Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for July 26, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

MAY170660    BLACK ROAD TP VOL 02 A PAGAN DEATH (MR)    $16.99
MAY170607    BLOODSTRIKE #1 REMASTERED ED CVR A FRAGA    $3.99
MAY170608    BLOODSTRIKE #1 REMASTERED ED CVR B LIEFELD    $3.99
MAY170610    BY CHANCE OR PROVIDENCE TP    $16.99
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APR178257    CROSSWIND #2 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99
APR179004    IMAGE ICONS LG T/S    $25.00
APR179003    IMAGE ICONS MED T/S    $25.00
APR179002    IMAGE ICONS SM T/S    $25.00
APR179005    IMAGE ICONS XL T/S    $25.00
APR179006    IMAGE ICONS XXL T/S    $25.00
APR179007    IMAGE ICONS XXXL T/S    $25.00
MAY170746    IMAGE PLUS #16 (WALKING DEAD HERES NEGAN PT 16)  (MR)    $1.99
APR170843    OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #29 (MR)    $2.99
MAY170697    PAKLIS #3 (MR)    $3.99
MAY170698    PLASTIC #4 (OF 5) CVR A ROBINSON (MR)    $3.99
MAY170699    PLASTIC #4 (OF 5) CVR B HILLYARD (MR)    $3.99
MAY170700    POSTAL #21 (MR)    $3.99
APR178252    POSTAL #21 CVR B IMAGE OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAY178640    REDNECK #3 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
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MAY178129    REDNECK #4 CVR B IMAGE OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAY170710    SAGA #45 (MR)    $2.99
APR170688    SAVAGE DRAGON #225 25TH ANNIVERSARY CVR A LARSEN (MR)    $9.99
APR170689    SAVAGE DRAGON #225 25TH ANNIVERSARY CVR B FOSCO (MR)    $9.99
APR170690    SAVAGE DRAGON #225 25TH ANNIVERSARY CVR C LARSEN (MR)    $9.99
MAY178162    SAVAGE DRAGON #225 25TH ANNIVERSARY CVR D XXX KRASH (MR)    $11.99
MAY178523    SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG (MR)    $3.99
MAY170715    SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR A ROBINSON (MR)    $3.99
MAY170716    SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR B FOX (MR)    $3.99
MAY170717    SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #2 (OF 5) CVR C MACLEAN (MR)    $3.99
MAY170718    SHUTTER #30 (MR)    $3.99
APR178256    SHUTTER #30 CVR B IMAGES OF TOMORROW (MR)    $3.99
MAY170645    SOLID STATE TP    $19.99
MAY170720    SONS OF THE DEVIL #14 (MR)    $3.99
MAY170722    SPAWN #276 CVR A ALEXANDER (MR)    $2.99
MAY170723    SPAWN #276 CVR B MCFARLANE (MR)    $2.99
APR178250    SPAWN #276 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $2.99
MAY170648    STREET ANGEL GANG HC    $19.99
MAY170726    UNDERWINTER #5 CVR A FAWKES (MR)    $3.99
MAY170727    UNDERWINTER #5 CVR B MCKELVIE (MR)    $3.99
APR178247    UNDERWINTER #5 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99
MAY170731    WAYWARD #22 CVR A CUMMINGS & BONVILLAIN (MR)    $3.99
MAY170732    WAYWARD #22 CVR B SEJIC (MR)    $3.99
APR178253    WAYWARD #22 CVR C IMAGES OF TOMORROW VAR (MR)    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 26, 2017

IMAGE COMICS

MAR160556    BITCH PLANET #10 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170581    BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #5 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170633    BLACK ROAD #9 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170650    HADRIANS WALL #6 (OF 8) (MR)    $3.99
FEB170611    IMAGE GIANT-SIZED ARTISTS PROOF ED RENATO JONES (MR)    $24.99
FEB170750    IMAGE PLUS #13 (WALKING DEAD HERES NEGAN PT 13)  (MR)    $1.99
JAN170828    INVISIBLE REPUBLIC TP VOL 03 (MR)    $14.99
FEB170694    KID SAVAGE TP VOL 01    $14.99
FEB170657    KILL OR BE KILLED #8 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170658    LOOSE ENDS #4 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
FEB170660    MAGDALENA #2    $3.99
JAN178879    MAGDALENA #2 CVR B    $3.99
FEB170666    OLD GUARD #3 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170708    SAGA DLX ED HC VOL 02 (MR)    $49.99
FEB170619    SAVAGE DRAGON #223 (MR)    $3.99
JAN178690    SAVAGE DRAGON #223 CVR B APRIL FOOLS VAR (MR)    $3.99
FEB170579    SPLITTING IMAGE 80-PAGE GIANT    $7.99
FEB170680    STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #23 (MR)    $3.99
FEB170714    STREET ANGEL AFTER SCHOOL KUNG FU SPEC HC    $19.99
FEB170716    SURGEON X TP VOL 01 PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE (MR)    $14.99
FEB170685    UNDERWINTER #2 (MR)    $3.99
JAN178878    UNDERWINTER #2 CVR B NGUYEN (MR)    $3.99

Review: ALL TIME COMICS: Crime Destroyer #1

ALL TIME COMICS: CRIME DESTROYER No. 1
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS/ALL TIME COMICS - @fantagraphics @alltimecomics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Josh Bayer
PENCILS: Herb Trimpe
INKS: Benjamin Marra
LETTERS: Rick Parker
COLORS: Alessandro Echevarria
MISC. ART: Victor Martinez
COVERS: Jim Rugg; Johnny Ryan
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2017)

Crime Destroyer in “Human Sacrifice”

I was surprised to learn that Fantagraphics Books announced through a press release sometime late last year that they were going to publish comic books set in a new shared superhero universe.. Entitled “All Time Comics,” this imprint/universe would see the release of six comic books, each a stand-alone story featuring featuring a particular superhero or set of superheroes.

The hook with All Time Comics is that each title is a mash-up of and throwback to classic 1970s comic books, especially those published by Marvel Comics.  The first such title is All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer.  It is written by Josh Bayer; drawn by Herb Trimpe (pencils) and Benjamin Marra (inks); colored by Alessandro Echevarria; and lettered by Rick Parker.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is set in Optic City, a sort of fictional recreation of the rundown, in-a-malaise New York City of the 1970s.  Crime Destroyer, a superhero whose uniform shoulder pads have two large fists perched on them, is inside “The Penitentiary.”  He is there to see an old friend and former military buddy, “Titan,” who wants Crime Destroyer to find a family member named “Anji.”

It seems that Anji has disappeared, which she often does, but this time, she is apparently under the sway of rising cult leader, “The White Warlock,” leader of the “Wotan Cult.”  Crime Destroyer is ready to rescue Anji and deliver some serious beat-down to this cult and its leader.  However, local superhero, “Atlas,” does not want Crime Destroyer (who is from “Swan City”) operating in his city, Optic City.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is a retro comic book.  It reminds me of the kind of comic books the late, great Jack Kirby, who practically co-created the Marvel Universe in the 1960s, produced in the 1970s.  An example would be Kirby's own mid-1970s run on Captain America for Marvel Comics.  I think that All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is also quite similar to Marvel Comics titles produced in the 1970s and early 1980s that are either influenced by or are pastiches of Kirby's 1970s's comic book output.  Marvel Two-in-One Starring The Thing comes to mind, especially those issues produced by writer David Michelinie and artist and Kirby-copycat, Ron Wilson.

The artist for All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is the late Herb Trimpe, who drew this comic book before he died last year.  Trimpe, who drew the first comic book appearances of Wolverine of the X-Men, produced quite a bit of comic book art that was clearly influenced by Jack Kirby.  The art here is a bit rough around the edges and is quite chunky, but it also reminds me of the art the late Spain Rodriguez drew for his Underground Comix comic book, Trashman.

Here, Trimpe's pencils are perfect for this gritty and grimy tale of Crime Destroyer, a superhero that blends elements of Marvel Comics' urban superheroes/anti-heroes Luke Cage and Blade.  However, there is just a hint of cinematic hero, Mad Max, which gives this story a trashy, post-apocalyptic aura.  I still have not made up my mind if Ben Marra's inks help create such an aesthetic or works against it.

I do like Josh Bayer's storytelling.  Bayer does not take his story too seriously, but does take the comics to which he is honoring seriously.  This comic book is funny and action-packed, and the villain is a metaphor for the kind of people who are real threats to our real world.  By the end of this comic book, I really did want more of Crime Destroyer.

All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 is not perfect, but I find myself still thinking about it.  Part of me does want more, and it is up to the readers to decide if they want more comic books like All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1, even if only for a little while.

B+

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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