Showing posts with label Jules Feiffer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jules Feiffer. Show all posts

Friday, January 31, 2025

I Reads You Juniors: January 2025 - UPDATE #51

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.

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NEWS:

DC STUDIOS - From DeadlineJames Gunn shares a first look at Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl as the "Supergirl" movie begins filming.

AWARDS - From BleedingCool:  The nominations for the 2025 / 36th GLAAD Media Awards have been announced.  The awards do honor comic books in the categories "Outstanding Comic Book" and "Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology."  In the "Comic Book" category, 7 of the 10 nominated works were published by either Marvel or DC Comics.  This article includes a list of the nominations in the other categories.  The winners will be announced March 27th.

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolChris Claremont will write and Damian Couceiro will draw a new five-issue "Wolverine and Kitty Pryde" miniseries.  It will be the follow-up to Claremont's classic 1985 miniseries, "Kitty Pryde and Wolverine," which was drawn by the Al Milgrom.  The adventure begins April 30th.

EN MEMORIAM - From TheNewYorkTimes:  The cartoonist and author, Jules Feiffer, has died at the age of 95, Friday, January 17, 2025.  In the mid-1940s, at the age of 17, Feiffer became the assistant to the legendary comics creator, Will Eisner, and helped Eisner write and draw his comics strips, including "The Spirit."  In 1956, Feiffer became a staff cartoonist at "The Village Voice" where he produced his weekly comic strip, "Feiffer," until 1997.  At one time, he was considered the most widely read satirist in the United States, and he won a "Pulitzer Prize" for political cartoons in 1986.

You can read my reviews of Feiffer's graphic novels, Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel (2014) and Cousin Joseph: A Graphic Novel (2016), by clinking on the titles, which I have made into links. I have not gotten around to reading "The Ghost Script: A Graphic Novel," the third book in the series.

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From BleedingCool:  The comic book artist, Arthur "Art" Nichols, has died at the age of 63, Monday, January 20, 2025.  He may be best known for his pencil art on Valiant Comics' "Magnus the Robot Fighter" revival in the early 1990s.  He also drew such issues of such titles as "Conan," "The Ray," "Spider-Man," "Star Wars," "Team Titans," and "X-Men."

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolAbrams' "Marvel Arts" imprint had announced an "Avengers" original graphic novel, "The Avengers in the Veracity Trap," May 2025.  It is written by Chip Kidd and drawn by Michael Cho.  It has been delayed to August 5, 2025.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Here is an early look at DC Comics April 2025 solicitations, as well as an early look at Free Comic Book Day 2025 offerings.

DC STUDIOS - From WorldofReel:  Director Luca Guadagnino will start shooting his "Sgt. Rock" movie this fall (2025) with a planned Memorial Day 2026 release.  The film will be set in James Gunn's DCU and will feature Daniel Craig in the title role.

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DIAMOND - From ComicsBeatDiamond Comic Distributors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of their restructuring, Diamond is selling its Alliance Game Distributors and Diamond UK division to Universal Distribution, the Canada-based distributor.  According to court filings, Universal has also agreed to acquire Alliance for $39 million. In addition, Diamond’s bank, JP Morgan Chase, has agreed to provide up to $41 million in debtor-in-possession financing to help Diamond get through the reorganization process. 

From BleedingCool:  In response to parent Diamond Comic Distributors' Chapter 11 bankruptcy announcement, Diamond UK says that it is "a profitiable and stable business."

From BleedingCool:  Here is a list of the top 30 companies to which Diamond Comic Distributors owes money. At #1, it owes Marvel Comics current distributor, Penguin Random House LLC, over 9.2 million dollars.

From BleedingCool:  Diamond's bankruptcy has left comics publisher American Mythology with unpaid bills and no distribution.  They might not make it, so they are asking fans to buy directly from their webstore.
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L.A. FIRES - From ComicBook:  Television writer-producer, Erik Kripke, has revealed that he and his family have lost their home and belongings in the Los Angeles fires.  Kripke created the The WB/The  CW supernatural drama, "Supernatural" (2005-2020) and Amazon's "The Boys," which is based on the Garth Ennis-Darick Robertson comic book series.

From BleedingCool:  Veteran comic book writer Mark Verheiden has lost his home in the Palisades fire.  Verheiden co-created the comic book "The American" and "Timecop," and wrote "Aliens" and "Predator" comic for Dark Horse Comics. Verheiden has also been a writer-producer on such television series as "Constantine" (NBC), "Daredevil" (Netflix), and "Smallville" (The WB), to name a few.

From BleedingCool:  Comic book artist, Andrew C. Robinson, has lost his home in the Eaton Canyon fires.  Robinson is known for his work on "The Fifth Beatle," "Conan," and "Batman," to name a few.

From BleedingCoolDavid M. Booher, the writer who co-created the hit kids' comic book, "Canto" (with artist Drew Zucker), has lost his home and possessions in the Eaton fire in Altadena, California.  He has set up a "GoFundMe" page.
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DC ANIMATION - From DCBlog:  Actress Zoe Chao talks about the "Creature Commandos" finale and her character, "Nina Mazursky."

CARTOONS - From BleedingCool:  "The Washington Post's" Pulitzer prize-winning editorial cartoonist, Ann Telnaes," has resigned from her position at the Post, over their decision to drop one of her cartoons because it was a) about Donald Trump and b) featured Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, along with Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook/Meta founder), Patrick Soon-Shiong ("Los Angeles Times" publisher) and Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) kneeling before Donald Trump offering money, while Mickey Mouse (in the wake of ABC News' settling a lawsuit against them brought by Trump) is fully prostrate.

DC STUDIOS - From THR:  Actor Jason Momoa, who previously played "Aquaman" in DC Comics films, will now play intergalactic bad-ass "Logo" in the DC Studios film, "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow."

TITAN COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Comic book artist Liam Sharp shows off his "Savage Sword of Conan" art for a book not yet announced by Titan Comics/Heroic Signatures.

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

APRIL 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Summer of Superman" titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate: titles for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2025
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for April 2025

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

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Saturday, June 30, 2018

I Reads You Juniors June 2018 - Update #46

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

RIP - From BleedingCool:  Comic book agent, David Campiti, remembers recently deceased artist, Bong Dazo ("Deadpool").

From BleedingCool:  eBay To Sell Digital Comic Books from Today

From BleedingCool:  See Lucas Turnbloom’s Harry Potter-Styled San Diego Public Library Card

RIP - From THR:  Famed and volatile speculative fiction and television writer, Harlan Ellison, has died.  He also wrote several comics books and many of his stories were adapted for comic books.

From TheBeat:  Updates from Ed Brubaker on "Kill or Be Killed" and more.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis says that DC Comics will promote his creator-owned comics more than Marvel did.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #166 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #166 in French.

From THR:  Tee Franklin's LGBTQ graphic novel, "Bingo Love" will return in a Vol. 2 and a new edition of Vol. 1.

From BleedingCool:  "The Trouble With Those 100 Page DC Comics From Walmart" by Rich Johnston.

From TheBeat:  Some retailers are outraged at the DC Comics-Wal-Mart exclusive deal that will see Wal-Mart exclusively carry four 100-page DC titles that will reprint stories, but also include original content.

From ComicBook:  Mike Colter, star of Marvel/Netflix's "Luke Cage," explains why Cage is not called "Power Man" in the series.

From Newsarama:  "Silk" is the latest character from the Spider-Man family that is being developed for film by Sony Pictures.

From Asahi:  "Golden Kamuy" creator, Satoru Noda, does his homework and research in depicting the Ainu ethnic group.  One of the lead characters, Asirpa, is Ainu.  "Golden Kamuy" is one of the best comic books being published today.

From BleedingCool:  Starting from the first of July, according to Bleeding Cool DC Comics and Walmart have done a deal to exclusively sell four one-hundred-page DC Comics anthology titles every month.  The comics will feature both old stories and brand-new content previously unavailable, including original Brian Micheal Bendis "Batman" and Tom King "Superman" 12-part serials.

From TCJ: Niki Smith talks about her erotic graphic novel, "Crossplay," which is set in the comics convention community.

From ComicCon:  2018 Bill Finger Awards for Excellence in Comic Book Writing have been announced.  Two influential women, Joye Murchison Kelly and Dorothy Roubicek Woolfolk, were honored.

From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books 2018 solicitations.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics rushing out to collections of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's "Superman" comic books:  "Superman: Braniac" and "Superman: Secret Origins."

From Deadline:  Mark Miller, Olivier Coipel, and Netflix's Image Comics title, "The Magic Order," is selling like hotcakes.

From THR:  Tee Franklin ("Bingo Love") talks about her upcoming socially conscious horror comic book series, "Jook Joint" (Image Comics, October 2018).

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #165 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #165 in French.

From YahooNews:  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has fired its editorial cartoonist, Rob Rogers, for being critical of President Trump.

From BleedingCool:  Stephan Frank talks about his wonderful vampire comic book series, "Silver," and launching a Kickstarter campaign to finish it.

From THR:  Marvel has announced the return of one of its "homo" and "freaking female" comic books.  "Iceman" (the home) and "The Unstoppable Wasp" (freaking female) are returning this fall.

From Polygon:  Batgirl will have a new direction, new comic book writer, and new costume.

From Crunchyroll:  "Tokyo Ghoul: re" manga ending soon.

From TheGuardian:  Mark Millar says "Netflix will take risks where a studio won't."

From Newsarama:  The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating claims that 95-year-old Stan Lee is the victim of elder abuse, related to Lee's business manager, Keya Morgan.

From Polygon:  A major DC Entertainment shake-up signals change for movies, TV, and comics

From BleedingCool:  Jim Lee and Dan DiDio got the "co" dropped from "co-publishers" and are now listed as "Publishers."

From Deadline:  Geoff Johns is leaving his job as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Entertainment (DC Comics).  Johns will move into a Warner Bros first-look producing deal where he will write movie vehicles to produce for Mad Ghost Productions.  Johns will also continue to work on existing films based on DC Comics properties.

From Vulture:  Many people are still shocked at the apparent recent suicide of celebrity chef and TV host, Anthony Bourdain.  Once upon a time, he wanted to draw comic books.

From TheBeat:  Longtime "MAD Magazines" cartoonist, Nick Meglin, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, June 2, 2018.

From SanFranChron:  A profile of 89-year-old writer, artist, cartoonist, and comic book creator, Jules Feiffer.

From AlbanyTimesUnion:  Shawn Pryor talks about the Kickstarter campaign for his comic book, "Lifted: Of Gods and Thieves."

From ANN:  The "Tokyo Ghoul: re" manga will reportedly make a big announcement on Thursday, June 14th, 2018.

From LATimes:  DC Comics relaunches its "Vertigo" imprint with a new name ("DC Vertigo") and seven new titles.

From BleedingCool:  The real Marvel Comics vs. DC Comics will happen when sales figures come out next week.

From BleedingCool:  Fabian Nicieza is writing a "World Cup" digital comic book for Marvel and ESPN.

From BleedingCool: DC Comics Advertises Metal Collection on AMC, SYFY, TBS, TNT, and TruTV

From SyFy:  Berger Books, an imprint of Dark Horse Comics, has announced a new science fiction title, "LaGuardia," written by Nnedi Okorafor and drawn by Tana Ford.

From ComicBook:  GameStop will apparently start selling comic books.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  23 Shogakukan Manga Magazines Launch Anti-Piracy Campaign

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive is going to collect Doug Moench's "Aztez Ace" and has initiated a Kickstarter campaign to publish the project.

From GeekTyrant:  The "Batman Ninja" movie will be adapted as a manga for "Monthly Hero's Magazine."

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ComiXology Announcement:

From Newsarama:  COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS Offers Print-On-Demand, Exclusive New Creator-Owned Titles for AMAZON PRIME

From WashPost:  ComiXology’s new move: A line of original, creator-owned comic books

From BleedingCool:  ComiXology introduces Amazon print-on-demand comics.

From BleedingCool: "ComiXology Originals" is opening June with a big announcement.

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From Otakukart:  Eden’s Zero Manga Reveals New Illustration.  New manga from the creator "Fairy Tail."


Monday, October 3, 2016

#IReadsYou Review: COUSIN JOSEPH: A Graphic Novel

COUSIN JOSEPH: A Graphic Novel
W.W. NORTON & COMPANY/Liveright – @wwnorton and @LiverightPub

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CARTOONIST:  Jules Feiffer
ISBN: 978-1-63149-065-1; hardcover (August 3, 2016)
128pp, Color, $27.95 U.S., $35.95 CAN

Born in 1929, Jules Feiffer is an American syndicated cartoonist, author, playwright, screenwriter, and comics creator.  He may be best known for his long-running comic strip, entitled Feiffer, which ran for 42 years in the venerable New York City weekly, The Village Voice.

Two years ago, Liveright, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company, published Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel, a brand-new, Film-Noir inspired graphic novel by Feiffer.  Kill My Mother opens in Bay City, California in the year 1933.  The story revolves around a woman named Elsie Hannigan and her estranged teenage daughter, Annie, who hates her mother.  Elsie is a widower, following the murder of her husband, Sam Hannigan, a policeman.  Elsie's life is hectic and complicated.  Her boss is her late husband's former partner, Neil Hammond, a hard-drinking, has-been private detective who takes shady jobs.  Hammond ends up murdered, the beginning of a mystery spread over a decade.

Feiffer's new comic book is entitled Cousin Joseph: A Graphic Novel, the follow-up to Kill My Mother.  Cousin Joseph is set in Bay City in 1931, two years before Kill My Mother opens, and it reveals why and how Sam Hannigan was killed.  Detective Sam Hannigan is a bare-knuckled, tough, no-nonsense cop who does not hesitate to use his fists to resolve a case or a dispute.  Sam is also a bag-man for a mysterious Hollywood power broker that he knows only as “Cousin Joseph.”  Sam delivers payoffs to other Hollywood types for Cousin Joseph, and if they don't comply with Cousin Joseph's demands, Sam also delivers brutal beatings.

Bay City is also roiling with labor unrest.  Hardy Knox, owner of the cannery, Knox Works, is facing a strike by his employees who are members of a union led by Billy Doyle.  Billy and Sam go way back, but Sam may have to call out his union-busting team, The Red Squad.  Sam knows that he is on a mission, but it may be the wrong mission – one that will make him enemies – some close to home and some quite deadly.

The first time I tried to read Kill My Mother, I stopped after a few pages.  I avoided the galley/review copy that the publisher Liveright has sent to me.  I finally forced myself to read Kill My Mother and ended up loving it.  I had no such problems with Cousin Joseph, for which I also received a galley, as I dove right into book.

Cousin Joseph is a quintessential American graphic novel and comic book, something rare.  Jules Feiffer not only tackles the complexities of the American dream, he also illustrates how Americans see it differently.  He even delves into the notion which some American have that the American dream is not for everyone who lives in America.  Only certain people can have the best of America, these people believe.  Everyone else:  the second class citizens, those with the wrong skin color, those who worship differently; is of an undesirable ethnic origin.  Those people have to know their place, and it ain't anywhere near the top.  For some, America is about dreams of a place at the top of society and joy of finally reaching that pinnacle.  For others, there is struggle and prejudice, and that is the way it should be, almost as if it were part of a natural order in a certain kind of America.

Years ago, I heard an old white lady tell someone that she loved movies like A Few Good Men (1992) because they reflected the best of us (America).  I like Cousin Joseph because it skins the American myth raw.  This comic book is about the story Americans tell themselves and the whole world, but Americans have no plan to make that myth the real thing.

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.

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Friday, September 5, 2014

#IReadsYou Review: KILL MY MOTHER: A Graphic Novel

KILL MY MOTHER: A Graphic Novel
W.W. NORTON & COMPANY/Liveright – @wwnorton and @LiverightPub

CARTOONIST:  Jules Feiffer
ISBN: 978-0-87140-314-8; hardcover (August 25, 2014)
160pp, Color/2-Color, $27.95 U.S., $32.95 CAN

Born in 1929, Jules Feiffer won a 1961 Academy Award for his animated short film, Munro.  In 1969 and 1970, his plays, Little Murders and The White House Murder Case, each won Obie and Outer Circle Critics Awards.  Feiffer won the Pulitzer Prize for political cartoons in 1986.

Jules Feiffer is American author, playwright, screenwriter, and comics creator.  He is also a syndicated cartoonist and may be best known for his long-running comic strip, Feiffer, which ran for 42 years in The Village Voice.

Now, the former teenage assistant to comics legend, Will Eisner, has produced the first graphic novel of his long and distinguished career, entitled Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel.  This Film-Noir inspired comic book pays loving homage to the pulp-inspired films and comic strips that Feiffer loved as a youth, according to press material included with this original hardcover graphic novel's release.  Kill My Mother centers on five formidable women who are fatefully linked to a has-been, alcoholic, and lecherous private detective.

Kill My Mother opens in Bay City in the year 1933.  The story introduces Elsie Hannigan and her estranged teenaged daughter, Annie, who hates her mother.  Elsie is a widower, following the murder of her husband, Sam, a policeman.  Elsie's life is hectic and complicated.  Her boss is Neil Hammond, a hard-drinking, has-been private detective who takes shady jobs.

Hammond's most recent case arrives when a mystery woman, who identifies herself as Ruby Taylor, walks into the office, and asks Hammond to find Patricia Hughes.  This woman is a missing high school drama teacher with whom Ms. Taylor once had a close relationship.  Hammond knows that Taylor is lying about much (if not all) of what she tells him, but he takes the case anyway.  And he ends up murdered.

Ten years later, in 1943, Elsie is living in Hollywood.  She is the Executive Vice President of the Department of Image Security and Maintenance at Pinnacle Studios.  Basically, Elsie does damage control for the studio's movie stars.

Meanwhile, her daughter is now Ann Hannigan, and she is the single-mother of a young son, Sammy Hannigan.  Ann is also the creator and writer of the popular radio show, “Shut up, Artie.”  Of course, the series is based on her ex-boyfriend, Artie, but there is a problem with the wildly popular series.  America is at war, and Annie's former teen punching bag in no longer known as “Artie.”  He is now Captain Arthur Fulsom of the United States Marines, and he is a decorated World War II hero who is still fighting in the Pacific theater and who does not like the show.

Both mother and daughter discover that their pasts and their current jobs are about to clash in unexpected ways.  People from their respective and shared pasts either reemerge with new identities or with their true identities revealed.  Also, Elsie may be finally able to uncover a murderer.  This is all headed for an explosive conclusion that begins on the island of Tarawa, where war rages.

To be honest, the first time I tried to read Kill My Mother, I stopped after a few pages.  I avoided the galley/review copy that the publisher (Liveright, an imprint of W.W. Norton & Company) sent me.  I finally forced myself to read Kill My Mother, although I did not think that it would amount to very much.

Dear readers, you humble and favorite comic book reviewer was so wrong.  In the fourth chapter of this comic book, the first femme fatale enters the story, and Kill My Mother explodes.  From that point on, I tore through the story.  I didn't want it to end.  I am attracted to this comic book because of its Film-Noir and detective fiction influences.  At the beginning the book, Feiffer dedicates Kill My Mother to detective and crime fiction legends, including Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.  He acknowledges Film-Noir and crime film masters, such as John Huston and Howard Hawks, among others.  One might even call Kill My Mother the first Turner Classic Movies (TCM) graphic novel.

I think the biggest influence on Kill My Mother is the late Will Eisner, for whom Feiffer once worked.  In the way the story is executed and the way that the narrative unfolds, Kill My Mother is like a Will Eisner graphic novel.  The characters:  their personalities, the way they act, and their motivations make me think of the kind of characters found in Will Eisner's melodramas like A Contract with God and A Life Force, among others.

Feiffer makes this work distinctly his own through his dazzling graphical storytelling.  His compositions give life to static images.  The cartooning of the human figure makes emotion and motion a tangible thing; motivation and conflict are genuine.  Reading the storytelling that Feiffer tells though drawings and word balloons is also an adventure in plot twists.  You will likely not see some of what is coming, but you will want to see it.

Kill My Mother cannot quite be called “beginner's luck,” as this is not Feiffer's first experience with the comics medium.  However, his first graphic novel makes me want more from him.  Readers looking for comic books worth reading will want Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel.

A

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


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