator" and will work on developing characters for the broader "Arcbound" universe. Veteran writer Frank Tieri and artist Ryan Smallman. Hardy and the creative team will appear at New York Comic-Con 2023 on Saturday for a signing.
BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD: The legendary English comics artist, John M. Burns, has retired after seven decades of creating and drawing comics. He has drawn for over 20 different publishers, and he may be best known for his work on such characters as "Judge Dredd," "Nikolai Dante," and "The Order" to name a few.
DC CINEMA - From Variety: The website chronicles the latest drama surrounding "Aquaman 2" and the emerging cinematic DC Universe.
COMICS - From OhDannyBoy: Australian blogger, Daniel Best," takes a look at the history of art theft at Marvel Comics, this time looking specifically at the theft of the art produced by the late Jack Kirby.
IMAGE - From BleedingCool: Todd McFarlane will reveal Liam Sharp's "Barbarian Spawn" comic book at the upcoming New York Comic-Con 2023 (Oct. 12 to 15).
BRITISH COMICS - From BleedingCool: Scottish comics publisher, BHP Comics will begin shutting down its operations.
DC COMICS - From DCBlog: Writer Joanne Starer talks about her new "Dawn of DC" series, "Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville."
COMICS - From BleedingCool: Apparently, after 88-year-old, Portland-based collector, James Strand, died, his house was ransacked for his collection of rare comics, signed books, and pulps. The collection was worth an estimated two million dollars, and the FBI is investigating.
ONE PIECE - From Deadline: The site has a long Q&A with Matt Owens, series writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner of Netflix's "One Piece" live-action series. He talks about Season 2, about how personal the series is to him, and about how the series got Jamie Lee Curtis to join the cast.
MANGA - From BleedingCool: Although Vol. 34 was the end of the worldwide hit manga, "Attack on Titan," there will be a 35th volume, which will be released in 2024.
COMICS - From ComicBook: Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) talks more about his upcoming science fiction graphic novel, a hybrid of prose and comics which will be crowdfunded for a 2024 release. His wife and publisher, Robyn Moore, says that they may be done with publishing single issues.
IMAGE/SKYBOUND - From ScreenRant: Robert Kirkman explains why his new G.I. Joe/Transformers shared continuity is called the "Energon Universe."
MARVEL STUDIOS - From GamesRadar: Marvel Studios is reportedly about to begin the process of choosing a writer for the "X-Men" movie.
--------------------
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Titan Comics Returns "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" to Comic Books Shops on August 2nd
Thursday, July 20, 2023
#IReadsYou Review: KISS: Phantom Obsession #5
KISS: PHANTOM OBSESSION #5
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Ian Edginton
ART: Celor
COLORS: Valentina Pinto
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Sayger; Tim Seeley; Celor
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2022)
Rated Teen+
Kiss is an American, four-man, rock band. It was formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, the original line-up that is also considered classic Kiss. Kiss is best known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, and the group rose to prominence and gained a notorious reputation in the mid to late 1970s with its shocking live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood-spitting, and pyrotechnics.
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the license to produce comic books featuring Kiss' brand and began releasing Kiss comic books in 2016. The latest comic book is Kiss: Phantom Obsession. It is written by Ian Edginton; drawn by Celor; colored by Valentina Pinto; and lettered by Troy Peteri. Phantom Obsession pits the band against Darius Cho, a powerful, super-wealthy, obsessed Kiss fan who wants more than some autographs.
As Kiss: Phantom Obsession #5 opens, Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter learn the secrets of Darius Cho. That means that they must also confront the secrets of Lyra Tzen, one of Cho's employees. Since being kidnapped by Cho and presumed dead, KISS has faced it all: megalomaniacs, giant monsters and robots, and now, a killer android. Can the greatest Rock N' Roll band in the world survive its final showdown with the true mastermind behind it all?
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 Kiss: Phantom Obsession #5, which is only the fifth Kiss comic book that I have ever read.
In the first four issues of Phantom Obsession, writer Ian Edginton offers a breezy adventure that is part Kiss comic book and part superhero comic book. I thought that Phantom Obsession #4 was the best issue of the series, but issue #5 surpasses it. The sad back story and the awful costs of a tech billionaire's arrogance and lack of self-awareness come full circle.
As this is the final issue of the miniseries, I think Phantom Obsession will read really nicely as a trade paperback. For one thing, readers can see the evolution of the art team of illustrator Celor and colorist Valentina Pinto.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Kiss comic books will want to read Kiss: Phantom Obsession.
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
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).
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
#IReadsYou Review: KISS: Phantom Obsession #4
KISS: PHANTOM OBSESSION #4
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Ian Edginton
ART: Celor
COLORS: Valentina Pinto
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Sayger; Tim Seeley; Celor
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2021)
Rated Teen+
Kiss is an American, four-man, rock band. It was formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, the original line-up that is also considered classic Kiss. Kiss is best known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, and the group rose to prominence and gained a notorious reputation in the mid to late 1970s with its shocking live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood-spitting, and pyrotechnics.
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the license to produce comic books featuring Kiss' brand and began releasing Kiss comic books in 2016. The latest comic book is Kiss: Phantom Obsession. It is written by Ian Edginton; drawn by Celor; colored by Valentina Pinto; and lettered by Troy Peteri. Phantom Obsession pits the band against Darius Cho, a powerful, super-wealthy, obsessed Kiss fan who wants more than some autographs.
As Kiss: Phantom Obsession #4 opens, Paul, Gene, Ace, Peter, and Lyra Tzen, one of Cho's employees, are on the run from samurai androids known as “The Kingdom of Woes.” While they find a new place to hide, Lyra tells the band the out-of-this-world origin story behind many of Darius Cho's scientific and technological innovations.
Then, they discover the fate of some of Cho's former employees. Plus, Lyra's got a big secret.
THE LOWDOWN: Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Kiss: Phantom Obsession #4, which is only the fourth Kiss comic book that I have ever read.
In Phantom Obsession, writer Ian Edginton continues to offer a breezy adventure that is part Kiss comic book and part superhero comic book. Phantom Obsession is the best issue yet, and it was apparently going to be the final issue. I assure you, however, that the cliffhanger at the end of this issue suggests a great fifth issue. I hope issue #5 can deliver...
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Kiss comic books will want to read Kiss: Phantom Obsession.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
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).
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
#IReadsYou Review: KISS: Phantom Obsession #3
KISS: PHANTOM OBSESSION #3
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Ian Edginton
ART: Celor
COLORS: Valentina Pinto
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Sayger; Tim Seeley; Celor
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2021)
Rated Teen+
Kiss is an American, four-man, rock band. It was formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, the original line-up that is also considered classic Kiss. Kiss is best known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, and the group rose to prominence and gained a notorious reputation in the mid to late 1970s with its shocking live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood-spitting, and pyrotechnics.
The members of Kiss have licensed their band name and likenesses for merchandising. In a 2014 article, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kiss had sold over one billion dollars from the sale of more than three thousand licensed items. That merchandising includes comic books. Kiss first officially appeared in a comic book in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck #12 (cover dated: May 1977) and first starred in their own comic book with Marvel Comics Super Special #1 (1977). Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Platinum Studios, Archie Comics, and IDW Publishing have published licensed Kiss comic books.
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the license to produce comic books featuring Kiss' brand and began releasing Kiss comic books in 2016. The latest comic book is Kiss: Phantom Obsession. It is written by Ian Edginton; drawn by Celor; colored by Valentina Pinto; and lettered by Troy Peteri. Phantom Obsession pits the band against Darius Cho, a powerful, super-wealthy, obsessed Kiss fan who wants more than some autographs.
As Kiss: Phantom Obsession #3 opens, Paul, Gene, Ace, Peter, and Lyra Tzen, one of Cho's employees, are facing the “Super Sonic Monster Adventure Squad!” What is that? It's Cho's army of robot kaiju warriors, and they are ready to kick some Kiss ass. Luckily, our rock 'n' roll heroes are ready to kick right back. Now, it time to unleash their powers.
Meanwhile, Cho continues to monitor the escapees' progress – with a purpose – while he continues to build his secret project. And before Kiss and Lyra can escape Cho, they must enter “The Kingdom of Woes” and face the four demon lords.
THE LOWDOWN: Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Kiss: Phantom Obsession #3, which is only the third Kiss comic book that I have ever read.
In Phantom Obsession, writer Ian Edginton offers a breezy adventure that is part Kiss comic book and part superhero comic book. Edginton essentially shows that Kiss can fit into multiple fantasy genres, and in a way, his script sometimes makes you forget that these characters are fictional versions of a real life rock band. Phantom Obsession is a superhero comic book like any other, except it's Kiss, too.
And it works. I want to read more, and I think some of you will, also, dear readers.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Kiss comic books will want to read Kiss: Phantom Obsession.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
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).
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: KISS: Phantom Obsession #2
KISS: PHANTOM OBSESSION #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Ian Edginton
ART: Celor
COLORS: Valentina Pinto
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Sayger; Tim Seeley; Celor
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2021)
Rated Teen+
Kiss is an American, four-man, rock band. It was formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, the original line-up that is also considered classic Kiss. Kiss is best known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, and the group rose to prominence and gained a notorious reputation in the mid to late 1970s with its shocking live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood-spitting, and pyrotechnics.
The members of Kiss have licensed their band name and likenesses for merchandising. In a 2014 article, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kiss had sold over one billion dollars from the sale of more than three thousand licensed items. That merchandising includes comic books. Kiss first officially appeared in a comic book in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck #12 (cover dated: May 1977) and first starred in their own comic book with Marvel Comics Super Special #1 (1977). Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Platinum Studios, Archie Comics, and IDW Publishing have published licensed Kiss comic books.
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the license to produce comic books featuring Kiss' brand and began releasing Kiss comic books in 2016. The latest comic book is Kiss: Phantom Obsession. It is written by Ian Edginton; drawn by Celor; colored by Valentina Pinto; and lettered by Troy Peteri. Phantom Obsession pits the band against Darius Cho, a powerful, super-wealthy, obsessed Kiss fan who wants more than some autographs.
As Kiss: Phantom Obsession #2 opens, Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter are prisoners of Cho. He reveals what he wants from them, or rather, what he wants to extract from them. It seems our heroes are the totems and talisman's of legends, and their bodies hold “God particles.”
With the help of one of Cho's few human employees, Lyra Tzen, the Masters of Rock 'n' Roll manage to momentarily slip away from this reclusive maniac. However, even Lyra has no idea where they are, as Cho has kept the location of his compound/complex secret. And, as luck would have it, KISS and Lyra are about to meet the “Super Sonic Monster Adventure Squad!”
THE LOWDOWN: Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Kiss: Phantom Obsession #2, which is only the second Kiss comic book that I have ever read.
In the first issue, I liked that Ian Edginton made the members of KISS wary of their faux-benefactor, Darius Cho. In the second issue, Edginton reveals Cho as even more dangerous and more powerful that he seems at first. I don't know what Cho's fate will be; for now, he gives Phantom Obsession an excellent villain, but I think he would make a great long-running adversary for KISS.
The art team of illustrator Celor and colorist Valentina Pinto: I can take them or leave them, which is what I said of them in the first issue. Although the art isn't the prettiest readers will find, the storytelling is good, and that's most important. I looked forward to the second issue after reading the first; now, I find myself wanting to read the third issue... now.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Kiss comic books will want to read Kiss: Phantom Obsession.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
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).
Thursday, November 10, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #19
IMAGE COMICS
STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander with Germán Erramouspe
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung; Nick Runge
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (February 2022)
Rated “M/ Mature”
Killadelphia and Elysium Gardens created by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander
“The End of All” Part I: “Hope Springs Eternal”
Killadelphia is an apocalyptic vampire and dark fantasy comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander and is published by Image Comics. At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.” Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.
Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. and his father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr., thought to be dead. He is actually a vampire. Now father and son lead a ragtag team comprised of a medical examiner, a dead president, and a rebellious, but special young vampire (Tevin Thompkins a.k.a. “See Saw”) in a bid to save Philly from an ambitious and murderous former First Lady, Abigail Adams.
As Killadelphia #19 (“Hope Springs Eternal”) opens, Jim Sr. and his allies make their final stand against Abigail Adams. She is already in the process of dispatching her husband, John Adams, the second President of the United States and a vampire.
Sangster needs allies. Enter the werewolves of Elysium Gardens. Abigail also has new allies, including the necromancer Thomas Jefferson! Will the demons unearthed from America's past threaten the existence of Philadelphia and of the world as we know it?
THE LOWDOWN: Killadelphia's fourth story arc, “The End of All,” begins. It is being described as a turning point in the series.
The truth is that most issues of Killadelphia are turning points in the narrative. Writer Rodney Barnes continues to expand this series beyond – way beyond – its initial description as a vampire comic book. The characters are rich and complex, and the fact that the characters are who they are … well, it is bold and visionary. After all, the so-called “Founding Fathers” of the United States were always vampires, so Killadelphia is telling you the truth. Seriously, just about every issue has something new, sometimes something unseen in mainstream comic books. Thus, Killadelphia is about changing and turning, transforming the predictable into the unexpected.
Welcome back, Killadelphia. And dear readers, you don't need to have read the previous issues to enjoy Killadelphia #19.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.
A+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Read You"
https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes
https://twitter.com/jasonshawnalex
https://twitter.com/luisnct
https://twitter.com/MarshallDillon
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
http://rodneybarnes.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imagecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Comics-Inc/178643148813259
https://www.twitch.tv/imagecomics
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmaKLo0FXWIPx-3n6qs3vQ
https://www.linkedin.com/company/image-comics/
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
---------------
Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
#IReadsYou Review: KISS: Phantom Obsession #1
KISS: PHANTOM OBSESSION #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
STORY: Ian Edginton
ART: Celor
COLORS: Valentina Pinto
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Stuart Sayger; Tim Seeley; Celor; Jae Lee
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2021)
Rated Teen+
Kiss is an American, four-man, rock band. It was formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss, the original line-up that is also considered classic Kiss. Kiss is best known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, and the group rose to prominence and gained a notorious reputation in the mid to late 1970s with its shocking live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood-spitting, and pyrotechnics.
The members of Kiss have licensed their band name and likenesses for merchandising. In a 2014 article, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Kiss had sold over one billion dollars from the sale of more than three thousand licensed items. That merchandising includes comic books. Kiss first officially appeared in a comic book in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck #12 (cover dated: May 1977) and first starred in their own comic book with Marvel Comics Super Special #1 (1977). Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Platinum Studios, Archie Comics, and IDW Publishing have published licensed Kiss comic books.
Dynamite Entertainment obtained the license to produce comic books featuring Kiss' brand and began releasing Kiss comic books in 2016. The latest comic book is Kiss: Phantom Obsession. It is written by Ian Edginton; drawn by Celor; colored by Valentina Pinto; and lettered by Troy Peteri. Phantom Obsession pits the band against a powerful, obsessed Kiss fan.
Kiss: Phantom Obsession #1 finds the members of KISS: Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter onboard a private, but mysterious flying craft. It belongs to Darius Cho, the richest man in existence … and the most reclusive. By reputation, he is a ghost and a phantom; some people even believe he doesn't exist and is actually a front for a maze of companies and consortiums.
Oh, but Cho does exist, and he is a huge KISS fan. He has hired the band to play a private party for his employees. But KISS is an obsession for Cho, and the band has some misgivings about him. Unfortunately, KISS might not be suspicious enough...
THE LOWDOWN: Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department recently began providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles. One of them is Kiss: Phantom Obsession #1, which is the very first Kiss comic book that I have ever read.
I like that Ian Edginton makes the members of KISS wary of their faux-benefactor. There is something endearing about their suspicions; it suggests that they have knowledge and power and cannot really be victimized. It also prepares the readers for some seriously dramatic conflict.
The art team of illustrator Celor and colorist Valentina Pinto: I can take it or leave it. The two of them come together and are good enough. Troy Peteri's electric lettering gives the graphics the spice and energy they need. I look forward to the second issue.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Kiss comic books will want to read Kiss: Phantom Obsession.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
https://twitter.com/DynamiteComics
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/DynamiteComics/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOH4PEsl8dyZ2Tj7XUlY7w
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamite-entertainment
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).
Thursday, November 19, 2020
#IReadsYou Review: KILLADELPHIA #6
KILLADELPHIA No. 6
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
LOGO/GRAPHIC DESIGN: Brent Ashe
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jae Lee with June Chung
28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(June 2020)
Rated “M/ Mature”
“Sins of the Father” Part VI: “For God and Country”
Thinking about Breonna Taylor, shot to death in her home, I think it is surreal that the Louisville police said it was the Post Office's error. I feel like Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander are prophetic. Talent borrows. Genius steals. Prophets go where neither talent nor genius can travel.
Launched by Image Comics last year, Killadelphia is a comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander. The series focuses on a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy, and its mastermind is the second president of the United States. John Adams is a vampire, and he has made the corrupt, but historical city of Philadelphia vampire-ridden. Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.
James “Jim” Sangster, Jr. is a Baltimore Police Department beat cop who comes home to Philly to deal with the final affairs of his recently murdered father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr. Jimmy hated his father, but daddy is not dead; he is of the undead. Now, the son, the vampire father, the chief medical examiner (Jose Padilla), and a rebellious vampire (Tevin “See Saw” Thompkins) are working to save “the City of Brotherly Love” from a vampire apocalypse and from its other hellish trials and tribulations.
Killadelphia #6 (“For God and Country”) opens as Jimmy Sr. gathers an army of law enforcement and first responders to ignite a disco inferno – Philly soul style – to stop the vampires from completing their takeover. But the main event is when Jimmy and Tevin confront the founding father of this vampire nation, and someone will die – for real this time. Meanwhile, it's “ladies first,” when a new conspiracy begins.
THE LOWDOWN: In my review of Killadelphia #5, I wrote the following:
I believe that each society, even humanity as a whole, will get the apocalypse it deserves and it earns. “You reap what you sow” ends up being more than just wisdom and being words from a religious text. Were America to fall in a vampire, zombie, and monster-driven apocalypse, the nation would finally be harvesting its fated bumper crop, the bountiful yield of its plantation state.
As I write this review of Killadelphia #6, it is the morning that George Floyd will be laid to rest. If you don't know who George is, I've already shaken off the dust of my feet. Because George has to rest in peace, a lot of Americans can't be at peace. Killadelphia #6 deftly and philosophically debates “Black Liberation” and emancipation in all their thematic glories – from oppression and revenge to mercy and uplift.
Rodney Barnes, a hugely imaginative comic book writer (who also writes for television), and Jason Shawn Alexander (Empty Zone), a fiery comic book and graphic artist, already created one of the best vampire comic books ever. But that wasn't enough for these two muthas. To say that Killadelphia is timely, while its conception likely began a year before George Floyd's killing, is to also understand that sometimes crafty storytellers are just plugged into something.
So, yeah, we are getting more than just a vampire comic book. Fries do indeed go with that Killadelphia shake. And also, I want to shout out, real loud, colorist Luis Nct's superb work on this issue and on this series overall. His name will soon be synonymous with the phrase “nightmarish colors.” Marshall Dillon still keeps Dodge City and Philadelphia under control with his lettering.
For your information: the first Killadelphia trade paperback collection (collecting issues #1 to 6), entitled Killadelphia, Volume 1: Sins of the Father, is scheduled to arrive in comic book shops and bookstores July 2020.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of vampire comic books will find that Killadelphia is an essential read.
10 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
---------------------------------
Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).