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#IReadsYou Review: DARTH VADER ANNUAL #1

DARTH VADER ANNUAL No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Leinil Yu
INKS: Gerry Alanguilan
COLORS: Jason Keith
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Leinil Yu
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2016)

Rated T

Annual

Marvel Comics recently released the first two “Annual” editions of its flagship Star Wars comic book titles, Star Wars and Darth Vader.  Although Marvel published three Star Wars Annuals for its original Star Wars series (1977 to 1986), this is the first Darth Vader Annual, and it is written by Kieron Gillen, who writes the ongoing Darth Vader series.  This inaugural annual features arts by Leinil Yu (pencils) and Gerry Alanguilan (inks); colors by Jason Keith; and letters by Joe Caramagna.

Darth Vader Annual #1 finds Darth Vader traveling to the planet, Shu-torun.  It is a Mid-Rim world known for producing valuable ore needed by the Empire for its ceaseless building projects.  The planet is ruled by the King who must also manage the dukes (“Ore-Dukes”), each one ruling over a domain that mines the precious ore so important to the Empire.

Of late, Shu-torun has failed to meet the delivery quotas set by the Emperor, so he has sent Lord Vader to reinforce the cooperation of the King and the Ore-Dukes.  There is, however, some game afoot.  The King has sent his third child, his daughter Trios, to meet Lord Vader, and perhaps to stall him.  Rebellion is reportedly brewing on Shu-torun, but against whom?  Plus, the malevolent droid duo, 0-0-0 (Triple Zero) and BT-1 (BeeTee One), have fun on their own.

I flipped through Darth Vader Annual #1 about two weeks before I got around to reading it.  Honestly, I put off reading it because it did not look appealing.  I was wrong – so wrong.  Writer Kieron Gillen offers a simple, straight-forward story, but it depicts Vader as the fearsome, bad-ass villain Star Wars fans want him to be.  That's all; this story is just Vader being Vader.

Gillen and Jason Aaron (who writes Star Wars) are proving to be the among the best Star Wars comic book writers ever, and at the rate they are going, I will likely think of them as the best if they can give us a few years of the same high quality at which they are already performing.  Gillen adds to the Star Wars universe, offering another world and another society, without altering anything.  It is nothing groundbreaking, but it enriches the ground that has already been broken.

Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan's art stylistically resembles the work of P. Craig Russell, but the storytelling recalls Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon, which I am sure is one of the works that influenced George Lucas' creation of Star Wars.  This touch of Flash Gordon makes Darth Vader Annual #1 seem like classic space opera, with a touch of interplanetary romantic courtly intrigue.

This is the perfect one-off story for a comic book “Annual” special.  Here's to many more.

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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Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 5, 2018

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Review: DOCTOR APHRA #1

DOCTOR APHRA No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

WRITER: Kieron Gillen
ART: Kev Walker; Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Antonio Fabela; Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Kamome Shirahama
VARIANT COVERS: Rod Reis; John Tyler Christopher; Salvador Larroca; Elsa Charretier; Jamie McKelvie; Rafael Albuquerque; Ashley Witter; Kamome Shirahama
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated “T”

Aphra “Part 1”

Rogue archaeologist, Doctor Aphra, first appeared in Marvel Comics' Darth Vader #3.  She became Darth Vader's lackey and eventually his enemy.  Darth Vader the comic book recently ended, and its replacement is a new comic book, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Marvel Comics' first ongoing series starring an original Star Wars character created in the Star Wars comic books.  Doctor Aphra is written by Kieron Gillen; drawn by Kev Walker; colored by Antonio Fabela; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Doctor Aphra #1 opens in the aftermath of Darth Vader #25.  Aphra barely escaped Darth Vader's clutches with her life, and she knows if he discovers that she is not dead, he will hunt her down.  Aphra returns to what she does best – search the galaxy for rare artifacts.  She is now locating and liberating rare archaeological treasures; her companions are the homicidal droids, 0-0-0 and BT-1 (who also debuted in Darth Vader #3) and the Wookiee warrior, Krrsantan.  Her latest artifact find will bring her nothing but trouble, as she discovers that everyone and no one wants it.

I really like the cover art for Doctor Aphra #1, which is drawn and colored by Kamome Shirahama.  It is not a particularly inventive visual design, but it is striking in its execution.  I also like the interior art by Kev Walker, whose graphic style reminds me of the work of Jamie Hewlett (the co-creator with Alan Martin of Tank Girl).  Walker and colorist Antonio Fabela's work on this first issue would been a good fit for the best days of the science fiction and fantasy anthology magazine, Heavy Metal.

In fact, I think that in some ways,this Doctor Aphra comic book will be as much like Tank Girl, Heavy Metal, and various British and European science fiction comics as it will be a Star Wars comic book.  This title may be something of a risk for Marvel, in terms of Star Wars comic books, but it is good to see that they are willing to be a bit adventurous with their Star Wars titles.  The prior license holder for Star Wars comic books, Dark Horse Comics, was quite adventurous in the kind of Star Wars titles that it produced for two decades.

As a nice extra, there is a back-up story featuring a younger Doctor Aphra, and it is produced by the Darth Vader creative team of Gillen; artist Salvador Larroca, and colorist Edgar Delgado.  This story assures me that Doctor Aphra is more likely than not to be a good Star Wars comic book.

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: STAR WARS #38

STAR WARS No. 38 (2015)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Kieron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Guru e-FX
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: David Marquez with Matthew Wilson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated T

Part I: “The Ashes of Jedha”

In 2015, Marvel Comics restarted their publication of Star Wars comic books with a brand new Star Wars #1.  I wrote a review of it and went on to review a few more issues of the series, plus the first annual.  Jason Aaron was the series writer from the beginning and delivered a number of really good story arcs and, recently, several really good stand alone, single-issue stories.

Aaron has moved on and the new series writer is Kieron Gillen, who did stellar work on Marvel's initial Darth Vader title, which was drawn by Salvador Larroca.  In fact, I can make a good case that Gillen and Larroca's Darth Vader was and still is the best Star Wars comic book Marvel has published since it regained the license to produce such comic books.  Gillen, as writer, and Larroca, as artist, reunite as the new Star Wars creative team.  They are joined by Guru e-FX on colors and Clayton Cowles on letters.

Star Wars #38 (“The Ashes of Jedha”) finds that the forces of the Galactic Empire have returned to the desert moon Jedha, which the Empire nearly destroyed (as seen in the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).  The Empire wants the kyber crystals, which are plentiful on Jedha and which power lightsabers, that managed to survive the destruction wrought on the moon by a test of the Death Star.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 have arrived on Jedha in hopes of forming an alliance with the “main” rebellion and the rebels on Jedha.  However, the partisans on Jedha are different in many ways from the Rebel Alliance, and these wild rebels of Jedha may hold the Alliance in as much disdain as they do the Empire.

As much as I was enjoying Star Wars the comic book, I know that there was a part of me that believed the series needed, if not a fresh start, some injection of freshness.  I think Kieron Gillen is that injection, and there is something about Gillen and Larroca that really works as a comic book creative team.  There is fire in the drama, and the tension is electrically charged.  Together, they produce comic books that have me hopping for the next issue every time I finish the issue at hand.

The rich colors by Guru e-FX dazzle my eyes.  It is near perfect, although the colors seem to emphasize a peculiar photo-like quality in many of the faces that Larroca draws.  I often don't mention lettering in my reviews, but here, Clayton Cowles actually super-charges the edgy mood of this story.

Once again, the creators of a Marvel Star Wars comic book title have me chomping at the bit to read the next issue.  In the case of the new Star Wars team, I am not ashamed to be a fanboy.

A
9 out of 10

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


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

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

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Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 6, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

JUL171125    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #9    $3.99
MAR171135    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN WORLDWIDE HC VOL 02    $34.99
JUL171137    ASTONISHING X-MEN #3    $3.99
JUL171087    BLACK BOLT #5    $3.99
JUL171030    CHAMPIONS #12 SE    $3.99
JUL171098    DAREDEVIL #26    $3.99
JUL171156    GENERATION X #6    $3.99
JUL171006    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART #1    $4.99
JUL171007    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART #1 COIPEL VAR    $4.99
JUN178546    GENERATIONS PHOENIX & JEAN GREY #1 2ND PTG MATTINA VAR    $4.99
JUL171122    HAWKEYE #10    $3.99
MAR171138    HULK PLANET HULK OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JUL171149    ICEMAN #5    $3.99
JUL171088    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL171089    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #2 (OF 5) CHARACTER VAR    $3.99
JUL171105    IRON FIST #7    $3.99
JUN171055    IRON FIST TP VOL 01 TRIAL OF THE SEVEN MASTERS    $15.99
JUL171102    JESSICA JONES #12    $3.99
JUL171103    JESSICA JONES #12 MORRISETTE PHAN VAR    $3.99
JUL171161    JOURNEY SW LAST JEDI CAPT PHASMA #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAY170949    MAN-THING BY R L STINE TP VOL 01    $15.99
JUN171027    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES MARVEL LEGACY (BUNDLE OF 5) (NET)    $45.00
MAR171145    MARVEL HIP HOP COVERS HC VOL 02    $34.99
MAR171143    MMW LUKE CAGE POWER MAN HC VOL 02    $75.00
MAR171144    MMW LUKE CAGE POWER MAN HC VOL 02 DM VAR ED 248    $75.00
MAR171133    PUNISHER BACK TO WAR OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
MAR171134    PUNISHER BACK TO WAR OMNIBUS HC DM VAR ED    $100.00
MAR171132    PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS HC NEW PTG    $100.00
JUL171095    ROYALS #7    $3.99
MAY178002    SECRET EMPIRE #10 (OF 10) ROSS GENERATIONS VAR    $4.99
JUL171080    SPIDER-MAN #20    $3.99
JUL171085    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #21    $3.99
MAY170950    STAR WARS DARTH MAUL TP    $16.99
JUL171181    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #5    $3.99
MAR171128    STAR WARS DARTH VADER BY GILLEN AND LARROCA OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
MAR171127    STAR WARS MARVEL UK OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JUL171188    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUN171063    THOR & HULK DIGEST TP    $9.99
JUL171048    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5)    $4.99
JUL171051    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5) CRAIN CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
JUL171050    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5) TORQUE POISON VAR    $4.99
JUL171068    VENOMVERSE WAR STORIES #1    $4.99
JUL171069    VENOMVERSE WAR STORIES #1 LIM VAR    $4.99
JUL171143    X-MEN GOLD #11    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 2, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

FEB170971    ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT AVENGERS HC VOL 01 (RES)    $34.99
JUN170972    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #7    $3.99
JUN170897    AVENGERS #10 SE    $3.99
JUN170943    BLACK BOLT #4    $3.99
FEB170976    BLACK PANTHER HC VOL 01 A NATION UNDER OUR FEET    $34.99
MAY170958    CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS TP VOL 03 EMPIRE BUILDING    $19.99
JUN170899    CHAMPIONS #11 SE    $3.99
APR171144    COLOR YOUR OWN MARVEL MASTERS TP    $9.99
JUN170852    GENERATIONS BANNER HULK & TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1    $4.99
JUN170853    GENERATIONS BANNER HULK & TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1 KEOWN VAR    $4.99
JUN170958    HAWKEYE #9    $3.99
JUN170951    IRON FIST #6    $3.99
JUN170954    JESSICA JONES #11    $3.99
JUN170955    JESSICA JONES #11 MR OZ VAR    $3.99
JUN170908    LOCKJAW DOG DAYS TP    $7.99
FEB170972    LOKI JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY KIERON GILLEN OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JUN171025    MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ULTRON REVOLUTION #12    $2.99
FEB170973    MARVEL UNIVERSE BY CHRIS CLAREMONT HC    $125.00
JUN170919    MARVELS THOR RAGNAROK PRELUDE #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
FEB170974    MMW SAVAGE SHE-HULK HC VOL 01    $75.00
FEB170975    MMW SAVAGE SHE-HULK HC VOL 01 DM VAR ED 246    $75.00
FEB170967    MONSTERS HC VOL 02 MARVEL MONSTERBUS BY LEE LIEBER KIRBY    $100.00
JUN170962    NICK FURY #5    $3.99
JUN170935    SPIDER-MAN #19    $3.99
JUN170938    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #20    $3.99
JUN171023    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #4    $3.99
JUN171014    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
MAY170983    THOR EPIC COLLECTION TP IN MORTAL FLESH    $39.99
JUN171028    TRUE BELIEVERS KIRBY 100TH BLACK PANTHER #1    $1.00
JUN171029    TRUE BELIEVERS KIRBY 100TH CAPTAIN AMERICA LIVES AGAIN #1    $1.00
JUN170961    UNSTOPPABLE WASP #8    $3.99
JUN170971    VISION DIRECTORS CUT #3 (OF 6)    $6.99
JUN170987    X-MEN GOLD #9    $3.99

Review: DARTH VADER #25

DARTH VADER No. 25
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Keiron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Juan Gimenez
VARIANT COVERS: Cliff Chiang; John Tyler Christopher; Michael Cho; Adi Granov; Greg Land; Salvador Larocca; Jamie McKelvie; Sara Pichelli; Joe Quesada; Chris Samnee; Kamome Shirahama
52pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated T

Book IV, Part VI: “End of Games”

Of course you know that The Walt Disney Company owns Marvel Comics, dear readers.  Shortly after acquiring Marvel Entertainment, Disney bought Lucasfilm, Ltd., the owner of all thing Star Wars.  Just a (relatively) short time later, Dark Horse Comics lost the license to produce Star Wars comic books, which it had held for two decades.  It was obvious that Marvel would be the new home of Star Wars comics, and around the beginning of 2015, Marvel released the flagship title, Star Wars.

Shortly afterwards, Marvel began its second Star Wars series, Darth Vader.  Written by Keiron Gillen, drawn by Salvador Larroca, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, this series chronicled the quest of Star Wars' most (in)famous and beloved villain, Darth Vader, has he delved into his past and fought for his present in order to prepare for his future.

Basically, this is how Darth Vader the comic book worked.  Emperor Palpatine held Vader responsible for the destruction of his ultimate weapon, the Death Star, by the Rebel Alliance – as seen the original Star Wars from 1977 (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope).  Suddenly, the Emperor had appointed others in position of power that basically rivaled Vader's position of power and authority under the Emperor, and some of those rivals wanted to see Vader dead.

To defend himself, Vader essentially created his own secret Empire within the Emperor's Empire, from which he could defeat his adversaries and secure his position in the Empire.  Vader even learned that the young pilot who launched the torpedoes/missiles that destroyed the Death Star is Luke Skywalker, his son by his late wife from another life.  As the series progressed, Vader had much success, but some of his rivals prove to be formidable adversaries who could destroy him.

Now, the series comes to an end and wraps up its remaining story lines/threads in Darth Vader #25.  As the story begins, Darth Vader prepares for his final showdown with the one who has proven to be his most wily rival, Cylo, but the traitorous scientist has a fail safe that may give him victory over Vader.  Meanwhile, Vader's secret ally, Dr. Aphra, moves to protect herself from Vader – by seeking counsel with the Emperor!

After the first story arc of this series, entitled “Vader,” it was clear that Marvel's best Star Wars comic book was Darth Vader, which was saying a lot because the flagship Star Wars was also quite good.  I think series writer Kieron Gillen did a good job of connecting the past, which contained the wreckage resulting from the transformation of Annakin Skywalker into Darth Vader to the present, filled with Vader's problems and dilemmas.  Gillen gave his readers the chance to watch Vader discover some of the secrets of his past, which were not secret to readers, while also offering readers the opportunity to see how Vader “discovered” Luke Skywalker.

I can say that Gillen was good enough at what he did with Darth Vader that this series is worth preserving in trade paperback for future readers.  For the time being or until Star Wars is inevitably rebooted (probably sooner than we think), Gillen's Darth Vader is Star Wars storytelling for posterity.

And before we go, I must praise the stellar work of series artist, Salvador Larroca.  It is a shame that it seems easy to take Larroca for granted, but his work defined this series' sense of cloak and dagger and the title character's relentless aggression.

A

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


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

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

I Reads You Review: DARTH VADER #1

DARTH VADER #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

STORY: Keiron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Adi Granov
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross, Simone Bianchi, Mark Brooks, J. Scott Campbell, John Cassaday, John Tyler Christopher, Adi Granov, Greg Horn, Greg Land, Salvador Larocca, Alex Maleev, Mike Del Mundo, Whilce Portacio, Mico Suayan, Skottie Young
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2015)

Rated T

Book 1: Vader

Marvel Comics' new line of Star Wars comic books yields a second series.  Entitled Darth Vader, it is written by Keiron Gillen, drawn by Salvador Larroca, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  Of course, this series focuses on the signature Star Wars villain, Darth Vader.

It might seem odd to that Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, is so popular.  Throughout six Star Wars films, Vader, either as himself or as his original identity, Anakin Skywalker, has been portrayed as a killer, a mass murderer, a child killer, a war criminal, a torturer, a traitor, a liar, and as the lap dog of Emperor of the evil Galactic Empire.  While people would generally find anyone of the above descriptions repugnant, to say nothing of possessing more than one, Darth Vader is a fictional character is an escapist fantasy.  Instead of being repugnant, Vader is alluring

It is granted that countless people around the world take the Star Wars narrative seriously.  While Darth Vader may be like Adolf Hitler, he is not in actuality like Hitler.  So fans can love the fictional Vader, while hating even a fictional depiction of Hitler.  Got it?  We don't have to take Vader so seriously in order to find him a most delicious bad guy.

Darth Vader #1 (Book 1: Vader) opens after the events that took place on Cymoon (as seen in Marvel's recently launched Star Wars comic book series).  Vader is on the planet Tatooine to negotiate with Outer Rim crime lord, Jabba the Hutt.  The story then takes readers to the period shortly before Vader arrived on Tatooine.

We learn that the Emperor is exceedingly displeased at the Rebel Alliance's destruction of the Death Star and also with the Rebel attack on Cymoon.  The Emperor both blames Vader and tasks him with repairing the damage done to “his” empire by the recent setbacks.  Vader realizes that his position is now precarious, so how will he respond?

As I started reading Darth Vader #1, I did not expect much – I have to admit.  The art is good, but it is by Salvador Larroca, who is always good and has been for over a decade.  Just after the halfway point in this first issue, I started to understand that Darth Vader the comic book looks like it is going to be a character drama about and character study of Vader.  He will be neither the henchman/contagonist of the original Star Wars film trilogy nor the shallow and petulant youth of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Keiron Gillen will give Vader not only motivation, but also personality, including a sense of pride and an ability to be pricked and wounded emotionally and psychologically.  Vader will have to respond, to defend, and to protect himself in sometimes imaginative and sometimes foolish ways.  Larroca will bring that to life in vivid, potent, and eye-catching storytelling.

Could Darth Vader be the better Star Wars ongoing series?

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 11, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

DEC140873     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA FEAR HIM #2     $3.99
DEC140915     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #11     $3.99
OCT140887     ALL NEW X-MEN #36     $3.99
DEC140845     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #14 SV     $3.99
DEC140993     AVENGERS RAGE OF ULTRON BY OPENA POSTER     $8.99
NOV140874     AVENGERS WORLD TP VOL 03 NEXT WORLD     $19.99
DEC140864     BUCKY BARNES WINTER SOLDIER #5     $3.99
DEC140909     CAPTAIN MARVEL #12     $3.99
DEC140926     CYCLOPS #10     $3.99
DEC140792     DARTH VADER #1     $4.99
NOV140887     DEATHLOK TP RAGE AGAINST MACHINE     $34.99
NOV140886     DEXTER TP     $19.99
DEC140902     GUARDIANS 3000 #5     $3.99
DEC140823     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #24 BV     $3.99
DEC140994     GUARDIANS TEAM-UP BY ADAMS POSTER     $8.99
NOV140883     INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK TP VOL 04 HUMANITY BOMB     $19.99
NOV140895     INHUMANS 50TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER     $8.99
DEC140813     MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SEASON TWO #4     $2.99
APR140748     MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 01 NEW PTG     $49.99
SEP140920     MMW SUB MARINER HC VOL 06     $75.00
DEC140935     NIGHTCRAWLER #11     $3.99
NOV140893     OZ TP EMERALD CITY OF OZ     $19.99
NOV140861     ROCKET RACCOON PREM HC VOL 01 CHASING TALE     $24.99
DEC140995     SPIDER-GWEN BY RODRIGUEZ POSTER     $8.99
DEC140851     SPIDER-WOMAN #4 SV     $3.99
DEC140862     THANOS VS HULK #3     $3.99
DEC140894     THOR #5     $3.99
DEC140841     WOLVERINES #6     $3.99
DEC140927     X-FORCE #15     $3.99
DEC140938     X-MEN #24     $3.99

I Reads You Review: ANGELA: Asgard's Assassin #1

ANGELA: ASGARD'S ASSASIN #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITERS: Kieron Gillen; Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Phil Jimenez; Stephanie Hans
INKS: Tom Palmer; Stephanie Hans
COLORS: Romulo Fajardo; Stephanie Hans
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Stephanie Hans
VARIANT COVERS: Phil Jimenez and Dan Green with Frank D'armata; Joe Quesada; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Rated “T+”

Angela created by Todd McFarlane and Neil Gaiman

Angela: Asgard's Assassin is a new comic book series launched as part of Marvel Comics' “Avengers NOW!” initiative.  The series features a character that was not originally a Marvel Comics character.

Angela is a comic book character created by writer Neil Gaiman and artist Todd McFarlane.  She first appeared in Spawn #9 (cover dated: March 1993) as a supporting character and adversary.  Published by Image Comics, Spawn was McFarlane's creator-owned series, and Angela was later the subject of a protracted legal battle between McFarlane and Gaiman.

Gaiman eventually won the rights to the character and transferred those rights to Marvel Comics.  Angela's Marvel debut was in the event miniseries, Age of Ultron (#10; cover dated: June 2013).  Angela's origin and purpose were changed from what they were in Spawn.  In the Marvel Universe, Angela was revealed to be Aldrif, the daughter of Odin (King of Asgard) and his wife, Frigga, which makes her the sister of Thor and Loki.  Once believed to have been murdered, Angela is now “the deadliest warrior in all the Ten Realms.”

Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 finds Angela walking through the desert of Limbo, facing down hordes, and carrying... a baby?!  Plus, her partner, Sera, tells a tale of Angela's past.

Hmmm... Wow...  Over two decades later, Angela belongs to another publisher, yet the new publisher releases an Angela comic book that seems as if it were produced by the old publisher 20 years ago.  By that, I mean pretty art, underwhelming story.

Phil Jimenez and the great inker, Tom Palmer, deliver stellar art, creating a tale that looks like a bizarre melding of J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard.  The gor-to-the-geous colors by Romulo Fajardo make the main story of Angela: Asgard's Assassin seem like a piece straight out of classic Heavy Metal.  However, the story does nothing for me, and I am not even interested in trying to talk about it.

The side story by writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Stephanie Hans is better.  It is a familiar story type, and with its pretty art, it also recalls Marvel's old Epic Magazine.  That said, I can't see myself reading future issues of Angela: Asgard's Assassin.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for December 3, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

OCT140798     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #17 AXIS     $3.99
OCT140809     ANGELA ASGARDS ASSASSIN #1     $3.99
OCT140790     AXIS REVOLUTIONS #3     $3.99
OCT140823     CAPTAIN AMERICA PEGGY CARTER AGENT OF SHIELD #1     $7.99
SEP140935     CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 03 LOOSE NUKE     $19.99
JUL140714     CAPTAIN AMERICA TRIAL OF CAPTAIN AMERICA OMNIBUS HC     $99.99
OCT140800     DEADPOOL #38 AXIS     $3.99
SEP148254     DEATH OF WOLVERINE #2 3RD PTG MCNIVEN VAR     $4.99
OCT140844     DEATH OF WOLVERINE WEAPON X PROGRAM #3     $3.99
OCT140854     GUARDIANS 3000 #3     $3.99
OCT140865     HULK #9     $3.99
SEP148262     INHUMAN #7 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR     $3.99
OCT140803     INHUMAN #9 AXIS     $3.99
SEP140939     INVADERS CLASSIC TP VOL 02 COMPLETE COLLECTION     $39.99
SEP140884     IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #7     $3.99
SEP148263     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #1 4TH PTG MCNIVEN VAR ANMN     $3.99
OCT140857     LEGENDARY STAR LORD #6     $3.99
OCT140902     MEN OF WRATH BY JASON AARON #3 (MR)     $3.50
SEP140916     THANOS HC GOD UP THERE LISTENING     $24.99
OCT140875     THANOS VS HULK #1     $3.99
JUL140717     X-MEN INFERNO PROLOGUE HC     $125.00
JUL140712     YOUNG AVENGERS BY GILLEN AND MCKELVIE OMNIBUS HC     $49.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for August 20, 2014

MARVEL COMICS

JUN140651     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #6     $3.99
JUN140639     ALL NEW ULTIMATES #6     $3.99
JUN140704     ALL NEW X-FACTOR #12     $3.99
MAY140944     CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION SOCIETY SERPENTS TP     $34.99
JUN140619     DAREDEVIL #7 SIN     $3.99
MAY140946     DAREDEVIL BY MARK WAID TP VOL 06     $15.99
JUN140660     DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU #4     $3.99
JUN140697     DEADPOOL DRACULAS GAUNTLET #7     $3.99
JUN140694     DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE #3     $3.99
JUN140669     ELEKTRA #5     $3.99
MAY140940     JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY GILLEN TP VOL 02 COMPLETE COLL     $34.99
MAY140936     LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD TP VOL 01 TRUST ME     $19.99
JUN140698     MAGNETO #8     $3.99
JUN140636     MIGHTY AVENGERS #13     $3.99
JUN148106     MS MARVEL #1 6TH PTG PICHELLI VAR ANMN     $2.99
JUN148088     MS MARVEL #4 2ND PTG MCKELVIE VAR     $2.99
JUN148089     MS MARVEL #5 2ND PTG ALPHONA VAR     $2.99
JUN140673     MS MARVEL #7     $2.99
JUN140630     NEW AVENGERS #23     $3.99
JUN140615     NOVA #20 SIN     $3.99
JUN140614     ORIGINAL SINS #5     $3.99
MAY140933     PUNISHER TP VOL 01 BLACK AND WHITE     $17.99
JUN140708     SAVAGE WOLVERINE #22     $3.99
JUN140633     SECRET AVENGERS #7     $3.99
JUN148086     SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 2ND PTG BIANCHI VAR ANMN     $3.99
JUN140705     STORM #2     $3.99
MAY140934     WINTER SOLDIER TP BITTER MARCH     $16.99
JUN140685     WOLVERINE ANNUAL #1     $4.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for June 18 2014

IMAGE COMICS

APR140557 ALEX + ADA #7 $2.99
MAR140562 APHRODITE IX #11 $3.99
APR140565 DRUMHELLAR #6 CVR A ROSSMO (MR) $3.50
APR140566 DRUMHELLAR #6 CVR B TEMPLESMITH (MR) $3.50
FEB140600 FATALE #23 (MR) $3.50
FEB140525 GLORY COMPLETE SAGA HC $34.99
APR148250 INVINCIBLE #111 2ND PTG (MR) $2.99
APR140574 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #21 $3.50
MAR148190 MANHATTAN PROJECTS #21 BLANK SKETCH CVR $3.50
APR140577 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #11 CVR A OEMING $3.99
APR140578 MICE TEMPLAR IV LEGEND #11 CVR B SANTOS & FREE $3.99
APR140579 MINIMUM WAGE #6 (MR) $3.50
APR140580 MPH #2 CVR A FEGREDO $2.99
APR140581 MPH #2 CVR B CANETE $2.99
APR148239 MPH #2 CVR C LEINIL YU $2.99
APR148240 MPH #2 CVR D LEINIL YU $2.99
OCT130620 SAVAGE DRAGON #195 (MR) $3.99
APR140596 SEX CRIMINALS #6 (MR) $3.50
FEB140537 VELVET TP VOL 01 BEFORE THE LIVING END (MR) $9.99
APR140486 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR) $3.50
FEB148313 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR B MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR) $3.50
FEB148314 WICKED & DIVINE #1 CVR C OMALLEY (MR) $3.50

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 19 2014

MARVEL COMICS

DEC130722 A PLUS X #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138035 ALL NEW MARVEL NOW POINT ONE #1 2ND PTG LARROCA VAR $5.99
DEC138036 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #1 2ND PTG ANKA VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130745 AMAZING X-MEN #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138037 AVENGERS WORLD #1 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130688 AVENGERS WORLD #3 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC138038 BLACK WIDOW #1 2ND PTG NOTO VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130646 CAPTAIN AMERICA #17 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130729 CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP DAWNS EARLY LIGHT TP [DIG] $34.99
DEC130738 DAREDEVIL #36 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130710 DEXTER DOWN UNDER #1 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130703 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130705 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 CROSBY IMAGINEER [DIG] $3.99
SEP130781 GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA OMNI HC VOL 01 WEEKS CVR [DIG] $125.00
DEC130739 IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 [DIG] $4.99
NOV130730 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY GILLEN TP VOL 01 COMPLETE COLL [DIG] $34.99
DEC130731 MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130655 NEW WARRIORS #1 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130750 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130660 NOVA #13.NOW ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130723 NOVA TP VOL 01 ORIGIN NOW [DIG] $19.99
DEC130632 PUNISHER #2 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130701 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #15 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130735 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #10 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130724 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 03 [DIG] $17.99
DEC130747 UNCANNY X-MEN #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130674 X-MEN #11 ANMN [DIG] $3.99

Albert Avilla Reviews: Young Avengers #1

Young Avengers #1
Marvel Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Jamie McKelvie with Mike Norton

(Spoilers)
“Style>Substance”

The story opens up with Kate Bishop waking up the morning after a hook-up with Noh-Varr. Then, the Skrulls attack. Hulkling is running around New York, posing as Spider-Man to fight crime. Another hook-up, this time it’s Hulking and Wiccan. After a heartfelt conversation about being superheroes, Wiccan does a little magic to help Hulkling.

At the local diner, Loki gets a warning from his food. He tries to stop Wiccan, but is interrupted by Miss America. Loki escapes when Hulkling bursts on to the scene. Miss America exits without as much as a word with Hulkling. Wiccan’s surprise for Hulkling is an alternate reality mother. Just what we need, another Skrull. Didn’t we just rid our planet of those filthy aliens? Hulkling’s mother doesn’t agree with Jeff and Rebecca’s parenting; she thinks that she knows better. She calmly disagrees with them, and then, she liquefies their bodies.

This comic book definitely has style, not so much substance. For a first issue, it didn’t get me interested in finding out how the story was going to end. Is this the first time that a member of a superhero team becomes a member through a one-night stand? There are a lot of things going on. Gillen throws us right into the thick of things. I enjoyed the frenetic pace of the action scenes.

Noh-Varr is an interesting character. Hawkeye apparently is a swashbuckler. Let’s hope that there is some semblance of responsibility in her approach to life. We know what we get with Hulkling and Wiccan. Why is Loki on an Avengers team? He is the evil that the original Avengers banded together to defeat. Miss America is the mystery character. Is she just a powerhouse? Does she have a connection with the original Miss America? Why boots with shorts and a jacket? Does she have a connection to the original Miss America?

The art is good comic book art, nothing to complain about, nothing to go on about. I did like how the artists handled the action scenes.

I rated Young Avengers #1 “Read a Friend’s Copy.” #3 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter