Showing posts with label Jonathan Case. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonathan Case. Show all posts

Saturday, December 21, 2024

I Reads You Juniors: December 2024 - UPDATE #28

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

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

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

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

NEWS:

DC STUDIOS - From YouTube:  Here is the first official teaser for Warner Bros/DC Studios' July 11th-due film, "Superman."

DARK HORSE/NETFLIX - From ComicBookDark Horse Comics has announced the next new Netflix/Millarworld comic book series from writer Mark Miller.  Entitled "Vatican City," it is drawn by artist Per Berg.  Due to start in April 2025, the series is set in a world overrun by a vampire apocalypse.

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From Deadline:  The final film in Sony Animation’s "Spider-Verse" trilogy has found its directors.  Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson have been set to helm "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse."

DC STUDIOS - From GamesRadar:  The first episode of Max's DC Studios' animated series, "Creature Commandos," is available to stream free on YouTube.

FANTAGRAPHICS/MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics will collect Stan Lee's short-lived 1950s satirical comic book series, "Snafu," in a hardcover collection for the first time sometime next year (2025).  Published over three issues in 1955 and 1956 by Atlas Comics (which would later become Marvel Comics), it featured the work of such Atlas stalwarts as John Severin, Bill Everett, and Joe Maneely.

BOOM STUDIOS - From ComicsBeatBOOM! Studios has released a list of its entire slate of "20 for 20" graphics novels celebrating its twentieth anniversary.  The group of 20 graphic novels will cost $19.99 U.S. each and begins with the first release, "Deep State Complete Collection."

DC STUDIOS - From YouTube:  The "DC Studios Showcase" podcast features a discussion with DC Studios co-boss James Gunn about the first two episodes of the animated series, "Creature Commandos."

SONY SPIDER-MAN U - From IGNSony Pictures is reportedly ending its "Sony's Spider-Man Universe" (SSU) line of films, which includes the "Venom" films, as well as "Morbius," "Madame Web," and the just released "Kraven the Hunter," which will apparently be the final film in the line.

DC STUDIOS - From CBR:  HBO's "The Penguin" has become the first TV series based on a DC Comics character to receive a nomination at the Golden Globe Awards in the category of "Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television."  Additionally, series stars: Cristin Milioti ("Sofia Gigante") received a nomination for "Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television" and Colin Farrell ("Oz Cobb") received a nomination for "Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television." The winners at the 2025 / 82nd Annual Golden Globes will be announced in January.

MARVEL - From ComicsBeat:  "Ben Grimm/The Thing" will star in his own five-issue comic book miniseries written by Tony Fleecs and drawn by Leonard Kirk.  The first issue arrives in March 2025.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCoolDC Comics titles are at the discount chain, "Dollar Tree." DC has created over 38 "special editions" of some of its #1 issues at a $1.25 cover price for the retailer.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Artist Joe Quinones talks about his art and design work on "Batman '89" and on keeping the vision of Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" film alive in comic books.

DC STUDIOS - From BleedingCool:  "DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast" debuts with a two episodes on Friday, Dec 6th. New episodes will appear on "Max," Max's "YouTube" channel, and on other podcast outlets.  The podcast also has an official trailer.

IMAGE - From BleedingCoolTodd McFarlane will return as the writer of his long-running comic book, "Spawn," with issue #360, which is due January 1, 2025.

MARVEL - From ICv2: Marvel will publish omnibus-sized collections of its "Marvel Two-in-One" comic books, with the first volume set for release on June 18, 2025.  "Marvel Two-in-One" was a team-up book starring "Ben Grimm/The Thing" of the "Fantastic Four." "Marvel Two-in-One Omnibus, Vol. 1," will open with "Marvel Feature No's 11 and 12," the first two comic books to feature The Thing in a team-up."

EC COMICS - From GamesRadarOni Press is reviving the "EC Comics" line.  The vampire tale, "Blood Type," from writer Corinna Bechko and artist Jonathan Case, will be the first serialized story published by the new line.  It will be presented in "EC Comics Present Blood Type #0," which is a "Free Comic Book Day 2025" title (May 3rd).

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

NOVEMBER 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Abrams Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Afterlight Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Batman" titles for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Void Rival" for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Invaders Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Magma Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scratch Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Stranger Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Sumerian Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Z2 Comics for November 2024
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for November 2024

DECEMBER 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Abrams Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  BlackBox Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dren Productions for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Ghost Machine" titles for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics Todd McFarlane titles for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Magma Comix for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Penthouse Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics "Conan" titles for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for December 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for December 2024

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

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

MARCH 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Amazing Spider-Man" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "One World Under Doom" titles for March 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Comics" titles for March 2025

MAY 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day 2025 titles for May 2025

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


Sunday, May 28, 2017

Review: FUTURE QUEST #2

FUTURE QUEST No. 2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jeff Parker – @JeffParker
ARTISTS: Evan “Doc” Shaner – @DocShaner (p. 1-13); Ron Randall (p. 20-27); Jonathan Case (p. 19-22)
COLORS: Jordie Bellaire – @whoajordie
LETTERS: ALW Studios' Dave Lanphear
COVER: Evan “Doc” Shaner
VARIANT COVERS: Jill Thompson
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2016)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Part Two: “Visitors from Beyond”

Future Quest is one of four comic books produced by DC Comics that re-imagine and re-interpret classic television series and characters created by American animation studio, Hanna-Barbera.  Future Quest brings the stars of Hanna-Barbera's action, sci-fi, and superhero TV series together.  That includes “Jonny Quest,” “Space Ghost,” “The Herculoids,” “Birdman,” “Frankenstein Jr.,” “The Galaxy Trio,” “The Impossibles,” and “Mightor.”

Future Quest is written by Jeff Parker; primarily drawn by Evan “Doc” Shaner; colored by Jordie Bellaire; and lettered by Dave Lanphear.  So far, the main focus of Future Quest is the cast of “Jonny Quest” (referred to as “Team Quest”):  Jonny Quest; his adopted brother, Hadji; his father, Dr. Benton Quest; family bodyguard, Race Bannon; and, of course, Jonny's dog, Bandit.

Future Quest #2 (“Visitors from Beyond”) opens with the cast of “The Herculoids” and “Space Ghost” fighting the Omnikron, some kind of reality-devouring entity.  Back on Earth, “Team Quest” and their new friend, Ty, find an “alien” visitor.  Now, they have to protect the visitor and themselves from the forces of longtime Quest nemesis, Dr. Zin.

I was initially cynical about DC's Hanna-Barbera comics, and I still am about the other three.  However, I am in total love with Future Quest.  Jeff Parker is doing some of the best storytelling ever done for Hanna-Barbera's sci-fi and superhero characters.  Hell, it might be the best.  When people talk about wanting more comic books that are fun to read, Parker's ears must burn because they are talking about his comics, especially Future Quest.

Parker's partner-in-crime (against mediocre comic books) is Evan “Doc” Shaner.  His drawing style is clean, recalling animation art and the cool and slick flair of John Romita, Sr.  Shaner's Future Quest compositions are wide open, and that perfectly captures the youthful enthusiasm and sense of adventure that permeates classic “Johnny Quest.”  It is telling that Ron Randall and Jonathan Case, the artists who draw the second half of Future Quest #2 and who are fine artists themselves, take their graphical cues from Shaner.  “Doc” is the boss.

In my review of Future Quest #1, I wondered if future issues of Future Quest could be as good – long term – as I thought the first issue was.  Future Quest #2 is as good.  I can't imagine this series falling apart form here, but then, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the 2015-16 NBA Champions and not the Golden State Warriors.

A

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


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

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

Saturday, July 27, 2013

I Reads You Review: BATMAN '66 #1

BATMAN ’66 #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Jeff Parker
ARTIST/COLORS: Jonathan Case
LETTERS: Wes Abbott
COVER: Michael Allred and Laura Allred
VARIANT COVER: Jonathan Case
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2013)

Rated E (Everyone)

Batman ’66 is one of DC Comics’ digital-first comics.  These digital comics are initially released in a digital format to be read on computers, smart phones, and other handheld devices.  Print editions follow digital publication.

Batman ’66 is inspired by the classic American TV series, “Batman,” from 20th Century Fox Television and Greenway Productions.  Batman was a live action television series based on the DC Comics comic book character, Batman, and starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, the two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City.  “Batman’s” original run on television lasted for three seasons, from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968, for a total of 120 episodes.

Batman ’66 #1 is the print comic book edition of the opening story, “The Riddler’s Ruse,” from writer Jeff Parker and artist Jonathan Case.  The story opens in Gotham Park, where millionaire Bruce Wayne and his “youthful ward,” Dick Grayson, are on hand for the awarding of the Lady Gotham statuette to the Gotham Police Department.

The festivities are interrupted by The Riddler, who is determined to steal the Lady Gotham, professing a need to protect the work of the statuette’s creator, the late artist, Oskar Villkoop.  Is he really an art lover?  The Dynamic Duo will need the help of another arch-nemesis, the slinky Catwoman, to solve The Riddler’s latest baffling crime conundrum.  Holy Strange Bedfellows, Batman!

I first discovered the “Batman” TV series ages ago when a local television station began airing the show in syndication.  I instantly fell in love with the series, and that the show did not resemble the Batman comic books I was reading at the time did not bother me.  I was surprised to discover that quite a few comic book fans hated “Batman.”  The editors of the Comics Buyers Guide, a weekly publication of comic book news, features, and collectibles, once claimed that “Batman” was the primary reason the public at large did not take comic books seriously.

With DC Comics’ recent announcement of Batman ’66, a comic inspired by the series, I had the opportunity to discover that there are many comic book fans who loved the show.  And we have reason to cheer.  Batman ’66 is the decades-old TV show embodied in comic book form.

Batman ’66 is not a great work of comic book art, but it is a great comic book.  Please, allow me to explain.  Batman ’66 is not Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in terms of its impact on Batman the character and on superhero comics (as TDKR has been for the last quarter-century).  However, for me, Batman ’66 and TDKR are alike because the latter was the kind of comic book that was so much fun for me to read that I read it over and over again.  The first time I read TDKR, it so stunned me that I immediately read it again.  My copy could not be in “Mint” or “Near Mint” condition just from the wear I put on that comic book through repeated readings.

I can’t stop flipping through Batman ’66.  I had so much fun reading it.  That it is so much like the old TV show makes me think Jeff Parker and Jonathan Case are in need of an exorcism.  Surely, they made a deal with some kind of supernatural entity to pull this off.  The witty asides, the droll humor, the campy style, the colorful milieu, the corny moralizing, and Batman’s let’s-all-follow-the-rules approach to everything:  it’s all here; “Batman” is back.

I love Jonathan Case’s eye-popping, pop art aesthetic.  It references “Batman” without being slavish to it.  The composition and graphic design form a wild style that recalls Neal Adams and also the angular photography of the television show.  The art moves and grooves, and Case makes the coloring mimic an old-fashioned two or three-color 3D comic book.  Give that man an Eisner nod.

Jeff Parker and Jonathan Case have put fun first in this new comic.  Digital or print: Batman ’66 is a winner.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux