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Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

CAPTAIN AMERICA No. 1 (Legacy #705)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review ws originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Ta-Nehisi Coates
PENCILS: Leinil Francis Yu
INKS: Gerry Alanguilan
COLORS: Sunny Gho
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Alex Ross
VARIANT COVERS: Adam Hughes; Joe Jusko; David Mack; Jim Sternako; Frank Miller with Edgar Delgado; Leinil Francis Yu; Paul Renaud; Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; Marko Djurdjevic; Ron Garney with Matt Milla; Mike Zeck with Richard Isanove; John Cassaday with Laura Martin
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (September 2018)

Rated “T+”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

“Winter in America” Part 1

Captain America is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.  Captain America was Steve Rogers, a frail young man who reached the peak of human perfection via the experimental “super soldier” serum.

He first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover dated:  March 1941), which was published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics.  After Captain America Comics was canceled in 1949, there was a revival of the series from 1953 to 1954.  Captain America fully returned to modern comic books in The Avengers #4 (cover dated: March 1964).

Steve Rogers/Captain America embarks on a new beginning again with a relaunch of his title series.  The new Captain America comic book series is written by Ta-Nehisi Coates; drawn by Leinil Francis Yu (pencils) and Gerry Alanguilan (inks); colored by Sunny Gho; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  In the new series, Captain America faces an existential crises as he wrestles with how people view and perceive him in the wake of the Hydra Captain America impostor that briefly took over the world as an authoritarian dictator.

Captain America #1 opens in the Sayan Mountains of Russia months earlier.  There, something new is emerging from the ashes of Hydra.  In the present day, Captain America and the Winter Solider battle a small army of men who resemble Cap's old adversary, Nuke.  They are killing civilians in a mass shooting event in and around the National Mall in Washington D.C.  As Captain America battles to save lives and stop these killers, he will also have to face another harsh reality.  No one really trusts him anymore... even the people who should know him best.

I would not call Captain America #1 2018 a great comic book, but it is the best written Captain America comic book that I have read in ages.  Ta-Nehisi Coates cleverly uses the battle at the National Mall's aftermath to depict not so much Captain America in crisis, but the Sentinel of Liberty as man at odds with the people, places, and nation he has sworn to protect and to defend.  It makes for great reading, because we known this is the true Captain America, but the dramatic tension brought by the distrust of Cap from the other characters makes for some good reading.

Leinil Francis Yu has been a skilled graphical storyteller for over two decades, but his drawing style has taken an ugly turn the last several years – as far as I am concerned.  He is better here, and Sunny Gho's evocative colors strengthen how the narrative conveys its ideas and heightens the drama.  Letterer Joe Caramagna creates a steady sense of rhythm that paces the narrative flow for both the action scenes and for the character scenes that confront Captain America.

I think Ta-Nehisi Coates will make me a regular Captain America reader for the first time in ages.  I think this is the beginning of a good age for Captain America.

8 out of 10

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


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

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Review: DETECTIVE COMICS #1000

DETECTIVE COMICS No. 1000
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

EDITORS: Chris Conroy and Dave Wielgosz
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Steve Rude; Bruce Timm; Michael Cho; Jim Steranko; Bernie Wrightson with Alex Sinclair; Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair; Tim Sale with Brennen Wagner; Jock; Greg Capullo with FCO Plascencia
MISC. ART: Mikel Janin; Jason Fabok with Brad Anderson; Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts;
96pp, Color, $9.99 U.S. (May 2019)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Detective Comics is an American comic book series published by DC Comics, and it is the longest continuously published comic book periodical in the United States, according to the Guinness World Records.  Its first issue, Detective Comics #1 (cover dated:  March 1937), was published by Detective Comics, Inc., a forerunner of DC Comics.  Detective Comics is best known as the comic book series in which Batman/Bruce Wayne first appeared, in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated:  May 1939).

The first volume of Detective Comics was published from 1937 to 2011 (for 881 issues).  Then, as part of “The New 52” initiative, the series was relaunched in the fall of 2011 with a new Detective Comics #1 (cover dated:  November 2011).  In 2016, after 52 issues of “The New 52” run, Detective Comics reverted to what would have been its original numbering if it had not been relaunched – with Detective Comics #934 (cover dated:  Early August 2016).

March 30, 2019 marked the 80th anniversary of the first appearance of Batman.  Although Detective Comics #27's cover date is May 1937, it apparently debuted for sale March 30, 1939.  Just in time for this Bat-birthday is the arrival of Detective Comics #1000.

To celebrate, Detective Comics #1000 is an anthology (which the series originally was) featuring ten short stories created by an “all-star” list of comic book creators.  It also features a twelve-page preview of Detective Comics #1001 and has three pin-up illustrations.

For this review of Detective Comics #1000, I'll offer a few comments one each story:

“Batman's Longest Case”
STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Jonathan Glapion
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano

Snyder and Capullo have been THE rock star Batman creative team of this decade, but this story, introducing another of Snyder's contrived secret societies, is a misfire.

“Manufacture for Use”
STORY: Kevin Smith
PENCILS: Jim Lee
INKS: Scott Williams
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Todd Klein

I think this is the first story I have ever read this is about the gun that killed Bruce Wayne's parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne.  I like this slightly imaginative slash inventive tale from filmmaker and sometimes comic book writer, Kevin Smith.  The art is standard Jim Lee Batman art – not Lee's best work, obviously.  The coloring by Alex Sinclair is gorgeous though.

“The Legend of Knute Brody”
STORY: Paul Dini
PENCILS: Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Derek Fridolfs
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Steve Wands

This is another good idea turned poorly executed Paul Dini story from Paul Dini.  However, this story has the best Dustin Nguyen art I have seen in quite awhile; maybe Derek Fridolfs' inking helped.  John Kalisz colors are also nice.

“The Batman's Design”
STORY: Warren Ellis
ART: Becky Cloonan
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Simon Bowland

The art team of Becky Cloonan and colorist Jordie Belliare produce some attractive art for this story.  Warren Ellis offers a thoughtful examination of how young men can end up as violent, remorseless criminals.  Ellis also presents a rather screwy, oddball version of what mercy from Batman looks like.  This is a nice story.

“Return to Crime Alley”
STORY: Denny O'Neil
ART: Steve Epting
COLORS: Elizabeth Breitweiser
LETTERS: Andworld Design

If any writer deserved to have a spot in Detective Comics #1000, it is classic Batman writer, Denny O'Neil.  His offering for this anniversary comic book features a Batman supporting character, Leslie Thompkins, that O'Neil created with artist Dick Giordano.  This is a powerful, powerful tale starring the one of the few characters who can give both Batman and Bruce Wayne pause.  Steve Epting's beautiful illustrations, Elizabeth Breitweiser's watercolor-like hues, and Andworld Design's lettering make this the best story in Detective Comics #1000.

“Heretic”
STORY: Christopher Priest
ART: Neal Adams
COLORS: Dave Stewart
LETTERS: Willie Schubert

The second best story in Detective Comics #1000, “Heretic,” features art by one of the greatest Batman artists of all time, Neal Adams.  It is set in the world of Ra's al Ghul, a character that Adams had a hand in creating.  Christopher Priest offers a potent tale about the fate of those become ensnared in both Batman and al Ghul's sphere of existence.

“I Know”
STORY: Brian Michael Bendis
ART/COLORS: Alex Maleev
LETTERS: Josh Reed

Okay.  The third best tale in this comic book is Bendis and Maleev's “I Know,” which depicts a confrontation between an aged Bruce Wayne and The Penguin.  This is an edgy tale with a Film-Noir feel, and I really like Maleev's design of each page.

“The Last Crime in Gotham”
STORY: Geoff Johns
ART: Kelley Jones
COLORS: Michelle Madsen
LETTERS: Rob Leigh

This is a nice tale by Johns and Jones.  This isn't Jones' best Batman work, but it is nice, and it is made all the better by Michelle Madsen's (as usual) gorgeous coloring.

“The Precedent”
STORY: James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Alvaro Martinez-Bueno
INKS: Raul Fernandez
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano

This is a nice, sentimental tale about the importance of Dick Grayson/Robin to Bruce Wayne/Batman.  The art team, the colorist, and the letterer turn in some pretty art.  Brad Anderson's colors are practically radiant.

“Batman's Greatest Case”
STORY: Tom King
ART: Tony S. Daniel and Joëlle Jones
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Clayton Cowles

Meh.

“Medieval”
STORY: Peter J. Tomasi
PENCILS: Doug Mahnke
INKS: Jaime Mendoza and Doug Mahnke
COLORS: David Baron
LETTERS: Rob Leigh

This is story is basically twelve pages of filler exposition, but the art, colors, and letters are eye-catching.  “Medieval” also offers the preview of a big character debut that is supposed to happen in Detective Comics #1001.

Detective Comics #1000 is, by my estimation, better than last year's Action Comics #1000, which was apparently the bestselling comic book of 2018.  I think many of the creative teams in Detective Comics #1000 are better at capturing the history and characteristics of Batman and his supporting cast, than their Action Comics #1000 equals were with Superman, even if the Batman teams largely fail to tell stories that convey the mystique of Batman.

It took a little over eighty-two years for Detective Comics to get to one thousand issues, so many of the Batman writers, artists, and editors who established the character are deceased.  The shame of it is that many of the people who really deserve to contribute to Detective Comics #1000 are long gone from the world of the living, that includes Batman creators, artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger (arguably the greatest Batman writer of all time).

I would replace most of the artists in Detective Comics #1000 with such late luminaries as Carmine Infantino (one of the most important Batman artists of all time), Jim Aparo, Bob Brown, Gene Colan, Sheldon Moldoff, Don Newton, Marshall Rogers, and Dick Sprang, to name a few.  I would brush away almost all the writers who actually appear in this comic book for a number of Batman writers who are deceased, such as John Broome, Gardner Fox, and Frank Robbins, to name a few.

There are quite a few living Batman creators who should have stories here:  writers Mike W. Barr, Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart (a frickin' crime that he is not included here, really) Doug Moench, Grant Morrison, and artists Brian Bolland and Alan Davis, to name a few.  Frank Miller provides a variant cover for Detective Comics #1000, but...  Also, Alan Moore...

But I have learned to take what I get... even when there could be better.  Detective Comics #1000 will be the high-water mark for one-thousandth issues until some other titles reaches a thousandth issue.  Oh, well.

7 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 syndication rights and fees.

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

Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA #695

CAPTAIN AMERICA No. 695
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross (after John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton); John Tyler Christopher with Ariel Olivetti; Adi Granov; Mike McKone with Rachelle Rosenberg; Jim Steranko
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated “T+”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

“Home of the Brave” Part 1

Captain America is a Marvel Comics superhero. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover dated:  March 1941), which was published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics.  Captain America Comics was canceled in 1949, but there was a revival of the series from 1953 to 1954.  Captain America fully returned to modern comic books in The Avengers #4 (cover dated: March 1964).

Marvel Comics is in the middle of its “Legacy” event, returning many titles to its original numbering after a decade of relaunching a number of titles with new #1 issues – three, four, and even five or more times.  The ongoing Captain America comic book series has a new creative team for the Legacy launch.  The team of writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee, the creative duo behind Marvel's critically acclaimed Daredevil relaunch (2012) several years ago, brings Captain America into the “Legacy era.”  Matthew Wilson is the colorist, and Joe Caramagna is the letterer.

Captain America #695 begins with a brief recount of how Steve Rogers became the “super solider,” Captain America; his exploits on the battlefields of World War II, and how he disappeared.  Then, we learn how Captain America became a legend and an inspiration to the town of Burlington, Nebraska after stopping a group of neo-Nazi, white supremacist-types, something he may have to do again.

I have said that when Mark Waid is good, he is really good.  [On the other hand, when he is not good, he can be an exceedingly, irritatingly pedestrian comic book storyteller.]  I am a huge fan of Chris Samnee's classic, cartoonists drawing style.  In Captain America #695, Waid is in top form, and Samnee hits the heights of throwback, Silver Age comics style.

Waid's script creates a standalone story that epitomizes what seems to be the essence of Captain America's mission and message: the strong protect the weak.  We look out for each other against those who would do harm, and every man, woman, and child (of at least a certain age) can lend a helping hand, if they choose.

I love Captain America #695.  It is a standalone treat, the kind of single-issue comic book that we need in between long story arcs and of which we don't get often enough.  I really like Waid's story.  I wish more comic book art looked like Chris Samnee's art.  If I were a comic book publisher, my comic books would look like Captain America #695.  If you have time to read only one comic book today, read Captain America #695.

[This comic book includes an “Legacy” character summary written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Valero Schiti; colored by Frank D'Armata; and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.]

A+
10 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.

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 9, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

JUN170992    ALL NEW WOLVERINE #23    $3.99
JUN170893    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31 SE    $3.99
JUN170884    CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 SE    $4.99
JUN170886    CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 STERANKO VAR SE    $4.99
MAY170957    CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON TP VOL 05 END OF THE LINE    $15.99
MAY170973    CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 04 EARTHS MIGHTIEST HERO    $19.99
JUN170997    DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #3 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUN170998    DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN #3 (OF 5) CAMUNCOLI VAR    $3.99
JUN170949    DEFENDERS #4    $3.99
JUN170929    EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUN170930    EDGE OF VENOMVERSE #4 (OF 5) LIM VAR    $3.99
JUN171073    GENERATIONS CAPT MARVEL & CAPT MAR-VELL POSTER    $8.99
JUN171074    GENERATIONS CAPT MARVEL & MS MARVEL POSTER    $8.99
JUN171072    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART POSTER    $8.99
JUN171070    GENERATIONS MORALES & PARKER SPIDER-MAN POSTER    $8.99
JUN170848    GENERATIONS PHOENIX & JEAN GREY #1    $4.99
JUN170849    GENERATIONS PHOENIX & JEAN GREY #1 DODSON VAR    $4.99
JUN171071    GENERATIONS WILSON & ROGERS CAPT AMERICA POSTER    $8.99
JUN170918    HULK #9    $3.99
JUN170903    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUN170906    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #1 (OF 5) DUARTE LOCKJAW VAR    $3.99
MAY170964    INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN TP    $24.99
JUN170989    JEAN GREY #5    $3.99
JUN171026    MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #21    $2.99
FEB170968    MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 17    $75.00
FEB170969    MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 17 DM VAR ED 247    $75.00
JUN170942    MS MARVEL #21    $3.99
JUN170991    OLD MAN LOGAN #27    $3.99
MAY170979    PUNISHER MAX TP COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 06 (MR)    $39.99
JUN170977    ROCKET #4    $3.99
MAY170966    ROCKET RACCOON GROUNDED TP    $15.99
JUN170865    SECRET EMPIRE #8 (OF 10) SE    $4.99
JUN170868    SECRET EMPIRE #8 (OF 10) SORRENTINO HYDRA HEROES VAR SE    $4.99
JUN170896    SECRET WARRIORS #5 SE    $3.99
MAY170975    SHIELD TP HYDRA REBORN    $34.99
MAY170959    SILK TP VOL 03 CLONE CONSPIRACY    $17.99
JUN171010    STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #11    $3.99
JUN171012    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE CASSIAN & K2SO SPECIAL #1    $4.99
JUN171013    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE CASSIAN & K2SO SPECIAL #1 LARRAZ VAR    $4.99
JUN171030    TRUE BELIEVERS KIRBY 100TH GROOT #1    $1.00
JUN171032    TRUE BELIEVERS KIRBY 100TH INTRODUCING MIGHTY THOR #1    $1.00
JUN171031    TRUE BELIEVERS KIRBY 100TH THOR VS HULK #1    $1.00
JUN170956    UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #23    $3.99
JUN170933    VENOM #153    $3.99
JUN171069    VENOMVERSE #1 BY BRADSHAW POSTER    $8.99
JUN170909    ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE 2 #1 (OF 4)    $4.99
JUN170910    ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE 2 #1 (OF 4) SAMNEE VAR    $4.99

2015 Harvey Award Winners Announced; Dark Horse, Fiona Staples Lead the Pack

The Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art.  The Harvey Awards are named in honor of the late comic book creator, editor, and publisher, Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents.  Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit, or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.

The 2015 Harvey Awards were presented, Saturday, September 26, 2015 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the 2015 Baltimore Comic-Con (September 25-27, 2015).  This is the tenth year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD.

The 2015 Harvey Awards winners:

BEST LETTERER
Jack Morelli, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications

BEST COLORIST
Dave Stewart, HELLBOY IN HELL, Dark Horse Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL
DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
THE PRIVATE EYE, Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente, panelsyndicate.com

BEST AMERICAN EDITION of FOREIGN MATERIAL
BLACKSAD: AMARILLO, Dark Horse

BEST INKER
Danny Miki, BATMAN, DC Comics

BEST NEW SERIES
SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT
Chad Lambert, "KILL ME" FROM DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
Chip Zdarsky, SEX CRIMINALS, Image Comics

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS
LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
MOUSE GUARD: BALDWIN THE BRAVE AND OTHER TALES HC, Archaia/BOOM!

BEST ANTHOLOGY
DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
STERANKO NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. ARTIST'S EDITION, IDW

BEST COVER ARTIST
Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY, Andrew Farago, Insight Editions

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM, Andrew Carl, Josh O'Neill, and Chris Stevens, Locust Moon Press

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM ORIGINAL
JIM HENSON'S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
SAGA, Image Comics

BEST WRITER
Mark Waid, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

BEST ARTIST
Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST CARTOONIST
Terry Moore, RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
"Breaking Out", DARK HORSE PRESENTS #35, Dark Horse Comics

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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 12, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

MAY150718     A-FORCE #3 SWA     $3.99
MAY150801     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20.1     $3.99
MAY150831     BLACK PANTHER BY PRIEST TP VOL 01 COMPLETE COLLECTION     $34.99
MAY150832     DAREDEVIL TYPHOIDS KISS TP     $34.99
JUN150712     GHOST RACERS #3 SWA     $3.99
MAY150789     HOWARD THE DUCK #5     $3.99
JUN150719     INHUMANS ATTILAN RISING #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150746     KORVAC SAGA #3 SWA     $3.99
JUN150701     MASTER OF KUNG FU #4 SWA     $3.99
MAY150797     MAX RIDE FIRST FLIGHT #5     $3.99
JUN150767     MRS DEADPOOL AND HOWLING COMMANDOS #3 SWA     $3.99
MAY150821     OPERATION SIN TP AGENT CARTER     $17.99
JUN150775     PLANET HULK #4 SWA     $3.99
MAY150838     SECRET WARRIORS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02     $34.99
MAY158378     SECRET WARS #2 ROSS 3RD PTG VAR     $4.99
MAY150642     SECRET WARS #5 SWA     $3.99
JUN150842     SECRET WARS #6 BY ROSS POSTER     $8.99
JUN150784     SECRET WARS 2099 #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150715     SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #4 SWA     $3.99
JUN150841     SHIELD 50TH ANNIVERSARY BY KIRBY AND STERANKO POSTER     $8.99
APR150894     STAR WARS EPISODE V HC EMPIRE STRIKES BACK     $24.99
MAY158345     STAR WARS LANDO #1 MALEEV 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
MAY150774     STAR WARS LANDO #2     $3.99
MAY150665     STAR-LORD AND KITTY PRYDE #2 SWA     $3.99
JUN150808     UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #8     $3.99
JUN150844     YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #4 BY ADAMS POSTER     $8.99
JUN150766     YEARS OF FUTURE PAST #4 SWA     $3.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for June 17, 2015

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

APR151249     ADVENTURE TIME BANANA GUARD ACADEMY TP VOL 01     $19.99
MAR151085     AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL TP VOL 01     $14.99
MAR151505     AQUILA #3     $3.99
APR151051     BETTY & VERONICA #276 REG CVR     $3.99
MAR150835     BEYOND THE WESTERN DEEP GN     $9.99
APR151757     BLOODSHOT REBORN #3 CVR A SUAYAN (NEXT)     $3.99
APR151758     BLOODSHOT REBORN #3 CVR B LAROSA (NEXT)     $3.99
MAR151526     BRAIN CAMP GN     $9.99
APR151213     BURNING FIELDS #5     $3.99
APR151545     CHILD OF THE STORM HC (MR)     $34.95
FEB151136     CLOCKWORK ANGELS TP     $19.99
FEB150911     CLOVER HONEY 20TH ANNIVERSARY ED GN (MR)     $14.95
APR151507     COMPLETE CRUMB COMICS TP VOL 16 1980S MORE STRUGGLE     $19.99
JAN151442     COMPLETE EIGHTBALL HC BOX SET ISSUES 1 - 18 (MR)     $119.99
FEB151419     COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 23 1995-1996     $29.99
MAR150894     DARKHAM VALE GN     $24.95
NOV141425     DF HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #1 DF EXC BLOOD NICIEZA SGN     PI
FEB151400     DF STAR WARS #1 M&M EXCL DORMAN CVR     $10.00
APR151551     DISNEY INSIDE OUT CINESTORY     $14.99
APR158124     DIVINITY #1 5TH PTG     $3.99
MAR151537     DOCTOR WHO 11TH #13 REG FRASER     $3.99
MAR151538     DOCTOR WHO 11TH #13 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
FEB151603     DOCTOR WHO 9TH #2 REG ZHANG     $3.99
FEB151604     DOCTOR WHO 9TH #2 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
FEB151546     DOCTOR WHO TP THE GOOD SOLDIER     $19.99
APR151825     DOGS GN VOL 10 (MR)     $12.99
APR151602     DUNGEON MONSTRES GN VOL 05 MY SON THE KILLER     $14.99
MAR151350     EC GRAHAM INGELS GRAVE BUSINESS & OTHER STORIES HC     $29.99
APR151534     EDEN GN VOL 01     $10.95
NOV141671     EMMA MANGA CLASSICS HC     $24.99
APR151196     ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #7 MAIN CVR     $3.99
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MAR150832     FEMFORCE #171     $9.95
APR151177     FICTION #1     $3.99
APR151804     FRAGMENTS OF HORROR HC JUNJI ITO (MR)     $17.99
MAR151515     FREEZING OMNIBUS GN VOL 01 (MR)     $19.99
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APR151864     GFT RED RIDING HOOD 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #2 A CVR FINCH     $5.99
APR151865     GFT RED RIDING HOOD 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #2 B CVR CAFARO     $5.99
APR151866     GFT RED RIDING HOOD 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #2 C CVR MEGURO     $5.99
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APR151234     GIANT DAYS #4     $3.99
MAR151517     HAGANAI I DONT HAVE MANY FRIENDS GN VOL 11 (MR)     $12.99
APR151214     HEXED #11     $3.99
APR151343     JIM BUTCHER DRESDEN FILES DOWN TOWN #5     $3.99
APR151397     JUSTICE INC AVENGER #1 RARE ROSS VIRGIN ED     $50.00
APR151621     KAIJUMAX #3     $3.99
FEB151292     KING JUNGLE JIM #4     $3.99
DEC141348     KING MANDRAKE MAGICIAN #2     $3.99
APR151555     KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #221     $5.99
MAR151277     LEGENDERRY RED SONJA #4 RARE DAVILA VIRGIN     $50.00
APR151404     LEGENDERRY VAMPIRELLA #5 DAVILA VIRGIN     $50.00
APR151625     LETTER 44 #17     $3.99
FEB151584     LOXLEYS AND CONFEDERATION HC     $19.99
APR151230     LUMBERJANES #15     $3.99
APR151803     MASTER KEATON GN VOL 03     $19.99
MAR158483     MAYDAY #1 2ND PTG (MR)     $3.99
APR150986     ME LIKES YOU VERY MUCH GN (MR)     $14.00
APR151060     MEGA MAN #50 SPAZ WRAPAROUND REG CVR     $4.99
APR151057     MEGA MAN WORLDS UNITE BATTLES #1 REG CVR     $3.99
APR151372     MERCY THOMPSON HOPCROSS JILLY HC     $24.99
APR151373     MERCY THOMPSON HOPCROSS JILLY HC BRIGGS SGN     $39.99
APR150982     METAPHASE GN     $9.99
APR151723     MINIONS #1     $3.99
APR151232     MUNCHKIN #6     $3.99
MAR151519     NURSE HITOMIS MONSTER INFIRMARY GN VOL 02 (MR)     $12.99
APR151190     OH KILLSTRIKE #2     $3.99
APR151829     ONE PIECE 3IN1 TP VOL 12     $14.99
APR151367     PATHFINDER ORIGINS #5 CVR A CICHON MAIN     $4.99
APR151740     PATRIOT-1 GN VOL 01     $24.99
MAR151420     POET ANDERSON DREAM WALKER #2 (MR)     $3.99
APR150962     PRINCELESS BE YOURSELF #1     $3.99
APR151374     PS BLACKCROSS #4 CVR A LOTAY MAIN     $3.99
MAR151163     RAVENOUS #2 REG CVR REILLY (MR)     $3.99
MAR151400     REDHAND DLX HC (MR)     $34.95
APR151619     RICK & MORTY #3     $3.99
APR150955     ROCK & ROLL BIOGRAPHIES FAITH NO MORE MR BUNGLE     $3.50
JAN151559     ROY THOMAS PRESENTS BRIEFER FRANKENSTEIN HC 1952-1954     $47.99
MAR151497     SAN HANNIBAL TP     $14.99
MAR151520     SERVAMP GN VOL 02     $12.99
APR151170     SIMPSONS COMICS #221     $2.99
APR151206     SONS OF ANARCHY #22 (MR)     $3.99
APR151207     SONS OF ANARCHY TP VOL 03 (MR)     $14.99
MAR151024     SOUL STEALER GN COLL ED (MR)     $59.99
MAR151021     SPACE RIDERS #3 (MR)     $3.99
APR151174     SPONGEBOB COMICS ANNUAL GIANT SWIMTACULAR #3     $4.99
APR151629     STUMPTOWN V3 #6     $3.99
FEB151449     SUMMIT OF GODS GN VOL 05     $25.00
APR151399     SWORDS OF SORROW #1 RARE LUPACCHINO VIRGIN     $50.00
APR151400     SWORDS OF SORROW #2 RARE LUPACCHINO VIRGIN     $50.00
APR151329     SWORDS OF SORROW THORIS ADLER #1     $3.99
MAR151147     TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #92 DLX ED (MR)     $19.99
FEB151620     THIRD TESTAMENT HC VOL 04 DAY OF THE RAVEN     $18.99
APR151799     TOKYO GHOUL GN VOL 01     $12.99
MAR151424     TREASURY 20TH CENTURY MURDER GN VOL 04 SACCO & VANZETTI     $9.99
APR151782     X-O MANOWAR #37 CVR A OVERLAY SEGOVIA     $3.99
APR151783     X-O MANOWAR #37 CVR B 25TH ANNV SANDOVAL     $3.99
APR151561     XXXHOLIC OMNIBUS TP VOL 06     $14.99
APR151155     YOURE GOLDEN CHARLIE BROWN 65 YEARS OF PEANUTS TP     $16.00
APR150972     ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #12 MAIN CVR (MR)     $3.99

MAGAZINES
MAR151502     2000 AD PACK MAY 2015     $21.40
FEB151862     ALTER EGO #133     $8.95
MAR151789     BACK ISSUE #81     $9.95
APR152036     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1461     PI
APR152038     COMIC SHOP NEWS SUMMER 2015 PREVIEW     PI
MAR158177     DOCTOR WHO ADVENTURES MAGAZINE #2     $7.99
MAR151794     DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #487     $9.99
APR152028     ILLUSTRATORS MAGAZINE #10     $24.99
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I Reads You Review: HERCULES: The Knives of Kush

HERCULES: THE KNIVES OF KUSH
RADICAL COMICS

WRITER: Steve Moore
ARTIST: Chris Bolson with Manuel Silva and Leonardo Silva
COLORS: Doug Sirois with Cliff Cramp and Steve Firchow
LETTERS: Todd Klein
MISC. ART: Jim Steranko, Clint Langley, Arthur Suydam, Marko Djurdjevic, Daryl Mandryk, J.P. Targete, Jean-Sebastien Rossbach
COVER: Clint Langley
ISBN:  978-1-935417-03-3; paperback (May 2010)
152pp, Color, $14.95 U.S., $16.50 CAN

Radical Comics, a division of Radical Publishing, Inc., presented a radical interpretation of Hercules in 2008.  Radical’s Hercules debuted in the 2008 miniseries, Hercules: The Thracian Wars, which was written by late British writer, Steve Moore.  Moore created this new Hercules and legendary comic book artist, Jim Steranko, designed him.

Moore made Radical’s Hercules grittier, while focusing more on his human side than on his heritage as the son of the supreme god, Zeus.  Moore set Hercules’ life in the Bronze Age and gave him a band of friends.  Together, Hercules and his band left Greece and sought mercenary work in other lands.  Thus, Moore set Hercules first mercenary activities in Thrace.  Radical’s Hercules is now a Paramount Pictures/MGM’s film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and directed by Brett Ratner.

The second Hercules miniseries was the five-issue, Hercules: The Knives of Kush, which was released in 2009.  The Knives of Kush finds Hercules and his mercenary band caught in the middle of Egypt’s civil war.  In 2010, Radical collected Hercules: The Knives of Kush in a trade paperback, and the company’s marketing director sent me a copy for review, which I promptly forgot about.

However, the impending release of the movie made me dig up my copy of The Knives of Kush.  I decided to reread the story, as I had previously only read the fourth and fifth issue of the miniseries, and post a review of the trade.

Hercules: The Knives of Kush opens with Hercules and his band of mercenaries:  Autolycus, Iolaus, Meleager, and Atalanta (the only female of the group) aboard the Greek boat, the “Sea Nymph.”  After a brief skirmish with pirates, Hercules and company end up in Egypt.  They eventually offer their services to Pharaoh Seti II who is fighting a civil war against his half-brother, Amenmessu (real life historical figures that lived in the 13th and 12th centuries BC).

Amenmessu is aided by Khadis, Lord of Lighting and a sorcerer whose powers may be the reason Amenmessu seems to be winning the war with Seti.  Hercules suspects that there is more to Amenmessu’s success than Khadis and believes that traitors hide among Seti’s circle of wives, advisors, retainers, etc.  Hercules is appointed as a royal bodyguard, but he believes that to learn the truth he must penetrate the sinister cult known as “The Knives of Kush.”  This, however, will bring Hercules face to face with an enemy like no other – a mysterious figure who may wield the power of the gods.

I doubt that I am the only reviewer who thinks that Steve Moore has converted the demigod of Greek myth, Hercules (Heracles), into something that resembles the sword and sorcery character, Conan the Cimmerian (also known as Conan the Barbarian).  This is not a criticism; Moore apparently put a lot of effort into researching Greek myth and history for Hercules.  Besides, I like this Hercules.  I did not read The Thracian Wars, and Moore states in the foreword to this trade paperback that readers do not need to know of Hercules’ adventures in Thrace before reading of his adventures in Egypt.

I think that Hercules: The Knives of Kush slightly resembles some of the Conan comic books that Marvel Comics published in the 1970s and 80s.  In fact, The Knives of Kush has a good premise and plot, but the problem is the execution.  It is as if Moore wanted this miniseries to be any number of things or was not sure what it should be.

On one hand, Hercules’ struggles against Amenmessu’s rebellion involve courtly conflict and palace intrigue.  Moore basically has Hercules, an action character, stumbling around Seti’s Memphis, vainly trying to discover spies.  On the other hand, since Amenmessu is leading an armed rebellion, there is eventually going to have to be a big battle between Seti’s forces, to which Hercules belongs, and Amenmessu.  Instead of building up to the battles, the spy hunt seems like story padding.  Also, at five issues in length, The Knives of Kush is at least one issue too long.

In fact, for all the fear that Amenmessu and his ally, Khadis and the cult known as The Knives of Kush, are supposed to engender, their confrontation with Hercules and company is anti-climatic.  Their demises are pitiful, leaving this story with the sense that there was no great villain and with the disappointment that Hercules’ head-bashing comes in fits and starts.

The art produced by Chris Bolson and Doug Sirois is quite good, but the rest of it falls off.  If there is ever more of Radical’s Hercules, I hope Bolson and Sirois are the artists, and I hope for a story that has more head-bashing and disemboweling than it does character drama.  I want the next Hercules to be more like the last two issues of Hercules: The Knives of Kush than the first three.  Who really cares about Hercules’ daddy issues?

B-

[This trade paperback includes an interview of Steve Moore conducted by Andre Lamar.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

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