#IReadsYou Review: STATIC #1

STATIC #1
DC COMICS/Milestone Comics

STORY: Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington, III
PENCILS: John Paul Leon
INKS: Steve Mitchell
COLORS: Noelle C. Giddings
LETTERS: Steve Haynie
EDITOR: Dwayne McDuffie
COVER: Denys Cowan and Jimmy Palmiotti with Noelle C. Giddings
32pp, Color, $2.95 US, $3.95 CAN, 1.20 UK£ (June 1993)

“Trial by Fire” Chapter One: “Burning Sensation”

Introduced in the spring of 1993, Static was one of the early comic book series created by Milestone Media and published through DC Comics.  Milestone Media was a comic book imprint and media company established with the intention presenting more minority characters in American Comics.  Although the Milestone Media stopped producing comics in 1997, Static was reworked as the WB animated series, “Static Shock,” which ran for four seasons from 2000 to 2004.

Static #1 (“Burning Sensation”) opens in the Sadler neighborhood of the city of Dakota, specifically in a teen hangout called Akkad’s Arcade.  Frieda Goren, a high school girl, arrives at the hangout to meet a friend when she suddenly encounters representatives of someone else who wants to meet her.  Known as the “5 Alarm Crew,” these ruffians are practically kidnapping Frieda to take her to their leader, someone named “Hotstreak,” whether she wants an audience with him or not.

By the second page (a splash page), our hero, Static, makes his first appearance, and six and half pages of witty banter and an electric light show later, it’s clear that this new superhero, the first African-American solo teen superhero, is a winner even if his own book doesn’t last over the long haul (which sadly it didn’t).  Static’s powers clearly have something to do with electricity, and his personality is equally stimulating  After he dispatches the 5 Alarm Crew, Static offers to take Frieda home, an indication that she is not just a damsel in distress plot device which allows writers Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington to introduce their hero.

After reluctantly leaving Frieda, who was standoffish with him although he saved her, Static finds a secluded alley where he returns to his civilian persona, a black teenager named Virgil Ovid Hawkins.  Virgil’s thoughts are still on Frieda, further indication of her importance.  Virgil returns home (apparently a brownstone similar to the family home on “The Cosby Show”) so McDuffie and Washington can reveal Static’s private life and family.  We meet Virgil’s mother and his sister, Sharon, with whom he, of course, spars, as li’l sis has some issue with Virgil hangin’ with white girl.  Virgil races upstairs just in time to answer the phone call from Frieda, who tells him about her adventures at Akkad’s.  The scene closes as the conversation evolves into the usual teen concerns.

The next morning, a breakfast conversation with his mother reveals that Virgil does indeed have a father, who works odd hours at a hospital.  (The African-American father was virtually extinct in pop culture at the time this comic was published, and remains on the endangered species list as of this writing.)

When the story moves to the hallways of the school Virgil attends, Ernest Hemingway High School, McDuffie and Washington introduce Virgil’s pals.  One of them, Richard Stone, would later be revealed as gay, but even now there seems to be some latent tension regarding Richard’s perceived sexual orientation.

Besides Frieda, Virgil’s most interesting friend is Larry, who has something of a thuggish vibe.  Later, while in class, the 5 Alarm Crew returns, and this time they manage to snatch Frieda.  This comes totally out of left field: Larry apparently offers to draw a concealed firearm to put a stop to the 5 Alarm boys, but Virgil has already slipped away to don his super suit.

Meanwhile, in a playground at a local elementary school, Static meets the 5 Alarm Crew’s master, Hotstreak, and here, McDuffie and Washington offer the biggest surprise and delight, which they’ve been saving for the very end of the first issue.  Hotstreak kicks Static’s butt all over the yard, and Static apparently has some kind of psychological block that prohibits him from going whole hog on Hotstreak, who is nevertheless a capable super badass.  And Frieda removes Static’s mask, revealing Virgil to her…

Overall, Static #1 is an impressive first issue.  To begin with, the art team of John Paul Leon on pencils and Steve Mitchell on inks creates a lovely style that has a jazzy vibe.  Although the coloring is modest, the art feels young, hip, and most important urban.  Visually, Leon and Mitchell construct an urban landscape by designing backgrounds and sets out of simple shapes and forms and get the same effect as artists that create urban environments by using heavy inking or intricate detail in drawing the sets.  Best of all, Leon and Mitchell capture the cast’s diversity; this is true melting pot and not something that looks like a Norman Rockwell painting of a Rotary Club meeting.

I have nothing but praise for McDuffie and Washington.  Static is a witty teen superhero, a sassy, brash kid bouncing off walls.  Read it, and recognize the fun of those early Spider-Man comic books.  But Static has an edge.  It’s in the rhythm of the authentic urban language – referencing hip hop without trying to replicate it (unlike the horrid “hip” dialogue in the original Gen13 comics).  Underlying it all is the feeling of life on the streets of Dakota being, at the very least, a little dangerous.  Reading this, I thought that some of these characters have to be ready to kill or be killed – anytime and anywhere.

It’s on.

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

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I Reads You Juniors: May 2021 - Update #103

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

NEWS:

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   DC takes Batman’s war on crime worldwide in a new hardcover anthology, "Batman: The World." This 184-page book features Batman stories by top creative teams from across the globe, taking place in their home countries. Batman: The World launches worldwide on Tuesday, September 14, 2021—just in time for Batman Day 2021 (Saturday, September 18, 2021).

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:   While being interviewed on MSNBC, Oscar-winning actress turned director, Regina King, learned that she is on a list of directors being considered for Warner Bros. in-development "Superman" film.

DC TV - From THR:   Lee Toland Krieger, who directed the pilot for Superman and Lois, is set to direct and executive produce the first two episodes of "Green Lantern," HBO Max’s big-budget sci-fi police show based on the space-faring DC characters.

SONY MARVEL U - From Deadline:   The site is reporting that actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who played Quicksilver in Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" will play Spider-Man villain, Kraven the Hunter, in a standalone movie.

DC TV - From Deadline:   The cast of Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman's beloved comic book, The Sandman, continues to grow as Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston and nine others round out the cast. Also slated to join are Jenna Coleman, Niamh Walsh, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Kyo Ra, Stephen Fry, Razane Jammal, Sandra James Young and Patton Oswalt.

MARK MILLAR - From MajorSpoilers:   This article says that the upcoming final "Jupiter's Legacy" comic book series, "Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem," will expand on the Netflix series.  It also contains 4 pages of art from the first issue and a look at some of the covers.

 

From THR:   Here is a early look at artist Jock's variant cover for "Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem #' based on his opening credits work for Netflix's "Jupiter's Legacy" series.

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DC TV - From Deadline:   The CW has given a series order for director Ava DuVernay's television adaptation of the DC Comics character, "Naomie."

 

From Deadline:   Actor Jordan Calloway has revealed that The CW will not be moving forward with its "Black Lightning" spinoff, "Painkiller," in which Calloway was the lead.

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MANGA - From BleedingCool:  Yen Press announces ten new titles for release November 2021.

IDW - From BleedingCool:   IDW Publishing has announced the return of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" comic book in conjunction with a year-long event, "Star Trek: The Mirror Way."

DC CINEMA - From Deadline:  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will provide the voice of "Krypto the Superdog" in a new animated film, "DC League of Super-Pets."  Johnson's company, "Seven Bucks," is producing.

MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer and publisher, David Anthony Kraft, has died at the age of 68 or 69, Wednesday, May 19, 2021.  Kraft wrote numerous titles for Marvel Comics, including "The Defenders" and "Savage She-Hulk," to name a few.  He later wrote for DC Comics, including a run on "World's Finest."  In the 1980s, Kraft wrote several titles for Marvel Books.  He also published the long-running interview magazine, "David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview," from 1983 to 1995.

MEMORIAM - From IGN:  Japanese manga creator, Kentaro Miura, died Thursday, May 6, 2021 at the age of 54.  He was best known for his manga, "Berserk," one of the bestselling series of all time.  Berserk and its lead character, the lone mercenary, "Gut," had a huge impact on Japanese media.  Its impact can be seen in video games ("Final Fantasy") and on anime and manga.

MILLARWORLD - From ScreenRant:   Oscar-winning screenwriter, Emerald Fennell, has finished the latest draft of the screenplay for the film adaptation of Mark Millar and Steve McNiven's comic book, "Nemesis."  This is according to Millar, himself.

 

From BI:  With Netflix's "Jupiter's Legacy" ruling the world of streaming, what's next for "Jupiter's Legacy" Mark Millar/Millarworld's superhero universe.

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DC TV - From GamesRadar:   HBO Max and Cartoon Network have announced a new Superman animated television series, "My Adventures with Superman."  Jack Quaid of Amazon's "The Boys" will give voice to Superman/Clark Kent.

COMICS - From PW:   Alex Segura, previously co-president of Archie Comics, has been named senior v-p of sales and marketing at the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, an independent comics publishing house based in Portland, Oregon.

DC TV - From Deadline:  Both HBO Max and Cartoon Network have ordered a new Batman animated TV series, "Batman: Caped Crusader."  A re-imagining of the Batman mythology, the series is from executive producers Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves (the director of the upcoming film, "The Batman").

BRITISH COMICS - From 2000AD:   From 2015, here is a podcast interview with artist Kev Walker, who is currently known for his run on Marvel's "Doctor Aphra" Star Wars comic book series.

DIAMOND - From BleedingCool:   Is the new Marvel Comics/Diamond Comic Distributors deal the end of "big store" discounts.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   Legendary Comics has announced a new young adult graphic novel imprint, "Legendary Comics YA."

MARVEL - From TheNewYorkTimes:   Marvel confirms via "The New York Times" that Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley and artist Juann Cabal will be the new creative team on the "Black Panther" comic book series.  Their run starts August 2021.

COMICS - From TheBeat:  Dan Fogler and Ben Templesmith talk about their new graphic novel, "Fishkill" from Heavy Metal.

MANGA - From BleedingCool:   All 44 volumes of the wine/wine appreciation manga, "The Drops of God," are now available in English via comiXology.

COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Veteran creators Roger Stern, Ron Frenz, and Sal Buscema will return in "The Heroes Union #1" from Binge Comics.  The comic book will also be approved by the "Comics Code Authority."

DYNAMITE - From BleedingCool:   Garth Ennis' character, "Jennifer Blood," will join "Army of Darkness" character, "Ash Williams" in the comic book, the second season of "Die!Namite Lives" from Dynamite Entertainment.

CONS - From BleedingCool:   An in-person 2021 Baltimore Comic-Con is apparently happening October 22nd to 24th, 2021.

DC COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The site has a preview of DC Comics' "Nightwing #80."

MARVEL - From Newsarama:   Classic Fantastic Four villain, "Kang the Conqueror," will get a definitive origin and ongoing comic book series, beginning in August.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Here is a preview of the cover art and some interior pages from "Wonder Girl #1," which ships this week.

DC CINEMA - From DCBlog:   Matt Bomer talks about his third DC Comics role, as "Flash" in "Justice Society: World War II."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   African-American cartoonist, comics creator, and educator, Lawrence Lindell, has sold a middle-grade graphic novel, entitled "Buckle Up," to Random House Graphic.

SONY MARVEL U - From ScreenRant:  "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," the sequel to Sony's hit "Venom" film, will introduce the "Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane."  Some consider Ravencroft to be the equivalent of DC Comics' "Arkham Asylum."

COLLECTIBLES - From YahooNews:   You may or may not have heard that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on some kind of Pokemon card collecting mania.  Retail chain, Target, has announced is suspending in-store sales of Pokémon and sports trading cards amid safety concerns as customers vie for the collectibles.

COMICS - From GamesRadar:   The 2015 cult film, "Turbo Kid," is getting a comic book prequel, "Turbo Kid: Apple's Lost Adventure."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel promises that the Marvel Universe will be changed forever by June's "Planet-Sized X-Men."

COMICS - From BleedingCool:   eBay changes its comic book categories - much to the chagrin of collectors.

TOYS - From BleedingCool:  "Marvel Legends" reveals three new toy sets related to the "MCU Infinity Saga."

DARK HORSE - From TheBeat:  Paul Tobin and Ron Chan talk about their new graphic novel, "Earth Boy," which is out now.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  "Old Man Cable" is back in "Cable: Reloaded #1.

MEMORIAM - From CBR:  Jesse Hamm, a comic book writer and artist and essayist, has died.  His works include the graphic novel, "Good As Lily" (for DC/Minx), and issues of "Batman '66" and "Hawkeye" for Marvel Comics.  Many knew him for his "Tips from Jesse Hamm" Twitter account.

MARVEL - From CBR:  Marvel Comics has offered a first-look preview of its upcoming "Moon Knight #1" by Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio.

STAR WARS - From BleedingCool:  Alan Dean Foster is among the writers who will now be paid by Disney for the "Star Wars" novelizations they wrote.  Disney had stopped paying royalties since assuming the publication rights to these novels.

IMAGE COMICS - From THR:   Oscar-nominee Ryan Coogler will produce and Oscar-winner Regina King will direct a film adaptation of the Image Comics titles, "Bitter Root."

EUROCOMICS - From BleedingCool:  Publisher NBM has released a preview of its Free Comic Book Day 2021 (Aug. 14th) offering, "FCBD 2021 Dungeon is Back."

SONY MARVEL U - From YouTube:  Sony has released the official trailer for "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," which is due in theaters Sept. 24, 2021.

MILLARWORLD - From FastCompany:  Is Netflix using "Jupiter's Legacy" to launch its own superhero universe?

DC CINEMA - From ComicBook:   "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot has confirmed what fellow "Justice League" actor, Ray Fisher (Cyborg), has previously said:  Joss Whedon did indeed threaten her career, Gadot confirms in an interview with Israel television, "N12."

DARK HORSE - From TheBeat:  Dave McKean talks about his new comic, "Raptor: A Sokol Graphic Novel."

MARVEL - From GamesRadar:   Artist John Romita, Jr., who is returned to Marvel Comics, has drawn some promotional art for the upcoming story arc, "The Trial of Magneto."

YAOI MANGA - From BleedingCool:  SuBLime Manga announces the release of four titles for "Pride Month" (June 2021), including "Dick Fight Island, Vol. 1."

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   Writer, Ram V, talks about bringing magic and myth to "The Swamp Thing" and "Catwoman."

DC TV - From DCBlog:  The DC Comics' title, "Naomi," is now a TV series from The CW.  "DC Blog" has a first look at the series' lead, Kaci Walfall.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel has announced that real-world celebrities will appear as characters in its "X-Men: Hellfire Gala" event story line.  One of them is Grammy Award winning rapper Eminem.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  DC Comics will resume publishing a print edition of its "DC Connect" monthly solicitations for retailers and readers.

MARK MILLAR - From Deadline:   Mark Millar talks to "Deadline." One of the bits of news from the Q&A is that the series adaptation of Millar's comic book, "The Magic Order," is back on track with Netflix.

 

From Deadline:   Mark Millar, comics creators and Netflix exec, has announced several new film and TV projects based upon his creator-owned comic books.

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COMICS TO FILM - From THR:   Actress Hannah John-Kamen, who played Ava Starr/Ghost in "Ant-Man and the Wasp" has reportedly been cast as the lead in Millennium Film's "Red Sonja."  The character was created for Marvel Comics' "Conan the Barbarian" comic book and was an amalgamation of several Conan the Cimmerian characters created by the late Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan.

COMICS - From WeGotThisCovered:  Robert Kirkman, the co-creator of "The Walking Dead" comic book, is working on working on a film that will be a spin-off of "Dracula."  Kirkman says the film will be "an extremely violent comedy."

DC CINEMA - From CBR:   Actor Michael B. Jordan offers an update on the live-action "Static Shock" film that he is producing.  The film has a writer and a draft is coming together.

DC CINEMA - From THR:   Apparently, Warner Bros. Pictures is committed to hiring a black actor to play Superman and also to hiring a black director to helm the film.  The film is currently being written by an African-American, Ta-Nehisi Coates.

INTERVIEW - From 2000AD:  "The Walking Dead" comic book artist, Charlie Adlard, talks about life before and after "The Walking Dead."

LOS BROS - From YouTube:   "Love and Rockets" creators, brother Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, were live at this year's virtual MoCCA fest in this video.

FANTAGRAPHICS - From ComixExperience:   In a rare video interview, Barry Windsor-Smith talks about comics and his new book, "Monsters."

From IGN:   The site has nine preview images from Barry Windsor Smith's "Monsters."

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MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The site has learned that Oscar-winning screenwriter and also comic book writer, John Ridley, will be the writer of a new "Black Panther" comic book series with Juann Cabal as the artist.  The new series will reportedly begin in August.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:    The mutant character, "Fantomex" will headline the prose novel, "Triptych."  The novel is part of Marvel and Aconyte Books' "Xavier's Institute" line.

TITAN COMICS - From YouTube:  Titan has produced a preview video trailer for its new comic book series, "ExtraOrdinary," which is set in the world of author V.E. Schwab's "Vicious" and "Vengeful" novels.

ALAN MOORE - From TheGuardian: Two years after announcing that he had retired from comics, Alan Moore, the illustrious author of Watchmen and V for Vendetta, has signed a six-figure deal for a “groundbreaking” five-volume fantasy series as well as a “momentous” collection of short stories.

ARCHIE - From BleedingCool:  The site has a preview of the new trade paperback collection, "She's Josie."  The book reprints stories from various "Josie" comic books published by Archie Publications in the 1960s.  Eventually, the title would become known as "Josie and the Pussycats."

EN MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool:  The veteran American comic book artist, John Paul Leon, has died at the age of 49, Saturday, May 1, 2021.  Although Leon began his professional career with Dark Horse Comics, he first gained fame drawing the groundbreaking comic book series, "Static," for DC Comics' Milestone Comics imprint.  His most recent work was the four-issue miniseries, "Batman: Creature of the Night" (2018-20) with writer Kurt Busiek.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   Arriving July 20th is the first issue of a four-issue "Shazam" miniseries that spins out of "Teen Titans Academy."

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  DC's new horror imprint, "DC Horror," will launch with a tie-in comic book to the upcoming film, "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It."

BLACK COMICS - From LATimes:  Comics have been racist for decades, and a new generations of African-American comics creators are re-inventing them.

MANGA - From CBR:   Mangaka Naoki Urasawa, the renowned "Monster" and "20th Century Boys" author, is launching his next project: an official YouTube art channel.

ARCHIE - From BleedingCool:   Here is a preview of FCBD 2021 Archie Past Present & Future Fun.  The comic book is described as a sort of "Crisis on Infinite Archies," and will be given away on Free Comic Book Day, which has been moved to August 14th.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Here is a first look at "Heroes Reborn Young Squadron #1."

DC TV - From DCBlog:  Actor Finn Wittrock will play "Green Lantern/Guy Gardner" in the HBO Max series, "Green Lantern." 

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Here is a first look "Reptil #1," the first issue of the upcoming Marvel Comics four-issue miniseries.

DC CINEMA - From VeroZackSnyder:  "Justice League" director Zack Snyder has posted some production photos of actor Wayne T. Carr filming scenes as John Stewart/Green Lantern for "Zack Snyder's Justice League."  Warner Bros. did allow those scenes to be included in the final film.

CARD COLLECTING - From VICE:   There is some kind of dire situation going on in the world of collecting "Pokemon" cards ... according to the website, "Vice."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics announced a new middle-grade original graphic novel starring Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel set to hit stores in September 2021 from writer Nadia Shammas and artist Nabi.

DC COMICS - From SupermanHomepage:   July 2021 begins a new era for DC Comics' "Superman" line of titles.  New direction means new logos, and artist Darran Robinson gives readers a look at his designs for the new logos for several "Superman" titles.

DC FILMS - From Deadline:  "Young Rock" actor, Uli Latukefu, who plays the college football era Dwayne Johnson on the NBC hit series, is reuniting with the action star for New Line/DC’s "Black Adam."

DC FILMS - From BleedingCool:  Voice actress, Stana Katic, talks about the new animated DVD film, "Justice Society: World War II," and the character she plays in the film, Wonder Woman.

DC CINEMA - From BleedingCool:  Voice actress, Elysia Rotaru, talks about the new animated DVD film, "Justice Society: World War II," and the character she plays in the film, Black Canary.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:   The blog details the big changes coming to the Superman line of titles in July.

 

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MAY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Comic House for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2021

From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for May 2021

JUNE 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for June 2021 

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Eaglemoss for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Hero Collector for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for June 2021

From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for June 2021 

 

JULY 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Hero Collectors for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Entertainment for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2021

From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for July 2021

AUGUST 2021 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day for August 14, 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Action Lab for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Artists, Writers & Artisans for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Behemoth for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Black Mask for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2021 

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Second Sight Publishing for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2021

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2021

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#IReadsYou Review: JOHN CONSTANTINE Hellblazer #1

JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER #1
DC COMICS/DC Black Label – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Simon “Si” Spurrier
ART: Aaron Campbell
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Aditya Bidikar
EDITOR: Chris Conroy
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: John Paul Leon
VARIANT COVER: Charlie Adlard
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2020)

“Ages 17+”

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

“A Green and Pleasant Land, Part One”

John Constantine is a DC Comics character, an anti-hero, magus, con man, troubleshooter, and occult detective.  He was originally created by writer Alan Moore and artists Steve Bissette and John Totleben as a supporting character in the horror comic book series, The Saga of the Swamp Thing (1982), first appearing in issue #37 (cover dated: June 1985).  John Constantine starred in his own comic book series, Hellblazer, which ran for a quarter-century, beginning with Hellblazer #1 (cover date: January 1988) and ending with Hellblazer #300 (cover date: April 2013).  In Hellblazer (the first of  four series), the character was further defined and refined by writer Jamie Delano and artist John Ridgway.

John Constantine: Hellblazer is the fifth and newest John Constantine comic book series.  It is written by Simon Spurrier; drawn by Aaron Campbell; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Aditya Bidikar.  John Constantine: Hellblazer and its one-shot prologue (of sorts), The Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer, brings John Constantine back to the mature-readers, supernatural setting in which the character existed for the first three decades.

John Constantine: Hellblazer #1 (“A Green and Pleasant Land, Part One”) finds John Constantine back in London, after being abroad for quite some time.  Constantine is a bit perturbed to discover that London has changed enough that his jokes offend everyone.  The young people speak a language and a slang that the now-old-man Constantine does not.  And the young women don't drop their panties as soon as John starts working his charm.

However, there is someone who really wants Constantine.  K-Mag, also known as “the Haruspex,” is the kingpin of a local drug gang, “the Ri-Boys.”  K-Mag dabbles in magic, but he is apparently not strong enough to stop a supernatural force that tears apart any Ri-Boys trying to sell drugs in a local public park.  That's where John is supposed to help...

I thought that The Sandman Universe Presents Hellblazer was, except in a few places, a disappointing and mediocre comic book.  Thus, I only bought John Constantine: Hellblazer #1 because I usually buy the first issue of a Constantine comic book, but I did not expect much from it.  Surprise, surprise:  I am glad that I tried this new first issue.

In John Constantine: Hellblazer #1, Simon Spurrier's story recalls the classic, gritty, noir-ish, dark fantasy vibe of the original Hellblazer comic book.  It is as if Spurrier is doing his best Jamie Delano  impersonation.  This first issue is by no means perfect.  I am a little perplexed about the characters and the plot of “A Green and Pleasant Land,  Part One,” but I still am intrigued.

Artist Aaron Campbell is also doing his best John Ridgway impersonation in recalling the alluring, occult vibe of Ridgway's early art on the original Hellblazer.  Campbell's storytelling is gritty, scratchy, and looks like cinematography in post-World War II, American urban crime films.  Jordie Bellaire's coloring brings out the danger and the dangerous atmosphere in this story.  Letterer Aditya Bidikar changes the fonts in ways that convey the dark mode and darker moods of this tale.

So I intend to read more John Constantine: Hellblazer.  I have hopes – hopes that this new series can pick up where the original Hellblazer left off in 2013.

B+
7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: BATMAN: Creature of the Night #1

BATMAN: CREATURE OF THE NIGHT No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kurt Busiek
ART/COLORS: John Paul Leon
LETTERS: Todd Klein
COVER: John Paul Leon
48pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated “T+” for “Teen Plus”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Book One: “I Shall Become...”

Batman: Creature of the Night is a four-issue, prestige comic book miniseries published by DC Comics.  It is written by Kurt Busiek and drawn and colored by John Paul Leon.  Todd Klein, one of the all-time greats, does the lettering for this series.  Creature of the Night takes place in a real world-like setting in which Batman is a fictional character.

Batman: Creature of the Night #1 (“I Shall Become...”) introduces an eight-year boy named Bruce Wainwright, who is a huge fan of Batman.  Of course, he loves reading Batman comic books, and he surrounds himself with products bearing Batman's image.  Frankly, the little fellow is obsessed with Batman.  In fact, when Bruce tells people his name, he pronounces it “Wain...wright,” putting an obvious pause between “Wain” and “wright.”

Bruce has an great-uncle, Alton Frederick Jepson (the only living relative on either side of Bruce's family).  The boy has taken the “Al” in the first name and “Fred” in the second and turned his uncle into Uncle Alfred, like Batman's butler, Alfred Pennyworth.  Bruce even thinks of his hometown of Boston as Gotham City.

It is all fun and games, until that Halloween night when Bruce's parents, Carole and Henry Wainwright, are brutally murdered.  As Bruce's grief and rage grow in the aftermath of his parents' murders, something strange takes flight in Boston.

Batman: Creature of the Night is apparently the spiritual companion to the 2004 miniseries, Superman: Secret Identity, also written by Kurt Busiek (and drawn by Stuart Immonen).  Batman: Creature of the Night puts a spin on the world and fictional mythology of Batman.  This series seems to ask, what if Batman could exist in the real world?

This first issue, however, focuses not only on young Bruce Wainwright's grief and rage over his parents' murders, but also on his bitterness about his fate, especially because he feels abandoned by those who should care, to one extent or another, about him and what he needs.  In a way, this first issue deals with a child who experiences a break from reality, something that seems possible because of his total obsession not only with Batman, but also with being like Batman.  All of it is in the context of the great loss which he has suffered.

Kurt Busiek delivers powerful character development.  Busiek does not focus only on Bruce's Batman obsession; he also depicts a child in crisis, struggling with where his life is going, even as those who could help him to truly move forward only lie to themselves that they are doing what is best for young Bruce.  The result is potent and engaging character drama, simply because the reader can find young Bruce Wainwright fascinating or a fascinating character study.

Artist John Paul Leon conveys all of this in art and graphics that capture not so much a gritty reality as it does a tortured soul.  Leon creates effective storytelling that depicts Bruce's crisis and perhaps, his fanaticism and the fantastical elements, all of which are equally powerful and interesting.

Todd Klein, as always, is not merely a letterer; he is a graphical artist as much as the illustrator.  His lettering captures Busiek's shifting points of view from character to character – not just in external dialogue, but also in the internal monologue.  He does this using an array of visually striking fonts.  Klein plays a big part in keeping the readers in suspense regarding the mystery of Batman: Creature of the Night's phantom player.  Is it a break with reality or the arrival of something fantastic, but real?

Batman: Creature of the Night #1 is the real deal.  It is not just another Bat-book, and it certainly makes me want to get the second issue.

9 out of 10

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


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

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Review: SHERIFF OF BABYLON #1

THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON No. 1
DC COMICS/Vertigo – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Tom King
ART: Mitch Gerads
COLORS: Mitch Gerads
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: John Paul Leon
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2016)

Suggested for mature readers

The Sheriff of Babylon is a new comic book series from writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads.  Published by DC Comics' imprint, Vertigo, this eight-issue miniseries opens in Baghdad, Iraq in February 2004.  That is 10 months after the fall of Baghdad in the wake of the United States-led coalition's invasion of Iraq.

The Sheriff of Babylon #1 introduces Christopher, a former Florida police officer who believes that his failure to follow a lead led to a catastrophe.  Now in the U.S. Army, Chris trains men in Baghdad to serve in the new Iraqi police force (because someone thought it was a great idea to disband the “old” Iraqi police force).

When one of his trainees, Ali Al Fahar, turns up dead, Chris is expected to deal with the situation.  For help, Chris calls on Sofia, a former Iraqi exile who has returned to Baghdad in order to take control of the city's criminal underworld.

I am intrigued by the premise of The Sheriff of Babylon, and I am aware of that premise because I obtained a copy of the Vertigo 2015 Preview (which was provided free to customers at comic book shops).  In fact, that preview has more about The Sheriff of Babylon's characters and premise in two paragraphs than in the entirety of first issue of the actual comic book itself.

I know that this is the comic book world in which we live.  As a friend of mine always says, first issues are now teasers in which you do not find out about the series so much as you get a taste of it.  So, if The Sheriff of Babylon #1 is a taste, it is, as I said mere sentences ago, an intriguing taste.

Tom King's Baghdad circa 2004 is every bit the disaster news reporting, documentary films, and television media claimed it was.  No one seems to know what is going on.  Everyone is ready to pass a problem along to someone else.  There is a vast network of people who might be able to help you, but there is certainly always someone who needs your help.

As far as the art by Mitch Gerads, it is standard Vertigo fare, or at least standard as far as comics that depict military situations and criminal settings go.  I generally like such graphic styles.  That said, the storytelling is... well, intriguing.  I plan on trying at least one more issue.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: ROCKETEER ADVENTURES VOL. 2 #2

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES VOL. 2 #2
IDW PUBLISHING

WRITERS: Tom Taylor, Paul Dini, Walter Simonson
ARTISTS: Colin Wilson, Bill Morrison, John Paul Leon
COLORS: Dave Stewart, Serban Cristescu
LETTERS: Robbie Robbins, Chris Mowry, Shawn Lee
PIN-UP: J. Scott Campbell with John Rauch
EDITOR: Scott Dunbier
COVERS: Darwyn Cooke (A, C), Dave Stevens (B)
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

Inspired by the Saturday matinee movie heroes of the 1930s and 40s, The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly. The Rocketeer’s adventures are set mainly in Los Angeles in and after the year 1938. The character was created by artist and illustrator, Dave Stevens, who died in March of 2008.

After a long absence from comics, The Rocketeer returned in 2011 in Rocketeer Adventures. Edited by Scott Dunbier and published by IDW Publishing, this four-issue, anthology comic book was a tribute to Stevens and featured Rocketeer short stories (about 7 to 8 pages in length) from some of the premiere creators in American comic books. The tributes continue in Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2.

Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 #2 opens with “Work to Do,” story by Tom Taylor and art by Colin Wilson, which places The Rocketeer on a European battlefield with a job to do. In “Betty’s Big Break,” writer Paul Dini and artist Bill Morrison take our hero to the set of a B-movie where he becomes a “Rocket Rustler,” much to Betty’s chagrin. Writer Walter Simonson and artist John Paul Leon send The Rocketeer flying like a flying monkey to save a special young lady in “Autograph.”

I found the first issue of Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 to be a tad bit over the top as a tribute to a respected, deceased artist. Why? While honoring Dave Stevens’ memory, the slam bang action that is The Rocketeer lost its pop and became like something preserved in amber and golden hues. Rocketeer Adventures Vol. 2 #2 is different. These three Rocketeer stories read like real Rocketeer stories and not tributes meant to be placed in the burial chamber of some great figure’s tomb.

“Work to Do” is a gritty battlefield fantasia with heart and pop. As for the second story: I’ve long been perplexed with the popularity of Paul Dini’s comic book work. I’m sure that he has an entire wing devoted to him at the Academy of the Overrated. I have found enjoyment in a few of his comic book stories; “Betty’s Big Break” is one of them. I think it would make an excellent graphic novel if expanded. I don’t know if Walter Simonson has ever disappointed me; if he has, it was not by much. “Autograph” moves like an action movie, and its references to the late 1930s are wonderful.

I don’t think that I have to say anything about the artists who drew these stories. They are all consummate professionals and their graphic storytelling and art are sparkling. On the other hand, that J. Scott Campbell pin-up is rather ordinary. It’s like something Campbell would knock off while sitting at a convention table. Of course, he would over-charge for it, though it’s worth no more than 25 bucks.

A-

I Reads You Review: STATIC SHOCK SPECIAL 1

STATIC SHOCK SPECIAL 1
DC COMICS

WRITERS: Felicia D. Henderson; Matt Wayne
PENCILS: Denys Cowan; John Paul Leon
INKS: Rodney Ramos, Prentis Rollins, and John Stanisci; John Paul Leon
COLORIST: Lee Loughridge; Noelle Giddings
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
PIN-UPS: Keron Grant, Jamal Igle with Guy Major, Eric Battle with John Kalisz, John Rozum, and Derec Donovan
TEXT: Michael Davis, Derek T. Dingle
COVER: J.H. Williams, III
44pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

Released to comic book shops about two weeks ago, Static Shock Special 1 (cover dated August 2011) is more than just another comic book featuring the most popular Milestone Comics character, Static. Static Shock Special (hopefully the first of many Milestone specials) is also a memorial to Dwayne McDuffie.

McDuffie, a longtime comic book writer for DC Comics and Marvel Comics (where he was also an editor), died earlier this year in February. McDuffie’s death seems like a blow to diversity in comic books – meaning more African-American characters and creators, particularly writers. It was a heartrending loss to me, as I’d always hoped to one day work with McDuffie.

McDuffie, along with artist Denys Cowan, writers Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle, created Milestone Media and the Dakota Universe, a comics universe that included characters like Static, Hardware, Icon, and Blood Syndicate, among others. Milestone Media also created the Milestone comics imprint, which was published through DC Comics. Despite producing some good and, in some cases, brilliant comics, Milestone found the direct sales comics market hostile to it (for various reasons). Within four years, Milestone was no longer producing comic books. You can’t keep a great thing down, and Milestone Comics lives on with the Dakota Universe characters folded into the DC Universe proper.

Death and remembrance and legacy and legend are the prominent themes and ideas in Static Shock Special 1. The opening story is by Felicia D. Henderson (story) and Denys Cowan (pencil art). The issue begins with Virgil Ovid Hawkins AKA Static, waiting by the gates of River Green State Penitentiary. Virgil’s uncle, Teshomé Gabriel Hawkins (his father’s older brother), is being freed after spending a decade in prison for several murders that he did not commit.

As Teshomé tells his nephew, “A Black man’s never free,” so Static takes on an old prison rival who wants to kill Teshomé. His name is Blinder, a “bang baby” (someone who gained superpowers during the Big Bang event that gave Virgil his powers). It’s Static to the rescue, but even his powers can’t stop a tragic turn of events.

Also, Static and the young heroine, Rocket, join Dwayne McDuffie in a defiant memorial from writer Matt Wayne and artist John Paul Leon. It’s the best two-page comic I’ve read in a long time.

Felicia D. Henderson’s Static tale captures everything that made Static unique, fun to read, and socially relevant – from the social commentary (Teshomé’s plight and fate) to Static’s matchless superhero style. Denys Cowan remains a brilliant visual stylist and skillful comics storyteller. Here, Cowan captures the Kirbyesque energy of super-powered fights, the cool but simmering defiance of the hero, and the cold-bloodied injustice of the just-ice… I mean justice system. Henderson and Cowan left me wanting more.

You may find Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle’s text pieces informative, and they are. They suggest, however, that the best parts of the stories of Milestone Media and Dwayne McDuffie are yet to be told.

A

[This comic book contains a bonus comic insert, a tie-in with the movie Super 8. It is written by Peter Tomasi, drawn and colored by Tommy Lee Edwards, and lettered by John Workman, with a cover by Alex Ross.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

I Reads You Review: MILESTONE FOREVER #2

MILESTONE FOREVER #2

DC COMICS

WRITER: Dwayne McDuffie

PENCILS/INKS: John Paul Leon (framing sequence)
PENCILS: Denys Cowan, ChrisCross
INKS: Prentis Rollins, Rob Still
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COLORS: Snakebite
COVER: Admira
48pp, Color, $5.99

Milestone was an imprint of DC Comics, active in producing comic books from 1993 through 1997. It was the creation of Milestone Media, a collective of African-American comic book creators. Milestone focused on comic books featuring minority characters, specifically African-American superheroes. Several titles appeared under the imprint, including Hardware, Icon, and Blood Syndicate. One of them, Static, was developed into an Emmy Award winning animated series, Static Shock.

After Milestone Media shuttered the imprint, Milestone’s characters mostly disappeared, although some made appearances in various DC Comics series. In the summer of the 2008, Dwayne McDuffie, a Milestone Media co-founder, announced that the Milestone characters would be merged into the DC Universe. That was a business decision, involving legal matters. Published early last year, Milestone Forever dealt with the fictional matters. It was a two-issue miniseries that provided the fictional depiction of Milestone’s universe, the “Dakotaverse,” merging with the DCU.

Milestone Forever focuses on a character named Dharma, the god-like being who initiated the “Big Bang,” the event that gave characters like Static their superpowers. Dharma believes that one of the Dakotaverse stars is the superhero who can save existence, thus, keeping Dharma from doing something dreadful. But which hero is the savior? In Milestone Forever #2, Dharma looks towards Hardware and Static. One is at a crossroads, however, and the other is having an adventure through his future.

As much as I liked the first issue of Milestone Forever, this second issue is a big improvement over the first. The first issue came across as a nostalgic piece of 1980s superhero fight comics, but #2 just seems nostalgic, a sentiment I share. The Hardware story, drawn by the incomparable Denys Cowan, and the Static story, drawn by the underrated ChrisCross, simultaneously celebrates the two characters in a low key way and pines for what was and will likely never again be.

Cowan’s art, great on its own, takes flight thanks to Snakebite’s fiery colors, and the art once again testifies to the potential that the Hardware comic book not only had but reached. Snakebite’s dazzling array of hues make the ChrisCross drawn story a tale that recalls both Static’s four-color foundation and its gritty take on it.

But Dwayne McDuffie must always get his due. He is a thoroughly underrated writer, and here, his magic is not in merging two universes, but rather in affirming that Milestone superhero comic books weren’t a stunt. They were the real fucking deal.

A-

I Reads You Review: MILESTONE FOREVER #1

MILESTONE FOREVER No. 1

DC COMICS

WRITER: Dwayne McDuffie

PENCILS/INKS: John Paul Leon (framing sequence)
PENCILS: Mark D. Bright
INKS: Romeo Tanghal
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COLORS: Snakebite
COVER: Admira
48pp, Color, $5.99

Milestone was a comics imprint published through DC Comics’ from 1993 through 1997. The brainchild of Milestone Media, a collective of African-American comic book creators, the imprint produced comic books featuring minority characters, specifically African-American characters and superheroes. The imprint published several titles including Hardware, Icon, and Blood Syndicate. One of them, Static, gave birth to an Emmy Award winning animated series, Static Shock.

Except for sporadic appearances in DC Comics series, Milestone’s characters mostly disappeared. In the summer of the 2008, Milestone Media co-founder Dwayne McDuffie announced that the Milestone characters would be merged into the DC Universe. Milestone’s universe was known as the “Dakotaverse,” named for the fictional Midwestern city, Dakota, where most of the early stories were set. Published earlier this year, Milestone Forever is the event comic book miniseries that chronicled the events leading to that merger.

Milestone Forever #1 stars the core Milestone characters, but opens with a framing sequence focusing on a character named Dharma. He initiated the “Big Bang,” the event gave characters like Static their superpowers. Now, Dharma needs those same superheroes to save the universe. Meanwhile, the Dakotaverse heroes are having their own issues. They are caught in a struggle begun by Holocaust between the old and new versions of the Blood Syndicate.

Thanks to the pencil art of Mark D. Bright, Milestone Forever #1 has a thoroughly 1980s vibe. Bright’s page design often emphasizes large panels, half-splash pages, and sometimes full splash pages – the better to capture superhero combat. The style recalls John Byrne’s art on his short run on the Hulk in the mid-80s and John Romita, Jr.’s art on Cable and Uncanny X-Men in the early 1990s. This is old school superhero comics (in a good way), but with colorist Snakebite’s fiery hues to give the art a modern touch.

I like Milestone, more now than I did in its original incarnation, but I don’t know if Dwayne McDuffie’s script offers anything new that would attract readers who ignored Milestone a decade-and-half ago. For Milestone fans, this is a nice goodbye that looks like the way it used to be.

B+

[This issue has pin-up pages, including a Hardware illustration by J.H. Williams.]

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