#IReadsYou Review: HEROES REBORN #1

HEROES REBORN #1 (OF 7)
MARVEL COMICS

STORY: Jason Aaron
PENCILS: Ed McGuiness
INKS: Mark Morales
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Leinil Francis Yu with Sunny Gho
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Carlos Pacheco and Rafael Ponteriz with Nolan Woodard; Ed McGuiness with Matthew Wilson; George Perez and Al Vey with Morry Hollowell; Iban Coello with Espen Grundetjern; Jeffrey Veregge; John Tyler Christopher; Joshua Cassara with Dean White; Mark Bagley and John Dell with Romulo Fajardo, Jr.; Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
48pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (July 2021)

Rated “T+”

“Whatever Happened to Earth's Mightiest Heroes?”

Heroes Reborn was a Marvel Comics summer event series and crossover publishing initiative.  It was comprised of the seven-issue comic book miniseries, Heroes Reborn, and eleven tie-in comic books.  The entire thing was scheduled to be published over seven weeks, from May 5, 2021 to June 23, 2021.

Heroes Reborn is set on an Earth in which the Avengers – Earth's Mightiest Heroes – were never formed, and Blade the Vampire Hunter seems to be the only person who remembers that the world should be different – that it has been “reborn.”  The Heroes Reborn miniseries was written by Jason Aaron; drawn by Ed McGuiness (pencils) and Mark Morales (inks); colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Matthew Wilson.

Heroes Reborn #1 (“Whatever Happened to Earth's Mightiest Heroes?”) opens in East Los Angeles.  That is where Blade is looking for answers.  Two weeks earlier, he woke up covered in blood in a flophouse of London's East End.  The first thing he did was try to contact Avengers Mountain, but it was not there.

Blade discovers that he has awakened in a world that is both familiar and wildly different.  In this world the Avengers never existed.  The Squadron Supreme of America has always been “Earth's mightiest heroes.”  They are Hyperion, Nighthawk, Power Princess, Doctor Spectrum, and Blur.

Phil Coulson is currently the President of the United States.  Blade reaches out to the Avengers teammates that he can find, but to no avail.  And the Squadron's Nighthawk does not like the “truth” with which Blade has confronted him.  Now, Blade must travel to the arctic and find the one man – the one legendary hero – who can fix this wrong Earth.

THE LOWDOWN:  First, I must be honest with you, dear readers.  With but a few exceptions, I hate big Marvel and DC Comics crossover events.  They are generally a mess – the closest thing to a cacophony of actual sound and fury signifying nothing that comic books can get.

Heroes Reborn #1 is one of the exceptions.  It is actually a really good first issue; the rest of the miniseries and all the tie-in issues are a mixed bag.  Only the first issue is entirely the work of Aaron and McGuiness, who is essentially the back-up artist on issues #2 to #7.  Jason Aaron is the writer on the lead stories in those issues, each of which focuses on a member of the Squadron Supreme and/or their activities.

I assume that many readers already know that the Squadron Supreme is Marvel's pastiche version of DC Comics Justice League of America.  I don't think that the team has ever been known as the “Squadron Supreme of America,” so it is funny that this is the group's name in Heroes Reborn.

The Heroes Reborn miniseries and its tie-ins are basically an overview of a world in which the Squadron and not the Avengers protects Earth.  Some of the changes are quite intriguing, such as the fact that the Squadron is more like DC Comics/Wildstorm Production's The Authority than the Avengers.  Some changes are not as good, but could be upon further development.  By the end of the one-shot that wraps up this event, Heroes Return #1, I did want to see more of the Heroes Reborn world, even with my reservations.

The series was published a year ago, so I don't believe I should worry about spoilers.  The Squadron replaced the Avengers in a plot hatched by Marvel's satanic villain, Mephisto, using the “Pandemonium Cube” (Cosmic Cube), with Phil Coulson as his wickedly evil and ambitious lackey and front man.

All that said:  I really liked Heroes Reborn #1.  Jason Aaron offers an especially intriguing first issue script with flourishes on conspiracy and mystery.  Ed McGuiness' manages to be both stylish and excellent in his storytelling; Mark Morales' sharp inks bring out McGuiness' sparkling design.  Matthew Wilson's color, as always, are gorgeous.  Letterer Cory Petit is also one of those “of course his work is good” guys, and he is indeed good here.

In general, I like Heroes Reborn, and I feel comfortable recommending it to fans of Marvel event series and to fans of the Squadron Supreme.  I didn't get as much Blade in this series as I would have liked, but sometimes, I have to take what I can get.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Marvel event series will want to try Heroes Reborn.

B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars

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


https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://www.marvel.com/
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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"


https://twitter.com/Marvel
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#IReadsYou Review: STAR WARS VOL. 1: The Destiny Path

STAR WARS VOL. 1 (2020): THE DESTINY PATH
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

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

STORY: Charles Soule
ART: Jesus Saiz
COLORS: Arif Prianto with Jesus Saiz (#1); Rachelle Rosenberg (#4); and Dan Brown (#5)
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: R.B. Silva with Guru-eFX
MISC. ART: Arthur Adams with Jesus Aburtov; Jen Bartel; Adam Hughes; Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson; Phil Noto; Ema Lupacchino with Jesus Aburtov; Daniel Acuna; Patch Zircher with Edgard Delgado; John Tyler Christopher
ISBN: 978-1-302-92078-4; paperback (November 10, 2020)
152pp, Color, $17.99 U.S., $22.99 CAN

Rated T

In 2015, Marvel Comics began publishing Star Wars comic books again.  Marvel's new Star Wars #1 opened in the time immediately after the events depicted in the original film, Star Wars (1977), which is also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.  After 75 issues, that series ended.

In late 2019, the new Star Wars ongoing series began.  It is written by Charles Soule; drawn by Jesus Saiz; colored by Arif Prianto; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  Star Wars (cover dated: 2020) starts during the last act of the 1980 Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back) and then, goes on to tell the story of the aftermath of the events depicted in Episode V.

The first six issues of Star Wars (2020) are collected in the recently released trade paperback, Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path.  “The Destiny Path” is the first story arc of this new series.

Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path opens inside the Millennium Falcon.  Its passengers:  Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Lando Calrissian have fled the Cloud City of Bespin, formerly owned by Lando.  They also escaped capture by the forces of the Galactic Empire, thanks to a save by R2-D2 (as seen in The Empire Strikes Back).  However, there are also feelings of recrimination and anger over Han Solo being the prisoner of a group of bounty hunters, led by Boba Fett, in service of Darth Vader – with the involuntary assistance of Lando.

Leia's plan is for the Falcon to reach The Mid Rim, Rendezvous Point: Delta-Three and join the “Fourth Division” of the Rebel Fleet.  But the Fourth Division is trapped there by Imperial forces led by Lieutenant Gorr of the Imperial Star Destroyer, “Tarkin's Will.”  Now, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, and Lando will have to put aside the anger, pain, and grief if they are going to save the Rebel Alliance.

“No … I am your father.”

Meanwhile, Luke struggles with his destiny as a Jedi Knight in the aftermath of his battle with Darth Vader at Cloud City.  He calls to his late mentor, Ben “Obi-Wan” Kenobi, but does not receive a reply, and Luke also feels out of sorts with the Force – as if it has abandoned him.  Then, Luke begins to have dreams and visions of a mystery woman who holds out a lightsaber to him – perhaps to replace the one he lost at Cloud City.  Now, Luke must find her, if he is to find his way with the Force … or so he thinks.  Plus, Leia, Luke, and Lando return to Cloud City, each for his or her own reasons.

THE LOWDOWN:  Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path takes place inside the final 10 minutes of The Empire Strikes Back.  It expands on what happens between the Millennium Falcon escaping the Imperial forces shortly after leaving Bespin and the film's final moments.  Then, The Destiny Path creates a larger story of what happens afterwards, which involves several sub-plots.

The Rebel Alliance must find a new base, but first, they have to escape Imperial forces, which have found a way to track the whereabouts of the separated “Divisions” of the Rebel Fleet.  The Imperials can track one Division in order to find a second; then, it destroys both.  The main goal of Leia, Luke, Lando, and Chewbacca is to find Han Solo, and if Boba Fett hasn't already turned Han over to Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine, then, they must track Boba.

Writer Charles Soule has previously said that he hopes to use this new Star Wars series to expand on what happened between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (1983), the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy.  And I'm all for that!  Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path is a very well written first arc.  Soule expounds on the conflict between Leia and Chewbacca against Lando.  Soule gives Lando a chance to settle his affairs at Cloud City and to reunite with a friend (and one of my favorite characters, Lobot).

Soule delves into Luke's struggles after his duel with Darth Vader, revealing a young man adrift and who may have to find his own way.  Soule plays up the idea that Luke's journey will be different from that of any other Jedi's.  The Destiny Path allows readers to see Luke take the first big steps that he takes alone on his path to being a Jedi.

I really like the art by illustrator Jesus Saiz and colorist Arif Prianto.  The graphical storytelling is moody and emotionally, but also offers edge-of-your-seat thrills, all of it well paced by Clayton Cowles' lettering.  For however long Saiz and Prianto work on this new Star Wars series, they seem capable of capturing the dark mood of a time when the Star Wars narrative fell into the deep, cold shadows of the Empire.

I have to be honest.  Although I was a regular reader of the previous series, Star Wars (2015), my excitement for the series's last 12 issues was about a third of what it was for the first 12 issues.  Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path is making me feel excited about Star Wars comic books the way the beginning of Star Wars 2015 did.  And I feel quite safe in recommending this collection to you, dear readers and Star Wars fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Star Wars comic books and of the time between Star Wars: Episodes V and VI will definitely want to sample Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path.

9 out of 10

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

https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://twitter.com/starwars
https://www.starwars.com/
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#IReadsYou Review: Wolverine #1

WOLVERINE #1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Benjamin Percy
ART: Adam Kubert; Viktor Bogdanovic
COLORS: Frank Martin; Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
COVER: Adam Kubert with Frank Martin
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Alex Ross; Chip Kidd; Jeehyung Lee; Jim Lee with Jason Keith; Rahzzah; R.B. Silva with Marte Gracia; Skottie Young; Gabriele Dell'Otto
72pp, Color, $7.99 U.S. (April 2020)

Parental advisory

Wolverine created by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita, Sr.

“The Flower Cartel” and “Catacombs”

Wolverine is a Marvel Comics character, a member of the superhero team, the X-Men, and one of Marvel's all-time most popular characters.  Wolverine first appeared in the last panel of The Incredible Hulk #180, but his first full appearance was in The Incredible Hulk #181 (cover-dated: Nov. 1974).  Wolverine was created by then Marvel Editor-in-Chief Roy Thomas, writer Len Wein, and then Marvel art director John Romita (Sr.)  Romita designed Wolverine, but the late artist Herb Trimpe drew Wolverine's earliest comic book appearances.

Wolverine first starred in his own solo comic book in the four-issue miniseries simply entitled Wolverine (cover-dated:  September to December 1982), which was famously written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Frank Miller.  Claremont and the late comic book artist, John Buscema, launched Wolverine's first ongoing comic book series with Wolverine #1 (cover-dated: November 1988), the first of many Wolverine ongoing comic book series.

Summer 2019, writer Jonathan Hickman revamped, rebooted, and re-imagined the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles.  The new series are Excalibur, Fallen Angels, Marauders, New Mutants, X-Force, and X-Men.

The seventh Wolverine ongoing comic book series headed the “second wave” of “Dawn of X” titles.  Wolverine (2020) is written by Benjamin Percy; drawn by Adam Kubert; colored by Frank Martin; and lettered by Cory Petit.  The first issue of the new series also includes a second story written by Percy; drawn by Viktor Bogdanovic; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by Petit.

Wolverine #1 (“The Flower Cartel”) opens to find Wolverine and his cohorts:  Marvel Girl, Domino, and Kid Omega, in a sorry state.  The story turns to a flashback from several days earlier, with Wolverine on Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state that is the home to all mutants on Earth (if those so choose).  At the behest of Kitty Pryde, Wolverine begins an investigation/mission to discover who is selling narcotics based on a Krakoan flower from which medicine is derived.  Wolverine will come across many players in this narcotics trade before finding himself tangling with an entity known as “The Pale Girl.”

In the second story, Wolverine begins another investigation/mission, this time to discover why the homicidal mutant, Omega Red, suddenly showed up on Krakoa in a grievously wounded condition.  Who whipped that ass?  Wolverine vehemently opposes Red being given sanctuary on Krakoa, but he does want to know what happened to him.  Wolverine heads to Paris where he discovers that blood flows freely in the “Catacombs” beneath Paris.

If I had to give a grade only to the opening story, “The Flower Cartel,” I might give it a “B.”  Ten of the 30 story pages simply meander, but when the action kicks into gear, it has quite a kick.  There is nothing here by the creative team that stands out as any of its members' best work, and I am disappointed to say that because I always expect a lot of Adam Kubert.

The real treat in this issue is the second story, “The Catacombs.”  For a grade, I will give it a solid “A.”  I don't want spoil anything, but Benjamin Percy's story reads like a slickly, produced dark fantasy, mystery-thriller.  Viktor Bogdanovic's illustrations and storytelling recall some Marvel stalwarts, like John Romita Jr. and Art Adams, 1980s work.  Matthew Wilson's color is pitch perfect for the tale, and Cory Petit's lettering creates an edgy, but alluring rhythm.

I am inclined to seek out the second issue of this new series to see if the plot of the second story plays out in the next issue.  Beyond that, the fact that Adam Kubert is drawing a Wolverine comic book will keep me curious about it.  The truth is, however, the main story of Wolverine 2020 simply does not stand out as exceptional material.

7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: STAR WARS #1

STAR WARS #1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

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

STORY: Charles Soule
ART: Jesus Saiz
COLORS: Jesus Saiz; Arif Prianto
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: R.B. Silva with Guru-eFX
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Arthur Adams with Jesus Aburtov; Jen Bartel; Adam Hughes; Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson; Phil Noto; Chris Sprouse; Karl Story with Neeraj Menon
4pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2020)

Rated T

“The Destiny Path” Part I

In 2015, Marvel Comics began publishing Star Wars comic books again.  Star Wars #1 opened in the time immediately after the events depicted in the original film, Star Wars (1977), which is also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.  After 75 issues, that series ended.

Now comes Star Wars 2020.  It is written by Charles Soule; drawn by Jesus Saiz; colored by Arif Prianto and Saiz; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  The new series takes place after the events depicted in the 1980 Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back).

Star Wars #1 opens inside the Millennium Falcon.  Its passengers:  Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Lando Calrissian escaped the Cloud City of Bespin, formerly owned by Lando.  They also escaped capture by the forces of the Galactic Empire, thanks to a save by R2-D2, as seen in The Empire Strikes Back.  There are also feelings of recrimination and anger over the capture of Han Solo by bounty hunters, led by Boba Fett, in service of Darth Vader.

Leia's plan is for them to reach The Mid Rim, Rendezvous Point: Delta-Three and join the “Fourth Division” of the Rebel Fleet.  But the Fourth Division is trapped there by imperial forces led by Lieutenant Gorr of the Imperial Star Destroyer, “Tarkin's Will.”  Now, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, and Lando will have to put aside the anger, pain, and grief if they are going to save the Rebel Alliance... and find a traitor.  Meanwhile, Luke struggles with his destiny in the aftermath of his battle with Darth Vader in Cloud City.

Star Wars #1 (2020) takes place inside the final 10 minutes of The Empire Strikes Back.  It expands on what happened between the Millennium Falcon escaping the Imperial forces shortly after leaving Bespin and the film's final moments.  Writer Charles Soule has said that he hopes to use this new Star Wars series to expand on what happened between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (1983), the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy.  And I'm all for that!

Star Wars #1 is a very well written first issue, as Soule expounds on the conflict between Leia and Chewbacca against Lando.  Soule delves into Luke's struggles after his duel with Darth Vader, revealing a young man adrift and who may have to find his own way.  Soule plays up the idea that Luke's journey will be different from that of any other Jedi's.  Soule also offers a tremendous mini action-thriller involving a besieged part of the Rebel Fleet, facing certain doom at the hands of Imperial Star Destroyers.  Soule creates the perfect scenario in which he can show how the post-Episode V core of heroes:  Luke, Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, and the Droids can work together to save the Rebellion.

I really like the art by Jesus Saiz and Arif Prianto.  The graphical storytelling is moody and emotionally, but also offers edge-of-your-seat thrills, all of it well paced by Clayton Cowles' lettering.  For however long Saiz and Prianto work on this new Star Wars series, they seem capable of capturing the dark mood of a time when the Star Wars narrative fell into the deep, cold shadows of the Empire.

I have to be honest.  Although I was a regular reader of the previous series, Star Wars (2015), my excitement for the series's last 12 issues was about a third of what it was for the first 12 issues.  Star Wars #1 2020 has not made me feel the original highs I felt, but it's close enough.

8 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: X-FORCE #1

X-FORCE No. 1 (2020)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Benjamin Percy
ART: Joshua Cassara
COLORS: Dean White
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITORS: Chris Robinson and Lauren Amaro
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Dustin Weaver
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Juan Jose Ryp with Jesus Aburtov; Adi Granov; Tom Muller; Todd McFarlane with Jason Keith
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2020)

Parental Advisory

X-Men created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee; X-Force created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza

“Hunting Ground”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  In The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963), readers were introduced to a group of characters that had unique powers and abilities because they were “mutants.”

Summer 2019, Marvel published writer Jonathan Hickman's revamp, reboot, and re-imagining of the X-Men comic book franchise via a pair of six-issue comic book miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of Ten”).  October welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles, although all except one, bore titles that have been previously used.  The new series were Excalibur, Fallen Angels, Marauders, New Mutants, X-Men, and the subject of this review, X-Force.

This new X-Force comic book is written by Benjamin Percy; drawn by Joshua Cassara; colored by Dean White; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  According to Marvel, the new X-Force team is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the mutant world.  One-half is the “intelligence branch;” that would be the group of Beast, Jean Grey, and Sage.  The other half is “special ops,” with a unit composed of Wolverine, Kid Omega and Domino.

X-Force #1 (“Hunting Ground”) opens with a question.  What happened to Domino?  Meanwhile on Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state that is a home for all mutants, Wolverine is hunting for predators on an island where there should be none.  As he says, however, there is always a predator, and “...when you're safe, you're soft.”  Black Tom Cassidy feels something bad coming, even if Professor X says otherwise.  But this new mutant world would not need an “X-Force” in a perfect world, and this is not a perfect world...

The original X-Force team first appeared in New Mutants #100 (cover dated: April 1991) and was the creation of writer-illustrator Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza.  The team's first leader was the mutant, Cable, and X-Force took a more militant and aggressive approach towards its enemies than did the X-Men did as a team.

In this first issue, writer Benjamin Percy takes that to heart, and his story makes X-Force #1 a potboiler from page one to the last.  I don't want to spoil anything, although as I write this review, X-Force #1 is about two months old.  Still, I do want to say that “Hunting Ground” offers surprises and thrills throughout.  Of the four “Dawn of X” first issues that I have read thus far, this one is easily the best.

Joshua Cassara's art is gritty and dark and his graphical storytelling has that sinister edge that reminds me of Grant Morrison's lovely science fiction-conspiracy comic book series, The Invisibles (DC Comics/Vertigo).  Dean White's coloring is correctly garish and gives this story a nightmarish and apocalyptic feel.  There is a disquieting mood in letterer Joe Caramagna's mostly quiet lettering for this first issue, which is just right.

I definitely plan to read more of this new X-Force, even if its just the first trade paperback collection.  I feel safe in recommending it to you, dear readers.

7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: MARAUDERS #1

MARAUDERS No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gerry Duggan
ART: Matteo Lolli
COLORS: Federico Blee
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebuski”
COVER: Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Aaron Kuder with Jordie Bellaire; Rick Leonardi with Richard Isanove; Tom Muller; Todd Nauck with Rachelle Rosenberg; Philip Tan with Jay David Ramos; Russell Dauterman with Federico Blee
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2019)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“I'm on a Boat”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team comprised of individuals with unique powers and abilities granted to them because they are “mutants.”  Created by editor-writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the X-Men debuted in the comic book, The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963).

Over its six decades of existence, the X-Men comic book franchise has been revived, revamped, relaunched, and re-imagined.  The latest remodeling came via a pair of six-issue miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of 10”), which were written by Jonathan Hickman.  Afterwards, October welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles, although all except one bore titles that had been previously used.  The new series are Excalibur, Fallen Angels, New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men, and the subject of this review, Marauders.

Marauders is written by Gerry Duggan; drawn by Matteo Lolli; colored by Federico Blee, and lettered by Cory Petit.  Previously, “the Marauders” was the name of a group of assassins employed by the X-Men's adversary, Mister Sinister (now an ally).  As a team, the Marauders' purpose was to assassinate other mutants and to act as a commando strike-force to carry out acts of mass murder.  The new Marauders have been formed to protect and help mutants around the world.

Marauders #1 (“I'm on a Boat”) opens in this glorious new dawn for “Mutantkind.”  Around the world, mutants are entering gateways that take them to Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state.  But not everyone can enter those gateways... for various reasons.  One of the most famous members of the X-Men, Katherine “Kate” Pryde (formerly known as “Kitty Pryde”), cannot pass through a Krakoan gateway; for her, it's like walking into a wall.

However, around the world, there are mutants living in countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Krakoa, nor do they recognize mutant sovereignty.  Countries like Russia and Taiwan use various means to block their mutant citizens' access to the gateways.  Aboard a specially-fitted sailing vessel funded by Emma Frost and the Hellfire Trading Company, Captain Kate Pryde leads fellow mutants:  Storm, Bishop, Iceman, and Pyro, with Lockheed the dragon, on a mission to sail the seas of the world in order to protect those most hated and feared!

I was not impressed by the first “Dawn of X” title, X-Men, but I like this second one.  It's not that writer Gerry Duggan offers an exceptional first-issue script; it is good enough.  It's that Marauders has a lot of potential to address current issues and geopolitical affairs using the X-Men as allegory or metaphor.  Also, a sailing vessel promises some quasi-pirate fun.

The illustrations by Matteo Lolli are nice, and his graphical storytelling is clean, if not dynamic.  Federico Blee's coloring seems a little too thick and has what looks like smearing in several places.  Cory Petit's lettering is good, but a bit tame for a concept that demands boldness.  Truthfully, Marauders #1 could be the start of something daring or it could be simply the first issue of just-another-X-Men comic book.  So far, I suspect that it will be the latter, which will probably be the case for most (if not all) the“Dawn of X” titles.

7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: EXCALIBUR #1

EXCALIBUR No. 1 (2019)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Tini Howard
ART: Marcus To
COLORS: Erick Arciniega
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
EDITOR: Jordan D. White
EiC: Akria Yoshida a.k.a. “C.B. Cebuski”
COVER: Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Kris Anka; Mark Bagley and John Dell with Israel Silva; Tom Muller
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (December 2019)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

“The Accolade of Betsy Braddock”

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team comprised of individuals with unique powers and abilities granted to them because they are “mutants.”  Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer-editor Stan Lee, the X-Men debuted in the comic book, The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963).

Since the mid-1980s, there have been numerous X-Men spin-off comic book series.  One of them is Excalibur, which featured an off-shoot of the X-Men based in the United Kingdom.  The series was created by writer Chris Claremont and writer-artist Alan Davis, and it debuted in Excalibur Special Edition #1 (1987), also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.  The ongoing series, Excalibur, debuted in 1988 and ran for 125 issues, ending in 1998.

Over its six decades of existence, the X-Men comic book franchise has been revived, revamped, relaunched, and re-imagined.  The latest remodeling came via a pair of six-issue miniseries, House of X and Powers of X (pronounced “Powers of 10”), which were written by Jonathan Hickman.  Afterwards, October 2019 welcomed “Dawn of X,” the launch of six new X-Men titles, although all except one bore titles that had been previously used.  The new series are Fallen Angels, Maruaders, New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men, and the subject of this review, a new version of Excalibur.

Excalibur (2019) is written by Tini Howard; drawn by Marcus To; colored by Erick Arciniega; and lettered by Cory Petit.  The new series will feature a new Captain Britain, along with team members:  Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, Rictor... and Apocalypse.

Excalibur #1 (“The Accolade of Betsy Braddock”) opens in “The Otherworld,” specifically “Camelot.”  The Otherworld is being rocked by war, and Arthur Pendragon is missing.  Arthur's half-sister, the sorceress Morgan Le Fay, has named herself “Queen Regent,” because of Arthur's status and the state of the rest of the royal family.  Le Fay is also incensed that a gateway to Krakoa, the living island and mutant nation-state, has polluted her scrying pool.

Meanwhile, Betsy Braddock is leaving her brother, Brian Braddock a.k.a. “Captain Britain,” and Braddock Academy in Maldon, England, for the mutant paradise of Krakoa.  However, there, she is about to be reunited with an unpleasant family member who has been revived in “The Hatchery.”  Plus, the war in Otherworld is about to force huge changes in Betsy's status quo.

Apparently, Excalibur will focus on the magic angle in the new mutant status quo.  I am interested, but not $3.99 or $4.99 cover price-interested.  There were a few things caught my notice, but half of this comic book was a chore to read.  Honestly, there is nothing about Excalibur #1 that says this series will run longer than twelve issues.  Writer Tini Howard offers a script that seems more like a stumbling of scenes clumsily stuck together.

Artist Marcus To offers pretty if not exceptional art, but his storytelling is clear... or at least clearer than Tini Howard's.  Erick Arciniega slathers on the colors like a drunk trying to paint all the china in a china shop.  Cory Petit's lettering is pretty much a single font that, if read it long enough, could cause the comic book reading equivalent of snow blindness.

Yeah, Excalibur #2 better throw it down for real...

3.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.


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#IReadsYou Review: HISTORY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1

HISTORY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Mark Waid
PENCILS: Javier Rodríguez
INKS: Álvaro López
COLORS: Javier Rodríguez
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
MISC. ART: Phil Noto
COVER: Steve McNiven and Mark Farmer with Sunny Gho
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Nick Bradshaw with John Rauch; John Buscema with Jason Keith; David Marquez with Matthew Wilson; Javier Rodríguez and Álvaro López
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (September 2019)

Rated T

History of the Marvel Universe is a comic book miniseries that chronicles completely, for the first time, everything that was, is, or will be in the Marvel Universe.  History of the Marvel Universe is written by Mark Waid; drawn by Javier Rodríguez (pencils/colors) and Álvaro López (inks); and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

History of the Marvel Universe #1 opens at “the End of Time.”  There, Franklin Richards and the planet-devouring Galactus await the final death of the universe.  Although both will move to the universe born of the death of this one, Richards is concerned about memories.  Before it all ends, he wants the history of this universe to have meant something.  Richards asks Galactus to help him remember everything.  Thus, Galactus recounts the history of this universe, beginning with a first chapter.  It starts at the so-called “Big Bang” and ends both in the Wild West of The Rawhide Kid and The Two-Gun Kid and in the wild north of Canada where a boy named James Howlett emerges.

There is no doubt about it.  Marvel Comics' History of the Marvel Universe #1 has more than a passing resemblance to DC Comics' 1986, two-issue miniseries, History of the DC Universe.  It is true that Mark Waid and Javier Rodríguez could find no better template than the one writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez laid down in History of the DC Universe.

Some people consider Mark Waid an unofficial Marvel Comics historian; I imagine some people at Marvel probably think that.  Waid does a good job gathering the varied “histories” about the beginnings, the ancient times, the recent centuries, etc. that have been depicted in five decades of Marvel Comics titles.  Waid also mixes in threads from Marvel's predecessor Timely Comics and the two decades of material the predates the publication of The Fantastic Four #1.  Of course, Waid has to take into consideration decades of “retcons,” in which Marvel Comics scribes went back and changed things after the fact – the Avengers of one million years ago, introduced in Avengers #1 (2018).  I won't say that this first issue is a great read, but there are some interesting bits in this first issue.

I can say that I love the art team of Javier Rodríguez (pencils/colors) and Álvaro López.  Here, they don't have to engage in graphical storytelling, so much as they have to draw pictures that illustrate Mark Waid's text.  [Waid's script is presented in caption boxes, not word balloons, all well-crafted by Joe Caramagna.]  Their art reminds me of art of Alan Davis.

Speaking of which, Davis' longtime inker, Mark Farmer, inks Steve McNiven's cover pencil art – with excellent results.  So, in conclusion, History of the Marvel Universe #1 is an occasionally interesting curiosity, but honestly, you, dear readers, don't need to read it to enjoy Marvel Comics titles.  History of the Marvel Universe #1 is not the monumental work that Marvel Comics' monumental history deserves.  [I think the history of the Marvel Universe would be best told in a long-running, ongoing comic book series, which won't happen.]

6 out of 10

[This comic book includes four pages of annotations, which list the Marvel Comics publications which acted as reference for the story in History of the Marvel Universe #1.]

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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#IReadsYou Review: MIGHTY THOR #1

MIGHTY THOR No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Jason Aaron
ART: Russell Dauterman
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
COVER:  Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS:  Olivier Coipel; Russell Dauterman (Design Variant) Russell Dauterman with Matthew Wilson; Mike Deodato (Hip Hop Variant); Sarah Jean Maefs as Photographed by Judy Stephens
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2016)

Rated “T+”

“Thunder in Her Veins”

Marvel Comics' version of Thor is, of course, based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name.  Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (cover dated: August 1962) and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby.    Marvel's “The Mighty” Thor is a superhero and a member of superhero team, The Avengers.

Thor possesses the “enchanted hammer,” Mjolnir, and he is the Prince of Asgard, the one true God of Thunder – the Odinson... until now.  There is a “Goddess of Thunder,” and she possesses Mjolnir.  She is Dr. Jane Foster, Thor's lady-friend.  As part of the “All-New, All-Different Marvel,” the new Thor has her second ongoing comic book series, Mighty Thor.  It is written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Russell Dauterman, colored by Matthew Wilson, and lettered by Joe Sabino.

Mighty Thor #1 (“Thunder in Her Veins”) opens with Jane Foster receiving chemotherapy because of the cancer that is killing her mortal form.  As Thor, she is healthy, and the Goddess of Thunder will be needed because elves are falling from the sky.  Before the Congress of Worlds, the Light Elves of Alfheim declare that the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim and their sly king, Malekith, are waging war against them.

Although that is true, the Dark Elves deny it.  The tense and dangerous situation could be resolved by Odin, but the All-Father hides in his castle, refusing to engage.  Meanwhile Cul Borson is still seeking to take the new Thor prisoner, but an even darker conspiracy is gathering against her.

When I read the beginning of the first Jane Foster series, Thor #1, in late 2014, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I thought the book's creative team had done a fantastic job of starting a new era of Thor.  Well, that same creative team is back for Mighty Thor, and the first issue of this series is simply a continuation of the previous series.

I called writer Jason Aaron's script for Thor #1 “a thing of wonders,” and he hasn't missed a beat moving into Mighty Thor.  He has given the saga of Thor and of Asgard a “Game of Thrones” vibe.  And why not?  Thor has always had the potential to be a tale of both medieval courtly intrigue and high-fantasy war and adventure, while being a superhero comic book.

I am still enthralled by Russell Dauterman's art.  At the beginning of the earlier series, I liked his art, but for Thor, it needed time to grow on me.  With the arrival of Mighty Thor, Dauterman has won me over; he has brought something fresh and vital to Thor, even almost a year-and-a-half later.  As I did before, I recommend that readers at least try the first issue of this new Mighty Thor.

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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Review: THE MAGNIFICENT MS. MARVEL #1

THE MAGNIFICENT MS.MARVEL No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Saladin Ahmed
PENCILS: Minkyu Jung
INKS: Juan Vlasco
COLORS: Ian Herring
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
EDITOR: Alanna Smith
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Eduard Petrovich
VARIANT COVER ARTIST: Elsa Charretier with Matthew Wilson; Babs Tarr
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2019)

Rated T+

Kamala Kahn created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Stephen Wacker, and Jamie McKelvie

Ms. Marvel is a Marvel Comics female superhero character.  The original version of Ms. Marvel was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Buscema.  First appearing in Ms. Marvel #1 (cover dated: January 1977), she was meant to be the female counterpart of Marvel's Captain Marvel (who first appeared in 1967).

The new Ms. Marvel is Kamala Khan (the fourth character to take the name Ms. Marvel).  Created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Stephen Wacker, and Jamie McKelvie, Kamala first appeared in Captain Marvel #17 (cover dated: November 2013).  She is a 16 year-old Pakistani-American from Jersey City, New Jersey.  She idolizes Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel (who is now the current Captain Marvel).  Kamala was given her own Ms. Marvel series, which premiered in February 2014, becoming Marvel Comics' first Muslim character to star in her own comic book.

2019 welcomes a new Ms. Marvel comic book series, The Magnificent Ms. Marvel.  It is written by Saladin Ahmed; drawn by Minkyu Jung (pencils) and Juan Vlasco (inks), colored by Ian Herring, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 (“Super Famous” Part One of Three) opens in “the far future” on “another world.”  An alien father tells his daughter a bedtime story of the legendary hero known as the “Destined One,” a hero from Earth who we know as “Ms. Marvel.”  Meanwhile, on present day Earth, Ms. Marvel is not feeling very much like a legend.  Her parents are about to confront her, and she is fighting crummy costumed villains, some of which dissolve into goo after she defeats them.

Salamed Ahmed is currently writing the recently launched Miles Morales: Spider-Man comic book.  Ahmed became the first writer other than Miles' co-creator, Brian Michael Bendis, to write an ongoing Miles Morales comic book series  Ahmed once again is filling big shoes by becoming the first writer other than Kamala Kahn's co-creator, G. Willow Wilson, to write an ongoing Kamala Kahn-Ms. Marvel comic book series.

Ahmed's inaugural issue of The Magnificent Ms. Marvel is filled with several delightful surprises, from the opening alien world-set prologue (of sorts) to the closing family drama shocker.  I don't want to spoil more than I already have, but everything in this comic book, especially the last three pages makes me want to come back for the second issue of The Magnificent Ms. Marvel.

Pencil artist Minkyu Jung and inker Juan Vlasco are a solid new Ms. Marvel art team.  Ian Herring's excellent coloring sets the perfect mood and atmosphere for each sequence and sub-plot in the first issue, especially on the first page.  As always, Joe Caramagna does solid lettering.  The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 promises an interesting new era for Marvel's first Pakistani-American superhero.

7.5 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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Review: DOMINO #1

DOMINO No. 1 (2018)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Gail Simone
ART: David Baldéon
COLORS: Jesus Aburtov
LETTERS: Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Chris Robinson
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Greg Land with Frank D'Armata
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Elsa Charretier with Matthew Wilson; David Baldéon with Jesus Aburtov; Pretend comic book artist-J. Scott Campbell with Sabine Rich; Rob Liefeld
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2018)

“Killer Instinct” Part One

Neena Thurman a.k.a. Domino is a Marvel Comics character.  The character was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza.  A version of Domino first appeared in New Mutants #98 (cover dated: February 1991); then, the “real” version of the character first appeared in X-Force #8 (cover dated: March 1992).  Domino is a mutant best known for her association with the team, X-Force.

Although Domino has been the title character in two miniseries, the character is finally the star of her own ongoing comic book series.  Entitled Domino, it is written by Gail Simone; drawn by David Baldéon; colored by Jesus Aburtov; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Domino #1 finds Domino and “Crazy” Inez Temple a.k.a. “Outlaw” in the Pacific Northwest.  They are supposedly here because they have been hired to take care of some mobsters, but this is really a setup for an attack on them.  And it's Neena Thurman's birthday...

I am a fan of Gail Simone, and I am currently enjoying her Image Comics series, Crosswind, and her current miniseries for Dynamite Entertainment, Red Sonja / Tarzan, both of which had excellent first issues.  Domino #1 is a mediocre first issue.

Simone has publicly stated that many comic books suffer from poor character development.  The problem with Domino #1 is that its title character is not much of a character.  Domino is at best a supporting character, but Marvel Comics has spent much of the last four decades publishing miniseries and regular series starring just about any character that shows any measurable popularity with fans.  So Domino #1 stars a character who, after more than a quarter century, is not much more than the sketch that first appeared in Rob Liefeld's sketchbook.  And Gail Simone, who is excellent at giving comic book characters character, may not be able to change that.

As for the graphics team, David Baldéon has been a rising star; Domino #1 is air turbulence for him, a step back from his excellent, hot wire art on the recent Spirits of Vengeance miniseries.  For colorist Jesus Aburtov and letterer Clayton Cowles, Domino #1 is an average output.  “Serviceable” is the word to describe Domino #1.  I do not hold out hope that the series will get better.

5 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 reprint and  syndication rights and fees.

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Review: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 (2019) – Legacy #276
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
ART: Mahmud Asrar
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Basso
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Esad Ribić
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Daniel Acuna; Mahmud Asrar with Matthew Wilson; John Cassaday with Laura Martin; John Tyler Christopher; Kirbi Fagan; Adi Granov; Greg Hildebrandt; Esad Ribic; Jesus Saiz; Bill Sienkewicz; Skottie Young; Gerardo Zaffino with Rain Beredo
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2019)

Parental Advisory

Conan the Barbarian based on the “Conan” character created by Robert E. Howard

“The Life & Death of Conan” Part One: “The Weird of the Crimson Witch”

Conan the Cimmerian is a fictional “sword and sorcery” hero created by Robert E. Howard (REH).  Conan first appeared in the pulp fiction magazine, Weird Tales (1932).  Conan lived in Howard's fictional “Hyborian Age” and was a mercenary, outlaw, pirate, thief, warrior, and eventually a king, but because of his tribal origins, some characters that encountered him thought of Conan as a barbarian.

In 1970, Marvel Comics brought Conan to the world of comic books with the series, Conan the Barbarian.  It is doing so again, having recently published the first issue of a revival of Conan the Barbarian.  It is written by Jason Aaron; drawn by Mahmud Asrar; colored by Matthew Wilson; and lettered by VC's Travis Lanham.

Conan the Barbarian #1 (“The Weird of the Crimson Witch”) opens sometimes during Conan the Cimmerian's prime as “a thief, a reaver, and a slayer.”  In Zamora, the city of thieves, his brutal prowess in the fights pits of Maul has attracted the attention of a comely young woman.

Conan has always cheated death, continues to cheat death, and perhaps, he always will?  The more he cheats death, the more his blood becomes imbued with the power of “Death Magic.”  It is that magic that the Crimson Witch and her death god, Razazel, needs.  Does King Conan know that?

The new Conan the Barbarian is a comic book that I can keep reading... at least for awhile.  For one, I am a fan of artist Mahmud Asrar and have been since I started seeing his work eight years ago.  His elegant compositions are pleasing to the eye, and his figure drawing creates the illusion of powerful figures in motion.  There is also a sense of dynamism even in characters that are depicted as moving not at all or as moving very little.

Colorist Matthew Wilson, one of best colorists working in comic book today, takes Asrar's beautiful art to an edgier place.  The red, yellow, and orange hues make the bloody sequences even bloodier, and the color turns the Crimson Witch's magic into a thing that rages and pulses.

Jason Aaron's story is good, but it is not as passionate as Asrar-Wilson's art.  However, Aaron has created a menace (the Crimson Witch) that it actually and legitimately dangerous to Conan, throughout his life.  I like that Aaron is willing to depict Conan as a brutal killer (and that Asrar and Wilson draws that cleaving, hacking, slashing, and beheading with glee).  Speaking of glee, the villains are gleefully murderous, and that is a good thing.  I have to give letterer Travis Lanham credit; he makes Aaron's script read like true-blue, bloody mayhem Conan the Barbarian.

Conan the Barbarian #1 (2019) is a good first issue.  It isn't great, but it doesn't have to be.  I was certainly hopeful that I would have a reason to be a regular reader of Conan the Barbarian again (which I have not been since the Reagan era).

7 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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Review: CAPTAIN AMERICA #695

CAPTAIN AMERICA No. 695
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Mark Waid
ART: Chris Samnee
COLORS: Matthew Wilson
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Chris Samnee with Matthew Wilson
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross (after John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton); John Tyler Christopher with Ariel Olivetti; Adi Granov; Mike McKone with Rachelle Rosenberg; Jim Steranko
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated “T+”

Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

“Home of the Brave” Part 1

Captain America is a Marvel Comics superhero. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (cover dated:  March 1941), which was published by Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics.  Captain America Comics was canceled in 1949, but there was a revival of the series from 1953 to 1954.  Captain America fully returned to modern comic books in The Avengers #4 (cover dated: March 1964).

Marvel Comics is in the middle of its “Legacy” event, returning many titles to its original numbering after a decade of relaunching a number of titles with new #1 issues – three, four, and even five or more times.  The ongoing Captain America comic book series has a new creative team for the Legacy launch.  The team of writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee, the creative duo behind Marvel's critically acclaimed Daredevil relaunch (2012) several years ago, brings Captain America into the “Legacy era.”  Matthew Wilson is the colorist, and Joe Caramagna is the letterer.

Captain America #695 begins with a brief recount of how Steve Rogers became the “super solider,” Captain America; his exploits on the battlefields of World War II, and how he disappeared.  Then, we learn how Captain America became a legend and an inspiration to the town of Burlington, Nebraska after stopping a group of neo-Nazi, white supremacist-types, something he may have to do again.

I have said that when Mark Waid is good, he is really good.  [On the other hand, when he is not good, he can be an exceedingly, irritatingly pedestrian comic book storyteller.]  I am a huge fan of Chris Samnee's classic, cartoonists drawing style.  In Captain America #695, Waid is in top form, and Samnee hits the heights of throwback, Silver Age comics style.

Waid's script creates a standalone story that epitomizes what seems to be the essence of Captain America's mission and message: the strong protect the weak.  We look out for each other against those who would do harm, and every man, woman, and child (of at least a certain age) can lend a helping hand, if they choose.

I love Captain America #695.  It is a standalone treat, the kind of single-issue comic book that we need in between long story arcs and of which we don't get often enough.  I really like Waid's story.  I wish more comic book art looked like Chris Samnee's art.  If I were a comic book publisher, my comic books would look like Captain America #695.  If you have time to read only one comic book today, read Captain America #695.

[This comic book includes an “Legacy” character summary written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by Valero Schiti; colored by Frank D'Armata; and lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna.]

A+
10 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: 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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Review: STAR WARS ADVENTURES Volume 1: Heroes of the Galaxy

STAR WARS ADVENTURES, VOL. 1: HEROES OF THE GALAXY
IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Cavan Scott; Landry Q. Walker; Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet
PENCILS: Derek Charm; Jon Sommariva; Elsa Charretier
INKS: Derek Charm; Sean Parsons; Elsa Charretier
COLORS: Derek Charm; Charlie Kirchoff; Sarah Stern
LETTERS: Tom B. Long; Robbie Robbins
PIN-UPS: Derek Charm; Elsa Charretier with Tamra Bonvillain; Jon Sommariva; Chris Samnee with Matt Wilson; Mike Maihack; Craig Rousseau; Tim Lim; Chris Uminga; Eric Jones; Tim Levins
COVER: Derek Charm
ISBN: 978-1-68405-205-9; paperback, 6” x 9” (October 2017)
80pp, Color, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN

“Better the Devil You Know” Parts l and 2; Tales from Wild Space - “Stop, Thief!” and “The Flat Mountain of Yavin”

Star Wars Adventures is a new all-ages Star Wars comic book from IDW Publishing – yes, from IDW and not from current Star Wars comic book publisher, Marvel Comics.  Announced at Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida this past April, the series is geared toward readers ages 7 to 10 and features one and two part stories that are not steeped in Star Wars continuity.  Star Wars Adventures will feature a rotating casts of characters, and the stories will range from settings that take place before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace all the way up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) and beyond.

Now, comes the first book collection of Star Wars Adventures.  It is entitled Star Wars Adventures, Volume 1: Heroes of the Galaxy.  It collects Star Wars Adventures #1 and #2 and the Star Wars Adventures Ashcan, which was given out at San Diego Comic-Con International 2017 ahead of the release of Star Wars Adventures #1.

The main story of Star Wars Adventures #1-2 is a two-part tale, entitled “Better the Devil You Know,” written by Cavan Scott; drawn and colored by Derek Charm; and lettered by Tom B. Long.  “Better the Devil You Know” opens on the planet of Jakku and focuses on Rey, the hero of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  She is a scavenger of Imperial war ships that are now wrecks on the desert planet.  Rey discovers that her “junkboss,” Unkar Plutt, has been taken prisoner, and the reason is something she found.  Rey realizes that dealing with Plutt, terrible as he is and can be, is better than dealing with the aliens determined to kill him.

Each issue of Star Wars Adventures has a back-up feature, “Tales from Wildspace.”  This anthology-like features various Star Wars characters from different eras of the Star Wars universe and is narrated by an explorer named Emil Graf.  The two “Wildspace stories here are “Stop, Thief!” (Star Wars Adventures #1) and “The Flat Mountain of Yavin” (#2).

I like Star Wars Adventures.  I know that it is geared towards elementary school age readers, but I, who was in elementary school a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, love it.  I like Derek Charm's art, which is a blend of animation-styled art and the art found in Archie Comics.  Cavan Scott's storytelling in “Better the Devil You Know” is true to the spirit of Star Wars – emphasizing adventure, imagination, and, of course, wisdom and justice.

The story from the Star Wars Adventures Ashcan (written by Landry B. Walker and drawn by Charm) is narrated by C-3PO and R2-D2 and presents a rather interesting overview of Star Wars history.  That overview alone, especially the Luke Skywalker parts, is worth the cost of this book.

“Tales from Wild Space” does not “Wow!” me as much as the lead feature, but it is a good back-up.  Besides, I like the surprising mix of Star Wars characters that “Wildspace” offers.

I think Star Wars Adventures is closer to traditional, classic comic books – with its striking visuals and clear, effective, adventure storytelling – than many comic books available in comic book shops today.  This is a comic book that reminds us of why we first came to love comic books, and I think Star Wars Adventures Volume 1: Heroes of the Galaxy is a great way to introduce young readers to comic books.

[This volume also includes a section of character designs by Derek Charm.]

A+
9.5 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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