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

Friday, May 8, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: SQUADRON SUPREME #1

SQUADRON SUPREME No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: James Robinson
PENCILS: Leonard Kirk
INKS: Paul Neary
COLORS: Frank Martin
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Leonard Kirk with Jesus Aburto; Mike Del Mundo (Hip Hop variant); John Tyler Christopher (action figure variant)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2016)

The Squadron Supreme is a Marvel Comics superhero team.  Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema, the group first appeared in a story arc that was published in Avengers #85–86 (cover dated: February to March 1971).  The Squadron Supreme's membership was initially based on DC Comics' characters.  The core members of the Squadron Supreme were Hyperion (Superman), Nighthawk (Batman), Doctor Spectrum (Green Lantern), Power Princess (Wonder Woman), and the Whizzer (Flash).

Throughout its history, the Squadron Supreme has made sporadic appearances in various Marvel Comics titles.  For a time, the group's most memorable run came in Squadron Supreme, a 12-issue miniseries, published from mid-1985 to mid-1986 and written by the late Mark Gruenwald.

With the advent of the All-New, All-Different Marvel, the Squadron Supreme returns in a new ongoing comic book series, featuring, in some cases, alternate version of the characters that comprised the group's core membership.  Squadron Supreme is written by James Robinson; drawn by Leonard Kirk (pencils) and Paul Neary (inks); colored by Frank Martin; and lettered by Travis Lanham, with covers by Alex Ross.

Squadron Supreme #1 opens eight months after the destruction wrought by events depicted in the nine-issue miniseries, Secret WarsHyperion (Marcus Milton of Earth 13034), Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond of Earth 31916), Doctor Spectrum (of Earth 4290001); Power Princess (Zarda Shelton of Earth 712), and Blur (Jeff Walters of Earth 148611) have gathered as the Squadron Supreme.  Their first move is to exact revenge against the man they hold responsible for the destruction of their worlds, Namor.  Their next move will put many on Earth on edge.

I was a few pages into this comic book when it became obvious that it was not for me.  I knew that it was unlikely that I would read another issue unless someone gave me a hard copy, because I could not see bothering to read a digital copy.  It looks as if writer James Robinson is trying to recreate Warren Ellis' brilliant Wildstorm comic book, The Authority, but without a sense of humor.

There is nothing that inker Paul Neary can do for Leonard Kirk's pencils, which are... average; I don't think another word is more appropriate.  This comic book is not awful.  It's just average – there goes that word again.

C

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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Saturday, March 23, 2019

Review: YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE

YOUNG MONSTERS IN LOVE
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally published on Patreon.]

STORY: Kyle Higgins; Tim Seeley; Mairghread Scott; Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing; Paul Dini; Mark Russell; Steve Orlando; Alisa Kwitney; Phil Hester; James Robinson
PENCILS: Kelley Jones; Giuseppe Camuncoli; Bryan Hitch; Javier Fernandez; Guillem March; Frazer Irving; Nick Klein; Stephanie Hans; Mirko Colak; John McCrea
INKS: Kelley Jones; Cam Smith; Andrew Currie; Javier Fernandez; Guillem March; Frazer Irving; Nick Klein; Stephanie Hans; Mirko Colak; John McCrea
COLORS: Michelle Madsen; Tomeu Morey; Nathan Fairbairn; Trish Mulvihill; Dave McCaig; Frazer Irving; Nic Klein; Stephanie Hans; Michael Spider; John Kalisz
LETTERS: Rob Leigh; Clayton Cowles; Carlos M. Mangual; Sal Cipriano; Travis Lanham; Tom Napolitano; Dave Sharpe; Clem Robins
COVER: Kelley Jones with Michelle Madsen
80pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (April 2018)

Rated T+ for “Teen Plus”

Young Monsters in Love in a one-shot, comic book anthology and holiday special from DC Comics.  A comic book celebration of Valentine's Day 2018, Young Monsters in Love presents 10 tales of twisted love and strange romance starring some of DC Comics' most most infamous monster and dark fantasy characters (although Swamp Thing, who is one of them, is in a different story).

Young Monsters in Love opens with Dr. Kirk Connors a.k.a. “Man-Bat” trying to find love again, but in the story “Nocturnal Animal,” he will learn that sometimes you have to stopping loving the one who will not stop loving you.  Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. proves that Frankenstein has the soul of a poet, but will his “Bride” see that in “Pieces of Me.”

Superman gives a helping hand to Solomon Grundy in “Buried on Sunday,” but Superboy does not feel the love.  The Teen Titans' Raven has to take it to the dance floor in “The Dead Can Dance.”  Deadman takes a bullied child into his care and helps victim and victimizer in “Be My Valentine.”

Swamp Thing discovers that he can't have anything nice, even love, in “Heart-Shaped Box.”  Long-time friends and Doom Patrol haters, Monsieur Mallah & The Brain have to face the truth in “Visibility.”  I, Vampire is featured in “The Turning of Deborah Dancer.”  The Demon goes to Hell for one more kill in “To Hell and Gone.”  Finally, the Creature Commandos get bad news from the home front in “Dear Velcoro.”

In a recent article for The Washington Post, the author (Geraldine DeRuiter of everywhereist.com) offers a heart-breaking story, entitled “I thought my bully deserved an awful life. But then he had one.” that is also a great read.  She discovered that the boy who bullied her in school, a boy she always wished bad for, was actually murdered when he was 25-years-old.  She wondered, in this time when the culture has the long knives out for bullies, if we forget that bullies may need help as much, if not more, than their victims.

Without spoiling it, this is more or less the theme of writer Paul Dini and artist Guillem March's Deadman story, “Be My Valentine.”  First, to my imagination, it feels like a classic Deadman story from the 1960s, written by either Arnold Drake (Deadman's creator) or Jack Miller and drawn by either Carmine Infantino or Neal Adams. Secondly, Dini and March's story is one of the best comic book stories about bullying that I have ever read.  It alone is worth Young Monsters in Love's cover price of $9.99.  Colorist Dave McCaig and letterer Sal Cipriano also do some of their best work in creating a graphical package that is classic cool.

Young Monsters in Love is full of wonderful stories besides “Be My Valentine.”  Five of them are truly greats comic book short stories, including the powerful “Heart-Shaped Box” and “Visibility.”  Two are quite good, including the Creature Commandos story, which is my first reading experience of these characters.  Three of these stories are not as well executed as they could have been, including the opening Man-Bat story.

I usually ignore DC Comics' holiday specials, but Young Monsters in Love makes me think that I should not be so quick to dismiss them.  So if you missed it, dear readers, run back to your local comic book shop and find Young Monsters in Love.

9 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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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Review: JAMES BOND #12 - Eidolon

JAMES BOND, VOL. 1 No. 12
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ART: Jason Masters
COLORS: Guy Major
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Dom Reardon
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

“Eidolon”

“James Bond” is the fictional British Secret Service agent created by Ian Fleming, a British writer and novelist.  Fleming introduced James Bond in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale, and featured the character in 12 novels and two short-story collections.  Of course, most people know Bond because of EON Productions' long-running James Bond-007 film series, which began with the 1962 film, Dr. No.

Over the past 50+ years, Bond has made sporadic appearances in comic books, and the latest Bond comic books come courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment.  James Bond, Volume 1 is written by Warren Ellis, drawn by Jason Masters, colored by Guy Major, and lettered by Simon Bowland.  Vol. 1 comprises two story arcs, with the second entitled “Eidolon.”

“Eidolon” began with a man named Mr. Hawkwood doing a little killing because someone exposed “Eidolon.”  On the 007 side of things, James Bond arrived in Los Angeles.  His mission was to extract fellow MI6 agent, Cadence Birdwhistle, from the Turkish Consulate.  Her cover was blown, and it was too late to fix things.  “Eidolon” turned out to be a stay-behind cell of the infamous SPECTRE, and now it had infiltrated the homeland protecting part of British Secret Service, MI5, which was out to put its foreign service counterpart, MI6, out of business.

As James Bond, Volume 1, #12 opens, Mr. Hawkwood initiates the endgame of his plot against MI6.  With most of his cell gone, he eschews subterfuge and goes directly at his enemy.  And he may be a bit too tough even for MI6 agent-extraordinaire, James Bond, to handle.

With that final panel of Bond having a smoke and simply saying “No,” Warren Ellis' run on Dynamite's James Bond comes to an end.  Even the cover art for issue #12 by Dom Reardon, with Bond striding into the background, his back to the viewer, says goodbye.  Bond's shadow casts a montage of images from “Eidolon.”  Maybe, Ellis has written Bond out of his system, but I hope for more Ellis Bond at some nebulous later date.  “Eidolon” has such an abrupt ending, so I think that the conclusion was rushed when it certainly could have breathed for at least another half-issue.

However, I have praised Ellis enough during his Bond run, and now, it is time to praise his artist and collaborator on “Vargr” (the first story) and “Eidolon,” Jason Masters.  I don't thing these two story arcs would work quite as well as they do without Masters.  His crisp, clean compositions and his ability to design pages that maximize action in a series of connected static images marks Masters as a masterful comic book storyteller.  Those skills turn “Eidolon” into a bracing, page-turning read.  I hope to see more of Masters soon, and I would hope Dynamite considers him as the go-to-artist to make other writers' Bond comics really work.

A

[This comic book includes an advanced preview of James Bond: Felix Lieter, written by James Robinson; drawn by Aaron Campbell; colored by Salvatore Aiala; and lettered by Simon Bowland; with a cover art by Mike Perkins and Andy Taylor.]

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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Friday, March 30, 2018

Review: NICK FURY #1

NICK FURY No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Robinson
PENCILS: ACO
INKS: Hugh Petrus
COLORS: Rachelle Rosenberg
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: ACO
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Greg Land with Frank D'Armata; Mark Morales with Jason Keith; Bill Sienkiewicz
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Rated “T+”

“The Sky High Caper”

Nick Fury (Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury) is a Marvel Comics character.  Created by writer/artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (cover dated:  May 1963), a World War II combat comic book series, in which Fury was depicted as a cigar-chomping, leader of an elite United States Army unit.

Marvel Comics introduced the modern Nick Fury in Fantastic Four #21 (cover dated:  December 1963), making him a CIA agent.  In Strange Tales #135 (cover dated:  August 1965), the character again transformed, this time from a spy into the leading agent of the fictional espionage agency, S.H.I.E.L.D.  In 2002, Nick Fury became a Black man that resembled actor Samuel L. Jackson in The Ultimates #1.  Jackson would portray Fury in the Marvel Studios movies based on Marvel Comics, and the Jackson-lookalike Fury would replace the original white Fury in the main Marvel Universe.

That Sam Jackson Fury is the star of the new comic book series, Nick Fury.  It is written by James Robinson; drawn by ACO (pencils) and Hugh Petrus (inks); colored by Rachelle Rosenberg; and lettered by Travis Lanham.

Nick Fury #1 (“The Sky High Caper”) opens with Nick Fury arriving in the French Riviera, where he must infiltrate the most secure parts of a imposing casino.  Fury's target is a hidden data-stash belonging to Auric Goodfellow, a Hydra moneyman.  Fury will likely be successful in getting what he wants, but Frankie Noble, Agent of Hydra plans on standing in his way.

I love the art in Nick Fury #1.  Drawn by the artist known as ACO, the art recalls the Pop-Art infused comic book art that legendary comic book artist Jim Steranko produced during his run of Nick Fury comics in the late 1960.  ACO's layout and design also recall Steve Rude's layout and design on his long-running comic book series, Nexus.  ACO's art for Nick Fury combined with Rachelle Rosenberg's pastel-lite coloring sure is pretty.

However, the storytelling is shallow when it isn't confusing and confusing when it isn't shallow.  As graphical storytelling, ACO's art is just too busy.  Yeah, it is eye-candy to look at, but is a busy mess as storytelling.  Honestly, if writer James Robinson had even attempted to tell a more complex story, there is no telling how crowded ACO would have made his art.

I think James Robinson offers in Nick Fury what Chris Samnee did in the first issue of his recent Black Widow comic book – an introductory issue that reads like a two-minute-egg version of an action sequence from a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie.

Honestly, I'll try the second issue of Nick Fury, although I never tried the second issue of Samnee's Black Widow.

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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Monday, May 29, 2017

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 31, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

MAR171149    AVENGERS FOUR TP    $15.99
MAR170977    CABLE #1    $3.99
MAR170924    CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON #22 SE    $3.99
MAR170928    DEADPOOL #31 SE    $3.99
MAR171156    DEADPOOL THE DUCK TP    $15.99
MAR171102    DEADPOOL VS PUNISHER #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR171103    DEADPOOL VS PUNISHER #4 (OF 5) ROCHE VAR    $3.99
MAR170925    DOCTOR STRANGE #21 SE    $3.99
FEB170912    GAMORA #5    $3.99
MAR170974    GENERATION X #2    $3.99
MAR171071    GUARDIANS OF GALAXY MOTHER ENTROPY #5 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR171057    GWENPOOL #16    $3.99
FEB170990    HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 KATE BISHOP    $17.99
MAR171007    HULK #6    $3.99
MAR171147    INFAMOUS IRON MAN TP VOL 01 INFAMOUS    $17.99
MAR171049    MAN-THING #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
MAR171064    MOON KNIGHT #14    $3.99
MAR171006    OCCUPY AVENGERS #7    $3.99
MAR171092    OLD MAN LOGAN #24    $3.99
MAR171171    RUNAWAYS TP VOL 04 TRUE BELIEVERS NEW PTG    $14.99
MAR170915    SECRET EMPIRE #3 (OF 10)    $3.99
MAR170917    SECRET EMPIRE #3 (OF 10) SORRENTINO HYDRA HEROES VAR    $3.99
MAR170920    SECRET EMPIRE UPRISING #1    $4.99
MAR170921    SECRET EMPIRE UPRISING #1 ALBUQUERQUE VAR    $4.99
MAR171154    SOLO TP VOL 01 ONE MAN WAR ON TERROR    $15.99
MAR171019    SPIDER-GWEN #20    $3.99
MAR171166    SPIDER-MAN COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC TP VOL 04 NEW PTG    $39.99
MAR171159    SPIDER-WOMAN TP VOL 03 SHIFTING GEARS SCARE TACTICS    $15.99
MAR171157    SQUADRON SUPREME TP VOL 03 FINDING NAMOR    $17.99
MAR178221    STAR WARS DARTH MAUL #1 (OF 5) REIS 2ND PTG VAR    $4.99
MAR178222    STAR WARS DARTH MAUL #2 (OF 5) ALBUQUERQUE 2ND PTG VAR    $3.99
MAR171114    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #7    $3.99
MAR171077    THANOS #7    $3.99
MAR171168    ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ULTIMATE COLLECTION TP BOOK 07    $34.99
MAR171158    WOLVERINE OLD MAN LOGAN TP VOL 04 OLD MONSTERS    $15.99
MAR171170    YOUNG AVENGERS BY HEINBERG CHEUNG TP CHILDRENS CRUSADE    $34.99

Friday, January 13, 2017

Review: Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1

STAR WARS SPECIAL: C-3P0 No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

WRITER: James Robinson
ART: Tony Harris
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Tony Harris
VARIANT COVERS:  Tony Harris; Reilly Brown; John Tyler Christopher; Dave Dorman; Todd Nauck
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2016)

Rated “T+”

“The Phantom Limb”

In the recent Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we discovered that C-3PO, the goldenrod protocol droid, now had a red left arm.  We were told that there was a story behind the red arm, and recently, Marvel Comics told it to us in the one-shot comic book, Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1.

C-3PO #1 (“The Phantom Limb”) is written by James Robinson; drawn and colored by Tony Harris, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  The story is set before the events depicted in The Force Awakens.  C-3PO and five other droids are stranded on a planet, and one of the droids, Omri, is a prisoner.  He knows the location of Admiral Ackbar, who is being held prisoner by the First Order.  The droids must travel across a vast and perilous 87-kilometer landscape to a homing beacon that can help get them off this dangerous world.  The problem is that even droids can have interests contrary to programming.

Either Marvel or Dark Horse Comics have been publishing Star Wars comic books for four decades (with about a five or six year gap when neither did).  I have probably read Star Wars comic books for about half that time, and in that span, Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 is at the bottom of the heap.

I am reluctant to use the word “worst” in conjunction with Star Wars.  After all, Star Wars is practically a religion or at least a faith for me.  The Star Wars films and, to a lesser extent, the spin-off stories have hugely affected me personally and professionally.  If that were not the case, I would call Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 the worst Star Wars comic book that I have ever read.

That shocks me.  I have enjoyed comics previously written by James Robinson, and I have seen some nice, even beautiful artwork produced by Tony Harris, including the cover for this very comic book.  [I have not read DC Comics' 1990s iteration of Starman that was produced by the team of Robinson and Harris.]  Here, however, Robinson offers a mundane yarn that is not worth telling (or selling).  Harris' art is a combination of muddy composition and water-logged coloring.  The graphical storytelling is murky; actually, it is the dialogue (stiff as it is) that really lets the reader understand the action.

The resolution offers a heartfelt moment, and an appearance by lovable Episode 7 droid, BB-8, washes away a little of the bitter aftertaste of “The Phantom Limb.”  I have to say that rather than buy this comic book, one should simply search the Internet for the story behind C-3PO's red arm.  Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 is definitely not worth the $4.99 cover price.

D

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


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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