Showing posts with label Jerry Ordway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerry Ordway. Show all posts

Sunday, March 30, 2025

I Reads You Juniors: March 2025 - UPDATE #52

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

TREATS - From AnotherCookie:  There is a new online cookie retailer. It is called "AnotherCookie?" and the cookies are delicious.

NEWS:

EN MEMORIAM - From TheDailyCartoonist:  American cartoonist and comic book and comics strip artist, Hy Eisman, has died at the age of 98, Thursday, March 27, 2025.  He was the last artist to draw the "Little Lulu" comic strip before it was cancelled in 1984.  He drew the "Katzenjammer Kids" comic strip from 1986 until 2006 when it went into reruns.  In 1975, Hyman won a "National Cartoonist Society Award" for "Best Humor Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on Gold Key's "Little Lulu" comic book.

DC COMICS - From DCBlogJeph Loeb, Jim Lee, and Alex Sinclair talk about the "Batman: Hush" sequel, "Batman: H2SH."

MARVEL STUDIOS - From ComicBookMovie:  The site has the full cast list of the 27 actors set to star in Marvel's 2026 film, "Avengers: Doomsday."

From ComicBookMovie:  That's not all folks. According to sources, more stars will be added to the cast list of "Avengers: Doomsday."

DIAMOND - From BleedingCoolAlliance Entertainment, a global distributor and wholesaler specializing in music, movies, video games, electronics, arcades, and collectables, has been selected as the winning bidder for Diamond Comic Distributors after its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The proposed acquisition, which is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, includes Diamond Comic Distributors (U.S.), Alliance Game Distributors (no relation to Alliance Entertainment), Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles, and Collectible Grading Authority.  However, there is no mention of the following Diamond entities: Diamond UK, Diamond Select Toys, FandomWorld, Gentle Giant, or Free Comic Book Day. 

BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD:  The latest ediction of "The 2000 AD Creator Clips" is an audio interview with the great comic book artist, Simon Bisley ("Slaine: The Horned God," "Lobo").  It is available via "Soundcloud," and is the first of two parts.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Mark Waid and artists Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck are producing a four-issue miniseries, "New History of the DC Universe." The first issue arrives Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

From DCBlog: DC Comics and Realm announced plans to launch "DC High Volume: Batman," a new scripted, always-on podcast series featuring direct adaptations of DC’s greatest "Batman" stories as exciting audio dramas. "DC High Volume: Batman" begins with the four-part adaptation of "Batman: Year One," by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. The scripted audio series launches April 2, 2025, with new episodes appearing every Wednesday.
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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  What does a comic book artist make at Marvel and DC Comics when they're just starting out.  Supposedly, it's $160 a page for pencils.

IDW - From ComicsBeatIDW Publishing has announced three new "Star Trek" miniseries:  "Star Trek: Red Shirts," "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Seeds of Destruction," and "Star Trek: Voyager – Homecoming."  All three are due later this year.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  After four years of rumors and teases, Joe Quesada reveals that he has his Marvel Comics project is a six-issue miniseries, "Marvel Knights: The World to Come." It features a story by Quesada and writer Christopher Priest and script by Priest. Richard Isanove will color the art.  The story will feature Black Panther and Captain America and the first issue is due June 4, 2025.

MARVEL/DC - From BleedingCool:  "Chew" artist and "Farmhand" creator, Rob Guillory, says he turned down a major Marvel or DC Comics revamp because of unsatisfactory page rage and a shaky guarantee of residuals.

BOOKS - From ComicsBulletin:  Author George R.R. Martin has given an update on "The Winds of Winter," the sixth novel in his "A Song of Fire and Ice" series of novels, from which the HBO series, "Game of Thrones," was adapted.  The update is that there is progress in the writing, but the book ain't coming out this year.

BRITISH COMICS - From BleedingCool:  British comics creator, R.E. "Becky" Burke," has been freed from ICE detention after three weeks and is being flown back home to Great Britain.

From BleedingCool:  There is now mass media coverage concerning the ICE detention of British comics creator, R.E. "Becky" Burke.  The BBC and ITV are covering the case, which has fortunately made her case more of a priority. There is currently a GoFundMe page in order to help pay her legal fees, provide her with money for food and essentials while in detention (jail), and for visa advisory support, among other things.

From BleedingCool:  British comics creator, R.E. Burke, has found herself caught up in an immigration melodrama.  She was taken into custody by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) 11 days ago.  She has apparently been taken to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Her father, Paul Burke, seeks help in the matter.

From BleedingCool:  There are more details emerging about the ICE detention of British/Welsh comics creator, R.E. Burke, in Washington state.  Her father, Paul Burke, says she is being held "onerous conditions for the past eleven days."
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COMICS/CONTEST - From BleedingCoolPuffin, Penguin's new kids' graphic novel imprint, has launched a contest for under-represented creators.  The contest starts May 2025.  The plan is to publish the winner's graphic novel in 2027.

BOOM STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  "Fast & Furious" franchise director, Justin Lin, will direct a film adapation of BRZRKR, the comic book created by actor Keanu Reeves and comics writer, Matt Kindt.  The movie will be produced for Netflix.

WEBCOMICS - From BleedingCool:  Webcomics giant, Webtoon, reports a 153 million dollar loss, although sales rose to 1.53 BILLION dollars in 2024.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Nicole Maines talks about bringing the Secret Six back in the new six-issue miniseries, "Secret Six," with artist Stephen Segovia.

From YouTube:  DC Comics has produced a trailer for writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee's "Batman: Hush 2." It begins in Batman #158, which goes on-sale March 26, 2025.

FILMS - From Variety:  “Kirbyvision” is the name of a "definitive feature documentary" about legendary comic book artist and creator Jack Kirby.  It is in development with acclaimed filmmaker Ricki Stern set to direct.  Stern is best known for her work with her partner, Anne Sundberg, on such documentaries as “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” (2010) and “Reversing Roe” (2018).  Jack Kirby is the co-creator and creator of numerous Marvel Comics characters, including "Captain America," which he co-created with his one-time partner, writer-artist Joe Simon.  Kirby also created many DC Comics characters, most famously in "Fourth World" line of comic books.

COMICS/POLITICS - From BleedingCoolPresident Trump's 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada, China, and Mexico apparently go into effect today. It also will reportedly affect the printing, distribution, and selling of comic books.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  21 graphic novels sold over 100,000 in U.S. bookstores in 2024.  All of them were from Scholastic/GraphixDav Pilkey's "Dog Man" books dominated.

DC STUDIOS - From EW:  "Lanterns," the HBO Original Series from DC Studios, has begun production.  Kyle Chandler is starring as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre is starring as Green Lantern/John Stewart.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Tom Kings talks about bringing his 12-issue miniseries, "The Penguin," to a close.

ELFQUEST - From ForbesWendy and Richard Pini, the couple behind the long-running ElfQuest independent comics series, are donating $500,000 to Columbia University (NYC) to endow and conserve the school library’s growing collection of comics, graphic novels and related prose works.

DIAMOND - From BleedingCool:  Diamond Comic Distributors has sent out a letter about its upcoming Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction. "Bleeding Cool" has the text.

From BleedingCool:  Bankrupt-ass Diamond Comic Distributors has sent invoices to comics shops it claims owes it money - about 22 million dollar specifically, with about 5 million of that irrevocably lost.
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DC STUDIOS - From Variety:  The website offers this article that includes a lot of DC Studios news, including two "Batman" films, a possible "Teen Titans" film, and a second season of "The Penguin." There is also news about several new animated series based on DC Comics' properties.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books has pulled out of Free Comic Book Day 2025, including pulling their "Lost Marvels" FCBD title. This story will be updated as information is available.

MARVEL/DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  The site has the full transcript of DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski's announcement at "ComicsPRO" of a new Marvel/DC Comics crossover. There will apparently be two one shots, "Marvel/DC" produced by Marvel Comics and "DC/Marvel" produced by DC Comics, which will be published later this year (2025).

From BleedingCool:  There is big news out of "ComicsPRO," the comic book retailer summit held in Glendale, California.  DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski followed the Keynote speech to take to the floor and announce a new crossover between the two comic book publishers. Two one-shots, "Marvel/DC" produced by Marvel Comics and "DC/Marvel" produced by DC Comics, will be published later this year (2025).

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JANUARY 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  1First Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Abrams Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  DSTLRY Media for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Ghost Machine" titles for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate Comics" titles for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Massive for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000 AD for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rising Empire Studios for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Udon Studios for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for January 2025
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Comics for January 2025

FEBRUARY 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  CEX for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Absolute" titles for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Media for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics' Energon Universe titles for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Magma Comix for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2025 - full list
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Star Wars" Black History Month variants for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Ultimate Comics" for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2025 - Part 1
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2025 - Part 2
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for February 2025
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for February 2025

MARCH 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Abrams Comicarts for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Drawn & Quarterly for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  DSTLRY Media for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Ghost Machine" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Amazing Spider-Man" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "One World Under Doom" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Comics" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Massive/WhatNot for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Seven Seas Entertainment for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Shift Presents for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Udon Entertainment for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Webtoon Unscrolled for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for March 2025

APRIL 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Summer of Superman" titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  DSTLRY Media for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate: titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for April 2025

MAY 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Absolute DC" titles for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Media for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day 2025 titles for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" titles for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate Comics" titles for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Massive Publishing for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics "Conan" and "Solomon Kane" titles for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Udon Studios for May 2025
From BleedingCool:  Valiant-Alien Books for May 2025

JUNE 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" crossover titles for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate Universe" for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1" for June 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for June 2025

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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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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

#IReadsYou Review: GEIGER #6

GEIGER #6
IMAGE COMICS/Mad Ghost

STORY: Geoff Johns
ART: Gary Frank
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
EDITOR: Pat McCallum and Brian Cunningham
COVER: Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jerry Ordway with Brad Anderson; Paul Pelletier and Norm Rapmund with Alex Sinclair; Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
48pp, Colors, 4.99 U.S. (September 2021)

Rated “T+/Teen Plus”

Geiger created by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

“Man vs. Machine”

Geiger is a comic book series from writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.  Published by Image Comics, Geiger is set on a dying Earth in the years after a nuclear war ravaged the planet and focuses on a “walking bomb” hero.  Colorist Brad Anderson and letterer Rob Leigh complete the series' creative team.

Geiger is set 20 years after the nuclear conflict known as the “Unknown War” ravaged the planet, turning Earth into a dying world.  In the state of Nevada, desperate outlaws battle for survival in a world of rapidly disappearing resources and supplies.  In Boulder City, Nevada, there resides the fearsome man known by many names:  Joe Glow, The Meltdown Man, and the Walking Bomb, to name a few.  But before the war, he was simply a man named Tariq Geiger.  So who or what is Geiger, now?

Geiger #6 (“Man vs. Machine”) opens with the narrator providing a grand intro for the latest chapter of the tale of Geiger, which includes a bit of a side story about “The Unnamed.”  Back to 2050, the King of Vegas has a map and plots his planned conquest of NORAD.

Meanwhile, in NORAD, Geiger and the children, Hailee and Henry, race to escape this prison, and Hailee is forced to give Henry some bad news.  Geiger is determined to protect these children, but in order to do that he will have to battle “Junkyard Joe.”  And this is one opponent who won't go down as easily as the others did.  Plus, Hailee makes a friend and a benefactor (of sorts) in Rick.

THE LOWDOWN:  As first issues go, Geiger #1 was mostly an introduction, kind of like a prologue.  It introduced the title character, Geiger, giving readers a look at who he was in the past and a glance at who he is now.  By the time we reached this sixth and final issue of the first volume and story arc of Geiger, we have a lead character that is revealed and world that is more revealed to the readers.

Geoff John brings all the emotions, feelings, thrills, and scares of the previous issues and funnels them into the series' best issue yet.  All I can say is that it was a blast, a thrill, and a joy to read, and it also left me anxious to discover what comes next.  Apparently, there will be a spin off and a “Geigerverse.”

As Geiger has progressed, Gary Frank's art captured the emotions and passions of intimate moments and the crazy violence of the action scenes.  Here, Frank delivers page after page of explosive power, particularly in the Geiger vs. Junkyard Joe battles.  Brad Anderson's colors don't just capture the best moments; they also make many great moments.  Rob Leigh's lettering keeps this story steady through several violent showdowns and maintains a balance in this volatile issue.

This creative team delivers a winner in Geiger #6, and they also leave us wanting more.  I did not know what to expect from Geiger in the beginning, other than it being another star-driven creator-owned comic book project from Image Comics.  Now, that I know what I know, I confident in recommending this exceptional series.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank will want to check out Geiger.

A
9 out of 10

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


https://twitter.com/geoffjohns
http://www.madghost.com/
https://twitter.com/1moreGaryFrank
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Thursday, July 7, 2022

#IReadsYou: GEIGER #5

GEIGER #5
IMAGE COMICS/Mad Ghost

STORY: Geoff Johns
ART: Gary Frank
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
EDITOR: Pat McCallum and Brian Cunningham
COVER: Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jerry Ordway with Brad Anderson; Paul Pelletier and Norm Rapmund with Alex Sinclair; Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
32pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (August 2021)

Rated “T+/Teen Plus”

Geiger created by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

“God Bless America”


Geiger is a comic book series from writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank.  Published by Image Comics, Geiger is set on a dying Earth in the years after a nuclear war ravaged the planet and focuses on a “walking bomb” hero.  Colorist Brad Anderson and letterer Rob Leigh complete the series' creative team.

Geiger is set 20 years after the nuclear conflict known as the “Unknown War” ravaged the planet, turning Earth into a dying world.  In the state of Nevada, desperate outlaws battle for survival in a world of rapidly disappearing resources and supplies.  In Boulder City, Nevada, there resides the fearsome man known by many names:  Joe Glow, The Meltdown Man, and the Walking Bomb, to name a few.  But before the war, he was simply a man named Tariq Geiger.  So who or what is Geiger, now?

Geiger #5 (“God Bless America”) opens with a recitation of the story up to this point.  Then, after a hard encounter with “the Organ People,” Geiger is in a state of radioactive disarray, and the children, Hailee and Henry, are in the custody of remnants of the old world.  These mysterious new figures are excited to now have the “nuclear football” that was in the children's possession, but they want to know how their late mother, Carolina, came to have it.

When a heartbreaking revelation causes Geiger to break with this happy paradise, their new pals call upon an ancient warrior.  Meanwhile, the King, formerly “the Prince,” and his “Nuclear Knights” continue to track Geiger.

THE LOWDOWN:  As first issues go, Geiger #1 was mostly an introduction, kind of like a prologue.  It introduced the title character, Geiger, giving readers a look at who he was in the past and a glance at who he is now.  Geiger #2 went inside Las Vegas.  With Geiger #3, Geoff Johns began to excavate the heart of the character drama and the passion of old grudges and conflicts.  With Geiger #4, Johns executed his first game changer – in terms of Geiger and the children's fates – and readers got a Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior action sequence.

Geiger #5 is the penultimate issue of the series' first story arc.  Geoff Johns offers the series' most emotionally fulfilling chapter, and he elevates the children from mere pawns into major characters that deliver turning points in the narrative.

As in the third issue, Gary Frank's art captures the emotions and passions of intimate moments and of pivotal scenes in Geiger #5.  The storytelling pours the hotter blood of the relationships of the past that shape the present of Geiger's narrative.  Close-ups are painfully familiar, but that makes this fifth issue in which things seem to matter the most.

I'm all in on Geiger now, and I highly recommend it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank will want to check out Geiger.

A
★★★★+ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/geoffjohns
http://www.madghost.com/
https://twitter.com/1moreGaryFrank
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).


Monday, January 28, 2019

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 30, 2019

DC COMICS

NOV180392    ACTION COMICS #1007    $3.99
NOV180393    ACTION COMICS #1007 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180400    BATGIRL #31    $3.99
NOV180401    BATGIRL #31 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180408    BATMAN BEYOND #28    $3.99
NOV180409    BATMAN BEYOND #28 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180562    BATMAN TROIKA TP    $19.99
NOV180417    BOOKS OF MAGIC #4 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180432    DETECTIVE COMICS #997    $3.99
NOV180433    DETECTIVE COMICS #997 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180573    DMZ TP BOOK 05 (MR)    $24.99
NOV180442    FLASH #63    $3.99
NOV180443    FLASH #63 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180444    FLASH ANNUAL #2    $4.99
OCT180581    GREEN LANTERNS TP VOL 08 GHOSTS OF THE PAST    $16.99
JUL180806    HARLEY QUINN PINK WHITE BLACK VALENTINE BY LAU VAR STATUE    $80.00
NOV180459    HEROES IN CRISIS #5 (OF 9)    $3.99
NOV180460    HEROES IN CRISIS #5 (OF 9) VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180462    HEX WIVES #4 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180471    JUSTICE LEAGUE ANNUAL #1    $4.99
NOV180474    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #5    $3.99
NOV180475    JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY #5 VAR ED    $3.99
NOV180476    LOONEY TUNES #247    $2.99
NOV180388    MYSTERIES OF LOVE IN SPACE #1    $9.99
NOV180454    OLD LADY HARLEY #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
NOV180485    RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #12 (OF 12)    $3.99
NOV180492    SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #46    $2.99
NOV180495    SILENCER #13    $3.99
NOV180506    TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1    $4.99
NOV180508    TERRIFICS #12    $2.99
NOV180521    WONDER WOMAN #63    $3.99
NOV180522    WONDER WOMAN #63 VAR ED    $3.99
OCT180618    WONDER WOMAN BY WALTER SIMONSON & JERRY ORDWAY TP    $16.99

Monday, April 30, 2018

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 2, 2018

DC COMICS

MAR180226    ACTION COMICS SPECIAL #1    $4.99
MAR180254    BATMAN #46    $2.99
MAR180255    BATMAN #46 VAR ED    $2.99
OCT170396    BATMAN VS JOKER LAFF CO BATTLE STATUE    $200.00
MAR180268    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #17    $2.99
MAR180240    CURSE OF BRIMSTONE #2    $2.99
MAR180264    CYBORG #22    $3.99
MAR180265    CYBORG #22 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR180222    DC NATION #0    $0.25
MAR180271    DEATHSTROKE #31    $3.99
MAR180272    DEATHSTROKE #31 VAR ED    $3.99
MAR180326    EXIT STAGE LEFT THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAR180327    EXIT STAGE LEFT THE SNAGGLEPUSS CHRONICLES #5 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
FEB180297    FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS TP VOL 01 (RES)    $16.99
MAR180286    GREEN ARROW #40    $3.99
MAR180287    GREEN ARROW #40 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB180285    GREEN ARROW TP VOL 05 HARD TRAVELING HERO REBIRTH    $16.99
FEB180302    GREEN LANTERN KYLE RAYNER TP VOL 02    $29.99
MAR180281    GREEN LANTERNS #46    $2.99
MAR180282    GREEN LANTERNS #46 VAR ED    $2.99
MAR180235    HARLEY LOVES JOKER #1 (OF 2)    $3.99
MAR180236    HARLEY LOVES JOKER #1 (OF 2) VAR ED    $3.99
FEB180286    HARLEY QUINN TP VOL 05 VOTE HARLEY REBIRTH    $16.99
MAR180297    INJUSTICE 2 #25    $2.99
FEB180306    LOEG THE BLACK DOSSIER TP NEW ED    $19.99
MAR180301    NIGHTWING #44    $3.99
MAR180302    NIGHTWING #44 VAR ED    $3.99
FEB180308    NIGHTWING THE NEW ORDER TP    $16.99
MAR180323    SHADE THE CHANGING WOMAN #3 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
FEB180288    SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 02    $34.99
FEB180317    ZERO HOUR CRISIS IN TIME HC    $24.99

Monday, March 19, 2018

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 21, 2018

DC COMICS

JAN180251    AQUAMAN #34    $3.99
JAN180252    AQUAMAN #34 VAR ED    $3.99
DEC170382    AQUAMAN THE LEGEND OF AQUAMAN TP    $19.99
JAN180262    BATMAN #43    $2.99
JAN180263    BATMAN #43 VAR ED    $2.99
SEP170451    BATMAN ANIMATED JOKER EXPRESSIONS PACK    $50.00
DEC170390    BATMAN NEW GOTHAM TP VOL 02    $24.99
JAN180264    BATMAN SINS OF THE FATHER #2 (OF 6)    $2.99
DEC170391    BATMAN TALES OF THE MAN BAT TP    $19.99
JAN180266    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN180267    BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #5 (OF 6) VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180273    BATWOMAN #13    $3.99
JAN180274    BATWOMAN #13 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180277    BOMBSHELLS UNITED #14    $2.99
JAN180278    BRAVE & THE BOLD BATMAN & WONDER WOMAN #2 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN180245    CAVE CARSON HAS AN INTERSTELLAR EYE #1 (MR)    $3.99
JAN180246    CAVE CARSON HAS AN INTERSTELLAR EYE #1 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN180239    DAMAGE #3    $2.99
JAN180279    DEADMAN #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN180413    DEATHBED #2 (OF 6) (MR)    $3.99
DEC170377    FLASH TP VOL 05 NEGATIVE REBIRTH    $14.99
JAN180363    FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #8    $3.99
JAN180364    FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #8 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180297    GREEN LANTERNS #43    $2.99
JAN180298    GREEN LANTERNS #43 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN180305    HARLEY QUINN #40    $2.99
JAN180306    HARLEY QUINN #40 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN180312    INJUSTICE 2 #22    $2.99
JAN180315    JUSTICE LEAGUE #41    $2.99
JAN180316    JUSTICE LEAGUE #41 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC170396    JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE TP VOL 01 PURIFICATION PLAGUE    $29.99
JAN180328    NIGHTWING #41    $2.99
JAN180329    NIGHTWING #41 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC170398    PLANETARY TP BOOK 02    $24.99
JAN180344    SUPER SONS #14    $3.99
JAN180345    SUPER SONS #14 VAR ED    $3.99
JAN180342    SUPERMAN #43    $2.99
JAN180343    SUPERMAN #43 VAR ED    $2.99
NOV170353    SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS DLX ED MR OZ HC REBIRTH    $29.99
JAN188153    SWAMP THING WINTER SPECIAL #1 2ND PTG    $7.99
DEC170400    WONDER WOMAN FORGOTTEN LEGENDS TP    $16.99

Friday, January 22, 2016

Review: WHO'S WHO Volume 1


WHO'S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE OF THE DC UNIVERSE VOL. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman
PENCILS: Joe Orlando, Craig Hamilton, Carmine Infantino, Don Heck, Alex Saviuk, Scott Shaw!, Jerry Ordway, Marshall Rogers, Mike Zeck, Keith Giffen, Ernie Colón, Gil Kane, José Delbo, Howie Post, Greg Theakston, George Pérez, Chuck Patton, Steve Bissette, Jan Duursema, Eduardo Barreto, Rick Hoberg, Murphy Anderson, Curt Swan, Tod Smith
INKERS: Joe Orlando, Dick Giordano, Frank McLaughlin, Murphy Anderson, Don Heck, Scott Shaw!, Jerry Ordway, Marshall Rogers, John Beatty, Bob Oksner,  Ernie Colón, Gil Kane, Romeo Tanghal, Howie Post, Greg Theakston,  George Pérez, John Totleben, Jan Duursema, Eduardo Barreto, Rick Magyar
COLORS: Helen Visik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston
LETTERS: Todd Klein (production)
EDITORIAL: Len Wein with Marv Wolfman and Robert Greenberger
COVER: George Perez
32pp, Color, $1.00 U.S., $1.35 CAN, 45p U.K. (March 1985)

Who's Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe was an encyclopedia of the characters, places, and things of the DC Universe, but it was published in a comic book format.  Created by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and Robert Greenberger, Who's Who began publication in 1984 one month before the release of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the 12-issue comic book series that changed the DC Universe of characters.  Who's Who ran for 26 issues, but there were updates (in 1987 and 1988) and spinoffs (including one for DC Comic's 1980s “Star Trek” comic book series).

In Who's Who, each of the characters, places, and things (for the most part) has its own page and is depicted in an illustration, pin-up, or technical drawing created by a comic book artist or a penciller/inker team.  Some of the artists are legendary comic book creators or are famous or are at least known for their association with DC Comics.  Others are comic book artists who were active working professionals in American comic books, including in independent and alternative comics, at the time of the publication of the original Who's Who.

At the recent Louisiana Comic Con (October 17 and 18th, 2015 in Lafayette, LA), I found a copy of Who's Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe #1.  I once had several issues of this series, but I don't know what happened to them.  Although I actually once read some of the text, I really bought Who's Who for the illustrations.

First of all, I love the wraparound cover art by George Perez, especially the detail with “Arak: Son of Thunder” sitting on a rock outcropping.  Inside, there is also a lot to like.  I think that it is just great that the first illustration of this first issue is by the late, great Joe Orlando, a depiction of House of Secrets star/victim, “Abel.”  Seeing classic Flash artist, Carmine Infantino, draw “Abra Kadabra,” a character in Flash's “rogue gallery” is a treat.  Fans of Jerry Ordway's 1980s work for DC Comics will be happy to see his double-page spread of the cast of All-Star Squadron.

I can never say no to “Ambush Bug” drawn by Keith Giffen.  I can never say “No” to anything by legend Gil Kane, who offers a drawing of pre-Grant Morrison, “Animal-Man” and a drawing of his version of “Atom.”  I like Ernie Colón, so I was happy to see a few drawings from him, including one of “Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld.”  “Arcane” by the classic Swamp Thing art team of Steve Bissette and John Totleben is a highlight.  Classic Golden and Silver Age DC Comics artist, Murphy Anderson, offers a drawing of one of his signature characters, “Atomic Knight.”  Anderson also inked “The Atomic Skull” drawing by one of my all-time favorite artists, Curt Swan.

Greg Theakston did a good job with an “Apokolips” drawing, but I would have preferred that “Fourth World” creator, Jack Kirby, draw Apokolips for this series.  Eduardo Barreto is a fine comic book artist, but I wish that Jose Luis Garcia Lopez had drawn the Atari Force double-spread.

In the nearly three decades since Who's Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe was originally published, much of its text is no longer relevant.  That is the result of DC Comics' numerous reboots and relaunches and “new directions.”  Still, this series can be of use as a reference source for writers, comics historians, and archivists, and especially for fans of DC Comics' bygone days.  Fans of classic and veteran comic book artists, of course, will want this series.  I plan on hunting down more issues.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Review: THUNDER Agents, 50th Anniversary Special

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was first published by Patreon.]

WRITERS:  Larry Ivie; Len Brown; Dan Adkins
PENCILS: Wally Wood; Steve Ditko; Dan Adkins; Garry Leach
INKS: Wally Wood; Dan Adkins; Tony Coleman; Garry Leach
COLORS: Jason Millet
LETTERS: Victor Gorelick
MISC. ART: George Perez with Ronda Pattison; George Tuska with Ronda Pattison; Jerry Ordway with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum; Steve Ditko and Greg Theakston with Ronda Pattison; George Perez and Dave Cockrum with Ronda Pattison; Dave Cockrum and Murphy Anderson with Ronda Pattison; Steve Ditko and Will Blyberg; Bob Layton; Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur with David Baron; Dave Sim with David Baron
EDITORS: Greg Goldstein and Michael Benedetto
COVER: Dan Adkins with Jason Millet (based on Wally Wood and Dan Adkins' cover for T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3)
SUBSCRIPTION COVER: Andrew Pepoy with Jason Millet (based on Wally Wood's cover for Incredible Science Fiction #33)
64pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (July 2015)

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents created by Wally Wood and Len Brown

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was a team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics from 1965 to 1969.  The original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were an arm of the United Nations.  The name, T.H.U.N.D.E.R., is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents the comic book series ran for 20 issues.  Tower Comics gave the two of the most popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Dynamo and NoMan, each his own short lived comic book series.  After the demise of Tower Comics, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters did not appear in new comic book stories until the early 1980s, which was the beginning of a series of sporadic efforts to create T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics over the next three decades.  Beginning in 2010, DC Comics published a short-lived ongoing T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents series and a miniseries.  In 2013, IDW Publishing published another short lived T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book series.

In spite of decades of short-lived iterations, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents still have fans and admirers, and I am one of them.  In fact, 2015 is the 50th anniversary of their first appearance in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 (Tower Comics; cover dated: November 1965).  So I was excited to discover that IDW had published a one-shot comic book, entitled T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special.

Despite their checkered comic book publishing history, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics have featured the work of a number of talented writers and artists.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special celebrates the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, some of their classic stories, and a selection of work from acclaimed and popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. creators.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special reprints four Tower Comics-era stories.  “First Encounters,” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 (November 1965), introduces the devices that give super-powered T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents their powers.  Dynamo shines in two stories:  “D-Day for Dynamo!” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 (cover dated: January 1966) and “Master of Evolution” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4 (cover dated: April 1966).

One of the best known T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents stories is also reprinted here.  That is “A Matter of Life and Death,” from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 (cover dated: August 1966).  Some comic book historians and fans believe that this story features the first meaningful and long-lasting depiction of the death of a major character, in this case, Menthor, in a comic book.  T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special also reprints the art Garry Leach drew for a story that deals with the aftermath of Menthor's death on Dynamo.  I am assuming that this story, written by the late George Caragonne, was originally produced for Deluxe Comics' short-lived T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents revival, a comic book series entitled Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

I don't want to describe the four Tower Comics stories as “quaint and charming,” which is how I sometimes describe comics from the Silver Age and earlier.  I think that these stories are actually quite good, and they reveal that Dynamo is a dynamic character, one whose potential has never and will likely never be reached, unless someone dedicated to comic books saves the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special also offers just under 20 pages of illustrations, pin-ups, cover art, and preliminary art by classic comic book artists, like George Perez and two now deceased artists, Dave Cockrum and George Tuska, among others.  This comic book is like a short love letter to fans of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.  It does seem a bit inadequate, but fans can get more T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Companion (from TwoMorrows Publishing).  In the meantime, we can enjoy the comic book-sized T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, 50th Anniversary Special for what it is.  It is a special comic book commemorating a group of comic book characters whose 50 years of existence is probably the shortest half-century in American comic book history.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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


Sunday, May 31, 2015

I Reads You Review: America vs. the JUSTICE SOCIETY #1

AMERICA VS. THE JUSTICE SOCIETY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER/EDITOR: Roy Thomas
PENCILS: Rafael Kayanan with Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway
INKERS: Alfredo Alcala and Bill Collins with Jerry Ordway
COLORS: Adrienne Roy
LETTERS: Cody
COVER: Jerry Ordway
48pp, Color, $1.50 U.S., $2.00 CAN (January 1985)

Chapter One: “I Accuse!”

America vs. The Justice Society was a four-issue comic book miniseries starring the Justice Society of America (JSA).  The series was written and edited by Roy Thomas and penciled by Rafael Kayanan, Mike Hernandez, and Howard Bender and primarily inked by Alfredo Alcala.  Other artists featured in the series included Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway.

America vs. The Justice Society was originally published by DC Comics between January and April 1985.  The series was set in DC Comics' “Earth-Two” (or Earth-2”) universe and involves an accusation that members of the JSA committed treason during World War II and then, conspired to keep their treasonous actions secret in the years following the war.

Earth-Two was a parallel universe to the mainstream DC Comics continuity.  DC established Earth-Two during the 1960s, as a way to explain how DC characters who had adventures in the 1940s could still be in their 30s in contemporary comics, with contemporary then being the 1960s.  Why was Batman still a young man in the 1960s when he had adventures in the 1940s?  Well, the Batman of the 1940s lived on Earth-Two.  The Batman of the 1960s lived on Earth-One, the modern or regular or mainstream DC Universe.  You can see how that created problems later on when Batman of Earth-One was still young in the 1980s.

In 1981, DC revived the Justice Society of America, the 1940s precursor of the Justice League of America, in the comic book All-Star Squadron.  Roy Thomas was this comic book's writer and he used the series to retell JSA stories that were published in the 1940s.  Of course, All-Star Squadron was now set on Earth-Two, which is where the JSA existed.  Confused yet?  Well, America vs. The Justice Society is a re-telling slash re-imagining of the events around the disbanding of the JSA in the 1950s.

[While visiting the DC Entertainment website, I discovered that America vs. The Justice Society was being reprinted in a trade paperback.  I decided that I wanted to read the series and found a reasonably priced set of all four issues on eBay.]

America vs. The Justice Society #1 (“I Accuse!”) opens on Earth-Two in late 1984.  The splash page features the front page of the Tuesday, November 26, 1984 edition of the “Daily Star” newspaper.  The newspaper's headline declares that the members of the Justice Society are traitors... at least according to the “Batman Dairy.”  Clark Kent, the editor of the “Daily Star,” received this alleged diary of the late Dark Knight (who apparently died in 1979) from Dr. Nichols (or Prof. Nichols).  According to Nichols, Batman gave him the diary a few months before his death.

The “Batman Diary,” recounts the origins of the Justice Society and also how the members allowed Adolf Hitler to convince them to join forces with him during World War II.  The diary also recounts how the Justice Society hid their crimes during and after war.  Although Kent tries to delay the release of the diary's contents, they are made public before Kent can verify if the diary is really authentic, beyond the fact that the handwriting in the diary does seem to be Bruce Wayne's.

Superman, Wonder Woman, Starman, Hawkman, Green Lantern, Robin, Wildcat, Atom, Doctor Fate, Johnny Thunder, Hourman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and The Flash – the members of the Justice Society gather in the team's old headquarters in Civic City.  There, these superheroes try to find a way to clear their names, while outside forces plot their downfall.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, and The Sandman are the three most influential and famous comic books that DC Comics published in the 1980s.  In the last few years, DC has announced and published sequels and prequels to these seminal, event comic books (although the first sequel to The Dark Night Returns was published back in 2001 and 2002).  Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Crisis On Infinite Earths are probably the other big event publications from DC that fall behind the above “holy trinity.”  America vs. The Justice Society would certainly make my “Top 10” list of DC Comics' best of the 1980s.

Publishing in late 1984 and early 1985, the events depicted in America vs. The Justice Society were swept away by Crisis on Infinite Earths, which began publication not long after the final issue of America vs. The Justice Society was published, making the latter no longer relevant in terms of DC Universe continuity.

That's a shame.  America vs. The Justice Society is an exceptionally well-written comic book.  It is kind of like the Watchmen of Earth-Two, but as an old-fashioned mystery thriller.  Roy Thomas takes characters that he obviously loves puts them in a position in which they hugely vulnerable.  The members of the JSA may choose to cooperate with law enforcement, but that only makes their position more precarious.  Regardless of what good they have done, they seem confronted with the immediate now:  they stand accused of being traitors which puts everything they have ever done in question.

Thomas adds more tension by making their accuser a former teammate.  Thomas offers the notion that some JSAers may not stand for being prosecuted and persecuted for long (like Wonder Woman).  Also, a number of grudges held against the JSA by non-powered politicians, former allies, and mystery figures means that they will face more allegations and charges.  In America vs. The Justice Society, Roy Thomas adds mystery and suspense into the superhero genre, turning fantasy adventure into muckraking political theater.

I like the art presented in the first issue by Rafael Kayanan, Rich Buckler, Jerry Ordway, Alfredo Alcala, Bill Collins, and Adrienne Roy (and in later issues by artists Mike Hernandez, Howard Bender, and Carl Gafford).  It was old-timey and old-fashioned even for its time (1984).  The art takes a story set in 1984 and gives the graphical storytelling the atmosphere and vibe of the 1940s, which was the Golden Age of comics and of the JSA.  It is a pity that the printing process used for this comic book was crappy and made for an attractive comic book.  Hopefully, the 2015 trade paperback will offer better printing quality and this comic will look as pretty as it should.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux on Patreon.


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



Friday, July 11, 2014

I Reads You Review: Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1

Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #1
DELUXE COMICS

WRITERS: Dann Thomas; Stephen Perry; Steve Englehart
PENCILS: George Perez; Keith Giffen; Dave Cockrum
INKS: Dave Cockrum; Rick Bryant
COLORS: Paty Cockrum
LETTERS: John Workman
PIN-UPS: Jerry Ordway; Steve Ditko and Greg Theakston; Stan Drake; Pat Broderick
COVER: George Perez
48pp, Color, $2.00 U.S., $2.75 CAN (November 1984)

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents is a team of superheroes that appeared in comic books originally published by Tower Comics from 1965 to 1969.  The original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents team was an arm of the United Nations.  Their name, T.H.U.N.D.E.R., is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents the comic book series was published for 20 issues.  Two of the most popular T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Dynamo and NoMan, had short lived series.  Tower Comics closed, and the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters did not appear in new comic book stories until 1983.  For the next four or five years, five different entities published T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comics.

One of those entities was Deluxe Comics (a division of Singer Publishing Company, Inc.).  Believing that the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents property was in the public domain, Deluxe launched its own T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents comic book series, entitled Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.  Wood was the driving creative and editorial force behind the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents:  creating the characters, writing and editing the stories, and providing much of the art, in one form or another.  Singer eventually cancelled Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents after losing a lawsuit over ownership of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents characters and concepts.

I have a soft spot for Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents because I genuinely liked the characters and Deluxe’s comic book series.  Most of all, I like this series because it introduced me to Wally Wood.  At the time I first read this series, I only knew Wood’s name through a small obituary printed in the back of Marvel Comics titles published a few months after Wood’s death in 1981.  [I don’t remember the comic book in which I first saw the obit; it may have been Marvel’s Star Wars.]

As it was in the original Tower Comics series, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. is an acronym for “The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves.”  This is a combination spy agency and international police force that deals with threats to Earth, from dictatorships to outlandish threats such as alien invasions.  The organization also helps with natural disasters.  Some agents are given mechanical devices, including what is called a “Super Suit,” that gives them limited super powers.  These agents are known as “Super Agents.”  Agents without super powers are part of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad.

Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 is a quasi-anthology comic book.  It opens with two short stories; one focuses on a Super Agent (The Raven) and the other on a potential new Super Agent who has possession of a former agent’s Super Suit (Menthor).

The first story, “Code Name: The Raven” (written by Dann Thomas and drawn by George Pérez and Dave Cockrum) finds the titular hero soaring over the sheikdom of Bahrain.  His destination is a club called “The Falcon’s Roost,” where he has an interesting encounter with the host, Abu Jahl, and a dancer known as “Phoenicia.”

In the second story, “A Change of Mind” (written by Stephen Perry and drawn by Keith Giffen and Rick Bryant), we meet Connie, the young woman who now possesses the helmet of the deceased Super Agent, Menthor.  Some part of John Janus, the original Menthor (who died early in the first T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents series), his spirit or consciousness, remains in the helmet.  Now, Janus taunts Connie as she pursues Eddie, a vicious hood who calls himself the “Prince of the Streets.”

The third story launches Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and opens with an attack on the android NoMan.  Sam Short, the “Chief” of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, calls the Super Agents and the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad to action.  He sees the attack on NoMan as an attack on the entire organization, but little does he realize how far the attackers will go and how far into the past this attack originates.

Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 is a comic book that is definitely of its time.  As a story, it reads like the kind of 1980s reboot that existed before Alan Moore’s reboots and re-imaginations of such series as Swamp Thing and Marvelman.  Once Moore’s work began to take hold of comic book readers’ imaginations, it also began to fundamentally change comic books.  Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents reads like a comic book that could have been written by the top-tier writers and writer/artists of the early to mid-1980s, such as John Byrne, Chris Claremont, Marv Wolfman, and Walter Simonson to name a few.

In that context, this comic book is still a joy to read three decades later.  Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 is quaint, but not corny.  Still, I could not help but read it and think of what someone like Warren Ellis could have done with T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents in the mid to late 1990s or even today.

The T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents’ existence as an actual comic book series has been so sporadic over a 50-year period.  Thus, the concept has not endeared itself to a large enough group of readers to sustain it as a long-running series.  It is essentially stillborn, and I doubt that its admirers are large enough to even be referred to as a cult.  Nostalgia won’t sustain the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.  Still, I wonder how long Deluxe Comics’ version would have lasted had a lawsuit not ended it.

As much as I have written in this review/article about Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1, I surprisingly cannot find the words to talk about the art in this issue, from storytelling to pinups.  I have been a fan of almost every artist in this comic book, at one time or another.  I think George Perez, Keith Giffen, and especially Dave Cockrum are the standouts.

Cockrum is a quintessential superhero comic book artist because his graphic style, his compositions, and his storytelling lend themselves to comic book storytelling.  Cockrum, who passed away a decade ago, could take all the weird visual elements of superhero comics:  the costumes, settings, people, creatures, and beings and then, normalize them so that weird fantasy became soap opera with fantastic elements.  Cockrum’s storytelling is poignant and dramatic although he does not have a dazzling, showy style.

Luckily and thanks to eBay, I found Wally Wood’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.  I look forward to reading more, and I wish this series had had a longer run.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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