#IReadsYou Review: STATIC: Season One #1

STATIC (SEASON ONE) #1 (OF 6)
DC COMICS/Milestone Media

STORY: Vita Ayala
LAYOUTS: ChrisCross
FINISHES: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
COLORS: Nikolas Draper-Ivey
LETTERS: Andworld Design
EDITOR: Chris Conroy
PRODUCERS: Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan for Milestone Media
COVER: Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Shawn Martinbrough with Chris Sotomayor; Nikolas Draper-Ivey; Denys Cowan with Brad Anderson; Olivier Coipel with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S., (August 2021)

Rating: 13+

Milestone and Static created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle

Episode One: Trial by Fire

Milestone Comics was the publishing division of Milestone Media, and its comic book titles were published and distributed by DC Comics.  Milestone was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers, consisting of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle.  Milestone Media's founders believed that minorities were severely underrepresented in American comic books and wished to address this.  In 1993, Milestone Media launched its first four titles Icon, Blood Syndicate, Static, and Hardware, but DC Comics ceased publication of all Milestone Comics titles in 1997.

Static, Milestone's most popular superhero character, first appeared in Static #1 (cover dated: June 1993).  Static is Virgil Ovid Hawkins, an African-American teenage boy who is a member of a subspecies of humans with superhuman abilities known as “metahumans.”  Static's origin has changed since he first debuted, and now, he has gained his powers after an incident exposed him to a radioactive chemical, making Virgil capable of electromagnetic control and generation.

Both Milestone and Static are back with the launch of the new comic books series, Static (Season One), also known as Static: Season One.  The series is written by Vita Ayala; drawn by ChrisCross (layouts) and Nikolas Draper-Ivey (finishes); colored by Draper-Ivey; and lettered by Andworld Design.  The new comic book focuses on a bullied nerd who gains super-powers, only to discover that his enemy has also gained powers.

Static: Season One #1 (“Trial by Fire”) opens in Dakota City, USA in the aftermath of the “Big Bang.”  That incident happened at a “Black Lives Matter” rally that turned insane when the police released an experimental tear gas on the protesters.  Some people were maimed or died; others gained  stunning new abilities and powers.  Bullied nerd, 16-year-old Virgil Hawkins, gained powers.

Virgil has power inside him now, real power that he constantly hears and feels buzzing inside him.  He has the ability to channel and manipulate electromagnetic fields, but Virgil also has anger burning inside him.  One of his classmates, the bully Francis Stone, has already felt Virgil's power.  But Francis, who calls himself “Hotstreak,” also has power inside him, and he is ready for some payback.

THE LOWDOWN:  In the original 1990s Static, Virgil Ovid Hawkins was essentially a 1990s, African-American version of the early 1960s teenage Peter Parker/Spider-Man.  Like that classic character, Virgil/Static struggled at becoming a superhero and had to deal with what it did to his life.

Writer Vita Ayala and artists ChrisCross Nikolas Draper-Ivey present a Virgil Hawkins who is a Black teenager coming of age in this era of protests that was launched by the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, (May 25, 2020), murdered by the hands (and knee) of a White police officer.

Ayala presents Virgil as an African-American teen who may be bullied, but does not even understand the idea that he should defer, know his place, or be a second class citizen.  Will he fight back against those who attack him or turn the other cheek … or is there an entirely different path that others have not imagined?  After reading this first issue, I feel that Ayala is going to take us, dear readers, on a journey of questions and answers, but one also filled with superhero action.

The compositions and colors by Nikolas Draper-Ivey remind me of the quirky animation of the 2018 film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, crackling with eye-popping colors and striking graphics.  It is as if Nikolas wants us to feeling the shimmering, crackling, and buzzing inside Virgil.  ChrisCross (layouts) and Draper-Ivey move the story through this issue like an electric charge running along a line, and for the final page, Cross/Nikolas gives us a … static shock.  The drama, tension, and conflict practically bleed off the page.

I thought that I would like Static: Season One #1, but I am surprised by how much I like it.  By the end, I could have read another forty pages.  If Milestone fans were unsure about moving on, this first issue will make them happy for this re-imagining of a Black superhero for the BLM generation.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Milestone Comics will want Static Season One.

A

★★★★+ out of 4 stars

[This comic book has a tribute from Denys Cowan and Chris Conroy to the late comic book artist, John Paul Leon (1972-2021), who drew the first Static comic book.  This comic book also includes a “DC Nation” “Spotlight On” interview with Joshua Williamson about Infinite Frontier #1.]

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


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: THE ETERNALS #1

THE ETERNALS #1 (2021)
MARVEL COMICS

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kieron Gillen
ART: Esad Ribić
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Darren Shan
COVER ARTIST: Esad Ribic
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jen Bartel; Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Arthur Adams with Jason Keith; Alan Davis with Nolan Woodard; Mike Del Mundo; Inhyuk Lee; Peach Momoko; Jenny Frison; Rian Gonzales; Greg Land with Frank D'armata; Leinil Franics Yu with Sunny Gho; Otto Schmidt; Takeshi Okazaki with Edgar Delgado; Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
[The following artists are not credited as variant cover artists in the comic book, but Diamond Comics Distributors is offering issues with their cover art for sale: Alex Ross; Mahmud Asrar; Dave Johnson; Frank Cho; Jeff Johnson; J. Scott Campbell; Todd Nauck; Dan Panosian; Joe Quesada; Ron Lim; Walter Simonson; Superlog; Skottie Young]
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (Jan. 6, 2021)

The Eternals created by Jack Kirby

“Only Death is Eternal,” Part 1

The Eternals are a race of humanoids in the Marvel Comics universe.  They were created by legendary writer-artist and comics creator, Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The Eternals #1 (cover dated: July 1976).  The Eternals are described as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth.  They were created by the immensely powerful alien race, the Celestials, along with the Eternals' destructive counterparts, the Deviants.

The Eternals first comic book series ran for 19 issues from 1976 to 1977, with issue #19 having a January 1978 cover date.  In addition to Jack Kirby's original series, there have been miniseries starring The Eternals in 1985-86, 2006-07, and 2008-09.  In the 2018-launched Avengers comic book series (written by Jason Aaron), the Eternals discovered that their creators, the Celestials, preferred humans over them, which lead to the mass suicide and death of the Eternals (as seen in the Avengers story arc, “The Final Host”).

Now, the Eternals return in a new comic book series.  The Eternals (2021) is written by Kieron Gillen; drawn by Esad Ribić; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  In the new series, the Eternals face something new to them – change.

The Eternals #1 opens in “the Exclusion,” one of a system of sub-dimensional threads in “The Machine” (apparently the Earth-side system by which the Eternals teleport).  The Machine also narrates the story, which opens with the resurrection of Ikaris, the last Eternal to die.  However, the “Eternal Prime,” Zuras, has a surprise for the ever-direct Ikaris.  Ikaris must awaken and take charge of Sprite, the murderous prankster Eternal.

Arriving in New York, Ikaris and Sprite meet Iron Man.  Then, it is time to do their job, protect humans from “the Deviants,” especially those that become monsters.  While the mismatched duo is away, however, new death in a familiar guise comes for the Eternals.

THE LOWDOWN:  I recently read the original The Eternals #1, from 1976, which was written and drawn by series creator Jack Kirby.  I did this in preparation for the new series and for the (eventually) upcoming film, The Eternals, from Walt Disney Pictures and Marvel Studios.

First, let me speak to the beauty of The Eternals 2021.  I first discovered artist Esad Ribic when he drew the final two issues of the X-Men miniseries, X-Men: Children of the Atom (1999-2000), that was begun by writer Joe Casey and artist Steve Rude.  I was not crazy about Ribic's art in that series, but it was clear to me that this artist had huge potential as a comic book illustrator.

I must say that he has developed way beyond what I expected.  Here, Ribic's beautiful illustrations and Matthew Wilson's supernatural coloring combine to create gorgeous art that recalls the work of the late master, Moebius.  The graphical storytelling reads and feels like superhero comics as real science fiction comics.

Kieron Gillen's story is intriguing and the script is straightforward and clean.  His dialogue and The Machine's exposition made it easy for me to follow the story, setting, and plot/concept.  Gillen is going to make me spend some money on this comic book series.  So, if you don't want to spend more money on comics, dear readers, avoid The Eternals #1 2021.  If you are just looking for a really good first issue, spend it on this one … which has a killer last story page.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the Eternals and of good Marvel comic books will want The Eternals 2021.

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a one-page tribute to former Marvel Comics publisher, Mike Hobson, who died in November 2020.]

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


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The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: EXCELLENCE #1

EXCELLENCE No. 1
IMAGE COMICS/Skybound – @ImageComics @Skybound

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Brandon Thomas
ART: Khary Randolph
COLORS: Emilio Lopez
LETTERS: Deron Bennett
EDITOR: Sean Mackiewicz
COVER: Khary Randolph with Emilio Lopez
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Emilio Lopez
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (May 2019)

Rated M/Mature

Excellence created by Brandon Thomas and Khary Randolph

Chapter One: “Kill the Past”

Excellence is a new comic book series from writer Brandon Thomas and artist Khary Randolph.  It is released by the Image Comics' studio, Skybound Entertainment.  The series follows a young man who is born into a secret society of magicians.  Excellence is written by Thomas; drawn by Randolph; colored by Emilio Lopez; and lettered by Deron Bennett.

Excellence #1 (“Kill the Past”) opens in Column One, New York City.  It is the day Spencer Raymond Dales is born to Raymond and Stephanie Dales.  Raymond belongs to “The Aegis,” a secret society of magicians ordered by their unseen masters to better the lives of others—those with greater potential.  However, these magicians must never use their powers to better themselves.  As Spencer grows, he struggles to meet the expectations of his legacy, and he also views the system as being in need of change.  Young Spencer is committed to one truth – Excellence is real.

Calling a work of entertainment by the title, “Excellence,” is a trap.  If “Excellence” is not excellent, then, reviewers and critics will offer up snarky titles and headlines for their reviews and articles.  Those titles and headlines will basically focus on “Excellence” not being excellent.

Excellence #1 strives to be excellent.  Truthfully, it might seem to start as if it were nothing more than your average comic book, but what is presented in this first issue plays out for... excellence.  Excellence could be an awesome comic book series, and if it does not turn out to be that way, it won't be because the creative team did not try.

Excellence already has... excellent art by Khary Randolph, art that is as electric and as energetic as any comic book art out there today.  Randolph's art here is highly stylish, but the compositions and page design have a depth of storytelling.  Randolph seems to be lock-step with writer Brandon Thomas, which is a good thing, in bringing this imaginative concept to life in vivid comic book storytelling.

Emilio Lopez's colors Randolph's art with a vengeance with colors that explode off the page.  The green and blue colors here could almost blind an innocent unsuspecting reviewer like myself.  As always, Deron Bennett letters more bumps in the hump; he is a soul man of lettering.

So... Excellence is.  Past this first issue of introductions and teasing, I believe, are chapters that will offer brilliance... and continued excellence.

8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for May 8, 2019

IMAGE COMICS
FEB190053    BLACKBIRD TP VOL 01    $16.99
MAR190057    COPRA TP VOL 02 (MR)    $19.99
MAR190197    CURSE WORDS #21 CVR A BROWNE (MR)    $3.99
MAR190198    CURSE WORDS #21 CVR B (MR)    $3.99
DEC180236    DEADLY CLASS #38 CVR A CRAIG (MR)    $3.99
DEC180237    DEADLY CLASS #38 CVR B MCCREA (MR)    $3.99
MAR190261    DIE DIE DIE AF 2-PACK (BLOODY)    $60.00
MAR190260    DIE DIE DIE AF 2-PACK (COLOR)    $60.00
MAR190016    EXCELLENCE #1 CVR A RANDOLPH & LOPEZ    $3.99
FEB198633    EXCELLENCE #1 CVR B VISIONS OF EXCELLENCE VAR RANDOLPH    $3.99
FEB190071    FREEZE TP VOL 01    $12.99
MAR190210    GUNNING FOR HITS #5 (MR)    $3.99
MAR190211    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR A FRANCAVILLA (MR)    $4.99
MAR190212    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR B B&W FRANCAVILLA (MR)    $4.99
MAR190213    HIT-GIRL SEASON TWO #4 CVR C CONNER (MR)    $4.99
FEB190151    ICE CREAM MAN #12 CVR A MORAZZO & OHALLORAN (MR)    $3.99
FEB190152    ICE CREAM MAN #12 CVR B LOTAY (MR)    $3.99
MAR190214    INFINITE DARK #6    $3.99
MAR190226    MURDER FALCON #8 CVR A JOHNSON & SPICER    $3.99
MAR190227    MURDER FALCON #8 CVR B HEAVY METAL VAR POPE    $3.99
MAR190139    SAVAGE DRAGON AS SEEN ON TV TP (MR)    $24.99
MAR190238    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR A GRUMMETT & KESEL    $3.99
MAR190239    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR B PEREZ    $3.99
MAR190240    SECTION ZERO #2 (OF 6) CVR C WIERINGO    $3.99
MAR190251    UNNATURAL #9 (OF 12) CVR A ANDOLFO (MR)    $3.99
MAR190252    UNNATURAL #9 (OF 12) CVR B CAVAZZANO (MR)    $3.99
MAR190254    VINDICATION #4 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99

I Reads You Juniors February 2019 - Update #94

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Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From Newsarama:  Tom Bilyeu, the co-founder of the protein bar company, Quest Nutrition, is starting a comic book company, Impact Theory.

From SoutheastMissourian:  Saturday, February 23, 2019, the city of Jackson, Missouri celebrated native son, Roy Thomas' comic book career.  Thomas was a writer and editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics and also a longtime writer at DC Comics.

From BoundingIntoComics:  Actor Dean Cain, who portrayed Superman/Clark Kent in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," roasted Comic Book Resources (CBR) after they wrote an article asking, “Man of Tomorrow: Does #Superman Need to be White?

From ANN:  An interview with Mikio Ikemoto, the artist of the "Boruto" manga, the sequel to "Naruto."

From Newsarama:  DC Comics will make those 100-page giant comics that are exclusive to Wal-Mart stores available to comic book shops.

From Newsarama:  Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" film won three Oscars at the 91st Academy Awards.

From Newsarama:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards last night (Sun., Feb. 24th).

From Newsarama:  Stan Sakai is taking his long-running comic book series, "Usagi Yojimbo," to IDW Publishing after 24 years at Dark Horse Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Ed Piskor's "X-Men: Grand Design" returns in May for his take on the "X-Tinction Agenda."

From Newsarama:  There will be an ongoing "Lois Lane" comic book from writer Greg Rucka and artist Mike Perkins.  There will also be a "Jimmy Olsen" comic book from writer Matt Fraction and artist Steve Lieber.

From GoodReader:  Shueisha Launches Global MANGA Plus Service, with 50 titles and 13 complete series.

From TheWeekUK:  Why Christians are outraged over DC Comics’ Jesus series

From Newsarama:  Batman will take on zombies in the new DC Comics series, "DCeased."

From Newsarama:  DC Collectibles will offer an exclusive version of its "Batman: Black and White" statue line to Walmart stores as 4-inch mini-figures.  The original versions were 9 inches.

From CBB:  Herve St. Louis launches a new webcomic, "Spit."  Here is strip #1 in English.
From CBB:  Spit webcomic, strip #1 in French.

From Newsarama:  Ivy Noelle Weir and Christina "Steenz" Stewart's graphic novel, "Archival Quality" (Oni Press) is the winner of the Fifth Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.

From Newsarama:  DC Comics unveils the complete story lineup for "Detective Comics #1000, which hits stories March 27, 2019.

From ANN:   Naoki Urasawa's Asadora! Manga Returns in April

From MetroUK:  Who is Gerard Way, the creator of "The Umbrella Academy" comic book.

From ANN:  Q Hayashida, the creator of the Manga, "Dorohedoro," has drawn a cover for "Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep," the comic book adaptation of Software's video game.  The "Bloodborne" comic book is produced by Ales Kot and Piotr Kowalski.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics relaunching rumors.

From SyfyWire:  DC Comics' 25 cent "Year of the Villain" special coming before Free Comic Book Day 2019.

From Endgadget:  "Shonen Jump" announced an apparently new cheaper subscription program.

From DreadCentral:  VIZ Media announces new Junji Ito manga for the fall, "No Longer Human."

From Newsarama:  Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica.

From Newsarama:  Writer Brandon Thomas and artist Khary Randolph bring their comic book, "Excellence," to Image imprint, Skybound.

From Newsarama:  Archie Comics is changing the name of its long-running "Archie" comic book series to "Archie and Sabrina."

From Newsarama:  DC Comics cancelled its upcoming and controversial comic book, "Second Coming."  Now, writer Mark Russell is looking for another publisher.

From Bustle:  What are the origins of "Alita: Battle Angel?"

From Deadline:  Aftershock Comics previews its upcoming series, "Mary Shelley: Monster Hunter."

From IGN:  DC Consumer Products has entered a three-year license with Todd McFarlane's McFarlane Toys to produce action figures based on the "DC Multiverse."  The first figures will appear in 2020 and be 6" to 12" posable figures.

From TCAF:  Horror manga master, Junji Ito, will be the featured guest and official poster artist of the 2019 Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF).

From Deadline:  Marvel TV and Hulu ink deal to produce a "Howard the Duck" "adult" animated series and a number of other animated series.  Kevin Smith will apparently oversee the "Howard the Duck" project.

From BleedingCool:  Is "The Exceptionals" a new Mark Millar Netflix project?

From Deadline:  Netflix and Sugar23 win a bidding war for film rights to "Faun," an upcoming short story from comic book writer and bestselling author, Joe Hill (a child of bestselling author, Stephen King).

From Newsarama:  Music from Marvel Studios' hit film, "Black Panther," wins two Grammys at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.  Its music received eight nominations overall.

From CBR:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" has won Best Animated Film at the 2019 / 72nd BAFTA Awards.  This  British Academy Award is the twenty-sixth major award the animated film has earned since its release in December 2018, according to CBR.

From Newsarama:  The most excellent Dan Brereton is seeking to publish his late 1990s giant monster comic, "Giantkiller," in a new edition.

From Newsarama:  Warner Bros. is developing a spin-off of its global box office hit, "Aquaman."  Entitled "The Trench," it will reportedly have a "horror-tone."

IN MEMORIAM:  From Newsarama:  Comic book colorist, James Rochelle, died at the age of 48, Saturday, February 2, 2019.  He worked long stints for WildStorm and CrossGen, making his debut on "Gen 13 #1 in 1994.  Rochelle also colored comic books for Marvel and DC Comics, to name a few.  Rochelle also worked extensively in the video industry.

From CriticalHit:  Rob Liefeld offers a peek at his last Deadpool comic book story, "Deadpool: Badder Blood."

From Newsarama:  Comic book writer David F. Walker is launching his own comic book company, Solid Comix.

From Newsarama:  Aaron McGruder revives his beloved comic strip, "The Boondocks," for a short run.  The six new strips are drawn by Seung Kim, the animator on Cartoon Networks, "The Boondocks" animated TV series.  There may be more to come.

From Newsarama:  Greg Cox will bring back the Court of Owls in the prose novel, "Batman: The Court of Owls."

From Deadline:  "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is a new "Turtles" film headed to Netflix.  It will not be associated with the current Nickelodeon series of the same title.

From CBR:  Actor Harry Lloyd will portray Professor X in the third and final season of FX's X-Men TV series, "Legion."

From BleedingCool:  Ben Dunn of Antarctic Press proposes a coalition of independent comic book publishers.

From BleedingCool:  The graphic novel, "Fun Home," and the manga, "Assassination Classroom," are being removed from high school libraries.

From TheWrap:  "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" won all seven awards for which it was nominated at the 2019 / 46th Annie Awards, including for "Best Animated Feature."  70 percent of best animated feature winners at the Annie Awards wins the "Best Animated Feature" at the Oscars.

From TheWrap:  "Black Panther" was one of three top winners at the 23rd annual Art Directors Guild Awards.

From PasteMagazine:  The most anticipated comics of 2019:  Part One and Two.

From ANN:  Yen Press announces licenses for six manga, three novels, and one art book.

From Newsarama:  Comic Books' 10 Most Game-Changing Black Superheroes

From ANN:  VIZ Media's SuBLime imprint for yaoi manga announced that it has licensed "Scarlet Beriko's Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamat" manga and plans to release it in print and digital this August.

From Crunchyroll:  The "Ultraman" manga will go on a two-month hiatus due to the health of Tomohiro Shimoguchi.

From ComicBook:  Lucasfilm gives some details on "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" tie-in comic books and novels.  Galaxy's Edge is an upcoming Disney resort.

From CBR:  Mike Grell is reviving his 1990s Image Comics title, "Maggie the Cat."  He will launch a Kickstarter to finish the series which saw only two issues published.

From Newsarama:  Mark Millar confirms a sequel to his [fantastic] miniseries, "The Magic Order."

From Newsarama:  Oni Press announces its Fall 2019 comics titles.

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

FEBRUARY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Full DC Comics catalog
From BleedingCool:  AfterShock for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:   BOOM! Studios for Feb. 2019
From AdventuresinPoorTaste:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics solicitations for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for Feb. 2019
From BleedingCool:  First Second for Feb. 2019
From Seibertron:  IDW Publishing for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for Feb. 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for Feb. 2019

MARCH 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama: 01 First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama: Adhouse Books for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Avatar Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Avery Hill for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  Cave Pictures Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Devil's Due/1First Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertaiment for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  First Second for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Graphix for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Humanoids for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Impact Theory for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Force for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama: Oni Press for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for March 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for March 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for March 2019
From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for March 2019

APRIL 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  All publishers' solicitations link in one place.
From Newsarama:  01 First Second for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Albatross Funnybooks for April 2019
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aftershock Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Amigo Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Antarctic Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Aspen Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Caliber Press for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Cave Pictures Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Drawn & Quarterly for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Fantagraphics Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Heavy Metal for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Hero Tomorrow for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Humanoids for April 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Joe Books for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Keenspot for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2019
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Titan Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertainment for April 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for April 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for April 2019
From Newsarama: Yen Press for April 2019

MAY 2019 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  AC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Ahoy Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Alterna Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Archie Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Black Mask Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  IDW Publishing for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Kevin Eastman Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Lion Forge Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Oni Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Rebellion/2000 AD for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for May 2019
From BleedingCool:  Source Point Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Vault Comics for May 2019
From Newsarama:  VIZ Media for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Yen Press for May 2019
From Newsarama:  Zenescope Entertainment for May 2019

Review: BLACK #6

BLACK No. 6
BLACKMASK STUDIO

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jamal Igle
INKS: Robin Riggs
TONES: Derwin Roberson
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Khary Randolph
44pp, B&W and some Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)

“Chapter Six”

Black was a comic book miniseries created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.  This comic book was first introduced to the public as a Kickstarter project seeking to earn $29,999, but ultimately earned almost $100,000.  Black is set in a world where only Black people have super-powers.

Black was written by Osajyefo; drawn by Jamal Igle (pencils) and Robin Riggs (inks); toned by Derwin Roberson and Sarah Stern; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  Khary Randolph was the series cover artist.

Black opened with Officer Ellen Waters of the New York Police Department (NYPD) recounting a shocking incident.  She witnessed three young Black teenagers mistakenly identified as three perpetrators of an armed robbery.  All three were subsequently shot to death in a hail of bullets fired by White police officers.  Officer Waters also witnessed one of the three teens, Kareem Jenkins, get up from his injuries as if he were never harmed.  What Waters did not realize was that the truth behind Jenkins miraculous survival was even more mind-blowing.  He had super-powers – called Quarks.

Black #6 opens at “Negromuerte,” the research facility that is also a prison.  Here, Black people with super-powers are imprisoned so that they can be the subjects of experimentation designed to replicate their powers.  Recently imprisoned there, Kareem has discovered that his cellmate is the Black super-powered terrorist, “O,” who is determined to kill Negromeurte's director and lead scientist, Theodore Mann.  Now, it is Mann vs. “O,” with Kareem caught in the middle.

As I wrote in my review of Black #1, I remember the Kickstarter campaign for Black, and I was impressed by what the team behind it presented to the public.  I stated that I was shocked by how successful the campaign was, as it reached its campaign goal in a short time before going on to raise about three times that goal.

That Kickstarter campaign assured the Black would indeed become a full-fledged comic book project.  Since Black #6 was published last year, the series has been optioned for film and a sequel miniseries and an original graphic novel set in that world were announced (with the graphic novel recently being published and reportedly being sold out).

Black #1 was awkward and a bit ungainly, but it was hard to deny the boldness and audacity of its concept.  Black #6 is, of course, more polished.  Jamal Igle's compositions are solid and his graphic storytelling pops off the page.  Robin Riggs' inks on Igle pencil's give the art a solidity and firmness the art seemed to lack in that first issue.  The tones (basically coloring for black and white illustrations) by Derwin Roberson are superb and bring beauty and strength to Igle and Riggs illustrations.  Yes, Dave Sharpe's lettering is... sharp and conveys power to the story.

I think that the thing I most enjoy about Kwanza Osajyefo's storytelling is simply that it exists.  It takes backbone and balls of steel to both create a comic book that says only black people have super-powers, and then to release it to a market that serves an aging white male fan-base.  And this is a base that often bristles when presented with black comic book characters that do not “know their place” in fictional comic book worlds like the Marvel and DC Comics universes.

I like that Osajyefo brings diversity and variety to the way his characters speak.  I like that Osajyefo ultimately lets Kareem Jenkins be a really free black man.  I like that there will be more from the world of Black.  It is too Black and too proud to be a one-time thing.

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a preview of the comic book, Calexit, from Black Mask Studio.]

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


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

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

Review: MOSAIC #1

MOSAIC No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Geoffrey Thorne
ARTIST: Khary Randolph
COLORS: Emilio Lopez
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER: Stuart Immonen
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Marco D'Alfonso; Mike Deodato with Frank Martin; Khary Randolph; Pasqual Ferry with Frank D'Armata
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated T+

Episode One: “Mood Indigo”

Out of Civil War II.  Part of Marvel Comics' initiative “NOW!”  Here, comes Marvel's newest Black superhero, Mosaic, and he is the star of his own comic book, entitled Mosaic, of course.  It is written by Geoffrey Thorne; drawn by Khary Randolph; colored by Emilio Lopez; and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Mosaic #1 (“Mood Indigo”) introduces Morris Sackett, maybe the best professional basketball player in the world.  He has led the New York Stride to five championships in five seasons.  As far as Morris is concerned, he is the sole reason that the Stride has won five titles.  However, exposure to Terrigen mists changes Morris in ways that are shocking.  One of the newest Inhumans is about to lose his physical form while inheriting many more.

According to what I have read, writer Geoffrey Thorne and artist Khary Randolph want to explode stereotypes for Black superheroes when it comes to Morris Sackett a.k.a. Mosaic.  I don't know what those stereotypes are.  Even with the relatively small number of Black superheroes in both the Marvel and DC Comics universes, characters are unique and mostly fully formed.  Black Panther is not like Storm is not like Luke Cage/Power Man, and I never thought that Cyborg was like Black Lightning.

The stereotype of Black superheroes is that they are stereotypical.  They are not all noble Negroes in the tradition of Civil Rights activists, nor are they sullen anti-heroes out to get the system.  Under the guiding hand of comics most skilled writers, there have been some really good Black Panther and Blade comic books – to name a few of a few.  The reality (not stereotype) is that many Black superheroes have been featured in comic books in which the writers have those assignments because they are someone's friend more so than because they are good storytellers.  Black superheroes have not been stereotypes; they simply have been in badly written (and sometimes poorly drawn) comic books.

Mosaic #1 suggests that Thorne is a good writer, although his “street lingo” leaves something to be desired.  I give most of the credit for the success of Mosaic #1 to artist Khary Randolph.  This first issue has a lively visual and graphical style that mimics the energy and movement of animated films.  Randolph's art is both stylish and earthy, giving Mosaic a vibe that is different from just about everything else Marvel is publishing.

I'm ready for more and recommend this title.

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.

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

I Reads You Juniors July 2017 - Update #50

Support Leroy on Patreon.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #128 in French.

From PreviewsWorld:  Marvel announced its 53rd Marvel Legacy title, Captain America #695, from the creative team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.

From HowardCruse:  Noted Underground Comix cartoonist Howard Cruse is writing about his experiences as a cartoonist for "Playboy" magazines.

From BleedingCool:  Bryan Hitch teases something with Justice League and Justice Society of America.

From BleedingCool:  Here is an 8-page preview of "X-Men: Grand Design" from Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree).

From ICv2:  Marvel reveals 1,000,000 BC Avengers.

From BleedingCool: In October, Image Comics will publish 30 tribute covers for "The Walking Dead."

From BleedingCool:  Mark Buckingham and Steve Rude will be the creative team of DC Comics' "Manhunter vs. Sandman," replacing the announced creative team.

From CBR:  Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca, the creative team behind Marvel's excellent Darth Vader comic book that began in 2015, will become the new creative time of the main Star Wars comic book, beginning in the Fall.

From BleedingCool:  Rich Johnston interviews recent Eisner Award winner, Sonny Liew.

From CBR:  As part of Marvel Comics' "Legacy" the Inhumans in the comic book series, "Royals" will get a redesign by Javier Rodriguez.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet, Episode #127 in French.

From MailChimp via The Comics Reporter:  IDW and French graphic novel publisher, Glenat, have joined for a venture called "Original Graphic Novel," which will produce original comic books to be published both in the U.S. and France.

From BleedingCool: Marvel Comics Bullpen legend, Flo Steinberg, died Sunday, July 23, 2017.

From BleedingCool:  David Avallone talks about bring pin-up/bondage goddess Bettie Page back to comics in Dynamite Entertainment's "Bettie Page."

From TheComicsReporter:  Another newspaper editorial cartoonist, Nick Anderson, has been fired.

SDCC:

From BleedingCool:  Veterans artists Keith Pollard and Ron Wilson win "Inkpot Awards."

From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller will write and John Romita, Jr. will draw "Superman: Year One."

From BleedingCool:  "Highlights" from Marvel boss, Joe Quesada's SDCC panel.

From BleedingCool:  There will be a Justice League/Doom Patrol Young Animal crossover comic book event.

From CBR:  The 2017 Eisner Award winners (for excellence in comics) have been announced.  Image Comics' "Saga" led with four wins.

From CBR:  Beloved Star Wars Expanded Universe character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is getting a comic book series from Marvel Comics.

From CBR:  IDW Publishing has announced the expansion of the "Black Crown" imprint, which is overseen by former Vertigo boss, Shelley Bond, including a book drawn by Love and Rockets' Gilbert Hernandez.

From Newarama:  Grant Morrison is writing sequels to two of his biggest hits, "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Wonder Woman: Earth One."

From CBR:  Ed Piskor, the creator of "Hip Hop Family Tree," is producing a six-issue history of the X-Men in the miniseries, "X-Men: Grand Design."

From TheComicsReporter:  Jeff Smith ("Bone") is releasing his first picture book through Scholastic Books.

From BleedingCool:  At the IDW/Top Shelf panel, a final "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" miniseries is announced.
-----------------------------------------------------

From CBR:  Image Comics studio, Top Cow, is rebooting Cyber Force, which was one of the debut Image Comics titles in 1992.

From Vulture:  A profile of Karen Berger's new line of comic books at Dark Horse, "Berger Books."

From BleedingCool:  Award-winning cartoonist, Box Brown, will produce a new comic book based on Nickelodeon's "Rugrats" for BOOM! Studios "KaBoom!" imprint.

From BleedingCool:  Steve Skroce, the comic book artist famous for storyboarding the film, "The Matrix," has a new comic book.  He is writing and drawing "Maestros" from Image Comics.

From BleedingCool:  Former editor of DC Comics' Vertigo line, Karen Berger, is now at Dark Horse.  Her new line, Berger Books, announces its initial titles.

From BleedingCool:  DC Super Hero Girls keeps getting bigger.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #126 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #127 in English.

From BleedingCool:  Mike Ploog will make the miniseries, "Thicker Than Blood," his final work as he moves on to retirement.

From ComicsBeat:  Jack Kirby and Stan Lee named "Disney Legends" at D23 Expo 2017.

--------------------------------
BLURB REVIEW:

Youngblood #2 (Image Comics – June 2017) by Chad Bowers and Jim Towe with Juan Manuel Rodriguez

I would like to be snarky and be cynical, but I have to admit that I am really liking this new Youngblood comic book.  Writer Chad Bowers is keeping things relatively simple, introducing new characters and reviving “classic” Youngblood characters.  I don't remember much about the original Youngblood series, but I like the way in which Bowers is bringing together the past while pushing forward with new blood.  Artist Jim Towe and colorist Juan Manuel Rodriguez are quite good on covers and splash pages, and I can see Towe's storytelling steadily improving.  Simply put, I like what Bowers and Towe are doing here and so far, I enjoy the read.

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

From BleedingCool:  Scott Sndyer talks about his DC "Metal" comics.

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton details the history of "Super-Chief" in his latest DC History column.

From RichardSala:  Go and start reading "The Bloody Cardinal 2."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #125 in French.

From BleedingCool:  More details on Sean Murphy's "Batman: White Knight."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Mobile - #88

From ComicBookBin:  Deejay Dayton gives you a Silver Age history of DC Comics' "Cave Carson," who now stars in "Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye."

From ICv2:  Marvel Comics' "Legacy #1" one-shot will lead into 53 new comic book titles.

From CBR:  Stan Sakai talks about his one-shot comic book that reunited his samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

From BleedingCool:  Will DC Comics make a move to return to publishing creator-owned comic books?

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet Episode #124 in French

From ComicBookBin:  Johnny Bullet Mobile #87.

---------------------------------
From BleedingCool:  Howard Chaykin responds to cover controversy.

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics and Howard Chaykin apologize and pull the planned cover art for "The Divided States of Hysteria #4."

From BleedingCool:  A tale of two covers - Black #3 and The Divided States of Hysteria #4.
---------------------------------

From GoFundMe:  Verteran comic book creator and World War II veteran Sam Glanzman is in hospice care and needs his readers' help.

From TCJ:  Sloane Leong offers a tribute to the webcomic, "Octopus Pie" (which I once reviewed for the ComicBookBin).

Review: BLACK #1

BLACK No. 1
BLACKMASK STUDIO

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jamal Igle with Steven Walker
INKS: Jamal Igle; Robin Riggs
TONES: Sarah Stern
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Khary Randolph
VARIANT COVER: Ashley A. Woods
2-Color, $3.99 U.S.

“Chapter One”

Black is a new comic book miniseries created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.  This comic book was introduced to the public as a Kickstarter project seeking to earn $29,999, but ultimately earned almost $100,000.  Black is set in a world where only Black people have super-powers.

Black is written by Osajyefo and is drawn by Jamal Igle (pencils) and Robin Riggs (inks); toned by Sarah Stern; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  Khary Randolph is the cover artist, and Steve Walker assists Igle on the interior art.

Black #1 opens with Officer Ellen Waters of the New York Police Department (NYPD) recounting a shocking incident.  She witnessed three young Black teenagers mistakenly misidentified as three perpetrators of an armed robbery.  They are subsequently shot down in a hail of bullets by White police officers.  Officer Waters witnesses one of the three, Kareem Jenkins, get up from his injuries as if he were never harmed.  What Waters does not realize is that the truth behind Jenkins miraculous survival is even more mind-blowing.

I remember the Kickstarter campaign for Black, and I was impressed by what the team behind it presented to the public.  I was shocked by how successful it was, as it reached its campaign goal in a short time before going on to raise about three times that goal.  Although I was impressed, I forgot about the campaign.  I only remembered after seeing a listing for Black #1 as a new release on the website for comic book distributor, Diamond Distributors.  I was fortunate enough to receive a PDF copy of Black #1 for review.

I have often thought about what it would be like to create a comic book set in a world in which only Black people had super-powers.  I am glad that Kwanza Osajyefo (the former editor of DC Comics' “webcomics” imprint, ZUDA) and Tim Smith 3 (who has worked for Marvel, DC Comics, and Archie Comics, among others) had the gall or the balls to create just such a comic book.

For some readers, the idea of a world in which only Black people have super-powers may be controversial or perhaps, a bridge-too-far, but for nearly three decades, the fictional worlds of American superhero comic books only imagined White men and a few White women with super-powers.  There were even pets and inanimate objects with super-powers before comic book characters of color gained powers.  Black's central conceit alone makes Black #1 a riveting, gripping read.

The other thing that makes this first issue so thrilling, without spoiling it, is that the focus is on the hunt for Kareem Jenkins.  Osajyefo pounds out a script that drags the readers along and makes them think that they are also imperiled.  Jamal Igle's quicksilver compositions visualize the story in lurid detail, especially in the sequence that goes from the explosive hail of bullets to the heart-stopping resurrection-like rise of Kareem.

Black, of course, is timely.  That is both fortunate and unfortunate.  The last decade in the United States has been troubling.  It began with the persecution and prosecution of the Black male teenagers known as the “Jena 6” and continues with the latest killings of unarmed Black males or shootings of Black males in general by law enforcement officials and armed White vigilantes.  Activism concerning justice and equality for African-Americans has exploded, with people of all skin colors and ethnicities joining the activism and protests.  That is fortunate.  It is unfortunate that young Black teenagers have had to die to force a movement that should have not slumbered to awaken again.

Still, out of these dark times, we may have, in Black, one of the few American comic books in a long time that means something important beyond the market and the medium.  Black #1 is not perfect, as some of it (so far) relies on a few tired tropes of superhero and science fiction storytelling.  Still, the first issue of Black is a great start.

A-
8 out of 10

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.

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

Review: WE ARE ROBIN #1

WE ARE... ROBIN #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Lee Bermejo
ART: Jorge Corona; Khary Randolph (Epilogue)
BREAKDOWNS: Rob Haynes
COLORS: Trish Mulvihill; Emilio Lopez (Epilogue)
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Lee Bermejo
VARIANT COVER: James Harvey
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for Teen

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger; Robin created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson

“We are... Robin!”

The DC Comics character, Robin, is best known as Batman's sidekick/partner.  Robin's civilian identity, Dick Grayson, was Bruce Wayne's young ward.  Robin/Dick Grayson was originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson to serve as a junior counterpart to Batman and first appeared in Detective Comics #38 (cover date:  April 1940).  Eventually, Dick Grayson became a new superhero, Nightwing, and over the last 30 years, there have been other Robins.

As part of the “DCYou” event/publishing initiative, there are several aspiring teenage vigilantes in Gotham City taking the moniker, “Robin.”  The focus will be on Duke Thomas, an African-American teenager previously introduced in the Batman story arc, “Zero Year,” and who becomes part of the movement to fight crime in Gotham.  Duke and the other teens are the stars of the new comic book series, We Are... Robin.  It is written by Lee Bermejo; drawn by Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes, and Khary Randolph; colored by Trish Mulvihill and Emilio Lopez; and lettered by Tom Napolitano.

We Are... Robin #1 (“We are... Robin!”) opens with Duke Thomas on the receiving end of a schoolyard beat-down.  That means Dr. Leslie Thompkins will have to find the orphaned teen another foster home.  Duke doesn't want to sit around in another  foster home/dump.  He would rather discover the fate of his parents who were exposed to the “Joker toxin” (in the Batman story arc, “Endgame.”).  His search takes him underground where he finds trouble and also a group of admirers.

We Are... Robin #1 is not as well-composed as the first issue of the new series, Robin: Son of Batman, but I will give it a chance.  As someone who was once a Black child who wanted to be Robin in order to have adventures with Batman, I can certainly buy into the central conceit of We Are Robin.  I can also find myself becoming a huge Duke Thomas fan.

Lee Bermejo is an acclaimed comic book artist, but here, he is the writer.  However, he does provide the cover art for We Are... Robin #1, and it is a striking illustration, indeed.  However, Bermejo's drawing style is also strikingly different from the interior art, but I like the series artists; their styles seem as if they will work for We Are... Robin.

In some promotional information released for We Are... Robin, Bermejo said “We Are... Robin is a new approach to showcase diversity in the DC Universe for readers.”  Too bad someone can't showcase the diversity of DC Comics by showcasing the work of more African-American creators, especially writers.  For the time being, however, I can settle for more White women and Asian-American/Canadian creators because, in the DCYou, there is a Black kid trying to be Robin.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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