Review: THE DREAMING #1

THE DREAMING No. 1 (2018)
DC COMICS – @DCComics @vertigo_comics

[This review is posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Simon “Si” Spurrier
ART: Bilquis Evely
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
EDITOR: Molly Mahan
CURATOR: Neil Gaiman
COVER: Jae Lee with June Chung
VARIANT COVER: Yanick Paquette with Nathan Fairbairn
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)

“Suggested for Mature Readers”

The Sandman created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

“The Kingdom”

The Dreaming is a fictional place or realm appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.  It first appeared in The Sandman #1, (cover dated:  January 1989) and was created by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth.  The Dreaming is the domain or kingdom of Dream (Morpheus and later, Daniel) of the Endless.

The Dreaming was the setting for a monthly comic series, The Dreaming, that ran for 60 issues (cover dated:  June 1996 to May 2001), published under DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.  Vertigo is rebooting that comic book as part of a new line of comic books, The Sandman Universe, based on the work of writer, Neil Gaiman, who is also the curator of this line.  The Dreaming (2018) is written by Simon “Si” Spurrier; drawn by Bilquis Evely; colored by Mat Lopes; and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The series is set in a realm that must survive in the aftermath of the disappearance of its domain lord.

The Dreaming #1 (“The Kingdom”) finds Lucien the dream Librarian holding forth with his master, Dream's helm.  Where is Dream, he asks?  Dream has apparently abandoned his realm, and the result is that The Dreaming is a kingdom in chaos.  This place where stories are born now finds its walls slashed and bleeding.  Now, Lucien and the strange residents of The Dreaming must protect its broken borders alone.  The most worrying occurrences, however, are that Dora, a recent resident, is finding opportunity in this madness, stealing dreams for the highest bidder, and in Dream's gallery, something new has started growing...

I think the art for The Dreaming #1, illustrations by Bilquis Evely and colors by Mat Lopes, is gorgeous, especially story page #10.  Letterer Simon Bowland's cascade of delightful fonts are eye candy.  I have no use for Si Spurrier's story and script.  It is 22 pages of meanderings and repetition of story elements already established.

I have a standard I apply to the work and storytelling of comic book writers.  Would an editor accept this work from a unknown writer who was pitching a comic book to that editor?  Or in the case of an established property belonging to that editor's employer (the publisher), would this script for an established writer be considered acceptable work if it were from an unknown writer who was trying to land a gig?  In the case of The Dreaming #1, the veteran scribe, Si Spurrier, got a pass from his editor that an non-established writer would not get.

Well, although I have enjoyed other comic books written by Spurrier, I won't give a pass to The Dreaming #1, if it means paying $3.99 for the mediocrity of future issues.  I hope for better.

4 out of 10

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 syndication rights and fees.

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Review: MOON KNIGHT #188

MOON KNIGHT No. 188
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Max Bemis
ART: Jacen Burrows
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Jacen Burrows and Mat Lopes
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Daniel Warren Johnson with Mike Spicer; Bill Sienkiewicz (based on his cover for Moon Knight #25)
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated  “T+”

Moon Knight created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin

Moon Knight is a Marvel Comics superhero character.  Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 (cover dated: August 1975) and is Marvel's version of Batman (at least, some think so).  Moon Knight is Marc Spector, an American-born mercenary who died in Egypt, under the statue of Khonshu, an ancient Egyptian moon god.

Khonshu appeared to Spector and offered him a second chance at life.  Spector wrapped himself with the silver shroud that covered Khonshu’s statue, turning it into a silver cloaked costume, becoming the Moon Knight.  A superb athlete and master of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, Spector is also a skilled acrobat, gymnast, detective, marksman, and is an aviator who uses both traditional and sophisticated weaponry.

With the Marvel “Legacy” initiative, Moon Knight gets a “Legacy” number change, so instead of a new Moon Knight #1, we get Moon Knight #188.  This issue also sees the start of a new creative team:  writer Max Bemis; artist by Jacen Burrows; colorist by Mat Lopes; and letterer by Cory Petit.

Moon Knight #188 opens in Ravencroft Asylum where Dr. Emmett is involved with Patient 86.  He is a pyromaniac(?) and killed some number of people while in the military.  Marc Spector was also a patient of Dr. Emmett's, and there may be a connection between her old and new patients.

After reading this comic book, you can enjoy the afterword written by Max Bemis and Jacen Burrows.  Both seem quite confident that they are going to deliver something exciting and unique in their run on Moon Knight, and I am willing to believe them.  I think the creative team of Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey on Moon Knight from 2014 showed that the character can be a truly unique in comic book stories that defy the usual.

Bemis and Burrows seem determined to launch their run from the spirit of possibilities Ellis and Shalvey offered.  Bemis is new to me, but I am familiar from Burrows for his time with Avatar Press.  Over a decade I ago, I thought that he had potential, and he is showing that now.  Also, Mat Lopes gorgeous coloring surprisingly makes this a good looking comic book, which in turn makes the creepiness of this story even creepier.  Yes, I already have issue #189, and I am recommending this “Legacy” Moon Knight to Moon Knight fans.

[This comic book includes a three-page “Marvel Primer” origin-overview story about Moon Knight, written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by German Peralta; colored by Rachelle Rosenberg; and lettered by VC's Cory Petit.]

7.5 out of 10

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


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

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Review: The Black Bat #2

BLACK BAT #2
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

WRITER: Brian Buccellato
ARTIST: Ronan Cliquet
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Rob Steen
COVERS: Jae Lee (A), Joe Benitez (B), Ardian Syaf (C), Billy Tan (D), Marcos Martin (subscription cover)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

“The Black Bat” was a character that appeared in Black Bat Detective Mysteries, a short-lived, 1930s pulp magazine, published for six issues. The first Black Bat is thought to have had an influence on The Batman, either through Bob Kane (the man solely credited with creating Batman) or Bill Finger (the first Batman writer and essentially the co-creator of the character) or both. There was also a second version of The Black Bat, influenced by the first.

Dynamite Entertainment recently returned this pulp hero from the 1930s to comics. Dynamite’s The Black Bat comic book stars Tony Quinn, a brash defense attorney for the mob who compromises his ethics for financial gain. When Tony refuses to commit murder, his gangster employers torture and blind him. It is a covert agency that rescues and gives Quinn a chance to make amends. Tony dons a cape and cowl and becomes the Black Bat in a quest of redemption to right the wrongs of his past

The Black Bat #2 opens with Tony as the Black Bat about to break up a drug shipment for the city’s drug lord, Oliver Snate. Tony’s baptism in fire becomes literal when a moral dilemma complicates the mission. Meanwhile, anger in the city continues to rise over the unsolved case of the missing policemen.

The first time I saw images of the cover art for The Black Bat #2, I was struck by how much it all looked similar to various Batman images and graphics. [I wonder how many times you can poke the lion that is DC Comics’ legal department?] Actually, instead of Batman, The Black Bat #2 reads like a blending of Doug Moench’s Moon Knight and Mike Baron’s The Punisher, and I rather enjoyed it.

Writer Brian Buccellato is more than competent, offering familiar “street level” comic book tales, with a character made interesting because his determination is matched by his ignorance. Ronan Cliquet is also more than competent as a graphical storyteller, and his composition and page design is nice. Cliquet’s art improves Buccellato’s script in terms of storytelling.

I liked The Black Bat #2. I might read future issues, but as I have access to digital review copies from Dynamite Entertainment, that declaration might be something of a cheat. Still, The Black Bat has promise.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Review: The Black Bat #1

BLACK BAT #1
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

WRITER: Brian Buccellato
ARTIST: Ronan Cliquet
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: Rob Steen
COVERS: J. Scott Campbell (A), Joe Benitez (B), Ardian Syaf (C), Billy Tan (D), Marcos Martin (subscription cover)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

Dynamite Entertainment has brought The Black Bat back from the public domain comic book graveyard in a new comic book series. The character that appeared in Black Bat Detective Mysteries, a short-lived, 1930s pulp magazine, published for six issues. The first Black Bat is thought to have had an influence on the creation of The Batman.

The Black Bat #1 opens with the Black Bat kicking ass. He’s looking for Silk, a police snitch who will become his assistant. The story also goes into flashback mode in order to take a look at the man who would become the Black Bat, Tony Quinn. He was a brash defense attorney for the mob who compromised his ethics for financial gain. It cost him a lot, but now as the Black Bat he can seek redemption… or vengeance?

Images and graphics in The Black Bat resemble image and graphics in and perhaps the spirit of Batman comic books. However, what writer Brian Buccellato offers is closer to “street level” comic books that Marvel Comics has produced over the years, featuring characters like Daredevil, Moon Knight, and The Punisher. It’s vigilante vs. organized crime, and the superhero costume seems extraneous in the moody, urban fiction edge of Buccellato’s script.

Artist Ronan Cliquet has a graphic style and visual sense that is perfect for the comics yarn Buccellato spins. Cliquet’s compositions and designs are flashy in a Batman mode, but a bit earthier. Once again, crime fiction edges out costumes. Dynamite Entertainment’s The Black Bat does have potential.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux