#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"


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 IMMORTAL MEN #1

THE IMMORTAL MEN No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Jim Lee and Ryan Benjamin
INKS: Scott Williams and Richard Friend
COLORS: Jeremiah Skipper and Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Carolos M. Mangual
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2018)

Rated “T” for Teen

The Immortal Men created by James Tynion IV and Jim Lee

“The End of Forever” Part 1

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

The Immortal Men is created by James Tynion IV and Jim Lee.  The series is written by Tynion; drawn by Lee and Ryan Benjamin (pencils) and Scott Williams and Richard Friend (inks); colored by Jeremiah Skipper and Alex Sinclair; and lettered by Carlos M. Mangual.  The series focuses on a young man who is an emerging metahuman and who may also be the last hope for the survival of a group of immortal heroes.

The Immortal Men #1 introduces Ghost Fist, Reload, Stray, and Timber.  They are the last of the “Immortal Men,” protecting humanity from the shadows since the dawn of time.  The Infinite Woman, The Hunt, and the “Bloodless,” are in the process of destroying everything about the Immortal Men.  Their most important target just may be the Immortal Men's savior, Caden Park,  a young man plagued by visions of another world.

The problem with DC Comics' “The New Age of Heroes,” is that while some of the writers and artists involved in this new line are some of the most popular comic book creators, they are not necessarily the most imaginative and inventive.  Sorry, dear readers, to inform you of this.  I love Jim Lee's art, but he has built a career out of drawing some of the most popular comic book characters ever created:  X-Men and The Punisher for Marvel and Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Justice League, etc. for DC Comics – all created by other people.  When Lee created his own “universe” of comic book creations, the result, the “Wildstorm Universe,” was mixed, with characters that are not iconic or legendary... or particularly popular, for that matter.

The grade of “B-” that I am giving The Immortal Men #1 is generous because I am a fan of both Lee and this series co-artist, Ryan Benjamin.  However, this concept is mediocre material that is a rehash of other people's work, ideas, and concepts – Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary and Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, for example.

Yet, I am intrigued by The Immortal Men.  I hope that James Tynion IV can deliver a better script than what is in this issue; he is certainly capable of it, as I have enjoyed quite a bit of his writing.  The problem is that in a distressed market, as the comic book Direct Market currently is, star creators put their names on comic book product that they would not accept for publication from unknown or new comic book creators – such as The Immortal Men.

5.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: THE SILENCER #1

THE SILENCER No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

SCRIPT: Dan Abnett
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Sandra Hope
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Sandra Hope with Dean White
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2018)

Rated “T+” for Teen Plus

The Silencer created by Dan Abnett and John Romita, Jr.

“Code of Honor” Part 1

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

The Silencer is written by co-creator Dan Abnett; drawn by co-creator John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Sandra Hope; colored by Dean White; and lettered by Tom Napolitano.  The Silencer focuses on a woman who was once an assassin, but now lives a normal life with a normal family.

The Silencer #1 introduces a woman who is super-strong, highly trained, and armed with devastating, stealthy, meta-human abilities.  Once she was “The Silencer,” a virtually invincible assassin.  Now, The Silencer is Honor Guest, a woman who loves her life as wife to her husband, Blake, and as a mother to their young son, Ben a.k.a. “Jellybean.”  However, the arrival of Killbox signals that the “Underlife” lives on and that Leviathan wants Honor back.

I am a fan of artist John Romita, Jr., and he draws some impressive moments in this comic book.  I am a fan of colorist Dean White, and he delivers some candy-coated hues here.  I am a fan of letter Tom Napolitano, and he usually adds some punch to the dialogue and exposition, which is needed here.

Despite an impressive cover, The Silencer #1 is an OK first issue, but there is not much here, beyond the efforts of the graphics creative team, to entice readers to return for a second issue.  The Silencer #1 reads like one of those muscle-bound, big-gun comic books that were almost half of Image Comics' initial input in the early to mid-1990s; think Youngblood, Wetworks, Codename: Strykeforce, etc.

This new age of heroes is new in names only, and is not particularly interesting.

5 out of 10

[This comic book includes a preview of The Immortal Men by Jim Lee and James Tynion IV.]

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #1

BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/IDW Publishing – @DCComics @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Tynion IV
ART: Freddie E. Williams II
COLORS: Jeremy Colwell
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Freddie E. Williams II with Jeremy Colwell
VARIANT COVER: Kevin Eastman with Tomi Varga
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2018)

Rated “T”

“A Knight in New York”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as TMNT and Ninja Turtles) are a media empire, including animated and live-action films and television.  The Ninja Turtles began as four fictional characters that first appeared in a comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (cover dated: May 1984), which was published by Eastman and Laird's Mirage Studios, gave birth to a comic book series that led to the TMNT media empire

The Ninja Turtles are teenage anthropomorphic turtles, meaning they walk and talk like humans.  Each turtle is named for an Italian Renaissance artist: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael.  The Turtles were adopted by an anthropomorphic rat, Master Splinter, who was their sensei and who trained them in the art of ninjutsu.  The Turtles live in the sewers of New York City and battle every kind of bad guy, from petty criminals and overlord-mastermind types to alien invaders and mutated creatures.

Since late 2015, DC Comics and IDW Publishing have united to publish the two crossover comic book miniseries teaming Batman with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  DC comics began with the six-issue miniseries, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  DC recently began publishing a sequel six-issue miniseries, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.  It is written by James Tynion IV; drawn by Freddie E. Williams II; colored by Jeremy Colwell; and lettered by Tom Napolitano, the creative team behind the first series.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 (“A Knight in New York”) explodes in the subway tunnels of New York City.  The Ninja Turtles are pursuing the “Ninja Elite,” a... splinter faction of the Foot Clan.  In the wake of the death of the Foot Clan's founder and master, Shredder, the Ninja Elite want control of the Clan, even if it means killing Shredder's daughter, Karai.

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Batman and Robin (Damien) are tracking ninja belonging to Ra's al-Ghul's The League of Assassins.  What they find instead is Bane, but inter-dimensional technology is about to gather heroes from two different worlds to stop a criminal conspiracy on two different worlds.

When I first heard about DC Comics and IDW Publishing's first Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book back in 2015, I wanted to read it, although I was (and still am) cynical about crossover comic books.  Ultimately, I was pleasantly surprised by Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 all the way to the sixth issue finale; I wanted a sequel.  [I only read the first issue of the IDW-published Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.]

With good reason, I am cynical about sequels, but I am, once again, pleasantly surprised.  Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 promises more fun.  Writer James Tynion IV delivers a story that hits Batman and Ninja Turtle wheelhouse favorites with wild abandon, and there are some interesting subplots.  In fact, it is all so enjoyable that I am already, in typical fanboy fashion, hoping that there is a second sequel.

As I wrote in my previous reviews of the first miniseries, I like that artist Freddie Williams II's illustrations recall the visual and graphic presentation of the early TMNT comic books from Mirage Publishing in the 1980s.  Williams' take on Batman is edgy and different; it is as if Williams were drawing Batman for those old science fiction comic book magazines like Heavy Metal and Epic Illustrated.  This art is pulpy and futuristic at the same time.

Of course, I am ready for the second issue of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, and I recommend it to fans of the first series.  I think all Batman and TMNT comic books should try at least one issue of this new series.

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: THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE #4

THE KAMANDI CHALLENGE No. 4 (OF 12)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: James Tynion IV
ART: Carlos D'Anda
COLORS: Gabe Eltaeb
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Paul Pope with Lovern Kindzierski
VARIANT COVER: Carlos D'Anda
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2017)

Rated “T” for Teen

Kamandi created by Jack Kirby

“The Wild Wondrous West”

Created by Jack Kirby, Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic book series published by DC Comics in the 1970s.  Running from 1972 to 1978, the series starred Kamandi, a teenaged boy in a post-apocalyptic future.  In this time, humans have been reduced back to savagery in a world ruled by intelligent, highly evolved animals.

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1 (cover dated: October 1972) opens some time after a huge event called “The Great Disaster,” which wiped out human civilization.  In “Earth A.D.” (After Disaster), many animals have become humanoid, bipedal, and sentient, and also possess the power of speech. These newly intelligent animal species have equipped themselves with weapons and technology salvaged from the ruins of human civilization and are constantly at war in a struggle for territory.

The world of Kamandi returns in the DC Comics miniseries, The Kamandi Challenge, bringing together 14 teams of writers and artists.  Each issue will end with an cliffhanger.  The next creative team will resolve that cliffhanger left behind by the previous creative team, before creating their own story and cliffhanger, which the next creative team after them will have to resolve... and so on.  The fourth issue of The Kamandi Challenge is written by James Tynion IV; drawn by Carlos D'Anda; colored by Gabe Eltaeb; and lettered by Clem Robins.

The Kamandi Challenge #4 (“The Wild Wonderous West”) finds Kamandi and his friend Vila in the clutches of the Jaguar Sun Cult.  The cult members are feeding the pair to the cult's god, “The Great Jaguar,” which is several stories tall.  If they escape this fire, waiting for them is the Kanga Rat Murder Society in the mad, mad, mad Outback.

“The Wild Wondrous West” follows the cliffhanger that ended issue #3's “Bug in Your Ear.”  The Kamandi Challenge #3 packed more punch than the second issue.  However, The Kamandi Challenge #4 lacks the freewheeling fun of the third issue.  After reading the second issue, I suspected that this series could end up being hit and miss, simply because each new issue presented a new creative team, itself presented with the challenge of picking up some other team's story.

I am generally a fan of comic book writer James Tynion IV, especially his work on Batman titles, but I find “The Wild Wondrous West” to be little more than rehashed ideas from the original Planet of the Apes films series.  Artist Carlos D'Anda's work here is more style than storytelling, and Gabe Eltaeb's garish coloring is static in the line of communication between the reader and the story.  I will admit that I do like the last few pages of this story, because this is where the creative team seems to start to sparkle, so I look forward to where this cliffhanger ends up.

Its is not easy for The Kamandi Challenge creative teams in this series to come close to Jack Kirby's original vision of this concept.  The Kamandi Challenge #4 exemplifies that.

[Afterword by Jimmy Palmiotti]

6.5 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 for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1

BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES No. 1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/IDW Publishing – @DCComics @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted in Patreon.]

SCRIPT: James Tynion IV
ART: Freddie E. Williams II
COLORS: Jeremy Colwell
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Freddie E. Williams II
VARIANT COVER: Kevin Eastman with Tomi Varga
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2016)

Rated “T”

“Knights in a Half Shell”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as TMNT and Ninja Turtles) are a group of fictional characters that first appeared in comic books.  Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted in the comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (cover dated: May 1984), which was published by Eastman and Laird's Mirage Studios.

The Ninja Turtles are teenage anthropomorphic turtles, meaning they walk and talk like humans.  Each turtle is named for an Italian Renaissance artist: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael.  The Turtles were adopted by an anthropomorphic rat, Splinter, who was their sensei and who trained them in the art of ninjutsu.  The Turtles live in the sewers of New York City and battle every bad guy from petty criminals and overlord-mastermind types to alien invaders and mutated creatures.

Marvel and DC Comics no longer publish comic books featuring both their characters uniting for adventure and battle.  However, over the past several years, DC and IDW Publishing have published cross over comic books that featured DC's characters playing with characters for which IDW has the license to publish comics.  An example is the recent comic book miniseries that brought the worlds of Star Trek and Green Lantern together.  The two publishers have come together again for Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a six-issue miniseries written by James Tynion IV; drawn by Freddie E. Williams II; colored by Jeremy Colwell; and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (“Knights in a Half Shell”) finds Gotham in the midst of a strange crime wave.  Several research labs have been attacked, and the only things the intruders have stolen is experimental military-grade technology.  Witness claim that the attackers are monsters, something like “turtles.”  Batman's own investigation leads him to believe that some of the attackers are trained in ninjutsu.  Batman and those witnesses are closer to the truth than they imagine.

I wanted to be cynical about the first issue of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I can't.  I had thought that this crossover comic book would be silly, but instead, it's simply fun to read.  Thanks to the art of Freddie E. Williams II, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 looks like the early TMNT comic books that Mirage Studios published back in the mid-1980s.  Williams presents a Batman that looks like the Dark Knight of DC's “The New 52,” but he also looks like he belongs in the funky world of TMNT.  Stylistically, Batman and TMNT don't seem strange together.

Writer James Tynion IV makes every word count, moving the story forward and whetting our appetites for more.  He seems dead serious about taking this miniseries seriously, but that doesn't mean he does not realize how much fun it is in bringing Batman and the Ninja Turtles together.  This is a good, old-fashioned fun-to-read comic book.  Did I mention fun?  As I write this, the second issue of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is available, and I'm ready for it.

A-

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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Review: CONSTANTINE: The Hellblazer #13

CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER No. 13
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV
ARTIST: Eryk Donovan
COLORS: Kelly Fitzpatrick
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Riley Rossmo
40pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2016)

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

John Constantine created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben and Jamie Delano & John Ridgway

“Worthless”

The original John Constantine comic book series, Hellblazer, ran for 300 issues.  Then, DC Comics folded Constantine into the mainstream DC Universe with The New 52, and started a new series, simply entitled Constantine.  Our favorite comic book occult detective, magus, con man and troubleshooter was not the same.

Last summer, DC Comics launched the publishing initiative/event known as “DCYou.”  One of the new series that came out of that was the third John Constantine comic book, Constantine: The Hellblazer, which was written by Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV, drawn by Riley Rossmo, colored by Ivan Plascensia, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

Constantine: The Hellblazer was a good thing, as it found John getting back to his old self, albeit in a new city, New York City.  Now, with DC in the midst of a new initiative, entitled “Rebirth,” we will see John Constantine in his fourth comic book series, The Hellblazer.  I am kind of disappointed (and I was not impressed with The Hellblazer: Rebirth one-shot).  Constantine: The Hellblazer is still good, and stayed good even after series artist, Riley Rossmo, moved on, although he continued providing lovely cover art for this series

We say goodbye with Constantine: The Hellblazer #13 (“Worthless”).  The Donald Trump-esque demon, Lord Neron, and his partners, Papa Midnight and Blythe (a demoness), have Constantine in a bad position.  He cannot break his contract with them, or can he?  You can't keep a good/bad magus down.  This time, however, John will win one of his most hollow victories.

Ah!  What a delightful run.  I think that Constantine: The Hellblazer is an imaginative dark fantasy comic book, one of DC Comics' best recent efforts in this vein.  This series is a fresh take on a character, John Constantine, that occasionally needs an injection of lemony fresh.  The ending of this issue is chilling and heartbreaking.

Through no fault of its own, Constantine: The Hellblazer is connected to sour reboot, Constantine, The New 52 effort to bring Constantine back into the DC Universe proper.  I would not be surprised if Constantine: The Hellblazer ends up being the last sustained run of quality John Constantine comic books for a few years.  I hope I'm wrong, but I think I'm right...

A-

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


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

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Review: BATMAN & ROBIN Eternal #1

BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
SCRIPT: James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Tony Daniel
INKS: Sandu Florea
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER: Mikel Janin
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Batman Eternal was a weekly Batman comic book series that began in 2014 and was produced as part of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics #27: cover dated May 1939).  Although the series was planned to run 60 issues, Batman Eternal lasted 52 issues.

Batman Eternal was enough of hit that DC Comics decided to do it again.  Thus, we get the weekly Batman & Robin Eternal.  Batman Eternal “showrunners,” Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, have written the story for Batman & Robin Eternal.  Tynion will be the lead scripter, with contributions from a rotating team of writers:  Tim Seeley, Geneveive Valentine, Steve Orlando, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Ed Brisson.  Tony Daniel is the lead artist, with artists Paul Pelletier and Scot Eaton as contributors.

The first issue of Batman & Robin Eternal is scripted by James Tynion IV and drawn by Tony Daniel (pencils) and Sandu Florea (inks).  Tomeu Morey provides colors and Tom Napolitano letters.

Batman & Robin Eternal #1 opens with two glimpses into the past.  Then, the story follows Dick Grayson, current super-spy and former sidekick, across the skyscrapers of Gotham City.  That brings him into contact with Red Hood aka Jason Todd aka his successor as Robin.  Red Robin aka Tim Drake aka the third Robin joins the fun.

Meanwhile, Bluebird aka Harper Row, who was going to be trained by Batman... before he died, finds herself confronting the new robot-Batman.  Second meanwhile, Grayson is back on the mission for the spy agency, Spyral, but things go bad in ways Grayson does not expect.  Something from Batman's past is coming back to haunt every one of those young people who have fought by Batman's side.

After the 52 inconsistent and red herring-filled issues of Batman Eternal, I am not ready to invest in another weekly Batman comic book.  On the other hand, I am really digging the fantastic comic book artist that Tony Daniel has become over the last decade, especially the last five years.  Sandu Florea is probably the perfect inker for Daniel, and Tomeu Morey's colors do wonders for both the storytelling and the visual appeal of the Daniel/Florea team.

And I must admit that I am intrigued by the second half of this story (because I certainly wasn't feeling the first half).  Plus, I am a sucker for Batman comic books, and it takes extra effort to avoid trying each new one.

For the time being, I plan to keep following Batman & Robin Eternal.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 2, 2015

DC COMICS

APR150293     ABSOLUTE BATMAN THE COURT OF OWLS HC     $99.99
OCT150194     ACTION COMICS #47     $3.99
SEP150228     ALL STAR SECTION 8 #6     $2.99
AUG150259     BATMAN 66 HC VOL 04     $24.99
SEP150287     BATMAN 66 TP VOL 03     $14.99
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SEP150207     CYBORG #5     $2.99
OCT150239     DC PRESENTS ROBIN WAR 100 PAGE SPECTACULAR #1     $7.99
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DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

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Review: CONSTANTINE: The Hellblazer #1

CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally published on Patreon. ]

WRITERS: Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV
ARTIST: Riley Rossmo
COLORS: Ivan Plascensia
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Riley Rossmo
VARIANT COVERS: Ming Doyle
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”

“Going Down”

The original John Constantine comic book series, Hellblazer, ran for 300 issues.  Then, DC Comics folded Constantine into the mainstream DC Universe with The New 52, and started a new series, simply entitled Constantine.  Our favorite comic book occult detective, magus, and troubleshooter was not the same.

DC's latest publishing initiative/event is “DCYou,” which is being launched with 25 new #1 issues.  One of them is Constantine: The Hellblazer, which is written by Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV, drawn by Riley Rossmo, colored by Ivan Plascensia, and lettered by Tom Napolitano.  I must say that, at least with this first issue, John seems to be getting back to his old self.

Constantine: The Hellblazer #1 (“Going Down”) opens with John trying to clean up after his latest bloody mess.  Another thing that is the same-old-same-old is the ghost of Gary Lester, one of John's many friends who have paid the ultimate cost for being a friend of Constantine's.

It's reunion central when yet another... acquaintance reappears; she is Blythe, an ex-patriot from Hell who has also been an occasional shag-buddy of John's.  Blythe has an ownership interest in “Inferno,” a club slash lounge slash art-house theater of some sort.  She says that the place has an imp infestation that only John can solve, and, no, it won't be that easy.

I like Constantine: The Hellblazer #1 and have better feelings about it than I did about Constantine #1.  Of course, neither one thrilled me as much as Hellblazer #1 did almost three decades ago.  Still, there is something about this new series – something upon which I cannot put my finger – that makes it... alluring.  For one thing, Riley Rossmo's scratchy compositions strikes an odd tone, making Constantine: The Hellblazer #1 at least visually different from all other DC Comics.

Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV strike the right tone by recalling John's troubled past while offering to take John and their readers to new and imaginative places.  I gave up on Constantine after about four issues.  I plan on giving Constantine: The Hellblazer at least one entire story arc.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: "Batman Eternal #52" Offers a Great End to a Great Series

BATMAN ETERNAL #52

STORY: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV (with Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, Tim Seeley)
SCRIPT: James Tynion IV
ART: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira; Robson Rocha and Guillermo Ortego; David Lafuente; Tim Seeley; Ray Fawkes
COLORS: Allen Passalaqua; Gabe Eltaeb; John Kalisz; John Rauch
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

SPOILER ALERT

The conclusion of the weekly Batman epic, Batman Eternal, is here.  First, shout out to all the creative people who played a part in bringing us this year-long adventure.  Batman Eternal #52 is one of those inspiring stories that makes you remember why you're a Batman fan.

This is a story about heroes, both super and everyday.  Batman is brought to the lowest point that we have seen him.  He is tortured and beat-down to within an inch of his life.  He is a beaten man, deprived of all his technology.  What saves him is the inspiration of others.

In a wonderful piece of writing, the writers have Jim Gordon make an impassioned speech to the people of Gotham to come to Batman's rescue.  Then, we truly see that Batman is eternal.  Even if he would have died at the moment, his legacy would have lived on.  It never comes to this because all the people who Batman has inspired come to his rescue.

This is the aspect of Batman that sets him apart from other superheroes.  Batman is an inspiration to others to find the strength to fight against unimaginable odds for the greater good.  The admirable thing about the story is it concluded with action and put the happy ending stuff all in one issue.  I hate to waste my money on an issues that are all happy endings.

Overall, this is a good ending to 52 weeks of DC's greatest character, giving us mystery, intrigue, and action in epic proportions.  This team of writers needs to take that deep breath and do whatever they do to reward themselves when they accomplish the monumental task.

There are so many artists on the Batman Eternal creative team; some deserve praise; some don't.  I'll leave it to the beholder to decide for themselves.

I rate Batman Eternal #52 Buy Your Own Copy (#2 on the Al-o-Meter)

The text is copyright © 2015 Albert Avilla. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #35

BATMAN #35
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder – @Ssnyder1835
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Greg Capullo and Danny Miki with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Andy Kubert with Brad Anderson; Brian Stelfreeze (Monster Variant)
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Endgame #1

How do writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo follow their 12-issue Batman epic, “Zero Year?”  Well, pitting Batman against his super-powered teammates from the Justice League sounds like a idea.

Batman #35 (“Endgame” Part 1) opens Bruce Wayne reworks his infrastructure and recovers from the beatings he took during the events still being depicted in Batman: Eternal (because the events depicted in Batman #35 take place after whatever will be depicted in Batman: Eternal).  Suddenly, Wonder Woman drops by Bruce Wayne's new Batman base of operations at Old Wayne Tower, and, much to Bruce's surprise, she wants to kill him.

No, she really wants to kill him... as in homicide.  And so do Flash, Aquaman, and Superman.

The art team of Greg Capullo, inker Danny Miki, and colorist FCO Plascencia are visually and graphically a truly unique Batman art team, but it is not just about pretty pictures.  Their graphical storytelling heightens the sense of drama and conveys subtlety in character, emotion, and conflict.  Superheroes with colorful costumes usually seem odd and out of place in the moody shades of Gotham City.  They might seem so even in the more sparkly version of Gotham of this current ongoing Batman comic book series.  However, these artists make the Justice League seem a natural part of the ebb and flow of the weird crime and conflict of the Dark Knight's stomping grounds.

I think the reveal on the last page of who is behind the Justice League attack means that Endgame just might be something special.  In fact, that is what Scott Snyder's run as Batman writer has been, special.  I actually was not sure that I was ready for another long Batman story arc, but I am now.

A-

[This comic book includes the short story, “The Paleman” by writer James Tynion IV, artist Kelley Jones, colorist by Michelle Madsen, and letterer by Dezi Sienty.]

Batman #35 features the first chapter of “The Paleman,” which looks to be a backup feature that is tied to Endgame.  I don't know how long this feature will run, but I hope it is for several issues because the artist of “The Paleman” is one of my favorites, Kelley Jones.

I have always thought that Jones was influenced by Berni Wrightson and also by an artist Jones once replaced on a 1980s comic book series, Mike Mignola.  Jones spun those influences into his own potent and idiosyncratic style.  It is just right for James Tynion IV's grim thriller of a script, and Michelle Madsen's brooding coloring is just right for Jones' shadowed compositions.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: BATMAN ETERNAL #1

BATMAN ETERNAL #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY/SCRIPT: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with Ray Fawkes, John Layman, and Tim Seeley
ART: Jason Fabok
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Nick J. Napolitano
COVER: Jason Fabok with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert and Jonathan Glapion with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Although we are already a few issues in, I just obtained a copy of Batman Eternal #1.  DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have begun the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics #27: cover dated May 1939).  Part of DC Comics’ year-long celebration is the launch of Batman Eternal, a new, year-long, weekly comic book series, which will apparently consist of 60 issues.

Scott Snyder, the writer of the ongoing Batman comic book series, is Batman Eternal’s lead writer with James Tynion IV.  The series’ other writers are Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley, and John Layman; Layman’s work will appear early in the series, before Kyle Higgins replaces him.  The art at the beginning of Batman Eternal will be provided by Jason Fabok.  Batman Eternal will apparently feature an “immense cast” (according to the “DC Comics All Access” column) and will focus on Batman’s relationship with his allies and with Gotham City (“his city”)

Early in Batman Eternal #1, we meet Jason Bard.  Bard is a young police lieutenant who is transferring to the Gotham City Police Department from Detroit.  He arrives in Gotham, where he gets a welcome from Harvey Bullock.  Meanwhile, Batman and police Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon are on the trail of Professor Pyg.  Then, everything starts to go bad.

I enjoyed reading Batman Eternal #1.  It’s interesting, though not the most interesting Batman comic book of the moment, but it could be.  There is potential here, especially because of the way this first issue begins and ends.  I can say that I am impressed with the art by Jason Fabok.  He has an old-school style, in which he uses his inking to create depth, texture, and feathering – three elements many current comic book artists have given over to the people that color comic book art.

For the time being, I plan to keep following Batman Eternal.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: Batman #28

BATMAN #28
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Derek Fridolfs
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Dustin Nguyen
VARIANT COVER: Howard Chaykin and Jesus Aburto
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2014)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have begun the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics: cover dated May 1939).  Part of DC Comics’ year-long celebration is the launch of the new, year-long, weekly comic book series, Batman Eternal.  The series launches on April 9, 2014 and will apparently consist of 60 issues.

Batman Eternal will feature Batman, his allies, and Gotham City, and will be written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley.  Writer John Layman was originally scheduled to write for Batman Eternal.  Although he is no longer associated with the project, the work he finished before departing will apparently still be seen in the first 12 issues.  Batman Eternal will work in tandem with the ongoing, regular Batman comic book series, which is written by Scott Snyder.

Batman #28 offers a preview of Batman Eternal.  It contains a 24-page story entitled “Gotham Eternal.”  The story opens in a near-future Gotham, where a mysterious young female infiltrates The Egyptian, “the only nightclub left in New Gotham.”  She runs afoul of a group of heavies who seem to run the club.  How do Batman and Selina Kyle fit into this scenario, and what does the young female need so badly that she would risk her life to enter this club?

I’m intrigued by Batman Eternal.  Why, you ask?  Well, I’ve been a life-long Batman fan, and I am excited about the 75th anniversary.  And although I have never bought very many of them, I am always curious about weekly comic book series.  Batman #28 hints at a dark, dystopian-lite future that finds Batman imperiled.  So, what the heck?  I’m in.

Batman #28 includes a six-page preview of American Vampire: Second Cycle – WRITER: Scott Snyder; ARTIST: Rafael Albuquerque; COLORS: Dave McCaig; and LETTERS: Steve Wands

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #22

BATMAN #22
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascenia
LETTERS: Nick Napolitano
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascenia
VARIANT COVER: Mikel Janin
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2013)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Zero Year – Secret City: Part Two

Dear Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo,
Apparently, your “Zero Year,” a most pleasing, is what I wanted Grant Morrison’s Batman to be.  Of course, I enjoyed Mr. Morrison’s Batman stories, but I always thought that they should somehow be... better?  His Batman and Robin series started with such hope and promise, but quickly went flat, whereas your own “Zero Year,” seems to be on an upward trajectory, as they say. We’ll see...

The latest Batman event storyline is “Zero Year.”  Written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo, this 10-issue story is currently running through the ongoing, eponymous Batman series.  And thank you, DC Comics, for not making it a crossover with other Bat-titles and keeping the publication schedule pure.

Batman #22 (Zero Year – Secret City: Part Two) opens with Bruce Wayne facing down the Red Hood and his gang.  He discovers a shocking connection to the criminal and to Wayne Enterprises, but Bruce doesn’t know the half of it.  Meanwhile, a flashback to the past shows little Bruce gone cave exploring.  And adult Bruce has a spat with his butler, Alfred Pennyworth.  See ya’ next issue.

As I said in my review of Batman #22:  Wow!  I’m ready to read more.  Snyder is killin’ it, y’all.  I so don’t look forward to a refraction period, so I hope this story arc stays strong.  Style aside, Greg Capullo is doing some tremendous storytelling.  “Tremendous,” did I say?  I guess you can tell that I am enjoying this.  But I look forward to enjoying this, almost as much as I look forward to each new appearance of Love and Rockets – my favorite comic book.

Bruce Wayne: “That One Time”

WRITERS:  Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
ART: Rafael Albuquerque
COLORS: Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

This issue’s Bruce Wayne flashback story is “That One Time.”  It takes place when Bruce is 21.  He’s trapped in a hole of some kind.  The theme is “doing the impossible.”  I like some of what artist Rafael Albuquerque is doing here.  The rest of the art serves the story, so I won’t complain.

Artists, writers, and other creative types will find some words of wisdom in this story.  They may even find it inspirational.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #21

BATMAN #21
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascenia
LETTERS: Nick Napolitano
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascenia
VARIANT COVER: Jock
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Zero Year – Secret City: Part One

The latest Batman event story is “Zero Year.”  Written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo, the 10-issue story is currently running through the ongoing Batman title.

Batman #21 (Zero Year – Secret City: Part One) opens six years ago, which I’m assuming is a time period occurring before The New 52.  Batman looks cool on a motorcycle.  Then, the story moves to a period five months earlier than that.  Then, there are flashbacks to Bruce Wayne’s youth.  “Secret City,” which seems unhinged in time, features the Red Hood, Alfred Pennyworth, Dr. Thomas Wayne, Philip Kane (Bruce’s maternal uncle, whom obviously irritates Alfred), and a surprise appearance from a classic member of Batman’s rogues gallery.  See ya’ next issue.

Wow!  I’m ready to read more.  Snyder borrows elements (as far as I can tell) from Batman stories written by Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, and novelist Tracy Hickman.  He turns that into an intriguing tale of Batman’s early campaign against crime in Gotham City.  I think Uncle Philip is in this story to add a tragic twist, and for that Snyder has made him well suited for betrayal and blood.  One of my favorite things about this story is how Snyder portrays young Bruce Wayne as an explorer of Gotham.  It’s too cute, and it tugs at the heart.

Another favorite thing about Batman #21 is Greg Capullo’s quirky pencils, which under Danny Miki’s inks, creates a Batman milieu that is timeless.  The art seems inspired by the entire graphical landscape of Batman, from the 1960s to the early 21st century.  FCO Plascenia’s coloring captures lovely autumnal colors in a way that one would think not possible for a comic book (and certainly not a superhero comic book), and the coloring gives Gotham City character and personality.  I’m ready for more.

A-

Back-up story:  Bruce Wayne: Where the Hell Did he Learn to Drive?!

WRITERS:  Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
ART: Rafael Albuquerque
COLORS: Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

“Bruce Wayne: Where the Hell Did he Learn to Drive?!” is a back-up short comic that presents a vignette of the life of 19-year-old Bruce Wayne.  I guess that you can’t tell a tale of early Batman, if you don’t also show how Bruce got to Batman.  I will assume that Bruce is in Rio do Janeiro (the story’s setting) to train for his future efforts in Gotham.  This is a clever story that hints at the future “Dark Knight,” especially Frank Miller’s Clint Eastwood-esque take on the character.  Rafael Albuquerque’s art is nice.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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

Albert Avilla Reviews: Batman #0

Batman #0
“Bright New Yesterday”

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Snyder
Pencils: Greg Capullo
Inks: Jonathan Glapion

Let's talk about the first story. Another Batman story before he was Batman story. Hasn't this been done before? Oh, yeah… it's the new 52; we are going to get a new spin on the story. The story is interesting, but it does leave you hanging until 2013; I hope they don't forget to finish this story. The Red Hood character seems to be interesting and he has a gang, too. He's ruthless, sinister, and maniacal. Wait. He reminds me of; no, it's not that obvious. Is it?

We get to see a fumbling, bumbling Bruce almost get himself killed. That was way original. I'm surprised he ever lived long enough to capture a criminal. The Bat-hideout was cool with all the work-in-progress stuff lying around; makes you think that Bruce has time to create all the devices he uses. Does Bruce have to be hit in the head with a brick before he'll understand that he needs to get out of the hood? The authorities are always investigating things in the hood; go back to your nice mansion that sits on a huge cave. How are you going to hide an industrial complex in the projects? With all that said the story perked my interest enough to have me eagerly awaiting the end. Especially if my sixth sense is right about where the story is heading.

“Tomorrow” (back-up feature)

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Andy Clarke

Now we get to the backup story, an eight page classic. Sometimes being concise is effective. This is a Robin before they were Robin story and Batgirl, too. We get an intimate look into the character of each Robin: Tim, Jason, and Dick. Tim the self confident genius, Jason the kid who is willing to do what he has to, and Dick the swashbuckling acrobat with that swagger could not be better developed in a twelve issue maxi series. All inspired by the Batman.

The art in the first story was clean and crisp, not the dark gloomy style that most Bat- artists favor. The industrial high-tech look of the Bat-hideout gave the feel of modernized warfare. The art in the second story was more about character. It did a good job of using facial expressions and body language to project personalities.

"Tomorrow" was worth the $3.99. I rate Batman #0 Buy Your Own Copy.