Showing posts with label James Aquilone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Aquilone. Show all posts

Friday, June 30, 2023

I Reads You Juniors: June 2023 - Update #71

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

DC STUDIOS - From DeadlineDC Studios has its Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, actors David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, respectively.  They will be the leads in "Superman: Legacy," the first in a new series of films based on DC Comics characters.

From DCBlog:  Benjamin Wallfisch talks about scoring "The Flash."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller will draw "Ronin Book II #4" entirely by himself.  That issue may arrive in late September 2023.

MANGA TO TV - From CBR:  Netflix's live-action adaptation of "One Piece" costs 18 million dollars per episode, the most expensive per episode series ever for Netflix.  It surpasses the 15 million dollars per episode that "Game of Thrones" costs.

COMIC-CON - From Variety:  Apparently, Disney, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Netflix, Sony Pictures, HBO, and Universal are skipping San Diego Comic-Con 2023.

SONY MARVEL U - From VarietySony debuts its first trailer for its next Marvel-based film, "Kraven the Hunter," and it is a "red-band trailer."  The film is due in theaters Oct. 6th, 2023.

From Deadline:  Sony Pictures has pulled "El Muerto," it Marvel Comics character film starring recording artist, Bad Bunny, from its release schedule.

BOOKS - From NPR:  Author Rachel Swarns talks about her new book, "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church," which details how the Catholic Church profited from the slave trade and the enslavements of Africans and their descendants in America.

JACK KIRBY/MARVEL - From Deadline:  Neal Kirby, the son of the legendary comic book writer-artist and creator, Jack Kirby, has publicly challenged the narrative of the new Disney+ documentary, "Stan Lee."

From TheBeat:  Journalist and comics historian, Heidi MacDonald, shares some thoughts about the recent documentary, "Stan Lee," and how it relates to the late artist and co-creator of much of the Marvel Universe, Jack Kirby.

DC CINEMA/THE FLASH:

From Variety:  A timeline of the arrests, controversies, and other legal entanglements of Ezra Miller, the star of "The Flash."

From DeadlineAndy Muschietti, the director of "The Flash," will also direct DC Studios' Batman film, "Batman: Brave and the Bold."  Meanwhile, Andy and his sister, producer Barbara Muschietti, have signed first-look deals with both the picture and television divisions of Warner Bros.

From Variety:  Actor Michael Shannon said his return to the role of "General Zod" in "The Flash" was not "quite satisfying" for him as an actor.  He first played the role in 2013's "Man of Steel."
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DC ANIMATION - From Variety:  Warner Bros. various animation divisions are showing at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market.  Among the highlights is a "sizzle reel" of the upcoming Bruce Timm "Batman: Caped Crusader," described as a darker version of Timm's beloved "Batman: The Animated Series."  Warner Bros. has licensed "Caped Crusader" to Amazon Prime.

MARVEL - From TheFHQ:  Former Marvel EiC, Joe Quesada, answers fans' questions in this Q&A with "Fan Expo HQ." The page also includes a video of a longer interview with Quesada

SONY MARVEL U - From Deadline:  Sony Pictures has reserved to future theatrical release dates: November 8, 2024 and June 27, 2025, for two of its movies based on Marvel Comics characters.

TOKYOPOP - From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP has announced its slate of panels, special guests, special booth activities and premiums for Anime Expo 2023.  The event will be held July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA.

DC TV - From Deadline:  The CW did renew "Superman & Lois" for a fourth season, but seven cast members are not returning.  There is hope that some or all of them can appear in guests or recurring roles.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Legendary comic book artist, John Romita, Sr., has died at the age of 93, Monday, June 12, 2023.  Romita's career is too long and significant to summarize, but he may be best known for his run on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, on and off, from the 1965 to 1977.  Replacing the artist who co-created and drew Spider-Man, Steve Ditko, Romita established an entirely new look for the series.  Romita also co-created or designed such the characters Mary Jane Watson, The Punisher, and Wolverine.  Romita was also the father of acclaimed comic book artist, John Romita, Jr.

#ComicsBrokeMe:

From BleedingCool:  More tales of abuse from #ComicsBrokeMe.

From BleedingCool:  #ComicsBrokeMe stories mostly about DC Comics, but also some Marvel... tales.

From BleedingCool:  The Twitter hastag, "#ComicsBrokeMe," is allowing comics creators to talk about the personal and financial hardships and professional pressures that they deal with in order to work in American comic books.

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IMAGE COMICS TO TV - From FilmUpdates:  Film director and Oscar-winning screenwriter Jordan Peele and actress Selena Gomez are adapting the Image Comics series, "Coyotes" "2017-18) for Amazon's Prime Video.

DC TV - From CBRThe CW has renewed "Superman & Lois" for a 10-episode fourth season.  It is the last DC Comics-inspired series on the broadcast network.

From CBR:  That means that The CW has cancelled "Gotham Knights" after one season.

SPIDER-VERSE - From Variety:  On Monday, at the Annecy International Film Festival, Sony Pictures Animation gave a world premiered its boundary-pushing short, "The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story," which tackles mental health.  Spinning off the world of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse," the short shows its protagonist Miles Morales/Spider-Man suffering from an anxiety attack as he feels overwhelmed by school work, exams and relationships.

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer and artist, Ian McGinty, has died at the age of 38, Thursday, June 8, 2023.  He worked on such licensed comic books as "Adventure Time" and "Rick & Morty."  His original comics included "Welcome to Showside" and "Hello My Name is Poop."

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolMarvel Characters Inc. has settled lawsuits brought by Larry Lieber (the late Stan Lee's younger brother) and the estates of late creatres:  Don Heck, Gene Colan, and Don Rico. However, no settlement has been reached in the case of the estate of Steve Ditko, which seeks to reclaim his share of Doctor Strange and Spider-Man copyrights.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Legendary illustrator and comic book artist and creator, 73-year-old Barry Windsor-Smith, is now at home recovering from the Ischemic stroke he suffered on May 20th.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  A new "Ultimate Comics Universe" will spin out of Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's "Ultimate Invasion."

MANGA TO ANIME - From CBR:  Henry Thurlow, an American animator living in Japan, is the first American to direct an episode of the "One Piece" anime.  His episode of One Piece, "Episode 1066," will debut in Japan on June 25th.

DC PRIDE - From DCBlog:  Author Jadzia Axelrod talks about choosing the over fifty LGBTQIA+ characters that appear in "The DC Book of Pride."

DC ANIMATION - From YouTube:  Here is the trailer for the latest DC Comics animated film, "Justice League: War World." The film is due for release July 25, 2023.

MILLARWORLD - From CBR:  Image Comics reveals three variant covers, from Frank Quitely, Jae Lee, and Danny Earls, for the upcoming "Big Game #1," which arrives July 19, 2023.

DC STUDIOS - From DeadlineWarner Bros. and writer-director James Gunn are apparently closing in on choosing the actors to play Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane for the film, "Superman: Legacy."  They are reportedly about to begin a second round of screen tests.

DC STUDIOS - From EW:  In an interview to promote the documentary film, "Translators," actress Leslie Grace talks about the loss of "Batgirl," the film in which she starred and what it means for representation.

DC COMICS - From CBR:  A CBR roundtable of writers: Joshua Williamson, Mark Waid, G. Willow Wilson, and Matthew Rosenberg, talk about DC Comics' big summer event, "Knight Terrors."

COMICS - From IGN:  The editor/publisher of the most excellent "Kolchak the Night Stalker 50th Anniversary" anthology graphic novel, James Aquilone/Monstrous Books, has just launched a Kickstarter for another horror comics anthology, "Dead Detectives Society."

From ComicBook:  Launching on "Kickstarter" with the "Dead Detectives Society" anthology is a new magazine, "Monstrous."

SPIDER-VERSE - From Variety:  "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" tops the weekend box office with an estimated gross of 120.5 million dollars.

From Marvel:  The directors of the new film, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," talk about the cultural important of Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Deadline: Current Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tom Holland, says that his favorite Spider-Man film is the Oscar-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018).  The social media and media landscape seems obsessed with the fact that he says that he also thinks that it is the best Spider-Man movie.

MANGA TO LIVE-ACTION - From CBR:  The site is investigating a possible cast list for Netflix's live-action movie adaptation of the wildly popular manga, "My Hero Academia."

MARVEL - From CBR:  Frank Castle/The Punisher is no more... or at least has become something different.

DC ANIMATION - From CBR:  Actor Mark Hamill reflects on his time on "Batman: The Animated Series," and how he was sure his role as "Luke Skywalker" in the "Star Wars" films would keep him from getting the role he eventually won, providing the voice of "The Joker."

SONY SPIDER U - From CBR:  Actor Andy Samberg provided the voice of "Scarlet Spider" in the upcoming "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse."

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MAY 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Aardvark-Vanaheim for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dead Good Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Fairsquare Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Udon Entertainment Inc. for May 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for May 2023

JUNE 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  CEX Comics for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Captain America" for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Star Wars" for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for June 2023
From BleedingCool:  Uncivilized Books for June 2023

JULY 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Band of Bards for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Fairsquare Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller Presents for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Extreme Venomverse" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Summer of Symbiotes" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Opus Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  T-Pub for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Udon Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Webtoon Unscrolled for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Whatnot Comics for July 2023
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for July 2023

AUGUST 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Aardvard-Vanaheim for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Media for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics X-Men's "Fall of X" for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Fall of X" checklist and solicitations for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Summer of Symbiotes" for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2023
From BleedingCool:  Whatnot Publishing for August 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2023
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2023

OCTOBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Transformers" title for October 2023

DECEMBER 2023 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "G.I. Joe" comics for December 2023

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Wednesday, April 5, 2023

#IReadsYou Review: KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50th Anniversary

KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOFTCOVER
MOONSTONE BOOKS

STORY: David Avallone; Jonathan Maberry; Peter David; R.C. Matheson; Kim Newman; Tim Waggoner; Steve Niles; Rodney Barnes; Gabriel Hardman; James Aquilone; Nancy A. Collins; James Chambers
ART: Julius Ohta; Marco Finnegan; J.K. Woodward; Paul McCaffrey; Clara Meath; Szymon Kudranski; Jonathan Marks Barravecchia; Gabriel Hardman; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;
COLORS: Zac Atkinson; Szymon Kudranski; Colton Worley; Warwick Caldwell-Johnson;
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano; Tom Napolitano with DC Hopkins
EDITOR: James Aquilone
COVER: Colton Worley
MISC. ART: Jerry Ordway with Zac Atkinson; J.K. Woodward; Dan Brereton
ISBN: 978-1-946346-14-8; paperback (October 21, 2022)
188pp, Color, $24.99 U.S.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is a 188-page comic book anthology that celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the former ABC television series, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.”  This graphic novel is edited by James Aquilone and published by Moonstone Books.

Kolchak: The Night Stalker” was a television series that blended horror, fantasy, and science fiction.  It aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season for a total of 20 episodes.  The series was preceded by two ABC television movies, The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973).

The TV series and two movies followed wire service reporter named Carl Kolchak, who was played by the late actor Darren McGavin (1922-2006).  Kolchak worked for the Chicago branch of the Independent News Service (INS), a small news wire service.  He often investigated mysterious crimes and events and they were usually caused by forces, creatures, monsters, entities, etc. that were of supernatural, science fiction, and/or fantastic origins.  Carl Kolchak was created by the late writer, Jeff Rice (1944-2015).

2022 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the debut of “The Night Stalker” TV movie (specifically January 18, 1972).  To commemorate that anniversary, editor and publisher, James Aquilone, launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for an anthology graphic novel telling all-new comics stories that would span Carl Kolchak's entire career as a reporter of the supernatural and as TV’s greatest monster-hunting reporter.

The result was a hugely successful campaign and the eventual release of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  This special 188-page graphic novel is comprised of 12 all-new stories that chronicle the adventures of the intrepid Carl Kolchak from the 1930s to the early 2000s.

The stories are written by a stellar line-up of novelists, television writers, and comic book scribes.  The list includes David Avallone, Rodney Barnes, James Chambers, Nancy A. Collins, Peter David, Jonathan Maberry, and Steve Niles, to name a few.  The artists include Jonathan Marks Barravecchia, Szymon Kudranski, Paul McCaffrey, Julius Ohta, J.K. Woodard, and Colton Worley, to name a few.

THE LOWDOWN:  There is more than one edition of Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel, including one that will contain a series of prose stories featuring Carl Kolchak.  My review will be of the 188-page “Cover A” paperback edition that contains the 12 stories and a short illustration gallery of variant cover art.

First, allow me to gush, dear readers.  If Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel is not the best horror comics anthology of the 21st century that I have read, it is definitely in the top three.  I can't think of a better one that I've encountered over the last twenty-plus years.

It is bracketed by a fine opening story and a pitch-perfect closing story.  The opening tale, writer David Avallone and artist Julius Ohta's “The Funny Place,” introduces a young Carl Kolchak who is coming into his own.  Avallone does not make the mistake of doing what the film, Solo: A Star Wars Story,” did and show us the origins of every single habit for which television viewers and fans would come to know Kolchak.  I'd like to see Avallone and Ohta produce a YA graphic novel expansion of their take on young Carl Kolchak.  I know it likely won't happen, but a fanboy can dream...

The closing story, writer James Chambers and artist Paul McCaffrey's “The Last Byline,” is masterstroke as a concluding story in an anthology.  It recalls Kolchak's debut, The Night Stalker; is a summation of his work and motivation; and is a fitting end … with his boots on.

In between, the writers and artists introduce new spins on the adventures of Carl Kolchak, such as Nancy A. Collins' and Warwick Caldwell-Johnson's “The Sin Feeder” and Jonathan Maberry and Marco Finnegan's “The White Lady.”  Writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jonathan Marks Barravecchia summon the spirit of original “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” episode, “The Zombie,” with the superb “Voodoo Child.”  It is a timely rumination on the pervasive poverty of black and brown inner city neighborhoods and also police violence, with a seeding of George A. Romero's “Dead” films.

I actually cannot pick a personal favorite story from Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel because they are all so damn good.  “The Nest” by Tim Waggoner and Clara Meath may be the sweetest.  I unequivocally endorse Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.  I think the version that I am reviewing costs $32 to purchase from James Aquilone's Monstrous Books website.  I am sure, dear readers, that some of you have spent much more on reading material that is not nearly as good as this book.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Carl Kolchak and of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” will very much want Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel.

[This volume includes introductions by R.C. Matheson and James Rice.]

A+
10 out of 10

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


https://moonstonebooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MoonstoneBooks/


The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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